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rogerswifesblog · 2 months ago

Text

Never ending story

My Masterlist

Summary: After an accident something happened to you…and the accident was in 1913.

Warnings: accident, character death, brief alcohol drinking, smut, p in v sex, protected sex (i feel like it’s the first time I’m writing a smut with protection lord help me), brief handjob, light fingering, do I need to add anything more?

A/N: Jesus a one shot after such a long time omg I’m actually nervous. 😅 I recommend the movie „Age of Adaline”…it’s pretty much what happens in this oneshot too and it’s also a good movie:) the accident description is from the movie:) thank you @rogersbarber and @jamneuromain for proofreading

Steve and reader have an age gap here, with her being older but let's be honest considering he is like a 100 later on the 8 years difference don’t change a thing😂 besides I’ve probably messed up the ages and many things since it was hard to keep up😂

The story is not 100% accurate with the CA:FA movie.

Accidents often affect people’s life’s, not just from injuries but also because of the aftermath.

Yet you never expect your accident to change your life so dramatically.

In 1913, on your way to your parents house something highly unusual occurred, something almost magical... snow fell in Sonoma County, California.

Distracted from the road by the snow you lost control of your car, driving from the bridge right into a river.

The immersion in the frigid water caused your body to go into an anoxic reflex, instantly stopping your breathing and slowing your heartbeat. Within 2 minutes,

Your core temperature had dropped to 87 degrees... her heart stopped beating.

Then, a bolt of lightning struck the vehicle discharging half a billion volts of electricity producing 60,000 amperes of current.

Its effect was threefold.

First, the charge defibrillated your heart.

Second,

You were jolted out of yoir anoxic state causing you to draw your first breath in 2 minutes.

Third, based on Von Lehman's principle of electron compression in deoxyribonucleic acid, which will be discovered in the year two thousand thirty-five, y/n y/sn will henceforth be immune to the ravages of time...

At first you had never noticed it, but after over ten years you noticed something different-or rather nothing. Not a single wrinkle, not even a little change in your face nor body. Everyday was the same.

You were 36.

Yet you looked 25. Not a day older.

And people started to notice it, especially when you started to look very similar to your daughter. When she was 17, but both of you looked like sisters.

Even your husband noticed the lack of differences in your appearance. Luckily soon after he was drafted-of course it broke your heart to see him go, but considering your other problem, it was easier to think of a solution.

Moving. Running away.

So when the question started, you had to move, not expecting this would be your future from now on.

During the war it wasn’t hard to lay down, especially since everyone tried to do so, most people helped each other, while others just avoided most people.

A sigh escaped your lips as you walked around the World Exposition of Tomorrow, many people, not knowing you, nor your daughter. It was her birthday and you both decided to spend it somewhere special.

After getting some snacks you wanted to go to the front to watch the presentation of the new ‚flying car’. „I’ll go powder my nose, Y/N”, your daughter informed you. Y/N. She had stopped calling you ‘mom’ when she was 15. Sometimes, at home, but rarely. Especially now that you looked so close to the same age. You were 24 years older but…it didn’t look this way.

„Watch out-“, You called after a man that had hit your shoulder, making your purse drop, a couple of things falling out.

When you wanted to bend down someone was already holding up your purse.

His soft blue eyes looked you over once, before stopping to meet your gaze. „Ma’am, your purse”, said the gentleman, still holding the purse with a shaky hand. „Thank you, Sir”, you smiled at the young man.

He was slightly shorter, especially with the shoes you were wearing, giving you two or so inches more. His hair blond, looking soft but frail, like his frame. The jacket hanging rather loose around his shoulders, the pants held up by a belt tightly buckled around his slim hips, you could see there was an extra hole made for the belt to fit him.

„I’m…I’m Steve Rogers”, said the young man, holding out his hand. You shook it, introducing yourself to him, but just then your daughter walked back up to you.

When Steve’s friend walked up to you two, with two other dames who seemed to be rather interested in the friend himself than Steve, but that was the cue for you to go.

Besides, why were you even interested in spending time with this man? You were a married woman-and older. It might not look like that but you definitely were older than him by a couple of years.

Yet a bit of fantasizing wasn’t a crime, right? His blue eyes were probably the prettiest thing you’ve seen in a while.

During the expo you saw Steve a few more times, small smiles and gazes were exchanged before you had to leave, not expecting to ever see that man again.

Two years later you had to move again after the police accused you of having forged documents and a false ID.

But you were alone this time.

Your daughter had a husband, only married for a few months but she decided to stay with him-which you understood.

Nevertheless it didn’t break your heart any less. Especially since you knew your husband was also dead, after receiving the condolences letter.

That’s how you found yourself sitting at the small bar in Italy, a completely new country where nobody was looking for you. Briefly you’ve heard about the Captain America creation and other things, but you weren’t too interested in it, not with the heartbreak after being completely alone.

Heartbroken and alone.

Funny enough Steve felt the same way, walking into the bar, sulking and making his shoulders as small as possible, not wanting the attention of other people.

He really thought Peggy might like him-but he got it all wrong, she was seeing someone and just moments after this information he also found out Bucky's unit was missing.

Tomorrow he planned to look for them, waiting for Stark to arrange everything needed.

But tonight.

Tonight he was alone and heartbroken.

Steve wasn’t that type to flirt with random women or ‚hook up’, but tonight…he just wanted to be someone else, not the heartbroken little boy from Brooklyn, even though usually he’d be proud to be that.

But he felt like he let his friend down.

The woman he fell in love embarrassed him, which wouldn’t be the first time but it felt worse than ever before.

„Whisky”, he ordered, sitting next to you, making you lift your head at the slightly familiar voice. It’s like you’ve heard him before-but you shook it off for now.

Sipping on your cocktail, your gaze was glued to the many pictures at the wall, people smiling at the camera, while others looked away or at their friends.

The man next to you cleared his throat. „How…how is your evening ma’am?”, when you looked over at the man, your voice seemed to be stuck in your throat. He was handsome, yes, but it wasn’t what made your breath hitch. It’s his eyes. The blue eyes that you were never able to forget.

„Steve”, you said quietly, a sad smile creeping on your face as you looked at him over again. He furrowed his eyebrows a bit, before sighing. “Yeah, it’s me, Steve Rogers, the captain-“‘“wait, no Steve it’s…I mean, yeah, I’ve heard about it but I didn’t know it was you but-yeah, I can see the change”, you chuckled, placing your hand on his bicep and squeezing, before pulling away. That felt quite rude.

“We met years ago…At the…the world exposition of tomorrow-about the future flying car? You were-well, smaller-and with a friend, I was there with my da-“, you cleared your throat. “-dearest friend.”

It didn’t take long for him to remember the time you two met. After some catching up you ordered yourself another drink, Steve got another one too.

Minutes turned to hours…

“…I’m moving a bit around. I lost my husband-the war took him….”

“….Bucky was drafted…his unit…”

“….Buck always said I was stubborn and would either get enlisted or died trying, since I surely wouldn’t stop or…”

“….I wish we could just have a quiet life without wars…”

“..I remember when I was a kid…”

“…There was a time when I….”

The conversation kept going, skipping from one topping to the other, first the usual talk about what was going on, then sharing some memories and comforting words.

When the barkeeper informed you it was already time to close the place, you looked down at the drink you were still sipping. It was still the second one you had ordered, mostly untouched.

Steve helped you put on your jacket, you knew you didn’t want the evening to end.

Without saying a word you just wrapped your hand around his arm, walking with him along the streets, only a few minutes before entering your apartment building.

Steve followed. He wanted to be with you that night. He wanted to feel you close. He wanted to feel…needed….loved…cared after…

He wanted to forget about all the horrors around him.

So did you.

When entering the small apartment you took off your shoes and jacket, Steve hanging up his own and yours, before looking back at you, a nervous smile creeping on his lips.

“I don’t….usually do such things”, he started, making you take his hands. “Me neither Steve”, whispering you let your hands roam to his neck, slowly pulling him down as he placed his hands on your waist to pull you closer as you kissed.

Gentle, yet passionate. So full of…feelings. You couldn’t call it love but…but it was still close to it. It was shared pain.

And you knew the line between love and pain was so small it barely made a difference.

A quiet gasp escaped your lips when Steve wrapped his hands around the back of your thighs and lifted you onto his hips. “Where is the bedroom-“ “the couch is fine”, but Steve only clicked his tongue.

“I don’t…I don’t want it to…be rushed and meaningless”, he mumbled against your lips, making you smile a little. Not that you thought about it…you didn’t want to rush it yourself.

So you told him where to go, before being placed onto the bed, Steve carefully climbing over you, kissing your neck.

Slowly he undressed you, making sure to kiss every inch of your skin he uncovered. Your shoulders, your arms, hands…your stomach…before having you only in your underwear.

“You…you’re beautiful”, he whispered, before slowly taking the rest of your clothes off. A blush crept on your cheeks when you felt his eyes on your body, especially with him being still dressed. “Steve, come on let me help you with those…”, you chuckled, making him also smile a bit, as he sat back and started unbuttoning his shirt, revealing the white, tight undershirt beneath it.

A grin crept on your lips, sitting up, you let your hands roam over his chest and arm, before quickly grabbing the undershirt and pulling over his head. Your lips find its way to his neck, down to his pecks, making him moan quietly and letting you push him down onto the bed.

Now it was your turn to leave kisses along his body, lowering yourself till you were level with his zipper, opening it. Steve helped you push down his pants and underwear, his cock immediately slapping against his abdomen, hard and leaking.

Before you could get your mouth on him he pulled you up and once again on your back, his hands once again all over your body, spreading your legs apart, as he sat back on his heels and looked at you, especially your crotch. “You look so good…”, he mumbled, gently sliding his fingers through your wet folds.

A soft moan escaped your lips as Steve slowly pushed two of his fingers into your wet hole, wettly squelching as he pulled out again, watching his finger being covered in wetness.

You let your head drop into your neck, moaning quietly with every time he pushed his fingers back in. “Steve…I need you…”, you gasped.

It immediately made Steve’s heartbeat quicken to hear those words, hovering over you and reaching into his pants pocket, pulling out a metal condom tin and opening it, taking the condom out. “Already prepared?” “The captain has to be responsible”, Steve smirked teasingly.

You felt yourself blush at that, rolling your eyes with a grin on your lips.

Then, you watched as Steve slowly put the condom on, stroking his dick a few times, before letting it slide between your folds, brushing over your clit. You weren’t sure if he was purposefully teasing you or just doing it to…well, considering his grin he was doing it on purpose.

“Steve please-“, before you could finish, Steve leaned back down again, kissing you passionately, as he slowly pushed his cock into your pussy. A quiet and slightly surprised gasp escaped your lips, the stretch feeling more than expected.

You wrapped your arms tightly around his neck, one hand buried in his hair, while he was covering you with his wide frame-which didn’t feel intimidating in any way- it was rather comforting. Feeling his warmth and the weight of his body made you feel like you were in the right place.

The rest of the night was spent in a tight embrace, skin to skin, soft pleas and moans reaching your ears and the smell of sex lingered in the air.

When the sun started to rise you fell asleep in Steve’s arms, after having spent the best evening you could imagine together.

You woke up to a kiss on your temple and a soft whisper, “I hope we see each other soon.”

But you didn’t.

After saving Bucky and his unit Steve had many other missions following, which he had written about in a letter. One letter, with a lot of explaining and apologies and…an invitation for a date, after he’d be back.

But this also never came. You waited months. Years.

And then he flew the plane into the ocean, falling to his death.

Only then did one thing occur to you.

Were you able to die? Or specifically, from old age? If you’d ever meet a man, would you be able to spend your life with him? The idea of falling in love and watching your partner die broke your heart-you had already buried your husband, then Steve died and…oh god, you would watch your own child die.

Once again you got yourself a whisky, this time just at home not wanting to meet any new people, especially since that was how you had found Steve again. You swore you’d never get close to another person again, never get your feelings involved in something. There was a voice at the back of your head, it had been there for some time now, that always reminded you of Steve but now…you knew you needed to forget about him,

….definitely not expecting to ever see him ever again.

The years passed by, every ten years you moved, illegally bought a new passport, ID…a whole new life, whole new person. You wrote letters with your daughter, meeting up with her twice a year on your and her birthday.

You watched her age.

You watched her birth children.

You watched them grow up.

And you watched your daughter die.

At the age of 86 in 1998.

While you still haven’t changed since 1913.

Her funeral was beautiful. Many people were there-even though nobody knew you-or at least not as who you were. A family's friend. Her nurse. Kid from a friend…many different ways. But not as her mom. Her mom went missing in 1943, during the war, probably killed…yeah, that was the story people knew.

So you continued living, year after year.

Until 2012 arrived.

Two unexpected things happened.

An alien attacked you.

And you saw those beautiful blue eyes again.

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nqmonarch · 10 months ago

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hello......... we meet again...........clown to clown communication............... youve infected me so bad with your yandere blade thoughts please i have to be euthanizeddd.......... please i need to know more of your thoughts on the matter so bad /nf

Hello again :) So I ended up turning a bunch of mini thoughts into a mini story, if you don't mind. If you want more just brainrot thoughts lmk and I can get those out of my brain as well

Originally I was going to publish it in one part however, it's getting a bit too long (6775 words) and I don't like having such long posts.

This is a lot of the leadup portion Part 2 will probably focus more on the Yandere although it starts to lean on that a bit in the end.

TW: Yandere, violence, manipulation, drugging all that kind of stuff.

Also spoilers for Blade and High Cloud Quintet's identity (I don't know exactly which quests I spoiled)

I think the big question first off is how do you even get Blade interested in you?

It could be the classic, knowing Blade in the past, being his lover or friend before he became mara struck. Maybe even being his rival, someone that loved to challenge him, and ended advocating for him to be allowed to die an honorable death out of admiration for your opponent. Either way he'd have lingering feelings for you.

But I like to think you met him by chance on the Xianzhou Luofu when he returned as Blade. Maybe you were a healer, that not only helped but put people out of their misery, peacefully. You were someone who specialized in working with mara struck, finding ways to suppress and calm it, staying by your patients side as they slowly lost their mind, and making sure they didn't hurt anyone. You were trained well in the ways of combat, after all you had to be in order to deal with mara.

Your goal was to help them come to terms with their death and once they had you would hand them off to the Ten Lords Commission. If they weren't ready, that was okay they could stick around. Either way when they'd fully transformed into a mara struck, you killed them. Only once they'd fully transformed would you be able to, otherwise they'd regenerate.

One day, you'd been wandering about when you found a curious person. Someone you knew well because their face was on countless wanted posters. You'd never done much research into the Stellaron Hunters but were surprised to see one of their members was afflicted with mara.

You weren't cruel. Instead you grabbed some medication and approached him, cautiously like how one would approach a stray cat. A few seconds after you'd begun walking toward him, he reached you. Tip of a blade pointed at your neck, grazing it, cool metal pressed against warm skin, it shook ever so slightly each movement threatening to draw blood. He was barely restraining himself, you weren't sure why he was even trying. But you did know that your head would be on the floor if he really wanted it there.

"Let me help?" Your tone was friendly, and you held up the bag of medicine in your hand. Your words didn't register with him, you doubted he could even see your lips moving. But the most important thing was to have a nonthreatening presence.

For mara struck you could strangely talk your way out of it. You were surrounded by mara while working, to the point you stunk of it. For some reason mara struck soldiers never attacked you unprovoked, it was a strange phenomena and that was the only reason you could think of.

Unfortunately, it didn't work for you this time, and you quickly found yourself trying to outrun one of the most dangerous men alive. Oopsie? At least it was kind of fun! This exhilaration was really nice, you should get in near death experiences more often! You felt the wind whip around you as the hunter was hot on your trail.

You wouldn't be able to outrun him much longer, the only reason you'd gotten this far was because he'd been in the middle of swinging his sword at you. So your only option was to unconsensually drug him. That sounded really bad. But your life was at risk! You slipped one of the pills into your hand, it was one of the heavier ones that would cause the patient to pass out. There were some cases where even your medicine couldn't comfort, then the best thing would be sleep.

With a minor turn of your ankle you swung around and placed your hand in his mouth, opening it, and getting the medicine in. He bit your hand near immediately, but you kept it still, even though his teeth would sharp as fuck you could feel them even inside your hand clenching down. You felt the warmth of blood, and waited a moment looking into his eyes.

You wouldn't hold it against him, he was mara struck. This was how they acted toward most people, not normally you, but it felt good to be treated like most people for once. You were normal. It was nice. Then he fell off your hand, tumbling straight backwards, and hitting the ground with a painful thud.

"Oooh, that's gotta hurt," You muttered, not entirely sympathetic to the man that just tried to kill you. But he was an interesting person. A Stellaron Hunter with mara, huh?

Maybe you didn't know as much about them as you thought. You slipped off the cloth bag around your shoulder and fixed it over his face. Then you grabbed him by the arms and began to drag him, his clothes dirtying upon the street floor, back to your little apothecary. Heavy.

You managed to lift him for a few moments to put him on a cot, before placing your hands on your knees, and taking a moment to catch your breath. You prepared some medicine in case if he was still mara struck and a glass of water. He woke up in only an hour, you were lucky to have enough time to finish bandaging your hand. Normally, it'd keep people out for six hours. The farther along they were the less productive it was. By all accounts he shouldn't be able to have a single moment of sanity.

Yet when he got up from the bed he seemed normal. Eerily so. You remained poise in a seat near his bed which he hadn't noticed. His eyes rested on the pills before looking around the rest of the room and reaching you. He reached for his blade, moving his hand next to his side and grabbing at empty air. Thankfully, you'd already removed the blade from this room, he was probably more deadly when he had his wits about him.

You chuckled at his response, feeling your nerves heighten as you resisted the urge to run away. Maybe this was a bad idea. "Hello there, good sir!" You greeted chipperly, "I saw you passed out on the side walk and dragged you back to my humble abode! Is there anything I can do for you?" You kept on your 'being yelled at by a 500 year old Xianzhou long life mother whose kid had just been told they couldn't throw stuff at people' smile.

He remained quiet for a moment, assessing to see whether or not you were a threat moving his eyes up and down, "...My sword?"

"What sword?" You replied back innocently. No way were you giving that back.

He let out a sigh, getting up from the bed, and heading to the door. The good news was he didn't try to attack you, the bad news was that the most fascinating mara struck victim was leaving. You couldn't let that happen.

You raced in front of him, putting your hands and waving them defenselessly. He looked down at you, red eye glaring down at you as if you were obsolete. You laughed again, "Well, uh, good sir, as someone that helped you can I at least know the name of uh--"

"Get out of my way -- knowing me won't do any good." He was definitely going to kill you if you didn't move. But you couldn't just let him leave!

Your smile grew even further, holding your cheeks up painfully, "Well-- you see-- you're so beautiful!" You said desperately, "I was taken by you-- love at first sight, you see? Right? You're just-- so wonderful!" You stammered out, voice shaking, "Can I at least know the name of the breath taking soul who stole my heart!"

The long blue haired man froze in his path, hair swaying to a halt behind him. No fucking way that got him. He seemed befuddled, glancing further away from you, eyes focused on a small portion of the floor. "Blade." IT WORKED?!

Blade remained quiet for a moment longer before turning his head back to you, "Now move." Of course it didn't work, if it worked you would've been in a relationship by now.

He side stepped you easily, leaving you to stare at his broad back, clothes tight around his muscles. Now wasn't the time to think about that. "You have mara right? I can cure it." It was a bold claim. You'd never done anything like that before, and his case was more severe than others.

He stopped in his steps, "What?" One deadly word made you almost want to take back everything you said but you couldn't. Blade experienced mara differently than others, that was clear. If you had the chance to work alongside him then maybe... you could figure something out?

Even though you portrayed yourself as undisturbed by your job getting to know so many people and then watching them turn into monsters was horrifying. Blade was interesting, you'd hate to call him a test subject but, if he consented he'd likely end up helping your understanding of mara. You just needed a reason for him to stay.

"I work with mara stricken citizens and soldiers. I've researched it for my whole life and I use this knowledge to aid others, helping alleviate their pain, calm themselves, or sleep when mara takes them," That was convincing enough, right?

He appeared skeptical, still poised to attack even without his sword. But as you continued smiling, a hopeful yet scared look in your eyes he let out a sigh.

"Can you kill them?"

You paused a bit, understanding his intention, "Only when they're fully taken by the mara." Otherwise they'd only heal, "I can alleviate your pain until then." You were shocked at how self assured you sounded, as if you could genuinely help him rather than just use him for discoveries.

Blade remained quiet and unmoving, a statue with the first rays of sunlight hitting it and breaking it free from darkness, "Okay." His voice was quieter than it'd been this entire time, you thought you'd misheard him.

"Okay?" You repeated, as if what you'd heard was a dream.

"Keep your distance." He stepped out of the sun and toward your door frame before pausing glancing back for such a short time you thought you'd imagined it, "I will return, if it's what you want."

It was strange, Blade had a peaceful sleep unplagued by dreams of dying and pain. If there was a chance it was because of you and you really wanted to meet him again, then he shouldn't resist too hard, right?

You felt a smile grow on your face lifting up its corners as the swordsman continued to walk away, "Yes! That's wonderful!" Then you paused realization sinking in, "Oh, Blade!" You called out, hoping he wouldn't kill you for this, "Your sword's by the door!"

You saw him glare at you and instinctively shut your eyes preparing for a sword to be lodged between your eyes. But when you opened them neither he or his sword were to be found.

Part of you expected him to never return and he didn't tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow he didn't come back. You wanted to give up hope. It made sense and was likely better for your safety but, Blade was the breakthrough you were looking for.

You smiled at the elderly Xianzhou long life that you were walking with through one of the fake gardens on the ship. They continued to rattle on about their great granddaughter and how hard she'd been training to be a cloud knight. To care about someone's progress, such that the smallest milestones mean as much to you as they do to them-- that must be love right? You were a bit envious. You wanted to love like this old soul. Someone who had nearly lost their mind the other day to mara but could continue going on, loving, and hoping.

