#it's perfect. 10/10 duel.

[cyberdragoninfinity]

that was fucking insane btw. trey's Final Prophecy gambit in his duel against yuma. that whole duel makes me bonkers but THAT ESPECIALLY. like i call it The Murder-Suicide Attempt but it's not a funny exaggeration that kid REALLY DID ATTEMPT TO KILL YUMA AND ALSO HIMSELF.

AND ALSO THE WHOLE WORLD ACTUALLY (though he seemed just as surprised as we are about that part)

AND LIKE. IM GETTING SCREENSHOTS FROM THE SUB HERE BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE. THE DUB IS JUST AS IF NOT MORE BRUTAL ABOUT THE LANGUAGE BEING USED HERE

and on top of everything else!!! Trey's just at peace with the situation!!! As long as he can make his father proud of him and be of some use to his family!! LOYAL TO THE END. LOYAL TO A FAULT. CHRIST ALIVE.

[zeb-z]

when ar’alani thinks thrawn is asking her out for drinks and he takes her to an art museum and she’s just like ok. and then she makes the mistake of asking him to infodump about his art analysis. peak literature

[bonjourxrenae]

I don’t like how déjà vu strikes me when I’m doing the most weirdly specific thing

[puppys-rhythm-heaven]

honestly my thoughts on rhythm heaven grading systems are really complicated cuz fever feels too lenient but i can't actually think of any instances where it is really, like i was writing a post like "the perfect rhythm heaven grading system would be between ds n fever's levels of strictness i think, like not so strict that you get a just ok because you missed once but not so lenient that" n then i couldn't think of any examples of fever being overly lenient. i think it's a bigger problem in megamix-

[perfectlegend-blog]

10 Fighting Game Skills & How to Train Them #fgc

10 Fighting Game Skills & How to Train Them #fgc

[pathetic-gamer]

my favorite ongoing tradition in the fire emblem subreddits is new people showing up to ask why the displayed hit rate %s never actually add up (e.g. a 90% hit rate hits more than 90% of the time while a 20% hit rate hits less than 20% of the time), because they invariably get two answers:

someone explaining mathematics behind double-RNG and how it makes for a better player experience psychologically so while the devs obviously want to provide a challenge that still has some degree of luck, they also want people to not rage-quit, and

someone saying it's bc it's funnier that way

[doyouknowthisanime]

Happy Halloween, everyone!

I've got some good news - I've finished tallying up the results of the favourite anime survey and can now, finally, reveal what Tumblr's favourite anime actually are. To start with, I'd like to thank everyone who responded - yes, all 1172 (wow!) of you - and to apologise for he delay in actually getting these results out. For anyone who needs a reminder, these results are based on how many points each anime received - a first place ranking was worth five points, a second or third place ranking was worth four, a fourth or fifth place ranking was worth three, a sixth-tenth place ranking was worth two, and a eleventh-twentieth place ranking was worth one. When multiple anime had the same number of points, the anime with the most first-place votes was placed higher. The results are below the read more right here - I hope you enjoy reading!

100. Yona of the Dawn - 82 points

99. Devilman Crybaby - 83 points

98. Monogatari Series - 83 points

97. Lucky Star - 84 points

96. Toradora - 84 points

95. Dr. Stone - 86 points

94. Princess Jellyfish - 86 points

93. ERASED - 87 points

92. Noragami - 87 points

91. Wolf's Rain - 88 points

90. Azumanga Daioh - 90 points

89. Paranoia Agent - 90 points

88. Odd Taxi - 91 points

87. Banana Fish - 93 points

86. Digimon Adventure - 95 points

85. Akira - 95 points

84. Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni - 95 points

83. Psycho-Pass - 96 points

82. Little Witch Academia - 96 points

81. Monster - 97 points

80. Mononoke - 98 points

79. Free! - 99 points

78. Kekkai Sensen - 99 points

77. Trigun Stampede - 102 points

76. Haibane Renmei - 103 points

75. Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters - 104 points

74. Gintama - 105 points

73. Violet Evergarden - 107 points

72. Dorohedoro - 113 points

71. Made in Abyss - 113 points

70. Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury - 113 points

69. Eizouken ni wa Te o Dasu na! - 115 points

68. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind - 116 points

67. SK8 the Infinity - 117 points

66. Samurai Champloo - 117 points

65. Your Name - 118 points

64. Castle in the Sky - 119 points

63. Perfect Blue - 119 points

62. Promare - 120 points

61. One Punch Man - 122 points

60. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya - 126 points

59. Kiki's Delivery Service - 129 points

58. Kaguya-sama: Love is War - 136 points

57. Inuyasha - 136 points

56. Assassination Classroom - 142 points

55. FLCL - 143 points

54. Pokémon - 144 points

53. Death Parade - 148 points

52. Dragon Ball - 150 points

51. Natsume Yuujinchou - 157 points

50. The Apothecary Diaries - 158 points

49. Revue Starlight - 159 points

48. Durarara!! - 160 points

47. Yu Yu Hakusho - 162 points

46. Naruto - 163 points

45. Black Butler - 165 points

44. Attack on Titan - 167 points

43. Houseki no Kuni - 168 points

42. Steins;Gate - 172 points

41. Cardcaptor Sakura - 186 points

40. Code Geass - 186 points.

39. Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-Kun - 187 points

38. The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. - 192 points

37. Kill la Kill - 194 points

36. Bungou Stray Dogs - 194 points

35. Baccano! - 198 points

34. Bocchi the Rock! - 201 points

33. Chainsaw Man - 208 points

32. Demon Slayer - 209 points

31. Serial Experiments Lain - 213 points

30. Jujutsu Kaisen - 227 points

29. Spy x Family - 236 points

28. Howl's Moving Castle - 238 points

27. Princess Mononoke - 240 points

26. Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann - 241 points

25. Sailor Moon - 249 points

24. Mushi-shi - 249 points

23. Princess Tutu - 254 points

22. Nichijou - 263 points

21. Trigun - 265 points

20. Spirited Away - 266 points

19. My Hero Academia - 266 points

18. Fruits Basket (2019) - 269 points

17. Soul Eater - 292 points

16. Sousou no Frieren - 300 points

15. Yuri!!! on Ice - 333 points

14. Fullmetal Alchemist - 364 points

13. Ouran High School Host Club - 374 points

12. Death Note - 437 points

11. Cowboy Bebop - 450 points

10. Haikyuu - 457 points

9. Neon Genesis Evangelion - 496 points

8. Jojo's Bizarre Adventure - 496 points

7. Hunter x Hunter (2011) - 516 points

6. Revolutionary Girl Utena - 537 points

5. One Piece - 633 points

4. Puella Magi Madoka Magica - 664 points

3. Mob Psycho 100 - 943 points

2. Dungeon Meshi - 985 points

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood - 1106 points

Congratulations to FMA Brotherhood for winning! For more detailed results, go to this spreadsheet. Once again, thank you all for participating, and waiting so patiently for the results!

