#real feelings caught and betrayal and real feelings confirmed

[pixie-mask]

"Is she your...hostage?" "NO! She's my girlfriend."

[intynidad]

Hey, can you do shapeshifting yandere x reader who's slowly realising that the yandere has replaced their significant other?

I love this idea

I think i got a little carried away with this but i really like how it turned out

TW: yandere stuff, kidnapping (not towards reader), murder (implied), doppelgänger??

LOVE HAS MANY FORMS

It began with subtle shifts, barely noticeable at first. Changes in your partner's attitude that left you with a lingering sense of suspicion. They hadn't done anything wrong per se, but their behavior was undeniably different.

"Hello, darling," they greeted you with a gentle kiss on the cheek. "How was your day?"

It had been a month since this transformation began. "I'm okay, love. How about you?" you responded, trying to navigate this newfound affection and adoration. It was a stark contrast to the cold and distant demeanor they had maintained throughout your one-year relationship. It was as if they had become an entirely different person.

You couldn't deny the warmth that came with their displays of love. It was a welcomed change, albeit one that left you feeling slightly perplexed. The shift in their behavior raised questions in your mind. What had sparked this sudden outpouring of affection? Was it genuine, or was there something more lurking beneath the surface?

As the days turned into weeks, you found yourself torn between embracing this newfound connection and cautiously questioning its authenticity. A part of you cherished the tenderness and closeness you now shared, relishing in the affectionate gestures that had previously been absent. But another part of you couldn't shake the nagging suspicion that something wasn't quite right.

Your suspicions were confirmed when you feigned sleep, only to be jolted awake by peculiar noises emanating from the basement. Intrigued and filled with trepidation, you summoned the courage to investigate, guided by the unnerving sounds that reached your ears. As you approached the basement door, your heart raced in anticipation of the truth that awaited you.

Pushing open the creaking door, your eyes widened in disbelief as you were greeted by an unexpected sight. Before you stood your partner, bound to a chair, their expression one of fear and vulnerability. And next to them stood an eerie doppelgänger, an exact replica of your beloved but radiating an unsettling aura.

Caught in this bizarre confrontation, you couldn't help but eavesdrop on their conversation, your heart sinking with each word uttered. Your partner, weakened and emaciated, pleaded for their release, swearing to keep the encounter a secret.

"Please let me go, I swear I won't tell anyone about this!" your partner pleaded desperately, their voice laced with fear and desperation. Their frail form seemed to have withered, contrasting sharply with the stronger, more imposing figure standing beside them.

"Let you go and then what?" the doppelgänger retorted, their tone dripping with anger and resentment. "So you can continue treating them like trash? I won't allow it."

“I don’t even like that idiot!, i just date them for a bet, I don't care if you wanna date them, do it as yourself and let me go!”

Frustration and confusion welled up inside you as you grappled with the shocking revelation unfolding before you. Your real partner, bound and vulnerable, claimed their indifference towards you, confessing that they had only entered into the relationship as part of a bet. The words stung, piercing your heart with betrayal and hurt.

"Don't you dare call them an idiot!" the doppelgänger's voice rang out, filled with fierce protectiveness and devotion. "They are the most incredible person in this world. I love them more than you could ever comprehend."

The weight of the situation bore down upon you, leaving you torn between conflicting emotions. The one you had trusted had revealed their true nature, while the doppelgänger stood as a beacon of love and adoration, professing an unwavering devotion to you.

The doppelgänger's voice, filled with anguish and resentment, pierced through the tense air once more. "I don't understand why they would choose you! I have assumed countless forms in the past, and none of them caught their interest. But you, you managed to captivate their heart effortlessly, and yet you seem unaffected. How dare you!"

The sound of their scream made you stumble backwards and accidentally stepped a little to hard on a Wooden plank that made a small noise ,it was small yet enough to caught the attention of both of the persons on the other side of the door.

“Ho-honey is that you?” The doppelgänger voice sound scared

“HELP ME Y/N IM HERE HELP” your partner voice boomed into your ears as the door opened

Your eyes went to the doppelgänger to your partner to the doppelgänger again and the cycle continues for what felt like an eternity

“STOP LOOKING AROUND LIKE AN IDIOT AND HELP ME OUT” your boyfriend pleaded in despair

You looked again at the doppelgänger eyesore they filled with fear but you knew that what they fear wasn’t they getting caught…

“How much did you hear?” The doppelgänger spoke with a shake voice

Small tears started to form in the corner of your eyes “one year … and it was all a bet” you said looking at the ground

“AND THAT WHAT YOU TOOK OUT OF THIS SITUATION,SHUT UP AND HELP ME OUT” your partner said with panic

After a moment or maybe an hour of silence you decided to lift your head and look at both of them

“Honey…” you said but this time looking at the doppelgänger

“When you finish whatever you have to do, please come back to bed, is cold without you” and gave your new “partner” a small kiss on the lips

“Yes…yes love i promise ill be quick” small happiness tears started to fall from your partner eyes it would have been a romantic scene if it wasn’t for your ex screaming on the background

“YOU STUPID WHORE, YOU ASSHOLE I HOPE YOU DIE YOU SELFISH BI-” A hit in the head and they were knocked out

“Are-are they dead?” You asked with a small amount of fear

“No, don’t worry i will not expose you to such things” your new partner gave you a kiss on your hands “ go to sleep love, ill be up in a second”

You gave one last look at the limb body of your ex significant other…and walked away

Later that night you were sleeping on your bed when a pair of warm arms hugged you from behind while whispering praises and promises of love

And for the first time, you believe them

——

Your partner slowly started to change after that day, to the rest of they world they just started to experiment with hair dye and contact lenses but you knew that they wanted to love you as their true self, and you were eager to let them love you

[tanjamikaelson]

BEST FRIEND'S BROTHER - CHAPTER 3

MASTERLIST

CHAPTER 3: | RUMOUR |

You sat cross-legged on your bed, earbuds in, music playing softly as you replayed the events of last night in your mind. Every time you thought about Rafe, a heat crept up your cheeks. The memory of his touch lingered, the way his fingers had moved against you, sending shivers through your body. It was intoxicating, the way he made you feel—wanted, desired. You had never felt anything like it before. The thought of it stirred something inside you, something you hadn’t been able to shake all day.

You were so lost in the memory that you didn’t hear the door burst open until Sarah’s voice cut through the air like a knife. “Y/N, is it true?”

Startled, you pulled out your earbuds, eyes snapping up to meet hers. “What?” you asked, still caught between your thoughts and the sudden reality of her presence. The look on her face—disappointment, anger—hit you like a punch to the gut.

“You slept with Rafe?!” The words exploded out of her, each syllable laced with betrayal.

Your heart dropped. “No, I didn’t,” you said quickly, shaking your head, but the hurt in her eyes didn’t waver.

“Then why is everybody talking about it?” Sarah’s arms were crossed tightly over her chest, her posture defensive and hurt. She wasn’t just your best friend—she was like a sister. And now, standing there, she looked at you like she didn’t know you at all.

You took a deep breath, trying to gather your thoughts. “My ex showed up at the party,” you began, your voice steady but laced with frustration. “I told everyone what he did to me... how he cheated. And Rafe—he stepped in to protect me. My ex was jealous and started spreading rumors.”

Sarah’s expression softened, the anger fading just a bit as she processed your words. “And Rafe broke his nose,” she said, piecing together the bits of information she must have heard throughout the day.

“Yeah, he did,” you confirmed. “He didn’t let him disrespect me like that, in front of everyone.”

You could see the tension leaving her shoulders, the rigidness of her posture easing. “I guess it’s nice of Rafe to do that,” she muttered, almost begrudgingly.

A laugh bubbled up from your chest, unexpected and light. “Oh wow, I never thought I’d hear you say something nice about your brother.”

Sarah rolled her eyes but smiled, the last of the anger melting away. She sank onto the bed beside you, a sigh escaping her lips. “Hey, I didn’t say he was nice, just that what he did was.” Her tone was playful, but you could hear the undercurrent of relief.

You nodded, smiling at her. “Yeah, okay.”

But even as you joked, a small knot of guilt tightened in your chest. You hadn’t lied to Sarah, not completely. You and Rafe hadn’t slept together, but what had happened between you was still real, still intimate. And you couldn’t tell her, not yet. Maybe one day you’d find the words to explain, to make her understand, but not now. Now, the truth would only hurt her more.

“So, you want to go dress shopping tomorrow for midsummers?” Sarah asked, her voice casual, as if she was trying to push past the tension that had filled the room moments ago.

“Yeah, of course,” you replied, grateful for the change in subject, and for the opportunity to move forward.

Sarah smiled, the kind of smile that lit up her whole face, and for a moment, everything felt normal again. “Can’t wait.”

•°•°•°•°•°•

The next day, you arrived at Sarah’s house, excited for a day of dress shopping and distractions. You had spent most of the morning thinking about what you wanted to wear for the midsummer event, picturing yourself in all sorts of dresses, each one more beautiful than the last. But when you reached Sarah’s room, she wasn’t there. You called out her name, but the house was unusually quiet.

Confused, you made your way back downstairs, pausing when you saw Rafe lounging on the couch, his expression unreadable. “Hey, where’s Sarah?” you asked, trying to keep your voice light, though the disappointment of not finding your friend was creeping in.

Rafe shrugged, looking genuinely clueless. “I have no idea.”

“She told me yesterday to come so we could go shopping...” You trailed off, glancing around, wondering where she could be.

“Well, I haven’t seen her either,” Rafe said, then paused, his eyes meeting yours with an intensity that made your stomach flip. “Can we talk? Privately?”

Your heart rate picked up, but you nodded. “Yeah, what’s up?”

Without another word, Rafe stood and grabbed your hand, pulling you gently but firmly up the stairs and into his room. The door clicked shut behind you, the sound somehow final, sealing you both in. He turned to face you, his eyes searching yours, his expression serious.

“About the other night...” Rafe began, his voice careful, as if he was testing the waters. “If I made you feel uncomfortable...”

You shook your head quickly, the words tumbling out before he could finish. “No, Rafe. You didn’t.” You took a breath, trying to find the right words. “I just don’t want Sarah to know. She almost found out the truth after my ex spread that rumor.”

Rafe’s jaw tightened, his expression hardening. “I know. He got what he deserved.”

You smiled, the memory of your ex writhing on the floor, blood streaming from his nose, bringing a dark satisfaction. “He did. I loved seeing him like that.”

Rafe’s lips curved into a smirk, his eyes lighting up. He was glad you felt the same way, glad that he hadn’t overstepped. Your gaze drifted around his room, and you noticed a baby blue suit hanging on the closet door, pristine and elegant.

“Nice suit,” you remarked, nodding towards it. “Are you wearing that to midsummers?”

Rafe glanced at the suit, then back at you, nodding. “Yeah. What are you wearing?”

You shrugged, the truth still hanging in the air between you. “I don’t know yet. I was supposed to go dress shopping with Sarah...” But as you said the words, an idea sparked in your mind, a way to match, to be connected without anyone knowing.

Before you could finish the thought, Rafe closed the space between you, his presence overwhelming. You felt the door press against your back, his body inches from yours. His gaze was intense, his voice low and steady as he spoke. “So... I would like that to happen again...” His words hung in the air, charged with the memory of what had transpired between you both at Kelce’s party.

Your heart skipped a beat. You knew exactly what he was referring to, and the thought of it made heat pool in your belly. You swallowed hard, trying to keep your voice steady. “But not right now.”

Rafe cocked his head to the side, his eyes darkening with something that made your pulse quicken. “When?”

You shook your head, feeling the frustration build. “I don’t know. When Sarah’s not around.”

Rafe’s hand brushed against your arm, his touch featherlight, sending shivers down your spine. “She’s not here right now,” he reminded you, his smirk almost teasing.

“But she could come back any minute,” you countered, your voice a whisper, but filled with urgency.

Rafe sighed, the sound heavy with disappointment. “So you want us completely alone? We’re never completely alone.”

You sighed too, mirroring his frustration, feeling it thrum between you like a live wire. “I know, but we can figure something out.”

Rafe stepped back, his eyes narrowing slightly, his voice laced with annoyance. “Well, let me know when you do.” He turned away, his shoulders tense, his disappointment palpable.

You stood there, your back still pressed against the door, your heart racing. The tension between you was almost unbearable, and as he turned his back on you, a mix of emotions swirled inside you—desire, frustration, and the nagging guilt that came from keeping this secret from Sarah. You had to find a way to make this right, to figure out what you really wanted before everything spiraled out of control.

You fled from his room, your heart pounding, the walls feeling like they were closing in on you. You needed air, space—anything to clear your head. The intensity of Rafe’s gaze, the weight of his words, and the way your body responded to him had all been overwhelming. You could barely think straight as you made your way down the hallway, your mind racing with a thousand thoughts.

Rafe stood there, stunned, watching as you hurried out. He hadn’t expected you to leave like that, so abruptly, without a second glance. He felt a sharp pang in his chest, a strange mixture of frustration and confusion that he couldn’t quite place. His hands clenched into fists at his sides as he tried to process what had just happened. He hadn’t meant to push you away. Hell, he hadn’t even realized how much he wanted you to stay until he watched you walk out the door, leaving him alone with nothing but the echo of your presence. A bitter taste settled in his mouth as he replayed the last few moments over and over in his mind.

Why did you leave?

Rafe felt a surge of anger—at himself, mostly. He had been so close, so close to having you again, to feeling your warmth, to experiencing the high of being near you. The memory of the other night, the way your body had responded to his touch, was still fresh in his mind, burning like a brand against his skin. And now, standing alone in his room, he felt that heat turning into a gnawing ache. He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply, trying to shake off the tension that coiled tightly in his chest. His thoughts were a chaotic mess—part of him wanted to chase after you, to drag you back into the room and make you stay until you understood how much he needed you. But another part, the one that knew he had already pushed too hard, told him to let you go, to give you the space you were clearly asking for.

Rafe’s jaw clenched as he replayed the conversation in his mind. He knew he could be intense—too intense, sometimes—but he couldn’t help it. Not when it came to you. There was something about you that drove him crazy, made him feel things he didn’t understand, things he didn’t want to admit even to himself.

He turned and punched the wall beside him, the sharp pain in his knuckles a welcome distraction from the turmoil inside his head. He didn’t know what to do with all the emotions swirling inside him—frustration, desire, a strange sense of vulnerability that he wasn’t used to feeling. You had gotten under his skin, and he didn’t know how to handle it.

Rafe let out a low, bitter laugh. He was angry—angry at himself for scaring you off, angry at the situation, angry at everything that kept him from having what he wanted. And what he wanted was you. Completely, without hesitation, without hiding.

He knew you were scared—scared of what being with him would mean, scared of how Sarah would react, scared of how this would change things between all of you. But he was scared, too, even if he’d never say it out loud. Scared of wanting you this much, scared of what it meant if you didn’t want him the same way.

Rafe stared at the door for a long moment, his chest heaving as he tried to rein in the storm of emotions crashing through him. He wanted to run after you, to pull you into his arms and tell you that he’d wait, that he’d do whatever it took to make this work. But he knew that right now, that wasn’t what you needed.

With a deep, shuddering breath, he turned away from the door, the frustration simmering under his skin like a live wire. He needed to cool off, to clear his head, to figure out how to fix this. Because he wasn’t ready to give up—not on you, not on what you could be together.

But for now, he’d have to let you go.

For now.

•°•°•°•°•°•

The warmth of sunset had started to settle over the open field, casting long shadows and soft light over everyone who had come out for the outdoor movie night. You found a spot on the grass with some friends, surrounded by laughter and the quiet hum of conversation as the film began. But as the movie dragged on, you found yourself losing interest, your thoughts drifting.

A glance around the crowd was all it took to pull you from your thoughts—you spotted Rafe a few feet away, sitting with Topper and Kelce. He didn’t look like he was enjoying the movie either, his elbow propped up on his knee, his cheek resting in his hand as he pouted at the screen. His presence seemed to fill the air around you, sending a small thrill through your chest.

