#castle re-edits

[megamyceted]

ALCINA DIMITRESCU resident evil village, 2021

[historyonthespectrum]

I need to start making more miranda edits🙏

[vanmccannsfridge]

van mccann 2024 wallpapers part 1/2 🤍

[lovelyahoy]

Dr. Stone: One-shot Continuation.

Word Count:14,105.

Warnings: Contains MAJOR MANGA SPOILERS including the ending. A certain timeline towards the end was swapped around for story-progressing purposes, it completely follows the plot at a fast pace. (I re-read this five times, editing and changing stuff and I'm sorry if it's like super messy, I can't read this word dump again.)

Summary: Part two of this post, so fluff & suggestive words/actions, and random shit again but mixed with the after-petrification scenarios. A lot more dialogue this time.

Taglist: @nishayuro, @feverish-dove (Sorry y'all I kinda got very carried away LOL)

Pairing: Stanley x Fem!Reader x Xeno

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"HEY! Don't put my husband there!" [Y/N] watched with annoyance as bullets rained at them, one almost striking her in the leg. Xeno had been used as a shield, making her heart drop straight into her stomach.

Hyoga hummed, eyes still weirdly kept shut. "I'd put you instead, but you aren't as important."

She desperately wanted to kick the smug bastard off the motorcycle, holding in the urge because she wasn't a psycho.

"I'll have you know I'm a fucking DOCTOR, what are you? some spear-twirling princess?" Xeno snorted, squinting his eyes trying to see through the dust piling up. He knew Stan wouldn't miss his shots, having no reason to worry he didn't mind being put in the line of fire.

Maybe worried about his wife who wouldn't stop arguing with the enemy, the motorcycles bumped around the dirt path. The wheel hit a rock when [Y/N] yelped and nearly fell off, being grabbed by a frantic Ryusui, balancing his grip on the back of her shirt and the steering wheel.

"Hyoga pull her up!"

"Hm. no."

"Drop me, and my husband will shoot your ass!" [Y/N] felt a pebble strike her cheek, whining but staying still.

"With what gun?" Hyoga taunted, pushing Xeno further over the bike, the scientist kept his eyes on [Y/N] beginning to panic from her position.

"Okok! Whatever help me up!" She could feel the pirate boy's hand beginning to slip, the motorcycle going side to side. A harsh tug brought her face away from the ground, and she nearly fell to the other side but managed to hold onto the driver.

She was going to kill this disrespectful brat. The sound of something getting closer reached her ears, her eyes narrowed not being able to see anything.

Two shots rang out, blood splattering onto her face and neck. Practically giving herself whiplash, she spun her head, worried that Xeno had taken the hit instead. Sighing in relief when it was Hyoga who did.

Only one person could've land those.

"SHOOT HIM AGAIN HONEY!"

Xeno's mouth was covered with a wooden gag, leaving him no choice other than to glare at her, hoping she'd notice and sit down properly.

She pouted her lips, trying to hide the smile that threatened to appear. Unfortunately, the spear user had some sort of body made of fucking steel, so the bullet's damage wasn't grave.

Encouraging her husband to shoot some kid was a little messed up, but hey it's a new world, and he had it coming. Kidnapping a soldier's lovers, like that would ever end in sunshine and rainbows.

She tried to ignore how biased she was being, when they shot Senku she nearly flipped the castle. Hyoga didn't mean anything to her though, so she was justified.

It felt like hours before they settled down, losing the 'rescue' team when the plane blew up. After cleaning the crimson liquid off her face, [Y/N] was enjoying a...whatever meat this was from...while standing next to a finally untied Xeno.

"A ropeway!"

"Nope."

Senku cackled, twisting a pinkie in his ear sending [Y/N] a smug smile.

"Scared? Seems unbefitting of you, Dr. [Y/N]." Freaking leek-kid. Her eyebrow twitched, finishing the last bite of her food and stomping towards Senku. Getting yoinked back by Xeno, she sent him wide eyes, bottom lip jutted out.

"Please?"

"Pushing him down the cliff, wouldn't be efficient my dear."

"You shot him."

"Correction, Stan did."

"Who ordered it?!" He smiled gently, pressing a quick kiss to her forehead. [E/C] eyes turned into hearts, and forgetting her little vengeance, she snuggled up to Xeno.

"More~" She gave him a kissy face, earning her one...JUST ONE.

[Y/N] deflated like a balloon in the background, fake tears building in her eyes. Chrome poked her with a stick, screaming when she suddenly stood up straight, focusing on Xeno's voice sounding so hot.

"Wire made of carbon and steel. Light, yet sturdy. Truly Elegant." Xeno held it in his clawed hand, observing the craftsmanship.

"Weight limit is about 160 kilograms." Senku calculated in his head, earning him a nod from his mentor. Technically speaking, everyone could make it over with no issue, the time crunch was the problem, and the pairings.

"There's more than just the numbers to consider, the real issue is [Y/N] and Xeno," Kohaku spoke through the stone age phone. "If we don't put any thought into this, and in the end, Xeno, [Y/N], and Suika are the last ones left down below..."

The blonde girl continued. "The biggest cause for concern though, would be pairing them two with Hyoga—"

"Hell no! I'd rather jump off this damn thing than be near him again, nearly murdered me." [Y/N] came up like a protective hyena, standing in front of Xeno and blocking Hyoga's view of him.

"I believe that deep down, we're much alike, Xeno. The two of us could flee together and rendezvous with Stanley's crew."

"Elegant offer, but my wife doesn't seem fond of the idea." The animalistic noises stopped, watching in amusement when [Y/N] nodded her head vigorously.

"As much as I want to go back to our husband, we aren't going to—whatever actually, I don't care at all about this, however, you aren't allowed to be near my Xeno!"

In the end, [Y/N] couldn't let sweet Suika ride with Hyoga, so with a frown she watched Xeno sit down, he offered her a reassuring smile. There were so many words she wanted to say but didn't want to risk Hyoga getting mad and pushing Xeno down.

After they safely landed on the other side, she helped Suika sit down, and plopped right behind her. The little girl wrapped her hands around the handles, [Y/N] held the side of the seat and the back of Suika's clothing.

During their travel, the doctor hummed a small tune, trying to relax the young girl. Despite her efforts to make it a calm ride, a harsh gust of wind hit them, and the seat swerved to the side.

"SUIKA!"

Kohaku was about to jump, stopping herself when [Y/N] managed to catch the child, holding a firm grasp. "Oh shit! Don't panic, I swear I got you." Suika stopped swinging her legs, staying completely still, and could only leave her life in the hands of—a doctor! The melon head covered her bright smile, Senku told her that doctors were people who saved lives every single day.

He made sure to point out that [Y/N] was one of the greatest doctors of his time!

They made it safe and sound, Kohaku thanking [Y/N] profusely and the latter hugging Xeno, tugging him away from Hyoga's amused aura.

"Did he do anything?"

Xeno shook his head, enjoying the way she poked around his face, arms, and torso. Finishing up her search, she sighed in relief. This whole thing was stressing her out, she was only taken hostage because she refused to let go of Xeno when they kidnapped him. Not to mention getting stuck underground, her claustrophobia was so bad even Chrome was reassuring, his enemy, it'd be okay.

"Don't worry so much."

"How can I not? There's no jail I can throw his ass in."

"You say it like you've done it before..." Xeno raised an eyebrow when she slowly turned her face away from his. "[Y/N]."

She began walking away, with him hot on her heels. [Y/N] squeaked hiding behind a confused Senku. His weird hair covered her entire head. Xeno approached them, keeping a blank expression, even if he really wanted to smile at how cute she looked peeking from behind the kid's shoulder.

"Uhm...remember that scientist who suddenly quit after stealing one of your ideas?"

His silence was deafening, even Senku froze from how sharp the onyx eyes were settled on their figures. He really had forgotten his mentor wasn't this superb nice guy, his smiles and laughter were only ever meant for his wife during this time.

"Well...he didn't quit, I got dad to put him into jail after Stanley kicked his ass."

"Are you confessing to a crime right now?" Senku's scarlet eyes blinked, looking over his shoulder. "I knew your dad was an important figure, didn't think you'd be a daddy's girl though."

"Where the hell did you think I got the money I sent you and supported Xeno's projects from?"

"Right, incapable ass keke—ACK!" [Y/N] hit the back of Senku's knees, slamming her foot on his back. Suika rolled over checking his face kissing the ground.

"Anyway, to what force is anyone reporting me?" [Y/N] snickered, crossing her arms in triumph.

Kohaku and Chelsea shared a glance, maybe the trio's relationship wasn't as far-fetched as they initially thought, [Y/N] definitely had a screw loose.

Xeno didn't reply, going back over the details of said scientist. His work had been stolen, and amateurishly presented in front of the board members. The man didn't even think of changing the formatting on his folders, to which [Y/N] immediately noticed, knowing her husband's work like the back of her hand.

It was made known to Xeno that he quit, moved across the country before NASA could intervene. Seemed like his spouses didn't let it slide that easily, did [Y/N]'s action surprise him that much? no, did Stanley's? Actually no to that either, they were both very much in character.

He finally chuckled, [Y/N]'s shoulders relaxed, and she went back to normal. Stepping off of Senku, letting him regain his breathing.

"It does suck that I no longer hold any power in this era, such a shame." Images of all the food Ruby would cook, her first-class trips. From having all the money in the damned universe to being flat broke in a world where there wasn't even an economy yet was so embarrassing.

Oh my, don't even remind her of the shopping sprees. Her clothes now were okay, but her designer heels, her Le Pliage backpack collections, [Y/N] didn't feel like herself without them.

"Only a matter of time, my dear."

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"Look how hot I look in these, Xee!" [Y/N] modeled her rubber boots, being a perfect match with her black shorts and white buttoned shirt. She twirled around Xeno, and he indulged in her little runway, knowing she was trying to relax before venturing into the bug-infested forest.

Suika followed behind, copying her steps. She had been unofficially adopted by the [H/C] haired doctor, Suika didn't mind getting brought into bear hugs every now and then.

"Very beautiful."

[Y/N] nodded in agreement to his compliment, of course, she could pull off anything. Senku had mentioned that a girl named Yuzuriha was a talented seamstress, she desperately needed to meet her and plead for cuter clothing.

"What're you burning, Xeno?" Suika stopped by the mad scientist, observing the smoke and fire.

"Plants of the apiaceae family and artemisia genus, to create an insect-repelling mist." He quickly pointed a claw towards his wife, who was suddenly borderline crying at how many mosquitoes bit her upper thighs, scratching harshly.

Luna and [Y/N] watched in mutual horror as they turned army ants into an extract, and put it over their bodies. The doctor panicked when Luna foamed at the mouth and fell, there was no way in hell she'd put that on either.

Senku approached her with his hands coated in the disgusting substance, evilly grinning but was stopped by Xeno who shook his head.

"She's allergic to ants." He lied without missing a beat, standing close to [Y/N] with the repellant mist. She quickly hugged his arm to her chest, muttering 'i love you' every few seconds.

[Y/N] felt her life slowly slip away with every step, eventually making it out of the forest, then helping make a freaking waterslide that she almost flew out of, and ended with a torturous walk. Their path led them to a giant glimmering...mountain?

A Mountain of the petrification devices. Taiju jumped into the piles yelling out 'one meter! one second!' multiple times, making others join in with the antic.

"—On that day, A millennia ago, they gave the earth a coating of stone. Can you imagine what a grand sight it must have been?" [Y/N] noticed Xeno pocket a device while giving the fake hearty speech, she zipped her lips and pretended not to notice.

Until the mentalist approached them so casually, leaning his head towards the rocket scientist.

"My dear Xeno, what did you put in your pocket? A medusa perha—"

"Are you flirting? He's a married man!" Her voice cracked lightly when she pushed away Chrome who was tugging on Xeno's unmoving figure. "Don't touch him!"

Xeno kept a firm smile at her attempt to distract them, appreciating the effort.

Gen spluttered, waving his hands around. A shiver went down his spine at how she glared at him, "No no! I would never!" he couldn't even fake a persona. [Y/N] terrified him.

"It's fine, leave him be. In fact, if his interest is piqued, we oughta borrow his knowledge. Our only chance of winning against Stanley—" Senku paused, side-eyeing [Y/N] fawn when she heard the name. "Ahem, involves using the medusa."

"I'm not sure I agree with the idea of petrifying my husband." She crossed her arms, deep in thought.

"You're a hostage, you don't have to agree."

...

...

"I'm letting it slide because you're my favorite child."

"I'm your only child—" Senku froze, the smirk on his face fell when he noticed [E/C] eyes filling up with sparkles. He didn't have enough time to avoid the hug, with a sigh he let her squeeze his soul out.

"I knew you loved me!" She smooched his cheek, earning a groan and a flustered Senku.

He wouldn't use the word 'love' but he knew a part of him cared for the chaotic doctor, their email exchanges, her financial and emotional support towards his projects, he truly did appreciate it.

"But I do have another child, Suika's now your younger sister."

"What are Xeno and Stanley's thoughts on this addition?"

"It's like a single mother situation y'know? I can't co-parent with those two."

"A single mother with two husbands, interesting." He brushed back his white and green hair, breathing in when she finally let go. She was steadily making it a habit to suffocate him.

[Y/N] watched them start working on a new ship, sitting down on a nearby rock. She'd been fake-arguing with everyone (except Hyoga), teasing their intentions towards her husband, all in an effort to mask her nervousness.

She missed spending time with both her lovers in that damn castle, it sucked being away from Stanley, making her feel incomplete. In the end, she could never say no to their little schemes, too fucking cute to deny.

Xeno joined her shortly, sitting closely and bumping their shoulders. Onyx eyes observed her scrunched-up face, he lightly traced the lines.

"You're going to get wrinkles if you keep that up."

"Would that displease you?"

"Not in the slightest, but it would bother you."

She relaxed her face, turning to look at Xeno. He held a soft smile, making her insides feel all mushy. Maybe instead of freaking out, she should've just kept her eyes solely on him. [Y/N] kissed his lips, lingering there for a few seconds before pulling away.

"I miss Stan."

"I know, I do too."

"If...no, when, this is all over. I demand a cuddle session, no interruptions."

Xeno chuckled, taking off a glove to pull her head onto his shoulder, running his fingers through her [H/C] hair. "Anything you desire, my dear."

He observed his wife longer, in a way, getting through the first months of the new stone age was easier because of [Y/N]. Sure she did understandably freak out when she realized everything was gone, not to mention her reaction to their rings being gone too.

Xeno wasn't sure if [Y/N] noticed how he and Stanley felt seeing her still wear those rings with pride, showing them off to every person who woke up. A little guilty when both men had nothing representing their commitment to each other, so after settling into a more comfortable progress, he had the scouting team led by his favorite soldier to look for the materials to replicate them.

When the shock went away, she left them to handle all the 'unimportant' things while setting up honeymoon plans with what she could work with. Lunch under a big tree, covered by its shade, taking a swim at the beach—and a few moments in the mattress he had made.

When they finally settled into a rhythm, he oddly felt content with the world. Having both his partners just a yell away, wherever and whenever, they'd be right there. He was also able to create whatever he wanted without needing the approval of a corrupt system.

"Love you too, times forty-seven."

[Y/N] raised an eyebrow, confused but still blushing over his statement.

"That's how many times you said it, during the forest walk."

"Wish I could say 'bedroom now', these kiddos haven't made beds yet..." She smiled at his soft laugh, her body melted further into his, enjoying the warmth.

She was still bitter that they were turned to stone a week after their ceremony, she was going to destroy whoever did this to them. [Y/N] didn't care if it was an alien, she'd win.

(actually scared that it might be an alien)

Eventually, they stood up and joined the others, observing the new creation. The new ship looked like something straight out of a Alien vs Predator movie, [Y/N] bounced around it, observing the slanted sides.

Xeno stood back praising his kid mentee, then the topic of the medusas not being able to get tracked via radio signals was brought up by Ukyo. Chrome suggested covering the entire ship in said devices, more hours later and it was completed.

"Dammit, I planned on bedazzling my dad's yacht for his birthday, now I wouldn't be the first to do it." Ukyo sweat dropped, the more [Y/N] talked, the more she seemed out of touch with the world he used to now. Were all rich people this way? Ukyo glanced at Ryusui, right, they were not normal.

"Science is, truly elegant."

"Yeah so are we, let's get on!"

While Xeno was stuck inside some stuffy room with Senku looking over the medusas trying to figure something out, [Y/N] was being swarmed by the girls and Francois, who was serving them yummy food.

"Do they treat you right? I can't picture those two weir—hehe...eccentric?" Chelsea awkwardly laughed, "people being in a relationship."

