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my-secret-shame-but-fanfiction · 3 months ago

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When Darkness Falls

Orestes x afab!Monster!Reader • Rating: 18+ pals Masterlist• ao3• want to be tagged? | request info • Kinktober 2024 Masterlist • Day 16: Public Sex

Summary: After Orestes and his men are captured by a strange group, the punishment seems unusual.

A/N: Thank you so much @thexsanctuaryx for beating and saving me as always! I don't know how my mind turned 'public sex' into this.

Warnings: Monster!Reader (werewolf-y), swearing, p in v sex, injuries, please let me know if I have missed a warning!

Word Count: 1850

Orestes winced as the guard pressed against his injured shoulder and forced him to his knees. His wrists were bound behind his back, so tightly that the rope was cutting off the blood supply to his fingers.

“You are accused of trespassing on our lands. From taking fruit from the Hylopius tree.” The man bellowed, he was dressed in dark blue robes finely woven. Seven others, presumably nobles and the jury, stood to his side.

“My men and I were lost, we took shelter from the storm. We did not know these were your lands,” Orestes tries to keep his tone strong and even, to keep his chin high as he answers. “We-”

“Ignorance is not an excuse.” He snarls. “You pillage, and take. But you are far from your Rome now. Your crimes will not go unpunished.”

Orestes breathes deeply. “Please, my men, they are innocent in this. I will take the punishment, if you let-”

“You are in no position to demand anything.”

“I am not demanding, I am-” The leader gestures with his hand and Orestes winces in pain as the guard presses against the wound in his temple.

“Your men fought back against our soldiers, they are as guilty as you are. I will cast punishment on you all.” He grins wickedly. “The Lycan’s Pit.”

The noblemen laugh.

Orestes is dragged to his feet and pulled from the room, “What, what is that? What do you speak of?”

The guards do not answer as he is taken into a large hall beautifully decorated in fine mosaic. The images of torn bodies and blood, of huge creatures with red eyes shaped like the beasts of childhood nightmares painstakingly crafted. There are rows of seats carved into the walls, the layout reminiscent of a small scale colosseum, able to hold around 50 people.

In the centre of the room was a circle pit that seemed to travel into the depths of the earth itself.

“They will feast on your flesh.” The leader laughs.

“Wait-” A loud gong of a bell echoes out, cutting off his words as he is thrown into the middle of the room next to the pit, he grunts, managing to get to his knees as the guards bring out thorned branches layered with silver chains. They arrange them around the outside of the floor, a barrier from the seats and Orestes.

“What is that?” He asks.

The nobles take seats as the guards stand to attention, more people flood in, all equally dressed in finery and sit.

“The Lycans cannot cross the barrier.” The leader laughs, like he was explaining a basic concept.

“I wonder who will join us today?” One nobel asks another.

“I hope it is Baral. He is the most vicious. I want to see him tear the roman apart.”

Orestes swallows thickly, pulling at the ropes. If he could just…

There is a low growl from the pit. A deep and terrible snap of teeth.

He freezes despite myself when a large clawed hand grabs hold of the side. It‘s huge, the palm alone bigger than his head, some kind of mix between a human and a wolf.

Slowly the creature pulls itself up and out, snarling with rows of sharp teeth and blood red eyes.

He wants to scream. But he can’t move, can’t think.

A hush falls on the nobles as the creature appears and stalks around to Orestes.

He seems to snap back to reality, and struggles to stand, to run, to defend himself, to-

The creature lunges forward and on top of him.

He closes his eyes, bracing for the sharp stink of ripping claws and teeth. But it doesn’t come.

He breathes deeply, raggedly, his heart pounding in his temples and slowly opens his eyes.

It’s dark, like he’s in a cave. It takes a moment for him to realise that the cave is fur. The creature seemingly, somehow draped over him to make a small tent like space.

He sits up a little, his shoulder brushing the fur. It’s soft and warm, moving a little with the creature's breath.

“Hello.”

He jumps, pushing himself back further against the fur and you giggle.

“I am sorry to scare you.”

Orestes blinks heavily, you’re sitting opposite him crouched with a large smile on your face. He can see your canines, larger than a person’s should be, and your eyes deep and red. But beautiful, oh so painfully beautiful.

You give him a little wave and he nods his head.

“They tied you?” Your voice is sweet and gentle.

He nods again.

You tut and carefully edge forward.

He swallows, sucking in a breath in spite of himself, you move like running water, swift and mesmerising, your body completely naked.

You watch him as you move, careful for any signs of distress like he was an injured rabbit in a trap.

You reach back and cut the ropes with your sharp nails that retract a little when you are finished.

“There you go.” “Thank you.” He mutters, staring bewitched as you move back a fraction but remain close. “There is a creature, a…”

You smile. He knows it’s you.

“Where are we?” He swallows, rubbing life back into his fingers.

“We are not where you were.”

“Am I dead?”

You shake your head. “We will have to return there, shortly. Here is just to talk for a moment.” You touch his temple, the gooey blood on his skin.

He flinches but doesn’t pull away when he realises your touch is gentle.

“Are you going to kill me?” He breathes, watching you intently. His heart is still beating fast, his muscles tingling with adrenaline. But he doesn’t want to run or fight, he wants… he wants to…

“No.” You smile, taking your fingers to your lips and licking off his blood.

“Why?” He asks without thinking.

You laugh lightly. “You smell… nice.”

“Nice?” His mouth twitches upwards, surprised.

You nod, leaning a little forward. “You don’t smell like food.” You whisper.

Orestes swallows. He can’t help himself, can’t stop himself even if he wanted to. He tilts his head and presses his lips to yours in a rush.

You lick into his mouth and he tastes his own blood on your tongue. He groans, lightheaded and needy as he presses himself closer.

He whines when you pull back a fraction, smiling. “You smell like a mate.”

Orestes nods desperately. “Please.”

“Do you accept me?”

He nods rapidly, pushing himself closer to you again. His cock aches between his legs, pressing against his clothing and begging to be freed.

“In any form?”

“In any form.” He mutters. “Please.”

You grin.

In a blink of his eyes, he is back in the mosaic hall, flat on his back. The nobles watching as the creature, you, lean over him, your teeth so close to snapping into the flesh of his neck.

He turns his head, touches your soft fur with his free hands. “Please.”

You let out a soft growl, the sound vibrating through his chest.

There’s some quiet murmuring from the crowd, anticipation as they think he’s about to get eaten alive.

With one clawed hand, you lightly dip under his clothing, ripping it in two clean down the middle.

Orestes gasps, biting his lip as you bow your head down and lick a broad flat stripe with your thick tongue. You start between his legs, rising up his body until you flick just under his jaw.

He groans, his eyes rolling back as he squirms under you, your strong form keeping him pressed down and at your mercy.

There are a few confused whispers, surprised at how he seems to be enjoying himself.

His cock is already painfully hard, throbbing in time with his rapid heartbeat. You nuzzle at his neck, your breath hot on his skin as you lay yourself fully over him, moving your legs and taking his length inside yourself.

Orestes gasps, moaning loudly as he sinks inside. He claws at your fur, trying to pull you closer as he shakes. It feels so good, liquid pleasure running up his spine as he fills you that practically paralyses him in place.

His cry of passion is almost indistinguishable from one of pain, and at first, the crowd thinks he has been split open.

You growl and he shivers as you rock your hips. It’s like you’re everywhere, touching him with claws and teeth and nails and hands. He can feel your lips on his thighs and stomach, fur and skin on his chest, both forms seemingly at once as you increase your pace.

It’s electric, addicting as you devour him; mind, and body, and soul.

“Yes, yes, please, yes,” he moans, uncaring of the many eyes watching him hurtling rapidly to his release. Your heat squeezes him, caresses him, lets him sink deeper into mind numbing pleasure.

