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himasgod · 2 months ago

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How would they spend New Year's Eve with you?

Characters: Tartaglia, Diluc, Kaeya, Venti, Albedo, Rosaria, Razor Barbara, Eula, Zhongli, Xiao, Yanfei, Keqing, Chongyun, Beidou, Ayato, Thoma, Kazuha, Raiden Ei, Itto, Shinobu, Alhaitham, Cyno, Tighnari, Neuvillette, Wriothesley, Furina, Lyney.

(Happy New Year everyone! I hope all your resolutions come true and that you have a great New Year with your loved ones! Enjoy this, should I do a part 2 with the characters I have left?)

Tartaglia

Childe would invite you to spend New Year's with his family at Snezhnaya. He would want you to experience the warmth of his home, despite the cold outside.

His siblings would be excited to meet you and would share laughs as Childe tries to cook something special (and probably needs help).

At midnight, he would take you outside to watch the snow fall under the lights of the lanterns, holding you close as he whispers, "Making you happy is my greatest achievement this year and all those to come."

Diluc

Diluc would prefer an intimate celebration at Dawn Winery. He would prepare an elegant dinner with fresh ingredients from the region, serving specially selected wine from his cellar.

At midnight, he would take you out onto the balcony to watch the fireworks that the Knights of Favonius organize in the city.

Though he doesn't say it openly, he would make a toast with you, his words laden with sincerity and affection. "To you, and to all the good things that await us this year."

Kaeya

Kaeya would insist on taking you to a party at the tavern. He would want you to enjoy the lively atmosphere and laughter.

Just before midnight, he would pull you away from the hustle and bustle to walk together under the moonlight. "I want to start the year with you by my side," he would tell you with his charming smile.

He would probably steal a kiss from you just as the clock strikes twelve.

Venti

Venti would host an outdoor celebration, complete with music and poetry. He would bring his lyre to play songs as the wind carries his melody throughout Mondstadt.

He would dedicate an improvised ballad to you, telling of the special moments you've shared.

At midnight, he would take your hand and dance under the starry sky.

Albedo

Albedo would prefer a quiet celebration at Dragonspine, showing you the wonders of the winter landscape. He would prepare a warm spot in his lab spot to share a simple yet special dinner.

As a gift, he would give you a painting he made especially for you, capturing a meaningful moment you two shared during the year.

At midnight, as the aurora lights up the sky, he would tell you, “The time we shared is a masterpiece I don’t want to stop painting.”

Rosaria

Rosaria wouldn't be the type to celebrate loudly, but she'd agree to spend New Year's with you if it meant some quiet time.

She'd probably take you to church to light candles and reflect on the year that's passed. Afterward, she'd invite you to walk the silent streets under the snow.

At midnight, as the world seems to freeze in stillness, she'd look at you softly. "I'm not good with words, but you make every day worthwhile."

Razor

Razor would prefer something simple but meaningful. He would take you into the woods of Wolvendom, where he would light a small fire to keep you both warm.

He would share roast meat with you and talk about how he sees the new year as just another cycle in nature.

At midnight, with a shy smile, he would say, "Thank you for being my lupical. I will always take care of you."

Barbara

Barbara would host a quiet evening at the cathedral, singing a special song for you as candles lit the place.

Afterwards, you would walk together through Mondstadt decorated for the occasion, enjoying sweets and watching the fireworks from a nearby hill.

At midnight, with rosy cheeks, she would take your hand. "I promise that this year I will sing more songs that make you happy."

Eula

Eula would take you out to a fancy dinner, making sure everything is perfect for you. Even though she might not admit it openly, New Year's is a chance to show you how much she values you.

Afterwards, she would take you ice skating under the starlight, gently guiding you even though her face shows a slight shyness.

At midnight, she would look directly at you and say firmly, "This year, I want to give you back all the happiness you've given me."

Zhongli

Zhongli would plan a traditional celebration in a quiet place, such as the lantern-lit harbor. He would make a special tea and tell you stories about the ancient New Year traditions in Liyue.

He would hold a small ceremony, writing wishes on red paper and burning them so that the smoke would carry his words to the heavens.

At the stroke of midnight, he would take your hand and look deeply into your eyes. “Thank you for being my companion on this long road.”

Xiao

Xiao wouldn't be quite sure how to celebrate, but he would agree to spend the New Year with you because he values your company more than he admits.

He would take you to a high place, like the Wangshu Inn, so you could enjoy the fireworks away from the noise.

Even though he might not be the most expressive, his actions would speak for him. "I will protect you this year, as I have done so far," he would say with a slight smile.

Keqing

Keqing would be busy organizing events in Liyue, but she would find time to spend the night with you.

She would take you around the lantern-lit streets and buy little lucky charms to share with you.

At midnight, she would allow herself to relax and confess to you how much she values your support. “This year will be better because you are by my side.”

Chongyun

Chongyun would invite you to spend a New Year filled with quiet activities to avoid getting emotionally overheated. Maybe he'd take you to a serene place near Liyue where you could enjoy the winter scenery.

He'd make you a refreshing dessert to share, probably something he learned especially for you.

At midnight, though shy, he'd take your hand and look at you with sincerity. "I hope this year we'll continue to share moments like this… with you everything feels more balanced."

Yanfei

Yanfei, ever practical, would make sure you had everything ready to start the new year off right, even checking your contracts or reminding you to burn incense for good fortune.

You would spend the night wandering around Liyue Harbor, enjoying the fireworks and eating street snacks.

At midnight, she would give you a small amulet she made herself and smile at you. “It’s so that justice and happiness will always accompany you this year.”

Beidou

Beidou would host a party aboard the ship, inviting her crew and close friends. The night would be filled with laughter, stories, and songs as they sailed under the stars.

SHe would challenge you to a friendly drinking competition, but she would also make sure you were comfortable and happy.

At midnight, as fireworks lit up the sky, she would take you to the bow of the ship, wrapping you in her cloak. "With each passing year, I have more reasons to love you!"

Kamisato Ayato

Ayato would host a fancy dinner party at the Kamisato Mansion, making sure everything was perfect. He would invite Ayaka over for some family time before she retired so Ayato could be alone with you.

At midnight, he would take you out to the garden to enjoy a private fireworks display organized by the Yashiro Commission.

He would gently hold your hand and whisper, “I hope this year brings us both peace and happiness.”

Thoma

Thoma would surprise you with a warm and cozy celebration. He would cook your favorite dishes and decorate your house with Christmas decorations (even though it's not Christmas anymore) and handmade garlands.

He would insist on writing wishes for the coming year together, placing them on a decorated tree.

When midnight comes, he would hug you tenderly and thank you for making his life brighter.

Kaedehara Kazuha

Kazuha would prefer a quiet, poetic celebration. He would take you to a cliff where you can watch the sea lit up by fireworks.

He would bring a haiku he wrote especially for you, giving it to you as a gift.

As the sea breeze caresses your face, he would hold you close and whisper, "The wind will guide us to new horizons together."

Raiden Ei

Ei is not used to festivities, but she would strive to understand the importance of the New Year to you. She would take you to the plane of Euthymia for a quiet, private moment.

She would prepare a tea ceremony, practicing diligently so that everything would be perfect. As you share the tea, she would talk about what it means to her to have you in her life.

At midnight, she would take your hand and promise to protect the time you share, saying, "You are a constant light in my eternity."

Arataki Itto

Itto would host a boisterous celebration with his gang members, insisting that New Year's must be an unforgettable party.

He'd set up ridiculous games and challenges for everyone, making sure you'd have fun (though he'd probably take winning too seriously).

At midnight, he'd pull everyone aside and take you to a quiet corner. "Hey, you're the reason this year was the best of my life! Let's smash it together this year too!"

Kuki Shinobu

Shinobu would make sure Itto didn't go overboard, but she would also find time to celebrate with you in her own way.

She would probably take you to a nearby shrine to make wishes for the coming year, helping you write them down on little ema wooden tablets.

At the end of the night, as you two walked home, she would say something like, "Thank you for being my constant amidst all the chaos. I'm sure this year will be amazing because you'll be with me."

Alhaitham

Alhaitham would plan a relaxing evening at home, reading and sharing your favorite books. He would make an effort to cook something special, though he might ask for help if he's unsure of his culinary skills.

At midnight, he would make a simple but honest toast, saying something like, "A new year of learning and growing together."

Although he may be reserved, he would show you his affection with small gestures, like lacing his fingers with yours while you talk.

Cyno

Cyno would propose a New Year filled with games and pranks. Maybe he would even invent a TCG to celebrate the occasion.

Just before midnight, he would look at you with a mix of seriousness and affection, promising that he will always be there to protect you.

Although he is someone who is reserved with his emotions, his actions would show how much he values you.

Tighnari

Tighnari would prefer a quiet celebration in nature, taking you to a special corner of the Avidya forest to gaze at the stars.

He would share with you curiosities about how plants react to the change of year, showing you night-blooming flowers that only open at this time.

As midnight came, he would wrap you in a warm blanket and say, "Though nature's cycles change, my affection for you remains constant."

Neuvillette

Neuvillette would prepare a serene evening in his home, where you can enjoy the tranquility of the water flowing nearby. He would serve you an exquisite tea accompanied by traditional sweets.

At midnight, he would take you to the balcony to watch the lights reflecting in Fontaine water.

He would dedicate to you some soft but meaningful words. "The flow of time seems more bearable when I am with you."

Wriothesley

Wriothesley would arrange something more relaxed but full of detail. Perhaps a walk through the less cold areas of Fontaine or a dinner prepared with simple but well-crafted ingredients

He would surprise you with a small gift, something meaningful that shows how well he knows you.

At midnight, he would hold you tightly, whispering in your ear: "You are the best of this and every year."

Lyney

Lyney would make the New Year an unforgettable spectacle, organizing a private magic show just for you. Each trick would be filled with little details that represent his affection.

He would surprise you with a gift hidden in one of his tricks, perhaps a necklace or a handwritten letter with his deepest thoughts.

When the clock strikes twelve, he would gently take your hands and say, "With you, every year seems like a magical act of fate."

Furina

Furina would turn New Year's into a dramatic, extravagant event. She would throw a themed party in her (and your) honor, making sure everything was perfect.

She would insist that you both dress in fancy outfits, saying that you both must be the center of attention.

At midnight, when fireworks light up Fontaine, she would take your face in her hands and say, "See? We are the brightest couple of this year and of all those to come."

Here is my masterlist, in case you are interested in any more of my work or want to send me a request, they're opened and would help me so much! <3

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sukirichi · 8 months ago

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[ DUSK ‘TILL DAWN : 014 ]

“we who bear the burden of the crown do not need to love. you only need to stay here, with me, in power, in greed, in lust – in victory.”

cw. modern royal au. explicit smut, 18+. fingering. angst. unedited. toxic characters & toxic relationships. fluff. romance.

notes. feedbacks / reblogs/ comments are appreciated <3

wc. 11k

series masterlist

[ FOURTEEN ] you say, “I don’t understand,” and I say, “I know you don’t.” we thought a cure would come through in time, now I fear it won’t.

The night couldn’t come close to what Rintaro had dreamt of.

Laughter rang throughout the house, the gentle murmur of the ocean harmonizing with the convivial conversations, a moment that felt both timeless and precious. The beach house, aglow with soft, ambient lighting, mimicked the warm murmurs of his heart.

Rintaro sat between his brothers on the living room, a sense of profound contentment washing over him. His gaze swept across the scene before him: his family, radiant and effervescent, their faces illuminated by the flickering flames of a nearby bonfire. His brothers’ cheeks reddened by the liquor, their faces pulled back in laughter. They shoved one another as they fervently pressed on the game’s buttons, teasing and shoving one another.

He marveled at the simple pleasures – the shared stories, the clink of glasses, the playful banter that filled the air with a blatant sense of belonging.

The night was redolent with the scent of the sea, mingling with the fragrant notes of jasmine and citrus from the garden – he’d ensured to fill the surroundings with anything but vanilla in hopes of pleasing you. Leaning back on the couch, Rintaro watched as the waves lapped gently against the shore, their rhythmic cadence a soothing counterpoint to the lively atmosphere. The stars, scattered like diamonds, adorned the velvet sky – reminding him of you. How your eyes shone and glimmered like stars, or the way your face lit up each time he came close.

You no longer hated him. Or if you did, you hated him less.

You were finally looking at him like how you always used to.

In that moment, Rintaro felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude Everything felt right in his world. The beach house – a sanctuary where memories were made and love was rekindled. The laughter of his brothers, the shared glances and secret smiles. He felt connected to everything around him.

“What was that all about?”

Rintaro faced his brothers. The others who stayed around were huddled around the couch playing Mario Kart, their attention honed in on a deeply absorbed Tooru, determined to win.

“Yeah, what was that?” teased Atsumu, taking another swig of his drink. “Since when have you and Maiko become close?”

Tooru rolled his eyes. “We were always close.”

“Was close, until you got married,” corrected Osamu before sharing a knowing look with his twin. A split second later, and the twins erupted into laughter, the sound mocking and echoing. “Don’t tell me you’re falling for her.”

“I’m not. Don’t be stupid,” Tooru’s clicking on the controls got louder. “We just… fighting gets old sometimes, alright? You grow up eventually.”

“I’m pretty certain not fighting is not the same as ‘oh, I scored a point, let me run to my wife and hug her!’”

Rintaro and his brothers sniggered. It was the sight, indeed – one that both confused and amused all of them. The married pair had always been like cat and mouse, with Maiko being the cat and Tooru the mouse who ran away at the mere sight of her. But something had changed, something had shifted between the two. No one knew where it began, or how it happened. It was just there. A change so sudden Rintaro might’ve gotten whiplash, and wondered if Tooru had ever been interested in you in the first place. Or maybe he’d been so blinded by jealousy he assumed everyone was going to steal you away from him.

The thought of it made the liquor taste bitter on his tongue.

“The rest of you should get married and see for yourselves,” mumbled Tooru, “Might make you man up, too.”

His brother received a chorus of noncommittal grunts. None of them were in no rush to get married, more so because the Queen might arrange one for them. There’d been whispers here and there already how the twins might be next, and neither seemed ecstatic by the idea. Osamu was more on the neutral side, whilst Atsumu passionately went against it.

“Speaking of marriage, you and the Princess have been… oddly fond of each other.”

Rintaro’s eyes flickered to Osamu, brow raising at the hidden implications of his otherwise innocent tone. Although he knew his brother well – nothing was ever innocent with Osamu. He was merely a more discreet version of his reckless brother.

“We were always fond of each other.”

“I meant to say that she does not look like you she hates you now.”

“That’s because she does not,” affirmed Rintaro, feeling pride swell in his chest. He felt confident enough to believe in his words. He knew he’d been a good husband – he’d been attentive to all your needs, let you pull on the reigns and ordered him around like he wasn’t the Crown Prince. Curiously enough, Rintaro did not mind. He rather enjoyed that you were speaking with him again, and you’d tolerated him enough to even smile around his presence. That, and you’d finally let him hold you each time you slept. To say he was in heaven would be an understatement.

“We are finally heading in the right direction.”

“Right,” Atsumu scratched his nose, clearly not believing it. “If that’s what you say, sure. Congratulations on your everlasting marriage, brother.”

Rintaro bit back his tongue. Refusing to let his brothers ruin his night, he quickly stood up and bid them farewell. Find my wife was his only thought in that moment. He saw you rushing upstairs a while ago, but did not follow since you didn’t hear him calling out for you. Not that he thought much about it – he knew hosting and attending to everybody must’ve been quite stressful for you. You’ve been running around in circles.

Now that the night was ending, Rintaro’s only desire was to tend to you, and hold you close.

Taking two steps at a time, he quickly reached the bedroom. He hadn’t realized how eager he was to lay his eyes upon you. And as ridiculous as it sounded, he’d missed you. Having his brothers around meant both your attentions were divided. That could be changed, though. Everyone would soon retire in their rooms, and he could have you all for himself again.

Rintaro stepped quietly into your bedroom, his footsteps muffled by the plush carpet. The room was dimly lit, the soft glow of the moonlight streaming through the expansive glass walls, casting a silvery sheen over everything it touched. He paused at the entrance, his breath catching as he saw you standing by the window. Your silhouette framed against the vast, star-studded sky. You’re wearing nothing but a silky white nightgown, the sides of it falling down your left shoulder to reveal a strip of bare skin. Bathed under the moonlight, he would’ve thought you were an angel who fell right before him.

Lost in thought, you gazed out at the night scenery.

The gentle waves of the ocean shimmered under the moon’s gentle caress, and the distant sound of the sea breeze whispering through the trees filled the air. The sight of you, bathed in the ethereal glow, made his chest tighten with something unfamiliar. Something alien, something stranger. You looked almost otherworldly, an arm wrapped around your center, and he found it impossible to look away.

The delicate curve of your neck, the lines that made up your profile – everything about you in that moment was perfection.

Rintaro felt his heart swell. Had you always been this beautiful? He knew you were attractive; he wouldn’t have bothered wasting his time on someone he didn’t find pretty. But you were always more than just a pretty face. You were so beautiful, so enchanting, standing there like a figure from a dream he didn’t want to wake up from. He was afraid just as he was bewitched – afraid he’d wake up and find none of this was real, and captivated by how ethereal you looked.

It seemed difficult to wrap his around the fact you were his, because how could he have been so lucky?

He approached you slowly, not wanting to break the spell of the moment.

“Isn’t it beautiful?” you murmured, sensing his presence without turning. It made him smile and pause on his tracks, his gaze fixated on your back before his eyes flickered towards the glass. Through the reflection, he saw you looking back at him, your lips pulling into the smallest of smiles.

His heart stuttered in his chest. Stupid – that’s what he felt. He was as nervous as a schoolboy. “Yes,” he replied softly, his voice full of emotion. As if pulled by an invisible string, Rintaro stepped closer to you – close enough he could inhale the scent of your shampoo and bury his nose in it. That’s exactly what he did. Weak when it came to his wife, he wrapped his arm around your shoulders and pulled you close to him, resting his cheek at the top of your head. “But not as beautiful as you.”

You turned to look at him, your eyes shining with the same light that illuminated the night. A smile played on your lips, and in that shared moment of silent connection, he felt an unspoken bond deepen between you. The night, the scenery, the serenity of their surroundings – it all paled in comparison to the beauty he saw in you.

He understood now – why men went to war and put their lives on the line because they believed in something. Because they had something, or someone, worth protecting. Now that you were in his arms, pliant and soft, wholly gorgeous and utterly his, he knew he felt the same.

He would gladly go to war for you.

In fact, there was nothing he couldn’t do for you, because of you. He understood now why people get married, because if this was how his daily life was going to look life, then it seemed a real shame that he could not live forever. A lifetime with you wasn’t enough. And for a brief moment, Iris’ face flickered through his head. This time, the image of her did not fill with him with adoration, or raging jealousy, the blinding effect of greed. He felt nothing but animosity towards her in that moment, his heart chiding him because how could he have been so stupid?

She was nothing like you. She couldn’t – and would never – come close to you.

Rintaro’s eyes softened as he studied your features. Your eyes were red, and dark circles lined them. “Hey,” he nudged your forehead with the pads of his knuckles, “What are you thinking so hard about?”

“Nothing.”

He hummed, the sound vibrating in his throat. It didn’t seem like it was nothing, but he didn’t push. He trusted you would tell him when you were ready. For now, he simply wanted to have you like this – in his arms, breathing in his scent, and eyes closed as he swayed you from side to side.

“I missed you.”

Your lips wobbled as you fought back a smile. “Did you now?”

Rintaro was not good with words – never have, never will. He decided in that moment it would be best to convey the emotions he couldn’t express through actions, kissing the top of your head and spinning you to face him. With your face cradled in his hands, Rintaro leant down, his lips gently – but passionately – meeting yours.

It isn’t his first kiss. But it felt like it was in that moment, his heart rampaging inside his ribcage when you made a small sound of surprise. The sound echoed through him, and he groaned, finding the last bits of his restraint breaking like a rusty chain.

Unable to help himself, he gathered you in his arms. Tapping you once on the ass, you immediately jumped into his hold, your legs wrapped around his waist. It was a blur after that – he’d fallen on the bed with you on top of him as soon as the back of his knees hit the wood. It’s nothing if not messy, just as it was sensual and slow – painfully and excruciatingly slow. Yet he couldn’t go fast, refusing to pin you down on the bed and take you hard.

Maybe it was the moonlight flittering in the room. Maybe it was your feminine, soft scent that made him lightheaded and heedy with desire. All he knew was that he wanted the moment to last, wanted to cherish every single thing he did.

So, slow it is. He was slow and took his time as he flipped you under him, using his knee to settle himself in between your legs. Your eyes are blown wide, the mounds on your chest rising up and down with each staggered breath. It filled him with a sense of achievement knowing he’d been the one to cause your undoing. Smiling softly at you, he dove in for another kiss, moaning all throughout at your taste – like red wine, soft and swirling at his tongue. With deft fingers, he reached over to slide the straps of your nightgown down your shoulder, pulling away to pepper small, heated kisses over the skin. You’re breathing hard the entire time.

And your hands are everywhere – tugging at the buttons of his shirt, pulling at the annoying pants he’d kept on. His laugh is muffled as he presses them to the nape of your neck, licking and sucking until you were keening under his palm.

He decided not to torture you any longer. Sliding his lips back to your mouth, Rintaro gently pushed you back to the pillows, his fingers finding purchase at your heat. The moment his hand came in contact with your damp underwear, you whimpered, and he greedily swallowed down the sound. You were so beautiful, so unreal.

Pushing the material to the side, he pushed two fingers and curled them in. Your reaction is instantaneous – pushing your hips off the bed, tilting your neck to the side as you gasped in his mouth. He took the chance and slid his tongue, sucking on yours while his mind ran a mile a minute.

It was as if his senses had been amped up to two.

The rustling of the sheets, the squelch of his fingers in your cunt, and the lewd, slick sounds of your tongues dancing together. It wasn’t long before you’re falling apart in his hands. Moaning, you tugged at his hair, the slight sting nearly driving him crazy. You did this to him; making him fall prey to your desire, making him bend his will at whatever you pleased. He realized you could stab him at this moment, slit his throat, abandon him – he would’ve died a happy man. Seeing you sprawled out before him, your nipples peaked and hard through the thin material of your nightgown, lips bruised and shiny with saliva. You’d never been more beautiful in his eyes.

And when you called out his name, not Your Highness, not my Prince, just Rintaro, he allowed himself to sink deep into you.

