#and yet here I am with another MC not into men. what else would I do

[the-teapot-hatter]

Okey this is for pure comedy and nothing else since this would never happen BUT-

In the Off Script AU what if MC gets a little taken of the Saintess?? Like a puppy love crush or maybe MC is just nicer to them then everyone else (aka the suitors who are trying to win over MC heart-)

Because you said in the ask about Saintess that the only characters who will be "Taken over" by them are characters that either don't affect the plot that much or at all and MC originally meant nothing to the plot (I think they still don't matter but that could have been changed)

This is great and honestly the perfect request for this AU, since it's kinda pure crack already--

Anyway, here's the ask, I hope that you enjoy! And If this isn't what you wanted, or you would like to see this with a different character, feel free to let me know and I'll make sure to write it. ^^

Malleus had a hard time keeping himself from twitching. As the Crown Prince, he couldn't afford to have a bad relationship with the Saintess. And truly, he didn't dislike Cersei. In fact, she was one of the few people he had an applicable relationship with. She was like a little sister. As such, Malleus thinks she was taking to her job of the annoying little sister a little too well.

Currently, she was feeding both (Y/n) and Grimm some of the sweets only nobles could attain, a delicacy afforded to her by her status. Maybe it wouldn't have been such a big deal, if it hadn't been for the fact that Malleus had tried to do the same thing and was denied. (Y/n) had shown no interest in him at all, yet they had no problem with Cersei cooing over them as if they were a small puppy. What exactly was he doing wrong?

"Something wrong, Malleus?" Cersei asked, a look that was much to smug settling across her features. She knew exactly what she was doing. And while Malleus was grateful that Cersei didn't have any romantic affections for (Y/n), he was still a little annoyed with the ease of which she could get close with (Y/n). At least, Malleus didn't think Cersei liked (Y/n) romantically.

"Of course not, though I am curious as to when you got so close to (Y/n) and Sir Grimm." Malleus casually spoke. (Y/n) glanced up at him with judgmental eyes, as if they could tell what he was thinking and wasn't caring for it. Malleus wasn't so sure they actually knew what he was thinking. At times, they could be incredibly perceptive, and others, they remained oblivious. In particular, they didn't seem to understand, or willfully ignored, when others had any sort of romantic interest.

"Oh! They helped fix an old tool of mine. They're incredibly smart!" Cersei cheered. Clapping her hands together. Grimm nodded, looking particularly smug.

"Thafts rifpht! I'ff fe Grutest!" Grimm spoke with food still in his mouth, but vaguely Malleus could make out an 'That's right! I'm the Greatest!'.

Contemplating to himself, Malleus wondered if (Y/n) just wasn't interested in men but rather, preferred woman. Well, there were such transformation potions that would do the work, but he isn't so sure if that would be the best political move. Hmmm.... A prospect to consider at another time.

"I've heard that (Y/n)'s skills are to be revered." Malleus lightly fibbed. While Idia had said that (Y/n) had potential, it wasn't anything that a certified professional couldn't do. But Malleus had also heard plenty of people praise (Y/n) in such a way that his Fea roots didn't stop the light fib from leaving his lips. "In fact, I would be most interested in offering you a position as one of the Palace's handyman, if you would allow (Y/n)."

(Y/n) certainly had more manners than Grimm, waiting to finish their food before speaking.

"I'm afraid I'll have to decline your gracious offer, your Highness." (Y/n) rejected, as they had many others before. Malleus couldn't help the pout that settled across his lips. And to make matters worse, Cersei jumped in with her own offer.

"I'm sure the temple could offer you a position of a handyman! None of the Priest, or Priestesses around here no what to do with most of the magical tools or anything similar." Cersei suggested. Instead of the instant rejection that Malleus had gotten, (Y/n) had paused and seemed to be considering the offer.

"I'll think about it." (Y/n) finally responded. Cersei squealed and jumped onto (Y/n) with exuberance unbefitting of a lady such as herself.

"Won't you!? Then we'll get to see each other more often!" Cersei cheered, awkwardly (Y/n) wrapped their own arms around Cersei not seeming to know what to do. A crackle of thunder roared from outside. Yes, maybe Malleus should see if that transformation potion would get him a different response.

[lillianawayne99]

CastAway Chapter 20

Pairing: Gojo, Itadori, Sukuna, Nanami X OC

Genre: Action Romance

Word Count: 2.1k

Warnings: Teacher-Student relationship, canon with a twist, reverse harem, smut, fluff, angst, hurt/comfort, violence, major character death, M/M, M/F/M, three way, unprotected sex, sex outdoors, sex in a public place, fingering, manhandling, dominant Gojo, switch Yuuji, submissive MC, quirofilia, dry humping, Sukuna and Yuuji share control, voyeurism, exhibitionism, orgasm control, choking, dacryphilia, double penetration, praise, degradation, creampie

Synopsis: Calliope, a wolf in sheep's clothing, enrolls at Jujutsu Tech to protect herself from a world she's never seen before. In her efforts to stay alive, she finds relationships that could mend her soul or tear her apart.

Previous Chapter // CastAway // Masterlist

Yuuji stared up at Gojo through hooded eyes. He groaned again as Gojo tugged on his hair. With one hand on Yuuji’s waist and the other in his hair, he pushed us backwards until Yuuji’s back hit the tree I’d sent Sukuna flying into. Yuuji and I grunted as we were forced to a sudden stop. 

Gojo took another step forward, keeping the three of us pressed firmly together. Using Yuuji to hold us still, bright blue eyes shifted their gaze to mine. Feeling Gojo’s eyes on me, I turned to look at him. His gaze darkened as he saw his own lust mirrored in my eyes. 

All three of our chests heaved in unison as the weight of what we were doing sank in. No one else was here, no one would know, and yet the fear of getting caught was starting to hit us. Well, based on the look of pure lust in Gojo’s eyes, it was hitting me and Yuuji. Gojo didn’t seem to care about getting caught, or maybe it turned him on even more.

“Safeword?” Gojo asked, his eyes boring into mine.

“What?” I asked as Yuuji’s breath faltered behind me.

“Do you have one?” Gojo clarified, glancing behind me at Yuuji to show he was asking both of us.

“Yes. Why, am I going to need it?” I followed Gojo’s gaze, glancing repeatedly between the two men I was caged between.

“I know we’ve already broken many rules, but we’re about to break a lot more. A few laws too. I need to know if this becomes too much for either of you.” Gojo emphasized his point by releasing his hold on Yuuji’s head, caressing his cheek before cupping mine and turning my head so I focused my eyes on him.

“Poughkeepsie,” I uttered. Hearing the word leave my lips sent a pang down to my core.

“Poughkeepsie?” Gojo asked, his brow raised in curiosity.

“Poughkeepsie.” I nodded, noticing the glint appear in Gojo’s eyes as I confirmed he’d heard me right.

“And a gesture? For if you can’t talk.” Gojo glanced at Yuuji behind me, his blue gaze quickly finding mine again when I responded.

“Taps for if I need to stop. Squeezes for if it’s too much but I don’t want to stop. And,” I hesitated, glancing at Yuuji, the determination in his gaze reassuring me to finish speaking. “Hair pulling means more.”

Gojo smirked at the last part. “Show me.”

I nodded and placed a hand on each of their arms. First, I tapped my fingers and then my hands on them. I waited a couple seconds before squeezing rhythmically. Squeeze, release, squeeze, release, squeeze, release. I knew I would squeeze them during sex, so the rhythmic letting go would differentiate the signal. Finally, I reached up to grab a handful of their hair and pull.

Both of them let out a small groan as I pulled their hair, but Gojo quickly regained his composure and turned his attention to Yuuji. “Yuuji-kun, are you comfortable using these?”

“Yes,” Yuuji breathed out in response, his growing erection flexing against my ass.

“Good.” Gojo’s tone turned dominant again.

He roughly shoved his chest into mine, forcing me to grind against Yuuji and Yuuji’s back to press harder into the tree. Gojo ground into me, and through me, Yuuji. I let out a sound between a whine and a moan as Yuuji groaned behind me. 

Gojo’s hand traveled past my cheek to fist in my hair. His arm rested on my chest, holding me in place as his lips captured mine in a demanding kiss. He eagerly, forcefully, pushed his tongue into my mouth. He tasted of sweet mint as his tongue danced with mine.

While Gojo kissed me, Yuuji released his hold on our sensei’s jacket to place his hands on my thighs, sliding them upwards to my waist. I whined into Gojo’s lips as Yuuji slid a hand into my pants. I arched my hips backwards, giving him a meager amount of space to continue moving his hand downward. 

I gasped into the kiss as Yuuji’s fingers delved between my folds, gathering my wetness, before focusing on my clit. My shoulders unconsciously leaned back into Yuuji as he rubbed in slow circles. While Yuuji teased me with his languid pace, Gojo let go of Yuuji’s waist to slide his hand into my pants.

With his palm on the back of Yuuji’s hand, Gojo pushed two fingers into me. Gojo swallowed my moan as he massaged my walls and Yuuji quickened his pace. Gojo’s long, deft fingers effortlessly found the right spot to press against. He curled his fingers inside me and pulled.

The motion made me moan into his lips, prompting him to do it again. A deep groan left both our lips as my walls tightened in response. Satisfied with my reactions, Gojo pressed his fingers into my walls. Keeping them buried in me, he moved his fingers back and forth in a come hither motion. His knuckles pressed into one side of my walls as his fingers rubbed the other.

Not wanting to be left out, Yuuji pushed into my clit and massaged faster in smaller circles. His fingers slid easily as I grew wetter by the second. Despite how wet I was becoming, Yuuji managed to keep his fingers constantly on my clit. 

Gojo’s fingers in my hair and Yuuji’s hand on my waist tightened their grip as my hips began to shake. Using their bodies to hold me in place, they pressed into me and used their hands between my legs to keep me standing. 

My hips bucked as I whined, panted, and moaned into Gojo’s lips. He groaned in response and kissed me harder, not letting my oncoming orgasm break the kiss. As my walls began to throb, Gojo pulled his tongue out of my mouth. He ran the tip of his tongue along my bottom lip, breathing in every noise I let out.

His lips curled into a smirk as I screamed into them, my hips bucking and hands fisting on his waist as I came. They didn’t stop. Their fingers continued their motions, building in speed to prolong and strengthen my orgasm. 

Gojo finally broke the kiss, pulling my head back into Yuuji’s shoulder. He watched as I came undone around his fingers, my eyes screwed shut and mouth parted. 

I opened my eyes as my orgasm passed. Gojo’s blue eyes were trained on my face as I panted. He winked at me before slowly pulling his fingers out of me. Raising his hand, he smirked down at me as he placed his fingers in his mouth and cleaned my juices off them with a groan.

Following Gojo’s lead, Yuuji removed his hand from between my legs. Gojo grabbed his wrist, moving his gaze to focus on the man behind me as he placed Yuuji’s fingers in his mouth. Yuuji moaned softly against my ear as Gojo sucked on his fingers.

Once he was satisfied, Gojo pulled Yuuji’s hand away and let go of his wrist. Gojo let go of my hair to grab my waist with one hand and Yuuji’s with the other. He backed up, pulling us with him without letting any space come between us.

He took one more step before grabbing my waist with both his hands and spinning me around. The second my eyes focused on Yuuji, Gojo hooked a foot around Yuuji’s ankle and pulled. As Yuuji fell, he pushed me down.

Yuuji grunted as I fell onto him with a yelp. He glanced behind me at Gojo, as if expecting instructions or an indication why Gojo knocked us over. I followed his gaze to see Gojo move to sit on a fallen log nearby and motion towards us, or rather Yuuji, to get on with it.

Needing no more encouragement, Yuuji pressed his lips to mine the moment I turned back towards him. His large, heavy hands grasped my hips, pushing me down into his groin and grinding his hips into mine. Sensitive from my orgasm, I whined into his lips as he skilfully rocked his erection against my clit. 

He groaned into the kiss, grinding against me a few more times before growing impatient and sliding his hands up to grasp my shirt. Yuuji broke the kiss for the split second he needed to pull my shirt off and throw it to the ground. His hands returned to my hips, pushing me down into him as he bit my bottom lip, tugging on it. 

He shuddered beneath me as I moaned in response to the bite. His grip tightened, digging his nails into me. Sukuna flipped us over, hands wrapping around my pants as I kicked off my shoes. The moment my shoes were off, he pulled my pants and underwear off together. 

Two pairs of eyes raked over my body, the upper ones hazel and bottom pair blood red. He, they, sat on their knees to discard their shirt before tossing their shorts and boxers to the side as well. Calloused hands tore off my bra before demanding lips crashed into mine.

Resting on his forearm, fingers lacing through my hair, Yuuji used his free hand to line himself with my entrance. Sukuna thrusted into me harshly. Groaning into his lips, my back arched as he pounded into me without giving me time to adjust.

My arms wrapped around his waist, clawing at his back as he thrusted into me. Moaning and panting into his mouth, Yuuji breathed in every noise and breath I let out. With one last press of his lips to mine, he lowered his head so his cheek rested against mine.

I felt his lips curl into a mix between a smile as smirk as I cried out against his ear. My back arched into him as I clung to his back, leaving red lines in his skin as I raked my nails along it. With every thrust, he pounded into my walls in all the right places. 

Feeling me start to tighten around him, Sukuna growled into my ear, “What do you want, pet?”

I only whined and moaned in response, unable to focus on saying anything with the way he was ramming into me. 

He chuckled and slowed his pace, taking away my chance of reaching another orgasm. Sukuna languidly dragged his length through my walls, maintaining the strength in the snap of his hips. His teasing made me cling to him harder, wrapping my legs around his waist in an effort to bring him closer to me.

He gently ran his teeth along my neck, down to my shoulder, then licked his way back up. “Say it, kitten. Or I won’t give you what you want.”

Fueled by my need to cum, I whined desperately into his ear, “Please … please make me cum!” 

He snapped his hips into me the way I needed twice before slamming into me and holding himself in place. “Make you?”

“Let me!” I cried out, digging my nails into him as tears began to form in my eyes. “Please, please let me cum!”

He nipped at my ear with a low chuckle. Satisfied with my begging, his back trembled under my hold as he pounded into me with nearly inhuman speed and strength. I cried out, head thrown back, clawing at his skin, as my body shook and I finally reached the release I needed.

Spurred on by my walls pulsating around him, Yuuji fisted his hand in my hair as Sukuna fucked me through my orgasm. Another hand snaked its way between us to grasp my throat. Squeezing the sides, they chased their own orgasm as I grew lightheaded from the pressure. 

Their hips faltered, thrusts losing their rhythm, as thick, warm liquid shot into me. The feel of him throbbing inside me sent me into another, smaller orgasm. Yuuji shuddered above me as we came together.

We laid there, panting and holding onto each other. He pulled back enough to look down at me, brushing hair out of my face and pressing a gentle kiss to my cheek, before rolling us over. 

I moved my hands out from under him to rest on the ground beside his head. Leaves and branches crunched as we caught our breath. 

Gojo ran his fingers up Yuuji’s balls, along the base of his shaft, to where his still hard length was nestled inside me. I whined and glanced back at him while Yuuji groaned softly. 

Blue eyes watched our reactions with a smirk. “Ready for round two?”

Yuuji’s erection twitched as I nodded weakly in response.

Next Chapter

Reblogs and comments are greatly appreciated!

© LillianaWayne - all rights reserved. Do not copy, modify, repost, or share on other platforms without my express, written permission.

[sophiie2000]

A Past Long Forgotten?

Chapter 4

Words ~ 1718

Disclaimer ~ Characters belong to Voltage Inc

Link to Chapter 3 below ⬇️

MC suddenly came back to her senses. Realising she was no longer sitting on the bench alone.

This is what she got for being sentimental. Stupid fool.

As she went to stand, two hands pushed her back down by her shoulders. 

“Please stop running from us” The man next to her spoke. The frustration from chasing her evident in his tone. But it was underlined by an almost sadness. 

“Grrr” MC growled melodramatically and turned to look at the two men. Eisuke sat beside her, Soryu stood behind her, ensuring she would not… could not make a run for it again. 

“I just want to ask you a few questions. I’m looking for someone important to me… well to us. I believe you genuinely may be able to help. If I am wrong, I apologise and I promise to leave you be. But honestly, I don’t think I am wrong this time” Eisuke spoke quietly, gazing at MC. Not coldly, but with the eyes of a man who had had his heart broken. Defeated, due to being trapped, MC sighed and relaxed her shoulders back into the bench. “Thank you” He whispered.

