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lilmeowzsworld · 10 months ago

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Fading Secrets

Chapter One

Cold Truth Revised

pairing: min yoongi x reader

summary: You wake up in an unfamiliar place with a man threatening your life for something your father did. But you know your father and you're certain he didn't do it. The man's son, Yoongi is the only one who shows you kindness and with his help, you decide to prove your father innocent.

content warnings: kidnapping, mention of death

a/n: Previously known as 'Cold Truth', this is the revised version. I hope it doesn't disappoint this time. Also I suck at summaries, so it is what it is lol

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When you opened your eyes, bright light enveloped your vision. Your head was killing you and there was an aftertaste of something funny smelling carved into your memory. You couldn't have drunk that much, could you? When your eyes adjusted to the outside world and you glanced around the surrounding area, your blood ran cold. While you believed that you weren't intoxicated enough to provoke anyone's anger at the club you were partying at with your friends the night before, the man currently sitting across from you was undoubtedly seething with anger.

The memories of the night before were hazy and like a puzzle, so you tried putting the pieces together to try and figure out how you were sitting in front of an unfamiliar man, seemingly in his mid-forties at least. You remember drinking with your friends, then informing them of your early departure back to your apartment. On your way back, someone had put a cloth with an old scent across your face until unconsciousness took over. And now, you woke up, with your hands bound behind the chair you were sat at, barefoot and in the dress from last night.

The silence was loud as the man stared at you, not even uttering a word. The chair you were sitting at was causing you discomfort, together with the headache that was already forming. The man's gaze bore into you, a disdainful expression etched on his face. You wondered if he looked at you with such disgust because of your appearance. You knew the dress was slightly shorter that you would have preferred usually, but it was your friend's birthday celebration and she insisted for you two to wear matching dresses, only in different color. The man staring at you in that moment wasn't the first one who was disgusted at the way younger generations were dressed today.

Maybe you would regret it, but you weren't the one to keep your mouth shut when you were nervous. „Okay, if no one is going to talk, I will, “ Your voice was hoarse so you had to take a second to clear your throat. „Who are you, and why am I here? It would be appreciated if you could untie me. I have no idea what you want from me and I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be able to help you either no matter-"

A laugh echoed from somewhere behind you and you turned your head, looking over your shoulder to see a figure standing at the doorway. It was a boy your age, give or take a year or two. His hair was light and fell over his eyes. He wore a loose-fitting black T-shirt, complemented by faded blue jeans. A silver chain hung around his neck, and on his feet, he sported a pair of worn-in sneakers. He seemed quite laid-back and chill, for a guy who kidnapped you.

You could assume his voice was deep from the laugh you've heard, but you didn't have a chance to find out because the older man spoke. „Such a mouthful on an early morning,“ He laughed. „I'm Kim Taeyong, and that is my son, Yoongi,“ Shifting your head back as much as your body allowed, you caught another glimpse of the blonde boy. He leaned against a wall, arms folded across his chest and offered a subtle wave in acknowledgment. You rolled your eyes and redirected your attention back to his father. „You, sweetheart,“ Mr. Kim leaned forward, a luxury table presenting as the only barrier between you two. „Are here to pay for your father's mistake.“

It felt as if all the air was sucked out of your lungs at once, but you tried to control yourself and not show them that you were scared out of your mind. You had watched a lot of movies and it pays off for the main character to act confident. Maybe you would even be able to throw some punches and kicks like in the movies if you tried and then escape. But maybe you were being too confident even thinking of it. So, you opted to simply glare at the older man in front of you, despite the alcohol you consumed threatening to find its way back. „My father's mistake? What are you talking about? My father would never do anything wrong, he's innocent.“

Mr. Kim's eyes turned cold; it made you even more nervous. It was as if you could feel your body freezing just from his look. This was a dangerous man sitting in front of you. „Innocence is subjective, my dear. I'll enlighten you; I owe you that much. Your father ruined my life, destroyed the one thing I held dear the most. And now, I'll destroy everything he holds dear, starting with you.“

His words sent shivers down your spine and your lip quivered. Stay strong, Y/N! No matter how much you said those words to yourself, your mind decided not to listen. And you cursed whoever tied your hands behind your back, because you couldn't wipe away the tears that began falling from your eyes. Now they will know just how scared you were.

„You can't just blame someone else for your problems! Kidnapping me won't fix whatever issues you have with my father!“ You felt a surge of anger wash over you, and you were desperate. Although, if the movies thought you right, there was no compromising with people like Mr. Kim. „Just let me go, I won't tell anyone, I promise.“ You whined.

Mr. Kim leaned back in his chair. No matter what you said, his resolve was unyielding and the coldness in his eyes did not disappear. „Let you go? If only it were that simple,“ He stood, walking to your side of the table. Your body began shivering against your own will. Is he going to hurt you right now? To your relief, Mr. Kim sat on the edge of the table and stared down at you. „Your father must understand the consequences of his actions, and you're the perfect pawn in this little game.“

Your pleas for your life fell on deaf ears. The weight of the situation was suddenly too much to bear, it pressed down on you, cutting the air from your lungs. And silent tears still streamed down your face. You felt helpless, you were at mercy of a man thirsty for vengeance and there was nothing you could do to change his mind about hurting you.

What you didn't see, was the blonde boy, Yoongi, watching the conversation between you and his father with an unreadable expression. His father was ruthless, and Yoongi was the complete opposite, but he wouldn't go against his own father. As Mr. Kim spoke, Yoongi's eyes lingered on you, and for an instant, his facade cracked. He felt bad for you, especially since you were nothing but collateral damage in this whole situation. You were young and had your whole life ahead of you. You studied medicine and would become a doctor some day and save lives. And yet, here they were, about to take that away from you.

"Please," you begged, your voice breaking, "I don't want any part in whatever revenge you're seeking. I just want to go home. I won't say anything; I'll disappear, and you'll never have to see me again."

The room fell into a heavy silence, the only sound being your sniffles and the ominous ticking of a clock in the background. Mr. Kim finally spoke, his tone unwavering. "Disappearing won't bring back my dead wife. You're here to make sure your father understands that." Mr. Kim stood up again, and you flinched, thinking he would hurt you. But he walked past you, toward the door. „Yoongi, take our guest to a room for the night.“

Yoongi obeyed, approaching you. He untied your hands and the ropes fell away, allowing you a temporary feeling of relief. Yoongi didn't make eye contact with you as he grabbed you by your arm and led you out of the room. His touch was surprisingly gentle, which only confused you further. Shouldn't he be rough, pulling you by your hair or leading you on gunpoint? He led you through a corridor, down to another one with doors on each side. He opened the door on your right and ushered you inside.

The room you were brought to was surprisingly ordinary, contrast to the ominous atmosphere of the Kim manor. In one corner was a simple bed, neatly made and a small window with the curtains open, letting in rays of sunshine. On the other side, a work desk and a closet, made of fine wood with beautiful carved designs. Yoongi released your arm and turned to leave, but you stopped him before he could close the door.

„Please wait!“ To your surprise, he really did stop. However, he kept his back turned to you. „Can I, at least, have a change of clothes?“ He hesitated for a moment before he turned to you. He looked you up and down and the gesture made you want to crawl into a hole and never crawl back out.

„Fine,“ He mumbled and left, closing the door with a soft click, leaving you alone in the room. He didn't return for a few minutes and his absence made you question whether or not he was returning. You opted to sit on the bed and wait for his return, if he does. Lucky for you, the door opened again soon, and Yoongi returned with a bundle of clothes in his hands. He wordlessly tossed them onto the bed next to you. „There. Change and don't bother making a big deal. There is no one else in the house except for me right now,“ he said. Without waiting for your response, he turned to leave again, the door closing behind him. This time, you could hear the click of the lock, meaning that he locked you inside.

You sighed and decided to try and sleep off the hangover. Now that your life wasn't in any immediate danger, you were aware of the growing nausea and hoped that sleep would push it away. You put on the sweatpants and the dark, oversized t-shirt Yoongi had brought to you, with the addition of simple, black ankle socks. The clothing was for a male and it left you wondering who it belonged to. But you didn't want to tire your mind with questions like that for now. Covering your, previously freezing, body with the blanket, you fell asleep almost immediately. You needed to be in your best form if you were to escape anyway, so an hour or two of sleep wouldn't hurt.

#bts yoongi #bts #bts min yoongi #bts seokjin #bts namjoon #yoongi fluff #suga imagine #yoongi x reader #yoongi x you #yoongi x y/n #min yoongi

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thestupidhelmet · 1 year ago

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Wondering why Jackie didn’t feel anything when her and Hyde kissed in S3 ep 8. Hyde obviously felt something, why do you think he didn’t really act on it until later seasons? Was he just pining the whole time?

T7S writers' reason: they were going for irony. The whole time Jackie pursues Hyde romantically while he continually rebuffs her, he's the one who ends up having developed true romantic feelings while Jackie finally realizes hers weren't real but made-up as a coping mechanism (for her grief about Kelso's betrayal and the loss of her relationship with him).

In T7S Universe reason: the kiss breaks Jackie's fantasy about her imagined romantic feelings for Hyde and shoves her back into reality: her loneliness plus Hyde's compassion during a very vulnerable time created a mental-emotional delusion. Grief and pain can make a person convince themself of many false things -- out of self-preservation.

As much as I enjoy exploring the idea that Jackie was afraid of what she feels for Hyde during that kiss, and the fact they eventually do get together romantically gives support to this interpretation, that wasn't the writers' intention.

As for Hyde, since Jackie admits to feeling nothing (romantic) for him in the kiss, he believes there's no point in revealing how he truly feels toward her.

One can reasonably interpret that his romantic feelings for her remain despite him suppressing them. He acts passive-aggressively toward and annoyed by Jackie and Kelso's renewed relationship. True, he acts the same in seasons one and two, but in the context of now having romantic feelings for Jackie, his motivation seems different.

Before, he wants his partner in crime (and bud) back and obnoxious, nuisance Jackie out of the basement and his life. This time, he struggles watching the girl he likes (loves?) be with someone else and, especially, someone who hurt her so badly.

Once Jackie breaks up with Kelso in the summer between S4 and S5 (via letter), and she and Hyde find themselves hanging out with each other most of the time that summer, they've obviously grown comfortable with each other. Instead of keeping their physical distance, they sit on the basement couch together. She's barefoot, and in a promo shot for "Going to California" (5x01) he's not wearing his sunglasses during the scene that shows them on the couch together, an indication of just how comfortable with her presence he's become. In the episode itself, they used the take where he's wearing his sunglasses, but his new comfort with Jackie is still obvious in the scene.

Even though their romantic relationship begins in earnest, Hyde hasn't forgotten that Jackie used him in S2-S3 to ease or forget the pain of losing her relationship with Kelso and why she lost it. That's his interpretation of events, at least, and it left him with deep insecurity about Jackie's feelings for him. Considering that both his parents (pre-W.B.) used him then abandoned him, transferring this wound onto Jackie is understandable (albeit not right) -- especially since she did essentially same thing to him previously.

#that 70s show #jackie x hyde #that '70s show #jackie burkhart #steven hyde #ask #anon #my meta #meta #essay #my essay

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nothingkillsyoulikeyourmind105 · 1 year ago

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"Crossing Oceans Of Time."

Chapter Two

🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀 -Previously in Chapter One- Simply lingering in the cold embrace of the winter morning (y/n) watched the sunrise. Lost in her thoughts she didn't noticed the movement in the forest, but looking back to the horizon that's when she saw him. The tall man that stalked through the forest. Watching him from afar she thinks back to her pass lover Arthur. Could this be him reincarnated. It has been 300 years that has passed, since she lost him to death. Watching him rot away as the years passed. Everything she loved and held dear to her lost to time. Bones To Ashes, Only To Be Swept Away. Lost To The Wind. 🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀

Previously in Chapter One

Konig x (Vampire Reader)

reader dialect and her tone of speaking is all olde English. But she will start speaking more modern later in the Fic.

TW: Mentions Blood, Witch-hunt, Lynching, Fire, TW If You're Sensitive About The Salem Witchtrials Please Do Not Interact. This Fanfic does mentions what happened to the men women. This is an all fictional scenario.

Will label each Chapter.

MDNI ‼️🛑🚫⚠️

Comments are appreciated.

Borders from - @saradika

Laying on the roof of the cabin she watched over him as the evening became nighttime.

Listening to the children of the night howl to their hearts content.

His heart beat was strong the symphony of his blood coursing through his veins lulled her to sleep.

Konig sat in the cabin cleaning his rifle. Walking over to the window he looked out the faded window listening to the sounds of the wolves howling.

The sound of the cold north wind blowing against the cabin. The cracked window allowed a bit of cold air into the cabin. This caused him to shiver.

Throwing another log into the fire he sat down holdings his hands out to warm his palms.

Looking over his maps once again he had to make it back to his check point.

This mission had many risk. That's why he decided to go alone. The winters in these mountains are harsh.

But the job was finished.

Looking outside he decided to do one more sweep around his cabin. Pulling his boots back on pulling on his wool sweater and his gloves. Adjusting his hood over his head he pulled his helmet on clicking it in place.

Pulling on his coat he walked out the cold wind kissed his face, the sounds of his boots walking on the porch. The twigs breaking under his boots woke her up.

Covered in snow she crawled back hiding from him as he walked into the dense snow covered forest.

Checking the perimeter of his cabin he noticed near a fallen tree were two bare feet tracks laid.

Lifting his hood he kneeled down taking a closer look at the tracks.

They were small compared to his, looking around he decided to be cautious.

The tracks went towards the cabin and they disappeared near a tree. Konig looked around but the snow had started to come down harder. The dense forest made it harder to press on any further.

Against his wishes he had to abandon his search for the person that was in the forest. Walking back to the cabin he noticed movement above him.

He pretended not to notice them. He stepped up onto the porch stomping his boots on the steps to get the snow off them. He shook himself off. Then opening the door and slamming it closed he carefully stepped off the deck.

Waiting for the figure to come out of hiding.

She waited until he walked back into the cabin. Jumping down off the roof she crept towards the window.

