#it's always the valses that get me

[australet789]

100% obsessed with Scylla's line "We are the same you and I" sang by her and Odysseus.

The fact that the monster who even POSEIDON is afraid of, tells you that you are not better than her and you end up AGREEING about it.

It's just so so good

[boopshoops]

ITS FINALLY DONE

40 hours of work- just around 200 peoples ocs in the twst community (as such there may be some small mistakes on my end and sometimes i couldnt find refs with all the colors so i did my best!! Honestly im sorry if i missed you too even if its impossible for me to get every single person HFNDJXDHV)

Nothing can quite describe how welcomed ive felt in this community. I find myself always wanting to give back to my moots, followers, or even just other members in the community in general.

SOOO ive been slowly chipping away at this for the past few months. Consider this a gift! And uh, have fun finding your ocs/yuus-

Group photo tags pt1

@thehollowwriter Finn

@rizdoodls Andy

@sakuramidnight15 Hei-ran

@cruel-acid Iza

@raguiras Allen

@oya-oya-okay Yuu and Shishio

@tedearaminta Riona

@zjmaeve Zeth

@akemiozawa Charlotte

@twsted-princess Chimlim

@akihikosanadasboyfriend Yuuma

@tinisprout Yurelle

@valse-a-mille-temps Yuuven

@yaoyaobae Fran

@cosmonavo Gwen

@simpingseafood Sasha

@nuitthegoddess Aurelian and Hana

@cenpede Vitya

@tixdixl Oisín

@tartppola Yuu

@the-trinket-witch Albert and the janitor

@kenchann Yuu

@egophiliac Yuu

@raven-at-the-writing-desk Miss Raven

@adaven17 Yuu

@cecilebutcher Vesper and Igor

@miyuki-fenn Désiré and Mel

@polywoo Misdemeanor

@myuminji Yuu

@zvezdacito Micah

@citrus-c0la Oliver

@datboredpencil Mao

@prinxurie Zuzhou and Jiushu

@robo-milky Cloche

@starry-night-rose Ellis

@bloodiegawz Yuu

@artfulhero-m Aster

@justm3di0cr3 Emory and Poppy

@ai-kan1 Juno

@the-fridge-orange Elinor

@breadcheese444 Lily

@fumikomiyasaki Carol and Yuzuha

@ceruleancattail Cinder and Ceru

@ashipiko Ashi

@elektrosyntetik Anya

@veilofthorns Kissy

@terrovaniadorm Rhys and Ulrica

@midostree-art Yuu

@lanshappycorner Roseline

@midnightmah07 Daisy

[liliannadelaphinehartifelt]

Alastor - [ DEVOTION Pt. 4 ]

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A/N: This is all angst and fluff because I'm working on two other smut fics. Please accept this impromptu filler chapter for now (I'm sorry ❤️). I hope you enjoy it anyway.

WARNINGS: [ SFW ] + [ SLIGHTLY MATURE THEMES ] + [ FLUFF ] + [ ANGST ]

xxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxx

You waited patiently for Alastor, standing at the window, admiring the fading moon as the sun's rays gradually inked the sky. It’d been a longer night than you imagined, but you felt energized rather than overtly exhausted.

You supposed that's what having a child felt like: tiring but never lacking excitement. A smile crept onto your face at the thought, heart racing at the image of a small hand wrapping around your finger and the possible jingle of childish laughter following the gesture. It was all you could think about.

Would they resemble you or Alastor more?

A boy or maybe a girl?

Twins?… Oh, twins would be so extraordinary but troublesome!

Oh, who am I to complain… they'd be just as lovely as Alastor.

You jumped from one thought to the next, unable to keep track of your puzzling emotions but deciding your only concern should be the present. With a steadying breath, you gazed around the room, searching for something to do or a task to occupy yourself with since sleep failed you. The room was spotless besides your belongings, which you'd already reorganized after stealing one of Alastors dress shirts to replace your blood-stained nightgown. There was a bookshelf full of various stories tucked into a corner near an old rocking chair, and the idea of reading to relax didn't seem terrible.

“A good story can be grand entertainment…”

Your father coined the phrase and always followed it with an unbelievable bedtime reading. Those nights filled with his storytelling were your fondest childhood memories, and you considered passing the sentiment onto your child. You imagined Alastor more prone to telling bedtime stories; he had the charisma, the soothing voice for it, and you had no doubt they'd become attached to him doing so.

Your smile grew wider, getting ahead of itself as you waltzed over to the tall mahogany bookshelf. “Hm…what shall we read, little one?” you placed a hand on your stomach, gently rubbing circles against it as your other grazed the worn book spines. Each title caught your eye, all ranging in subject but consistent with what Alastor told you about his mother's efforts to advance his literacy.

“Some might say she willed proper speech out of me, but I wouldn't be where I am now without such vigorous practice…”

He was far from wrong; your father had educated you similarly, claiming that despite young women of the time being expected to rely on their beauty, you'd advance farther with brains.

“Let's see..” you mumbled aloud, reading a few titles to narrow your decision, “…perhaps Penny Dreadful? No, The Grim Brothers Tales’?..” A soft giggle left your lips as you considered how ridiculous you sounded speaking aloud, but it couldn't be helped. You were longing to talk, to shout with joy, but resisted the urge in fear of causing a minor disturbance.

Finally, a book held your attention, not as worn as the others but fairly withered. “Alice in Wonderland shall do.” You pricked it from the shelf, sitting in the rocking chair while opening its front cover. The words on each page were familiar, immersive as intended, and for a few quiet moments, you thought of nothing but its premise as you whispered nonsensical sentences in their written order.

Time passed quicker than you thought; by the third chapter, you heard the bedroom door creak open, and in stepped a refreshed Alastor. You beamed a coy smile his way as he shut the door behind him, returning your smile with tired eyes while walking over to you, “Mornin’ darlin’..”

“Good morning, mon cher. You look much better.” you muse as he leans down to kiss your head, “Thank you, sweetheart. Once I get some rest, I might feel better as well.” He doesn't stand up fully, content with being at eye level with you to converse, and you unconsciously blush from the intensity of his gaze. Strands of his hair were curled into its natural waves, dripping with tiny water droplets, slithering down his mocha skin with every breath he took. It was a miracle his glasses didn't fog up, resting neatly on his face and doing nothing but accentuating his piercing brown eyes.

You could get lost in his stare; that ocean of amber took your breath away effortlessly, and you wondered if the trait would pass on to your child.

Indeed, it would… surely he'd love it.

A lump formed in your throat as anxious excitement built in your chest. You needed to tell him calmly, but the longer you waited, the more you wanted to hide away.

Did he want this?

“I’d love you and our child more than anything…”

He'd said it himself, but it was hard for you to deny that Alastor was very vague with his genuine emotions. Even as his wife, you found him hard to read

There was only one way for you to find out, and stalling wouldn't solve anything. Alastor studied your expression as you thought, perceptive to the minor changes in your mood, “My dear, are you alright?” he asked firmly. You perk up, nodding slowly while clutching the book to your chest, “I-Im, I'm fine... It's just that I have to tell you something rather delicate..”

Alastor raised a brow, watching as you bit your lip and stared at your lap, “The news you alluded to earlier this evening?” His eyes narrow, glinting with prowess as he ponders the possibilities of your announcement.

With a heavy sigh, you nod again, shutting the book before placing it in your lap, gripping it tight with one hand as the other instinctively rests on your stomach. You feel his gaze shift from your face, fixated on your abdomen, as you stumble out an explanation.

“I. Well, I'm… “ you cut yourself off when words fail, reaching for his hand gently, placing it over your own as a nervous smile adorns your face.

Oh…does she mean to say?…

Alastor froze as the warmth of your skin settled against his palm, rising and falling in a gentle pattern as you willed yourself to breathe normally while gauging his reaction. His shadows quivered in the darkness of the room, able to hear two faint heartbeats underneath the drum of your own, and the definitive sound brought a grin to his face.

It seems she's given us exactly what we hoped for. Twice the yield as well.

How delightful.

Alastor knelt before you, placing both hands on your stomach, eyes soft with affection as he finally voiced his thoughts.

“My darling wife is going to be a mother..” pride laced his tone as he averted his gaze to yours, grin ever present as you nodded excitedly with a bright smile, “And you're going to be father..” you whisper.

Your words drifted quietly in the air, sinking into Alastor’s consciousness and stirring his specters into a giddy frenzy.

My wife is having my children…

Mine and only mine.

A laugh rippled in his chest as the possessive thought invaded his mind, growing stronger as he heard your delighted giggles join his. “Come here, darlin’…” Alastor lifted you with one gentle tug on your wrists, catching you in his arms as your feet hovered off the ground. “Alastor!” you yelped excitedly, smiling so hard your cheeks hurt and laughing more as he pecked your lips tenderly. You hummed into the passionate kiss, arms locking around his neck as you kicked a foot up gingerly. He tasted like mint, calm, and refreshing. A welcomed contrast to the waning heat you felt as your nerves winded down.

He was pleased to know, which filled your heart with relief.

——- ——- ———

“Oh, my stars! Al! Y/n! I'm overjoyed for you both!” Rosie shot up from her seat, dress flowing as she glided around the coffee table to squeeze you in a tight hug as you set out the platter of sweets you'd finished baking moments ago. “Thank you, Rosie. I still can't believe it myself,” you blushed as she squealed, drawing back a bit to cup your face with both hands; her eyes sparkled with admiration as she looked between you and Alastor -who sat comfortably in an armchair. He hadn't stopped grinning since your return home from the countryside, rambling on and on to his mother about the news until the last minute, and he insisted on telling Rosie as soon as you stepped foot in New Orleans again. She was his long-time friend, after all, yours as well, by extension, and so you didn't mind revealing the news to her. Just as his mother felt like your own, Rosie filled the space of an older sister for you. She was energetic, fashionable, and constantly aware of everyone's lives.

She was a true gossip girl, but you enjoyed her company more than others.

“Al, you devil! You could've waited another year to knock my dearest friend up! Now, who will I take out on the town?..” She huffed dramatically but couldn't hold her frown as you giggled softly while he waved a hand dismissively. “I'm sure you'll survive, my dear.” he quips. Rosie rolls her eyes, returning his nonchalant gesture with an equally smug smirk, “I suppose you're right. Although, my nights out won't be as thrilling anymore with you gone being a new father and such, Al.”

He sat straighter. You happened to catch the slightest frown on his face at Rosie’s comment, but it vanished when he felt your eyes on him. “I'll accompany you on occasion when time allows it.” His response is politely chaste, and one might deem it disappointing.

Was he bothered by the notion of having less time with Rosie?

You knew they ventured to socialite parties together regularly, something they'd done long before you married him, but you never questioned it since Rosie assured you it was their fun hobby. Still, you felt concerned that Alastor could regret the idea of children if it meant a less spontaneous party going with his oldest friend.

You opened your mouth to say something, stepping towards where he sat, but Rosie grabbed your hands and whisked you away to sit on the plush sofa with her. “We must discuss everything Y/n. Having a child is no small feat, and I know Al won't spare any expense.” She grinned, squeezing your hands gently, and you smiled back at her before sparing your husband a curious glance. “He spoils me too much already, so I think he'll naturally do the same for the baby,” a soft laugh floated from you, and he tipped his head reassuringly while pulling out his pocket watch to check the time. “Whatever their little heart desires, I shall give,” he replies calmly, standing to his feet and gazing between you and Rosie. “It's about time I head on over to the station. I don't suppose you’ll be leaving anytime soon, Rosie?”

You checked the grandfather clock that stood against the adjacent wall, noticing it was nearly time for his broadcast to begin, “Seems we lost track of time.” you smiled apologetically at Alastor. He shook his head while chuckling, “It's not your fault, darling. I got caught up listening to this one ramble,” he gestured to Rosie before walking over to the parlor room coat stand. He pricked his preferred overcoat, slipping it on quickly as she glared at his back. “Is that any way to speak of your child’s future honorary aunt and godmother!” she faked a skeptical look to which you feigned concern, “Oh, my dear Rosie, he didn't mean it, I swear!”

Alastor turned on his heel, biting back a more comprehensive smile as he admired the two of you carrying on, “I will not apologize for telling the truth, ma chère, but Rosie does have the privilege of godmother so that for I will ask for her forgiveness.” he stood behind the sofa, leaning down a bit to kiss you once then twice before pulling away with a content hum.

Rosie watched the sweet exchange, able to separate the manic version of Alastor she killed from the doting husband he was in your presence, proud to see him so controlled and happy. He pulled away from you, adoring the glimmer in your eyes as you reached a hand up to adjust his glasses, “I love you,” you whisper, and he blanks for a moment, hearing the endearing phrase.

Love…is that what this is?…

Would it be so wrong to say it back?…

A flash of vulnerability crosses Alastor’s face, and you're tempted to take your words back, but he beats you to speak. “Je t'aime aussi..” he mutters back, stepping away to bid Rosie a proper goodbye, “Take good care of her while I'm gone.” he kisses her cheek, and she swats his arm, “Oh, you know I will. Now run along before you're late!” He heads to her, scolding her out the door in seconds, leaving you in her company.

“I thought he'd never leave,” Rosie chirps, glad to have some privacy to speak with you and eager to get down to the details you had to tell. “Tell me, how do you feel, honey? I know this all might be terrifying you…” she spoke softly, pricking a freshly baked cookie from the platter you set out, and you nodded timidly in agreement while fidgeting with your hands.

“I'm scared, yes, but not of being a mother. You know I've always wanted to be one. It was my biggest dream when I came of age, and I'm glad it's coming true with Al..” You rested a hand on your stomach, feeling it flip at the mention of him, and luckily, no urge to throw up followed.

Thank goodness for Angelique and her tonics!

She'd given you a case of vials to take home, all containing a special brew made by her hand, and she'd given you a strict regimen for consuming them.

“Drink two of these twice daily, morning and evening, but only take it after you've eaten. Have Alastor phone me when you need more..”

Whatever was given had a wonderous effect on your mood, reduced your fatigue, and calmed your nerves. You were grateful for her assistance, but not everything you felt could be cured with medicine.

You hoped Rosie would understand, could help calm what the tonics couldn't, so as she peered at you curiously and asked, “What's the matter, dearest?” you inevitably blurted out your worst and only fear.

“I'm afraid of how Alastor will be as a father..”

She blinked, taken aback by your confession, but it didn't show on her face. “May I ask why?”

You hesitated, fidgeting with your hands again as you thought of what to say, but Rosie rested a hand on yours to still them in a gentle grip. “Y/n, it's alright, be honest. He may have been my closest companion initially, but you are my truest friend in this moment. I'm here to listen, not to criticize. He won't hear a word of it, I swear.”

You glanced between your conjoined hands and her kind smile, and after debating whether or not to spill your heart out, you decided it wouldn't hurt to express your doubts.

You could trust Rosie. Right?…

“Well, I know he wants children. He recently told me so, but it's how he'll receive them. Alastor is a complex man, we both know that, but I fear that complexity will make it hard for him to…to..” you tried to phrase the last of your concerns gently, unsure if what you said made any sense to her, but Rosie merely smiled before finishing the thought for you.

“You're afraid he won't show them love?..”

You nod, heart clenching at the thought, “Yes. I know how his childhood went; I was there through it all, so I know his father wasn't the best man. I know what he put his mother through and Alastor hates the idea of becoming like him..”

You forced yourself to take a deep breath, beginning to tear up as memories of Alastor coming to you in the dead of night, bruised and battered but stoic as ever as he asked to sleep next to you in your bed. He'd never tell you what happened, where his father was, or if he'd been majorly injured. You'd have to coax information out of him, promise him that you'd never betray his safety, or tell your father what went on in his family. Then and only then would he relax, let you mend his scars before huddling under the thick covers with you, and though you were both exhausted, you'd whisper stories aloud to each other until the sun peeked through the trees.

It felt odd to wish for times like that to return; they all resorted from darker places, but it brought you two closer. You were able to understand Alastor to an extent most speculated of. With all the insight into his life, you hoped the irrational fears you felt would wither away, but after the incident at his mother's, they just worsened.