[indie-ttrpg-of-the-week]

Trans made TTRPGs

Due to… recent events that I would rather not talk about, today's post is a highlight of different tabletop games made by trans peeps! These games are fantastic in their own right, of course, but you can also know that they were made by incredibly cool and attractive people

(Also, these are flyover descs of the game, they'll get more in-depth singular posts later, this is because I am lazy)

Perfect Draw is a phenomenal card game TTRPG that was funded in less than a day on backerkit, it's incredibly fun and has simple to learn hard to master rules for creating custom cards, go check it out!

Songs for the dusk is fucking good, pardon my language, but it's a damn good post apocalyptic game about building community in a post-capitalist-post-apocalypse-post-whatever world. do yourself a favor and if you only check out one game in this list, check this one out, its a beautiful game.

Flying Circus is set in a WW1 inspired fantasy setting full of witches, weird eldritch fish people (who are chill as hell), cults, dead nobility, and other such things. It's inspired by Porco Rosso primarily but it has other touchstones.

Wanderhome is a game about being cute little guys going on a silly adventure and growing as the seasons change, its GMless and very fun

https://weregazelle.itch.io/armour-astir Armour Astir has been featured in here before but its so damn good I had to post it twice. AA demonstrates a fundamental knowledge of the themes of mech shows in a way that very few other games show, its awesome

Kitchen Knightmares is… more of a LARP but its still really dang cool, its about being a knight serving people in a restaurant, its played using discord so its incredibly accessible

https://grimogre.itch.io/michtim Michtim is a game about being small critters protecting their forest from nasty people who wish to harm it, not via brutal violence (sadly) but via friendship and understanding (which is a good substitute to violence)

ok this technically doesn't count but I'm putting it here anyways cuz its like one of my favorite ttrpgs of all time TSL is a game about baring your heart and dueling away with people who you'll probably kiss 10 minutes later, its very very fanfic-ey and inspired by queer narratives. I put it here because its made by a team, and the expansion has a setting specifically meant to be a trans "allegory", so I'll say it counts, honestly just go check it out its good shit

https://willuhl.itch.io/mystic-lilies

Mystic Lillies is a game inspired by ZUN's Touhou Project about witches dueling powerful foes, each other, and themselves. Mystic Lillies features rapid character creation and a unique diceless form of rolling which instead uses a standard playing card deck.

https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/141424/nobilis-the-game-of-sovereign-powers-2002-edition I… want to do a more general overview on Jenna K as an important figure in indie RPG design, but for now just know that Nobilis is good

https://temporalhiccup.itch.io/apocalypse-keys Apocalypse Keys is a game inspired by Doom Patrol, Hellboy, X-men, and other comics about monstrousness being an allegory for disenfranchisement. Apocalypse Keys is also here because its published by Evilhat so its very cleaned up and fancy but I love how the second you check out the dev's other stuff you can tell they are a lot more experimental with their stuff, this is not a critique, it is in fact a compliment

Fellowship! I've posted about this game before, but it is again here. Fellowship has a fun concept that it uses very well mostly, its a game about defining your character's culture, and I think that's really really cool

Voidheart Symphony is a really cool game about psychic rebellion in a city that really does not like you, the more you discover for yourself the better

Panic at the Dojo is a phenomenal ttrpg based on what the Brazilian would call "Pancadaria", which basically means, fucking other's people shit up. Character Creation is incredibly open and free, meaning that many character concepts are available

Legacy 2e is a game about controlling an entire faction's choices across time, its very fun

remember to be kind to a trans person today! oh also don't even try to be transphobic in the reblogs or replies, you will be blocked so fast your head will spin

[cosmerelists]

If Stormlight Characters Read The Stormlight Archive

As requested by @imtheseventh :)

Let's say Stormlight Characters got their hands on The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson--you know, the book written about all of their lives. What would they think of Sanderson's depiction of them?

[SPOILERS FOR STORMLIGHT ARCHIVE THROUGH RHYTHM OF WAR!]

1. Navani

Navani: Say, Dalinar... Navani: Why is Evi's name replaced by Shshsh in all of your POV chapters? Dalinar: ... Dalinar: Ah, so here's the thing...

2. Adolin

Adolin: Shallan, wait! Adolin: This is feeling like a flashback chapter about your life. Adolin: Don't read it to me. It feels weird to find out this way. Adolin: I'd rather wait until you're ready to tell me. Shallan: Ah, so you want to stop listening whenever my past comes up? Shallan: That's exactly what I used to do! High five! Adolin: I don't Adolin: I don't know that this is a high-five moment.

3. Shallan

Shallan: L-Listen, Jasnah... Shallan: I SWEAR I was neither thinking about nor looking at your boobs quite as much as the book makes it sound.. Shallan: I think this Sanderson guy was just projecting! Jasnah: I believe you, Shallan. Shallan: Y-You do? Jasnah: I have to assume he wanted to establish my beauty but felt that it would be less salacious to have it filtered through another woman's perspective. Shallan: Y-Yeah, that makes sense... Jasnah: After all, if you loved my boobs that much, I don't know why you sat there and doodled Captain Kaladin instead of them... Shallan: WHELP TIME TO CHANGE THE SUBJECT

4. Syl

Syl: ... Kaladin: Hey, are you okay? You seem...down. Kaladin: And are you wearing trousers?? Syl: Was...was there something wrong in how I dressed? Kaladin: No? What do you mean? Syl: Like, was it immature? Kaladin: No? Syl: Then why does this Brandon guy call my dress "girlish" like 19 billion times?!? Hoid: Oh, don't worry about that! Writers get weirdly fixated on words! At least you weren't always doing things maladroitly, ha! Syl: ...What? Hoid: Whoops wrong series!

5. Gaz

Gaz: Look...I know I wasn't the Almighty's most perfect guy, but.. Gaz: Could he maybe have written me as slightly LESS of the embodiment of a sniveling cremling?? Gaz: Like, give a guy a break! Vathah: What, too much realism for a fantasy? Gaz: You shut up!

6. Sadeas

Sadeas: I was so upset...so flabbergasted...when Dalinar outmaneuvered me in that disadvantaged duel... Sadeas: But it was all just LUCK?! Sadeas: He didn't maneuver for SHIT! Sadeas: He just happened to have EVERY SINGLE PERSON WITH SUPERPOWERS on his side and they were ALL stupid enough to get INVOLVED Sadeas: It's so much worse now!!! Ialai: At least their dark-eyed captain ruined it at the end. Sadeas: Ugh, yeah, thank the stars for THAT.

7. Kaladin

Kaladin: I actually hate this. Lyn: Why? Kaladin: Hearing about all my friends dying...again...having my actions framed as some type of "heroism"... Kaladin: T-That guy writes me like I'm the hero! Lyn: ...I am fairly certain that you are. Kaladin: Ughhhh...

8. Lirin & Hesina

The Way of Kings sits before them Hesina: ... Lirin: ... Hesina: ... Lirin: ... Hesina: Do you want to go & cry forever over our boys? Lirin: Yes please.

9. Moash

Moash: Wow. Moash: After hearing all about King Elhokar from the perspective of the people who actually like him... Moash: I gotta say... Moash: I was totally right! Moash: That guy is SUCH an asshole!