She noticed he wasn't inside.

Looking to her right she saw him emerge from his hiding spot. Holding his hands out he tilted his head looking at her.

"Sprichst du Deutsch?"

looking at her he noticed she was barefoot and her dress that she wore was old and the ends were tattered and outdated.

"I understand thou, yet I speak many languages"

"You speak in Olde English. Are you lost? Do you live around this area?"

Konig looked over her clothes and the state of her being. She did not look like she waist distress nor did she did she look lost.

"I'be not from hither , may I bid duke. What is the year of thy lord?"

The way she spoke was very odd in nature. The way she held herself in the conversation was very very odd but he wanted to know more about her.

"Year of thy Lord

Konig continued watching her. Something about her seemed different, the hairs on the back of his neck seem to stand up. His spine had a chill run up.

"yes, year of thy lord"

a bit lost"

Konig tilted his head in confusion looking at this woman. Lost in his thoughts for a brief moment he felt the cold wind hit him again. He shivered a bit.

"Come inside Fraulein"

Stepping up to the deck he ungloved his hand and offered it to her. Helping her onto the steps her hands were cold as ice. Gently squeezing her delicate hand he ushered her inside. Taking his coat off draping it around her. She watched him with curiosity as he put a kettle over the fire. Standing the entrance with his coat over her shoulders she watched him feed the fire more logs.

"Please Fraulein sit by the fire. You're cold as death."

"Are you hurt?"

"I'be fine. Who thou? what is thy purpose 'I these mountains?"

Konig noticed she talked in a very olde English Shakespeare fashion. Not pressing the matter anymore he wanted to know who was she and why was she in the mountains alone with no shoes and gear. These mountains are dangerous year round.

"Sorry Frau that's military information, its classified"

"Conspiring against thy lord"

Fumbling her hands she watched him. Smiling to him she smiled at him watching him sit beside her. Tilting her head with curiosity she listened to his heartbeat and his blood flowing in his veins.

"Nein, you're very odd Frau."

Looking at him with curiosity she saw him hold the strange metal instrument from earlier.

"What is yond? yond metal instrument? what doest t doth?"

Cleaning his gun he watched her carefully, keeping his guard up around her.

Standing up he walked over to the table putting away his maps and personal items away. Zipping up his bag he set it down beside his chair. Watching her she just smiled at him with her eyes closed.

sighing softly he decided to ask her about her curiosity.

"This is a gun Frau. Have you seen one before?"

Holding his gun he was shocked by her answer. What type of person has not seen a gun like this.

"Nev'r"

She marveled at his gun. Like a curious child she was hesitant about touching the gun. He watched her with a smile on his face. He was glad in this moment that his hood covered his face.

Konig watched her tilting his head with curiosity. He heard the water boiling. Standing up he walked over to the counter taking out a worn chipped small cup. Making a cup of tea for her, he handed the cup to her small delicate hands.

Watching her take the cup from him her hands warmed up.

Something about her eyes were different to him. Those very eyes seem to have searching his soul.

The way they seem glow in the dim light.

"Frau, are you hungry. I can share some of my rations with you if you like my dear."

"No grammercy mine duke. Thou art most kind to offer thy hospitality"

Konig continued to watch her. His guard never being let down. But his mind wondered to why such a small frail looking woman wandered the mountains.

The sound of his heartbeat quickening and the sounds of his blood rushing in his veins roared in her ears.

"Doth i fright thou?"

"May't be fright of me. Nay harm shall join thee. I hast already eaten"

Konig was intrigued by what she said.

She had already eaten. So that would mean she maybe lives nearby.

"Frau, why do you speak in a olde English dialect. Are you from this area. Tell me Frau. I can take you back to your village if you're lost my dear."

"Duke, I be not from hither yet far aroint. I say to thou a tale of mine life from the beginning. I be not like thou. Although we look like. Yet mine life is not as it seems"

She held the cup tightly but she looked up to him with a smile. Breathing in slowly and exhaling softly she nibbled on her lip. Looking at the fire she swirled the tea around in her cup. Setting the cup down she sighed yet again.

"I hast hid mine whole life. I shall share mine story with thou mine weary traveler. For i am a traveler through time. Sailing through time can be most lonely. Sometimes i dream of the day i am greeted by perpetual wink. I long for deaths embrace, yet that is not possible. For i am the harbinger of perpetual wink"

"Where to begin, i was born 'i the year of 1656. Mine father and mother were part of a cult. There's not much i remember growing up. Just that i was cared for by the women 'i the bawbling community we were apart of. The year was 1676 I was considered to be a woman at this age. Mine mother befell bid me to help with serving our patriarch of the nocturnals.

mine father and the other husbands and sons and brothers all had set all's up for our dark lord. We were to sing and dance under the full moon. A ritual was to course afterwards.

yet all was not as it should'st hast been.

the meiny of stendarr found mine issue and our community. They bid us heathens, abominations 'i the eyes of their savior stendarr.

they are hunters of werewolves and other creatures that do not see eye to eye with their beloved stendarr.

they captured mine issue and our community. They tried to hast us forswear our following to our dark lord. yet to no avail.

they burned the woman at the stake. They lynched the men and threw 'em into the fires.

as the fires burned out as the sunset.

our dark lord roses from the ashes and placed his kiss upon the ashes of his devoted meiny.

rising from the ashes we rose. The women that were burned at the stake. We rose from the ashes into our new forms.

"children of goliath"

"our dark lord kissed the ground. There mine father and the fallen men had rose from the ashes. Withal a kiss from mine mother and the other women they were born into their new lives."

"children of goliath we were bid "

She stared into the fire listening to the fire crackle. Wiping her tears away she sniffled. Looking back to him she offered a small smile.

Konig sat in since his hood slightly moved as he released the breath he was holding in. Looking at her she didn't look like she was lying.

She continued to look into the fire.

"I am not mocking thou, thou may receive me or not yet i would ne'r lie. I warrant i shall not harm thou 'i any way. Yet if thou feel unsafe with me around may't hesitate to send me on mine way."

"all I be seeking is company"

Konig looked around breathing in slowly he had to send her away because he was to leave in the morning. But he found himself unable to send her away.

Even if the story was true or not he couldn't send her away.

She watched him sit in silence.

"Schatz you can stay here for the night and we can decide in the morning."

Konig walked over to the bedroom where the bed sat she walked passed him into the room. Looking around she sat down on the bed. Konig closed the door slowly walking back to the the fire place he looked at his watch. He had to get some sleep he was to leave in 6 hours.

The Next Morning

The sounds of birds chirping outside woke Konig up. Looking around he was sitting on the chair near the fire. The fire had died down in the middle of the night but the embers glowed. Stretching as he stood up he walked over to the room door.

Knocking gently he waited for an answer.

"Hallo Frau?"

"Hallo its Konig, Frau."

Opening the door slowly he noticed the bed wasn't slept in. She was no where to be seen. The window sealed shut as it was before and the bathroom was untouched. Rushing back to his gear he checked to make sure all his stuff was intact.

Thinking about when he fell asleep he didn't notice or hear her leaving the room. Konig was a very light sleeper and she was the only person who was successful in sneaking past him without awakening him.

Running out of the cabin he saw her sitting in the snow covered in blood. She had her eyes closed humming a song.

"Forgive me duke. I went hunting at dusk. 'tis said some men talking they wished to hurt thou mine duke. Forgive me for the indecency of mine attire"

"Are you hurt where did you see these men."

Looking around he held his secondary kneeling beside her. Surveying the area around them he kept his sights on the dense snow covered forest.

He looked back down to her looking at her small body for any wounds. But she was covered in blood on her chest and mouth.

"Mine name is (y/n) i might not but apologize for mine rudeness on not introducing myself thee duke"

"I might not but grammercy for thy hospitality last night mine duke"

"Frau, my name is not duke. My name is Konig."

Holding out his hand for her to take as he stood up looking down to her.

"King"

Artwork by -https://nox6600.artstation.com

#konig #konig cod #konig imagine #konig mw2 #cod konig #konig call of duty #konig x reader #konig x you #Konig x vampire reader

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critter-in-skyrim · 1 year ago

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Helping Svidi

Ivarstead was always a quiet little town, and as such, the Vilemyr Inn was usually quiet as well. Even when there were a handful of pilgrims stopping by on their way up the 7,000 steps, they often minded their own business. There was never much ruckus.

That’s why it was such a shock, when in the middle of the night, the door suddenly flung open and a beautiful young woman rushed in. She was barefoot, out of breath, her dress in shreds. Her long black hair was wet and matted from the elements. Her eyes were wide, wild, filled with absolute fear.

Wilhelm, the proprietor of the Vilemyr Inn, blinked a couple times to make sure he was seeing clearly, before he cautiously stepped out from behind the counter to approach the young woman collapsed by the fireplace. Her eyes, which had previously been focused on the fire, whipped around to train on him. The fear in her eyes seemed to blossom into sheer terror, and she quickly made a beeline for the door.

“W-wait, don’t go!” Wilhelm exclaimed before he could stop himself. His words seemed to stop her though, if only briefly. “Y-you’re injured, you need help,” Wilhelm continued, gesturing to her bare feet, which were bleeding. She looked down as well, before looking back up at him, biting her lip. “I…I can help you,” Wilhelm said, pressing a hand to his chest.

She shifted from foot to foot, looking between him and the door. “Y…you don’t wanna help me,” she finally spoke, in a soft melodic voice.

“I do, I do,” Wilhelm said, taking a cautious step forward. “Tell me, what’s your name?”

“I can’t tell you that,” she said a bit defensively, wrapping her arms around herself.

Wilhelm raised his hands slightly. “That’s okay. Just…have a seat by the fire, I’ll bring over some healing potions, some food…you like mead?”

“I’m a Nord, ain’t I?” she said, giving him a hesitant, grateful smile. He smiled back at her, before going to fetch the things he had mentioned. Returning to her side, he first handed her a healing potion, before a bottle of mead. He left once more, before returning with a bowl of water, some bandages, and a healing salve. As he bent down, the woman eyed him suspiciously. “What are you doing?”

“You have to get your feet cleaned up, or they could get worse. We wouldn’t want that now, would we?”

“No, we wouldn’t,” she conceded. Wilhelm nodded, kneeling by her feet. Gently, he lifted one of them, wiping it down with a damp rag. With all the mud and blood gone, he could tell that her injuries weren’t too severe. Using his fingers, he gently spread the healing salve over the cuts, before wrapping the cuts in bandages. Moving onto her other foot, Wilhelm paused, hearing sniffling above him.

Noticing her crying softly, Wilhelm paused in his ministrations. “I’m sorry, am I being too rough?”

She immediately shook her head though, dabbing at her eyes. “N-no…”

“Well…drink up the mead, it should help with any pain you might be having,” he pointed out.

She shook her head. “It’s not that. You’re just…” She covered her mouth to stop herself from sobbing suddenly. “Y-you’re just so kind…I don’t deserve it…”

“I…well…” Wilhelm stumbled over his words, feeling oddly flustered at her words. “Thanks. But what makes you say you don’t deserve my help? What could you have possibly done that was so bad?”

She wiped at her eyes, trying to clear the tears away. “I…I pissed off a Blackbriar…” she admitted.

“Oh,” Wilhelm said, pausing briefly.

“Yeah,” she said softly. “Oh.”

Wilhelm pondered what to say for a moment. Going back to tending to her foot, he said, “Well, good for you.”

She blinked a couple times, processing his words. “What?”

“They’re a shit family, the lot of them. Corrupt, greedy, evil, everything a good Nord isn’t,” Wilhelm said. “Did you know, Maven was trying to make it so I could only sell her drinks here?” He shook his head. “Anyway, I say good on ya! Anything to upset the Blackbriars.”

“Thanks,” she said. “But this situation is a bit more complicated than that.”

“How so?” Wilhelm asked.

She hesitated, but looked down at Wilhelm’s handiwork on her feet. She could trust him. “Okay, so…I was dating Sibbi Blackbriar. We were in love, about to be married when…I caught him in bed with Svana from Helga’s, and…are you following?”

“I think so,” Wilhelm nodded.

“Well, I caught him in bed with another woman. I was…so upset, I immediately ran to my brother to tell him what had happened. He…he decided to confront Sibbi. I-I don’t know the details, but somehow, things got physical and…Sibbi killed my brother.”

“By Talos…” Wilhelm whispered.

“Sibbi’s in jail now but…his family aren’t. They will see this as a humiliation, and they’ll send someone after me, if they haven’t already. Th-they won’t rest until I’m dead…” she trailed off, her eyes glazing over in that fear from before.

Suddenly, Wilhelm grabbed her hands, clasping them gently in his larger ones. “I will make sure that never happens.” He hesitated, an idea popping into his head. “Stay here at the inn.”

“W-what?”

“Stay here. At the inn,” Wilhelm repeated. “At least for a while. I’ll protect you if trouble comes calling.”

The woman stared at him, dumbfounded. “Why…why would you do this for me? I’m a complete stranger to you, you don’t even know my name.”

Wilhelm shrugged slightly, once again looking her over. She was a beautiful woman to be sure, even beyond the matted hair and shredded dress. However, that was not the reason he felt like helping her. “It’s just…the right thing to do.”

She blinked quickly, trying to drive away the tears of relief that threatened to form at those words. Patting her hands, Wilhelm stood once more, gesturing for her to follow him, before he paused. “Your feet... Would you…like me to carry you…?”

She blushed deeply at that, hiding her face behind her hands. “If…if you really don’t mind…”

Wilhelm blushed a bit himself, mostly at her flustered reaction, but did not hesitate to gently scoop the injured woman up into his arms, carrying her bridal-style. He took her to one of the rooms nearest to his counter, setting her down on one of the beds.

“It’s not much, but…”

“It’s perfect. Thank you,” she said, tone genuinely grateful. “I promise, once I’m healed, I’ll find some work around here to do, to pay you back for your kindness.”

“That’s really not necessary,” Wilhelm said. “Just…focus on healing for now. We’ll discuss more when the time comes.”

