#live laugh crimson resolve

[hikayunas]

oni

[hyunsvngs]

hyunsvngbinimas!

pairing: yang jeongin x fem!reader

warnings: chastity belt, dom!jeongin, innie is mean, degradation, oral (m rec), like one face slap, spit, maybe edging?, one use of ‘sir’, praise, squirting, unprotected sex

“Too tight, or is it okay?” Jeongin muses, ever the careful boyfriend. You shift from foot to foot in front of the mirror, rubbing your thighs together as much as you can despite your newly locked restraint. His fingers dip into the belt around your hips, pleasantly surprised to see that he can fit two fingers past the band. “Mm, it feels okay.”

“It’s- it’s fine, Jeongin,” You huff, a flush spreading from your chest all the way to the tips of your ears. Can���t he just try and push his fingers a little lower? He pulls your dress down then, rubbing a hand over where the red material of your Mrs. Claus themed dress stretches across your ass. The chastity belt is hidden underneath, the key sitting pretty on a chain around Jeongin’s neck.

It’s inconspicuous - it’s like you could pretend it’s not even there, if not for the dildo attached to the damn thing. Jeongin had spent days - no, weeks, picking out the perfect chastity belt for you. Tight enough that you couldn’t forget it was there, but loose enough for comfort, and with a ribbed dildo attached to rest inside of you and plug your pussy up all day. You were able to pee with it on, but not quite rub your clit on anything and reach orgasm - and Jeongin knew you couldn’t cum without that.

He comes up behind you as you fiddle with your hair in the mirror. All you see is a mop of unruly blonde and brown hair, and then you feel the press of lips at your neck. It would be reassuring if not for your current situation. “Twelve hours, jagi. You’ve got this.”

Right. Twelve hours. You had to wear this and feel the incessant pressing of the dildo inside you for twelve hours, and then he’ll let you cum when the clock strikes midnight and it’s officially Christmas Day.

You’re not sure you’re surviving it, in all honesty.

˚ʚ♡ɞ˚

You managed to make it two hours before saying anything, which felt like an achievement. You and Jeongin went to a Christmas dinner with the boys, and it’s in the car that you feel your resolve withering. The dildo sits inside of you, wet and promising against your walls, but everytime you try to grind down on the sensation you’re met with metal preventing you from moving anywhere. You whine, knuckles going white where you’re gripping onto the passenger seat on your way home, and Jeongin only raises an eyebrow.

“It’s been two hours,” He hums, side eyeing your panting, heaving figure. Your cheeks are burning crimson, a bead of sweat pearling on your hairline. You wish he’d lick it off. “You have to keep it together. You still have ten hours to go.”

“Don’t remind me!” You wail, head lolling back against the headrest. The car ride is bumpy, and all you can imagine is Jeongin pulling over and taking you into the backseat, unlocking the stupid fucking belt and finally, finally pushing his cock into your slick hole. The thought has you whimpering, feet thrashing against the floor of the car in your tantrum. Jeongin huffs out a laugh.

“Be good,” He warns, fingers tapping on the steering wheel. You let yourself look at him, only a brief, fleeting glance, but it has your clit throbbing painfully. His Christmas jumper makes him look domestic, festive and sweet, and his jeans are tight on his long legs and thighs. You feel like you’re going to cry. You need him so bad. At a red light, he turns to you, tone soft, eyes anything but. “Jagiya. Be good, I believe in you.”

You blink back tears, shifting a little in your seat as if it’s going to provide you any form of relief. Jeongin swipes a thumb over your cheekbone with a soft grin, eyes forming crescent moons. It’s comforting. You nod hesitantly. “I can be good.”

“You can, and you will.”

˚ʚ♡ɞ˚

Six hours. Six hours and you’re sitting on the living room floor, now in your joggers and loose t-shirt wrapping some last minute presents. Jeongin’s mother’s gift from you both had only arrived today, so you sit fiddling with the wrapping paper and expensive perfume box, trying desperately not to think about how unbearably full you are. It’s not enough. It could never be enough. Your boyfriend’s so damn sadistic, so dirty, but you’re even worse for enjoying it so much.

You hear the sound of socked feet padding into the living room, and then a huff as Jeongin drops to the floor. He scoots forward, arms wrapped around your middle and head in the nape of your neck.

“Thanks for wrapping them,” He murmurs, fingernails dragging over your exposed arms. It makes you shiver, not going unnoticed by him. “I’m useless with wrapping gifts, jagi, you��re much better than me.”

“Yeah,” You muse, sticking another strip of tape over the golden paper. “You are useless with wrapping gifts. Remember our first year we were together, you wrapped my gift and forgot tape, and-”

“Shut up,” He whines, hiding his blushing face in your neck. It makes you giggle, and it’s so easy to be domestic and comfortable like this with your boyfriend, so easy to forget the fact that your pussy is still plugged up. A beat passes, and Jeongin inches forward, large hands moving up to underneath your breasts. Oh, no.

“Jeongin,” You warn, shifting on the floor. It doesn’t do anything. It doesn’t help.

“Ssh,” Jeongin mutters, and then his hands encompass your breasts. He grips so tightly that the flesh spills out between his fingers, pebbled nipples rubbing against the fabric of your shirt. You’re too sensitive. “You’re not even wearing a bra. You make it so easy for me. So willing for me to touch you even though you know you can’t cum.”

“Please-”

“Carry on wrapping, you’ve got more to do,” He cuts you off. You sigh, fiddling with the present to make it look like you’re actually doing something. His hands move to massage your breasts, thumbs swiping over your nipples. “I bet you’re feeling extra slutty for me right now. I bet that dildo is filling you up, but it’s not enough, is it? It’s not as big as me.”

Oh, fuck. Did he have to remind you? No, it’s not as big as him, it’s not as thick as him and it sure as hell can’t make you cum like he does, not when it’s just resting there.

“You’re doing so well,” He kisses your neck, flicks his tongue over your earlobe. You let yourself whine, head lolling back on his shoulder. “My pretty little slut. I can’t wait to have you squirting on my cock later, making a mess all over me.”

“Jeongin, please, I can’t-”

“Six hours, jagi. You’re halfway there,” Jeongin pecks the nape of your neck, and then he hops up, padding out of the room. You’re left with a heaving chest and extremely hard nipples, and a pussy so wet that you think the dildo would’ve slipped out if not for the chastity belt holding it in place. You hear him humming a song in the kitchen, and then he’s shouting for your attention. “Do you want a snack? I’m making one for myself.”

You’re gonna die.

˚ʚ♡ɞ˚

It’s hard to lose yourself in the film Jeongin’s requested to watch with you. The throw blanket from the sofa is soft on your legs, now only clad in your underwear and your t-shirt. Jeongin’s broad chest is pressed against your back, chin hooked over the top of your head as you attempt to focus on the television. Jeongin’s ‘ooh’ing and ‘aah’ing at the appropriate times, but you wouldn’t be surprised if he can’t pay attention either.

Ten hours. Two to go. It’s late now, the only lights in the room being from the Christmas tree and the television. It’s cozy. You hum in approval. If you really try to relax your walls around the dildo, it’s like it’s not there at all.

“He bought her a necklace!” Jeongin squeaks, distraught at the scene playing in front of you. What film is it again? Ah, Love Actually? He did indeed buy her that necklace, and it normally breaks your heart every time, but your vision is hazy. Two hours.

Jeongin shifts, pulling the blanket further over his back until his hips are pressed against your ass. You blink in surprise. He’s hard, but he seems to be ignoring it in favour of watching the film.

You can’t have that. You wiggle your hips under the guise of getting comfortable, and Jeongin’s breath halts.

“Watch the film, jagi,” His voice is stern, but you don’t miss how it’s slightly shaky. “I don’t want to leave that belt on you any longer than necessary.”

That stops you moving. You bite your lip, a shiver wracking through your whole body.

“Mm, actually… It sounds quite good, doesn’t it?” He sighs, his hand moving to your waist. One arm slinks under your head as a makeshift pillow, keeping you in place, and the other grips the flesh on your middle. With a soft noise, he’s grinding against your ass, thick and hard and making you wish he’d just fuck that hole instead. “Keeping you in this longer. You’re already so desperate. Maybe I could play around with you a bit more, try and push that wand vibrator you love so much against the belt to see if you can still cum. Would you?”

You huff in response, eyes watering, and Jeongin’s hand moves from your waist to your chin. He turns you to face him in a quick, tight movement, squishing your cheeks, and his foxlike eyes have never looked more intimidating.

“Would you? Would you cum for me, soak that metal with your cum and still beg for me to take it off after?” Jeongin raises an eyebrow in question, and you nod, trying not to buck your hips backwards into his. It’s a slow, sinuous grind, and you pray internally that he isn’t going to make himself cum like this. He taps your face teasingly, a light smack, and it makes you keen. He snickers, dropping your chin. “I knew you would. Slut.”

“I’m- I’m not a-“

“Oh, but you fucking are,” You let him manhandle you, pushing you down so you’re laying on your front. He humps into you quicker, cock slotting into your asscheeks even through the fabric. The movement has the dildo moving inside of you just a tad, and your hands grip the sofa, eyes rolling back with a desperate sound. “Two hours. It took you two hours to whine and throw a tantrum, and now you’ve got two hours left and you’re still whining. God, do you know how fucking hard that makes me?”

The dildo’s moving. It’s moving inside of you, just an inch, but you think you might cry. “Hnnnmfg, oh, oh, Jeongin-“

“No,” He flips off of you, ushers you onto your side once more and back into your spooning position. He’s kept his hips back, cock no longer pressing into you. It must be throbbing, aching with release, and the thought has you gushing even more around the dildo. “Watch the film. It gets even better.”

˚ʚ♡ɞ˚

“Please! Please, please, Jeongin, Innie, baby, please-“

Jeongin’s got you fully naked on the bed, bare skin apart from the belt still locked around your hips. It hurts at this point with how much he’s been teasing you just from his mere existence, but you’ve got fifteen minutes left. It’s 11:45. Just another fifteen minutes.

His tongue swirls around your nipple, long fingers tracing over your thighs. He’s naked too, cock hanging heavy between his own lithe thighs and abs bared to the light from your bedside lamp. He looks downright erotic, blonde and black waves of hair obscuring his face but not able to hide the wet noises of his mouth on your tits. The key still sits securely on a chain around his neck, teasing, staring you dead in the eyes.

“Ssh,” He coos, blowing cold air over the pebbled bud. “Fifteen minutes, jagi. Let me play, yeah?”

You want to scream, thrash your legs and cry that you’ve been letting him play all damn day and it hurts now, but you know Jeongin. He’ll make good on his promise to leave you locked up for longer without even blinking an eye. He’s mean.

“Okay. Okay, okay, please, suck me harder. Innie, please,” You pant, chest heaving. Jeongin hums with a grin, satisfied, and he leans down to suckle on you once again. His mouth is so wet, so warm, and you think fleetingly that you could probably cum from this if he told you to. Your nipples are red and abused by now, but you still clutch the pillows beneath your head for dear life and hope that he’ll give your clit the same treatment.

He pops off the bud once again, and then he’s crawling up your body, firm biceps caging your head. His cock rests on the cursed chastity belt, and the coolness of the metal on his cockhead has him hissing.

“Baby,” Jeongin blinks down at the belt, a crooked smile on his lips. Oh, no. “You know, I could probably cum from humping against this. Spill my cum all over the belt and leave you there, crying, so all you can do is dip your fingers in and swallow my cum in the hopes that I’ll come back and give you more.”

“Please don’t,” You whine, shaking your head. Your eyes water with unshed tears, glassy, and you let out an incoherent noise when he humps against you once, twice, three times. Jeongin shushes you, thumb dipping over your wet bottom lip. You still continue, desperate. “Innie, Innie, no! I’ve been good, don’t do that, please, I couldn’t-“

“Okay, okay,” He chuckles, shoulders shaking with amusement. His digit pushes past your lips, and you suck on it diligently, blinking up at him with pure unadulterated need. “I won’t. Besides, you’ve got ten minutes now. I think I want you to suck my cock.”

You want that. Nothing’s ever sounded so good to your ears, and you nod eagerly, making him smile again. He flips you over, splaying back against the sheets and guiding you on top of him. It’s only after a chaste kiss to the lips does he push your head down, your mouth kissing down his milky skin obediently.

He’s wet, you realise, leaking precum on the trimmed hair at his base. You can’t even stare at his cock and just appreciate it, partially due to knowing that your pussy will just ache more and partially due to the fact that you have to have it in your mouth before you die from need.

“Deepthroat it for me,” Jeongin breathes, one arm behind his head. He’s the epitome of relaxation as you try to force your mouth down on him, tasting the leaking pearlescent cum on his cockhead and spreading it around. He sighs, letting his eyes flutter shut as his spare hand goes to your hair. “That’s it. Wetter, get it wetter.”

You try. You truly do try, but the only wetness right now is coming from your eyes as you cry. You want to spit on his cock, to get it wet and to make him approve of your actions, but your mouth is dry from pure want. You can’t wait to see how he’s going to fuck you after he unlocks your belt. It’s all you can think about.

His long fingers envelop in your hair, yanking your head off, and he sits up. You watch in awe as he spits on his own cock, pulling your head back and using his thumb to open your lips again. His cock is already slick with his spit, but he spits in your mouth anyway, before he’s pulling your mouth back to his cock.

“Ah, that’s better,” Jeongin hums, relaxing back against the sheets again. “Nice and wet. Will your pussy be wetter than this? I bet it will be, gushing on that tiny dildo all day. God, you’re such a whore for letting me do this.”

You whine around his shaft, bobbing your head as much as you can with the tight grip on your locks. He doesn’t let you breathe, hips starting to fuck sinuously into the tight heat you’ve provided him, and you feel jealous. How come he gets this, and you get nothing? You blink. It has to be five more minutes by now. Five minutes, and you can-

“Not long, baby,” He murmurs, licking his lips over and over. “Keep taking it for me. I’ll keep my cum for your little cunt, don’t worry.”

You’re squirming against the sheets, trying to create a semblance of what Jeongin did to you earlier for some friction on your core. He seems to let it slide despite looking down at you, balls slapping against your chin with every thrust into your throat. You’re gagging, drooling even more down his thick cock, and you let your eyes flutter shut at the sensation of being used like your boyfriend’s own personal fucktoy. It’s all you’d ever want for Christmas.

“Fucking hell,” He grunts, pulling your head off of him. You let him throw you back to the bed by your hair, and then he’s ripping the chain directly off of his neck and shoving the key in the padlock of your belt.

“Yes, yes, yes, please! Off, off, I need you,” Your voice is hoarse, gravelly from the rough treatment, and Jeongin nods with agreement. He knows. He’s not going to punish you for being desperate, and you don’t even know if it’s midnight, but he yanks the offending pleasure cage down your legs and throws it to the floor with a clatter. You can’t even mourn the loss of the dildo when you know you’re getting so much better.

You wail as he pumps his cock a few times, spreading the remaining slick up his length. His chest is heaving, eyes dark. “Legs up. Get those fucking legs up, show me your pussy, I need to be inside of you.”

You obey, hands sinking into the pits of your knees to bend yourself in half, and Jeongin surges forward. He positions his cockhead inbetween your folds, finding your drippy, needy hole. With a sigh, his cock slides inside of you, your walls wet and gummy and so easy to accept the intrusion. You moan so loud that you’re convinced that the world shakes.

“Ah, there we go,” Jeongin groans, and his hips are snapping into yours immediately. It feels so good that you begin to cry again, hands gripping onto your knees for dear life. “There’s that slutty little cunt. F-fuck, was it worth the wait? Does my cock feel good? Tell me, jagiya, tell me.”

“So good, ‘s good, so big, so thick, I’ll- hnnnfg, Jeongin, I need to cum, please!”

“You’re so good, baby,” He coos, cock punching against your g-spot. Touching your clit just once would have you cumming around him but something tells you Jeongin hasn’t got a lot left in him either. Sweat beads above his eyebrow, dripping down his temple. “Touch yourself. C’mon, s-show me how you touch that clit, fuck.”

You let one hand slide from your knee and Jeongin’s quick to press his chest against you firmer, keeping you bent in half. You take two fingers and press them between his lips, and he sucks on them, maintaining eye contact during it. It’s the dirtiest thing you’ve ever seen, and you have to reach down and blindly find your clit, swollen and aching and peeking through your pliant folds.

The first pressing of your fingers makes you near-scream, toes curling, and Jeongin grips your chin to make you look at him. Your eyes are hazy, unfocused and glassy, and you rub and rub and rub until you think you’re going to ascend.

“There she is, look at you,” Jeongin grunts, voice shaking. He fucks into your pussy over and over, wet slapping noises overtaking your senses. “Cum for me. Good fucking girl, my perfect slut, cum for me.”

You whine, legs shaking, and then you’re cumming. Your pussy gushes so hard Jeongin has to pull out, and he instantly hooks two long fingers inside of your hole with a loud groan of his own to crook them up against your g-spot. Your pussy only gushes more, your ears ringing with the force of your orgasm, drool dribbling out of your lips. You continue to rub your clit, spraying cum over your lover, and as soon as the last dribble leaves your messy cunt Jeongin’s sinking right back into home.

“Gonna make me cum,” He warns, shaking his head in disbelief. His hair sticks to his forehead, damp from sweat. “Squirted so fucking much, baby, dirty little slut, so horny from me locking that clit up, I’ll- god, I’m gonna cum inside of you.”

“Please,” You slur, hand resting on your clit with no movement. “Fill me up, sir, please.”

Jeongin groans, loud and steady into the expanse of your room, and then his hips stall. They shake with the intensity of his orgasm, his cock pulsing hot white into your pussy until it’s gushing out around his cock. You feel drunk with it, eyes rolling back into your head as he continues to make noise, riding out the pleasure.

You do really feel like you’ve ascended. You barely notice when Jeongin gets up and wipes you with a warm towel, humming the tune to another Christmas song, and you barely notice when he slides back onto the dirty sheets and pulls you into his chest. It’s only when you realise he’s talking do you blink back into reality.

“The necklace, jagi,” He huffs, and you furrow your eyebrows. He’s still thinking about that film. “Not even for his own wife. Like-“

“Jeongin, you just fucked my brains out and you’re still on about Love Actually.”

Jeongin goes quiet, and then he laughs, kissing your forehead. “Sorry. I doubt you paid attention though, so we’ll watch it again tomorrow. Merry Christmas. I love you more than anything.”

“Merry Christmas, I love you more than anything,” You slur back, eyes already heavy with sleep. Jeongin’s laughing again, you note, but you’re already curling up and falling asleep.

He’ll have to deal with the two of you not changing the sheets later, but you’ll have presents to open first.

[deeznutzzzz24]

Little Red Riding Hood

Chapter One - Kill Or Be Killed

Summary: Living a life of caution for as long as she can remember, Y/N has never stayed too long in one place, always moving from town to town in hopes to hide her identity. With the Hunters Moon coming, she knows she must be extra careful, as the local culture resides heavily in the hunting of her kind. One night, when a cloaked figure unveils her secret and narrowly escapes, Y/N finds herself in a desperate situation: kill or be killed. With no face to go by, she must now search through the townsfolk before the stranger can spread the truth about her. But the task proves more than difficult when she realises her only lead is a long, crimson cloak.

Genre: horror, fantasy, little red riding hood retelling

Warnings: cursing, stalking, death, heavy smut (later included)

Pairing: redridinghood!Jungwon x femwolf! reader

next chapter

A branch snaps. Something is wrong.

I whirl around, casting quick glances to every corner of the forest. A rehearsal, like I’d done every Hunters Moon as a girl.

A confirmation.

A silence.

A knowing.

Someone is watching.

My eyes scan the turret of green abyss before me, checking every leaf, every branch with eager uniformity.

I scrutinise each passing spec, scanning the forest for something out of place, something that doesn’t belong. But even in the dead of night the forest remains regal with grace, beckoning me to try and find its flaw.

When I finally conclude that my hiding acquaintance must be some stumbling stag, I go to turn back to the river and notice a flicker of motion to my left.