10. Dalinar

Dalinar: ... Dalinar: ... Dalinar: ... Dalinar: I just can't believe that he STOLE Nohadon’s TITLE.

11. (!) Bonus Vin

Vin: KELSIER WHAT THE HELL

[kaibacorpintern]

in the space of three DOMA episodes Kaiba catches a locust, tells the US Navy he hates their government, calls an attack perfectly in sync with his namonaki bestie, does a sassy little hip pop mid-duel. 10/10 no notes he is perfect to me.

[roodles03]

Damn Finals...

I think we've all been in Hunter's position before. Hunter would 100% have test anxiety, so finals would be a nightmare for him. He'd probably relapse back to his Golden Guard studying habits. No rest, no breaks, no food. Just pure focus on studying. Darius and Eberwolf have to interviene and make sure he's taking care of himself and assure him he doesn't have to be perfect.

Fun Fact: I spent over half the time making this just writing out all the text. It was more effort than I expected, that's for sure.

For those wondering what everything says, here's the list.

Potions Textbook:

Laughter Serum

Laughter serum is a potion that makes anyone who drinks it incredibly delirious. It is very powerful, even in small doses. The drinker will not remember anything they did while affected once the potion wears off.

Love Potion

Love potions inflict intense feelings of love. They only work when the drinker is already in love. Asexuals are immune. This potion has been controversial since its invention. Being made illegal to sell and brew since the Deadwardian Era.

Construction Textbook;

Construction Glyphs

Power glyphs can be used for all types of magic. In Construction magic, power glyphs greatly enhance the magical capabilities of the wearer. Any spell casted will be up to triple the strength then it would be without the power glyph. Construction power glyphs have been highly controversial since its invention. Wearing one during a witches duel is considered cheating, making the wearer automatically lose. Construction power glyphs are also outwardly and completely banned in ALL magic sports.

Abominations Textbook

Abomination and Tech

Within the past 150 years, magic and technology have been brought together. Abomination magic was heavily by the Blight family for generations. Notably, within the past 20 years, Alador Blight significantly advanced Abomination technology. Abomatons are the most advanced Abomination magic technology in history. In the Empire era, the Emperor's Coven funded the development of Abomatons for the Day of Unity. In the Republic Era, Abomatons have been made illegal for safety.

Hunter's Notes (Most are obscured)

Laughter serum makes you go cuckcoo. You don't remember anything once it wares off. Love potions are ille-

Power glyphs can be from every kind of magic. The most contentious being construction power glyphs

The Blight family was key to advancing tech with abomination magic for entire generations.

• Abomatons

Magic and technology are starting to go hand and hand. Alador was big for the progression of abomination magic.

Construction glyphs make you much more powerful. They are Contentious and considered illegitimate in witches duels and all magic sports

Background:

Bonus:

Notes:

Does gym have a final? I feel like gym would have a final...

Why the HECK is the school system designed like this? A test at the VERY end of all you learned for up to 11 classes? WHY.

I HATE THIS STUPID FUCKING CLASS

I'm so screwed for potions just end me now

DO NOT FAIL the abomination final. What would Darius say?

Don't even bother studying for wild magic you tryhard. You know everything about that! Studying for everything for 10 other classes is ENOUGH.

YOU CANNOT FAIL.

I feel like I'm studying like I did back as the Golden Guard

TITAN. THIS. SUCKS.

HELP.

[fortunate-cookie]

Inspired by "The Price of Peace"

Prince Timothy Drake-Wayne of Gotham hears a prophecy that he's destined to marry the king of the Infinite Realms, a neighboring country that's been at war with the League of Nations for decades now. Tim dreads that it'll be an arranged marriage to the awful tyrant Pariah Dark until, out of nowhere, that guy is killed in a duel for the throne.

The new king reveals his face, and it's Danny Fenton, old friend of Tim who's been missing for 10 years. Danny, who used to be the sweetest kid, borderline pacifist, now stares coldly up at the members of his own court as several of them are escorted out of the room on charges of treason.

All Tim can think as he looks at this older Danny (who now goes by Phantom) with his glowing white hair and unfamiliar green eyes, is what the fuck has happened to him in the last ten years?

Danny Fenton -- King Phantom Dark -- turns to the assembled members of the League who had witnessed his duel. He issued it during a political meeting between the League and the Realms, making sure that everyone was witness to the succession of rights.

With blood still on his blade, he says, "I want peace between our countries, and I need your help to suppress a civil war in the Realms. Lend me one of your politicians to help me solidify my position and rebuild my land, and I promise that you will find no greater ally than the Realms for as long as I live."

It's a chance for peace, and barring that, a chance to spy on and influence a dangerous enemy. Tim, who once held a special place in Danny's life, finds himself in the perfect position to volunteer.

(It's essentially the set-up for The Price of Peace by JoyLess_NightSky except some timeline changes, a long-lost childhood friend trope, and less misunderstandings. Anyway, if you're looking for an AWESOME royalty dpxdc au with an arranged marriage trope, definitely check out The Price of Peace, I've been rotating it in my head for a few weeks now)

[apollosgiftofprophecy]

Why Jason Grace is The Most Tragic Character in the Riordanverse

*in no way is this trying to dial down Nico's own suffering, I'm just stating my case for Jason because godsdamn SOMEBODY needs to say it!*

@most-tragic-character-tournament here's propoganda i came out guns ablazing

List of why fans are saying Nico:

Lost his mother

lost years of his life

found out he was a demigod at age 10

lost sister at 10

rough relationship with his dad

closeted gay

crush is madly in love with somebody else

forced to come out

List of why Jason is more tragic:

Lost his mom to alcoholism/mental decline

Lost his ENTIRE FUCKING CHILDHOOD because Said Mom gave him up to Juno to be raised by a PACK OF WOLVES who would've EATEN HIM if he was WEAK FOR EVEN A SECOND - AS A FUCKING TWO YEAR OLD

Was a trained demigod FROM THE GET-GO (again, TWO YEARS OLD)

Because of previously stated separation, was TAKEN FROM HIS SISTER WHO LOVED HIM SO MUCH SHE RAN AWAY BECAUSE SHE COULDN'T TAKE THE GUILT AND FEAR AND RAGE THAT FILLED HER AT HIS ABSENCE

Was set up into a "perfect" relationship by Juno/Hera WHILE HAVING HIS MEMORIES TAKEN

Jason may not have had the awful forced outting Nico had to go through, but...that's not really his fault? Nobody has any control over their sexual identity, and Jason? Well. He never really got to explore it. Because that was taken from him too.

