#thread: solitude

[theiravshade]

Shoulder Snuggling™

[esuemmanuel]

I wish more people could see how valuable it is to love with the soul, because that is why we came into the world: to love, to accept, and care for ourselves as we are. The human being, unfortunately, has an evil, and it is taking its toll, because, not accepting himself, he is not able to love himself; he wants to be different… other…, because he is not satisfied with what he was born with. And no, it is not a matter of being different, nor of making ourselves up or changing ourselves according to the irrational idea we carry in our heads; the one that has been born due to the lack of love towards our own nature. It is about looking at ourselves as a whole, with our defects and virtues, our strengths and weaknesses, accepting ourselves in our totality, because this is what gives us value before the world. Being unique makes us irreplaceable.

Ojalá más gente viera lo valioso que es amar con el alma, porque a eso hemos venido al mundo: a amarnos, a aceptarnos tal cual somos, a querernos y a cuidarnos. El ser humano, lamentablemente, tiene un mal, y le está cobrando factura, pues, al no aceptarse, no es capaz de amarse; quiere ser distinto… otro… diferente, porque no está satisfecho con lo que ha nacido. Y no, no se trata de ser otro ni de maquillarnos o cambiarnos de acuerdo a la idea irracional que cargamos en la cabeza; ésa que ha nacido por la falta de amor hacia nuestra propia naturaleza. Se trata de mirarnos completos, con nuestros defectos y virtudes, nuestras fortalezas y debilidades, aceptándonos en nuestra totalidad, porque esto es lo que nos da valor ante el mundo. Ser únicos nos hace irreemplazables.

[paininpoetry]

The red thread of fate

We always pledge under the same stars

A crimson cord guiding us to each other's heart

Through the ache that miles apart leaves

Two souls holding the same heartbeats

We've always knew it could be much more

Than what we had or hoped for before

A tied destiny surrounded by torns

In twilight's and winter's cold

I beg and believe for a woven grace

To find each other again, face to face

We're still lost and so far apart

Hiding these memories once lived with art

Now in solitude we fall apart

The pain to belong to each other's heart.

- VinceHollow

[onetrueheir]

tag dump!!

[musingmemories]

Actions and Consequences

@5ofhearts-chris

Routine will take you further than willpower. Down to the most finite detail, Wendy had grown up learning that discipline was a strength, and preferred to keep her mind clear and spirit pure because of the weapon she possessed. The Ace of Spades was an heirloom, a blessing or a curse depending on the user, and Wendy could only hope to one day to make her father proud. This time...this time...a mantra every time the card was played, the sword secured in its sheathe. Wendy's skills with a sheathed blade were often times unrivaled, and Love and Peace's spirit wasn't needed. But there were times her alter-ego was called.

This time will be different.

This time she'd be the one in control.

The card weighed heavily against the fabric of her breast pocket, as though carrying the very soul of the sword and the lives it had taken, the blood that had spilled. Usually the burden disappeared the second she stepped into the High Card automobile company, Finn yelling in surprise from learning something new, Vijay there with a soft smile and her cup of tea ready to go. The air was different, quiet, and Wendy hesitantly gathered her hair into that signature ponytail, glasses adjusting. "You seem serious...is there a mission for me?" She asked Leo, just as the door opened.

"Actually, this mission is for both of you." Leo said with a thoughtful hum.

Wendy expected to turn and find Vijay, anxiety swelling in the pit of her stomach and heartbeat skipping when her gaze locked with the person she would be partnered with instead: Chris.

[windfavord]

—— ⟡ @solitude-in-eternity

EVEN THOUGH HE HAD BEEN GIVEN a place to stay, he hadn't actually been there yet. There were too many things to see around the island, and besides that, he hadn't yet decided what his opinion of this world's guardians were-- and if he wanted to accept their "gifts," or if such gifts came with strings attached.

Eventually, he decided he might as well take a look. He had a key, after all-- it might not be bad to have a place to hide out if necessary.

The apartment wasn't bad, he supposed. There were all the standard living spaces, which he didn't anticipate himself using much, and a bedroom, which he might use a little more often if he wanted to get away from the outside world.

After deeping the place acceptable enough, maybe even nice if he was feeling generous, he headed out again.

Only, he didn't get past the doorstep before he froze in place, pupils shrinking to points.

At the house just next door, he spotted a certain familiar figure. A very familiar figure. One that he could never fully forget-- not even after erasing himself from existence.

Raiden Ei. His creator-- his mother.

