#One Vlad a day keeps the doctor away

[furiarossa]

Leaving the past behind, leaving the woman you love behind (you can't, you can't), continue your embittered and precise dance, lethal warrior, hide your tears behind the elegance. Bold, precise, experimental.

One Vlad a day keeps the doctor away #8.

Today's warmup sketch is... not a screenshot redraw and needed to happen because of this. Don't worry, we'll return to the normal Vlad-screenshot-redraw formula tomorrow. I want to see how much can I improve by just quickly sketching him everyday, as a warmup, for 365 days. Will I become a better artist? Or I will just have the biggest, most useless collection of Vlads ever?

[Oh, and a lot more of our Danny Phantom fanarts: Here’s our tag]

★ FurAffinity|Deviantart|Commission prices|Tapas|Pillowfort★

#danny phantom #steven universe #su pearl #vlad plasmius #phanart #crossover #art #my art #fanart #my fanart #sketch #warmup sketch #One Vlad a day keeps the doctor away #digital art #my steven universe #my danny phantom #pearl #2024 #daily vlad

[beesbiteandwillowrites]

DP x DC Prompt: "Rematch"

Back when Jason was still a wee baby Robin, Bruce was in business negotiations with some company from out west. Jason wasn't paying attention to whatever it was that Bruce did during his day job, CEO is a boring job anyway, he wants to be a doctor or something so he can help people.

But he notices when Bruce starts acting strange.

It's subtle, yes, and Jason doesn't think most people would even notice something amiss, but he's Robin, he's Batman's partner, he knows Bruce better than anyone except maybe Alfred or Dick, but Alfred is on holiday in England for a week or two, and Dick is on one of his "no talking to Bruce unless the world ends" binges, so Jason really is the only one in a position to do anything.

It's up to Robin to save the day.

Jason investigates Bruce's comings and goings and the CEO of this potential new business partner of WE is kinda shady. He's slimy. Definitely keeping secrets. Jason dislikes this Vladimir Masters right away. Especially when it becomes apparent that he's doing something to Bruce during one of their business dinners that makes Bruce's eyes glaze over in a very worrying manner.

Jason is so not going to let this guy mess with his dad's mind.

It ends with Vlad being beaten up and chased out of Gotham by an enraged Robin. Bruce turns out to be fine and doesn't remember the incident. Jason doesn't tell him, just types up a report and files it in Bruce's archives. Alfred comes back from England, and Dick drops by again to steal Jason away for some brotherly bonding, and everything is fine.

Jason never forgets Vlad Masters and how he tried to manipulate Bruce. Not even a resurrection and a Lazarus pit swim will make him forget that guy.

So naturally, when he starts coming around the manor more and more, and hears that Vlad Masters is sniffing around Tim in hopes of manipulating WE's CEO, he is ready for round two. He's got a bone to pick, and he's bringing the big guns (All-Blades)

And if this round two happens at a gala where Sam Manson is present to see and capture the whole thing with her camera, well, Jason has gained a couple of fans back in Amity Park.

#willow's writing prompts #jason can hold a grudge #the batfam is so confused #nobody knows why jason is frothing at the mouth when seeing this nobody CEO from the middle of bumfuck nowhere #jason todd #red hood #all blades #batman #bruce wayne #vlad plasmius #vlad masters #rematch #sam manson #dc #dp x dc #danny phantom

[writefandoms]

Monster

Vlad Dracula Tepes x Reader x Lisa Tepes

Summary: You and Vlad get into a disagreement, and some things are said.

Word Count: 1.5k

A mortal being.

That’s what you were.

No fangs, just blunt canines. No claws, only partially bitten nails. No strength beyond what your human muscles can accomplish.

Knowing the strength of even the lowest of vampires is enough to keep you up at night. One punch is enough to shatter you like the puny human you are.

As mortal as the blonde doctor who has reservation in your heart.

And him. The strongest of all. Vlad Dracula Tepes.

His strength is his own- you know this. But that doesn’t stop the notion of having The Dracula, as your protector, at your side.

He’s beyond any being you’ve ever encountered in your few decades. Never one to get violent around those he holds dear, that doesn’t prevent the small glimpses of power he unconsciously displays.

The love you hold for the vampire and the doctor is too much- overwhelming nearly. It’s hard to be an addition to an already established relationship- the notion of being easily removable isn’t lost on you. A fear that one day you’ll be back in your small cabin in the village of Lupu, all alone- months spent with the doctor and vampire, forgotten. That fear became a reality- one that you have the misfortune to be currently suffering through.

Half empty glass of red wine, in your left hand, and a partially chewed piece of dried goat meat in the other. Slumped over on your worn couch. Never quite felt this low before.

What ifs circle around the room, wondering if anything had been done even the slightest bit differently, perhaps you’d be cuddled between Vlad and Lisa right now.

“That was foolish.” He spits as his heavy steps approach from behind you.

“Dear-” Her attempt to calm him down was cut off by your own agitated voice.

“Foolish? No, what's foolish is your idea of danger!” Facing them now, eyes ablaze locking with Vlad’s. Lisa looks between you both, unsure who she should attempt to soothe first.

“You have no idea what you’re speaking of.”

Rolling your eyes was immature but impossible not to. There was no danger- not real danger anyway. He was the Vlad Dracula Tepes, a man who’s spent nearly his entire existence being hunted and attacked. Danger to him is any living mortal, except for the two standing next to him.

And while he’s overprotective of you and Lisa, taking a trip to visit your parents while he was away, isn’t breaking any laws.

He utters your name, making you reluctantly face him.

“I only wish to keep you safe.”

“Safe? We went to visit my family, Vlad. It was one night away.”

“It’s too dangerous to go out alone while I’m not here.”

“It was the middle of the day!”

“You were to stay in the castle until I returned, like I told you-” Poor word choice. Even Lisa cringes.

He’s Vlad Dracula Tepes, a name he wears with pride, like a cloak that he wraps around you and Lisa. The name alone enough to scare off any sane person, a name alone that keeps you both safe within the walls of his castle.

There are bad people out there- some not sane enough to avoid the castle. Some insane enough to actively seek out your home. And these are the monsters that Vlad fears. He knows he can crush any and all that dare cross him, but he can’t say the same for his two lovers.

Many nights spent snuggled close, bodies melded as one, hearing him whisper his deepest fears. Every night he clutches you both close- too tight- as if every hug might be his last. Human lives are fleeting, this much he knows. Fleeting, fragile, precious.

We’ll be here for as long as Lisa’s remedies keep you going. You remember whispering back to him one night. The warmth from his cold body and the sweet chuckle that left him, put your mind at ease. But did nothing to slacken his hold on you both.

Yet you’re a human being, and wear that with pride as well. Any day now might be the last time you’ll ever witness the sunrise. But isn’t that what makes everyday more special? Being caged away from danger might put Vlad’s mind at ease, but it makes you feel degraded. Something that can’t defend itself.

“Like you told me to? I am not your child nor your pet, Vlad.” Stomping out of the room, a pair of feet right on your heel.

“Of course not, even a child could comprehend a simple command.” It’s bitter and spoken with malice. Intent to hurt. It makes you stop cold.

“Excuse me?” The warning in your voice either goes right over his head, or he chooses to ignore it.

“You cannot fathom what monsters lurk in the shadows out there.”

“Oh I think I can.” Pause, enough time to swallow your next words. “Considering I’m looking at one right now.” Low blow, but spat out in a fit of rage.

If you weren’t so upset, the slight hurt that flashes across his face might have made you cave. Instead you continue stomping away, towards your room.

“What are you doing?” Lisa asks, referring to your haphazard bag packing, grabbing handfuls of clothes and shoving them away.

“Leaving.”

“But dinner is all ready…” Lisa’s sounds worried, scrambling to find the key words to make you stay.

“I lost my appetite.”

Pushing past them, they don’t follow you immediately, allowing you some distance. Once you're at the main door, they stand at the top of the steps.

Neither of them say anything.

That was almost three days ago, and you’ve convinced yourself that this lovely polyamorous relationship was now back down to two. Leaving you back in your empty cottage caring for plants that have been long neglected.

Books lay scattered across your limited floor space and various pieces of furniture.

You don’t remember life being this sad before you met them. It’s as if all you’ve ever known was Vlad and Lisa. Pretty sure that’s not healthy, but it’s true.

The light taps on the door are near vomit inducing, other people are the last thing on your ‘can’t deal with right now’ list.

Even your own parents seemed like too much right now. And once the large silhouette of Vlad’s body was visible from the sheer curtains blocking the window, the nausea was only doubled.

But despite the bile creeping up the back of your throat, the door opens and you greet your familiar visitors.

“Hey…” Is all you can muster, nerves getting the best of you. All the things you wanted to say, words are lost to you. Now that they stand before you, these past few days feel like eternities spent apart. But his voice brings dopamine rushing through you, without any effort.

“Good evening.” Pause. “May we come in?”

“Yeah, of course.”

Lisa rushes in and hugs you, squeezing the life out of you.

“Honey, I’ve missed you.” Pulling away, she tugs lightly at Vlad’s arm, “We’ve missed you.”

Vlad looks almost embarrassed, clearing his throat. “Yes, we have.”

If God were real, he must definitely be cruel. The seconds weigh heavy as you try not to suffocate from how awkward this silence is.

“I’m sor-” “I wante-”

The laugh from you both is genuine, some tensions relieved. But only slightly.

“You first.” You push- curiosity getting the best of you.

“I wanted to ask if you would please come back to the castle.”

Running your hands through your hair helps the sweat that's built up on your palms, but does nothing for the churning in your belly.

“Vlad…”

“If I crossed a line, I apologize.” Just like that.

“Thank you. And I really missed you both too.”

His gaze softens, shoulders relaxing at your declaration. And he practically melts when your hand finds his.

The person before you is no mere man- a being beyond mortal comprehension. An undead vampire longer than he was ever a human. But when he gazes at you with such fondness- you catch a glimpse of the man he used to be. Someone who needs the warm touch of the living, lest he forget he was ever alive.

“Vlad, I can’t find the right words to tell you how sorry I am.” Intertwining his fingers with yours- clutching him close. “I love you so much.”

If he feels the wetness dripping on his hand, he does nothing to show it. Head tilted towards the ground, heavy with shame. “You’re not a monster… You’re kind and brilliant, and- and…” Your sleeve stops the falling tears from wetting both your hands further.

A long clawed finger tilts your head up, admiring the raw emotion on your face.

“I was behaving rather poorly, I understand why you were upset.” Him being so dismissive of your behavior makes you feel even worse. His fear of losing you is preventing him from accepting a proper apology from you.

“My behavior was inexcusable, you don’t deserve any of the hateful things I said to you.” He’s leaning towards you, all you do is stand on your tiptoes to meet his lips. He’s pressing you against his chest, tongue tentatively pressing between your lips.

Lisa’s arms wrap around your waist, her chest to your back. She’s laying quick kisses on your nape, trailing around your neck like an invisible necklace.

Still standing in the small old cottage, but with these two - there’s a new warmth in the room.

