#and my only thought in that moment is the cast should play among us

[sirjo-esque]

I just woke up but Jay saying he might make a musical based on the Illiad is already the highlight of my day

[momojedi]

Could I have #88 and #97 with Captain Rex, pretty please...??

JUST MARRIED PAIRING: Captain Rex x GN! Reader

#88 | “Don’t panic but I think we might have accidentally gotten married…” #97 | “I want you and I know you want me too.”

GENRE: Fluff WARNING: none A/N: Since I got prompted #88 by an anon who asked for no one in particular, I mixed up your request with theirs. Thanks for requesting!

MASTERLIST | MOMOJEDI'S 300 FOLLOWER CELEBRATION

"Mhi solus tome,

Mhi solus dar’tome.

Mhi me’dinui an,

Mhi ba’juri verde."

Intense concentration furrows my brow as I massage my temples, striving to translate the unfamiliar words. "For fuck's sake," I mutter, frustration punctuating each syllable as I kick a nearby pebble with surprising strength, eliciting a muffled groan and the metallic clang of beskar as it ricochets off a distant helmet.

Two weeks may not seem long, especially when operating undercover among a terrorist faction whilst the galaxy is engulfed in war. It would probably be advisable to keep a cool head and avoid making a big deal out of insignificant subjects—such as unfamiliar phrases. However, when those words escape the lips of your longtime crush, delivered with an unexpected fervor while locking passionate eyes with you in a language foreign to your ears...

Well, needless to say, I've devoted more time to overthinking it than I care to admit.

When General Skywalker tasked us with shadowing Death Watch until the Jedi Council reached more intel, I hadn't given it much thought... admittedly, he hadn't specified that by "us" he didn't mean Ahsoka and me, as usual, but rather the captain of the 501st and myself—the very someone I've harboured feelings for since the day we met.

Nevertheless, I maintained my composure, played my part, and stayed under the radar, much like Rex, until Death Watch proposed an elaborate ceremony—a ceremony whose name I could barely pronounce, let alone understand its significance. Before any suspicion could arise, Rex quickly agreed in my place, and now here I am, entangled in some eerie ritual with a military captain whose gaze seemed entranced, so intense was his focus.

"If I had my datapad right now...," I hiss under my breath, casting blame on whoever decided I should leave my sole translation device behind. Likely Skywalker.

The crunch of gravel under heavy boots interrupts my daydreaming. I spin around sharply, only to find the very man haunting my mind approaching. "I figured I'd find you here," Rex hums as he settles beside me. "Yeah," I reply with a dry laugh, brushing the dust off my hands. "Sorry, I suppose I just needed... alone time. After everything yesterday, you know?" Rex's eyes widen almost comically, and he sheepishly scratches the back of his neck. "Oh... yeah."

The ensuing silence gnaws at my nerves, prompting me to pop the question after another agonising five minutes. "Hey, about that... what did those words mean, anyway?" "I'm not sure what you're referring to," Rex responds, avoiding my gaze. I gulp. He can't have forgotten, can he? "Come on, Rex... It seemed significant." After a moment's hesitation, Rex sighs, running a hand over his buzzcut before raising his head to face me, though still evading it. "I..." "Yes?" "Alright, fine. [Name], don't panic, but... we might have accidentally... gotten married."

...

"WHAT?"

"Shh!" Rex quiets me with a gentle hand over my mouth, his eyes darting cautiously around us before he releases me. I shake my head slowly, puzzled. "Sorry, but what?" "The, um, the words... they were Mandalorian wedding vows," he admits, his tone tinged with uncertainty. I can't help but laugh. Married? Us? "You're joking." "Unfortunately not," he replies, a slight smile tugging at his lips, before his expression shifts to sheepishness as he rubs the back of his neck. "Though I do believe you'd make an excellent partner." Suppressing a chuckle, I ignore the warmth creeping into my cheeks.

"Actually, I realized we needed a distraction when I overheard some members gossiping behind our backs. They were growing suspicious, so I thought perhaps they'd relax if we participated in some traditions." Rex sighs, examining a pebble he's picked up. I shoot him a hopeful sidelong glance before quickly looking away, feeling my heart quicken.

Force, this man is captivating.

Silence envelops us once more as we both drift deeper into our own thoughts. When I sense the gravel shifting under his weight, I raise an eyebrow. "It wouldn't bother me, you know?" A lump forms in my throat, causing a series of coughs to escape at his words. "Wh-what?" "Being with you." Suddenly, his warm yet weighty hand finds mine. Sweat prickles at my heated skin as I keep my gaze fixed ahead.

"R-rex, are you suggesting...?" "[Name]," he interrupts, turning to face me. Before I can evade his gaze, he gently lifts my chin, compelling me to meet his eyes. I run my tongue over my dry lips, which his gaze is now fixated on. "I want you. And I know you want me, too." His proximity sends shivers down my spine as goosebumps ripple over my arms and back. His newfound confidence is palpable. "I've noticed the way you look at me, how you stare. I know, [name]," he murmurs against my lips, "what do you think?"

I flush, gripping his wrist as I lock eyes with his warm gaze. "I think you're right." Rex chuckles deeply, resonating like a rumble in his chest. "Good." And before I realize it, his lips meet mine,

Time seems to slip away as I surrender completely to the kiss. Eventually, Rex pulls back, leaving me breathless, and flashes me a mischievous grin.

“So, about that wedding night…”

[mayabooowrites]

Do I know you?||D.M

It was a crisp autumn day. The air was tinged with the earthy scent of fallen leaves and the faint aroma of wood smoke from nearby chimneys.

The trees, dressed in hues of fiery red, burnt orange, and golden yellow, whispered softly in the breeze as their leaves danced gracefully to the ground, creating a colourful carpet beneath my feet. 

I stood concealed next to a towering oak tree, its rough bark cool against my back.

My heart felt heavy, burdened by guilt and an overwhelming sense of indecision that gnawed at me relentlessly. Across the narrow street, a quaint little bookshop between two bustling cafés caught my eye. The soft, warm glow of the shop’s interior beckoned, and I could see her through the window, illuminated by the welcoming light.

Y/n, my pregnant fiancée, browsed thoughtfully among the shelves, her fingers trailing along the spines of the books as if seeking the comfort of their stories. I could see the gentle curve of her belly beneath her cozy sweater, a silent testament to the new life we had created together.

Each breath she took seemed to radiate a serene beauty, yet I felt a pang of anguish twisting in my gut. I wanted to approach her, to wrap my arms around her and whisper assurances, but the weight of my secret held me back like a heavy fog that distorted my thoughts and clouded my resolve.

She flipped through the pages of a book with a gentle smile, her hair catching the sunlight in a way that made my breath catch in my throat. I had watched her from afar for months, unable to tear my gaze away. She was beautiful, radiant, and oblivious to who I was.

And that was my doing.

I had used a spell to erase all memories of me—of us—entirely from her mind. I made this decision in a moment of desperate clarity, knowing that the chaos surrounding us could potentially ensnare her in a danger far greater than she could imagine. 

She deserved a life free of the burdens and horrors that accompanied my existence. I couldn't bear to think of her caught in the crossfire of the dark forces at play, particularly with our child on the way. I remembered how radiant she looked, how full of hope and dreams she was, and I realized that the world I inhabited would only tarnish that light.

The stakes were higher than anyone could fathom. If anyone discovered that I was engaged to a muggle and had fathered a child with her, the consequences would be disastrous. My parents would undoubtedly react with horror and outrage, dragging both her and our child into a whirlwind of scandal and danger, perhaps even subjecting them to threats I couldn't bear to contemplate.

So, with a heavy heart, I cast the spell, watching as the memories of our shared laughter, our stolen moments, and the love we nurtured vanished into thin air. It felt like cutting a vital thread in the tapestry of my life, yet deep down, I believed I was doing the right thing. I hoped that somewhere in her mind, she would find peace, free from the weight of my legacy.

When the war finally drew to a close, leaving a haunting silence that echoed in my mind, my heart raced as I contemplated the weight of my choices. Should I return the memories of us to her? The thought of revealing myself filled me with dread, for it threatened to shatter the fragile peace she had managed to cultivate in my absence.

Yet, despite the overwhelming uncertainty, I could not shake my magnetic pull toward her. Each day, I gravitated toward Y/n, unable to resist the deep longing in my heart. It was like an invisible thread connected us that could not be severed by time or absence. She wore her laughter like a shimmering cloak, her gentle smile lighting up even the darkest corners of my soul, while her innate kindness remained a warm balm for the wounds I carried.

These memories, though bittersweet, were etched into my mind, serving as poignant reminders of what I had willingly surrendered when I erased her past. I had stripped her of memories that defined her, and in doing so, I had stolen pieces of myself as well. I questioned whether I even had the right to seek redemption. Did I deserve to be a father when my own actions had robbed her of a life that was rightfully hers?

In this moment of deep introspection, the stakes felt impossibly high. The future loomed uncertain, a vast canvas waiting for me to decide how to paint it. Would I reveal the truth, risking everything for honesty and reconnection? Or would I quietly fade into the shadows, allowing her to continue in the peaceful oblivion I had created? The thought tormented me, and in that turmoil, I felt the weight of my failures pressing heavily on my chest.

Lost in my thoughts, I didn't notice her stepping out of the bookshop until she bumped into me, her eyes widening in surprise.

"I'm so sorry," she said, her voice soft and melodic. "I wasn't paying attention to where I was going."

I smiled, a bittersweet feeling spreading through me. "It's quite alright. I should have been more careful as well."

She studied me momentarily, a flicker of recognition passing through her eyes before it was gone, replaced by curiosity. "Have we met before? You seem familiar."

I hesitated, my heart pounding in my chest. Should I tell y/n the truth? Should I give her back what I had taken all those months ago?

But then I looked into her eyes, full of innocence and unspoken trust, and knew what to do.

"No, we haven't met before," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I'm just passing through."

She smiled a little sadly. "Well, it's nice to meet you. I'm Y/N."

Y/n. The name echoed in my mind, a painful reminder of what I had lost. What I had chosen to sacrifice for her sake.

"It's nice to meet you too, Y/n. I'm Draco," I replied, forcing a smile onto my face. "I hope you have a wonderful day."

With that, I turned and walked away, leaving her standing on the sidewalk with a puzzled expression. I didn't look back; I couldn't bear the confusion and hurt in her eyes.

I silently vowed to myself as I entered Diagon Alley: I would leave her be, let her live without the burden of the past weighing her down, and carry the memory of her, of us, locked away in my heart forever.

I don't deserve her or my child. They are better off without me, without someone like me, someone tainted by Voldemort's mark, someone who wasn't troubled and didn't even know who they were anymore.

She deserved the best, and that wasn't me, and she needs to find that

Because sometimes, the greatest act of love is letting go.

"Goodbye, Y/n."

[nights-at-crystarium]

Fragments - episodes 36-40 author notes

You can find similar breakdown posts on older episodes in my pinned!

I didn’t need to spend so much screentime on Titania fight, yet it was a fun personal challenge. I’d never written/drawn a cohesive fight scene before. The scripted ingame instances don’t leave much room for imagination, I wanted to stay away from the fourth wall, and make up a more immersive scene. How do you even make it look mildly interesting? You’d think, well, characters will just flail at each other until one of them dies, right?

So yeah the biggest challenge was creating the ebb and flow. What affects Vivi’s actions? Why wouldn’t he just murder Titania like any other opponent, and be done with it? I threw in a generous amount of inner pov (that I previously used very sparingly) and some silly tricks. The stakes are high, yes, it’s a Lightwarden vs WoD encounter, but Titania still retains their playful personality above all else. Vivi's here just to do his job, but he also knows that he's dealing with a fae.

The msq makes Titania stand out among other wardens, I capitalized on that and hc’d that they’re important to Feo Ul, and, by proxy, to Vivi. That instantly provided some emotional stakes, and an answer to why he doesn’t rush to kill them out of the door.

Vivi enters the castle in episode 35, and mostly runs in circles, analyzing his enemy, and even falls victim to illusions. This could’ve been it for him, but I daresay it worried none of us because we’re just at the beginning of a story about this guy, he’s THE guy in this universe not for no reason, he’ll manage.

No deep meaning behind "grasshopper", I just thought it's a bizarrely precise descriptor of both Vivi's long legs and dragoon jumps, and it fits the natural theme of the fight.

Vivi didn’t go in unprepared.

This line will be relevant again in like, 5-7 years from now :’>

More under the cut~

He always, always doubts everything, especially when it comes to his level of power. Self-nerfing. A light (heh) case of an impostor syndrome.

Everyone loved the bonk for meme reasons, Vivi simply bought himself some time to cast.

The Rainbow Sparkles of Believing in Yourself! And of something else, perhaps. I’m planting quite a bit of stuff for future, this one should take a mere year or so to pay off.

I hope this pose’s enough of a hint that you shouldn't be taking episode 37 too seriously.

Yes, he used his spear to ~cast~. And took a sailormoon pose. This's his, monoclass dragoon’s, interpretation of what the caster magic’s probably like.

Offscreen, Titania comes to their senses and shrills “so you wanna play rough?!”, Vivi ignores them, concerned with only one thing: did he succeed? How did the test of his custom spell go?

It only worked out because the both of them are idiots.

I like to emphasize that Fragments isn’t about retelling the msq, or big epic battles, but here, where I actually put my heart into it, I feel like I managed to pull off at least one epic beat you’d typically see in an action-focused comic. Super proud of this panel ;w;

This’s a standard panel divider I’ve used multiple times before, but it couldn’t be more visually appropriate here :3c

So, to recap. Vivi asks Titania if they miss the night sky. They do. Vivi brings the night sky to them, and lo, something actually happens. I illustrated this “something” as one of their eyes getting sort of cleansed here. This story suddenly takes a mahou shoujo (shounen, heh) turn, I appreciate that it may cause some eyebrows to raise, but I think it’s okay to take creative liberties like this in a story themed around identity, agency, and believing in yourself. If Titania’s so strong as to retain a tiny bit of their old self, to cohesively partake in a simple convo, then why can’t they return, even if for a brief moment, given the proper assistance.

An appropriate reaction to the wild bs that’s going on. Imagine inventing the tale of WoD in the First, only to witness THIS.

As about Vivi, he can save a soul when he genuinely cares for it. We haven’t seen him do this before. He does it for Feo Ul explicitly, implicitly as a self-reflection. He’s projecting so hard after realizing that Titania looks like him. He wishes for them what he'd wish for himself: to rest, to be treated with care and consideration. They don't only look like him, they're also unfree, tortured by something. Empathy or not, this’s the kindest fight Vivi’s ever fought.

I’m iffy about the canon talents that come with the Echo. You can understand any sentient creature, okay. What happens when you speak, does the other party feel the difference between that soulspeak and their native tongue? Does it feel off? Does it offend? I incorporated my own misgivings into Vivi’s thoughts about his Echo. He doesn't use soulspeak here out of respect and concern that Titania might not react well to it, throwing the entire plan out of the window. Thus he memorized quite a bit of fae words before the fight. This’s his way to mark himself as one of their people, or at least to show that he truly cares.

STAY TUNED FOR EPISODE 41

Vivien Doubter Rell. Also yay first nod!

Embracing his new duty, and possibly giving Titania the hug they deserve.

Look HE’S OKAY. For now. I just thought the hiccup would be a cute way to acknowledge the terrible power he’s just absorbed. The canon cutscene moves on unblinking, but here’s different.

Bracing himself for confrontation. Things might go awry. Or might not. Vivi doesn't know. Worst case scenario: this’s the end of his sweet lil friendship with Feo Ul. Do they like him, or a Titania-lookalike in him?

“Oh bugger...” big pets come with big responsibilities, my dear Feo Ul.

Just to reinforce his fae-ness.

Vivi had full control in this fight. Analyzed the enemy, successfully tested some crazy tricks, managed to have a heart-to-heart that resulted in getting a permission to kill Titania not with violence, but with mercy. So much could’ve gone wrong, but just didn’t. Vivi’s used to this, even if he constantly doubts everything, this’s how it always goes. He’s being flung at tasks with abysmal odds, somehow he emerges victorious.

I just like this panel so much okay.

This arc may feel slow, but it gives depth to Vivi and Feo Ul's relationship, and seeing them together in later episodes will spark even more joy.

Even after a warm moment they’d just shared, Vivi’s still wary. I broke out an analysis of what external influence, pressure to change means to him, please read this post if you missed it. YEAH TAGS AS WELL.

His expression here is an attempt to downplay the anxiety and swing the odds in his favor. What if Feo Ul insists and throws a tantrum? What if he has to become Titania right now, and there’s no way around this? Let’s make puppy eyes just incase, maybe that helps.

One more personal fav panel. There’s SO MUCH in this look. They’re on a threshold, about to become something else on Vivi’s behalf. Because they love him so much. They’ve instantly become friends because they don’t want anything from each other, just the company. Feo Ul’s such a breath of fresh air for Vivi, a new hope in a new world, where he’s (comparatively) a nobody, where people still have the potential to love him for who he is as a person. This’s why our crimson pixie gets so much screentime.

Vivi really said XD

The next few episodes wrap up the Il Mheg arc, and focus on good vibes and celebration. ShB follows a rollercoaster formula where it makes you smile at something nice and sweet only to whack you in the face right after, and I’m trying to do the same :3c

As always, thanks for reading~

[journey-to-the-attic]

3rd anni req 22: [IT2] diavolo, mammon / on fathers

ao3 link

note: it2 is my new clever abbreviation for the 'it takes two' au and this starts around the asmo arc (i.e. during the retreat at the castle)! also i got a little in my feels while writing this so if you'd like to play a game with me, try to spot which parts of the venting came from a place of experience lol

∎ ∎ ∎ ∎ ∎

It’s been a long while since Diavolo last wanted to hide from a gathering, and longer still since he lacked the self-consciousness to duck behind his father’s wings when things got overwhelming. Upon spotting IK’s tense little figure from the opposite side of the ballroom, however, he remembers the feeling just as sharply.

He keeps a genial smile on his face as the demons in his company continue chattering, interjecting a remark every now and then so as not to cause suspicion. When he notes that the Demonus in their glasses has drained enough, he dismisses them under the guise of inviting them to refill their drinks, and quickly sidles away.

It’s hard to move inconspicuously, but Barbatos - timely as ever - melts out of the crowd to efficiently ward off any would-be approachers, directing them instead in the direction of some of the R.A.D. faculty hovering by the buffet table. Hopefully the good professors won’t mind picking up the conversation in his stead.

IK is all but hiding behind a pillar. He ducks down and, keeping his voice low, says, “Hello. How are you doing?”

She jumps, then relaxes when he recognises him. “Uh— hi. I’m alright, thanks.”

“Are you sure? You’re all on your own over here.” He looks around the ballroom, but fails to spot any of the brothers on his first sweep. Which is a little alarming, actually, seeing as they usually stand out so much. “I think I’d better keep you company for a while.”

“You don’t need to do that,” IK says, but looks relieved all the same. “...there’s so many people here.”

“It’s overwhelming, isn’t it? I’m never as used to it as I think I am.”

She casts a glance around the room, then shrinks back and makes an attempt at melting into the wall. “...they’re staring.”

“They are,” He agrees, and sidles a little closer to the wall, flaring his wings as if stretching, and then closing them again with IK carefully hidden in their folds. “There! Is that better?”

“They’re going to stare more now,” She mumbles, but she does look a little pleased.

“In our direction, perhaps. But I can assure you that they won’t be able to see through me.”

“...thank you.”

“Of course.”

She hovers awkwardly for a moment. (Maybe he should’ve gotten a chair.)

“Where’s your father?” Diavolo asks finally.

IK shifts. “...dunno. He was talking to Lucifer last time I looked.”

“You didn’t stay with him?”

“Didn’t want to.”

Diavolo decides to forgo looking for Zhao first - he’s plain enough that he’s rendered practically invisible among demons - and instead scans the ballroom for two distinctive pairs of black-feathered wings. Lucifer, unusually, is out on the dance floor, and teaching IK’s father the intricacies of a traditional Devildom waltz.

They don’t seem to be having a bad time, at least, but Zhao still looks vaguely terrified. Then again, Diavolo’s fairly sure that that’s just what his face is like.

He decides to leave them to it. Attempting to wave either of them over would only attract more undue attention. The only issue with their current arrangement is that none of IK’s other friends will be able to spot her, either…

Or so he thinks. A few moments later, Mammon finally fights his way out of the crowd and makes a beeline straight for Diavolo - who, by all means, should be the only figure he sees by the wall.

But it isn’t Diavolo he addresses when he gets there. Eyes fixed firmly on the dark crevice in his wings, he ducks down and hisses, “I thought ya’d gotten lost! Tell me next time ya decide to play hide-n-seek!”