That day was the day they left, agreeing to be taken away by the Ten Lords Commission. It was bittersweet, as it always was and you were alone, again. That was alright though.

What wasn't alright was being woken up in the middle of the night by the sound of footsteps. Someone had broken in. They weren't well, they sounded limp, as if they were dragging one leg. But since you hadn't heard the door being broken down, they'd likely come in through the window you tended to leave open. Look-- people on the Luofu don't normally resort to these matters and if they did then they wouldn't go after you.

It meant whoever came was both highly skilled and injured. With careful steps, putting your feet down gently and slowly one in front of the other, you approached the trespasser.

You smelled the blood first, the faint irony scent that made your noise scrunch up momentarily as your mouth imitated the taste of blood. Then you saw it. The small dark red trail that gleamed in the moonlight. Then him.

You felt rather satisfied, even in a state where he was taken over by mara Blade had somehow made it back here, "I knew you'd come back," You spoke playfully.

At the sight of agony in his eyes, a pang of guilt struck your heart. It really wasn't the time to be joking around. Perhaps there was some sanity still left in him, as his whole body shook, shaking even more as you approached closer and closer. Part of him must want to attack you, to kill you, to rip you apart until you were nothing, but he wasn't.

"Good," You commended him, as you stood in front of him and knelt down, aside from the shaking Blade remained still. He looked like he wanted to scream, hurt himself, kill himself, rip himself apart until nothing remained. Did he want to die more than he wanted to hurt you? Was experiencing mara that painful? You'd never know.

"I just need you to do one small thing for me okay," You spoke gently, even though you knew he likely couldn't hear your voice at all.

You thumbed through the few medications you always kept handy in your pouch, and picked one for pain relief. Last time you'd needed him to sleep or you'd die, this time you could see the effect of what they did. You moved the pill into his mouth and saw him struggle to swallow, you weren't moving your hands close to his face though for some reason you had a feeling he might bite them off-- like a dog would.

He was a lot more like a dog than you expected. The medicine had been able to work, body instantly relaxing, to your surprise. The more surprising thing was what happened after. Blade visited you, more often out of his own free will, not just when he was mara struck.

Blade was an awkward companion, terrible at small talk, and you couldn't take care of patients when he was near for fear they might see the Stellaron Hunter. Sometimes he would mumble under his breath about a price, or bring you small things, little trinkets, food, a severed hand-- A SEVERED HAND?!

"Why are you giving me this?" You looked down at the bloody hand he was holding onto, your eyebrow twitching slightly. You were used to blood and all but this was unnecessary.

He looked up at you, partially confused and disgruntled at your obvious disapproval, "He bothered you?" His statement came out more as a question.

Oh. It was him-- You let out an aggravated sigh, "You didn't get caught right?"

You noticed Blade perk up ever so slightly as if he thought what he did was right, "No."

That was good at least. "Don't do that again." What was he a dog? Or maybe a cat was better, bringing you pieces of their hunt. Now that you think about it, where did he get those trinkets from? It was probably best not to think about. "Go put that away," You said dismissively, moving your hand up to touch your forehead lightly.

You were going to regret this weren't you? Well, that was a problem for future you. You weren't sure exactly where Blade put the severed hand but as long as it was away from you it didn't matter. For a moment you considered asking him for help, to maybe capture a mara struck so you could test to see if anything would work on it. But that was too far, wasn't it?

The days carried on and so did Blade visiting you. He'd come to you for medications that alleviated his pain or helped him sleep without his memories tormenting them and you obliged monitoring him all the while. Then one day he started to request it.

"Kill me," He'd spoke suddenly, as you were leaning over some finely grounded herbs trying to come up with something new to keep stronger pain at bay. Your medicine's effectiveness was starting to wear off on Blade.

You flinched spilling the small specks to the ground and staring at him in the eyes, "Excuse me?"

You didn't think he'd hated spending time with you that much! Sure, you were kind of using him, and you got upset at him whenever he brought you something drenched in blood but who wouldn't?! You thought the two of you were getting along just fine! You'd even consider him a friend... A strong word for a Stellaron Hunter. You knew he'd have to leave the Xianzhou Luofu eventually too.

"You can do it," There was a slimmer of affection in his voice it made you almost think you misheard the part about you killing him, "If anyone can, you can." It was oddly affectionate. You kind of despised how he spoke, as if he would never speak to you again.

You let out a small laugh, "Shut up Blade." Drop the conversation topic.

But he kept pushing, "Find a way to kill me." Blade took a step closer to you, and for the first time since you met him, you felt in danger.

"And what if I said no? Remember, I'm uh... head over heels for you," You said lightheartedly referencing to your excuse when you'd first met him. "I wouldn't be able to bare it if you died!" You smiled up at him, squinting your eyes.

Normally, you'd be a bit peeved that your sample had been knocked over but right now you were unnerved, and much worse, worried.

It looked like he was more in pain from your words with the way he grimaced at them. "Please." It was wholly desperate and vulnerable, a statue split open to reveal a bleeding heart which begged to be free from its misery. If you stabbed it the statue and everything around it would crumble. Not that there was much around it to begin with but-- there was you.

But Blade was your friend, in a very odd way you'd started to care for the strange man, "I'll try." He was in pain, it'd be wrong to let him just suffer, right?

Plus, you'd already collected enough data... You knew when medicines would stop being effective on the normal mara struck Xianzhou long lives and what to swap to. You hadn't found a solution but you'd found something that could better keep their sanity while they were in that state, even if it required the rare, Vidyhara bone marrow. You'd begun to find something that could supplement that as well, although you'd only heard of it in books you had to find Scalegorge Water Scape.

It was okay. You had all the information from Blade you needed. This was fine. This friendship always had an expiration date. His smile made it all worth it anyway. It was really the first time you'd seen him smile and for once he looked relieved, completely relaxed.

"Thank you," Foreign words from him, "When the mara strikes... It's no longer me." But what if you could fix that?

If you helped him keep his sanity then you couldn't use the pills to keep away the pain, or the ones to sleep. They couldn't clash. Maybe you had to figure out how to make it so multiple could be taken? Your mind raced for a different solution but in the end all you could do is smile back. Blade smiling was a beautiful sight. One you thought you'd never be able to see.

That night you cried. You hadn't seen Blade happy before. So why was he only happy at the idea of death? But you were a doctor you would remain stony cold and do the best you could.

It didn't work. Of course, it didn't. Why would it? You could've sworn his heart stopped for a bit, a few minutes after passing out after swallowing your "medicine." Was it really medicine if it killed someone? But he lived and he woke up coughing blood.

Blade wasn't happy but at the same time he seemed rather relieved..? You hated it. Someone too used to dying by the hands of a sword, by the strokes they were used to performing, that poison was a soothing way to die. You absolutely despised Blade. But you smiled and told him you'd try harder. You just didn't know what to do.

A few days after your promise Blade came back with a strange gift for you, a book titled Views of the Universe From a Starskiff. At the time he brought it, he'd been in pain, grunting, and making too much noise for you to have any patients over. You'd stopped taking patients recently anyway. Instead only selling medicine promising you'd been on the edge of a break through and needed more time.

His memory had been scattered and he didn't recognize you. He'd swung his sword at you only to stop a moment before it hit you. You were right. When you'd originally met him, if he wanted you dead he could've killed you. You could still feel the air sweep by your head, and the cool blade on your skin. He didn't remember why he brought the book to you and when he returned to a better state of mind, you decided not to ask.

Instead you did some research on your own, and it lead you to an interesting person. Someone you really didn't want to talk to.

You shifted uncomfortably under the amber gaze of the general, "Do what do I owe the pleasure General?" Your voice was stiff, and shoulders tense as he only smiled in response.

"General is a temporary title, you can just call me Jing Yuan." You smiled in response, corner of your lip twitching a bit.

"Right, so what do I owe the pleasure, Jing Yuan?" Your smile strained further but all he did was laugh causing your smile to shift into a scowl.

Jing Yuan smiled down at you, not the least imposing, "Relax, I was just curious about some activity around this area." Did Blade kill someone without you knowing?

Throughout the whole conversation you remained tense as the general idly brought up his younger days as part of the High-Cloud Quintet. He was clearly just talking about this sort of stuff to get you to let down your guard! You looked at him warily, paying special attention to every individual word looking for hidden meaning. Eventually you found the hidden meaning. He was helping you.

The author of the book you'd been researching, Views of the Universe From a Starskiff was named Baiheng. "You knew this whole time," You muttered, a bit peeved, you'd thought you'd done a good job hiding Blade's presence and yet this old man somehow managed to figure it out.

The General simply smiled in response as you tried to clarify the situation further, "So Yingxing is--"

He stood up from his seat, "It matters not. The past is the past." Yeah, you probably shouldn't talk about this. You stood up as well.

"I'll walk you out," You spoke, still wary of the man but if he wanted to hurt or expose you, he would've done so already. "...Is it really your place to tell me this though?"

Jing Yuan paused as if in contemplation, still smiling, it was eerie how he could smile after everything. He was an unbreakable monument dedicated to the Xianzhou Luofu, "Who else could?" No one else would remember nor be able to share, so was that why he decided to step forward?

You opened the door for him, feeling the sun greet you again. "I hope it brings you peace." Your voice was sudden, as you looked at the man with new found appreciation. Even the hardiest statues still had bleeding hearts.

You would kill Blade. If it was the last thing you did.

You grinned rushing over to the blue haired man, the scent of iron around him. You told him that if he made anyone bleed before coming to visit you that he should bathe. You'd have to check if he was bleeding. "Blade!" You greeted him cheerfully, rushing over, and grabbing onto his arm. He stiffened.

You dragged him over to your work station moving your hand gradually down his forearm and to his wrist to be able to pull him better. His hand reached out for yours, and latched onto your wrist instead. The two of you were friends. Killing him was the right thing to do. But if he didn't want to die, you wouldn't mind Blade sticking around. You would take care of him as you would a patient.

"Do you still want to die?" You might as well check, there was no harm in it, maybe he'd stay after all.

To your dismay, he nodded, it was cold and steady. Your smile stiffened but remained on your face, this was fine. It was what you expected.

"I'll still do my best to help you," You promised him, truly meaning your words. It was just, you didn't have any idea of how to proceed. Maybe, the mara struck would have an answer but even you weren't foolish enough to wander into their hordes. Sure, you were lucky that the mara struck seemed not to attack you normally but luck couldn't be all you relied on. "But, in order to do so I need to observe mara stricken more up close," You admitted, that was your best bet, "Could you help me with that?"

Blade was strong. You'd seen the way his muscles flexed and tensed under his shirt whenever he made a swing with his blade. This would be easy work for him. The selfish part of you was happy you could spend more time with him too.

That started the third phase of your friendship with Blade. The first being the initial visits, the second being your attempt to kill him, and the third being yielding him as if he was a blade. It made you feel kind of guilty. Speaking commands beneath your voice of who you needed restrained, looking down at abominations as you tested new pills on them to see the effects. They'd writhe as Blade held them on and you watched onward apathetically. They were monsters, you shouldn't care about their pain.

Then you'd try to kill Blade. Again and again. Seeing him cough up blood and lay motionless on one of your cots. Or seeing wounds reopen over his body, blooming as if they were flowers. It was sickening. You didn't know how many times you did it nor how many times you could continue trying to do it. He would bare his teeth, biting down on cloths, letting out whimpers, blood slowly covering everything close to him.

"I can't do it." Maybe if you were competent it would be okay, you could give Blade the freedom he deserved away from the pain and mara and biting harsh memories. But you weren't a competent enough doctor. Nor were you a good enough friend to tell Blade to the face.

It had been a cold night on the Xianzhou Luofu when you decided to leave. There'd been a lot of commotion recently, the Ambrosial Arbor had risen and fallen again. Blade had been more distant, visiting less often, as if there was something he was keeping from you. How he made your heart ache.

You loved him. That was why you had to do this. You stopped by the divination commission on your way out, a letter from Jing Yuan in your hand. You'd never met Master Diviner Fu Xuan before nor were you looking forward to doing so. If she could see your memories that would mean Blade would be at risk. But you had to know if this would lead you down the path where Blade died.

But you didn't end up meeting Master Diviner Fu Xuan at all. Instead you met a much taller, purple haired woman, with hazy eyes. She greeted you as if you were a friend, and you approached her with caution smiling in response. "I know you," your voice was laced in excitement, "Kafka, the Stellaron Hunter! A bounty of 10 billion, right?" Why did she have to show up now?

You held your hand out with a smile, "I've heard wonderful things about you, you're even more beautiful in real life than on the poster!" Your heart raced trapped in your ribcage, thrumming against it nervously. This certainly complicated your plan.

"Hi, Y/N. I've been meaning to meet you," Her voice was sultry yet teasing, which was more menacing than if it'd been cold and harsh like Blade's. She knew your name too, that must not be a good sign.

She remained back against a wall, small smile on her face as if she was toying with you. You dropped your hand back down to your side. "Is there anything I can do for the esteemed Stellaron Hunter?" You really just wanted this to be over with.

"Not for me," She pushed herself off the door frame and you could see into the battered room. Blade was slouched over, eyes stapled shut, the small shakes his tense body let out were barely noticeable.

You were by his side in an instant, kneeling before him before you could even think, hand resting gently on his chin. Since when had you begun to care so much for him? Was it when he'd gotten slashed in the arm by a mara stricken soldier due to your negligence? Or had you cared for him before you ever met him?

You had half the medicine on you, half back at your place in case he ever returned in search of relief. The half on you was for research but it would be better used for something like this wouldn't it? You glanced behind you feeling eyes stare into your back, and Kafka simply smiled as her eyes met yours.

"Well, Bladie's never been so obedient," She replied simply at your questioning look, causing your shoulders to tense.

You turned your attention back to the patient in question only to be met with a red eye gazing into yours, his face much closer than you remembered it being. You stood your ground looking into his eyes with a harsh look, did he really have to always go and get himself hurt? You could smell the blood on him.

"Who... are you?" Sometimes symptoms of mara included memory loss so you weren't surprised by the question but it still hurt. But it surely didn't hurt as much as Blade was hurting right now, you could see his wince as he accidentally glanced at the light behind you.

You slipped a pill between your fingers, "It doesn't matter, I'm here to help you," You replied simply, lifting your hand up to his mouth, "Now open."

Once Blade became more docile around you during his mara episodes you'd started to deliver his medicine this way. Originally, you hadn't done so since you valued your fingers. He opened his mouth without a second thought, albeit he looked rather confused as to why he complied.

You glanced down at his faint pink lips a sheen covering them, he really was beautiful. If only he could experience the beauty of the world at full. The pill was placed between two of your fingers and you brought it up to his lips, pushing past them, and his teeth leaving the pill in a good place for him to swallow. This was how it always was.

You felt his tongue move as he swallowed it without a second thought and you removed your fingers like normal, except. You glared at him, keeping your hand still. Apparently you still had to worry about him biting your fingers off. "Blade," You spoke warningly feeling the teeth pressed threateningly into your index finger, the other finger escaping freely.

He didn't respond and you swore you heard a laugh behind you which only further irked you. He wasn't biting down hard enough to hurt or draw blood but you knew the second you tried to move it he would. Instead of responding by letting go Blade only looked up at you like a dejected puppy. His bandaged hand reached up and grabbed yours, you could see faint blood stains near the edge of where it reached his wrist and disappeared beneath his sleeves.

"Don't bite me," Your voice was stern as you looked down at the blue haired man, only growing more remorseful by the moment. It was strange behavior, a kind he hadn't exhibited before, but he hadn't forgotten you before either.

This time his teeth let go of your finger, leaving it slightly warm and wet in his hand's hold as he clutched onto desperately as if he was afraid you'd disappear before his eyes. It should only take ten minutes for the medicine to leave him vulnerable and helpless, yet he was already so docile. You had to wonder if he knew you were planning on leaving.

You let out a quiet sigh, keeping your voice low as these words were only for Blade and you. Your hand reached to brush his hair off to the side, resting along his jawline near his ear. You moved close enough so that he could feel even the slightest inhale and exhale against his ear, "I'm doing this because I love you."

It was a shitty excuse but it was closest to the truth wasn't it? Maybe if Jing Yuan hadn't told you the truth then you wouldn't be so determined to help Blade. Maybe you would've cried to Blade that you couldn't keep failing to kill him because you didn't even want him dead in the first place. You wanted Blade by your side.

"I'll figure it all out, I promise." It was the most loving your voice had ever been yet when you met his eyes again you didn't see a subdued look instead a more panicked one took its place. It didn't take long for you to be entrapped completely, arms holding and rooting you in place, leaving you unable to move.

It was as if he was trying to merge your bodies into one. So you'd never be apart again. Your nose resting above his shoulder as the rest of you was pressed into him, chest to chest, stomach to stomach, his arms wrapped around your waist pulling you closer and tightening. It hurt a bit. They continued to squeeze you, hands pressed against your sides gripping onto them.

"Gentle," You reminded him, voice tickling his ear, and as he eased his hold, Blade's head collapsed against your shoulder, hot breath hitting your neck. It took you a few moments to realize he was crying. That the sudden small burn against your skin was tears.

He spoke in a broken voice, "Who are you?" You began to cry too, wrapping your arms around him with equal need.

"It doesn't matter, I'm going to help you." Your voice must've sounded ugly as well, off pitch from emotion.

"You... can't leave." They weren't words you expected, but you noticed his grip loosen on you anymore as time continued onward.

You couldn't reply. You had to leave right now, the answers you were searching for weren't here. They lay with Yaoshi and the lands Yaoshi had touched. If you could journey to those and research the people and mara there... you would be able to kill Blade. You didn't want to kill him. But to leave him in this agony was more painful for the both of you.

"You..." Blade looked up at you, head tilted, agony in his eyes, "don't... ...leave." You smiled down at him, unable to find the words and instead moved your lips to press against his tearstained cheek.

At your lack of response you felt his head tilt and his breath hit your shoulder. Then he bit. It didn't hurt as much as you thought it would. You thought his aim would be to tear through your skin and take your flesh with him, leaving a bloody hole in his wake. But instead it was a persistent gentle movement, desperate to leave an imprint, to keep you here, to convince you. The both of you knew he'd pass out in a minute or two, the decision would be up to you after that. So he pressed his teeth into your skin, removing them for a second and pressing again, hot tongue licking your skin in between the pattern. You really shouldn't be feeling these sorts of things at a time like this but you couldn't help the heat rising to your face.

There... wasn't any harm in this right? "...You're beautiful," You muttered, only able to see his long hair you rested a hand on it. You moved your hand through it slowly, untangling any knots you came across. "Really," His body collapsed into yours, completely devoid of any strength, "I love you," You couldn't help but smile despite the tears.

It was hard to hold his body up by yourself. You were strong but Blade with all his muscle mass was heavy, either way you placed him back down on the seat without aggravating any injuries further.

Then you stood up and turned your back, ignoring the minor twitching and hand reaching out for your warmth that came from his subdued body. Kafka, had turned her back to the two of you, instead looking outside as if she was searching for someone.

"All done?" She asked, voice playful when you joined her outside. Yet you felt some type of understanding from her.

You nodded and handed her the pouch of medicine, "I am, instructions are in the bag," you said you'd brought it along for research but hadn't that just been an excuse? If you'd seen Blade again you could've given it to him. "There's some more at where I stayed."

She looked back at Blade, lying motionlessly, "Well, you have made my job a lot easier."

"Take good care of him," You replied, beginning to walk off.

"Bladie will be awfully sad to hear you left," Kafka called out, her voice carried its usual lilt but you sensed a strange seriousness to it.

If anyone had ever told you you'd fall in love with a Stellaron Hunter you probably would've believed them. If they told you, you'd be trying to kill the person you were in love with, you would've hated yourself. "I know, but this is the way I show my love." But... wasn't this the best solution?

You decided to not go see Master Diviner Fu Xuan, having run into the Stellaron Hunters so recently probably would make it easier for her to see them in her divination. At least you assumed so, you didn't know much about divination. The night was quiet and dark aside from one gray haired individual walking toward where you'd just been, looking around anxiously with each step. When you reached the starskiff you didn't look back.

Kafka played with the small pouch in her fingers, letting out a slight sigh. Everything was going as planned, albeit she couldn't help but feel a bit bad for Bladie. Her eyes darted to the source of sudden footsteps, finally, the Trailblazer was here. She couldn't interfere with what happened anyway it was best not to dwell on it.

You were part of the script. The ending Elio had promised, the one where Blade died.

Lots of notes here:

OKAY GUYS IDEA SO LIKE BLADE X READER BUT ALSO YAOSHI X READER (why do I simp for Yaoshi so much)

Like dude Yaoshi would love the way that reader treats the life they've curated and grown. While Yaoshi lets it grow without regard and only cares for the abundance they have to admit the life you cater to comes out more beautifully.

SCREAMS

Also sorry for the wait but I wasn't doing super okay mentally past week so I didn't write much, thank you guys for your patience! I had a lot of fun writing this, I know it really isn't thoughts or anything but I like having a story play out :D

And I also wanted the romance to seem organic and more natural even though it's yandere I wanted it to make sense. So I hope I managed to accomplish that even though I feel like it considerably lengthened this (especially nonyandere portion)

Was originally going to edit this but it turned out way too fucking long.

#hsr #hsr x reader #blade #blade x reader #yandere blade #soft yandere #long read #drugging but like its medicine it makes more sense in context #desperate blade #jing yuan is too good for us honestly i love that man he deserves so much better #unedited

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hlupdate · 1 year ago

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What’s the secret to a great portrait? At 86 years old, David Hockney has a few ideas. A lifetime of looking has taught him to always start with the face. “I begin with the head first,” he says, matter-of-factly, from his home in France. “From there, I place everything else.”

