#the weeping queen

[aikoiya]

LoZ: Wild - The Bandit King's Bride

Warnings: Rape/noncon, then dubcon, Stockholm syndrome, & tragic ending.

Also, something important I think should be put forth here. Link & Lara are Monozygotic twins. See, there'd been a copying glitch in the formation of a male zygote making it XXY. So, when the zygotic split took place, it resulted in a male twin with XY & a female twin with XX.

This makes them one of very, very few examples of identical twins of the opposite sex at birth. Evidently, it's a one in 1,000 chance, but then again, what were the odds of them being the legendary hero reborn?

---

We start off in a pre-Calamity BotW setting, only there is no Calamity.

It’s Ganondorf & he has an army of monsters, the Yiga, & the Gerudo all following him. He was raised by the twinrova in a wasteland beyond the Gerudo Desert. It’s a lot like the Pride Lands during Scar’s reign.

As per the theory of Centennial Kings & TotK, this Ganondorf is the 4th Ganondorf since Demise's… demise.

Link is born with a twin sister named Lara (it’s Linkle, I just don’t like the name used in Hyrule Warriors). Meanwhile, Sidon & Mipha hatched at the same time, too. Riju hasn't been born yet, but will be Urbosa’s daughter & Yunobo is Daruk’s son. Revali & Teba are not related, but they are friends & rivals who agreed to face each other on the battlefield to settle who is the best Rito Warrior. Tulin is also way too young to be in the tournament.

Like in OoT, Ganon is attempting to take over all Hyrule by military means.

Lara & Link are basically evenly matched, but in different sets. Link is more skilled with a sword & like most men, is physically stronger with his upper body & faster with longer limbs, more muscle, & more stamina, while Lara is better with bows & magic & is more agile, flexible, dexterous, with greater strength in her lower body, especially her core, & has a far quicker reaction time with a much higher pain tolerance. This doesn’t mean that she isn’t skilled with a sword, too, though.

Her magic is also more based on old-school, mystical magic rather than the magic through a scientific lense sort of magic that the Sheikah seem to have taken to recently.

---

Anyway, there is no war at the beginning or Calamity & Ganon starts off as the King of the Gerudo as always. It’s only later that they divide. Hyrule is giving Ganon the benefit of the doubt as he is literally only the 4th Evil King Ganon, thus no one realizes that there's a pattern yet & the fact of the matter is that each Ganondorf was 2-10,000 years apart. So little memory was left of those times.

Obviously, they shouldn’t trust him, but what can you do?

The Gerudo were cursed millions of years ago to only ever have a single male every 100 years, the Centennial Kings of the Desert. You see, the Gerudo of the time had invaded Hyrule & put the kingdoms under siege. The Hylians of the time prayed to the trifurcated goddesses to save them. In response, the goddesses placed a curse on the Gerudo, killing off every male, including the king, thereby cutting their armies in half & cutting the head off the serpent per se, thus giving Hyrule the edge they needed to regroup & win.

However, there was a prophecy given to the Gerudo by their Goddess of the Sand, saying that if a Centennial King were to take a Hylian or Sheikah Heroine blessed by the 3 Goddesses as his bride, that she could bare him Voe, thus breaking the curse on the Gerudo forever. The prophecy calls her the Bride of Kings & compares her to a Gerudo Vai in Hyrulean skin; a true warrior & a worthy queen. The strongest woman in either Hyrule or the Gerudo Desert.

As such, there is a lot of pressure on Ganon to find that bride & make her his queen. However, despite having a real & important goal for the legitimate sake of his people, he’s also still the Evil King & wishes to rule Hyrule. (Though we have no effing idea why beyond spite, greed, & the combined influences of his adopted mothers & Demise's hatred.)

Anyway, there is a tournament going on to determine the greatest warrior in all of Hyrule. Anyone can join, Hylian, human, Sheikah, Zora, Goron, Gerudo, Rito, Yeti, male or female. (The Yeti are considered Hyruleans here too, not having gone extinct, & have their own society up in Hebra with the Rito & Hebra humans. There are also still humans living in Hyrule. Most of which residing in farming or ranching towns.) Ganon sends in his greatest warrior, Urbosa, as does every other race, thinking that this would be the perfect way to flush out his fabled bride (if she even existed). This includes all of the original champions of the game from before the Calamity & some of the new ones that you meet through the gameplay. Sidon & Mipha both participate. So does Daruk, Revali, & Teba. However, Yunobo doesn't do so. He chose not to because he was too timid. Though he is up in the stands cheering his dad on & so is Teba's family.

Impa opted out, choosing to instead protect the King & Princess just in case.

In the end, it all comes down to Link & Lara. It doesn’t matter who wins, because it’d end the same either way.

Ganon had indeed been looking for the Bride of Kings, but hadn’t expected to find the little Hylian girl quite so charming & is surprised when she takes down Urbosa in single combat.

Then, in the final, Link & Lara's mark of the Triforce shine upon their hands, revealing themselves to be the reincarnation of the Hero, his soul, evidently, split between them.

Ganon is initially shocked, then maliciously thrilled by this discovery & decides to make her his, knowing her to be the Bride. He'd never thought that his Bride would end up being the actual Hero of Hyrule, or one of them at least, but it had a delightful irony to it.

After making his decision, Ganon spends the week after the tournament studying his target. Gathering information on her before sending his Yiga minions after her.

This arc takes up about 2-7 years’ time.

Ganon has a special collar & shackles, 2 sets, made that can tell when Lara tries to escape & makes her stop moving when she does. The collar renders her incapable of speech so she can’t cast spells, so she has to use sign language to communicate. She knows how to because her brother is selectively mute & only talks to her, their mom, dad, grandpa, & little sister.

With a one word command, a glowing, purple chain of magic will appear between Lara's shackled hands, forcing them to remain only a few inches apart. A longer version of the command will cause the ones shackling her feet to mirror this reaction at the same time. With another command, a glowing, purple chain will appear, attached to her collar with the other end in Ganon's big, meaty hand.

Ganon rapes her. He then taunted her as he used her body for his own pleasure, relishing in her silent screams, saying that even if she managed to escape or she or her pathetic brother beat him, at least he'd die knowing that no pathetic little Hylian, human, or Sheikah would be able to satisfy her or even compare to him. He laughed when her reaction was to bite down viciously on his arm as hard as she could. The feisty little hellcat even drew blood, but to her own dismay, the rough play only stoked the large man’s libido. (Him raping her is very evil. Keep in mind that this is NOT something to fetishize. I'm going through this to show how traumatizing it is for Lara. Keep that in mind.)

Ganon was determined to mold her to his girth & forever leave an impact on her. He rutted her hard, fast, & uncaringly, his manhood slick with her blood, making the passage easier, but no less tight.

Despite this, he was initially reluctant to actually marry her as the Gerudo are extremely monogamous people & despise infidelity bitterly. Plus, by Gerudo customs, marriage would make them equals & mark him as belonging to her as much as she belonged to him now. This would obviously require him giving up a measure of power & he didn't like that.

At this point, he’s made his move on the rest of Hyrule & half of the Gerudo under his command rebel with Urbosa as their leader.

The first year Lara was at Ganon’s Keep, she was forced to walk around wearing Gerudo-style harem Va'màziah (concubine) clothes. It was all tiny & sheer & easy to push aside so that Ganon could take her at any time. Though no one else was allowed to touch her in such a way, Ganon reveled in having the subjects in his keep watch them, because he knew it humiliated the little Hylian Vai. How the burning hatred in her eyes stoked his fire. However, by halfway through that year, he had decided that the benefits of marrying her outweighed the downsides.

Personality-wise, Lara is feisty & independent. She is thought to have one half of the soul of the hero &, with it, one half of the Triforce of Courage. Her brother has the other half. Though, physically weaker than her brother, she still bore the innate strength typical of Hyrule’s Legendary Hero as evident from the many bruises & deep, red scratches she left on the Bandit King’s body whenever she got the chance. So, it wasn’t that she wasn’t strong, but more that Ganon was simply stronger & that her greatest strength lay in the use of weapons & magic.

Ganondorf actually quite liked that she could leave a mark on him with her bare hands. It was more than any of his other conquests could claim. Even other Gerudo had trouble accomplishing this.

