#or more like 'why are you afraid of ghosts huh? you have a guardian angel 😤😤'

[brandycranby]

2 & 51 please from this if you're still playing

hiiiii 🥰🫶🏻 hehe ask games never expire

2. is your room messy or clean?

um. messy hehe 🫡 in my defense it's kinda small and my bed takes up a lot of room!! so i have a lot of stuff on every available surface. i deep clean and declutter like twice a week tho

51. how old were you when you found out santa wasn't real?

from year one probably! my parents never really pretended that he was real and always wrote "from mom and dad" on the presents lol.

i think being chinese kinda divorced us from the specialness of the thing. and we're super catholic so growing up, it was about going to mass and the nativity and stuff. not a lot of consumerist christmas. honestly my childhood wasnt that fun 😅

---

ask me things from this list!!

[platypuskenny]

Can I get more f that Kenny’s physiology with his alter egos? I’m rlly interested in that

(assuming this means psychology, as a follow up to this post)

i’ve put it off cuz i’ve been busy with other stuff but i‘m really glad i got this ask cuz i love kenny and I love thinking about them in the context of their two alter egos!

CW: discussion of child abuse and neglect, including inexplicit discussion of child sexuality. also a lot of discussion of The Whole Kenny Death Thing. also spoilers for the stick of truth if you haven’t played it!

kenny’s been treated a lot more seriously in recent seasons, with a shift in character to be a lot more mature as well, and it’s a development that makes a lot of sense in the context of “the characters have undergone A Lot and it’s really shaped their personalities because they’re at a stage when their brain is still very soft and malleable and susceptible to trauma.”

the addition of karen in “the poor kid” seems to have shaken up the depiction of the mccormicks a lot. in earlier seasons, kenny was more passive about his home situation, or at least went out of his way to ignore them, (like in “best friends forever” when he plays on his PSP and leaves the house while his parents fight). there are early scenes where he does have some responsibility to his family (i.e. trying to win a can of food for them in “starvin marvin”) but usually he’s just depicted as a kid trying to live through a tough situation. though his “willing to do anything for money even if it’s deeply upsetting, depraved, or outright deadly” character trait from “fat camp” kind of tracks with this understanding that he prioritizes financial security over his personal well-being. 

however, ever since karen was added to the show, kenny’s been depicted as a much more responsible and often even tragic figure. his parents are too caught up in their own shit to address their children’s emotional needs, and kevin sadly gets caught up in their violence as well in “the poor kid” (he’s also vaguely implied to be developmentally disabled in the few scenes he speaks up but that’s mostly speculation). because of this, kenny ends up being karen’s main caretaker - holding her close when she’s distressed at losing her parents, buying her a doll, etc. 

kenny’s situation is a textbook example of parentification. he ends up taking care of karen, at least emotionally, because his parents and brother are unable to do so. he also becomes the breadwinner in “the city part of town” as soon as he gets the chance. this is a really unhealthy scenario that a lot of children in poverty, especially older siblings, see themselves in. it can result in the child not knowing their true place in a family that takes them for granted, and thus not considering their own needs and/or feeling shame if they need help because they’re so used to putting everybody before them. i think this tracks with kenny being “the quiet one” and rarely asking for anything. 

that’s not even getting into the constant death and the fact he spent so much of his life not even understanding why he was doomed to constantly die in horrible painful ways, and for nobody else to remember that he even died to begin with. (kind of symbolic of the neglected child, huh?) 

this brings us to mysterion and princess kenny. in both the superhero game and the fantasy game, you’ll notice kenny is the one who tends to get the most involved, with the only exception being possibly cartman, who could be the topic of a whole other essay on identity issues. mysterion is the one superhero with a real power who exists outside of their superhero game (besides the kewn, whose superhero persona is entirely self-motivated anyway), and princess kenny gets so defensive of her identity that she betrays her friends in both the trilogy and the game. kenny also talks about lady mccormick in the third person in the first black friday episode, and i don’t know if any other characters speak about their personas in that way. so kenny intentionally places more distance between his personas and himself than the other kids do with their personas. 

therefore, i see mysterion and princess kenny as how kenny copes with his deeply repressed psychological issues. it’s a way to compartmentalize his feelings towards his constant suffering and the burden his family inadvertently placed on him by developing these two identities. one embraces his role as caretaker to the degree of becoming a superhero, and the other rejects it in favor of being entirely doted upon. (some people have read the prominence of roles as signs of a dissociative disorder, and i can see that with this context, but i don’t know if it’s really a perfect fit for any specific disorder, especially when there’s little information on kenny’s consciousness when it comes to these personas.)

mysterion is more obviously a tool for kenny to express his discontent with his town. in his first appearance, he states, “i could no longer sit by and watch as my city became a cesspool of crime,” which tracks with his earlier characterization as reluctantly accepting his family’s poverty despite constantly suffering. (plus i’m pretty sure several of kenny’s deaths were the result of crimes.) he refuses to be unmasked because he “would stop being a symbol,” and only does so in order to quell the unrest that his mystery has provoked. that "symbol" wording suggests that mysterion is an extreme version of kenny's self-sacrificing lifestyle to the point where he defines himself as a symbol of justice and hope, not a person. kenny himself is also pretty quiet and secretive, but more because nobody cares about him and he’s kind of afraid of getting killed any second. mysterion’s secret persona is something bold, powerful, and masculine. he is physically adept in a way we don’t see kenny behave, and much more reasonable and cautious about what’s best for him and humanity. (a good visual of this to contrast with kenny is the “mysterion re-rising” animation in the fractured but whole, where he consciously rejects the chance to go to the heaven full of naked women that kenny loves because he has to return to battle.)

mysterion is also a way for kenny to reclaim his "curse” and use it for good. as mysterion, he uses death (albeit reluctantly) to get out of tough situations and save his friends. in video games like fractured but whole and phone destroyer, mysterion’s ability to exist as a ghost and revive himself is a gameplay mechanic. this self-sacrificial personality trait has shown up in earlier seasons, and he kills himself for the good of the community/world/etc in “cartman’s mom is still a dirty slut,” the movie, and “jewbilee.” but he’s not nearly as interested in world issues unless he’s under pressure to care. (for example: he does join the workers’ strike in “bike parade,” but he’s not very passionate about it and doesn’t even care about the issue until his dad takes him to a union meeting.) kenny’s good with solving short-term issues while mysterion worries about the deeper, long-term problems with the town. 

this brings us to mysterion and the mccormicks. when we see mysterion’s interactions with karen, we see how mysterion represents kenny’s responsibilities towards her. mysterion is able to offer karen elaborate, heartfelt emotional support, and guarantee that he’ll always be there for her. he also beats up a girl who bullies her and threatens anybody else who thinks about hurting her - more on that aggressive instinct down below. while mysterion’s identity is known to his friends and the rest of the town, it’s not known to karen, who sees him as a guardian angel. presumably, this is so mysterion can remain a symbol of hope to her, just like he is to the town, and so karen feels like there’s people in the world who care about her besides her brother. however, this does backfire in the fractured but whole DLC where she laments how her brother doesn’t seem to spend time with her, which embarrasses mysterion as he promises to tell him to be there for her more often. this implies that kenny gets so wrapped up in being mysterion that he forgets that he has a duty to karen as kenny as well, further indicating that mysterion is a way to cope with the tragic responsibility of caring for a sibling not much younger than he is.

during the superhero trilogy, kenny also uses mysterion to question his parents about their cult meetings, something that shook him so badly when he learned about it that he broke character. mysterion also told his parents to be nicer to the kids, not beat each other up, pay their kids allowances, and not smoke. it seems that mysterion is able to approach kenny’s parents about serious issues while kenny himself mostly stays out of their business - possibly out of fear? (kenny’s more confrontational in later seasons, though - flipping off his dad in “bike parade,” for example.)

on a similar note, mysterion is way more openly angry and violent than kenny is, especially when it comes to the death curse, which he openly complains about in a way kenny himself never did. compare kenny complaining about stan ignoring his deaths in “cherokee hair tampons,” which only gets further ignored, and mysterion complaining about it in graphic detail in “coon vs coon and friends,” even killing himself in front of his friends, and understandably scaring the shit out of them. mysterion also gets really protective of karen, violently so, as seen with the girl he beats up in “the poor kid” and his distrust when the vampires befriend her in the “from dusk til casa bonita” DLC. such a mysterion is way more passionate and loud about justice and direct action while kenny is more resigned, and most of his good deeds are unknown to the public. if kenny has embraced this caretaker role, it makes sense that he vents his repressed anger through mysterion, especially if you take it in the context of dissociation - kenny can’t handle dwelling on his shitty life all the time, so mysterion holds that anger and finds a way to cope with it by trying to fix everything around them, including kenny’s home life. 

princess kenny is very opposite mysterion in many ways. most obviously, she’s a girl. kenny’s relationship with gender is something i think about a lot in light of PK. “tweek vs craig” depicted him as the only boy in home ec, and he was thrilled because it was the safe alternative to the deadly shop class. i think that, regardless of your headcanon for kenny’s gender (i personally see them as feminine nonbinary - i’m mostly using “he” pronouns in this essay strictly for recognition’s sake and because i’m mostly talking about the show’s depiction of kenny), he sees femininity as safe and comforting, but nevertheless very powerful. (remember that his mother, while not super feminine, is a very outspoken and aggressive woman who calls stuart out on his shit constantly.) and what’s a better combination of femininity and power than a magical girl? 

also one thing i want to note real quick is that karen still refers to kenny as her sister in the stick of truth despite not being super involved in their game which i personally choose to read as Trans Rights Subtext

this is how we get lady mccormick / princess kenny, who is largely a passive character during the black friday trilogy, sitting upon her throne and cutely commenting on the surroundings while stan translates for her. then when sony takes her in, she becomes the star of her own show, a magical japanese princess who doesn’t take shit from cartman or his army and gets whatever she wants because she’s a cute little girl and now she gets to be protected and doted upon! also she speaks japanese and is not muffled in the slightest despite wearing her parka....symbolism? and really interestingly is that when she supposedly dies, she brushes herself off and immediately revives, declaring that she’s okay. in kenny’s feminine fantasy, she doesn’t suffer when she dies, and revives without any mess at all. princess kenny is always gonna be okay!

