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gachawolfiebloom · 4 months ago

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Two Hearts In The City of Love

Chapter 10: SMG4's Forbidden Love

Cover is made by me and Puzzlevision selection is from Smg4. Please do not repost artwork.

Once there was two households that were both alike in dignity. Far off in the Mushroom Kingdom, where two enemies hate each other to the core, a pair of star crossed lovers will soon blossom. By unfortunate accident, they will soon learn that it was meant to be.

The market place was bustling with busy villagers. Rob was offering some corn when a fat guy threw an apple at him. "HEY! Who dares insult my corn!?" Wario and Waluigi ran off laughing. They loved bullying the Montys since they were part of the Cassettes. Both were very wealthy families, but divided each other from their foes with the names from their chosen leaders. The two brothers joked around, pushing each other when Waluigi pointed and said "Look brother! Here comes the Montys!"

Shroomy sang joyfully as he waved to the vendor. "Good morning Steve!" The brothers grinned at each other and ran behind a cart. Once Steve handed his goods to Shroomy, he noticed both guys were making rude gestures. "Are you trying to insult me?" They acted innocently in such a manner that you could almost see the halos above their heads. Shroomy narrowed his eyes at them and started to walk away, but the brothers quickly followed. "Up for a little fight pipsqueak?" Waluigi laughed.

"No thanks. I do not involve in violence." Wario rubbed his chin and said "If you did then we would be a thousand times better than you." Shroomy snickered to himself and said "Golly gee, what a liar." Even a good mushroom such as him could not contain the chance to show up a hated foe. He began to walk away as Wario was flabbergasted. It seemed Shroomy had gotten the upper hand until Wario got his revenge by tripping him. "WAHAHAH!" He and Waluigi laughed their heads off until Shroomy turned around with fury in his eyes and pulled out a sword.

"I'LL DESTROY YOU!" The Wario brothers pulled out their swords as well and began clashing. Soon almost all of the Montys and Cassettes were brandishing their swords among the marketplace, for instead of hearing the cheerful voices off life, the screams of "KILL THE CASSETTES!" and "DESTROY THE MONTYS!" had taken over.

Just when it seemed this battle could not go on any longer, someone shouted out "Stop! Put away your swords everyone! The prince is coming!" Everyone was haunted and hid their weapons behind their backs as an army of Cassettes drew near. Prince Swag pushed through the crowd with his wingman, Chris. He looked suspiciously at the crowd as one person caught his eyes.

"CAUSING DISRUPTION YOU BAFFLING MARIO? LOOK UPON YOUR DEATH!"

He took out his shiny sword and stuck it in the face of a red, Italian man. "Please don't hurt Mario! Mario did not start this! He is the peacekeeper!" Swag laughed for the foolishness of this silly idiot. "WHAT!? YOU REFUSE TO FIGHT AND TALK OF PEACE! CHRIS CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS GUY!?"

Chris told him "Swag. The boy does not want to fight. Leave him be." He rolled his eyes and stuck a finger in Mario's face. "I HATE THAT WORD AS MUCH AS I HATE ALL MONTYS AND YOU! THIS IDIOT IS A COWARD!" He ignored the persistence to stop fighting and yelled "CASSETTES RULE!!!"

A whole eruption of gathering weapons, shouting, and fighting ensured. The bells were ringing loudly as enemy-ship was really getting the better of them. That is, until Prince Bowser arrived. He was even more terrifying then Swag (not that he was very scary) and roared loudly which definitely shut everyone up. "YOU WILL MAKE PEACE MY REBELLIOUS SUBJECTS! THROW DOWN YOUR WEAPONS NOWWWW!!!" The whole crowd did as the giant turtle commanded.

"You Cassettes are humiliating yourselves, starting stupid wars with the nonsense that comes out of your mouths." He looked upon them like a mother, punishing her children. Bowser didn't forget about his enemies though as he turned to them. "And as for the Montys...you are even worse, disturbing the peace on OUR streets!"

He gave them one final cold stare and said "If any of you try to disturb us again, you are so dead!" As he trailed off, he commanded them to disperse from one another so they wouldn't go fighting again behind his back.

While everyone went back to take care of their injuries, Mario went to go check on the head of the Montys, Marty. "Hello Marty! How is my king today?" The cardboard cutout said nothing until Mario raised an eyebrow like the inanimate object had asked him a question. "Mario last saw Smg4 this morning. Mario thinks he was picking flowers in the field." The cardboard cutout fell over and Mario replied "Okie dokie! Mario will find his best friend!"

Mario walked all over town, calling out "Smg4! Smg4!? It's your best friend Mario!" He spotted the man he was looking for just a distance away. He was in a daze, smiling sweetly at the beautiful flowers in his hand that he picked fresh this morning. Four snapped out of the plant's hypnotizing trance when he saw Mario waving at him. The Italian lunged towards him and pulled Four into a tight embrace. "Smg4! Mario has been looking all over!" The boy in blue giggled and returned the hug of his silly friend. "Sorry, I was busy."

As Mario let go, Four looked back down at the flowers, checking to see if they weren't crushed and sat down on a stone wall, slipping back into his bubbly trance. "Is the day still young Mario?" The mustached man shrugged. "Mario thinks it's almost nine?" It seemed a little surprising that it was still morning with the time Four spent in the fields. Mario noticed something off with Four and sat down next to him.

"Is Smg4 ok?" Four nodded and told him "Its just...sometimes I wonder if there is more to my life than being a Monty."

"Like what?"

"Like...maybe love?" Four said as blush rose up on his cheeks, lost to the petals of the flower. "Oooo Smg4 wants a boyfriend!" Mario always assumed that his best friend had an interest in boys when it came to romance. Must have been some kind of feeling or sign that he got. "Mario for the last time, I'm not gay!"

"Surreeee..." Mario teased Four as he covered his bright red face with his hands. Just then, a family of Montys, holding injured and bleeding members, spooked Four as they ran inside. "Mario...what happened?" The Italian tried to tell him, but he shushed him with a finger. "Nevermind. I don't want to know. I do not wish to join in on all this hate. Only love."

~Meanwhile at the house of Cassettes~

Many joyous members were preparing festivities for a spectacular celebration being held by the head of the Cassettes, Mr Puzzles. A girl's voice echoed through the halls, hollering for a certain someone. "Smg3! Smg3! Where is that guy?" A man dressed in royal purple appeared in the window across and yelled "Oi! What do you want Meggy!?"

"Mr Puzzles wishes to speak with you!" Three rolled his eyes and rushed over to Meggy, who led him into a room. A TV man stood, admiring himself in the mirror as Three said "I am here. What do you want?" He spun around and said "Meggy, give us a moment to talk in private." The orange haired girl did as she was told with not another word. "Now Three, I wanted to speak with you about the theme of marriage." Three pushed away suddenly as Mr Puzzles inquired "Where do you stand on your arrangement to be married?"

"Marry! Are you insane!? Everyone here sucks! I wouldn't do it if I was the last man of earth!" Curiosity got the better of him as he paused and gestured to Mr Puzzles. "Who would I even be marrying?" The TV man ushered him out of the room and said "Luigi is the one who seeks your love. I know. I checked." Three looked upon that name in disgust and crossed his arms grumpily. "So will you marry him?"

Three was thankfully spared that question when Chris came to tell them "The guests have arrived and the banquet is ready." Swag butted in as he yelled "WHOOOOO PARTTYYYYY!!!" Mr Puzzles was annoyed, but took a breath and put on a fake smile. "Thank you Chris. We will be down in just a moment." He nodded as Swag picked him up and made a break downstairs. "ALL THE SEXY LADIES WILL BE MINE."

Back to being alone, Puzzles turned to Three and asked again "Will you marry him?" The bearded man sneered upon this, mumbling "I'll think about it..." The TV man went back into high spirits as he went down to greet his guests. Meggy wandered in to see what had happened and went to check on her friend. "You okay?" He shrugged it off and said "Yeah. He's so controlling." She tried to lift his spirits with talk of the party. "How about we go and meet everyone." Three agreed and both of them followed the others down.

Mario, Four, and the rest of their friends are heading to the Cassette party in style. They dance and sing while carrying torches, but most importantly, they all bring their own masks to hide the fact that Montys are entering enemy territory. All except one. A moronic guy steps in front of the crowd and yells "SOMEONE BRING ME A MASK!" It was questionable at first considering this guy always covered himself in that clothed hood of his.

When the item requested was brought to him, Bob strapped it over his face and cheered "I'M GONNA GET ALL THE WOMAN TONIGHT!" Mario nodded and said "Mario also hopes to catch a few hearts! They can't resist Mario's sexy dance!" Four felt uneasy about this. "I know we have good intentions for going to this party, but I'm not sure I want to go." Bob got a curious eye as he lifted up his mask and asked "WHY?"

"I had a dream last night that warned me what might happen if I attend." Bob rolled his eyes and sarcastically said "SO DID I." Four didn't really hear the tone in his voice. "Well what did yours say?"

"THAT DREAMERS ARE LITTLE LIARS!" The crowd erupted into laughter as Bob continued walking and Four kept questioning him. "But I am speaking the truth. What if there is danger in my future?" All Bob had to say to that was "THEN LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU FIND YOURSELF A MAGIC FAIRY AND IF YOU DO...HOOK ME UP!" Everyone was laughing hysterically since Bob was the most openly, wittiest, person in all the city. Mario wiped away his joyous tears and pulled on Four in an energetic manner. "Hurry Smg4! Mario does not want to be late!" The sounds of bells and drums started up again as the crowd made their way towards the celebration of the Cassettes.

Four whispered to himself "Or too early..." His mind was screaming out this bad feeling that some grave consequence would happen. Perhaps even death? He wanted to sneak away and make a run for it, but some kind of will pulled him towards the party like the rest of his friends. For a brief moment, their eyes showed a staticky glow, but one blink and it was gone.

"Welcome to my humble little party! Please do come in!" Mr Puzzles waved his guests in with a beaming smile and polite gestures. A group of men wearing shiny face coverings stepped into his humble abode as he admired them. "I remember the days when I wore a mask myself. Keeper of the butterflies is what they called me...setting sights on using absolute power to surpass my rivals. HAHHAHAHAHAHAH!"

Everyone stood in silence. "I mean... Welcome gentlemen! Have a wonderful evening!" The boys entered a large ballroom that already had people dancing gracefully. Bob didn't waste a second and rushed off to ask some fine ladies to dance. Mario also set his sights on something as he pointed to the banquet. There on the table stood a delicious dish of plentiful pasta. Mario soon ran off as well, eating bowls by the mouthful. Four chuckled and walked around to see what was so special about this little event.

He watched as all of his friends introduced themselves to beautiful maidens, which made him feel left out. Where was the love his heart was longing for? When would he meet his soulmate? What would-

Then he found it. Out stepped a dashingly, stunning, man. Dressed in elegant purple with silky, shiny black hair and a beard to go with it. Four felt like he could almost run his fingers through it. And his eyes. They shinned with the deepest red he had ever seen, sparkling like rubies. But in that moment, no gem, star, nor even flower could compare to the wonders of this perfect man.

The way he danced around was so delicate and pure. Four could watch him for hours without ever getting bored. Every time he twirled around, it made his heart flutter as his eyes could not look away. He stared at his crush with lovey dovey eyes and a small smile while clasping his hands on his chest.

When Three got further out of view, Four snapped out of his trance. Quickly, he put on his mask and trekked through the crowd to get a closer look at this breathtaking stranger. Three's eyes shifted to someone in the back of the crowd, locking onto that particular spot as the masked man disappeared into the back. Three ignored it and carried on with the dance.

Four went behind a beam for a better view and peaked his head out. He sighed heavily and said "He shines even better than the sun. Like a rich jewel that is the rarest of them all. His radiance is too pure for this world." Four lifted up his mask and wondered "Did my heart ever know what love was until now?" All this time longing for someone to share dear memories with and he had finally found a treasure. "I have never seen true beauty until this night." Swag was showing off to the guests when he noticed an odd fellow out of place. When he lifted his mask, Swag knew exactly who it was.

He went over to Chris and whispered "A MONTY IS IN THE BUILDING..." He pointed over to Four, who noticed the two of them staring at him and quickly covered his face. Swag ran over to where Mr Puzzles was socializing in dominance. "TV DUDE! OUR FOE, THE MONTY IS IN OUR TERRITORY!" Mr Puzzles crooked his head in confusion as he turned around and saw the boy. "THIS VILLAIN IS GOING TO STEAL OUR RICHES AND MY CHICKS!"

The TV headed man was not angry in outburst, but intrigued by his appearance. "HE HAS PLAYED US FOR FOOLS WITH THAT STUPID DISGUISE!" A devilish smile crossed his face as he said "Yes Smg4. Many brag of his popularity. I would never kick him out for the wealth of this whole town." He crossed his legs and pushed Swag away. "You will take no note of him and carry on with what you were doing."

"BUT-" He angrily mumbled "FINE..." and came back to his post, screaming "DON'T YOU DARE STEAL THOSE WOMEN FROM ME CHRIS!" Mr Puzzles snickered to himself and said "After all...I think he might be of use to our organization."

Suddenly somebody announced another dance. One where you put bells around your wrists and dance in a circle. Four tried to politely deny the offer, but it was too late as he found himself wearing bells around his arms and joining the circle. The music started playing so Four just went along with it, keeping a close eye on Three, who was also in the circle. Everybody jingled the bells in harmony with the music and spun around in splendor. Swag was still suspiciously watching Four, now dancing with his fellow Cassette, Three. He kept staring at Four's face, rivaling with anger.

"HE'S DECEIVING SMG3!"

Mr Puzzles groaned and stood up sternly, pointing a finger in his face. "Quit being so paranoid! You are going to freak out my guests! Who is in charge here!? Me or you!? Now shut up and leave them be!" Four and Three spun in circles around as everyone was laughing and having a good time. The spinning started to speed up, then a little more, and more to the point that Three couldn't take the dizziness and left just before the song ended.

As he caught his breath, a green fish to the name of Boopkins walked into the middle, preparing for a song. Right at the first lyric, everyone covered their ears in agony of the shrill voice. Four pushed through the crowd to find the partner that he danced so charmingly with. Three also was trying to do the same, eager to know more about that mysterious boy.

Finally, Four ducked behind a curtain and hid at the back of a pillar, right by the bearded man. Slowly, he reached forward and grabbed Three's hand, making him jump. "If I have to catch you off guard to hold your hand I shall, but please listen." Three said not a word and silently listened as Four whispered "My lips yearn for your love and to give you this gentle kiss." He removed his mask and kissed the hand he was holding, making Three pull it back and saw a blushing boy with blue eyes, brushing his hair out of the way.

His eyes widened as he did not flee, call for help, or do anything but stare with pink rising on his cheeks. Four pulled him closer as he finally spoke. "You want to kiss me? Excuse you, but we just met and I am not gay!" He turned away grumpily as Four grabbed his hand again and softly intertwined their fingers. "If you are not gay...then why are you blushing?" Three stammered "N-Ngh-None of your business Baka!"

"Do you deny your feelings? Why would one do such a thing?" Three shot back "Why did you come here anyway!? Don't you have some idiot convention or dancing to get back to?" Four shook his head and said "My heart says that it has come here for yours." Three yanks his hand away for the second time and says "Yeah sure. Now leave me alone!" He tries to leave, but Four calls out "Wait!" He stops. "Please grant my wish. I have never met such a captivating man in all my life. Have you?"

"No..." Three comes back as Four puts a hand on his cheek. "Then stop fighting it and tell me what you truly want." Three's expression softens as he gets lost in Four's dazzling blue eyes and lets all the suppressed emotions come out. "I-I want to grant your wish! Kiss me you fool!" Four was shocked a little as his face moved closer and softly said "Then by my lips and yours let us grant our wishes." They pulled into each others embrace and felt a passionate kiss so sweet and delicate that they let themselves melt into it. Parting for a moment, Three took a second to realize what had just happened. "That felt so good..." Four smiled and said "Then kiss me again~"

Three didn't retaliate and pulled them together for an even longer kiss that was better than the first. The lock of lips against each others and arms around their necks. It was all made possible and in that moment, that was all that mattered. Boopkins finished his song and everyone clapped, despite their bleeding eardrums.

"Smg3! Three!" The two pulled apart in a panic as Meggy rushed over to them. Four put back on his disguise as the orange haired servant breathed a sigh of relief to find Three. "Meggy?" She pointed and said "Mr Puzzles wants to talk with you." The bearded man didn't give a wave or even a smile to the dear one he shared a kiss with, but hastily dashed off. Meggy grabbed herself a drink as Four leaned in closer for more knowledge on that gentleman. "Who is Mr Puzzles?"

She gazed up from her glass and said "The head of this house of course. He is very wise and virtuous. I should know, after all I took care of his disciple that you just talked with." Meggy looked around to see if anybody was listening and whispered to Four "The one that wins his heart will certainly be a lucky man indeed. I heard that Three is set to inherit the Cassette riches." Meggy finishes her glass and sets it down, then walks away, leaving Four to a new period of shock.

He slowly lifts the mask back up again and says "Is he a Cassette? Did I just fall in love with my most hated foe?" Mr Puzzles bids his guests farewell, just as kindly as he invited them in. As Three sees Meggy join him again, he pulls her aside and asks "Who is that man?" He points to the one in blue, leaving the party. "I don't know." Three pushes her forth and directs her to ask for his name. Meggy notices Swag leaning on the wall with Chris and goes over to see if they have any information. Three watches as Meggy listens closely to what Swag whispers and once learning the name of the young fellow, she runs back to Three.

"His name is Smg4 and he's a Monty! Born from the family of your enemy!" Three gasps and shifts his attention on Four, who tries to avoid eye contact. Hurrying out quickly before his cover is blown. "I love my own rival!? Why out of all people must it be him?" Three sighed when Swag noticed some shifty behavior from him. It raised his suspicions. He decided to remind himself to have a talk with Smg4 later.

Four ducked down a path when he heard his friends calling for him.

"SMG4!?"

"Four!?"

"Mario wishes to find Smg4!"

Not them. Not now. Thinking quickly, Four hopped onto a pile of rocks and climbed up a tree, hiding just as his friends arrived. Bob was mocking him as they walked past. "SMG4? GAY BOY!?SMUSHY MARIO GOOPY FOUR!?" Four rolled his eyes and climbed up and over a wall, pushing past bushes. He didn't know where he was going, he just kept moving. That is until a light flickered on and Four stopped in his tracks.

He snuck into the bushes and peaked out as he saw Three standing on the balcony, thinking to himself. Even when knowing that he was a great enemy, Four could not bring himself to hate the man. In fact his love grew even stronger. "He is silent, but his charming looks speak to me." He watches Three's eyes wander and wonders if he should approach until he hears the man finally speak.

"O Four, Four. Wherefore art thou Four?"

Four is captivated, hoping he will speak more and his wish was answered. "If you could just give up being Monty, or I give up being Cassette, then we could be together." He grumbles at the name and starts walking further down. "This stupid rule! What even is a Monty and does it really have to come between me!? If you were anything but a Monty then I could fall in love...but I already have and you are enough as is."

