#i just want to have enough energy to complete ONE piece without getting tired and bored

[silvershadow1711]

Dear Art!God,

Please make art less hard to complete.

Spitefully yours,

Silbur

[beenbaanbuun]

seventeen maknae line’s reaction to their youngest member not taking care of themselves

genre - fluff

warnings - talk about unhealthy eating habits, diet culture, sleep problems

lee seokmin

would anyone be surprised if i say that dk would be on you like a fucking rash if he notices a single thing out of the ordinary with you

like even if it’s just you being forgetful, this absolute angel of a man will 100% take the time and effort to seek you and and check on you

so when you sleep through your alarm and forget breakfast one morning, it’s no surprise when you wake up to seokmin’s face

“are you feeling alright?” he asks, voice gentle as he studies your sleepy face, “you missed breakfast…”

and of course you nod, because you’re feeling fine, but it doesn’t stop him from being concerned

“late night,” you reply as you sit up on your bed and rub your face, “must’ve just slept through my alarm, minnie.”

you say it to calm him down and stop him from worrying, but you only make it worse

“late night?” he sits down on your bed and grabs your hand, “couldn’t you sleep? is something on your mind? do i need to talk to someone for you?”

and you can’t help but laugh because trust seokmin to blow it out of proportion

you just lean into him and hug him as you tell him how grateful you are to have someone who cares so much

“i’m fine though, minnie,” you squeeze him, “i just needed to beat wonwoo’s high score in mario kart…”

kim mingyu

he’s someone i can see accidentally taking care of you

like he hasn’t even noticed the fact that you’ve started to be a little too strict with your diet and yet somehow he’s managing to make sure you’re eating enough

like i can see him cooking a meal and without even realising you haven’t eaten yet, he calls you over to try it

and the big baby blows on it and feeds it to you like to overly attentive friend/self-claimed big brother that he is

“open wide, kiddo,” he grins as you follow his instructions, “here comes the aeroplane!”

he only narrowly dodges the kick you aim at his shins…

and you have to admit that the food is good, and even if you don’t necessarily want to eat, you’re in a difficult situation

you can’t say it’s bad and deny it because then you’ll upset him, but you also can’t say it’s good and deny it because then he’ll make you take it anyway

best thing for you to do is just accept the food and move on

you promise you’ll try harder with your diet tomorrow

but as you walk away with the bowl of food, you know you won’t be able to - not with mingyu around

xu minghao

i mentioned minghao briefly in the hyung line one and i stand by what i said

this man monitors your diet like a hawk!!

not in a weird ‘you shouldn’t eat too much’ sort of way, but he likes to make sure you’re treating your body kindly

like he watches that you’re not eating too much of a bad thing, but he also likes to check that you’re not eating too little

literally follows you around with a piece of fruit in his bag for when you inevitably complain about being hungry

“oranges are a great source of vitamin c,” he says when he sees you pout at the fruit, “and i know you don’t get enough of that. now eat up!”

and if he sees you even eyeing up an energy drink, you best prepare yourself for the lecture of your life

“do you know how much caffeine is in one of these?” he hold the half drunk can in your face, “too much! if you’re tired, sleep more. god knows you need it…”

little do you know, he monitors your sleep too…

drags you out to do meditation with him if he sees that you’re up too late, knowing that by the time he’s finished you’ll be completely knocked out

he’ll complain about having to drag your tired body to bed yet again, but you can’t see the smile he wears as he tucks you in and wishes you a good night

boo seungkwan

i can see seungkwan as being very overly-attentive to your mental health more than anything else

like sure, he wants to make sure you’re taking care of your physical health too, but he knows that if you’re not there’s probably a deeper reason

so when he sees you arrive at practice one morning with deep eye bags and a frown, he is all over you in minutes

“bad sleep?” he asks as he ruffles your hair. you shrug, but he doesn’t mind. you don’t have to agree for him to know that he’s right, “want to talk about it?”

you sigh, knowing there’s no way of escaping his line of questioning

“i thought it was about time i went on a diet,” you say simply as you drop your bag in the corner, “i was up late researching what diet would be best.”

he scoffs and rolls his eyes, clearly dismayed with your words

“and why do you think you need to diet?” he says with a stern look on his face and you realise you’re not going to get out of this easily

all you can do is explain your thought process, and while he listens to every word you say, it’s obvious he’s more than upset

“if you want to do this, i cant stop you,” he says when you’re finished, “but i want you to do it for the right reasons, and i want you to do it healthily.”

chwe hansol

i think vernon would take care of you a lot, but you might not always notice since he does it silently

like this man will not express his worries about you not looking after yourself, he’ll just try his hardest to solve it

you’re not eating enough? he makes sure to put more meat on your plate during meal times

you’re not sleeping enough? he puts some melatonin gummies on your nightstand

you’re not drinking enough? you’re the first person he seeks out during breaks to offer a bottle of water to

it might take you a while to notice just how much he’s taking care of you at first, but when you do you always go out of your way to thank him

but you take a leaf out of his own book, and do it a little differently

“someone gave me some melatonin,” you say to seungcheol, but just loud enough that vernon can hear, “it helped so much! like, whoever it was is a hero.”

your eyes keep flickering over to vernon the whole time you’re talking, just so he knows that you know it’s him

and sure, he doesn’t do it for the praise, but he can’t deny it’s nice when you’re hyping him up anonymously to the other members

lee chan

this man will be your partner in crime and i guarantee he can and will absolutely use that against you if he needs to

like he insists on you two doing everything together and if you say you’re not doing anything? well neither is he!

and of course, when chan says he’s not going to eat dinner because you’re not, you feel so incredibly guilty that you decide that you decide maybe you shouldn’t skip the meal

“if you’re not hungry, then i’m not hungry!” he folds his arms and stares you down

“chan, that’s not how it works,” you scoff as you scan over some lyric sheets you’d been tasked to memorise, “if you’re hungry, go eat.”

he shakes his head and stays glued to his chair with a smirk

“we do everything together,” he says, “and if you’re being irresponsible and skipping meals, then we’ll do that together too!”

and whilst his logic makes no sense, you know he means it

so of course you push your work to the side and follow him out of the room to get dinner together

and when you’re up too late working too hard, chan is right by your side throughout the whole thing, refusing to sleep until you do

and it’s frustrating because you want to take care of chan just as much as he wants to take care of you

so you eat all your meals, and sleep a healthy amount, and drink as much water as you can and it’s annoying, but if it’s keeping chan healthy then you’re happy

[definitelynotafurinasimp]

Partner

How she falls in love with you & how you ask her out

characters: Navia x gn!reader

warnings: none, just fluff

a/n: I may or may not be down bad tremendously for Navia...

Anyway, hope you enjoy!

Navia

Falling in love with you was spectacularly unspectacular. In retrospect, there wasn’t a single moment Navia could point to while confidently stating it was the one she realized she was in love, no heroic deed or grand speech that suddenly made her look at you in a completely different light. Instead, her feelings for you were more akin to a collection of small pieces that slowly but surely piling up until they had become too obvious for her to overlook. 

Like how Navia could catch you silently doing tasks she despised without her having to mention it or how you instinctively moved your hand into a position from where you could easily catch her hat whenever a gust of wind caught both of you off-guard. All of which you did without ever mentioning it or expecting any kind of thanks, simply chalking it up to coincidence or downplaying it whenever she spoke up about it.

Looking back on the past week, it was difficult for Navia to describe it in any nicer way than “taxing”. Sure, it had neither catastrophe nor tragedy, and yet the constant gray skies, coupled with a sudden increase in the Spina’s workload took a toll on everyone in Poisson. As the week went on, it became more and more difficult to put on a smile, even for someone like Navia, so much so that the only thing she had to offer upon finally finishing her work was a deep sigh.

So she sat there, in her office, leaning back in her chair as much as she possibly could. Eyes closed as she hoped to maybe get the chance to dream a bit. And yet, as it finally seemed like she was about to nod off, a knock on her door startled her awake. Within a blink of an eye, her tired posture had given way as she sat down properly before calling whoever found themselves on the other side of the door inside her office. 

“I’m sorry for butting in, I hope I’m not being a nuisance”, you apologized politely before offering Navia a small smile. “The past week has been rough, so if you want to be alone right now I can leave.”

“Please, there’s no reason to think that. I was hoping you’d show up, partner. So come, take a seat”, her words instantly began flying out of her mouth as the corner of her lips shifted upwards, only for her to freeze a bit once she went over what she had said, eyes slightly widening as her gaze fixated on your face, trying to make out your reaction, no matter how small it was.

“I’m sorry, I won’t be able to do that. I still have a bit of work to do. I was just passing by and thought I might as well ask you something real quick”, you hastily explained, wearing an apologetic smile, only for it to vanish in the very next moment as you grew increasingly more nervous. “Are you on sunday? A friend of mine is going to perform in the Opera Epiclese and I wanted to go, so…”, your voice died down as your cheeks turned just red enough for Navia to notice. “Do you want to go together?”

As a tense silence settled into the room, you found it increasingly more difficult to keep a somewhat composed face, a part of your brain urging you to simply vanish as another screamed at you, and yet, when you finally found the courage to glance at Navia’s face only to see her stare at you with a wide smile, her mouth slightly open as if she was trying to say something yet couldn’t find the right words, you suddenly relaxed.

“Sure, it’s a date! I look forward to it.”

Within a moment you found yourself smiling at her in return, nodding your head before readying to leave the room and finish your work so you could start preparing as soon as possible. “Until Sunday then, partner”, you said your goodbye before closing the door behind you, leaving behind a Navia that suddenly felt full with energy again, all the exhaustion that had built up over the week gone to the wind as she instantly sprang into action.

“Until Sunday, partner…”

[mika-no-sekai-blog]

Hold me tight

Eris x OC

Word count: 2100+

Warnings: smut, 18+MDNI

For @erisweekofficial, Day 3: Healing/Betrayal

Dividers by @tsunami-of-tears

It was only the morning, the beginning of the day, the very first meeting of many and Eris was already tired and had enough. Correcting mistakes of his father and revising all miserable decisions that old man ever did, was so time consuming. It was two months since Eris became the High Lord, yet he didn't get a single moment to stop and just breathe. And the amount of work was increasing with each passing day. It was crazy.

The only reason why he worked so hard, why he could bear with this, was the vision of returning to his chambers to her. His mate. She was the fuel for his fire, the hearth where he could safely crack. He was doing it all for her. To ensure she would be safe and sound in his Court for the rest of her life.

When evening came, he was so ready to go to the bed. He wanted nothing more just the silence and peace, to stop the buzzing, to kick out all the bothersome assholes who still asked something from him.