#x reader #castlevania #writing request #taking commisions #commission #dracula x reader x lisa #vlad x reader x lisa #vlad x reader #lisa x reader #dracula x you #dracula x reader #fluff

[goodfish-bowl]

It Came to Me in a Dream

Part 2

DP Side Hoes Week Master Post

Day 4: Jack Fenton - nostalgia

Summary:  Dreams are said to be the organization of the mind while one sleeps, and often reveal something the individual already knew in a new light.  Jack Fenton revels in the nostalgia of the proto-portal as he and Maddie put the finishing touches on the full-size version.

Word Count: 602

AO3 Link

Jack Fenton stared at the gaping hole in front of him in absolute awe. After 22 years, lots of lost funding, tested and failed theories, and altering and re-altering of design plans, Maddie and he had finally finished it. The Ghost Portal was finally reaching its final stages of development. He was so excited to have finally reached this point that Maddie had to practically hold his hand to keep him from throwing the power switch before the last touches were put in place. But it was done. Or at least so, so, so very close to being done that Jack could hardly contain himself over it. His, Maddie’s, and his dearest friend Vlad’s dream to reach into the realm where ghosts resided was just hours away from being complete, and absolutely, completely within their grasp after all of these years of hard work. This portal would be their magnum opus, their life’s work! It would be revolutionary, even!

A sense of nostalgia overwhelmed Jack in the moment, bringing tears to his eyes while his loving wife just smiled and shook her head at his reaction. Oh, how he wished his best friend was here to witness this moment with him. Jack would bet Vladdie would be just as moved as he was to finally see this dream become a reality. 

At the thought, Jack let out a snort, careful not to mess up any of the sensitive parts he was currently working on. The portal, oh so long ago, back in college, when their club was looking for a purpose other than going ghost hunting in the local areas, looking to make it a science, Jack had an odd dream. 

It had been a vivid, wild thing shifting between perspectives and places so quickly but it remained vivid to Jack, even 23 years later. It took him though their lab, both modern day and their college-sponsored one and showed him different versions of the portal, both what became of the proto-portal and the beauty in front of him. He even dreamed of what the other side could possibly look like, with strange green swirls and floating doors. It was a little uncanny, but Jack couldn’t help but embrace it with a renewed inspiration. He had based quite a few of his designs off of ones he remembered from that one dream. 

When Jack had woken up from that fateful dream, he had quickly woken Vladdie up in their shared dorm room to share his newest idea. The idea to build a portal to the realm where ghosts resided had been both ‘brilliant and the craziest thing I have ever’ Vlad had told him at four in the morning. But he had agreed to the idea, eyes lighting up with that passion that led Jack and Vlad to fuel each other's ideas back in the good old days. 

It had sounded so hard at first, almost impossible, but Jack was certain they could do it. They had needed a project outside of EMF readers and messing with other radio equipment. Their concentration for their studies, and their club’s funding was about to be dropped if they didn’t come up with something soon, so it was just what the doctor had ordered! If anyone could do it, Jack believed the three of them could. Jack could build the device, Vlad was a wiz with moving energy and power around, while Mads was great with the chemistry of it all. A dream-team, even, prefect to make the impossible happen!

Now, seeing his literal dream come true in front of him, it moved Jack to tears.

#danny phantom #goodfish writes #dp side hoes week 2024 #day 4 #jack fenton #character study #vlad masters (mentioned) #maddie fenton (mentioned)

[inthememetime]

Know what would be a funny AU? Amnesiac Vlad from before Bitter Reunions.

Disclaimer: yes, I know this isn't how amnesia works. This isn't real-world amnesia, it's trope amnesia.

Vlad gets hit with something like a car in public he couldn't avoid without drawing suspicion. Everyone is shocked he survived, but he's got partial amnesia.

He can remember his name, the year, and most stuff about Dalv Co, but when it comes to his personal life? Nothing. Well, the reunion is coming up (why did he plan this, anyway? Were these people his friends? Did he want to one-up them?), and unfortunately for him, a doctor breaks HIPPA laws for money so everyone knows.

The worst part, though? He's pretty sure he died in the car wreck, because he keeps walking through walls and there's a bunch of ghost vultures that call him 'boss'.

In comes Jack, Maddie, and the kids. Danny, of course, immediately picks up on the ghost thing, figures out pretty quick the dude doesn't know he's dead, and runs interference every time his parents pull out ghost weapons.

That's right. Vlad, Danny's mortal enemy, has pinged the protection obsession, so the dynamic between Danny and Vlad? Completely switched. Vlad is, ironically, the only adult he feels he can trust.

Over time, Vlad starts remembering things: not all at once, or in order, but one day he knows nothing, the next he knows he was oddly fascinated by vampires for the past few years, especially the capes. Why the capes? No clue. A week later, he's remembered how to do shields, so he teaches it to Danny. Wait a minute, he dated like 30 women who all looked like Maddie? That's a little concerning.

Then, Danny can't reach his ghost friend for a good 2 weeks because Vlad suddenly remembers dying. No, not when he took a car to the face. In the hospital, 20 years ago. And all over again, he's pissed off at Jack and Maddie, this time. He died in a portal accident (and he can acknowledge it was an accident), and 20 years later, their son dies in a portal accident.

They didn't notice either time.

Vlad comes to his 'abandon your father and come to ME' plan, but it adds abandoning Maddie and bringing his sister. And it's considerably more tempting because, by this point:

Vlad took him and Jazz away on Christmas so they could actually enjoy the holiday (both Danny & Vlad low key hate it for different reasons, so it was basically a few days of just relaxing)

Vlad has helped him learn how to deal with bullies, something his parents and teachers never cared to do

Any of Vlad's houses are way safer, and he can actually sleep there because there aren't weapons going off randomly

Vlad already knows he's a halfa, and is a halfa too- they're both learning the ropes here. And unlike his parents, he doesn't want to destroy/rip out his ghost half.

Danny and Jazz are really, honestly considering the offer. (Unlike cannon, Vlad has never tried to hurt Jazz in this). That is, until Desiree comes along, and somebody (it would be extra cruel irony if it's Vlad, Danny, or Jazz), wishes Vlad had his memories back.

Suddenly, Vlad is stuck, and his core is messing up, fighting with itself because his obsessions are now conflicting. Kill Jack and marry Maddie? Killing Jack is fine, but how's he going to keep the two teenagers safe from Maddie if he marries her? Love and care for the kids? Or control Danny, and get rid of Jazz as an unnecessary witness?

Up until now, it's been fine. But now that he remembers everything, not just parts and pieces, his past comes to bite him. It turns out Vlad, who always thought of himself before the accident and before gaining his memories as a pretty decent guy is actually pretty evil.

So what does he do? There's heartbreak any way you slice it. Does he try to pretend nothing's changed and force his old memories to the backburner? Turn his back on the changes he's made in his life? Try and release Desiree so she can take these damn memories back? Hunt down CW or anyone else powerful enough to get rid of them? Probably even debates taking a dip in the river Lethe.

Does his core just shatter at the conflict between his obsessions, truly destroying him? (If so- Danny's guilt would be...ouch)

What about Danny and Jazz? Suddenly, the only adult they ever really trusted is completely different. Tough but kind Vlad has been replaced by a cold, cruel monster right in front of their eyes. But sometimes, they can see the Vlad they know peaking through. Do they try to help him?

Are Vlad and Danny inevitably enemies, or is there a way for them to get along?

#inthememetime #danny phantom #vlad masters #danny phantom au #amnesia au #long post

[satureja13]

Vlad stepped closer. Morgan: "One of the workers who built this chamber for the Resistance copied the text (without the paintings) and handed it to the Council to warn them."

Vlad turned to page 394... The Prophecy clearly shows Ji Ho and him - and Vlad's 'family crest'. (Vlad is a bastard and the family of his father never acknowledged paternity. But still - this crest is hanging in Vlad's room...)

Vlad's ancient simlish isn't the best but the Prophecy is about that the Drăculea (son of the dragon) would rise and gain incredible powers once he gets 'tied with his bonded'. And that they would unleash 'great disaster' over their 'enemies'... There also is a passage about Drăculea's immortality. Nothing could ever kill him - except the one destined to be his true bonded... Well - in parts this Prophecy already came true... Ji Ho and him are able to cast incredible spells after they bonded- and because of Ji Ho Vlad had died...

Morgan: "It was clear that your father's family is meant, even without the pictures. But he had no sons. So it took a while to find out he had a bastard son - you. When the Council found you, they took you and your 'romantic interest' Wesley to Leander (the only one who could keep you at bay) to find out if the Prophecy was true. But there were no 'powers unleashed'. And after Wesley had died and you never showed any interest in anyone else, the Council had just quietly monitored you. Until you met Ji Ho. They tasked Genji to claim him and waited for you to claim him back. And with his blood you drank from him - he killed you..."

Morgan: "... and it almost killed me. Vlad, I loved you from the first day I saw you and I couldn't let this happen. So I went to this Doctor at the STaCKS and bought this potion. And when the Mawg and Ms Coombes brought your coffin to San Myshuno, I followed them. I broke in and gave you the potion to revive you. We would build a new life far away from the Council and the Resistance and lived happily..." (So it really was Morgan! As Barfolomew, Saiwa and Jeb had assumed!)

Morgan: "But then the ghost of Leander appeared!"

"He cast a spell and all the 'life' got drained out of the wood of the furniture! And then you stood up and left! I tried to follow you but Leander held me back..." (So it had been Leander (therefore the Vestigium of Leander's wand was there! And therefore Luci was able to paint the wand!) and Morgan who brought Vlad back to life! And they both love him, like the Vestigium had shown Jeb!)

Morgan: "Vlad - please accept the offer. You could save your life, the lives of your friends - and Ji Ho's!" Vlad: "Let's hear."

'He came to me with a serpent's kiss As the Eye of the Sun rose on his lips Moonlight catches silver tears I cry So we lay in a black embrace And the seed is sown in a holy place And I watched, and I waited for the dawn'

Revelations - Iron Maiden

From the Beginning  ~  Underwater Love ~  Latest

#spring at belgraves #The Prophecy #simblr #sims 4 story #underwater love #copperdale #belgraves institute #Leander Belgraves #vladimir tepesz #morgan fyres #morgan and vlad

[oigimi]

arthur’s sequel - chapter 2

Translation notes at the bottom. Flashbacks are in italics.

These days with Arthur were beautiful and dazzling, but soon, a bad feeling began to arise.

Charles: MC! Thanks for helping out at the orphanage today!

Vlad: The children are always happy when you visit. Perhaps it’s because of your flower-like smile.

MC: Ah, don’t mention it. But I’m glad I could help! Maybe we can bring Napoleon and Isaac next time. They’re used to working with kids, so we could ask them.

Faust: Oh, don’t they teach swordsmanship and academics? That would be perfect for athletic and curious children.

I was hanging out with Vlad, Faust, and Charles after we volunteered at the orphanage. A florist, a priest, and a doctor: all vampires, just like the residents of the mansion.

Originally, Comte and Vlad had a long-standing relationship as pureblooded vampires. Two men who love humans, they thought to resurrect some of the greatest men in history as vampires to make the world a better place. They build a door that transcends time and space itself, but their differences in mindset led them to part ways.

Vlad had plans to use the resurrected men to control human thought. But after the events at the Paris World Fair, they made up, and hold hands once more.

I’m getting closer to everyone here, so I’m glad that I can hang out with the three of them like this. My chest began to warm when I realized the change in my relationship with everyone.

MC: Ah, I wonder if we could ask Arthur to help take care of the children. He was the oldest of seven siblings, so he’s good with kids.