That was his approach when, late last May, Harry Styles traveled to his light-filled studio in Normandy and stationed himself on a cane chair, ready to become the esteemed artist’s latest subject. Over two days, Hockney worked to capture the exact hues of red and yellow in Styles’s striped cardigan, the indigo of his jeans, the string of pearls at his neck—not to mention the unmistakable tousled fringe of one of the world’s biggest pop stars. For the artist, though, the goal was merely to capture the essence of the person in front of him. “I wasn’t really aware of his celebrity then,” Hockney says, with a shrug. “He was just another person who came to the studio.”

The pair struck up an instant rapport that was likely helped by Styles being a full-on fanboy. For his Vogue cover shoot in 2020, Styles wore a pair of hand-painted Bode cords that featured a talismanic illustration of Hockney by artist Aayushia Khowala. It’s also hard to imagine the wide-eyed wonder of a flamboyant Brit discovering the sunny thrills and spills of California—a theme, and sound, that has permeated the former One Direction singer’s solo albums—without Hockney as a precedent. “David Hockney has been reinventing the way we look at the world for decades,” says Styles. “It was a complete privilege to be painted by him.”

The unveiling of the portrait kicks off the second iteration of the National Portrait Gallery’s Hockney exhibition “Drawing From Life,” which first opened in February 2020, only to close weeks later due to the pandemic. With the addition of a new room of pictures charting Hockney’s creative impulses throughout lockdown, the show returns on November 2—a few months after a refurbishment of the entire museum—with Styles’s portrait as its crown jewel. “The whole world shut down, and the exhibition was still sitting there, in the dark,” recalls Sarah Howgate, the gallery’s senior curator of contemporary collections, who oversaw the exhibition in both phases. “So it’s nice to know it will have another life.”

The Styles painting may bring star wattage, but the unassuming genius of Hockney’s portraiture is still the main exhibition draw. What makes his images tick, you quickly learn, is their honesty: whether in the tension bubbling beneath the surface of his famed double portrait of Ossie Clark and Celia Birtwell, painted between 1970 and ’71, or the seated figures that populated his 2016 Royal Academy of Arts exhibition, which included the likes of his own sister, Margaret, and the late comedian Barry Humphries. Hockney’s eye for the human figure may be playful, often kaleidoscopic, sometimes fantastical—but it’s always, most importantly, frank.

Styles’s portrait will hang alongside those of writer Gregory Evans, Hockney’s printer Maurice Payne, the mayor of his local town Dozulé, his gardener, and even his chiropodist, or in Hockney’s words, “the dandy who cuts my toenails.”

One of his more recent subjects was the eminent music producer Clive Davis, who first suggested inviting Styles to swing by. “Clive told me about Harry’s new album, and JP [Hockney’s studio assistant] sent Harry a note and asked him if he’d like to come to my studio and sit for his portrait,” Hockney remembers. “He replied straight away and said, yes, he’d love to.” From there, Hockney’s process of painting Styles was instinctive. “Everybody just came to sit,” he says, breezily, before admitting: “Now I know Harry’s a celebrity, though: I’ve seen all his music videos.”

“He’s not a traditional portrait painter,” says Howgate. Hockney’s interest is not in what people do, but rather in who they are. “He’s not interested in fame. He’s interested in depicting people and their relationships.” It’s why his eye is primarily trained on his inner circle these days—but it also pays testament to his enduring curiosity that he’s still willing to open that up to a newcomer every so often. Styles seems to know how lucky he is, adding, with a tinge of disbelief: “I’m in awe of the man with enough one-liners for a lifetime.” As to what those one-liners might be? Styles and Hockney’s mutual silence on that question suggests that what happens in the studio, stays in the studio.

“David Hockney: Drawing From Life” will be at the National Portrait Gallery from November 2 to January 21, 2024.

#harry styles #articles #020823

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mr-styles · 1 year ago

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When Harry Styles Met David Hockney: An Exclusive First Look At A Special New Portrait

A legendary painter and a pop lodestar? Sparks were inevitable. David Hockney and Harry Styles share a very special sitting with Liam Hess

That was his approach when, late last May, Harry Styles travelled to his light-filled studio in Normandy and stationed himself on a cane chair, ready to become the esteemed artist’s latest subject. Over two days, Hockney worked to capture the exact hues of red and yellow in Styles’s striped cardigan, the indigo of his jeans, the string of pearls at his neck – not to mention the unmistakable tousled fringe of one of the world’s biggest pop stars. For the artist, though, the goal was merely to capture the essence of the person in front of him. “I wasn’t really aware of his celebrity then,” Hockney says, with a shrug. “He was just another person who came to the studio.”

The pair struck up an instant rapport that was likely helped by Styles being a full-on fanboy. For his US Vogue cover shoot in 2020, Styles wore a pair of hand-painted Bode cords that featured a talismanic illustration of Hockney by artist Aayushia Khowala. It’s also hard to imagine the wide-eyed wonder of a flamboyant Brit discovering the sunny thrills and spills of California – a theme, and sound, that has permeated the former One Direction singer’s solo albums – without Hockney as a precedent. “David Hockney has been reinventing the way we look at the world for decades,” says Styles. “It was a complete privilege to be painted by him.”

The unveiling of the portrait kicks off the second iteration of the National Portrait Gallery’s Hockney exhibition Drawing From Life, which first opened in February 2020, only to close weeks later due to the pandemic. With the addition of a new room of pictures charting Hockney’s creative impulses throughout lockdown, the show returns on 2 November – a few months after a refurbishment of the entire museum – with Styles’s portrait as its crown jewel. “The whole world shut down, and the exhibition was still sitting there, in the dark,” recalls Sarah Howgate, the gallery’s senior curator of contemporary collections, who oversaw the exhibition in both phases. “So it’s nice to know it will have another life.”

Styles’s portrait will hang alongside those of writer Gregory Evans, Hockney’s printer Maurice Payne, the mayor of his local town Dozulé, his gardener and even his chiropodist, or in Hockney’s words, “the dandy who cuts my toenails” .

“He’s not a traditional portrait painter,” says Howgate. Hockney’s interest is not in what people do, but rather in who they are. “He’s not interested in fame. He’s interested in depicting people and their relationships.” It’s why his eye is primarily trained on his inner circle these days – but it also pays testament to his enduring curiosity that he’s still willing to open that up to a newcomer every so often. Styles seems to know how lucky he is, adding, with a tinge of disbelief: “I’m in awe of the man with enough one-liners for a lifetime.” As to what those one-liners might be? Styles and Hockney’s mutual silence on that question suggests that what happens in the studio, stays in the studio.

via vogue.co.uk

#harry styles #david hockney

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thestylesindependent · 1 year ago

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“He’s not a traditional portrait painter,” says Howgate. Hockney’s interest is not in what people do, but rather in who they are. “He’s not interested in fame. He’s interested in depicting people and their relationships.” It’s why his eye is primarily trained on his inner circle these days – but it also pays testament to his enduring curiosity that he’s still willing to open that up to a newcomer every so often. Styles seems to know how lucky he is, adding, with a tinge of disbelief: “I’m in awe of the man with enough one-liners for a lifetime.” As to what those one-liners might be? Styles and Hockney’s mutual silence on that question suggests that what happens in the studio, stays in the studio.

David Hockney: Drawing From Life will be at the National Portrait Gallery from 2 November to 21 January 2024

#harry styles #august 2023 #david hockney

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drarryglobesficrecs · 1 year ago

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Soulmates/Soulmarks - drarry fic recs pt. 2

Pt. 1

punch-drunk fingerprints by tamerofdarkstars(1k)

In a world where every touch of a soulmate leaves a temporary heat mark on bare skin, Draco Malfoy suddenly finds his life devolving into a massive cliche because the Boy Who Lived Twice has no idea how to respect the personal space bubble.

such a softer sin by therewascourfeyrac(15k)

After Draco meets Harry Potter, he's left with two tattoos, one on each wrist.

One for a soul mate, one for his enemy.

He's never known any one else who has the same name on both wrists.

Antlers and Ivy by violetclarity(19k)

The thing is, Draco has always known he wouldn’t be able to marry his soulmate. Finding out his soulmate is Harry Potter shouldn’t change anything.

Or: soulmarks, a masquerade ball, and gratuitous use of The Daily Prophet as a plot device.

What We've Been Missing by FlameHazel18(13k)

“I just don’t want a Soulmate,” Harry said, shrugging.

“Seriously?” Parvati asked, sounding incensed. “Doesn’t everyone want to meet their perfect match?”

“I’ve just had enough of feeling like I belong to someone else, and that my choices aren’t my own to make. I don’t want that anymore. I just want my life to be, you know… mine.”

Bloom for me by What_They_Call_Me(6k)

Hermione said nothing, just huffed slightly, she stormed into the classroom taking her seat in the front leaving Harry to trail behind. Harry knew that Hermione was only trying to help him, but he couldn’t deal with it.

Harry had lived his whole life as the Boy Who Lived, his whole life being special by circumstance of his parents death. He just wanted to be normal, to go to class and to keep his head down. No one ever seemed to understand that, Ron wanted Harry to use his fame for everything, and Hermione lived for mystery and adventure. But Harry just wished it would all end.

----

Harry has one wish for his seventh year, he just wants for it to be normal, but of course he doesn't get what he wants. Because wherever Harry goes flowers sprout in his wake. It doesn't really become a problem until he starts coughing up these flowers.

Why can't he have one normal year?

Changing Fate by jamesilver(9k)

Draco stared down at his soul mark for the millionth time, looking at those two words that changed his life, two words that told him how his soulmate would die:

A Martyr.

He remembered the words that Harry had said to him on the train, that he would kill the Dark Lord or "die trying," and knew there was more truth to that than Harry had intended.

Harry James Potter would die trying to defeat Voldemort. And, successful or not, that would leave him a martyr.

Burying his face in his hands, Draco began to sob.

Beacon by Amelior8or, Andithiel, gameofdrarrymod, Kristinabird(7k)

Every year around Valentine's day Professor Potter is flooded with questions from love struck young girls about soulmates and soulmate bond lore, and every year, he gets through it as quickly as he can so he can return to his lessons. This year, however, his life is turned upside down when he encounters a mysterious object that lands him in St. Mungos, under the care of Draco Malfoy.

Paint Sunlight on the Side of a House by punk_rock_yuppie(2k)

Draco had never been all that enthralled with his soulmark.

Flowers On My Wrist and Love In My Heart by Satan_the_One_and_Only(9k)

When Harry wakes up one morning with beautiful drawings on his arm, he comes to realize that his soulmate is quite the artist.

Even though he has no clue who his soulmate is and his soulmate seems to not want to meet him...

The Ripples They Cause by p1013(9k)

As Draco's mind tries to process his next move, the air ripples around his wrist, and he freezes.

It's a subtle thing, as gentle and forgettable as an errant breeze. But it's one he's never felt before, a breath against his pulse, a fleeting touch from a stranger, the weight of eyes on his skin. All of those soft, tender, almost-not-there sensations, centered on the series of three numbers scrawled across his skin.

Everyone is born with a date on their wrist, the date of their soulmate’s death.

On Draco Malfoy’s wrist, it's 02.05.1998

With You, Always by acupforslytherin(14k)

All his life, Harry repeatedly hears one same calming tune in his dreams. No one seems to recognize the mysterious song, until one day, Harry catches Malfoy humming it when he thinks he's alone.

Harmonised Consciousness by Talizora(24k)

This time it's a spell gone wrong in Charms that will bring our two favourite boys together. Expect Mind-Magic Classic HD Clichés & Soul Mates

---

"Potter's spell is still active, but I can shield my thoughts from him. I've been stirring him up all afternoon! It's hysterical!"

Blaise gasped, "It's still active! But it's… Dinner time!"

"Yes, so?"

"S-so? That spell is supposed to cancel itself after an hour! It's been, almost four hours!"

Draco shrugged, "I'm not worried. It's probably due to Potters magic. I'm sure it'll time-out eventually."

Blaise frowned, "Draco I don't think this is a good idea. Maybe you should end the spell?"

"No way! Blaise! I can hear everything! Before, in Runes, Potter was ranting about how he wanted to kill Weasel and Trelawney! He's all over the place! I had no idea he had such homicidal tendencies!" Draco giggled.

One of Blaise's eyebrows rose, "…Draco? Did you just giggle?"

"No I didn't."

"Yes you did."

Mine by Craftybadger1234(3k)

You are born with your soulmate's first words to you written in black on your palm. They fade to silver when you hear them.

Draco's have been silver for as long as he can remember.

Stormy Grey Eyes by Midori_Fuse(5k)

Everyone has grey eyes. Well, at least, they look that way, to everyone but themselves and their soulmates. That’s when Draco, blessed with silver grey eyes, knew he was in trouble. Not that his soulmate would notice.

37 notes · View notes

jasmariswonderland · 8 months ago

Text

Harmony In The Dark ~ VilxOC

Synopsis: It's Vil's birthday and Pomefiore's resident songbird has prepared a very special gift for him. Something that speaks to all that she holds in her heart for him and has the potential to change the nature of their relationship forever.

A/N: This is intended to be the FINAL chapter of my VilDani anthology even though I'm still writing it. Hence there will be a VERY minor spoiler for how the plot will unfold. I intended to have this ready for Vil's birthday but here it is for Dani's instead. 💙

Anyone familiar with my twst-oc verse is probably already aware of this but Curse of the Winter Rose is supposed to be an in-universe version of Beauty and the Beast. And the song I imagine Danica singing is How Does a Moment Last Forever from the live action film.

Pairings: 👑/🦢

Word Count: 6250

Warnings: Lots of fluff that may or may not be cringe. I literally thought up this idea less than 2 days ago and it wouldn't leave my head until I wrote it. 😅

~~~

A small silk drawstring bag sat in his bed, its delicate gold hand embroidery shimmering in the morning light. Vil had just returned from his morning jog, the hour was still quite early but he was never one to forgo daily routine, even on a special day like this. As he entered the lounge he found the intricate little bag lying on his sacred jeweled throne, with the card attached addressed to him. With just a glance at the handwriting, he could already tell who it was from without having to read it.

A gentle warmth stirred in his chest but he opted to wait until he was back in his room to open it. It was a birthday gift no doubt, and such a peculiar way to give it, he thought. But then again, it was just that peculiarity that made Danica so charming to him. And it was a comforting thought to know that after a week of not seeing each other, he was still very much in her thoughts.

But what was more peculiar still was what he found inside when he emptied the bag’s contents into his hand. He inserted a small blue flash drive into his computer with equal parts curiosity and anticipation. There was only a single file on it, titled: “For Vil - 4/9”

“Happy Birthday, Vil-san,” a video recording of Danica’s smiling face appeared when he clicked on the file. Eliciting a fluttering in his heart that he found somewhat embarrassing. But he didn’t mind. “I must admit, I was a little conflicted about what gift would be best for you. I’m certain, being a celebrity and all, you have everything you could want or could acquire it with ease.”

Silly little potato, nothing could be further from the truth.

This amused him, though he shook his head. There were quite many things that Vil wanted but did not have. Unfortunately, most of them couldn’t be given. He harbored many desires that lay beyond his grasp, the greatest of which he was staring right at. So engrossed was he in his pensive thoughts that he almost missed what she said next.

“Still, I wanted to do something special for you that I thought you might enjoy.”

She stood up, showing off the gorgeous details of the gown she was wearing. It was a soft sky blue with an elegant golden brocade. Her hair decorated with red roses. A very exquisite look, Vil thought, though strangely familiar. Behind her, Farron sat poised at a piano, giving a subtle little wave to the camera.

“I remember talking about old films a while back, and you told me how much you loved Curse of the Winter Rose.” Danica’s smile widened. “Well, with Farron’s help, I practiced very hard on this. I hope you’ll enjoy my version of the film’s love theme.”

Farron’s fingers danced along the keys on cue, playing the first notes. Danica closed her eyes, drawing a deep breath in as she began to sing. The mixture of the nostalgic notes and Danica’s heavenly voice immediately struck a chord in Vil’s soul. It was true, Curse of the Winter Rose was a film that held a special place in his heart. A romantic fairy tale steeped in the legends of Shaftlands depicting the transformative power of love. Vil found himself drawn to the story not only because his father played the lead role but also for its enchanting narrative and underlying message of acceptance and redemption.

It told the tale of a beastly prince who was turned human after learning to love and be loved in return. Vil couldn’t help but see parallels between himself and the prince, both longing to be recognized for their true selves beyond outward appearance. Usually, Vil prided himself on his pragmatism, dismissing the allure of fairy tales as fanciful delusions. His core belief was that success came only through hard work and not wishful thinking. Yet paradoxically, it was that very pragmatic outlook that drew him to the film. While the story was set against a backdrop of magic and romance, the prince’s journey was not one of passive enchantment but of active self-improvement. It was a narrative that resonated with Vil’s belief in the power of self-determination.

And in the prince’s happy ending, Vil found validation of his convictions, that true fulfillment could only be found through perseverance and effort. In a sense, it was a fairy tale Vil could easily relate to and a connection that deepened his appreciation for Danica’s thoughtful gesture. Still, their discussion about the film had been some months ago, back in November, but it was now April. That Danica remembered this little detail about him spoke volumes of her consideration for his interests. In her heartfelt performance, Vil could feel the depth of her affection. An affection he understood now, more than ever, he had taken for granted.

A week had slipped by since Vil resolved to confront his feelings for her, yet he found himself just as apprehensive as when he first began. The truth in his heart was undeniable, but so was his fear of shattering the fragile balance of harmony between them. He cursed his hesitance yet his fear of the potential consequences of bearing his soul to her was very real. Self-reproach gnawed at him as he reflected on the passing days, every missed opportunity, and the conflicting counsel of those closest to him did little to help his uncertainty.

While Yuulan urged Vil to have the courage to seize this chance of happiness, Rook cautioned against risking further pain to Danica by opening old wounds. Both perspectives held equal merit to his mind. Leaving him torn between his desire for her love, his concern for causing her harm, and his fear of her rejection. But as he gazed upon her gift to him, a sudden surge of clarity washed over him. The video ended with Danica smiling at the camera and again wishing him a happy birthday. Such a simple gesture, yet months ago, she would have panicked at the idea of singing solo for anyone, let alone him. It was a testament to her growth, a gift more precious than any material offering, and a depth of feeling that, truthfully, Vil always knew was there.

Today was the day. The moment was now, while the hour was still early. If Vil found Danica’s gift for him in the lounge, it stood to reason that she was awake and still in the dorm since classes wouldn’t start for another ninety minutes. The atmosphere was sure to soon become livelier with birthday celebrations for him. So, while the dorm still lay quiet and undisturbed, he would find her and finally bear his heart to her. Regardless of his fears, he owed Danica the truth, and the chance to decide for herself whether she could reciprocate his feelings. So be it.

~~~

The gentle knock at the door echoed throughout the quiet hallway, met only by silence. After a few minutes, Vil tried again, once more going unanswered. He thought he heard some movement in Danica’s room, but it could very well have been wishful thinking on his part. It seemed that way when no one came to the door. Another knock, this one firmer than before, again received no answer.

“Danica, Little Potato, are you there?”

Still nothing. It was possible that she could have gone to campus early, maybe even stopped by Scarabia to visit Taima or Kalim. Even so, anxiety began to bubble again under Vil’s calm exterior. If this was going to happen, it had to happen soon before he himself had to prepare for the eventful day ahead. He looked down at his phone, scrolling past the array of birthday wishes and magicam comments already flooding his inbox, and went to Danica’s number. Heart pounding as he began to write out a message to her.

“Bonjour, Roi du Poison! Bon anniversaire!”

Vil subtly clutched his phone with irritation at the familiar, jovial sound of Rook’s voice. He bit on his tongue, quickly fixing his face back to his regular stoic expression, stuffing his phone back into his pocket for good measure.

“Good morning, Rook.” Despite his more tumultuous feelings, Vil managed to give a warm smile. It’s quite early to see you up and awake at this hour.”

“Ah, I could say the same about you, Vil,” Rook returned Vil’s smile with a knowing glint in his eyes. “What brings you to the freshman wing of the dorm so early?”

Vil’s lie was swift and effortless. “I was looking for Epel, I wanted to ask him something.”

“Oh?” Rook arched an eyebrow, his keen gaze assessing Vil with playful scrutiny. “Well, if that’s the case, I’m sure you’re aware that Epel’s room is further down the hall.” Slyly narrowing his eyes, he continued, “The room we are currently standing by belongs to…”

“Ah, yes! You’re right!” Caught off guard, Vil’s façade wavered for a moment before he quickly regained his composure. Silently, he cursed himself for the slip-up. “I must have gotten turned around.”

“No worries, I’m glad I was able to find you, dear beautiful Vil!” Rook laughed off Vil’s embarrassment, clasping his hands together with joy. “I’ve been looking forward to celebrating your birthday all month. Your birthday fete is sure to be a dazzling occasion befitting your radiant grace!”

“Oh, Rook, ever the enthusiastic one,” Vil laughed softly.

“Oui, today is a day of grand celebration for our dorm! And how my heart swells with anticipation at seeing you take to the skies for your birthday flight! Your gorgeous figure cut against the elegant night sky will undoubtedly be a feast for the eyes!”

Vil listened to Rook’s musings, though couldn’t shake away the growing sense of unease gnawing at him. Where was Danica? Could she really have left for class already? Rook, sensing apprehension in his dorm leader, steered the conversation in a new direction.

“Speaking of celebrations, would you like to see the gift I’ve prepared for you? I do believe you will appreciate it.” Rook’s tone was warm and ever-inviting. Vil looked at him curiously, but when he didn’t respond with words, he added, “If you’re looking for Epel, you’ll have to wait until later, I’m afraid. I saw both him and Danica leave for classes some time ago.”

