#its a looks a little more reddish is the picture

[sili-a]

I dyed my bangs magenta yesterday and immediately thought, "Omg Poppy!"

[lullxby]

:･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ RAY OF SUNSHINE (p.j.)

summary : in which percy jackson feels attached, in some way, to a girl he just met.

w.c. : about 1k

a/n : part 2! thank you for all the support on the firsg part, there will be more to follow!

this is also on my wattpad: poet1cmystery

warning(s) : none!

| riordanverse masterlist | navigation | part 1 |

*ੈ✩‧₊˚

percy awoke near midnight, having slept for almost seven hours. he had been woken up by a nightmare, just like usual. The stars hanging in the sky painted a serene picture for him as he stared out through the small infirmary window, the view calming him quickly. for once, the camp around him was quiet. no bustling demigods, no chattering kids. just quiet. 

the son of poseidon sat up, looking around more. he was never in here for as long of a time as he had been currently. he never noticed how old the withering wood was, its brown shade falling to a reddish-beige. they were surrounded by magic but still couldn't repair the infirmary. huh. he could definitely see the imprints the apollo children had made, even just in the small room he was in. there was an overall sense of brightness, despite the late hour it was. it felt welcoming, in a way. 

he debated on going back to his cabin now or staying here until morning. the harpies would be out, so that definitely wouldn't be preferable. still, could he really stay for this long? y/n had told him to stay until he felt better...

so, he stayed, in hopes of seeing her again. he was still curious about the connection he felt to her. curious about why her eyes felt so familiar. he tried to rack his brain for answer, yet nothing came to mind. there was a faint image of those eyes on a little girl, their e/c being illuminated by a ray of sunshine. but that was where the memory faded. nothing around the young girl seemed familiar, none of the scenery. he couldn’t even tell if the memory was indoors.

percy noticed the lack of movement, even inside of the infirmary. apollo kids had to sleep too. the only sound he heard was the low chirping of crickets, occasionally seeing one of their tiny bodies hopping by, being illuminated by the fading moonlight.

the lack of light was seamlessly replaced by an orange hue, accompanying the rising sun in the distance. it must’ve been closer to morning than what he had thought. well, that just meant he got to see this mysterious girl sooner.

the stars faded slowly, as if running from the intruding daylight.

y/n walked into the infirmary, smiles and all, the view causing a small grin to even grow to his own face. the optimistic attitude she often boar wasn’t new, but still found a way to draw him in.

“oh!” she looked surprised to see him, was that bad? should he have left when we woke up? the wide smile said otherwise, but he was beginning to think it was permanent, regardless of the situation. his mind raced, and he didn’t know why. it wasn’t like this with anyone else that’d help him. why her?

“i didn’t realize you were still here. are you feeling better at least?” she questioned, concern lacing her features.

“uh, yeah,” he swallowed, trying to get the ugly taste out of his mouth, “ ‘m feeling a lot better. thank you.”

“it’s what i’m here for,” she replied cheerily, spinning on her heel and moving away from the open doorway.

 he gave it a few minutes, then slowly sat up. as the blanket fell from his shoulders, a sudden wave of cool air reminded him of the shirt he wasn’t wearing.  his eyes roamed the enclosed area, searching for the familiar orange fabric of his camp-tee. then, he saw it hanging on a plastic hanger, seemingly clean. he took slightly shaky steps towards it, eventually shrugging it over his shoulders, letting it fall past his arms. 

he walked out of the room he was in, slightly zoned out. unfortunately for him, he bumped into the girl he had been trying to figure out.

“ah, shit, sorry y/n,” he said quickly, gently reaching to grab her arm to steady her.

she didn’t seem bothered. “it’s alright, are you going?”

he nodded, releasing his grip from her arm. “i’ll see you around?” he asked, hoping the answer was yes. maybe then he could figure out where he knew her from.

“of course, percy.”

her words made him smile, even if she just meant them half-heartedly. (she definitely did, he could tell.) he stepped out into the now fully-risen sun, its rays beating down on him despite the chill held by the autumn air.

immediately, he was greeted by his short, fast-talking friend. the one and only, leo valdez.

“where have you been?” the boy exclaimed, his head tilting slightly upwards to meet percy’s eyes.

“dude, it’s been like a day,” percy said flatly.

almost on instinct, percy checked his pockets for his trusted pen. no matter how long he had had it, he still wasn’t used to the fact he couldn’t lose it. just like he suspected, it was safely sitting in the back pocket of his jeans.

percy’s gaze wondered back towards the infirmary one last time, before quickly flicking back to leo, trying to listen to what the boy was discussing as they walked further and further away.

he noticed leo looking at him expectantly, and just nodded his head, seemingly agreeing to what had just been said. “yeah, of course.”

“you weren’t listening, were you?” leo groans.

“not at all,” the boy admitted, not wanting to lie to one of his closest friends.

“tell me again?” he offered, smirking sheepishly down at leo, who rolled his eyes. still, the boy repeated what he had said, this time earning a real response from percy.

the two boys conversed, occasionally shoving each other around as they walked over the dirt pathways winding between the camp cabins. eventually, they heard a horn blow, signaling breakfast.

arriving at the pavilion, percy noticed y/n walking towards a table seating annabeth chase, piper mclean, and luke castellan. wait.

luke castellan?

why was she sitting with luke castellan? 

why did percy care? 

he didn’t. right?

no, of course he didn’t. why would he?

taglist : @iamforeverandalwaystired, lmk if you wanna be added!

[ad0rechuu]

ᝰ MY OH MY. ━━ (026) balloon flowers

WORD COUNT. 1157

WARNINGS. mentions of food, balloons, flowers, balloon flowers and yeonjun! can be considered suggestive if u really squint and move ur bang to read it again because of their position but there are no implications and it’s mostly just sweet and loving

credits to @ari-shipping-stuff for being my beta reader / writer <33

AS SOON AS SUNWOO RUSHED TO OPEN THE DOOR, IT HIT HIM.

It was Berry. His new song was currently blasting through the speakers of your phone at the highest volume as you stood in front of his door with arms full of snacks and flowers.

“It was you!”

“Yes! Now please let me in, I’m gonna tumble over.”

His mouth made an 'o' shape and he quickly moved out of the way, letting you in his apartment.

After closing the door, he followed behind you as you effortlessly navigated the way to his living room. A slight reddish hue made its way onto his cheeks, finally taking in the situation. He cleared his throat and took stock of the items you lightly dropped on the table.

“So were the balloons also you?” He asked softly.

You reached behind you and nodded, holding the familiar purple flowers up to his face. “I left them tied to your car though, because I couldn’t carry them all. But I felt like they would match nicely with these.”

Taken aback, Sunwoo cautiously took the flowers before it hit him.

“They’re Balloon flowers?!” He exclaimed.

You chuckled at his reaction and nodded. The memory of the lady carrying those flowers complimenting your relationship played back in both of your minds.

“In my defense, I didn’t hear you knock over the music.” Sunwoo sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck. He hugged the flowers a little bit tighter with his free hand.

You shrugged, looking around the room. “I’m here now, aren’t I?”

He excitedly nodded his head at that and stepped closer.

“Yes, you are. You’re here. With me.” He softly agreed. “Thank you.”

Now it was your turn to get flustered, a weird feeling took over your insides and made you feel all… giddy at the proximity of his beautiful face and the sound of his sweet words. Playing with your fingers, you tried your hardest not to get distracted with thoughts of your dear friend.

“Do you, uh.. have a vase?” You asked, pointing at the bouquet in his grasp. “They were too expensive to just let die.”

Sunwoo laughed. He couldn’t argue with that. He motioned for you to follow him to the compact kitchen, nagging about your offensive distrust in his ability to have a plant as he looked trough the cabinets for the said vase.

You unwrapped the flowers from the paper around them, smiling in relief as you saw that they were already cut.

“What about this?” After some clanging behind you, he finally stood back up. You turned towards him to see him holding up a glass pitcher.

You quickly turned, stifling your laughter at his amusing— but admittedly, creative— idea.

“That’ll have to work.”

Rearranging the flowers with the help of a Youtube video resulted in a surprisingly messy kitchen counter, but a nice pitcher of purple flowers. And afterward, some more arguing about where Sunwoo should keep them. Eventually, you two found a fitting place in his bedroom.

You watched as Sunwoo took a picture of your gift, speaking up.

“If you kill them within a week, I’ll kill you next.” You announced.

“You’re so scary.. You should be nice to me!” He fake-shivered at your words, putting his phone in his pocket while following you out of his bedroom. “I’m literally a genius, you know.”

Scoffing, you turned around, pushing his chest, making him lose his balance and fall on the bed.

Seeing him fall brought a satisfied smirk on your face. Unfortunately, it only lasted a second as you didn’t expect him to clutch onto your shirt and pull you on top of him in the process.

You tried to get up, but he was fast in wrapping his arms around your waist, your knees folding next to his sides, basically making you straddle him. Feeling his grip tighten and his head aiming to cuddle into your shoulder, you immediately knew what he was thinking.

He still said it though.

“Let’s stay like this for a while, okay?” He asked. Instead of replying, you wrapped his arms around his neck as your answer. He felt you relax on top of him, one of his arms slowly starting to caress your back in silent affection.

“I missed you.” Sunwoo admitted first, not once halting his movements.

You rose a little, just enough for you to face him the best you could, a warm smile that knocked the air out of Sunwoo’s lungs spread over your face.

“I missed you too.” You said before returning to your previous position. “I’ve been thinking a lot.”

As you spoke, you played with the hair on his nape, while he rubbed circles now on the bare flesh underneath your shirt.

The feeling, as well as the action, was something you would easily be able to lose yourself in, making it dangerous. Yet you didn’t want it to stop.

Sunwoo felt his eyelids growing heavy at the sheer comfort your presence and warmth brought.

“Hmm. About what?”

“I’m gonna break up with Yeonjun.” You could barely get the sentence out as his eyes snapped open and his hand stopped moving.

His voice came out as a confused whisper. “What?”

“Yeah, I think the plan isn’t working out as we thought. And it's not worth spending any more time on. I want to move on. I don’t care about hurting him anymore.”

Sunwoo’s hands left your body as he sat up a little, leaning on his elbows. He looked at you with an unreadable expression.

“You don’t want to hurt him back anymore...?”

“No.” You shook your head, copying his actions and also sitting up, innocently resting your hands on his toned stomach.

Both of you stared into each other's eyes as silence engulfed the room around you. It wasn’t awkward or confrontational. Both of you were too deep in thought for any of that.

Despite his calm outer appearance, his heartbeat quickened and his mind went a thousand miles per minute. Sunwoo couldn’t get himself to stop gazing up at your features. Your adorable, pretty, sexy, perfect, familiar features. He couldn’t help that his temperature rose at the fact that all of that beauty wasn’t for him. The possibility of you putting a stop to all of this because Chaewon and your friends were right and you might have fallen for your unworthy boyfriend again dawned on him harder than ever before.

Little did he know that you were fighting your own battles inside your busy head. Something had been growing in your heart for Sunwoo. You had an inkling of a suspicion, but seeing his dark brown eyes stare into your own like this confirmed for you that maybe you have been looking in the wrong direction all this time.

A single peek at his lips was enough. Whatever was growing was ready to bloom (even if Sunwoo was worrying about the wrong flower blossoming).

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i know i asked u to vote on smth yesterday but please vote on this poll too! it would be really helpful

NOTES. i don’t know how i feel about the lay out tbh but i hope u liked this chapter i love them

make sure to participate the ask them anything event, it’s very important to me : it’s okay if you already send an ask tho, feel free to ask as many questions as you desire whenever you think of one

TAGLIST. @tocupid @leo-seonghwa @seonghwaddict @starryunho @yuyusuyu @kodzumo @felixsramen @aapplepii @juhakutie @gyumibear @alixnsuperstxr @atinyinateezverse @nyukyusnz @ghstzzn @blueresides @shakalakaboomboo @haechology @ahnneyong @atinycafe @i-luvsang @nasangel @asherthehimbo @marvelahsobx @blue-rainydays @the-swageyama-tobiyolo @evilsailorsenshi @allisonleannn @sunkitti @koizekomi @ms-no1kpopstan @marsvillee @tubatu-wari-wari @jazminethecreator @mitchko11 @daegale @wonwootakemyheart @ksywoo @dearly-somber @hxnnibxns @luvvsnae

[vxiphoid]

ARTIST’S CANVAS

❨ summary ❩ twst › when you look at a pretty blank canvas, its only natural you’d want to turn it into something more breathtaking.

tags ✧ fluff; lower case writing.

amanuensis’ message ⊹ 10 months, not a single written fic. i am so sorry yall

⌜ 0.4+ ⌟

♫ spin you round — rocco.

twst masterlist

“s’cold.”

the dark—almost black—paste coating leona’s hand in intricate designs setting on his skin mixed with the warmth of your hands around his felt funny. the paste was a drastic contrast upon his tawny skin. on occasion, he’d let your creative mind take over and draw on him with any writing utensil that was nearby. in class, it’d give him an excuse not to pay attention and in his dorm, your lap to sleep while you worked. half of the time when you were finished, he considered getting another tattoo, snapping a picture when you looked away just in case it faded. not once had he thought of a temporary tattoo.

the first thing that came to mind when he thought of temporary were the ones on paper that you’d transfer with water. ones that he’d slap on his body to look cool as a kid. the same ones that’ll start peeling the moment you brush it wrong. this was a completely different method than what he was thinking. a creamy consistency of dye in a piping bag. henna. it rolled off the tongue as smooth as its application.

a light laugh leaves your lips at his comment, pausing to give him a quick glance. he looked like a cat watching a ping pong match. you don’t think you’ve ever seen his pupils this large and his slowly swaying tail certainly wasn’t helping the comparison.

leona watched in silent interest as you worked. It had to be something about your hands. How your pinky stayed out for stabilization, how carefully you held his hand as if you’d break it if you moved him a certain way. then again, he could also blame that on the amount of focus you had. they moved with practiced grace, your emerald-green painted nails glinting under the golden lamp light.

his sheets were littered with various templets and stencils complicated, simple, and some in the middle. he didn’t look at everything before he chose his. he didn’t exactly care what you put on him as long as that pretty little head of yours was having some semblance of fun, those talented hands of yours.

his ear flicks. “what color is this again?”

you take a moment to pull his hand closer to the light when it came down to the finer details. “regular old brown. it might look a little reddish in the sun though.”

“neon?”

you scoff out a laugh. “gods, no. way more subtle.”

even after you had laughed, your smile stayed—as heartwarming and raw as ever. like a sweetener in a cup of coffee he could never get tired to drinking or the smell of gas he found a guilt pleasure. gods, he wanted to hear it again.

maybe being a living, plain canvas wasn’t so bad. as long as it was you painting the blank spots needing filled.

[the-kr8tor]

i wanna request for fluff friday!

i was very into mushroom these days, can i request mushroom hunting with hobie? hunting and study them a little (the reader brought a mushroom guide book)

Hi, angel! Thank you for the adorable request! A bit of a disclaimer I don't know anything about mushrooms so I researched a bit for this fic! So sorry if it's not accurate tho hope you like it ❤️

Pairing: Hobie Brown x gn! Reader/ Spider-Punk x gn! Reader

Tags: no use of Y/N, no specific physical description of the reader, Fluff.

ʕ⁠·⁠ᴥ⁠·⁠ʔ

"Is this what you're lookin' for, lovey?" Hobie calls you over from his crouched spot. The tall trees provide shade for your mushroom hunting. The cloudy sky and cold autumn air makes the hunt more comfortable for the two of you.

Dry leaves crunch under your hiking boots, carefully walking over to him, avoiding any obstacles that might trip you over.

"Lemme see!" You excitedly bend at your waist, eyes scanning the soil for a red and white mushroom top. "Oh, good eye, but that's not the fly agaric" you fully crouch next to him, taking out your trusted book of mushrooms, the edges are frayed, cover fading, a sign that it's well read and well loved. "Look, you found a puffball"

Pointing at a picture on a page that you didn't have to look at the index to search for, the white mushroom on the paper is a direct copy of what grows right in front of you. It clings right on the foot of a large tree, stark white, its spherical head adorable to look at. Hobie leans towards you, cheek to cheek, looking at the page.

"Puffball" Hobie repeats the name like he's memorizing a word from a different language. "Is it edible? Looks like it" even though the information is laid out on the page, he asks, knowing you like talking about your hobby. It doesn't hurt that he loves hearing your voice.

"You're right," you lean into his warm cheek, "it's edible. I don't know how to prepare it though"

"Let's take some, we'll figure it out together" Hobie plucks a few mushrooms gently, he puts them inside your wicker basket, the first of many specimens for you to study or eat apparently.

"You're right" you smile fondly, standing up, helping him carry the basket even though he doesn't need it. Hobie appreciates it nonetheless, you both carry the same handle, sort of like holding his hand in a way. "Cooking it is probably the same as the store bought ones"

"Not poisonous though, right?"

"Nope, it's fine to eat. If it makes you feel better I'll take the first bite" you smirk at him. Walking in step with him.

"My hero" you giggle at his comment. "Eugh, what is that?" Hobie stops mid-step, for a second you thought he's making fun of your laugh, but of course he wouldn't do that so you follow his line of sight. He stares at reddish brown mushrooms growing on a decaying tree trunk.

You gasp, skipping over to the dead tree, you inadvertently pull Hobie along. "Jelly ears! I Knew it!" Stopping right in front of it, you practically bounce in excitement. "They're early this year" you mumble to yourself.

"They do look like ears" he narrows his eyes at the wavy mushroom. Its gelatinous texture makes him feel icky inside.

"They're edible too!"