Silence followed for a while. Yet Eisuke never removed his eyes from MC. Nor did Soryu. Suddenly, footsteps sounded in the distance. Experience told MC they were heading their way. And when she looked up, her eyes met with Luke’s.

He looked bewildered. Surprised to see her. But not for the reason the others may have been expecting. See… Luke knew MC was alive. They had reunited a few years ago. Why? Because after being badly injured in the field, he was the doctor she called for help.

She was aware of him being a black-market doctor, so she knew he could patch her up without anyone else knowing a thing. She trusted him. So she sought him out for help.

He had been surprised to learn she was around at first, but MC begged him to keep quiet. He agreed… in exchange for regular contact and a few copies of her x-rays. Odd request, she knew, but it was Luke they were talking about, the man loved good bones, and apparently, she had them!

Luke took his seat beside her. She was now well, and truly surrounded.

The gig was up.

Luke couldn’t lie.

Hence why she always avoided the three of them in person, when they were in the same area. 

She knew for a fact they asked him here to identify her based on her bone structure. Another one of Luke’s crazy talents. 

“Luke” Eisuke spoke, immediately enlightening Luke to what he wanted to know.

Luke looked her in the eyes worriedly. Silently communicating, asking if it was ok. MC simply smiled at him, offering him a slight nod. It was ok. She wouldn’t blame him.

Silence followed for a moment. Luke wrestled with the torment of betraying his friends trust. But either way, someone was going to be betrayed. Better it be MC, she was the more forgiving. 

“Yes, Eisuke. It’s definitely MC.” Luke mumbled. 

Suddenly, MC felt Eisuke’s hands cup her cheeks, as he turned her face to look at him. Tears had formed in his eyes. 

“I finally found you” Was all he said before he pulled MC into a tight, crushing embrace. Over his shoulder, MC noticed Soryu looking at her with a mixture of happiness, relief and pain. 

She knew she had hurt them when she disappeared.

She couldn’t change that now. All she could do was offer the smallest bit of comfort she could. So, slowly, MC brought her arms up and around Eisuke’s back. Returning his embrace. Before quietly mumbling, 

“I’m sorry for worrying you”

“I have a lot of questions for you!” His voice trembled. 

“I’m sure you do…”

“I’ll save them for when we get back to the hotel.” He stated, standing and gripping MC’s hand.

“Hotel?! I am not going back to the hotel now Eisuke!” She exclaimed.

“Yes, you are!” He demaned. 

“No, I am not! I am going home!” MC wrenched her hand free, turning and started walking away. 

“Oh no you’re not!” Eisuke hissed, grabbing her wrist and spinning her back around to face him. “You are coming back to the hotel. We are going to talk! I’ve spent the last 7 years searching for you, to no avail, and you are going to answer my questions just like you said!”

“NO! And I never said I would answer your questions!” She shouted at him.

“You have not changed!” Soryu chuckled, while Eisuke threw MC over his shoulder. She huffed and demanded to be put back down, but he just tightened his grip even more, walking all the way back to the penthouse lounge. 

MC knew she could get away if she wanted to. She was trained to be able to fight off teams of grown ass men, and escape easily.

Yet, for some reason, in this moment running want not an option to her. 

**

“Boss isn’t that the girl who –”

“Beat you at poker?”

“From the other night, then did a runner?” The three of them questioned. 

“This is MC” Soryu said, making the other three look even more shocked. 

“MC? As in the one Eisuke had me look into because she suddenly disappeared?” Mamoru asked.

“Yes” Eisuke grunted, sitting down on the sofa, while sitting MC down right beside him. “She is going to answer mine and Soryu’s questions now, aren’t you” He said looking at her, MC simply rolled her eyes and slumped back into the sofa. “Don’t roll your eyes at me!” Eisuke moaned. 

“Your eyes are really beautifully unique, they make me want to paint!” Ota yelped excitedly, earning a cold glare from Eisuke. 

“How old were you when you disappeared?” Baba asked.

“18, well it was just before my 18th birthday.”

“Making boss 19”

“Why did you suddenly disappear? I turned my back to get us both drinks, when I returned you were gone?” Eisuke asked.

“If you must know, I was kidnapped”

“Why?!”

“I saw a drug deal going on, it got messy. The guy saw me, took me with him saying he could get a pretty penny for a gal like me to make up for the issues his deal had caused him.” MC recalled, nonchalantly. At the time, she had been petrified. But years in the field had really desensitised her to danger.

“How did you escape?”

“Hells, so many questions.” MC whined. “Someone saved me”

“Who?”

“Doesn’t matter”

“WHO?!” Eisuke demanded a second time, raising his voice.

“Does. Not. Matter. Anyway, it doesn’t concern you nor can I answer that anyway.” Eisuke looked thoroughly frustrated with her answer.

“Where have you been since?” 

“Around. Here, there and everywhere, I guess” 

“MC! That is not an answer!” Eisuke complained. His brows furrowing. 

“Oof, can’t tell you, then” MC smirked, winking at Eisuke. Once again, he moaned about her answer. 

Then suddenly, he saw her neck. The crimson marks that had been left on her skin from when she headed back to Spencer’s room with him earlier that night.

“Did you sleep with Matt Spencer?” The mention of her targets name caused her tense up.

Spencer… target… mission… agent.

She was almost slipping the mask back on. 

“No I bloody well didn’t! Thank you very much!” She retorted angrily. 

“Then why have you got those hickeys on your neck?!” He hissed, which just made MC angrier. 

“One, because HE tried something but it didn’t go any further. Two, it is NONE of YOUR business who I do or do not sleep with. And three, why do you care so much anyway?!”

“Because it’s you!” Eisuke shouted. 

A chorus of gasps went around the room as the guys stared on in shock. Yet MC and Eisuke simply stared at each other. 

Until Eisuke’s gaze dropped. Looking at her hands, and he suddenly seemed calm again.

“You kept it?” He asked, holding her hand, while his thumb stroked the finger where her ring sat.

“Yeah, well… so what if I did?” MC huffed a short response. 

“Why didn’t you come back to us? Why didn’t you come back to me? Why did you just disappear?” Eisuke whispered, his voice sounded heavy with emotion. His eyes filling with unshed tears once again. 

“I’m sorry Eisuke. Soryu. Really, I am sorry.” She slowly freed her hand from his grasp, and stood. “I really can’t answer these questions. I need to go home”

“No, please don’t leave. I finally found you again, I can’t just let you walk out of here and disappear again!” 

“Eisuke… I’m sorry. I have work to do”

“Oh yeah, what is it you do?” Ota asked. The question seemed simple enough. Yet…

“I… I can’t answer that” 

“What do you mean you can’t tell us your job?”

“I mean exactly what I said, I can’t tell you.”

“What are you, a spy?” Mamoru said laughing. MC laughed too, before lightly replying.

“If I was, and I told you, we’d both be dead.” 

Everyone fell silent, looking at MC. But she simply smiled and headed to the door.

“7pm tomorrow night” Eisuke said, as she went to leave. 

“What about it?” She asked, never turning to face him.

“We’re going on a date” He smiled, not his typical cocky smirk, but his smile that she once was treated to regularly. One he had saved only for her. “7pm, hotel foyer, got it?”

“7pm?” MC nodded thoughtfully at him, before beginning to walk once again, “Sorry I’m busy” Smirking, MC left the lounge. 

The door closing behind her sounded loud in the quiet room. Everyone turned to look at Eisuke. His eyes remained fixed to the door she had just left through.

Busy? The reply had frustrated Eisuke. But not in the way his usual anger left him feeling.

No… he was excited. 

The woman he had loved since his childhood, the one he had searched for, for years, had finally been in front of him. And not only was she back, she wasn’t letting him win the chase easily. 

Was he frustrated? Yes. But more than that he was looking forward to their next encounter. Yet he knew one thing for certain… 

It wouldn’t be on a date tomorrow at 7pm.

[bonesandpoemsandflowers]

Who do your friends think are hotter latinx dudes? (If it’s Pedro pascal or oscar Isaac - they’ve got worst taste tbh)

Like 97%+ of the Latin / Latino / Latine community, I'm not a huge fan of Latinx and consider this terminology to be an example of linguistic imperialism, but i am DELIGHTED to answer this question with a subset of dudes.

To clarify, though, as much as a meme and pout about it, I do get why my taste is different than theirs. I'm not ever too impressed by just looks--there's a lot of handsome dudes out there, who cares? like honestly, so what?--but I'm very attracted to movement and stance and motion. IRL, my party trick is that I can pick martial artists or dancers out of a crowd by how they stand or move, and I do this based purely on "is the way this dude stands sexy to me or not?" as opposed to any kind of objective criteria.

Accordingly, I married a life long martial artist who went goth clubbing with me enough times to ensure I'm obsessed with him for life. He's also the most amazing poet I've ever met and an actual certified genius, because fundamentally life is unfair. But the point is: movement, movement, movement. It's so important. I have a type, but not necessarily how people usually mean it.

And in the realm of pet actor men, David Castañeda moves way, way better than average, even if you judge him against other dudes trying to be action stars. So my friends are never going to convince me, and I'm never gonna convince them, and that's fine.

So anyway

Miguel Gomez is popular. I think it's the cheekbones. I know him as Gus from the Strain and everybody else has seen him on some other show that sounds like something I'd rather die than watch.

Both the dudes from Mayans MC are popular, and I actually do not disagree with either JD Pardo or Clayton Cardenas as a pick. I resisted watching the show for literally years, but eventually I caved and yeaaaaahhhhh. yeaaaah tho.

Every so often I'm insane about JD for like, a week or so. Fantastic tough guy yet nice boy energy on Mayans. I've said some thirsty ass shit on this account about him for SURE. Unfortunately, every time he posts a Muay Thai workout he's just so sloppy it kills my boner for like. months at a time. I flashback to my own summer in Phuket and can just see how disappointed my trainer would be if this dude was in his gym.

Clayton Cardenas I used to disagree about but he's a Miami boy, so. And like, with the biker styling? Look at him. If he had a dance or martial arts background I'd be a goner.

he also looks like the Hollywood (therefore prettier) version of every single metal Latino dude I've ever met. the 305 and 561 area code versions of this man have hollered at me more times than I can count. like, it's a charming sort of nostalgia. it's That Guy! that type of guy! i know That Guy! I made out with that guy under the bleachers in high school! etc etc. what a darling. the last version of That Guy who tried for me is now happily married and lives in LA and works in a pet crematorium. Very happy for him.

where was i

oh yeah, I have one friend who is obsessed with bad bunny and I guess maybe there's a dance background there maybe but I just do NOT vibe with it at ALL. the id is mysterious. he might just be too young for me? david is on thin ice, age wise, for me. any younger and I'd be repelled.

which is an interesting point, actually. I don't know how old you are, anon, but age might be another factor here. I'm in my mid 30s and CMOOOON

Oscar Isaac doesn't do it for you at least a little????

[needtoloveoutloud]

becks the upside down or the shadow world or shadow plane, how does it feel like? Yoru said it doesn't hurt when the support boys asked her and she always says that she doesn't like it but what's the vibe?

Hi Anon! :)

(First of all, I love that you call Midoriya (the MC of the manga/anime) and Todoroki support boys 💀😭)

So, I've been sitting on this ask for about an hour and typed out half an essay, but then I deleted it and thought that maybe some songs would bring it better across? Idk if that will really answer your question... if it doesn't, just send another ask and I'll try my best to explain.

Starting with this:

the subtle stress and build up fits, like there's something lingering in the shadow world (there is: the warehouse men)

the sudden turn, when it feels like everything is too much, something is off, and it takes a sort of hopeless turn

the stress, man, I feel like Yoru's always (rightfully) on edge when she shadow travels

Next, is this one:

the whispers at the beginning *clears throat in spoilers*

I mean... she literally called herself Pandora because she feels like there's 'evil' within her quirk. So, if Yoru's edgy, I get to be edgy, too. Also, I love Rok Nardin, he (they?) make amazing music (it's awesome for DnD campaigns btw)

I hope to one day be able to write scenes which evoke the same sense of uneasiness and urgency this song does

(Anon: you've got me looking through my edgy mood playlist, so I'll be putting a few songs in here, I am sorry (not sorry at all))

Next up:

I mean... I'll just put the lyrics here:

Hear the noises, hear the sounds All the clocks go round and round All those shadows telling lies See them linger close your eyes Feel them creeping late at night Close the window, kill the light Is there someone watching me Lock the door and hide the key Lock the door and hide the key Someone try to wake me Is this a dream Will the darkness take me Or should I scream Quiet all the voices Where do they hide What's real what's fake I can't decide Someone try to wake me Is this a dream Will the darkness take me Or should I scream Quiet all the voices Where do they hide What's real what's fake I can't decide I can't decide I can't decide

Another one, because I feel like it fits so well.

The underlying stress and uneasiness

Then bam, oops shit, the warehouse men showed up and attack

Idk, I just feel like it fits so well?

Anon, fr: I'm going through my playlist and I can't decide, I'm so sorry for music spamming. You probably wanted a written explanation.

Also, this one:

It's completely on piano and the long version of an opening of an old TV show I watched as a kid (I was WAY too young to be watching that but my parents sort of didn't care lmao), but it's worth listening to (I love it, personally) — it encapsulates a lot of the shadow world (also of stuff we haven't learned yet). The lighter notes (bittersweet spoilers), the hectic and fast parts that almost feel like too much. The deep and mysterious notes that accompany the main theme. I don't know. In my mind, it fits very well.

It's worth listening to completely, in my opinion. It takes you on a journey and lets your imagination run wild. At least that's what happens to me every time I hear it.

So. This is what I head canon, it feels like. You're welcome to have a different take or a different vibe. Or, do you agree, Anon? If you have any songs or descriptions you feel fit, feel free to share. Or anyone else can hop on, too. :) 🤍

That being said, I wish it was more like this for Yoru (see song below). I want her to get angry and beat the warehouse men's asses.

[sorikkung]

IM BACK ON MY BULLSHIT AFTER REREADING ACT 1 NEW AND IMPROVED W MORE BRAINROT LESGO!!!

ive literally just been sending myself discord messages to a private channel while i read SKFDJGKSJF so here is. the compilation i guess

ok so rereading the first few chapters and. i completely forgot san smiled at mc straight away what was that. was it just bc he thought she was hot or did they already know shed be on that ship i needa know how early the plan was set in action... was this entire stowaway thing staged or was it only when san found her in the cargo bay that they were like yup shes a siren (maybe via seonghwa's siren powers sensing her, or when they took her jacket off to treat her arm maybe they saw the tattoo or sumn) like... i get the feeling they knew long before she first revealed it to anyone, based on how san and seonghwas entire relationships w her were done deliberately to gain her trust, it rly just changes the entire way i view these first few chapters its INSANE. i knew things would be drastically different upon a reread but like THIS different... these first chapters seem so light hearted and almost like, typical scifi story beginnings, like typical not as in bad but just standard for the genre yk, like oooh she impresses the captain and earns her place on the ship and they all have tragic backstories... but now knowing there is So Much More going on underneath makes this so much more sinister its Haunting. i fucking love it

also her saying wooyo looks vaguely familiar got me bc it could so easily be read as her seeing his glimpse of tan skin n dark hair before passing out, but no, that vague familiarity was from her past wasnt it... that first meeting w them hits so different knowing wooyo knows who she is the entire time. my god.

i also wanna note how drastically different the writing feels going back - it was good from the start, but only now that im rereading do i realise how much you've improved over the course of writing?? which is to be expected, writing something for this long, but wow, its cool to see the progression of such improvement yk. you went from good writing to Great writing to Every Fucking Line Is Rewiring My Brain Stem. goals

yeah see seonghwa saying joong doesnt make decisions on a whim and obviously decided she could stay long before he told her... he had to have known she was a siren already, right? like, why else would he decide to let her stay... unless it was just bc shes the ghost of eros and he doesnt know the details of that but like, idk, im not buying it

OH and this is reminding me of another thing i cant tell if this is just a progression of writing thing or if its part of the act they put on but like. san and seonghwa seemed like they felt pretty bad about killing up until this point. like seonghwa on the ship saying they dont have to kill everyone vs san wanting so badly to keep mc alive. this is part of why i think they mustve known she was a siren on that ship somehow bc yeah san did the same thing to jongho but we also know that hongjoong knew abt jongho right away. the san we know now doesnt seem like he holds much remorse for what he does bc hes just the captains loyal black dog… tho i do remember him feeling pretty bad abt it in the earlier chapters, i cant tell if thats just something he worked thru w mc or if it was just part of the act to gain her trust. man. i be doubting EVERYTHING now 😭 😭 😭

god i MISSEDDD the feisty sassy interactions w hwa and the mc omg things have gotten so grim now i literally forgot this was their original dynamic… “You’re so feisty, princess. If I didn’t know how dangerous you truly are, I might ask you to spar with me one day.” “You’re so romantic, pretty boy. I’m sure all the ladies love when you say that.” “All the ladies and men, in fact." i still fucking love that entire exchange its so good i love them

"and yet again you find yourself shocked by the boldness of this crew." i am once again wondering how much of this is just them being flirty bastards and how much of it was a LIE… or at least orchestrated SDKFJHKSDFHKSKFD also “Aren’t you a bit too cheeky for a criminal?” “Is there a special guide I should be following? ‘Proper ways to be a criminal’? Rule number one: don’t be cheeky with princess, it gets on her nerves.” is another really good exchange GOD I RLY FORGOT ABT ALL THIS I MISSED IT SO BAD i do love me some good banter. now when hwa uses the nickname princess it just feels so sad 😭 😭 😭

"It’s the little shit who plugged an anesthesia shot into your neck." i love it when fics refer to wooyo as some little shit or anything along the sorts its like. sooo true bestie i see we are thinking abt the same man <3 i love him sm

damn i forgot wooyoung was this Nervous at first, what was up w that… is it bc mc was there?? cause he seems mighty comfortable w the rest of em now SJKFDGKJSFD but then again that could just be after everything that happened afterwards. now i wonder if the real reason he went into the medbay was bc he missed her or sumn.