Four listens with great concern as Three begins giggling and blushing. "Four please renounce your family name so I can have you all for myself!" Four couldn't take it anymore and makes himself known by blurting out "I WILL! IF THAT IS WHAT IT TAKES TO LOVE YOU THAN I WILL DO JUST THAT!" The sudden outburst startled Three as he backed up and said with great authority "Who the hell are you!?"

"Don't you remember me from the party? Though I guess I cannot say now since it pains me to see you upset that I wear the name of your hated foe. If it was up to me, I would destroy that word!" Three's eyebrows are still stern as he comes closer. "Yes I know. You are Four and a Monty right?" Four shook his head and said "Depends. Do you dislike my name?" Three doesn't want to bring that up and changes the subject. "How did you even get up here? The walls are way too tall and hard to climb. Not to mention if any of my family knows you are here, they'll kill you!"

Four smiled flirtatiously and said "Maybe I grew wings to fly over. No wall on earth could keep out my love for you. And if your family wants to stop me, they can drag me away without my own two feet!"

"SHUSH IDIOT! You'll give yourself away!"

Silence grew between them as Three calmly whispered "Do you really love me?" Four is about to respond when Three makes a motion to stop. "Shut it. I already know you will say yes. But you are my enemy and I am supposed to hate you!" Upon hearing that, Four climbs up the tree and onto the balcony in hope of not losing his love, but Three just crosses his arms and denies his feelings again. Another thing settles in as he awkwardly says "Did you hear me rambling about you?"

"Uhm..." Three facepalms himself and hides his red face. "Are you going to mock me for falling for you?" Four rests his elbows on the edge and says "No! I swear by the moon that I love you as much as you love me." Three frowns. "What's wrong?" He looks at the very thing Four spoke of and says "That's way too cliche. Swear on something else!"

"Like what?"

"I prefer nothing, but if you have to then do it by yourself." He placed his hand on top of Four's and rubbed it. "Your sweet, perfect self that I admire so much. That is the only thing I will believe." Four started "I swear..." He couldn't finish though as he had already pulled Three into a tight hug and they kissed each other so many gracious times out of happiness. After letting go, Three smiled and said "Good night. I hope we meet again." He pulled Four back in for another tender kiss. "Thank you so much..." He starts walking back inside, but Four calls out "Are you just going to leave me like this?"

"I just kissed you like a hundred times! What more could you you possibly want?"

"Perhaps the chance to meet again?"

Three cannot respond as he hears Meggy calling his name as if that is all she knows how to do. The bearded man pauses and tells Four "Wait right there! I'll be back!" He rushes back inside as Four hides underneath the balcony, squealing in excitement. "Oh bless me! My luck has finally risen from the depths! Is this a dream because this feels too wonderful to be real." Three runs back outside and hears Four gushing. "Well now we're even." Four fidgets out of embarrassment as Three pushes that topic aside. "Nevermind. I...want to ask you something..."

"Anything my prince! Just name it!" Three takes in a deep breath and blurts out "WILL YOU MARRY ME!?"

Four stands in silence as he is starstruck by the request. Three quickly informs him "I know I might be coming on too strong, but this is simply not the best time. Listen up because I'm only going to say this once! I will send a messenger to find you and if your love really is real then tell them when and where you want to be married."

"SMG3!" Meggy calls out again. Three gives a stern comment at the end. "I will warn you, if you are lying then I will kick your butt! I will send the messenger tomorrow."

Four sincerely said "I would never." Three kisses his hand happily, almost crying. "I can't wait to see you again!" Four waves and climbs down from the tree when the comforting voice asks more. "What time should I send my messenger?" Four thought for a second and told him "9 o' clock!"

"Good. It will feel like forever till then." Four could see the disappointment in his eyes so he jumped again and pulled his love back in for another lock of lips. It was like each kiss was more heartfelt than the last. Eventually, they had to part as Four blew him a kiss and ran off before his friends and family wondered where he was. When he was out of sight, Three went back inside and collapsed on the bed, giggling and blushing an intense amount.

As he walked back, all he could think about was being wed. "Mario is gonna be all over me after hearing this." Four chuckled to himself until he realized "Mario is right! I am gay!" He groaned, but that was the least of his problems. Who was going to wed them? Panic set into Four's mind as he tried to think of someone qualified. The only person who seemed eligible for this seemed to be-

"The wizard rock!"

Four ran at lighting speed, over to the wizard's residence in hopes that he would do this favor for the both of them. After all, he was not a Monty nor Cassette so that rivalry nonsense wouldn't be a problem.

"WHERE THE HELL IS FOUR!? DID HE EVEN GO BACK HOME?" Mario and Bob were hanging around in the streets. They had not seen Four since the party last night. Mario was being his usual derpy eyed self, not paying attention. "HELLO!? EARTH TO MARIO!" He waved his blade in the fat Italian's face until he regained conscience from his idiotic trance. "Could Bob repeat the question? Mario was not listening." Bob facepalmed himself and said "F O U R! HAVE YOU SEEN HIM?" Mario shook his head and replied "No. But Mario did find something while stealing Smg4's mail!"

Bob was very intrigued to take it, wondering who could have sent it. "OH GREAT..."

"Oooo does it say anything about spaghetti?"

"NO! IT'S FROM THAT SNOBBY PRINCE SWAG! I BET ALL MY GARBAGE THAT HE IS CHALLENGING FOUR TO A FIGHT!"

"Smg4 will beat that bully!"

"NOT IF HE'S TOO DISTRACTED WITH THAT GAY LOVER OF HIS!"

Mario's ears immediately perked up as Bob went looking for Four to give him the letter. "Gay lover!? Mario knew that Smg4 was gay! Who is it Bob? Please tell Mario!" Mario ran up to the cloaked man and put on his best puppy dog eyes, very excited with news that his best friend had found romance. "HOW THE HELL SHOULD I KNOW!? I SAW HIM KISSING SOME BEARDO GUY AT THE PARTY AND THEN HE RAN OFF!"

Four happily skipped through town, cheerfully merry that he had just spoken with the wizard rock and he had agreed to wed the couple. He then heard noises as he saw his best friend waving in the distance, along with Bob. "Good morning guys!" Both of them started looking at him with smug eyes when he approached. "BONJOUR TO THE FAIR GAY FOUR." Mario joined in with the teasing as he asked seductively "Did Smg4 have fun with his boyfriend?"

Blush crept on Four once again as he put on this whole innocent act. "Wh-What do you mean?" Mario poked his cheek playfully and said "You don't need to lie to Mario! Bob told him all about how Smg4 ditched us to run off and play smoochy smoochy!" Four sighed and said "It wasn't exactly like that. I just had...some business to attend to."

"WHAT? YOU MEAN YOUR MARRIAGE!?"

Four's eyes widened as he thought to himself "How did he know!? He's just joking right? If the heads of our families knew about our marriage then we will never be together!" A sword slings over his shoulder as Bob says "RELAX DUDE. I'M JUST KIDDING." Four breathes a sigh of relief and told the two of them "You must promise me to never say a word to anyone about this!" Bob seemed far fetched since he already told someone about it, but Mario quickly assured "Mario's lips are sealed! He will also keep Bob in check!"

The two were a little disappointed to not be able to spread the word, but made up for it by mocking and teasing the poor boy. "Mario knew you were gay!"

"I BET YOU FLIRTED WITH HIM!"

Four shot back "No I didn't!" The taunting grew worse. "Yes you are! Anytime Smg4 is a hopeless romantic, he speaks sweetly and corny!" Mario started imitated Four, doing a really bad impression of him. "oH mY lOvE i wiLL shOwEr yOu wiTH rOsE pEtAlS anD pRaiSe yOu wiTH cOmPLiMenTs!" Bob joined in on the tomfoolery. "KISS MY HAND AND GET IN MY BED!"

A familiar woman enters the square with her companion, Tari. The two mockers easily spot their next target, heading straight for them. "Lookie here! A pair of lesbians has just entered the scene!" Meggy ignored them and asked Tari "Could you bring me a fan? I'm dying in this heat." The girl happily nodded and was about to give her one when Bob called out "GOOD BLUEBERRY. HIDE HER FACE! THAT FAN IS OBVIOUSLY MUCH PRETTIER!" Meggy's eye began to twitch as she calmed herself and politely said "Good morning boys."

"Good morning squid!" She asks the trio "Do any of you know where I can find the one known as Smg4?" Mario turns with a priceless expression on his face. "Ooooo hot dog!" Four rolls his eyes and presents himself. "I am the one you speak of ma'am." She smiles and said "Good. Could you come with us to speak in private?" Mario jumps up and stupidly cheers "Smg4's secret admirer is inviting him to a date!"

The girls drag him off when Bob sneaks up behind her and pulls on Meggy's dress. Tari gasps as the two immature fools run off. Meggy is furious as she screams "YOU SCOUNDRELS! I'LL GET YOU FOR THIS!" Four comes over to help her. "Are you okay?" She nods and dusts herself off. "Thank you. Who were the silly boys that shouted all those insults?"

"My best friend Mario and Bob. Both Montys." She raises an eyebrow and says "Maybe you need to find some new friends." Dealing with the matter later, Meggy says "We must have a word in private." She points to a church and the three of them go inside to discuss.

As they found somewhere to take a seat, Meggy informed him "We were sent by Smg3 to find you." Four nodded until Meggy looked upon him sternly. "I should warn you that if his heart breaks because of you then I will not hold back my revenge!" Tari places an arm on her shoulder and says "Calm down Meggy. Three trusts him and so should we." Four nodded and told them "I wouldn't do that for all the riches in the world. Three is the most magnificent man I have ever met."

He succumbs into his lovey dovey trance until Meggy snaps her fingers to wake him up. "Sorry! But I promise that I carry good intentions for him. Tell Three to come here this afternoon, where we will confess our love and be married." The girls agree and Four reaches into his pocket to pull out some coins. "Please take my offering as a reward for all you have done."

Tari pushes it away and encourages him "No payment needed sir. Three's happiness will be payment enough." Four insists they take it and thanks them one last time. The girls bid farewell and go off to tell Three the good news.

The bearded man paces outside, awaiting the report from Meggy and Tari. "I sent them at nine and they promised this would only take half an hour. Maybe they couldn't find him? No, that can't be right." His self-talking was interrupting when Meggy and Tari came sneaking back. "Meggy! Tari! Please tell me there is good news!" The girls share a glance as Tari walks past them and says "I'll let you tell him."

Meggy enters, relieved to be back from her journey and Three follows behind. "Spill it squid! What did my love say?" She giggles and said "Well he was a honest, courteous, kind, virtuous boy..." She stops and whispers "Where is Mr Puzzles?"

"Upstairs? Why?"

"Good. Now just give me a minute."

Three gets furious and screams "WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT!? JUST TELL ME WHAT FOUR SAID!" Meggy apologizes and tells him to calm down. "Do you have permission to go down to the square today?" Three nods. "There lies a church where a husband is waiting to marry you." Any anger that Three might still be feeling was gone in an instant. He threw his arms around his friend and cheered "Oh thank you! Thank you!" Meggy laughed and told him "I will cover for you in your absence. Go and meet your husband to be!" Three didn't waste a second and rushed to the door. "Goodbye Meggy!"

Four anxiously stands at the altar as the wizard rock sternly says "Remember this is a one time thing. I don't want more gay people flocking at my door, begging me to unify them." A man, disguised in a cloak appears which catches Four's eyes. "Are you even listening to me?" Four rushed past him and spins around his lover happily. "THREE! YOU CAME!" They missed each other endlessly and share a deep heartfelt kiss, already missing how good it felt.

"Why do I even bother?" the wizard rock says while rolling his eyes. "Are you excited for our wedding?" Four asks as Three stares deeply into his eyes. "I cannot wait for you to hold me like this for eternity. Is this what true love feels like?"

"It must be if you asked me to marry you."

"Shut up you moron."

Three giggled and buried himself into Four's chest. The wizard rock shouts from across the hall "If you two lovebirds are finished can we get this over with! If anybody catches us then I'll be in big trouble!" The two pulled away and stepped forth to their sacred binding, still holding hands as they walked. The wizard rock pulled out his book and asked Three "Do you take this idiot to be your lawfully wedded husband until you die?"

"Yes." Three sighed, shrouded in love that you could see pink all over his cheeks. The rock turned to Four next and asked him "Do you take this loser to be your lawfully wedded...husband? Until you die?" Three nervously awaited his answer, hoping that Four had honored his word and wouldn't do something stupid like run off. "A thousand times yes~"

"Then by the power vested in me yada yada yada you are now husband and husband. Hooray..."

The two boys cried tears of joy as they kissed deeply, wrapping their arms around their necks.

"I love you Four."

"I love you more than anything else in the world Three~"

Nothing could ever bring them apart now. Or so it seemed...

"Can we go home yet Bob? Mario is hot and he doesn't want to run into those Cassettes." Bob didn't listen to good reason as he went into the Italian's face and went "BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH. YOU WHINE TOO MUCH MARIO."

He goes over to a fountain for a drink of water when Prince Swag, Chris, and a group of Cassettes arrive. Mario points in their direction and says "Here they come! They're going to make Mario into a bowl of spaghetti!" He starts tugging on Bob's arm, but he doesn't budge. "PFFF I DON'T CARE. I'LL TEACH THEM A LESSON."

Swag notices his two rivals and says "HEY GUYS. WATCH THIS!" He strides over in a superior way and asks "I WANT A WORD WITH YOU." Bob was not intimidated as he raises a sword and says "YEAH RIGHT. ALMOST EVERYTHING OFFENDS YOU AND WHEN I DO, YOU'LL PUNCH ME IN THE OVARIES!" Swag inches closer to his face. "I WOULD BE MORE THAN GLAD TO DO THAT IF YOU GIVE ME A REASON TO."

Bob raises an eye in suspicion and asks "IF ANYONE IS TO BE PUNCHED THEN GO TALK TO SMG4. HE'S MAKING GOOGLY EYES AT YOUR SUCKY MASTER'S HEIR!"

"I AM FULLY AWARE. BUT YOU HANG OUT WITH THAT LOWDOWN SCUM."

"LOWDOWN SCUM!? I'LL SHOW YOU WHO'S THE SCUM!"

Bob raises his swords, but Mario gets in the way. "Please leave Mario and his friend alone. What Smg4 does is none of your stinky business so go away! Shoo! Shoo!" Mario flails his hands off to get Swag to leave, but he stands his ground.

"WHO CARES WHAT YOU SAY FATTY. HERE COMES THE MAN I WANT." Mario tries to hold back Bob from lunging towards the prince, but they see Four heading towards them. He exclaims happily "Mario! Bob! I've got great news!" Before he can share, he notices Swag and the Cassettes.

"Swag?"

"SMG4. I HAVE ONE THING TO SAY TO YOU. YOU ARE A VILLAIN."

Bob and Mario don't move an inch as Swag slowly walks toward Four. He calmly says "I am not a villain and I will not dare to hurt you. Even when you fill me with rage." He strides past the prince to his friends when Swag says something to make him stop. "THIS STILL DOES NOT EXCUSE ALL YOU HAVE DONE TO ME. TURN AROUND AND FIGHT ME LIKE A MAN!"

"I have done nothing to you. I told you that I will not fight, for that would make my love unhappy. Therefore, I will love you as I love him." He shakes the prince's hand as he is speechless. Bob laughs and says "I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS. HE WON'T FIGHT BECUSE HE IS HOMOSEXUAL! AND NOW HE HAS BECOME GAY FOR YOU SWAG! HAHAHAHAHH!"

Swag looks down at his hand and waves it in disgust. "EWWW I'VE BEEN TOUCHED BY A MONTY! YUCK!" He rushes over to the fountain and washes his hand, ridding whatever Monty germs were there. When Four let his guard down, Swag splashed water on him and then turned to do the same to Bob and Mario. "HAHAHAHAH! TAKE THAT YOU STUPID MONTYS!" A boiling anger came down on Bob as his eyes went blood red. Mario noticed and pushed him away to prevent more harm, but the damage had been done. "THAT STUPID JERK! I'LL KILL YOU SWAG! I'LL KIIIIILLLLLLL YOOOOUUUU!!!"

"No Bob!" He shoved Mario off and yelled "DUEL ME SNOBBY PRINCE!"

WARNING: WE ARE NOW GETTING INTO THE GRUESOME PARTS OF THE STORY

He chuckled and pulled out a sword while Bob raised his two samurai sword hands. "It's not worth it Bob! Leave him be!" Four shouted out. Both of them circled each other as a crowd of Montys and Cassettes came up to watch. Back and forth they went, clashing with swords as the sheer sound of clinking roused the battle.

Four pushed through the crowd and encouraged them to stop fighting with uncomfortableness in his tone. "Stop it Bob! Put down your weapons! Bowser forbid us to fight in the streets of the kingdom! Stop it before someone gets hurt!"

He outstretched his arms to break up the two, but it only made Bob's impatience grow. "OUT OF MY WAY!" Swag saw his opportunity to slash as Four luckily managed to duck out of the way. "Swag what have you done!?" The prince looked confusingly at Chris, pointing right at his sword. He focused his eyes on where his wingman was looking and instantly stiffened.

There, lying on the tip of his sword was...blood...deep, red blood, dripping from his weapon...

Mario was horrified and Four couldn't bear to look at Bob. If he was not struck then-

He had no choice as he slowly shifted his eyes over to his beloved friend. Bob was holding his chest, wincing in pain, and seemed to be holding the spot where he had been cut. Swag said nothing until Chris grabbed his shoulder and said "We have to go Swag. Now!" He, Swag, and the rest of the Cassettes fled in silence, not knowing how to react on the imprint to their enemy.

Bob tried to be tough and yelled "YOU BETTER RUN!" but after that sentence, he collapsed in pain as Four caught him. The Montys surrounded him as Mario asked "Are you hurt?"

"I'M FINE. IT'S JUST A SCRATCH."

Four helped him up and said "It can't be much Bob." He nodded and yelled "SOMEONE FETCH ME A DOCTOR!" His vision started to blur as he looked up at Four. "WHY THE HELL DID YOU STEP BETWEEN US?"

"I was only doing what I thought was right."

Bob let go and fell backwards into Mario's arms. "I MIGHT FAINT...GET ME..." He tried climbing up the steps painfully slow as the crowd thought it was all a playful little act. He couldn't take it anymore so once reaching the top, he stood up and screamed "YOU IDIOTS! I AM SLAIN DEEPLY! I HATE YOU ALL!"

That was the last thing Bob said before he fell off the steps and Mario sprung into action to catch him. "BOB!" As he fell to the ground, Mario and Four examined the body as his best friend said in a shaky voice "Smg4...is Bob dead..?" Four's eyes widened as he leaned in closer to check the wound. Pushing the arm out of his way, there laid a gruesome cut that had been blown right to his chest.

Everyone immediately shut up and realized that this was actually serious. Four breathed heavily with a lump in his throat and tears in his eyes, fighting to get out. An old friend. Someone he grew up with was now dead. He didn't know what to do with Bob gone like this.

Four's shaky hands clenched into fists and his eyebrows furrowed. "SWAG KILLED BOB! I WILL NO LONGER REPECT HIM! I WISH DEATH WOULD COME TO HIM!" Mario and the rest of the Montys tried to hold him back, but he broke free and ran after the prince. "SWAG!"