His words had the desired effect and Vil nodded in agreement, albeit reluctantly. Though Vil sensed something amiss in Rook’s words, perhaps he was right. After all, Epel and Danica were in the same homeroom class, and it was always easier to acquiesce to Rook’s persistent nature than try to put him off further. And Vil had to admit a genuine interest in seeing what Rook had in store for him. He couldn’t deny that Rook never spared any effort in anything he did. That might be a welcome distraction to his current anxiety. Yet even as he and Rook walked way from the door further down the hall, Vil silently vowed to finally find the time to speak to Danica before the day was complete.

~~~

Scarabia Dorm - Taima's Room

A few hours later...

Iman knocked on Taima’s door but was greeted with what she thought was the sound of crying. She didn’t wait for a formal response and turned the knob and walked in. The scene she was confronted with was a somber one. Danica lay on Taima’s bed, trembling with her face pressed against a pillow as the latter tried to comfort her. Yuulan sat with Grim in her lap at the foot of the bed, tapping Danica’s leg to indicate they had company.

“Dani, what’s going on?” Iman gazed at Danica with an uncharacteristic sense of sympathy washing over her. “Why are you crying?”

Danica’s response was drowned out by her sobs. Taima and Yuulan exchanged a knowing look before the latter decided to fill in the gaps, “It’s about her present for Vil, the one Farron and I helped her record. She…”

At the mention of Vil’s name, Danica’s sobs intensified, and she gripped the pillow, prompting Taima to stroke her back gently. Iman looked at them curiously.

“What about her gift? Did he dislike it? Did he…”

“We don’t know,” said Taima. “Dani left it for Vil early this morning, but intrusive thoughts kicked in during the day and she got cold feet. She’s embarrassed now and is worried about how he’ll respond. So she’s been here ever since class ended and won’t go back to her dorm.”

“Despite the fact a big party is happening for Vil right now!” Grim grumbled, his tone laced with annoyance. “A big party with lots of food I could be scarfing down on!”

“Oh hush, you gluttonous cat!” Yuulan snapped, tugging at the scruff of Grim’s neck.

“I’m not a cat!” Grim batted her hand away with one of his paws.

“Guys, focus!” Taima snapped as well. “That isn’t important right now. We need to…”

“I don’t know what came over me!” Danica finally spoke up, turning around on the bed but still with her hands covering her face. “It was so personal, and the lyrics are…a thousand times deeper than what I wrote for him in middle school!”

“But you sang it so beautifully. The dress Farron gave you for the video was very nice too,” Yuulan smiled. “And after everything you two have dealt with, it makes sense that…”

“No! No! No! It was a mistake! Just after everything that happened, I…I…I was feeling so bold!”

“BOLD?!” While Iman might have felt genuine sympathy for her, Danica’s statement furrowed her brows with disbelief. “After everything that’s happened, after you’ve all but confessed that you love him more than a few times to us! What’s so scary about finally sealing the deal?!”

“But I…I…”

“No buts! Just tell him the truth! You’re just hurting yourself for nothing! You don’t even know how he’ll respond he might actually…”

“That’s enough, Iman!”

Iman’s blunt words only heightened Danica’s distress, and Taima interceded before things could get worse. She gently stroked her friend’s head before shooting Iman an irritated look.

“If you think being open about romantic feelings is easy, then why don’t you just tell Jamil how you feel about him, hmm?” Iman bristled at the suggestion but bit her tongue rather than saying something potentially even harsher. Taima smirked. “Yeah, that’s what I thought!”

A hot red flush came to Iman’s cheeks, but her sympathy returned when she looked again at Danica’s tear-streaked face. She sighed; encouragement was still difficult for her, and she hesitated, not knowing what to say.

“Danica, look,” she began, softer than before. “Vil isn’t the easiest person to please. But he’s also the kind of guy who would appreciate any gesture that speaks to his interests. And he already thinks well of you, so I’m sure he will be very touched.”

“She’s right, Dani,” Yuulan nodded in agreement. “I’ve lived at Pomefiore for the last month while my dorm is being repaired. And in that month, I’ve had a front seat to your dynamic with Vil—even more than when we were preparing for the VDC. It’s clear to anyone who sees you two that you love each other. You two are the only ones who still seem to be in the dark.”

Danica listened to their words, her mind whirling with conflicting emotions. Despite their past disagreements, she couldn't deny Vil's support and guidance, which had helped her find newfound confidence. Yet, the thought of confronting her feelings head-on filled her with uncertainty. Taima pulled Danica into a comforting embrace, her voice gentle yet firm.

“You’re braver than this, Danica,” she whispered. And you’re no longer invisible to him—you never were. So it’s time to stop acting like it.”

“Kalim and I were just on our way to Pomefiore for the party,” said Iman. “That’s why I came here. How about you guys come with us? I feel it might be easier for Dani if she had two of her fellow swans to support her.”

“I like that idea!” Grim suddenly jumped up. “Let’s go to the party so I can finally stuff my face with cake and other tasty things!”

“Damnit Grim…” Yuulan didn’t even bother to reproach the creature and only rolled her eyes.

“I…I want to go,” Danica admitted, her voice wavering. “I’m…just unsure. I’m still not sure if I’m ready.”

“Then how about this: Yuulan and Grim will go ahead to the party with Iman and Kalim.”

At this, Taima looked up at Iman and Yuulan, giving them a look they both understood well. They nodded silently, understanding what they were expected to do. And when they closed the door behind them, Taima gave her friend’s hand another reassuring squeeze.

“It’s okay if you aren’t ready yet, I’ll stay with you until you are.”

~~~

It was a lively affair, though still elegant and refined, well suited for Vil’s taste. He sat at the center of his birthday celebration, basking in the attention of well-wishers and admirers. Everyone offering gifts, expressions of congratulations, and countless compliments of how gorgeous he looked in his formal mage’s robes. Vil accepted all of this with trademark grace, and his smile was one of genuine gratitude. He was usually one to prefer more quiet gatherings but he couldn’t deny that his dormmates had went well out of their way for him. With Rook in particular being especially ardent in his celebrations.

He was happy and grateful; still every now and then, he glanced around the room at the many faces. Loath he was to admit it, a sense of disappointment was brewing in his chest as he found that one face in particular was missing from the festivities.

Surely Danica hadn’t forgotten his birthday. It was impossible after creating such a heartfelt presentation for him in his honor. And classes had now been over for a few hours. So where was she? Why wasn’t she present? Despite his attempts to dismiss his concern, Vil couldn’t shake the lingering worry that tugged at the corners of his mind. He masked his disappointment by feigning nonchalance as he engaged with his guests. But deep down, her absence left a void in the celebration that dulled the sparkle of the occasion. Soon the party would conclude with his traditional birthday flight and with each passing moment, his unease only increased.

“You seem troubled, Vil-san,” Farron approached his dorm leader with a glass of punch that he had requested. “Is everything alright?”

Vil took the glass with a feigned smile. “Of course, Farron. Things couldn’t be better.”

But Farron wasn’t convinced and could easily guess what was bothering him, and truthfully, it worried him as well. He saw Vil’s glance wander around the room before landing on the door. Both silently hoped that Danica would walk in at any moment, but still, nothing. Vil took a sip of his punch and closed his eyes in thought.

“Vil-san…”

“Everything is fine. I’m just enjoying the festivities.”

Before Farron could say anything further, a knock interrupted their conversation. Vil’s heart fluttered with anticipation, surely the moment he had been waiting for had finally come. However, his hopes were dashed when he saw Yuulan, Grim, Iman, and Kalim instead. Still, he greeted them warmly.

“Hey there, birthday boy!” Kalim offered him a cheerful smile.

“Another year older and another year more radiant!” added Iman.

“I hope you’re having a wonderful day, Vil-san,” said Yuulan. Adding, “You look incredible. That outfit is so gorgeous.”

Vil quickly swallowed his disappointment and smiled at Yuulan.He gave a graceful little turn, striking a pose and prompting her to pull out her ghost camera.

“Thank you, Spudling. This mage’s robe is even more formal than our ceremonial robes. It’s only worn during the most auspicious occasions at NRC, and I’ll only wear it once more when I graduate next year.”

“Really? I didn’t know any of that! Well, I must say, it suits you very well!” she took Vil’s photo, grinning slyly. “And I’m sure Danica will think so too when she sees you!”

A glimmer of hope suddenly went off in Vil’s heart. Just what Yuulan had intended with her words.

“Oh? Does that mean she’s soon on her way?” Vil tried to maintain a nonchalant tone, but his eagerness was palpable. “I mean… I would hate for her to miss out on her chance to pay tribute to her dorm leader on his birthday.”

But before Yuulan could respond, Grim caught sight of the refreshment table and made a quick beeline for it. She cursed the creature under her breath and excused herself to go retrieve him. Vil’s annoyance surfaced briefly, but Iman assured him that Danica would arrive soon.

“She’s back at my dorm, Taima is helping her get ready,” she said. “Naturally, she wanted to be sure to look her best for you, so just be patient a little longer.”

Iman’s words once again reassured Vil and as he watched as she excused herself to talk with Farron, he decided that there was no use in worrying. It was time to fully immerse himself in the festivities everyone in his dorm worked so hard to arrange. After all, further stress would only mar his looks and there was no use in stressing something that wasn’t even in his control.

This is what he told himself and objectively, it made sense. Unfortunately, as Vil was slowly learning, what was objective in his mind and what he felt in his heart were not always in alignment. He looked over at the door one last time and in a moment of impulse, thought about searching for her himself. But he knew he couldn’t, his birthday interview would be starting soon and to abandon his own birthday party would be the height of rudeness.

At this point, all Vil could do was continue to wait and hope beyond hope that the one thing he wished for his birthday would finally be granted.

~~~

Danica and Taima stood outside the Hall of Mirrors, the latter offering her some final words of encouragement before they made their way to Pomefiore. She felt as though she’d soon be sick, but she ignored this. It was time to finally confront her feelings. To face the truth she had been avoiding for too long.

And that truth was that she loved Vil with all her heart. She created her gift not only because the song was from one of his favorite films but also because the lyrics spoke clearly to all that she felt. Her love was one of strength even when things appeared bleak. Resilience even when all hope appeared lost. And care in the most vulnerable of moments. It didn’t matter what anyone said; if the world wrongfully viewed him as a villain, Danica knew better. Behind his harsh exterior, Vil was a kind, gentle, caring, and captivating human being. Whatever his faults, whatever his fragilities, she wanted to love them all. And it was her deepest hope that in spite of all that had transpired between them, he would understand.

“Are you ready?” Taima asked.

Danica took a deep breath and nodded. “Yes, let’s go.”

As they entered the Pomefiore gateway, a sudden flash of light drew their attention, indicating someone was leaving the dorm. They were briefly blinded by the brightness but when it faded, they found Farron standing beside them.

“Farron!” Danica exclaimed, surprised by his sudden appearance. “What are you doing here?”

He explained that he had come at Iman’s request, concerned about Danica’s absence from Vil’s party, which was drawing to a close. The celebrations would conclude soon with Vil’s special birthday flight. Danica’s heart sank as she realized she had missed out. As well as guilt for keeping Vil waiting for most of the day. Farron sighed.

“It’s a pity you couldn’t be at the party, Cygnet. And it’s even more a pity you cannot see how much you and Vil are truly alike.”

“Hmm? What do you mean by that?”

In response, Farron brought up her and Vil’s first meeting on orientation night, so many months ago. Though Danica looked back on that night with profound embarrassment, Farron reminded her of Vil’s promise to her that night: that she while in Pomefiore, she would learn to carry herself with confidence.

“Vil is never one to waste his time on someone or something he sees no value in. But he is happy with how you have blossomed and has come to not only value your growth but cherish it. So why do you still waver, my dear? And besides,” with a playful wink, “How do you know Vil hasn’t been agonizing over his own feelings for you as well?”

“What?!” Danica jumped, blushing intensely. “You don’t think that…that maybe…”

“Come with me, and you can find out for yourself.”

Farron took her hand and led her down the hallway with Taima following close behind them. When Danica asked why they were not returning to Pomefiore, Farron smiled again. Telling her she would understand why soon enough.

~~~

As Farron led Danica and Taima outside, they were met with a breathtaking sight. The night air was crisp, with a waning moon casting its gentle glow on the sky. Stars twinkled like diamonds strewn across velvet, creating the perfect atmosphere for flying. There was a clear sense of excitement flowing through the air, and it helped erase the final bits of lingering anxiety in Danica’s heart.

They hurried down the main street of the campus, leading to a crowd gathered around around a striking figure that stood out among them. Illuminated by the moonlight, Vil glowed with the air of one well aware of their radiance, his face giving no indication of his anxiety within. In his arms, he held his special floral broom crafted especially for today, adorned with vibrant flowers of red, pink and purple. A vision of perfection. Danica’s heart skipped a beat as she laid eyes on him, her breath catching in her throat.

With a determined exhale, she pushed through the crowd with her friends following her, waving her arms to catch Vil’s attention. Her eyes not leaving him for even a moment. There were far more students gathered for this occasion than she thought but she continued pushing forward. He hadn’t caught sight of her yet but it was now or never.

You’re no longer invisible to him—you never were. So it’s time to stop acting like it.

Meanwhile, Vil forced his thoughts to focus on the flight ahead, giving a spectacular show for those watching him. He summoned a circle of magic to lift himself and his broom into the air, wind gracefully billowing the heavy fabric of his robes around him. Excitement from the other students increased and he heard many audible gasps and squeals as his broom began to levitate. And among the enthusiasm, a familiar, melodic voice cut through the crowd and briefly stopped his heart.

“Vil-san!”

He turned around and finally, after waiting for this moment the entire day, his and Danica’s eyes met. Her eyes filled with joy as they shared a secret smile of understanding. Despite her absence from his party, seeing her now filled him with a sense of anticipation. Now, he would capture her heart with his enchanting flight.

With a graceful flourish, Vil soared into the night sky, his broom trailing behind him like a cascade of blossoms. The crowd watched in awe, but none more so than Danica. It was as though the night sky, beautiful in its own right, had become just another stage for Vil to captivate those watching him. Commanding the sky with effortless grace. From his broom, glowing petals danced through the air, landing softly to the ground. Danica even caught one in the palm of her hand, but she never took her eyes off of Vil.

“Your eyes are sparkling, Cygnet.”

“Isn’t this amazing, Dani? Aren’t you glad you didn’t miss it?”