"Love, I love and support you but absolutely not, 'm not eating something that looks like that. 'm not a picky eater but fuck that"

You laugh loudly, the sound echoing off in the woods. "Okay, let's not eat them" letting go of the basket, you take his other hand instead, turning him away from the goosebumps inducing sight. "Come on you big baby. We're losing daylight"

"We've got plenty of time to find your fly agaric" Hobie rubs the back of your hand comfortingly, tracing circles over the smooth skin.

Your heart increases tenfold. "You remember the name"

"'Course I did, remember how it looks too. Red mushroom top with white spots, right?"

You let go of his hand to his dismay but you remedy it immediately with a half embrace. Face squished atop his upper arm, arms enveloping him completely. "Thank you for coming with me" nuzzling your nose over his hoodie, you let your actions talk for you.

"I take it 'm right?" He chuckles, arms trapped under your hug, he has an immense need to embrace you back. "D'you think I'd let you go alone in the woods? What if the fae gets you, huh?"

Your voice is muffled by his jacket, Hobie does all the work in guiding you both further into the woods. "I'll them I'm taken"

With his arms stuck to his sides, He could only manage to move his neck down to kiss the top of your head, he's sure there's a crick in his neck. Hobie doesn't mind though.

"Let's find Mario's mushroom" you guffaw loudly in reply.

[rwbyrg]

What Inspired the Fairytale: Warrior in the Woods as a Rosegarden Allusion

I've broken down Ruby as Little Red Riding Hood, and Oscar as the Little Prince, now I want to analyze the two of them within a canon fable. The very first story within RWBY: Fairytales of Remnant: The Warrior in the Woods.

For those who are unfamiliar with it, I will summarize, or you can read it in the official free preview of the book here. One disclaimer before I get started: I'm not speaking about the animated adaptation here. Something Oz mentions in his fore/afterward of the book is that fairytales often shift and change depending on who it is that's telling the story. The book itself seems to aim to tell the most objective version as possible, whereas in the episode of FToR, it's very clear Tai's experiences and biases greatly influences the way he tells the story. With that out of the way...

The story is about a boy who lives in a village surrounded by a forest that is said to protect its residents from Grimm. One day, the boy ventures into the wood further than anyone would think to look for him. There he is attacked by a monster, the first he has ever seen... Only to be saved at the last minute by a cloaked warrior carrying a curved weapon. He thanks her and asks for her name, but she tells him to leave and not return. He doesn't listen. Every year since the day of their first meeting, he ventures further into the wood hoping he will meet his saviour again. And every time, he is proven right when she shows up and saves him at the last minute. Each year, the boy grows older and wiser, training himself how to fight, bringing the woman gifts as thanks for protecting the village alone and without appreciation all these years. Until one day, the village is attacked by Grimm for the first time in ages. On their next planned meeting, the boy - now a man - fights his entire way through the forest to the hut where she lives, and finds it torn apart and empty. He returns home and tells the villagers her story having taken up the mantle of protecting his people in her place. When asked if he kept going back to see her just because she saved him, he replies (paraphrased): "For that reason, and many more. But I believe she knew the deepest reason of all. I fell in love with her the moment I saw her silver eyes."

Even the summary alone paints a picture very reminiscent of Ruby and Oscar's paired arc throughout the show thus far, but I want to break it down even further. First things first:

The Warrior

She is described as "a fair woman in a flowing (threadbare and tattered) black cape" with a "curved blade" she can spin so quickly it "blurs". Her hair is "almost as dark as the Grimm's, white (ones) standing out as brightly as bone", and in the boy's eyes the first time he sees her, remarks that she is "beautiful and fierce". We know by the end of the story, as well as one of the Grimm fights, that she has silver eyes as well and she tells the boy at one point that she fights alone because she is alone, since all the people like her were killed by other humans. This lines up well with how Silver Eyed Warriors have been hunted by Salem and her forces for generations.

When we compare this to Ruby when Oscar first meets her, it hits all the same marks. He is captivated by her silver eyes the moment he first meets her:

She is fair skinned with black hair (if you include the books illustrations, with a reddish tint), has silver eyes, and a torn and tattered cloak.

There is a point at which the woman also ties a red ribbon around her weapon's handle to hold it in place, which immediately acts as a tie in to Ruby's colour scheme.

Lastly, the boy meets the warrior for the first time in a "moonlit clearing". And we all know how much moon imagery Ruby has associated with her by now, that I really don't have to go over it again.

The Village Boy

There are no photos or descriptions of him within the text, just that he is a boy when we first meet him and is a man by the end of the story after visiting the woman annually 4-5 times. So he is roughly 14, aka the same age as Oscar, for both their first appearances.

What we do know about the boy, is shown in the objects he carries for himself and the gifts he imparts onto the woman in the woods.

The first is a parcel of clothing. It includes some blouses, leggings, a black skirt, some boots... and a new hooded green cloak. Ruby's cloak is red, but as we know both in show with ships like Bumbleby, and thanks to Eddy's bit of trivia in that Reddit AMA a while ago, that wearing the colours of people you care for is a common sign of affection within Remnant. Within this story, the woman dons a cloak in a green colour (something heavily associated with Oscar Pine), whereas within RWBY in V6, it is Oscar who dons Ruby's colour on his shoulders in his outfit upgrade.

The second is the sword the boy forges for himself before their third meeting. It is described as long and thin which immediately calls to mind The Long Memory.

From there, the next gift: a bag full of food.

"She opened the bag and pulled out parcel after parcel. There was honey cake, a strawberry tart, and sweet biscuits. When she unwrapped a stack of fresh-baked cookies, her expression lightened, and her happiness made him happy."

The first bolded example: strawberries are cited by Monty as Ruby's favourite food, and as we know by Ruby's first meeting with Ozpin (which is important given his connection to Oscar), she's a big fan of cookies too.

Now that all the aesthetics and symbolism are out of the way, I want to compare the structure of the two stories.

Separation and Reunions

The Warrior in the Woods, as well as Ruby and Oscar's arc throughout the show (as well as The Little Prince) are stories of absences.

The boy starts his tale without the woman in his live for many years before he meets her. When they do meet, it is for only a moment within a day until they must wait another full year before seeing each other again. When they do meet, at least the first 3 times, the warrior saves him from Grimm attacks. Then, at the 4th time, he runs into no obstacles and is able to sit and talk with her without incident, only for her to disappear shortly before their 5th visit, leaving him to take up her job of protecting the village.

Ruby spends the first 4 volumes of the show not knowing Oscar, but when they meet he, just like the village boy, is in awe of her silver eyes. From there, she saves him from Grimm twice (I imagine we are holding out on the third where she saves him with her silver eyes for a volume we haven't received yet)...

...and they are faced with constant separations and reunions thereafter.

Oscar goes missing in V6E8 only to be reunited with everyone in V6E9...

2. They are separated for much of V7 due to disagreements and other external circumstance, only to reunite and make up in V7E9...

3. They are then immediately split up again, one going down to Mantle and the other staying in Atlas, only to reunited at the beginning of V8E1 (suspiciously after Oscar stares into a fire much like the boy at the end of the story).

4. It is short lived before they split up on different teams AGAIN, which leads to another reunion in V8E10...

5. Only to - you guess it - be separated one more time when Ruby falls into a void, leaving Oscar to think that she died and take charge as the new leader carrying her responsibilities in her place.

Which follows the structure of the original fairytale - at least in numbers - down to the letter.

Beyond that structure, there is also the matter of what both relationships are built upon: the act of taking care of one another.

In the book, the woman explains that she protects the villagers "because she can, because no one else will, and because some people are good, like the village boy, and that gives her hope".

This heavy responsibility the warrior carries is very reminiscent of Ruby's character arc. A leader who feels she can't be a failure, who can't rely on her friends and teammates to share how much this all weighs on her, someone that lost all her silver eyed family and fears for her own fate because of a trait she had no control over. Even going so far as to try and push people away for fear they will end up hurt because of her. Someone that "remembers all the people she saved, and all the ones she didn't".

This is juxtaposed by a boy who was sheltered and safe, far from the dangers of the world, but set out and joined hers anyway. And when he did, he brought her new clothes, a new weapon, some food, and an ear she could tell her stories to. When he explains his motives, he says:

"You've spent all these years looking after us. I thought maybe it would be nice if someone looked after you for a change. Because that's what I can do. Because no one else will."

Which ties into Oscar's character exactly as well. After his conversation with Ruby in V5 about how scary all of this is, his first thought after saying she's amazing, is to acknowledge how hard this must be on her. And from then on out we see him looking after her to the best of his ability, despite his inexperience, time and time again. Protecting her when she's hurt, standing up for her when their friends fight, and baking her a casserole after she's had a tough day.

All of these things tie into what Ozpin cites as the main message of the fairytale in his notes at the end of its chapter:

It is often used as a cautionary tale, intended to discourage children from wandering too far from home on their own, or from relying too much on others to save them. But the most enduring, and I think the most inspiring, aspect of this story is one which many have taken to heart: If you can help others, it is your responsibility to do so. Whether that means fighting evil singlehandedly, or baking cookies (for kindness can be as rare as silver eyes) is up to the reader to decide for themselves. From each according to their own abilities.

Ruby and Oscar are two characters driven by their responsibilities to do something about all the bad in the world, in whatever ways they are able, before they run out of time. While Ruby's main allusion is Little Red and Oscar's is the Little Prince, I think it's really inspiring to see a canon fairytale within RWBY's own universe that relates to their story so well as this one.

[amarylliasky]

Number 12!

Attendant of the Prince’s Palace AU

Kim Rok Soo stared at the small mirror in his quarters. It’s cracked edges doing nothing to hide the distinctly young face reflected on its surface. This was not his face. This kid couldn’t be more than sixteen, judging by his height and stature, with innocent (roundish?) eyes and slightly plump cheeks. He then noticed strands of brown hair falling in front of his face, unlike his own black hair. It was also quite long, around shoulder length, if he had to guess.

The next thing he noticed was that he couldn’t quite see the kid’s features. Sure, he could tell that he was in the body of a teenager, and he could make out the basic face shape because he was so close to the mirror, but he couldn’t make out the finer details of things like the shape of his nose and lips. Furthermore, he couldn’t tell the exact shade of the kid’s eyes and hair because the room was only barely lit by the sun peeking through closed curtains of a singular window.

Judging by the fact that everything in his line of sight appeared as if through an unfocused camera lens, Rok Soo guessed that this kid needed glasses.

Fumbling around the surface of the small wooden vanity, which was just a desk with a mirror sitting on it, his hand eventually met the frame of a pair of thin rimmed glasses a little to his right.

As he placed them on his face, he couldn’t help but notice that he still had a bit of trouble seeing clearly. Carefully walking to the window, he swiftly opened the curtains and had to squint at the light that flooded the small bedroom. Hmm, even with the light, he still a bit of trouble distinguishing smaller details. Did the kid have even worse eyesight than he thought? Or maybe he was just too poor to afford the correct prescription. Seeing as how the only pieces of furniture in the room included the desk/vanity, a small wardrobe, and an equally small bed, he would guess the latter.

Looking again into the small mirror with the added light and clarity, what really stuck out to him was the kid’s eyes. While they were in fact round and innocent, unlike his own thirty six year old stereotypical Korean eyes, they were apparently the exact same shade of reddish brown as his own. But that was where the similarities ended. It also appeared that the kid’s hair was not just brown, but a rich shade of cherry brown; and the strands of what was probably soft, silk-like hair fell stiffly over small thin shoulders.

The next, quite startling thing he noticed was the tear tracks lining the kid’s cheeks, and very noticeable eye bags. Overall, a very miserable picture greeted Kim Rok Soo in almost-clarity. He definitely needed to find out who this child was and what on earth was going on.

Knock Knock Knock

Three very loud knocks snapped him out of his thoughts. What should he do? Was it the kid’s parents? Siblings? What could he say? ‘Sorry, your son isn’t here right now. Please hold while the transmigrator tries to figure out how to stop possessing him.’ Yeah, no. Should he just open the door? That seemed to be the only option.

“Mister Aster? Are you awake? It’s Miya. I was sent to check on you after you never showed up to take the First Prince his breakfast.”

Okay so this kid was named Aster. Kim Rok Soo, no, Aster calmly thought about the information he was just given. The girl outside his room was Miya, most likely a servant. His name was Aster, also probably a servant, judging by how he was supposed to take some food to a prince. That’s another thing, the First Prince.

He couldn’t help but be reminded of the book he had just been reading before waking up here. Crown Prince Alberu Crossman was the first prince of the Roan Kingdom in The Birth of a Hero, and a powerful supporting character after the second major incident in the book.

If he was in that very same book, and there was hardly any evidence to support that theory, then there was only one way to confirm.

“What is the First Prince’s name?”

He probably sounded like an idiot to not even know the name of the person he was serving. The other servant, Miya, must have thought so as well, as her reply held an undertone of bafflement.

“How could you forget the name of the First Prince? Even if you’ve only worked in the Palace of Joy for a few months, surely you haven’t forgotten the very Alberu Crossman, whom you serve?”

That confirmed it alright. First of all, the Palace of Joy was the palace that the king in The Birth of a Hero had built for his first son; and furthermore, the First Prince he worked for was indeed named Alberu Crossman. He had no choice but to admit that he had transmigrated into The Birth of a Hero as a random extra who doesn’t even appear in the book.

He heard shuffling on the other side of the door, as if the maid was nervously stepping from foot to foot. Heaving out a sigh of resignation, he trudged to the door.

“Um, Mister Aster? I didn’t mean to insult you or anything. I know it’s been really hard for you these last few days. Believe me, I didn’t want to disturb your mourning-“ She was interrupted as the door swung open.

She was startled by his appearance, no doubt because of his tear stained face and overall haggard expression. Wait, she say mourning? Was this kid mourning someone? He didn’t like the sound of that. It could spell trouble for him if he couldn’t play along well enough. But how was he supposed to mourn for someone he didn’t even know?

“A-apologies, Mister Aster, I didn’t realize…” She stopped talking upon noticing his blank expression. What could he do? He didn’t know anything about the original Aster’s behavior. He would just have to wing it.

“It’s okay. I’m doing a bit better now. I’ll be ready soon.” He tried adding a bit of fatigue in his voice. It wasn’t too hard, he was always both mentally and physically exhausted in his life as Kim Rok Soo. Keeping his eyes to the ground, he let his shoulders slump just a little. He was still a servant, so it probably wasn’t proper etiquette for him to slouch all the way.

“Oh, um, take your time! If you want, I can bring the First Prince his breakfast for you!”

He finally looked at her, noting the nervousness in her light green eyes. Was she afraid of the First Prince? Or was it something else? He did remember that in the book, the Crown Prince didn’t have any backing, so perhaps she was scared of getting on the Second and Third Prince’s bad side? If that was the case, why would she go this far for him? Sure, she acted familiar with the original Aster, but she didn’t seem as if she had interacted with the First Prince like he had. She might even work in another palace.

Regardless, her actions benefited him. It would buy him some time to adjust if she went in his stead, also, he would be able to do a little investigation into the life of his current body.

“You would really do that?” He sounded sincere, as if he really was awed by her selflessness. “Thank you so much.” He gave her a grateful smile. “I promise I will make this up to you, Miss Miya.” For some reason, she seemed to take his words quite well, as she energetically replied to him.

“Of course! It’s the least I can do! After all, you work the hardest out of all the palace servants! And I’m not just saying that! You always offer your help when anyone needs it! You even voluntarily went to work at the Palace of Joy!”

Sounds like this “Aster” was a total pushover.

Leaving the blank faced servant to his own devices, or “mourning,” Miya briskly walked down the hall, her braided hair swaying behind her.

Click. The door clicked shut and Aster was left alone in the small bedroom once again.

Time to do some digging.

///////

So this is the first snippet of “Attendant of the Prince’s Palace.” What do you think?

Also, shout out to @our-planet-is-going-to-explode for the idea of naming him Aster!

[dc418writes]

•|Legends Never Die|•

✨Pairing✨: dark!Curtis Everettxblack!reader

Summary🪄: Curiosity doesn’t kill cats. It kills the nosey

⚠️: 18+ NO MINORS, chasing, mention of blood, abduction, minor bondage, allusions to basement wife, language, noncon touching

A/N🎤: Hey guys! So this is my little twist on the infamous Headless Horseman tale and I hope you guys like it☺️💕!

*DISCLAIMER!: although visual was made by me, I DO NOT CLAIM OWNERSHIP of pictures used as they were all found via Pinterest*

Everyone you interviewed in the small town warned you about going down that dirt road. How those who dared pass through that wooden tunnel were never to be seen again.

But you didn’t listen. Instead letting your need for the truth overshadow your caution.

Once you heard about the mysterious figure looming in the woods and read all the accounts from those young and old, your piqued interest wouldn’t rest. You needed to see for yourself if this horseman really existed or if it was just a boogeyman of sorts with stories being passed down from generation to generation.

Dead grass and autumn leaves crunch under your sneakers as you journey further into the wooded area. The cool air prickling your nose and cheeks while buzzards squawk overhead circling with their wings spread wide.

That should’ve been your sign to turn back, but your legs carry you until you’re meeting a withered cabin. Smoke rising from its chimney into the gloomy sky.

“H-Hello!?,” you call out, but there’s nothing. Whoever lived here clearly wanted to be alone being the only cabin out in this stretch of woods that you could see.

“I don’t mean any harm! Just wanted to ask some questions,” you ask as you reach the front door.

You knock twice, but again you don’t hear anything. Can just see a peek of the lone, vintage couch and coffee table resting on top of the decorative rug in the living room through the crack in the curtains shielding the windows.

The floorboards creak under each step you take - no matter how careful - wandering along the wrap around porch while your eyes focus on the woods with every crack of a twig and swish of leaves.