He ran through the streets, catching up with the Cassettes as the others ran after him. "SWAG!" The prince turned around from his leisurely walk. "Swag...take back that 'villain' you called me earlier. The only villain I see is you...waiting for your soul to join Bob's. Now it's you and me!"

He lunged forward and tackled the noble royalty as everyone looked at him in shock. The Cassettes tried to pull them apart as Swag pushed the scoundrel off and took out his sword. Someone tossed Four the same. "OH FOUR...YOU'VE MADE A BIG MISTAKE. NOW YOU WILL JOIN YOUR SO CALLED FRIEND."

The clashing began again, only this time it was much more intense as Four had nothing except boiling rage. Encouraging and conflicting shouts surrounded them as they tussled and tumbled. Four knew this wasn't allowed, but he didn't care anymore. He didn't care about that stupid rule. He didn't care about the stupid consequences. All he cared about was getting revenge on the one who had killed Bob. Swag threw him on the ground and was about to strike when Four grabbed the sword lying next to him and shut his eyes.

"AHHHHH!!!"

Everyone was flabbergasted. Just like Bob, Swag had been struck right in this chest, except he had no movement, no sound, not a word escaped his lips. Chris placed his shaking hand on his best friend. "S-Swag...?" The prince immediately fell and collapsed on top of Four. He quickly pushed him over and stood up to look over the body of the once most beloved Cassette. The world felt like it was closing on him. He hated Swag for what he did, but tears still trickled down his cheeks, along with the shrunk pupils. His clothes were torn up and stained with the blood of his enemy.

Mario could hear sounds coming in the distance as he started dragging Four and urging him in a very freaked out voice. "Smg4 has to get away! The citizens will see what you have done! If Smg4 is caught then Bowser will kill him!" Four just kept staring at the blood, staining his dusty robes. He cried out "WHAT HAVE I DONE!? I'M A FOOL!" Mario and the Montys retreated while Four kept crying. He never meant for things to go this far, but alas his emotions got the better of him. Where was his head? He had to run and he did just that.

Chris felt just as upset as Four did when Bob was slain, but sadly picked up the body while the rest of the Cassettes yelled "THE MONTYS WILL PAY!"

"Swag is dead!?"

Meggy started to well up upon the news while Three looked horrified. "Four killed Swag?" Meggy rested her arms on a table. "You think you'd know a guy..." That faith, trust, and honesty once gained was now lost. Meggy slammed her fist on the table and yelled "SHAME ON FOUR!" To her surprise, Three shot back "You do not talk about my husband like that!"

"But he killed Swag!"

"I will never stop loving him! My poor love had to defend himself or Swag would have killed him and I could not stand to see that! But I also cannot stand to think what punishment will come to him now..."

Angry Montys brought Bob's body through one entrance while furious Cassettes brought Swag's body the other. Bowser watched the crowds argue as he motioned them to hush and asked a plump fellow "Mario? Who started this?" He pointed to Swag and said "He started it! Mario swears! Smg4 tried to speak nicely and stop the fight, but this oaf slashed Bob! Smg4 wanted revenge and Mario tried to stop him...he did but...but..."

"THAT'S NOT TRUE! THE FATSO LIES!" Montys and Cassettes begin fighting one another until Mr Puzzles stepped forth to see what the racket was. "And what happened here?" Chris stepped forth and screamed "FOUR KILLED MY BEST FRIEND! HE SHOULD BE PUNISHED!"

Bowser told the TV man that Four had killed Swag and the prince killed Bob. Mario begged "Please do not hurt Smg4! He was Bob's friend! He only wanted revenge for his friends! Normally, he wouldn't hurt a fly!" Bowser stood his ground and roared "AND FOR THAT WE WILL IMMEDIATELY BANISH HIM!"

Mr Puzzles stopped him with a hand. He looked closer at the two bodies and calmly said "Go fetch some doctors to help these two recover. I will take care of Smg4 myself." Bowser sighed and did as he was told with not another peep. Mr Puzzles spoke to himself "I underestimated him...but Smg3 and his friends are still standing in my way...something must be done about that."

Four cried his heart out on the ground of the wizard rock's residence. A knock comes from the door as he quickly says "Hide Four! Someone is coming." Four is still bawling his eyes out as the wizard prepares himself before answering. "Who comes flocking to my door?"

A familiar voice echoes from the other side. "Let me come in and I'll tell you. I have been sent by Smg3." The rock immediately lets her in and she surveys the place to find Smg4, lying cold on the ground. "Come and get up for your husband. He is worried sick about you."

Four slowly rises, wiping dry tears from his eyes. "My Smg3? Oh please tell me how he is? Does he think I'm a cold blooded murderer? I did not mean to spill Swag's blood! What did he say about our love!?" Meggy tells him "He is frightened to death about you! We heard about your sentence!"

"Oh god, have I been sentenced to death?" Meggy sticks out her hands and says "No! No! Nothing like that. But you have been banished." The wizard rock rolls his eyes as Four starts blubbering to himself "OH I AM NOTHING BUT A MONSTER! I SHOULD JUST END MYSELF HERE AND NOW! MY LOVE WILL BE MUCH BETTER WITHOUT ME TO DRAG HIM DOWN!"

The wizard rock complains "Oh come now! You cry and whine about killing yourself when you and your love are still alive. Swag was jealous and wanted to kill you, but you killed him! All they have done is banished you when they could have sentenced you to death! Go find your love and comfort him. You shall have to leave, but we will encourage your families to make amends and beg Bowser to welcome you back."

Four looks at him and is still unsure so the wizard asks "Do you still love him?"

"I do. More than anything in the world!"

"Then go prove your love and give Three your farewell."

"I shall! Thank you Meggy! Thank you wizard!"

Four ran off in joy as Meggy looks confused on how fast Four changed perspective and the wizard rock smirked. "He's a crybaby."

The sun rises as Four is cuddling with Three in his bed and birds are chirping. The blue eyed man is the first to wake up as he peeks one eye open and sweetly smiles to see his lover sleeping peacefully. He brings Three's chin up to his face and softly kisses the man's lips. After that, he stretches and gets up, opening the curtains to let sunlight flood into the room. Three grumbles, not ready to get up, but forcefully opens his eyes with a cranky look.

All that disappears when he sees his husband as he sits on the bed. Three says with a tone of sadness in his voice "You're leaving? Not now. It's too early to get up. Stay and keep me warm my love." Four shakes his head. "I wish I could, but I have to go. If I stay, they will kill me." He tried to get up, but Three pulled him closer and whined "Noooo~ Stay longer. I don't want you to leave."

Four couldn't resist those puppy dog eyes as he pulled Three into an embrace and cried "Oh take me! Kill me if you want, but at least I will die a happy man!" Three cheered to himself while kissing his husband's cheeks multiple times. After a while, the bearded man complained "It's not fair! I know that you were only protecting yourself, but they think otherwise. I do not want to see you die, but I do not wish to part with you as well! Don't make me choose!"

Four comforted his devastated partner, replying "I would never ask you to make that choice. I told you that I will be leaving the kingdom for a while, but my friends will have Bowser welcome me back with open arms."

"And then you shall return?

"Then I shall return."

"Promise?"

They let their foreheads touch as Four whispered sweetly "I promise." A knock on the door interrupts them as Meggy calls out for Three on the other side. "Mr Puzzles is coming!" She informs them. He turns back from the door to see Four rushing out to the balcony before he is caught. Three follows out and pleads him "Please write to me every day so I know you're alright!"

"What do you think I'll be doing in all my free time?"

Three was still a little unsure of the parting so he asked "Will we see each other again soon?"

"I don't doubt it at all."

Four gave him one last kiss before climbing down to the ground. He looked back a final time before running off and saw the expression of an aching heart from his lover's face. It pained him to see his soulmate go, but it had to be done. Four sighed and whispered "Until we meet again my love..."

That was the last time Three would see his beloved in a long time. Three buried his head into his arms and cried his soul out. He thought the tears would never stop until he was reunited with his sweet prince again.

~At the city's gate~

Mario was waiting with a horse as Four met him at the entrance, flipping up his hood so no one would recognize him. "Goodbye Smg4! Mario will miss you very much!" Four wished all the best and reminded him of his task, then set out for a new city to call home.

"Dont-a worry Smg4! Mario will keep-a eye out for your gay husband!"

Three sulkily buries his head in the pillow, sobbing tearfully as Mr Puzzles just stared at him defiantly, rolling his eyes. "Don't worry, we will take our revenge for Swag's death. I know someone where Smg4 now lives and he shall take care of him. Are you happy now?" A muffled "No." came from the pillow as Three secretly wished avoided death for his long distance "rival."

"But enough with all this depressing stuff. I have good news for you Smg3!" The bearded man sat up in bed, wiping his cheeks. "I have asked the noble Luigi to marry you at the church next Thursday morning." His speechless expression soon turned into one of anger and frustration. He screamed out "I WILL NOT MARRY THAT IDIOT! YOU CALL THAT GOOD NEWS!?" Tears started to escape again as Meggy rushed up to comfort him. "NO! I REFUSE!"

Bowser was talking with Luigi in the halls, very exciting for the upcoming wedding. "Congratulations Luigi! I know you'll make this kingdom proud!" The valiant man stuttered "T-Thanks..." and waved goodbye when Prince Bowser heard screams from upstairs. "What could be going on up there?"

Mr Puzzles screen began to glitch as he let out a blank "What?" The decline was really starting to make him ticked. "DO YOU KNOW HOW HARD I WORKED ON THIS!? YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO MARRY LUIGI! I AM NOT TAKING NO FOR AN ANSWER!"

"NEVER!"

Mr Puzzles grips him by the neck and shouts "YOU LITTLE BRAT! YOU WILL MARRY LUIGI OR SO HELP ME GOD, I'LL DESTROY YOU!" Bowser soon walks in to find Three thrown across the room into the wall. "Whoa! Whoa! What's going on in here!?" Meggy rushes to Three's side to help him. "Are you okay?" She hides Three behind her and yells "YOU DO NOT TREAT YOUR HEIR LIKE THAT! ARE YOU CRAZY OR SOMETHING!?" Mr Puzzles watches as everyone looks at him in anger. He calms himself and said "Maybe I am, but I know one thing. You are going to marry Luigi and if you don't, then go die in the streets. I'M DONE!" He storms out the door as Bowser quickly follows.

Three picks himself up and asks "How do we stop this Meggy? My husband is still out there and I cannot abandon him like this." Meggy sighs and tells him "Three I...I think it's time you move on and marry Luigi. Four is banished now and you are very lucky to have another chance. Besides, Four is probably dead already."

Three slowly backs away from her and says in a cold tone "Are you being serious..."

"Yes."

Three takes a gulp and says "Fine. Go and tell that TV freak that I will wed Luigi like he says." Meggy smiles and touches his shoulder. "You're making the right choice." Three lashes out "JUST GO BEFORE I CHANGE MY MIND!" Meggy bows and says nothing else before departing. After she leaves, Three sneers and says "How dare you try and separate me from my love. Not then, nor now will I ever stop loving him."

The wizard rock tinkers in his quarters when Three bursts into the room. "Shut the door! I need your help!" He walks past to close the door and says "Can I not go a day without one of you bursting into my home, uninvited. What could you possibly want when you're married to your one true love?"

"Actually...my husband and I have been...separated."

The wizard rock stands in shock. "And now I must marry Luigi." He tries to think of a solution when a flower on the shelf catches his eye. "I have an idea. But we may have to take drastic measures for it to work." Three watches him hop on the table and flip through a book. "If you are more willing to kill yourself than marry Luigi, then maybe a fibbed death can get you out of this."

Three looks upon this in disbelief. "Kill myself? How the hell does killing myself fix this!? Then I would never see my love!" The rock mumbles "Why do I bother..." and tells him "Go home and act like you want to marry Luigi. Tonight, make sure to go to bed alone and don't let Meggy into your room either."

Three nods as the wizard picks up a small vial. "Drink this before bed and you will feel cold and sleepy. Your pulse will stop and so will your breathing. Do not worry, you will not be dead. Instead you will wake in forty two hours like it was all just a bad dream. Everyone will think you died and place you in the tomb underneath. From there, I will message Four about our plan and he will meet us, then take you both back to his kingdom."

After hearing that he and Four would be reunited, he stretched his arm across the table, reaching for the bottle. "Gimme! Gimme!" He snatched it as the wizard rock takes out a paper and says "Go. I shall get to work on the letter." Three joyfully runs out of the room while the wizard rock groans. "I need a raise or something."

Mr Puzzles seemed to be working on some important files when Three carefully approached him. "I..I am ready to marry Luigi. Sorry for my outburst. I will be loyal to you from now on." Mr Puzzles almost falls out of his chair as he cries "Wonderful! I was not expecting this from you Smg3, but I am glad you have finally come to your senses!" He gladly blathered on about how good this will be for him as Three glances at the vial he was hiding behind his back.

That night, Three made sure to shut all the windows and close the curtains so he would be alone, just like the rock said. After that, he opened a drawer and pulled out the tiny flask, popping off the lid. The smell of lavender hit his nose as he shut his eyes and whispered "Until we meet again my love..." There was no stopping him now as he tossed his head back and drunk down every last drop. The room began to spin and Three's head grew dizzy. His vision kept blurring until he collapsed onto his bed and the body was unconscious.

~The Next Morning~

The wizard rock approached a messenger at the gates with a white envelope. He exchanged it and told him "Give this to Smg4." The messenger said nothing and waited for the wizard to leave. Once he did, the sketchy messenger crumpled up the note and threw it into the wilderness, never to be seen again. "It's done Mr Puzzles."

The home of the Cassettes was pleasantly quiet with only the sounds of birdsong to fill the air. That all changed when a large shriek came from Smg3's room and Meggy ran out, horrified on what she just seen.

"HE'S DEAD! THREE IS DEAD!"

Mr Puzzles scurried down the hall in confusion. "What do you mean?" A mob of Cassettes soon came right behind him as Meggy pointed to the room, full of tears. The TV man took a peek and found that it was true. Three was laying on the side of his bed, hand drooping to the ground. Not a breath, heartbeat, or any sign of life to be had. Everyone was in shock, except for Mr Puzzles. "Huh...well that's a shame." Meggy stiffened.

"A shame...? A SHAME!? YOUR HEIR IS LYING THERE, DEAD COLD, AND ALL YOU HAVE TO SAY IS THAT'S A SHAME!?" He scoffed and said "Relax Meggy. He's not dead. Probably faking it for that stupid Smg4 of his! I knew he was coming on too quickly." Meggy pointed a finger in his face and screamed "HOW CAN YOU POSSIBLY THINK HE'S FAKING IT! I CHECKED! HE HAS NO BLOOD PRESSURE, NO HEARTBEAT, NOTHING! HE'S NOT EVEN BREATHING!"

Mr Puzzles was about to say something back, but looked between her and Three a few times, then sighed. "Very well then. The least we can do is commemorate a funeral for the poor boy." The Cassettes all agreed that would be the best course since there was no hope left for Three. Before she left, Meggy asked Mr Puzzles one final thing. "What do you think caused it?" He glanced at the wizard rock's quarters in the distance and said "Oh I'm sure I know exactly what happened..."

It was a sad day indeed as the Cassettes had prepared a little farewell service. Three held some purple poppies in his hand while dressed in some of his best robes. As they viewed the body, Mario snuck over for a closer look. He remembered Four told him that his husband was named Smg3 and had radiant red eyes, woven black hair, the softest hands he ever felt-

Mario stuck out his tongue in disgust. Four was a little too mushy with his descriptions, but Mario could obviously tell it was him since the man had gay written all over him. Mario squinted his eyes, wondering what was happening with Three.

"Is it a birthday for Smg3? No, there's no cake."

"Is Smg3 getting married? No, he's already Smg4's husband."

He inched towards a bush and noticed that Three was passed out. "Why is Smg3 sleeping?" He then saw a girl with orange hair, hugging Three one last time and throwing a cover over him while Chris, Boopkins, and Tari all threw some flowers. Mario then realized something as his face went into pure shock.

"Did Smg3....die?"

Without any thought or hesitation, he sped off, back to Four to tell him the bad news. A few hours later, Mario used BLJ to get up the stairs and fell next to a dazed Four with a pained groan. He quickly got up and yelled "SMG4! SMG4!" When Four saw Mario, he was overcome with exhilaration. "Mario! How is Three? Is he doing alright without me?" He excitedly awaited the Italian's response, but tears started to trickle down his cheek and he began sobbing.

"Whoa! Whoa! Mario what's wrong? Hey I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable or anyth-"

"He's dead..."

Four's face looked horrified like nothing ever seen before. "What did you say..."

"Mario's so sorry Smg4. He went back to check on your gay husband just like you said and..."

"And what?"

"Mario saw him lying there ded! He thought that Smg3 was sleeping!"

Four looked him in the eyes and said "Please tell me that isn't so. Perhaps you mistook him for someone else?" Mario shook his head and crosses his heart. "Mario promises it was him! He looked just like Smg4 said!" Four refused to believe it. He grabbed Mario's hand and yelled "TAKE ME TO HIM NOW!" Mario nodded, scared to death as Four pulled Mario toward their horses and rode off, back to the place that was now a cursed death trap. They rode past a messenger, who watched him run by, but Four paid no attention to it.

After a long ride, they arrived at the tombs of Cassettes, holding those from far and wide. Night had fallen by the time they had gotten there and Mario pointed to a familiar chamber. "That's where Mario saw Smg3 being buried!" Four went down and pulled on the door, but it was locked. He looked around and saw a big rock that he angrily threw to bust the lock. No door was going to separate him from his lover.

He grabbed a nearby torch and went down to find the resting bodies of so many, mostly skeletons. It kinda creeped him out, but he told himself to stay strong. One body caught his eye as it was the beautiful man, dressed in purple.

Four's breath quickened as he put down the torch to get a closer look at his departed lover. Carefully, he took off the silky sheet covering him and held Three's face in his hands. "Oh my love...why did I ever leave you. This is all my fault." Even in death, Three looked just as handsome as when Four had first laid eyes on him. There had to be some hope. If he was dead then he would be pale right? Tears streamed down as he laughed through the pain and replied "My dear Three, why do you look so beautiful?" Laughter soon turned into screams.

"Why did death have to claim you and separate us forever? I should have never left you! I promise I won't make that mistake again and I'll stay here with you...OH PLEASE COME BACK I'M SO SORRY!" Four's sobs grew louder as he buried his head on Three's chest, only blaming himself for this wretched fate. As he cries started coming to an end, he looked upon Three and croaked out "I cannot go on without you. So if this must be the last time we will see each other, I will seal this with my righteous kiss!" He lunged forward to have his last touch of lips in an ignited passion and fell to the floor out of grief. Something fell out of his pocket as he picked it up and noticed it was a bottle of poison.

Four gasped and looked back at the lifeless body before his eyes. "If this is what it takes to see you again, then goodbye my love!" He raised the bottle to his mouth, trembling at the thought of dying, but his heart had already been shattered and what use is there living life if you don't have a heart.

Then he suddenly stopped. Not emotionally, but physically stopped. No movement. Someone paused him.