Just a little more and I'm done, he was forcing himself to finish the stack of documents on his desk that somehow appeared during the day. It was almost midnight when he finally put down the pen and the last piece of paper.

Completely exhausted he dragged himself through the hallways of silent Forest House, everyone already in their beds, peacefully sleeping. As the doors of his room came into view, he sighed heavily. It was too late. His dear mate was certainly asleep at this time. Yet another day without talking with her properly and enjoying her company. Not that he wouldn't like the moment he slipped to the bed next to her, caressed her beautiful face with feather-light touch that always brought smile to her lips as she snuggled to him. It was actually one of his favourite moments.

Eris quietly opened the doors and halted in surprise. All her candles that she placed all around the bedroom, were lit up, the air smelled after apples, cinnamon and white musk. She loved that smell saying it reminded her of him.

Helen was seated on the bed, leaning against the pillow, long auburn hair like veil around her small shoulders, book on her lap. As soon as she heard him, she looked up and smiled. That was all he needed to instantly feel better. He missed that sweet, gentle smile whole damn day. His lips twisted into hardly there smirk.

"Love," he breathed out hoarsely and closed the doors.

Her smile only widened. "I was waiting for you." She closed the book and put it aside.

"You don't have to do that. You know that, don't you? It's pretty late," he seemingly scolded her, but he was happy.

"I wanted to," she shrugged and stood up. "I've prepared something for my hard working High Lord."

Eris had no idea what it could be, but he already loved it. He had her by his side only for last two months yet he trusted her more than anyone else, even more than to himself. She walked up to him on light steps, her arms immediately found their place on his waist. He squeezed her round hips, the thin silk nightgown under his fingers felt like another layer of her soft skin.

"I missed you," she whispered as she balanced on her tiptoes to reach to his lips.

"I missed you, too," he groaned into her mouth. His fingers traveled up her body and entwined with those soft strands of hair. He gently pulled on them, tilting her head back for easier access. She submitted and let him to kiss her like he had been dreaming about all day. His tongue found its way into her mouth, stroking and exploring until she moaned. That small, sweet noise was like a wave of new energy that hit him and Eris started to push her back to the bed. His hands roamed all over her hot body, slowly pulling up the long nightgown. They were almost there when she pulled away, running hand along his spine.

"Not yet," she whispered out of breath, eyes still closed. "First, let me take care of you, please. You are working too hard. You deserve it." He nodded. There was nothing he would deny her, not after all the suffering.

Helen took his hand and led him to the bathroom where dozens of candles flickered around a bathtub full of milky coloured water, petals of red roses floating on its surface. Eris smiled, really smiled for the first time that day.

"Baby, you spoil me," he purred.

"I haven't even started yet," she spoke from behind him with affection. When did she get there?

Eris swirled to face her and stiffened. She was gloriously naked, the light of the flames dancing on her perfect porcelain skin. He forgot even how to breathe at that sight worthy of the gods. His entire body buzzed with need and excitement. After the days of only seeing her sleeping face he finally felt alive, even the bond in his chest lit up and vibrated with the intensity of his feelings. She had to feel it too, because she looked baffled for a second, the expression immediately replaced with relief and soft smile he loved so much.

"How I come to deserve you?" he breathed out, breeches suddenly too tight and uncomfortable.

She only shrugged and danced to him on the light steps of forest faerie, her hands soothingly ran over his arms and chest to the buttons of the shirt. She undone them one after another, taking her time, her gaze grazing over the newly revealed inches of his pale skin. At last she took the shirt off of his shoulders while touching him as much as possible. She knew how to handle him the way he liked the most. They didn't have enough time to really get to know each other, yet she already knew him as if they were together for centuries.

Eris closed his eyes, letting her do whatever she wanted, simply enjoying her touch. Three months ago he didn't dare even to dream about moments like this. He thought he would never be allowed to love her fully and publicly, that he would never find peace in her arms.

The bond snapped for him exactly eighty-eight years ago and he had to hide it whole the time, dreading what his father would do to her, if he found out that his son was mated with a humble fae, a peasant as Beron called them. He learnt only her name before he winnowed her to the Spring Court and asked his brother Lucien to hide her somewhere and take good care of her. He hadn't seen her ever since then, not until he finally became the High Lord.

Meantime, Lucien moved her to the Day Court, to his real father's court and hid her in his palace. All the pain and suffering was worth it though. The very same night as Eris claimed his legacy, he broke through the wards of Helion's palace and literally kidnapped his own mate from the bed. And ever since then, he thanked the Mother for this gift every second of every day.

His breeches landed on the floor, his cock proudly standing at attention. Helen chuckled at the sight. "So eager already."

"For my beautiful mate? Always," he hummed with cocky grin.

"Come," she pulled him to the bathtub, urging him in and he gladly yielded.

As soon as the warm water embraced his tired body, he relaxed and in a single go he breathed out all the stress that had accumulated in him. His head fell back on her soft chest. Helen started to massage his shoulders and back as she washed him and he turned under her nimble fingers into a moaning mess. His amber eyes met her kind, warm brown ones.

"Come to the water, love," he pleaded.

Smirk appeared on her face as she gracefully slid in, straddling him. His tip brushed against her centre and Eris groaned, his hips thrusting up on their own. His fingers dug into her rear as he tried to get her where he wanted her.

"Tsk, tsk. My bad boy," she pushed him back down and sat on his thighs. He growled disapprovingly.

She kept massaging him, teasing him until he couldn't take it anymore and tugged her to his heaving chest. All the candles around them burned brighter as on command.

"Careful, Eris," she moaned into his ear, "otherwise you'll set the room on fire."

"I don't care. This damn place can all but burn down. All I need I have in my arms now."

His lips landed on hers heavily, hot like the flame itself, all consuming. He kissed her like man starved, gently navigating her hips where he needed her the most and this time she didn't stop him.

Helen slowly sank down and they both moaned in unison when their bodies came together.

"Fuck," Eris whined hoarsely, drinking in her heavenly expression as he filled her. He launched at her throat with intent to leave there his mark. She moaned loudly and her back arched while her fingers entwined with his long red strands, tugging him closer. She started riding him, small whimpers escaping her.

"Good girl," Eris rasped into her skin. He squeezed her ass firmly while his other hand traveled from her waist up, cupping her breast. Satisfied with damage he caused on her throat, he leaned down and took the other nipple into his mouth, sucking, squeezing and nipping. Helen even more arched back, her eyes closed, loud whimpers mixing with moans.

"Eris," she panted and he immediately knew what she needed. He felt it on his length, the way she tightened around him. His lips wandered all the way up her throat to the sensitive spot under her ear that made her see stars.

One of his hands still worked on her nipple, kneading the now sensitive breast. Meanwhile, the other one slid from her butt to the place where they were connected, drawing circles and teasing until Helen's breath became labored. She came on his cock, screaming his name again and again.

However, Eris wasn't done yet.

"Hands on the edge of the tub and hold on tight," he ordered sharply, his voice hoarse, the desire burning him in the most pleasant way. She did as he asked, climbing down from him, sticking out her bum. He growled, kneeling behind her as he pushed in in one smooth move.

Helen gasped loudly at the perfect way he filled her, arching her back she tried to reach for him, but he pushed her back down.

"Stay like this," he snarled. He thrusted into her, his pace growing faster. He needed the release and there was nothing gentle about the way he sought for it. They both turned into moaning, panting mess in no time. Water was splashing all around them even on the floor, putting out few candles.

"Eris," Helen cried out, the knot in her belly tightening again. "Faster.."

"I'm close, too. Together, okay?"

She couldn't speak, only nodded. Eris's hand moved from her hips down, reaching between her legs, his long fingers found her clitoris. His already so fast thrusts became even more deeper and stronger as wet skin was slapping against skin. The knot in her tummy finally snapped and she came with his name on lips. Eris came in the same moment as Helen, his roar bouncing from the walls.

Eris collapsed on her back, breathing in her sweet smell of forest berries. His hands roamed all around her body, caressing her, thanking her for this happiness.

"I love you so much," he said lowly into the skin of her back, leaving a trail of kisses there.

They both were so tired, they couldn't move for a while, just resting in the still warm water in each other's arms. When water cooled down, they moved to the bed. Eris stretched out on soft sheets and reached hand out for his mate.

"Come." He was so drowsy he hardly kept his eyes open, but he wouldn't sleep without her.

She just shook her head, mischief tugging her lips. "Roll onto your tummy for me, would you?"

Eris smiled tiredly. "Won't you go to the bed already?"

"In a moment. I'm not done with pampering my lord yet." She took out massage oil from bedside table. Eris hummed and rolled face down. Helen gently massaged oil into his scarred skin until his breath calmed down and he seemingly fell asleep.

"Good night, love," she kissed his forehead, wrapped him in the covers and snuggled to his side.

"Finally," Eris smiled sleepily with closed eyes. He rolled to his side and hugged her. His skin warmed up and they both fell asleep holding each other.

[actuallysaiyan]

I Think You're Holding The Heart Of Mine(Part Eight)

warnings: mentions of death, graveyard, crying, some swearing, kissing word count: 1.4k pairings: Nanami Kento x Fem!Reader summary: you and Gojo get to talk while on your mission, and you soon realize you've just run from your problems. a quick trip to Haibara's grave soon gives you the insight you need. taglist: @beneathstarryskies

Masterlist

“You’re fighting like you want to kill someone!” Gojo comments, watching you use Aries the ram’s power over and over again.

“We’re here to exorcize this curse, aren’t we?”

Gojo can’t even argue with you, but he knows you could tire yourself out before you’d like to. He can tell you’re using this mission as an excuse to blow off some steam. Everything that’s been going on with Nanamin has you completely fed up.

Then you switch it up, and Gojo watches in awe as Aries dissipates, and from within the cursed energy that remains is Taurus that emerges. It charges towards the curse, one of the horns imbued with deep blue cursed energy. It penetrates the curse, causing it to let out an ungodly shriek. Gojo chuckles before he finishes the job. The curse melts away into a sort of liquid for a few moments before it turns into a million pieces of ash.

“Usagi-chan, you sure you’re alright?” Gojo asks you as he approaches you.

But you can’t even answer. You’re feeling so drained right now. How could you have not noticed the signs? He had pretended to be so good to you…and yet he played you for a fool. Without warning, you throw yourself into the stronger sorcerer’s arms and you begin to sob.

“I fucked up,” you cry. “I fucked up and now I’m heartbroken.”

Gojo hums softly, “No, you didn’t fuck up. If anyone fucked up, it’s Nanami.”

You shake your head, “I don’t know what to do, Satoru. I love him so much. It hurts.”