As things progress, he finds that he enjoys her body’s comforts more than that of his harem & more frequently begins choosing her to warm his bed over them.

It becomes very obvious, very quickly that Ganon’s harem takes a great disliking to Lara & makes such clear. Many had wanted to become his queen themselves, having not quite believed that he'd actually find the Bride, & chose to show their discomfort by bullying her, planning assassinations, or sometimes even outright attacking her.

Luckily, Lara was a skilled alchemist (Robbie, Purah, & Zelda all being friends of hers) & was familiar with many different types of toxins, having long invented a type of nail polish that changed color when it made contact with poison, so whenever they had something slipped into her food or drink, she almost always immediately recognized it by either scent, taste, or the color of her nails & was quickly able to make an antidote.

Whenever one of Ganon’s harem attacked his prized concubine, he’d have Lara & the perpetrator fight in single combat. Much to his own pleasure & satisfaction, his caged bird always won. However, she had an aversion for taking life when she didn’t think it was necessary. So, he often had the loser beheaded for her troubles.

This obviously traumatized the little Hylian, but it didn’t matter. He wasn’t about to let people think they could disrespect him by disrespecting her.

Later, once they became married, his wedding gift to her was to round up all members of his harem & discontinue their services to him. Meaning that they were no longer his concubines. Doing such was Gerudo custom due to their partner exclusivity. However, as to how he does so is up to the writer.

He can just fire them, knowing that his new wife wasn't fond of unnecessary bloodshed. He can have them killed silently by Yiga. Or he can offer up their lives to his new wife as a wedding present to do with whatever she wishes. Possibly make them her new handmaids. Hell, maybe he literally gifts her their severed heads if you wanna go super dark.

I'm actually thinking of making one of them Lara's friend though.

---

Anyway, the entire time that Lara is at the keep, Link is trying to find & save his sister. It’s an all-out war with the Hyruleans choosing the strongest champions from the games as the commanders for their armies. Link can’t get to Lara for a good long time because due to the reveal of him being the Hero, he has been made into the Princess' personal bodyguard (though, this fact has been kept secret) & has to free the other races from the chokeholds that Ganon has them in through subterfuge much like the previous Ganons had a tendency to.

Rhoam is currently leading the Hylian army & sent Zelda, Link, & Impa to retrieve the Master Sword & try to find a way to unlock Zelda's sealing powers much like in BotW. She had already been trying to beforehand, but in a much more lax manner as the Calamity didn't exist here, with the Tournament being sort of a break for her, but now the stress has really amped up.

At this time, Zelda is traveling with Link in disguise (I'm thinking the reintroduction of Sheik) to the other areas, including the 3 Sacred Springs, because if Ganon doesn’t know where she is, he can’t kill her.

Ganon’s goal is to take over Hyrule Castle, kill the king, Zelda, & Link, & have Lara bare his heirs. He’s done trying to steal the Triforce, because something inside him is telling him it'd be pointless, that it’s too much trouble & not worth the effort. He was determined to use cunning & military might to vanquish his foes instead.

During this time, Ganon has Lara keep up her training because if there was anything he learned from being raised in a race of all women, it was that he hated weak, useless women & greatly respected strong ones.

She’s also tried to escape several times with worsening punishments.

Over time, Stockholm Syndrome starts to set in (the literal definition of it, not the media’s idea of it) despite how he keeps taking her into his bed, but she fights it every step of the way.

At the same time, Lima Syndrome also begins to take effect. He finds that he enjoys watching her fight his minions, train, & work on her potions & inventions. As time passes, he begins to develop a slight, yandere-esk obsession with her. As it develops, Ganon realizes that he doesn’t like other people seeing her in a sexual manner & slowly has her begin to wear clothes more fitting of one in her position & stops taking her in front of others.

As he gets more possessive, he begins joining her more often, having her sit next to him or even in his lap during meetings, & playing strategy games with her.

It took him a while to learn her sign language, but once he did, he found that he quite enjoyed her personality. She was witty & sarcastic with a quick mind & a biting temper.

When Lara confronts him about it, asking why he cared, he cups her cheek with his massive hand, stares into her eyes with an unreadable look & tells her that she was his & only his. That he would no longer subject her to such humiliation so long as she submits to him as her king. He then bent down & kissed her full on the mouth.

It was in that moment that be decided that he didn't just want to own her body. He wanted her heart as well. The next day, he declared that they would wed & that she would be his queen.

In his own way, Ganon does begin to care about Lara & shows moments of tenderness & very real affection for her. Less & less does he refer to her as his Làbanï (my toy) or Surmúta (slut) & begins calling her Yàvài'làra (little heroine) & after marrying her, Vaynï (my wife) or Vai'àttanï (my queen).

By the third year, he even begins to ask for her advice in regards to ruling his kingdom & by the fifth, he chooses to delegate some of his responsibilities to her, having learned that she has a mind for such things.

Ganondorf has since removed the shackles on her wrists & ankles, but not the collar.

He finds her very intelligent & interesting & her feisty personality is very cute to him. He learns early on that she is a skilled archer, bowyer, infuser, alchemist, & combat mage that was able to craft & bespell a bow using the wood of a magical tree & runemantic sigils that would imbue regular arrows with elemental properties with one word commands that would let her channel her magic into them. This allowed her to reduce the amount of different types of arrows she needed to pack in her quiver, which also reduced how much money she'd have to spend.

It was like something described in the old legends. Such magicks had been lost for thousands of years. (Of course, arrows made specifically with certain elements in mind were noticeably more powerful, but the versatility of the bow itself & fewer resources used, more than made up for it.)

Had even learned to revive an old recipe for bombs that would work underwater & had proceeded to create arrows with both them & regular bombs. It was actually quite brilliant. She, however, had yet to figure out a spell that simulated the effect of bombs so later she could do the same thing because tying live bombs to arrows tended to weigh the arrow down & she was forced to take aim quickly or bear the brunt of the explosion herself. She'd already infused her bow to be less affected by water resistance & thus useful even underwater.

It was revolutionary in the art of war & he wondered if that old fool Rhoam had recognized her great talent & had equipped his forces with such an invention! If he hadn't, then woe be he & his military ineptitude, because Ganondorf would be sure to have one of his thieves sneak into her workshop & copy the recipes for his little heroine's spellcaster bows, water bombs, & water bomb arrows. He suspected that they'd be especially effective against the Zora.

Lara was making for a wonderful queen & he made sure to inform her of such whenever pertinent. Though, it only seemed to incense the little Hylian further.

Ganon & Lara’s instructors very quickly noticed that she was more of a long-distance fighter, so they decided to train her more in close-ranged combat in case one of Ganon’s many enemies tried to assassinate her. They soon realized that she was quicker & more agile than her brother & had a particular talent for dual-wielding daggers or scimitars much like Riju in TotK. Teaching her the Gerudo style of swordfighting, she quickly became a dervish of dancing blades on the battlefield. She seemed to have a particular affinity for Moonlight Scimitars.

Ganondorf greatly enjoyed watching her take so quickly to the Gerudo style.

He was also very enamored & possessive of her in a way that wasn't healthy. His feelings, despite their genuineness, didn't stop Ganon from taking her over & over again at his leisure. As such, Lara was very bitter.

While Lara is locked away, she utilizes the alchemical lab that Ganon lets her use (under strict supervision) to try & invent a potion that can keep someone heavily hydrated even in the desert.

A regular old, basic Chilly Elixir may keep you cool, but it doesn't necessarily prolong hydration. However, it could be effective as the base for a more advanced & complex potion than the basic ones her brother usually makes just using a camping pot. (Those are all Link really knows how to do. He was always more of a chef than an alchemist, the glutton. Meanwhile, Lara is a damn good cook & a true foodie, but she had nothing on her brother's raw appetite. (That boy ate rocks!!) While they were both exceptional cooks, she just seemed to have a natural inclination towards it that her brother didn't. Not that he ever complained. To Link, it just meant that he got to eat his sister's cooking.)