PK is also very flirty and overly sexual. it’s no secret that kenny is very interested in and knowledgeable of sex. he also absolutely worships women’s bodies, as seen with his views of heaven and that whole plot of “major boobage.” i don’t even read this as lust, because he’s ten, but sheer fascination with sex. maybe it plays into that whole “growing up too fast” concept where he tries to indulge in the “fun” parts of adulthood to make up for the exhaustion of caregiving, but this has been a thing since before kenny was depicted as a real caregiver so IDK. 

anyway, i think PK is also a way for kenny to experiment with flirting and sex, particularly with other boys. she uses her coyness and, in the games, her bare chest to entice boys. her cuteness also attracts grown men in “titties and dragons” which goes largely unremarked upon, which is a bit uncomfortable but still works with the idea that she’s the most “lovable” form of kenny. she also apparently thinks the new kid is “cute.” iit’s really funny to me how kenny is depicted as interested in strictly girls while princess kenny only focuses on boys, which could support the idea that PK is a separate entity from kenny, or that kenny just needs to figure himself out. either way, i imagine kenny finds some thrill in getting men to pay attention to them when their male friends often treat her as superfluous, and even then it often involves objectifying herself (this also tracks with their behavior in “fat camp”). it’s kind of sad if you think about it.

in the climax of the stick of truth, princess kenny has her own in-depth backstory, where she was an orc/elf rejected by both the elves and humans. i think this reflects kenny’s feeling of being “othered” as non-human (since this game chronologically comes after the superhero trilogy) and just generally not feeling welcome among their friends unless they need her. there may also be some parallels between her friends denying her the right to be a princess and kenny’s friends refusing to believe in his immortality. when she rebels against her friends choosing the stick over friendship, it’s another way for kenny to cope with their mixed-to-negative feelings about their friends. so while PK is a figure to be doted on, she’s still probably more gutsy than the kenny we usually know. 

however, PK is not entirely selfish or apathetic about the world around her. in the opening of “a song of ass and fire,” her inner monologue explains her choice to deflect to the PS4 side as the side she believes “is best for all.” she also laments that everybody, including her parents, will be fighting on black friday. it seems that PK dreads the mere idea of war, which contradicts mysterion’s tendency to use violence as a means to protect others. PK still uses her adorableness to help her team, and only asks that they accept her, which really isn’t much. it’s just when she, you know, becomes a nazi zombie and puts the world in danger because she’s so pissed about not being accepted for who she is. 

in my original post, i used the freudian personality theory to explain these three personas, which i regret because i fucking hate freud and he’s heavily responsible for modern consumerism and planned obsolescence. but the basic concepts of the id, ego, and superego do kind of illustrate what i’m getting at with these guys. i assigned princess kenny as the id, because she’s more about self-gratification and getting what she thinks she deserves as well as a tendency towards sexual gratification, and mysterion as the superego (hehe get it super) because of his strong inclination towards morality. however, this isn’t that black-and-white, as princess kenny has some moral considerations and mysterion has violent impulses (the “aggressive instinct”) that are more easily attributed to the id. nevertheless, it seems that kenny is still the balance between these exaggerated personas, and when he expresses attitudes similar to theirs, they are far more downplayed due to the necessities of his situation as a caretaker and an underappreciated friend. kind of makes you wonder if/how the attitudes of mysterion and princess kenny will manifest in him when he’s older.

[bubblesuga]

Ethereal - Prologue

Summary: Jimin is in need of a new destiny. His past failings only push him further into the slump that grows deeper and deeper by the second. How is he supposed to be a guardian if he continues flee? Genre: guardianangel!au, fairy tale!au, fluff, smut W/C: 1,398  Next Part - coming soon

Jimin’s eyes blink open, the blinding white lights of the room searing into his vision as he’s quick to rub away his sleep. He feels well rested, something he hasn’t felt for a single moment in his human form. Something about wandering around Earth was just so... exhausting. He could feel every human’s emotions as he passed by them. 

That’s a good sign, though. It means that Jimin is very good at his job. 

“Ah, you’re awake.” Hoseok says, his legs crossed over one another while he rests seemingly weightless on the fluffy chair beside Jimin’s bed. His wings lay stretched out behind him, fluttering against the wall. Jimin reaches backward and sighs in annoyance when he realizes his wings are still retracted. After hiding them for so long it’s difficult to set them free again. 

“How long was I recovering?” Jimin asks, finally throwing off the blanket and pulling himself up. He glances down at his hands, visions of his time on Earth coming back to him in an instant. He flinches when he moves his eyes to his legs, spotting the ghost of a scar slowly fading away from existence. He should have slept longer. 

“You’ve been back for a few hours. Jungkook and Taehyung rushed you in as soon as you got here, told me to wait for you to wake up.” The book in Hoseok’s hands floats away, closing itself and placing it right back on the bookshelf at the end of the room. 

Jimin rubs his face, “What is it with Humans and getting themselves nearly killed?” 

Hoseok chuckles, “They’re dumb creatures sometimes.” 

Hoseok’s smile tells more of his times on Earth than he’s willing to say. He’s a decorated guardian, earning praise and recognition for his time spent guiding the Humans on the path they deserve. Jimin has always looked up to his superior, wondering what it would be like to one day earn the same title as him. With every Human he helps, he gets a little closer to his goal. 

Jimin scoffs, throwing his legs over the side of the bed, “I always get the ones who think guns and partying are their paths. Why can’t I just be assigned a human child who still has their whole life ahead of them, huh?” 

Hoseok rushes to Jimin’s side as he tries to stand, using his hands to steady Jimin at the waist, “You must remember that you’re being sent to help those who need it.” 

“I can’t help everyone.” Jimin sighs, and as he blinks he sees visions of Earth yet again. Poor Sasha, the look of  devastation on her face while the police hauled her away was something Jimin will never forget, but he has to try. 

“Some people’s paths are set in stone,” Hoseok runs his hands through the younger one’s hair, smoothing the remnants of sleep that show in the tufts that stick out, “unfortunately for us we are unaware of what fate has in mind. You can only do your best and hope that fate decides to be kind.” 

Jimin takes a shaky step forward, Hoseok steps back. The younger one reaches his arms to the sides and with it comes his wings. They’re slightly wilted, evidence of being hidden for so long. A few feathers drift downward and Jimin lets out another sigh, one of both relief from being able to spread his wings yet again, and one of despair as he bends down to pick up one of the feathers. 

“Am I losing my touch?” He asks quietly, feeling his friend step beside him. A comforting arm is wrapped around his waist, and Jimin looks up at Hoseok with his eyebrows creased. What happens if he continues to fail? His entire being is dedicated to helping humans, he’s an Angel for Heaven’s sake! What will become of him if he can’t do the one thing he’s destined to do? 

Hoseok gives a reassuring smile, “We need to find you a case that’ll change the course you’re set on, and I’m pretty sure Namjoon knows of a few that will be perfect for you.” 

Jimin huffs, “You want to ask him? Really?” Jimin is pretty sure his losing streak is due in part to Namjoon insisting hopeless cases on him. That is one of Namjoon’s best characteristics, though. He’s very good at seeing a Human’s potential. 

Hoseok giggles as he leads the younger one out of the door, Jimin shuddering as he feels the coolness of the floor against his bare feet. The long corridor seems smaller than he remembers, but nothing could ever compare to the claustrophobia of an elevator. Never again, he swears. 

When they enter Namjoon’s office, Jimin realizes that the decor has changed from the last visit. Namjoon has grown a new obsession with rain forests, and the scent of rain fills Jimin’s nostrils. Interesting choice. The glowing orb that carries the voices of the unheard continues to spin the center of the room, although now it is surrounded by greenery and has water streaming beneath it.

“Jimin! You’re back!” Namjoon grins, ripping Jimin’s attention away from the new decor, “I’ve missed you!” 

Despite how disastrous this last case went on Namjoon’s recommendation, Jimin can’t help but smile at his friend, rushing to hug the taller one. Namjoon embraces Jimin, and he feels his heart grow. This is his home, he’s meant to be with the angels around him. 

Maybe guardianship isn’t for him, maybe he’ll be a delegate like Namjoon and Yoongi. Maybe that is what fate wants for him. 

“I’ve missed you too, it’s good to be back.” Jimin grins, his eyes disappearing behind the apples of his cheeks. Namjoon grins, “Did you have a good time on Earth?” 

Jimin glares, “I’m sure you saw what happened.” 

Namjoon’s face drops, “Hey, there wasn’t anything you could have done in that situation. She was reluctant to follow you.” 

“If I had just presented myself in a way that could get through to her, I could have-” Jimin is cut off by Hoseok, who had been standing quietly beside his friend, “Listen to Namjoon, Jimin. He knows what he’s talking about.” 

Hoseok clears his throat, rubbing his friend’s back comfortingly, “Jimin needs a new case. Something different.” 

Namjoon scratches the back of his head, turning to the orb, “I’m not sure how I feel about sending you out so soon after getting back.” 

Jimin tilts his head, “You mean you already have someone in mind?” 

Namjoon bares his teeth in a guilty smile, placing his fingers upon the orb and spinning it counter-clockwise. Jimin raises an eyebrow as a blurry image begins to form atop the orb. Suddenly, the image focuses on a young girl, mid-twenties at most. Jimin steps closer to the orb and watches the movements of the human, his eyes trained on the way her lips fall into a frown while she runs an eraser over her work again. He doesn’t recognize the job that the human is performing, which is certain to mean that he’s going to be consuming a lot of knowledge within the next couple days. 

Something about her intrigues him, though. Could it be the way she seems so still in a space that is surrounded with chaos? Jimin can already tell she’s devoted to her craft which is different, admirable. He hasn’t had a case that’s involved someone so far into a career. 

“24 year old female, architect. In need of an assistant at her place of work, and some major emotional reform.” Namjoon explains, and Jimin tears his eye away from the orb in question. 

“The girl needs to find love. Help her learn to manage her time, tell her not to be afraid. Support her on this journey.” Namjoon clarifies, and Jimin turns back wordlessly to the girl. 

She tosses her head back and groans, gaining the attention of the coworkers passing by her. Her hands reach forward and she crumples up the paper in front of her, desperate to start another page. 

This will be good for Jimin. 

“I’ll take her.” Jimin says, and Hoseok jumps up in glee. 

“Ah, I knew you still had it in you. You’ll do amazing, Jiminie!” Namjoon says, ruffling the hair that Hoseok so elegantly fixed earlier. 

Jimin chuckles softly, turning his attention back to her. This is the one, he’s sure of it. 

[atlas-of-a-human-soul]

frENEMIES, pt.9 {Quarterback AU}

Summary: Long overdue, Y/N and Grayson finally reunite.

Warnings: angst, fluff, indicating a spiked drink

Series Masterlist

"Being lonely and being alone are two entirely different things. One is imposed on you and one you choose. Yet somehow I found myself with a little bit of both.

Every year that went by and I watched new couples form and break up, I longed for a relationship of my own. It wasn't due to lack of trying, because I did try! However, for some unknown reason every guy I got close to would soon ghost me. And for a while I thought it was me, like I'm the reason why they all leave. Funny thing is, none of them were ever important to me - not like the cocky quarterback I felt drawn to despite him being able to raise my blood pressure dangerously high without even speaking.

In these years he had been flagged as a hothead, a bomb just waiting to go off and I had no idea why. Maybe he was just as misunderstood as me, because no matter how much we fight, in the end it always felt like he had my back.

It was something I learned when one of those frat parties turned into something more than I bargained for. All I remember is having a good time, dancing with a handsome stranger, then waking up in my bed with my quarterback sat by my side. I had a killer headache and parched mouth and as if he could read my mind, a glass of water was soon offered to me. Once I laid back, a little confused, I looked at him and the worry etched in every line of his beautiful face - no trace of the cocky guy I was used to.

He played with my hair until I fell asleep and ran his knuckles down my cheek so softly, tenderly, careful as if I were made of glass and he could break me. He told me everything will be fine and i should sleep some more, that I am safe and he won't go. 

I believed him.

I trusted him without restrain, and I knew...I knew he'd protect me. The line between love and hate had always been blurred with us and that night it didn't even exist.

I know what happened that night now. Not just that night but with every guy that thought I looked like a fun night and nothing more that you made sure would never hurt me.

Thank you for being my guardian angel, quarterback. I'll always remember that."

When Grayson showed up, seeing her engrossed in a daydream of sorts, her back turned to him, he still couldn't find a way to calm his heartbeat. She looked formidable from behind that desk, but it wasn't about how she looked at all but what she might do when she sees him.

He can tell her book had none of the bitterness he thought she felt for him. None of the hate. Nothing negative at all. Even his flaws were so artistically written that he came off like a good man.

Flaws. Grayson knew he was full of them. The scar between his eyebrows and the one on his chin. His coldness towards people. His ability to scare away anyone that looked at him, or her - especially her. His temper, his womanizing ways, his asthma and his dyslexia. 

However, that is usually only how deep people saw into him. But she? She saw him fully. She saw past all the nastiness that consumed and and saw what he truly was. Beautiful. Because what is a human being without flaws? She knew that the flaws make people who they are. They make everyone individual and their own person. That flaws make people interesting. And a human with flaws is a beautiful one. His flaws were the main reason she ever fell in love with him, and not some measly prince who has their whole life handed to them with a gold crown. She loved him, flaws and all.