Thinks he LOST LEO VALDEZ, ONE OF HIS ACTUAL FIRST FRIENDS, WHO LIKED HIM FOR HIM AND NOT BECAUSE OF HIS STATUS

FORCED TO COMPLY TO A DEMANDING SOCIETY THAT EXALTED HIM FROM DAY 1 BECAUSE HIS DAD IS THE OH-SO-IMPORTANT JUPITER (*cough victim of nepotism cough*)

AND WHEN HE TRIES TO COMBAT THAT NEPOTISM HE KEEPS GETTING PUSHBACK UNTIL HE FALTERS

then. then his girlfriend breaks up with him - not because of any drama, or even a disagreement, but over a very valid point

their relationship didn't exactly start out very...honestly. Jason had been mind-wiped of all memories and Piper had fake ones implanted into her to make her think she liked Jason as more than a friend. sure. they had a pretty nice relationship, but when everything slowed down and they took a look at their lives?

Piper's the one who sees it first, and makes the decision. Jason is heartbroken, but understands - he even, dare I say, agrees that they should end the relationship. it was built on fake memories - you could say it was built on lies.

and now Jason has this opportunity to step back and analyze who he is and what he wants.

what he finds is depressing. everything he's had, everything's he's been up till now...

it's not him.

he never wanted to be raised by Lupa and her wolves.

he never wanted to be Jupiter's son

he never wanted to be the exalted leader Camp Jupiter praised him for

From day 1 his life was somebody else's. his first steps were under the tutelage of a wolf, not of the loving eyes of his sister

Camp Jupiter only ever saw him as the demigod to be praised and turn to above all others, even before he became praetor.

Jason's life...was never his own.

and now that he's away from all that pressure and expectation...he doesn't know who he is.

Son of Jupiter?

Champion of Juno?

Praetor of the Twelfth Legion?

Member of the Prophesized Seven?

Hero of Olympus?

no. he was never himself under these names.

he was never...Jason.

but maybe now he could start navigating his own life. without some god intervening for once. this would be good for him, and for Piper, to find their own way.

but then. then they talk to Herophile...and find out one of them will die. And Jason? Well, he's not going to let Piper be taken from the life she deserves. he may not be her boyfriend, her knight in shining armor, but he sure as HELL loves her - especially as a friend. And if there's one thing you should know about Jason? It's that he loves his friends.

so what does he do? He sacrifices himself. He duels Caligula himself, and urges Piper, Meg, and Apollo to Go, save yourselves! and -

he's stabbed. through the chest. the only thing he can do? Look to Apollo, to the blue gaze so much like his own drenched in horror, and ask; Remember. because he didn't get to live the life he wished, but maybe Apollo could - no, Apollo can, he can make the difference Jason wanted. Because he trusts Apollo.

Jason doesn't regret his sacrifice. he saved Piper from the prophecy, after all. He saved Apollo & Meg's lives too.

in fact, Jason didn't really mind dying. Because he didn't have much of a life either. And a life like that? shrug It's worth sacrificing for those who deserve theirs.

and as icing on the cake, remember who Jason's father is? The almighty, all-powerful Jupiter himself, King of the Gods?

he doesn't do a damn thing to help Jason. Not a single. Thing.

because Jupiter/Zeus doesn't care about his children. Especially his sons.

Zeus saved Thalia. But he didn't even try to save Jason.

Trying would have at least lessened the pain...

People like to claim Jason is a bland, boring character who's never suffered a minute in his life. That he's a golden retriever with no flaws.

Well.

Take a look up there and ask yourself - it that the life of a boy who knows no suffering?

Because it sure as hell don't look that way to me.

To me, it looks like Jason was a used, depressed young man who never got to choose his own path. Who's father abandoned him first to his wife's mercy, then to a cruel emperor's.

Jason Grace suffered.

and he never got to live that happy life he saw within the Fates.

Never got to get that family, those grandchildren he saw himself telling the story of the Argo II to.

Because The Fall of Jason Grace is a true, utter tragedy.

[a-french-coconut]

Drew Tanaka

I think we can all agree that Drew Tanaka only purpose was to highlight Piper and making her look the good guy (well, girl).

She's mean, bullies her siblings and other campers and yet we don't have a single explanation about her actions. This my explanation for her behaviour that slowly turned into a headcanon

From the books she understand that she is still hurt and bitter by Silena's betrayal and hey way to cope is to be mean with everyone. Since she's mean nobody likes her and everyone at camp treats Silena as a hero, leaving Drew alone in her grief. She has every right to despise Silena for what she did, her sister turned her back to camp and her, helped the Titan Army by sabotaging the quests : Percy and Beckendorf but also the hunters' quest (the skeletons soldiers were only able to track the questers because they something belonging to Zoe and it was probably thanks to Silena). So yeah, in the Lost Hero, a year after the battle, Drew is still mad and since nobody will accept her point of view, it only worsens.

As of why she's mean to her siblings, I figured it was some kind of defence mechanism : if they don't get close to her as Silena did, they can't hurt her. It's definitely not healthy but she's a fifteen year old girl who fought a war and lost people : she copes as she can.

Drew dislikes Piper at first sight. Now I don't really have an explanation for that because she doesn't know that Piper is her sister but maybe she judged from her appearance that they were going to dislike each other : one with chopped brown hair, doesn't wear makeup and has ragged clothes vs long and wavy hair, perfect makeup, impeccable clothes. It's a stretch and a bad one at that but it is all I can come up with. Cabin 10 is regarded as a bunch of pretty guys and girls who don't fight. Drew must have thought that Piper fit the profile of those mocking her cabin and disliked her on the spot.

And when Piper refuses to do the Rite of Passage ? Just like Silena ? Drew can't see Piper without seeing the ghost of her deceased sister. It is infuriating because everyone is on Piper's side, just like they are on Silena's. They choose her over Drew for going on a quest when she literally arrived in the morning ?? And then Piper has the audacity of challenging her for the position of head counsellor because she went on a quest and now she thinks she can do a better job than Drew ? She begins preaching about how Silena was right when she never met the girl and doesn't know a single thing about Silena and how she was like. Piper might have gone a quest but Drew has been a demigod for years, have fought for Camp Half-Blood and Olympus twice and maybe she never went on a quest but she fought a war and survived. In her book that's all she needs to accept Piper's duel and beat her swiftly. She wins but still gives her position to Piper. Let's see how she manages running a cabin full of children. But Piper leaves again and the mantle falls on her again. But Drew is tired of pushing everyone away, she wants to gossip with Lacy and Mitchell about who they like, wants to teach to properly shoot an arrow and grab a sword. She is tired of being hated by the whole camp for not forgiving her sister. Most of all she is tired of the mix of anger and sorrow she feels every time she thinks of Silena.

When Piper comes back, Drew offers a smile with the promise of trying to open up to other people. She won't forgive Silena, not yet, but she can stop comparing her sister to a ghost from her past.

Oh wow, I'm definitely going to write something about Drew, she is an amazing canvas to explore.

[legendofzoodles]

What guns do you think the Chain would have? This has been bouncing in my head endlessly for the past day and I can't pick a solid answer for any of the chain. At most I've gotten that Wind has 10 flintlocks strapped to him at all times.

Why was I asked this? Why did I research for this? This is probably the closest I'll ever get to the other side of the Atlantic without physically going transatlantic. Anyway I've played a few horror games, lemme take a crack at this:

The Chain's choice of Firearm

Time, making sure most of the targets are taken out before any of his boys needs to pull the trigger, suites a grenade launcher.