NOW I FEEL REALLY BAD FOR WOOYO, SEEING HIS LONG LOST CHILDHOOD FRIEND AND THE FIRST THING THEY WANNA DO IS SOCK HIM IN THE NOSE 😭 😭 😭

“Because you’re only good at causing problems, not fucking solving them." DAMN WTF DID WOOYO DO THAT MADE SAN SO MEAN TO HIM 😭 I DONT REMEEMBER THIS…

“In all the time you have worked together, you should know by now how San behaves and that he says things he doesn’t mean.” this hits a lil different now too, is he actually mad at wooyo or just tryna defend mc…. yeah im rly just here doubting every single interaction they have now SJDFKKJSFDHKSDF

"his amount of respect for his captain seemed lackluster at best." LMFAO IF ONLY SHE KNEW. ok so this fr has to be an act bc san would do anything hongjoong asked of him, so this is obviously him tryna appeal to mc as someone who also doesnt always agree w authority so she can confide in him, right?

"Yeosang won the mental battle. He wormed his way into San’s mind and won that way." at… telling him to shut the fuck up?? 😭 😭 howd That worm into his mind 😭

"you seem a bit more like the type who needs to be put in place rather than the other way around.” i rmb first reading this and thinking DAMN that is so ballsy for a man like yeosang to say, but is he just comfortable around her real quickly bc he knew her already. or, well, not comfortable, but comfortable enough to tease her like that hskdfgkjskdjfgsdf

“Oh? I didn’t know that you were an Elitist." yeosang you little shit SDFKJGKSDFKHSFJKDH

this whole interaction with yeosang is sending me now that i know he knows… my god hes such a little SHIT JDKFGKSDFKH

"For someone who is supposed to be a traitor, he sure seems to have a lot of pride in his home and military…" and now im wondering if yeosang really is still prideful which is. entirely possible and i could be reading too far into it or. is he tryna jog a memory….

“You seem to be the type to balance him out with calmness and humility. At least that’s the aura I get from you. Yeosang always feels so angry but you exude the opposite of that.” this bitch? mc? ghost of eros? CALM? SFDKJHSKDFHKSFDK girlies been tryna question n fight every bitch since being put on the ship but like, sure, i guess… lmfaoooo

"You can only hope that he somehow missed the marking on your back." suppose theres a chance he saw it here, but… i doubt it my bets are still on he knew the whole time shkdjfgksdf but i will see if he pays more/different attention to her after this 👁️

“Good girl. See, we can make you obedient yet.” yeah even with the context of all the future chapters what the everloving FUCK was THAT. are he and wooyoung not together already yet no they were together since long before the horizon right. i still dont know what hes playing at here flirting w her so much 😭

“Before it’s all over? How do you think this is going to end, Y/n?” how does HE think its gonna end? do he and wooyo and the others know what the big 3 were plotting to get to our ghost? i was under the impression only they knew about the whole deception to earn her trust thing, esp given how hongjoong treats yunho and manipulates him i figured the others would be the same but like… what answer is yeosang expecting to hear, here?

"And Hongjoong certainly isn’t the type to keep slaves, despite how he might come across sometimes. There’s a difference between being harsh and inhumane.” me when i manipulate peoples feelings, insecurities, trauma and relationships but i draw the line at keeping slaves… SDFKJGJKSDFKJHSDKJF i think hes still harsh and inhumane babes but ok!

“I know one thing for certain. You are not an Elitist.” yeah so he TOTALLY knew she was a siren i forgot abt this SJKDFKJHSKJDFH but hes waiting for her to say it herself, isnt he?

“I have studied Elitists in the past, and I am one myself." no the fuck you aint. SDFKJHKSJFHKJSFDKJHSKFD i used to think joong might be a siren as well himself but seonghwa would know if he was after sleeping w him so long and he still said without mc they only have One siren so… either hes a spectre, which, has no reason to hide from everyone i dont imagine, or hes a normie… my bets are on normie. so used to not being taken seriously for his class that he keeps it a secret and has a need to prove himself. honestly with the new interim id almost believe hongjoong was an elitist More if it werent for yeosang saying theres only one real elitist on the ship and its him SDFKJHSKFHKSDF

reading the first interims now and… man its crazy to think how Soft hongjoong was at the start. he was still cutthroat and ruthless, but he seems so much smaller here. like between this interim and the latest hongjoong interim, you can really tell just how far down he's spiralled. its fascinating. i love character development for the worse <3

goddamn all his worry about his crew members and being scared of breaking their trust… wheres this energy w ghosty SDKFJGKSJFGKSFDKG how far he's fallen fr…

"I don’t know how to fix him. I need to fix him. I need to help him. I just have to do something.” and he calls out mc for having a saviour complex… 🤭

anyway that was my rereading experience but heres some anecdotes from my two friends i dragged into it who Also happened to just finish act 1 and its interims around the same time

>friend 1 messages me randomly "this fic is getting me emotional wtf" and changes the topic when i ask them to elaborate KSJDFGKJ

they then (the next day) send me this screenshot followed by "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"

and this one followed by "FUCKFUCKFUCKFUCK"

then i asked what they think of it overall so far and they said is very good, theyre excited for the pace to pick up!

meanwhile friend number 2 was going thru it so i am suppling screenshots (mind the lack of cohesion theres conversations in between some of these but im tryna cap just whats strictly relevant LMFAO)

(this was the screenshot they attached w the withered wojack)

anyway if these friends r seeing this sorry for exposing u lol but i am at least preserving ur anonymity to a number <3 actually wait you shouldnt be reading this bc mad spoilers. well ANYWAY. i imagine the only one reading this far is the author so caly i hope this brings u some modicum of joy <3 KSJFDJGKSDFKJ onto the next act!! 🤩🤩🤩

tbh it was rly good timing that we all finished the act around the same time i have no idea what im gonna do when the reading inevitably gets disjointed (haha unless...?) i guess id chuck those into your ask box??? or would dming you be ok. man either way i am flooding the fuck outta ur notifs lately and i apologise do lmk if you want me to slow down SKDJFGJKSFKDJGSKJFD hope ur having a good day regardless :>

mists of celeste ➻ one

➻ pairing: ??? x fem reader ➻ genre: space au, pirate au, space pirate!ateez, angst, eventual smut ➻ Word Count: 4.5k ➻ Rating: M ➻ Warnings: language, violence, guns and weaponry, blood, future warnings tba ➻ summary: Sneaking aboard the ship of a renowned space pirate may not have been the best idea, but you’ll have to make do with what fate has handed to you 

⇐ previous | next ⇒

mists of celeste act one ➻ part one

‎

“You said that you’re with the military? I don’t recall the military having ships as small as yours.” If possible, your eyes would roll all the way back in your head at the man’s comment. Instead, you plaster a smile on your lips, gaze flitting around the bridge as you do. 

“Yes, Ambassador Salvadore. They sent me on a transport ship, as I am here to relieve the captain of his duties—”

“That is not necessary, Miss.”

“—on military orders, Ambassador.” Your grin continues to stretch as you gauge the state of the bridge. It is severely lacking in terms of soldiers, which is good for you on multiple fronts, but the ambassador before you is proving to be more difficult than you first anticipated.

Keep reading

[burningsushii]

hello again fellow humans

csm oc yeah im into other things now my hyperfixations are crazy

i went from re:zero to chainsaw man so quickly that i didn't even notice, i was procrastinating to read the webnovels and now im here waiting for chapter 147 (I've speedran the manga in three days i am im shambles actually)

tried something more anatomically correct ig??? like idk IT HAS EARS. anyways her name is fuyoku (fuyo for short) and uh she's probably the only ever normal character I've ever made in life, she has no trauma, no quirkyness, literally she's just a high schooler (and ofc she likes denji bc i am this kind of stupid to make an oc that likes the mc !! kill me please)

btw i was planning to make it a boy but gave up bc fuck men !! i am a misandrist /j i have another oc planned but i have no idea of what to do with their design, all i have to say is scissors

if you want to know about the story of this oc uhm firstly she was going home all alone when she was like 10 i think and denji saved her from a devil bc it was going to use her as a meat shield or whatever so she felt really grateful of him for doing that and constantly brought him some food until she had to move to tokyo so they've lost contact ofc; years later in part 2 denji is in high school and fuyo studies in the same school, she kinda just observes him from afar in specific days, but not in a weird way like he happens to be in a place where she is too and she keeps admiring him (+ she knows he's chainsaw man bc she saw him transform lol) important yet noticeable before this: ofc this shit is an au based on the original material please don't think it's just a background character, there's the extra oc i mentioned that will make fuyo traumatized forever hahahahah not to mention denji likes fuyo companion but does not reciprocate romantic feelings, or something alike he's confused and doesn't think about it actually; fuyo and nayuta are in good terms although nayuta knows about fuyo's big crush bc she knows that fuyo would sacrifice a lot for denji's happiness, even her own happiness (they barely hang out anymore because of the current arc but well uh I'll work on that dw)

bye this is way to long i hate doing long descriptions but i have no one else to talk about the shit i like im tired of talking with the walls of my room . _.)

[obeymeow]

rarepair hell is not having to make all of the content for your favs it is not having no one to talk about it with. rarepair hell is exclusively when you impulsively write an entire self-indulgent fic and think "maybe I shouldn't post it what if nobody wants to read it" and then knowing all five people who will want to read it by name regardless of whether you've interacted with them because they have made 4/5 of the content altogether and all said "please someone else appreciate them I can't do it on my own" where was I. oh yeah the pressure is real wtf

[holdontwstistakingovermymind]

Hi! Hope you're doing ok, and I wanted you to know that I absolutely love your writing! You said your request are open and I wonder if it would be to much trouble to do a poly!MC x Dorm leaders headcannons? If not, it's ok, mostly just wanted you to know that you are amazing and I am grateful you made this blog!

Thank you my dear for the ask! I'm so excited for the first ask on this blog, no less from an account I regonize!! Also, thank you for the kind words 💙

Some of these characters I'm not completely comfortable writing yet, so please bear with me. But if anyone has any poly! Twst recommendations, send them my way!

There is so much competition it's not even funny.

(^If you're just in a relationship with the dorm leaders, it's some what manageable. However, if you add the vice dorm heads, and everyone else, it's so much worse. I won't get into all that though. We might be here forever.)

Everyone is always trying to one up the other, often times dragging their dorms into their mess to compete via academics, sport, and whatever else the love stricken men can think of.

Leona is especially bad at involving his dorm in his little displays of superiority. Ruggie can't complain though. He finds it fun to watch all the dorm leaders fumble and over-exert themselves in attempts to impress you.

Well, not everyone. Kalim is possibly one of the only dorm heads not to actually compete with the mindset that he has something to prove.

^Sure he likes showing off but he's fairly content to just go with the flow.

Idia's stance is a little similar. He doesn't much care for all the song and dance that comes with these loud displays. Butttttt it would be lying to say he doesn't enjoy beating everyone in areas he has more skill.

On another note, Riddles need for rules and Vil's entitlement cause clashes a lot. The queens usually get along fine otherwise.

Azul has a tendency to try and bargin with everyone, often using you as some sort of pawn. Contract or not, it's just a habit the merman has a hard time shaking.

^Sometimes this starts fights, other times Leona is seriously considering whether he's willing to trade your date night for that grilled cheese.

Entering one another's dorms is just common practice now. There's hardly any announcement.

(^Afterall, if there were any sort of formal address, Leona would definitely cause a scene whe Kalim comes to steal you for a party during your nap sessions and Vil wouldn't get to have his hissy-fits when he sees you and Idia staying up all night)

Everyone remembers to invite Malleus to even the most mundane gatherings simply because you have committed to going on strike when he's not invited to things.

Kalim thinks this relationship means he can throw parties with all the dorm leaders. He is Idia's worst nightmare.

Riddle has nearly had a fight with every single dorm leader for not respecting his schedualing. Azul is probably the only one who hasn't faced the real weight of his wrath, but that's mostly because he himself has a busy schedule.

Vil loves to post about you online in the like "Instagram couple" way. Idia also loves to post about you, but his "look at my human, they just ran into a pole, aren't they cute?" style conflicts with the queen's.

^Thank goodness they do not use the same platforms.

Azul might use their posts to pit one against the other. He's not saying he will for sure, but it's just a backup plan incase someone gets too cocky.

Some of the leaders give you little gifts occasionally. Others have no problem stealing/disposing of these gifts.

(^Leona, Vil, and Malleus specifically have no care for other's tokens of affection. Leona usually goes for food, Vil throws out things he deems unseemly, and Malleus honestly... it's hard to say.)

Idia rarely sleeps over at the Ramshackle Dorm but when he does there's really no sleep. There is lots of trash though lmao.

No personal space whatsoever.

^Riddle might be the only one who doesn't invade your privacy/space on the regular but even he has his moments.

Crowley has had to resort to disciplinary measures often.

Azul sometimes is able to work out deals so no one is punished too hard, but he fully expects your praise.

Also you better love physical affection because at least four of these men are in constant need.

(^Kalim and Leona are both physically affectionate, Riddle and Azul are touch starved.)

Hey, despite their faults, you love them. What you don't love is waking up to Lilia hanging over your damn bed.

[kamyru]

Some ideas about Daimon Togo's possible route

I don't remember making a post about how I think Daimon Togo's route will be. Yet, now that we know he will get his route, I think it's time to awaken my inner fortune teller. So, here are some ideas I have:

He is the only middle-class/below-middle-class LI. I have said in a previous post that it's canon that Ukyo, Kunihiro, and Eiji are from rich families. And taking into consideration that Shu studied in the same school as Eiji, Kuranosuke's family also seems to be at least upper middle class, they also are pretty rich. So, I think that Daimon Togo is the Jun Araki of "Oops! I Said Yes?!" I wouldn't be surprised if they grew up in the same orphanage. A clue to this is that he worked as a tutor for Shu while Shu was in middle school, which means Shu was 12 and 15 years old. That makes Togo 19-23. During Kasai's second season, I somehow calculated that Togo started to work at Miyoshi Concepts when he was 22. So, imagine that this man had to take a part-time job and teach a middle schooler because he didn't make enough money at the beginning of his career. I don't think someone from a wealthy family would do this.

As a continuation to the previous point, I think another reason Kasai and Togo hate each other so much is that one is self-made, while the other inherited fame from his family. I know that Shunichiro Tachibana and Jun Araki don't have anything like this, yet it's a pretty interesting topic to follow in a new game. So, what if Voltage is thinking just like me?

This doesn't have a base, yet I want his route to be the "she fell first, but he fell harder" or Togo to fall the first. I don't remember seeing many routes in Voltage games where they make the man be the one obviously in love with MC before MC understands her feelings. So, Voltage, please let this happen with Togo.