Rintaro has reached nirvana. With one hand holding you down by the hip, and the other cradling your face, his thumb caressing your lower lip, his eyes are locked with yours. The world could come crashing down, and nothing could tear his gaze away from you. He drinks you in greedily – every fluttering lash when he thrusts deep, or the way your eyes rolled to the back of your head as you squeezed tight around him. Beautiful, mine, mine mine mine – his throat constricts with the affection he’s trying so hard to hold back. He wanted to fuck you hard enough you left a deep imprint on the bed, the shape of your bodies embossed on the sheet. To slide in deep, and carve a space for himself inside you that no one else would reach.

He was a mess, and so were you. Wet, sloppy kisses that were more tongue and teeth than lips, with you holding onto him for dear life. It makes him chuckle, only for that same sound to come out garbled and chucked each time you tightened around him. And when you come, your cream outlining a ring around his cock, eyes shut tight and lower lip held captive by your teeth, Rintaro only had one thing in mind: marriage was a beautiful thing.

“You,” he croaked out, feeling a lump form at his throat. He couldn’t understand why his eyes glossed over with tears, or why the mere sight of you brought out with him emotions he was unfamiliar with. “I adore you.”

You reached over to cup his face, your eyes unreadable. “We should rest.”

The sheets were damp, your bodies sticky and uncomfortable. Yet Rintaro couldn’t pull away from you, not even if he were to be forcibly taken away. This is where he belonged – deep inside you, your foreheads pressed together, breaths mingling and your hands intertwined until your wedding rings clinked at the contact.

Here is where he belonged.

Kissing you one last time, Rintaro lets his arms fall around you. He collapses at your side, still buried in your warm, wet heat. He’d been mumbling sleepy nonsense as he tugged you closer to him, an arm wrapped around your midsection, your legs and his just one confusing entanglement. Slowly, his heart returned to its normal pace. It’s no longer screaming, rather humming your name. Nothing felt more right. You were there, your cheek resting on top of his bicep curled under you.

Drawing circles over your bare hip, the delicate scent of roses enveloped him, subtle yet intoxicating.

It was your scent, a fragrance that clung to you like an invisible halo. He couldn’t stop himself from breathing in deeply, savoring the floral notes that seemed to blend seamlessly with the night air. You smelled like grace and elegance, of tender moments shared and memories cherished. Like a princess from a fairytale, he thought, smiling into your skin, because you were a princess. His princess, his wife.

He loved the way you smelled, your fragrance lingering into the sheets and onto his skin long after you’d fallen asleep. Each inhalation was a revelation, a moment of pure, unadulterated connection he’d never felt before. Delicate and profound – you were kissed by the morning dew, fresh and timeless. He cherished it, breathed it in just in case he forgot before looking out the window.

Outside, the whole world stayed still. His Kingdom was out in the open, all for him to take. It was his – the land, the people, all the wealth and power one could wish for. Yet Rintaro felt no attachment to it.

The real treasure was there, in his arms, sharing the same bed with him.

The realization that he wasn’t desperate to be King anymore made him tighten his hold on you, his face buried at the crook of your neck. This was all he wanted now. To live the rest of his life like this – with you, in this home. But he knew it couldn’t be that easy. He had to sever all ties from his past before he could move onto the future, and fully enjoy the present.

Tomorrow, he would break up with Iris.

Tomorrow, he would tell you those three words he’d never uttered before.

𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐡 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞’𝐬 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥, 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐠𝐨.

Through the efforts of the royal staff, the palace became a veritable spectacle of opulence and grandeur, transformed into a shimmering paradise befitting for the ninth prince’s debut ball. Crystal chandeliers hung like clusters of starlight from the vaulted ceilings, casting a soft, golden glow over the marble floors that gleamed underfoot. The walls were adorned with rich tapestries and floral arrangements that exuded a heady perfume – one that made Rintaro feel squeamish inside his suit.

Guests in their finest attire filled the grand ballroom, a sea of jewel-toned gowns and sharp tuxedos. The air buzzed with the lively hum of conversation, punctuated by the clinking of champagne glasses and bursts of laughter. An orchestra played a waltz, the music weaving through the crowd and inviting couples to the dance floor, where they glided with grace and precision.

Scanning the ballroom, it was a kaleidoscope of movement and color. Dignitaries, ambassadors, and nobles from far and wide had gathered, their presence a testament to the importance of the occasion. The most influential figures in the kingdom mingled effortlessly, their animated discussions ranging from politics to the latest fashions. The sheer number of luminaries was staggering, each one adding to the ball’s prestige and splendor. Leave it to the Queen to turn a young boy’s important day of his life as an opportunity to establish connections and flaunt her power.

At the center of it all stood Prince Tobio, resplendent in a tailored suit that accentuated his princely bearing. His eyes sparkled with excitement and gratitude as he moved through the crowd, graciously accepting well-wishes and gifts. He was the epitome of charm, engaging each guest with a smile that radiated genuine warmth.

Tables laden with an array of culinary delights lined the edges of the room, each dish a masterpiece of gourmet artistry. From delicate hors d'oeuvres to decadent desserts, the kingdom’s finest chefs had given their utmost best to impress. Servers moved with practiced elegance, ensuring that no glass went unfilled and no plate remained empty.

It was a beautiful ball, Rintaro had to admit. A ball he would’ve greatly appreciated were he not occupied digging his hands into Iris’ hip, her gown fisted under his palms. She tasted even more exquisite today, her lipstick had a touch of cranberries, and he could faintly taste fizzy champagne from her tongue.

It was an unspoken agreement between the two that they would keep their hands to themselves during public events like this. But it was far from being easy – not when Iris wore a tight-fitting gown that accentuated all her curves, leaving very little to Rintaro’s imagination. He’d seen it all, of course. He’d kissed and licked at every spot and corner of her body. He’d memorized the way she tasted on his tongue, or the face she made when he knew she was about to come. He knew all that, and still couldn’t get enough of her. Before the Princess could react, he’d already dragged her into the nearest hallway, his lips furiously crashing with hers.

Screw the party. It wasn’t like his presence was needed; all the Princes had attended. Surely they would not notice the absence of one.

Iris moaned into his mouth, her perfectly manicured nails running upward his suit. She broke free from him to breathe for a moment, but Rintaro was unbothered. He’d turned his attention to sucking down on her neck, his mind flaring with possessiveness. A strategically placed hickey for everyone to see would please him – but it would also make Iris mad at him.

“Your Highness, we should stop this.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Iris,” he mumbled, uncaring as Iris wove her hands through his thick hair. “We’re just having fun, are we not? It’s not like anyone can see. I made sure we would be alone.”

“It’s not that,” she flattened her palms over his chest and gave a gentle shove. It’s enough for Rintaro to pull back, studying the way her lower lip puckered out – just like how she always did when she wanted something from him. “I just… I think our relationship is pointless. I don’t see this going anywhere.”

Rintaro chuckled, tipping her chin upwards to make her look at him. “Where would it go? You’re married. I’m in line for the throne. We couldn’t have any more than what we have now.”

“That’s exactly why we should break up. I’m married, and I’m tired of being passed around between you brothers like I’m some sort of toy. I’m a princess, Rinnie. I deserve to have more dignity than just being your… plaything, or whatever.”

“You are not my plaything.”

“I am not your wife, either.”

He stepped back. Tipping his head to the side, he let his eyes roam over Iris’ figure. She was gorgeous, that much was evident. She had sinful curves, her golden skin radiant as if she was touched by the light itself. It was fitting, he thought. Iris burned bright like the sun – passionate, fiery, and scalding. He’d known her long enough that she would stop at nothing to get at what she wanted, but her dilemma was not something he could easily offer her on a platter.

“Is that what you want, then? Title and dignity?”

Iris was a Princess by marriage, one arranged by the Queen herself.

However, Rintaro thought bitterly, no amount of elegance lessons or femininity practices could change Iris at her core. She was a Princess only by decoration, the twinkling tiara on her pretty head an accessory she received from being associated with his brother. But she was not regal – her temper too short, her lies too deceiving, and her smiles too empty.

He loved her, yet somehow the thought of sharing the crown with her felt wrong. Now that he thought about it, not even Princess Maiko would make a fitting Queen – not that Tooru would ever be in line for ascension. It was just a realization. Iris was too hollow in her heart, and Maiko was too childish.

None of them would make good Queens.

Iris shook her head, the tendrils of hair left to frame her face swaying at the motion. “I want security. I don’t want to keep fooling around with you if it risks my position. Unlike you, I don’t have a sweet, dear mother who would catch me if I’m kicked out of the Palace.”

Rintaro gave a one-shouldered shrug. “Fine. I’ll be King, then. And once I ascend to the throne, I’ll have you and my brother separated, and you shall be mine for the rest of our lives.”

She looked like she wanted to laugh at his face, which shouldn’t have to hurt as much as it did. “This is a ridiculous plan. You’re not serious, are you?”

His lips twitched. Somehow, he wanted to wipe that smug look off her face. It was a face he’d seen enough from his tutors and governesses – all too familiar with their disappointed shakes of their head, their pitying looks whenever Rintaro aimed too high. Just stick to the books, they said, there is no need for you to be great. Follow only what is expected of you. Rintaro detested that, to fit into their image of how he should and shouldn’t be.

Levelling his hard gaze with hers, he ripped himself away from her body. Scalded, burnt – that’s how he felt each time he was with her.

“Watch me.”

Rintaro stood at the edge of the ballroom, his keen eyes sweeping over the glittering crowd. His heart was set on finding a suitable potential wife, someone who embodied innocence and modesty. He sought a woman whose presence did not draw undue attention, someone who exuded a quiet grace that promised loyalty and submission. He needed a woman who would be malleable to the wife he wanted, the Queen he needed her to be. Even if it was only to prove a point to Iris that he could succeed, Rintaro still felt that he could not take his decisions lightly.

He had to consider the throne, the mother of his children, a future Princess and a potential Queen.

Observing the throng of guests, his gaze flitted past the more striking and flamboyant ladies who basked in the limelight. They were all stunning, of course. He’d be lying if his gaze did not linger longer than what was seemed acceptable whenever the ladies giggled at his attention. Nevertheless, his attention lingered on those who seemed to blend in the background, their beauty understated and their demeanor serene. Surely one of them would catch his eye. That’s all he wanted – an unassuming, plain, and dull doll whom he could shape to be good enough to stand next to him. He was the Crown Prince, after all.

He looked and looked – and there you were. In a dark blue gown, your eyes downcast in shyness. You moved with an elegance that spoke of gentleness and humility, smiling politely at everyone who greeted you. Still, he could tell you felt out of place. You stuck out like a sore thumb, plastered at the wall, staring out into nothingness and looking like you’d rather be anywhere than here.

And the best part? No other men approached you.

With his goal in sight, Rintaro approached you, impressed with the way you carried yourself with quiet dignity, your every gesture imbued with a subtle charm. You seemed unassuming, yet your eyes held a depth in them that intrigued him. He smiled to himself, deciding that a demure maiden like you might just be the perfect match he was seeking.

“Splendid ball, is it not?”

“Your Highness,” your eyes widened, and Rintaro awaited it. A crack in your composed stature, a flaw for him to point out. Yet, you did not stutter despite your initial shock, your features schooling into that of well-practiced manners in the blink of an eye. “A most wonderful ball, indeed.”

As the Prince surveyed you, his eyes were drawn to your modest adornment. You wore a simple necklace and earring set, understated yet remarkably elegant. It was vastly different from the layers and chunks of crystals the other ladies wore. It was then that recognition sparked in his mind – the jewelry was from a rare collection that had once captivated Her Majesty. He could still remember that day clearly; his mother’s disappointment when she learned it was already sold. Very rarely did the Queen not get what she wanted, but to think that you – simple, quiet, and shy – would be the one to snatch it right under Her Majesty’s nose.

He had to admit, you piqued his curiosity and admiration.

“My baby brother is finally on his path on becoming a man,” he continued, effortlessly swiping a flute of champagne when a servant passed by. You were quick to follow his action, and Rintaro couldn’t stop himself from smiling. “I’m sorry, I don’t believe I caught your name, and your face… Have I seen you around before?”

“Probably not, my Prince. These events are not really my thing.”

He didn’t doubt that. Shortly, you introduced yourself, shocking him as he learned you were a daughter of one of the three noble clans that helped his ancestors build the Inarizaki Empire. He hid his surprise by taking a sip of his drink, and pretended to be nonplussed.

“A lovely name for a lovely woman.”

“How very kind of you, my Prince.”

Deciding you couldn’t be any more perfect, Rintaro cut to the chase. “Are you married?” he’d blurted out, amused by the way your brows shot up. A quick glance at your gloved fingers showed that you were ringless, but so was he, and his heart was still taken by another. “Or, to be married?”

“No. I’m… as available as a lady can be.”

“Then I suppose you would not mind entertaining a Prince bored out of his mind for one night, do you?”

The internal dilemma is written all over your face. It’s obvious you didn’t want to dance, but who are you to say no when the Crown Prince has his hand outstretched?

“Oh, uh… I don’t think you would want me as a dance partner, Your Highness. I have been told I have two left feet–”

“Don’t worry about it. You can step on my feet if you require,” he encouraged, “Come on. Will you really deny your future King a dance?”

“If you insist…”

Forcing a smile to yourself that was more shy than uncomfortable, you eventually placed your hands on his. A perfect fit, if he dared to say it.

The orchestra struck up a waltz, and Rintaro led you to the dance floor. As you began to move, there was an initial and pronounced awkwardness, your hesitance palpable. You were able to follow his lead with precision, your steps flawless and elegant, yet your body was stiff with discomfort. You even stepped on him once or twice, grimacing and quickly apologizing – much to his chagrin. He hadn’t realized one could look so adorable in their conquest of trying not to crush his toes. Despite your unease, however, you danced with a grace that naturally came to you.

As the dance progressed, Rintaro’s eyes scanned for Iris. He found her stood beside Kiyoomi, her husband uninterested and unresponsive as ever. He had his back turned to her, his eyes closed as he leant against the wall. Nursing a drink in her hands, Iris’ gaze connected with his, her eyes narrowing at Rintaro’s hand resting on your waist. Then, her gaze flickered upwards to smirk at him – daring him, challenging him, to prove his words.

Rintaro clenched his jaw. He’d been so distracted by Iris he didn’t notice you’d stepped on his toes again until a short laugh bubbled up from his throat. It surprised you both – neither of you had expected he would find it funny. But he did, and he found himself inexplicably drawn to you.

When the music finally ceased, you both shared a knowing smile before doubling over in silent chuckles. Rintaro pointed at his toes, faking injuries until you were apologizing again and again – your eyes lighting up in joy.

“You are a splendid dancer. It is a shame you look like you would not entertain me for a second one.”

You placed a hand to your chest. “Of course I would never say no to you, Your Highness.”

“So you would not mind if I asked you for another dance later?”

“If it is what you would like.”

“Nothing would make me happier.”

He led you off the dance floor after that, compelled with a desire to actually speak to you. And so conversations were had, and he soon discovered your intelligence and wit, the humor lighting up your face and bringing a warmth to your demeanor. It was a warmth people from the Palace lacked, a genuinity in them he never knew was possible.

Your laughter, a sound he found unexpectedly enchanting, softened your features, making you even more beautiful. In those moments, he realized with a pleasant surprise that he enjoyed your company. In fact, he couldn’t recall the last time he’d laughed that hard, or spoke so easily with someone like he’d known them forever.

Could it be fate, then? Was he always meant to find you?

Shaking his head in laughter, his bangs fell into his eyes. “You are very pleasant company to have. I’m surprised no one has snagged you for themselves yet.”

You rolled your eyes. “Nobody is interested.”

“I find that a shame. Why wouldn’t they be?”

“There are just more eligible, more charming ladies out there. One with more charisma, and a little more grace–”

“But they do not have your humor. Or your wit,” tracing his gloved fingers to the curve of your cheek, Rintaro’s voice lowered as he spoke softly. “Or your beauty.”

The moment your breath hitched, Rintaro learned of a new desire: to learn what other reactions he could pull from you. It made him want to learn of all the most heart-fluttering lines, to memorize poetry and recite them to you, if only it would make you turn away, abashedly, once more.

“You are too kind, my Prince.”

“I am only being truthful,” he smirked, “And I have always been a lover of all that is beautiful.”

As the evening wore on and Rintaro spent more time with you, your innocent charm and unguarded nature became increasingly apparent. He felt a calculated determination solidify within him. You were the perfect person to be his Princess – not because his heart yearned for you, that was impossible. He had Iris already. Rather, your genuine demeanor and lack of guilde made you an ideal figure to shape and influence, a malleable partner who would submit to his will and fortify with his position without the complications of a more independent, fiery spirit.

You were simple, quiet, and boring. And the plan was simple enough: win your heart, marry you, become King, and cast you aside once he could finally be with the one he loved. Rintaro knew with absolute certainity when that time came, you would be too deeply in love with him. And when one was in love, one would forgive.

“You came.”

“It would be considered treason if I didn’t.”

Ah, yes. You and your quick remarks. It was one of the many things he liked about you. Smiling to himself, he pulled you deeper into the gardens. “Come. Follow me.”

It had been exactly three days since Tobio’s debut ball, three days since he’d laid his eyes on you. Rintaro wasted no time formulating his plan and putting it into action. He immediately called on you, made a formal visit to the Yuzuru Estate, and finished reading The Art of War if only to impress your father. That night he found out your father was also the Kingdom’s general, Rintaro hesitated. You seemed too important a figure to depose when the time came. But the longer he thought about it, the more it made sense.

He would be the future King, and the General was loyal to the crown and whoever sat in it. He would simply do his best to win your parents’ favor – which wasn’t all that hard. As soon as he arrived, your mother was swooning, and Rintaro knew he’d already won.

Today marked the first of your many dates. In a year or two, he would finally marry you.

Walking through the gardens with your hands shyly brushing against each other, Rintaro struggled to contain his emotions. It was his first time wooing a lady, much less be with someone who he’d never known before. Things were different with Iris; she approached him first. But with you… Rintaro felt that he had to be careful. Precise. Perfect.

He’d stayed up all night searching up on good date spots before deciding to invite you to the Palace. He didn’t think a public appearance for a first date would be good. Sure, he liked you, but things could still go wrong. But here in the privacy of his home, it felt more natural to act like he was this charming, effortlessly smooth Prince he wanted to present himself as.

Thankfully, the day was beautiful.

The morning sun bathed the palace gardens in a soft, golden glow, casting delicate shadows among the vibrant flowers and lush greenery. As you strolled through the grounds, he spotted you standing by a rose bush, your face turned towards the sky, basking in the gentle warmth of the new day.

For the first time, he saw you clearly in the daylight, and the sight took his breath away.

Your beauty, which had been understated under the dim ballroom lights, now seemed to radiate with an ethereal quality. The sunlight danced on your hair, highlighting its hues, and your skin glowed with a natural luminescence. The simplicity if your attire, a pale yellow dress, unadorned by the elaborate jewels of the previous evening, only served to enhance your natural beauty.

Your eyes, bright and clear, reflected the sky’s azure, and your lips curved into a serene smile as you inhaled the fragrant air.

Unknowingly, his mouth opened before he could think twice about it. “I thought you were beautiful in the moonlight, but seeing you for the first time in daylight… you are nothing short of bewitching.”

The smile on your face faltered, your fingers nervously twisting the fabric of your dress.

“Your Highness, if I may be so bold–” you sucked in a breath, grimacing, “–why are you interested in me?”

Rintaro blinked back in confusion. He was the Crown Prince. He was wealthy, handsome, and powerful. Shouldn’t any woman he showed interest in look delighted? Why did you look baffled instead?

Scratching his ear, his brow furrowed. “Do I have any reason not to be? I enjoyed my dance with you, and so did our conversations. You are… different from everyone I’ve met. I found myself unable to stop thinking of you ever since I held your hand in mine,” he said, surprising himself that he actually meant what he said. “When I formally called to your parents to court you, they welcomed me like I was their own son. I knew immediately I wanted to give their daughter the whole world and nothing less.”

Your pretty face pulled into a frown. “But you do not know me yet.”

He gestured to the gardens around you. “That is what we are here for – to get to know each other.”

“And if you do not like what you learn?”

Ah. So that’s what you were worried about?

He wanted to call you out for being silly; he would never choose someone he did not think was good enough for him. Love or not, he needed a woman he wouldn’t be ashamed to marry. However, he kept that sentiment to himself, because he, too, was curious on who you were beyond the surface.

“Test me, my Lady. You’ll find I might like you more than you’ll know,” he insisted, carefully picking out a rose and picking out the thorns. Your eyes widened in panic, but he merely brushed you off with a reassuring smile. Once the rose was picked free of its thorns, Rintaro offered it to you. “So tell me. What exactly can I do to win your heart?”

You giggled, twirling the rose between your fingers. “I believe you could win anyone’s heart. You’re a Prince, after all.”

“I do not want to steal anyone’s heart. I only want yours,” he smirked, basking in the way you hid your flustered face behind the rose. He couldn’t understand this sensation – like a flower blooming in season, his heart slowly unfurling as he leant down to your level, using his fingers to delicately pry the flower. It truly is a shame; you didn’t need to hide your lovely face so much.

“Are you saying if I were not a Prince, I would not even be worth your time?”

You huffed, turning away from him. Behind you, you could hear Rintaro laugh, the both of you knowing you were determined to not let the Prince read you like an open book. “I think… even if you were a Prince, I would appreciate it if a man took his time to get to know me.”

“I see,” he says, unfazed by the challenge. “It’s a good thing I have all the time in the world – there’s nothing else I’d rather be doing than know you, my Lady.”

The palace gardens lay before you, a hidden paradise veiled in the delicate glow of twilight. He gently guided you along the cobblestone path, his heart pounding in anticipation. This was your first date, and he listened to every word that escaped your lips. Everything you wished for was going to be his bible now, his guide into winning your heart. Not a word spoken by you was left unheard, and Rintaro already had your heart mapped out inside his head.

As you walked, the gardens seemed to come alive. Each flower and leaf whispering secrets of the past. The air was heavy with the fragrance of blooming roses, their velvety petals a riot of colors against the lush greenery. And when you walked past him, he vaguely realized the scent was emanating from you, too.

Rintaro stopped by a secluded alcove, where an array of moonflowers and lillies bathed in the sinking glow of the sun. He turned to you, his eyes reflecting the gentle light.

Reaching out, he gently took your hand and led you closer to a cluster of white lilies, their pure, delicate blooms standing tall and proud. “You remind me of these lilies,” he continued, his voice low and sincere. “Graceful, elegant, and timeless. They possess a quiet strength, a beauty that captivates and endures.”