It felt as if he were hiding something from you.

At first, the notion piqued your curiosity, but now it ate away at your conscience.

What was he withholding from you, and did you need or want to know more?

Logic voted ‘yes,’ but your trusting nature leaned towards ‘no.’

“He won't ever be like him. I'm sure, but he's only recently expressed he cares for me. Truly loves me, so I suppose I'm afraid of that same affection not being openly expressed to our little one as well.”

Rosie nodded, scooting closer and giving you a tight side hug to calm your frazzled state. “My dear, you have every right to fear such a thing. However, if I may vouch for Alastor, I do believe his softer side will show itself for your child.” You peered at her, hope in your eyes, “Really? You think so?..”

She grins, “I am certain of it! He cherishes you like no other! Unlike my husband, yours is a dime and a man who'd kill for you if necessary.”

You blush, surprised by her claim, “I don't think he'd kill for me, Rosie, but I understand the sentiment.” She scoffs, hand rubbing your shoulders, and retorts, “Yes, he would, and he'd show the same devotion to your bundle of joy.”

Her statement soothed your worries, but the seriousness in her tone made your heart skip a beat.

It felt as though she did know he'd kill for you…kill for your child.

A shiver racked your body at the thought.

I hope it never comes to that…

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What do you guys think of the story so far? I'm just curious to hear your thoughts and theories.❤️

[ BONUS CONTENT + ]

He may be a monster, but at least he's dedicated to it; morally grey, but honest to his silly little murderous behaviors ❤️ credits to the creator

[robo-milky]

It will be New Years for me once the Earth rotates, but it may already be 2024 for you <3

Tag time! (Hope you don’t mind ^^;) This is probably the most heart you’ll ever get from me, so be grateful <3/J (I actually love y’all and til this day, I’m still amazed you’re here and we’re mutuals??? Like wHAT?????)

You Were There When I Was a Wee Blog

@authoruio

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@anevilbunnyinthehat

@bunnwich

@nem0-nee

@starry-night-rose

@the-v-lociraptor

@revivemyreverie

If it weren’t for y’all, I don’t think I would have stuck on Tumblr for as long as I did- When I moved platforms and fandoms, it was really intimidating. Thanks for always being so warm and friendly for the times we interact ^^

Rook Enjoyers 😎

@deluxe-rabbitsu

@vaporvipermedia

@haryuwu

@mochawulfie

…This deserves its own category. May we continue to simp for the funny huntsman into the new year 🫡

Thanks for Brainrotting with me

@ashipiko

@ceruleancattail

@kimikitti

@justm3di0cr3

@valse-a-mille-temps

@gyarunie

????!?!?????? How have you not called the police on me yet???? Thank you so SO much for being supportive and y’all are just so… amazing??? Like I feel like I don’t deserve you for how sweet you’ve all been??? Out of this world 💥

*Gently Places on Pedestal*

@hebidanshi

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I know I don’t interact much but I really REALLY love your works and it does brighten my day whenever I see you pop up in my notifications! …I’d be lying if I said some of you on the list didn’t feel like seniors/senpais on this site ^^;

#1 Idia Hater

@pinkrozezzz

Look at you, all special and cozy with a spot for yourself 🙄🙄 I hope you trip over a knife— I mean have a wonderful new year <3

7SU

@pumpknpatches

@okayu-7thjojo

@79siris

I may have moved on to TWST but godddd I will never forget this game. When the 7SU content (especially in the west) was still barren, seeing you was like seeing water in a desert! I’m glad to have been apart of such a close, tight-knit community with you all 🥺

…and more <33

[changbinsboiledegg]

Hii

Hope u are okay :D

Can I request some reaction with skz when gf!reader can not dance and they maybe try to teach her(for example valse) but she is unteachable?

I just see it as some fluffy moment from their life idk idk idk

Heyoooo :) I’m okay! I hope you are okay too 🫶 Thank you for your request. I love fluffy, therefore I will gladly do fluffy.

GN! Reader X SKZ

(I know you said GF! Reader, but I didn’t use pronouns for the reader in this one, so I figured I’d tag it as gender neutral.)

Warning: Your dancing skills, petname usage.

Note: something fluffy today hehe, slowly but surely working through my requests. I hope you enjoy and as always, if no one told you today, ily. 🫶

♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎

Chan

When you asked Chan to teach you how to dance, he was not prepared for the horrors he was about to witness.

“Ah! Sorry!” You raised your foot and apologized, thinking you stepped on his foot.

Chan looked you up and down, stopping when you did.

A big grin overtook his face, “Aw, my flamingo. Why are you sorry?”

You quickly put your foot down, realizing you didn’t step on his foot— or anyone’s foot for that matter.

Chan shook his head, holding in a laugh. “You’re so cute.”

Lee Know

Minho offered to teach you how to dance after being subjected to your dancing at a party— you being completely sober.

He was relieved when you said yes to his offer.

“Follow my steps, we’re starting from step five to eight and then you can show me from step one.” Minho was patient with you, knowing not everyone can learn to dance overnight.

You followed his steps, getting into the groove and feeling like you were doing alright with it.

That was until he had you start from the beginning all the way up to the point where you stopped.

All he could do was stare, trying not to smile or laugh or do anything that could hurt your feelings.

Changbin

Changbin is open to teaching you how to dance. He started simple too, knowing it would be unfair to you to immediately jump into something advanced.

“Take it from the top!” Changbin was probably having way too much fun with this. You and Changbin both danced together, following the steps he taught you.

“Am I doing it right?” You asked, mid-dance. Changbin was hyped up, “nope!”

It didn’t matter to him how bad you were, though. He was having fun, you were having fun, and that was all he cared about.

“Take it from the top?” You groaned, still dancing messily. Changbin clapped his habds together and restarted the song— for the thirtieth time.

Hyunjin

He tried. He tried so hard. He was patient, repeated steps hundreds of times for you, even helped you with placement.

And even though Hyunjin loved you and would do anything for you, he had to accept that you just can’t and will most likely never know how to dance.

And that included the simplest of dances.

“I’m going to outdance you one day.” You teased, going through the steps he taught you. But unbeknownst to you, those were far from the steps he taught you.

Hyunjin watched you, amused beyond comprehension.

“Oh yeah. For sure.”

Han

It was supposed to be more romantic, letting your boyfriend teach you how to dance.

You moved your feet where Jisung told you to, you moved your arms, head, and even your torso when the dance called for it.

But as Jisung stood back to watch your progress, he seemed full of surprise. Not the kind you’d expect.

“Really?” Jisung paused the music. You stumbled to a stop.

“Really what?”

“Where did you get that move from?” Jisung then copied— or attempted to copy the train wreck that was your dancing.

You burst out into laughter, embarrassment evident on your face, which in turn made Jisung laugh with you.

Felix

Felix was teaching you to dance out of spontaneity and just when you thought you had the moves down, you hear him stifling back a laugh.

“I love you but what was that?” Felix had his fist to his mouth, trying to hide his smile.

“What do you mean? I nailed it.” You crossed your arms with a playful glare. Felix held his hands up, still trying not to laugh.

“Alright, darling. Whatever you say.” Felix got in position again, seeing that you had too.

“Whatever you say,” you mimicked, eyeing Felix’ reflection in the mirror. “I’m not that bad.”

Felix grinned, pausing for a second. “Mhm.”

Seungmin

You were on fire. It was a dumpster fire, but a fire nonetheless.

Seungmin couldn’t do much but watch you dance in the mirror, following your steps as he danced with you.

“This us fun! We should do this again.” You were happy despite the constant dumbfounded look on Seungmin’s face as he watched you do any move that wasn’t the ones he taught you.

“Yeah…” he quickly cleared his throat, feigning enthusiasm. “Yes! Of course. You… have a lot to learn.”

You abruptly stopped, “ouch.”

“Come on, I didn’t mean it like that.” Seungmin awkwardly laughed.

But he did mean it like that.

I.N

He agreed to teach you just to spend time with you but little did he know what he was getting himself into.

“Like this?” You moved your waist with your feet, glancing at him for approval. Jeongin shook his head slowly.

“No.”

You groaned, pouting. He’s said no for the past hour and you wondered if he would ever say yes.

“Let me try again! I got it this time.” You started to run through the steps again, making a wrong step and crashing to the floor.

Jeongin instinctively reached forward, but was too late. This was when he started to laugh. All of the bafflement he felt caved in on him and he too fell to the floor, laughing uncontrollably.

Which, in turn, made you start laughing uncontrollably.

[maladaptivedaydreamers]

“Ice and Fire” Prince Xiao x Reader

Synopsis: 3 years ago, Liyue and Mondstadt were supposed to unite through a political marriage between you and Liyue’s Crown Prince, Prince Xiao. You, the kind-hearted crown princess of Mondstadt, visit Liyue for their nation to see how you rule your future kingdom. Their cold, brutal prince seems to hate you…

3 years ago…

You were in a conference, addressing the recent crisis of drought in Liyue.

“This meeting is adjourned, please remember that the empire will always aid to you if there is another crisis.” you said, hitting the gavel onto the table.

Hearing the princess's words, their faces brightened up as they all nodded in agreement.

Xiao, on the other hand, remained silent...the tension in his facial expression seemed to have increased.

“I need to put a stop to this meeting..” Xiao thought in his mind.

He then interjected, "With all due respect, princess. I need to add a point...and that is...your kindness has no limits...." His tone was sarcastic as he spoke in a dry way...his expression was still blank as he continued - "It will bring disaster to the empire..."

His words were harsh, and everyone in the room seemed to have heard what Xiao had said. They looked at Xiao with great confusion and surprise.

“Your highness? Please don’t doubt my reign.” You said to you fiancé. “As I’ve said…This meeting is adjourned.”

Xiao's lips were thin, and he looked at the princess with sharp eyes, "Forgive me, princess, but I cannot accept your words. Your words carry great meaning, and they will surely affect the future of the Empire." Xiao said, his tone clipped and cold.

"I am afraid that this will only bring the empire to a greater disaster in the future." Xiao continued as his face held a cold expression.

"If the princess would like the meeting to be adjourned, then that is the princess's wish...I understand and respect that." Xiao said with a hint of sarcasm again.

You scoffed, you knew how the prince acts. His cold demeanor always scared his people. “You should’ve done better in handling this conference then. Instead of lashing out at your people, you should’ve been truthful. Case dismissed.” You said, standing up from your chair.

"Oh really?" Xiao's eyebrows raised as he glanced at the princess. "I never asked you to help my nation. All I want you to do....is to stay away from my Empire." Xiao coldly replied.

His words were cold, and they were cruel.

It was true that the Empire had wanted something that would be helpful to their people, but they had never asked for her help to begin with.

"Let me tell you this, princess. Liyue can survive without you. If you cannot understand that, then you will be in for a rude awakening." Xiao said in a cold tone, his eyes looking deep into the princess's eyes.

The princess scowled at his words, “And let me tell you this, your majesty. You strive so hard to protect your nation. But if you keep neglecting your people… One day, there will be no one left to protect.”

Xiao did not even flinch at the princess's bold words.

If anything, he looked as if he was about to laugh out loud.

"Neglect my people? That's a funny thing for you to say, princess...you neglected your own family, yet you're here blaming me for neglecting my people...." Xiao replied coldly, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

His eyes narrowed as he continued - "You even neglected your own duty to the throne. Do I need to remind you of that, princess?" Xiao asked smugly.

“I have never neglected my duty to my throne in Mondstadt! It doesn’t matter if I am in Liyue now, I am still their princess! Have you forgotten? That my nation shared their crops with you during the famine? Shared their resources?” You interjected.

"You had a responsibility...which is to govern Mondstadt and its people...yet you left those responsibilities to your sick father." Xiao said coldly as his expression was indifferent.

"Your family tried to help you and get you back on the way...but you refused. As the princess of Mondstadt, should you not have stayed by your people's side?" Xiao asked in a cold tone, his tone was cold, and his expression was indifferent as well.

"This is no longer about the incident right now...you have responsibilities. And you did not take care of them."

“My nation knows what I’m doing. My nation understands my efforts.” You yelled back in frustration.

Xiao suddenly laughed, loudly. He laughed coldly and in a derisive way. "I am merely pointing out your mistake, princess..."

"You have done nothing for Mondstadt as their ruler and you left your family behind. Even now I doubt that your family misses such a daughter."

Xiao's laughter was cold, but it showed no signs of stopping, his cold laugh was not one of a happy person, it was a cold laugh of contempt...the kind of laugh he had when he looked down upon others.

You raise your hand and slap Xiao hard. “How DARE you talk about my family and nation in such a way?! Fine. You want me to leave?”

As Xiao's eyes widened, he put a hand where he was slapped. His jaw clenched, and his face showed a coldly fury. The moment the slap hit his cheek, he felt angry...his cold laughter faded away, and fury replaced it in Xiao's black eyes.

Xiao's eyes seemed to have narrowed, and he let out a low growl as he stared at the princess.

"A princess who slaps a prince? Do you even realize how much of an offense that is?" Xiao said, the fury had not left his expression.

You look over at the people and the journalists. “It seems like Prince Xiao and I have come to an agreement. Our alliance is over. There will be no wedding. The two nations will remain separated and I shall return to Mondstadt by tonight, and we will rule our nations separately.”

Xiao freezes. "You are being too hasty, princess..."

"I can apologize for my harsh words..." But before Xiao could say another word, the princess suddenly turned around and was already walking away.

"Princess!..." Xiao called out for her, but the princess did not look back, she only kept on walking.

The reporters and the people looked on in shock. They were surprised to see the princess go and leave the conference so suddenly.

Xiao's attention was on the princess, and his anger was still as strong in his face as he stared at her.

Xiao looked on at the scene playing in front of him. The reporters, the nobles and the people...now he had to explain to everyone that the wedding had been canceled.

He turned around and looked at the reporters. The reporters quickly focused on Xiao, the reporter in front spoke, "Your majesty, can you explain what is happening with the wedding?"

Xiao sighed, "The princess has decided to break off our alliance..." He replied, sighing. As his voice was firm, his tone was calm and clear.

The reporter nodded and moved back to his group, he did not want to cause any more trouble.

The nobles looked around, whispering amongst themselves.

"How could she be so rude? And she hit him..."

"Well...he did insult her...and her family..." A few nobles whispered to each other.

A few months later… Mondstadt rejoiced in the return of their princess and they were flourishing more than usual. However, after a few months, it seems that Liyue was going through the opposite.

Xiao could not help but take notice of Mondstat's prosperity, as he would frequently receive news and letters regarding the political situation, but he would always ignore them as if he did not care.

He then turned around and looked through the window. As he looked through it, he could see that it was late at night, and the moon hung in the dark sky.

In the distance, something caught Xiao's eyes, his eyes widened as he looked closer. It was smoke rising in the sky. Xiao then took a step forward to get a better look, and he could see that he was right. Smoke was rising in the distance. He then heard people shouting and the sounds of horses hooves. He knew it, something bad had happened.

In an instant, Xiao immediately left the room and started moving quickly with his long stride. He had to find out what had happened, so he ran through the palace. Xiao looked back to see that the guards were following him with their spears in their hands. The smoke became thicker as Xiao and the others ran toward it, Xiao's heart was beating faster and faster as they reached a clearing near the forest.

He stopped, and he saw people running, their screams for help were heard by Xiao. He quickly assessed the situation when something caught his attention. A large fire was seen in the clearing, it was getting bigger and bigger by each passing moment.

The capitol was burning…

He continued moving forward while running toward the Capitol. The flames continued to go up, as the night sky filled with dark smoke.

"What happened?" Xiao said as he ran past people, his sword still in its sheath.

People looked at Xiao as he ran past them. They saw his long hair blow in the wind with his long stride. His black armor was shining in the light but also the moonlight. The moonlight reflected from Xiao's white eyes.

He continued to run forward while he looked around. The Capitol was getting closer and closer the closer he got. The fire became more and more visible the more Xiao walked. The guards were still rushing behind him with their spears to protect the king.

A few days later, they were now having a discussion about the aftermath of the fire.