Imagine some kind of archaic medieval fantasy assault rifle for Warriors. I was thinking maybe a simple more elegant gun but then I remembered this guy wields a broadsword not a rapier for a reason. He duels yes, but more so clears huge waves of enemies in fights. This gun has a high firing rate for just that, allowing him to lead the charge.

Twilight gets the shot gun. Simple as. It's been used by farmers anywhere and everywhere to protect their crops and animals. As a excellent marksman he has the skill to use its large spread with precision.

The simple pistol for Sky. He'd carry it on him but would only draw it as a last resort. He doesn't strike me as the type to shoot...in any context really.

Legend wouldn't have a gun. I mean, he'd have maybe a PDW for emergencies, but I see him as the ammo guy who also have all the extra parts needed for repair or customisation.

Sniper Wild gets a sniper rifle. Stays out of the way, backing up the rest up with his perfect shots, in both timing and placement. He's also able to quickly change his location when he may have been found out or when he needs a better lineup.

Four best suits the revolver. He's very good with this weapon; keeping track of how many bullets he's working with and the slow reload requires him to think ahead and not shoot blindly.

Not sure if such a thing exists but Hyrule would have a kind of gun that's able to be customised on the dime. A scavenger used to variety wouldn't have the patience for just one type of weapon.

Apparently flamethrowers are classed as a firearm? Wind gets one of these; sorry anon kid isn't getting a gun...but, hey if he's able to steal a flintlock from Legend's stash um sure.

~~~

Thanks for reading. I hope I don't get put on a watchlist...

Masterlist

[whatswrongwithblue]

The Fire in the Sin

Chapter 10 - Masquerade

Word count: 5,570. Read on AO3. Series Masterlist. <- Previous Chapter.

Summary: Takes place during the events of Episode 4 of Season 1. TW, canon typical language, recreational drug use, abusive power dynamics, mentions of past domestic abuse and rape - not involving Alastor, a tiny bit of light fluffy smut.

Series Summary:

In the 1950's, Alastor met the woman he would eventually marry but unfortunately his Radio Demon persona went for her soul rather than her hand. He has to learn what it means to love, and cherish, without possessing and he does. Their relationship is beautiful, strong, unbreakable . . . but he carries a dark secret through their marriage for decades until eventually he has to face the consequences of that secret and leave her, without warning, for seven years. He returns, finding her at the Hazbin Hotel, and has to convince her to forgive him, while being literally bound to secrecy, unable to tell her any of things he now is desperate to explain to her.

(This is a duel timeline fic, timestamps will be a the top of every chapter.)

Chapter 10 - Masquerade

Present Day

Pentagram City

Mina tossed and turned in the early hours of the morning before dawn, when the night was at its blackest. She was overheating and repeatedly kicked off all the blankets, only for her skin to crawl with the lack of anything touching it, so she would wrap the sheets around her again, arms around her torso and tail around her legs, until she would break out in another sweat and start the process over again.

When she finally sat up, fully awake, feeling the wet ache between her legs, she knew her body was coming into heat.

In the early morning darkness, she counted the past months on her fingertips and sighed. It was spring. At least this was just the first one and would likely only last a day before the one next month when it would hit her in full swing. Three cycles in the spring and one in the autumn. The worst one was always the one in the fall, but that was still months away.

And for the first time in years, she wasn’t alone.

Mina turned to Alastor’s side of the bed, which was still made up neatly and cold to the touch. He hadn’t come to bed last night but that was expected. She had never known him to be the type to sleep every night and he had slept long and soundly next to her just two nights prior.

It was still at least an hour before the other hotel guests woke up, and then they would keep his attention all morning and likely through the afternoon. Mina knew she would most likely have to wait until that evening to jump him but the dull cramping in her belly needed sating now.

She took care of herself, quickly and quietly, letting her mind wander to the wicked things she would ask him to do to her later.

Afterwards, clear headed and slightly more comfortable, she went and took a cold shower.

Things were far from perfect between them. In fact, internally, Mina was struggling more than ever to keep faith that Alastor would eventually come clean to her about why he had left for all those years. But at least they had their physical intimacy to lean on now. They were back to sharing a bedroom and making love again and in those short moments of privacy between them, it was easy to forget the pain he had caused her.

The first time had been the very same night he had found out about her getting shot.

He had come back upstairs a couple hours after leaving her to take a bath and get some rest, finding her under the covers and reading, and offered her food and an apology.

“Chicken noodle soup?” she asked with a raised brow as she set her book down on the nightstand and took the bowl he was offering.

“Charlie made it, not me,” he said, and sat on the edge of the bed next to her. “Vaggie told her you weren’t well and she insisted I bring this to you.”

It looked and smelled as bland as unseasoned potatoes and Mina set the bowl on top of her discarded book.

“I’m sure she made it with love,” she said.

“I can bring you something else,” he offered.

“I’d rather just have you,” she said, remembering how their morning had begun, tangled up in their sheets together, before he had abruptly pulled away from her.

“I’ve been a jackass all day,” he said seriously, his brows pinching in confusion at her flirtatious behavior.

She laughed a little.

“Yes, you have,” she said, sitting up and pulling her legs free from the covers. “You’re always a bit of a bastard when you’re upset.” She moved until she was straddling his lap. “And you were upset because you care.” She had her hands on his shoulders for balance but then laced her fingers around the back of his head.

His own hands moved slowly up and down her back.

“I just don’t want to lose you,” he said and burrowed his face in the crook of her neck. “Not after everything . . .”

He didn’t finish the sentence. She had to bite back her anger at that. He still wasn’t saying nearly enough, even if it seemed like he wanted to. Mina just didn’t understand. She sighed, letting it go.

He had promised her she would understand eventually, she just had to keep holding tightly to that bit of hope.

“You’re not going to lose me, I’m not going anywhere,” she said, grabbing a hold of an antler and gently pulling it until he brought his face up to look at her. “Are you?”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.”

They had made love then and it was like their first time all over again. His cock had filled her up so beautifully, his body so warm, strong, and tender above hers. When she orgasmed, it was like coming home. And the way he nearly lost control towards the end, his antlers growing and body morphing just a bit bigger than normal, told her he had missed this, too. He whispered words of love and praise into her neck after spilling his seed in her as his body relaxed, the static and emotion thick in his voice.

In the morning, she woke up to him naked and barely covered in sheets next to her, his red tail laying almost decoratively across his ass. She had been instantly hungry for him all over again and they went slower then, really taking the time to explore and reacquaint each other with their bodies.

They were so in love. It had been enough to fool Mina into thinking that their return to perfect bliss was right around the corner. When they were together like that, it felt almost silly to be angry about anything. In those moments, nothing could be clearer than the fact that they belonged together and that nothing could ever drive them apart.