She nodded. Wilhelm turned to the door, planning to give the woman some privacy to rest, when she spoke up suddenly. “Svidi.”

“What?” he asked, looking over his shoulder at her.

“My name. It’s…Svidi.”

Wilhelm felt his heart warm. She trusted him enough to give him her name. “You have a lovely name, Svidi. I’m Wilhelm”

She once again blushed deeply, looking down. “I…should probably go by something else, now…”

“Just rest, for now. We’ll talk more in the morning, okay?” Wilhelm asked.

She nodded, starting to settle into the bed. “Okay.”

Wilhelm returned to his counter, adjusting the hidden weapon beneath it. Maybe helping this woman was a little crazy, not to mention dangerous…but Wilhelm was firm in his resolve. After all, helping Svidi was the right thing to do.

#skyrim #skyrim fanfiction #fanfic #the elder scrolls #hurt/comfort #svidi #lynly star-sung #wilhelm

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mks-grin · 2 years ago

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Alright! Here goes uh

What type of bender would each counselor be + what sub-element bending could they do?

Okay! So I didn’t know about sub bending so I watched an entire video on explaining bending so I would have a better and more informed clue. I have only seen this show as a kiddo and that was way before Legend of Korra so bear with me as my knowledge is mad interpretive.

Also I did not choose to interpret anyone as without a bending ability despite that about one quarter of the population in this universe would have the ability to bend. I also do not understand exactly the Fire Warriors / Avatar. I will not assign anyone to be either of those things.

So! Jacob. I think Jacob would be an earth bender! He is shown to be both a physical and emotional character. In canon, he runs around all night, cries, and if you play your cards right - he survives while totally barefoot and part naked! As far as I am aware an earth bender’s movements are sturdier than the other elements, and Toph is shown as being barefoot as a means of making up for her lack of vision. Jacob’s strength when met with the difficulties faced by friends creates an emotional, but almost unmovable version of himself.

I don’t think it is well exemplified in canon, but Jacob would typically be dependable. I think Jacob sees himself as the big brother of the group and would do anything to help his friends. He feels a strong sense of duty to stand up for his friends if challenged by unfair odds.

He naturally would have a great aptitude for earth bending, and easily irritates others who struggle to perfect their own techniques. His natural aptitude allowed him to learn metal bending earlier than peers and he is locally known for being a little bit of a show off about it. Good spirited “just being proud of yourself show off.”

Ryan, our boy. Would have been without power for a while , if that’s possible? He seems like someone who was without power until a specific event came to be - and only then would he be able to react on instinct and use a power that was previously hidden to him. After that specific event he realized he was a fire bender.

In canon Ryan is seen as being pulled in many different directions, his sister, his education, and the prospect of having a partner. He seems almost helpless and without clear direction. When talking to his peers he shies away from asking for help and Chris doesn’t actually help him. I think this can be support for why he would be “directionless” with bending too.

Because he would discover the ability later on in life, he does not have the natural aptitude, unlike Jacob. He has to work twice as hard to do half as much and him. Which he finds wildly irritating. He is earlier in the process than his peers, so sub-bending is further away for him. ((However I expect he eventually be able to master lightning - and only because Justice Smith is in Detective Pikachu and that seems funny to me.))

Abigail! Water bender, through and through, and it should be easy to see why. Abi is seen as being a sensitive character who has emotional conversations with many of her peers. She has these conversations with both Emma and Nick. Two people who she really cares about. Sensitive like water benders, she has genuine intentions and would even feel bad about things that COULD have happened, but didn’t.

Abigail used to take the time to work with younger people who have discovered their ability to water bend. She is not particularly skilled, and her fight or flight doesn’t always work in her favor. However, after meeting her Hackett’s Quarry peers she might be inspired by then to do more with her ability that she initial thought. She would better develop how to create ice and make her water bending ability both defensive and offensive. She has a strong sense of Justice and knows she cannot change the world sitting on the sidelines.

Eventually she might learn how to manipulate the water in plants, maybe freezing the water inside of trees to harden then into an impassable shape.

Nick, would be a fire bender. Nick is shown in canon to be a follower instead of a leader and depending on your choices he can be rude to Abi even before infection. Nick has drive, but has yet to discover what his drive should be focused on. He confides in Abi saying like “Sure, I’m good at something, but what?”

Being driven by this restlessness and lack of direction, like Ryan, Nick would focus on his fire bending skills rather than focus on emotional connections or other courses of work. It is a sort of lonely life, but “when you’re this strong it would be wasteful to try and determine a fate separate of your bending abilities”.

Nick might be a little more lost than his peers, but his bending ability would outmatch Ryan and Abigail as of right now.

Dylan is an air bender. Being a little more content with who he is while being the group glue, Dylan fits as our token air bender.

Dylan is jovial in canon and even makes light of losing a limb! The line I can most distinctly picture him saying is “Peace and Love”! While, jovial and sometimes silly, I think Dylan best incapsulates the naive, hard working, and spiritual connectedness that is necessary to be an air bender. He simultaneously seems naive and wise for his years. He seems to represent a more balanced life than his peers. He doesn’t seem afraid of the future - yet doesn’t know the future. He would like a relationship - but doesn’t pursue it for most of the summer. He likes to be a group extrovert - but also spend a good amount of time alone in the Radio Hut.

Now for actually ability, our boy is just as clumsy as a bender as he is in TQ. Because there are less air benders around he has to learn everything on his own. His movements are very experimental and only by accident did he learn to do some of the cool party tricks he knows. He and Abigail would be on a similar playing field.

Kaitlyn is a water bender. Growing up to be tough and icy makes her a non traditional water bender when it comes to what she thinks is right. She is temperamental and the way she bends expresses that.

In canon Kaitlyn was saying it nonchalantly, but says “I go where my people need me”.

While this is biblical and feel free to skip if it is not your thing lmao, but when playing The Quarry with my friends a friend pointed out that this line of Kaitlyn’s reminded her of something in the Bible. Ruth 1:16 “Where you go, I will go, and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people.” The speaker Ruth is comforting her mother in law after they have lost the men in their family. (I think, idk)

I think this is paralleled to some of the scenes you can get with Kaitlyn with Dylan. Kaitlyn choosing not to run away and abandon Dylan in the kitchen, depending on your actions she might (accidentally) sacrifice herself and Caleb in the freezer, talking with Dylan about his and Ryan’s moment at the campfire. She is dedicated and bonded to him. She shares no resentment towards him despite their shared interest in Ryan. I think these traits lean in the direction of being a water bender because she is genuinely good and not motivated to help herself as much as she is motivated to help her friends (despite her sharp tongue). Her sharp tongue is what hides the sensitive side of Kaitlyn from a passive viewer.

As she gets older she chooses to begin a quiet development of blood bending - only to use if her or a loved one’s life depends on it and it is a last resort. Sometimes evil can only be struck down by a worse evil.

Emma is a fire bender. Fire-y and quick witted, this match up just makes sense. Some of the counselors are harder to interpret, but Emma is not one those counselors for me.

In canon, Emma spends a great deal of her night alone, directly responsible for herself and doesn’t end up needing the help of someone else to stay alive. She is firm in her views of the future and won’t compromise for someone else if that life won’t satisfy her.

Her toughness might cause her to seem like an earth bender to you, but I think the sense of duty that an earth bender might have is missing from Emma. She absolutely is not a team player, not because she doesn’t love her friends, but her brain just doesn’t think that way. She can stand up for herself and her first instinct is to assume that her friends can as well. She was born to be both an ass-kicker and heart-breaker.

Laura is an earth bender. While I initially thought she ought to be a fire bender it is important to realize her actions in the Hackett house and afterwards are not her more “simple / true” self. I associate the fire bending ability to belong so someone who is a little more emotionally lost in life and motivated by goals not by love / the wellness of other. This is why Emma, Nick and Ryan are our fire-benders.

She has a sense of duty to her loved ones and is sturdier than average. Her dependable and genuine nature makes her a better team player than some of her peers.

In canon Laura dedicates what might be the last night of her life, to saving Max. Her endurance outmatches many of her peers and she definitely shows us she’s a hard headed bad ass! She helps Ryan as well in his pursuit for the truth - hoping it will prove Chris’ innocence.

Able to get pissed and use that to her advantage, instead of letting it cloud her mind, she can bend metal as well as sand. One of her favorite things to do, when necessary, is just toss sand into someone’s eyes. Not really a bending thing, but it’s funny to her and functional.

Max is a water bender. As water-benders have more power at night and on the night of a full moon 👀 it is fitting for Max to be one! Max and Laura compliment each other well and I thought they should represent the idea that almost opposites attract.

If Max were able to develop the ability to heal with his water he would be a nice compliment to Laura’s abilities. What she might lack in speed he makes up for. What he lacks in endurance she picks up the slack on.

( He was the hardest one tbh, he gets like.. no screen time, sorry I can’t think of much more!)

TL; DR

Earth: Laura, Jacob because they have a sense of duty to protect others AND communal well being.

Fire: Nick, Ryan, Emma because they don’t know what they’re doing with their lives yet. They feel younger and more clouded than their peers.

Water Abi, Kaitlyn, Max because they are genuine people who are more selfless than their peers. They are maybe underestimated.

Air: Dylan because Air Benders are the most rare I sorta compared Aang’s traits to the counselors to see who felt the most similar. Clumsy, wise and jovial seem to define what makes Dylan an air bender to me.

#the quarry #the quarry headcanons #ryan erzahler #jacob custos #abigail blyg #emma mountebank #kaitlyn ka #dylan lenivy #max brinly #laura kearney

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brooklynislandgirl · 1 year ago

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The Nurse Shark || Beth Riley

RESIDENCE: Autumnworth House, which is a 46-room sandstone manor constructed in Gotham Height in the early 1900s. It sits on 50 acres of private woodland within Bristol County.

TYPE OF BED: Oak canopied Alaskan king-size bed. Only Beth doesn't really 'sleep' here as she is a chronic insomniac more likely to fall asleep in the living area sofa. Or in the window seat of her room, where she curled up with a good book or her knitting to watch the evening rain.

NUMBER OF BLANKETS: Being born and raised on a tropical island then moving to the east coast of the mainland was never easy and Beth is almost always cold. There are three blankets and a comforter, as well as the most luxurious sheets money can by. Most of the time, she has at least one blanket within reach anywhere else she might fall asleep.

NUMBER OF PILLOWS: There are approximately eight to twelve pillows on the bed at any given point in time, and she actually makes it to the bed, at least one body pillow that she sprawls over.

TYPE OF CLOTHING: Much to the housekeeper's perpetual vexation, Beth starts shedding clothes the instant she walks in through the door, always starting with her shoes at the door. When not expecting company, she usually pads around the house barefoot and in one of her brother's egregiously large tee-shirts. Sometimes with something on beneath. If she is expecting someone or has company, she will wear something slinky, soft, and probably french with a matching robe.

DO THEY SLEEP WITH COMPANY?: Beth says this is such an inappropriate question. {{She would if someone else offered}}

DO THEY SLEEP BETTER WITH COMPANY?: Beth suffers from chronic insomnia, as stated previously, as well as sleep paralysis and night-terrors. She spent the first sixteen years of her life sleeping beside her brother, and even occasionally afterwards when he was at home on leave. Moral of the story is that if she trusts the other person, absolutely she sleeps better with them beside her. Note we did not say *they* would sleep better.

DOES IT MATTER WHERE THEY SLEEP?: Absolutely.

WHAT DO THEY DO IF THEY CANNOT FALL ASLEEP?: Beth might read all night long. She might knit a dozen or more sweaters/blankets to donate to charity. She might lie on the floor listening to music, or she might...*ahem* garden. Depends on just how many weeks days she's been awake.

FREQUENT DREAMS, NIGHTMARES: Since infancy, Beth has had a night terror about a dark shadowy shape stalking her while she's in bed. She is absolutely convinced that if it ever manages to reach her head, that she will die.

DEEP SLUMBER OR NAPS: Beth doesn't know what deep slumber is. She can and does catnap whenever possible.

WHEN DO THEY SLEEP: as never as possible. {{she cannot think of a better, more realistic answer than this.}}

WHAT COULD WAKE THEM UP: A mouse passing gas in the deepest bowels of Blackgate Penitentiary. Someone complaining about '90s Grunge in sign language in Seattle might do it too. She is a light sleeper.

EARLY OR LATE RISER: It doesn't matter if your eyes never quite close, now, does it? "Not a early bird or a night owl but some sorta permanently exhausted pigeon, try an' mahalo."

~*~ Tagged by: my sweet C over at @nightmarefuele Tagging: Hoist the Colours and Raise the Black

#Mahalo!C <3333 #Demons With Subtle Guile|Gotham #All Our Tomorrows|DC au #Just Paint Your Face|His Highness

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tacitusauxilium · 3 months ago

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Enchanted to Meet You / Chapter 17 / Evermore

The myth about the red string of fate states that the gods tie an invisible red string to the pinky fingers of people who are destined to meet and be together in life.

The red string can become tangled, stretched, or contracted, but it can never break, representing the idea that fate cannot be altered.

Eventually, the red thread will tighten to bring the destined partners together, regardless of time, place, or circumstances. The red thread symbolizes human connections, friendship, family, and true love.

A “what if” scenario — wouldn’t it be interesting to think that there was some invisible “red” string tying Fuuka and Shinjiro together? He tells the 2nd years about her, she gets saved, and he teaches her how to cook. So, she returns the favor little by little—eventually leading into her falling for him.

*Previously called Unforeseen Circumstances*

🎵 And I was catchin' my breath Barefoot in the wildest winter, catchin' my death And I couldn't be sure I had a feeling so peculiar That this pain would be for Evermore 🎵

November 28th

Never had she ever thought Fuuka would ever hear and see Junpei sob twice within a week. Junpei never really cried—this was new for her and the others. Even if it wasn’t a gut wrenching sob days before, it still tore at her heart. Being truly in love with someone and then watching them die in your arms—Fuuka never wanted to experience that, even though that basically happened to her and Shinjiro.

