#no lucien replacer feels right - all of it makes him an entirely different person

[kittyspotatoes]

Oh... he actually looks believable after I put on the glasses.... I might keep this for a while.

[viktoriaashleyyx]

Lucien is here and he is hearing some things he needed to hear. Most of this is fluff.

This is a pro Tamlin, anti Rhysand self insert revenge fic. All characters belong to SJM, but she wasn't treating them right. Tam x reader, Tam x Rhysands Sister (OC), First person narrative. This will also reference Elucien and Neris in the future, but we aren't there yet.

I've read this like 4 times today alone, and I honestly don't think any tws apply. Let me know if I am wrong about that. It does include references to grief and death.

Ch1.

Ch3 > Ch5

Chapter 4:

As the morning sun shone through the massive windows in Tamlins - no, our- bedroom, I untangled myself from his arms and sat up to stretch. I didn't actually plan on what I would wear here, I had no clothes.

I sat with my feet dangling off the edge of the bed, looking out the window, lost in thought of what is to come next. Tamlin awoke and sat up behind me, pulling my hair out of the way to plant soft kisses down my neck and shoulder. His gentle touches brought me out of my daze and back to the present. “I don't know what I am going to wear today..” I shared.

He sighed as he crawled out of bed to stand in front of me. He took my hands, and just held them as I looked up at him, his strong broad shoulders almost blocking the sunlight pouring in. “I might be able to help with that,” he whispered, pulling one of my hands up to drop a soft kiss on the back, “however, I am a little nervous, I had never expected to show this to anyone.” I cocked my head and my expression changed to curiosity.

He helped me to my feet and began leading me to the other armoire in the corner of his room. I had never paid much attention to it, there was so much furniture in this manor I was going to have fun snooping through. “I never fully healed from, what I thought was, your death. The day you left, I encased my own heart in stone, knowing I could never replace you. I spent many years mourning you, the grief was unbearable at times and the stone helped keep it at bay, just enough to save face and carry on with the duties that were expected of me. Many times, I tried to move on, and there were many ways I tried to cope. Some days…" he took a breath, "I would be out shopping and I would see a dress, or a necklace, or bracelet that would make me think of you and I would allow myself the delusion of you being at home, waiting on me to get back. Just for a fleeting moment. And I would buy the dress and imagine your smile when I gave it to you.” I kept my face soft as I listened intensely, trying to encourage him to continue. The pain he must have experienced was… I don't have the words. It broke my heart to see the longing he held for me for so long. He opened the closet, and inside were hundreds of dresses, in all different colors, lengths, and materials. Some were formal, some would be great for a cozy day inside, some I could imagine wearing on a trip to the villages. My mouth dropped open as my face filled with awe, both at the beautiful dresses he took such care in picking out, and the sentiment that he never fully lost hope this entire time. “I allowed myself this little collection, it made me feel like I hadn't given up on you. Something always told me to hold on.”

He began pulling individual dresses out to show me the thought he put into them, “I always remembered how grumpy you would get when fabric was too close to the spot on your back where your wings sit, and your favorite colors were green, pink and black. You loved the beauty of a Spring night, understandably.” I reached my hand out to touch the soft green velvet A line dress he held out for me. There was a large circle cutout in the back with a button that clasped up by the back of my neck, a high neckline in the front and form fitting half sleeves. The dress was fitted at the waist and flared out around the hips, the skirt looked like it would land just above my knees. It was perfect.

I felt so loved in that moment, so understood. I looked up at his face with happy tears threatening to escape. I laughed as I wiped them away, “I love you,” was all I could get out before I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him deeply.*

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

We had begun to clean the manor. Most of the work was on Tamlin as the destruction was his doing, but I stayed nearby offering small helps, like dusting and sewing, and company. I would sing silly songs I had learned from the bards I had traveled with and keep our schedule, breaking for lunch and stopping for dinner. He had made me that promise to heal, and he was sticking with it. Though sometimes he would try to work through lunch, or do ‘little’ projects after dinner, I would firmly remind him that healing was physical too, food and rest were nonnegotiables. We had also agreed on one full day a week of rest and fun, usually spent at starlight lake.

Today Tamlin was working out in the gardens, fixing the trellises and pruning what rose bushes survived. I had spent the morning outside with him discussing what new flowers to plant in the empty spaces and sharing stories of the children we once were, running around and playing hide and seek. He confessed to me that I was never any good at it, he could always spot my wings, but he would play along and let me win. I stuck my tongue out at him and scrunched my nose.

After lunch, though, I decided to remain inside while he got back to work as the afternoon sun was getting hot and uncomfortable.

I sat atop the plush green ottoman in the formal sitting room. I hated couches and any chairs with backs as the pressure on my wings caused great discomfort. While I was sewing some of the tears in the curtains, I heard the door open and a set of unfamiliar footsteps walk in. We had been alone here for days, I wondered who it could be. I sat my sewing down and headed towards the foyer, and just as I turned the corner I came face to face with a stunningly handsome male with a golden eye.

“Oh hello, you must be Lucien.” I observed, taking a step back.

“I had heard the rumors, you do bear an uncanny resemblance to your brother,” he responded with a mischievous smile, having to bend slightly to address me. I swear, sometimes I just felt like a damn munchkin.

“If you're just here to insult me you can leave.” I said dryly, narrowing my eyes.

He chuckled “I don't mean anything by it, I know you want nothing to do with Rhysand, you've made that glaringly obvious, and I can't say I blame you. If he wasn't my mate's brother in law I'd never want to see him again either.” He straightened and took a step back, looking me up and down.

“Oh that's right, Elain is it? How is she doing?”

“She's well, you are being more pleasant than they warned me you'd be.” Lucien noted, almost like he'd expected it. The Night court has always hated anyone who didn't submit to them.

“Well, they were standing in my way of accepting a mating bond, and I am not known for my patience. I'm sure you, of all people, understand.” We began walking toward the sitting room. Tamlin had told me all about Lucien, the good and the bad. We had a lot to discuss.

“I understand the pull, but I am a very patient person. 300 years however? That is a long time.” He sat on the couch across from me, and I picked up my sewing once more. “I can see some progress is getting made, tell me how is Tamlin doing now that you're back?”

“He's doing well, we have a plan set to rebuild the court and our reputation. I don't know what version of him you knew, but he seems to be getting back to his former self.”

“That's good... I regret ever leaving him, especially when he was so down, you must hate me for it,” Lucien admitted. I glanced up to meet his gaze, the expression on his face remained cool and flat, but I could see the spark of pain that flashed in his eyes. He and Tamlin had been friends for centuries, did he really think all of that would be thrown away after a few bad years?

I sat my sewing down again and looked directly into his eyes, raising my chin and leaning forward slightly, “I don't. And neither does Tamlin. The ‘cauldron’ blessed you with a mate, Lucien, you deserve to follow your happiness. As someone who has been through Hel and back to return to their mate, it would be hypocritical of me to look down on you for doing the same.” Lucien looked up at me in almost shock, why is it that everyone who has been in my brother's company has been utterly speechless at even the smallest acts of kindness? “You served this court well for many years, suffered with it, defended it, I cannot write that off just because you have a personal goal to reach, a goal that would make your life better in a way this court cannot.” My voice was stern and I left no room for argument. “You were hurt by actions and decisions Tamlin made, you were well within your rights to leave and protect yourself. And I'm almost positive Tamlin has very similar sentiments to give you. So no, I do not blame you for what you couldn't do, I thank you for what you did do.”

“Thank you for that. It's not something I hear often, especially these days.” Lucien spoke softer, his coy demeanor falling into calmness as he realized that I had no ill intent toward him.

I returned to my sewing, “That is sad to hear. If you ever need a non judgemental ear to vent to, you can always talk to me. I hope one day you can look past the face I bear so much resemblance to and see me as a friend. I know you've had it rough.” I offered.

“You shouldn't have to pay for the sins of your brother just because you look alike.”

“ Yes, but until he does, the debt is still owed.” I countered.

Just then Tamlin came back inside, he headed straight for me to give me a kiss and a rose he had plucked. He looked absolutely delicious, his bare chest glistening from sweat and his sun kissed muscled arms seemed to have gotten even bigger. If Lucien wasn't sitting across from us right now… yum. “We have company, love” I said, breaking the kiss.

He turned around, “Lucien! How have you been, my friend?” Lucien stood up and they embraced each other.

I could swear I heard a muffled “it's good to have you back.”

Tamlin turned to me “excuse us, love, we have some things to discuss.” I gave them a smile and a nod.

“It was a pleasure to meet you, Sky,” Lucien bowed slightly to me and they were off to the office. I continued sewing the curtains back together.

I am not very good at sewing, the repairs were obvious, but I have always found scars to be beautiful. The repair after pain, will always be more beautiful than pretending the pain never happened in the first place.

♡♡♡♡

A few hours later, the three of us sat down in the rebuilt formal dining for dinner. Tamlin in his spot at the head of the table, and Lucien and I on either side of him. Tamlin had hunted a boar yesterday, and I gathered some potatoes, carrots and onions still growing in the vegetable garden, so pot roast was on the menu tonight. I'm sure it's not as extravagant as the last proper meal Lucien had here, but it was never going to be.

“You look like you have many stories to tell. What is the most interesting thing you have learned in your travels?” Lucien asked me. He definitely seemed to be feeling better after his long discussion with Tamlin.

I thought for a minute, I had learned so many wonderful things. “That we are not fae.” Tamlin choked on his drink and Lucien raised an eyebrow at me.

“You're always saying odd shit, I love it.” Tamlin laughed innocently, more as an encouragement to elaborate.

“I have traveled through many realms, I have met the Scoia'tael, the Night elves, Blood elves, Void elves and the Night Fae. In no other realm was I considered a fae, and when I came face to face with what was considered a fae, it was, well, unsettling. We share many characteristics with elves, such as our aversion to ash, and yet we are not affected by iron. I have seen other fae burn to death with just a single scratch of an iron blade. That rumor did not manifest out of nowhere. I believe the true rumor is that we are even Fae at all. Of course, it doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things, it's just what I found most interesting.”

Lucien sat back in his seat and stared at me, intrigued. “I don't know what I was expecting but it certainly wasn't that,” he breathed. Tamlin grabbed my hand and pulled me in for a quick kiss. “So, how did you manage to make it back to Prythia?”

Ugh, this story is long and painful, to explain it would take days. “I made a deal with the mother herself, Freya. I had to complete the Trials of Tyr. Most of it was just utter nonsense,” I dismissed, doing my best to avoid even letting them know I can weld a blade, and how easy it is for me, “but for the final trial I have to say I am a little amused with myself.”

“Oh?” Both of them listened intensely.

“It was a riddle, they tried to trick me, and, usually, I am no good at riddles but I beat this one with just an innocent question.” I racked my brain trying to find the best way to explain this that did not raise further questions. “They brought out a pin of around 10 utterly normal goats and told me ‘If you wish to return to your shapeshifter, you must first find ours. Which is Loki?’ and without even glancing at the goats I just asked them, ‘Is this assuming Loki is not still chained up under the mountain? Ya, know, with the dripping venom and whatnot? For killing Baldur?’ Apparently it was a trick and none of them were Loki. They were more annoyed than amused when they tossed me back,” I shrugged innocently.

Both Tamlin and Lucien laughed out loud. “A witty one, she is,” Tamlin gushed to Lucien, gesturing to me.

“I would say, ‘wise’ is a better way to describe it.” I corrected.

“And because I know I will be asked,” Lucien added carefully, “do you think you will ever be willing to talk with your brother?”

I rolled my eyes. “Talk? Maybe after we rebuild, if I feel like it. I know I've been gone for a while and his contributions and behavior could have improved, but what I saw when I walked in, the first image I have of him, is not easily forgotten.” I took a sip of my wine, “When do you plan on returning to Night?”

“I don't have a solid plan in place, I honestly didn't expect the manor to be in this good of state when I initially stopped in.”

“Your room has been cleaned, as well. Nothing inside was damaged, it just needed to be freshened after so long. You will always have a place here, that will always be your room.” Tamlin offered. “You have an open invitation, come and go as you please.”

“Well, since I can see you making a genuine effort now, is there any way I can help rebuild?” Lucien asked.

“Actually, we do have a meeting with Tarquin in a few days. As an experienced emissary, would you be willing to help me schedule meetings with the others? I understand you are estranged from Autumn, and me from Night, but if you could just help me deliver some letters to Day, Dawn and Winter, it would be greatly appreciated. We can't do this alone, we need alliances.” I could easily do this myself, but if there is one thing I know about building friendships, is ask for help, even if it's small. People feel closer to you when they feel they are needed.

*authors note: this is actually something I have done with my own grief surrounding my sisters death. I have a small collection of dresses and jewelry that remind me of her that I will never wear. I'm saying this to let you know that grief is messy and grief is weird. However you choose to deal with yours is valid as long as it is not hurting yourself or others. ❤️

Tag list: @rin-u-pos @ladythornofrivia @rcarbo1

Lmk if you want to be added to the tag list

[zodiyack]

In Regards Of My Ex

Pairing: Niklaus Mikaelson x Female!Reader

Warnings: Swearing, angst

Words: 2,125

Summary: Niklaus believes deceitful gossip from Aurora De Martel about his wife and takes his anger out on her. As a result, Y/n leaves and finds comfort with Cami and Davina, who call in backup to confront the big bad hybrid about his big bad dumbassery.

Note: I’ve been in a fluffy mood as of recently HOWEVER this idea was sparked when I was feeling angsty™ so...sorry but also not sorry?

Taglist: @matth1w​, @redspaceace-writes​, @fandom-puff​, @simonsbluee​, @darling-i-read-it​, @jenepleurepasbaby​, @sebastianstanslefteyebrow​, @dpaccione​

Masterlist | The Originals Masterlist

Part One. Part Two. Part Three.

“That wife of yours has been sneaking around with my brother. Breaking more hearts than just yours from what I can see.”

“I suppose some people just can’t see the worthiness of the king in front of them. If I were your wife, I wouldn’t be like Y/n. I’d be committed you and never give you fib tales like her.”

“You are aware that Y/n has been plotting something nefarious against you, aren’t you?”

“I know you wanted to marry someone just as sinister as you, but perhaps you should’ve checked where her loyalty lied before tying that knot.”

Aurora fed him stories such as these, and many more, each conclusion of the lies spewing from her mouth something appalling about Y/n. At first, Klaus didn’t listen, but as her stories grew worse and worse, the faux feeling of treachery intensified. He knew it was unwise to believe anything that came from the spiteful, jealous woman...yet, his distress caused pain to strike his heart and he yearned to know the truth.

Although, in this case, the “truth” wasn’t actually very truthful.

She often told him things like that Lucien was going after his girl for the second time, first with her when she had her chance and now, his beloved wife. Klaus merely brushed it off with an honest “he tries and I’ll stake him first chance I get”. However, Aurora wasn’t finished yet. She continued to lie and deceive Niklaus about the woman who she accused of replacing her in his life. The envy and loathing Aurora felt for Y/n was her motivator, but the woman was too far up a wall to need one in the first place.

“Are you telling me the truth?” He growled, keeping his eyes trained at the wall in front of them.

“Why do you ask?”

“I need to know I can trust your bold claims. So answer me, Aurora, are you telling me the truth?”

That smug little grin, masking her deluding ways. “Of course, Nik. I would never lie to you.” Her welcome into his trust was unsurprisingly taken advantage of  when she traced her finger down his arm and then brought her hand up his abdomen slowly. Klaus shoved her invasive hand off of his chest though, giving her a warning glare.

“Thank you for informing me.” That was all he said to her before he made his way out of the room in the most hurry she’d ever seen him in.

Aurora smiled conceitedly. Her plans were on the right track. Whilst Nik didn’t have the same feelings for her now as he did way back during the beginning of their story, but Aurora was determined to stir those feelings from the dead as vampirism did him and her.

She drawled under her breath, “I will have you again, Nik.” her mischievous smile grew wider, “I will have you again, and nothing can stop me this time.”

“Blasphemy!” Niklaus shouted, veins popping out from the rage coursing in his system. He neared Y/n again, the slight fear in her eyes drawing a pause for a second, guilt stilling him, but his anger took the reigns once more.

“It’s not blasphemy! I would never lie to you!”

“The falsity of your deception proves otherwise, love.” He smirked, raising his brows as to question if she would battle his words yet again. Proof was what he needed, but his vexation had drowned out all logic, including his ability to see the proof he wanted so desperately.

“What deception? What falsehood do you believe to have come from my mouth? When I married you, I vowed to be truthful and loyal. You of all people on this fucking earth should know I always keep a vow.” She narrowed her eyes at him. The betrayal he thought he felt was temporary and fabricated, but hers was 100% genuine and seething within her.

“You say that but if you were indeed an untrue person, your answer would be no different.”

“Why do you insist on proving me a traitor!? What has pushed you so far past your breaking point that you actually accuse me, your wife, as a viper?”

“Don’t you pretend like you don’t know the malicious schemes you’ve plotted against me or the affairs you’ve had with men who obviously aren’t your husband!” He couldn’t stop himself now; “I’ve loved you for centuries and you decide to be disloyal and ill-natured?!”

“Says who?!”

“Says Aurora!” After the words flew from his mouth, a tiny part of him realized just how fucked up it sounded. Just how fucked up it was that he believed her over his wife, but the hybrid was stubborn. He was too stubborn to change his belief or admit his fallacious accusations were unjust without proper evidence.

Y/n knew Aurora and Klaus’ story. Her knowledge of the ancient and long forgotten tale made her reaction thousands of times worse. “Aurora? ...Huh. You choose to believe her- that manipulative, lying bitch, over me? I thought you knew me better than that.” She wiped away a rebellious tear, “I thought I knew you better than that.”

Disappointment hung heavy on her features, drawing a feeling of shame from Klaus. Y/n glared at him one last time, her knitted brows and vaguely teary eyes evidence of the heavy-heartedness that overwhelmed her. She bit the inside of her mouth and shook her head disapprovingly before turning and walking out the front gate-doors of the Mikaelson mansion. Klaus was alone.

The sounds of Davina’s giggles echoed, Cami sitting in front of her and chuckling heartfully as well. Their laughter died off when they noticed Y/n sulking through the front doors of Rousseau's. The place was empty aside from the two women having drinks and a friendly chat. Then Y/n entered and found a seat. The atmosphere, once cheery, suddenly felt melancholy.

“Hey, Y/n, you alright?” Camille’s smile was wiped from her lips. She felt empathy for Klaus’ wife and, as a friendly person in general, she felt overcome with the need to help solve the complication that made her feel so down in the dumps.

“I’m-” She was ready to say fine, Davina and Cami knew it, but she broke down in tears before she could even shape an “o” with her lips. Both women jumped up immediately and sat in the seats beside Y/n. Though Davina couldn’t stand Klaus, she actually liked Y/n and seeing her hurt sent searing pain into her own heart.

