#no wonder they were so much more confident than me!! and able to create things and feel good!! and talk to ppl!!

[piplupod]

Doing Things actually makes me feel so much better about being alive holy shit

went to a large body of water today and paddled around and sat in it for three hours and wow i feel so good rn !!! on the way home i came up with some really good characterization for some DL stuff and i am just full of gratitude that i am alive rn and that i got to go do that and that the smoke wasn't terrible and like,,, i want to do things more often !! i want to be around people !!! i want to create !!

[misstycloud]

Yandere omega x reader. Pt 2

TW: baby-trapping, non-con

Pt. 1

——————————————-

Yandere omega who freaks out at the news of your recent engagement. This wasn’t supposed to happen! The stress keeps him from sleeping at night and makes him unfocused at work, so much that the boss has no other choice but to send him home to rest. They can’t have their most valuable asset either away, can they?

Yandere omega that believes that if he could rekindle your passion for him, maybe you’d break off the betrothal and come back to him. So he decides to rush to your home and ring the doorbell until you finally open.

Yandere omega who begs to let him in. It won’t be more than five minutes, he promises. He just needs to get some of his clothes that he forgot last time. Albeit reluctantly, you accept his excuse and allow him to wander inside, as you had done so many times before. But those were under different circumstances.

Previous to your arranged marriage, you were free to some degree. With a large amount of wealth and charm, you were able to get anyone you wanted. There were hardly someone who would pass the opportunity to spend some good time with you.

To maintain this life, the only thing you had to do was work and that you did. You had to say you did a great job in your family’s company, creating hit business deals and increasing the finances.

But it appeared your family would not be satisfied solely with that. That was why you have to marry some guy; to secure an heir to the corporation, as your parents would put it. Your mother was also rather intrigued by the idea of grandchildren as well.

Yandere omega sneaks into the bathroom to prepare by switching his casual outfit to a more eye-catching one. He even styled his hair slightly, hoping you’d pull on it like before.

Yandere omega who thought he could win back your affection, however, it appeared fate had other plans. The second you see him walking out the restroom wearing what he knew you’d have like him in had it been the past, you growled.

“Fuck, I should’ve known you’d pull shit like this.” You had to admit he did look very appetising. Though you were engaged now, which meant you couldn’t immerse in such activities anymore.

“Why the long face? You didn’t object before?” The beautiful omega whispered seductively.

“Yeah but- ugh- look, just go.” Pointing at the entrance, you ushered him to leave.

“I’d rather stay here though, with you.” He ignored your warning and continued advancing forwards into your arms, then he laid his head against your chest and dragged his nimble fingers across it.

“Milo, I said!-aah!” Quickly you slapped a hand over your mouth and nose, for something sickenly sweet and familiar filled your senses. “N-no stop…”

Milo smiled, showing delight at your troubled expression. “Ah, I knew you couldn’t resist me. No need to hold back.”

You wanted to push him back and create as much distance between you as possible, but it was getting hard when the young man in front of you looked so enticing. No, you must not give in.

“I- ahh~“you were forced to stop in your tracks because his hands had started wandering lower and lower, teasing you. “Shit…”

Yandere omega who had decided to use his trump card. No one could refuse his pheromones and that includes you. Milo hadn’t used that trick to intentionally seduce anyone before, so he wasn’t actually sure if it would work. Turns out luck was in his favour, even he was a bit surprised at how fast you yielded.

Yandere omega who is sooo happy he can be together with you again, and he is not meaning only for one last time until you finalise your vows or anything. Why is he so confident? Well, let’s just say he has a plan B to make you unable to leave.

Yandere omega that wonders how you would feel about having that son you always dreamed of.

[traumxrei-archive]

【 don't be afraid to get close 】

prompt #1: He had them against the wall but now he can’t stop looking at their mouth… (ft. jamil viper + riddle rosehearts)

gn! prefect (you/yours), drabbles, word count: 737 words

a/n: i said i'd delete requests, but i figured out that writing them out as hcs was a lot faster aND more fun for me. so. the rest of my 600 followers event fics will be in hc format >:DD had lots of fun writing for mr rosehearts and mr viper, so enjoy

Riddle Rosehearts

The one thing that peeved Riddle more than anything was when a uniform was worn incorrectly. So when he saw you walking around the halls with a loosened tie of all things, he knew he had to intervene.

"Prefect?" You looked at him with a slight smile. "Could you come with me for a minute?" You followed him easily to a more secluded part of the hallway, where Riddle could finally grab at your very loose tie.

"Prefect, as i've emphasized, it is important to keep your appearance as neat as possible," Riddle lectured as he continued to tie the knot. "It not only helps with cleanliness, but also with confide–"

Riddle's gaze flitted up. Big mistake.

He tried not to flinch at the proximity of your face to his. He was definitely not paying attention to the curve of your cheek or the part of your lips. Sevens, your lips looked so soft, he wondered if–

He dropped the tie like he was burned

You raised an eyebrow, "Is this how the great Heartslabyul housewarden ties a tie?"

And Riddle went red. He was sure he was flushing down the base of his neck, but he couldn't get his mouth to work.

"Senpai," There was a hand at his arm, tugging while you innocently tilted your head. "Did you get distracted by something?"

Great Queen of Hearts, Riddle was not going to make it out of here alive.

"O-of course not," Riddle forced out, his voice coming out unnaturally high. "I was merely just...we were standing very close together...."

He shut his mouth, intent on salvaging whatever petty pride he still had left. He then grabbed the tie with shaky hands, working at it once again as if he didn't just flush his rapport with you down the drain just seconds before.

Once the tie was done, Riddle sighed with relief, smoothing the material before letting it go.

"Thanks senpai," You said, before leaning in close and– Riddle shut his eyes, a light pressure landing on his cheek. He opened his eyes to see you smiling as you waved, heading to class as if nothing happened.

Riddle, on the other hand, crouched on the ground. He would never be able to get the flush out of his cheeks.

Jamil Viper

Jamil had a love-hate relationship with rain. but today he was bordering on the "hate" side. He was completely drenched, caught off guard by the rain as he quickly ducked into an alcove, tugging you behind him.

He cursed, pulling out two towels from his gym bag, "It's clean." At your questioning look he elaborated, "I bring two because Floyd always tries to steal mine."

Jamil draped the towel over your head, helping you dry your hair out of habit. He was secretly pleased as you let him do as he wanted.

However, he didn't realize how intimate of a situation he had created for himself until he felt you reaching over with the towel in your hand to help him.

That was when Jamil's gaze slid to the wall that he had backed you into, before dropping down to your lips.

Oh.

Jamil averted his eyes, trying hard to school his expression into neutrality. He picked up his pace, swiping at the water with renewed vigor until—

"Jamil?" A small silence. "Hm?" His reply came late, too busy focusing on a droplet of water as it traced down your face, wishing it was his fingers instead.

"You...look like you want a kiss."

Jamil swallowed, throat dry because he had been completely exposed. How was it that you were able to know his feelings so easily?

He saw the nervousness flit across your expression at the prolonged silence, so he let himself speak, "And...what if i do?"

You tugged at the towel around his neck, pulling him that much closer. His lips met yours clumsily, the cold of the rain fleeing for something warmer. He couldn't help but hold you closer, bridging the gap to feel the slide of your skin against his.

As he pulled back, Jamil wasn't sure what was louder, the sound of the rain pelting the roofs, or the sound of his heartbeat in his ears.

"Was that okay?" You asked tentatively, and Jamil all but wanted to laugh.

Instead he smirked, letting his cold fingers press against the warmth of your cheek, "i think i'll need a few more of those to warm up, ya sukar."

thank you for reading this far ^^ if you'd like to see the rest of the 600 followers event, find it here, and if you want to see more of my writing, go check out my masterlist <3 (p.s. to the people asking, 'ya sukar' means 'my sugar' >:D)

[themissinghand]

i was wondering if you could do another story with the 12th Harbinger you created "brighella" if if remember. i really liked reading the two stories about her

Genshin Impact: Oh Hydro Dragon, What is Your Wish?

Summary: In which Neuvillette discovers a new Miracle Magician in town, one who brings joy and wishes to life. He learns that humans are complex beings and that human feelings can be delightful, to the depressing.

Or, you, as Tsaritsa’s proxy, Brighella, infiltrate Fontaine for the purposes of watching over Arlecchino, but a certain Hydro Dragon appears to be more fun than you thought. 

Pairing: Neuvillette x GN! Reader

Note: Thanks for the request! Also, with the 4.2 update of the game out, how could I NOT write about it? 

Warning: A bit of angst and betrayal, after all, everything is just a play, and you are all characters of a show.

Also, spoilers for Fontaine Archon Quest!

★・・・・・・★

The Opera Epiclese glittered with splendor as noble laughter and melodies echoed through the opulent halls. 

A new talent has emerged. 

A magician, not of mere tricks but of miracles, with the power to weave dreams into reality. The people of Fontaine, including the Hydro Archon Furina herself, and Ludex Neuvillette, were charmed by this mysterious enchanter.

“Tell me what you wish for, little noble child.”  

But perhaps it was not just their show that caught Neuvillette’s attention, rather their genuine love for humans. 

“I wish for you to heal my mother’s face!” A gasp echoed throughout the room with a mix of disbelief and mockery. 

Indeed, all nobles and VIPs did not believe such a thing, but even with so much noise, Neuvillette could easily pick out what the magician whispered.

“Which one is your mother, little one?” 

When the child forcefully pulled her mother to the stage, the noble lady already had a veil to cover her face. With the rumours circulating the room, it appears that the lady was burned badly in order to save her child from a house fire. 

Due to such a bad burn and scarring, no doctor has been able to restore her original beauty. 

Neuvillette did recall such a trial occur a while back.

“Shh, Shh. Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to ask everyone to quiet down. After all, you could only witness miracles if you paid attention.” Neuvillette watched closely, curious and attentive despite Lady Furina pulling on his sleeves and excitedly waiting for a miracle.

“Madame, please repeat your child’s wish. Only the person who wishes for it, may the miracle occur.”

Thinking of nothing of it, the noble lady repeated the wish outloud. The magician slowly drag one hand from one side of her face to the other, and right before everyone’s eyes, her burn had completely disappeared. 

“W-What?” The lady touched her face with shock, then with gratitude, and broke down on the spot. 

“Mom!”

“What did you do?!” 

“That is a secret of course.” The magician out a finger on their lips.

“Thank you for helping my wife.”

Neuvillette was confused, he did not sense any use of a vision. He expected the magician to perhaps possess the powers of a dendro vision, after all, some of them could heal wounds. 

But this…he had never seen such power before. 

“Please, can I make a wish?” This gentlemen seemed like a middle-age worker, one who barely compiled enough money to enter the opera house for a show. 

“Go ahead sir.” The magician ignored the nobles and beelined for the gentlemen. 

“My house and many other homes near the sea was washed away with the large rainstorm last week, please...I wish for them to be rebuilt!” 

Once again, despite the gentlemen pleading and even tearing up for a wish, the magician smiled gently and held his hand. 

“Your wish is my command.” The magician handed him multiple unique keys, and looked at Neuvillette with a patient look. 

“If Monsieur Neuvillette could lead this gentlemen to his house safely, there would be no doubt to my credibility.” 

There was absolute confidence in their voice, and since everyone was looking at Neuvillette with such curious and pleading eyes, Neuvillette stood up. 

“Alright.” 

With a snap of fingers, Neuvillette felt the world shift underneath his feet. No, it was the shadows that engulfed a group of people to teleport them here.

In an instant, they had travelled from the center of the city, to the edge. 

As promised, those who were curious arrived at the area where houses were supposedly washed away, but instead were brand new as if a disaster has never struck. 

Neuvillette saw many people who cried at this miracle, and the gentlemen who made the wish immediately rushed into his own home to check everything.

"How? It was a wasteland just a day ago...how...you are a saint!"

When all the residents confirmed their house and nothing out of place, Neuvillette truly saw a miracle. 

An entire village built with just a wish. 

A truly great, but dangerous power. 

When Neuvillette turned to find the magician, they were already gone. 

The Miracle Magician.

A name that danced through Fontaine, and gained great popularity especially among the middle and lower class. 

Neuvillette made it a mission to find you and talk to you.

It wasn’t hard to find you.

Where there are moments of joy and wonder, the Miracle Magician will be there.

You who stood at the center of it all, made others smile and grateful for everything you’ve done.

The people loved you for your miracles and kindness, and gave back with what they can. 

Captivating outdoor performances that left Neuvillette enchanted, not just by the magic, but by the warmth and understanding that the Miracle Magician exuded.

The Miracle Magician was popular as they were desirable, for people of different status and desires approached them with good or ill intentions. 

Neuvillette was not surprised by this developments after all, he’s seen many of these human emotions in court.

Relief, gratitude, sincerity, and love. 

But also greed, envy, hatred, and distrust. 

He may not understand them well, but he can identify them.

Neuvillette was worried at first, and watched you from afar in case of any crime to occur. However, little did he know that you were just as talented as leaving the scene without a trace, and you appeared right behind him. 

“Hello, to what pleasure does the honorable Ludex Neuvillette have with me?” 

“Who are you?” Neuvillette asks, looking down at the Miracle Magician with vigilance and curiosity. 

“I am a Miracle Invoker. One who makes wishes come true.” Then with a mischievous smile, you extended a hand. 

“What is your wish, Ludex Neuvillette?”

“I do not have a wish.” The magician was stunned briefly, before they withdrew their hand. 

“That is fine too.” For some reason, the magician looked peacefully content with his answer. Sensing an unspoken initiation for conversation, the magician smiled politely at him. 

“Would you like to go on a walk? I can foresee a lot of questions from you, Monsieur Neuvillette.” He nods. 

“Follow me, perhaps our talk will be easier in a more private space.” 

Both of you went to a nearby restaurant, where the owner immediately recognized Neuvillette, and gave the two a private room. 