If she started with a base of White Chu Jelly for the stock (chu jelly is good for making potion bases because they generally have a low melting point that reduces them to a liquid consistency so there's no need to use water & dilute the effect) in a bowl with a teardrop-cut Opal. Put in the bones of a Chillfin Trout, then heat & stir the jelly clockwise until the jelly loses cohesion & is reduced to a liquid, then turn down the heat to a simmer. She could then slowly add the fat from an Octorock, heated so it just begins to loosen. Then infuse with Hydromelon juice & heat to a boil. Cut a Lizalfos Tail into chunks then add & stir counter clockwise. Crush Summerwing Butterfly wings & Sand Cicada legs into a paste, dump into Cauldron & then stir clockwise. Continue stirring until the brew emits an icy, mist-like steam. Next remove the bones & drain into bottles. Yields 3.

It takes a LOT of skill & study to be able to make potions with more than one effect, but this one should allow someone to survive both the scorching heat of the desert days & the frigid chill of the desert nights while staying hydrated & making it just that little bit easier to travel on sand.

If it worked, she could find some way to get the Desert Travel Potion recipe to Link, who might be able to get it to the Zora so they can march through the desert. The Rito could manage with just Chilly Potions as they are built for frigid cold & could survive desert nights, but the Zora needed this.

They'd need all the help they could get.

—

While by this point, Lara hadn't begun to love him, but his change in attitude was doing weird things to her head. So, she'd begun to enjoy it more despite herself. (Because trauma does really weird things to one's head.)

At some point, Ganon meets Sidon in battle & learns through observation that the prince has a thing for Lara. Ganon then proceeds to taunt him with the woman’s skills in bed & how often he took her, enraging not only the Zora prince, but also Link when the giant shark-man informed him of what’d been said.

Like in the game, the 2 sets of twins have known each other for a long time. Mipha & Sidon watched the hero twins grow up & a few years after the hero twins reached maturity, Link & Mipha started up a relationship, but it later ended amiably. During that time, Sidon had developed a crush on Lara, but said nothing to try & salvage their friendship. It wasn’t until after Link & Mipha broke up & kept being friends that Sidon realized that even if things went badly, he & Lara would be able to remain friends. He just hadn’t made his move before she was taken. (None of them seemed to realize that by getting together, Link had essentially been groomed by Mipha even though that was never her intention.)

Sidon hates that he won’t be able to go with Link & storm Ganon's Keep because in order to get there, you have to cross the desert & it would be impossible to cross with his life.

Then, Lara's new recipe was secreted to the Zora's Domain & he couldn't help but admire her even more. She & her brother were both truly amazing!

As a result, later, when Hyrule & her allies marched toward the wastes, the Zora were with them, fueled by Lara’s Desert Travel Potion.

On the way there, they met one half of the Gerudo army, lead by Urbosa, who joined them in their champaign against Ganondorf.

—

Backtracking a bit, it isn't long before Lara becomes pregnant & Ganon seemed to become slightly enamored with touching her stomach upon learning of her state. He became noticeably gentler with the woman, always careful not to hurt her too badly. Upon his first child’s birth, a dōro (son) to everyone’s great delight, it became evident that he would genuinely love his children. The newborn voe was named Asïm by Lara, classifying him as a protector. Ganondorf became more tender, often watching contentedly as his vay & dōro interacted with each other.

Not long after his son was born, the first non-royal male Gerudo was also born in Gerudo Town & there was great celebration, for the curse was broken. And it lasted a full week.

When his next children were born, twins both boys, Ganon was estatic.

---

I'm thinking that, at some point, upon realizing that the Hero was on his way, Ganon decides to do something drastic as he had become dangerously possessive of his wife & refused to let her go.

Thus, he had his mothers help him to place a curse upon his & his wife's souls using the black magic they were known for. One that would draw Lara to him & him to her whenever they were reborn or even simply alive at the same time & of age to wed.

The spell would bind their souls together for eternity as far as he knew.

His sweet bride would surely despise him forever if she knew what had powered this spell... (I shall leave it on that fairly ominous note...)

—

Anyway, Link & Sidon defeat Ganon & seal him away.

By the time Link gets there & saves his sister, however, she’d already had 3 children, 2 of which being twins, & was heavily pregnant with a fourth. This final one being the first female.

This would be the end of this chapter of the story.

—

We cut back in to Lara dropping off her children with Link & Zelda. It's been at least 5 years since the war with Ganondorf & she was still recovering mentally.

She & Sidon had been getting serious & he'd accepted her kids as readily as he'd accepted Link & herself.

She knew that the prince was getting scrutiny from the elders of his people to end his relationship with the Hylian Heroine & marry a Zora woman to continue the royal line.

Here, Sidon is the eldest twin, thus making him crown prince of the Zora &, as such, he had a lot of expectations placed on him.

This lead to Lara trying to research a solution. Any solution. Which came to bear in the form of an ancient legend of another country where certain masks could transform one's body.

So, she left her precious babies with Link & his girlfriend, the Princess Zelda, before setting out.

She eventually manages to find Termina, at which point, the events of Majora's Mask takes place with her at the center, where she discovers a talent for music magic & playing instruments in-general. See, I'm going off this being the Adult Timeline, meaning Time Link was sent back in time, vanishing from this timeline, thus this Termina wasn't saved.

Moving on, this is the basic premise of the second chapter. And, let me tell you, when she obtains the Zora Mask, she is very conflicted. On the one hand, she has the solution to her & Sidon's problem. On the other hand, this poor Zora literally died, leaving Mikau to deal with the pressures of taking care of his & Lulu's eggs without the aid of his real sister, Rana! (Rana plays a violin made of fishbone.)

Here, Mikau comes with you to aide you in saving the ocean.

(Being a Goron was weird though because there were no female Gorons because they didn't reproduce via sex, thus making them all asexual & without genitals.)

If nothing else, if it worked like she hoped, she & Sidon would be able to have children which would satisfy his duties & allow King Dorephan some peace of mind.

Anyway, at the end of which, she takes the transformation masks with her back home.

—

The 3rd chapter opens up with Lara returning to Hyrule only to find that the Upheaval has taken place, both Link & Zelda are missing, the palace is in the fucking sky, & the other races of Hyrule are being beset once more.

Panicking, she immediately makes a b-line for the nearest settlement, skipping all other things, to try & learn what happened to her family only to learn that they too were missing.

Somewhere along the way, she meets up with her brother, who she demands tell her where her kids are.

Just to learn that they'd simply disappeared from the Royal Safehouse, which was where they'd been left when Link & Zelda went to investigate the Gloom, & that, apparently, there was another big bad, though he doesn't know his name yet.

Her world narrowed to a point.

Anyways, the twins set out to save Hyrule, Zelda, & Lara's babies. Lara making frequent use of the masks she'd obtained over her previous adventure.

(Interesting thing, the Depths are inhabited by Mogma, who have been besieged by the Gloom, which they call Miasma, for 10,000 years & had slowly gotten worse over time, with it getting even worse much more quickly recently.)

Then, the mounting horror that filled both heroes as they learned of this new Ganondorf. The denial that rose from them, insisting that the name was likely just a cultural thing. Traditional. Only for Lara to see his face & realize that they bore the same face & the same wicked eyes.

The panick.

---

When they got to Zora's Domain & met Yona, who introduced herself as Sidon's fiancée, both twins went quiet with shock. (Mipha is helping Yona with the infirmary. The simpathy in her eyes had been evident.)

Lara was initially angry until she remembered that Sidon was a prince & that this marriage had likely been in the works for longer than she'd been alive.

All that work trying to find a solution to their relationship, for nothing.

Lara had always been the rational sort despite her temper &, as a knight, she had been trained to know her place &, despite what the Gerudo legends said, it wasn't beside a king. (Link got a pass to be with Zelda because he actually did shit last time, which made him a real hero.)

For the record, immediately upon seeing Lara, Sidon embraces her & breaks it to her gently. Promising that this arrangement had come up out of the blue while she was gone. It'd been planned since they were children, but he'd only just learned about it himself. That he'd fought against it, but had been unable to change his father's mind. As the crown prince, he had a duty to his people.

And because Lara knew Sidon to be the sort to take responsibility for his wrongs, she believed him, though she brushed aside her sadness & didn't mention the Zora Mask she'd gotten.

The former pair's interactions afterwards were… awkward…

Lara would watch Yona's interactions with Sidon, it was obvious that there was very real affection for each other present. Not only that, but the Zora woman was very regal & proper & the worst part was, Yona was nothing but sweet & cordial to her despite most likely knowing by this point the relationship that Lara had with her fiancé, so she didn't even have an excuse to be angry with her.