“It’s okay, hun,” Cami wrapped an arm over Y/n’s shoulder, her other hand rubbing her other shoulder and arm comfortingly, “take as long as you need, there’s no pressure, no rush, none of that. We’ve got you.”

And so they did. The two women took turns holding Y/n as she cried, and before long, she was ready to talk. She explained Klaus’ anger and the source of their fight, the source of the fake news he’d lashed out because of. Davina and Cami shared a glance when Aurora was mentioned, both women already hating her but equally despising her even more now. Y/n sobbed, crying into Cami’s shoulder about wanting Klaus to just believe her. She said she loved him and because of that, she felt pained by his lack of belief in her.

“He’s not worth it if he can’t see how wrong that decision was-”

“I know, but he’s my husband. I vowed to love him always and forever, to never leave his side, and I intend to keep that vow...so long as he doesn’t do anything to fuck it up any more than he already has.”

The sun began to sink into the dark, not fully quite yet, but still creating it’s beautiful array of colors as a final act before disappearing for the night. About halfway through Y/n’s rant, Cami called Hayley and gave her a summary of what she knew so far. A promise of arriving as soon as she could was returned on Hayley’s end before the line went dead and Cami returned to the table.

Still not entirely after sunset yet, Hayley swung open the door to Rousseau's, catching Davina and Y/n off guard. Despite being the one who called her, Cami stayed seated. Y/n and the witch beside her exchanged confused expressions.

“Are you just gonna sit there or are you gonna tell me what the hell I need to do to Klaus?”

Y/n chuckled softly, wiping away more of the salty tears, before standing and walking over to Hayley, greeting her with a hug. “You don’t have to get involved if you don’t want to-”

“No, trust me, I have to and I want to.” She pulled away and dropped her warm smile, giving Y/n the most serious look she could muster. And as she was Hayley Marshall, it was effortlessly pretty fucking serious. “Now, I want you tell me everything,” the mom voice came out to play, “don’t leave a single detail out. Then, we can discuss what we’re going to do about it.”

“Where is he?”

Rebekah had been informed by the pissed off werewolf and bartender everything that had happened, resulting in her becoming equally upset. She welcomed Hayley inside the gates and nodded her head up the stairs. “I haven’t said anything to him, so you’ll be lucky enough to catch him by surprise.”

The werewolf nodded in understanding before pacing toward the stairs irritability. “Thanks.”

“Make it hurt!” Rebekah’s voice faded away as she walked out the gates, leaving Hayley alone to find Niklaus.

Atop the stairs, she found no sign of anyone whatsoever, but that was only on the outside. If Klaus happened to be inside on of the many rooms, she wouldn’t waste her time searching. Instead, she waited, leaning against the railing and doing a breathing exercise Y/n taught her during one lonely full-moon. 

After minutes of waiting, Klaus finally walked out of a door and started for the stairs. It wasn’t longer than a minute before he stopped in his tracks and realized he’d missed something. He shot a double take in Hayley’s direction, a puzzled expression quickly finding way to his face. It seemed as though he was contemplating whether or not her unexpected appearance was a good thing or a bad thing.

When he seemingly couldn’t make up his mind, staring a few minutes longer, a heavy sigh left her mouth. She was ticked off with him before, but after hearing everything Y/n had to say, she was furious. No, more than furious. The blood boiling rage was incessantly pounding in her head, all she wanted was cause destruction and pain. A rare thing for her.

But now was not the time to lash out, not yet. She inhaled and exhaled, Hayley shifted on her feet and looked around before turning her head to Klaus and beckoned him over to her with a come-hither motion of her index finger.

“What is it?”

She looked at him, flabbergasted that he’d even ask a question as stupid as that, “What is it? What is it, Klaus?” Hayley slapped him, the man doubling back and blinking in astonishment. And not the good kind.

“How dare you lay your hands on me, you-”

“So you’re gonna yell at me now?” She crossed her arms, and unimpressed look resting upon her face. “You know, personally, I think Y/n is better off without you but she’s broken and has been bawling her eyes out nonstop for hours on end, drinking away all the pain that you’ve formed into a stake and shoved into her chest.”

He stopped, fury fleeing his face as he experienced what felt like her words body-slamming into him.

“And guess who’s been there to pick out the splinters?” She poked her finger against her chest over and over again. “Me!” Her eyes never left his, telling him just how sincere about this she really was. “Me! Cami- even Davina!” Hayley threw her hands in the air, emphasizing the shock that came with the information. “Rebekah’s on her way over now, and I’m sure Elijah will see to it that he comforts his sister-in-law as much as he can, but you?”

“I-”

She cut him off, temper still unquenched, thirsty for vengeance. “Let me finish.” She growled. Hayley looked around the room in attempt to calm herself, but it was to no avail.

“You got her into this mess. I just hope you get both of you guys out of it.” She flicked her eyes back to his, giving him her infamous dead eyed glare. “I really hope you do. And you better do it soon. Because I won’t be there to pick the splinters out for you when she realizes she doesn’t need your sorry ass.”

[galvanizedfriend]

👀 but your fav headcanon from TW3 that you are willing to share

You know how I don't like S3 at all, right? 🤣 And I shamefully admit that I did not try hard enough (or at all really) to fix the mountain of dumb shit in that season, so my headcanons are not ground breaking or anything. 🥲

Having said that, I think my favorite part is that I tried to shift Aurora's resentment from Klaus to Elijah. She still harbors a lot of resentment towards Klaus, as I think would be natural given that she lost 100 years of her life to his family as a whole and he never went looking for her, which would obviously make her feel betrayed. But I didn't want her whole personality to be jealous crazy ex who never got over her crush from 9 centuries ago. Instead, while she's still very much bitter towards Klaus, it's Elijah she truly hates. He's the one who effectively fucked with her life by compelling her to reject Klaus so he wouldn't carry her with them when they fled and then to make her, Tristan and Lucien believe they were Rebekah, Elijah and Klaus for the next 100 years and live on the run from Mikael.

The jealousy/bitterness she has towards Caroline stems not exactly from the fact she's with Klaus (obviously, someone with Aurora's superiority complex would never think that Caroline could be better than her in any way, she thinks she is and will always be Klaus' true match because she was his first vampire lover, is almost as old as him, she knew him from a different lifetime, and she also has the same kind of mentality as Lucien and Tristan that she's some kind of vampire royalty). The brunt of her hard feelings come from the fact that she realizes Elijah also cares for Caroline, that she was embraced as a part of the family, that she has become essentially a Mikaelson, which is everything Aurora had always wanted to be.

So why would Elijah accept her when he refused Aurora so violently, thus determining the spiral of chaos that ended up being her entire existence (she was manipulated by Tristan her whole life, treated like a mental patient to the point she actually did become a little cuckoo in the head)? What does this simple girl, who's a baby vampire, have that she doesn't? So that's what draws her attention to Caroline. It's not just listening to her name once and getting all jealous for no reason (Aurora is also very much not sleeping with Klaus at this point, which is important to highlight lol). She wants to know why Caroline is family, when Elijah fought her every step of the way, and eventually erased her from Klaus' mind so he would never, ever try to find her again, and maybe possibly release her from her torment. Aurora's idea of Klaus, from the time when they first meet, is that he could be the one who would free her from her controlling family, and I think part of her kept that feeling throughout the centuries, except he never questioned her rejection, never fought for her, never went back to find her, and she blames Elijah for that.

So that's why she ends up torturing Caroline in a way she didn't do with Cami, showing her pieces of the past by punching her memories into Caroline's debilitated mind (by gigantic doses of vervain) so that Caroline would realize that Elijah is not the nice guy she thinks he is, that she only exists in Klaus' life because Elijah made so, and that he is responsible for everything. She's not special, she's not the love of Klaus' life, she's just a replacement Elijah took in because he felt guilty and she gave them a baby to play with. She just wants to destroy the family from the inside.

And what that creates is a rupture between Elijah and Caroline, more so than between Caroline and Klaus. Yes, there are some wrinkles there, but they sort it out fast enough. The part I like the most is how Caroline reacts to what she saw from Elijah, and how disappointed she is in him. She trusted him with her life from the very beginning, at certain points she trusted him more than she trusted Klaus, they become incredibly close, she sees him as a best friend, almost like a brother. She loves Elijah. And now she thinks he was just using her to soothe his own guilty conscience, like if he could force Klaus to accept her and the baby, maybe he would be making up for having essentially taken away from him what could've been the real love of his life. So did Klaus ever really want her, or did Elijah just convince him to stick around until he decided to accept it?

And she's also angry on Klaus' behalf. When Elijah compelled Aurora, he started Klaus on a cycle of anger and resentment that made him hard and skeptical to the point he started thinking all love was just a weakness that should be obliterated. So she thinks Elijah, who spent his whole life criticizing Klaus and blaming him for everything that ever happened to their family, was actually at least partially responsible for what Klaus turned into, not only by indulging him the way he always did, but also by breaking his heart in such a cruel way - on purpose and because of Esther, who was a total bitch. The part where she confronts him about that is one of my favorites.

So yeah, that's my favorite headcanon from TW3. 🤣🤣 I'm sure @definedareasofuncertainty would say it's Camijah. 🥲 I was also, if i may say so myself, proud of my explanation for the whole vampire!Cami disaster. And also some bits closer to the end of the season, when Klaus and Caroline take off with baby Eve to run from the vamps flocking over to New Orleans and it ends up being them on a family roadtrip that turns out better than they imagined.

That was an interesting one, Ennie! Thank you!

[cheri-translates]

[CN]  Kiro’s Original Intention Date (Eng Translation)

🍒 Warning: This post contains detailed spoilers for a date (and Season 2) which has not been released in English servers! 🍒

Knowing the basics of Season 2 is necessary to understand what’s going on in this date. Do read this post if you don’t know anything about it!

Parallel World Dates Collection: Gavin // Shaw // Victor

Check out @skyholders​‘ translation of Lucien’s date here!

“When popular star Kiro returned to the country yesterday, there were hints of a new collaboration?”

The name “Kiro” has taken over several hot topics. Kiro received a short and sudden interview at the airport, attracting countless discussions and guesses. 

Reporter: I heard you signed a contract with a well-known music company in the period before this. Is your return to the country due to any special plans?

Kiro: There’s nothing special. I could be returning just to take my guitar? 

Reporter: ...we know you’ve taken on the role of a lead singer and are about to embark on a world tour. There must be some special reason for you to return to the country, right? 

Kiro: For this, it’s better to ask my agent.

Kiro smiles and pushes a bespectacled uncle in front of the camera. He playfully sticks out his head from behind the uncle, and pats his shoulder.

Kiro: I’m leaving it to you.

Once the words are out of his mouth, he runs off. 

~

My phone screen displays a photo of Kiro’s smiling face as he turns back. His golden hair plates his entire body in a generously brilliant and blazing splendour. 

I brush his face gently with my fingertips, my heart feeling heavy.

Like a raging wave, unspeakable longing and sadness knead together, fiercely slapping onto the shore.

Kiro has returned to Loveland City. 

However, this meeting doesn’t give me much time to feel low. 

Dad is standing in front of the projector in the conference room, orderly explaining the upcoming work arrangement for the company.

Dad: ...these are all the materials on Kiro. Everyone, please confirm the content on hand, and ensure that we are all on the same page. We’ve recently signed a contract with Kiro’s company. Kiro has received his Admission Letter and will continue pursuing his studies in the music academy. After he finishes his world tour, he will officially sign the contract to return to the country and develop. The contract this time is the very beginning of the collaboration, to work with Kiro’s upcoming tour. All departments have to make preparations. That’s all.

After the meeting is dismissed, Dad sits at my side. 

Dad: Suddenly calling you back from school - am I giving you too much stress? 

MC: I’m just a little surprised. I never thought the company... that Dad would make such an arrangement. 

Dad: This isn’t just Dad’s arrangement. You’ll know the specifics next time.

Dad pauses. When he speaks again, his tone seems to have a certain depth to it. I blink, making secret guesses in my heart. 

This means... it could be Black Swan’s arrangement. 

Dad: You once told Dad you wanted to be an outstanding producer. Of course, I’ll support my daughter in doing what she wants. This time, I’m just letting you get used to the tasks. Don’t be too nervous. Dad can’t bear to let you to dive into work so quickly!

MC: Hahaha, thank you Dad! I’ll learn seriously! I definitely wouldn’t cause trouble for everyone. 

Dad: The contract for the collaboration will happen three days later, so we can do some preparations before that. 

~

After greeting my father, I walk out of the building and turn back to look at it. With complex emotions, I head towards the convenience store.

The world proceeds forward slowly, but there are some differences from back then.

In my memory, Black Swan used B.S. Entertainment to lead public opinion. In an accident arising from multiple causes, it was replaced by my company.

As a similar media body, Dad has been expanding the company’s scope of influence since several years ago. 

In a way, we’ve already met Black Swan’s requirements and purposes. 

From some imperceptible moment, the entire world has moved towards a familiar yet unknown future.

However, there are coincidences that are either heaven’s tricks, or destiny. 

This time, my father’s sufficiently powerful company has replaced B.S. Entertainment, and has become Kiro’s future home. 

Without realising it, I’ve walked into that small convenience store. 

I stand in front of the shelves, staring dazedly at the final bag of chips.

I think about that person’s “warning” --

“Your unintentional actions may lead to irretrievable consequences.”

As though I’m deep in a black swamp, I’m trapped in place. My lips are sealed, and I sink into the darkness. 

After a long time, I pat my face fiercely with both hands, letting out a hard breath. 

MC: This time, I’ll be the one searching for you...

When I reach out for the bag of chips, a beautiful and slender hand appears in front of me - we’ve grabbed the same bag of potato chips. 

I turn my head, and the person beside me turns to look at me as well.

He is standing against the light, and a smile brims in his eyes. He gives the bag of chips a gentle tug, pulling me a step closer to him in the process. 

It’s as though he’s pulling me, who’s continuously sinking. 

A heavy feeling rising up from my chest and up my throat. I blink hard and clench my teeth. Even then, I can’t stop the redness in my eyes. 

MC: Kiiii... mmph!

Kiro suddenly covers my mouth with his hand and glances around. 

His smiling eyes tell me that he’s not angry at all about my rudeness. 

Kiro: Shhh... I don’t want to get noticed. 

I nod. 

Our little scene seems to have drawn attention, so we squat down in hiding.

We crouch together next to the shelf, shoulders nearly touching. Looking at the bag of chips in my hands, I suddenly laugh.

Kiro: You’ve smiled. 

MC: Hm? 

Kiro: You looked like you were going to cry just now. I even thought I frightened you!

MC: How can that be? I... I was just too excited. I didn’t think the big celebrity I saw on the screen would appear in front of me. Now, we’re squatting here like little kids in kindergarten. 

Everything is too similar to how we once met. The words involuntarily leave my lips. It’s as though in front of him, no matter how many times the scene repeats, I’m still the me of back then. 

Kiro: If I were still in kindergarten, I definitely wouldn’t let you have the last bag of chips. 

I turn around and find Kiro looking at the chips in my hand, seemingly not willing to give up.

A breeze enters the convenience store, lifting strands of his golden hair. Eighteen-year-old Kiro is beside me, looking as though he’s emitting light. 

MC: The Kiro now is already a mature Kiro!

Kiro: You’re right.

Even though I said that, Kiro still looks unwilling. His eyes are crinkled, and his mouth slants to a side. 

I look at him and think of a time long ago. Making a silent prayer that this bag of chips contains the Batman AR card, I tear the bag open slowly. 

MC: It’s a Batman AR card!!

Kiro: Eh, how are you even more excited than I am. 

MC: Haha. 

There’s a twinge in my heart, and I'm unsure if it’s longing or sadness. I try to shoot Kiro a smile, though it probably doesn't look good. 

MC: This is for you. 

Kiro takes the card and smiles, his eyes becoming even brighter. 

Kiro: How did you know that I'm collecting these? 

MC: ...I-I guessed it! Because...

Kiro: Because I look like the type who would collect these? 

MC: Yes yes yes, that’s it. 

Kiro: And I also look like I’m just missing this card? 

MC: ...y-yes, I guess? 

Kiro: Mm! I think so too!

Those blue eyes are filled with smiles, not containing a shred of impurity or suspicion. I release a relieved sigh in my heart. 

Kiro: But... I think we’ve forgotten to pay.

MC: Ah, you’re right. So sorry, ma’am. I’ll buy ten bags later! Sorry!

Kiro: Sorry!

We look at each other and burst out laughing. 

This time, our eighteen-year-old selves still share this tiny secret.

~

After walking out of the convenience store, I suddenly wonder why Kiro has appeared here and at this point of time. 

Kiro looks towards my father’s company and starts whistling playfully.

Kiro: So this is [-MC’s company name-].

His tone is light, not carrying the same anticipation he has on his face. 

Kiro: Are you an employee of this company too? 

MC: ...

The light of spring is in his bright eyes. Kiro looks at me quietly. This simple question seems to have a meaning behind it.

MC: I am. I just learnt that you’d be coming to the company after three days to sign the contract. But I came here to buy some things for myself...

Kiro: I see. 

His eyes crinkle, as though accepting my explanation. 

MC: You’re here to take a look beforehand? 

Kiro: Actually...

Just as Kiro starts speaking, my phone suddenly rings. Kiro smiles and signals for me to answer the phone first, then takes a few steps away. 

MC: Hello? Dad? 

Dad: It’s a little sudden, but come to the conference room in 15 minutes to prepare. The collaboration contract with Kiro has been brought forward to today.

On the other end of the line, I can hear faint sounds of various departments busily preparing for the various contract-related issues. 

Their conversations reveal the importance of the contract which is about to commence. 

Once this collaboration succeeds, it will herald a new phase of the company’s future development in the aspect of acting. 

??: Kiro hasn’t reached the office...

Father: Savin, don’t worry. MC, I’ll hang up now. Hurry back soon.

MC: All right. 

MC: [to Kiro] You brought the contract signing forward to today? 

Seeing that I’ve put down the phone, Kiro stuffs both hands into his pocket and bounces over to me. 

Kiro: Something cropped up, so I communicated it to the company. I hope I didn’t cause trouble for everyone. 

He retrieves a pair of sunglasses from his pocket, putting them on confidently.

Thinking about something, he tugs his sunglasses downwards lightly, revealing his smiling blue eyes. 

Kiro: I tend to get lost easily. Could you show me the way?

MC: Isn’t it just in front?!

Kiro: A person who lacks a sense of direction wouldn’t be able to find the entrance even if the building is right in front of him.

He squints. Tickled by his odd logic, I burst into laughter, then give him a mock bow.

MC: Follow me then, big celebrity.

Kiro puts his sunglasses on properly, then does a thumbs-up gesture contentedly.