I stop dead in my tracks.

Something that doesn’t belong.

Got you.

I race across the clearing, diving head first into the forest without hesitation, but this stranger is smart, and from what I can gather, eager to hide his identity as I watch his red cloak shift fervently through the trees, concealing any hint of skin as he swiftly dodges all obstacles in his path. Suddenly, he trips over a fallen branch and lands face first on the ground. He groans in pain and I slow in my pace, preparing to make haste of my short advantage.

But before I can do anything of the sort, he’s hoisting himself up, grabbing at his foot that’s stuck firm in the mud.

Thank the heavens for yesterdays rain.

I go to resume in my advances, but he’s gone before I can pounce, yanking his foot from the ground and making another run for it.

No.

The voice in my head rings clear, precise with its set instruction.

He mustn’t get away.

In one last eager attempt to catch him, I grab a rock nearby and aim it towards his leg, praying that the gods will spare me this one small decency, at least for today.

The figure doesn’t bother brushing the filth off his cloak, making a priority of his escape as he runs off. A smart one. I find myself admiring his resolve to live, and almost feel bad as I watch the heavy stone smash into his left leg, causing him to stumble down the hill at an awkward position. I follow, but at a slower pace this time.

He could be armed.

And yes, just as I had hoped, the stranger awaits at the bottom of the hill, rocking side to side as he groans in agony and clutches at his knee. He makes no attempt to get up, although as I inch closer, I realise my throw was so strong he mightn’t be able to. He stops groaning as I approach. He’s getting ready.

My hand slowly grabs at the small dagger tucked into my side, drawing it out in one sly motion. I feel him stiffen as I straddle his lap, much too clouded in pain to react as I grab his hands and prepare to tie them above his head. “Sneaky thing, aren’t you?” I remark, breathing hard between laughs as I lower my dagger just above his adams apple. “Maybe next time you’ll think twice before following me into the woods, boy.” His face remains covered by his crimson cloak, but I feel him breathing hard beneath it. I go to push it aside, but he abruptly pushes forward, banging his head against mine with fever.

I stumble backwards, moaning in pain. “You insolent little-” But it’s too late, the figure is already sprinting away into the dark forest. My hands find their way to my forehead, cradling what I know will be bruised tomorrow. Scrambling to my feet, I watch from afar as he pushes on, occasionally stopping to quickly relieve some pressure off his leg. I curse, kicking a nearby clump of dirt and sending it soaring through the trees. Brushing the dirt off my hair, I feel a surge of rage boil beneath my skin as I watch him cautiously cast quick glances behind him. The darkness makes it impossible for me to see his features clearly from this distance.

Dammit, I’m screwed.

I pace back and forth, considering running after him, but it’s too late, he’s too far gone now. He’s morphed into a small crimson spec now, limping as he makes a b-line for town.

Dammit.

Helena is going to be livid. But it doesn’t matter, because deep down I know she’s not the one I’m worried about.

The townspeople are.

Not to mention Mary, Jiwon and.…Heeseung. They’ll never speak to me again.

No, worse. They’ll push for my execution.

Wait. A tinge of cold air licks at my arm as I stop dead in my tracks. Red drops paint the dirt beneath me. My gaze follows the winding trail down the path.

Blood.

The fool has left me a trail.

I kneel to the ground, coating a finger in the red liquid and bringing it to my nose. His scent fills my senses, and I feel myself letting go. The blood smells sweet, like warm sugar and cinnamon. I bet it would it taste even better. My breath catches in my throat as I struggle to repress the small voice gnawing at my sanity. Go on. With shaky hands, I bring the blood to my lips, letting my mouth stop just short of contact. Let go. A howl echoes from across the forest. I snap out of my trance and shake my head, regaining my thoughts. I don’t have time for this. Deep breaths, in and out.

I am in control.

I turn back to the small village in the distance, the same town I have called home for the last 8 months. Avion. A quaint little village hustled in the centre of a frozen paradise, home to over 200 people…

and tonight, one of them is going to die.

_____________________________________________

Authors Note:

lmao can I just say thank you to all of yous that picked Jungwon in my previous poll cause gawd dayum I couldn’t stop picturing him as red riding hood and i suddenly regretted putting up a poll for ppl to choose LMAO 🤣

anyway ik this chapter was short but dw it was only short cause it was more like a prologue than an actual chapter lol

anyway peace out, me has got 2 go and start working on chapter two💀 bye bye

[strxnged]

KAVEH: # perennial.

word count. 0.8k. genre. platonic, painter!gn!reader.

warnings. alcohol, love confession gone wrong (… right?).

“I think I’m in love with you.”

Kaveh’s voice was loud, forceful, and impatient. It was as if he’d been turning the words over in his mind for a few minutes and finally decided to spit it out and bear the consequences. His face contorted imploringly. “Please don’t kill me,” he added.

“Kav, you interrupted me!” You realized you were probably scowling at him.

“I—I know, I’m… sorry.”

You huffed and shut down your still-screaming thoughts about the inflation of paint prices. How were you supposed to make a living from your art if you couldn’t afford deep blue paint? You would have to change your entire style. How could you paint the sea, the sky, the— No, you had to focus. 

You grabbed his arm and pulled him out of the crowds of the city street to stand under a tree. “Kaveh,” you said in a more hushed voice, “where is this coming from?” 

His eyes darted around your face, anywhere but your eyes. His cheeks were aflame. As much as you took pleasure in seeing him embarrassed, this needed to be resolved immediately. 

“You can’t just say things like that when we’re out in public.”

He frowned. “What?”

“People are going to think…”

“That I mean it? I do!”

Up until now, you’d been sure there was another explanation. But now you saw his crimson cheeks, furrowed eyebrows, and red eyes settling on yours, and you let yourself absorb it.

“Oh,” you said.

Your chest tightened and your throat closed. Archons, were you really about to lose your best friend? Did everything have to change, now?

“I’m sorry,” he said again. “I just— I’ve never felt for anyone the way I do for you. God, it sounds so stupid. I just love you. A lot. I don’t want to be apart from you.”

“It does sound stupid,” you said bluntly. “Because I feel the same way.”

“You do?”

“Kaveh…”

He looked pained, mouth opening and closing with no words coming out.

“Kaveh,” you said, more firmly. “It’s not about whether or not I love you. It’s about what you want, and what I want. So instead of saying words that are so plainly obvious, why don’t you give me something to go off of so I know what you mean.”

Kaveh sighed. “I don’t know…”

“Fine. Let me get a drink or two into you. Then you’ll talk.” You took to the street again, and beckoned to him. “Don’t linger, loverboy.”

Sure enough, in Lambad’s Tavern, Kaveh’s tense expression melted after a drink. He pursed his lips, gazing a bit more calmly into the bottom of his empty glass.

“Well?” you urged him.

“I want to understand my feelings. Alhaitham told me I should talk to you about it instead of bothering him so much.”

You sputtered. “You want to understand your feelings, so you confessed your love for me?”

He sighed. “Yes.” His eyes met yours defiantly. “It’s not like I knew what else to say. I do love you.”

“Yes, you’ve mentioned that. That’s a great word that means a whole lot of nothing new to me unless you want things between us to change.”

“Change how?” he asked. 

“Kaveh, I should kick you.” You swung back your glass and emptied it. “My best friend’s a fool. That’s up to you. I’m content with how we are.”

“Well, so am I. I just love what we have. You’re everything to me.” He huffed and ordered another drink from the bartender. “You know, you just put me in my place and knock senses into me. You’re like—Alhaitham, but you don’t have terrible taste and worse opinions.”

You laughed. “Is that a compliment?”

“That’s how I love you.”

“Hmm…” You kicked your feet back and forth. “How else?”

“Like, I like being close to you. Hanging out. Lying around with you while we’re doing seperate art. I like your smell. I really… really like making you laugh.” Kaveh looked almost defeated, but his tone was tender and meaningful. “That’s how.” He looked at you again, and his expression turned angry. “You’re enjoying this! You prick.”

“Of course I am, Kaveh. I don’t know why you’ve held back these feelings. Is there anything else?”

He rolled his eyes and propped his head up in his hand, elbow on the bar counter. “I’m just in love with you. Like I love a new design.”

“And I love you like I love painting.” You smiled and let out a relieved sigh. “So nothing has to change?”

“No. God, no.”

“Good. I have enough to deal with, with paint prices these days.”

author’s note. i wrote this in like 20 minutes and did not proofread don’t come for me. i love queerplatonic affection and kaveh. ♥

[pursuitseternal]

“A Night with the Ascendant:” truths revealed and a delicious punishment is served

Ascended Astarion x F!OC (Lumina) |E| 5K

Summary: While the Master’s away, Lumina decides to take matters into her own urchin hands. Hooded and cloaked, she finds the book she seeks on the Lower City streets… but Lord Astarion finds her, too. She is willful and reckless and disobedient, and a fitting punishment is required.

CW: Grieving AA, Half-truths, manipulation, orgasm denial, Lumina fails her charisma and stealth rolls, “borrowing her bf’s clothing” for nefarious purposes, AA having too much fun for the first time in centuries.

Previous Ch | ao3 link | Masterlist

Chapter 4…

⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️

Lumina was everything he ever dreamed someone could be—beautiful, willing, submissive. It was so easy to give her that final ingredient to remake her in his image, to dominate her so thoroughly. It shouldn’t have even felt like manipulation or deception to that matter, she drank the chalice of his blood so eagerly. He remembered the deep scarlet stain on those satisfied lips, the aftertaste of his power in the richness of his blood that lingered on her tongue.

But if she was so entirely his… why did it bother him to no end? He missed that edge of control, to compel her and weave his way into her brain like the beautiful marionette she had been. Where control and order once dictated his life, now all was replaced with… whims and desire.

With her smiles and her guile and her intelligence and her willfulness.

He hadn’t counted on such willfulness. Even if it was to insist on calling him hero. Hells. Heroes didn’t live forever with unrivaled power, needing to spend eternity numbing the pain of life. Heroes laid peacefully in their graves when all was said and done.

Graves like the five cut headstones that spread before him. They had never been this quiet, not when they were alive. The silence of the graveyard grinded at his resolve, eroding that perfect veneer of power and control crafted over two glorious centuries. He was weak right now, remembering the way his eyes would hurt as they rolled back every time Gale rambled… or the edge of sassiness in Shadowheart’s voice when she was peeved… or even Karlach’s hyena call of a laugh.

Instead there was only silence, the growth of moss on their stone tombs, and the rot of time on their remains, the same uncheck grinding of time that had swept them away and left him. Alone. Unaltered and untouched.

For the first time in ages, he stood in the wash of their memories, the ghosts of their voices and laughter and criticism and ferocity. In a moment, he would steel himself over once more, return to that visage of power and dominance and untouchability. But for now, he stood in silent remembrance, his damnable beating heart feeling the sting of emotions he had worked so hard to banish. Loss… grief… affection… desire…

A flash of bright blonde hair and crimson eyes passed through his mind. A tug at their bond that she was somewhere in the city, somewhere up to mischief and no good… if she was this petulant and unruly, why did he love her…

Love.

Hells dammit. He had remade her into something new, something even he had yet to experience in his centuries of vampirism—his Bride. But what was it she was remaking him into now?

Hungry for him, she paced between her suites and his sumptuous chambers. But there was one thing for which she hungered more—knowledge. What in the hells was she?

Every few turns around the room, Lumina paused at the window of his bedchamber, its arching frame overlooking the gardens, and the Lower City beyond. Creeping ivy trellised its way up the ancient stone walls. Every one of her urchin instincts screamed to escape—to reclaim the sun and discover all she could about her new abilities, to try to uncover more about her hero, her tyrant, and her love. She needed information, research.

She needed books. Or at least one. One to unlock what strange transformation had taken place to grant her safety from the sun like him.

How many times had she touched that green leather-covered tome, The Curse of the Vampyr? If only she could run to any book seller, Upper City, Lower City, surely she would find that book or… better yet… one that detailed the tether of a Master and Spawn. Fingers itched, mind whirred. She needed to taste her freedom, to learn what he wouldn’t divulge. Perhaps he would be impressed by her ambition, perhaps he would punish her for defiance.

But he wouldn’t begrudge her that freedom in the sun, not after all that she had just read about his past. Not when it was the same sweet prize he had sought and won to become the magnificent lord he was now.

He could be gone for hours, for all day, she decided. Sharp crimson eyes darted to his wardrobes packed with clothing. Practical clothing. Pants and tunics and cloaks. Maybe just… a quick rummage. Her light, little fingers danced over the rows of his garments, hoping to find something not too ostentatious or decadent. Black velvet trousers tied snug above her hips, a black silken chemise that wouldn’t reveal too much of her breasts with that low-dipped v cut—she was ready to climb and find her quarry.

Shoes slipped off, she knew it would be an easier climb barefooted, besides it’s how she had spent most of her time on the streets anyway. One leg out the window, and Lumina held her breath, that sunlight on her skin invigorated her. It bathed her, warmed her pale skin for the first time in weeks… it made every vein beneath her alabaster skin glow blue, it heated her bones and made her feel alive again.

Free again.

Emboldened by her freedom, she gracefully scampered down the vines. It was so easy to do, so glorious. She smiled to feel her feet in the dirt of the garden and vault over the stone walls back into the bustling streets of the Lower City.

Drawing the hood of his black cloak up over her head, she slunk in the shadows, surely a sight to behold. A small little girl, dressed in a man’s rich robes, stalking around like the urchin she was at heart. Bodies brushed against her on all sides, the pulse of the City, the bustling pace and breakneck ignorance of its populace for urchins like her… it would be so easy now to steal what she wanted.

Giddy, gleeful even, Lumina let her fingers dance into some fat vendor’s pocket to take their purse. It was just so easy, instinctive. Just a bump and an apology, and sure as Balduran’s balls, she was now one purse richer. Maybe a little weapon too… she smirked, mischievous and greedy. Just another helpless victim, another bump into her side and a mumbled apology… and now Lumina’s cool fingers closed around an elegant filigree hilt. She tucked its scabbard into her makeshift belt before continuing on to the closest book cart.

Her deft eyes skimmed the titles from beneath the canopy of her hood. Gold letters glint in the sun, her sharp eyes darting over every spine.

There… she gave a sigh of relief, the title she sought gleamed at her, brighter than a prized jewel. Stepping back, she eyed the cart vendor, a plump, stinking man who looked more interested in drinking than reading. She could practically smell the stale ale on his breath and scent the alcohol that tainted his blood, even from her distance.

Shaking her head, she tried to rid herself of these hypersensitivities, drawing back a pace until she couldn’t smell him anymore. Gagging, she tucked the purse of gold in her pocket; a man like that would be much more fun to rob than to waste her newly acquired money on.

All she had to do was wait…

After a few moments, he got up, lumbering around the corner, and Lumina smiled. Her undead heart would be racing with the thrill of the hunt, that rush of risk and reward, of being victorious or being caught.

Slinking to the far side of the cart, she pulled out the small green book, her quarry. Her steady hand began to slip it under her cloak until….

“What do you think you’re doing?” that stinking, sour breath was hot in her face as the cart keeper snatched her wrist and spun her around.

“Fuck,” Lumina cursed as fear gripped her soul and raced down her spine.

Out of practice, Little Light… she swore she could hear his mocking laughter in her head. Fuck, what would the Master say, she worried as she was dragged into the street.

“You wretched, dirty rat,” the keeper yelled in her face, spittle flying in her face and he yanked back her hood. Arresting the book from her hand, he flung her against the alley wall. “No one steals from me!”

“I have no need to steal,” Lumina lied, even as she caught herself against the brick wall. “My master is Lord Astarion Ancunín, and he will not like having his things manhandled thus.” She snapped, wrenching her hand from the man’s grubby fingers

More spit flew in her face as the man laughed, big and loud and rude. “Yeah sure, some hoity Council Member let his servant run in the streets barefoot to fetch books for them….”

“I fear the lady is right,” a silken purr rumbled from behind them both. Astarion stood, perfect in posture and confident in stance. “My Mistress is prone to such wild fantasies, wandering the street unshod, fetching books on drivel from half-brined booksellers…” Astarion turned up his nose and grimaced as he too took in the foul odor of the rotund man. “Beautiful women have their indulgences, and we must allow them their indulgences. Wouldn’t you agree?”

Astarion smirked, his silver brow quirked high on his forehead as he dangled a fat coin purse at the seller.

“Of course, my Lord,” came the reply as his fat fingers snatched it midair. “Lord Ancunín, I didn’t mean to…”

A withering, crimson stare was all it took to send the fat man fleeing back into the shadows.

“Come, Lumina,” Astarion grabbed her upper arm, firm but with a sickeningly sweet smile, “it’s time we got you home.”

With one last ditch effort, she snagged the copy of her desired book from the seller’s cart, a victorious grin on her pale face as she followed her master into the City’s fray.

Her little arm threaded through his, he walked her towards the Park, his head held high as if the woman on his arm didn’t look like some barefoot vagrant. Finally, he drew them to a stop beside the fountain. His crimson eyes leveled at her, Astarion’s brows furrowed. “Was it worth it, Little Light?” he asked, cold and yet casual in tone.

Lumina fought the urge to tremble. “My little shopping spree?”

“Thieving spree, you mean…” his brow quirked as he pulled out the purloined objects of her own efforts from his own pockets.. He pulled out her purse, her book, and her new little dagger carefully with a wicked, conceited grin, watching in amusement as she patted the places on her lithe, little body from where he had stolen them. “A rogue’s dexterity is not to be outmatched, no matter how desperate or eager you are…”

“Please give those…” she wanted to say more, but his other hand flew towards her face, planting a single finger over her lips.

And Lord Astarion smiled. “Ah ah,” he chided, “explain yourself first, and your punishments may be lessened.” His voice rippled with promise, a teasing and yet desirous tone lacing into his words. “Why does my newborn mistress, a spawn of several weeks now, need to conduct some… research of her own kind?” He set the purse and dagger in his pockets, flipping the pages of the little green book. Pausing, he locked eyes with her, licking his finger first, slow and deliberate, before turning to the next one. “What are you so eager to learn that you could not dare to ask your beloved Master?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” she braced her hands on her hips, head tilting up at him in a show of confidence. “I walk in the sun, I can smell things… hear things… I couldn’t before.”

“Such as?” came his nonchalant reply.

“That oaf for one, I could almost taste the effects of his tenday long bender,” Lumina tried not to wretch at the memory. “And then there was the moment where I heard your voice inside my head…”

Something in his gaze shifted, something veiled now lifted, as if he was also surprised. “Indeed,” he purred, thumbing another page of the text. “And you decided to be disobedient and break my rules to seek out this uninformed drivel?” He scoffed, “Not to mention violating a few laws for good measure?”

“If you just gave me answers, Master; if you just gave me my own coin and a dagger, I wouldn’t need to steal them.”

“Oh, pet, I can deny you nothing,” he purred, “unless you might end up harmed in the process. You’re fortunate I stumbled upon you when I did, Lumina, or else you would be rotting in some Flaming Fist cell by now….”

“Pugh,” she folded her arms, that stare growing more defiant. “Wouldn’t be the first time.”

Astarion couldn’t hide it anymore; his chuckle rumbling in the air between them. It was undeniable, her petulant spark, it made him grin just slightly, that youthfulness that he would have once been drawn to, instead of seeking a way to snuff it as he had done for centuries as Ascendant.

Perhaps he would indulge this spark, just a little more.

A wry look on his face, he extended the book towards her. “If you want it, it’s yours, but in exchange, you’ll be punished, my dear.”

Lumina narrowed her crimson eyes, weighing the cost. She smirked to flash her own fangs, “Alright, I’ll bite.”

Astarion rolled his eyes at her cheap humor. “Puns are beneath us, Lumina,” he scoffed, irascible in tone. “Perhaps I shall extend your punishment for such plebeian humor.”

“And just what will be my punishment?” she goaded, thumbing her way through her hard-won prize. “Once I finish my research, that is…”

“You’ll have your answers, but they aren’t found in that layman’s examination of vampiric bonds. You are a near-secret of our kind, and just as there has never been a Vampire Ascendant before me, there has never been a creation quite like you before.” His eyes darkened with lust and glimmered with impatience. “And there will never be another like you after, I promise.”