These things only further cemented Lara's decision to just… get out of their way.

Yona would make a better queen anyway. Lara was damaged goods & technically still married as Ganon wasn't truly dead, so why would Sidon ever choose her? The fact that their relationship had been so widely accepted for as long as it was, was already a miracle.

She was just a little peasant girl from nowhere Hateno Village in West Necluda who somehow managed to become a knight. And despite having the Soul of the Hero, she didn't even have her own sealing weapon because, evidently, not even the goddess had forseen her existence. What did she have to offer?

Lara never said so, but the Hylian Heroine's sense of self-worth had been damaged greatly by her encounter with Ganondorf.

Though, upside, she had new ingredients to experiment with in her alchemy…

Splash Fruit would absolutely improve her Desert Travel Potion…

Not to mention all the stuff she could learn from her brother's new hand!

Though, the only one she could figure out how to replicate was the Fuse Weapon one. Which, just that was amazing! (Though, she soon learned that arrows just coated with an elemental ingredient wasn't as effective as when she specifically infused an arrow with elemental magic using her spellcaster bow. Though, it turned out that mixing the 2 methods made for an even more potent arrow that was just as potent as using a specifically designed elemental arrow.)

When they go talk to Dorephan, he looks at her with sorrow & apologizes for the decision he'd been forced to make. She's just silent...

Anyway, once they finish with the 4 phenomenon & go to Hyrule Castle, this new Ganon taunts Link & Lara, saying that he knew that Lara was the Bride & that she was his by right. It was like the Ganondorf who first kidnapped & raped her was back with none of the (admittedly minute) character growth he went through in the end.

The Demon King then said that he looked forward to getting to know the little Vai that her children told him about. At which point, Lara's blood turns to ice in her veins. It was like her entire world had just decided "fuck Lara in particular," because it was just one awful thing after another lately.

Then, the 4 Sages appear & fight off the asshole.

At the end of it, Sidon comes up to her, having noticed her distress & panic, to which she breaks down, weeping that this new Ganondorf had taken her babies & she had no idea where they were.

That this wasn't the same Ganondorf who'd kidnapped her the first time. At least he, she knew, loved those children, but this new person, she had no idea what he'd do to them!

The dread in Sidon's heart at the danger that the children were in. The very ones he'd always hoped in his heart that he'd one day be able to call his own. It was crippling. At the heartache of the woman before him, the woman he loved, but couldn't have.

He wished with everything in his soul that he could take her & her children back to the Domain & protect them from everything that could do them harm…

But he couldn't… The best he could do was be there for her now… As a very dear friend & nothing more…

He embraced her, hiding her from everyone else's view.

Never in his entire life had Sidon hated someone so much as this new Ganondorf… Not even the other one. At least he'd cared for Lara & their offspring in his own twisted, villainous way...

This new Ganondorf would pay…

—

I'm not sure where things would go from here, but at the end of the TotK arc, Link is down an arm altogether instead of having his old one restored & Zelda, instead of returning to full Hylian, ends up something like a draconid (half-dragon) with Light Dragon features. And that's just how she looks now.

And… Sidara will not happen. I'm sorry, but sometimes tragedy just happens.

Lara settles down in Lurelin Village & becomes something of a doctor there.

I'm thinking of having Lara later have an affair with Sidon (at which point, Lara reveals the mask she'd gotten for them), which results in bastard fries (Zora babies). 7 at once to be exact. (Lulu had a lot of them suckers!)

The unique mixing of Termina's old saltwater Zora with Hyrule's new freshwater Zora results in euryhaline Zora able to survive in both the ocean & rivers. Their appearance ends up resembling that of the Twilight Princess Zora, though with more color variation. Their main color remains that sort of silvery blue shade of the old Zora, but with accent colors much like the new Zora. However, they do seem to retain the new Zoran sizes.

A bit like this in style. Not my art. Though, with more variety of colors for the accents.

These Zora later make a settlement on Eventide Island & create a new Domain called Koholint, which will be the smallest island of the Koholina Archipelago.

Later, Lurelinites & a small faction of Rito move there & adapt to the climate, becoming more water birds. They come to be known as Coastal Rito.

Anyway, Lara dies of old age while her & Sidon's fries are still young. (Zora lifespans, dude.)

And those children are brought by Lara's eldest Gerudo son, Asïm, now grown & the Gerudo King, not to mention married to Riju with children of their own, to Sidon who is blindsided by the fact that Lara was dead, but before that had given him hatchlings. They hadn't seen each other since… that night… Not only had it been too painful... but he'd also learned that by knowing her as a child & then being with her later, he'd essentially groomed her. The shame... he couldn't see her again now knowing what he did.

He'd since passed a law that prevented Hylians & Sheikah below the age of 18 from being allowed into the Domain. Sidon never wanted such a thing to happen again.

Anyway, while these hatchlings were spawned out of wedlock, he refused to let himself be pressured into sending them away or not acknowledging them as his! Hadn't he given up enough for the sake of his duties!? What about his duties as a father?!

Of course, he cared for Yona & had even grown to love her, but he'd also never be able to forget Lara either. She had been his beloved despite the moral bankruptcy of that fact, but he couldn't change that.

To think that the Hylian Heroine had never found someone else to love as he'd hoped & prayed would happen. That she'd died alone without someone to cherish her as she'd wanted & deserved to be… It was the greatest injustice he'd ever known & it absolutely broke his heart!

For years Sidon mourned her & made sure to tell his & Lara's fries everything he could about their mother & uncle. The heroes that they'd been.

Lara eventually became a figure in Zora & Gerudo legend known for being the central figure in an epic tragic love story known as the Weeping Queen.

Sidon did eventually spawn with Yona legitimate fries & let it be said that Yona raised Lara's hatchlings as if they were her own. However, due to being illegitimate, they were not eligible for the Zora throne.

This is why they eventually made a new Domain on & around Eventide Island. While their architecture resembles Zora's Domain, with the commercial district being on the island itself & the residences being underwater, the designs resembles more the inside of the Face Dungeon from the new Link's Awakening remake. With some definite influence from Lurelin.

I might make a new prompt going over Ganondorf coming back & searching for Lara, whether his wife or the newest incarnation of her.

I definitely want a scene where he finds Lara's grave & mourns her in his own way.

LoZ My Fanfic Masterlist

[debitdebbie]

Nice Mover // This I did for You

[weepinglestat]

“I’m the Vampire Lestat. Remember me? The vampire who became a super rock star, the one who wrote the autobiography? The one with the blond hair and the gray eyes, and the insatiable desire for visibility and fame? You remember.” - The Queen of the Damned

[laxmiree]

[CN] MLQC’s Lucien - Fragment Date - English Translation

⚠️ SPOILER ALERT!! ⚠️

This post contains a detailed spoiler for a date that has not been released in EN yet! Feel free to notify me if there are any mistakes in the translation~

[Warning]: The content of this date is pretty explicit and may not be suitable for individuals under the age of 17 (CN server). It is recommended that those who do not meet this age requirement refrain from proceeding beyond this point.

He traces a trail of delicate nibbles along my neck, kissing the path where life itself flows.

I feel those affectionate yet slightly demanding marks being etched again and again. For some reason, I find myself speaking without thinking.

"Bite me, Lucien."

Translation under the cut!

[T/N: This date references some dates in the past; like his Prison Date, Monochrome Scenery Exclusive Past and its Event Story,  “Lab Koi” call, his Last year’s Birthday Story, and The Sea No Longer Distant MQ. Since this date has a lot of callback, I think it’d be better if you read those dates, events, and phone calls first if you haven’t :>; or at least the MQ and birthday story one because this date is also some kind of extension to those]

[Subbed Video]

[Transcript Ver]

=[Part 1]=

I wake up to the faint whirring of the fan and the subtle scent of a fruity fragrance lingering in the air. I turn over in bed, slowly blinking my eyes open.

The brilliant sunlight filters through the lace curtains, casting iridescent patches of light that dance playfully across Lucien's body.

He sits in a rattan chair by the window, flipping through a book in his hand. An exquisite purple clay tea set rests on a side table nearby.

For a fleeting, dreamlike moment, I feel like I've traveled back to the 1970s.