The wizard rock was hopping with a lantern when saw a red Italian, waiting outside. "Mario?" He spun around and yelled "Oh boy! Wizard rock is here!" He squeezed the rock as he bombarded "Put me down idiot! And shut up before anyone spots us!" Mario releases him and points down in the tomb. "Smg4 has been down there for a long time! Mario is getting worried!" The wizard looked at him, confused. "What do you mean? That wasn't part of the plan. You were supposed to meet us outside!"

"But Smg3 is dead! Mario saw it with his own eyes!"

"No he isn't! Didn't you read the letter?"

"What letter?"

"The letter I sent you, explaining how Three took a potion and isn't ACTUALLY DEAD!"

Mario blinked a few times and said "Oooooo whoopsie!" The wizard rock wished he had hands so he could facepalm. "You messed up the plan you moron!" Mario stuck his hands out defensively and said "It wasn't Mario's fault! Smg4 told Mario to keep an eye on his husbando!" The rock then had an intrusive thought. "Wait...If Four is down there...and he thinks that Three is dead then...OH CRAP!" He raced down the stairs with Mario following as the wizard rock called out "FOUR! DON'T DO ANYTHING! THREE ISN'T REALLY-"

The two looked in shock as Four was frozen in place while Three was still under the effects of the potion. Mario got a close look at his best friend and waved a hand in front of his face. "Yoo hoo! Smg4? Say nothing if you can hear Mario." No response. "Oh so you can hear Mario!" The wizard rock studied him and sighed of relief "It must be a frozen spell...whatever or whoever caused this...thank goodness because it looked like Four was about to kill himself."

Three's hand then began to twitch and his eyes slowly flickered open. He was still a little drowsy, but still noticed the wizard and mustached man as he sat up. "Wizard rock? And..some random guy? Where is my love?" Mario gladly offered his hand to shake and said "Its-a me Mario! Smg4's best friend!" Three awkwardly shook his hand and said "That's great...but I want to see my husband." He then noticed Four, standing stiff with a bottle of poison in his hands and tears in his eyes.

"Four?"

The wizard rock told him "He was like this when we came in. We don't know who or what did this." Three said not a word and gently placed a hand on Four's face. "My love...were you going to..kill yourself...for me?"

Four soon began to blink and shake his head like he didn't know what just occured. "Huh...what happened? Three? You're okay?" He smiled and nodded "Yes my love." Four was so perplexed, trying to piece things together. "But-But you were dead! You weren't even breathing!"

"I took a potion you idiot! We're you even paying attention to the letter?"

"What letter?"

Mario cleared his throat and said "Actually this-a was Mario's fault. Smg4 send him to keep an eye on you and he thought you died! Oops-a-daisy!" The wizard rock backed him up by saying "Yeah...the plan didn't go quite as we expected It seems that Four never got the letter."

It didn't matter though as Three threw his arms around the blue eyed man and cried "I don't care! Whoever froze you in place Four...I AM GRATEFUL FOR THEM! THANK YOU FOR SAVING MY LOVE!" Four graciously returned the hug and was just as thankful as well. "If you had died, then I probably would have killed myself also!" Four looked terrified as he says "Oh please don't! I don't want to talk about death anymore tonight!" Three perfectly understood as they all went back outside to leave.

It felt good to be under the moonlight. Three couldn't wait to get home and snuggle with his husband until Four realized something. "If that was where all the Cassettes were buried then...how come Swag wasn't in there?"

"BECAUSE I'M RIGHT HERE SUCKERS!"

They whipped their heads around to see two familiar faces of Bob and Swag. "WHAT'S UP LOSERS." Four ran up and threw himself around his old friend. "BOB! YOU'RE ALIVE!" The wizard rock said "Swag too. But how?" They both looked at each other and showed off their previous injuries, now covered with bandages. "THOSE SICK*** NURSES HEALED US BACK TO NORMAL. TURNS OUT WE WEREN'T ACTUALLY DEAD LOL!"

Four awkwardly turned to Swag, still hugging Bob and said "Hey...no hard feelings about me impaling you?" He nodded and replied "I'M COOL. WE ACTUALLY WANTED TO COME WITH YOU. I'M DONE WITH THAT BORING PRINCE JOB!"

"AND THE WHOLE KINGDOM!" Bob added.

Four laughed and said "Sure. It would be nice to have a few more friends tag along." Three got closer to his husband and told him "I'm a bit jealous of him my love." Four noticed he was still hugging Bob and instead embraced his lover. "Better?"

"Much better."

"Yippee! Let's got home and have a big spaghetti feast!"

Mario climbed onto his horse with Swag and Bob while Four went on the other with Three. "Are you coming with us?" Four asked the wizard rock, but he politely declined. "Nah. I've still got work to do here, but I'll make sure to write to you lovebirds." They all waved to the wizard and rode off into the sunrise, beginning their new peaceful life. Some say that there has never been a love story that could ever compare to the tale of Smg4 and Smg3.

End of Simulation

What did you think of today's episode?

Chapter 11: Anastasia: The Long Awaited Return of SMG4

#smg4 #smg3 #smg34 #smg4 au #smg43 #smg4 x smg3 #tari #tsundere #love confession #luigi #mario #megari #meggy #meggy x tari #paris #romance

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nicklloydnow · 1 year ago

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“Still, at some point in your life, you’ve probably heard about the theory of “nuclear deterrence” embraced by so many in our military and those of other major powers globally. The idea is that nuclear weapons actually keep us all “safe” by their mere presence in the hands of those powers. According to such thinking, their existence restrains the leaders of such countries from directly making war on each other for fear of setting off a world-ending nuclear conflict. And in that context, yes, the U.S. military spends tens of billions of dollars annually on the upkeep of some 5,428 nuclear weapons of every sort and their delivery systems to keep us safe. Worse yet, it plans to “invest” upwards of two trillion dollars more “modernizing” that arsenal in the coming decades.

As a retired military officer’s spouse steeped in exactly this line of thinking, there were times when I did indeed find it at least somewhat compelling. It’s true, after all, that since the U.S. used two nuclear bombs to destroy the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, taking hundreds of thousands of lives in those blasts and their aftermath, and Japan surrendered, ending World War II, the absolute number of deaths in armed conflict globally has decreased. Nonetheless, over the last decade, when I listened to people I knew (and didn’t know) extolling nuclear deterrence at military get-togethers and in the popular press, I couldn’t help thinking that our capacity to threaten, torment, and kill one another has not exactly abated in that same 78-year period.

To take just the most obvious recent example, nuclear weapons no more prevented Russian President Vladimir Putin from invading Ukraine than they had stopped the U.S. invasion of Iraq (based, in fact, on the false claim that autocrat Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction). Nor have they recently stopped the U.S. from sending close to $50 billion and counting in weaponry and ammunition, not to speak of training and intelligence technology, to Ukraine in response. And count on one thing: some of what our country has provided will impact Ukrainians for generations to come, including depleted uranium tank shells and cluster munitions, those bundles of bomblets banned by more than 100 countries because of their indiscriminate tendency to go off years later, often killing innocent civilians.

(…)

In these decades, the lack of deterrence of violence itself, even if not the nuclear version of it, has been profound. The Costs of War Project at Brown University, which I helped found, has made it all too clear that suffering from armed conflict extends far beyond the battlefield and generations into the future. If we are going to say something about “deterrence,” then we need to be clear on what we’re deterring. After all, thanks to just this century’s conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Syria, and Yemen, our project has estimated that 4.5-4.7 million people have died from bullets, bombs, improvised explosive devices, drone missiles, and other versions of war’s violence, as well as from disease, accidents, and various side effects and aftereffects of such conflicts (not to mention suicide).

In these years, a staggering number of people have had their lives forever changed by losing limbs or loved ones, suffering post-traumatic stress disorder and chronic pain — and all such suffering from war-making doesn’t even take into account certain signature consequences of prolonged conflict like the deterioration of democracy or the loss of educational opportunities, not to speak of the mass displacement of populations. It’s true that, as conflicts go, the forever wars our country has fought since September 11, 2001, don’t faintly measure up to the direct slaughter and bloodshed of World War II. Still, when it comes to human suffering globally (the Holocaust aside), the scale of what we’ve witnessed in these years of our disastrous Global War on Terror (even before the Ukraine War began) should be considered stunning.

(…)

Of all our preconceptions about nuclear weapons, what’s probably the most destructive is the unstated assumption that they are the sole alternative to a more constant state of conventional warfare. There are, of course, conflict-resolution options that don’t involve violence at all, including diplomacy, the use of targeted intelligence, and anti-poverty programs the likes of which the United Nations and its affiliated human rights and humanitarian organizations promote. Conventional warfare exacts staggering opportunity costs and only makes it harder for leaders to pursue such routes.

Yet the sole type of conflict that could foreclose all alternatives whatsoever is, of course, nuclear war. It could vaporize the very skeleton of civilization — infrastructure, communications, government, and of course people in staggering numbers — all potentially in a matter of minutes, or less time than it takes you to read this piece.

These days, however, we in the U.S. seldom talk about the ever-present possibility of nuclear annihilation by, for instance, intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), warhead-bearing projectiles capable of traveling thousands of miles (of which the U.S. and Russia have about 400 each). To be sure, there are checkpoints in place that the leaders of each country would need to cross to launch such an attack, but an error, or even confusion, at any one of those checkpoints could lead to disaster.

Scenarios that would place us all on the brink of nuclear annihilation could involve an all-too-human mix of everyday mistakes, incompetence, and heightened emotions. Consider, for instance, the possibility that a simple accident might detonate a warhead before it even leaves the ground, killing untold numbers of people. For example, in 1980 at a Strategic Air Command base in Damascus, Arkansas, a technician tasked with maintaining nuclear-armed ICBMs (capable of producing an explosion several times the magnitude of both bombs that destroyed Nagasaki and Hiroshima) accidentally dropped an eight-pound socket from a socket wrench. It punctured one of those missiles, causing it to explode and blow its nuclear component out of the silo. Fortunately, that didn’t explode and so only a single worker there was killed. Had the attached warhead detonated, however, staggering numbers of people might have died, including then-Arkansas governor and first lady Bill and Hillary Clinton and then-Vice President Walter Mondale who, at the time, were about an hour’s drive away.

According to Command and Control, a documentary director Robert Kenner made about that incident, as of 2016, somewhere between 32 and 1,000 near-misses of the same accidental nature had occurred. Consider it a matter of sheer luck that no warhead has ever detonated.

A different kind of near disaster occurred in November 1979, when a military officer accidentally lodged a realistic training tape indicating the launching of a major Soviet nuclear attack aimed at the U.S. in the military’s early warning system. President Jimmy Carter’s national security advisor, Zbigniew Brzezinski, had only minutes to decide what to do after being contacted about a massive Soviet missile attack. Luckily, his team soon learned that there was no such attack, but the false alarm led to at least 10 fighter jets taking off, the convening of a threat assessment conference involving all three command posts of the nuclear triad, and the launching of the president’s doomsday plane, all of which would have made it far too easy for us to proceed with a “retaliatory” strike.

And in yet another near-world-ending miss, in 1995, the U.S. and Norway launched an atmospheric testing rocket over Europe to study the northern lights. Russian officials mistook it for a U.S. Trident missile. Within minutes, Russian President Boris Yeltsin had for the first time ever activated that country’s “nuclear football” allowing him to communicate with his military leaders in the event of an attack. Even in that chaotic post-Soviet moment, however, Russia had a good enough early detection system for its officials to quickly realize that the country wasn’t under attack. Still, consider that another daunting moment near the brink.

Other near misses have involved everything from faulty computer chips to high-altitude clouds to ailing Soviet leader Yuri Andropov’s desire to stoke Russian fears of an imminent American attack and so consolidate power. In most cases, a handful of vigilant people caught errors in defense systems and intervened in time.

From my point of view, any one of those examples represents too high a risk to take when ordinary people like us could face the prospect of dying thanks to a nuclear attack or its fallout. Even a nuclear war between India and Pakistan, which have far smaller arsenals than the U.S., Russia, or China, could cause a planetary “nuclear winter” and a global famine that might wipe out — yes! — billions of us.

(…)

One thing is certain, though, and tells you all too much about our dangerous world: the reality of nuclear weapons and what they could do to us can’t be found in the antiseptic, highly technical picture painted by the Pentagon’s own Nuclear Matters Handbook 2020. It hardly mentions “death” at all. Quite the contrary, it focuses instead on how (of all the grim things to worry about) to maintain the “survivability” — yes, that’s the term used! — of our nuclear arsenal.

Growing up in a multi-ethnic community in New Jersey that included both robust Japanese-American and Jewish populations, I became accustomed to firsthand accounts of the Holocaust, the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II, and even some of the horrors of the only time nuclear bombs were ever used. The specter of loss and suffering from nuclear war I absorbed then — of children vaporized, faces melted, and cancers growing beyond control among the survivors — will never leave me.”

#war #nuclear #nuclear war #nuclear weapons #russia #ukraine

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phanfictioncatalogue · 1 year ago

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(TW) Grief Masterlist

before/after (ao3) - katesofheaven

Summary: Dan and Phil have a dying daughter and they deal with it in different ways, both before and after she goes.

Blood Will Spill (ao3) - RooLlamaBlue28

Summary: London is not a safe city. Creatures lurk in the shadows. Creatures like Dan, a monstrous vampire with the insatiable thirst for fresh, human blood. Phil is his boyfriend and roommate, living with the demon that could kill him at anytime. The tension between an all powerful vampire and an innocent human is thick, both not able to comprehend how their relationship works. They both know that Phil will not live forever. A single bite could change all of that. Phil has to make a decision. One that will change his life for eternity.

(Vampire! Dan and Innocent Human! Phil)

breaking bones (ao3) - A1R0

Summary: what do you do when you lose your life?

what do you do when you fall so hard into depression your jaw breaks?

what do you do when the world keeps spinning, moving on, when the days get longer and longer without you?

you die, dan thinks in may.

clean the kitchen (ao3) - angelmichelangelo

Summary: after a tragedy destroys everything he had, dan finds himself living a life far from what he had once expected.

everything seems like a huge mess, and all he can do is do his best to clean it up, piece by piece, little by little.

Don't Wait For Me (ao3) - SweetDreamsDarling

Summary: Phil's taken ill suddenly, and no one knows what's really going on inside.

Dan tries to be an optimist.

Phil knows he's dying.

Dan doesn't. But Dan needs to learn how to live again.

Falling, A Phanfiction (ao3) - mychemicalliteratureclub

Summary: Phil remembers Dan's death, and goes on a trip through his memory.

finding light in the dark places. (ao3) - commonemergency

Summary: They’re all connected in some way. All have their own stories to tell. If Dan were a better person he’d get to know them more but he always feels like something is holding him back. So they just continue to work in each others spaces, creating things out of dough and making better things with icing. Donna’s slogan is that everything was made with love but he thinks that’s just because she made this thing—they’re just the hands that give it out to other people. One day, Dan thinks, he’ll hope to feel that passionate about something again. Or a story about grief and loss, found family, donuts, and first love.

Goodnight Misery (ao3) - DeadMilitia

Summary: Three years after Dan's suicide, Phil discovers a letter adressed to him from Dan.

Home is Where the Heart Is (ao3) - goldenrose95

Summary: Dan learns the true meaning of home only after he loses it.

linger on (ao3) - dizzy, waveydnp

Summary: A recent loss has ground Phil's life to a halt. At 33, he's static in his grief and living in the house he grew up in - until his mother kicks him out.

In a fit of indignation and with nothing to lose, he answers the first listing he finds for a room to rent in London... a listing posted by a guy named Dan.

Lonely in Conflict, Cast as a Convict (ao3) - andthenshesaid-write (ladyknight1512)

Summary: Dan is a vampire who can’t remember how it feels not to be lonely. Phil is a vampire hunter living in his brother’s shadow.

When they meet, they find acceptance in each other that they don’t find anywhere else, but there are secrets and other forces at play trying to keep them apart.

night, love you (ao3) - howelllesters

Summary: saying goodnight through the years

Red Like Roses (ao3) - your_starless_eyes

Summary: Red like roses fills my dreams and takes me to the place you rest...

Sharing Is Caring (ao3) - irphanfic

Summary: Dan and Phil have been going out for almost a year and Dan is wondering why Phil hasn’t already introduced him to his family yet. What will happen when he ‘pressures’ Phil to do it and sees what his boyfriend was hiding?

Stars Are Gonna Shine Tonight (ao3) - starrywrite

Summary: AU! When young Dan first heard the story of Sadako Sasaki and A Thousand Paper Cranes, he decided that he didn't need to fold a thousand paper cranes in return for a wish, because his greatest wish he never made has already come true: he has a friend like Phil Lester. Dan and Phil have been best friends for as long as Dan can remember (and maybe Dan’s been a little in love with Phil for as long as he can remember as well), and everything is nothing short of perfect for Dan Howell. But then all it takes is three words to shatter Dan’s entire world, and he decides that maybe wishes aren't as overrated as he thought - if a wish could save Phil's life, that is.

Symphony of Destruction (ao3) - Nefertiti1052 (Succubusphan)

Summary: When Phil falls terminally ill Dan vows to do anything necessary to save him and a mysterious stranger offers his help. Dan should have known not to trust a deal too good to be true, now Phil has to find a way to fix his mistakes.

The Roles We Play (ao3) - adorkablephil (kimberly_a)

Summary: Dan Howell and Phil Lester work together as voice actors for BBC radio dramas in the late 1930s, but slowly begin to develop “inappropriate” feelings for each other. (No characters die *in* this story, but there is some grief and sadness related to their deaths in the past.)

There Is No Guide To Losing Your Soul (ao3) - krissyxlove

Summary: It wasn't supposed to be like this.

trying to keep warm when you’re the sun (ao3) - jackiednp

Summary: dan’s nan dies and phil is the only one who can comfort him

Until Death Do Us Part (ao3) - WhatIsTheSkyWithoutSomeClouds

Summary: The dynamic duo, separated by the Grim Reaper. Overwhelmed by the might of despair, how will Phil Lester cope?

Will he?

When a heart shatters (ao3) - Phantasticpheels

Summary: When your heart shatters, its all at once. Then slow and over and over again.

Breaking a heart is easy but it takes a special kind of person to pick up the pieces.

Phil learns by experience.

#phanfictioncatalogue #phan #phanfic #phanfiction #dan and phil #masterlists #grief #grief masterlist #grief tw

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rabbityfrogs · 1 year ago

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I sit on my throne, awaiting the arrival of the so-called hero into my chamber. All is silent in the chamber, empty save for me, and the low flickering of the flames that provide illumination. Then, all of a sudden, the ‘hero’ breaks down the door, and steps in, glaring at me.

“Vasilia! For too long has your unholy conquest gone unchecked! I am here to stop you, to avenge the lives of the countless people you have slaughtered!”

At this, I let out a small laugh, before my face almost shows a sign of grief, which puzzles the hero. “I wouldn't say countless, that does them such a grave disservice. No, I have killed exactly 769 souls to get to where I am today.”

“Y-you… 769.. You counted them?”