"That scientist does seem to be fond of you." Kohaku commented, rubbing her chin in thought.

"Well I'd hope it's noticeable, I'm married to him..." The doctor mumbled under her breath. Shoving a mouthful of ramen in her mouth, the flavor was so rich, could she add Francois to her marriage?

Whenever Xeno would try cooking, it would end up in a monstrous experiment, Stanley had a habit of forgetting he had something on the stove too focused on finishing his cigarette. [Y/N] well, she rarely made anything fancy, taking her then-boyfriends to 5-star restaurants whenever they craved something.

"Yeah, they do. Rest assured, aside from their murder-y schemes and evil plans, they love me."

Luna gushed while the other two deadpanned, Francois only smiled. Suika was tuning them out for the most part, finishing up her food and rolling around trying to find out if anyone needed help.

"How does one get two husbands?!"

"Luna don't you go trying to cheat on my son." [Y/N] teasingly pointed at the pink-haired girl with her chopsticks. "It's not just me having two husbands, it's also them having a wife and husband."

Luna blinked at the utensils in her face, confused by her words. Chelsea pushed up her glasses and held up a finger in the air, trying to explain to the capable girl what those words meant.

"What [Y/N]'s saying, is that Senku would have to be into men as well."

Everyone looked up, an imaginary scenario of Senku being interested in a man flashed by their eyes, talking to each other and slowly leaning in to kiss.

"AH! Make it go away!" Kohaku waved the air, getting rid of their thoughts, except for the doctor. She'd seen the way Senku interacted with Gen, she would support her kid no matter what. Well make him have a talk with Luna first, can't have him be a cheater.

"I think I'll stick to Senku, what if I get jealous..." Luna gasped dramatically, "Oh my, does that happen to you [Y/N]?"

The woman shook her head, never did she feel that ugly emotion when they'd be lovey-dovey. Actually, she enjoyed seeing them kiss and hug, squealing whenever they'd do so. [Y/N] even had a folder dedicated to 'stanxeno' moments, sometimes telling them to kiss at random times, only to flash the camera.

"Can't be jealous when they look so hot together." She turned mushy, finishing her food and letting her head run with the faces of her lovers.

"How long have you been together? Not counting the years you were a stone." Kohaku finished her bowl of ramen as well, scooting closer to the doctor.

"Oh, overall six years and six months. Three of those married."

"Wow! You guys are pretty old huh?"

...

"I'm very good-looking for my age if you haven't noticed!"

"I never said you were ugly, old yes, ugly? Never!"

"[Y/N]!" Kohaku held back the [H/C] haired woman by the waist, stopping her from lunging at the young geographer.

"What about kids?"

Suddenly tears sprouted from her [E/C] eyes, Luna panicked and apologized for asking. [Y/N] looked like a dejected child right now, slumping in Kohaku's arms and sniffling.

"We got petrified a week after our wedding, we didn't have the luxury of time to discuss it.."

The timing couldn't have been more horrible, Francois made no comment, only handing a small handkerchief to the crying woman. So the three years of marriage were actually spent in the stone age, and the other girls deflated thinking about how hard that must have been.

"[Y/N]?" Chrome peeked his head out from the corner. "Senku asked for you."

"Oh, well excuse me, ladies." She thanked Francois for the food, stopping herself from giving them a kiss on the cheek. Walking down the wobbling steps to enter the room, the sight that greeted her had nerd written all over it.

"I'm happy to contribute my scientific knowledge if it concerns my wife and I's well-being. But you can't expect me to aid your efforts to deceive my husband. Can you?"

An evil giggle made them turn their heads, [Y/N] held her red face in her hands, muttering how adorable his speech was.

"Hey, mental case, c'mere." Senku watched her approach him, surprising her when he snatched up her hand. "I remembered your rings having a shape similar to the diamonds we found inside the medusa, they might be a different color, but it should work nonetheless."

"Senku, you know I adore you, but nothing in this world could ever make me give up these rings." Senku paused noticing she was completely serious, no teasing, no flustered state, just pure honesty. He let go of her hand, he had checked Xeno's a few moments ago but realized they weren't authentic.

"Sorry." He murmured softly, he should've known how special the rings would be to her, they weren't replicas like the other pairs. These were the original rings she managed to keep safe, even after 3700+ years.

"Oh come on! Science is much more important than some ugly rings!" Chrome stiffened when Xeno placed a clawed hand on his shoulder, the amateur scientist was sweating bullets.

"Those are lab-grown diamond rings, ones that took me two years to finally deem perfect enough. Ugly is the last word you should be using."

"Grown your own damn diamond!" [Y/N] huffed, holding her hand close to heart, offended by the word 'ugly' being thrown around her today.

"We're making a diamond alright." Senku smugly smiled like a villain, heading straight for the phone to send a message back to his comrades situated in America. Of course they weren't allowed to hear, so [Y/N] plopped down where Senku had been sitting earlier, Xeno sat as well, this time next to her.

"They're all different shades of black, well this one here is more of a gray color."

"The usage must be deteriorating the diamond over time, the much darker ones are surely a result of the world-ending beam years ago."

"You never told me you took the time to make these yourself." [Y/N] whispered, the honey and black colored diamonds glowed slightly, even if the room was kind of dark. They were important before, but now? She would die to keep the rings safe.

"Did you notice that Stanley's ring isn't exactly caramel, like his eyes?" He hummed, taking off his gloves and using his bare hand to hold hers. "He asked me to make it a honey shade, because that's what you call him."

"Please, I've heard you call him honey before too." Xeno smiled, knowing full well he did, only hiding the nickname calling whenever she'd come around to deprive her of teasing material.

"Buying things for you never seemed like the right thing to do, so what do you gift somebody who can get anything they want? Handmade crafts, something special, unique, elegant."

[Y/N] noticed he stopped looking at her hand a while ago, he was directing those last words to her. She cupped his face, pressing a sweet kiss. It turned into a feeling of desperation, prying his lips open with her tongue to swirl it against his. Xeno's arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her flush to his chest, her hands straying away from his face and onto his shoulders.

His lips felt so soft against hers, she tilted her head to try and better the angle, biting his bottom lip gently in response to one of his hands traveling further from her waist and lightly tapping her ass. Xeno rarely initiated intimate touches, he liked seeing them squirm when he'd surprise them out of nowhere.

"Stop that." [Y/N] mumbled against him, pressing another kiss. "There's nowhere to do it." He laughed, onyx eyes shimmering with mischief as his hand continued to venture around her. Brushing against her clothed chest, trailing up to wrap his fingers around her throat.

The pad of his thumb slightly rubbed the skin when she gulped, her cheeks were turning a bright red, and he absolutely adored it. Xeno leaned in again, giving her a sloppy kiss and applying pressure to her airway. [Y/N] held in the moan that threatened to slip out, if Stanley were here he would've scolded her for not letting them hear her sounds.

When he finally pulled away, he kept his grasp on her, letting her expression sink into his mind.

"I never should've taught you choking."

"I'm very glad you did dear."

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"And you couldn't blink an 'I miss you'?!" [Y/N] whispered, Xeno had just notified her that Stanley would know where to head next. Maybe she should've paid more attention to their morse code lessons.

"I'm sure he knows that already."

"But what if he doesn't? My poor little bubby, he's all alone." Xeno blinked at the nickname, usually, she'd say 'hubby' where'd bubby come from?

"Um, why did we construct this crazy-fortified stronghold?" Gen had drops of swear coating his entire face, gawking at the newest creation.

"For the final battle against Stanley." Senku looked like he was smug about the situation, only a few could tell he was really stressing inside.

"Are the bad guys gonna chase us all the way here?" Suika huddled up to [Y/N] who felt her soul leave her momentarily, said bad guys include her husband y'know...

"Heh, Dr. Xeno was up to no good with our radio signal. His claw was magnetized."

"You people planned to lure Stan—" Xeno felt a poke to his ribs, he glanced to the side seeing [Y/N] mouth a word. With an amused sigh, he continued. "to lure my husband here, so I don't see the harm."

"You sped up the timetable, that's the harm." Senku ran his fingers through his hair, grinning down at them. "We're out to beat Stanley, and reclaim the Perseus."

The next big step to this plan was to acquire more diamonds, [Y/N] refused to help them, one because it was a war against Stanley, and two, she was not about to go digging underground risking getting caved in, again.

Attempt after attempt, it was looking more dire. The diamonds gathered were too small, not even being able to tinker with most of them. So everyone circled around trying to decide on backup plans.

"I can just run it over and take them down with me!" Taiju yelled out, his spirit firing up.

"You'd get shot before getting a meter close." [Y/N] patted his head when he calmed down and realized she was right, these were soldiers who shot to kill any threats with no hesitation.

"What if, we all get petrified?" Chrome was on a roll coming up with ideas, it seemed like being around Senku for this long had upped his thinking process significantly.

Senku was going to build on this suggestion, realizing that it would be the best course of action, but was cut off by the sound of a loud thud.

Xeno had his arms crossed, [Y/N] sprawled on the floor in front of him. "No! I don't want to get petrified again, it was so goddamn depressing."

The dark nearly drove her crazy, she kept herself conscious because Stanley firmly told her to do so. Scared that if she didn't, she'd never see them again. [Y/N] had never felt such despair in her life.

"[Y/N] I ten billion percent promise, it won't be another 3700 years." Her 'adopted' kid firmly assured her, scarlet eyes keeping direct eye contact. He didn't enjoy being a statue either.

"She has the habit of being on the floor, doesn't she?" Kohaku observed from the side, recounting the times she'd seen [Y/N] let herself drop to the floor.

"[Y/N] grew up spoiled, she used to lay on the ground like so to get what she wanted from her father—"

"WHY ARE YOU TELLING THEM THAT?" Her body sprung up from the floor, nearly bashing her head into Xeno's chin. "No, it's just for theatrical effect. Okay? I'm not spoiled."

No one believed her.

The American-land pair were later tied up, Suika and Francois were sent out to scout the incoming military team. The rope was digging into her skin, putting her in a bad mood.

"What you must know about Stanley, is that he will not hesitate to slaughter everyone. Ethics and morals do not come into play, not when he's doing his job as a soldier and spouse."

"Yeah. I'm aware of that."

The mentor and mentee continued their weird chat, leaving the woman near them to just drown herself in make-believe positive thoughts. Wanting everyone to be safe in the end, she just desired to be happy with her hubbies and live happily ever after, was that so hard to achieve?

...

In the forest a few moments ago...

"We are unaffiliated with the combat unit, we have no intention of attacking and will do as you say. Knowing that will you still execute us?" Francois held a firm posture, trying to protect everyone from getting shot.

"Nope, won't shoot you. If what you're saying is true—"

"I was adopted by [Y/N]!" Suika spluttered, shaking when the head soldier blinked in response, he didn't seem caught off guard or surprised.

"Of course you were, my wife can't go a second without gathering things she finds cute." Stanley smirked, dangling an unlit cigarette between his lips.

...

"Shoot to kill! Everyone but Xeno and [Y/N]. Show no mercy!"

Her husband's voice rang out, and despite his choice of words, warmth spread throughout her entire chest. Happiness and sorrow mixed within her, she'd grown quite fond of these kids throughout the months but knew she couldn't have them and her husbands, at least not right now.

She watched with teary eyes as Taiju and Ryusuui got shot down, barely breathing. Her inner doctor screamed to run over and help, burying the feeling when she remembered she was still tied up.

"No!" Senku was shot down, slumping to the ground with blood pooling around him. [Y/N] couldn't even bring herself to look at the bright green light approaching them, barely noticing when Stanley untied them.

"The rescue took nearly one hundred days, I imagined you'd come a bit sooner. Or were you dragging your feet because our princess was guaranteed safe?"

"Shut up, this ain't the time for your warm and fuzzy gratitude." Well at least not from Xeno's smug face, Stanley embraced the sobbing [Y/N] in his arms. He caressed her messy [H/C] hair and allowed her to pull away the cigarette, kissing him roughly.

It spelled out anger, sadness, and yearning all at once. His purple lipstick stained her lips slightly. The time left didn't allow them to continue much longer, despite the situation, he was happy to see his lovers safe and sound.

"The bottles are gone." Maya notified them, seeing the empty bag in her grasp.

The soldiers noticed a running Suika. Stanley ordered them to shoot, sending a reassuring glance to [Y/N], he wouldn't shoot the child, just the bottles. Suika fell to the ground from the force, and one fluid managed to get caught by Chrome, who threw it up to Gen awaiting in the tower.

"Catch on yet, Xeno?" Senku coughed up blood, grinning at his baffled mentor. [Y/N] realized that the leek-haired kid was going to live long enough for the beam to engulf him, meaning he'd be alright in the long run.

Stanley aimed up at the singular revival fluid bottle, weighing the pros and cons of what his shot could entail too. He didn't think for long, feeling [Y/N] wrap her arms around his waist. The blonde softly sighed, turning her face away from Xeno who had been already turned to stone.

"Bambi, they won't be able to revive you if you're holding onto me." He murmured, knowing full well Senku would bring back Xeno for his scientific specialty, and [Y/N] because he was fond of her. However, they had no reason to bring him back.

"Xeno will find a way, don't forget who we married." Hearing him call her by the nickname she'd grown to adore, made her feel like everything was going to be alright. Stanley softly smiled, she wouldn't let go, he felt selfish letting her risk it all, but he could never bring himself to push away his crying wife.

"I love you. I love you both so much." [Y/N] sniffled, hearing him light up his last cigarette and holding her tighter.

"Love you both more."

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Not alone, Stanley's right next to me.

It's ok.

Xeno, are you awake?

I can't keep thinking of our dinner dates, cuddle sessions, or our wedding. It's making me yearn even more, how long has it been?

Senku and the others circled around the stone statues, Xeno felt his heart wrench when he noticed the sad expressions they carried. He got closer, chuckling when he noticed the rings were gone. [Y/N] didn't want to risk losing them again it seemed, his own were thankfully still intact.

"All of Stanley Snyder's assaults on us were, A, justifiable acts of warfare or B, attempted murder." Ryusui snapped his fingers dramatically. "It's our testimony that counts here."

"I suppose we'll all go with option A? That's what we can offer to dear Xeno." Gen awkwardly smiled, [Y/N] was too close to Stanley to get revived, knowing that if they splashed it on her figure it would bring back the soldier as well.

"Or C, a soldier doing whatever to rescue his wife and husband, we did kind of kidnap them..." Ukyo muttered, observing the longing in the mad scientist's onyx eyes.

Xeno agreed to help them out with their moon mission, it didn't matter how long it would take. He'd bring them back, one way or another.

"Are you really playing tic-tac-toe right now?"

Xeno's smile twitched, feeling the soft tracing of a washable marker on his forehead. His girlfriend lying on top of him, Stanley held in his snickers, sitting beside him.

"I'm too lazy to get paper." [Y/N] smiled down at him, kissing the tip of his nose and drawing the grid. Placing a circle, she passed the marker over to Stanley.

Xeno had his arms loosely wrapped around her waist, sighing and allowing them to do whatever they wanted. With every color stroke, they'd give him a brief kiss as a reward.

X O X

O X O

X O X

"I hate you Stan." She grumbled, she didn't even notice him setting her up. Her pouty lips were kissed by an amused Soldier, who then grabbed a wipe to clean off Xeno's face.

Stanley finished up and laid back down, face nuzzling into Xeno's. [Y/N] smirked when they started kissing, trying to fight down the blush before they could tease her.

Ok, these thoughts need to go fucking away.

[Y/N] was slowly getting angrier than sad, will she be stuck like this? Not getting any more kisses or hugs? Swearing she'd beat Senku's ass if she woke up 50 years later and Xeno was an oldie.

Despite her efforts to focus on medical notes, memories of their relationship kept flooding her mind. Eventually letting them run wild, and once they had been replayed around a hundred times, her brain settled down.

Now remembering her procedures, surgeries that were over 24 hours, she was so damn good at her job. It felt kind of wrong to say what a shame it was she couldn't do her job as meticulously now—not that she wanted someone to get badly injured so she could help...haha...

"Ah, a wise pick for the job." Gen snickered behind his arm, Xeno turned away from them, hiding his emotions. "But I must say I'm shocked, Stan is the ultimate soldier, if we join forces again we might try to take over again."

"I'm ten billion percent sure, [Y/N]'s going to wake up pissed off and set some rules." Senku heard her yell when he got shot down, the first time it happened she sprung into action, minimizing the damage to his body, and he made a very fast recovery. This time, she could only watch in dread, he knew that had an effect on her.

Notifying the others was received with shocked yells, worried that bringing him back would cause chaos once again.