Farron noticed Danica’s enraptured expression and teased her while Taima asked if she was glad she hadn’t missed the spectacle. Danica nodded fervently, her cheeks flushed with emotion. At that moment, she realized that in her heart, Vil was the most beautiful person she had ever known.

~~~

As the last of the guests departed and the festivities wound down, Vil found himself finally alone with Danica in the lounge. Despite his initial worries, he had ended up enjoying his birthday celebration, and now, with Danica by his side, the evening felt complete.

She sat on one of the couches, looking up at him cheerfully and very much as she had in his beautiful silk-adorned dream. Sitting beside her, he felt a strange sense of relief washing over him. Somehow, Vil expected himself to feel far more nervous now that he was facing the supposed moment of truth. But instead, he felt calm, comforted even. Only Danica’s presence could do this to him. He could do this.

“Your flight was incredible, Vil-san,” she smiled. “I’m so glad I didn’t miss it. Whether walking on the earth or soaring through the sky, you are always so magnificent.”

Her words warmed his heart and further set him at ease. He sat his broom to the side, but not before plucking a few of the roses and arranging them into a small bouquet. Danica watched him do this but still felt surprised as he handed them to her with a gentle smile. She blushed, lowering her gaze as she thanked him.

“One should never avoid eye contact in a social setting,” he said, slipping his finger under her chin to return her gaze to his. “Do you recall? That was the first thing I ever said to you. So keep your eyes on me, I want to see how lovely they are.”

His tone was kind, too kind, and she bit her lip nervously as she maintained eye contact with her dorm leader. He nodded with approval.

“That’s better, now, do you know what pink and red roses represent in the language of flowers?” Vil asked. When Danica shook her head, he smiled wider. “They represent gentleness, admiration, and above all, love.”

“Ohhhh,” her blush deepened but she thanked him wholeheartedly again. “If that’s the case, then I will treasure these flowers all the more. Because they represent all that I feel for you, Vil-san.”

The words came out of her mouth so naturally that she could hardly believe she was able to say them. But Danica could be very astute when she wanted to be. Vil felt a sudden surge of emotion at her words, but what she said next caused his disappointment to resurface.

“I…hope you’ll forgive me for not being at your birthday party. I really wanted to be there, it’s just that…I…well…”

“Why weren’t you, Danica?” he asked. “I am not ashamed to admit that I was waiting for you, and more than a little disappointed when you never arrived.”

“Oh, Vil-san, I…I’m so sorry. Like I said, I wanted…”

“No, don’t apologize again,” his tone took on a slight sternness. “You’ve done that already. Just tell me why, Little Potato.”

“I…I…”

She hesitated, struggling to articulate her thoughts. With a deep breath, she gazed up at him, silently praying that he would finally understand.

“I was afraid, I…I didn’t know if you’d accept me expressing my feelings in such a…personal way. I didn’t think you would understand.”

“You’re correct on that matter; I didn’t understand.” Danica began to lower her head again before Vil continued, “I didn’t understand why you would be afraid.” He sighed. "I suppose that’s one thing I never understood about you, Danica. Why are you so unsure of yourself when everything about you, everything that you are, proves the complete opposite of whatever you feel about yourself?”

“I…I don’t know if I can really explain it, but I’ll try, Vil-san. If you’ll let me.”

Vil tilted his head with interest, quietly urging her to continue. She took another deep breath.

“Performing alone and in front of you has always made me anxious. I know you know this already. I’ve always felt inadequate, but there was a larger reason that I’ve never told anyone. The truth is, my emotions have always run very deep, and I never can be sure if I’m expressing myself properly. I’m always afraid of being mocked or judged. But when I sing or dance, I know I can express everything in my heart that words can’t always do. I feel confident in this form of self-expression but…”

Her cheeks burned a bright red, and she began to lower her gaze again. Vil gently slid his hand under her chin. Keeping her eyes on him, refusing to let her look away anymore.

“But?”

“When I’m around you, my feelings run particularly deep. And in the past, I was afraid of sharing those feelings with you. I admire and care about you; you’re always in my thoughts. And I…I…even if it was just performing, it’s always meant more for me.”

“Hmmm.”

Such honestly, such vulnerability, touched him deeply. Vil moved closed to Danica, hesitantly placing his arm around her. When she didn’t resist, he fully drew her into a tender embrace. All the while his heart raced with a realization almost too good to be true. Though he secretly always hoped for something like this, even as he planned for this moment, deep down, never did he allow himself to believe that this could happen.

Still, before Vil could finally bring himself to say it, there was something he first had to know.

“When you recorded my birthday present, what were you feeling then?”

“…I was happy at first, and I’m still happy with how it came out,” she replied, smiling a little. But I was also overwhelmed, knowing that…”

Emotion suddenly choked at her voice, and she shut her eyes. Shaking her head furiously, she forced herself to continue before it overwhelmed her.

“Knowing that you’d know how I feel about you, Vil-san. Everything we’ve gone through, and everything I feel…I…I…”

“Danica…” Vil felt her pulling away from him and realized that it was finally time. “Danica, what you feel, I…I also…”

“I definitely feel like I’m becoming more confident, but it’s still a struggle for me. But I know there’s no point in denying these feelings any longer.” She forced her gaze back to his. “I just hope that now, you’ll finally understand.”

The room went silent for a few moments after this and Vil contemplated what she had said. He remained still but inside, his heart swelled with emotion. That this sweet little potato, after enduring so much at his hands, could look at him not only with kindness but also with love was remarkable, to say the least. Finally, he let out a long sigh, but a smile spread across his face.

“Silly little potato, of course I understand,” he chuckled softly, cupping her face with great tenderness. “Because I feel the same way about you. I have for a very long time.”

“W…WHAT?” Danica’s eyes widened with a mixture of shock and, strangely enough, excitement. She could feel the burning of tears that she quickly blinked away. “Feel the same way, that means…Vil-san, you…”

He chuckled again, pressing her body to his so close that she could smell the fair scent of flowers on his clothing. In a soft whisper, he conveyed exactly what he wished he could a week ago, and even longer. All of his feelings finally set free.

“I love you, Danica.”

Danica heard him, but somehow she didn’t fully comprehend until she felt his lips gently brush against her forehead. At this, a choked gasp escaped her lips followed by several tears flowing down her cheeks. But for once, they were tears of joy. She even found herself laughing through them, her disbelief evident.

“I…I…is this real?” she asked hesitantly, causing him to laugh as well.

“Ara, I’ve just confessed my love for you and that’s the first thing to leave your mouth? Not ‘I love you too’ or something along those lines?” He tutted. “That won’t do, Little Potato.”

“I…I just can’t believe it,” she wiped her face with her hands. “I mean, I’ve always hoped, I’ve dreamed about it, but…”

“Should I pinch you?” he teased.

“No, no! It’s alright! No need for that!”

Danica shook her head, still laughing as Vil took both of her hands. He guided her to her feet, enveloping her in another embrace. She melted into his arms, her disbelief finally giving way for acceptance. In that moment, all their doubts and anxieties melted away. And the shadows of past horrors appeared to finally be buried. Leaving, at long last, only their love for each other.

Once again, Danica apologized for missing Vil’s party but he silenced her with a long and loving kiss. As different from their first kiss as night was different from day. He lifted her gaze to his, marveling at the remarkable girl before him. Savoring this moment with her for as long as he could.

“There’s no need to apologize, Little Potato. Not anymore,” he said. “I forgive you, but you must promise to be present at my birthday next year.”

Danica smiled, her eyes shimmering with happiness. “Yes, Vil-san. I promise,” she said before leaning in for another kiss. “I promise, and I love you.”

#twisted wonderland #twisted wonderland oc #twst oc #pomefiore #vil schoenheit #vil x oc #vil schoenheit x oc #otp: vildani #oc: danica #fairest after all #things i write

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cyberbenb · 1 year ago

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Ukraine may be winning ‘world’s first cyberwar’

For Ukraine’s main cybersecurity agency, Russia’s full-scale war began over a month before Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine from all directions – with a large cyber attack on Jan. 14, 2022.

“It all started with an attack on state authorities, it was the largest attack in 17 years,” says Yurii Shchyhol, head of the State Special Communications Service, which is responsible for defending Ukraine’s cyberspace.

Shchyhol says over 90 government websites were targeted, about 20 of them were defaced, and some data was erased. It took Ukrainian authorities 2-3 days to get those websites back up.

“This was the first indication for us that (Russia) was planning something big," he adds.

The month leading up to the full-scale invasion, Ukraine experienced several major cyberattacks – on Feb. 15 and Feb. 22.

By the time Russia launched its full-scale war, Ukraine was ready to face Kremlin’s cyberwarfare, taking place alongside the ground offensive.

The 7,500 employees of the Special Communications Service are now in charge of protecting Ukraine from cyberattacks, ensuring the military and political communication is secure, and conducting online operations to hamper Russia’s war effort.

Fighting smarter: Ukraine’s transformation into a military innovator

Before Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, 27-year-old engineer Maxim Sheremet was engaged in the manufacturing of commercial drones. He worked for the state defense company Ukroboronprom, a strategic manufacturer of weapons and military hardware in Ukraine, and later at Evolve Dynami…

The Kyiv IndependentAgatha Gorski

The agency has also created a database of critical infrastructure, and coordinates its defense.

“There has never been such a war in history,” Shchyhol, who took charge of the agency in 2021, says. “It is the world’s first cyberwar in general, and there is no country in the world (except Ukraine) with this experience."

He adds that Ukraine has faced around 20 cyberattacks per day since February 2022, with most of them deterred automatically, while some requiring timely intrusions by the agency.

In the 16 months since the start of the full–scale war, Shchyhol says Ukraine hasn’t lost any critical information, nor were any major systems downed.

Shchyhol says the agency is now drawing up a list of sanctions and laws required to stop Russia from being able to conduct cyberwarfare.

“Even after our victory on the ground, we understand that the cyberwar will not cease, and they will persist in attacking our systems,” Shchyhol says.

“Therefore, our international partners are currently working on creating conditions that will ultimately compel Russia to stop threatening Ukraine and the civilized world,” he adds.

“Our goal is to push them back into the intellectual and IT Middle Ages."

Preparing for cyberwarfare

Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine in Crimea and Donbas in 2014. It soon turned to cyberwarfare to accompany its conventional attacks.

In 2017, Ukraine was struck by a series of powerful cyberattacks using the NotPetya malware that swamped banks, energy companies, government websites, and many non-governmental organizations.

NotPetya ransomware was designed to cause substantial destruction and Ukraine was the primary target of the attack.

For a brief time, Ukrainian cyberspace was left defenseless.

Shchyhol says that’s when the state began to prepare for cyberwar. Reforms soon followed.

“We created a national coordination center and a corresponding unit within the security service. This service acquired new powers,” Shchyhol says.

The agency gained complete control of Ukraine’s cyberdefense but simultaneously decentralized it, transferring some functions to different departments and allowing security specialists to perform tasks without the need to ask the leadership for permission.

The Computer Emergency Response Team of Ukraine (CERT-UA), a structural department of the Special Communications Service, employed young, tech-savvy professionals to counter future attacks.

The Ukrainian government soon issued a decree ensuring that government-employed IT specialists receive a premium for their work.

Serhiy Prytula: New satellite made Ukrainian intelligence ‘happy like kids’

Ukrainian comedian turned politician Serhiy Prytula said spending the $17 million fundraised by Ukrainians to purchase a satellite from the Finnish microsatellite manufacturer ICEYE was a “great decision.” Ukraine’s military is satisfied with the data provided by the satellite, Pry…

The Kyiv IndependentDaryna Antoniuk

“We know that they can always find a high-earning job elsewhere, but it’s good that they are willing to help the state,” Volodymyr Kondrashov, spokesman for the State Special Communications Service, said.

Under Shchyhol, the state agency began to work hand in hand with the private sector to help prevent potential attacks on businesses.

“In two years, we managed to build a trustworthy relationship with the private sector, where they started utilizing the services we provide today,” he adds.

Shchyhol also mentions that Ukraine was able to build a relationship with white hat hackers, who helped when Russia was about to launch the full-scale invasion.

“We didn’t assume any authority, we wanted their assistance. And it was these people who on Jan. 14, during the first major attack, said, ‘we are with you,'” Shchyhol says.

However, experts say the scale to which independent IT specialists influenced Ukraine’s cyberdefense is greatly exaggerated.

Battle-hardened cyber defense

“Today, we possess the greatest competence in the world when it comes to repelling attacks,” Shchyhol says.

In 2022 alone, the CERT-UA team manually deterred 2,194 attacks. That’s over six attacks per day. The number of cyberattacks deterred automatically is approximately 20 per day, Shchyhol says.

To prevent such attacks, the State Special Communications Service works alongside cyber police, which investigates the attacks, and the National Security and Defense Council, which recommends sanctions and legislation.

“Before the full-scale war, we could hardly imagine that all these entities would work toward a common goal and collaborate,” Shchyhol says, referring to infighting to which Ukrainian state agencies were prone.

People under Russian occupation cut off from internet, mobile connection

Editor’s Note: This story includes interviews with people living under Russian occupation. Their full names are not disclosed to protect their identity as they have shared sensitive information that could place them and their families in danger. Every time Ukrainian engineer Yevhen wants to connect…

The Kyiv IndependentDaryna Antoniuk

Sitting in a refurbished office in an old Soviet-built building, Shchyhol says Russia continues to methodically attempt to find holes in Ukraine’s cybersecurity.

“All the activities of their hacker groups are part of a unified plan and are coordinated with other hacker groups in Russia under state control,” Shchyhol says.

When Russia began bombarding Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in October, Shchyhol says, its cyber arm “shifted focus to attacking energy infrastructure, attempting to disrupt energy distribution networks in conjunction with their missile attacks."

He says that one attack that would have halted Ukraine’s electricity supply was deterred last minute, adding that it’s a 24/7 job to keep Ukraine’s critical infrastructure online.

Shchyhol believes that Ukraine shouldn’t underestimate Russia’s abilities to deliver a blow.

“They will always seek out vulnerabilities to penetrate our defense system, just as they do on the battlefield."

That’s why Shchyhol says his agency is also looking for ways to deprive Russia of the ability to continue its ongoing cyberattacks.

“They must be excluded from all international organizations and isolated from the civilized world to prevent them from accessing technologies. Only then can there become a guarantee of our future security,” Shchyhol says.

He adds that, despite Russia’s ability to bypass sanctions, a significant portion of their equipment, such as the one made by U.S. tech corporations Cisco and IBM, does not receive support or license updates.

“In six months to a year, it will reach a point where it won’t function at all, impeding their ability to launch attacks,” Shchyhol says. “Thus, time is working in our favor.”

Front-line struggles

Despite some success, Ukraine is still facing cyber issues that need to be tackled, and some of them are experienced right on the battlefield.

Soldiers who spoke with the Kyiv Independent said they had encountered problems with basic communications, sometimes having trouble reaching units stationed 100 meters away.

Shchyhol says it’s an acute issue they desperately want to solve.

“They (Russians) launched attacks on Viasat (satellites), for example, during the first night of the invasion, followed by attacks on Ukrainian providers and operators,” Shchyhol says, adding that it created chaos early into the full-scale war.

Viasat is an international satellite used by multiple countries but Ukraine suffered the most, according to Shchyhol. “At the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the backup communication lines for the Armed Forces were established through Viasat,” he says.

Shchyhol says most problems are solved now with the help of the Starlink satellite internet, with Ukraine using over 20,000 of Elon Musk’s terminals, but adds that jammed radio frequencies remain an issue.

How Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet keeps Ukraine online

Among the Ukrainian military, Elon Musk, the richest tech entrepreneur in the U.S., is often half-jokingly referred to as “Saint Elon.” The reason is Starlink, Musk’s satellite communication system that keeps many Ukrainians, most importantly the military, online despite power outages and Russia’s…

The Kyiv IndependentDaryna Antoniuk

“If we are talking about Bakhmut or any other hot spot, they employ means of electronic warfare, unfortunately. When they activate all their possible means, it affects our communication,” Shchyhol says.

“If we are referring to hot spots, it is quite effective. They utilize all their electronic warfare systems and can disrupt the stability of our communication."

Shchyhol says Western countries substantially helped Ukraine by providing equipment to counter Russian attempts to disrupt front-line communication.

“It is (now) impossible to jam absolutely everything. Radios work in certain frequency ranges, Starlink works in other areas, Viasat works in specific locations, and other satellite devices operate elsewhere,” he says.

Enemies from within

Another major issue that Shchyhol’s agency struggles with is securing Ukraine’s critical infrastructure from Russian attacks offline.

Ukraine lacks air defense to protect all infrastructure, and until recently, it lacked a registrar of all such sites required to make a qualified assessment of what needs to be defended first and what specific gear needs to be employed.

“Our task was to create a unified register where each level of criticality corresponds to the appropriate protection measures,” Shchyhol says.

“The General Staff can determine the most effective placement of the Patriot system to cover the nuclear power plant and other critical infrastructure facilities,” Shchyhol says, pointing to the fact that a registrar helps the army make such decisions.

“Regarding anti-aircraft defense, it involves comprehensive coverage of multiple objects rather than just one. Different requirements apply to a nuclear power plant compared to a hospital, for example."

However, one issue which Shchyhol says his agency can’t help resolve is the threat of sabotage by Russian-linked actors.

Russian-linked business people own critical infrastructure in Ukraine, which is constantly targeted by Russian missiles. Shchyhol believes they may have access to sensitive information such as the exact locations of certain infrastructure sites.

Endless Russian assaults near Kreminna test Ukraine’s defenses

Editor’s note: The Kyiv Independent is not disclosing the full names or deployed positions of the Ukrainian soldiers interviewed in the story due to security concerns amid the ongoing war. Donetsk Oblast – The narrow, partly destroyed road through the Serebrianskyi Forest in the northern part of Do…

The Kyiv IndependentAsami Terajima

Before the full-scale war, Russia’s VS Energy, owned by Russian Kremlin-linked businessmen Yevgeni Giner and Mikhail Voevodin and Russian lawmaker Alexander Babakov owned shares in eight Ukrainian regional energy companies, Ukrainian fugitive oligarch with ties to Russian organized crime, Dmytro Firtash, owned 70% of the country’s gas distribution market, while members of the pro-Russian Opposition Platform party had shares in oil, gas and coal plants.

Some of them have ended up on sanction lists of Ukraine, the EU, and the U.S. as soon as Russian tanks crossed into Ukraine in 2022. Others haven’t.

“The Security Service is working on this matter and revokes access for such owners to these systems. This started recently, and it’s just the beginning,” Shchyhol says.

"(Those people) can have access to various systems and registrars, and it is our job to ensure that they meet the requirements set by the state. If they fail to meet these requirements, then it is necessary to hold them accountable, including depriving them of their property rights,” he goes on.

“There is currently no law on liability, but we are working on it."

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dotster001 · 2 years ago

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Day 2:Attending a Halloween party, but not recognizing each other because of the costumes.

Summary:Simeon x gn!reader

A/N: pretty pretty angel man....

Diavolo was hosting a costume party for his birthday. You and Levi, being the dynamic duo that you were, were dressed as Henry and the Lord of Shadows, but not just any old Henry and the Lord of Shadows. Oh no, you two were dressed as they were in the episode where they had to attend a masquerade in order to get top secret information from the Lord of Corruption.

You two nerds definitely felt like badasses. The plan was to stay together for the entire party, because you're outfits went together, but also because it was crowded and both of you were nervous about getting lost.

Naturally, the two of you lost each other in five minutes.

You tried to find Levi, but it was far to crowded to spot him, and he had insisted neither of you should bring your D.D.D because the phone outline in your pockets would "ruin the realism of the costume". At some point, you were overheating and grabbed a drink. You thought you spotted Levi's costume, and attempted to make your way back through the crowd, but found yourself falling.

You were caught by a pair of strong arms, and held in an elegant dip. You looked at the man who had saved you and he looked down on you with the kindest smile you'd ever seen.

He was dressed like a prince out of a fairy tale. He too had opted into a mask, and it framed his features elegantly while disguising his identity. He was truly beautiful.

"You saved me," you found yourself blurting out.

"It was nothing," he smiled. "I saw you in distress, and simply helped out."

He pulled you back to your feet. He intertwined your fingers together, and gazed deeply into your eyes.

"Are you alright?"

After you nodded, he adjusted his hands so that one was on your waist.

"Excellent, then you can repay me with this dance."

You nodded again.

He slowly led you onto the dance floor, giving you an elegant spin.

The key to the heavens is mine

He held you close as though you were someone precious to him, and began humming along to the music.

So this is the miracle that I've been dreaming of

"I wish I could hold you like this forever," he whispered into your ear.

Your brain was too caught up in the moment to think about the fact that a stranger was telling you this. You looked up into his eyes, and your faces began to draw close to each other as though magnetized.

So this is love.

As the song finished, and your lips were about to meet, the clock struck 9pm. He pulled back with a gasp.

"I must go!" He pulled away but you grabbed his hand.

"But wait, who are you? How will I find you again?"

He gave you a very confused look, then his face morphed into shock. He seemed about to respond when his phone vibrated, and he ran off.

You looked after him forlornly. That was when Levi finally found you.

"Y/N! Where have you been? And who was that?"

"I don't know…."

….

The next day, you brought some of the leftover snacks with you, and visited Purgatory hall. Simeon and Luke hadn't been able to attend the party because of a special Halloween cooking show Luke really wanted to see. So you decided to bring them some treats.

You knocked on the door, and Luke answered it.

"Are those for us?" He looked so excited. "Thank you so much!"

He took the treats from your hands, then let you in the house. He pulled you to the side conspiratorially, and made you lean down so he could whisper.

"Simeon has been acting weird all day. He's been writing in his study, and humming nonstop. He even ate Solomon's food and said it was good!"

You gasped.

"Can you please check on him?" He looked so sad, and the evidence was damning, so you had no choice but to check on your friend.

As you approached the study, you heard the sound of a familiar song. You opened the door just in time to hear a bright tenor voice.

"So this is love."

#obey me x reader #obey me #simeon x reader #om! simeon #october prompts

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inevitably-johnlocked · 3 years ago

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hey hey steph! when covid first struck i didn’t want to read any fics that included the virus or quarantine or anything because fanfic was supposed to be escapism for me. but now that things have sort of calmed down a bit, for me at least, i think i might like to try some johnlock in quarantine. do you have any such fics? thanks xx