[universestreasures]

Oh...my goodness...I'm gonna lose my marbles.

THEY LEGIT SAY PRETTY MUCH THE SAME THING. I AM DEAD. I KNEW THEIR PHILOSOPHIES WERE SIMILAR BUT....I DIDNT KNOW THEY USED PRETTY MUCH THE EXACT SAME LANGUAGE (Been refreshing myself on Season 3 of Buddyfight for iconing reasons and 100% forgot this was the language used here in Episode 44) OMG.

I guess it's just a card game rival thing to not be held back by your past, huh? BUT LEGIT, IT HITS SO DIFFERENTLY WHEN TASUKU SAYS IT COMPARED TO WHEN SETO SAYS IT BECAUSE TASUKU'S IS FRAMED AS A GOOD, HEROIC THING, WHILE SETO'S IS FRAMED AS A BAD, HATE-FIILLED THING. LOVE HOW THIS PHILOSOPHY IS PORTRAYED IN TWO DIFFERENT LIGHTS HERE BECAUSE IT IS NOT 100% BLACK OR WHITE. LOVE THAT SM.

Though, their philosophies are different in their approaches, obviously. Seto sees the past as having nothing of value. Tasuku doesn't see it that way in the sense the past has no worth (he looks fondly back on his meeting with Jack, and I HC what little he remembers from his parents), but rather doesn't want past circumstances to hold him back from the future, like he let them before until he overcame Purgatory Knight.

It also is interesting because both Tasuku and Seto have some things from their past they still have ties to (both relating to the trauma they experienced when they were younger ) that they say don't affect them, but we know as an audience they do. It's things we notice from their subtle actions and words. Plus, trauma is never so easily healed.

For Seto, it's his hatred and anger towards past events, for Tasuku it's the guilt he experienced not being able to save his family from death due to his powerlessness as a child and his past actions as Purgatory Knight. They have taken steps to overcome those things, but that kind of pain doesn't go away, even with grand story moments (EX: Kaiba blowing up Alcatraz and Tasuku defeating Purgatory Knight as a part of Dynamis' trial).

These same sentiments goes for those who are 'shackled' by the past as well, like....

Mokuba.

It's very fitting that once again, the Kaiba Brothers are polar opposites in this respect. Mokuba does acknowledge plainly there were bad things in their past, like the situation they were put into and Seto's coldness to him during the years under Gozaboru, but he is 'shackled' in the sense that his past is still something that very much has affected his perceptions and views and he longs to return to it (and how that limits his own view of the future), despite the fact that is not possible.

His admiration for his older brother? Built on how he was in the past, specifically during the Orphanage days.

Love of gaming? Again, no doubt, spurred on by Seto's passion for it during their youth. Seto taught him chess, which was probably the reason why Capsule Monster Chess appealed so much to Mokuba. It was similar to the game he was taught by his brother.

Him and Seto's dream for Kaibaland? Established when they were younger.

And all of this is symbolized by the fact the lockets Mokuba made for him and his brother are not of a modern-day picture, but rather one of the past: of the good memories the two had together that kept Mokuba going throughout his youth. Because unlike in the anime (which there is some of this too for a short period but not NEARLY to the same extent as to what was depicted in the manga), Seto and Mokuba were NOT close at all during the time Gozaboru was alive. Seto was too busy being studied to death while Mokuba was helpless to do anything to stop it, to stop his brother from losing himself all together as the two were, no doubt, driven apart.

It only makes sense for a kid like Mokuba, who thanks no doubt to Seto's efforts, did not lose himself fully to the darkness of humanity, to idolize and hold dear those past memories where his brother and him were happy together, were normal kids together. Mokuba cares about his brother more than anything, and to him, he's just been forced to watch his brother wilt like dying plant until it becomes unrecognizable.

And from Mokuba's pov, Seto IS unrecognizable (in the early manga but this does slowly change over time) and he's having a hard time gripping with that, to accept fully with all his heart Seto for who he is now and to no longer strive for a ghost of the past. This is something that isn't seen much, but that just further points to evidence it is feelings Mokuba often represses (something that is probably a trauma response for various reasons, from what he went through under Gozaboru's roof, to how his brother treated him in the early manga, to fear of losing everything for saying something, to other factors). He loves his brother and is so selfless in that love and wanting to stay with him, the only family he has left, he sorta puts those feelings aside in most cases unless his emotions peak and tries to make the most out of it.