“Don’t be upset, Mammon,” Diavolo interjects mildly. “IK was only waiting by the wall. I was the one who offered to hide her.”

Mammon barely even gives him a cursory nod, let alone the customary bow. He withdraws a little, though, and looks less irritated. “...well, ya shouldn’t be wanderin’ around on your own, neither. I told ya to stick with the others.”

IK, uncharacteristically, does not respond. After a moment, Mammon deflates a little, then sighs.

“Let’s go outside, eh?” He asks, softer now. “We can take a walk around the gardens, where it’s quiet.”

A brief silence. Then IK says quietly, “Okay.”

Diavolo withdraws his wings, and offers what he hopes is a warm smile. Mammon spares him a dismissive wave, but IK makes an effort to smile back before she’s led away.

It isn’t long before he’s pulled back to the party, but the whole matter stays on his mind through the rest of the retreat. That same night, a certain unruly group of demons and humans get trapped in the underground catacombs, and he’s there to greet them when they finally stumble out.

He watches Zhao gently push his daughter in front of him once they say farewell to Henry and step back through into the castle. IK, on the other hand, doesn’t look at her father at all, and speeds up to walk with Leviathan at the front of the group, staring straight ahead even as he continues to watch her anxiously from behind.

Two days later, as he sees the guests out as they head back to the House of Lamentation, he stops IK briefly. Mammon stops as well, but remains a good few feet away - not eavesdropping too obviously, but evidently unwilling to leave them unsupervised.

“Feel free to come over whenever you like,” He says with a smile. “It gets a little boring around here sometimes, you know?”

“...sure.”

——

“You know, I’m beginning to think that you aren’t coming here just for my company,” Diavolo says when Mammon shows up with IK for the fourth time this week.

“Eh? What makes ya think that?” Mammon ushers her into the entrance hall and glances surreptitiously behind himself before following. “We’re just havin’ so much fun. Ain’t that right, kiddo?”

IK looks mildly anxious and doesn’t reply. A moment later, Barbatos arrives to greet the guests - wearing a hospitable smile that has begun to look rather quizzical the more he has to use it.

“Welcome… back,” He says after a moment - allowing himself to exchange a look with Diavolo. “Would you like anything?”

“Oh, we were thinkin’ of just going around the gardens again.” Mammon coughs and gives IK a hard pat on the shoulder. “Ya don’t mind, right?”

“Certainly not. We can take an extra long walk today - I’m rather in want of things to do.”

“Then I shall clean in the meantime,” Barbatos says - notably not reminding Diavolo of the extra deadlines he could be preparing for with the free time. “Perhaps you would like to take tea afterwards?”

He glances at the back of IK’s head, then gives Diavolo another look. He gets the message; his butler, in a somewhat quietly bewildered way, is concerned.

“That would be lovely, Barbatos,” He says with a smile. “What do you say, IK? I seem to recall that you liked the shortcake last week.”

She doesn’t respond until Mammon nudges her. “Um— sure, thanks.”

Barbatos bows and retreats back into the castle. Diavolo turns to his guests with a smile. “Well, to the garden we go!”

It doesn’t escape his notice how the two of them keep their conversation to a whisper. Diavolo’s well used to not understanding inside jokes or keeping out of the fluent arguments the brothers have with each other, but this is different. Mammon is doing roughly all of the talking; IK only gives half-hearted shrugs and shakes of her head in response.

He keeps a count from the corner of his eye, and by the time they’ve gone in a full circle around the hedgerows, IK has laughed exactly once. That’s the sharpest dip there’s been in any of these visits, and by the looks of it, the number isn’t about to go up.

“I’m feeling a little tired,” He lies as they come to a pond. “Would you mind if we sat down for a while?”

He invites IK to sit by the water with him. He still hasn’t gotten around to adding any fish, but IK seems happy to just watch it ripple.

Mammon is watching him unusually closely from IK’s other side. Diavolo’s known for a while that he can be much more observant than he’s given credit for, but it feels odd to be the subject of his scrutiny. Clearly he’ll be reprimanded if he goes about this the wrong way.

“You’re not actually tired, are you?” IK asks after a moment. “You want to talk to me about something.”

…and clearly he isn’t very subtle. Diavolo admits it readily. “You’re right. I’m worried about you.”

“I’m fine.”

The speed of the response only makes him worry more. A look at Mammon’s face says that he feels the same way.

“It’s starting to feel like you spend more time here than at the House of Lamentation.” IK looks up at him blankly, and he panics a little. “Not that I don’t enjoy your company, of course!”

IK stares at him for another long moment. Like her father, she avoids meeting anyone’s eyes - but when she does, it’s so intense that it almost burns.

“Uh, we should go,” Mammon says uncomfortably, starting to get to his feet. “Thanks for the—”

“I have to insist you stay,” Diavolo interrupts, and even Mammon can’t refuse a direct command from him. “It’s my duty to ensure your well-being. Whatever it is, I’d like to help.”

“You can’t,” IK says forcefully. Though she doesn’t say it, her voice silently adds, You wouldn’t get it. 

It’s a sentiment that Diavolo’s grown accustomed to, whether spoken or implied. His position is one-of-a-kind - most demons don’t believe they have much in common with a crown prince, and the demons that might consider him a friend don’t believe they do, either.

In most ways, it’s a fair assessment. He doesn’t live like most demons, and he’ll never know what it had been like to fall. He does, however, know what it’s like to have a father.

“It’s not easy to put into words, is it?” He asks softly.

IK looks at him for another longer, then turns her head stiffly to the side, and goes back to staring into the water. 

Mammon is watching her with the same expression that Zhao had worn as they left the catacombs. He’s seen it before on Lucifer as well, when he thinks no one is looking, and one of his brothers is in an unusual amount of trouble.

“They’ll always worry,” He says. “Not always in ways that are helpful - sometimes in ways that hurt. Even if you don’t want them to.”

IK sighs. “...he never worried like that before. He wasn’t around to worry. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”

“He loves you a lot.”

“I know.”

“But it doesn’t change things, does it?”

“...no.”

They listen to the splash of the pond.

“My father loved me,” Diavolo says after a while. “I’m sure of that. When I was born, I flew down to meet him, when most young demons still don’t know how to use their wings. He was proud that day. But I didn’t grow to be a perfect son - nor a perfect heir. I never found out which he wanted more.”

IK glances at him through the reflection in the water. He continues, “I still loved him, as most sons do. It was enough for a time. But then I grew up - and I’m not sure if we ever liked each other after that. I’m not sure if I loved him more than I feared him, either.”

“If you hadn’t flown,” IK says, “Do you think it’d all be the same?”

He smiles ruefully at her. “...I don’t know. But I think I’ve made peace with that.”

IK nods. She knows exactly what’s going through his head.

“Man,” Mammon mutters a few moments later. “What am I even s’posed to say about that?”

Diavolo jumps a little. To be honest, he’d forgotten he was there. “Oh…”

“To be honest, ya never really think about what ‘Father’ means when you’re an angel,” Mammon adds, and Diavolo wisely decides to stay quiet. “He’s just there. He’s just ‘Father’. I mean, you’re meant to love him or somethin’, but I never saw him, did I? So when Lucifer told us he was startin’ a rebellion, I joined in, and I never missed him. Father, I mean.”

“But Lucifer did. That was the weird part. He took Michael real seriously when he was younger, and I reckon that’s why - he believed in all that stuff about Father lovin’ us all so much. But I never thought about it that hard, ‘cause it never felt like anythin’ real, you know? He was ‘Father’, but he wasn’t really a father. At least, I never felt like it.”

He pauses to consider it. “...it’s like that with Lucifer, sometimes. You know he loves ya, but sometimes you just don’t see it, no matter how many times ya remind yourself. But he’s tryin’ his best, y’know? He doesn’t know how else to do it.”

IK stares silently at the pond. Diavolo does the same, and suddenly spots that exact same worry from before on his face as well.

“Uh... your dads are a lot worse than mine.” She makes an attempt at an ironic smile. “We’re just regular humans. There isn’t a lot to say.”

“I think that’s precisely why there is,” Diavolo replies. “Humour us, won’t you?”

“...fine.”

IK folds her arms and ducks her head in earnest, using her hair as a shield for her face. On the surface of the water, Diavolo regards the dull defeat in her eyes.

“My dad’s the best,” She says suddenly. “He works harder than anyone. I’m glad he’s here because he gets to rest. But he isn’t resting. He thinks I still need taking care of. But I don’t. I don’t need him to worry about me, I don’t need him to look after me. I know how to do that by myself.”

She swipes her sleeve fiercely across her face, then continues forcefully, “I used to make him carry me around everywhere. It was the first thing he did when he got back, no matter how tired he was. Sometimes he just fell because he didn’t have the energy, and we'd just lie on the floor for a bit."

“And I was always waiting for him to come home. I was always waiting for him to pick me up again. Because I needed him, and sometimes he wasn’t there when I looked for him, but he’d come if I waited long enough. But now he’s just there. He’s just there and he’s—”

(—she looks just like him when she’s about to cry—)

“—he’s the best and I hate him. I was tired, too. I didn’t know how to make my bed or tie my shoes or anything. So I had to learn everything by myself. He kept telling me to leave it all to him, but then I could only go back to waiting, so what else was I supposed to do?”

“I can take care of myself. I don’t need his help anymore. Why couldn’t he have taught me in the first place? I just wanted my dad. He fought to have me, but he couldn’t fight to stay with me, and I know why, so I can’t even get angry.”

She tosses a rock into the pond. The splash breaks the reflection of her face into hundreds of rippling pieces. Mammon chews anxiously on his lip and places a hesitant arm around her shoulder.

“I’m probably making him sad,” She says finally. “But I don’t know what to do anymore.”

A moment passes. Diavolo knows better than to try the same thing as Mammon. Instead, he takes a breath, shifts form, and curls a wing around her instead.

He glances into the pond one more time. The cool water makes his eyes look more yellow than gold - just like his father’s.

Diavolo doesn’t recall ever being folded into his father’s wings like this. He only remembers hiding in them by himself. But his father had never told him not to, either.

“I think… this is a decision only you can make,” He says after a moment. “There isn’t a right or wrong answer. But, for what it’s worth - you’re still young. Nothing is irreparable. And I think your father will wait for as long as it takes.”

“No rush,” Mammon adds with a supportive nudge. “As long as you’re happy, okay? We’ll be alright.”

“Sure,” IK mutters. If she believes them even a little, then Diavolo is happy with that. “...can we talk about something else now?”

“I think Barbatos will be done with his sweeping by now,” Diavolo says, and gets back to his feet. “Let’s go have some cake, shall we?”

[elecballoon]

Impulse Analyses 11/1/24: YYH Ep 108

(Analysis beyond the cutoff because spoilers. Go watch Yu Yu Hakusho, its characters are pretty rad. Another banger story from Togashi)

Loved Kurama’s choice of tree to grow to victory: it’s very indicative of which identities he chooses to part with and which identities to keep (if it wasn’t obvious already with him changing back out of his “Yoko” form and into his “Suichi” form). I wanted to cry the moment I realized the color of the petals on both the tree in Kurama’s family flashback and the tree he used to win were deliberately the same. Then I wanted to cry even more seeing Shigure jump to his death (“a swordsman is never defeated twice”) as Sad Beautiful Memory played in the background. I liked Shigure design-wise and character-wise :(

The characters shown here (Kurama, Yomi, and Shigure), complemented with the use of current supporting cast (Kurama’s friends), neatly convey themes of identity, and how it can be used as a reason and/or an excuse for certain choices (not that you should ever use your identity for any heinous acts, but we’ll get to that.)

Kurama “wins” the question/themes by choosing an identity that both he and others can be happy with (Kurama with his human, non-Yoko identity). Despite it meaning to be a disappointment and an initial failure to both competition and peers, Kurama chose to not put on his “Yoko” self any longer, as he was happier as his “Suichi” self.

It was a decision despised by Yomi, as he wanted Kurama at his best for this tournament.

It was a decision that even Yusuke was concerned about, as Kurama risked his life to a more unnecessary degree just because he didn’t want to be associated with a name, face, and identity he hated (a valid motivation, don't get me wrong, but it was a motivation that was going to get him killed if he wasn't careful). If you got the impulsive, reckless character among your circle wanting you to make a move, you know something’s up.

But it was a decision that Kurama wanted to make anyway, to show both those around him and himself that he could be the person he wanted to be any day of the week.

Yomi and Shigure “fail” the question/themes by choosing an identity and a life that not only puts a burden on themselves, but others as well. Yomi makes it clear that he has a high standard for Kurama’s performance in the tournament, mainly because he ties his identity so closely to his status, to Kurama, and how much of a fighter he is compared to Kurama. Purposefully or not, Yomi puts pressure on Kurama just because he (Yomi) wants to feel GOOD about his standing compared to Kurama (a former superior to Yomi). Yomi is very much stuck in the past, and refuses to process his past in a way that helps both him and others. That’s why he decides to have a kid to beat during the tournament. He hasn't really found an identity beyond his past failures and his current strength.

Shigure also puts pressure on Kurama, but not as much as Yomi. Shigure tries to force interactions with Kurama during this fight, using his sword to provoke a reaction out of his opponent with every throw he makes. Not only that, but he also put pressure on himself (his “don’t lose twice or die” philosophy). As Kurama observed succinctly, Shigure didn’t have to jump to his death. But he did it anyway just because of his loss count. Part of me also thinks he jumped to his death because he saw the petals of Kurama’s tree and thought "damn what was i doing with my life this is beautiful" and just came to the conclusion that 1) He isn't worthy of such a sight, and/or 2) He wasn't living in a way that, in hindsight, he would have liked. Either way, he wasn't helping anyone nor himself by living the way he was.

(I wrote this analysis right after watching the episode around 11 pm, so let me know if I got anything wrong. Thanks for reading!)

[scarareg]

Percy Jackson and The Olympians Season 1 Review (1/3)

What I like:

It has color! Disney tends to do their live actions shows/series dark or gray ,so I am pleasant to see colors popping up on the screen. Walker's eyes and the orange shirts are a highlight for me!

Set design is impressive! The team behind it did an excellent job. Each cabin is INSANE! Olympus is sooooo marvelous as well!

I was doubting of Lin being casted as Hermes but he proved me wrong and he did a great job

NICO DI ANGELO'S VOICE!

The credits are so cool and cute! Love the art!

Like the casting for Ares, Dionysus, Poseidon, Sally and Hephaestus

NICO DI ANGELO SCREAMING "BIANCA"

I can see why Walker was chosen as Percy. He fits the character so well,has the vibe,the mannerism,the eyes. My only complaint is the hair,they could and should have made him wear a wig. If Miley Cyrus could do it, Walker can! They have the money to buy one,there are not excuses

Seeing the Mythomagic deck was super cool! Love the design!

Cerberus!

In all seriousness,they foreshadowing the di Angelo siblings using their voices was smart AF, because casting them at this point requires a lot of hard work,time and money that may not pay off

Percy driving scene,love it!

The scene of Grover being pulled to Tartarus is really well done and faithful to the books, truly makes you feel the tension of the moment!

Sally in the rain while Logical by Liv Rodrigo is playing is incredible,completely in love with that scene! My girl just wants to feel a ounce of how she felt while being with Poseidon,it is so tragic!

The Lightning Bolt and Hades Helmet are sooo cool, really well design,I want them!

Ares bleeding Ichor!

The interaction between Poseidon and Percy was cute and I like what Poseidon said about Percy having trouble following rules, but that it was his fault because that is how the ocean is . Super wholesome moment!

Percy calling Kronos grandpa is hilarious

Stuff I feel conflicted about:

Even if I love to see what Mythomagic looks like, I feel that making it a demigod stuff instead of Nico's precious hobby takes away from him. The game is in part a connection to his past, to his era, his sister and a side that divides him from the rest. Nico feels like an outcast even among outcasts, and the other demigods feel he is kinda strange. Even Percy, who tried to be friendly, thought Mythomagic was lame. I don't know, I just think it should be only his stuff

What I dislike:

The entire cast looks nothing like their book counterparts and it is distracting to me. I am going to compare it to the One Piece Live Action to explain my feelings. With OP I did not need to be told who was who ; and I already was fangirling that Coby was in the background,or Buggy will be next episode, or Helmeppo is hot for some reason,etc. Here I was like "some dudes are looking at Percy,is he supposed to be Luke? I do not know. He may be,but I am not sure." And hey,look at that ,he turned out to be Luke!. I don't know,I don't love that, it takes away from the experience and characters

Percy was angsty in a way that feels out of character to me. Like,in the books he was sad that his mother "died",obviously,but he still had his kindness. Here, his anger was more reminiscent of Harry after Sirius died in the books. Trashing everything,yelling,full of fury. And it felt wrong for Percy to act like that. For example: in the books when Percy finally wakes up, he tells Grover that they are still friends and that he know he did everything in his power to help him and his mother. In the show Percy is super cold and actively distances himself from Grover until the quest is going to start, and it feels like Percy chose Grover to go with him because that's how the book go, yet Show Percy dont feel particularly excited for Grover to be there,he dont seems to miss him after their fight , nor thinks of him as his best friend. He said himself "finally I have friend" referring to Luke and the other guys in camp,meaning Grover was not. Which takes me to the next point

Grover is treated awfully by the writers. Everyone keeps telling him to go away. Chiron and Mr D. seem tired of him. In Lotus Casino, Percy and Annabeth acted like they were forgiving him for forgetting them,even if they knew it wasn't his fault that he didn't remember. The writers made the naiad give Percy four pearls only to make Grover lose one, which was unnecessary and just makes him look stupid or incompetent. The list goes on,you get the idea. Grover is not treated with respect by either writers or the narrative

We were told but not shown Annabeth's fear of spiders (that is another problem of the show,it tells but don't show), they didn't mention her passion for architecture and dreams of becoming an architect. Also,I don't love the idea of her listening to Luke's plan. My girl is supposed to still have hope for Luke to change his mind,she believes in his kindness and is in negation and defends him when people calls him "evil" for four books in a row. They taking away all these details ,plus she not having a crush on Luke feels like they are taking away what makes Annabeth herself while removing the side of her that is just a teenager girl. She is supposed to be kind as well, that is why people like Frank feel safe asking her for help because he knows she is not going to laugh of him. Here she is way more stoic. You can be smart and warm at the same time,Rick. It is possible, you wrote it that way 18 years ago

Sally yelling to Percy. I know that people say we should not trust Book Percy's POV because he sees his mom as perfect (fair point) but I think that if Percy has such a great perception of her is for a reason. Also ,I am willing to believe that if Percy says his mother never got mad and screamed at him for being expelled from schools,it's because is true. In the show almost all the flashbacks are her shouting at him. Book Sally don't do that because she understands,she knows who Percy's father is,she knows what having a child of him would mean,she knows that the magical and strange stuff that Percy experience is not his fault; that is why she is patient and kind,and what makes her such a great,mature,kind mother; and they took that away from her.

The acting was not the best in the first episodes. Now ,it got better as the show went on, but in the first 3 episodes legit feels like they are reading the script from a carbon board. I do not know if it is because of the directors or lack of experience playing the characters and that is why it improves later on or what, but it is really noticeable

They are skipping or cutting scenes really weirdly , just fading to black and showing the aftermath of situations. Like Sally's car crashing after the Minotaur attack. At one point we see the Minotaur coming, then the screen goes to black and next scene they are crashed. Or with the animal escape we see them in the car and next scene they are in the streets free. It makes the pacing feel strange, takes away the momentum and feels kinda lazy coming from such a big production.

They tell us but do not show the magic in this world and is frustrating! For example, in Narnia no one tells Lucy or us the rules but we see it. With the music cue we know the Wardrobe is special in some way. The she gets inside it and walks backwards,and keeps going and keeps going and keeps going, which is weird, and there are trees! Later, when Mr Tumnus plays his flute, we see that it's magical and makes Lucy fall asleep; and after that she returns to the normal world and we know hours have passed yet Peter is still counting, meaning in our world just have been seconds. In the Percy Jackson's world an easy way to show the magic is with the Mist, but instead they decided to just tell us everything with endless,boring exposition dialogue

Connected with the prev point,they never figure out who any of the creatures/monsters are (except from Echidna) and is boring. Every scene is the trio meeting them and immediately going "you are Medusa", "You are Crusty and here is all the information about you". Yes,the characters know them from myths, but each creature/monster has gone through changes to blend in modern times,making it tricky to be immediately recognizible, that's the fun of the books.