"By bringing back Stanley, we'd be waking up [Y/N] too." Kohaku stated, crossing her arms when everyone turned to look at her. "I can't object then, she deserves to be here."

Xeno trudged up the mountain accompanied by Senku, Chrome, Gen, and Tsukasa as a guard. He had brought clothes, but couldn't dress them by their positions, so he opted for a large blanket.

Not long after pouring the revival fluid, the stone began to crack. Stanley was the first to react, gladly accepting the cigarette and lighter his husband was handing over.

"What's the job?" He quirked an eyebrow when his wife took four rings out of her mouth, coughing lightly before sending him a sharp glare.

"Oh shut the hell up!" [Y/N] slammed her fist on his chest, earning a weak grunt. "What's the job? Your job is to fucking coddle me after raining bullets everywhere, which was kind of hot because you did it for us BUT STILL!" She huffed, flustering when she noticed her bare body pushed up against Stanley's.

"No more fighting, okay? not one damn shot against them, or I will divor—who am I kidding, I can't commit to that." Her resolve melted, feeling his hands rub her hips gently. She heard footsteps getting further, glancing back to see that only Xeno and Senku remained in the cave.

The latter closed his eyes, turning away slightly from the trio. Senku didn't care for nudity, but something screamed at him to look away before [Y/N] could react.

Xeno took away the large blanket, lips quirking up in a smirk when [Y/N] covered her behind with a hand, and her chest pressed closer to stanley.

"I've seen it all before, my dear."

"Stop ogling—you too! Hands off until we get a damn bed." Stanley quickly put on his new clothing, Xeno helping strap the belts near his waist and thighs. His hands wandered around, teasing the awakened soldier.

[Y/N]'s [E/C] eyes were sparkling like a happy kid on Christmas. The top was a black corset, with stitched purple flowers decorating it, accompanied by a short black skirt with shorts peeking from underneath. Thigh-high stockings covered her bare legs and finished off with black combat boots, similar to what her lovers were wearing.

She felt fingers tug on the corset laces from behind, helping her tighten them properly. Xeno stood in front, holding out another article of clothing.

"No way." [Y/N] gushed and put it on, it was a white lab coat, similar to the one she used to have in the old world. She took a few steps away from them, modeling her new clothing.

"This is what I wore on our first anniversary, well minus the skirt and boots hehe—" [Y/N] paused seeing Senku's eyebrow twitch, "Cockblocker." she muttered.

"Back to business, say you shoot a one-pound piece of ammunition, initial velocity of 600 meters per second, on the moon's surface with gravity and acceleration being a sixth of what they are on earth. Your target is a medusa device, exactly one kilometer away."

"Firing angle should be 0.13 degrees"

She loved seeing the small glints in their eyes, nerd-ing up in their own respective fields.

"Are you up for the task, honey?" Stanley chuckled, reaching out a hand to cup Xeno's face. Adoration spelled out on his face.

"Sure, I am."

[Y/N] slid next to a nonchalant Senku, 'I'm going to need a camera, no, a video recorder. Look how cute they are." he pushed away her face.

"Stop simping, get a grip woman." He removed his hand from her head, noticing she calmed down significantly.

"Are you okay, Senku?"

Scarlet eyes blinked in response, he noticed how her gaze lingered on his chest, where he had been shot. Senku roughly smacked the area, sending her a reassuring smile.

"Perfectly fine."

He would absolutely take this to the grave, but the hug she gave him felt so motherly, that he teared up.

When they relayed the full details of their next project, [Y/N] nearly lost it. Anger bubbled in her chest first, then it dwindled down into pure sadness, like a snuffed-out candle.

[Y/N] was not on board with this at all, a one-way trip to the moon? She had barely gotten her husbands back, and now one of them was departing? Not to mention Senku being part of said trip.

"[Y/N], dear..."

"I know." She murmured, "I know you don't want this either, even if you guys think it's the best course of action." trying to keep her emotions from spilling. Seven years in stone, just to get told about a moon suicide mission.

"Why did we have to get turned into stone?" [Y/N] didn't have the energy to cry, looking utterly defeated. "We worked so hard, build our lives together and we never even got to fuck at that Hawaii hotel I booked."

"Hawaii?" Stanley shot the last target, turning to look at [Y/N] with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah, I reserved it for our honeymoon. Cost me nearly half a million to book the entire place to ourselves."

Xeno deadpanned, followed by an amused Stanley. [Y/N] was spoiled, that they knew, but she wasn't one to flaunt it off as her only benefit. She loved sharing her perks with the people she held close to her heart.

"We can go for free now." The soldier pocketed his gun, taking out another cigarette to light up.

"Free? Worry not darlings, I'm officially the richest woman in the...not so stone age anymore...age..." With a hand on her hip, she held a proud smirk. "I shall be taking care of us."

What they didn't know previously was that there was an economy, established by Ryusui, who folded at [Y/N]'s demands and ended up unknowingly aiding her to overturn him in the terms of dragos. "That's how they get you." Was her excuse, and the pilot couldn't help but admire her ambition.

"But really, is there no other way?"

Xeno softly shook his head, bringing her in for a hug, followed by Stanley wrapping his arms around the white-haired male. The blonde set his chin on Xeno's shoulder, looking down at a [Y/N] stuffing her face into the lab coat.

"Are you really okay with it? To get left on the moon for who knows how long?"

Stanley paused, he rarely hesitated to say what was on his mind. Her [E/C] eyes stared up at him, it stirred a feeling in his chest he couldn't decipher.

"If it's what the job requires, then I have to go."

"This isn't an obligation, not anymore. This is your life...our life." [Y/N] felt his hand brush her [H/C] hair, trying to comfort her.

Xeno closed his eyes, rubbing circles on her back. He kept his cool act up, trying to keep everyone reassured, even if he didn't want Stanley to go either.

"Xee, when Stan gets petrified we turn to stone ourselves."

They paused in their actions, she wasn't being wistful or optimistic. [Y/N] said it like a statement, one he really couldn't argue with. Xeno smiled, opening his eyes and nodding at her.

"Consider it done."

Stanley pulled away, sighing deeply. He didn't want them to sit in the dark again, for the third time. And yet, that selfish feeling he got when [Y/N] hugged him and turned to stone next to him, was present once again. Love really was a finicky emotion, wanting to be with his lovers no matter what.

His caramel eyes trailed over their gazes, both waiting for his thoughts on the condition. Bringing a hand up to brush his blonde hair back he sent them a smile, feeling his eyes annoyingly tear up.

"Yeah, you did make a commitment to me. Till death do us part was it?"

"Death parted us twice now." Xeno huffed out a laugh, earning him a poke to the chest. [Y/N] extended her hand out, bringing Stanley back into the hug. The pads of her fingers gently wiped his eye, caressing his cheek and holding them both closer.

It didn't take long for them to settle down, trying to enjoy the time they still had together. Xeno had fetched some paper and pens, drawing out sketches for the rocket while observing Stanley holding [Y/N]'s waist to position her better.

"What if i accidentally shoot you?"

"From this angle? I'd be impressed." She rolled her eyes, feeling him smack her ass as a sign to tell her she was ready. He backed off giving her space, holding onto the lab coat she handed to him a few minutes ago.

The sun was getting harsher, [Y/N] tried not to get distracted by how a thin layer of sweat coated the blonde standing nearby. Thankfully her clothing allowed her to breathe in.

"For every bullseye, I get a kiss." [Y/N] smugly held Stanley's gun tighter, aimed it at a target, and pulled the trigger.

...

...

"Bambi..."

"I KILLED IT!" She rushed to the tree, staring at the dead chonky bird that fell from its nest. Stanley walked up to her, holding the animal by the leg and dangling it back and forth.

"Nice shot."

Xeno turned his face away focusing on his work, knowing that if she saw him holding in a laugh she'd be upset. The soldier had been trying for years to teach her how to shoot a gun, safe to say it was still shaky.

"Xee, I can hear you..."

"I'm sorry, [Y/N]."

Stanley didn't hide his amusement, nearly doubling over with laughter. His wife tackled him to the ground, sitting on his stomach and trying to shut him up. He gulped in the air to try and calm down, holding her thighs in his hands.

"Take a good look, honey." She pointed at her clothes. "Remember that night? I'll have you squirming again soon."

"Is it really punishment if I enjoyed it?"

"Wasn't he crying, Xee?"

Xeno vividly recalled Stan being left a whimpering mess by them, tears escaping his caramel eyes. Being overstimulated for what seemed like an eternity, his soldier bravado had melted away the moment he was laid down.

Probably their favorite anniversary celebrated.

"He was, a lot."

"You would've been moaning, but your face was stuffed in this one's cunt." Stanley playfully slid a hand under her skirt, bumping a finger in between her legs.

Her cheeks flared up at his boldness, checking around praying no one was nearby to hear or see that. Xeno didn't seem to mind, continuing to utilize his rocket science expertise. He leaned back momentarily, tapping his lips when his spouses turned to look at him.

"Say what you want, but don't forget I was deemed the best seat in the house." Xeno then looked away, picking up his pen once again.

[Y/N] covered her face, groaning loudly a their stupid antics. Trying to rile each other up, knowing it would only end in her being teased. Warmth sprouted in her lower stomach like a stubborn seed growing, his thumb was now rubbing circles around her clit.

"We're in public...Stan..."

"Got to stay quiet then, bambi."

...

...

"Why is she crying?" Gen whispered, leaning closer to an equally weirded-out Senku. They both stared at [Y/N] looking defeated, [E/C] eyes filled with shimmering tears.

In front of her? A campfire, with a skinned bird rotating on a stick and getting cooked.

"She's eaten armadillo before, why is a bird any different?" The mentalist only earned a shrug in response, the duo was approached by Xeno, whose lips twitched trying to hold in a smile. He crossed his arms keeping his onyx eyes on his wife, being comforted by a smoking Stanley, who patted her lower back in a gentle rhythm.

"[Y/N] accidentally killed it." He truly felt for her emotions, but the whole situation was too hilarious to him.

Senku sighed while Gen grimaced, her being this sad was now very understandable, well only the black-white-haired male understood, Senku didn't.

"I never want to hold a gun again."

"Do you want that kiss now? Technically it was a bulls..." The soldier's words trailed off, watching his wife suck in a deep breath and crying all over again.

"I'm a murderer!" [Y/N]'s eyes were covered, Stanley trying to not let her see Francois preparing the bird.

It reminded him of how she reacted when she noticed Suika wasn't the cute little kid she adopted, now in her late teens. He'd much rather have her crying over situations like these, than anything too serious.

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"So, how about some last-minute projects before the moon launch?"

Immediately everyone jumped in with their suggestions, a microwave, washing machine, video camera (she got one too), plastic wrap and even a smartphone for Taiju.

After the creations were done, Senku lingered behind everyone, scarlet eyes softening seeing them happy. Everyone except a certain [H/C] haired doctor.

"Nothing you want?"

"My husband and kid to not get stuck on the moon."

He didn't bother correcting her, knowing that no matter what he'd always be the cute science kid in her eyes. Senku crossed his arms, not knowing if he should let her know about a potential plan Chrome and Suika worked on.

It was worth a try, but not a high chance, at least, not enough to give her what might be false hope. He sighed, realizing she had every right to know, whether he wanted to save her the extra heartache, didn't matter now.

"We're building a return rocket, there's no guarantee it'll work. The rocket is going to be sent by parts, and assembled on the moon."

"What's the percental chance?"

"I...I don't know."

Those words scared her more than anything else, she reached out to hold Senku's hand. He glanced down at her seated figure, squeezing her hand in response.

"Please, please do everything you can to come back home."

His scarlet eyes began to gloss over, trying to smile away the painful tugs in his heart. [Y/N] would forever be his only motherly figure, even if they had never met in person before the petrification, her love and care were clearly received through her emails and video calls.

"I promise to do my best." Senku shook away the feelings, going back to his normal self.

"Now, aside from that, do you not want anything materialistic?"

"Well, three materialistic things, and two humans."

He blinked, hands still joined together.

"You can make me a bed, large enough for three people, and have the American team search for my dad and Ruby."

"Disgusting." He teased her, he knew who Ruby was, often being sent pictures of [Y/N] and the head maid, he would issue her revival first then have the maid identify her father. "You have no shame, asking your kid for a bed."

"You don't want to know the other two things, worry not, Xeno's got it."

"...Let go of my hand."

"Nope~"

Despite his clearly displeased words, Senku worked harder on the bed, not even Taiju's phone had gotten this much thought process. Was it silly to plan out this bed's materials and structure so meticulously? Yes, he could be doing other things.

The bed was the comfiest thing ever. How it surpassed her expensive bed from the past, would continue to baffle her till the end of time itself. She snuggled up to the pillow, face down and ass up, her feet kicking the mattress in pure happiness.

Ruby had been found and revived, they stayed on call almost all day, and sadly the night had come too soon. [D/N] was still being searched for, he was away at a meeting when the beam happened. After saying a temporary goodbye, Senku showed her the new bed, not lingering enough to see her like...well like this.

"Oh look, we have a little present." Xeno walked into the room, steps faltering lightly noticing how her large white t-shirt rode up her thighs, showing off her cute pink underwear. The blonde pushed the scientist gently into the room, closing the door behind them. Stanley couldn't risk letting anyone see his wife like this.

"Yeah we do, look at this beauty!" [Y/N] let her body collapse like a stiff board, enjoying the way her body sunk into the pure plush.

The husbands exchanged a glance, was she that happy, to the point of letting Xeno's words fly over her head? Stanley bit on the unlit cigarette, knowing he couldn't light it up in their shared room.

"Get changed, or naked, and get in here." [Y/N] lifted up the thick cover, she needed to thank Yuzuriha for her clothing and this divine blanket. She relished in the warmth, it was going to be a cold night, so she needed them in bed ASAP.

"You'd like that, perv." Stanley teased, removing his tracksuit-like outfit, slipping on sweatpants, and leaving his torso bare. Xeno did the same, knowing full well he'd end up naked in just a short moment.

"I asked Xeno to make condoms and lube, so yeah, I'd like that."

Xeno tapped the drawer near their new bed, sending a smirk toward the blinking blonde. The scientist was pulled closer, [Y/N] resting her chin and hands on his stomach, both of them waiting for Stanley to take a course of action. She was happy, but definitely not innocently like he had initially thought.

"I'm the one going to the moon, so, it's only fair I get to lead. Everything."

Oh. [Y/N]'s eye twitched, earning heavy laughter from Xeno. Her threat from a few days ago was swiftly dodged, he'd be the one holding the reigns and that scared her as much as it excited her.

"Get in before I change my mind."

Stanley approached her, setting a knee on the edge of the bed and leaning his body forward to stare down at her. His hand grasped her chin, prying her lips open with his thumb, caramel eyes half-lidded when she lightly bit his finger.

"Like you could ever resist a good time."

Yeah no, [Y/N] wouldn't let this pass by. Xeno had made them a means of protection while living at the castle, but during their third year, it had somehow stopped being a frequent thing, too focused on their progress and the long journey of war.

The night was hard, no pun intended, trying to cover up their sounds. [Y/N] would launch herself into space and let the shutter open wide if Ukyo's hyper-hearing ears caught onto what the trio was doing. It seemed like their efforts were in vain, the banana-dressed man only sent her awkward smiles and averted his eyes whenever she'd try to ask him about it.

'Hey, Ukyo...how good are your ears?'

'Oh, uhm...not that good....'

'He's lying, but I'm pretty sure everyone heard you [Y/N].' Senku put in zero effort to help out the mortified doctor.

Kohaku apologized to the husband duo profusely, all three watching [Y/N] dancing with Ryusui by the fire, a cup of wine in her hand. Droplets spilled everywhere with every twirl she was put in, the pirate-pilot was suddenly dragged into it but he didn't mind it one bit.

"Well, at least it made her forget about the bird?" Xeno tried to reason, whenever she'd get drunk it was like her memories were made to be a jumbled mess.

"She probably forgot about our marriage too." Kohaku paled at those words, was the forgetful woman trying to flirt with Ryusui?

"I'll make sure she doesn't do anything throughout the night! Promise." Stanley shook his head, puffing out trails of smoke. He pointed a finger at the dancing pair, Kohaku's eyes following the direction.

"Ryusui! I'm getting married!" [Y/N] smiled brightly, finishing the liquid in her cup only for it to get refilled by an equally drunk Chrome. "Red carpet, purple flowers and onyx table decorations. Caramel cake...It's going to be perfect...."

Ryusui froze when [Y/N] suddenly stopped her happy steps. A pout overtook her smile, staring up at the pilot with teary eyes.

"Wait, where is my dad going to get the oysters? or the yummy caviar...the golden flakes..." He gave her a nervous smile, sending pleading eyes to Stanley and Xeno.