Meaning you weren’t paying attention when you tripped over the metal bucket; knocking it over as you stumbled forward.

A reddish-brown tinted rag rolling out along with a small amount of water tinted the same color pooling around your feet is the final straw feeling your stomach begin to sink and anxiety slowly rise.

Something deep inside tells you to hide when you hear the whinny of a horse along with its trotting hooves approaching from somewhere in the forest. It’s the fastest you’ve moved since your high school gym days setting your eyes on a decent sized shed a few feet away.

Luckily it’s latch is open allowing you to quickly slip inside just as whoever approaches the property. Crouched by the small, smudged window, you can see the black stallion being led by a person in all black themselves from their thick coat to their leather gloves and down to the boots on their feet.

A pumpkin mask with detailed carving covering their face.

It looks like it was made from the gourd itself. But most surprising - and fear inducing - a hatchet on their hip. Its blade stained with someone or something’s crimson blood that steadily drips to the ground.

“What’d I get myself into?,” you think watching as the tall figure rounds the house before stopping upon noticing the knocked over bucket and rag. Clearly now on alert that somebody was there how his head turns left and right.

Your heart rate increases as he appears to be coming towards the shed. (More than likely to put away his horse as you now notice the bags of feed by your feet.)

It’ll be impossible to run out the same way you came, so you hurry towards the back crouching behind a barrel near the corner. Your knees pressed into your chest to make yourself as small as possible just as the double doors open and both step inside.

Hands covering your mouth, you can hear them tying their horse away before filling its container with food and beginning to brush along its mane and the short hairs on its body.

A skid of a breeze across your face nearly startles you - thinking whoever arrived found you - until you see the plastic flap of the doggy door gently moving back and forth. It seems big enough that you could fit through, but you won’t know for sure unless you try.

So you patiently wait until you hear the double doors open again and the thud of boots becoming quieter with each step, signaling that you were finally alone and able to move again.

Carefully your arm goes through first then your head, but your opposite shoulder only bumps into the wall unable to pass. Shifting your body, you try again hoping someway you can make it through but your efforts are futile.

Just giving you enough of a distraction that you don’t feel the presence of someone behind you until it’s too late. Roughly grabbing your ankles and yanking you back as you scream.

You thrash kicking and swinging trying to get away, successfully hitting his crotch deep enough to have him groaning as he keels over on his hands and knees.

“Bitch,” he grits out as you scramble to get your footing to run out the shed. The horse whinnying and stirring about due to the new commotion.

Bursting out the doors, you keep running without any direction just setting your sights forward while trying to dodge limbs and trees along your path.

At the galloping not too far behind you, your heartbeat increases hoping there’s another house somewhere in these woods you can ask for help.

As your chest heaves and throat gradually becomes dryer from the air constantly rushing through, it seems you two are the only ones out this far leaving only one end in sight for you.

The stallion’s galloping grows closer and louder - as if it’d never get tired - while you feel exhaustion overtaking the adrenaline that once controlled your body.

You make the grave mistake of peeking over your shoulder trying to gauge just how close your hunter is not realizing your path was soon ending. Flying forward, your body tumbles down a dirt hill until you’re roughly thudding to a stop.

However, rather than hitting the cold ground you’re horrified to find a decaying body with its eyes wide and staring right at you. Some flies buzzing from them to you as if thinking you could be their next snack.

A deafening scream rips through your chest as you try to scurry away, echoing off the surrounding trees until something hitting against your head makes everything go dark.

-

Opening your eyes, you first notice the dark, wooden beams of the unfamiliar ceiling. Definitely older from their weathered appearance as one seemed to be a good hit away from breaking in two.

You try to move, but your arms and legs are bound to the semi-firm mattress below you with expertly knotted ropes you know you’d never get out of. It left you spread wide and fearful to what your captors next plan would be.

“You’ve done a lot of research.” The deep voice startles you, instinctively making you turn towards the corner to find the person chasing you earlier. They’re still in all black with the orange mask attached to their face as they look through your notebook of interviews and printed articles.

Had they been there watching you the whole time you were out?

“Have to say, I’m flattered,” they lowly chuckle closing the book and haphazardly tossing it on the ground. You see just how tall this person is when they stand and their head is only inches away from the beams above. It fills your stomach with nausea and dread how they slowly approach the bed reaching their finger out to teasingly trace from the post by your foot to your ankle.

“I-I’m sorry,” you cry with fresh tears dripping out the corner of your eye and down to the mattress below. A line of black left in its path from your mascara and liner.

Carefully removing their mask, the face underneath is surprisingly handsome. Near crystalline like blue eyes shielded by long lashes and a sharp jaw covered by an almond colored beard, you could honestly find yourself falling for the man in front of you if you met under normal circumstances.

His fingertips slowly trace higher - from your ankle to your calf and finally the inside of your knee - making your squirm and tears fall heavier while you plead, “Don’t.”

“Looks like you found your horseman kitten,” he smirks. “Too bad you’re little story won’t ever get published. Especially not with you tied up down here until I’m done.”

[mrs-sharp]

The Eyes of Graphorns

Pairing: Aesop Sharp x Adult f! MC

Read Chapter 1-12 here.

Previously: Sharp finds Elaine in a worrying state in the Room of Requirement after her return from St. Mungo's. He invites her to dance, but Elaine pushes him away because she believes she can protect him from her fate by doing so. Summary: Elaine withdraws after the incident in the Room of Requirement. However, shortly before the end of the summer holidays, she attends a staff meeting and is assigned the task of escorting a new student to Hogwarts.

Chapter 13 - Haegel's Ham I

"We have heard that the Auror is soon departing for Haegel's Ham."

A threatening silence fell upon the room, heavy like a sudden realization that shakes the present.

"First Scarborough, and now Haegel's Ham?"

"Y-yes, ma'am..."

The rustling of parchment, frantic searching. Silence again. Then a sharp intake of breath.

"Show me a picture of her."

Hurried steps on wooden floors. Sudden bustle to delay the inevitable. A leather folder was untied. A picture of Elaine Hopkins slid onto a smoothly polished wooden table.

"You want to tell me that you have been tracking this Auror for years, and no one, absolutely no one thought it necessary to tell me that she looks exactly like our little Obscurial?"

The voice froze the air in the room.

"So the child is coming home, is she? Interesting."

A chair creaked, then slow but determined steps.

"You will leave for Haegel's Ham immediately. If Sharp is with her, aim for his left leg first. We must exploit the weakness we inflicted on him. Then capture her and eliminate him. She has been injured twice already because she wanted to protect her ridiculous partners. Do it quickly, or soon there will be nothing left of her Ancient Magic."

"But, do you really want to... she is your..."

"I know who she is! And it won't change my plans. We need new artefacts. Or do you want to trade with shrunken heads again?"

"Of course not."

"Then you better not fail."

-

Elaine could not forgive herself. She kept telling herself that it had been necessary, that there was no other way, that she couldn't allow anyone else near her to get hurt. But deep down, she knew that she had deprived herself of her only confidant, and it hurt. It tormented her more than the curse, knowing that she would never again feel Aesop Sharp's presence, never again experience his touch, never again hear the gentle sound of his voice when they were alone together.

The scene kept replaying in her head. How she had pushed Sharp away, how she had deliberately exploited his greatest weakness to cause him pain. The horror in Sharp's eyes and his pain-filled scream haunted her sleep. She knew he did not deserve to be treated this way and that she had forever damaged his trust in her.

Elaine spent a lot of time tending to her plants and creatures. She tried to distract herself by observing the behaviours of the creatures and found a bit of solace in the presence of the Graphorns. The Lord of the Shore particularly seemed to seek her presence during this time.

"Do you remember Professor Sharp?" Elaine whispered as she sat with her back leaned against his trunk on the sun-warmed meadow in the Room of Requirement. A Niffler had curled up in her lap and was sleeping peacefully. The Lord of the Shore rumbled as if in response and inclined his head towards Elaine. He looked at her with attentive eyes.

"Of course," Elaine said with a tired smile. The Lord of the Shore inclined his head and began to carefully touch Elaine's face and chest with his tentacles. He nudged her as if encouraging her to do something. Then he gave a deep, almost sad grumble. Elaine felt her face heat up. She swallowed.

"I made a terrible mistake."

Elaine leaned back and let her head sink onto the Graphorn so that she could look at the sky filled with white clouds. She sighed and silently watched the Phoenix, which seemed to split the sky with its reddish shimmer. Its cry filled the room and seemed to pierce directly through Elaine's body.

The Phoenix.

Elaine suddenly jumped up and immediately regretted it as a stabbing pain shot through her lower abdomen. In the few moments when she forgot about her new injury, she was usually promptly reminded that it was still there and intended to stay.

The Lord of the Shore looked at her as if wanting to ask what had gotten into her. The Niffler, who had tumbled into the grass and woken up, gave her a reproachful look.

"I have to go to the library," she answered a question no one had asked, as if the creatures could understand what she was saying.

-

Elaine rarely left the Room of Requirement. On the one hand, because she wanted to be alone and needed time to think. On the other hand, because it felt like a betrayal to leave the place where she had erred. She felt she deserved to be constantly reminded of what she had done wrong, that it was right to walk this path alone. Elaine spoke little with her colleagues. She did not go to the Great Hall to eat. Instead, a filled plate would appear on her desk each time it was time for meals.

From time to time, Deek and Professor Weasley appeared in the room to check on things. Of course, they had asked questions, but Elaine preferred to keep her answers as vague as possible.

Elaine slipped into her coat and gloves. It was summer, but the clothes made her feel like she was taking a piece of the room's security with her. Besides, some of the cold from Scarborough still seemed to accompany her since the incident there.

On her way to the library, Elaine heard the sound of uneven steps. She tried to figure out from which direction they came, but at that moment, Sharp was already standing in front of her. Elaine was startled. Not only because she was unprepared to meet him alone, but also because he... had changed. His usually alert and awake gaze was tired and expressionless. His hair fell dishevelled and despondently on his shoulders. His beard seemed a bit longer than usual, and Elaine thought she could smell firewhisky.

"Professor..."

Hearing his voice immediately brought back the memory of how he had gently asked her to dance to the harp's music. A shiver ran down her spine.

"Professor Sharp... I..."

The warmth of his body on hers, the touch of his fingertips on her hand.

A perplexed silence spread between them. Elaine's gaze fell on the dark depths of Sharp's eyes, and it felt like she was falling into the warm darkness, the patient melancholy of his mind. They looked at each other, and for a brief moment, it seemed forgotten what had happened between them.

The quiet rise and fall of his chest. The gentle movement in the rhythm of the music. His tender embrace.

For a moment, she thought she saw a similar memory flicker in Sharp's eyes, but then the downcast expression returned to his face.

"I assume Professor Weasley reminded you of today's staff meeting?"

The image of the dance dissolved in Elaine's mind and shortly after flowed into the sight of Sharp's horror on the floor of the Room of Requirement.

"Of course," Elaine answered with a choked voice.

"Good, then I advise you not to be late."

With these words, he turned and left Elaine alone.

-

Elaine found it hard to follow the staff meeting. It was the first time since her absence that she encountered the entire faculty. Ronen and Garlick had immediately taken her in and bombarded her with well-meaning questions about her well-being. Elaine was grateful to be back, but too much social interaction still exhausted her after months of hospital solitude. Occasionally, she glanced at Sharp, and to her surprise, he returned her gaze.

The meeting seemed endless. They discussed lesson plans, rules for the upcoming school year, and announced exam dates.

"Now, to the final point on our agenda," announced Professor Weasley finally. "Next school year, we will once again have a new student who will need our support. Someone will travel to Haegel's Ham to deliver this student's letter and..."

The mention of the town's name, made Elaine listen attentively.

"I will go," she immediately replied.

The entire faculty looked at her in surprise, and only now did Elaine realize that she had not said anything all evening.

"I mean... if there are no objections, of course," she quickly added.

"Are you... already able to travel that far?" Professor Weasley asked, concerned.

Elaine nodded resolutely. She felt Sharp's sceptical gaze on her skin, but she tried not to look over at him.

"Very well, if you are sure about it. You will depart at the end of August, help the student acquire his school supplies, and accompany them to the Hogwarts Express on September 1st. Also, you will need to find a way..."

"...to convince the orphanage management to let them go," Elaine finished the sentence with a nod.

-

Elaine set out early on August 28th. The castle was quiet as she made her way out. The early morning sun climbed kindly through the windows as if to tell her that it would patiently wait for her return, no matter how dark the path ahead might be. She left Hogwarts via the Southern Bridge and disapparated as soon as she had left the castle grounds. She did not notice the tall, dark figure that followed her.

When she appeared in front of a large brick building, a familiar smell immediately struck her. The earthy air of the surrounding forests mixed with the burnt coal of the steam engines, the stables of the nearby farms, and the acrid scent of the rope factory. It was still very early in the morning, so hardly anyone was passing through the streets.

Elaine bit her lower lip as the faded images of the past again painted themselves in vivid, bright colours before her inner eye. Suddenly, she saw Fig again, how he had stood in front of her one day with a fatherly smile and freed her from her shadows until he himself became one of them a year later. Elaine realized that she too had to return with a smile if she wanted to convey that Hogwarts was a safe place to the new student.

A loud Confringo and the hot air from the curse that narrowly missed her face pulled her out of her thoughts. She immediately turned around, drew her wand, and sent a freezing spell in the direction of the attacker to buy herself some time and get an overview of the situation. She could make out three wizards and two goblins in glowing armour made of goblin metal surrounding her. However, she assumed there were more reinforcements lurking to attack from ambush. The Renegades. Her senses were suddenly on high alert. Within a few seconds, she had assessed the situation and sent a Diffindo towards the frozen opponent, taking him out immediately.

Elaine used the brief moment of surprised silence to hurl an explosion curse at another opponent. She initially aimed to take out the goblins, as the powers granted to them by the Ancient Magic artefacts were the most unpredictable. The element of surprise was short-lived, and soon she was being attacked with curses from all sides. She dodged, protected herself, attacked, and hurled stones and barrels at her opponents with the remaining Ancient Magic she possessed. Slowly, she found the old rhythm that had brought her so much success as an Auror.

"She's alone," she suddenly heard a male voice shout, and as expected, new enemies appeared from all directions. Elaine was surrounded. She felt her stamina waning and a new wave of pain signalling its presence in her body, but she had no intention of giving up. Her fighting style resembled a dance, and as long as she didn't lose the rhythm, she would get out of there alive. Attack, dodge, Protego, spin, a step to the side, Bombarda. She took out one attacker after another. As she turned once more, one of the dark wizards suddenly stood right in front of her, grinning.

"You're not what you used to be since you encountered your sister in Scarborough, are you? But don't worry, soon you'll be a happy little family again."

Elaine lowered her wand.

"My... sister?"

"You heard right. Your sister is the Obscurial."

Before Elaine could respond, the stranger pointed his wand at her and whispered, "Crucio."

The pain hit her suddenly and familiarly. Elaine dropped her wand and sank to her knees. In that moment, she knew she had lost. The first time she had encountered the curse, her body had barely obeyed her, and back then, she had been young and uninjured. This time, it felt like she was burning from the inside out, as if the fire that had taken her father was now slowly and deliberately consuming her own life. It felt as though every scar on her skin was ripping open again, letting her life force slowly drip to the ground. Elaine wanted to scream, but she couldn't. All the air had been pressed out of her lungs, and she couldn't inhale to counter it. Elaine felt gravity pulling her down and watched in slow motion as the cobblestones approached.

"We need you alive, but not in your right mind," the dark wizard grinned cunningly, "let's see how long you-"

Suddenly, the effect of the torture curse faded. At the last moment, Elaine turned to the side so she wouldn't land too harshly on the stone floor. She managed to lift her gaze just in time to see the dark wizard being knocked off his feet. More flashes of light followed at impressive speed, and within a short time, the forecourt of the orphanage was silent. Elaine heard footsteps approaching, their rhythm regularly interrupted by short pauses. Someone who slowly and deliberately knelt beside her. Then fingertips brushed her tangled hair from her forehead. Elaine recognized the touch immediately. A hand on her shoulder, reassuring her that she was no longer alone and wouldn't have to be in the future. Elaine briefly closed her eyes, as if trying to hold on to and preserve the warmth that suddenly filled her body.

But then she heard something that made her perk up, and by the time she identified its source, it was too late. A curse hit Aesop Sharp's left leg. He collapsed in front of Elaine without uttering a sound in his shock. She reached for her wand, and an unfamiliar feeling coursed through her.

For the first time in her life, she was driven by an intention other than helping. For the first time, her goal shifted from seeking a cure to a different, more destructive impulse: she wanted revenge. Revenge for the pain inflicted on both of them. Revenge for the time stolen from her. Revenge for the feelings taken from her because her days were numbered.

Quickly, she fired one attacking spell after another. She didn't give her opponent a chance to defend himself, and she didn't care. She was aware that she was losing control and that all her anger and sorrow were pouring out in this battle. It was as if this attack reminded her of the day she had pushed Sharp away and she wanted her opponent to pay for her own mistakes. When she was sure the dark wizard wouldn't get up again, she rushed back to the crumpled body on the cobblestones and knelt beside him.

"Here, drink this. It's not much, but..." Elaine pleaded helplessly, holding a bottle of Wiggenweld potion out to Sharp while placing her other hand on his shoulder. Finally, Sharp emerged from his trance, obeyed, and drank. He struggled to get up. He tried to conceal it, but Elaine could tell by the way he moved and how his facial features hardened that he was far from well. That he accepted her help without protest showed her that it was serious. Silently, he looked at her.

"What are you doing here? Why did you follow me? I..." Elaine finally managed to say, but her sentence was interrupted by a rough hand that cupped her cheek and tenderly stroked her face. Elaine trembled.

