#without being shot on sight. or at v least knowing that if i am. i'm not necessarily The Problem here

[moe-broey]

My therapist hasn't killed me yet 👍

[whitefoxgirl]

🦊Culture Shock🐰 A Jungkook Series - Episode 5: Television/Shows (Ft. Yoongi) (+ mini scenario)

Summary: Jungkook starts a podcast with his best friend who is a foreigner to discuss different topics they were shocked culturally about.

Author's Note: Hello my beautiful readers! I GOT A JOB! WOOOOOO!!! I manifested this!

Author's Note PS: If you'd like to be tagged, interact with this. I am tagging people who reblog, but if you wish to be tagged comment or simply reblog and I will add you! If you see your name in red, I was unable to tag you for some reason, so for that I do apologize.

Pairing: Jungkook x BFF!Reader (not dating, just two best friends)

Fandom: BTS

Warnings: Mentions of sex, cringy, full of crack moments.

Genre: Fluff, crack.

Word Count: 5.3k

Taglist: @7ndipity; @yoongimentita7; @ancoraesisto; @lovemeforeternity; @hrtss4jk; @ellelabelle; @fullpaperperfection; @minpdrecs; @chaconnelatte; @myemmap; @4ev3rdarkarti5t; @hushbabesblog; @drop-dead-yulisa; @bubbletae-1e; @alylista; @jarenpolitovari

🡸 Previous episode

[PODCAST INTRO/THEME]

🦊: *bumps into the mic* Oop! *in between chuckles* Sorry guys!~

Jungkook: Get it together!

🦊: Oh my god~ HEY, King!

Jungkook: Hello peasant.

Yoongi: *snickers*

🦊: O- You know what? That's mean~

Jungkook: *trying not to laugh* Okay

🦊: He's just pouty because he lost in a 1-v-1 on Splatoon against me. Jungkook: It's a stupid game~ Why is it in third person?~ And, why can you see my snipper laser?

🦊: Just get over it!~

Jungkook: Okay!~ Fine! *long pause* For our listeners~

🦊: Exactly. For our listeners~

Jungkook: Before we begin, we do have a millennial in our sights.

🦊: *snickers*

Jungkook: *in between chuckles* This is our second guest! Min Yoongi!~

🦊: *claps their hands*

Yoongi: Hello everyone! I'm Suga from BTS.

Jungkook: Hyung, don't be so formal~ Our listeners don't care.

🦊: Legit, they like that we're relatable.

Yoongi: Okay, okay

🦊: Just like Suchwita.

Yoongi: Without the alcohol.

Jungkook: *gasps* Should we?!~

🦊: *gasps* Daehyun?

*long pause* *muffled voice*

🦊: *gasps* Okay! I'll get it! *in a distant voice* Whiskey?

Yoongi: Yes, please

Jungkook: Get us a beer, please!~

[Spongebob Narrator: Five minutes later]

🦊: We all have our alcohol!~

Yoongi: Thank you, Y/N.

Jungkook: Thank you!

🦊: I would just like to say, we saw Barbie~

Jungkook: We saw Barbie.

Yoongi: Oh! I haven't seen it.

🦊: *gasps* Oh my god~ You know, it's okay. I'll take you.

Jungkook: Y/N cried!

Yoongi: Really?~ Why?

Both: Well-

🦊: Okay! First off, I did NOT expect that Billie Eilish song to hit me so hard!

Jungkook: And not to give spoilers but, it was everything good.

🦊: It's a TRUE feminist icon. It's not misandry, which is what basically every publication is saying it is-

Jungkook: Oh! Absolutely not.

🦊: And it's not misogyny. It's true feminism. Wh-

Jungkook: Without spoiling anything, it had all three-

🦊: Yeah!

Jungkook: It had misandry, misogyny, AND feminism. And it showed how both misandry and misogyny can just be downright ugly and hurtful for the people who are being disliked, and prejudiced while feminism is genuinely something we should all aspire to do.

Yoongi: Oh! I'll give it a shot.

🦊: I saw that in East Asia, a lot of women are taking their partners, especially their cis-male partners, to see Barbie. And basically, they're testing how much of a green flag they are depending on how they feel before the movie, how long they last during the movie and what is their thoughts after the movie.

Jungkook: Oh! Wait, am I a green flag?

🦊: *long pause* Well-

Jungkook: *in between laughs* WHY'RE YOU THINKING ABOUT IT?!

Yoongi: *laughs*

🦊: *in between laughs* Okay! You're the type of green that is making its way toward yellow, but it's not completely yellow.

Jungkook: Okay, at least I'm not completely yellow or orange OR RED!

Yoongi: Be grateful.

🦊: Exa- Thank you, Yoongi!~

Jungkook: Definitely watch it, hyung.

Yoongi: Would you have watched it if Y/N hadn't taken you to the movies?

Jungkook: *silence*

*Yoongi and 🦊 laugh loudly*

Jungkook: Okay! Okay! I would have, but I would not have dressed up!

🦊: I was SO surprised we were the only ones dressed up!

Jungkook: Obviously, I was Ken!

🦊: I dressed up as Barbie!

Yoongi: Y/N when we go, do you wanna dress up too?

🦊: *gasps* Really?!

Yoongi: Yeah, I'll be K-

🦊: No~ Be Allan~ Because you're one of a kind~

Jungkook: *gasps* OH! Okay RIZZGOD!

Yoongi: *snickers then laughs*

Jungkook: You trying to rizz up Yoongi-hyung?

🦊: No~ *long pause* Okay, yeah~

*All laugh*

🦊: Before we begin! I would just like to say that this topic was thought up by Jungkook.

Yoongi: I would have liked to participate in the music one.

🦊: Oh! We can have your opinion on that!

Yoongi: *long pause* Well, I would but honestly Jungkook basically said what I thought about reggaetón.

🦊: Fair enough. I know you have some... *chuckles* Opinions on dembow and phonk.

Yoongi: *chuckles* They're just not for me, but you and Jungkook look like you have fun while dancing to it.

Jungkook: And not like... perreando!

🦊: OH! HE ROLLED HIS R'S!~

Jungkook: Rrrrr~ *laughs* We just goof around.

🦊: We meme dance.

Yoongi: *chuckles*

🦊: Like... You know how there's the stereotype that white people can't dance? We dance like that stereotype.

Jungkook: Just for fun. Not to make fun of anyone.

🦊: Mmno

Yoongi: They look cute together.

Jungkook: We're not dating.

🦊: So, in this episode we're gonna talk about television shows.

Jungkook: Y/N wanted to bring Yoongi on because he's about to head to th-

🦊: Oh my god! Please don't remind me!

Yoongi: *snickers then laughs*

Jungkook: Y/N is really close to all seven of us, but they're especially close to Hobi-hyung, Yoongi-hyung, and me. And since Hobi-hyung is already there~

🦊: I'm suffering...

Jungkook: They have- Okay, they have not taken it well!

Yoongi: Really?

🦊: Yeah... I think that's why in the last episode I cried. You told us- Or, rather, told your close friends when you were leaving, and it was no joke, the day before we decided to record.

Yoongi: Oh!~ I'm sorry!

🦊: I really tried to hold it in, but like thinking about Hobi already being there, and you leaving, just made me think, you know-

Yoongi: It's inevitable...

🦊: Yeah... Jungkook is gonna leave too, and that made me really sad because Hobi and you are my close friends, and that hurts. And I have cried. But Jungkook is my BEST friend... So...

Jungkook: But it's not like you're NOT gonna see us for a year and a half. We saw Hobi-hyung and Jin-hyung!

🦊: Oh my god, I hugged Hobi SO HARD! You guys have no idea. I lowkey cried too.

Jungkook: Both of them had tears in their eyes.

Yoongi: It was so beautiful to see.

🦊: *singing* When did it end?~ All the enjoyment?~

Jungkook: *singing* I'm sad again!~

Both: *singing* Don't tell my boyfriend~

Jungkook: *singing* It's not what he's made for~

Yoongi: *chuckles*

Jungkook: Going back to it.

Yoongi: Mhm.

Jungkook: Y/N wanted you here to get a perspective of shows you watched as a kid since when you were in first grade, we were both just about to be born.

🦊: *snickers*

Yoongi: *hums* Interesting.

🦊: Which, okay, let's be honest. You at the age of 12 were already a professional producer, so...-

Jungkook: Ballin' with a dollar in his pocket.

Yoongi: I was making money but it wasn't like-

🦊: A lot.

Yoongi: Exactly.

Jungkook: Funny how we brought a guest who didn't watch-

Yoongi: *laughs*

Jungkook: *in between chuckles* A lot of television as a kid.

🦊: But he wasn't ostracized, right?

Yoongi: *in between chuckles* No~ no... I did see it here and there, I just didn't dedicate my time to it since I was focused on music.

🦊: We love an ambitious person.

Jungkook: I didn't watch a lot of television either, but, Y/N introduced me to a lot of shows.

🦊: And he doesn't have time for a lot of them but-

Jungkook: The ones that I really like, I invest A LOT of time. I poop with my phone on my lap-

*Yoongi and 🦊 laugh*

Jungkook: *in between laughs* Everywhere! I try not to lose sleep, but when I'm invested. I am in. ves. ted!

🦊: I remember when I was obsessed with "House of Dragons" and I wanted to gatekeep it from Kookie because~

Jungkook: Wh-!

🦊: BECAUSE! It's such like... Okay, it's the prequel to "Game of Thrones" and the television series is over, but the BOOK series is not over! So I didn't want you to get invested so that afterward you get disappointed!

Jungkook: I didn't know that the "Game of Thrones" ending in the series is not canon!

Yoongi: It's not canon and in the book, Jon is still asleep or in a comma.

🦊: Iconic.

Yoongi: Y/N got me into it because they know that I would get invested but I don't make it my personality, like Jungkook and them.

🦊: Yoongi is an observer~

Jungkook: He is.

🦊: Slytherin energy~

Yoongi: *imitates a snake*

*Jungkook and 🦊 laugh*

🦊: First things first, my first exposure to East Asian shows was anime. And I don't remember which one came first because they all kind of merged together in my head, and it was "Inuyasha", "Naruto", "Pokémon", and "Yu-gi-oh!"

Yoongi: Interesting, because all those shows are from the 90's.

Jungkook: Yeah, when I was born those were already long running.

🦊: Well, I think it's because getting them to the western side, especially to the U.S. and Latin America, took some time.