I also feel the world building was lacking. Like people who are watching the show without having read the books do not know there is no Hades Cabin or which Cabin is for which God. Bet some of them think the first three Cabins are for Zeus, Poseidon and Hades but no; Cabin 2 is Hera's and is and always will be empty because she is the goddess of marriage, meaning she is 100% loyal to Zeus. And please correct me if I am wrong, but they did not mention the Mist nor Ambrosia,isn't it? Because I genuinely can not recall. All these details are important and are missing. They are also wasting the opportunity of foreshadow future characters. Like how cool would be to see an 8 year old Will! Or get know Cabin 9 and Beckendorf, that would give Percy a connection with him earlier than in the books and make us book readers hype to see Leo's Cabin!

The friendship with Luke feels underdeveloped. Percy says "finally I have friends" but I feel he barely knows him and we dont even know the name of the other dudes who supposedly are his friends. The show could have benefited from having two full episodes taking place in the Camp and moving the flashbacks from episode 8 to episode 2, it would feel more natural

Luke not having his scar. The reason I think it is important is because for Luke looking himself in the mirror is a constant reminder of his father, his grudge towards him, his quest and the failure it was and the shame he feels about it. All those feelings boiled down inside him and is the reason he joins Kronos. Taking the scar away takes that complexity. See it as the equivalent of Zuko's scar in the Percy Jackson universe

Part 2 • Part 3

[kenjiyabuki]

stuff that made me go 👀 from ep1

Well, gore-y horror from between 70s-90s w queer subtext is one of my most favorite genres ever, so obviously this show is right up my alley. Just the idea of Thai folk horror and 90s slasher fusion w a bunch of tense gay situationships sprinkled on top sounds like a dream to me <3

so OFC I enjoyed the first episode, the gore, haunting past, creepy mask and dick biting and all & now i'm ready to theorize

here are some little details that got my attention and some thoughts that were thunk by me:::::

After Por's (Us) classic setting-the-up-story horror tale gets called out as teasing from White (Fuaiz), Por and Top (Jet) turn the accusation back to his boyfriend Tee (JJay), calling him the best at tricking the younger ones/newcomers to the group.

Based on the trailers, it's safe to assume that in the past, it was Non (Barcode) who was the gullible young one and he was bullied (among other things that will happen to him) even after group decided to utilize him for the short film. Compared to loudmouths Por and Top, Tee seems more on the quiet and stoic side (albeit w anger issues) so this is definitely a clue. Trailers made me think Por was the main terrorizer of Non but maybe Tee played a bigger role.

If Non is the whatever the hell that is dwelling the forest, then why did he cop a feel from Tee while him and White were busy being the couple who chooses the worst time and place to get nasty in a horror? Is it a payback for the tricking the young ones Tee was so good at?

If this isn't a translation mistake, Jin (Copper) calls the movie "his" even though the credits says otherwise.

Firstly, I want to thank my trusty Yandex Image Translator for making this revelation possible:

While Jin says that he made the film for a contest he was in, it's Por who is credited as the Writer/Director/DoP. In fact, Jin's name is only under the cast list, along w Tee, Top and Fluke (Bump).

And maybe even MORE IMPORTANTLY, although we clearly saw him in the movie, taking off the mask just before Por shuts of the laptop & later Top admits he wrote the story, Non's name is nowhere to be seen in the credits. Not only he "disappeared", they also made it seem like he wasn't there in the first place. Uhmm, that's a cunty move to do to an old "friend"...

That really suspicious and ambiguous conversation between Tee and Por.

They might be talking about Non BUT Tee specifically says he doesn't want HIM, which i'm assuming to be White, to get involved and find out more. Por's face drops at first but then he brushes it off w saying it wouldn't matter even if he did because its not relevant anymore.

There are also other new guys who are oblivious to their past but it's White who is worrying Tee. Along w Por's reaction and him constantly teasing their relationship, I think this might be a sign that Tee and Por might have some kind of history??? I am hoping that as messy gay entangled relationships on top of the supernatural horrors would be even more fun!!!!!!!!!

Phi and White's lil sexual tension moment.

Here's the thing: this wasn't even a set up for Jin or Tee to get jealous or anyone to get thoughts because they weren't there to see it. It just happened so quickly and then Phi turned back his attention to Jin to get scolded (as he should) BUT i was stuck on it because what was the reason????????????? Why did White seemed lost in thought over it?

Jin might be jealous of Tan (Mio) for some fucking reason?

Jin gives Phi half a blowjob, BITES HIS DICK (best moment of the ep), chews him out (verbally) and then suggests Tan in his place. Well, Tan and Phi do seem close and Tan knows about their failed FWB. Still, it's interesting that Jin singled out Tan and thinks they had a similar thing, even though Phi assures him that isn't the case.

Honestly, the possibility of tangled relationships is getting to me AHHHH I didnt get that vibe from the trailer at all but I will be glad to see it. Insert the *I'm excited because I love mess* gif I cant be bothered to search rn.

Top being the token salacious fool archetype of this slasher.

Following up on the theme of horror gays being in entangled situationships: A high Top making passes at his friends might not lead anywhere as it just might be him fulfilling his role as the facetious, big mouth guy. But i will just put it aside just in case..... 👀👀

Bonus strays thoughts::

According to character profiles, all the boys are the same age, except Tan and White who are 2 years younger

Por says to Tan "you two got in [their friend group] in 12th grade". I am assuming other person is Phi as White got into the group as the boyfriend. I want to see how they got to be friends tho.

Smoker Tan has asthma and he needs an inhaler which definitely won't be a big problem in the future, right?

It's interesting how Phi wants to be a director and we fittingly saw him being a leader, being levelheaded and "directing" the critical situations, assigning roles to the group etc

Top claims Non is haunting them because they completed his film without him. Babygirl, I dont know if intellectual property theft is enough to turn into an evil ghost, I know you guys did more than that.

Random but I kinda want Fluke to be the Final Girl, surviving until the end w just a puke bag and 2 years of medicine knowledge.......

[mysoftboybensolo]

I'll Be Seeing You:

A/N: When researching Freddy's part in Masters of the Air, I learned about not only of his real life counterpart, but also of his real life wife and I thought there was a love story to be told here. If I were to cast Audrey, I'd pick Danielle Rose Russell, as she reminds me so much of Audrey. More info on the pair can be found here (x) and (x)

Pairing: David x Audrey

Warnings: Mentions of war, slight spoilers of character's fate, historical fiction (given that there isn't too much details about their life), 16k words (my longest one shot I've ever done!)

A03 Link: (x)

War changes everything, for better and for worse. Audrey didn’t expect her life to go the way it did, but given how everything had gone, she can’t say that she’d expect anything less. Here she was in Los Angeles, twenty-one years old, and trying to make herself known in pictures, a long cry from her old home in Buffalo, New York.

She wanted to do something to help the soldiers, something that would help them through this time, and her only skill was her dancing. There was a small dance hall that was hosting a USO canteen in need of entertainers, and she managed to get in. She worked practically every night, entertaining and dancing with soldiers, which was nice for the most part, but she had been a little disillusioned when some soldiers would try to play on her sympathies and try to get her to do “one last service” by giving them a “night to remember and carry on the battlefield”. What happened to honor and decency among soldiers and war? All her friends had thought this would be the perfect chance to meet a fella, but Audrey wasn’t exactly thrilled by the options she was given.

One fateful evening, Audrey was dancing with a soldier, who clearly brought in his own booze, holding her too tightly, making passes that made her very uncomfortable. “Say, sweetheart, why don’t we go to my car, it’s comfortable. Bet a pretty girl like you has been ridden quite a bit,” he laughed, pulling her closer. Would no one help her? Did no one see how miserable she was?

“Pardon me,” came a voice. The pair stopped, and she saw a tall, lean man, with dark hair and light blue eyes, wearing a uniform Audrey wasn’t familiar with. “May I have this dance?”

The drunkard held her closer and said, “I’m not done yet.”

He stopped him once again from dancing, and continued, “There must be some confusion, I wasn’t asking to dance with you. Miss,” he tried again, looking at Audrey, “May I have this dance?”

“Oh yes, please,” she tried to get away, but the drunk dancer stopped her.

“The song isn’t over,” he says, and then music ended and the crowd applauded.

“Hark, the angels have heard you and have mercifully ended the song. Excuse us,” he stepped in, whisking her away in a dance, leaving her partner in the crowd completely confused. “Are you alright, miss? You didn’t look particularly happy dancing with him.”

“You seemed to be the only one to notice. Thank you for coming to my rescue.”

“It is my pleasure. I’m David by the way.”

“I’m Audrey.” She looked at his uniform and didn’t recognize the symbol. “Forgive me, but what branch are you in? I don’t know your patch.”

“I am part of the Signal Corps. It’s a branch that handled many things, such as military intelligence, relaying information that our soldiers may need.”

Audrey’s eyes widened in wonder. “That is an incredibly important job to have! I mean, any information you receive, could help win the war.”

“That’s what we hope.”

“Is that your only job?”

“No, I am actually part of the aviary.”

“Isn’t it dangerous to be in the sky?”

“About as dangerous it is to be on the ground.”

She gave a small shake of her head and muttered, “I wish I could do something as important as that.”

“You do.” She looked at him confused, then he explained, “It’s hard over there, to be away from family and friends, to see things that no one should ever see in their lifetime. To have a moment of relief from that, some songs, dances, a smile, it reminds us why we are doing this. You, and everyone here keep us grounded. That’s your job, and it’s incredibly important.”

For the first time in months, Audrey felt like she wasn’t a failure. The song ended, and she felt an emptiness when he released her to clap like everyone else did. “Have you had anything to drink tonight?” he asked.

“No, actually.”

“If you’d like, we can have a drink together.” She smiled and nodded, gratefully taking his arm that he offered and together went to the refreshment table. They had sat and talked for the longest time, little things that people chatted about, movies, music, books, and yet, she had a very good idea of the kind of man he was through his interests, and she liked what she saw. If they weren’t sitting and talking, they danced and talked even more, so much that their feet would have ached, but strangely enough, neither seemed to have noticed.

A song came on the record, and it was Jo Stafford’s I’ll Be Seeing You, and Audrey smiled at her voice.

“I’ll be seeing you, In all the old familiar places That this heart of mine embraces, All day through,”

“I love Jo Stafford,” Audrey whispered.

“We’d play her on the radio overseas,” he shared, “She reminds us so much of home.”

 “In that small café, The park across the way, The children’s carousal, The chestnut tree, The wishing well,”

She rested her head against his chest, and she felt his cheek resting against the top of her head, holding each other as if they had known each other for months rather than hours.

“I’ll be seeing you, In every lovely summer’s day, In everything’s that’s light and gay, I’ll always think of you that way,”

Audrey closed her eyes and breathed in his scent, sage and lemon, and she felt so safe with him. It was a feeling she missed in the past year. Why did it feel so wonderful to be near him? Why does this man, David Friedkin, make her feel something no one else has made her feel?

“I’ll find you in the morning sun, And when the night is new, I’ll be looking at the moon, But I’ll be seeing you.”

“Excuse me? Excuse me?” A tap on his shoulder made David lift his head, which made Audrey look up to see the manager of the dance hall. “I’m sorry, but we have to close up.”

Looking around the place, she noticed that the only people in the place was her, David, the manager, and a janitor cleaning up. “Gee, we’re very sorry sir,” David kindly said.

“Not at all. Get yourselves home safely and good night,” he said before leaving them alone.

“I am so sorry,” David said to Audrey, “I didn’t realize it was so late.”

“That’s alright, I’ve had a wonderful time.” She didn’t want to give him up just yet, having enjoyed his company immensely.

“This might be a bit forward, but may I walk you home?”

“Yes, I’d like that very much,” she answered with a smile. After getting her coat and purse, they walked into the busy streets of Los Angeles at night. The entire walk back to her place, David had kept his hands to himself, the only time he touched her was to gently guide her to the inner sidewalk while he walked on the street side, just like a proper gentleman. “Have you ever been to Los Angeles before?”

“Yes, I had actually moved out here after graduating. I tried acting, but I felt better behind the camera, writing and directing. There’re so many stories to tell, and I want to be able to tell them. What about you?”

“I’ve only been here for a year, trying to act and dance for film, and I’ve had some success, by success I mean getting a paycheck, but not quite the rate I had expected.”

“It can be daunting, especially from a small city to a big one. But you should feel proud of yourself, you are doing what you want.”

She shook her head. “I don’t know if I have enough talent for it. Not like you it seems; you want to tell stories and you’re smart enough to know how.”

She saw a blush come to his cheeks, genuinely being sweetly embarrassed at the compliment. He was so precious, despite him looking a classic leading man. He was so different, and she liked it. They arrived at her house, and she could see the light on, her mother, Viola, no doubt waiting up for her. “This is me,” she sighed, a little sad that they would part. “Thank you again for saving me.”

“You are very welcome. I am sorry that he had acted that way towards you.”

She shrugged. “I’m sort of used to it.”

His face fell and he shook his head. “That’s one of the saddest things I’ve heard.”

Audrey was taken aback by the comment; no one had ever said anything like that to her before, and it was a strange feeling of sorrow that it had happened before, but grateful that someone didn’t see her as someone who deserved it. “Thank you for that. But let us not end the evening on a sad note. I really enjoyed myself tonight, more than I have in a long while.”

“As have I. May I,” he started, looking a little shy, “May I see you again?”

She smiled, glad that he had finally asked. “Yes, I would like that.”

“Tomorrow?”

“It is tomorrow,” she replied with a smile, prompting them to laugh. “But yes, come at one, maybe you can show me some of the sights.”

“It’ll be my pleasure.” He reached for her hand and placed a gentle kiss to it, and promised to see her at one.

Her heart fluttered as he kissed her hand and she already missed his touch as he slipped to allow her to open her door, waiting until she was in before he slipped away into the early morning. She couldn’t believe that she was feeling this way, like a high school girl experiencing her first crush. Entering the den, she sees her mom sleeping on the couch, with her book on her lap. Kneeling before her, she carefully removed the book from her and covered her with a blanket, but her mom woke up. “Oh, Audrey.”

“I’m sorry for being so late.”

“Was everything alright?” she asked, sitting up and rubbing her eyes awake.

“Yes, it was actually wonderful. I mean, it didn’t start off wonderful, I got manhandled like before, but this man, he came up and with ease and politeness, he rescued me. His name is David, he is in the Signal Corps, he flies planes, and we talked all night. He loves movies, just like me, he-haha- he said that he had seen the movie “Metropolis” ten times, and the ushers remembered him that they just waved him on. He’s coming around tomorrow, at one, I don’t know if I said that, and I really like him. It’s hard to explain, but when you spend five minutes with him, you just feel safe. I like him a lot, and I hope you will too. Well, I should get some rest. He’s coming tomorrow at one, did I mention that? Well, good night.”

Audrey didn’t see her mom staring after her with delightful surprise, and she had every right to be so. It didn’t seem that her daughter had much luck with the men in her life, and if this man is every bit of wonderful as Audrey said…oh, she hoped so.

David came promptly at one, and through the window, Viola watched as he offered his arm to her daughter, and walked off into the sunny day. He was handsome, but also kind, and she could see how her daughter looked at him. It was different from the others, and with a little prayer, Viola hoped that this one would be good for her. They never did around to seeing the sights, rather took the longest walk in the park, having been so lost in their talks.

David Friedkin was born in Kanas City, Missouri on March 8th, 1912, how he graduated high school at fifteen and got into Julliard, how he was part of the Signal Corps. He has a younger brother named Morris, who is a doctor, and his parents are Benjamin and Anna, Russian Jewish immigrants. “I feel I have to tell you that now, before we get any further. I know people are not exactly…tolerant to my kind of people, and I wouldn’t blame you if you thought that being associated with me could lead to troubles for you.”

 Audrey was brought up a Christian life, and while she had never been raised to be prejudice against anyone, she understood why he would feel compelled to tell her as soon as possible. She had seen people treat the Jews with unwarranted hatred, some saying that Hitler had the right idea, and it was the most horrible thing she could have ever heard. “Thank you for telling me,” she said, “That way, if trouble comes, I’ll know how to handle it.”

He was surprised. “You don’t mind it? I mean, by being Jewish?”

“So long as you don’t mind me being Christian,” she replied which made them laugh.

Outwardly, they seemed as different as could be; he was Jewish, she was Christian, he was thirty-two, she was twenty-one, he came from a large city, hers was small, his parents were still married while hers was divorced, he was the oldest child, she was the youngest. And yet, despite these differences, great or small, there was something that pulled them together, similarities in the heart that pulled them together. He was as every bit of a simple boy just as she was a simple girl, they both seemed to have dreams of being in entertainment, they believed in equality for every person, regardless of gender or race.

David was different from any other man she knew; David was a gentleman, mature, open minded, but also creative and playful, and Audrey found she could listen to him talk all day. He was patient, someone who didn’t take risks if he knew the stakes were too high or the chances were slim, but he was also unafraid to work hard, never wavered his views or thoughts to appease others, something she admired deeply. But most importantly, a difference she found, that unlike other men, David listened. No man has ever made her feel as if she was truly heard or that her opinions mattered the way David did. She began to open more about her own thoughts and feelings, even if they were different or not polite, he liked to hear them, and rather than brush her feelings off as a “silly young girl”, he spoked to her like a person, and she realized that so few men had spoke to her like that. What girl wouldn’t fall for a fella like that?

For David, Audrey was a breath of fresh air, filled with hope and dreams. She never acted like a snob, not like some of the other girls he had met in Hollywood, rather she was grounded, remembered what was important in life, like family, love, and hope, things he felt he struggled to hold onto since the war. Audrey was a conundrum; she was young and full of live, but had a bit of a pessimistic view point on things, she claimed to not understand much of the world, and yet was one of the wisest and understanding people he knew, she was an incredibly hardworking and sensible person, and yet she had wonderful dreams and hopes of how bright the future could be. The other men in his squadron talked of their girls as if they were fantasies, but Audrey was a reality, and beautiful, human reality, and he was falling for her because of it.

Viola had yet to properly meet David, but considering that her daughter was seeing this man every day for nearly two weeks, it was clear that something serious was happening. Before going out, Audrey would get ready with an excitement that she had not had in a long time, and whenever she returned, she had a look about her like she stepped out from a wonderful dream. She once tried to question her daughter about her feelings, but Audrey just shrugged and said she wasn’t sure, but Viola knew better even if her daughter didn’t; she was in love.

It was true, they had spent every day together in the past two weeks, and it was clear that they not only enjoy each other’s company, but really liked and respected each other, which was why Audrey felt he deserved to know a part of her past she had not mentioned.

“I feel you should know; I was married before. I wish it was simple for me to say that I fell in love, married him, and lost him, but it wasn’t. His name was Lewis Hightower, we met when I moved to New York to start my career, and it was the first time I had ever fallen for anyone, and he was so charming. The honeymoon was the last time either of us were happy. The real work had begun and suddenly, we realized that neither of us really knew the other. I was too young to understand what real love had meant, that it takes two to make a marriage work, and that it wasn’t always sunshine and roses. Lewis wasn’t a bad man, far from it, it just that we didn’t belong together, even when we tried to work things out. Eventually we agreed to the annulment, then we separated, and sometime after, I begun to see another man, Arthur Lewis, I thought I loved him too.

“The last time I saw Lewis was a terrible day. I was out with Arthur and his friend, there was a celebration going on, and then Lewis arrived, tried to pull me away, and a fight broke out between the three. I berated Lewis after, telling him how I regretted being married to him, that I wish I’d never see him again and he better get me that annulment, and I did. The next time I heard of him, it was a telegram from the Army telling me he died in combat on September 2nd, 1943. I was in shock, even though we had just annulled our marriage, I was devastated. Lewis was a good man, and I wished that I could have loved him better than I did, even wished that I hadn’t married him, just so he could have been with a better woman who would have loved him as much as he needed to be loved, maybe give him a child to remember him by.

“I can’t help but to feel guilty that the last thing I ever told him what that I hated him and didn’t want to see him again. I tried to explain it to Arthur, but he couldn’t seem to understand why I’d be sorry for the man I had been separated from for a few years, and it became one of the few things that would become a riff in the relationship. He went to war around the same time as Lewis, and our visits became less and less, until we decided to end things once and for all. I wouldn’t be surprised if you were disappointed or what you thought of me was different than what I am.”

David had listened with openness and kindness, and never did she notice a look of reproach or betrayal in his eyes. Instead, he took her hand to kiss it, then said, “I suppose it’s time for me to fess up. I too was married. I was young, and she was a nice Jewish girl from my neighborhood, we were sort of matched up. While we liked each other, we didn’t love each other like a husband and wife ought to, and it was practically over as soon as it began, we didn’t even make it half way through our first year. So, despite what everyone had expected of us, we went ahead with a divorce, something my parents had been supportive of, and sometime later, she got to marry someone who could love her as she deserved. So, in regards to whether or not I could want a divorced woman, I would be a huge hypocrite if I said no. As for what happened when you last saw him, do not try to blame yourself too much. Was it kind what you said? No, but you were hurt, and I am sure that when given the chance, you’d have apologize to him. The fact that you still speak kindly of him speaks so much to me than what had happened in the past. Learn to forgive yourself, for I am sure he has.”