“Please,” he sobs, he wants to call your name but he realises, painfully, that he hadn’t asked for it, instead he pulls at your fur, at your shoulders, at any part of you he can reach.

You snap your teeth and it sounds like a chuckle before you lick along his neck and drag your canines along his skin.

“My heart,” he whispers, his voice strained, “I’m, I’m close.” He doesn’t want this to stop, to ever end. But he can feel his body racing towards his climax like an unbridled horse. His hips buck, his balls tightened.

You rock faster, you slick running down and coating his skin as your warmth begs for his release. In this form, you need his pleasure desperately. Can only have your own as he experiences his.

He whines, crying out beautifully as his back arches. He comes loudly, shivering and sobbing as he empties into you, giving you every single part of himself.

Pleasure rushes along your veins, embeds in your bones and you howl, long and hard as you come with him.

You lick into his mouth, cradling him as he nuzzles against you.

“Foolish beast!” The leader yells, shouting for the guards.

One hurls a spear at you that clatters off your form as if it was a rain drop. But Orestes flinches.

And you snarl.

You turn quickly, jumping from him and barreling through the barrier that does absolutely nothing to stop you. You rip the guards and nobles to pieces in a matter of seconds, moving faster than they can fathom as they scream in terror. How dare they threaten him, your mate.

You blink, the rage dulling.

Slowly, you turn back to Orestes, worried for a second about your outburst until you see his soft eyes as he reaches out for you. You move back to him, nuzzling your face into his palm.

He kisses your nose, your cheek, licking some of the sprayed blood from your fur as you embrace him, laying him back down under you protectively.

“I did not ask for your name, my love.” He whispers softly and smiles when you mutter it against his ear. He repeats it slowly with undying affection.

Thank you for reading!

@pleasurebuttonwrites @raven-rk @campingwiththecharmings @alexxavicry @whatthefishh

@romanarose @strangerhands @saturn-rings-writes ho

@steven-grants-world @eyelessfaces @angel-of-the-moons @minigirl87 @lunar-ghoulie

@silvernight-m @autismsupermusicalassassin @apesarecuul @reallyrallyauthor @basicalyrandom

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@maplemind @mwltwo @loonymagizoologist @dameronshandholder @queerly-anxious

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@mandytrekkie @lounilu @avengersinitiative2012 @pigeonmama @marcsb1tch

@iolaussharpe-24 @chaithetics @DowBaStan @faretheeoscar@lonelyisamyw-0love

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@ierofrnkk @have-you-seen-my-sanity

If you'd like to be taken off the tag list please let me know here

#orestes #agora #orestes x reader #x reader #orestes x you #x you #orestes x female reader #x female reader #orestes x f!reader #x f!reader #orestes x fem!reader #x fem!reader #my writing #fanfic #oscar isaac #oscar isaac characters

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lorienn-art · 18 days ago

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FR [Éclipse] Heyyyy ! J’ai l’impression que ça fait une éternité que je n’ai pas fait de grosse illustration à l’aquarelle comme celle-ci ! Honnêtement, je ne pensais pas pouvoir la finir avant la fin de 2024, mais je pense que c’est une bonne illustration pour clôturer l’année (et je trouve qu’elle va assez bien avec l’ambiance des fêtes de fin d’année, je ne sais pas pourquoi jsjs). Je suis vraiment heureuse du résultat ! Je suis particulièrement fière des comètes et de la manière dont j’ai réussi à la rendre toute lumineuse (au centre) ! Pour la pose, je me suis inspirée d’un plan dans Revolutionary Girl Utena (cet anime a les poses de couple les plus belles, dramatiques et théâtrales possibles). Enfin, je suis aussi contente de pouvoir réutiliser son design « Déesse du Soleil » que je lui avait fait parce que je l’adore ! Si vous êtes curieux à propos des techniques : j’ai utilisé de l’aquarelle (bien sûr), un peu de crayons de couleur, ainsi que des feutres acrylique et quelques touches de gouache. Joyeuses fêtes ! A bientôt !

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

EN [Eclipse] Heyyyy! I feel like it’s been forever since I last made a big watercolour illustration like this one! Honestly, I didn’t know I would be able to finish it before the end of 2024, but I think it’s a nice illustration to close this year (and it seems quite fitting for the Holidays season to me somehow jsjs). I’m really happy with how it turned out! I’m especially proud of the comets and the way I managed to make her glow! For the pose, I took inspiration from a shot in Revolutionary Girl Utena (this show really has the most beautiful, dramatic and theatrical poses for couples ever). Finally, I’m also glad I could use again her “Sun Goddess” design because I absolutely love it! If you’re curious about the techniques: I used watercolour (ofc), a bit of coloured pencils, as well as acrylic markers and some touches of gouache. Happy holidays! See you soon!

Reference:

#artists on tumblr #watercolour #watercolor #illustration #jjba #jojo's bizarre adventure #jojos bizarre adventure #jojo no kimyou na bouken #jotaro kujo #jotawife #mrs kujo #jolyne's mom #jolynes mom

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neverlostmycrown · 2 months ago

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Evanescence - Oct 25 2024 - Montreal, QC - Bell Centre

Photos by Andres Amaya

#evanescence #amy lee #the bitter truth era #amy lee outfits #ilovethis #canada tour

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asyalorelei · 10 months ago

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Shoma UNO (JPN), during Men Short Program, at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2024, at Centre Bell, on March 21, 2024 in Montreal, Canada. (Photo by Raniero Corbelletti/AFLO)

#shoma uno #figure skating #worlds 2024

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francaistoutsimplement · 23 days ago

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M. Mouton et sa belle voiture électrique.

Monsieur Mouton est joyeux. Il a écouté les écolos sur les terribles dangers de la voiture thermique sur le climat et il a compris. Il lui faut une voiture électrique. D'ailleurs, Monsieur Mouton est un bon européen. Et il a entendu sa bonne fée Ursula qui lui a dit qu'à partir de 2035, il n'y aurait plus de voiture à moteur thermique neuve à la vente. Alors Monsieur Mouton est tout joyeux parce qu'il vient de recevoir sa nouvelle voiture électrique et il se sent une âme écolo.

Bon, en fait, non. Il espère surtout faire une grosse économie sur le coût de ses trajets habituels, en ne payant plus cette essence au prix exorbitant.

Certes, sa belle voiture va lui coûter un bras, mais Monsieur Mouton espère s'y retrouver avec le temps. Et puis, au moins il profite encore de « la prime à la conversion » offerte sur les voitures électriques. S'il avait attendu que cette prime soit supprimée, c'est-à-dire, au 1er janvier 2025, son achat lui aurait coûté deux bras.

Sa voiture flambant neuve est là, en bas de son appartement, sur le parking de sa résidence. Monsieur Mouton est très fier de son acquisition. Bon, évidemment, pour la recharge de sa belle voiture électrique, c'est un peu compliqué. Il n'y a pas de borne de recharge sur le parking de sa résidence. Et ses voisins du dessous lui ont fait comprendre qu'ils n'aimaient pas trop voir pendre sa rallonge électrique de 80 mètres devant leurs fenêtres. Même son voisin du rez-de-jardin lui a dit que cette rallonge traînant dans son jardinet le gênait quand il tondait sa pelouse... Faut dire que ses voisins sont vraiment des mauvais coucheurs!

Monsieur Mouton va donc recharger sa belle voiture en centre-ville, à 5 mn de son domicile. 5 mn en voiture, un quart d'heure à pied. Et il prend rapidement l'habitude d'aller la recharger le soir, quand il rentre du travail. Enfin... quand il peut. Parce que souvent, il n'y a pas de place disponible sur l'emplacement de recharge, déjà occupée par Monsieur Pigeon, un autre amateur de voiture électrique. Ou par quelqu'un d'autre. Donc, dans ce cas, Monsieur Mouton revient chez lui. Il retournera voir si la place est libre, plus tard en soirée, vers 22 heures. Ou vers 23 heures, après le film à la télé qui est entrecoupé de pubs qui lui disent comme c'est formidable d'avoir une voiture électrique. ....