~

They reach the office, and Kiro apologises for the trouble caused

He looks over the contract meticulously and voices his opinions on certain terms, providing suggestions on how they can be mutually beneficial

He signs the contract and the employees leave the conference room

MC is surprised at how anti-climatic the whole thing was, and in her distracted state, forgets to change the settings on the photocopier (which is set to printing small cards)

As a result, the photocopying machine only prints Kiro’s signature on an A4 sheet

Kiro: Is that gentleman your father?

MC: Mm.

Kiro: I see... doesn’t that make you my future boss?

MC: Eh?!

I’m momentarily startled by his words, my brain slowing down and my eyes blinking continuously.

Tickled by my expression, Kiro smiles and crinkles his eyes. 

Kiro: Am I wrong? 

His tone is sincere, and embeds within it a sort of curiosity and probing.

I lower my head, looking at that sheet of invalid A4 paper, and lift my head with a deep sigh. 

MC: You’re not wrong. It’s just that... I’m still very lacking right now. I’m not outstanding enough, and there are many things I can’t do. But I won’t stop here. I’ll make you believe that joining this company is something to be proud of.

I’ll continue running along this path that you’re shining on, and be like you, to become the light.

Kiro’s eyes slowly grow darker. I instinctively tighten my grip on my pen, but am unable to avert my eyes from his. 

These seconds of silence feel like I’m being examined. Gradually, he lifts the corners of his lips.

Kiro: Will you be participating in my upcoming world tour? 

MC: Probably not... I’m a newbie, so Savin should be going with you.

Kiro: Shall we practice then? 

MC: Practice? 

Saying this, Kiro leans forward. With a blink, he places his hand on the back of mine.

Kiro: Practice for when you become my future boss. 

The sweet scent of the young man brushes the tip of my nose, reminiscent of a person secretly pouring melted hot chocolate into the cup of someone he likes. 

He grins and tightens his grip on my hand. On the right side of the invalid A4 sheet, he writes his name crookedly.

Kiro: Your turn.

MC: ...I can really do that?

Kiro: I already said that this is a rehearsal for our future. 

MC: But your hand...

Kiro: Hm? 

My ears feel warm. Kiro’s eyes flash with the light of a prankster, waiting for me to finish.

His hand remains on the back of mine. He doesn’t exert any force. It feels like a catkin fluttering gently in my heart - ticklish, and can be flicked away with a light touch.

But I can’t bear to.

MC: Nothing!

My face is flushed. With his hand over mine, I leave a crooked “MC” on the left side. 

These two names are left on the invalid A4 paper - like a starting point of a certain dream. 

Kiro takes up the A4 sheet. Turning his palm, he entwines my fingers with his. 

Kiro: We’ve made an agreement. I’ll definitely stand on a higher platform, and let even more people see Kiro, and hear Kiro’s songs. I’ll make the name “Kiro” appear in every corner of the world. 

Gorgeous spots of light appear behind the young man, like the most brilliant and pure parts of youth. Still, they can’t compare to the brilliant light in his eyes. 

My heart is beating rapidly, and it feels as though a piping heat is coursing through my bloodstream. A faint heat grows where our fingertips meet.

MC: Mm, we have an agreement. I’ll also keep learn learning, and will use my strength and abilities to better develop this company. In the future, this company will be one that’s worthy to collaborate with the “International Superstar” Kiro.

Kiro: Can I do it? 

Kiro tilts his head, the glinting light in his eyes wavering slightly. It’s as though a tiny bit of doubt has appeared from its depths. 

MC: Do you think I can do it? 

Kiro: I think you can.

MC: Then you’ll naturally have no problem either!

I feel his shallow breaths on my fingertips. He leans his head lightly on our entwined hands. 

Kiro: Our agreement is complete. If one of us doesn’t reach our goal, there’ll be a punishment. 

MC: I won’t give you that chance!

Light soaks in through the window and covers our fingers. Kiro hops down from the table and gently lifts me to my feet, pulling me into the sunlit area. 

Just as he did countless times before. 

Kiro: Before the future arrives, please guide me. Miss Chips.

~

While MC is driving Kiro home, he suddenly asks:

Kiro: Is Miss Chips also from Black Swan? 

Kiro pipes up, his eyes not leaving the screen of his laptop. There is a smile on his lips, but it looks like a natural-looking mask. 

His casual-sounding question startles me. Although it’s a surprise that he would be so upfront about this, my fingers on the steering wheel tighten.

The green light makes its countdown, and I slow down, stopping before the zebra crossing. 

MC: I’m not. Although... I might be in the future. I don’t want to lie to you.

Kiro: Is that so.

His tone is light, as though he isn’t paying attention. As though it could be swallowed up by a flower blowing in the spring breeze. 

MC: Also, do you... remember what happened when you were young? 

Kiro: Bits and pieces. I don’t remember much. 

My heart grows heavy. Does Kiro not remember what happened in the orphanage? 

MC: I... have something that I definitely have to do. No matter how difficult it is, I have to accomplish it. There’s also someone I want to meet. I’ve waited a very, very long time. It’s been so long that I’m about to give up. But once I think about how he’s working hard in some corner of the world, I’m filled with motivation. 

I turn my head and meet Kiro’s eyes. His eyes are filled with an incomprehensible emotion. 

MC: I want to protect him, and want... to meet him again. No matter what misunderstandings this path would bring, I’ll continue walking bravely. 

Kiro blinks his eyes slowly, and finally reveals an unobstructed smile. 

Kiro: Miss Chips, you’ll definitely have no problem. 

~

After Kiro returns home, the smile he kept up in front of the girl finally collapses in a second.

In the pitch black living room, the sunlight outside the window has been kept outside by a thick and heavy curtain. 

He clenches his teeth and sits in front of the laptop, the continuously dancing search results on the screen making him cast his eyes downwards. 

Kiro: ...still no results. 

In the end, he drags himself to the sofa, his pale face almost transparent under the glow of the screen. 

A stubbornness appears on his lips, and dots of sweat appear on his forehead, as though he’s enduring a great agony. 

Kiro: At least... it’s only acting up now. 

At this moment, a call from a foreign number appears on his phone. 

Kiro: It’s me. 

??: You finally picked up.

Kiro: Tell me the results directly. 

??: The test results and your predictions are almost the same. 

Kiro: Mm.

Darkness has swallowed his face, but his eyes are flashing with light. Even though the world has plunged into a deep darkness, there’s still a scorching, blooming light.

Kiro: Let’s meet then.

He throws his phone aside, a look of self-deprecation on his face. Even though he’s curled up, he can’t suppress his trembling. The colour of an abyss is in his eyes. 

Kiro: [groaning]

The young man’s painful groans resound in the dark, and black markings appear on his arm.

The hands supporting the young man’s body allow him to look at the other corner, into the mirror in the darkness.

The hair of the person in the mirror has gradually faded into a silvery grey, and there is a dazzling golden light in his originally blue eyes--

Overlapping with the image in his mind. 

Kiro: ...I, command you--

The young man’s soft voice lingers in the dark.

-

🌸 MOMENTS 🌸

Kiro’s Post: Now that I think about it, did I sign an unfair contract back then?

MC: Is it the fastest contract you’ve signed in your life?

Kiro: It’s also the most important contract in my life ^_^

-

Kiro’s Post: Now that I think about it, did I sign an unfair contract back then?

MC: Written in black and white - behave and call me boss~

Kiro: As compared to “boss”, I’ve always preferred “Miss Chips” as a form of address.

-

Kiro’s Post: Now that I think about it, did I sign an unfair contract back then?

MC: Did I treat you badly?!

Kiro: Does this mean you’re going to treat me to potato chips next time?

-

Phone call: here

[powerovernothing]

The wooden doors of Cloud Ruler Temple open slowly with a creak as Korbin makes his way out of the main hall, and into the courtyard where a collection of several Bladesmen continue with their routine training sessions as the sun dipped past the Bruma mountains and colored the sky above with shades of golden hues.

A faint giggle escapes his lips as he clutches a book to his chest, and waves a hand to the Blades that he had come to consider his companions over the months spent in the makeshift home within the hollowed grounds of the Emperor's – those that had come before, those that had passed, and those that would surely take their place in the known future – personal Knights and esteemed Defenders.

He circles around the stone stairs, and past the warming flames radiating from the braziers that decorated the courtyard and matched the hues of the evening with a bright glow of their own. He breathes in the cool air that dances around his shoulders, then rises up to tickle his hair, and he cannot help but smile widely.

Countless hours spent within his chambers, reading over one of the books that he would have sworn would have taken him much more than a week to learn and memorize was quite one thing, but walking outside, looking up and into the very thing that he had just learned about, just read about – correctly, and with at least half the mistakes that he would normally for a book of that size – was something entirely different.

It was a feeling of delight, mixed with the sensation of pride, and accomplishment. Something that he so rarely felt, and yet made him excited, overjoyed, and oh-so eager to share with his siblings!

He glances from side to side in search of them, once, and then twice, and allows a frown to replace his smile. He had assumed that both Martin and Lucien would have been on the opposite side of the courtyard; training to show the Blades just how those within the Dark Brotherhood handled a proper fight, and yet... the training arena was left bare, and empty.

Did he overlook them somehow? Did they come inside without him realizing, and accidentally passed them by? Were they truly about to miss out on some rather exciting news, and a beautiful sunset because they somehow got too cold and needed a blanket?!

He grumbles slightly under his breath as he turns back upon his heel – mentally preparing some rather choice words for when he found them at last – and that is when he hears a rather familiar, wonderful sound.

He spins around, caring very little for his dizzying vision as he does so, and his smile quickly returns.

There they were! Right on the archway nestled between both guards towers on the very peak of the courtyard. And it seemed as though they were already laughing and enjoying the sunset together! And while such a sight may have been considered to outside eyes, it surely did not matter to him.

Because to his own golden gaze...it was the most perfect sight. His brothers were happy, content, and unknowingly just went and made his task all the more enjoyable!

He rushes forwards, still holding the book close to him, and beams with a boyish grin. "Gentlemen!" He cries; wishing to gain their attention, and not simply cause them to fall from his sudden excitement. "I was hoping to find you both, and here you are! Which is wonderful, because I have something equally wonderful to share with you!"

Lucien and Martin turn their heads and smile up at their brother.

"Good evening, Korbin!" Martin replies with the same air of playfulness that cascades over Korbin's every feature. "I was just about to send Lachance to come and find you, actually. So that you would join us for a moment of peace and quiet among the colors of the fading sun."

Korbin laughs, and nods. "Well, then it looks as though it all worked out for the better!" He says. "I'm here, you're both here, and Lucien did not have to waste time trying to trail me throughout the winding halls of the temple!"

He carefully sets the book upon the archway and places his hands over both of his brother's shoulders. "So, with that in mind, I ask you both... is there room for one more?"

Lucien reaches up, and touches Korbin's hand upon his shoulder, and matches his amusement with a gentle chuckle of his very own.

"Always, my Silencer."

Korbin sits down in between them and kicks his feet as he picks up the book once more and lays it across his lap. He cracks open the spine, and skims over the pages to relocate where exactly he was last reading through the numerous chapters, and where the knowledge that he wished to share was hiding within the almost endless amount of words.

As Korbin continues to flip through the pages, Martin watches him with a curious eye.

"Is that the novel that I lent you, brother?" He asks him with a wry smile. "Do not tell me that you have finished it already?"

Korbin shakes his head. "No, no, no! Not yet! Not just yet!" He explains. "But, but... I did finish one of the last few chapters, and in doing so, I learned something remarkable!"

He slaps his hands down and flattens out the pages as he reaches his desired destination. "Do you both wish to know what it is?"

"Oh, most certainly," Lucien muses, as he brings a goblet of cool water to his lips. "After all, it would be unheard of if you simply left us – quite literally, in fact – on the edge of our seats."

Martin lets out a breath; blowing the bangs from his forehead. "That was truly terrible, and you should be ashamed of yourself, Lachance." He says, and then gestures with his hand in front of Korbin's chest. "Little brother, please be a dear, and reach across and slap our eldest sibling upon the back of his head on my behalf."

"Do anything of the sort, Septim, and rest assured that you shall find the remainder of my drink down the back of your robing."

"You absolute bastard, you wouldn't dare!"

Korbin waves a hand. "Yes, yes, yes! Thoughts of revenge, slaps, and soiled priestly robes can come later!" He points his finger with a smile. "Right now, I have another question for you both! I know that I’ve spoken of many questions in such a short amount of time, but this one is very important! Do you know why it is that the sun sets so beautifully red?"

Lucien and Martin pause in their playful bantering and exchanges a softer look between them.

"Please do enlighten us."

"And I will! Quite happily at that!" Korbin says, and then moves his hand to point ahead of them, and towards where the sun continues to fall slowly in the distance. "You see, just like everyone else... I thought that the answer would be something rather simple. Something that has been said for so many years, and I'm sure that you both have heard of it as well in passing. Said answer being, of course, that the sun before us is made up of lots and lots of different colors, right?"

He moves his other hand and makes a cupping motion around the sun. "You have white, gold, red, and other shades that you can see out there before your eyes begin to strain, and start to hurt..."

Martin tilts his head with an amused smile. "Are you saying that it is more than simply the fact that the color red is the one that travels the furthest out of them all?"

Korbin brings his hands back and slaps a fist into an opened palm. "Yes! That is exactly what I am saying!" He holds out his hands, places them back upon his brother's shoulders, and pulls them close. "You see, I was reading over some of the more interesting parts of the book – and sure, there were a few parts that I was skimming past, and might need to have help with actually reading properly later on – but I found out the actual reason why red is so prominent in the many wonderful sunsets that we see here on Nirn!"

"Well, now you have colored me curious, Korbin," Lucien says as he slowly pulls away, and attempts not to fall backwards from Korbin's half embrace. "What have you discovered that countless scholars, save for the one who wrote that book, apparently missed somehow?"

"It all has to deal with Lorkhan!" Korbin explains excitedly as he raises the book up. "You see, it's common knowledge that when Akatosh and that... other person that I have trouble with pronouncing –"

"–Trinimac, Korbin." Martin corrects gently.

Korbin nods. "Yes, yes. Trinimac," He says with an appreciative smile, and then continues. "When the two of them fought back against Lorkhan, and flung his heart out of his body, or however that little story goes, part of his blood was meant to fly off and land within Cyrodiil, right?"

"Yes, that is precisely as the legends state it to be," Martin says as he moves closer to Korbin's side, and touches a part of the novel to read for himself. "And when that blood fell upon the province, it landed within one of the numerous Ayleid wells, and merged with a rather beautiful red crystal."

"And that crystal wound up being the Amulet of Kings that we're so desperately attempting to get back!"

Lucien scoffs lightly at their almost childish excitement over only one part of Lorkhan's dark, and gory history.

"Where exactly are you going with this, Silencer?"

"Well, it turns out that there was another part of Lorkhan's blood that didn't land anywhere!" Korbin shifts, and brings the book into Lucien's vision. "In fact, it didn't fall anywhere, because when Akatosh and Trinimac fought against Lorkhan, won, and then flung his heart across all of Tamriel... it was apparently such a brutal show of strength, that was so powerful, and overwhelming... that some parts of Lorkhan's blood wound up getting into Mundus itself!"

"...Wait a moment, what?" Lucien's eyes widen, and he snatches the book from Korbin. "What are you attempting to say?"

"I'm saying exactly what you think that I'm saying, Lucien!"

Martin's eyes narrow in deep thought, and he lets out a gentle laugh. "So, you believe that Lorkhan is responsible for the beautiful sunset that we are witnessing at this very moment?"

"Part of it, at least!" Korbin says with a grin. "Without that tiny little droplet of blood that was flung outside Nirn itself, it wouldn't be nearly as breathtaking, or nearly as red!"

Lucien closes the book with a light slap once he reads over the words himself, and then hands it back. "And it is glaringly obvious that you have been reading far too many tales late into the night based upon mere legends."

"Oh, come now! I know very well what I read!" Korbin clutches the book to his chest once more. "And it makes a lot of sense, all things considered!"

"Don't tell me that you are somehow doubting his knowledge, Lachance."

"Hardly," Lucien waves a hand. "But I believe that he has quite a many thing confused in his eagerness to recount his newfound information. If anything, it is the Dread Father himself that is responsible for the ominous sunset that we are currently beholding."

Both Martin and Korbin stare at him, but while one looks at him in a mixture of awe, and confusion – as he would have never even thought to bring Sithis into such an equation, but leave it to his eldest brother to think outside the bloodstained box – the other looks at him with a glare born from intense irritation.

"...Please tell me that you’re joking."

"I would never even dream of making a jest of such a thing, Septim!" Lucien says in a dramatic fashion; placing a hand over his chest as he does so. "Unless, of course... you are not quite familiar with Lorkhan's extended history?"

Martin blinks in confusion. "Extended history?"

"Dear brother, is this your means of telling me that you are not familiar of how Lorkhan came to be in this world?"

"It is not something that I have sat down and studied in my recent memory," Martin attempts to explain. "But with how you are acting in regard to such a subject, should I be familiar with it?"

Lucien turns, looking aghast to what it is that he is hearing, but as his eyes meets with Korbin’s, the slightest amount of humor twinkles just beneath and soon spreads out over his – now deeply amused – smile.

"By the Void itself, he doesn't know about Lorkhan's connection to Sithis."

"Excuse me?! His connection to what?!"

Korbin shares in Lucien's laughter. "I know that it might be shocking to hear, Martin," He begins to tell him. "But you would be happy to know that what Lucien is saying is talked about in here as well! And in considerable detail!"

He quickly flips to one of the prior chapters of the book. "It was actually quite hidden away at first, but after going through page, after page, and looking thoroughly for something that I could understand, and familiarize myself with, I found–"

"–There is no such thing!" Martin suddenly interjects; waving his arm in front of Korbin's face in a means to deflect their words. "You forget that this book was originally in my possession, and thus I would have surely known if there was any possible inkling of–!"

"–Oh, but there is! There is indeed!" Lucien interrupts just as well; speaking in an almost far too joyful tone of voice. "It seems as though the Blades have not been quite so forthcoming with their history lessons for their beloved Emperor-To-Be!"

Korbin pulls the book up, and waves it in front of both his brother's faces. "Well, thankfully, that's where I come in!" He shouts; attempting to cut in between their bickering. "If you both settle down, despite how difficult I know that is, I can tell you all about Lorkhan's history with Sithis, and how it's because of Sithis that he came to be!"

"To which Korbin shall show you it is because of Lorkhan at all that your royal ancestry has the little trinket – the one, if you do not recall, that we are actively risking our life and limb for – worn around their necks in the first place."

"How, in all of the golden wings of Akatosh, have I never known about this!?" Martin cries out; stealing the book away from Korbin.