Charles: Speaking of Arthur, the other day… ah.

MC: Huh? What about Arthur?

Charles: It’s nothing!

Charles shook his head, but he obviously wanted to say something.

Okay, I’m getting worried now.

Faust: Charles, you slipped your mouth. MC is one of us, so let’s talk about it.

Charles: But…

MC: Please tell me, Charles. If it has to do with Arthur I want to hear it!

Vlad: MC’s mind is made up, and we can’t keep her in the dark any longer.

So, hesitantly, Charles told me.

MC: Arthur’s CHEATING?!

—-----

Faust: Be quiet in the church. (Translator note: bruh)

MC: S-Sorry…

Vlad: No one’s here but us. She’s allowed to cry and shout.

MC: No, it’s okay. I won’t do all that.

Instead of being sad by the story, I let out a shocked yelp. Apparently, Charles had seen Arthur several times going to a house call. The issue was the place… a so-called “night playground.”

Charles: I’ve seen him go in the daytime, but it’s a place where people who work in the red light district live. I wonder why he goes… But I haven’t seen what he actually does there, so maybe I’m just jumping to conclusions!

Faust: It looks suspicious to leave the mansion at night, so he starts in the day. Cunning. Just what I’d expect from a mystery author.

Charles: Doctor! Don’t say things like that!!

Charles chided an amused Faust while I reflected on Arthur’s behavior. Sure, he’s been out a lot lately. But it was to meet the publisher, so I didn’t worry about it. Like Charles said, we don’t know what he’s doing, there’s no need to worry.

MC: …Arthur isn’t cheating.

Charles and Faust: ???

MC: When we first met, Arthur had relationships with lots of women. But you look really sincere about this.

Since we fell in love, Arthur looks at me and never tears his gaze away. I refuse to doubt his love. He would never do anything to hurt me.

MC: So… Yes, I trust Arthur.

I told the three of them straight, with a smile on my face. Then, Vlad softly moved his silver hair. I narrowed my eyes.

Vlad: So he’s won your trust that much… I’m a little jealous of him. But do the other residents trust him too?

MC: Huh?

Charles: Sorry, I talked to Dazai and Isaac too…

The next day, after I heard about the cheating rumors…

Arthur: I’m hitting the town. MC, if you get lonely you can stay in my room.

MC: Hey, I’m not a child. I’m going out myself. See you later, Arthur.

Arthur: So cruel!

Laughing, Arthur gave me a kiss on the forehead and walked out the front door. When he left, the man hiding in the hallway emerged.

Dazai: Well then, Toshiko-san, Ai-kun. Let’s follow our suspect!

—-------

Shortly after Arthur left, we followed him into town. Dazai came with me, and so did Isaac for some reason.

Dazai: I heard about Arthur possibly cheating a little while ago, when I met Charles-kun in the city. This is a big deal, and I wanted to confirm the truth.

Isaac: So why am I involved?!

Dazai: You were there with me, weren’t you? And wouldn’t it feel better for Toshiko-san if she had more allies behind her?

MC: Allies? I’m not going to fight Arthur. Sorry, Issac.

Isaac: Don’t worry about it. If he really is cheating, that’s really bad.

I don’t think Arthur ever cheated. But what’s he doing if he’s really in the red light district…? I’d be lying if I said it didn’t bother me, but I felt it’d be wrong to be questioning Arthur while also saying I believe in him. In the end, I listened to Dazai and followed Arthur from a distance. The only thing we can do is see what’s happening with our own eyes.

Dazai: Our target’s on the move! I’ll grab Arthur’s bad deeds by the tail.

Dazai, you’re energetic today.

Arthur arrived at the mall and stepped into a store.

Dazai: Look, he’s talking to a woman. And she looks friendly.

MC: Oh, that’s Caroline. She owns the jewelry store.

Isaac: A woman came out from the next store over. She’s talking to him too.

MC: That woman is Valerie and she owns the boutique. This isn’t weird at all!

These are all women I know. I need to chime in and clear up any misunderstandings.

Isaac: Typical of Arthur. Lots of female friends…

That’s true, but he’s a nice guy who solves mysteries around town. It’s natural he has lots of friends. He knows how to treat women too, so of course they swarm him. Even if he doesn’t try to, he’s a natural charmer.

As I thought about it more, Arthur waved at the shopkeepers and walked away.

—--------

Following Arthur still, we entered a dim back alley.

Dazai: Hmm… If we keep going this way, we’ll definitely hit the red light district…

Isaac: Is that so? Arthur, why…?

[CHOICE OF 3: I chose “I’m sure he’ll stop by the bar.”]

MC: I’m sure he’s just stopping by the bar. There’s lots of places around here that serve alcohol, right?

Isaac: Arthur’s the kind of guy to wander around drinking. If Dazai is chaperoning, it’ll be fine.

Dazai: Ah, the finger is pointed to me!

MC: Anyway, it’s still not decided whether he’s che– AH!

???: Oh, sorry there- Huh?

I bumped into someone who was turning the corner, and when I looked up to see who it was…

Theodorus: A bad dog, rootless grass**, and Isaac. What are you doing in a place like this?

MC: Theo!

Dazai: Well this is quite the turn of events. Was Arthur having a fling with Theodorus?

Theodorus: What the hell are you talking about? You’re disgusting. I was visiting a painter who lives nearby.

Theo, genuinely taken aback, showed us the canvas in his arms.

Theodorus: It seems you all are following in Dazai’s footsteps.

Isaac: I mean…

(After explaining)

Theodorus: I see. So Arthur’s having an affair, huh?

When I explained why we were following Arthur, Theo nodded thoughtfully.

Isaac: We’ve been following him all day but we still don’t know what the situation is. Arthur’s completely in love with MC, isn’t he?

Dazai: Their passion is so hot it could boil tofu.

Theodorus: Well I’m not sure. Arthur is an author who’s always in heat.***

…Theo?

Theodorus: Humans can’t change their nature that quickly. Guess I’ll just have to force him to drink herbal tea until he vomits.

The way Theo spoke almost confirmed Arthur was cheating.

Arthur: Hey now, Theo. Don’t say things to upset MC.

MC and Isaac: Arthur??!!

—------

Arthur: And you’re gonna include herbal tea in my torture?

Arthur, who had been following us for a while, appeared from behind, and Isaac and I opened our eyes wide in shock.

Theo: I knew it. You’ve known the whole time they were following you, right Arthur?

Arthur: Yup. I turned around and heard you saying such awful things, so I just came out.

Dazai: I thought I was going to grab you by the tail, but it was you who got me from behind! Ahaha.

Typical Arthur. Two steps ahead of us, knowing everything.

MC: Well… I’m really sorry for following you, Arthur.

Arthur: You don’t have to apologize. Why did Dazai get in on this anyway?

Dazai: These things are hard to talk about, even between lovers. I wanted to prove your innocence and help MC.

Arthur shrugged his shoulders as Dazai simply returned an easy-going smile. In retrospect, Dazai wasn’t surprised when Arthur found us earlier. Did he expect to be caught this whole time…? If that’s the case, maybe he wanted to create an opportunity for us to talk it out.

Dazai: We can agree a lover’s quarrel is so bad a dog wouldn’t eat it, and leave it to them to talk about it. Now, let’s get Isaac a delicious apple as a thank-you~

Isaac: Hey, don’t wrap your arm around me! And stop talking about apples!

Theodorus: What a mess, Isaac.

Theo gave a sorry look to Isaac and turned around.

Theodorus: Well? Cleared your name, great mystery author?

Saying that, the three of them left the alley.

Arthur: Dazai, Isaac, and even Theo. They really don’t trust me, do they?

MC: Arthur, I…

It wasn’t like I didn’t trust him. I tried to tell him, but he pressed his finger to my mouth.

Arthur: No more on that. Now what conclusions have you drawn following me? Let me hear your reasoning, great detective.

—----

Translation notes:

**Theo calls Dazai “nenashi-gusa” (根無し草) as a nickname, which means someone who just kind of wanders and does whatever. Literally means “rootless grass.”

***This line was so awkward bc the literal translation was something like “Arthur is a mystery writer always chasing estrus”... Theo was using dog terms to say Arthur’s super damn horny so that’s what I came up with. Idk man

I hate cheating plots T-T I knew Arthur would never do that to MC but the idea hurts my heart so bad. Also why was everyone opping so hard against Arthur… I know they’re all looking out for MC but damn, especially Theo… ok until next time o7

#jekyll translates #ikevamp arthur sequel #ikevamp spoilers #ikemen vampire spoilers #ikevamp #ikemen vampire #ikevamp arthur #ikemen vampire arthur

[cirilla-fiona-riannon]

Ikevamp Act 2.5

【The World We're Walking With You】

Napoleon: "Vlad, you're not a god."

Napoleon: "This way, we can hold each other's hands."

Vlad: "..............."

Vlad and Napoleon held hands as Mitsuki gazed at them.

After recapturing Mitsuki and the others through their joint efforts, the vampires slowly worked their way back to each other after this night.

The Paris Expo is as vibrant as ever after the damaged buildings were repaired.

Vlad: "I think Halil and the others are around here."

One sunny day, the residents of the mansion, including Mitsuki, Shakespeare, and Vlad, all went to see the Expo.

Halil: "Sis!"

Mitsuki: "Halil, Ulfa!"

Mitsuki, spotting the siblings, rushed over to them with a big smile on her face.

Halil's tribe used to be fenced in like animals as a human exhibit, but now the fences are gone, and they are freely interacting with tourists.

Halil: "After this, we will perform a song and dance passed down in our tribe. Please come and watch!"

Mitsuki: "Sure, I'll be looking forward to it. Good luck!"

Vincent: "Can I sketch you guys? I love your costumes, and I want to keep a portrait of all of you."

Halil: "You can draw, big brother? That's amazing!"

Ulfa: "Please draw me pretty, okay?"

Ulfa tilted her head and asked with a timid smile, and Vincent nodded his head.

Sebastian: "It looks like there's a traffic jam of angels here."

Theo: "Look forward to it, boys, because broer's paintings are the most amazing in Paris―no, in the world."

Mitsuki and the others burst out laughing as Sebastian turned his gaze toward the sky, and Theo proudly puffed his chest out.

Onlooker 1: "Is it safe to talk to those people over there?"

Onlooker 2: "They could be savages from an uncivilized land."

Some onlookers threw rude comments and glances.

Isaac: "There are still people who say things like that."

Mozart: "Unfortunately, people don't change overnight."

Leonardo: "I guess they'll just have to get to know each other first slowly."

Theo: "And yet, this World's Fair is supposed to help people understand."

Everyone's face slightly darkened at the reality that things will not change easily.

Mitsuki: "Halil..."

Halil smiles a little sadly and assures Mitsuki that he's okay.

Then Napoleon stepped closer to him.

Napoleon: "Halil."

Halil: "Eh? Waah!"

Napoleon suddenly picked Halil up in his arms.

Napoleon: "There may be people who will throw harsh words at you as you go on with your life."

Napoleon: "You might also get turned away, but..."

Napoleon smiled just a little sadly.

Before his resurrection, he had lived a hard life as a military man.

Napoleon: "But that doesn't mean you are weak for enduring the suffering."

Napoleon: "Look up, keep your gaze high, and live courageously."