You looked at the lilies, then back at him. “I’ve never seen anything so beautiful,” you whispered, voice tinged with awe.

He smiled, his thumb brushing lightly against your knuckles. “Nor have I, until I saw you. Just as these lilies thrive here in this garden, I hope you’ll find your place in my life, bringing beauty and grace to every moment we share.”

Your nervous giggle echoed through the alcove. “That’s a little fast, isn’t it, Your Highness?”

He raised his hands in surrender. “My apologies. You couldn’t blame me for getting excited,” at his words, you both shared an easygoing laugh.

Soon, he fell into step beside you, enamored by the way you fit so perfectly beside him like this – with him standing tall in his boots, and your steps falling in sync with your dainty heels that peeked out often from your dress.

“What would your dream life look like?”

“Dream life?” you hummed to yourself, your hands joined d behind your back. “I guess… I’d want to live by the sea – with a nice, beautiful house. I want it big enough that I feel like I could walk there forever and not get tired, where there’s a sunroof and plenty of glasses so it looks like I’m being bathed by sunlight each time. That sounds perfect, does it not?”

“It does,” he could picture it already, this house of yours. It’s only the first date, and Rintaro was already eager to go out and find this house you dreamt of. And if it did not exist, then he would have to build it with his own hands. “Does this dream life include being with a loved one?”

You snuck a shy glance at him. “Well, of course, but it never crossed my mind I might get married for love someday.”

“Let the world surprise you, my Lady.”

The two of you stood there, surrounded by the fragrant blossoms and the gentle glow of dusk, the world narrowing to just the two of them. Thought not yet in love – and he could never be – Rintaro savored every moment spend in your company, enjoying your conversations and the shared laughter that echoed under the orange sky. In your presence, he felt a rare ease, a comforting companionship that hinted at deeper – more intimate possibilities – yet unexplored.

And when you gazed up at him, with your head tilted down and peeking up only from your lashes, your smile shy and reserved, Rintaro knew he had to see you again. Soonest, at best.

“May I call on you again?”

You dipped into a curtsy. “Of course, Your Highness.”

“A call you would heed, I’m hoping?”

Biting your lip, you nodded. “I’ll be there. You know I could never refuse a Prince.”

A week later after your first date, Rintaro realized – much to his dismay – that he does not have any pictures of you. With flaming cheeks, and a hand to cover his face, he quickly typed your name on the Internet. There aren’t much results, as he expected. But there was one article, dated six months ago when you were sighted travelling with your mother in Greece. You’re in a flowy, white sundress, waving shyly at the cameras. There’s a hibiscus tucked at your ear, the flower the exact same shade as your lipstick.

Rintaro’s arm draped over his head.

“What am I doing…” he muttered to himself, and with one eye peeking at his phone, he saves your photo and sets it as his phone wallpaper.

It’s around your eleventh date when he decided that he wanted to take you out personally, sans the security team and the cameras following around. It wasn’t anything extravagant; just a simple, romantic dinner at your favorite restaurant. It went like any other date – peaceful, enjoyable, memorable.

The night wasn’t any different than the others. At least not until he’d dropped you off at the Yuzuru Estate. You’d been so beautiful that night in your dress, the fabric cascading like silk spun from dreams. You’d always been like that – dreamy, a tad too good to be true.

Driving you home along winding lanes dappled with moonbeams, Rintaro sensed the weight of the moment poised delicately between them. Halting at your place, he stopped you before you could move. He was a gentleman, he should open the doors for you, but his touch felt different. He felt different. His gaze traced the contours of your face, where the shadows danced upon it. In that suspended breath, in the silence of his car where he could hear the rapid beating of both your hearts – and he thanked the Gods he wasn’t the only one nervous – Rintaro leaned in.

The first touch of your lips set his nerves on fire. Like fireworks exploding within him, his stomach tumbleweeding and crashing, like being sucked into a black hole and drowning in non-existence.

It isn’t his first kiss – that was Iris. But it might as well be his first kiss, with the way he’s immediately hungering for more. To kiss you harder, press against you with more ferocity than he ever thought he was capable of, and to pull you onto his lap because you simply weren’t close enough. No, he wanted you to take up every space and inch of his life. To breathe in the same air you did, to exist under the same stars and moon. You could consume him and he would thank you for it.

Was this how first kisses felt like? If it was, then he would willingly sacrifice one of his idiot brothers in the hopes you felt the same. That he’d made your first kiss a good and memorable experience, instead of feeling like it’d been stolen just like Iris did.

All too quickly, the moment ends. The need for air makes you both pull apart, eyes wide and breathing heavily. The kiss is short but sweet, one that Rintaro would stay up all night thinking about over and over again. He almost regretted it, how it was over sooner than he’d liked – until you leaned in and kissed his cheek, mumbling a quick “thank you for dinner!” before running out the car, and disappearing behind the gates.

Rintaro fell back into his seat. Any other time, he would’ve felt upset you didn’t let him escort you back the house. He’d let it slide for tonight – only because you were embarrassed, and that sneaky cheek kiss was enough to appease him.

He doesn’t pull out from the driveway until you were waving at him from your bedroom window. Windows rolled down, he waved back, and headed back for the Palace.

The entire ride back, Rintaro had his thumb swiping over his lips every so often.

Your lip gloss still lingers, and he can’t help but wish you’d been his first kiss instead.

Tonight, Rintaro whispered to himself, tonight he would tell you everything.

On the secluded stretch of sand where the ocean collided, Rintaro had meticulously laid out a tableau of romance beneath a canopy of stars. Each detail spoke of his adoration: a gossamer canopy adorned with twinkling lights gently swayed in the sea breeze, casting a warm glow over the fine linens and flickering candles. Seashells adorned the table, their iridescent surfaces reflecting the moon’s gentle caress.

A carafe of chilled wine stood ready, its glass catching the shimmering light of the evening tide. Nearby, a small fire crackled, casting a warm, inviting glow amidst the cool embrace of the night.

As Rintaro amidst the romantic dinner he’d prepared, a nervous anticipation fluttered in his chest.

Tonight, amidst the symphony of the waves and the whisper of palm fronds, he would finally reveal the depth of his heart. It would be more than a confession – it was also the right time to ask for your forgiveness. Until now, he still couldn’t believe you chose to be by his side after everything he did. How you chose to protect him, and risked meeting men alone, all to save his reputation. He’d hurt you, over and over, and you’d chosen to stay loyal, over and over. He had to make sure tonight was perfect.

He’d been so desperate he turned to his brothers for help: Osamu prepared the meals, Tobio went out to buy a bouquet of flowers, and Kiyoomi helped him decorating the table. Kiyoomi seemed hesitant at first, scowling down at him when he knocked down his brother’s door. Rintaro couldn’t blame him – he’d been an awful husband to you, no excuses. But he could be better. He would be better. And after seeing his sincerity, Kiyoomi eventually stopped grumbling and helped him.

“Don’t mess this up. This might be your last chance,” he’d warned Rintaro, and he couldn’t agree more. “And for the record, I’m not doing this for you. I’m doing this for her.”

When Rintaro woke up that morning and you weren’t beside him anymore, he felt true fear for the first time. He felt like he was brought back to that time you’d gone for Itachiyama, and left him behind. That bone-chilling fear of seeing your side of the bed empty was enough to wake him up.

He couldn’t restart over from zero, but he could try. He would go down on his knees to beg for forgiveness if he had to. He’d do anything – absolutely anything – just to win your heart once more. He’d done it before, he could do it again. Only this time, he promised to keep your heart safe. Rintaro didn’t want to hurt you anymore.

But before he could confess to you, he had to get this over with first.

With the sun dipping low on the horizon, the sky painted in hues of melancholy gold and crimson, Rintaro made his way silently toward the beach. The gentle lapping of the waves provided a solemn rhythm to his steps, each footfall heavy with the weight of his purpose. There, amidst the soft, shining sands, he spotted Iris, her figure a silhouette he’d immediately recognize against the backdrop of the fading day. She sat with her shoulders slumped, her gaze distant and eyes glistening with unshed tears.

The air around them hung heavy with the unspoken knowledge of what was to come.

In the quietude of the moment, Rintaro approached with a heavy heart, knowing that their time together would soon unravel like the receding tide.

“Hey,” he mumbled, crossing his legs as he filled in the space next to her. Beside him, Iris rested her cheeks on her arms, her knees drawn together. Rintaro sucked in a breath. Iris looked… miserable. Her skin was dull, and dry. If he’d seen this side of her months ago, he would’ve reached over and wiped the tracks of dried tears on her face. Pulled her into his arms as he consoled her, and maybe even joked he’d beat up whoever made her cry.

But he couldn’t do that now. He didn’t want to, either.

Looking at Iris felt like looking at a stranger. Rintaro had loved her for a long time – ever since he was eighteen. Now, eight years later, and she still held a portion of his heart. Not romantically, but he’d known her forever. She’d been his first kiss, his first love, his first time, his first everything’s. She was the one who’d taught him how to handle his alcohol, the one who told him it was okay to not be so perfect, and when the time came – the one who’d been the reason Rintaro found you.

He couldn’t hate her, not really. Iris wasn’t a bad person; she was just misunderstood. She was lonely, desperate, and didn’t have a place to call home. She had nothing at all before she was suddenly thrown into a loveless marriage with a man who couldn’t stand her. And how could he hate her? He was just to blame as she was.

He was just as lonely as she was.

“Hey,” she greeted back, her voice cracked and broken.

“Are you alright?” he couldn’t help but ask, bumping his shoulder with hers. The contact didn’t set his skin on fire anymore, and Rintaro pursed his lips as he recalled it all – the times he’d obsessed over her, only for it to disappear. Like it never existed in the first place. In the back of his mind, fear loomed over him again – because what if that happened to you, too? What if, one day, you looked him in the eye and couldn’t recognize him anymore? What if one day, all the love you had for him vanished into thin air, too?

“I’m okay,” Iris said, even if they both knew she didn’t mean it.

“Kiyoomi told me you barely left your room.”

She chuckled, the sound mocking and muffled as she buried her head in her arms. “Pardon me if I didn’t want to join your play pretend of house. My entire stay here has been awful. You’re all acting like… like everything is okay.”

Rintaro sighed, “Listen, Iris… I know what we had was complicated. You’re married, and I was young and foolish. We did things we weren’t supposed to do – things we cannot take back,” he admitted, finally braving to reach over and cup her knee. Iris didn’t react, didn’t move or pull away. She remained frozen where she sat, save for the slight shake of her shoulders. Rintaro’s heart ached. “What we had was special, and I cherished it, cherished you, but I think we should finally end things.”

“You’re breaking up with me.” It wasn’t a question, it was a statement. One Rintaro couldn’t deny.

“Yes.”

Iris lifted her head, her face tear-stained as she laughed. “You should’ve done that a long time ago, if you weren’t so damn stubborn.”

Despite himself, Rintaro’s lips pulled into a bitter smile. “That would be my fault. I thought I was in love with you.”

“Are you not?”

“I don’t know,” he said, even though his heart was screaming no, no I don’t. “I always thought it was going to be you. You were the only one who I ever wanted this much, and when I found out you married my brother, I thought my world was going to end. That I was put on this Earth just to suffer and watch you fall for someone else when that should’ve been me. But then she came, and – and marriage is not so bad. If it’s going to be like this every day, I would gladly endure the troubles of the throne. I can do anything as long as she’s by my side,” the words are spilling out of his mouth, his heart, before he could stop himself. Rintaro clutched at his chest, watching the way his wedding ring glinted with the sunset. “I’m not sure if it’s love, but I do know I can’t watch someone I care about slip through my fingers again. I lost you already; I can’t lose her, too.”

“You’re giving up on becoming King? Just like that?”

“Not entirely. The throne is my birthright,” he reminded her, hating the way she always seemed to doubt him even in their end. But he was tired, so tired, that he no longer argued. “I just want to enjoy my marriage, Iris. And I think that’s something you’ve always wanted too.”

“So that’s it. We’re over.”

“We are.”

“Good,” she sniffled, wiping her tears with the back of her palm. The relief on her voice was palpable, and Rintaro lifted his head to look at her – watching the way her face broke out into a giddy smile. “Because I never wanted to be with someone like you in the first place.”

“Someone like me? What are you talking about?”

“Didn’t you know, Rin?” she turned to him, her smile cruel, and her eyes so cold it brought a chill down his spine. But nothing could compare to the dread he felt when he heard her next words, and that’s when he knew – his life would never be the same ever again.

The morning unfolded with a gentle whisper of anticipation when you returned to your room, a cryptic note left behind by Rintaro. It bore a simple request: “Dress up for tonight. Meet me at the beach.”

You loathed the way your heart fluttered with a blend of nervous excitement and curiosity. You loathed yourself even more for what you let happen last night – with him making love to you, and worshipping your body before you’d fallen asleep in his arms. It was slowly becoming torture. You didn’t know how to act anymore, how to keep up this act. How could you have been so foolish – believing that he could buy you a house and ignore his girlfriend, and suddenly that made everything okay? Because it didn’t. It didn’t change the fact that he loved her first, he loved her long enough that he’d gotten her pregnant.

It hurt even more the longer you pondered about it – did he know the entire time? Was that why he’d suddenly become sweet? The longer you thought about it, the more you felt sick to your stomach whenever you entertained the possibility that maybe he didn’t know.

Maybe he’d just truly had a change of heart.

Maybe he’d finally fallen in love with you.

But if that was real, all would change once he found out he was going to become a father. Iris couldn’t get rid of the baby – it was a royal child, unborn or not. She must’ve known that, too, otherwise she wouldn’t be so desperate. And what would happen next? You could lose Rintaro and Kiyoomi all at once.

You crept out of your husband’s arms the moment you came to. He was still fast asleep, looking so at peace and unaware that it felt wrong to leave. But it felt even more wrong to stay, so quickly exited the room and started early. Breakfast was served, the other Princes started playing again, until you couldn’t handle it anymore – pretending everything was fine, pretending like you couldn’t notice Rintaro’s longing stares at you from the other side of the room. You avoided him under the guise of tending to your guests, and it wasn’t long enough before he’s kissing your cheek, and went upstairs to disappear.

That was when you saw his note.

Now, you stood before an array of delicate fabrics and jewels. Choosing with care, you draped yourself in a gown of celestial blue, its silk like a cascade of moonlit waves against your skin. Jewels, glinting like captured stars, adorned your neck and wrists, adding a subtle sparkle to your reflection in the mirror.

As evening descended, you made your way down the beach, the scent of night-blooming flowers mingling with the soft rustle of your gown. There, your eyes caught sight of candles lit in the distance, a scatter of petals around a table and two chairs. The glow of lanterns and the shimmer of a thousand stars above awaited you like a secret garden of enchantment. There, beneath the velvet sky, you stood in quiet expectation, your heart racing with the promise of an eventful evening.

The dinner set up, adorned with its evening charms, you awaited Rintaro’s arrival with a patient grace. You stood there, rubbing your hands down your bare arms with growing unease as the minutes stretched into an eternity.

Each passing second seemed to amplify the rustling of the wind, heightening your senses to every distant footfall and murmur of the night. Your fingers, intertwined nervously, betrayed the inner turmoil mirrored in your furrowed brow and the anxious flutter of your heart. Time itself became an adversary, teasing you with its slow passage as uncertainty wrapped around you like a shroud.

The breeze picked up, whispering the unspoken question – where was he?

With each unanswered moment, your apprehension deepened, casting shadows upon the once-hopeful tableau of your rendezvous. When he finally appeared, a chill seemed to settle over the air despite the warmth of the evening.

Rintaro’s handsome features, usually a portrait of princely composure, were now etched with lines of sorrow and eyes that spoke of turmoil within. In his trembling hand, he held a bouquet of deep red roses, their velvety petals trembling as if mirroring his own unsteady emotions. Every movement he made seemed to carry the weight of a world crashing down upon him. The carefully chosen attire that once adorned him with regal splendor now draped over a figure that seemed to struggle beneath its weight.

As he approached, your eyes locked in a silent exchange that spoke volumes – of secrets unsaid, of a heart breaking under the strain of unspoken burdens. The bouquet he offered, usually a gesture of affection, now felt like a peace offering. A plea for understanding amidst the raging sea of emotions crashing against the shore of your fragile marriage.

The question hung at the tip of your tongue. Do you know? you wanted to ask, your fingers trembling and your eyes welling up with tears when Rintaro pointedly avoided your gaze.

“Rin,” you pleaded, closing the distance between you two as you stepped closer to him. Please, say something. Tell me, do you know? Did she tell you?

The questions die at the back of your throat as Rintaro closes his eyes, leaning forward and kissing your cheek. Your husband had never felt so far away than he did in that moment.

“I’m sorry,” he said after a moment, and pulled away. His words were loud and clear, yet his gaze was distant – like you weren’t even there in front of him. “This was a mistake. We should get divorced.”

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charlesslut16 · 1 year ago

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-Blanket fort-

summary : Lando, you and your son build a blanket fort...

PAIRING : lando norris x fem! reader

Warnings : none

note : i hope that you had a great day! Today is christmas eve so i am hyped for tomorrow.

december masterlist ; masterlist

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

Christmas morning at the Norris household was a bustling symphony of excitement. Well it was always so, but at the Christmastime everything was exciting.

The air was filled with the aroma of freshly baked cookies and the sound of laughter as your little one, a spitting image of Lando with his infectious smile, tore through wrapping paper to unveil his gifts.

One time you were at his parents and visited them. You sat down together and looked through Lando's old pictures in the picture book, and if you thought back, your son looked exactly like Lando did.

As the day progressed and the sun cast a warm glow through the windows, you found yourselves in the living room, surrounded by a sea of wrapping paper and toys.

Amidst the chaos, Lando's mischievous grin caught your eye, and you instantly knew an adventure was about to unfold. He had this twinkle in his eyes that told you.

With a twinkle in his eye, Lando proposed, "How about we make the ultimate blanket fort? The biggest that the world has ever seen, and it will be from the Norris family."

Your little one's eyes widened with excitement as we all dove into the task at hand. Cushions were piled high, blankets were draped, and chairs were strategically placed to form the perfect hideaway.

It was a masterpiece of coziness and imagination, a haven within your own home. It really was a true masterpiece, you could have never imagined that it would be this cozy.

Inside your blanket fortress, giggles and whispers echoed against the fabric walls. Lando and you stole moments to exchange knowing glances, your hearts filled with gratitude for this beautiful life we had created together.

As the evening descended and the twinkling lights of the Christmas tree illuminated your makeshift fortress, Lando's voice took on a softer tone. The softer tone.

"You know," he began, his eyes meeting mine, "I've been thinking..."

Your heart skipped a beat, anticipation dancing in the air. "About what?" you asked, your curiosity piqued, but you in your inside you knew what Lando had thought about. As did you.

"I was thinking... maybe it's time for us to consider adding another member to our little team," he said, his voice filled with hope and a touch of nervousness. It was cute.

Your breath caught in your throat, surprised yet elated by his suggestion. It surprised you to a degree, as you had hoped that he would ask and you could answer his request.

"Funny you should mention that," you replied, a smile spreading across your face. "I've been thinking the same thing."

A shared moment of silent understanding passed between the two of you, your unspoken desire for another child palpable in the air. You had both always dreamed of a little team.

With your little one playing nearby, oblivious to your conversation, Lando and you exchanged a glance filled with unspoken agreement. At that moment, the decision was made, and a new journey lay ahead.

Later that night, as the house settled into a peaceful lull, Lando and you found yourselves in the quiet embrace of our bedroom. Your conversation from earlier lingered in the air, and with a shared nod, you embarked on this new chapter of your lives.

With the warmth of our love surrounding you, Lando and you embraced the journey of trying to expand your family once more, your hearts overflowing with anticipation and the promise of new beginnings.

And as the moonlight filtered through the window, casting soft shadows across the room, you knew that whatever the future held, you were ready to embrace it together as a team, united in love and adventure.

#f1 #formula 1 #formula one #f1 fluff #lando fluff #lando norris imagine #lando norris one shot #lando norris #lando norris x reader #lando norris fanfic #lando imagine #lando x reader #ln4 fluff #ln4 imagine #ln4 fic #christmas #masterlist

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nehswritesstuffs · 2 months ago

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ghosts speak in whispers and lies; can’t know what’s real ‘til you’re the one who’s died - Part Four

I rewrote this thing so much, you all, you don't even know. T_T

Part One [FFN/AO3] - Part Two [FFN/AO3] - Part Three [FFN/AO3]

It's time for Robin to see exactly the sort of hold the parasite has on Law's mind, only to be thrown a shocking curveball. [8442 words; Law/Robin]

After cleaning themselves up, Law and Robin left the flat and headed towards his parents’ house. They walked while holding hands, enjoying the afterglow as twilight eased down upon them, washing the pale world in vibrant colors. They did not talk much and simply saved their energy for the upcoming dinner, which was bound to be a tough one.

Except, as the couple were wandering the streets of Flevance, Robin was doing her best to take in the scenery and gather what information she could. It was obviously not Flevance—Torao had said he had been ten when everything happened and the records matched, meaning there were details that would have been fuzzy by nature—but everything was so detailed that it was very clearly a construct of his own imagination. For her, what were the rules of this make-believe place? What could she exploit to make him believe her when it came to the fact none of this was real? How long would it take in both the dream and in real life?

She wasn’t worried about meeting his family, but more what his family’s ghosts were doing to him.

Finally, they turned down a residential street lined with tidy and well-kept rowhouses dividing multiple buildings, passing through a lively neighborhood filled with people both winding down for the evening as well as gearing up for a night out. Law directed her towards the steps of a unit at the end of a building; a narrow cross-street ran between it and the next cluster of rowhouses, leading towards other streets and shared gardens. Robin followed him in, unsure what awaited them.

“Ah! You’re here!” Robin had just barely shut the door when the young woman whom she met in front of the university came out of a nearby room and nearly tackled Torao in a hug. “I was wondering what took so long!”

“Lami, get off,” Law grunted. She didn’t, instead keeping a vice-grip on her brother. He looked at Robin and mouthed help, which was honestly cuter than Robin wanted to admit.

“…and where’s my hug?” she asked. Lami let go of Law and turned her attention to Robin, indeed enveloping her in a tight embrace. As she released Robin, a smell hit the older woman’s nose and she was taken aback. “What… what are we having for dinner…?”

“My parents somehow learned that you like paella and…?” Law punctuated the sentence with a shrug, trying to pass the blame on to anyone but himself.

“Lami… you still need to set the table before Robin gets here!” a man’s voice shouted from further into the house. Lami grimaced and escaped down the corridor into a different room, disappearing just as a man brandishing a dish cloth walked out of another room, looking ready to scold his daughter before realizing that his son and his guest had arrived. “Ah, there you are! Hon, Law and Robin are here.”