She watched as Junpei went up the stairs with Chidori’s sketchbook, holding it close to his chest, and felt someone at her side. Turning her head slowly, Fuuka was surprised to see Mitsuru at her side. “Senpai? Is everything okay?”

The red head’s arms were crossed as she let out a small sigh. “I know my family has ruined a lot of people’s lives. And… I fear there is more that hasn’t been unearthed yet.”

Fuuka could hear the exhaustion in Mitsuru’s sigh. For once, she was relieved her family wasn’t in this sort of mess. Then again, her parents were so busy with their own ordeals that being here with SEES was the best case scenario. Just being able to come home and escape the controlled chaos for a day did help take the loads off of her mind.

“Do you need me to—?”

Mitsuru shook her head, letting out a chuckle and turning to face Fuuka. “No no. You’ve done so much already. Besides,” she turned on her heels and faced the few SEES members left in the kitchen that were talking among themselves, “I’m sure you have your own hands full with Aragaki.”

Fuuka rose an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

“I…may have lied a tiny bit. There is one thing I’d love for you to attempt to do. However, it’s a selfish request from me.”

“I’m sure that whatever it is, I’m confident I can help you!”

“…” Mitsuru kept silent, knowing full well that this might be one thing Fuuka can’t fix. It didn’t help that Fuuka had this determined nature inside of her. And the nagging feeling of conflict rising between Shinjiro and Fuuka with her request made Mitsuru swallow her fear and nodded. “I put the details in your room—it’s a folder I thrusted underneath your door. I know you can’t work miracles all the time, but just humor me and check it out?”

With a quick turn, and before Fuuka could reply, Mitsuru moved up the stairs quickly and left Fuuka alone. Fuuka blinked, turning to go after Mitsuru but stopped short. There were many scenarios going through Fuuka’s mind, but none of them made sense. Of course, the thought of this being something dealing with her made her even more nervous.

In a matter of seconds, Fuuka dashed up to her bedroom, unlocking the door, and noticing the red folder on the ground, right by the entrance. Closing the door and leaning down to pick it up, Fuuka sat at her table and looked at the folder. It wasn’t heavy but very light, but she feared it held a lot of secrets inside of here.

Opening the folder carefully, Fuuka saw paperwork stapled together, on the side, and a sticky note to the left. She pulled the sticky note off and had to read the title twice to make sure she read it right.

Yamagishi,

What you hold in your hands should probably go to Aragaki first but I knew he would be tired of me bothering him over this. But, with how intimate you both have been, I wanted to see if you could give this a shot.

This is paperwork for a school reinstatement. For Shinjiro to come back to Gekkoukan. He would probably have to redo his third year, but he would be with you, Iori, Aigis, Takeba, and the Arisato twins.

Just talk to him. See what he says. I wish you the best.

Mitsuru Kirijo

Her eyes went wide, her heart skipping a beat, and gulping. She took the paperwork out and skimmed over stuff she had never seen before. The thought of having Shinjiro finishing his last year of high school with her and being closer to him made her heart flutter.

But, he was going to butt heads with her. And she laid her hands and head down on the table and groaned. The idea sounded immaculate—but trying to talk to Shinjiro period about this made Fuuka’s hands sweat. She absolutely hated confrontation, especially with those she loves. And with his temper, she knew she was going to have her hands full.

And so she did the one thing she knew she could do that could help her out: get advice from someone who isn’t in SEES.

Natsuki? I know you are probably busy, but could we txt a little? I need your help with something important.

Fuuka saw that Natsuki was about to reply, but then the text bubble disappeared and reappeared.

Maybe this was a bad time. I should have probably called her since—

I’ve got time 2 spare—what’s up fuuka?

The sigh that left Fuuka’s lips could have been heard from outside her bedroom door, even with the door closed.

I’ll get straight to the point. So, you know OF Shinjiro, right? How well do you know him? Like, is his temper really bad, like people have said? Because I have paperwork from Kirijo-senpai that will get him back into school. And she only wants ME to handle it, since we are dating and I am terrified because I love him but I don’t want to argue with him and I have no clue how to go about this. So uhhhh… halp?

Wow. That IS a lot Fuuka. lol Well, he does have a temper, but it takes A LOT for him 2 get mad. He only got mad one time when one of my friends asked why he talks to no one. He only ‘Tsked’ and shoved ‘im.

Uhhh…tbh? Just straight up ask him. The worse he’ll say is NO. And then you can cry and it’ll make him feel worse! No. Wait. That’s worse. Fuck.

Gosh, just thinking about trying to talk to him about coming back to school is making my hands sweat. Maybe he will not put up a fight. …wait. Yeah he will. He is so stubborn. orn

No kidding. Listen, Fuuka, I know this is scary, but you got this! Who knows? Maybe Shinjiro will think it’s hott that you are confrontational or something and see that you are passionate about this! I’m still waiting for selfies from you two! Tick tock Fuuka! lol <3

I promise I will send you one or two before the year ends. But, I’ll keep you updated on what the brooding boyfriend says. I’ll try talking to him tomorrow. Thnks for the quick txts. Just needed some…fresh eyes on the matter.

No probs! Though, if he does go back to school, I DEF want pictures of you two in ur uniforms. Because I might need blackmail from Shinjiro and/or you for the future lol ;)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Days came and went, and before anyone knew it, December 2nd was upon them. And another full moon appeared. Mitsuru was pacing back and forth at Aigis’ door, which made Fuuka stop short at her own door and made her anxious and nauseous all of a sudden. She had not talked to Mitsuru in over a week and she still hasn’t talked to Shinjiro about the school reinstatement form. Everytime they were together, either it was so brief that Fuuka could barely ask how he was doing or they were kissing and being intimate.

As if something was changing—as if the doting and kissing was out of pure desperation. Fuuka couldn’t confirm or deny it, but she couldn’t protest when Shinjiro was loving her. Who can say no to him?

“Senpai?” Her voice was soft, as if not to jump on Mitsuru and scare her. “Is everything okay?”

Mitsuru stopped pacing and turned to see the navigator with a hint of worry in her face. Mitsuru didn’t even realize that her arms were crossed but she still kept them crossed and closed herself to Fuuka.

“Aigis has not returned back to the dorm after school. I thought she had plans with one of the Arisato twins, but they said they last saw her right after school ended, too.”

“Should I look for her with Lucia?”

“That would be helpful—the Dark Hour is approaching and while I know she can take care of herself, I’d love to have peace of mind.”

Fuuka nodded. “Of course. Let me go get my evoker and I’ll meet you in the command room.”

"Yamagishi—”

Fuuka gripped the doorknob and gulped silently. She knew what she was going to ask. Call it a motherly instinct.

“—I have not talked to Shinjiro, senpai. I apologize for being so hesitant.”

“I see. I do not blame you for that. But, I just have one quick question.” Fuuka gulped and turned to face Mitsuru. “Has Aragaki look…less pale?”

Fuuka raised an eyebrow, surprised that THAT was the question Mitsuru decided to ask. Then again, Fuuka had to close her eyes and bring back the times she had been with Shinjiro. She always thought he looked pale—he always seemed to be in the shadows and did lack vitamin C. But, she suddenly remembered their last interaction.

“I mean, I haven’t really noticed. I have noticed he is eating more—he always taste-tested his food, just one or two bites. But now, he’s almost ready to eat all of what he’s made before serving it to me.” Fuuka explained, wondering if he was just getting his energy back from being in the hospital. “Then again, who knows how long he has had hospital food. He’s probably getting his appetite back.” She chuckled, wondering if she really hasn’t paid any attention to Shinjiro like Mitsuru has. Granted, she’s known him for just over 3 months. And they have been to first and almost second base easily.

Mitsuru nodded and waved her hand in front of her face. “You could be right. No matter, I’ll see you in the command room.” Fuuka nodded and entered her room. Mitsuru waited until the door was closed and sighed softly. Her eyes trailed to the stairs that led downstairs and stared longer than she should have.

“With that body being transmogrified, is this a connection with Aragaki?”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

After waiting for everyone to come down to the ground floor, finding Aigis after searching for a quarter of an hour, Fuuka stayed towards the back of the group while Minato led the second years and Ken along towards the front of the group. Fuuka looked over at Shinjiro, looking at him in the pale green moon light and did notice he looked a bit better. Healthier, technically.

It didn’t help that Shinjiro was looking at her and staring at her with a look of worry and concern. “Is everything good? Do I…have something on my face?”

Fuuka shook her head and fixed her SEES armband a bit as she turned to look ahead. “You have nothing on your face—just, didn’t realize how you look a bit healthier. Or maybe it’s the moonlight?”

“What brought that up all of sudden?”

Don’t mention Mitsuru. Because it won’t make him happy. Right?

“Someone in the group mentioned it. And you did have an appetite back. So, I’ve taken a much better look at you.” She explained, knowing that she should have seen the changes. Fuuka shook her head, trying to shake those negative thoughts from her mind.

Shinjiro blinked in surprise, turning to look at his hands and then pushing them into the pockets of his trench coat. “Tsk. Your food is getting better. Don’t blame me if I eat it all.”

God, that was a pathetic excuse. She isn’t going to believe that at all! It’s Fuuka!

“Well, I have a wonderful senpai, and boyfriend, who is helping me.”

Damn. Her flirting is getting better. Fuck.

“Whoever this senpai of yours is, I hope he isn’t flirting with my girl.” He laughed, making Fuuka blush as she had to turn her head further from his eyes. “Anyway, back to the point at hand—why the fuck is Aigis on the Moonlight Bridge?”

Fuuka shook her head and looked up at the bridge in the distance. “I…I don’t know. I sensed her there with her Persona and then she suddenly went off the radar. If only Lucia was stronger, I probably could have found her faster.”

Shinjiro could hear Fuuka getting upset. Seeing Mitsuru, Yukari, Ken, Akihiko, and Junpei with brand new Personas that were much more powerful made Shinjiro be on the side lines next to Fuuka. And when he was granted a chance to go into battle, it was only for a couple floors or so. With him having no weaknesses, Shinjiro knew he was a great asset in battle. But, now he was worried that he was going to be Fuuka’s bodyguard until the end of…whatever they were doing in Tartarus.

In the smallest part of his heart, he hoped that one day him and Fuuka would awaken to stronger Personas. And he’d do anything to protect her and her confidence.

The barking from Koromaru broke the silence between everyone as they all looked at Aigis, broken up, half destroyed, and sparks coming out from all over her body. Yukari ran faster to Aigis as everyone quickly followed her.

“Aigis!”

Yukari called out to her as she slowly turned her head a quarter of the way until her eyes landed on Minako and Minato, both on her right side. Fuuka clasped her hands together, knowing full well something much stronger than Aigis did this to her. But what and who exactly?

“I…I am sorry. I…remember everything…” Aigis stated softly, her head low and her voice shaking. “I finally remember who I am… and what he is…and WHO—” Aigis gasped as she reached out to cup Minato’s cheek and her other hand laid gently on Minako’s knee cap. “Mi…nato… Mina…ko… I know why I wanted to be by your sides. I’m sorry. I failed…”

Minako shook her head quickly and laid her hand gently on top of Aigis’. “Save your strength. It’ll be okay, I promise!”

Minato nodded and softly lowered his eyes towards Aigis. He eventually touched her hand and tried to keep the worry out of his eyes. “What happened to you? Who did this to you?”

Aigis just kept apologizing. “I’m sorry…”

“There is no reason for you to apologize.”

Everyone turned their heads to face Ryoji. A few had a look of surprise on their faces, others had worried, and a couple had fear.

“Huh? You?” Junpei called out, his arms crossed as Ryoji lowered his head and sighed. A sigh of worry and frustration and hurt and…disappointment.

“Why are you here Ryoji-kun?” Yukari asked softy, standing up next to Aigis as Ryoji said nothing. The sparks that came out of Aigis broke the silence as Fuuka gasped and turned her attention back to the android.

“Aigis!” Fuuka covered her lips and looked back at everyone. “She’s not moving…she not functioning anymore…” Fuuka didn't need Lucia to tell her that--the exposed wires around her body were either cut in half or hanging on barely by a thread.

Shinjiro gritted his teeth and bit his tongue as Akihiko beat him to questioning Ryoji first. “What is going on…?”

“It’s…this is all my fault.” Ryoji pointed out, his hand on his hip and his eyes unable to face the members of SEES.

Akihiko’s face full of worry turned into fear for a brief moment. His eyebrows rose as he pointed to Aigis with his hand. “What—what do you mean? Did you do this!?”

Mitsuru put a hand up to Akihiko, keeping him locked into place as she turned to face him while addressing him. “Hold on, Akikiko. He is not showing signs of aggression.” Waiting a moment for Akihiko to calm down, Mitsuru brought her hand back to her own waist and glared at Ryoji. “Tell us… who, or what, are you?”

A heavy sigh left Ryoji’s lips as he placed the hand that was on his hip to his chest. “I…am not so different from those creatures you have called Shadows.”

“The fuck? You’re a shadow?!” Shinjiro asked.

“I’m more than just an ordinary shadow. I’m the Appriser—born from the union of the twelve arcana.”

Ken looked at him in wonder, back at Aigis, and back to Ryoji. “The Appraiser? What is that?”

“I remember everything. The terrifying truth about the shadows and me.” Ryoji stated, a small laugh, which was full of despair, left his lips. “It’s just…so hard to believe.”

“You know the truth about the shadows?” Mitsuru quipped, her interest piqued.

“I do.”

Gasps left the mouths of some members of SEES. “What!?” Akihiko called out as Ryoji looked up at the members of SEES, watching as the Arisato twins glared at him with anger.

“The shadows are here to facilitate the rebirth of the maternal being. As for the Appraiser—it draws the maternal being to it, allowing her to awaken.”

Fuuka covered her lips with her fingers and used her other hand to then her chest. She knew something was off about Ryoji, but never would she have thought of this being the case! “This maternal being you mentioned—what is it?” She asked carefully, unsure if she wanted to know the truth.

“She is on a whole other level. No words in our language can describe her.” He let out the air in his lungs and felt himself deflating. “Ten years ago, a man collected lots of shadows and contained them all in a laboratory. That’s where I was born. However, the unification was interrupted and I awoke before I was fully completed. After that, Aigis took me down and I returned the favor tenfold.”