You couldn’t help but notice when he eventually got up, his broad shoulders and confident stance drawing your attention like a magnet. Without really thinking, you rose to your feet and decided to follow him, weaving through the crowd.

Rafe led you around the back of the movie screen, and it didn’t take long to see what was happening. Rafe, Topper, and Kelce had cornered JJ and Pope, the tension crackling in the air. Before you could even process what was happening, punches were being thrown, and a brutal fight erupted between the kooks and pogues.

“Don’t do this, guys!” you yelled, but your voice was lost in the chaos, falling on deaf ears.

Suddenly, a flash of movement caught your eye. Kie appeared from nowhere, gripping JJ’s backpack with both hands as she swung it at Topper, landing a blow square against his back. “Let go of him, Topper! Fascist asshole!” she shouted, her voice carrying a mixture of fear and fury. Topper, unfazed, turned on her, yanking the bag out of her hands and tossing it aside as he tightened his grip on Pope.

Your gaze shifted to Rafe, who was busy landing a punch on JJ, while Kelce held him firmly, keeping him from fighting back. Kie, seeing this, leaped onto Topper’s back, clawing at him, trying desperately to pull him away from Pope.

The sight must have caught Rafe’s attention because he turned and immediately moved towards them. He grabbed Kie around the waist, pulling her off Topper effortlessly, her legs kicking out as she fought against him.

“Let go of me, Rafe!” she screamed, writhing in his grip.

“Stay out of this, Kiara. Okay?” Rafe’s voice was low, and cold, as he tossed her aside, sending her stumbling to the ground.

Your heart pounded as you watched Kie rummage through the backpack, her fingers closing around something. Your eyes widened as you realized it was a gun.

“Kie!” you called out, rushing over to grab her hand, panic filling your voice.

She looked up at you, her expression wild and unyielding, yanking her hand away. “Don’t!” she snapped, her tone sharp with desperation and anger. Then, without missing a beat, she stuffed the gun back into the bag, her hand now pulling out a lighter.

“Kie, stop!” you pleaded, but she pushed you back, her eyes blazing with a resolve you hadn’t seen in her before.

“Stop being on their side!” she shouted, her voice echoing over the scene. Without another word, she flicked the lighter and held it to the screen, setting it ablaze.

The next thing you knew, flames erupted, consuming the movie screen and casting an orange glow over the chaotic scene. It was a bold, desperate attempt to end the fight, and it worked.

The sudden blaze shocked everyone. For a moment, all movement stopped, the fire commanding everyone’s attention as it leaped and crackled against the night sky. The Kooks froze, stunned by the unexpected turn, their faces illuminated by the flames.

Rafe let out a dark laugh, the flicker of fire reflecting in his eyes. “Let’s go, Kelce,” he muttered, a hint of satisfaction in his voice. His gaze landed on you, still crouched on the ground, and his expression hardened slightly. Without hesitation, he strode over, reaching down to grab your arm, and pulling you up to your feet.

“You shouldn’t have tried to stop us,” he said, his voice laced with annoyance, though a flicker of something softer lay behind it.

“I don’t like it when there’s a fight,” you replied, brushing the dirt and grass off your clothes, but he wasn’t listening.

“They sank Topper’s boat and held a gun to his head,” Rafe explained his tone a mix of frustration and something darker. "We’re supposed to just let it slide?”

You stayed silent, knowing that arguing with him now would only make things worse. He nudged you forward, a light push urging you to start walking with him. As you moved forward, you felt his hand smack against your backside, making you stumble slightly in surprise.

When you glanced over your shoulder, he smirked, feigning innocence. "Your butt had dirt on it," he chuckled, but there was a gleam in his eye that suggested otherwise.

You rolled your eyes, but before you could respond, Rafe’s hand shot out, grabbing your arm and pulling you aside, away from prying eyes. You barely had a second to process before your back was pressed against a wall, his face inches from yours.

"Don’t roll your eyes at me," he warned, his voice low and dangerous.

"You’re annoying," you shot back, trying to mask the thrill that raced through you at his closeness.

A smirk spread across his face, his eyes gleaming with mischief. “Oh, am I?” he murmured, his voice dripping with a playful edge. “Was I also annoying when I gave you an orgasm without asking for anything in return?”

Your pulse quickened, and you struggled to keep your composure. "No. You’re just annoying now," you muttered, trying to ignore the heat pooling inside you.

Rafe’s eyes darkened, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "You’re annoying too, you know that?"

You raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “How so?”

His face darkened slightly, the playfulness turning into something more intense. “You rejected me earlier today when I wanted something more to happen,” he said, his tone holding a hint of frustration.

“It wasn’t like that—” you started to explain, but he cut you off, his lips brushing against your ear as he spoke.

“But I bet you’d want another orgasm. wouldn’t you?” he whispered, his voice rough, sending a shiver down your spine.

Your breath caught in your throat, and for a moment, you were speechless. Unable to hold back, you nodded slightly, the admission causing a flicker of amusement in his gaze. His hand slid along your thigh, pressing just enough to make you part your legs in response. He chuckled softly, his fingers skimming over the edge of your short dress, teasing you with a touch that was both gentle and maddeningly slow.

“Is that why you’re wearing this short dress?” he murmured, his fingers brushing along the edge of your panties. “You knew I would be here.”

“Rafe—” you breathed out, your voice shaky as his touch ignited a fire inside you.

He grinned, a smug glint in his eyes as he continued teasing you, his fingers brushing against the damp fabric of your panties. “Shit. Does this turn you on?” he asked, his voice low and amused.

You bit your lip, trying to stifle the moan building in your throat. His hand shifted, moving your panties to the side, his fingers slipping through your wet folds, making you whimper.

“Are you turned on because anyone could catch us?” he questioned, his voice rough, “Or do I just have that effect on you?”

“Both,” you answered quickly, barely able to contain yourself.

Rafe let out a quiet laugh, pleased by your neediness. His fingers moved with more purpose, sliding over your sensitive skin, his touch driving you closer to the edge. You clutched at his hand, desperate for him to keep going.

“This is the last time I’m giving you an orgasm without getting one in return,” he warned, his tone dark and possessive.

Rafe’s lips found your neck, and he began to leave a trail of heated kisses, making sure to leave a mark. You clung to him, your need for him overpowering any sense of caution. His hand moved expertly, and you felt yourself melting under his touch, gasping as he continued.

"Do you ever touch yourself while thinking of me?" he murmured, his breath sending shivers down your spine.

"Yes," you admitted, barely able to form the word.

He groaned softly, his own desire evident in the way he pressed against you, his breath hot against your skin. “I’d like to see that,” he murmured, his fingers speeding up, the pressure driving you closer to the brink.

The intensity in his gaze made your cheeks flush, and you could barely meet his eyes as he looked at you, his own filled with a fierce longing. You felt your resolve crumble as he kissed your neck again, his fingers working faster. The familiar tension built in your core, your breaths coming quicker as he guided you toward the edge. When your orgasm hit, you bit down on your lip to muffle your moans, your body going limp as the pleasure overtook you.

Rafe held you steady, his grip strong, and as your legs threatened to give out, he kept you from crumpling to the ground.

TAGS: @wearemadeofstardust0 @hotch-meeeeeuppppp

[elvestoneanzelote1]

Hello! This is my first time I request. Can you write Aventurine x Male Reader that part of Astral Express? Can you also make it as yandere? Take your time, please don't rush.

Gʀᴇᴇᴛɪɴɢs ᴛᴏ ʏᴏᴜ, As ʏᴏᴜʀ ʀᴇǫᴜᴇsᴛ ɪs ᴛʜᴇ ғɪʀsᴛ I ᴀᴍ sᴛᴀʀᴛɪɴɢ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʏᴏᴜʀs, ᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇǫᴜᴇsᴛ ᴀɴᴅ I ʜᴏᴘᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡɪʟʟ ʀᴇǫᴜᴇsᴛ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ғᴜᴛᴜʀᴇ.

I ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ʟᴏᴠᴇ Aᴠᴇɴᴛᴜʀɪɴᴇ ᴛᴏᴏ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴜɴғᴏʀᴛᴜɴᴀᴛᴇʟʏ I ᴅɪᴅ ɴᴏᴛ ɢᴏᴛ ʜɪᴍ ᴇɪᴛʜᴇʀ.

Aɴʏᴡᴀʏs, Yᴀɴᴅᴇʀᴇ Aᴠᴇɴᴛᴜʀɪɴɢ x ᴍᴀʟᴇ ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ ғʀᴏᴍ Asᴛʀᴀʟ Exᴘʀᴇss.

(Rᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ ᴡɪʟʟ ʙᴇ sʟɪɢʜᴛʟʏ ʙᴀsᴇᴅ ᴏɴ Rᴇɴɢᴏᴋᴜ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴅᴇᴍᴏɴ sʟᴀʏᴇʀ. I ᴍᴇᴀɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇʏᴇʙʀᴏᴡ ᴀɴᴅ somehow... I suppose.)

"Astral Expressers huh?".

Aventurine interest was slightly caught by the trailblazer and no you aren't taking the place of Stelle nor Caelus. Thankfully.

Either way, you had your own reputation among the stars I mean literally you had a reputation to hold onto.

The day Aventurine met you was the day he could confirm on that you both are opposite of each other.

You had family (the astral express) . He doesn't.

You Had a peaceful life (or how he sees) and he didn't at least now...

Your smile and your words were honest yet he...

He wonders how he even gain your trust... Maybe he didn't... Maybe you just... Want to use him perhaps.

Or perhaps... You truly cared for him in a way.

Honest... Truthful may have been sour but at least you don't sugar coat your words. And truthfully... Honestly wanted to be with.

He wonders if he hadn't met you through that day would things be better if he met your earlier?

.

"Well little expresser, why do you like Hoggin around me? Have I caught your attention too much?"

"Why yes! You have interesting shade of eyes! Like my eyebrows!"

"Ah... I see" he mutter as he squint his eyes... He swore you were too bright for the world.

.

Heck even Ratio couldn't comeback with you as you were literally too genuine.

He never met someone like you.

If he was a kid still it will bring him... Happiness... Well it does still now.

.

"Thank you Kind man! I swore to repay you back for the payment!" You exclaimed while eating the eight bowl of rice as he meekly smile.

"It doesn't really not necessary... But I will consider your offer" 'though you won't repay back' his thoughts muddle whether to really believe your word but he let it kept aside.

.

He for some reason attracted to you like the moon like the sun that shine and wish to be like them...

Perhaps he doesn't mind getting slightly burned by your warmness after all it is not everyday.

He preserve and you attack (just kidding).

I mean more word... Likely... Uhm... You know how to hit his heart unknowingly.

.

"Is this real?" He asked while slight tucking your eyebrows as you laugh.

"Why? Does it seems weird?"

"I suppose I never saw eyebrows like yours"

"What can i say I am quiet a catch" you laughed as he just sighed.

.

He doesn't know how positive you are perhaps unaware... No.

That thought went over when the day he saw you fight against him protecting your fellow express friends.

A katana. Like the colour of the flames and the determination of your eyes

Something snap inside his mind when you eventually were concern of him.

Even if he was the one about to hurt all you approach him worried.

You never accuse him for what he have done.

Nor you look at him in betrayal nor disgust.

Just warm and understanding.

.

"...you know my mother used to tell me... Strong should protect the weak... And since I am strong I want to protect you some way"

"Why"

"Why? Because we are friends now"

"..." He never understood the look of your eyes.

.

He never felt the love.

He never... Thought he will ever get the feeling of love and protection of sort.

.

"I do not understand you at all"

"Hmm? Well isn't it awesome then? We all are different but we can understand the other more and more but not completely"

"...huh..."

.

Irrationality your words were but... For some reason he enjoy your company more and more.

The fact you don't go for logical thinking... Maybe you do... But your kindness... Is something else.

You never get mad either.

Whenever someone been rude of sort you don't be mad instead smile and talk to then happily.

He never thought someone like you exist.

Neither he thought he will experience something like you.

.

"Y/n... Don't you ever get angry?"

"Hmm? And why should I be?"

"..."

"??".

.

He never understood you... But he wants to.

He for the fact he does want to learn more and more about you.

He wants to spoil you locking you away from the world... After all... He doesn't want to let go of the warm.

The blaze of warmness around you.

No wonder the astral express friends of yours wanted you to be around them.

Supposedly... They are selfish.

Well... He will to be if he were to apart of the group.

.

"Y/n"

"Hmm? You seems like you haven't get any sleep?"

"Ah... I just... Had a bad day"

"I see! My mother always tell me a hug can help someone cheer up"

.

He didn't oblidge of you hugging him. Instead it felt just right.

He doesn't want to let you go.

Can't you stay more?

Why you have to leave?

He can give you everything you want.

Can't you... Let him stay in your warm?

The fact he falls for you... He is not shock.

After all... Who wouldn't.

You are literally something worth the praise.

Will it be selfish... No he wants to be selfish.

.

You felt a tug on your haori as you turn and look down to see the familar blonde male with his significant glasses.

"Is something the matter buddy?"

"When are you leaving?"

"Well... That depends on them"

"...why do you travel with them for?"

"To find a way home"

"...oh"

'Can't I be your home... No... Perhaps he was never meant to get a home..' He thought to self but his thought halt when you kept a hand on his shoulder.

"And I believe we will meet again buddy"

"...y/n... You could stay here you know Penacony is good in a way and beside I will be happy to help you stay and settle here"

"Why thank you, Aventurine but..." Your gaze fall onto the Astral express members Himeko , Welt and March as the trailblazer was somewhere elsewhere.

"I think I would find a way through them"

"I see..."

"You seems upset"

"Huh? No I am not"

"You don't want me to go?"

"...well it is your wish to leave but... I"

That day... There were two choice made for him.

.....

"Yes I do not want you to leave"

"Hmm?"

"...because I find comfort in you and..."

"..."

"It is your wish to leave but I never had a friend like you so" he grimance by the word friend but... He was glad.

You value the word friendship.

"Sure I will stay for some more days."

"Can it be months?"

"Huh? Uh... Sure I suppose?"

He smile but you notice it was genuine smile of his.

As usual you ruffle his hair yet this time he didn't mention how it takes to make his hair.

Instead he embrace it.

After all... It won't be long that you will be within his.

He finally can have you.

And he will make sure he will.

He will make sure you will come around for him.

After all the sun and the moon... Are admire by all when they come together.

Creating the eclipse.

.

.

.

.

.

A:n- thank you take care I hope you rest well.

[elysiaheaven]

𝐀 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦-𝟎.𝟐-The Fox's wedding!

ꜰᴏʀ ᴊɪᴀᴏQɪᴜ, ᴛʜᴇ ʏᴀᴏQɪɴɢ'ꜱ ᴍɪʟɪᴛᴀʀʏ ʜᴇᴀʟᴇʀ, ᴜɴᴅᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴀɴᴅ ᴏꜰ ꜰᴇɪxɪᴀᴏ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴇʀʟɪɴ'ꜱ ᴄʟᴀᴡ. ᴀʟꜱᴏ ʜᴇʀ ᴀᴅᴠɪꜱᴏʀ. ᴀʟʟ ʜᴇ ᴡᴀɴᴛꜱ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴏ ɪꜱ ᴄᴜʀᴇ ꜰᴇɪxɪᴀᴏ'ꜱ ɪʟʟɴᴇꜱꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀʙᴏᴅᴀɴᴇᴅ ɢᴏᴅ ᴏꜰ ʙᴇᴛʀᴀ��ᴀʟ ᴍᴀʏʙᴇ ʜɪꜱ ʟᴀꜱᴛ ɪɴɢʀᴇᴅɪᴇɴᴛ. ᴛʜᴏ, ʜᴇ ʜᴀꜱ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴀ ʜᴜꜱʙᴀɴᴅ ꜰᴏʀ ᴀ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ…ᴅᴜᴇ ᴛᴏ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴄᴜʀꜱᴇ.

Words:2457

Jiaoqiu's eyes fluttered open, his heart racing as the vivid images of the nightmare lingered in his mind. The eerie ceremony, the ghostly statues, the chilling kiss-all of it felt too real. But as he blinked, he realized he wasn't in that cursed place anymore. He was back in the abandoned ship on the Luofu, lying on the cold, hard floor.

For a moment, Jiaoqiu thought perhaps it had all been just a dream-a horrifying vision conjured by his exhausted mind. But as he sat up, his body ached, a dull pain in his head confirming that something very real had happened. His eyes slowly adjusted to the dim light filtering through the cracks in the ship, and he felt a strange presence beside him.

Turning his head, Jiaoqiu's breath caught in his throat. You were there, hovering just above the ground, your ethereal form adorned in the same wine-colored kimono you had worn in his dream. The black sashes and grey obi were as intricate and beautiful as they were ominous. Your golden fox mask hung by your side, revealing a face that, to his surprise, wasn't twisted in malice or cold indifference but instead bore a soft, caring expression.

"You're awake," you said gently, your voice devoid of the eerie echo it had held before. You leaned closer, your hand reaching out to touch his forehead as if checking for a fever. "How are you feeling? You fainted, and I was worried."

Jiaoqiu's mind raced. The contrast between the you in his nightmare and the you before him now was jarring. He couldn't find the words to respond, confusion and a lingering fear keeping him silent. All he could do was stare at you, trying to reconcile the terrifying spirit from the dream with the figure now hovering over him with genuine concern.

Your hand, cool and smooth, brushed against his cheek as you inspected him further, still floating gracefully above the ground. "You fell hard," you murmured, a hint of worry in your tone. "You should rest more, Jiaoqiu. I don't want you getting hurt because of me."

He pulled away slightly, his gaze shifting to Moze, who lay a short distance away, still unconscious but breathing steadily. The memory of you saving Moze flickered through his mind. It hadn't been just a dream; you had truly intervened, using your powers to protect his friend.

"Moze..." Jiaoqiu whispered, his voice finally finding strength. He moved toward his friend, needing to see for himself that Moze was indeed safe. As he knelt beside Moze, his hands trembling slightly, he checked for any injuries. Moze's chest rose and fell rhythmically, and though he bore some scrapes and bruises, he appeared to be out of immediate danger.

You floated closer, watching Jiaoqiu's every move with a mixture of curiosity and care. "He'll be fine," you assured him softly. "I made sure of that."

Jiaoqiu nodded slowly, his fingers brushing against Moze's arm to reassure himself that his friend was truly there, truly alive. The fear that had gripped his heart began to ease, replaced by a heavy sense of reality. He had made a deal with a spirit, a goddess of betrayal, and now she was his...wife?

The thought made his stomach turn, but when he looked up at you, expecting to see that same malicious glint in your eyes, he was met with something else entirely-sincerity, perhaps even affection. You weren't haunting him, at least not in the way he had feared. Instead, you seemed genuinely concerned for his well-being.

"Why?" Jiaoqiu finally asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Your smile was soft, almost melancholic. "I'm your wife now, Jiaoqiu. It's only natural for me to care about you," you replied.

Jiaoqiu's heart skipped a beat at your words, the confusion deepening. This wasn't the terrifying entity he had feared; this was someone...something else. But before he could process it further, you floated closer again, your presence overwhelming in its intensity.

"Please," you said, your voice gentle but firm. "Let me help. You don't have to do everything alone anymore."

Jiaoqiu looked into your eyes, searching for any trace of deceit. But all he found was a strange, unsettling sincerity. He swallowed hard, unsure of how to feel, but with Moze still unconscious and the reality of their situation pressing down on him, he realized he had little choice.

Without another word, Jiaoqiu nodded. He rose unsteadily to his feet, his mind still reeling from everything that had happened. But as he moved to tend to Moze, you stayed close, your presence a constant reminder of the strange new bond that had formed between you.

You hovered close to Moze as he began to stir, your eyes soft with concern as you waved your hand gently over his body, a faint glow emanating from your fingertips. Moze groaned, slowly opening his eyes, and as he focused on you, he tensed, eyes narrowing in suspicion.

"Don't worry," you said softly, your voice soothing. "I'm just helping."

Moze glanced over at Jiaoqiu, who was standing nearby, still shaken but managing to keep his composure. "Why is she...?" Moze started to ask, but Jiaoqiu shook his head, a silent plea for Moze to not question it too much.

"She saved us," Jiaoqiu said quietly, his voice filled with mixed emotions. "We wouldn't have made it out if not for her."

Moze fell silent, his gaze shifting between you and Jiaoqiu, clearly conflicted. After a moment, he sighed and slowly sat up with your help, though he didn't make any attempt to thank you.

"We didn't get the herb," Moze muttered after a brief pause, his voice tinged with disappointment. "Everything we went through...and we came out empty-handed."

You tilted your head, puzzled by the sudden shift in their mood. "Herb?" you asked, your tone curious. "What herb?"

Jiaoqiu, noticing your confusion, quickly explained. "We came here looking for a rare herb to heal General Feixiao. It's supposed to grow in this area, but we haven't found it."

Your eyes lit up with understanding, and a wide smile spread across your face. "Oh! You should have said so earlier!" you exclaimed, your excitement bubbling over. Without hesitation, you started to float away, moving with an eager energy as you led them deeper into the ship.

Jiaoqiu and Moze exchanged glances, surprised by your sudden enthusiasm, but they followed you nonetheless. It wasn't long before you led them to a secluded, hidden corner of the ship. There, nestled in the shadows, was the herb they had been searching for-but it was wilted, shriveled, and barely recognizable.

Jiaoqiu's heart sank at the sight, and Moze's expression turned grim. "It's...it's rotten," Moze muttered, disappointment heavy in his voice.

Jiaoqiu could only stare at the withered plant, a sense of hopelessness washing over him. All that effort, all that risk-and they were still going to fail. He clenched his fists, frustration building inside him, but before he could speak, you stepped forward, your gaze fixed on the herb.

"No, it's not over yet," you said confidently. Your hand hovered above the herb, and with a deep breath, you focused your energy. A soft, shimmering light emanated from your palm, surrounding the herb in a gentle glow.

The withered leaves slowly began to uncurl, color returning to them as if life itself was being breathed back into the plant. Before their eyes, the herb was restored to its full, vibrant state, as if it had never been touched by decay.

Jiaoqiu and Moze watched in awe as you worked your magic, the despair they had felt moments ago replaced by a cautious hope. When you finished, the herb stood tall and healthy, ready to be harvested.

You turned to Jiaoqiu, your eyes shining with expectation. You had done what they couldn't-you had given them the herb they needed. Surely, now he would say something, acknowledge your help, perhaps even thank you.

But Jiaoqiu, still caught between gratitude and the unsettling reality of what you were, could only manage a small, uncertain smile. He carefully picked the herb, avoiding your gaze as he secured it in a pouch. "Thank you," he murmured, his voice barely audible.

You hovered a little closer, your smile faltering slightly as you sensed his hesitation. "Is something wrong?" you asked, your voice tinged with a hint of sadness. "Didn't I do well?"

Jiaoqiu hesitated, his eyes meeting yours for just a moment before he looked away again. "You did... You did well," he finally said, but the words felt heavy on his tongue, laden with the unspoken tension between you.

Moze, sensing the awkwardness, cleared his throat and stood up, dusting himself off. "We should get going," he said gruffly, trying to steer the conversation away from the uncomfortable silence. "The longer we stay here, the more dangerous it gets."

You nodded, though the disappointment was clear in your expression. You had hoped for something more from Jiaoqiu, some sign that he was starting to accept you, but all you got was a reluctant acknowledgment. Still, you tried to keep your spirits up, reminding yourself that you had done your part.

The three of you prepared to leave, you stayed close to Jiaoqiu. You couldn't help but glance at him every so often, hoping for another smile, a word of kindness-anything to show that he was beginning to see you as more than just the spirit he was forced to marry.

But Jiaoqiu remained distant, focused on the task ahead, and you could only follow...

The three of you made your way toward the Luofu, a thick tension lingered in the air, with Jiaoqiu walking ahead of you and Moze trailing behind. Your natural state-floating-drew curious looks, though most people were too focused on their own lives to stop and stare for long. Still, Jiaoqiu's unease grew with every step.

"Can't you walk?" Jiaoqiu asked, turning back to you. His voice was strained, clearly uncomfortable with the idea of people noticing you. "People will think you're... different."

You smiled, the ghost of amusement flickering across your face as you floated beside him effortlessly. "I'm a spirit, remember?" you said teasingly, as if it were obvious. "Walking isn't exactly my thing."

Moze, who had been silent for most of the journey, suddenly interjected, his voice cold and matter-of-fact. "Then carry her."

The bluntness of his suggestion hit both you and Jiaoqiu like a shockwave. Your cheeks flushed slightly at the thought, the idea of being held by Jiaoqiu making you feel something unfamiliar, something soft. Meanwhile, Jiaoqiu's eyes widened in pure terror, as if the idea of touching you was somehow more frightening than facing an army of enemies.

"Carry her?" Jiaoqiu stammered, glancing between you and Moze as if hoping for a way out. "I... I can't-"

Moze sighed, rolling his eyes at Jiaoqiu's hesitation. "You're already married to her," he said, his tone sharp. "It's not like you have much of a choice now. If you want her to blend in, do it."

Jiaoqiu's face paled as Moze's words sank in, but after a moment, he nodded reluctantly. His hands trembled slightly as he reached out toward you, clearly unsure of how to hold you. For a moment, his fingers hovered just above your waist, hesitant.

You watched him with a soft smile, feeling the heat rise in your cheeks as the reality of the situation dawned on you. Jiaoqiu looked terrified, but his effort to carry you-however awkward-was strangely endearing. As his hands finally settled on your waist, a faint shiver ran down your spine, and for a moment, you let yourself imagine that this was how a real marriage might feel.

With surprising care, Jiaoqiu lifted you off the ground, cradling you in his arms. It was a bit awkward, his grip not quite right, but he managed to support you nonetheless. You couldn't help but notice how close his face was to yours, and for a moment, your heart raced as you stared up at him.

Moze, meanwhile, looked on with a mixture of annoyance and amusement. "You should get her some proper clothes," he said flatly. "She's drawing too much attention. Take her to the tailoring shop."

Jiaoqiu nodded, still too flustered to argue. "Y-yeah, good idea."

You perked up at the suggestion, your eyes sparkling with excitement. "A new kimono? How delightful!" you exclaimed. You gently tapped Jiaoqiu's chest, urging him to move forward. "Let's go Husband?!!!"

Jiaoqiu gulped, the word "husband" causing him to stiffen slightly. He nodded again, walking carefully as he carried you through the bustling streets. People glanced at the two of you, but with you in his arms, you looked more like an eccentric couple than a spirit and her reluctant groom.

When you finally arrived at the tailoring shop, the tailor greeted you both with a polite smile, his eyes quickly taking in your current attire. "Ah, it seems we have a special customer today," the tailor said, noting your floating posture even in Jiaoqiu's arms.

Jiaoqiu set you down carefully, his hands lingering for just a moment before he pulled away quickly, his face flushed with embarrassment. "She needs a kimono," he said, trying to regain his composure. "Something... traditional."

The tailor nodded, studying you carefully. "It seems you have a fondness for the old styles," he remarked, noticing your red wine-colored kimono. "I'll prepare something similar but with a modern twist."

"Eh?! You know kimonos?!"

"Yes, I have travelled different places, I know all the designs and not and culture included."

You smiled graciously, pleased by his attentiveness. "That would be perfect," you said. "I do love kimonos."

The tailor busied himself with preparing the fabric, you glanced over at Jiaoqiu, who was standing awkwardly by the entrance, avoiding eye contact. A small, playful smile crept onto your lips as you floated over to him.

"You know," you said softly, your voice teasing, "you make quite the husband. Carrying me like that... you were surprisingly gentle."

Jiaoqiu swallowed hard, still not used to your playful nature. "I-I was just doing what Moze said," he mumbled, clearly flustered by your comment.

You chuckled softly, enjoying how easy it was to make him squirm. "Well, I appreciate it," you said, your tone softening slightly. "Even if it was just to avoid attention, you still made me feel... cared for."

Jiaoqiu glanced at you, his expression softening for a brief moment before he quickly looked away. "I... I'm just trying to do what's right," he muttered, though his voice held a hint of uncertainty.

[yyawnjun]

KISS IT OFF ME

choitaeyang x reader; summary: two best friends in a room, they might kiss? ; warnings: mention of alcohol and cheating (yn gets cheated on) (not theo !!); best friends to lovers ; the urge to write theo's pov is real now; 2.7k wc ; @kflixnet; biggest shot out to my fav girl, supporter and proofreader lia ( @sobun1est !! ) ; her comments and energy gave me the will to post this, the biggest thanks to her <3

Endless tears poured down your cheeks as the hiccups, a sign of your near panic attack, took hold. You tried to rationalize what you saw while attempting to figure out where you could go now, with the bowl of ice cream, tears in your eyes, and a broken heart.  

On that summer evening, you ran away from your boyfriend's (now ex-boyfriend's) home. That evening, you had confirmation of one of your worst worries and doubts that you had been attempting to ignore for far too long. 

You had been suspicious of his behavior for a time, but you had always tried to ignore your suspicions and trust him. But your trust was brutally shattered when you witnessed him carry a girl out of his car and kiss her.

Your heart had jumped, your hands trembled along with your entire body, and ultimately, your head had almost unconsciously directed your legs to move as far away from the place as possible (not before dumping your water bottle into that boy). You then turned to go.

At that exact moment, you let the tears flow and turned towards your place, where you feel most comfortable of all: your best friend's house, from your closest friend Choi Taeyang. 

During the walk, no music could distract you from the overwhelming sense of betrayal you felt. You promised yourself that you would bear this exhausting pain. But in the end, in that moment of misery, what happened to those empty promises?

You repeated it to yourself as if it were a mantra, persuading yourself that it wasn't that bad. You intermingled insults and sobs, but you attempted to remain calm as you walked with your head held high and your cheeks as crimson as your eyes. You arrived like this after walking for almost an hour in front of Taeyang's door. At that point, the shame became obvious. Your conditions were awful, the ice cream had melted, and it was 11 pm. Maybe he wasn't even home? Maybe he went out with friends, or maybe he was still at the gym?

While these thoughts tormented you, your hand was moved by an unknown force and rang the bell. "who's this?" His voice was enough to make you gradually collapse. 

You just started crying while trying to say your name. You were tempted to hold back your feelings because you felt pathetic. However, it was too late to back out. You were slowly sitting on the floor, hoping Theo hadn't heard you so you could think straight about what to do. But before you could touch the ground, you listened to the door open and saw his figure approaching you.

"yn? are you ok?" He questioned you in a worried tone after approaching closer as soon as he could. You looked up, and as soon as your eyes linked, he spotted the blush on your face. He didn't notice your runny makeup or messy hair. He realized that there was something deeper behind the tears, some pain that was less obvious than what you wanted to show. "Let's go inside," he said without giving you a chance to reply. You stood up, gathered your belongings, and followed him into the home, your gaze lowering. Only then did you notice that he was wearing short black pajama trousers and a huge white shirt, and his hair was soaked. 

Could he have just gotten out of the shower? You confirmed your theory as soon as you entered the flat, where the lights were brighter and you could see his shirt clinging to his chest. It was almost transparent because of all the water that it absorbed... allowing you to see his rangy figure and his well-defined muscles... You instantly shifted your sight to his face for fear of being caught staring at him too long.