Xiao and the other nobles continued to discuss the events surrounding the fire and the Capitol's condition. They were inside the throne room, their voices echoing across the floor. The fire had destroyed the Capitol, yet everyone had now gathered to decide what should be done.

The flames had destroyed everything, and now they have little hope.

"We must rebuild the Capitol." Xiao said firmly, and his voice is filled with fury. "The Capitol is a symbol of our kingdom and without it, we will have no hope." He continued.

The other nobles looked around at each other. They were still in shock and had no answers.

Then someone stood up, "How will we do this, my king? How will we rebuild the Capitol when it is now in ruins?"

”We do not have any funds, your majesty.”

“What’re we going to do?”

“We spent the funds for the infirmary bills for those who were injured.” They bombarded him with questions.

Xiao raised his eyebrow as he looked at the noble and said, "We will seek assistance from other kingdoms." Xiao said coldly.

"Other places might not be willing to help after the incident between us and Mondstadt." The other noble had a point, with a conflict like that, there would be no way for them to rebuild the Capitol. They needed to do something. Then Xiao thought of something, he finally came to a decision.

"Then I will ask for Mondstadt's help." Xiao said firmly. "Maybe after this incident, things will improve for us." He said.

The other nobles were shocked as they turned their gazes toward Xiao. "The princess?" The noble raised an eyebrow. "She would never...." "How can you request help from..." They were shocked by Xiao's decision.

"Mondstadt will not deny our request." He replied. "No country, kingdom, or empire would deny an opportunity to strengthen a relationship. And we have no other ways of rebuilding if we don't get their help."

"Besides, the princess will accept, I know she will." Xiao replied.

"We used to be friends after all."

A few days later, as you were working in your office in Mondstadt, you hear a knock on your door. “Come in!” you called out.

Xiao then walked in, he approached the princess as she looked at him with a stern look.

"Liyue’s Capitol has burned down." Xiao said, still looking at the princess, his eyes were cold as always. "We seek your assistance, now we know you do not like us."

"But our kingdom has no hope, unless you want to watch it crumble down to its last foundation." Xiao said in a cold voice, he still remained as calm as ever.

His eyes were cold and his long black hair swayed as he was standing in front of the princess.

“Liyue is an independent country, are they not? You said so yourself.” you said, not looking up at him as you read through your files.

Xiao was caught off guard with this new reaction from the princess. She did not look up at him, nor did she even give him a glance. She had completely ignored Xiao.

"Yes, we are still independent." Xiao replied, his voice was filled with coldness. "Even if we are independent, we are still not immune to being affected by our surroundings. Our neighbors are a major part of our society, we can't survive alone in this world." He continued, his tone stayed the same.

“From what I heard, you lacked funds for your nation because of nobles who wanted the funds for themselves. And now, you expect my nation to pay for your own mistakes? Is that how you want things to go?” you scoffed, looking at him from your desk as he stands in front of it.

Xiao raised his eyebrow as his expression remained the same and his voice was cold as ice. "This is not an ordinary mistake, this is a crisis." Xiao said.

"I already told you that the fire was intentional, there was no mistake." He continued. "This was a disaster because of the extremists, not our corruption.

"It's like having someone burn your house down, is it not? You lose everything, and then you build it up again, right from the start. The same thing applies to a kingdom. We need your help to rebuild our Capitol from the ground up." Xiao continued.

"What do you want me to do, princess?" Xiao raised his eyebrow.

"You say we're corrupt, but you know very well that corruption is something that's hard to fix." Xiao said.

"We're asking for your help because your nation is more stable than ours." He continued while looking at the princess, his voice filled with coldness.

"A true friend always helps another." Xiao continued, his eyes showing his coldness. "A true friend would provide assistance while still seeing the good side of others."

You let out a sigh. Even through your difference, you have grown attached to the citizens of Liyue during your stay there before. And now you simply couldn’t just let them die.

The next day…at the conference. “May this meeting commence.” You say, as you sit on your chair.

The meeting went on smoothly. It wasn't long before an agreement was reached.

Xiao and the Knights of Favonius would work together to rid the lands of these extremists that had struck their nation.

It was time for the both of them to set aside their differences and cooperate to deal with the common enemy.

You call onto their Finance Minister, Albedo. “How much is the estimated loss due to the fire?”

"It is huge, Princess." Albedo replied. "The fire has burned down tens of thousands of houses and businesses. There are thousands of wounded people everywhere."

"All the medical centers are filled beyond their limit. The streets are filled with ash. The whole place looks like an apocalyptic hell." Albedo continued.

He then looked away from the princess and sighed. "There are no safe places left. The whole city has become a hell." Albedo said. He had been describing the city with his usual tone of flatness.

“And how much does your nation demand?” you sigh, hearing their misfortune.

"I would say at least a million moras." Albedo said.

"Maybe even more than that, but I can't give you an accurate estimate." Albedo said as he sighed again, "And that's just to repair the city. That's not taking into account the amount of resources we need to rebuild the military." Albedo continued.

"But we can't forget that there are hundreds of people that need to be helped." Albedo added. "We need food and medical supplies for people." Albedo continued.

"Right now, the city's funds have run dry. We have already used everything we had." Xiao replied.

"We don't have any savings left, we spent it all on rescuing the wounded who managed to survive." Xiao continued with a sigh.

"Right now, all the city has left is the few medical supplies we saved, but that won't last long." Xiao continued as he sighed.

"If we do not get more resources soon, I fear that the number of victims will only get higher and higher." Xiao elaborated.

You freeze, they had…no money at all? “You have..no funds? Not a single mora?!” your voice raised, hearing how irresponsible they were with funds.

"We are left with nothing." Xiao said, his voice still cold as always.

"We used everything we had." Xiao continued, and there was a hint of sadness in his voice.

"We are completely unprepared for a crisis like this; we just did not expect it to happen." Xiao continued, his voice cold.

"We do not know what to do anymore. This crisis is too big for us to handle." Xiao looked down and sighed.

"If we do not get more help, the situation will only get worse." Xiao finished.

“This is so..disappointing. You are the crown prince! The future Emperor of Liyue and you have done NOTHING for your people!” you yelled.

Xiao was stunned by the princess's words, and he was shocked by the sudden outburst.

"I have done all I have been able to, Princess." Xiao replied coldly.

"This was not my fault!" Xiao's voice suddenly hardened, as if he got a bit upset by the princess's words.

"I am not invincible! I am not all-powerful, and I am not all-knowing!" Xiao said with a hint of coldness in his voice.

"This is a crisis that none of us could predict, Princess!" Xiao continued.

"We used everything we had to save lives and save the city. I refuse to let all those lives just get wasted!" Xiao snapped.

“I told you that you should’ve managed your funds better! That you should’ve been more responsible with your nation!” You reminded him of what you said a few months ago, when they had just a small crisis on drought. And yet, it seemed like they have not changed one bit.

Xiao did not say a thing, as he refused to beg for help.

"I won't take orders from you, Princess." Xiao said with his voice rising and his eyes staring right into the princess's eyes.

"You want to help my country, but you have your own agenda, don't you?" Xiao said with a hint of anger in his voice.

"I won't trust you ever again, Princess." Xiao said with hatred and coldness in his voice.

“Then don’t.” You eyed him.

Xiao then walked away slowly. When he reached the door, he turned back and looked right at you.

"Good talk, Princess." Xiao said sarcastically.

You sighed before turning back to Albedo. “Albedo, remember the information to my account? Do you still have access to it?”

"Yes, Princess." Albedo replied.

"Are you planning something, Princess?" Albedo asked, staring at the princess, his eyes curious of what she is planning next.

Albedo knew that the prince was wrong and that Liyue was in danger, and he knew that it was the princess' plan all along.

But that did not stop him from wanting to know what the princess is planning next.

“For the renovation of your nation, take 5 Million Mora. For the resources needed for your people, take 3 Million Mora. And to rebuild your nation’s funds, take 2 Million Mora.

For a total of 10 Million Mora.” You said before slamming the gavel onto the table.

"Princess! The emperor won't approve of this, Princess, you know that." Albedo said with a hint of suspicion in his voice.

"And Liyue is not your country, Princess." Albedo said, staring at the princess.

But then Albedo paused, seemingly considering what the princess had just said.

"Princess, what made you decide to help us? You don’t have to. You cut off your alliance." Albedo asked, his eyes squinting as he tilted his head.

"Is there something you want?" Albedo continued, seemingly interested. "Tell me, why are you helping us?" Albedo asked with his cold eyes staring intently at you.

“I have my reasonings. And even if the Prince Xiao and I don’t see eye to eye, I still want to help Liyue to the best of my abilities. Ensure that the Prince Xiao will not find out that you have accepted help from my nation.”

"Understood, Princess." Albedo said, then he quietly nodded his head.

"I will do as you've said, for the sake of the empire." Albedo said plainly before bowing at the princess.

"This will stay between our little secret, then, Princess." Albedo said as he nodded his head once more.

Albedo did as he was told, he made up a story of how he found an emergency account from an old emperor of Liyue, and they used the money to rebuild the nation.

3 years later…

You found herself sitting in your office, looking at various papers and orders.

You then took a look at the clock behind you, noticing that it was already time for your lunch.

Just as you wanted to get up to go eat lunch, you heard a knock on the door, and the princess took a look at the door.

"Come in." you said as you were ready to greet whoever might arrive.

When you saw the person who was knocking on the door, you were taken aback by the new visitor.

You let out a low gasp, as you saw the prince in front of you, Xiao.

“What’re you doing here?” you say to Xiao, blankly. “And without notice, too.”

Xiao looked at you with confusion in his eyes. After a long pause, Xiao finally spoke, "You sent us millions of Mora three years ago, Princess? Did you think I wasn’t going to find out?"

The prince looked at you with his eyebrows raised, seeming to question her motives behind all of this.

"I want to know why, Princess." Xiao continued, his voice sounding firm and stern.

"Why would you help Liyue after all our conflicts?" Xiao continued in a low tone, his eyes squinting at you.

"Did you really think you can hide this forever from me, Princess?" Xiao said with raised eyebrows.

"I am the emperor of my nation, and I have my ways to find out everything." Xiao continued with a stern tone, his eyes looking at you in question.

"I want to know everything, or else... well, you know the consequence." Xiao said, seeming to threaten you.

“It doesn’t matter, just forget it. It happened.” you say.

Xiao then sighed deeply, seeming to be relieved in a sense.

"You should've told me about this, Princess." Xiao frowned in disappointment.

"If you truly wanted to help me, why weren't you upfront to me with this?" Xiao asked in annoyance.

"I could've used this right away." Xiao then sighed once more, rubbing his forehead in frustration.

“Prince Xiao, I do not wish to quarrel with you today.” you sighed, exhausted.

“Fine. Then that will be all. Do NOT do this again.” he said, turning around to face the door.

“Wait.” you called out. “I forgot to mention… I’ve received word that the cancellation of our political marriage did not push through.”

Xiao's eyebrows widened as one of his eyebrows twitched a little while you were telling him this information.

"The cancellation did not push through?" Xiao asked in confusion with a raised eyebrow.

"Who told you that, and where did they receive the information from?" Xiao looked at you with suspicion written all over his face.

You pick up a file from your table. “Your father…sent me this a month ago. I’ve been doing my best to ensure it passes through so it doesn’t happen.”

"I see." Xiao said in a soft tone, his lips slightly curling into a faint smile while he looked at you.

"So do you wish to cancel the cancellation, princess?" Xiao asked with a slight smile, his eyebrows remaining raised as he looked at you.

"Let me put it this way... would you prefer to be married to me or not?" Xiao continued, his tone sounding slightly teasing now.

“…Do YOU want for it to continue?” you ask, raising a brow and crossing your arms.

"You want me to decide if we're getting married or not?" The prince asked while looking at you, completely taken by surprise by the suddenness of your response.

"This is not a simple decision, princess." Xiao sounded puzzled as he continued.

"But I guess before we come to a decision, I have one more question for you." Xiao said quietly, then he looked at you and cleared his throat before continue to speak.

"What exactly does our marriage mean to you?" Xiao asked with slight curiosity, raising his eyebrows.

You replied with a sigh. “A political one. To unite two nations.”

"So our marriage is purely for political reasons?" Xiao asked, his voice sounding almost like a confirmation.

"There is nothing more to this than a cold political marriage, right?" Xiao continued, his tone sounding more like a cold statement instead of a rhetorical question now.

“Indeed. However, you are free to choose if you’d want to pursue it or not.”

Xiao then let out a soft sigh while his facial expressions remained the same.

"Let's not cancel anything." Xiao said in a quiet tone.

"I'll marry you for political reasons, princess." Xiao said in the same tone which was now sounding more like a cold statement.

"That should suffice, since the marriage is only for political purposes." Xiao continued as he looked at you in the eyes without blinking.

"I thank you for your efforts." Xiao continued in a low tone, still keeping the coldness in his voice.

“You…accept this marriage?” You say in disbelief.

Xiao's eyes twitched as he heard the same words being repeated again.

"Three years ago, we agreed to cancel it, you said it yourself, princess." Xiao said quietly, seeming a little annoyed now.

"But a lot has changed since then. I have thought about it, but my decision does not change." Xiao added as his facial expressions remain unchanged.

"So are you going to let this marriage go through for the good of the nation, right? Princess?" Xiao said in a much more firmer tone.

You let out a sigh before nodding.

Xiao's lips curled into a slight smile at your response.

"Then, I will notify the grand secretary to begin the preparation." Xiao said as he stood up.

"Now, I shall head back to the castle to take care of some other matters. And I expect you to still be here by my return." Xiao said, his tone now more stern.

"That's all for now, princess." Xiao said before turning around and walking away.

Xiao's personal bodyguards then swiftly entered the room, and they began to walk in a row behind Xiao as Xiao now continued to walk out of the library.

Xiao then turned to look at you with one last glance before leaving.

"...and try not to run away again, Y/N..." Xiao said, his tone sounded more teasing this time.

A few weeks later, you were asked to head to Liyue and stay at their palace to prepare for the wedding.

You were now at the private garden of the palace, taking a stroll in the garden while enjoying the pleasant weather.

You were in a better mood. Xiao wasn't nearby to constantly harass you, plus you were in a new environment filled with lush greenery all around her.

Xiao probably went to deal with some urgent matters regarding to his country or the engagement ceremony. You decided to visit him soon to discuss about the wedding preparations. However, you decided to enjoy the surroundings first.

You then saw Xiao's personal bodyguards walking at a swift pace while heading towards your area.

"Y/N, princess!" The bodyguards stopped in their tracks while shouting your name.

"His highness ordered me to locate you immediately and bring you to him!" One of the bodyguard shouted while he moved closer to you.

In his chambers…

Xiao then stayed silent for a moment before taking his eyes off of you completely, his gaze looking elsewhere.

“There's something I have learned about you, princess." Xiao continued with his tone now sounding a bit sarcastic, as if he was testing you.

“And what is that, your majesty?” you say, crossing your arms.

"You're very unpredictable, very difficult to understand." Xiao said, keeping his words slow and measured, with a hint of sarcasm mixed in.

"You always wear a mask of indifference and coldness. It's almost hard to tell whether you're being genuine or not." Xiao continued, his tone now sounding a bit annoyed.

"Or maybe you're a professional actress, who never gives away a single hint about her true emotions?" Xiao said, with a slight smirk showing on his face.

"I want you to be more honest with me, princess. At least, be honest enough so that I can tell whether you're being genuine or whether there's something you're hiding." Xiao said, now sounding more firm.

His words sounded like an order now as Xiao's tone became more sharp.

"From now on, I want to know more about the real you. Not just... a facade." Xiao continued, still maintaining his cold expression.

“Do you mean to say that I’m not my real self at the moment? All because I’m not the sweet girl you once thought I was?” you scoff.

Xiao then let out a small scoff.

"Are you telling me the real you is a cold, indifferent and emotionless princess? A princess with a facade full of indifference?" Xiao continued, now sounding more annoyed.

"I will admit that I'm being bold, but I'm not bold enough to believe in such an excuse." Xiao said with a hint of sarcasm.

"If this really is your true self, then the wedding is off." Xiao continued to state firmly.