“Yes, I counted them. It grieves me every single waking hour the weight of my necessary evil, but I know I must never forget them, lest I become a monster. I have every single one of their names etched into the gold of my throne, an ever present reminder of the lives that have been lost because of me.” I step off of my throne, my cloak billowing behind me, and I turn towards the throne, and the words etched onto it.��

“Isaac Welson. He was a wheat farmer by trade, but he longed to be an artist. He was recruited into this rebellion of yours, and sacrificed himself for a hope of a different future, never able to create the art he dreamed of. Elanor Fallow. She was a sailor, and loved the open sea. She died tragically, not trusting the instructions of how to flee the city to safer ground before my siege, the start of my war to unify these lands. she was one of the first to fall, far away from the sea that she loved.” My face grows sad, grief overtaking me. “I mourn each and every life that I had to take, and it hurts my heart every single day to know of them. Now I must ask you, you who calls yourself a hero, how many people have you murdered?”

“I- I don't know…” the self-styled hero admits, in a low, shallow whisper.

I give a short sigh before I speak. This was what I had expected, but it still hurts. “2,036. That is how many lives you have killed in furtherance of your rebellion. Two-Thousand and Thirty Six lives cut short, and you didn’t even know their names.”

The one who calls themself a hero staggers, grief overtaking their face. “I- that- no, h-how would you know?”

“Because, ‘hero’. I counted them as well, as yet another reminder to bear on my soul. 1,047 people died when you destroyed the great convoy of ships in the Eastern Riverway. It was true that the convoy had information critical to my unification, but you were mistaken when you believed all of the ships belonged to me. Only one did, the rest were innocent traders, each with their own lives and longings. I mourned each and every one of their lives for weeks, and you never even thought about them.”

“I-” The professed hero could not bear to speak, only now realising the weight of the actions that brought them here.

I look at the hero, and continue. “Five-hundred and sixty-three. That is how many people you killed during the breach of the grand vault of the Southern Capitol. A necessary heist to fund your rebellion, but if you believed exploding the end of the vault rather than storming it saved lives, you are gravely mistaken. Five-hundred and sixty-three people were in the vault, withdrawing money for the day’s shopping, or depositing their payment from yesterday’s work. All of them died. Isabelle Wilson was one of these, a child, only just turned 11. Her mothers had brought her to the vault to teach her how money works, the first time she had ever been to the grand building. And still, you didn’t even know her name, or any of the others you killed that day.”

Tears begin to streak the hero’s face, but I continue.

“Four-hundred and twelve. That is how many people died in the battles that lead you to my gates. Only half of them were soldiers of mine. The remaining two-hundred and 6 were innocent civilians, innocent civilians like Jett Lowen. They were 17, and were set to turn 18 the next day. They went to sleep at the end of the night, along with their parents, Filicia & Owen, and their younger sister, Amelia. They all went to sleep, resting after a long day of work. They never heard the soldiers of your rebellion surround the city, nor did they hear the launching of the bombs, nor the explosion that killed them in their sleep, the day before Jett would have become an adult.”

A small tear streaks across my face, before I once again continue. “You killed fourteen more people today, storming this castle. They were my most loyal guards, my trusted friends, who were planning on having a party tomorrow, a day of revel and joy. They defended my castle to their dying breaths, as you took their lives from them.”

The hero is aghast at their actions, the thousands of deaths unknown to them before now suddenly all at once weighing on their soul, tears streaking their face. I take a breath, and walk towards them, my soul filled with grief. “Yes, I have killed hundreds, and their deaths weigh on me every single day. Yet you killed thousands in an attempt to bring me down, and never even knew a single one’s name. I do hope they will be forgiving, if you do see them soon.” I take out the sword that had been concealed in my cloak, and stab it into the hero. Their eyes, and the words engraved on the sword, stare back at me. The eyes of the hero show nothing but grief, shock, and horror, and they go deep into my soul along with the words written on the sword. Remember & Mourn, for they had a life, with wonderful joys. I grab the tools next to the throne, and carve their name into the throne, with tears streaking down my face. 770 lives taken.

“How many people have died to achieve this world domination of yours?” “769.” “…What?” “769 people died to achieve my plans. I counted them, and had each of their names etched on my throne so I never forget what my victory cost the world. Now tell me, how many have you killed to see me dead?”

#writing #writing prompts #tw death #tw descriptions of death #writers on tumblr #writeblr #writings of nora

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fakecrfan · 3 years ago

Note

Hi just want to say your story about the superhero was incredible. It broke my heart and I loved it

AN ASK ABOUT AN ORIGINAL THING I WROTE? 🥺

I wrote two superhero stories but only one has been getting likes in my activity feed recently so I think you mean my construction superhero short story. (checks the post) oh uh wow that’s getting more traction than I realized. Shit. So that’s why a bunch of people followed me recently.

Anyway, I don’t know if you are still watching my blog anon but since you liked my story have another snippet I whipped up just for you.

Excerpt from an interview with prisoner #4598, also known by the code names “Constructor,” “Destructor,” and “the Architect.” Transcript incomplete due to being salvaged after the attack on the prison records. Interview conducted by Mitchell Newman.

---

MN: Okay, well, since our memory experts can’t see anything in your head but muck and have established we’re not going to get any information out of you, anyway…

4598: Lethe is very good at memory stuff.

MN: Right, yes, of course she is. So since you’ve forgotten all useful information and I have to visit you at least for two hours a week just so this doesn’t count as solitary confinement--

4598: Could I talk to Sandy?

MN: Ms. White hasn’t asked to speak to you.

4598: Right.

MN: Anyway as I was saying, since I have to be here anyway why don’t you just tell me about yourself? Give me the whole manifesto.

4598: (no answer).

MN: Right. Well. Let me just continue then and you can answer if you feel like it. Sound good? Good. So, here is my question. What do you think about what people call you now? The first time you got arrested, you didn’t escape for months. Why?

4598: (no answer)

MN: Everyone thought it was because you needed to know the makeup of the material in order to shape it. When you stayed put they thought they’d gotten you with their Akonite walls. But it turns out you never needed to know that and you were just… sitting in there anyway.

4598: Right.

MN: What stopped you from escaping?

4598: (no answer)

MN: Did you think that you’d be let out if you played along, since you had good PR then?

4598: No.

MN: Okay. Was it that you still believed in the justice of the system?

4598: No.

MN: Second thoughts about trying to stop the construction of that stadium?

4598: Uh, no.

MN: Alright then. Why?

4598: (no answer)

MN: Is it related to your apparently still-developing powerset? Are you hiding some ability or--

4598: Depression.

MN: What?

4598: I was depressed.

MN: Ah.

4598: Everyone I had looked up to wanted me in jail. I thought no one would agree with me, so there was no point.

MN: Right.

4598: Uh, that’s something Sandy taught me. It doesn’t really matter what powers you have. If you want to get things done--big things, like building cities--you need lots of people. The things I’ve done, rebuilding… It's always because people have helped me. Cleared away poisons so I could go in the area. Gave me materials. Helped me learn.

MN: And without those people, you decided you couldn’t do anything?

4598: Yeah.

MN: So what changed your mind and made you decide to enact the largest villain breakout in history?

4598: It…

MN: What’s that?

4598: I had to try. It wouldn’t be right to just give up immediately. I couldn’t do it alone so I decided to find people who could help.

MN: And those villains--many of them serial killers and terrorists--these people shared your altruistic goals?

4598: (no answer).

MN: Right, sorry. That was a bit blunt on my part. I just mean it must have been a difficult group to work with.

4598: Hm.

MN: You’re pretty famous for not killing anyone yourself, even now. I really believe you don’t want people to die if they don’t have to. How do you reconcile that with working with, oh, Inferno. You know, the one that burnt innocent congressmen alive?

4598: (no answer).

MN: Some of the villains who escaped that day went on to kill innocent people, even if the ones you became friends with didn’t. Do you have any regrets?

4598: ...Skinner killed three children before we caught him. Toxica got… one, but made 48 people very sick for a while. Um, the others--I counted it all up. The amount of people who died due to the actions of villains that escaped because of me was 28.

MN: So you--

4598: The attacks your heroes do on other countries have casualties that number in the hundreds. Thousands sometimes.

MN: We were tracking down a highly dangerous villain with a power that could--

4598: That could not do half of that damage. They never can. The serial killers and terrorists--they’re hideous people. But there has never been one with the power to do what American “heroes” do every year.

MN: That’s because we kill them first.

4598: And then there is the damage afterwards. The sickness. People who die in the rubble. People who have their entire homes destroyed only to be turned away as undesirables when they try to find a home somewhere else.

MN: That’s not equi--

4598: You asked me if I have regrets. Yeah, I do.

4598: I regret every single fucking base I built for all of you.

---

The rest of the transcript is unsalvageable. Prisoner #4598 escaped shortly after, as containment measures on the subject once again failed. Future heroes are advised to use lethal force on sight, as containment has proven impossible and these transcripts indicate de-radicalization is unlikely.

#my writing #my original writing #superheroes #constructor #thank you so much for the ask!#I'm sure this won't get the same traction as the original post but!#in case anyone else wants to read more #long post

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edelgarfield · 4 months ago

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Yeah, I'm Team "Innocent People Don't Deserve to Die Because of the Crimes of the Ruling Class." Do you think Aeor is a monolith? You realize by destroying Aeor you're killing everyone who disagreed with the archmages too?

I honestly don't understand how you can claim that the gods weren't trying to kill everyone when Silaha actively made the choice to destroy the city and kill everyone within. If they truly weren't trying to kill everyone they could have simply..... not killed everyone. The idea that people need to be killed for the crime of knowing something against their will is only true if you believe every single person within Aeor is incapable of listening to reason. We know for a fact that's not true because Cassida and her allies were actively trying to help the Prime Deities. Based on the knowledge available to them, they thought the Prime Deities were trying to kill the Betrayer Gods and sought to help achieve that goal.

How the hell can you say with your whole chest that all they've ever done is love mortals when they've killed thousands of them? Downfall made it abundantly clear that the Prime Deities are actively choosing not to kill the Betrayer Gods, knowing that the Betrayer Gods are trying to kill their "children." Frankly, if your sibling is actively killing thousands of people & is threatening to kill more, I don't care how much you love them, you should be willing to kill them. The only reason not to is if you think your siblings have more of a right to life than the thousands of your "children" being slaughtered. The planetar in episode 2 asked why they didn't leave instead of involving mortals in their squabble. If you have the choice to stage a war in a place where there won't be collateral damage, versus killing thousands in the crossfire, why wouldn't you? Why do the gods care more about staying on the Material Plane than the people living on it? You can say the gods were defending their families, but why is it justified for the gods to use lethal force to that end, but when humans do it, it's evil?

You can argue that the gods love mortals, but I don't think it matters how much the person killing you and your loved ones insists they're doing it for your own good. They might love mortals, but they don't respect them, or their right to live. You can argue that the weapon & its knowledge needed to be destroyed, but that still doesn't justify killing everyone in the city. By the end of the episode, they were literally gods capable of manipulating the fabric of reality itself. The idea that even at the very end, after Selena's Wish, that there was simply no other way to suppress the knowledge of the weapon than killing everyone in the city is ridiculous.

How can you claim that anyone defending the innocent people in Aeor is media illiterate, when the PCs themselves outright said multiple times that their intervention was ultimately harmful to mortals, even when their intentions were good? I don't have any illusions that this is going to change your viewpoint, but at least have the decency to not call anyone who disagrees with you media illiterate for agreeing with themes & narrative presented by the show itself.

If you watched all of Downfall and know anything about Aeor from any of the previous campaigns and are still "Team Aeor" respectfully what the fuck. You're telling me your team eugenics? Team build a weapon to kill the gods? Team slavery and fascism? Team "literally hung people for believing and worshiping the gods?"

If you watched all of Downfall and still believe the gods weren't *trying* to avoid killing everyone? That they didn't care about the mortal lives? That they weren't defending their family from people who want to kill them when all they've ever done if love the mortals?

Then you need to be studied because your media literacy is dead.

#cr spoilers #cr downfall

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esperanta-dragon · 3 years ago

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I feel like there is a need to write down why so many people hate Sylvanas so much, me included. Maybe you can’t stand her too OR you love her and you don’t understand why the hell people can hate such an amazing character. Here is why. And I will try to write this down logically as possible. No “hur dur I hate her because she is a bitch!”. No, I will put down all things so you can understand. And one sad disclaimer... it’s not the character’s fault.

WHY WE STARTED TO LOVE HER

Sylvanas showed up in Warcraft III as a Ranger General of Quel’thalas. She was protecting her country for quite some time when Arthas attacked Eversong Woods in order to get to Sunwell and resurrect Kel’Thuzad as a lich. Sylvanas paid with her life and her soul to protect her people and her country. She was made banshee and was forced to do things against her will and serve the Scourge she hated. But she was still plotting her revenge, didn’t give up until the moment came and she took the chance. She reclaimed her body back and almost killed Arthas, and took over Lordaeron City. Then she took over the undead slowly freeing from the Lich King’s grasp and gave them a place where to stay, becoming their Queen. And since then, she was planning to kill the Lich King for good.

That’s why we loved her (I never did, I will explain that later why). She really kicked his ass. She slapped the Scourge in the face. She never gave up and was doing everything to achieve her goals, her revenge. There are not so many such strong female characters, so resolute. She was not good but also not evil, she was shady, she was not the boring good guy. So why the hell people hate her? She is perfect! Let’s go to what happened during and after WotLK... Because here it starts.

WRATH OF THE LICH KING

As I said, many people adore Sylvanas since Warcraft III. But they don’t understand the character is not the same. She was never good, she was an anti-hero, that’s the fact (the Ebon Blade are also anti-heroes and they are not bad, they just do necessary things to keep the Scourge in check). She was doing everything to take revenge on Arthas. And everything means that she had no problems walking over corpses of her allies. Causalities because of my fault? Pfft! No matter as long as the piece of trash sitting on the Frozen Throne will get what he deserves!

This was pretty much visible after Wrathgate when Varimathras and Putress tried to take over Undercity and Alliance and the Horde saw what she is doing inside the city. Still fine, it was in character, she was doing EVERYTHING to take revenge on Arthas. Everything. That’s why she existed, why she kept going. Even back then, I didn’t hate her. She was still a very well-written character. This is what a character in her position would do.

But once everything was done, the Lich King was taken care of, she realized there is no point in her existence. She saw the Lich King was not destroyed. They only replaced him. So she threw herself from the Icecrown Citadel and fell on saronite spikes, the only thing that could definitely kill her.

And she ended up in a dark place. And the pain she felt was not like anything she felt before. It was the most horrible, the most inconsolable place. But val’kyras came down to her and sacrificed for her to get her back. Now we know what happened as we progress in the Shadowlands but... let’s say this was the beginning of the end for a good character Sylvanas once was. This was a start of cliché, inconsistency, and a great example that good characters should be allowed to go and leave so they can be remembered as a good characters.

WHAT CHANGED

Look, I came to WoW really late. I was playing on WotLK free servers as I could not afford to pay for official servers. But I knew the story in WotLK and I was still pretty ok with Sylvanas. I don’t remember hating her this much. She was well written.

It was Cataclysm Firelands patch when I finally could come to official servers. And Sylvanas was already doing pretty shady and disgusting stuff. I played Forsaken starting quest line so I know. Raising undead like the Lich King did? No problem for her. She even said she is like Arthas but she is working for the Horde (she never cared for them anyway, it was just more beneficial for her). What happened in Gilneas was not alright. Who gases the whole zone and making it inhabitable? Alright, let’s say Horde was expanding and Gilneas was next to Lordaeron. Alright. But back then, I finally dove deep into lore and I’ve noticed many people are really devoted to Sylvanas. It seemed almost like a cult. And every time I asked people, why they love this psyhopathic banshee, they were like: “She is my Queen! I love her, I would die for her! She is cool, she is taking care of us, she has a good heart!”

Something was amiss here... I couldn’t understand this. I couldn’t see what they saw. I saw a shady, ruthless and careless psychopath who is using her loyal subjects to save herself from something. And many people believed it even in BfA. Me and my friend had to show them excerpts from short stories where she say that “once they were arrows in her quiver, now they are bulwark against the darkness”. They couldn’t believe they loved Queen would not love them back!

But hey, still, I wanted to understand why people love her. I would understand if it would be still Warcraft III or WotLK, that’s fine. But Cata? Legion? BfA? Shadowlands?

So I started reading all books, short stories where she was. Articles about her. I tried to catch the glimpse of why people loved her: the majority told me she is still good and has a good heart and she is an amazing person. But I didn’t see it. Maybe I am stupid and I don’t understand, I am missing something... So I kept studying, trying to see anything good in her, I was failing. I saw a character falling more down into a pit full of anger and hate. Her loyalists said she was an amazing creature, loving, caring.

And the more I was told by people that she is caring and she has a good heart, the more I was getting disgusted and angry because the more I was reading about her and the more her loyalists told me, the more I saw what Sylvanas is: inconsistent character.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH SYLVANAS

In one book she was written like this. In another book, she was written like that. In one quest it was like this, then it was like that. In one expansion she behaved this way, in the next expansion, it was that way. She was doing more and more twisted things and her loyalists kept telling me she has a good heart. My frustration was growing to the point I could not stand her. It felt like I’ve met the person I knew was torturing her friends but when I met them, they told me with bruises on their faces and definitely mentally abused that she is amazing and it’s not her fault, she is just misunderstood and I should love her too.

When she killed Liam Greymane, loyalists were like: “I have no clue why Genn hates her so much! That stupid dog should die!” Yeah right, somebody kills your son and destroys your home, you have no reason to be angry, it’s ok.

She burns down Teldrassil and they said: “Why Tyrande wants to kill her? I hope Sylvanas kills her first!” Sure, somebody burns down a city with thousands of innocent people, it’s fine, let them go, no hard feelings. And sometimes these people are able to justify her actions with: “But this is fantasy! There is different morale than in real world!” Please, guys, never ever write a story. Never touch it. You will end up like Steve Danuser making characters to behave like idiots and without emotions. Stay away. Please. Do world the favor.

I was trying really hard. Trying to figure out what kind of character she is. Find a pattern. Because you can write a chaotic character and still find a pattern and it can be still a consistent character. But Sylvanas? I felt more and more that not even Blizzard knows what to do with her, how to write her... she felt more and more inconsistent and out of place with every expansion. And you know what? That happens to characters which are kept in the story longer than they should. If character losts a meaning of their existence, there are only two options: you either let them go or you have to find them a new meaning. And in case of Sylvanas, the second option led to a narrative disaster.

We were told by Blizzard: “Don’t worry! Everything falls in place! It makes sense what she does!” But after the Sanctum of Domination finale? It was a big fat lie...

Before I come to the cinematic, let me tell you what made me hate her beyond every possible measure: her fandom.

HITLER HAD A GOOD HEART!

In Legion, she was doing shady stuff. But in BfA? She became a Hitler. She burned down Teldrassil because... IDK she snapped and wanted to show one elven archer that you can kill hope? And what kind of catapults she had has reach 20 km? What kind of catapults can burn down incredibly big tree SOAKED in water with thick bark. Was that azerite or... no, I am not gonna get angry. And I won’t even start with the b*shit Blizzard pulled: “Look, just because Sylvanas is right in front of Teldrassil doesn’t mean it was her who burned it down!” They had to lie to us to look that they can create a better story than what it actually is.