That was something he could tell because of the past he had carried with him.

Halil: "Mhm. I promised big sister that I would live my life proudly."

Halil nodded his head as Mitsuki, and the others looked on.

Mitsuki: "Thank you, Napoleon."

Arthur: "As expected of Napoleon. Well then, I'll take the princess over here."

Ulfa: "Wow, this is so cool!"

Ulfa happily squealed as Arthur picked her up.

Arthur: "Having fun? Then here's what we're going to do next!"

Ulfa's voice echoed around the place, brightening the atmosphere as Arthur spun her around in his arms.

The crowd of onlookers, who had been giving rude stares and whispering to each other, left and was replaced by smiling onlookers.

Mitsuki: "Hehe, Arthur is surprisingly good with kids."

Theo: "He's a former doctor, so it's only natural for him to be good at taking care of them."

Arthur: "Would you like me to spin you around too, Mitsuki?"

Mitsuki: "What?"

Arthur pulled Mitsuki's hand as she smiled hesitantly.

Then the tribe members began to play music, inviting them to join in the singing and dancing.

Isaac: "Everyone seems to be having fun."

Vincent: "It's a heartwarming scene, isn't it?"

Vincent opened his sketchbook and began to run his pencil across the paper―soon, the blank page was filled with smiling faces.

The sun was beginning to set, tinting the beautiful buildings with an orange hue.

The group said goodbye to Halil and the others after visiting the World's Fair and headed back home.

Mitsuki: "I had a really good time today! Too bad we have to leave now."

Isaac: "We should come back again. There are still some places we haven't seen yet."

Napoleon watched Mitsuki from behind as she smiled regretfully while saying she enjoyed herself on their way home.

Arthur: "Napoleon, are you aware that you're looking at Mitsuki so tenderly right now?"

Napoleon: "Oh? Really?"

Arthur: "Ahh. I guess you're my rival now."

Napoleon: "What's with that? For me, for us, Mitsuki is..."

Arthur: "She's more irreplaceable than anything else."

They exchange glances and reminisce about one particular moment.

~~~~~~~~~Flashback~~~~~~~~~

Arthur: "Hey, why are you smiling so cutely?"

Mitsuki: "Hehe, I'm having so much fun today! And I'm smiling because of everyone."

Mitsuki's carefree smile and straightforward words tickled Napoleon and Arthur, and they naturally narrowed their eyes.

Arthur: "It's the same for us. We're smiling because you're here."

Arthur: "Right, Napoleon?"

Napoleon: "Yeah. That's right."

Napoleon: "You're more precious to us than anything else."

Mitsuki smiled and blinked her eyes as her cheeks turned slightly red.

The world around her becomes brightly colored by the petals dancing in the wind.

Mitsuki: "Thank you all for meeting me."

~~~~~~~Flashback Ends~~~~~~~

The smile Mitsuki showed today will forever be etched in everyone's heart like a treasure that gives them strength just by being there.

Napoleon: "It is a miracle that Mitsuki came to this world."

Napoleon: "No matter what happens in the future, I'll always protect her so she can keep smiling."

Arthur: "You're right."

Arthur: "She's a special lady who has been so close to our hearts for some time now."

Napoleon's emerald eyes gazed at Mitsuki with a will to protect her.

Arthur's glass-blue eyes also gazed at her tenderly.

May she, who is dearer to them than anyone else, keep smiling forever―with such wishes in their hearts, they stepped out into a new future.

𝓕𝓲𝓷.

Previous Chapter╏Act 2.5 Masterlist

#Finally it's done! #ikemen vampire #ikevamp act 2.5 #ikevamp 2.5 #ikevamp jp #ikevamp #cybird #ikevamp translations #ikemen series

[aikoiya]

DP Christmas Fic Prompt

I NEED a DP fic where Vlad plays as Scrooge.

Like, I don't want the main character to be Danny. He should only be a secondary character at most. Hell, you could feasibly make him the Tiny Tim of the fic, but instead of him being crippled with illness, the problem is much more nuanced. Ranging from the stress of protecting the town day in & day out, his parents being so utterly detrimental to his Christmas experience, or even the possible looming threat of his own parents discovering his identity & possibly not reacting in the best way.

The 3 ghosts shouldn't be anyone familiar as far as Danny Phantom goes. That would just cheapen the story.

Just the ghosts from the story.

Now, I think that the Ghosts of Christmas Time get a pass as far as the Christmas Truce goes because they don't do anything to detriment people. Rather the opposite. What they do is largely for people's benefits.

But even more interesting would be if Christmas Carol was a true story that everyone in the fic just thinks was made up by Dickens. But really, he just wrote what he was told by the real Scrooge.

Now, this is Vlad in the modern era, who knows the story, but thinks it's all rubbish.

What if the ghosts were able to turn off his powers? I imagine that they are powerful zeitgeists, but less powerful than Clockwork.

I'm really liking the Scrooge: A Christmas Carol movie so far, so maybe it can be a mix of that & the other animated Scrooge movie?

No Cheerlings or Fearlings, though please.

---

Now, I hc that Vlad grew up rich, bit still had not the best life.

I write him as having a terrible, narcissistic, abusive, neglectful father who cared little for him beyond what Vlad could do for him & a sweet, kind, demure & doting mother who loved him. All-in-all, his early Christmases were good ones as it was the only time of year when his father would soften & his mother got to enjoy herself.

Until one Christmas, when his mother miscarriages & she begins to get depressed.

Skip forward to Christmas after his father's death & his mother's struggles to keep Christmas a happy time for them. Then subsequent lonely Christmases after he'd been admitted to boarding school by his relatives upon his mother spiraling into mental instability & hospitalization.

Next would come Christmas in college & the fun of having real friends that didn't care about his riches or status.

Followed by Christmases in isolation in the hospital.

But much like in Scrooge, it'd show another side to the story.

Past would show him a different perspective of his accident. One where it was a mistake on both Maddie & Jack's part. Then, their worry for him as they waited for him, then were shuffled out by doctors worried for radiation.

How they'd tried to stay connected over the years, but were always turned away & their letter burned by who Vlad recognizes as Spectra, who had be feeding off of his misery that whole time.

Followed by his many years of loneliness even after having been let out of the hospital. Christmases working overtime to impress corrupt businessmen that darkened his heart. Then, later schmoozing with competitors, only to overshadow or kill them & take all their money.

Once Present is involved. He gets greater incite into Danny's life & how awful his parents make it for him during that time of year as well as his general paranoia that someone will break the Christmas Truce.

He is also briefly shown just how difficult his life is as the protector of Amity. Just how little sleep he gets & even his regrets over not having someone he can really relate to. How, he almost had Vlad, but the old man ruined it by be a megalomaniacal idiot.

Vlad learns that, even now, Jack wishes for his good health, while Maddie just does not like him ever since he tried to come on to her in Colorado.

In the Future, he sees... Essentially, the fallout of Phantom Planet.

Yes, initially, Danny's life is better, but it slowly goes downhill. The stress of having to protect an entire town while making up for his parent's overenthusiastic mistakes.

Their overreaching as they ask to study him.

How he can't leave town because, if he did, the town would collapse.

He even gets a brief view of Dan's timeline & how it lead to Dan, the destruction of Earth & Vlad's part in it.

Before finally seeing what happened to himself in Phantom Planet. Space dust...

#danny phantom #dp #vlad masters #scrooge: a christmas carol

[snowflakeanimelover]

*skitters into your inbox like Mr. Krabs* Momomomomomomomomomomom!

Guess what?

ANGST TIIIIME!

Type of ask: HC request

Relationship with characters: younger sibling

Fandom: BNHA

Scenario: You were rushing around the UA building, trying to get all the materials and equipment needed to th right person. As an assistant of Hatsune Mei it was pretty busy most days. Just as you were returning from another visit with one of the students in class 1B. Your suddenly blown away by an explosion, hitting your head against the wall. What are the characters reactions at hearing the news of you being put into a coma? (You - S/o or Y/n)

Characters: Aizawa, Vlad King, Tsuyu, Iida, Todoroki.

I hope this doesn't go over any boundaries <:D

I suppose I can write this for you….lol Jk. I would write anything for you! And no worries! You did just perfect!

Coma HCs(Aizawa/Vlad King/Tsuyu/Iida/Todoroki

Aizawa:

This man was more than just worried. He was angry. 

Angry that he let something like this happen to one of his own sibling and didn’t protect you when you needed to be. 

He spent five minutes apologizing to you in the hospital room, and went straight to detective mode. He went to figure out what happened and who did it.

Nobody knows if it was a villain or an accident from working with equipment.

Either way, he’s going to find out.

Once a week, he’ll bring in flowers. He’ll hold your hand and practically demand you wake up. 

“People need you, (Y/N). I need you. Wake up, will yah?”

Vlad King:

He felt bad for what happened. It was all in a hero school, for crying out loud!

He took the time to sit in your hospital room and apologized for not being able to protect you. 

He didn’t know what to do. When he heard what happened, his heart practically broke. You were an important family member to him, and all he could do was pray for your awakening.

He brings in flowers and keeps you updated with his days.

Tsuyu:

She cried when she heard about you.

Almost everyday she would stop by to visit and bring flowers. 

She would hold your hand and close your eyes, silently talking to you and hoping you would wake up.

She’s an upcoming hero, but she isn’t able to do much for you. It’s forbidden for her to investigate since it was on school perimeters.

All she can do is pray for you to wake up.

Iida:

He was extremely worried.

As well as guilty for letting it happen. You were so close to him, and yet he couldn’t save you. He wasn’t fast enough.

He visits you as often as he could, bringing flowers and telling you about his days or how his class is doing. 

He asks the doctors nonstop if there’s something he could do to help wake you up. 

All they tell him is to keep talking to you to keep you somewhat awake. 

Todoroki:

He was silent about the whole thing. He doesn’t really tell his friends about his family business. 

He’ll come to the hospital after school whenever he can. 

Sometimes he brings flowers, or even a balloon. But it’s mostly his sister, Fuyumi, having to remind him to get flowers.

Other times he tries to get there quickly, just to be there to hold your hand. 

If he could stay there with you 24/7, he would.

#anime #hcs #hc #headcanons #mha #mha hcs #my hero academia #my hero academia hcs #bnha #bnha hcs #aizawa #aizawa hcs #vlad king #vlad king hcs #tsuyu #tsuyu hcs #Iida #iida hcs #todoroki #todoroki hcs #coma #reader is in coma #sibling reactions #fluff but angst #fluff #angst #kinda sad #possibly

[furiarossa]

"You're, what, fourteen? (Walking around Danny's box.) Too young to drive and not in college yet? I sent those ghosts, and others, to test your father's skills. Imagine my surprise when I find you, the second ghost hybrid his foolishness created."

One Vlad a day keeps the doctor away #5.

Today's warmup sketch is a screenshot redraw. I want to see how much can I improve by just quickly sketching him everyday, as a warmup, for 365 days. Will I become a better artist? Or I will just have the biggest, most useless collection of Vlads ever?