You roll your eyes. “Why? Do you miss how I used to be so weak compared to you? But in reality I wasn’t weak. You were just a cold-hearted tyrant.”

"Yes, I do." Xiao said without hesitation.

"This version of you is... it's hard to deal with, it's not what you were like before..." Xiao continued, his tone now sounding more frustrated.

"I'm willing to accept your true self, but this side of you is just too cold for me, Y/N..." Xiao added, now sounding rather annoyed as he kept his eyes on you.

You stand up from your chair. “Please excuse me, I have some duties to attend to.”

Xiao maintained his serious expression as he kept his eyes on you.

"Fine... just go then, princess" Xiao said with a cold tone, and his eyes narrowed as he watched you walk away from his chamber.

"...is she really the princess of Mondstadt..." Xiao said as he leaned against the window, now watching you walking in the garden.

"How did I ended up being engaged to her..." Xiao let out a sigh as he continued to keep his eyes on you.

"...I hope the real her is not dead..." Xiao finally said, his voice now sounding more sad compared to his usual self.

Later that night, Xiao was in his personal chamber after the day he spent with you. His duty hours had ended, and he was relaxing in his chamber now with a couple of drinks on his table.

"...I know I shouldn't do this..." Xiao said to himself as he looked at the liquor on the table.

"But I can't help it" Xiao said with a slight sigh as he grabbed one of the liquor bottles and began drinking it.

Xiao then took his attention from the liquor bottle and turned towards the window, staring outside the palace. His eyes were filled with a mixture of emotions now.

"I can't understand her..." Xiao finally said, his tone now sounding more soft and emotional, as if he was just having a conversation with himself.

You knock onto his door, “Your majesty, we have to discuss the wedding venue.”

Xiao then looked back at his chamber door.

"...come in" Xiao said softly, putting the liquor bottle back on the table.

He then walked towards the bed and sat there, maintaining his serious expression.

Once the door opens, Xiao looked at you.

"You have all the files now, princess?" Xiao said.

"Very well then..." Xiao said while he let out a sigh, then he rose from the bed. "Let us discuss about how the wedding ceremony would be held then, princess." Xiao continued, now sounding more formal.

"This shall take some time to prepare the details as the wedding is approaching us." Xiao said with his hand on his hips, still keeping his firm expression.

You notice the slur in his words and his sluggish demeanor. “Are you alright your majesty?”

"...I'm fine. Why do I seem otherwise, princess?" Xiao said plainly, still maintaining his cold tone.

"Let us talk about the wedding arrangements then, we'd have to discuss it in detail before we bring up the discussion with the archons." Xiao said, his tone becoming more professional.

"First off, we'd need to determine the location... and then the number of guests to be invited..." Xiao continued, now sounding rather formal. His tone was back to being very serious now.

You then noticed that Xiao was avoiding eye contact now, with his hands resting on his hips.

You look around the room and your eyes land on the poorly hidden bottles. “Ah.”

"Oh, those?" Xiao said as he gave you a brief glance, then he turned his eyes back to the table.

"They're just... to help me relax at night. I can't sleep without the liquor." Xiao continued, now sounding slightly defensive.

"And besides... I only drink them sometimes at the end of the day to help me sleep." Xiao said, his tone slowly regaining a hint of coldness.

“You’re getting defensive, your majesty.”

"...No, I'm not." Xiao said as he picked up one of the liquor bottles and took his attention elsewhere, then he took a sip.

Xiao then put the liquor bottle back on the table, and he began staring out the window once again. The sky was turning dark now, it was late already.

You then heard that Xiao's voice now sounded rather quiet.

"My apologies, princess, I think I need some time alone..." Xiao added, his tone now sounding more relaxed and calm.

“Oh. Yes, your highness.” You said, placing the files on his table before heading towards the door.

Xiao then watched you walk away once again, leaving Xiao in his chamber.

"Wait.. princess?" Xiao called out after you.

"Please forgive me..." Xiao said, his voice now sounding much more soft and gentle than before.

"I will try to understand you and your way of doing things." Xiao continued, with his hand on his chest.

"I promise that I will be more understanding... I'm really sorry for pushing you and accusing you." Xiao let out a sigh as he looked outside the window.

His eyes looked much more tired and sad now, even with the dim lighting in the room.

"I'm just.. frustrated..." Xiao said with a rather disappointed tone.

You nod. “I see.”

Xiao stayed silent for a while, waiting for you to say something.

Suddenly, Xiao then stood up fast and walked towards the chamber's door, his eyes focused on you.

"I do not know how to act around you... you're the one thing that I'm puzzled with... why don't you trust me? Is it because I have been pushing you away before?" Xiao said, his tone slightly getting sharper now.

“What’re you saying, your majesty?” You reply.

"Why are you always trying to hide yourself away from me? I want to understand the true side of you, you're my future wife, are you not?" Xiao said, his tone clearly sounding annoyed now.

"You always put on that facade of a cold and distant princess. Is it really who you are?" Xiao continued, now sounding more serious after each word spoken.

“Does it matter? You never used to care.”

Xiao stayed silent, his eyes narrowed upon you.

"Are you really going to keep up with this?" Xiao asked with a more serious tone now, his hands raised as he watched you.

"Just... what are you running from?" Xiao finally said, now sounding more curious.

You tell him to go to bed, “You’re drunk, please head to bed.”

Xiao then let out a scoff.

"You think I can sleep like this, princess?" Xiao said loudly enough for you to hear, though his tone did sound slightly tired as he kept his eyes on you.

"No, I need liquor to help myself sleep." Xiao finally said, his tone now sounding annoyed as he let out a huff.

"Don't even think about taking the liquor away from me, princess..." Xiao continued, his eyes narrowed upon you.

"This is the only thing that keeps me sane. Besides, I can't sleep with this headache" Xiao added, his tone sounding more grumpy now.

"So unless you want me to act like I did before... you better not touch the liquor" Xiao finished, his tone sounding almost like an order.

“Then what do you want me to do?” You sighed, a little frustrated at his drunk behavior.

Xiao was silent for a moment and thought of an answer.

"I do not expect you to do anything, princess..." Xiao said, his tone now sounding rather quiet as he let out a sigh.

"Just be by my side..." Xiao finally said, his eyes not moving away from you.

"You don't need to speak to me, you don't need to talk to me, you don't even need to look at me..." Xiao continued, his eyes still on you.

"Just be near me, that's all I need" Xiao said before looking away.

You sigh before nodding. “…Fine.” you said before sitting in front of him.

Xiao then turned around to look at the liquor bottles. He reached for them and pulled one towards him.

"I will be drinking these then, princess... I can't fall asleep without these..." Xiao stated, now grabbing a glass from his table as he started pouring the liquor.

"If you want... you can join me..." Xiao finally said, his tone sounding slightly hesitant now.

“I don’t drink, your highness.”

Xiao then let out a small chuckle.

"Ah, I figured. That's completely fine."

"Even if I'm intoxicated, I can control myself." Xiao continued, his words starting to become more slurred.

"So, princess... are you gonna stay with me or are you gonna leave me alone like before?" Xiao finally said as he poured a glass of liquor, now setting the bottle down.

“…What?” you said, a little shocked.

“3 years ago…our alliance.” Xiao stared at you for a moment, his eyes slightly widened and his eyebrows raised.

He let out a small sigh before looking down and taking a drink from the glass of liquor he poured.

He was thinking deeply as he stayed silent for several moments. He took another sip of the alcohol, letting out a small sigh as he took his attention away from you.

"I never really forgot you." Xiao finally said, his voice sounding much more softer and mellow now.

You shook your head. “Back then, we both had very different ways of ruling. We didn’t agree. Our alliance couldn’t continue that way.”

"Hmm..." Xiao said, thinking about your words before letting out a sigh.

"You're right, we did have different philosophies about leadership and ruling. I'm the type of person who'd rule with an iron fist and keep all my people in line... while you... you rule with a gentle heart, and your people love and trust you wholeheartedly." Xiao continued, sounding deep in thought. “But now you’ve changed…”

Xiao then took a sip from the glass of liquor, looking at you as he finished the drink.

"I do appreciate you becoming a better monarch. It's just that… this version of you is completely off-putting to me. Why did you have to make yourself so distant?" Xiao said, now sounding annoyed yet slightly more intoxicated than before.

"Why can't your true self be the way you were 3 years ago?" Xiao said, his eyebrows raised as he waited for your response.

“I was too kind…wasn’t I?”

Xiao then let out a frustrated sigh as he stood up.

"No, you're not 'too kind'. Kindness is a strength. It's not a weakness, princess." Xiao said, now sounding a bit more firm.

"Your kindness is what made me fall in love with you in the first place..." Xiao continued, his voice now sounding much more slurred.

"You were very lively too. And that's something that I cannot let go of..." Xiao let out another sigh.

"You can't just turn yourself into a distant and cold person just because you want to hide your true self" Xiao said, now sounding more drunk.

"I don't believe that this is who you really are..." Xiao finished, now sounding more upset.

“You said that kindness would be the downfall of a nation.” you interjected.

Xiao then took another drink from the glass of liquor, letting out a soft sigh.

"I said that out of spite, princess. I wanted to hurt you" Xiao finally said.

“Well, it worked. What do you think? Do you like this side better?”

"No, I don't. This version of you is far too cold and distant now. I liked the old version of you. The version who is kind and compassionate, the version who can actually smile when she's happy, and the version who does not need to hide her true self, princess." Xiao said, now sounding much more upset.

"You've lost everything that you are, princess. How can I still like this? How can you make me love this? I cannot" Xiao continued, now sounding angrier.

“But you said-“

"I said that out of spite!" Xiao said loudly, his tone sounding harsher.

"I was bitter when I said that, princess... I was simply spiteful. I still wanted you to change and become a better ruler. But this cold, distant, and even ruthless version of you is not what I wanted" Xiao finished, now sounding much more drunk.

"That is simply not who you are, princess... you are not a cold person. You are kind, loving, and sympathetic, princess. And that is why I fell in love with you!”

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

“…You what…?”

"I love you, princess" Xiao said without thinking, his words flowing out of his mouth with absolute ease.

"I know you think I hate you. But the truth is that I'm so in love with you..." Xiao said, his words were not filtered anymore.

“I'll never be able to accept this version of you. You have become a cold-hearted person that does not deserve love nor compassion. I don't want to love this side of you because... that would simply mean I'd be betraying myself and my own heart. You don't deserve my love as a cold and unfeeling person, princess. I love you as a compassionate and kind princess. Don't you see me? I'm only acting like I'm annoyed... but what I felt was love. I didn't mean to hurt you. I said those words out of anger. I can't let you be like this, princess..." Xiao said as he slowly approached you, his eyes now filled with drunkenness.

…To be continued…

[the-trinket-witch]

Hihi!! How about Name, Class, and Pet Peeve for Lazaro? Thank you!!

(Ask Meme Here)

Name: What does your twst OC's name mean? Why does Rook/Floyd call them [insert nickname]?

Lázaro: 'God's Help' (spanish) A name in reference to John 11:38 in The Bible, a man Jesus was purported to have raised from the dead. Coincidentally, this same Lazarus Resurrection is ALSO used as reference in naming The Lazarus Machine in 1995's Casper. (Which is ACTUALLY why I named him that, ghosts and dead and all that)

Class: Who is your twst OC's classmate(s)? How would you describe their relationship? Did they have different classmates in previous year and did they get along?

Idia: HERMANOOOO, Hey, where's Arturito at? I got a tough time with this chord and I want to see if there's anything -technically- wrong with it (Arturito=Ortho, also a ref to R2D2...it's a long joke) Trey: The one guy I can count on for party ingredients I can't get anywhere else but home~ Cater: I just can't get him to like the sweets I make. It's limited edition, bro! Leona: Ehh, Probably my biggest critic. Can't play out en el jardín botánico when he's always out there takin' a nap. Vil/Rook: I'd like to think he's got my music in mind when he was in that western movie a while back~ Malleus and Lilia: Lilia's the best! The range he's got on guitar, and just how quick we get in sync with each other in Pop Music Club...Oh! Heh, Malleus...errr, dude's got that horroroso about him...

Pet peeves: What are your twst OC's pet peeves and which one in the cast accidentally (or not) commit the "crimes"? How will your twst OC deal with that person?

"One thing I can't stand are Art Thieves. Takin' stuff and passing it off as yours is rude as all hell! I might be in Ignihyde but those scraping bots for AI absolutely piss me off. Robas cosas que no son tuyas... But~ with me BEING in Igni, I have the tools to counter attack~

TAGLIST:

@ceruleancattail @squidwen @thecosmicjackalope @vaporvipermedia@writing-heiress

@oya-oya-okay @k-looking-glass-house @thehollowwriter @rainesol @cyn-write

@heartscrypt @honey-milk-depresso @br3adtoasty @jackiecronefield @ruggiethethuggie

@hoboyherewego @achy-boo @oreoskys @oseathepebble @oathofoaks

@tunabesimpin @hamstergal @fumikomiyasaki@valse-a-mille-temps

@hallowed-delights @kimikitti @plutos-hell @thetwstwildcard @atwstedstory

@comingyourlugubriousness @ice-cweam-sod4 @twst-the-night-away @nammanarin @scint1llat3

[threewaysdivided]

Hobson Heckled into Historical Haute-Couture

Continuing the Dan Jones & Dragons gala parade with Hobson, the Flower Crowns' oft-harried Halfling Warlock (played by the ever-wholesome Dan Floyd). Is he trying to massage away the realisation that letting his literally-half-brained patron choose his gala attire might have been a mistake? Is Valse giving him a headache over something else entirely? Did he use Detect Magic in a room full of powerful items and accidentally flash-bang himself? Yes.

More Flower Crowns Gala Outfits: Morenthal | Gelnek

As always, design talk under the cut:

But before that, a short story: I've been following Dan's content on Youtube for... oh jeez, that sure is almost a decade now, both on his current New Frame Plus/Playframe channels and back when he was the primary founder and narrator for EC. His old games education videos helped me get one of my earliest jobs in project work and introduced me to a bunch of media production concepts (like scope management) that would go on to inform some of my own storytelling analysis posts. It was a startling little moment of artistic ouroboros to realise I was mentally running through key points from Dan's own Pose Design 101 video as I was drawing his DnD character. Never expected things to come full-circle like that, but if you're seeing this, Dan: here's to you 🫡 If you're not Dan and haven't already, do go check out his stuff - it's all super well-produced, informative, funny and he's just an overall stand-up guy.

Now: onto the tiny little nerd and his passé party attire

This was a really fun costuming challenge, with a bunch of interesting curveballs thrown in the mix. Unlike the rest of the Flower Crowns, Hobson didn't choose his own party outfit: it was picked out by his patron after Valse kibbitzed him into giving up and letting a heroism-obsessed Fey call the shots. Dan cited Valse as having the fashion sense of Stede Bonnet-as-depicted-in-OFMD, briefing a vaguely 19th century-style outfit that had frilled sleeves and 'would have looked gaudy even when it was in fashion a century earlier'.

Actually dating his outfit was the first challenge. D&D settings are kind of an anachronistic uchronia, with classic swords-and-sorcery fantasy campaigns potentially pulling inspiration points from anywhere across the Arthurian era up to pre-war modernity. Which leads to the question: how do you make something seem dated in a setting where most everything looks vaguely ye-olde-fantasy? The other challenge was that, IRL, the 19th century (i.e Victorian era) was when menswear started taking on a lot of the shapes that would eventually become modern suit and top-'n'-tails fashion. Since Trilby was already going to be wearing classic top-'n'-tails formalwear, I decided to set Hobson's style earlier in the 1800s-1820s and pull in some 18th century Stede Bonnet flourishes to visually set them apart. This article provided some great reference images, and once I hit on the figured silk waistcoat I knew I had a potential starting point.

Colour-wise, I stuck with the burgundy-and-gold palette the Dans gave Hobson in his official gala stream art, since those looked good together and matched up with Dan J's tendency to draw Hobson wearing greens/earth-tones and Valse in reds/jewel-tones. The combination is a lot more colourful and richly saturated than is typical for this style of Victorian-adjacent clothes, which felt appropriate for Valse's gaudy tastes.