Alastor was really good at that.

Any time she started to question him too much about things, showed any signs of irritation with him, he would find a way to distract her. Between helping Charlie run the hotel and keeping his wife placated, Alastor was a busy man these days. Whether or not he shared a bed with her the night before, he always made sure to have coffee and breakfast with her before getting wrapped up in the days events and if at any point they had an argument, he would make himself scarce for a few hours, just to return as sweet and apologetic as ever.

And despite the fact that he had hardly given her more than a hug and a kiss in the first two weeks of his return, they were suddenly making love a lot. In their bed, in the shower, in his radio tower. He even gave her an intense quicky in the small library that Sir Pentious had once tried to hide a camera in . . . in the middle of the day. Anyone could have walked in, and it was a risk her usually put together husband wouldn’t normally take. It almost made her wonder if he wasn’t in some kind of out of season rut but then he had gone back to acting completely normal afterwards.

Mina reflected on all of this as she cooled her overheated hormonal body down under the shower’s water and started to become confused and upset.

Was he gaslighting her?

Was he using the fact that she was touch starved and relieved that he was alive and well – all of which was his fucking fault – against her?

She had really thought that if she started doing as he asked, playing along with whatever his game with the hotel was; that if she allowed herself to just be happy that he was back and with her, that Alastor would eventually start telling her more about this huge secret he was keeping from her.

But it had been weeks – months ­­­– now since he came back and although she was upholding her part; playing the supportive, happy wife, he hadn’t given her anything besides sex in return for it.

Mina had even lost her job over it all. She had nothing now. Nothing except him, and this stupid fucking hotel, with its stupid pointless mission of redemption, and he wouldn’t even tell her why they were here. The people here, people who thought they were her friends, didn’t even really know her, did they? Not like her friends from The Pit or Cannibal Town. They didn’t know what she had been through, would judge her if they really knew what she was capable of, wouldn’t be able to deal with her through the worst of her moods. She couldn’t even tell Charlie what she did for a living when she first came to the hotel because if she were occasionally murdering souls, then it would go against Charlie’s mission to save those poor, wretched things.

Mina angrily slammed the knob of the water off and marched out of the shower.

She felt isolated, angry, hurt, and frustratingly still horny.

Forget whatever was in the cards for the day.

She needed to find Alastor, get him to fuck her hard for a couple hours, and then scream at him until he finally gave her some God damned answers.

Once she got dressed and had searched every possible room in the hotel for him though, it became apparent there was one small hole in her plan for the day.

Alastor was nowhere to be found.

____

Charlie assured Mina that she had sent him off on an errand first thing that morning but that he would be back momentarily.

Mina felt ready to rip her own hair out.

She knew she was being pissy but was far beyond the ability to care. Charlie had to send him away on this morning of all mornings?! Her only real outlet for her pent-up energy when she was in heat was either sex or violence, and if she wasn’t going to get either of those for the next few hours, she needed drugs.

Before Niffty could rope her into helping cook breakfast, Mina disappeared back upstairs and banged on Angel’s door.

He opened it, rubbing his eyes, clearly having slept in.

“I need downers,” Mina said, rudely pushing herself under his two left arms and into his room.

“G’morning to you, kittens. How may I be of service?” he said sarcastically.

“Aren’t you listening? I need drugs.”

“Whoa, honey. What’s got your panties all in a twist?” he said, and placed one of his hands to his chest while dramatically lifting his chin. “I am a clean, pure, innocent soul. I would never desecrate my body, my temple, these holiest of holes with something as disgraceful as-“

“What is this?” Mina said, interrupted his monologue, and holding up a packet of white powder that she quickly found in the first drawer she opened.

“Crack,” he answered, deflating. “Look, pussy cat, downers ain’t really my thing.”

“Not even weed?” she asked, feeling like she might cry. Why the fuck hadn’t she prepared better for this?

“Oh baby, yeah, how do you think I sleep at night?” he said, reaching into another drawer and handing her a joint. “I just figured you were looking for something stronger. Might I suggest Xanax, Heroin, Fentanyl, Numbutal-“

“I’m more of a liquor and opium kind of girl when I need something that strong. No, this will do nicely, thank you Angel, you’re a lifesaver.”

She held the joint between her lips and held up her thumb to the end, waiting for the flame to appear.

Nothing.

What the hell?

She shook her thumb and tried again.

Nothing.

That bloody bastard.

Abadon had taken her fire away. Completely. They had probably done it when they healed her shoulder and left her just enough power to portal away so she wouldn’t be suspicious.

 “OH FUCKIN’ HELL!” she half screamed, half growled, and started to cry.

“Whoa! Whoa!” Angel held all four of his hands up, completely caught off guard by the tantrum she was throwing in his room and not understanding at all what was causing it. “Hey, I ain’t cut out for this womanly shit, could ya please calm the fuck down?”

“That’s what I’m tryin’ to do here, ya daft spider!” she cried, pressing her palms to her eyes to try and force the tears to stop, the unlit joint hanging sadly from between her fingers. “Please?” she asked, in a frustrated whimper, “do you have a light, too?”

“Yeah, toots, whatever you need,” he said, cautiously handing her a lighter. “Jeeze, don’t you have a man for these kinds of things?”

“I don’t know where he is!” she bit back; teeth clamped tightly over the joint as she lit it. She took a long, deep drag in, holding it in for several seconds, before she tilted her head back and exhaled.

“I’m sorry,” she said, trying to calm herself down as she waited for the effects of the marijuana to hit her system. She wiped away the tears that had fallen in her outburst, blushing with embarrassment. “I woke up in heat this morning and he’s just fucking left off to somewhere. And I’m . . . well, I’m not the most mentally stable person on a good day, so I can be quite difficult when I’m like this. Especially if I don’t . . .”

“Get a good dick or some hard drugs inside you?” Angel teased.

“Or get to kill something,” she said, taking another hit.

She ended up smoking the entire joint herself and when she was still visibly tense, Angel shared a second one with her.

They went downstairs, earning themselves a glare from Vaggie when she caught a whiff of them, but Mina locked eyes with her and the shorter woman backed down before she started in with a lecture.

They still weren’t exactly friends yet, but they had a mutual respect for one another that was building towards that, and Vaggie had already got a glimpse of the kind of frantic mood Mina was in that morning, so she let the drug use slide without ratting them out to Charlie.

Mina wasn’t even visibly high. She was just far less jittery and slightly more pleasant to be around. Now she was sulking, because not only was she feeling neglected by her husband, but her oldest friend had betrayed her, and she had missed out on breakfast.

The morning only got worse when she was subjected to Charlie’s new idea for a bonding activity – show and tell.

She made the smart choice of sitting at the bar with Husk so that her view of the television set was limited during Angel’s turn. The sound effects were disturbing enough.

For a short moment, she actually found herself enjoying the activity when Husker started going off about everyone’s insecurities, until he called her out as well.