They received the message loud and clear, replacing him as her dance partners. Xeno rubbed her cheek affectionately, wiping her tears with his thumb. The droplets lingered on her eyelashes. Stanley distracted her with a chaste kiss, snatching the alcohol from her grasp.

"I'm sorry, our wedding won't be as grand. That stupid bitch on the moon ruined everything, I had a special wine bottle prepared for our future honeymoon.." She sniffled, Xeno was looking a little blurry to her. "Dad managed to get his hands on the 1945 Romanée Conti bottle."

Stanley had no clue what that was, Xeno on the other hand felt his cheeks light up despite his best effort to avoid it. The scientist had expressed slight interest in said wine before they were even dating, he mentioned it to her when she asked about his opinion on alcohol.

He felt a pinch on his reddened face, Xeno was ready to send a slight glare toward Stanley, but his eyes softened instead, seeing the genuine smile on the blonde's face. He sighed, holding and cuddling up to the warm hand.

"You remembered that?"

"Of course, I memorize your guys' talks. What kind of a girlfriend would I be if I didn't? A wine bottle and the newest gun model on the market. I even had it customized with our names on it and sparkly hearts, it's gone now..."

Her words were slowly getting clearer, only lightly slurred now. Her hand clenched and then opened slowly, blinking in confusion. [Y/N] was about to take another sip, now just realizing her cup was gone.

Stanley had finished the rest of it and secretly handed the empty cup to a fast Kohaku. He didn't let her linger on her realization, the blonde pulled in Xeno closer, sandwiching [Y/N] between them tightly.

"We'll make them again, one day."

Xeno nodded in agreement, well maybe not the bottle unless they made one and turned to stone enough years for it to age properly—or waited till they were like eighty years old to drink it.

"I'll have to save up all my dragos, will the price change with the new economy though?" She hummed, letting her head fall back on Stanley's chest, looking up into the starry sky in deep thought. [Y/N] suddenly sprung up, nose bumping into Xeno's.

"I need to discuss this with Ryusui." Placing a quick peck on both their lips she ran off, nearly tackling the unexpecting pilot.

Stanley lit up a cigarette, turning his attention to Xeno who was containing his blush. The soldier intertwined their hands, standing closer to the fire with his lover.

"That bottle, how much was it worth?"

"Last I heard about it, the 1945 bottle was auctioned off at around $558,000 in 2018, meaning [D/N] bought it a year prior to the wedding."

"...and the gun?"

"The newest 'model' at the time, was actually a thrown-away prototype, it was a high-end revolver with a literal aim assist feature, not to mention a small touch screen. You could receive messages, use a gps...like a phone. " Xeno hummed, rubbing his thumb over Stanley's finger. "The initial cost was estimated to be around a million, that plus the customization and the...very illegally bought gun, I'd say over two million."

"Should we lock up her dragos?"

"Yes."

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Even if she was warned it wasn't a 100% possibility, [Y/N] clung onto that small glimmer of hope. Everything had finally been set up, the suits were made, the rocket was ready and the astronauts were currently putting on their new attire.

She put on the face mask, entering the contained area with Xeno trailing a little behind. Stanley stood there looking like a damn bulky toy, [Y/N] snickered, earning her a sharp glare.

"At last, the fateful—"

[Y/N] raised a hand to stop him, knowing he was about to deliver some Disney villain-level speech.

"This is the part where you kiss and let me record." She revealed the video camera, bouncing from foot to foot. They smiled, matching her energy.

Xeno approached the soldier, pulling his mask down to press a firm kiss. Without missing a beat she rolled the film, evilly giggling when Stanley furthered the kiss, his tongue slipping between Xeno's lips.

When they pulled apart the scientist acted nonchalant, pulling up the mask and hiding his blush and purple-stained lips. He pulled out a small box out from his coat's pocket.

"Can't smoke in space, but how about chewing tobacco shaped like cigarettes?"

Stanley took the box, brushing his fingers against Xeno's palm. Immediately he put one between his lips, testing out the thoughtful creation.

[Y/N]'s [E/C] eyes shun brighter than the sun itself, happy she caught the moment on camera. She quickly put the object in Xeno's awaiting hands, knowing she was eager to get her potentially last kiss in.

She approached her astronaut-soldier husband, watching him slowly take out the tobacco stick. Getting on her tippy toes to give him peppered kisses, his lipstick slowly faded from how rough she did so, smearing on the corners of his lips and her own lips.

"I love you." She murmured, taking out a handkerchief, cleaning his lips and her own. Applying a fresh coat of his signature color, she slipped off her lab coat, bringing up the collar near his face.

"Kiss it." It was a command, he let his lips linger on the fabric, making sure the color planted onto it perfectly. Pulling away and sending her a soft smile.

"Love you too. Love you." He sent the second pair of words to Xeno, who was recording their moment. He gazed up, onyx eyes gently shimmering in adoration.

"Love you too."

All three were nearly in tears, it was scary to think how badly this could all go down. Best case scenario was Stanley being turned to stone and staying in tact till he could be rescued, even then, it didn't sit right with them.

[Y/N] walked out holding hands with Xeno, she was trying hard to keep herself together. Senku had allowed her to press a kiss on his forehead with no fuss, reminding her of the promise he made to her months ago.

"What if it blows up?" Xeno's eyebrow twitched hearing those words, the stiff smile on his face was getting wider, trying to keep his shocked wife calm.

Gen felt the sharp glare, stuttering out a batter line...sort of. "I-I mean it's fiiineee, if they blow up, we just have to find the pieces and glue them back together~"

"I'd spend decades finding your little stone bits, so that Yuzuriha could piece you back together!" Taiju yelled out with tears springing up, Yuzuriha standing nearby with the same expression.

"Heh, I bet you'd try."

"Not try, we'd do it. My husband and kid don't deserve to be scattered around." [Y/N] smirked, trying to show confidence, even if her body wanted to drop onto the floor in worry.

The astronauts were petrified, everyone was now collectively counting down. Nervousness was being bounced around, the rocket looked like a huge shooting star, heading straight for space.

Xeno was sitting by the microphone, one connected directly to the rocket's radio. She was sitting in front of a computer screen, looking at a bunch of numbers she didn't understand.

"3"

"2"

"1"

Everyone cheered when they were notified they made it safely, Xeno leaned forward.

"Ah, Senku. I take it you're awake now."

"So our gear isn't busted, this was your doing Xeno."

"Well, liquid doesn't flow normally in zero gravity, as a precaution I scheduled your revival a bit early." Gen was standing behind Xeno, smiling at how the older man was hiding his true intentions.

"Not shocked huh? You and Xeno cooked up this little plot? Creeps me out having you old dudes doting on me." Senku's voice was slightly distorted, most likely due to the satellite's quality.

"Doting? Definitely not for you." Stanley chuckled, taking out his chewing tobacco box.

"[Y/N] insisted on giving you a moment to yourself, Xeno and I aren't capable of saying no to our cute wife."

"Really kicking it up a notch in the motherly department, huh."

"Don't go stealing my lines!" She invaded Xeno's personal space, nearly gobbling up the mic. "Is it pretty, honey?"

"I have something prettier waiting back on earth, but yeah, it's nice."

Leave it to Stanley to flirt even up in beautiful space, however, she knew he was only trying to distract her from the situation. [Y/N] relaxed, Xeno holding her hand tightly.

Both their efforts quickly burned down, Xeno noticed that their communication was now one-way. They all froze, hearing that the cause of the issue was a strand of petrified hair.

"What are the chances of it being mine?" [Y/N] gulped, she had gotten up and personal with them before the launch. What if her husband gets stuck in space because of her?

"Extremely low, nearly impossible. Your hair was covered." Xeno reassured her, but it didn't really matter who it belonged to, they needed to fix it.

"OUTER SPACE IS MINE! ALL MINE!! HA HA!"

...

"He could be your right hand in a villain movie, darling."

"I have you and Stan, no need for more."

"Really? Shame, I was thinking of getting Francois in on the ride." Xeno's heart skipped a beat hearing her giggle at her own silly joke, it was truly fascinating how deep-rooted feelings never seemed to dwindle, no matter how much time had passed.

Ryusui managed to adjust unit 4, using his body and rotating like a gyroscope. The idea itself was so absurd that even Xeno looked utterly baffled, she could hear Senku cackling evilly from the radio.

Moments later the rocket was closer to the moon, [Y/N] munched on some rice balls further away from the equipment. She didn't need a grain of rice to fall somewhere and make it explode, or something like that.

"Communications with earth will be cut off soon, they'll rely on their own eyes and measurements. Keep your promises you two." Xeno glanced over his shoulder, seeing [Y/N] with stuffed cheeks, eyes completely locked onto the computer screens.

"Yeah yeah, we got it." Senku was initially fine with the risk of staying up on the moon, it was only changed when his 'mom' asked him to come back that his resolve cracked.

[Y/N] finally finished her snack, standing next to Xeno once again. The trio was finally taking their first steps on the moon, while Kohaku gleamed a bit, she quickly got back to the task.

"That's it? No profound romance about being on the moon?" The blonde reporter sweat dropped from the lack of enthusiasm.

"We're talking about an efficiency aficionado, a lady who goes hard and fast, and a soldier, whose romance lies with those two." Gen directed Minami's gaze to the duo standing close to the microphone. "They prioritize speed, especially with the limited amount of oxygen."

They drove around with the rover, passing by the old U.S. flag that was placed in 1969. The mission was going smoothly until some sort of miscommunication happened.

"Kohaku! Senku didn't say a word!" She had opened up the capsule, allowing it to escape its confinement.

"Thank you so much, for unlocking it for me."

It disturbed [Y/N] to hear Senku's voice be used like this, to deceive his friend in such a critical time. Her heart hammered in her chest, worried about them.

"All along...why-man was you."

"Please don't be an alien, please."

"Machine lifeforms dear, the medusas themselves were what formed why-man—"

"Do you wanna die?"

Gen awkwardly smiled, walking towards the mic and pulling it closer. "Ahem, dear Senku. I'm not sure if our new friends are capable of an honest conversation, but with new political enemies, negotiating has always begun with an immediate offering of a gift."

The gears in Senku's head turned, tuning out Kohaku asking what they could possibly gift this entity. He recalled the timing of the whys, the die question, everything led to this moment. It clicked a few seconds later, it was simple really.

"We can replenish your life force, by providing new diamond batteries. And in return, we request that you..."

[Y/N] side-eyed Gen, he was kind of looking very proud of Senku. This was something she needed to look into after everything settled down.

"Keep it polite, Senku—"

"QUIT FIRING OFF THOSE DAMN BEAMS EVERY CHANCE YOU GET!"

Everyone collectively deadpanned, the [H/C] haired doctor really wanted to say 'I expected more' but this? This was Senku through and through.

"Why?"

"Dumb ass parasite, it wanted help but in the process destroyed the technology that could." She muttered, hearing Senku and Xeno exchange more information on this, the medusas thought we'd be grateful to have been given some sort of immortality. Mildly ruined her marriage plans, and trips.

"Why?"

...

"Why?"

"On that note, why-man. I want to negotiate, just you and me, face-to-face."

"What?" [Y/N] nearly knocked over a shocked Xeno, without a view on Senku, Stanley wouldn't have a clear line of sight in case he needed to save him.

"[Y/N], trust me."

With his last words, communication with the white and green haired boy was cut off, leaving everyone in the dark for a while. If anyone could talk to some weird mechanical alien thing, it would be Senku, she was sure of that.

It felt like an eternity before they could hear both Senku and the medusa again.

"Probability is near zero percent."

"Near zero sounds about right." She took a deep breath in, hearing his voice reach her ears. "But near zero, ain't zero. Not when it comes to us."

"Abandonment is your kind's fate, my kind will seek other planets and more intelligent organisms. However, I may be taken by you and only I. This body is yours to destroy, to kill. A creation out of this world, that excites me."

"Careful Gen, it sounds like it's confessing to your boyfriend."

"My what!?"

She ignored his splutters, seeing Xeno with a grin told her it was going to be okay. This was over, now all that she needed was her husband back on earth and they could move on from the constant fear of being loomed over by some entity.

...

...

Except [Y/N] truly didn't think it would look so cute, sitting inside the small capsule with the drawn-on face. She snatched it off Senku's hip, coddling it close to her face.

Stanley, Xeno, and Senku shared a knowing glance. Watching the woman practically jump up and down in pure glee.

"I presume this is the doctor you mentioned."

"Yeah, looks like she's adopted you too."

"My kind has no parental figures, we hold no family value—"

"Oh my god! Screw your secret plan, I'm keeping them." Technically, this was some sort of alien, a theory she was scared to know back then, but not now.

Senku struggled to pry the damn thing out of her grasp, managing to get it back when Stanley intervened, and even he took a while. They settled into a quieter space, only them four being present.

"So, why did you tell this cutie about me?"

"Heh, why don't you ask your question again, why-man?"

"Why was the promise of eternal life rejected?"

Oh. So that's why. She crossed her arms, standing closer to the capsule set on the table.

"Humans naturally fear death, and some would do anything to stay alive. My job is to give second, third, or even more chances to a lot of people, so of course I'd love to see everyone I treat stay healthy and live on...however..." [Y/N] paused, thinking of her next words.

"If every single human on earth was immortal, we'd be run dry of our supplies, food and water would be scarce, and would most likely cause a panic. At my old hospital, the number of babies delivered in a day was almost equal to the lives we lost, it sadly had a very neat balance. Aside from those facts, your petrification was scary."

The machinery clicked, keeping quiet and receiving the information without a single complaint.

"It was dark, quiet, and had us mentally battling for thousands of years. Everything we knew and loved was gone, we struggled to rise from the bottom, and it's going to take a long time to get it all back. Eternal life, isn't something we should ever have our hands on."

"I see. So this is a motherly figure, I believe the terms used were 'nagging' followed by a sense of adoration."

...

"You'd never say that to [Y/N]'s face." Stanley chuckled at Xeno's words, being there when Senku said it, the soldier was extremely surprised he admitted to his feelings so openly.

"Okay well I was saying all of that as a human and doctor, but, does that mean you understand the concept of a mom now?"

"Still incomprehensible, continuing research on this matter."

[Y/N] hugged Senku tightly, nearly crushing his bones. Truly, he never intended for her to know how he felt, knowing she'd get all mushy like so. Can't say he hated the hugs though.

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Several years later...

"What's wrong?"

Senku's scarlet eyes blinked, [Y/N] had been in a very suspicious quiet mood, dragging him out the laboratory and to a quiet secluded area.

"How far along are you guys on the time machine progress?"

"[Y/N]." His voice was firm, that was the only way to stop her dodging questions.

...

...

"I'm pregnant, and I don't know who the father is."

"They're both the damned fathers!" He deadpanned, sighing loudly into the palm of his hand. He was stressing over nothing, feeling his worry melt away into mild annoyance from the scare she gave him.

"WELL NO SHIT! But I...I don't know, they both always cu—"

"Shut up! For this conversation I'm your kid, keep the details to yourself."

Her lips shut, holding in the chuckle from seeing his disgusted face. She truly had no real reason to be this nervous, her husbands would accept the baby with open arms no matter what. Still, she was worried it would interfere with their work.

"When do you plan on letting them know?'

"I found out this morning, one of the scientists did me a favor of creating a few pregnancy tests." She muttered, feeling a headache start to take over.

"First we have to calm you down, then we'll figure it out. Let's talk about it over lunch."

...

...

"Heteropaternal superfecundation?" Stanley quirked an eyebrow, he was on his knees in front of his very pregnant wife, rubbing lotion on her legs.

Xeno was filling up a small pouch with warm water, his hands were a bit shaky receiving the updated news on the pregnancy.

"It's a super rare occurrence, twins who have different biological fathers." [Y/N] almost collapsed onto the ground when she was notified, her curiosity led her to get a DNA test. The ultrasounds were so obscure, only being able to see one singular child, so she never thought for a second it could ever be two.

The scientist approached her, pressing the warm water pouch on her aching back, rubbing gentle circles on her stiff shoulders.

"Screw my shoulders, my tits are hurting." Xeno chuckled, sliding his hand forward and cupping her chest, first roughly squeezing them to ease the tension then rubbing softly.

Stanley finished up her legs, washing his hands quickly then grabbed the oil bottle she was given as a gift from Yuzuriha. He raised her maternal nightgown, applying the liquid to her swollen belly. [Y/N] was scared to get excessive stretch marks from popping out two kids in a single sitting.

"This fucking sucks, and it's only been three months. No more kids, two is enough, one for each right? You guys are happy, right? This is okay?" Her hormones were all over the place, one minute she'd be happy then the next she'd be sobbing hysterically, like when Stanley dropped her long-awaited chocolate cake.