Yoongi: In Korea, Pokémon first aired in 1999, and I was 6~

🦊: Oh! Puerto Rico, it was also 1999 too

Yoongi: You watched it from the womb?

🦊: *snickers* *in between laughs* Okay! Okay! I remember watching the first episode but I GENIUNELY don't remember how old I was.

Jungkook: I didn't watch ANY western shows as a kid other than Spongebob.

🦊: The icon himself!

Yoongi: Jungkook and Y/N watch Spongebob for fun.

Jungkook: But the first seasons, you know?

🦊: It's the most fun, you can tell when the creator walked away and when it because just not fun.

Jungkook: Mhm.

Yoongi: So, what's your culture shock?

🦊: Oh! Okay! Sorry! Okay, so, I did get exposed to shows, but it was interesting when I grew up I started watching dramas. And with dramas, there's like reality shows and stuff like that.

Yoongi: Right, for promo.

🦊: Exactly. Especially if you wanna be *in between chuckles* Delulu~ And you fall in love with the actor's looks~ And~ *laughs*

*Yoongi and Jungkook laugh*

🦊: Wanna get to know them?~

Yoongi: Right, right.

🦊: One of the things that I picked up on quickly was, the plots were all the same. Poor girl meets asshole rich dude. The rich dude has either a cousin, brother, friend, like someone close to him who is just the nicest person ever and THAT'S the love rival. She still chooses the rich asshole because he changed for her, but then something happens. The most common one is that the mom of the rich asshole finds out and pays her to leave, then one of them has an accident and somehow they make it work and boom. Happily ever after.

Yoongi: That's pretty much the jist of them.

🦊: But, my biggest culture shock is the variety shows.

Jungkook: Really?

🦊: Yeah, I just... Okay. It was- I had a weird feeling, like, I didn't know how to feel.

Jungkook: Why, what happened?

🦊: Okay, so, I remember the first one I watched was Weekly Idol, or Doni and Coni which... EW! They're... I remember when I watched you guys' episode, like the first time you were there and I loved it because I was a child. But watching it as an adult? I was like... Oh my god-

Jungkook: *chuckles* Your ARMY is showing.

🦊: I just! Okay... I just don't understand how someone can harass and be so mean to their guests and get away with it because it's "comedy"... Like... How is saying that Yoongi's song was "shit" comedy?

Jungkook: Ugh...

Yoongi: People have their own opinions, I guess.

🦊: Well, their opinion is WRONG. Like... Side eye. You could have just said it wasn't your taste without saying that it was bad and shit, you know?

Yoongi: I agree.

🦊: But, going back to it, the variety shows took me aback because everything is over-edited.

Jungkook: What do you mean?

🦊: Like... They put colorful subtitles on almost every sentence and these subtitles could be what the person is saying, what the person is doing, or what the editors think the person's inner thoughts are.

Jungkook: Ooooh! I hadn't noticed that. But, it's true~

🦊: And then replaying something shocking multiple times in *in between chuckles* multiple angles

Yoongi: *chuckles* 맞아~

🦊: Which, if you think about it, it's very stimulating and lowkey catering to the deaf community, since closed captions and interpreters are in scarcity on the Western side.

Jungkook: I hadn't really thought about it that way, but it's true~

🦊: That was my biggest culture shock. I got used to it after a while but, you know?

Yoongi: Were you shocked about the games?

🦊: *hums* Okay, so, I was but at the same time I wasn't? I don't know how to explain it.

Jungkook: Says as they're about to explain *chuckles*

🦊: *chuckles* So, I wasn't shocked because variety shows on the Western side also have games, but I was shocked at how queerbait-y the games are.

Yoongi: Like passing a paper member to member with our lips

🦊: It's so obvious fan service, but fan service can be very queerbait-y.

Yoongi: That's true.

🦊: Like, shipping friends with each other is... *groans* Not good~

Jungkook: Yeah.

🦊: But, yeah, I don't have any negative culture shock. Except for me being a Doni and Coni lowkey-highkey hater.

*all laugh*

Yoongi: Y/N introduced me to a lot of 90's shows. And, even though this wraps into the music category, I was shocked at how rock-inspired a lot of shows' intro was.

🦊: Which shows do you have in mind?

Yoongi: "Total Drama Island", "Teen Titans" from the 2000s. "American Dragon: Jake Long", and "Ben 10".

🦊: Okay but the other ones~

Yoongi: We saw "Wizards of Waverly Place", "Hannah Montana", "Sonny with a Chance" and a couple others with real people. And some of those also had inspiration in pop-rock.

🦊: Which is so 2000s if you think about it.

Yoongi: Was pop-rock popular in the 2000s?

🦊: In the western side, ESPECIALLY in the U.S. it was very popular.

Yoongi: I was just listening to hip-hop.

Jungkook: Yes he was~ Hip-hop classes were real.

Yoongi: You loved them

Jungkook: I did!~

🦊: As you can hear, Yoongi truly is an observer.

Jungkook: That was your culture shock?

Yoongi: Yeah!~ I was exposed to U.S. culture fairly young since I really like hip-hop culture.

🦊: What was your culture shock, Galletita?

Jungkook: Mine was... I guess the pipeline?

Yoongi: Pipeline?

🦊: Ooh~

Jungkook: So, Y/N basically explained that there's a pipeline of television, especially if you grew up in the 2000s.

🦊: Yep.

Jungkook: Basically, every kid in the U.S. watched either Disney channel with sitcoms or watched cartoons, but all of them came together to watch the hot new show-

JK and 🦊: "Total Drama Island"!

Jungkook: And basically "Total Drama Island" was-

Yoongi: It was a cartoon reality show.

Jungkook: Exactly. So it didn't take long for a lot of kids to get into real reality shows like "Next", "Cribs", and basically any reality show on MTV.

🦊: The pipeline gets split though. If you continued to watch cartoons, you get into anime. The pipeline goes EVEN DEEPER because if you watched anime, and listened to the openings, you probably got into Vocaloids, which are synthesized voca- I don't know why I'm telling you, yo-

Yoongi: I know about Vocaloids, yeah. I danced with one.

🦊: I. CO. NIC! I was genuinely SO jealous when I found out you were dancing with her. SeeU was SUCH an icon.

Yoongi: *laughs* Really?

🦊: I- Well, I fell in BOTH pipelines, but, I definitely fell more into the anime one.

Yoongi: Right.

🦊: But like, the vocaloid pipeline somehow brings you to the kpop pipeline. Which WEIRDLY the heavy metal rock or even rock music pipeline ALSO brings you to the kpop pipeline.

Yoongi: Interesting.

Jungkook: So, one day Y/N got nostalgic and we kind of watched a show that they were into as a child and I, unknowingly, also followed Y/N's pipeline.

Yoongi: Do we have a pipeline?

Jungkook: *long pause* I guess one of the biggest pipeline is that a lot of men in Korea want to be in either entertainment OR sports just to avoid military duty.

Yoongi: Which is not common, but happens a LOT!

🦊: Did you follow that pipeline?

Yoongi: No, hell no. I wanted to be a producer from a very young age not because I wanted to avoid military duty, but because I genuinely love music.

🦊: You did say it was your first love.

Yoongi: It was.

🦊: *sighs smiling*

Jungkook: If we had a camera recording us, I would look at it as if I was Jim from "The Office"

🦊: *snickers then laughs* Why?~

Jungkook: If you know, you know.

Yoongi: *long pause* I feel like I'm out of the loop for the first time.

🦊: You and I both.

Jungkook: You're ALWAYS out of the loop.

🦊: Okay! If I was out of the loop, how did I find out about the aliens BEFORE you?

Jungkook: Oh god~

Yoongi: What kind of aliens would you like? Ones that can transform like Ben 10? Aliens that look human but have superpowers? Or shapesh-

🦊: SHAPESHIFTING!

*Jungkook and Yoongi laughs*

🦊: You guys DON'T understand! If the aliens could shapeshift, I have a LIST!

Jungkook: *in between laughs* A LIST?!?!

🦊: *in between laughs* I have a list that the alien MUST follow!

Yoongi: Who's on top of the list?

🦊: Okay, right now, Toji Fushiguro~

Yoongi: Mmmm~

🦊: I have a lot of people, mainly anime men, because... I can bag a human.

Jungkook: You can't BAG YOUR CRUSH!

🦊: *gasps*

Yoongi: Jungkook-ah!~ *chuckles* Be nice to Y/N!

🦊: I can bag him, I'm just being respectful.

Yoongi: Exactly... Y/N just respects people's boundaries. Wait... So... Who's on the bottom?

🦊: Sukuna. Ryomen Sukuna. But, not because he's not hot, it's just tha- *muffled giggles*

Yoongi: Oh! They're covering their face!

Jungkook: *groans* Here we go

🦊: He has four arms~

Yoongi: *long pause* Right...

🦊: Two mouths~

Yoongi: *long pause* Okay...

🦊: *long pause* And one of those mouths can move anywhere.

Yoongi: Wait... *snickers* Are you...? *laughs* Are you sayin- I don't even wanna say it!

🦊: I'll say it for you!

Jungkook: *laughs* Stop!

🦊: Please let me say it!

Jungkook: Okay!~

🦊: I want an alien to shapeshift into Ryomen Sukuna because he has four arms, so, he can touch my chest with one hand, guide me with the other hand, stimulate my *clears throats* south with the other hand, and grab the back of my head and pull my hair with the other.

Jungkook: You're forgetting something.

🦊: Oh! Because one of the mouths can move, while he's kissing me, he can lick ANYWHERE he wants with the OTHER tongue~

Yoongi: 세상에!

Jungkook: Tell him about-

🦊: OH MY GOD! Okay... So, he- Okay, he... has two... *long pause*

Yoongi: *gasps* TWO?!

🦊: TWO!

Yoongi: Are they side by side? Up and down?

🦊: We actually DON'T have ANY confirmation. But my headcanon is that they're up and down.

Yoongi: How many balls does he have? Two or four? Are they ALSO up and down or side to side?

🦊: Hmm... I hadn't thought about it.

Yoongi: If it's four, there's more.. um... Milk *giggles*

*Jungkook and 🦊 laughs*

🦊: Yeah... And I wanna be filled by Sukuna.

Jungkook: WHY Sukuna, he's LEGIT EVIL!

🦊: Okay~ He's not EVIL!~ He's just... Umm... He's ju-

Jungkook: *deadpan* Y/N, his first lines were "Where are the people? The women? What a wonderful era to be in. Women and children are crawling everywhere like maggots. It's marvelous. It'll be a massacre."