He pulls back a bit and holds you at arms length. Your beautiful eyes are wet with tears. Gojo takes a moment to pull a monogrammed handkerchief and wipes away your tears so gently. You laugh when you see his initials imprinted onto the soft fabric.

“You fancy ass,” you mock him, but you’re so quick to wrap your arms around him.

“Listen to me, you really didn’t fuck up. I’m sure this is all a big misunderstanding.”

Satoru begins to rub your back soothingly, and for a few minutes, you’re reminded of when Nanami had returned home with Haibara’s dead body and you had been plagued with nightmares for so long. Satoru had been the one to try and help you recover, despite having issues of his own at the time. He had often come to your room late at night, and held you close while you cried yourself back to sleep.

“I promise,” Satoru says with a kiss to your forehead. “Things will be okay.”

You frown, “How do you know? How can you be so sure?”

Gojo smirks, “Cause if Nanamin is being an asshole, I’ll beat him up for you.”

He flashes you such a shit-eating grin and throws his hand up for a big thumbs up. You laugh softly, feeling a little more soothed than before. Then you two exit the abandoned building you were fighting the curse in, Satoru’s arm wrapped around your shoulder to keep you close.

“Hey, you think we have enough time to get some ice cream?”

You smirk, “Of course we do. We’ve got all the time to get ice cream.”

Gojo laughs, “You know, if Nanamin doesn’t wanna date you, maybe I will!”

This causes you to pull away, your nose wrinkled. Satoru assures you he’s joking, but in reality, he wants the best for you. 

“Take a joke, will ya?!”

𓆩ꨄ︎𓆪

You cleanse your hands, approaching the grave with your bucket and ladle. Tears sting your eyes as you finally arrive in front of his stone. It feels like it’s been much too long since you’ve been here, but you know you need to talk to him. You need his guidance more than ever.

You begin cleaning the grave, thinking of his sweet smile and cheerful voice. Then you begin to pour water on the gravestone, cleaning it with vigor and with love. Lighting the incense, you place it down nearby. The smell of jasmine, frankincense and cherry blossom fill your senses. You bow your head, looking at your clasped hands.

“Yu, I just wanted to say…” you begin, but then you start to pray silently.

The wind begins to blow, rustling the branches in the trees. You’re slightly startled by a leaf landing on your shoulder. You smile softly, wiping away a few stray tears. Then you place a beautiful sunflower in the vase that’s neatly settled near his gravestone.

“I wish you were here. You were always so much easier to talk to than most people…” you continue to talk to him. “It’s about…well, it’s about him.”

You sigh as you rest your back against the tomb, feeling the weight of everything on you begin to dissipate. It was almost like those days when you were a teenager and you’d find Haibara to be able to chat with him. He’d listen to you, no judgment and always some kind advice or a smile.

“It’s always about him, yeah? You know me, always in love with him. My head is in the clouds so often, and I’m always such a fucking chicken. I can’t even fucking tell him how I feel!”

There’s a bit of an echo when you yell out. You look around to make sure you’re not bothering anyone, but it seems like you’re alone for some distance. Nobody is in the vicinity. Your eyes look up to the skies, noticing the small little clouds hanging around.

“Yu, I’m in love with him. I can’t hold it back anymore, but now I’ve gone and found out…I’ve found out that he may be hurting me. He might have lied.”

More wind blowing and gentle rustling pulls you away from the one-sided conversation. In a way, you were beginning to think that Yu was here with you. You smiled once more, enjoying the gentle embrace of this breeze.

“I have been in love with him since we were kids, ya know? And now that he’s almost out of my grasp, I just wonder if I waited too long.”

Your eyes close and you feel the gentle breeze caressing you all over. You are sure now that Yu is here with you and he is listening. Tears sting your eyes once more. You wish your beloved friend could truly be here instead of as a spirit. You want nothing more than to wrap your arms around the sunny boy and hug him tightly.

“You always used to tease us, calling us stubborn. You knew that we were into one another, yet we were two scared kids. We never had a relationship before…”

Your eyes scan the area, and you begin to think about your relationship with Kento. He’s always been your rock. Even when things got tough, you two could always lean on one another. And even when Haibara passed away, you and Kento found solace within one another.

“So when I found out that he might have a wife, you can obviously guess that I panicked. I panicked and pretty much ran away. I didn’t even tell him how I felt or even let him explain.”

“You can let me explain now.”

Your eyes widen when you hear that deep voice. Your heart is pounding in your chest as you look up at the man you’ve been in love with since you were fifteen. He looks worse for wear, which makes your heart clench. All of this misunderstanding has been hurting you both.

Kento kneels in front of the grave, lighting another incense before he clasps his hands together. He bows his head in prayer and you join him, asking Haibara to give you both courage to be able to hash this out. Then Kento turns to you and smiles shyly.

“I don’t have a wife.”

You feel a wave of relief wash over you. You had prayed for it all to be a misunderstanding, but you had been so scared. You were worried that you had been played for a fool.

“Oh Ken…” you whisper softly, pulling him closer so you could hug him. “I was so stupid. I got scared and I—”

Kento doesn’t let you finish. He cups your face, wiping away a few stray tears before placing his lips on yours. It’s the softest, most tender kiss you’ve ever felt in your life. Warm winds blow around you, embracing and caressing you both. When you pull away, you’re smiling shyly. 

You look at the grave, “Thanks a million, Yu.”

Kento laughs, “Thanks buddy. It means a lot to us.”

[jester-dragons-aus]

Horror House AU

Hehe Horror House returns(I had found only one piece of paper and I ended up drawing this)

When the world building comes out of nowhere/silly

[WARNING: BLOOD, GORE, BODY HORROR, OVER EXAGGERATED FEATURES, CENTIPEDE, IMPLIED DISMEMBERMENT]

Art and stuff under cut

[Note: certain few, who use VR instead of PC or Console, will be sucked into the game. Those who play with PC or Console will have a body substituted with a mannequin and will not be sucked into the game.]

Basically, the newer you are to The House, the closer you are to being the first person a random player goes against as you don't know much about how the game works. You go against everyone else first before you do this though. You can't leave once you're sucked into the game.

Only one person can play this game at a time, there is only one thing that can play it after all. Don't wear the headset if you don't want to be sucked in.

Pomni goes first! She is the newest member, after all!

You need to keep away from her, may it be by running away or finding things to keep her away from you to keep her away. The farther you are from her, the more she'll need to exert herself to get to you. Once tired out, you figure out a way to get out of the area before she regains her energy again. She will wear herself out completely before she rests, falling to the floor and laying there for a relatively long time to regain her energy.

[Checkpoint]

Imagine Pomni going through everyone else's past this point.

Jax is here and is a force to be reckoned with, atleast from his perspective. He thinks he's gotten better than before.

His area is like a maze of hallways, doors, closets, and at the end, somewhere you can completely escape his area from. He walks through the hallways trying to find you, cracking open the doors of the messed up rooms to check inside(hide behind the doors or under any in-tact bed). He taps the closet doors as he walks past them(don't make any noise, he will open and it will be game over[respawn]). Once you get to the end hall, you will need to run. There are no doors or closets in the end hall, all you have to do is keep running forward until you reach the end. His big size compared to the end hall will make it hard for him to go full speed as he will keep hitting his shoulders and head on the roof. The exit to his 'level' is a door that is slowly going down the entire run through the end hallway, triggered by you, or him, stepping on something at the beginning of the end hall. You must slide under it at the end of the hall to escape. He will run into the door and pound on it in anger, trying to get to you, but it will be for naught as you have already beat his level.

[Checkpoint]

Next, Zooble, the interchangeable and unpredictable. Even if they are predictable with some patterns.

Their area is a large open space with one exit for you to escape. Above hangs many things that will be large objects, bodies and body parts, and scattered around the room are presumably more and random large objects to hide around. They are quite smart and quiet so be sure to listen for anything that could be them, like quiet huffs or half-shuffling steps. How you get out of the area is finding a lever or button or something to drop something heavy onto them without anything falling on yourself or being caught by them. Anything heavy enough falling on them will cause them to break, falling into pieces. Leave through the now opened exit before they put themselves together with whatever pieces they can find. Be fast.

[Checkpoint]

Gangle is next and she's the most timid of the group but don't let that fool you.

You are in a dark room with papers covered in drawings littering the floor and walls. Gangle is curled like a snake somewhere where you can see her but it's just dark enough to where you can't see her face. She will kindly approach you with her comedy mask seemingly glued together and ask you to help her with a drawing or some writing[this won't be important to the main game]. If you don't break her comedy mask, good for you! You got to go free easy! If you did, there is a sad mask underneath in a darker shade than the comedy mask, also seemingly glued together, and the comedy mask is hanging to it with strange threads of something you can't identify. Her sad mask is more "hostile" so to say and she asks you to help her with something else which is more deadly to you. She sobs every time she speaks, shaking while she slithers around. If you survive what she asked of you and don't break her sad mask, good for you! You get to leave with only the trauma of her sad mask! If you survive but break her sad mask... You must run and find something to trap her. Under her sad mask is a distraught and fearful mask that screeches loudly as if in pain once the sad mask was broken, still hanging to that mask with the comedy mask still hanging to it in the same way. Once her sad mask is broken, she slithers into the dark with that for mentioned screech and that is your cue to run and find something to trap her in, like a heavy box or a deep hole in the ground, which there is right in front of the exit with just enough room between the end of the level and the door for you to walk around the hole and leave once she falls in with a perfectly timed side-step.

[Checkpoint]

Ah yes, our beloved blind ragdoll, Ragatha! One of the sweetest!

Once in her domain, it's a lovely, relatively large, store-looking place, with spiderwebs in the corners and dust everywhere as if it isn't cared for despite Ragatha's attempts to clean her area. A small bell, upon entering, will ring and notify her of your presence and she will welcome you with kindness. If you are polite in return, she will help lead you to the exit and open it for you, but she won't be able to come with you. If you treat her rudely, she will turn to violence and try to find you. Be quiet and find the code for the door, tucking around corners silently to avoid her if she comes near. Once you find the code, you must make your way to the door without notifying her where you are even once and avoiding her if she comes near. Once you put the code in to the end door, you can leave the area and continue on your way.

[Checkpoint]

Kinger, the largest but probably the easiest to get past if your quiet, is second to last, everyone!

Do not wake him up. His area is a large fortress made of old, hole filled wood pillars, old, torn blankets and pillows, and partially stone walls. There are many large bugs, mostly centipedes about the size of an average 10 year old, crawling around the area, never crawling into your path for more than a few seconds. Make sure you don't step on them, you don't want to make the king angry. Once you enter this decrepit castle, it is mostly empty aside from this 50 foot long centipede-chess piece curled up and sleeping soundly. If you step on any of the bugs that might crawl in your path or if you touch him even slightly, he will wake up and you can't escape as he kills you[respawn]. Don't step on any of the bugs and don't touch him and you're home free, there's the exit on the complete opposite side of him from the entrance to his impenetrable fortress.