Ne vous privez pas de lire la suite : https://saucisson-pinard.blogspot.com/ du jeudi 12 décembre 2024....

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geekynerfherder · 2 months ago

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VicePress will debuting new exclusive limited edition prints during the Thought Bubble Comic Con in the Harrogate Convention Centre in Harrogate, UK, November 16-17 2024.

'Dune: Part Two' by Matt Ferguson

'Wallace & Gromit: A Grand Day Out' by Mark Bell

'The Thing' by John J Pearson

'Batman: The Animated Series' by Thumbs

Prints will be available on the VicePress website Saturday November 16 at 6pm UK.

#Art #Vice Press #Thought Bubble #Dune #Matt Ferguson #Wallace & Gromit #Mark Bell #The Thing #John J Pearson #Batman #Batman The Animated Series #Thumbs #poster #print

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gard3nias · 2 months ago

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17| Hesperiidae

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wc: 6.41k

date: 02/11/2024

mdi // masterlist // playlist

—Now playing: Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton ✫

The moon was up high, lying in an endless bed of pure darkness flawed by tiny sparkles. Their brightness wasn't substantial next to the big round source of light residing in the centre of the sky which shone intensely and merged with the artificial light of the lampions standing by the road every couple of feet.

The course ahead was made of asphalt and cut through lands of green grass. As Daphne rode her bicycle on the bright path, she left the loud music from the party and entered the idyllic silence of a late October night, out of the noise pollution she used to live in two months ago.

She loved the wind, seeing and hearing how it made the leaves on tree branches dance, how it pushed her hair back as she sped through Asher's neighbourhood and how it melted with speed and made her feel like she was defying gravity and flying. It made her overjoyed along with the memory of the past few moments.

Just as Taehyung smiled only when everyone was out of view, so did Daphne as she cycled on the tarmac. Nothing seemed to bother her, not her boots, not the wind nor the cold Autumn temperatures. She was too preoccupied with reliving the party in her head and smiling the more she did. Her thoughts spoke loudly to her, surpassing the screams James emitted anytime they rode downhill despite the late hours.

The last instants before she greeted him were so imprinted in her brain and only at that moment, because of him, was physics and school completely out of her mind. Her heart would jump higher than when she rode on the road bumps whenever she thought about how he looked at her. She wanted to get down from the bicycle and scream her way to Asher's home because of how excited she felt. Her guts were dancing to the happy tune in her head.

They walked together, talked about each other a little and smoked the same cigarette. She bit her lower lip to try to stop smiling but it was impossible.

He told her they would meet in school meaning he wanted to see her again, right? Or was it in general? It can't be, right?

James was as happy as she was and they didn't check behind to see where their friends were. Nick gave Cleo a piggyback ride for a bit but, seeing Daphne and James ride away at the speed of light, they realised it would take them too long to get home and were tired so they tried to sober Cleo up by having her walk for a bit so she wouldn't fall asleep.

The girl wasn't as drunk as before and was simply sleepy so she whined when he dropped her and told her to walk just a little before they would all ride on the bike and go home.

In the meantime, James and Daphne had already made it to Asher's house, not without the girl having to snap out of her fantasies and ask for the exact directions.

They didn't have the keys to the gate but Asher's mom opened it for them without them having to ring the bell. Her son had told her when the party would end and, since the hour hand was getting closer to one, she got out of bed and waited in the living room for signs of the young kids. She showed no surprise at seeing only two out of the five teenagers who left her house hours ago—Asher's coldness didn't just fall from heaven—although James and Daphne explained the situation as they placed the bike in its place. The woman nodded, reminded them not to enter with their shoes on or make noise and, after wishing them a good night, she went back to bed.

Obeying, the two took their shoes off and left them by the door before entering.

"I've got to fucking pee!" James whisper-yelled and Daphne laughed, trying to be as silent as possible.

As the boy rushed to the closest bathroom, the girl went to her bedroom for the night, taking off her jacket. Behind its wooden door was darkness with the intrusion of subtle light penetrating through the window and the curtains. Turning on the main light, she proceeded into the wide space searching for a lamp and dropped the jacket on the bed. Once she found it, she turned it on and returned to turn the main light off.

A part of her was glad to be at home and just moments away from going to sleep while the other wished her talk with Taehyung had lasted longer. The night was a great success and she didn't regret agreeing to attend the party, in fact, she facepalmed herself every time she thought about what could have happened if she didn't agree to go.

She carried herself to the bathroom where, despite the mirror being a bit smaller than hers at home, she looked at her reflection, turning left and right and posing to see how she looked at the party. Then she abruptly stopped and a smile gradually rose before she giggled, all shy. If she were at home, she would be jumping around and dancing with Loki and Luke—would even talk to them and gist them about the whole night as if they could understand her.

Mentally slapping herself back to her senses, she removed her earrings, bracelets, necklace and rings. Once she returned to the room to take her makeup remover and cotton pads, she heard some noise from the living room. Feet still in her socks, she walked out of the chamber, into the hallway and the living room where she met Asher, Nick and Cleo.

—Now playing: Big Jet Plane by Angus & Julia Stone ✫

Daphne didn't know if it was possible but she believed Cleo's hangover was already showing: when her friend stepped foot in the house, she beelined for the bedroom and said she'd be showering first without even looking at the respondent. Daphne brushed it off, closed the bedroom door, stripped out of her clothes to wear a maxi T-shirt and sat comfortably on the bed to take off her make-up. In all honesty, Cleo's grumpy look was funny, looked like it said: "I fucked up and I now know".

Filling the cotton pads with the product, she placed them on her eyes for a few seconds before wiping everything off and checking the results in the little mirror in her hands. Other than the sounds of water coming from the bathroom, the house was silent which instilled peace in Daphne, exactly what she needed after stressing her eardrums for hours.

Once she finished removing everything, with her face slightly wet but fresh, she took her phone and lied on the bed.

They had taken many pictures at the party, especially Cleo and she knew that once her friend was done showering, or probably in the morning, she'd spend some time uploading some on her Instagram stories and feed.

In Daphne's gallery were rows of pictures under the party's date. It didn't take her long to choose which ones would be posted, deleted or left in her gallery.

She didn't like showing her face too much online and her choices were respected by the look of almost every picture she selected: they were mostly blurred or hazy, adding a peculiar effect to the party.

Five pictures were for her feed and two for her stories. The first picture on the post was a fit check, a mirror selfie capturing only her outfit and was taken before their departure. The second was to show what food they'd been served at the party. Sliding on to the third, she'd recorded a quick video with an initial focus on herself in the mirror in the makeshift changing room at the party and then moved to show Cleo as she put on her All Stars. The fourth picture captured the five of them holding drinks—the trashy one—and the last was a messy mirror selfie including all of them, taken before leaving for the party.

As she selected them, she skimmed through the gallery because didn't want to post too much, just enough to properly summarize the night.

On her stories, the first was a selfie taken in the mirror to show her make-up and her outfit, although at the moment she still had socks on.

The other picture was another mirror selfie quickly taken before they left Asher's home amidst the little quarrel between the love triangle trio about going by bike or by foot. The focus was on her and Asher, posing next to each other with facial expressions that showed they were unbothered by the argument in the background where their friends were partly caught.

Right when she was done posting everything, Cleo came out of the bathroom covered in a robe and with an even greater grumpy look on her face. Daphne chuckled when she saw that her friend had somehow managed to put on a shower cap.

"My turn, I suppose." Cleo simply hummed as she walked to her bag and quickly snatched her PJs out like they were her enemy's wig.