Then, his fangs glinted as he grinned wider. “But those answers will only come once I’m through with you. You wish to know your punishment?” He leaned in until his lips brushed the shell of her ear. “I'm going to make you scream my name until your voice gives out, Little Light.”

His form seemed to ripple, and with a snap of his fingers, they both burst into mist and flew from the Park.

A strange tingle on her skin, or what would have been her skin, coursed through her. Pure magic unmade her, shifted her until all that remained was essence. Wind rushed around her, the sounds of voices and the smells of the Park rushed past her consciousness. It was as if her very being was cradled in his arms. Astarion pushed into her, threading into the very fabric of her existence—everywhere, all at once. Inside her, on her, through her… nothing more tangible than the sensation of his power taking root at her core as he raced them both up his palace walls and into the window of his own chambers.

Gasping like one near-drowned, Lumina once again stood on her own two legs, on her own bare feet, facing his crimson stare of ire.

She winced, surely, he would be brutal, beat her and punish her for her insolence. He would make her scream, he promised, the thought of it making her back sting in anticipation of a lash.

As her old master would, she thought with a pulse of fear and disgust.

Astarion’s presence before snapped her out of that pit of self-loathing. For now, he just tilted his head and gave her that lazy, mischievous smirk. Long, skilled digits grasped her hand, pulling her against him to bring her finger into his mouth. With precision, his fang sliced into its pad, his tongue sucking the blood as it seeped. “Such sticky fingers need cleaning,” she heard him say, right into her mind, his mouth preoccupied and his eyes flashing a dangerous amusement at her shocked expression.

“What in the hells…” she gasped, the thought somehow making him smile around her bleeding digit.

“Oh, darling mistress, seems you have more and more to uncover by the second,” he purred, his voice now a caress in her mind, a tender brush up her spine to tingle her ear. He pulled his finger from her lips with a pop. His true voice was almost sticky with that ripple of danger and the lingering dregs of her blood. “But first, we must see to your punishment, my Light, as delicious as it might be.”

His grip on her waist was firm, guiding her towards his bed again. His teeth glinted as he grinned, that dark mischief shining in the crimson of his eyes. “By rights, you should be cuffed in a cell for thievery. I should know, I once, long ago, gave such sentences for urchins like you.”

Lumina caught it, just a glimpse, a far off look in his eyes, a dower frown, his mind recalling pieces of him so deeply buried by time and pain. Somewhere in her own chest, she could sense that grief, that ancient, nearly-forgotten longing. Then he turned away, and the feeling vanished.

“As your Master, I shall have to take matters into my own hands, I suppose,” he commented, reaching into his drawer, the one where he kept all sorts of things for play and punishment, Lumina knew. She heard his choice before seeing it, the heavy clanking of chains filling her with excitement and dread. “A nice pair of shackles will do, nothing elegant for my little thriving urchin of a mistress.” He rounded on her, the irons in his skilled fingers. “You know what to do, darling,” he just stared at Lumina, a challenge of a smirk on his full lips, eyes darting towards the bed.

Pausing, she waited for the tendrils of his compelling to take root, sought that shadowed presence to command her body, but they never did…

“Well, darling?” he just repeated, firmer and more agitated.

Lumina drew in a breath and moved to sit at the edge of the bed, her wrists in front of her, a smile growing on her face. He shed his decadent coat, his own silken shirt following to lie in a mess on the floor. His boots followed the same fate. “Now, Lumina, you seem rather youthful, bent on willful defiance, this need to discover who I once was and who you are now. Stuff of fools and children.” A chilling smirk on his lips, his eyes still sparked with a sense of mischief, the same she had found with increasing frequency in their fucking. “Since you insist on acting like a child, let’s play a game,” he smirked. “I will ask you a question, a simple one… and if you are correct, I’ll let you find your release…”

The implication as to her failure hung in the air, his hand firmly guiding her to lay in the center of his bed. Her shackles clanked as he drew her arms overhead and bound them to his headboard. His chuckle reverberated in her bones as he leaned to press a kiss on her pressed lips. “Now, here is your question… what are you?”

“If you had let me read my book…” she started to argue, but Astarion just shoved two fingers in her insidious mouth. His gag as effective and sudden, her tongue pressing against him, fighting for breath as he pumped his fingers slightly between her lips.

“Hush,” he smirked at her, condescending and delighted. “You are allowed one answer each time,” his smirk twisted all the darker, “and you just used your first one…” His hands splayed wide on her hips, pulling her taut against her restraints. Fingers dug into her ass, lifting her to rip off his own loosely fit trousers. Her pale legs writhed, rubbing together to already seek the friction she craved. “Ah ah,” he corrected with a low growl, “I’ll be the one to dole out your delicious punishment. Now hold still and take what’s coming to you.”

With that, he lifted her hips up, his mouth ready to lick her and devour that already dripping essence. Tongue parting through her folds, he lapped through her seam, teasing her, toying as he licked and sucked everywhere between her thighs but her hard little bud and her clenching channel.

“Master…” she whined.

He lifted his head slowly, eyes blown wide and dilated as he chuckled. “For what you are, my Light, you get the privilege of screaming my name as you beg and plead.” His tongue danced along the edge of her folds, sucking and nipping the flesh of her thighs until she bucked hard against him.

“Astarion…” she whined, nervous at first, as if unsure she truly had his permission for it.

“Louder,” he crooned his order, letting his breath alone tickle her clit.

“Astarion,” she whined full-throated this time, making him chuckle.

“That’s it, darling, you’ll grow sick of my name on your lips, soon enough, but for now, let’s drive you right to the edge….”

“Fuck!” she cursed, unable to hide her urchin-tongue as his finally swiped over her clit. Relentless, he swirled around it at last, making every nerve ending between her thighs burst into flame. She could feel her wetness leaking, summoned more by every pass of his mouth over her entrance.

But never in it.

“Please,” she yanked on her restraints, “your fingers too, please…”

He merely laughed into her folds, letting his tongue swirl and vibrate against her clit until she was gasping above him.

Then he sat back up, wiping the arousal off his chin with the back of his hand.

Lumina groaned and writhed, that wave of climax once so close, vanished just as quickly. Her little noises of frustration from her pale throat made him chuckle. He rose to his knees, a sinister and delighted smirk on his face. “So close, weren’t you, my darling?” he chuckled again, fangs peeking from his parted lips. “Care for another guess in our little game?” He tilted his head, a hand running through his shoulder-length waves of hair. “What are you?”

“Your obedient, loyal, loving spawn, master,” she answered dutifully. She smiled as he crawled closer, pressing his clothed hips against hers as he lowered into her.

“Tch,” he sucked his teeth, “closer, but still shy of the mark.” He ground his hips against that sopping apex of her thighs. The thick velvet of his pants was soon soaked by her, but he just gave that low, rumbling laugh. “Another round of punishment then, my sweet.” He yanked her by the hair, pulling her head back, his lips brushing her neck where it curved just right for him. “And you forgot to use my name, dear. Not master. Not when it’s just you and me…”

That grinding between her legs made her eyes water, just enough friction to drive her wild, but still not enough. It made her ache. Made her burn. Made her stare up into his face with utter desperation in her own crimson eyes as a few tears dripped down. “Astarion,” she whimpered, more pathetic sounding than she wished.

“Well, when you sound that remorseful, what kind of Sire would I be to deny you some of what you seek…” he crooned, an edge of victory in his voice, a shine of amusement in his gaze. Deft and quick, he unbuttoned his trousers, a low chuckle as he watched her strain against her shackles to watch. She practically drooled for him, her seam leaking in equal amounts of wet to finally feel that pressure inside her.

Gods, she was beautiful, wanting him.

“You’re so perfect, Lumina,” he growled, “and you’re so totally and utterly mine…”

Her shriek pierced the quiet of his palace, a heady mix in her tone of ecstasy and relief as he filled her to the hilt in one thrust. His breath was hot against her neck, his hands skating his nails down her sides, “But remember, my Light, you don’t get to come until I say you may…” His tone was venomous and playful, a promise and a dare all wrapped in the velvet notes of his voice. A slow, grinding pace he set, taking his time to savor every flutter of her walls. It would be quick, he grinned, letting his hips slowly roll into her, he didn’t have long to push her right to the edge once more….

“Think hard… my dear… just what are you?” his question rumbled in her ear, gravel in his voice making her shudder hard beneath him. He groaned, quickening his pace, his own need for release taking root. Easy, he warned himself, his eyes locked on her face, observing every clench of her jaw in bliss, every gasp she made as she grew closer and closer…

Just as her body began to buck and clench, his cock slipped out, his hand wrapped hard around it. His fist beating his length was good, but her cry of anguish was all the more exquisite, sending that burst of pleasure from his core to race through him as he came. Cum spewed out on her belly, her hips bucking and grinding before him as she bemoaned her fate.

“Fuck…” she cursed through clenched fangs, sweat dripping down her angelic face. “Balduran’s… balls…” she tried to clench her thighs together, but his hands pried them apart so easily.

That made him laugh, breathless and a bit exhausted through his open mouth. “Having met the legend myself, I doubt he would appreciate you speaking thus of his balls. And I certainly don’t approve of you speaking of anyone else’s either, pet…” his fingers stroked through her hair gently before giving her head a corrective yank. “My balls will just have to be enough for you for eternity.”

She stared at him, a mix of frustration and longing that set his heart racing again.

“Now, let’s try this question one more time for now, before I leave you to contemplate your choices, my love.” His gaze skimmed the sight of her half-naked in his bed, his own black silk shirt stained now from his seed and her sweat. “Think hard, my cunning Little Light, what… are… you?”

Lumina chewed her lip, her gaze flickering around his room, lost in thought as she considered her response wisely. “You said I was your… mistress… not your spawn, not your concubine…”

“That’s what I said,” he purred, sliding his fingers through his cum, gathering it on his fingers before he teased it into her folds. “My question, love, is what do you think you are now?” He let the slick sounds of his fingers inside her distract that train of thought she was clearly attempting to recover. “Well?” he insisted, catching her clit with his thumb and making her gasp another curse.

She seemed to relax, a serenity in her gaze, a softness around her mouth as she tilted her head most alluringly. “Yours… I’m yours,” she whispered, toneful and beautiful in its submission.

“Mmmm, a beautiful proclamation,” he crooned but withdrew his touch and stood from the bed, regardless. Flashing her a wicked smirk, he savored the look of devastation on her pale countenance. “While I thoroughly enjoy such a confession, it’s just… not quite the response I seek.” Fastening his trousers, he shrugged his shoulders, smiling twistedly like that arrogant bastard he truly was.

“Astarion, please!” she panted, wretched and devastated as she could only watch him depart.

He paused at his wardrobe, choosing a new shirt, sliding that crisp cream silk over his immaculate body as he turned one more time. “Don’t fret too long, my love. I’ll return soon. In the meantime, you can use your time wisely. Weigh your answers… Oh, and you can use this, if you can manage to open it, that is.” He tossed her that green-covered book, the title accusing her as it landed just within reach of her bound hands. The Curse of the Vampyre, indeed. He laughed merrily, low and rumbling in his chest. “I’ll see you later, I’m sure, darling.”

The thud of the door shutting behind him only spurred Lumina into action all the quicker. She would give him his answer and earn her release. Physically and carnally.

Hours it seemed creeped by, that little book her only distraction from the arch of her arms and the wet, lingering burn between her thighs. She awkwardly flipped pages, dropping it on her face from time to time when the shackles got in her way. Page after page revealed nothing new, and she cursed Astarion for being right, dreading how he would preen and gloat when she admitted defeat.

Food sources… seduction… vulnerabilities… that section no longer applied to her, she furrowed her brow. The creation of a spawn… the nourishment of her kind…

That made her hungry belly growl, and as if she wished it into existence, she smelled blood. The door creaked open, and Lumina fixed her gaze on the silver cup brimming with blood.

Only once that chilling laugh sounded from its bearer did Lumina glance at who held the cup.

“Morana,” she hissed fangs bared as she tried to hide her half dressed state.

“I just couldn’t resist the opportunity to replace a poor, freighted servant from entering the Master’s chambers to bring you your meal at his orders,” the tiefling’s dark eyes glimmered with hatred, her voice like vitriol as she sarcastically pouted and preened, “Is the Master’s Bride starving?”

“The… Master’s what?” Lumina went deathly still. There had been one line that book… the unknown characteristics of a Sire’s Bride or Groom. She had thought nothing of it an hour ago. “What did you just call me?”

[tainbocuailnge]

knowing all we do now about the witch king and leithanien's history i keep laughing about how like half the shit that happened to phantom and shalem isn't even necessarily a crimson troupe thing it's because mouthpiece specifically is a former leithanien spire caster who betrayed the witch king to pursue his own personal obsessions with the troupe and got a little too full of himself thinking he could start cooking up his own plays without playwright's approval. leithanien casters are simply like this obviously this was going to happen. and ending 4 strongly implies the reason the troupe called phantom and shalem back is because playwright wanted to use them to get rid of that fucking cunt mouthpiece and his shitty puppets (which he started using in place of living actors because nobody in the troupe liked him or wanted to put on his performances). all these characters in zwillingstürme going through this extremely specific shit dealing with the witch king's legacy and the ways their lives were carefully planned out to match a single man's impossibly large shadow meanwhile an arbitrary amount of time before or after this roughly one country over this nightmare theater troupe is putting on a crude derivative copy of it all and shalem ends up with like the goncharov knockoff of ebenholz' backstory. and all the event characters are getting to resolve their personal histories somehow and make a stand for what they personally believe in and defy the fate written for them by another's desires meanwhile shalem is in his oprec off to the side having his daily psychotic spiral and not coping with a goddamn thing.

[victoria-ward420]

The bar lights cast a dim glow, bouncing off the sleek countertops where V sat, her tattooed arm resting casually by her glass of wine. The crimson liquid swirled lazily as she shifted, adjusting the angle of her gaze toward the doorway. Her eyes, sharp and calculating, softened just slightly as she took a sip, waiting. The room hummed with low energy, a reflection of her simmering anticipation. Her leather-clad legs stretched out in front of her, relaxed but poised. She was always ready, always aware.

The door slid open with a barely audible hiss, and there he was. River stood in the doorway, his broad frame backlit by the dim, orange light from the hallway. His cybernetic arm gleamed as he stepped into the room, his white shirt slightly wrinkled from the day’s grind. The red tie hung loose around his neck, and the fatigue of another day in the force clung to him like a second skin. But his eyes—those intense, dark eyes—locked onto her, and a slow smile crept across his face.

“Hello, baby,” V purred, her voice low, seductive, as she tilted her glass toward him. She leaned back in her chair, letting him take in the sight of her, his “Princess,” as he liked to call her.

River crossed the room in a few strides, the tension in his shoulders easing as he closed the distance between them. His large hand, rough and calloused, found her cheek, brushing her skin lightly before he bent down to press his lips against hers. The kiss was slow, languid, the taste of whiskey still lingering on his lips from whatever case he’d been working.

“How’s my princess?” he murmured, his voice deep and gravelly against her ear as his hand moved to the back of her neck, fingers slipping under her hair, drawing her closer.

She smirked against his lips, eyes flickering with mischief. “Waiting for you, like always.”

River’s grin widened as he pulled away just enough to look at her. His eyes roamed over the tattoos on her arm, the way the dim light played off her skin, and he felt a familiar heat stirring in his chest. The bar was their sanctuary, a quiet place where the noise of the city and the chaos of their lives faded into the background. Here, it was just them. And tonight, that meant everything.

“Long day?” she asked, her fingers playing with the edge of his tie, tugging it a little as if testing his resolve.

“Long doesn’t even begin to cover it,” he muttered, glancing over at the bottle she had already cracked open. “You start without me?”

V laughed softly, leaning back in her seat and lifting her glass to her lips again. “Just keeping the seat warm for you, big guy. Figured you could use something strong after what you’ve been dealing with.”

River nodded, pulling the tie off completely and tossing it on the bar. He reached for the glass she had poured for him, downing it in one gulp before setting it aside. His body ached from the day, but here, with her, that all started to fade away.

He leaned in again, his hand finding its way to her thigh, fingers tracing the intricate ink of her tattoos. “I missed you,” he said quietly, his voice husky as his thumb moved in slow circles on her skin.

V smirked, biting her lower lip as she set her glass down, turning her full attention to him. “I know you did,” she teased, her hand sliding up his chest, feeling the taut muscles underneath his shirt. “You always do.”

There was a beat of silence between them, the kind that only came from knowing each other so intimately. River leaned down, his lips brushing her ear as he whispered, “Let me show you how much.”

Her smirk widened as she slid off the barstool, taking his hand and leading him toward the couch, her hips swaying just enough to keep his eyes glued to her every movement. The night was just beginning, and neither of them was in any rush to let it end.

River sank into the couch, pulling V close against him, his arm wrapping protectively around her waist. She slid in comfortably beside him, her cybernetic hand resting lightly on his chest, feeling the rise and fall of his breath. The low hum of the city buzzed through the windows, but in here, on this couch, the world seemed far away. It was just them.

“Rough day?” V asked, running her fingers up his chest, her voice soft but curious.

River exhaled, the tension from his shift still lingering in his muscles. “Same shit, different day,” he muttered, tilting his head back slightly. “Took down a couple of scumbags, nothing too flashy. Some small-time gang thought they could pull a quick one in the Badlands. You know how it goes. Stupid shit that turns into a bloodbath.”

V smirked, her fingers brushing the knot of his loosened tie. “Sounds like fun,” she teased, her eyes flicking up to meet his. “Didn’t save any of that adrenaline for me, did you?”

River let out a low chuckle, his hand tracing absent circles on her bare thigh, his fingers grazing the tattoos that adorned her skin. “Plenty left for you, Princess,” he murmured, his voice dropping an octave. His thumb brushed dangerously close to the edge of her shorts, teasing but not quite touching where she wanted him to.

V raised an eyebrow, shifting her body to straddle his lap, her eyes burning into his. “Good,” she said, her voice husky as she leaned in, her lips inches from his ear. “Because I’ve been waiting all day for you to get home.”

River’s grip on her waist tightened, his cybernetic hand resting on her lower back, pulling her closer. “Oh yeah?” he asked, his eyes darkening as he stared up at her. “What exactly were you waiting for, Princess?”

She smirked, grinding down against him, feeling his body tense beneath her. “You. Just you,” she whispered, her breath hot against his neck. “I had a pretty long day myself.”

River’s hand slipped under her tank top, fingers exploring the curve of her spine. “Yeah? What kind of trouble did you get into today?”

“Some corpo prick thought he could double-cross me on a deal,” V said casually, leaning back slightly, her hands resting on his shoulders. “Let’s just say he won’t be trying that again anytime soon.”

River smirked, his thumb tracing small, lazy circles on her skin. “Good girl,” he murmured, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of pride and lust. “That’s my princess, always handling shit.”

“Damn right,” V shot back, her hands trailing down his chest. “But you know… taking care of business like that leaves me with a lot of energy to burn off.”

His grin widened as his hand slid further up her back, pulling her closer again, his lips brushing her ear. “What are you trying to say, Princess?” His tone was teasing, but the heat in his eyes told her exactly where his thoughts were headed.

V’s smirk widened as she ground against him again, feeling the heat between them grow. “I think you know exactly what I’m saying.”

He groaned softly, his hand gripping her tighter, pulling her down onto his lap. “Why don’t you show me, then?”

[luckyroll3]

Crimson Lights: Chapter 3

“I told you he’d be hiding out!” the voice exclaims, echoing through the empty balcony.

I quickly step away from Chris and turn towards the sliding glass door, my heart pounding in my chest. I recognize one of the men approaching us - it’s the friend from the elevator.

“Channie! Why do you always do this?” he exclaims, exasperated as he finally reaches us. He stops abruptly when he notices me standing there, a mix of annoyance and amusement on his face. “Ah, 10th floor girl. I should have known,” he chuckles, taking a swig from the champagne bottle in his hand. 