Junpei looked down at Aigis once more and up to Ryoji. He felt his hands shaking in fear. He didn’t need more drama added to his plate. “With our Aigis?! Is this for real Ryoji?”

He nodded and Ryoji continued. “She knew she couldn’t defeat me. Out of desperation, she sealed me within a child who just happened to be nearby. However,” he turned his eyes to the twins and stared sadly at them, “she sealed me inside of a boy, since his sister was unconscious at the time. He grew up with me inside of him. And by some nasty twist of fate, they both made their way back here later on in life. They both transferred to your school.”

Yukari turned to face the twins and gulped. “You don’t mean…” Yukari watched as the other members slowly turned to face the twins as they were staring at each other. Never did they think everything would be connected back to them. Their gulps were audible for all to hear.

“I have lived inside of Minato for years.” Ryoji stated, making the point more crystal clear.

Minato handed Aigis to Minako and pointed to himself. “You’ve…been inside of me for years? … …it makes sense why I have been so emotionless and uncaring some times. Death was controlling my emotions…”

Fuuka’s eyes widen. Was the reason he acted so cold to her months beforehand was because of Death being inside of him? She covered her lips as Yukari shook her head, asking how this all happened.

Ryoji bit his lip and looked at Minato still. “When his Persona awakened, the twelve shadows awoke too. …all in order to become one…with me.”

Junpei took off his hat, wringing it with his fingers, and grinding his teeth. He had to stay cool but felt his anger boiling in his chest and head. “So, you’re the Appriser, Ryoji. And you were inside of him this whole damn time? How the hell do you expect us to believe all that bullshit!?”

Ryoji collapsed to his knees, exhausting hitting him all at once, as he frowned and closed his eyes. “I’m sorry. There is more…I need to tell you…all…” In a blink of an eye, Ryoji collapsed in front of everyone as Fuuka gasped and called out to Ryoji.

Minato ran up to him, checking for a pulse and while relieved to find one, turned his attention back to the others. “He just collapsed. He is completely worn out. They must have fought for a while.”

Mitsuru nodded and turned to face the others. “He needs rest, just like Aigis does. We will pick up later from where Ryoji left off.” Everyone silently nodded while Minato picked up Ryoji and Minako picked up Aigis, albeit getting help from Akihiko. The way back to the dorm was quiet and the silence was deafening to everyone.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I will see you in a few minutes. Fixing Koro-chan dinner.

Are you doing okay?

Fuuka sighed as she looked through her messages on her phone silently. Everyone was in the fourth floor command room, as Mitsuru told everyone at school in person or via text message. It had been 10 minutes and everyone already found a comfortable spot on the sofa or on the chairs across the sofa.

As if she was willing Shinjiro to hurry up in her mind, Fuuka heard the door clicking open as Shinjiro appeared and closed the door once Koromaru entered at last.

“Sorry. Koromaru needed dinner—I wasn’t too late was I?”

Ryoji shook his head as Mitsuru crossed her legs and turned her attention to Ryoji.

“It looks like we are all here.”

Fuuka placed her hands together, leaning forward towards Ryoji as she had to ask him if he was okay. Being the motherly person she is, Ryoji laughed and placed his hand on his chest.

“I am okay. Thank you for being concerned. However, I have more to tell you guys.” Ryoji flashed a small smile at Fuuka, but then turned his attention towards everyone as he placed his hands on his knees. He gripped them tightly. “And you may not like what I have to say.”

“Ryoji-kun…” Yukari murmured as Mitsuru crossed her arms and turned to look at Ryoji.

“Then let me jump straight into the fray. We have many questions that need answers. Firstly, you said the Shadows were here to help facilitate the rebirth of the maternal being.” She recalled for everyone as Shinjiro leaned against the sofa’s armrest where Ken sat. “Tell us more—what happens if she returns?”

Ryoji brings his hands together and speaks softly. “The maternal being is called Nyx.”

Junpei raised an eyebrow and sat up taller while he sat between Ken and Fuuka. “Who the hell is Nyx?”

“Nyx is the mother of Shadows. Back in ancient times, she bestowed Death upon this world. If she does awaken, the world will be swallowed up by darkness…and all life will perish.”

Audible gasps left everyone’s lips as Akihiko glared at Ryoji and shuddered at the thought. “All life?!”

“Fucking hell…” Shinjiro murmured, his eyes shooting down to the ground as Mitsuru broke the awkward silence.

“A-are you saying…everyone will die?”

Ryoji grimaced and leaned downward. He did have to tell them the truth after all. “It would be more accurate to say that all of us will surrender the will to live.”

“Wait…you don’t mean you are talking about the Lost?” Mitsuru asked cautiously, watching as Ryoji nodded his head in agreement.

Quietly, everyone looked at each other as they all came to the same conclusion: everyone will turn into the Lost one way or another. Which will lead to the extinction of mankind and the end of the world. All because they took down the arcana shadows.

Mitsuru lowered her head and gripped her skirt in fear. “The Fall…”

Yukari looked back and forth at everyone, trying to help lighten the mood. Her hand on her chest, she turned to Ryoji. “But, there is STILL a way to stop it from happening, right?”

Ryoji lowered his eyes, unable to face Yukari and unable to answer her question.

“…what? … …don’t tell me there is nothing we can do?”

“I am so sorry.” Ryoji replied, knowing the answer was half hearted.

Yukari jumped up from her seat and frowned. “Why are you apologizing? Are you really saying there’s no way to stop it?”

Shinjiro gritted his teeth and turned to face Yukari. His fists were balled up and had to pocket them into his peacoat’s pockets. “Didn’t you hear, Takeba? We are dead no matter what! All this shit we have gone through… …it was for NOTHING!”

“Shinjiro!” Fuuka turned to face him, her hand on her chest as she hated to see her friends argue. Even if he was right, Fuuka did not want anyone to say those words outloud.

“He is right, though. You all heard the bell. That’s when it was all decided.” Ryoji crossed his legs and eyed Shinjiro and the others one by one. “I am the Appriser…the Appriser of Death. The fact that I am here at all guarantees the Fall is coming.”

Fuuka gulped and lowered her head. Just hearing those words turned her blood cold. “The Fall…is coming…”

Hearing that Ryoji’s existence confirms the extinction of mankind is inevitable made a couple feel sick, a couple mad, and the rest scared. Everyone was at a loss for words. And everyone lowered their heads, scared to look at each other. Afraid to see what everyone’s faces looked like, full of despair.

Akihiko growled and turned to face Ryoji while no one could look at him. “When!? When will this all happen!?”

“I don’t think you will long enough to see Spring.”

“Spring!? That’s barely three months!” Shinjiro retorted as everyone shot their heads up to look at Ryoji’s defeated face. Eyes wide with surprise as Junpei stood up immediately, his hands shooting out from his sides and spoke up immediately.

“That’s not even enough time at all!”

Heavy sighs left the lips of the eldest members of SEES as Yukari sat back down and felt defeated all of a sudden. She looked down at her hands in her lap as Junpei turned to look at everyone and tried to cheer everyone up. “H-hey—what’re you guys freakin’ out about? All we hafta do is win and we are golden! Am I right?”

Minako sighed softly as she looked at her shoes while sitting on the ground. “Junpei…”

“Dudes, dudettes—we haven’t lost a single fight yet, have we!?”

“Junpei’s right…” Minato stated softly as he turned to look at the Magician. Junpei crossed his arms with satisfaction and a small hint of a smile. “But, it’s not THAT simple anymore, you know?”

“He’s right.” Ryoji pointed out as he sighed softly. “When you are up against Nyx, power doesn’t mean a thing. You can’t win. It’s like trying to fight the inevitable, like death or the flow of time.”

Junpei pointed to Shinjiro and then to Fuuka. “These two fought for their lives, came up against death and now…NOW you are telling me, telling them, it was pointless!?”

“Nyx…can’t be defeated. She just can’t.”

“Wh-what?” Junpei’s voice was barely above a whisper as he stomped his foot on the ground. “This isn’t fair!”

For once, I agree with Iori.

Shinjiro thought silently, his back turned to the group, as he didn’t know what would come out of his mouth at this point in time. He had to ground himself or he may throw a punch or two. Or scream—it might have been cathartic and normal at this point.

“This…is all sudden.” Ken murmured.

“Ken-kun…” Minako looked towards the elementary school student, a look of distraught on her face, as she knew he had to be taking this hard. Hell, every one was at the moment.

“I was born from a collection of Shadows. But now? I have a human form that can talk with you, laugh and cry with you.” Ryoji explained as he turned to face Minato. Feeling his eyes being glued to his body, Minato looked up and gazed at Ryoji’s face. “It’s the gift I received for existing inside of him. And because of that, I can give you a choice.”

Shinjiro turned on his heels and crossed his arms, glaring daggers at Ryoji. “That would have been fucking nice to have been told about this choice beforehand.”

“So,” Ryoji turned to face everyone, “Nyx’s arrival is unavoidable now. But you can choose to live in peace until she arrives. The catch is that I have to be killed.” More gasps filled the silence as Ryoji closes his eyes, placing his hands on his chest and taking a big deep breath in.

“If the Appriser disappears, all recollection of the Dark Hour would go with me. And that would, in turn, erase any and all memories of this hopeless reality. There would be no way for you to remember anything.” He opened his eyes and stares ahead, past the members of SEES. “When the Fall comes, it will happen in an instant. You won’t have to suffer one bit.”

Mitsuru pushed some hair out of her face as she uncrossed her legs. “We will forget everything?”

Ryoji smiled softly and shook his head. “I am saying that you can go back to your normal lives. And by doing that, you might buy a tiny amount of time and delay the Fall, too. Technically, though, I am the same as Nyx, so I can’t be killed. But, thanks to Minato, there is a part of me that’s become human. If it’s done by his hand, then it may be possible.”

“Ryoji-kun…” Fuuka murmured, her hands in her lap as she couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Her eyes went to look at Shinjiro and noticed he wasn’t looking at her. She couldn’t tell what he was really looking at at that moment.

“If you don’t kill me, everything will just stay the same. With no hope for salvation, you’ll live every day paralyzed by the fear of your impending death! And…I don’t want to put you through something like that.”

Minato ran his fingers through his hair and groaned. This was just getting worse the more he listened. “I could never kill you… it’s like I have this connection with you.”

“This is something only you can do. No one else.”

Yukari placed a hand on her chest and looked at Minato. “I definitely don’t want my memories erased. I mean, forgetting all of this would be like…trying to hide the truth!”

Ryoji shook his head. “Is that such a bad thing? If you don’t do this, then all that awaits you all is despair greater than you can even imagine. You don’t understand the terror of certain death! At least, don’t make your decision without at least thinking more about this.”

Yukari opened her mouth and then closed it, unable to form words to reply to Ryoji. She lowered her head in defeat. Ken grabbed a nearby pillow and gripped it tightly. He would have thrown it out of pure anger but couldn’t. He lost the energy all of a sudden.

“Why’s this all happening now!?” Ken rhetorically asked.

Ryoji let out a soft sigh again and closed his eyes. “You do not have to decide at this moment. You have time. December 31st, New Year’s Eve. You have until then to make up your mind. After that, I will dissolve into the darkness and blackness of the Dark Hour and lose my physical form.”

He got up from his spot as he began to walk towards the doorway. Junpei watched Ryoji moving as he stayed glued to his spot. “Ryoji…” Junpei called out as he stopped short in front of the door.

“When Nyx does arrive, I am going to disappear anyway. You do not have to worry about me. I’ll be back here when the 31st rolls around.” He opened the door and closed it while Junpei reached out towards Ryoji and the door.

“H-hey! Ryoji—wait—!”

Fuuka grabbed Junpei’s other free arm and shook her head. “No use going after him. Ryoji-kun’s presence just vanished now. There is no point chasing after him. He…he’s gone.”

The room filled with awkward silence and heavy, defeated sighs coming from different parts of the room. Koromaru whined softly as Shinjiro leaned down to pet him. Mitsuru eyed the group for a couple seconds and crossed her arms again, protecting herself with her body language.

“I…guess we will see him soon…” Mitsuru stated as she watched Akihiko moving from his spot and beginning to pace. Koromaru got up slowly and began to walk back and forth with him. Everyone was feeling dread and hopelessness—either they had to move or stay still. Fight…or flight?

Shinjiro waited until Ken and Junpei left, which wasn’t for a while, as he moved to sit next to Fuuka. The twins eyed the Priestess and Hierophant carefully as Akihiko, Koromaru, and Yukari left the room soon after.

“So…even though I sacrificed myself for you, it was pointless in the end!?” Fuuka murmured, her head and eyes looking at her hands in her lap and tried her best to suppress her emotions. Her small hands balled into tiny fists. “Just what was the point, Shinjiro?”

“Fuck if I know. At this point, I wished I died that night two months ago. If I knew THIS is where my life was going to end up, I wished Takaya killed me.”

Fuuka turned to look up at him, her eyes huge in surprise, as Mitsuru had something to say to him before the navigator could. “So you would have rather ended up like my father? Dead? You think you’d be useful then?”

“Tsk.” The typical thing that came out of Shinjiro’s mouth the moment someone confronted him when it came to stuff he didn’t want to bring up again. Death being one of them. “Just don’t want to almost die, again.”

“But,” Fuuka put one of her hands on Shinjiro’s arms and gripped his sleeve gently, “I wouldn’t want to forget everything we’ve been through. The idea of fighting something that is… unwinnable sounds terrifying.”

Shinjiro closed his eyes, trying to imagine what it would be like to live without a care in the world. Like the Lost. To not have someone relying on you all the time. And to not have a Persona trying to kill you. But, losing his memories…would that include past memories or current memories or both? Forgetting the fire at the orphanage that killed Miki and his Persona killing Ken’s mother—it probably would lift all the stress and burdens off of him.

“It is.” He opened his eyes and turned to face Fuuka. “But forgetting the most painful memories may be a blessing in disguise.”