—Now playing: Island In The Sun by Weezer ✫

What her friends started working on after showering wasn't what Cleo had predicted or mustered enough energy for. After Daphne had showered, she got into her PJs and left the room and Cleo didn't question it, expecting her to be back soon because, even if she wanted to hang out with the others, she wouldn't stay long: it was late, they were tired and couldn't even talk freely exactly because it's late.

Her suspicions changed when she heard a strange noise from the kitchen: the clattering of pots and plates. "What the fuck?" She dryly spoke, dropping her phone on the bedside table and leaving the room.

As the noise had already suggested, her friends were cooking. Specifically, Daphne and Nick were cutting onions and other veggies on the wooden board while James and Asher worked on the pans.

"What are y'all doing?" Her voice sounded raspy and almost nonexistent as if the alcohol had given her a sudden sore throat which wouldn't be surprising because she wandered around in the cold for a bit too long without having the appropriate attire to withstand it.

"We're hungry so James thought we could remake a quick pasta recipe he saw on Instagram. Wanna help us?"

Cleo didn't speak for a moment and her friends didn't look in her direction, too busy with the activity proving to the curly-haired girl that they were serious.

"Oh, y'all are for real?" James nodded and winked before going back to his business. Cleo remained at the kitchen's entrance, processing everything in her head. She didn't know if it had been like that before or if it was sudden, but the sounds coming from her stomach implied a plate of pasta wouldn't hurt, in fact, it was needed, so she complied and joined them, hoping it would hasten everything and she'd be in bed as soon as possible.

Asher placed the ingredients on the counter: a packet of sausages, cheddar cheese, Parmigiano, rigatoni, and heavy cream. Silently, Cleo sliced the sausages while James brought out all the seasonings they needed.

Once the onions and the garlic were properly taken care of and ready, Daphne poured everything into the hot oil in the pan into which Nick peeked from behind her, scared of the sizzling sounds and the possibility that something hot could sprinkle onto him, something hot. The girl chuckled and pushed him away so he'd get her some salt and laughed harder when he handed it to her because his fear had frozen his feet on the spot and he wouldn't inch any closer to the hot pan if not just with his hand.

"There are just onions. They're not wet—"

"They're juicy! Didn't you feel the burn back there?" Nick whisper-yelled to express his fear, "I could barely cut one side of the onion and was already baling my eyes out. The fuck?"

In the meantime, behind them, James lifted his phone to take a selfie with Cleo who was so sleepy she forced a smile through her tiredness. He chuckled at the face she made before flipping the camera to his friends and recording.

Nick's frustration worded in lowercase was hilarious to Daphne especially since she couldn't make any noise and had to laugh silently. The situation became ten thousand times funnier and her laughter progressively became harder to control.

"Their juice is going to spice the oil's anger. I'd rather not test nature. You never know what the result could be." Fighting through the pain of her contracted abdomen and smacking the boy so he'd shut up, she asked him to pass her the spice container. Right when her hand was about to grab it from his, a little hot drop of oil sprinkled from the pan to Nick's hand and he abruptly retreated making the container bounce onto the counter and causing a loud sound that startled Cleo and James and had Asher loudly shushing them.

Daphne burst harder into laughs and crouched to hold her stomach while Nick was being dramatic in a corner and rubbing his hand as if he'd placed it under a running tap of scorching hot oil. Cleo was unfazed, wavering between the real world and sleep. James was laughing as hard as Daphne and Aser wanted to rip his hair off out of frustration—a great part of him was certain his mother must have woken up because of the noise.

While they prepared the sauce, Asher had already poured the pasta into the boiling-hot water in the other pot so by the time Daphne finished preparing the sauce by pouring in the heavy cream and the cheese, the pasta was well cooked.

"I wanna pour it in!" Nick was back to whisper-yelling as he begged Daphne to allow him to pour the pasta into the pan and mix everything up. "I know how to do it—"

"Dummy, you can't pour the pasta into the pan. It won't contain it! Pour it back into the pot," Daphne was laughing too much for her own good and to Asher's liking who seemed visibly stressed next to Nick. Obeying, the boy went to grab the pot of pasta but, being still hot and without any glove, when his hand came into contact with the hot handle of the pot, he abruptly dropped it onto the counter having Cleo and James jump on their spot—again, Daphne laughing loud for a split second and Asher with his fingers now deep into his skull out of frustration—probably ran out of hair to pull.

"You dumb— stupid— fucking— Ugh!" he didn't know what to say, how to define Nick or what he did. He just pushed him aside and took over the situation while Daphne still silently withered in her laughter in a corner, unknowingly being the focus of James's phone camera. The video wouldn't turn out great because, the whole while, he was laughing and shaking. Asher was quick to realise how funny the situation was and couldn't keep his demeanour intact for long before he chuckled.

"Stop laughing there and come help me pour this thing in." He instructed, trying to come off as serious.

"I wanna do it—"

"No, you're fucking not. Daphne?" Nodding and trying not to laugh because of the little quarrel in lowercase, she stood back up and lent a helping hand to her friend.

Within minutes, the food was ready and squicky sounds came from the pot whenever they mixed the pasta. Only at that moment did sleepy Cleo sort of wake up and help by grabbing five plates and forks—not without getting scolded by Asher for making too much noise.

"Fucking shit, it looks awesome." James complimented before his stomach rumbled so loudly everyone heard it and burst into laughs again.

Asher was in charge of sharing the food so, struggling to keep his eyes open and stop laughing he motioned for James to pass him his plate. Moments later, all the plates were filled.

"Shall we watch something or shall we make it quick?"

"Let's watch something–"

"Let's make it quick–"

Asher and Nick spoke simultaneously before glaring at each other. It was clear that Asher worried his friends would make too much noise and spike his mother's anger. She was a light sleeper and, knowing her, there was no way she was fully asleep in her bed and it surprised him that she hadn't marched out of the room to scold them yet.

"I'll choose!" James exclaimed and, in a split second, Asher's slipper flew across the room and perfectly hit James on his back causing everyone to laugh. Again, just like it had happened to Daphne moments earlier, they started off loudly only to decrease the volume and fight to suppress it completely.

Asher's home was divided into various spaces. The one they were in was wide and welcomed the living room, the kitchen and the dining room with half walls, pillars or pieces of furniture such as counters or the sofa differentiating the spaces.

—Now playing: Ode To My Family by Cranberries ✫

Since it was still October, they didn't need to use the fireplace and a simple heating system was more than enough, enough to make the place feel cosy. The five teenagers were in their pyjamas and most walked around just in socks. The boys had a random T-shirt and sweatpants on, Cleo wore matching pyjamas and Daphne was good with a pair of shorts and a big T-shirt. Both the girls had styled their hair somehow: Cleo wore two braids while Daphne's hair was held back into a low ponytail and a hairband to keep her bangs back.

James sat in the centre of the big sofa. He held his plate of pasta in one hand while the other worked the remote. Daphne found a seat on his left and made herself comfortable while Cleo and Nick were on his right. Asher was the last to join because he first settled a few things in the kitchen before turning off the lights.

On the TV screen, a circle spun around and within seconds, a Family Guy episode had loaded and started. On the couch, Daphne had taken her feet off the ground, Asher had settled next to her in the last spot left while James and Nick kept devouring their food as if they hadn't had something to eat in centuries. Lastly, Cleo's plate was already half empty because, indeed, she was hungry but also wanted to go to bed because she was exhausted and no movie or TV series could entertain her enough to stay awake.

The show playing on the TV is objectively considered comic but the five teenagers didn't smile nor laugh, too busy eating their food and too tired to move any muscle in their body. A few minutes in, Cleo got up, washed her plate in the sink and, after drying her hands, she beelined for her bedroom and dropped dead on it and into sleep. Her friends watched her as she got up and stopped when she left their view. They didn't question it, knowing the answer already. Only Nick spoke to her asking if she could bring them the pot of pasta. Not seeing her return, he deduced she wasn't down for helping anyone but herself so he got up.