Robin then went through what she could only describe as a surreal experience. Law’s mother—Angela—and his father—Lars—were terrifying echoes of their children, both with more wrinkles on their faces and grays in their hair and yet so much life that it hurt her heart. They excitedly hugged her and immediately began to pull her into the kitchen to inspect the paella that they would be having for dinner. It honestly looked perfect and before long they were all sitting at the dining room table serving themselves from the dish.

“So, Law tells us that you’re one of Professor Clover’s brightest students to come from Ohara,” Angela said in an attempt to start conversation, “and that your mother is the Nico Olvia? His successor as Caretaker to the Oharan Tree of Knowledge? It must be quite the honor.”

“Fantastic things seem more mundane if you grow up with them,” Robin replied sweetly. “Professor Clover was more like a grandfather to me than a grand figure in archeology—his memory is different for me in that regard.”

“You’re being modest,” Lars said. “Then again, I understand why you’d move here to the North Blue for post-doctorate work—I almost went to the Drum Kingdom for studying to get away from the Trafalgar name, but life had other plans.”

“…such as…?”

“Here we go,” Lami groaned, rolling her eyes. She then squeaked and glared at Law—he must have kicked her under the table.

“I met Angela when I enrolled in my last year before graduation,” Lars explained. “We were in the same graduating class, but it wasn’t until the final year that the remnants of the three cohorts were combined. She was technically a year ahead, I was technically behind thanks to a gap year, and we hit it off from Day One.”

“He mansplained the endocrine system within five minutes of learning my name,” Angela quipped. The pair shared a smile before turning back to Robin. “We were engaged between graduation and board exams, and the rest is history.” She ate a spoonful of paella to give the conversation a pause. “How did you and Law meet?”

“Through a mutual friend,” Robin claimed.

“That Luffy kid, right?” Lars wondered. Robin nodded. “Ah, so when you and the guys took that time off to get Bepo back to Zou for that thing of his.”

“More or less,” Law shrugged. “I’m just glad the rest of them aren’t around right now—this pan of paella would not survive.”

“Not much survives Luffy when it comes to food,” Robin smirked. Seas forbid—this was almost fun in an odd way, and would be had the circumstances been different. “What do you both specialize in?”

“Amber Lead disorders,” Angela said, tone almost melancholy. “I used to be a hematologist and oncologist, while my husband was mostly in infectious diseases. When the first rounds of the classic Amber Lead Syndrome appeared, we applied our concentrations to the cure effort.”

“What do you know about Amber Lead?” Lars asked. Robin shook her head.

“Most of what I know comes from what I read in the papers at the time it first became a problem,” Robin said, which was the truth. She knew very little about the condition and figured that the Flevance of the dreamscape had been able to tackle whatever the real world couldn’t. Lami sighed again—a medical lecture was coming.

“Amber Lead—the substance you see all around you that makes Flevance so rich—used to be mined with the thought that it was safe for living beings to come into contact with like most metals we use,” Lars explained. “When it’s in the ground, it’s inert as it is now, but before we found the stabilization process it lowly leeched into our bodies and poisoned subsequent generations stronger than their elders.”

“Law and Lami were little when almost the entire country began to show signs of poisoning, including them,” Angela continued. “Due to our respective specializations, we were recruited to help find an effective treatment. Luckily, we succeeded with help from Flevance’s neighbors.”

Huh… the way Robin understood it, things had been the opposite. “They weren’t afraid of developing Amber Lead Syndrome themselves?”

“We all knew it was poison, and besides: they were already exposed simply by proximity,” Lars said. “Once we were able to begin extracting the Amber Lead from bodies, a way to deactivate what had already been mined was developed and now Flevance is a safe place to live again.”

“What kind of system was developed?”

“Well, we’re not entirely certain on the methodology, since that was done in the chemists’ domain, but it’s mostly solution baths and pastes and waxes that are applied that deactivate the heavy metals that would otherwise leech into the body,” Angela said. Robin nodded at that.

“To do such a thing would be like making the mercury in a thermometer safe to touch if it breaks.”

“That’s something they’re actually working on now,” Lars said, “to see what they need to do in order to transfer the toxicity nullification to other heavy metals without changing their properties. In the meantime, Angela and I are observing the long-term effects of Amber Lead on the Humanoid body, since it does many different things to different people outside of the classic symptoms.”

“Watching them take care of Lami was part of what made me want to get into medicine,” Law admitted. “It’s in our blood like archaeology is for you, though it was genuinely my choice in the end.”

“Well, it wasn’t my choice to get sick the worst,” Lami scowled. Robin saw how irritated the younger Trafalgar sibling was—it was clear she was not engaged in the conversation at all. “Does Robin really need to hear all this?”

“She might as well,” Lars said. “I’d be surprised if anyone from here would want to talk to her about Amber Lead and risk spooking her. It’s a miracle Flevance doesn’t suffer from brain drain, let alone is still capable of attracting outside talent. Amber Lead could have driven everyone with means out.”

“It’s not even amber-colored,” Lami pouted.

“It is when unrefined material reflects light, and that luster is part of what made people interested in it in the first place,” Angela stated. “I will enjoy the day when no one comes through my office door saying they came from some distant country because their antique Amber Lead-coated imports poisoned them.”

“There are still cases of Amber Lead Syndrome?” Robin asked. Lami made a noise—how boring!

“Mostly people who bought old tableware and other similar goods treated with Amber Lead, or inherited them from parents and grandparents,” Angela said. “There is a small number of new cases from Flevance, but they seem to be isolated.”

“We hope,” Lars added. Angela threw him a glare, which he proceeded to ignore. “I am of the opinion that it’s a potential rebound of symptoms, since we don’t know the genuine full breadth of long-term exposure, especially after recovery.”

“I’m the oncologist—it hasn’t shown any similarities to recurring cancer.”

“You said yourself that we’ve been seeing Amber Lead poisoning behaving lately in ways unlike we’ve ever seen.”

“Maybe that’s enough of that for now,” Law suggested. He and Robin shared a glance across the table—things were likely going to get worse if the topic continued. “Lami, what have you been covering in classes lately?”

As the topic of conversation shifted to Lami’s schoolwork, Robin felt sick again. She had not needed Law to tell her about how Amber Lead ravaged Flevance and her neighbors turned their backs; what she hadn’t been able to glean from the papers, she knew from accounts of people who were affected by the poison later on. This version of history was one cobbled together by the hopes Law had as a child and it showed. She politely continued to follow the conversation, wondering how much of the ghosts in front of her were genuine and what was conjecture based on what Torao had grown up missing… what he thought he grew up missing.He blushed in irritation at something one of the ghosts said and it almost broke Robin’s heart.

Although she could see past his walls as he slowly let her in, this was well beyond what he normally broadcast. What was it going to take to shatter this layer of comfort that had been built up around him? Would he allow himself to be this vulnerable around her again?

Eventually, dinner ended and Robin was heartily denied the ability to help clean up. Law instead took her into the sitting room, where he stole a kiss free from prying eyes.

“Now that wasn’t bad,” he said, seemingly trying to convince them both. “See? Nothing to worry about.”

“I guess not,” she replied. They sat next to one another on the sofa, just far enough apart to be safe from teasing should his family reappear. “This is a lovely home. This is where you grew up?”

“With exception for a little bit when Lami was sick, yeah,” he nodded.

“Law, we need to talk.” The confused look in his eyes hurt, but she knew this was the only way to get to him. “This… this life… it’s all a dream, a lie.” She watched as he let out a breath—he seemed almost… relieved…?

“Yeah, I know,” he agreed. Wait, what…? He was too calm for that admission. “We’re almost there, though. There’s just a couple formalities that need to happen.”

“What… what are you talking about…?” Robin immediately noticed that Law was getting sweaty. “What’s wrong?” She watched as he jammed his hand in his trouser pocket and pulled something out, immediately putting it in her hands and closing them around it.

“Please, think about it before you say anything, even if it means we don’t talk about it tonight,” he said. She furrowed her brow as she looked at what was in her hands—a felted box. Opening it up, Robin felt her stomach drop at the contents.

An engagement ring.

“I know it’s a lot to consider,” he continued, “but I think we can do it. If we stop lying to ourselves, then we can make it work, I know we can, even if it takes a while to complete the upgrade.”

“I…” All the words she wanted to say became stuck in her throat. This wasn’t fair; this parasite… it was pulling out all the stops. They could never be this normal—this average—even if they tried. An engagement, a wedding, a marriage… was a life for them even possible in reality? For once she found herself cursing a book—whichever one had planted the image of two people romantically being swept away into a life together into Torao’s brain and subsequently made it fodder for the parasite, and she was ready to snap a neck over it.

“Robin…?” She was shaken from her thoughts to see the confusion on his face and it hurt even more. “What’s wrong?” He tucked some of her hair behind her ear, his fingertips trailing down along her jaw. “Are you okay…?”

“I… I can’t do this.” The words hung heavy in the air, seemingly paralyzing Law. He clearly hadn’t expected anything other than an offer to talk about it at-worst, with his calculations leaning towards a yes. She stood and let the box snap shut as it fell to the floor. “I’m sorry.”

Before she knew it, Robin was out the door and headed down the pavement, simply wanting to put some space between her and the lie. That’s all it was, even if Law didn’t realize it, and one of them needed to stay level-headed about it… even if it meant breaking his heart.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-

There it was, clear as day: a Road Poneglyph. Both Robin and Law stared slackjawed at it, sitting under so much rock and water that it was hidden from all but them and their guide. Sukiyaki was silent, letting the information he had just imparted on them to sink in, for it was truly much to come to grips with. A submerged Wano hiding an ancient weapon? The resting place of one of the most dangerous pieces of stone in history? How opening Wano would have to be a physical act, releasing all the rainwater within its walls? It was plenty to consider.

“You’re very trusting, giving us this information,” Law stated. He turned his attention to Sukiyaki in time to see the old man shrug.

“You helped my grandchildren and my country—I can’t ask for much more in return,” he replied. “Use this knowledge as you see fit, provided you do not share the location of this cavern.” Sukiyaki then turned back towards the staircase. “I’ll leave you two be; there is much to do and I shall guard the kokeshi doll room until then.”

“Seal it up,” Law requested. Sukiyaki raised an eyebrow at him, causing the younger man to open up a Room and Takt some pebbles into the air in front of the former shogun. “Leave these in the room; I can swap us out with them when we’re done.”

“Are you willing to allow such a thing?” Sukiyaki asked Robin. She turned towards him, her eyes sparkling with something akin to glee.

“Yes, I am perfectly safe with Torao,” she assured. “Do you have any large sheets of paper? I am going to need to make three copies.”

“Aye; I can procure that. It shall be in the doll room.” Sukiyaki then left, the clack-clack-clack of his geta slowly vanishing up the stairs. Law both watched him ascend the staircase and kept on the lookout with his Haki, now feeling as though he would be able to flex such an ability with ease in battle.

“So, Nico-ya, what does it say…?” Law saw Robin absolutely entranced by the Road Poneglyph; an expression he had never seen on her before made her absolutely glow in delight. She was finally and truly in her element—this was what she was supposed to do. He slowly approached her and placed a hand on her shoulder.

“Can you believe it?” she whispered, voice wavering. “We’re almost there.”

“What… what does it say?”

“Well, it’s written in dialect, so that takes a bit of maneuvering in of itself,” she began. “There are two separate kinds of glyphs—ones that portray a complete word or concept and ones that are functionally individual letters—and that is what makes deciphering the Poneglyphs so intricate, since you can have the same word be transcribed in multiple ways and…!”

Robin gasped as Law grabbed and kissed her without warning, effectively cutting off her train of thought. She forgave him and melted into the kiss, draping her arms around his neck and shoulders as she materialized others to gently rest Kikoku against the railing.

“What was that for?” she chuckled as he broke the kiss. He bit the insides of his lips in embarrassment as he let her go.

“I’m sorry—you’re very attractive when you go on a tangent like that.”

“Now you know how I feel when you start talking about Sora,” she teased, walking out of his grasp. Robin touched the Road Poneglyph—first with her hand, then her forehead—and sighed. “It’s been such a long journey, and now I can see the end goal.” She felt him gingerly place a hand on her upper back—he was with her.

“Can you…” he whispered, “…teach me?”

“We’d be here all night and you wouldn’t be able to grasp the basics,” she claimed with a smirk.

“Is that a challenge?” he laughed in near-disbelief. “You weren’t the only gifted kid, you know.”

“Gifted kids peak early; talented learners are the ones you need to concentrate on.” She placed a finger on a moss-filled glyph and gave him a sultry glance. “A.”

He began repeating after her, watching how her lips and tongue formed the sounds and words etched into the stone before them. They made their way around the Poneglyph slowly as the lesson continued, ending with him putting his hands on either side of her, flat against the stone, while pressing his growing erection against her thigh.

“Please,” he murmured. “I’ve been a good student, don’t you think?”

“Not good enough to do what you want on the lesson plan,” she replied. He felt hands grab him from behind and jerk him back as she smiled, the action nearly making him lose his footing. “Now what is this glyph?”

That’s how she was going to be, hmm? Alright, then he would play.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-

Robin ran through the streets of Flevance, trying to put as much distance between her and Law as possible. It was all a dream, it was all a dream, it was all a dream! She needed some time to figure the place out before she dove straight into trying to get out, and this proved it. Coming to a stop on a pedestrian bridge over a canal, she breathed deeply as she tried to catch her breath.

‘How am I going to do this if everything is so realistic?’ she wondered. ‘The parasite thought of everything to mimic and now the lines are so blurred even I’m having a hard time…’ She leaned against the railing and tried to steady herself—what in the hell was going on…?!

“…Miss Robin…?” She looked over her shoulder and saw three men from Torao’s crew; they were here too? The one with red hair stepped forward with a concerned look on his face. “We thought you were supposed to be at the Captain’s tonight. Is everything okay?”

“Oh, of course it is,” she lied. “I just forgot something at work and need to grab it before the building is locked down for the night.”

“Uh… the university’s that way…” the polar bear Mink noted, pointing between the canal and where she was running from.

“Contract work,” she said quickly. “I’m fine; don’t worry.”

“Alright…” the third man said, not entirely convinced. “You could just use the Captain’s Devil Fruit to get in, you know.”

“That would be breaking and entering,” the redhead scoffed. “With friends like she’s got, getting a criminal record isn’t one of the things she wants to work on or we’re gonna be the ones who keep posting their bail. Isn’t that righ—hey!”

Robin began to run again, leaving Torao’s crew behind her on the bridge. She ran until she found the street she supposedly lived on and the flat she apparently rented out. Once she was upstairs she locked both doors and collapsed onto the couch.

When was the last time she was this nervous? It couldn’t’ve solely been because of the ring, could it? This was only a dream! Her life was never this—never had the chance to be this—and yet there was so much about it that felt both right and wrong at the same time! Perhaps that was where her nerves were coming from: the fact she was going through such an impossible life event. Mundane, yes, but still impossible. If only the parasite’s hallucination was set after Luffy became Pirate King… after they had solved the puzzle of the Void Century… after traveling together…

No… she was the Nico Robin who infiltrated dozens of pirate crews and organizations, eventually bringing them all to their knees until the Straw Hat Pirates changed all that. She was the Nico Robin who was a talented spy and information-gatherer. She was the Nico Robin who was able to acclimate herself to foreign lands and their customs so seamlessly everyone mistook her for a sultry native. This was not going to get the best of her, this… this… nightmare… this perversion of everything that shaped them both… all it was was a distraction.

Now how in the hell was she going to manage her way out of this distraction and keep them both alive?

-_-_-_-_-_-_-

Law stared at the felt box as it lay discarded on the floor, not entirely registering what was going on around him until he heard the front door shut. The sound snapped him out of his stupor and he picked up the box. Shoving it in his pocket, he hoped that none of his family saw what just happened. He looked in the corridor that led up and down the length of the house and saw no one was there.

Okay, good; you could possibly salvage some of this, Law. He rushed over to the front door and hurriedly put on his boots and coat, barely hearing his sister question what was going on when he closed the door behind him and made his way out into the night. It was difficult to not draw attention to himself—or at least feel like he was—and he tried to think about what had just happened as he made his way to his girlfriend’s flat. Where else would she be? The rest of the Straw Hats were scattered across the Blues, her mother was in Ohara, the university was closed… then again, it wasn’t like that was liable to stop her… no. Flat first, then the university, then the park. That order. He continued on towards Robin’s place, only to be stopped by… his friends…?

“Hey, Cap, what’s going on?” Penguin asked. He, Shachi, and Bepo were walking together, most likely on their way to his parents’ house to pry after work; it seemed almost too convenient. “We just saw Robin headed over towards her flat in a hurry.”

“She looked upset,” Bepo added. “Is she okay?”

“Did your parents scare her off?” Shachi joked.

“Are you sure she was going towards her flat?” Law asked. His friends looked at one another before turning back to him.

“Yeah… what happened…?” Shachi wondered, now completely serious. Law did not give them any answer, instead walking directly past them and continuing on towards Robin’s despite their protests.

What in the hell was this about? He proposed after having waited for so long, waiting until he was certain she would say yes, only to have it backfire spectacularly in his face. What about their relationship had he misjudged? About her? About… himself…? He wanted to start a real life with her and yet… how far away was it? Truly? As he turned down the street and approached the building, he could see a little bit of light from her windows filtering through the tree branches—she was there!

Once he was sure the goobers did not follow him, he took a deep breath to steady himself and failed several times at putting his key in the lock. Fuck, his hands were so shaky; how could he be so calm and steady when holding others’ literal lives in his hands and yet this was just so… so… nerve-wracking…? He shut the street-level door behind him and went up the stairs, seeing that light was, yes, pouring out from underneath the flat door. He took another breath, then hesitated, before knocking softly three times.

“Robin…?” No answer. “Hey, you in there?”

“Go away,” she ordered harshly from the other side, making him flinch. “I’m not in the mood.”

“Not only did you give me a key, but I can swap myself with anything in there,” he reminded her. Seas, this was difficult. It was taking everything he had to not Shamble himself in and bring her in for a hug until she explained what was going on, but he at least had the self-awareness to understand that was one of the last things he should have been doing. He let that sit for a moment before adding, “Please, I just want to talk.”

A couple contemplative moments passed before Law could hear the lock unlatch. He turned the knob and entered just as a Devil Fruit arm dissolved from the side of the wall—she looked visibly shaken as she sat on the couch, as though she was retreating further and further into herself. It made him fear what was going on… what in the hell in was he had done to make her like this…

“Hey,” he said as he closed the door behind him. She didn’t say anything, allowing him to walk further into the flat. He sat down next to her on the couch kept his eyes on his hands as he waited for her to say something. She didn’t, so he took a chance. “Are you okay?” Nothing. “Are… are we okay…?”

“Not in the way you’re thinking,” she replied. There was something… off about her voice, something wrong. “I… didn’t think this would happen so quickly…”

“We’ve been dating a while now,” he reminded her. He caught a glimpse of her out the corner of his eye and his chest felt tight at how she was avoiding eye contact. Law knew that face: that was the face she made when she was figuring out how to get them out of something… which meant… she was figuring how to get herself out of this. Why…? “Is this just… cold feet…? Because if it is, you can tell me without all… all this. I’d understand.”

…because he truly would. He’d make himself understand if that’s what it took. He turned towards her and tucked some hair behind her ear so he could see her face clearer. She was acting so differently compared to before she had left for the conference… wait, was that it…?

“Talk to me,” he requested. “It’s the only way I’ll know what’s going on.”

She let out a heavy breath—it was difficult to tell who was more on-edge. “Do you trust me?”

“Robin, I just proposed marriage after having you meet my parents—of course I trust you,” he assured. He was only just holding back the ears welling in his eyes, hoping he wouldn’t crack. She held his shoulders and at looked him directly.

“We’re dying,” she said. He blinked, confused.

“Well, yeah…” he replied, mood completely whipped around. “That’s an integral facet to humanity; our impermanence is a—”

“I’m not talking about philosophy here, but actually dying, in the real world.”

Huh…?

“Robin… this is real…” Her eyes flashed in something dark as she stared into his own; there was something she clearly wanted to tell him, yet could not find the words. “Are you alright? This isn’t like you.”

“No, what’s like me—what’s like us—is being on the Grand Line, in the New World, having just left Wano after helping to liberate it, not in a place that no longer exists.” She was trembling and he didn’t like it one bit. “This place is dead, Torao.”

He scoffed uncomfortably. “Surely you don’t—!”

“Ohara is too,” she added. “The reality of the situation is that neither of us have our homelands, our families… not even our friends were gained how this world tells us they were. We worked and clawed our way not to the top of our fields, but just to survive growing up in a world that hated us. If it weren’t for our friends and our own desires, we would have been dead before our twenties.”

“That doesn’t sound right,” Law frowned. He was attempting to figure out what was making her say these things other than…? Hysteria…? That was a pretty old-fashioned diagnosis, not to mention well-outside his normal field. “What’s gotten into you? You’re talking nonsense, about a nightmare I’ve been having, plus you haven’t called me Torao in ages. Are you sure you’re not under too much stress at the university? Because I had a feeling your workload was getting too much once they put that conference on you, and…”

“When did we first start seeing one another?” she asked abruptly. He blinked.

“You know when…”

“…then tell me: confirm how we started dating.”

“That’s easy, it’s…”

Suddenly, Law’s mind went almost blank. How had they started dating…? He could remember kissing her while they were on a ship, his heart racing as though he was still a schoolboy, but the details were extraordinarily fuzzy. They were mutually avoiding someone, allowing them to nurture a prior spark in a dark hideaway. What had they been doing? Where were they going? Better yet: where were they? He could remember her many hands on him, how sweet she tasted, the ache in his thighs and knees as they tried to stay still as possible to… avoid…?

“You…” He hesitated. “You know how complicated it was when we first got together.”

“There has to be a way to get you to understand!” Robin stood and began to pace around the room. Her brows were furrowed as she thought and thought. “It can’t be that; it should be in bloom. No, that’s not it… ah! My books!”

“What about your books?”

“Take one of my books off the shelf, don’t let me see it, but try to read it. If I don’t know what it is, then my mind can’t fill in the blanks.”

“Robin…”

“Law, please, for me.” Her brown eyes were so sad, so uncomfortable with everything… what choice did he have? He ran his fingers through his hair and scratched at his scalp—this had better be good.

“Alright, if it will make you feel better, I will,” he relented. She smiled in relief and turned around, allowing him to choose a book at his leisure. Law looked at one of the bookshelves and skimmed the titles on the spine before he settled on a good one.