Another thing that I am thinking about is that Togo may not be another Jun Araki. He can be another Tsugumu Kido. I see him as the oldest kid who suddenly became the only money provider in the family. I also see him as a straight-A student with at least three part-time jobs. 

TOGO DIDN'T HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WHILE HE WAS ABROAD. I want to believe this. Let me believe this, and Voltage, make it real. I want Togo to suffer and be in love with MC even before going abroad. So, as a good family man, I imagine him to be, I don't think he had tried to start a relationship with anyone.

Some of you may have guessed that I am sure he tried to confess his feelings just before he found out about moving abroad. Maybe he even asked MC out and then never came to the date. Who knows?

Another idea I have about him is that there's not a single LI in "Oops! I Said Yes?!" who was in love before. So, there's a possibility Voltage wants to give him a dead girlfriend. Of course, we have Ukyo who encountered death, yet it was something else. It's strange to have six men who had never been in love. That's why I think Togo is qualified to be the one with experience in feelings. 

One more similarity that may occur between "Irresistible Mistakes" and "Oops! I Said Yes?!", but this time between Togo's and Natsume's route is that there's a possibility MC will try to marry Kasai at first and then Togo will stop them. It's more dramatic than what was between Natsume and Shunichiro, but of the same league. Togo's relationship with Kasai is too important not to be used from the first season. 

I feel this may happen, yet I'm not sure how to feel about the possibility of Togo being the Takaomi Tsugaru of "Oops! I Said Yes?!" You know, the most traumatized character that is obviously in love, yet you need an infinite amount of stories and seasons for them to be together. I love traumatized characters, and Tsugaru is in my top 10 Voltage Inc characters. Moreover, I am sure that I can see Togo being traumatized. Yet, I want him to be with MC as fast as the rest of the characters, not after four seasons. 

And that was it. What are your expectations of Togo's route? I hope I didn't bore you too much with my Ted-Talk. Have fun and share your thoughts and love towards Togo with me. 

[a-crepusculo]

Diamonds (Ethan x MC)

Part Three

Book: Open Heart Pairing: Dr. Ethan Ramsey x Dr. Marchia Bisognin (F!MC) Series: Marry Me Series Premise: One simple question can change their whole lives forever. Rating / Category: General / Fluff Warning(s): Slight Language Word Count: 1092 words

Previous Parts Here

A/N: I am here today with some bromance! 😆

“What on earth are we doing here?”

A simple, yet brilliant inquiry.

What on earth are these two men doing inside a Tiffany & Co. store, utterly dumbfounded by the sheer amount of harsh white light, standing still like they were waiting to be given a key that would magically fix all of their problems?

Ethan does not have the answer to it.

Jewels, golds, stainless steels, diamonds—every single one of them were sparkling in and out of his sight, making him wince against the pure, blinding light of glint and glimmer. He sighed and took a moment to shook his arms, hoping that the gesture would help him get rid of the jittery feeling.

“Whoa,” Tobias puffed, a light-bulb appearing above his head. “Are you doing what I think you’re doing?”

“If you are as great as you claim to be,” he responded dryly, resisting the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose. “Then yes, you’re correct. I’m browsing for rings.”

A sly smile that betrayed all kinds of innocence spread across Tobias’ striking features.

“Ha! I knew it!” he replied, pale blue orbs alight with mischief and triumph.

Out of all the people that were close to both him and Marchia, he had yet to understand why his (normally) intellectual brain failed him today. Somehow, he managed to pick Tobias—instead of anyone else, really—to help him conduct this little research on suitable engagement rings for the love of his life. He was just as clueless as him, hell, if not more.

“Don’t you worry, my dear friend, we’re gonna get through this.”

He truly doubts it.

The young physicians made their way through the crowd, aiming to take a closer look at the case of bejeweled bands. There were dozens of precious stones, captivating those who dared to look at them. In an instant, it seemed that these diamonds have the ability to cast a hazy spell on the eyes of the beholder.

“Looking for anything specific, gentlemen?” the store clerk greeted them, palms clutched together in a loose clap.

“I— I’m trying to—”

“We’re here to look at some engagement rings!” Tobias answered, whipping out that signature smirk of his.

“Why, splendid!” the jeweler looked warmly at Ethan and Tobias. “If I may ask, which one of you will be receiving the ring?”

Ethan blinked, unmistakably stunned.

Did this person really assumed that they were... a couple?

As expected, his old friend let out an explosive laugh, thoroughly amused by the unfolding scenario. Back in medical school, people would often think they were an item, too. For Tobias, it was not surprising that others would assume such things—after all, they used to be thick as thieves.

“No,” Ethan corrected hastily, shoulders deflating as he began to wish that he had not gotten out of bed this morning. “It’s for my partner.”

Tobias twisted his mouth, suppressing another laugh that threatened to ripple out across Boston.

“Right. He wants to propose to her, not me.”

“Ah! My apologies then,” the shop attendant responded, his gaze flickering to the display box he caught Ethan eyeing earlier. Before either of them could select which ring to inspect closer, he unlocked the case with a jangle of keys. “We have plenty of options here, please take a look! I’m happy to guide you through it.”

Within seconds, there were numerous exquisite rings laid on top of the surface—each of them calling out Ethan’s name.

Where does one even begin?

He remembered something about the fundamental of a diamond’s cut quality—or maybe that applies to any other gems? Wait, should he be looking at others gems, and not only diamonds? Does Marchia even want diamonds? Or does she prefer something else?

The older doctor pursed his lips, forehead crumpling like an old hundred dollar bill.

For her, it has to be perfect.

It has to be more than perfect, goddammit.

The sound of trivial tittle-tattle cluttered his head, disturbing his thought process. As the seconds ticked by, the persistent weight in his chest grew bigger, heavier—depriving him from his much needed oxygen.

His nerves continued to buzz with concern; worried that he would ruin this once-in-a-lifetime moment. Jaw clenched, he put every effort into clearing his cogitation, trying to wash away his absurd fear of fucking this up.

Because this has to be perfect, he would not accept anything less.

This has to be more than just—

“I need some fresh air,” he snapped. Unceremoniously, the tall figure turned around to leave the sophisticated shop—leaving a befuddled Tobias on his own.

Under the auburn glow of the setting sun, his feet was planted on the sidewalk; hands resting on his hips as he steadied the erratic beating in his heart. Tobias paused at the spectacle before him—outlandish, odd, peculiar. Never once had Tobias seen the world renowned Ethan Ramsey like... this.

Transformed into this anxious, yet at the same time, hopeful individual.

Emerging from behind him, Tobias asked, “Hey. You okay?”

He did not immediately answer; his eyes feasting on the mosaic of colors that waltzed on the vast atmosphere.

“Yes. Sorry for leaving you there. I was...”

Ethan trailed off, unable to finish his sentence, overwhelmed with this sensation of nervousness. His shoulders were tense, face slightly worn out. Together, they stood side by side in silence, letting the sound of the harmonious breeze ease their spirit.

“She deserves the best,” he blurted out, then paused to collect the jumble of thoughts within his consciousness. “I don’t want to ruin this.”

“I know.”

There was a flicker of surprise on his otherwise imperceptible expression. In some way, those two words provided comfort more than Ethan would ever publicly admit out loud.

“You’ll find the perfect ring for her, E. If not, then I’m going to propose her myself.”

Ethan allowed a small smile. “Hilarious.”

Tobias snorted. “Glad to see that sense of humor of yours intact.”

Newfound hope and confidence bloomed in Ethan’s chest, his eyes shining with a hint of tranquility. Years of being friends (and also being apart), he was grateful to know that he had a good person like Tobias around the corner, supporting both him and Marchia. 

“Come on, let’s go back to the hospital before your soon-to-be fiancée get suspicious. I told her I was taking a break at the cafeteria,” he grimaced, shuddering at the thought of eating there.

“You’re a terrible liar, Carrick.”

I’ll be tagging in a separate post!

[dangermousie]

Mousie’s absolutely subjective, very biased Top 10 web novels list

Please note that this is hardly aiming to be objective, if one can even be properly objective about a work of fiction. It is 110% based on my preferences, which means this list is heavy on the angst and has nothing set in the modern day. It is also heavily danmei-centric, even though I read way more het romance than danmei, because for whatever reason, most of the danmei I’ve read has been insanely good.

10. Return of the Swallow - one of the two non-danmeis on this list. Smart and nuanced and with a large cast of characters. Our heroine is a long-lost daughter of the family that is brought back in and has to cope with familial struggles, crazy royals, court intrigue, invasion et al. It’s SO GOOD! There is romance with the sexy smart enemy general but honestly, it’s the heroine that is the main selling point for me.

9. Transmigrator Meets Reincarnator - the only other non-danmei novel on this list, this was my very first web novel and what drew me into this insanity. This is just a ton of fun, probably the lightest novel on this list, not an ounce of angst to be found. But it’s hilarious and features competent heroine and tsundere hero and I will always love it for opening a new world to me. Anyway, our heroine transmigrates into the novel as the female lead. Unlike the original lead though she doesn’t want to seek adventures and angst - she just wants to comfortably live with the wealthy, nice husband heroine has. Alas, said husband is no longer nice since he has previously lived this story where he was betrayed by FL and then transmigrated/reincarnated into the past. Oh well, the heroine opens up businesses and makes friends. And eventually, her husband realizes his wife is way different this time around. This actually doesn’t have much romance, not until close to the end, but this is so fun I don’t care.

8. Lord Seventh - I am only partway through this so far, but it’s already on the list because it’s smart and somehow intense AND laid-back (not sure how this works, but it does) and is honestly just a really really solid and smart period novel, with the OTP a cherry on top of a narrative sundae. Plus, I love the concept of MC deciding he is not going for his supposedly fated love - he’s tried for six lifetimes, always with disaster, and he’s just plain done and tired. When he opens his life in his seventh reincarnation and sees the person he would have given up the world for, he genuinely feels nothing at all. (Spoiler - his OTP is actually a barbarian shaman this time around, thank you Lord!)

7. Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation (MDZS) - oh come on, how are you even on this tumblr if you don’t know MDZS/The Untamed? This was my very first danmei and it’s so much fun! I love everything about it - the unreliable narrator, the looping structure, the main OTP, Wei Wuxian’s laidback, traumatized insouciance, everything. Anyway, the plot in the event you somehow transported here from 2005 is that the Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation, Wei Wuxian, was defeated by the righteous sects over a decade ago and fell of a cliff to his death. Only now that same Wei Wuxian opens his eyes in another body and everything that was supposed to stay in the past starts again.

6. Heaven Official’s Blessing (TGCF) - people either love its meandering narrative, picaresque structure and cast of thousands, or find it a detriment compared to much more compact MDZS. I love it even more than MDZS for those very qualities. It does have a rock-solid, darling OTP, but what really elevates it to me are the MXTX trademark combo of snarky/light tone hiding a ton of trauma underneath, the insanely intricate world-building, and what it has to say about the nature of grace and goodness. Xie Lian is one of my top 5 web novel characters and probably in top 10 from anywhere. Oh, and while MXTX’s stuff is not as angsty for me as Meatbun’s or even Priest’s, there are always exceptions, and there is one chapter in this novel that pretty much broke me and sometimes I still flashback to it and feel unwell.

Anyway, what is it about? There is a commotion in the heavenly realm - Xie Lian, the Crown Prince of a long-destroyed kingdom, has ascended to Godhood. That in itself is not so exciting. However for Xie Lian this is the third time (!!!!) as he’s ascended and lost his godhood twice prior. And now, the biggest joke of the divine realm is back, throwing the heavenly realm into chaos. And elsewhere, Hua Cheng, one of the four most powerful demons of that Universe, sits up and takes notice.

5. Golden Stage - my perfect comfort novel. Probably the least angsty of any danmei novel on this list (which still means plenty angsty :P) It also has a dedicated, smart OTP that is an OTP for the bulk of the book - I think you will notice that in most of the novels in this list, I go for “OTP against the world” trope - I can’t stand love triangles and the same. Anyway, Fu Shen, is a famous general whose fame is making the emperor antsy. When he gets injured and can’t walk any more, the emperor gladly recalls him and marries him off to his most faithful court lackey, the head of sort of secret police, Yan Xiaohan. The emperor intends it both as a check on the general and a general spite move since the two men always clash in court whenever they meet. But not all is at is seems. They used to be friends a long time ago, had a falling out, and one of the loveliest parts of the novel is them finding their way to each other, but there is also finding the middle path between their two very different philosophies and ways of being, not to mention solving a conspiracy or dozen, and putting a new dynasty on the throne, among other things. It always makes me think, a little, of “if Mei Changsu x Jingyan were canon.”

4. Sha Po Lang - if you like a lot of fantasy politics and world-building and steampunk with your novels, this one is for you. This one is VERY plot-heavy with smart, dedicated characters and a deconstruction of many traditional virtues - our protagonist Chang Geng, a long-lost son of the Emperor, is someone who wants to modernize the country but also take down the current emperor his brother for progress’ sake and the person he’s in love with is the general who saved him when he was a kid who is nominally his foster father. Anyway, the romance is mainly a garnish in this one, not even a big side dish, but the relationship between two smart, dedicated, deadly individuals with very different concepts of duty is fascinating long before it turns romantic. And if you like angst, while overall it’s not as angsty as e.g., Meatbun stuff, Chang Geng’s childhood is the stuff of nightmares and probably freaks me out more than anything else in any novel on this list, 2ha included.

3. To Rule In a Turbulent World (LSWW) - gay Minglan. No seriously. This is how I think of it. it’s a slice of life period novel with fascinating characters and setting that happens to have a gay OTP, not a romance in a period setting per se and I always prefer stories where the romance is not the only thing that is going on. It’s meticulously written and smart and deals with character development and somehow makes daily minutia fascinating. Our protagonist, You Miao, is the son of a fabulously wealthy merchant, sent to the capital to make connections and study. As the story starts, he sees his friend’s servants beating someone to death, feels bad, and buys him because, as we discover gradually and organically, You Miao may be wealthy and occasionally immature but he is a genuinely good person. The person he buys is a barbarian from beyond the wall, named Li Zhifeng. It’s touch and go if the man will survive but eventually he does and You Miao, who by then has to return home, gives him his papers and lets him go. However, LZF decides to stick with You Miao instead, both out of sense of debt for YM saving his life and because he genuinely likes him (and yet, there is no instalove on either of their parts, their bodies have fun a lot quicker than their souls.) Anyway, the two take up farming, get involved in the imperial exams and it’s the life of prosperity and peace, until an invasion happens and things go rapidly to hell. This is so nuanced, so smart (smart people in this actually ARE!) and has secondary characters who are just as complex as the mains (for example, I ended up adoring YM’s friend, the one who starts the plot by almost beating LZF to death for no reason) because the novel never forgets that few people are all villain. There is a lovely character arc or two - watching YM grow up and LZF thaw - there is the fact that You Miao is a unicorn in web novels being laid back and calm. This whole thing is a masterpiece.

2. Stains of Filth (Yuwu) - want the emotional hit of 2ha but want to read something half its length? Well, the author of 2ha is here to eviscerate you in a shorter amount of time. This has the beautiful world-building, plot twists that all make sense and, at the center of it all, an intense and all-consuming and gloriously painful relationship between two generals - one aristocratic loner Mo Xi, and the other gregarious former slave general Gu Mang. Once they were best friends and lovers, but when the novel starts, Gu Mang has long turned traitor and went to serve the enemy kingdom and has now been returned and Mo Xi, who now commands the remnants of his slave army, has to cope with the fact that he has never been able to get over the man who stabbed him through the heart. Literally. This novel has a gorgeously looping structure, with flashbacks interwoven into present storyline. There is so much love and longing and sacrifice in this that I am tearing up a bit just thinking of it. If you don’t love Mo Xi and Gu Mang, separately and together, by the end of it, you have no soul.

1. The Dumb Husky and His White Cat Shizun (2ha/erha) - if you’ve been following my tumblr for more than a hot second, you know my obsession with this novel. Honestly, even if I were to make a list of my top 10 novels of any kind, not just webnovels, this would be on the list. It has everything I want - a complicated, intricate plot with an insane amount of plot twists, all of which are both unexpected and make total sense, a rich and large cast of characters, a truly epic OTP that makes me bawl, emotional intensity that sometimes maxes even me out and so much character nuance and growth. Also, Moran is my favorite web novel character ever, hands down.