The way the night proceeded was proof that the five friends could live on without speaking because they could easily understand each other through glances and body language. When Nick returned with the pot in his hands, he sat next to James and Asher switched seats, settling next to Nick and the next moment, the three were eating directly from the pot. Daphne chuckled at seeing them and, after finishing her plate of food, she went to the kitchen, washed it and returned to the living room.

The reason she went back to her friends and not to bed was that she wanted to exhaust every little drop of energy in her body so once her back would hit the mattress she'd fall into a deep sleep that would have her waking up late in the morning and not at the ass crack of dawn like how her body is used to so it's to guess how she felt when around half past six in the morning sleep had eloped her system leaving her awake, lying next to a deeply asleep Cleo on the bed.

Daphne could never proclaim hatred towards children but despised temper tantrums and yet, at that moment, she finally understood that maybe there was a little sense behind them because she wanted to stomp her fists on the bed, shake her head left and right and scream. She couldn't because it'd be childish and inappropriate considering the hour of the day and the state of the other people living in the house. She had to conceal her annoyance as she sat up and went to the bathroom.

She shouldn't be surprised. She'd written in her journal that she fancied routines so waking up at that time was expected despite her efforts not to. Like clockwork, after she'd eased herself into the bathroom, her mind began wandering around and soon stumbled upon the topic 'school', placing attention specifically on 'physics'. The nice effects of the party had worn off and she was back to her default settings especially considering that she could study physics because her anxious ass brought her books behind, feeling like she would've regretted her decision and therefore needed to squeeze in the subject wherever and whenever she could.

Her hair was an unusual mess and a sign that, despite going to bed a little past two in the morning, the four hours of slumber were spent all in deep sleep. She brushed her low ponytail a little before taking her things to the kitchen where she felt she wouldn't disturb anyone. Only then did she discover that the boys had fallen asleep in front of the TV and were all lying on the couch snoring away in their sleep.

She chuckled, wondering if they felt comfortable at all and placed the books on the counter before settling on the stool. There was no need for her to put headphones on because there was barely any sound flawing the silence around her, ignoring the snores. Highlighter in her hand, she opened her book and resumed the objectively boring activity, notebook on the side ready to collect any notes she'd jot down.

Just like when she reads, the clock hands start swinging left and right at the speed of light and time loses any form of concreteness. Her mind was snapped back to reality only when Nick spoke loudly in his sleep and startled her. Not surprisingly, the sound didn't scare just her but also the two boys around him who woke up as if they had a nightmare.

"What, what–"

"What was that..."

They murmured batting their eyes multiple times to adjust to the light and turn their brain on to reality. Daphne was still on the stool but slightly contorted as she watched the show unfolding behind her. While everyone momentarily defied gravity at his loud voice, Nick was still deep in his sleep, in fact, he wasn't done before because he proceeded to talk further which made James and Asher understand he was the source of the noise. One hard smack on the arm by the first and the noise maker was waken up although his reaction was maybe a second or two late.

"Nick, what the fuck?"

"Seriously, dude? Again?"

Daphne's chuckle soon changed into laughter as she watched Nick's face contort in pure confusion while his friends expressed annoyance and vexation. No day spent around them could go by without her laughing. The cinema was cheap and boring compared to the entertainment they could provide her: one moment she's laughing because of Nick and the next she's laughing because her friends are astonished at seeing her study physics so early in the morning after a party night. Asher and Nick tore the books out of her view while James lifted her from the stool and bodyslammed her on the couch as if they were wrestling.

Daphne would spend a few minutes writing about it in her journal later that day after her grandfather came to pick Cleo and her up before lunch and she'd gone home. To be frank, she spent a lot writing about the whole event, including the details and her opinions and even more when writing about the whole encounter with Taehyung. Yeah, it took her long to do so because she'd get shy, hide her face into her mattress and come back to her senses only to squeal like a child, hide her face again and repeat the whole process a handful of times.

—Now playing: Another Day In Paradise by Phil Collins ✫

That weekend allowed her to see a good example of how time seems inexistent when someone's having a good time. The party, the sleepover, all the time spent daydreaming about Taehyung, everything went by so quickly only to slow down when she'd sit in class, in the library or on her desk chair and open her physics book.

In the blink of an eye, October claimed to have overstayed its welcome and left, giving space for November to make its entrance with even colder temperatures behind. Daphne has had a few things on her plate the past two weeks, considering all the written and oral tests and, most especially the amount of anxiety that followed. But, while she was bothered by things like that, a few stops away from her home, Taehyung's hours of sleep had almost fully evaporated into thin air and his glasses were slowly melting into his body and becoming one with him.

The first week of November was important to him because, on Tuesday, the teams running in the campaign would officially have to share their presentations with the whole school. Sitting on his computer, and that of his other four friends and teammates, was a perfectly done and finished PowerPoint slideshow waiting to be presented. His phone had never been bombarded by messages as much as in the last few days—not even when he was dared to flirt with a crazy girl at a summer camp and give her his number.

Dressed in dark baggy jeans, sneakers at his feet and an oversized sweater, Taehyung messed his hair a bit as he walked along the school hallway with his glasses on top of his nose. His destination was a few floors below in the auditorium where some of his teammates already were. It was still early in the morning so barely anyone was in the classrooms. Behind him, running to catch up, was Jimin dressed in a similar outfit, expressing a similar amount of stress on his face. The two boys jogged down the stairs and walked past the entrance into the hallway on its right at which end was the auditorium.

Behind the huge doors was a wide room with rows of chairs arranged in a concentric way towards a focal point, the stage, where, within barely an hour, Taehyung would stand alongside his teammates and present their projects to students ranging from freshmen to seniors.

For the time being, just a handful of students were in the room. By the fourth hour of the day, more students would be occupying most of the chairs, among whom would be a special person, maybe the only one to ease his nerves.

That day, Daphne was dressed as usual: a pair of jeans and a baby tee hidden under the knitted wool sweater protecting her from the cold weather. A butterfly hairpin held half her hair up while she rocked a pair of Dr Martens. Her class was assigned to watch the presentations in the fourth hour of the day so one can already wonder who she walked next to as she went down the stairs and towards the huge door of the auditorium.

As expected, when they walked into the room, the front rows were all empty since all the students had settled behind so her class had no choice but to sit in the front. Precisely, her friends and she sat in the second row, close enough to feel the tension within the candidates' nerves.

Outside, the day wasn't so bright. It was drizzling when Daphne was on her way to school and it completely stopped by the time she'd made it to school but the sky was still grey, covered in dark clouds through which the sun pushed its rays resulting in a bright and gloomy atmosphere looming over the town.

At that moment, the lights in the auditorium were still on while the students came in and settled down in their seats. Daphne was sitting at the extreme right of the second row and next to her was Cleo followed by Nick, Asher and James. The huge doors of the auditorium were in front of her on the left and students still flocked through. In the centre was the stage where a screen displayed the first slide of a presentation she didn't know to whom it belonged.

Their school was normally warm, especially when heading to higher floors, but being on the ground floors, the temperatures had dropped a bit so Daphne's hands had found refuge between her crossed legs as she tried her best to warm up.

A few minutes passed and, once the students and teachers were settled, the presentations began. The teams were properly called "lists", four lists, which was the order followed as the first one made its way onto the stage. It comprised two girls and three boys, all with faces Daphne had seen only in the hallways, in the morning or during breaks.

She was the only one out of her friend group listening to the team probably because it was her first time watching something like that while her friends were used to it. She sat properly, hands still between her legs, as she listened and analysed her peers' work, imagining how she would've performed if she were in their shoes. Just as she felt at Jungkook's party while listening to Adrielle, she admired the students on the stage and mentally complimented them for their bravery because, again, she would never be able to do as well as them.