Korbin giggles warmly in response. "Well, if anything this just means that you're more connected to the Brotherhood than you first thought! And that means you're just as much our blood brother as the rest of the Dark Family!"

Martin lowers the book to his lap, and a soft sigh escapes him. "Yes, and that sounds positively wonderful coming from you, Korbin..." He turns Korbin's head with one hand, and gestures to Lucien with the other. "But do you see that wicked, vile, utterly terrible smile now spread widely over Lucien's lips?"

"I certainly do, yes." Korbin says, as Lucien waves his hand with a mocking chuckle.

"Good, then you should know that it means one thing, and one thing only."

"...That he's not ever, ever going to let you live this down?"

"Precisely," Martin leans back, and rubs a hand over his face. "And, if I know him well enough by now, I know that he is only moments away from beginning his cruel, and unjust assault of personal ridicule against me."

Lucien leans in close with and touches his hand to the top of Martin's head. "Oh, you have no idea, Septim." He pulls back, and then retakes his place at Korbin's side. "In fact, all of this enlightening conversation about Lorkhan, and the Brotherhood just gave me the most wonderful idea for a new title that we could bestow upon him!"

Korbin's eyes instantly light up. "Really?"

"Oh, Divines, please... spare me, somehow." Martin whispers sorrowfully under his breath.

"Indeed!" Lucien exclaims; intentionally ignoring Martin's pleads. "After all, since he is so very obviously connected to us through the means of Lorkhan's blood – our blood brother, as you so aptly referred to him as– "

"–Thank you, Lucien! I thought it was quite fitting myself!"

Martin buries his face into his hands. "Akatosh, why did you entrap me with these two?" He asks; gesturing towards the sun before him with one hand as he rests his his cheek upon the other. "Out of anyone on the face of Nirn... why was it these two? I know that I have asked you before, but I am begging for an answer a second time!"

Lucien pats Korbin's shoulder in a show of brief affection. "How do you feel about the term ‘Light Brother’?" He asks with the same devious chuckle as before. "After all, our dear Martin would never quite make it as a proper Dark Brother"–he waves a hand, intentionally mimicking Martin’s own movements–"He is far too just, and kindhearted to ever be as we are: cruel, and merciless takers of life, but with our newfound connection... oh, do you not believe that the title is so remarkably fitting?"

Martin jerks his head upright; a deep red flush spreading over his cheeks at Lucien’s words. "What?! Absolutely not!"

"I think that sounds perfect!" Korbin beams with a smile.

"Korbin, no! Do not encourage him!"

Korbin turns slightly, reaching for Martin's shoulders, and then pulls both him and Lucien into a more proper embrace.

"After all, we are chosen siblings, are we not?! With a title like this, well... this just solidifies it, and strengthens our bond!" He places a hand against Lucien's chest, and then over his own. "Two Dark Brothers"–and then finally touches Martin's as well–"And one Light Brother against the forces of Oblivion itself! That is enough to strike fear in the hearts of anyone who hears of our inspiring tales throughout the lands of all of Tamriel itself!"

Martin moves from the embrace with a squeal. "I do not recall ever agreeing to this!"

"Such a shame then that we did it for you, Septim."

Martin pulls at the side of his face with his hands and lets out a more frustrated sigh. "Can we please just watch whatever remains of the sunset?" He asks as he shifts around to face the mountainside. "Unless you both have some other hidden means of turning me just as sanguine as the sky above?"

Korbin shakes his head. "I don't at the moment," He admits simply as he touches his hand over the pockets of his armor. "You see? Nothing hidden away in here that could be used against you in any possible way! But that doesn’t mean that Lucien doesn’t have a few tricks up his sleeve!"

"Actually, I do not," Lucien explains as he, too, turns to face the sun. "I shall simply allow what I have said to fester within you until a more vicious embarrassment comes to mind."

"Oh, how glorious," Martin mutters in a deadpan tone. "How utterly glorious. I can hardly wait for such a moment to arrive."

Korbin hums for a moment, enjoying the sound of his brother's playful antics towards one another, and then moves the book up with a more careful smile.

"Hm, you know... while there is a bit of a lull, I did have one final question."

Once more, Lucien and Martin stop mid-sentence, and then turn to look at Korbin in their middle.

"Do you want to hear more about what I was able to read?" He asks innocently. "As I said before... there was still a lot that I had to skip, because none of it made sense to me, but... some of the later chapters were truly fascinating once I was able to read the words properly."

He then giggles with a hint of pride in his voice. "And... and I was able to do it without many mistakes!" He explains as he lowers his head. "Sure, sure... there were a few words I probably mispronounced here and there... but you two are with me now, and you can help me out! And you can see how much I’ve improved in such a short amount a time!"

Martin instantly softens and touches the top of Korbin's hand. "That sounds wonderful, little brother."

"It certainly does, my dearest Silencer," Lucien adds; matching Martin's tenderness almost effortlessly. "Start from the beginning and let us hear everything you have to share."

A joyful sparkle lights up within Korbin's eyes at the sound of their dual agreement, and he hardly can contain himself as he places the book back over his lap, and begins to read everything that he was able to learn, and able to understand over the course of a single day.

And as the last rays of the setting sun finally dips past the winter mountains surrounding the city of Bruma and the hidden fortress nestled atop one of the highest peaks, the sound of carefree, almost peaceful laughter rings out above the walls of Cloud Ruler Temple; rising steadily upwards until it takes its place to dance among the twinkling of stars spread over a deep blanket of gentle, welcoming darkness.

[sharinluna]

MLQC Chapter 20 Translation

Chapter 19 translation

19 1/2 chapter translation

I skip parts and paraphrase a lot when I translate. So that I could let the players enjoy the complete original translated text by themselves when the chapters are released. This is just to give you a small taste of what is going to happen.

I’m using Yōurán as MC’s name since it was the unofficial default name by the writers.

Trigger Warning: This chapter includes actions that reminds of real-life relationship abuse, physical violence, and police brutality.

Once you make your choice, there is no turning back.....

The sound of the underground train entering the station woke me from dreaming.

“We’ll soon be arriving in ****** station. The exit is on the left…”

It suddenly occurred to me that I had to get off and I abruptly stood up and exited the train.

Yōurán: Something’s not right…

A strange sense loss was looming in my head. Like something went away from me with the train.

I tried to remember what my dream was about but everything was foggy. Only snippets of unrecognizable memories remained.

Yōurán: Did I wake from the dream and come back to reality?

I couldn’t know for sure. I followed the crowd out of the station.

Everyone was going their own way. Underneath the gray sky, the traffic jam was flooding the city like usual. It was a different sight from the deserted city during the influenza breakout. But that was a thing of the past now.

Yōurán: I did it!

I looked around the city that turned back to normal. I really did succeed!

I wanted to go back to my daily routine immediately. I wanted to know what the others were doing. I wanted to go to my office and work again.

Passer-by: Look, it’s snowing!

I looked up. Small snowflakes were coming down the sky. I froze. Suddenly, I wasn’t so sure if this was real or a dream.

The ringing of my cellphone in my coat pocket woke me from my reverie. I didn’t recognize the caller ID

Caller: Long time no see. I suppose you want to know who I am, right?

The young man’s bragging voice was somehow familiar.

Yōurán: Excuse me but… why did you call me?

Caller: Can’t I call you without a reason?

Yōurán: Well, since it seems you don’t, I’ll just-

Caller: Everyone forgot your existence.

Yōurán: What?

I must have heard him wrong. The young man on the phone laughed at the disbelief in my voice.

Caller: You are not supposed to exist in this universe.

Yōurán: What are you talking about? That doesn’t make any sense!

I denied what he said in panic.

Caller: You can find out for yourself, then…

There was a sound of opening a can on the other side.

Caller: …at the place where everything started, for once…

He hung up.

Yōurán: This must be just a prank call!

I kept telling myself that as I grabbed my phone tightly.

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I arrived at the front of my office building. I took a deep breath and went in calmly. I was about to say hello to the security guard but stopped when he was looking at me like a stranger.

When I arrived at the office I saw familiar faces.

Yōurán: Kiki!

I called Kiki whom I hadn’t seen for a long time. Any moment now, she would see me and yell “Boss!” and run to me, and tell me all the latest gossips.

But she just looked at me with polite strangeness.

Kiki: Hello, Miss. Are you scheduled to meet someone?

Yōurán: Kiki… don’t you remember me?

I blurted out in shock. Kiki hesitated, like trying to remember something.

Kiki: Uh… have we met before?

So what he said in the phone call was true.

Yōurán: You must have… forgotten it…

I clenched my fists so hard that fingernails were biting into the flesh, but I didn’t feel any pain.

Today was not April Fool’s Day, and Kiki didn’t seem like she was pranking me either. I forced out a weak smile.

Yōurán: Never mind, I’m here to meet Anna.

Kiki: Oh, so you’re Anna’s acquaintance! Then perhaps we have met before. You do look a bit familiar but I can’t quite put a finger on it yet. But Anna is very busy today… did you make an appointment?

I was about to answer when Anna came into the office followed by Willow.

Anna: Kiki, is someone asking for me?

Yōurán: Anna! Willow!

I called out their names in delight but they just looked at me confused.

Anna: Who is this��?

Yōurán: I’m Yōurán….

My heart sank at Anna’s reaction. I told her my name without hope. What he said on the phone was true. Every single person had forgotten me.

Yōurán: I’m here to see this company’s boss.

Anna: I’m currently working as the boss’s replacement for the time being. What business do you have with her?

Yōurán: For the time being? What do you exactly mean?

Anna: The current boss is the daughter of the former boss, but she’s unavailable right now so I’m filling in her place.

Yōurán: Then can I meet her?

I asked desperately. Anna furrowed her eyebrows deep in thought. She seemed to sense that something was not quite right.

Anna: Come to think of it, she hasn’t been in touch with us for a long time. I suppose she is busy with her studying…

Willow: Anna, we have to hurry if we don’t want to be late! We have to go to LFG right away.

Anna: Sorry. We are very busy… if you have urgent business, please visit us again tomorrow.

Anna smiled at me politely.

I perked up at her words. LFG…. I had to go there right away!

Yōurán: I’m sorry, I have to go! I’ll come back tomorrow!

I heard Kiki call out after me but there was only one word in dominating my mind. Victor, I had to go see him right away!

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

With breakneck speed I arrived at the LFG building only to be stopped by the reception desk.

Clerk: Hello, did you make an appointment?

Yōurán: No, but I can wait.

I knew she wouldn’t let me in, so I had no choice but to wait in the lobby for Victor to show up.

I fiddled with my phone for a long time, wondering if I should do it. Then I made up my mind and called Victor’s number. I was met with “The person you have called is unavailable at the moment…”

My delight at having returned to reality had long since evaporated. I waited for a long time, but still couldn’t meet Victor. The clerk at the desk was eyeing me suspiciously. In the end I had no choice but to go for the exit with a heavy heart.

Yōurán: Let’s go…

I didn’t find out whether Victor forgot about me as well, but maybe this was for the best. I tried to tell myself that as I recalled the last moment of my life.

I began to cross the street when the light turned green. It was just then when my phone rang.

Yōurán: It’s from Victor!

With happiness bubbling inside I stopped at once to take the call. Which turned out to be a grave mistake as I heard the sound of car screeching.

I seemed to be in this kind of predicament quite a lot, and like always, I froze unable to move. I closed my eyes but the crash never came. Someone had grabbed my wrist and pulled me to the sidewalk.

My heart started thumping. I knew who he was before I saw him.

I looked up at the familiar face and tears welled up inside.

Yōurán: Victor…! I found you at last….!

I grabbed his arms at looked at him with pure joy.

But he let go of me and took a step back and looked at me oddly.

Victor: Who are you?

He asked coldly with eyes looking at me like a stranger.

Yōurán: I…

Joy died down quickly. I opened my mouth but no sounds came. My hands, my shoulder, no my entire body started to shake. Despair filled up in my brain and erupted into headaches.

I didn’t want to admit that this was real, but Victor was standing there with no signs of recognizing me.

Yōurán: Don’t… don’t you remember me?

Victor: No, I’ve never met you before.

His answer full of conviction shattered the last of my hopes.

He glanced at his watch before addressing me again.

Victor: Be careful. Someone can’t come to your rescue every time.

He said the same words he said to me when we first met. But this time, they were destroying my last bit of courage and strength.

Standing still defenseless against the cold wind, I could only watch as Victor walked away from me.

Yōurán: Victor!

Sorrow paralyzed my reason as I ran out and grabbed at his sleeves like a drowning man clutching desperately at straws.

Victor didn’t pull his hand away. But he continued to look at me indifferently.

Victor: Are you hurt? Then go to a hospital.

Yōurán: I’m not hurt.

I mumbled trying to come up with an excuse to not let him go so soon.

Yōurán: I… just wanted to thank you for saving me…

Victor: You’re welcome. It was nothing.

He met my thanks matter-of-factly then eyed at my hand still clutching his sleeve.

Yōurán: …Sorry.

I forced myself to let go of him slowly and took a few steps back from him.

As I watched him walk away, my memories from the past life surged up. Seeing Victor with tears in the last moment of my life pained me with no end.

If Victor didn’t remember me, he would also not remember that… Maybe it would be better for him to forget that pain? Without me, he will continue to reign as the triumphant monarch of the capitalist society. He won’t have to succumb to such hurt caused by me.

Yōurán: Victor…

I called out his name to myself again.

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

My phone rang again. I looked at the screen hopefully but it was just a news alert. My address book was full of familiar names and numbers, but I couldn’t contact any of them. No one had called me or texted me since the last day of my life.

I didn’t know where I should go to find Gavin. Kiro had been missing for centuries and Lucien is…

I couldn’t continue with this line of thought.

Yōurán: Let’s just go home…

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

I saw a giant advertisement featuring Kiro on B.S. Entertainment building. People were stopping by to take pictures.

My mind flashed back to Kiro lying down on the sofa after shooting that advertisement.

Kiro: Uggghhhh…. Miss Chips…. Save me….! They’re starving me without a bite to eat….!!!!

Yōurán: Seriously?!

Kiro: Seriously! Come and give Kiro a hug!

I couldn’t help but smile as I remembered Kiro’s exaggerated whines.

Where was Kiro now? Lots of time had passed since the TV tower, and he still hasn’t come back. I wondered whether he succeeded in being a superhero like he said. I wondered when he could come back and be my little sun again who’s such a foodie.

With nostalgia I walked into the convenience store next to the B.S. Entertainment.

I reached out for the last chip then stopped. The other hand grabbing the chips at the same time as me didn’t appear this time.

I looked out the window as I waited for the cashier. A gust of wind shook the tree outside and snow flurried down. Among the snowflakes I caught a glimpse of a young man wearing a hood.

Yōurán: Kiro?!

Ignoring the bag of chips that I just bought I rushed out the store but couldn’t find where he went. I looked around frantically. Then I finally spotted him crossing the street among the crowds.

Kiro, is that really you?

As soon as the light turned green I ran across the street, pushing past people trying to get to him. I kept knocking into elbows and had to struggle to not be swept among the crowd, which slowed my chase after him.

I bumped hard into someone.

Yōurán: Excuse me-

Even before I finished speaking everything turned blank.

There was a loud boom that was enough to shake my body. The very ground started to quake, fiery inferno covered the sky. People were running in the opposite direction of the flames. Among the chaos there were shouts and panicked blarings of car horns. I heard a laughter in cold mockery.

“Those EVILs will all die…”

I was back in the crowded crosswalk. What I just saw…. was that an explosion of some kind? I replayed the vision in my head. Explosion, cars crashing everywhere, chaos.

I looked around and there was no sign of the person I bumped into.

Yōurán: Oh, no!

I ran forward trying to locate him but I couldn’t even figure out what direction he went. I chastised myself.

Yōurán: How could I miss him?

??: Are you looking for me?

I heard an icy voice from behind. I looked around and saw a young man with silver hair. He had the hood down.

Yōurán: Helios?!

I called out his name in surprise. The person I saw outside the convenience store, the one I was originally chasing, was him. His eyes narrowed as soon as he heard me say his name. He walked toward me menacingly.

Helios: How do you know who I am?

He had no weapon in his hands, but I was paralyzed in fear. It seemed like the Reaper of Death was walking towards me.

Helios: I’m disappointed in them for sending someone so mediocre to spy on me.

He stopped right in front of me. His sneer pierced me like a sharp knife. I quenched down the uncontrollable fear threatening to take over me.

Yōurán: I, I wasn’t spying on you!

Helios: Even your acting skills are rubbish.

His eyelashes did little to cover the murderous intent in his eyes.

Yōurán: It’s true! I’m sorry for following you. I thought you were someone I know. It was a mistake!

Helios: Really? And what other excuse did you come up with?

Yōurán: We’ve met before. You probably don’t remember it but… if you did, you would know that I’m just a nobody.

He still looked at me with doubt. I exclaimed out of exasperation.

Yōurán: Can’t you see that I’m powerless and is of no threat to you?! I don’t know what “they” you are talking about, but would they send someone plain like me as a spy?

I waited for his convict but to my shock he laughed at me, ridiculing me. He looked at me like he was looking at a very interesting specimen.

Helios: Someone plain? I suppose you don’t know yet.

Before I knew it, he took out a silver knife and aimed it at my neck. The cold blade made me rooted to the spot.

Helios: Don’t move.

His eyes flashed gold for a second and as he ordered, I couldn’t move a muscle.

Yōurán: What… what are you doing?!

Helios: Take a guess.

It was too late to regret. I couldn’t move at all no matter how hard I tried.

Yōurán: We’re in broad daylight in the middle of the city! People will see!

Helios: Do you think I’m so careless to not have that covered? You should worry about yourself now.

The cold pressure of the blade against my neck was increasing. My eyes widened in despair.

Suddenly, it seemed like time had stopped and my line of sight was bombarded with blinding white light. My soul was inside a pure-white space. In front of my eyes numerous black lines appeared forming unfathomable patterns. I reached out for those black lines. From the depths within my soul came out waves that passed from my fingertips and converted into soft lights that divided the shadows.

Yōurán: Let go…

For a fleeting moment of 1/1000 second his powers restraining me vanished. I didn’t miss the chance and managed back off and escape from the blade at my throat.

I was shivering with sweat. It was an effort standing still. I kept my eyes at him, wary of what he would do next.

Helios: Your awakening speed is pretty fast.

He took away his knife.

Helios: Do you still think you are just someone plain?

Yōurán: What just happened?

I wasn’t sure but, it seemed like my consciousness had escaped the corporate reality for a short moment. I looked down at my hands but nothing happened. The strange feeling had also vanished completely.

Yōurán: What did you do to me? Did you make me do… whatever I did?

Helios yawned.

Helios: You’re joking if you think I’d do such a charitable act.

The corner of his mouth twitched with scorn.