However, you also lost yourself while looking at his face. He was busy putting his wet hair into a rash ponytail while he wondered about what would have been the best thing to say. You were sitting in your normal seats, facing each other at his small kitchen table. He had silently given you some tissues and a glass of water. He had noted that your breathing had returned to normal and that your lost look was now more apathetic than the anger and despair that he had seen previously.

Minutes had passed, and none of the you two spoke. It was a strange silence in which you had a chance to not think about your pain and leave yourself vulnerable in front of him. "Do you want some cereals?" he asked. "Cereals?" you ask confused. "Yeah, I bought your favorites as well," he replied. You remember the ice cream that you still hold in your hands, and you gave it to him. "Ice cream soup, yummy," he said, mocking you. You smiled as you looked at him placing the ice cream in the freezer.

"You want to talk?" he inquired as he arranged your bowl of milk and cereal. "Milk first and then cereal," you said, pointing out that he was doing the opposite. "Come on, let's discuss seriously. It's cereal and then milk," he said, raising his brow and shaking his head. "We'll never agree on this huh," you stated swiftly before launching into another fight over that existential topic. So you sat down to eat some cereal at 11:30 p.m. during that summer Wednesday.

"Sorry I know it's late," you said at one point, coming from your thoughts. "Don't be sorry yn..wanna talk about what happened?" He responded to you with sincerity and empathy. "You were right; I left him. He cheated on me You told him with a faint smile.  

"That bastard," he murmured impulsively, nearly spitting out the food in his mouth. "You warned me, and I didn't listen to you."

"Not your fault, yn." he told you. He felt the anger mounting, but he didn't want you to notice: it was his turn to be strong for you. "Do you want to stay for this night?"

"Mh, are you sure?" 

"Of course! Stop feeling embarrassed yn. we're best friends right?" As a result, you nodded, removing the remaining doubt. "Yeah, you're right," you continued. Perhaps you were in a state of weakness because of what happened, but you still felt an unusual sensation in your stomach, you smiled and returned your gaze to your best friend. Many bright stars glowed in his eyes, and no words could express the feeling of peace that he was able to give you with just that glance.

The evening ended with a great video game in which your competitiveness kept you awake until 2 a.m. When you both agreed to declare a draw and fell asleep on the sofa. The last thing you recalled was him gently stroking your hair as you fell asleep.

And by that evening, you had proof that a day can be significantly improved in just a of hours thanks to the right person. What a sweet and comforting thought, mhm? 

It is, till you find yourself on that specific night dreaming about that starry-eyed boy who confesses to you with a kiss...

The dream was vivid, and you clearly remembered Theo blushing and handing you a bouquet. Confused words filled the air, and the next thing you knew, the two of you were caught in a passionate kiss that you both craved.  

And so you chose to die - leave a part of yourself - and then be reborn in his arms.

You woke up astonished in the middle of the night, opened your eyes, and looked around. The room was dark, and you could only barely see Theo's face, which was dangerously close to yours. You were lying on the couch near to each other, and you both fell into a deep sleep. You were still confused by your dream, but too many emotions had worn you down. So you opted to go back to sleep. You bent your head towards him and laid it under his chin, close to his chest, gripping you as tightly as possible to make him feel at ease. You unconsciously started counting the boy's breathing, like children do with sheep when they have to fall asleep.

"Do you have a dream about someone and then fall in love? or does the appearance of someone in your dream imply that you are already in love with them?" You asked Theo quietly. 

Two weeks passed since that day when: you saw your ex cheat on you, when you were in tears with your best friend(so as not to forget the dream of his confession...) 

"I would say first you fall in love, and then you dream of them"

"Ohh," you muttered, blushing slightly and looking away. "Maybe I'm not drunk enough for this conversation. Do you want anything? It's on me," Taeyang said as he stood up to head to the counter to buy some drinks. 

"The usual, thanks."

"Okay, pretty," he replied casually as he walked away.

You gulped loudly at his statement. Since when have nicknames become so serious in your friendship? When did insults and jokes stop being acceptable? But who knows? Maybe you misheard due to the loud music.

What you did not hear incorrectly was his first response... first you fall in love, and then you dream about someone, which is especially true if the dream includes a romantic aspect. What the hell does this mean? Now will you ever be able to naturally tell him your dream, or would your flushed face continue to betray you?

While you were thinking about this, you realized you were looking for him in the crowd, and that the space was becoming increasingly busy, and you no longer felt comfortable sitting at the table alone. So you got up and walked through the people to the counter to find Theo. Shortly after you recognized him, he was about to take the drinks. At that specific moment, you observed how captivating he looked.

He had the wallet in his mouth, and the drinks in one hand, while helping the bartender to clean up the liquid that had accidentally spilled on the counter. He had his hair partially over his eyes and was frowning as he grabbed the napkins to clean up. Soon after he finished, he turned and your gaze met. He grinned at you and moved to approach you. 

You spotted the stars in his eyes again, and a feeling of spinning pain filled your stomach. What was that?

"the air was getting oppressive, do you want to go out for a bit?" you asked him. "Sure, I am going to tell it to Keeho and the others, and then I will meet you outside," he said, offering you the drink and smiling kindly at you. 

As you approached the exit, you thought about how lucky his future girlfriend would be. You reminisced how he had stayed close to you for such a long time without ever being pushy or complaining, instead listening to your words through your emotions and thoughts.

You were sitting in the garden hammock, focusing on the sensations you felt and what was going on with you. Soon after, he came from the house and sat next to you.  

You two continued the conversation about the meaning of dreams, and he seemed confused as to why he had asked that sudden and random question. But you lied, telling him that you had dreamed of your favorite singer. He appeared disappointed; why did he expect it to be someone else? maybe him? or you were already too drunk to think straight?

Your conversation quickly turned to the general topic of dreams, and you started to feel the consequences of the alcohol. Tiredness came in, and you collapsed on the boy's shoulder while you were psychoanalyzing his dream, in which he confessed to a female whose identity "wasn't that relevant".

Once again, the last thing you remember before falling asleep was him lifting you on his shoulders and carrying you to the taxi while giggling about how happy he was in that moment.  

The third time you noticed the sparking stars in his eyes was on the last summer night before starting college. Months had passed since you first felt your heart flutter for him. 

Yes, it took you two months to realize that you were in love with your best friend. And you weren't stupid; you knew the feeling was mutual. All the tiny things he started doing for you, all the little gifts, all the sweet words, nicknames, all the times he told you he was thinking of you or that something reminded him of you (also thanks to Keeho, who openly told to you that Theo had a crush on you for at least a year and that he was head over heels for you).  

You were fastly moving to reach the boy's flat. You were supposed to be there already, but you were late because that day you chose to spend a little more time getting ready. It was supposed to be an easy outing with friends. But you were determined that it would be something more, which is why you meticulously planned every detail of your outfits.  

While you were imagining how the evening might turn out, your legs had led you to the boy's home. When you rang the bell, he answered the door and urged you to come up because he was a bit late too. You entered without asking any questions and made it to his front door. A few seconds later, you found the boy in front of you. He was wearing a white shirt, baggy brown pants, silver necklaces and bracelets, and a black pencil tip under his eyes.  

He had used a brown pencil and an eyeshadow of the same color for his eye makeup, as well as a brownish lip balm that made his lips shine.  This makeup suits him so well, you thought while looking at him with a lost gaze.  

To say you'd been watching him all evening is an underestimate. That simple image of him was enough to warm your heart and brighten your evening. "Who are you making yourself so beautiful for this evening?" he said after countless seconds of staring at each other. "Look who's talking, huh?" you replied, glancing him up and down for an excuse to admire the beautiful boy in front of you once more. He chuckled and allowed you in. You sat at the kitchen table while he was finishing getting ready.

You sat down and ended up thinking about all the possible scenarios; what would your confession be like? Would you have had the courage? How would he react?

"Yn...," you heard. You quickly turned towards that voice, which was both familiar and soothing. As soon as you turned, you observed him standing, holding a tiny bouquet and keeping his attention on you. "Did it happen like this in your dream?" he said as he handed you the most fragrant and magnificent arrangement of flowers you'd ever seen. "How do you know it was you?"

"Oh, you told me that while you were drunk," he said nonchalantly.  

"So you knew I liked you!" you replied. 

"Do you like me?" he immediately asked. 

Silence fell, your eyes widened, and your hand moved to cover your mouth. to discover her immediately afterward, when you once again recognized in her eyes the most beautiful starry sky you had ever seen. “Well, I had not expected my confession to be like this," you said, giggling and walking closer to him.

Only to move it right away, when you saw again the most gorgeous starry sky you'd ever seen in his eyes.   

You both broke your closeness, and a sweet kiss changed the mood. "if you gonna break my heart, this is a good start you know Theo…" You muttered to him between breathless lips. That boy had witnessed your whole trust, vulnerability, and entire existence. You had allowed him to see and experience that aspect of you, but you knew you'd never regret it. "I saw you, I knew you, and I loved you yn. Allow me to do it, and trust in my endless feelings for you. The beginning of us will never finish."

And so you chose to die - leave a part of yourself - and then be reborn in his arms.  

[swiftiethatlovesf1]

Betty

Hii guyss, here's the second one-shot about Taylor Swift's folklore love triangle, starring Max as James. If you want to read more stories of mine here's my masterlist or August's point of view :)

Max stood on the uneven cobblestones outside her house, heart pounding like a drum in the silence of the neighborhood. The sharp, crisp scent of autumn mingled with the dying sweetness of summer on the breeze. He’d been here countless times before, but tonight felt different—like a last chance, a thin thread he was desperate not to lose.

Each step up the path to her door echoed in his ears, the weight of guilt pressing on his chest. He could still see her eyes from that day at the paddock, wide with disbelief and betrayal before she’d turned away, taking the light with her. The memory was a blade that cut deeper with each replay.

Rumors had spread like wildfire—cruel, twisted versions of the truth whispered by voices that never knew how much it hurt. It was Kika who told her, who confirmed what was real, and even though she was often dramatic, this time, there was no exaggeration. The worst thing he ever did was what he did to her, and every time he thought about it, the shame dug deeper.

The summer had started as an escape, a fleeting thing that he thought wouldn’t matter. But it had turned into something far worse—a betrayal of the one person who did matter. He hadn’t planned to get so caught up, hadn’t realized that with every stolen moment and whispered laugh, he was tying knots in a web that would eventually ensnare them all.

He clenched his fists, rehearsing the words he’d been practicing for weeks. Apologies that felt empty and hollow in his own mouth, promises that seemed small compared to the hurt he had caused. His throat tightened as he rang the doorbell, the sound sharp and final in the night air.

The seconds dragged, and just as doubt began to gnaw at him, the door opened. There she stood, framed in the golden glow of the hallway light, arms crossed protectively over her chest. Her expression was guarded, eyes searching his face, and it took everything in him not to break under her gaze.

“I know I’m the last person you want to see,” Max started, voice rough with emotion. “But I need you to hear this, even if it changes nothing”

She said nothing, but the fact that she didn’t shut the door was a thread of hope. He took a breath, forcing himself to meet her eyes.

“I messed up,” he continued, the words tumbling out like a confession. “It’s always been you. I spent the summer running from that, but all I did was run in circles that brought me back to you.”

Her gaze flickered, something unreadable shifting there. The silence stretched, so heavy he thought he might drown in it.

“I hate that I hurt you. The worst thing I ever did was betray your trust, and I’d give anything to take it back,” Max said, his voice cracking. “I thought I was protecting myself, being careless, but I ended up losing the only thing that really matters. I know it’s asking too much, but if there’s even a chance… if there’s even a piece of you that could forgive me…”

He took a small step closer, close enough to see the way her lashes trembled. “I’m here now, not knowing anything but this: I miss you, and I’m sorry. And I need to know if there’s a chance—any chance—that you could forgive me.”

She looked away for a moment, her lashes brushing her cheek as she blinked back whatever thoughts clouded her mind. The silence between them felt fragile, like a breath could shatter it.

“I know I can’t erase what I did, but I need you to know I’d spend forever trying to make it right,” he whispered, stepping just close enough to feel the warmth radiating from her presence.

Her eyes met his, and he held his breath, searching for anything—any flicker of the girl who’d once welcomed him with a smile that felt like home. But she said nothing. And though the silence was filled with the tension of words unsaid, he felt a faint glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, she was listening.

“I’ll wait,” he said, voice almost breaking. “For as long as it takes.”

[rarepairronpa]

reading the wiki, going "oh mikan didn’t have any friends growing up?" and putting her in an AU where she was childhood friends with ryoko and matsuda

As you should!!! That would be super interesting, tbh. Childhood friends enomatsumiki/ryoumatsumiki would be such an interesting dynamic - especially the Yasuke and Mikan angle! We all know Mikan would grow to adore Ryouko, considering... But her relationship with Yasuke would be the really interesting part. Also, I could totally see the two of them defending her from bullies. Maybe Yasuke's mom sort of "takes in" Mikan in the sense that she let's her stay with her to get away from her guardians. And maybe when she gets dementia, that's one of the first things to go - leading to a very traumatic memory of Yasukes mom forcing Mikan out of her house with little to no warning. That whole thing would probably fuel both Mikan and Yasuke's medical career - not just Yasukes. Can you tell I have a lot of Yasuke's mom feelings? I imagine little Ryouko/Junko and little Mikan both call her "auntie". When Ryouko loses her memories, I think, would be the first clash between Yasuke and Mikan, since Mikan would not buy that it was natural and would demand Yasuke stop erasing her memories. "What are you expecting to happen here? That you can keep erasing her memories until the end of time? It won't work! She'll figure it out!" (Which would maybe lead into Yasuke talking about the NWP, which I think would genuinely scare Mikan.) If he explained that he was hiding her to shield her from consequences, Mikan would accept that as long as it was temporary. The fact that it wouldn't be temporary is where he'd lose her. She'd accuse him of trying to change her, not really loving her as she is, etc etc. Just full on hysterical yelling. I could see, like, her going along with it at first to protect Junko, only to get suspicious that it's going on for so long and confront Yasuke, leading to a truly explosive argument. Because Yasuke knew she wouldn't approve and left out shit just to get her to go along with everything. Oh! I also like to think that Ryouko would remember Mikan as well, and keep asking about her. To which Yasuke deflects everytime, feeling worse by the minute.

Mikan can't really... do anything to oppose this whole thing on her own though. That's why she'd probably go to Mukuro, and they'd have an alliance through most of DR0. Would Mikan actually appear to Ryouko, confusing her with how it seems she's working with Junko? That could be interesting. It could also be interesting that she works in the shadows, but I do like the messiness that comes with Ryouko seeing her working with Junko, feeling like she's been betrayed. Maybe she wants to forget such a thing so much that she never writes it down, and each time is a new betrayal.

But, she would also not be cool with killing Yasuke. And Junko and Mukuro know it. Junko would probably lie after the fact that she only killed him to defend herself - since Yasuke does start choking her. Which... Mikan would have really complicated feelings on. She'd probably comfort Junko about it, though, which is the real kicker.

The whole thing would probably end really messy. If Mikan ever caught on that Junko killed Yasuke for fun, she'd... probably be very unnerved. In this situation, she's built just as much as a bond with Yasuke as Junko. She might just not believe it on its face. She might become scared that Junko would betray her too. I feel like, in a world where Yasuke was a force in Mikan's life from the start, she'd have much more stable attachments, so she wouldn't be quite as obsessed with Junko. (Vs in a scenario where they met later- especially if they met because of Junko, since that would just subconsciously confirm to Mikan that she has all these good things because of Junko, too.) Despite having more time with Junko, I could actually see her as far more sane and stable than her counterpart. Because unlike canon Mikan, she actually did get support when she needed it. (Now if her childhood friend was only Junko, that would be a different story.)

Matsushima already reads as a Greek tragedy, but adding Mikan into it just makes the whole thing even more tragic in this case. (Junko would approve.) But good gosh is the image of tiny Yasuke, Junko, and Mikan eating orange slices that mama Matsuda served them too gosh dang adorable.