Little did Neuvillette know that this conversation was one of the most pleasant he’d had in decades. The magician began to share tales of distant lands, weaving narratives that spoke to the deepest corners of Neuvillette's ancient heart. 

They were naturally an entertainer, one who dramatize stories and share them as if they were in a play. Neuvillette listened for the most part, enjoying their little act.

They shared stories that sounded familiar, and ones that were foreign, regardless, he found you as good company while he drank his water. 

“Forgive me for being rude, but I haven’t gotten your name.” At the end of the two hour conversation, Neuvillette asked for this mysterious Miracle Invoker's name. 

With a polite curtsy, and a tip of their flamboyant hat, they responded with a professional smile. 

“I have no name, but if you must address me, you may deem me as a ‘Miracle’.” 

What a strange name. 

One who refers to themselves as their profession.

Neuvillette has many questions, but chooses not to ask.

As they spent more time together, the Miracle Magician became a confidant for Neuvillette. The dragon, who witnessed the passage of ages, revealed the weight of his solitary existence. 

The magician listened, offering a sympathetic ear and a comforting presence. Neuvillette, for the first time in centuries, felt understood despite his lack of expression in his feelings.

“I am not a god as you may have assumed, Monsieur Neuvillettte. I am simply an existence that is created to make wishes come true.” 

“Nonsense. Are there not requirements for a wish?” 

“The only requirement is that the person who wishes is happy.” 

“…you are lying.” A laugh, Neuvillette watches the magician break out of their polite demeanor. 

“Oh Monsieur Neuvillette, what is your wish?”

“I do not have a wish.” 

“I see. Perhaps one day you will tell me your wish.” 

One day, after a long exhausting trial, Neuvillette stepped out for a stroll. He walked and observed as humans walked past him with their own stories to tell, and their own role to play. 

A routine of his as rain fell from the sky. 

“Hydro Dragon, Hydro Dragon, don’t cry!”

But why in this black and white world, were you here?

“Monsieur Neuvillette, why are you standing in the rain alone?” You who held a colourful and flamboyant umbrella quickly shielded him from the rain. 

Startled by this unique predicament, he simply stared.

“Why…are you here?” 

“I enjoy the rain.” 

The magician smiled before extending a hand. 

“Would you like to make a wish, dear Neuvillette?”

This time, Neuvillette didn’t respond to accept or reject your offer, but instead accepted your hand and chose to walk ahead. 

Neuvillette held your hand like a gentleman, ensuring there was nothing scandalous that could occur from this action. 

But he felt his heart beating harder than before, as if he had come alive again.

“The world is beautiful, isn’t it?”

The magician suddenly says, as they take down the umbrella. Colour came back to his world as if the curtains of the stage unveiled itself.

Sun rays appear from behind the dark clouds and people rush out to see a beautiful rainbow stretching across the skies.

“The Hydro Dragon must be happy!” A little boy exclaimed as he ran around happily. 

“Monsieur Neuvillette, storms will come to pass, just as sunny days will turn to night. But what’s important is that you live now, where peace exists and people can be happy.”

The magician pulls out a blue rose from behind their back and suddenly slots it behind his ear.

With a cheeky smile, you kiss his gloved knuckles. 

“I wish for your happiness, oh Hydro Dragon.”

Neuvillette didn’t know what this feeling was, a quite foreign one for himself, but he doesn’t find it annoying or worthless. 

“Look! It’s a double rainbow!” 

As days turned to nights and nights to days, Neuvillette found himself drawn not just to the enchanting magic of the Miracle Magician but to the soul beneath the illusion. The Miracle Invoker, with genuine kindness, had become a beacon of trust and solace for Neuvillette.

So why? 

Why are you standing by the suspect’s side? 

“Stand down, dear 11th.” In an instant, the Tartaglia released his transformation. 

“Brighella?” Neuvillette heard the suspect whisper out your name, and he felt himself turning his hands into fists. 

“The Miracle Magician?! Why, why are you here?!” 

"Shh, shh," You hushed the crowd, a calming spell woven into your words. 

You stepped forward, gracefully interposing between Neuvillette and Childe. 

“What is going on?!” Lady Furina exclaimed, looking between Neuvillette and you with a bewildered expression. 

“Now, since the true guilty party has been brought forward, and even Ludex Neuvillette himself deemed my friend innocent, is there a reason for this show to proceed? Does Foutaine’s justice perhaps leave the final verdict to a machine? If so, why would we need a trial in the first place?” You put a hand to Childe’s shoulder, and the man immediately relaxed, and looked at you with a happy expression. 

You smiled, still in your new role that you’ve created for this very moment, and bowed. 

Neuvillette, sensing the unspoken authority, hesitated. 

“I wish for this trial to end peacefully, and ‘I’ to be forgotten by Fontaine.” 

Neuvillette widened his eyes and rushed towards you, but with a sly look, you stopped him with your flamboyant hat, a forcefield pushing him back. A huge tsunami burst forth in the court with water rushed around you. 

“You lied to me.”

You laughed slyly, your image as the Miracle Magician he’d always known slowly faded away.  

“Who are you?” Neuvillette felt a sense of loss and grief, and even for a moment doubted himself and his ability to properly “judge” humans emotions.

“Hydro Dragon, Hydro Dragon, don’t cry.” A hand reached out to wipe under his eye, your voice was the same, though you had a mocking expression on your face. 

“Oh Hydro Dragon, what is your wish?”

A portal appeared behind you, with Tartaglia pulling on your coat tail to signal you to leave. 

“I wish-” You put a finger to his lips.

“To think I’d see such an expression on Chief Justice, the Hydro Dragon Sovereign himself…” A smirk rose to your face, paining him even more.

“That is what it means to be human.”

In an instant, the two vanished, leaving behind a bewildered courtroom. Neuvillette felt a headache, but when he turned around, Lady Furina was already leading the court with her dramatics. 

And just as you wished, the “Miracle Magician” was no more, just as how Tartaglia was never part of the trial in the first place. 

The Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale still revealed the verdict as guilty, just not to Tartaglia, but to the true guilty party.

Neuvillette picked up your hat, and held it tightly in his hands. 

The next few days, it was raining harder than usual with Neuvillette’s figure disappeared completely from the public. 

He watched every moment he spent with you in the rain, and the joy you brought to the people. He regretted not making a wish. 

Now, no one in Fontaine knew you, and only he and Lady Furina recalled such a name. 

"Brighella."

Neuvillette hoped to find you again, even if you were a lie.

Just like your name, you appeared like a “Miracle”, and disappeared like one too.

[five-rivers]

Cracked Clay Cup Chapter 11

@greatbigolhampuckjustforme

“So,” said Danny, leaning over the back of the couch.  After Frostbite, he somehow had more energy.  Maybe it was part of his core being active?

“So?” echoed Clockwork, an eyebrow raised.  

Danny blushed.  He’d derailed his own train of thought quite thoroughly.  “Frostbite taught me how to do some things.”

“As did Vladimir, presumably?” asked Clockwork.  “And Jasmine?”

“Well, sure,” said Danny.  “But, like.  More specifically, he showed me how to make things.  With ice.”

“If you are asking for permission to use your powers, you may.”

“Even though I’m inside?”

“You could hardly use them elsewhere,” said Clockwork.  “In any case, this place was created for your benefit.  I only ask that you keep the kitchen and the workshop in order.”

“And your room, right?” 

Clockwork shrugged, and slotted the book he’d been perusing back onto the shelf. “I am not particularly attached to it.”

“You do sleep, though, right?  I know you said that you only sleep once in a while, but staying awake all the time like that can’t be healthy.”

“I am a ghost, Daniel,” said Clockwork.  

“Frostbite slept,” argued Danny.  “He’s a ghost.”

Clockwork sighed.  “If it will give you peace of mind, I can take a nap.”

Danny squinted at Clockwork.  He felt as if this conversation had diverged wildly from his initial aim.  “I… think it would?”

“You sound uncertain.”

“It would,” said Danny, trying to sound more confident.  

Clockwork patted him on the head as he flew past, towards the short hallway that contained the way to both Clockwork’s room and the workshop.  “I will be awake in time to make you dinner.”

Danny wondered if he could, possibly, preempt Clockwork and cook dinner for them himself, but dismissed the idea.  Anything that relied on beating Clockwork in a matter of timing was doomed to fail.  He had other things he wanted to try out, anyway. 

He dropped himself onto the couch and gathered cold in his hands.  Frostbite had shown him how to make rough shapes out of ice.  Simple things like crystals, spheres, cubes.  

He was going to try something a little bit more complicated this time, though.  He had the time, since he was, once again, wracked with indecision about which of his potential guardians he should choose.  Now that he’d seen Frostbite, he had visited all the odd-numbered entries.  He should probably just decide on a method of choosing the next people, and then stick with that for the next three.  Then, he’d be able to move through them faster.  

If faster was what he wanted.  That was a big if.  

Maybe he should just go from the top.  He’d already run into the Observants, aka the only people he definitely wasn’t going to choose, and he’d gone very much out of order already, so that was unlikely to trigger any unpleasant traps.  Although, then, he’d be going from older candidates to younger ones…  Did that really matter, though?  Well, as long as they were all older than Jazz, and at least, like, adults…

He was so involved and occupied by his work and his thoughts that he didn’t realize that Clockwork had returned.  

“What would you like for dinner?” asked Clockwork.  

Danny startled, and the object he’d been shaping shot out of his hands and buried itself in the wall opposite the couch.  “Oops,” he said.  “Sorry.”

“Accidents happen,” said Clockwork, pulling the object out of the wall and turning it over in his hands.  “A gear?”

Danny shrugged.  “I wasn’t able to make it even, but I thought it would be good practice?  And it could be, like, a decoration or something.  A paperweight.  Since you, um, like gears.”

“Hm,” said Clockwork.  He flew over to the kitchen.  Danny bounced up off the couch and followed him.  

Once in the kitchen, Clockwork went to the fridge.  Danny watched with interest and confusion as Clockwork held the slightly malformed gear up against the fridge door and stuck it there.  They looked at it together, Danny trying to figure out exactly how Clockwork had done that.  

“Yes,” said Clockwork, “that’s very nice, isn’t it?”

“Yeah,” said Danny, still feeling confused.  There was something… off about this.  Not wrong, or bad, but… off.  He blinked and shook his head.  “For dinner… something hot, I think.  Warm and spicy.”

“Certainly,” said Clockwork.  “Burritos it is.”

.

“I think I know who I’ll see next,” said Danny, shaping a lump of ice between his hands as if it was clay.  He didn’t know what it’d be, but it was calming.  

Clockwork hummed, indicating he was listening even as he flipped the french toast he was preparing for breakfast over in the pan.  

“I think I’ll see Pandora.”

“Ah, and why have you chosen her?”

“Because she is a her,” said Danny.  “Like, I don’t think I’ve actually seen a girl since Jazz.  I…  Don’t think the Observants really have genders, do they?”

“Not precisely as you would understand it.  However, most of them go by either ‘it’ or ‘he,’ for future reference.”

“Right.  But Vlad and the Dairy King were both guys.  Frostbite was a guy.  It’s kind of hard to tell whether or not the other two groups have any girls in them, but I’m pretty sure someone named Pandora is going to be a girl.  Especially since her little profile mentions being a queen.”  He wrinkled his nose.  “Unless this is, like, a drag queen thing.  That’d still be something different, though.”

Clockwork slid some french toast onto Danny’s plate and Danny immediately slathered it in maple syrup and butter.  French toast was Danny’s favorite type of toast because you could make it smooth.  All other kinds of toast he knew of could burn.  Figuratively and literally.  

“Anyway, I’ve been kind of wondering…”

“Yes?” prompted Clockwork, when Danny didn’t continue.  

“I’ve been wondering, what’s going on that so many people, you know, want me?”  He made a face.  “I didn’t phrase that very well.  There’s just, like, um…  Okay.  So, the Observants are important, right?”

“Moderately so.”

“Right.  And Frostbite.  Frostbite has to be important.  He told me about a bunch of stuff his tribe takes care of and what else they do.  Then, there’s Vlad and the Dairy King.  Well, Vlad, mostly, I don’t know what the Dairy King’s status is in the Zone, but Vlad’s super rich, and his house was in the human world.  Add that in to this Pandora…  These people are important.  Why are so many of them fighting over me?”

“Didn’t Vladimir and Chief Frostbite both tell you about your exploits defeating Pariah Dark?”

“Yeah, sort of, but that seems like it was mostly down to some enchanted armor or tech.  And convincing other people to do stuff.  Which, I don’t know, that sounds like something anyone could have done.  In retrospect.”  In the moment, when he’d been hearing the story, he’d been very proud of himself, but, once he’d sat down and thought about it, he’d… rethought that.  

Clockwork gave him a look.  

“What?”

“And Vladimir shared the story of your defeat of Vortex?”

“Sure.”

“Frostbite mentioned your victory over Undergrowth.”

“I don’t get where you’re going with this.”

Clockwork sighed.  

“What?” asked Danny, aware he was whining.  

“Don’t you think that these accomplishments are significant?  Perhaps significant enough to draw the attention of, as you said, important people?”

“I guess,” said Danny.  “Hey, was Vlad lying about knowing my parents, then?  If he was interested in me for a different reason?”  

“I cannot tell you that, Daniel,” said Clockwork, obviously exasperated.  

“Not even a little?  Not even with, like, a nod or a wink?”

“No,” said Clockwork.  

Danny grumbled and turned his attention back to his breakfast.  

.

When the light of the portal cleared from his eyes, Danny was unsurprised to find himself among tall, Greek-style pillars.  The pillars weren’t the only tall things around, though.  He craned his head up to look at the face of the tall, blue-skinned, four-armed ghost waiting for him on a large throne.  She wore bronze and black armor over long robe-like clothing.  

“Phantom,” she said, warmly, gesturing broadly with one of her hands.  “Welcome to my home.”