She destroyed Undercity so Forsaken lost their home. Is this how you take care of your subjects if you are loving and caring? I think not.

And with her actions, millions of souls from the whole cosmos are going right into the Maw for eternal suffering. And why? Because she was scared. Because instead of thinking about herself and trying to change, she rather schemed with the god of death... who was responsible for her misery. And even teamed with Kel’Thuzad, who was reason of her fate in the first place! And yet, after all this, after mass genocide, destroying souls, millions, maybe billions of souls are suffering because of her... and you can still tell me there is still good in her and she deserves redemption arch... And with love say: “She got us into this, she will get us out of this <3 ^_^” So somebody is making everybody suffer and some people are like “Ooooh it’s fine, I support her! I bet she will realize what she is doing and she will save us!” Would you say the same about Hitler? That he was misunderstood, he was trying to fix something that’s why he murdered millions of people? I am just asking what kind of people her loyalists are in real life.

I have a question... would you still love her if she was a man? Or decomposing undead? Or if she wouldn’t be sexy elf at all? If she would be ugly? I think we all know the answer (disclaimer, beautiful people are not always kind and nice, what a surprise). I bet she would be already killed or hated by majority of the community at least two expansions back. Why Garrosh had to stand trial for war crimes and Sylvanas doesn’t? To be honest, I never liked Garrosh, I hated him, but I never hated him as much I hate Sylvanas. He was at least consistent to his very last moment. But I am fed up by the fact that everybody keeps excusing what she does just because she is a sexy elf. This is not character I can respect. How can you say about such character that she is cool when you know she is commiting genocide? Let’s replace her with ugly elf and let’s see how many of you will still love her.

If you love her because she is a crazy homicidal maniac and you want her to do evil stuff, go ahead, nothing wrong with you, it’s fine. You love her because you think that she has a good heart and she is sending millions of souls into hell because she wants to help us? Take your pills and think twice before going on date with a manipulative person who will use you, beat you but will tell you they love you so much while cheating on you. Thanks.

If you are lying to yourself that she is good and has a good heart because you are afraid you wouldn’t like her anymore as a bad guy, then you love illusion you made around her, not the character itself. And you should seriously think if you really love the character if you need to change it that much in your mind to keep loving her.

GRAND FINALE

“If they are gonna give her redemption arch, I am gonna puke.” Many people told me, they would not. They are not gonna do it. She is beyond redemption, she is antagonist, period. Guess what, they did. The cheapest way possible.

Blizzard kept telling us everything will make sense in the end, why she did all these things. But it did not. And it only confirmed my greatest fear: Sylvanas is an inconsistent character since Cataclysm.

Sylvanas was afraid to go to the Maw. So she got an amazing idea. Let’s free the god of death, the malevolent creature trapped there because for sure he is suffering just like me, and injustice was done to him. He is the reason of my suffering because he made Helm of Domination and Frostmourne, that’s why I was killed and I am like this? I am sure he is a good guy, in the end, let’s remake reality so there is no life and death! That guy must be pretty ok. Oh wait his job is to torture souls? No, I don’t believe he is bad.

So when Jailer gets all he wanted, ofc he say that he will remake all reality and everybody will serve. And Sylvanas realizes: “Oh my, he is just like the Lich King! I didn’t want this! I will never serve!” Even she served him for the past few expansions. And suddenly she sees he is a bad guy. Suddenly.

And then, Jailer gives her half of her soul back... So... this is the explanation? She was doing all this because she was not whole? Is this an excuse for genocide? Now we will all feel sorry for her? Tell her it’s ok, you were not yourself?

I am saying this all the years and I will say it again: the Ebon Blade are order full of those with a fate like Sylvanas. The whole order. Multiple characters suffered under the Lich King like her, lost themselves, were made to kill their friends, their families. And they, too, took revenge on him. But instead of going crazy and trying to hurt everybody because they were hurt, they tried to help and protect people. Maybe they are missing part of their souls too. But are they running around, burning innocents, committing genocide? No. So please, the is no excuse, she was aware of what she was doing. I am not buying this and for sure this won’t make me feel sorry for her. It was her choice. You can be depressed and hurt into the very core and still decide not to be homicidal maniac.

Another annoying thing is, Blizzard kept telling us she is a master strategist and she is highly inteligent. Would a highly inteligent person try to help somebody responsible for her suffering? Being ok with them? There was not shown how come she is ok with the Jailer! Look I thought she is smart but after the cinematic, she does not look like that.

What was her plan anyway? Did she believe such creature won’t betray her, he won’t dump her? I was hoping he will dump her and kill her. That would be the only ending fitting for the character. I didn’t want another Kerrigan, I didn’t want redemption arch for her... I was hoping I will finally like her as a villain. Now I can’t... there is no way I will like her ever again because Blizzard probably can’t do just evil characters. There always must be something behind, some explanation why they are like this. “I was good this whole time!” And I am tired of this... Suddenly I like Garrosh because he was an asshole but he was consistent. He had a good ending. He “died” like a boss.

THEY SHOULD HAVE LET HER DIE

And I mean it. If they would let her go after WotLK, it would be a good ending for her. Tragic end for the tragic character. She fulfilled her purpose and she would be remembered as a good consistent character. But she is making a lot of money, many people love her (not anymore, even people who liked her hate her now and her fanbase is getting smaller) so Blizzard decided they have to milk her as much as possible.

I think everything good should come to an end. “You would either die as a hero or live long enough to become a villain.” In this case “You would either die as a good character or live long enough to become inconsistent and annoying character.” And it happened.

Remember how people were angry how Thrall is getting a lot of attention in Cata? Haha, good old times. How about Sylvanas in 3 expansion cinematics (and some side cinematics like Reckoning, etc) and 2 expansions fully focusing on her (and some other expansions where she is a lot too). How about the 15th figure in a row. And 4th Blizzcon art. And I can keep going.

Metzen had favorite characters... but they were never overused as much as Sylvanas. Vol’jin was warchief for 1 expansion where he did nothing and then he died so she could take lead in story. So many characters are forgotten, pushed down so she can be on the spotlight. And I am sick of it. This is not single player, this is MMORPG. The world feels ridiculously small thanks to this, we have more characters than Sylvanas + 5 characters they keep using and recycling all the time.

And keep using Sylvanas and putting her into the spotlight all the time did not help. You can start hating character you liked before just because you have enough of them and you want to see other characters. This world has a big potential. So many characters are unused because of Sylvanas. Because the lead narrative designer loves her so much that he had to make her the main character of WoW and doesn’t care there is a whole world to take care of. And he does the worst job possible. Because he tried to make her complicated and complex and in the end he was just trying to make it look like that but it didn’t work out. It was just inconsistent. It didn’t fall in place.

Her plot armor is so laughable and it’s the most annoying thing about Sylvanas. How characters around her are so stupid and dumb so they can let her do such stuff (hello Horde in BfA). The whole universe and Blizzard especially is protecting Sylvanas of any harm. How can you like such character when it behaves like Mary Sue? I didn’t want to see cinematic how she comes and beat up really powerful guy without any issues. You know how interesting would be if Four Horsemen managed to arrive earlier and they wouldn’t know if to fight the Lich King or Sylvanas? No, Blizzard wanted to show lady Sylvanas Plotarmor.

And the worst thing is, I feel like Shadowlands are my last expansion in WoW. This is where the story ends for me. And I know that many characters won’t get resolution, many story arcs will never close because they’ve put too much effort to work on Sylvanas and ignore other characters. So many characters could have met. Lore in Shadowlands could have been expanded about The Scourge, death knights, rune magic, etc... it did not.

So no, Sylvanas is not one of the best characters created. If this is the best WoW can muster then there is nothing to be proud of. We would have good or better characters if Blizzard tried to work with more characters and give them space and a chance to develop. But we will never have them because Sylvanas took the spotlight.

Sylvanas for me is the character who will be put on guidelines on how to not use a character. This character will be perfect for DO NOT character development guidelines. And the whole story of WoW at least in BfA and Shadowlands is a great example of how to destroy the world with an amazing setting and characters.

I hope I’ve made this clear why many people hate her. Because it’s much more complex problem. This character was misused, written horribly, overused, was given a poor and cheap story arch, made look stupid and it no longer makes sense. And on top of that, many characters will never get a resolution, many storylines won’t be finished because all story was focused on her and not on the world. World which was supposed to be “everybody’s story” was made story about Sylvanas. Just because she sells.

Good job Danuser, I hope you are happy.

Tl;Dr: Sylvanas is inconsistent since Cataclysm because Blizzard tried to make her complex character artificially and failed horribly. She should have died after WotLK and never made Warchief. They should have let her go so we can remember her as a good consistent character

P.S.: I am not native speaker, sorry for grammar errors.

#Sylvanas Windrunner #World of Warcraft #wowlore #wotlk #wrath of the lich king #shadowlands #battle for azeroth #Legion #the Jailer #lich king #lore

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multi-maker · 4 years ago

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general | x.

whenever xiao remembered the archon war, he would remember the countless deaths by his hand and the bloodstained battlefield. he could recall the elements reacting all around him as he protected liyue.

but what he would never forget, was them.

the general that died in his arms.

the archon war was seemingly endless. countless of innocents were killed during the war, towns were destroyed and cities were vanquished. only seven nations remained tall, but xiao could never forget the gods he and his fellow adepti fought alongside the god of contracts and geo, morax.

he could never forget the bloodstained battlefields, the cries of anguish and anger ringing in the battlefield. whenever xiao recalled the archon war, his mind would drift to one particular battle. it was before the death of guizhong, the god of dust. it was to protect on of liyue’s larger lands, and he was sent alongside an army to protect the land. it was a slaughter with an adepti present, but casualties in his side was also inevitable.

he just didn’t expect you to die.

granted, you weren’t the strongest in all of liyue. but you were a general - rex lapis didn’t give titles like that to weaklings. a general must be the strongest of their platoon, must possess intelligence and power. you were hailed as a general by the god of geo himself - whose other alias was the god of war.

xiao knew not to get attached to mortals for they were fragile and weak, vulnerable and mortal. they had an expiration date, in a sense. but he couldn’t help it. how could he, when you gazed at him with kind eyes despite knowing of his past? how could he, when your voice seemingly rid him of his burdens, even if temporarily? it never failed to surprise xiao whenever he sees you - you were kind and gentle, merciful and loving. you gave mercy to your enemies.

you were a rarity amongst humans - you were kind, but you would kill if asked to. you would perform your duty with no fail. you gave xiao a sense of peace and freedom, and with you, he felt like he wasn’t an adepti. like he wasn’t a weapon of war.

and maybe that was what hurt most.

being with you, he felt like he was rid of his sins, even if temporary. losing you has deprived xiao of that feeling - peacefulness, calmness, serendipity.

love.

xiao did not know what ‘love’ was. he was foreign to this emotion called love. when he asked you, one summer day where everything seemed calm, you laughed softly.

“love is a powerful emotion, xiao.” you told him with kind eyes as you wove a flower crown with calloused hands. “love is what keeps all of us going - even in this dark times. fathers go to war for the safety of their family, mothers learn medical practice to save people.” you had told him, smiling softly as you hold up the flower crown.

xiao remains silent, thinking about what you have said. he stares at you, unknown to you. he watches as your hair seemingly glimmered in the sun, how your eyes twinkled like the prettiest noctilus jade. he feels warmth bloom in his heart, unmistakably fond for the battle hardened general. without thinking, xiao’s hand came up to cup your cheek, startling you.

you look at him, and your eyes softens when you see xiao’s vulnerable ones. gently, you cradle his hand. “i’m scared.” he admits. “tomorrow, we leave for battle. i know you are strong, but i am still scared for you.” xiao spoke. you hum, and you smile at him. “don’t worry, xiao.” you assure him, and the wind blew gently. the flower petals were blown off, flying in the air as the golden hue of the sun shined down upon you.

“i don’t plan on dying soon.”

xiao could only chuckle bitterly whenever he remembers your words. it was strangely funny, that you said that. yet, you ended up dying the next day in battle. you ended up on your back, blood under you as you choke on your own blood. xiao could remember how his world crumbled, all those thousands of years ago. where he donned his adepti mask again, and slaughtered his enemies, granting them victory.

xiao felt numb.

his amber eyes stared at your falling form, three spears protruding from you. he couldn’t hear anything, the battle silencing almost immediately as he stares at your fallen form. at the blood under you as your bright eyes slowly turned dull. the world seemingly stopped rotating in it’s axis as xiao trembled. he didn’t know what to feel as he approached you, knees sinking on the ground as he cradled you.

you stared up at him with glassy eyes, and even in your deathbed, even with you losing blood rapidly,

you smiled.

“...you...you...” xiao could only choke, hands trembling as he pushed away your bloodied bangs away from your face. you merely retained your smile, your trembling hand coming to cradle xiao’s hand. “i...would...have liked....it...to...grow old....with you...” you whispered to him, voice faint and weak.

xiao could only clutch your cooling body as your eyes dulled and your hand dropped softly.

the adepti looked out into the clearing, shutting his eyes as he lets out a soft sigh. his hand came up to trace the preserved qingxin flower crown hanging by his belt, and his eyes softens once more.

this was for you.

the general that died in his arms.

the person he didn’t get to love,

#💫 dawn #genshin impact #genshin impact scenarios #genshin impact xiao #genshin xiao #genshin xiao x reader #xiao x reader #xiao #angst #major character death #dawn is currently crying about xiao

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leleamo · 5 months ago

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Hello! I'm Letícia and in this post you will see:

My headcanon of the families of the Swat Kats characters! part 3!

(not all because the majority are extras and some I just didn't have any ideas for, like Pastmaster and Dr. Viper)

Yay we arrived at part 3 and the end of season one, finally! Without further ado, let's get started!

11) Professor Hackle Paralnel

children!

Hackle, in his initiative to become a good kat, adopted two kittens (who are my oc's) Michele and Lara (Lara is Molly and Mac's lost daughter)

he raised them more than well, encouraging them both to achieve their dreams, such as Lara wanting to be part of Kat's Eye, and building a camera on her own, but Michele had a passion for magic.

Well, I didn't tell much about these two oc's and today their stories are much more different than at the time, but in short, Michele has already made a deal with Pastmaster, transferring magic to her, she has almost destroyed Mega Kat City many times, but nowadays she's more good, and Lara, she met her parents (in the worst possible situation) and still tries to join Kat's Eye, but when her mother accidentally shoots her in the eye, it becomes difficult-

12) "Hard Drive" Tom!

parents...

oh Hard Drive, your childhood was shit

Kex, one of the only resident dogs in Mega Kat City, was Tom's stepfather, and he was a terrible stepfather and husband! he smoked and smelled that, he beat his wife, Bieter and his son and in the end he still complained that no one loved him in that house! idiot

Tom always ran away from home when they fought, he wanted to disappear from the world, knock on any other kat's house and ask "can I come in...?" but...

on one of these escapes... Tom met Dark Kat... and instead of doing anything to the boy, he took care of Tom.

Dark Kat saw himself as a child, alone, desolate, without family, he wanted to help him, and protect him, and this care made Tom finally want something "positive" in that life.

"I want to be like you, Dark Kat"

Some time later, on Tom's twenty-third birthday, he received a great gift from Dark Kat: the Surge Coat

and with that great, he went to kill a certain dog from electrocuted...

Nowadays, Hard Drive no longer visits his mother, as she no longer recognizes him.

13) Red Lynx!

successor!

If Blue Manx has a great-grandson, why doesn't Red have a great-granddaughter!?

oh beautiful Amber, as passionate about politics as anyone, so sweet and innocent, loving and smart! smart enough to be able to put all the voters on her side, which made Manx slightly scared, so he thought, if accused of attacking the current mayor would that be a sufficient reason to disqualify her from the candidates? Yes! and that's what Manx did... but what he didn't expect was that Red's ghost would appear to help his great-granddaughter get revenge!

after a fiery adventure! Manx decided, as an apology, to give her the position of being his secretary, and she accepted, with some conditions, but she accepted

Reliable sources (Callie) say they are dating~<3

14/15) Lenny Ringtail and David Litterbin!

ancestors!

oh the present, it recycles the past a lot

Madkat could have been the biggest jester at the time, and that gave him a fan and a little copy, Sakat.

Sakat used to perform without commitment for the kingdom, but when he became friends with Madkat, he ended up becoming too close to royalty... even too much...

"It's okay for you to be successful, just don't steal my place." Madkat may have said this thousands of times and always in a serious tone, but Sakat never took it seriously and even made fun of him, but.. one day, Madkat saw Sakat performing for the king and queen, and Mad got really angry... totally losing it, going really crazy

After attacking his former friend, he was arrested, and with the magic he had been born with, he cast a spell

"As the centuries pass, I will transform, staying alive without my hatred going, and as long as I am alive and my hatred in hand, I will have my revenge! so soon or not!"

and as for Sakat, he may have asked for one of his eyes, but his longing for his idol and friend did not disappear, he even tried to resolve things with Madkat but only received insults, and the second time he even saw him doing the spell, so with the king's help, he performed the same spell...

"As the centuries pass, I will transform, transferring my soul in calm and peace, with a single objective, without more or less, to resolve myself with my friend, sooner or later."

Nowadays, while Madkat is lost and alone, Sakat is in the company of his successor, found and excited to find his friend.

Well, that was it, bye bye

Hello! I'm Letícia and in this post you will see:

My headcanon of the families of the Swat Kats characters! part 1!

(not all because the majority are extras and some I just didn't have any ideas for, like Pastmaster and Dr. Viper)

Last week I made some drawings of what I think the families of five Swat Kats characters look like, the order may seem a bit random but the explanation is a bit confusing and it's not necessary at all to understand this post, anyway, let's get started!

1) Chance "T-bone" Furlong!

Ancestral!

Ruby, was one of the great knights of Megalith Kingdom (kingdom because for me it matches more than City) but his reason for wanting to be a knight was not very noble, since he only wanted to be a knight to be close to a certain kat~ he was and is remembered as a strong and resilient warrior, and there is a large tapestry of him in the museum, next to his sword

parents!

Amora Furlong, Chance's mother, is a polite and calm kat who lives in Mega Kat City since her husband passed away, Amora only gets stressed when it comes to her son, whether when he was a child, and read comics for free from Pop Perkins, or adult, who almost had a heart attack when he mistook T-bone for Chance

2) Jack "Razor" Clawson!

Ancestral!

Sapphire, one of the knights of Megalith Kingdom, intelligent and cunning, surprised many by fighting so well despite being blind in one eye, he is Ruby's best childhood friend, and once he and Ruby were almost killed by Pastmaster, but a kat saved them, there is a large tapestry of him in the museum, next to his sword

parents!

Jaqueline and Bob, divorced because Bob wanted a family but Jaqueline didn't, they already had three children, the first was aborted, the second stayed with Bob after the divorce and the third stayed with Jaqueline, and that was Jack.