This is what Audrey liked about David, he was always so understanding and honest, but never harsh or unfeeling. “Thank you, it wasn’t easy for me to say all that, in fact, other than mom, no one out here knows my past. Thank you for understanding.” She smiled, then switched subjects. “Tomorrow is my birthday, my mom and I are celebrating with a dinner, and I would like it if you would come. Though, I’ll understand if you didn’t want to spend your last day like that, if there was something else you’d rather do.”

“I can’t think of anything better,” he answered with a smile. As he always did, he arrived right on time, a small gift in hand, and the warmest smile.

Viola was excited to finally met the young man who had been seeing her daughter for two weeks now, and Audrey was right, that within five minutes, you felt safe and comfortable with him. True, he was older than her, but he was still young and fit, not to mention quite handsome, and his intentions appeared to be honest. The dinner was a simple affair, but it was wonderful to David, who had not seen his own family in over a year, to feel at home and cared for, and Audrey, who hadn’t felt this happy in months, was certain this was the best birthday ever. Even made better, her mother seemed to really like David, hell, Audrey would dare to say loved him, already mothering him by the evening’s end.

“The cake is delicious Mrs. Westphal,” David complemented.

“Thank you, it’s a family recipe. Oh, Audrey, let’s do gifts.” Her mother had given her a knitted shawl that her mother made herself, and then David handed his gift, uncertain that she would like it.

It wasn’t wrapped, just a box with a bow on it, and when Audrey lifted the tiny lid, she was delighted by the little gift. True it wasn’t much, it wasn’t even complete, but it was beautiful; a little porcelain charm with a pink rose painted on it. “It’s beautiful, David,” she reassured him as he looked on uncertain, “It’s actually too good for me.”

“No, nothing could ever be too good for you,” he said, then color came to his cheeks realizing what he had said. Oh yes, Viola thought, this young man is perfect for her.

As the evening winded down, Viola showed him their photo album, and as she told the story of Audrey’s life, up to the present moment, David looked on in admiration at her growth, and when it was near the end, he stopped Viola at a photo. “Which picture is this?”

It was a picture of Audrey sitting at the kitchen table with a paper and a cup of coffee before her, smiling at the camera for an impromptu picture. “Oh, this is the morning after living in the house,” Viola shared.

“Which explains why I look like a mess,” Audrey explained with a small laugh.

True, she didn’t look at polish as she did now, wearing a gingham house dress, her hair not curled fashionably and no makeup on, but David couldn’t stop staring. “May I have this picture?”

“Really?” Audrey asked surprised, “I look terrible there, you wouldn’t want that.”

“Yes, I do. Because this is the most honest you, and this is the woman I want to carry with me overseas.” Tears pricked her eyes, for no man had ever said something as nice as that to her. He reached over and pulled the picture out from the album, placed a kiss to her image before tucking it safely in his wallet. Viola looked at Audrey with a knowing look, which made her daughter blush.

He thanked her and Viola before leaving the party, telling them that he had a wonderful time and grateful to spend the last evening before returning with such wonderful ladies. She asked to see him off at the station, wishing to be with him to the end, and the next morning when he met her at the station, he saw that his charm was hanging around her neck on a silver chain of her own, and he couldn’t help to feel a little proud. “Audrey,” he spoke, removing his hat before he spoke, “I know we only have known each other for two weeks, but, would it be alright if I wrote to you?”

“Oh yes, I would like that very much.” The train whistled, meaning it was time for him to go, but before he left, she reached up and placed a kiss to his cheek. “Good luck, David. I’ll be waiting for you to come back.”

He smiled, glad to hear her say that before he went on the train. While traveling, he went to work on his first letter, wanting it to be sent out as soon as possible. It was a surprise to Audrey to see the letter arriving sooner than she expected.

“Dear Audrey,

I have yet to be away from you for more than an hour, and yet, that hour feels so long ago, and I am already missing you. The past two weeks had been the happiest I’ve had in a long time, and having the memories of you will make fighting much more bearable. It was wonderful of you to see me off at the station, and to have your picture to remind me why I want to come home, it’s more than I can ever ask for. I don’t want to talk of war, not in this first letter, so I will not tell you of what I will come back to, but rather to think of what I will look forward to. I look forward to dancing with you again, to sit by the beach and listen to the waves and breath the salty sea air, to talk with you with all the little and big things we can think of. To understand you and have you understand me as no one else ever have or could ever do after. Give my love to your mother, and keep some for yourself too.

Waiting eagerly to hear you soon,

David”

“Dear David,

It was wonderful to see your letter come as soon as it did, for I would have been terribly concerned something would have happened to you. Mother sends her love back, and she says to remind you to take care of your feet. Even across the world, she can’t help to mother. I was glad to see you off, and it makes me happy that my picture brings some relief to what you must face in the days to come. The days here have gotten bleaker since you’ve left, sun is scarce in sunny California and I wonder if it must mean something. I still dance for the other soldiers, but I do not dance with them, for none of them have what you have, your charm, your ease, or your kindness. I must admit, I cried into my pillow the night you left, not because I had gotten used to being with you, but because I had realized after you left how much I’d miss you. I wish you’ll come home soon, that no harm comes to you, and that you’ll see your family again.

Your letter cannot come soon enough,

Audrey”

Between his own mother and Audrey’s letters, David never felt alone, but he did feel homesick for them both. He often thought of how, when the moment came, his parents would react to meeting Audrey. Would they welcome her as if she was always a part of the family, or would they be weary since she is not Jewish and an outsider? The evening was quiet, a rarity in the field, but they took it for what it was worth. David reached over for his bag and carefully pulled out the picture of Audrey, staring at it. He wondered what it would be like to wake up with her, see her sleepy face, her perfume on the pillow, sitting at that kitchen table with her and enjoying a quiet breakfast, just peacefully together.

“Who’s that?” David turned and saw his co-pilot sitting on the cot next to him.

“My girl, Audrey.” He handed it over to him, letting him see her better.

“She’s beautiful,” he said with a smile, returning the picture.

“She’s wonderful. Unlike anyone I’ve ever met.”

“Do you think it’s love?” he asked earnestly.

Love. It sounded so wonderful next to Audrey’s name. “Yes, I am sure of it.”

He was away for two months, and somehow, in those two months, the letters, which started off sweet and affectionate, became more loving and passionate. Its progression had been slow that neither had realized the change unless they looked back at their letters in the beginning and see how much they changed.

“Beloved David,

It’s become clear to everyone around me that there is someone special in my life, and you are indeed very special to me. No man has ever made me feel as safe, heard, and loved as you have. A solider today wore your cologne today and I was taken back to our dance, Jo Stafford playing, I resting my head on your chest, inhaling your scent, and never before did I feel as content with life as I had in that moment in your arms. I want to feel that way again, I am aching to hold you, to be held by you, and nothing less will satisfy my longing. I count my blessings that I met you when we did, that you had seen something in me worthy enough to visit again and again, that you could choose to share your love with me. I wish I were half as clever as you that I could express the way you make me happy, the dear and deep love I have for you, but all I can tell you is, I love you, love you, and nothing would make me happier than to see your smile again.

Mother has been wondering if you might be able to come home for Christmas, and for how long. I told her that you’d want to see your parents, but if perchance you’d have the time, stop by and let us take care of you for even a minute. I adore you, dearest.

Your Audrey”

“Darling Audrey,

Since our last meeting I have been agonizing over being away from you. I have worked to keep the sound of your voice, the scent of your perfume, and the touch of your hands and lips embedded on my brain. I wish more than anything, other than to be beside you, is to have you become a part of me, that I can carry you with me everywhere I go, so that whenever anyone sees me, they know that I am yours, forever and ever. War is hell, but my dreams are paradise, for I dream of you so often, that when I wake, I wake with a smile, ready to face another day. I wish you were kinder to yourself, my darling, for you are so much more than you think of you give yourself credit for. I’ll tell you what I love about you; I love that you care so much about others, that you work hard even when you think it feels hopeless. I love how open minded and grounded you are, your unshakeable faith that there is good and love in this world, it’s that I cling to during these times of hardship and fear. I could go on, but I am only allowed one sheet of paper, but suffice to say, I love all the little and big things about you, you entire.

I am grateful for Christmas as it will allow me to come back and see you again. We have been given leave for Christmas, so I’ll go and spend it with my folks, then come to you for New Years. I can’t wait to tell them all about you, for I know, they’ll love you as I do, though I doubt anyone could love you as much as I can and always will. You are my heart, my angel.

Yours, David”

When his company were let off, he chose to be dropped off at New York, as the travel back home was shorter than LA, and he couldn’t wait to see his parents again after not seeing them for nearly a year. His mother Anna had nearly toppled him as he walked up the path, squeezing him so closely to her that he felt moments where he couldn’t breathe, oh but he didn’t mind it. He cried tears of joy as his father, Benjamin, joined in the hug, as they were so happy to be reunited. His brother, Morris, wouldn’t be able to join them, but he had only been to the house a week earlier, so there was that. His home hadn’t changed since he had left, not just in looks, but in how warm and friendly it felt, and he was like a little boy, safe and love again.

“Moy syn,” began Anna, as she placed the warm plate before David, “Have you been keeping yourself well?”

“Yes, Mama, I’m alright.”

“Have you made any friends?”

David laughed, “Gee, it’s the oddest way to make friends, but yes, a few. Actually, there is something I want to talk to you about. About two months ago, I met someone.”

His parents looked at him hopefully. “A girl?” asked Benjamin.

“Yes, a girl. Her name is Audrey, I met her at a dance hall. She’s very nice, I’ve met her mother, and we had been writing since I left. She is not Jewish, but she doesn’t mind that I am. I’m sure if you met her, you’d see just how wonderful she is, and I am planning on seeing her for New Year’s.”

Anna had nodded, slightly disappointed she wasn’t Jewish, but she seeing how happy he was and how the last time they tried to interfere with his love life didn’t end well, she wouldn’t want to take away that happiness simply because of her religion. “What does she do?”

“She’s an actress, nothing big, but she makes enough money to take care of herself and her mother.”

“Had she been married before?” asked Benjamin.

“Yes, but it was annulled, and shortly after, he had died in service.”

“Poor thing,” Anna remarked kindly. “Do you have a picture of her?” David pulled out her picture from his wallet and handed it to her. Benjamin and Anna looked on the object of their son’s affections and saw an incredibly kind face, and could see why he could already appear so in love. “She seems very kind. I hope you two continue to be happy, and one lucky day, may meet her.”

“I hope so.”

He enjoyed the days he had with his parents, but when it was time for him to go to L.A. to see Audrey, his mind was filled with nothing else but her. The station was filled with people who were also eagerly waiting for their loved ones, and like a beacon in the darkness, David spotted Audrey among the crowd. The last time they met, they said goodbye with timid tenderness, but their reunion was fearlessly affectionate. Audrey nearly toppled him with how quickly she ran into his arms, and he dropped his bag on the ground to hold her, kissing her as if they had done this many times before.

When they pulled away, she could see his cheeks were red and a shy smile on his lips. “Gee, I wasn’t planning our first kiss to be like that.”

“Was it bad?” she asked, worried.

“No!” he quickly corrected himself, “Far from it. It was wonderful.”

Relieved, she brought him back home, where Viola happily welcomed him. “How were your parents, did you get to celebrate Hannukah?”

“Not exactly, since it was early this month, but we did do a few things in honor of.”

“Which reminds me,” Audrey said before disappearing into the kitchen and brought out a plate. “I borrowed the recipe, and thought it try to make you your late-keys.”

David smiled, trying to stifle a laugh. “Darling, do you mean latkes?” Audrey felt flustered at this, but he pulled her in and kissed her cheek, “That’s alright darling, I said it wrong for the first five years of my life,” then taking a bite out of one, he smiled and said, “And if it’s any consolation, your cooking is better than your pronunciation.”

Audrey smiled and was relieved that she got this batch right. She practiced the past few days, wanting to not only make something that reminded him of home, but to show she respected his religion and heritage. “How long shall we have you, David?” Viola asked.

“I go back on the day after New Year’s. And, I wanted to ask,” his attention turned to Audrey, “Many of the other soldiers were invited to a New Years Eve party, and I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind coming along?”

Audrey would have loved to come, but she worried about leaving her mother home alone. “Oh, don’t worry about me. Me and Mrs. Harris next door will get together and drink sherry until we drop,” she laughed.

It wasn’t anything fancy, but it was filled with many soldiers and their dates who were just happy they had a reprieve from the fighting, a moment where they could forget they weren’t in the middle of a war but living a normal and happy life. “Recognize anyone from your troop?”

“Not really. But that’s alright, I want all my focus on you, the prettiest girl in the whole world.”

This is what made Audrey love him, not his compliments, but how sincere he was, and she really did feel like she was the prettiest girl in the world. “I love you,” she said, “I know I told you on paper, but I wanted to say the words for a while now. I love you, David Friedkin.”

He smiled and said, “And I love you, Audrey Westphal, every day since I met you, and every day after today.”

The MC stepped forward and started the countdown into the new year, and as the band played into 1945, friends hugged and wished each other a bright new year, couples shared their first kiss of the new year, and David and Audrey were among them. They only stopped when someone came by to give them champagne and waited as the MC raised a glass to the crowd, saying “A happy New Year to you all! May our soldiers come home safely, and this be the year we kick Hitler’s ass!”

The party went on into the early morning, with people only leaving at four am, and despite how tired they were, David and Audrey stayed up, enjoying what little time they had. “You look so worn, David,” Audrey fussed as the approached her home.

“It was worth it, didn’t want to lose a moment with you, darling.”

It was a decision she normally wouldn’t have made, under normal circumstances, but these weren’t normal circumstances. “Why don’t you come in? You can sleep in the guest room. I’d hate for you to stumble back tired and possibly hurt yourself because of it.” David wanted to argue, saying it wouldn’t be proper, but he was tired, and he didn’t want her worrying, so he accepted. “I’ll get the room ready for you,” Audrey said as they went inside, but he stopped her.

“Wait, sit with me for a while? I’m not ready to sleep yet.”

She smiled and led him to the couch in the living room, curling up against him as they heard the faint music playing outside. This was much like what David had wanted; his arms around her, her head resting on his chest, sitting together, passing time as if they had all the time in the world. This was happiness.

Viola slept into the late morning, passing her daughter’s room, and was surprised to not see her there. True, she was in bed before they arrived home, but Audrey couldn’t have already been up before her. Going down the stairs, she noticed David’s hat sitting on the table in the hallway, and upon closer examination, she found exactly where her daughter was. Sleeping soundly against her soldier, who held her as they slept on the small couch, which made his hang over to allow her room. It was a sight too tender to be disturbed, and carefully, Viola left the couple alone to get the much-needed sleep.

When they finally did wake, they were slow to proper awareness, but once they had, David was apologizing profusely to Mrs. Westphal for having stayed when he shouldn’t have, but she waved it off. “It’s New Years, everyone does something a little unusual the first day of the year. And besides, I was here the whole evening, no one would dare say anything against you two. Now, come on, eat some breakfast.”

He spent a quiet day with the Westphals, before going back to serve, and his heart broke to see Audrey so sad. “I’ll let you know as soon as I am able to get leave again.”

“It’s not fair,” Audrey softly protested, “You go away for months and are only allowed back for a brief time.”

“Darling, it’s war, and all’s fair in love and war. But it’ll be over soon, I feel it, and then with no war between us, all we’ll have is love. Let’s look to the future, that’s where we belong.”

David somehow always managed to make Audrey feel better, even when it all felt so lost. The letters they wrote to each other were the only things they had to look forward to.

“Beloved David,

It’s been an incredibly frustrating day. After spending all week auditioning for parts and working hard to learn dances and dialogue, and I got not a single role, not even in the background. Then I read about what is going on over there and have been a wreck to think you are so close to it. Mom and I got into a fight, it was over something silly, and I know I was a bit sensitive, but she knew I had a bad day, and her words were like twisting a knife deeper in me. I hadn’t come out of my room for the rest of the evening, just crying, wishing you were here. I can’t figure how you put up with me, when I can be so silly and mean. I wish I could be as calm and patient like you, I wish I knew how to think first then act after rather the other way around. But I wish people would stop treating me like I don’t know anything, stop making me feel like I’m incapable of understanding anything. I am a lot smarter than people think, and I understand more than they believe. No one knows that, it appears, except you. I need you with me, I feel so alone despite being with so many people. God, I hate war.

I know I am not the only one who has a loved one away fighting, and I know everyone tells me that I need to buck up and be proud of my soldier, but I am too busy being scared for you that I can’t allow myself to be proud. I am proud of you, incredibly so, but I’d be the happiest woman if you had left and stayed with me, safe and sound. Forgive me for dumping all of this on you, you deserve to hear only good things from me, so let me change the topic.

I love you so much, my dear. Mom gave me a picture of us asleep on the couch, and I have it by my bed, and I remember how it felt to be in your arms, and I fall asleep much easier with you on my mind. The girls are a little jealous of me, saying I got the best fella a girl could ask, and I couldn’t agree more. They talk about how handsome you are, and indeed they are right, but you are even more wonderful underneath all that. Your eyes are as warm and inviting as your heart, your lips are lovely and kind as your soul, your hands gentle and strong as your spirit, when you smile everyone can’t help but to stare, and when you laugh, it’s the best music in the world. There must be a God or something greater out there, because you are proof that perfection exists, and it’s a miracle that you entered my life to bless me with it.

Write to me as soon as you can, I need to know you are well.

Love, Audrey.”

David cried to see how unhappy she was, read her letter carefully, over and over, before he wrote down the words he could think of to comfort her.

“Darling Audrey,

My poor darling girl, I am so sorry that you had a terrible day, and more than anything I wish I was there to comfort you. I am sure your mother didn’t mean to upset you or to make you unhappy, she loves you, it is very clear to see, she’s as human as I am and you are. Don’t be too hard about your own way to express yourself; I’ve seen some people who have no passion or feeling for anything in this world, or worse, they stifle it so much that they kill it, and have no love for anything or anyone at all. I love that you feel as much as you do, I love that, for better or for worse, your heart is on your sleeve, and I am sorry that people have underestimated you, because you are talented, bright, and wonderful, and they clearly don’t know the good thing they’ve got.

I am sorry that people brush aside your fears and pain. We are told the same over here. “Buck up, soldiers, no good moping over our past.” But it’s hard to not mourn a period in our lives where the biggest thing we had to worry was whether or not to pay the bills on time, or will we get that job, or will my crush like me back. Everyday we sit so close to death it’s hard to not try and think of life, to cling to the reasons why we’d want to stay alive, and what would happen to our loved ones if we didn’t come back. We may be soldiers, but we are human first, and we are as scared and lonely as anyone else, not machines that can turn our feelings on and off. Sometimes, when I can’t sleep and I think too much on what I am missing out, I can’t help but to cry. As Charlotte Bronte wrote, ‘Crying does not indicate that you are weak. Since birth, it has always been a sign that you are alive’. Feel as much as you want darling, for you live and love that way.

I admit when I read your last paragraph, I blushed to think you saw me like that. What have I ever done to be lucky to be loved by you, darling? The other day, the fellas were talking about their sweethearts and wives, and I had to talk about you. Gee, I found I could have talked about you for hours, tell the world just how much I love you, and convince them that there was no greater girl in the world than you. I only stopped because we were commanded to get suited up, but it didn’t stop me from thinking about you. Got a nice frame for your picture and now, whenever I go up in the skies, I place it on my dashboard so I can see you all the time, and then in the evenings, I fall asleep looking at you. Yes, my darling, I believe there must be a higher power up there, because happiness and love like this don’t just happen on accident, they are meant to be.

Remember to keep me in your prayers, and I promise to see you soon.

Love, David.”

January is a cold and bitter month, and the letters were slow to reach everyone, making it an agonizingly longer than it needed to be. Lives were lost because of the cold, because it was darker and the snow made it harder to see, good men David was friendly with were now gone, so few letters coming through made it even lonelier than ever before. The only thing that kept him sane was the picture of Audrey, the reminder that this was what was waiting for him. Look to the future, he had to remind himself, your Audrey is waiting for you there.