West Blue Kingdoms of the Pre-Void Era

For as much as he had listened to Robin talk, Law knew there was no way he could know what was covered by such a title. Carefully, he slid it off the shelf and held it in his hands. It was a thick book—likely very technical. He glanced over at Robin as he opened it up, seeing that her back was still turned. Hopefully they’d be able to put this to a rest so that they could move on with their lives…

…except when Law looked back at the pages from the middle of the book, he saw they were blank. He raised an eyebrow and flipped through the tome—empty.

“There’s nothing in this,” he frowned. “Robin, I…”

“What are you holding?” she wondered.

“You told me not to—”

“I know what I said: what book are you holding?”

“It’s… uh… ‘West Blue Kingdoms of the Pre-Void Era’… but how would that…?”

Then, without warning, words and pictures began to appear on the pages of the book in his hands, filling it with all sorts of knowledge that was presumably from Robin’s brain, whether she could remember it consciously or not. He nearly dropped the book in shock; what the fuck was going on?!

“Nika above and below…!” He watched as Robin turned back around with tears in her eyes. “How did you do this?!”

“It’s because we are sharing this dream,” she stated. “We currently are capable of exchanging knowledge through it, but only if we are aware of what’s being passed between us.”

“That’s the stuff of sci-fi novels,” he said, putting the book down on the table. Something ached in the back of his head… huh…?

“Novels certainly, but also thanks to whomever attacked you in that port marketplace in the New World,” she replied. Robin looked so much calmer now, though now it meant she was more sad than anything. “Your crew found you with a parasite attached to your face. By the time we figured out what was going on, it had grown to the point it could take my brain as well as yours so that I could help you figure out how to defeat it from the inside. In order to reconcile both our thought processes, it had to fuse our dreams into a single dreamscape, hence the knowledge-sharing.”

“…and what is going on…?”

“Jean Bart says that the parasite is made by a Devil Fruit normally in possession of someone in the employ of the Celestial Dragons.” She watched as his face scrunched up—Jean Bart…? “I knew it had to be me to come get you, no one else.”

Law swallowed hard. “Wh-why is that…?”

“…because…” It was Robin’s turn to hesitate, her cheeks flushing with blush. “They think it’s because I used to infiltrate crews for my own survival, but in reality…”

The pause was deafening.

“…it was because you told me you loved me, back in Wano, after we had sex on the Thousand Sunny before departing.” She seemed to not believe what she was saying either, despite the fact her words held all their normal amounts of conviction for this frank of a conversation. “It was gentle and sweet and it almost convinced me to go with you instead of Luffy. I don’t want what we have to end so soon… I’m as done with being left behind as you are.”

“Say that is the truth: how come you remember this and I can’t?”

“The parasite wants to limit your access to your real memories, or else you might fight back and damage it. Between Jean Bart’s first-hand experience and Chopper’s research, they agree that the best way to get rid of it and not harm you is to destroy it from the inside.”

“This sounds a little too fantastic,” Law tried to reason. Who ever heard of a Devil Fruit ability like that? What would the Celestial Dragons, of all people, want with it? Why would it want him? Only threads of it truly made sense and those threads started to unravel when he remembered where they were—Jean Bart was one of the charge nurses on his floor, with the closest he’d come to seeing a Celestial Dragon being on the other side of a large harbor years ago. “I think that maybe… we should talk about this… maybe over some tea… yeah, herbal tea…” He stepped into the kitchen space and busied his hands with the kettle, taking deep, shaky breaths until Robin slid an arm around him from the side and rested her chin on his shoulder.

“Herbal tea… a very Minkfolk response,” she stated. He froze, his stare remaining fixed on the kettle in his hands. She then began to trace her fingers over his chest in a very specific motion, mimicking something he knew he had never told her about. As she finished tracing the tattoo that wasn’t there, she leaned in and murmured in his ear, “I wonder what Cora-san would have said to seeing them.”

At that, Law dropped the kettle in the sink, metal clanging on metal.

Cora-san!

Shit!

He forgot Cora-san!

Everything suddenly began rushing back to Law at once. His head exploded in pain as what he had thought was the dream—the nightmare—all invaded his mind at once. He remembered fighting monsters in Wano, watching Doflamingo get the shit beat out of him in Dressrosa, stealing pirate hearts on a pirate island and using that as leverage against the World Government, traveling the Grand Line and the North Blue before that in a submarine ship staffed by his friends, scraping to survive with Bepo, Penguin, and Shachi…

…and he remembered Cora-san, who stank of cigarettes and cheap booze, hauling his ass all over the North to try to find a cure for his acute Amber Lead poisoning. The former Marine spy who went worse than native—he grew a fucking conscious at the sight of a sick child and abandoned his mission. Law had only been cured when he could carve the metal out of his body himself with his Devil Fruit, because no one else would help him…

…the only ones willing having already gone up in smoke if not down from bullets.

He cursed to himself, letting the Flevench words he’d clung to so desperately ring in his mind. Or did they flow over his lips? Law clutched his head as it felt like it was going to burst, stumbling out of Robin’s grasp. He could barely feel her grab at him to keep him steady as it truly sank in.

He was living in a lie.

He did not live with his parents and sister in his childhood home; they were long-dead. Killed by soldiers. Immolated. In fact, he had spent more time with his friends than he had with anyone from Flevance. So little about this life was based in what amounted to fuzzy memories, book-learned facts, and wishful thinking that it made him want to be sick. It felt like both forever and no time at all before he realized he was sitting on the couch with a glass of water in his hands.

“Drink.” It was Robin’s voice, far-off and gentle. He did as he was told and drank some of the water, his entire sense of self shaken to the core. Fingers gently carded through his hair as the glass was taken from him and he was eased down into something soft, warm, and comforting.

“Why does this feel so real…?” he whispered hoarsely. Were those his tears on his face, or…?

“What better way to keep a man with a bounty on-par with an Emperor of the Sea docile enough to kill?” She touched his face as a sob heaved in her chest, wracking him as well. He shifted so that he could put his arms around her as he hid in her bosom. Neither were going to admit they were crying, because what good would that do? “I almost lost you.”

Even worse… he almost lost himself. It sat in the pit of his stomach as he realized the implications, gnawing at him painfully as he did his best to not think—thinking was the Darkness that would consume him again if he let it. He couldn’t let himself succumb to it… not again… not as Robin had come to pull him out of his own head.

A church bell in the distance began to announce the time and both of them let everything go.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-

It was morning by the time both Robin and Law were finally composed enough to think rationally. They were sitting at the dining table, both nursing a mug of coffee while picking at some fruit that had been in the fridge. Neither were hungry, but it was the mere act of eating that was comfortable and familiar even if it wasn’t real. It was still so difficult to let sink in that everything around them was only a mental construct—from the tears they had shed to the food they were eating—that it made Law extra-cautious.

“Okay, so how are we going to get out of here?” he asked. After the rough night that found them moving from the couch to the bed in various states of dress, he was only dressed in his jeans, while Robin was next to him in an old t-shirt emblazoned with Flevance’s med school’s logo and shorts. “There had to of been some clue Chopper and Jean Bart uncovered.”

“My guess is that there is something holding us here… something that is not supposed to exist acting as the anchor.”

“I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but that’s the entire country, along with everyone and everything in it.”

“I would think that it would have to be something personal,” Robin theorized. “If the parasite keeps its victims tethered to an alternate reality, then what better way to keep the charade going then by making the lynchpin something they cannot bear to lose?”

“Fuck, you don’t think…”

“Everything is conjecture at this point,” she clarified. “The good thing is that we’re not in any immediate danger since Chopper is taking care of us. Traditional threats involved with the parasite are minimal, being starvation and torture under the Celestial Dragons…”

“…but we’re still not safe,” Law surmised. “The crews could come under attack by powerful New World forces, we could take so long to escape that our bodies atrophy, we could never figure out what the anchor is and suffer a horrific fate within the dreamscape that could permanently damage our mental processes…”

“Well, the first thing I would do is figure out who ‘owns’ the dream and a potential list of fulfilled wishes this environment provides them.” She picked up a pad of paper and a pen. “You’re the one who was attacked first, so let’s operate under the assumption that the dreamscape’s anchor is yours. Now, what are the things around here that would be the toughest to let go?”

“You, for one,” he admitted. She smiled at him and he blushed; to be openly dating was something they only wished they could normally afford. “I also have my family, friends, a stable and fulfilling career, my homeland… there’s a lot here that’s at stake.”

“Then we should probably go with the conceit of this place while we try to get a better grasp on what it is about,” she suggested. Robin put the pen down and took another sip of coffee. “The engagement ring.”

“What about it?”

“How many people did you discuss it with?”

“M… my dad… Penguin and Shachi… Bepo…”

“Then I think we should act as though this is reality and we’re now engaged.” She had a hand sprout next to the jewelry box and passed it between a row of them before it reached Law. He took it and stared at the velvet covering as though it was not the thing that caused the shake-down of what he had been convinced was his entire life to that point. “It will at least give us an excuse to be together more often than what this reality expects.”

“Yeah.” He opened the box and took out the ring—it was a soft golden color, inset with a modest stone of amethyst flanked by two smaller precious opals whose colors danced in the early morning light. “This is going to be a bitch when I have to keep reminding myself it’s not real.”

“At least you know you won’t be alone in that sentiment.” Robin held out her hands and Law slid the ring on her right ring finger. “What is the custom in Flevance?”

“It moves to the left hand during the ceremony. Vaor’s cousin got married when I was eight and I saw it then.” She held her hand up and watched the stones catch the light. “What about Ohara?”

“Women on the right, men on the left; makes it so they touch when holding hands.”

“Mmm.” He sighed awkwardly, shaking his head. “Now that I know the truth, this feels so… empty.”

“Maybe, after everything’s calmed down a bit, we can consider what we would really do.”

Suddenly, the bell that was next to the door began to ring, the sound bright and loud against the otherwise quiet morning. It was accompanied by a faint noise, as though someone was knocking on the downstairs door. Law and Robin both went to the window, leaning out until they could see the door at street-level—Penguin was pounding his fist on the door and Shachi ringing the doorbell, while Bepo and Lami stood close by.

“We’re up, you idiots,” Law said, catching their attention. All four looked up at them, expressions becoming giddy. “Lami, why are they here?”

“That’s rude, Captain!” Bepo huffed. “We’re your best friends!”

“I have idiots,” he parried. They all began to boo him, giving him thumbs-down. “Alright, alright—let me get a shirt on.” The Goofball Quartet high-fived one another in celebration; there was no amount of coffee that was going to make this bearable. Law popped his head back into the flat and began to hunt around for a clean shirt; too many of his that were lying around smelled of serious funk, the least of which was already on Robin.

“At least they waited until morning,” she noted as she closed the window. Robin grabbed her robe and pulled it on, waiting until Law was negotiating a different t-shirt over his head before using her Devil Fruit ability to unlock and open both doors. Their visitors came barreling up the stairs, bursting into the flat with little regard to anything.

“What in the hell is going on?!” Lami asked the moment she passed over the threshold. “Vaor was being cagey all night after you left!”

“Didja do it, Cap?!” Penguin added. “C’mon—don’t be secretive about this!”

Law exhaled heavily and nudged Robin in the side. She took that as her cue and held up her right hand, showing off the ring. Law’s friends cheered and pumped their fists in celebration, while his sister let out a shrill squeal.

“Aaah! It’s about time!” She pulled them both into a hug that was so tight that Robin was honestly taken by surprise. “I knew that’s what was going on! Why didn’t you stay at the house so we could celebrate?!”

“It took me by surprise, is all,” Robin assured. That much was the truth, after all. “I’m sorry for running out; I didn’t mean to ruin your evening.”

“No—Vaor was the one who didn’t mention anything,” Lami pouted. “I wasn’t able to learn anything until I snuck out and met up with Law-nii’s friends.”

“We were headed over to your parents’ house to see if you were there visiting with your hand or what,” Shachi shrugged. Law shot him a sharp glare.

“Since you weren’t there, we decided to look here,” Penguin said in an attempt to save face. “It’s only natural.”

“Now you know, and if you excuse us, we have to get ready for work,” Law scowled. “I have consultations all day and you know what I’m like on Consultation Day.” The echoes of his friends cringed; fuck… he was right…

“…and Lami has a lecture to crash if I’m not mistaking the time,” Robin added. Lami indeed looked at a clock on the wall and hissed. “Better get going if any of you want to be on-time.”

The Goofball Quartet all raced out of the flat in a panic—there was too much for them to do yet before they had time to stand around and gossip! Law and Robin were left alone again, the former staring at the closed door with eyes that were not quite focused.

“It’s going to threaten to break me if I have to keep reminding myself that she’s been dead for sixteen years,” he said. She sighed and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

“We’re engaged now,” she reminded him. “You can move in if that’ll make it easier.”

“N-no… I’ll just do what the dreamscape has been making me do: visiting. It makes more sense within,” he gestured at the entire flat with one hand, “everything. It’ll make the parasite less suspicious.”

“I’m sure it already realizes what’s going on,” she said, “so in the meantime, let’s just pretend that everything is as-normal. We’ll claim we’re getting married ‘next year’ to give ourselves a buffer and instead use that time to figure out what the anchor is so we can destroy it and get out of here.”

“I… don’t know if I’ll be able to do it,” Law said. He looked at Robin and felt a massive weight on his shoulders. She was in this mess because of him, and he was already asking too much. “If I can’t… will you…?”

“Of course,” she crooned. She held his face gently and pulled him into a kiss. “Anything to get you back where you belong.”

#One Piece #One Piece fan fiction #Trafalgar Law #Nico Robin #LawBin #Law x Robin #Robin x Law #idk if i should really tag any of the others in this lemme know what you think #it's been so long and i feel bad but what's done is done #Trafalgar D. Water Law

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thethief1996 · 1 year ago

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9.000 palestinians were killed in 3 weeks of bombings and the USA has just approved $14bi in additional military aid for Israel, on top of the annual $3.8bi Joe Biden instituted 28 years ago. Israel has targeted an ambulance convoy near Al-Shifa hospital, which was evacuating wounded from hospitals to the Rafah crossing. Al-Shifa is already working at 164% capacity, while 25 of the 35 hospitals in the Gaza Strip have shut down due to damage from bombing and lack of fuel (if I hear another zionist talk about how good Israel is for roof knocking hospitals is I'm going to explode). They did everything Israel asked of them and still they were murdered.

Almost half of these deaths are children, and even in death they're not respected and the US president and western media outlets are casting doubt over the reported numbers, even though they cast no such doubt over the numbers reported by Israel even though there's no official list provided by the government. It's ridiculous how blatantly they are copying Holocaust denialism talking points.

Meanwhile, Israel is enjoying the fog of war to proceed with the ethnic cleasing of the West Bank. Palestinians in Masafer Yatta, that have been intimidated by the construction of settlements hounding them for years, received threats by armed civilians saying they would be killed if they didn't leave in 24h and since then settlers have burned down their homes. Bedouin villages in Hebron, whose population was already routinely brutalized by settlers from the outposts nearby, are receiving equal threats and being terrorized by the destruction of their water supplies, roadblocks and physical violence. This is the largest forced displacement in the West Bank since 1972 and it's all being committed by settlers backed by the IDF. Israeli activists said they don't even know if these settlers are acting at the government's request or if they're just terrorizing people into running away from their homes in their free time. Thousands of Gazans who worked within Israel's "green line" were being held hostage since Oct 7th and reported they were tortured and labeled with numbers around their legs. Today, they were pushed back into southern Gaza amid airstrikes.

Palestinian journalists are being targeted for live streaming their genocide. The least we can do is pay attention and take action. Gazans have said our support lifts their spirits. If nothing else, to lift their spirits.

TOMORROW, NOV 4TH, there will be a National March in Washington DC organized by 500+ orgs and expected to be the largest pro-Palestine movement in the history of the USA. If you can, please attend.

Educate yourself. Read into Palestinian history and the occupation. You can't common sense people out of decades of propaganda. If your arguments crumble when a zionist brings up the "disengagement of Gaza", you have to learn more.

Read Decolonize Palestine. They have 15 minute reads that concisely explain the occupation (and its colonial roots) and debunk popular myths, including pinkwashing.

Read on Palestine. Here's an amazing masterpost.

Verso Book Club is giving out free books on Palestine (I personally downloaded Ten Myths about Israel by Ilan Pappe).

Keep yourself updated and share Palestinian voices, looking to inform yourself from the sources. Palestinians have asked of us only that we share, tweet and post, over and over. Muna El-Kurd said every tweet is like a treasure to them, because their voices are repressed on social media and even on this very app. Make it your action item to share something about the Palestinian plight everyday. Here are some resources:

Al Jazeera

Anadolu Agency

Mondoweiss

Boycott Divest Sanction Movement

Palestinian Youth Movement

Mohammed El-Kurd (twitter / instagram)

Al-Shabaka (twitter / instagram)

Mariam Barghouti (twitter / instagram)

Muhammad Shehada (twitter)

Motaz Azaiza (instagram) - reporting directly from Gaza.

Take action. You can participate in boycotts wherever you are in the world, through BDS guidelines. Don't be overwhelmed by gigantic boycott lists. BDS explicitly targets only a few brands which have bigger impact. You can stop consuming from as many brands as you want, though, and by all means feel free to give a 1 star review to McDonalds, Papa John, Pizza Hut, Burger King and Starbucks. Right now, they are focusing on boycotting the following:

Carrefour

Puma

Sabra

Sodastream

Ahava cosmetics

Israeli fruits and vegetables

Push for a cultural boycott - pressure your favorite artist to speak out on Palestine and cancel any upcoming performances on occupied territory (Lorde cancelled her gig in Israel because of this. It works.)

If you can, participate in direct action or donate.

Palestine Action works to shut down Israeli weapons factories in the UK and USA, and have successfully shut down one of their firms in London.Some of the activists are going on trial and are calling for mobilizing on court.

Palestinian Youth Movement is organizing direct actions to stop the shipping of wars to Israel. Follow them.

Call your representatives. The Labour Party in the UK had an emergency meeting after several councilors threatened to resign if they didn't condemn Israeli war crimes. Calling to show your complaints works, even more if you live in a country that funds genocide.

FOR PEOPLE IN THE USA: USCPR has developed this toolkit for calls, here's a document that autosends emails to your representatives and here's a toolkit by Ceasefire in Gaza NOW!

FOR PEOPLE IN EUROPE: Here's a toolkit by Voices in Europe for Peace targeting the European Parliament

FOR PEOPLE IN THE UK: Friends of Al-Aqsa UK and Palestine Solidarity UK have made toolkits for calls and emails

FOR PEOPLE IN GERMANY: Here's a toolkit to contact your representatives by Voices in Europe for Peace

FOR PEOPLE IN IRELAND: Here's a toolkit by Voices in Europe for Peace

FOR PEOPLE IN POLAND: Here's a toolkit by Voices in Europe for Peace

FOR PEOPLE IN DENMARK: Here's a toolkit by Voices in Europe for Peace

FOR PEOPLE IN SWEDEN: Here's a toolkit by Voices in Europe for Peace

FOR PEOPLE IN FRANCE: Here's a toolkit by Voices in Europe for Peace

FOR PEOPLE IN THE NETHERLANDS: Here's a toolkit by Voices in Europe for Peace

FOR PEOPLE IN GREECE: Here's a toolkit by Voices in Europe for Peace

FOR PEOPLE IN NORWAY: Here's a toolkit by Voices in Europe for Peace

FOR PEOPLE IN ITALY: Here's a toolkit by Voices in Europe for Peace

FOR PEOPLE IN PORTUGAL: Here's a toolkit by Voices in Europe for Peace

FOR PEOPLE IN SPAIN: Here's a toolkit by Voices in Europe for Peace

FOR PEOPLE IN FINLAND: Here's a toolkit by Voices in Europe for Peace

FOR PEOPLE IN AUSTRIA: Here's a toolkit by Voices in Europe for Peace

FOR PEOPLE IN BELGIUM: Here's a toolkit by Voices in Europe for Peace

FOR PEOPLE IN ROMANIA: Here's a toolkit by Voices in Europe for Peace

FOR PEOPLE IN UKRAINE: Here's a toolkit by Voices in Europe for Peace

FOR PEOPLE IN AUSTRALIA: Here's a toolkit by Stand With Palestine

FOR PEOPLE IN CANADA: Here's a toolkit by Indepent Jewish Voices for Canada

Join a protest. Here's a constantly updating list of protests:

Global calendar

Another global calendar (go to the instragram of the organizers to confirm your protest)

USA calendar

Australia calendar

Feel free to add more resources.

#free palestine #save gaza #gaza under attack #save hebron

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smnthvxe · 1 year ago

Text

Chapter 1: The Past Echoes

Chapter 2 , last chapter

Readers point to view

The sun dipped below the horizon in Sumeru, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink as I closed the shop for the evening. The little coffee shop, once just a dream, had become my sanctuary, a place where laughter and the rich aroma of coffee beans filled the air. Yet, amidst the hustle and bustle, my heart harbored a quiet sorrow, a longing for the one who had once been my everything—Kunikuzushi.

Our life together seemed like a distant memory, a fleeting moment of happiness that had slipped through my fingers like grains of sand. I remembered his smile, the way his eyes lit up when he laughed, and the warmth of his touch. But those memories were overshadowed by the pain of his departure, the day he walked away, leaving me with nothing but silence and a heart full of unanswered questions.

"I wonder where you are now," I murmured to the empty room, allowing myself a moment of vulnerability. The walls of the coffee shop, adorned with pictures and trinkets from our travels, echoed back my solitude.

Nights were the hardest, when the world fell silent, and the weight of his absence felt unbearable. I would lie awake, staring at the ceiling, imagining scenarios where he would return, where he would explain why he left and we could start over. But as the dawn broke, reality would set in, and I'd brace myself for another day without him.

One evening, as the final rays of sunlight vanished, leaving the world in twilight, a figure appeared at the door of the coffee shop. My heart skipped a beat, a foolish part of me hoping against hope. But it wasn't him; it never was. Instead, it was a traveler, seeking refuge in the warmth of the shop and a cup of coffee to ease their journey.

"I heard this place serves the best coffee in Sumeru," A blond traveler remarked, breaking the silence.

" Yeah! Yeah! I bet her coffee can make Paimon jerk off all of the pain from that mean-rude-annoying hat guy!?" The little fairy spoke

I chuckled, pouring them a cup. "I hope it does little one."

As they settled down, the blond traveler—known as Aether shared tales of their adventures, of the people they'd met and the wonders they'd seen. And for a brief moment, I allowed their stories to transport me away from my sorrow, to remind me of the joy and beauty in the world. The world he promised to explore.