Fabric-wise, I figured a fun way to gaudy things up even further would be to lean into the silks and satins that were fashionable at the time, but make all of his outfit shimmery rather than just a single feature piece. As a bonus, silk and satin clothes tend be hot, inelastic and have horribly itchy seams if worn unlined, which felt like exactly the kind of thing Valse's all-form-no-function sensibilities would inflict upon the small, long-suffering fellow. Both these fabrics also have a habit of behaving hideously and ripping themselves apart when worn wet, which makes this a great outfit to, say, accidentally fight an Aboleth in. Poor Hobson.

Some other details, just for fun: 1. Hobson's sketch layers include a drawing of his un-removable cursed left bracer. He's pulled the frilly, puffy sleeve over it but you might spot hints of the shape and the gem if you squint. 2. The reference waistcoat I used had floral embroidery on it. Had this actually been a Hobson outfit, I would have converted them to his garland flower (Forget-Me-Nots), but since it was a Valse pick I decided to make them Senaliesse chrysanthemums; a flower given out to friends of the Feywild's Summer Court as a sign of protection and favour. (It also adds extra layers to Pocket mistaking Hobson for a denizen of the Fey, which is fun).

Close crop on the details because I'm very happy with how they turned out:

[artisticlegshake]

THE DANCE AWARDS ORLANDO RESULTS 2023

TEEN LARGE BALLET:

1st Overture - EDX

2nd Summer - THE NINE

3rd Don Quixote - VLAD’S

4th Tempo Di Valse - STARS

5th Kaleidoscope - WOODBURY

TEEN LARGE CONTEMPORARY:

1st Por Mi Paz - STARS

2nd Fight or Flight - EDX

3rd Pieces of Perseverance - EDX

4th My Love Life Waits - DWDE

5th Nautilus - EDX

5th Night Fight - SOUTHERN STUTT

TEEN LARGE LYRICAL:

1st Weighted in Baggage - THE NINE

2nd One Love - ARTISTIC EDGE

3rd Just Like A Dream - VLAD’S

4th All of Me - STUDIO 413

5th Come Back Home - WESTCHESTER

5th I Remember Her - NORTHPOINTE

5th Oceans - PATTI EISENHAUER

TEEN LARGE JAZZ:

1st The End Is Always Near - STARS

2nd Le Freak - P21

3rd Now Pick Up The Pace - P21

4th Strike A Pose - STARS

5th Gossip - VLAD’S

5th Richman’s Frug - THE NINE

TEEN LARGE MUSICAL THEATRE:

1st Cabaret - VLAD’S

2nd Catch Me If You Can - EDX

3rd Bring On The Men - STARS

4th Somebody To Love - NORTHPOINTE

5th Bye Bye Life - PATTI EISENHAUER

5th Cats - SOUTHERN STRUTT

TEEN LARGE TAP:

1st Clap Up The Tap - CDC

2nd BPM - THE NINE

3rd Doin The Thing - CDC

3rd The Painting That Sees Me - DWDE

4th Backstage Romance - NORTHPOINTE

4th Let My Love Open The Door - DANCE SPECTRUM

4th Riptide - WOODBURY

5th Elvis - RHYTHM

5th Lady Soul - STUDIO 413

TEEN LARGE HIP-HOP:

1st Lean - WOODBURY

1st Ties - THE NINE

2nd Unplugged - EDX

3rd Let’s Go - CHARLOTTE PAA

4th Bring Em Out - THE NINE

4th Haunted - VLAD’S

5th Mic Drop - RHYTHM

TEEN LARGE SPECIALTY:

1st Father Time - VLAD’S

2nd Alien Superstar - P21

3rd Radio Silence - THE NINE

3rd When We Reach the Shining River- EDX

4th Let Me Go - CDC

5th Muster Of Peacocks - RHTYHM

TEEN LARGE BALLROOM:

1st  Crazy - P21

2nd Get on the Floor - SOUTHERN STRUTT

3rd Burn the Floor - STARS

4th Cheetah Girls - STARS

5th I Like You - NORTHPOINTE

TEEN LARGE ACRO:

1st On, Then and Now - THE NINE

[hartshorn-and-isinglass]

Day 102.

Things are better today. Just like... everything generally. Although I did not push my luck beyond an hour. I have the sinking feeling that regularly pushing for 90 minutes to two hours a session is just not in the cards for me because I'm not getting much better at being able to bear it. If I want to practice more than an hour a day, I'm going to have to find a way to do multiple hour-long blocks with rest time in between.

I rotated in Kreutzer #9 for warm ups and quickly tapped out because it was tiring out my left hand LOL. I think until I finally record another benchmark I'm just gonna do E major scales in various positions as my warm-up. LOL I can't wait to put "Salut" away again but I always end up procrastinating on deciding what I'll do next. I thought "Valse Triste" would be next but it turns out I'm going to have a real fun time trying to match up the MIDI piano accompaniment to the violin part for that ugggggghhhh.

[hemerae-ramblings]

20 questions for writers

Thanks @pia-writes-things and @bourbon-ontherocks for the tag!!

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

14!

2. What's your total AO3 word count?

236,917

3. What fandoms do you write for?

It really changes according to my current favourite piece of media, but mainly: l'Art du crime, Doctor Who, and HPI

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

Asynchrones : my first long-fic ! took 6 months give or take to finish, loved it !

Valse en cinq temps : My first fic in French! Quite daunting actually, especially in a small fandom. Based on the usual "X times they did, 1 time they didn't"

Courants marins : The big one as they said, 100K words of HPI AU, processing trauma one pavé at a time

The only way forward : wandavision fic, the first thing I posted on AO3, and one of the two fics I wrote in english

Fell in love with the fire (long ago) : HPI one-shot, written in a single night and posted shortly after (editing? What editing?)

5. Do you respond to comments?

Every chance I get ! Time does get out of hand sometimes, but i always try to

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

Au revoir mon amour for sure, i mean is IS an MCD

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

I wouldn't even know ! I usually am a sucker for happy endings so most of them ? Paradoxes is one that sticks out to me recently I would say

8. Do you get hate on fics?

Never have (crossing my fingers)

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

No. I don't think I'll ever do it!

10. Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you’ve written?

I don't ! I have trouble fusing two separate universes in writing I think, at least that's how i see it

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

No (i don't think?)

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

No!

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Planned to co-write some, never got to (life tends to get in the way!)

14. What’s your all time favorite ship?

I have more than one ! Excluding actual hyperfixations, i'd say Swanqueen, Twissy (obviously), Twelve x River (specifically)

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

I usually work on one fic at a time so i don't tend to have WIPs (or well-advanced ones at least).

16. What are your writing strengths?

It's easiest for me to write descriptions and/or internal monologues ! At least that's what comes out fastest, and is usually the scenes I envision when planning a piece of writing (like, big emotional scenes and/or action)

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

DIALOGUES, they are the bane of my existence. Although it's gotten easier lately.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic?

Dialogues specifically are hard for me, in French or another language. And the rythme changes a lot in English for example, so that's another adjustment to make

19. First fandom you wrote for?

Wandavision I think

20. Favorite fic you’ve written?

Again, I wouldn't really know ! It's like picking a favourite child, i like them all for VERY different reasons :)

[godteri-takk]

Do you like old synthpop? Then OHM: The early gurus of electronic music is something for you!!

The whole compilation is on Spotify(some songs missing) and YouTube (3 songs missing) and probably other sites too :) it consists of the most important early composers and pieces from many different places, time periods and styles.

Some pieces uses one of the first ever electronic musical instruments: the theremin! It was invented by soviet musician-physicst Leon Theremin around 1920, therefore the name. This instrument is space-controlled, so you play it by moving your hand around it, not really touching it. It looks really cool!

In the first track (CD:1), "Tchaikovsky: Valse Sentimentale" (2:08) 1977, Clara Rockmore, a true pioneer in space-controlled electronic music, plays the Theremin together with her sister Nadia Reisenberg, who plays piano. This piece is truly magnificent and strange-soundig :D Rockmore actually was Leon Thermins student and protégé in the beginning of her career!

Before this gets way too long I must tell about one of my favourites in CD:1, which is the 4th track: "Williams Mix" (5:42) 1952 by John Cage. ...... And at the end of it you can hear a long abd roaring applause, which is very much deserved, of course :D Chris Cutler (musician, composer) tells about this piece in the booklet included with the CD collection.

"Williams Mix" follows a score five hundred pages long, which has never been reproduced, each page made up of two ten-inch graphic sections. The tape is to be laid directly on the page, which is a pattern showing all the edits and the angles at which tape should be cut, as well as recipes for constructing the sounds each piece of tape should contain -Cutler, 2000

The score he's talking about (a piece of it pictured above, x) is a sort of pattern or guide for making the pieces of magnetic tape that was used, making it possible to split, splice and edit the sounds. Around 600 tracks of sounds from for example the country, the city, wind- and electronically produced sounds. (X) This took about a year and was absolutely groundbreaking work! More info here!

If you liked that one, "He Destroyed Her Image" (1:59) 1973 by Charles Dodge is also a mix of different sounds, but made with newer and more advanced technology, and it's far more melodious and, well, structured. It plays with words like a poem, and Dodge has the following to say about it (from the booklet, source below):

I'd never been able to write very effective vocal music, and here was an opportunity to make music with words. I was really attracted to that. It wasn't singing in the usual sense. It was making music out of the nature of speech itself. I've always liked humor and had an attraction to the bizarre, the surreal. These poems were almost dreamlike in their take on reality. So that made me feel at home somehow. -Dodge, 2000

This is my favourite in CD:3 and the vibes are really amazing! I think thats all for this post but if you are interested, just ask me and I'll write about more of the songs! The whole collection has 42 in total :)

Sources for images are provided in the main text or ALT text, as well as links with other sources for information. Source for the booklet that came with the CD: OHM: the early gurus of electronic music: 1948-1980 (2000) by Thomas Ziegler and Jason Gross, ellipsis arts.

[piracytheorist]

Macabre Theme and Variations (13/15)

Fandom: Spy x Family Word count: 6.7k for this chapter | 62k so far | 65k in total Rating: T Warnings: Non-permanent character deaths, graphic violence

Summary: Twilight wakes up. He works on his mission. He dies. He comes back and does it all over again. Each time a little different. (Inspired by the film Happy Death Day)

Warning for this chapter: Graphic violence

AO3 Read from the beginning: Tumblr | AO3

~

Chapter 13: Da Capo al Coda pt.2

~

Knock knock.

His two hesitant taps on Yor’s door echo in the vast silence of the house. It’s only ten minutes before noon and Bond sits beside him, tail moving slowly as if he’s holding back his excitement about a possible walk.

“I’ll be right out,” Yor says, and he moves to the end of the corridor to wait for her. She comes out in the same clothes she wore that morning; he doesn’t know why he expected her to wear something special. He certainly changed his clothes, and now feels almost embarrassed he did.

However, Yor doesn’t comment on the change. She takes a look at Bond, whose tail is now moving faster, and she reaches in a cabinet to retrieve his leash. “Shall we?”

He takes her to the bakery, watches her buy an apple tart while he gets the milk cream strudel. He tells her about how that is Loid’s favourite pastry, not his.

“And what is your favourite pastry?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t spent a lot of time ever thinking about the things I like.” He has a wistful look on his face. “I don’t even remember my favourite meals that my mother used to make. There must have been something I liked.”

“You’ve always pretended for this job, haven’t you?” her voice is low, careful.

He stays silent.

“You once told me I should be myself, because pretending all the time can be exhausting. Are you taking this to heart now?”

His shoulders hunch. “I always took it to heart. I just felt it didn’t matter.”

“What didn’t matter?” She pauses to swallow her bite. “You?”

He feels a blush on his face as he gives her a side glance. Once again, a crumb has stuck on her lower lip and it draws his attention. He manages a smile this time.

“What?” Yor says, blushing too.

“You have a small crumb right here.” She wipes it away and he adds, “It was there last time we did this, too.”

She looks down, focusing on her tart as a distraction. “Is that when…”

“No. There’s still a little more left.”

They finish eating in silence, then they follow the sound of the music. Yor watches the musician with interest, but then understanding crosses her features when she looks at Loid.

“We came here,” she says.

He should feel upset by himself for how much his face betrays. He should fight it, or at least let disappointment strike him, but instead he only feels the whim to let that wave drag him wherever it wants.

They turn their attention back to the musician; he bows to his audience, deflates the bandoneón and plays the valse.

Loid’s throat feels dry. “We danced that song,” he whispers to her. From the corner of his eye he sees her turn to him, and it’s almost painful to hold himself back from reaching out for her.

He closes his eyes, letting the words sink in him again.

I don’t know if what I feel is love, I don’t know if it’ll be an infatuation, I only know that when I don't see you, sorrow prowls through my heart.

I don’t know what your eyes have done to me, that upon staring at me they kill me with love, I don’t know what your lips have done to me, that upon kissing my lips, I forget the pain.

Before he knows it, he’s softly humming the melody.

His vision is blurry with tears when he opens his eyes again at the end of the song. He blinks them away and sees the musician look at the two of them. Yor’s breath catches at the stare and she turns her gaze away, but Loid returns the look.

That song has been exposing him like an open book; no wonder the musician always had a knowing expression on his face.

“That was wonderful. Thank you,” he says, reaching into his jacket pocket for his wallet. Yor also takes out hers, but freezes when she sees the amount Loid drops in the man’s box.

“Sir…” the man says.

Loid doesn’t say anything. He only smiles and bows his head at him.

“Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Yor is looking at Loid with wide eyes. Suddenly she seems embarrassed by the two single dalc coins in her hand.

She clears her throat, clenching her fist around the coins. “Can you give me a moment?” she says.

Loid steps back, putting enough distance from them but still turns to watch as Yor, her back on him, approaches the musician and tells him something.

Instinctively, Loid’s eyes go for the man’s lips, attempting to read what he says. He only catches an “of course” before guilt makes him look away.

After a few moments, his eye catches Yor dropping a few more coins in the musician’s box. Loid straightens up when she walks to him without looking at his eyes, waiting for their next move.

“Did I dance badly?” Yor asks on their way to the top of the park. “I’ve never really had lessons.”

“You were wonderful. This kind of dance is all about chemistry and communication. Not every couple has that, even professional dancers.”

“Where did you learn to dance?”

His mouth twists into a small grimace.

“Was it for a mission?”

“I’ve received training in multiple subjects, so I was fairly acquainted with this art, but yes, once a mission demanded I learned such dances.”

They stand at the top of the park. His hand is once again resting on the rail, but he doesn’t dare hope Yor will hold it this time. Instead, she holds Bond’s leash with both hands and rests them close to her body.

“It was here,” he says. “You thanked me for spending time with you, and at the sight of your gratitude I couldn’t stop myself from talking about the loop. I told you I felt guilty because I wanted a memory of you being happy because of me.”

And then you told me you’re already happy.

“Then I asked you what you would do if there were no consequences to your actions.” He turns to her. “And you kissed me.”

She closes her eyes, squinting slightly. “What was I thinking?” she says, mostly to herself, he guesses.

“You… you said it was a mistake to act so rashly. But you didn’t seem to regret the kiss. You only worried about having exposed your feelings to me.” That Yor wouldn’t have minded if he hadn’t responded to her kiss. Her worry came from him actually responding. “And because I kissed you back, you felt guilty because you felt as if you used me to test the waters.”

She whines in complaint.

“You tried to save me that day.” He looks away for a moment, remembering how she fought Pollux… how her dead body dropped to the ground… “I think you wanted to retain the memories of that day so much that you were willing to risk exposing your real job to me.”

After a long moment of silence she says, “That sounds like something I would do. In the yesterday I remember, at least.”

His teeth clench as a wave of guilt washes over him. How much she cared for him, and how blind he was to it. “I’m sorry, Yor,” he says. “You don’t owe me anything. Much less the conflicted feelings you must have now.”

“It’s alright. I asked for this.”