🦊: I can fix him.

Yoongi: *laughs* Can you?!

🦊: I can!~

Jungkook: I mean-

🦊: Well, I-

Yoongi: I have no doubt about that.

🦊: *silent*

Jungkook: I'm looking at the invisible camera.

🦊: Guys?

Yoongi: Hmm?

🦊: Let's pause for a minute. I need to use the bathroom. *muffled movement sounds*

Jungkook: They have a small bladder when it comes to alcohol *chuckles*

🦊: *in a distant voice* You can edit it out, right Dae?

*muffled voice*

🦊: Purr, be right back.

[silence]

Jungkook: *whispering* Are you gonna do it today?

Yoongi: I don't see a point...

Jungkook: Why?~

Yoongi: Well... They JUST called me their "close friend" just now, and I'm about to leave for the mi-

Jungkook: *scoffs* Okay. YOU get to go home because you're going to go to a government office because of your shoulder

Yoongi: Yeah, but I can't do an-

Jungkook: Hyung... Why can't you trust me? I'm their best friend! I know better!

Yoongi: *sighs* *mumbles* You don't get it...

Jungkook: *sighs* *long pause* I'll leave the episode early, so you can close with them. They listen to the podcast, so, if you don't do anything, I'll post it unedited.

Yoongi: Why would y-

Jungkook: Because I know you, and I know them... You two need a little push and this is it.

Yoongi: *gulps* *sighs softly* fine...

🦊: *from a distance* I'm back!~ Sorry I took so long *giggles*

🦊: What else is there to talk about?

Jungkook: How was your first time at HYBE?

🦊: Oh! It was awesome! I was so happy I get to teach the trainees~ Though I wouldn't have minded if I got you!

Yoongi: It would have been fun for you to teach me Spanish...

🦊: Right?! But, I don't need a job to teach you! We're friends, right?

Yoongi: *hums agreeing*

Jungkook: Plus, he's just learning to impress you!

🦊: *scoffs then giggles* Stop! He already impresses me with his music. 28 is my ANTHEM!

Jungkook: You switch the lyrics to Spanish!

🦊: It's fun!~ *singing* Me 'stoy volviendo un adulto~ No me acueLdo 'e na'~ Mis sueños y ambiciones donde estan? Estan lejanas~ Ya no veo ni donde esta la meta!~

Yoongi: *chuckles* 재밌네~

🦊: 그죠~ Jungkook doesn't like it when I do it, but it's SO fun~

Jungkook: Guys... Do the closing without me, I have to go somewhere.

🦊: Wha~ *pouty* But your schedule is free! I got it right here...

Jungkook: It's something with Bam... I'm sorry! It's an emergency!

🦊: OH MY GOD! GO GO! Take care of my nephew! HURRY!

Jungkook: *muffles movements* *in a slightly distant voice* *chuckles* I will! *long pause* Hyung...

Yoongi: 어... 할게...

🦊: 뭐가 할거예요?

Jungkook: Don't worry about it.

🦊: Well! Kookie had an emergency! But Yoongi and I can finish up, right?

Yoongi: Yeah. Thank you for having me here today.

🦊: Thank you for being here!

Yoongi: *gulps* What if I came back to the podcast, would that be okay?

🦊: Oh! That'll be so dope! I'd love to hear your opinion on more things.

Yoongi: I'm an avid listener, so, it's gonna be weird listening to today's podcast once it goes live.

🦊: You'll love it. Daehyun does aMAZING editing.

Yoongi: *long pause* You never reveal your crush, do you?

🦊: *in between chuckles* No... I just- *long pause* *mumbles shyly* I know he listens, his friends have told me...

Yoongi: *hums*... *long pause* Do I know him?

🦊: Mmmm... Maybe!~ *chuckles*

Yoongi: *hums*

🦊: *in between chuckles* Why are you staring at me?

Yoongi: I just noticed how long your lashes are...

🦊: What?~ That was so sudden!

Yoongi: Well... *chuckles* I don't know, it's- I find it kinda cute..

🦊: W-WELP! That's all the time we have! Our producer is telling us to wrap it up!

Yoongi: Leave suggestions for Jungkook and Y/N in the comments and what you would like for them to talk about in the future.

🦊: Yep. And don't forget to stream the D-Day trilogy but Agust D!

Yoongi: Again, thank you so much for having me.

🦊: *mumbles shyly* You're welcome anytime...

Yoongi: 여러분 안녕히게세요

🦊: Hasta el proximo episodio!

Daehyun gives you a thumbs up, indicating that the recording is done for Yoongi and you. You look at him and bow slightly as he smiles softly. You take off your headphones and look back at him smiling slightly then said

"You did great, our listeners are gonna like it!"

"You think so?" He responded. A bit shyly, but not enough to be shown.

You nod and then stand up, a bit too enthusiastically. Daehyun signals you to come to him to inspect the track and what needs to be edited out. You nod at him and then look back at Yoongi, asking him if he would like to be shown out. He shakes his head and then tells Daehyun that he would like to help edit the episode, something that surprised you.

"I thought you had a schedule to-"

"It's okay. I can stay for a little longer" He interrupted.

"I don't want you to get in trouble..."

"I won't. Daehyun can you play it back at exactly minute 49?"

You furrow your eyebrows and look at his empty whiskey glass, thinking to yourself how he couldn't be drunk, since nobody got refills, as per Daehyun's request. Then you put on your headphones to listen back to the audio, pushing the microphone slightly away and taking off your notebook to take notes. You hear yourself stumbling away from the microphone and telling Yoongi and Jungkook that you would be right back. There's a long pause, and you weren't there, but you could feel the air thickening, just as it is at the moment you and Yoongi are playing back the audio. You gulp writing down that this part should definitely be taken away. Then, you hear it. Yoongi and Jungkook talking about how he should do something today, by the sounds of it, a confession. A love confession. You pause your writing, keeping your face as neutral as possible. Looking at the notebook, rather than the eyes that are definitely looking for your reaction. You feel your eyes begin to twitch as if they're about to sprout water, your nose begin to flare, and your cheeks begin to redden as you puzzle that they're talking about you.

Jungkook knew about your crush on Yoongi. He also knew that you didn't want to do anything because you thought it was only a simple crush, but that came to a crash when he called you and told you when he was leaving for the military. You faked your nonchalantness and told him that you would miss him as much as you missed Hobi, but that was the day that the snow melted and spring came when it came to your feelings. You cried to Jungkook that day, and coming into the studio he rented to record was hard. Especially because you had to fake being enthusiastic and happy. In the end, you couldn't hold it in. You were gonna miss Jungkook, he was your best friend. But missing Yoongi was gonna tear your heart apart. When recording that episode ended, Jungkook said to not give up hope and that something for sure was gonna happen. Something happy.

You looked at Daehyun nonchalantly and told him to keep it as it is without any editing, the excuse being that the listeners would like the authenticity. Then, you quickly took off your headphones and gathered your things. Fearing that you wouldn't make it to the door, you rushed your steps. It's not you... You don't wanna get your hopes up. You know he wouldn't like you in a romantic sense. You two are vastly different, another reason why you never spoke your feelings to him. You were bubbly, outgoing, a bit extroverted, loud, and talked with anybody and anything. Complete opposite of him. When you stepped out the door, you let out a breath you didn't know you were holding and let your tears fall. Silently crying.

"Y/N? You okay?" You heard Jungkook's voice, but that was quickly dismissed as a hand grabbed yours.

You looked up and saw Yoongi, motioning you to follow him. You nodded and followed him to an empty studio.

"You don't like me?" He asked, a bit unsure and insecure.

You shook your head, disagreeing with him, something he understood. You felt tears staining your cheeks, your breath shorten, and your cheeks reddened as you said

"I like you..." In a shaky voice. "I like you a lot. I just didn't think that you'd like me. I'm not tall, I'm loud, I'm- I don't have any qualities that you'd like..."

His face softened as he got closer. He cupped your cheeks and wiped your tears with his thumbs. You continued by saying

"I stumble in my Korean. I'm not even Korean! Why would you like me?"

"Why wouldn't I?" He responded in a soft, slightly hushed voice, taking you by surprise.

"I like that you're extroverted." He continued "If we eat out, I know I can count on you helping me with my social anxiety. So what if you're not tall? I think you'd fit nicely in my arms."

He pulled you into a hug, smiling softly. He then nuzzled his face in the crook of your neck and slowly took in your scent. He leaned back a little.

"I was right." He said smiling gently. "You have other qualities that I like... Like... How excited you get talking about anime and video games is so beautiful to me. Your eyes sparkle, your tone of voice gets higher, your body language gets more expressive, you use your hands more."

He gently pushed a strand of hair away and looked into your eyes while saying "So what if you stumble in your Korean? At least you know Korean! Which is more than I can say when it comes to Spanish."

You chuckled, smiling while wiping your tears.

"And so what if you're not Korean?... I fell in love with YOU, not your nationality or ethnicity"

You gasped softly and looked into his eyes whispering "Love?" He chuckled and nodded then sighed.

"I know it's a big word, but it's how I feel... And I don't wanna leave for the military without telling you how I feel."

You cupped his cheek and studied his face. He has gotten chubbier in the cheeks, his skin paler than usual, and his hair was shorter, probably to prepare it to get cut. You got on your tippy toes slightly and pecked his lips first to see if it was okay. This took him by surprise but it didn't last long for him to hug your waist and kiss you back.

You pulled away and smiled then hugged him. His arms hugged you back as you leaned your head on his right shoulder, sniffling slightly and apologizing for crying, something he dismissed quickly. Your moment was quickly ruined when you and Yoongi almost fell from Jungkook jump-hugging you.

"AY! YA! Don't be stupid!" You said as you pushed Jungkook away. Yoongi already taking the liberty of letting go of you so that you and Jungkook could push each other around.

"You got your love confession! Thanks to ME~ The BEST wingman EVER!" Jungkook exclaimed as he wrapped his tattooed arm around your shoulder and neck. You groaned playfully and pushed him off you, but that didn't stop him from doing it again.

"Say I'm the best, and I'll let you go~" Jungkook said smiling from ear to ear.

"You're the WORST! Estupido, how could you force a confession out of Yoongles!~"

"Hey! He wasn't planning on doing it, and you were all mopy. I had to do something!"