As if sensing my gaze, Lucien turns his head, and a hint of a smile appears in his eyes as he looks at me.

Lucien: It seems a certain lady hasn't adjusted to the time difference yet.

Lucien: It is now noon in U.S. time.

My foggy brain finally starts to turn sluggishly. I leave the bed, drag a chair over to sit beside him and yawn again.

MC: It can't be helped. It's already the wee hours in Loveland City.

Lucien: [teasingly] Oh? But as I recall, a certain night owl sometimes doesn't go to bed obediently even at those hours.

MC: [pouts] ....Hmph, you're one to talk, Mr. I-Don't-Need-Sleep!*

[T/N: MC actually calls him 进化了睡眠的人 here, which literally means “evolved sleep people”, it might be referring to him seemingly have evolved beyond the need of sleep😂]

Lucien: I've been quite well-behaved lately, haven't I? And when it comes to sleep duration, well, let's just say you're the ‘expert’.

Lucien blinks at me innocently, and I quickly take a sip of the tea he offers, hoping he won’t delve deeper into this topic.

A sweet and sour sensation blooms in my mouth. Perhaps there are other unknown herbs added, as I also detect a hint of honeyed sweetness.

✂———————–

=Flashback start=

Ten hours ago, in the dim and quiet cabin, the only sound was the occasional soft tapping of a keyboard from the seat next to me.

I lifted a corner of my eye mask and leaned closer.

MC: It's time for sleep, Professor Lucien. Didn't you say the seminar doesn't start until next week? We arrived three days early.

Lucien: That's true, but I don't plan to use this time for conference preparations.

Lucien: After all, a certain classmate expressed a desire to take this opportunity to visit my lab from my master's and Ph.D. days. I want to dedicate my time fully to you without any interruptions from other matters.

Beyond his words, I sensed other emotions in his earnest tone.

MC: [curiously] Is our Professor Lucien nervous because I'm going to visit the places where you once studied and lived?

Lucien: Yes.

He admitted it frankly, his eyes lit up as he looked at me.

Lucien: That place is very important to me.

Lucien: This feeling is like... inviting you to step into a chapter of my past.

Lucien: It should be a proper occasion, something worth your anticipation.

=Flashback end=

✂———————–

As I step out the door, a wave of heat washes over me. Thankfully, the house is nestled among the trees, providing some relief from the sweltering heat.

Lucien leads me down the stone steps, deeper into the verdant greenery. The lively apple trees grow abundantly, and even the breeze seems to carry a sweet fragrance.

The bed-and-breakfast he booked is located within Carver Estate Farm, not far from the lab. Since it's still early, we decided to take a stroll in the farm's orchard first.

MC: Now I finally feel like I'm truly on an American farm—

Lucien: The furniture and decor in that room can indeed be a bit misleading.

Lucien: That said, the radio and clock in the living room are just decorative pieces, and the stainless steel kettle in the kitchen is also fixed to the table.

Lucien: As for the fan and the TV, including the sewing machine, they actually work and can somewhat be considered "antiques.”

MC: When did you…

Lucien: [chuckles] The wait while you're asleep feels endless*, so I have to keep myself busy.

[T/N: Lucien uses the word "难熬" (literally means hard to bear) to describe his feelings while waiting for MC to wake up. Rather than feeling annoyed, the original sentence conveys a sense of longing and impatience, emphasizing how much he misses her so the wait feels unbearable]

Seeing him speak so seriously, I can't help but give his palm a gentle pinch.

Lucien: To be honest, I was a bit curious. I didn't expect the owner to maintain this style, or rather, deliberately preserve it.

MC: Have you been here before?

Lucien: Mm, Dr. Lawson brought the entire lab here before.

✂———————–

[T/N: Dr. Lawson was Lucien's mentor during his Master's and PhD years, in those years Lucien also had some seniors like Colt, Caroline, and Elliot. You can read more in Monochrome Scenery Exclusive Past. It can be said that the time during his Master’s and PhD years was the 'happiest' for him, after he abandoned his name and before he met MC. This young boy discovers that he’s not the only genius in this world. Surprisingly, this isn’t a bad thing; because being considered a genius had previously isolated him from his peers, but being surrounded by other geniuses provides him with a taste of mundane life… although he can’t fully taste it due to Black Swan’s pressure :"]

✂———————–

=[Part 2]=

Lucien: I remember it was autumn. We had just finished a phase of our experiment.

Lucien: The process of this experiment was very prolonged, and almost everyone expended a lot of effort. Fortunately, the results exceeded expectations.

Lucien: As a celebration, or perhaps simply out of a need for a break, Dr. Lawson suggested an outing after the experiment concluded.

MC: Sounds like a team-building activity?

Lucien: [chuckles] You could say that.

Lucien smiles lightly.

Lucien: At first, we all thought it would just be a matter of finding a nice restaurant, having a meal and chatting, or going to the theater to watch a performance.

Lucien: It wasn't until everyone received an email from Dr. Lawson that we realized we had been granted a mandatory five-day vacation. And the destination was this very farm estate.

MC: Pfft, Dr. Lawson is quite ceremonious about giving everyone a day off~ So, did everyone just obediently accept the arrangement?

I notice Lucien pausing, lost in thought, which is unusual for him. Then, a smile spreads on his lips.

Lucien: [chuckles] Not exactly.

Lucien: Eventually, everyone practically treated this place as a lab annex, almost bringing in equipment. Fortunately, the farm owner was an old friend of Dr. Lawson's, so we weren't kicked out.

MC: Hahaha, I knew it!

As we walk deeper into the apple orchard, the intertwined branches and leaves block out the sunlight, creating a vast expanse of shade. Vibrant red apples dot the lush greenery, looking especially tempting.

Lucien: The farm owner is an elderly Chinese gentleman. It's said that he and his wife came here to live when they were young, and this apple orchard was also planted by them with their own hands.

MC: No wonder. I think I suddenly understand why the house's decor feels so nostalgic.

Lucien: Perhaps it's precisely because they've been away for so long that they need tangible things to solidify those memories.

The swaying shadows of the trees dance in his deep eyes, and even though he's talking about someone else, I feel like I'm hearing unspoken words meant for himself.

So I rise on my tiptoes and cup his face, turning it towards me.

MC: So today, little Lucien is revisiting his old stomping grounds~ And as such an accomplished young professor, no less!

MC: This memory is very precious, and it's important to solidify it well.

Lucien: Is that so?

His voice is soft as he lowers his eyelashes and gazes into my eyes.

I feel like my entire being is almost seen through by him. He doesn't say a word, just keeps looking at me.

MC: Why are you staring at me?

Lucien: [chuckles] I'm solidifying this memory.

MC: Um?

Lucien: Because I'm not just here by myself.

Lucien: Today, I'm revisiting this place with my girlfriend. I want to look closely, carefully, and remember your appearance clearly.

I can't help but laugh, my fingertips brushing against his earlobe.

MC: Then how about remembering a bit more~ What else did little Lucien do here?

Lucien: I ate the apples.

MC: ....That doesn't count!

Lucien: Of course it counts. To be precise, it was an apple feast, with apple pie, apple muffins, apple salad, apple stew…

MC: Stop...! You're making me dizzy just looking at these apple trees now.

MC: I feel like they're saying to me, "I'm apple pie, I'm apple muffin…”

I dramatically shake my head and point to the huge fruits hanging above us.

Lucien seems amused by my actions. Seizing the moment, he smoothly takes my hand and plucks the apple hanging closest to us.

Lucien: [chuckles] Then let's eat them all, one by one.

He finishes speaking and even "conjures" a thin blanket from his bag, spreading it on the ground. He pulls me, who is still processing the moment, to sit under the tree.

His seamless actions leave me completely unable to keep up with him, and my questions come out in a jumble.

MC: C- Can we just pick the apples here? And sit down like this? And this blanket…

Lucien: I told you waiting for you to wake up feels endless, and I wasn't lying.

He looks as if he knows I can't do anything about him, and his tone, though seemingly aggrieved, is full of triumph.

We sit side-by-side under the tree, falling into a brief silence. The wind gently blows, as if not wanting to disturb this tranquility.

Lucien & MC: What are you thinking about?

Suddenly, we speak at the same time, and the unexpected coincidence makes us look at each other and laugh.