He still holds out hope that one day his brother will smile with him again, to play games like they used to despite everything, but...he deep down and us as an audience know, that's just not possible. There's been too much pain...too much suffering and trauma to return to that time, as much as we and Mokuba would love for that to be the case.

The clashing of these three philosophies discussed: destroying the past, not being held back by it and looking to a greater future, and trying to return to it are the main focal points of my confrontation thread with @shacchou and I am so hype to see where that thread goes, especially with Mokuba being over at Tasuku's, meaning my Buddy Cop is gonna throw his hat into the ring because he can't help himself LOL

Anyway, thank you for coming to another late at night Rarity Ted Talk where she overanalyzes some of her favorite fictional characters I and my mutuals write from the media we love and the connections that can be made between them and how they can inspire storytelling. I have ideas for more of these kinds of posts, like one for analyzing the similarities between Yugi and Gao because the way they handle loss is very similar and one for how Mokuba's core friend group (Himself, Gao, Suzuha, and Tasuku) mirror Yugi's own core friend group (Yugi, Jonouchi, Anzu, and Honda)

[venalier]

“bogworms’ brains,” caeldori swears to herself under her breath. if only she’d left just a few days earlier! then she could’ve been out there with the rest of them on the field, measuring her skill and strategic studies against her peers. a few wins, or even the grand trophy! — would’ve been the perfect accomplishment to include in her first letter home, convincing her father that her decision to come and complete her time here was far from a waste!

what she didn’t want to tell him was that there were people she was hoping to see again, too.

“andrei, there you are!” there he is prone in the healer’s camp just like she’d been told. the excitement of an old fr— ally? ... pleasant acquaintance? — overruns any concern about his injuries for now. there’d be nothing crippling from the battle of eagle and lion, anyway.

she tries ( and mostly succeeds! ) at fighting back a smile, not wanting to look overeager about something as simple as a familiar face. but there’s an energy to her step that betrays her as she draws up beside him, ignoring the glances of clerics and passersby. “i was looking all over for you. i've come back. i hope you've been well. and what’s this about you having a pegasus now?”

   ♡   //   @ulircursed

[anfwtrite]

onde: uma das praias de zakynthos

com: @ocean-solitude

Não era um luxo que poderia se dar sempre, mas em alguns poucos dias no mês, gostava de se levantar antes do sol nascer para poder assistir ao fenômeno na praia, por vezes acompanhada de seus cachorros Mojito, um corgi, e Bay, um pastor australiano. Como poucas pessoas pareciam ter o mesmo pensamento, também era o melhor horário para passear com os animais sem ter de se preocupar com algum possível caos em algum momento — por mais bem educados que fossem, porque eram, ainda tinham seus comportamentos típicos de cachorros. Uma praia deserta era indubitavelmente melhor para brincar com eles do que uma lotada de estímulos que poderiam sobrecarregá-los. Por esse motivo, aproveitava que a maré ainda estava baixa e o sol não estava forte para se divertir com os bichinhos, lançando uma bolinha para Bay buscar enquanto Mojito parecia em seu décimo sono no conforto da areia. “Bay!” Sua voz parecia um pouco temerosa ao notar o quão rápido o cachorro vinha em sua direção, considerando que tinha as costas para o mar e ser derrubada ali seria se ensopar inteira na certa. “Bay, não!” Tentou endurecer sua voz para ver se continha o animal, mas ele parecia sentir que não estava brava de verdade, lançando-se contra seu corpo e derrubando ambos na água. Agora toda molhada, tirou o excesso de seu rosto antes de voltar a atenção para o pastor australiano, fazendo uma careta ao ver o quão sujo ambos se encontravam. “Parece que Mojito é o único que vai escapar de um banho hoje, hm?” Comentou enquanto se erguia, coçando atrás da orelha do animal, completamente alheia se havia outras pessoas no local.

[crimewrought]

ㅤat first, maria thinks it's being enveloped by these stories, stacked high around them like fortified castle walls, that has her heart stitching itself back together. but even just a little introspection reveals to maria a truth more poignant; it's hearing sebastian's stories, being afforded these coveted glances of old chapters, that's the culprit behind her quiet joy. " on accident, yeah? maybe we should try find it after we're done pestering everyone in here. you can tell me the full story at the scene of the crime. either way, i want to hear it. " maria grins, a wink thrown in for luck as they career down the alleys of bound leather and well-worn pages. she lets his words simmer a moment, lets them float among the dust particles in the shafts of light sliding in through the library windows. what is she looking for in life? what does she yearn for? her heart clenches around the answer, holding it tight inside, desperate and fearful. one day, perhaps, she'll let the truth roam free. but not today. not yet.