You sighed and hugged him, burying your face in his chest, and said in a mumbled voice

"You're the best..." which came out in a slightly muffled sound.

"AH! Did you hear that, hyung?! THE. BEST! I gotta tell Jimin!" Jungkook said as he pushed you off of him and took off his phone.

You and Yoongi looked at each other and smiled. Promising to talk to each other more in his apartment.

[sarenth]

Reflecting on some of the posts that I have made and seen in the last couple of weeks, both here on Tumblr and on TikTok, I am increasingly suspicious of anybody that insists that voting is a useless or misdirected effort of energy. Not only have I seen innumerable cases in my state where this is simply not the case, entire sections of the federal government are effectively locked into right-wing positions because Trump won his election. He has entire sections of the appeals system and federal government more broadly aligned with him precisely because of how many nominations he's successfully put forward. Now, this does not mean that Biden or even the Democratic party more generally is going to ride to the rescue, however it speaks to the power that voting results wield.

Not voting is not an effective protest. All you are doing by not voting is saying hey someone else make this decision for me. By not voting you are not actually saying to the system "Hey I'm protesting against you!" At that point you have given the government system cart blanche to fucking ignore you.

I don't know who told you that not voting was anything other than giving up what little power you have to influence your government and therefore how your tax money and society operates on an everyday level. They lied to you. After a certain point there's no nice way to put this.

If you choose not to vote, that is a choice. I view it as an incredibly poor one. I also look at voting third party outside of elections where you know the candidate has no honest to the Gods shot to be a waste of time. You can vote however you want. If you want your vote to be effective then you're going to have to play with the system we've got until we can make a better one. These things take time. If we are being realistic, it is likely more than a few election cycles.

Another thing I have found intensely distasteful this entire election cycle has been from some leftists to sneer at harm reduction, as though opposing Republicans with Democratic candidates is just caving to fascism. Democrats and my State backed up unions and secured a woman's right to choose and secured bodily autonomy not only for women but forLGBTQIA+ folks. Republicans have fought against that.

"Oh but Manchin-" "Oh, but Sinema-"

Are not the whole of the Democratic Party. They were conservative holdouts in a largely center to center right coalition party whose younger constituents are far more left that the old guard. They fucked up some excellent legislation (or at least excellent opportunities) to put us in far better positions through helping to kill the Democrats' Build Back Better Plan and similar legislation.

Trying to punish the Democrats retroactively for not pushing Roe v Wade into law or not fulfilling all their campaign promises, by withholding your vote come the elections is short sighted, retrograde, and ultimately, harmful. It hands power to the Republicans without a fight, and allows them to set the boards for zoning, schools, city council, and so much more. It actively shoots your fellow citizens in the foot so you can feel moral superiority.

It reminds me of folks saying "Well I'm not filing because I am not gonna pay my taxes!" Unless your income is entirely under the table or illegal, or you intentionally changed your contributions, chances are that you were paying taxes this entire time and the only thing you're doing by not filing is potentially fucking yourself.

I get being angry, desperate, and despairing at the state of things, whether the political system, the world more broadly, or whatever issue you hold most dear to your heart. I'm not saying don't be angry, sad, depressed, or raging. I'm saying use it well. If you cannot summon up the give-a-shit on your own case, do it for those around you. Every bit we can do helps, and voting can make a lot of difference in our neighborhoods, and from there, the greater world.

Whether you are reading the missives from various pulpits or you're looking at project 2025, Christofascism is here. Folks have been warning about this for quite a long time, and it is here and it is in full swing. We cannot afford for the Republicans to take over. Heathens, Pagans, magical folks, none of us can afford a Republican victory at this point. Republicans have shown a deep willingness to use the apparatus of the state to harm queer and non-Christian people. They have shown a disdain for the separation of church and state. If you are on the right in this country you should be concerned if you're in any marginalized group. You will not be spared because you're "one of the good ones ".

Did you not see how they treated the Log Cabin Republicans? Did you not see that? Voting red will not save you, it will not make you more palatable. If the Republicans take power and get what they really want through their Christofascism and Project 2025, it does not matter how long you've been a Republican; if you are queer or Pagan you may as well not exist.

Believe me, I am not for a moment stating that Democrats are our saviors. They are a coalition center right political party that we can influence through our lobbying and votes. We can influence them through a variety of other means, including direct action is some have done. Some of you have failed to notice that your direct actions actually were useful! Kamala Harris came right out and said that they were pushing for a ceasefire, after so long of just leaving it off the table entirely. It is not that the narrative cannot be pushed, it is not that we cannot be heard, but you all need to recognize when you are heard and act accordingly without moving the fucking goal posts.

You demanded the administration work on a ceasefire and now they are. That is a victory! However, the Democrats cannot make the Israeli government and the Palestinian government come to a ceasefire. There is also only so much that we can do given the treaties and the alliances that we have. Yes, I know that America has a history of breaking it's treaties and why couldn't we just break this one? Well, because we're just not going to because it's been policy for almost the last 80 years. I just fervently wish the left more generally understood the political process better than it does and realize that we are doing quite a lot to move things along from where they could have been.

If you think for a second that Trump presidency would be better on any of these things you're wrong. That there are some leftists want to sink this project of American democracy simply because they didn't get what they want reminds me a lot of screaming fucking children who want a toy and are going to scream and shout when they don't get it. There's a sincere lack of understanding of the political process that I am seeing right now, especially given what I saw during the primary elections, and is sincere lack of understanding the political process with regards to our position with Israel. Again, I am not saying for a fucking moment don't be angry and don't do everything that you can't tell lobby for the Palestinian people. Engage in whatever diversity of tactics appeals the most to you. Part of having a diversity of tactics is including voting and on the ground diplomatic work. It isn't fun, it isn't sexy, but it's absolutely necessary in the meantime to get us to a place where we can be more effective. I would rather be more effective than being morally pure. I would rather be more effective and do what is possible than see everything around me fucking burn because it isn't just right.

I really do not hold with deontology. As a heathen my ethics are more centered in consequentialism. I care about how the tapestry looks after it's been woven, more than I care about how it has been woven. I will take an imperfect way of getting to the end of a tapestry then the tapestry never getting finished or being finished poor due to constantly unraveling it. There is no way that burning everything down is going to be helpful or effective for most folks. In any case, burning everything down with nothing to replace it leaves folks like me who rely on regular medications like insulin completely fucked. To be sure, the system fucks me and those in my position. It fucks the poor, the disabled, the marginalized. However, not having anything to replace it and just burning everything down, having no complex systems in place to slot into place will do immense, untold amounts of damage. Reforms are not sexy, and but they are how we can continue to live while we do the work needed to make things more equitable, more fair, more just.

I want change. We need to change as a society to become more just, equitable, fair, and to survive in the face of the challenges that we are facing. However, stepping away from the system as a whole, as though you're not going to be wrapped up in it as things go forward, that, to me, is giving up. It's not revolutionary. I would far rather see leftists and left-leaning Heathens and Pagans to flex their vote and their activism locally, to make the changes on the ground that we can where we live, how we live, with the Ginnreginn we live alongside.

[lostcoves]

ft. tenya iida x fem!reader

genre: fluff

wc & warnings: 2k | mentions of wanting to v*mit

premise: thanks to your friend’s magnetizing quirk, you and your not so secret crush tenya iida are stuck together for the next six hours 

tenya iida, oh how you were enamored with him. his leadership, his quirky nature, everything about him made you melt into a puddle. but you were merely another face, a general studies student with an average quirk. you felt like you could never amount to anything compared to the hero course students. yet, fate had other plans for you and him.

"(l/n)-san!" your classmate kirumi yamamoto yelled your name across the classroom one afternoon at the end of the school day. you approached her- although, confused- and asked her, "what is it, yamamoto-san?"

"i need some help with my quirk practice and was wondering if you could help me?" she twiddled her thumbs, smiling like a cheshire cat. you pressed your lips together hesitantly before sighing and answering to kirumi, "okay, i'll help you."

kirumi quickly embraced you and grinned, "thank you, thank you, thank you!"

you would later come to regret this decision.

dressed in your gym uniform, you stood in an empty practice field and waited for kirumi to come out. she emerged from the school and waved at you, you greeted the wave and shouted to her, "whatcha need me to do to help you with your quirk?!"

"you're gonna be my target!" kirumi's quirk was magnets, she could make anything organic into a living magnet. your eyes widened at her response and opened your mouth in protest when she shot a beam at you. letting out a surprised scream, you stood frozen with kirumi's quirk pulsing around you. shit, you were a living magnet.

"now, who should i make into a magnet?" kirumi pondered on the thought until she noticed a group of people walking by near the field. kirumi smirked at the sight, tenya iida was in the group. she yelled to him, "hey iida-san, watch out!" before "accidentally" shooting her quirk's beam at iida. iida tried to duck but the beam was too fast, magnetizing poor iida in one blast. your eyes widened with realization and you let out a shout when iida came flying towards you. the two of you crashed into the ground, both disoriented and in pain.

"sorry!" kirumi laughed nervously.

"yamamoto-san!" iida exclaimed, "undo your quirk this instant!"

"yeah.. no can do!" she rubbed the nape of her neck sheepishly.

"w- wait do you mean?" you stammered, scared.

kirumi let out an anxious chuckle, "my quirk lasts for between thirty minutes to twenty four hours, depending on what i magnetize."

panic bubbled in your chest, you were gonna be stuck to iida for upwards to a day!?

"i'll say you guys are gonna be stuck together for maybe.. six hours?" kirumi hypothesized.

"six hours?!" iida was on the verge of passing out.

"sorry! i'll inform our teachers!" kirumi sprinted off, leaving you and iida to your own devices. queasiness enveloped your body, as you fought the urge to puke on your shoes. six hours, suck to your crush? this was a nightmare!

"before we do anything.. do you need the restroom?" iida questioned to you, his face blushing tomato red.

you shook your head, "thankfully, no. how about you?"

"same for me."

you two were in for an interesting six hours.

─────────────────

hour one - five hours remaining until quirk wears off

you and iida were in iida's bedroom. the teachers thought it would be more suited for you to be under the care of aizawa-sensei and the other pro-heroes specialized with this sorta situation. unable to go two meters without being sucked back to one another, you and iida made the executive decision to remain in his dorm room.

"so (l/n)-san.." iida cleared his throat and gave you an awkward smile, "what's general studies like?"