MC: You go first~

Lucien: I was wondering if an apple might fall on my head.

He says it so seriously that I find it rather cute. On a whim, I get up, pluck an apple, and then gently tap him on the head.

MC: Knock knock…

Lucien seems surprised by my action, the light in his pupils flickers.

Lucien: [gently] What about you?

MC: Me…

I smile sheepishly.

MC: I thought of a fairy tale, Prince... Snow White.

Lucien: But that's not how I remember the story?

MC: Because… this is a story I imagined!

Lucien nods thoughtfully, not minding my nonsense at all, but instead curving his eyes in a good mood.

Lucien: Then in your story, who are you?

This question stumps me for a moment, and I pause to think seriously before answering.

MC: I'm the magic mirror.

Lucien: Because the magic mirror knows everything?

MC: [smiles softly] Not really, it's because the magic mirror only looks at...the prince.

MC: And if I were the magic mirror, I wouldn't need you to ask, I'd tell you that—

MC: Lucien is the most handsome, the most intelligent, the most amazing, and the person I love the most in this entire world.

My voice is not loud, yet it feels like the entire orchard of apples has heard it. Their already gorgeous red blushing even deeper, making their vibrancy impossible to conceal.

My clamorous heart seems to be thoroughly exposed by the sun, allowing me to distinctly feel its beating and clearly see the smile filling Lucien's eyes.

He lowers his head, takes a bite of the apple in his hand, and lies down without hesitation.

Our hands, which have been holding each other all along, pull me slightly forward because of his sudden movement.

MC: …!

Lucien lies lazily on the plush blanket, each strand of hair scattering softly, as if quietly outlining his innermost feeling at this moment.

His already loose shirt falls open completely, revealing a patch of skin.

He gently blinks and the corners of his lips slightly curl up.

Under the scorching heat, the apples hanging from the branches exude an even more enticing fragrance.

The wind gathers from afar, wave after wave, sweeping through the villa, the woods, and each apple tree, carrying an increasingly rich scent toward us.

His fingertip traces mine, gently caressing the sensitive skin between my thumb and index finger.

It's like some kind of seduction.

Lucien: [whispers hoarsely] Miss Magic Mirror, I've been poisoned.

His voice is soft as if melting into the sunlight, yet it possesses a bewitching power that makes one willingly lean closer to him.

Lucien: You can kiss me now.

✂———————–

[T/N: Prince Snow White and Miss Magic Mirror… it’s a reference to his second Halloween date; Prison Date! Also, I love the way it seamlessly fits in the theme of ‘lover is like a mirror’ from last year's kiss SP; Blooming Amidst Turbulent Desires MQ... perhaps by seeing your lover's eyes you can see the real and complete you :”. And unique to Lucien, it could be that only through seeing his reflection in her eyes can he perceive the colorful version of himself]

✂———————–

=[Part 3]= 

After buying some apple cookies at the farm store and making a reservation for apple cider making tomorrow, we drive to Dr. Lawson's lab.

The asphalt road under the shade of the trees glistens in the summer light. In the distance, sailboats glide on the river and people cycle along the riverbank.

Perhaps it's due to the fluttering anticipation in my heart, but the half-hour drive feels like it's over in the blink of an eye.

✂———————–

Lucien: Dr. Lawson is giving a lecture in London this week, and the current head of the lab is my senior, Colt. After graduation, he stayed on to continue the research.

Lucien: But he happens to be leading a group of students in an academic exchange with another lab today…

Lucien pauses for a moment, moves the gift bag he just placed on the desk to the side, and takes a sticky note off the computer screen.

Lucien: [quietly reading the sticky note] …..

He waves the sticky note at me, and I can clearly see the lively handwriting on it: "Enjoy: )".

Lucien: It seems like no one will be back today. In that case, let's graciously accept this invitation to enjoy ourselves.*

[T/N: "恭敬不如从命" means “it's more respectful to follow a request than to decline it out of politeness.” In this case, rather than refusing Colt's invitation, they graciously accept and agree to enjoy the day as requested]

✂———————–

The white walls make the spacious corridor even brighter. Along the way, the walls of classrooms and laboratories are adorned with various awards and patent certificates.

It seems that just by passing through, one can feel countless figures with unceasing footsteps, moving forward persistently and rationally, knocking on one unknown door after another.

✂———————–

Lucien: The desk by the window was the place I most often sat in the lab. Because I always sat there, it eventually became my ‘workstation’.

Lucien: Even if I arrived late, everyone would save this seat for me;

Lucien: [chuckles] But I don't really have a fixed seat in the library. I've never known if those people who are already looking up information early in the morning are actually early risers or if they just never went to bed;

Lucien: Occasionally, when the weather was nice, professors would take us out to the lawn for class;

Lucien: This vending machine used to swallow coins. I wonder if it's been fixed…

Lucien leads me through the corridor, past the small garden, into classrooms, laboratories, and the library…

Perhaps even he himself hasn't realized it, but returning here has made him happy.

It's in the little things he doesn't even realize he's doing: the way his steps quicken without him noticing, the instinctive caress of his fingertips against my palm, the soft murmurs he makes when he notices something different from his memories.

And even the hint of joy as he reveals those past memories with me.

He leads me by the hand through every nook and cranny of this place, making me feel as if I'm walking through his youth.

Finally, we arrive at the dormitory building. 

Lucien: Generally, everyone lives here. They're mostly single rooms, so you have a lot of privacy.

MC: I remember you mentioned it before, so is this the common lounge area?

In this not-so-large space in front of us, several sofas and coffee tables are neatly arranged, and the bar counter displays simple everyday items.

Lucien: Mm, usually everyone relaxes here while waiting for experiment results. Occasionally, we also play a round of NOU.

MC: Pfft, I didn't expect this kind of leisure activity.

Lucien: [chuckles] To be precise, it's a traditional activity.

Sensing an interesting topic, I quickly shake his hand and press for more details.

MC: What else? What other things do you do?

Lucien thinks for a moment, then suddenly smiles.

Lucien: There's actually one interesting thing.

Lucien: In the past, before important experimental results were concluded, everyone would tacitly let a certain colleague touch the experiment machine a few more times, and then pray to it.

Lucien: And often, the results wouldn't be too bad, and there was a high probability of exceeding expectations.

MC: Hahaha, so he's the ‘lab koi’ you were talking about!

[T/N: It’s a reference to the  “Lab Koi” call from last year!]

Lucien nods, the warm white light tracing the contours of his face, making his features appear even softer.

I can hear the nostalgia in his voice that he unintentionally revealed, and I know that he might be thinking about a lot of things at this moment.

I'm reluctant to break this brief silence*, my gaze subconsciously drifting towards this lounge, as if I could catch a glimpse of the genius boy who had once been here.

[T/N: The phrase "不舍得" (bù shě de) expresses a reluctance or unwillingness to part with something precious or cherished. While the English translation "reluctant" conveys the general idea, it might not fully capture the way MC cherishes this rare moment of Lucien being so nostalgic that she's reluctant to break🤧]

Suddenly, my attention is drawn to the wall next to the bar counter.

It's a small display wall. Besides showcasing some achievement certificates of past researchers, there's also a handwritten message board and some photos.

It turns out there will always be someone who earnestly preserves and longs for the past, with all its time and traces.

I quickly find a familiar figure among them.

It's a slightly blurry photo, almost as if it were a frame grabbed from a video.

The boy surrounded by the crowds slightly widened his eyes, a bouquet of flowers was thrust into his arms as he let the others boisterously tease and laugh around him.

Lucien: [chuckles, his voice exclaims a little in surprise] ...So, I really was quite surprised back then.

Lucien quietly walks up behind me at some point, his gaze intently fixed on this photo.

The world is truly a wondrous place. It appears to operate according to established principles, yet it often defies logic.

Those emotions that he never understood in the past are now brought before him in some fateful way, regaining their meaning and significance.

Lucien gazes at the girl beside him, observing her happiness and surprise, witnessing all the beautiful emotions that have blossomed because of him.

But she has no idea that her existence has allowed him to see how beautiful the world is.

Lucien's gaze slowly returned to the photo.

Countless colorful ribbons flutter in the air, shimmering and sparkling. The colors, engraved with blessings and well-wishes, seem to transcend time, flowing into his eyes in this very moment.