[Checkpoint]

I bet you guys weren't expecting Caine of all people to be the final boss, right? I bet you guessed from Kinger's introduction! Well here he is!

He will never change, no matter who comes and goes before him. He is the owner of this terrifying territory, after all! The ringmaster, if it were a Circus! He stands in the center of a large, dark, dully colored yet very colorful room, inside a ring. This room looks most Circus like, like the inside of a tent. You don't have to defeat Caine, really, just beat his "pets." The abstractions. To those who have been in The House for a long time, they sadly know how these terrifying creatures came to be. Not fully code, but once human like the majority of them were gone mad and lost every bit of their mind! The older beasts are larger than the newer ones, so you can tell who's been there the longest. Unbeknownst to you, Caine is definitely going easy on you, only using the newer abstractions, as they are not very well at their job: ending you. You just have to run past everything and get to the last door, an end for the ones who didn't get sucked into this world, or a void for the ones who did.

[End] [Checkpoint]

OK THATS IT!

I am so sorry that one was so long but I really got sucked into writing this. I hope y'all enjoyed what y'all read if you read it all! I hope some of y'all also saw some references I made to other horror games I like playing or watching, like Doors or Little Nightmares(1+2)!

I really enjoyed writing this but this was all in one sitting, on mobile, and I don't know how to word things right sometimes or even spell some words correctly so some things might look weird. Yes, English is my first language but I am still not good at it despite graduating Highschool last year.

I put more effort into this than any writing assignments I got in school anyways all cuz I had a random paper and drew these goofs again after so long of only being able to draw on mobile.

[hetalianskywalker]

An Old Request

Summary: Echo gives you a long forgotten love festival gift.

Author’s Note: A very late and pretty short Echo x gn! reader Valentine’s Day fic. This is my first time writing Echo so it might be a bit rough, but the idea wouldn’t leave me alone the whole month. I hope you guys enjoy.

Warnings: None that I can think of. Just a whole lot of fluff.

Word Count: 814

Thanks for reading!

“At least let me pay for the food.” You pretend to think about your boyfriend’s request for a moment.

“No.” The exasperated and embarrassed look on Echo’s face almost makes you burst out in laughter. You have to press your lips together to stop the sound from escaping as you pull out the credits for the food. You’re not about to let him use up most of the meager allowance the Republic gives him for leave on your love festival night out.

“Don’t you dare, love.” You tiske as the waiter walks up to your table with the bill. Your arc trooper lets out a sigh as you hand over the credits. This time your giggles escape even as you muffle them with your hand as you both get up to leave.

He wraps an arm around your waist and you lean into his side as you walk back to your apartment. You know he’s smiling that little fond smile now even without looking.

“At least tell me what you would like for next time.” The soft genuineness he always uses at moments like this makes you blush. You go quiet as you try to think of something he could get you.

“Chocolate covered meiloorun pieces.” Echo blinks at you and any composer goes out the window with the quick laugh that follows.

“That can’t be the only…”

“It is. Just get me a box of chocolate covered meiloorun pieces. Okay?” You playfully poke his chest and he smiles. The brightness of it almost makes you swoon.

“Okay.” What you both didn't know was he wouldn’t be around the next love festival.

***

You gracelessly flop down on a crate you know doesn’t contain any explosives. You know the crates are designed to handle weight being put on them, but better safe than sorry.

You watch for a moment as the clones pass you by, going about their business in Rex’s clone rebellion. The hope in the room gives you some energy back, but not quite enough to stand and keep doing inventory.

“There you are, cyare.” You jolt a little having not heard Echo coming, but smile at him without a second thought. His face darkens a bit with concern.

“Are you…” You wave it away, though he doesn’t look at all convinced.

“I’m fine, just tired. How was the mission?” Echo looks like he wants to argue with you, but gives into talking about the brothers he had saved instead. He sits beside you and you lean into his left side. He wraps his left arm around you as you rest your forehead on his collar bone.

It had been quite a shock when he first came back. The mix of joy of Echo being alive and the horror of what had happened to him had been overwhelming at first. There were a lot of new aspects to get used to and some days it was harder than others for both of you. However, the pair of you made it work.

“What’s with the box?” You ask curiously as you now notice the small red box with black ribbon on it. He had set it down beside you without you even noticing. Echo smiles, not quite as bright as once upon a time, but it makes you swoon all the same.

“An old request.” You stare at him confused, but slowly sit up. You can feel him nervously and excitedly watch you as you undo the ribbon.

“No way.” He chuckles and you feel like you have been taken back in time for just a moment. There sits a box of chocolate covered meiloorun pieces; you had completely forgotten that it was the time for the love festival again. After all, you had spent that last one alone and now helping the clones had kept your mind far from it.

“You remembered.” Your eyes well up with tears and you laugh with him.

“Of course.” He brings up his remaining hand and cups your face. His thumb brushes away some of the escaping tears before you pull the man into a tight hug, careful of the present resting in your lap. “I missed you more than you can imagine. Thank you for waiting for me.”

“Always.” You hiccup as you give him an extra squeeze and he softly returns it, careful of his scomp arm. Even after everything the Techno Union had put him through, he still remained the same Echo in more ways than not. You gently pull away and wipe away the last of your tears before plopping a piece of your gift in your mouth. The sweet mixture of chocolate and meiloorun juice makes you smile even more.

“Good?” A mischievous look passes over your face as you nod in response.

“Yep, but you’re about to know soon enough yourself.” Echo’s adorable confusion vanishes as you pull him in for a kiss.

[bunniekittiee]

Liu Kang’s Guidance

A/N: This is a bit more of a serious one. It’s not an x reader. This is a vent piece. And something that maybe others are dealing with too. Sorry for the heaviness, I’m writing about what I’m feeling currently

Content Warning: Depression, suicidal thoughts(?), questioning life, purpose

The waterfall splashing did not ease the anxieties nor the sadness. But it filled your mind. Enough to stop the buzzing around in it. Yet it did not bring peace like it should.

Footsteps approached, but you knew whose they were. They were very familiar. Soft, yet purposeful footsteps.

“Hey,” Liu said, taking a seat next to you. “I have been looking for you.”

“Have you?” You asked him, eyes not leaving the waterfall. Birds chirped around you both, filling the air with their songs. The trees loomed over you both. “I am sorry for wasting your time.”

“My time will never be wasted with you.” He replied with a small smile. But he knew your mind was not in this world. “What is going through your mind?”

There was a lot. A lot that needed to come out, yet you did not want him to carry your burdens. You did not like to burden others, otherwise you would have talked to Raiden or Kenshi about what was going on. “Don’t worry too much, it’s okay.”

Liu frowned. “You can tell me anything. I am here to listen to you. Especially if it will ease your mind.”

“You have a lot on your plate. You don’t need my stresses too.” You told him as you started to pull your legs close to your body. It was a way of keeping you safe. Keeping it all inside.

“If it will help you from losing yourself to the darkness of your mind, then I will share your burdens. Now, tell me. I am listening.” He said, patiently waiting for your answer.

You sighed. “Lately I have felt out of touch with myself. For the past year, I have felt like a walking zombie. I can function, but I can’t function how I would like to. Everything feels like I’m watching myself from an outsider’s point of view. Like in third person.” You explained to him. Liu Kang understood what you were saying. He too had felt like that before. “I can hardly recall memories because in those memories, it was like I was outside of my body.”

“My anxiety has worsened. It seemingly comes on out of nowhere in more recent times. And I never used to get anxiety.” You said quietly. “I’m always so tired. I get so tired during the day, to the point I can hardly keep my eyes open, but at night I can’t sleep. And when I do sleep, I can’t sleep completely without waking up a few times during the night.”

“Have you been drinking caffeine?” Liu asked.

You shook your head. “No, I cut caffeine out of my diet for the most part. Sometimes I’ll have some, but it is usually earlier in the day where it won’t affect my sleep.”

You reviewed what you had already told him in your head. He could see the gears were turning in your head. He waited for you to continue.

“I always seem happy to everyone else, but really, I am unhappy. I feel like…” You felt the lump in your throat form. “I feel like I don’t know my purpose. Or maybe, I don’t have a purpose. I haven’t fulfilled much in my life. I feel like I’ll never be able to do it. I’ll always be stuck where I’m at.”

The tears started to brim. You didn’t want to cry, but it was difficult. “I always feel like crying. I feel like crying about everything. But I always stop myself from doing so. But sometimes I get so overwhelmed. I feel like I carry so much stress, but I can’t let it go. Or I can’t get rid of it.” A few tears started to fall. He watched with a tinge of sadness. “I feel so sad. I always feel sad. Sometimes I do have good days. And those good days are really good. But a lot of the time, I am sad. Or I am in a funk. Sometimes, I lay in bed for hours because I am unable to find the energy to get up.”

Liu put his hand on your shoulder, making the tears worsen. Your bottom lip began to tremble, but you continued on. “I keep everything to myself and I just have no place to put it at. Or let it go. I feel on edge a lot of the time. My thoughts give me anxiety. They will keep me up at night or they will make me physically ill. I get random body aches that I can never explain. And they hurt a lot.” You tried wiping away your tears, but only more appeared.

“I am lonely. I am lonely in my heart and in my head. To me, all I have is myself. I don’t like to burden others because I feel like they have been through worse. Or my pain can’t compare to theirs because theirs is bad.” You swallowed the thickening of the saliva in your throat. It was like the dam had broken. Everything was flooding out. You sniffled.

“I’m not suicidal. It has crossed my mind in the past. But not as of recently. But sometimes, I think about what if I didn’t wake up tomorrow. What if it all ended tomorrow? I wouldn’t have to battle what is going on in my head anymore. I would find the peace that I have always craved. Yet I don’t beg for death.” You continued to wipe away the tears with your hand. Liu got a tissue out of a pocket and gently wiped at your face with it. It was a comforting gesture.

“I guess I’m in limbo. I’m alive, but I haven’t been living, you know?” You looked at him with red eyes and a small, sad smile. “I don’t know what I’m waiting for. I want to be better. I want to feel like a person again. I don’t want to feel like this anymore.”

Liu had a solemn expression on his face. He did not know how much you, his friend, was hurting. You had masked it very well.