"like regular old high school," you mused, shifting a little to get more comfortable. iida felt himself getting pulled as a result, much to both of yours annoyance. kirumi's quirk was so frustrating! nothing compared to your simple quirk of water manipulation, a quirk that was a dime a dozen.

"what's it like being a hero course student?" now it was your turn to ask the questions.

"exhilarating," iida breathed out with a smile. he looked so beautiful when he smiled, you smiled in response. he then added to you, "we get in a lot of trouble with villains, though. something that i'm not happy about. they keep interrupting our studies and it's just.. annoying, to say the least."

"i bet," you hummed.

"so uh.. what else would you like to discuss? we got–" iida checked his watch, "–five hours and forty three minutes."

you huffed in exasperation, "good god, this is agonizing."

"hopefully, i'm not upsetting."

"no! you're not! it's just.. it's just.. i need my space," you confessed. iida nodded understandingly and replied, "i understand that. i'll do my best to ensure you're as comfortable as possible while we're stuck like this."

you gave iida's hand a squeeze, "thanks, iida-san."

he returned the hand squeeze with one of his own, his larger hand engulfing your smaller hand.

"of course, (l/n)-san."

─────────────────

hour three - two hours until quirk wears off

perhaps this was a blessing in disguise. you managed to learn a lot about iida while confined to his dorm room and under the magnetizing quirk. he pursued professional heroism as a result of being from a legacy of hero while you attended general studies to ensure a better future when you inherit your family's florist business. your quirk was good for subsidizing costs at the shop but you needed a better education in order to keep the family business afloat. general studies at ua offered a future for you.

"so iida-san," you plucked a grape off the platter of food iida's friend deku dropped off for the two of you, "if you could have any quirk in the world that's not your own, what would it be?"

"are we playing twenty questions?" iida tilted his head in bewilderment. you gave him a nod and he answered, "well, i have.. i'm a little jealous of my classmate todoroki-kun's dual ice and fire ability. i think it would be interesting to have a quirk like that."

"good answer," you plopped the grape in your mouth and gestured iida to ask you a question. he mulled over his question before proposing to you, "what's your ideal partner?"

you nearly choked on your grape but caught yourself before you could. why in the world would tenya iida ask you that kind of question?

"well.. i.. i, er–!" you adverted your gaze from your crush, "i like.. i like intelligent people who are good leaders and want the best for others."

"interesting, interesting.. what about appearance wise?"

you eyed iida warily, "i don't care too much about appearance but.. i like buff people and i think glasses are sexy."

iida made a mental note of your response, "i hope you find someone who matches your ideal lover one day, (l/n)-san!"

iida, you idiot! you thought to yourself, you match my ideal partner!

"so uh!" you cleared your throat, "next question.. what's your favorite food?"

this banter went back and forth for the next hour or so.

─────────────────

hour five - one hour until quirk wears off

you were getting exhausted and it was nearly nightfall at the dorms. your exhaustion was noted by iida, who offered you one of his blankets to sleep with. you grew flustered by the offer but nonetheless accepted it. so here you were, back to back with your crush and laying in his bed. was this a nightmare or a dream come true?

you couldn't sleep. i mean, obviously it was difficult to fall asleep in the presence of your crush. you tossed and turned a bit, the magnet pulse keeping you stuck to iida. the glass wearing boy sighed and turned himself around and whispered, "can't sleep?"

you gave him a nod and iida smiled, "what if i told you a story?"

"a story? what am i, a five year old?" you laughed awkwardly. iida frowned, disappointed. you didn't want to disappoint him so you cleared your throat and changed your answer, "you can tell me a story."

"good," iida wrapped an arm around your shoulders and pulled you close, "my mother would tell me this story a lot when i was little. it starts with a knight and.."

iida went off to tell you the story of a knight cursed to be a beast until he could save a kingdom's princess. it was a story of heroism and sorrow, as the knight failed to save the princess. yet, the princess managed to save herself and in turn, broke the knight's curse with the power of self-forgiveness. you never heard such a tale before so it was definitely interesting to listen to.

"do you feel like you fail at self-forgiveness sometimes, iida-san?" you questioned to your crush, his arm still around your shoulders. god, it felt like the two of you were a couple. iida thought it over and responded, "sometimes. there are times where i feel like i can't forgive myself, such as not being able to avenge my brother for what the hero killer did to him."

you squeezed his arm sympathetically in response, "i'm sorry about it."

"it's.. well, it's not fine but thank you," he answered.

you fell silent, unsure of what to say. you sighed and turned to iida, "tenya iida, can i help you something?"

"sure, (l/n)-san."

"what would you do if someone told you that they liked you?"

"you mean as a friend or romantically?"

"romantically," your pulse quickened and your palms grew sweaty.

"it would depend on the person."

"iida-san.. i know someone who has a crush on you and they're scared to tell you," maybe you could avoid heartbreak if you go with the hypothetical situation.

iida furrowed his brow and removed his arm around you to hold his hands, "someone has a crush on me?"

"yes," a bead of sweat fell from your forehead, "they think you're heroic and sweet and amazing and a true leader. they're just scared to tell you because of the rejection."

"that's understandable," iida nodded. he unclasped his hands and looked back at you, "is that person the one telling me this?"

you gulped, "wh– what do you mean?"

"do you like me, (l/n)-san?"

you adverted your gaze.

"(l/n)-san?"

"i do."

it felt as if a weight had been lifted from your chest at your confession. now, time for the rejection.

"i like you, too."

what? he liked you too?!

"wait, you do? but we barely know one another!" you protested, surprised at iida's reply. iida chuckled and elaborated to you, "it was the sports festivial, (l/n)-san.. or could i call you (y/n)-chan?"

"(y/n)-chan works," you answered.

"well, that was the first time i really saw anyone from general studies perform with their quirks but you.. i saw a hero in you. i remember seeing you aid another student who struggled to get through the race. you helped her all through the race, not caring about winning the race. that was heroic and the start of my infatuation with you," iida explained.

you remembered, a girl had gotten injured and you dragged her through the course. iida saw that?

"then i began seeing you around school and i wanted to talk to you but i never had the chance until now," iida finished with a nervous smile. you let out a soft huff, followed by a laugh. you couldn't believe it, iida shared similar feelings with you. this was a dream come true!

"can i kiss you?” you proposed to iida. he nodded, “you can.”

timidly, you leaned in close and pressed a gentle kiss on iida’s lips. the kiss was tender and sweet, innocent and exploratory. 

“wow..” he whispered against your lips, “that was amazing.”

“you think so?” you murmured, your lips still stuck to his.

“i know so.”

“hey tenya– i can call you tenya, right?”

“of course.”

“good, but uh.. i can’t remove my lips.”

iida’s eyes widened and he pulled back, only for your lips to connect together once more. horrified, you realized that you two would be stuck like this for the next hour or so. damn kirumi and her quirk!

yet, this wasn’t a miserable outcome. at least, you and iida confessed to one another. that was more than enough for you.

[loganisanobody]

@badthingshappenbingo

Tags: unsympathetic Janus, unsympathetic Remus, human au

Based off a fic I can't find now, if anyone could help me - Virgil runs away from Remus and Janus and has a panic attack on the train, so Roman, Patton, and Logan take him home and take care of him. There's a car accident? Plz help so I can credit the original author ;v;

*****

Virgil walked slowly along the sidewalk, taking in the evening. It was a nice night, as the sun setting cast pink shadows on the clouds, the birds chirped, the fallen leaves crunched beneath his feet.

He looked around at the empty street, looking at the different houses he passed. Then something caught his eye: a familiar red car. His heart rate sped up, but he shook his head and kept moving. There was no way.

But he glanced again, and there was a familiar white dent in the car, and he knew.

He broke into a run, with only the thought of getting home.

He sped around the corner. He could see it. Home. He was five houses away. Four. Three. Tw— Someone jumped out in front of him.

Before he could cry out, they had grabbed him, turned him around, and slapped a hand over his mouth. He struggled, but the taller man was stronger.

"Look, I found my guinea pig!" Remus said with the glee of a six-year old whose beloved pet had finally emerged from a hole in the wall.

The familiar car pulled up, and Remus started to push Virgil toward it.

"Get in without a noise, or your boytoy will be my new guinea pig," Remus whispered harshly in Virgil's ear. Virgil froze. Roman.

Remus gave another push, and Virgil allowed himself to be led to the trunk of the car. Remus let go of his mouth to open the trunk, but Virgil didn't dare make a sound. He looked up at the house, hoping Roman would glance out the window and come to his rescue, but Remus pushed him into the trunk and slammed the door over him.

A few seconds later, with the rev of an engine, the car started moving, and Virgil's hopes quickly died.

No one would save him now.

*****

Roman would have been more aware of what was happening, if he had been awake to be aware of anything.

He woke up moaning, his head bursting with pain, in the grass behind their house. He sat up slowly, taking in the hose still gushing water on one side, and then the shovel thrown on the ground on his other side.

Virgil.

He scrambled to his feet, grabbing the shovel.

Whoever hit him over the head would likely not do anything less to his boyfriend.

He searched the house, but nothing seemed out of place. Except that Virgil wasn't home.

Wouldn't he have gotten back from his walk by now?

Roman went back out to the backyard as he tried to think. He turned off the hose and sat on the step.

Someone had attacked him, but then left him alone. There was nothing missing, except Virgil.

He felt the blood drain from his face.

Virgil had had abusive caretakers, and he had run away from them.

Would they have been searching for him all this time?

He hurriedly pulled his phone from his pocket as he rushed to the front of the house.

"Logan? I think Virgil's been kidnapped."

*****

Virgil woke up feeling very stiff. He turned, and realized he was on something rough, not soft like his bed. And he was cold. Where was his blanket?

He blinked his eyes open, then shot upright.

He was in a bare room, on carpeted floor.

Suddenly, he remembered what had happened.

He scrambled to his feet and rushed to the door. Of course, it was locked. There was no window in his room, so the only way in or out was through the door. He was trapped.

He shook his head and took a step back, looking at the door. How strong was it?

He took a few more steps back, then ran at the door, throwing his shoulder against it. He rebounded and fell, pain ringing through his arm and shoulder.

The door hadn't budged.

*****

Roman paced back and forth in Patton and Logan's living room.

"What do I do?" he repeated for the millionth time.

"You wait and let the police do their job," Logan answered calmly, as though he hadn't been saying that for the past few hours.

"I can't just sit here!" Roman turned to look at Logan. "They could be hurting Virgil, killing Virgil, as we speak!"