Screenshot and redraw side to side:

[Oh, and a lot more of our Danny Phantom fanarts: Here’s our tag]

★ FurAffinity|Deviantart|Commission prices|Tapas|Pillowfort★

#danny phantom #vlad masters #One Vlad a day keeps the doctor away #art #my art #fanart #my fanart #black and white #sketch #my danny phantom #2024 #daily vlad

[praeteritus-memories-muses]

Name: Adrien Fahrenheit Tepes

Series: Castlevania

Continuity: Netflix series

Age: 20 (physical appearance)

Height: 6'7"

Birthday: October 31st 1462

Birthplace: Dracula's Castle, Romania

Orientation: Bisexual

Species: Dhampir

Occupation: Vampire Hunter / Scholar / University science professor (modern time)

Father: Dracula Vlad Tepes (deceased)

Mother: Lisa (deceased)

Bio:

TRIGGER WARNING: SEXUAL MANIPULATION.

Alucard is the only child to Dracula and his loving mother, Lisa. given his mother was human and his father was a vampire, this made Alucard a Dhampir to which he aged incredibly fast. what should have been fifteen years ended up with Alucard physically a young man though perhaps it does explain his rare occasions where he does act more like a incredibly spoiled teenager.

His life was filled with love and laughter, his mother was incredibly loving and his father was loving as well despite how often his father traveled around. It was really the life any child would have, a blissful little dream.

All that changed when the church had arrested his mother for witchcraft. Alucard was out to the village gathering ingredients his mother requested from him. She was a doctor who had fallen for Dracula after the two made a deal to learn more about the other. She would learn better medical science to save lives and she would teach him more about humans, the two fell in love and Alucard would come in shortly after.

Perhaps had he been home the moment the church arrived, he could have protected his mother against them but he knew his mother would never want him to hurt another human like that, he was still one of them after all.

Unable to stop the church nor save her, the church had burnt her at the stake for accusations of witchcraft. Alucard’s heart was shattered but he could not grieve for his father had gone insane immediately after.

His father, the powerful Dracula, vowed to kill all of humanity in revenge and even gravely injured Alucard when the Dhampir tried to stop him from making such a horrid mistake. He knew he couldn’t do this alone so he made the seekers come up with a legend of a knight, hunter and scholar to stop him.

Alucard is incredibly intelligent thanks to both his parents being incredibly smart people so he knew he would need a Belmont and a magician, even though Alucard knew all the Belmonts must surely be dead by now. He still held out hope, there must be a bastard or two out there surely? Alucard would shut himself away in one of his father’s abandoned lairs to keep himself safe and recover enough to fight his father again.

A bastard would show up, but it was trevor belmont who was the last living Belmont alive. He was legitimate of course, but Alucard was immaturely bitter about the idea of working with a vampire hunter. A seeker skilled in magic by the name of Sypha Belnades would join him as well. Alucard would be more friendly to her as she was much nicer and wasn’t part of a clan that killed his kind.

He would explain to them the full scope of the situation with Alucard vowing to kill his own father in order to save the humans that he knew were not all bad. All the while, Alucard knew he still couldn’t even grieve at the loss of one parent for he had to remain strong to kill the other.

After many long battles, the three of them would all work together brilliantly and their tight bond would then kill Dracula. In those final moments, Alucard saw his father’s regrets with one of his last words being “Lisa, i’m killing our boy. your greatest gift to me.” A part of Alucard wanted to spare him, he loved his father still and he wanted to believe in him.

Yet he knew that he would only go back to madness again, he knew his mother would want this if it meant his father wouldn’t be consumed by a blinded rage. His father had truly died the very moment his mother did, the man once known as Adrian had died that day as well. perhaps that was why he refuses to go by Adrian ever again, that boy died with his parents in that early morning of fire and screaming. Alucard would deal the killing blow and watched as his father died right in the bedroom his parents made just for him. The sight of his father reaching out to him and turning to dust traumatized Alucard to a point where it would certainly haunt his dreams forever.

Of course he would pretend to be fine, even flipping Sypha and Trevor off as a way to joke around while the two would leave to travel and kill the last of any leftovers of Dracula’s army. At least one thing would come out of this, his friendship with both of them. Sypha and Trevor would be the very first people Alucard would ever openly call his friends.

Alucard would vow to rebuild the Belmont estate and look after the knowledge in his father’s castle for any human to come in and learn about, but it was when he finally alone that he could grieve.

Losing both his parents he loved so much, Alucard collapsed in his father’s chair and sobbed for hours. all the while he would remember visions of his happiest childhood memories - from playing tag with his mother down the hall with her laughter filling the room to his father smiling proudly at him when Alucard would announce he read an entire book on a topic most children wouldn’t even comprehend.

Even if he is still grieving over the loss of both his parents, Alucard is currently living in his father’s castle in the woods. Perhaps as the centuries go by, he’ll leave the castle to go and collect more knowledge for both the Belmont’s and his father’s collection.

Personality-wise, Alucard is very wise and knowledgeable with at least some level of kindness though he is mostly very sarcastic with a dry wit to him. Perhaps a part of him is pessimistic simply because his own pain is still there, but he knows his mother would be furious to see him broken like that. He’s primarily a pessimist and does normally keep his guard up out of caution for anyone trying to harm him.

He learned that lesson long ago thanks to the hunters Sumi and Taka. They seemed kind and wanted to be vampire hunters, so Alucard opened his heart to them. He thought they were growing close, since he was naïve on reading people due to his isolated childhood and lonely existence as an adult, but the reality was that the two of them were using Alucard just to learn magic to kill vampires and leave without a second thought.

It all cultivated when they seduced Alucard one night, being his first experience with intimacy. In that moment, between the two of them, Alucard though they truly did love him and that he had found his first loves. Only for them to use enchanted silver where it wrapped around Alucard. Silver usually didn’t harm him, he did wear it on occasion when he wanted to look nice, but this silver was laced with some kind of spell to coil and burn at anyone with vampire blood.

Alucard was pinned down where the two of them told him that he was nothing but a liar and evil just like all the other vampires in the world. He tried to reason with them, to plea with them, only for them to try and plunge their daggers into his chest. Panicking as none of his powers were working against the silver, not even his ability to shape shift into a wolf or bat. He had even tried…the demonic form he heard a vampire can take, but it wouldn’t work. Scared of dying, Alucard figured his telekinesis ability worked and used his sword to slice them.

He was absolutely traumatized by the situation. He laid there, now free from the silver but his body burning in pain, for what felt like hours. When he felt mentally strong enough to move, all he could do was wrap a blanket around his waist and collapse into his childhood room where he sobbed for days on end.

This made Alucard even more depressed than he already was, putting their bodies on spikes and hoping to stay shut in and drinking himself to death. Until a village close by asked him for help. He wanted to say no and ignore it, but Alucard's foolish kindness couldn't stay away when he saw a man died to deliver that urgent information.

He comes to the village where he meets Greta, a woman who was the leader of the tiny village and helped Alucard in killing vampires and night creatures. To help the villagers, a man named Saint Germain insisted that Alucard take them to the castle. He originally didn't want to after what happened with Sumi and Taka, but seeing the faces of children recently orphaned by vampires and night creatures really changed his mind.

He helped them back and started to teach them how to prepare for a vampire and night creature attack. As much as he wanted to be on guard and quiet, Greta was kind and helped Alucard open up to the villagers. He especially got along with the children, playing with them and showing them his tricks as a half-vampire.

Yet one night they were quickly outnumbered, Alucard probably would've died had Trevor and Sypha not jumped through a portal when chasing someone else. The three of them were reunited and worked together to fight off the remaining creatures, finally finding what Saint Germain was really up to.

Saint Germain was going to fuse Dracula and Lisa's souls together to create a homunculus that could maneuver through the infinite corridor with ease. The very idea of it, of his mother and father stuck into a body and fused into one soul, was horrifying to Alucard. He felt sick and he couldn't even stop him, he had to watch as his mother and father screamed for help in their agony over this hodgepodge of a human body. He was just lucky that Trevor was able to free their souls, though Alucard didn't know that this actually ended up resurrecting his parents. Had Saint Germain not died, Alucard would've killed him for torturing the souls of his parents like that. Even now, the image of that creature makes him sick to his stomach.

Death had revealed itself. Alucard had long thought death was just a personified concept of real death, but it turns out Death was a whole creature. It was a being long before vampires, in fact it made vampires and his father had struck a deal with death centuries before he and his mother were born. Death wanted to bring back his father and make him run a blood thirsty rampage across the world as Death fed on the souls of the dead.

A creature that Alucard couldn't fight, he was only half vampire. How could he stop Death? Yet Trevor rose to that challenge. Trevor Belmont killed death, Alucard and Sypha believing he died in the process.

Two weeks later and Alucard is told by Sypha that she's pregnant with Trevor's child. He convinces her to stay, as he and Greta are going to turn the Belmont hold and his father's castle into a large village. The plan is to make it a capital city of sorts, where knowledge will be the biggest tool people face. She does agree to stay, and Alucard was offered to help her care for her child on the way.

Yet it turns out Trevor miraculously survived. Saint Germain had teleported Trevor away to safety before he died. A kind gesture, but Alucard still can't forgive him for what he did to his parents. Yet with Trevor and Sypha alive, they both decide to live in the new village with Alucard and Greta.

Alucard and Greta stayed together, having a child of their own that would eventually go on to create the Lecarde bloodline. He even made a spear for his first born child to pass down from generation to generation, so every new generation would know how to truly kill a vampire if they met one. Alucard and Greta would also adopt several orphaned children throughout the village, indeed he built a happy future for himself.

Although Trevor, Sypha, Greta and his children were all eventually gone from old age - Alucard found something new. He learned of hope. With this newfound hope, he helped keep the village expanding until today where it's a major city within Romania.

Yet Alucard still does not know his mother and father are alive. There were rumors that his father was still alive, his descendants theorizing it might've been a maniac pretending to be him.

In the modern world, Alucard is a university professor of history and science. Gaining a lot of money throughout the years, he also runs several charity organizations that help give proper funding to orphanages, hospitals with not enough funding, people who are struggling financially and building housing in areas that need it.

Alucard is often seen sulking somewhere alone with a drink in hand or quietly reading in a bookstore or library. He can be pessimistic, moody, socially awkward and arrogant. Yet his most defining traits are his kindness, sarcasm, wit and polite nature. He walks a balance of vampire and human, but he easily gives into his humanity rather than his vampire side.

[five-rivers]

While You Still Can

For Ectober Day 2: Scream

.

Warnings: Accidental self-injury, repeated injury, minor blood, muteness.

.

The first time Danny got laryngitis was the day after returning from the bad future. He’d been a bit of a baby about it, too, because not being able to communicate effectively while already feeling like garbage and being depressed wasn’t great. Jazz had been very understanding about it all.

He got it again the next time he used the Ghostly Wail, and resigned himself to the inconvenient side effect. The Wail was sort of a last resort power to begin with, since it drained so much of his energy and left him vulnerable. He hoped that with time and practice it would get better.

He hoped in vain.

The day after Tucker's resignation from the student body presidential race, Danny, Sam, and Tucker splayed, exhausted and still slightly sandy, in Sam's basement. They'd settled on watching a nature documentary at some point, although none of them were really paying attention to it.

Tucker sighed heavily and readjusted himself so that his legs hung over the arm of the loveseat he’d commandeered. “So, I’m tied with Danny for most frequently possessed,” said Tucker.

“Seems like it,” said Sam, lazily twitching her foot to kick Tucker’s. “Unless mind control doesn’t count as being possessed.”