Helios: If you hadn’t pulled your little stunt, I would have continued where I had left off.

Hearing him say that negated all doubts I had about him and had me back on alert.

Helios: I’ll give you a piece of advice. Never appear in front of any Evolver ever again.

Yōurán: …Why?

He was already walking away. He said his last words without looking back.

Helios: otherwise you’ll be killed.

With that he got into his car and slammed the door. I stood still as I watched his car drive away, leaning against a wall to support my trembling body.

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

I walked back to where I had left off. Meeting Helios. Helios threatening me with his knife. Those bizarre black lines that appeared in a pure white space… I had no idea what happened just then.

Yōurán: Helios also doesn’t remember me at all, at least that’s for sure…

“Loveland University has announced to establish a new research institute. Renowned neuroscientist Professor Lucien has expressed his opinions about Darwinism and theories of evolution, causing the criticism of the public…”

I stopped and looked at the news screen to see a video of Lucien in a press conference.

Lucien: The advance of science is founded on continuous sacrifices. That includes the trial-and-error of injuries and deaths. All of which I think are necessary process. Survival of the fittest and the fallback of the rest is an eternal principle of life. It’s what keeps humanity going.

After all this time, he would still….

Seeing him say those words on the screen made my heart throb, reminding me of the principles I cannot forsake and the path that I should not deviate from.

Yōurán: Lucien… what are you trying to do?

Black Swan has been behind the flu epidemic from the beginning. Could Lucien also have had a hand in it?

I didn’t know what to think, but I had made my decision.

Yōurán: Whatever your role is in this scheme, Lucien, I will put a stop to it.

I changed direction and walked the familiar path to Loveland University.

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

In front of Lucien’s laboratory were thousands of protesters holding pickets. Commanding that Lucien suspend his unethical research project immediately and condemning him for his justification of sacrificing the minority.

I quietly slipped in the back door that was unknown to the protesters.

I looked at the plate reading “Lucien’s Research Institute” on front of his door. Just like the first time we met, I was standing in front of this door again, but the situation was completely opposite now.

I took a deep breath and knocked. I waited but no one opened the door.

Yōurán: Is he not here?

I didn’t know whether I felt relieved or disappointed.

I turned back and there stood him on a corridor that was deserted just seconds ago.

Yōurán: Lucien…

I couldn’t help but call out his name affectionately. Lucien looked at me with puzzlement then his expression turned searching. His smile was polite but distant.

Lucien: May I help you?

That shattered my hope and reminded me of the cold, hard truth very nicely. I couldn’t help hoping against hope that he would remember the days we spent together. But it turned out to be vain. Why did I think that he would be an exception?

I took out my reporter license and introduced myself just like I had rehearsed earlier.

Yōurán: It’s a pleasure to meet you, Professor Lucien. I’m a reporter from YBC news. I wish to request an interview with you about the press conference you made prior.

Lucien: I’m sorry, but I don’t do interviews for the time being.

He refused right away. He glanced at my license but he seemed to have no intention of examining it closely.

Yōurán: Forgive my indulgence, but would it be so much trouble to just answer a few simple questions? What is your reason for starting this research?

I prodded on, unwilling to give up just yet.

Lucien: Do you have any more questions?

I inwardly sighed in relief that he wasn’t turning me down completely and rapid-fired the questions I wanted to ask him.

Yōurán: Professor, can you tell me when your research will reach the first stage of development? To my knowledge, you have done human experiment before that was acknowledged and legitimized. Do you plan to follow suit in this one as well?

I waited for his answer but all I heard was a quiet chuckle.

Lucien: Is that what you wanted to know by impersonating a reporter?

Yōurán: Sorry?

I was taken aback by his sudden interrogation. His poker-face unsettled me for a second, but I found my cool quickly. Right now, Lucien was just a professor and he couldn’t reveal his Black Swan persona in such a public place. And this time I was just a plain reporter with nothing special.

Yōurán: Professor, if you are doubting if I really am a reporter you can look my name up in the website.

Lucien: I’m not doubting that you’re a reporter.

He interrupted my words with a smile.

Lucien: It just so happens that I just refused YBC’s interview 15 minutes ago.

His eyes seemed to pierce through me and I couldn’t come up with an excuse to cover my act.

Lucien: It seems that I am right.

His expression turned unfeeling. The polite mask fell away to reveal his true demeanor, cold-blooded and calculating.

Lucien: Now, would Miss Yōurán kindly tell me what business she has with me…?

Hearing my name with his ice-like voice, I couldn’t hold back a shiver. It felt like he was freezing my blood with just his words. But I could not back off now.

Yōurán: Like I said before, I wanted to interview you-

Lucien: Repeating a thousand lies won’t make it true.

I instinctively stepped away from him and looked down, not saying a word.

Lucien: You won’t tell? Silence isn’t always the best answer.

My heart was pounding, but I gathered up the last of my courage and looked up at him.

Yōurán: Fine! I came here because I wanted to know why you would continue this research project! If I find any issues that compromise moral principles, I will report it to the media!

Lucien: I see. And?

Yōurán: And then… I will ensure that your project gets shut down and prove that your theory is fundamentally wrong!

Lucien: Is that it?

Lucien’s attitude was still pretty much composed. My words held no threat to him whatsoever.

Lucien: And here I am thinking that you came here because of Evol.

The corner of his mouth twitched as he came closer to me.

Yōurán: Evol?

Lucien: Didn’t somebody just warn you that you are in grave danger?

Helios’s parting advice came to my mind.

Lucien wasn’t hiding his malicious attitude at all. I understood the true meaning of fear as he threw away all pretense to reveal who he really was: a man who is ruthless, brutal and cruel beyond comparison.

Lucien: As you well know, evolution of life cannot be free from destruction and violence, and Evols are not exception to that rule. You are nothing but a “bait” now.

I didn’t understand the underlying meaning of his words, but I got the general idea. He was the hunter, I was his prey. He’d been targeting me from the very first moment.

All parts of my body were screaming “run!” I pushed him away and ran towards the stairs. But he didn’t let me escape. I felt a sharp pain on my wrist and next moment he was dragging me away with an iron grip.

Lucien: Don’t think that I would let you out of my grasp so easily.

I knew it now. He was Ares. He was not Lucien anymore. To be more precise, Lucien…. he doesn’t exist anymore. Despair and sorrow flooded my heart more than fear.

Yōurán: What are you going to do with me?

I waited for whatever he would do next. Whatever it was, I was ready to take it.

Lucien: You seem to misunderstand me. I don’t plan to do anything to you.

He suddenly let go of my wrist. His attitude was back into the typical Lucien-style warmth and gentleness. Like what I just saw was just a trick of the brain.

Lucien: A normal person would soon see that you are not a subject of protection.

With that he walked past me and opened his lab door. He looked back at me and said.

Lucien: I assume you don’t need me to see your way out.

The door closed shut in my face. As soon as it did I sagged down to the floor. It took me a long time until I could find my feet again.

As I exited the research building I did not know that a pair of eyes was looking at me hidden behind the curtains.

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

I walked silently in the heavy snow.

I replayed the vision I saw in my head again. The person I bumped into was just a normal passerby, but his future I glimpsed into was anything but normal. Somehow, without reason, I felt that the explosion from my vision was related to me.

But there wasn’t anything I could do about it… I was forgotten by everyone, forsaken by the world, and I had no real power or strength….

Yōurán: Chin up!

I shouted to myself and slapped my face to break out of helplessness.

Yōurán: There are still things that I can do!

I whipped out my phone and called Gavin. He didn’t answer. With a little hesitation I called the Task Force but it said that the number didn’t exist. I didn’t anticipate immediate success, but I still felt a little downhearted.

Yōurán: It’s too early to give up now. Where was the exact place of the explosion…

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

I arrived at the riverside square and looked around.

Yōurán: Is it here?

Nothing looked out of place and there was no sign of coming explosion. And my mind didn’t launch another vision.

Yōurán: Did I come to the right place…. or did I see it wrong?

Just then I saw a black figure hiding in the shadow of a tall building. Without thinking I stepped closer to him. Closer, and then closer. Finally I could see him clearly. Black uniform. Straight posture. Snow on his shoulder showing that he’d been standing there a long time.

I rubbed my eyes several times. I was afraid I was dreaming. But I wasn’t. He was right there. The person I have wanted to see for so long.

Yōurán: Gavin!

Unbridled joy took control of my body, but reason kept me from running into his arms. Suppressing my impulse, I hid between the crowds to move closer in his general direction.

Gavin looked thinner than before. What happened to him while I was gone? The possibility that he had forgotten me as well left a bitter taste in my mouth.

Gavin: ...All clear.

Gavin finished talking into his phone and moved out of my sight.

Wait! I yelled silently as I hurried after him. I managed to catch sight of him disappearing around a corner. It was only then that I realized that I was in a deserted alley with no one around. I placed each step carefully.

Yōurán: …Gavin?

The silence made my footsteps sound louder.

Yōurán: Gavin? Are you there?

I tentatively called out his name. Suddenly I felt a gust of wind behind.

Yōurán: Who are-

I tried to turn around but he was quicker than me. He grabbed my arm mercilessly and slammed me against the wall. I yelled out in pain. With a metal click a pair of handcuffs were slapped on my wrists.

Gavin: Freeze!

His voice was threatening and menacing. I looked directly into his fierce eyes. The familiar gentleness was gone.

It was confirmation in the cruelest possible way. Gavin had forgotten me too.

Gavin: Who are you? Why are you spying on me?! Tell me who you are!

His tone was intimidating, like he was addressing a criminal suspect. His strong grip was digging into my wrists to prevent me from escaping. It was so tight that my wrists were screaming out in pain.

Gavin: Answer me right now! Who sent you?!

He asked again when I stayed silent, his hands gripping me tighter. I actually couldn’t breathe because of the pain.

Yōurán: I’m on my own… and I wasn’t spying on you…

The physical pain alone was enough to make my eyes tear up. I couldn’t believe that Gavin of all people would subject me to such violence.

Gavin: Then why did you follow me here?

Yōurán: Why can’t you trust me…?!

Indescribable sorrow surged up and I blurted out the accusation while crying.

The raw pressure on my wrists lessened, but he didn’t let go of me. The level of suspicion in his eyes decreased just a little.

Gavin: How did you know my name?

Yōurán: I graduated Loveland high school just like you. You were my senior(先輩)…

Gavin: Loveland high school? You must have good memories then.

I didn’t know whether he believed me, but he let go of my wrists and released the handcuffs. His eyes were still cold.

Gavin: But that doesn’t explain why you were following me.

Yōurán: I’m… sorry. I didn’t mean any harm…

I looked at Gavin, unable to voice the real reason. Which made me sadder than I could handle.

Gavin: I won’t overlook this next time.

With that he made to leave.

Yōurán: Gavin!

I wasn’t ready to let him go yet, so my emotion got the better of me and I called out to him.

He looked at me with evident irritation in his eyes.

Gavin: You still have something to say?

Yōurán: Don’t you remember me at all?

Gavin: I have very few memories of my high school days. Don’t follow me again.

He walked away from me.

Yōurán: Gavin, wait…

I staggered after him but he was gone.

The winds whistling around me felt like a climax of a requiem.

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

When I exited the alley into the open street everything was dark. The rumbling in my stomach reminded me that I hadn’t eaten anything for a whole day.

I entered into a restaurant closest to me. The snow outside reminded me of the snow-white dream I had. I forgot the contents of the dream, but I remembered it was quite beautiful.

I was staring into space when a voice whispered in my ear: Do you regret your choice? Everyone forgot you. No one remembers your sacrifice. Do you regret it?

I looked up into the gray sky. I didn’t know whether my answer was yes or no. I was too distraught to find out.

A tall man was looking down at me with a grin in his face. He waved his hand at me and walked towards me.

Yōurán: You are…?

He sat down next to me.

??: There you are.

He was familiar, but I couldn’t quite place where I’d met him before.

Yōurán: Uh…. who are you?

??: Don’t you remember me?

Yōurán: Have we met…?

I wracked my brains.

Yōurán: Oh! We met that day on the bus, right?

I finally remembered our short encounter on the bus. But then again…

Yōurán: How come you remember me then?

Right now, he was the only person who didn’t forget who I am! I didn’t really know who he was. I didn’t know whether he had any ulterior motive. But right now, he was my only hope.

The man didn’t answer right away and looked at me with a gleam in his eyes.

??: I’m the one who called you this morning.

I recognized his voice from the phone call.

Yōurán: That was you?!

??: Yes, it was me. The dream-world doesn’t affect me.

Yōurán: Then do you know what happened in the dream? And why everyone forgot me?

??: No, I don’t know what happened in your dream. I only know that the dream is caused by Evol and you’re not strong enough to block it.

He smiled in a mocking way. I found his conceited attitude very annoying but suppressed the feeling.

Yōurán: But can one person’s Evol affect everyone on this earth?

??: It’s not as simple as that. But if we get rid of that Evol then maybe people will start remembering you again.

I looked at him with suspicion. I couldn’t tell whether his words were all true, or if there were some falsehoods in there.

This man knew my number, knew where to find me, and this was the second time we met. All of this could not be coincidence.

Yōurán: Why are you telling me this?

He sensed my distrust but didn’t seem to care.

??: Just… for fun. You have no other choice but to believe me, you know.

I looked at him. It suddenly occurred to me that his careless, casual attitude was his strategy to let my guard down, hiding his true face.

??: What’s so great about this world?

With a smirk he looked out the window. I followed his gaze and looked out as well. Snow was falling and people were moving about busy with their lives. The sight of a peaceful and beautiful city.

I finally found the answer to the question that was asked of me.

Yōurán: I don’t know.

He raised his eyebrows at my honest answer.

Yōurán: I don’t know whether this world is good or not. But that’s not for me to decide alone. Even if I couldn’t find the answer, as long as there is still hope, this world is indeed beautiful and worth it.

So… No. I do not regret my choice. I answered the question that was in my head.

??: Dull.

He smiled mysteriously.

??: I hope you don’t change your thoughts. This world has already changed anyway.

He stood up and leaned towards me.

??: Remember, my name is Ling Xiao.

Ling Xiao: You can have my umbrella. No need to thank me.

He opened the door and disappeared into the snow.

Yōurán: What’s up with him….

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

After I finished my meal I hesitated, but in the end took Ling Xiao’s umbrella as I went out into the snow.

This year’s winter was particularly cold. The umbrella became heavier with snow. As I was lost in my thoughts I bumped into someone. What was more embarrassing was… I lost my balance and was about to fall down.

??: Be careful.

With a slight chuckle the person I bumped into grabbed me and kept me from falling.

Yōurán: Ah, thank you.

My face turned red with embarrassment.

??: Are you okay?

A voice that was clear as a melody rang out. I looked up.

A man who was breathtakingly handsome appeared in front of my eyes. Somehow, I could imagine a field covered with ice and snow behind him.

Yōurán: I’m fine…

??: Be careful. The roads are slippery.

He let go of me with impeccable manners and took a step back to farther our distance that was too close. Then went down and picked up the umbrella that I had dropped. Every bit of his act was elegant like a gentleman. I took the umbrella, thanked him and walked away.

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

I walked along the riverside. The setting sun was emitting out a mild light above the bridge, coloring the snowflakes with golden hues.

Yōurán: I didn’t know that snow falling on the river could be this beautiful.

I stopped and breathed in the cold air clearing my head. My mind was peaceful like the landscape before me.

I do not regret my choice. I repeated to myself again.

I do not regret dying to save this world.

I do not regret leaving the snowy-white dream and returning to reality.

Because this choice, this path I walk on will lead me to where I want to be.

Yōurán: Yes! It’s time for me to go home!

With light footsteps I finally headed towards home.

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

Oh my god that was a long and hard work but it was worth every moment of it!

The first thing I thought when I read this chapter was: I got stabbed in the heart to save the world and this is the thanks I get?

Chapters 15-18 was a tearjerker and heartbreaking, but the shock factor was greater in chapter 19-21.

I already knew what was going to happen since Ling Xiao’s call but it still hurt so much to see the boys not remember Yōurán one by one and mistreat her. (Because let’s face it. Their actions taken out of context is similar to real life relationship abuse.) 

Except Victor, he is completely indifferent and has no concerns for her at all but he is still civil to her, which speak volumes of his maturity. With or without Yōurán, Victor’s character remains pretty much the same. In contrast, Yōurán was a crucial factor in forming the other three’s personality and... well, for the lack of a better word, not being jerks.

Without meeting Yōurán, Lucien would have become 100 % Ares.

Without meeting Yōurán, Kiro would have become 100 % Helios of Black Swan.

Without Yōurán, without the Campus Date, Gavin would have grown to become like this.

If you read again, how Yōurán reunites with each of the guys is a twisted parallel of how they first met in chapter 1. Victor saving her from a car, meeting Kiro in the convenience store, meeting Lucien in his research institute, Gavin finding her first in the city.

I said in this post that the story of MLQC follows a chess motive in Through the Looking Glass. To summarize the points:

The story of MLQC follows a game of chess with characters as chess pieces.

Yōurán is a pawn on her journey to become queen. The LIs are the pieces knight, rook, bishop and king.

I want to continue with this metaphor.

When a pawn reaches the end of the chessboard it becomes a queen. Also there are pieces of the opponent. Yōurán is white pawn and the guys are other white pieces. The white pawn(Yōurán) confronted black queen in chapter 18 and went Through the Looking Glass to the enemy side of the chessboard.

In this world in the mirror(chapter 19~), on the opposite side of the chessboard she meets dark, mirror versions of the LIs(or black pieces of the chess) If the pawn doesn’t give up and walk steadily one square at a time, when it reaches the end of the board she will arise as queen.

“I do not regret dying to save this world and I will continue to do whatever I can to protect the people on this earth.”

This is Yōurán’s words in chapter 19~21 combined into one sentence. I admired her character in this batch of chapters. Her strength, her purity and her philanthropic spirit were part of what made me love this story.

But what do you think about this? How did you find the LIs in this chapter? What do you think of the two new characters, Ling Xiao and the Piano Guy? Do you agree with MC’s choice in this story?

I’m sorry for saying this all the time but brace yourself, for the winter is coming.

[spiritunwilling]

Feyre kills a god. (Blaseball AU)

Wait shit writing this stuff is actually pretty fun whoOPS.

Mobile, notes app, typos. The usual.

You do not need to read these for this to make sense but the first part, the second part, and badly written lore.

Feyre grips her bat tighter, shifting into a deeper stance. She'd be absolutely exhausted right now if not for the pure adrenaline shooting through her veins. Playing a game as a one person team shouldn't even be possible, but this is blaseball and Amarantha will do anything if she finds it entertaining. This is why Feyre is in several places at once- leaning against the dugout railing, ready to run at second base, and stepping up to bat. They're all her, simultaneously separate people and a single consciousness. It's almost like a hivemind, but just missing the mark. Feyre sees the pitching mound from three different angles. It's confusing as hell, and she hopes it wears off after the game. That's if she survives, of course.