“Thank you, um, Queen Pandora.”

She chuckled.  “I know I mentioned that on those silly little papers the Observants had me fill out, but there’s no need for formality between us.  Not when you have done me so much good.”

“Um.  Okay,” said Danny.  He looked around a bit more.  He knew that there was a specific name for those columns and the carvings on the walls, but he couldn’t, for the half-life of him, remember.  He returned his gaze to Pandora.  “What did I do?”

“You helped me regain my box when it was stolen from me.”

“Was it a special box?” asked Danny.  He decided to fly up to perch on one of the large statues, so he didn’t have to lean back so far.  “If it was that important to you.”

“It was,” said Pandora.  “I have set myself the task of cleansing the Infinite Realms of evil.  My box is my latest prison for evil creatures and forces.  The one who took it attempted to release those things upon both the Realms and the Earth.”

“Oh,” said Danny.  “That sounds hard.  Cleansing the Realms of evil.  How do you even tell if something is evil?”  He bit his lower lip.  “You don’t have any people in there, do you?”

Pandora laughed.  “No, I am well aware of those pitfalls.  I speak of mindless spirits born from negative energies.  They range from pests like snakes and ghost fires, to wyverns and unicorns, to even greater, darker things.”

“Unicorns?” asked Danny, skeptically.  

“There are good unicorns as well, but I don’t have much to do with those.”  

“And unicorns are dangerous?”

“They are large herbivores with a spear on their forehead.”

Danny guessed that did make sense.  “And I helped you catch them again?”

Pandora nodded.  “Some might say that you were only following your Obsession, but as I set myself my task in pursuit of my own Obsession, why should that prevent me from showing my gratitude?  Indeed, a ghost’s Obsession reveals much about their character.  Should a ghost not be rewarded for what they are and what they have chosen to be?”

Danny nodded and assayed a question.  “What’s an Obsession?”

Pandora, who had, until then, been lounging, sat up straight, her red eyes wide.  “Pardon?”

Danny cleared his throat.  “What’s an Obsession?”

.

“So,” said Danny, shifting slightly to get his body better aligned on the Greek-style couch he’d somehow wound up on, “an Obsession is, like, the purpose of your life– Um.  Afterlife.”

Pandora nodded.  “Mine is the battle against evil, the exaltation of the good.  We never spoke explicitly of yours, but I must assume it was something similar.  Did no one speak to you of this beforehand?”

“No.”  Danny felt the need to pout.  “Not even Clockwork.”

“What an incredible oversight,” said Pandora.  She shook her head.  “And no one has been giving you any outlet for your Obsession?  Any way to pursue your purpose?”

Danny shook his head again.  “I didn’t know I had a purpose.”

“Leaving it for so long… Well, it will not kill you, obviously, but it will leave you feeling awfully unfulfilled.”

“Yeah,” said Danny, thinking back over the last few weeks.  “Yeah, I guess I could feel that, maybe.”  He hadn’t felt that way the whole time, but looking back…  “I’m not sure how I can defeat evil or whatever while I’m doing this, though.  It’s kind of designed so that I don’t run into any evil, isn’t it?”“Perhaps so, but there is more than one way to follow one’s purpose, including by honing yourself for it,” said Pandora.  She stood up from her own couch, setting aside her wine cup and platter of food.  “Come, young warrior.  Allow me to show you how I battle evil.”

[scarecrow-collective]

Can you write Swiss comforting a newly created multi ghoul pls thx 💜

YESSSSSSSSSSSSS I CANNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!

Where was she? What was this place? What happened to her?? Who was she?? The last thing she remembered was being forced into a damp room before everything went wrong, now she's here in some bed and alone. 

The room was silent, all except a buzzing of some light above her, she hated the silence. Her eyes dart from side to side as she tries to get a sense of where she is, the room is bare and cold and it appears she's the only one here. 

She glances down at her hands and she looks confused, she had claws? Since when did she have claws? Her nails were long and sharp and her arms had a black gradient to them, and a tail? What did they do to her?

She shifted and her body ached horrendously, it felt like she was dying and her organs were ripped out of her. Ugh, she just wanted to lay in a bed and sleep until noon the next day, but deep down she knew she wasn't able to. 

The door that held her in this room creaked open and ruined the deafening silence that surrounded her, a figure walked in with a confident stride as they made their way over to her. 

“I see you're awake.” The figure spoke as they stared down at her, humming in disappointment. “It's wonderful to see that we have yet another successful creation.” They clicked their tongue as as a strong hand heaved her up, someone else must've walked in but she was too focused on the person in front of her to notice. 

“Come, you're going to meet the others.” Others? Were there more like her? The hand that gripped her arm pulled her along down a dark hallway before stopping at a room, with the opening of a door they shoved her in. 

“You're expected to play nice, it's hard to create you things.” The voice from before sneered as the door behind her closed, locking as it did. She looked around before she was met with a pair of eyes staring straight at her, with a flinch she backed herself into the door to try and get away from what it was. 

“So they did it to you too huh?” The eyes spoke as it stood, whatever it was it was much taller than her. “I'm not gonna hurt you, they'd kill me if I even thought of it.” The voice reassured her as it walked closer to her, stepping into the light. 

Before her was a tall creature, none of which she'd ever seen before. It had horns and a tail and skin like hers with a black gradient on it's arms, the tail behind it lashed from side to side as it introduced itself. 

“Welcome to the ministry, you can call me Swiss.” The creature, Swiss, spoke as it gave a half bow to greet her. “You might as well get used to this place because here's your new home.” He explained as he motioned to the room behind him, it looked like a regular bedroom complete with two beds and a bathroom for the two. 

“C'mon, you must be tired.” It was right, she was exhausted and just wanted to lay down and forget everything. “This is your bed.” it motioned to an empty bed, which she happily went to lay down in

“Look, I know things are scary right now but I promise I'm gonna help you.” It promised with a sincere smile, laying down in its bed to look at her. “Do you have a name?”

Did she? If she did she couldn't remember it, she shook her head as she attempted to speak. “No, I don't remember anything.” She rasped out, coughing harshly as she did. 

“Woah, woah easy.” Swiss rushed over to help her, patting her on her back to help her through what fit she was going through. “You're okay, it's okay.” It promised as she eased up, leaning into it helplessly. 

“How about we give you a new name?” It offered and she happily nodded, her eyes catching a painting on the wall. “You like it? I made it myself, it's a sunrise.” She hummed in acknowledgement as it gasped loudly. 

“Aha!! How about Sunshine? Since you like my painting so much?” She nodded excitedly as she stood on her hands weakly, giggling to herself. “Sunshine it is!!” It giggled along with her, pulling her in for a hug. 

“Welcome to the pack Sunshine, you're gonna love it.” It promsied as she snuggled up to it for warmth, sighing in contentment. Come to think about it, she could get used to this.

[thee-horny-thicky]

Hi, I absolutely adore your work and was wondering if you could do another Gyutaro merman fic. NGL they are so addicting but in the fic could he be a siren and leads you in with his trance.

best regards and thank youuu!

Thank you so much! Merman Gyutaro was so fun to write, and his fine ass being a siren makes sense. So, I present Love Song, an SFW siren Gyutaro fic. Enjoy!

Love Song

When he first saw you, Gyutaro thought you’d make for easy prey. You were a newcomer to the small island smack dab in the middle of his hunting ground, unaware of the dangers that lurked in the dark depths. Unlike the locals, you didn’t know better, didn’t know that venturing on the beach at night was a death wish. If you did, you wouldn’t wander out of the old bungalow you’d purchased to stroll around the sandy shores, every night at midnight.

He watched you for days before making his move, deciding to learn your habits before luring you away. You were admittedly pretty, and that made him more determined to devour you.

Pretty girls always taste the best.

Yet, when he finally made his move, he encountered an issue he’d never had. His song did nothing. In fact, it did the exact opposite of what he wanted to do because instead of wandering into the water so he could get his webbed hands on you, you fearfully looked around. When you found no one, unable to see him from his hiding spot in the water, you ran back to your bungalow and didn’t come back for four entire days.

It left Gyutaro baffled. He knew his song wasn’t as strong as other sirens; the male songs were always weaker, but it was effective enough. He was able to hunt without the aid of his sister, and often secured food for them. But dammit, you shook his confidence.

So, when you came back, he tried again, wanting to remedy his mistake. The same result, but this time, you spoke.

“This is some horror movie shit,” you said under your breath while looking around, quickly getting to your feet when you saw no one around.

Your words were meant for your ears only, but his superior hearing allowed him to catch them. He would’ve laughed, had the comment not been a sign of your resistance to him.

As you began to walk away, he started to sing again. It was an echoey, haunting sound, an eerie version of the genre humans call opera. He never used words, instead mimicking a melody only he could hear. He’d brought many tears with his song, but you just walked faster.

“Okay, ghost, I’m leaving,” you yelled as he grew louder, breaking into a run and dashing to your house. “I won’t come back, promise!”

Dammit, that isn’t what he wants!

He went silent, trying to brainstorm before you retreated for goods. He decided to play into the delusion your mind had created.

“If you leave, I’ll kill you,” Gyutaro boomed in response, making you stop in your tracks.

“I’m losing my goddamn mind,” you whispered, looking all around in search of a figure that wasn’t there.

Well, he was there, just where you couldn’t see.

He grinned and held back a snicker. “No, you’re not, now come back.”

Slowly, you returned to your previous spot, trembling. It both amused and annoyed Gyutaro. Ghosts did exist, but he wasn’t one, nor did he appreciate a misty dead man being scarier and more realistic than his species.  Yet, he always enjoyed playing with his food, and you wouldn’t be an exception. No, he suspected that the challenge you presented would make your flesh the sweetest of them all.

“Why can’t I see you…am I dreaming?”

He huffed a breath. “You’re awake, human, and you can’t see me because I don’t want you to.”

“What do you want?” you asked, with a boldness you lacked moments ago.

To eat you.

“I just want to sing to you.” If it was the last thing he did, he’d make you succumb to his song. “May I?”

“Do I have a choice?”

He shook his head, though you couldn’t see. “No, not really.”

With that, he began to sing, changing his tune. Perhaps, his voice wasn’t the issue, and it was what he was singing that was the problem. Maybe all he needed to do was experiment, and you’d fall prey to him, just like countless helpless women before you.

This time, the tune he sang was lighter and less haunting in nature, often sung by elders to put the young at ease. He hoped it would have a similar effect on you.

It was obvious that the more soothing tune didn’t intimidate you as much, but you still looked ready to bolt at a moment’s notice. When he was done, you gave polite applause but showed no signs of being under his spell.

“Beautiful, Mr. Ghost,” you said as you clapped, your nerves bleeding through. “Can I go now?”

He tsked. “You make for an awful audience.”

And a very difficult creature to hunt.

“Sorry, but it’s time for me to feed my…plant. Venus flytraps need to eat once a week, you know.”

Your words were a blatant excuse, irritating him further. “Your plant?”

“Yeah…I named it Cow, and I’d be really sad if Cow died.”

Gyutaro was insulted that you thought him so ignorant. But he’ll play along.

“Fine, go feed ‘Cow.’ But I expect you to be back here tomorrow. Don’t think that you’re safe in that house, human.”

Your expression became fearful. Truth be told, he hadn’t dared to venture out of the water in ages, his abilities being much weaker and his inhuman appearance making him a target. He wouldn’t break his streak just for you, but that was information you didn’t need to know.

“Of course, Mr. Ghost.”

You scurried away before he could blast you for the nickname, leaving him to brainstorm ways to make his voice more enticing.

******

The next time you came, Gyutaro had formulated a plan. To lure you into the water, he’d need to sing a song designed to appeal to what you adored most. Therefore, he’d have to go to the mundane task of getting to know you. It was more effort than he usually put into hunting his prey. But you’d hurt his pride, and he was determined to redeem his faith in his abilities.

So, when you nervously shuffled onto the beach and plopped down into your usual spot, he demanded, “Tell me about yourself, human.”

You blinked. “W-what?”

“Are you deaf?” he barked, annoyance surging through him. “Tell me about yourself.”

Humans can be so simple at times.

“O-okay…what do you want to know?”

Gyutaro paused, then decided to go with something simple. “What’s your favorite color?”

Many songs existed with color being a core component of the lyrics. He didn’t usually sing any words, but if it’d get you in his grasp, he’d make an exception.

With furrowed brows, you tell him the shade you’re most fond of, and Gyutaro chooses a song that correlates. He sang with passion, hoping his extra effort would be worth it.

******

It wasn’t worth it, because after he was done, you gave your applause and then scurried to your house the moment he gave permission. He couldn’t help but gawk at your retreated form and punched the rock to relieve some of his frustration, creating an indent.

He’d get you eventually.

******

The next night, you returned, no less antsy than before.

“I’m back, Mr. Ghost,” you announced, tightening the shawl wrapped around your shoulder. “Actually…are you a ghost?”

Maybe you weren’t so dumb.

“I’m not a ghost, human,” he confirmed, contemplating showing himself.

“Oh…what are you?”

The corners of his lips quirked up. “Guess.”

“…A voice in my head?”

He heaved a breath. A fish swam by him, and he grabbed it and then tossed it at you. You screamed as the flopping fish landed in your lap, then quickly threw it back into the ocean.

“YOU’RE A FUCKING FISH?”

His jaw went slack. Perhaps his initial accession of your intelligence was accurate.

“No, you damn dumbass!” He swam into view, emerging from the rock that’d been shielding him from you. “Guess again.”

Your eyes went wide as you took in his grey skin dotted with black spots, the damp mass of green hair that cascaded down his shoulders, and his golden, glowing eyes. A blush crept onto your face as you eyed his toned stomach, your shameless appraisal making him cock a brow. When he splashed his green-black tail to regain your attention, you gasped.

“You’re a mermaid!” you exclaimed, before shaking your head. “Merman.”