He speaks softly.

Lucien: It turns out that day was actually so lively.

✂———————–

The last scene is about his Last year’s Birthday Story! He graduated with his PhD on his birthday. This graduation was celebrated by his seniors and professor. At that time, everything was monochrome in his eyes. However, visiting the place with MC and seeing his graduation photo with her brings color to a memory that was once only in black and white. He now realizes how lively and vibrant that day truly was.

✂———————–

=[Part 4]=

MC: Are you saying that Senior Brother Colt and Senior Sister Caroline being together was something specifically emailed to you?

Lucien gives a helpless smile.

Lucien: Their reasoning was that I'd receive the information faster by email, and it turns out they were absolutely right.

MC: Hahaha!

We walk back, laughing and chatting. Along the way, I listen to Lucien share stories from his past that he seldom opens up about, about the later developments of his companions, and their current situations.

Some things he tells me without much recollection, while others he needs to think about for a moment. But it seems that the process of remembering makes him a bit happier.

One intersection away from the farm, we pass by a market and stop to buy some food.

Lucien: I'll take the things to the car first, wait for me here.

MC: Okay~ I'll be right here at the market.

While waiting for Lucien to get the car, I notice a stall at the market.

A silver-haired grandma is engrossed in weaving bracelets, her stall filled with dazzling beaded ornaments that shimmer under the soft glow of the glass lamps.

Suddenly, an idea strikes me, and I walk towards the stall.

✂———————–

MC: Ah, it's so hot.

As soon as I enter the house, I hurriedly turn on the air conditioner and fan.

Although the temperature here is still quite pleasant compared to the summer in Loveland City, I’m probably still jet-lagged that I feel a little dizzy.

Struggling to fight the rising drowsiness, I sort and organize the purchased items with Lucien.

Lucien: How about having dinner at the farm's eco-restaurant tonight? That way you can sleep earlier and won't be too tired.

Lucien: Or should we go somewhere farther to try some local specialties?

MC: Either is fine with me~ But before we eat, I need to do something important first.

I arrange the washed apples in a fruit bowl and pull Lucien to sit down with me.

I fish the woven bracelet I bought earlier from the stall out of my pocket. I pull his arm towards me and carefully, with a sense of cherishing, fasten the bracelet around his wrist.

Lucien clasps my wrist in return, his gaze shifting from the bracelet to me, as if waiting for an explanation.

MC: It's just... I suddenly wanted to give you something.

MC: Maybe it's because I saw your photos in the lounge earlier, or maybe it's because I heard so much about your past today.

MC: Even though I knew what those days truly meant to you, it wasn't until I actually went there that I realized…

MC: Everything about Lucien has been well treasured.

He's looking at me, hanging on to my every word.

MC: I'm so lucky to have picked them up again and to have pieced them together with you.

MC: To let them become you, the complete person standing before me.

Gazing into his eyes and seeing the one and only figure reflected there, I feel surprisingly calm and settled inside.

I gently caress his wrist twice.

MC: You see, I tied this knot myself! And I picked out this little agate bead super carefully. Don't you think it's pretty?

MC: It can be like the apple that falls on your head and sparks inspiration or the one that tempts you to be curious about everything.

MC: But now, it is also the "apple" I am giving to you.

MC: [smiles softly] Lucien, I hope the present me can also become a special fragment, forever remaining in your memories.

Pinkish-purple hues gently paint the horizon, and a beam of light happens to fall in, illuminating the agate bead.

The smooth texture is brightly highlighted, making the color seem to dance, leaping into those beautiful dark eyes.

Lucien: [softly] Indeed… very vibrant.

Lucien: Like an apple.

As he says this, he looks at me, his brows and eyes curving into a beautiful arc, leaving me momentarily unsure of what exactly he's referring to.

MC: Then let’s go eat…!

My cheeks start to feel warm as I belatedly realize what he means, and as I try to rise from his embrace, an irresistible force pulls me back onto his lap.

The arm wrapped around my waist tightens slightly, deepening the embrace.

Lucien: [whispers seductively] Before that, I also have something important to do.

He lowers his head, kissing the little agate bead cherishingly, then gently moves his kisses to my fingertips resting on his wrist, his lips slowly trailing upward, inch by inch.

Each kiss is feather light and slow, as if he’s carefully tracing every detail, until every part of my skin is stained with his warmth.

Lucien: MC.

He gives my earlobe another gentle peck before pulling back slightly, creating a small distance between us.

Lucien: [softly] Today, I've felt the significance of those seemingly meaningless moments from the past.

Lucien: It turns out there are many other people in my dreams.

[T/N: This part is what I mean by the date being the extension of last month's MQ (The Sea No Longer Distant MQ). It can be said that on this date, Lucien finally understands what MC means in that MQ. It's like... growing a 'heart' and feeling emotions that he doesn't comprehend before. He's lucky to have many people willing to ‘dream’ together with him🥺]

His abrupt change of topic leaves me momentarily confused as if he’s speaking in riddles. It takes me a moment to catch up and understand what he’s talking about.

Memories of the beach from a month ago flood back. I look into those eyes that are still fixed on me, and I seem to see emotions in them that weren't there before.

Lucien: You're right. People are complex, and they're also greedy.

Lucien: Because of you, I've accepted many things, and as a result, I desire even more.

Lucien: I'm curious about what other changes I'll experience because of you, and what surprises you'll bring me.

Lucien: And besides curiosity, there's also expectation.

I tilt my head up and kiss the corner of his lips.

MC: Then keep being curious about me.

MC: I like that you're curious about me.

I reach out to touch Lucien's face, wanting to look more clearly into his eyes.

Lucien: [whispers softly] Miss Magic Mirror, can you tell me…

Lucien: In your eyes, what am I like at this very moment?

I can't help but laugh.

MC: Right now, your eyes are the color of the entire sky. They're so beautiful.

MC: Your hair is bestowed with the warm glow of the setting sun, looking soft and fluffy. Your lips…

As I talk, I give him another kiss.

MC: It makes me want to do this.

Lucien also starts laughing.

MC: Lucien, right now, everything about you is complete in my eyes, and I can see you clearly.

He leans down again, his warm and moist breath brushing against my neck as he kisses me, causing subtle tingling sensations on my skin.

I instinctively try to pull away, but as I reach out to hold onto the back of his neck, he firmly holds me in place.

My legs dangle, unable to find a foothold, forcing me to use all my strength to hook onto his lap, while my other hand blindly grabs onto the curtain.

The crimson sunset spills over us unrestrainedly. As if dazzled by the spots of light, Lucien lifts me towards him, shifting a little as he holds me.

Amid the rocking motion, his leg accidentally touches the nearby coffee table, making a noise.

The sudden weightlessness makes me instinctively tighten my arms, causing him to gently bite my collarbone.

His scorching breath brushes against my neck like a feather, his scent overwhelming and filling every corner. It mingles with the fruity fragrance in the air, creating an even more alluring aroma.

Out of the corner of my eye, the goldfish in the fish bowl seem startled as well, swaying and swinging, leaving behind two tangled and intertwined trails*.

The skin grazed by my fingertips starts to burn, and I'm getting hot too.

Lucien: [whispers hoarsely] MC, you make me feel a gentle gaze.

Right now, we probably can't see each other's expressions, but it's as if we can see everything.

His low, hoarse voice resonates against my neck, and his moving lips make my throat vibrate, as though his words and voice have become my own.

Lucien: [x2] Make me feel truly seen by you, deeply loved by you**.

Lucien: [x3] Make me… feel happy and satisfied.

He traces a trail of delicate nibbles along my neck, kissing the path where life itself flows.

I feel those affectionate yet slightly demanding marks being etched again and again. For some reason, I find myself speaking without thinking.

MC: Bite me, Lucien.

The rustling of clothes suddenly stops, and his breathing also ceases, as if he is holding his breath.

I know my face is burning bright red, but I only shyly embrace him, moving myself even closer to him.

MC: I've also been seen by you and possessed by you.

In the sweaty air, I hear his long, drawn-out breath.

But in the next moment, they are all swept into my lips and tongue, obtaining all my oxygen in a different way.

Lucien: [kisses and pants] It is because you possess me that I am complete.