The book was emotional, funny, filled with all the things he hoped she'd once say to him but never did. Had he known she truly felt so much for him, Grayson would have stopped at nothing until he made her his girl.

And now, looking at her with fear in his chest, he still opened his mouth - it was always faster than his mind.

When she turned around, he had never thought he'd hear the heavenly sound of his name upon her lips and what truly took him by surprise is the moment she put down her cup and leapt into his arms.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, allowing him to hold her up so she doesn't end up hanging. He found his face stuffed with her hair, but he didn't mind the gentle reminder of her signature scent, it didn't change all those years.

In her embrace the world stopped still on its axis. There was no time, no wind, no rain. There was something so warm, something that felt right, smelt right. She let her body sag, her muscles become loose. He gave her the respect of an equal, holding her a little stronger than it allowed her the freedom to breathe, but in that embrace she felt her worries loose their keen sting.

"Wow!" Letting him go way too soon for both their comfort, Y/N took a step backwards, her smile never leaving her face. "You look a lot bigger in person than you do on my TV!" She exclaimed and it didn't take long for Grayson to realize she watches his games.

"Fangirling over me? Watching my games? Are you sure you're really Y/N? I mean, you should watch what you say, someone might think you care." Chuckling, he puts his copy of the book on the desk as she rolls her eyes at him and he felt a lot more at ease once he’s seen her usual sign of frustration with him.

"Yes, asshole, I care about you." She didn't try to maneuver around it, admitting the truth shamelessly as he smiled at her candor, truly grateful he finally heard her say it and not in an audio version of the book.

Grabbing her by the hand, he pulled her into his chest swiftly enough to make her gasp, his smile bright as their eyes remain glued to each other, neither able to look away.  His eyes are so different, more soft than she knew eyes could be.

"That's better. It sounds more like you." He says quietly, just above a whisper as he wonders if she can tell his heart is nearly breaking his rib cage.

A moment later, her palm splayed against his chest feels just that, her eyes dropping to where her hand can feel every single erratic beat. Her cheeks turn a darker shade of pink and he knows she knows and he doesn't give a shit.

For the first time in forever, he can't find it in him to regret letting her know she has his heart in the palm of her hand - both figuratively and literally.

"Three years, huh?" He raises an eyebrow as her eyes flicker back up to his. Clearing her throat, she nods before tapping his chest and taking a step back.

"Yeah. You haven't changed much. Just the hair...and your arms got bigger!" She exclaims, chuckling nervously as she looks around to make sure they're still alone.

"Do you regret it?" Her voice is oddly quiet, her arms crossing over her chest as she let out a shuddered breath when his eyebrows furrow at her question.

"What?"

"I don't know...everything?" Forcing a smile, she leans back on the desk behind her for support, afraid she might fall - literally and figuratively for Grayson. Her treacherous heart already felt like it could bleed itself dry just for one damn moment of pure happiness with him and it scared her more than anything.

But Grayson had to think, to understand why she’s asking him that. He likes that she wants to own her mistakes, but she needs to forgive herself too. Until she does that she'll never let him in to help her heal. And he wanted that - a second chance with her more than anything. He would give anything.

He was quiet for a moment, too long for her not to let her past insecurities flood her. Her chest felt like it would collapse under pressure and her face burned like hot lava, she opened her mouth to tell him to forget she ever asked but he started talking instead.

"Just because we never really worked back then doesn't mean I didn't love you. And it doesn't mean that I would ever regret having the privilege to know you. To just be around you. I regret being a coward. I could have done more because even then I knew I wanted you to be my endgame." And there wasn't a single pause in his answer, no trace of any sort of doubts. Grayson meant what he said and be felt it with all his being.

He wished he was more capable of being raw and vulnerable with her, to have made some changes to the way they communicated. Something that would have given her a chance to see he was besotted with her, not the playboy he portrayed himself as. Come to think of it, he'd trade everything, even football, just to have her. She was more important than he knew...until she was gone, he really had no clue.

And while she was still reeling from the word love he used in context of them being something more than just frenemies, she couldn’t help the glistening tears from filling her eyes.

"Yeah", with tears in her eyes she sniffles. "Me too. I wish I wasn't so wrapped up in my own fears. That I at least tried, you know? Maybe we would have been happy", rubbing her nose, she gives him a small smile. 

But when he takes a step closer, someone else enters the bookstore and she finds herself panicked, yet relieved when the person seems to vanish in the stalls instead of coming to her for an autograph.

"This isn't...uh...If someone would to see his together, they would figure it out.” People have been trying to figure out who the mysterious quarterback is for years and one person is enough for a media frenzy to start. 

“We should find a private place. Maybe my apartment?" She rambled as Grayson slowly closed the distance, his mischievous smile growing with every step.

"Let them figure it out. I don't give a shit." And before she had a chance to react, his lips found hers. Lips parted, she moaned against his as he pressed her closer to him and she submitted willingly, and he fucking loved it. 

They kissed without a care in the world, his arms around her tight as he kept her close, their mouths locked in a new kind of an argument, one against oxygen. They couldn't breathe, their kiss anything but gentle, relentless and passionate and filled with so many emotions they wanted to scream at the top of their lungs but neither could handle the thought of breaking the kiss.

Until it was broken by a voice Y/N didn't recognize, but Grayson sure as hell did.

"Grayson? Babe?"

Wiping her mouth, Y/N took a step back as her legs trembled, still overwhelmed by the electrifying chemistry between them that seemed to have burned through her sanity. She didn’t dare look away from him, catching the stunning beauty from the corner of her eye.

"Grayson, tell me this isn't what I think it is. Tell me and I’ll believe you." Y/N whispered barely, her voice laced with a desperate plea and a hint of disappointment she couldn't relieve.

"It's not." He starts, but the long legged blonde stepped beside him, staking her claim.

"Why the hell were you kissing my man?"

And that’s when Y/N truly got a good look at her incredible beauty, but also her very pregnant belly.

Tags: @livexdolan​​ @dreadingdaisies​​ @strangerliaa​​ @mendesficsxbombay​​ @beinscorpio​​ @peacedolantwins​​ @dolandolll​​ @idekxdolan​

PART 10 

[fire-emblem-drabbles]

Not Quite Obsession

Pairing: Zelgius x reader

Description: Of course it was wrong; he was to be your guardian, not your lover. But... you very obviously needed both in your life and Zelgius didn’t mind taking on a second role...

Rating: sfw

Word Count: 1295

Notes: Hoestly I wouldn’t be surprised if this didn’t read like a story bc the entire time my brain was just like “hrngggg they soft n tender and pinning but... fast and slow and all at once” so like, have fun trying to decipher my words!

________________________________________________________

“Who are you?” Even as you asked the question, you knew it would go unanswered. Fell on deaf ears, perhaps, because by the concentrated look on this mans face you don’t think a single word you’ve said phased him. Still, even as you left with no answer, you let him continue his work. He felt warm, familiar and well, he was taking care of you after that nasty run in…

“Why did you let them do this to you?” His deep voice came as surprise to you, causing you to jump in your seat. The bandage he had been carefully wrapping around your arm fell from his hands. Dutiful, he picked it up and continued his careful work, treating as if you were the most precious doll in the world. If only you knew.

“Sorry…” Was all you could managed, looking away from him. Even if he wasn’t looking you in the eyes, his gaze was piercing, questioning your very soul. It made you uncomfortable but not necessarily in a bad way. “I just… I’m no good at fighting myself, you know? I can’t hurt them like they hurt me, can’t fight back in any meaningful way… so I figure if I don’t fight back, once they’ve had their fill they’ll leave me alone.” You surged lightly but winced, recalling with the pain the punch thrown at your shoulder. “I just… never figured they would bring actually weapons into it.” You sighed, looking to the freshly tended to cut. It was long, covering the span of your inner elbow up into your arm and it wasn’t pretty to look at. Luckily, their blade was dull so it was a shallow wound but one that bled profusely, with all the rest of your tiny scratches, nonetheless. You may not have bleed out but had this strange man not came to you when he did the blood loss surely would have made you lose conscious.

“I suppose I have no choice… I’ll simply have to redouble my efforts of protecting you.” Once again, this man surprised you. “It… hurts me to see you like this.” Finally, he met your curious gaze and you were nearly tempted to look away. Goddess, he was beautiful. Ethereal, even, he seemed too pretty to be of this earth. Still, shocked as you were you manged to eek out a reply.

“Protect… me?” You parroted, perhaps thinking you misheard him.  

“If you’ll allow me the honor, that is.” His smile, goodness his smile, how it seemed to light up the room. You hated to be selfish but in that moment you wanted to be the only one to bare witness to such radiance.

“Could I at least get your name first?” You laughed a little childishly, suddenly feeling like a schoolgirl with a crush.

“You...” He seemed to hesitate, for whatever reason. “You may call me Zelgius.” he decided after a moment, taking your hand, beaten and bloody it may be, and placeing a chaste kiss upon the back of it.

“Zelgius...” After hearing the way his name came from your lips, Zelgius did not regret telling you it, even as your free hand came to rest over your mouth in embarrassment. “You can call me, uhh...”

“_____,” He finished, knowing very well who you were.

“Uh, yeah.” You said lamely. “You told me your name but… never who you were.” You frowned, looking to him now.

“Who I am really doesn’t matter… just know it is my duty to protect you and see to it that you are cherished.” He smiled now, helping you to your feet with the hand he had just so gingerly kissed. You realized, then, it, not the arm it was attached to, didn’t ache as much as the moment before. You didn’t dwell on it much, though.

“Why me?” Your voice was soft. Perhaps you were afraid to hear the answer.

“Perhaps lonely souls just draw one another in.” He answered simply, a ghost of his former smile gracing his lips. Your hand hadn’t really left his and you found you didn’t really mind. With Zelgius, it all seemed right.

“If you say so...” Zelgius found he didn’t mind as you leaned into him. The smell of you was intoxicating, even with the foul smell of blood clouding things. Your gentle touch, and silent urging teased him so. You overtook every corner of his mind to where his every thought was of you; how to best protect you, the sweet sound of your voice or his amazement at just how soft you skin could be. It was often his thoughts turned more tainted, his mind running wild of images of you under him, voice whining and body trembling… “Zelgius?”

“Hmm?” he blinked from his thoughts.

“You’re not human, are you?” You said softly, continuing to calmly walk beside him.

“...No, not really.”

“That’s fine. I… actually like that.” You said softly. “Most people they… really don’t like me. But with you, even if it’s the first time we’ve met… I feel at home.” His heart, however much a lie it be couldn’t help but beat erratically in his chest. How wildly inappropriate to feel this way about you… but how could he not?

“It makes me so happy to hear that.” You could hear so in his voice. He was happy, because of you. Because you were happy. The thought alone was enough to make your pace quicken. “As your guardian angel… nothing would please me more than to be the one to bring you peace.”

“You’re really my own guardian angel…? Or like… do I have to share you?” The question was innocent enough but the idea that you might possibly be jealous of a nonexsistant person also receiving his help… was beyond cute. Zelgius knew you would be the death of him-- or perhaps worse.

“...No, I’m all yours _____.”

“Good… I don’t like the idea of you leaving me. It’s funny… it probably hasn’ even been 15 minutes and yet… here I am, feeling as if my whole world would come crashing down without you in it.” Zelgius knew you weren’t dumb. “This probably has something to do with you, huh?” The both of you were silent a moment. “I… can’t really find it in me to care.” Zelgius couldn’t either, honestly. It was true angels simply has this… aura around them that made any human around them feel calm and trust them… but since Zelgius was so infatuated with you he supposed it was far worse. More than anything he wanted you to love him as he did you, so much that the aura coming from him was effecting you. Even if he didn’t want you to fall for him in return, there was nothing to be done when his feelings for you were so strong they fell off him in waves.