“It’s Kay,” I correct him, feeling a little annoyed with this new nickname they had given me.

"Kay," Chan introduces with a quick nod of his head. "These are two more of my brothers, Changbin and Jisung." He gestures towards the two men who had joined us on the balcony. "The three of us run the business together."

The man who was in the elevator introduces himself as Changbin and extends his hand towards me. "It's nice to meet you officially," he says with a warm smile. I return the handshake, noticing his muscular build and intense demeanor. Despite his intimidating appearance, his smile brightens up his entire face.

"Hey," I reply. "I've seen you around here quite often. Do you live in this building too?"

“Oh, I live on the 24th floor,” he says with a nonchalant wave of his hand. The champagne bottle glints in the light as he offers it to me, and I can't resist taking my glass off the table to be filled. He pours me a generous amount.

“Ah, the other penthouse,” I note, impressed by how obviously successful their business must be. But then my eyes are drawn to his outfit - or lack thereof. "And where are your sleeves?" I ask, noticing that they've been ripped from his crisp business shirt. I gently remove a stray thread from one of his shoulders.

"Who needs sleeves when you've got these!" He grins, flexing his toned arms for emphasis. His muscles bulge and ripple under his skin, making it hard not to be slightly attracted to his physique and seemingly fun personality. It makes me laugh. 

Jisung, the other brother, lets out an exasperated sigh and rolls his eyes in response to Changbin’s antics. His piercing gaze is framed by long lashes and dark, unruly hair that falls into his face. His features are charmingly eccentric, somewhat resembling a sexy squirrel. It doesn't help that he's currently popping stuffed mushroom caps into his mouth with a mischievous glint in his eye. His puffy cheeks and slightly larger teeth only add to his playful charm. Despite being around the same height as Chris, he has a leaner build. "You can call me Han," he says, brushing past Changbin to eagerly shake my hand.

"Nice to meet you, Han," I reply with a smile. "Do you also live here?"

"No," Han responds. "This building is a bit much for my taste. My partner and I live a few blocks away.” A smirk crosses his face before he continues, “Sorry for interrupting whatever the two of you were getting into out here." Han's eyes flicker mischievously between Chris and myself.

Han then turns to address Chris. "But Marco and his people are about to leave. We really need to get this shit sorted and that paperwork signed before he walks out that door." His tone is urgent, hinting at a deeper sense of tension behind the casual facade of his words. “We can’t afford any additional delays.”

The tension in the room was palpable as Han's words hang in the air.

Changbin took another swig from the bottle in his hand before saying firmly, "He's stalled these negotiations long enough. If it's not taken care of now, we'll have to resort to drastic measures. And I know you want this resolved quickly so that it doesn't get out of hand... Again." His voice is filled with frustration.

Chris let out a weary sigh and runs a hand through his hair. "Ah shit. Okay," he says, rubbing his face tiredly. "Let's deal with it then." He turns to me apologetically. "I'm sorry. Do you mind waiting for me? This shouldn't take more than 30-45 minutes."

I shake my head. "No problem," I reply calmly. "Go take care of what you need to. I'll be here," I assure him.

"Let's go," Chris says decisively, motioning for Han and Changbin to head back inside.

With a small nod, Changbin passes me the bottle of champagne before sliding open the glass door and disappearing back into the bustling living room. Han gives me a smile and says a quick goodbye before trailing behind Changbin.

"Bye," I reply softly.

Chris grasps my hand and squeezes it briefly. "Sorry," he whispers, his eyes conveying a sense of remorse as he walks backwards towards the sliding glass door and slips through it, closing it behind him with a soft click.

The air feels heavy and I’m left alone with my thoughts and worries until Chris returns. I sink into one of the plush loungers on the balcony, pulling Chris' jacket tighter around my shoulders. I take comfort in his scent that still lingered on the fabric. My gaze returns to the view from the balcony, the city lights twinkling in the distance. Slowly sipping on the remaining champagne, I let my mind wander. After some time, I check my phone only to realize I had been lost in thought for nearly an hour.

Feeling slightly restless and a little buzzed, I reenter the party and scan the crowded room for any sign of Chris. When I can’t find him, I decide to retreat back to my apartment. As I walk towards the elevator, I can’t help but feel a twinge of disappointment on where the night could have gone.

--

I’m seconds from falling asleep on the couch when a sharp knock on the door jolts me awake. I groggily check my watch and see that it’s just past 1:30 in the morning, a mere two hours since I left the party.

I crack the door open to find Chris standing there, holding two bottles of champagne in one hand and a tray of delectable desserts in the other. He's dressed down in a black hoodie, loose basketball shorts, white socks, and black Nike slides. His hair is slightly damp with curls at the ends, giving him a disheveled but attractive look. It’s the most casual and relaxed I’ve ever seen him.

A mischievous smirk plays on his lips as he presents his gifts. "I come with an apology and a peace offering…if you'll have me."

I can't help but smile at his boldness as I open the door wider to let him in. "Chocolate and alcohol are always solid apology gifts," I quip back.

He enters the room, sliding off his shoes and leaving them by the door. I can see the exhaustion in his eyes, but he still manages to flash me a bright smile. "I'm so glad you're still awake," he says, his voice heavy with relief. He walks into the living room, carefully placing the bottles and tray on the coffee table. I close the front door behind me and follow him, admiring the way his broad shoulders and ass move as he walks. When he turns around, he pulls me into a deep hug, holding me tightly against his chest. It’s the type of hug you give someone you’ve known forever, but I don’t question it. Instead, I close my eyes and relish in the warmth of his body against mine as he whispers in my ear, "I missed you." 

Inhaling deeply, I take in the comforting scent of his body wash. Is that a mix of lavender, musk, and a hint of vanilla? I ask myself. He places soft kisses along my neck before pulling away and taking a step back to look at me. His gaze sweeps over my body, taking in the cropped tank top and shorts.

"I really like this look," he says with a hint of mischief in his voice as his hand caresses the exposed skin just below my top. "You were wearing something similar when I stopped by the other day. It took all of my willpower not to touch you," he confesses, his voice low and husky.

A laugh escapes my lips as I sit down on the couch, feeling giddy and flattered by his words. "I probably would have let you," I tease before making myself comfortable on the couch.

Chris chuckles softly, his eyes sparkling with a mixture of desire and amusement. He takes a seat beside me on the couch, our thighs brushing gently against each other. The air between us crackles with an undeniable tension, a magnetic pull drawing us closer together. "Well, good thing I came prepared tonight then," Chris says with a playful glint in his eyes. He proceeds to uncork both of the champagne bottles. He hands one to me and picks up the other. We clink the bottles together before taking a sip.

“Fuck the glasses, huh?” I ask before taking another slip. “So classy,” I chuckle.

“Only the best for you,” he laughs. “This champagne is $300 a bottle!” Chris reaches for one of the desserts on the tray and offers it to me with a smile. "Try this one first," he suggests, his eyes fixed on my face as I take a bite. The sweetness of the treat dances on my taste buds, and I let out a satisfied hum. "Delicious," I comment, earning a pleased grin from Chris. With a gentle touch, he takes his thumb and wipes away the smudge of rich, melted chocolate left at the corner of my mouth. He brings his thumb to his lips, teasingly licking off the remnants of the sweet treat before he picks up something else for me to try.

We go back and forth feeding each other different desserts while indulging in the champagne. As we chat and laugh, I find myself drawn to Chris even more than I had earlier. His easy smile and genuine laughter were infectious, and he seems more relaxed here than he was at his own party. The tension from earlier in the evening melted away, replaced by a sense of intimacy that felt both thrilling and terrifying. 

We pass the time in deep conversation, baring our souls and recounting memories from our pasts. We lose track of time as we sit side by side, lost in each other’s words and getting tipsy from all the champagne and sugar. As the night progresses, our hands seem to have a mind of their own, slowly inching closer and closer until they are intertwined, our fingers lacing together. Our bodies also start to gravitate closer together.

“Can I ask you something?” I say turning my body towards him, settling one leg on the couch.

His free hand starts to gently caress my thigh. He nods, looking into my eyes, “Anything.”

“I heard people referring to you as Chan or Channie," I say, picking up a chocolate covered strawberry and taking a bite. I bring the rest of it to his lips, invitingly. He indulges me, taking a bite, while still staring in my eyes. “What’s that about?” My curiosity piqued, wanting to understand this part of him.

A shy smile creeps onto his face as he answers my question. "Ah, Chan is my Korean name," he says, his eyes sparkling with nostalgia. "It's actually my middle name, but everyone in the tight-knit Korean community we grew up in called me Chan. They felt Chris was too westernized. It kinda stuck."

I nod, taking in this new information about him. The scent of fresh strawberries fills the air as I lick the juice from my fingers, unable to resist their sweet stickiness. "Interesting," I say, meeting his gaze again. "And what about hyung?"

He chuckles softly, delighted that I've picked up on this detail. "You have a good ear," he says approvingly. "Hyung basically means older brother. In Korean, we tend to use honorifics as a sign of respect and formality."

My heart flutters as he takes my hand in his own and gently places each finger in his mouth, sucking off the remaining strawberry juice. The intimate gesture sends shivers down my spine. "Anything else you want to know?" he whispers, his voice low and seductive as he leans closer to me. I can feel myself getting lost in his captivating presence.

I shake my head slightly, feeling a rush of desire and nervousness swirling inside me at his proximity. "Not right now," I manage to whisper back, my voice barely above a breath as I try to steady my racing heart. His thumb strokes my palm gently, sending a wave of electricity through me.

Chris leans in even closer, his gaze locked on mine, his lips hovering just inches away from mine. I can feel the heat radiating off him, mixing with the intoxicating scent of champagne and chocolate that surrounds us. His eyes search mine for any sign of hesitation. But there is none. I meet his gaze with a mixture of longing and anticipation, silently giving him permission to close the distance between us. The room fades away, leaving only the two of us in this suspended moment.

Without breaking eye contact, he closes the small distance between us and captures my lips in a soft, firm kiss. It's like a spark igniting between us, setting off a chain reaction of fireworks in my chest that moves down to my groin. His lips are warm and velvety against mine, moving in sync as if they were made for each other. He pulls me closer to his body until there is no space left between us and I have to wrap my legs around his waist. My hands instinctively find their way to his hair, tangling in the curls I’ve been eyeing all night.

As we kiss, our tongues dance in a rhythm that only fuels our desire. Each touch sending shockwaves of arousal through our bodies. My body presses against his, feeling his muscles beneath the fabric of his hoodie.

His hands glide up my back, feather-light touches leaving trails of tingling sensations in their wake. I moan softly as his fingertips brush against the sensitive skin between my shoulder blades. One hand boldly ventures forward and cups my breast, his thumb and forefinger teasing and rolling my nipple until it hardens. His other hand moves to rest on my hip, his fingers digging into my flesh as he presses his growing erection against me. I push back into it, craving more of his touch. He groans into my mouth, then he pulls back to whisper hotly in my ear: "You have no idea how long I've wanted this." He tugs at the hem of my tank top, lifting it up and over my head before tossing it aside with urgency, leaving me bare before him. He takes a moment to admire my body. "Beautiful," he breathes as his tongue dips down to flick across my collarbone. Then, he takes one of my breasts into his mouth, the pink of his lips juxtaposed against the smooth brown of my skin, and begins to suck gently, sending waves of pleasure through me. I gasp and cling to him.

As he moves from one breast to the other, I gasp out his name, “Chris….” My fingers tangle in his hair, pulling him closer as he nibbles and sucks at my sensitive skin. A low chuckle rolls through his chest and mine as he continues his assault on my body. He traces a path of kisses from my tits, past my collarbone and up my neck, stopping to bite gently on my earlobe. "You smell incredible," he whispers against my skin, before capturing my lips in a deep kiss once again.

He scoots back slightly to remove his hoodie and I help him slip it off. "Damnnnn..." I say. I breathe out as my eyes trail down his toned body. His abs are perfectly sculpted, and my hands itch to trace their lines. My fingers tentatively touch the v-shaped line at his hips and work their way up his abs, traveling over his pecks and his shoulders, feeling every inch of him before he leans back in for another kiss.

Chris' hips thrust forward, pressing against me just enough to remind me of what he wants, begging for a release. My teeth graze my lower lip in anticipation as I reach for the waistband of his shorts, tugging at the strings to untie them. As the knot comes undone, I eagerly slip my hand inside his boxers and wrap my fingers around his hard cock. To my surprise, it's thicker than I imagined, filling my hand completely. A low growl escapes Chris' lips as I circle my thumb around the sensitive head of his cock, teasing him with slow strokes up and down his shaft. "Mmmm...you found it," he chuckles. Locking eyes with me, he moves his hand down my belly and into my underwear. A shiver runs down my spine as his fingers explore my wetness, teasing and tantalizing me in all the right ways. His smile grows wider when he feels how ready and eager I am for him. He slips a finger inside me, eliciting a gasp from my lips as I grind down onto it with eagerness. His thumb joins in on the action, rubbing firm strokes over my clit that send sparks of pleasure shooting throughout my body. “Tell me what you want,” he whispers, his voice sending shivers down my spine.

"I want you," I reply breathlessly, barely able to form the words as waves of pleasure wash over me.

“Right answer,” he says with a smirk. He removes his hand from between my legs and effortlessly lifts me up, maneuvering us into a new position on the couch. Chris eases himself out from underneath me and gently lays me back on the cushions. He then positions himself between my bent legs, planting soft kisses down my body starting at my lower lip. He moves along my jawline and down my neck. His lips travel further south, leaving a trail of heat and longing in their wake as they make their way to my breasts. Slowly, tantalizingly, he continues his descent until he reaches the soft skin just below my belly button. With practiced ease, he tugs at the waistband of my shorts, coaxing them off my hips with gentle movements. After discarding them, his attention turns to my underwear which he starts to remove teasingly with his teeth, pulling them down inch by inch with maddening slowness.

Just as I am about to lift my hips to help speed the process, his phone suddenly begins to vibrate. With a defeated sigh, he pulls away from me and reaches for the phone on the coffee table. I watch him as he reads the series of messages coming through, his expression changing from frustration to concern, and then a slight hint of anger creeps in.

I sit up, using my elbow to prop me forward. “Everything okay?” I ask.

He shakes his head without looking up from the phone. He sends a message back and places the phone on the table before turning back to me, his eyes filled with regret. “I’m so sorry to have to do this to you for the second time tonight.” He sighs, sitting between my legs and kissing the top of my knee. “There’s an emergency that I need to take care of.” He reaches onto the floor and hands me my tank top.

I can’t help but feel disappointed at the interruption, but I can see the seriousness in his eyes and know that something important must have come up. I sit up and pull on the tank top, then hand him his hoodie that had ended up landing on the back of the sofa. “Those damn spreadsheets, huh?” I say, trying to lighten the mood and keeping the other questions I have to myself. I spot my shorts next to his feet and I pull those on too.

He laughs as he puts his arms through the hoody before pulling it over his head. “These fucking spreadsheets are a menace.” He turns to me with a sincere look in his eyes. “I’ll make it up to you. I promise.” He hands me his phone. “Put your number in. I’ll call you tomorrow.” He gets up and walks to the door, placing his feet in his slides.

I hand him back the phone and I hear the text he sends to mine, ensuring that I have his number as well. “Come here,” he says, softly pulling me in for a tight hug. His strong arms wrap around me and I bury my face into his chest. He pulls back slightly, allowing himself to lean in and press his lips against mine in a passionate, slow kiss. One hand slides down to firmly grip my ass. He finally pulls away and whispers, “Bye,” before slipping out the door.  

[artistic-endchamber]

OC PROFILE - Mai silverstone

Mai Silverstone

Basic Information 

Mai Silverstone

Blood Type: AB positive

Age: 14-16 (As the series goes on)

Birthplace & Current Residence: Clover Kingdom, and Clover Kingdom

Occupation: Mereoleona’s apprentice and later a Magic Knight of the Crimson Lion Kings

Affinity: Flame magic (Later evolves into Blue flame Magic)

Height: 161.8 cm (5'3)

DOB: March 21st

Sex, Gender Identity, and Sexuality: AFAB, Female, and Straight

Voice Claim: Daki Hime (From Demon slayer)

Mai’s grimoire is a small but thick book that is pitch black & has bright red flame-like accents that surround her grey 3-leaf clover symbol.

Personality

Mai is a very passionate hard worker. She has a violent sense of positivity, and somehow always manages to scare other people and make them laugh that the same time. Mai is quick to become scary and/or judge, but other than that she is hilariously positive and mostly too oblivious and innocent for her own good.

Likes: Mai likes to train; especially core-strength workouts. It is her stress reliever since she grew up with Mereoleona. Mai also loves to fight and spar. Her favorite food is Dumplings, she loves stuffing her face with them <3

Dislikes:  People who “stay weak”. People who whine about how they cant do anything but never take it upon themselves to improve. Mai despises the sounds of whining and complaining that erupt from people who never work hard.

Appearance

Long, Silky, black hair. It’s mainly straight but has small curves in its silhouette. She puts it half-up half-down in a bun and lets the other option of her hair wave down because it’s just that thick.

Weight: 136 lbs

Height: 5’3 (161.6 cm)

Very athletic bulid– she’s basically a mini Mereo.

Normal outfit TBD

Modifications to her Body: Her right arm has a big set of claw marks on it from a bear incident from back when she was young.

Skills

Mai’s sense of Balance and stability are top notch. Not to mention the fact that she’s extremely strong and flexible at any given moment. She has an extraordinary sense of responsibility and always stays faithful to plans no matter what goes wrong. Her resolve and durability always come together to help her achieve top-notch results and outcomes no matter what. 

Background

Mai Silverstone one of Giana’s cousins. Her family is a separate branch of the family, so naturally they live secluded compared to the main Silverstone household. Her family consists of Her late father, Mikage; her Mother, Serena; Mai’s older sister, Mizurai; and Mai. 

Mai and her sister were always close; and her father was always out as a magic knight serving the country as her mother took care of the two. However, Mizurai has always had a terminal illness for as long as Mai had known. Thought, around the age of 6, Mizurai’s illness had started to get worse and worse. 

By the time Mai was Eight, Mizurai was completely bedridden and their mother had practically driven mad trying to somehow cure her. Mai was forbidden from seeing Mizurai (Their mother claimed it was for both of their good), and she was alone.

One day, Mizurai’s Birthday to be exact, Mai decided to disregard the rules and sneak into her room to wish her a happy birthday. Mizurai was ecstatic to see her younger sister— so ecstatic that she ended up having a coughing fit. Mizurai coughed so loud that her mother rushed to her room; and found Mai. 

Mai beefed for forgiveness but it was all thrown to deaf ears as she was practically yanked out of the house. Something in Mai’s mother had snapped and it was evident. The thread had broken so rigidly that Mai’s mother had become unemotional towards her. Mai was thrown out and never let back inside.

Mai’s now former house was right in front of the woods, so when she was thrown out, she had nothing else. No one knew. Mai begged for hours on end, clawing at the door hoping someone would come for her even though she knew no one would. After her voice gave out, she finally gave up. She stood up and walked. She walked straight and deep into the woods until her limbs couldn’t anymore. 

She saw a bear running towards her, and she was so ready for it to end her life in her despair. It wasn’t until the bear clawed at her arm and made a mark did she snap back to reality- the reality that she actually didn’t want to die. 

But by that point, it was too late. Mai’s body was so weak that she couldn’t run and her voice was so fragile that she couldn’t yell. So she tried to block herself, but then she was saved. She was saved by a woman who didn’t even know she was there until she had finished absolutely mauling the bear. 

It was a woman that had bright, orange hair and was wearing something that looked all-blue from the back. Mai’s eyes practically shone when she saw how strong this woman was. 

After the epic fight scene or whatever, Mai learned that the Woman was actually Mereoleona Vermillion. Mereoleona quickly learned of Mai’s predicament and had no hesitation about bringing her into the vermillion household (Of course Fuegoleons first reaction to this was absolute shock..). Mai has always looked up to Mereoleona Vermillion ever since then. (She’s practically Mereleona’s child-)

Spells

offensive spell -

 Flame Magic: Wildfire paralysis

 Mai bursts her surroundings into flames quite literally, but instead of burning and harming whoever gets trapped, she can stay selective with how well she paralyzez them. This doesn’t qualify as a mana zone, though.