Anyway, the plot (or at least the way it first appears) is that the evil emperor of the cultivation world, Taxian Jun, kills himself at 32 and wakes up in the body of his 16 year old self, birth name Moran. Excited to get a redo, Moran wants to save his supposed true love Shimei, whose death the last go-around pushed him towards evil. He also wants to avoid entanglement with Chu Wanning, his shizun and sworn enemy in past life. And that’s all you are best off knowing, trust me. The only hint I am going to give is oooh boy the mother of all unreliable narrators has arrived!

The novel starts light and funny on boil the frog principle - if someone told me I would be full bawling multiple times with this novel, I’d have thought they were insane, but i swear my eyes hurt by the end of it. I started out being amused and/or disliking the mains and by the end I would die for either of them.

[jamespotterthefirst]

Knowing Me, Knowing You

Book: Open Heart, Book 2

Pairing: Dr. Ethan Ramsey x F!MC (Dr. Lilac Allende)

Words: 1K

Premise: AU where she is dating someone else upon his return from the Amazon.

Author’s Note: Once upon a time, I posted “War of the Roses” where I mentioned a CEO ex of my MC. I said his FC was the glorious Henry Cavill. I spiraled from there. @ashiiknees​ had the brilliant idea of this AU angst fic. Thank you so much, darling! Also, thank you to @aestheticartsx​ for pre-reading!

A smile so charming and sharp illuminates his features as he studies her, pinning her like a butterfly with a single look. It is so reminiscent of something familiar, something that once felt like home. Lilac feels her throat tighten.

“You could give me a run for my money at the negotiation table,” Malcolm laughs, his breath brushing her lips moments before his mouth does.

After only a millisecond of hesitation, Lilac kisses him back, the dread in her stomach easing at his touch. The guilt this inspires is almost suffocating. Yet, she kisses him fully, allowing herself to get lost in his scent. When they pull apart, she summons an easy smile.

“Thank you,” she murmurs.

Those steel, grey eyes assess her with such intensity that she almost jerks back in response. Before she can help it, she is tormented by the memory of a different pair—blue, intense, and so piercing that every time they fell on her, she felt bare before him.

Your professional development is too important to jeopardize it with whatever… whatever it is we had.

Had.

The single word still feels like the twist of a knife.

“No thanks necessary,” Malcolm assures her, cupping her chin gently. “I’m really glad we were able to talk. To try and make this work.”

Lilac nods once in acknowledgement, unsure how else to respond. Luckily, she is spared from elaborating further by the everpresent ringing of his phone. Malcolm glances at the screen and sighs heavily.

“Duty calls,” he tells her. “Meet you at my place tonight?”

“See you there.”

With one last kiss, he brings the phone to his ear and moves past Lilac on his way to the exit. Now alone in the tiny hospital break room, she lets out a shuddering breath.

With a tiny wave of determination, she turns to watch him go.

And freezes when her eyes fall on a different figure standing at the door.

Ethan is rooted on the spot, unable to move, as though his stomach sinking like a stone is weighing him down.

“... the numbers of the Tokyo account.”

The tall, suit-clad man doesn’t even glance at Ethan as he rushes past him, too rapt in his phone call to take notice of anything. As soon as he vanishes around the bend of the hallway, Ethan's eyes fall on the lonesome figure in the desolate room.

Lilac stands with her back to him, all but shriveling inward as she hugs her arms around herself. With a steadying breath, she finds composure, becoming the Lilac everyone knows, standing tall and determined.

Then, she turns and her eyes find his.

It's like a torrent, hitting him at full force, threatening to knock him off balance.

The inconsequential noise of the hospital falls away to leave room for a long, almost stifling silence between them. Neither of them makes an effort to look away or move, suspended in that moment, desperately hoping to prolong it as long as they could look at each other.

Ethan’s eyes take her in, feasting on her after two months of starving, so far away from her. For a moment, he thinks he can see the same longing reflected in her eyes. Then, an invisible mask clasps into place and she raises her chin higher with dignity.

“Doctor Ramsey,” she says at last, her voice as cool and collected as her expression.

It stings more than it should.

“This lounge is for employees only,” he says in response. The words are out before he can stop them.

“Understood, Doctor,” she says at once though Ethan can hear the edge of sarcasm in her tone. “I’ll make sure to meet with him elsewhere in the future.”

Something coils in his stomach at the words, bitter and as agonizing as an open wound. Before he can allow himself to react, however, he remembers this is what he wanted when he left for Brazil. He wanted her to move on, even if he knew from the moment he boarded that plane that such an alternative might never be a reality for him.

“Be sure that you do,” he says, keeping his voice even.

To his surprise, Lilac laughs at this, a dark, humorless sound that is uncharacteristic to her.

“Don't pretend you're this concerned about a minor breach in the employee handbook.”

“I don't know what you could be refer—”

“You have no right to pull the jealousy card.”

He says nothing. Even after a year of knowing her, the accuracy with which she could call him out still surprised him. Despite the steel wall he tried to build, she always found her way in, right to the center of his true nature.

“You're right. I don't.”

This seems to infuriate her even more. The color rises to her cheeks, her nostrils flaring as she takes in an uneven breath. Her bottom lip quivers for a brief moment and with a pang, he realizes her anger is her desperate attempt to cover the hurt.

“You left.”

Silence.

The only sound is Ethan's heart pounding furiously at his ears, valiantly trying to keep itself from crumbling to pieces.

“You left without a word goodbye. I had no idea where you had gone until Naveen told me. For two months I wondered if you were okay or if—” her voice trembles slightly. Angry at this betrayal of emotion, she tries again, “—if I had done something wrong.”

“Lilac, you—”

“And then, after crying for nights on end over you, I realized that I was raised to demand better treatment from others. I wasn't going to waste my time waiting for someone who only slept with me twice before he got bored of me.”

Ethan clenches his jaw against the lie, each word as vicious as a lashing.

“I deserve better.”

His throat constricts painfully.

“I deserve Malcolm.”

The worst part is that Ethan can't even disagree with her.

The longest silence yet follows. Neither says anything, though they each look as though they have years worth of words to say to one another. For Ethan, it is summarized in three words. Three words he was too cowardly to admit from the moment he realized he meant them. Three words he was foolish enough to believe he could forget in the Amazon.

Three words that, no matter how constantly and how fiercely he said them, would never be enough. Not anymore.

Lilac looks at him, eyes scanning his face desperately, almost as if she can sense the unsaid.

“This is how things are now, Ethan. Just how you wanted.”

“I never wanted —” he blurts. He stops, thinking instead of the one truth that guided him all those weeks apart from her:  “I just want you to be happy.”

“I am.”

Author’s Note: Not me thinking of ways to get them back together. Also, that tiny bit in Lilac’s speech was inspired by AOC saying "I am here because I have to show my parents that I am their daughter — and that they did not raise me to accept abuse from men."

If I write more in this universe, it will be my mission to name them all after ABBA songs. Maybe I should just do that for all of my future works. 

Thanks so much for reading!

*Tagging in a reblog*

[perhaps-in-anotherdream]

[CN- Season 2] Victor And MC- Chapter 17- Eng Translation (Part 2)

“....I know he worries about me more than anyone else [...] But at the same time, he also trusts me more than anyone else.”

✧✧ Remember to read PART 1: HERE!

⌚Warning:⌚ This post contains detailed spoilers for a chapter that is yet to be released in the global server. Don't continue under the cut if you don't wish to be spoiled! (◍•ᴗ•◍)

ー

✧ [Continuation of CH 17- 10] ✧

MC goes with the NW team members. On the way she notices they’re in the middle of a sea and suddenly thinks if this is the place where “Small Rock Reef” would be.

MC is led to a heavily protected prison cell, which makes her doubt how could the prisoners try to escape through such restrictions.

MC reads the memory of a prisoner and finds => Joker came here with 3 other men. She recalls the information Victor gave her regarding Hunter Game and recognizes the men as famous players of the world-wide Hunter Game, as well as dangerous Evolvers.

She also finds that it was Joker and his men who helped with the prison-break using their Evol, but they didn’t give the prisoners any means to get out of the island.

MC starts feeling dizzy and panics seeing the atrocious crimes while sorting through the memories of the other prisoners. :<

However, she doesn’t find anything special, exceptー Joker seems to be looking for something on the island.

What seems more suspicious to MC is thoughー NW members not letting MC read the memories of 3 prisoners specifically without offering any explanation.

ー

✧ [CH 17- 11] ✧

Opening the door to the interrogation room, I walk back to Victor’s side with brisk steps.

Victor: How are you doing?

MC: I’m all right.

NW Commanding Officer: Excuse me, we don’t have time for the two of you to exchange pleasantries.

Without even waiting for Victor to respond, the NW commanding officer then gives a meaningful glance towards the NW team member at his side.

That team member immediately moves in a solid black metal chair from outside, and places it next to Victor.

NW Commanding Officer: [to the team member]  Also, request for CEO Victor to take a seat in this chair.

MC: ?

NW Commanding Officer: We have heard that, when CEO Victor traverses through time, he himself travels altogether with time and space. And we just happened to be developed this special chair concerning the Evolvers within the Time and Space department.

NW Commanding Officer: So long as CEO Victor sits on it, it can be ensured that his body remains in its original position while he continues to travel through time. After all, this island is so sparsely populated that CEO Victor is likely to lose his way.

....Gauging the heart of a gentleman with your own mean measures! I am unable to stop myself from cursing in my heart. They are only worried about Victor running away, that’s all.

Victor doesn’t seem surprised. He raises his eyebrows, contemplates for a moment, and then sits down calmly.

Beneath the irradiation of the interrogation lamp, his eyes appear extraordinarily sharp and luminous.

Victor: Although it’s somewhat superfluous, but I appreciate NW’s kindness.

Victor: MC, report on the memories you have read.

His tone is too natural. If it weren’t for the glaring handcuffs around his wrists, I’d have almost thought this is simply an ordinary project briefing.

MC reports: A dark green haired youth came in with 3 other people, exploded the port, planted a criminal inside the prison in advance who helped with the prison-break. The youth was seen going to an area enclosed by high-voltage power grid on the island.

Victor asks the NW commanding officer if they’ve done any investigation on this youth, and MC realizes that for some reason, Victor is intentionally concealing his knowledge of “Joker.”

The NW commanding himself informs that they only know the youth’s code nameー Joker.

Victor asks a NW team member about the situation outside, who starts spilling the beans but stops at the commanding officer’s glare.

Victor then shoots another bombing question:

Victor: Where is the area enclosed by the high-voltage power grid?

NW Commanding Officer: Classified information on our side. No comment.

He turns this sentence, giving it back to Victor. Victor isn’t annoyed at all, only shoots a glance towards the NW commanding officer with an expression of bitter chill within his eyes.

[ Note: MC is referring to how Victor gave a same answer before, and now the NW officer turned it on him. ]

He adjusts the posture of his sitting, slightly straightening up his body.

Victor: I’m only asking off the cuff. There’s no need to get keyed-up.

Victor: I more or less understand the situation. Let’s prepare to begin.

As Victor finishes speaking, he closes his eyes right away.

The air in front of us generates minor distortions for a period of time, and then returns to calmness again.

I stare closely at Victor, my heart inexplicably a little tense.

His eyes are lightly closed, his pupils moving slightly under his eyelids, looking as though he is looking at some image.

Within a moment, he slowly opens his eyes, unrestrained sharpness revealing in those cold, stern eyes.

Victor: Seal off BLOCK C’s GATE TWO.

His tone is direct, efficient, and unable of being resisted.

The NW commanding officer looks unpleasant, yet has no other choice but to take out his walkie-talkie.

NW Commanding Officer: Seal off BLOCK C’s GATE TWO.

Victor doesn’t give much of an explanation, and closes his eyes once again.

Victor: Command for two squads to transfer to the western part of the island, and reinforce the blockade of the coastal area.

NW Commanding Officer: 5th and 6th detachment assemble at the western part of the island.

Victor: Turn off the electric switches in all areas outside the prison cells.

NW Commanding Officer: Turn off the electric switches outside the prison cells.

......

Time ticks by with every second and minute. Victor is constantly travelling back and forth between the slits of future and past.

He conducts the deployment methodically. While passing down the commands, each time his expression grows even more certain that the last.

He obviously has maintained the exact same posture from start to finish, yet he appears calm and casual.

ーー It seems as though he is the person in control of NW.

The incessant “DiDi” sound of communicating through the walkie-talkie disturbs my state of mind, throwing it in somewhat into a chaos.

I stealthily size up the NW commanding officer. Something doesn’t feel right.

Even if they need Victor’s help now, but in accordance with NW’s strength, they shouldn’t be passive to this degree.

Could it be that they still have some other plans?

While I’m letting my imagination run wild, I notice that Victor’s forehead is oozing with a layer of sweat. I can’t help feeling a little worried.

MC: He looks a bit tired. Is it really all right to shuttle so frequently through time?

MC: You may well not have problems with this chair, do you?

The NW commanding officer impatiently shoots me a glance. As he is about to open his mouth to say something, he gets interrupted by another voice.

Victor: It’s all right.

Unknowingly, Victor has opened his eyes at some point, and they are hinting at something.

Victor: [To MC]  I’m well aware of the situation.

He turns his head towards the commanding officer on the side, looking somewhat profound.

Victor: When the riot on the island occurred, did the number on the apparatus you’ve in your hand in order to absorb Evol energy go up?

The NW commanding officer’s expression changes.

Hearing this, a team member at the side whispers something into the commanding officer’s ear.

After some consideration, he opens his mouth.

NW Commanding Officer: ....The current number is 98.4%.

Victor raises his eyebrows, as though this answer is among his expectations.

Victor: Joker chose to go to the island at this time, and carried out a good deal of deployments. Although that apparatus has already been damaged, but the number still continues to rise.

Victor: This suggests that, there’s still something in Joker’s hand or on the island, which is able to continue absorbing Evol energy, and allow the apparatus to continue providing displays.

Victor: Now that riot on the island started for about 2 hours ago. They have released the prisoners, conducted huntingー precisely with the purpose of making use of the Evol energy. However, it has only risen to 0.4% during this period of time, suggesting the thing that’s absorbing the energy doesn’t seem to be efficient at the moment.

Victor: But if it continues to be ignored, it’s only a matter of time before the number will be full. If it’s not being found and destroyed, it will be all too late for regrets.

He slowly leans towards the back of the chair, cloaking his upper body in the shadows, his expression ambiguous.

Victor: Come to think of it, the commanding officer shouldn’t want for this goal to be accomplished. So he ought to be able to find this thing out pretty quickly, am I correct?

Victor’s tone is unhurried, but it reveals an overbearing grandeur. The NW commanding officer’s eyes abnormally dodges a few times.

NW Commanding Officer: ....The topography of the island is complex. It’d surely be difficult trying to find something that has no description in the least.

NW Commanding Officer: It’s Joker who is causing the problem. Rather than wasting resources in looking for something, it’d be better to arrest him directly.

The corners of Victor’s lips curl up slightly, seemingly with a sense of sarcasm. The NW officer is stirred with slight exasperation because of his expression.

NW Commanding Officer: CEO Victor doesn’t need to worry about these things. All you have to do is just completing our deal, and get hold of stabilizing the situation within a manageable range. As for the rest, we have our own means.

Victor looks at him fixedly, and after a long time, he suddenly leads the conversation towards an ultra-turn around.

Victor: In that case, is there any feedback on the few deployments from earlier? I need to know your feedbacks in order to proceed with carrying out the next steps.

The NW commanding officer arches his brows suspiciously, as though he doesn’t trust in Victor’s compromise too much at this time, but he is also unable to find any loopholes in Victor’s words.

He turns around, avoiding our direction, and starts communicating with the others on the walkie-talkie.

Just as he has twisted over, Victor drops his hands right away, and takes the palm of my hand in his.

I flinch slightly as I look over at him. He doesn’t change his expression, only lowers his voice a bit.

Victor: NW has some other plans. In the matter of stopping Joker, they actually still have reservations. I don’t think they are fully aware of what Joker wants to do.

MC: What do you mean?

Victor: The fact that Joker is so determined about getting to this island indicates there is a lighthouse that he wants to unseal. But this island is NW’s. Inevitably, they would know if there’s something special on this island. 

Victor: However, they might not be aware of what it is. Therefore, they want to let the Evol energy continuing to be collected and wait for an outcome. This way, they can reap the benefits without lifting a finger.

My eyes widen slightly, and my mind clears up a littleー akin to spinning silk from a cocoon.

MC: But shouldn't NW be putting the restoration orders on the island first at this time?