ㅤfor @gunbash,ㅤcontinued from here.

ㅤ" big question, " she retorts with a teasing smile, but it quickly becomes thoughtful. in her silence, she peruses the choices splayed on shelves before them, ruminative and quiet as she scans the titles. " .. to turn back the clock. that's something i yearn for. " one hand's up against the bookshelf, finger tracing the titles; her other hand stays entwined, her thumb tracing his. pulling out one of the many titles on display, she holds the book between them; small, worn by time and love alike, a slim thing tucked between hardbacks. the time machine, by h.g. wells. " sounds about right. " smile enduring, she looks up to him. " and what do you yearn to see? aside from destroyed pianos, maybe. "

[areumxmp]

100 Minutes of Solitude

Starter for @baihuamp

It’s a bar, or course there are regulars and of course Areum remembers most of them. Where he isn’t smart with some things, he has memory going for him; so it’s nothing out of the ordinary when he sees someone he’s seen in here a few nights in a row.  The only thing about this new regular, was just that. He was new. This dude has never been here, then suddenly is here every day so that gives the bartender one of three reasons. This man has suddenly understood what depression is and that he has it, he’s a new drinker and suddenly thinks it’s the best thing ever, or he’s new to Mount Phoenix.  Every time this guy comes in, he looks casual, in darker clothing and normally doesn’t say much at all. Not even a thank you for his drinks, though he does nod and Areum accepts that just the same. The fact that he isn’t talkative or on the dance floor rules out the second reason he could be here, so really there just leaves two. 

The ex convict is shaking a drink with one hand, and sliding over a shot of Belvedere and a slice of lime to the regular with his other hand. He offers a smile as always, and after he drops off someone else’s drink he makes his way back,  “Alright man, you’re either depressed or new here. Maybe both.” With a shrug he lets out a bright smile which always contrasts so hard with the way he looks. “Shit honestly we are all depressed but either way, I ain’t never seen you around. I’m Areum~ And I like that Jacket.”  It was a simple introdcution, and he plans to at least somewhat get to know this guy if he’s going to be making him drinks almost every day. Areum finds joy in knowing his customers to an extent, being able to do bartop therapy sessions, and to sometimes be one of the only person in these people’s lives that remembers the things they like.  Bartending may not seem like all that great of a job, but the whole point of him being here was that he would do the opposite of what he used to. For once, he has the chance to be personable and to bring smiles to people’s faces and help them rather than hurt them. And he loves that.

[rasputinshellfire]

Give Me Some Advice | ras give clovis advice teehee

Rasputin's optics burn a deeper red as he leans down to properly stare at Bray Sr.

"Advice: Stay within Braytech facility and rot."

[weyrleaders]

reddit is useful but sometimes it makes me so so angy because you’ll be on a thread where someone is asking a legit question and the first dozen comments are meme jokes and each one has a train of six replies continuing the joke

[edenpoise]

⁽ @xluciifer / @xbalayage ⁾ ― ： starter call. from here .

E . ― AN AFTERLIFE OF SOLITUDE AND BITTERNESS- Or simply having to watch the Archangel stress about life ... sometimes Eve wondered just what exactly would've been better?? Maybe at least with this, she was able to find some sort of entertainment. At least a little, in any case. Either way, Eve would continue to watch with a passive expression- up until her brows twitched together and she finally spoke, " Keep pacing and you're bound to give me a headache, " Briefly wondering if her presence had been ignored, or at least forgotten. She wouldn't be surprised, ever since everything happened- she could be considered a quiet woman.

Keeping silent for another moment, she would continue to watch the other for a moment before a gentle sigh escapes her, eyes darting to the side, " You've been like this for the better half of the day- " Not that the beginning of the day had been any better, not when Eve was stuck here. But she might as well make an effort to understand- at least anything that could be on the other's mind-

" What's it this time ... hm? The Sins? Was it Mammon?? I could understand if it was him ..." She pauses, before adding, " I heard he made a Loo Loo Land ... " Probably a cheaply made Lulu World ...