February fared better as hints of spring were coming, and the letters came more freely now. For Valentine’s day, Audrey sent the most adorable valentine with a puppy on it, crying as she rips a page off the calendar and sees its Valentine’s day. ‘Missin’ You on Valentine’s Day, I miss you just so doggone much- I feel so sad, so doggone blue’ and inside read, ‘I just can’t help but sorta hope you’re just a little lonesome too!’ Handwritten at the bottom was a small note that read ‘I feel this way every day you are away, but more so this day! I love you, Audrey.”

He smiled, placing it inside his box, his treasure chest as he called it, of all the letters and gifts that Audrey sent to him, pulling it out whenever he needed to be reminded of her. He sent her a gift that he found while a day’s leave in the city, a gift Audrey found remarkable. It was a small wooden box, a moon engraved at the top and a small crank on the side, and attached was a note that read “I’ll be looking at the moon, but I’ll be seeing you. I love you, David.” When she cranked the box, tears immediately came to her eyes as she heard their song playing.

They hoped David would have been given leave for his birthday, but sadly he had to spend it away from home, but he still received such nice gifts from his loved ones. His parents sent him a scarf his mother made, and three bars of soap, which may not have seemed a great gift, but compared to the soap the army gave the men, this was a luxury that they missed. Mrs. Westphal made socks, and Audrey sent over a book, one that he once said was missing from his collection, "For Whom the Bells Tolls". It had caused quite a stir and many people had it banned, which made finding it difficult, but not for Audrey it seemed. Her card attached was hand written and said

“Beloved David,

I hope your birthday over there is a happy one, and know how much we all over here are missing you terribly. I hope the book finds you in one piece, for it was a hardship to find it, had to search high and low for it, but it will be worth it for you to add to your collection. I can’t wait until you come back to me, to lay down at the beach, hear your lovely heart beating, your wonderful voice reading to me. I love to hear you speak, my dear, there is not greater sound to me in the world than your voice. Stay safe, know that I love you always, and miss you forever.

Love, Audrey.”

He smiled and wiped his eyes; to think she worked so hard to find this book, that she didn’t give up the first or second tries. She wanted him to have it, because he knew how important it was to him. He then went to writing to his mother, he had a very important request to make of her.

He came back home on March 22rd, warmly greeted by his love, and as eager as he was to be with her, he was eager to go back to his apartment, to see if he got the letter he needed. Audrey felt bad that she had a new role, mainly because it took time away from him, but he told her that they would have plenty of time together, as he was promised two weeks off. Neither of them could have expected for David to receive orders two days later that he was to return back on April 2nd at noon. It was a blow to David, as he had hoped to plan something wonderful for Audrey, something deserving of her, but as it would appear, he would have to make due with what he had.

With bad news come swiftly good news, as the long-awaited letter from his mother came, and David hurried over to the Westphal home. He waited until Viola came to the door, her face smeared with flour and her hair a little untidy.

“Oh, David,” she wiped her hands on her apron, “Audrey isn’t home yet, I thought that I told you she’d be home at 4?”

“Yes, you did. But I wanted to come by early, that is,” he removed his hat and fiddled with it, “Ma’am I wanted to talk to you, before Audrey came home. To ask you something.”

Viola barely contained her excitement, certain it meant what she thought, and she happily accepted David in. A half hour later, Audrey came home, calling out to her mom. “Mom,” she said as Viola came through the living room door, “I am going to change and freshen up before David arrives.”

“He’s here already.”

“Oh no, and I look like a mess,” she complained as she looked in the mirror.

“No, not at all my dear. You look lovely. Go on, he’s been waiting for you.” Audrey didn’t see the barely contained tears of joy in her mother’s eyes or the huge smile as she went into the living room.

David looked a bit nervous but always so happy to see her. “Hello, Audrey, I am sorry that I am a bit early.”

“It’s alright. I am just sorry that I don’t look my best.”

“You look beautiful, no matter what you do.”

She smiled and blushed, feeling like a girl again. “Please sit.” She noticed that he was fiddling with his hat, looking a bit nervous. “Is everything alright?”

“Well, no, but maybe yes?”

“What?” she laughed.

“I had received news that I have to go back a little earlier than I was expected.”

Her smile went away. “When?”

“This Monday coming up, I have to be at the station at noon.”

“Oh,” she couldn’t hide her disappointment. “I had hoped we had more time.”

“So had I. I received a letter from my mother today, she asked after you.”

“That was kind of her, I hope she is well.”

“She is, and actually she sent me something that I would like you to see.” He pulled out an envelope, handing it to her. She could see that something was inside, and when she poured the contents in her hand, she saw a beautiful ring, with a simple gold band and a lovely round diamond. “I know it’s nothing extravagant, nothing like what you deserve, but if you would have me, I’d do everything I can to make myself worthy of your love.” Taking her hand as he went to his knees before her, he asked, “Audrey Lorraine Westphall, would you marry me?”

She couldn’t believe it, this wonderful man who she felt she didn’t deserve, believed he was undeserving of her. “Oh David,” she started, and for a moment, he had felt certain that she was going to say no, “You have it backwards, it’s me that doesn’t deserve you, and I will happily do everything I can to be deserving of you.”

“Is, is that a ‘yes’?”

“Yes,” she answered, tears of joy springing to her eyes, “Of course I’ll marry you.”

David himself couldn’t stop his own overflowing emotions and his eyes watered with joy as he leaned into her to kiss her. “I know this isn’t exactly what you would have imagined this, but-”

She stopped him before he could go on. “It was perfect. In the end, I have the most wonderful man in love with me, that is as perfect as I could hope.”

“I am sorry that I can’t give you a church wedding,” he says, referring to his Jewish religion, “You deserved a beautiful long white dress and choir boys and such.”

“I had that already, David, it isn’t it’s all cracked up to be. All I could ask for you is you.”

Viola had burst through the door when she was called, tears falling down her face and her smile so wide it had to hurt her face, but she wouldn’t have cared. Her little girl was going to marry a wonderful man, and she was certain this would be a much happier marriage. They agreed to a courthouse wedding, as it was best for their religious backgrounds, and it was agreed upon Saturday, so that they may have the weekend together. Wartime marriages were happening often, though compared to the start of the war, it had slowed down, but finding a spot was still difficult, though not impossible. There had been concerns that couples were marrying simply because it sounded glamorous and romantic, but no one would have had to worry about David or Audrey, it was clear that this was as honest as the day is long.

Saturday came and as Audrey was getting ready, she was given a small bouquet of red tulips with baby’s breath, sent by David. They were simply beautiful, and he told her in those flowers how much he loved her. “Audrey dear, we have ten minutes before we have to go,” called her mother through the door.

“Alright, I am almost ready.” She was nearly going to add make-up, but then she remembered the picture that David chose to take with him overseas, the one she didn’t think she looked that good, but he loved anyway, because it shows the true Audrey. When she married Lewis, she put on quite a bit of make-up in hopes to appear older, but she didn’t need that now, all she wanted to be was herself, and so, she left her face bare, allowing her natural beauty to shine, and after doing up her hair, she went down and drove to the courthouse with her mother.

David was waiting inside, watching the time, he had been so scared of possibly being late that he arrived an hour early. It was ten minutes before their time when he saw her walk through the door. There may have been many brides that have come before her, but there would never be one that was as beautiful as her; she wore no make-up, and yet looked so radiant and outshone all the other women in the place, she had her hair done up in curls, and he could see she took a few of the baby’s breath to pin in her hair, and her dress was a simple satin ivory dress with flutter sleeves and a pink fabric rose in the middle of the neckline.

He looked so handsome in his uniform, and for a moment, she forgot that she would only have him for a weekend, and just enjoyed the day of her marrying the man she knew she was meant to be with. “You look beautiful,” he softly complimented, as she approached.

“And you look so handsome. Thank you for the flowers, they are lovely.”

They were called in to the courtroom, and arm in arm, they walked in as Audrey Westphal and David Friedkin, and in a short time, they left as Mr. and Mrs. Friedkin. The ceremony was simple, and yet, it was as wonderful as she could have hoped, because David was looking at her as if she was the most beautiful woman in the world, and he the luckiest man. It was wonderful because her mother was beaming with joy and love, rather than concern and mild happiness. It was wonderful because rather than feeling nervous and deluded into believing she knew love, she was excited and knew that there is no man in the world who more perfect for her than David.

The trio went out for lunch at a diner David had suggested, and compared to her first reception, she liked this one much better. They agreed that when the war was over, they would have a proper reception with friends and more of their family, but for now, they were happy as they were. Afterwards, David brought her to his apartment, the one he had before joining the army, and after showing his landlady the marriage certificate, he led her to the door, and carried her over the threshold.

It wasn’t anything big, but it was neat and perfect for a young man, or rather now, a newly married couple, to live in. “I know it’s not much,” he said apologetically, removing his hat, “It’s not fancy or swanky, but it’s private, and has everything we could want.”

Audrey placed a quick kiss to his lips to stop him and smiled. “It’s perfect, David, really. Because it has you, and that’s all I want this weekend.”

He tossed his hat aside and leaned down to kiss her. “I love you so much, Mrs. Friedkin.”

She smiled at the new name. “And I love you, Mr. Friedkin.”

They didn’t leave their room that entire weekend, they wanted to block out the entire world, forget that there was a war that was going to pull them apart on Monday, and just loved each other as if there was never going to be a chance to love each other ever again. But came that dreaded Monday morning, and despite everything inside them begging to stay, they knew they couldn’t be selfish. They were quiet as they dressed and walked through the hall and down the stairs, his arm wrapped around her waist, while she clung to him. The sight was heartbreaking, everyone who saw them knew just what was going to happen, but all they could do was wish the soldier well, and silently prayed that he’d return for his wife.

The station was filled with soldiers and their loved ones, everyone looking miserable, but Audrey swore they were the most miserable. Viola had waited at the station, wanting to see him off and to be there for her daughter. After wishing him a safe journey, she stepped away, letting the couple enjoy their last moments together. Audrey was trying to keep it together, but it wasn’t until now that it suddenly came pouring out.

“I’m sorry,” she said, crying.

“No, go ahead,” David softly spoke, pulling her into a hug, “You go ahead and cry.”

“Would it offend you if I prayed for you in church?”

He chuckled, “No, it wouldn’t. In fact, I’ll take all the help I can get.” She chuckled at that, and for a moment they just held each other in silence. “Audrey,” he spoke, suddenly remembering and pulled from his pocket a key and gave it to her, “This is the key to the apartment, I already told my landlady that you have the key. Please feel free to go there as much as you want.”

She looked at the key in her hand and was touched that he trusted her with his space, that he even wanted her to invade it. “I’ll take care of it while you’re gone, so when you come back, it’ll be ready for you.” Then, cradling his face in her hands, she said, “Promise me that you’ll come back. Please, promise me.”

David didn’t want to make such a hefty promise, fearful that in doing so and something happening, he couldn’t bear the thought that he broke his promise. But seeing her tears, how much she needed to hear him say it, he knew that his promise would make her happy. “I promise, come hell or highwater, I will come back to you.”

Audrey knew that it was a difficult promise to keep, war took so many people away, no matter how smart, strong, or brave you were. But, she thought that if he made the promise, he’d have another reason to fight harder to stay alive, and therefore come back to her. The train whistle broke the air and Audrey quickly clung to him, wanting to hold him once more, and then they kissed desperately as if they feared that this would be their last.

“All aboard!”

David reluctantly pulled away from her, knowing he had to go, but he was comforted to see his mother-in-law beside his wife, she wouldn’t be alone, and it made letting her go easier. Audrey and Viola stayed until the train was gone from their sights, when they could no longer hear the whistle, and it was then Audrey suddenly broke down in her mother’s arms. “He’ll come back,” Viola whispered, rubbing comforting circles on her daughter's back, “I know he will. He’s strong, he’s smart, and he loves you so much. He’ll come back.”

Audrey knew her mother was right, David was strong and smart, and he loved her too much, but that didn’t always guarantee a safe return, but for the time being, it was the faith that she clung to. Every Sunday, she went to church and lit a candle for David, praying for a long time that David would come home, and her faith was always renewed whenever she got his letters. They always when expected, even across the sea he was punctual.

There was a time when it looked as though David wouldn’t have been able to make it to Audrey. A mission went awry, and despite the caution they took, lives were lost, and many were injured, including David. A shrapnel got into his rib, and he was rushed to the infirmary, and after over an hour of work, the shrapnel was out, and he barely made it out alive. He would have to be on bedrest for a week, and then ready to get back to fighting, but it was a close call. He watched as others were brought in to be cared for, and the few others who were to be returned home in coffins.

“Hey,” came the voice of Gale Cleven, whom others had called Buck, his superior and who had been in the plane with him many times before. “How are ya feeling?”

“Like I had a shrapnel in my ribs,” he joked, which made Gale laugh. Humor was the only way to get through some of the worst days, better to laugh than to cry, they said. “How many did we lose?”

“At the moment? Six, but we don’t know until everyone has been checked.” He then reached into his pocket and handed him something. “I grabbed this before they took the plane in, figured you wanted this back.”

Taking it, David saw that it was his framed picture of Audrey at the table, and he remembered how he placed it on the dashboard, and he was grateful it didn’t get destroyed or fell out of the plane. “Thank you. I would have been upset to lose this.”

“Your girl?”

David smiled and shook his head. “My wife. We got married before I was shipped off, married to the most wonderful gal in the world.” Gale smiled; true he would have thought his girl, Marge, was the most wonderful girl in the world, but he was not going to tell another man that, and isn’t each girl the most wonderful girl in the world to someone?

“What’s her name?”

“Audrey. It may be something a lot of guys say, but when I tell you I knew from the moment I saw her, I really did. She became my whole world, and there’s nothing I want more than to get back to her.”

“You will, I know you will.”

He smiled; he was intent on keeping his promise, come hell or highwater, he would come back to Audrey. Since he would have nothing but time on his hands, he decided to write to Audrey, telling her of the most recent accident. It wasn’t what she had expected, in fact, she had been comfortable in the idea that David seemed almost indestructible, and this letter was a harsh reminder he was only human.

“How is he?”

Audrey’s face fell. “He’s injured. Shrapnel to the rib, but he’s says he’s alright, just needs to rest for a week.”

Viola crossed herself. “Thank God he is alright.”

“Am I terrible for wishing that it was bad enough that they would have had him sent home permanently?”

Viola shook her head, her eyes tender with empathy. “No, I am sure everyone who loves a soldier wishes for that. What else does he say?”

Audrey scanned through, and her cheeks grew warm. “Um, the rest is a bit personal. But he is well.” Later that evening, when Audrey stayed at his apartment, she re-read the letter, drinking in his words.

As I am lying here, I can’t help but think constantly of you; of how sad you looked when we were separated and how desperately it broke my heart. And then I think of your smiles when we were married and during our small honeymoon, and it makes me work harder to get back to you quicker. I can’t tell you how much I miss you, especially in the evenings, when I wish I was nowhere but in your arms. How eagerly I wait to be back to you, to kiss you, your sweet lips, your lovely neck, your pretty breasts. I could never forget the beautiful look on your face when you reached ecstasy and the wonderful sounds you made, they are burned in my brain forever and I hope to return to you and help make those beautiful faces and sounds again. There’s nothing more I could want now than to shower you in my love, to stop being a lieutenant and be a lover to you. Pray that I may come home soon, otherwise the fellas are not going to be happy with what I’m going to do in my bunk.

Audrey chuckled at that last line, but she completely understood the sentiment. Curling herself in the bed they shared, remembering those wonderful moments where they made love, talked, and laughed, and silently admired each other. It was in those quiet moments in the evening when she had nothing but time to think, did her emotions go all over, from joyful that she married him, to melancholy that he was far away, that she was grateful sleep eventually took hold of her where she could dream of him, and the work day help to keep her mind off of her troubles. Continuing to help out at the canteen was both a blessing and a curse for her. She would see other soldiers with their ladies, and she envied them while she could only wonder if her soldier was safe, a nightly curse. The blessing came in disguises, like this night, when a major from his group was given leave and spotted her.

Across the room, Gale saw a woman that he was certain he knew. “She looks familiar,” he noted to a fellow soldier, hoping he might know where Gale saw her from.

“She’s beautiful,” commented his friend. “Dibbs.” Gale tried to stop him, but the soldier went to her, making Gale follow. “Excuse me, miss. Would you like to dance?”

“No, thank you,” she replied nicely.

“Forgive me,” Gale stepped in, “You look familiar to me.”

She smirked, “If that isn’t one of the cheesiest pick-ups I have ever heard.”

“No, I swear it isn’t.”

“If he doesn’t want to pick you up, I do,” the other soldier said, trying to pull her in for a dance.

“I said no,” she spoke more firmly, stepping back, “My dances are saved for my husband.”

“And where is this great husband of yours?”

“He’s fighting overseas. He’s a great and brave man,” she added with tenderness.

“Who is your husband?” Gale asked, now eager to know if he has met this man.

“First lieutenant David Friedkin of the 100th bomb group, Signals Corps,” she answered with pride.

Gale snapped his fingers and exclaimed, “Audrey!” Audrey looked at him surprised. “Yes, you were wearing a gingham dress, the coffee and newspaper on the table, and you were sitting at the table, like this,” he mimicked her position, making Audrey stare in wonder.

“You know David? When did you last see him? Was he well?” It had been two months since she had seen him and she was eager to know anything she could from one who just came from him. Gale had informed her that he saw him last before he went over here, and said he was well, she listened with eagerness as he told stories of what he did overseas, and how he arrived back proudly telling anyone he could that he married the most wonderful girl in the world. The idea that he would do that made her blush, but also feel prideful that he talked about her in such a way. “Would you do something for me?” She removed something from her neck, explaining, “I forgot to give it to him before he left, and I want him to have it now.” She placed a kiss to the pendent before offering it to Gale.

Gale was a bit romantic, and taking out his handkerchief, he had her place it inside. “This way, not only is it safe, but that it is only touched by you and him.”

“Thank you. And give him a message from me.” The message though short, was one she knew he’d understand, and was the truth.

Gale took his duty seriously and as soon as he had landed back to base, he made it his mission to find David. “Friedkin,” he called, finding him with the other men, “I have something for you.”

“Aww, a little token?” teased Eagan, making the men laugh.

“Something like that,” Gale spoke seriously, pulling out his small bundle, handing it to David. Curious, David opened the handkerchief, and saw inside was a silver pendant of the archangel Michael, protector of soldiers. “We saw your wife, she was sorry she didn’t give it to you before you left, but she wanted you to have it now. And she wanted me to tell you something, she said, ‘I’ll be looking at the moon, but I’ll be seeing you’.”

David smiled and his heart tugged at the message. He hung the pendant around his neck and looking at the angel, he placed a kiss to it, unaware of Audrey’s action. “Didn’t I tell you she was the most wonderful gal ever?”

“Yes,” Gale nodded, smiling, “She really is.”

Later when writing his letter, David thanked her for the pendant, certain it would help him through the coming months. He told her how he heard he was going to get leave again soon, and they both were eager for the visit. Sadly, an attack on the base had changed those plans, and once again, they had to go without seeing each other.

June, July, August, all unbearable months, with only letters to sustain them, promises of being able to see each other again, but broken as the war grew to a breaking point. At times, his letters were scarce, and when he put pen to paper again, they were long and wonderful letters apologizing for the delay, but his hope that it was ending soon. Audrey prayed every night before bed, even when to church each morning hoping David would come home soon. Everyone was waiting for a miracle.

The miracle came when she was home with her mother, listening to Tommy Dorsey when a broadcast interrupted them. “And now an important word from General MacArthur.”

“My fellow countrymen, today the guns are silent. A great tragedy has ended. A great victory has been won.”

“Mom! Come quick!” Viola rushed from the kitchen to hear the rest of his speech, confirming once and for all, the war was over.

“And so, my fellow countrymen, today I report to you that your sons and daughters have served you well and faithfully with the calm, deliberate, determined fighting spirit of the American soldier and sailor based upon a tradition of historical trait, as against the fanaticism of an enemy supported only by mythological fiction. Their spiritual strength and power has brought us through to victory. They are homeward bound - take care of them.”

Tears blinded Audrey’s eyes as she wept with joy. “David’s coming home.”

A few days later she received a letter from David, and she smiled to see the happy tears on his paper.

“Darling Audrey,

I get to come home to you! It felt like I almost wouldn’t, but we all knew this couldn’t last forever, and we are all excited to get back to you all. It may take a little while, my darling, as we all are trying to leave as soon as possible, but I hear that the bombing troops will be one of the firsts to go, as we are not needed. We hope to be back home a week after today and I am more than ready to leave behind the title of lieutenant and be simply Mr. Friedkin, husband to Audrey. I love you, my darling angel, wait for me, I will be home soon.

Yours always,

David”

The letter was dated on the 2nd, which meant he would be home on the 9th, so she did everything she could to make the apartment clean and homey. She even got red tulips and had them sitting on the kitchen table. It had been the most relaxed she had felt in a long time, now that she knew the danger was gone, and he was coming home safely to her.