“A siren,” he corrected.

A toothy grin spread across his face when your eyes returned to his chest, your pink tongue darting out to lick your perfectly shaped lips. Stupid prey you were, it was flattering that you couldn’t keep your eyes off him. He often heard he lacked the attractiveness his species was renowned for, but you made him feel like a beauty.

If only you could keep your mouth shut.

You blinked. “But…you’re a guy.”

“And?”

“Sirens are women.”

“Humans think sirens are only female,” Gyutaro corrected with a glare. “But they’re wrong because your species is dumb. Take you, for example.”

Your jaw dropped. “I’m not dumb!”

“You thought I was fish.”

Your cheeks became redder. “I mean, I wasn’t exactly wrong…you have a fishtail.”

“You know,” he began, swimming around lazily. “I heard before that you should never argue with stupid people, because to argue with a fool is to make him your equal.” He scanned you and smirked. “Or her, in your case.”

You glared at him, then stood up. His grin slipped away.

“Hey, come back here!”

“I did not come to be insulted!” you called as you stomped away.

Shit, this isn’t what he wanted!

He growled, then swallowed down his pride. “Dammit, okay, I apologize. Come back know.”

You stopped in your tracks, and thought it over for a second, before returning to the sandy indent you’d created.

“Good girl,” he crooned, holding back a cackle when your breath hitched. Someone’s got a kink. “Now, human, tell me something about yourself.”

“Uhm…I like plants,” you provided after a moment. “I’ve been gardening since a child, and I really do have a Venus flytrap named Cow, by the way.”

Huh, so you hadn’t been lying to him.

He racked his brain for plant-related songs. Few existed among his people, but humanity had many plant theme songs. He heard many drunk tourists sing about them. However, he didn’t know if it would have the same effect as a traditional siren song. Yet, you were resistant anyway, so what does it matter? His mind made up, he began to sing The Secret Life of Plants by Stevie Wonder, a song from the 1970s.

You were visibly awed as he sang, boosting his confidence and giving him hope. But when he belted out the last line, you just applauded with vigor, making him want to throttle you.

“That was-”

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” he snarled, tiring of his efforts being for naught.

“What?’ you squeaked, your eyes going wide. Then, you must’ve had a realization of sorts because your shocked expression transformed into a glare. “You’re trying to lure me in to drown me!”

He was truly confused about how to classify your intelligence. Perhaps, you were simply an idiot with moments of smartness. Or maybe, he shouldn’t overanalyze you, should it impact his brain cell count.

“Yes, I was,” he confirmed, seeing no reason to hide the truth. “It’s what sirens do.”

“You asshole!”

“Oh, shut up!” he snapped. “You’re alive, so stop throwing a fit.”

Unfortunately. He’d make your death a slow one, just for putting him through all this trouble.

“It’s the principal,” you shot back, then smirked at him. “And I guess you’re a defective siren since I’m still alive.”

You said the insult in a singsong voice, pissing him off to no end.

“You’re the defective one!” he snarled, wanting to come onto land and claw you to pieces. “Normal humans don’t resist my song.

You shrugged. “I’m not resisting, I’m just built different.”

You giggled at your words, a pleasant chime that lessened his anger.

“I just haven’t found the right song yet.”

“Yeah, good luck with that.” You stood but didn’t walk away. “And just so you know, I’m not dumb enough to come to a beach where a creature is actively trying to kill me.”

******

You were indeed dumb enough to come back to a beach where a creature is actively trying to kill you. Three days later, you were back for your midnight stroll, barefoot in a tight little dress. He was happier than he wanted to admit seeing you again. A part of him feared that you’d keep to your words and shun the beach for good. The idea wasn’t one he relished; he still had to prove himself to you, after all.

“I thought you weren’t coming back,” Gyutaro said when he spotted you again.

He gnawed on the fish he’d been snacking on, smirking when you cringed at the sound of his teeth biting through flesh.

“This is the best beach on the island, and I literally live right next to it,” you explained with a glare. “Besides, your raggedy songs don’t work on me anyway. Must be a vocal issue; you should get that checked out.”

Gyutaro’s humor quickly evaporated. A siren’s power was in their voice, and to insult their vocals was a grave affront.”

“My voice is just fine, thank you,” he hissed, throwing the half-eaten fish at you. Your scream relieved some of his anger. “You’re the weird one.”

“Whatever helps you sleep at night…or day.” You cocked your head to the side, your brows furrowing. “When do sirens sleep?”

He sniffed. “Why should I tell you.”

“You’re literally trying to kill me. I’m at least owed an answer to a simple question.”

He couldn’t figure out if your bravery stemmed from genuine valor, the emptiness in your head, or cockiness from your apparent immunity. Maybe, it was a cocktail of the three. Either way, it was both amusing and irritating.

But he’d play nice for now. 

“Most sirens are nocturnal.”

“Like sharks!” you exclaimed.

Your excitement took him aback, as did the fact that you knew that piece of information. He couldn’t help but smile at you. Instead of flinching away at the show of his sharp teeth, you returned the grin.

He decided to ignore the fluttering of his heart, and just nod. “Yes.”

Silence befell you. A gust of wind passes, allowing him to pick up the scent of alcohol that clung to you. Your eyes were glazed, and your cheeks were pinkened, exposing that you weren’t sober. After some minutes, you grow dissatisfied with the quietness. And truth be told, it was starting to bother him, too.

“So, you going to try to hypnotize me again?”

You again cocked your head to the side, and he refused to admit how cute he thought you looked when you did that.

He had a reputation to maintain, after all. Those who knew of him were aware of his brutality, and he wasn’t going to let a gorgeous little human soften him.

“Naturally,” he said with a scoff. “I’m a siren. It’s what we do.”

“Okay,” you replied, plopping into the sand, uncaring that your striking black dress was getting covered in sand. “Go ahead.” 

His eyes went wide. Never had prey just offered themselves to him.

“What?”

He was positive this was a trick of some sort.

You rolled your eyes. “I said go ahead. Try.” You grinned at him. “Let’s see if you’re successful.”

A part of him admired your fearlessness, but another found it idiotic. If you were like this with everyone, another being could take you out before he could have you, and that’d be a real shame. But you weren’t with another being right now. You were with him, so he’d play your little game.

“Okay, human,” he hummed, tapping a claw against his chin as he thought of another question that might entrap you.

“I want to be a writer,” you revealed.

He let his hand drop. “What?”

“You always ask a question before you sing,” you explained. “So, I’m giving you an answer to one.”

“I haven’t asked anything.”

“Thanks to me. Now sing.”

Such a cheeky human. But he obliged, singing a ballet about a hopeful poet that set off on an ill-fated voyage. It was old, used by his people to hypnotize the sailors of old.

Gyutaro sensed that you were moved by the lyrics he belted out, and he couldn’t help but smile at the attention you’d given him. You were properly entranced, and he hoped that this would be the song that’d get you.

It wasn’t.

When he went silent, you just breathed out, “Wow,” and gave your typical applause. Then, you had the nerve to demand he sing another song as if your refusal to succumb wasn’t an insult to his very existence.

However, his hurt feelings didn’t stop him from singing to you until the sun began to rise, at which point you stumbled to your little bungalow.

******

Gyutaro was a realistic siren. He knew he wasn’t the most attractive out there, but he was aware his body had some appealing spots, i.e., his muscles. He knew his siren’s spell didn’t hold the most strength, but he knew what to sing for max efficiency. He knew his territory wasn’t the largest, but it kept him fed. And he knew that falling for a human wasn’t expressly forbidden, but it certainly wasn’t acceptable. 

Humans were supposed to be nothing more than prey, victims of the songs they sang. At best, they were to be used for temporary fun, but not to be made mates. Sure, it’d happened before, but the stories rarely had a happy ending.

But, even knowing this, he still found himself anticipating your visits. Not because he wanted to finally lure you to a watery grave, but because he enjoyed your company. Worse was the fact that he’d begun to fantasize about you.

The night when he’d sang to you until the sun rose had altered your relationship. You’d reveal bits about yourself to aid Gyutaro with his ambitions of conquering you, giving him a wealth of information with him. Now, you two were more akin to friends who’d make snarky comments, as opposed to hunter and prey. Even with him longing to render you spellbound, he could no longer just see you as a future meal.

As the game you two were playing continued, he found his goals changing. He still wanted to feast on your flesh when he had you in his grasp, but in an entirely different way, one that’d leave you alive and moaning. Instead of consulting you about the topic before choosing a song—there was no need to, he knew enough about you—he’d sing about love and lust, tales of grand love stories and erotic flings.

Some songs would be in the language of sirens, others in your human language. He wondered if you’d begun to feel differently about him, too, if you noticed the shift in the songs he’d sung to you. If you did, you gave no indication, but he noticed how the lyrics he sang held your attention. He was on the verge of a breakthrough; he was sure of it.

******

 Weeks passed with him singing of love and lust. He noticed you responded to songs that spoke of great, passionate love. Your eyes would become glazed over, your mouth agape. You still retained some wits—hence why you weren’t his yet—but he could feel your resistance lessening. It made sense. People often responded best to what they cared most for, and if the romance novels you’d occasionally bring with you were any indication, you were a romantic at heart.

He also hadn’t forgotten the way you’d first looked at him when you revealed yourself. Lowkey as you might’ve been about it, you were attracted to him.

“Do all sirens live alone?” you asked one day, out of the blue.

He shook his head. “Many live within a group.”

You tilted your head to the side, a signal of your curiosity that he found adorable. “How come you don’t?”

Once upon a time, he hadn’t been alone. His sister had been with him, but the beauty she was, she had many vying to mate with her. The siren she happened to choose was one he respected but lived far away from his territory.

“I used to, then my sister got mated, and now it’s just me.”

“Mated?” you repeated with furrowed brows. “Like…married?”

“I suppose that’s the easiest way for a human to comprehend it.”

“But it isn’t exactly the same?”

“No, it isn’t,” he confirmed. “Mating pairs don’t separate, due to the unbreakable bond that is forged between the two.”

An extremely simplified version of things, but he’ll explain it all to you in due time.

 Your eyes with wide wonder. “Woah…is it like a ritual or something? Or do you just see someone and know?”

He couldn’t help but chuckle. “No, we don’t have pre-destined soulmates. We chose who we spend our life with, based on who we’re most compatible with.”

“Like humans,” you stated, then nodded before he could respond. “Makes sense, since you’re, like, half fish, half human.”

He growled at that. “Sirens are our own beings, thank you.”

“Whatever helps you sleep at night…or day,” you amended after a second of contemplation, before shaking your head. “Anyway, what’s the ceremony like? You said a bond is forged and they can’t separate, so a ceremony must be had, right?” 

You were getting smarter, and Gyutaro couldn’t help but feel pride. It was his relationship with you, after all, that aided in increasing your intelligence.

 “Correct. A spell, akin to human wedding vows, is said, then blood is consumed while the pair consummate the relationship. Some even eat the flesh of their lovers, but either works, as long as a part of the other’s body is consumed.”

Mates had always been a point of interest for Gyutaro. There was a time he’d feared he’d never found one, so he observed and learned the behaviors of every mated pair he’d run across to increase his chances of finding love. Now, he wondered if his closed mind had been the issue because he only considered others of his kind worthy of mating with him.

Then, he’d fallen for you and realized how wrong that notion had been.

You shuddered at his explanation, your expression turning queasy. “Uhm, ew…do you have a mate?”

He looked you over, then shook his head, a small smirk on his lips. “No, not yet.”

******

“Hey, Gyutaro,” you asked, lounging on the beach in a pair of shorts and a tank top, your latest romance novel in your grasp. “Do you still want to kill me?”

He was taken aback by your question. “W-what?”

You sat straighter and cast the book aside. “Like, you still try to hypnotize me. So, do you still want to make a meal of me?”

Yes, but not in the way you were thinking.

“I don’t want to kill you, no,” he admitted with a sigh, then looked away, slightly embarrassed by the confession.

A siren not wanting to kill a human is an anomaly. Homo sapiens were food, not friends.

“So…why sing to me?”

“To see if I can lure you in…it’s a pride thing.”

Your brows furrowed. “So, you’d just see if you can get me under your spell, then…release me?”

He shook his head. “Not exactly.”

“But you don’t want to kill me?” you asked, quite confused.

Another head shake. “Correct.”

“So…what do you want to do to me?”

A lot, much of it involving nudity, fingers, and tongues.

“That,” he began, smirking at your confusion. “Is for me to know and for you to find out.”

“Ominous,” you hummed, picking up the book again. “As long as I’m alive, I’m down for whatever.”

You had no idea what you were signing up for, poor human. He snickered before a thought occurred to him. His laughter died down, and he narrowed his eyes at you.

“You were letting me try to hypnotize you…thinking I was going to kill you eventually?”

You shrugged, then nodded. “Yeah. It’d be a cool way to die.”

“You damn dumbass!” he snapped, a pit forming in his stomach at the thought of you dying. How ironic. After spending so much time plotting your demise, it now pained him to think of a world without you in it. “Why would you do that?”

Another shrug, making him scowl at him. “Why not? It’s not like my death would affect anyone; I only have myself. Plus, death would allow my student loans to be canceled.”

Gyutaro’s heart ached at your words. He was aware that humans were social creatures, not programmed to be alone for too long. Not having anyone was dangerous for your species.

But, instead of lecturing you or prying for information you might not be willing to give, he simply said, “You’re wrong, you have me now.”  

You went silent for a moment, and he feared he may have said the wrong thing. Then, you beamed at him, and all his worries went away.

******

After finding out how little you cared about living, Gyutaro began to grow more desperate to claim you. Your recklessness didn’t stem from stupidity but was sourced from your lack of will to live. While it might allow you to have an easier time accepting him, it was a direct danger to your life. Thus, Gyutaro decided to stop fooling around and pull out the big guns. The next time you came to him, he didn’t waste time singing to you, nor did he have to contemplate. He determined that it was time to end the game you two had been playing and began officially courting you.