Hey Nonny!

Ah, I haven't read any myself, BUT I know that @sherlockedcarmilla has a series called Isolated that is a collection of Virus-related fics from various authors!

SwissMiss also has a Covid-19 Lockdown Fics List.

And here's what's in my MFL offline list that I've tagged that you might like:

(EDIT: WAY more than I thought I had, surprise new list, LOL)

QUARANTINE / LOCKDOWN / PANDEMIC FICS (MFL's)

End of the Curve by doctor_not_your_girlfriend (T, 833 w., 1 Ch. || COVID-19, One Shot, Medical Realism, Major Illness, Recovery, Optimism, Disability, Needles) – July, 2021. Mycroft has a special delivery for Sherlock. Inspired by Proving A Point by elldotsee, J_Baillier.

The Doctor's Reward by CarmillaCarmine (E, 3,124 w., 2 Ch. || Quarantine / Self-Isolation, Doctor John, Blow Jobs, Anal Fingering, Anal Plug, Prostate Massage, Overstimulation, Autofellatio, Come Swallowing, Masturbation) – Sherlock decides that John needs a reward after a day of working from home. Part 11 of the The Johnlock Utopia (Holidays and Celebrations) Series

A Study in Beard by Loveismyrevolution (T, 3,810 w., 1 Ch. || Established Relationship, Fluff and Humour, Experiments, Beards, Idiots in Love, Quarantine) – Sherlock has to face the consequences of using up all of their shaving foam. Which turns out to be more fun than expected. Boys being boys, nothing can go without a challenge. Although, being isolated presents a problem. How will they determine the winner? Part 2 of the Hairy Situations at 221B series

Sherlock's Solution by PipMer (T, 4,125 w., 1 Ch, || Fluff, Romance, Friends to Lovers, Isolation/Quarantine, Pining, Miscommunication, First Kiss) – Sherlock and John are stuck in quarantine. Against all expectations, John is the one who goes stir-crazy first. Sherlock has a unique solution to the problem.

Am I the Current (Tiger) King of England? by Dee_Laundry (T, 9,360 w., 1 Ch. || Tiger King Fusion || Post-S4, Dreams, Friendship, John’s Sexuality, Sherlock’s Sexuality, Quarantine/CoVID-19, Past Character Death, Mentions of Violence, Mentions of Dom/Sub, First Kiss) – “I had the weirdest dream last night,” John said. Seven times.

Below Zero by Calais_Reno (M, 10,912 w., 2 Ch. || End of the World AU || Falling in Love, Antartica, Space Station, Pandemic, Heavy Angst, Loneliness, Love, Hopeful Ending) – 10,000 miles south of London, John Watson sits in a research station in Antarctica. 210 miles above London, Sherlock Holmes is floating in a space station. They are Earth’s only survivors.

Isolated by CarmillaCarmine (G, 10,951, 8 Ch. || WiP || Quarantine From Virus, Fluff, Idiots in Love, Bi-Panic, Cuddling & Snuggling, Coming Out, Bathing/Washing, Bubble Bath, Kissing) – Due to an ongoing pandemic, John and Sherlock find themselves isolated at 221B.

Putting up Shelves by khorazir (M, 11,382 w., 1 Ch. || Post-S3, Quarantine/Lockdown, Friends to Lovers, Miscommunication, Jealous John, Inexperienced Sherlock, Banter, Bisexual John, Demisexual Sherlock, IKEA Furniture, Fluff, Misunderstandings) – Sherlock claims to be an expert at putting up shelves. John gets the totally wrong idea. DIY, awkwardness and some soul-searching ensue. And some shelves are put up ...

The Secret of Hazel Grange by SilentAuror (E, 18,153 w., 1 Ch. || Post S4, Christmas, COVID-19 / Pandemic, POV Sherlock) – John has a secret, and Sherlock is bothered. Trapped together at Baker Street during the lockdown, the tension only grows worse as Christmas draws nearer...

Lockdown by johnwatso and Salambo06 (E, 23,376 w., 20 Ch. || Quarantine, COVID-19, Lockdown, Fluff, Parentlock, Reunion, Dancing, Soft Idiots, Sex Toys) – The world is in lockdown due to Covid-19. This is how Sherlock and John spend their time.

Inhale With Ease by Vulpesmellifera (E, 25,989 w., 8 Ch. || S4 Divergence, Covid-19/Quarantine, Jealous John, Love Letters, Victor Trevor, Divorce, Angst with Happy Ending) – In the years after Vivian Norbury's capture, life seems to work out just as John planned. He's got that respectable job at the surgery and goes home to his wife and child. He joins Sherlock on cases a couple times per week. It's a rhythm he can live with - just enough adrenaline highs to balance out the drudgery of a normal bloke's life. Until a pandemic, and Victor Trevor, arrive in London.

Beyond Recall by elwinglyre & MrBotanyB (E, 110,201 w. || Apocalypse/Dystopia AU, Alternate First Meeting, Case Fic, Amnesia/Memory Loss, Hurt/Comfort, Slow Burn, First Time, Alternating POV) – Dropped into Cardiff on a mission he doesn’t remember, everyday he wakes to a past he doesn’t recall in a world torn apart by pandemic. William (Sherlock Holmes) finds purpose when John Watson finds him. For Watson, this man is a mysterious thief with the uncanny ability to see into people. But there’s something more to this man, and Doctor Watson helps William find the answers to his “magical” deductions. Is he a mad man? A serial killer? Or just damn clever? And what’s his connection to the epidemic that wiped out most of the world?

#steph replies #johnlock fic recs #to read #my fic recs #pandemic fics #coronavirus #covid 19 #quarantine fics #fic rec wednesday

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blue-pastel-cat · 3 years ago

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Xiaobedo Fanfic Recommendation

Welcome to my personal “if you are new to xiaobedo peeps please read these” list. As said before this is my personal list so please feel free to reblog/comment/hit me for not including any gem here. I might miss a lot of them because I am drunk or blind. (mostly have them on my to read and then forgot as I am being assault by real life shit).

I would like to say first that so far there are 150+ Xiaobedo fics on Ao3. I can’t review all of them but I can say that I have read a majority of them. Most of them are just pure love and I would like nothing more than a thousands thank you for all the fic writers who spent their free time writting these gems for us to read for free. But these...these takes the cake as it finds a special landing spot in my heart that I would just thrust them into someone’s hand if they say “I am new to this ship can you recommend me?”

1. Orange dust by bobamilkteas (Wes)

In which Xiao learns to open himself up to the world a little more after the collapse of Rex lapis's contracts but it was not always easy for a soul doomed to eternal damnation. Meanwhile, Albedo liked to tempt fate where the extraordinary are concerned.

If only the traveler's comrades are made of saner bunch.

Comment: Long ago when I like both Albedo and Xiao as a character, I was wondering hmmm....will anyone actually even write about them lmao they never met each other. I am surprise to see this one as the 3rd fic in the whole 3 Xiaobedo fic on Ao3 (yeah back when there’s literally only 3 fic for this couple). I was like I’ll read it for the curiosity, I’ll probably won’t ship them. And that people is how I put my clown make up on my face upon finishing reading it. This ONE fic alone convert me into a devotee of Xiaobedo. Please consider joining me in this circus if you want to know what is Xiaobedo. I would put this as the first of my “Big 3″

Orange Dust also come with its compliation of short stories over the course of the game and a big sequel to it. Please also consider reading ALL OF THEM.

2. Solar Wind by birdpriestess (Sparrow)

For the yaksha, his duty was his life, and his life was his duty. No human could ever hope to understand the eternal war he fought out of sight and in silence.

So why, then, did he feel that Albedo would understand?

---

Finding himself at death's door once more, Xiao is saved by a surprising person, setting off the unlikeliest of adventures.

Comment: Do you like crying? Do you like the feeling of getting your heart ripped into pieces as the author destroy your emotions over the end of each chapter as the story picked up the climax? Yeah, this one is for you masochists. The action, the characterisation, the drama THE EMOTIONS OH WOW. I kid you not that it was so good I read this while workinng when I am not suppose to me. Also, this fic has my favourite characterisation of Gold ever. I love that dramatic queen Mad Alchemist. AND DAIN. I LOVE DAIN IN THIS FIC. Our dearest Sparrow manage to toy with our feelings like how I bully ruin guard for big numbers lmao. This is the secound of “Big 3″ of my Xiaobedo list.

Again, just like Orange Dust, Solar Wind comes with its own compliation of short stories of what came after that. Please also consider reading ALL OF THEM.

3. Castle of Glass by AlchemicalStardust (Morgie)

A black shadow rises over Huaguang Stone Forest. Caught in the wrong place at the wrong time, Albedo flees the shaking ground and the crash of boulders tumbling form the sky. As the dust settles, Albedo finds a young man – an Adeptus – amidst the carnage. Despite the karmic agony ripping his body from the inside, Xiao’s only question is “How?” How did a human survive after witnessing his battle?

Comment: The last of the “Big 3″ of my Xiaobedo list. And it is still on going! Castle of Glass? More like I AM IN A GLASS CASE OF EMOTIONS! Have you read a fic about 2 people yearning, longing, reaching out for each other so damn well that you just want to throw your phone in the air as they both had their impending doom coming down upon them? Yeah this is one of them. You will like want to be stuck in the moment they express how much they just yearn for each other’s love and care that you want to shake the author for what comes next. Like...everytime Morgie update I am expressing my gratitude at the end of the chapter by writing on Xiaobedo discord “MORGIE COME HERE AND LET ME BONK YOU WHY ARE YOU ENDING IT THERE”

trust me when you read you will def feel the same. With just Big 3 and their compliation alone that would give you like a LONG list of reading already LMAOOOOOOO

4. Find a place to call it home by yamajiroo

Our room, he said. Xiao’s brow twitches. Zhongli never said anything about this. But then again, perhaps he should anticipate this from the beginning...

Xiao looks over at Albedo, who is now tilting his head, his look as innocent as ever.

“Are you not okay with sharing a room?”

Comment: College AU for Xiaobedo! One thing that I love this is the slow burn and what made me LOVE LOVE LOVE this fic more is how cute Klee is in this fic. Their relationship in this one is very simple, but that simplicity highlight why their chemistry work. Xiao is someone who was just very gentle, who was largely misunderstood by his lonesome nature. Albedo was someone who like peace and quite in his introvert bubble. And how they respect that bubble that each other has actually made their relationship work. I love it when fic highlight this and this one captures it.

5. I Can't See Your Face From the Other Side of the Classroom by MissWeaver

When Albedo and Xiao unexpectedly start eating lunch together, they begin to find that they have more in common than anyone would have realized. They both struggle in their own ways with blossoming feelings, too many assignments, and annoying classmates as they navigate a relationship for the first time.

Comment: I’ll be honest, I usually hate high school au just because its so cliche. I don’t even watch and drama/anime surrounds high school student anymore LMAOOO (unless it’s very good). So if there’s an high school AU that I actually keep come back and read after a couple of chapters, it means that the cliche that I hate wasn’t there or barely was there at all. The pinning in this fic makes me want to bang their head together sometimes LMAOOO The tag wasn’t kidding when they said both Xiao and Albedo are bad at feelings. Also that’s a lot of heart broken caused by these two idiots XD

6. new world, same me, same bullshit by bobamilkteas (Wes)

At the belly of Dragonspine, Albedo lost control to the festering corruption that permeated his senses and watched, from the recesses of his mind, as his devoured body turned his allies into enemies. Before his rampage reached its climax, he is sealed in a crystalized confinement by the last hand of Reindottir, where he then reawakens centuries after, in a rebooted Teyvat.

Comment: Yeah I know it was list in Orange Dust but here me out. This sets out in an entirely different universe. And if you like Polyamory, this one has Zhongli joining the duo and I love it because I also love ZhongXiao with my life. Time Travel is my biggest kink. Especially when I am the person who love it when people explore Archon War era/ Alatus!Xiao. So this one hits double of my kink. Of course it is still on going and I will bully Wes whenever I can to see that new chapter. Albedo is a total fucking badass in this story and I completely agree from using him in Abyss so often. Everyone should write badass Albedo.

7. misplaced heart of mine by inkburn

“If you are ill, then you should be resting at home. In Mondstadt.” He emphasized Mondstadt with a pointed look in his direction.

“I assure you I won’t be troublesome, Adeptus Xiao,” Albedo said, “You’ll find I’m a rather low-maintenance traveler.”

“Travel,” Xiao scoffed, “without airstep?”

Albedo looked him up and down. “Are your legs just for decoration?”

(albedo is sent to liyue on mandatory vacation. xiao is his unfortunate bodyguard.)

Comment: Most of the time you will see Albedo and Xiao starting their relationship with one of them taking interest in another. But this one took another approach, they starting off by make them hating each other’s guts LMAOOOO and I live for every second of it. There’s only 1 chapter so far but wow it was SOOO GOOD. I am really really excited for next chapter and is waiting patiently ;w;

8. Blossom of Grace by birdpriestess

One day in Liyue Harbor, Albedo watches a street performance by an enigmatic dancer named Xiao. And he becomes completely obsessed.

Comment: Have you ever look at Xiao fight and thinking that he’s one of the most beautiful deadly thing ever? How it was like he was dancing around the battlefield? How about actual dancer Xiao being so absolutely beautiful and perfect and that slow burn of Albedo falling in love with that beauty with a touch of Modern AU and cute Ganyu as the Wing woman. Yes, Sparrow delivers yet again another beautiful slow burn and while it’s still ongoing it is worth the read.

9. i think we could make this work (could get used to this) by outspaced

“Xiao? What are you doing out here?”

“I—”

“It’s raining,” Albedo says, as if it isn’t obvious. “You could get struck by lightning.”

“What are you doing out here then?” Xiao does the only thing he knows how to do, he challenges Albedo. “It’s raining.”

Albedo just hums. “If I get struck by lightning, it’s for science.”

Comment: A short one-shot where I read the summary and went “This is it... this is their relationship.” I am sold immediately. Oh god Albedo why are you like this.

10. Ephemeral by criedprinz

“It’s not for your investigation, is it?” Aether asked mildly.

Albedo traced a finger around the sketchbook, considering the question. “No,” he admitted finally. “I... I just want to see them again.”

He opened the sketchbook to reveal the drawing he’d just finished. Aether nodded, clearly recognizing the sharp golden eyes.

“Xiao,” he said. “You were rescued by an adeptus.”

When a visit to Dragonspine goes horribly wrong, Albedo is rescued by an unknown stranger, wielding powers he's never heard of. Led on a search to find out who it is, he finds himself in the middle of an unforgettable encounter..

Comment: A really really well written one-shot that I love. The yearning oh godddd the yearning from Albedo side is just so so much that I have to put it here. (I think you can see the trend here lmao. I am a sucker for yearning). And the moment they get to meet each other again is just chef kiss. MWHAA

11. Idle Yaksha, Brilliant Yaksha by Pit0fTheEarth

Alatus didn’t have a lot of responsibilities to keep. He spent most of his days dancing across the sky and eating away all nightmares that plagued a person’s sleep.

But one fortunate encounter led to too many unfortunate ones, taking his carefree existence and plunging it in darkness. His wings, stripped from him. His gentle touch, replaced by an unforgiving grip of destruction.

There was a lot of blood on his hands. With each passing moment, it became harder for Alatus to recall the last time someone gently held him.

Comment: This is one of the ongoing fic where I am very very much excited on the take of Naberius. And the way the author portray Xiao when he’s still the innocent Alatus is just *clench fist*. Baby ;w; Baby why do you have to lose all that innocence. Also the fic has long LONG flashback to Xiao past and his relationship with Naberius. We are unwielding more what happened to both of them and why perhaps does this have to do with Albedo.

That’s it for now, might add more later! Thank you <3

#xiaobedo #tetsu likes to ramble #genshin impact

134 notes · View notes

taeyongdoyoung · 3 years ago

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summary: you have a crush on college student renjun so you make use of your best lamest flirting attempts and surprisingly they work?!

pairing: renjun x gn!reader

genre: college!au, romance, pure fluff

warnings: very lame jokes, mentions of a cruel prank in the past (someone asking out renjun as a joke, pls never do that to people!), lots of awkwardness & sweetness, a bit of swearing, reader has an obsession with renjun’s pretty hands

word count: 4.7k

It had been a while since you had a crush so strong you even had a hard time focusing in class. Usually, you were a very good student, diligently taking notes and participating when the professor asked questions. But that was until you saw Renjun for the first time.

It was like something possessed you and suddenly you couldn't think about anything else but his pretty, gentle face, his angelic voice and his lovely hands always drawing something in his notebook. It certainly didn't help much that you were seated right next to him during your shared lectures. It most certainly didn't help that you forgot all your vocabulary when you were in his immediate vicinity. Usually, your teachers and friends described you as well-spoken and eloquent, always knowing the right thing to say.

But that was, of course, until Renjun. All words disappeared from your poor brain whenever he was around. And it's not like you didn't want to talk to him, get to know him better. But you physically couldn't bring yourself to form a coherent sentence. You kept telling yourself it was just a silly crush and it would pass in time. But the more time passed, the stronger you felt the need to do something about your feelings. Naturally, you couldn't speak, but there was still something you could do. Something you probably did best. Write.

So one day, after what felt like an eternity of yearning, you finally gathered the courage to act on your emotions. Taking a small sheet of paper out of your notebook, you wrote a little something. It was probably super lame but apparently, even your writing skills were affected by your crush on him. As soon as your "masterpiece" was done, you slid it towards Renjun before you could chicken out and change your mind about this whole thing. The note had the following text:

Roses are red, Violets are blue, Your drawings are almost As pretty as you. P.S. Key word: almost ;)

The second he spotted the little note which was folded in a hurry, he opened it curiously. Once he read its insides, you could hear him snort under his breath. Was it that bad? You couldn't help but worry. Then, he took his own pen and started writing something under it. That was a good sign, right? You were feeling hopeful. Once he was done, he slid the paper towards you. You opened it in a rush. His response was:

Hey! Are you bullying my art?!?

You looked at him in confusion. How could he have possibly misunderstood? However, he was too focused on multitasking (drawing most of the time and occasionally taking notes based on the lecture) to spot your reaction. You decided you had no choice but to be as explicit as possible and wrote another note:

Nooo, I meant to compliment both you and your art, sorry if it came off wrong and lame :(

When he received it, you could swear you saw him smiling a little, which made your heart melt. How was he so beautiful? Soon enough, his reply came:

That's alright, I'm just teasing...Also, it worked.

You couldn't believe it. It worked? You'd successfully grabbed his attention by using this first-grade flirting method in college? You were suddenly feeling brave and kept writing. It was too late to turn back time.

I just think you're really pretty and cool especially when you draw but I was too hesitant to talk to you directly...

When he read your most recent note, he even gave you a look of disbelief, which you couldn't interpret until you saw his response:

Cool? Wow, that's a first...And it's ok, I don't bite.

You chuckled quietly and suddenly noticed that class was ending soon. You couldn't wait until tomorrow so you hurriedly wrote the content of your next note:

What do I have to do to get your number?

Renjun shook his head in amusement and this time, his reply came quicker than before:

*number enclosed* Here, that wasn't so hard, was it?

You could hear the lecturer saying his words of conclusion and you hurried to respond via another note, because you couldn't trust your voice to actually speak to Renjun. Not yet, at least. So, you wrote:

Thank you!!! Here is mine: *number enclosed*

And just as he received your final note, the students around you started gathering their things. You simply looked at Renjun and you still couldn't believe he'd actually replied to your silly flirting and even gave you his number! You waved him goodbye like a lovesick fool and practically ran outside of the lecture hall. Stage fright whomst? Try having a crush on the prettiest boy in the world.

After you went back home, you debated calling Renjun. Eventually, you talked yourself out of it. What if you said something stupid and embarrassing? With texting, you could at least have more time to think things through before sending them. Actually speaking to him seemed too terrifying a task to accomplish. So, you texted him excitedly and your heart did a back-flip when he replied. Was it strange that you already missed him, even though it had only been a couple of hours since you last saw him? Naturally, you couldn't tell him that, it would probably freak him out. So, you settled for texting (for the time being).

Renjun: Why did you run away after class?

You: I was too nervous to speak to you, I'm sorry!!!

Renjun: That's strange, I see you talking to your friends all the time...Am I so scary?!?

You: Nooo, you're not scary, I'm just being an idiot 😔

Renjun: Top of the class does not equal idiot but I'll let it slide this time

You: Thank you for your generosity!

Renjun: What are you up to?

You: Probably gonna work on that assignment for next week

You: Sorry, I'm so boring 😔

Renjun: First of all, you don't have to apologize so much, you did nothing wrong

Renjun: Second of all, saaame. We can brainstorm together if you want?

You: Sorry, I'll stop. Oops, I did it again. Pretend you didn't see it.

You: Also omg, yes pls, that would be great!

And that is how your friendship with Renjun started. Texting on your phones and exchanging notes during class lasted a week until you finally decided to ask him out. Again, via text, because you were feeling too shy to speak to him. The only other contact you'd had was waving at each other. And it's not like he spoke to you, either. There were two explanations for that: 1) he chose to respect your decision or 2) he was possibly just as shy as you were. Whatever the reason, you thought this could not go on forever so you managed to find the bravery to propose a date.

You: Do you wanna go out with me? 👉🥺👈

Renjun: Sure, where do you wanna go?

You: Oh, wow, I didn't think I'd get this far lol

You: Where do YOU wanna go?

Renjun: Hmm, there's this new art gallery I've been meaning to visit...if that's okay with you

You: Anything is good with me as long as I get to see your pretty face

Renjun: What

You: I said you're pretty

Renjun: Shut up, oh my God...

You: Do you want me to stop?

Renjun: Say that again

You: You're pretty

Renjun: 😳😳😳

Renjun: I can't wait to see you again

You: Same here

Once you got to the front of the art gallery, it struck you how strange it was that you would speak to Renjun for the first time ever. You mentally braced yourself as you awaited his arrival anxiously. Your nails were digging into the inside of your hands and you were terrified you'd pierce holes through your own skin. You told yourself this was silly, you had no reason to be so nervous. Renjun was a total sweetheart and he obviously liked talking...well, writing to you. You needn't worry that much, you kept repeating in your mind. You were too busy hyping yourself up to notice him approaching behind you. Too busy to be prepared for what came next.

"Hiii," Renjun greeted you with a surprise back hug.

"Oh dear," you jumped in shock as you turned around.

"Did I scare you, angel?"

Shit. Already with the pet names? How were you supposed to survive?

"No, it's fine," you waved him off, trying to play it cool. "Isn't it weird this is the first time we're actually speaking to each other?"

"Um...kinda," Renjun scratched the back of his head. "But I like it, it's what makes this so special."

"Wow, you sure do have a way with words," you chuckled.

"Shall we go inside?" he suggested.

"Yes, please."

As you looked around the art gallery, you kept pointing excitedly at the paintings, while Renjun was quietly evaluating them and telling you interesting stories about the artists. You couldn't help but be amazed by how attractive he was as he exhibited his knowledge. And of course, you couldn't help but wonder at how he was so much more beautiful than all the art you've ever seen. Naturally, you wouldn't tell him that. First of all, because it was too lame to speak aloud. Second of all, because your voice would undoubtedly betray you and crack or something even more embarrassing. As time passed, you were surprised at how easy it was to talk to him, despite your previous concerns. Renjun was very polite and soft-mannered and he made you feel comfortable, while the two of you looked at the paintings and discussed them. Once you'd seen everything, you were starting to feel a bit bummed out that your lovely date was coming to an end. When you were outside the art gallery, you impulsively asked:

"Can I walk you home?"

"I mean...sure. On one condition."

"Anything."

"I get to walk you home next time."

"There'll be a next time?" you whispered hopefully.

"I hope I don't sound presumptuous if I share my observation we both had a wonderful time."

"That's perfectly alright. Your observation is correct," you admitted.

"I live just around the corner, though. You really don't have to-"

"But I want to."

"So do I," Renjun said and the two of you began walking towards his home.

"I was wondering about something...You already know I didn't speak to you because I was feeling shy, but why didn't you? I have two theories, but I'm curious which one is more on point."