[digglesgiggles]

In regards to the whole cross situation, I'm trying to figure out if I'm missing something because I am struggling to find any full explanations ^^'

Is it just the one person who made that transphobic comic about their opinion? Or are there more?

Also, I'm terrible with tone so prefacing this by saying I'm asking in a "struggles with cognitive empathy" way not a "people are being silly for caring about this" way but like is this person like. Important? They don't seem to have many notes on any of their other posts, but I keep seeing them compared to Calcium-Cat which feels different to me? She was a big author and artist in the fandom until she was revealed herself as a transphobe, so while they're definitely being transphobic I don't see how it causes the same emotional impact?

Again I'm shit with tone so very sorry if that sounds dismissive, 100% genuinely just. So confused why it's become so big 😅

Pretty sure the majority of the drama is just about them, there's a few other losers rallying behind them but it's basically nothing in comparison to the amount of people that actually believe in human rights here.

I wouldn't say they're an important person at all, no. But I think this caught major traction because they somewhat dedicate themself to negativity and spreading bad stigmas about the community, not to mention the fact that it was just so jaw droppingly absurd that someone in one of the most LGBTQ+ accepting communities is being proudly bigoted, even suggesting that Jakei was "confirming cross's transness to appeal to the fans".

It's less about who they are and more about what they represent, and to a lot of people, that is incredibly similar to Calcium-Cunt.

It's less about betrayal/hurt and more just the fandom reigning in to support trans people and make it well known that someone like this does NOT represent our ideals in the slightest.

Which is the most important thing, at the end of the day.

The drama was likely just big because let's be real, any drama in any fandom regarding Jakei or her works will gain major traction, especially with the recent release of the UV episode.

Also I should mention, Calcium-Cunt/Calluna did not "come out" as transphobic, it was found through her twitter likes (while that feature was still public) which was full of lots of transphobia, pushing for gender care being banned type shit. Possibly some racial things, can't entirely remember or check now at this point. She was perfectly content with keeping her ignorance under wraps (despite having a majorly non cis audience) until it was brought out to her attention.

But basically people saw this, sent things in her askbox to see if it was true, and she very stupidly tried to act like things could remain the same despite her "beliefs".

We know for sure these people are not getting invited to any Thanksgiving dinners outside their families, that's for sure.

[random-of-random]

The Pirate Queen

Chapter 6 - A Prisoner

Author’s Note: Thank you so much to every single person who reads this, who likes this, who comments on this story. You are wonderful! I hope it makes you smile!

It was as if something came over James Norrington. He grabbed one arm and then the other desperately looking for any brand she might have.

“What, exactly, are you hoping to find?” She asked and he didn’t looked up. His eyes just went over the same skin, trying to ignore how soft her arms felt. “The elusive ‘P’ that should be burned about here?” She pointed to her wrist. Finally he looked up at her. “No such luck, I’ve never been caught.”

“Well, you have now.” James said as he took a few steps back.

Alice clenched her jaw before speaking. “James we don’t have time for this, you need-“

“You will call me Commodore Norrington, ma’am.”

“James, Elizabeth has been taken.”

“What?” His jaw went slack as it seemed as if the air had been sucked out of the room.

“That’s why I ran down to the fort. I saw two of the men carry her away from her house.” James immediately started writing. “I didn’t see them take her in the ship but it’s the only explanation.”

“Wait here.” He said coldly as he walked out of his office. She distinctly heard the key click in the lock.

It was only about five minutes later when James walked back in. He closed the door behind him. The anger was coming off him in waves.

“Did you have anything to do with this?” He looked away from her and toward his desk, his voice calculated.

“Are you kidding me?” At that he turned quickly around. “James.. Commodore Norrington, I would never hurt Elizabeth.”

“I’m not in the habit of believing pirates.” He practically spit the word at her like venom.

“Well, I’m still the same woman who saved your life out there! The same one who told you about Elizabeth. The same woman you kissed.” It wasn’t the right thing to say, the hatred she saw in his eyes practically broke her heart on the spot. Well, what she thought was hatred. James didn’t have words for how he was feeling.

“I can not believe it’s a coincidence that you are here and another pirate ship shows up and attacks.”

“I was only here to find out what you know about me, my ships, and the people I care most about.”

It was if a spark ignited in his brain. “The red bow, the red dress…” it had look so familiar to him at the party, sticking out in such a particular way. The color was rarely, if ever, worn unless the party specifically called for it. “Sam Bellamy was known for wearing a red bandana and coat.”

Alice nodded. “He was my Captain.” She confirmed and James swore he felt his heart break further. “The first person I sailed under. That bow was made from that bandana. You can arrest me if you want, Commodore. String me up with the other bodies of pirates you have swinging.” As if thrown in the ocean, his fire cooled immediately. The thought of her hanging. His mind couldn’t even fathom it. “But if you want to catch up with the Pearl? You’ll need the entire Navy. Because it will take that many just to find them.”

A multitude of thoughts ran through his mind in an instant, but only one made sense. “Leave.”

“What?”

“Consider this me repaying you for saving me. Now go.” There was a million things she wanted to say, but nothing would come out. As she turned to go she heard him ask a question. “Was any of it real?”

“Most of it was real.” She answered truthfully. When she looked at him, he was staring down at his desk. “Every glance, every smile, every touch… Just the accent and the name were fake.” She didn’t wait for a response, she just left. She would never forget his look of betrayal or how cold he sounded when he spoke to her.

———————————-

Alice walked slowly back to the place she and her crew had been calling home. It was hours before dawn, but all of Port Royal was awake. They were checking on their neighbors and businesses, moving their dead, picking up the pieces of their homes. No one even seemed to glance twice at her as she walked though. Just as well, she thought.

She was almost to the door when it opened and Charlie walked out. He pulled Alice into his arms.

“We were worried about you, Captain.”

Alice pulled back. “I’m alright. How’s Edward?”

“He needs to rest, but the wound wasn’t deep. We should get him to the ship sooner rather than later, get him to the doc.” They walked into the house and Charlie let her to a sitting room where Edward was laid out on a couch. Giles was in a seat next to him.

“Good to see you, Captain.” He said with a tired grin.

“Rest, Edward.” She put her hand on his forehead and was relieved to see no fever had yet set in. “We will be leaving as early as we can.”

“What’s wrong?” Giles asked.

“Norrington knows who I am.” Edward tried to sit, but Alice kept her hand on his shoulder. “It’s alright. He let me leave. Payback for saving his life. Charlie, Giles tell the men to sleep and eat. We will leave shortly after dawn for the docks.”

“Aye, Captain.” Giles affirmed before he and Charlie headed back toward the study and the dining room.

“You get as much sleep as you can.” Alice said as she pulled a blanket halfway up Edward’s chest. “We’ll be back on the ship in no time.”

“Did you tell Norrington?” Edward asked.

“Tell him what?”

“That you’re in love with him.”

Alice let out a small laugh. “The second James Norrington found out I was a pirate was the same second he felt nothing but hatred for me.”

“I don’t believe that.” Edward refuted. “I saw the way he looked at you.”

“Maybe…” Alice sighed. “He used up the goodwill anything before tonight brought me by letting me go. He will try to chase is down soon enough.” She stood. “Now, get some sleep. We will wake you last thing before we go. You’ll need your strength for the journey.”

“Good night, Alice.”

“Good night, Edward.”

—————————

The docks were busy, to say the least, and the sun was high in the sky by the time they were ready to go. Though everything had gone without a hitch, getting all of their stuff down to the ship that would sail them to Tortuga. Everything was loaded, the men were on the ship. It was just Alice and Charlie still waiting to board. No one seemed to recognize Alice, not that she was expecting them to. In men’s clothes, that included Edward’s dark brown coat, and her hair down - no one would have guessed all of Port Royal was fawning over her as a noble less than two days before.

“Captain!” Edward called and he pointed up the docks. James Norrington along with his Lieutenant Groves and two soldiers Alice had not seen were walking toward them with a purpose.

“Stay on the ship, Edward.” Alice called immediately.

“Captain…” Charlie’s voice was low. “There aren’t any other soldiers around, we can fight our way out of this.”

“No.” Alice said quickly. “Keep yours hands visible and just stay calm.” As the men moved closer the two soldiers she didn’t know stayed behind as Norrington and Groves came within five feet of her.

“Lady Somers?” Groves asked after a moment.

“That’s not her name.” Norrington answered him before she could. His voice was almost emotionless. “She has been masquerading as a noble. She is actually… a pirate. An infamous one at that.” Groves looked from his Commodore back to Alice before his hand moved carefully to the hilt of his sword. “Alice the Enchantress is what they call her.”

“I always preferred Mad Alice.”

“My God, it can’t be true.” Groves said quietly, his eyes wide.

“Afraid it is.” Alice responded. “What can I do for you gentlemen?”

“You’re coming with us.” Norrington commanded and there was a shift in the tension around them.

“Is that so?” She asked as she raised her eyebrows.

“To help find Elizabeth.” Norrington added. “It’s either you come with us, or we will take you all to jail.” Charlie took a half a step forward. Norrington and Groves pulled their swords a small way out of their sheaths, and Alice put her hand on Charlie’s shoulder.

“Commodore, I don’t know what help you think I can be to you.”

“You’re a pirate.”

“Not all pirates think the same.” She explained, and James rolled his eyes. “Not only have I never met Captain Barbosa, but last night was the first time I ever saw the Black Pearl. If you want a pirate who can help you ask Jack Sparrow.”

“Jack Sparrow escaped.” Groves said quickly. “With Turner.”

“Who is ‘Turner’?” Alice asked.

“William Turner. He is the blacksmith’s apprentice.” Groves answered. Something in her brain pinged on the name, but she didn’t have time to analyze it. At that very moment all she knew was the safety of her crew was at stake. With that there was only one conclusion.

“Fine, I’ll go with you - on one condition.”

“You’re not in a place to be making demands of us.” Norrington reminded her.

“Captain, don’t do this.” Edward pleaded. “You can’t trust them.”

“Then trust me.” Alice said loudly to her men before turning to Norrington. “Just let my crew go. They are going to sail out on this ship, they are never coming back. Please.” Norrington took a moment to think it over before giving her a nod and she quickly turned to Charlie. “Get Edward to a doctor, take care of the man.” She ignored the protests from her crew already on the ship, “And tell Callahan to be careful with my ships.” They shared a nod before he joined the crew. They all took their hats off, bowing to their Captain. Alice bowed back before taking her place in between Norrington and Groves as they walked her toward the Fort.

“It’s funny…” Norrington said as they walked. “Pirates, for a moment, almost seemed civil.”

“They are.” Alice replied, looking straight ahead. “Much more so than the Royal Navy.”

—————————-

When they got to the Fort she was surprised when they locked her, once again, in Norrington’s office.

This time she didn’t bother to remain standing, she didn’t bother to pace, she sat down in the extra chair and just waited. Her thoughts drifted to her men. If they had gotten out of Port Royal safely. If Callahan was already waiting for her in Tortuga. She hoped Edward made it to a doctor in short time.

She couldn’t have known that Norrington had spent the night pacing in his office. His worry for Elizabeth Swann only surpassed by his anger and hurt at what Frances - no, Alice - had done. In his mind, she had used him, used all of them, to get her hands on the Navy’s own documents.

Another part of him was angry at himself for just how much he wanted to go after her, and not to arrest her. She had told him it was real, but could he even trust a pirate. He paced until Governor Swann barged into his office demanding answers.

When the door opened, Alice felt a jump of anxiety as Norrington walked in followed by Governor Swann.

“Governor Swann.” She acknowledged, but he acted as if she hadn’t said anything. The Governor seemed to be refusing to even look at her.

“You will be locked in quarters on the ship as we sail.” Norrington said, catching her attention. He was looking down at his desk, also refusing to make eye contact. “The men know you will be aboard, but they do not know why. They have been ordered not to speak to you. In fact the only ones you will speak to are Lieutenant Groves and myself.”

“So, I am your prisoner.” She remarked.

“As it should be!” Governor Swann finally spoke. His face was red and his eyes angry. “You are a pirate! You should not be given any leeway. Were it completely up to me you would be locked below deck!”

After his outburst the room seemed almost painfully quiet. Alice recognized his frustration and fear for his daughter, but his hatred for her seemed to almost outweigh it.

“Well, Governor, then I believe when they drop me from the gallows you should be the one to do it.” Her voice was calm and controlled and, by contrast, the Governor looked absolutely scandalized. “Might I remind the both of you that I have been nothing but kind. I held parties for you, fed you. Both of you, more so you - Governor - were fawning all over me.”

His voice raised. “That was before we knew you were a criminal!”

“I am less a criminal than those who trade in human beings - and they’re being paid by the Crown.”

Swann scoffed and immediately left the room without another word, slamming the door as he went.

Once again the silence hung thick, only stopped by the occasional scratching of the quill Norrington was using. Alice was normally good with silence. Now? She felt as if she would absolutely go mad if one of them didn’t speak shortly.

“Maybe you should wear a dress. Keep - keep up appearances.”

Alice stood. “Commodore, I’m going to be sequestered a room the entire time. Well, until the Navy and the Governor see fit to hang me. I think you could do the courtesy of not torturing me more?”

James’ eyes focused on her for a moment and she almost wanted to smirk, but she pushed it as far down as he could.

“Do you know anything about where the Pearl most often makes land.”

“Only a legend.”

“A legend?” Norrington asked annoyed.

“Listen, I warned you I had never seen that ship before. Most haven’t. The few who have are usually survivors. The legend is about an island. Isla De Muerta. No one knows where it is, and supposedly you can only get there if you have already been there. I haven’t.”

Norrington let out a breath he had been holding. “Someone will be along shortly to escort you to the ship.” Without another word he left and she heard another click of the lock. Sitting back down she put her head in her hands. Alice had no idea how she would even begin to get herself out of this situation.

[poisonlove]

Miss Ortega | j.o

First love is always something wonderful, isn't it? The illusion that everything will be fine and that love between you two will grow stronger, staying within your bubble, ignoring the world.

At times, it can be a harsh wake-up call from reality, a slap in the face that makes you feel terrible about yourself, and most of all, the fear of trusting someone else.

In this case, Jenna is T/n's first love.

A forbidden love, full of problems between the law and judgment.

But the real question is: realistically, how can this affair between these two girls end?

part 13

I approach Olivia, my face marked by anxiety and worry. It was time to face the difficult situation that had arisen due to our relationship and the discovery that Jenna was the mysterious girl involved.

—Olivia, we need to talk. I know you feel betrayed, and I understand why. I never wanted things to get this complicated– I repeat, looking at her with a heavy heart.

Olivia crosses her arms, gazing at me with a mix of anger and sadness.

—I can't believe you kept from me all this time that the mysterious girl is our teacher. I feel betrayed, as if you've played with my feelings... damn it, I'm in love with you!–she confesses, lowering her head with guilt.

—It wasn't my intention to hurt you, Olivia. I kept the relationship a secret to protect Jenna, to avoid complications. But now everything's out in the open, and I realize the mistake I made– I admit.

If I had talked to someone about Jenna and me, maybe I could've had help in handling this immense burden.

Olivia runs a hand through her hair, trying to calm herself. She still felt love, but the disappointment and sense of betrayal were hard to ignore.

—How could you think this wouldn't be a problem? Didn't you consider the consequences, the fact that you could endanger not only yourself but also Jenna's future?– I lower my gaze, regretting my actions.

I take a deep breath and look at Olivia with tear-filled eyes, my voice trembling as I try to explain my feelings.

—Olivia, I beg you to try to understand. I tried to ignore my feelings for Jenna, but she... she's Jenna. She's my teacher, but she's also the person I deeply love. You can't expect me to ignore that completely– my heart tightens as my heartbeat noticeably increases.