Well, kind of. He was skipping several steps and going straight to the mating song. It was the most intimate part of courting and was often the deciding factor.

So, when you settled into your family spot and stared at him expectantly, awaiting the sound of his voice, his heart pounded against his ribcage. If this didn’t hypnotize you, he didn’t know what well. It was selfish and underhanded for Gyutaro to use hypnosis instead of honesty, but he had a fear of rejection. It was the reason he’d been unable to accept your resistance to his song.

“I’m waiting,” you said.

Shit, he hadn’t said anything.

He nodded and took a breath and began singing the most important song of his life. As he sang, he noticed how your breath quickened, how your pupils dilated and eyes glossed over, the parting of your lips. You stood from the sand and began to wade into the water, finally traversing the depths to make your way to him.

 Gyutaro doesn’t think he ever grinned so broadly. At long last, you’d succumbed to his voice. Most importantly, you were now in his arms, and he had no intentions of letting you go anytime soon.

A/N: This turned out a lot fluffier than I thought it would, and I apologize for the lack of smut if you were looking forward to it! However, a second part detailing the mating ritual may be done, and that would definitely be spicy 🤭

[a-forbidden-detective]

Today an article came out about the two Ron Kamonohashis playing in the TV anime, Youhei Azakami, and onstage next month, Yuta Kishimoto. Both have given their thoughts about playing the forbidden detective, how they differ, and how they approach this role.

Yuta Kishimoto and Youhei Azakami (whose stylish pullover makes me dizzy), two Rons onstage and the TV anime

It is a long article. So you are in for a long ride! Also, this is a rough translation with the help of an app. So apologies in advance.

—oo—

Having played Ron in the TV anime’s 1st Season, could you tell us again about the charm of this work that you are playing?

Youhei Azakami (hereafter, Azakami): It's a work packed with an incredible amount of coolness. The characters and the story are like that, but the original work features Amano-sensei's wonderful illustrations that make you want to frame each page like a painting. Among them, there are various aspects such as cool serious scenes and, conversely, comical scenes, which made it very appealing as I read through the manga.

When it was adapted into an anime, it was a pressure for us cast members, but I think the animators also felt pressure because they had to faithfully and dynamically animate Amano-sensei's drawings. However, when I watched the completed work as a viewer, I felt a sense of pride and confidence that we were able to create a wonderful piece of work with everyone's efforts.

That's why I truly believe that the charm of this anime lies in the fact that these incredibly cool illustrations were properly animated, with fitting voices and music added. I think it's a comprehensive art form.

Were there any things you were conscious of while performing, or things you noticed during your performance?

Azakami: When I project the character Ron onto myself while acting, I find that he's a bit out of sync with others, so it becomes confusing. Like, why would he suddenly insert a joke in such an important scene, or how can he maintain himself with such drastic shifts? So, I thought it might be more interesting to play him as "mysterious" without getting too emotionally involved.

Therefore, rather than "becoming Ron," I focused on bringing out the "interesting parts" of Ron's character. I think that approach worked well in the end. I felt that it would be more enjoyable for the audience to perceive the character as cool or funny, rather than focusing on consistency.

On the other hand, Kishimoto-san, you will be playing Ron from now on. Could you tell us what you are thinking about in terms of character development at this point (before rehearsals)?

Yuta Kishimoto (hereafter, Kishimoto): Regardless of this work, I'm not the type to rigidly decide everything in advance. Acting is a conversation, isn't it? It's something that is established through live conversations between people, so if you decide everything too rigidly, you might not be able to react when something unexpected comes your way.

So, I only decide on a big axis... I incorporate the Ron that Azakami-san created as a core within myself, and then line up the movements from the anime. From there, it's about how Toto (Isshiki Totomaru) and I move on stage, how we want to present ourselves. If Toto presents himself in a certain way, maybe Ron should present himself like this, or something like that.

That's why, surprisingly, at this point, I don't want to decide too much. I want to value what is created when we actually face each other.

What do you think is the appeal of Ron?

Azakami: If you think about whether you could be friends with him, I think you'd be quite overwhelmed (laughs).

Kishimoto: It would be unbelievable if he were close by.

Azakami: It really would be. However, when you team up as buddies and solve cases together, you realize there's probably no one more reliable. From that buddy perspective, or when he becomes your ally, I think you can really notice his dependable qualities, but it's not easy (laughs).

Kishimoto: If he were the culprit, I definitely wouldn't want to meet him (laughs). It feels like he can read everything. His insight and sharp perspective are just... Once you're found, or targeted, it's over, so you definitely want him on your side.

Azakami: You don't want him as an enemy. That might be something we both agree on.

Since the topic of buddies came up, I'd like to ask about the relationship between Ron, whom you play, and Toto, who is his counterpart.

Azakami: The character Toto takes on the role of someone who can act in place of a person forbidden from being a detective. If that's all there was to him, Toto's presence might seem a bit thin, but he has a passion and a sense of justice that won't tolerate wrongdoing, and he can prioritize someone else's life over his own. Those are his strengths, and I think Ron is probably influenced by them as well.

In the anime, Junya Enoki plays Toto, and he performs with a warmth and a sense of human touch, breathing life into the character beyond just his role or icon status. Thanks to that, the dynamic between Ron's eccentricity and the two of them being an odd pair is created. For viewers, it might be easier to empathize with Toto than with Ron. (Italics mine)

Kishimoto: This is my first time working with (Yutaka) Nozaki-kun, who plays Toto, and it's his first stage performance in six years. In another interview, he mentioned that he's both excited and nervous. I feel that this will allow him to create a very "pure Toto." I think that as Nozaki-kun faces the role, he will naturally become Toto.

To fully convey Toto's charm, the role of Ron, who is his counterpart, is crucial in bringing it out. I hope we can develop a relationship where we complement each other and fit together perfectly.

As we continue with rehearsals, many challenges will arise. If we can overcome these challenges together, I believe we will naturally be able to convey a sense of partnership and relationship.

With the 2nd Season of the anime and the stage performance starting this fall, could you tell us about characters other than Ron that you are paying attention to in each work?

Kishimoto: For me, it's definitely Milo (Moriarty). He's a character who is the complete opposite of Ron, as the cases he causes are 100% unsolvable, so I find myself empathizing with him or getting drawn to him.

Even when watching the anime, I end up viewing it from Ron's perspective, thinking, "This guy..." He's a character that's hard to grasp, but I'm paying attention to his future actions.

Azakami: I think everyone really looks exactly like their characters based on the visuals. There are many characters and actors that catch my interest, but the one I'm most interested in is Professor Grizzly.

In the anime, Mr. Yamaji played the role of Professor Grizzly. He was a senior with many years of experience, and recording with three or four people in the same booth was incredibly educational due to the tension. When the oldest person joins a group of younger people, they have to deliver the best performance and also show their seniority. It's about properly demonstrating that.

The character of Professor Grizzly itself draws attention, making you wonder what kind of performance he will deliver. I think he will become a character with a slightly different atmosphere from everyone else, and having such a senior person on set can really tighten things up. Although I am a voice actor, I am also an actor, so I would like to see the balance and interactions in such situations.

Kishimoto: I have previously worked with Sohei Izumi, who plays Grizzly, and he is incredibly captivating (laughs).

In both anime and stage performances, there is the aspect of playing the same character, but I believe the approach is different. Anime captivates with voice alone, while stage performances captivate with the whole body. I would like to hear about the joys and challenges of acting from each perspective.

Azakami: Stage performances are tough, aren't they? The visual aspect—such as the body and appearance—is something you can't really change. You have to express a character that seems to have come out of a two-dimensional world with your own body.

As you mentioned earlier, it's a process of repeatedly rehearsing and internalizing the character. That's something we voice actors can't quite do, and there's a certain admiration for it.

Voice actors inevitably read scripts, and the premise is to act as if you're not reading. Creating lines from within yourself is something I've always respected and admired, so I'm looking forward to this stage performance.

Kishimoto: On the other hand, we can let the audience feel the character through various elements like visuals and sound, but for voice actors, it's just the voice, right? I can't imagine captivating an audience with just the voice. We have many tools and weapons at our disposal. But to challenge with just the single sword of voice is kind of otherworldly...

Azakami: We both have that feeling, don't we? The grass is always greener on the other side. This is the first time a character I've played is being brought to a 2.5D stage, so I think it's going to be a great learning experience, and I definitely want to see the performance.

Kishimoto: Thank you, it's an honor!

By the way, as someone who has played Ron a little earlier, do you have any advice for Kishimoto-san?

Azakami: Many people refer to me as the original, but since the stage and anime are different media, I would like them to be treated as completely different things. The approach might be entirely different, and I want to see that. I want to see things from a different angle, like "I would approach it this way" or "Kishimoto-san does it this way," things I couldn't see myself.

So, although I've been told that you've watched the footage many times and listened to my voice, from here on, I would love to see the character that Kishimoto-san creates, and I hope the fans will feel that both are the original.

Kishimoto: I have nothing but words of gratitude. I want to cherish the "Ron that only I can portray," and I want to value everyone else besides Ron as well. I hope to deliver something that makes people say, "This is unique to the stage," or "This is how the stage version is."

On the contrary, if even one more person is inspired by the stage performance to check out the original manga or anime, I would feel that "it was worth doing the stage." Therefore, I truly want to cherish the words I have just received and approach the rehearsals with that in mind.

For both of you, not just in the case of Ron in this work, but as actors, could you share what you do, what you keep in mind, or what you are careful about when creating a character?

Azakami: I believe that every character possesses a sense of humanity, so I want them to have weaknesses as well as strengths, and to have flaws as well as beauty. I always think about wanting to bring out those aspects somewhere.

In the case of Ron, even though he is so cool, once he becomes weak, he can't do anything without Toto. I want to emphasize those uncool aspects. Otherwise, I feel the character would become superficial and not three-dimensional, so I want to value the character's shortcomings more than their strengths. (Italics mine; and also Me: screaming internally !!!)

When it comes to playing a character, the character profile often lists strengths, but not weaknesses. I sometimes think that maybe I should just create those weaknesses myself, or perhaps it's something I'm entrusted with.

Kishimoto: Of course, in the original work, everything is depicted in great detail, but I place importance on how Ron spends his time in the background of scenes where another character is in the spotlight, even though they are in the same space.

Additionally, I often think about "What would Ron be thinking?" or "How would Ron face this situation?" especially during rehearsal periods or when engaging with the work, and even at times that have nothing to do with it. Sometimes I get too immersed, but I believe that time spent thinking about these things is very important.

This is because, after all, theater is a living thing, and accidents or unexpected events can occur during performances. But in such times, the thought process of "What would Ron do in this situation?" that I've repeatedly considered naturally comes to the surface.

I've had experiences where by following the path of "I would do this, but Ron would probably move like this," I've reached important points. So, in this work as well, my approach is to think about "What would Ron do...?" in various situations.

Are there any highlights for the 2nd Season of the anime and the stage play?

Azakami: There is a kind of relationship that has been built among the actors since the 1st Season. The atmosphere on set is really good, and every time we have guest actors playing roles like the culprit or the victim, a variety of luxurious cast members come and go. This makes each case have a completely different vibe. It's amazing how much the atmosphere can change depending on the cast, to the point where it feels like we're doing a completely different work.

Of course, the main team that works together... the sense of closeness with these reliable companions has really tightened. The interactions and atmosphere created from that closeness were established in the 1st Season, so in the 2nd Season, I hope we can deliver that to everyone through various approaches.

There are many moments where viewers might think, "Ah, the dialogue exchange between these two was really on point," and I believe that's something we could achieve because it's the 2nd Season. We enjoyed the recording process that much, so I hope everyone looks forward to it.

Kishimoto: In this production, there are several cast members I've worked with before, but like Nozaki-kun earlier, there are also many people I'm meeting for the first time. I am confident that because it's a gathering of people who are new to each other, various chemical reactions will occur. Of course, I think there will be challenges because of that, but I also believe there are things that only this group can achieve, so I want us all to embody that together.

Also, I really want to emphasize the interaction and buddy feeling with Toto. I think it's a significant part of the fun in the original work and the anime, so I truly want to face that with Nozaki-kun and express the duo of Ron and Toto together.

Since we have the opportunity, could you both share the points you're looking forward to in each other's works? Azakami-san, for the stage play, and Kishimoto-san, for the anime's 2nd season.

Azakami: As I mentioned earlier, this is my first time having a work I'm involved in adapted into a 2.5D stage play. Creating a character using my entire body and interacting with others, and then delivering that to the audience, means that we'll definitely notice points that we didn't catch during the anime recording.

There might be scenes where Ron's posture or gestures, or lines that aren't in the original work or the anime script, are expressed. The instinctive reactions to accidents, as you mentioned earlier, are something that can only be discovered by someone who is facing the role as an actor, so I think I'll take advantage of that (laughs).

There are many things I want to absorb from Kishimoto-san's portrayal of Ron, and I'm looking forward to it both as a single work and from an actor's perspective. Honestly, I kind of hope a little accident happens (laughs). I'm curious about how they would handle it (laughs).

Personally, I'm really bad at ad-libbing. When I'm asked to say lines that aren't in the original script, I find it quite challenging (italics mine). I worry that I might be personalizing the character too much. But when I think about how actors should, in a way, become like that, I realized that I'm not good at ad-libbing.

However, rather than trying to create it on my own, I thought I should learn from various people, so please let me learn [from you] (laughs).

Kishimoto: Since the 1st Season ended the way it did, I'm very curious about the movements of the M Family. Up until now, there have been individual incidents, and a story with slight connections has started to emerge. But it's becoming heavier and more serious. I'm particularly interested in the M Family, who seems to be working behind the scenes of these incidents.