"Do tell and I'll try my best to enlighten you," he joked.

"Okay, so theory number one is you were being respectful of my wish not to talk yet. Theory number two is that you're just as shy as I am."

Renjun laughed and you could swear this was the sweetest sound in the entire universe.

"Am I so transparent? Honestly, it's a little bit of both. But there's another part you didn't guess. But it's too embarrassing."

"Come on, tell meee! It can't be more embarrassing than my lame attempts to flirt with you."

Renjun smiled gently.

"Well, to be honest, I couldn't believe you thought I was cool and pretty...I even feared this was some sort of prank. It wouldn't be the first time someone decided to mess with me like that."

"Renjun, are you serious? I don't understand why anyone would...Scratch that, whoever messed with you didn't deserve even a fraction of your attention. I meant every word I said. I really like you...and your paintings. And I'm sorry I couldn't say it aloud earlier. You genuinely deserve to hear nice things more."

"Thank you. I appreciate it," he blinked cutely. "But enough about me. I never told you...how beautiful you are. How kind and smart."

"I know," you waved him off teasingly. "But coming from you, this means a lot."

Renjun shook his head, amused by your words.

"We should go somewhere you like next time. Maybe a bookshop?" he suggested.

"Am I so transparent?" you repeated his words. "But sure, yeah. That sounds nice."

"Well, this is me," he said, pointing towards his home.

"Already? Aw, time sure flies by when you're having fun."

"I'll see you tomorrow in class, right?"

"Of course," you promised and before you could talk yourself out of it, gave him a quick but heartfelt hug. "Bye, Renjun."

"Bye, angel."

After your first date with Renjun, things were going quite smoothly. You finally got over your nervousness when it came to talking to him and the two of you would occasionally whisper things to each other during class. The first time he held your hand under the desk your cheeks filled with colour. Despite your embarrassment, you held his hand right back and granted him with a grateful smile. After that, holding hands in class (whenever you weren't busy taking notes) became like second nature to you two. It just felt so sweet and comfortable to be close to him. You couldn't wait till the next weekend for your second date. Even though you were just going to a bookshop and had nothing that special planned out, you enjoyed being around him so much that you were more than excited for spending time with him one-on-one. No professors or other students to distract you.

When the day finally arrived, you were surprised to find out your anxious self had made a comeback. Even though you were around him everyday and had grown accustomed to holding a conversation, it had been an entire week since your first date when it was just the two of you and you couldn't help but get cold feet as you were waiting in front of the bookshop. This time Renjun didn't surprise you from behind, you could see him approaching from a distance. Mentally bracing yourself for his inevitable arrival, you knew you'd be an awkward mess no matter how hard you tried.

"Hey, angel," he greeted you with the usual hug.

"It's nice to see you again, Renjun," you replied dumbly, briefly melting into his arms.

"You saw me yesterday, remember?" he teased you.

"Um, yeah, but still," you chuckled.

"Is everything okay? You don't seem like yourself," Renjun immediately noticed the change in your behaviour.

"Why wouldn't it be? Everything's peachy," you lied, but he didn't seem to believe you.

"Be honest with me, please," Renjun asked. You suddenly remembered what he'd confided in you during your first date. It was no wonder he had a hard time trusting you after someone in his past had had the nerve to pull such a cruel prank on a soul as sweet as his. You felt guilty for lying rightaway and began explaining yourself.

"I'm sorry, I'm just nervous. I don't want to fuck anything up. Like I just did by lying and swearing. Fuck. I did it again, didn't I? I'll shut up now," you were rambling anxiously.

"Relax, Y/N, I totally get it. I was just worried maybe you didn't want to be here...with me."

"What? Nonsense. There's nowhere else I'd rather be. No one else I'd rather be with."

"Well, the feeling's mutual so there's no need for concern. Let's look at those books, yeah?"

"Yeah, sounds good, Renjun."

As the two of you went inside and started exploring the hundreds of shelves together, you felt yourself relaxing a little. Being surrounded by so many familiar titles, so many gorgeous covers was comforting. And as you kept showing Renjun some of your favourite books and telling him about your most beloved characters, he realized you were back to your usual self in no time. Attentively listening and occasionally sharing his opinions on certain authors, you didn't notice how quickly time passed by and how much you had enjoyed yourself and each other's company. Once you had looked through the bookshop in its entirety, you felt like it was too early to put an end to your date, but you didn't want to come off as too clingy or something. So, you simply looked at Renjun, expecting him to say what he wanted to do next.

"I promised you I'll walk you home this time, didn't I?" he smoothly said.

"I believe you did," you giggled. It was so sweet of him to remember such a detail.

"I'm a man of my word so lead the way," Renjun replied, offering you his arm.

"It will be my pleasure," you eagerly took his arm and the two of you began walking. You were deliberately moving at a slow place, simply because you didn't want this to end and felt like prolonging the time around him.

"Your hands are so pretty," you blurted out at one point.

"You like my hands, huh?" Renjun smirked.

"Did I say that out loud?" you were undoubtedly blushing really hard.

"I'm afraid so."

You felt completely mortified as you covered your face with your own hands.

"Hey, hey, it's fine. You can tell me anything. Chances are I'll take it as a compliment."

"Really?" you sneaked a peak. "You don't think I'm weird?"

"Maybe a little bit, but it's one of the things I like about you."

"One?" you blinked curiously.

"You're really fun to be around and you've been nothing but sweet to me. And of course, you're stunning, but that goes without saying."

"Without saying? I don't mind hearing it, though."

"I'll have that in mind," Renjun smiled gently.

"Renjun?"

"Yes?"

"Can you hold my hand?" you almost begged.

"I don't know, can I?" he tormented you with a joke.

"Will you hold my hand?" you corrected yourself.

"All you had to do was ask," Renjun acquiesced and intertwined your fingers.

Walking hand in hand, you eventually reached your place. As you two stared at one another, you refusing to go inside, him refusing to go, both of you refusing to let go of the other's hand, you thought to yourself how badly you wanted to kiss him. You had no idea if it was too early for that but you knew that the longer you tried to postpone it, the more you'd crave him. And you were an impatient person. So you quickly kissed him without thinking much. It was a bit awkward and rushed but at least, you had finally done as you wanted. Renjun looked taken aback and blinked at you a couple of times.

"I'm sorry," you apologized again. "I just..."

He silenced you softly with another kiss, this time more slowly and putting your mind and heart at ease. You lost yourself in the feeling of his plush lips against yours, finally letting go of his hand so that you could wrap yours around his neck. Hesitant at first but growing bolder by the second, you could sense Renjun's tongue testing the waters. You slightly parted your lips, letting him in. As the kiss intensified, you could feel him becoming more eager to touch you, his arms wrapped around your lower back. When you were seconds away from losing your breath, you finally broke the kiss. Opening your eyes to look at him, you couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief. He'd kissed you back.

"I thought I told you to stop apologizing so much. Especially, when you haven't done anything wrong," Renjun scolded you politely.

You opened your mouth to argue, but when you realized your immediate response would have been another 'I'm sorry', you closed it. A second later, you came up with a different reply.

"I guess you'll have to discipline me, then," you huffed in a challenge.

"Dumbass," Renjun flicked your forehead.

"Hey!" you complained with a pout. "That hurts."

"What do you want me to do? Kiss it better?" Renjun gave an unamused look.

"That doesn't sound like such a bad idea," you mumbled, not expecting him to actually...kiss your forehead. But he did. And damn your knees for threatening to give out.

"Feel better yet?"

You nodded enthusiastically.

"Get inside already," Renjun tickled your sides, nudging you in the direction of your door.

"You want to get rid of me so badly?"

"No, but we can stand here forever if you don't," he rolled his eyes.

"Do you want me to invite you in?"

"Don't tempt me and go," he was impossible to sway.

"Okay, okay," you relented. "See you tomorrow, Renjun!"

For your third date Renjun suggested something different. While your first and second date had all taken place in public locations, this time he offered going to his place. And maybe the shock on your face was too obvious, because Renjun was quick to keep talking and almost take it back.

"We don't have to if you don't want to! We can just watch something at the cinema or whatever. Forget I mentioned it if you're uncomfortable."

You quickly shook your head.

"No, no, I do want to come over! I was just...not expecting it."

"Yeah? You sure?"

"A hundred per cent," you nodded excitedly.

"Sorry to break it to you, but I'm at two hundred per cent," Renjun teased.

"It's not a competition," you reminded him.

"It's not if I'm winning," he kept playing around.

You rolled your eyes.

"So what are we watching?" you asked.

"You can't go wrong with Harry Potter, am I right?"

"You are so right," you squealed. "Which house are you in?"

"Don't get me started. Sometimes I get Ravenclaw, sometimes Slytherin, it's a mess."

"That's pretty cool, though," you were practically staring at him with heart eyes at this point.

"You're a Hufflepuff, aren't you?"

"Am I so transparent?" you complained, this line becoming something of a running gag between the two of you.

"Cute," he mumbled under his breath and you blushed, not managing to maintain eye contact.

When the time arrived for you to go to Renjun's place, you were more excited rather than nervous. He was so easy to talk to and you were genuinely making so many wonderful memories that you had made it your mission to not waste any second worrying needlessly.

"I have arrived," you announced the obvious as you stood at his door.

"I can see that," Renjun chuckled. "Come on in."

"I wasn't sure if I should bring something so I bought some pizza on the way. It's still hot, so I hope you're hungry," you said as you followed him inside like a puppy.

"Oh, that's very thoughtful. And I always have enough space left for pizza."

You grinned and the minute you put the box on the table and your arms were free, you wrapped them around Renjun in a hug.

"You're so warm," you murmured against his skin.

He kissed the top of your head swiftly. Soon after, the two of you were too busy re-watching Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, eating pizza and holding hands to talk much. Once the movie was over, you realized how badly you didn't want to go home and how cozy leaning your head on Renjun's shoulder felt. And how much you liked him and couldn't stop thinking about his hands, his smile and his overall existence.

"Do you want to go home already?" Renjun asked the dreaded question.

"I mean, not really, but I don't wanna impose myself on you," you whispered.

"Don't be so formal," Renjun replied. "Just stay a little longer."

"Yayyy!" you were quite overjoyed and kissed his cheek. "What do you want to do?"

"Hm, I don't know. I could give you a tour around the place."

"Sure, that sounds fun," you immediately agreed.

"Don't get your hopes up, it's just a regular college guy's apartment."

"I'm sure I'll be amazed by every little detail."

"Even my socks?"

"Especially your socks," you joked.

As he showed you around his apartment, you couldn't help but be amazed by how Renjun-like everything was. From the snug kitchen to his art supplies scattered around. Every corner made the atmosphere feel extremely homey. Until you saw something that you hadn't expected, something that hadn't come up in conversation before. A stunning grand piano. You looked at the instrument and then at Renjun and finally, back at the piano.

"Do you play?"

"No, I just keep things like that as an accessory," he responded sarcastically. "Of course, I play."

"Can you...no, wait," you stopped yourself before making a similar mistake to the one you made a while ago. "Will you play something for me?"

"Right now?"

"If it's not too much trouble," you gave him the very best pleading look you were capable of.

Renjun sighed reluctantly and sat down on the bench in front of the piano.

"Don't just stand there awkwardly, sit next to me," he urged you courteously.

You followed his advice and took the free spot. However, nothing could have possibly prepared you for witnessing Renjun's skills up-close. Watching him play was like magic. You were simply in awe and couldn't help but stare at his pretty fingers hitting the keys in just the right ways. When he was finished performing the piece, you were too frozen to do anything. Couldn't even manage to clap, even though he deserved it so much. But you were too transfixed by his playing and those damn hands of his you couldn't possibly move.

"Earth to Y/N?" Renjun went as far as snapping his fingers right in front of your face.

"Huh?" you let out.

"Did I enchant you or what?"

"I think you did," you chuckled. "Just...wow. You're insanely good."

He looked away bashfully.

"Thanks. It just takes practice."

"Nah, I've heard people play before but what you have is different. So pure and genuine. Like a blessing. And I'm not just saying that because I think I'm falling in love with you. I really mean every word."

"Care to repeat that?"

"I really mean..." you started, still not registering what exactly you'd said. How far you'd gone. What you couldn't take back.

"Before that," Renjun reminded you gently. "You know. The part about falling in love with me."

"Shit. I was thinking out loud again, wasn't I?" you asked dumbly. "It's too early for that, I know. I'm really sorry. Let's just pretend I said nothing and forget about it, yeah?"

In your panic, you jumped up from the bench and were about to escape like a coward but Renjun grabbed your hand before you could take another step.

"I think I'm falling in love with you, too," he said.

"W-what?" you stammered.

"And I don't care about whether it's too early or not. And I'm not going to pretend I didn't hear it. So the question is...what are you going to do about that?"

"Me? What...am I supposed to do?"

"What you want to do," Renjun clarified.

"Um...I want to keep falling in love with you, Renjun. And holding your pretty hands. Spending time with you. Listening to your angelic voice. What I want...is for you to be my boyfriend."

"I thought I already was."

"You were?"

"We went on a couple of dates...we kissed...Haven't I made it obvious enough?"

"Oh, right," you chuckled. "Sorry."

"Say that word one more time, I dare you," Renjun slowly ran a finger down your lips.

"S-sorry?" you had to test his patience. Before you could argue, he kissed you fiercely, wrapping his palms around your cheeks. You were drowning beneath his touch, which was ridiculous, considering he was also setting your lips on fire. You figured if saying sorry too much was going to end up like this, you would be a fool not to take advantage of it.

"Pretty angel," Renjun whispered against your mouth. "My pretty angel."

You were practically melting and the only thing holding you together were Renjun's arms.

"For fear of sounding lame, I'm inclined to say your pretty angel's almost as pretty as you. Key word: almost," you giggled, recalling your earliest attempts at flirting with him.

"Lies," Renjun shook his head.

"Hey, it worked the first time!" you pouted.

"It only worked because you're the pretty one," Renjun ruffled your hair playfully.

"Oh my God, shut up," you covered your face to hide how red it was.

"Never."

The End

#nct #renjun #nct dream #renjun x reader #nct fluff #renjun fluff #hwang renjun #nct romance #hwang renjun x reader #college au #writing

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hopeless-ro-simptic · 4 years ago

Text

Sweet Poison - Yandere Alpha! Tamaki Amajiki x Omega! Reader - Pt 2

Warnings: forced/unknown drug-use, this one is pretty safe for work I guess? Idk maybe there should be a warning that this is all over the place. I felt like we needed some background, a go-between from part 1 to the next part.

Word Count: 1.8 k

This part I feel like kinda downplays the whole yandere thing... i’m not sure i’m getting it to come across right but just wait till next part. This is more kind of backstory and explanation.

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The first time that Tamaki’s eyes landed on you, he knew that you were the one. The sun that out-shown even Mirio. The sun that had him squinting, unable to look your way. You were a third year, like him, studying in the support course. You had been assigned to work with him on updating his costume, perfecting every minor detail until it was all completely perfect. You had wanted to be a designer, and your work was … flawless to Tamaki’s eyes. One look at his recently upgraded costume had him convinced you could easily make it big in the costume fashion industry.

It wasn’t until he smelled you, truly smelled you, however, did he truly lose his mind. To him your scent was absolute perfection, warm and inviting, making him feel like he was basking in the sunshine that you emitted. He was enamored when he first met you… his alpha was obsessed.

Any chance he got, any excuse, he would make his way over to the support workshop that you spent majority of your time in, always dragging either Mirio or Nejire along, never getting out more than a stutter to you about any changes if any that he wanted to make to his costume, most of the time not even asking you for anything and just watching from afar as his classmates handled their business in the workshop with the students that had been assigned to their respective costumes, pretending he hadn’t come just to watch you.

You had approached him first, struck up the first conversation that lasted more than three words. Making him practically jump out of his skin when one moment he had you in the corner of his eye as he listened to Nejire prattle off about how she wanted a way to better stabilize her in midair, the next you were lightly tugging on his uniform jacket, your omega scent enveloping him completely.

Before he could even react you had whisked him away from his safety net of his friend, off towards your workstation where you had launched into a long-winded explanation about a dream that you had had, one where you had seen a different version of his costume clear as day and how you just had to run the idea by him and see if he liked it.

His brain was too focused on the fact that you had straight out said you had dreamed about him.

It had taken you several moments of him openly staring at you, the first time that he had actually made eye contact, his face as red as a tomato to realize what you had said. You hadn’t meant to let that small detail slip out, only wanted to show him the drawings you had come up with, and within seconds you were redder than he was, your scent turning sour with panic. Would the alpha freak out? Would he insist that some other support student, one that didn’t have creepy dreams about an alpha they didn’t know, an alpha that probably was already courting someone else, work on his costume? You were devastated at the thought, the thought that you wouldn’t get to work on the Suneater’s costume. At the thought that he would find you creepy and an annoying needy omega. At the thought that he could reject you before you had even had a chance.

After all, he hadn’t been the only one that had taken notice of the other. You had clocked him the very first time he had stepped into the workshop several weeks ago already knowing who he was, noticed the way that his scent immediately had you calming down, your omega yearning to reach out and find safety in his arms as soon as you saw him. Not to mention you had thought he was ridiculously cute, and had already had a smidge of a crush after watching him at the sports festival the previous year. You had found it beyond endearing the first time he had been dragged over to your station by his blue haired friend, barely getting out a stutter before his friend took over explaining what he had wanted updated in his costume.

As soon as his brain registered the absolute panicked sour scent wafting off of you he was moving into action, his fingers softly brushing your own before they slipped around your palm, holding your hand so gently as his thumb rubbed your hand reassuringly. His alpha pumping out it’s best calming scent, the one that was supposed to biologically tell omega’s that they were safe. The one that had you practically melting into his arms. He was a stuttering mess as he reassured you that it was fine, that he found it cute that you were so excited to work with him on his costume, and to please relax, that you were okay, everything was okay.

Once he had gotten you to calm down, the two of you had immediately separated upon noticing just how close you had gotten, faces remaining red throughout the rest of your conversation. He had been content to listen to you as you explained in great detail just all the changes that you had envisioned, and you had been beyond ecstatic that you had him sitting at your work bench, his attention solely on you. You don’t even think he noticed he was making eye contact with you the whole time, intensity in his eyes that had you running out of air.

Just a few short weeks later and the two of you had started courting. Your relationship feeling like a whirlwind once it started, the closer the two of you got, the more confident the shy alpha grew, living up to his secondary sex. Within two months you had already moved your nest into his room, being practically inseparable.

You were completely and immeasurably in love with your alpha. Knowing without a doubt that you wanted to spend the rest of your life with him. The high that you got when you were with him, touching him, kissing him, tasting him, nothing could ever come close to feeling as good. You never wanted it to end.

Unbeknownst to you, Tamaki was clouding your mind.

“Bunny…” Soft kisses were scattered across your face, fingers weaving into your hair and brushing it out of your sleepy face as you groaned softly at being woken up at such an early hour. You tried to cuddle further into the warm side of your alpha, but he was already whispering into your ear, an apology thick in his voice.

Your eyes shot open, pure panic in them that Tamaki immediately kissed your nose to dispel, his pouted lips mirroring your own.

“I know bunny, I want to stay to, but I have to go.” He was already completely dressed in his costume, ready to go. The costume that you had designed, not that the label had stated that, all costumes having to be signed off on and therefor claimed by one of the several designers that the school worked with.

The soft whimper that left your lips had him sighing softly, pressing his lips against yours, you relaxing within second against his touch, enjoying the way your brain went fuzzy, feeling warm inside. Still you pouted when he pulled away, desperate for more.

“Can’t you say you’re sick?” You sounded needy, like an annoying omega in one of the novels you had read, but you couldn’t help it, you felt physically sick with anxiety the longer he was away, last time he had only been gone for six hours and you had been cold and shaking when he returned desperate for his touch and the relief that came with it.

“I’m sorry, you know I can’t. I have to go catch the bad guys, to keep you safe.” That was what he had told himself over and over, that he was doing all of this to keep you safe. That he was going to be the strongest hero and get rid of as many scum off the streets as possible, just so he could have some piece of mind on the rare occasion that you went out with your friends. Not that he didn’t follow you every time. Still, even as he hid in the shadows, watching you and making sure you were safe, he felt restless.

Glancing at his clock he felt his heart break, he had to go now. Leaning down once more he rubbed his nose side to side against yours, pressing one last soft kiss to the tip of it making sure to coat his lips with the poison seeping through his skin before he forced himself out of bed, and out the door.

He had felt guilty, every time that he used the toxic drug that he could produce from eating certain mushrooms on you, but it didn’t stop him from continuing to do it. He knew the affect that it had on people, in small doses, the way that it made them high, made them feel like they were flying. The best feeling they had ever had, and he couldn’t help but want to make you feel that way. To be the only one who could make you feel that way, the way that you had made him feel every time he saw you.

He had found out one day while testing different foods with his quirk, deciding to test a poisonous mushroom just to see what would happen, knowing due to the special lining in his stomach it wouldn’t affect him. Seen the way that it affected his sparring partner, even though he had given them the smallest dose he could under strict supervision from their teacher who hadn’t been completely okay with the idea but saw the benefits it could have. After they had come down from it they had given him a detailed description and he immediately felt hooked on the idea of giving it to you.

He had come back to his room that night, planning on asking you if you wanted to try it, only to find you distraught and upset from a negative comment you had received from one of your teachers on a costume piece you had worked on for months. He had just wanted to make you feel better, and no matter what his alpha did it wasn’t working, you were devastated. He was livid that they had made you feel like this, that they didn’t like the creation that to him was beyond perfection. Those idiots clearly had no taste, but he couldn’t fix that. The only thing he could do was make his pretty bunny feel better, and he knew just how to do it.

He didn’t think that months later he would still be doing it, but the way that you reacted, the way that you clung to him, begged to be near him at all times, the way that you were completely and absolutely obsessed with him had him swallowing mushroom after mushroom.

He would do anything to keep you happy, to keep you by his side.

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Want to show your support? Buy me a coffee!