“Ugh. I hate this. Do you think we should try to practice throwing off overshadowing again? I hate that, too.”

“Dunno. Danny, do you think that would do any good?”

Danny, because he had the attention span of a caffeinated squirrel, tried to answer verbally. This was painful and did not work well.

The sound from the documentary briefly dissolved into something that wasn’t quite static. All three teens sat up, straight and wary of any ghostly intruders.

Danny’s ghost sense did not go off. Danny, who hadn’t been looking forward to how his ghost sense would feel against his abused throat, sighed in relief.

“Wait,” said Sam, “the static- Danny, was that you?”

Danny shrugged. If it was, it wasn’t on purpose.

“Maybe… Can you try to talk again?”

That would hurt. He made a face.

“I know,” said Sam. “But if it was you, don’t you want to know?”

“Could be the start of a new ghost power,” said Tucker, lying back down.

Danny rolled his eyes, but once again tried to speak. Once again, the sound of the documentary cut out, replaced by something else. Something that wasn’t words, but also wasn’t just random noise.

“Weird,” said Tucker. “So. New power, I guess. Do you think you’ll be able to do that without your voice gone?”

Danny shrugged. It wasn’t like these things came with a guidebook. Also, this didn’t seem particularly useful for anything except getting his friends’ attention when he was temporarily mute.

“I wonder if it works on recordings,” mused Tucker. “It’d be useful for making sure no one catches you transforming on film.”

Ah. That was true.

“We’d have to test it,” said Sam.

Danny dropped back onto the floor. He didn’t want to do anything today.

“Later?” suggested Sam. “Maybe once your voice is back?”

Danny gave her a thumbs up.

.

Danny’s voice came back the next day, as usual. Trying to mess with audio electronics had no effect, so they sort of forgot about it and ignored it. It wasn’t important.

They didn’t think it was important.

Danny kept using his Ghostly Wail as a trump card. His voice always took a vacation afterwards, but never for too long. Never long enough for Danny to worry. His parents were making noises about bringing Danny to the doctor, maybe a throat specialist. But they were ridiculously easy to distract.

Everything was normal. Everything was fine.

Until Technus came by with a massive upgrade, courtesy of Vlad, Danny suspected, and Danny had to use his wail twice in a row.

He managed to cap the thermos before he doubled over, coughing. Blood speckled the asphalt below him. Which was disturbing for a number of reasons, not least of which being that he was in ghost form, and shouldn’t be bleeding red at all.

He heard a gasp, and twisted in a way that probably would have broken a normal, human spine.

Sam and Tucker were looking at him with a great deal of consternation and worry.

“Dude…” said Tucker, softly.

Danny winced, and his rings flickered.

“Don’t do that now,” said Sam, scoldingly. “Shoot. We need to get you to Frostbite or something. That’s- Oh my gosh. Frick.”

Danny grimaced. They’d seen him more beaten up, but this amount of blood from the mouth probably was a more disturbing image than bruises and random cuts.

His rings flickered again.

Tucker swallowed hard. “We’ve gotta… Um. Somewhere to transform. Yeah.”

“Alley,” said Sam, pushing.

Danny let go of his transformation as soon as he was out of sight, and leaned against Tucker. He was so incredibly tired. He coughed, lightly, and more blood dribbled from his mouth.

“Oh, gross,” complained Tucker. “Are you, ah, jeeze, you’re not okay.”

No joke.

“Frostbite,” said Sam. “Danny, you up to- What am I saying, of course you’re not. Tucker, you’re going to have to drive.”

“Uh,” started Tucker.

“Since I’m going to be dealing with first aid stuff.”

“Oh. Okay, yeah, I can drive.”

.

Danny wheezed as Tucker made another wrong turn and almost plowed them into a half-melted wall. Sure, the Speeder could phase through just about anything here, but that ‘just about’ was a significant concern.

Plus, going too far that way would put a lot of extra time on their journey. Like. A lot. Some kind of fourth spacial dimension nonsense.

“Sorry!” said Tucker. “Did your parents update the controls or something?”

They had, but Danny couldn’t exactly explain how at the moment. He shrugged.

Eventually, they did arrive at the Far Frozen. The yetis took one look at Danny’s pale face and the blood dripping down his chin and rushed him away to their hospital. Frostbite arrived, and the next hour or so was a whirlwind of tests and scans, particularly of his neck and throat.

They… looked worried. Which made Danny worried.

They gave him good painkillers, though, and lying on the ice bed did wonders for his tension.

Frostbite came back. “Great One,” said Frostbite. He settled himself, fur shifting. “Your Wail is an amazing power. From our scans of your core, it looks like you are also going to develop other vocal powers.” He paused. The silence stretched long and deep. Normally, Danny would have tried to fill it. “But,” said Frostbite, finally, “those powers are not compatible with your human vocal cords. Using them damages your human vocal cords.”

Danny nodded.

“Your ghost half will replace them,” said Frostbite, “but they… they would not be at all the same.”

Danny tilted his head.

“You are probably confused, because you speak in your ghost form, but the structures are very different. You… You would be unlikely to be able to communicate in a way humans would understand, without significant practice. Not while you were in your human form.”

That… didn’t make sense. He communicated with people now. Frostbite and the other ghosts communicated just fine.

“It’s just the type of ghost you are,” said Frostbite. “You are… powerful, Great One, bound to a powerful and painful path. I am sorry for that.”

There was something so pained and apologetic in Frostbite’s tone that Danny started shaking his head. He hardly knew what he was saying, and he still couldn’t help but reject it.

“I am sorry, Great One,” said Frostbite, “but if you keep using your Ghostly Wail, your human half will become mute.”

Frostbite knew, then, just like Danny knew. Danny wouldn’t be able to stop using his wail. Not while people were in danger. He couldn’t abandon people he could save.

Tears collected in the corners of his eyes.

It made him want to scream.

(While he still could.)

#danny phantom #ectoberhaunt trick #ectoberhaunt 2021 #ectober 2021 #ectober #fic #fanfic #ectober day 2: scream

[pan-fangirl-345]

He Would Tear the World Apart

Summary: During a raid, you're taken hostage. Shouto doesn't take the news well, and will do anything to get you back.

TW: kidnapping, abuse, alcoholism mentioned, Enji Todoroki's bad parenting, mental torture, dissociating, injuries, blood, angst, mentioned character death (no one actually dies), a lot of swearing, chains, starvation, dehydration, that sort of thing. If there's anything I missed, please let me know! Also, there is a happy ending, so it's angst to fluff!

A/N: First and foremost, I have no medical degree, I have no idea what it's like to dissociate, so anything medically incorrect is because I am not a doctor, though I am currently working on getting my psychology degree. I'm sorry if this offends anyone, that was not the intention. I have no idea what went through my head to make me write all of this in an hour, but here you go. Also, please read the trigger warnings, and if you don't like it, don't read it. Anyway, I might make a part two to this if anyone is interested. Feel free to spam my ask box, or slide into my DM's if you want. Please interact with me, I adore you all.

Aizawa sighed as he stepped into the conference room. He sat down heavily in his usual seat, and Nezu climbed onto his shoulder, as was custom after so many years, despite the situation they were in.

Again.

"As you have all heard, one of the second year students, (Y/N), has been taken. She was last seen on a raid with the hero she was studying under, and we haven't heard anything from her since this transmission."

Nezu pressed play on a recording and her voice floated through the air.

She was panting, and she was whispering, but Aizawa knew that it was her.

"To anyone receiving this transmission, this is hero-in-training Tempest, I'm pursuing the criminals associated with the gang 'The Numerals'. I've been separated from the others and my comms have been compromised by one of the members. Please, send back-up."

There was a pause where all they could hear was her breathing, and suddenly she yelled, "Hey! You, stop!"

There was static, and then there was nothing.

"We have received information from one of our recon teams that they have taken her to their base of operations, though we don't know exactly where that is yet. We have also, as a school, received a ransom demand. Her parents have yet to be contacted about this."

Copies of the notes were handed out to the teachers, and they all frowned, clearly thinking the same thing Aizawa had thought.

They were a school, what kind of school had this kind of money sitting around?

"What is the girl's quirk?"

"She can create different types of storms in her hands," Aizawa supplied. "As of the end of last year, she could make a hurricane for a few minutes at a time, sometimes a dust storm, and I know for a fact that she was undergoing training over the summer, so it might be more than that now. Under extreme duress, she can make a full scale electrical storm in a building or outside, but only if her life is threatened."

"So, not helpful for getting out of this kind of situation?" one of the other teachers chirped and Aizawa nodded.

"No," he agreed. "Though we should be checking for any strange storms and freak electrical spikes."

"Do any of the other students know about this?" Hizashi asked.

"No, and we need to keep it that way," Aizawa told his husband.

"Why?" Vlad King asked.

"(Y/N) is Todoroki Shouto's girlfriend," Aizawa replied, then waited for that to sink in before he continued. "If he finds out that she's gone, or that's she's been kidnapped and harmed . . . ." He shook his head a few times before he added, "He would tear the world apart to get her back."

"Fuck," someone mumbled, and Aizawa nodded.

Pretty much everyone that was at U.A. knew what that girl meant to Shouto, not to mention the people at Endeavor's agency, and the one that (Y/L/N) was working with.

"Alright, so what's the plan?" Midnight asked.

"We plan a rescue mission," Nezu said. "We're working with nearly every police force in the country to try and figure out where they're keeping her. We have a rough area," he clicked onto a photo of a map, one area to the far north highlighted in bright red. "But there's nothing we can do until then, we need a warrant and evidence."

"The life of a child isn't enough?" Midnight asked. "Especially such a beautiful girl?"

Everyone went quiet, the mood somber and heavy.

"Aizawa, you spent more time with this girl than anybody," one of the third year teachers said, "how likely is it that she'll find a way out on her own?"

"It's a possibility," Aizawa admitted. "She's a very capable student, on par with Midoriya, Todoroki, and Bakugou, but they know what she can do. Not to mention that sources tell us she was injured, though we aren't sure to what extent. And the longer she spends with them is more time Shouto has to figure out what's happening. Not to mention the other students. We need to get her out as soon as possible."

"Agreed," Hizashi added.

It was no secret that Present Mic and Eraserhead had both taken a liking to you when you were in Class 1-A, all of the teachers liked you, and you were a solid foundation for your classmates.

You were a calm presence, and everyone, Bakugou included, had gone to you for advice at some point, though it was all for different reasons.

You tend to be a level-headed person, but when you felt strongly about something, nothing was going to stop you.

People, Shouto mainly, would start to sense the lack of your presence, and Aizawa wasn't ashamed to admit that he wanted you back where you belonged.

"We can't keep him, Shouto I mean, in the dark about this," Hizashi murmured. "He's one of the best up and coming heroes."

"Not to mention," Aizawa added, "that we plan on flooding the streets with her photo. We've already sent it to all of the major hero agencies involved with the search, Endeavor's being one of them. If we don't tell him, his father will, and we all know how volatile that relationship is."

Everyone in the room shuddered at the mention of the father and son duo and nodded.

"Aizawa, All Might, it might be better if you both told him," Nezu said. "You both have the best relationship with him in this room, and you might be the only two that could hold him back if he reacts violently."

"And he will," Aizawa mumbled, already standing from his chair.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Shouto knew something was wrong.