"We're happy, bambi, I promise."

"Everything is okay my dear, we'll be here every step of the way, for this pregnancy and any future ones you desire."

"Shut uuuup~" She cried into her hands, their words fell with love and warmth, reassuring her that it truly was all okay. Those nicknames still caused her to melt on the spot, and now held such an important role in her life.

The months that followed were hard on [Y/N], thankfully her husbands and surprisingly Senku were catering to her every need and want. Kohaku, Ruri, and Suika often took her out on walks, setting up beach days and Francois was paid to cook whatever the pregnant woman craved.

Xeno focused on his work, but balanced time for his wife and husband perfectly. He was doing his best to keep her mind occupied, ordering doctors to send her some patient files to look over. She was definitely going to work at the newest hospital building that was made, furthering her research and sharing her talents once she recovered.

Stanley held shooting and combat lessons, smoking as much as he could, he can't smoke near his wife nor would he be able to when the kids are still young. From forcing Xeno to eat when he was too focused on his project, to keeping his concerned stares to himself whenever his wife would be eating the most baffling food combinations, Stanley was surprisingly keeping it all together. He couldn't afford to have a weak mind, especially when it involved his spouses.

"I have a feeling she won't be happy to see our faces during it." Xeno murmured, looking at Stanley who masked his nervousness by ruffling his blonde hair.

"Our hands are going to be exposed to a dangerous hazard." Sharing a dry laugh, they finally entered the room.

They really, really underestimated the sheer force their wife would have when giving birth. Stanley now truly understood the monstrous grip [Y/N] showed signs of having before, feeling his fingers getting literally crushed as she squeezed tighter.

"GET THEM OUT OF ME!" She screamed tugging Xeno down on accident, he nearly crashed onto her body from the sudden pull, miraculously catching himself and gripping the headrest.

"Never letting your DAMNED DICKS NEAR ME AGAIN!" A hard push later and one of the twins was out, being wrapped in a white blanket. The doctor settled between her legs and got ready to deliver the second one, sending her reassuring words.

Stanley wiped away the sweat building on her forehead, cheeks flushed and tears dripping. He bent down to press a sweet kiss, pulling away to see her [E/C] eyes staring directly into his caramel ones.

She sniffled, feeling overwhelmed with so many emotions at once. Her lips parted to ask for another kiss when she suddenly groaned loudly at the contractions starting again.

"One more push!"

Both babies were placed in her arms, the nurses helping out stepped out giving them privacy, while the doctor stayed back to clean up [Y/N].

"Oh my, they're beautiful." She wept, leaning down to press kisses to their heads. Neither were crying, softly blinking up at their mother. [Y/N] laughed, realizing that these truly were their kids.

Her little girl had blonde hair, her baby boy on the other hand had white hair—their eyes, were a pretty shade of [E/C]. The perfect balance between them three.

Xeno and Stanley quickly picked up the kids, noticing their wife's eyes slowly shut. They nearly snapped their necks towards the doctor who jumped from the sharp gazes.

"She's just tired, everything here is fine." She left the room before they could continue their scary faces, gently closing the door.

It was opened a few minutes later, Senku trailed inside with a hospital gown and a face mask. Scarlet eyes softened up seeing the bundles of joy, finger lightly poking their chubby cheeks.

"So, these are my newest siblings huh?" He whispered, feeling relief flood his body when he noticed [Y/N] was alright and just sleeping off the delivery.

"Nice to see you finally accepted your title." Stanley chuckled, letting Senku hold the calm baby close to his chest.

"He never really had a choice, [Y/N] has been babying him since they met."

Senku rolled his eyes at Xeno's words, the smile on his face not faltering in the slightest. The baby made grabby hands towards the leek's face, [E/C] eyes wide with curiosity.

"If they didn't look like you two, they'd be much cuter."

"Shut up." The woman in the bed murmured softly, nuzzling up to the pillow. Her moment of lucidity was cut short, lulling back into a deep sleep once again.

Taking care of the babies was most of the time a smooth ride, they rarely cried, only doing so when they wanted to sleep or eat. The rare times when they would cry non-stop it felt like her life force was being shredded into particles, desperation and tears overtook her—calming down when her husbands would jump in with zero hesitation and allowing her to rest.

"They're finally asleep." [Y/N] sighed in relief, taking a few steps backs and hitting Stanley's chest. He held her body weight and guided her to bed, laying down first and allowing her back to rest against his chest.

The door was slowly opened, Xeno came in taking off his tie, shrugging off the lab coat.

"Did you see that, Stan? Him and ties."

"He never lets us take it off for him."

Xeno's lips quirked up into a bright smile, putting on his pajamas and making his way to his lovers. The whole situation was reminiscent of the past, a moment he held dear. His head laid down on her chest, cuddling up to the warmth, feeling Stanley's hands rub his shoulders.

"Because it always ends up in sex."

They shared a quick laugh together, holding each other closer.

"Sleep time, before they wake us up." Xeno held her [H/C] hair, twirling it in his fingers before allowing sleep to take over. His lovers shortly followed after.

It was going to take a long time to get their old lives back, slowly but surely, and that comforted her in a way she couldn't explain. It wasn't just them three anymore, they were joined by two little mini versions.

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•[Y/N]'s dad was ecstatic to hold another wedding, taking his drunk daughter's rambles too seriously. This time, she had to pay for everything, it was shocking to see her be richer than him in this new world but he was proud.

•The calm babies turned out to be mischievous gremlins, often being indulged by Senku, who loved showing his little siblings how to create rockets—and scaring the trio-parents whenever they'd hear explosions inside their new house.

•Ruby still worked for [Y/N], assuring her that taking care of the kids while they all went to work, was a job she truly adored.

•Stanley and Xeno were sex banned for a while, their wife being too scared to risk another pregnancy. That wall crumbled when the scientists gifted her plan b pills for her birthday, it was mortifying, to say the least.

Everything was going perfectly fine, and [Y/N] would never trade it for anything in the world.

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Definitely not as detailed as the last post, I didn't have a lot of creative freedom with the obvious timeline that happens after the petrification.

Hope y'all still somewhat enjoyed this.

[maonii-cat]

Maoni_cat_Howl's Moving Castle

EARRING No.5 / Necklace No.11 New Mesh 8 swatches HQ Compatible

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(Public release on 2024.09.14)

You can re-edit for personal use Do Not resell Do not re-upload Don't convert my mesh to anywhere else Thanks for all CC creators Thank for support me 禁止打包与二次售卖

[imreidswifey]

ok so this might be a crazy request but stick with me.

Spencer got interested by this book,it's something of a fairytale but with some special details,and what gets his attention the most is the language of it,it's poetic and magical and pure fantasy coated in honey,and the main character who's a princess has these beautiful descriptions and details of her appearance and her personality and the things she loves and what she doesn't,and some time later he starts to notice this new woman frequenting his favorite coffee shop and somehow she reminds him of the princess from the book,her appearance her energy her smile and her eyes and he's just so caught he cannot think about anything else all day. one day he's re-reading the book in the coffee shop and she approaches him,and they talk and he really likes her,and he finds out her dad wrote that book for her,as a way to always be by her side even when he was gone. and they fall in love.

so sorry if this is too much,sometimes my imagination just runs too wild.

𝐈𝐧𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭

Spencer Reid x Reader Fanfic

w/c: 12.1k+

a/n: reids wifey more like your wifey now💕 I literally love this request so much and it was such a cute and fun thing to write. This is very long so I hope you enjoy and get comfy

Spencer Reid had always loved words. He loved the way they fit together, the way they could be wielded to construct entire worlds within the mind. He had read thousands of books in his lifetime—classics, obscure texts, rare first editions, stories that had been lost to time. But nothing had ever captured his attention quite like The Star-Crowned Princess.

It was an accident, really, the way he found it.

A rare day off, the kind that came without warning, where the weight of his job lifted just enough for him to breathe. He had wandered into a secondhand bookstore, the kind that smelled like vanilla and dust, where the shelves were overstuffed and the air carried a hushed reverence, as if the walls themselves knew the magic they contained.

The book was tucked away in a forgotten corner, bound in dark blue with silver lettering that had faded with time. His fingers brushed over the spine, and something compelled him to pick it up.

The moment he opened it, he was enchanted.

It was unlike any fairytale he had ever read. The prose dripped with poetry, every word carefully strung together like a melody. It was pure fantasy, coated in honey. The descriptions were lush, the world within it so vivid he could almost hear the rustling of silk gowns, the soft glow of lanterns flickering in a moonlit castle.

And then, there was her.

The princess.

She was unlike any character he had ever encountered. The way the author described her—it was with such aching devotion, as if they had poured every ounce of love into the words, shaping her with tenderness and care. Her hair shimmered under the stars, her eyes held entire constellations, her laugh was the soft ringing of silver bells.

But it wasn’t just her beauty that captivated him. It was her.

Her kindness. Her love for stories. The way she sought out the quiet corners of the world just to dream.

She wasn’t perfect—she had little quirks, little flaws, moments of self-doubt that made her feel real. She was both luminous and human, a walking contradiction of grace and imperfection.

Spencer had never believed in love at first sight. It wasn’t logical. It wasn’t quantifiable. But as he turned each page, he felt something stir in his chest—something warm, something unfamiliar.

He couldn’t let go of her.

For days, he carried the book with him. He read passages between cases, highlighted lines that stuck with him, scrawled notes in the margins. It became his quiet obsession, a world he could slip into when the real one felt too sharp.

He didn’t know why he felt so drawn to it. He just did.

And then, he saw you.

It was in his favorite coffee shop—the one tucked away on a quiet street, where the windows fogged up in the winter and the air always smelled like fresh espresso and vanilla.

You walked in with the kind of presence that made the world slow for just a moment.

Your hair caught the light in a way that reminded him of ink spilled across parchment, your eyes held something infinite, something deep and unknowable. And when you smiled—soft, absentminded, as if lost in a daydream—Spencer felt something click into place.

His breath caught.

It was impossible.

You were her.

The princess from the book.

Not just in appearance, but in the way you moved, the way you paused to look at the books stacked near the register, the way your fingers traced the ceramic of your coffee cup as if mapping the world in its surface.

He didn’t believe in fate. He had spent his life buried in science, in logic, in things he could explain. But this—this was something else.

For weeks, he found himself watching you in quiet fascination. Not in a way that was intrusive, not in a way that crossed the line into something inappropriate—just with quiet awe, the way a poet might watch a sunset unfold.

And every time he saw you, it became harder to look away.

It wasn’t just your appearance. It was the way you carried yourself, the quiet grace in your movements, the way you curled your fingers around the spine of a book as if it was something sacred.

He wondered what you read.

He wondered what your voice sounded like when you whispered secrets into the dark.

He wondered what kind of stories lived inside your head.

But he didn’t approach you.

Because Spencer Reid was a man of logic, and logically, there was no reason why you—this ethereal, otherworldly presence—would want to talk to someone like him.

So, he admired you from afar.

Until the day you spoke to him first.

———

It was late afternoon, golden light spilling through the windows, dust motes floating in the air like tiny stars. Spencer sat in his usual seat, the book open on the table before him, his fingers absently tracing the words.

And then—

“You like that book?”

He froze.

Your voice was exactly as he imagined it—soft, melodic, laced with something warm. He looked up, and there you were, standing beside his table, a curious tilt to your head.

For a moment, he forgot how to speak.

Then, finally—

“Yes. I—I mean, yes, I do.”

A smile flickered across your lips. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

His heart tripped over itself. “You’ve read it?”

Your fingers skimmed the edge of the cover, reverent. “I know it by heart.”

Spencer swallowed. He felt like the floor had tilted beneath him. “It’s not a well-known book.”

“I know.” A small, knowing smile. “My father wrote it.”

The words knocked the breath from his lungs.

He blinked, staring at you as if you had just shattered reality and pieced it back together in a new shape.

And suddenly, everything made sense.

The care in every word. The tenderness in every description.

The way the princess had been crafted with such breathtaking detail.

Because she was you.

The book wasn’t just a fairytale. It was you.

Your father had written you into existence, immortalized you in ink, given you a kingdom of words so you would never be alone.

Spencer didn’t realize he was gripping the book tightly, as if it were the only thing tethering him to reality.

“He wrote it for you.” His voice was barely a whisper.

You nodded. “So that no matter where I go, or what happens… a piece of him is always with me.”

Spencer had spent his life unraveling mysteries, deciphering puzzles, piecing together the minds of the darkest criminals.

But nothing—nothing—had ever made him feel the way you did in this moment.

And for the first time in his life, Spencer Reid felt like he was living in a fairytale.

———

Spencer Reid wasn’t sure if he was dreaming.

It felt like he had slipped between the pages of The Star-Crowned Princess, like the air in the coffee shop had been woven with magic, thick with something unreal.

Because you were real.

You weren’t just an echo of a character in a book. You weren’t a trick of his mind, a coincidence wrapped in something poetic. No—this was something deeper. You were her because the story had been yours all along.

Your father had written you into existence.

Spencer had spent weeks reading that book, tracing the words that described you so intimately. And now, here you were, sitting across from him in the golden light of late afternoon, your fingers curled around a warm coffee cup, your smile laced with something soft, something knowing.

And he had no idea what to say.

His mind—normally a whirlwind of facts and statistics, always prepared with some obscure piece of knowledge—was utterly blank.

You were watching him, waiting.

Finally, he managed, “Your father… he wrote this book for you?”

You nodded, the motion small, reverent. “It was his way of staying with me. Even when he couldn’t.”

Spencer’s throat went tight.

Loss was something he understood.

He thought of his mother—of the years he had spent watching pieces of her slip away, of the love that remained even when her memories did not.

He thought of Gideon—of the unfinished chess game, of the way grief sat heavy in his ribcage.

He thought of every moment in his life where love and loss had existed in the same breath.

He looked down at the book between you, at the worn edges, at the way the ink had been pressed into the pages with devotion.

It was more than a story.

It was a love letter.

And he felt the weight of it settle deep in his chest.

“What was he like?” Spencer asked, his voice softer now, careful.

Your lips curled into something fond, something distant. “He was… kind. Brilliant. He saw the world like it was made of stories. Everything had meaning to him—every star, every shadow, every whisper of the wind.” You exhaled, eyes flickering to the book. “He used to tell me bedtime stories that weren’t from any book. Just ones he made up as he went. I guess he decided one day that he wanted to give me a story that would last forever.”

Spencer swallowed against the ache in his throat. “And he made you a princess.”

Your smile was small. “To him, I always was.”

Something about that made Spencer’s heart twist.

He had spent so much time believing he had simply found an extraordinary book—one that had pulled him in with its poetic language, with its descriptions of a princess too radiant, too ethereal to be real.

But now he knew better.

The words had been written with love.

And you were real.

The thought made his pulse stutter, his fingers tightening slightly around the book.

“I’ve read it,” he admitted. “More than once.”

Your eyebrows lifted slightly. “Really?”

He nodded. “I… I was drawn to it. The writing is—” He hesitated, searching for the right words. “It’s unlike anything I’ve ever read before. It’s like poetry, but more than that. It’s like magic in written form.”

Something flickered in your expression—surprise, maybe, or something softer. “That’s exactly how my father wanted it to feel.”

Spencer hesitated, then admitted, “And the princess… I—” He swallowed. “She felt real. I’ve never read a character that felt so alive.”

Your eyes met his, something unreadable in them. “That’s because she was.”

His breath caught.

There was something delicate about this moment—like a fragile piece of glass, something that could shatter if he moved too quickly.

The air between you felt heavy, charged with something unspoken.

Spencer wasn’t used to this.

He had spent most of his life on the outside of things—watching, analyzing, understanding people but never really belonging to them.

But now, sitting across from you, with the weight of your father’s love between you in the form of ink and paper, he felt something shift.

He felt seen.

He had spent weeks feeling inexplicably drawn to this book. To the way the words felt like silk and stardust, to the way the princess had been described with such aching tenderness.

And now he understood.

Because he had been reading about you.

And you had found him in return.

—

The conversation stretched on for hours.

You told him stories about your father—the way he had once convinced you that fireflies were stars that had fallen just so you could catch them, the way he had filled your childhood with whispered tales of magic woven into the ordinary.

Spencer listened, completely enraptured.

And when you asked about him, he found himself telling you things he rarely told anyone.

About his mother, about her mind full of brilliance and fractures.

About how he had learned to love words because they were safe. Because books never left, never forgot, never looked at him like he was something strange.

You listened the way no one ever had before.

Not just with patience, but with understanding.

Like you saw him.

Not just the genius. Not just the profiler.

But the boy who had spent his life buried in books, searching for something he couldn’t name.