Olivia feels a wave of jealousy wash over her, mixed with disappointment and anger. She wants me to feel her suffering and tries to threaten me to preserve her own dignity. After all, I had deceived her.

—If you think I can accept this situation without doing anything, you're mistaken. I can't let this relationship between you and our teacher continue. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to protect my future, even go to the principal and tell the whole truth– Olivia looks at me with hard eyes, a mocking smile playing on her lips.

I look at Olivia with my eyes wide open, frightened by her words. I feel my heart break, fearing losing Jenna and Olivia's friendship forever.

—Olivia, please don't do it. I care about you a lot, but I can't deny my feelings for Jenna. Let's try to find a way to get through this situation together– I nervously bite my lower lip.

Olivia is caught in an internal conflict, torn between the desire to preserve our friendship and the feeling of betrayal she's experiencing. She manages to hold back the tears, but her gaze remains stern.

I approach and take Olivia's hands.

—I don't know if I can ever fully forgive you, t/n. This situation has shaken our mutual trust. We need to find a way to face all of this, but it won't be easy–Olivia admits. I let out a sigh of relief, squeezing Olivia's hands with gratitude.

My eyes lock intensely with Olivia's, my heart full of hope but also fear for the future of our relationship. I needed confirmation, I needed to know if, despite everything, we would still have a connection as friends.

—Olivia, are we still friends? I don't want to lose you completely from my life. Despite everything, we've shared precious moments together– I ask hopefully.

Olivia feels a lump in her throat, understanding how important it is for both of them to maintain a part of their relationship intact. Reluctantly, she nods slowly.

—Yes, we're still friends. We've shared too much to lose each other completely– she smiles as she remembers their first attempt.

As we talk, I notice movement in our direction. I lift my gaze and see Professor Ortega approaching us with tears in her eyes. Her expression is a mix of pain and disappointment.

—Olivia... can I talk to you for a moment?– Jenna asks, her eyes filled with tears.

Jenna's POV:

I feel a lump in my throat, my lips tremble, and tears begin to trickle down my cheeks. A sense of fear overtakes me at the thought of losing my job and t/n, while Olivia's judgmental gaze materializes in my mind.

All my insecurities and fears overflow like a swollen river. I had dedicated so much time and effort to this job, made sacrifices, and carved my path with determination, but now everything seemed to teeter on a thin thread. I feel like the ground is opening beneath me, ready to swallow me into an abyss of uncertainty.

Olivia's words resonate in my head like a hammer hitting an anvil. It's evident that Olivia has discovered something, something that puts me in a vulnerable position. Just thinking about facing the consequences of that exposure makes my legs tremble. The reputation I had painstakingly built over the years seems to fade away, disappearing in an instant.

Fear and sadness intertwine in my heart, creating a tangle of emotions that seems impossible to unravel. I feel like a caged bird, with clipped wings, unable to fly away from the storm that's closing in on me. The job had become my identity, my reason for being, and the thought of losing it is unbearable.

T/n...

I feel the need to shut myself off, to find a safe haven where I can release my anguish. The walls seem to close in around me, suffocating me, and the weight of my worries feels unbearable. It's as if every cell in my body is screaming in pain and terror.

But deep in my heart, I know I can't let fear completely overcome me. I must find the strength to face the situation, to stand up for myself and prove my worth. I must turn fear into determination, tears into courage.

So, with trembling knees and a tight chest, I rise from the ground. I wipe away my tears and take a deep breath, trying to reclaim my inner strength. I won't let fear drag me into the abyss of helplessness. It's time to fight for what's rightfully mine, to protect my job and dignity, to protect t/n.

With determined steps, I seek out Olivia, ready to face whatever consequences and defend with all my might what I've built. I don't know what awaits me, but I'm determined to do whatever it takes to overcome this trial.

When I stop in front of Olivia and t/n, tears well up in my eyes again, anger pulsates in my heart. I need to make them feel the depth of my emotions, even though I know that anger can cloud my words.

—Jenna...—t/n weakly calls me, but I urgently want to speak with Olivia.

Suddenly, I feel the need to tell Olivia the truth, to let her know how I feel about t/n.

—Yes, I made a mistake. I wasn't professional. But Olivia, you don't understand! I love t/n! I love t/n more than anything, and this job means nothing if I lose it– I say, with a feeling of lightness moving in my chest.

The words hang in the air, filled with passion and desperation. It's the first time I've openly confessed my feelings for t/n in front of anyone, and the weight of my emotions is overwhelming.

T/n looks at me with tear-filled eyes, speechless for a moment. Then, with fierce determination, she approaches and takes my hand.

—Wow... Jen, I was about to tell you that I already convinced Liv...– t/n says, laughing, looking at me with bright eyes.

Olivia remains silent for a moment, shocked by the revelation. Then, her gaze softens, and a certain compassion appears on her face.

—But that doesn't change the fact that Jenna broke the rules— she admits with a sigh.

I lower my gaze, my shoulders trembling under the weight of remorse. —I'm sorry, Liv. I promise things will change—t/n admits, probably referring to their friendship.

—Now... I'm leaving—Olivia asserts, and without saying anything more, she walks towards the stairs.

T/n's t/c-colored eyes look at me sweetly, and my breath catches in my throat. —So... do you love me?– she asks, and I nervously bite my lower lip.

We've just resolved one drama, and now I have to discuss this.

***

Jenna and I ran into each other in the school hallway after solving the Olivia issue. With curious eyes, I watch Jenna, awaiting her response.

Jenna nods, her eyes gleaming with happiness. —Yes, I love you. It's something I've felt for a while, but I was afraid to confess—she says with a smile.

I embrace her tightly, excited about this discovery. However, after a moment of joy, I remember something important. After the horrible experience I had with Olivia, I need to tell Enid about it to have someone who can support me in front of others.

—Jenna, I want to tell Enid about us. I want her to know that we're together— I confess, and Jenna looks at me as if I grew a second head.

Jenna withdraws slightly, uncertain. —I'm not sure if that's a good idea. I'm afraid things might get complicated—her dark eyes look at me with fear, dreading having to go through a similar situation as a few minutes ago.

I take Jenna's hands and gaze into her eyes tenderly. —I understand your concerns, Jen, but I think it's better to face the situation with honesty. Enid is understanding, she's my best friend; I want us to be free to be ourselves, at least in front of her– I admit, giving Jenna a slight smile.

Jenna reflects on my words and realizes I'm right. After taking a deep breath, Jenna smiles at me.

—You're right, we should face the situation together. But let's not mention it to my family, not now obviously— she says and smiles as confirmation. —We just need to be prepared to face the possible consequences– Jenna adds with a smile, instinctively moving closer to me to hug me.

I step back when I see a student approaching in the distance.

Jenna looks at me, puzzled, furrowing her brow. —You need to be more discreet— I whisper as the student walks past us, and Jenna nods slowly.

—Sorry—Jenna whispers, and I give her a sweet smile. —Don't worry... see you later at your house?– I ask, and Jenna smiles at me like the Cheshire Cat.

—This time, serious studying– I say, and Jenna, putting on a disapproving expression, taps her foot on the ground, behaving like a two-year-old.

—Come on, you're 23... you should be more mature– I comment, and she sighs in frustration. —You're 23!– she responds in a joking tone, and I roll my eyes at her behavior.

—You'll be the child—she sticks her tongue out and looks at me with narrowed eyes, arms crossed over her chest.

Shrugging indifferently, I nod my head. —Yeah, I actually am, I'm 17–I said, looking at my nails with little interest. Jenna opened her mouth in indignation. —Close your mouth if you don't want flies to get in– I told her.

Jenna closed her mouth and shifted uncomfortably in her place, looking at me with flushed cheeks.

—Great,  not only am i dating one of my students, but she's also a minor– Jenna murmured to herself, spreading her arms out theatrically. —A few more months and you won't risk jail time, my dear– I said, giving her a sidelong glance. Jenna looked at me, biting her lower lip in concern.

—And you have to admit that you like fucking this underage– I whispered with a teasing smile, earning a glare from Jenna. —You really are an idiot.– Jenna shook her head and tapped me lightly on the shoulder. —Ouch! I can sue you if I want!–I rubbed my arm dramatically and Jenna looked at me with a raised eyebrow. —Will you stop being the jerk?— Jenna sighed loudly, and I smirked.

—It's worth accepting it, after all you love me just the way I am– I admitted, and she shook her head with a smile on her lips. —Yes... I love you like this... now go, I need to go do my job– Jenna blew me a kiss with her lips and turned her back, starting to walk down the hallway.

The "I love you too" presses at the tip of my tongue, finally wishing to come out, but fear overwhelms me, preventing me from telling the truth. I can tell others that I'm in love with Jenna, in this case just to Olivia, but I can't say it to the person directly involved.

—Maybe next time– I whispered into the air before walking away.

(...)

After school, I met Enid in a quiet place, the backyard of her house, to talk. I had sent her a message saying that we needed to talk, and she told me she had something to share too.

Enid looks a bit worried as she gazes at me, trying to understand what I want to say. I take a deep breath and begin to speak with a serious expression on my face.

—Enid, there's something I need to tell you. Jenna and I... are together. We're a couple–I murmur, dropping the news like a bomb.

Enid remains still, eyes wide with surprise. She had intended to share a different piece of news, but my confession leaves her speechless. For a moment, it seems like she's trying to process the situation.

—..I... wanted to tell you that I had worked things out with Ajax. I was planning to talk to you about it today...—Enid interrupts herself, a look of confusion on her face. The blonde looks at me with disbelief.

I look at Enid with anxiety and hope. —I'm sorry, Enid... I didn't mean to put you in an uncomfortable situation. We just... Jenna and I wanted to be honest with you. Our relationship has just started, but we wanted to share it with you.—

In reality, we had been together for a couple of months, but in comparison, it wasn't a long time.

Enid shakes her head, trying to reorganize her thoughts. —It's not that you're putting me in an uncomfortable situation, t/n... it's just... sudden. I didn't expect this. And I must say, you've caught me off guard– Enid sighs and covers her face with her hands, feeling a heavy weight after this revelation.

I lower my gaze, worried about Enid's reaction. —I'm sorry if I surprised you, it's just that... Jenna and I realized we had feelings for each other, and we wanted to try building something special– I confess, fiddling with my fingers.

Enid backs away slightly, a worried expression on her face. —T/n, I understand that you and Jenna love each other, but we need to be mindful of the possible consequences. Jenna is our teacher, and if your relationship is discovered, there could be serious disciplinary consequences for both of you.–

The same words Olivia had mentioned echoed like a haunting reminder, and a frustrated sigh escapes my lips.

I lower my gaze, acknowledging the seriousness of the situation. —I know, Enid. It's a risk we're taking. But we can't ignore our feelings.—

The blonde sighs and approaches me again, her expression concerned. —I can help you keep the relationship a secret, at least until Jenna is no longer our teacher— Enid proposes, and her statement makes me smile.

I smile gratefully for Enid's support. —Thank you, I really appreciate your help.—

—And to think I would have bet that you'd end up with Olivia— Enid genuinely smiles, finding amusement in her statement.

After Enid's remark about Olivia, I become nervous and panicked. In a moment of weakness, I want to say something that will likely get me into trouble. —Enid, there's something you should know... Olivia already knows– I confess, feeling my heart race.

Enid freezes instantly, looking at me with a mix of hurt and disappointment. Tears start forming in her eyes. —How could you? How could you trust everything to Olivia and not to me? I've been your best friend for years– Enid's voice cracks, and I feel like a complete fool.

I look at Enid sincerely, trying to explain the situation. —Enid, I want you to know that Olivia didn't learn about our secret directly from me. She discovered it by accident, she caught us together in a moment of intimacy. I didn't intentionally confide my secret to her— I try to lift the girl's spirits.

Enid feels relieved hearing these words. Her face relaxes slightly as she listens attentively to my explanations. She wipes tears from her cheeks. —If Olivia found out accidentally, then I feel a bit more at ease. I was worried you had trusted her with it without telling me first– Enid shyly smiles at me with moist eyes.

I nod, understanding Enid's concerns. —I assure you, En, that the secret remained between Jenna and me until Olivia found out. I understand your desire to hear it from me, and I apologize again for not telling you personally– I confess, smiling at Enid.

—After all, I know you love gossip—I give Enid a friendly tap, and she bursts into hearty laughter.

—Do the others know? Diego? Spenser... Xavier?– she asks after finishing her laughter, looking at me curiously.

—No, and I'd prefer to keep it that way... I have no intention of telling them... maybe in a few months– I confess, and Enid nods understandingly.

The two friends gaze into each other's eyes, reassured by the strength of their friendship. They know there will be challenges to face, but they're determined to overcome them together.

(...)

I was at Jenna's house having a calculus lesson. After having discussed with Enid, I had to go to Jenna's house to resume studies in the afternoon since the contest was almost there.

—Then, Rolle's theorem establishes that if a function is continuous on a closed interval and differentiable on an open interval within that closed interval, then there exists at least one point in which the derivative of the function is equal to zero— Jenna writes the explanation on a portable whiteboard that she kept on the side of the kitchen.

I put the tip of the pencil between my lips as I look at the teacher with mischievous eyes. To make the lesson more interesting, Jenna and I agreed on a small, innocent detail. Every time I answered correctly, Jenna would remove an item of clothing, and now the teacher was walking around the house half naked. Jenna brushes back a lock of her hair before writing a rough draft, exposing the skin on her body. I had managed to make her take off her crop-top and skirt, as well as her socks with their respective shoes. My eyes wandered over her curves, stopping at the lingerie she was wearing: a white bra and matching panties.

It seems pretty clear to me. Could you give me a practical example to understand it better?” I ask, tilting my head to the side as I look at her toned legs. Jenna nods and begins to write the example. –Imagine you have a function f(x) = x^2 - 4x + 3. We want to find a point where the derivative of this function is equal to zero. First, we must check if the function satisfies the conditions of Rolle's theorem. The function f(x) is continuous on a closed interval [1, 3] and differentiable on an open interval (1, 3)–

Jenna looks at me smiling slightly, her brown eyes sparkling.

-Understood. But how can we check if the values ​​of f(1) and f(3) are the same?” I ask, and Jenna looks at me with a raised eyebrow. "Excellent question!" Let's compute the values ​​of f(1) and f(3). Substituting x = 1, we get f(1) = 1^2 - 4(1) + 3 = 0. Then, substituting x = 3, we get f(3) = 3^2 - 4(3) + 3 = 0. As you can see, the values ​​are effectively the same— Jenna's eyes flicker to my lips before returning her attention to the whiteboard.

—So, can we apply Rolle's theorem in this case?– I ask, crossing my legs.

-Exactly. Since the function satisfies the conditions of Rolle's theorem, we can affirm that there exists at least one point c within the interval (1, 3) in which the derivative of the function is equal to zero— Jenna bites her lower lip and pulls away a lock of hair from his face.

—The derivative of f(x) is f'(x) = 2x - 4, right?—I ask innocently, as Jenna looks at me with a slight smile on her lips.

—Yeah...exactly–Jenna sighs and, resigned, removes her bra, leaving me gawking at the sight.

—Now, to find point c, we must solve the equation f'(x) = 0. So, 2x - 4 = 0. Adding 4 to both sides and dividing by 2, we obtain x = 2—the chestnut nonchalantly explains while Continue writing on the board.

My eyes remain fixed on her breasts, marveling at her shape and her modest size.

—So the point c at which the derivative of f(x) equals zero is x = 2?— I ask, savoring victory.

—Exactly, point c is x = 2.—Jenna's voice softens and, with a resigned sigh, she removes the last item of clothing she was wearing. Jenna gives me a pleading look, urging me to intervene as soon as possible. while licking my lower lip, I was admiring this beautiful work of art.

—So, what's up?—Jenna rolled her eyes in boredom and jumped up to sit on the dresser. My eyes widened at Jenna and my breath caught in my throat as I saw her spread her legs slightly, inviting me closer.