Victor: So there is  something strange about this matter. Under any circumstances, the lighthouse cannot be unsealed until we find out exactly what is going on. Regardless of whether it’s NW or Joker, we must stop it.

The intercom of the NW commanding officer seems to have already come to an end. I steady my heartbeat, my gaze resolute.

MC: Right, what are we going to do?

Victor doesn’t reply, simply examines the NW commanding officer, and there isn’t a hint of temperature in his eyes.

I suddenly feel a little baffled, follow his line of sight, looking towards the NW commanding officer, and find that he is holding the walkie-talkie in his hand with a perplexed expression on his face.

There isn’t any sound coming through the walkie-talkie, and the sound of convection has come to an end spontaneously, even the fine dust seems to be stilled in the air.

My eyebrows twitch, and I tacitly meet Victor’s gazeー

Time has been suspended by him.

ー

✧ [CH 17- 13] ✧

The NW commanding officer turns around somewhat perceptively, narrowing his eyes with a sullen face.

NW Commanding Officer: What is CEO Victor suggesting by this?

Victor: I thought the commanding officer would be very clear that this is the most effective way of dealing with the matter. Once the time has been suspended, the energy absorbing apparatus will inevitably stop continuing to operate. 

Victor: If Joker wants to accomplish his goal, then he’d have to find me first. In other words, I can be your most advantageous bait to draw out Joker.

Victor unhurriedly adjusts to a more comfortable sitting posture, spreading out his hands on the table.

Victor: When the snake is pulled out from its hole, it’s exactly the best timing to close the net.

The NW commanding officer lets out a sneer.

NW Commanding Officer: Mr. Victor has put in a good word. But frankly speaking, he is threatening us. Suspending the time would only be for assembling the action, but the Evol energy would still be accumulating unceasingly. Once the time flows again, the progress bar would fill up instantly. And as for when to stop the Evol, and how to stop it, it’s entirely up for you to decide.

The NW commanding officer narrows his eyes, revealing an expression of displeasure.

NW Commanding Officer: First sealing the other roads, and then giving us a “free” choice. CEO Victor indeed is very proficient in negotiating.

Victor doesn’t seem to care about the ridicule in his words at all, and only hooks the corners of his lips upward.

Victor: I’m just a businessman. Therefore, I will only negotiate a deal with everyone in the same manner of a businessman as well. Whether you want to work together or not, it’s still up for you to call on.

I stand beside Victor, quietly watching the bargains of both sides.

Sense of anxiety and trust interweave in my heart. I hold my breath, waiting for a response from the other side.

He curls his fingers, tapping them on the table one at a time, his face dark, gloomy and ambiguous.

The air in the interrogation room is stagnant, reminiscent of the eve before rainstorm, sending off waves of thunder rolls among the layers of clouds.

NW Commanding Officer: What are your conditions?

Victor: A businessman is never greedy in his negotiations. The conditions are the same as our initial agreement.

[ Note: Victor is referring to the three conditions they agreed on in PART 1 ]

The NW commanding officer raises his eyebrows noncommittally, and speaks to the NW team members on his left and right.

NW Commanding Officer: Unlock the handcuffs, and take them to the designated location.

Victor: Wait a minute. I need her to revisit the memories of several criminals one more time.

MC: ?

Victor looks at me, slowing down his tone.

Victor: [returns to the MC level softness™]  There are some details you need to confirm another time. Take note of Joker’s every movement, and his whereabouts.

Once again?

Before I can ask any question, the NW commanding officer expresses his dissatisfaction first.

NW Commanding Officer: Is this necessary? Time is very pressing now.

Victor: The more the time is pressing, the more any slip-up cannot be allowed. I believe, the commanding officer of NW understands this principle even more clearly than me.

The NW commanding officer hesitates for a moment, and then waves his hand towards the team members one more time.

NW Commanding Officer: Take her to see the criminals, and move quickly.

I meet Victor’s gaze, those pair of profound eyes surging with unreserved encouragement.

Although it feels somewhat strange, but Victor must have his reasons for doing so.

Rather than wasting time here, I better go do what he has said, and return quickly.

I take a deep breath, and turn around to keep pace with the NW team members’ footsteps.

ー✧ー

[NARRATOR POV]

Seeing the girl walk out of the door, Victor withdraws his gaze.

Victor: There’s one more thingー

Victor: I accept that proposal you made earlier.

The NW commanding officer is taken aback for a moment. Soon after, he reacts with a satisfied and weird smile.

NW Commanding Officer: CEO Victor is willing to make this attempt. Naturally, we are happy to co-operate.

He turns around to a team member on his side, and explains something to him. Then that person leaves the room.

Victor sits silently on the spot, his eyelashes drooping downward obscure the incomprehensible murky emotions within his pupils.

That person soon returns with a researcher wearing medical uniform, carrying a small black case in his hand. The case is opened, and inside is a tube of potion.

NW Commanding Officer: CEO Victor, are you sure you’ve thought this through?

NW Commanding Officer: Presumably, you understand the side-effects of “Small Syringes” too. Although, we have modified this drug, but NW will not shoulder any responsibility if any problem occurs after the injection. [1]

Without a hint of hesitation, Victor gives him a slight nod.

That researcher steps forward, rolls up Victor’s cuff, and uses an alcohol stick to sterilize his veins.

He takes out that tube of potion, and sways it lightly. The turbid liquid inside the syringe swirls slightly.

NW Commanding Officer: Start injecting.

The slender needle glows with a dangerous light, gently piercing through the blue vein prominent on the surface of the skin.

A slight tingling pain comes from his armー akin to a bad omen, reminding Victor of what risks this decision will entail.

Victor looks down at the needle, his lips pursing into a sharp, thin line.

Concerning the frequently shuttling through time, it was of an extreme consumption for him. [2]

He clearly understands that, in his present condition, perhaps it’d be difficult to stop Joker’s time.

Accepting their proposal is the most dependable solution at the moment.

The ice-cold liquid bubbles in its course through his veins, and his complexion gradually becomes pale.

A wave of dizziness barrels on him. Victor knits his brows, and exerts himself physically in trying to blink his eyes. His vision becomes slightly clearer.

NW Commanding Officer: Injection completed.

The NW commanding officer steps forward, extending his hand towards Victor.

NW Commanding Officer: I believe in CEO Victor’s business acumen. I will be looking forward to the outcome.

Victor doesn’t respond. His head is still lowered, and as far as the eyes can see, there is only an invisible, very small needle in his vision.

ー✧ー

[CUT TO THE FOREST, BACK TO MC’S POV]

The place where I meet with Victor is a clearing in the woods.

The time of the entire world is stagnant, here at this moment. NW is carrying out deployments in the surroundings, debugging all kinds of apparatuses.

From time to time, NW team members come up to Victor, and inquire him about the layout and scheduling at that moment.

I look at the ever so still world, then tilt my head to the side to look at Victor’s side profile, and I always feel that he looks somewhat exhausted.

MC: Victor, are you very tired?

Victor: No.

The brief answer makes me feel even more strange inside.

There is an indescribable pallor on his face, and it doesn’t seem to be just from excessive using of his ability.

MC: You have undergone the continuous interrogation of NW before, and just a moment ago you have used your ability repeatedly, and now you still have to stop time....

MC: Although I cannot help you in sharing the fatigue, but you must  tell me the truth, so that I can be a bit prepared.

Victor: What to prepare for?

MC: If you collapse, I will hold you up.

MC: Like this.

I look at him firmly, and grasp his arm tightly, letting him being able to give me his weight.

In this still world, all the sounds, lights and shadows are stagnant in their original position.

Only in Victor’s eyes, there seems to be a constant shimmering speck of light.

Victor: The wrists have been cuffed for a long time, and it feels a little uncomfortable after removing them.

MC: ....Then I will blow on them for you? It won’t hurt anymore if I blow on them.

Victor: [with a soft laughter] ....Childish.

[ T/N: The first time he actually smiles genuinely in this chapter ಡ‸ಡ ]

Even though he has said so, the corners of his lips still lift upwards, and he lowers his voice.

Victor: Listen to me. When Joker appears, I will look for an opportunity to stop his time.

MC: Isn’t Joker an Evolver? How are you going to....

Victor: I know you have a lot of questions. But now, listen to me.

Victor: In that instant, go and read his memory, and find out what’s the thing that is collecting energy. I have seen its approximate location. It’s in that area where NW has used high-voltage electric coils.

Victor: We are not far from that area now. After you’ve seen what it is, run towards that place right away. I need you to find it and destroy it.

My heart leaps heavily. I know he worries about me more than anyone else, and didn’t wish for me to participate in this matter.

But at the same time, he also trusts me more than anyone else, betting all his bargaining chips on me.

Victor: MC, we only have one chance. Got it?

MC: Won’t you ask if I’d be able to do it?

Victor: Do you need it?

Victor: You are the one I chose.

Victor straightens up, and takes my hand in his. I hold him back tightly, as though he will disappear right before my eyes as soon as I let go of my grip. [3]

MC: I’m going to find that thing, and then what about you?

Victor: I will stay here. Whether it’s NW or Joker, their gaze is now focused on me. If I make any move, it will certainly alert them to be on guard. 

I look at Victor, and nod conscientiously.

MC: I will resolve it as quickly as possible. As long as you see me back, don’t stop the time again.

MC: You have to ensure your own safety too.

His soft chuckle lands on my ear.

Victor: At this point in time, you still have the free time to care about others?

Victor: I promise you.

As soon as he finishes speaking, Victor lets go of my hand, and walks over towards the direction of a conspicuous place.

The warmth on the palm of my hand soon dissipates. I gaze at Victor’s firm and persistent figure from behind, my heart still a little apprehensive.

After all, we only have one chance. Will I really be able to do what he hopes for?

I take a deep breath, and call out to Victor.

MC: Victor, have you secretly seen that successful future?

Victor halts in his footsteps, and tilts his head slightly.

Victor: I don’t need to see such a future. Because this future will certainly turn into the reality.

I watch as Victor turns his body, his gaze landing straight on me.

Victor: It’s because of you, that there will be this future. So now, put away all your hesitations and groundless fears.

Victor: Trust me.

My tumultuous heart feels as if it’s being braced steady by him, and my anxiety seems to truly dissipate just like this.

Some warmth surges in the corner of my eyes. I tilt my head slightly, letting my vision get clear again. Afterwards, I turn around at the same time as Victor, heading towards the direction I should be going.

Just like he has planned and negotiated with NW, he let himself become the bait to lure Joker in. 

I hold my breath, and hide near Victor with the NW’s team.

Amid the stillness of the world, there are no sounds of insects or birds chirping, neither is there the sound of rustling of trees, branches, grasses or leaves.

The only thing I can hear is, solely the sound of my own urgent breathing, and the faint sound of struggling coming from a distance.

Even though I am nervous, but looking at Victor’s figure, courage springs up in my heart.

He is Victor, the Victor who does what he says he will do.

[ Note: Despite it being a natural recognition of Victor being the man of his words ( the phrase used here is “说到做到- shuō dào zuò dào” literally translating to “doing good on one’s words/ keeping one’s promises” ), this is actually also a subtle recalling of this specific dialogue of S1 CH 18-28 :< ]

My mind constantly repeats what he has said to me. I know that I will only have one chance, only an instant.

After waiting for an unknown amount of time, a discordant voice emerges amid the silence.

Joker: It’s you who has suspended the time, isn’t it?

ー

✧ [CH 17- 15] ✧

Joker strolls towards Victor, his eyes seem to inadvertently cast glances over the grasses all around, his expression relaxed.

Joker: The game of hide and seek has come to an end.

With that, he is about to raise his hand.

And just at the moment his hand is about to swing down, Victor takes a step forward, causing him to halt in his movements.

An instant, only a very small instant, nothing more.

But this instant is still enough.

“Popー”

I stand up, look straight into Joker’s eyes, and snap my fingers.

MC reads Joker’s memory and finds he is searching for a stone tablet with the number “8” engraved on it– and this is what he is using to collect Evol energy.

Before MC can read further, she is kicked out of his mind, and notices the NW members attacking Joker and his people.

She notices several NW members are encircling Victor, preventing him from making any movements.

Realizing this chaos is the best opportunity for her to leave, MC starts running towards the place Victor has told her to.

The instant I pass by his side, our eyes interlock for a brief moment.

Victor: [soft to the degree it actually made me cry for real]  Keep running.

He smiles softly at me.

His voice is very small, but it penetrates through all the clamors, and falls steadily into my heart.

Not long ago, on a similar bright sun-bathed day – we had to brush past each other, pretending to be strangers.

At that time, I turned my head around, and watched him disappear into the sea of people.

Now, instead it’s him who has handed over his hopes in my hands, his eyes following me running forward.

I look forward, and don’t turn my head around.

Nor do I see his half-kneeling figure on the ground in the next second– when he turns around to face the NW team members who want to stop me.

[ T/N: ............. ( ･ั﹏･ั) ]

—✧—

[CUT TO DEEPER IN THE WOODS]

The uproar behind me gradually fades from my ears, and the entire world becomes awfully quiet, leaving only the sound of my heart beating in my chest.

Every second and minute that ticks by, has been consuming Victor’s Evol. I dare not slow down, grit my teeth, take large strides and keep running forward.

After running for an unknown amount of time, MC finally arrives at the area of high-voltage power grid enclosed by a “wall.”

Bracing herself, MC climbs over the wall and realizes it doesn’t actually have any power supply. [cause time is still suspended]

MC again starts running deep into the wood. She falls down several times, hurts her knees. :<

Even after running for a long time, and hurting herself, MC still doesn’t find the stone tablet.

Just as she’s thinking if Victor made any mistake in identifying the area, she finds the stone tablet. [ and it’s her first beaming smile CG in this hour long chapter. ಡ‸ಡ ]

After looking around, MC finds a heavy stone. With difficulty, she tries to use it to destroy the stone tablet, instead the stone she found breaks into pieces.

At that moment, that stone tablet rapidly starts forming swirling light, indicating it’s about to be unsealed.

MC runs to find bigger stones and keeps hitting them on the tablet– again and again. At one point, the broken stones get stained with the blood from the wounds on her hands. :<

MC loses counts of how many times she has repeated this action of running and falling– to no avail apparently.

After an unknown period of time, finally a crack appears on that stone tablet, and the swirling light stops.

I seem to have lost all my strength, and slump down on the ground straight away.

The pain in my body starts to become obvious. I struggle to crawl up from the ground, letting hold myself together for a while longer.

I still have very important thing to do. I want to return at Victor’s side as quickly as possible.

After taking a deep breath, I turn around and run towards the direction I have come, enduring the sharp pain in my body.

Running out of the woods, I don’t know how long it has taken, I finally spot that familiar figure from afar.

And right there he stands, gazing at my direction from beginning to the end, his white shirt covered in dirt.

I dash towards him, and suddenly feel everything around me being set in motion again.

He, too, walks towards me at a rapid pace, his eyes appearing to suppress the violent surging of emotions.

Victor: You did it.

Victor’s slightly relieved voice falls on my ears. He looks at my hands filled with bloodstains, his gaze flinching in apprehension.

I look up at Victor. His face doesn’t seem too good either, thin layers of sweat seeping out from his temples as well.

MC: What about Joker? Has our plan succeeded?

Victor: He has already been arrested.

The boulder in my heart finally falls to the ground. I let out a breath, only to catch a glimpse of that teenager who hangs out with Joker from my peripheral vision, standing in the woods at a distance.

In the next second, an arc of light flashes, and he disappears.

MC: Victor, that teenager....

Even before I can finish my sentence, in the blink of an eye, Victor and I are surrounded by fully armed NW team members.

Victor immediately shields me behind him, staring coldly at their movements.

NW Commanding Officer: CEO Victor’s actions seem to be slightly different form what we agreed on.

The NW commanding officer, wearing a warm expression, slowly passes through line and walks in front of us.

NW Commanding Officer: It seems that our agreement cannot be effective anymore.

Victor: From the very beginning, you have never thought of carrying it out, have you?

Victor speaks indifferently, the ice-cold satire in his eyes being hard to conceal.

NW Commanding Officer: Take them away.

—

[ EXTRA TIDBITS ]

[2] Frequent shuttling through time: As described in several of Victor’s Rumors and Secrets [ When Nobody Knows, The fragile, Fleeting, Homeward Bound, Impermanence-S2 ]  and if you are familiar with the conceptー it’s an extreme painful process. Each time he crosses the slits of time, he literally feels the pain of bones breaking, flesh being ripped apart from his body. And it’s something he has done countless times in S1, even before the 10 thousand years toll he took on in the end. In this chapter, he basically went through all his physical suffering accumulatively in those few minutes.