"There's nothing that we could do. We gave the police all the information we have. They'll be able to get more using their own resources. They're better equipped to handle this. And anyway, Virgil's abusers already hurt you, they obviously have no qualms against it. Going after him, even if you could, would just lead to more trouble."

Roman growled and clenched his fists, and went back to pacing.

"Why don't we play a game? Or go for a walk?" Patton tried. He looked so worried, but Roman could tell he was trying to be brave.

Roman shook his head. "I need to go after him."

"How?" Logan asked simply.

"I… I could… I could go to the station where Virgil got on the train that day."

"Okay, what then?"

"I… I'd comb the streets, looking for anything suspicious."

"Suspicious?"

"A-a sketchy looking dude? Or! Or a sight of Virgil through a window!"

"I doubt they'll let Virgil near any windows anytime soon."

Roman growled again.

"Roman, the police are probably doing just what you described, and more. They'll find him."

*****

Virgil didn't know how long it had been, and he really didn't want to know how Remus came up with so many ways to "experiment" on him without taking him out of the room.

He huddled in the furthest corner of the room, knees drawn up to his chest.

Then the door burst open and Remus was in front of him, yanking him to his feet, slapping a hand over his mouth again.

Virgil struggled, but he had no more strength than he had the last time.

"Shush," Remus said. He seemed to be straining to hear something.

Virgil stopped and listened.

There was a knock on a distant door.

"Hello?"

"Yes, hello. Is this the home of Janus Orion?"

"No."

Virgil furrowed his brow in confusion. Why was Janus lying?

"Do you know a Virgil Orion?"

It clicked. They were looking for him. He could have sobbed in relief.

"No."

Virgil tried to scream, cry out, do anything past Remus' hand.

"What was that?" he heard.

Remus kicked him.

"My son, having sex."

"At three in the afternoon?"

"Do I question your sexual activities?"

"No, sir."

There was a pause, and Virgil tried yelling again.

"Sir, can I see your ID?"

"Do you have a warrant?"

The man grumbled.

"Good night, officer," Janus said pointedly.

Virgil heard the door shut.

No, no no no…

Remus held him for another few seconds, then shoved him to the floor. Virgil still tried to scramble past him out the door, but Remus kicked him.

As Virgil recovered, Remus walked to the door. "You'll have no food for two days, one for each time you screamed. Next time, I will drive down to Florida and take a friend for each time you struggle." He left, locking the door behind him.

Virgil let out a sob, out of some combination of pain, fear, and hopelessness.

His one chance at freedom, and Remus and Janus had been too smart to let him have it.

*****

Against Logan's advice, Roman had taken to staying in a hotel near the station Virgil had first gotten on the train, spending the day at the station watching, spending nights wandering random streets, hoping to catch any sign of Virgil, only going back to the hotel room to charge his phone or let himself finally sleep.

His phone rang, and he scrambled to pick it up. "Did they find him?"

"No, Roman. You know they have your phone as first contact."

"Then why are you calling, Specs?"

"To try, once again, to get you to come home. You're not going to find him, and you're going to make yourself sick." He paused. "Patton's worried. For both of you. And… I am, too."

Now Roman paused. It wasn't like Logan to admit he had feelings.

"Please, come home," Logan continued. "There's strength in numbers."

Roman rubbed his face. "I… I can't just… not do something, Logan. I feel like I'm at least trying by being out here."

"That is commendable, Roman, but Virgil would want you to be safe and to take care of yourself."

Roman sighed. "Maybe you're right, Specs. But, if the police give up, I'm coming right back out here."

"That sounds like a plan, Roman."

Roman chuckled, then sighed and started toward the hotel.

*****

Virgil sank down against the wall after Remus left. Everything hurt. He inspected his arms, covered in scratches and burns, new and old. He couldn't even put his sweatshirt back on for fear of aggravating the pain.

He curled his knees up to his chest and hung his head in his arms.

Then he heard a knock.

His head flew up.

Just a couple seconds later, Remus flew into the room, grabbing Virgil like he had before. Virgil gulped behind Remus' hand. Would he dare try to get the police's attention this time?

"Janus Orion?"

"I told you, that's not my name."

"Background check says it is. We have a warrant to search this house."

There were footsteps, first from downstairs, then ascending the stairs. With every step, hope made Virgil's heart beat faster.

Finally, someone appeared in the doorway, holding a gun.

Remus' hold on Virgil tightened.

"Remus Gaines?"

"Go away or I snap his neck," Remus hissed.

Virgil's heart seized.

"I can't do that," the cop slowly stepped closer.

"I'll do it!" Remus' hold shifted on Virgil's face.

Virgil stared pleadingly at the cop.

"Remus, let him go."

There was a terrifying moment of silence, then suddenly Remus pushed Virgil into the approaching cop and swerved around him and out the door.

The cop caught Virgil and yelled out, "Runner!"

She then looked down at Virgil. "Virgil Orion?"

He nodded.

"You're safe now, Virgil, we've got you."

*****

Roman was pacing in the bedroom, unable to sit still, when his phone rang. He dove for it.

"Hello?" he asked breathlessly.

"Roman Prince?"

"Yes, yes, that's me."

"We've found Virgil. He's safe and coming home now."

Roman heard a ringing in his ears. The next thing he knew, Patton was in front of him, waving a hand in his face. Roman also found he was kneeling, when did he do that?

"Roman? Roman? Are you okay? What happened?"

Roman looked around dumbly. Logan was standing next to him, talking on the phone.

"Roman, what's wrong?" Patton prodded.

Roman turned to look at him, mouth turning up into a smile. "Nothing," he said. "Nothing's wrong."

*****

Roman was sitting on the couch next to Logan and Patton, his knee bouncing anxiously, when finally there came a knock at the door.

Roman was at the door in two steps and swung it open.

His eyes immediately fell on the black-haired, pale emo he fell in love with, and he gathered Virgil up in a bone-crushing hug.

Though Virgil winced in some pain, neither of them let go until well after the police had left, and Patton and Logan reluctantly pulled them apart to drag them inside and close the door, securing them all back safely together.

[etlunainmorte]

✒ P.S. I Love You ✒

***

(Y/N) and Victor's grandchild closed and locked the door after the gentlemen left. She, then, turned to look at the old wooden box which V left on the table for her. She sat on the sofa and opened the thing, revealing its contents. And when she saw the amount of photographs that were in it, the emotions flooded her chest once more. As she took the photograph that showed her grandparents' wedding charade, she simply let her tears flow freely.

Despite those tears clouding her sight, she didn't wipe them away like what she did before. Instead, she held the photograph close to her chest, imagining how happy her grandparents must be during those trouble - free times.

She turned to the side table, carefully placing the precious photograph next to the small framed picture of her one and only grand daughter who was in Paris. She, then, sighed, letting her eyes roam from her grandparents to her grandchild.

Finally lingering on her grandparents' image, she whispered, "Please keep those people safe."

"What do we do now?" Roman asked V as they made their way back towards the mansion.

"We must find the container where their souls are hidden," V answered, his voice and his sight as resolute as ever. " ... then, we'll set them free."

"What about Avery?"

"We'll prevent Lancaster from sacrificing her."

"And that monster?"

V stopped and looked down at Griffon, who was waiting for him to go back home, the metal cane, which he abandoned, still on his waiting beak. The poet didn't hesitate and took it from his familiar, who flew and landed on his shoulder.

Then, he faced the door of the mansion one more time.

"We'll send him to where he belong," He answered. " ... to Hell."

***

XV

***

Both V and Roman were fully expecting something to attack them the moment they step foot inside the now dark and desolate place. However, all seemed normal.

Strangely normal, given the dire situation they were in.

"Aren't there any monsters here that would attack us?" Roman questioned, making both the poet and the familiar look at him with raised eyebrows.

"You seemed,... rather eager." V answered him as he threw his cane and caught it with his other hand.

"I - i'm not! It's just,... the silence is too suspicious. You know what I'm saying?"

The man was right. It was too quiet. "We should not underestimate our enemy." V uttered in a low voice as he took a few cautious steps forward towards the grand staircase, still half - expecting Roselle, or that still unknown creature that tried to kill Nico, to come out of the shadows and make its move. "This is Christopher Lancaster we're talking about, after all."

"Alright." Roman said as he pulled out his red handkerchief from his pocket and wore it around his head like a headband. He inhaled through his nostrils and shook his shoulders, making Griffon roll his eyes. "I'm ready!"

V only gave Avery's fiancé a sideways glance and a grin as he made his way to the second floor. At least, someone's excited to take on that Demon,...

Never letting their guard down, the Summoner, the familiar, and the human made their way towards the second floor. However, no creature of any kind made itself known, the entire floor was void of the heavy feeling that once taunted V to do suicide, but most importantly,...

... he was not being pulled into another timeline.

What,... is happening here? V thought as he led the way straight towards the accursed third room, still expecting for anything to happen or to attack them. He turned the brass door knob and pushed the door open, bracing himself for what was to come,...

"AVERY!" Roman howled as he sped past V and Griffon and made his way straight towards the center of the room where his beloved fiancée was, unconscious and tied to a chair.

"You, imbecile!" Griffon whispered, mocking at Roman's callous actions. "That evil doctor might - !"

V held out a hand before the demonic familiar could even blurt out any more insult, and made his way to where the couple was.

"Don't worry, sweetheart, I'll get you out of here." Roman said as he tried to untie Avery from the chair. However, as V came along to help, he noticed the wounds on both of her arms, the blood that dripped from them forming something on the ground beneath their feet. And when the gentlemen gazed down at it, they drew back in fear,...

... for the blood that was flowing from Avery's wounds was slowly forming a huge crimson pentacle on the floor - a seven - pointed star that matched the illustration from the booklet of Demons that the old woman showed them.

The ritual,... was nearing its completion.

"There was a man,... from another plane of existence,"

V, Roman, and Griffon all looked at the vicinity of the desk a few feet from where they were standing and saw, in their utter fright, a strange gentleman sitting behind it, his long and bony fingers that partially covered the lower part of his pallid face intertwined, his thick, dark brows furrowed in deep contemplation.

And at the mere sight of the strange one alone, V felt all of his power leave his body at the same time his heart became heavy with utter dread, unexplainable grief, and sheer hopelessness.

It was the man, himself.