"I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have..." she tried to explain, but couldn't find the right words for all the mistakes she had made in recent weeks. She had to muster all her strength to calm down. Sharp gently shook his head.

"I remember very well how I treated those who tried to help when I was released from St. Mungo's," he said, his voice tired and weak, "and I also remember that I soon regretted pushing away those closest to me and was too proud to admit it. Those were some very lonely months. I thought I could at least try to spare you that."

Elaine looked down and took a deep breath. She didn't deserve so much understanding, and she knew it. Suddenly, she remembered what the dark wizard had mentioned.

"The attacker... he said that my sister..."

"Yes, I heard that," Sharp replied, concerned.

"Do you think the woman we encountered in Scarborough... But that can't be, it..."

"Based on everything we know so far, it could actually be the case."

Elaine swallowed. Why could she remember her father but not her sister, whom she might have even met in person? Then she shook her head, trying to dispel the thought of the woman who looked so much like her. There were more important things to worry about now.

"Can you walk? We could disapparate back to Hogsmeade and..."

"It's fine, really. I'm already feeling better."

Elaine noted the beads of sweat on his forehead, revealing that he wasn't telling the truth, but she also knew it was pointless to try to change his mind. She considered how to convince him not to put himself in danger without hurting his pride. He couldn't stay here.

"Would... would you come with me?" Elaine changed the subject, nodding towards the entrance of the orphanage, where the sun was now starting to rise. For a moment, Sharp hesitated.

"I don't think someone like me is the right..."

He was about to point to the scar on his face, but then he remembered that Elaine's face was also marked by scars, grief, and countless battles. Sometimes he still saw in her the carefree student who played wizard's chess with her friends in the Great Hall.

"Believe me, we're not the worst thing these children have seen in their lives."

Sharp finally agreed and followed Elaine. From the corner of her eye, she saw that he was limping more severely than before.

PS: I know that 'Haegel's Ham' had a different name in the 19th/20th century, but I like the name, so I kept it.

-> Chapter 14 - Haegel's Ham II

[sphinxlosestheirmind]

PET HEADCANONS!!

Paradox has a cat named Mal- short for Malefic. She’s a mainecoon cat because I want one. She’s yellow-orange and has a bad attitude towards pretty much anyone except Paradox, his siblings (Jun & Ryoken- HC!!) and sporadic others. She’s also very spoiled and adored, and often gets lost despite the fact she hates going outside even for a single moment.

Vector in a modern au specifically would have a chow chow named Don Thousand. I perhaps am writing a fic with this concept but we’ll see if I ever finish it. Anyway, it’s the sweetest dog but literally GIANT with very fluffy dark brown fur and a red collar with a dangling bell and bow attached. I’m sorry I just love the idea of him having this huge dog that should by all accounts be a small breed. Love when dogs match the person too, so the brown is a little reddish even though it’s dark.

Can’t see many of the others having pets so I’m just going to list stupid ones below: (cw cursing)

Thomas - Some sort of stupid parrot who just repeats shit. I hate him. He teaches that bird to be awful to people and then it mimics his laugh for no reason so you just hear the two of them laughing at you at the exact same time. Horrible man and his horrible bird.

Reiji - A cat that just knows things. It’s a gray cat and also matches him really well. It just sits at his desk and STARES. Maybe Thomas gets it a mini pair of glasses just for fun and Ryoken ties a mini red scarf around its neck (me when I always manage to shoehorn my favorite ship in..)

Ryoken & Jun - Mal. They fucking love Mal so much even with her bad behavior. Maybe they had a pair of twin cats too that looked like them but with swapped personalities? Like a white cat who gets really pissy and a black cat who just vibes and walks around like he knows shit.

(Btw I HC them as twins- this isn’t me shipping Jun & Ryoken.. I’m too attached to them as siblings to ever do that..)

Antinomy & Placido - HEAR ME OUTTTT! These two would get a huge dog. Idc if you ship them or not but they’d accidentally find some dog abandoned together, get attached, and then be forced to co-parent because neither are fully willing to give the dog up to the other. Maybe a pitbull. Like one of the big gray ones who are just sweethearts even if they look intimidating.

Sherry - Doberman. Next question. No she does not do anything to its ears. She would never. I love her dearly. She probably names the dog something in French and won’t tell anyone what it means so they’re forced to spell it wrong into google translate later to find out. It has the exact same attitude as her. Also Roseknight for the win so it adores Aki and unintentionally wingman’s for Sherry.

Z-One - I can kind of see him being that sort of person who says “no. we’re not getting a pet. no.” then becomes hyper attached to it. Specifically Mal. She entrances him with her horrible l beady eyes and soft little paws. He goes really still sometimes and just won’t move while he’s thinking so she just naps on him. He won’t even feel her because she’s pretty light and does it on the more mechanical side. Paradox & co have so many pictures. He’s so embarrassed but they think it’s really cute and Mal is just too adorable.

Can’t think of any more right now but I might continue later. We’ll see.

[stardust-falling]

Heya! Figured I'd ask on your main since it's not actually svsss canon related, but would you mind sharing more info about Asian hair texture, particularly curly?? I tried looking it up (mainly on YouTube for visual reference and descriptions) but got overwhelmed instantly and don't know where to start. I'm a white Scandinavian and never had many irl friends of other ethnicities, so I'm feeling very clueless.

Alright so, obligatory disclaimer that I'm just talking about my own experiences, and not saying it's universal. There's gonna be a variety, even if there are similarities.

So, a lot of times if you look up on the internet "asian curly hair" or "natural asian curly hair" the pictures... most of them probably won't actually be real, it'll be styled looks. Especially since "natural" could mean "natural-looking."

A bit about asian hair in general, strands are thicker, with a higher number of cuticle cells. Asian hair is usually stronger than other hair types, and has a stiffer feeling to it-- it holds its shape well, and if cut short will usually stick straight out of the scalp without falling down (for example, when my hair is shorter to mid-length, if i press my hand down against my head, my hair will create a sort of cushion. There's a bit of give and it's not flat to my scalp). Asian hair is heavy, too, and has a reddish undertone to it regardless of the color, if it's black or brown-colored (not all Asian hair is black! Most, but not all, and Asian hair has a tendency to brown a bit in the sun, so rarely will someone long-haired have completely jet-black hair all the way down). There's a bit of a quality where the strands of hair will cling to themselves (my guess is because the higher cuticle count), so it can be pretty easy to pin up with just a hair stick, and doesn't fall out that easily. The texture when feeling it can be a little bit coarse, but still soft and silky depending on hair care. Mine has been both at different times. In my opinion, Asian hair can also be quite glossy and lustrous in comparison with other hair types, but part of that might have more to do with just the dark color. Another thing is that Asian hair grows fast. I can cut mine pretty short and then it'll grow to shoulder-length within a few months. This has overall made me pretty liberal with my haircuts-- if I want shorter hair or a different cut, I don't have to think too hard about it, since it'll be long enough to tie back again in a pretty short time.

Obviously this is all generalization, and might not apply to everyone, we're not a monolith.

So now for my own personal experience with curly-type hair:

Disclaimer again, I am mostly Han Chinese ethnically, but I have a little of mixed Central/Northern Asian and eastern European ancestry, several generations back at the most recent. This may contribute to my hair texture, or it may not-- I also know people with curly-textured hair that are 100% East Asian.

So, through most of my life, up until around my late teens to early adulthood, my hair was completely straight and smooth. At the very most, on humid days there would be frizz, and perhaps the ends of my hair would curl inward ever so slightly, but everything from the top of my head to the end of my hair was straight without a single wave. I'm not sure exactly when it changed, just that at some point it did-- probably having something to do with puberty, but who knows?

Now, my overall hair texture ranges from around 1b or 1c to roughly 2b. Not particularly curly in the overall scheme of curls, but definitely curly relative to the usual texture for my ethnic background! But wait, there's more. Remember how I mentioned that Asian hair will keep its shape and cling to itself? Well, my hair does this thing where different sections have more curls than others. So while most of my hair might hover around 1c-2a on the average day, in a few places on my head, some might be almost completely straight, while others might be 2c or even into type 3 hair, where it starts to corkscrew a bit (especially annoying when one section of this happens to be in the fringe and it's turning the wrong direction).

Unless I were to style it, there's not really any uniformity to the curl at all, and I might wake up one day to find the bigger curls in completely different places than the day before. It's hard to find any rhyme or reason to it. Sometimes it can look pretty cute, but other times it's just hard to manage.

Then, there's the frizz. Oh, the frizz is my nemesis. I can always tell when it's about to rain, because my hair suddenly gets much curlier and starts to frizz, and at that point it's basically impossible to smooth out even when I tie it back. Right now I live in a very humid area, so it's worse than back when I lived in the mountains (fun fact, if I'm in the mountains, or somewhere without a lot of humidity, my hair texture goes back to being straight, if not completely so).

One particular characteristic is that my hair is so heavy that when it's longer, the top part is straight while the bottom is curly, about the bottom third of it or so-- it weighs itself down and pulls the strands taut on the upper portion.

Truth be told, I'm still getting used to how to handle this change myself. I don't really know which products to use (I've experimented with mixed success but usually just don't have the spoons), or best ways of styling (if any other curly-haired EAsians out there have tips, I would be much obliged 😭)

And yeah, I probably have some internalized bias that makes me feel negatively, and think of my hair type now as basically just "difficult." I'm sure once I figure out how to embrace and manage it properly, it'll be a lot easier and I'll find more to like, but that's a little bit of a personal journey, and coming to accept things more doesn't mean that the tendencies of my hair will change, so this is just a description of the way it acts, and things that may be a bit more unusual compared to what I know about other hair types.

I'm not sure if I'm reading much into it, but looking at EAsian art and cartoons vs western art and cartoons, I'll often see western art and animation drawing out the whole shape of the hair on the head, with a uniform direction of curl and motion, while EAsian artists define sections and strands specifically, even when straight. I wonder if that has something to do with the way hair behaves differently and peoples' familiarity with it. It may, it may not-- it's still kind of interesting to me, because when I see a character with touseled or curly hair in EAsian media or drawn by an EAsian artist, it usually ends up looking a lot more like mine than western hair-drawing methods.

Anyway, this has been very long, but I hope it's at least a little bit helpful! Other EAsian people are more than welcome to add onto this post with their own hair experiences too!

[rmorde]

Trigun Manga Reaction

Now unto Volume 1 - Chapter 4

Meryl sums up Vash so well. He gave the bounty to the people that hunted him.

AND he also gave food to Kuroneko.

I must say tho. How did they get salmon? I get that the Plants can produce them. But... how? Do the Plants produce them as raw whole fish? Live fish? Neatly sliced fish? The production of water and energy is really easy to imagine. However, specific stuff like this bewilders me.

Also, I like the '98 a little better because the townspeople are more involved - showing remorse and gratitude at the same time.

Another incredible double spread. I like the massive scale of the ship is drawn. But I'm distracted by Meryl and Milly's hands here. It's so funny how to communicates so much fury and incredulity.

WAIT. WHAT?!

So, the tracking device stuff happened way earlier?!

It's interesting how these sequence of events were re-arranged in the '98 with minor changes. Yet even with that, the "spirit" of the characters stayed true.

Meryl and Milly are competent with their jobs. It's just that Vash is a bit "very much" and they constantly have to adapt to the string of unfortunate events shenanigans he always inevitably get involved in.

LMAO!!! This never gets old. But why is the other kitty not here too?! I guess the reddish brown one is a'98 original.

Another interesting double page that makes me wonder... How does it look in a book format? Wouldn't there be some warping in the middle that may affect the full picture?

I'm curious because I'm reading the Overhaul version atm since the official English release, apparently, is not exactly stellar with the translation (Hopefully not John Werry level). Anyway, the pages are cleaned up so the art is great for the double page spreads.

Oh. I like the composition of the info dump in here. Have the travel route arrow on the map connect Text Box 1 to Text Box 2 is quite clever.

Wasn't able to say it before but Tristamp Tonis broke my heart. Compared to his '98 and manga counterparts... It's not fair! Plus his ruined relationship with Vash...

AHAHAHAHA. So silly! Poor Vash.

After coming off from Tristamp, seeing this in the manga and remembering how it was in '98... holy fucking shit Tristamp Vash had it worse. So so much worse. That poor iteration of Vash didn't even got the chance to breathe or be appreciated like this by the people on screen. It was just one long trauma conga line.

Or maybe it was a problem in pacing? Tristamp went hard and fast with its story pace (practically JJK style) unlike here in the manga and most definitely unlike '98. The latest Trigun adaptation left no room for filler-y stuff like this... I wish they did tho.

But augh... thinking about it, maybe it's for the best that Studio Orange didn't because Roberto would definitely feel like a Milly replacement and earn more fan ire (which would totally be understandable imho). The production will be tougher too since it means more animation to do especially "anime physics" character acting which, as I mentioned before, is rough to do in 3D.

However... Vash deserved a lot more comfort in Tristamp not to mention even more character dynamics between Meryl, Wolfwood, and Roberto. Sigh. It's the JJK Pacing Dilemma all over again for me.

I remember this too from '98! And it is still funny. I can still hear the VA's "drunk" voice.

AHAhaha...Ha... One of the things that flew over my head as a kid and then finally understood as an adult.

But I wonder if there are ulterior motives here too? Like trying to tie Vash down more to the town - perhaps a good night with a woman would make him hesitate to leave? Not that he ever would as obviously seen in the panel and the next.

Idk. Maybe I'm reading too much into it now.

Sigh... Another sweet Tonis moment. Tristamp Vash was robbed!

I shouldn't laugh but AHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA!!!!

OMFG AND VASH PULLED A NIGHTMARE FACE BECAUSE OF IT TOO!!!

Idk. '98 faithfully animated this but the manga seems funnier to me. Can't explain why.

The kid has more spunk in his intro on '98 tho with his backtalking to Vash.

Really really good shadowing...

I'M SORRY WHAT?! WAS INTO SODO- Wait wait wait.... Let me check something...

So, in the OG JP Dub it was implied. Maybe. Who knows if the translation was accurate?! However, in the ENG Dub it was not. Just a general "He always trying to get at me!"... I always thought that he just meant that the "Uncle" is physically abusive and not sexual.

OKAY! Now it makes sense why this kid was worried that his story was "too impossible" to be believed. He straight up used the term "sodomy". Children suffering from such threats or abuse won't usually say it so formally (?) like that (or as I believe but I'm not knowledgeable on this). It was a red flag of a lie. Hmm... small change but quite an impact.

Huh... If you ask me, I think dish duty is much better than the cashier. Customer service gives me the hives.

However, '98 I think made the right call to have Meryl and Milly work the cashier. It suits them especially since they used it as an opportunity to bully Vash!

[eolewyn1010]

Downton Abbey Fashion 38 - indoors fashion in 1922

I wonder if Violet is offended that, now that she’s trying out looser, more draped wrap tops on her dresses, the rest of the world has already moved on to other fashions.

Regardless, this seems to be her currently preferred style. She’s wearing it over a base layer of black lace, which once again offers her the collar to attach a brooch to. But I want to talk about her sleeves. What a pretty insertion! And what a curious choice to make them this way; it’s not that Violet couldn’t afford more of this brocade. Since when are we going with understatement here?

A keeper for next season, this is a bit pinker than I’m used to seeing on her. Compared to the last outfit, this looks more classical, the base layer white lace instead of black, the gathered bishop sleeves style, the damask pattern, although subtler, all over the dress instead of reduced to small strips. For the garden, Violet adds a little straw hat that doesn’t look all that grand at all. In fact, with that flower embroidery, that’s a cute little granny hat.

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

Isobel brings back the striped blouses, and although I haven’t seen this one in particular before, the style is very much that of her second-season blouses. She reserves the drop waist for her evening fashion. Blouses go with waistband skirts and pretty buckles.

As does this one. Admittedly, this gorgeous lace insertion collar pops more on one of her dark walking suits, but the design is lovely – and also a repeater; Isobel likes her these arrow-shaped collars.

The shade of this one changes with the light; sometimes it’s a little more on the reddish plum side, sometimes it goes more into blueish purple. But I’m certain enough it’s the same blouse, with the pin tucks everywhere on back and shoulders.

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

Still not a fan of sack-shaped blouses on Cora, so we’ll do these in one go. They look very similar anyway, only the one with the whitework has a more casual neckline. The light blue one looks a tad more elegant, the boat neckline higher but spreading further to the shoulders. And admittedly, I think the overall embroidery is more charming. They both will be back in season 5.

For a little ensemble, Cora pairs a very straight-lined, very rectangular grey silk satin dress with this overshirt of dusty purple chiffon. It’s kept rather plain, but the lattice element that makes up the trim, square as it may be, is charming.

The return of the high collar and the puffy shoulders, but that’s all the nod to past fashions this blouse will give. It still has a drop waist and the black beading playing at meander seems to nod at the orientalism influences in 1920s fashions. The overall effect is quite nice with how it pops against the black skirt; if it weren’t for the collar, it would probably be a favorite of mine.

I think this jacket is part of an ensemble; the second picture allows a glimpse at a skirt with pinstripes, but in the same dark grey shade. The jacket has these buttoned waistband elements that are already familiar by now but still don’t fulfill a structural purpose. And then it has these little slits above the chest that are framed with a tiny scalloped trim. Are these pockets? They seem to sit in a strange place for pockets, so I’ll go with purely decorative. And you get a shot of the blouse without the jacket, too, because this doesn’t have enough to talk about to warrant its own paragraph. It’s orange, I guess. And generic enough to stay on to season 5 and even 6.