Flame magic: Flaming Scythe of Death Mai uses her Flame creation magic to make a literal scythe of flames. Thought this is a self explanatory spell, let me add that the Scythe is comically LARGE.

Flame Magic: A thousand fists of death 

Inspired off of an early version of Mereoleona’s Callidos Brachium: Barrage spell. Mai basically uses a fake mana Zone to send punches from anywhere.

Blue Flame Magic: Scythe of Rebirth

Once Mai’s Flame magic evolve, she has new spells that vaguely resemble her old ones. This spell resembles her old Scythe, but has extra advantages to it in the sense of heat, and the ability to heal if necessary. This Scythe can also drastically drain the body heat of whoever it touches; so her opponents may be at risk to succumb to Hypothermia.

Blue Flame Magic: Wildfire Hypnosis

 Yet again, this spell is a revamped version of Mai’s “Wildfire Paralasis” spell. Only this time, She can make the flame have different effects to cause her opponents to Hallucinate. Or she can just, well, burn them.

Blue Flame Magic: The Call of Oya

When the spell is casted, a very, very big Blue flame projection of the Yoruba mythological fire deity Oya is created. Mai has the power to control this being  and give it commands.

Blue Flame Magic: Oya’s Divine Dress

A spinoff of The Deity Oya’s Dress/outfit. It also grants her keen abilities such as a hyperawareness to Mana and other Ki-Like abilities.

defensive spell - 

Blue Flame Magic: Wildfire Hypnosis

 Yet again, this spell is a revamped version of Mai’s “Wildfire Paralasis” spell. Only this time, She can make the flame have different effects to cause her opponents to Hallucinate. Or she can just, well, burn them.

Flame Magic: Guardian’s dome

Very Similar to Noelle’s “Sea Dragon’s Lair”, a gigantic dome engulfs a field in protective flames. This can also be used on others and be made transportable.

Flame Magic: Oya’s Defense Line

“Oya” is the Goddess of Fire in Yoruba mythology. In this spell, four to six (Dependent on how many Mai needs) life-sized Oya projections come forth and place themselves each in a corner of the shaped needed to protect and fight for Mai’s loved ones. 

healing spell - 

Flame Healing Magic: Healing sanctuary

These / This dome looks very similar to Mai’s “Guardian’s Dome” spell- only this spell can heal the amount of people it engulfs. This takes up more mana depending on how many domes and how big each is.

Blue Flame Magic: Scythe of Rebirth

Once Mai’s Flame magic evolve, she has new spells that vaguely resemble her old ones. This spell resembles her old Scythe, but has extra advantages to it in the sense of heat, and the ability to heal if necessary.

binding spell - 

Flame Binding Magic: Ropes of Heat

Mai can adjust the heat of her Flame ropes at any given moment, so she can choose to tie someone up while burning them or not. Aside from that the spell is fairly explanatory.

Mana Zone - 

Mana Zone: Oya’s divine Tower

The entire field is shrouded in sweltering heat, dangerously close to the heat from the Core of the Ultime Volcano range. Mai doesn’t break a sweat when using it to her advantage.

~~ OTHER REFRENCES !

~

^ Above Art by @yukiblob !!

[shinyaharu98]

Unraveled Secrets - Episode 2 (ft. Yeojin)

LOONA ViVi x Male Reader

Word Count: 7469 words

Categories: smut, girl on girl, series

Disclaimer: Here is the second part of the trilogy! This episode happened right after where episode 1 has left off. Also all LOONA members will use stage names in the most part excluding ViVi for familiarity and continuity purposes. Special thanks to @a-casual-kpopfan for proof reading!

Episode 1

They say time is just a perception. If you are doing something you like, it will flow by faster, and vice versa. Waiting is an arduous process, a slow torturing method designed to push your mind and patience to its absolute limits. If things going your way is like a 100 meter dash, then waiting is like a marathon. It’s the pain of going through it.

-7 days till scheduled trip-

“One week.” Kahei murmured.

Your first date in real life. 7 days left. Painful.

Unlike Chuu, who is allegedly booked full until 2054, Kahei had some free time to spare. Usually she would spend her time painting art pieces, hosting V Live from time to time, or just hanging out with other unoccupied members. But now, all she can think of is that day. THAT special first date you two are going to have. Kahei cannot stop herself from overthinking about every single aspect of it. Where should we go? What will we be doing together? And also…what is Yeojin planning anyways? As soon as she thought about that, Yeojin’s words echoed inside Kahei’s brain.

“We’ll have a threesome together unnie! We’ll be fucking all day and all night long! Isn’t it what you asked for?”

Her ears turned red. Her face turned crimson. Her heart was pounding stronger than before. Even her kidneys are pounding, for some reason.

“What is this feeling? Nervousness? It couldn’t be…” Kahei contemplating with herself. “I didn’t even feel like this on my debut stage…what is going on?”

She was completely in her zone, immersed in her own world of thoughts. At this moment, Choerry noticed her unnie was a bit strange today. Kept spacing out, and being oddly quieter than usual. This piqued up Choerry’s interest, so she decided to get to the bottom of this. But to do that, she must rescue Kahei from her own world and bring her back to reality. Choerry asked Kahei if she could join her V Live session, as she needed someone to teach her Cantonese and engage with foreign fans.

For a brief moment, Kahei did forget about her own troubles and had a great time with Choerry. They laughed, they joked around and they conversed with their fans as well. Two hours flew by as they prepared to wrap up their live streaming session.

“안녕!~拜拜!~”

As their V Live came to an end, Choerry began searching for clues like Harry Potter in the Chamber of Secrets.

“Unnie, you looked concerned today, is something wrong?”

This question caught her by surprise, but it’s just the wrong timing. She is not ready to open up about her secrets, let alone revealing her secret date with Yeojin and you. The only rational response she can come up with is to ensure Choerry that everything is under control.

“I’m fine, I’m fine. It’s just…”

Words nearly slipped out from her lips, but she consciously stopped herself from revealing everything.

“Just…?” Choerry tried to continue her sentence.

“Sorry about that…Yerim-ah, I can’t tell you right now. It is a secret of mine. But I promise you I am okay, so don’t worry about it ya? When the timing is right, I will tell you everything about it.”

Initially Choerry was going to press for more answers out of curiosity. But then, she saw Kahei’s eyes.

That piercing gaze, shined with determination and power.

This is the eyes of someone who is ready to risk it all to protect something they really cherish. This is the stare of someone who plans to go all in with no regrets.

“Trust me on this one.” Kahei added.

Her eyes rendered Choerry speechless. At that moment, she knew that her unnie was being serious. She knows that this is no joking matter, and she needs to resolve it by herself without disruptions from a third party.

“I see…I understand. Of course I trust you unnie. I’ll be here whenever you are ready to talk about it.” Choerry answered. “After all, you are my beloved Bbi-haengnim after all!”

She gave her a peck on her cheeks. Kahei smiled, relieved that Choerry will be there for her when the time comes.

After that, they split up and Kahei went back to her room and rested.

“What a chaotic way to start the day, my heart is off time…” Kahei talking to herself once again. “I wonder what he’s doing now…is he thinking about me?”

Meanwhile, around 2000 miles away…

“I wonder what she's doing now…is she thinking about me?”

As soon as you thought of that, a familiar tune broke your room’s silence.

“너무나도 멋진 너 아무렇지 않은 척 나 조금씩 너의 옆에…~”

Of course you set Kahei’s debut track as your phone’s notification ringtone, of course you did. You picked up your phone, and it is a notification for a live stream from V Live. You wanted to catch up with the girls, or even better, catch a glimpse of your best friend Kahei. But sadly, the livestream ended a few minutes ago.

“Stupid V Live notifications, always delayed for no reason.” You complained. “Thank goodness HYBE bought your glitchy app. Now how am I supposed to know what she's doing?”

You know that you can’t really just text Kahei willy-nilly because other members or managers can pick up her phone instead.

“How am I going to live through these seven days? Why don’t I just buy tomorrow’s ticket instead…” You regretted the fact that you missed the opportunity to meet her earlier, but all the seats are already unavailable at the moment. You slumped back into your bed trying to get some sleep.

1 hour went by. Not a wink of sleep. Your mind is crowded with endless possibilities for that day. You decided to roam around your apartment.

“I sure am fortunate.” You said, while walking around your place. It is hard to find affordable housing in Hong Kong, but you managed to rent a small apartment unit in the Central District with three of your friends, thanks to your uncle who owned this place. He didn’t give you the apartment for free obviously, but you sure have discounts that make it cheaper than others.

For now all three of your friends have either been on their holidays elsewhere, or just went back to their hometowns, leaving you alone in the premises.

“I guess I’ll just open up my commissions again, might need that extra cash in Korea…” You kept talking to yourself. Being alone for quite some time earned you the habit to talk with yourself. It might sound crazy but it does let you organize your thoughts a bit.

As a freelance artist, your income is based on people requesting for artworks. Sometimes you get wacky requests with a very specific image in their minds, but it's your job after all.

“Bleep.”

Your computer reminded you a new buyer had just ordered a custom art of their choice.

“Well, time to work!” You exclaimed.

And that should keep you busy for the rest of your day.

-6 days till scheduled trip-

“Yesterday was absolutely horrendous.” You thought.

You just finished your artwork and it was ready to be submitted to your client. But a flash of lightning shorted out the fuse of your apartment.

The good news is, your computer and other devices are completely fine.

The bad news is, your progress for the past two hours has been wasted.

That’s why you pulled an all-nighter just to catch up your progress and finally finished at 3:14 a.m. No wonder you woke up at 2pm this afternoon.

“I’m starving.”

Now that you are alone, you don't have the luxury to have meals prepared by your housemates, which means you need to go through all the hassle to cook it yourself.

You learned how to cook by watching Gordon Ramsey on YouTube. But of course, you are not cooking like a chef, you’re not a 5 star Michelin after all. You are just a regular guy who picked up cooking as a hobby, but also can prepare decent meals by yourself that are presentable.

Your cooking style and preferences mimics what you saw on Chef Ramsey’s channel, so it’s mostly Western Cuisine.

But today is different. Kahei is on your mind right now. You want to learn to cook something that you know she would like.

“Maybe it's been a while since she had eaten local foods, she’s been in Korea the entire time after all…”

With that in mind, you decided to make potstickers from scratch, since this is what she used to eat during your legendary school days.

-Timeskip-

An hour has passed and your potstickers are finally done.

“Hey, that’s pretty good!” You exclaimed while tasting your work of art. “I probably should bring some to Korea, I bet she would like it!”

Pondering, a familiar tune rang again.

“Dammit V Live, you better not be delayed this time…what do you have for me now?”

You foolishly thought that was a V Live notification, but no. Kahei’s name flashes on the screen, she just sent you a message. But just when you tried to open it, the message immediately rescinded.

Perplexed, you texted back.

“What’s up?”

“Oh…nothing nothing, I…I just misclicked that’s all. Sorry about that.”

Weird.

But stranger things happened.

Her name flashed on your screen once again, but this time…it’s a call.

She would usually ask you if you are free before calling you. Impromptu chatting sessions don't usually occur between you two, which makes you feel even more confused. You eventually picked up the phone, worrying that something serious just happened.

“...Kahei?”

“I just want to tell you…that I’m looking forward to our date. I miss you so so much…”

Well that was unexpectedly daring of her, you thought.

“I miss you too Kahei. I hope that I can see you as soon as possible.”

“Unnggh…me too.”

She sounded…different. Her voice doesn't sound chipper as usual.

“Kahei, are you exercising? You sounded like you were out of breath now, is everything okay?”

“I’m…fine.”

“You should put that on a T-shirt, it’s like your go to catchphrase at this point.” You chuckled. But Kahei doesn't seem to be amused. Her side went silent for a while, and out of nowhere, she asked you a question.

“What…what are you going to do with me when you arrive here?”

That was WAY too bold, you thought. It doesn’t sound like the conserved, shy Kahei you know, but you decide to ignore all the red flags and answer her question anyways.

“I want to go shopping with you, I want to spend time with you, I want to visit your dorm, your vocal room, I want to hang out with you beneath the stars with you…”

And the list goes on. You mentioned everything you wanted to experience with her…but you left out the most important part.

“And also…I want to make love with you.”

Knowing that she doesn’t like profanity, you chose your words carefully.

“...more…” Kahei’s voice sounded sultry, like she was yearning for your attention and wanted you to express your lust and fantasy onto her. One line wasn’t enough, she needed you to be honest with yourself and pour out your heart for her.

“I want to mess you up, I want to fill you up until you become mine and mine only.”

“Mmmh…!” Kahei moaned.

Is she…pleasuring herself? You continued.

“I want to thrust my shaft inside your womb, I want to shoot my semen into your deepest part and let you cum until you can’t walk. I want to pleasure you until you beg me for more, I want to make out with you from sunset to sunrise. I want…”

Before you can finish bombarding your lust onto her, she interrupts you.

“I…can’t…hold it back any longer!” Kahei exclaimed. And then, silence filled your room.

Baffled by what just happened, you tried to reconnect with her.

“Kahei…? What is happening? Are you masturb-”

-Click-

She hung up.

The only thing left with you is your fully erect shaft, clearly aroused by your conversation just now.

“What the hell is going on today? Is the universe falling apart?”

Of course not, you silly bollocks. But you had so many questions. What was happening on the other side of the phone? Was she suddenly in heat and wanted to masturbate, or maybe you just got NTRed?

You calmed yourself down, and tried to think rationally.

“She could be pleasuring herself, or maybe she…no no no no no no no.” You don’t even want to think about anyone else laying their hands on her.

“Balance of probability suggests that she is more likely to be touching herself. Yes, that must be it…”

You almost went through seven stages of grief just to rationalize about what just happened. Your phone interrupted your train of thoughts.

-Three new messages-

Kahei: Sorry about what just happened. Please…just forget everything just now. Here is something to compensate for your troubles.

Kahei: Try to think about me tonight, okay? I hope that picture can help you relieve some tension tonight…if you need to.

Jason: Of course I need to.

What a wild day, with so many questions unanswered. But at this moment, the only thing that captured your attention was that picture she sent you.

What an arousing expression.

A perfect balance between cuteness and seductiveness, this might be the best selca you have ever seen, and the most effective too. Her plump lips with that provocative tongue flick, nobody could have resisted that.

You simply cannot handle it anymore, you picked up your phone and walked straight into your washroom…

-Four hours ago-

Another practically schedule-less day for Kahei. At this point in time, it didn’t really bother her at all. In fact, she kinda enjoyed it. Having free time in your own vocal room just to chillax, develop interests and improve yourself as an artist, which introvert wouldn’t want that?

But then.

“Unnieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee~”

A loud voice broke the peaceful silence she was enjoying. There are only a few members that are capable of producing this much noise, but Kahei knew exactly who she was.

“God, Yeojin…” Kahei sighed. “Everyday I wonder where you get your energy from…”

She was not exaggerating at all. Being the loudspeaker of the group, Yeojin does exude big energy vibes.

“I guess I’m just naturally high all the time!”

“So…what’s the occasion? You don’t do THAT if you don’t have something in your mind.” Kahei asked, thinking that she might need some favors to ask.

“Well, since you are free unnie, I want to ask you about something I had in mind for a while…”

Kahei shuddered. Millions of possible scenarios flashed across her eyes.

What is on her mind? Will she bring up that subject? Will she ask questions about Jason? Will she…

“Can you go shopping with me?”

“Huh?”

Kahei still hasn't gotten back her senses yet.

“My clothes are getting stale, I want to add more into my collection.” Yeojin said. “I might need your assistance unnie, you have impeccable fashion taste after all!”

“I…I do?” Kahei was flattered by Yeojin’s unexpected praise. Gowon is usually the fashionista in the group, she does have a futuristic fashion sense after all. But getting that compliment from Yeojin is a huge serotonin boost for Kahei, since Yeojin’s photos on Instagram always garnered a lot of attention and adoration from fans.

“Alright then, I’ll go with you.” Kahei agreed. “Any particular stores in mind?”

Too easy, Yeojin thought. Invisible horns appeared from her head. Looks like everything is going according to her plan, whatever that plan was.

And just like that, their trip to fashion-land takes off.

At first glance, their mini-trip looked innocent enough without arousing suspicion. They hop from store to store picking outfits that caught their eyes. From street to street, Zara to Uniqlo, browsing through the latest fashion trends.

Kahei is not a big shopper, but she still chose some clothes and accessories that would fit well in her gradually expanding collection. Just when she thought their excursion was coming to an end, Yeojin expressed that there is one more shop she was dying to visit.

“Yeojin-ah, my legs are a bit sore…can’t we go some other day?” Kahei tried to negotiate for a break.

“No no no no no unnie,,,this place is very special to me, I really want to show you for a while now. I promise it won’t take long, pleeeease?”

Yeojin’s eyes sparkle with hope, shining brighter than the sun above. Kahei couldn't possibly upset her maknae, so she caved in and headed towards the final station of their mysterious journey.

One taxi trip later, they arrived at their destination. Kahei was still clueless as to where she was. But it is very apparent that Yeojin is very used to this place, as she navigates the area without GPS. Alas, she stopped in front of a red building.

“...Yeojin? Why are we here?”

‘Red Container’, big white letters appeared as its storefront signage. The problem is, beside it are the words ‘Adult Shop’.

“Tada!”

“...” Words failed to come out from Kahei’s mouth. Realization kicks in that from this moment on, everything is going towards a VERY different direction.

Without waiting for her to react, Yeojin dragged her into the shop, and the first thing she saw was an entire aisle dedicated for adult toys of all shapes and sizes.

“What…WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON???”

“Language, Vivi unnie!” Yeojin added. “Relax, I’m just here to restock. Gowon unnie broke my vibrator last night, so I had no choice but to splurge on another one of these.”

She picked up a white box with the label ‘Fireman’ on it.

“This is one of the best products that they offer, it’s called fireman because he will come for your rescue, hahahahahahahaha get it?” Yeojin is still in her euphoric mode, completely ignoring Kahei, who is still in shock.

“But unnie, this is not the main attraction yet, the second floor is where the magic happens.”

Yeojin dragged Kahei to the second floor, which just happens to be the store’s outfit and costume section.

“Didn’t we just buy clothes for like, an hour ago? Do we really need more?”

“Unnie, these outfits are not for us, you know.”

Yeojin’s smile disappeared. A serious expression replaced her upbeat mood with an instant.

“I am aware that you are meeting your boyfriend next week, and I am tagging along as well.”

“We’re…not a couple at this moment…” Kahei tried to explain the complicated relationship between the both of you.

“So…you’re admitting you two are just sex friends?”

“No! Not like that! It’s just that we've known each other for such a long time, but I never know if he is interested in me…”

“Oh my God kimchi unnie…You really ARE dense, aren’t you? You really think that he would do all that, but has absolutely zero feelings towards you?”

“I've never been in a relationship before, how am I supposed to know?”

Yeojin sighed.

“Alright then. If you want this to work out, you are going to need some assistance. And luckily for you, I’m here.” Yeojin started planning their attack plans like a military strategist.

“Here’s our goal. I want him to fall head over heels for you when you two lovebirds meet next week, alright? To let that happen, I need your full cooperation, can you do that?”

“I…” Kahei muttered. She is afraid that being honest might just ruin your relationship. But stuck in this status quo is not a viable long-term solution either. She needed to make a choice, no matter how difficult it was.

With a deep breath, she finally made a decision that will change her life completely.

“I will do it.”

And there it is.

“I will do it, Yeojin. You have my full attention and cooperation. No turning back now.”

Yeojin saw flames arise from Kahei’s eyes. The familiar expression that shined with determination like before reappeared.

“Alright! Both feet are in the battlefield now, we’ll be needing some supplies. Let’s start by choosing our battling armor.”