But as the night drew to a close and Aether thanked me for the hospitality, I was left alone once again with my thoughts. I wondered if Scaramouche ever thought of me, if he ever regretted leaving. The rational part of me knew it was futile to dwell on what could have been, but the heart is seldom ruled by reason.

I busied myself with cleaning up, trying to shake off the thought. "You need to move on," I whispered to myself, a mantra I repeated every day, yet found so hard to practice.

One day, curiosity got the better of me, and I ventured out, seeking any trace of him. I traveled to Inazuma, to the places we had once explored together, hoping to find closure, to finally let go of the past. But instead of peace, I found only echoes of our time together, reminders of the love we shared and the pain of his departure.

As I stood in front of our old home, now abandoned and falling into disrepair, tears filled my eyes. "Why did you leave, Scaramouche? Why did you break us?" I whispered, the questions lingering in the air, unanswered.

I realized then that I might never get the closure I sought, that some wounds take longer to heal, and some questions remain unanswered. But I also understood that I couldn't live in the shadow of his memory forever.

"Oh? Who you might be?"

A voice spoke from behind, i turned around to see a Kitsune-like woman with a shrine dress.

"I was.." you cutted " Visiting something"

"Visiting you mean that house over there? Sorry to say this dear but that house is already abandoned. "

She pointed to our shared home at the nearby hill.

"Yes, I know. I was just- recollecting some old memories"

By that she smirked and I bid my farewell, walking away.

With a heavy heart, I returned to Sumeru, to my coffee shop, my haven. I poured my soul into my work, creating a space filled with warmth and happiness, a stark contrast to the emptiness I felt inside.

As days turned into weeks, and weeks into months, I slowly began to rebuild my life. I found joy in the simple pleasures, in the smiles of my customers, and also I became good friends with Aether, he would often visit my shop to drink coffee and share his adventures with me. My interest perked up as he said something about fighting a false god along with Buer. You were always a fan of sumeru's Archon that's why you choose to move there.

There are some days where I close the shop, drinking bitter coffee (which reminds you of Scaramouche) alone reflecting every moment I have spent with him.

And though I may never fully understand why he left, I've come to accept that some chapters in our lives must come to an end, to make way for new beginnings. So, I continue to move forward, one day at a time, carrying the lessons of the past and the hope for a brighter future.

In the quiet moments, when the world slows down, and I find myself lost in thought, I whisper a silent wish for Scaramouche, wherever he may be. "I hope you've found your peace," I say, letting my words drift into the ether, a final goodbye to a love that once was. But.. If ever he'll come back ...

A/N : hehe kinda rushed lmao

(You may notice some grammatical errors cus yk im kinda writing this and studying for our exam)

#Scaramouche #wanderer #genshin inazuma #genshin imagines #genshin scaramouche #genshin x reader #scaramouche x reader #genshin impact #genshin x you #scaramouche angst #scaramouche x you #wanderer x reader #wanderer genshin #sumeru #genshin angst #kunikuzushi #angst #slow burn #fanfic

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writingwhimsey · 23 days ago

Text

Becoming Comtesse Ch. 16

A/N: Nothing explicit, but implied sexy times (Comte and Colette are both in horny jail haha).

Chapter 16

It had been about three days since Colette had learned the truth about Comte. And these three days had been absolute bliss to Comte. When they weren’t making love, they were spending time cuddled up together and she would ask him more questions, seemingly fascinated with everything he had lived through and what was so different between vampires and humans.

This day, they went to the nearby lake and were having a picnic once again. They had finished eating and now Comte was lying back, his head in Colette’s lap as she ran her fingers through his hair, his eyes closed in contentment.

“So, what made you decide to turn all those guys in the mansion?” Colette asked.

“It was from an idea an old friend and I once shared.” Comte answered. “Though we ended up parting ways because we both had different ideas on what exactly we should be doing and why we should be doing it.”

“An old friend…assuming another vampire you knew?” She asked.

Comte picked up on the tone of her voice. She was curious yes, but he could tell there was more. “Yes, another pureblood. We had known each other for some time.”

“This old friend…wouldn’t happen to…have been a woman or anything…”

Comte opened his eyes, a smile playing at his lips. “Are you jealous, ma cherie?”

“Wha…pfft…no…” She tried to protest, though her eyes betrayed her.

Comte lifts a hand to cup her cheek. “Oh, but you are.” He couldn’t help but to tease.

She pouted and looked utterly adorable. “So…it is a woman, this old friend of yours.”

Comte chuckled. “No, but I couldn’t resist the urge to tease you a bit, mon amour.” He told her.

She gave him a playful glare, though her blushing cheeks lessened the effect of it, her fingers still running through his hair. “That wasn’t very nice of you.”

He reached for one of her hands and brought it to his lips, kissing her fingertips. “Forgive me, ma cherie. It seems I cannot help myself when it comes to you. The thought of you being jealous over me…I quite enjoyed it.”

Her face instantly softened. “It’s not like I have room to talk…when you admitted you’d gotten jealous over me…”

Comte chuckled. “It seems we are two of a kind then, ma cherie.”

“It seems so.” Colette agreed. “So, who was this friend then?”

“His name is Vlad.” Comte answered. “He has a kind heart, much too kind for this world. Loving humans to the point of madness really…the door that I told you about, in the mansion.”

“The one you use to travel through time.”

Comte nodded. “Yes, Vlad and I built it together. One day he used it to travel to the future. I still don’t know exactly what he saw…but it changed him…after that we parted ways because he wanted to use the door, reviving great men of history to influence mankind.”

“And what exactly do you want to use the door for?” Colette asked. “Why do you continue it?”

“You really ask the hard questions, ma cherie.” He teased. “I suppose I’ve always hoped that Vlad would come back around…”

“You’ve been lonely.” Colette stated.

“You really see to the heart of the matter.” Comte replied.

“I just pieced the puzzle together.” She said. “You told me the other day that you see the residents as family…and when we talked the other night when I first learned about what you are…I saw it in your eyes…and I’m pretty sure I saw it in your eyes thirteen years ago.”

Comte felt his breath catch in his throat. Every facade he had ever put up, she easily tore down, seeing straight through to the heart of him. He honestly loved it. He caressed her cheek once more. “I’m not so lonely now.”

She smiled and leaned down to press her lips to his in a soft and loving kiss. “I won’t let you be lonely again.” She murmured.

Abel’s heart thudded in his chest. “I must thank my lucky stars for whatever I have done to deserve you and your love, Colette.”

“I feel the same way about you and your love.” She replied.

As he always felt when with Colette, he couldn’t help himself. He felt his love for her overflowing and turning into need. He sat up and turned to his wife, smiling warmly at her before moving. The next thing either of them knew, he had her lying back on the picnic blanket and he was over her.

She looked up at him breathless with blushing cheeks. “Abel…”

“I’m sorry, ma cherie…when you show me your love, when you see into my heart like this…I just want to make love to you.” He told her, a naughty hand already sliding up under her dress.

She smiled up at him, her arms wrapping around him. “You have nothing to apologize for, my love…I want you too.” She pulled him into a deep kiss, her body already warming from his touch.

They spent the next couple of hours indulging right there on the lakeshore. Thankfully, this section was part of Comte’s private property. After about the third round, Comte had to stop a moment and reach into the picnic basket, pulling out a bottle of blanc and downing it. Once he had finished the blanc, he laid down on the blanket with Colette, pulling her into his arms and kissing her gently on the forehead.

Colette had finished catching her breath and nestled into his embrace. “Abel…”

“Yes, my darling?” He replied, hearing the question in her voice.

“I noticed…here recently you’ve been drinking more rouge and blanc and it seems to especially drink it after we’ve made love…why is that?” She asked.

Comte ran his fingers through her hair. “For vampires, love, lust, and bloodlust all mingle together. The stronger a vampire’s love is the more he wants his lover…and the more he wants to drink their blood.” He explained.

“Then why don’t you?” Colette asked. “I mean…obviously I can’t let you drink my blood all the time, but you have before…and I didn’t mind…”

Comte looked down at his wife, seeing her cheeks getting redder as she admitted it. He couldn’t help but to brush his fingers over her flushed cheeks. “Judging by this lovely shade of rose on your cheeks, you more than just didn’t mind it.”

She looked up at him. “Well…okay yes.” She admitted. “But if you need it, I wouldn’t mind if you bit me…”

Comte felt his heart rate picking up. He had explained how he had turned the residents, but clearly, he hadn’t explained it all well enough. She knew not what she was offering. He smiled at her and kissed her gently in affection. “Mon amour…as a pureblood I can’t just bite you…it would turn you.”

“And?”

Comte blinked. “Ma cherie…”

She lifted a hand to caress his cheek. “You do not intend to turn me? After all of our talks…I thought it was likely in your plans…I mean maybe not right away, but…”

Comte couldn’t believe his ears. She…she had just thought he would want to turn her…and she had accepted it. “Mon amour…it’s not that I planned to or didn’t plan to…”

“Had you not thought about it?” Colette asked, lifting herself up slightly so that she could look at him. “Do you…not want to?”

“It is not so simple, ma cherie.” Comte replied, still stunned by her words.

“Abel…I just promised you I wouldn’t let you be lonely. How can I do that if I will for certain die one day?” She asked.

Comte’s heart thumped loudly in his chest. “You would…leave your humanity behind for my sake?” He asked in disbelief.

“Not just yours.” Colette replied. “I want to be with you always.”

Comte looked into her green eyes. She truly meant what she was saying. “What about your family?” He asked. “They will all grow old and die, but you will remain.”

“I’ve been prepared to leave my family my entire life.” She explained. “That’s the funny thing about these times, daughters are raised to leave the families of their birth to join their husband’s families. I’ve been prepared to one day lose them for a long time now.”

“Ma cherie…”

“Abel…I know it may sound…impetuous of me or presumptuous and others might even say ridiculous…but you are the one person I cannot bear to be parted from.”

Comte’s eyes went wide as he felt his heart beating faster in his chest. He reached his hand up and pulled her into a deep kiss. His other arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her flush against him. His tongue slipped past her lips, exploring and tasting every inch of her mouth.

She responded eagerly, meeting his tongue with her own, her hands sliding over him, her body warming against his. He rolled them over so that he was once again hovering over her. He pulled back to look at her, his hand caressing her cheek and then the side of her neck. She was looking up at him with such love and adoration, such devotion.

“You really want to spend eternity with me, ma cherie?” He asked.

“Yes, I love you that much.” She answered, her eyes determined and unwavering.

Comte leaned in and kissed her gently on the lips. “Where shall I bite you, ma cherie?” He asked. “Here?” He kissed the side of her neck over the pulse point there. “Or perhaps here?” He kissed her chest next. “Or maybe here?” He gently grabbed her arm and kissed her wrist.

A moan slipped past Colette’ plump lips as she looked up at him. There was no fear or hesitation in her eyes. She truly wanted this.

He kissed her palm and each fingertip before moving back to her neck. He let his fangs just graze along her skin, but did not actually penetrate. He pulled back and looked into her eyes. “I will bite you and bring you into this long life with me…but I won’t do it in the heat of the moment.” He told her, caressing her cheek. “When I bite you, it will be a decisive moment between us. A romantic one. I want to make sure you will not regret it.”

She smiled up at him. “I know I won’t…but I can wait. I already waited for you for thirteen years. What’s a little longer?”

Comte chuckled, feeling happiness welling up in his heart. “I love you, Colette.”

“I love you, Abel.” She replied. “I do need you to promise me one thing though.”

“What’s that, mon amour?”

“That you bite me before I get old. I don’t want to spend eternity looking like your grandmother.”

Comte chuckled. “I am certain my longing and desires will get the better of me before then, ma cherie.” He said, kissing her hand once again. “But I promise you, I will turn you before then and I will spend eternity loving you the way you deserve.”

“And I will return every ounce of that love.” She replied, wrapping her arms around him and pulling him to her for another kiss.

“May I make love to you again?” Abel asked when he broke the kiss.

“Oui.” She answered, smiling up at him. “That is a question you don’t even need to ask anymore.”

Comte chuckled. “I still like to be sure.” He replied, kissing her neck and her cleavage, his hands slipping under her dress once again. “Your pleasure and comfort are my top priorities.”

Colette let out a moan when his fingers began to play with that most sensitive of places between her thighs. “Hah…my answer will…always be yes…because I want you…too.”

Comte groaned. “When you say things like that, ma cherie…it really makes it hard for me to take my time.”

She smiled and kissed along his throat. “That’s the point, my love.”

Comte groaned once again. He reached down to undo his pants as he hastily pushed the skirt of her dress up. There really was no waiting now. He had to have her. Had to show her the depth of his feelings.

Tag list:

@zulablaise @kisara-16 @tele86

@otomewonderland @lovely-bubb1es @lucyw260 @queengiuliettafirstlady

@obeymetalesandikemen @leiaglamela @fang-and-feather @eventinelysplayground @chirp-a-chirp

#ikevamp comte #ikemen vampire comte #comte de saint germain #ikevamp au #ikemen vampire #ikevamp #arranged marriage au #cybird ikemen #cybird otome #ikemen series #fanfic #otome boys #cybird #fanfiction

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happypopcornprincess · 8 months ago

Text

Call It What You Want (Chapter 2)

Note: The story is set somewhere in 2018, pre covid, before Yei won the world champion. A lot of Oyei, Yak and Cher's backstory has been my own creation. Also some new characters are also purely fictional.

Please do not repost or reupload this story as your own.

a/n: I imagined Ice being played by Aye Sarunchana [Torfun from ATOTS] and Lita being played by Sara Legge [Paan from Theory of Love]

TW: anxiety, PTSD, mentions of assault

Series Masterlist

---/---/---

One Week Later

Ice and Lita had basically held him up at their place for a week, refusing to let him go unless he willingly ate something. Ice stayed glued to him the entire time, and even though Cher never said it out loud, she knew he didn’t want to be left alone. It was a throwback to their teenage sleepovers, filled with rom-coms, junk food, and the comforting presence of a best friend. But this time, the laughter was replaced by a heavy silence, a shared understanding of the trauma he'd endured

And true to her word, Lita had pressed all charges. Attempted kidnapping, robbery, assault, and harassment. Cher had told her everything when she came back from the station, and she assured him not to worry as they have both proof and witness. “They’ll go to jail. I’ll make sure of it.”

He was grateful to have them, and even more grateful about the fact that they didn’t let this out to Cher’s mother. He knew she would want him to move in with her and would stay paranoid if he kept on living in his apartment.

He should be happy, right? His assailants are going to get punished, he’s got support from all his friends, he is safe. He should rest and get back on his feet.

But why can’t he rest?

The memory of his helplessness during the attack replayed on a loop in his mind.

How easily those men had overpowered him, the terror that had left him frozen. He could have been dead if it wasn’t for Yei coming to his rescue. He couldn't rest until he felt a semblance of control again.

As Lita dropped him off at his place, a flicker of determination sparked in Cher's eyes. He may have been a victim that night, but he wouldn't be one anymore. “Lita,” he began, his voice firm, “do you have any way to contact P'Yei?”

===

“I’m sorry for the mess, we just moved in, I didn’t have any time to clean up.” Yei was embarrassed by how messy everything was. He led Cher to the back of the warehouse and into their home. “Please, make yourself…” Yei kicked yet another box out of his way, “comfortable.” He led Cher to the back of the warehouse and into their home.

Cher, the boy from that night, had turned up at his warehouse out of nowhere. Turns out he lived nearby and judging by how his lawyer friend acted at the station… he was rich. The clothes he wore right now; classic brown trousers and loose white shirt, screamed upper class Thai money to him.

Which let him wonder what was he doing in the neighborhood late at night.

Cher took a seat in his living room/bedroom/dining area, Yei saw him looking around the place, crates of things everywhere, the gas stove in the corner still on cooking soup for lunch. Half of the rooms were in dire need of a reconstruction after years of neglect. He slept in the living room and gave the least damaged room to Yak, he knew how teenagers are with their privacy.

Thank God that boy was at school because his room was on a whole other level of messy.

But to Yei's surprise, Cher didn't seem disgusted. Instead, he looked around with a curious gaze, like an artist studying a blank canvas.

“So let me get this straight,” Yei begin, taking a seat across him, “You want me to train you for boxing.”

“Self-defense.” Cher answered with complete seriousness.

Well, this was going to be weird.

“Cher, I understand why you’re asking me to do this but…” Yei took a deep breath, “I am actually thinking about retiring from boxing.”

"What!" Cher exclaimed, his eyes widening in surprise.

Yei did his best to explain his situation. "I have a younger brother to support, and boxing championships only bring in a little money. I don't have any sponsors. How can I keep going like this? I need a stable job," he blurted out.

It felt strange to say it out loud, after keeping it bottled up for so long. Cher took a deep breath, his expression unreadable.

"So you're just going to give up boxing?" he finally asked.

Yei offered a sad smile. "I don't have much of a choice, Cher."

Cher remained silent, his shoulders dropping as he took a look around the house and out the main door at the warehouse. Cher kept looking at it, los in his thoughts as Yei was left wondering what he was thinking about.

“Is that warehouse empty?” he asked after a while.

Yei hesitated, unsure of where this conversation was headed. 'Yes,' he finally said, 'it hasn't been used in a while.

"What if I told you there was a way for you to keep boxing and make money?" Cher proposed, a glint appearing in his eyes.

===

Next Day

“This is a crazy idea, Cher. You hardly know this guy!” Ice looked at him holding her bottle in a tight grip. They were having brunch at his house when Cher explained his plan to help Yei build a Muay Thai training center in his old warehouse and teach him self-defense, Ice looked like he had grown two heads. Lita, on the other hand, just smiled and started investigating Yei on her tablet.

“It is a good investment Ice, believe me.” Cher said, sipping his beer in his living room.

“Holy shit dude, you were right.” Lita blurted out, slamming her food down and shoving the tablet towards the center of the table. There were countless articles about Yei Phadetseuk, a national-level champion and renowned boxer with a string of tournament victories under his belt. A household name in the Thai boxing scene.

“How the fuck is he unemployed?” Ice grabbed the tablet, scrolling frantically through articles.

'His dad left the family for another woman, taking his sponsorship with him,' Cher explained. 'His managers did a lousy job promoting him, and his mom recently passed away. He has a younger brother in high school and no income. That's why he hasn't had any fights scheduled.'

Lita shot him a curious glance, “well someone did their research.”

Cher nodded. 'I've seen him fight, Lita. He's got incredible potential. With proper support and training, I'm confident he can reach the world championships.'

Ice chuckled, “Also; he’s kinda hot.” she added, pulling up a photo of Yei in the boxing ring – shirtless, glistening with sweat, and undeniably ripped.

Cher swatted her shoulder playfully. 'He's a good man, and he saved my life. This is the least I can do for him. He has the talent; he just needs someone to help him showcase it properly.'

'Are you absolutely certain about this, Cher?' Lita asked, a hint of concern in her voice. 'Take your emotions out of it for a moment. Analyze this as a businessman, then decide.'

“I am saying this with a sound mind Lita. I won’t jump to conclusions without having a plan, I promise.” He assured his friends.

Cher understood his privileged upbringing. Witnessing all the entitled, two-faced heirs around him, he knew he never wanted to become one of them. His skills in management and renovation were the reason his mother had allowed him to move out after college. He was confident in his ability to help Yei and his brother out of this predicament.

“Have you talked about this with him?” Ice asked him.

“Yes, I have. He said he’ll think about it, but I’m sure he’ll accept. He gets to keep boxing, all while earning money. It’s a win win situation.” Cher smiled.

While Ice and Lita shifted off to a different topic, he couldn’t help but look out of the window, thinking of the kind man with golden eyes and his gentle smile.

He had saved his life, and now it was his turn to do the same.

To be continued...

/---/---/---

Masterlist || Part Three

---/---/---

Taglist - @seoulmates98 @randomia-in-wonderland @fandomforever369 @nitorem

Comment down to be added to the taglist.

---/---/---

More Thai BL Fanfics

Tangled Fates: The Sign Series Fanfic A Phaya x Tharn fic about their past life as Sapuna and Wansarut.

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bangchansfairywings · 10 days ago

Text

The Last Chapter of Us

Word Count: 1.9k

Genre: Angst (Seungmin X Fem Reader)

Summary: Seungmin and Y/N's seemingly unbreakable relationship begins to fade.

A frigid winter wind swept through the city streets, sending brisk chills down Seungmin's spine as he zipped up his puffer jacket and walked quickly through a busy alley. The night was dark, but the city street lights painted the night sky with a faded orange yellow glow, hinting at the promise of a new day. His mind, however, was anything but glowing and clear.

A few hours ago, he had just left the recording studio, feeling an overwhelming sense of exhaustion and fatigue from the continuous sessions. But there was something else fogging his mind--something that had been weighing him down for days. It was a heavy weight he couldn't shake off, no matter how much he tried to focus and dive into his work.

As he approached the all too familiar front door to his apartment, he hesitated for a moment, glancing back at the street corner. Across the road, there was a small cafe where he and Y/N had spent so many mornings together. The thought of her made his chest tighten, a feeling that only intensified as he unlocked the door.

Inside, his place was quiet. Too quiet. He dropped his keys on the nearby end table and kicked off his shoes, stopping to sigh heavily and lean back against the closed door. He could hear his own deafening heartbeat in the stillness of the living room. It felt like a deafening reminder what he knew was very close to changing. His phone buzzed in his pocket at that moment, but he didn't have to look at it first before he knew who texted him.

Y/N.

His stomach churned as he slowly pulled out his phone from his pants pocket. The message was short but heavy.

"We need to talk."

It wasn't necessarily the first time he had seen a message like that, but this one felt incredibly different. It wasn't just a simple disagreement or misunderstanding. He could feel it in his bones--this was the very moment when everything was about to change.

With a shaky sigh, Seungmin opened the message, fingers trembling trying to think of a reply. Before he could muster up the courage to type, another message came through.

"I think it's time for us to let go."

Seungmin's heart sank lower than it ever had before and for a split second, the world seemed to stop spinning. The warmth that had enveloped him in his memories of their time together seemed to fade. It wasn't the first time they had faced challenges in their relationship but the depth of her words cut through him more than anything else possibly could have.

"I'm sorry, Seungmin. It's time for us to move on."

His throat tightened as he reread her texts over and over again. His mind raced, trying desperately to come up with something, anything, that would fix this. But deep down, he knew there was nothing that could be said that could change her mind at this point.