Fuuka couldn’t disagree with him. But, she still wanted to know where he stood. Hell, she wasn’t sure where she stood with what she wanted to do. Forgetting the neglect her own parents put her through sounded…delightful.

“Even if it meant forgetting your friends? And me?”

That was an arrow to the heart for Shinjiro. He slightly winced, almost unnoticeable by everyone but Mitsuru and Fuuka, and let out a heavy sigh. “Fuuka, I…I don’t know what I wanna do. I feel that no matter what I choose, you won’t be happy with the outcome.”

She removed her hand from his sleeve and frowned. “What is that supposed to mean? Why do you think you need my approval for your decision making?”

Minako groaned into her brother’s ear and ran her hands down her face. She whispered into her brother’s ear, “These two are about to get heated again.” Minato nodded slowly as Mitsuru kept a watchful eye on them.

"You know what this all means, right? If we fight this Nyx bitch, we will die . If we don’t fight, we will die . I don’t see anything good coming out of this thanks to the blue-haired emo teen over there!” He shot his thumb towards Minato, which made Minato point to himself and questioned if he really was emo to himself.

“Minato-kun had no say in harboring Death for the last 10 years or so! You were perfectly fine with trying to damage your body ever since you took suppressants, so why are you up in arms about this? Why are you now scared of dying now instead of back then?”

Shinjiro grabbed Fuuka’s shoulders as the twins and Mitsuru got up from their spots and prepared for the worst. They all knew Shinjiro wouldn’t hurt a fly, but this knowledge put everyone on edge and was sure someone was going to get hurt. When Shinjiro got mad, he gets a bit blinded by rage. Though no one was sure what he would do.

“Because I have something to fight for for the first time in my life!” His voice rose a little, leaving Fuuka with a shocked expression and her cheeks turning rosy pink. “Listen, when you protected Amada and I, I couldn’t believe that someone would be willing to protect me. I always made sure everyone around me was safe and sound and taken care of. But you—Fuuka, when I saw you turning blue and pale in front of all of us, my heart sank.

“I wanted to make it up to you and I didn’t know how to. Yeah, we are dating and what not, but I wished I could get rid of that memory of you dying in Iori’s arms. The blood that pooled under you—I could never get rid of that memory. I close my eyes for just a minute and I flashback to you dying! I felt helpless!”

She never knew Shinjiro thought about the memory of her dying every so often. The thought of him just staring off into the distance and RELIVING the memory or even looking at her and just seeing blood on her made Fuuka realize that she might have caused him more pain in the end. No peace of mind. Just the idea of saving his life only to extend it when he was perfectly fine with the idea of dying—it made Fuuka ill.

“…why did you never tell me this?” Her voice was soft and low, barely audible for the others to hear her.

“How could I? When could I?”

“Would it be better for us…if we broke up?”

Shinjiro’s eyes widened in shock as he shook his head. “No! Fuuka,” he gripped her shoulders gently and tilted his head downward to look at her better, “are you listening to what I’m saying?”

“I caused you unwanted pain. You want your memories erased of me so you can go on with life and not experience any more heartache.”

“No! I think about you every damned day and while the memory of flashing back and seeing—” Shinjiro had to shake his head to rid the memory of blood in his mind away. “—I am constantly reminded how lucky I am to have you with me. That if we didn’t bother each other about our issues, then we wouldn’t be alive and/or dating! I fucking love you, Fuuka, and I’ll be damned if I let Ryoji, Death, or this Nyx bitch take you away from me!”

Mitsuru and Minako both looked at Shinjiro with wide eye wonder. Their jaws dropped, unable to say anything to the couple in front of them. Fuuka kept her eyes down, tears prickling the corners of her eyes. She couldn’t find the right words to say at first.

“N-no one…” she sniffed her nose, trying her hardest to blink back tears and failing horribly. “…has loved me as m-much as you have, Shinjiro.” Fuuka wiped her eyes with the tips of her fingertips and looked up at Shinjiro, causing him to lower his hands down to her arms. He moved one of his hands to cup her cheek and to wipe away any tears that threatened to ruin her makeup—if she was wearing any. “I-I… I am scared and I don’t want to fight, but I do, then I don’t!”

“Fuuka. It’s okay to be scared. It’s okay to not know what you want.” Minato stated, pushing some of his hair out of his face with his fingers and looked at Fuuka. “We all don’t know what we want to do. We have almost a month to figure it out.”

Fuuka placed her hand on the top of Shinjiro’s hand and nodded slowly. Her eyes closed and her breathing more relaxed. “I’ve always…had a plan when it came to most things. With Nyx, I…I don’t know what the plan is and not being prepared is terrifying.”

Shinjiro felt sweat rolling down his back. The way he was able to avoid Fuuka breaking up with him and avoiding a breakdown with Fuuka in general just made him feel much more exhausted than before. Maybe he could do this dating thing better than he thought. Mitsuru reached over to Fuuka and placed her hand on her free shoulder.

“It is scary, Yamagishi. For now, let’s sleep on the idea. Let’s come back in a week and see if any feelings have changed. One day at a time, okay?” Mitsuru smiled warmly towards the Priestess, waiting for the navigator to nod and once she did, Mitsuru eventually left the room with her shoulders as high as she could put them.

The twins joined Mitsuru and closed the door behind them while they talked to one another. This left Shinjiro and Fuuka alone. Fuuka sniffed her nose and looked down at the ground once again. “Do you really, really love me that much, Shinjiro?”

He chuckled and kissed her lips deeply, proving his point. “Duh, idiot. If you only saw the looks Minako and Mitsuru gave us.”

Fuuka gasped. “I missed that?!” A quick nod from Shinjiro as Fuuka pouted her lips for a moment. She did look up at Shinjiro and tilted her head slightly. “Listen: I… I still am unsure of what I want to do. As much as I want to fight, I want to sit on my thoughts for a little bit longer.”

“And I respect that and you.” Shinjiro assured as he lowered his hand from her cheek. “All I ask is that you are one-hundred percent confident with your answer in the end.”

“I will be. I promise.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“I don’t like how this is not going in our favor.”

“Being down a person and going against them is troublesome.”

“Do you have any ideas on how to take them down? They are strong together.”

“Ah. Then we must separate them.”

“How the fuck do we do that? They are always together in their little group. Going to school together…but they split up afterwards. After school activities and shit.”

“You are finally seeing what I am throwing down, Jin. You are an expert when dealing with the internet and hacking, correct?”

“Uhh yeah—mainly the dark web, though.”

“Then how about we try something. If you can hack like she can, then see if you can get her to meet you. Or perhaps, THINK she’s seeing someone. You’ve already planted the seed. Now we wait for it to bloom.”

Jin pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, calculating what he would have to do in order to hijack a phone and possibly a laptop. “Think you can wait that long, Takaya?”

A chuckle left the half naked man’s lips as his arms were crossed while they were at their hideout. The green light from the Dark Hour and the moon illuminated their faces just enough to see each other. “That’s fine. I want SEES to suffer like we have. And I’ll be damned if I let Shinjiro get his happy ending. You don’t toy with us, take our suppressants, and get out scot-free. Starting first with his lover, Fuuka Yamagishi. Let’s scare her and prove a point.”

#persona 3 fanfic #shinjuka #unforeseen circumstances #enchanted to meet you #pairing;; blue moon #chapter 17

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just-some-random-blogger · 1 year ago

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It was ridiculous, this whole thing. Had you been born a man, there would be no need for this nonsense. Had you not been born a Stark, it would still be happening, but perhaps in not such a brutal way. Or had you not been tempered by the cold, made so brazen to insult and oppose Otto Hightower, perhaps your punishment wouldn’t be marital rape.

FUXKINGG OTTO YUCKKKKK BURNNNNNNN

Well if that ain't the truth

Some rustling could be heard outside your room and you panicked. You were running out of time. The tint! Made of some berries, you hoped didn’t poison you.

Lmao it would make sense if she wanted to get poisoned too

“Wife.” He rumbled, coming to stand in front of you. Daemon had docked his furs and armor, his sword no longer rested at his side, just as your agreement dictated. He had come to you unarmed and barefooted, yet it didn’t make him cut a less intimidating figure in the least. His purple eyes looked at the tint with curiosity, and plucked it from your hands. “Getting ready for me? I’m touched.”

HI DADDY 💞 STFU THO

Daemon’s breath hitched. Clearly affected by the sight of your prone, soft body, on the bed. “What are you doing, zoklītsos?” His hand went to your exposed folds, finding you as dry as the sands of the dornish deserts. You nearly jolted at the touch, and only his hand on your hips kept you in place. It was not a good omen, you had gathered, from nights spent exploring your body before the cold and worries had turned you into the frigid ice queen the lords in the South accused you of being.

NAH BUT WHAT IS SHE DOING SHE BUILT DIFFERENT OML

“Don’t be like that, little wife.” He kissed your jaw, tenderly, and when you moved your face away from him, Daemon adapted and started kissing a path down your exposed neck. “You wouldn’t like that, sweet innocent virgin you are. I would tear you apart, and that's no fun.”

“Oh, by the…” You muttered, exasperated. You tried telling yourself that the red of your cheeks was out of rage and not embarrassment. Used as you were at being the smartest one in the room, you deeply disliked how out of your depth you were here. It was not your fault, being uneducated on these matters. Orphaned when you were a lady just flowered, there had been no time for anything else but caring for your siblings. “Why must every woman you meet burn for you?”

“Because I am the blood of the dragon. Heat is in my veins.” He mouthed at your shoulder, this time. His kisses felt like a trail of fire down your body. It was… Waking feelings you didn’t wish to have. Nipples pebbling, hairs standing up, pleasant shivers and all. You breathed in and out, trying to control yourself. Daemon pushed the sleeve of your shift down. “My proper little wife. My ice queen. You will melt, in the end.” He kissed back up and towards your ear, whispering, cruelly. “They all do.”

LITERALLY SHUT THE FUCK UP BUT ALSO

“Do you really want to find out how the fire in your veins meets the ice in mine?” You remarked, coldly. It was an attempt at projecting a bravery you did not feel. Bravado. Nothing more. And Daemon could tell.

FUCK YOUR FORESIGHT ALSO ME

“Fire can melt ice.” He pressed an open-mouthed kiss on your throat. [...] But heat was pooling between your legs, you were getting embarrassingly slick.

YEAH WE WATER NOW

“Ice can put out a fire.” You warned, one of your hands going to his silver locks and tugging. You got exactly the opposite reaction of what you wanted. Daemon’s eyes closed, expression turning into a delightful mix of pleasure and pain.

GET IT GIRLIE AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH

“Only a fool would meet your ice head on.” He kissed your sternum. You remained as still as a sculpture. He tugged at the sleeves, until they gave. There went the dornish shift, ruined forever. You felt a distant rage at having wasted so much gold on it for him to rip it apart. Daemon drank the sight of your exposed chest eagerly, seemingly entranced. You tried covering yourself, but he grabbed at your wrists.

You felt like you were burning up, as if something that had been long asleep in you had started to be awakened. Long hidden and forgotten desires that were making themselves known. You found yourself looking down, mesmerized by the sight of the blond shock of hair between your parted thighs and how it bobbed up and down with each eager lick he took. Your hand reached down, tangling in Daemon’s hair, and it was then, you got pulled over the edge.

“It won’t hurt.” Daemon said, kissing your forehead. You looked up at him, eyes wide in fear. He squeezed your hand and lined himself up. You felt the tip of his cock nudge at your entrance, and wondered what it looked like. It felt blunt, and it was very warm. “I will do it on one thrust, like ripping a bandage off. You probably don’t have your maidenhead, with how fond you are of riding. And if you do, you are more than wet enough.”

OK DADDY WHATEVER YOU SAY DADDY WHATEVER DADDY WANTS

“Jealous, ice queen?” Daemon licked a strip down the base of your neck towards your jaw. “You will have to admit you know little of the topic.”

WHAT ABOUT IT

“I would say I know plenty.” You answered, glowering, just as he thrust inside of you, seemingly tired of the conversation. At the sudden feeling of fullness, you yelped. But there was no pain, as he had promised. Only an odd feeling of being stretched and filled to the brim, and a slight discomfort. “Rude.”

“Fucking is a pleasure.” Daemon insisted, pinching at one of your nipples, You whined. He could be telling you the secrets of the realm, and you wouldn’t care. “And I will teach you all about it.” He grunted in your ear.

You were too gone to care about his smugness. Your heels dug into his back, pulling him closer and closer. You met him thrust by thrust, scratching at his back until your nails were bloody. Daemon kissed you and tugged at your hair, desperate to claim you. You could hear his silent laughter, feel his mocking smile against your skin. He had finally gotten what he wanted, a reaction out of you. It could not be faked, this pure, raw emotion. Soon, his fingers found their way to your button, making you whine and squirm. It was too much for your poor, abused body. You screamed his name as you reached your second peak of the night.

Honesty (Daemon Targaryen × Reader)

Summary: In which Prince Daemon seduces his unwilling Lady Wife.

Warnings: Smut. Dub Con/ Non Con. Oral sex (F receiving), P in V sex. Stark reader. Convenience Marriage. No use of Y/N.

A/N: First time writing for Daemon. Reader is the oldest sister of Cregan Stark and acts as his regent. Might write the full story one day. High valyrian from an online translator, not explaining it because I wanted the reader to not know the meaning.

The shift was white, silky, and oh so tiny. You stared at it with contempt. It had cost you a pretty penny, as had the cosmetics Lady Manderly had so eagerly pushed into your hands. Red tint, she had said, to paint your lips and enhance your natural attributes in other areas. The woman had even had the nerve to point at your breasts!

Still. It was your duty, and you intended to perform it. It was the only way to keep Cregan, Rickon and Sara safe. And you would do it. Prince Daemon, your lord husband, as he insisted you called him, could surely get the deed done faster with the proper incentives.

You took off your gown, having been previously unlaced by your trusty maid. You put on the dreaded, lacy shift. The latest fashion in Dorne, you had been told. For how expensive it was, it certainly was made of little fabric. You glared at your reflection, watching how the long sleeves had a vertical cut that made them useless. Your skin broke out in goosebumps, as you wished you could add more wood to the fire.