And now, for the first time, he thought maybe he had found it.

—

The sun had set by the time you finally stood, your empty coffee cup abandoned on the table, the book still resting between you like a shared secret.

Spencer looked up at you, something hesitant in his gaze.

“Would you—” He swallowed. “Would you like to meet here again? Tomorrow?”

Your smile was soft. “I’d like that.”

Something warm unfurled in his chest.

You reached for the book, your fingers brushing his as you slid it toward you.

Spencer felt the touch like an electric current, a quiet jolt that settled somewhere deep.

Then, with a final glance at him, you turned and walked away.

Spencer sat there for a long time after you left, staring at the empty space where you had been.

He exhaled slowly, his heart still unsteady.

And for the first time in his life, he believed in fairytales.

———

Spencer had never anticipated how quickly you would become a part of his world.

It started with the coffee shop.

One day turned into two. Then three. Then a full week where you met him every afternoon, sliding into the seat across from him with a warm smile and eyes that held the same wonder your father had captured in his book.

Spencer wasn’t used to this—to someone seeking him out, wanting his company, waiting for him the way you did.

It made something shift in his chest, something tender and unfamiliar.

Because he wasn’t just fascinated by you anymore.

He was falling for you.

And it was terrifying.

He tried not to think about it too much. He tried to keep his mind occupied with conversation, with the stories you told him, with the way you traced patterns on the table absentmindedly as you spoke.

But then you would laugh—soft and sweet and unguarded—and he would forget how to breathe.

You would glance at him like he was something important, something worth knowing, and he would forget how to think.

And then, one day, you were late.

It was the first time in two weeks that you weren’t waiting for him at your usual table.

Spencer sat down, fingers tapping against his book as minutes passed, then an hour. His chest felt too tight, his mind spinning with possibilities, each one worse than the last.

What if something had happened?

What if you weren’t coming at all?

What if—

The bell above the café door chimed, and then you were there, breathless, hair slightly windswept, eyes immediately searching for him.

Relief hit him so hard he nearly felt dizzy.

“I’m so sorry,” you said as you slid into the seat across from him. “I got caught up with something, and then there was traffic, and I—”

Spencer shook his head quickly. “It’s okay.”

You exhaled, smiling a little. “I just didn’t want you to think I wasn’t coming.”

The words were simple.

But they hit him like a shock to the system.

Because that had been his biggest fear.

Not that something had happened to you—though that had crossed his mind—but that you had changed your mind. That maybe, after these weeks of stolen afternoons and quiet conversation, you had decided he wasn’t worth your time after all.

He swallowed. “I was… worried.”

Your expression softened. “You don’t have to worry about me, Spencer.”

But he already did.

More than he should. More than was safe.

And he didn’t know what to do about it.

—

That night, he lay awake thinking about you.

Thinking about your laughter. About the way you tilted your head when you listened to him, giving him your full attention in a way so few people ever had.

Thinking about the way you had looked at him today, like you had wanted to be there just as much as he did.

And then, for the first time in years, Spencer picked up his phone and called someone for advice.

“Spence?” JJ’s voice was groggy, laced with sleep. “Do you know what time it is?”

Spencer glanced at the clock. “Two thirty-seven.”

There was a pause. “And… is someone dying?”

“No.”

“Are you dying?”

“No.”

“Then why are we talking?”

Spencer hesitated. “I think I like someone.”

There was a long silence. Then, suddenly, JJ was very awake.

“Oh my God.”

Spencer winced. “Please don’t make this a thing.”

“Spencer Reid,” JJ continued, voice now fully alert, “you cannot call me in the middle of the night to tell me you like someone and then expect me not to make it a thing.”

Spencer sighed, already regretting this. “I just… I don’t know what to do.”

There was a rustling sound, like JJ was sitting up in bed. “Okay. First, tell me about her.”

And so, in a quiet voice, Spencer told her about you.

About the book. About the way you had walked into his life like something out of a fairytale. About the afternoons in the coffee shop, the way you listened to him, the way you made him feel like maybe he wasn’t so strange after all.

And by the time he finished, JJ was silent.

Then, softly, she said, “Spence. You have to tell her.”

Spencer swallowed. “Tell her what?”

“That you like her.”

His pulse jumped. “I—”

“Spencer.” JJ’s voice was gentle, but firm. “You deserve this.”

Something in his chest ached.

Because that was the part he wasn’t sure about.

But JJ believed it.

And when he saw you the next day, sitting across from him with a smile so warm it felt like home, Spencer realized…

Maybe he believed it, too.

—

Two days later, he asked you on a date.

It wasn’t planned.

It wasn’t some grand gesture or a perfectly timed confession.

It was just… you.

And him.

And the way the evening light painted golden streaks across your skin, making you look like something out of a dream.

The words slipped out before he could stop them.

“Would you have dinner with me?”

You blinked.

And for a terrifying moment, Spencer thought he had misread everything.

But then your lips curled into the softest smile.

“I’d love to.”

Spencer barely remembered the rest of the conversation.

All he knew was that when you left that night, he was left sitting at the table, heart racing, hands shaking, and mind replaying the sound of your voice over and over again.

—

The night of the date, Spencer was nervous.

He hadn’t been on many dates in his life. And none that had ever mattered like this.

But when you walked into the restaurant, wearing a dress the color of twilight and looking at him like he was something worth seeing, all his nerves faded.

Dinner was… perfect.

You talked for hours, just like in the coffee shop.

But there was something different now.

Something electric in the air between you.

Something that made Spencer hyper-aware of every brush of your hand, every glance you stole when you thought he wasn’t looking.

And then, after dinner, you walked together under the glow of the city lights, and Spencer thought—this is it.

This is where he was always meant to be.

With you.

Here.

Now.

And when you turned to him, eyes soft, lips parted like you were about to say something, Spencer made the most impulsive decision of his life.

He kissed you.

It was gentle at first, hesitant.

But then you melted into him, and Spencer realized there was no going back.

His hands found your waist. Yours curled into his shirt.

And in that moment, Spencer finally understood what people meant when they said time could stop.

Because nothing else existed.

Just you.

Just this.

Just the way your lips fit against his like they had been made for each other.

And when you finally pulled away, forehead resting against his, breath mingling in the space between, you whispered,

“Took you long enough.”

Spencer laughed—soft and breathless and full of something dangerously close to love.

And for the first time in his life, he let himself believe in happily ever afters.

[vintagerpg]

The five-volume Chronicles of Prydain, by Lloyd Alexander, began in 1964 with The Book of Three, and saw new entries — The Black Cauldron, The Castle of Llyr, Taran Wanderer — appear annually until finishing with The High King in 1968. They’re set in a fantasy version of Wales, and draw from Welsh mythology, but the story is very much the tale of an assistant pig-keeper named Taran who, as he grows from boy to man, seeks adventure, finds responsibility and learns the terrible cost of glory. It’s one of the first works of fantasy I read as a kid and honestly, I don’t think any others, except Earthsea, have measured up in terms of emotional weight (and their refusal to indulge in power fantasy or other cliché). I re-read them recently and that remains true. You ought to read them if you haven’t. They’ll change you, I bet.

Anyway. My editions as a kid were the ‘80s Dell Yearlings with the gorgeous cover art by Jean-Leon Huens. I have a deep love for the first cover and its depiction of the Horned King (and am eternally jealous that Tony DiTerlizzi owns the original). The others are pretty great, too. I love that the giant cat is basically a house cat and I love those alien-looking Cauldronborn on the final book’s cover. The Black Cauldron cover is rather new for me; my original had the movie poster for the god awful Disney movie (beautiful, yes, but still awful and utterly lacking the emotional heart of the books). I’m pleased Huens shows Eilonwy, but now I am a little bummed he never painted the bard, Fflewddur Fflam.

[scarapanna]

The main premise and events in the Intertwined Opposites AU

It's finally here!!!

I've managed to finally make a proper info post for my personal take on this silly possession AU craze as I've planned to do for a while since I'm totally normal about this concept (lie) /silly

Before proceeding, keep in mind that this post is gonna be pretty long as I'll be diving into important story events troughout the first half of it, so it gets the read more treatment as usual!!

There will be no crk spoilers here (except for the beast-yeast episodes), just a ""prologue" to current narrative events in the AU

[[Little edit but there now are some ref sheets for both Shadow Milk and Pure Vanilla!!! They can be found here]]

•The beginning��

Everything starts in beast-yeast, once peace has been returned to the fairie kingdom

Now that the area is mostly free from danger with the silver tree's seal being properly mended, the crowd decides to start repairs and preparations to further celebrate everyone's victory for the remainder of the day.

However, as everyone starts to leave the area, something starts creeping out from the shadows created by the tree's roots

Turns out that Shadow Milk, now severely weakened from the blow taken in battle, has managed to flee from being forced back into his prison once more.

During Lily's blast of magic, he essentially "split" and discarded part of his own power as a last resort, separating what was already being sucked into the renewed seal from himself to avoid getting dragged into containment once more.

Unfortunately for the beast, both his panicked and sloppy procedure combined with the added strenght of the new guardian's spell left him with a very poor amount of strenght, with it not being enough for anything useful.

Needless to say, his mind is filled with hatred and anger as soon as he emerges

he can't really do much with this state, and thus lingers on formulating a plan to get what he wanted from the start, but how?

How would he get back on track, rid himself of the guardian, and break the seal once more like this?

The answer eventually comes to him, just right on top of a bridge alongside the one who restored his prison.

His souljam, the one he was once the owner of

Now "purified" and held by Pure Vanilla, it binds the two together with the virtue of knowledge, split in the lights of truth and deceit during the purification process.

These lights are owned by the beast, and the figure by the bridge in front of him, yet come from the same thing.

Shadow Milk has finally decided on a proper plan.

◆ What comes after and what it leads to ◆

Days pass, turning into a few weeks and ending with a trip back home to take a break and write down what happened during the beast-yeast expedition.

Everything seems to have gone well in the end, yet something still feels..wrong?

It's not the best term for it, but does the job well enough.

The vanilla kingdom is peaceful, and Pure Vanilla's return safe and sound brings back some joy to the citizens.

Yet it just doesn't feel right, he doesn't know what precisely, but the ancient is riddled with an odd feeling almost like being watched.

He might not realise it for now, but he had been right. Someone has been following him inside the castle for the entire duration of the trip.

Pure Vanilla slowly grows more wary as days pass, and his doubts are confirmed as Shadow Milk's idea is proven successful.

In the void Pure Vanilla is confronted by Shadow Milk cookie, he spills everything he's done without esitating twice, as there's no reason to hide it anymore.

Shadow Milk had always been there ever since the re-sealing of the tree, following Pure Vanilla and draining magic at a slow enough rate to not be noticed, until it was enough to take over his body without trouble.

Now that he had a "vessel" to work with, he could keep recharging power and be finally able to do his bidding.

He's questioned multiple times by Pure Vanilla, but he wouldn't budge, and the ancient manages to gather only their location and a few loose details.

This was not a void, this was a ""mind space"" where he was bound to stay while shadow milk used his body as a disguise, and he could not use magic to fight back against the beast.

Being out of options, Pure Vanilla quickly tries to think over what to do, and lingers over the situation to come up with something.

Shadow Milk proposes an idea to Pure Vanilla, sharing the vessel that both are confined in, to be sure he doesn't get caught.

This is only to one condition: the ancient must work in favour of the beast under it's watchful sight at all times

The Ancient complies, and a deal is sealed.

It's not a loss nor a victory, only a beginning

◆The current situation◆

Now that the main prologue is set, what happens precisely to both?

So, Shadow Milk cookie is essentially ""possessing"" Pure Vanilla, but not completely.

The two switch up control of the ancient's body in certain times of the day and night, sometimes Pure Vanilla is granted the lead and when he's not needed Shadow Milk takes it. He's pretty much using the ancient as a puppet, a disguise and a tool for his own gain, assigning him certain tasks so that his plan will work as intended.

Whenever one of them is not in control of their shared ""vessel"", they're send in the mindspace until the shift of control takes place and so on. Shadow milk never gives Pure Vanilla full "freedom" or personal space, having control of the shifts in lead and constantly keeping the ancient under watch trough mirrors and reflective surfaces (The only moments in which he's given alone time is when the beast is asleep in the mind space to retain magic).

The ancient, on the other hand, accepted Shadow Milk's offer right away without esitation, but for a much different reason.

Pure vanilla is trying to get the best out of his situation, and thus feels forced to go against his own morality to keep cookies safe and attempt to alarm them trough hints and hidden messages scattered in the kingdom.

Even if he doesn't like the means, what else could he do to keep everyone safe?

The difficulty of his situation causes him great stress and paranoia, which worsens as time goes on and Shadow Milk regains his powers bit by bit, making his actions more difficult to get away with unnoticed.

Here's some more info regarding the effects of sharing a vessel in two:

• Pure Vanilla and Shadow Milk's connection by souljam makes sharing a body possible, otherwise it would be fatal to most cookies (As they're not made to be vessels).

• The slit in the souljam is a shared element which hints at Shadow milk's presence in both, during control shifts it flickers in different shades of gray.

• Remaining on the topic, control shifts are not plesant in the slightest to both parties involved, being defined by acute physical pain on the area covered by the souljam. This is inflicted on the current cookie in charge of the vessel during the shift, fading away only when back in the mindspace.

•The two can see eachother and comunicate trough reflective surfaces, with them displaying the current entity in the mindspace instead of the one leading the vessel.

• Pure Vanilla's voice sounds somewhat overlapped or distorted when shadow milk is in charge of his body, he can't change this aspect unfortunately for him.

• Certain factors like hunger and thirst are shared between the two due to their predicament, they can sometimes be heard debate over what to eat and when during the day.

• Sleep in the traditional sense is the only factor distinct to the two instead of being shared, as it's strictly based on "individual energy" rather than "shared energy"

[judesmoonbeauty]

2024 Villain’s Festival: Jude Jazza Bonus Story Part 2 ♛

Fan translation only. Not 100% accurate. Please expect grammatical errors. Cybird owns everything. Feel free to re-blog, but please do NOT post my translations elsewhere. *I don't know what happened today, but I was exhausted and for some reason, part 2 was extremely difficult to translate. I had to edit the entire thing three times, so I apologize if the translation isn't as smooth as it could be. But I hope you still enjoy our sadistic fairy in part 2 ♥︎

In the meantime, Jude and I decided to have breakfast, so we visited a nearby park.

I sit down on the grass with a good view and take a bite of the bread that was just handed to me.

Kate: Mm….delicious!

Kate: The bread served at Crown Castle is good, but I like the buttery flavor of the bread here!

Jude: Well, good for ya.

Kate: By the way, Jude, you know a lot about the bread I like, don’t you?

Jude: It's a basic part of business to learn people's tastes and preferences. Ya were just in my head because ya were being so loud.

Jude: Instead, there's no hope for ya, I'll take ya around on my own today.

(Jude is willing to spend time with me, even if it's for money.)

Jude would be able to forcefully take the necklace from me.

But instead of doing that, he is following the rules and trying to steal my heart.

(Jude is a man who keeps his promises, no matter what they are.)

Kate: Jude, I'm going to make some  conditions for you to take my heart.

Jude: Conditions? You're so high and mighty, tellin’ people what to do. Since when did ya become such a big woman?

Kate: Because the heart is invisible, so I think it's better to have some kind of clear goal.

Jude: Tell me.

Kate: Food that I will never forget, food that I’ll truly enjoy, and will want to continue to eat. 

Jude: Find this…….

Jude: That’s too many conditions.

Kate: Because with fewer requirements, you would find them too quickly Jude.

Jude: Tch…..Let’s go.

From then until sunset, Jude took me around to various shops.

Jude: Oi…. You've got to stop this. Why can’t I pass the review?

Kate: Jude, It's true that the food at the restaurant you introduced me to is delicious, right?

Kate: However, if you ask me if I would go there myself, I would say...

The shop Jude introduced me to has slightly higher prices than the shops I usually go to.

Of course, the taste is guaranteed to be worth the price, but it's difficult to buy it myself so often.

(However, since he spent so much time introducing various things, I guess it would be better to let him pass the review...)

(It's already late and I'm getting full from eating so much...)

Kate: Jude, thank you for your time today.

Kate: Well, as a thank you for keeping me company all day, I'd like to give you the necklace... ....

Jude: That’s different from the first condition. There's no point in acceptin’ it like that.

Surprisingly, Jude did not accept my necklace.

Jude is very rule-abiding and disciplined.

(But I'd like to give something back…..)

(….that’s it.)

Kate: Jude, we've been walking a lot, so why not have something cold to eat at the end? My treat. 

I told Jude to wait for me and bought some ice cream from the street corner.