"... who once dreamed of achieving immortality and eternal glory beyond human perception." The man, whose pair of red, sinister eyes seemingly made V's blood freeze, went on. "Abducting numerous little girls and molding them into his,... idea,... of earthly perfection. This man, and a number of followers, sacrificed these innocent children, one by one, until Pandemonium, the Demon he worshipped, finally chose that one perfect vessel, a fitting equivalent exchange for the wish that was to be fulfilled. However, he made a huge and irrevocable mistake." The man uncovered his face, finally letting the men see his familiar and intimidating visage, and stood from his chair, making his way closer towards them. "The vessel's sister, an imperfect being crippled with earthly flaws, who he failed to kill, and who was, then, chosen by the Sisters Of Fate for her will to save a loved one, retaliated, setting into motion a chain of events that ultimately," The man stopped a few inches away from them, his overwhelming presence stealing their will to live and survive. " ... led to Pandemonium's downfall,... and the man's,... demise.

"But, I' am far from that foolish man." The man simply told them as he gave each of them a look that conveyed a form of overwhelming power that resided within him. "I do not wish to achieve perfection, nor do I make it out of false dreams. Bedlam has opened my eyes to the harsh reality of this world. To the ugliness of the world's truth. I vow to share this,... great blessing,... to everyone who would kneel to me."

"KNEEL, MY ASS! YOU, EVIL, INSANE GODDAMN WITCH DOCTOR!" Roman howled, blindly charging towards the man with every intent to tackle him on the ground and give him a piece of his mind before V could even stop him.

"You listen when someone older than you is speaking!" The doctor rebutted as he simply made a flicking gesture with his right hand, summoning a form of unseen power that flung poor Roman to the other end of the room, making him instantly unconscious, the impact of his landing scattering and breaking some of the old and dusty furniture that lay on the ground. The doctor, then, turned to V and gave him a challenging look. "And you, oh, foolish poet? I believe you wish to challenge me, as well."

V visibly flinched at the insurmountable force before him, yet, he still tried to face the enemy by calling upon his familiars to attack the doctor simultaneously. With utter fear etched into their very bone and core, the familiars, Griffon and Shadow, went all out with their attacks, sending lightning bolt after lightning bolt and spear after morphed spear of attacks.

And, as expected, the powerful attacks from the familiars, which were supposedly enough to bring down an entire horde of higher Demons, didn't do anything to the doctor, who only stood still and took everything without so much as a blink of an eye. The familiars took one more shot, this time, by combining their powers as Griffon sent Shadow his most powerful lightning attack, and the feline receiving the power and morphing into a set of massive spears, skewering the doctor in every part of his body and frying him alive at the same time.

For a second, they thought that they succeeded but, as soon as Shadow morphed back into her feline form looking beaten and Griffon settled down on the ground, actually looking like a worn - out wind - up toy relying on batteries to move, the doctor slowly stood up from the ground where he was beaten, his wounds healing and the tears on his clothes closing up like nothing even happened.

"Oh, you've got to be fucking kidding me!" Griffon howled annoyingly as the doctor made his way towards him, grabbing the poor bird by his wings and tearing him apart like paper, spilling his blood and guts on the floor and making him enter his stalemate state.

"Hmm, just like on that other plane." The doctor uttered to himself. And before V could even lift a finger to call Shadow back, the doctor kicked the poor feline in her mid section, successfully dismantling her, turning her back into ash and making her enter stalemate like Griffon. "That one, not so much."

With eyes wide with disbelief, teeth gritted in anger, and thoughts wild and disarrayed with panic, V hastily raised his left arm, his fingers ready for the snap that would summon his trump card.

However, the doctor proved to be much faster as he seemingly phased from his position next to the stalemated familiars to his side, steadily holding V's left arm and threatening to even break it. The doctor held up a finger, swaying it from side to side as he playfully shook his head, his sadistic smile making V feel weaker than ever before.

V, despite his growing hopelessness, made up his mind, not wanting to lose to this evil doctor. He struggled and snapped his fingers, waiting for his most powerful ally to bring down the house and finish the doctor for him. 

To hell with this mansion! This evil must be stopped,... at all cost!

He waited and waited but, nothing happened.

And this only made the doctor smile even wider, the side of his lips almost reaching his ears.

V,... lost to Christopher Lancaster.

The doctor let go of his arm, letting him collapse and cower with fear on the ground. Then, after all this, the enemy simply stepped away and made his way towards Avery, who was still tied to the chair, bleeding and unconscious.

"Now, you see how benevolent I' am." Lancaster told V as he checked Avery's pulse and checked on his pocket watch like he was still a normal doctor. "I gave you the chance to play along. Allowed the both of us to settle the score. But, you have only wasted my time." The doctor hid his pocket watch and gave V a sideways glance. "I suggest you leave now. Before I change my mind."

"Ouch!" Roman winced in pain as he finally gained consciousness a few minutes later, rubbing his temples and looking around him. At the center of the room, he found Lancaster checking on Avery's pulse, and on one corner, he saw V kneeling in front of two floating, glowing orbs that weakly pulsated with dull red and blue lights. "V?" He limped his way towards his companion, only to see the utter shock in the poet's eyes.

Like he completely lost all hope and his will to keep on living.

"What happened?" Roman asked the poet, his sight darting from him to the strange orbs floating above the ground.

"We lost." The poet uttered monotonously.

"W - what?! How did we - ?"

"Lancaster,... is far too strong than what we could've imagined."

Roman's eyes widened with utter disbelief. He collapsed on the ground and placed both of his hands on V's shoulders. "You're kidding, right? Y - you're V! And you're the strongest man I've ever met! And the bravest one! You can't just lose to that evil doctor!"

The poet looked at him, his eyes suspiciously cloudy like he was in a trance, and gave him a wry smile. "This is a mistake. I should not have accepted this job in the first place. I should have ran away from the start. I should not have faced Christopher Lancaster."

And this only made Roman lose his temper. "AND WHAT ABOUT AVERY, HUH?! SHE NEEDS US!"

"She's,... lost to us."

"WHAT ABOUT NICO?! DON'T TELL ME HER SACRIFICE LED TO NOTHING!"

"As I've said, this is a mistake,... right from the very start."

"AND WHAT ABOUT (Y/N), HUH?" Roman screamed angrily at V as he shook his shoulders hard enough, hoping for the man to come to his sense. "SHE NEEDS YOU! YOU HAVE TO SET HER SOUL FREE! DO YOU WANT HER TO BE DAMNED TO HELL?! V, TALK TO ME!"

"(Y/N),... means nothing to me,..."

"FUCK YOU!" Roman swore as he punched V on the cheek. The poet's face jerked sideways with the sheer force of the mad and disappointed fiancé.

Meanwhile, V felt like his soul was floating into nothingness. He couldn't see nor hear anything. And yet, this strange voice, this achingly familiar voice, kept calling to him. He tried to follow the sound despite his blindness. He reached out, his hands wanting to grasp this familiar something,...

"I'm here, Victor." The voice told him. "Follow my voice."

"(Y/N),... ?" V called as he opened his eyes,...

... and saw the ceiling of the familiar office. Feeling numbness all over his body, he carefully sat up and gazed at the room. He was sure it was the same room, however, somehow, he felt at ease. His chest no longer felt heavy, and his whole body felt really light. A sense of calm radiated all over the place, and even the sun shone brightly and cheerfully outside.

He carefully sat up, surveying the atmosphere around him, and finally stood, his eyes darting from one furniture to the next.

Then, he heard it once more: the voice of an angel.

V opened the door and made his way towards the source of the sound, his ears wanting to feast on the lovely sound and his soul longing to bask in it. He went down the staircase, walked past the Grecian statues, and made his way directly towards the Library where he knew she was. He took a deep breath and opened the door, the light of the room blinding him momentarily and the sweet scent that was wafting from it overwhelming his senses.

And when his eyes finally adjusted to the brightness of the room, he saw her there, sitting on a stool in front of the piano, singing an achingly familiar tune he has unfortunately forgotten as she flawlessly played the simple notes. His eyes burning at the sight and his chest bursting with gladness, he slowly made his way towards her, his steps as light as they could possibly be in fear that she would vanish at the slightest disturbance.

And when he was finally so close next to her, she stopped playing and gazed up at him, a smile on her young and gentle face.

It was, indeed, (Y/N). The girl he knew from his visions. The girl who has, undoubtedly, captured his, and Victor's, heart.

The girl,...

... right before all the tragedies and nightmares in the house occurred.

"You're not supposed to be here." She told him, a hint of disappointment in her lovely (E/C) eyes.

"I,..." V began, suddenly, and for the first time ever, at a loss for his own words. "I lost,... to him."

(Y/N) furrowed her eyebrows, the amused smile still not leaving her beautiful and healthy visage. "That wasn't supposed to happen."

"I,... forgive me." V apologized, feeling defeated and dejected.

To this, the girl smiled tenderly and slightly moved, making a space on the stool for him and gesturing at it with her dainty right hand. "Come, sit with me." The poet did so, and the moment he was mere inches from her, his arms actually brushing against the soft fabric of her (F/C) dress, she smiled and positioned her fingers over the keys. Those adorable fingers glided on the keys once more, and a few notes in, V was taken prisoner. He closed his eyes, feeling the music overtake his mind, his heart, and his whole being.

He really wished he could stay here forever.

Forever,... with her,...

It seemed like forever, though, her playing the piano and him listening to it wholeheartedly. And when her music gradually came to a slow halt, V finally opened his eyes and let them fall on her immaculate figure.

"Heaven." V whispered softly, making her turn and look straight into his eyes. "Is this,... heaven? If so, then I would not want to go back."

(Y/N) smiled as she reached out a hand, lying it gently onto V's face. The poet grasped her hand, her warmth calming his senses and putting his chaotic soul at ease. "You have no idea how long I have waited for this. For us to be this close, to feel your touch again, to hear your voice so close to my ear." She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, her brows furrowing as tears drenched those long eyelashes of hers. "You have no idea,... how much I love you. I love you so much. Even after death, my heart still beats for you and you alone.

"But, you don't belong here, V." She opened her eyes, her smile turning into a frown that tore V's heart in two. "You belong with your friends, your family, with people who loves you."

V cupped her cheeks and rested his forehead against hers, their breaths mingling and their eyes looking deeply into each other. "I don't want to lose you, ever again."

(Y/N) closed her eyes, the smile returning to her face once more. "You never lost me. I stayed with you, and I always will. Until the end of time. But, we are both lost in this labyrinth." She took his hands and brought them down, her eyes conveying something that triggered a dormant emotion deep within V's chest. "As much as I wanted to let you stay here, I simply can't. You have to fulfill your mission. You have to set us free and save the woman from being sacrificed to the Devil. You must defeat Christopher Lancaster."