He hadn't seen or heard from you in two days, almost three, and the teachers were acting suspicious. There were fewer of them in the halls, and Aizawa was even more tired than usual, with dark worry bags under his eyes that the students hadn't seen since the Bakugou Debacle in their first year.

The last he had heard, you were going on a raid for some gang members that were selling some sort of hallucinogenic drug based off of a mirage quirk.

You hadn't contacted him or come back since.

"Young Shouto, can we speak to you for a moment?" All Might asked, making everyone look up from what they were doing.

Despite the dorms no longer being completely necessary, (the League had backed off a little bit in recent days, and there hadn't been very many Nomu attacks lately), most of Class 1-A, now 2-A, had moved into the dorms for their second year, you and Shouto included.

"Does this have to do with (Y/F/N)?" he asked, standing quickly.

"Unfortunately, yes," Aizawa said, voice somber.

"Todoroki, do you want us to come with you?" Midoriya asked, getting that look on his face.

"If it's about (Y/F/N) then they all deserve to know too," Shouto said. "And I would feel better knowing they were here."

"Of-Of course," All Might replied, glancing at Aizawa nervously.

"(Y/L/N) has been kidnapped and is being held hostage as we speak," he told them, as blunt as ever.

Aizawa ripped his goggles off right before Shouto blew.

One half of his body erupted into blue tinted flames, and the other exploded in a rain of ice, but they evaporated quickly under Aizawa's gaze, and before any damage could be done to the dorms.

Everything went dark in his head, and his feet were moving before he even had a chance to fully process what his former teachers had been saying to him.

"And where do you think you're going?" Aizawa asked, raising an eyebrow as he moved to intercept him.

"To find her," Shouto snarled, and he didn't even recognize his own voice. It was several octaves lower than normal, and there was a rasp to it that had never been there before. "To get my girlfriend back."

"You don't even know where she is," Aizawa said. "We don't even know where she is. Besides, you're too emotionally involved."

"Too emotionally involved?" Shouto said, his voice too calm, his eyes too dead.

Everyone in the room took a step away from him. Everyone except Midoriya and Bakugou.

"Too emotionally involved?" he repeated.

"Oh shit," someone whispered, though Shouto didn't know who it was.

"That is my girlfriend. That is the love of my life and you're telling me that I can't get her back because . . . I'm too emotionally involved? What about when Midoriya went to get Eri? Was he too 'emotionally involved'?"

No one dared to point out that it was nowhere near the same thing, but there was a collective thought about it in the room.

"That is my fucking girlfriend out there," he snapped. "I will work harder than anyone to get her back. I will be the one person wholly invested in making sure that she stays safe."

"And that is why you can't be one of the people in on this," Aizawa told him. "The others are her friends, but you? You are way more than that, and that means that when it comes down to it, you can't make a clear-headed decision on whether it's worth it to try and grab her or not. Because she'll always be worth it to you."

"Damn right she will," Shouto said, staring Aizawa down.

No one had heard Shouto swear this much at once, if ever, depending on the person. He was starting to sound like Bakugou, and the others knew immediately that if you weren't back soon, he was going to blow.

"Look kid, I understand," Aizawa muttered. "I really do. I understand how you feel, I would do that same thing for Hizashi, but I also know what I would do, and we can't have that in the investigation. What would (Y/F/N) want?"

"She would want to be here!" Shouto shouted. "She would want to be teasing Bakugou in the kitchen, making sure that everyone had a blanket for movie night. She would want to be curled up with me on the couch watching bad romance movies that the girls cheated their way into picking out and making sure that I-!"

Shouto stopped as the emotions got lodged in his throat. Tears threatened to spill over as his vision got blurry, and the others were there to catch him as his knees gave out on him.

"We'll get her back kid," Aizawa assured him, crouching down, touching the top of his head softly. "We will get her back."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Your head was buzzing as you came back to consciousness and you suppressed a groan of pain.

Consciousness hurt.

You did a short mental tally of your injuries.

Your ribs were definitely a little bruised, if not cracked or broken. Your lips were split in at least four different places each. One shoulder was definitely dislocated, and the other was hurt in some way. Your left ankle was bruised and swollen, broken probably. Your head probably had a huge gash if the blood running down the side of your face was anything to go by, and you were definitely concussed on some level.

Apparently getting your head slammed into solid concrete by someone who had launched themselves off a ledge would do that to you.

You were in what looked like a basement of some sort. The walls were solid concrete, there were pipes running overhead and dripping on you randomly, which wasn't appreciated, and there was insulation and plaster showing through here and there.

"Finally awake sleeping beauty?"

Your head whipped around to see your kidnapper, but your head protested and so did your stomach, despite the fact that there was nothing in it.

You suppressed a groan, trying to keep your stomach where it belonged.

"Ready to tell us who the informant is?"

"Go straight to hell," you muttered, when you were certain you wouldn't throw up on yourself, glaring at them.

"I still can't believe you were fucking stupid enough to kidnap a child! She doesn't know shit," the other man snapped at the first.

"She has to know something!" the first guy snapped. "She was in on the raid!"

His quirk allowed him to change his voice, so he wasn't using the real one, he sounded like a guy that smoked twenty packs of cigarettes a day.

The other guy you had started calling Sandy in your head. His quirk was similar to yours, he was able to turn anything he touched into sand, and then use it. He mostly made sand storms, and that's how they had gotten the jump on you in the tunnels.

One had blinded you while the other had carried you away, much to chagrin of the Sandy.

"I'm in training," you rasped. "I'm hero-in-training Tempest, from Class 2-A at the school U.A."

They hadn't given you anything to drink in the last two days, from what you could even remember of it, and you knew that you weren't going to last much longer, having been dehydrated when they had taken you.

They had kidnapped you from the raid site, and then spent six hours driving around like morons trying to cover their tracks, before driving for an unknown amount of time before they had dumped you in here. You had been unconscious for the secondary part of the drive, and you knew that with everything going on, there was the possibility you were experiencing retrograde amnesia.

"They don't tell me the important stuff like that. I get told when we're going on raids, and what my part in them is, and that's on the very rare occasion that they happen during my shifts. Most of the time, I'm on patrols around the city," you told them, taking a break in your little speech to spit blood onto the floor by your leg. "You need directions, I'm your girl, but you need to know who's a rat, sorry, I can't help."

You would've shrugged, but your arms were chained to the wall behind you, and every time you moved your right arm it made an awful clicking noise that you knew wasn't natural. Your left shoulder was dislocated as well, meaning your arms were pretty much useless.

One leg was operational, but barely. You were so far out of commission you wouldn't be surprised if U.A. kicked you out to recuperate.

U.A. wouldn't, and couldn't, pay the ransom. You knew that. The best hope you had was that you could act your way out of this, or that they planned a raid to get you out.

They had done it for Bakugou, why not you, right?

Shouto passed through your thoughts, thoughts about what he might do to get you back, but you shut them down as soon as they entered your head.

You were trying to keep him in a safe place.

You hoped that Shouto never learned about this. About where they were keeping you, what they had already done to try and get you to talk.

He was your safe place now, safe and away from this building, wherever you were. You thought maybe if you could keep him out of your head here, it was a way of protecting him from the reality of your situation, even if he already knew.

"She's a kid," Sandy snarled, pointing at you viciously. "She's a kid. You know the Boss' rules about kids and you broke almost every one of them!"

"Yeah, well-"

"Guys, hey, I hate to interrupt," you interjected, "but I really have to go to the bathroom."

They both stared at you for a moment before Sandy asked, "Do you promise to not try and escape?"

"Buddy, I don't know if you've looked recently, but I doubt I'm doing anywhere," you quipped. "My ankle is obviously demolished, my head was cracked open like an egg, thanks to your buddy Darth Vader over there. Not to mention, I'm dehydrated and starving, and don't even get me started on how much my ribs are killing me right now, probably literally. Do I look like I'm in any shape to try and escape?"

Sandy frowned, glancing at you like this was the first time he was seeing the extent of what had been done to you.

"Alright, I'm going to undo the chains, but you can't try to escape, you'll only make things worse for yourself."

"Death seems preferable at this point," you grunted, trying to hide the pain you were in.

"Don't you have healing supplies?"

"How am I supposed to use them when I can't move my fucking arms?" you asked, wiggling your fingers in emphasis. "And you morons confiscated my belt, which had them all in it! You know what my quirk is! What did you think was in it? Explosives? No, I leave that to Dynamight."

"Fuck," Sandy muttered.

"Why do you care so much anyway?" the voice dude asked.

"Because if she dies then that means no money and no chance of surviving prison again. Do you know what happens to people who mess with kids in prison? Nothing good."

You logged that little piece of information away, trying to focus on their features, but with your concussion, your eyes weren't the hottest.

"Can you move?" Sandy asked you as he worked on unlocking your chains.

You couldn't help the cry of pain when your arms dropped to your sides, tearing stinging your eyes as you bit into your already roughed up lip.

"Shit. Can we get a medic in here?" Sandy shouted.

A door opened and someone stuck their head in. Sandy repeated his demand, and the door shut again.

"Why are you doing this?" you whimpered, trying to keep your voice even.

If they were sadists, any fear or pain you showed only gave them what they wanted.

"Because we don't have a choice," Sandy said. "The Boss gave us somewhere to belong, he gave us a place off the streets. We owe him. We would've died."

"Shut up," Smoker snapped, and you glanced at him.

"I have a headache, and it comes and goes as you talk. Please, for the love of all things holy, shut up," you hissed to Darth Vader, wanting to touch your head, but not being able to for multiple reasons.

Sandy touched your shoulder lightly and you cried out again, moving automatically to hit him, but your other arm twinged, bringing more tears to your eyes.

"Sorry," Sandy murmured, pulling his hands away.

You took a shaky breath, waiting for the pain to dull before you said, "There's no way I'm moving from this spot without being in pain, and I'm definitely going to need help."

"Holy fuck, you two morons were two lucky blows away from killing her."

You glanced over to see someone with a med kit strolling leisurely down the stairs.

"Hello Tempest," they said, giving you a bright smile.

"Hello Med Kit," you replied, giving them a grimace.

"You can call me Himo for now," Med Kit said. "Do you mind if I take a look?"

"You're going to whether I want you or not, but sure, go ahead," you muttered. "It's not really like you can make this any worse."

"I could break almost every bone in your body and keep you alive while doing it, so I could do so much worse, but that's not the goal here," Himo told you, setting to work.

"So what is the goal? Since I'm assuming that I'm never going to get out of here," you said, glancing around.

"Why do you think that?" Himo asked, ignoring your first question.

"Because I've seen your faces, I know your quirks, I know a general area of where I'm being kept, unless someone used a teleportation quirk of some sort. I know the school won't pay the ransom, my parents don't have that kind of money, and my boyfriend's father would never pay to see me safe and sound. He would probably twist his son's grief to get him to be compliant," you grumbled. "Besides, I'm a hero, hero-in-training, whatever, it's all semantics. I'm basically your arch-nemesis. Isn't that what every villain wants? To kill the person in their way?"

"We aren't villains," Sandy muttered.

"You break laws put in place to protect people, you attacked a minor, then kidnapped her after assaulting her, and you are trying to get a ransom for me," you pointed out. "That doesn't really scream 'hero' or 'civilian' to me."