Kate: It's much cheaper than the food that you introduced me to today Jude, but...

I handed one to Jude, who accepted it without a word.

Kate: Hm…delicious! After a long day of walking, something cold and sweet hits the spot. 

Jude: Well, that's about right.

When I was looked at Jude from the side, our gazes collided with each other.

Jude: Isn't it bad manners to stare at other people eatin’?

Kate: Because I was so happy to see your ‘it’s delicious face’ that I just couldn't resist, Jude.

Kate: It's cheap and easy to buy, so you can eat it like this over and over again.

Kate: Next time I eat it, I will surely remember today!

Jude: You're such a long-winded princess, aren'tcha?

Kate: What?

Jude: The conditions have been met.

I didn't mean to say much, but Jude chuckled.

Jude: Food that you’ll never forget, food that you’ll truly enjoy, and will want to continue to eat.

Jude: I've met all three. I wasn't told it was my job to find them.

Kate: Haha…

Jude: There's nothin’ to laugh at.

Kate: When we first met today, Jude had changed the way he spoke, and I felt very uncomfortable.

Kate: Just….I'm so relieved to see that you're your usual self Jude.

Victor declared, "The supreme evil that steals her heart will be the winner.”

The title of the greatest evil is worthy of the current Jude, who never gave up on winning until the very end.

Kate: Please. It's the necklace I promised you.

Jude: Hah....... I can't believe it took me this long to get here, I didn't attack this right the first time.

Jude: Ya weren't satisfied with the kind young man you see in romance novels.

Jude: You'll be happy if I torture ya like I always do, won’tcha?

Kate: That’s an improper expression!

Jude: There's no such thing as an improper expression, is there Princess?

Kate: It’s differ….

I hastily swallow the denial that almost leaves my mouth.

(Because if I deny Jude's words now.….)

(……I was satisfied, not because I like to be tortured)

(I liked Jude as he was, not as a nice young man.)

Jude: I knew it.

Mr. Jude throws a ridiculing look at me as I remain silent.

I gave my heart to an arrogant fairy who shot me with his gaze.

[Previous] [Master List]

[tibbycaps]

re: artimators ep 14 i still think the arrow bit from the sand castle part is so fucking funny. i completely forgot about it until i went back to editing

fucking up my one and only job, nobody on either team noticing, getting not one but two more chances by sheer luck, then getting praised by my team for a job well done might be the most me thing to ever happen. sums up my character in 60 seconds i think

[iglowindark]

@sideguitars and @makicarn you may regret engaging me about my 2025 Pasta Shape Rubric of Awesome (TM). 😜

i was getting quite annoyed with the New Year's Resolution questions from friends and fam - like, i consistently fail to overhaul my life during the other 11 months of the year, why would January be a magical success month? but i was also bumming everyone out during Resolution Reveals so i decided to pick something that would be fun for me and mildly upsetting for my elders!

the initial format was to "try every pasta shape in 2025". but. there are more than 400 pasta shapes. do you know how often i would have to eat pasta to accomplish this? i mean, i had to use a calculator because i forgot a year had 365 days, but it's MORE THAN ONCE PER DAY. i love pasta, but i also love other food, and i need to leave room in my life for every other cuisine.

so then i settled on "52 pasta shapes in 2025" - but glowy! (you might say) how will you decide which 52 pasta shapes to eat??? out of more than 400???

the answer is, of course: arbitrarily! but with a spreadsheet twist, because my first love in life is hot sauce, and my second love in life is a spreadsheet - no, i lied, i forgot about ms underfoot 😸, ok, she's #1, then hot sauce, then spreadsheets, then probably my family i guess.

ok, so please understand, i literally spent 7 hours and 40ish minutes over the past week assembling, editing, auditing, and admiring this spreadsheet. i started with trusty wikipedia, which helpfully broke down pasta shapes into groups like "long/medium" and "short cut" and "soup". it also had a group for "filled", but maki, sorry to say, this group i eliminated wholesale. there was just so much variation in what they might be filled WITH, and i needed some sort of control element. i didn't think it would be fair to compare cheese ravioli with 3-cheese tortellini? the cheeses are not equal! 🧀🧀🧀

so THEN: i did my own sub-grouping. (actually, first i split long and medium into their own groups, because, duh, they're different) long-flat and long-rolled, for example. i also started combining shapes that were really similar. like linguini and tagliatelle are kinda just the same noodle with slightly different widths/shapes/ingredients? (please, nonnas of the world, do not come for me in the comments, this was SO HARD). this part involved a lot of googling. my ad content for the next 4 months is gonna be all pasta related. through many gruelling rounds of re-googling to remind myself what shape was what, and some painful, tearful cuts (lasagne noodles are for lasagne, not for unserious noodle frippery) i finally finally finally culled my list down to 52 pasta shapes. 🍝 (editor's note: the single emoji does not represent this publication's favored pasta shape)

then the FUN part: how was i going to score these 52 pasta shapes? every google result went to pains to insist that different shapes were meant for specific sauces, and i'm sure that's true, but what's the fun in scoring something based on what it's meant to do? (also i didn't want to commit to having to make 52 different sauces/soups) so i came up with this scientifically rigorous scoring rubric:

BUTTERED/RED SAUCED (depending on my mood and whether or not i have red sauce available)

a pasta may earn up to one (1) point for being really good at holding butter/red sauce

a pasta cannot lose points in this category

PRIMAVERA (my version of primavera just means that i diced up whatever veggies i had handy and tossed them w/ the pasta)

a pasta may earn up to one (1) point if i can make one perfect bite that includes veggies/sauce/pasta

a pasta cannot lose points in this category

ALTERNATE USES

a pasta may earn one (1) point (max 5 points) for every non-food alternate use that i can dream up. for example, orecchiette could be used as hats for frogs! or to decorate the ramparts of a sand castle! 2 points for orecchiette!

a pasta may not lose points in this category

MISC/GENERAL (here's where i let my freak flag fly)

a pasta may earn one (1) point if i think the name is fun to say

a pasta may earn one (1) point if i think the shape is "cute"

a pasta may earn one (1) point if it works in a soup

a pasta may earn one (1) point if it might stick (cooked) on the ceiling

a pasta may earn one (1) point if it could probably be used to build a bridge for matchbox cars

a pasta may lose one (1) point if it sticks together unreasonably

a pasta may lose one (1) point if water gets stuck in it and surprises me with pasta water bites

a pasta may lose one (1) point if i can't eat it with a spoon

a pasta may lose one (1) point if it won't fit in a pot without being broken up

a pasta may lose one (1) point if it breaks when dropped from 5 feet (dried and uncooked)

all pasta shapes must be eaten twice (once with butter or red sauce, and once in a primavera), and once i've submitted my scores to myself, i cannot be influenced or bribed to change them. at the end of the year, a Champion Pasta Shape will be announced and celebrated.

so... was that a lot of senseless work for an absolutely pointless goal just so i can eat lots of pasta? heck yeah it was!!

[cluecrewplaythru]

ClueCrewPlayThru Fortnight Edition Schedule

Two weeks per game, starting in January 2025!

Fortnight #1 - Secrets Can Kill (sck)

Fortnight #2 - Stay Tuned for Danger (stfd)

Fortnight #3 - Message in a Haunted Mansion (mhm)

Fortnight #4 - Treasure in the Royal Tower (trt)

Fortnight #5 - The Final Scene (fin)

Fortnight #6 - Secret of the Scarlet Hand (ssh)

Fortnight #7 - Ghost Dogs of Moon Lake (dog) - March 30th 2025

Fortnight #8 - The Haunted Carousel (car) - April 13th 2025

Fortnight #9 - Danger on Deception Island (ddi) - April 27th 2025

Fortnight #10 - The Secret of Shadow Ranch (sha) - May 11th 2025

Fortnight #11 - Curse of Blackmoor Manor (cur) - May 25th 2025

Fortnight #12 - Secret of the Old Clock (clk) - June 8th 2025

Fortnight #13 - Last Train to Blue Moon Canyon (trn) - June 22nd 2025

Fortnight #14 - Danger by Design (dan) - July 6th 2025

Fortnight #15 - The Creature of Kapu Cave (cre) - July 20th 2025

Fortnight #16 - White Wolf of Icicle Creek (ice) - August 3rd 2025

Fortnight #17 - Legend of the Crystal Skull (cry) - August 17th 2025

Fortnight #18 - The Phantom of Venice (ven) - August 31st 2025

Fortnight #19 - The Haunting of Castle Malloy (hau) - September 14th 2025

Fortnight #20 - Lights Camera Curses (lcc) - September 28th 2025

Fortnight #21 - Ransom of the Seven Ships (ran) - October 12th 2025

Fortnight #22 - Resorting to Danger (res) - October 26th 2025

Fortnight #23 - Warnings at Waverly Academy (wac) - November 9th 2025

Fortnight #24 - Secrets Can Kill (Remastered) (sck) - November 23rd 2025

Fortnight #25 - Trail of the Twister (tot) - December 7th 2025

Fortnight #26 - Shadow at the Water's Edge (saw) - December 21st 2025

Fortnight #27 - The Captive Curse (cap) - January 4th 2026

Fortnight #28 - Alibi in Ashes (ash) - January 18th 2026

Fortnight #29 - Tomb of the Lost Queen (tmb) - February 1st 2026

Fortnight #30 - The Deadly Device (ded) - February 15th 2026

Fortnight #31 - Ghost of Thornton Hall (gth) - March 1st 2026

Fortnight #32 - The Silent Spy (spy) - March 15th 2026

Fortnight #33 - The Shattered Medallion (med) - March 29th 2026

Fortnight #34 - Labyrinth of Lies (lie) - April 12th 2026

Fortnight #35 - Sea of Darkness (sea) - April 26th 2026

Fortnight #36 - Midnight in Salem (mid) - May 10th 2026

Fortnight #37 - Mystery of the Seven Keys (key) - May 24th 2026

[dalekofchaos]

RE1 is getting remade for the 30th Anniversary and here's why I support it and what I'd love to see in the RE1RR.

Updated with the next gen graphics in the RE Engine

The plan is obviously to remake RE5, but we need to do Wesker's OTHER big appearances first. I believe we should get the following released in the specific order. 1, 0, then Code Veronica and finally RE5. Cause if you tease RE5 and have Wesker, you should have the three games that featured Wesker before his death in RE5.

The atmosphere and tension of the Spencer Mansion in the new age and basically RE1 meets Village. The visual aesthetic of Village’s Castle Dimitrescu for Spencer Mansion.

Better characterization. Flesh out all the characters. Improve the plot/story.

Chris and Jill’s campaigns to be separate and different, so by the time they meet at the end they’ve both had their own adventure, and you need to play through both to see both sides. Perhaps give Chris the mines and Jill the guard house. Expand the mansion, and when they separate at the start they pick up different keys and access different areas. That way they story would be canon regardless of what happens, and there would be some variety. Also have Rebecca and Richard as playable paths, similar to Sherry and Ada in RE2R.

A playable Wesker mode with him having to move about the mansion and into the lab under a certain amount of time.

Also would like them to keep the REmake music (especially the save room theme), though they could always release a Deluxe Edition like 2R with the OG music too?

Additions. I would be happy with an entire new floor in the Spencer Mansion. Or making the Residence 3x as long. Adding a forest section, either during the opening and/or later in the game. Extended playable sequences for Rebecca and Barry – different locations for each, like how the Orphanage was entirely new for Sherry in 2R. An abandoned greenhouse near the guardhouse with Plant-42 and similar experimentation , an extended cemetery with more tombs, a third floor in Spencer Mansion, more floors in guardhouse, etc.

Making S.T.A.R.S. matter. The game begins at the R.P.D. After picking between Chris and Jill, you make your way from the garage and up into the department proper, crossing paths with various characters referencing the recent cannibal killings and the fact that Alpha and Bravo have been assigned. The walk through the RPD could be intercut with news reports and police banter about what’s been happening. You can interact with the various characters as much or as little as you want en route to the briefing room. Chris and Forrest can talk some trash and reference their apparent contest for top shot. Enrico can be seen helping Rebecca organize her equipment and her nerve. Joseph can be given more personality than being puppy kibble. Marvin can be caught informing Rebecca that she won’t be the rookie in a couple more months. Chief Irons can greet the player with the mask of a competent professional because his mind was still intact. Hell, perhaps we can even catch a glimpse of whatever act Wesker put on for the two years that made these people trust him. Wesker and Enrico would then host the briefing that will send them into mountains, still treating this like they think the suspects are hill people or whatever, culminating in Bravo Team taking point while Alpha Team remains behind. There could be some more small talk or some kinda time lapse before Richard makes contact in a panic before communications break down. Alpha Team immediately preps and heads out, complete with changing clothes in the locker room and gearing up. The player will actually play the search through the woods, discover the crashed helicopter, and play through the mad chase to the mansion where the game as we know it begins.

Throw the players off by changing the keys and rooms

Zombies, Crimson Heads and every other BOW in the first game

Defense weapons and head stomping

Lisa Trevor(she could work like as a stalker enemy)

Same notes, but add in some new ones

All the puzzles, but mix it up

Just give us “One more second and you were ALMOST A JILL SANWICH” let Barry be the cheesy bastard that we know him to be

Stick with the REVIll face model for Chris, but younger and less steroids. Like how many faces can he wear?????

Stick with the RE3R face model for Jill, but don’t let it look like she just got out of being dipped in the sewer

Include Zero as DLC. My pitch of a RE0R. But the main requirement for RE1 is for Rebecca to NOT be cowering in the corner. Rebecca CANNOT be in the corner cowering from a Hunter when she is more than capable. A simple scream of surprise, but when we reach Rebecca, we see that she's perfectly fine

Bonus costumes For Chris:Made In Heaven outfit, BSAA outfit, CVX STARS outfit For Jill:RE3 original and Remake, BSAA, RE:Resistance, and RE5 Battle Suit.

And finally getting what we never got in the original or the 2002 remake. The ending that has Chris, Jill, Rebecca and Barry in the chopper. So my big idea to make this happen is this. If we play as Jill, Chris makes it to the mansion with us. Jill and Barry go and investigate, while Chris and Wesker are outside. They vanish. Richard will mention that Rebecca Chambers left the mansion after hearing Brad’s radio and went to get help. We will later see Rebecca in the cell with Chris in Jill’s story. For Chris’ story, Barry makes it to the Mansion. Chris investigates the gunshot while Wesker will say they will split up and investigate the Mansion and everyone vanishes. Later in the game before we get to the lab, there would be a dropped Barry’s photograph. Later when we get to the cell, Barry will be in the cell with Jill. Barry apologizes to Chris for what he’s done and Chris understands why he did what he did and he can help make things right. Ultimately in both playthroughs, all 4 S.T.A.R.S. members work together to fight the Tyrant until ultimately Chris or Jill destroys the Tyrant with the rocket launcher. It ends with all 4 members escaping in the chopper as the Mansion explodes.

[spookymystery67]

I Wish I Could Walk In Heels

AN: Slightly earlier chapter! It would have been out sooner, but my brain never wants to cooperate these days when I actually take the time to write something. I hope this chapter is alright and I didn't miss any mistakes when re-reading and editing. Enjoy!

Chapter 24:

Ada was quick to get the gate unlocked, making yours and Luis's conversation come to a halt. 

“All good.” Ada said, jumping down from where she had got the gate opened.

“What would I do without you, Ada?” Luis rhetorically questioned, his charming smile on full display.

“Be parasite food?” Ada snarked as she led the way down. 

Luis gave you a look, as if to say “can you believe this woman?” This made you snort in response. His mock hurt was evident and only succeeded to further your amusement with the man.

Down you all went. A tense, but nonetheless welcome, silence filled the air. Luis and you noted Ada wasn't in the chatty mood. Understandably so. You both had silently agreed to linger behind her, side by side, to give her some space.

Ada halted ahead of you. You gasped when you saw the doorway you were supposed to head through blocked off by a roaring fire. 

The lab.

“No, no, no!” Luis exclaimed desperately as he rushed to Ada's side. “We can't let the medicine be destroyed!”

He goes to run toward the flames, but is hindered by Ada, who grabs his arm with her own to stop him.

“Luis! Let it go!” Ada tried. Luis yanked his arm out her grasp and ran towards the flames, her warnings be damned.

“Luis!” You shouted, running after him without a second thought.

“Are you serious?” Ada gasped, running right in after you, not wanting you both to get too far away.

Or burned alive.

“Don't inhale the smoke!” Ada loudly ordered, helping you push away the heavy metal contraption that blocked your way to Luis. 

You succeed and carefully, yet quickly, make your way through the hot flames to Luis, being careful as to not breathe in too much smoke. Knowing that if you did, you might as well just end up suffocating before being burned alive.