"But, I can't! I'm,... powerless against him! I - "

"You can defeat him, V." She told him, her resoluteness starting a fire inside his chest. "You have to believe that you can. He is but a mere fragment of the past animated by the Demon Bedlam to carry on an insidious mission on this world. He is but a mere puppet. And a puppet like him,... could never lay a finger on the one who believes in hope."

The moment (Y/N) mentioned the Demon's name, V felt a tremor beneath his feet, the room suddenly felt heavy, and the sun outside seemed to abruptly set.

This plane,... was starting to collapse.

Despite that fact, the girl still gazed lovingly  at his eyes and held his hands, giving him all the encouragement he needed for the mission that was wiped out of his mind from the moment he admitted his lost to the evil doctor.

And now that he could finally remember everything, of Avery giving him the mission in the first place, of Roman, who supported him and stood his ground despite his own weakness, of (Y/N) and Victor's grandchild bidding them a successful return, of his familiars supporting him along the way, of Nico, who accepted him as a friend despite his flaws and their differences and did her best to help him,...

... of the woman who wrote those messages,...

... of this one girl he wanted to save,...

"The time is running out. You must leave. Now."

V stood up and took a few steps away from her. And before he could finally turn away, he felt a hand on his arm, turning him around, and,...

He closed his eyes, letting her soft lips glide against his. And for the very first and last time, V wrapped his arms around her waist, bringing her closer to him and reciprocating her gesture of undying affection by showering her with the utmost passion he didn't know he possessed.

He wanted,... so very badly,... to go on kissing her like this, to show her how much she meant to him, to give her everything that life has stolen from her. To love her right then and there. But, he knew he couldn't. Her time on this world was over, her story about to end. His, on the other hand, was only beginning. And she knew this, as well. And when their lips finally parted, he felt her slid her hand on his pocket, putting something in it. She, then, broke away from his embrace and stepped away, letting her fingers glide on the smooth surface of her beloved piano one last time as the world before them started collapsing, shattering like glass, its shards and pieces falling apart one by one.

She smiled and waved her hand. "I'll see you soon, V."

"What - ?" He began but he was interrupted when he felt a hand grab him by the wrist. He turned around and saw (Y/N)'s loyal maidservant looking up at him.

"Young master, I'll help you get out of here!" She told him, dragging him along and leading the way out of the shattering plane. "This is the very last thing I will do for you. Believe in my lady's words, and you will be able to defeat him. Do everything you can to set us free. And do not lose hope! Do not lose hope! Do not - "

" - LOSE HOPE!" He heard Roman's voice as he finally opened his eyes, seeing the fiancé’s flustered and angry face. "DO NOT,... LOSE HOPE!"

V let those words sink in as he slowly got up, giving Lancaster an angry look as the doctor watched them like they were animals.

"I will not." The poet muttered, grabbing the metal cane from the floor and facing his enemy one more time. "You are just a mere puppet. A mere instrument for the Devil's machinations. And you will never,... succeed,... not today, not tomorrow,... NOT WHILE I LIVE!"

"Such fancy words for a useless man such as yourself!" Lancaster mocked, showing his sardonic smile once more.

"I'm not useless." V uttered, taking even more resolute steps towards Lancaster, his hands clutching the cane, ready to swing it at any given time. "She believes in me. I will set her free,... and send you to hell!" The poet gritted his teeth as he let out a swift hook that successfully connected with Lancaster's face, sending the shocked doctor flying towards the other end of the room.

V's eyes widened with disbelief, then looked at the bony fist that sent the doctor reeling on the ground. He, a weak Devil Hunter whose strength could never compare to the likes of both Dante and Nero, actually brought an insanely powerful maniac down to his knees!

"YES! BEAT HIM TO A BLOODY PULP, V!" Roman howled and cheered behind him as the familiars finally broke free of their stalemate state. And as Roman, Griffon, and Shadow witnessed the awesome fight that V was giving the bewildered doctor, they could not help but feel hopeful and alive once more.

But, their celebration was short lived as the doctor kicked V in the legs, making the poet fall on the ground.

"COME ON, V! YOU CAN DO IT!"

V struggled to get on his feet but, the doctor just wouldn't let him. Tackling him and bringing his face to the floor, the doctor snatched V's cane and held it up above his head. "YOU, ANNOYING INSECT! HOW DARE YOU?! I SHOULD NOT HAVE LET YOU LIVE! I SHOULD - !"

"Yeah, yeah, whatever!"

All the occupants of the room, the combatants included, looked at the door to see Nico, swatted in bandages in many parts of her body, sucking at her cigar and blowing smoke like nobody's business. She looked down at V and Lancaster and showed a very mischievous smirk.

"Aww, have y'all forgotten 'bout me?" She taunted. "Whatever." She took out her radio and held it up, her finger close to the red emergency button. "May I present to ya,... NERO'S SHOWER CONCERT,... VOLUME TWO!"

And with just one push of the accursed button, the whole house was filled with the young Devil Hunter's obnoxious voice. Nico,... actually connected all the speakers on the ground floor, letting her play Nero's awful singing at full and unadulterated blast!

"Ah - ah - ah, ah! Ah - ah - ah, ah! We come from the land of the ice and snow, from the midnight sun, where the hot springs flow. The hammer of the gods will drive our ships to new lands to fight the horde, and sing and cry. Valhalla, I am coming! On we sweep with threshing oar! Our only goal will be the western shore!"

"What is that God awful voice?!" Avery, who finally woke up due to the eardrum - shattering sound, complained.

"Sweetheart!" Roman exclaimed in happiness as he went to her.

"WHAT FORM OF POWER IS THIS?!" Lancaster howled and writhed in pain as he covered his ears and fell off V, giving the poet ample time to get his cane back. And during this moment of complete vulnerability, V was able to feel a strange power coming from the doctor's chest. The poet went down and started ransacking his vest, and right there, he found Lancaster's pocket watch. V could feel some form of massive energy from it. "GIVE IT TO ME! GIVE IT,... BACK!"

This is it! "Keep this safe!" V turned towards Roman and threw the antique to him. The man caught this at the same time he felt something cold grab his ankle. He looked down and was horrified to see the doctor starting to actually rot. He was finally losing his power!

(Y/N) was right all along! A puppet like Lancaster,... has no power against the one who believes in hope! Bedlam,... has no power over me!

"You,... can't defeat me!" Lancaster moaned as he twitched and trembled. "Bedlam,... chose me!"

"You're wrong." V answered as he kicked the doctor, the mere contact making Lancaster howl in agony. "No one chose you!" V stepped on the evil doctor's shoulder, the contact actually burning Lancaster's clothes and searing the flesh beneath it. The poet could feel tremendous power burning his insides, and it has given him absolute control over the evil energy that enslaved the mansion for a very long time. It gave him more than enough strength to defeat Lancaster.

And he knew full well,...

... that this tremendous power,...

... came from (Y/N).

He raised the cane, pointing it to the doctor's chest.

"NO! PLEASE! I BEG YOU! DO NOT KILL ME! PLEASE!"

"The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom. You never know what is enough until you know what is more than enough."

"NO! NO! HAVE MERCY ON ME!"

"I will not cease from mental fight, nor shall my sword sleep in my hand, 'till we have built Jerusalem, in England’s green and pleasant land."

And after one last look at the eye of the man who made many people suffer, he brought down his cane,...

***

✒ @la-vita , @micaelagua , @v-vic , @birdgirl69 , @beyond-the-mirror , and @cantcopewithlosingv . ✒

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"So, this is it, huh?" Roman asked an hour later as he looked at the golden pocket watch in his hands.

"I believe it is the item that we seek, yes." V answered as he allowed Griffon to perch on his shoulder and watched Shadow trot proudly next to him.

"What are you two talking about?" Avery asked as she let Nico assist her as they walked.

"I think I have an idea." Nico smiled at the gentlemen, especially at V, who successfully defeated the evil in the mansion.

V smiled and nodded at Roman. "I will let you do the honors. Open it."

Roman raised an eyebrow and shrugged his shoulders. Still, with both hands, he carefully opened the pocket watch and,...

"Oh, my God!" Avery whispered as she pointed at something in front them. All of them looked and saw the blonde maid smiling and waving at them. "Who,... is that?"

"That is Roselle Velez." V answered as he watched the servant wave at something behind them. They turned and saw the little boy named Phineas running past them and meeting Roselle halfway. The woman took the boy's hand and with one final wave, the two finally disintegrated right before their very own eyes.

"That's Daniella!" Nico practically shrieked as she pointed at another specter from one corner of the hall. "She tried to save me that night but, yeah. Bitchy evil doctor happened."

V turned to the other end of the hall and saw Maria, the loyal housekeeper, emerging from the kitchen. And right before his very eyes, she glowed and morphed into her original form - of the loyal maidservant who served (Y/N) and never left her side.

It seemed that Maria's mission,... was finally fulfilled. And she has faithfully kept her promise,... of waiting for V to arrive after more than a hundred years and helping him defeat the evil Christopher Lancaster.

And with smiles on their faces, Daniella and Maria met, finally going hand in hand to that promised place that Roselle and the boy just went to.

After a while, after seemingly a long period of silence, V felt something strange come out of his body. And as it walked away from the him, Roman, Nico, Avery, Griffon, and even Shadow stared in disbelief. It was none other than the English poet, Victor Blake, himself. His body seemed to glow with a powerful force that casted the shadows of the mansion away. V watched in awe as the man made his way towards something he could not quite see, and when Victor stopped walking, they saw a group of orbs materializing out of thin air. These little orbs of light danced, and when they finally merged into one, they slowly morphed into the one person V wanted to see.

It was (Y/N) (L/N), herself. And she looked perfect. Simply perfect.

When the lovers finally met, their hearts twitched in pain as they saw the lady weep and run towards her lover's open arms. And when Victor embraced her, his tears of joy falling freely from his eyes for finally seeing the love of his life after many, many years, they can't help but shed some tears of their own.

And V? He did not cry. In fact, he was happy. He was happy that they finally got their happy ending. And before they went away, the lovers looked at V and smiled at him.

Thank you! (Y/N) mouthed her gratitude as she pointed at V's pocket.

And then, as V felt for the thing in his pocket, the thing she put a few hours earlier, the lovers finally vanished into the night,... into sweet delight.

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