This section of the shop displayed all kinds of clothing, including those specifically designed for cosplay events or role-playing.

“So, do you know what oppa likes?” Yeojin says. “Except for twin tails of course…”

“How did you…”

“Unnie, I heard mostly everything, alright? Don’t worry about it.”

Kahei blushed.

“During our Hi High era, he told me that I looked good in my outfit, he kept on complimenting it. So maybe a miniskirt would be ideal?”

“Hi High era clothes huh, I do look cute in those. Crop tops and miniskirts it is then. Gosh, we should just wear our stage outfits to surprise him. But at the same time, it’s too recognizable in public…”

Both Yeojin and Kahei scanned the section for any costumes that would fit the description. While searching for apparel, Kahei was fascinated about the costumes on display.

“Cat ears? Do people really like these? I guess Hyunjin would buy these I imagine.”

Naturally Aeongie Hyunjin comes to mind. Of course she would buy those.

“Unnie! I think I found something!”

Yeojin found a blue sailor halter top with a small anchor at the center. She also found a miniskirt with the same color to compliment the top. This particular costume is extremely bold, as the wearer’s back, midriff and legs will be on full display when this outfit is equipped.

“I can’t wear something like this! It’s too embarrassing!” Kahei objected.

“Boo boo…fine, I’ll have it then. They do have another similar one too, I think that might suit you unnie.”

Rustling through racks and racks of clothes, Yeojin managed to find another similar outfit. This one is also blue sailor themed, but instead of a top and miniskirt, it is a one-piece dress with the same anchor in the middle.

“I guess I can go with this one.” Kahei finally settled in.

“Alright, let’s try it out!”

Both girls entered separate changing booths and tried out their newly found outfit.

”Oh…?!” Kahei gasped. That’s not a look you would see everyday.

One-piece dresses usually have the ability to bring out one's slim figure and show off their legs, and this dress is not an outlier either. Although not as revealing as the one Yeojin had, this one had the perfect length just enough to accentuate Kahei’s legs.

She was very pleased that Yeojin picked this outfit for her.

“I’m sure Jason will like this outfit.” Kahei smiled while talking to herself. She envisioned the scene where both of you met at the airport…

*Kahei’s fantasy POV*

“Oppa! You finally came to visit me!”

“Kahei, sorry to keep you waiting.”

“You should have planned this earlier, you know?”

“I’m sorry sweetie, but I really tried. But at least I’m here right? Aren’t you glad to see me?”

“Of course I am! You have been on my mind lately, you don’t even know how much I missed you these days…”

After a short conversation, both of you went into a cab. You promptly told the driver your desired destination, which is none other than…a love hotel.

Things are about to get steamy.

Kahei imagined you kissing on her luscious lips, your tongues intertwined with each other and creating a string of saliva.

“Oppa, you are too forceful…mmngh~”

Kahei was still daydreaming about the suggestive scene she hoped would happen next week. But the sensation felt real, also something was touching her crotch…

Kahei opened her eyes, and Yeojin appeared in front of her, as her lips were forcefully pressed against hers.

“Hee hee…looks like someone is fantasizing about something dirty~”

“Yeojin!”

When did she slip inside her booth?

“Unnie, I think your first kiss belongs to me now! We have to practice and train together before you do the real deal with oppa, you don’t want him to be disappointed right?”

Yeojin’s hands slid into Kahei’s skirt and started rubbing her clitoris in a circular motion, making her completely immersed into a trance.

“Just imagine these are oppa’s big, strong hands, I’m sure you’ll like it.”

“J…Jason~”

Your name escaped her mouth, as she began to move her hips to match the pacing as well.

“It’s so big and thick…Something weird is happening!”

A patch of wet marks appeared on her panties as Yeojin’s fingers kept sliding in and out of her sacred hole. But it is very obvious that this level of satisfaction is not enough, so Yeojin moved to her back and began to caress her perky breasts as well.

“Eeek!”

“Unnie you really have beautiful tits you know, too bad I’m the one who will be enjoying first~”

Yeojin continued to massage her breasts while pinching her already erect nipples.

“I wish mine were as bouncy and elastic as yours…do you know how many fans fawn over you for that ‘Shake It’ stage? They only gave me that bartender outfit while you get that sexy blue dress, I’m envious…”

“Iwamnnotawareeofthat…” Kahei slurred her speech as she was engulfed by waves of ecstasy while Yeojin displayed no signs of stopping.

“Oh? Unnie can’t handle this kind of pleasure? I never knew that our Bbihaeng-nim would turn into such a slutty unnie~ Is Jason-oppa really that turning you on? Your lewd expression is all over the place!”

Kahei saw her expression reflected by the full-body mirror in front of them,

“...Is this really me?”

Her hair was messy, a ring of tears pooled around her eyes, her tongue was sticking out and she was making an incredibly erotic face while squelching sounds can heard.

“Yeojin…you really need to stop…or else I might be addicted to this~”

“This is just the practice run you know?”

“I‘m…I’m cumming!”

Kahei's body tensed up as orgasmed. Her pupils dilated, electricity ran through her body from top to bottom as she couldn't control her body anymore.

"That...was amazing..."

Kahei plopped down on the floor as fluids gushed out from her ravaged vagina.

Yeojin grinned, admiring her work of art, but then a dirty idea came upon her.

She took Kahei's phone while she was still in cloud nine, and took a picture of her messed up body and elated expression.

"Aaaand...send!"

Kahei finally snapped back and noticed her phone was in Yeojin's hand. She quickly snatched it back and figured out what she was doing.

Jason: [Picture sent]

“Yeojin! What do you think you’re doing?”

“Might as well give oppa some material to work with…right?”

Kahei quickly retracted the message she sent, hoping that you didn’t see it.

[What's up?]

“Thank goodness I was fast enough…What were you thinking Yeojin?” Kahei exclaimed.

[Oh…nothing nothing, I…I just misclicked that’s all. Sorry about that.]

Yeojin barged in.

“Gosh you two love birds need to be honest about yourselves!”

She snatched the phone and proceeded to call your number. And no surprise, you picked up.

“...Kahei?”

Not prepared for this occasion, Kahei didn’t know what to say, but Yeojin had a better idea.

“Tell him you missed him so much, unnie!! Try to express yourself as much as you can.” Yeojin whispered into her ear, instructing her how to give a proper response.

Kahei tried her best to give a heartfelt response, exposing her deepest desire to be with you.

“That’s the spirit!” Yeojin whispered again. “Now to add some zing to your conversation…”

As you are sending back your response, Yeojin restarted her attack on Kahei’s private parts. Startled by this sudden ambush, her response sounded more and more suspicious.

“Unnggh…me too.”

“Unnie, you have to keep it down a notch or else he will surely notice it!”

Your conversation kept on going, but Kahei couldn't really hear what  you were saying at this point, her flames had just been reignited by Yeojin, plus your deep voice turned her on even more.

“What…what are you going to do with me when you arrive here?”

Kahei tried her best to be frank with you but also secretly wanting to hear about your truest thoughts.

As you are listing out all the things you want to experience with her, Yeojin also couldn’t contain herself anymore. Playing Kahei wasn’t enough, she needed to be fulfilled as well. She unpacked the newly bought toy and slowly inserted it into her drenched pussy.

“...more…” Kahei instructed you to tell her even more ways you want to mess her up.

Every single word you said excites her more and more, every scene you described evoked her innermost sexual desires.

"I...I can't..."

Kahei and Yeojin both reached their peak at the same time. They heaved for gasps of breath, while their bodies began to calm down.

"Kahei?...Are you m-"

Perfect timing. Yeojin abruptly ended the call.

"Haah...we can't reveal everything to him yet, there is a time and place for that...As for you unnie, you did a great job today. I like your honest side more."

Yeojin kissed Kahei once more, missing their love fluids together. Slowly but surely, they regained their senses back.

Kahei, on the other hand, is still having you on her mind. She knew you were going to be worried about herself after this bizarre interaction.

"Yeojin, oppa must have felt worried and intrigued. What should I tell him?"

"We'll need something to occupy his mind for the moment. Something bold, something direct, something that would make him go crazy…How about sending him a sexy picture of you?"

“What? I don’t have those kinds of pictures just lying around!”

“You don’t?”

“No!”

“But I do have some, just in case of emergencies.”

“Emergencies?” Kahei sighed. “Never mind, I don’t think I want to know the entire story. But I do have one picture that he might like…I took it during our Summer Package photoshoot, is this okay?”

Yeojin glanced at the photo in question and gave it a satisfying pass.

“This is absolutely perfect, ViVi-unnie. He would be falling on his knees when he receives this picture, so let me help you out.”

And so, Yeojin sent you the photo and gave you permission to use it as your heart desired.

After all the shenanigans, they both went back to their dorms and called it a day, and what a day indeed.

-4 days till scheduled trip-

Nothing particular happened in your household, you are alone in your place after all. But that cannot be said about loonathedorm, where seismic events are indeed unfolding.

Heejin and Hyunjin are dating somewhere in Daegu, Haseul is buying her fifth Gucci bag in LA, OEC are in the studio recording for their next Japanese solo ‘Sick Love’, Yves is riding the Swan Paddle Boat at Han River, Gowon is in a convenience store promoting her own Gowon Meal Set, Chuu is in a forest somewhere planting trees and trying her best to save the world, and Olivia Hye is touching up her arm tattoo in an underground tattoo parlor. You might have noticed that two members in particular are missing.

“The stars aligned and we are alone, Bbi-haengnim~”

“You were in my bed as soon as I woke up! How long have you been here?”

“Long enough to admire your body hehe~”

“Yeojin...Are you drunk?”

“Unnie! Do I really look like a drunkard who drinks at 2 in the afternoon?”

Yeojin did look dazed, but if it wasn't alcohol, what is the cause of this reaction?

“Actually, I woke up this morning and I felt…different. My heart was pounding so fast, knowing that we are all alone.”

“Yeojin…”

“I love you, ViVi-unnie, I really do. You’ve been caring for me since my debut, showering me with love because I am the smallest in the group, I really fell in love with you since then. But…”

There is a certain sadness reflected in Yeojin’s eyes, as she knows that Kahei had already fallen in love with another individual.

But Yeojin is very rational. She knows that in order to love someone, you need to make them happy and respect their choices.

“I know that Jason oppa is THE special someone in your life, I can see it in your eyes. That’s why I will make sure to help you get ready in every single scenario possible.”

Without waiting for a response, Yeojin unleashed a barrage of kisses. At first, Kahei didn't really like it. She is not someone who would willingly give or receive intimacy on a regular basis.

But after yesterday’s events, something changed within her. She became more open to Yeojin's bold attacks, even trying to give back some love too.

“Yeojin-ah, you really act like a spoiled baby you know?” Kahei smiled while taking the lead for the first time ever.

Yeojin was taken aback by her actions.

“Unnie? Mmmh!”

Kahei denied Yeojin’s freedom of speech as she worked her tongue past her lips to dive into her delicate mouth.

“I guess it’s officially no longer kiss later now.”

“Unnie…you’re scaring me now…I should’ve taken the lead!”

“Nope, not today. You had your way last time, now it’s punishment time.”

Those eyes. That gaze. That power. The same determination.

Kahei got on top of Yeojin and looked down into her eyes, the tank top she was wearing highlighted her slim yet muscular arms. She lifted Yeojin’s chin up and gave her first command.

“Stick your tongue out.”

Yeojin was terrified, it’s almost like she completely transformed into another person. But…she felt a tingling sensation spreading through her body, entering into uncharted territory. But her body doesn’t reject it despite the fact that being in a submissive and vulnerable position is new to her. She realized that deep down she wanted to be dominated. Dominated by her beloved unnie.

"Yesh…" Yeojin obeyed.

Kahei locked her hands together and pressed them against the bed in an upright position, denying the possibility of Yeojin escaping.

Without any signs of hesitation, Kahei planted a deep kiss and twisted her tongue inside of Yeojin's mouth. By instinct, she tried to break free but Kahei held on to her position firmly. Tears rolled down Yeojin's cheeks as her consciousness slowly fades away.

Finally Kahei loosened her grip.

"Bwaaah…I…I thought I was going to die there…"

"We're not done yet." Kahei smiled while flicking her tongue. "You taste like banana milk, I might need more of that."

"Wait! Wh…"

Kahei continues to enjoy her second serving of Yeojin. Her tongue didn't stay at one place like before, it followed down to her neck, her collar bone and eventually her chest. Kahei removed her shirt to find out that she wasn't wearing any undergarments beneath.

Although her height was underdeveloped, her chest is entirely a different story.

"I guess all that banana milk went to good use there~" Kahei grinned.

Two years ago Yeojin would probably rank in the bottom three in terms of volume within LOONA members, but now she has grown out of her cutie pie phase. Lately she has become more mature, more adult-like. Her ample breasts really stand out in contrast with her tiny figure, no wonder she is so popular amongst male fans.

"I'm so envious of you, Yeojin. You grew up so well…"

Kahei slowly caressed Yeojin's stiffened clit and licked her nipples, making a circular motion around it.

"Unnie…when did you become so good at this…mmmgh!"

Her pink nipples became hard and erect, drool leaked out from the corner of her mouth as she desperately gasped for air.

"I'm cumming…I'm cummingggggg!" Yeojin squealed as her petite body shuddered in delight.

"Looks like you're enjoying yourself there."

As Yeojin's vision began to clear up, she noticed a hint of sadness in Kahei’s eyes.

"Unnie, we…we have to train for 4 more days, I know it is difficult for you to hold back your feelings for this long." Yeojin said while trying to catch her breath. "When you are doing it with me, you are thinking about Jason-oppa isn't it?"

"You noticed?"

"Of course I do! I know what my role is, and we don't have a lot of time to prepare…but I am sure you are ready to meet him."

"Really?"

"We will have to wait until that day to find out…."

Kahei wondered what she was talking about, but Yeojin collapsed onto the bed and passed out.

"Guess I'll find out, I hope Jason can come sooner…"

Oh you will.

-6 hours till scheduled trip-

Time flies.

It's your moment.

This is it, as big as you're gonna get, so enjoy it.

You simply couldn’t sleep yesterday, as you had waited for this moment all week. For the past few days talks and chats between you and Kahei were not that frequent, as Luminous promos are closing in, but you two still manage to converse a bit.

You checked your tickets over and over again, just to confirm the dates and terminal gates are correct. You still had a bit of time to kill, so you opened up your favOriTe game - SuperStar LOONA and played her solo Everyday I Love You.

Meanwhile...

It’s 9:30 a.m. in Korea. Kahei is not waiting alone, Yeojin is also by her side.

Both of them are anxious about your arrival for different reasons. Kahei is uneasy because she wanted to be reunited with you for such a long time, and this day finally came. Yeojin is nervous because he is going to meet you for the first time without you even knowing it, there are so many things that could go wrong.

“ViVi-unnie, should we go now?”

Kahei knows that there is still time until your arrival. “No rush, Yeojin. He should be departing anytime soon, but the flight from Hong Kong to here is 3 hours long.”

“So…does that mean we have a bit of time for extra preparation?”

“No more training, Yeojin. Gosh, did you forget what happened yesterday?”

“Oh right…”

The training sessions for the past few days were wild. For most of the time, the sessions went smoothly. They played around, experimented with different techniques, toys and positions, all to prepare for this big day. But yesterday, boy oh boy they nearly messed up and got caught by other members.

Kahei and Yeojin are training in their bedroom alone as usual, with Kahei being the dominant one. They failed to notice that on that particular day, Choerry was actually present in another room. The sound of Yeojin moaning and panting caught Choerry’s attention, so she knocked on their doors.

“Yeojin-ah, is everything okay?”

That caught them by surprise, as they hurriedly tidied up their clothes and bed sheets.

“I’m…I’m fine unnie. ViVi-unnie is here with me, we were just…exercising!”

“Hmmmmm…alright then. Don’t overdo yourselves ya?”

Kahei was relieved. “Phew…”

“Alright, no more practice today.” Yeojin says. “I think we have sufficient training already! So tell me unnie, how did you two meet?”

“That… is a long long story. Maybe I will tell you all in the next episode.”

“Episode?”

“Ah…I mean next time, next time. Since we have time, should we just grab something to eat?”

“Let’s go!”

And off they go.

“Game Over~” Kahei’s voice boomed when you inevitably failed Hi High hard mode for the nth time again.

“I should have just stuck to my plan of beating the high score for Everyday I Love You…” you groaned.

Of course you bought her voice pack, of course you do. That is the entire point of this game for you to hear her lovely voice cheering you on when you succeed. But sadly hard mode is just too hard for you to conquer at this point.

You looked at the time and realized you probably should be heading out to HKIA by now. You called a cab and headed towards your destination. 15 minutes later, you arrived at the airport terminal.

-3 hours and 30 minutes till scheduled trip-

“Welcome aboard Hong Kong Airlines.”

The moment that sound appeared, you snapped back to reality, knowing that you will see your dearest friend in a couple of hours. And hopefully after this, you two will be more than friends.

Excitement pumped through your blood vessels as the plane takes off. You experienced the longest 3 hours and 30 minutes of your life, as you couldn’t sleep like other passengers. Your entire mind has been focused on meeting with Kahei and nothing fazes you anymore.

Not the ongoing turbulence, not the one passenger who kept asking the stewardess for snacks, not even the gentleman beside you who snores like a freight train.

Kahei and Yeojin also noticed that the time has come for them to fetch you up at the airport. They quickly get dressed and make sure to present themselves at their best for you. In the cab, Yeojin starts to worry that you might not want her involvement.

“Unnie…what if oppa is mad at you because you unraveled secrets to me? I mean I know I discovered them but he might have other theories. What if he's disappointed? What if…”

“Relax, Yeojin. We knew each other for a long time and I can tell you that he is one of the most considerate and kind people I have ever known.” Kahei reassures. “I am sure he will understand our situation, and we will make it up for him later, won’t we?”

“Oh that’s right! We will have our three-”

Kahei immediately stopped Yeojin for blurting out sensitive information.

“Shhhh! Don’t say it out loud!”

“Hee hee~”

A few moments later, they arrived at the airport. Luckily for them, the electrical board says that your flight will be arriving in about 10 minutes.

“I can’t wait.” Kahei sighed.

“I can’t wait,” You sighed. But then the captain informed all passengers to buckle in as you are approaching the airway for landing.

Alas, you arrived at Seoul, the heart of Korea.

-5 minutes till scheduled trip-

Korean air smells different. For starters, it is way clearer here then your hometown as the quality of air in Hong Kong is considered a serious matter. But now is not the time to admire the air quality, no. You are finally about to meet Kahei for the first time in years.

As you approached the arrival terminal, you kept looking for any signs of Kahei.

“Is she here?” You started talking with yourself. “Perhaps she is stuck in traffic, or maybe she forgot? Where are y…oh? OH?”

A figure appeared through the crowd. And there she is, the moment you’ve been dreaming for. Her luscious dark hair with her slender figure really stands out from others.

Your eyes met, gaze locked onto each other. You ran towards her direction and hugged her.

“Kahei! It’s been so long!”

“I can finally see you in person, you let me wait for so long!”

“I am sorry, I’ll make sure to make it up for you. Hmm?”

You noticed there is one more person peeking out behind Kahei.

“Wait a minute…Yeojin? Why are you here?”

Do you know Yeojin personally? Of course not. But as a LOONA fan, you obviously know who other members are, and seeing another LOONA member present confused you.

“Hello oppa! Im Yeojin here! ViVi-unnie told me a loooot about you!”

“Wh-”

A confused expression appeared on your face, as you couldn't understand what was going on.

Kahei noticed your troubling look.

“Jason, I can explain…”

She went on and told you about how Yeojin found out your secrets and planned to join you two.

“I understand you want this to be between us, but Yeojin has helped me to find courage and strength to be here. Can she join us?”

What kind of man would turn down an opportunity to go out with two LOONA members?

“Alright. I guess us three will be stuck together for a while.” You accepted your fate and followed the two girls.

Yeojin was unusually excited.

“Since you are not familiar with the surroundings, oppa…we decided to plan a little trip just for the three of us!”

“Alright, Yeojin. I will follow your lead then.”