—Now playing: Romeo and Juliet by Dire Straits ✫

The second team comprised some of her classmates including well-loved Valerie. Just as she'd done with the first team, she listened attentively and tried to push away the jokes and comments from her friends beside her. Her eyes would move from the screen to her friends and roll before restarting the cycle. Her attention would grow into a solid brick only when the third team would walk past her right and onto the stage.

It would be stupid of her to say that she didn't expect to see him but, when the time of the presentations was announced, her mind didn't immediately make the connection until Taehyung walked past her with his teammates and headed to the stage.

Like water drying up from a scorching hot pan, all the cold she felt vanished and her body started reaching new temperature heights. Her sweater started feeling like seven, her jeans like three wool pants and her feet like they were in five wool socks. Her hands found a new favourite spot on her knees as she rubbed them to ease the sweatiness she felt. Her insides were rolling and jumping around like acrobats at a circus.

She couldn't pinpoint the reason. Was she nervous? Startled? They hadn't met in school since the party and it didn't bother her because she was busy with tests and deduced he was preoccupied with the campaign and she wasn't wrong.

He looked and felt the same—not surprising—but that sense of familiarity was back, the indescribable sea of comfort she swam in when she talked to him that night. Unlike that day, he wore glasses and she marvelled at how good he looked in them which would've stunned him because he believed he looked terrible, especially because they were meant to hide his eye bags somehow.

The five senior students stood in a line, moving from Adrielle to Taehyung and Jimin, Jungkook and Avyanna following behind. Five gorgeous people in a line and yet Taehyung overshadowed every single one of them to her. He stood with his feet shoulder-width apart and hands together in front of him. He shook his head a bit to adjust his hair without using his hands and she observed like a fangirl.

After quickly presenting their names, they moved out of the way for Adrielle to begin first. This wasn't enough for Daphne to pay attention to whatever she was saying or what was scrolling on the projector. Taehyung had moved aside and leaned on a nearby chair as he watched his friend and the presentation, waiting for his turn. Beside him, Jimin leaned his arm on his shoulder while Avyanna stood next to Jungkook as he worked the computer and helped in the scrolling through the slideshow.

Daphne's friends had stopped talking and joking so nothing could distract her—not like something ever could—until Taehyung looked into the audience and his eyes landed on her. She blinked maybe for the first since he stepped foot onto the stage and the nervousness from before came back even stronger. She didn't know what to do—didn't bother about what to say because he was far away—but she'd soon learn that he wasn't the type to back out because of shyness: he quickly smiled at her as a greeting and she smiled back, adjusting herself in her seat and scratching her knees to ease the tension in her body. Thankfully, she wasn't in the first row so he couldn't see it.

The difference between the two was that she was extremely shy with him and feared looking while he was bold and would not simply look, he'd observe. With his arms still crossed, he chuckled to himself when she was the first to break eye contact and looked at the presentation. Chuckled even more when Adrielle gestured for him to start his part, knowing that she'd be looking at him regardless. Arms loose and Jimin off his shoulder, he walked past the screen to the left and started talking.

The new position was perfect, he thought. He easily switched between looking at the screen and the audience as he spoke. If Daphne knew, she'd consider a skill how carefree he could come off as. She didn't know that his mouth was moving and emitting words he wasn't even thinking about. Didn't know that, while he seemed like a great public speaker, his eyes actively roamed around the room in search of hers.

She was still among the numerous students in the room, sitting on her chair with her body leaning slightly forward and her hands on her thighs and if she could, she would be swinging her feet as well. No hairband in the way so her curtain bangs were cupping her beautiful face, caressing the soft skin of her swollen cheeks as she unconsciously smiled. He had to bite his lower lip to hold back from smiling as well when he finally found her.

Like a child at a school play finding their parent in the crowd, her glowing eyes and beautiful smile spurred him on and he finished his part without stuttering. Jimin was sitting on the chair now and nodded multiple times, acknowledging how well his friend had performed. He even gave him a high-five as they switched positions and he went up to start his part. He only didn't know what was happening within his friend's guts and brain.

Taehyung and Daphne's eyes met once more and she smiled first as if complimenting him. If it weren't for the people present, he would've started jumping around like someone who had accomplished the greatest task of their life. He smiled back and they continued like that till they finished their presentation. The only time they sort of talked was when the last team was making its way up to the stage and Taehyung walked past her right again.

She simply said "Nice" and replied, "Thanks" both with smiles on their faces. When he sat down in the corner, the happiness that overwhelmed him was of a strange form, one he had never seen or experienced before. When was the last time a compliment so little weighed so much in his heart? Was it just the compliment or was he also happy he was getting closer to the end of the day and the campaign? He didn't know the answers to all these questions. He was just sure that all the stress he went through was worth it and he would do it again and again as long as the result would be seeing her smile as she complimented him.

The bell rang, signalling the end of the fourth hour and the beginning of the second ten-minute break of the day. All the students got up from their seats like robots set to do so and gradually the room returned to the emptiness it was in the morning, one that didn't bother Taehyung anymore. He wasn't anxious or nervous. He felt accomplished especially when he saw that Daphne had purposely slowed down so she could wave at him before exiting the auditorium. He waved back and smiled.

Later on, when he'll be listening to Adrielle's advice regarding the presentation, his brain would pay her no mind as it was having system issues due to the effect Daphne's smile had.

Only the heavens know how she would've felt if she knew that such a little thing from her made him so jolly and happy. She'd told herself—and her personal journal—that she wanted to be the reason he would be happy. Now she just needed someone to tell her that her wish had come true.

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thesilliestrovingalive · 5 months ago

Text

Updated: December 15, 2024

Reworked Character #4: Fio Germi

POTENTIAL TRIGGER WARNING: Viewer discretion is advised due to references to death, alcoholism, and SA.

Real name: Fiolina Hortensia Germi

Alias: Teatime in the Battlefield

Occupation: Master Sergeant of the S.P.A.R.R.O.W.S. and the lead medical technician of the Regular Army’s special forces

Retirement plans: Become a sports doctor and astrophysicist, open up a bakery, and start a family

Special skills: Chiropractic and massage therapy, knowledge in military medicine, housework, acupuncture, and astronomy

Hobbies: All types of sewing (hand sewing, machine sewing, embroidery, and quilting), ballroom dancing, giving her friends massages, cooking delicious meals and enjoying it on a picnic outside, and frequenting petting zoos, nature reserves, and art and outer space museums

Likes: Peppino, being in Tarma’s arms, the beauty of nature, baking cakes and other sweet treats, and reading books on the stars and constellations

Dislikes: Scolding hot and freezing cold baths, the time she had to wear orthodontic braces, insects and creepy crawlies, sneezing on the battlefield, and thunder

Favourite food: Homemade sandwiches and gelato

Favourite drink: Iced tea (preferably Queen Mary)

Sexuality: Heteroromantic demisexual

Gender: Female

Age: 15 (in 2022), 21 (in 2028), 23 (in 2030), 25 (in 2032), 27 (in 2034), 34 (in 2041), 36 (in 2043), 37 (in 2044), and 40 (in 2047)

Blood type: O+

Weight: 145 lbs. (66 kg)

Design: She’s a 5’ 2” (157.48 cm) Italian mesomorph with sloping shoulders, upper arms that carry some of her weight, a bit of belly fat, voluptuous breasts and hips, and prominent thighs. She has olive skin, droopy blue-grey eyes, and brownish freckles scattered across her face and neck. Fio has straight, slightly messy orangish-brown hair that falls just above the middle of her upper back, framed by blunt bangs and chin-length, layered sides. However, she typically wears it tied up in a ponytail. Her fingernails are painted an English lavender hue, and she wears thick, winged dark brown eyeliner, a soft rosy red blush on her cheeks and nose, and cherry blossom pink lip gloss. As a result of battle injuries and her own clumsiness, she bears a bullet wound near the centre of her left calf and numerous cut marks, stab scars, and scrapes on her arms and legs.