Lucien: [x2] Please keep possessing me forever… MC.

Lucien: [x3] In this world, only you will possess this kind of me.

.

.

.

———FIN———–

[T/N]

*: The fish in the bowl description might seem out of place, but it's not! It alludes to '鱼水之欢' (lit. 'the joy of fish and water'), which is a Chinese idiom that describes the joy and intimacy of sexual intercourse or the metaphor for the act itself. It's also an idiom that is a metaphor for the intimate and harmonious emotional or sexual life of men and women.

**: This is my favorite line in this because of the way it emphasizes Lucien's feeling of being understood and cherished 🤧 “看见" (kàn jiàn, to see) has the connotation of being acknowledged and truly understood. I think, for Lucien, being ‘seen’ and understood is significant; understanding the world is his thing as a scientist, so when someone makes an effort to understand him, it means a lot to him. Then the use of directly spoken “爱” (ài) which is a very, very sentimental word to say compared to how the west uses ‘love’ regularly… and the way it also encompasses a sense of enduring love, a sense of care, cherishing, and protectiveness🥺

Those last lines!!!!! Under her gaze, he feels utterly seen, completely known, and thus, entirely himself. It's because she possesses him fully that he feels complete. While others in his life may hold only fragments of him, she alone possesses his entirety. As the fox says in "The Little Prince," “But if you tame me, then we shall need each other. To me, you will be unique in all the world. To you, I shall be unique in all the world.” It is through her 'taming' that his completeness becomes something uniquely hers and hers alone.

And as Lucien mentioned in the Radio Broadcast Date, his form of possessiveness goes beyond one-sided control or dominance. Rather than just possessing her, he longs even more for her to possess him. To let her influence and 'change' him. Their possessiveness is a two-way thing: just as he is insatiable and wants all of her, he also craves to belong to the one he loves and to surrender himself entirely. After all, possessiveness is also a form of exceptional cherishing of the other party (his words in radio broadcast date, not mine), and he enjoys the feeling of being cherished and loved in this way.

[messervixen]

Just listened to the lyrics specifically of Bohemian Rhapsody and 0/10 would not recommend. Absolutely awful. If you kin Sirius Black AT ALL do yourself a favor and never go with 500 feet of that song because it is rough. TCOPTP Sirius had every right to start sobbing the first time he heard it because it’s genuinely horrific.

[t0bey]

Hit the crystal palace gang with the 70’s au stick 🕺

[mogwaei]

✨🌿Queen Sonia🌿✨

[oifaaa]

If DC had balls they’d tell us Alfred’s opinion on Brexit

I dont trust any dc writer to understand Brexit enough or for them to actually give the real answer which we all know that bastard flew back to England just so he could vote leave and it wasn't bc of the bus

[ratatatastic]

anyways i think everyone should kiss bob sweetly because while the squid telecast was delightful they did go bob didnt even move he didnt even see it hes got a 5 hole so big someone should try for it like shut up brick walls dont move im sorry our goalie is a statue compared to your goalie who is filled with whimsy and delightful youth he can do handsprings all over the ice bobby is at the age where if he thinks about it he will pop his hip out

[queenwhoneverwasx]

'We're off to battle again, old girl'

'As a side note, because of that detachment, increasingly Meleys becomes her only friend and ally. The only being with whom she can be vulnerable. I asked to have this moment, which you might not have noticed, but felt significant to me: there's a beat before they fly off to battle. There's just a moment of help, when she allows her vulnerability. I felt like Rhaenys was saying help and Meleys just says, "you've got this." That moment of connection felt really important' - Eve Best, via Esquire Magazine

[aq2003]

[punches the wall] the tv show has a limited runtime and your favorite moments from the campaign will likely not be included [punches the wall] the tv show has a limited runtime and your favorite moments from the campaign will likely not be included [punches the wall] the tv show has a limited runtime and your favorite moments from the campaign will likely not be included [punches the wall] the tv show has a limited runtime and your favorite moments from the campaign will likely not be included [punches the wall] the tv show has a limited runtime and your favorite moments from the campaign will likely not be included [punches the w

[mintytealfox]

my lonely emo hunter ass doesn't have anybody to take a picture with -WHEEZZEEE- DANG IT

but so far I have found Melly and Frederick's wishes ;;

[gingersnaptaff]

My work bestie got me a fabulous pillow for Christmas and look!!!

Guinevere coded ngl.

[perhaps-in-anotherdream]

[CN] Li Zeyan’s 2024 Birthday ASMR: Heartbeat (Eng Translation)

🔞 proceed at your own discretion. and well, enjoy~ 🤪

—

[crowofjudgment]

Mygod that ending was magical and phenomenal and incredibly cathartic. In times like these, it's so great that we get to have media that showcases and highlights how drag is joyful! dnd is joyful! fringe communities are joyful!! Super stoked how fans from each side have been introduced to new communities under dimension 20 - like this truly was mine and a lot of people's avenger's endgame, and I'm so glad people got to go through the same journey the queens did, which was finding sisterhood in trying times.

[incorrect-ikevamp-quotes]

Oh we are so BACK

When I tell you I saw this and died. HELLO?????

I keep hiding my face lahshjsdhjgfsaf HE HAS NO RIGHT. NO RIGHT AT ALL BEING THAT SEXILY INTENSE AAAAAAAAAAA

Anyway, I should probably try to make some attempt at describing the event since. If I don't I'll just be barking/crying/hiding my face for the next twelve hours.

Basically--and I'm not sure this is going to be across the board, but it held true for Napoleon and Sebastian at least--each suitor has a birthday event this year instead of a separate story. Comte's won't be released until tomorrow, but they have posted a preview.

From what I gather, he talks a little bit about himself and reveals parts of his past that haven't come to light in the game yet. There wasn't really enough to convey a coherent narrative beyond attending a party, but the line displayed here does get across the larger theme:

Comte: (I don't need momentary pleasure or ephemeral affection any longer. Now that I know love, there's nothing but you.)

He talks about how the aristocracy have thrown parties and extravagant celebrations for his birthday for most of his life. But none of it has ever really made him happy, largely because he knows that they are attempts to strengthen and broadcast power relations within high society. While I don't think he means it's entirely devoid of well wishes, I do think he sees it as a nexus of influence--and thus, by nature, impersonal. And honestly, I don't think he's wrong about that; the higher the echelon in social standing, the more it requires performance to maintain the position.

That being said, there is a fascinating flashback where he remembers a pureblood telling him about how falling in love with a human is an experience of another caliber entirely. My understanding is that Comte was still a fairly young vampire at the time, so he didn't really understand what the person was getting at. It seems like the other pureblood was trying to convey the difference in feeling, perhaps the fact that humans are more grounded in accordance with how they live--the reality and necessity of change.

After reading this--and the recent 5th bday story--I can absolutely see how change is something Comte has a complicated relationship with. He's known a certain way of life for so long, has constructed a sensibility of distant, rational maturity. After all the heartbreak of his youth, and two very acute traumatic events in his life, I can see why he'd be so afraid of broaching any kind of proximity with another person. Because on some level it's so much easier not to put your feelings on the line, to never have to fear devastating loss. And that's to say nothing of the worry of being unable to measure up on behalf of another person, of letting them down.

I'm so excited to see the rest of the contents, but something about the preview made me equal parts giddy and enamored (all I do is kick my feet with excitement LOL). I think what gets to me with Comte is that he truly does love companionship as a place to rest, a place where he can be honest about himself and his feelings without fear of ridicule (and the same goes for MC). In a world increasingly obsessed with surface level performances of power, status, and emotion, it's hard not to feel his exhaustion to the core.

Also, because these lines at the end more or less destroyed me in the best possible way:

MC: ...The you who had nowhere to belong no longer exists. In much the same way...Abel, I belong to you. Comte: ... Comte: I wish I could say to myself all those years ago, the me who kept indulging in such paltry things. Comte: Until you meet MC, you will never know love... The warmth of MC in my arms filled me with such joy I was near tears. (I don't need momentary pleasure or ephemeral affection any longer. Now that I know love, there's nothing but you.) The moment my lips found hers, the sweetness lit a fire deep in my body. Comte: These cute lips that melt against mine, the heat of your skin, the love that envelops me in your embrace--always leaves me so deeply in love with you.