Three of you went into a cab. You presumed that they are bringing you to some local eateries, or maybe visit their dorm. But when you arrived at your destination, you found out that your hypothesis was completely off course.

The sign says ‘Love Hotel’.

“Kahei…why are we here?”

“Oppa…you’ll see.”

I believe you will.

To be continued…

[hikayunas]

[lynaerith]

Omitions — Mikayuu Drabble

Mikaela and Yuichiro mutually broke up years ago on good terms. Despite that, they remained good friends. And despite it all, Mikaela still harbors strong feelings towards Yuichiro.

The question is: will one summer night resolve their splitting, and bring them back together?

Drabble below the "keep reading" line :)

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of summer break rolling in from a stressful, rather eventful spring semester. Nothing quite like the freedom afforded by no longer having to wake up for pointless eight-in-the-morning classes, or not having to stay up late the night before, racking your head for a prepped lunch meal. 

Summer break brings with it sleepless nights, youthful banter, and the ever elusive summer-romances. 

Mikaela has been in college for four years now. And those summer-romances still have not made their grand appearance. 

He presses his lips into a thin line, unlocking his phone. 

Several flashes appear on the television screen, bathing the dimly-lit living room in vibrant colors. It dyes his skin in temporary technicolor, pulling his attention once again. 

Then again, he couldn’t focus all that hard if he really tried anyway. 

The hum of electrical devices gets drowned out by the echoes of character sprites taking hits and shooting virtual rounds of ammo on screen. 

And (un)helpfully seated by him, is Yuichiro: head resting gently against Mikaela’s lap, gaze turned toward the screen, body strewn across the couch as his fingers try to keep up with the demand of the fast-paced game. 

His dark, thick hair is splayed across Mikaela’s lap, fanning out wildly in different directions, untamable in the ten years Mikaela had known Yuichiro. And his skin glows its beautiful summer tan, even in the darkness of the living room, adorned with small scars from his rough childhood. 

There’s a particular scar on Yuichirou’s chin that has never escaped Mikaela’s watchful gaze: a small slit caused by a knife when he was just a toddler. 

He rips away his prying gaze, and forces himself to focus on his phone again.

Unlocks it. Scrolls through his home screen. Opens Twitter. Refreshes. Closes Twitter. 

With nothing more than an audio cue, the room gets dyed in red once again. It’s a mocking death screen. 

“Maybe if you tried playing upright like a normal person,” Mikaela supplies blandly. 

He says that, but selfishly—he knows he wants Yu to stay this close. Even at the detriment of his own heart.

There’s a small shift against his lap. Just for a moment, Mikaela dares let his eyes drift downwards again. Yuichiro is side-eyeing him with a smile. 

“Nah. ‘S more comfortable this way.” 

A flush rises on Mikaela’s cheeks, and he huffs indignantly, ripping his gaze away from dangerously bright green eyes back to his phone. 

“Suit yourself, stupid Yu-chan.”

Yuichiro laughs; light and soft and every bit as delicate as the other times Mika has imprinted the sound in his head. 

“Just you wait,” he says, pressing on the restart button again. “I’ll beat the level this way and prove you wrong, Mika!” 

Mikaela hums—opening Twitter and refreshing the app for the umpteenth time. It doesn’t do anything to change his timeline; in fact, the same post from a mutual friend stares back at him and mocks him as he tries to divert his focus. 

And unceremoniously, so soon after Yu’s uttered words, another death screen bathes the room in a familiar crimson red. 

Yuichiro groans loudly in frustration. 

Mikaela doesn’t even get a smug word out before he presses the retry button again. 

It’s quiet between them. 

Quiet, and calm, and every bit of a moment well spent for summer break. 

“Hey,” Yuichiro starts, eyes still focused on the battle sequence on the television, “how did your date with that Lacus guy go?” 

Mikaela tenses. 

His heart dares betray him: it dares accelerate within the confines of his chest—it dares pump blood of delusion and hope through his veins and intoxicate his mind in a plethora of what-ifs. 

He forces himself to stay neutral, gaze focused on his phone. “What’s got you curious?”

“Nothing!” Yuichiro barks haughty. The button mashing gets louder; more irritated. “You just mentioned liking him. And that you guys were hanging out more often after classes, so I thought, ya’know…”

“Lacus likes Rene,” Mika replies smoothly. 

He’s not really expecting Yuichiro to pause his game mid-attack and turn his head towards him on his lap. 

“Oh.”

Big, green eyes stare at him. Innocently. Maybe even a little concerned. 

“Are you okay?” 

Mika furrows his brows. “We’re just friends.” He swipes across the home screen, back and forth repeatedly. “I mean, I used to like Lacus awhile ago, but things changed and that’s okay. We’re good friends now.”

Yuichiro’s fingers hover and twitch over the unpause button. 

What if… he caved into the delusion of hope within his chest? What if he chanced it just this once, and offered a little more information…

After a brief pause between them, he chances it—despite the quivering of his heart and the newfound anxiety coursing his veins. 

“Besides, I don’t think I’d be happy with anyone.” Mikaela chances a look at Yuichiro. “I’m okay with being alone.”

Several minute expressions flicker across Yuichiro’s face. Small, little shifts in his face that Mikaela has come to know distinctly with years of experience. 

Yuichiro sets down his controller on the coffee table and shifts his body to look at Mikaela. 

“Are you sure you’re alright? Like really.”

It’s not often Yu is so soft-spoken like this. 

Mikaela averts his gaze. 

“I don’t see why not.” Mikaela shrugs.

Yuichiro furrows his brows. “Mika.”

“It’s really not a problem,” he says again. 

Who is he trying to convince, really?

“Mika,” Yuichiro says louder this time. 

Mikaela pauses, and looks at him. 

Yuichiro pulls himself up to sit, and Mikaela can see the constraining of his abdominal muscles peak from beneath his ridden-up tee-shirt. 

“Did I hurt you? When we were together?” 

The question is straight to the point. 

It manages to steal Mika’s breath; pull a punch into his lungs and rob him of any oxygen. 

“What?” He asks, voice barely above a whispered breath. 

Yu licks his lips, suddenly unsure. But that insecurity melts away almost instantly: “All this talk about you being okay with being alone. We’ve both been seeing other people. I flirted with Shinoa and Mitsuba for a bit, and you looked infatuated with Lacus for awhile—”

He’s rambling. 

“—but hearing this now. Are you really okay with just being alone and not seeing anyone at all? You’re the one who always annoyingly went on about true love when we were kids.”

Mikaela swallows thickly.

In his heart and in his head, the only person he’s ever truly opened up to and loved was Yu. Yuichiro was the first person to want him, wholly and purely. He was the first person who stayed by his side no matter the consequence. 

And Mika loved Yu more than he loved the other orphans; more than he loved his own family; more than he loved love. 

Mika loved Yu more than he loved life itself. 

“Mika?” Yu asks carefully. 

Fingers press into his wrist, gingerly coaxing his phone out of his grasp. 

Mikaela never truly did get over his break-up with Yu. In a way, sure, he did: he got over it eventually with enough time to heal and lick at his wounds, and he learned from the experience. But he was never able to impale a flag of conquest over the plains of his heart which Yu had held sovereign. 

He never truly got over his suffocating love for Yu. 

“I’m okay, Yu-chan,” he manages to say. 

The crease between Yuichiro’s brows deepens. His lips down-turn cutely. 

“Your staccato responses are worrying me.”

Mikaela forces a half-baked smile and huff of a laugh. “Staccato? Where did you learn such a big word like that?”

“Shaddup.” Yu shoves his shoulder half-heartedly. “I’m being serious, dumbass.”

He chances eye-contact with Yu: chances staring into his eyes and anchoring himself just before the tipping point of evergreen forests and moss-colored blades of grass. It’s a hexxing thing: to look into Yuichiro’s eyes. 

It disarmed him in a way no one had ever managed before. 

“I haven't felt serious about anyone in a long time,” Mikaela admits. “It’s not like I didn’t look around. I just wasn’t really feeling a click with anyone. You didn’t hurt me. You could never hurt me, Yu-chan.”

Yuichiro averts his gaze just for a split second. He mumbles something unintelligible with his lips before meeting Mika’s gaze again. 

“So no one interested you?” He asks. 

Mikaela chuckles lowly. “Didn’t I just say that, idiot?”

Delicate silence stretches between them. 

The game on the television screen sits forgotten. 

Yuichiro seems to be pondering something. 

“And…” he trains off. “Did you click with me?”

Mikaela’s heart dares start and stop all at once. 

Its beats become superhuman in strength; injecting dopamine into every viable blood vessel it can.

“I did,” he murmurs. 

 Yuichiro presses his lips into a thin line.

He scoots a little closer—

—leans a little closer. 

“And,” Yuichiro pauses, “do you still feel that click?”

Delirium threatens to tear Mikaela apart. His lips twitch with millions of possibilities playing out before him. 

“I do,” he admits. 

Not a sound penetrates the world they’ve created. 

Hold still firm around Mikaela’s wrist, Yuichiro snakes his fingers down until their hands are interlocked. He squeezes their shared grasp, and breathes out slowly. 

“And you thought,” he begins, words quiet, “that it would be better to keep your feelings to yourself?”

A crack forms in their bubble. 

Reality settles heavy on Mikaela’s shoulders, and the delusion melts away into hard facts and truths. 

“You don’t feel the same way.”

He pulls away from Yuichiro dejectedly, unclasping their hands. 

Faster than his own sinking heart can react, Yu pushes forward, using both his hands to anchor Mika down and keep him seated close to him. 

Yu comes so close, that their knees are pressing together, and the proximity of their warmth radiates into his own body. 

“Don’t speak for my feelings,” he mutters haughty. 

Mika’s eyes widen. 

Yu’s expression suddenly becomes vulnerable. “You really up and decided how you thought I felt about my own feelings?”

He licks his lips.

The words die at his throat; they die in his brain. There’s not a single intelligent retort he can make to respond. Not anything that makes a coherent amount of sense for someone like Yu. 

“You…” Mika struggles to find the words. “You didn’t give me any reason to think otherwise.” 

“I didn’t think I had the right to,” Yu mumbles. “I thought staying friends was the best I was ever going to get after all that. I…”

Mika breathes in. And out. 

His heart begins fluttering in his chest all over again. His cheeks flush bright red. 

“...I didn’t know that you… that you still had feelings for me.” 

His eyes water. He doesn’t mean them to. But he can’t help it. 

“I never stopped,” Mika says. 

Yu’s lips tremble. 

“Never?” Yu asks. 

A wet chuckle. “There was never a moment where I stopped being in love with you.” 

The confession makes Mika avert his gaze in embarrassment, caught off-guard by the sudden out-pouring of his own feelings. He hadn’t meant to—hadn’t meant to lay himself so bare in front of Yu. Not for something like this. 

Yu laughs, then. At first, it’s a small, breathless chuckle, before growing louder and stronger and ever bit more reassured, until Yu is covering his mouth with one hand, curling into himself and eyes shining brightly. 

“Yu-chan?!” Mika asks urgently, overcoming that final barrier of distance, hands pressly deftly against Yu’s shoulders to prop him up. 

Tears are streaming down his face. “I feel the same way.” 

Mika’s mind almost short-circuits then. 

His heart nearly gives out; his lungs nearly capsize; his muscles tremble with fatigue and strain with the urge to break their distance completely and meld into one. 

The tears which he’d held back so surely stream confidently down Mika’s face now. 

Hope dares bloom in a desert which deprived its land of water for centuries. 

“You…”

“I feel the same way,” Yu repeats. “I never stopped loving you.” 

He cups Mika’s face, fingers feeling the smooth skin, thumbing over his bottom lip. 

“You were the best I ever had,” Yu says earnestly. “No one could ever come close to replacing you.” 

Mika shakes a breathless, incredulous laugh, eyes crinkling into crescents of love. He overlaps his palms over Yu’s hands, keeping his touch anchored on his cheeks, unwilling and unrelenting to let go of his hold, before his hands travel down the expanse of his arms, fingers feeling the protruding of his collarbones, hands splaying against warm skin. 

“I’m so glad,” Mika whispers. “I’m so, so glad.” 

Yu smiles: bright and cheery and every bit beautiful. Through red cheeks and tear streaks, through tousled hair and crinkled eyes—he gives Mika the brightest smile known to man. 

Mika feels honored to be its recipient. 

“I love you,” Mika says.

Yu leans close. “I love you, too.”

And as the television screen flickers off into sleep-mode, as the living room becomes bathed in a comfortable silence—

Yu presses his lips firmly against Mika’s, and breathes life back into his craving soul. 

[grimsneverendingfuneral]

Grim where is that rosekiller fic you were teasing us about? 🤨

damn. yeah :/ probably never gonna be posted lmfaooooo. or maybe like. in a long time

im sorry im really inconsistent with shit like this. my writing, i mean. i knew this when i started writing the fic but i went in anyways, teasing yall and shit. im just a fuckin tease, truly

i can give you another long-ish snippet under the cut if you want something to chew on

A pair of marigolds are provided soon after, which Barty doesn’t wear, and Evan is almost inclined to offer a helping hand, shocked at how little protest Barty gives him. 

He gives him none. With the compliance of an automated coffee machine, Barty steps up on the ladder and starts scrubbing the walls above the bathroom sink with vigor, eyebrows drawn down and lips pinched together. 

Evan stands, watches him do so, observing him with clinical attentiveness – his eyes caressing over Barty’s every bump and curve; the sharp elbows, the hills of his hips, dipping into slackened black jeans, loose enough to reveal heart-patterned boxers. The slope of his back, jostling back and forth with each swipe of the sponge, accompanied by the muffled sound of shallow breathing, an occasional sniff. The skin on his fine wrist, the veins pulsating beneath with hot, slick blood, black with lack of oxygen, crimson when exposed to the light. It makes Evan’s hands tremble, iron grip beginning to slip on his resolve, trying to put together the gloppy, scattered gray matter of his mind back together in a panic. 

Barty looks down at him. “Hey blondie, you got any drugs? My Vyvanse is wearing off.” 

Evan’s mind is suddenly spun wildly out of orbit, smacking on the wall. “Uh–”

“Can I look in here?” Barty asks him, already pulling the cabinet open. 

“Stop!” Evan shouts, slamming it shut. 

Barty just laughs, nearly falls off the ladder. 

Evan huffs, raking a hand through his hair. “You’re going to fall, Barty,” he berates, strutting to the corner of the living room where he keeps his drug paraphernalia. “Barty. What kind of a Jesus apostle’s name is that?” 

Barty laughs again, throwing his head back and swaying back a little. “You’re funny. Pretty and funny,” he tells him pervertedly, pressing the sponge into the wall and scrubbing. “It’s not my name, not really. It’s my dad’s. You wouldn’t believe my full name even if I told you.” 

Evan stares at him for a few seconds, hums, then flicks the lighter to the bong’s bowl, inhales. It bubbles between them, milky smoke curling up the straight tube, between Evan’s lips. 

It’s a green glass bong, and the color of it reminds him of Barty’s.

Chromium. 

It’s the color on the wheel opposite to crimson, and Evan wonders if he’ll ever get to see that color. Maybe on his floor, like an inkspill in the form of something divine; the essence of Barty and the vibrance of his innards, twisted and warped around each other, creating a hue of dacre, shiny, marooned plum, perhaps.

Coagulated, fleshy matter and bits of weed, scattered in all the cracks in his floorboards, pouring into the bathroom, tainting the linoleum.

What happens when bleach and blood mix? Does it create something that wasn’t there before? What does it feel like to slather your hands in it, to touch the inside of someone? 

Does Barty have an inside? 

From above him, Barty’s resonant voice cuts through his aching mind. “Why did you let me in here?” He smirks. “Don’t you know about me?”

Evan blinks, remnants of smoke falling from his lips. “Well, why did you follow me? Don’t you know about me?”

“Yeah, I know about you,” Barty says around another cheeky smile, tongue between his teeth. “I told you. I see you, you know, around campus.”

Evan narrows his eyes. “You see me?”

Barty nods, wipes at his leaking nose. “Around campus. You’re always listening to that music, looking like you’re having prophetic visions. It’s pretty alluring. Damn, this bleach is–” 

“Are you feeling faint? Dizzy?” Evan asks him, maybe a bit too enthusiastically. He quickly clears his throat, pushes a strand of hair out of his eyes with his index finger. “You should– take a break. Sit down for a moment,” he adds apprehensively. 

Stalling. He’s stalling. What exactly is he stalling? Is he really going to hurt this person? Does he really want to go through with this? 

Evan’s eyes flit to the various objects in the apartment.

Bleach to scrub the blood. Bong to diffuse the tremors. The Persian carpet he bought at an auction. He would have to remove it from the living room. Is the bathtub big enough for Barty’s body? He could fold him. Does he have enough hydrofluoric acid left? What would he use? One of Pandora’s expensive Japanese stainless steel knives? 

Evan looks away from his unholiness. “Well, I don’t know about you. Never seen you before in my life. Why should I know about you, anyway?” 

Barty scoffs, a dismissal of Evan’s tone, canines showing through a smug grin. “Okay, I’ll sit.” 

When Barty perches himself on the ladder, half-sitting on the third step with his legs stretched out, there’s a moment when their eyes meet. 

Evan notes that Barty doesn’t look away, doesn’t flinch. His face twitches, eyebrow raising just slightly. 

He’s so long. Long and languid, and Evan thinks maybe Barty’s the panther now, the way he’s looking at him like he wants to push him up face-first against the wall. 

Barty tucks his bottom lip into his teeth, feet resting on either side of Evan’s as he stands stiffly in front of him, bong in hand. 

And then something absolutely earth shattering happens. 

Barty’s foot wiggles, brushing the inside of Evan’s foot arch, sock fabric rubbing on sock fabric.

The feel of it makes Evan’s throat dry up, his guts clench. He wants to lean away, get that heat emanating from Barty’s body far, far away from him. Wants to lock him up in a basement, throw away the key, leave him there to beg and cry and moan. 

Barty gently takes the bong from Evan’s tight grip. “Well, if you want a semblance of truth, blondie, I’m damaged goods.” 

Evan raises a brow, watching Barty’s adam’s apple bob with a harsh swallow. “Damaged goods?”

Barty nods, takes a hit from the bong. When he tilts his head back, he blows the smoke into the light, casting a thin veil over their heads. “Yeah,” he croaks, coughing slightly. “I’m shit. But hey, at least I’m me. I’m shit but at least I’m me.”

“Well, we are all just insects groping for something terrible or divine, either way,” Evan tries to reassure him, for some odd reason. He feels compelled to soothe the slight twinge of self-hatred behind Barty’s eyes. “That’s Philip K. Dick.”

Barty coughs into his elbow after another hit. “I think you’re divine,” he says through a cough, eyes watery, rimmed pink. 

Evan clenches his teeth. Barty smiles. 

Smiles with his sculpted, flushed cheekbones, mouth in a perpetual state of laughter, like it’s all so absurd to him.

Evan turns his eyes away. “You don’t even know me,” he grimaces. “You’re a fool if you think I’m anything close to divine. I’m a wretched person.”

“I like wretched. Wretched’s good,” Barty affirms, reaching out for Evan’s wrist. 

His own pulse against Barty’s thumb pad makes him nearly gag.

[needfantasticstories]

Trigger Warnings: Torture, fear of genocide, captivity/prisoner of war

[Ghirahim unwinds from another day of war with some casual torture, as one does]

Venting 

“It’s been so many eons since my last real battle, I feel so… satisfied to have whet my blade in crimson once again. But…” Ghirahim spoke conversationally as he lay on his stomach, gripping Sky’s exposed underarm in one hand and a kunai in the other. 

Sky winced as a blade dug into his skin, carving small diamonds in the sensitive skin.

“...Cia insisted Volga be allowed to carry out his hairbrained plan on his own first. And until our Master returns we must pander to the witch’s whims. Isn’t that right, my skychild?”

Sky couldn't think about the demon’s words. Not amid the flood of pain and the effort of keeping his jaw clamped shut against the scream trapped in his chest that fought to be released.