“It… is not something I can control, unfortunately. It does bring me comfort to hear you don’t mind though...” His hand tightened around yours. You squeezed his in return. There was so much longing in one touch. You both wanted more-- what was holding you back? Decorum? Guilt?

“Honestly its all new to me… knowing you well. Want me. Want to touch me, to help me. To heal me and even protect me… It’s such a sweet feeling, though. I don’t see why I would want to give it away.” Truly, you were a gift Zelgius wasn’t deserving of but one he would indulge in despite that.

“I look forward to exploring that all with you.” He laughed so softly and you felt light as well. Was this what love felt like?

“Me too,” All you could do was smile, happy to find a future with Zelgius by your side.

[fae-fucker]

Zenith: Chapter 33-36

Chapter 33

So we’re back in Andi’s POV, finally. She’s woken up by Dex who is all worried and Andi vomits in his lap and then thinks about how sexy he is. Mind you, they are in a ship filled with corpses and there’s an unconscious and busted Valen near them who’s probably dying slowly, plus the vomit.

But I guess that just turns Andi on more? Discuss.

They find Valen barely alive among the corpses and Dex is surprised he’s not dead.

Hey bud. Didn’t you throw the guy down a flight of stairs a few chapters ago? I don’t think you’re in any position to make glib remarks, my guy.

Andi takes out the pilot with a shoelace, which, alright, and Dex says something about how she’s still afraid to fly a ship because she asks him to do it. Wow, an actual symptom of PTSD? In my Zenith? What a time to be alive. 

The chapter ends with Andi angsting about how she’s had to murder another person. Except she didn’t have to do that. She could’ve just knocked the pilot out and locked them in the storage with the other corpses to get rescued later. The pilot didn’t know there were live people on board so they wouldn’t know who attacked them anyway. I mean yeah they’d probably sustain brain damage but they wouldn’t be dead.

Methinks Andi really likes murder and justifies it to herself by saying it’s a necessity. 

Chapter 34

We’re in Dex’s POV and he’s complaining about how everything smells like trash on the Marauder now that Alfie took the door off the trash shoot. 

Hey. Hey why don’t you just ... blast it out? Like. Just shoot the trash out. Why do you store it on the ship that gets lighter and faster when you spend ammo? You’re in space. Just blast that shit. Or convert it into biofuel. Apparently it smells of “unmentionable” things so that makes me wonder if they store their actual shit in there as well? What the fuck is in their trash department that it smells so bad? If they can’t blast out the trash (which makes no sense), why didn’t they get rid of it when they were getting repairs before the mission? Why didn’t they get rid of it during the numerous times they’ve landed? Why the fuck does this ship have a dedicated trash department anyway? 

The little fire-haired gunner had wanted to know if the blood on Andi belonged to her or some “now-ball-less bastard,” to which the giantess had responded, Of course it’s not hers, Gil. And don’t say bastard. Say prick.

Comedy. 

Dex is being patched up by Alfie (who is described as “fawning” over his wounds, which doesn’t sound right), and thinks about how he’s gonna drink himself into oblivion later. Alcoholism? Love it. I bet Shinsay will know exactly how to handle this, with how many references their super cool and mature characters make to getting absolutely shitfaced.

Dex sulks himself out of the “med bay” (Why don’t these idiots have medical staff? For the same reason they don’t have mechanics I suppose.) to go and update General Cortas on their progress. 

The general is all grumpy and shit and reminds Dex that he’s in charge and can fuck him up good if anything happens to Valen, and tells him to keep Andi away from him. Because he thinks Andi will ... kill Valen too? I guess he thinks Andi is addicted to murdering his kids or smth. 

Anyway, Dex gets all mopey because the big scary man said some mean things but then he hears classical music and enters Andi’s room. It’s time for some bullshit, lads. 

Chapter 35

So finally we get the scene where Andi “dances” with the dead, which turns out to actually just happen in her head while she spaces out and cries. She imagines herself on a stage with an audience of ghosts of all the people she’s killed, and they come up and dance with her one by one and she “memorizes” their features. I’m not sure how she does that because the narration during action scenes keeps emphasizing how quick and cool she is so I have no idea how she can “memorize” the features of someone she’s probably only looked at for a couple of seconds at most. Also, I dunno why she’s memorizing something she clearly already remembers. I know it’s a nitpick but it’s just bad, y’all.

If this is supposed to be atonement ... God I hope it’s not. It’s honestly written like it makes Andi some sort of pure angel who just Does What She Has To, instead of just being a coping mechanism. Behold:

Tears streaked down Andi’s cheeks, pulling her from the vision she’d created so clearly in her mind. The music grew louder, silencing her tears. She closed her eyes and forced herself back into her mind. She owed this to the dead. This pain, this dance, this time where she gave herself fully to their memory.

Anyway, the last ghost is Kalee of course, and I’m not entirely sure how many people Andi’s killed if every single dance is as detailed and long as the ones with latest ghosts (the descriptions are quite lengthy so I assume it’s a couple of minutes or so), but it looks like Kalee’s ghost has to sit there and wait a while lmao. Even in death this brat can’t catch a break.

Sorry, I know I’m laughing at trauma here, but it’s not real trauma, it’s badly written melodramatic trauma. Like, I just don’t see someone who genuinely doesn’t like to murder people keep “crossing that line” (yes, apparently whenever Andi does a murder, she “crosses a line” she’s set for herself, wowza) and all they do for atonement is keeping a mental list and queue of all the fake made-up ghosts she needs to dance with. Like. I get that people cope differently but this is less of a coping mechanism and more Shinsay crossing shit off a list to make Andi more palatable.

I just don’t believe it. Not after I’ve seen how proud she is of being the Bloody Baroness and how Glorious it feels to Do A Murder.

Also, this chapter is rife with weird fucking grammar and writing in general. Some examples: 

[Kalee] was dressed in a shimmering blue gown that swirled around her ankles like fragments of cloud.

“Fragments of cloud”????

The transport creaked. Groaned, as the fire licked closer and closer.

Why did you. Break, the sentence up like that. 

The chapter ends with Dex giving Andi some time to pause her PTXD so they can have the talk she promised him. Which is nice of him, I guess. Despite being obnoxious and a dweeb, Dex manages to be better than every SJM love interest ever? Wow.

Oh but don’t you worry, it lasts uuuh until just now.

Chapter 36

Andi thinks about how sexie Dex is now that he’s washed the blood and vomit off and changed some clothes. Which ... there’s no mention of him doing since he returned from the corpse hauling ship ... The last chapter from his POV had him arriving at the Marauder and having his wounds checked, after which he instantly went to call General Cortas, and then he went directly to Andi. 

I guess he’s got time travel powers? Or are we supposed to believe he showered before being brought into the med bay?

Whatever. 

Dex says that Andi doesn’t know the “full story” behind the reason he turned her over to the Patrolmen, and Andi responds with:

“I loved you, and you threw me away like some common whore!”

But god forbid we actually say the word “sex” or stop being immature little shits every moment we make a dirty reference, amirite guys? Calling women whores and sluts is a-ok but if you even TRY to discuss sexuality in a mature and relaxed way you WILL get eaten by the mommy police.

Dex is like “pwease wissen to me :C” and she’s like “fucking dammit he’s just so hot not to listen to”:

She wanted him to hurt. To feel the soul-deep pain, just as she did. Physical wounds would heal, but the internal scars never would.

SOUL-DEEP PAIN. 

Not sure Andi has a soul but go off.

“You were my whole world. You showed me that I could still be loved. When everyone else—an entire planet full of people—hated me so much they wished me dead, even my own parents...I found you. I started to live again. I started to trust. Then I lost you, too, just like all the others. You turned away, just like they did.”

Thanks for mapping out the exact reasons for your angst, Andi. It’s not like we’re clever enough to know you have trust- and/or abandonment issues.

More like Angstdi amirite?

Dex gets all defensive and instead of giving her the real reason for his betrayal, he starts mouthing off and justifying himself.

“I turned you in because you were running from the law! You lied to me about your past, Andi. I did nothing that wasn’t expected of me! My duty as a Guardian was to the welfare of the galaxy, not to some runaway Spectre who’d failed her entire planet! You made the choice to fly that transport ship. It was your hands that crashed it. Your failure that killed Kalee! You ran, Androma.” 

H-hey bud? This is, as far as you know, your only chance to justify yourself. Maybe calm your tits and tell her what you’ve been keeping secret instead of confirming her beliefs about you? Since you were so desperate to talk to her?

No? Ok. For someone who displays some amount of emotional maturity (good god I can’t believe I just said that about fiking Dex Dogtective), you sure do get fired up easily, huh. Must be all that will-they-won’t-they tension.

They circled each other like predators, blood boiling, bodies shaking with rage as the stars looked on.

I can promise you the stars have better things to do than to give a shit about this petty squabble, Shinsay.

“Did you ever think about my side in all of this, Androma?” Dex’s voice cracked suddenly as he ran his fingers through his dark hair. “You may think you know the whole story, but you are so consumed by hate that you only see yourself.”

SO MAYBE STOP JUSTIFYING YOUR ACTIONS AND ACTUALLY TELL HER WHY YOU DID IT IF IT’S SO FUCKING IMPORTANT FOR HER TO KNOW?!

But no, we can’t have that yet. He follows it up with this:

“Your side of the story doesn’t matter. You sunk a knife into my chest. You stole my ship and left me to die.”

BECAUSE YOU TURNED HER OVER TO THE PEOPLE WHO WOULD MURDER HER. 

CAN YOU MAYBE NOT?! 

HOLY SHIT DEX DOGTECTIVE YOU ARE AN ABSOLUTE FUCKING MORON, AREN’T YOU? 

No wonder she fuckin stabbed you. I would’ve stabbed you multiple times and made sure you were actually dead before leaving your sorry ass.

Anyway, they stare at each other and Dex is all “uwu ur the only woman I ever loved” and we all know that doesn’t mean bi!Dex because Shinsay can’t think of a their manly man getting dicked down by another man, nu-uh.

Then we finally get the reason Dex did it. You see ...

They had his dad. And threatened to kill him if he didn’t turn Andi in.

Yeah. That old chestnut. It does unfortunately open up all of the plot holes. Like for example, if they knew where Dex was, why didn’t they just ... find him and thus find Andi? They knew she was with him. He was a Guardian at that point, surely they know where their men are stationed? Apparently he’d known Andi for a year when he turned her in, and he hadn’t realized who she was until the general’s men approached him. So ... how did the Patrolmen realize he was with Andi if even he didn’t know it? Or did they just threaten a family member of every Guardian on the off-chance that one of them knew Andi and would give her up to save them?

Maybe there’s something I’m missing, but this smacks of contrivance for the sake of conflict. 

Anyway, apparently Dex had tried to give Andi a head start the morning before he turned her in. By giving her a vaguely worded warning that she didn’t get. 

What a peach. 

They bribed Dex on top of threatening his father, which is like, beating him with the carrot stick, and I don’t understand it at all. But Dex feels very terrible about what he did to teh womaine he wuvs :c and apparently tried to plead with them that she was young and made a mistake. 

“Andi,” Dex whispered. “Please. Look at me. Tell me we can move past this. We both made mistakes. We both made our choices, and we’ve had to live with them.”

Seems a little manipulative there, Dexyboy. I’m getting a lot of mixed messages, but the loudest one seems to be “you did a bad and I did a smaller bad that’s justified and I feel kinda bad but also you’re also at fault and can we bone again please” and I’m not into it, Dexyboy. 