❤❤❤

—I love you!—I spontaneously murmur, resting my head on Jenna's bare chest. I was quite exhausted and couldn't continue with the "rounds" my girlfriend was asking for.

Jenna seems satisfied, her breath heavy and her hair tousled. Her body tenses slightly beneath mine after hearing those words. Our eyes meet, and I see her irises filled with tears.

—Did... did I say something wrong?— I stammer, looking at Jenna with concern. She shakes her head, smiling widely.

—You... you told me... you love me— she whispers, and I open my eyes in surprise.

Now that I think about it, Jenna was right. I nervously bite my lower lip, realizing that I had said those two famous words spontaneously and, above all, in a moment of vulnerability.

Jenna's hand rests on my cheek, and she looks at me tenderly. —It's the first time you've said it to me— she confesses, and I lean into her touch, getting lost in her gaze.

Jenna pulls me closer to her for a kiss, and I enjoy it, placing my arms on the sides of the couch to not crush her with my weight.

—ti amo– I repeat earnestly, pressing my forehead against hers, our noses brushing in an Eskimo kiss. —I'm sorry for telling you while we were making love—I smile, and she returns the smile, highlighting the dimple on her cheek.

Jenna wraps her arms around my neck and lightly bites her lower lip. —It's perfect this way– she confesses, and I look at her with love, seeing the reflection of my face through her crystalline eyes.

—I love you too– Jenna says, giving me a little kiss on the tip of my nose. —How about we get dressed and have something to eat?— she suggests, and I enthusiastically agree.

—It sounds like a great idea— I respond excitedly. We get up from the couch and head to find our clothes scattered on the floor. As we dressed, I couldn't help but smile and feel overwhelmed by the love I felt for Jenna.

Once dressed, we leave the room hand in hand and head to the kitchen. Jenna starts preparing something to eat while I sit at the table, watching her with adoration. I loved seeing her move with grace and skill in the kitchen. It was one of the many talents she had that made me fall in love with her more every day.

After a few minutes, Jenna places a plate of pasta in front of me. Not only was she an expert in bed, but also in the kitchen. I smile gratefully and begin to enjoy the meal with her.

As we eat, we chat and laugh, sharing moments of intimacy and complicity. There's no room for worries or stress in that moment. It's just the two of us, wrapped in the love and happiness that binds us.

We finish eating and remain seated at the table, taking a moment to relax and enjoy each other's company. Jenna looks at me with tenderness and affection, gently stroking my hand.

—You're the best thing that's ever happened to me– she says softly. —I love you more than words can express.—

Tears of happiness fill my eyes as I look at her. I squeeze her hand lovingly. —And I love you more than I ever thought possible. You're my everything, Jenna.—

We embrace tightly, sealing our words with a gesture of love and commitment. In that moment, I know that we're meant to be together, overcoming any obstacle that comes our way.

The love we share is powerful and real. And as we embrace, I know deep in my heart that we've found our happiness in each other's arms.

Comments please

[sepublic]

Watching and Dreaming

         It’s over.

         It’s really over.

         …Man! We really had a timeskip and everything!

         Was it Luz’s eighteenth birthday? Sorry, I was just. SO caught off-guard and disoriented and in such a daze. I remember hearing them mention how Luz was there for the 16th and 17th, which confirms what we already know about Luz’s 15th happening during the timeskip to Thanks to Them. So we have a general range for birthday and all and.

         THERE’S SO MUCH TO TALK ABOUT!!!

         I’m feeling numb y’all. Genuinely numb and in a daze. I think I need to sit down and catch my breath. Just… Fine, let me start from the beginning. That’s a good place, right?

         That nightmare sequence was so HORRIFYING, the way it called back to Lilith and Gwen’s betrayals of Eda over the curse, her trauma over Dell with him losing his second eye! King seeing the skulls of his siblings and being confronted by Bill! And Luz’s dream, being told she’s Belos… Seeing everyone dead, having it reminded to her that she helped him meet the Collector!

         But the way she knows her friends enough that in a final moment of crisis… She knows not to trust this! Reminds herself they’d never do that! And just shrugs it off, the way it all comes around to her original light spell! And it’s what saves and awakens everyone from this dream, because it’s called Watching and Dreaming, beat the fantasies of Adegast like before!

         And that reunion! They’re so glad to see each other… Eda’s excitement to see Stringbean, the way it loops back to that original trio! And the Collector, aww the Collector… The way they’re so mad but also still reasonable, they’re not THAT mean just not aware of boundaries.

         And how Belos manipulates them and GAUGH the age-old theory of the Titan being possessed and halfway resurrected by Belos, covered in his goopy mass… It came true!!!

         But first, I loved how everyone befriended the Collector. How even at their most malicious, they weren’t THAT malicious. And the way King counted on Luz to reach out to them, as she always has! The way they recounted Luz’s own journey to one of her narrative parallels!

         Raine and Belos fighting each other REAL… They’ve dedicated themselves so much to stopping him, and now they face off! And how CLOSE they were too… Titan I love Raine.

         Belos’ giant mock-Titan design was PHENOMENAL, he really went Bionicle this finale and I love it! And good Titan the way the Collector tried to apply the kindness and forgiveness to Belos, because they’re just so naïve! They’re still learning Luz’s compassion and they think it’ll work on this man they’ve been stuck with for centuries, because they can see he’s lonely too!

         But as tragic as it is, you can only get help if you accept it. You need to want to change. And he kept refusing, time and time again.

         Luz’s death, AUGH… I was panicking because they wouldn’t ACTUALLY, but the way the Collector was breaking up! In disbelief! They don’t understand death and they’re just. They really are a metaphor, or just a straight up example, of kids finding things out! They were lied to by the Archivists, who presumably got killed in the mutual war between Collectors and Titans.

         Titan, you’re a monster Belos. You really killed Luz. But Luz, she GAVE her life for this kid she just met, who antagonized her for so long! Because she sees herself in him, she’s just bristling with so much COMPASSION, it’s overflowing!

         And finally meeting King’s dad, and Belos killing what’s left of him. That hurts so much, but it was wonderful seeing the full shot of his skeleton. And the Hooty parasite in his eye… Well. I guess that just confirms that Hooty is one of those eye-worms that survived after all these millennia! Damn.

         Harpy Luz!!! But also Titan Luz!!! And she got big hair!!! Just like she always wanted, and Stringbean came back for her! I loved seeing King and Eda go FERAL over Luz, I love that trope to death. But the way Camila shed a tear like she could tell she lost the last member of her family, after losing Manny…

         But nope! Luz’s friends have faith in her, and they manage to save everyone! With the Collector, my boy… Ngl I thought they’d go with the reveal that Belos’ growth sapped their magic and left them powerless, but oh well!

         And the callback! The callback to magic coming from the heart, Luz, Eda, and King diving through! Luz knowing what she wants, getting to wield bile magic for just a brief time! And the animation the ANIMATION…

         Raine was blind as a bat and just whistling lmao! But seriously it’s sad when you consider they were possibly trying to access any bard magic, but were too exhausted. And getting to reunite with Eda after all this time… Those tear scars are metal ngl. We got Possessed Raine scars after all, folks!

         And the way they all came together to finally PRY Belos from the heart, even as they made a final callback to the beginning scene! Just as Eda said, if Luz works, she can make her fantasies happen, bring them to life, and she DID! AND BELOS ATE IT!!!

         Him trying to appeal to her one last time. Blaming the magic, accusing Eda of having been cursed by dark magic, once again relying on the curse as an excuse. But the WAY the show finished him off… Boiled, BURNED to death in the rain, after talking about how he missed the cool rain of the human realm. The ultimate rejection of this world towards him, that rain that acts as a signifier for the different worlds.

         Luz just watched Philip burn to death. That shit was ICE COLD, in spite of rain itself! Just letting him beg for his life, feebly trying to appeal to ‘peace’, but Luz was allowed to be a bit feral and get some revenge herself. And of course, Eda, King, and Raine got some too! The leaf umbrella was hilarious and anyhow I think there’s something poetic about Raine being named after the thing that helped kill Belos in the end. So long, you messed up bastard! Killed by the witches, by the world you despised! I love the way his patience wears away to reveal his hatred and rage and truth, and he dies by the people he loathed.

         Seriously, that underwater coral look to everything was so cool but so fitting, given the Titan was submerged in water and everything… Luz bringing back the red leaves that were another thing to distinguish from the green grass of the isles, against the green of Belos!

         The callback to Really Small Problems with the BREAD PUN, THAT KILLED ME!!! And Luz regretting, trying to think of what to say, realizing when it was seemingly too late, to THANK them like the first episode of S3’s title! And now…

         Now it’s over. The timeskip and reparations. I feel sorry for everyone who lived in Palm Stings or on the left arm in general, Belos still got to wreak havoc and devastation one last time… But everyone’s freed, STEVE AND LILITH’S FRIENDSHIP I LIVE FOR IT SO MUCH!!!

         Everyone reuniting at the Owl House, Raine and Eda those hags having some rest in the nest… The Collector bringing back Hooty! Lilith and Camila and Amity! Gilbert and Harvey kiss, HUNTER WITH DARIUS AND EBERWOLF!!! Amity and Alador… And Odalia, just straight up ignored! Would’ve loved to see her and Kikimora one last time, it’s a shame we didn’t get to see Kiki again. Maybe I missed her later on, but lol what if we just took the opportunity to say Boscha and the others killed her off-screen what then.

         Luz losing the last of the Titan, the original glyph that started it all… The pain!!! But the way she makes a NEW LANGUAGE WITH KING!!! And still has Stringbean, so she still has another way of doing magic! So it’s not the end, just a new beginning all over again!

         AUGH WHY DID THEY MAKE THE COLLECTOR LEAVE! When King said he showed up one last time I wanted to SEE them again, sure they definitely wouldn’t have aged given it was only a few years and they didn’t grow after millions but whatever.

         Timeskip… GOD THE WAY IT THREW US FOR A LOOP! A three-year timeskip, three years of the show. The photos with an older Vee, that barista lady with Hooty, Eda introducing Camila to Apple Blood! AND OLDER VEE AND LUZ!!!

         I love the way the show psyched us out, making us think Luz was just gonna settle for human college lmao. And the way she said ‘After all this time’ like she was gone for years, and I was thinking! Please tell me it’s a joke! AND IT WAS! AS I HOPED, Camila reminds Luz it’s only been a WEEK!

         And seeing everyone again. The Bat Queen start a new forest of Palismen with Gwen and Dell, Hunter learning from his lowkey descendants? THE TRIBUTE TO FLAPJACK I’M CRYING, WILLOW!!! DAMMIT WE SHOULD’VE GOTTEN A HUNTLOW KISS IT’S BEEN YEARS IN-UNIVERSE!!!

         Checking up on everyone, from Morton to the Selkidomus, Wrath and Braxas, Tibbles and the Slitherbeast with its baby! HARPY LILITH! I saw Boscha… Hexside’s faculty, BARCUS AS A TEACHER! Alador figuring out how to remove the sigils, Darius’ joy and becoming tsundere! Emira’s short hair, I was worried about Edric but then we saw him as a teacher, bless! ALONGSIDE GUS, who is ROCKING IT with those golden dreads and being an expert on humans!

         The way the symbol of Belos’ tyranny was replaced with a forest of wild magic, unbridled, for people to learn in. THAT being the college. Raine there, everyone there. And then they all come together one last time to say goodbye, acknowledging how we missed out on the Quincenera… THE MESSED UP CAKES! Steve just letting the spiders crawl as Luz did!

         And the final light show by the Collector. And that META joke… Saying “They’re about to leave” which could refer to our favorite star child, but it also refers to the audience! One final BBBYYYEEEEE is perfect. That running gag. Both by the crew in real life and in the show. This show gets so wonderfully meta and I ADORE it…!

         (Lmao that last look at the Coven Heads, VITIMIR GETTING AN EXTRA BIT!!! Does the crew love him too, is it a bone thrown to his fans! HELL YEAH!!! Still salty over his hat lmao.)

         …It’s over. It’s really over. After all this time, this is the last I’ll ever write something like this, about a new episode. Unless we get that Raeda prequel which the finale even jokes about, but for now. Thank you so much everyone. For listening, for reading to all of these posts I’ve made per episode since Season 1B began. With how much I dump here, I’m amazed anyone’s read it, but…

         Thanks so much you guys. It means everything. I dunno how to end this off, I feel like Luz… Oh wait! I know exactly how! Just as my beloved characters did, just as @danaterrace herself...

        BBBBBBYYYYYYEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!

[justallihere]

Thoughts post my rereads:

She was not a thing—not something to be acquired and used. When had she stopped fighting Xaden on that?

She wasn’t sure she did. All the quiet, intimate moments between them—she had to wonder now if they had been authentic; had to wonder if he’d done it just so she would trust him.

I love our look into Violets thoughts and feelings surrounding Xaden’s betrayal. She put herself out there for him, intentionally or not, and all that trust and vulnerability wasn’t returned and manipulated.

She didn’t want to. She didn’t want this to be real. She was tired of facing things—tired of having to be what others expected of her, tired of always doing the right thing. She was just tired.

You characterize Violet’s exhaustion and anguish so perfectly. I also broke down crying reading this, it’s such a relatable feeling. The way Violet feels so violently (hehe) yet her brain keeps spinning to problem solve is so well done. Bravo!

“I need to talk to Xaden.”

“Fuck Xaden,” Rhiannon said harshly. “He married you just to sacrifice you. You don’t owe him anything.”

“I want to hear what he has to say.”

“Lies, probably.”

Your honour, I love the Rhiannon defence squad.

“I just need to talk to him,” she said.

She needed—she didn’t know what. To see Xaden’s face, to hear his voice. She needed the confirmation from him that this was truly what he’d always intended for her.

I love that we see Violet’s need for information here but we also see that she’s starting to need Xaden as well. That she has started to rely on him for comfort, even if it’s just subconsciously. I truly, truly love how you’re depicting them falling for each other. Especially as later we see:

She hated him more than she ever had, and still not enough.

She knows that Xaden has wormed his way in no matter how mad she is.

Liam’s face crumpled before he caught himself and smoothed out his expression. “No. Of course not.”

Liam—Liam she still didn’t let herself look at.

Liam paused, looking at her imploringly over his shoulder, but she didn’t acknowledge him

Sometimes I feel like the Liam/Violet falling out and reconciliation is going to hurt me more than the Xaden/Violet one.

“You can elaborate on that,” she said, “or we can find out if killing you really will destroy us all or just inconvenience Sgaeyl for a day or two.”

“This my power, my signet, my body—my fucking choice. You tried to make it for me, and I should kill you for it.”

Violet drew back her fist and punched him in the face.

THAT’S MY GIRL ❤️‍🔥🗡️

“Because you did this. You married me, you brought me here, you handed me a crown, and you planned to use me as a weapon this whole fucking time. So now you’re going to deal with the consequences of your actions and look me in the face and explain to me exactly what all you’ve lied to me about.”

“Fuck, do you really think I’m such an awful, heartless person that I could take care of you and hold you the way that I have and it means nothing to me? Do you think you mean nothing to me?”

She shook her head slowly. “I don’t believe you.”

“Yes,” she said. “Alone.”

Welcome to your bed Xaden, you can now lie in it (or maybe not) 😅

“Every time you’ve held me, have you—“

This line really hit me because we know Violet is drawing parallels to Dain here. 😩

He pinned her leg down hard with his own when she tried to wiggle it free. “Don’t do that,” he said, strained.

“What am I thinking right now?” Violet asked tauntingly.

His gaze dipped from her eyes to her mouth, and then lower. “You really want me to guess?”

“Yes.”

“Liar,” he murmured,

They’re so horny for each other I love it.

I know I said in my A03 review that I want Xaden on his hands and knees (and I do) but I truly do love that you depicted him NOT apologizing for his actions. What I really want to see is Xaden recognizing that Violet doesn’t trust him and working to fix that, which I think we saw a peak of in this chapter. Looking forward to his POV to delve more into his thoughts and feelings around the whole situation!