The day of the ninth, she dressed herself in the dress she wore when they first met, and waited, from the earliest train at dawn to the latest at dusk. He didn’t show. Strange, he usually is on time. It happens, her mother explained, so many soldiers are returning, they can’t always come back the first day. Audrey continued to wait, day after day, until it was a week, and now panic started to fill her. What if something happened to him between his last letter and now? Was he hurt somewhere, and no one knew what happened to him? Why won’t anyone tell her where David was?

She stayed at his apartment, wanting to be as close to him as possible, even grabbing one of his shirts, inhaling the cologne that still lingered on, wishing it was the real man. Her worry and crying made her feel so unwell that she remained in his bed for an entire day. It had now been a week and a half, and still no word from David, and she began to fear the worst. If David was gone, truly gone, she wouldn’t want to continue on anymore, for life would have no meaning without him.

“Audrey!” A faint voice called for her, and she wondered if it was just her imagination, but the voice grew louder and clearer. “Audrey!”

She sat up in the bed, her heart beating furiously. Could it really be him? Audrey was pulled back into reality, hurried to the door, and saw David, his face bruised and cut, but he was here, all in one piece. She jumped into his arms as he entered, dropping his bags in the doorway, and he held her so tightly she swore she would be bruised later, but she didn’t care. “I’m here, I’m here,” he whispered over and over, holding her close, inhaling her perfume.

“David, you’re back. Thank you, God,” she praised, closing the door behind them.

He had carried her to the bed, their kisses deep and desperate, and as she unbuttoned his shirt, she saw hanging around his neck her pendant, and she had felt certain that it had a hand in bringing him back to her. Later, as they laid in bed, holding each other, pressing little kisses to their faces, Audrey looked at his bruised face and torso. Whatever happened over there, she was certain she nearly lost him, but for whatever reason God choose to give them mercy, and he was here, alive in her arms. “Never leave me again,” she spoke softly.

“I promise,” he spoke, pressing a kiss to her forehead, “I’ll never leave you again. Only death will take me away from you.” He kissed her on the lips, and once again, they celebrated his return in the most intimate way possible.

Viola got to see the couple a week later, though she wasn’t surprised and allowed the couple the time they needed together. His face looked better, she thought, as he had stopped by the house first looking for Audrey, but when she shared that she was at the apartment, he left immediately to see his wife. Now, they could have a life together, and Viola was no longer worried about her daughter’s future.

The whole of America was celebrating the end of the war, many people were welcoming back their loved ones, but many were mourning too, and Audrey would never take for granted just how lucky she was. One evening, nearly a month after he came home, Audrey woke to find him not in bed, and after stepping out of the bedroom, she found him at the kitchen table, his face in his hands. She placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, and he looked up at her with tired, sad eyes. He said nothing as he pulled her into his lap and held her close. She held onto him, her head resting on top of his, not saying anything, just letting him go through whatever it was he was feeling.

“They’re never coming back,” he at last whispered, his voice broke. “All those men, brothers, sons, lovers, friends to someone, who will never see them again. Why did some of us and not all of us come back?”

She ran her hand through his hair and sighed. “I wish I could give a life altering answer, but all that I can say is the truth. Some people are just luckier than others, and no matter how much we try, whether in war, love, or life, things work out better for others. But you can’t sit here and say you were undeserving than the other. They were good men, they fought for something they believed in, and the world will always remember that. There’s a reason for you to be here, for your parents, your brother, for me,” she smiled then added, “And for our baby.”

David looked up at her, the tiredness and sorrow was lifted and there was hope in his eyes. “Baby?”

She smiled wide and nodded her head. “I found out yesterday. You’re going to be a dad, David.”

At this, David began to cry, but he was smiling, pressing kisses to her face, and murmured ‘thank yous’ whether it was to Audrey or to God, she wasn’t sure, but she knew that he would be the greatest father ever.

With this new development, David had arranged for the pair to travel back to Kansas City to meet his parents, and if all went well, to share the news with them. Audrey was nervous about finally meeting her in-laws, worried that they wouldn’t approve of his choice of bride once they finally met her. But as soon as they walked in, David’s mother, after hugging her son, then went to hug her new daughter-in-law. “Moya doch, welcome to the family,” Anna warmly said, taking her hand and bringing her into the living room. She talked Audrey’s ear off about David as a child, showing pictures and his old stories, of which he reddened with embarrassment, discrediting them as “awful stories”, but Anna knew that there was talent there, and Audrey whole heartedly agreed with her. She in turn showed the few pictures from their wedding, gifting the photobook as she had made doubles for his parents.

After being asked to help her in the kitchen, Audrey felt a little nervous of being alone with the mother, worried something unpleasant would come about, but after a comforting squeeze on her hand and a look of total adoration form David, she felt confident in going in alone.

 “We’re nearly done, just need to stir that up, and I’ll check on the meat.” Audrey did as she was told, humming to herself unawares, and then out of the blue, Anna commented softly, “Gee, you are so young.” Audrey stopped, looking at her, revealing no feeling. Anna realized what she said and felt flustered. “Forgive me, I didn’t mean it to sound rude or anything.”

“It wasn’t,” Audrey kindly answered, “It’s a fact.”

“It’s just, you see, David told us so much about you, except that you were younger. Not that I think it’s odd or anything, back home, girls your age would be married to much, much older men.”

Audrey looked down at the pot and said, “I know I am young, but the way I figured it, Mrs. Friedkin, in the five years before meeting your son, I had to do a lot of maturing and had a rather pessimistic view on life which made me older, and your son has such a natural good cheer and love of life that it makes him younger. So, we’re closer to being 25 and 27.” The math made both ladies chuckle, and Audrey looked at her mother-in-law. “And besides, I think it does a girl good to marry someone a little older than her. Girls tend to mature quicker than boys, though, I don’t think it has anything to do with nature, just girls are more put upon in this world. But all the same, whether he is 33 or 63, I’d love your son no matter what, because no one has understood me, the best and worsts parts, and not just still love me for it, but loved me because of it. I promise, I won’t break his heart, I’d rather think it a crime against humanity to do so.”

Anna relaxed and smiled, reaching to affectionately touch Audrey’s shoulder. “Thank you, my dear. One day, when you have a son of your own, you’ll understand the protectiveness of a mother. And I am glad that he found you, and that you found him.” They worked to finish the dinner in comfortable silence before bringing it out to the table.

As they sat down to dinner, Audrey found that Benjamin was much quieter than his wife, but no less warm and kind. “How has settling in after the war been?”

“It has its moments, but having someone there to help you,” he explained as he held Audrey’s hand, “Makes it a whole lot easier.”

“Still living in that apartment? Seems a little small for you two.”

“We are looking, actually,” Audrey added, “There’s some really nice houses, and we are hoping to find one before winter.”

“That’s smart,” Benjamin approved, “And you’ve gotten back to work?”

“Not yet, but I have a few offers. I met a real nice guy, Morton Fine, we seem to get along well and are thinking about writing together.” It was odd to Audrey how much Benjamin seemed to be deeply concerned about whether or not David was earning enough money, but he later explained that since his parents came over with hardly anything at all, the idea their children would have enough money to live comfortably was a sign that their children were happy.

“Well, I would like to make a toast.” Benjamin stood and held his glass out. “I wish to thank HaShem for returning our boy, safe and sound, for bringing an end to a terrible war, and for bringing us a daughter. Admittedly, we weren’t sure what to think of you,” Benjamin paused when he saw Anna’s expression. “It’s true, don’t deny it. When he first told us about you, we saw just how much he was in love with you, and we worried that the difference in religion would be a factor, but every concern we could have gone away once you walked in. There is just something there between you two that is hard to express. It’s just love, pure and simple, and sometimes, that’s all that is needed. Many blessings on you both, l’chaim!”

Anna and David repeated the sentiment, and Audrey managed well enough, though her pronouncement could have been a bit better. David looked at Audrey, and seeing the question in his eyes, she smiled and nodded. “There is something we have to tell you,” David called for attention. “I am glad you like Audrey, because, well, we’re going to have a baby.”

Anna jumped from her seat, exclaiming joyfully in Russian as she went to hug her daughter-in-law. Benjamin looked ecstatic, which the most expression she had seen from him, and he even gave a blessing in Hebrew to the couple and the new baby.

Life felt like it was healing itself, for Audrey and David moved into their new home just in time for the holiday season, and on May 23, 1946, their first son Gregory was born. As soon as he had looked at his son, David remembered what Audrey said, how he was here for his family, was meant to be a father, and he would always be grateful for being given a second chance of a life.

Audrey had worked on a few more movies before deciding it was not for her. Sure, her bit parts were steady and got money, but after nearly losing David and now having a child, she wanted to spend all her time with her boys. David made sure it was what she wanted, and he supported her choice, and did what he could to make sure that he could give his family everything they needed or wanted. Now the war was over, David committed himself to his work in writing and directing, working with that fellow he met, Morton Fine, first in radio then moving to television. Proving himself to be brilliant at it, and he had a good and steady career, even being nominated for six Emmys, a wonderful achievement. They would have another son, Anthony in 1949, and life could not seem to get better than this.

If being too happy is a sin, then in 1976, they were paying for it. Cancer was never something either of them had expected, but the doctor found the tumor, and it was certain that he would die from it. It was horrible to hear this, to lose the best man in the world, to not be able to grow old together and see their boys have their own families, to see him grow white hair and wrinkles and be called grandpa. It was just not fair, but rather than wallow in the sorrow, Audrey did everything she could to take care of him, make sure he was comfortable and happy in the last months of his life, she wanted to be with him as much as she could.

It was a cool autumn day, the world seemed so peaceful, and she and David decided to have a picnic in their backyard, a perfect scene with autumn leaves falling and cool breeze brushing against them. After eating, he laid his head on her lap, his now frail hand holding on to hers, speaking not a word for a few minutes. “It’s so beautiful today,” he softly said.

“Yes, a perfect autumn day.”

“You know, when I first saw you, there was something inside me that told me go to you, and if I didn’t, I’d regret it for the rest of my life. I didn’t understand why at first, but by the end of the night, I knew. I was meant to fall in love with you.”

Audrey smiled and leaned down to kiss him on the lips, her hair tickled his cheek. “I am forever grateful you walked into that canteen.”

“So am I.”

She held him in her arms, running her hands through his hair, humming the familiar song they danced to many times, watching as he fell asleep and then the sound of his breathing slowed, until it stopped. At first, Audrey couldn’t believe it, he can’t really be gone, and for almost an hour, she held him, not ready to let him go. Eventually, she did have to let him go, and with a kiss to his lips, and hoped that he went as peaceful as he looked. She was lucky to have had thirty-one years with him, but she had hoped to have reached fifty, to have seen him grow into an old man, see his grandchildren, but it seemed it would not be. October 15th, 1976 was the worst day of her life, a half of her died that day.

She hated to be seen as his widow, someone once tried to call David her late husband, she could only reply, “David is not my late husband, he is my husband, and he always will be.” It was true the day he died, and it was true twenty-three later. In 1999, she had seen how the world had changed, her boys were now grown with their own families and successful in their careers, and she could sit there and say she was content with how her life turned out. In the past year, Audrey put her Jo Stafford records on every night, and when she slept, she’d dream of her David. One night in early February, she felt more tired than she had before, but put on her favorite dress, the perfume she wore she was young, and rested in her chair as Jo Stafford’s voice soothed her. The beautiful notes swam through the air, and she was transported back to that night in 1944, where she met David.

“I’ll be seeing you, In all the old familiar places, That this heart of mine embraces, All day through”

She remembered the strong but comforting scent of David, the lemon and sage, the way she felt safe and loved in his arms, the way the world fell away for a moment that day.

“In that small café, The park across the way, “The children’s carousal, The chestnut tree, The wishing well,”

“Audrey.” She lifted her head and saw standing before her was David, dressed in his uniform, looking as he did the first time she met him.

“David? What are you doing here?”

“Our song is on, and I came to ask the prettiest girl to dance,” he explained as he held his hand out.

“I’ll be seeing you, In every lovely summer’s day, In everything’s that’s light and gay, I’ll always think of you that way,”

Audrey reached out and was surprised to see her old, wrinkled hand had turned young and smooth, and when she stood, her joints didn’t ache, but that she stood with ease. She saw herself in the mirror and was surprised to see herself young again, wearing the same dress she wore the night she met him. Turning around, she saw herself as an old woman seemingly asleep in the chair. “David? What is happening?”

“You were there for me to the end, so I figured I would be here for you.”

“I’m a little scared, David.”

“Don’t worry,” he said as he wrapped his arms around her, “We’re together now, everything will be alright.”

As he danced with her, Audrey saw the bedroom they shared for years turned into the dance hall where they were all alone, dancing together. Fear disappeared when she looked into his beautiful blue eyes. She was with her husband again, and as he promised all those years ago, they would be together, always.

“I’ll find you in the morning sun, And when the night is new, I’ll be looking at the moon, But I’ll be seeing you.”

Tagging: @freddycarterus @purpleyin @bcofl0ve @any-corrie @kylaym @zaened @turtleofdamascus @swanimagines @shiranai-atsune

[oracleether]

While the thought is in my head and the feelings are, too. If there's one thing I hate in recent (re; over the last decade) years that comes to bleed into FE? It's that popularity determines the outcome of how some games come to be shaped. Case in point; when Owain, Severa and Inigo were among the top voted for characters in Awakening (along with Chrom, Gaius, Cordelia and Tharja). They got special illustrations in Awakening Summer DLC (Chrom, Gaius, Tharja and Cordelia) and the Hot-spring DLC (Lucina, Owain, Severa and Inigo) for their themed outfits. But it also determines out others of the cast get treated in the years that follow. Due to how young the game was at it's then point in time life. This is especially applied into Fire Emblem Fates, which Odin, Selena and Laslow are the previously mentioned three; they even reveal as much to someone in their vast support pool. (And also three are the replicas of the adults they're "inspired by" and appear in the form of obtainable kids; Asugi, Caledori and Rhajat, going so far as to be anagrams of their predecessor's names. Also because I'm replaying through Fates and my feelings so far haven't changed about it.) I feel that this however gave the boot-shuffle to other characters; namely, the rest of the children that are also from Lucina's future. Cynthia, as Sumia's daughter, got bumped off in having an expanded role and Severa took her place as the captain of the pegasus squad knights. It's stated as much in the Awakening Drama CD and at the end of The Future Past DLC of Awakening, directly that Severa became Captain. If you have a New 3DS XL or 2DS with the amiibo reader built into it, you can use the Smash-Fire Emblem amiibo to bring Lucina and friends into the world of Fates. When you are able to battle Lucina, her party is relatively small and it couldn't replicate all of the children of the future, but Laslow, Odin and Selena do call out to her should they initiate a fight or are challenged by Lucina on the enemy phase. On Lucina's team is a Pegasus Knight, and for a moment, I thought, "Well, it has to be Cynthia." much like the Wyvern Knight is clearly Gerome. During the battle, the Pegasus Knight used...Sol. And for those that know FE. They know Sol is only in the line of some classes. Specifically, the Mercenary-Hero class line that Severa is apart of. Which I kinda just eye-rolled when seeing. I just really dislike the neglect other characters to the cast get while the favoritism reaches an all time high with the popular characters. Because potential is there for other characters to grow, but you have to play to their narrative strengths, no matter how small, these characters give, show, tell or even hint at for that potential to really be tapped into. That being said, even the popularity can come to poison and change the characters you knew and loved, for the worse over the better. That is a topic for a whole other post.

[mumms-the-word]

A Macabre Masquerade - Ch. 6

Ch. 6 - For My Next Trick...

Characters: Tavs (multiple), Gale, Astarion, Karlach, Wyll, Lae'zel, Shadowheart, Halsin, Minthara + other OCs Plot: One year after defeating the Netherbrain and saving the city, Dani and Gale receive a mysterious invitation to a masquerade ball. The invitation specifically invites them to participate as the Heroes of Baldur's Gate. However, when they get there, they soon realize they aren't the only Heroes of Baldur's Gate that got invited. A/N: This chapter gave me FITS and I think it could be better but we're gonna keep this ball rolling right on along anyway. We've got more weird mirrors, and now we've got a suspicious magic show. What could possibly go wrong?

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Something was off about the mirrors in this manor, but Dani was almost too scared to find out what.

“Gale,” she said suddenly. “What do you see in the mirror?”

He stared at her a moment before turning to face the mirror. He must have sensed this was serious for her, because instead of a silly quip or a cute flirtatious line, he glanced between their reflections and said, “I see the two of us.”

“What do we look like?”

A pause. “Well...we’re both wearing blue, and you have a feather wrap and I have a purple sash. I’m in an owl mask and you’re wearing a songbird mask. The whole of the painting gallery is reflected behind us.”

“You don’t see…there isn’t an elven woman or…” She trailed off, realizing how mad she must sound. None of the guests currently in the room looked remotely like the green-clad, blonde half-elf she had seen just seconds ago.

Gale looked at her—not her reflection, but her, at his side—with an obvious look of concern. “Are you sure you’re all right, my love? Are you feeling any ill effects at all, magical or otherwise? From the mask, the room…anything?”

She wanted to brush him off and say she was fine, but it was too late to hide how rattled she was. Besides, aside from maybe Karlach, Gale had always had the best listening ear among her companions and was usually the first with well-meant, often practical advice. She could tell him anything. Even something as crazy as this.

She glanced back at the mirror and then took his arm, leading him away from it to a corner where she couldn’t see her reflection in either glass that stood in that room. “It’s these mirrors. I keep seeing people in them that aren’t in the room itself.”

Gale frowned, and she knew that behind his mask his eyebrows were surely knit together as he put his mind to work. “You mean…phantoms? Illusions? Some kind of major image spell?”

It was something of a relief to hear him taking her seriously right out of the gate. She took his hand, mostly just to hold it while she spoke, but shook her head. “I don’t know. Just now, when I went to look in that big mirror, I saw someone other than me. It should have been my own reflection, but it was someone else entirely. Someone I’ve never seen before. But it only lasted a few seconds before the reflection went back to normal again.”

“Most strange,” he murmured.

“And in the trophy room, I swore I could hear and see Halsin.”

“Halsin? But he told us he wouldn’t be attending.”

“Exactly. It doesn’t make sense.”

“Hmm…” Gale brought his free hand up, resting his chin on his knuckles, deep in thought. Then he shook his head slightly. “It could be anything. Illusion magic cast on the mirrors, for one. Perhaps it’s part of some strange game our host is trying to play. A gimmick to trick and beguile the guests. Or perhaps, on a more sinister note…perhaps there are guests trapped in the mirrors themselves?”

“Is that possible?”

“My love, with magic, a great many things are possible,” he said wryly. 

She supposed she couldn’t argue. Between the two of them, he had always and ever been the student of the Weave and its boundless possibilities. Even while married to her and following her around Baldur’s Gate, trying to rebuild and restore buildings and businesses, or poke and prod the authorities at large to do good instead of ill, he always returned home to study some arcane thing or another. Whereas she was content to play her music, or write letters, or songs, or pages for some book she wanted to publish one day, following one silly venture that kept her entertained after another, he remained a scholar.

It was just another thing she loved about him, even if she felt she herself would never understand half of what he grasped in an instant. It was always worth it to see the way his eyes lit up when he felt he had made some kind of breakthrough in understanding another small facet of complex magical theory.

But they didn’t have his books or notes here at Dormire’s manor.

“What do we do about it?” she asked, thinking back to the mirrors. “Nothing?”

Before he could answer, another brilliant flash of light and a great bang! exploded from the doorway of the next room, causing Dani to jump despite herself. 

“What the hells—”

“Oh, that must be the finale,” Gale said, unfazed. She shot him a disbelieving look and he shrugged. “It seems Lord Dormire has hired a few…shall we say…meager magical minstrels for the evening.”

“A magic show?” She couldn’t help but laugh, despite her lingering concerns about the mirrors. “You can’t be serious. Is it any good?”

“Oh I’ve no doubt you can do much, much better, darling,” he said, wrapping an arm around her waist and giving her an affectionate squeeze. “With your musical talent, a few handy spells you’ve picked up from me, and your fine taste in entertainment in general? You merely need to wave your hand and they would pale in comparison to you.” He gestured toward the open doorway. “Shall we? We can watch the show while we ponder these strange mirrors.”

She’d rather forget the mirrors entirely if she were being honest, but she nodded. “Sounds good to me. After you, love.”