Her military gear consists of polarised, silver-plated transition lens eyeglasses, a metal dog tag necklace with her name, and a cordovan Eisenhower jacket. She wears a pink lavender T-shirt with a dogwood rose stripe running along the front and a carmine bra underneath. She wears carmine gloves and a gold-buckled leather belt to secure her ebony army cargo shorts, which fall just above her knees. She also wears ebony paratrooper boots, dogwood rose knee and elbow pads, and over-the-calf bittersweet shimmer socks. She has a khaki waist pack attached to the back of her belt, which carries her nail polish, lip gloss, eyeliner, two makeup brushes (a large one and a small one), a makeup sponge, and a powder blush palette. She wears a leather sheath for her hatchet, a gun holster for her handgun, and a holder for her tonfa.

The pockets of Fio's Eisenhower jacket carry around an embroidered cockade of Italy pin and a Ventolin inhaler. It carries a wooden calico Japanese Bobtail maneki-neko figurine, which is a gift from Eri. The figurine wears a metallic green collar with a red stripe and a gilt-brass bell. Its right arm is raised, and its left paw holds a koban coin. It also carries a metallic green mystery watch with a transparent crystal dial that showcases black hands in the centre of a crimson inverted triangle. Shimmering saffron-yellow Roman numerals, ranging from I to XII, are positioned around the dial, separated by three dots each. The pockets of her army cargo shorts carry a canister of pepper spray, a bottle of azithromycin pills, and a bottle of specialised prescription supplements specifically designed to manage her cystic fibrosis.

Over her T-shirt, she dons a Soldier Plate Carrier System (SPCS) with a MultiCam pattern, which carries her walkie-talkie and ammo for other firearms. Her black ammunition bandolier is slung over her right shoulder, and the back of her Eisenhower jacket features an embroidered S.P.A.R.R.O.W.S. logo. Fio carries an ebony load-bearing backpack containing camping equipment, fire bombs, stones, portable ammo boxes, a canteen full of water, and a picnic basket filled with prepared sandwiches. She also carries her latest sewing project and its accompanying supplies, a Hexagon Arms M-3685, a cat o' nine tails whip, medical supplies, a scientific telescope, and Peppino, her greyish-brown teddy bear with purple eyes and a pearlescent blue bowtie.

She always wears a pair of teardrop-shaped pink opal earrings and a gold chain necklace featuring a red coral cornicello amulet, believed to ward off bad luck and bring good fortune. She wears a khaki army cap, once worn by her father during his military service, with the Regular Army insignia emblazoned on the front. Additionally, she wears a rosy pink armband on her left arm, featuring an European bee-eater perched on an olive branch at its centre.

Character summary: She's initially reserved and timid around strangers but warms up and opens up once she becomes familiar with new people. She's a compassionate, considerate, and overly cautious listener who's really good with children and lends everyone a generous helping hand. She's sensitive and unafraid to show her true emotions, often engaging in introspective thought. She possesses a steadfast commitment to justice, having no tolerance for individuals who seek to stir up strife, and is slow to forgive those who inflict harm on others for their own selfish purposes. Despite her quiet and calm demeanour, she's surprisingly prone to stress and anxiety, particularly when confronted with obnoxious noises, unwanted physical contact or situations where she can't escape. Even though she's a seasoned warrior, she harbours an intense fear of insects and creepy crawlies, often resorting to hiding behind Tarma, Marco or Eri and insisting they handle the situation. On occasion, she displays an almost childlike naivety and exuberance, typically after completing a mission or while off duty.

She's a very friendly and gentle clean freak who'll do anything to help out her family, friends, comrades, and those in need. She prepares all her meals with love and dedication, considering others' likes and dislikes, hoping they'll enjoy what she's made. When talking to others, she often uses lively hand gestures and animated facial expressions to emphasise certain ideas. She gets easily flustered by compliments and flirtatious advances, blushing deeply and becoming nearly speechless. She's a somewhat superstitious person, believing in things like placing one's hat on a bed being a sign of bad luck for homeowners and spilling salt being a harbinger of financial troubles. She's a nature-loving girl who's incredibly clever and always thinks optimistically. She's a great strategist who excels in keep-away tactics. However, she often pushes people away due to fear and isn't the most skilled fighter, but can fight when necessary.

Whenever she's faced with the death of a child, a comrade or friend being severely injured, being touched inappropriately or being rudely insulted, her face darkens. She becomes cold-hearted and deadly serious, and her tactical prowess shines through most. She's quite curious around strangers, nervously trailing them and asking a few questions to get to know them. Despite cherishing the importance of friendship, she sometimes feels isolated by her exceptional intelligence, privileged upbringing, and cystic fibrosis. She values maintaining a healthy work-life balance and prioritising her time with loved ones, holding both in higher regard than success. She believes that living in or exploring beautiful places helps her become a better person by gaining a deeper appreciation of the world around her.

She originally harboured romantic feelings for Marco, but they dissipated after he disclosed that he isn't interested in romantic and sexual relationships. Her affections eventually shifted to Tarma, whom she found charming due to his silliness, emotional intelligence, Hokkaido dialect, the soothing sound of his voice, pleasant smile, and knack for building professional motorcycles. She finds immense comfort in Tarma's presence and often offers him solace when he's having a rough day or struggling with self-doubt.

After her romantic relationship with him fully blossoms, she forms an exceptionally close physical and emotional bond with him. However, her tendency to become overly attached manifests at times, especially when feelings of fear or loneliness arise. Despite being in a romantic relationship with Tarma, she maintains a non-possessive attitude, unconcerned if he flirts or sleeps with other women and men, considering it his personal freedom. However, she does prefer openness and honesty, ensuring that he communicates with her about his actions. She sometimes gets into debates with Tarma about what they should or shouldn't do, but she usually remains polite and calm, focusing on finding a solution that benefits both of them rather than worrying about negative consequences. After a debate, she often apologises to Tarma and follows up with a hug.

She eventually enters into a polyamorous queerplatonic relationship with Marco and Tarma, which she deeply cherishes and further satisfies her craving for emotional intimacy. She's displeased when Nadia takes advantage of her kindness to avoid responsibilities. However, she appreciates Nadia's help with dessert-making, although Fio often has to bribe her by offering something equally sweet or letting her have the largest share of a batch to persuade her to lend a hand. She's frustrated by Eri's overprotectiveness, especially when it comes to Tarma, as it reminds her of her father's behaviour and makes her feel like she's being treated like a child. She finds Red Eye to be an incredibly intimidating person, despite their relatively friendly relationship, which occasionally involves sharing a cup of tea together.

When she's reached her limit, feels threatened or needs to express her authentic feelings about something that gets under her skin, she's capable of standing up for herself and making her voice heard. She rarely swears, but when someone's pushed her too far, she'll unleash a stern reprimand, peppered with profanities in Italian. She's unconcerned by Marco's and others' opinions that carrying Peppino is childish because the teddy bear provides her with personal comfort and solace, particularly when she's anxious or sad. Ever since meeting Ralf, who encouraged her to try new things, she has mustered the courage to pursue thrilling experiences and enjoy them to the fullest, even if they carry some risk.

She's not fond of drinking alcohol due to its bitter taste and intoxicating effects, which make her feel nauseous and slightly nervous. However, on rare occasions, she’ll let loose and indulge in alcohol with her friends, especially after a challenging mission. When intoxicated, she starts to act playful, flirtatious and sexually teasing towards Tarma, obnoxiously loud, agitated, and bluntly honest.

She harbours private reservations about the Regular Army's methods, particularly when it comes to neutralising perceived threats, including journalists and enemy-affiliated personnel. She acknowledges that not everyone in these groups is malicious, but rather, many are innocent individuals caught in complex circumstances. Moreover, she struggles with the nagging feeling that those closest to her have been conditioned to uncritically accept the Regular Army's moral stance, never questioning its motivations or ethics. However, she's deeply afraid to express these thoughts aloud, fearing deadly repercussions and unwilling to risk stirring up trouble or jeopardising the relationships she values. She often pushes these thoughts aside by focusing on becoming a better fighter and drawing inspiration from high-ranking individuals like Marco and Clark, whom she greatly admires.