“I’ve felt like this for so long where I feel like I should be used to it. But it’s just gotten worse. I haven’t gotten the help I need to deal with it. I’ve just been trying to deal with it in my own ways but they have all been bad. I’m always so angry or annoyed. But now, since I’ve let that stop controlling me, all I can do with my depression is just nothing. It’s sitting here eating me alive. I don’t know where and when this started. I can hardly remember.” Your eyes were beginning to puff up and the headache was forming.

“I feel like I shouldn’t be depressed. I have a good home, my family is great, things are good. Yet here I am.” You laughed, but nothing was funny. It was out of sadness. You turned your tear-stained face away from Liu Kang. “I just wish I could feel better.”

“Perhaps a hug may ease something?” Liu offered. You nodded your head, wrapping your arms around him as he did to you. Hugging a person made everything come out. The tears started to come rapidly, your body shook with sobs. Liu hugged you tighter, feeling your emotions flood out of your body. If this would help you, he would do it for all of eternity.

And he was right. A hug did ease something. It made you feel a little less alone.

“As the Protector of Earthrealm and being a creator of a timeline, I understand your loneliness and the feeling of lacking in purpose. I assure you, you are very purposeful. Everyone plays their part in their life. Just like in this timeline, everyone plays their part that they need to. They fill their purpose.” He explained as you pulled away from him, wiping away your tears and snot. “And you, you have your purpose. It is your duty to understand and know what it is. And it may not come right away, but I promise you it will.”

You nodded your head. “I guess so. I just need to push myself more and try to fix what I can. I just might need an extra push, you know?”

“And that is what we are here for. We are all here for you. No matter the circumstances. No matter what your mind says.” Liu replied as you both faced the waterfall. He placed his hand on your shoulder again. “We will always be here. You are never alone. You will never have to feel alone.”

[neurotheascars]

First of all, no idea why this post had reblogs turned off but Ill respond here. Original post this for those who need context is here.

@fawna-lariat

First lemme get something out of the way:

You don't HAVE to do anything. You saying that just gives me the impression that you're a negativity chasing alter because that's exactly what I say when I'm thirsty for a fight.

Just because you know already that I probably won't agree with you doesn't mean I'm not listening. Word of advice- Get it out on your own blog. I'm only going to respond to you because you are being civil. But your attitude is grating to me because it feels like you didn't read a lick of the post you're commenting on.

I'm not a fragmented piece of a whole. I am a complete entity. It is extremely upsetting and triggering to keep hearing people insist that being an alter means you broke off of something. That's certainly a way for alters to form but it's not the only way and I'm tired of having "parts language" forced on to me. I know what I fucking am. I am a separate person. If you don't think I am you are denying my lived experience and ignoring the way a trauma victim literally exists. Parts language actually kept my system from healing so please fucking stop carrying that outdated claim about "shattered self" around like it's fact. It's not a reality for every system and I know more than one therapist that believes it is harmful to just assume a system is just one person broken into parts.

I'm pretty sure I've seen the sources you're talking about but there are other sources that contradict what you're saying too. My therapist honestly thinks being anti endo is a really misinformed stance in general if you need to hear that. You could really have your pick of information that proves your position is extremely narrow minded but I think you're comfortable and not going to do anymore research until you stumble upon it. You also don't seem to understand the real life context of what these studies actually prove or don't prove either.

You can send me that source, but I don't have the mental capability to comb through and properly refute claims in the manner that people like sophie and SAS do. I'm on mobile and I can't use tabs.

I've also already read a lot. I made a post a while back saying I was done with syscourse. I've also done a lot of research on entity creation techniques and parapsychology. I have 13ish years of experience on the topic and I know that mainstream psychology is only just now catching up to the reality of it all. I don't have the energy to entertain people who get dogmatic about mental health because I've deep dived in a way I can bet you haven't.

You aren't going to change my mind simply because you demonstrably don't know what I know.

Bottom line, you're talking to an alien who knows too much about this. And as a system who deals with all the dissociation and BS that comes with a did diagnosis, who was helped by created entities when we finally learned about the trauma, I frankly don't care if endos are in my community because it really really doesn't fucking matter.

Ive met cringey endos I don't like, but they don't "flood in to ruin my community" because I can block them without making them feel unwelcome and I want them to feel welcome because I don't know who they are or what they've been through. I don't know who might see me treating them poorly, and every system I'm ever met has been afraid of not feeling "valid" enough and gee I wonder why that could be when anti endos are drawing hard lines about how a system can form and behave.

And the thing is endos do know what being plural is like. Your belief that they don't isn't even a claim that can be backed with science. You're just making a sweeping generalization about what you think strangers understand. That's why I really dislike anti endos. The constant assumptions make my blood boil. I can't deal with that on the regular.

But regardless of anything you're saying about the distinction between tulpas and alters, endos are actually safer in the event of trauma occurring because their system hasn't had to deal with trauma to become organized. They have the option to be an organized system before trauma hits and are better for it because of their multiple consciousnesses.

That is just one unique way for a system to present and it's completely valid. If you think tulpas are real, but not alters then you should know that it's pretty easy for them to become alters. This is what happened to my IRL partner system. I'm not going to share their trauma story, but they are a group of tulpas that came from a paracosm that experienced trauma and now have to deal with all that extra stuff.

See you don't even realize it, but you're claiming my partner both doesn't understand what being plural is really like and that his alters aren't actually alters because he made them. Which, based on my lived experience with them, just isn't true. I don't need a peer reviewed paper to believe the lived experience of people right in front of me and that's why I don't agree with you. These studies never really concretely prove total absolutes and they don't claim to.

In fact its so easy for created alters to get all that extra trauma related dissociation with how stressful this shit world is that this distinction you're making really doesn't fucking matter in the end and only alienates people who are indeed trauma victims who might need support either now or in the future.

If you guys care so much about trauma victims why are you so hellbent on getting upset at and insulted by people who you literally don't know could be trauma victims. And if they aren't, a split consciousness configuration literally is the brain's way of dealing with trauma so tell me why it's so bad to be metaphorically holding the fire extinguisher in hand when the fire happens instead of having to run and break glass to get to it when you actually need it.

I truly don't think you know what you're talking about and saying that tulpas are real but they don't "count" as alters sounds like some highschool shit. I don't think you grasp that endos can have trauma separate from the origin of their alters and it's actually not your business if they do or not. It's only that their trauma isn't the cause of their alters. They may still have trauma that their alters help out with. I would agree that having a fragmented sense of self definitely makes it easier to create alters, but it doesn't mean you can't without the trauma.

I remember reading in a lot of grimoires and books on spirituality that anything that involves things like lucid dreaming, hedge crossing, and entity conjuration is easier for those who have been through an "ordeal". "Magic" and tulpamancy is easier if you've been through some life ruining shit. Thats all this claim that "created entities don't stick around in an unfragmented mind" means to me

Like yeah duh it's gonna take more effort to keep them there if you don't have your "head cracked open" as some spirit workers used to say.

The fact that I have witnessed with my own eyes what you say is impossible means to me that your science is incomplete.

Again, nobody is insulting you by simply existing and a lot of them do know what it's like to be plural.

[pjisskullourful]

Omg yes and y/n leaves hickeys on his lower abdomen right above and around his cock and she loves that the next shows outfit it low low rise and everyone is gonna see the hickeys

i love this idea so much tht i took a lil stab at writing it while im lying in bed. but i an so tired that i didnt get much further than 400words

hope yall like what i got sofar& i hope i'll have the energy to work on it again soon

its not proofread, im literally struggling to keep my eyes open, dont judge me

definitely accepting title suggestions

This wasn't the first time you had watched a Måneskin concert, in the six months that you had been dating Damiano you had seen a bunch of their live shows.

But you were still surprised by how the crowd responded to him. He could keep them so consistently excited, they were captivated by every move, screaming with complete abandon. From your spot backstage, you could see some signs being held up, and most of them were explicit in nature. Then the bras went flying at him, launched through the air to land at his feet, unprompted. How much had those bras cost?

It was a strange notion to think that yours wasn't the only bra he would touch or remove tonight. This intimate act was offered so freely to him and by a large number of people (you imagined there were more pieces of lingerie that hadn't been thrown hard enough to make it to the stage). They were willing to part with their possessions for a shot at intimacy with him.

Everyone wants to fuck him. This wasn't a brand new concept to you. But tonight the knowledge came with some extra weight. Your fingers curled into your palms until you could feel the nails pressing on the skin as you wondered what they were doing to him in their fantasies.

You had the rest of the gig to move away from this jealousy. Eventually you could keep your eyes off of the crowd, instead watching for the fun little subtleties in his performance. You kept reminding yourself that you were the only one who got to have him. But simply thinking it didn't feel good enough after a while, you needed to act.

You were upon him as soon as he got off stage, coming into this private area, covered in so much sweat that his bare torso glistened. Usually you greeted him with a bottle of water, but that wasn't going to cut it tonight. You threw your arms around him, feeling like you had been waiting days to kiss him. He didn't resist, his arms moving around you as he kissed you back. He didn't prioritise catching his breath, just letting you enjoy his mouth. The activity of so many people backstage carried on without any input from either of you.

“It was a good show?” He asked, stealing more kisses in the quick pauses between words. “Did you have fun?”

You nodded, dragging your fingers over his scalp. “Uh-huh. But the real fun is just starting.”

[cyeli-no]

Old fic idea where Cyno’s past start to haunt him after dreams return to the people of Sumeru. He sees the priests who experimented on him every time he closes his eyes and feels trapped in his own skin when he lays alone in a dark room. Memories where he was beat or of when he nearly died follow him closer than his shadow. The lives he was forced to take leave him perpetually covered in red that he cannot wash away.

When he wakes, he feels as if he is losing the last pieces of his mind. In the darkness, he will whisper out a question Hermanubis and receive no answer. Is this what the scholars who stole the Forbidden Knowledge faced? But, he feels even more foolish than that. He shouldn’t be stumbling just from memories, especially not memories he believed he long since overcame. But, his skin crawls and his fingers dig into it in attempts to rip it apart. He never does, forcing his body into a bath and submerging himself until he wrinkles and his body is loose enough to finally take in breaths without his ribs crushing up against his lungs.

His sleep schedule has never been the best and it is even worse in the height of reworking the Akademiya. He needs to find new matra to replace the ones instated by the former Grand Sage as he chases after scholars who have taken advantage of the uncertainty of their nation to do as they line. He is single-handedly in charge of so much that it feels like his legs cannot function properly at the end of the day. He is so tired, wants to close his eyes and rest, and al he can get are whispers of men and women he hoped would never rear their heads again.