It's Tamlin who's opposite her, ball and glove in hand. They're in the ninth inning now, she thinks. Or the eighth, or the tenth. It doesn't matter, the game won't end until someone's dead. (Though they might be getting close to that, too. Feyre can feel it in all three of her guts, all six of her trembling legs.)

So Feyre gets into position and raises her bat. Someone's going to die today and if it's her, then she's taking the damned god with her.

Tamlin's face is blank, like it has been every inning. He pulls his arm back and in the moment, three facts are, without a doubt, true.

The first is that Tamlin is a good batter, but his natural pitching stars fall just a little short of the average. Even with Amarantha's buffs, it's preferable to facing someone like Thesan. Amarantha probably made him pitcher because of irony or spite or something, but it also means Feyre has a fighting chance.

The ball flies from his hand, Feyre swings and cuts through the air.

Strike one.

If the commentators are to be believed, Feyre is a player who consistently performs above her star rating. As a two star player, this occasionally made for a nice surprise for the fans but nothing particularly special. Feyre hasn't seen her updated star ranking, but it's definitely far more than two. All of that siphoned blood feels electric in her veins. Who knows what it's like to overperform this?

Tamlin throws again. The ball looks like it's going to be out of her strike zone and Feyre hesitates just long enough for it to zoom past her, straight into the catcher's mitt. The ump makes the call.

Strike two.

On the pitching mound, Tamlin adjusts his cap. It's probably the most expressive he's been this entire game. His eyes are green and bright like beetle shells. Feyre looks into them and understands that blaseball can strip a lot from a person, replace teams player by player, but it cannot destroy everything. Amarantha might take their stars and their friends and even their free will, but she cannot make an entirely new person.

Tamlin love his court and he loves his team, even out-of-the-blue newbies from the Below League. This is why Feyre loves him back, him and Lucien and Alys and Ada and her sisters below the Wall. Everyone in the league.

Feyre on second base watches Tamlin wind up for the pitch. Feyre by the dugout railing watches him hurl the ball. Feyre at home base swings her bat.

It connects with the ball with a resounding crack, sending shockwaves up her arms. The ball, traveling way above the field, flies straight into Amarantha's stupid eldritch face. For a moment there is nothing but eerie silence, then a scream unlike any sound a person could make rips through the stadium. The death of a god is a beautiful sight.

Feyre Archeron hits a solo home run! 1 Run scored!

[afni-fics]

Elder Scrolls DC - A Reluctant Dragonborn - Chapter 26: Dragon Rising (part 5)

Chapter 26: Dragon Rising (part 5) by C_R_Scott Chapters: 26/? Fandom: Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Red Robin (Comics), DCU (Comics) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence Characters: Tim Drake, Lucien Flavius Additional Tags: Crossover, Crossovers & Fandom Fusions, Skyrim/DCU crossover, Reluctant Dovahkiin | Dragonborn, Not Beta Read, Alternate Universe - Skyrim Fusion, Modded Skyrim, Skyrim Spoilers, Tim Drake is Dragonborn | Dovahkiin, Batfamily-centric (DCU), Tim Drake-centric

Previous Chapter | Masterlist | Next Chapter

Summary:

The conclusion of the "Dragon Rising" portion of the main Skyrim storyline.

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

When Tim and Lucien made their way into Dragonsreach's throne room, they could hear, even from the front doors, that Jarl Balgruuf was already in a loud, animated discussion between his steward Proventus and a different guard. This one was male and had very striking facepaint. Tim frowned. Irileth was nowhere in sight. 

Swell.

"Good. You're finally here." Proventus said. "The Jarl's been waiting for you."

The new armed guard on the Jarl's left hand agreed. "We were just talking about you. My brother needs a word with you."

A quick glance back confirmed Lucien had decided to hang back by a couple of yards, but his own hooded face was lined with a subtle scowl since he didn't see Irileth either. Then Tim paused at the foot of the stairs leading to the throne and bowed respectfully to the Jarl. 

Jarl Balgruuf looked at Tim appraisingly. It made Tim uneasy. "Irileth informed me of the dragon's death at the Watchtower, but she mentioned something... strange that happened there." The Nordic ruler narrowed his eyes at the younger man. "I'd like to hear your perspective on the events."

Tim slipped on his best Wayne mask, the one he normally reserved for dealing with Lex Luthor company executives whenever any decided to visit Gotham and Wayne Enterprises. He was nothing but professional as he spoke. "I wish I could give you my perspective, my Jarl," he said politely. "Unfortunately due to my illness and injuries, I wasn't in the right state of mind to remember much of that night. I do know that there are accounts from others who were there when the dragon died that I appeared to absorb 'something' from it." He shook his head. "What that 'something' was, I couldn't even fathom how to describe it with any accuracy from second-hand accounts. The most I can offer is that I've heard the word 'Dragonborn' used in conjunction with the events. I am sorry I can't offer more clarity than that."

Balgruuf stroked his beard thoughtfully. "If Irileth's men, honest Nords to a man, who were there that night and witnessed the miracle, are calling you 'Dragonborn', then it makes sense that the Greybeards have sent out a summons for you now. You must be Dragonborn."

Tim felt a lump rise to his throat, but he swallowed it down and clung to his "mask" like a second skin. "Who are these Greybeards, and why would they want to summon me?"

"They are masters of the Way of the Voice," Balgruuf started as one of his servants brought him a drink. He took one silver goblet and waved the rest away. "They live in seclusion high on the slopes of the Throat of the Word." He took a long draught before continuing. "The Dragonborn is said to be uniquely gifted in the Voice - the ability to focus your vital essence into a Thu'um, or a Shout. If you really are Dragonborn, they can teach you how to use your gift."

The servant girl offered Tim a drink, but he waved her away politely as he kept his focus on Balgruuf even as the left-hand guard began to address him.

"Didn't you hear the thundering sound as you came to Dragonsreach?! That was the voice of the Greybeards," the man in the dark armor said with absolute self-certainty. "Summoning you to High Hrothgar! This hasn't happened in... centuries, at least. Not since Tiber Septim himself was summoned when he was still Talos of Atmora!"

If the guard was going to say anything else, he was cut off by Proventus "Hrongar, calm yourself. What does any of this Nord nonsense have to do with our friend here?"

As Proventus triggered a heated argument with who Tim now knew as Hrongar, the Jarl's brother, he took the moment to take a breath and absorb what had just been said. He swallowed the desire to include his own frustrated voice to the squabbling between Proventus and Hrongar, but held his tongue. Instead, he let Balgruuf finally break the argument up before speaking up again.

"What do these Greybeards want with me?" Tim asked.

Balgruuf shook his head. "That's the Greybeards' business not ours," he said with almost an apologetic tone. "Whatever happened when that dragon was killed, it revealed something in you, and the Greybeards heard it." The Jarl met and held Tim's gaze solemnly. "If they think you're Dragonborn, who are we to argue?" Then he broke off the gaze and sighed. "You'd better get up to High Hrothgar as soon as possible. There's no refusing the summons of the Greybeards. It's a tremendous honor."

As the Jarl mused wistfully, something about envying Tim about his upcoming 'pilgrimage' and waxing nostalgic about the peacefulness of the Graybeard's high altitude monastery, inwardly Tim was trying and failing to wrap his head around this entire situation. How had things escalated so damned fast and in such a completely insane direction?! He wasn't whatever they thought this "Dragonborn" was! He couldn't be! He was just a human vigilante from Gotham. He wasn't a metahuman. He wasn't descended from magic or an alien from Mars or Krypton. He was just a rich kid from Jersey for Christ's sake!

There was a subtle shift in the Jarl's voice and Tim's attention jerked back to the man on the throne. "You've done a great service for me and my city, Dragonborn."

"Oh crap!" Tim thought silently with a faint edge of alarm, though his face betrayed nothing of his inner thoughts. "He's referring to me as 'Dragonborn" like it's replaced my name. This can't be good."

"By my right as Jarl, I name you Thane of Whiterun. It's the greatest honor that's within my power to grant."

"Wait-- What?!" Tim's mask slipped as he blinked in surprise and stared at the Jarl with blatant bewilderment.  He was momentarily distracted by the fact that Proventus had walked up to him bearing a large parcel that was wrapped with what looked like a cloak bearing the crest of Whiterun, an image of a horse's head in profile. "Oh, no, no, nonono..." Unconsciously Tim took a step away from Proventus.

Despite the young man's obvious confusion, Balgruuf pressed onward, not caring in the least about Tim's visible discomfort. "I also assign you Lydia as a personal Housecarl, and this weapon from my armory to serve as your badge of office."

"Now one moment--" Tim tried to interrupt, even as the Jarl's brother Hrongar was attempting to offer him what looked like a very ornate greatsword that was nearly as long as Tim was tall. He tried to wave the sword and the parcel away, but thankfully Lucien came up and accepted both on Tim's behalf, looking about as startled as his friend was feeling. Lucien shrugged his shoulders apologetically at Tim. He had no clue what was going on either in that moment. 

Tim held both hands up as if surrendering to Balgruuf, if only to just make him stop talking for the moment. "I... appreciate all of this. You have shown me a great deal of generosity, Jarl Balgruuf, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart... but..." Then Tim caught sight, out of the corner of his eyes, a heavily armed woman with a sword and shield coming into view. He focused on that for the moment. "I don't even have a house in the area to have a 'housecarl' in," he argued. "You don't need to give me one of your soldiers."

"That's easy enough to fix."

Tim felt the blood drain from his face. "Oh sweet fucking Jesus," he thought to himself with dismay.

"Proventus," Balgruuf said. "Didn't you mention that there is a house that is currently vacant in the Plains District the other day?"

Tim tried to open his mouth to protest again in a vain attempt to derail the Jarl's obvious train of thought. However, thankfully, another strong voice spoke up loud and clear.

"That won't be necessary, my Jarl!" 

Tim almost sagged in relief as the main doors to Dragonsreach flew open and Irileth marched herself into the great hall with calm unwavering authority. 

"My apologies for being late," she said as she bowed respectfully to the Jarl. "But there was a disturbance being caused at the city gates by a couple of Redguard men I needed to attend to." Then she glanced at Tim and Lucien, taking a moment to look over the things that had been handed to Lucien with a subtle frown, before turning her full attention back to the Jarl. "And there won't be a need for your new Thane to purchase a home within the city walls. Timothy and I spoke the other day at the Temple about his favorite areas in the Hold..."

Tim glanced at her out of the corner of his eyes, repressing his new confusion as best he could. They never spoke about any "favorite areas" the other day when she visited him at the Temple. She just asked him to come to this meeting with the Jarl and left when he agreed. Then, as she continued her "suggestion", he realized what she was doing.

"...He mentioned having a fondness for Riverwood. The people there were kind to him after surviving Helgen, and he spoke with me at length about how much he was looking forward to taking in some of the hunting in that area once he leaves the city. I believe Gerdur's husband mentioned that they have an old house that's been vacant for years in the village during his most recent delivery of lumber." She gave Tim a knowing look. "It would take a number of weeks to bring it up to livable conditions, but considering our Thane is going to make a pilgrimage to High Hrothgar upon leaving the city, his new housecarl will have plenty time to make that happen.

Balgruuf regarded Irileth thoughtfully, then he smiled at Tim. "Yes, I can see why Riverwood would be such an appealing place for a young man such as yourself. In my youth, when my father was still Jarl, I remember relishing the freedom to roam those forests during hunts with my old friends Kodlak, Olfrid, and Eorlund. It's not a luxury I can afford myself these days, but I cherish the memories." He turned to Irileth. "Please send a missive to Gerdur. Let her know that our new Thane has chosen her village as his home whenever he is in the Hold, and send Lydia to see about starting preparations to make the vacant house ready for use by the time he returns. 

Irileth nodded respectfully. "Yes my Jarl."

Tim marveled at how smoothly the dark elf routed the Jarl. She couldn't stop him from offering Tim a piece of property in Whiterun, but at least she was able to put a solid day's travel distance between that potential "home" and Dragonsreach, as well as make it expected that it would be weeks, at least, before he would be able to spend any significant time there.

Balgruuf then regarded Timothy. "We are honored to have you as Thane of our city, Dragonborn. May the Divines watch over your journey to High Hrothgar." Then he turned to his steward. "Back to business Proventus. We still have a city to defend."

***

Once dismissed from the court, Tim and Lucien were led out of Dragonsreach by Irileth, under the excuse that she was going to help prepare him for his journey to High Hrothgar, since neither he nor Lucien had ever been to that part of Skyrim. 

As soon as the heavy wooden doors to Dragonsreach were slammed shut behind them, and the trio had put decent amount of distance between themselves and any nearby guards, Tim turned to look at Lucien and Irileth. "Ok... Can someone please explain to me what the hell just happened in there?!"

  ====================

Note:

So, in my Skyrim head canon, Jarl Balgruuf is the kind of man who cares about his people, wants to be a fair ruler, but has absolutely no impulse control to speak of. Proventus tries to keep his Jarl on task, but has no ability to restrain his boss's worst impulses if Balgruuf has his mind set on something. Irileth is really the only one who can keep the Jarl on the straight and narrow... so long as she's in the same room as him.

Poor Tim, though... He's so confused.

At least he's healthy now, right? And he's got a new greatsword he has absolutely no clue on how to use:

#elder scrolls dc#fanfiction#tim drake#skyrim fanfiction#red robin#batfam#crossover#lucien flavius#wip#afewnovelideas

[zarcake-writes]

The Deal

Ok, everyone. Here’s the devil!principal story I’ve been working on. Let me know if you all think part two should include smut. I can’t decide, so I want you all to tell me. 

Warnings: mention of sexual assault and suicide (nothing too descriptive)

The room smells of incense and vanilla. Smoke hangs heavily in the air, making the room hazy and stifling. The only light comes from the many white vanilla-scented candles scattered around the room. It would be almost romantic if it wasn’t for the red summoning circle on the floor before you. The room’s dim lighting makes the bright red paint look darker than it is; it reminds you of blood. 

In your hands is a heavy book that looks ready to fall apart should someone look at it the wrong way. Most of the pages are faded, the writing barely visible. Other pages are taped together and some are missing entirely. The cover isn’t in any better shape. It’s so faded that the original color of the book might have been red or brown. The title of the book has been worn away, leaving the name and author a mystery. The spine of the book, like the rest of it, is barely there. Only a couple threads keep the spine intact.

The page you’re on is faded like the rest. The words are nearly gone and there’s a burn mark on the center page. But with a wave of your hand and the page comes back to life. The page glows and heals, the writing burns brightly and becomes legible. The language on the page is foreign and old, not many people can read it. To you, it looks like when someone key smashes their keyboard. It takes a moment for the letters to shift and change, allowing you to read the page.

You take a deep breath, inhaling the incense and candle smoke. The smoke tickles your nose and you fight the urge to sneeze. Can’t have a sneezing attack when you’re summoning the devil, can you? That would be embarrassing.

You speak the words on the page loud enough that your voice echoes throughout the room. The air grows heavy and the smoke thickens. It’s getting harder to breathe. The smell of something burning sends chills down your back. The part of your brain that fears the dark is screaming at you to run, but you ignore that instinct and continue reading from the page. The burning smell worsens. The sweet smell of frankincense and vanilla is replaced with the smell of burnt flesh and hair. It makes you gag.

As you speak the last phrase, you swear the room shakes and there’s a flash of light from the circle. The air is still heavy with smoke, but it is slowly clearing. The burnt hair and skin smell are gradually overpowered by the smell of incense and vanilla candles.

Standing in the center of the circle is a figure. The haze shrouds their features, but you’re excited. It’s been a year since your first failed summoning. That first time you summoned a low-level demon that shouted obscenities at you and threatened to eat you. Every summoning after that one has been a failure, but you’ve gotten the hang of it. While each demon and creature were wrong, they were gradually getting stronger and stronger.

The smoke clears enough and you’re able to see who is standing in the center of the circle. The excitement and pride leave your body when you recognize who you summoned. Not the devil or a demon, not even an angel. A fucking human, more specifically, your high school principal.

“Mr. Lucien?”

The man turns to you and looks very confused, and slightly worried. He looks the same as the last time you saw him at your graduation. Average height, with dark hair that is always neatly slicked back, with his usual dark-colored blazer.

He says your name like he’s asking if it’s you. “I… um, what am I doing here?”

You snap the book shut and place it at your feet in irritation. You want to throw the damn thing at the wall, but you refrain. You did that before and spent an hour putting the thing back together. “I fucked up, that’s what. I thought it worked this time, but obviously, it didn’t. Gods, I can’t do anything right.”

Mr. Lucien shakes his head and gives you a sympathetic look. “No, that’s not true.”

“Dude, you’re not my principle, you don’t need to lie to me anymore. I’m a fucking failure. I peaked in fucking middle school.”

Mr. Lucien takes a deep breath and takes a step forward. “I’m not. You have always been a wonderful student, and you were a wonderful person in high school. I remember you getting into arguments with unfair teachers, and the one time you punched a guy for snapping a female student's bra. You’re not a failure.”

You sniff and wipe your eyes. “Yeah, well, I feel like one.”

“Feeling and being are two different things.”

You look up at him and smile. He smiles back, looking proud of himself.

Mr. Lucien was your favorite faculty member in high school. You remember all the girls fawning over him, and yeah, he’s good looking, but you liked him for how kind he was. He always knew when someone needed to talk. It was common for him to have counseling sessions in his office before and after school. He cared for his students, and wouldn’t hesitate to put an unfair teacher in check.

You can still remember when you spoke to him the day before you graduated. You were on the verge of killing yourself. You didn’t get into any of the colleges you applied for and your family made it clear they were incredibly upset with you. None of them asked why you failed your classes for two years. They simply said you were a kid, so what kinds of problems can you be having? The self-hate and disgust you felt were nearly overpowering, and ending it seemed like the only option.

It was Mr. Lucien who spoke to you. He wanted to understand what was happening in your life, and what was hurting you. It was the day after graduation that you confessed everything to him. The boyfriend, the night he hit you, the night he… the night he tried to force you to do things you were not ready for. Everything from the night before had been the last straw. Seeing your ex being congratulated on being such a good student was sickening. All the snide remarks from your family and feeling alone just became too much.

Mr. Lucien listened to you that day. He was surprised to see you at school, but when you began to sob, he didn’t hesitate to usher you into his office. When you confessed everything, he didn’t question or doubt you. He believed you and offered to call the police, but you just wanted to forget about the entire thing. And while he seemed hesitant to not contact the authorities, he did as you asked.

“So,” Mr. Lucien looks around the room, “What is all this about?”

You look at the book in embarrassment before glancing up at the man. “Well, I was trying to summon the devil.”