[kentopedia]

nanami kento, who hates dating, and didn’t do much of it in his early twenties. but now, he’s almost thirty, watching all the people he works with settle down, have kids, and he thinks he wants that. so he might as well try.

so satoru sets him up on a few dates — friends of friends, he calls them. and at the end of every one of the dinners, kento goes home empty, exhausted, because he knows what they want is not the same.

still; he thinks maybe he’s being a little self-destructive, maybe too picky, maybe he just got so used to being alone. with satoru’s insistence, he gives all the women another call, invites them over to his apartment.

the first time was a disaster… kento had barely set the dinner on the table before his cat had hissed at her, scratched her down the arm in a thin gash. and though it did draw blood, it was hardly enough to warrant that reaction.

he didn’t even try to stop her as she picked up her bag and left, huffing like she’d been morally offend. kento, though, could only smile to himself in amusement.

because maybe kento was a poor judge of character, a man who was secretly hoping nothing would pan out — but his cat could certainly tell the good from the bad.

it became a little game to him, after that. seeing if anyone could win his pet over, and if they could, perhaps they were the one. his darling animal was a fickle thing anyway. a bit too defensive, quick to bite anything threatening after years on the streets.

naturally, no one came back twice.

he was close to giving up, accepting his solitude because he was tired of empty conversations over dinner. but then, he ventured out over the weekend to a new coffee shop, during hours he normally didn’t spend out of his home, and met you.

though you only talked for a moment, kento felt like maybe he’d known you in a past life. a part of him thought maybe it was strange, the way he kept coming back to talk to you, catching you at the end of your shift to see if you wanted to grab a coffee sometime.

by the second date, kento started to think you could turn out to be his best friend.

by the third date, kento wondered if soulmates were real.

on the fourth date, almost two months later, an appropriate time to get to know someone when you were as reserved as kento, he invited you over for dinner. it was, perhaps, the final confirmation he needed to let himself be with you.

he let you through the door, smiling softly as you told him about the book you were reading, and hung his coat on the rack. a moment later, you stopped, distracted, hands covering your mouth in a gasp.

“kento! she’s the cutest cat i’ve ever seen, you didn’t even show me pictures!” you exclaim, and, a few feet away, crouched down. “look at her pretty eyes…”

“careful,” kento said, “she’s not very—“

but the cat approached your outstretched hand, sniffed once, before letting you scratch her under her chin, purring loud enough for kento to hear across the room.

“shes such a sweetheart, you told me she was mean!” you smiled, making a cooing noise as you threaded your fingers through her fur. “kento’s a liar, isn’t he… you’re so precious.”

a few moments later, she snapped her jaw at you in a biting motion, and you only laughed, withdrawing your hand. “alright, i get it, i won’t bother you anymore.”

though she still brushed against your legs, just as she did kento’s, and seemed to communicate some sort of message to him.

“do you want any help cooking?” you ask, tucking your hair behind your ears. “i’m a disaster in the kitchen, but—“

“sure,” kento said, his chest tightening as he blinked back at you, only in his apartment for minutes and already looking as at home there. he wondered if it was possible to fall in love so quickly. “but only if you want to.”

[ozzgin]

Omg bro yk whats been on my mind for do long?? A demon king trying to court a hero reader. Like the hero has already fought and defeated the king but somehow he comes back and he's desperately trying to get the hero to join him (in more ways than one). He wants the reader to be his spouse and leader of his army against the corrupt human race and the reader (now fallen from stardom due to the evil kings defeat) just wants him gone and to be left alone. Idk if this makes sense but I need to see SOMEONE write abt it before I lose my last marble.

-Doll

This is giving me Dragon Quest vibes, haha. Not a trope I'm too familiar with, but it sounds interesting nonetheless. I shall do my best! Sorry for the delay, I hope it's close to what you imagined. :)

Yandere! Demon King x Hero! Reader

As it goes with villains, they always find a way to return. This time, the Demon King has a different plan in mind. You were prepared for anything, from evil schemes to ancient conjured weapons...except for a wedding ring cordially placed before you. Do you say yes?

Content: gender neutral reader, monster romance, 🔥proposal (literally)

[Part 2]

You still remember everything so fondly. How you crawled out of that enormous crater, body battered and weak, as everyone watched in horror and held their breaths. Finally, you raised your fist victoriously. The Demon King had been, at last, defeated. The people cheered and cried and pulled you up under thundering waves of applause. Peace was no longer just a dream.

A sweet, innocent memory, even more so given its fleeting nature. The genuine smiles of gratitude quickly turned into crooked grins asking for favors. Before you knew it, you became some sort of political accessory to convince the masses. Posing for photos, shaking hands, being interviewed with bizarrely planned questions reeking of propaganda. You suddenly felt burdened, heavy, disappointed. This was not the kind of fame you envisioned for yourself.