She has a tendency to fall asleep extremely quickly at bedtime or naptime, and her loud snoring can be disruptive to others who are trying to rest or focus on important tasks in the same room. She would be heartbroken if Peppino were lost, destroyed or stolen forever, as the teddy bear has been her constant companion since birth. However, she would be overjoyed to be reunited with the original Peppino or receive a new teddy bear that's an exact replica. During warmer weather, she has a habit of lifting up her T-shirt to cool herself off, but tries to be discreet about it.

She believes that war serves no purpose other than destruction, resulting from conflicts that escalate beyond the control of free will. In her view, war profoundly alters the moral fabric of society, accelerating the advancement of weaponry and technology used in conflict. As a firm believer in virtue ethics, she thinks morality is about becoming the kind of person we truly want to be. To become a better person, people must cultivate values like honesty, bravery, justice, and generosity, leading to a morally righteous life and self-improvement. By practicing fundamental moral values, people develop the ability to make tough choices when faced with ethical dilemmas, learning to trust their instincts, listen to their conscience, and stand firm in their convictions. She holds that life is more powerful than death, continually finding innovative ways to adapt and flourish.

Backstory: Fiolina Hortensia Germi was born on October 2, 2007 in Genoa, Italy. The Germi family is renowned for their vast wealth, military service, and philanthropic endeavours. Originally merchants and nobles, they amassed their fortune in the Mediterranean region during the Age of Exploration and have since maintained their wealth, now managing various corporations and philanthropic organisations. True to their militaristic heritage, the Germis have participated in numerous conflicts, including the Napoleonic Wars of the 1800s, the Italian Unification Wars of the 19th century, and modern-day wars against terrorism worldwide. Sadly, many Germi warriors lost their lives, leading to an important family custom where the chosen heir of the Germi family must serve in the military.

Alessandro Germi, Fio's father, was a fearsome soldier in the Regular Army in his earlier years, serving alongside Fabriclus Roving. However, he was forced to leave military service after being severely injured during a shootout, which left him crippled and suffering from debilitating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). His body bore the scars of countless battles, a testament to the wounds he had endured and the bloodshed he had witnessed on the front lines. After returning to civilian life and receiving proper support, Alessandro successfully restored his family's struggling business. He also started a family with his beloved wife, Giulietta, a talented seamstress and manager of a luxurious art museum.

Alessandro's wish was to have a healthy son as he feared that sending a daughter onto the battlefield would be a perilous ordeal. To his surprise and dismay, Giulietta gave birth to a daughter, and due to health complications, she couldn't bear any more children. Fio's mother would also experience postpartum depression after childbirth and passed down a disease that runs deep within her heritage: cystic fibrosis. Alessandro's deep-seated fears for Fio's safety often led him to become overly protective, causing tension with Giulietta, who found his helicopter parenting suffocating.

Despite her parents' mental health struggles, they went above and beyond to care for her, providing unwavering love and support. For half of her elementary school years, she was homeschooled and her parents taught her a diverse range of subjects, including mathematics. They encouraged Fio’s appreciation for friendships, the outdoors, and the finer things in life. They even fostered her love of astronomy, gifting her a scientific telescope on her 10th birthday, which she still has to this day.

Giulietta often took her on enriching outings to nature reserves and art museums, where she learned about biology and art history. Her mother also taught her the importance of domestic duties, showing her how to do her chores and clean the house. On special occasions, her mother would dress her up in pretty dresses and give her adorable animal plushies, which she still keeps.

She was bullied and exploited by the other children because of her wealthy status and overt politeness, but her father and teachers consistently intervened. As she grew, she discovered her own voice, learning to assert herself with courage and conviction. Standing up to her bullies with firm yet gentle confidence, she effectively silenced their taunts and earned respect. Like Marco, Fio excelled in all her classes, demonstrating exceptional academic prowess and a deep appreciation for effort and lifelong learning.

However, her life took a devastating turn near the end of her secondary school days. A sudden and tragic terrorist airstrike, attributed to the Ptolemaic Army, struck Genoa, Italy, claiming Giulietta among its many victims. Her father was the most affected by this loss, turning to a life of alcoholism and self-isolation. Although Alessandro still cared about Fio and tried his best to support her, his alcoholism and newfound self-isolating behaviour made it challenging for him to do so. As a result, the butler and maids who worked in the mansion frequently took care of her.

It took time for Fio and Alessandro to heal from this loss, but they remained resilient. To cope with the loss of her mother, she turned to sewing, baking, and reading books on ancient and modern medical practices. Eventually, Alessandro sought help and went to rehab and therapy to address his issues with Fio's support and encouragement. After graduation, Fio was awarded multiple awards and scholarships, which enabled her to attend university. There, she pursued an interdisciplinary course of study, exploring chiropractics, acupuncture, physics, and astronomy.

Fio would eventually express her interest in joining the military after coming across a persuasive flyer to serve in the Regular Army. This revelation horrified Alessandro, as he didn't want to send his only child off to the battlefield, risking her life. He wanted to disregard the Germi's military traditions, believing that war is repugnant and a never-ending cycle of hate and violence. Alessandro tried to deter Fio from joining, but she persisted, driven by her desire to join the fight against terrorism and protect the lives of innocent people. He reluctantly agreed and sent her off to the military at the age of 19, but attempted to minimise her risk by using his connections and friends from his own military days to secure her a desk job, hoping to keep her out of harm's way and away from the front lines.

However, everything changed when a paperwork mistake caused by militant bureaucracy resulted in Fio's transfer to the S.P.A.R.R.O.W.S., a special operations branch of the Regular Army's Intelligence Agency known for carrying out high-risk missions. Surprisingly, Fio was ecstatic to hear the news as she had been eager to be deployed on the battlefield and make a real difference. In contrast, her father was furious and stormed into military headquarters, threatening officers in an attempt to prevent his daughter from being shipped to the front lines.

He would often try to extract Fio from the battlefield via a private jet, but she consistently resisted. Eventually, she had enough of his overprotectiveness and bravely told him that this was what she wanted—to fight on the battlefield and provide medical aid. She assured him that she was capable of handling herself. Alessandro finally understood and let her pursue her life as a military woman. In return, she promised to keep in touch with him after each mission, providing him with reassurance and comfort.

Like Eri, she played a crucial role in the Great Morden War by providing Marco's team with useful intel on Rebel Army positions. She even went so far as to provide them with sustenance, mainly in the form of homemade sandwiches. She also dedicated herself to providing medical support for Marco's team, which led to her being recognized as the lead medical technician of the Regular Army’s special forces.

During the Extraterrestrial Alliance Clash in Hong Kong, she was seized by a ruthless group of fanatic land troops and bikers who intended to exploit her for their twisted desires. One of the deranged fanatic land troops subjected her to unwanted physical contact, leaving her severely traumatised and more prone to anxiety. This horrific experience intensified her resentment towards the Rebel Army and those who seek to spread chaos and harm. Fortunately, Tarma intervened just in time, eliminating the Rebel Infantrymen with the SV-001. Eri quickly freed her from the ropes that bound her arms and ankles.

Her countless battles against worldwide criminality, terrorism, and corruption enabled her to rapidly rise through the ranks, becoming the Master Sergeant of the S.P.A.R.R.O.W.S. special forces unit. However, her time in the military has taught her a harsh reality: even the good guys can't always protect the innocent or save their friends and comrades. She has witnessed many deaths and severe injuries that left people crippled and traumatised in each battle. Nevertheless, with the emotional support of friends like Eri and Tarma, she has persevered and continues fighting to this day.

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