“Truth is, I don’t really know what to do with myself. I’ve spent so long focusing on my job, needing to forget myself to do it right that I’m not sure I know who I am. Do you remember what you told me, the first time you brought us here? How coming here reminds you what you’re working hard for?” He looks at the people walking by on the streets below. “This is what I’m working hard for too. I see people live lives they call ‘normal’, without the fear of war looming over their heads.” He pauses. “I can’t afford that. I can’t in good conscience put anything else above that, because I don’t want anyone to end up like me.”

Struggling to heal his old wounds through seeing other people never get so hurt in the first place.

“Why you in particular? Do you hold others to such standards?”

“No. Because I had nothing to lose.” Had. “And because I can fight, and learn, and adapt, quicker than most people I’ve seen. Not something I take pride in, but I knew it was important for this job, and I knew I qualified.” He grasps at the rail. “I wouldn’t be able to sit by knowing I can do something to help. I hadn’t realized how deeply you would relate to that, until I found out about your secret.” He turns to her, forcing his hands to relax. “I just… I guess I felt I didn’t have anything left that gave me worth. I was good and determined at my job. And I’ve allowed that to lead me through. Even if I had to hurt innocent people’s feelings.”

“The misery of one for the happiness of many, right?”

He looks down. “Exactly.”

“And what changed with us?”

“I’ve always started relationships based on lies. And though I also lied to you, so much, I didn’t have to lie about how I felt about you.” He turns forward, staring at his hands. “I guess I had no idea how many feelings that would allow to develop. I—I was suspicious of you, once, and I put a listening device on you.”

He keeps looking away, but it’s not enough to not feel the daggers her eyes are throwing at him. She’d certainly throw him actual daggers if she had any on hand…

“I didn’t hear anything too personal.” He sighs. “Not that that’s an excuse, but… I have so much to come clean to you about… But even before I realized there was nothing to suspect you for, I still felt guilty for doubting you.”

“Noble of you,” she says.

He looks at her, welcoming the sting of her glare. “That’s the thing, Yor. Your kindness and compassion makes me feel unworthy, knowing how I’ve been treating you. The second time I relived this day on this loop, I simply thought I had a nightmare where I died at the end. The third time I ended up considering it all a trap. I was so rude with you, believing you had tricked me, and at the end of that day you tried to save my life.” An empty laugh escapes him. “I think that broke me. After all the poor treatment you didn’t deserve, you gave me a treatment that was far better than I could ever deserve. So I had to choose between leaving and working to deserve that. Being trapped in the loop doesn’t allow me to leave, and at this point I wish I don’t have to leave, so I was left with only one choice.”

His gaze turns away as he leans forward, feeling exhausted, empty, and so vulnerable he wishes he could roll himself into a ball.

Eventually, Yor says, “I won’t report you.”

His eyes snap back at her.

“I used you the same way you used me,” she continues. “I needed cover and you provided it. As long as you don’t pose a threat to that cover, I have no reason to change things.”

“You'll stay...?” It comes out way more hopeful than he expected.

She catches the tone and gives him a dismissive look. “Not for you. I can still make use of this position. And Anya needs me.”

He can't help feeling glad she's confident in her place in Anya's heart. “Thank you,” he says, then composes himself. “You don't have to make any rash decisions. I had a lot of time to adjust to knowing about you. I had an unfair advantage over you, so... you can take your time keeping distance.”

Her gaze softens, though it's still harsh enough against his exposed soul.

“You don’t ever have to make a decision. I’ll be happy knowing Anya has you by her side,” he says.

“Why don’t you just reset this day? Why don’t you want me to forget?”

“I—“ he starts, but she interrupts him.

“You don’t trust yourself to come clean to me again?”

“No, it’s not that. I have no right to control what you do and don’t remember. Now that you know, all I can do is do my best to help you retain those memories.”

She looks into his eyes, then turns her gaze away. After a few long minutes of silence she says, “Shall we go home?”

“Yes,” he says in a breath, pushing himself off the rail.

A few minutes into their walk, Yor asks him, “About the man who’s trying to kill you, what do you know about him?”

Oh right. That.

“He’s a former spy of my agency, has been presumed dead for seven years. He lost his way and blames the agency for that, and he chose to take me down as a form of revenge.”

“And he kills you by blowing up the bombs he has strapped on him?”

“Yes.”

“But if you catch him, and he doesn't kill you, the day won't reset?”

“According to my theory, no.”

She nods. “I'll help you, then. I'll catch him for you.”

“No. I will not gamble with your life ever again.”

“Again?”

“He's already killed you twice. More, actually, but twice you died before I did.”

“How? What mistake did I do?”

“What mistake did you do?”

She takes a deep breath. Her voice is firm and steady when she speaks again. “I'm not going to let some vandal take me down. I need to know his strengths and weaknesses.”

“He's not just a random thug. He's spent the past seven years training himself to perfection just for this very day, and he already was the best spy of my agency in his years.”

“And I'm the deadliest assassin of Ostania. In ever. Tell me what I did wrong.”

He looks at her, his mind flying. The more this day passes, the more Yor shows of herself to him, and it feels new, and scary... and it makes him determined. He's not going to let that Yor disappear. “The first time, you attacked him because Anya warned you about him. She must have read his mind, but you didn't know he had bombs strapped around him, so you jumped on him and the bombs went off.”

“I came from behind and he didn't notice?”

He thinks. “It was crowded, noisy, and his attention was fully trained on me.”

“The second time?”

“You had offered to help me catch him, but I told you no. You knew about the time loop, that he uses two sets of bombs, and that he's good. That time you tried to sneak up on him. You caught him from behind and managed to hurt him, but he used you to his advantage when the sniper panicked.”

“Did he have a hold on me?”

“No. He used the hold you had on him.”

She seems almost offended at the idea. But then she says, “And you didn't know about my secret then.”

“No. But what difference does it make?”

“Tonight I'll sneak up on him from behind and we'll make sure there's noise around. Tonight it won't be Yor attacking him.”

“Don't get cocky. I've been constantly underestimating him.”

“I can make my own estimation of things, thank you very much.”

“I don't want to involve you.”

“I've already been involved. You said he managed to kill me before, and that's enough for me. And this is the first day that I know you know who I am, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then you haven't seen my full potential. Just tell me where, when, and who. I'm not waking up tomorrow not remembering any of this.”

Of course, it's not just to help him. What were you thinking?!

“Yor. I am serious about this.”

“So am I, ‘Loid’,” she says, adding emphasis to the name.

He really hasn't seen her full potential. Maybe she's right to be so confident.

“What's the worst that can happen for you? I die, you die, the day is reset, and you wake up tomorrow continuing your lies.”

“I was determined to tell you anyway,” he says, defeated.

“Well, you can spare yourself the trouble. Tell me where and when to be and how the guy looks like. It will all be settled.”

There's a dark glint in her eyes, and he suppresses a shiver.

He swallows hard, focusing back on the mission at hand. “My mistake was trying to keep my distance and shoot at him, even after seeing how good he is at dodging bullets. If we keep the bombs from going off, I can run straight at him and we can take him down together. He won't be anticipating a second person, let alone a skilled assassin. He thinks he has the element of surprise still.”

It's still hard to believe it's Yor he's having such a talk with. Though he's sure the feeling is the same on her end.

“How did I attack him?”

“You had a small, thin knife. If I didn’t know any better I’d say it was a long needle.”

She nods, undoubtedly figuring out what weapon of hers she had carried that day. “And I managed to hurt him?” she says.

“You were going for his throat. He blocked every attack.”

She lets out a quiet grunt.

“You still made him bleed,” he says, a smile spreading on his lips before he can control it, and he freezes at the face she gives him.

Did he just compliment Yor, his fake wife who was supposed to be just a civil servant, on how she managed to hurt another human being in her effort to kill him?!

She turns forward with wide eyes. “And Anya has been seeing all the violence in our minds, hasn’t she?”

“And not only our minds.”

She tightens her hold on the strap of her handbag, making the veins on her hand pop.

“Oh,” he says, and he feels a phantom pain on his chin at the memory of her kick. “If you wrap your hand around his, be careful how tight you squeeze. Make sure you don't crush the detonator. I don't know how sensitive it is, and how easily one single crease in it may detonate the explosives.”

She nods, taking note of the advice. “Are there hiding spots inside the theater hall?”

“What for?”

“I will help you. But I'm also not going to miss Anya's play. Are there any places I can hide and watch?”

“What do you mean? Why hide?”

She gives him a look as if he’s missing the obvious. “I am never spotted on the scene. You’ll tell everyone in the theater I am sick, just like I told city hall, and that I stayed home.”

“That doesn’t exactly give you an alibi.”

“But it gives me no witnesses. Don’t tell me how to do my job.”

He swallows hard. He nods in admission.

They reach home and Yor takes a look at the living room. “Have you seen how he fights?” she asks.

“Very little. Mostly when you fought him.”

She turns to him. “Could you show me?”

He freezes. Is she proposing a wrestling match? Between them?

He swallows hard, struggling to keep his voice straight. “I—I think I can.”

Slipping into more comfortable clothes, they arrange the furniture to make space in the living room. Bond sits aside, looking at them with interest.

Yor has her hair pulled back in a ponytail and twists the circular grip of a golden stiletto around her finger.

She notices how transfixed Loid is by it, and she holds it steady for him to take a good look at.

“From the day repeating over and over, to Anya’s mind-reading, to Bond’s visions of the future, I never expected I’d look upon the Thorn Princess’ weapons,” he says.

“Bond’s what?” Yor asks.

“Oh, right. Yes. Bond has visions of the future, apparently. Anya knew.” He shrugs.

Yor looks at Bond, who seems just as clueless as ever. She’s still processing the new information when Loid suddenly asks, “Wait, you’re going to use those while we train?”

She looks back at him and spins the stiletto again. “Scared, Twilight?”

He furrows his brow in determination. “You haven’t seen me at my full potential, either.”

A new smile crosses her features. Without a warning, he brings his fist forward. She dodges it easily and bends down, preparing to kick his feet from under him. He jumps up and lands safely, then simply brings his left fist in front of her face and opens it.

“Boom,” he says. “Eyes on the hand with the detonator.”

“His eyes won’t be on me,” she whispers and does a full back flip, landing on the radiator on the wall. She’s perfectly balanced on it. “Where will Twilight be?” she asks.

He turns around and at the exact moment she leaves his eyesight he hears a whoosh. He reaches back with his elbow as he turns, lowering it at the right time to avoid the blade of her stiletto piercing through the length of his arm. Her body collides with his, and though the tip of the weapon is immediately against his throat, he raises his left fist and opens it again.

“Boom,” he says breathlessly, his lips only inches away from hers.

Her warm, controlled breath lands on his face and nearly makes him dizzy.

She clears her throat. “You heard me. We will need noise.”

Reluctantly, he releases himself from her grip and turns on the radio.

“Birds, perhaps,” he says. “I’ll lure him on the roof, and we will have bird seed sprinkled on the trees around the building.”

His back on her, he waits.

It’s too late to move before her left hand grabs his. She wraps her legs around his shoulders, and her dagger flies.

It only pinches at his skin, not drawing any blood at all, but though he blocks as many attacks of hers as he can, all of them land.

He bends his knees, trying to throw her back. She unwraps her legs and spins backwards, dragging his left fist with her. She lands behind him and grabs at his hair, pulling his entire body up.

He hisses in pain; he finds his footing and starts trying for backwards punches and kicks. She lets go of his hair and grips his elbow with her arm, her knee inching too close to his crotch.

He gasps in alert and he feels her soft laugh on his ear.

“Boom?” she asks, a smile colouring her voice.

Her hand is still firmly and steadily wrapped around his. It takes all his discipline to not relax his fist and intertwine his fingers with hers.

“I have to keep him standing up,” she says. “Or the bombs may explode from the impact if he falls down, right?”

He swallows. “By now I will have approached him as well.” He notices how, despite her proximity to him, her torso isn’t touching his back.

A good thing; if their bodies were any closer she’d certainly feel how his heart is hammering inside his chest—and not just due to the adrenaline.

She lets go and he relaxes his tense muscles, letting out a deep breath. “It has to be done quickly. I have to come at him before he can throw you off of him.”

She spins the stiletto again; she gives him a look that he can only interpret as her throwing down the gauntlet.

He’s never trained to the sound of upbeat jazz before, but there’s a first time for everything.

Twenty minutes later, he declares it’s enough. “We still need to keep our strength for tonight.”

Yor puts the dagger in a sheath on her leg and helps him arrange the furniture back. He plops down on the sofa again. Perhaps a nap will do him good?

“Can we order take-out?” He rubs at his eyes. “Anya will be back very soon.” He grunts and drags his palm across his face.

She’ll be mad she missed this.

He’s proven right a little later.

“Papa and Mama fought?” Anya asks the very moment she steps foot inside the apartment.

“It was just training, Anya,” Yor says, her voice shaking with uncertainty. She looks at Loid, as if for support.

“Nerve-wracking, I know. I was also like that the first few days.”

Yor is… back to Yor. Her lips purse together now, the more conscious she becomes of Anya being able to hear her thoughts.

“Mama won't see me play?” Anya says, heartbreak contorting her face.

“Of course I will, Anya.” Yor's voice is soft. “I'll be hiding inside the theater and I'll watch the entire play. I will leave only after the curtain closes.” She places a gentle hand on Anya’s shoulder. “You’ll already be home when I come back, but can you do me a favour?”

Anya nods, happy again.

“Can you not read our minds tonight? I don’t want you to see what we’ll do.”

“I’ve seen you already, Mama.”

Yor cringes. Anya embraces her and once again, Yor turns to him for support.

“Not today,” he says, not concealing his exhaustion. He leans his head back. “If we make it to tomorrow, we’ll have plenty of time for that.”

Tomorrow.

They eat silently, Anya no wonder picking through their minds as each go through their plan again and again. It seems to be a good enough distraction from any guilt she may be feeling.

You shouldn’t feel guilty at all. I was the one who was careless, he thinks at her.

Anya asks to wear the prince costume, Loid declines.

“If it really is the last time…” How many times is he going to say that? How many times is he going to hope it is? “We need the minimum amount of attention.”

Anya nods reluctantly.

“But listen. You know Damian's parents will attend the play.”

“The bad boss!” Anya says.

“Yes. That one. But Damian won't be expecting them, and he'll freeze and forget his line when he sees them. So try and help him with that, okay?”

She nods again, then they turn at the sound of Yor’s door opening. She walks outside, wearing her sleek black dress, the one where the front of the skirt comes to the middle of her thighs while the rest trails further down her shins, undoubtedly so to allow her a wider range of movement.

He’s seen her wear this before, but not with the addition of the hairpiece adorned with golden roses and thorns crowning her scalp, or the leather stiletto boots that reach up to her thighs.

She has truly weaponized every part of her appearance as the Thorn Princess.

Anya wows at her. “You’re so cool, Mama!”

Yor blushes, but fixes the fingerless glove in her hand. “I figured it would be pointless to hide from her.”

“Get your things ready, Anya,” Loid says. “I have a few things left to settle with your mother.”

The word mother slips out so easily. It’s almost expressive of his hope.

Anya slips back to her room and Yor beckons him to her room.

An assortment of golden daggers and needles are spread all across her bed. The man that had proposed to Yor with a grenade pin ring would never have imagined such a sight in this room.

He clears his throat and gives Yor a small bag. “In here is my pistol and a spare suit I’ll change into if the one I’m wearing now gets blood on it.” The suit in the bag is the one she had complimented him for; the one he wears is almost similar, but expendable. “Leave it on the roof, right next to the door to downstairs. I’ll need to change on my way down. And don’t forget the bird seed.”

Yor nods.

He suppresses a sigh; he still wishes she’d let him handle this, but it’s not his decision anymore. She has every right to fight for a chance to remember.

She looks at him, and her eyes soften just a bit. Then they turn to her open door, and he turns as well.

Anya is staring at them, and he doesn’t need her abilities to know what she’s thinking.

Papa and Mama are flirting.

If only.

“Are you ready, Anya?” he asks.

Anya nods. The corner of her lip curves upwards in a half-smile when her attention turns to Yor.

“Let’s go, then.”