Thus, you gradually vanished from the limelight, keeping your distance from everyone else and spending most days in solitude. Better than having to look into those unscrupulous, opportunistic eyes measuring up your worth. You had fulfilled your job and purpose.

This morning you're woken up by the sound of your belongings rattling in their shelves. The wooden frame of your bed is creaking, and you struggle to get up. An earthquake? A wave of nausea flushes over you. You recognize this feeling all too well, though you never expected to deal with it again. This is a disaster alright, yet the forces of nature have nothing to do with it.

You rush outside, swinging the door open and nearly tripping in your hurry to confirm your suspicions: the demonic creature is approaching your humble adobe with heavy steps, as the ground crumbles and shatters underneath. The Demon King himself, in flesh and blood. Although the blood splattering his armor is most likely not his. Same for the visceral remains threading his weapon. Regardless, your jaw tightens nervously, and you stand back, in a defensive pose. "You're a stubborn one", you say smugly, trying to maintain your composure. "Can't say I'm a fan of dying, that is correct." A ragged, monstrous voice erupts from the tall, armored figure.

"What brings you back?" You demand. The surroundings are too peaceful for him to have tampered with the city. Did he stop by to formally announce his destruction? "I have an offer that might interest you." The Dark Overlord has closed the distance between you, now looming above your much smaller body. You shiver. "I don't barter with Demons!" You conclude, turning around, prepared to leave. "Even when your precious people are on the line?" The horned beast warns with a grin. "If there's nothing better to do as a Ruler of Realms than killing petty humans..." You swiftly retort, going back into your house and slamming the door shut.

He stands for a moment, speechless. "Y-your Majesty? Should I take care of the humans, or (Y/N)?" Only now he notices his scaly butler, bowing to his side with claws resting over the weapon. The Demon King raises a hand, shooing the servant away. The annihilation of the human race can wait. There are more important matters to deal with presently. He'd expected your rejection, naturally, but not in such fashion. The indifference, the flat voice, the empty eyes devoid of emotion. Have the city dwellers tampered with his hero? He expected to see your fierce rage and in return he was met with a hollow shell.

Bright blue flames erupt from the openings of his armor, resulting in a menacing show of lights. He's known it for the longest time, of course. Humans are rotten to their very core. Vile, deceitful creatures that have slithered their way up, exuding undeserved arrogance. He's been trying to show you this very fact, yet you were blinded by naive faith. Your unwavering, honest heart that won him over has turned out to be your early demise. Not anymore. His vengefulness knows no bounds when it comes to traitors.

The sudden spike in temperature alerts you. Was it your rudeness that angered the Demon? You don't care anymore. Whatever happens to the city is out of your hands. And yet...you're buckling the straps of your old suit made for battle. Sword in hand, you gaze at your reflection. What could the Beast want? The fortified city no longer holds the value of its olden days. Just like you've left your hero days behind. Without much contemplation, you run out and head for the main gates. The path is paved with ash and rubble and your grip on the weapon tightens. Regret immediately wells up in your chest, ready to burst out. Is it too late? The entrance is engulfed in fire, charred corpses toppling against the ruins of the walls.

You reach the town hall - or rather, what remains of it - and face the Demon King. Has he gotten stronger since your last encounter? You hold your breath as the horned monster turns towards you. "I've tried to tell you, again and again. Time after time." He sighs, defeated. "Between the two of us, I'd say you were the stubborn one all along." His voice is softer than what you would've expected from someone that had just massacred an entire settlement. There's not a single scratch or sign of struggle. Was he merely holding back during your last fight? One thing is certain: you're his final obstacle. You raise your sword, determined. Hot sweat trickles down your face as the flames surround you. "Well, at least you've convinced yourself now, I hope. There's nothing left for you here." The Demon King lowers himself, extending a fist towards you. A spell? Secret weapon? Your leg muscles contract in anticipation.

His fingers open and stretch out, slowly. In his palm, a barely noticeable ring. Given the ridiculous size difference, you assume this is better fitting for a human. You stare at it in confusion, discerning the wedding vows carved in the noble metal. "What's the meaning of this?" You mutter, glancing at the Beast now resting on one knee before you. "What? Is it not your human custom?" He looks away for a moment, clicking his tongue. "That useless butler. He told me- Forget it! You are to return with me to my Kingdom. As my spouse."

Of all the things you've prepared yourself for...Your brows furrow and your mouth hangs open in shock.

What is your answer? The Demon King will not leave empty-handed.