You wanted her to get away, to give her a head start. You agree that she’s innocent and she made a mistake when she was a child. Yet you blame her for stabbing you and fleeing from certain death? Ok. 

I mean, I get it, getting stabbed probably ain’t so fun, especially when it’s the womaine you lurv :c, and sure maybe it hurts both physically and emotionally to have her turn on you so fast and without hesitation ... BUT YOU DID PROVOKE IT BY TURNING HER OVER TO PEOPLE WHO WOULD DEFO 100% MURDER HER ASS. If you love her so much, can’t you extend just a bit of sympathy for her actions? Since you are the reason she did those things in the first place? Fucking dumbass.

Also, why the fuck have you been acting like a huge cocky asshole this whole time since you reunited? For kicks?

I get Shinsay wanted a sexie snarky love interest just like SJMommy but they’ve done it at the cost of consistent characterization.

Andi says that there’s no getting back to how it was and tells Dex to leave so she can cry and carve more tallies into her swords.

It’s very deep, y’all.

[homesteadchronicles]

Title: What a Fine Wish (Beyond the Gates of Glory) Series: Radiata Stories/Valkyrie Profile Characters: Mikey & Lenneth Valkyrie Chapter: 2/3 Word Count: 1,932

Summary: Mikey’s unexpected encounter with the evidently divine could both change his opinion of the supernatural and present him with a proposal he cannot refuse.

Author’s Notes: As of late, I have drowned myself in the fanmade support conversations in @unassumingvenusaur’s project for Fire Emblem: Fates/Awakening. Throughout my most recent readings, I realized how well that series would work with my favorite game of all time, Radiata Stories. Having support conversations between the countless characters in this game could add an additional layer of depth to each person and their relationship with their fellow teammates. That being said, I devised a handful of potential supports between my favorite characters in Radiata Stories and decided to turn this one into a full-fledged story!

Click “Keep Reading” to read the piece in full! If you would like to read the original piece on AO3, click here!

Two weeks lost following that fateful encounter, and still Mikey spent every waking moment dwelling on wishes, on ways out of this world, on green eyes before golden gates.

Fan decried him as crazed. The Distortion Corridor could dement any mind. Mikey’s, she claimed, had already succumbed to the allure of fairytales - why not indulge in one more fantasy? One with a beautiful woman, no less.

Galvados believed him. Or at least, he led Mikey to assume so. “I saw something, too,” Galvados said, dragging Mikey in too close to bloodied fangs that reeked of a rancid flesh and bloodied meat. Mikey disregarded his odor for the sake of a fellow seer. “I see little man make conversation with big wall, cackle like crazy person! Me scared for sure!” Mikey squirmed out of Galvados’ grasp, seeking to escape the false comfort of his so-called friend. The sound of raucous laughter drowned out his muttered obscenities.

At least Jack humored him. Honest as ever, Jack denied any possibility of belief in Mikey’s incessant claims. Still, in his compassion - or was it pity? - he had agreed to accompany Mikey on one last trip to the Distortion Corridor. Should they find no sign of this spectre, then Mikey would speak no more of her.

“And if we do find some sign of her,” Mikey had asked, “what then?”

Jack had not even bothered entertaining the notion. “Then pigs will fly.”

Mikey stood there agape as Jack sauntered past without a second glance. “But...but Journey Pigs do fly!”

With the power of the Journey Pig, Jack and Mikey departed on a private adventure through the depths of the Dragon Lair Cave and into the incoherent halls of the Distortion Corridor. Or rather, they would have, had Mikey remembered what path he had taken to meet his mysterious friend. Ten thousand stairwells spanned the interior of the Distortion Corridor. Mikey needed one. He could recall none.

Six hours of forgotten trails, attempted escape routes and inquiries of “are we there yet?” from his partner-in-crime led Mikey to the base of his destination at long last. He had never felt so relieved to climb a set of stairs in his life. Jack, however, lacked the same enthusiasm.

Their ascension up the staircase proved less difficult than they recalled. In mere minutes, they had approached the apex. As their end neared, however, Jack’s outcries only increased in quantity.

Mikey, however, had enough of his whining. “I’m telling you, Jack, she was real!”

“Yeah, yeah.” Jack heaved a sigh of relief as he reached the top step. To Mikey’s chagrin, the room bore no magnificent gateway, nor did it conceal a woman within. Still, Jack scanned the room with mild interest all the same. “Hurry up and show me your ghosty girlfriend so we can get out of here.”

“She’s not a ghost!”

“So she is your girlfriend!”

“No, she’s--”

“--right behind you.”

Both boys shrieked as an unforeseen presence made itself known behind them. Jack lurched backwards as MIkey flipped forwards. The head-on collision sent them both struggling to catch themselves. Mikey and Jack stumbled, fumbling about to reclaim their footing, only to fall on the floor atop of one another in a heap of flailing limbs.

At the foot of this mortal heap stood the objective of their investigation, her innocent smile hidden beneath an impish grin. “Boo?”

“What the hell!?” Jack attempted to cower away from her form. Mikey’s overturned torso, however, prevented any escape. Jack squirmed out from underneath his friend’s confinement. “Where did she come from?”

Face still planted firmly in the floor, Mikey grunted. “I told you she was real.”

The stranger arched an eyebrow. “I have always been here. In my eyes, you two are the intruders.” Her hand wavered dangerously close to the hilt of her sword.

“Have not!” Jack’s childish claim came with an accusatory finger pointed in her direction. “Where were you yesterday, huh?”

“Here, only…” The word evaded her. She tapped a calloused fingertip to her lips in thought. “...obscured, I suppose you could say.” She knelt down beside Mikey, who now clambered to his knees. “You see, I am always here - but not all know it.”

“...I don’t get it.”

The stranger sighed. “I suppose it is better to show you.”

With one arm around his waist, the woman hoisted a startled Mikey off of the ground and propped him back up into a standing position. Mikey could scarcely comprehend her strength. Not so much as a bead of sweat marred her unblemished skin. He knew then - they were in the presence of no ordinary swordswoman.

“Think of it like this: someone stands before you.” She yanked Mikey’s arm until he stood face-to-face with Jack. Mikey wondered whether this woman understood the concept of personal space, for he could feel the heat of Jack’s breath from this distance. She paid no heed to their discomfort. “With glasses, you could make out every detail of their figure.”

The proximity between he and Mikey stirred Jack to squirming, but he made no motion to run. Every detail indeed, Mikey thought. If only I were Ridley.

“Now, take the glasses off.”

Jack glanced at the stranger. She beckoned him with a wave of her hand, as if he were an actor who had forgotten his cue. With great reluctance, Jack raised his hands to his head and removed a pair of imaginary glasses. Mikey stifled a laugh.

“Perfect,” the woman assured him. Neither of the men seemed so certain. “Now you might see a shadow, a mirage of truth, but you cannot see the person before you as they truly are. And yet, are they still there?”

“Well, yeah.” Jack shrugged. “You just need to put the glasses back on.”

“Exactly.” She pressed her hands together, apparently pleased with an obvious answer. “Without the proper tool, one cannot see what exists right before their very eyes! It is no different with the two of you.”

With the lesson supposedly complete, Jack leaned back on his heels. One foot tapped impatiently against the ground as he processed the information - a habit Jack had never been able to kick. Unfortunately, now it kicked Mikey - quite literally. By the crease in Jack’s brow, Mikey could tell his fearless leader might need some private tutoring to understand this lesson. “So, what? I can see you because I remembered my contacts this morning.”

Mikey groaned. If the woman shared his disgust, she showed no hint of it. “Nothing so literal, I’m afraid.”

“Oh, come on!” Jack lurched forward, arms outstretched. “Then what kinda tool are you talking about - Mikey?”

Emerald eyes fell on Mikey for but a moment. “No, although he possesses it the same as you. This time, you two came alone - and with a wish.”

“A wish, huh?” Jack’s sudden outburst surrendered to his immediate amusement. “I wish I could get the hell out of here.”

Triumph shone from every pore of the woman’s visage. Non-humans knew that look from when a predator believed it had cornered its prey after a chase. But humans? They knew a tamer form - that wicked grin when one’s enemy in chess makes one wrong move. In moments, checkmate would come. “That is one wish I can grant.”

“At least someone’s useful around here!” Mikey did not miss the glare Jack sent in his direction. “So, what - you’re some sort of genie?”

Mikey rolled his eyes. Either great minds think alike, or this lady really ought to learn her urban legends.

The woman hummed, amused by their mundane understanding. “Not quite. Allow me to introduce myself.” She swept past the both of them, stationed before the back wall of the chamber. With one fluid motion, she removed the feathered helm from atop her head, letting her platinum locks spill out like liquified silver against her armor. One open palm pressed against the heart of her breastplate. “I am named Lenneth, selector of souls and guardian to the gates of Valhalla.”

Lenneth gestured towards the wall behind her with a broad swing of her arm. The insignia emblazoned deep within the stone burned with a fiery radiance. The flames expanded outwards until they had consumed the wall whole. When the wall crumbled beneath the magic’s might, two golden gates manifested to take the place of its fallen concealer.

Jack’s jaw could have unhinged itself, had it hung any lower. “Far out!” His arms spun in tight circles, an inexplicable but expected product of his excitement. Mikey had seen the same reaction many a time - when stagediving at Donkey’s first live concert, when hunting for Blood Orcs in their homeland, and when standing at the foundation of the Gold Dragon Castle. “So what’s Valhalla, anyways?”

“Heaven...” The word was but a whisper on Mikey’s lips.

Jack recoiled, all revelry lost to this revelation. “Woat, what!?” He flipped his head back and forth between his friend and their heavenly host. “You’re an angel?”

MIkey grasped at Jack’s arm. “No - a valkyrie.”

The glow of the golden gates did little to outshine the radiance of Lenneth’s smile. “So, you have heard the stories.”

“Heard them? I’ve memorized them! I even some of wrote my own!” Mikey tugged Jack closer, his grip on the other’s arm secure. “According to legend, the valkyries select souls they deem worthy of glory and crown them as heroes of the afterlife!”

“Oh, I get it now…” Jack nodded, but his face showed no sign of comprehension. As usual, MIkey doubted he understood. “She thinks we’re heroes!” Doubts confirmed. “That means you’re gonna give us all those fancy robes and thrones and stuff, right?”

“Is that your wish?” The chill of Lenneth’s question pierced through the warmth of Valhalla’s light.

Ever oblivious, Jack paid no mind to her derision. “I mean, that sounds pretty sweet to me. Besides the dying and all.”

“I have heard death is not as unpleasant as it sounds.”

Jack scoffed. “Oh, yeah? From who?”

“From your friends, of course.” Lenneth spoke with such assurance that Mikey wondered whether Fan and Galvados had visited her on their own time. What other friends of theirs would she know? “Your family. Your loved ones.” For a moment, her confidence faltered. Lenneth cast a wary glance towards the gates. “Or should I say ‘your lost ones’?”

Mikey took a step towards the gates, unable to retract his gaze from their grandeur. “Yesterday, you said I had friends waiting for me. I thought you meant Jack or Fan or...well, I guess Galvados counts. Kinda.” He could already hear Galvados getting a kick out of that one. At last, he pried his eyes from Valhalla to study Lenneth instead. “Who were you talking about?”

Lenneth did not retreat from his stare. Mikey had assumed he would find answers somewhere in her irises. Instead, she seemed to dig deeper into his identity than he had allowed her to. He had always been an avid reader, but it was she who read him like a book. “Someone waits for you in Valhalla.” Her eyelids sagged with the weight of compassion and sorrow. “Someone more precious to you than all the other souls combined…”

Mikey need not ask for clarification. “Lord Nogueira…”

Lenneth nodded.

