#and in zzz that means I can't play the events....

[nervocat]

I'm slacking so badly in zzz and wuwa...

[gayuu-the-necromancer]

William Rex Chapter 11

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The moment felt like sugar in a cup of tea, spreading and melting deep into the body.

I was left dizzy and intoxicated by its sweet afterglow and fell asleep like a spoiled child in the night that had descended before I knew it.

Kate: "Nn.......Mm......"

(Birds are chirping....is it morning already?)

William: ".....zZz...."

Kate: "....!?"

The sight of a defenseless sleeping face in front of me awakened my sleepy head at once.

(Oh yeah....we were....)

Immediately, yesterday's events flashed through my mind and my heart began to pound.

(I...was so outrageous.....)

Once I became obedient to my desires, I ended up having sex.

That too, with William, who I thought was the member of the Crown I should be most vigilant of.

(Indeed, I was attracted to him)

I felt like I was going crazy with him and I wanted to know him,

Now that I think about it, it was probably the voice that I had been killing all this time.

(And I did this. I don't intend to be in a relationship like this....)

----FLASHBACK-----

Kate: "I.....I can't be myself....when I'm around you...."

William: "........Is it a 'good' thing or 'bad' thing?"

----FLASHBACK ENDS-----

(Which is it?)

The questions I have put off, spoiled by the darkness of the night are swirling around in my chest.

(......such beautiful sleeping face.....)

My head was about to boil over and I let go of my thoughts and my gaze was drawn to him on its own.

The smooth curve of his cheek, his long eyelashes, his silky silver hair, his lightly tinted lips....

(Yesterday, these lips were....)

William: "......Nmm....."

(.....!)

William: "......Fufu. You're up early, Kate."

(Nn.....?)

The moment I heard the voice, I felt a sweet numbness.

As if a switch had been flipped, my body recalls the pleasures of yesterday on its own.

Kate: "...........good morning."

William: "Good morning......your voice looks to be rather sore, huh?"

Laughing brightly, William gently combs my hair.

These hands that gracefully play the piano are meaner than I thought.

They know what I want and how I want as if reading my mind.

(.....I don't think I'll be able to look at even one fingertip properly for a while....)

William: "I'll have something for breakfast. You can get some rest."

Kate: "......yes......."

I watched his back as he left the bed in a good mood as usual, and I buried my hot face in the cold pillow.

(I feel like I'm the only one going crazy)

(.....Why did William do this with me?)

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(.....Why did William do this with me?)

(I wonder if he would do it with anyone....if he was asked to, even if he had no special feelings for them)

Just an extension of his affection, to help you be honest about your desires.

These words come to mind, and a hazy feeling builds up in my chest.

William: "Kate."

Kate: "Whaaa!?"

A sudden whisper in my ear and I jump out,

William: "Hahahaha!"

Smiling pleasantly, William put the breakfast tray on the sideboard.

William: "Finally, a pretty squeal."

Kate: "D-Don't sneak attack on me....."

William: "Forgive me, you looked so serious and thoughtful."

(.....Don't look at me like that)

Whenever he smiles happily and squints his eyes lovingly I feel my heart turning into a mess.

(William is someone who is willing to lend his support to anyone he likes)

(If I were one of the many who just happened to catch his eye then I'm one of the many)

(I should be able to make myself believe that this was a one-night stand, a passing affair, and that I should have no regrets. No feelings)

William: "You didn't get the answer to that question?"

Kate: "Answer.....?"

William looked at me with those eyes that could see through the depths of my heart.

(Ah.....)

(No.....don't expose my heart yet)

I find myself in a hurry.

(....Yet? What is yet....?)

I was also trying to kill my voice again.

And---WIlliam is surely aware of it.

William: "Then does that mean it's a 'bad' thing....."

William: "You didn't like what happened yesterday?"

Kate: "T-That's...."

Reflexively, the words seem to fly out of my mouth and I block them with the palm of my hand.

(No...if I say something like that)

William: "....Then why are you hiding?"

(Because, if I admit it....I'm afraid I won't be able to go back)

(I'm scared)

William's hand slowly pulls my hand away from my mouth.

Memories of entwined fingertips scrambled through my mind, ruining every bit of resistance I could muster.

William: "Kate."

(I already knew the answer to the question of what was good and what was bad)

(I just didn't want to admit it)

I had a feeling that there is going to be a lot of pain ahead and I wanted to pretend that I did not see it because I felt it was wrong.

However, for me, being loved by him so much that I wanted to shake it off.

(Is happy and painful...'good' thing)

-----Options-----

I shouldn't have, but it was a good thing.