We’ll finish on a pretty blue house dress with white flower bundles all over. I’m not sure if they are embroidered or woven in tbh? But let’s look at the cuffs for a moment: This lighter blue fabric with a floral print is repeated – lining out an asymmetrical slit down her left chest. And this exact slit design is one I’ve seen before, on one of my favorite house dresses from Rosamund’s earlier wardrobe. I know that asymmetry was big in 1920s fashion, but is this particular slit design based on originals? I’m fascinated.

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

Incidentally, Rosamund does wear a dress this season that’s a little similar to Cora’s. It doesn’t have that little slit element, but it does have a round neckline, half-long sleeves, and a pale embroidery motif on blue fabric. Rosamund goes with a vertically arranged feathers design rather than flowers strewn haphazardly all over, and I think I like her dress a little better, if only because I like the feather motif and the gold shades in it plus these darling little cuffs.

Let’s go with something super boring for a change. I don’t know; this is just a wide sandy sweater with a deep V neckline over a white blouse. I guess it has an orange and white trim design that reaches down the front? Eh. It’s a thing, it’s there.

This is better. The lovelier half of 1920s rectangle cuts is when they 1st layer this whole bitch and set the layers off from each other, if here only via the subtlest golden ribbon trim, and 2nd they pick a fabric that does all the work on its own. While this is a very brown outfit, you couldn’t say it doesn’t have anything going on with all this print. Also, the skirt is slit on the side, having more golden silk satin peeking out from the under layer.

Admittedly, this dress surprised me. The shape seems fundamentally Rosamund, but the color scheme is one I associate so strongly with Edith. Granted, Rosamund is very much tied into her arc this season, being the one person who knows what went down between Edith and Michael Gregson. So, indigo and orange it is. And another playful asymmetrical design. Not sure if I like how the vertical stripes are arranged on the front of her dress, but I think the cuffs are absolutely darling. Also, Rosamund has a similar hair color as Edith, so she can pull off the color scheme.

[lizmindpalace]

English love affair

This is inspired by English love affair by 5SOS and sort of by Lost in reality It is basically what I wanted from the UR+ card "A misty town". Pairing: Obey me Lucifer x f!reader.

Summary: Lucifer does not pay enough attention to you, and you are growing tired about it.

Word count: 7.3 K

Status: Complete.

Warnings: None, really, just some little innuendos. Pure fluff. Summer vibes.

This is 100% self-indulgent because the few last months were really tough for me and my heart was in need of some comfort.

Find it on AO3 and Wattpad.

The lights had turned down a while ago, the windows were open, and the sound of a light rain had drowned any noises around the house, but not the pictures burning in his brain. Heavens tears were dripping on the windows' glasses, beating them in synchrony with his heart, both the rain and his heart beat, slowly increasing their pace, as he kept wandering in that distant land, more than seven thousand miles away from home and days ago in time. 

It had all started on a weekend in May, the nights were clearer, and the heat had reached its maximum. He had been doing some paperwork that had to be submitted that same night, even if it was Saturday. It was hard enough to get to focus on something that dull while the temperature made his cheeks blaze and his brain slow down, but it became harder when he decided to open the windows so he could get a bit of the late spring breeze and then had to contemplate how the other inhabitants of the house looked to be enjoying the weather, playing around, abandoning the house for a night out with the promise of leaving a unforgettable memory for the years to come. 

Among the joy radiating from his brothers, as if it was a dark cloud in a clear blue sky, he could perceive a shadow that had a despondent face hidden between colourless fingers.

"Cm'on, MC, let's go to the casino, the drinks are on me".

"Sorry Mammon, but I'm not feeling like going to a casino tonight".

"She'd rather go to the spa with me".

"Or to the collectible merchandise pop up store for the new comedy 'I wished I lived in my Otome game and then it came true and now finally I'm living the life I wanted ' that is only open for limited time with me!"

"Actually, no boys, I think I'll pass tonight, and I'll stay here and wander around the garden, you guys go out and have fun, bring me some souvenirs".

 After a few moments of disagreement, the crowd vanished, the breeze had scattered them as though they were tree leaves, leaving only a shadowy figure under the tree, in complete silence and loneliness. 

"You should go out and have fun too, MC". 

"I did not feel like it". 

The man sat down by your side, and looked at the reddish sky, it was the closest you could have to a sunset, you looked at it as well, it was pretty but not as much as the stunning sunsets from the human world; you loved the Devildom and you had learnt to think of it as home, but sometimes you really felt homesick about the human world. His gaze met your glistening eyes. 

"May I know the cause of your sorrow?" he asked with a soft voice, despite the fact his usual severity was present, you could tell he was worried, maybe he was afraid that you were not taking care of yourself. 

"I'm not sad". You tried and he rolled his eyes at you.

"I presume you are homesick. Perhaps we could arrange that Diavolo allows you to go to the human world for a week, or a couple of weeks if possible, I consider that would solve any problems regarding your mental health". 

You panted but nodded.

"Whatever, you'll let me know, right? You should go back to work, it looks like it is very important". 

He frowned. 

"You certainly do not seem happy with my resolution, but I'm not able to help you further if you do not tell me what the issue is".

"It's nothing, I mean, what could be wrong? I've always loved to spend my Saturday nights alone in the darkness, I mean, that's what you have a boyfriend for, right? That's just the ideal date: being all alone in the garden while he complies with his owner's orders, and that is as well the perfect definition of a boyfriend, the kind of boy who is working in his office all day and night long, and he ends up being so tired it takes him a second to fall asleep, and in addition, he forgets you exist".

You were not that kind of person, but lately everything felt like too much, he was never around when you needed him, and you had started to feel really bad about it, and yes, maybe you were homesick too, you longed for the human world's summertime.

"I beg your pardon?" Lucifer looked at you, he was confused, and he could not believe you were behaving like this and expressing your feelings in such way. 

"You never spend time with me anymore! I'm tired of being broken hearted, it is like you take me for granted all the time".

 Those words sent a different kind of pain to his chest and a bitter taste to his mouth. Had he been that thoughtless? Had he been so careless? He knew well his six brothers, lower range demons, some of the angels and even Diavolo himself and all members of the student council had fallen for you, and you had chosen him, you were dating him and not the other way round, as much as that expression hurt his pride, he would not care less; and yet, it did not sound like he deserved such honour. 

His face remained calm, but his heart was beating faster than ever. 

"I apologise about that" he whispered, he was almost wordlessly, he could only reach out for your hand as answer. 

"It's ok, I did not mean to throw a hissy fit about that". You said after some moments of silence. "It is not important. Go back to your work, I will listen to your advice, and I will go out and have some fun instead, being locked up here is getting on my nerves".

You let his hand go and rose, then walked towards the house of lamentation, vanished into your bedroom. Lucifer sighed, and returned to his office as well, he left the window open so he could keep an eye at the entrance and at you, he did not think you would dare go out alone despite your words, he was sure you acknowledged how dangerous it was to venture yourself into the blackness of the Devildom streets, but he would like to check in case you did or something else happened.

 The hours in front of the monitor had affected his already tired eyes, he blinked several times, he was almost blind. He rubbed his eyes when a cloud in his eyes came to life, and moved around as if it was an actual being. He approached to the window and noticed it was not an effect of the light, but it was his human going out as he had suggested. But why were you dressed like that? 

A short sparkling dress indicated what your plans were, Lucifer did not want to think too hard about it. He did not want to be possessive, but it was his true nature, he could not help it, and he would be lying if he said that the mere thought of you being seen by everyone like this did not make his blood boil, or maybe it was the thought of you meeting someone attracted by you who would make you think was a better option than he was. Which was another thought he was not being able to bear, even if they were probably right about it.  

"So... are you going out after all?" He had decided to casually interfere, now that he was coming closer his pace was slow, and he was glad you didn't see when he literally ran out of his study so he could get to you before you finally left, his demeanour was calm, but fire flowed through his eyes. 

"I am". You said nonchalantly, hanging your bag on your right shoulder, looking at the pocket mirror in your hand, and approving the way you looked. He approved it too, but he did not approve you were going out and all of those demons got to see you too. 

"May I know where you are going?"

"You have interest in me all of a sudden?" You teased him, with a tiny smile. You had known what his reaction was going to be all along. 

"MC..." 

"Asmo said he had changed his plans and he would be in a bar with some of his acquaintances, I felt like dancing, so see you later, have fun with your work". 

Lucifer looked astonished at you, his mouth and eyes wide open. 

"No" he said, it took him less time than you had expected, it had been a long time since the last time he had talked to you in that way, determination impregnated in his voice. 

"Sorry?" You frowned, looked at him in feigned confusion. 

"You're not going there".

"And why not? Just because you don't want me to go?" You mocked him. 

"Just because you're going somewhere else". 

You frowned again, trying to catch your thoughts because you were now clueless about what his words meant, but he did not hesitate, and soon he had you against the closest wall with no way out, his lips so close to your collarbone, you could feel his warm breath in your skin, sending shivers throughout your body, leaving you like a little inoffensive sheep cornered by a wolf; showing you why he was called the avatar of pride and the ruler of the underworld. 

" You have five minutes. Pack your things up, we're leaving for a whole week".

A smile was drawn on your lips, lightning up yours and Lucifer's faces as well, there was some kind of complicity between the both of you that made your hearts race, then, you bit your lower lip and nodded after he whispered into your ear "it's an order, attendant". 

You did as you had been prompted. You hurried upstairs and got some clothes in your bag, as well as some basic supplies. Soon you had a backpack with you, and you were waiting for Lucifer to knock at your door.

Which he did, sort of. He did not wait for an answer and just entered your room, taking your bag. 

"But what about your work? And Diavolo? And everyone else?, they could get worried if we just leave like this". 

"They'll have to deal with it".

He took your hand in his and hurried out the house of the lamentation, dragging you along with him.

"You did not even tell me where we're going". 

He remained silent, you imagined you were going somewhere near the devildom, but once you saw you were coming closer to the border with the human world, you knew.

"Didn't we need some kind of authorisation from Diavolo to leave the Devildom?" 

Lucifer shrouded. He never stopped until you two were walking down the wet pavement, surrounded only by orange buildings whose white mouldings stood out in the gloom of the night.  You were trying to figure out where you were, but nothing gave you the slightest clue about it. 

You had no option but to follow the man inside the orange building and then to the single bedroom for two. You looked through the window while he arranged everything related to your stay there. You saw the fancy houses and cars parked outside of them, it was really Lucifer like, you did not have a single clue where you were, until the blue and red flag let you know. 

"Is this Mayfair?"

He smiled. 

"You wanted to go to a bar, didn't you?" 

You did not notice when he got rid of his coat, still wearing his devil every day clothes, he forced you to leave again. 

The pub was overflowing with people and loud catchy music, you could get lost in such a crowd at any second, because the lights danced leaving blindness behind. 

Fortunately, the so-called avatar of pride never let go of you, and soon you noticed you two were swinging to the beat of the music in the background, he had placed your arms around his shoulders and his hands held you in place with a grasp on your hips. 

Your body had captivated him, but once your foreheads were close enough, your eyes stole his complete attention, you could see yourself in them, being unknown in such a crowd was revitalizing, his movements let you know he was enjoying himself more than ever, and you realised how much mistaken his brothers were when they thought Lucifer did not know how to have fun. Maybe it was the fact he had already drunk three glasses of wine, you did not expect him to get drunk off human alcohol, considering that demonous was at least fifth times stronger, but he was proving you wrong. 

His always earnest, composed, paper like face, was now cheerful, his sharp teeth stuck out of his lips, as if they were thirsty for blood, your blood. In addition, a distinct gleam was radiating from his eyes, the kind of gleam he had when you were around and you pretended you weren't aware of his gaze, and that he would hide away when he realised you had noticed. This time he was not trying to skulk it, it was in plain sight, as he wanted you to notice. It felt as though he was devouring you using only his eyes, and you could feel your legs shaking, almost making you fall to your knees and hit the floor.

Summer heat impregnated your bodies and your minds, Lucifer's demonic personality stood out on the changing environment surrounding both of you. Your movements had made the two of you get closer. His hands on you lower back, yours in his hair. He would not say it out loud, but you could perceive he was waiting for more, for the next step, but he doubted, because you were sure he did not want to harm you and that was why he would patiently wait, although you were sure, it would not be for so much longer. 

It was your turn to take his hand, to take the initiative to let him know it was fine, you got to the silent streets, where you hailed a taxi, what a blessing the taxi had some kind of compartment and the driver was not able to see the kisses you were stealing from your demon, and how he was devouring your mouth in return. 

The car stopped and you two hurried your way upstairs to the flat Lucifer had got for you, something burned inside you, you wanted to be closer to him, even closer since you were already closer than ever already, your kisses were preventing you from getting to your bedroom, the avatar or pride was slowly ousting the avatar of lust and taking his place. The door opened as if welcoming the two of you. You did not notice when Lucifer was over you, staring with his lustful eyes at you, as if you were his prey with no way to escape. 

You wanted to say something, but your senses were preventing you from thinking, you were not able to remember your actions either, so probably you had managed to say Lucifer's name, because he had also heard a whisper, his name slipping away from someone's lips, he left your neck for a second, leaving the heat behind for a moment, staring at the darkness, something was wrong, something felt odd, he had recognised that voice. 

"For hell's sake..."

You let totally go from Lucifer's grasp and stood up. 

"It's not fair you thought you could have MC all for yourself!"

"And all the fun". Asmodeus seconded Belphegor. 

He rolled his eyes at his brothers, your cheeks reddened, while you were trying to recompose yourself, hoping no one had seen your previous scene. 

"Of course, no one would like to invite the otaku shut in along, I had that coming". 

Lucifer sighed, took his hand to his forehead and rubbed it in frustration, shutting his eyes close. His plans had been spoiled in the worst of ways. 

"What are you doing here?" Lucifer did not try to hide his annoyance. A tiny smile was drawn on Satan's face. 

"How did you know we were here?" You finally asked.

Lucifer got his phone out of his pocket and checked it carefully because Satan's gaze suggested he knew something he did not. 

"We have an alert when you leave for the human world, you know, and as every time you do it you bring MC with you, we just wanted to check she was fine". Satan replied, the cunning smile never fading. 

"So, we should all have a sleepover, since it's too late to go out now".

"Or we could all join Lucifer and MC in their activities, I think they were having fun". 

You blushed again, failing at hiding it and your eyes meeting the floor.

"I think the sleepover would be better, there are always snacks in a sleepover". Beel commented. "And human snacks, which is even better". 

"I think it sounds like a good idea, the eight of us can have fun that way. I'll just go to put my pajamas on". 

You panted once you were alone in your bedroom for the night, even if you pretended a sleepover with all of them was a good idea and you loved all seven of them, you had really been looking forward to spending some time with Lucifer, alone. It tasted as if you had swallowed disappointment. You looked yourself in the mirror and forced yourself to smile.

Throughout the night, Lucifer and you were only able to exchange looks while his brothers were not paying attention, because they would always interfere when you were trying to speak, but with a single blink, he let you know he would find a way. You were trying to focus on the board games, and at the end you managed to have a good time when you were singing karaoke together. None of you knew when you had fallen asleep on the floor. 

The morning came sooner than expected, it was summer, school was supposed to be over, so why were they forced to wake up at that time in the morning? 

"Lucifer, for g- Diavolo's sake, what do you think you're doing silly? We had a blast last night, I have barely slept, and I need my sleeping beauty".  

The demon whose arms were crossed over his chest looked annoyed at them, he was not happy, he was not even joyful, even considering the fact he was getting to punish his brothers, one of the things he enjoyed the most in the world. 

"That's the consequence of leaving without authorisation, Diavolo called me when he noticed none of you were at home, and I had to promise him, this would do some kind of good to the Academy in order to cover the expenses, so we're going to the museum, and you'll submit afterwards a detailed report about it. I've booked tickets for the first tour in the morning, so stop complaining; haste your breakfast and hygiene, we're leaving soon". He looked at his watch in his wrist before speaking again: "and that's in fifteen minutes, so hurry up, or you'll never see the sunlight of the human world ever again, I guarantee you". 

Lucifer's threats were always serious, his punishments would always be something to remember, the crowd showed disapproval during the next fifteen minutes and during the walk towards the museum that took them about thirty minutes, but Lucifer remained silent, he was concentrating on something the others were not able to tell. 

All of them, strolled together along the corridors and through the white marble halls of the museum, the guide explained every single detail in every single painting and sculpture, that outlined human genius from different times and places. There was something about humans, it did not matter where they were from, how they looked like or what language they spoke, they were all the same, just fascinating. All of the demons admired the way they were able to expose their feelings and true colours in those art pieces, it did not take long for them to get lost in the world created by the human's eyes, they soon realised it was as captivating as you were.

A couple of hours passed by in complete calm, Lucifer himself was not able to believe he was having some time in peace, and the weight on his shoulders was slowly vanishing. 

"Lucifer?" A whisper broke the silence everyone was in, it felt as though blood had stained the white veil of the wedding dress everyone dreamed of you wearing in their fantasies. "I cannot find MC". Beelzebub raised his voice, he had not been able to help it, fright and confusion were drawn on his face.

Lucifer finally paid attention to him, now the same expression could be read in his face: bewilderment, if he had to describe it. He looked around, looking for those red cheeks he knew so well.  

"She does not pick her phone either". 

He had been staring at his phone now, he had been thinking of calling you as well, hearing that made him freeze. Even if he knew the human world was safer than the Devildom itself, your whereabouts were always a reason of concern. 

"Remain calm, everyone" Although the one who had to take that piece of advice would have to be himself. "I'll go check with the guard, I'm sure she's in another room or in the toilet, stay together, I don't want more disappearances". 