Seungmin sank down into the living room couch, his fingers gripping the phone so tightly that it almost popped out of his hands. The room was even more still and quiet now, yet it felt like a violent storm was raging inside of his soul. All of the memories they had shared--the laughter, the late-night talks, the way she would smile whenever he brought her her favorite coffee from the cafe on days she didn't feel like going out, were suddenly just echoes of a past he could no longer reach.

Seungmin closed his eyes and he could immediately see her face in his mind. Her eyes, always full of a loving warmth and understanding. The way she would listen to him, no matter how tired or distracted his rambling was. And that smile--god, that smile. It lit up his darkest days.

Now, that smile in the dark felt like distant memory, a fleeting moment he would never get back.

He opened his eyes and blankly stared at the ceiling. It's time to move on.

The texts she sent played over and over in his mind. He had always known that relationships weren't easy, especially with his busy schedule as an idol, but he never would have imagined that it would come to this. They had been together for just over three years, and within that time, he had come to realize just how much he needed her. She had been his anchor, his safe place in a world that often felt like it was spinning out of control. Now, he could quickly feel the distance growing between them, even though she was still just a text message away.

The ache in his chest grew, and before he could stop it and calm down, a tear slid down his cheek. He quickly wiped it away, standing up and walking over to the living room window. Outside, the world continued on like nothing happened, indifferent to the pain and suffering that was suddenly consuming him. The neon lit shop signs blinked and cars drove by, but none of it mattered. All he could think about was Y/N and how his world just came crashing down.

Her future absence was already beginning to feel like an unbearable crushing sensation. He had tried his best to push it to the back of his mind and tough it out but as he stared out into the night thinking about how many of those passing cars could possibly have couples returning from date night, or celebrating an anniversary, he couldn't even slightly push past the anguish of it all. There was no going back.

There's no going back.

He had told himself that before, after every argument, every time things seemed just too complicated to fix. On this night, those words felt different. They felt real. This time, it wasn't just an argument that they'd have to work past. It was the end of something genuine and the end of his beautiful life. The realization hit him like a hard punch in the gut.

Why now? He though, his hands gripping the edge of the window. What really just happened?

The questions gnawed at him, but deep down, he knew the answer. He had been so focused on his own career, so wrapped up in his own complicated world, that he had neglected her. Y/N had always been extremely patient with him and understanding when he had to cancel plans, miss dates, or suddenly have to catch a flight to another country. Even the most patient person has their limits. Y/N seemed to have reached hers.

Seungmin knew he was anything but blameless. He had taken her for granted, assuming she would always be there no matter what waiting for him. But love isn't something you can take for granted. It's fragile, and requires effort from both sides to thrive and survive.

As he stood there, lost in the endless vast ocean of his thoughts, his phone buzzed again. This time, the message was different. It was a voice memo. His heart skipped a beat as he tapped on it to listen.

"Seungmin."

Y/N's voice came through the speaker, soft and hiding a tremble.

"I don't want to hurt you but I can't keep pretending that everything is okay when it's not. We've drifted apart, you can't deny that, and I've tried to ignore it, but the truth is....we're just not the same anymore."

Seungmin closed his eyes again, her words hitting like a tsunami wave crashing against a city. He could hear the sadness in her voice, the pain that she had now so clearly been hiding from him. He had never wanted to be the cause of that pain, but now it was inevitable.

"I don't know where we went wrong, but I think I've lost myself somewhere along the way too. I don't want to keep holding on to something that just isn't working anymore."

She continued.

"I think it's time to let go, Seungmin. I really do care about you and love you but....it's too late."

The last few words of her voice lingered in the air, a final nail in the coffin of their relationship. It was final. It was over.

Seungmin sat back down on the couch, his head cradled in his hands. The tears came rushing down then, falling freely, the weight of everything crashing down on him all at once. He had always prided himself on being strong, on being able to handle whatever came his way. This was different. This wasn't something he could control. This wasn't something he could fix this time.

It was over.

After a while, the tears slowed down and stopped for the time being and Seungmin was left with nothing but emptiness. He had loved her with all his heart and soul, and now, she was gone. There was no going back to the way things had been before.

A FEW WEEKS LATER

The days that followed were some of the hardest of Seungmin's life. He threw himself into work, focusing on the music, the performances, the interviews. No matter how hard he tried to immerse himself in his career life, he couldn't escape the emptiness that lingered in his mind wherever he went.

He missed her. He missed the way she made him feel. Most of all, he missed the person he had been when they were together. She had been his balance, his reminder of the simple things in life. Without her, everything felt more difficult and chaotic.

One evening, Seungmin found himself at the same cafe where they had shared so many fond memories. He sat at a small table by the window, staring out into the street. The world outside seemed unchanged, but he was completely different. The person he had been before was gone, and in his place, there was an empty shell of a man who was still learning to face the reality of moving on.

The bell above the cafe door rang and Seungmin glanced up. A familiar figure stood in the doorway--Y/N.

Their eyes met for a brief moment, and for a second, Seungmin's breath stopped. His heart skipped a beat, and he stood up without thinking.

"Y/N." He spoke softly, his voice rough from emotions he had been holding back.

She looked at him, her expression unreadable. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then, Y/N took a deep breath and walked over to his table.

"I didn't expect to see you here," she said quietly, sitting down across from him.

"I didn't expect to be here either," Seungmin replied, forcing a small smile. "But....I guess, this is where we ended up."

They both sat in silence for a long time, the weight of their shared history hanging in the air between them.

Finally, Y/N spoke again. "I've been thinking a lot about everything. I know we can't go back to the way things were and I just wanted to tell you....I think....I think I'm ready to move on fully."

Seungmin nodded, feeling a lump in his throat. "It's not easy, but I understand. I've been trying to figure out how to do this."

She gave him a sad smile, her eyes filling with a quiet understanding that the break up was still not mutual. "There really is no going back, Seungmin but that doesn't mean we can't find our peace with it."

He nodded again, unable to stop a tear from slipping down his cheek. This time, it wasn't out of regret, it was out of acceptance. There was no changing things and returning to his old life, but maybe he would be okay.

They sat there together for a few minutes longer, not needing to say anything else. It wasn't the closure either of them had expected, but it was enough. It was time to move on.

#seungmin #stray kids #stray kids imagine #seungmin imagine #seungmin x reader #angst #seungmin angst #kpop imagine #kpop angst #requests are open

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trensu · 2 years ago

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So I meant to have the last chapter of the Hawkins Halfway House done and posted, like, WEEKS ago but I've been sidetracked with other projects which means that chapter is only partly done. I feel kinda bad about it so I thought I'd make myself feel better about not meeting my personal goal by posting an excerpt from the last, WIP chapter. (My new goal is to have it done and posted before my bday next month, so fingers crossed the fic will be done in a couple of weeks)

All Steve wanted to do today was buy groceries. The fridge at home was sad to look at and he didn’t have a shift to rush off to so he could take his time perusing the grocery store shelves. Once he got that done, he would be free as a bird for the rest of the day. He could go to the park nearby that had some basketball hoops, or watch that movie Robin kept telling him to check out, or maybe even drive around to try to find that bar Robin and he went to a few months ago that seemed to have disappeared off the face of the planet.

But no. Steve wasn’t going to do any of that because his well maintained car broke down on some random street he didn’t even know existed. Thankfully, he’d been quick to pull his car to the curb before it died completely. He threw on the emergency brake and climbed out of the car, world-weary, because of course this had to happen on a bright, beautiful, work-free day he could’ve spent doing literally anything else.

It didn’t help that he’d been so stressed lately. He’s in his thirties and he’s not getting any younger. He wanted to be a dad so much it hurt to think about it sometimes. He tried adopting a stray he’d found in an effort to assuage that desire, but the kitten’s rightful owner claimed him only a few days after.

Recently, another two adoption agencies rejected him when they found out he was unmarried and planned on being a single parent. It had gotten to the point where Steve seriously considered trying to date some women who’ve shown interest in him so he could have a shot at parenthood. Clearly, he made his life more difficult by acknowledging his occasional attraction to men and not dating any women who wouldn’t be accepting of his sexuality.

Yesterday, after Steve got the call from the second agency, Robin had sat with him at their tiny kitchen table. She had taken his hand, held it, and fiddled with his fingers while he collected himself.

“You know I love you, right?” she had asked.

“No way, here I thought you moved in with me for my money,” Steve tried to joke. Robin snorted.

“What money?” she asked.

“Huh, guess you really do love me,” Steve cracked a tiny smile at her and she leaned against him. She tugged at his ring finger.

“Yep,” she said and then in a softer tone, “so if we got married, it wouldn’t be a loveless marriage like your parents’. And we already live together. In sin, might I add. I should’ve made an honest woman of you years ago. We wouldn’t have to worry about how a cold, empty relationship would affect the kiddos, because we’d share a different, good type of love.”

“Robbie,” Steve said.

“All we gotta do is pop down to the courthouse and sign some papers. It wouldn’t be a big deal! We already co-own all the stuff here, and we’re each other’s emergency contacts for, like, everything so we’re practically already married anyway. If we made it official, then I could go with you to these agencies and show them what a lovely couple we are, and how good you are with kids, and–”

“Robin, you’ve never wanted to have children. You don’t want to be a mom.”

“Yeah, but I wouldn’t be having them, technically, and it’s not like I hate kids.”

“I love you too much to let you do that for me. Besides, if we get married, your chances with Chrissy are shot.”

“Oh my god,” Robin had groaned in dismay. “Would you let that go? I haven’t seen her since that time with the stray. She was so hot, ugh, it’s not fair. She probably has some meathead boyfriend who can’t even get her off right. Life is so cruel to me.”

Steve had known that Robin knew what Steve was doing, but she had let Steve steer the conversation away regardless.

Now his car decided to crap out on him on top of all that? He clambered out of his car and popped the hood open. Steve was no mechanic, but he’d liked cars enough to have taken a class in high school. He knew the basics and a little extra that he’d picked up since then.

He checked for all the most common issues. As far as he could tell, there was nothing wrong with the car. The engine wasn’t even overheated. There was no reason it shouldn't be working. He tried to start it up a second time with no luck. Growling in frustration, he got out of his car again to glare at the uncooperative engine. With little hope, he leaned over to check if anything had changed in the engine.

“You okay there, son?” a gruff voice called from behind him. Steve jumped in surprise and let out a yelp when the movement caused him to hit his head against the propped up hood of the car. “Sorry, didn’t mean to sneak up on you.”

Steve rubbed the back of his head with a wince and glanced towards the voice. A man who looked old enough for retirement leaned against a rickety old fence, watching him with an expression of concern. Even after all these years, Steve felt himself instinctively straighten his spine. With a quiet huff, Steve made the conscious effort to relax because this man was not his father and he was unlikely to share his father’s less desirable personality traits if he was out here offering help and apologies to a stranger in distress.

“It’s alright, I’ve got a thick skull,” Steve reassured him with a friendly smile. The man acknowledged him with a nod before motioning towards the car.

“What’s going on there?” he asked.

“I’m not really sure,” Steve admitted. “Everything looks fine, but the engine won’t turn over.”

“I spent a few years as a mechanic. You want I take a look at it?” the man asked.

“Oh, no, I wouldn’t want to interrupt your day like that,” Steve said. The man waved him off as he walked around the fence to join him at the front of his car.

“Don’t worry about that, son. I’ve been chasing kids all morning. This would be a break from all that,” the man said, a small smile curling at the corner of his mouth. Steve thought it suited him. He looked exactly the way a younger Steve thought a grandfather should look. “So what have you already checked?”

Steve rattled off a list of what he’d done already. The man nodded along and started checking things that Steve hadn’t known to look over. His brow furrowed the longer he poked at things. He had Steve get behind the wheel to attempt to start the car again which was as unsuccessful as before. Steve got out of the car to see the man scratching his head and frowning.

“Makes no damn sense,” the man muttered. “Do you mind if I…?” The man gestured at the driver’s seat.

“Yeah, go ahead,” Steve said, giving him the keys.

The man got into the car slowly, stiff at the knees. Once he was situated, he put the keys in and turned the ignition. The engine sprang to life as if it hadn’t been dead for the past age and a half.

“Oh thank god,” Steve said.

“Yep,” the man agreed. “No idea why it wouldn’t start before. Nothing’s wrong with it.”

The engine still running strong, the man slowly got out of the car, half pulling himself out using the frame. Steve hurried over and let the man lean some weight on his shoulder as he levered himself to his feet.

“Well, thank you, anyway. If there’s anything I can do in return…?”

“Nah, don’t worry yourself. I did what anyone would do to help.”

Steve quickly closed the hood as the man walked back onto the sidewalk. He dropped into the driver’s seat and buckled up. He waved at the man, eager to get on with his day and finally do that grocery run.

The engine shut down the moment Steve gripped the steering wheel. With a sense of doom, Steve turned the key off for a few seconds. He turned the key back on. The engine did not start.

“What,” Steve said shortly, not sure if he was saying it to himself, the car, or the universe at large. “Why is this happening?”

He felt himself flush in frustration and embarrassment as he risked a glance at the man who tried to help him. He hated bothering people and he didn’t want to waste more of this kind old man’s time. However, the man didn’t seem to notice Steve’s state. He had a strange expression on his face, confusion melting into curiosity as his gaze flicked from the car, to Steve, and then to the house behind the fence for some reason.

Steve suddenly became aware of the house behind the fence. How had he not seen it before? He must’ve been more preoccupied with his car than he realized to have missed an entire house. A strange house, at that, though Steve couldn’t say what was weird about it.

“Huh,” the man said, with one more curious look between Steve and the house. The man gestured behind himself. “You see that?”

“The…the house?” Steve asked, confused. Of course he could see the house.

“Yeah.” The man watched him closely, carefully. Steve felt a prickle of irritation at the scrutiny. Did this man think he was stupid?

“Uh, yeah?” Steve said, a little more sarcastically than intended. “I’m not blind.”

The man chuckled goodnaturedly. “Didn’t say you were. What’s your name, son?”

“Steve,” he replied. The man chuckled again.

“Thought so,” the man said. At Steve’s questioning gaze, he shrugged nonchalantly. “You look like a Steve. I’m Wayne. Why don’t you come inside? The kids made a batch of lemonade earlier today and there’s a phone you can use to call a tow.

PSA I do not do those reader tag list things. If you'd like to keep up with my stuff please follow my writing tag: trensu tells stories

#trensu tells stories #hawkins halfway house for homeless horrors #stranger things #steve harrington #wayne munson #robin buckley #steve & robin #steddie #(technically; though it's not mentioned in this excerpt)#i really want to finish this fic so i can write other stuff #but irl projects keep getting in the way #not necessarily in a bad way #i finished making my pride quilt and most of the slip covers i need for my couches #but still #i have grown rather fond of this au and would like to do other stuff in it #like Steve's attempts at enrolling the kids in a public school #or Steve coming up with with a shared family exercise regimen to help the Sinclair sibs manage their wolf shifts #or a steve vs billy vs eddie confrontation just for the Drama #alas #they may never come to be at this rate

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luneariaa · 2 years ago

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☀︎ 𝐟𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐝'𝐞𝐚𝐮 | 𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞

❥︎ - ; x ɢɴ! ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ

❥︎ - 𝐭𝐰 : ɴᴏɴᴇ! ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ᴘᴜʀᴇ ꜰʟᴜꜰꜰ ᴀʜᴇᴀᴅ 💛

❥︎ - 𝐚/𝐧 : ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴠᴇʀʏ ʀᴀɴᴅᴏᴍʟʏ ᴡʀɪᴛᴛᴇɴ ɪɴ ꜱᴏᴍᴇ ᴡᴀʏ, ᴀꜱ ɪ ᴀᴅᴏʀᴇ ʜɪꜱ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀ ᴀ ʟᴏᴛ ( ᴀɴᴅ ʏᴇꜱ ɪ'ᴍ ʜɪɢʜʟʏ ᴀᴡᴀʀᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ɢᴀᴍᴇ ɪꜱɴ'ᴛ ᴏᴜᴛ ʏᴇᴛ- ).

☾︎ - 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭.

-✰-

Have you ever looked at someone, and feel as if they're the one for you? The person who will spend the rest of their lives with you; the one who will cherish and love you forever? As if you've known that such things are bound to happen in one way or another.

You would never know what 'love' truly is, if you hadn't ever met him. Indeed, he has successfully captivated your very own heart with such ease, changing your perspective on almost everything around you, even the tiniest things for the better.

Despite being the Crown Prince of Sanbreque himself, he still tries his best to spend all of his free time with you alone-- treating you in the exact way that you deserved to be treated, with full affection and care, as you mean the whole world to his very being.

He wouldn't trade it for anything else for sure.

It's also such a warm and an amazing feeling to experience for you both. Along with the fact that he could be himself-- a normal man, instead of a full-burdened royal prince everytime you're by his side. Dion has never felt this way towards anyone else in his life; except for you alone.

Eikons, he wanted to build your own shared, desired home in a simple countryside if he were able to someday, just to live a normal life with you without any disturbances.

Today is just one of those relaxing days. The two engaged lovers are simply having a light conversation with one another, despite it already being past midnight while walking around the palace.

There are less people that are even fully awake at this hour, so it's a big opportunity for the two of you to spend your time together.

A small kiss was being placed on your nose, which elicited a quiet giggle out from you while scrunching up your nose playfully. You both stopped walking momentarily once you two reached outside-- near the pathway that leads to the main gardens of the palace.

You moved your gaze upwards to the darkening, clear skies in admiration. You've always loved this time of the day, as the sky will be full of tiny lights of the stars, and the moon shining brightly on its own as well.

"The stars are definitely in their rightful places," Dion suddenly spoke, breaking the calming silence that's been surrounding around the both of you. "It is simply perfect."

He whispered at the end of his sentence, tucking some strands of hair behind your ear tenderly. His beloved sweetheart merely nodded in agreement at his statement-- placing your head on his chest while his arms snake around your waist, pulling you closer to him in the process.

The both of you have truly found solace in each other; feeling complete trust and deep affection towards one another.

"Don't you think we should try to get some rest for tomorrow?" You suggested with a small grin, now just taking notice of how you both have arrived at the garden area. The crown prince shook his head slightly; a small smirk was plastered on his handsome features.

"Well, do you want to rest right now, mon ange?" Dion questions back, as if knowing full-well on what your answer would be. When your response is a simple 'no', he places a loving kiss on your temple, continuing your way further through the garden until you've reached the beautifully designed water fountain at the center of it.

The water of the fountain flowed ever so gently; so calmly that such tranquility could ease a person's very own troubled mind.

The both of you have decided to take a seat on one of the benches nearby. Truly, it's a perfect spot for the both of you to rest for a while, with no one around to possibly bother the pair of you.

"This spot-- this exact place reminds me of you so much." Dion gazes into your eyes fondly; a loving smile playing on his lips as the memories begin to flash past his mind. "It seems so long now, isn't it? It feels as if the events just happened yesterday, honestly."

You, his darling, merely let out a giggle, agreeing with his words while bringing one of your hands to his cheek-- staring into his golden amber eyes with such adoration. The crown prince could've sworn that he could feel his heart melting and beating rapidly; his face even beginning to heat up slightly by the mere sight of you doing so.

"It was one of the most unforgettable days of my life," he added dreamily, the smile not leaving his face even for a second. Closing his eyes briefly, Dion lets out a soft sigh while moving his gaze to the water fountain.

"I can still remember the sweet smile that you gave me that day; I've never forgotten it since."

An amused chuckle was emitted from your lips as you blushed faintly. "Your memory is quite vivid, I must say.."

The golden blonde-haired prince grins at you statement, grabbing ahold of your hands with his own.

"That is for sure. I've always thought about how beautiful you are, from the day my eyes landed upon you. The look in your eyes has been engraved inside my very own memory ever since. The beauty you've possessed-- holding my own heart captive, and I forever wouldn't mind of that."

His fingertips moved underneath your chin tenderly, gazing straight into your eyes with such sincerity in them. "It's so unique-- enchanting to behold, even. You make me feel alive, and I forever will be grateful for that."

And oh, dear Eikons, what have you done to deserve someone like him?

Stuck in your own thoughts, only to be snapped out of it when Dion now grasps onto both of your hands, tightening his grip ever so slightly, causing your face to go pink at his gentle actions-- feeling touched by his words as well.

The loving smile that was directed towards you at that exact moment is enough to make you feel butterflies within your stomach; your heart fluttering as well. The sounds coming from the water fountain and the night crickets didn't bother you at all, as your focus is on your sole darling prince alone.

Their eyes even glistened underneath the moonlight itself, clearly mesmerized by each other's presence.

Dion could feel his heart racing as the quietness remained in the air for a few more moments; your gaze moved upwards to the starry sky above once again. He takes his time to observe you silently, yet his mind made several silent vows for you alone.

You got pulled out from your own musings by the moment your beloved prince spoke-- breaking the serenity of the night.

"May I kiss you?" You stared at him, dumbfounded for a few seconds upon his question, before an embarrassed smile is formed on your lips.

"I-- Of course you may.." His lune answered ever so softly, being caught off guard by his sudden request. "You know, you didn't need to ask--"

He didn't even let you finish your sentence as he began to lean forward, capturing your lips in a chaste kiss; his hands cupping your cheeks at this very moment. Your hearts beat together in sync, filling your own souls with joy and pure love towards one another. Dion held you so close-- savoring every passing second that he shared with his sole light of his life.

The whole feeling is so heavenly to him, in all honesty.

As soon as you two slowly parted for air, a gasp escaped from your lips once you felt him trailing his soft lips down your jawline, and then onto your neck. Oh dear Eikons-- you tried your best to suppress the noises from escaping by slightly biting down on your lips.

Though, it fails as the tiniest bit of sound-- your whimper, managed to be heard by your soleil prince himself. Just by the mere sound of it is enough to make his lips turn into a rather satisfied smirk, fully knowing that he has succeeded in getting you to react this way to him, and fully aware that only he can do that to you.

A small gasp was elicited once more when he nibbled on the skin of your neck a bit– kissing the tip of your nose after.

"Are you alright?" Dion asks worriedly, separating himself from you once he notices how your breathing became slightly erratic; your eyes now glued at the water fountain, nodding in a flustered manner from his actions earlier.

Sighing in relief, he then stood up and lifted you up in a bridal style-- his golden amber eyes twinkled mischievously down at you, while a triumphant grin was visible on his features at the sight of your reddened expression.

"Dion, put me down-!" You demanded while burying your face on his chest, trying your best to hide your completely flustered expression from view. The royal prince simply chuckled in delight at this.

"No way, love, you can't escape me easily." He teases jokingly as you struggled out of his arms a little, your face growing increasingly hotter. Dion ignored your protests for a while; eventually putting you down, still somewhere nearby the water fountain.