I don't want to not do it again.

You already know, so don't ask.

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Kate: "........I don't want to.....not do it again."

I am so embarrassed that I almost started crying and my ears are burning.

William: ".....Fufu."

Kate: "......Don't laugh....it's embarrassing."

William: "Sorry. You look so cute."

Everything he pours fascinates me.

The more he pours...the more I want it.

(Because.....I like William)

William: "You have a bad habit of keeping your mouth shut and hiding your true feelings. How should I fix that now?"

His question was the perfect excuse for me. I couldn't resist the urge to intertwine our fingers one more time.

Kate: ".....Keep holding me...so I won't hide."

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William: "You have a bad habit of keeping your mouth shut and hiding your true feelings. How should I fix that now?"

Kate: ".....Keep holding me...so I won't hide."

William: "I see. That's a good idea."

Our fingers intertwined and was sewn to the bed.

(It is easy to solve if I try to shake it off)

Therefore, the fingertips that cling to the body are full of strength.

William: "....Ah, there is one problem."

Kate: "What...?"

William: "We won't be having breakfast."

He whispered jokingly just before kissing me.

Even though I know that this is a trap to lure out my true feelings, I can't resist.

Kate: "It's easier to eat....when it's a little cooler."

I couldn't honestly say 'I'd rather kiss you than eat breakfast.'

William gave me a pampering kiss.

.........

Inside an office of a certain palace, a man with a mustache tosses a telegram onto the desk.

Mustache man: " 'They found him, he's coming' ......it's funny that this the end of a political heavyweight in such a hurry."

Secretary: "Sir, what should I write as a reply?"

Mustache man: " Write... 'That's exactly what I want. Entertain him in the mansion and make him look like a long-time ally.' "

Mustache man: " 'Whenever he is caught off guard, our men will catch him.' "

Mustache man: " 'The signal should be 'It's time for dinner'. As soon as you say that, it will trigger our best men to rush in....' "

As the secretary finished writing out the words, a knock on the door rolled into the room.

Brian: "Excuse me. It's Brian Bennett."

Mustache man: "Ah, come in."

Brian: "Sir Grimsley, what can I do for you today? ......Another civilian threat?"

Grimsley: "Oh, it's always the same, Brian."

Grimsley: "...I want you to use your pen to bring justice to the 'evil'."

...........

It was that evening, after a cold breakfast with William while laughing, that I received a call from Victor.

(It's rare to see the whole Crown together)

Victor: "Thank you for coming, ladies and gentlemen! As an expression of gratitude, allow me to sing you a song...."

Jude: "Tch, fuck this, I'm leaving."

Harrison: ".....Haa..I'm leaving too."

Victor: "Wait, I was joking! Come back come back! It's really really important!"

Ellis: "Why he doesn't get to the main topic right away, Kate?"

Kate: "Hm? Well, I guess....Victor was just trying to lighten up the atmosphere."

William: "Good for you, Victor. Now you have a friend to take your side."

Victor: "You're right. Miss Kate, you're so kind."

Victor: "I wish I could hug you right now....but we'll save that for later."

Victor: "Now! .....It's time to get down to business."

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Victor: "Now! .....It's time to get down to business."

The air that Victor wears instantly goes to being dull and I unintentionally straightened up.

The faces of the Crown members also changed.

Victor: "We all know that William was the first to track down the originator of the 'Golden Butterfly' revival."

Victor: "The Marquis of Avalus. Yesterday, I confirmed the information that he is definitely in the mansion."

Victor: "The destruction of a single drug smuggling operation would be a minor blow to the organization."

Victor: "We're dealing with a powerhouse that has access to all kinds of facilities and manpower."

Victor: "If we let him go, we will be allowing a second or third sacrifice."

(...I can't believe we're going through this again. It should never happen again)

Sadness and anger burn in my heart as I recall the horrific scenes I saw in the East End.

The director of the workhouse was surprised by the arrival of the 'Marquis' played by William that day.

The Marquis and the upper echelons of the 'butterfly' would never descend to such dark depths so easily.

(So that's why they could....go on and on doing awful things)

Victor: "Her Majesty, the Queen desires that the Marquis be executed and that the butterflies be exterminated."

Victor: "William, can you go?"

William: "Ah, sure. Why not?"

An order to assassinate the Marquis.

Liam: "I want to go too. It looks like it's going to be an intense mission. Fufu.....I'm excited."

Harry: "Then, Will, are you taking Kate along with you as well?"

Kate: "...!"