The stress he feels as he opens the front door is similar to the one he felt before they left for Anya’s admission interview. He doesn’t feel confident or certain about any of this, and absolutely everything will depend on whether or not they’re successful this time.

What is he going to do if they fail and Pollux kills him again?

He steps outside first, and before he has the time to think again that today he didn’t get the chance to kiss Yor’s hand, Yor slams the door closed and he hears the sound of keys being put in the keyhole from inside.

“Hey!” he says, knocking on the door. “What’s going on?”

He puts his ear against the door. He only hears Yor’s and Anya’s footsteps fading away.

He leans back, contemplating picking or breaking the lock, or even kicking the door open, before he realizes that this was probably Yor’s effort to have a moment alone with Anya. Of course she doesn’t trust that he would have allowed her one, had she asked.

Cold sweat drenches the back of his neck. The things that Anya might tell her…

He closes his eyes, putting his fist against his closed mouth. The Twilight he knew wouldn’t simply break the door open and barge in on their moment to stop Anya from talking; he would walk to Pollux with open arms in order to undo this entire day.

It would be so easy, too. No-one would have to know, if he controlled his thoughts properly when around Anya.

He would know. He would have to go on with the thought of how he mistreated the people he claimed to love.

He stands in front of the door, struggling to keep the dark thoughts at bay.

Consequences, Loid. Learn to live with them.

The door finally opens, just enough for a smiling Anya to slip outside.

What did you tell her?

Anya’s smile turns a little nervous, but she takes his hand in hers and leads him down the hall.

Are you just going to keep silent? My heart is going to burst from the stress.

“Don’t worry, Papa,” she says. “Mama is good too.”

Well, he knows that. He’s seen her kindness. But it’s that very kindness that makes him fear he’s unworthy of her.

“She only asked me if you told her any lies today.”

“And what did you tell her?”

“That you told her the truth.”

And was she happy about that? Wait, no, don’t answer. I don’t want to know from you. It’s unfair.

He keeps holding Anya’s hand on the way. She not only brought them together as a fake couple, she’s been trying all along to make them a real couple.

His sly six-year-old wingman. Or is it five?

He goes backstage with Anya. He prepares to leave when she’s ready, but she jumps and wraps her arms around his neck.

“Good luck, Papa,” she whispers.

He gently pats her on the back. I wish you didn’t have to know about any of this.

She squeezes him harder.

“’Sokay, Papa,” she says.

This doesn’t feel okay.

He leans back, giving her a tired smile with one last pat on her shoulder. “Good luck to you too. And remember what I told you about Damian’s line.”

“Yup.”

Loid then mingles with the other parents like he did the very first day of the loop.

This is the day Donovan Desmond will remember; considering his entire reason for attending this play is to test whether Loid – or any other spy – would try to approach him, it’s valuable to Loid’s survival that the day Desmond remembers is the one that Loid didn't do that, despite having a clear chance, opening, and almost invitation to do so.

He doubts that will make Desmond drop his suspicions of him, but it might be just enough that if he keeps thinking Loid is a spy, he’ll consider him a shoddy one at that. Not one worthy of testing again.

He easily spreads the lie about Yor feeling sick and unfortunately having to miss the performance. He still doubts that would count as an alibi, but if she’s been doing that for years and has not once been caught, all he can do is trust she can do it right.

His stomach falls heavy at the thought of how long she’s been doing this job. Yuri had talked about how hard she was working to provide for him when she was just a teenager.

So much violence, at such a young age, for someone else’s sake…

It’s only a reminder of how much he needs to keep doing this job, and how little he can allow having a family to affect it.

He takes his seat in the audience; Yor’s absence next to him is palpable, though he knows that at any moment she will settle in her hiding spot, if she hasn’t already.

The baby cries, the actual usher escorts the couple outside, the bell rings, the lights go down.

Of course, the time the Desmonds enter was planned to be late. Donovan wants to attract the attention of any possible spies, so he planned for them to walk in when the lights would be out, so that the light from the door opening would stick out.

Loid makes sure to look at their direction once, plainly to show his “innocent” curiosity.

I’ve seen you, and by the end of the day I won’t approach you. Will you suppose that I’m uninterested, or too incompetent to grasp the chance you’re offering? Or – if only – innocent?

Loid turns his attention back to the play starting. He’s beyond the phase of feeling proud of Anya and happy for the other children having fun with their performance. Right now he feels the stress of his job coming back.

It has to end today. Pollux has to die today before he hurts anyone else. Otherwise…

It’s Anya’s intervention that finally brings him out of his anxious thoughts.

“Oh, Sec—Princess, tell me again about that curse!”

Brought back with a force, he realizes when a huff of a laugh escapes out of him. The twenty-fourth time this happens, and always the same, no matter his warnings.

No, twenty-third, his guilt corrects him. The third day Anya was so upset by his aggression that she didn’t help Damian.

Plus, he can suppose, but he can’t be sure about how she acted on the two days he missed the play.

And another difference is that Yor isn’t there to point out how Anya helped him. At least, not right next to him.

He bites his lip, focusing back on the play.

Finally, it ends. He joins in the applause as his shoulders tense and his throat goes dry, in fear and alert. He welcomes the feeling.

A feeling sharpened by someone giving a loud whistle when Anya comes forward for her bow by the end.

That whistle is both for Anya and a signal to him.

Yor is here and everything is set.

He suppresses a shiver.

Pollux is coming down today.

Today. They’ll be finishing it today.

Just a little more, Twilight. Keep it together or you’ll lose everything.

No pressure.

He needed a solid plan to throw Pollux off, so once the parents start leaving, instead of going straight for the dressing rooms, he walks upstairs where the less occupied bathrooms are.

He’s positioned correctly. No-one is around. He stands at the top step facing down, pretending he’s about to walk down the stairs.

His heart is just about to burst in his chest. He’s been in missions that nearly endangered his life so many times, but it’s so much more stressful now, when he thinks how much he has to lose.

It’s not even his life he worries that much for, as he knows time will just reset if he fails. It’s the Anya and Yor that know about him that he fears losing.

His back straightens at the sight of Pollux’s head. Loid inhales loudly, catching Pollux’s attention.

Pollux turns his head and looks at him. His brow furrows in determination, and Loid rushes up the stairs.

Three flights of stairs to the opening for the rooftop. Why did this building have to be so damn big?!

He bursts the door open and runs outside. Thankfully, Yor has already picked the lock on it, and the bag he gave her is right where it’s supposed to be. He reaches into it and retrieves his pistol, quickly hiding it in the pocket of his jacket.

He walks near the edge of the rooftop and turns around. The air is absolutely full of birds chirping.

He’s breathing fast, eyes aimed at the door.

Come on, come on, please, come on, PLEASE…

Pollux appears, and Twilight has to suppress a sigh of relief. Pollux only takes two steps toward him before Twilight sees a dark figure fly behind him.

Yor—No, the Thorn Princess dances in the air, carefully wrapping her legs around Pollux's shoulders. Her left hand grabs his left – the one holding the detonator – and her right hand begins attacking.

Within the few seconds of their fight that it takes Twilight to cross the distance to them, for the first time he witnesses the Thorn Princess in action.

If it was any other target, she would have taken him down – along with several others – by now. She's not only strong, she's fast, and she's accurate. Every single one of her hits land, and Pollux can only guard from them, he's too slow to completely dodge them. Blood is already spilling from his arm where her stiletto cuts through.

And above all, Pollux is surprised. His eyes jump between his left hand and Twilight coming at him, and it's then he realizes they both know of his plan.

A newfound confidence builds up in Twilight as he leaps towards him, his right hand going for Pollux's left. Pollux takes a deep pierce from the stiletto when he moves his free hand to grab it.

Twilight's left hand goes for his throat. Pollux leans back quickly, managing a hit on Yor's stomach with the back of it, if he judges by her grunt.

Grasping the chance, Twilight finally wraps his right hand around the detonator.

Pollux screeches and leans forward, teeth exposed. He dodges an attack from Yor with his elbow and Twilight leans back with a short yelp, avoiding a bite going directly for his throat.

Pollux bends forward, attempting to hit Twilight with Yor's body. She twists the stiletto’s grip in her finger, driving it into Pollux's arm. She raises her knees to her chin and folds her body in half, landing her feet on Twilight's shoulders.

Damn, her heels are sharp.

With a steady grip on Pollux's hand and the dagger stuck in his other arm, Yor lifts her back, forming a perfect arc over the men's bodies. She then removes the stiletto and goes for his neck.

As expected, he dodges it, but with the duo being aware of their final goal, Twilight uses the distraction to drag Pollux's left hand into the path of the swinging weapon.

He hears the swish of steel and the subtle crack of bone. He sees blood spill in the air, but the blade is so fast he's certain he doesn't actually see it go all the way through the man's wrist.

With the leftover momentum, Twilight punches Pollux's neck with his own severed hand, cutting off his scream of pain.

Yor grabs Pollux's hair, pulling him up as Twilight reaches into his pocket and takes out his gun.

“Good evening, or rather, good night, Agent Pollux.” He pauses for a half-second, seeing the terror on Pollux's masked face, and then he shoots.

BANG!

BANG!

BANG!

[belphegor1982]

Fic Stats Meme

Rules: Give us the links to your fics with the most hits, second most kudos, third most comments, fourth most bookmarks, fifth most words, and your fic with the least amount of words.

I was tagged by @strivia - thanks a lot!

• Most Hits: Fairy Tales and Hokum (The Mummy series) (3,033 hits)

I was really surprised by that, but I guess I shouldn't be? I always take for granted that my most "popular" fic on AO3 (and probably FFnet too) is Villains (my "the Flash's Rogues react to the events of the JLU Cadmus arc finale" fic) - but it's a one-shot, while FTaH has 24 chapters and is 162k words long. Hopefully it means people come back until they have finished reading it?

• Second Most Kudos: Reading the Colours (TMNT 2012) (220 kudos)

Aww 💜 I've seen vowels with the same colours since before I can remember (like, for me "A" is red, "E" is pink/purple, "I" is yellow, "O" is blue and "U" is green and I have no idea why) I and I thought that might be a good trait to give 2012 Mikey.

• Third Most Comments: Valse à trois temps (The Mummy series - ish, pre-canon) (51 comment threads)

Oh man, that's the biggest surprise?? But again, when I think about it it's not; it's 14 chapters long and the same three people left a comment on each chapter (YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE, I LOVE YOU SO MUCH). But still - I always think nobody's ever going to read this story. It's not true: three whole people did 💖

• Fourth Most Bookmarks: Culture Shock (TMNT 1987 & TMNT 2003 crossover) (62 bookmarks)

I was going to say "this one's special" but they're all special in some way ^^ I both loved and was frustrated by the Turtles Forever giant crossover film, and after watching a few 1987 episodes I wanted to do these little guys justice, a bit. Also it was fun to get into 2003 Donny's head. He's my favourite turtle after 2003 Mikey :o)

• Fifth Most Words: Pirouette (The Mummy series - ish, pre-canon) (16,376 words)

Ah, yes, the thing that was supposed to be a 2k or 4k words one-shot and that's it 😄 Since a lot of my one-shots average at 10k words I'm not surprised to find this one here, tbh.

• Least Words: technically, Scar Tissue (Critical Role - Vox Machina campaign), because since it's a comics it clocks at a round number of 0 words :D But barring this and the podfics, then it's Onomatopoeia (Justice League Unlimited) (236 words)

That was probably the shortest of my JLU one-shots that didn't make it into the "Snapshot Collection", well, collection. Just a conversation between Shayera and Diana about Looney Tunes cartoons characters and their new(ish) colleagues :D

Tagging @tinydooms, @thisstableground, @radarsteddybear and anyone who wants to do this!

[1016anon]

Title: Sparo Finale Author: 1016anon Fandom: Bridgerton Pairing: Anthony Bridgerton/Kate Sharma, Benedict Bridgerton/Henry Granville Summary: The Olympics

A/N - Free skate was partially inspired by Papadakis/Cizeron's rhythm dance in Beijing 2022.

While not required, I highly recommend you listen to the music while reading the ice dancing sections. It will make a lot more sense.

Sparo Finale means "last shot" in Italian. Also, this concludes the series. I will write a short epilogue at some point. Many many thanks to penny_loaf for dragging me into the world of ice dancing.

Their free skate is... not traditional, would be the kind way of putting it.

Others have described it as weird and disturbing.

It's a risk-- it's always a risk to do something more "out there" in the Olympics than sticking to the classics, the songs and narratives judges have already seen and heard a thousand times over.

But Anthony and Kate designed this program for themselves, with the help and encouragement of Henry. He has always been supportive of them in every artistic choice; he's never cared about gold medals. Henry has only ever wanted to help-- not dictate-- their self expression.

After years of being drilling in choreography, technique, dancing and acting and showmancing; having virtually no control, no room for agency, in their lives-- he and Ben have done their best to carefully nurture Anthony and Kate's exploration of their own stories.

Telling them, again and again, that they had stories. Telling them, again and again, that those stories were compelling, worth exploring, worth translating to their native language of ice dance.

So perhaps others found the tales they spun from snow and frost to be morbid or strange. That didn't matter. Anthony and Kate won gold after gold after gold in the Grand Prix circuit anyway, won the world championship, and now-- they were ready to take the stories they'd so painstakingly crafted to the Olympics.

Anthony and Kate wanted gold.

That was the difference.

It was a long, painstaking process for Anthony and Kate to understand, viscerally, that they were allowed to want this for themselves. Henry and Ben reassured them, again and again and again and again-- as many times as they needed reassurance; after every competition; after practices where they were discouraged and exhausted that a routine wouldn't come together; after questioning why they were training at all because it had been Violet's dream to get that last gold, not theirs-- not originally.

This was not something which could be solved overnight; it could only be chipped away over years. Each word of encouragement, each reassurance, brought them a little closer to believing in themselves and allowing themselves to understand: Violet might have wanted the gold medal originally, but no matter the origins of the story, this gold would be for them, for their skate, for their lives. They had total ownership of their accomplishments now-- not country or coaches or obligations.

Without Henry and Ben's steadfast, unwavering support, they likely would not have performed their free dance, opting to go for something more conservative.

It likely would have won gold. But it would have left them hollow. Anthony and Kate could not articulate this, but Ben and Henry, after having spent so much time with them, understood what they could not say.

They were always there to support Anthony and Kate.

There was nothing wrong with breaking boundaries, Henry and Ben told them. There were already ice dancing couples and coaches who were "inspired" by Kate's unusual costumes, who "happened to choose" less traditional music; all of them riding on the coattails of Kate and Anthony's innovative, incomparable, unexpected success.

Besides, perhaps the world was tired of seeing only romantic, tragic stories played out on ice a thousand times.

Perhaps the world was ready for a ghost story.

--

Free Dance

Music, a compilation of: "Goblin" from Suspiria, "La Valse d'Amelie" from Amelie, "End Titles" from Sleepy Hollow.

--

The story they decide they want to tell is a Gothic Romance.

Ghost

Anthony and Kate appear on the ice and take their positions; Kate standing in front, one arm raised and the other reaching out, hands flaired, Anthony behind her, hand possessive on her stomach and shoulder. Kate's head is turned to the side, looking down the arm reaching; Anthony's focus is completely on Kate.

Kate's costume glows deep sapphire teal, modern and minimalist, all elegant lines and bare skin; skirt so sheer her legs are visible, loose off-the-shoulder sleeves, bodice cut low and glittering with crystals; the silhouette and shape meant to evoke the dime-store romance novels of heroines soon to be ravished.

Anthony evokes no one, meant to be a menace in himself, costumed in a grey complementing Kate's dress, the front panel of his shirt darkly translucent with an open v-neck and crystals along strategic seams, sleeves and back incredibly sheer, like floating shadow. The shade of his pants is so dark they appear black without a spotlight.

All of it, creating an unmistakable tableau of a woman haunted by her lover.

"Goblin"

And so, the story begins with a distorted downbeat, foreboding like a monster's growl, then dissolves to a mocking melody.

Kate skates, Anthony directly behind her, nearly breathing down her neck yet never touching.