Once again your chapters always outdo themselves. You’re a brilliant writer Alli, I truly appreciate your dedication to delivering us amazing content every week. Thanks for keeping me fed! 💞

Thank you so much!!!

I feel like Violet straight up just isn’t over shit enough in canon. I want her to just throw the biggest fit in the world, she’s tired, she’s been tortured, her boyfriend lied to her, her brother lied to her, everyone wants something from her, and she’s never as mad as I think I would be in her case. I just needed her to scream and cry and be TIRED. And in this chapter she definitely is

Violet trusts Xaden far more than she wants to, but she does need him in a lot of ways. He grounds her because he’s never coddled her

Violent Violet is the best Violet!!!

I think you’re the first person to point out how horny they are for each other in this one 😭 I mean they always are but to be horny in the middle of a fight?? Married idiot behavior

We will definitely see intentional Xaden and Violet working their shit out moving forward. She asked for honesty so she’ll get it

🩷🩷🩷🩷

[mari-lair]

(Actors AU: Part 1)

Things are going well for their hero show, the protagonists learn the villainess is a different character from the maiden, the hero and villain became friends that refuse to admit they are friends after three episodes of their reluctant alliance. There is no crazy hype about it, but the audience is entertained, and their small fanbase is very dedicated.

The season finale is just around the corner and the writing crew is working hard. They knows Akane and Teru’s dynamic remains popular, and Aoi’s character feeling like a real danger is also taken well by the media, so they want to see what will happen if they try to push Teru (who plays the most popular character of the show) with the villainess, make her learn about the hero’s crush on her ‘look alike’ cute maiden and use his affections against him.

Teru is okay with it, happy even! Aoi understand how the business work, and sees the opportunity she could get if she pulls off such a dramatic scene, plus she finds Teru an overall pleasant coworker so she also gives the... Okay. Akane is absolutely against it, he tries to convince the writers that a kiss for a finale is stupid and predictable and they can come up with something better, but he is ignored. A kiss may be cliché but that’s because it consistently works.

Since a kiss is inevitable, Akane shyly asks if Aoi would also be okay with kissing him instead, when she gives the okay he does his best to make the change happens “My character has a crush on the maiden too so it will work! The scene can double as a reveal since the villain crush has been subtext until now.” which is a solid point but still don’t change their decision: Teru plays the mc, and the villainess character is more interested in destroying the hero than in the villain. They do agree to sneak an explicit “the villain loves the cute maiden” confirmation in the finale though.

Akane offers to kiss Teru as a last attempt to not have him kiss Aoi, well aware hero x villain is the most popular ship in the show, but while the offer gives him the satisfaction of seeing Teru be caught off guard for the first time since they met, it still gets denied by the studio: Their kiss would not fit the betrayal narrative they had planned, it just doesn’t fit the villain character.

Akane knows Aoi has bad history that makes it so she is unconfortable being too touchy with other actors, be them girls or boys, but she calls him for coffee break and reveal she genuinely doesn’t mind kissing Teru: Yes, she was unsure at first, but he is very sweet and patient with her, he also never make a move when the cameras are off, so it feels like they are the hero and the villainess kissing, not Aoi and Teru. Akane is glad to hear that, and is so amusing to watch him try to shove any jealousy aside, to only be happy for her, that she can’t help but tease him by kissing his cheek, noticeably more confident after getting used to play the fearless villainess that does whatever she wants.

Everyone’s acting is top notch when the finale arrives, but Akane is the best actor in the scene, his mostly friendly banter with the hero growing... strange in a way that is hard for audiences to pinpoint the second they start talking about the maiden. When the villainess, who is disguised as the cute maiden, show up, smiling at the hero, the villain walks off to give the two lovebirds some space. They cut shots between Teru and Akane, showing the hero and his love interest be sweet and cutesy as always, and the villain watching from afar despite saying he would give them space, only running away and truly giving them space when they kiss. The villain whisper under his breath that he loves her and want her to be happy in the rooftops, but stops abruptly as he sees the real maiden in a crowd, the camera cuting to the villainess smiling in the kiss as she stabs the hero.

The villainess got some hate for hurting a beloved character, but the love was louder, appreciating how her approach to seduction and the framing makes her moment before the betrayal feels intimate, not sexy. The shippers were going crazy: hero x villain is as strong as ever, though angsty one-sided fics and headcanons became just as comun as it usual enemies to lovers content, villainess x hero turned into the most popular ship for the week with all the angsty edit you can imagine, even ships that people thought were dead, like maiden x villain got at least a sprinkle of new content after Akane’s stellar performance. It was a good day to be a fan of the series.

Gifs spread around and despite it not being a mainstream show, not even close to hitting trending, it does get another popularity jump and they get approval to work on another season.

Akane was excited to learn the hero would be bedridden and the villain character would be explored at the start of the next season, but he got less excited to hear the villain would be in a one-sided love. Teru tease him to death about it, amused when Akane tries to fight back by mocking his character “You’re bleeding out in the first three episodes, you would be dead if I didn’t drag you to a hideout, you have no right to insult my character, you shitty ass protagonist -”

In the middle of season 2, they discuss the possibility of the hero subconsciously being unable to see the cute maiden as a source of ‘normalcy and comfort’ anymore, traumatized by the betrayal. Perhaps he can fall in love with the villain instead? The villain did take care of him and help him out a lot in their alliance after all. The idea isn’t very fleshed out yet, but the basics are enough to make Akane laugh out loud, he is having the time of his life picturing Teru acting like a lovesick puppy with him, though he does lose his amusement very quickly when Teru claims it would fit his character, flashing that sparkly smile that means he approves the idea.

When Akane tries to protest Teru is amused "So you would be willing to kiss me but not return the poor hero's affections? How cruel, you really are a villain."

(Part 3: Here)

[pieces-of-heaven]

Hey people!! I wanna share some analysis of this song that I've had for quite a while, specifically the characters. I'm VERY invested in the characters so I'll be sharing my observations!

Please note that I know none of this is canon to the song, confirmed, or the intentions of A7X! I just want to make lore and headcanons, so I completely made some of this up based on my observations!

TW: Mentions and discussion about murder, cannibalism, implied n*croph*lia

Now be warned, a lot of this is mostly speculation and theories and headcanons based off the music video considering thats the only source of media the song has other than itself, (not including the 3d concert video)

Scream and MC analysis

In a previous post I've mentioned on how I think Scream is connected to ALPOH lore-wise. So I'll be going more in depth on that!

So I think that the lyrics of Scream take place when the murder is happening. And clearly the mc has some delusional sadistic pleasure in doing what he does even if he does end up coming to regret it. Scream shows his sadism and his thought process during the murder.

If you look at the lyrics you'll see that it definitely reflects that!

And I think the whole murder situation was him going through a phase of hedonism and unhealthily indulging in his dark fantasies and primal urges (clearly hes very mentally ill). And of course he tries to justify his delusional actions until the moment of post-nut clarity where hes killed by his undead girlfriend.

The Girlfriend analysis

I think she genuinely did love him deeply and obviously wasn't planning on leaving him. As was mentioned in alpoh their relationship actually went very well, which is what started the whole thing in the first place.

So, of course her murder deeply angered her for obvious reasons. But I also think she felt a deep sense of betrayal, not just anger! Like how would you feel if the man you loved so much killed you for his own selfish needs? Betrayal, right? The person she loved turned on her in the worst way possible!

And I think after she died, she decided that nothing matters anymore since she wasn't living. Thats also why I think she flipped a switch and took revenge so easily, because what was the point in preserving her humanity when she wasnt even human anymore? Thats also why I think she gave in to forgiving and marrying him and murdering innocents so quickly after she got her revenge. She has nothing to look forward to since she's just a zombie now.

So basically, after her death she becomes a fucked up version of a nihilist, considering she can't look forward to whatever previous goals in life she had since shes dead. But also because of that, the worse she does, the more she can't go back, she's becoming worse and for her that's all the more reason to not care.

Let's go back a few steps and talk about the music video real quick. I consider it some different timeline with mostly the same events but just a little different. The song obviously doesn't include the whole rejected proposal plotline. In the song he only kills her because of intense separation anxiety, but in the video he kills her because she laughed in his face when he whipped out an expensive ass ring!!

I think in this universe, she DID reject it, but not in the way shown. Lets start off with the reason why. My personal hc is that she probably wasn't ready for marriage!!! Maybe she has some life goals (as previously stated)! Or maybe its too early in the relationship! The mc is obsessive after all, so maybe he got too caught up in their love and proposed too early. Either way, no matter the reason, I imagine she rejects it humbly. (Or maybe im just coping) And he, being the delusional mentally ill fuck that he is, thought that she was just laughing in his face, which obviously makes him mad as fuck! And then the separation anxiety kicks in too, so he's feeling a lot of crazy emotions and twisting the situation into something its not in order to justify himself and what he's about to do to her. I mean, it's not totally out there. He's an unreliable narrator in some parts of the song, he could totally be unreliable in the music video too.

So now she's dead!

Which takes me back to the whole nihilism thing with her, she has nothing to look forward to so she might as well go through with the marriage anyway, whereas she initially rejected it in life due to looking forward to other things. (Or other reasons idk)

OR... she didn't reject him at all. Maybe she took a little too long to answer, maybe he was too nervous and anxious about her answer that he made up some sort of situation to keep her in order to avoid a refusal. I don't know!

MC analysis 2: electric boogaloo

Clearly, this guy is somewhat dual-natured. In the video and the song it seemed like he's usually a decent guy, but he has this really violent and fucked up side to him.

Also lets consider the fact both M. Shadows and The Rev (rest in peace) BOTH narrated the mc in the song! Both in different times and at the same time! So that FURTHER proves my headcanon of this character having two sides to him! Let me explain.

The Rev voices the more visceral and gory parts of this characters mind and story, M. Shadows ALSO voicing those parts AND the more sensitive and sweeter parts of the mc (the beginning, the apology, so on and so forth)

In the music video where both of them are laughing (when the mc goes to hell with his gf) it shows the flashbacks where the mc is in the process of murdering his girlfriend, like two different voices speaking to him at once that this was his doing, that at the time it was right to him and this what he should be doing, and also showing what his violent urges culminated in.

And the scene in both the song and video where the wedding murder happens the rev and m shadows are also SCREAMING during that scene! And they continue singing together onwards until the end of the song! so at this point in the story, this means the character fully embraces every side of himself. He is undead, so he can accept his violent urges by continuing to kill and cannibalize (which he very much loves doing), and he married the girl of his dreams, he got what he wanted in the end.

I LOVE THIS STORY!!!

Let me know your thoughts or if there's any mistakes I've made!

[wildflower-otome]

[Translation] Shuuen no Virche - Lucas Proust Short Story

Author: Satomi Nakayama

Source: Shuuen no Virche Error Salvation Official Fan Book

Laurier ~Glory • Betrayal • I won’t change until I die~

–A little while after I began helping Lucas and became friends with Nadia.

The weather had been good recently, and gentle sunshine unceasingly shone down even into the room where Nadia was hospitalised.

When I went there with Lucas to visit her in her well lit sickroom—that was when it happened.

‘Um, you know, recently I’ve been able to see “fairies.”’

‘’—............???’’

At her words, Lucas and I both couldn’t help but tilt our heads in doubt.

However, as if she had expected our reaction, she giggled with a sweet smile on her face.

‘Nadia—? By “fairies”, you mean those kinds of fairies…..?’

‘That’s right. They’re really, really cute!’

‘Cute fairies…..’

As Nadia confirmed the existence of the fairies, Lucas looked even more doubtful.

For my part, since something like the death curse existed, I thought it wouldn’t be strange even if there really were fairies. More than that…..

‘Certainly…..I wouldn’t be surprised if someone who is cute as a fairy like Nadia could see them.’

‘Fufu, you look so earnest when you say that. So much so that even I, her brother, feel bashful.’

I really had meant every word of what I had said.

‘Fufu, too bad, but that’s not it. They’re fairies that anyone can see. I think you and brother are looking at them even now.’

‘Oh, then perhaps you mean….for us to solve a riddle, Nadia?’

‘A riddle….?’

‘Not a real fairy, but a metaphor—something like that. Nadia is saying she wants us to find “something” that looks like a fairy.’

‘Something that looks like a fairy….’

I tried looking around the hospital room. And as I did, something caught my eye in the window from which tranquil sunshine entered the room. As I casually directed my gaze towards the scenery outside—

‘....Ah.’

I immediately became aware of the identity of the “fairies.”

‘What is it? Have you found a clue?’

‘Rather than a clue—I’ve found the “fairies” themselves. ….You mean those flowers, don’t you Nadia?’

Calling Lucas’s attention to the window, we looked outside together. What lay there were—very small, gold coloured flowers blooming all in a row.

‘Fufu, correct. You’re pretty amazing to find them so quickly.’

‘My, they really are lovely. If I saw them at night, I might mistake them for fairies myself.’

As if the three of us were out there walking in the peaceful garden….we gazed out at the flowers from the window.

‘—Nadia, if you like, shall I pick some of the flowers to decorate your room with?’

Nadia’s face lit up at Lucas’s suggestion. However, immediately after she shook her head.

‘I’d like that, but I think I’d feel a little bad picking flowers that look like fairies. I can see them from my bed, so it’s alright.’

Nadia murmured as if disappointed. Seeing her like that, I—

‘That’s it, then, why don’t we make “fairy flowers that won’t wither”?’

‘“Flowers that won’t wither…..”?’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Let’s recreate the flowers using cloth. If we do, we won’t need to pick the real ones, and we can use them to decorate Nadia’s room.’

‘’!!’’

Hearing my suggestion, both siblings simultaneously turned to look at each other.

‘That is a very good suggestion. If you don’t mind, would you be able to teach me how to make them as well?’

‘Yes of course. Let’s make them together, Lucas.’

‘C-Can I….help too? Doctor Capucine has forbidden me from holding things like needles since they’re dangerous, but maybe there’s something else…’

‘Of course. You can choose the cloth we’ll use, and pile them up…..There are plenty of things you can do to help.’

‘.....!’

Nadia smiled like a flower coming into bloom. Seeing her look so happy, I turned to face Lucas who was beside me—

‘....As I thought, Nadia’s smile really is like a fairy’s. …..No, even cuter than a fairy’s.’

‘Haha. People may call me an overly doting brother but—I agree.’

While chuckling, we whispered to each other in low voices.

*

A few days later. With all materials ready, I came once more to visit Nadia with Lucas.

At her bedside, I spread out the many various items—-.

‘Th-this is….quite difficult. All the more, because these are small flowers we’re replicating—ouch-!’

‘Lucas, are you alright….!?’

‘N-Not to worry…..No, although I have experience with needlework itself, I do not seem to have the skill for it at all. Each time I end up putting a hole into my finger like this. ….Is there some kind of trick to it?’

‘Hmm, let’s see, it might be a little difficult to explain with words…..might I borrow your hand for a moment?’

I covered Lucas’s hand with mine, and reenacted the fine movements of using a needle.

‘Like this, one by one, you sew firmly, checking as you go.’

‘I-I see….. I’m not sure how far I’ll get with it, but I shall try.’

A serious look on his face, Lucas once more faced down the needle and cloth.

As he did so, Nadia, who had been choosing the cloth for the leaf part, giggled while looking at the two of us with her beautiful eyes and said, ‘Fufu. Looks like you’re the teacher today, Ceres.’

‘Listen, both of you. I’m really happy right now. ….Will you keep spending such lovely times as these with me from now on too?’

In reply to Nadia’s question—

‘Of course.’

‘The bonds between us will never change, Nadia. …..Let us spend more peaceful times together in the future, all three of us.’

At our answer, our beloved fairy responded with a happy looking smile that was from the heart.