#tamaki #tamaki amajiki #alpha tamaki amajiki #omega reader #omegaverse #bnha omegaverse #mha omegaverse

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viatagrinner · 3 years ago

Text

Our new beginning. Kagemaru

Key: thoughts, narration, speech

The heroine and Oboro bought dango and return to hideout the Senkitai.

Oboro grinning at MC mischievously:

"But are you sure I'm the one you should've asked to go with you?"

МC: What do you mean?

Oboro: Wouldn't you preferred, say... Kagemaru? He is kind of your boyfriend.

(Is that how the rest of the Senkitai see us?)

МС: Mmm, how should I put it?

If I'm completely honest, my relationship with Kagemaru is still a bit of a mystery to me.

(Somehow we've kissed, but we've never outright admitted how we feel about each other. I just can't tell what that guy is thinking.)

MC: See, he's not exactly my boyfriend…

Oboro: Huh? But Kagemaru himself said you guys are dating.

МС: That was just a tactic to ensure I'd be able to come and go around here without any questions being asked. I mean, there are still Ayakashi who can't stand human coming and going as they please.

Oboro: You sure about that? You really sure?

Oboro pouts, looking dissatisfied.

Oboro: I think you really caught Kagemaru's eye, MC.

MC: What?

Oboro: He's the kind of guy who knows what he wants. If he didn't actually like you, he wouldn't call you 'his girl' even for the sake of a lie.

(You think?)

A feeling of warmth blossoms within my chest.

Oboro: You're a great catch, Airi. You should be more confident in yourself.

Oboro declares, his gaze moving toward my hair: Oh yeah, that ribbon you're wearing is different from the one you usually wear.

MC: Oh, uh. Yeah, I bought it a little while ago.

Oboro: It's really pretty. Now Kagemaru's bound to fall in love with you all over again, huh?

MC: Th-That's not why I bought it!

Half-amused, half-frustrated by Oboro's comments, the two of us arrive at the Senkitai's hideout. We head underground and Oboro begins to lead me toward his room. Along the way, we run into a familiar face.

Oboro: Oh, Kagemaru.

Kagemaru: ......

My eyes meet his and for a second he looks startled.

Kagemaru: "Back again, are ya?"

(Same old, same old. )

Oboro: Huh? Kagemaru! What kind of way to speak to your girlfriend is that? Look, she came all the way over here just to see you---

Mc: A-And that's enough outta you, Oboro! Shall we be on our way?

Hiding my disappointment, I urge Oboro along.

Kagemaru: Oi.

To my shock, Kagemaru grabs my shoulder and pulls me closer to him.

MC: Um?

Kagemaru: .......

We're mere inches apart, his hand reaching toward my cheeks.

(What's going on? In the middle of a hallway? Really?)

His hand brushes past my cheeks and continues to reach for my ribbon, undoing it with a rustle.

Kagemaru: What're ya wearin' somethin' as scruffy as this for?

MC: Come again?

Kagemaru: Yer supposed to be the boss' girl 'round these parts. If yer comin' to see me, ya can at least dress the part.

(What's wrong with my ribbon? Meanie ).

Embarrassed at mistaking his gesture for even a second, I blush red.

Kagemaru: Guess ya don't give me much of a choice. I'll go get---

MC: .......

Filled with a rage I can't quite understand, I push him away as hard as I can.

Kagemaru: !

MC: Sorry, Oboro. I'm going home.

Oboro: W-Wait!

I ignore Oboro's pleas for me to stay and head straight back outside again, leaving them both behind me.

•••••••Flashback•••••••

Several days later.

(Oh, that hairpin is beautiful!)

During a shopping trip in Asakusa, a hairpin on display in front of a store catches my eye.

(It's really stunning. There's something special about it.)

I instinctively draw closer for a better look, the display having caught my full attention.

(They're so pretty and sophisticated. No way anyone would ever call them scruffy.)

•••••Flashback•••••

Kagemaru: Yer supposed to be the boss' girl 'round these parts. If yer comin' to see me, ya can at least dress the part.

•••••End Flashback•••••

(Looks like what he said about me is still on my mind.)

A mixture of frustration and anger welling up inside of me, I bite my lip.

Man: ......

I sense someone approaching my side - out of the corner of my eye it appears to be a man wearing a cap.

Man: ......

(Wait!)

He snatches one of the hairpins and quickly scarpers.

(A thief?!)

Mc: W-Wait!

Bewildered by what I just witnessed, I go to chase after him.

Man: Hey, you're in my way!

Man: !?

A woman adorned in a kimono grabs him by the arm, twisting it.

Man: That hurts!

Yuzuru: My, what a gorgeous hairpin.

Catching a glimpse of the hairpin the man is clinging onto, Yuzuru beams.

Yuzuru: And yet it seems so wasted on a scruffy old pickpocket like you.

Passersby take note of the scene and come to a halt, raising their protests.

Onlooker 1: Hey!

Onlooker 2: You get'em, Ma'am!

(She's so cool!)

Not long afterward, the thief is taken in by the police and dragged away.

Hairpin Shopkeeper: Thanks a million, Yuzuru. That guy's a thief who's been stealing what he can from around here lately. I don't know how many times he's targeted my shop.

Yuzuru: As if I could stand the thought of such a gorgeous hairpin in the hands of a slimy creep like that.

Yuzuru goes to hand back the hairpin, but the shopkeeper shakes her head: No, I want you to have it. Consider it my thanks.

Yuzuru: My! You sure about that?

Hairpin Shopkeeper: It's the least I can offer! Considering what you just did for me.

Yuzuru: …Very well. Don't mind if I do.

Yuzuru thanks the shopkeeper, then turns toward me with a smile on her face.

Yuzuru: .....

Several moments later, I'm leaving the shop with Yuzuru - or rather, Kagemaru dressed as his alter ego.

MC: Um, are you heading to work?

Yuzuru: Oh, not today. I'm in town to pick up a little rouge for my lips.

(She's a million miles away from Kagemaru!)

(Also, I didn't realize she was still entertaining people as a geisha.)

I'm so shocked by the transformation that I'm practically lost for words.

Bar Goer 1: Hey, you two pretty ladies over there!

Two men call out to us from a nearby stall, raising their drinks at us.

MC: Um. Yuzuru…

Bar Goer 1: Whoa, you two really are something.

Bar Goer 2: What do you say we buy you a drink?

With that, Yuzuru suddenly grabs my arm.

Yuzuru: Read the room, boys.

She pulls me up against her, making sure the two men get a bird's eye view of the situation.

(Whoa!)

Bar Goer 2: Wait! What?

Yuzuru: Can't you tell? We're having plenty of fun just the two of us. And we don't need any men around to interfere.

Bar Goer 1: ...Huh?

Yuzuru: Shall we?

Yuzuru and I pass by the bewildered men, still arm in arm.

(When I first laid eyes on Yuzuru, I was struck by how beautiful she was.)

I can feel my heart start to thump as we walk along together, still pressed right up against one another.

(Yuzuru's the perfect definition of a girl crush. She's so cool and gorgeous you can't help but fall for her!)

(I mean, I know she's really Kagemaru on the inside, but still!)

(I can't even tell if it's Yuzuru or Kagemaru making my heart flutter this much anymore.)

(But I like it.)

(I hope we can stay like this for a bit longer.)

Yuzuru: Sorry about that, Miss.

When the two men are no longer in sight, Yuzuru finally goes to let go of me.

MC: Wait, um!

I keep my arm wrapped around hers and squeeze, not letting her do so.

MС: There's somewhere I'd like to go with you!

I job a finger toward the same Japanese sweets parlor that Oboro and I visited the other day.

Yuzuru: Hah?

Yuzuru: Why'd ya want me to---

For a second, Kagemaru slips back into his usual self, but, conscious of passersby, quickly clams up.

MC: You don't have work today, right? So you can spend some time with me!

I take Yuzuru's hand and start to lead her into the sweets parlor.

We take a seat and I excitedly pour over the menu.

Yuzuru: .....

Yuzuru: …Someone looks like they're having a good time.

(Ah. She might be mad.)

MC: Well, it's not every day a chance like this comes along...

Yuzuru: …I suppose.

At first, there's a slight hint of irritation in Kagemaru's eyes.

Shopkeeper: Here you go!

Yuzuru: Thanks, doll.

Yuzuru aims a dazzling smile at the shopkeeper as they deliver our sweets.

(Yuzuru really is stunning.)

(Boy, girl, it doesn't even matter. That kind of beauty is ethereal.)

I spend an afternoon captivated by Yuzuru's beauty while enjoying the delicious sweets.

By the time we leave the shop, it's already evening.

MC: I had a really great time today. Thanks for humoring me.

Yuzuru: Oi.

I say my thanks, about to leave when Yuzuru grabs me by the arm.

MC: Huh?

Yuzuru: Ya made me go along with that act for long enough. Ya think I'm jus' gonna let ya wander off home by yerself?

(Huh?!)

Yuzuru starts pulling me along surprisingly in the direction of my own house.

(Is she walking me home? Is that it?)

I look up at her from my side and she stops in her tracks. I feel a rustle as she fixes my hairstyle.

MC: What is it?

Yuzuru: Turn around.

I do as I'm told, my back toward her, when I feel her undoing my hair ribbon and running her fingers through my hair.

I feel a rustle as she fixes my hairstyle. She finishes off by adorning my new look with the hairpin she received earlier as thanks.

MC: Oh wow! Thank you so much!

Yuzuru: So ya don't complain when it's Yuzuru, do ya?

I hear the faint click of a tongue and something soft brush my neck. In my shock I turn around.

MC: Um?!

Yuzuru: Ah well. Might work out for the best.

(Was that a kiss just now? And that smile…)

Yuzuru: Yer beloved Yuzuru will have ya trained in no time.

Yuzuru: She'll make ya into exactly the kinda woman fit for the head of the Senkitai.

MC: Train me?

Without giving me a chance to refuse, Yuzuru's face comes closer, her lips against my ear.

Yuzuru: I'll show you how to make the most of your feminine charm.

MC: !

Her voice is so alluring and seductive that I'm already shivering in anticipation.

(I can't let my guard down around Yuzuru anymore than I can Kagemaru…)

I tell myself as heat gathers in my cheeks from how intimately close she's standing…

Afterword:

1. The heroine's pansexuality is proven.

I want to note that MС used the pronoun "she" in relation to Yuzuru, although she knows that this is Kagemaru's alter ego. It's great that a girl accepts her partner as he/she is.

2. It's great that we decided to show Yuzuru. Now I am interested in the attitude of the heroine's father to Yuzuru/Kagemaru.

3. Oboro is the best family psychologist. When a 12-year-old child is better versed in relationships than adults. I think it's time for this boy to start a psychological practice.

4. A little criticism.

The relationship between the heroine and Kagemaru at the very beginning of the story was a little annoying.

I understand that the heroine is 15 years old, that in these years the girl wants romance and showing feelings.

Therefore, there were such phrases and such thoughts:

"(Is that how the rest of the Senkitai see us?) Mc: See, he's not exactly my boyfriend… That was just a tactic to ensure I'd be able to come and go around here without any questions being asked".

The girl doesn't understand that not everyone can or wants to flaunt their feelings.

It is clear that Kagemaru wanted to help, but it looked so toxic. In the role of Yuzuru, Kagemaru is more affectionate and understanding. He could learn from his alter ego how to communicate with young girl. 😄

Yuzuru showed herself better as a partner than Kage.

I hope that in the next sonnet/event, the couple will understand how to communicate with each other.

#ayakashi koi meguri #ayakashi romance reborn #arr spoilers #arr kagemaru #arr romance sonnets #ayakashi Kagemaru #Kagemaru #pansexual #otome

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theultimateultimateweapon · 4 years ago

Text

Kirby: Meta Knight and the Knight of Hades (Chapter 2)

Dreamland is sleepy and cheerful.

Kirby and Waddle Dee, as usual, were playing in the field.

Colorful flowers were blooming around and a beautiful butterfly was fluttering. It was a peaceful afternoon.

Waddle Dee said with a smile, “Butterflies are so nice. Oh, it seems like so much fun to fly around from flower to flower.”

“Yeah it’s fun!” Kirby nodded loudly.

“Eh?”

“I was a butterfly once, so I know. It was a lot of fun.”

Kirby’s words surprised Waddle Dee.

“What? What do you mean?”

“I became a butterfly and flew around the flowers. It was a lot of fun… but I had a big problem.”

“Eh… eh… uh…?” Waddle Dee was surprised.

Kirby said with all his might, “Butterflies can only eat flower nectar! No matter how delicious it is, nectar alone will not fill your stomach.”

“N..no…?”

“So, I flew all the way to Chef Kawasaki’s restaurant, and then fluttered from hamburger to curry rice, ramen to korotsuke, katsudon to wallide potatoes…”

“Wait a minute, Kirby. What are you talking about?” Waddle Dee shook Kirby who was about to drool.

“What? I’m talking about when I became a butterfly.”

“A butterfly… Oh, maybe he’s talking about a copy ability…?”

Kirby has a special ability. He can copy the power of people he inhales.

“So Kirby, you inhaled the butterfly right!? So, you had the copy ability of the butterfly…!?”

“Eh!? No!” Kirby started laughing. “It was a dream. I had a dream of becoming a butterfly.”

“...Ah, that makes sense!” Finally understanding the meaning of the story, Waddle Dee laughed. “That totally surprised me.”

“Surprised? I thought you would have caught on.”

“I’m surprised because… I thought you had copied something, you know?”

“Huh… I wonder if I can become a butterfly if I inhale it?”

As soon as Kirby said that, the butterfly fluttered away, as if it felt threatened.

“Oh, it left…”

“Well no wonder Kirby, you talked about inhaling it.”

“I didn’t really want to! And it’s not like it understood my words.”

“But that butterfly, it was if it knew what you said. How mysterious.”

The two looked at each other and laughed.

Suddenly, they heard a loud, loud voice that smashed the idyllic mood.

“It’s horrible! Someone, somebody!”

“...Eh!?” Kirby stood up in amazement.

Waddle Dee also jumped up and shouted, “Knuckle Joe! What’s wrong!?”

Knuckle Joe, a resident of Dreamland, was running with a blood curdling scream. It looked like it was trying to escape from something.

He ran to Kirby when he noticed him. “Kirby! Oh sweet, it’s you!”

“What’s wrong!?”

“There’s been a huge incident! Meta Knight… Meta Knight…!”

“Eh? What happened to Meta Knight?”

“He’s rampaging around!” Knuckle Joe shouted, out of breath.

Kirby and Waddle Dee’s eyes widened.

“Rampaging…? Meta Knight? Why?”

“I don’t know. I saw Meta Knight walking and I called out to him!”

“Hello! Are you off to see Kirby or King Dedede?” Knuckle Joe casually greeted.

Then, Meta Knight suddenly drew out his sword.

“What happened next shocked me! This Meta Knight guy suddenly came after me like crazy!”

“EH!?”

“No way…”

Both Kirby and Waddle Dee were stunned.

“Thanks to my nerves of steel, I managed to dodge him! If it wasn’t for my skills I’d be in two!”

“Oh, that’s…”

“Please, Kirby! You have to stop Meta Knight!”

Kirby couldn’t believe a thing while looking at Knuckle Joe’s serious face.

“That… Meta Knight would never do that!” Kirby ran off.

Waddle Dee chased after him. “Wait, Kirby!”

“I can’t wait! There’s something wrong with Meta Knight!”

Kirby headed for the square at full speed.

“He-help~!”

“Someone, someone! It’s M-Meta Knight! AH!”

The square outside the restaurant was in a fuss.

Residents were screaming and running away.

Meta Knight was on the rampage.

With the legendary Galaxia in hand, he chased after frightened inhabitants.

“Stop, Meta Knight!”

Kirby wildly shouted and launched an air bullet at Meta Knight.

He staggered for a moment, but soon turned his sword back.

Kirby stood in front of Meta Knight and raised his voice.

“What’s wrong, Meta Knight!? Why are you doing such a terrible thing!?”

“...”

Meta Knight said nothing and swung his sword toward Kirby.

“Meta Knight! What’s going on!?” Kirby quickly evaded the attack and shouted.

“Calm down! Why is this happening…!”

However, this swordsman did not hear Kirby’s words.

Swinging around his Galaxia, he attacked.

Kirby flew right and left to dodge the attacks.

The Galaxia’s slash is powerful. Just one blow could hurt you.

“Meta Knight…! Why!?” Kirby couldn’t believe it.

Meta Knight would never do such a terrible thing. Is someone tampering with his heart? If so, he had to get his sanity back somehow.

Knuckle Joe shouted, “Kirby! Inhale me!”

Normally, Knuckle Joe didn’t like being inhaled by Kirby, but he knew it was an emergency. He decided to let Kirby use his power.

“Thank you, Knuckle Joe!” Kirby opened his mouth wide and took a deep breath.

Knuckle Joe flew through the air and right into Kirby’s mouth.

Immediately, Kirby’s appearance changed.

Wrap a red band around your head and you’ll be full of energy. This is the copy ability “fighter”!

Meta Knight jumped down, looking surprised at Kirby’s changes.

Kirby pulled his hands together and charged energy. “Eeeeiiiiihhhh…”

Meta Knight picked up his sword and slashed at Kirby.

At that moment, a huge energy bullet was released from Kirby’s hand.

“How about a giga power shot!?”

The beam of energy hit Meta Knight directly!

He turned over and dropped his sword.

Kirby jumped high and kicked.

“Sky kick!”

Meta Knight was knocked over with the strong attack.

The game is over. Kirby somersaulted and lost his copy ability.

“Meta Knight, are you okay?”

Meta Knight staggered and picked up his sword.

However, it seemed that he was ready to fight. While staring at Kirby, he took two or three steps back.

Kirby said, “What happened? Meta Knight, is someone tampering with you?”

The knight refused to answer and turned around and ran away.

“Ah, wait…!”

Kirby tried to chase after him, but Meta Knight ran fast. He swung around his sword while ducking through the residents.

While Kirby was taken aback, Meta Knight disappeared.

Knuckle Joe happily shouted. “The day is saved! Kirby!”

Residents cheered and surrounded Kirby.

“Thank you Kirby, thank you!”

“I was so scared~!”

“Look, the flowers are messed up. What a terrible thing Meta Knight did!”

“Wait, wait, everyone,” Kirby said in a hurry. “It’s not his fault. I’m sure it was someone else.”

“Who?”

“I don’t know…”

Looking at Kirby, whose face had dropped, Waddle Dee said, “Kirby, I’m worried about something.”

“Eh?”

“Was that really Meta Knight?”

“...Eh?” Kirby was surprised.

Waddle Dee said, “Don’t you think it was strange? He was so weak.”

“Huh…” That was strange, Kirby thought.

The Meta Knight they just faced was too weak. No matter how much his heart was tampered with, Meta Knight would still be able to fight.

“And he knows about your copy abilities too, Kirby.”

Waddle Dee’s words struck Kirby.

“When I used the ‘fighter’ ability against Meta Knight…”

“He was really surprised! It was like he saw it for the first time!” Kirby realized. That swordsman certainly was weird.

“No matter where I aimed the power shot, he wasn’t guarding at all. Meta Knight would know what kind of attack I was doing just by looking at my post.”

“Maybe it was a fake.”

“Fake!?”

“But that’s impossible. He looked like Meta Knight from every angle.”

Bit by bit, the mystery grew.

Waddle Dee said, “Let’s go to the castle, Kirby.”

“What? Castle Dedede?”

“Yeah, I have to report to the king. Besides, Castle Dedede has communications equipment. We might be able to use it to contact the battleship Halberd and find something out.”

“Yeah!”

Kirby nodded and headed for Castle Dedede with Waddle Dee.

“Is Meta Knight suddenly rampaging?”

King Dedede, who heard the story, turned back to Kirby and Waddle Dee.

“What’s so wrong with that? Sounds like his usual self. Once he draws his sword, he always gets out of hand.”

“That’s right!” Kirby jumped and said. “But that’s only when he’s fighting a strong opponent, right? That wasn’t the case with Meta Knight this time.”

“...Hmm.” King Dedede folded his arms and looked up at the ceiling. “Sure, I guess… is someone messing with his heart?”

“I don’t know. Maybe it wasn’t a real Meta Knight.”

“What?”

“They were too weak to be Meta Knight.”

Kirby explained the battle.

King Dedede roared, “Well that’s weird. Alright, let’s contact the battleship Halberd.”

The king stood up and headed for the communication room.

At that time, Meta Knight and his men were visiting the weapons shop.

However, there was no sign on the store and the window curtains were closed.

Captain Vul was angry, “Look at this! The weapons show owner stole the Galaxia and ran away!”

“...Is that so?”

Meta Knight tried to touch the doorknob.

The door opened with a loud noise.

Captain Vul was surprised. “What, it’s unlocked… Did they leave in a hurry?”

Meta Knight and his subordinates traveled into the shop.

The shop was empty. The customers’ counter table had a small layer of dust.

“It looks like no one has been in here for a while.”

“Like I said, the weapons shop owner has already run away…”

“Wait.” Meta Knight heard a faint voice from the back of the store.

It sounded like a weak moaning.

“That voice…”

“It’s from the back room.”

Meta Knight opened the door leading to the back.

There was an unexpected sight there.

The weapons shop owner was tied up with rope and lying on the floor.

Captain Vul screamed in a flutter, “What!? What’s going on here!?”

The shop owner desperately gasped. “Meta… Knight… sir… he… help…”

“Come!” Meta Knight rushed to the shop owner.

Sword Knight swung his sword and cut off the rope.

“Oh… it was… it was… it was…!” The shop owner stood up and started crying.

Captain Vul looked into his face and screeched, “What happened!? Who did such a terrible thing!?”

“It was…”

The shop owner collapsed.

Could he not answer? Captain Vul was numb. When the shop owner tried to yell, he hesitated.

“It was Meta Knight.”

“Wh-what are you talking about!?”

“No no… to be precise, it was a creepy man who was masquerading as Meta Knight…”

...

The weapons shop owner was very cautious, and first-time customers cannot simply enter the shop.

Because his job is to take care of such important weapons, it is a big deal should one be stolen.

Even if he locks the door and the doorbell rings, he can’t open it right away. He can only decide to open it after checking through the peephole.

The incident happened the day after Meta Knight dropped off his treasured Galaxia. The doorbell rang and he saw Meta Knight standing there.

The weapons shop owner was surprised and said, “Meta Knight? What’s wrong? The Galaxia isn’t ready yet. I told you it would take about three days…”

“So you told me, but it’s an emergency. Can you open the door?” The calm voice sounded like Meta Knight himself.

The shop owner opened the door without any doubt.

Meta Knight entered the store and suddenly struck him, knocking him out cold.

...

“When I came to, my legs were tied down. The imposter Meta Knight terrified me. I was ordered to make a replica of the legendary Galaxia…”

“Replica… so you made a copy.”

While Captain Vul confirmed, the weapons shop owner nodded.

“Yes, of course. I tried to tell you, but I was so scared and I couldn’t help it. I had no choice but to do what he said…”

“Wait a minute, that’s odd!” Captain Vul interrupted him. “On the promised date and time, Meta Knight came to pick up the Galaxia. I remember well because I accompanied him. You didn’t even mention that there was such an incident. All was as usual, wasn’t it? Why didn’t you talk then?”

“Because it wasn’t me!” the shop owner groaned in a sad voice. “It was the imposter disguised as me.”

“...What!?”

“The enemy is a master of disguise. He kept me in this room, masqueraded as me, and gave Meta Knight a replica of his treasured sword with a straight face.”

“Oh, that’s…” Captain Vul was fuming. “You were the same in appearance and voice! That was a disguise…!?”

“He was so terrifying. He took the Galaxia and ran away. I was wrapped around in rope so I couldn’t go out… ohhh…”

The shop owner started crying again.

“I couldn’t escape, I couldn’t call for help… I thought I would let Meta Knight know early, but I didn’t have a way to contact him.”

Blade Knight said, “Is that so? Then, the broken Galaxia…”

“It’s the replica I made.”

“Hmm…!”

When Meta Knight responded, Captain Vul shouted.

“I couldn’t tell the difference from the real thing! It’s because you did such a good job making a replica that looks exactly like it!”

“Oh… oh thank you very much.”

“Such skill!”

Captain Vul turned to Meta Knight. “What does the criminal want with the Galaxia? I hope he isn’t abusing it.”

“...Hm. Let’s continue with the investigation.”

The Meta Knights and their leader returned to the battleship Halberd.

Meta Knight and his men talked about the table.

Captain Vul said, “The enemy is a master of disguise. He may have been doing bad things as you without us knowing.”

Meta Knight nodded. “If that’s the case, I’d like to know more about it. Who would have the heart…”

At that time, an alerting sound signaled incoming communications.

Everyone was on edge.

“Who!?”

“No way, you don’t think it’s the criminal…!?”

Axe Knight ran over to the seat and hit a switch to answer the call.

King Dedede’s face was projected on the big screen.

Axe Knight answered impatiently. “What, King Dedede? What do you want?”

The king snapped back at Axe Knight’s bad mood. “Rude! The great ruler of Dreamland is contacting you. You should be treating me with respect!”

“It’s not like that, we’re in the middle of a big situation!”

“Yeah, no kidding! A big situation happened because of Meta Knight but now I’m not going to tell you about it!”

“...What!?” Axe Knight was surprised and shouted, “Because of Meta Knight? What do you mean?”

“Hmph. Fine, I’ll tell you.”

King Dedede moved to speak but Kirby broke in from the side and blurted.

“Hey! Meta Knight came to Dreamland and rampaged. He was swinging the Galaxia around and messing up the town!”

“What…!?” Meta Knight said on behalf of Axe Knight. “That wasn’t me. I wasn’t in Dreamland.”

“Really!? Then, that was a fake after all.”

“I want to hear more details. I will head to Dreamland now. I expect you to tell me everything, Kirby.”

“Yep, okay!”

Then, King Dedede, towering over him, interrupted Kirby. “It’s such a stupid incident. Do you really need us, Meta Knight?”

“...Oh, please cooperate with us, your majesty.”

“Fuhaha! Alright, if you can’t help it. I don’t want to help, but if you really need me, I’ll be here.”

Meta Knight cut off communication with Dreamland and turned to his men.

“The enemy seems to have disguised himself as me again and terrorized Dreamland. He has my Galaxia,” he said with tremendous anger. “I will not forgive him. Catch him and make sure you see pain in his eyes.”

His men, listening to their master’s furious voice, stretched tall and shouted together.

“...Yes sir!”

(Chapter 1 - Table of Contents - Chapter 3)

#kirby novels #kirby of the stars #kirby light novel #translation #kirby light novel translation #kirby #waddle dee #king dedede #meta knight #its either this one or another chapter that is the longest... this one took so long #Kirby: Meta Knight and the Knight of Hades #i should be able to get the next chapter up in a couple of days now

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