[3] As if he’d disappear right before my eyes... : Even though this sentence conveys MC’s fear of losing him, whether she was thinking about the reasoning at the time or not, her fear actually has some grounds too. In S2 CH 16, MC finds out from a BS research project that, overusing of Evol in a short time can cause pathological changes in the Evolver’s body.

[1] The Small Syringe: It’s a “fatal drug” that is used for heightening one’s Evol, and the side-effects of it varies depending on the individual. But after a certain period of timeー it damages the structure of the genes, spreads like virus and eventually leads to death. As of now, the drug doesn’t have any cure. And Victor took the modified version of it, which heightened his Evol much faster than it’s supposed to, and so did it heighten the side-effects equally faster.

[T/N] Irony is.... he went through all these suffering and trouble from the beginning of S2, in order to prevent this drug from spreading, and catch the mastermind behind all these vicious deeds. But ultimately, he had to be the one to take on the ultimate suffering. And if he makes it out alive, which he will, he’d most likely act like nothing ever happened, like he always does. ಥ‸ಥ

[mxvladdy]

Hello! I love your writing and I may have a prompt, if it strikes your fancy. I'm aware it might not be entirely lore-friendly a request, but I love relationship shenanigans in Obey Me, so I got to ask: how do you think Luci, Diavolo, Satan and Beel would help their anxious SO adjust when MC begins demonstrating mad prowess in witchcraft right after they first spend the night together? Sex, power and pacts seem to go hand-in-hand in related media, but no one really planned for it in their case!

Awww thankie and sorry for the long wait! I’m glad you like my writing! I hope you like this! It gave me big thirst lmaooo

Lucifer

Mmmm you smell of him in the morning. He positively oozes from your every pore. Rich and spicy, like amber and freshly turned earth.

Good. Let it be known to all that you were claimed. Thoroughly.

He put his daily routine on hold for you this morning. He was weak to your pouting.

He’ll stay in bed for a little bit to indulge you. But duty calls and work waits for no demon

Neither of you really pay attention to how hard you are clinging to him when he tries to extract himself to get dressed

You both just kind of chalk it up to neither of you want to part

The day goes on as usual for him, meetings, paperwork, meetings, punishing Mammon, meetings

But the whole time something was nagging at him. He just couldn’t put his finger on it. He just felt like he forgot something important

But that’s impossible-

The wall explodes out behind him cutting Lucifer off mid-sentence. The rubble and great ball of flames miss him and Diavolo by mere inches only because of the latter’s quick reflexes. “Are you alright my friend?” Diavolo asks golden eyes alight with surprise. Lucifer could feel the prince’s defensive magic prickling his skin in response to the pungent magic wafting out of the hole.

“Of course-” Lucifer steps back, straightening his jacket’s lapels, the near-miss ruffles his feathers. Both men step closer to the hole. His hackles raise.  The power emanating from the crater was far too familiar. Someone dares to use his magical signatures without permission.  Snarling into the abyss he marches forward. He ignores Diavolo’s calls to wait and strides through the hole. His wings flare up from his back along with his temper. He walks through each wave of magic that washes over him. With each destroyed wall he steps through more and more of his demonic form comes forth till he is more beast than man. Strolling through the final hole he stops. His red eyes sweep across the scene in front of him. As the seconds' tick by his mood morphs from rage to shock, then to a sense of blinding pride.  

“Well-” He crosses his arms and smirks. He turns his gaze to the epicenter of the damage.

“Luci, I am so so sorry.” You mutter aghast behind your fingers. “I-I don’t know what happened.” You were never the best student in any of the practical classes. The teachers made exceptions for you and your lack of magical prowess. In this class, the teacher always paired you up with Solomon or Luke so they could help you prepare the necessary spells and runes. But you felt so different today, stronger and sharper. Damn near unstoppable even. Just the thought of someone else doing your work made something deep inside you seethe. You didn’t need help, you’ve seen and heard the incantations a thousand times before- it wouldn’t hurt to try…Well, let’s rephrase that, it didn’t hurt you to try.

The classroom was totaled. Dust, rubble, and burning pages all float around you like a post-apocalyptic snowstorm. Soot from your uncontrolled spell blacked your clothes and skin, next to you Solomon stands rigid in shock white brows disappearing into his hairline. Quietly you lick your thumb and forefinger and put out the small blue flame singeing his bangs. “Thanks.” He spits out around a mouthful of ash and grit.

Lucifer coughs to draw all eyes back to him. He takes inventory of the room, making sure all the other students scattered about were still breathing. Satisfied he beckons to you with a finger. “Come.” You jump into motion, scrambling up and over the rubble to grab his outstretched hand.

“Lucifer.” He cuts you off.

“Not here,” He smiles warmly rubbing at some soot staining the tip of your nose. “Come let’s get you cleaned up.”

_____________

“Should I be worried?” You ask, stepping out of Lucifer’s private showers wrapped in one of his sinfully soft towels. “I’m not going to blow stuff up on a whim now, right?” You plop down on his bedroom’s couch. Lucifer hums noncommittally by his liquor cabinet.

“I doubt it. How do you feel?” He takes a seat beside you handing you a glass and grabbing your legs to drape them over his. You take a swig from the glass, the heat of the liquor getting rid of the lingering shock from class. How did you feel?

Your bones hum with some unknown energy and there was a fire coursing through your veins. “I feel like I could take on the world. Like I dominate half of the Devildom.” Lucifer’s smile was nothing short of smug.

“Good.” He sips his drink.

“Good?” You lean forward expectantly.

Lucifer strokes your cheek coming in to inhale your fresh scent. The commingling of his and your own was beyond arousing. “There is more than one way to seal and strengthen a pact, my beloved.” He pulls you into a chastened kiss, feeling your cheeks heat with a dawning realization of what he meant. “You have now given yourself to me in both body and soul. The- bonus perks were inevitable.” He parts from you, reaching for his glass.

“Will it go away?” You honestly didn’t know if you could handle any more curveballs down here.

Lucifer laughs swirling the dredges of his drink before downing it in one go. “Ideally no- but over time if it isn’t reinforced it will weaken and disappear on its own.”

“Reinforced?” The heat of your drink seems to dip lower down your body. Your demon scoffs giving you a knowing look.

He drags you onto his lap. “Are you truly satisfied with just a night with me αγαπούλα μου?” A gloved finger tugs at the hem of your towel. “If I had my way I would keep you full and drunk on my power for all eternity.” He captures you in a searing kiss draping you over the cushions of his couch, his eyes turning predatory. “Do not worry about the side effects.” He purrs caging you in. “We have all the time in the world to get you accustomed to them.”

Diavolo

He knew. This bitch knew before he ever got you in his bed-chamber. Just think of the entertainment value~

So when he sweeps you up into his quarters for the night day weekend, he just forgets to mention it to you

He is curious about how his magic will affect a human of celestial descent. Will it show up all at once? Or over a long period of time? He hopes that your blood doesn’t cancel out his claim on you

He watches you like a hawk for a while- and nothing…

Hmm. Perhaps it just didn’t take the first time? No matter, try-try-try again as the saying goes. He certainly doesn’t see you complaining

But as the week passes he slowly puts it on his backburner as his work begins to pile up again

You on the other hand are having a time. One day you are fine and dandy and the next you can read and write in languages you’ve never even heard of.

Then you started seeing some frankly crazy shit. Had the ghost at the house always been this active?

The last straw for you was accidentally freezing half of the house’s rose garden with a sneeze. To say you are panicked is an understatement

Frazzled you run to the only mage you could (kinda) trust

“It’s not funny!” You hiss frantically staring bewildered at your friend. Your look of panic just makes him laugh harder. “Stop seriously Solomon! Gods, what did I do?” You scrub at your face hard. If you made yet another freaking pact with a demon you were going to lose it. Seven idiots were enough for several lifetimes.

Solomon howls at this, drawing curious and rude looks from the surrounding tables of the tea house. You swat at his shoulder hissing like a cat. “Sorry- sorry” He hiccups. “Your turn of phrase was just so fitting.” He collects himself by taking a sip of his tea. “Tell me, what have you been doing of late?” He smirks around the rim of his cup.

You squint at him not getting it. His keen eyes drift down to land on the garden of purple and blue bruises littering your neck. You slap a hand over your hickeys. He smiles leaning over conspiratorially. “What’s it like to sleep with a God? The perks are amazing no?”  

You shook your head. “I-what perks?”

“Oh~ Loverboy didn’t warn you of certain side-effects?” The mage leans back in his chair. He was going to have a great time today. ___________

Unbelievable. You march up the walkway to the palace, your mind absolutely reeling. Did he know about this? Of course, he did-how could he not! Did he just forget? No- Diavolo was many things, smart, cunning, conniving, but never forgetful. You knew him well and knew he had to be on the lookout for “side effects” as Solomon put it.

Fine, two can play at this game.

“Ah! Mio Giglio! How are you?” Dia glances up from his mountainous amount of paperwork when you throw open his office door. He rises in one fluid motion to scoop you up in a tight hug. Now that you know what to look for, you hone into the way he holds you. His large hands run down your back and sides possessively, he clings to you rubbing his bulking frame on you like a cat marking you. He leans in close to rub the bridge of his strong nose up and down your clavicle and neck. You feel his hot breath on your skin when he exhales. How had you not noticed this?

“Good, and you?” You smile into the fabric of his shirt. Carefully you wrap your arms around his solid waist. You hug him lightly so as to not give away your little surprise.

“Better with you here.” He chuckles stepping back to return to his desk. You follow closely behind waiting for the perfect time to strike. “What have you been up to?” He asks innocently, going to sit back down. “I haven’t seen you in a few days.”

You hum nonchalantly coming up behind him to rub at his tense shoulders. “Nothing much.” He nods closing his eyes as your fingers dig into sore muscles. “Usual school week, made some new friends...Went shopping with Asmo and Luke this morning. Bought you some treats, hidden from Barbatos of course.” You drop a quick peck on his cheek. Diavolo smiles sinking lower into his chair. He hopped it was something with lemon or orange, they were in season now. Barbatos had been on the warpath with his sugar and carb intake of late. “Then I had tea with Solomon and he filled me in on some very interesting facts.” You kiss his hairline.

“Mmmm?”

You pull away from his warmth to come around to straddle his lap while he is distracted. He jerks at your sudden weight on his lap but relaxes almost immediately. He opens a golden eye, not even realizing he had closed them. Your demeanor shifts when his gaze is fully set on you, all sweet innocence gone. A cheshire grin spreads across your face. “Funny you should ask if I’m feeling ok. I have been feeling a bit off of late.”

Diavolo tenses. “Are you well?” He tries to reach for you, his arms coming off the armrests of his desk chair. You strike like a viper, your small hands wrap and lock around his thick wrists pinning them to the chair. His eyes bulge in shock. You watch coyly as his biceps bulge under his clothes. He tries to break free for a few minutes before settling back. “I see-”

Leaning in you brush your lips across his ears, heart racing with excitement. “You forgot to mention quite a few things, Dia.” The low purr he emits shakes both of you.

“My apologies.” He admits. “You know I love a good show. Shame I missed it.” He throws you a rogue smile. “Forgive me?”

You slide closer until you rested chest to chest, legs wrapping around his to pin him down further. His purr drops down an octave. Locking eyes with him you remove a hand from his wrist daring him to move. He doesn’t. You move slowly and deliberately resting your hand on his strong neck. His reaction was instantaneous. His pupils dilate, and the gold of his irises turn molten. You start to feel his magic seep out, you match it, giddy with excitement that you could. “Only if you work for it.” You smirk.

Diavolo nods readily, licking at his dry lips in anticipation. He was more than ready to atone.

Satan

He is a good noodle and has the decency to tell you what will happen beforehand

It’s only polite to give you a heads up before he breaks your headboard

You both are curious about how it will affect you. He at least is excited to teach you some practical magic

Plus the idea of you pranking Lucifer with magic? Sublime.

He smells it blossoming under your skin while you sleep.

It’s sharp and minty with a smoky finish. Then the power hits him like a brick to the face. He is in awe.

It’s like an electrifying feedback loop that just energizes and excites him and you feel it too. He’ll lose himself in you and your body again, hyped up on the headiness of it all.

Once he has *cough* cleared his head *cough* he takes you out to try out your newly found powers. He has so many things he wants to teach you.

Satan kneels beside you nodding his head in approval at your chalk markings. Your lines weren’t exactly steady, he could see how your hand shook as you copied his paperwork but you followed it dutifully. He finds your nervousness adorable as if he would let anything bad happen to you. At his go-ahead, you get to your feet. Turning your palms down towards your summoning circle you recite your spell and watch in amazement as your runes glow bright green underneath you. In a flash of blinding lights and smoke, you sense the pull of the creature emerging from your rune work. Delighted you look down at your handy work.

“Congratulations my darling, exceptionally done.” He grins proudly from his perch by his bookshelf.

You bend down and pick up the little critter. “What is it?” It looked like a blob of flan but firmer. Its squishy form shivers in your palm when you poked it. Its body giving way under your gentle poke. It was dark green but lightened to an electric green at its base. It was surprisingly warm.

You feel Satan coming up behind you to rest his chin on your shoulder. “It looks to be a lesser familiar, not bad for your first time summoning ever.” The jelly wiggles at his praise even though you couldn’t find any discernible features on its smooth little body. You turn it this way and that in your hand, even though it didn’t have eyes you could sense it was sizing you up to.

“What can it do?” You raise a brow at your companion. His arms circle your waist, his grin turning mischievous.

“Let's find out.”

________

Your lungs burn, each breath coming hard and sharp while you run. The sound of your pounding feet was swallowed up by the rush of foot traffic around you. Satan drags you behind him ushering you both around the throng of students. “Quickly!” He looks over his shoulder and flashes you a brilliant smile. “The further away from his office we are the less likely he could blame us.”

You laugh breathlessly along with him.

________

“What Belphie say?” You lean onto Satan’s shoulder to peek at his phone. The two of you sit, crowding in on each other's space underneath a desk in one of the unused classrooms.

“It’s glorious. Everything is covered. He says it looks like magic won’t remove it either!” He cackles showing you his screen. Belphie sent him a selfie. He is grinning devilishly from ear to ear throwing you both a peace sign through the screen. In the background, you could clearly see a very irate Lucifer. His face was red with fury and his clothes covered in green goo. His office was wrecked. Your little jelly did a number on it, you hadn’t expected it to expand as large as it did. Your familiar popping on the edge of Lucifer’s desk wasn’t intended either, but totally worth it. “Think you can summon another?” Satan asks, darkening his screen. You shake your head, whatever power you had earlier today had been drained after your little stunt.

Satan nods in understanding. “Shame- imagine what one of your jellies could do to Diavolo’s office.”

“Satan-”

He chuckles wrapping an arm around your back. He plants a loud kiss onto your forehead. “Alright-alright. Perhaps after a bit of a rest and recharge?”

You poke his leg playfully and laugh. “If you wanted to have sex again you could just ask.”  

He dips low and kisses you. “Well then- if you are up for another round of delinquency…”

Beelzebub

Sweet baby didn’t know-

Well, he knew about it. Lucifer had given everyone “the talk” about it a couple of millennia ago.

He never really thought about it before you because he didn’t sleep with humans often (Him so big, human so smol if he isn’t paying attention it could be...bad)

So when you drag him into your room he just doesn’t think about it. You are both so oblivious

He doesn’t think about the shift in your scent, your kisses were just as sweet as always. If there was a peppery aftertaste to your kiss he chalks it up to something you had for breakfast

He doesn’t think anything of it when you practically drag him from your bed to shower together before school

He doesn’t think about it when at lunch your appetite starts to rival his

He starts to think about it during P.E. when your dodge ball puts a demon down for the rest of class

He definitely notices when you pin him down to steal his sandwich during your picnic date

Now he’s freaking out, whether it's because you are showing inhuman strength or the fact that you stole his food who knows

You nab yet another one of his sandwiches and start munching away with a hum of happiness. “Hey, babe.” He rumbles beneath you. “You feeling alright?” He wraps his large hands around your waist. Your weight was warm and comfortable over his prone form. He had whisked you away for an afternoon picnic, something to spend more time with you alone. After last night he craved being around you more than anything. He had packed enough food for him in mind. But it looks like it wouldn’t be enough. Odd. Beel rests his head back on the thick blanket protecting you both from the slightly damp grass underneath.