Everyone remained quiet and silently agreed to his instruction, Beelzebub suggested the tour guide to give them the lunch break at that moment so they could stay together in a single place. The six brothers sat in the museum's café, they were trying to have lunch but instead they kept staring at the entrance, waiting for Lucifer, they expected to see MC by his side wearing a shy smile. 

But that did not happen.

"Now Lucifer is taking an awful amount of time".

"Leave it to me, I'll call him". Mammon suggested after hearing Asmo saying what he was thinking. 

"Beel, why is Lucifer's phone in your pocket?" Satan raised an eyebrow in suspicion. 

"Oh no, he was so worried he forgot about it. And now if he gets lost, he won't be able to enter the food delivery app, he will starve to death". Everyone could see Beel was really worried about that scenario, he even left his chips by his side for a moment, his face showing worry.

"Let's wait a little longer, and then we'll go back to the flat if they don't show up soon". Satan said and everyone agreed in silence.

It was a shame they were trapped inside when the day outside was so beautiful.

"Are you sure we should be doing this?" You asked a bit worried.

"That's why we escaped from the Devildom in the first place, isn't it? Stop worrying about them and enjoy me instead". 

Your cheeks blushed and Lucifer remembered why he had fallen so hard for you, those colours that made you different to anyone else had captivated him. You kept walking together, you were now far away from the museum.

"I know, but they'll be worried, what if they make this bigger than it is?"

"There was no other way, and I would appreciate if you changed the subject, I don't want to think of them at the moment". 

You sighed.

"I thought you were the adventurous kind; you know, the girl studying abroad in the Devildom, falling for the bad guy, you should be enjoying this". He snickered at you, and you rolled your eyes at him, but just after a moment, you joined him and laughed, he was somewhat right. 

You surmised he was completely right after all, and you should enjoy your little adventure by his side, after all, his brothers had been the ones to show up without permission and without invitation and had spoiled your little time off. You took his hand in yours while you walked down the street after reflecting on this. 

The fresh summer breeze was slapping your face, messing with your hair while your eyes fought to stay open, it made you feel at home, at ease, the feeling got stronger when you remembered you were with your lover, as if you were complete, your heart danced, and your blood rushed through your veins to reach it out. 

"Fancy some tea? What? We're in London, aren't we?"

"Are you really offering me tea even considering this heat?"

"Would you rather have an ice cream, instead?" Lucifer said and your eyes shone while you nodded in approval. The both of you reached out to the park, it was greener than ever before, and the trees danced to the beat of the wind, Lucifer got you an ice cream that handed to you, and you suggested to sit down in the swings, he looked at you as if you were one more of his childish brothers, but at the end, he gave up, he smiled once you two were slightly moving back and forth, enjoying the good weather and your dessert. The sound of the tree leaves reminded you of a waterfall, the sun warming your body and the sound of people gave you the sort of relaxation, you had been longing for so long.

"Did you leave your phone at the flat as I advised?"

"They'll find it on the bedroom's vanity". 

"Good, Satan won't be able to track us down this time". 

You shared his devilish smile, knowing you had got your way this time. 

"May I try yours?"

Lucifer frowned at you, your smiling face produced some kind of affection to his chest that changed his behaviour every time, it was weird to be seen in public like that, but no one knew him there, he remembered, so he obliged and fed you with his own ice cream. 

"Try mine..." you made a grimace when he refused. "Don't make me force you". 

"I would like to see you try".

"Sta-"

He groaned, irritated. 

"I can do it. There's no need to do that". 

He licked your ice cream while you chuckled, perhaps you were actually of the adventurous kind. 

"It has a good taste, I think it's almost as sweet as you, although..."

You could not help yourself, seeing his lips move like that, you wished you were the ice cream instead, and therefore, you hurried to steal a kiss from him before he started talking. He blushed, he had not been expecting it, you had caught him off guard, it felt different in comparison to the night before, when you were anonymous, since now everyone around was looking at you two, or at least that's what he thought. 

He froze for a second, his pride sheltering him, as if he was in a bubble, a bubble you were breaking with your daring actions, he was completely red, almost out of control when a light split the sky into two, drops falling from the sky started landing on your faces, lowering the temperature, you looked up, definitely there was a huge storm coming. 

You did not mind, as long as you could keep holding your beloved one as close as you were now, however, he cared, because he stepped away, and took an umbrella from his coat. 

"You didn't bring yours, did you?"

You shook your head. He sighed. 

"We should seek shelter before it's too late, we can continue whatever we were doing there".

You stared at the sky, that morning when you looked at yourself in the mirror you had been glad of your choice of clothes, black shorts and black sneakers with a shirt with hues of red, you felt pretty and according to the summer, now that the sky was graying out, you were regretting your choices for the day, perhaps it was not appropriate enough now for the approaching storm. You looked at your bare legs with worry, but then another thought came to your mind, you noticed you had been wearing matching colours and you failed at hiding a smile when you realised it. 

You did not want to leave but the grasp of Lucifer's hand made you rose and start walking again down the streets, leaving the natural scenario behind.

"You take it" he forced you to take his transparent umbrella, you looked up and noticed how the drops fell on it, it was a nice umbrella, you could not help but smile while seeing the sky above, crying over you. The calm suddenly changed though, since soon you noticed the light rain turned into a heavy downpour. 

"Come here, you're getting wet".  You gestured at the space by your side, under the umbrella.

"I'm fine, you cover yourself". 

"I don't want to look after a sick demon when this is supposed to be fun, unless you're doing this because you're too embarrassed to be seen with me in public, which you could openly tell me, I'm not willing to beg for your attention ever again, we can leave things like this right now". 

Lucifer took a deep breath, and then after a moment of hesitation, a step closer to you, and then passed his arm around your shoulders, while you kept holding the umbrella. 

"If we walk slow enough none of us will be wet". 

"And if I keep you this close you won't be cold". He whispered. 

You smiled, made him stop in the middle of the street and carefully, placed your arms around his neck, leaving another kiss on his lips. The only thing covering you both was the see-through umbrella and the raindrops falling over it.  Everyone around was looking at you and his cheeks were red as were yours, but you could not care less, you liked it when you made him blush. Even if it was only a side effect of his prideful character. 

"You're being very naughty today, aren't you? I think I will have to do something to correct that behaviour". He leaned in and kissed you roughly this time, as if he was trying to demonstrate he could do better than you at being naughty, while he was demonstrating you, he would not care about his perfect image being scratched by you, he had made that decision, even if there was a chance you were encountered by his brothers again showing affection to each other like this. "I missed you, and I promise you, I'll never let work take over my time like this again". 

He looked around after leaving you breathless, people had started to pass you by, ignoring you, however he must have seen something, because he stopped. "They found us". He took your hand and simply started to run without giving you any opinion on the matter, the umbrella no longer preventing the water from getting into you, making your body freeze, almost producing pain, and two minutes later your hair and clothes were soaking wet, leaving you tired after that little race. You took the red bus after you had stopped, although you had no idea where it was going to. 

"I think we lost them again" Lucifer shook his head, plumping up his hair using his hand. Everything in him was hypnotizing and you could not help but admire his wet hair falling over his forehead, his bright red eyes thinking of something you could not imagine, giving him a mysterious look. You could tell there was some kind of malice in his grimace, he was having fun, he was a damn sadist after all.   

"So, who was following us?" You asked trying to get out of your thoughts, trying to remain calm, you looked at the window, attempting to catch a clue of what was happening. 

"My brothers, of course".

"How did they find us?"

Lucifer shrugged as if it was no important at all, and then held your hand in silence for the rest of the trip. 

Some blocks later across the wet London streets, Lucifer held you by the waist, helping you to descend the bus steps so you would not get wet by stepping into the puddles, as if you could get wetter. 

He took you through another narrow hallway, another tall building showing in front of you and covering the sky, and the rain, the only sound that could be heard were your sloppy steps. He led you upstairs, never letting go of your hand, it was silent. You did not stop climbing until you reached out the roof, the wooden door opened before you, leaving the two of you outside, under the no more gray sky, but rather painted in pink and orange hues, due to the fact the sun was coming back.  The view was spectacular, the whole city of London could be appreciated from there, the wind hit your face, reminding you it was not a dream, you were there in flesh and blood. 

"I'm glad it was here on time."

You glanced over at the table by the balcony, there was pizza and chips, as well as some drinks, you noticed then you were actually starving. 

"Be my guest", he gestured and helped you to have a seat. 

You soon were taking a big bite to your pizza slice. The feeling of being chased and your head revolving around was slowly decreasing thanks to the fact you were getting some energy from your meal, and now you were all of a sudden laughing.

"What is it the matter?"

"I cannot believe they followed us all the way here". 

"My brothers have always shown some kind of protective affection towards you, it was just logical, although inconvenient, especially when you're trying to have a date". 

Your face blushed, and then you stared at your pizza.  

"How did you get the food?"

"Beel, he was quite helpful this time... Listen, it might not be the kind of date you were expecting, and I promise you..."

"Stop right there" you cut him off. 

"I only wanted to spend some time with you, some quality time with no paperwork just you and I alone, no matter what we're doing, and I am very fond of pizza, so I won". 

The fairy lights over your head suddenly turned on, as well as the lights coming from the distant city, you could see the reflection of the sun on the Thames, little ships travelling down its course with their bright flags and lights standing out the growing darkness. It was the phenomena you had been missing, one of the few things that the Devildom could not equal, Lucifer admired the landscape as well, it was likewise, one of his favourite things from the human world, the balance between light and darkness, good and evil, just as it was comprised in its inhabitants. 

"I just wanted to make sure you still..." you interrupted yourself, leaving the sentence unfinished, as if you were choosing the correct words to deliver your message.

"I still and I will always love you, MC". 

You could not help but smile even wider, you were not able to look at his eyes, you felt like a teenager again, maybe even worse, your legs shook every time you thought of him, your checks reddened when you saw him, and your voice stuttered when you talked to him.  You wanted to tell him you loved him as much, but for some reason you could not get the words out of your mouth.

" I love you too, Lucifer". You finally managed to whisper.

Some fresh music started to sound in the background as if magic had produced it. 

"You wanted to dance, didn't you? We've been interrupted every time".

He rose before you could say anything, and dragged you along, soon he had you spinning around the floor, you both laughing because it was something embarrassing (even more embarrassing for the avatar of pride), although you decided he was just enjoying himself as much as you were, which was not usual for him, and you concluded that once in a while, leaving his brothers without surveillance in the middle of the human world creating chaos, was not that bad. 

Your body danced to the rhythm of the music for longer than you imagined; his grip on your waist, your hands around his neck, his perfume invading your senses, even standing out the smell of petrichor, the gift that rain had left for you; the sun had totally set when you separated your dreamy eyes from his, and the moon was now shinning over your heads, with its silver light falling over you, casting living shadows over the floor, the stars were sparkling as much as your eyes were. Your hearts were racing, he was not able to take his eyes off you, or his hands, you were both in some kind of trance, you were sure he had managed to cast some sort of spell on you because your brain was not able to command your limbs, they were only controlled by the electricity of his contact. 

 You did nothing to stop him when his kisses became warmer and more intrusive, or when his hands fought the resistance of the fabric of your clothes; your breath hitched in your chest due to the anticipation with every single kiss and touch, you let yourself fall into his trap of love and seduction, letting the sparks fly in the middle of the fire and the rain. That night, you allowed him to take over your body and soul, you were his prisoner, and you did not want to escape. 

 The music produced by the scattered raindrops on the glass roof woke you up, it was late, but not that late, the stars were still visible, and the sunlight was barely perceived in the horizon. Everything was quiet, then you remembered who you were with when you felt his warm embrace and soft breath under you. 

"Don't leave".  He said, showing some kind of vulnerability he would have hidden if he had been fully awake, that made you heart melt as he had done with your mind and body just a few hours ago, he would not say it out loud, but his heart was completely strung out. "I need your angel eyes". 

You snickered and hugged him back. After that night you would not be able to leave him ever again even if you tried. Why had you waited so long to elope?

 You softly kissed his lips. It took several minutes for you to get up, none of you wanted to let go the other, but at the end, the responsible side of Lucifer finally showed up. So, you were forced you took a shower, while he took care of making breakfast. 

You fixed your appearance in front of the mirror. Lucifer casually walked in to inform you "It's time for breakfast, and then we'll have to leave" and held you from behind and kissed your cheek, then you two stared at each other in the mirror, your faces looked filled with joy and Lucifer particularly, looked as if he had come back to life after being dead for some centuries.   

You nodded. Something was wrong with Lucifer today because he was spoiling you too much, the English breakfast before you was not only appetizing to your eyes, but also to your tastebuds. 

"The breakfast was amazing". You smiled at him once you had finished. 

"I am glad to hear you enjoyed it". He nodded behind his cup of black coffee. 

"Thank you". You smiled at him and he, as a natural effect, smiled back at you. "I enjoyed this little trip. Even if it was just a night, instead of the seven days you had promised". 

"I apologise about it, I will find a way to compensate it". 

You agreed with his statement, you would have liked to stay longer, to do something else, but it was time to go. 

The way back on the bus was calm, people was minding their own business and you enjoyed the trip looking at the buildings and the crowds outside. 

"Who was following us before we took the bus yesterday?"

Lucifer chuckled and you raised an eyebrow.

"No one was following us, I just sort of felt creative".

You hit his arm and laughed. 

"I knew your brothers weren't capable of doing so, they are good boys, you just have to be a bit more patient with them". 

"What are you, their lawyer?"

"Please?"

 He sighed. 

"Fine, but you'll be responsible for their bad behaviour if you insist on defending them". 

You nodded. You knew they would get into trouble often, but it was part of the fun. And most of the times it was nothing serious. 

You soon arrived to the Mayfair place where you had first arrived the previous night, a crowd was reunited there and there were some ambulances as well, the street was automatically cosed and Lucifer had to double check it was the correct street, hoping it was the incorrect one, but deep down knowing it was not, he could almost see the scene before his eyes: he could see Mammon starting the problem, Levi and Asmo panicking about it, Beel being too busy eating to notice, Belphie smelling the smoke and deciding it was not worthy enough to wake up, Satan rolling his eyes. Lucifer moved his head in disapproval, sighed in frustration and wasted no time and started to think of an appropriate punishment, whereas you almost fell in his arms when you finally realised the flat and the whole building where you had been staying had been burnt to dust, and it had only taken them a night alone. 

"I'm glad you'll get to do the cleaning this time, my little apple-pie". Lucifer whispered into your ear, when you finally met the dusty faces of his six brothers, then he chuckled.  

Definitely, you would look for a way to stop acting as their attendant and- what? Lucifer had called you his little apple-pie? For some reason you decided to change your mind. Maybe you could wait a bit longer and keep up with your duties as their attendant.  

-

The way home was as bittersweet as the chemistry that produced those strange feelings inside him towards you because Lucifer was mad at his brothers, and they were fearing for their fate and the punishment Lucifer would give them but there was as well an unobtrusive smile drawn on his lips because of the memories of your previous night together. He was less severe this time, maybe because of what you had told him or maybe for some other reason you were not able to tell, but maybe it was the happiness you two were sharing and weren't able to hide away. With time things settled down, life became what it used to be before your little adventure, although you weren't wretched anymore and every time and then, when Lucifer noticed he was not giving you enough attention he would find a way to have some time alone with you, he would count the days until he could bring you back to him. 

"Are you going to sleep or are you going to stare at me all night?" You said, you were not able to sleep because he was not sleeping either and you could feel his red eyes on you even in the dismal darkness. 

"Your picture haunts me in the dark while I'm falling asleep, it is not my fault". He sometimes felt like a rag doll, whose pieces belonged to you, and you could manipulate as you wished, and for some odd reason he was fine with it, he had given in, and stopped trying ways to turn it around. 

"Oh, shut up, if we want to ride the London eye, we'll have to wake up early". You softly smiled and hugged him, truth be told, you weren't able to escape him anywhere either, not even in your dreams. He kissed your scalp and closed his eyes, you were right. 

This was the first day of your second trip together and you could not wait for the adventures to come by Lucifer's side, under the rain in the misty town of London. 

- Note: I took the idea of the pet name "apple pie" from some post here on Tumblr because I found it adorable, I just cannot remember who was the user who came up with it, so, if you're the one, let me know to give you credit here :3

[thereareeyesinsidethetrees]

Okay, so Ford and Stan's dreamscapes probably change when they start sailing (or after they've been sailing a while). This is sort of a headcanon for how exactly I think they change.

(Should probably note: the wheat field and stuff definitely have symbolism, but I didn't look extensively into anything like that when I made this. I was more interested in stuff like the swings and broken shack and what that all means...stuff you can figure out without having to google anything.)

Anyway, the actual headcanon stuff:

Stan's dreamscape is originally shown to be the shack, all messed up and hanging partly over an abyss. It's greyscale and has a sort of tv-static thing going on. There's an 8 ball moon in the sky.

I like to think that the forest changes to be a dock or something. Instead of the broken shack, you've got the Stan O' War II. Definitely not pristine or anything, but also not falling apart at the seams. The Stan O' War II isn't in danger of falling into the abyss and being lost forever. It's something that can be used to traverse it probably.

It's still got a monochromatic, tv-static thing going on, but there's a slight sort of color filter over everything now. Blue, red, some other color? I'm not sure. Red is more stan's color, but (especially considering weirdmaggedon) it doesn't tend to be associated with good things. Maybe just a warm color in general.

The moon is now a sun. It's to match Ford, among other things. You'll see what I mean in a second.

Oh, also the swings are still there and they've been fixed up :)

Ford's dreamscape is a seemingly endless field of wheat. You've got a massive (emphasizing that its bigger than it is in reality because woah isn't that interesting) broken portal looming ominously in the distance, plus swings and the first Stan O' War. The atmosphere has dirt or smoke in it. You can tell because the sun in the background is tinted reddish orange.