The next room was as large as the dining room, but devoid of furniture save for a newly constructed platform along one wall—a wall that was nearly covered in floor-to-ceiling mirrors spanning the width of the stage. Of all the rooms on the first floor, this was the most popular, the crowd of guests here standing nearly shoulder to shoulder in front of the makeshift stage. With both them and the stage filling the room, there was barely enough space to maneuver around the edges, much less try to make it to the doorway that led back into the foyer.

From her vantage point in the doorway between the gallery and this room, Dani craned her neck to try and look over the crowd. After a moment, she spotted Shadowheart’s pure white hair and silvery mask on the other side of the crowd. Somehow she had secured a glass of wine and was sipping from it as she watched the performers on stage. Beside her, Lae’zel stood with her arms crossed, her lips in a frown, her eyes glued on the performers with her usual intense stare. Neither looked on edge and a glance at the mirrors behind the performers showed no signs of strange figures or differences at the moment, so...perhaps everything was relatively normal in this room.

Or maybe she was the only one crazy enough to see anything in the mirrors.

She and Gale took up a position along the back wall, furthest from the stage, to watch the show. Like every other guest and servant here, the two performers were also in masks, wearing full white faces with painted smiles and arching eyebrows. Their clothing was more akin to bard attire than wizard robes, though Dani noted that she didn’t see any musical instruments or boxes of theatre props. She didn’t catch what they were saying to their rapt audience as she and Gale were walking in, but they settled in just in time to see the next trick.

The two performers lifted their hands, summoning a colorful light show of glimmering orbs that danced and wove through the air. When one of them snapped their fingers, the orbs cracked open to release several vibrant, ephemeral finches that swooped and flew over the audience, their little cries and birdsong cheerful and bright. The finches split into two groups, trailing after each other in fluid lines, eventually overlapping and combining to form two larger, even more exotic cranes.

The cranes flew low over the audience, causing a couple of guests to duck and shriek with delight. As the cranes reached the stage once more, they combined into a glowing, fiery phoenix that blasted a ray of fire over the heads of the audience.

Illusory fire, Dani noticed. She felt none of the heat that would have come with an actual fire.

She thought she saw Lae’zel faintly roll her eyes.

Though their tricks were all flash and no substance, they were at least marginally more entertaining than the trio that often set up shop just outside of Sorcerous Sundries—Salamander and the two Astoundos or whoever. Dani had cast silence over them more than once just to give the plaza a minute of calm and quiet because they were so godsdamned loud with their magic tricks. They always threatened to call the Flaming Fist on her when they stepped out of the silence bubble, but every Flaming Fist stationed in the plaza was more than happy to ignore the trio’s outrage. Rolan, the great wizard of Ramazith Tower and new owner of Sorcerous Sundries, was also content to turn a blind eye whenever it happened. 

The perks of being one of Rolan's best friends, of course.

As the phoenix balled itself up into one large orb that exploded into glittering fireworks, Dani giggled and leaned closer to Gale to quietly say, “It reminds me of Rolan’s magic show back at that party we held in camp. After saving the Emerald Grove? He was doing those silly prestidigitation light tricks for Cal and Lia, remember?”

“Mm, my memory of that night is a little hazy on details such as those,” Gale admitted, turning to give her a gentle smile. “I spent most of the evening watching you and wishing I had a touch more courage to tell you how much I admired you.”

She could feel her face warming under his unexpectedly sincere words, but she smiled and lightly tapped the beak of his mask. “You did. I distinctly remember you comparing me to Tara.”

“It was a compliment—high praise, in fact!” 

She just laughed, looping her arm with his again. He shook his head at her, torn between amusement and sincerity.

“Trust me,” he said. “There was so much more I wanted to say back then. So much more I wanted to do. But with all that was going on…and the orb so unstable at the time…” He trailed off. But he didn’t need to finish. She understood.

“It all worked out in the end,” she said, brushing the backs of her fingers along his bearded jaw. She tilted her head to accommodate their masks and kissed him sweetly as the fireworks over the audience showered down glittering sparks. She felt him smile against her lips as he followed one kiss with another, and then another. 

There was love in every movement of his lips and she tried to convey as much love back. To let him know that no matter what he might think, there was nothing to regret about the choices they made, the choices that led to them being there, in that moment, sharing a kiss beneath a shower of sparkling fireworks.

But of course it couldn’t last.

“Goodness me, a year together hasn’t damped the fires of passion, I see. I’m almost nauseous.”

Dani pulled away from Gale to roll her eyes affectionally at Astarion, who had conveniently reappeared, smirking, at her side. “If you want me to kiss you, you can just ask, Astarion.”

She knew he wouldn’t, or that if he did it would just turn into banter that would make Gale’s ears blush. It was one of her favorite ways to tease her husband, by poking at his secret jealous side.

Sure enough, Gale coughed slightly, trying to turn it into a clearing of his throat. “Dani—“

“Or did you want a kiss from my husband? All you have to do is ask him. He’s right there.”

“Dani. Gods above…”

Astarion chuckled and adjusted his gloves. “As tempting as both offers sound, I will have to decline. Only the most deserving get a kiss from these lips, you know.”

While Dani feigned an offended scoff, he flicked his crimson gaze over the crowd before leaning in and lowering his voice. “I don’t suppose you’ve discovered anything interesting?”

She sobered quickly. “Just some creepy mirrors. You?”

“Not a single hidden room or juicy secret on this first floor, and I find that highly suspicious. These people wouldn’t know scandalous gossip if it was twirling its frilly underclothes beneath their noses. Everything they talk about is so...mundane.” He paused. “What’s wrong with the mirrors? I haven’t seen anything out of the ordinary.”

Dani briefly explained some of the figures she had seen, but when the three of them looked at the mirrors in this room, none of them saw anything strange. She could just barely see her and Gale’s masked faces behind the crowd, and Astarion, of course, didn’t reflect at all. 

With her attention directed back toward the stage and the mirrors behind it, she couldn’t help but focus briefly on the performers as they cleared the air of magical light shows and accepted the crowd’s smattering applause with gracious bows. She glanced between them and their reflections to try and catch any differences, but there were none. She pursed her lips and focused on the performers instead, tuning in a little late to the words they were saying.

“—our final act,” said one of the performers, “a daring, dangerous, diabolical little trick for only the bravest of souls. Who will volunteer? Who will risk it all to become the star of the masquerade? We assure you, a great reward is in store for the brave soul who steals the show with this last trick!”

The star? A great reward? Dani couldn’t deny she was more than a little tempted, despite knowing she shouldn’t trust anything that was happening in this upside-down masquerade ball. She turned to Astarion instead, giving him her best eyebrows-raised, expectant, you will won’t you darling? expression that her mask could let her have, hoping he would get the hint. He blinked back at her, nonplussed, before understanding lit up his eyes.

“No. No. No.” He held up a finger. “I won’t fall for that again. I refuse to repeat the Dribbles debacle.”

She sputtered a half-indignant laugh. “I volunteered for Dribbles. Under threat of death. From you,” she lightly poked a finger in Astarion’s chest, “not Dribbles.”

“And you got a thigh full of Buddy’s sharp teeth for all your, ah, heroic efforts, as I recall,” Gale murmured, looking amused.

“Exactly, and I still have the scars to prove it. So it’s Astarion’s turn.” She batted her eyelashes playfully at him. “Please?”

Astarion groaned. “Must I? Didn’t you say it was Shadowheart and Lae’zel’s job to investigate this room? Why not convince one of them to risk their necks?”

“As if either one of them can be bullied into taking part in a corny magic show.”

Astarion pointed to himself with both hands, looking incredulous. “And I can?”

“Come on, how bad can it be?” Dani asked, grinning and gesturing toward the stage.

As if on cue, the main performer beckoned to the audience. “Come, come, there must be someone brave enough to try? All we ask is for one courageous volunteer to dedicate one minute of their time. One single moment.”

“There, a minute,” Astarion said, flinging out his hand toward the stage and only barely missing an audience member. “Seems right up your alley, Dani, entertainer that you are.”

“Ooh, scared you won’t last a minute, Astarion?” Dani teased, grinning and elbowing him in the side. “Worried you won’t be able to perform?”

Gale stifled a laugh behind another cough while Astarion gave an exaggerated gasp and pressed his splayed fingers to his black-and-red-clad chest, saying, “Excuse you, darling, but these days I only perform for those I deem worthy of my time and attention. I wouldn’t give those two the time of day, much less anything more.”

“I know, I know,” Dani said, giggling. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t resist.”

Astarion clicked his tongue in faux disappointment as he turned to face the performers again, only for his expression to shift. “Oh gods,” he murmured. He suddenly looked a little ill. 

Dani followed his gaze back to the stage, her smile faltering. Sometime during their banter, the performers had removed the cloth over the object on stage to reveal a tall, skinny wardrobe, exactly the height and width to fit an average person. When the performer opened the wardrobe door, the darkened interior beckoned like an empty coffin.

Dani bit her lip. All desire to tease and cajole Astarion into volunteering vanished in an instant, faced with the cramped interior of the wardrobe on stage. Even she wasn’t blunt or cruel enough to suggest he be the one to step inside such a small space, given all he had been through in the last 200 years. She wasn’t even willing to step in there herself, and she couldn't profess to have been locked in a coffin-sized space before.

He could.

“On second thought, someone else should volunteer,” she said. She lightly took his arm, loose enough that he could pull away if he wanted to, but trying to silently comfort and apologize at the same time. But he barely seemed to notice, his gaze warily fixed on the performers and their conjured wardrobe.

After a second or two, someone raised a gloved hand over the heads of the audience and the crowd of onlookers broke into a brief applause. The main performer bowed low and beckoned the volunteer on stage. 

“At last! You, my friend, are surely the bravest man in the room. Come up and prepare yourself.” 

Whoever he was, the volunteer was a man of average height and build, his features hidden entirely by a full-faced mask that was mostly square, save for the sharp point of the chin. Once on stage, he bent his head to listen to the second performer whispering instructions to him while the first addressed the audience.

“Watch and be amazed, honored guests, as this courageous man steps inside the wardrobe to await his fate” the performer said. “Ah, but which fate? A miraculous escape or a wretched demise?”

As the crowd cheered and hissed their approval or disapproval of either option, the atmosphere of the room seemed to shift. No longer did Dani feel like she was in a room of bland, boring attendees. She was a little alarmed when many of them seemed in favor of the man’s wretched demise. Who were these people?

“This is but a simple piece of furniture, my friends,” the performer continued, knocking on the side of the wardrobe, their knuckles rapping sharply against the wood. “It’s made of sturdy mahogany, with no tricks, no magical reinforcements, no false backs, no hidden panels, no secret teleportation runes, and more importantly, no way out once we’ve locked it up tight with a little arcane lock. Just watch the mirrors if you think we’re trying to fool you! If our brave man emerges unscathed, a great prize from Lord Dormire is his for the taking. The question is…will he survive long enough to claim the reward?”

The crowd murmured and shifted with interest, but Dani’s stomach was in knots. She tightened her hold on Astarion’s arm and reached for Gale’s hand, weaving her fingers with his and holding on tightly. 

If this were any other magic show, any basic street performance, any other party, she could convince herself that this trick wouldn’t go horribly wrong. She’d seen more than her fair share of street magic and illusion shows. But Dormire’s servants had already magically fastened masks to their faces and locked them inside the manor to await his appearance. There were strange things going on with mirrors, and probably other mysterious things she hadn’t even noticed yet. All of it screamed danger to her, and she wasn’t sure whether to prepare for a horrible accident or to ready an offensive attack.

Gale’s hand tightened on hers and Astarion shifted his stance, not pulling away from her touch but placing himself at the ready. Both men on either side were tense, their eyes glued to the wardrobe, just the same as her. For now, all they could do was watch.

The man climbed inside the wardrobe, facing the audience. There was no way to guess what he was thinking behind his blank mask as the performers closed the door over him and cast arcane lock, the glyphs illuminating the surface of the wardrobe. She could only hope the second performer had given him good instructions and reassured him he would be somehow safe.

She wasn’t sure how much the audience was aware of the various properties of specific spells, but she had spent too much time around Gale not to know a thing or two. The arcane lock would reinforce the wardrobe, she knew, so it would take twice as much strength or power to damage the wardrobe now—from the outside or the inside. If the man hoped to brute force his way out, he would be practically helpless. But it also meant that whatever the performers did to the wardrobe would be less effective…in theory. 

The main performer gave a flourish with one hand, conjuring a small hourglass in their palm, and then held up one finger with their other hand. “One minute. Our brave volunteer need only survive one teensy little minute. Let us see what he can endure in so brief a time.”

Dani clenched her teeth together. One minute had been a joke to her before, but she knew how long a minute actually could be. One minute in battle could sometimes feel like an hour. There were moments when time seemed to slow down as she fought to cast spells and dodge attacks. But at the same time, a minute was so blessedly quick she was almost hopeful this wouldn’t actually end badly.

She held her breath as the main performer turned over the hourglass, stepping back to give the audience a full view of the wardrobe. The second performer flung out their hands with dramatic flare, casting a version of magic missile that somehow, impossibly, created dozens of missiles in various colors that swirled around the wardrobe before striking the wood with colorful bursts and loud bangs. Though the doors rattled and the wardrobe shook, it didn’t splinter or move.

Gale gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. “Just an illusion, my love. A more creative variation of their earlier light shows.”

She nodded, but dared not look away just yet. Despite his words, she could feel the tension in Gale’s arm. He wasn’t letting his guard down yet, either. 

The audience clapped as the lights and bangs from the missiles faded, revealing an unscathed wardrobe, only for many of them to gasp as the second performer snapped their fingers and the wardrobe burst into flame. It was only a small comfort to realize that despite the convincing sound of crackling flames, she couldn’t feel the heat of the fire. Just like with the phoenix flame, it was just another semi-convincing illusion. She flicked her gaze between the wardrobe and the hourglass, watching the sand stream down into the lower bulb of the glass. About thirty seconds left, she guessed.

A glance at Shadowheart and Lae’zel showed the two of them watching with intense looks, as well. No more blithe or feigned interest. Both looked ready to attack if need be.

She focused back on the wardrobe as the audience clapped again, the flames whirling around the wardrobe and disappearing with a wash of smoke that hovered around the stage. The second performer took a second to bow before turning to face the wardrobe once more. The sand in the hourglass was running low. With only seconds left, what could they possibly—

She gasped involuntarily as the performer made one last gesture and a swirling tornado of spectral daggers surrounded the wardrobe. Alarm bells rang off in her head. Cloud of Daggers? That spell ignored armor to cut deeply into whoever stood or walked into the vortex of spinning blades—it would surely pass through the wardrobe to cut through the person inside.

If it were not an illusion. The problem was, it was much harder to tell this time around.

She tightened her hold on Gale’s hand and Astarion’s arm, gripping almost painfully as she watched the daggers spin and whirl around and through the wardrobe. There were no cries of pain, no screams of anguish, so maybe…?

“It’s just an illusion,” she whispered to herself. “Just an illusion, just an illusion…”

The audience was rapt with attention, all eyes on the wardrobe and the cloud of daggers as the seconds ticked by, until at last the first performer holding the hourglass held up a hand.

“Enough!” 

The second volunteer snapped their fingers, banishing away the cloud of daggers. Dani dare not look away now. If that volunteer had so much as a single scratch…

“One minute, as promised,” said the first performer, reaching for the latch of the left-side door. “Shall we see how our bold volunteer has fared?”

Dani held her breath as the second performer reached for the other latch. Together, they swung open the doors revealing—

A perfectly unharmed man in a mask. Not a scratch to be seen.

The audience burst into applause and Dani finally relaxed, loosening her hold on both Gale’s hand and Astarion’s arm. So the daggers had been an illusion after all. She half-smiled, ready to admit that she’d been fooled, as the performers dismissed the wardrobe into thin air.

Only to stifle a scream as she saw, reflected in the mirror, a different man than the one that had volunteered, one who was covered head to toe in deep, lacerated wounds, his blood flowing freely onto the stage below. A white-scaled dragonborn clad in black, he collapsed to his knees with such force that his blood flecked onto the glass. 

She heard Gale swear and Astarion stiffen with shock, but she couldn’t look away, even as some part of her was relieved to know they saw what she was seeing too. They watched, horrified, as the dragonborn reared back his head with a silent roar and turned to swipe in his clawed hand at one of the performers. The audience in their room was clapping and whistling as the masked volunteer took a bow and accepted something from the performers, the sound out of touch with the horror playing out in the mirrors' reflection. How did no one else see?

In sharp contrast, the audience in the mirror became a tangle of jeering onlookers and frightened guests pushing and pulling at each other while the performers tried to dodge the frenetic attacks of the white-scaled dragonborn. All at once he pulled a dagger from somewhere inside his black coat, the movements spattering more blood on the glass.

One masked man pushed his way to the front of the crowd, leaping onto the stage and taking hold of the second performer. Dani gasped as the new masked figure pulled the performer’s head back by their hair, baring their neck, her mind at once too shocked to make sense of the sight and yet recognizing exactly who he was, right as he sank his fangs into the performer’s neck.

Astarion.

Her vampire best friend was visible in the mirror's image.

[mneiai]

For the DA prompts, DA:I - anything that deals with the way you can screw up table missions until the elf inquisitor to lose their entire clan. (And a table mission being the ONLY TIME THIS IS ACKNOWLEDGED OR MENTIONED IN THE GAME OMFG.) Your choice of characters but even years later I'm salty about BioWare dropping the ball BIG TIME on this and will seek out any and all opportunities to redress this CRIME OF STORYTELLING.

Omg I hate those missions! The fact there's like one right choice each time or else they and/or a bunch of other people die and even if it basically worked the last round it kills them the next time you choose it or vice versa fills me with fury every time! How are those even equivalent to shit like some Trevalyn cousins pretending to be closer to the Inquisitor than they are and everything basically working out regardless of your choice? It's like top 3 worst advisor choice moments.

Request Post Is Here

So, the first time I played an elven Inquisitor they were a female elf romancing Cullen and that's sort of always stuck in my head.

This is set immediately after the results of the last choice.

XxX

News of Clan Lavellan's fate cast a sober air across the Inquisition. Cullen still sent troops on the off chance that some of her clan yet survived, but Ellana had little hope.

She had been cautious, over and over again, choosing more often than not to avoid using their troops in case her clan thought they were under attack or the people decided to retaliate against them once the troops were no longer there, but now she wished she hadn't.

In her dreams, she sends twice the number Cullen would have. And Elven scouts before them so Deshanna was warned. A letter would be sent back, scolding her for being so overprotective, but with undertones of love.

Ellana would never receive another letter from her clan. She'd never hear Deshanna's gentle voice or the laughter of the children or....

Spread around her on the floor of her room was every piece of correspondence, every note and recommendation her Advisors had given about her clan. She could trace the horrible path of destruction and distrust, could see exactly where, suddenly, she'd had too much hope. Too much faith.

She'd been spending too long among the shems, had internalized too much of her position and titles.

"There's no telling if it would have gone differently." Cullen's voice pulled her from the downward spiral of her thoughts and she looked up to see him at the top of her stairs, Cole peeking at her through the railing lower down them.

"They would not have attacked the Inquisition! Some of these cities are Inquisition allies!" she gave the protest that had been swimming in her head for hours, since the news had first reached them.

He walked forward, kneeling on the floor on the other side of the pile before he was too close and looming too tall. Perhaps all of his time praying had made him sensitive to such things and she still had enough reason left within her to appreciate it.

Reaching out, hesitating just long enough that she could have stopped him, he took up one of Leliana's recommendations, smoothing down the wrinkles Ellana had made as she gripped it. "Though a lie might bring you comfort, I cannot offer one. You will never stop second-guessing your choices in this. The pain will become duller, less pronounced. Eventually you might go days, even weeks without thinking of it. And while it does not help now, at least you will have the comfort in knowing you were trying to do what was best, to save as many lives as possible."

"By hesitating, by using shem diplomacy when I should have shown my power," she bit out, her hand back on his final recommendation, the one she hadn't taken.

Cullen shook his head. "When this first started...do you remember, those weeks ago? I recommended sending troops in immediately," he gave a wry, humorless smile, "I fear that is my answer to most anything these days. In retrospect, I know that would have been the wrong choice. If...if it was the right choice this time--and we cannot know that--you were still not wrong to hesitate."

She let herself dwell on those words, remembering the recommendation he spoke of as she had only just reread it. He'd backed down as soon as she pointed out that her clan might react poorly to shem troops marching towards them. And she still knew she'd been right on that account.

"You each offer advice based on your expertise and I don't push you for more. You're no diplomat, but if I'd had you reach out to the other city-states instead of Josie, it might have gone differently." She knew he had close contacts high up in Kirkwall and Starkhaven, ones who might have been willing to leverage their own connections in the rest of the Marches.