He knows it takes a toll on his body when he nearly loses his arm to an Eremite he once would have been able to easily overtaken a month prior. It’s jarring to have the wind knocked out of his lungs as he is pressed to the floor because as his vision darkens for a moment, he is being bound by chains Cyrus once freed his wrists from and the man above him is just another scholar with a scalpel. He doesn’t scream, the sound always trapped in his throat instead because his body reminds his mind how much it aches at the sound.

He doesn’t move when the man cackling above him is flung off. But, at the sound of his name, he calls for the one who has always rescued him, “Professor...?” There is a pause and he knows that it isn’t Cyrus. Cyrus who gathers him closer because he fears Cyno will freeze by how cold he is, stripped away to barely nothing, is not showing his face in his blurred vision.

No, it’s not Cyrus. His mind knows there is danger more than his body allows him to move. Sitting upright aches, even with the slight assistance by whoever helped him, and he can’t relax the limbs that tense at the touch. “Cyno?” The voice fills the air and he strains his eyes to follow the movement of their lips. “Are you with me?” He doesn’t know if he answers, but they frown and he can feel his energy slipping. They lean closer and catch him easily, “I’ve got you.” The promise leaves him breathless.

It is like he laughed without making a sound or moving. Will he be dragged back again? After he just escaped? It’s always the same.

Insistent, the person tightens their grip, “I will keep you safe.” His mind submerges deeper in fog and the endless night. He can’t make out their face anymore and he has to be okay with it.

When he wakes up, he will have to handle it because he can’t right now. When he wakes up, he will escape. When he wakes up—

He makes a wish to the distant stars for Cyrus to find him.

Cyno doesn’t find Cyrus in his dreams. Instead, he just watches blood splatter across the floor and watches people draw closer to rip the remains of his mind apart and watches— He can feel Hermanubis rumbling under his skin and he knows to swallow down the urges to release the spirit. He cannot let it. Help me... What a terrible feeling it is to not believe his father will make it in time.

He wakes up in complete disarray, unable to sit upright with his body heavier than ever. He barely moves from whatever he is laying on, head pounding, and he searches from Cyrus instantly. Dad? His mind must be playing tricks on him because the footsteps are certainly heavier than the sage. Still, he reaches for the person like a child wishing to be held. He wants to be held.

He wants to be okay.

Recognition comes to him slower than normal when the door is pushed open. But, she smiles when he manages to croak out her name, “Dehya.” She nods and settles by his side, extending her hand to check his forehead.

“Glad to see you’re awake.” She hums under her breath in contemplation as she wipes away some of the sweat built. His frantic demeanor must be more obvious that he originally thought because Dehya settles beside him, “You passed out on me, so I brought you to Aaru Village. Before you stress out, I made sure no one saw us on our way in and Candace checked on you; said you were mostly just exhausted.”

He accepts the cup of water when offered, taking the smallest sips he can manage. His throat feels as if it is is shut, purposely keeping the liquid meant to relieve the ache out of his system. He doesn’t respond, too focused on swallowing. Still, she releases a sigh of understanding at the question he surely has, “I dealt with the group protecting the scholar, who I escorted back when Candace was checking on you.”

He opens his mouth to express his gratitude, but he is left gasping for air instead, the weight against his chest growing with each passing second. His head pounds and he just can’t— something cold presses against his forehead, steadying him before he fully slips. She holds the damp rag to his forehead, “Deep breath, General. I’ve got you.”

Cyno’s voice is hoarse, begging for water that his body is preventing him from stomaching. “Promise...?”

She will never mention the tremor in his voice, the exhaustion that seeps into the sound. Instead, she rests a hand over his, “I promise.”

Her words drag the final breath out of him, relaxing into her touch. The empty cup nearly falls to the floor when it slips out of his hold. She catches it with one hand and carefully lowers the man with another.

He is asleep when Tighnari arrives with Al-Haitham and an old scholar that she can’t identify. She remains close to his side with the promise lingering in her mind. She makes room for the doctor to work, but practically steps between the scholars and the sleeping desert-native. Warily eyeing the stranger, “Will he be alright?” She asks her friend.

Tighnari lets out another frustrated sound, “It would be better if we could transfer him back to connect him to an IV. He’s dehydrated and needs a lot of rest.” He is careful not to raise his voice, the way Cyno’s brows scrunched at the slightest noise is a grim reminder of how hard it is for him to properly rest.

Rest that he desperately needs.

The sharp intake of breath draws everyone’s attention back down. He calls for someone, a wordless sound begging for sanctuary. His body tenses, fingers flexing, and his entire body jolts away from Tighnari when he tries to soothe him. He nearly shouts, mouth falling open to scream— Dehya’s footsteps and the clatter of her chair hitting the floor muffle his whimpers.

She quickly steps into the old man’s path before he can touch her terrified friend. Her back is turned, but the warning remains clear as she pushes back his damp hair. “It’s alright, Cyno, you’re safe.” She repeats as she did every single time he began to stir. He turns towards the sound of her voice and leans into her touch.

Cyno’s eyes are still squeezed shut when he whispers her name. “I’m here.” She answers, “Tighnari just finished checking up on you.” He makes a soft hum at that, “He said you need to drink some water. Think you can sit up for that?”

He blinks his tired eyes open, his weight falling against her firm arms to allow her to straighten him up. He apologizes at one point in the process and she just shakes her head at him. “The Great General Mahamatra apologizing? And to think Sumeru views you as merciless.”

His breathless gasp is his response and she steadies him before he could collapse. “Don’t apologize. Thank you for trusting me to take care of you.” He doesn’t answer that, but she can feel the eyes of three men against her skin as she shifts to sit beside him.

Later, he can tell her what is wrong. Later, they will have to find a solution for his condition. Later, she will offer to fight the sources of his nightmares as retribution. Later, there is so much they can do later.

Now, he leans into her touch, knowing they will be here when his nightmares threaten to drag him away.

[skylarmoon71]

Winchester - (Supernatural / Smallville Crossover AU) - Chapter 8

~Two Years Ago~

“You hunters never learn, did you really think you could stop me? I caught your scent back at that police station. A high school internship, really? That was your cover?” 

The ghoul now taunting you should be evidence enough that you’ve messed up. 

You’re chained to the concrete of one of the grave stones, seated and disgruntled. At night it’s like the perfect cover, no one will come looking. 

You got reckless. You should have realized this before. You knew that Ghouls took the form of their last victims. When that missing boy just showed up after being gone for two days you should have picked up on it. Your plan was to head back to interview said boy, right after you stopped back at the cemetery to look over some of the other busted graves. 

That’s sort of how you got snagged. 

“You threw me off, usually ghouls stick to dead bodies.” 

Despite the bounds around your shoulder, you know if you can distract it long enough, you can swipe the blade that’s lying within distance. Your fingers are merely inches away. 

“Well, I wanted an upgrade, besides little Johnny here is the perfect cover. One weepy story to the parents and they’ll let me do what I want for a while. When I get tired of the nagging I’ll just eat them too and move along the chain. It was perfect until you came snooping around. Meddling kid.” 

Your fingers brush the hilt of the blade and you laugh, despite the throbbing in your head from the blow he’d delivered. 

“Really, meddling kid, what is this Scooby Doo? You monsters are getting more pathetic by the day.” 

The last comment makes him glare. 

“Let’s see how pathetic I am when I’m sucking the blood right out of your body.” 

Panic is starting to set in, your eyes harden. 

“Release her.” 

The new voice is foreign and you lift your gaze. 

You can’t put into words what you’re seeing, because it can’t be possible. You can see a guy, he couldn’t be much older than you. You blink, and you swear you’re hallucinating. His figure looks like a mass of energy, light, it’s an off blue glimmer and on his shoulders are…

“Wings…” You mumble. 

The ghoul looks between you and him, a grin growing on its face. 

“Looks like I got the two for one special, I guess I can pig out.” 

“You better run.” Your warning just makes the smile on its face wider. 

“You really think I’ll let my meal get away?” 

Your gaze turns to the ghoul. 

“I’m talking to you.” 

It looks at you in disbelief before it bursts out laughing. You can fully understand the hysterics. Despite your calmness you’re freaking out, because the glow you once saw has disappeared, and he looks completely human now. You know for a fact that you didn’t just imagine it. 

You’re just praying that you’re not getting away from one monster to be taken by the next. With the blade now in your grasp, you're sliding it frantically to free yourself. If you’re lucky that thing will kill the ghoul while you make a break for it.

“Really, you’re hilarious, almost had me going.” It’s collecting itself and you can feel just one string of rope left of your restraints. The guy is still just standing there, unbothered. 

“I will not ask you again.” 

His voice gives off an authority that is somewhat chilling. The only time you speak like that is when you hold power. You know for a fact the ghoul can’t see what you do, otherwise it would have been running for the hills ages ago. 

“Listen here you walking piece of meat, you think you can walk up in here and make demands. I’ll gut you like a-” 

You blink and he’s standing right in front of it, all he does is place his hand on its forehead and the ghoul is screaming. You stare in shock as its body lights up and the sockets of its eyes are burned out. You finally free yourself and without a second thought you take off in a sprint in the opposite direction. You don’t even bother to look back. 

That’s why when his body just appears ahead of you, you stumble, making another quick turn around, but he’s right in front of you in seconds and you all but freeze. Your heart is racing, because he just roasted that ghoul like it was child’s play, you can only imagine what he’ll do to you. 

Your night has really gone straight to the toilet. 

“Listen you lightning bolt son of a bitch, you really don’t want to have a showdown with me.” 

It’s an empty threat, you dropped your silver blade a while back and this thing is obviously on a whole other level than your usual hunts. 

“I’m not going to harm you.” 

“Sorry if I don’t believe you.” 

You’re still glaring. Your wrist hurts, you glance down, taking in the blood that’s dripping from the top of your palm. You must have nicked it when you were trying to get free. The adrenaline had completely blocked it out. Schooling your features, he looks down at the wound. He takes a step and you respond immediately, firing a punch. 

He catches it easily, you’re stunned at his strength. You try your luck with a kick, but he stops that too. Now you’re hobbling on one leg and he’s gripping your wounded hand. You wince against your will, and he seems to register your pain. His thumb brushes over the wound and you're surprised when it seems to just disappear. Not just the wound, but the blood, the pain, everything. He lets go and you stagger back, staring in surprise. 

This shouldn’t be possible. Even witches took at least a spell to mend injuries, he barely blinked. 

The better question is, why help you?

You were convinced that he was going to barbeque you like that ghoul, yet there's nothing threatening about his stance, at least not towards you. 

“W-Who the hell are you..” 

More like what, he’s definitely a what.

“I am the archangel, Michael.” 

Of course he is.

[nomoreusername]

Who Are You? (Pt 3)

Paring: Aris x female reader

Summary: You finally escaped the Glade. Everything seems to be going your way. However, that is quickly disrupted when a random boy takes Teresa's place.