“Mina lashes out at everyone she cares about, so she can hurt them before they hurt her,” he said, before turning to Niffty. “And Niffty, you don’t even wanna know what her deal is.”

“And you like to blame everyone else for all your problems, rather than accept the consequences of your own actions,” she bit back, earning a pissed off glare from Husk.

Angel started laughing.

“Wow, the kittens have claws out this morning!” he said, and pulled Husker in as if to kiss him. “Meeeoooow.”

She snorted a laugh, knowing that kind of attention would only bother Husk more and watched as he reacted as she predicted.

The two were putting on quite a show for everyone that morning with their back-and-forth insults until Angel’s phone went off and he attempted to nonchalantly leave for work.

Mina reluctantly stood up from her place at the bar and went over with Vaggie to talk Charlie down as she lamented over the halt in the day’s activities.

“Maybe you could command a little more authority?” Vaggie offered.

“That is terrible advice,” Mina said.

Vaggie glared at her before turning back to Charlie.

“And so meeaaaaan,” the princess whined.

“It’s not mean, exactly. It’s aggressive kindness.”

“Um, no-“ Mina tried but Charlie was already jumping up from the ground.

“Okay! I could be so ‘aggressively kind’ to Angel’s boss that I convince him to let Angel spend more time at the hotel!”

“No! No, you will not, that will not work. At all,” Mina said walking over and grabbing Charlie by the shoulders, trying to talk sense into her.

“Oh, sure it will. Like I said, she’s the Princess of Hell. And I believe in her,” Vaggie said.

“You don’t know Valentino,” Mina snapped at her and then looked imploringly at Charlie, speaking softer. “There’s a difference between believing in someone and setting them up for failure. Do. Not. Go. There.” she said, emphasizing each word with a shake of Charlie’s shoulders. “Please, Charlie. Trust me on this, I know these Overlords, you won’t talk sense into them.”

“Maybe it’s never worked because no one has ever asked him nicely before!” Charlie said and Mina groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose between her fingers. She was going to need another hit of something to get her through this.

“Fine, I give up. Go ‘command’, or whatever you think you’re going to do, Princess,” she sighed and walked away. “But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

___

Mina had really tried to be a better person that day.

She took as many drugs as she had to, to get her body to behave, so she could be polite to the other residents, and they still insisted on fighting with each other.

She had tried to stop Charlie from going to Valentino’s, offered her sound advice, and had been ignored.

She had tried waiting patiently for Alastor to come back from his ‘quick errand’ and hours later, he was still nowhere to be seen. Why he refused to carry a cell phone was beyond her. She had one, and she was an older soul than he was, even if by only a few years. Even Abaddon and Lucifer had phones for crying out loud.

She had been doing what he asked, and letting him know where she was going and with whom anytime she left the hotel, and he – the one who had gone missing without a trace for several fucking years – didn’t think he should have to return the favor?

Fuck him.

Fuck everyone here.

Fuck this whole hotel.

She sat at Husker’s bar, nursing a whiskey, and smoking a cigarette.

Angel wasn’t back yet either, which was probably Charlie’s fault for making things worse, so his bedroom door was locked and all her other options for downers were locked away as well.

At least the liquor kept her from ripping everyone’s heads off and the nicotine kept her hands from shaking too badly.

“Mina?” Charlie’s voice asked shyly from behind her, “maybe you could find somewhere else to smoke that?”

“Why?” she responded coldly, “not like anyone here can die from lung cancer.”

“Well, still,” Charlie said, and Mina turned around and looked at the solemn Princess. She had her arms around herself, looking more down and insecure than ever. Valentino must have really put her in her place. Whatever, Mina thought, she deserves it. “It can’t be good for you,” Charlie finished.

Mina laughed, a dry, humorless laugh. “And you would know what unhealthy lungs feel like, right love? You know what it feels like to cough up a mouthful of blood and still not be able to take in enough air?”

“Leave her alone,” Husk said. “The kid’s just trying to be nice.”

“No, she’s right, Husk,” Charlie said, “I-I’m sorry. You’re an adult. And this . . . this is a bar, after all. It’s what it’s here for.”

Mina nodded and took another drag of her cigarette.

“Don’t mind her being a bitch,” Husker said, looking at Charlie. “She’s just in a bad mood because Alastor’s not back yet. She wants to make her failed marriage everyone else’s problem.”

Mina threw her glass at Husker’s head, watching it shatter with satisfaction.

“HEY WHAT THE FUCK!” he said, blood dripping down the side of his face but the cut she had made was already closing. Too bad, he still retained some of his powers from being an Overlord and could heal quicker than most.

“Shut up and poor me another,” she huffed.

Charlie sat there, mortified and wide eyed, as Husker did exactly as he was told.

“Maybe one of you should go cool off somewhere,” she tried to offer.

“Not a chance. I need this” she said, lifting up her new glass of whiskey, lightly shaking it in front of Charlie’s face, “and he needs to remember his place. Do his job and not insult the wife of his boss, ‘failed marriage’ or not.”

Husker stayed silent as he swept up the shattered remains of the glass off the floor.

“Mina, your marriage isn’t a failure,” Charlie said softly. “Alastor will be back any minute. And you two still love each other. Whatever is going on, you’ll get through this. You’ve seemed so happy lately.”

“Glad everyone else can see how happy I’ve been besides myself,” Mina sniped and downed her glass.

She was behaving abhorrently. She knew it enough to feel guilty but then the guilt just made her angrier. It was a vicious cycle of emotions that she couldn’t even fully blame on being in heat; being mean made her feel good. It was probably the core reason why she ended up in Hell.

Vaggie came over and Mina rolled her eyes, knowing things were just about to get worse.

“Look, I get being worried,” she said, making it obvious she had been eavesdropping. “You two are . . . ah . . . different, okay? Your guys’ relationship is your own business. But, I know what it’s like to stress about someone you care about,” Vaggie put a hand on Charlie’s shoulder and gave her a sickly sweet lovestruck look, “But Alastor can take care of himself. I’m sure he’s just been busy today and will come back any minute now, safe and sound.”

“You think I’m worried about him?” Mina asked. “Oh, no, I’m fucking furious with the man.”

“Look, I’m the one that asked him to leave this morning,” Charlie started in. “If you want to blame anyone, you can blame me.”

“What an amazing martyr you would make,” Mina said, “but tell me, did you ask him to go on a short errand when he was gone for seven years?”

“No, but-“

“Then stay out of it,” Mina snapped.

“He’s probably just doing something to help the hotel-“

Mina held up her hand and Charlie stopped talking.

“Look at you two,” she said, gesturing with her cigarette between Charlie and Vaggie. “Young love. And it’s the real thing. What you have, it’ll last. It’s pure and strong, the kind of love anyone can see when they look at you. And neither of you can even imagine hurting the other one, yeah? If you yell at her, it’s like fire in your throat. The thought of her being hurt, it’s like a knife stuck in your ribs. The fear and pain of just the thought of her leaving you; you can’t breathe or think. You would never ever do anything to betray her, right? And you’re so confident that she feels the same about you. The very idea of an affair is laughable and what’s a worse betrayal than that? But just give it time. One of you will do something the other one couldn’t even fathom. Not another woman, not abuse, but something that will tear you to shreds, nonetheless. And on that day, come talk to me. Until then?” Mina took a final drag of her cigarette and then stamped it out on the naked wood of the bar. “Learn to mind your own fucking business.”