You would've smacked him for being dramatic from doing so, but you know that you won't. You find him way too endearing and sweet for you to be able to do something as such.

Lowering his head slowly towards yours, he plants a soft, feather light kiss on the crown of your head. A pleased smirk creeps up to his lips once you sent him a small, yet warm smile.

"Mon trésor.." He murmured out with deep fondness lacing his tone, feeling your breath caught up in your throat as he began to kneel in front of you-- resting his head on your lap while his arms encircled around you.

It's as if he's worshipping and treating you like a goddess/god itself; showering you with whispery praises lovingly, while his golden amber eyes stares into yours, drinking the sight of you in.

No amount of words can express how much you love the man in front of you. The look in your eyes whenever you gaze upon him definitely explains everything.

You lifted your hand to his soft hair, brushing your fingers through his golden locks. A contented sigh was emitted from him by your gentle actions, temporarily closing his eyes to relax himself completely by your touch alone.

"I love you so, so much.." He murmured almost quietly, gradually opening his eyes to gaze into your own eyes lovingly; to which you held onto the eye contact with a tender smile playing on your lips.

"No matter where life takes us, I will always be here with you." Dion brushes some strands of hair away from his darling's face– smiling adoringly while cupping your cheeks.

"Forever and always."

𝐞𝐧𝐝.

-✰-

#ffxvi #final fantasy xvi #ff16 #final fantasy 16 #dion lesage #dion lesage x reader #dion lesage x you #oneshot #fluff #fanfic #this kinda rushed idk 😭😭#aria's post 𖥔 ݁ ˖

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fluffalpenguin · 2 years ago

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@arcvmonth day 24: the manga

oh man oh MAN it's vj day!!!!!

it's pretty funny how all my gifs are mostly yuri-centered huh

Under the cut:

revisiting my review of the manga from last year

Headcanons and fic/comic ideas

rambling about an old WIP

small playlist! (with write-ups!)

First of all, here's the 3,000 words analysis/blog thing I wrote last year when I first finished it.

One and a half years later, I still largely agree with it! There's some headcanons I wrote in there that I completely forgot about, lol, so I'm glad past me posted it somewhere for current me to relieve it again! (The rants were also kind of funny to re-read too)

***

Next, headcanons!

Lately, I found myself wondering about Yuto and Yuri's outfits; specifically-

...Why are they walking around Maiami with dramatic red/black capes?

After some time in the kitchen, I decided that when Yuya was younger, he was really into good versus evil roles when rehearsing his dueltainment lines. And who else better to serve as his practice opponents than his two brothers who aren't off busy making rounds at the stadium on a D-Wheel?

Tying his own fluffy, white towel around his shoulders, Yuya throws a nearby black blanket to Yuto. The oldest is initially a little embarrassed about the notion, but no one can ever say no to the baby of the Sakaki family, can they? (He'll just have to live the shame down from the twins later on... They barely even respect him as they are right now, anyway) In the middle of the duel, Yuri walks in onto the two of them after having finished his homework (or tweaking his deck). He raises an eyebrow at Yuto's appearance, but gets the gist of the situation when he sees their duel disks activated and Yuya standing on top of the sofa in a similar attire. As Yuto steals Yuya's schtick and becomes a tomato, Yuri pouts about being left out and quickly leaves to hunt for something that will allow him to join the fun. When the duel ends, Yuto passes the baton to Yuri. As he watches the two rattle off silly, goofy lines like, I will destroy the planet, the universe, all the worlds! and, Never! I'll stop you, fiend!, Yuto sighs in relief. At least Yuya now has Yuri to LARP with. Maybe Yugo would volunteer too, once he returned from driving practice and hears about it. Though, he'd likely ask to play the part of the hero himself. Anyway, Yuto's already almost in middle school; he's getting a little too old to play with costumes now. Then afterwards, at dinner, with an angelic smile Yuya says, "Yuuto, can we play like that again sometime? You look so cool with a cape!"

Yuri on the other hand, always had a tendency for the melodramatic, his own personal spin of the theatrics he's seen from his dad! Deep down he really loves playing the villain.

(This was meant to be a short description but I couldn't help putting some fic-like sentences in there tehe also yes that's a reference to the conversation between Yuya and G.O.D./Eve)

***

(warning: angst ahead)

Another headcanon I have that I want to write/draw something for is that in the postcanon where Reiji, Yuya, Isaac and Ren travel through space and time together, Yuya has moments where he falters to his grief.

He's used to his brothers commenting and nagging him on almost anything and everything (A midnight snack? Think about your complexion, Yuya!) and his world is suddenly a lot more quiet. In his hurt, he starts to avoid Ren, not wanting to be reminded of what he's lost (He doesn't feel good about it).

Eventually Reiji intervenes and Yuya opens up a little. He's been unable to properly let himself grief for his brothers. All he wants to say is that he misses them.

But he doesn't feel like he has the right to do so, having being the one to seal their fates by personally destroying the one method of bringing them back to life. He doesn't regret his decision of course, but he's unable to stop himself from feeling this way too.

It has a happy ending; Reiji convinces Yuya to talk to Ren. Yuya shares stories about Yugo at Ren's request, making the both of them laugh. Yuya realises that there are other methods of bringing back people to life, too, even if only momentarily.

But it is enough.

***

Misc hcs:

Yuya's charisma and attitude is a combination of his three brothers fawning over his cuteness from birth and Yuya being so star-struck with Yusho's performances he attempted to replicate the movements ever since he could walk.

Being the oldest, Yuto feels a sense of responsibility for his brothers and pledged to take care of them in place of his always-missing parents. However, he oft times finds himself not having to do much because Yugo and Yuri are so determined to win over Yuya's heart (and be proclaimed 'favourite brother') that they also make sure to set a good example for the youngest when possible. This causes Yuto a little bit of an identity crisis (/j it's just for fun) until he settles into his role as the househusband cook.

"All of us... are connected by... the arc of destiny!"

Reiji and Yuya are supposed to be silhouetted by their fathers, so Yuzu is meant to seem like she's looking at Yuya, but is in fact looking at Yusho. I also think VJ Yuto should be allowed to smile more!

This drawing is meant to be my love letter to the manga as a whole, and ESPECIALLY the last duel between Reiji and Yuya. I talked about it a whole ton in the review linked above already, so go check that out if you haven't!!

I was really happy with the composition when I first made this, especially with Sora/Ren/Isaac Versus the Yus mirroring their duels! (Well, okay, I know Isaac didn't duel Yuto but.... just give this to me)

Anyway I really wanted a fun and positive energy for it! Every month I think about returning to this but I get slightly demotivated when I realise I have *zero* colour references for both Ren and Isaac... Please send in your headcanons...

***

Last but not least, last month I got brain worms for another animatic/hand-drawn MV for Eve's Fight Song! I'll never ever have to time to go back to it, but I wanted to take the chance to talk about other songs that make me ill when I think about them with the manga.

1. Myth & Roid - TRAGEDY:ETERNITY

Don’t give me an eternity Even if that’s all I can believe Press pause on the flow of time In the shadow of the blink of an eye I don’t wanna fall into a sleep ‘Cause now you are my remedy Now knocking on, knocking on, knocking on my brain Even for the temptation of a nightmare Fate demands a costly reparation for its fare

Translated lyrics mostly from lyrical-nonsense, but I made some changes for better rhyming and flow yahoo!! This song is what I imagine the OP would be in my dreams when it received an anime adaptation, I've always dreamed of making my own animatic to it!!

Not just the chorus, but the ENTIRE SONG (pleeeease go take a look at the lyrics) feels like it's made for the manga please please go take a look

2. MYTH & ROID - -to the future days

I cast my wishes to the future days If we can meet on the other side of eternity… I cast my wishes to the future days What should we talk about first? Sadness and even joy will, eventually Will sleep together That's the way life is If such a world could be granted Would nobody feel hurt anymore?

Yeah I like M&R quite a bit, how'd you know

If T:E was the hypothetical OP, this is my pick for the ED theme, like AAAAAAAA for me it encompasses the yu's story so so so so so so so well, though

And:

Both despair and also life come to end eventually Take this future into your hands and let it run its course Spin it ’round…… The hands on the clock spin around Like flowers, petals falling and fluttering Once we blossom, we dissipate in the moment THE BRIDGE THE BRIDGE THE LYRICS ARGHHHHHHHH This is definitely for me, the moment when the three yus start to fade during Yuya's battle with Eve, their last conversation they have with yuya..... *lies onto the ground in a pile of misery*

Rest of the lyrics HERE shoves it into your face

3. MAISONdes - Tokyo Shandy Rendezvous

It's no joke, no it's not! Tokyo Shandy Rendezvous Even when the time comes nothing will come of it Vague truths only become melancholy Come on and snatch me away now, take on me!

This is a fun one, when I watched the PV and in the chorus Lum was spinning I instantly went wow what if that was Phantom.. and then the lyrics bared their claws and sunk them into my brain and hasn't really let go since

Unlike the above two songs, not all of the lyrics are a perfect match, of course, but I adore how in general the whimsical yet lonely nature of the song feels like it fits Phantom so well!

4. Eve - Fight Song

As the night still refuses to end, let’s dream

Last but not least the song I posted the above storyboard for! CSM fans (as well as Eve fans, lol) are probably already familiar with the song, and full lyrics here, though like the song above, only parts of the song (particularly the chorus) really resonated with the vj brainworms in my head lol Even for me, y’know Let’s make a break for the future Towards the verge of death like we pray for A boy that gave his word Today, just like back then As if there’s no more future ahead

Sigh.... Yuto, Yugo, Yuri................ Just let out your voice Let’s take it easy We don’t even know common sense, so we know the world through wise eyes These overflowing feelings, behold Greet me with an applause

I love the first half a lot, I can easily imagine Yuya saying it to the other three... and of course, the latter, from him to the world! (or perhaps even G.O.D...)

As always thanks for reading GOODBYE I GOTTA GO DRAW SOME ARC-V OCS

#arc-v #arcvmonth2023 #arcvmonth #arc-v manga #pasu does not shut up

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helly-watermelonsmellinfellon · 2 years ago

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"The first time I heard about Taylor Swift, I was in a Los Angeles County jail, waiting to be sent to prison for murder. Sheriffs would hand out precious copies of the Los Angeles Times, and they would be passed from one reader to the next. Back then, I swore that Prince was the best songwriter of my lifetime, and I thought Swift’s rise to teen-age stardom was an injustice. I’d look up from her wide-eyed face in the Calendar section to see gang fights and race riots. The jail was full of young men of color who wrote and performed their own raps, often about chasing money and fame, while Swift was out there, actually getting rich and famous. How fearless could any little blond fluff like that really be?

In 2009, I was sentenced to life in prison. Early one morning, I boarded a bus in shackles and a disposable jumpsuit, and rode to Calipatria State Prison, a cement fortress on the southern fringes of California. Triple-digit temperatures, cracked orange soil, and pungent whiffs of the nearby Salton Sea made me feel as though I’d been exiled to Mars. After six years in the chaos of the county jail, however, I could finally own small luxuries, like a television. The thick walls of Calipat, as we called the place, stifled our radio reception, but an institutional antenna delivered shows like “Access Hollywood,” “Entertainment Tonight,” and “TMZ.” I was irritated by the celebrity gossip, but it was a connection to the outside world, and it introduced me to snippets of Swift’s performances for the first time. Here and there, I’d catch her on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” or “Fallon,” and was surprised by how intently she discussed her songwriting. I didn’t tell anyone that I thought she was talented.

In 2013, when my security level was lowered owing to good behavior, I requested a transfer to Solano state prison, the facility with a Level 3 yard which was closest to my family in the Bay Area. I got the transfer, but my property—a TV, CD player, soap, toothpaste, lotion, food—was lost in transit. I shared a cell with someone in the same situation, so, for months, we relied on the kindness of our neighbors to get by. Our only source of music was a borrowed pocket radio, hooked up to earbuds that cost three dollars at the commissary. At night, we’d crank up the volume and lay the earbuds on the desk in our cell. Those tiny speakers radiated crickety renditions of Top Forty hits.

During that time, I heard tracks from “Red,” Swift’s fourth studio album, virtually every hour. I was starting to enjoy them. Laying on the top bunk, I would listen to my cellmate’s snores and wait for “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” to come around again. When it did, I would think about the woman I had lived with for seven years, before prison. I remembered bittersweet times when my sweetheart had visited me in county jail. We’d look at each other through security glass that was reinforced by wire. It didn’t seem fair to expect her to wait for me, and I told her that she deserved a partner who could be with her. But we didn’t use the word “never,” and deep down I always hoped that we’d get back together. When I heard “Everything Has Changed,” I had to fight back tears of exaltation and grief. Swift sings, “All I knew this morning when I woke / Is I know something now / Know something now I didn’t before.” I thought back to our first date, and how we had talked and laughed late into the night. We had to force ourselves to get a few hours of sleep before sunrise.

After several months, my belongings, including my CD player, finally caught up with me. I was getting ready to buy “Red” from a catalogue of approved CDs when I learned that the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, or C.D.C.R., had placed me on another transfer list. I didn’t want the album to get stuck at the prison after I had been transferred, so I resorted to a country station that regularly featured Swift. Sometimes, hearing Southern drawls and honky-tonk medleys, I’d laugh out loud at myself. But that was the station that played the widest variety of her music, from “Tim McGraw” to “I Knew You Were Trouble.” There was, in her voice, something intuitively pleasant and genuine and good, something that implies happiness or at least the possibility of happiness. When I listened to her music, I felt that I was still part of the world I had left behind.

Hitting a new yard—in this case, the prison known as the California Men’s Colony (C.M.C.)—means finding new friends and allies. Each table and workout area was claimed by a different gang or ethnic group. I’m Asian and Hispanic, and I chose to join the Asians in a cement workout area. When they asked me what kind of music I liked, I confessed that I was anxiously waiting for a Taylor Swift album. Everyone laughed. “Oh, my God, we’ve got a Swiftie on the yard!” Lam, a muscular guy, told me. “You in touch with your sensitive side? Are you gay?” He especially loved to heckle me in front of his buddy Hung, who spoke little and laughed almost silently.

I was waiting for “Red” to arrive when I saw Swift perform “All Too Well” at the 2014 Grammys. That became the song that I played first when I peeled the plastic wrap off the disc, and the song I’d stop at and repeat whenever I spun the album. (Her ten-minute version is even better.) As Swift sang about love’s magical moments, how they are found and lost again, I thought about a time before my incarceration, when I briefly broke up with the woman I loved. She came to my house to return one of my T-shirts. When she hung it on the doorknob and walked away, I was on the other side. I sensed that someone was there, but, by the time I opened the door, she was gone.

When “Red” arrived, I finally found out why Lam had been clowning me in front of Hung. “Red” was the only Swift CD that Hung didn’t own—because he considered it a misguided pop departure from the country greatness of “Fearless” and “Speak Now.” Eventually, Lam outed himself as a Swiftie, too. For six months, the three of us would work out and debate which album was best. Then Hung transferred out of the prison, taking his CDs with him.

Around the time Swift dropped “1989,” I acquired an old-school boom box. Technically, exchanging property and altering devices is against C.D.C.R. rules, but every prison has guys who fill their cells with radios, TVs, and speakers to repair and resell. I looked out for one guy, G.L., when he first hit the yard, and he became one of the best electronic fix-it guys I’ve ever met. He loved reconfiguring different speakers to get the best sound. He rewired the boom box for auxiliary cables and gave it to me. At C.M.C., I had a cell to myself, so I’d turn up the music enough to drown out obnoxious sounds outside my cell. Of course, some people always think that Swift is the obnoxious sound. “What’s up with the damn Taylor Swift?” a neighbor yells out. Another voice chimes in with requests: “Play ‘Style.’ That song’s tight right there.” By the time the song ends, someone new will admit, “That girl’s got jams.”

When you transfer between prisons, you can’t take any undocumented property with you. At the end of 2015, I gave that boom box back to G.L. and left C.M.C. for Folsom prison. After a year, I landed at San Quentin. I started working at the San Quentin News, the in-house newspaper, for a quarter an hour. Around that time, C.D.C.R. started allowing a vender to sell us MP3 players for a hundred dollars. They charged $1.75 per song and ten dollars for a memory card. Eventually, I asked my family to order one and would call my cousin Roxan with requests. “What’s up with all the damn Taylor Swift?” she’d say during phone calls. By the time Swift released her album “Lover,” in 2019, I had almost every song she’d ever released. And, when the MP3 players were restricted because crafty folks were using the memory cards in illegal cell phones, mine was grandfathered in.

One of my homies at San Quentin had a pristine radio that played CDs and cassette tapes. When he earned parole, everybody hounded him for it. He knew how much I’d appreciate such a luxury, but I didn’t join the herd of pesterers making offers, and I think he appreciated that. He gave it to me as a parting gift. I was even able to have it officially documented on my property card. The MP3 player clipped neatly into the cassette door, so now I could see my playlists while I listened. My neighbor, Rasta, was the weed man for the building, so I played Swift to drown out the guys who were lighting up outside. Rasta made fun of me, but the crowd always liked her “Bad Blood” remix, featuring Kendrick Lamar. “That’s the shit right there,” they’d say. “Who would’ve thought?”

Seven months after “Lover” came out, C.D.C.R. shut down all programming because of the covid pandemic—no indoor group interactions, no volunteers from outside the prison, no visitors. C.D.C.R. brought the coronavirus into San Quentin when it moved some sick guys from another prison in. By the end of June, 2020, hundreds of us were testing positive and getting sick, including me. I lugged all my property to an isolation cell in a quarantine unit, where I shivered and sweated through a brain fog for two weeks. My only human contact came from nurses in full-body P.P.E., who checked my vitals, and skeleton crews of officers—the ones who weren’t sick themselves—who brought us intermittent meals. I followed San Quentin’s death tallies on the local news. Would I die alone in this cell, suddenly and violently breathless? I made a playlist of Swift’s most uplifting songs, listening for the happiness in her voice.

Alone in a prison cell, it’s virtually impossible to avoid oneself. As my body and mind began to recover, I started to question everything. What really matters? Who am I? What if I die tomorrow? I hadn’t been in touch with my sweetheart in more than two years, because she had told me that she was trying a relationship with someone who cared about her. Now, though, I wrote her a letter to see if she was O.K.

A week after I mailed my letter, I received one from her. Prison mail is slow enough that I knew it wasn’t a response—we had decided to write to each other at the same time. “The lockdown has afforded me plenty of time to reflect on all sorts of things,” her letter said. “I’ve been carrying you with me everywhere.” Reading it brought to mind Swift’s lyrics in “Daylight”: “I don’t wanna think of anything else now that I thought of you.” She was single again, and we started talking every week. In lockdown, between paltry dinner trays, I did pushups, lunges, squats, and planks in the twenty-two-inch-wide floor space in my cell. The twentieth year of my incarceration was approaching.

In 2020, the California legislature passed a law that made anyone who served twenty continuous years, and who was at least fifty years of age, eligible for parole. I’m fifty-three, and I’ll get my first chance at release in 2024. I couldn’t help but think of “Daylight” again. “I’ve been sleeping so long in a twenty-year dark night,” Swift sings. “And now I see daylight.”

These days, I call my sweetheart as often as I can. Officers can shut down the phones with the flick of a switch, and technical glitches often take the system offline, so I treat each call as if it were my last. It often feels like she’s waiting to hear from me. She tells me that it’s complicated and confusing for her, speaking to the ghost who disappeared twenty years ago. But, leaning against a wall, next to all the other guys talking with loved ones on the phone, I don’t feel like a ghost. I feel alive. Just recently, she told me, “Talking like this over the phone so much, I think we’ve gotten to know each other way better than before.” We talk about how much we have changed. “You might not even find me attractive anymore,” she tells me. “I’m not the same person I was back then.”

One morning in October, 2022, I had breakfast in the chow hall and made it back to my cell in time for “Good Morning America.” My TV doesn’t have any speakers, so I plugged it into my boom box. Suddenly, I heard a familiar voice singing an unfamiliar chorus: “It’s me, hi / I’m the problem, it’s me.” The anchors on the broadcast were giddy to announce Swift’s new album “Midnights,” and play clips from the music video of “Anti-Hero.” Swift appeared as a larger-than-life figure, arguing with different versions of herself. I laughed to myself. Here we go again.

Our MP3 distributor was always slow to release new music, so I spent a couple of weeks hearing about the album on the news, waiting for my chance to listen. Then, out on the prison grounds, I bumped into a volunteer whom I’d known and worked with for years. We were walking through the yard together when they started looking around to make sure no one was watching. After confirming that the coast was clear, they slipped me a brand-new copy of “Midnights” and wished me a happy birthday. The gesture nearly brought me to tears. That evening, after dinner, I peeled off the plastic and brushed a bit of dust out of the boom box’s CD player. “Lavender Haze” played as I read the liner notes. “What keeps you up at night?” Swift writes.

For the past two decades, sleep has not come easily to me. Often, when I get into bed, I think about the day I was arrested at the scene of my crime. Some neighbors called 911 and reported gunshots. I can still see the grieving family members of the man I killed, staring at me in the courtroom at my trial. I’m guilty of more than murder. I abandoned my parents and my sweetheart, too. There’s no way to fix this stuff.

Taylor Swift is currently the same age, thirty-three, that I was when I was arrested. I wonder whether her music would have resonated with me when I was her age. I wonder whether I would have reacted to the words “I’m the problem, it’s me.” Hers must be champagne problems compared with mine, but I still see myself in them. “I’ll stare directly at the sun, but never in the mirror,” Swift sings, and I think of the three-by-five-inch plastic mirrors that are available inside. For years out there, I viewed myself as the antihero in my own warped self-narrative. Do I want to see myself clearly?

In “Karma,” Swift sings, “Ask me what I learned from all those years / Ask me what I earned from all those tears.” A few months from now, California’s Board of Parole Hearings will ask me questions like that. What have I learned? What do I have to show for my twenty years of incarceration? In the months ahead, when these questions keep me up at night, I will listen to “Midnights.” The woman I love says she’s ready to meet me on the other side of the prison wall, on the day that I walk into the daylight. Recently, she asked me, “If you could go anywhere, do anything, that first day out, what would you want us to go do?” That question keeps me up at night, too."

~.O.~

This was an amazing piece. Taylor's music touches the hearts of many people across the various divides that humanity has created to separate us all. I genuinely believe this man has served his sentence and has truly changed for the better, and I hope that he and his lover get a happy ending to their Love Story.

#Taylor Swift #Midnights #red taylor’s version #speak now taylor’s version

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