However, as the series becomes more serious, I'm looking forward to seeing characters like Ron and Toto, who we couldn't see in the 1st Season, and exploring their new relationships.

Lastly, please share a message for the fans who are looking forward to the anime and stage play.

Kishimoto: First of all, I am personally very happy that it can be adapted into a stage play, and I am truly delighted to be able to play Ron. However, since I have been given this opportunity, I believe it would be meaningless if people don't say, "I'm glad it was Yuta Kishimoto." So, I want to approach this in a way that will definitely make people say that.

However, a stage play cannot be established by myself alone. I am supported by all the staff, and although I am given the opportunity to perform in a double lead role with Toto, the actors who solidify the performance are all senior to me. I hope to absorb as much as I can from their acting and ultimately be able to output as "Ron." I would be delighted if you could enjoy the live performance and "Kamo Ron Stage."

Azakami: With the airing of the 2nd season of the anime and the stage performance happening at the same time, I really feel that the work "Ron Kamonohashi’s Forbidden Deductions" is expanding. I'm truly glad to have had this opportunity for a discussion.

I think it's quite rare to have a discussion where you play the same character. Isn't it a very mysterious time? That's why I love the work that gave us this opportunity and the movement of the entire work. I would be delighted if you could support the original work, the anime, and the stage performance as a whole.

(Thank you Animate!)

[lizard-on-a-window-pane]

In more ways than I’ve ever been able to tell you

summary: You and Sirius are best friends and flatmates. You’re also in love with each other. Too bad neither of you has admitted that to the other. When you decide to move out because you can’t take the unrequited love anymore, feelings come up and come out.  

tags: friends to lovers, mutual pining, fluff, angst, reader gender not specified, implied marauder!reader

Pairing: Sirius Black x Reader word count: 2.6k

“There’s something you’re not telling me,” Sirius said as you avoided his gaze while you tidied up your shared kitchen just after dinner. You’d been off all evening, for a few days in fact, and it was driving him mad. You told each other everything. You had since you were eleven and had become best friends during your first year at Hogwarts and still did so now that you were flatmates in your post-school days.  

“It’s nothing really. Not a big deal.” “Nothing? or nothing big? C’mon, just tell me what’s giving you wrinkles.”

“I do not have wrinkles!” “Well you don’t now, but you will soon with how scrunched up your pretty face has been all night,” he laughed as he reached over to you and smoothed the skin in between your furrowed brow with the pads of his fingers. 

You glared at him, but the coldness was lost in how quickly you melted into his touch. In one smooth motion, he moved his fingers across your eyebrow, running a strand of hair behind your ear, then letting his hand rest easily where your shoulder and neck met. His thumb lightly caressed your jawline. 

“So? You gonna tell me what it is or…” “Like I said, Pads, it won’t be a big deal for you… It’s just… Well… The thing is, Siri… I’m kind of… moving out.”

He froze instantly, hand going stiff mid-caress. After a beat of silence, he let out a single disbelieving scoff. 

“Ok, well, at least now I know this is some kind of ridiculous joke.” “What?” you asked, voice softer than it had been mere moments ago when you had finally confessed what you hadn’t had the heart to tell him all week since you’d made your decision. It’d been spurred by a conversation with Remus. You had been crying softly on his shoulder after a session of his comforting you about your unrequited feelings toward one infuriatingly charming, unfailingly kind, grey-eyed flatmate / best friend. Nothing new there. Remus had been your rock since your early school days when you gradually realized you loved Sirius a bit differently than you loved Remus or James. Remus, being the annoyingly observant, empathetic boy he was realized it too. Though you were initially mortified when one evening in the library he looked up at you from his book and casually asked, “Are you in love with Padfoot?,” you soon came to be eternally grateful to have such a wonderful friend to confide in. You knew that you would have never told him, or James, about your feelings had he not guessed them himself — not because you were afraid to admit them as much as because you didn’t want to put them in a difficult position given he was one of their best mates as well. 

Last week, when you’d decided to move out of yours and Sirius’s flat, Remus had kindly but firmly told you things would never get any easier if you never gave yourself space to be you without being you and Sirius. You knew it was true, had known it for years, but being without Sirius always seemed like an unthinkable proposition. It would have been almost funny had it not been so disturbing. 

Sure, it hurt like hell every time you saw him with someone else, or every time either of you said “I love you” and your heart broke a little bit at how differently two people could mean the same three words. But even still, that came with all the good things about being Sirius Black’s best friend. It came with the nights of so much laughter you both ended up crying and clutching your sides, creating inside jokes that would become staples of your interactions for years to come. It came with the nights of holding each other after Sirius had had a nightmare about his childhood and come tiptoeing into your room, reduced to the boy you had first fallen in love with. It came with the nights of you holding on to him for dear life, a life you felt more intensely than ever in those moments, as he sped through the skies on the flying motorbike you had helped him perfect the charms for during countless days and nights. But, at some point, the moments of hurt had started catching up to the moments of joy, and recently, there were even times when they surpassed them. 

Now, here you stood in your little kitchen, waiting for him to explain how the hell the hardest decision of your life so far was a ridiculous joke. 

“Well, you can’t be serious.” You waited for him to make his overplayed, yet somehow still charming quip about how you couldn’t be Sirius because he was Sirius, but it didn’t come. Instead, he went on, mouth in a smile but eyes mirthless, “You can’t be serious because saying that my best friend in the entire world leaving would be ‘no big deal to me’ is probably the most outrageous thing I’ve ever heard… and I spent seven years rooming with Prongs, so I’ve heard plenty.” 

“I didn’t mean… I just thought that… I’ll still come over…”

“Oh? You’ll visit every now and again? Alright, then, how silly of me! You were right! I probably won’t even notice you’re gone!” he sarcastically interrupted your rambling, arms flailing about. 

“Sirius…”

Your voice broke on the single word, and you had to swallow quickly to keep the lump down in your throat. You felt the first tear make its way down your burning cheek. 

The frantic look that had come into his eyes dissipated at the sight of you. His next breath was slow, the exhale particularly loud. 

“Darling, I’m sorry… I… I didn’t mean to be such a prick, I’m just confused.” He stepped closer to you again, hands coming up to your shoulders, eyes searching yours. “Why do you want to go? Did I do something? If it’s something I did, I can change it, really, I can, I know I can be a pain to live with sometimes, but I’ll put in more effort.” Silly suggestions about cleanliness and noise levels and cooking started racing out of his mouth as he looked at you pleadingly. You were desperate to comfort him. To tell him the truth. 

“No,” you’d say, “No, Sirius, you didn’t do anything wrong, and you’re not a pain to live with. I’m just absolutely madly in love with you, and I have no chance of getting over it if I stay so close. So close to you, so close to everything I want with you, the life we have together but just that little bit more…” Instead, you opted for a pathetic, “No, Pads, it’s not your fault. It’s me,” and you cringed immediately at hearing the words come out in a voice you were struggling to recognize as your own. 

“What about you?” he asked, his voice impossible not to recognize as so completely and entirely his — musical almost, even in its sadness, strained yet still gentle.

The question had his mind reeling, everything about you he loved, everything about you that annoyed him but that he wouldn’t trade for the world if it meant having you close. He had finally come to accept your place in his life — a slow process especially in his younger days. His family life had made him wary of dependency, wary of love… but you had taught him how to love — how to give it, how to accept it. James and Remus, too, certainly had played their part in giving him what he previously never thought he’d have: a family. But you, you were his air. He’d be lying if he said he never wondered what it would be like to be romantic with you. But in his school days, he was much too afraid he’d royally fuck things up and quickly proceeded to push those feelings so far down that he could (usually) pretend they weren’t there. You were too good for him anyway, he thought, you deserved someone better. And yet, even the thought of you with someone else had gotten more and more unbearable with each passing year. And the thoughts of you with him in ways you hadn’t been before… well, it was a good thing you weren’t a Legilimens…. especially late at night when you’d lay your legs across his lap as you read on the sofa, his hands coming down to slowly stroke up and down your thighs… or when he felt those same thighs tight on either side of him as you held on behind him on his motorbike, the wind rushing past you, your screams and laughter in his ears even more invigorating than the sharp drop below. 

The idea that he could be losing you now terrified him in a way he never had been before in his life. 

“I need a change,” you whispered.

“Then we’ll both move,” he said immediately, “Where do you want to go? I’ll go anywhere with you. You want a house? How about a cottage on a beach somewhere? That’s a change from a city flat, right? Or, we could get a dog? That’ll definitely be different. I won’t lie; I’ll probably have to work on not being jealous of not being the only pup in the house, but I can make it work, love, if that’s what you want.” You had started laughing in spite of yourself, in spite of the tension of the situation. Sirius had a way of doing that, of making even the worst moments better, of making moments you dreaded moments you wouldn’t trade for anything after he put his mark on them. 

“Siri, I don’t want a dog,” you giggled. “…another dog,” you amended cheekily, and he smiled his first real smile in response. “A beachside cottage does sounds lovely, but I think the isolation would be quite the opposite of what I need unfortunately.” 

“Then what do you need, darling?” he implored, expression solemn again. 

You didn’t know how to tell him. You didn’t know what to tell him. You couldn’t tell him the truth, but you couldn’t think of a lie that would account for the fact that what needed changing involved him so intimately. 

Because you were coming up absolutely blank, your mouth resorted to clichés again without bothering to ask your brain’s permission. “I need space,” you said. “Space?” Sirius looked thoughtful, like he was exhausting himself with the effort of finding a solution for you. “Space from what?” After you didn’t say anything for a long, horrible moment, he continued, his tone begging you to correct him, “Space from me?”

“No, not from you.” You paused. “From us, I suppose.” “Us?” 

“Yeah…” “Somehow I think that’s worse, love. At least if it was just that I was a twat, I could work on it, but here you are telling me it’s the best thing in my life that’s the problem in yours.” He attempted a little laugh at the end to lighten the sentiment but failed miserably, the utter dejection apparent in his face, his voice, his demeanor. 

You were gutted. You couldn’t handle hurting him like this. Being the cause of that look on his face was one of the worst feelings you’d ever experienced and perhaps the only thing that could have pushed you to finally be as brave as you should have been from the beginning. If your feelings for him made him angry or made things weird, at least you could get through it. You trusted him enough to know that. The fear of rejection was nothing compared to the fear of letting him go on believing your relationship was a problem, wasn’t the best part of your life as well. 

You flung your arms around his neck, buried your face in the crook of his neck, clinging to him with a viselike grip and breathing him in as you gathered the courage to plunge past the point of no return. He returned your embrace, confused but comforted, and equally as desperate as you. 

“I love you,” you said, trying to explain. “I love you, too,” he replied, unsure what something so thoroughly obvious, so utterly true had to do with what was going on, what was threatening to upend him.

“In more ways than I’ve ever been able to tell you… deeper ways than I’ve ever been able to admit to you…” you went on, pulling back from your hug only enough to look him in the eyes as you said this. “And it hurts so much sometimes, Siri, I don’t think I can take it forever — being in love with you, I mean. At this point, I’m pretty sure I will be, because Godric knows I’ve tried long and hard not to, but I’ll have no chance of moving on if I stay completely immersed in you.”

“Don’t.” He said it firm, certain. 

“Don’t what?” “Don’t move on. Don’t move out. Stay here, with me, because as much as you could possibly love me, trust me, y/n, I’ll match you every bit of it. And forever sounds pretty good to me then, don’t you think?”

The brightness in his eyes was blinding and yours had started crying again without your noticing when exactly, but it didn’t matter as you nodded your head madly. 

He laughed, holding you tighter, pressing his forehead to yours. “Yeah?” he took a tiny break in his enormous smile to ask.

“Yeah,” you responded, “yeah, yes, definitely.”

“Alright, good then,” he said, giddy. “So you’re staying. Glad that’s settled. Really had me worried there for a moment. Not very nice of you, really, messing with my emotions like that. I think maybe we should get a dog. I’m sure it’d be nicer to me than you — a proper best friend, not all of this ‘I’m leaving’ business.”

You were laughing, hard, but still managed to let out, “Pads, please, for the love of Godric, shut up now.”

“You see? This is the kind of treatment I’m talking about. You’re cruel, y/n, very cruel.” “Oh, I’m cruel?” “Wicked. Utterly wicked.” “Hm. I guess I should make it up to you then, shouldn’t I?” “Yes, I think you most certainly should.” 

You giggled. You brought your hand to his nape, your fingers running through his hair. You were already incredibly close, your lips just the smallest decision away from each other. You bumped his nose with yours, and though the playful mood remained, the intensity of the atmosphere increased dramatically, the sliver of air between you heavy with anticipation. 

Then Sirius did something you didn’t quite expect in that moment. He smiled. Simple, yes, but it said everything: how much he loved you, how much you trusted each other, that even though you were about to do something you’d never done before, it was still him and you, and that was everything.

You smiled back for just a fraction of a moment because then your lips were too busy kissing him to smile. You could hear him laughing, feel his chest rising and falling where it was flush with yours, as he kissed you back ardently. You shouldn’t have expected anything else from Sirius. You were already best friends; you knew how to laugh together, now you were just adding a bit more to it… and that bit was beyond imagination. His laugh finally died down as his tongue made its way between your parted lips, and in its wake, a groan rose from his chest to where your mouths were connected. 

[sloanesallow]

thoughts and feelings ⬇️

I've had a tumblr since 2008 (under different usernames), and have been a part of fandom spaces since I had access to the internet at probably a too-young age.

What I'm getting at is that while the Hogwarts Legacy fandom has brought me some of my closest friends and renewed my creative writing, it has also been some of the most challenging when it comes to negativity, drama and overall stress on my mental health.

Let's start from the beginning when the game came out. I started writing again, joined a discord server and found my footing with a few close friends but still felt very much on the outside of fandom circles.

and then

Remember that "witch hunt" that went around shaming people for writing stories or creating AI voice videos of fanfic? That's why I don't post on TikTok anymore. The negativity was just way too much for me to find joy in sharing content after that.