William: "If she wants to. What do you want to do, Kate?"

Kate: "I...."

All the missions I have been on so far have been preparatory work for crushing the 'butterfly'.

In this assignment, William is tasked to 'terrorize' those who seek to evade the law and trample on our freedoms.

He will kill the Marquis of Avalus in a cruel and inhumane manner.

He shows the terrible consequences of 'evil' and restrains 'evil'. That is the true nature of his crime.

(...To be honest, I'm afraid to witness that)

(But I can't write about William's sins as a fairy tale master without witnessing it. And....)

(If only I didn't know how my heart would feel about his sin)

(I feel like I'm going to pick and choose what's important to me in the future)

Kate: "I want to go. If I'm not a hindrance."

William: "Of course not. If you want to come, you're always welcome."

Liam: "What about others?"

Roger: "I'll come along too. It's the enemy territory. It's better to know what's going to happen around you all the time."

Elbert: "............I'm going too."

Roger: "Ha?"

Alphonse: "......Pardon me for a moment, please."

With a mysterious look on his face, Mr. Alphonse reach out to touch Master Elbert's forehead.

Alphonse: "His temperature is fine..... I don't see any major head injury or anything."

Alphonse: "Lately, you have been out of sorts...but looks like we reached an irreversible state I guess."

Elbert: "...........I'm doing fine, Al. Don't worry."

Roger: "He's just being sarcastic, because it's rare to see you, asking to go on a mission, that's why."

Elbert: "...............There is something I want to confirm."

Master Elbert's gaze suddenly turned to me and my eyes widened.

(......Don't tell me he still thinks that I'm the 'one' he's looking for?)

The calm and serene expression, only staring at me, made me shudder.

(It's not right to make excuses, and I should probably just leave it alone.....)

(Maybe one day he will realize that he's mistaken)

Victor: "It would be difficult to move in such a large group since we would be jumping into the enemy's lair...."

Victor: "Why not take Ellis with you as well?"

Jude: "There he goes again, using my employees without my permission."

Ellis: "I don't mind going. Ah, but...."

Jude: "What?"

Ellis: "What if Jude encounters his happiest moment, while I'm away?"

Jude: "Tch, you creepy bastard. I hope you go there and die."

(Happiest moment....?)

Unsure of what he meant, I asked William in a low voice.

Kate: "So then, what happens when that moment arrives....?"

William: "Ellis will kill him."

(Eh...)

William: "I heard that's the deal."

(What kind of deal...No, I shouldn't pry)

Victor: "Ok. So it's final. William, Liam, Roger, Elbert, Ellis.....and Kate will go on this mission."

Victor: "You guys will be leaving at midnight. Until then, eat, sleep or do whatever you like."

Victor: "Oh, and..."

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Victor: "And...Kate, can you stay back for a minute? I'd like to talk to you."

Kate: "Me? Yeah sure."

William: "....I'll see you later, then."

William and his friends leave and I and Victor were the only one left in the common room.

(I wonder what Victor wants to talk about....)

(Oh, yeah....!)

I recall not completing the report and even threatening the Crown on the East End mission.

Kate: "Perhaps, you're going to punish me.....?"

Victor: "Eh? Punish you? For what? You're doing your duties well!"

Kate: "But I haven't submitted the report...."

Victor: "Don't worry about the formalities. You're sincerely trying to determine William's sin."

Victor: "I think it's pointless to report something you don't fully understand, right? I get it!"

Victor urges me to take a chair.

Victor: ".....So how is it like spending time with William?"

The question posed to me gently was the main issue.

Kate: ".....I feel like I'm being reborn."

Victor: "Haha, I see. That's an odd way to put it."

Victor: "You were as dazzling as a diamond in the rough when we first met....but now you are even more beautiful."

Victor: "I know many people like you who were loved and changed by William."

(.....!)

Victor seemed to understand exactly what was happening to me and William.

Victor: "Those who flap their wings always end up with William in the back of their minds."

Victor: "It's William that makes it blow over, though."

Kate: ".........H-How do you.......?"

Victor: "He can't leave people who have their hearts tied up. He will give anything to let them go!"

(Anything....yeah, that's right)

Victor: "But all he does is give them one-sided affection, just like that."

Victor: "He doesn't ask anything in return. Even if you offer him your love, he won't take it."

The word was less resistant than I thought it would be, convinced me.

(I wanted William. He pulled out all my desires and made me my own master)

But....if I had said, 'Let's not do it again' then he would have surely stopped and walked away from me.

He would have said 'You did well' with a happy smile.