(Bonus: the field also has an image of bill burned into it. Considering how dreamscapes work, it makes me wonder if that had any effect on Ford's actual mind.)

Anyway- all that grime in the air probably clears up at least a little bit. The sun looks pretty harsh in Ford's original dreamscape, so it probably isn't as horribly blistering as before, if it's even still there. Maybe the sky changes.

Breaking my rule here- a starry night sky can represent a revelation and be "an expression of pure joy". Of course, it wouldn't be "pure joy" in this case, but he's definitely a lot happier than he was before. The revelation could be that he has a family that maybe (definitely) cares about him and he's not alone anymore.

Tiny bits of wheat are starting to regrow where bill decided to just. Burn a wonky crop circle into it.

The wheat field is still there, but it's not endless like before. It's more of a really big forest clearing, with trees surrounding it (I also broke my rule for this one- forests represent endurance, resilience, and hope). You got some nice green in there now.

Portal's still there, it's probably never gonna leave. But it's not hovering terrifyingly in the background anymore, it's more broken down than before. Probably looks like those pictures of abandoned buildings and such being reclaimed by nature.

Swings are still there. The Stan O' War is replaced by the Stan O' War II.

Those are all my thoughts (I'll be honest. A lot more than I was expecting to write). If you also have thoughts, I'd love to hear them (not pressuring of course, don't do anything you don't wanna do. I just like discussion, and this seems like something that could be real fun to talk about).

[ratcatcher0325]

A Fraction of Justice (Chapter #26)

It's a New Year! Hope you are enjoying 2023 so far!

Chapter #26. Natalie and Alexander spend some much needed time to rest up and relax.

Previous: Chapter #25

Next: Chapter #27

Word Count: 7,231 Read Time: Approx. 56 mins

CW: adult language, angst 

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A Fraction of Justice

Chapter #26: Birds of a Feather

[Natalie’s POV]

I kept waiting for him to suddenly sit up or open one eye and with a scowl declare “That’s enough of that!” before requesting to be set down. Surely this was too good to be true. And yet, before my very eyes, he fell asleep, wrapped around my thumb, the tiny puffs of air from his nose and mouth getting slower and more rhythmic with each exhale. His right arm, which was clutching the top of my thumb, relaxed its grip and slid a few millimeters as the limb went slack. 

His cheek was just slightly tinted with a flush of rosy pink, his lips barely parted, and as I watched a chest no bigger than the pad of my thumb rise and fall, I couldn’t help but burst into a smile. Plastered over that chest was a sparkling, ridiculous unicorn, surrounded by inky swirls of pink and blue and yellow. Poor thing. He’d suffered in that sad excuse for an outfit for far too long. My smile grew and I couldn’t help but chuckle when I remembered the look of pure loathing on his little face when I’d held it out before him for the first time. He’d flushed a bright shade of red the second he saw himself in the mirror, looking just completely adorable, a fact I’m sure he hated with every tiny fiber of his being. 

As I continued to amuse myself looking at the clunky, cheap factory stitching on the hem of the shirt which was far too large for his proportions, I noticed with a pang, a rusty reddish-brown stain in the fabric, just about the perfect size for a human fingerprint. The color was undeniable: dried blood. My heart skipped. Please let that be the result of him defending himself and breaking some skin. I could easily imagine this tiny little man, only about as tall as my outstretched hand, just stabbing the shit out of grabby vet techs with the deadly end of a scalpel, almost too big for him to lift. In any case, the once fun, stupid, little garment was now a haunting reminder of the abuse he’d endured. I’d go get him something respectable the second the opportunity presented itself. 

I could just picture his eyes lighting up when I spoiled him with new things: clothes, shoes, utensils, furniture, all perfectly sized just for him. Well, there was a limit to how far my wallet could stretch, especially right now, but I’d do everything I could. Maybe he’d break into that lovely little smile of his, eyes shimmering. Maybe he’d grip onto a finger or thumb and squeeze as tightly as he could. If I was really lucky, I might even get an earnest, heartfelt thank you. Little nightmare, you know you’ve got me wrapped around your finger, don’t you? 

I bit my lip. How lucky was I to get to be in this little man’s life? Gratitude cascaded over me like a wave, warm and all encompassing. He was unlike anyone I’d ever known. Headstrong didn’t even begin to describe him. He had every reason to be utterly terrified of the awful cards he’d been dealt in life, and yet, deal after deal, hand after hand, he refused to go down without a fight. After hearing just a snippet of what they did to him at the vet, I knew I’d never last a day in his shoes. He was the bravest person I’d ever met.

I couldn’t even begin to imagine what he’d been through, and yet he hadn’t let any of it beat him into submission. Thank you, for letting me be a part of your journey, Alexander. 

Whether I held him, marveling at the absolutely tiny signs of life of this miniature person, for hours or mere minutes was anyone’s guess. The time flew by in what felt like seconds. My room had gone from dim to dark, the lamplight outside our only illumination and yet its warm glow outlined him perfectly, casting amber rays on his hair, making it seem to ignite like fire as he softly, slowly stirred awake. 

I looked on, part of me heartbroken that the time for holding him closely and relishing in every little sleepy twitch and sigh had come to an end, while the other part delighted in watching him stir, as his warm little body wriggled back to life. His hands squeezed my thumb while he stretched his spine and turned his head to face me. His hair was a mess, he looked so adorably sleepy and disoriented that I couldn’t help but beam. 

*********** 

“You slept pretty well, huh?” Her voice surrounded me, soft, warm and undeniable. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes, pushing my bangs from my face, no doubt giving myself the appearance of a rattled cockatiel, with a messy crown sticking straight up off of my head. I rolled over onto my back, opening my eyes. 

For a split second, I panicked from instinct, finding myself in a human hand. This was a place I tended to dislike being anywhere near about ninety- nine percent of the time. Columns of skin and jointed bone rose past my head and curled slightly into the infinite darkness of the room. Warmth, soft flesh and a pulse radiating like a deep, earthly vibration around me, thrummed with signs of gigantic life, as I peered high above where I lay and landed on two golden brown orbs, lit by a street light through blinds. There was nothing to be afraid of. It was only her. I was safe here.

My heart thudded in my chest for a moment when I realized this was the first time since I’d turned my back on the only home I’d ever known, that I’d awoken, not in a panic, blood pounding in my skull from primal fear or red hot anger, but sweetly, gently, with warmth all around me. I’d expected to regret my decision to let her hold me as I slept. I thought she would swoop down upon me the moment I’d regained consciousness only to pinch my cheeks between her fingers or fuss over me in some similarly condescending way. But instead, she held very still, and as my dry, sleep ridden eyes locked with hers, I saw them sparkle with delight as they flitted from my gaze to just above the crown of my head. 

My hair. 

I raised an eyebrow, “What? Are you jealous of my fashion forward hair style? Just you wait, everyone is going to be rocking this come spring!” I ran my hand through my untamed mop, as she beamed and shook her head. I shrugged my shoulders when my fingers got caught in the tangled mess instead of pulling through. I shuffled into an upright position, leaning my hands behind me, sinking my palms into her soft skin. She pulled me closer before her face. She was all I could see now, she took up my entire field of vision. 

“Good morning, sleepy head. We should get you something warm to eat, and it’s high time to take some meds while we’re at it.” Ah, of course. She was my nurse now. I wasn’t sure how to feel about that, but I was grateful for the suggestion of food. On one hand, I deeply resented needing any help at all. It made my flesh crawl. But at the same time, if anyone was to be charged with looking after me in this embarrassingly needy time, I’d want it to be her. She continued to speak, as her hand (and subsequently, me) began to lower to the surface of the bed. Two fingers from her free hand began approaching my upper body, “Let’s get you comfortable and I’ll come right back with the food…” 

She eased my right elbow out of the way and slid her finger beneath my arm, before I protested, “Hold on! I’ll accompany you.” 

“You should take it easy, I’m sure the shock has worn off and until I give you medicine for the pain, it’s going to start to hurt. You don’t want me carting you around when that happens!” 

I crossed my arms over my chest, undeterred, “I insist! Take me with you. I’m still owed an elaboration on this whole me being high thing. You’d hoped I’d forgotten, hadn't you?” She rolled her eyes and shook her head, “You had! Well, you clearly lost that bet.” 

Still, she waffled, “You sure you don’t want to relax? I don’t want to accidentally hurt you…” 

“You won’t hurt me, I’ll make sure of it. C’mon, pick me up and let’s go. Like you said, we’ve no time to waste with idling!” She did as she was told, as she gingerly plucked me up and moved me back to the center of her hand, before rising from the bed and heading for the door. 

“You ever gonna stop sounding like a tiny mafia boss? Why are you so demanding?” She flipped on the hallway light which burned my more sensitive eyes for just a moment. I tried not to flinch and held my own, even as each of her strides ricocheted through my whole body as I bounced up and down ever so slightly with every giant footfall. 

“Ah, ah! Don’t avoid the subject! I demand satisfaction! What did I do while under the influence of anesthesia that was so damn hilarious?” 

************ 

In the time it took me to cross from my bedroom to the kitchen, and set him down on a folded tea towel inside my ceramic spoon rest, placed at a safe distance from, well, anything potentially threatening to a tiny life, I’d managed to reveal to him the story of a blitzed out little man and his mistakes regarding fictional elves, impromptu vomiting sessions and teary, sweet cuddles. 

Now, he sat, incredulously, arguing with me as I chopped cilantro, “Who do you take me for, Ms. Marquez?? This entire thing sounds fabricated!” 

“Cabrón, I’m telling the truth! Goddamn, just because you don’t like it, doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.” 

“You really expect me to believe that I, me, Alexander, was cerebrally compromised enough to genuinely believe you were Arwen Evenstar?” 

“Sweetheart, you looked up at me with the biggest nerd boy goo goo eyes I’ve ever seen in my entire life! You were transcendent. I believe I recall the phrase ‘magnificent creature’ being used. ‘Divinity itself shines brightly upon you’ was thrown around… you know completely normal things friends say to each other…” 

He was tomato red. This was way too easy. Poor little man. I shouldn’t torture him too much… 

“You were very cute. You didn’t know up from down. I just wish I’d gotten it on video! Now, c’mon, make yourself useful and fashion a you-sized spoon out of this little scrap of tin foil, while I finish this up.” He was all too happy to distract himself with a task and avoid further discussion on the topic at hand. Suddenly, bending aluminum into a makeshift utensil was the most mentally gripping thing he could possibly imagine. 

After a few minutes of silence, I guess when he realized I was having mercy on him and not saying anything else, he cleared his throat and piped up, “What is it you’re making again?”

“It’s a caldo. It’s like a stew. My mom always used to make it for me when I was sick as a kid. You’ll like it; it’s warm and filling. You know, now that I think about it, you’re kinda the perfect practice taste tester for me. It takes very little to make a meal for you. I can try a bunch of different things and it won’t cost me much at all in ingredients!” 

“Har har, very funny.” He deadpanned as he waved his new little metallic creation in the air, as if to signal he was ready to eat. 

I took the pot off the stove, before resting my chin on the counter, to get more level with him, “Oh hush! I didn’t mean it as an insult. It’s a genuine perk! Now, where do you want to eat? Here or at the table or back in the bedroom?” 

“The table suits me just fine.” 

“Coming right up, then!” I winked at him before rising to standing. I’d already decided that the closest I could get to a bowl for him would be my copper, quarter teaspoon measuring cup. It looked like a tiny cooking pot fit for his size. I dipped it in the broth, making sure to fish out a few kernels of corn, bits of potato, carrot and chicken so he could have the full experience. Finally, when I was done with that, I drew my hand near him, “Ready?”

He nodded, raising his arms at the elbow. Hooking my pointer finger around the right side of his ribcage, being very careful not to apply pressure since he’d told me about the bruising, I scooped him up, towel and all into my waiting hand. He held on to the tip of my finger as we started to move to steady himself. As I turned off the kitchen light with an elbow, I looked up to see the feathery creeping of dawn through my living room windows, “Hey, actually, I’ve got a better idea… go ahead and start eating, don’t go anywhere!” Gently, I sat him down on the surface of the table and put the tiny ‘pot’ of food before him. 

“Can’t exactly run off even if I wanted to… but what’re you—?” his voice started to fade, as I was already heading down the hall to my bedroom.

I turned over my shoulder to reply, “Patience and decorum, little man!” before slipping out of sight.

“You can’t use my own line against me and do a better job with it! That’s against the rules!!!” I could barely hear his little voice as he tried his best to shout across the vast distance. I threw open my bedroom door and nabbed the things I needed, before turning on my heel and returning to the tiny man sitting patiently on my dining table. 

****** 

She returned with a coat on and a blanket slung over her shoulder. Needless to say, I was a bit baffled but could somewhat guess her intention. Still, I stayed quiet as she offered to pick me up again, simply nodding and raising my arms as was becoming seemingly customary for us. She was very careful with my injured leg, always making sure to keep it supported and extended. Frustratingly, she’d been right about the shock wearing off. A dull ache in my knee joint was beginning to blossom. I tried to ignore it as she held me against her chest, the wall of fuzzy navy blue fabric extremely soft to the touch. She gathered my meal, which I hadn’t touched while waiting for her and she turned her steps towards the hallway. But this time, instead of heading all the way to her bedroom, we stopped short, before the back door in the kitchen. 

I remember the first moment I’d laid eyes on this door. It had once been my hope for possible escape. If I hadn’t veered off-course in the pursuit of food in that fateful pantry, I’d have investigated it for any mouse holes or means of escape through the nearby vent. Now, in such a strange twist of fate that even my brilliant mind could never have anticipated, I was crossing its threshold, in the hands of the very human I’d been trying to run from. 

She brought me outside to a cramped, creaky wooden patio, the air was crisp, and I found myself instinctively huddling against the fleece of her coat, her hand cupped around all of me, as she spoke, putting down my meal on the wide, flat railing, “Come here… I’ll make sure you stay nice and warm…” fingers were gradually replaced with a fuzzy cocoon of blanket, and I found myself held aloft, utterly surrounded in warm fabric, “Better?” 

“Immensely.” 

“Good, because just look at that view…” she turned me around and placed me on the surface of the rail, and I admit, what I saw took my breath away. 

Her modest back porch gave way to a view of a rich and dense tree line, no doubt the self same ‘forest’ nestled in a golf course I’d found myself lost in before stumbling here. Between breaks in the great and ancient trunks of maple and pine, the brilliant pastel hues of a new day breaking ignited the purple and gray sky still littered with stars. Vibrant pinks and oranges, violets and streaks of blue seemed to light up the whole horizon, just for us to enjoy.

“Wow…” 

“Better food for the eyes than just my same old boring four walls, huh?” She passed me the makeshift pot of steaming stew with my handmade spoon dipped inside. I took it, and somewhat clumsily managed to settle it in my lap, before dipping the spoon in with hungry anticipation. It certainly smelled delicious. 

While I was busying myself with my meal, she had settled in, immediately to my left, leaning over the rail, her head propped up in her folded arms. The tip of her right elbow, so close I could lean my shoulder against it. When she felt the pinprick of my slight weight rest against her, she turned to face me. 

I admit, my cardiovascular system underwent a shock, taking her in, her eyes blazing an incredible gold with flecks of green I’d hardly noticed before. She smiled at me, brilliant white teeth flashing beneath rosy, full lips. Even her warm, olive skin seemed golden and luminous, as if it was, actually, the true source of those beautiful colors in the sky. My heart was in my throat. 

“What’re you looking at me like that for? Are you miserable out here? Is it too cold for you?” Her brow furrowed in genuine concern as she spoke, the realization that she may be torturing me out here dawning on her. 

“N-no! No. I mean… I’m fine. I’m nice and warm, thank you…” 

“Then what is it? You looked like you were in pain. You’re not pissed off for some weird nitpicky reason that I couldn’t possibly have anticipated beforehand are you?” 

“No, nothing like that… I… I suppose I just realized this is the first time I’ve sat outside and watched the day begin in something like twenty years. I… I was a bit embarrassed to admit that to you, that’s all. Obviously, this is no big deal to you, you likely do it all the time. You have this vista right outside after all… a-anyway…” 

“Alexander. You must not know me well at all…” 

My heart sank, had I said something wrong? “W-what?” 

“Do I come across like the kind of person that gets up before 12pm by choice, let alone wakes up at the ass crack of dawn just to stare at the sun?” 

I avoided her eyes, but soon felt a fluffy mountain of navy blue material slowly press into my entire left side, as she elbowed me playfully. 

“C’mon, Xandy, lighten up, I’m joking with ya!” 

“If it weren’t for this actually quite flavorful food you prepared just for me, I’d have to firmly remind you of my position on that horrendous nickname.” 

“Well it’s a good thing your mouth is currently too full to yell at me. Actually— fuck! That’s a great idea! I just need to feed you more often so you can’t get all pissy with me!” 

I just rolled my eyes and shook my head, lifting another spoonful of the intoxicatingly warm and delicious broth to my lips. 

We watched as the blazing orange star rose above the edge of the horizon and slowly ascended into the atmosphere. The rich, deciduous earth smelled freshly of rainwater and petrichor from the many days of thunderstorms. The twittering of birdsong rose in pitch and melody with the sun herself, as a crisp breeze teased the thinnest branches of the trees and the locks of my already disheveled hair. With delicate movements, she smoothed her own behind her ear, catching me peering up at her as she broke into a smile. I cleared my throat and stared straight ahead. 

“You finished?” She shattered my suddenly scattered train of thought with such a concise question. 

“Hm?” I hoped I sounded nonchalant. 

“The caldo? You want some more?” 

“If you’re offering, then sure. It really was quite good, thank you.” Fingers descended to pluck the bowl and spoon from my lap. 