“But...that’s impossible!” Mikey sputtered. “The Algandars--”

“--let him come home with me, once and for all,” Lenneth interrupted. She held a hand up to halt further questioning. Mikey obeyed, intent on understanding. “Light Elves always elude Valhalla, transferring their spirits from one vessel to another. Honestly, they’re no better than the dragons. Each of them grow more and more troubled as time progresses.” She huffed - a childish sight, ill-fitting for her regal demeanor. “But Algandars allows any soul to achieve the rest it deserves at long last.”

“He’s…” Mikey struggled to speak the truth. Dead. He swallowed the lump in his throat. “...at peace, then?”

“He is.”

Mikey could have broken down, if he had not seen that same peace evident in the valkyrie herself. Deep down, he had always hoped that Nogueira had gone only for a time. One day, he would return and they would all feast together, share their fondest memories, and when the rest of the forest slept, Nogueira would recount his favorite stories one by one to make up for lost time.

Lenneth’s confession came as a bitter truth that Mikey could not swallow. Deep down, he understood that his dreams were but infantile imaginations. Even still, they let him hope. They allowed him to dream. Without his fantasies, what had he left to cling to?

Lenneth reared him back to reality, away from his momentary nightmares. “Fear not, little one. Your Nogueira is at peace - more than he ever had been in your metropolis.” She extended her hand towards him. “Would you like to see him? He misses you.”

That same gravitational tug gripped Mikey’s hand, leading it towards Lenneth without instruction. His digits brushed against Lenneth’s fingertips.

Jack smacked his hand away. “Mikey! You can’t seriously be considering this chick’s offer?”

“Why not?”

“She’s crazy!”

“So are you, and I followed you halfway around the world.”

“That’s different!” Jack gripped Mikey’s shoulder. The intensity of his grasp sent shockwaves shooting through Mikey’s vein. He did not intend to surrender his friend. “She’s trying to kill you!”

Mikey glanced back at the angel then. The spell broken, the pieces of the puzzle connected in his mind.

Lenneth appeared unperturbed. “I do not deny his claims. Is it not obvious? To reunite with Nogueira in heaven, you must sacrifice your soul.” Her expression lightened then, an unsettling enthusiasm creeping onto her face despite the morbidity of her words. “But you needn’t worry - I’ve done this countless times! It is painless, really. Well, for but a moment. Only a pinch, really.”

Jack grimaced. “Yeesh, lady. You must really have it out for us. You don’t know a thing about us, and you already want us dead!”

“That’s where you’re wrong, Jack Russell.” Lenneth advanced. One step forward, one more chess piece in place. “I know all about you. You and Mikey.” She gestured towards the two of them with a low sweep of her hand.

Jack chuckled, but it quivered as it came out. “Heh, guess my name gets around even in other worlds, huh?” Even his quips lacked their punch. Mikey recognized that tone - she had unhinged him.

“It has.” Lenneth folded her hands across her chest. “Your mother has told me much of your accomplishments.”

“...Mom?” The word concealed a stifled sob. One sentence stole the breath from inside him. Jack’s eyes widened, his body slackening, lifeless in an instant. ““Wait, I don’t get it. Mom wasn’t a war hero!”

“Does she need to be? We welcome all the heroic in Valhalla.” Lenneth saluted, one hand pressed to her head, the other resting on her sword. “You need not slay dragons to be a hero, Jack Russell. Your mother braved death and disease with unparalleled resolve and grace. That dignity gave rise to a strength no sword could rival. She rest nows, at peace in glory - without infirmity.”

Mikey had known Jack for many moons now. He had discovered countless secrets, seen unpredictable sides to him. If there was one thing Mikey had yet to see Jack be, it was speechless.

Until now.

For a moment, Mikey believed Jack might break. He braced for the impact of the fall, to shoulder the weight of his broken commander. Instead, only his lips broke - into a grin. “I’m happy for her. She deserves it.”

“She would be even happier if she could see her son now.” Lenneth outstretched her hand towards Jack.

“Thanks…” Jack said, wiping an unshed tear from his eyes.

For a moment, Mikey feared he might agree to go with her. The world could afford to lose the protector of the Forest Metropolis. But the defender of the Golden Dragon? Not a chance.

“...but no. You must not know my Mom at all.”

Lenneth recoiled, hand struck by his accusation. Even an angel could not disguise her surprise.

“I don’t know much about Mom, but if she’s anything like Adele, then she’d give me the scolding of a lifetime if I bailed out early just to see her. I still have promises to keep here! I’d let her down if I left them all unfinished.” Jack raised his eyes to the sky, searching for someone who would not be staring back. “Besides, she’s got Dad to keep her company for now.”

Lenneth settled back into position. Her composure restored, she cleared her throat with renewed vigor. “An honest answer.” Instead, she turned towards Mikey. “And you, little one? What is it you wish?”

Mikey considered his answer. On one hand, he knew what he wanted to do. On the other hand, he knew what he needed to do. What was his wish? I just wish that what I want and what I need were one and the same...

“I wish…” Mikey hesitated. Sweat clung to his shaking hands. Fire licked the inside of his throat. He could not back down. Not now. “...to see Lord Nogueira.”

Jack slumped backwards in defeat. His eyes pleaded in silent protest, but his body made no motion to stop him.

“Excellent.” Lenneth reached for his arm. “Then just take my hand and--”

“--when I’m finished keeping my promise to him here. On Tottaus.” Before Lenneth could make contact, Mikey snatched his hand from her grasp. “Jack made a promise to Ridley, and I made one to Lord Nogueira. A long time ago, I told him I would always defend the forest from outsiders. If I went to him now, I would leave all of my friends, my family, without anyone to protect them. I don’t want to disappoint Lord Nogueira. So I’m staying - until I’m a hero he can be proud of! When that time comes, you can come claim me and bring me back to him.” Mikey’s lips split with unbridled determination. “That is my wish.”

Lenneth assessed his answer. She considered the stipulations, chewing on its possibilities before finding she liked what she had tasted. At last, she retreated from his side, but her pleasure knew no ebb.

“What a fine wish it is.”

[darkgreiga]

Wishes, Dreams, and Memories Chapter 1

Fandom: Rune Factory 4 Rating: T (to be safe) Genre(s): Adventure, Hurt/Comfort Characters: Lest, Dolce, Amber, Dylas, Leon Summary:  She had a wish to see him again. He had a dream of her last moments. They had their memories of having only each other. The amnesiac Earthmate never knew that by bringing his best friend back wouldn't make his daily life go back to normal. Nor did he know she was the key to his and his ancestors' past. Chapters:  list Navigation: <<prev   |   next>> Author’s notes: It’s a repost from my FFN with the same name and I decided that I’ll be posting this story here as well. The pairing will feature my favorite bachelorette (my in-game wife) who’ll be mentioned in later chapters. It’ll be slow at start with spoilers for the third arc and some other parts of the game, but please enjoy!

Chapter 1 – Dreaming of Venti

-First Person POV-

I feel cold. I feel the wind. I can see the clouds in front of me. I feel like I’m falling through the clouds. I can hear faint voices coming from above me, coming from the shadow far above me. The shadow is getting smaller and smaller, and I can’t hear those voices anymore. The shadow disappears, getting covered by the clouds. I’m still falling.

Is this the end? Am I going to die, just like this? I don’t remember why I’m here, where I’m from, or who those people are. Is this how my life is supposed to end? Falling into the unknown, knowing nothing around me. It’s a scary death and I don’t know where I’ll wind up dying or who’ll find my dead body.

But… I don’t want to die… I’m scared, but I don’t know who I should turn to. I don’t remember anyone. But if this is how my fate is supposed to be, I’ll just close my eyes. I’m too afraid to find out how I die. As dark as it is, I think this is the best choice for me.

I feel my back hitting on something hard. Something hard, but scaly. It hurts, but not as much as I expect. I feel my body sliding off something that’s scaly before landing on something hard. I can still move my arms. I can still move my legs, my head, and my entire body. I reopen my eyes, and I see something green.

“Hey, there… are you alive?” I hear the green thing talking, but I can’t still see who or what is talking to me.

“H-Hello?” The thing asks again, but I can’t still see too clearly. I suddenly see something moving and feel something sharp poking my left arm, “You’re not dead, are you?”

Good question. I don’t know myself. I know that this green thing is too big to be an angel. Does that mean I’m still alive? But I’ve never seen anything so big like that… and that thing can speak human language. Huh, this must be a dream then. A really crazy dream.

Everything suddenly goes bright and I suddenly feel like I’m standing in a big room. Oh, right. That isn’t any green thing. It’s Venti, and I’m standing in her room along with her and four other people. Well, three people and one ghost in the room. It’s the three other Guardians that I‘ve saved before and they are looking with surprised looks at Venti.

“I’m sorry for everything you’ve all gone through in my account,” Venti finally speaks up, breaking the silence in the room.

The woman with pink hair, Dolce, pushes her ghost friend off her before looking sadly at Venti, “Ven…” Her frown turns into a smile, “… you’ve grown.”

The man with light blue hair, Dylas, looks at Dolce in confusion and then at Venti, pausing for a moment before folding his arms, “You think? She looks the same to me.”

The shorter woman with green hair, Amber, smiles cheerfully and looks at Venti, “I think she has. She seems more dignified.”

Hearing their responses, Venti let out a laugh. Even so, sadness still remains in her eyes, “None of you changed at all.”

Amber’s smile is replaced by a confused look, “But why was it that I’d forgotten about you? You were such a dear friend to me…”

Venti goes silent, turning her head away in guilt, “That’s… my fault…” Venti turns back to the three, “I had taken away all of your memories of your time with me. I’m sorry…”

“Why would you do that?” Dolce asks, looking up at Venti.

“I was just concerned that you all might try to become Guardians again…” Venti lets out a sad sigh, “Leaving me all alone again…”

Everything around me goes dark.

‘Leaving me all alone again’, she said. Venti doesn’t want to be alone, not anymore. She doesn’t want to be alone again, because her friends are all here with her. I can imagine all of us in Venti’s room, laughing and bickering like old friends who haven’t seen each other in a very long time…

The image blurs away, fading into the darkness.

-Third Person POV-

A young man with short hazel hair stirred in his sleep, slowly waking up. Lest opened his eyes and sat up, looking around to see that he was sleeping his room in the castle. His hands reached for his eyes, which were wet as he cried in his sleep.

‘A dream, huh…’ He looked at the hand which he used to wipe the tears from his eyes, ‘It’s been over a year since Venti disappeared…’

It was dark in the room with the only light in the room was the moonlight coming from his windows, which was on the wall across him. The warm wind of summer blew from the slightly opened window, letting the curtains blew along the winds. Being the end of summer, the temperature had started cooling down, but not cool enough for the Earthmate not to fan himself with his hands.

With a loud sigh, Lest left his bed and headed towards his closet, positioned on the right wall of his room. Lest took his spare of usual clothes and put the pajamas he was wearing on his bed. He went out of his room and turned to his right where he had put his storage box and went through the items within the box. A bright green sword, which had the blade shaped like an object blown by the wind, came into view before Lest took it in his hand. With the green sword placed inside the sheath on his left hip, Lest walked out of the main room of the building to be greeted by the late summer wind.

The usually lively and busy town was quiet at night as only the sound of the blown leaves was heard in the town square. All the noises of people talking and walking around town had made the town very lively despite the fact that not all of the residents of Selphia was there at that time. That dragon god who had been protecting the town all this time was gone within a day, but the people had slowly moved on with their lives. The whole town had been moving in time, just the way she had wished for.

Lest closed his eyes and raised his head, letting the wind blew on his face as he tried recollecting how things had gone since his best friend had left. How he and the Guardians had witnessed Ventuswill’s disappearance and how it affected their lives. How the townsfolk had prepared a special memorial of Ventuswill, treating as if she had already died. Lest was among the few who refused to believe she had really gone for good.