I came back to tumblr to try and integrate myself more in the fandom, but all I would see was discourse and negativity being spread about characters, about MCs, about art and about fanfic. I even received a few negative anon messages (which I'm not new to), but it was incredibly discouraging. The positivity I did see was few and far between. I know I am not the first to say so, but that one blog that was created recently did not help with how I felt. So many of the posts about writing tropes or characterizations and writing styles got under my skin and seeing comments from people I know or admire in the fandom agreeing with the posts made me sick. For a while, I contemplated deleting my blog and all my HogLog stories from Ao3/Wattpad. There are some days when I still feel like doing this.

There have been some other things related to fandom going on I'd rather not get into, but basically, my confidence hasn't quite been the same in the last few months. I find myself questioning every little thing I do, hesitating to interact with people, and believing I'm better off in isolation. Which sucks, because in May I spent so much time and energy fully outlining Sloane's story, and I was so excited to share and be involved but all of that has been sucked out of me. I don't feel welcome, even in the spaces I thought were safe.

I haven't even been able to properly devote energy to reading or hyping others because I just feel so drained. I have no motivation, I don't feel excited, and worst yet, I feel like it doesn't even matter. I've posted a few things here and there but other than a few close friends, (whom I love dearly) there isn't much feedback. More and more, I feel like I'm on the outside looking in and just pretending to belong when I probably don't.

I don't want to be another member of the fandom who just walks away, but at the same time, I sometimes wonder if I'd be missed. (I am aware this is my brain being mean to me).

I'm not looking for comfort or anything, I just needed to get this out as it's been festering inside my head.

I'm trying, and hoping, to be better soon.

[fancyfeathers]

you talk about how speechless william's darling is all the time, but what would happen if she actually snaps one day? like, actually not backing down and having a voice? also i love moran's darling

(Combining these two asks because I got an idea for it @istgtumlrifyoudothisonemoretime )

The Games We Play of Dust and Ash (Yandere Moriarty the Patriot Masterlist)

I imagine it would happen after her second meeting with Sherlock’s darling, an intelligent and self made woman who doesn’t feel intimidated by others around her. Honestly for a while she lays in bed wondering what the hell was wrong with her, she has let people walk all over her for her entire life, she felt pathetic.

Then eventually Moran’s darling came around and she was something else as well and of course it turned out she was a friend, an information broker, to Sherlock’s darling, the reporter. She was never scared of her situation, hell she even clawed at Sebastian one time, almost got his eye to.

Meanwhile she is scared to ask William is she can sit in the garden.

Then eventually she gets a letter from Sherlock’s darling, asking her if she would like to meet her at a park in a few days. Luckily she was the first to read it because it was hidden in the stack of other mail for the brothers and residents of the estate. She hid the letter between the mattress and the bed frame just in case and for the entire day she is just trying to build up the confidence to ask William when he gets home.

And then after dinner when William is working in his study, she comes in and…

“W-William, I was w-wondering if I could go out to the park later this week to meet with a friend of mine?”

“A friend? Which one?”

Though unintentional, that felt like a slight stab since she had no friends who were still alive anyway, and the thing is William didn’t even kill them.

“Um… the reporter-“

“Absolutely not, now if there is anything else you need-“

“Why not?”

The silence that filled the room after she asked that was louder than anything, she had never questioned William like that before, normally taking no for an answer.

“You should get ready for bed it’s-“

“Would you stop talking to me like I am a child and just tell me why?”

God she never realized how much she hated that look in her eyes, the way they would narrow at her whenever she said something he did not like, like he always knew better than her.

“Dear we can have this conversation in the morning, you are tired and need sleep and I have work to finish-“

“Would you shut just up and answer the question?!”

She yelled at him…

She just yelled at William.

William would never hurt her, he is able to regulate his temper unlike Albert and Louis on occasion, god she remembers the crying from Albert’s darling when he accidentally broke her wrist.

She watched as William stood up from his desk and walked over to her, towering over her as he ever so gently took her hands in his own and he lifted them up to his lips, kissing her hands where they met in his hold.

“Everything I do is for you, and she is trying to stop my goal. I am attempting to create a better world so you will not have to go back to the one you lived in the one where you were turned away by everyone-“

“William.”

“Your mother-“

“Liam.”

“Your friends-”

“Please.”

“I will never abandon you like they have. I was there when your friend died, I held you when you cried, when you had nightmares about what happened and woke up screaming and crying in the night I was the one who was there. I was there because I love and adore you more than anyone else in this god forsaken world and I am not going to let anyone change that… oh dearest, you are crying, come here.”

She felt him embrace her as she just realizes she was behind to cry, a sob ripping from her throat as he holds her.

“…I am sorry, Liam.”

“I know, dear.”

William never has to worry about her falling too far out of line because he knows the exact thing to bring her back to her senses.

She needs him, he has always been there…

Besides she does not have the heart that the others have to truly push back against him…

But Moran’s darling was growing to be some what of a bad influence on her, Louis’ darling as well…

Maybe he should speak to them about that.

[pascaloverx]

Hit The Road

Chapter Twelve

previous chapter next chapter

Summary: You are a hunter of supernatural beings who is forced to experience a new reality: being a vampire. The only thing stronger than your thirst for blood is your thirst for revenge.

Author's note: the characters mentioned here were created by Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec, based on the book series of the same name by author L. J. Smith. They don't belong to me. That said, this fanfic will be short. This fanfic may address scenes of violence, inappropriate language and adult content. Minors should not interact with this story. Also some information here is not in the order of the series or the same way it happened in the tv series. I'm changing some things to fit the fanfic story. Hope you like it!

"I have to admit that your self-confidence is enviable. What's it like making everything about you?" You say, distancing yourself from Damon, trying not to reveal your desire for him.

"Can't you cut through all this talk where it seems like you hate me and admit that you want to be close to me?" Damon says with a confident smile on his face. No matter how much time passes, Damon will never let anything shake his ego.

"Damon, understand that despite everything, you're not the center of the universe." You respond, as if you didn't care about Damon. What you hoped would become a reality.

Before Damon could say anything, you both hear a noise, like a loud crash so powerful that it makes the two of you fall to the ground, feeling agonizing pain. You don't know what's happening until you feel someone lifting your body from the ground as if you were a feather. Slowly, you were becoming unconscious, only having the strength to call Damon's name, seeking some answers. You feared to know what was happening and feared that Salvatore might end up dead before you could resolve things. If only there was a way to go back in time and tell the Salvatore brothers how you felt. But now you knew what was happening. The hunters had finally caught up with you all.

"Years of training, thrown away for the first vampire you felt desire for? I expected more from you, Y/N. Much more, actually. Our first rule has always been, and will always be, not to get romantically involved with the prey. Even being a woman, you should know better." Dimitri, your former leader, says while holding a weapon in his hands.

"Dimitri, how good it is to see you again. You're still the same hunter with an inferiority complex as when you recruited me." You respond, opening your eyes slightly as if you had just woken up. You notice that you are inside some kind of abandoned warehouse, extremely dark, and that only Dimitri is there with you. Everything is very suspicious because in the hunter clan, a hunter doesn't stay alone with prey after it's been taken down. And if they got me, they should have gotten Damon too, right?

"If you're wondering where your boyfriend is, know that he's much smarter than you. As I said, women let emotions affect judgment too quickly." Dimitri speaks, almost smiling too much. You can see that your confused reaction to what he's saying makes him even happier about capturing you. He has always been a bit sadistic, but you expected more professionalism from the leader of the clan that was once your family.

"What do you mean by all of this?" You ask while trying to regain your strength, but there's a sharp pain in your head. Personally, you feel frustrated for not being able to save yourself from this situation.

"My dear, he abandoned you. Managed to escape from us and didn't look back. Now I ask you, was it worth abandoning your human life for him?" Dimitri asks in a mocking tone as you feel vulnerable, as if you were completely exposed. Had Damon finally freed himself from your love and chosen to leave you to die?

"It seems like my fate is sealed. Why are you prolonging this? Cowardice or fear of taking the initiative?" You say, feeling any hope of survival slipping away. If you're going to die, it'll be while telling your killer what a weak man he is.

"I'm not going to kill you. Don't worry. You're part of my clan, as sentimental and naive as you may be. A vampire manipulated you, made you into a needy slut, but you're going to leave all that in the past." Dimitri seems convinced that you will truly forget Damon and join him, but how can he be so sure?

"What makes you so sure?" At this point, you have nothing left to lose, so why not play along with his game.

"You don't feel different, my love? As if something has changed in you? Let's say you feel like you have no choice?" Dimitri speaks, extremely smiling, as if he's witnessing the most hilarious moment in history.

"What did you do to me?" You ask, feeling the pain in your head intensify as Dimitri watches you with a smile.

"Spells are quite useful, you know. Witches hate vampires, at least most of them do. You know, it didn't take me long to find one capable of casting a obedience spell." You feel your body tremble when you hear the words coming from Dimitri's mouth. An obedience spell hasn't been successfully cast in over a century. It's a spell that messes with the mind and body of a vampire, forcing them to do something. Until they obey the command given by the one who enchanted them, they experience continuous pain and madness, nearly reaching the point of death.

"What did you command me to do?" You ask, but soon start to get an idea of what he would want from you. Everything seems to spin in your head as if the world is turning upside down.

"Soon you'll know. In fact, in a few seconds. Know that after you manage to complete your mission, I intend to give you the cure for your bloodsucking problem. Until then, be a good girl and bring me what I requested." What he's saying makes no sense at all. A cure? How am I going to find out what he requested in a few seconds? Everything is so confusing. He doesn't say anything more, just releases you from the rope you were hanging from, letting you fall to the ground. You feel weak, too weak to react to anything, even as you see him leave without further explanations.

At that moment, a woman enters the warehouse, looking lost. You notice she's a vampire as you don't hear her heartbeat. She approaches you, asking if you know where you two are. For you, it becomes clear that she's a newly turned vampire when she doesn't seem to recognize that she's a vampire. But nothing matters; as soon as she gets close enough to you, you rip her heart out. One swift move, and she's gone. You don't know why you did it, but you killed her. As her lifeless body falls to the ground, you feel an improvement in the pain in your head. Damn.That's what he commanded you to do. Kill vampires, without thinking about anything else. You begin to cry, looking at your hands stained with blood, as if something had shattered within you. And indeed, something had broken. Your humanity seemed nonexistent. You no longer have control over yourself. It might have been better if Dimitri had killed you, but instead, he turned you into a killer.

"Y/N!" You hear the voices of Stefan and Damon calling you from outside the warehouse. You can't see them. You have to escape. But it hurts so much. You try to distance yourself from the location, but each step is a struggle. The pain in your head is gradually diminishing, but the emotional pain is increasing. The voices of the Salvatores echo, concerned, calling for you. Tears fill your eyes as you battle against the compulsion that forces you away from those you love.

"Y/N, where are you?" Damon's voice sounds desperate. Desperation fills you as you want so badly to run to the Salvatore brothers, but you can't. Feeling almost immeasurable pain, you manage to lock the entrance of the warehouse. Unfortunately, in the first moments, they don't understand.

"Listen carefully, with no sentimentality or any foolish behavior. I'm under the influence of an obedience spell. The kind that makes me want to die for not obeying the command of the one who cast the spell on me. My orders are to kill vampires. If you don't want to try your luck, I suggest you leave." You finish speaking, not hearing anything—no protests or noise. Despite the disappointment, you feel relieved knowing that you won't kill either of them. The pain in your head is so strong that you lose concentration for a few minutes, not hearing footsteps behind you. Suddenly, you feel someone grip your neck forcefully, and you black out, collapsing unconscious on the ground.

[holly-louisexox]

Ribcage X Andy Biersack- Part 17

Masterlist

“There’s one thing you should know about me Delia Vincent, I don’t date. Got no heart to break and emptiness is safe, keep it that way.”

He was adamant in his choices…

…But then things changed.

"So whilst you were at university, did you just do this? Fiddle with the soundboard and stuff?" Jake asks out of curiosity; it had become his habit to hang out with Delia before sound check to try and learn things from the talented woman he was on tour with, he found it fascinating how she was so confident and could solve pretty much anything. He could never understand half of what she was doing for the most part.

"Sadly not. It was balanced as 60% running a performance and the sound tech, and 40% a written exam. In the exam, I was given different scenarios and I would have to write what I would do and why I would choose to do it and what the outcome would be of that decision." Delia explains whilst ensuring the balance of the audio and amps were correct.

"Wow, that sounds more complicated than I thought for, no wonder you're so confident with this stuff." Jake nods; a conversation itching in the back of his head but unsure whether it should be brought to the surface.

"Yeah it was a rough 5 years but I wouldn't change it for the world. I love my job and love being able to do these things. Touring and seeing different places has by far been the best experience of them all though." Delia smiles looking back at Jake.

"Well I for one would love to have you back on tour with us, I'm sure the others would agree." Jake smiles before that conversation idea pops back into his head. "I must ask Delia, and I hope this is not an upsetting ask of me, have you been eating properly this tour? It's just that, I know touring is hard, especially when it's your first one and... All I'm saying is you gave us quite a fright when you fainted the other day."

"I've been eating Jake don't worry, but I appreciate the concern." Delia dismisses it in hopes that he drops the subject and moves on to something else.

"Is everything okay Delia? People normally don't just faint for no reason." Jake continues to ask out of worry.

"If I am to tell you something Jake, please keep this between us." Delia turns to the guy she would like to hope is her friend.

"Of course, Delia." Jake nods softly willing her to continue.

"A few years ago I was working on a local production of The Phantom of The Opera." Delia sighs, the memory of the event bringing pain and difficulty breathing to her chest. "The woman playing Christine had a sister living in Seattle. The sister went missing and... 2 weeks later they found her body... In the Seattle ferry landing pier."