It had been days without food, and we were all absolutely drained. We spent a lot of time lying on the floor, a bed, the couch, or anywhere else we could. We had been surviving off of the tapwater Aris despised. That quickly became everyone's best friend.

"I don't even want to play my harmonica,"I mumbled, turning it over. Obviously, nobody knows where it came from. To be honest I don't even know. It just so happened to be in my pocket. The letters AJ were engraved into it. I have no clue why or what it meant. I just know this seemingly useless piece of metal means a lot to me.

Have you thought of anything?

I winced at how loud his voice was. In fact, it almost seemed like he was yelling in my ear.

"Aris, we're already suffering. Please don't give anyone a headache on top of it,"I begged, gaining enough energy to glare at him. To my surprise he seemed absolutely horrified.

"Nobody's yelling,"Minho mumbled.

"Oh. I guess I'm hallucinating then,"I shrugged, confused but too tired to question it.

Y/N?

"What do you want Greenie?"I sighed, now rubbing my head. "Y/N, I think you're about to snap. Do girl's just lose their minds quicker or something?"Frypan asked. "No. Maybe you guys are just going deaf,"I said, putting a pillow over my face. If I tried hard enough I might be able to make myself pass out because I'm sick of this.

"I thought of something. Can you two come help me?"Thomas asked, clear pain and exhaustion in his voice. "Nobody wants to do anything,"I pointed out, my voice muffled through the pillow.

Just come with us.

"Fine,"I groaned, following him and Aris out of the room. To my surprise they walked completely past everyone in the living room until we were all in a tiny corner.

"I don't think this is a good time to jump me,"I joked. Really, I didn't care what actually happened. I just wanted to go to sleep.

"We're going to do something, and you can't panic,"Thomas whispered. "That's reassuring."

"Just trust us,"Aris urged. I slid down the wall and waited for whatever they were about to do.

Can you hear us?

"Of course I can hear you,"I said, looking at the ground. "Look at our faces."

"This is getting weir-"

"Just do it,"Aris pushed. I begrudgingly looked at them.

Do you know which one of us is speaking right now?

"Thomas. How are you doing that?"I asked. He was clearly talking, but his mouth wasn't moving. In fact, his entire face remained the same.

Can you hear my voice too?

"Aris? What is happening?"I questioned, my mind looking for any rational reason for what was going on. So far I was coming up blank.

"This is going to sound a little bit insane,"Thomas warned. I gave him a look that said 'everything going on is insane'.

"No. I mean insane. So you remember how Teresa came up in a coma?"

"Yeah. I pulled her out of the box,"I reminded him. "Okay. Well, she spoke to me while in her coma. Telepathically. The thing is it disappeared when she did. Now he's the one I can talk to telepathically,"He explained.

"So you two are speaking, or thinking, or I don't know what to call it. Just, you two are having conversations with each other inside your heads?"I clarified, trying to wrap my mind around this. So far I wasn't doing a good job. In my defense you wouldn't either.

"Yeah, and for some reason you can hear us,"Aris shrugged. "How great. I was dying to know what interesting conversations you guys would have when you're alone,"I deadpanned. "Do you think you could be able to talk to us?"Thomas asked.

I looked at him like he was an idiot. "Why would I care about that? I'm focused on getting out alive and rescuing Teresa on the way. I don't have time for this stupid sidequest,"I snapped. Partly because I was irritable from going so long without food and partly because it was actually a stupid question.

"If you can hear us it has to be for a reason,"He pushed. "Yeah, and it's one I don't care about. You two can just be all cuddled up now because I don't want any part in whatever this is. For all we know it could be something meant to hurt us. With that being said don't get me caught up in something I don't need to be in. Especially, something that hurts my head."

I finished my rant and went to leave.

Subject A9, Y/N, The Partners Accomplice

"Can you stop that?"I asked, glaring at Aris. "Your name has to mean something. The fact that we randomly matched and now you being involved in the telepathy can't be a coincidence,"He pointed out.

I hate the fact that he had a good point. At the same time I don't know what to believe anymore. I don't know what's real and what isn't. If I'm being honest the thing that scared me most wasn't the tags, or the not having food, or even being stuck here. It was the thought that this place wasn't a physical place. The thought that I may be going insane was worse than anything else.

"Fine. Give me an idea of what's happening,"I responded, accepting defeat. Nobody said anything for a minute. Then, Aris seemed to gain a brilliant idea. At least, it was probably brilliant to him.

"We should see if it works for all of us. Like a three way,"Aris suggested. "Please don't ever say that again,"I encouraged, cringing at the sound. He seemed to realize how weird that sentence was as well because he looked extremely embarrassed to even be alive.

"But fine. We may as well see how much I can truly do with all this.

---

Can you still hear us?

"Yes, and I'm already telling you I don't know how to respond,"I groaned, seconds away from slamming my head against the wall. I just pulled out my harmonica and started tossing it up in the air before catching it.

"Where'd you get that?"Aris asked. "My pocket,"I said defensively. "No. Where did you get it in the first place?"

"None of your business."

"Why?"

"Because it's none of your business."

"I know, but"

It's none of your business!

We all froze. I had actually just done that. It wasn't even on purpose.

"I guess I'm caught up in this mess,"I sighed. So much for not getting involved.

[sekhithefops]

The Son's Garden

So, I'm autistic. One of the issues I have because of it is called "social overload." I get stressed out very easily when I have to deal with a lot of people, sometimes to the point that it actually causes me physical pain if it gets bad enough.

I live with my mother as well, and most days after work I'm totally burnt out and want to be left alone when it comes to face to face interactions. She... also doesn't quite get how this stuff works and can't quite wrap her head around the idea that I'm not ignoring her because of her, but because of everyone else I had to deal with that day. She keeps hovering around me and going on about how I can't even say something to her when all I'm doing is waiting for her to give me some peace after working all day.

So I decided to vent my frustrations about this via writing. Its a rough thing, mostly written out of emotion, but yeah. Here it is.

The Son’s Garden

In a land far away, there were gardens. Some were big, some were small, some were full of vibrant flowers, some were plain and simple but a joy nonetheless, but everyone had a garden of their own.

It was tradition to share your garden with those close to you, but for one young man this was difficult. His garden was wide but the soil there was unusual, and plants grew only with difficulty. He did his best to grow what he could, but it took a long time and hard work and the plants that grew did not grow well.

To make matters worse the garden was along a well-traveled road and every day travelers would trample the young man’s garden to pieces. They did not mean to; some were just in a hurry to get where they were going, some did not realize what they were walking across, some were upset and their emotions blinded them to what they were doing, some were drunk and too taken by their revels to see the delicate blooms trampled underfoot.

Thus, the young man’s garden at the end of each day was left in ruins. What few buds he could grow were stomped into the dirt or torn up by the hooves of horses, some were chewed up by wild animals, few were left unmolested… and all he could do is try to rebuild with what little time he had to himself.

The young man’s mother would often ask him why he did not share his garden with her. He tried explaining to her how he was sore all over from the work of keeping it maintained at all, how hard it was to even grow in the soil of said garden, and how every day the multitudes he dealt with would wreak havoc on it. He tried to put up fences and signs, but they ignored them completely. He tried his hardest to plant and grow and fertilize and weed, but it was of no use.

His mother lived her own life, sequestered in a tiny cottage, and did not see the people stomping through her son’s garden. Only the aftermath when her son would be tired and weary, bereft of all energy, and unable to even offer a single flower… for he often had none left to give after each day.

She only saw her son as a dour and angry young man who would ignore her or snap at her. She did not see him try in vain to guide travelers around his garden, weep in frustration at the buds torn to pieces by dozens of boots, the carefully tilled soil wrecked by cart wheels, and the like.

She did not understand his frustrations, stating only that she had to deal with such too when she was younger, or that he should feel fortunate to have grown what he had. Her own garden had been home to a rather horrible beast in her younger days, a large dog that she had invited in one day when it was young and sleek, but who became more ferocious and feral as the years went past until she was finally forced to chase it away.

Her problem was gone, the dog had fled for parts unknown and was a distant memory now, and her garden grew small but lovely flowers in all colors and patterns without the beast.

But her son’s garden was not her garden. The soil was different, the seeds were different, everything was different about it, and while she no longer had to deal with a beast trampling her garden her son had to contend with not one but dozens of people a day doing so.

His mother felt that if she could spare a bloom, so should her son. After all, everyone has a garden.

But not all gardens are the same, infact precious few of them are. How her son wished that one day she might understand this.

-------------------------------------------------

As I said, this was mostly something I wrote as a venting piece. I don't dislike my mother, but she can't quite get how this stuff works even after an entire childhood of going to therapy and counseling for stuff (to be fair I was born in 1986 so for a good chunk of my childhood the autism spectrum wasn't even a concept yet,) but yeah. Just needed to get that out.

[zangyo]

@tenkoseiensei said (inbox):

ah-ah. how did this happen? nanami pinned and trapped by a putrid curse, a hard thorn-appendage hovering over the space of his human beating heart, the man's strong back held helpless against a wall. it would have been easy to finish the sorcerer off here and now, yet footsteps' approach makes the malefactor's head turn, a gasp of recognition escaping it in an instant.

' --- you! '

yan qing, steadily approaching.

' the one who told me how to ambush him! look, it all went exactly like you said! all that's left is to finish him off! let's do it, let's do it, let's do it together! ' there's no shortage of thrill or excitement in the giddy curse's behavior, yan qing's expression comparatively listless and foreboding as he grimly steps closer and closer.

' don't do anything,' he calmly warns--- as his voice and physique changes to match the trapped sorcerer's before him. ' not just yet. i was the one that plotted it out, so i should be the one who gets to kill him. unless you want to die first? '

the impression that follows is one of animals squabbling over a large piece of meat, at least until the curse's head, mid-disagreement-and-dissuasion, finds itself severed and flying by the clean cut of a single hand. the rest of its limbs too burst into flash-annihilated pieces, until exorcised, there was nothing left but sorcerer and doppelganger sorcerer.

fast to return to himself, flicking the lingering sensation of detritus on his hand, yan qing looks plaintively up at the other, hesitant to speak.

' ... nanami? you're alright, right? ' a complete and total shift in demeanor. surely the other had figured out his ploys and lies by now? he frowns. ' i'm sorry. i didn't want to do it. the last thing i wanted to do was put your life in danger, especially without telling you. but that curse just now was a real piece of work. i couldn't think of any way for us to get a good shot without earning its trust a little, and there wasn't enough time for anything else. ' even if it was exhausting have to play the villain.