Some rustling could be heard outside your room and you panicked. You were running out of time. The tint! Made of some berries, you hoped didn’t poison you. You quickly rubbed it on your lips and cheeks, trying to seem less like the terrified girl you were and more like an appealing sight. You sat down, primly, on the foot of the bed just in time for Daemon to enter the room.

You glared at him, trying to hide how much nerves pooled in your stomach, how you were cold from fear, skin clammy and pale.

“If I must…” You shifted to your hands and knees, and lifted your shift, exposing your naked folds and arse. It was quite the vulnerable position, and heat started to spread almost immediately to your cheeks and neck. You hated the humiliation it brought you.

“Go ahead. Do it.” You closed your eyes, keeping them tightly shut, and braced yourself for the pain. Daemon tsked, his warm palm caressing your bottom.

“Hells, you have been deprived.” He pulled your shift down, covering you.

“I do not understand.” You frowned, looking at him over your shoulder, still on your hands and knees. “This is right, I know. I have seen animals do it.” Your tone was of absolute confidence, petulant, even. To you, it was one of the facts of life. The sky was blue, the sun rose in the west, and fucking was done on one’s hands and knees, with the man behind you. It cracked Daemon out. He snorted, hands still busy fixing your shift. It soon turned into a full-blown belly laugh, at your icy glare.

“Poor little wife, your previous lovers have done you wrong.” He palmed at your ass. You hated how the warmth of his palms made you shiver. Good gods, how was he so warm, barefoot as he was and in only a linen shirt? You wanted to kick at him, at the offense of your virtue, perhaps make an icy comment, but you were frozen in shame. “Unless…” Daemon’s hands moved to your stomach, urging you to get up on your knees. He pressed a kiss to your exposed nape when you did, as if rewarding you. Stubbornly, you tried to escape his grip, but he only hugged you tighter. “Oh, what a treat you are… The gift that keeps on giving, zoklītsos.”

“Shut up and get it over with.”

Your breath hitched. A slip. The first of the night. You could feel Daemon’s smirk against your skin.

“Fire can melt ice.” He pressed an open-mouthed kiss on your throat. With the way he held you, curling and uncurling around you, Daemon reminded you more of a snake than a dragon. You felt as if you were in the grip of a boa, constricting around you, robbing you from your air, leaving you breathless. It was wrong, being so excited at being the sole focus of such a predator. But heat was pooling between your legs, you were getting embarrassingly slick.

“I think not, Lady Wife.” Then, very tenderly, he pressed kisses to the top of your breasts. You whined, low in your throat. It felt good, and he had no right, no right at all, to get your body to betray you like this. “You see… A tiny flame, if constant, can begin…” Daemon kissed lower, encircling your areola, purple eyes gleaming with mischief. “To melt your ice.” And with that, he took your nipple into his mouth, making you let out a little scream. You squirmed, feeling more wetness gather between your thighs. If you wanted to keep your dignity, you had to get away from him. But Daemon’s grip wouldn’t budge, no matter how hard you tried.

“No… I… Husband… Please. Please.” You begged, shame so deep you were nearly in tears. How it was that easy for him to take you apart, you didn’t know. Despite your pleas, his tongue circled your nipple, his lips making nearly a vacuum around it. His hand came up to pinch at your other nipple, warning. “I don’t want this, please. Just… Just…” But whatever you were saying got lost into your moans, until you were unable to know if you were asking him to stop the sweet torture or give you more of it.

When your tears started to fall in earnest, Daemon let go of your breast with a nearly obscene slurp.

“What is it, zoklītsos? You don’t want the attention of your Prince?” You nodded, and he gave you a mocking little coo. It almost made you think he would stop. Almost. If not for his hands, bunching up your shift until you were exposed once again. Under the candlelight, your cunt glistened with how much wetness you had produced. You tried to close your legs, but he kneeled, forcefully keeping them apart with his torso.

“No. I doubt that's the problem.” Daemon rubbed a finger against your entrance, not putting it in, but just pressing. “I think my little ice queen is melting. A big puddle, she is turning into.”

“You think…” You got cut off by a moan. Daemon had found your pearl, and it seemed he knew exactly what to do with it. “Yourself so smart. Smug…” He pushed a finger inside you, making you yelp, and effectively unable to finish your sentence.

“If you still have coherent thoughts…” He pulled away from you, taking his shirt off. Your eyes immediately were pulled, as if by magnet, to his chest. He had a warrior’s body, muscles all functional. Deliciously broad shoulders, toned stomach with the slightest hint of definition, yet still slender in the way most Targaryens were. Closer to gods, indeed. He bent down, pressing an open-mouthed kiss to your stomach, making you squirm.

“Lord Husband…” You warned, noticing how his kisses started to approach your privates.

“Lady Wife.” Daemon repeated, with a mocking tone. Then, he curiously pressed a finger against your button. This time, your hips bucked, and you were unable to quiet the moan that slipped from your parted lips. “Such a pretty cunt you have.”

“You don’t have to…”

“Oh, but where is the fun in that, zoklītsos?” He spread you apart, as if opening up the petals of a flower, gentle but so casual. “If I wanted a quick fuck, I would have taken one of your servants, or found myself a whore.” Daemon leaned down and licked a strip over your cunt. In your haste to muffle a scream, you brought one of your hands to your mouth and bit down on your palm until you tasted blood. It was the oddest feeling, a line of scorching hot electricity on your exposed sex. “I intend to enjoy you. As often as I can. That’s why I accepted marrying you.”

“I don’t… I….” You muttered, but you weren’t really opposing him anymore. It was impossible to think about anything apart from what he was doing, of how his heat and wanton ways were starting to warm your blood too. Daemon kept licking at you, making your hips twitch. He was entirely ignoring your pleas, apparently finding great pleasure in the way he took you apart.

Daemon would later say it had been the way he had groaned against your pearl, what had made your thighs quiver and tummy tense, an impossible amount of wetness dripping down your thighs. You would say, if asked, it had been the way his purple eyes met yours, mouth still busy at devouring your cunt and face twisted into the most smug and deviant expression you had ever seen. Whatever it was, it pleased him greatly.

“I knew you had it in you. You weren’t cold.” Daemon whispered against your skin, kissing a path towards your mouth. He was unhurried, dedicating lavish kisses to your hipbone, moving to mouth along your belly button, gnawing hungrily at your ribs. Under him, your body went lax and pliant, spent with the first climax you had experienced under his careful touches. “You just needed a dragon to warm you up.” He licked at the sweat collecting in the hollow of your throat, before finally pressing a kiss to your lips.

This time, you answered. You took his lower lip between yours, playfully. You could taste and smell yourself on him, and it was more alluring than what you had ever thought.

“Good.” He said, pulling back. He started to undo his breeches, and you felt panic grip at you some more. This was it. You had to fulfill your end of the deal with him, let him take you. As if he could feel your nerves, Daemon rubbed your thigh, affectionate. “Do not fret, zoklītsos. You will enjoy this, too.”

“It is meant to hurt.” You answered him, pouting. He tapped at your lower lip, gently.

“Put that away, before I have to bite it.” Daemon took out his cock and rubbed it up and down your folds, gathering the wetness. Despite your fears, a wave of desire overtook you. His fingers had felt good, so had his tongue. You wondered if this, too, could be pleasurable. Otherwise, there wouldn't be so many bastards being born in Westeros, right? But you were supposed to bleed. Bleeding was not pleasant, ever.

“I…” You grabbed at one of his hands, holding on for dear life. He may not have been your choice of husband, but he had vowed to protect you under his gods, standing in the sand and mixing your blood with him. Daemon took his valyrian vows seriously. You were desperate for any scraps of reassurance he was willing to give, even if in normal circumstances you would have rather died than be helped by him.

“Lady Manderly said it hurt her, the first time.” You pouted again, and this time, he did good on his promise. He leaned down and kissed you, biting at your lower lip playfully.

“She has a fool for a husband.” Daemon muttered, kissing your ear. You shivered, nearly mewling. You weren’t aware of how sensitive you were there. “Trust me on this. I know more about it.”

“Taken many maidenheads?” You remarked, with a hint of a teasing smile on your lips.

“Jealous, ice queen?” Daemon licked a strip down the base of your neck towards your jaw. “You will have to admit you know little of the topic.”

Daemon smirked. He stayed still, letting you time to adjust. You took a deep breath, and shifted to rest your weight on your elbows, to take a curious look at where you were joined. To your disappointment, you could only see a cloud of light hair, mixing with yours, hips impossibly close.

“Did it hurt?” Daemon flicked at your pearl, absent-mindedly. He groaned when that made your walls tighten around him.

You glared.

“No.”

“You silly girl.” He laughed, starting to thrust. The friction felt good immediately, and you moaned, grabbing at his shoulders. “And you thought fucking could only be done on your hands and knees.”

You didn’t answer, choosing instead to cling to him, mouth falling open in moans you were unable to keep quiet anymore.

Daemon thrust several more times, practically vibrating with smugness. He grabbed at your body, fingers digging in the flesh, surely bruising your hips. His mouth was slightly parted, and something stirred in you at seeing him so raw. Daemon had been right, you realized. Many moons before, he had said bodies spoke and were honest in ways their owners were not. And so, you let yours speak, tugging at his hair, sucking bruises in his pale neck. Perhaps there was something there, in the way he held you closer, shuddering and spilling himself with a muffled cry. Something that mere lust couldn't explain.

You both laid there, panting. Daemon looked down at you, and brushed your sweaty hair out of your face.

“I think, Lady Wife, that the coldness of the North might just be bearable.”

#daemon targaryen x reader #daemon targaryen smut

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houseoracastle · 2 years ago

Text

CHARACTER BASICS.

full name: izan castillo pronouns: he/they age & date of birth: 24, November 22, 1998 orientation: panromantic/demisexual time living in huntsville: 7 years occupation: cafeteria chef at huntsville high positive traits: imaginative, confident, optimistic negative traits: naive, absentminded, indecisive

BACKGROUND.

triggers: cult mentions

Izan was born on a commune in Oregon. He learned to speak Spanish with his mother, a language nobody else in their community was fluent in. Anna kept him close to her most of the time, though when their leader wasn’t around he was able to run around barefoot with the other children. His life was peaceful, because his mother shielded them from the not-so-peaceful parts of living in their radical community. When Izan was five, his father took an interest in him and in showing his child the true purpose of the commune they lived on. The dark, illegal parts.

Izan changed after that. He was quiet, withdrawn, and with nightly bad dreams that had him sweating and crying and clinging to Anna, who didn’t know what to do to help him. Izan witnessed people being hurt, and was even occasionally forced to take part in the hurting. It seemed to get even worse as the child got older. Izan became more of an heir than ever, important to the group in ways he had no way of understanding.

When it became too much, he confided in his mother that he wanted to leave. He wanted to take her with him, too. Anna supported the decision, but didn’t think they would make it very far together. If she stayed behind she might be punished, but at least she could distract long enough for Izan to get far away. Izan was only 15 when he hit the road, thumbs out on the interstate with only a backpack containing the few belongings he had.

He spent two years hitchhiking across the country. Most of the time he traveled between larger cities, though occasionally he found himself stopping for a week or two in a small farming town, or working in kitchens that needed extra hands. That was work that he knew and understood from his childhood. When he was on his own in other places, he did whatever he had to do to find food and shelter.

Izan believes that ending up in Huntsville was fate. He'd already gone back home, hoping to find Anna and get her out of danger if he still could. But the commune was abandoned, the people in it had moved the group somewhere else, and Izan wasn’t sure he would ever be able to find everyone again. Considering himself ‘officially’ homeless, he got into a truck with a stranger, the strange truck driver got a little turned around, and they were both somehow stuck in Huntsville. Izan quickly found sanctuary at the commune; it reminded him of the cult he'd been raised in, and Sunflower gave him the heebie jeebies, but it was also familiar to him and so he stayed.

It was easy for Izan to see Huntsville as an opportunity to do something different. Being cut off from the rest of the world meant all the things that had held him back previously didn't really matter. School records nonexistent? Huntsville has now way of knowing that. At seventeen years old, he registered himself as a junior in high school. It was complicated, having never had a formal education before, but everything he struggled with was also so fun and exciting for him. He was bad at school, but he loved having the opportunity to be bad at school.

Outside of school, he found an opportunity to show off one of the few skills he had; cooking with limited ingredients. He cooked for people at the commune, and when he graduated from the high school they offered to let him come back as their cafeteria chef. He jumped on this new opportunity, and has worked there happily ever since.

Izan is very much a product of the environment they were raised in. They believe in cooperation with their colleagues and loving everyone around you. They’re very open about their feelings and they encourage others to be open as well. It’s all positive vibes and happiness. It takes quite a bit to bring Izan down because they take pretty much everything in stride and they can find the good in most situations. They also believe that everything happens for a reason and there isn’t much to be down about because of that. The universe has a plan!

Their way of dressing and presenting themself is similar to their happy-go-lucky attitude. All bright colors and sparkles and standing out in a crowd. They are loud in appearance even if they can stay softspoken in a crowd. Izan will make friends with anyone and will consider anyone a friend. If they have so much as smiled at someone (and they smile at everyone), then that person is now invited on Izan's next outing. They value loyalty and honesty above all else. Izan learned to understand sarcasm, but they don’t understand lying. What’s the point?

#huntsvilleintro #by izan

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titlemewickedwonderland · 2 years ago

Text

Mr. Sandman (Chapter 2)

Summary: Felicity Burgess, the adopted daughter of Alex Burgess and Paul McGuire lived a sheltered life from the dark secret that lay beneath her feet. But what happens when that secret is now her's to keep? Will her love for her family keep her from doing the right thing or will Mr. Sandman bring her a dream worth sacrificing everything?