"Oh shit Delia." Jake gasps placing a gentle hand on her shoulder in comfort. "And that's why you?"

"Yes." Delia nods "Guess it just freaked me out a little bit. It's silly really."

"It's not silly at all, it's completely understandable actually." Jake smiles "At least Andy was there to catch you so you didn't hurt yourself."

"Yeah, at least." Delia smiles awkwardly.

"Delia, what's going on between you and Andy?" Jake asks removing his hand from her shoulder.

"What do you mean?" Delia asks feeling herself panic slightly; surely Lonny didn't spill the gossip.

"I just mean, Andy, he seems almost happy. I've known the guy for years, I know what he went through with the divorce, and I saw how he changed. But he seems conflicted with you. This guard, this fake version of himself he has created to protect himself, it seems to disappear when he's with you." Jake explains sincerely to Delia which makes her speechless. "Delia, have you slept with him?"

"Jake!" Delia gasps before regaining her composure "No, no I have not." Lies. As soon as the lie left her mouth she could think nothing more but Andy, the way his lips were delicate on her skin, the way his fingers traced her body as if she were the finest of chinas; how he managed to make her feel as if she was on top of a pedestal as he worshipped her.

"All I'm saying is please be careful Delia." Jake sighs "As much as I would love to see Andy happy again, I can't ignore the amount of women he's slept with and dumped the next day. I don't want to see you get hurt by him."

"I won't Jake." Delia smiles.

Deep down she was hoping that to be true. As much as she wanted to say she did not feel anything for Andy, she could not deny the way she was fascinated by him. She could not deny she loved the feeling of him, it was almost enchanting.

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

"Great show as always guys!" Shevy smiles and she and Delia bring the food into the backstage room for everyone.

"4 more shows left guys!" CC screams.

"Man I love touring but I cannot wait to spend Christmas with my wife and son." Jinxx smiles.

"Yeah, I'm excited to see my parents again, as much as I love seeing the different states, it's weird being so far from them. I've never been far from them apart from when I went to study in Italy." Delia explains with a sad smile.

"After a while, you learn to focus on yourself and ignore other's feelings." Andy states dryly. "The only person you can ever rely on is yourself."

"Dude, that's cold." Jake replies looking at his bandmate.

"I'm just saying." Andy shrugs "I'm glad your marriages have turned out well but that is never promised. So what's the point? It's just easier to rely on yourself." At this Andy looks towards Delia. 

Andy did not want to hurt Delia, he knew that feeling all too well himself, but he was running out of options. Despite his best efforts, he was continuously drawn to Delia and he wished he was not. He promised himself he would never get close to someone again, not after Juliet. He thought Juliet was his person, the love of his life and the one he was to grow old with. Instead, things got messy, things became unhappy and both of them turned to alcohol, which was ultimately their downfall. Of course, Andy blamed himself entirely, he believed he was the problem. The voice in his head reminded him of that on the daily, reminded him of all the pain he was trying so desperately to hide.

"Look all I'm saying is..." Andy trails off before shaking his head. "It doesn't matter, forget I said anything."

"Woah, Andy, where are you going?" Shevy asks as he stands and starts to walk towards the door.

"I'm going to the bus, I'm tired." Andy lies. "Boca Raton tomorrow, as CC said, 4 more shows left. Let's make them count."

"Andy..." Delia calls after him. 

"Don't, Delia." He starts. "Just don't. It was a mistake to think that we could be friends, it was a mistake to trust we could be civil and comfortable around each other. Well, guess what? I'm done with all this pretending, after this tour, I never want to see you again."

After one final glance at the sound tech girl he could not stop thinking about, he turns and walks out of the room before heading towards the busses; leaving Delia and the rest of the group staring after him. 

Delia..." Shevy starts but finds no words to bring comfort to her friend.

"I'm fine." Delia fakes a smile.

No matter how bad your heart is broken, the world doesn't stop for your grief. The most painful goodbyes are the ones that are left unsaid and never explained. Delia knew Andy was bad for her, yet she allowed things to get this far and she didn't think she would ever understand why.

[piracytheorist]

Do you think any of the Forgers believe in ghosts or have a fear of the supernatural?

Anya is part of a supernatural force, courtesy of her mind-reading powers. And she's a child, so she definitely has some kind of belief or fear of something related. I wonder what kind of nightmares she might have and whether she has the instinct to run to someone for comfort after she's had one, cause she most likely didn't have someone to comfort her after one when she was in the lab or in any of the orphanages. Maybe the scientists drilled into her the thought that nightmares aren't real and there's no monster hiding under her bed or her closet.

She probably believes there are aliens and the kinds of monsters she comes up with.

She's like, five, and her imagination runs wild. And again, she herself is a result of human experimentation and has a dog that can see the future, so her imagination limits are probably even broader than the average five-year-old's. But I don't think she has a particular fear of ghosts or anything. Again, maybe the scientists took that fear away from her and maybe not in the kindest and most supportive of ways.

Twilight is a very logical person, and I doubt he believes in anything he cannot see or prove for himself. Even his own feelings are a difficult concept for him to grasp. Shameless self promo of my time loop fic, in which upon his realization that something supernatural is happening to him, he doesn't think "OMG magic is real! What else, am I gonna see ghosts or whatever?", instead he goes like "Okay, how do I work around this".

He's also a spy, putting himself in danger and dirtying his hands to create the world he wants. He doesn't seem to believe in a higher power or benign force that could help him in his mission; if he wants a better world, he has to work for it himself. He also probably doesn't fear of any divine judgment, I doubt he'd be able to do as much morally questionable stuff if he feared he'd be judged for them in the afterlife. He may not even believe in afterlife, period. How would he deal with the idea that, if judged for his actions, he wouldn't get to see his mother again in the afterlife?

As for Yor, she might be somewhere in the middle. Like Twilight, she took it upon herself to rid the world of dangers; she isn't expecting from a higher power to help her. No-one protected her and her brother when they were innocent, so she might as well dirty her hands to protect her brother, because what kind of a higher being that didn't help them when they needed it would have the footing to judge her for that?

That said, I wonder how accurate the translation of that line of hers is here. Cause here it sounds like she will be punished (by whom? Some higher power? The Shopkeeper if he finds out?) for thinking about harming an innocent person.

In the manga translation, it sounds like just by thinking of hurting an innocent person, she could jinx it and actually cause it to happen... or that if she thinks about it too much, she'll somehow end up convincing herself she should go ahead and harm Fiona?

In any case, she might lean more towards thinking supernatural things could happen, but it's not something that concerns her on a day-to-day basis. I don't think she fears of anything supernatural... if nothing else, because she might be confident enough she'll be able to fight off anything with harmful intentions. Gurl was absolutely ready to fight sharks if needed, I wouldn't doubt she'd be able to kick some ghost and demon ass no problem. I doubt she fears of divine judgment either, but unlike Twilight it wouldn't be because she doubts it exists, but because she concerns herself with the present and protecting what she cares about now. Future her can worry about that. And then kick the ass of the deity or demon punishing her for committing murder on the regular because excuse me sir where were you when me and my brother were two starving war orphans? Yeah, thought so.

(anime only here, don't spoil me for the manga)

[khaire-traveler]

Hi, there! First of anything, I hope you had a wonderful day!

I have a question that could be kinda personal so please, feel free to not answer if you do not wish to. The main reason I'm asking you this is because you're one of my current fav blogs.

Could you share us how did you started to post here? And what made you take the decision to share your thoughts and experiences?

I've been wanting to start a blog about my practice lately, but I'm so scared of doing things wrong in the aspect of being disrespectful due to lack of information.

Thank you so much in advance! ✨

Hey, Nonny!

I don't mind the questions at all! I'm glad to hear you like my blog. c:

This response is a bit long, so I'm going to add "read more".

I forget how long ago I started this blog, but I believe it's been at least one year now? It may be two, but I'm unsure. I had a blog before this one that posted similar content. It wasn't as "popular", and at the time when I ran that other blog, I was healing through a lot of trauma. I deleted that blog due to some unsavory people I had met there; it just became too overwhelming at that time.

After about a year and a half, I created this blog. I missed having a community to talk to about my religion, even if no one really interacted with me. No one in my life, at that time, followed my religion, and if they did, they didn't worship any of the same gods. I wanted to have others to talk to that I could share my love for the gods with. I wanted to share some lessons I had learned, too. I felt a lot more ready to run a blog about my religion. It felt safer to do so, and I was much more confident in my practice than I had been. My relationships with my gods had grown, and so had I. Finally, my dear companion, @broomsick , inspired me to create this blog and rejoin Tumblr.

I was actually very hesitant to share my experiences again at the start. On my first blog, some people had weaponized my experiences against me and fueled some major anxiety issues I had at the time. So on this blog, I was very careful with what I shared. Frankly, I still am, but I'm much more open to sharing things I've experienced than I was.

My advice to you is to keep some things sacred and hold them close to your heart. It makes those experiences all the more special when you don't feel pressured to share them with others. My next advice is to start by sharing your random thoughts about your gods and experiences. It might sound silly, but over time, I've found that people enjoy hearing what others have to say. Many things I've posted here have grown alongside my real-life practice. Even now, I'll sometimes come across an older post of mine and see my progress. It's very encouraging when you're able to look back at how far you've come. Another piece of advice I have for you is to post for yourself, not for others. Make sure what you're posting are things you genuinely enjoy sharing, things that you actually want to post. Never feel pressured to post things you don't want to post simply because someone else requests it.

The most important advice of all that I have is for you to do it, and do it scared. It makes you nervous? Go for it anyway. You'll never know what it'll be like until you try. Taking risks is a difficult thing to do, but you could have so many wonderful experiences if you choose to take them, and even though this is just Tumblr, there's no telling what kind of connections and discoveries you could make by creating that blog! If you're new, that's great! Share what you're learning as you learn it, and as I mentioned above, you can look back and see how far you've come in the future and feel proud of it. I don't think it's disrespectful to share your thoughts and experiences, even if you realize you were wrong later on. Your practice will grow as you become more and more comfortable with it, and it's only natural that we say things now that we disagree with later. When we grow, we change, and so do our beliefs.

I say to give it a try and see if you enjoy posting! If not, you can always change your mind. It doesn't have to be a permanent decision.

I hope this answered your questions well. I also hope that the advice I shared is helpful to you. Take care, Nonny, and may you have fun on your new adventure, wherever it takes you! 🧡

[outeremissary]

2023 Wrapped!

This is my first ever time doing a year end art summary (using this template)- I always wanted to when I was younger, but never felt I was creating enough work or that it was "serious" enough or good looking enough to be worth compiling. It's been interesting to reflect on a year that included so many creative ups and downs (and life ups and downs in general). If you'll permit me I want to do the little reflection ramble too, even if it's an inadvisable 5 (or now 6) in the morning where I live.

Some of you who followed me on Twitter probably know that I only "learned to color"- or rather found a way that worked for me enough to finish things consistently- in 2022, and rather late in 2022 at that. This is pretty much the first year where work I considered "finished" or "polished" included things that weren't greyscale, and it's absolutely the first year where I had attempted to do something in color almost every single month. When I look at this and see the range of hues it has, I really feel an incredible sense of achievement. I would not have imagined 14 months ago that I could stitch something that looked like this together, and 12 months ago I can't say I'd have felt confident either.

Despite having a huge artistic slump in the back half of the year (along with a sharp downturn in my mental health in general) I was astounded to find that for the first six months I had so much work that I loved and was proud of that it was hard to put this together because I constantly felt like I was leaving favorites out- works that I thought were iconic or were huge milestones or I just really loved. That was unbelievable. And that was only sifting through the "nice" stuff- I didn't even consider a mountain of sketches and doodles that I adored! Even in my busiest months and the months I was recovering from a major medical procedure (I got top surgery!!!) I had something to show, and May being a WIP is less because there was nothing in that month than because Aurien and Vio were the only ones who were fitting in the damn frame (side note: I'd be more thoughtful with template than aesthetic if I ever did this again).

Even in the five months I was convinced I had done absolutely nothing, I found again and again that I had more than I thought for every month (except November, where it turned out everything I thought I'd done was early December. you've been spared DUrgetash). I was creating even when I was convinced that I was never going to be able to draw again. And I was creating enough that I got to be picky filling this thing out and choose Tristian for October just for a laugh when other options were out there, and enough that I had options when I was struggling to fit something I wanted into the template frame.

Side note: Miss Leonelle, you were tragically robbed by the damn frames.

In making this I also saw again and again the connections that I made throughout the year. I have had the incredible fortune to make wonderful friends this year and to build on bonds that I already had- even some where I perhaps didn't deserve the chances I was given. @mountainashfae is all over this summary- in April, May, June, August, and November- and I've often felt I spent as much time on Vio as Balthazar this year, but there were at least seven other baronesses, KCs, and other incredible OCs I had the privilege of drawing this year who I desperately wanted to fit onto this and was not able to for one reason or another. I'm so happy to know so many creative, passionate people and to be allowed so close to the things they hold so dear. To everyone who has shared their creations this year- not just with me, but with anyone on the internet or in real life or quietly in DMs or in a Discord or wherever- you're incredible, and I hope you're proud of what you've done. And if you struggle with that, I hope you can be proud of the way you're growing even now.

If you've stuck with me this far, thank you. Sincerely. I really appreciate that there are people who enjoy looking at my silly little drawings and reading my occasional rambles, even if I'm a little erratic on putting things up and usually a bit distant by choice from fan communities. And if you continue to stick around, I hope that you continue to have a good time.

I don't know what to expect from 2024 when I've got a laundry list of projects from 2023 I haven't finished, but I'm hopeful about what it'll contain. There's a lot I want to do- more full illustrations, working on other media, trying more ambitious projects- but for now it's enough to just think about picking up the things I've left off and continuing to tie up those loose ends.

Here's hoping we all can find something we want in 2024, as terrible and unknowable as the new chapter is.