“Trying?”

“Yeah. I… I wanted to make a deal with him.”

Mr. Lucien’s eyebrows go up, but his face is unreadable.

“Look. before you say that I should be committed or that the devil isn’t real, you’re wrong. I’ve been trying to summon him for a year now, but I just get his stupid lackeys.”

Mr. Lucien nods but says nothing.

You scowl and grab the book at your feet. His eyes narrow slightly when he sees the book you’re holding.

“Look, just get out of the circle and I’ll call you an Uber to come to get you. I would offer to drive you, but my car’s been broken down for a week.” 

You turn and place the book down on a nearby table. When you turn back to the circle, Mr. Lucien is still standing in the circle, his arms are crossed.

“You can step out. The sooner you do, the sooner you get to go home and I can start over again.”

“I can’t.”

“What do you mean you can’t? The circle isn’t for humans, it’s for…” you trail off when the realization hits you.

Mr. Lucien smirks. “What is this circle for?”

“Demons. Are… are you a demon?”

Mr. Lucien laughs and shakes his head. “What else can this circle hold?”

You swallow and take a step back towards the circle. When you speak, it’s barely a whisper. “Angels.”

Mr. Lucien's smile widens. “Bingo.”

“Are… are you an angel?”

Mr. Lucien laughs but shakes his head. “Once I was. And I was God’s favorite son.”

“So, you’re the devil?”

Mr. Lucien scowls and lets out a huff. “I prefer Lucifer, but you can keep calling me Lucien.”

“Jesus H. Christ. You’re the fucking devil! My high school principal is the devil!”

Lucien's scowl deepens. “I just said to call me Lucifer or Lucien. Not the devil, and certainly not Jesus.”  

“How… Why are you a high school principal?”

He seems confused by the question. “Should I have a different job?”

“Why would you have a job, to begin with?”

Lucien shrugs. “I get bored and every few centuries I get a mortal job. A few hundred years ago I was a musician. That was difficult. But being a principle is even harder. So many teachers are terrible, not to mention the school board are a bunch of idiots, and then there are-”

“I get it! The public-school system is terrible and needs to be changed, I know. But why a principal?”

Lucien is silent for a moment. He looks distant for a moment like he’s lost in his thoughts. It only lasts a few seconds. “Because… because I wanted to see why so many children and young adults were praying to me. So many sad and lost children, begging for my help or to die. I guess they lost faith in the man upstairs.”

“High school is hell. College is purgatory.”

Lucien laughs and nods. “Eloquently said.”

You’re both quiet before Lucien narrows his eyes at you. “So, why did you summon me?”

“Because… because I want you to kill someone.”

“Kill someone? You don’t need me to do that.”

“True, but I want you to make them suffer for eternity. And I can’t do that.”

Lucien nods in agreement then reaches into his blazer. He pulls out a note pad and a pen, then looks at you expectantly.

“So, who is it and how do you want them to die?”

“My high school boyfriend.”

He raises an eyebrow at you. “We could have called the police, you know.”

“It’s not for me. Besides, they probably wouldn’t have done anything.”

Lucien frowns. “Who is it for then? What did he do?”

“It was a couple of girls, younger than us. But his parents have good lawyers and he got off. The girls were embarrassed publicly and are still suffering. Kill him, make him suffer, that’s what I want.”

“Why?”

“What do you mean why?”

“Why do you care? Why are you going to sell your soul, make a deal with me, for this? Why does this matter so much to you?”

You open and close your mouth a few times, then look down at the floor. Why does it matter to you? You got away from him, and while the scars still sting, you’re not suffering like those girls. But suffering and pain isn’t a competition. And what he did to them, he nearly did to you.

When you look back up, Lucien is watching you. A look on his face like he’s waiting for you to say something truly profound. “Because it’s my fault. I should have told more people about him. I should have listened to you and gone to the police. They might not have believed me, but it would have at least started something against him. And those girls… it’s my fault.”

“It’s not your fault though.”

“But it is!” you shout. Your hands are shaking and your heart is pounding. “I shouldn’t have kept my mouth shut. I should have done things differently. If I talked, then maybe they would have avoided him.”

Lucien nods and looks down. He writes on his note pad, then looks back up at you. “It’s not your fault, you know. He would have gotten off, you would have been ignored, and he would have hurt someone else. So, why do you want me to kill him and make him suffer?”

“Because I owe it to those girls, and any other women he’s ever hurt. I want him to know pain. I want him to suffer for hurting me and anyone else."

Lucien nods and seems satisfied with your answer. “Very well. Give me a few days to write up the contract, then I will return.”

“Just like that?”

“Yup. I will need you to release me from the circle though.”

“You won’t hurt me?”

“Now why would I ever want to hurt my favorite student?” Lucien winks at you.

Your face grows hot, but you ignore it. “Don’t call me your ‘favorite student’ and then wink at me. That’s weird.”

Lucien laughs. “Fair enough. Now, the circle?”

You nod and break the circle. Lucien smiles, adjusts his blazer, then steps over the line. He stops in front of you and gives you a devious smile. His hand cups your face, his thumb strokes your cheek affectionately. It feels nice, being touched so sweetly. It’s calming, but you’re not sure if there's more to this touch. 

“I’ll be seeing you real soon, sweetheart. Then, the real fun will begin.”

You nod, not trusting yourself to say anything. He releases your face and walks past you. When you look over your shoulder, he’s gone.

[tartagilicious]

for the 700 Drabble, could you possibly do one of Gavin (mlqc) with a fluff fakerelationship!au using 27 (what if I told you I’ve been in love with you since we were kids?) and 14 (I’m right where I belong)? it doesn’t have to have all of those elements though if there’s something you’d want to change!! thank you im advance

I just wanna say I love all the prompts you guys sent in, like uGh. this one in particular had me thinking a lot when I got it. plus, I can’t help but sigh every time I get a gavin request. because like bitch?? I love u?? 

also did you hear about the anime mlqc is getting? I’m literally so excited about it, it looks amazing!

(also I don’t remember the side characters names jsjhfdjshd I think they’re Anna and Kiki but I might be wrong.)

—

I do love you (gavin x reader)

Your coworkers often teased you about how close you were to four wildly different men, and you suspect that was the reason they were smiling so cheekily when they informed you of the upcoming charity event. It probably wouldn’t be too brash to suspect they had some kind of bet going - probably along the lines of who you would invite, you guessed - and you felt just a bit too pressured about it.

“I’m sure a date will be no problem for you, ___,” Anna said, her expression friendly but her voice sly. She was a hell of a businesswoman, but even smarter when it came to harmlessly pushing all of your buttons.

You just scoffed quietly, refusing to meet her eyes as you focused on the computer screen in front of you. “Why do you say that?”

She shrugged, her lips curving up into a small smile as she leaned on your desk. “What, it’s not like you’re not thinking of someone right now anyway, ___. Besides, I’m sure there’s a secret someone that’s stolen your heart already.”

“It’s not like that, Anna.” You insisted, your eyes finally turning on her as she quirked a brow.

“Is it not?”

You didn’t say anything. And you hated your silence because you knew it told both of you that you acknowledged that she was right. There was undoubtedly someone that had come to your mind almost immediately, and though he hadn’t exactly stolen your heart, he was definitely the one person closest to succeeding in doing so.

Maybe he was the first person to come to your mind because you knew he wouldn’t say no. Or maybe it was because you wanted the excuse to ask him in particular; but, you doubt you would ever admit that to yourself even if that were the case.

You had a hard time admitting even the bare details to him, after all.

You’d met with Gavin later that day, deciding that it would be the perfect time to ask him your favour as he had already invited you along to walk around the square for the evening. Friendly outings between the two of you weren’t uncommon and happened more often than not, so you figured that it would be the most comfortable spot to ask your question.

God, it made your heart race. You didn’t seem to think to ask him to be your date for a night was a big deal beforehand, but every time you opened your mouth to do so, your throat dried up painfully. Though, Gavin, being the person he was, knew something was up from the beginning. He even commented on it a few times, but you always politely turned the conversation somewhere else out of pure concern for your racing heart.

Yet, it was nothing short of your expectations when you finally got out the words you’d been rehearsing over and over again in your head for hours. He had graciously treated both of you to ice cream when you decided it was time to finally say something.

“Gavin, I know this might be a little too much to ask, but do you think you could be my boyfriend for a night?”

Your lips pulled into a pitiful smile as your hands gripped your skirt. It was silent for a few moments before he finally looked at you from where he sat, an eyebrow raised as he asked, “For a night? What’s the occasion?”

You were oddly disappointed at his bland reaction but were happy with his response nonetheless.

“There’s a charity event for Loveland TV in a few days,” You explained, watching his expression carefully. “and I was told to bring a date.”

He shrugged and nodded. “Sure, I’d be happy to, but why do you need me to act like your boyfriend?”

“Ah,” You rubbed the back of your neck, your cheeks flushing in embarrassment as you recalled the afternoon.

“Well, let’s just say I implied some things that weren’t true in a fit of irritation.” You smiled sheepishly but were relieved when he laughed.

“You really have always been the type of person to act now and think later, huh?” He said, still chuckling. You couldn’t help but smile at his words.

“Maybe, but thanks for helping me out. You’re the only person I could think of to ask something like that.”

There was a flicker of something in his eyes, but before you had time to dwell on it, it replaced with his usual easy-going confidence.  

“You would only need to ask me,” He said nonchalantly, digging his novelly small spoon into the dish of ice cream in his hand. “I’d be hurt if you went to anyone else first,”

His tone was slightly joking, and you let out a relieved laugh. Leave it to him to make every conversation comfortable, even if what he said made your heart jump.

“But, anyway — what’s this event all about?”

You explained it to him almost eagerly, but you just passed it off as feeling relieved. After all, the whole interaction had gone so smooth, you couldn’t find a reason not to be happy about it. Gavin also seemed to be enjoying your mood, his lip consistently quirked up into a small smile as you talked, and the detail had you feeling light.

You were glad that you’d asked him. Of course, you wouldn’t have minded going with someone else, like, say Lucien, but something about knowing that you were going to dance as his girlfriend for a night had you giddy the entire time you were preparing for it the next day.

But, you were startlingly awkward when he picked you up. You tried not to be, but the sight of him in a suit and tie had your words lodged in your throat as soon as you saw him. Thankfully, it was fine, because he read the situation and made the friendly conversation that was common between the two of you and wasn’t awkward in the least.

It must have been one of his charms, making people comfortable. You swore it was because you couldn’t help but relax when you heard his voice or saw him smile. And as soon as you reached the venue the party was being held out, you weren’t nervous anymore.

“So,” You spoke quickly as you unplugged your seatbelt. “I think you actually already know me well enough to play my boyfriend-”

“Hey,” He interrupted with a small smile as he turned off the car, making your eyebrows raise slightly. “I’m your boyfriend, remember? That’s not something you should be saying to me,”

Your lips parted in surprise before you raised a brow. “Then what’s something I should be saying to you?”

His eyes narrowed as his lips curved up into a tentative smile.

“Ask me later.”

You’d pursed your lips, giving him a questioning look, but had still followed him out of the car and up to the building. But, before he could reach the doors, you rushed out and grabbed his hand, stopping him with one last thing on your mind.

His eyebrows furrowed, and though a hint of surprise flashed through his eyes, that was all it was; a flash.

“What? Is something wrong?”

‘Um,” Your face flushed. “It’s just- if my friends say anything weird, don’t mind them too much, okay?”

He laughed as he took his hand away from the doorknob to lightly ruffle your hair, careful not to mess up the way you’d styled it. “They wouldn’t be your friends if they weren’t weird in some way already.”

You used your free hand to hit him on the shoulder, and his laughter didn’t cease, but there was a warm and affectionate look that stayed in his eyes that you could definitely get used to. But, like any other time, it was gone soon after, replaced by an easygoing look as you walked into the building.

Photographers flocked around you, flashes whirring, and with an encouraging hand squeeze from Gavin, you both smiled and waved. You never felt completely comfortable with all the attention that came from inheriting the production company from your father, but with Gavin by your side, standing there for the camera felt as natural as breathing.

After he managed to pull both of you away from the crowd, you tried to look for Anna and Kiki to inform them of your arrival. But, you couldn’t help but walk rigidly, nervous for the life of the fib you were trying to pull off. You trusted Gavin, of course, but you didn’t know if you trusted yourself.

Holding his hand as you went through the room was enough to make your heart pound, so you didn’t know what you were going to do when you had to pretend more convincingly in front of them. Your mind couldn’t help but run through the possibilities, but a voice called out to you, thankfully, before you could overthink it.

“___!’

Anna’s unmistakable voice called out to you, and with one last comforting squeeze to your hand, Gavin pulled you over to her.

“I should have known,” her voice was subtly teasing, but you just gave her a small smile and pretended not to notice. “Of course you were talking about Gavin. Who else would it have been?”

You tried to ignore her words, but you couldn’t help the blush that blanketed your cheeks. It seemed like Gavin was having a hard time fighting a blush, too, and she just laughed.

“You two are so shy~” She cooed, barely able to fend off a meticulous grin at your expressions. “I’m sure you’ve already done everything, so there’s no need to hide it.”

Gavin just laughed along with her, his hand that was still wrapped around yours turning slightly clammy. But, you didn’t mind. You were sure that you were much worse, after all.

“Of course,” He said, his voice so suddenly adoring that your blush darkened immediately. “We’ve known each other for so long, so it was only due time.”

She quirked a brow. “How much is a long time?”

“High school,” He answered with a smile, so lovely that you couldn’t help but wish that his words were genuine. “She was a year younger than me, but we saw each other a lot anyway, so we knew each other.”

Anna nodded with a slightly less suspicious smile. However Gavin’s words were hitting, they seemed to have an effect on her.

“That’s really cute! You never told me any of that, ___. I saw him so much but never knew…” She trailed off, and Gavin exchanged a tentative look with you, unbeknownst to Anna.

You were suddenly looking desperately for an escape, not wanting to have to deal with the maddening pressure anymore. You hated having to lie to one of your best friends, especially if the feelings that were supposed to be fake were becoming more real as the minutes passed. You felt like you were lying to too many people at once.

And you thanked god that Gavin was so perceptive. He was a thousand times more social in a lot of ways, too, so he no trouble excusing both of you and letting you lead the way out of trouble

“Gavin,” You got his attention quietly as he looked to you. “Sorry for dragging you into this. You can wander around if you’d like, just take my pass and they’ll let you go anywhe-”

You started to take the lanyard off your neck, but Gavin’s hand slipped out of yours for the first time that night to put an arm around your shoulder, successfully stopping you.

“You’re not getting rid of me that easily, ___. I’m right where I belong.”

Your cheeks flushed as you looked at him, the close proximity of your faces putting you off significantly.

“O-ok, well,” You paused for the sake of your voice, which felt like it was about to break out. “Do you wanna go outside? This building has a courtyard, and uh- it’s kinda, uh stuffy in here?”

You were a stuttering mess and got your words out as more of a question than a proposition, but Gavin just smiled and leaned back, seemingly satisfied with what he’d just done.

“Sure we can. Let’s go.”

His hand slipped from your shoulder to fit in your hand again, and you couldn’t help but sigh internally as he pulled you along. You had such a hopeless crush on him at that point that it wasn’t even funny.

He found the doors without much of your direction, and to your relief, the courtyard was closed off for only a select few, so you were able to be there without any distraction. It was too nice of a night to be distracted, you thought, momentarily forgetting about your wildly beating heart as you stared up at the stars.

“Hey,”

Your words were quiet, and more earnest than even you’d ever heard from yourself, so his head turned almost immediately.

“Can we talk about something?”

He pulled his lips into a line for a few fleeting seconds before nodding.

Your mouth opened momentarily, and the words lodged in your throat.

“What if we dance out here?” You blurted, ignoring the screams of protest in your head. You’d meant to confess your thoughts to him, but there was so much holding you back that you had no choice but to chicken out.

“You can still hear the music, and, it’s prettier out here.” You explained, letting out a nervous chuckle as he just smiled at you. His sweet gaze told you he knew what was whirring in your head, but his smile told you nothing.

You took it without another word, and couldn’t help a smile when you began to step to the rhythm of the music behind the windows. Unsaid words hung in the air, begging to come into the light, but you couldn’t help but rest your chin on his shoulder as you moved, not trusting yourself to look at him and let your eyes say what you couldn’t.

So you just stood there, letting your breathing steady as you adjusted your grip around his back and in his hand. Maybe it was better if you just pretended.

“___,” He called your name softly, his breath humming right by your ear as a shiver ran down your back. “What if I told you I’ve been in love with you since we were kids?”

Your breathing steeled as you gripped onto the fabric of his jacket.

“You don’t mean that.”

“You make my heart race with just a touch, ___. You’re kind and will do anything for the people you care about and the things that matter to you. You’re hard-working and sweet, and you make me crazy with longing-”

Your brows furrowed as doubt and happiness whirred through you simultaneously. “Gavin, stop.”

“I won’t. Not until you see-”

You let out a quick breath as you reached up to his collar and pulled him into a rushed kiss. He grunted in surprise, his arms moving slightly before settling back down as he moved his lips languidly against yours.

You kissed him until your lungs couldn’t bear it anymore, your breaths equally laboured as you pulled back and looked at the other.

“Don’t you get it, ___?” He took an uncharacteristically unsteady breath. “I love you, and I have since before I can remember.”

“This isn’t my fake boyfriend saying this, is it?” You pushed out a small laugh as your cheeks flushed. He did nothing but smile at you, swiping a thumb over your cheek.

“How would you feel about your real boyfriend saying that?” He said, his hand going down to rest around your waist again comfortably. You felt completely natural with him by your side, and finally, the screaming in your head ceased.

“I’d feel great about him saying that,” You whispered, unable to keep a smile off your lips as he lifted you off the ground into a tight hug.

“Gavin!’ You laughed as he lifted you into the air, but settled into a happy smile again once he brought you down near his face.

Your nose brushed lightly against his cheek, and at that moment, the weight on your chest lifted as you whispered shyly, “I love you too,”

[ravensslumber]

do you think there could be a link between the ritual lucien was trying to do and the dodecahedron?

HO BOI DO I EVER! I hope you’re ready for a big ol’ crack theory because my inner English major really ran off with this one and went and pulled out the Textual Evidence and everything. This is gonna be so long omg I’m sorry.

Let’s start with what we know about the dodecahedron, shall we? The assassin said that this weird gray SAT-word-thing was “sacred” to Xhorhas. It—or they, since he implied there were more than one—(apparently???) lets the Xhorhasian people be reincarnated upon death as souls in new bodies, memories intact, and thus effectively live for as long as they have these beacons and continue on some sort of quest to become more “perfect” (whatever that is).