First chord of the guitar, he places his hands on her and Kate startles into a pivot;

Second chord, he lifts her by her waist and she swings her legs up into the air, a graceful arch, and he spins her before he puts her down;

Third chord, the monster in the background begins whispering and they go into their twizzle sequence-- Kate running away, Anthony directly behind her, next to her, parallel to her, unavoidable and dizzying.

Coming out of that sequence into the frenzied notes of the guitar, Anthony finally shows his face to her and Kate, recognizing him, circles around him-- shock, awe, fear, happiness all expressed the fluid movements of her arms, the deep lunge in her legs, her proximity and yearning, unconvinced that he's real.

But Anthony makes persuasive arguments, holding her waist and appealing to her on bended knee; she clings to him-- she believes him, or wants to believe him, which amounts to the same thing. Anthony finally has her fully in his arms, quickly pulling her into a dance sequence, holding her shoulder while she holds his and the guitar remains, frenetic and frantic in the background.

Regardless of the music, as his hold on her grows-- as he switches seamlessly from an open to a closed hold-- the dance he leads her through steadies, slows down to something more rational-- something more real.

The monstrous voice might continue to whisper with increasing menace, but Kate only has eyes for Anthony, matching him step for step, falling back into that easy rhythm they had as lovers.

"La Valse d'Amelie"

The music is sweet and light, its first notes composed of delicate, silver-bell tones. It is vibrant, full of vivacity and joie de vivre as Kate and Anthony easily, gracefully glide across the ice.

They never take a hand off the other, their strokes long and deep and even, speaking of an intimacy, a perfect and physical familiarity between them. Kate and Anthony are all long legs, long lines, bodies intertwining and braiding their lifelines together through the music which, as it progresses, becomes more layered as more instruments are introduced to carry the melody.

The rich, earth-bright sound of xylophones, the starry tinkling of chimes, the full-bodied notes of violins each flow through Kate and Anthony, the expressions on their faces full of tenderness and love, remembering-- reliving-- the time they had together as each day brought new complexities and possibility.

Kate's costume sparkles, skirt flaring out like laughter through each turn and lift. Anthony puts them in a pair spin and she crosses her leg with his, throws her head back and for a moment, her foot comes off the ice, totally immersed in Anthony's beautiful dream.

But as the music comes to a close, the last legato notes of the violins echoing, Anthony abruptly changes position, dragging her from behind and in the silence, there is an ominous

winding

of

a clock

And Anthony leads her backwards into

"End Titles"

The boom of a wailing orchestra, launching them into a character step sequence as though he's controlling her body movements, twisting her limbs out of shape into unnatural configurations at a terrifying pace, and she's helpless to follow along. Anthony watches with dark satisfaction behind her, movements so precise and sharp as he never was in life-- moving with the harshness of a double jointed corpse, not the elegant, graceful lover she knew.

There is no reprieve to be found in the eerie voices of the marionettes, nothing soothing in the staccato notes of the violins and cellos. When she breaks into the fluid motions of her own body, the ghost rapidly takes control again and it's a battle that she is losing. Once the next relentless segment of orchestral cacophony reasserts itself, Anthony-- the ghost-- forcefully, painfully pulls her to him and resumes their frenetic dance of the monster.

They perform nearly all their lifts here, one after another after another to show the ghost taking control of his lover's body (or another interpretation-- killing her so she can join him), overwhelming her by dragging her up and around his shoulders and back, through his legs, spinning her in every direction. Between each lift, Kate tries to get away, only to be swept up by Anthony's ghost again.

It is one of the most difficult sequences Anthony and Kate have ever tried in their career-- the sheer physicality necessary for Anthony to do virtually all the lifts at the end of the program-- even with Kate helping him by keeping her muscles tight, her positions perfect, placing her holds precisely on his body-- it is still exhausting.

But it creates the effect they want and Anthony is nothing if not determined when it comes to his newly found freedom of self expression.

When they reach the end and the melody from the beginning echoes back, Kate is splayed out in Anthony's arms-- either under the ghost's complete control or dead-- and he holds an unholy look of satisfaction.

The ringing of the bells sound like a church funeral.

--

The crowd is on their feet before the music is even finished; from the screaming of everyone in the rink, there is no doubt who has won gold tonight.

Anthony hugs Kate-- or rather, wraps his arms around her, one hand to the nape of her neck, the other to the bare skin right below her ribs-- and simply doesn't let go. He breathes her in; they breathe each other in until the announcer interrupts to say their names. They give a bow to all sides of the stadium, never letting go of each other's hand.

As they leave the ice, Kate snuggles into him in an uncharacteristic show of shyness-- the kind of shyness which means Kate is truly, genuinely happy. He protects her from the cameras, shielding her with his body and distracting the audience by kissing her temple.

They finally separate when they meet Ben and Henry at the boards, ecstatic and overwhelmed with what was probably one, if not the, best competition skate. In the Kiss and Cry, Anthony cannot contain his happiness and once again does what his instinct has been trained to do since he met Kate all those years ago-- turn to sweep her into his arms, their faces incandescent with real joy.

In what is arguably one of the most important moment of their careers-- the medal ceremony which is supposed to encapsulate though a national anthem and two bouquets of flowers, the culmination of everything they've given and sacrificed for the sport-- Anthony and Kate only have eyes for each other.

Ben stands on the sideline thinking don't do it, don't do it, don't do it because he can see that Anthony really wants to just kiss Kate in front of everyone. Thankfully, Anthony's media lessons have been hammered in firmly enough that he doesn't do anything rash.

Yet.

Henry stands next to Ben, mouthing along the words of the national anthem and whispers in his ear, if they want to, let them. They've earned it, love.

And, well, Ben can't disagree with that.

--

The morning after their gold medal, Ben and Henry fetch them to walk about the Olympic village in big puffy jackets and sunglasses, drinking as much hot chocolate as they want (quite a lot). Henry is fascinated by curling, recently having read up on the sport, so they go to watch the women's finals. Kate and Anthony pepper him with questions in an otherwise silent stadium-- some people give them dirty looks for speaking in the hallowed battlegrounds.

Anthony really does not care. He's officially a three time gold medalist, two time silver medalist; he's married to Kate; he's never had so much rich, dark, thick hot chocolate in his life. Kate warns him not to drink so much at once or he'll get a stomach ache. Anthony completely disregards her and, of course, ends up with intense stomach pains that evening for his troubles.

He regrets nothing.

The next day-- right before they're due to run through their program for the gala skate taking place in the evening-- they're summoned to the inevitable press event about their "phenomenal gold medal-winning skate." Anthony and Kate are required to wear the gold medals to the studio; they're mic'ed-up and made-up and briefed on the questions that will be asked.

It's mostly the usual things-- fielding all sorts of comments on "how unique your program is, where did you get the inspiration for the concept, it's not what you usually see in ice dancing," the obvious "what do you plan on doing now that you're officially retiring-- for a second time" they joke, "did you have anything to say reflecting on your long journey together, now over two decades" (just shy of three decades, in fact).

Could they leave with any remarks about their legacy, and what they would tell aspiring young skaters today?

Regarding their legacy, Kate makes some vague noises about being so honored to skate for our country, hope we've made a meaningful contribution to the sport, could not imagine taking such a journey without Anthony, would not have made it this far without the support of our fans, friends, and family.

Anthony just smiles, takes Kate's hand, and says, the only thing Kate and I want to say to everyone out there is to do what you like, and like what you do.

(Ben, standing behind the camera in the studio, stifles a cough which would have been a laugh. Henry looks at him all too knowingly.)

And of course, at the end of the program-- because no one could ever resist asking-- the interviewer jokingly asks so, what's next for the two of you after this? Maybe marriage?

Anthony furrows his brow, puzzled. We're already married.

(Once again, behind the scenes, Henry laughs silently, putting a comforting hand on Ben who helplessly grins whilst also shaking his head, already anticipating the deluge of interview requests he'll be fielding for the next several months.)

The interviewer is shocked speechless. They recover quickly enough, asking did they get married recently?

It was a good thing this was the last press event Anthony and Kate would ever do.

Three years? Anthony looks at Kate.

She nods. Three years.

Also a good thing they had to leave immediately, if they wanted enough time to warm up for the gala skate.

The interviewer is forced to bring things to a close due to those time constraints, thanking them for coming on the show, wishing them the best of luck for their future, waving to the (nonexistent) audience as the camera zooms out and overhead while dramatic news music plays in the background.

Kate and Anthony stand and pull their microphones off immediately; Ben and Henry are already fending off requests for follow up interviews while Olympic officials escort Anthony and Kate to the vans to take them to the ice rink.

The news hasn't spread-- yet. It will be everywhere the next morning.

A good thing, then, that Kate and Anthony are leaving that night as soon as the gala ends.

It will be the last time they ever perform on ice.

(In public, anyway. In private, they were raised in skates. The ice rink will be part of them for the rest of their lives.)

The interview will be their last public appearance for two years.

Anthony and Kate hold each other's hand, feeling like a profound weight has finally, finally been lifted.

They are finally moving on.

--

Kissing You by Des'Ree, Romeo + Juliet

--

For the Olympic Gala Exhibition, Kate wears the delicate, layered pink and tulle costume favored by any female skater who has ever done a Romeo and Juliet routine-- which is to say, all of them.

Anthony simply wears all black, long sleeved and fitted precisely.

There's screaming and applause when they're announced and skate out into the rink. Anthony and Kate take their positions, the arena dark, spotlight illuminating them.

They stand, back to back.

The music begins

they skate away, turn, and circle around each other.

First pause in music

they skate towards each other until their foreheads nearly touch.

Second pause

Kate startles back and Anthony follows quickly, reaching for her, chasing after her.

He touches her shoulder-- she stops, turns and they stare, frozen. Then he

Intro repeats

closes the distance, hand outstretched, palm facing her.

Singer begins humming

Kate carefully touches her palm to his. They repeat the gesture and he

slips his fingers through hers to

Hey, hey, hey

skate backwards, Kate in arabesque. Anthony, hands on her waist picks her up

Pride can stand

as she looks down, suspended in time. He sets her down, Kate's arms raised

A thousand trials

landing in a backbend while he guides their path on ice into

The strong will never fall

a lift, ending with their faces so close, more intimate than a kiss

But watching stars without you

they move in sync, crossovers, gaining speed; suddenly Kate breaks away

My soul cried

Anthony catches her; she breaks away; he catches her; puts her in closed hold; she breaks away

Heaving heart

almost, but he pulls her into a death spiral

Is full of pain

when she stands upright, they go into a tango piernazo and from that point on, Kate never breaks away again

Oh

They transition to a sequence of smooth, flowing lines where Anthony is always

Oh

touching Kate, or Kate is always touching him

The aching

holding hands, bend of elbow, nape of neck, shoulder, wrapped around ribs, waist, hips, or gently through hair

Cause I'm kissing you

They dance something they've never experienced but approximated too well at every competition, for all the judges and technicians, their competitors, their fans, the audiences who saw something beautiful in their last Olympic performance.

I'm kissing you, love

They dance with what they have, because it is all they know, and this is the last time they will ever have to perform. After this, they can do whatever they want. They'll go home with two gold medals and the bone deep satisfaction that for once, just this once, it was something they proved to themselves.

Touch me deep

Kate jumps, thighs on Anthony's shoulders, his exhale a familiar caress on her entrance, her hands in his hair, her body easily trusting as he brings her down, spinning as his

Pure and true

arms move from her leg, waist, neck, back, before he sets down on one foot. He leads her on the ice, dancing around her and all she has to do is follow his lead

Gift to me

Their bodies are extensions of each other, the feeling him surrounding her as natural as breathing, feet floating on the ice and he stares into her eyes, caressing her face like a reflex.

Forever

They soar, almost wild and careless in that expression of love that is not love.

He has her in a closed hold

Cause I'm kissing you

when Kate closes her eyes and abruptly goes limp, head tilted back like the dead, back arched away from him, arms hanging, but Anthony skates as though he hasn't noticed.

I'm kissing you

He continues, transferring his hold from her waist to bring her to his chest. It's only when her hand drops from his that he seems to finally notice and comes to a stop, staring down at her.

The music screams Juliet!

Juliet!

He takes her limp hand in his and begins to skate backwards, slowly, gently, quickly gaining speed as his expression turns to one of panic, dancing a grotesque imitation of their earlier sequence, Anthony's expression one of total devastation.

When the violins begin quivering in the background, Kate seems to reanimate. Her eyes remain closed, her arms move as though they're weak, depleted of all life, but her back straightens and her head lifts. Anthony dances with her, holding a ghost. She raises her arms in all the right places but instead of her usual grace, the movements look like a pale imitation of that beauty.

The music swells as they near the end of the dance. Anthony picks her up bridal style, Kate's eyes still closed, head on his chest and with a sudden burst of speed, he carries her on the ice, ending with a frantic lift that spins her around and around. When Kate dismounts, she goes limp again in his arms.

He continues to skate, slowly. Anthony brings his forehead to hers, holding her face tenderly, the motion a clear goodbye. Then she moves and

Where are you, love?

Kate opens her eyes, smiling, so happy to see him, embracing him with joy

She skates backwards, pulling him with her

Where are you, love?

the steps of their dance and Anthony, shocked, follows her

He falters for a moment, moving out of synchronization, but recovers quickly to keep

Cause I'm, oh I'm kissing you

this one happiness before the inevitable end.

Anthony puts his hands on her waist and

Gunshot

throws her in the air, and catches her, spinning. They circle each other with hands palm to palm, just as they were in the beginning.

I'm kissing you, love

But Anthony descends to one knee, hand to the small of her back; Kate descends with him, her hand clasped with his, lowering them until he's supported by her upright knee. He manages to touch her face before his arm falls.

End

Kate slumps over him.

--

Thunderous applause.

[rememberthatweoncelived]

Roblox TELLS THE FUTURE...

Roblox was a big part of my life when I was younger as it probably was for a lot of people born in the early 2000s. I'm entering my 20s in December and it feels weird to look back on Roblox knowing that it has unintentionally influenced my taste in games as well as coming back to haunt me later on in life.

EXHIBIT A:

Roblox High was great back in the old days (when I was a child terrorising people by giving them detention all the time) but there was one thing I always hated. The default club music that I now regret EVER hating since the copyright issue on Roblox. I played a little game in 2019/2020, YEARS after playing Roblox High. It was called Catherine and it's one of my favourite video games to date. I have a very vivid memory of entering one of the locations and a song called "Thus Spoke Brooks/Also Sprach Brooks" started playing. I turned that shit off straight away and lost it because it was the club music that I used to hate so much.

EXHIBIT B:

I used to be a massive fan of Royale High even before it was rebranded from Enchantix High. I grew up with Winx Club so it was kind of obvious that I'd love such a game. I remember in OG Royale High days when you would rush to get ready for the ball at 8pm and this absolutely beautiful track would play (although it was a song associated with the pressure and rush of getting ready for the ball for most people). It was called Gratia Mundi/Valse Di Fantastica. I think you know where I'm going with this. Once again, YEARS later, I would get into the Final Fantasy series and play Final Fantasy XV. I heard a song called Sunset Waltz which sounded eerily familiar and later heard Valse Di Fantastica again. I wouldn't recognise where I had heard it for the first time until I went looking for nostalgia and wanted to hear the OG Royale High soundtrack and everything clicked.

EXHIBIT C:

Flicker was a more recent favourite of mine as it was released in 2017 when I was the tender age of 11/12. I was really into social deduction games back then like werewolf, mafia etc. and Flicker was no exception to this. The music used to scare me because of how eerie it was and I remember the old lobby track clearly. Well these past few weeks (and the reason for me making this post), I've been playing Silent Hill 2. It's an incredible video game and probably my favourite horror game. There's a very famous song on the soundtrack called Promise (reprise) and I had heard it before I had played the game. It didn't click that it was in Flicker until I was trying to remember why the song sounded so familiar to me again while I was playing the game. I had randomly remembered that this song was in Flicker.

Moral of the story:

ROBLOX IS GOING TO PREDICT WHAT VIDEO GAMES YOU PLAY AND END UP FALLING IN LOVE WITH IN THE FUTURE.