The hazel-haired young man opened his eyes and stretched his arms, “Maybe I should go for a walk…” Lest turned to his left until a blur of green caught his eyes, “Huh?” Lest to the gate where he thought he had seen the green color and saw a small shadow coming through the gate. Lest had his hand ready at the sword’s hilt, until he saw the familiar of the shadow as they went through the gate, “Isn’t that Amber?”

The shadow, which turned out to be Amber, let out a yawn while walking to the east side of the town. Lest watched her walking until she was out of his sight and let go of his hold on the sword hilt. He let out a relieved sigh as he dropped his tensed shoulders. Looking at the direction where the Guardian had left, Lest wondered the reason why she would be out of town until after midnight.

Lest shrugged before turning to his right, “Maybe I should ask her tomorrow…” Lest started his walk towards the west side of the town, “Maybe a short walk will clear my mind.”

[kittymaverick]

It’s that time of the year again! A Mystery Case Files: The Black Veil commentary

Spoilers as usual under the cut. Also, this is mostly from memory, so there might be some errors in time order.

1. That opening is epic. Definitely the most epic I’ve seen of Eipex’s MCF so far. (And this is coming from someone who is ultra critical of Eipex. How far they’ve come.) 2. REPORTER PEOPLE ARE RUNNING FROM TOWN. WHY ARE YOU RUNNING IN. THIS IS HOW WE GET PROBLEMS. 3. Queen: ...the ”unbelievable” is what you deal with. MD: I’d rather not, but it’s not like I have a choice. 4. Mysterious figure running off, fine. Car crashes into another car. Medieval town wholesomely preserved... yeah, this is totally going to be fine. 5. Reporter: Help me Detective! MD: You totally put yourself in this situation, so no. Me: Uh.... MD: Okay, fine! 6. Alison: Hi detective! Remember me from Dire Grove? MD: ...YOU... Alison: It’s like you’re my guardian angel-- MD: I’D RATHER NOT BE. ALSO, DID YOU LEARN NOTHING FROM BEING IN DIRE GROVE ABOUT RUNNING STRAIGHT INTO-- Alison: *Smiling happily* MD: Hrgh, you know what never mind. 7. Yeah, go talk to the guy at the big house with lots of money. Like that’s totally going to turn out fine. 8. Richard: Someone’s breaking into my house! MD: You know, for a moment there, I was actually afraid for you. Just...for a split moment. 9. Huh, big house, pretty normal for once actually-- *GIANT STATUE OF WOMAN* *THREE SHRINES TO DEATH* Okay, I said that too soon. 10. Richard: Hi there! I’m scottish! And welcoming! MD: ...Okay, I think this guy can be trusted, for once. Me: Um... Richard: Snooping around? That’s fine! Why don’t you seat down for a drink with me? MD: Yeah, he’s a fine person. Me: Hey, MD-- Richard: So Henry’s being a little arsehole, so can you tell him to stop it? Also, can you go activate that totally not evil and eldritch device in the center of town for me? MD: Sure! ME: SERIOUSLY?! 11. Henry can’t speak. Me: ....Did they ran out of budget for a child voice actor? 12. MD: Alright, let’s activate this device-- SHITSHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT! Me: WHAT DID I TELL YOU? WHAT DID I SAY???!!! Alison: I’m not feeling too well... Me: SEE WHAT I MEAN??!! MD: Note taken: Just because he’s Scottish doesn’t mean he is trustworthy. 13. Alison: Hey! You’re okay! It must be the feather that protected you. MD: Yes, hold onto the totally mysterious magical item that I have no idea what it does. This is totally going to be fine. Me: Seriously, MD, not from a chicken, peacock, or duck? MD: Hey, I had to make some educated guesses. 14. Alison: Okay I’m off to investigate! MD and Me: WAIT NO ALISON THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT RESULTED IN DIRE GROVE-- Tip: “Alison’s still a bit sensitive about Dire Grove. Be cautious not to bring the subject up.” MD and ME: SHUT UP. 15. Richard: *Villainous slow clap* MD: Please don’t. Richard: Death is an old friend of yours! It’s like we’re kindred. MD: (It’s Alister or Charles, definitely.)...Did he happen to mention how many times I killed him? 16. MD: Oh, great, another immortal on our hands. I seem to be very good at killing those, so you won’t be immortal SOON. 17. Guard: Stop! MD: Okay. Guard: You won’t go any further. MD: I didn’t intend to-- HOLY SHIT HE’S SHOOTING AT ME FOR REAL! 18. Richard: Hey detective. Wanna see something awesome? MD: Not really. Richard: Look what happens when I kill someone! A pretty lady shows up! MD: ...................Which part of NOT REALLY did you not hear? 19. Alison: Great! We found evidence! Richard: You’ve also set off my trap! MD: SHIT. Alison: Oh no, how do I avoid-- *swivels through hidden door* MD: ARE YOU FOR REAL AND DID YOU JUST....urgh. 19.5. Me: WHY IS THIS DOOR NOT OPENING. IS THIS A BUG??? MD: You forgot to power it. Me: ...Oh. MD: ...It was kind of obvious-- Me: I blame bad game design! 20. Richard: AHAHAHA! I have a captive now! You can’t leave! MD: You...Ass. Richard: Well, I’ll save you the trouble of looking for notes and tell you how I got here. MD: Thank you, but you’re still an ass. Richard: So why don’t you enjoy what I’ve prepared for you? MD: YOU...YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THE LAST GUYS THAT PREPARED STUFF FOR ME? 21. MD: Oh thank gods he’s obsessed with Ankou instead of me this time. Me: Well....... MD: Just let me have that thought for once, okay? 22. Me: Aw...Henry’s just like any little kid. Being mischievous, climbing trees. MD: *Knocks tree down* Me: HOLY SHIT! HENRY! MD: OOPS...HE’s okay! He also totally won’t step into the minefield. *Henry steps into a tube instead* Me and MD: OH COME ON. Richard: *Laughs* 23. MD: Okay, so the more that someone’s soul weighs, the only she gets to stay. And weight is increased by one’s virtue. Me: ...This is fucked up. On the other hand, at least you’re not the prisoner. MD: This is still as fucked up as all the guys before. Me: So you’ve gone from saving ghosts, to saving people, to saving gods now? I’d say that’s an improvement. MD: ...Shut up. Also, this guy has shitty record tastes. 24. Alison: Thank you! Now you’re Henry’s guardian angel too. MD: I won’t need to be anyone’s angel IF YOU’D ALL JUST STAY OUT OF TROUBLE 25. MD: Shiiiiiiit that’s an underground complex alright. Me: Jealous? MD: I’ve had my fill of underground complexes as offerings. No thank you. Richard: Technically, this is also a gift for you though. MD: Oh DAMN YOU. 26. Richard: Alright! Here’s a man who may or may not be guilty. Will you sentence him for his crimes or will you forgive him? MD: ...WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU EVEN THE DALIMARS DIDN’T REACH THIS LEVEL OF FUCKERY. Alister: What?! Charles: Excuse me?! Victor: Father will be displeased! MD: NOT an invitation. 27. MD: ALRIGHT RICHARD ENOUGH OF THIS-- where is he? Richard: Hi. *brandish knife* MD: Shit. Me: Alright! Get ready for final combat-- *Richard OUT RIGHT STABS MD IN THE HEART* MD: CRAP! ME: AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!! 28. Me: HE STABBED YOU. ACTUALLY STABBED YOU. TO KILL. MD: Yeah, can we-- Me: HE ACTUALLY WENT FOR IT. MD: Hey-- Me: AND YOU’RE DYING FOR REAL THIS TIME. HOLY SHIT WHAT DO I-- MD: WALK ME TOWARDS THE FUCKING LIGHT WILL YOU YOU NITWIT. 29. Me: Oh look, it’s Dire Grove. MD: Nope. Me: Now it’s Ravenhearst. MD: NOPE. Me: Hi madame fate! MD: NOPE NOPE. Me: Hm...this looks like the chamber where Charles was gonna-- MD: AAAAAAAHHHHHHH *runs* Me: ...You know, you’re not so much walking towards the light as so much as running from the dark... 30. MD: Oh hi Ankou. Gonna send me to death? Me: Um.... MD: ...Oh thanks! A feather. Guess I’m going to live. AND TEAR THIS FUCKING THING DOWN. Richard: NO! YOU WERE ONLY MEANT TO BE A KEY! MD: WHY DON’T YOU ASK THE DALIMAR TWINS HOW THAT WENT LAST TIME! Me: Answer, not well. :D MD: The explosion is always so satisfying. Me: Um...should we...get out? MD: Oh yeah-- AAAAAHHHHHH. 31. Henry: ...I want to be like you when you grow up. MD: Trust me, you really don’t-- Wait DID YOU JUST SPOKE??? 32. MD: Alison’s back to normal, Dread whatever the town name actually is has been saved. I’m alive despite being stabbed in the heart. The embodiment of Death has been saved. Eh. Pretty good and done for once. Me: ...You realize you might be immortal now, right? MD: Yeah, but what’s the worst that can come from that? Charles: :D MD: OH NO WAIT FUCK YOU-- Conclusion: As much as the basic plot line is like a lighter version of Escape from Ravenhearst, I did enjoy it. It’s not like Broken Hours where the story was very distant from the MD’s past. This story DID indeed use the MD’s past experience a valid plot point. Except for WHY Richard knows so much about the MD. That just...honestly wasn’t explained clearly, even in the extra gameplay. I think the extra game actually made it more confusing? Now it seems that was part of the intention, but I’m not certain that it contributed to the game as a result. That said, congrats on reaching the 15th game in the MCF series! The MD has come so far. ;u; MD: Can I have a proper vacation now? For once?

[jey-chan]

The forgotten temple and the secret heritage ch2

woow…. I I really didn’t think this is was going to be that good. So… there is the next chapert, hope you will like it and I should thanks my friend Angel again for begging so kind and patient with my bad grammar. (Really you are the best!)

Mahiru really didn’t know what to think anymore.

In the last 24 hours she not only moves in the school dorms, but finds a neko spirit guardian of a forgotten temple in her dorm. The neko was a vampire too and has information about her mysterious dead father.

Oh! And she made a contract with the neko vampire spirit guardian after killing a powerful demon that suddenly popped up in the school gardens.

She really was hoping that was a weird dream, but now that she was in a chair at noon eating a toast, she can see that is wasn’t a dream.

“So….”

The cat vampire give her a lazy glare.

“yeah?” asked kuro.

“… what exactly I am supposed to do now that I have made the contract? Oh and more importantly, you don’t eat cat food right? Or need b- blood s so often r- right?”

The spirit saw how she got nervous in the last sentence, was she afraid of blood? Oh man. Don’t tell me she is one of those humans that passed out for the very fact of saw some little blood? If that’s the case then she was in a very creepy exposition therapy.

And… did she say cat food? The mere thought of it made him nervous and sad. That stuff was awful!

“you give me some of that terrible thing called cat food and I throw your homework”

The girl made a little giggling sound before moving to ask again the first and second question.

“….well I don’t like taking blood so only if its necessary I will take some of yours… a little, only a glup and that is and for what to do…. Well honestly I don’t know… you are the first eve I had in all my immortal life so… I really don’t know but… there is a distance limit and we can’t be apart for more than 6 hours or bad things happens…” the vampire lest a sigh. “what a pain… having an eve is so troublesome that I can die… trying to remember is something I can’t deal…” and with that he got in his cat form.

Mahiru blinked, before remembering something important.

“Do you know how we made it here? I mean the last thing I remember was passing out in the gardens so….”

The cat rolled his head.

“I think it was one of my brothers… or my sister I really don’t know”

“you have siblings?! That’s cool! I had always wanted a sibling but… I think it's a little hard to have one now”

“oh, your parents don’t have alergies to cats right? And… why are you here?”