Jack had a very troubled childhood, as he was clearly a nuisance to his mother, but until he was ten, Jaqueline treated him well, and Jack was always congratulated when he fixed the TV.

but as time went by, Jack was more aside, as if he didn't exist, as if he wasn't important anymore, and it was true, but the day Jack joined the Enforcers and didn't even receive a congratulations from his mother, he freaked out. he screamed and talked about how he mother wasn't a mother, and just a woman without a child, because Jack hadn't existed for her for a long time... but she didn't have time to respond, she fainted... Jack took her to the hospital to discover she had lung cancer.

Jack stayed awake nights, next to the bed where his mother was... This was already hindering his efforts at Enforcers, but fortunately, Feral gave him a break until his mother was better.

After a while, Jaqueline recovered, and wanted to do something for Jack, but Jack just said "just don't smoke, please"

and Jack's older sister, it was a little complicated, after so much mental abuse from Bob, Angela, ran away from home.

Angela, after running away, was finally able to do what she always wanted, meet Razor, since she was sure the hero was her brother, and well, the rest is history...

3) Callie Briggs!

Ancestral!

Callista, needs no introduction, is the widowed queen who made magic admired not abhorred, and had her life tormented by Pastmaster, the wizard who so wanted to marry her, and fortunately, she can rest without this kat by her side, in the museum, besides her crown, the remnants of her powerful necklace

parents!

Arthur and Violeta Briggs! There's not much to say about them, they are Callie's loving parents, who fought hard to have the money they have nowadays, and one thing, Violeta is blind.

4) Ulysses Feral!

Ancestral!

Joynia Feral! The Megalith Kingdom's number one knight! and with a secret passion for Callista, and Ruby and Sapphire's teacher, she is known for her violence and resistance, not to mention her leadership and loyalty, it is not known who the love of Joynia's life was, but apparently she once had an affair with Ruby~ At the museum, her tapestry and sword are on display along with an apparent gift given by her love, a necklace with the initials of her name.

parents!

Berdron and Jéssica Feral, a couple who live in a country town, and had two children, Berdron taught them self-defense and put it in their heads to enlist in the Enforcers, but Jessica was afraid of what might happen to her boys, but her opinion didn't have much effect, and the boys followed that dream, enlisting in the Enforcers

Lastly, and certainly least important...

5) Mayor Manx!

Ancestral!

King Maxaoel was the king of Megalith, until he died from lightning during a storm, some accuse Pastmaster of having caused that lightning to fall on the king, to leave the queen a widow, but during his lifetime, he, in addition to protecting his kingdom, also had the court jester, Madkat, arrested, not to mention anything of the king in the museum

Unlike Blue Manx, he was remembered by his great-grandson for quite some time, as his help during the war was more than great.

parents!

Alejandra Manx, is Manx's grandmother, who took care of Manx and his sister after their parents fled and to this day their whereabouts are unknown.

Alejandra is very proud of her father, Blue, who after the war moved to a city in Mexico, and lived there until his death. Alejandra told her father's stories to her grandchildren, and because of this, Manx moved to Mega Kat City, to create a life in the place where his great-grandfather saved

Now Estrella Manx wasn't much affected by the stories of her great-grandfather, but when her brother became mayor, she quickly asked for some of his money, and with that money, she travels, goes shopping, among other things.

Anyway, that was part 1! Tell me what you think and your opinions and if you liked it! and let me know if I've made any mistakes in English, bye bye!!

#swat kats #headcanon #professor Hackle #swat kats hard drive #Red Lynx #lenny ringtail #David Litterbin

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hotchocolatewriting · 4 years ago

Note

Will there be a part 3 of Christmas Day? I really enjoyed both parts!!

Tbh I didn’t have a part 3 in mind, but I am glad you asked, because now I wrote something that even I am proud of myself! I’m so glad you enjoyed the first two parts! TW: Mention of killing/death Part 1 || Part 2

Days turned into weeks and for some unknown reason, Hero kept visiting them. Long, deep conversations, lots of book recommendations, and even some stupid jokes. They had started to talk a lot to each other, although Supervillain never dared to open up too much. Still, they liked their conversations, including the stupid jokes. They liked having someone to talk to. A way to pass the time during their imprisonment. Hero’s visits made life in here so different and the books they were given were a lot more fun than Supervillain would have thought in the beginning. It was a great idea and they appreciated every single gift, book, Hero gave to them. Although it was still hard to really thank them. Supervillain was reading, sitting on their new bed, back against the forcefield as Hero came in that day. They were smiling bright as always and Supervillain returned it with a quick small smile before turning their eyes back to their book to finish the page. “Did you still not finish that book?” Hero asked. “That’s not how I know you, Supervillain.” Supervillain didn’t react, reading as quickly as they could and then shutting their book. “This is one of the first books you gave me, this is maybe the fourth time I’m reading it, I think? I just love the villain in it so much.” Hero laughed, rolling their eyes as they sat down on the floor. They lowered their backpack on the ground and started unpacking it.

“You always have this thing where you seem to love the characters that nobody else likes. I mean most of the time I love the villains too, but that one is just so evil.” "Like me, you mean?” Supervillain jokes. “Well, I don't know why I like them so much. Maybe it's because I understand them." "Understand them?" Hero repeated, their full attention locked on Supervillain as they slowly continued unpacking their bag. "Yeah,” Supervillain said, letting themselves fall on the bed. “Everyone sees them as the bad guy, but in their mind they're a hero, doing the right thing." They looked up at the book in their hands, holding it above their head. "That's how I felt at least." They may have burned everything down to the ground, but their intentions were good, at least that was what they had thought. They had wanted to build it up later to make their dream come true. It wasn’t supposed to stay like this, all covered in ashes and debris. “You thought you were doing the right thing?” Hero asked, their hands still in the air from where they had been unpacking. Disbelief shimmering through their voice. “Yeah, I wanted to make this a better place. Starting by this city, then expanding to the world with some help. You stopped me before I got the chance.” Supervillain turned on their side to watch Hero. They didn’t expect to see Hero’s smile had faded as the shock had taken over. “Do you have any idea how many people died during those days?” Hero asked, slowly lowering their hands. Supervillain couldn’t help but notice the clenched fists. “Sacrifices I had to make,” Supervillain said quietly as they sat up again. “They were all serving a bigger purpose.” “You killed thousands of innocent people!” Hero shouted. Supervillain shrugged wearily. “You don’t even care?!” Hero asked. “I never said I didn’t,” Supervillain said, still calmness itself. “I do care for this city, that’s why I wanted to make it better.” “By burning it to the ground?!” Hero screamed. “How it that helping?! You killed whole families! People lost their friends.. I lost friends! While you put yours away safely. Those same friends and family you were waiting for during Christmas. No wonder they didn’t come, I thought you were different.” Supervillain was taken aback, their chest tightening immediately as sadness took over. “Don’t you dare pull that on me!” They hissed angrily. “That has nothing to do with this!” Hero huffed as they started putting their books back in their bag. “I think that has everything to do with this, Supervillain. You don’t care about this city, not at all. You had rather seen everyone dead, including me.” “That’s not true,” Supervillain said, getting on their feet and walking towards the forcefield, so they stood right in front of Hero. “What are you doing?” “I’m going. And to come back to your answer, didn’t you say you were going to find me when you broke out of here, a few weeks earlier? What were you gonna do then, Supervillain? You can’t convince me that, that wasn’t supposed to be a threat.” Supervillain opened their mouth to say something but closed it again as they didn't have an answer. Hero was right, they were gonna say that they would kill them. “But that was just to get you away! Of course I don’t just want to kill everyone. I just thought it was necessary.” “You thought,” Hero said as they went back on their feet. “And that’s the whole problem here. You would have destroyed everything. If you got the chance you would kill me, right here and now.” Hero pulled their backpack over their shoulder and turned around, walking away. “That’s not true!” Supervillain shouted. “Hero! That’s not true!” But Hero didn’t turn around. Supervillain clenched their fists and slammed them against the forcefield that was holding them in. They started to panic. Please don’t leave me alone again! “Hero! Wait!” They slammed harder, using both of their hands. “Hero, please! That was then, not now! I do care! I wouldn’t.. I wouldn’t kill you!” Hero kept walking and Supervillain kept slamming against the forcefield until they tired themselves out. What if Hero would never come back? Would they be alone for the rest of their life? Would they take everything away from them again? They let their head rest against the forcefield, softly hitting it with the last of their strength. “Hero, please, don’t leave me alone. I didn’t mean it.” The door closed. Supervillain couldn’t held their sob back. “Okay, fuck you then!” They hit the forcefield with all of their power, which caused a big jolt of power that blasted them off their feet, smacking them against the other side of their cell where they went limp on the ground. Their eyes snapped open when they felt something brushing against their side. Hero’s face was right above theirs. Supervillain quickly threw themselves up, throwing their arms around Hero, burying their face in the crook of their neck. Hero gasped but relaxed as soon as they realised Supervillain was just holding onto them. “Are you okay?” Hero asked. Supervillain nodded, which made their head explode with pain. They groaned softly but held tighter onto Hero, not even caring about how they came in. “I’m sorry,” they mumbled. “It’s not how I... I do regret the killi-” “It’s okay, easy there, you took a big hit.” Supervillain nodded again. “I’m sorry.” They clinched onto Hero as if their life depended on it. As if all of this would go away if they let go. They couldn’t bear to let go, they just couldn’t. “Are you really okay?” Hero asked. “Please don’t go, I like this.” Supervillain breathed. “I like you.” A small smile appeared on Hero’s face and they softly stroked Supervillain’s back. “It’s okay, I won’t.”

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wangxianslillotus · 3 years ago

Text

Au where Jiang Cheng, Nie Huaisang and Jin ZiXuan go to a haunted house into the forest of a mountain, in the middle of the night because ghosts won't show up during the day time.

Nie Huaisang hears that inside the house you can find incredible scary things such as talismans, bloody walls, screams at some point of the night, evidence of rituals. He even hears that there is a witch living in one of the rooms at the very end of the house.

Mostly, he knows that this is true due to pictures that one college classmate took a couple of days ago, but the pictures that people take of the witch always dissappear as if it was never there.

Indeed, it is a very creepy thing, but as Huaisang is SO curious about it, and Jiang Cheng is a good boyfriend, he comes along to protect him just in case.

And as for Jin ZiXuan, he comes along because his girlfriend, YanLi, is worried for his brother's well-being, knowing WanYin it's an actual scary cat. So yeah, he joins the party for the expedition into that damn haunted house.

When they arrive, they try to pry from one of the windows, just to prevent the immediate encounter with the witch. They see candles lighted on the ground that project weird shadows and shapes all around the place. As the rumors had said, the walls are full of talismans of all kinds, some drawings made with what they absolutely think that is blood, and there are hanging some papers from the ceilings above the bloody circle in the floor. They can't see more than that, and Huaisang hasn't satisfied his curiosity yet, he says. He wants to see the witch.

Jiang Cheng looks at Huaisang and wants to fucking kick his ass down the mountain, but instead just tells him how much he loves him to get a foot inside that eery ass house. They hold hands while entering the house, slowly and being the most careful they have ever been in their lives. The wood of the floor makes a scratchy sound as they walk into the first room, paper doors already long gone.

It is a very old house, at least that much they know. As they saw from the window, the room next to this one is the one with the papers hanging from the ceiling, but in the current one there seems to be some kind of altar, surrounded by more candles and incense that smells not so bad. They keep walking, looking at the walls of the window room quite closely now, amazed by how the witch has prepared so many things.

They are keeping it in by short, and it shows when they hear running footsteps in the next room. There is a paper door that's almost destroyed in between the two rooms, and they do catch a glimpse of a little shadow running into another further room from the spaces that were supposed to be covered with the paper.

Jiang Cheng mutters, "what the fuck?" Huaisang holding tighter onto his arm, and ZiXuan resisting the impulse that wants to make him run to hold Huaisang too, all of them scared to death.

They hear nothing now, but even so, they stay still for a couple of minutes. When nothing happens, they keep going further because Huaisang wanted to get a glimpse of the witch. And if Huaisang wanted, Jiang Cheng complied. And Jin ZiXuan wanted to leave them both right there.

ZiXuan opens the door after being pushed by Jiang Cheng, sliding it to the side with utmost silence. In this room there's only a table on the ground, full of scattered things that are just as gloomy as the first two rooms. They look like pieces of toys, and there are some tools too that Jiang Cheng recognizes from his sister's work, but that doesn't bring him any good feelings.

Suddenly a tug in his arm makes him turn, Huaisang pointing with his mouth full open to the door next room. Jiang Cheng looks, but doesn't see anything until he does, and then he's tugging at ZiXuan's arm with urgency.

"The... the... corner." He instructs, his voice being barely a tiny thread compared to his usual loud voice. ZiXuan doesn't even question it, he follows his instructions in case they need to run away. But when he does, he too, gets paralyzed at the sight.

There are two small hands holding the door that guides to the next room. Two small hands and the half of a child's face staring at them.

They stay still for what feels like ages, so when a big terrific shadow projects over their heads in the wall in front of them, greatly defined thanks to the thousands of candles lighted in the previous room, along with the happy kid's voice calling "papa" to something or someone pass them, they jump straight into different reactions.

Huaisang faints. He goes limp on the floor, and Jiang Cheng barely registers his fall, still frozen like a statue. ZiXuan runs towards the opposite wall to the one that projects the shadow, and turns around to confront it with a loud scream.

"Could you please be silent, you're scaring my son." The man speaks, already tired of the scene, even if he finds it hilarious. His voice is very chill, and he doesn't look much older than them. The little kid opens the door and runs towards him, hiding behind his legs.

Jiang Cheng turns around after gaining some of his soul back, ready to punch the man with all his strength until he turns him into a real ghost, but decides that his fainted boyfriend needs a little bit more of attention. He holds Huaisang closer as he speaks, "We are scaring him? He almost killed my man!!!"

The man chuckles, "You pretty much deserve that for coming into my home in the middle of the night." He states, patting the little boy's head with care.

"... your... home?" ZiXuan asks, confused. How could someone live in a place like this? It was insane. Jiang Cheng now tries to wake Huaisang up with a little slap on his cheek, but gets no response at all.

"Do I look like I am fond to repeat my words?" The man says, glaring at ZiXuan. The kid suddenly tugs at his father's pants, making grabby hands towards him, and with a smile, the man complies his son's wishes.

Jiang Cheng mutters, "This haunted place doesn't look like a home..."

"Ow, I'm sorry I missed the home-decor meeting, man." The man scoffs, making a half smile. "Now, even if you are intruders in my home," He paused, "I am a very good host, so unless you prefer to wait for him to wake up while you go down the woods to the city, you can bring him up to the living room."

He doesn't wait for an answer from the boys, and instead, he walks over the next room. They are quite surprised when they see him turn the lights on, and after sharing a look, they both take Huaisang, following the man deeper into the house.

They get into another room, laying Huaisang in the couch that the man points lazily as he dissappears into another room.

Jiang Cheng and Jin ZiXuan instantly get closer, and start discussing the current events.

"What the fuck?" ZiXuan starts, holding himself close by grabbing onto Jiang Cheng's shoulder.

"I don't know, what is going on, man..." he responds, sighing. "Wasn't this supposed to be a haunted house with a witch and all that?"

"Who said that? So rude." A third voice joins them with whispers too, making them jump again. They breat heavily, lips pressing while shooting glares to the man that returned from wherever he was.

"Can you stop?" Jiang Cheng barks, pushing the man with his shoulder without second thought. The man looks at him, eyes full of innocence.

"I'm not doing anything." He provides, disconcerted by the request.

"You're appearing out of nowhere, so suddenly... we're still kind of... getting our nerves back, you know?" ZiXuan explains the best way he can. The man makes an understanding gesture with his face, and apologizes in a whisper again.

They go silent a while more, just staring blankly at Huaisang, that shows no signs of waking up anytime soon. Until the man tries to break the ice.

"Since you're already here, and all that... what are your names?" He asks, taking a seat next to the table that matches the couch, on the floor. He looks at them with a sweet smile, looking almost happy for having them there.

"Uhh..." Jiang Cheng side looks at ZiXuan before answering. "Are you sure you're not going to like... throw a curse at us or something like that?"

The man laughs wholeheartedly at his words, grabbing his stomach and all, before answering, "Oh, no. You got enough already, didn't you?" He said putting his elbows onto the table, "But for you to be somewhat reassured, my name is Wei WuXian".

With that, the other two were indeed reassured. "I am Jin ZiXuan, he is Jiang WanYin... and this deceased one is Nie Huaisang. We are truly sorry for breaking in like this. And for scaring your son, too. He looks like a good child." He tries with a smile. With that, Wei WuXian seems to relax even more, as a proud father that he was.

"Oh, A-yuan is the best. He's sleeping now, but I promise that he is. Now, would you mind telling me who said that this was a Haunted house? I wouldn't want more people breaking in in my sleep, you know?"

"It was... one of Huaisang's college classmates. They came here the other night and took some pictures to show around." Jiang Cheng sits while talking, right next to Huaisang's legs. If he was going to be chatty, then at least he should be comfy.

Wei WuXian made a face at that information. That wasn't good at all.

"I see..."

They pause for another couple of seconds, until Jiang Cheng couldn't hold it anymore. He has a curiosity too, and just like his boyfriend, he's very often, not so good at containing it.

"Why do you live here?" He wanted to know since he realized that there was no witch, no ghost, but just a lot of awful choices with decorations, probably to scare away people in the first place, or something like that, and a little boy in his pajamas waiting for his dad to come back home.

Wei WuXian sighs, "I don't have money to rent a better place at the city, and with my current job I have enough to pay for a tuition for A-yuan. I'm searching, tho. For better jobs, and better conditions too, but... it's been pretty though. 23 years old, a child, no bank account or references and no other job experiences, people don't really want that on their heads when I do the interviews." He wishes he had a beer or something to talk about his problems with people he barely knew, but he supposes that that was exactly the reason why he could talk without saving himself some face, without having to pretend that he was not affected by what he couldn't control. They have already seen a lot, too. So what else could be saved.

Jiang Cheng and Jin ZiXuan felt for what Wei WuXian was going through. They weren't exactly the best empaths, but they knew how hard the things could be for some people.

Jiang Cheng had seen his mother after the divorce, refusing to accept the money his father sent them because she thought that it was the fastest way to get completely away from him and his lack of everything at their past relationship. He had seen her working hard to earn her place in the world, and had seen her distressed when they had no money to spare, not even for a toy. They were better now, way better. But he never forgot.

Not even now, seeing the same expression that his mom had at the time, plastered in Wei WuXian's face while he lets a sigh take away some tension.

You could... come with us. He wants to say. We have a spare room where you could live with your child for a while until you get some money. He really wants to say. But he doesn't find the words.

"How is your son doing with all this, WuXian?" ZiXuan asks, knowing the background of the thinking process that was going on inside of Jiang Cheng's mind. Wei WuXian wrinkles his nose a little bit, trying to pull some strength.

"He..." he sighs, changing his position, "He's trying his best. He doesn't like this place, we're not feeling safe here, and he has nightmares from time to time. But he studies hard even if he's tired, and eats whatever I can bring onto the table... he never complains." Sometimes, Wei WuXian wanted that his son complained, so that he could blame himself for everything that was going on. It was his fault, in the first place. But his son's smiles hurted him even deeper than any blame that he could phantom.