“Hmm?” You swallow down a mouthful of ruben. “Yeah! Famished though.” You lean back on his strong hip and swipe your finger around your mouth to brush off some crumbs. You reach for the other half of his sandwich to devour but pauses when you catch Beel’s kicked puppy look. With a huff of amusement, you offer the other half to him letting him chomp down with a fanged smile in thanks.

He chews in silence, watching you pick up a bowl of fresh fruit. Hmmm… He runs his rough palms up and down your thighs and hips ignoring your squirming and giggles when he runs over the thin skin of your sides. He squeezes you lightly. Huh- Your muscles were firmer than this morning, now that he was looking closer he could see that your frame was a bit sturdier too. Still his perfectly lovable and squishy human but more solid around the edges. In a last-ditch effort to figure out what has changed, he reaches out for his pact mark.

He jerks forward, upsetting your position on his lap, causing you to tumble backward, fruit flying everywhere. “Beel!” You shriek. He shushes you, squeezing your cheeks between warm hands.

“I forgot.”

“You forgot?” You repeat. “What dessert? I’m pretty sure the fruit was part of it...but I mean. If you want grassy cantaloupe it’s all yours.” You eye the remains of the seasonal fruit laying around you and then at the basket. You were pretty sure you saw some pastries at the bottom of it too.

“We had sex.” He blurts out bluntly, and quite loudly.

Your face heats. “Yes, thank you for the reminder.” You push him off sitting up on your elbows. “Please, why don’t you yell it out for all the wildlife to hear too.”

Beelzebub shakes his head groaning. “No-I forgot to warn you about our pact.”

Ahh-oh. You eye him wearily. If he was stressing you were stressing, it wasn’t like him to get so bent out of shape. “Ok-is it, like bad?”  What were you going to die? That would be a big thing to just forget. “How about you fill me in big guy.” You listen enraptured while he jerkily explains how you have strengthened your bond exponentially without even realizing it. Magic, super strength, the appetite, all because you jumped his bones.

Nice.

It sounded so cool- but then overwhelming all at the same time. Was it permanent? What if you lost control and actually hurt someone for real.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t think about it-I just. You felt so good.” He wilts. “I should have been more careful- this is the first time I’ve done this.”

“Beel-”

“I swear.” He bulldozes over you. “I didn’t mean to keep this from you.”

You cut him off, combing your fingers through his hair soothingly. “I believe you, Beel.” You smile reassuringly. “It’s not like it’s gonna hurt me...right?”  He thinks about it for a minute then grunts, shaking his head. You grin brighter stretching out your arms. “And I get some cool powers right?”

He nods again. “For a bit yes.”

You get up off the ground excitedly. “Right then! You’ll show me the ropes right? I’ve never done anything magical before!” You look at your palms as if fire or sparks were going to fly out of them. Beel rises to his feet too.

“You sure? I doubt I will be as good of a mentor as Lucifer or even Belphie.” He looks around the large grove of trees and sprawling grassy acreage around you both. You both were far away from the populated areas of the mountain pass and town. He could practice with you freely and without worrying about damaging anything important. “Not the date I promised, but if you really want me to show you some stuff…” He offers you a shy smile. He did have a few cool tricks he could show you. You nod already rolling up your sleeves. Well- if this was what you really wanted then he would be glad to show you.  

[brownandblackpearls]

🦇𝒯he  𝒱isitor (Alucard Tepes x BlackReader)

 PART 1 SUMMARY:

While trying to escape the clutches of criminals and cutthroats, you stumble across a castle beyond imagination. The corpses staked at the front aren’t enough to keep you out. But after entering, you begin to wonder what you got yourself into, and what the castle is hiding within its walls...

─── Alucard x black female reader

─── imagery + fiction

─── explicit smut

─── TW// slight gore, general mentions of rapists// Fantasy, vampires, hurt/comfort, enemies-to-friends-to-lovers, magic user, cute bats, gardening, cooking, cottagecore MC, castlecore Alucard.

☾ next.

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└───────────━┿──┿━──────────┘

You fight through the underbrush of the woods, hurrying as quickly as your feet will allow.

They’re on your trail.

You’ve been evading these criminals from the last town you’d passed through, but they just keep stalking after you. They’d been all too eager to see a lone, beautiful woman traveling with no companions, no guides, and no guardians. 

They had tried and failed to corner you alone several times in the town and on the roads, but you haven’t made it this far on your own without some learned skills. A finger-bolt of lightning at one’s eye, a fire-heated palm tight on another’s wrist, swings of sharp dagger at all of their torsos, their throats. 

Anything and everything to escape. It’s not your first sticky situation, and it probably won’t be your last.

You know how to be quiet. How to hide. And when it comes down to it, you know how to swindle and how to fight, if need be. You try not to resort to that, not out of compassion or concern for the heathens that try to best you...no. You just know that you’re not as skilled as some of the rigorously trained ex-militia and rogue bandits that prey on loners in towns and off the roads.

You don’t know exactly what they want. A woman to toss around between themselves and torture before they descend on you like wolves? A new girl to sell on the black market? A pretty decoy to get carts and wagons to stop on the roads, allowing them to abush, raid, rape and kill as they please?

Whatever it is that they want, you’re not giving it to them.

‘They’ll have to catch me, first.’

You duck and dodge branches, bobbing and weaving through the trees before the forest finally begins to clear. You keep your hand on your dagger’s hilt, just in case.

Who knows what hides in the woods?

Finally, you come to a clearing run through by a small creek. The dense woods have seemed to disperse here, and now all that you can spy are peaceful glens and swaying flowers. Deer jump away through the grass, hares run into their holes, and fish shine from the stream. 

It feels…safe.

But you’re not one to be foolish, and so you continue on. Hoisting your basket closer, you can’t help but spy a garden as you pass through the glen.

Fat tomatoes hang on vine, bright orange carrot tops sprout from the soil, green onions, zucchini, berries and fruits….

…Someone has made a garden here. Hopefully if they’re the gardening sort, then they’re the safe sort. You quickly fill your basket with a few items, tuck some coins hidden near the stalks in apology for your ransacking, and carry on.

Finally, the glen ends, the forest stops entirely, and you stumble upon something entirely unexpected.

'A castle...? Out here in the middle of nowhere...?’

A grand, gothic castle of castles, spirals up towards the clouds in the sky. You gaze up at it in awe, sure that there is nothing else in the world quite so large or so spectacular. You’re certain that had the woods not been so oppressive and thick on the way in here, so wide and strenuous, that you would’ve spotted the castle for what it was miles and miles and miles ago.

You whistle low, impressed as you step forward. You take only a few steps before you stop.

A ripple in the wind draws your eye.

Two barely clothed bodies impaled on stakes tower before you, death etched onto their faces. The spikes go through them, hidden by the soiled shifts they wear and rising high up and out through their mouths. It is a grisly sight indeed.  Unfortunately, you’re no stranger to ‘grisly’ in these lands.

You move slower, more carefully than before.

Assessing the bodies, the blood is long dried on the stakes and the petrified flesh. Most of the meat is gone, pecked away by crows most likely, and the flesh that remains is hard and dried out. 

You have dealt with your fair share of monsters, but you’re not too sure you want to risk running into the one who did this. It was done with malice, strength, and a raw fury. A nonchalance for human life, it seems. Much like the same nonchalance shared by the evil men you run from.

You hear faint voices call from the trees. 

They’ve tracked you. And they’re coming closer.

“We can’t come here. It’s cursed ground. Don’t you know who this castle used to belong to?”

“Yeah, and they’re dead. No one’s seen em’ for ages. But I see little footsteps. Have a feeling the lass went this way.”

You freeze, glancing between the bodies, the huge castle door before you, and the mouth of the forest.

It’s the castle and its possible hidden horrors, or the men on your trail.

“Skin like ebony, that one. Pretty mouth, doe eyes. She’d sell for a pretty penny.. We wouldn’t have to raid for months.”

“…Or we could keep her to warm the cold nights.”

Your mind races, trying to choose. 

You could fight the men, still. But there are many of them, and just one of you. Your magic is somewhat abysmal without knowledge to guide you, and your dagger won’t measure up to prove the little sword skills you do possess. Your words will probably not get you out of this one, either. Not this time.

“I’d rather make her scream.”

“You would like that, wouldn’t you Macon? But you did that to the last one, and now we’re out here hunting a new lass instead of enjoying the old one.”

‘That’s it,’ you decide.

The castle it is.

You sprint away from the woods as fast as your billowing cloak and dress will allow, ignoring the foul smell of decay and passing between the bodies. You feel as though you’ve irrevocably crossed a line that shouldn’t be crossed, a decision made that can’t be taken back.

You will live with it, you decide. Better that, than capture.

Racing to the front of the grand doors, larger than the largest buildings you’ve witnessed in life before this day, you bang raptly against the wood and stone.

For a moment, nothing happens and you feel as though you will be caught right at the footsteps of this castle.

Then, you hear a doldrum, a creak and whirring of machinery and mass movement. The door shifts open just slight enough for you to slide through, making a gigantic noise in it’s wake. 

Quick as wind, you push through and fall to the floor, turning to see the grand door begin to shut closed behind you. 

The men stand before the staked bodies, unwilling to pass them and watching you as the doors close you out of their sight.

“You’d be better off with us murderers and thieves, woman!” One shouts futilely. “For even our hearts aren’t as black as the monster’s in those walls!” 

The door shuts him and the rest out. You harrumph and stand, wiping the dust off your dress and looking away.

Fuck him. And fuck his threats, and fuck his horrible little friends. Any black-hearted beasts you come across, you could handle well enough.

At least…that’s what you tell yourself to keep a brave face. Better that than nothing.

You look around.

The inside of the castle is larger than life, grand, and dark. Everything is clean and without dust as you would’ve expected from such a structure…an army couldn’t keep this clean…yet it feels unlived in.

For a moment, there is nothing but heavy, oppressive silence. You listen for a breath, a sound, but can hear nothing outside of your own increasing heartbeat.

You turn, looking to the top of the staircase.

Your eyes tell you there is nothing there, but your instincts tell you something else.

Suddenly, the lights of a thousand candles sweep on throughout the grand hall, illuminating a massive stone staircase and a figure standing at the top of it. You have very good sight, but the room is so large that you can barely make out the figure, even with the candlelight.

Nothing is said, the figure is motionless, and you begin to tremble. This must be the one who lives in this place…not an intruder or a vagrant. You don’t know how you know, but the figure is too large, too looming, and too confident even in its vagueness of detail for you to assume it to be anything other than the owner. 

The one who likely staked those unfortunate souls outside the walls.

You feel as if the mysterious figure is waiting for something, and you don’t know what to say. But something must be said.

Your voice is as steady as your fear will allow.

“My name is ———. I come from afar. I am…I am seeking refuge…if you will have me.”

“Refuge from the men outside.” 

The voice carries through the empty hall, lilting, low, and deadly. You hear hints of refinement in the speech but they are not enough to hide the white hot lethalness you sense underneath. A rage that you cannot even begin to place or name.

“Y-yes,” you stumble embarrassingly, affected, “from the men outside. They followed me here. I have nowhere to go.”

“And so you feel entitled to my protection.”

“No!’ You exclaim, shaking your head. You stopped expecting assistance from people long ago. The life of a lonely wanderer is just that...lonely. “I inconvenience you, and for that I apologize sincerely. Just…just refuge. I can be on my way after they depart.”

“To where...?” The disembodied voice says as calm as a pond at night, yet you feel the ripples that lie beneath.

“Nowhere,” you breathe.

“…And you come from?” The figure disappears like a mist, yet the voice remains.

“I…nowhere,” you gasp honestly, truly afraid now.

“Lies.” The voice spits viciously, sounding closer then far away, as if it’s bouncing around the space of the great hall.

“It’s t-true!” You insist, your trembling hands reeling in towards your chest in a futile attempt of protection from the unseen danger. “I hail from nowhere! I belong to nowhere! I have little. Just refuge, sir. A night, even!”

“I could grant you refuge,” the voice assumes, “or I could send you back out to those men and be bothered with none of you.”

“You wouldn’t,” you breathe, daring a chance to hope.

The voice chuckles humorlessly, dry as dead leaves.

“Perhaps,” it toys. “But I also wouldn’t allow a mysterious woman of mysterious origins to stay in my castle, learn of my ways, only to run back to the outside world and send a horde of farmhands sprinting over to slay me. Wouldn’t be the first time. No, I think I’ll keep you instead. Are you willing to make that bargain with the Devil?”

You pause, your mind blank. You search for an answer to reason with this...this...your thoughts race.

“Look, I know I’ve come into your abode unannounced and rather…rather rudely, making demands, but I must implore you—“

“—Answer me!” the voice barks, making you nearly jump out of your skin.

'That’s it.’

“You’re a prick, you know that?!” You blurt.

“…” You can hear the confusion in the empty air. “…Pardon?”

You push on, figuring that if you’re going to be staked by the unseen castle-owner or given up to the men outside, or toyed with any longer by any of this nonsense, that you may as well speak your mind one last time.

“You know good and goddamn well that I am not running into a fantastical, creepy castle of myth decorated by corpses on the front porch for the fun of it! As if I care or even believe some farmhands could handle much less defeat you when you can clearly impale full grown adults and work such a place as this—!”

“...”

“—And how dare you tease a woman scared out of her wits, can you even pretend to try to put yourself in my place?! Do you know how long I’ve been running from those idiots? If I had your strength I’d’ve staked them myself and added them to your lovely, little welcome collection as a visiting gift, because believe me, I’m sick of running from morons and monsters! I’m not above spilling blood! But as I said before, I possess little, and come from nothing, and journey towards nothing. From that, you can figure I can’t do much in terms of protecting myself besides running into large, spooky places and begging their arrogant owners for some rest—”

“.....”

“—So, I’d very much appreciate if you stopped toying with me and make your decision on whether you’re going to kill me, kick me out, or keep me, because I’m tired of trying to figure this all out by myself and I’m tired of the anticipation. So what’ll it be Mr. I-Like-to-Leave-Corpses-Outside-My-Castle-and-Harrass-Visitors?”

You huff after your rant, waiting.

The voice is silent for a long, long moment, before an accusing tone reverbs back to you.

“You’re the one who barged in—“

“—You’re the one who opened the door!” You return, throwing your hands out in frustration.

“I didn’t, the castle did.”

“Oh, well fuck me, then. I suppose I ought to thank the ‘castle’ and head back out to let those hoodlums try their worst. So long, strange sir! It was interesting, arguing with you.”

You turn on your heel, over this entire day, and knock at the door raptly. You tap your foot as you wait on the castle, arms crossed and dagger in your hand to strike the nearest hoodlum that likely awaited outside. What a day, you couldn’t believe this shit.

The machinery whirs once more and the door barely opens before a large, leather gloved hand reaches past your head and slams the towering door back, closing it shut. The strength the act takes is incomprehensible, you think. 

Inhuman, you realize.

The hairs at the back of your neck raise long after the presence behind you appears. You feel no breath on your neck, yet you know someone stands behind you. You can’t look away from the large, gloved hand on the door. You’re afraid to see exactly who stands behind you.

A man...? Or something else entirely….?

You try to speak but gasp instead, short and shocked.

Silence reigns before you get a hold of yourself and choke something out.

“Y-y-you’ve made your decision then…I presume...?” You stammer into a squeaking volume, your anger long gone and replaced by fear once again.

“Don’t make me regret it…” The voice sneers, close enough for the breath of it to shift your hair and the baritone to reverb over your skin. A chill runs up your back and you can do little to hide it. You feel as though the figure behind you is impossibly tall, imperceptibly assessing, and spying every single thing you do. 

You feel the presence lean in over your shoulder, a mouth right next to your ear.

“…or you will regret it, visitor. That, I can promise.”

You gulp loudly, nodding your assent without turning around. You feel frozen to the spot. The hand withdraws and your shoulders unclench only a fraction. You feel as if a predator had been standing behind you, and has decided not to destroy you...for the moment.

You wonder if you are right, and why your cheeks suddenly feel so hot when your heart is beating so fast in terror...?

“I’m going to clean the trash off of my porch,” the voice states eerily. “Don’t touch anything until I return.”

As quick as a blink, the presence disappears entirely. 

You finally turn around, alone and confused.

There is nothing but the large castle hall, looking back at you.

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AN: Do not under any circumstances copy, repost, or edit any of my work. If you see someone do so, please let me know.

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