Mahiru give him a sad face before shaking her head.

“I don’t have parents. I never knew my dad and my mom was single. She died in an accident, I came here to learn the circus arts and one day be a legal member of my uncles circus”

“Oh well.. so your uncle adopted you? Just like you did with me”

Mahiru noded before seeing the clock.

“Omg! It’s already so late?” and with that the girl ran of with her backpack

Kuro only grabbed the last toast and ran after his mistress.

Once the apartment was alone, a ghostly young man appears in the lobby.

A person that wears  Victorians clothes put his eyes in the place.

“so… this is our new home, huh? It’s simple and lovely… Yup I like it.” the ghost put his gloved hand in the TV remote and started changing channels until he found something that was worthy in his eyes.

The show was about a girl in a dark blue jeans, a traditional Mexican looking blouse, sandals and an eye mask in her face.

Her dark hair was in a strange bun that looked like a butterfly and the most amazing thing was her big black butterfly wings.

“I know I should be preparing things for my formal introduction to my little descendent but… Obsidiane (An: I know its Obsidian but I put it like that because I like it how its hear, so im sorry)  can’t wait” he said before started to sing along the silly opening of the super hero themed show.

Meanwhile, Mahiru was trying to re-establish her breath in her desk.

“T-that’s was the best run for school I have ever had” she admitted to her cat.

Kuro was laying alongside her face and arms in the desk so he make sure to whispered to her some little concern.

“hey… does schools allows pets? Last I checked they didn’t”

“This school does. It’s for the training animals class. Something that is mandatory to all students in the first year. If I want to learn more and practice about that then I need to put in the six curses”

“so now im your practice bean… what a pain… you are so mean, making a cute little cat like myself working so hard for humans entertainment… I can die” the vampire cat started to roll in the desk, ignoring the glare that his mistress was sending him.

“You are many things but “such a cute little cat” is out of the question”

Just in the time kuro was about to do a comeback, a short guy with dark purple hair, in a strange uniform come in and the most awesome thing about him was the butterfly that was in his hair.

‘is that All of Love?’ he asked himself, before being lifted by strangers hands.

“… you call it kuro because of the fur? Really Mahi, you need to be more creative. If you stay with the “simple is best” of yours then I bet you we will be here for three months. You need more creativity and awesome in a go!” the guy that dared to pick him was the most exotic thing that Kuro had seen in all his immortal life.

It was tall and slender, had red eyes and a goofy smile with an annoying love glare to his eve, but the most he give away it was his curly green hair.

Yes you had read it right, this guy has green hair and red eyes.

And apparently he is a good friend of Mahiru, but the way his soul was acting, the guardian suspected its was a vampire. Why does Mahiru want to be friends with one?.

“Oh come on Sakuya! Don’t bother Kuro! It’s a good name for him and I will not change it for whatever one you had in mind”

Kuro fell a little bit of happiness, unbelievable and proud to hear that.

His eve cared for him even after knowing him for less than 24 hours.

“why not? I’m sure ‘Lordvacat’ its better than Kuro!”

“L-lordvacat?! Really?! You had been seeing so much shojo manga! His name is Kuro and that’s all! So you better drop the subject there Sak-kun!”

The name that his girl called the vegetable boy made him become a tomato.

“D-Don’t say that! Y-You know it's my only weakness!” says the boy in an intent to defend himself but the teacher comes in the classroom and the boy sits down in his desk.

 Later that day Kuro saw something very interesting in the Sakuya guy. Aparently he has a crush in Mahiru. ‘I wonder what he is thinking that old odd guy. And now that I think about him… its unusual for him to not have shown up now. His desire has come halfway through’

“…Don’t worry Sakuya. I will be fine, I only need some bells and needles. Thanks for coming! And see you tomorrow” kuro came back from his thoughts, to see the vegetable boy leaving the side of his mistress.

They had gone to the city to buy some materials for the cultural festival that was supposed to be in 3 months. And after 2 hours of wondering around the streets and stores, the boy had a call and said he had to go.

One our later and Mahiru with kuro in her shoulder were leaving another store with the materials necessary, but something was not right in the mind of the vampire and somehow the girl had sensed it too.

“Kuro… it is normal that I feel like someone is watching us with some very ill intentions? And that something bad will be happening in short?” the girl was nervous and honestly the vampire didn’t blame her. He was nervous too but he was nervous for her.

He recognized the smell that a vampire left before killing.

“For your spiritual powers, yes. But for your powers at an eve I don’t know. This seems problematic so better we run away….”

Before the vampire guardian can finish, a man in a white tuxedo and top hat started to talk to the people in the screet.

“AHAHAHA! COME, COME! Come and see my better performance!”

The people was seeing him now and the strange mage put his cold red eyes in a boy that Kuro was sure they had talked earlier with the Sakuya guy.

“Oh! But, why the quick run? You do know why do I stopped you? A) because you ignored me. B) because I wanted you to be my helper? C) because I’m hungry? Or D) because I wanted to kill you?” the mage put a maniac grin in his face before took the boy bit his neck and put the canines in his fresh, releasing a blood river.

“The answer is ALL OF THEM! AHAHAHAHAHAHAAAHAHAA! COME, COME AND BE MY DINNER!” the Vampire started to laugh and yell to the crowd.

“R-Ruiji - kun! K- kuro, that man hurt Ruji! We need to help him!”

“can’t deal…” says the cat before using his body to sheld the girl of a very dangerous sword that the mage had pulled off of his hat, and was aiming to her.

“hahahaha! So you really are here huh? Sleepy Ashyuuuu! Tsubakiuuun will be happy to see you! Your corpse that is! haaahahahahahaha!” the maniac man was with his foot in the chest of the guardian neko that was lying in the street.

“hey, hey! Lets’ play a game? Shall we? It’s called: who can kill more people in a bit? Isn't it exciting? I bet I can win! Haaaha-auch! Hey who dared throw me a rock in the face!”

For the surprise and horror of both vampires, the one that had thrown the rock talked.

“It was me! And stop with this you maniac mage!” says Mahiru, who currently was armed with a school supplier.

“…you. Threw. Me. A. rock. In. the face.” Says the man.

“Yes I did, is there a problem with that?”

“…You. A girl, a stupid little girl who only go to what? Middle school? Throw me a rock in the face to save the patetic inmortal life of this stupid vampire?”

“HE IS NOT PATHETIC AND SURE ARE LESS STUPID!”

“you dared to try to stop me?! The Great Bakuria?! To save this vampire?! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA! That’s cuteeee and interesting. But.. you are noting more than a stupid girl so… better kill you now” and with that the now know as Bakuria, threw himself after the girl, and she dogged with elegance, in the last second giving him a kick in the back part of his head.

Then she ran to her vampire cats side.

“Kuro! Are you all right? Does this can be healed be my b-blood?!”

The vampire put himself in a siting position before nodding.

“T-Then you need to drink it! Here!” the girl exposed his arm to the vampire guardian and seeing that there wasn’t another way, closed his eyes and bit it.

The great tatse of her blood invaded his mind and mouth. In each gulp he tasted, he felt the effect of the contract.

He felt his wounds close and the energy to fight, he felt how the aches of the last fight left him to never come back. And he sensed the desire to protect  the girl.

His heart ached in joy to find that the girl cared for him. That she accepted the way the contract was made and that her most wanted desire was to help him, and protect the ones she loved the most and the innocent people that were in danger of this atrocity.

So with one last glup the chains appeared and he answered with showing his claws. He will protect Mahiru.

“oooh so you had a eve? You the sloth servamp that never ever before had a master to drink blood had now you have one?! And is a stupid little girl not the least! Hahahahahaha! Tsubaki will find this hilarious haahahaha!”

“do you know him?” the girl ignored the man.

“no, I don’t. I’m sure that I don’t know him and neither have I known a Tsubaki”

“HEY DON’T IGNORE ME!”

Kuro glared lazily to him.

“you know, whatever I do to you is because of her. I’m only following orders. So don’t blame me please” it was said with a nonsense and joking way but Mahiru had heard it in the way it really was meaningful.

Kuro had fear to being blamed for something that he do for necessary times.

But right now is was not the time to think about that. She will make sure that he doesn’t do something he regretted once the fight finished, she was his partner and she will do her part in this fight.

“You had caused pain to innocent people so now you need to pay for you actions. We are going to stop you!”

And with that, Kuro throw himself to the maniatic mage, opening him in the neck, torso, and legs.

The man fell to the food and started to gasp for breathing, but a cough interrupted him then and there.

Kuro took him from his long pink hair and open his mouth to finish him, but a pull in his chain stopped him.

“Kuro. We only wanted to stop him, not kill him! I know you don’t want to take his life. So stop it now!”

The voice of his eve made him come back to the present and drop the man.

“Haahahaha you think you had me? Well not!” the man do a puff and then a doll version of the vampire was in the street.

Mahiru blinked and took it.

“huh? Is that all? Is it dead?” before she can so anything the doll come to life and started to laughing.

“Ahahahahaha! Of course not! You idiot! I’m going to make a curse in your- aw aw aw… please don’t do that to me now, aw aw aw” the vampire doll was cutting his sentence because of a glowing dark claw that impaled him in the hat.

Kuro started to do some cat activities with it.

“So. Who sent you there? And why did you said Tsubaki will be pleasant to know that Kuro had me?” started with the questions Mahiru.

“I sent him” the sloth pair turned they head to the right to see a man in a kimono, black sunglasses, and a sadistic expression.

But mahiru saw more than the love for pain in another’s.

Oh no.

She saw a man with sadness and a misunderstanding for life, family and other important concepts.

“who are you?” asked the girl.

“Let me tell you a story!” says the doll.

“Once upon a time, a spirit guardian becomes a vampire that was suppose to have a master and answered to him. The servamp spirit returned to his home only to find that there wasn’t one. A man that was called a priest adopted him and he became the family guardian. The servamp swore to never have a eve but that promise went away the day he met his new priest. A girl made the vampire contract and choosed to walk the dangerous path ”

“Does they will come alive after the dark? Or will they find they last of the days? What do you think Tsubaky?”

The man smiled with some malice.

“I Think that the war is about to start. And is nice to finally meet you. Ni-san”

“Big Brother?” both the girl and the servamp asked in unison and equal curiosity.

“What a pain, I think you are mistaken. I don’t have a brother with that name”

“oh no, my lovely ni-san. I’m Tsubaky, the 8th servamp, the champion of melancholy”

“8th?! Y-you have 8 brothers?!”

“Actually, they are 5 brothers and one sister… and I didn’t know we had another one”

“are all of you cats… oh no I can see it now. They are fox ears and fox tails” the girl pointed out the obvious when she saw the extra parts of the body.

“We are a very variant group. Im a fox, our sister is a wolf, the one that is before me is a butterfly, there is one that is a serpent, and one is a pig. The most annoying is a hedgedog. It’s a very unique family don’t you think so?” says the man transforming in a black and red kitsune.

“All of you were once a spirit guardian?”

“Yes, well more of them. I’m more a yokai than a guardian. But it's funny to watch people die”

“So you are the one that is behind the attacks that my friends had warned me about. Why do you do it?!”

“Yes I had been the one ordering them. And so what? I can do what I want, and so what?. I will kill them all and so what?”

“you can’t do that!”

“ You want to stop me? hahahahahahahahahahaha….. boooring. Well I just come here for my friend there, so see you around… Sloth pair. Oh and if I were you I will watch my back… right now I just declare the war against all of the servamps! Hahahahahahaha!” and like the wind the vampire of Melancholy and his maniac fellow left the street.

 @tina-nightray @just-servamp-trash @angel-of-music-hyde-no-longer