(He doesn't see me as something special)

(....But he's special to me)

I think everyone who was loved by William will carry that specialness with them, waiting for the day it becomes a memory.

(......Even me.....?)

Victor: "Are you in love with William?"

Kate: "Eh......?"

An unexpected question cuts through my heart.

(I knew I wasn't special to him, but my heart ached for love?)

(Is this feeling of wanting to give something back even if he doesn't ask for it, love?)

Kate: "....I don't know yet."

Victor: ".......It's nice of you to be able to say, 'I don't know' and not be misled by what you don't know."

Kate: "Why did you ask me that?"

Victor didn't seem to be advising me not to love him.

The voice that speaks about him also seems to have affection for William.

Because of my love for William he seemed to want something from me.

Victor: ".....I have some selfish expectations, you know."

Victor: "You know his 'evil' and you're attracted to him....so, think you can protect him?"

(Protect him....?)

Kate: "Why on earth do you want that....? William has the power to screw over any opponent in an instant...."

Victor smiled sadly without answering my unintentional question.

Victor: "Are you ready to stand by his beautiful solitude....his fate?"

Chapter 12

[tenebriism]

if you could make hoyo games better, how would you do it? i am specifically referring to race and things lore wise. but i guess mechanics too.

// I'll admit, the bulk of my experience with Hoyo games is from playing Genshin. I was there day one when it was just getting off the ground, and was pretty dedicated to it for the first year and some change. I couldn't get into Honkai: Star Rail's story, and ZZZ looks like a fanservice game of jiggly bits and guns, so my opinion is limited solely to G.I.

Firstly, and most importantly, skintone and respect for borrowed cultures. I sound like another broken record amongst a good portion of the fandom that's sick and tired of the blatant neglect, but... they dangled Kaeya in our faces day one, and then just... decided he would be ENOUGH for the remainder of the game's existence. Not the characters who live or travel around the literal desert, or the ones based off tribes and historical figures that are literally POC, no. They're all either pale or LIGHTLY tanned, because that makes sense... and then the enemies and NPCs actually have some diverse shades of melanin. There's something seriously wrong with this company, I swear.

Up the furniture limits in the teapots please, oh my goodness. I can't get rooms to make sense because I feel so limited, and so many of my teapot domains just feel... empty. It dampens the joy of decorating this personal, unique space that has SO much potential to be absolutely amazing. I mean, it already is, but it could be better.

Some characters get too much screentime, whereas there are literal Twitter pages for characters we've not seen in ages. I think Albedo's made it up to a year, at one point, and poor Heizou, Shenhe, and Eula... they pop up on an even rarer occasion. On one hand, I understand Hoyo can only shove so many storylines and banners and quests into the span of a year, especially when they've got routine events, like Lantern Rite, to account for, but... e_e When are we getting another major Albedo event? He's, arguably, one of the most interesting characters in the entire game with a backstory that has the potential to be EXTREMELY impactful at some point.

More Baizhu, please ( this one is completely biased. He's my favorite. Put him in the game more. Thank you. :D )

I think that about sums it up without me yammering on for the next few hours. I do not hate Genshin Impact; it's a great game. The COMPANY, though? Do better.

[goldom]

HI3rd day 3rd thoughts

I want to talk to the galaxy-brained dev who decided that the "OK" button should be bound to "L2 + Triangle" on the controller.

Seele is a widdle baby lol

(I know there's many versions of everyone but this free one i got for being new)

Not to make a thing of it, but while Kiana is super cute, she is also weirdly skinny even for anime and it keeps bothering me

It's very funny being in the early chapters where everyone is talking about how there have been 3 Herrschers in all the world but meanwhile on the main menu every popup is like "click here for 15 more free Herrschers! We've got Herrschers coming out the wazoo!"

I keep squinting at every character going "wait are you someone I know from another game?" I think I'm just making up half of them though.

OMG HI3 can just run the web events straight inside the game?? Why can't all the others do this

On which note I hit 30 so it just unlocked everything in one big pile and oh boy i am not even going to touch any of that i'm overwhelmed enough already

AI-chan slamming into the room screaming "HEY now you can switch between AstralOPS and ELFs" and I'm just cowering in the corner going "I don't know what either of those things are leave me alone ;_;"

Main menu music (v1) is very soothing and nice I approve. I mean... it's mihoyo, of course they're going to have good music.

Thought Kiana (CN) sounded familiar so looked what else she did and absolutely would not have guessed she's also Hu Tao. Which I guess is to say she's good at her job. Similar to Stelle's VA also playing Nicole in ZZZ who sounds nothing alike.