"I...don't know." He wanted to say more, she could tell, could imagine him wondering if the people he knew had done less than their best because it was a stranger asking--she had not meant to give him another reason to blame himself, they both had more than enough of that.

When she'd pulled out these notes, she'd seen files upon files of other ones. All of the records of the important missions were kept in the same place, at least the ones that wouldn't give too much away if spies got ahold of them. It had reminded her of other choices she'd made, of other results they'd had.

How many people had she gotten killed over the last year, by doing what felt like the right thing?

Horribly, none of that mattered as much as this time. No one else mattered as much as her family had.

She was expected to save the world, but she couldn't even protect the people who mattered most to her.

"Ellana." Cullen interrupted her thoughts again.

His odd shem eyes were bright with unshed tears--for her grief, for her pain. She crawled across the strewn papers to push into his arms, uncaring if the hesitant thing between them allowed for such closeness. For now she just needed to soak up the warmth in his broad form and pretend like her world wasn't falling apart while she was tasked to keep everyone else's together.

[crowtrobotx]

Give us 3 things you like best about your top 3 blorbos plsnthx

I am going to stick to canon/not OC blorbos bc I feel like I talk too much about Lottie and everyone is annoyed by it

Hector Barbossa - (POTC)

I would be remiss to not first include the OG blorbo. The introductory Old Man. The character that made me realize something was a little Funky™️ about my gender/sexuality.

Okay, first of all, I love how sincerely full of himself this man is. He really thought he could pull Keira Knightley despite being the scrunkliest pirate on earth and you know what - good for him!!! Shoot for the moon, even if you miss you’ll land among the stars etc etc. We love an unconventionally attractive person who knows they’re hot shit.

The fashion sense/vibes - the fucking ostrich feathers in the hat. The rings. The big ass necklace. The single fang earring. The swagger walk. The matching pet monkey. The bisexuality of it all. In all seriousness, I love the way his outfit and accessories serve to play up his overly dramatic theater kid energy but also are very interesting when you consider that he came from extremely humble beginnings. He’s showing off what he’s fought tooth and nail for and it is working for him, honey.

I really, genuinely love that we got glimpses - in the first movie - of the fact that the character we were seeing wasn’t always like this. Ten years of being a walking corpse had twisted him beyond the recognition of people who knew him (even Jack looks pretty damn horrified a few times despite having been on the receiving end of his bad behavior before) and YET. When he gets resurrected we find out… he still sucks lmao. Like, he’s not outright cruel and isn’t totally insane anymore but he’s still ultimately just a selfish, snarky, conniving geezer who’s only part of the “good guys” because it serves him and his interests. There wasn’t really a redemption arc (the 4th and 5th movies are not canon, fight me) and he, at best, just ended up being the weird unsavory uncle to the main cast. What a king.

Sandor “The Hound” Clegane - ASOIAF/GoT

If you followed me prior to 2021 you know this was my prior HBIC (head blorbo in charge.) I still love him dearly and I hope he’s enjoying his retirement.

Look at him. No, really, look at him. Help??? Aside from me being a thirsty bitch, I have an extreme soft spot for characters who are visibly different and not in a purple eyes/horns/otherwise “sexy” way. Bodies are lived in and should look as such - and, this might be shocking to some people, disabled and/or disfigured people exist and they’re just as cool and hot and worthy as anyone else (I would know 😎.) I actually think the show should have gone a little harder on his burn scars but oh well. Sheesh, I need a cold shower.

His road trip arc with Arya. Need I say more? Y’all know I am WEAK for father/daughter dynamics and it’s even better when they’re both murderous lunatics. I love that she makes him softer but he doesn’t try to restrict or control her. I love that he tries to show that he cares in the only way that he knows how which is by teaching her how to rip/maim/tear/kill. Like, I know everyone enjoyed this part of the story because there were some genuinely hilarious moments and it was absurd, but I think under the surface we got some really fascinating insight into who he actually is and we were robbed of cranky but proud adoptive dad!Sandor in the show. I’ll be mad forever.

Fuck the city. Fuck the kingsguard. Fuck the king. We stan - I am obsessed with his realization that he doesn’t need or want to do anyone’s bidding anymore. I love that he turns heel but also has no idea who he is once he’s not Cersei’s dog - I love that he initially relies on his warped perception of people and the world to survive and slowly but surely begins to realize that maybe he doesn’t need to focus on revenge and violence all the time. I think it’s pretty obvious that GRRM is kind of going for a “a dog’s behavior will reflect its master’s” thing with him and if we ever get another book (lol) I am excited to see what becomes of him. Because he’s pretty clearly not actually dead.

Karl Heisenberg - Resident Evil Village

Literally WHERE have you BEEN if you didn’t see this coming lol. The reigning champion. Completely unchallenged for over a year and a half. I am chewing on him as we speak like a squeaky toy.

Okay, like… obviously I’m very fond of his design. I love that he’s fat. I love that he’s got a super unkempt beard. I love that his hair is grey and that his clothes are dirty and he’s covered in scars. I love that he looks like someone who works (in contrast to Alcina, for example) and isn’t concerned with his appearance. This is such a small and shallow thing maybe but with the tendency for media to just make everyone Extremely Conventionally Attractive, I’m enamored by characters like this. Actually, this has been a thing across all three of these guys, hasn’t it? Hmm.

Completely love that he’s an actual genius with the apparent imagination of a little kid who just downed an entire box of sugary cereal. “What if I stuck this propellor engine onto a dude’s torso.” “Drill arms never hurt nobody.” “JET PACKS!!! I need jet packs!!!” He’s such a fucking nerd, too, like his deranged cackle followed by “…ending recording” on that tape you find is so cute and stupid. Karl what the hell is going on I love you so much. It makes me wonder who he would have or could have been if he hadn’t found himself kidnapped into an abusive cult - I’m getting strong “Bill Nye but make him chaotic neutral” vibes. Eccentric raccoon man. Peepaw is feral and I’m going to fuck him.

If you’ve ever read anything I’ve written with him in it, you know I like to play up the fact that it’s pretty clear (to me, at least) that the swagger and showmanship is a mask for… a lot of shit. And that is extremely compelling to me - even if it’s ultimately just my HC. The stutter, the “sorry about that” after Sturm keeps making noise, the diary entries and comments that seem to indicate he hates his body after what Miranda did to him, his pretty heartbreaking last words. I don’t really see the genuinely confident daddy dom that a lot of the fandom sees - and no hate if you do!!! For me, with the canon fact that he never leaves the factory, he reads to me like someone who is incredibly socially inept and inexperienced, someone who is struggling to accept what he is now, and, perhaps most importantly, someone who really believes he’s the hero of the story and is blind to the fact that his rage and pain have turned him into what he hates most. I feel like he says all these things that make him sound like he’s full of himself but then you see him and he’s… just some guy. Living in a dirty factory with clothes that should have been thrown out a long time ago. And he’s lost it, and he’s furious, and yeah on some level he’s a bit of a selfish jackass but I wonder how much of his posturing is him needing to hear himself say it because he doesn’t really believe it and is terrified he won’t be strong enough to free himself. I just love him, y’all. I’m not sure we’ll ever see him again (in RE canon) but I’m going to keep making content for him for a long time, I hope.

[kanisema-blog]

My In-Laws are Obsessed with Me

Chapter 9

Work had settled into a rhythm as my team and I continued refining the draft for Episode 2. The days were filled with animated discussions, creative brainstorming sessions, and long hours spent perfecting every detail. Despite the challenges, there was a sense of camaraderie among us, a shared passion for bringing our vision to life.

“Okay, team, let’s go through the character development again,” I said, gesturing to the whiteboard filled with sketches and notes. “We need to ensure their motivations are clear and their arcs are compelling.”

Emily nodded, flipping through her notebook. “I’ve been thinking about adding a subplot for one of the supporting characters. It could add depth to their backstory and create more tension in the storyline.”

“That sounds intriguing,” Mark chimed in. “We could tie it into the main plotline to create a stronger narrative thread.”

As we delved deeper into our discussions, I couldn’t help but feel grateful for my team’s dedication and creativity. Each of them brought a unique perspective to the table, pushing me to think outside the box and strive for excellence in our work.

Throughout the day, we laughed, debated, and shared personal anecdotes between work sessions. It was during these moments that I learned more about my team as individuals—their dreams, their challenges, and what drove them to excel in their craft.

After a particularly productive day, I decided to take a break and visit the park nearby. The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm glow over the playground where children laughed and played. Families gathered for picnics, and couples strolled hand in hand, enjoying the peaceful evening.

Finding a quiet bench overlooking the lake, I sat down to enjoy the tranquil scene before me. It was a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of work, a chance to clear my mind and recharge.

Lost in my thoughts, I didn’t notice someone approaching until they sat down beside me. I turned to see John, his presence as calm and composed as ever.

“Kelly,” he said, his voice breaking the silence.

“John,” I replied, my heart skipping a beat at the unexpected encounter.

He glanced around at the park, taking in the scene. “It’s a beautiful evening.”

“It is,” I agreed softly, feeling a mix of emotions swirling inside me.

We sat in comfortable silence for a while, neither of us sure what to say next. The past year had been a whirlwind of emotions, and seeing John again brought back a flood of memories—both happy and painful.

“I didn’t expect to see you here,” I finally said, breaking the silence.

“I come here sometimes to clear my head,” he replied, his gaze fixed on the setting sun. “It’s peaceful.”

“It is,” I echoed, unsure of where this conversation would lead.

After a moment, John turned to me. “How have you been, Kelly? Really?”

His question caught me off guard, and for a moment, I hesitated. “I’ve been… busy,” I said finally. “Work has been demanding, but it keeps me focused.”

He nodded, as if understanding the unspoken words behind my response. “And… how are you coping with everything else?”

I sighed, feeling the weight of our shared history between us. “It hasn’t been easy,” I admitted. “But I’m taking it one day at a time.”

“I understand,” John said softly. “I think about you, you know. About us.”

I looked at him, surprised by his candor. “So do I,” I confessed quietly. “But…”

“Things are different now,” he finished for me, his expression unreadable.

“Yes,” I agreed, feeling a lump in my throat. “We’ve both moved on.”

We lapsed into silence again, the words hanging between us like an invisible thread. The park around us seemed to fade into the background, leaving only the two of us sitting there, lost in our own thoughts.

“I should go,” John said eventually, standing up from the bench.

“Right,” I replied, feeling a pang of sadness.

He hesitated for a moment, then turned to me with a small smile. “Take care of yourself, Kelly.”

“You too, John,” I said softly, watching as he walked away, his figure receding into the distance.

Alone once more, I sat on the bench, watching the last rays of sunlight disappear beyond the horizon. The evening breeze stirred the leaves around me, and I felt a sense of peace settle over me.

As I drove home later that night, I thought about my encounter with John. It had been unexpected and bittersweet, a reminder of the bond we had once shared and the complexities of moving forward. But amidst the memories and unanswered questions, I knew one thing for certain—I was grateful for the journey that had led me here, to this moment of quiet reflection and newfound strength.

[otomebanshou]

Charade Maniacs -- opinionated piece

Just gonna leave my thought's here. Be warned this is an OPINIONATED piece. No means a *review* of any sorts but this was how I felt about Charade Maniacs. THERE ARE SPOILERS IN THIS SO PLEASE DON'T CONTINUE TO READ PAST THE LINE!

So, after a very trialing journey, Charade Maniacs has been cleared. Defeated like the annoying final boss that drags on just a little too long.

Based on that, you might think I hate the game. Honestly? Yes and no. I think the game's biggest flaw is it wants to accomplish so much but accomplishes so little due to the fact the writing is pretty much atrocious.

Beware of spoilers below.

This otome... should've just not been an otome. I like "among us" plots, but this is probably the most poorly executed one I've ever read (otome or not). I just think there are better ones available as the routes themselves are rather short and you (Hiyori) are practically in love with them before you even blink. Also the LIs almost all fall flat. Minus a few of my personal faves: Ebana, Futami, and Iochi. These three stand out as the most intriguing cast members, Ebana especially once you let the story cook for once. Ebana being my #1 as his route felt like it offered the most payoff and balance. Hiyori's a bit insensitive and makes a very SUS comment about his trauma so I got a bit a beef with her. Futami is also a very interesting cast member as you come to learn he's not quite sane haha. But it made it interesting, plus he's one of the few to not be so weirdly quick to fall in love with Hiyori. Their relationship seems to rely on trust and working with one another which is a lot more believable than a majority of the cast.

Iochi, minus the questionable FBI flirting and suggestive comments with a minor, their route was pretty fun. Heart racing moments, but I found it quite predictable.

As for everyone else? Boring, forgettable, or just whatever.

Honorable trash mentions because I'm still mad!

Chigasaki, my first introduction to the game. I was EXCITED. Just to experience one of the WORST otome routes I've ever played. I've never felt so insulted by the blatant piss poor writing. Chigasaki goes from super sweet and feeling safe around him in the entire common route to colder than the ice in the Antarctic. No seriously, he even gave Hiyori some attitude. And omg don't get me started on the Arcadian father subplot that they just brought up then dropped in the next scene. Absolutely shocked that was given a green light to keep in the game. Wow. Gyobu. Just delete him. I'm ok with flirts (I love flirts actually), sexual comments, anything considered trashy in otome games. It's fiction. But I enter this weird area when it involves the MC being a MINOR. The difference between Iochi's and Gyobu's comments: multiple things really but Iochi isn't doing it EVERY FUCKING SCENE. Scene changes? Gyobu has to make some comment about Hiyori should kiss him, hold his hand, and the sexual harassment he would do to her. Dazai even remarked that he was a sexual harasser. It wasn't funny, it was cringe. And annoying. If he did this once or twice every few scenes, I'd probably not rank him as the WORST LOVE INTEREST ever to exist, but like... he doesn't even change once they confess their absolutely unbelievable feelings. He just stays true to being a sex offender! I'm sorry to be so heated over this but like wow.

Now what did I think about the Other World Stream and Producer, Sponsor and Fanatic and.. everything else? Honestly. Confusing. I think everything ended up blending together to the point I was getting confused of who we were actually going after. Sometimes the Director was nice in the routes or he'd just be unfair (which I expected him to always be unfair) and other times he just was like "yeah u win! lol u can go home with ur boyfriend and they can stay" or they'd change it and be like "oh 9 of u can go but 1 has to stay" which honestly drove me a litttttle crazy.

I only played 2 routes before I took a break for Virche Evermore's release as that was a priority for me to play so it's not like I really forgot bits and pieces.

Then this past month of December I pretty much binged the game so you would think a lot of things would make sense, right? Wrong. It doesn't. It feels like the game wanted each route to be some different among us game. It drove me bonkers bro. So like are you telling me, there are different sponsors??? Why? My head legit hurts even trying to make sense of what I just went through as I write this hodgepodge mess of a piece. I literally just want to make sense of it all. The only positive(s?) I can really say is: This game is only worth really playing for Ebana's route. He truly had a wonderful story and as someone who has experienced some trauma and unwanted touching, I really felt for Ebana and appreciated his story being told (minus Hiyori's awful thought comment wishing she was the pedophile who kissed and traumatized Ebana. absolutely WEIRD of the writers to even put that in, but OK I GUESS!)

I really wanted to like this game. I kept going and pushing because I wanted to find something special about this game. I love Period Cube a big amount but even I will tell you the game is bad, but I liked it because it had charm and still brought something different to the table. In my opinion, this game does none of that, sadly. Especially since Otomate already has an "among us" otome (Psychedelica of the Black Butterfly) and mystery titles that are just... better. But luckily I did find one gem: Ebana. Which is why: This is NOT my worst otome game but, it is in fact, my 2nd worst otome game I've ever played. (#1 worst otome is Cafe Enchante if you're curious lol)

Rating: 4/10, only recommend if on a big sale. Take breaks in between routes, maybe even write down some of the plot points and who ends up proving to be SUS AF. That opener is a BANGER tho!! P.S. Futami's route is not as bad as everyone makes it out to be. In fact, it's fine. The two routes I've listed as honorable trash are in fact way worse and more frustrating. Futami's was at least enjoyable, not creepy on a minor MC, and at times he was the most romantic of the bunch. The ring scene is one of the most heartracing scenes and felt very meaningful. I just think the hate is a little mind blowing. Sorry I'm on the Futami Protection squad! P.P.S RIP PALT WAS NEVER WISHED TO BE REVIVED! WE FORGOT THE AA BATTERIES MOM TURN AROUND!!! lol P.P.P.S the "Truth" ending is absolute ass and way too damn long. It's just 2-3 hours of a plot dump that still leaves you feeling "wtf". Abysmal.

[prismatranslates-cue]

Rie [Sabbath of Castor] Part 2

Previously: Part 1

Rie: A lot’s changed since we were kids. Like the stores, for one thing. So many of these places weren’t around back then.

Mei: Yes…oh.

Mei: Wait here for a moment.

---

Mei: Here you go.

Rie: Hm? What’s this? Oh, it’s warm…

Mei: A corned beef taiyaki.

Rie: A…corned beef taiyaki? They really make those?

Mei: And this one’s chili cheese flavour.

Rie: Is that even still taiyaki?

Mei: This kind of food–and the store that sells it–wasn’t around when we were younger.

Rie: Yeah. This is definitely my first time having something like this. It’s not bad, though.

Mei: You’re a different person now than you were before. You’re a Team Leader and all that.

Mei: New food for a new Rie. It’s only fitting.

Rie: What an oddly threatening way of saying that. You sound like you’re describing “eye for an eye”. …Oh, but don’t get me wrong. I appreciate you going out of your way to find these.

Mei: Rie. I want you to let go and not be so concerned about all the people around you.

Rie: Huh?

Mei: It’s just you and me. Be as “Ellis” as you want today.

Rie: Oh? Very well. If you so desire…

Rie: Hmph. This foodstuff is queer but I cannot deny it is also quite delectable. Did you track this down for my sake? You have my gratitude.

Mei: …

Rie: Was that okay…?

Mei: There were no issues.

Rie: I don’t know if anyone’s ever actively encouraged me to lean into my Ellis persona. I’m kind of at a loss, honestly.

Mei: Rie, you have undergone quite a few changes since becoming leader, but you’ve clearly been spending less time as Ellis as a result.

Mei: So at least this much is okay.

Rie: I detect some faint hints of reluctance in those words…or is my mind playing tricks on me…?

---

Rie: For those who consider themselves seiyuu, reading manga is not only a hobby but a duty. One could call it training, if not outright part of our mission.

Mei: I’ve never thought of it with any such gravitas.

Rie: You’ve always had lots of manga and books and games and stuff in your room ever since we were little, after all.

Mei: Yes.

Rie: And ever since we were little…I would always ask to borrow them from you.

Mei: You were content with that.

Rie: …Oh? This is that anime that Team Flower were cast in…oho. So they already have merch.

Rie: A matter of course for such a popular work. But we can hardly sit by and let them leave us in the dust.

Mei: …Indeed.

Rie: Ah!

Rie: This is that book that everyone’s been talking about lately! I’ve been considering reading it myself…

Mei: I own a copy of that already.

Rie: Oh, do you? Can I read it when we get back home?

Mei: Sure.

Rie: I’ve had my eye on it for a while! It sounds super interesting from what I’ve heard about it. Gosh, sorry that I’m always imposing on you like this.

Mei: Rie? Ellis.

Rie: You may always ask me to return the favour, if you wish me to lend you something you desire.

Mei: Sure. I’d likely already have anything you could lend, though.

Rie: Yeah, I think so too…

---

Rie: Oh! Do you mind if I try that claw machine for a bit?

Mei: Is there something in there you want?

Rie: That figure. It’s one of my most admired characters in all demonkind, a great leader among us fell creatures…

Mei: I’ve never seen you succeed at one of these.

Rie: Tch…well, allow me to show you now. I will make short work of this feeble machine.

---

Rie: Hah, a worthy foe…How did I burn through 3000 yen so fast…?

Mei: …Here, let me try.

Rie: R-right.

Mei: It’s important to analyze the target’s weight and centre of gravity, in order to understand where you want to apply the force. You should be able to picture the action in your mind.

Mei: First, you shift the target’s position, like…so.

Rie: So then with a second one…

Mei: See?

Rie: Gosh, you’re always so amazing, Mei. You make things I could never pull off look easy.

Mei: It’s no big deal. …Behold, I present to you my tribute for your nativity.

Rie: Yay! Thanks, Mei. I’ll treasure it forever!

Mei: Rie? Ellis.

Rie: My boundless gratitude defies expression with mere words!

Mei: …There you go. That’s good.

---

Rie: Lo, the night already approaches, for the sun returns to the horizon so early during the winter moons. Truly the perfect season for denizens of the dark.

Mei: …It’s almost time.

To be continued...in Part 3