Luis is leaning on a desk, coughing and gasping for air that he lacked due to too much smoke inhalation. You and Ada each took a hold of his arms, placing one over each shoulder to make it easier for you both to drag the struggling man out of danger. 

Once safely out of the flames wrath, Ada practically threw the coughing man off of her to the ground, nearly taking you with him. You sighed at her temper and lowered him the rest of the way as gently as possible. 

“If you're trying to kill yourself, can you do it after we've delivered the Amber?” Ada voiced angrily to Luis.

“It's all gone…” Luis coughed out, despair evident in his voice. “Burnt to nothing.”

All of the medicine is gone? Your heart sank, feeling discouraged that none of you had got here in time to save at least some of it.

“Why is this so important to you?” Ada questioned.

Luis sighed sadly. “There are things I must set right. But that is impossible now. It's all over- and I can't help them anymore.”

The hopelessness in the man's demeanor practically broke your heart. Never, since the time of your first meeting, has he ever looked so disheartened. It's clear something weighs heavy on him. 

He feels guilty. Feels responsible for all the harm done to this town by the Plaga, in one way or another. He may also feel responsible for Leon, Ashley and Ada's current predicament as well.

“Pull yourself together, Luis.” Ada demanded.

You glanced at Ada in disbelief. “Ada, that's a little harsh-” 

“Make more. You know how, just do it.” Ada finished, as if it was the obvious solution. 

Oh. For a second you worried that her frustrations, and the virus, was going to make her snap at Luis… Again.

Luis perked up from his spot kneeled on the ground, “I guess it is possible.” Once fully recovered, he moved to his feet, using your arm for a moment to help him get stable.

“The ingredients are all here. In the castle.” He said as he turned to Ada, a hopeful smile returned to his face. “Yes! I need time… but I can still get you your Amber.”

Ada stared at him for a moment, before nodding her agreement. “Alright. Let's go.” 

You grinned as Ada turned away, holding your fist out to Luis who victoriously returned the gesture by lightly bumping his fist with yours.

“We can go back up this way. And figure out our next move.” Luis explained, leading you back to another set of stairs, similar to the ones you just walked down from.

You followed, sighing slightly in preparation for the climb back up. Going down the stairs was far easier than climbing up, that's for sure.

“Hey.” Ada tapped your arm to get your attention, speaking quietly so Luis wouldn't overhear. “Next time, don't just follow someone into a fire. That could have ended badly. I don't need you doing things like that here.”

Her words stumped you, “I'm sorry?”

“I could have handled it, you didn't need to put yourself in danger like that.” She explained.

While normally you would have been touched by her concern, which was often, her tone was off. You interpreted it as her almost feeling inconvenienced by your presence. 

“While I understand you can handle things alone, I was concerned for Luis. He could have gotten hurt or died there. I wanted to help. After all, that's the whole reason I come on missions with you. To help.” You reminded her.

Ada huffed her disagreement. “I should have never brought you here.”

You pause, “What?”

“On this mission. You should have stayed away from his mission and Los Illuminados altogether.” Said Ada.

“Okay, at first I was thinking this was your normal concern, but now I'm not so sure.” You were a little frustrated by your current struggle in reading your, normally easy to read, girlfriend. “You're acting like I am inconveniencing you by being here.”

“After that little stunt you just pulled, you kind of are.” 

Your eyebrows rose. “My stunt-”

“You should have stayed out of it. I can't babysit both you and Luis, worry about a cure, and find the Amber. We already lost too much time trying to find Luis. Twice, no thanks to you. So do me a favor and stay out of trouble until the rest of this mission is completed.” She argued, not bothering to even attempt to say it in a nice way.

Deep down, you knew she didn't mean to sound so harsh with you. She has never wanted to hurt your feelings. Not once in the six years you've known her. 

But still, her words couldn't help but cause a sting within you. Originally, she didn't blame you for losing Luis the second time when you were both quite obviously outnumbered. And now she is implying that it was your fault. Telling you that you've done nothing but get in her way. You didn't think you were in the way… Were you?

You took a deep breath, before really taking a moment to study her. No. No, that isn't what Ada really thinks.

She's stressed, scared, and using you as an outlet. And while you were used to her keeping a cap on her emotions, you still understood this current reaction to everything. The clock is ticking. Best to just not argue and worry about finding the things Luis needed for the medicine.

“Right.” You simply stated, turning your focus away from Ada to the task at hand. Stairs. Follow Luis up the stairs. Find the ingredients. Make the medicine.

Cure Ada.

“Hey, who are you two working for anyway?” Luis questioned from up ahead. You appreciated his spontaneous attempt at conversation, as it served as a distraction from your scrambled thoughts. Though the topic of the conversation wasn't your favorite. 

You jogged up some of the steps towards him to put more distance between you and Ada.

“You're better off not knowing. Trust me.” Ada replied.

“Well, you can work for the devil for all I care. As long as you get me out of here…” He said. You snorted softly at his comment. 

Albert Wesker may as well be the devil.

By the time you all made it up the ladder and to the gate you were huffing and puffing.

Climbing up is a lot harder than going down. Admittedly, you felt better about being slightly out of breath after seeing Luis and Ada were just as worn out as you were.

“Oye, I'll unlock the- huh?” Luis started to pat his pockets in panic. “Where's the key?” More frantic patting, then he hissed. “Shit! I must have dropped it.”

Not surprising. You weren't feeling panic like Luis, knowing Ada would just break the lock with a few powerful kicks, and all will be well.

Ada did so immediately after you had thought it, allowing you all access to the room Luis led you to. After looking around, you believed this was the same room you had all just started in, judging by the hole in the stone wall. The way you had entered. 

A different path up was taken thanks to the fire.

Luis walked up to the big table, grabbing a pen and paper while he mentally ran through the list in his head. 

“Okay. Won't be my finest effort- but it just might work.” Luis began writing a list on the paper. “Ada, Sénorita, find these ingredients… And just maybe I can make a new batch of medicine.”

Finishing the list, he capped the pen, and handed Ada the list. “Time's not our friend. You go, find them, and I will go grab the Amber.” He declared.

You looked at the ingredient list from over Ada's shoulder. Red ink, a gold bottle, and a blue butterfly. These are the most random items to you, but apparently they each held some kind of special properties, and when mixed with the chemicals Luis had on hand, they should do the trick.

The red ink is in the bindery, the gold bottle in the treasure room, and the blue butterfly in the collection room.

Eyeing the list, and then Ada, you pondered, “Should me and you split up? Get the ingredients quicker-” 

“Hell no!” Ada interrupted, appearing affronted by your question. “Splitting up with Luis is already a questionable idea, but one that unfortunately must happen. I'm not about to let you run around by yourself in this place.”

“She's right Sénorita. This castle is teeming with danger in every corner. Too dangerous to be alone. I wouldn't be doing this if it wasn't a necessity.” Luis added. “In fact. I should go now. Wish me luck.” 

With that, Luis flashed you both a grin and rushed out of the room, beginning his quest in obtaining the hidden Amber. Leaving you and Ada to speak alone.

“It was just a suggestion. I figured if I was out of your hair, you would have less to worry about.” You admitted.

Ada's eyes flashed with frustration, not understanding how you didn't get it. But then she looked into your own eyes, the hurt evident within your gaze, and her harsh demeanor softened soon after. 

She sighed, “Look, Y/n… about what I said earlier.”

“It's okay, I understand.” 

“I don't think you fully do. I just want to clarify. I didn't mean to snap at you. I didn't mean to blame you for losing Luis at that church. And I did not mean that I want you gone and out of the way because I'm ‘tired of babysitting you’. I don't really know what came over me…” She trailed off.

“I'm sure it had everything to do with your current condition.” You said, implying it was the virus messing with her mind.

“It definitely had part of it, but it doesn't excuse my hurtful words. I was…scared. I was very scared when you ran head first into that fire after Luis. I wasn't thinking straight and I took my emotions out on you.” She explained. “I just want you to know that you are not a burden. And you are not in the way. You are actually very helpful and asking you to be my partner was probably the best decision I have ever made. Makes the job easier.”

You hummed. “So, asking me to be your work partner is the best decision you ever made? Not, I don't know, becoming my girlfriend?”

Ada looked panicked for a moment, but it quickly simmered down when she noticed the teasing grin that slid across your face. 

“Don't do that! You nearly gave me a heart attack.”

“Doesn't answer the question.”

“Of course being your girlfriend is the best decision I have made! Hands down. No competition.” She paused, before jesting. “Am I in the clear now?”

You let out a cackle, nodding a yes. “You're good. And thank you, for clarifying the whole thing. I had an inkling that your words earlier weren't meant to be so harsh, but it is nice to actually hear it from you.”

“Of course.” She smiled softly, before letting out a tired huff. “Now, let's go get these damn ingredients. At this rate, Luis might beat us to the Amber before we collect everything.”

“Good, then maybe he could help us get the blue butterfly or something. Save us some time.” You followed Ada's lead, ready to get this little scavenger hunt over with.

“If only.” She muttered.

“Oh, and Ada?”

She paused in her stride. “Yes?”

“I love you.” You reminded her.

She grinned. “And I love you.”

–

“What is with the puzzles in this place? Why do we need to shoot the shields to open a stupid drawer?” You complained. 

Ada shrugged, just as confused. “Security. I guess this red ink is important to someone else too, not just us.”

She shot the shields in the correct order, making the drawer with the red ink pop open as you let out a little cheer. One down, two to go.

Ada picked up the ink and you both made to leave the room, barely taking a step before hearing a different set of footsteps from the other side of the door.

Someone is coming.

Ada's heels clicked across the room. She opened the window as you followed behind, before quickly changing your mind and deciding to hide out of sight of whoever was about to walk in. Easier to just take out this singular infected than to get caught and have them sound the alarm. Ada seemed to agree with this silent decision, hastily doing the same.

The door opened, with careful footsteps entering the room. You held your breath, a pistol in hand and ready to fight your way out of here. Except…

Your eyes met blue ones. Surprise ran through you at the sight of the unexpected company. Said company had a similar reaction to yours.

What were the chances? I guess pretty high considering the call Luis made a while ago. But still, you didn't think you two would actually come face to face again.

“Y/n?” He gasped.

“Leon.”

[vintagerpg]

I have a potpourri of interesting fantasy RPG products from the first three decades of the hobby, starting with Fortress Ellendar (1979), for High Fantasy.

Jeffrey C. Dillow’s High Fantasy was originally self-published in 1978 and a second edition appeared in ‘79. I have the revised and expanded third edition, released by Reston in 1981. It’s a percentile-based system that is pretty simple and straight-forward for the time, but I don’t know. It feels rickety to me and didn’t make much of a splash back in the day, but has recently gained some admirers among the OSRish.

This is the first time I’ve seen a supplement for High Fantasy that was produced before Reston took over publication and it is a surprisingly professional seeming product for the time (this scenario is included in the Reston book, Adventures in High Fantasy). Tidy layout and organization, good paper stock. It’s slim, but no slimmer than G3. No illustrations beyond the cover, unfortunately, but lots of well rendered maps (all the visuals are by Bruce Jensen).

The idea is a little bit preposterous. The fortress has fallen and the original lord has tasked the players with taking it back. Weirdly, the lord had previously been beset there by a demon, who killed many of the inhabitants, including the lady of the castle, until a wizard managed to bind it. I, personally, would not want to live there anymore and would not go to any lengths to get it back once I was kicked out by men with swords, but maybe that’s just me.

The lord’s plan is to have the players break into the castle, figure out the binding spell and…unbind it. The demon will then kill everyone inside, and then the lord will come back with his wizard and re-bind the demon. That…doesn’t sound like a great plan to me. But it does seem like workable prequel to The Demon Pits of Caeldo!

[anim-ttrpgs]

An absolutely incredible review of the beta version of Eureka: Investigative Urban Fantasy by review Willy Muffin on youtube, complete with visuals and actual analysis!

I'm going to also add to this post a comment that I left on the video, offering further insight into the design intentions of the game, though the comment might not make as much sense if you haven't watched the video yet.

Hey, lead writer of Eureka here, first of all I wanna say how good and professional this review is, it’s almost indescribable how it feels to see our project taken so seriously and given real analysis, complete with visuals and everything! We would be super impressed and happy with it even if you didn’t like the game—but luckily it sounds like you loved it hahaha

I’d also like to address a few things throughout the video, not as arguments or rebuttals, just further developer insight for everyone

Re: “Urban Fantasy.” “Urban Fantasy” is basically just another term for “modern fantasy”, just a fantasy story that takes place in the 20th or 21st century and deals with the intersection of contemporary life with the supernatural, and it might be an Americanism, or even a Southern-ism, since it has a lot of connections and origins in the living folklore of New Orleans, so I shouldn’t be surprised it isn’t a term everyone is familiar with. Just think of it as the kind of genre where instead of the vampire living in a secluded scary castle, his name is Phil and he’s your roommate haha. What We Do in the Shadows, Shadowrun, and the World of Darkness games are all some other good examples of “urban fantasy.”

Re: Scooby-Doo. Oh we would LOVE for you to run a Scooby-Doo-like wacky mystery with Eureka. Even though the main tone is dark and gritty and noir, we did intentionally build it so that it could run more lighthearted stuff as well! There’s even a few Scooby-Doo references to be found throughout the text, and if we hit a certain stretch goal on the Kickstarter, we’re going to be adding a bunch of Scooby-gang-inspired traits, including the option to play a Talking Dog!

Re: Combat being the largest section, even larger than Investigation. First of all, that’s kind of an illusion that is the result of the game being unfinished. I have a tendency when I write rules to use really long sentences, overexplain things, repeat myself, etc, and that dramatically bloats the rules text and page count, but that’s why we have an editor! She goes through after the fact and trims most of the fat off my bloated writing style to make it flow smoother and read faster, and take up less space. The PDF that was read for this review has had the Investigation chapter copy-edited (and cut down in size by about 25%!), but the editor hasn’t gotten to the combat chapters yet, so they still have a hugely inflated page count. When she’s done with them, you can expect each combat chapter to also be cut down in size by about 25%, so they won’t be nearly so large a chunk of the book.

Secondly, I’ll explain our reasoning for why the combat chapters and advanced combat rules are such a big chunk of the rules text, it’s intentional design which I will now explain. If anyone still doesn’t agree with that design, that’s fair, and that’s why we made the Basic Combat Rules an option.

The reason that the advanced combat rules are the default, and the reason they exist at all, is because it incentivizes and rewards Investigation. If combat is super deadly, it makes Investigation, snooping, and spying more appealing than kicking down the door and getting your head blown off. But of combat is super deadly, it also needs to be very deep and tactical, because if it’s deadly but shallow, then there’s no player agency. “Combat starts, roll some dice, okay your guy is dead.” That’s no fun. So by adding rules and modifiers for cover/elevation, distance, the difference between a pistol and an assault rifle, etc. we make it so that not only is combat its own high-stakes puzzle, but make it so that when the PCs HAVE to engage in combat, all their investigation can really pay off and save their lives. Spying on a building to find out the number of goons stationed there and how they are armed helps you plan and assess risk, stealing the blueprints to the building helps you know how to get the drop on the goons, and know the best places to attack from so that they are stuck out in the open and you are not, etc. and having rules for those things means that all the PCs’ snooping and planning makes a real mechanical difference in whether they live or die.

That’s just my opinion though, and one of the biggest reasons WHY we decided to write the combat with as much depth as we did.

Anyway, thank you again for this review and analysis of our project, our Kickstarter jumped up by about ten more backers in the evening when this video went up after several days of no new backers, and we have to assume we have this video, and all of you watching and reading this, to thank. You’re really making our dreams come true. :)

Eureka: Investigative Urban Fantasy is kickstarting from right now until May 10th! Back it while you still can!

If you want to try before you buy, you can download a free demo of the prerelease version from our website or our itch.io page!

If you’re interested in a more updated and improved version of Eureka: Investigative Urban Fantasy than the free demo you got from our website, subscribe to our Patreon where we frequently roll our new updates for the prerelease version!

You can also support us on Ko-fi, or by checking out our merchandise!

Join our TTRPG Book Club At the time of writng this, Eureka: Investigative Urban Fantasy is the current game being played in the book club, and anyone who wants to participate in discussion, but can’t afford to make a contribution, will be given the most updated prerelease version for free! Plus it’s just a great place to discuss and play new TTRPGs you might not be able to otherwise!

We hope to see you there, and that you will help our dreams come true and launch our careers as indie TTRPG developers with a bang by getting us to our base goal and blowing those stretch goals out of the water, and fight back against WotC's monopoly on the entire hobby. Wish us luck.