“Approval? From this little Princess and the pea? I never thought I’d see the day!” 

My brow furrowed, “The what and the what?” I had no clue what she was referring to. 

She chuckled softly. I was grateful she spared me a greater insult by changing the subject, “I’ll be right back, okay?” And with the squeal of worn out door hinges, I was left all alone on the railing of the patio, in the exact situation I thought I’d never wanted. And yet, the fabric surrounding me was wonderfully soft, the view utterly spectacular and for a very rare moment, I felt the constant tension melt from my shoulders as I breathed a grateful sigh of relief. 

I was seated with my left leg tucked into me and I hugged my knee to my chest with my right arm and supported my weight behind me with my left. The only sound was the early morning twittering of birds and the rush and roar of cars on a nearby road. Perhaps the same one where I’d nearly been struck. I shuddered at the memory. So many moments of my journey could have ended far differently than they had. My close calls with death seemed too many to count at this point, and yet were far from uncommon for someone like me. 

I glanced around, spotting the concrete floor seemingly miles below, directly behind me. Funny, how even in the most tranquil of moments, the glaring reminder that almost anything in this human-dominated world could kill me was never far from the forefront of my mind. By the door, was a dusty, sun faded welcome mat with gaudy flowers printed on it, whose vibrant colors were now bleached to some sort of ghostly shades of blue-green and pink. That didn’t quite seem like Natalie’s style, I wondered absentmindedly if it was a gift, or hand-me-down. Over my left shoulder, I spotted a ratty looking folding chair, and a small side table, both streaked with dirt and grime from sitting out of doors. Would it kill this woman to clean a little? Perched atop the table was an herbaceous plant that looked like it’d seen better days, its leaves yellowing and withering from a likely lack of watering. I’d just turned back to face the ignited sky, noting a bird feeder swinging from an iron stake just beyond the patio’s edge on the far left corner, when a bluejay, its vibrant hue striking a compelling contrast against the peaches and purples of the sky behind it, alighted on the rail beside me. 

His plumage was brilliant, without a feather out of place. He was big. Well, at least to me, anyway. I figured he stood a bit taller than me, at my full height. He peered down with one glossy black eye at a time, his head seemingly always bobbing and moving. He was about ten to twelve inches from where I sat, but seemed to take an interest in me and hopped forward an inch or so, “Hello, there…” his white belly reflected the colors of the dawn as he came closer. As I looked him over, I couldn’t help but admire his beautiful crest of feathers, his stripe of stark black that looked like some sort of formal neckwear beneath his chin. Then, as he hopped even closer, now only five or six inches between us, something glinted in the morning sun that caught my eye. On his right claw was a small metal band, embossed with a series of letters and numbers. I clenched my jaw. You too, huh? 

“You didn’t deserve whatever they did to you…” the bird just stared back with an infinite inky void in its uncomprehending eyes, “I envy your ignorance…” I chuckled to myself. Talking with a bird, am I? I see I’ve really lost it now. 

Ah, what the hell? Why not? Maybe some small part of him understood me as we locked eyes,  “Now fly, enjoy your freedom!” I waved my arms, to no avail. I didn’t come across as much of a threat… Figures. “Go on, shoo!” The sound of a distant, blaring car horn, startled him enough to take flight. The gust of wind generated from all those feathers whipped my bangs across my eyes, as my heart fluttered in the same rhythm as the beat of his wings when he became airborne.  

His lithe, aerodynamic body twisted and turned in the air, landing gracefully on Natalie’s birdfeeder. Good, get a snack for the road. I wiped my hair from my eyes, as I watched the animal peck away at the seed and flap his wings to maintain his balance. I’m working on getting wings, myself. Maybe one day I can join you. 

With the sharp squeal of rusty hinges, Natalie pushed open the door and I traded his silent company for her gregarious one. In the blink of an eye and a flutter of feathers, he was gone. 

“Soup’s up! Chef special! Get it while it’s hot!” She entered beaming and playful, gently placing the fresh food in my lap. I craned my neck to meet her eyes as she crossed behind me and settled back against the rail, “How’d you do out here? See anything cool? Whitetail deer? Sasquatch?” 

“Oh old Squatch? Yes, he’s actually a really pleasant individual once you get to know him.” I teased as I raised the sorry excuse for a spoon to my lips, only for her to gasp so unexpectedly, it made me jump and drop my utensil into the pot below. 

“What the fuck happened? Have hell’s gates opened up? Did pigs fly? Am I dreaming? Or did Alexander, insert middle name and last name here, actually make a real, honest-to-god joke?” 

“Did… Did you just say insert middle and last name, out loud–?”

“Are you running a fever? Did the aliens replace you with a perfect clone while I was gone? Maybe I died and went to heaven!” 

“Natalie. Please. You do understand by putting on this little show you’re actively calling your own bluff, right?” 

“Oh yeah? How so?”

“Well, first of all, it’s a scientifically proven fact that I am a man that possesses an excess of charm and an exceedingly impressive wit. The fact that you have just now discovered my propensity for humor proves one thing and one thing only: You lack the intelligence to appreciate my comedic genius!” 

She scoffed, leaning down with her head propped over her arm, “W-well, I.. That’s not–” 

“And see? You round out my argument with the perfect evidence! You can’t even formulate a half-baked comeback. You’ve got to be lighter on your feet than that to spar with me, Ms. Marquez! I rest my case and yield the remainder of my time!”

She squinted her eyes and made a face, wrinkling her nose as she glared, “You’re such a little bastard.” She then put on, quite possibly, the worst Italian accent in the history of humankind and continued,  “I cook for you… my mother’s special caldo no less, and this is how you repay me?” 

“Alright! Alright! For the sake of the caldo, and the people of Italy, I will retract my previous testimony. You’re lucky this tastes so good.” I wasn’t going to even begin to address the confusing nature of her choice of accent given that the dish and she herself were Latin, not Italian. 

She shook her head and rolled her eyes. I loved driving her up the wall. In fact, it was safe to say it had become one of my specialities. Not that it was at all that difficult to do, but still, I prided myself on the frequency with which I accomplished it. 

I finished my second helping in relative quiet, enjoying the expanse of the ever lightening sky before me and the fresh air in my lungs. She did her best to distract herself with the tree line and the flocks of birds flying in ‘V’ formations overhead, so she didn’t just stare at  me while I ate. I was grateful for that, to say the least. Once the meal was done and we’d sat in comfortable silence for a few more moments, she turned to me. 

“Alexander?” She lowered herself until her chin was balanced on the wooden rail itself, as a slender, gentle finger slid across the fabric of the blanket, to land across my chest. I met her eyes as she called for me, “You ready to go inside and get cleaned up? I bet a bath would feel pretty amazing right now….” 

“For once, you’ve managed to read my mind… Yes, sounds delightful.” I hooked an arm around her offered digit, pressing my palm into her knuckle

“Yup, this stupid human is bound to get it right every now and again…. Come here, let’s get you inside.” 

I soon found myself cradled between navy blue fabric and soft, warm fingers as I was carried back inside. 

******** 

About forty minutes after turning our backs on the rising sun, I found myself popping and stretching my aching vertebrae as I sat up from my hunched over position. I had leaned over him, splayed out on my bathroom counter, for the better part of the last half hour. At the moment, I held his tiny ankle between my thumb and forefinger while I examined my painstaking work, “What do you think, mister critical? Will this ship float or sink?”

He looked up and down the length of his injured leg, casting his discerning eye over my earnest attempt to wrap his bandages tightly in cling wrap so they wouldn’t get wet while soaking. He scowled as he looked it all over, tracing his fingers over absolutely tiny wrinkles in the plastic, “This… is…” he continued to examine, and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes, “...Perfectly adequate. Thank you, Ms. Marquez. Your abilities to provide medical assistance in miniature are improving significantly. Need I remind you of your clumsiness with a cotton ball and hydrogen peroxide?” 

“No, you needn’t! Thank you.”

“That’s not—“ 

“I know it’s not a real word! I know, you unrelenting little bastard, I know.” I grimaced with extra joking gusto as I busied myself cleaning up the crumpled up piles of plastic wrap that served as headstones to failed attempts, and tossing them in the trash. I loved that I could tell it physically pained him not to finish correcting me. Little nerd. “Oh and speaking of medical care, see if anything comes to you while you’re soaking in the tub. Maybe after some solid rest and a good meal those wheels will start turning again…” he opened his mouth to quip back, but a finger laid over his chest and a quicker verbal draw silenced him, “And no, that was not a personal insult to your cerebral functioning, it’s just a damn figure of speech, little man. Unlike you, I haven’t slept yet. Give me a break.” 

I watched his board- straight spine soften at this information, “Will you rest while I’m in here?” 

“No, actually, I thought I’d run a few errands while I had a moment of peace away from your annoying little ass…” I couldn’t even finish the sentence without ruining my performance with a smile, “Here, I think everything is set up for you. By the way, I brought my tablet in here; it’s voice activated. If you need to text me, I’ll have my phone on ringer, sound good?” I could tell he felt frustrated by the texting lifeline, but I didn’t exactly feel comfortable leaving someone so little alone in my house without some way to call for help, especially when he couldn't even stand up at the moment. “It’s just for an emergency, you don’t have to use it. I’m sure you’d like some downtime from me, anyway–” He nodded in sarcastic approval, I ruffled his hair with a finger, he snarled, I beamed, he broke character and smirked back in his asymmetrical way. I admit, I felt my heart flutter, “You ready?” 

He nodded again and I cast my gaze askance, giving him privacy as he pulled that adorable little shirt over his head. Keeping my eyes averted, I inched my fingers closer, “May I?” 

“You may.”

I wrapped my fingers around his little torso, his beating heart thrumming beneath my thumb as I lifted him and lowered him into the water, going very slowly so as not to hurt his leg. My fingers dipped into the steaming bath as I set him down amongst the bottle caps with shampoo and conditioner. “All good? The plastic wrap working for you?”

“Yes, thank you.” 

With that, I rose to standing, crossing to the threshold of the door, “Alright then, have a good bath, I’ll be back in a bit–” I couldn't help but spin on my heel and step back to the counter, ‘Remember, if you need me–”

“Yes, yes, I’ve got my marching orders…” I had to admit, I felt disappointed that he suddenly seemed so annoyed with me. We’d had such a great day today, I hated for it to all come crashing down so quickly. I straightened my shoulders and tried to shake it off. He probably just wanted space. With that, I turned to leave the bathroom and heard a tiny little voice trail after me, “Have a good shopping trip, Natalie.”

“Thank you, Alexander…” 

A five minute drive later and I found myself wandering aisle after aisle of tiny little clothes, furniture and household items. I was like a kid in a candy store: Everything here was so fucking adorable! I could just picture Alexander standing next to each item, it all perfectly made for hands his size. I bit my lip and taking each aisle by storm, quickly filled my basket with everything a miniature person could need: A toothbrush, a hairbrush, a full length mirror, a little wardrobe complete with teeny tiny hangers, socks, underwear, t-shirts and jeans, dress shirts, slacks, a tie, shoes, so many adorably tiny little shoes, a bed, about as big as my outstretched hand, bath towels, hand towels, wash cloths, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, a razor (a teeny tiny little razor!), and finally… the pièce de résistance… A tiny little wooden desk with gold trim and a green, leather upholstered top, complete with a matching swivel desk chair. 

Beaming with joy at all the adorably miniature items in my possession, I made my way to the check out. Delight coursed through me as I imagined him blushing in spite of himself. I wondered as I carefully laid each item on the rubber conveyor belt if he’d ever owned things like this before, if anyone had ever bothered to empower him with anything he could actually use. I was so deeply curious about his past, his childhood. Trying to picture Alexander of all people as a little kid felt… off.

He was so self serious and uptight. I couldn’t imagine him running around, wild and carefree, somehow even smaller than he already was. In my head, he was a perpetual tiny adult, regardless of age. Then again, maybe he didn’t get to have a childhood which would explain a lot about his personality. It seemed highly likely. I shuddered remembering just how terrified he’d been when he was medicated and confused. The poor little man, who was one of the bravest and most fearless people I’d ever known, had practically trembled head to toe for fear of the consequences if he didn’t fall in line. 

I really didn’t know much about the life he’d had before showing up all disheveled and defensive in my pantry. I didn’t expect I’d ever find out much more, but what little I did know seemed spine-chillingly awful. Pondering this, I recognized, with a pang, that I'd never fully understand just how hard life was for him. I could empathize, of course. But it was impossible for me to truly get it. How could I? I had the privilege of living in a world that accommodated my size. He did not. All the more reason to give him things to help counteract that. 

I watched as the clerk scanned each item. Picking up tiny pieces of furniture, wrapping them in brown paper and placing them in a plastic bag. As I tried my best not to fidget, I couldn’t help but wonder about the tiny man sitting in the center of my sink basin, right now. I pictured the little blue eyed devil running his fingers through his hair, while his mind worked a mile a minute. How was he doing now? Was he relaxing? Was he able to recall more about what’d happened? Funny, how someone so little took up so much space inside my head. 

“Ma’am? Hello?” 

I jumped, having no fucking clue what the 17-year-old kid in a maroon vest and a name tag has been apparently saying to me, “S-sorry, what?” 

“I said, would you like to join our rewards program today?” 

Ugh. I didn’t have time for this shit. I had a tiny little nightmare to surprise at home.

 I opened my mouth to decline when he continued, “You’ll get twenty percent off your purchase if you sign up now…”

Stealing a glance at the accrued total, I knew my bank account was in no position not to take the discount. Relenting with a sigh, I nodded yes. Sorry Alexander… just another few minutes… 

As the cashier asked for my contact information, I felt my phone vibrate and ding in my jacket pocket. Then again. And again. My blood froze. Was it Alexander? Was he okay? Did something happen?? I fished for my phone in a desperate scramble, probably looking to this high school kid like a fucking maniac, as I abruptly halted speaking halfway through giving him my email address. 

My heart was pounding away as I raised the screen to my eyes and saw I’d missed sixteen messages from him as more were still pouring in, almost instantaneously, one right after the other. I read the most recent:

[Come home!]

Then another came in. 

[NOW] 

Oh fuck oh fuck! He was in trouble! 

“Hello??? Ma’am?? I’m asking for your email! You just… sort of… stopped—“ 

I cut him off, “Forget it! Just ring me up…” he simply stared at me, exasperated and utterly confused, “Look, something’s come up, I’m in a hurry. Like a really big fucking hurry. Just cancel the thing and check me out!” 

I saw sweat form on his brow, and normally I would feel bad for the poor kid, but right now I had one thing on my mind. I gave him a death glare while he stammered uselessly, “W-well I can’t just…” 

“… Right fucking now!!” He jumped and seemed to be just sort of mashing buttons in a desperate attempt to cancel out of his current screen. I thrust my credit card in his face and he took it with shaking fingers, ringing me up as fast as his nerves would allow. Yet it still wasn’t nearly fast enough…

The phone was still going off in my hand, seeming to burn white hot, clenched between my clammy fingers, as panic washed through me in nauseating waves.

[Natalie. Question mark. Hello. Question mark. Question mark.]

 The talk to text wasn’t exactly perfect but the meaning behind the words was loud and clear: Every second that went by could mean life or death for him. Had he hurt himself? Did he try to get out of the sink? Didn’t he know he couldn’t bear weight on his leg yet? What if he’d broken it? What if he slipped and hit his head? What if he was bleeding? It was impossible for him to have gotten out right?? There was no way he could’ve taken a tumble from the height of the counter, right?!?!? Oh god!!! 

I tore the receipt from the cashier’s hand and practically sprinted out the automatic glass doors, nearly tripping on a dog treat dispenser on my way out. I didn’t give a shit about the judgmental stares of incoming customers as I crossed the threshold. My boots hit the pavement as I rushed to the car, my panic rising as my imagination ran wild. The second I slipped inside the driver’s seat, and threw the bag of once treasured items like an insignificant sack of potatoes in the seat beside me, with flying fingers I texted back: 

[I’m five minutes away, Alexander. Are you okay?] 

I didn’t wait for a reply and threw it in reverse, scaring a woman carrying a massive bag of cat food half to death as she tried to pass behind me. I glanced down feverishly at the phone screen, as I put the car in drive:

[OBVIOUSLY NOT]

Shit shit shit. I’d only been gone for forty minutes max. What could possibly have happened? At least he was still texting me. 

[I’m almost there. Two minutes.]

I took another turn. The sounds of the road were deafeningly, achingly, too quiet. I wanted that bright, electronic ping.

[Alexander? You there?]

Nothing. 

Then my heart dropped. But no, surely my fears were lying to me… could it be… was something after him? Did maintenance enter my apartment? Was he scared they’d hurt him? Were they harassing him right now? It seemed unlikely, they didn’t normally come without posting a notice first. After all, he’d been able to keep texting up until this point. 

Had something else gotten in that didn’t belong? But no… surely it wasn’t… my neighbor’s, cat? Elvis?? That beast had been after him, ready to kill, the day I’d unknowingly rescued the little man and brought him inside. Had the animal found a way in somehow? Did I leave a window open?? 

As I ran a red light, I realized: the back door. I could’ve left the back door cracked open when we’d come back inside this morning. Tears blurred my vision as I clipped the curb and squealed around a turn. 

Please, please, be okay, Alexander. I’m almost there. Just hold on. 

In fifteen more seconds, I skidded to a stop in the gravel alley of my apartment. In five more, my sweating, shaking hand was wrapped around the doorknob. I was terrified to see what I would find on the other side. 

In the breadth of one heartbeat I thrust open the door. Whatever’s happening to you, Alexander, just hold out for two more seconds, I’m right here. 

I desperately hoped I wasn’t too late.