When Caleb tried to identify it, Matt described the feeling as opening up into an “endless infinity of nothingness” that was terrifying but also something that Caleb could learn something important from if he only tried to dig deeper into it (which homeboy was too terrified to do and honestly I would be too). And then from Caleb’s dream, we know that it showed him “a grayish, familiar light” and a flickering flame that hypnotized him (callback to the thousand-yard stare he had after the manticore fight, anyone?), both of which I’d be willing to bet represent something about how the dodecahedron can access—and potentially preserve across bodies, perhaps?—his past memories. And then, of course there were the other Calebs, the different versions of himself that may or may not represent something to do with how this dodecahedron interfaces with souls to keep them bound to one plane through numerous bodies. WHAT IS THIS THING MATTHEW I AM DYING TO KNOW!!!

This part with the multiple selves strikes me as really important here, especially in light of Molly’s insistence that he is a fully and thoroughly different person (a different “self,” if you will) than whoever Lucien/Nonagon was and that the two merely share a body in common. That sounds a little too close to what we know about the function of the dodecahedron to strike me as coincidence, ESPECIALLY because, come on, it’s fuckin’ Matt. But according to the assassin, the dodecahedron did the opposite of what happened to Molly: it restores one soul across multiple bodies, not replaces multiple souls into one body. So… what gives?

The Xhorhasians call these things “beacons,” which are quite literally guiding lights. My theory is that, in some way, they guide the souls from one body to another to let them continue existing on the material plane. And while no one has explicitly said as much (yet), I’d be willing to bet that this spiritual guidance has some sort of ritual involved with the process of it. After all, if there’s no ritual and it’s just, for example, a proximity thing, then why weren’t the people of Zedash getting reincarnated left and right while this thing was in their tower?

But what if you tried to undertake that kind of ritual WITHOUT having the actual beacon present? Can you imagine if it kind of worked, and ejected the soul of the person undertaking the ritual (maybe some reckless purple fuck named Lucien) into a great endless space like the one Caleb felt, but without the beacon there to anchor and guide it, and there was nothing there for it? If, without the beacon, the ritual meant to go with it just sent the soul somewhere… empty?

And maybe that would be the kind of terrifying, traumatic thing that would make a person repress an entire life’s worth of memories just to forget about it. Or maybe the emptiness of the void would seep into that soul and hollow it out so there were no memories left to repress. Or maybe the soul would get a little too lost without the beacon’s guidance, and one of those other selves would find its way back to the body instead. Maybe that self would prefer to be called Molly.

[chompylycan]

You have no reason to hate Hayley Marshall or the Haylijah ship

There. I’ve said it. Or I should say, you have no legitimate reason to hate the character, Phoebe Tonkin, or any relationship her character is in. For those of you who run anti hayley blogs who are about to descend upon my tumblr inbox like vultures, let me drop some bit of logic on you as I’m pretty sure I know what you’re about to say to make me “see the light” and I’m telling you right now, you’re wrong.

1. She’s a selfish character

So is about 95% of every other character on the show and yet I don’t see a thousand hate blogs dedicated to them. Where’s the “King Moon Moon” blog dedicated to Klaus and all his usual douchbaggeryness? He uses people like I use toilet paper and yet I don’t see people grabbing their pitchforks and torches to demand his head on a silver platter.

Think about it and put your blind hatred aside for just a second. Everything Hayley does, she either does for her daughter, the Mikaelsons, or the Crescent wolves. That’s the complete opposite of someone who is “selfish”. Hell, I can’t ever recall a scene in which she did something for herself sans the TVD series, can you? Didn’t think so.

2. She uses people

Yeah, and? Again, so does about 95% of the other characters on the show. Devina used Hayley to exact revenge on some witch who spurned her, the Mikaelsons used Devina to bring back their mother to use as a bargaining chip against their psychotic aunt, Freya used Devina to undo Lucien’s spell and ended up getting Devina’s soul shredded (maybe, I’m still not sold on that plot line yet), Kol used Devina when he had been brought back as a witch so that he could make more cursed objects, Marcel used Devina when she was the last standing harvest girl to take over New Orleans, Klaus used Gia and had her murdered to gain his psycho aunt’s trust, Elijah used Lucien, Aurora, and Tristian by compelling them into thinking they were the Mikaelsons so that their father would go after them instead of the real Mikaelsons, Klaus used Josh as a spy in his plan to take back the city from Marcel, and the list just goes on and on and on. 

But yet again, I have yet to see any hate blogs for any of the other people mentioned above. Really, the only time Hayley ever even used anyone was when she married Jackson so that the crescent wolves could share in her hybrid abilities. She gave up the only love of her life so she could make her pack stronger, which is an act of selflessness because I’m sure it probably hurt like hell for her to be apart from Elijah. But do go on and tell me again about what a selfish bitch she is.

3. She had no right to be jealous of Gia’s relationship with Elijah.

I’m sorry, are you watching the same show that I am? Cause I’m starting to think there’s a totally different “the Originals” that other people are seeing which would explain all this nonsensical bs. Did you not watch the scene where she told Elijah she planned on marrying another guy and that the marriage wasn’t about Jackson or how she didn’t love him and that she was only doing it for her wolves? Knowing that she said those things, Elijah went ahead and sought comfort elsewhere which is his right, but to fault Hayley for being mad about it is just plain stupid. He knew she still had feelings for him, she even flat out said it and showed him before she got hitched, but he went ahead and pursued another woman DIRECTLY AFTER the wedding ceremony. So if the guy you bared your god damn heart out to just threw it back in your face, wouldn’t you be pretty pissed too? Yeah, I thought so.

Now if she had actually tried to get in between their relationship and flat out told him he couldn’t be with anyone else, I would see why people might have issue with this cause that shit’s not cool but she didn’t. All she did was just make a few sarcastic quips which she’s entitled to because you know..she’s a person with feelings who’s entitled to them just like you’re entitled to your blind hatred for her even though I think that blind hatred is stupid.

 4. Phoebe Tonkin is just a terrible actress, that’s why her character sucks

I don’t know what qualifies as “good acting” but I imagine it’s someone who can make a character believable and I think that Phoebe has that in spades. Hell, the girl has been acting since she was a kid, H2O add water anyone? Not to mention the movies that she has been in and that one random music video which I’m too lazy to look up right now. So tell me this, if she’s really a bad actor as you say then why is she still continuously booking gigs?

If she’s such a terrible actress, shouldn’t they have replaced her by now with...I dunno, who’s popular these days? The girl from fifty shades? Would you prefer that?

5. She’s a hypocrite who threw a hissy fit when Klaus took their daughter away even though she tried to do the same with him.

Again, are we watching the same show? You’re talking about Klaus Mikaelson, right? The same Klaus Mikaelson who wouldn’t listen to a single word anyone was saying? The Klaus Miakelson who daggered his siblings sometimes for centuries just because they didn’t want to do things his way? The same Klaus Mikaelson who’s crazy aunt and supposedly dead mother was after their child? 

Ok so I want you to imagine this. You have a child with someone who turns out to be a psychotic serial killer. You’re telling me you wanna give that guy visiting rights? That guy. Who makes paintings using the BLOOD of his enemies? The guy who’s in-laws wanna put your child on an altar and stab it to death? 

Ok well, now imagine that same guy taking said child away from you, that child you fought so damn hard to protect and that you’ve literally already died for once. Oh, you’re not ok with that? Well, gee aren’t you quite the hypocrite.

I’m sure there’s plenty of other excuses you haters can come up with, especially if you have the time to dedicate an entire hate blog for a non existent person but frankly I don’t care. Hayley Marshall/Haylijah are going stronger than ever and that’s not about to change any time soon regardless of what I, or any of you say.

[cheri-translates]

[CN] Victor's Warm Date (Eng Translation)

🍒 Warning: This post contains detailed spoilers for a date which has not been released in English servers! 🍒

Acquaintance Collection: Gavin // Kiro // Lucien

The date begins with a heavy snowfall. MC has gone out of town with Victor as representatives of LFG for an exchange program. Goldman was supposed to accompany Victor, but something cropped up so MC replaced him as Victor’s assistant.

Due to the heavy snowfall, traffic is stuck, and they are unable to travel as their designated driver hasn’t arrived. As MC waits outside and pulls her jacket tighter over herself, she hears a voice:

Victor: You’re standing in front of the tuyere. Are you trying to block the wind?

Hearing this merciless comment, I turn around to see Victor standing behind me. He furrows his eyebrows, as though unable to comprehend my actions.

MC: I’m your assistant today, and the assistant should take the lead.

Victor: Who told you that?

MC: Goldman!

I “betray” Goldman without hesitation, but tag on an explanation.

MC: I just wanted to see when the driver would arrive.

Victor pauses and rubs his eyebrows a little tiredly.

Victor: Is your phone a mere decoration? Don’t stand at the door in such a silly manner.

After saying this, he turns to walk to the resting area at the side of the hall. With a sound of agreement, I follow after him.

The warm wind from the rest area heater causes me to release a huge sigh. I take out my phone and call the driver. After a long wait, the call finally gets through—

After hearing the driver frantically explaining the situation, I unconsciously raise my volume.

MC: What? The road leading to this place is blocked? All right, I’ve got it. I’ll ask…

Holding the phone, I turn to Victor and shoot him a questioning look.

Standing at the window, Victor gazes at the continuously pelting snow, confirms our location, and responds.

Victor: Tell him to stop at the side of the main road. We’ll walk there.

I didn’t think he would choose such a method. After pausing for a few seconds, I pass Victor’s message to the driver.

After hanging up, I look at Victor hesitantly. He notices that I’m not very sure of what to say.

Victor: If you have something to say, say it directly.

MC: The snowfall is so heavy. Are we really going to walk there?

From the glass window of the big hall, I can almost feel the biting cold entering my bones.

Victor: Or are you prepared to spend the night here? That place isn’t far from here. It’s faster to walk over than wait for traffic to return to normal.

MC: Even though time is money, but…

I look at the snow outside, still uncertain if we should wait for the snow to stop.

Victor: If we keep waiting, a certain dummy will catch a cold and consider it a work injury.

He sweeps a glance over to me, and I put down the hands that had been wrapped around my neck in a bid to keep myself warm. Just as I try to explain myself, I let out an uncontrolled, violent sneeze.

MC: Achoo!

Victor steps back, looking disgusted beyond words. There is an obvious “told you so” in his eyes.

I rub the bridge of my nose in embarrassment, and say in a small voice:

MC: It’s not that cold…

Pretending he didn’t hear me, Victor continues.

Victor: Go back quickly so you can make it for dinner, or you might think LFG treats its employees harshly again.

He hands me an umbrella.

Victor: Let’s go.

Without waiting for my response, Victor has already stepped out of the doors, his profile instantly swallowed up by the wind and snow.

MC: Wait for me-

This guy! Always so arrogant and authoritative!

I feel slightly sullen.

Watching his retreating form, I can only grit my teeth and follow after him.

~

The weather outside has become extremely vicious. MC struggles to keep up while Victor remains in front of her:

MC: Ah!

Suddenly, I hear a snapping sound, and the umbrella in my hand bends backwards with the wind, and even pushes me backwards by several steps. In the midst of my panic, a large hand pulls onto my wrist in the nick of time.

Victor: Keep the umbrella.

I keep the umbrella clumsily. Only then does Victor loosen his grip on my wrist. At that moment, countless snowflakes uninhibitedly cover the top of our heads and bodies. The warmth breaths that are released from our mouths are instantly blown away by the wind.

Watching the snowfall get increasingly heavier, Victor furrows his eyebrows. There seems to be snow on his eyelashes.  

Victor: Later, walk behind me.

MC: C-could it be… that you plan to block the wind and snow for me?

I lift my eyes to look at him, and my teeth start chattering from the cold.

Victor frowns, sighing in resignation.

Victor: Bringing you here is really bringing along trouble.

Before I can retort, a thick and heavy piece of clothing covers me.

The residual body warmth and scent causes me to react immediately – this is Victor’s coat.

MC: No need, you’ll catch a chill like this…

Before I can complete my sentence, a gust of strong wind sweeps over the coat and it almost gets blown away. I immediately reach out to grab onto it, and then hug it to my chest.

MC: That was close!

Victor: Are you a dummy?

A trace of frustration crosses Victor’s face. His patience has reached its limits. He pulls the coat out of my arms and places it over my head, covering my body.

The cold wind and light from the outside are blocked out. Victor’s breath surrounds me, leaving me feeling slightly dazed. I tried leaving a little opening, but Victor presses down on it. My entire person seems to be wrapped in his coat.

Victor: Don’t fidget.

MC: I can’t see anything like this!

Victor: You can hold onto me.

His tone leaves no room for debate. After hesitating for a moment, and with the remaining little view I have, I reach out to grab Victor’s clothes.

Victor: Hold tight. Let’s walk over there quickly.

Although he says we have to walk quickly, he slows down so I can follow his pace with ease. All the surrounding noises seem to have been blocked by Victor. I hide in his coat, as though in a refuge centre in the middle of a snow storm.

The residual body warmth of the coat is so different from his cold exterior.

These few hundred metres are especially difficult to walk through, and yet the entire experience seems to have passed by in the blink of an eye.

It is only when I sit in the warm car that I feel alive again.

I hug Victor’s coat, peering into the rearview mirror to look at the man sitting in the back seat.

Victor is currently taking a call. The lights outside the car window are cast on his side profile. The distinct lights and shadows mark out every line of his sharp features.

Victor: The new proposal requires some improvement…

Although his tone is one that I’m familiar with, I suddenly feel like he doesn’t seem as unreasonable as he used to be.

After returning to the hotel room, my tasks for the day are finally done. I change out of my clothes which have been drenched from the snow, and hum a tune while packing materials from the meeting. I discover that I’ve left a document behind.

MC: Oh no, I forgot to pass this report to Victor! He’s going to criticize me for being careless again.

I put on a bitter expression and open the door to my room. After mentally preparing myself, I knock on Victor’s door, which is opposite mine.

After a long minute, Victor still hasn’t answered the door.

While hesitating whether I should knock again, the door in front of me suddenly opens. I see Victor in a fresh set of clothes, frowning as he looks at my hand, which is lifted in mid-air.

Victor: What is it?

Looking at the Victor before me, I forget what I wanted to say.

His hair is slightly messy. He has yet to fully button up his shirt, revealing a small patch of skin.

After several seconds of stunned silence, my heart rate starts to accelerate as I avert my eyes.

MC: I forgot to pass you a document just now.

Making no mention of my earlier daze, Victor takes the file in my hand and flips through a few pages.

Victor: You can wait inside. I’ll be done with it soon.

He sits next to the desk in the living room, seriously poring through the documents. He taps the table gently.

I sit on the sofa while waiting. The heater in the room is not warm enough, and the sudden drop in temperature causes the cold to creep up by back slowly.

MC: Achoo!

My violent sneeze causes Victor to lift his head from the documents. Meeting his questioning gaze, I rub my head in embarrassment.

MC: It’s a little cold.

Victor: You’re wearing so little. I even thought you weren’t afraid of the cold.

He sweeps his gaze over my sweater, then stands up to pour me a cup of tea. He places it in front of me.

Victor: Finish this, then go back to your room.

The steaming hot tea looks incredibly tempting at this moment. I take a sip obediently, feeling the warm tea gradually warm my insides.

To think that even Victor can be so considerate…

My gaze settles on Victor. Looking at his rather thin shirt, I think of the coat that he has sent for cleaning.

Compared to me, he is the one who takes less care of himself…

With this thought in mind, I have an idea.

MC: Victor, wait for a while. I’ll be back soon!

Without waiting for his response, I hurriedly run back to my own room and fish out a small blanket from my luggage. I run back to Victor’s room.

Victor: You went to get this?

Victor looks at the blanket in my hands, which has an image of a childish bunny on it. The look of distaste in his eyes is almost overflowing.

MC: Yup, I’ll let you use it first.

Victor: I don’t need it.

MC: But the temperature is so low now. What if you catch a cold?

Victor: Do you think I’m you?

I pause for a second, recalling what he said about how “only dummies catch colds”.

MC: If you catch a cold, are you going to admit that you’re a dummy?

Hearing this remark, Victor arches his eyebrows as he looks at me, as though surprised by my boldness.

MC: Right now, I’m your “assistant”, so I need to take note of your clothes, food, housing, and transportation. If you catch a cold, it would be a dereliction of my duty. In order to prevent my holes in my work, please set aside your condescension and use this blanket!

I sneak a peek at Victor’s expression after making my speech. The frown in his eyes has dissipated, and he doesn’t seem as opposed to the idea as before.

Victor: You have a lot of odd logic.

MC: Since you have no objections, I’ll take it as an agreement!

Fuelled with boldness, I stand on my tiptoes and drape the blanket over his shoulders while his guard is down.

Victor’s body stiffens before he grabs hold of my wrist in a reflex action. As he did not control his strength, I am pulled onto his chest. Panicking, I lift my head and our eyes meet.

Under the lights, his eyes appear exceptionally bright. I can even see my own reflection in them.

My heart beat accelerates in an instant, and becomes even more frenzied, unable to find its original rhythm.

Victor reacts first. He releases his hold on me, his face darkening.

Victor: You are very bold.

His voice is low, and I take a step back instinctively. I summon my courage and meet his eyes.

MC: Didn’t you already know this from early on? CEO Victor.

Victor looks at me, his black eyes holding within them a limitless depth, making me want to hide. Following this, he lets out a light laugh.

Victor: How much longer are you going to play the role of an assistant?

MC: If you continue wearing the blanket, it will end.

Afraid that he would reject, I hurriedly emphasise.

MC: You already agreed just now!

Victor’s eyebrows lift, his expression unsure.

Seeing that he had no retort, I secretly do a pose of triumph and hold up the cup of tea that Victor had personally poured for me.

Victor leans against the window, his face still written with distaste, but he does not attempt to remove that childish-looking blanket.

He brings the red cup to his lips and gently blows on it.

The warm light encases him, softening the aura surrounding him. His outline also appears gentler. He doesn’t look as impossible to get close to.

My eyes land on Victor, but he doesn’t seem to notice.

He puts down the cup in his hands, lowering his eyes, as though deep in thought.

This is a Victor I have never seen before…

In this moment, he seems to have put down his stubbornness and distant aura - becoming someone within reach. Only now does Victor finally feel my gaze. He raises his head to look at me.

Victor: What are you looking at?

MC: At you… the snowy scenery outside the window!

Just in time, I swallow the words that I was about to blurt out, but it seems he has already heard them.

He lets out a low chuckle, the corner of his lips revealing a very slight smile.

Victor: Considering how seriously you’re looking at it, you must really like this snowy scene.

MC: Mm.

I can’t help but let out a small sound of agreement. The snow outside the window falls continuously, dyed by the warmth of the light.

Outside, the wintry wind blows on. But at this moment, the room is very warm.