' that guy too , had said ... that only humans betrayed one another. it'd never trust a human, but since i was another curse --- ' briefly, yan qing falls silent. ' ... well, in any case, i'm tired. and you must be even more so, after an experience like that. what matters is we can go home now, right? '

     IT WAS SHAMEFUL THAT he was caught in a situation like this. How meticulously he had kept track of this curse. How meticulously he had studied and prepared, and yet that didn’t matter in the heat of combat. Didn’t matter when one’s life was on the line and they were pressed against a corner. Curses fought their hardest when they felt they were going to be destroyed, but was that not the same for everything? He hadn’t realized their ferocity would pick up to greater heights, and that was a fault of his own. Nanami had underestimated his enemy by assuming victory before the battle was over. The putrid scent of this curse filled his nose; it’s gigantic hand crushing him against the wall and cutting off air flow as it watched him with the same cold fascination a cat would have with a small rodent caught between its paws. He just…needed to gather his cursed energy. Just a bit more, and---

     The Curse’s voice brought him back to the moment, weary eyes turning to glance in the direction of that approaching figure. Yan Qing? What were they doing here? And what was this Curse going on about? During the distraction, its hold on him had relaxed, however. Nanami was able to attempt to regain his breath, careful not to take in too much at one time despite how his body desperately wanted him to. Thoughts towards his survival kicked in once more, Nanami’s hands balling into fists as he prepared to throw his all into tearing off the other’s wrist and creating an opening to grab his discarded weapon once more to finish the deed. However…he paused, gaze, instead, glued on Yan Qing’s figure. The two scabbled over him, although not once did he ponder that his comrade had betrayed him.

     They wouldn’t.

     Nanami was not someone to blindly trust another, especially in this line of work. He just knew that Yan Qing was plotting as well. As soon as they turned into him, a small hint of relief ran through him. The other curse was not aware of what was about to transpire, their greed and hunger outweighting any thought…right before they were exorcised with such a quickness, that one would almost think that they had imagined the entire interaction. Falling onto his knees, he lifted his hand to wipe away the sweat that had collected on his brow, lens pulled from his head soon after. Weapon collected, he pushed himself back up, a little unsteady, but overall not too worse for wear. ❝I’m fine,❞ he replied calmly, not the least bit shaken as green eyes shifted to linger upon Yan Qing’s form. They no longer looked like him, their usual appearance back in place…and just as he had surmised from looking into their own eyes, it had been a ruse all along.

     ❝No, no, you don’t need to explain. The moment I saw you approach, I knew that you had an idea in mind. Still…I was not aware that you had been watching me for that long.❞ Or following him at all, really. ❝I do admit that what surprised me the most was how you were able to patiently stand by until the right moment…though if you had taken any longer…❞ Nanami saw no reason to continue that sentence. Things, had, after all, looked rather bleak for a moment. Quiet at the mention of only humans betraying one another, a question had come to mind: ‘How do you feel?’ Did that curse’s words affect them at all? Even a little? His mouth opened to ask that question, to dig into Yan Qing’s psyche…but he stopped himself. Later. He would ask later. ❝Yes…let us head back. I need to wash this…stench…off.❞ Stepping closer and snapping his blade back onto its holster on his back, he reached out and placed his hand upon the other’s shoulder as he made his way by.

[akehoshimystar]

Chapter 10

Ito: Sorry for a sudden request, Toku-san. Please take us to the address I told you earlier. Toku: Right away, ma’am.

Shido-san made a quick decision and called Toku-san, the driver who was waiting nearby. After calling an ambulance, Mao-san, who knows her, Onda-san, the ST Dept. member, and I, the liaison, headed to Mari-san's place.

Mao: Thanks to everyone, the operation went well. Thank you. Ito: (Operation, huh…)

Mao: [Everyone, stay where you are and listen.] [If that customer makes any moves, show him to a private room. I think he's probably someone related to the letter that was sent. My goal is to find out the truth.] [I don't know what he’s going to do, so I want Tomose to stand by behind the hidden door.]

Tomose: Copy that. Should I get a signal from you before it’s my cue to act? Mao: [I'll leave the timing up to you.] [That's Tomose’s area of ​​expertise, isn't it?] Tomose: Roger.

Mao: Your timing couldn’t have gotten better than that, thank you so much. Tomose: No need to thank me. It was Ukyo who managed to rip off his mask, you’re very skilled. Mao: I wouldn’t go so far to say that. Since I ended up getting too emotional and said more than necessary. Sorry for making you keeping me company for so long. Tomose: It seemed perfectly rational to me, though. Mao: ……Oh yeah?

I thought there was a casual tension between these two. But it wasn't tense at all. It was a unique tension that only the two of them have because they each has a strong sense of responsibility.

Ito: (…Ah, so it’s not drawing a line for another purpose.)

It's not a line that distances the other person, but a line that can be drawn because they believe in each other's work. A form of respect that aims to secure the space necessary for each other to maximize their abilities without getting in each other's way. A distance that allows them to reach out the hand when they really need to. As I listened to their conversation, I thought to myself that such a thing might exist.

A red police light was flickering in the upscale residential area. When we arrived at Mari-san’s house, there lied a woman being carried away on a stretcher. The woman in pajamas, who appeared to be Mari-san, seemed emaciated and had an injury on her face.

Mao: Mari-san! Mari: ……………Kazuki? Mao: Sorry, it's me. Mao.

Mari-san finally caught sight of Mao-san with her unfocused eyes.

Mari: Oh…. My dear Mao…. Not like this….. Even though I was planning on giving you a surprised visit today. Sorry~ If my son showed up… I was planning to go get the jewel and give it to him. Everything didn't go as planned at all. Seriously… I'm tired of all this. Mao: It's okay. It's better not to talk now. Mari: ………Didn't my dumbass child behave badly? Mao: ………

Mao-san thought for a moment, then smiled gently.

Mao: I'm sorry. I called your dearest precious, precious son "an incorrigible piece of trash.” Mari: ! …Ahaha… I see… .……Thank you. Mao: Oh, I think it’s going to need a lot of beating to get that thing back in shape. If you need anything, just ask for my help. I’m always up for that special request just for you.

Mari-san smiled with a tear-brimming face. She nodded softly at first, then repeatedly. "Thank you," she said in a husky voice, over and over again.

A few months later.

Ito: Welcome. Let me change the towel for you. Mari: Oh my, thanks! How thoughtful. Every household really could use one of you! Want to come to my house? Just kidding! Ohohohoho. Ito: It’s an honor to hear that. (I'm glad she's completely healed.)

Mari-san has recovered enough to be able to walk now, and today she showed up at Aporia for the first time in a while.

Mao: Mari-san's energy is incredible, isn't it? It almost looks like she's sucking all the life out of me.

Mao-san, who was playing chess with her, let out a soft chuckle. Right now, Mao-san is in the middle of his request of accompanying her as a friend. It all started when Mari-san came to the office to apologize for the whole commotion and to pay the fee for taking care of her jewels.

Ito: …..So, Mari-san is here at the store right now. I wonder if we should accept her payment. I feel like there's something else we can do for her… Ai: The custody service ended up being carried out. It is only natural that we should receive payment. As for if there is anything else we can do, I would like you to make a reservation for the friend service each time she needs it. Ito: Each time, huh…..

Seeing Mari-san playing chess with such enjoyment, I realized something. By making sure that there is a free slot for Mari-san, she has the will to live.

Ito: (It was true that she was suffering from a malignant tumor and afflicted by the disease.) (But while undergoing treatment, she is enjoying life in her own way.)

Her way of life is simply wonderful, and I hope I could be of some help.

Mari: OMG! I totally forgot about that knight~ Mao: Mari-san, have your skills gotten rusty? Mari: It’s more like you have learned some naughty tricks since we last met.

Watching the exchange between them made me smile.

Ito: Well, that's all for me. Do enjoy your time. Mari: Thank you!

I bowed to them and left the cafe.

Mao: Have you had a little less time to yourself? Mari: Yeah, I guess so. My son was released soon after. Maybe he's trying to repent his wrongdoings, but now he shows up so often that I get sick of him. Mao: Really? It’s good to hear you didn’t give in. Mari: Seriously… Let me apologize again for my idiot of a son. Mao: You don’t need to do that anymore. No one was hurt…. Well, except for that guy. Mari: That's fine. He deserves it. But of course, I'm also responsible. Since he’s my offspring. Mao: That's true. Mari: How merciless of you.

Mao: ………….Sorry. Mari: For what? Mao: Mari-san, you wanted Kazuki-san to find out himself… Otherwise, it would be meaningless. I knew your aim, but I blurted out the answer anyway. Mari: ………. Mao: I don’t think I did a great job taking care of that jewel. Mari: ……What is this kiddo blabbering about? Don't get too cocky now! Mao: Ouch.

Mari-san flicked my forehead with her finger and smirked.

Mari: I can't stand it when you made it look like the simplest thing in the world and told him what I couldn't convey for a decade. Mao: ……Mari-san. Mari: It seems like even a veteran like me couldn’t win this game. But you know what? I have my own pride. I'm not going to let a newbie like you run past me that easy. Mao: ……… Mari: That's why….. For this occasion, I'm beyond grateful. I'm glad I left it in good hands. Thanks a lot, Mao. Mao: ………. You're very welcome.

After gently narrowing her eyes while nodding, Mari-san picked up the piece and began to look over the chessboard again.

Mari: Anyway, I'm glad I was able to say what I wanted to say while I am still alive! When I was playing that horror game, I was so moved by how abundant a mother's love is to want to meet someone even after death. …….Once you die, it's all over. You have to meet the people you care about before your last moment. Mao: ………. You’re absolutely right.

When I heard those words, a certain face suddenly came to mind. Along with the small laughter we shared, that image melted away into the noise of the bustling store.

Mao: Thank you. Please come again. Ito: Thank you very much. (It's pretty busy today as per usual.) Mao: Ito, you can take a break, you know? Ito: Right now? Mao: It's okay. If you keep going like this, there would be no break and it will be peak time in the blink of an eye.

Seeing us, Onda-san peeked out from the kitchen. And then….

Mao: Tomose. Sorry, can you help me a bit? Ito: ! Tomose: Sure. I’ll leave taking the order to you, though. Mao: Alright. But it should be fine for now, the first batch of order has all been taken. Ito: …….. Mao: What's wrong, Ito? You can go, I don’t mind. Ito: Okay…. Well then, I will excuse myself. Mao: Alright, I'll go to the table in the back. Tomose: I'll put out Earl Grey for table A. Mao: Copy that.

Their crisp and clear conversation was somewhat pleasant. Leaving behind the two reliable people, I quickly untied my apron.