She got up and left, leaving a stunned Charlie, Vaggie, and even Husk silent in her wake.

___

Alastor was having a fantastic day.

Actually . . . it was pretty awful.

Everything was taking much longer than expected. It was tedious, and he would have to carefully explain away his absence for the entire day . . . or not. Charlie had so much planned for the day he doubted anyone really noticed he was gone. Still, the day had been frustrating, and he felt that now familiar feeling of invisible strings yanking him around a stage, making him do things he didn’t care to do, and keeping him from where he wanted to be.

What was fantastic about it was the brevity of it all.

It was over in just a few hours and rather than remaining alone, forced to be separated from his home and his heart, he got to return to the hotel and his wife.

Things had been just lovely between them lately. It was better than Heaven. Mina had been soft and sweet with him these last several weeks. Although it was clear she was still terribly curious about where he had been, she seemed to be slowly letting it go and just enjoying the fact that they were together again. It made him giddy as a teenage boy to have her back, to regain some control over his life again, and he clung tightly to that shred of happiness they had rekindled in each other.

He almost stopped and got her a bottle of wine and flowers, just to smooth over any transgressions she might feel over him being gone all day, but then decided it would just delay his return more. Better to just get back as soon as possible. And if he really needed to, he would summon whatever items he needed to later.

Alastor walked confidently through the doors of the hotel, whistling a happy tune.

He stopped short when he noticed a rather pathetic version of Vaggie sitting alone in the lobby, shuffling through television stations.

“And where is everyone on this fine evening?” he asked, striding over to her.

“Angel took off, Husk is out looking for him, Charlie is upstairs trying to work out a way to do damage control for tomorrow, I honestly don’t know where Pentious and Niffty are, and your wife-“ she took her eyes off the T.V. screen and gave him a pitying look “-is upstairs plotting your murder.”

“Ah, she has not taken my absence well today, has she?” he asked, glancing up at the staircase.

“Yeah,” she said with a laugh, “you could say that again. Where have you been, exactly?"

“Oh, I’ve been a busy little bee,” Alastor said, tapping her on the head with his microphone, before walking towards the stairs. “I’m sure you’ll all see the fruits of my labor, soon enough.”

He melted into shadow and drifted along the walls and out of sight.

“So fucking creepy,” Vaggie muttered to herself.

___

Mina was just throwing on her leather jacket when she felt rather than saw Alastor appear behind her.

He had his arms around her, and his mouth to her neck, before she could spin around.

“My, my, don’t you look delectable,” he said, taking a loud breath in and biting her softly right beneath her jawline as he exhaled.

She hesitated, for just a second, her body craving his touch too much for her not to. But she was so blindly angry that even the throbbing between her legs couldn’t win over her fury.

“Don’t touch me,” she said and stepped away from him.

“Mina, please allow me to explain,” he said, assuming she was just upset that he had been gone all day without explanation, unaware of the depth of her hormonal fury at him.

“You know what? I don’t even care right now,” she said, turning to face him once she had put some distance between them. “And I wouldn’t believe a damn word that came out of your mouth, anyway, so don’t bother.”

“And where are you going?” he asked, with a politeness that was hardly believable.

“Out. I called some old friends and we’re going out,” she said, holding up her cellphone as if he had never seen one before. “Some people have these, you know.” She pocketed the device in the back of her jeans. “I need to kill something after the day I’ve had, no thanks to you.”

“My darling, I really don’t care for the idea of you going out and looking for trouble. Not after what happened last time.”

“Well, if I get in trouble, I’ll call someone. Let them know where I am. Don’t worry love, I’ll be back before seven years comes and goes.”

“Ah, so that’s what this is all about.”

“It’s what everything is about! You left me. Spin it however you want, Al. You left me. And you’re a bloody damn fool if you think being sweet and throwing a few fucks my way is going to make me just forget that if you won’t even try to tell me why.”

“I am trying,” he said darkly.

The lights flickered in the room for a moment, but Mina just scoffed and turned around.

“You’re the worst husband I’ve ever had.”

He moved right behind her as she put her hand on the doorknob of their room, grabbing her and spinning her to face him.

“I’m the worst?” he said, his eyes black with fury and hurt. “What I’ve done is the equivalent to beating and raping you?”

“No,” Mina said sadly, watching the shadows crawl up the walls of their room, beginning to darken everything around them. “No, what you did was worse. Because I didn’t love him. He could only hurt my body. But you, you broke my heart, so you’re far worse.”

His grip on her shoulders lessened but the room only grew darker.

“Don’t say that to me,” he said, his voice quiet but far less human than normal.

She shoved him off, and he stepped away from her and into the room, but his shadow came off the wall to her side and pulled her deeper into the room as well.

Alastor was keeping his distance but also keeping her from the door.

“Take it back,” he said.

“Tell me why you left me,” she countered. “Then maybe I will.”

“I’ve already told you a thousand times, I can’t.”

“Oh for fuck’s sake, you can’t? You really expect me to believe that, love? You? You always do exactly what you want to do, so if you wanted to tell me, you would. It’s not like you made a fucking deal over it.”

As soon as she said the words, she knew it.

The look on his face gave him away more than anything he could ever admit out loud.

“No,” she whispered, watching the shadows retreat from the walls. She shook her head, “No.”

“Mina, please-“

“Tell me you didn’t,” she said.

A heartbeat went by.

“I can’t.”

And a heartbeat later, hers shattered.

“You sold your soul?” Her voice was so small, her throat so tight she could barely speak. This was the worst thing she could imagine. She hadn’t even been able to imagine it, it had just been a throwaway insult. Alastor, her Alastor, would never do that.

He didn’t answer.

“Alastor,” she said, and went to him then, putting gentle hands on either side of his face. “Please. Just tell me yes or no.”

He closed his eyes and rested his forehead against hers.

“I can’t.”

She stepped away from him like he’d slapped her.

“When?”

Silence was his only response.

“How could you?” she hissed. “We’re married. That’s supposed to mean something, even to you.”

“It does,” he said, reaching for her. “It means everything.”

She took another step away.

“It means nothing now! We’re supposed to belong to each other! Husband and wife, that was our deal, you’re supposed to me mine as much as I am yours.”

“I am,” he said desperately. “Please, Mina. I am still yours.”

She was crying now, she felt the hot tears going down her cheeks, but they were silent. She was too stunned to sob yet.

Alastor stepped towards her again and this time she didn’t move away. She closed her eyes as his fingers, sharply clawed and capable of such violence, gently stroked her cheeks and brushed away her tears. He kissed her forehead, between her eyes, and then her lips.

“I am all yours,” he said.

“How can you be?” she said back, looking into his red eyes, seeing the devastated look on his own face, and felt her world fall away. “How can you be mine if you gave yourself to another?”

She stepped slowly away from him, further into the room. The door was behind him, but it wasn’t her only exit and she no longer cared if he knew.

“I hope it was worth it,” she said, and stepped backwards into the fiery portal she had opened.

She watched it close shut in front of her before he even got halfway to her.

Next Chapter ->

@saccharine-nectarine, @inuhalfdemon