Chapter Triggers: slight cursing, slight angst

"A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world." -Oscar Wilde

Click here for chapter 1

Wonderland's Workshop

She would like to think she had gotten some sleep that night. But the ever-growing thumping inside of her skull reminded her that she did not. Her head hurt and now to think of it so did her eyes. She could only imagine the red puffy skin framing her green orbs that would need tending to before she dared even think to leave her bedroom. Her gaze stared blankly up at her ceiling trying in vain to remember the night before. She did not have dreams. But more of finding herself in a void. She could remember flashes of lights as if someone kept flashing a camera light in her eyes making stars appear in front of her vision. Inside those brief glimpses of white were images that she could not quite make out. She thought she saw a man; a very naked man in one before the light disappeared seconds later only to be replaced by another bright flash in her eyes reflecting a moving image of the very same black and white raven she had seen the night before; the same one that had led her to the forbidden cellar door. There were foggy images of what she thought were her parents, another of someone she did not recognize, and still more that her mind could not comprehend all in a matter of seconds from each other. She hated that she could not remember more but she could remember something oddly clear in the fuzzy memories of her dreamless sleep that night.

Eyes. A pair of bottomless blue eyes that sparkled with hidden secrets; the longer she stared at them the more she could see the universe spinning in the blackness of his pupils like a cosmo in space. She did not know the man; she did not know what he looked like apart from those beautiful eyes. But she knew those eyes did not belong to one of this plain of existence. It was those eyes that drove her to find answers in her fathers' library. But first, a shower was in order. Her tired and aching body felt soothed beneath the hot spray of the showerhead and she almost did not want to leave the privacy of the cubical. But she did. Dried herself off and dressed in a comfortable flowing summer dress in the color of the purest snow while a golden band wrapped around her torso and dangled its tassels off one hip. She went barefoot through the mansion; a hesitant glance down the cellar hallway made the space seem less threatening in the daylight especially as the morning guards slipped through the door just in time for their replacements to come in. She greeted them warmly and pretended not to notice as the keycode was punched in before the new guards slipped through and she herself left for the kitchens where Nessie the Burgess cook was busy making breakfast while the two guards previously swapped from the night shift sat nursing a cup of coffee each at the table. Upon her entrance, the two men looked up.

"Good morning to ya missus!" one raised his mug to her in polite greetings and Felicity smiled back in return before walking over to Nessie to give the motherly woman a peck on the cheek

"Good morning you lot!" she chirped with the energy she wasn't feeling inside as she opened the fridge to grab herself some juice. "How'd you all sleep?" the question came without thought and she winced when she glanced over at them to see the slight humor in the eyes of the guards.

"Didn't get none missus. Boss would fire us on the spot if he knew we took a snooze in the presence of that thing." that piqued her interest and she tried not to seem too eager for information

"Well why not?" she laughed settling her lithe frame in a chair across from the guards. "Can't one of you sleep while the other stays guard and swaps whenever rest is needed?" she questioned with a squint

"Nah missus, we can't sleep in his presence at all. That's how he works." the other one muttered glaring down at the tablecloth with tired grumpy eyes.

"He?" Felicity's eyebrows raised picking up that word. They were hiding a man in the basement? Or at least, a man-like creature since they called him a thing, to begin with.

"Are the rumors true then?" she asked leaning closer. "Does my father keep a demon in the basement then?" her green eyes shone with interest but she'd get no answers from them as they abruptly stood up and cleared their throats making her cringe as she looked over her shoulder.

Alex and Paul stood there in the doorway watching. A nervous smile tugged at Paul's face but Alex's was stone and looked damn near to blowing up like a volcano. "You are dismissed, men." Alex barked making the men jump slightly and nod their heads before they were skirting around the pair and out the front door.

"Felicity." there was a warning in Alex's voice as he was pushed towards the table. "What have we talked about?"

The redhead's eyes lowered demurely as she settled back down in her chair. "Not to ask questions about the basement," she muttered. "That's a stupid rule now though isn't it?" she added under her breath. How was she supposed to know what was down there if they won't let her get answers? Didn't Alex say he wanted her to know but stay protected?

"Then why were you asking questions?"

"Why won't you answer those questions?" she quipped back raising her eyes to him and shrugging. "You claim it's time I know but you can't possibly expect me not to be curious after all these years," she stated with a look at them

"She's right darling. We can't protect her in the future after we are gone if we don't tell her what's going on." Paul reached over to grab Alex's hand and gave it a squeeze in reassurance.

Alex sighed rubbing at his eyes tiredly. "Alright! After breakfast we can…we will go down there and you will see what we have been keeping all these years." Alex's old eyes met Felicity's across the table and his stomach sank as he saw the look of excitement shining in those emerald pools.

She was silent as she stood behind the pair of men. Her eyes keenly watched as Alex typed in the code; memorizing the numbers to heart. A gentle touch to her arm made the girl look over at Paul seeing the reluctant look on his face as the sound of heavy locks began to click open.

"It can be a bit shocking at first look." Paul warned in a whisper before he began pushing Alex down the ramp through the door.

The redhead looked at the open door a moment before she swallowed the heaviness in her throat and took the first step into darkness that lay beyond. A hand trailed the stone walls as she began descending down the ramp and the lower she got the harder it was the breath; not because it was musty or anything but the power that was emitting from somewhere below was catching the breath right from her lungs. A pair of guards unlocked and opened a metal gate for them as they landed at the bottom and Felicity took a moment to allow her eyes to adjust. Just as Paul and Alex pushed forward the girl caught sight of something glowing in the center of the room. It was bright in comparison to the darkness surrounding the structure as if the very moon was gracing it's light down on the object. The guard was patient as he waited for her to finally step past him before closing the gate with a loudness that made her jump. It was cold down here and damp; but it was no wine cellar. It looked like a huge dungeon made full of heavy stone like in the medieval ages of those fantasy books the girl liked to read about.

"Come here child." Alex's voice broke the silence with a voice that echoed in the dampness of the space making her quicken her step towards him.

It was then that she spotted it. Him. The structure that she'd caught a glimpse on upon entry was actually a large glass and metal ball; like a Christmas ornament. It was transparent asides from the framing and inside bathed in the bright white light above lay a man. A very very naked man. She could make out the sinew of lithe muscles beneath skin that glowed like the moon itself. He was lanky from what she could tell, positioned as comfortable as he could with his body curled in on itself as if he was trying to protect whatever shred of modesty from his nudity he could. Her green gaze traveled from his pale lithe form upwards next. She could not see his face as it was half covered by an arm and turned away from them but his hair was as black as a raven's feather sticking up in every way as if he did not brush it. The very sight of his hair made her fingertips ache to brush through them she wondered if those inky strands were as silky as they looked.

"He does not speak." Alex's voice spoke up from beside her as his old gaze fixated on the man inside the glass orb. "Not once since his imprisonment. My father has tried everything he could to get him to say something; bargain with him and make deals but he simply will not talk. Not to him nor I." there was a heavy tone in her father's voice as he finally turned his gaze that held slight anger in them on her even if that anger was not directed at her.

Felicity's hand trembled as she reached out slowly as if to touch the glass; one foot slipping forward as if to draw closer to this powerful being whose energy she could feel even behind the barrier. Her heart ached at the sight of him and he had yet to even lift his head to look at them. Was he alive in there? Yes, yes he was. The methodical rise and fall of his chest told her he was indeed breathing. An arm gripped her bicep a little too harshly eliciting a gasp of shock and pain from her lips as she was jerked backward away from the barrier.

"You mustn't step over the sigils on the floor, girl!" Alex's voice boomed and her head fell to the cobblestone beneath her feet to see a golden glowing circle of sigils that encased the space of flooring between the orb and where they stood. A protection circle. She had not seen anything like it before. So the rumors were definitely true about her grandfathr's abilities to do magic as the proof stared her straight in the face.

Her gaze wavered as they slowly rose to look at the man again only to find herself frozen in place as if time itself stopped. Her green orbs met those of the brightest blue; shadowed in darkness. Those same hauntingly beautiful eyes she had been plagued with the night before. The feminine sound had made the man inside the glass prison raise his eyes and although they did not hold any sort of emotion in them Felicity had a feeling in her gut that he was surprised to see her. Her skin burned under his gaze and her fingers itched to reach out and touch him. His head which had slowly lifted from his arm revealed angelic beauty in the form of full pink lips, a sharp square jaw, a long straight nose, and a pair of haunting eyes that held secrets of the universe in their depths. He was gorgeous; almost frighteningly so. He was most definitely not part of this world.

Her hands clasped in front of her to stop them from visibly shaking as she tore her eyes away from the man; still feeling them boring into her even when her attention was no longer on him. "H-How long has he been in there father?" she asked softly. "What…what in god's name were you thinking keeping that man prisoner down here in this state?" her voice was soft but demanding as she stared down at the man in the wheelchair.

"Lissy, pumpkin you must understand-" Paul rested a hand on her shoulder but she merely shot the man an incredulous glare.

"Understand what?! That you have kept this…being beneath your very feet for decades? For what purpose?!" she demanded turning to her fathers now, her back to the entity as she tried to plea a case.

"You speak of things you don't understand and I will not be made out as a fool!" Alex's voice boomed in the cavernous space as his closed fist hit the armrest beneath him.

"Made a fool? You mean you don't want to be made a fool in front of him right? Tell me father, what have you done…what has Grandfather done that caused you to think it's okay to imprison anyone like this! Human or not!" Felicity demanded pointing to the glass orb as her own voice raised.

"Do you not see how inhumane all of this is! I may not know what he is but I do understand he does not belong in our world; why cannot you just free him and be done with this burden your father forced on you? Why do you insist on this foolishness?!"

Alex's face turned red as he began to rise from his wheelchair "That thing will kill us all if he is released! Do you want that?! Do you want to doom your own fathers to death?!"

Felicity's posture stiffened and she looked at the older men in front of her. Her emotions waged war inside of her. Her soul yearned to set this man free from his imprisonment but her heart couldn't bear the loss of her family that had given her everything she ever needed or ever wanted. But this was just so…morbid, so cruel on its basic level. The pale entity that bore a hole into the back of her head was ever present; the thrum of that now familiar energy caressing her body like an old lover, drawing her to turn her head slightly to meet those fathomless blue eyes with her own that glistened with tears in the light.

"You promised me you would tell me what happened long ago. You promised to tell me why you decided to keep this being in our basement for years…" she swallowed as she stared at the man who's body began to unfold from itself to sit up; leaning towards her as if pulled by her energy.

Despite the eye contact her words were not meant for the being in the cage but Felicity could not tear her gaze away from him. A stray tear glittered as it slowly escaped one emerald eye. "You never promised me the darkness that you are so keen to protect me from." she turned her head away to look at her parents. Her lips quivering a bit as she reached out a hand without even looking.

The men followed her pale hand as it reached out and placed itself on the cold glass beside her. She did not have to look to feel the surge of power as a moonlit palm graced with slender fingers rested on the other side of the glass over her own. Alex and Paul's expression was enough of a confirmation. This being on the other side of that glass did not show emotion; not in the presence of the men who watched him in horror yet the naked man's actions were out of character for him as far as they knew.

"You tell me the truth right now or so help me father your secret will be lost to the grave with you." her voice was hard but spoken in a low voice as she stared at the wheelchair-bound man. "He does not belong in our world….and if he is truly the cause of the Sleepiness then you must abandon your fears and set him free!"

"H-How do you know of the Sleepiness curse?" Alex breathed falling defeated back into his chair.

She blinked and her hand fell back down to her side. Her head slightly shaking. "It makes sense though doesn't it? Whatever is going on out there with those poor innocent people falling asleep only never to wake up again…it had something to do with this being does it not? Has he cursed us because you have imprisoned him?" she asked looking between her parents.

Alex was silent a moment before looking up at Paul. "Take me back upstairs Paul. I grow weary and won't be coming down here again." he stated; ignoring the girl's question.

Paul gave an apologetic look to their daughter as he began to roll his husband away. Only pausing to look down at the ground inconscipiously where the tires of the wheelchair had smudged free the sigils before giving a small nod to the pale man inside the orb. Felicity watched as they left and let out a frustrated breath trying to fight back to urge to throw something or to yell profanities into the echoing chambers. Instead, she rested her clenched hands against her lips to steady herself. Once she felt as if she no longer wanted to scream she turned to the glass and a shuddering breath left her as she met the man's gaze. He had shifted; following the exit of the to men and now sat facing her with legs tactfully crossed in front of him to cover his modesty. Pale arms with rippling lean muscle flexed as his arms rested on his knees and his head ducked slightly; his eyes shadowing by his hair and angle of the light above casting shadows on his face. She swore his eyes turned black with only the glitter of stars within them at that angle.

"I'm so sorry." she broke the silence wrapping her arms around herself just now realizing that she was shivering with cold thanks to her summer dress that was not meant for the chilliness of the basement. "I didn't know that you were down here I swear…I heard rumors as a child but I never believed it…" she shook her head; her long stresses of auburn locks slid along her bare shoulders like the kiss of fire.

"If I had known….God if I had just known sooner!" she felt emotion clogging up her throat as her nails dug into her biceps from sheer frustration leaving crescent shape grooves in her skin.

The man leaned his cheek against one bicep as his dark eyes studied her unblinkingly. He had yet to say a word, not that she expected him to. He didn't owe any of them answers but she wondered what had happened to have him imprisoned. Only way she could get answers was to talk to her fathers but they did not seem too keen on answering them. Licking her lips she lifted her gaze to scan the borders of the glass. One hand reaching out to press against the cold metal framing.

"I cannot promise you that I can fix their mistakes." her voice was soft as her green eyes closed and she leaned closer to rest her forehead against the glass. "I cannot undue the damage they have caused and I'm so sorry. I don't know your story and you have no reason to trust me…all I ask…if by any chance you can escape…o-or are let out…Please do not kill them. They are all I have." she wiped at a tear and opened her eyes.

A startled breath left her when she saw the man had silently moved again and his own forehead was pressed against the glass on the other side right in front of her. Only separation of the orb between them. But his eyes, his face, his lips…he was so close and so beautiful that it took her breath away. But there was something else…something she hadn't noticed before. His blue eyes were wet with unshed tears. And hope.

Felicity placed a trembling palm against the glass between them and wept.

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