“Hmm. At least I have you to entertain me.” He carved another diamond.  

Sky lay pinned to the floor, stretched out. His wrists bled where Ghirahim’s magic dug into his skin. Hot tears poured from the corners of his eyes, and small whimpers betrayed him at times, but he did not scream. He clung to that choice with pride, though his tongue was already bruised and bleeding and his jaw felt like it might never open again.   

Breathe breathe breathe breathe. It was one thing he was good at. Resting, meditating, calming down. Commander Eagus ensured all trainees knew the methods, and the habits had served him well on his quest. 

Ghirahim’s cold breath fluttered over his face, as close as intimate friends sharing mundane gossip. The demon relished testing Sky’s resolve. The demon laughed. “Two days, and already half of Skyloft is charred to ruins!” 

Sky shuddered as Ghirahim started a new diamond, but he swallowed his scream and breathed through the pain. No, he needed to hear this! Skyloft was charred! The fog of pain cleared as he focused on the room around him. Gold walls, gold floor, gold pillars. The demon’s temple, somewhere deep underground between Faron and Eldin. 

Memories stirred, interrupting the grip of pain and resistance in his mind. It started to come back to him, his life before this moment: The invasion began! My dream was right. Now half of Skyloft is burned! I can do nothing to stop it! His breathing grew short and fast. Nonono. If he’s telling the truth, then how many lives have been lost!? Divine Hylia! Keep them all safe! I’m such an idiot. 

“The rest of Skyloft will be ours by tomorrow night. This little war is turning into a wonderful success.” 

Sky’s mind felt numb as tried to understand what it all meant. They were all going to die…No! This could not be real. Demons lie. He must be lying! He has to be! 

Ghirahim watched him, and Sky tried to mask his horror, but something in his look made the demon grin. 

The demon snapped, and a moblin lumbered inside. It brought over a large plank of burnt wood. Ghirahim rose to a kneel and held a charred sign. Sky knew it at once. He’d cut the planks himself. Professor Owlan had painted it. Karane had placed it atop the gates and they had all cheered after Headmaster Gaepora’s speech that they would keep each other safe. 

It read “Academy Keep” in bold green paint. The keep they’d built to protect the Knight’s Academy—his home.

Sky gaped. He bucked and tried to pry his hands and legs free of Ghirahim’s power. What has Ghirahim done to them? 

Ghirahim watched him struggling with hunger. 

Sky schooled himself into holding still, and settled for a steady glare: if he dared to continue, Ghirahim would only get more physical. Still, he couldn’t stop angry tears from clouding his eyes, and he turned away. 

“The school itself will fall soon, cut off as they are, once Volga burns those doors open.” Ghirahim twirled the sign glibly and then tossed it closer to the door, waving the moblin to take it and go.

They are holding on! Sky barely kept himself from sighing in relief, and instead took a few more short breaths, slowly lengthening each. Thank you, Hylia. 

He watched Ghirahim bring the dagger he’d been using up to his lips, chewing the tip and he looked up, lost in a thought. Ghirahim’s eyes had a dreamy quality. “So much progress in only two days. They never could have done this without me. A wonder they ever tried.” The demon recovered from his reverie.

They have to stay safe. Sky glared at Ghirahim, at this monster. Sky worked his jaw and forced it to open last.

 “What a pity, it’s almost time for me to go back and play my part–” 

“If you dare to hurt…a single one of them…” Sky rasped. His voice was barely more than a whisper. 

“Oh? You’ll what, yell? You know how I enjoy that. Perhaps make sour faces, like that?” 

The skin at his jaw stung as Ghirahim sliced it, but Sky did not break off his glare. 

Ghirahim drew the knife back up to his mouth, licked it, and grinned. “They’ll all be dead soon, a condition you will envy soon enough.”

Ghirahim leaned closer again and whispered. “Now. Ready to finish?”

A bokoblin ran inside and whispered something to the demon. 

“Well, what news! The sorceress’s enemies have reached Skyloft. I’m afraid our vacation is nearly at an end.”

Thank Hylia! An army? Skyloft might not fall! Hylia had done it!

“One last task, Skychild. Tell me. Where did you hide Fi? 

A shock of pain made Sky gasp in surprise as Ghirahim plunged a dagger into his side. He arched his back in a desperate attempt to get away from the pain. He collapsed back down, finding no relief. A dagger. His vision flashed white, then slowly cleared. Sky tried to swallow away the nausea and dizziness when bile filled his throat. The wound was throbbing in sync with his heartbeat. 

Ghirahim yanked it out and plunged it  into Sky’s other side. “How do I get in?”

“Hmmm!” Sky bit his tongue as Ghirahim sliced a long line into his left arm when he did not answer. He panted hard through clenched teeth. Ghirahim frowned, and began the next cut, watching him wince.

Sky winced and moaned as Ghirahim made another long slice.

“How can I arrange for the ritual when these invaders are at least a day early! Volga can barely keep the battlefield covered as it is!” He fumed.

Ritual! So he had a plan, but without Zelda, how did he expect to revive Demise? 

Sky groaned as Ghirahim bit deeper with the blade, interrupting his thoughts.

“Tell me.” He pressed the blade to Sky’s throat. “Where. Is. Fi?” 

Sky shook his head slowly, and closed his eyes. 

“Your resolve is admirable. But it’s becoming rather dull. But…” He smiled wickedly, “I’ll break you yet. I just need to find the right fear.” 

He scraped a finger across Sky’s neck, leaving a thin cut, and then disappeared with a soft chime.

Sky shivered, looked around to ensure he was gone, then let out a deep sigh of relief.

[lightofunova]

Previous

@life-of-kalos

As he leaned down to pick up his drink, Reshi became acutely aware of how calculated each movement of his was. The close proximity between them before he picked his poison, the swirling color that matched herself too well, the tone and way he spoke for her. This ‘Zeke’ knew much more than he was letting on, that was for sure.

The way he moved showed her that he was very much in control of the situation, leading her away with only an arm guiding her. Yet the question of where she preferred to go still proved how she wasn’t chained down. It was a complicated game to tread through, though she’d never been one to turn down a challenge.

“I’m carrying far too much to indulge in a dance at the moment.” She replied with a hint of laughter in her voice. “Perhaps the lake would be a better fit for drinks and lively conversation.”

The pair walked in confident strides until she was pulled in close to the crimson man, avoiding a spill of her drink via a rogue elbow. Air escaped her quickly at the sudden movement, despite how gentle and well intentioned it was.

"I will follow wherever you lead." Quiet, private. Something only she was privy to. That was when it hit her.

Lavish outfits in torchlight with the hum of instruments and lively conversation. Citizens dancing with one another jovially as they celebrated the event of peace, a night of fun.

And yet she found him off to the side, a frown plastered on his face. Approaching him was easy, it came fondly to her. “Why are you over here? There’s mead, ale, tons of lovely food prepared!” she asked, her excited gaze met with bored eyes.

“I’d rather not be here.” His unamused tone made her laugh, earning her a quick glare. She knew him better than anyone. Taking his hand, she gave the man a soft smile. “Then let’s get out of here. Make our own party, hm?”

His face became one of consideration, weighing the options. “Alright. So long as it’s not here, I will follow where you lead.” That was enough for her. No one seemed to notice the two slipping out from the ballroom, or their absence for the rest of the evening.

It took her but a short moment to come back to her senses. Reshi knew why she had such a horrible feeling in the pit of her stomach. It was too similar, too close. Taking a breath, she pushed past it and continued to walk with him. Panicking would do her no good. She resolved to let the feeling ride for now, hoping it would fade away.

A piercing blue gaze caught her eye, and she offered back a smile. “My apologies, your actions simply reminded me of someone.” She was honest, it wasn’t like she couldn’t be.

She continued on, waiting for him to follow her outside. “Coming?” she asked gently, her pale gaze meeting his bright one.

Moonlight shining down on them, crickets chirped in the brisk evening air. Her companion seemed to revel in the night, something that wasn’t surprising to her. The fur resting on his shoulders rustled with the night air, the warm gold metals changing to a frigid muted color. The horns atop his head seemed larger in the moonlight, his form taller than her by a few feet at least. Everything about him seemed so much different, somehow more mischievous.

A wolf stalking its prey, yet heeding to her beck and call. If she didn’t know better, she would say he seemed downright sinister.

However Reshi knew she had little to fear. If needed, she could leave, and he would let her escape his maws willingly. Something about him led her to believe that.

“How about there?” she pointed to the gazebo across the field. “Seems like a nice place to relax doesn’t it?”

[toreii]

Glorious Masquerade spoilers #21

Night Raven College - Main Street

Back at NRC, around the same time the boys are making their way to the bell tower, Ace and Jack are talking about the upcoming Halloween party. Ace says he was getting ready for the party, it got so late. He wonders how the group who went to the exchange meeting are doing. Jack mentions that as Crowley explained, they would go sightseeing, eat a feast, and sleep soundly. Jack comments he feels sleepy too and yawns.

Ace whines, thinking it sounds so good compared to what they’re doing. Still, he’s happy to see the lively decorations, and eat delicious sweets. They enjoyed the party to the fullest. It was Halloween, as usual. Jack laughs, saying Ace enjoyed it. Of course! But, traveling is supposed to be more fun. Ace sighs again. He’s envious of Deuce who is currently enjoying the City of Flowers right now.

Noble Bell College - Lecture Hall

At NBC, Deuce is fighting hard as he lets out a yell. In the midst of the inferno, he’s breathing hard, sweat dripping into his eyes. Deuce asks Rook if he’s okay. Rook thanks him for his consideration, saying he’s giving it his all. Truly, bravo! However, Rook says that the Crimson Flowers that are attacking in clusters are proving to be difficult to defeat. He feels like the number of them hasn’t decreased.

Deuce says he’s getting tired of dodging. Rook adds that he also doesn’t have enough magic left to wither the flowers. Trying to move the students who are providing nutrition to the flowers is overwhelming even for the both of them.

Deuce remains quiet. Rook tells him not to be scared, and assures him that he will protect him. He tells Deuce they should disperse beautifully. However, Deuce exhales deeply. Rook calls out to him, asking why he puffed out his cheeks. All of a sudden, Deuce lets out a ferocious bellow taking Rook by surprise. Deuce begins to tear away at the flowers, ripping them apart with his hands.

Rook is beside himself. In a desperate move, Deuce has resumed weeding with his hands. The very thing the others gave up doing earlier. Deuce goes off, screaming about not being able to use legs to escape. No problem. Crush the flowers with your hands! He lets out another roar as he continues tearing away at the flowers.

Rook tells Deuce to stop. Surely, he has already tasted the tenacity of the Crimson Flower. It’s impossible to tear all of these flowers by hand. He’ll only hurt himself. Deuce questions Rook. Impossible, he says? Even if his hands are tattered, Deuce is not giving up! DELINQUENT DEUCE EMERGES!!

Deuce says he has confidence in his strength, and questions which will survive to the end. Him or those damn flowers? They’re going to crumble anyway. To hell with all of them! Rook is surprised by his spirit.

Rook feels ashamed of himself. He was ready to give up while praising Deuce. He agrees to follow Deuce. They’ll dance until the very end in this red field of Crimson Flowers. Deuce doesn’t quite understand what Rook just said, but he catches his drift. He tells Rook to get ready. And, Rook happily replies with a “Oui!”

Above, the rest of the NRC group has finally reached the second floor. Malleus says that they’ll soon come across the door that leads to the bell tower. He tells everyone they should search while maintaining a distance so that the Crimson Flower does not detect their magic.

Idia mutters that this is classic panic movie scenario. Separate one person after another. He sighs. He doesn’t want to run anymore. Idia wishes he could have stayed behind where they previously were even if it was by force. Sebek shouts at him, pissed that Idia is still exhausted after all of this. Sebek asks him if he’s trying to mock Deuce’s resolve, who saved him back there. Silver reminds Sebek to lower his voice. Sebek tells him not to stop him, adding that he doesn’t like the guy who’s been complaining the most.

Idia says he doesn’t particularly want Sebek to like him. He asks Sebek if he thinks he’s right in attacking others he doesn’t like. Idia adds that it’s really curious that if you eat and grow up, your self-confidence will be high. It is a level that can be explained and presented at an academic conference. That clearly insulted Sebek as he hollers, and gets all up in Idia’s face. Sebek tells him that all Idia does is say things to piss people off, and make fun of them. Idia mockingly is like “Woahwoahwoah, you can’t deny it, so you’re choosing violence~!?” As expected of Diasomnia! It’s sooo scary, Idia doesn’t want to get close~~!

Malleus sighs, remarking that it’s a juvenile fight. Azul asks the two if they forgot about being careful. The flowers don’t react to sound, but if they’re squabbling, they’ll overlook the entrance to the bell tower and the Crimson Flowers. Silver says Azul is right, and tells Sebek to calm down a little. Malleus also says that in situations like this, it’s natural for weaker people to feel anxious. Sebek reluctantly agrees, so long as Malleus says so.

Idia says it’s not like he’s worried. However, Azul tells Idia to please give up, or rather give up on giving up. Instead, if he falls, let it be of use to the team. Azul gives him his blessings to be food for the flowers. Idia grumbles that Azul always speaks like that even though he also has garbage stamina like him. Azul clarifies that he’s physically strong. He’s just not good using human legs like others. Idia whoops sarcastically saying that mermaids are so good, coming up with excuses at a time like this.

Suddenly, Silver yells at everybody. He’s had enough of this shit. He asks everyone to calm down. The tension has him on edge. Look at Malleus-sama. He’s always calm. Silver is certain he’s only thinking of advancing. Malleus says he’s right. They need to move on.

Malleus suddenly snaps, saying he’s been thinking about how to remind Rollo how heavy the sin of a fake invitation is. Silver is a little taken aback. Azul comments that Malleus is really vindictive. Idia says it’s what annoys him the most. Sebek hollers to them that Malleus’s temper is boiling. They need to go now. Azul says they should do so. Idia agrees, saying he doesn’t want to be hit.

Silver comments that due to the location of the bell tower and the school, one of these doors must lead to the bell tower. Malleus checks the doors, and discovers that they are locked. Sebek tells Malleus to step back. He’s going to break the door down. With a powerful kick, the door slams open.

Noble Bell College - Student Board Room

The door leads into a darkened room with only the fireplace burning brightly. Malleus realizes it’s not the bell tower. Silver points out the fireplace, and a large desk where people can sit around it. Sebek notices all the robes hanging on the wall like the ones the NBC students wear. They hear a shuffling noise, and Sebek looks over in Azul’s direction asking what he is doing. Azul says he’s looking through documents, hoping to find a clue about the room they are in.

Club expenses reports, event plans, student council ledger… Azul concludes they are in NBC’s student council room. Idia says that the school is old fashioned, and so are the facilities. Even the fireplace is a regular one that doesn’t use magic. But, something catches Idia’s attention. Malleus asks him what’s wrong. Idia replies there’s something unusual with the fireplace, because he notices that a brick to the far right end is strangely clean without any soot. Malleus says it’s true. He wonders if the brick is clean because someone continuously touched it.

Malleus places his hand on the brick, and it comes right off. The boys are freaking out as they see a book tucked away inside. Idia can’t believe there’s a secret book inside the fireplace. No way, someone is reading too many classic novels! Malleus wonders what kind of book it is. Perhaps an important magic book that needs to be hidden?

Azul doesn’t think so. If it’s hidden in the student council room, then it might be their secret accounts! If so, then they have to learn about Noble Bell College’s weaknesses! They need to look inside! Sebek chastises Azul for wanting to look through the book with strange excitement.

Azul flips through the pages, and begins to read. “Day XX, I went to class without problems. Read at the library after school…” Azul realizes it’s someone’s diary, not a book. He says there are brief notes inside. “The Bell of Salvation and the History of the City of Flowers”, “First-Class Magic Tool Catalogue”, “World Extinct Plant Encyclopedia”, and “How To Grow Plants Using Magic”.

It dawns on Malleus who the diary belongs to. Rollo Flamme. Idia laughs with glee. A diary that must be kept hidden! Hihihi! Idia says the diary must contain Rollo’s dark past…a writhing weakness engraved within! Lololol, this is so exciting, lolol, he needs to read this, lolololol! Malleus is on board. He needs to know if he can deal damage to Rollo. He tells Idia to keep reading.

However, Malleus suddenly grows quiet. He notices something. Silver asks him what is it. Azul, Malleus, and Idia remain silent for a while. Azul finally breaks the silence by saying “…So, that’s it.” Idia scowls. Malleus merely says “I see…”

Noble Bell College - Bell Tower Upstairs

Rollo marvels at the city dyed in Crimson Flowers. It’s such a pure sight. It’s the first time he’s felt so relieved. Soon, the Crimson Flowers that spread from the city will cover all of Twisted Wonderland. Magic will be erased forever. And then, no one has to suffer anymore. No one…will be like him anymore… This is his mission.

Noble Bell College - Bell Tower Interior

The boys finally make into the bell tower. Malleus says all they need to do now is climb to the top floor. But, Idia is very quiet. Silver notices he’s been quiet for quite a while now. Sebek points out he isn’t sure why, but Idia has stopped complaining ever since he read the diary. Silver comments that those three people read the diary. He wonders what was written inside.

Idia continues to remain quiet. Malleus asks him what’s wrong. They finally reached the top of the tower where Rollo is, but he looks so depressed. He asks Idia if he’s reluctant. If so, then he should leave before he becomes a hindrance. Azul tells Idia no matter what they think, Rollo is their enemy. Is he still going to hesitate?

Idia finally speaks questioning them if he looks like he’s hesitating. It’s just that he thinks it’s absolutely unforgivable. He wants it. Idia wants to crawl this troublesome low tech bell tower! Sebek says Idia seems to have become suddenly motivated. He asks Idia if he reflected on his words. Idia says he heard some indescribable words just now, and wonders if they’re meathead words.

The room suddenly bursts aflame into a flurry of Crimson Flowers. Azul says that there’s no reason Rollo isn’t preparing to defend the bell tower. Inside the bell tower, the first toll would have been very loud. There’s also plenty of nourishment. Idia comments that the space was originally full of beams and pillars. Now, the Crimson Flowers are covering it. There’s nowhere to step with so much red, red, red… Idia feels a strong will to say “Don’t climb up!”

Malleus says it’s hard to get past. Sebek calls out to him. He tells Malleus to leave it to them. Silver adds that together with Sebek, they will attract the Crimson Flowers. If Malleus falls, Silver wouldn’t be able to face his father. Sebek also says that for the sake of Lilia who said Malleus would be safe if they were there, no matter what hand he uses, they will protect him! Malleus is touched by them both.

Silver apologizes that they can’t protect him until the end. Sebek continues by saying that even if they have to say farewell to this life, it is their sincere wish to be part of Malleus-sama’s glorious future! Idia is confused. He wonders if they’re starting a period drama. Azul adds that every member of Diasomnia is exaggerating. Idia says no matter how they think about it, Malleus is the strongest there, so there’s no need to worry.

Silver approaches the two, and tells them to take care of Malleus. Idia is shocked asking if he heard right. Sebek tells Azul and Idia not to drag Malleus down.

Malleus tells Silver and Sebek he doesn’t have much to say. The only thing he can tell them is that they’re good vassals. That’s all. Sebek is beyond emotional, thanking Malleus for his words. Silver promises to show Malleus the results that live up to his words. Malleus tells them to show him their resolve. Sebek and Silver reply with a shout.

Idia asks if the period drama is over. Malleus tells Idia and Azul to not look back. They’re only moving forward to the Bell of Salvation. Azul laments they’ll continue on. Idia says it can’t be helped. He asks Azul if he’ll hang with him while they climb the tower. With that, the three housewardens leave for the top floor of the tower.

Sebek comments that it would have been better if he was alone. Silver replies that that is his line. He should have gone with Malleus. Sebek tells Silver not to make him laugh. There’s no way one person can deal with so many Crimson Flowers. Silver asks “What about two people?” Sebek teases him asking if he’s asleep. There’s no need to ask that kind of question. They’re in this together. Losing is not an option!

To be continued…