"It's been long?" Jiang Cheng finally got a grip on his memories, and he rejoins the conversation. "Since you live here."

Wei WuXian looks at him and thinks, has it been long? "Mmh... no more than six months."

"That's!!!" Jiang Cheng quarrels with a sudden scream. Wei WuXian looks at him surprised, and Jiang Cheng clears his throat before continuing, "that's a lot of time..."

"Indeed, it is." Wei WuXian answers, dry. It was already more than the "couple of weeks" that he said he needed to get everything under control. It was by far more than a couple of weeks.

When Jiang Cheng was about to offer him that he joined the Jiang house, Nie Huaisang made a sound in complain, making them jump onto their feets to check him.

"Babe... if you're so much of a scary cat to faint on the spot, then we shouldn't have come to a supposed haunted house." Jiang Cheng said, pulling his boyfriend's cheek when he confirmed that he was okay.

Nie Huaisang makes a pout but doesn't argue on that. Instead, he focuses on the unknown man in black at the side of his boyfriend, and offers a polite smile.

"How long have you been awake?" Wei WuXian asks, not being fooled by his smile. Huaisang presses his lips, he's been caught on the spot. The other two boys look surprised, was he faking it?

"... Since A-Cheng asked you why you live here..." he confesses, turning pink on his cheeks.

"A-Sang!" Jiang Cheng complains, frowning deep. "Why didn't you say something?"

"How could I just talk in the middle of all that?! You would have stopped right away... besides, it would have been the most uncomfortable thing ever. So spare me, A-Cheng!" He took his boyfriend's hand into his, pulling him to seat again at his side in the couch.

ZiXuan rolls his eyes and takes a seat in front of Wei WuXian, not wanting to pay attention to the couple. He knew better already. And it seemed that Wei WuXian could predict them too, because he just sat back on the floor. There where a couple of seconds more until the couple settles, finally paying attention to the previous conversation.

"So... you... live... alone with your son?" Huaisang asks, tip toeing the words, not so sure how would it sound once pronounced. Wei WuXian stares at him for a second, not really looking. It was more like he was looking at the past for a couple of moments, but he ends up smiling, stiff but deciding to answer.

"I do. We do. It's just A-Yuan and Wei Ying." He declares. It wasn't bad. It wasn't good either, in some terms.

It was good, because Wei WuXian loved every single day he spends by his precious son's side, he loves the way his little boy munches his food, the way he sleeps, the way he treats the world, he did his best everyday, even to random stray cats that showed up on their door, his son was the best and the cutest. He loves him. But... it wasn't good for A-Yuan, because these weren't the proper conditions for his son's health or education, nor to his well-being and growth. Wei WuXian knows it.

The other three boys didn't knew what to say to that, to be fair. They couldn't just avoid the feeling that something definitely had happened, but also they couldn't quite grab exactly what had happened, so they really didn't knew what to say in response. It wasn't like Wei WuXian wasn't sharing, or keeping secrets. He was being bare open to their questioning, but this... just seems way too personal for them to dig it up just like that.

Wei WuXian seems to catch the feeling in the air, because he agitates his hand in front of his nose, like fanning something, saying "Oh, no. Don't mind it. Really, it isn't something that hurts to speak of."

They breathe again, and look at him with expectation in their eyes. Wei WuXian is happy that he, now, has someone who will listen to his story, his and his son's. But it wasn't the moment, was it?

"He isn't really my son. He is, because I love him, and because I adopted him. But I'm not his biological father." He provided in a whisper, that being enough for now. "He doesn't know, so I'm not quite comfortable with saying it out loud here."

They all made an understanding nod, all with different expressions, but understanding nonetheless. Wei WuXian smiled warmly.

That night, the party left the haunted house with a new friend and a new trouble to be talked and solved. They arrived at the Jiang house, still talking about what or how would they ask Madam Yu permission for bringing their new friend, plus one little boy, under their roof.

Madam Yu wasn't quite enchanted by the full idea, of course, she wanted to help, but bringing a man into the house would be a little bit shocking to the people in the neighborhood, but she knew why his son was doing all of this. And they could say that it was a friend of Jiang Cheng, which was true. They sat sat the table until four am, talking about how would they live from now on. They even talked about making Wei WuXian a contract for rent, in case he needed it for any reason that could come up in the future. When they settled most of the things, Jiang Cheng and Nie Huaisang went to the room that they were going to give Wei WuXian to prepare it, ZiXuan went to his own home, and Madam Yu went to her study to check out prices of furniture that the boy and his son would probably need.

..................

Later that week, WanYin and Huaisang went up the mountain again. They walk for quite a bit until they are in front of the house in the middle of the forest. Under the daylight, the house looks not so scary anymore, but instead just bad maintained.

There are some toys scattered on the side of the entrance, when they pass. Huaisang slides his hand onto his boyfriend's and smiles at him excitedly. They go further down the house until the actual main entrance, announcing their arrival with a loud voice, so that Wei WuXian doesn't get surprised, at least in the wrong way.

Wei Ying turns around with A-Yuan on his arms, smiling at his friends with happiness. "Guys! What are you doing here?" He asked, making an adorable face when his son waves at them too, offering a thooty smile. What a polite little boy.

Huaisang almost dies at the cuteness of this little one, so he immediately goes to him, while Jiang Cheng is left to give the big news.

"Well... actually... You know. There's a room." He says, smacking himself mentally at the eyebrow that Wei WuXian gives him, and the laugh that his boyfriend barely contains inside. "There's a free. A free room. It's not being used. The room it's at my house." He... is getting somewhere, enough to enlighten Wei WuXian's eyes when he connects the dots. But Jiang Cheng it's not a patient human being, so he just sighs before a bluntly adding, "do you want it?"

Huaisang looks at him with a smile, just too amused at the spectacle to make some additions, meanwhile Wei WuXian covers his face to laugh out loud.

"What is funny?" WanYin asks, red from head to toe.

"I do want it, WanYin. Thank you..." Wei WuXian says, pulling the other man into his arms for a hug. A tight hug. "Thank you so, so, so much."

.............

#wei wuxian #wei ying #mdzs #mo dao zu shi #the untamed #mdzs au #mo dao zu shi au #jiang wanyin #jiang cheng #nie huaisang #jin zixuan #jiang yanli #a-yuan #our home will be wherever we are a-yuan

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autumn-foxfire · 4 years ago

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I find it interesting that people are upset with the guards because they think the inmates are monsters, but the chapter proves them right. Like muscular immediately starts killing people with a smile and guns don't work on him. Moonfish wants to eat people. Afo says he's gonna be a demon lord. Machia the guy they were talking about alone just killed possibly thousands of people and destroyed cities. Like why wouldn't they be terrified of them and hate them?

Exactly.

These guards are surrounded by some of the worst people alive. Ones that love to kill innocents and would kill you with a smile on their faces if you gave them the opportunity. They watch them hold no regret for what they’ve done, whether that be serial murder or genocide.

Really, that would make anyone jaded towards the inmates inside the prison. Sure, not everyone in Tartarus will be like that but when your surrounded by the worst of the worst, it does end up effecting your judgement.

The guards are only human and I feel like people are already forgetting that.

#bnha #bnha 297 #bnha manga spoilers #thanks for the ask!!#Anonymous

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tokoyamisstuff · 4 years ago

Text

Betrothed Ch. 11 - Illumi Zoldyck x Reader

Chapter 11: Broken

Summary: Illumi cannot escape his past - but sometimes that fact isn’t all that bad.

Warnings: Death, Blood, Angst, the usual.

Words: ~2500

A/N: Sorry guys, this chapter probably sucks. When I’m working night-shifts I become erradic and can’t think straight, but I still wanna write, so...

Story Masterlist

No one knows what it’s like to be the bad man To be the sad man behind blue eyes. And no one knows what it’s like to be hated. To be fated to telling only lies. But my dreams they aren’t as empty as my conscience seems to be. I have hours only lonely. My love is vengeance, that’s never free.

- Limp Bizkit: Behind Blue Eyes

“Keep good care of Alluka, okay?”

He only nodded in response. You never doubtet him to protect her, yet also couldn’t help reminding him either after everything he’s been through.

After all, his fear of Illumi made him forget about his locked away sister for such a long time...

“And you’ll be listening to your brother, right?”

“Aye!” the little girl cheered, pecking the flustered boy on the cheek.

It was actually very adoring to look at those two siblings who were finally reunited, now able to make up for the time they’ve lost.

The only companion you’d take with you was your familiar Luna, and you also didn’t want to rely on Alluka’s powers now that you had a hint to your husband’s whereabouts.

Your sister-in-law had been through enough, and she also was way more than just someone to grant wishes. She had desires, dreams and a future to look out for. Both of them.

Gladly, Killua could tell you about all safehouses in Yorknew City so the Zoldyck family wouldn’t notice about you prying around. That information was more than enough for your search.

“What are you going to do from now on?”

“Getting my husband back, obviously” you shrugged at Killua’s words, clutching the ace of spades you were holding. Hisoka had given it to you - infused with a powerful nen, you could contact him whenever you felt it necessary.

“I know that’s all very much for you...” Yes, Killua had struggled with his brother’s mental illness ever since his birth. And now to act like all of that never happened just because you told him he had a change of heart? It seemed almost impossible. “So take your time processing things. We won’t bother you until you’re ready.”

Rumpling up the boy’s white hair, you grinned widely at your friends before you boarded the airship.

You were already halfway across the ocean when you got a message from Killua, warming your cautious heart:

“I’m glad you’ve joined our family. Save him.”

Days passed by as you searched safehous after safehous, as well as every shady corner of the city. Much to your dissatisfaction, your husband had always been gone as soon as you reached the scene of crime.

“I’ll find him, no matter what!” you thought just before you reached the next safehouse, deep in the mountains surrounding the great city. He had seemingly destroyed the Zoldyck Personal Transmitter, just as you had - both blessing and curse.

The view was breathtaking, yet you didn’t bother yourself with wasting any minute enjoying it. Luna’s cry told you that you were near, and that was all that counted right now.

Because there were only three spots left, and what if you’d search for him in vain and he had already left Yorknew City? Your guts twisted very unpleasantly at the thought, making it a lot harder to climb the last pile of rocks.

And there it was - a small brick house, nothing more than a one-room-apartment with the most needed items to survive a short time.

There were lights on inside, you clearly saw them from afar.

Fearing that he would leave if he noticed you, there was no other option left than to surpress your Nen completely, leaving you defenseless against every possible threat.

But when you entered, there was no one there - except...

“Oh?” As you stepped into the dim cancle light of the room, a small cat stumbled in between your legs, purring happily. “Who are you, sweetheart?”

Seems like Illumi made a friend, huh?

The thought alone made your heart feel like it’ll burst out of happiness as you pet the animal’s head, noticing that Illumi had treated it’s wounds.

Leaving Luna and the cat get to know each other, you roamed around the room, searching for any possible hint on Illumi’s location.

The house seemed to still be occupied, so should you just wait here for him?

But then, the TV that he seemingly forgot to turn off bursted the local news:

“The auction is only expected to take place in a few weeks, but the preparations are already in full swing. Even though everone is talking about the possibility of the Phantom Troupe blowing up the occasion, rumors about ‘special measurements’ have been spread. The organizers did not want to comment, however they assured us the auction will run safe and peaceful.”

“Organizers my ass” you gritted your teeth. Everyone on the world knew the legendary Ten Dons were secretly holding an Underground Auction, with the ‘legal’ one just being a distraction.

But now you could very well imagine where your lover has headed up to...

It’s the same every year. Many assassins would gather to protect the auction, very well paid by the Dons.

A very good occasion to start wiping out the profession of assassins completely.

Finding the place of action was no problem. A quick research and you knew that the tallest hotel in town was in their possession, where the assassins would probably be allowed to stay until the big occasion.

The hardest part however was what in the world you could do if you arrived there...

“P-Please, have mercy!”

As you broke into the building and entered the conference hall, the blood-bath was already in full swing, the true strenght of your husband unfolding in front of your very eyes.

“Sorry, but I cannot make exceptions” Illumi spoke calmly, hitting his enemy’s head with a needle.

There were twenty-five - no, thirty corpses laying around.

Did he really single-handedly kill all those highly professional assassins? Then again, you had never seen him go all out before...

Even though your husband seemed to have granted them a quick death, everything was a mess. Broken furniture, scattered bodyparts and puddles of blood everywhere.

Illumi obviously didn’t need any help, but the moment you saw another enemy try to attack him from behind, you snapped.

Before you could even comprehend what happened, your body had acted before your mind, leaving you only able to watch as the man fell to the ground.

That wasn’t right. Those assassins were mostly hunters, who arrested or killed criminals. They weren’t guilty or worthy of death.

And yet you did it...it was a reflex, your inherent wish to help Illumi being stronger than your rationality.

So you stood stock still as your husband turned around, furrowing his brows at the injured person laying at his feet - and finished him off.

"Oh? Y/N...” Why did his tone have to be so cheerfull, even at times like this? “What are you doing here?”

As if this was a casual chat, he stepped over several corpses until he faced you, while still remaining his distance.

You gulped harshly, even after all this time not prepared for this moment. “I-I was searching for you.”

“What for?” he plainly retorted, stepping harshly on one of the twitching bodies. “I’m glad to see you’re alright, but you shouldn’t be here.”

Folding your hands to keep them from shaking, it made your following words seem only more as if you were praying. “Because I want you to come back to me. Please...”

“I can’t do that, Y/N” he said and his pained smile ripped your heart in thousand pieces. “I’m too dangerous to be with you. I see that now. It’s no wonder you didn’t trust me back then - since I can’t even trust myself.”

Seeing your face stained with tears made him struggle with the wish to cradle you in his arms, soothing you like he always did. But he refrained from doing so.

“Don’t be sad.” He rose his bloodied hands in the air, gesturing across the room.��"I found something I want to do. See? I’ll cleanse the world of other monsters like me and make it more safe for you!”

“Lumi...” Hearing this familiar nickname in your most alluring voice made him drop the facade for only a mere second. “...are you crying?”

“Huh? So that’s what it is.” Only now Illumi realized that he had been weeping as well, touching his face in surprise. He had already forgotten that he was able to cry as well."Yeah. It happens a lot lately.”

“Illumi, love-” you now pleaded, breaking out in convulsive sobbing. “You’re sick, you know that. But that’s not the right way...”

“No need to worry” he tried to compromise, pointing to his neck. “I used a needle on myself, in case my parents should get the better off me again. If I ever hurt someone innocent again, it’ll tear my aorta apart and I’ll die.”

You dared to take a few steps in his direction, but he backed off. “There’s no other way, Y/N. You’re the only one allowed to put an end to my life if you wish, but nothing else.”

“If I die, I’ll make up at least for a fraction of my deeds” Illumi thought to himself, his face now contorting to a rather mad smirk. “Y/N will be safe.”

You said nothing - no, you were left unable to speak.

Seeing the love of your life suffering so much was just too hard for you to bear.

“I’m not worthy of your love, Y/N.” God knows when he managed to appear right in front of you, but somehow he did, softly raising your chin. “I’ll never be” he added, wiping away your tears with his thumb.

“Y-You...” Softly sniveling, you embraced your husband, face wetting the fabric of his shirt. “You don’t need to be ‘worthy’. Love doesn’t work that way, Lumi. I’ll always love you! That’s up to me and you can’t just change that fact!”

“I could” he suggested himself, struggling with the temptation to kiss all your pain away. A needle could make you hate him, or even forget it all.

But he had promised himself to never manipulate other people or cut their freedom, even if just for their safety.

It was your own decision how to feel, or how you’d deal with it.

“Do you really still not remember, Lumi?”

“What exactly?” Your husband didn’t move an inch as you grabbed him tight, afraid he’d leave as soon as you let go.

“You spared me back then” you whispered, shivering as you tried to get a hold of him again. "We were still young, but you were already under their influence...”

Illumi clearly began to shake too, making you regret the previous words. Of course they would cause a flashback...

“Do you remember?”

“Vividly.”

Your husband must’ve been sixteen around that time - yet already a completely trained, fearsome assassin.

Who was his target again? He couldn’t remember.

All he knew was that the orders were to “kill the target as well as it’s allies and leave no witnesseses behind”. The job was precize, requiring to act quick to clean up every proof.

And then there was you.

Still in midst of your hunter education, you were assigned by your family to become the bodyguard over that certain politician, following him on his every step.

But now you saw it all in front of you: Illumi, with his hands firmly strangulating your airway.

He hadn’t developed his Nen abilities at the time, therefore having to do the job with his bare hands. And since you were the last one he had to get rid of, there was no need to hurry.

It was a strange feeling to have such a beautiful person writhing underneath him, piercing him with their pleading look.

Somehow it was a shame you had to die so early, and under those circumstances...

Just when you felt yourself passing out from lack of oxygen, you refrained from trying to pull his hands away - and placed one softly on his cheek.

Illumi froze, shocked by your deed. He had taken so many lives, made countless people suffer already...

But you were the only one who looked at him with such kind, sad eyes...absent of any hint of grudge.

You coughed heavily before you were able to corak out the question burning on your tongue: Why did he stopp fulfilling his mission?

"Yes, why...” he asked himself as well, rubbing the cheek you had just stoked. That sensation, the gentleness and affection of your touch was so foreign to him that he completely lost himself for a moment.

“Why didn’t you struggle?” he turned the interrogation around, almost forgetting about the severe situation both of you were in.

“Dunno” you shuddered, just now realizing that you had given in to your fate just seconds ago. “You seemed kind of sad.”

What?!? This must be some kind of trick!

“Does someone force you to do this?” The compassionate expression on your face scared him, making him want to run away from what he did not know. “You don’t seem happy to do this.”

“I don’t feel anything” the teenager scoffed, taken aback by your worry and care. “I am a highfunctioning tool of darkness and nothing more.”

"How sad...” You cracked a weak smile, and it’s brightness was enough to make him flee, your last words still spinning in his head. “I think under different circumstances, I would’ve loved to become your friend!”

You really were something else...flirting with an enemy that tried to kill you?!? Talking about being insane...

“I get now why my family was so much against our marriage...it’s a joke, really...”

It was a mystery how you didn’t recognize him right away, and how you only now remembered. They had to change all the facts, spending a huge amount of money to silence anyone knowing the truth.

Your name got changed, and everyone would have to act like you were their second child - because the one on the mission had died back then.

So the wrath of the Zoldycks wouldn’t caugh up with you to finish their job.

“You liked me...” Illumi let out a shaky breath, “...even back then.”

“Sure!” you now chuckled weakly, trying to brighten the mood. “How could one not fall for those eyes?”

“I tried to kill you.”

“You didn’t.”

Leading his hands to your neck, you wanted to show just how much you trusted him. And immediately, his hands, wandered up to your face, softly suqeezing and stroking it as if he was making sure this wasn’t just a dream or an hallucination. “You’d never hurt me, Lumi. I know that.”

And finally, he cupped your face, hesistantly moving his own closer to yours.

“Is it really okay for me to love you?” he whimpered ever so slightly - but you already pushed your lips onto his until they were inseparable.

“Yes, it is.”

_____

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