"Have you ever though about who writes the rules? About how money can manipulate everything? The system is flawed, and we are going to make sure people know it," Darth Vader snarled. "Do you understand how unfair the world is?"

"Don't talk to me about the world being unfair," you whispered, your voice dropping, every muscle in your body tensing. "My boyfriend loves his mother more than pretty much anyone in the world. Her parents, his grandparents, arranged a quirk marriage, and she had four children she didn't necessarily want. Her husband drove her to near insanity, enough so that she poured a kettle of boiling water over my boyfriend's face because he looks like his father. His father has already managed to get one of his children killed, and he considers the other rejects because they don't have the quirk he wanted them to have. He's a different kind of monster, and he's not in jail.

"My own father verbally and mentally abused me for as long as I can remember. My mother and I were zombies until recently, when I decided I had had enough and my mother finally found the courage and will to leave his sorry ass in the gutters where it belongs. My father always had enough alcohol in his system to make him a human molotov cocktail. I had little to no self esteem until recently, and I still struggle to understand and comprehend that I am worth love. I am still learning to respect myself. So you don't get to preach to me about how unfair the world is buddy, we all know," you snarled.

"The hundreds, thousands of kids out on the street know. The women and men that get raped, and continue to see their own personal monster roam free know. The kids that get hit every day for not being what their parents want know. That's why people like me exist, to put away the monsters wearing human skin. That's why my friends and I try so hard to be heroes. It's not about the glory, or the money. It's about bring people to justice, it's about making sure that people feel safe. It's about giving other people something that we never had."

Silence echoed through the room as what you said sank in.

You hadn't meant to burst like that, but you were sick and tired of these guys using their shitty lives to make other people's lives shitty too.

"Why are you a hero, Tempest?" Himo asked.

"Because I want to save people," you replied. "I just told you that. I want to make sure that every child like me knows that they don't have to be their parents, that there is another option. I don't want the abused becoming the abuser. I want to make sure that the people doing the bad things get put where they belong. I want to help the kids that have nothing to lose, I want to help them realize that they have everything to gain. I want to give people like you hope."

There was no use in lying to them, they were probably going to kill you anyway. Besides, it might help you build rapport, and they might let you go when they realized that they made a mistake.

"People like us?"

"People who think that there isn't another option. People who have been shown nothing but the horrid parts of the world, the horrible parts of humanity. People who don't know what it's like to be loved completely by somebody, both good and bad. People who think that they owe someone who isn't worth one minute of their time. Good people who strayed too far from the path."

There was silence for a few minutes before you said, "I've seen a lot of real villains, people who aren't capable of basic human emotions, I've seen people who have no humanity in their eyes. They are the villains, they are the monster under our beds personified. People like you, you just simply wandered. You aren't lost, you're just further to the side than some other people. It would be easy for you to walk the path again."

You paused, thinking over what you said, then added, "Well, it wouldn't be easy necessarily, but it would be worth it."

"You still have the naivety of a child," Vader snarled.

"Call me what you want, naive, innocent, optimistic, I've heard it all, but in the end, I'm right," you told him.

"And how do you know that?"

"Because, at the end of the day, I know that every life I save isn't just one life," you replied. "That young woman I saved, she might have kids some day, or foster a child that needs a loving mother. That child I shoved out of the way might help the suicidal child in his class. Every life I save touches other people's lives. As hard as it is to believe, no one is ever truly alone in the world. Every smile I give to a stranger might make their day, might help them live long enough to find the thing that makes them happy. That's why I'm a hero."

More silence.

Your face heated, but there was something in their faces that told you they had never thought about it that way before.

"So, is there anything you can do to heal me?" you asked, breaking the silence.

"Like I said, these guys were two lucky blows away from killing you, I'm surprised that you're still alive, actually, everything considered. Your head will heal on it's own, but there might be a little scar left. However, your ribs might take longer. Three are cracked, and four are bruised. Your ankle might need surgery to get it back to the way it was. It's definitely broken, and there might be small bone particles floating around in there, I'm not entirely sure, my quirk isn't that detailed I'm afraid. Not to mention that, from what I can see, your shoulders just need to be popped back into place. One was dislocated more than the other, but it will hurt."

"Can't hurt worse than the state I'm in now. So what can you do? I'm assuming that taking me to a hospital is out of the question."

"Well, I can treat the cut on your head, relocate your shoulders, and I can see if someone else can take a look at your ankle, but everything else will have to heal on it's own."

"So there isn't much?"

"Nope, we don't have the equipment needed for your ankle here, and, like you said, no hospitals."

"Fucking gre- wait a minute, to you guys still have my belt?" you asked, perking up a little.

"Yeah, it's over here," Sandy said, walking over into the back corner, pulling your med belt out.

"Hand it over. I promise there's nothing too harmful in there. There are some painkillers, but it's just Midol. It's all medical stuff," you said, wincing as Sandy dropped it into your lap.

You opened it, taking out a small device.

"What does that thing even do?" Himo asked, looking at it warily.

"It's not a communicator or anything," you hurried to explain. "I made some friends in the support courses, so I asked if they could make me a device that works like an X-ray would. Himo, take it."

He took from you gently, which you appreciated, and turned it all around, trying to figure out how it worked.

"Alright, see that little button on the top left, yeah, right there. Click that button twice, like hitting the home button of a phone."

Himo did as he was told, and the screen blinked to life.

"Alright, hold the over my hurt ankle, and it should be able to show what's going on. Or," you added, "it'll blow up. Hatsume is kind of unpredictable like that."

Himo's hands tightened on it, but he did what you asked, and was clearly surprised when a detailed X-ray appeared on the screen.

"Holy shit, it worked!" you cheered, grinning.

"You have some very talented friends," Himo told you.

"I know right? She's a little quirky, but she's great at what she does!"

"How are you able to smile right now?" Sandy asked, looking at you with something akin to wonder.

"Don't get me wrong," you started. "I'm fucking terrified, but there's not much I can do in this situation. Besides, from what I can tell, other than the initial assault, you people don't want to hurt me. You want something from me. In this scenario, what I'm guessing, is that you want something from me, so you're going to be nice, and make me want to help you out, or make me feel like I owe you one, and then, when I don't comply, you'll either torture me to try and get what you want until I die, or you'll just kill me right off the bat."

Himo winced, and Sandy twitched.

"You guys really hate the thought of me dying, don't you?" you asked, cocking your head to the side, despite the protect of your brain. "Is this one of those scenarios where kids should be off limits?"

"We may be bad guys, but we have certain priorities," Sandy admitted. "Kids are a sore spot for most of us."

You nodded slightly. "I can see why. You guys said something about being on the streets? I know that sometimes kids band together, that's how they survive. I'm assuming you've lost friends."

"Smart kid," Himo murmured, eyes darting over the X-ray.

"Sometimes they give us profile training," you admitted. "Besides, I've been working on my psychology degree."

"Wicked smart kid," Sandy quipped.

"Alright, so I can set your ankle, there isn't anything wrong with it other than the obvious fact that it's broken," Himo said, handing the device back to you. "Riko, I'm gonna need your help."

"With what?" Sandy asked, looking skeptical.

"Can you hold her legs down? I need to relocate her shoulders before I do anything with her ankle, just because I have a feeling she attacks when she's hurt."

"Good instincts," you muttered.

"I'm a doctor," he confessed, grinning. "You learn a thing or two."

"Sorry about this," Sandy said.

"I wouldn't worry about it too much," you told him. "As long as that's all you do I'll considerate your way of trying to make up from everything else."

Sandy snorted, holding your legs just below your knees.

"This is going to hurt," Himo warned.

"I would be surprised if it-"

You clenched your teeth to try and keep your scream in as Himo popped your right arm back into place.

The rest of your body bucked, trying to roll away, but Sandy, Riko, had a firm hold on you.

You panted as the pain started to fade a little in your arm.

"Sorry, I've found it works better when people aren't expecting it," he said.

"Son of a bitch," you gritted out, spitting blood off to the side. "I bit my tongue."

Riko chuckled, shaking his head.

"Alright, now for the other one," Himo murmured. "I really don't understand how you managed to take this much damage."

"At least I only broke my ankle. My friend Deku has broken both arms, both legs, and both hands before. I think he's broken almost every bone in his body sa-"

Himo popped your other arm back into place and you couldn't stop the tears that flowed down your cheeks at that one, your jaw almost cracking with how hard you clenched it to try and keep the noises in.

"Fucking fuck," you muttered when the pain pulsed into something a little bit more bearable.

"Better?" Himo asked, prodding your shoulders.

"Yeah," you admitted, moving them slowly. You dug around in your med belt, pulling out two pieces of metal and a small bottle.

"What is that for?" Himo asked.

You pushed a button on the metal, and they extended to the required length.

"It's for a splint, or a cast," you told him. "Once you set my ankle, you put the metal on either side, and I can spray this one. It's a special kind of plaster, don't ask me how it works, I have no idea what's in it, but it'll hold until my ankle is fully healed, then it'll fall off on it's own."

"Amazing!"

"Heroes, when the respond to disasters, often have to set up triages until other emergency responders can arrive, so we have to know a little bit about basic medical treatments in emergencies like that. So a lot of us have belts and such to keep medical stuff in. I also keep duct tape and glue in here. You never know when you're gonna need it."

You pulled out some painkillers, popping two in your mouth, taking them dry.

"How?" Vader asked, sounding horrified.

"Hate to break it to you, but when you're a teenage girl, especially one learning to be a hero, when you don't always have time for water, you learn to take pills dry."

"TMI," Vader muttered.

"Hey, jackass, you asked," you told him.

Riko and Himo chuckled.

"Alright. Riko, see if you can get a hold on her, this is gonna hurt like a bitch," Himo warned. "Li, hold her other leg down."

"Don't use my fucking name!" Vader shouted.

"You know, I wouldn't have known that was your real name if you hadn't reacted that way," you told him. "Heroes are also trained to pick up on certain behaviors like that."

Li grumbled, but did as he was asked.

Himo situated himself, then said, "Get ready."

The pain had you blacking out before you knew what happened.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I knew something was wrong," Shouto muttered for the umpteenth time in the last ten minutes. "I should have gone with her!"

"Dude, it wasn't even your mission," Kaminari told him. "There was nothing you could've done for her."

"Yeah you half-and-half bastard," Bakugou chimed in. "Besides, we're gonna get her back, so shut up and try and think of something useful."

Everyone had leapt into action when it had sunk in that you were in serious danger. It didn't take long, and no one wanted to acknowledge that it was worrisome.

They had split up into teams.

Midoriya, Bakugou, Shouto, Kaminari, and Kirishima were working on the maps that had been given to the students.

Momo, Jirou, Uraraka, Mina, and Tsuyu were going over the interviews with raid members, trying to gather up information on what had happened, trying to see if there was a traitor among them, other than the undercover agent that they had been told about.

Tokoyami, Ojiro, Shoji, Sero, and Koda were helping the other heroes do recon missions and patrols in the area where they suspected you were being held.

Sato, Shinso, Hagaruke, and Iida were working on the case files of all the known members of the gang that you had been going after. Surprisingly, those four were the only ones able to hear about the things that some of the gang members had done.

Hagakure was crying softly to herself as she read, but no one could pull her away from the files.

"I have to know," she kept saying. "I need to know about what they did so I can help when we get her back."

Sato didn't know you as well as the others did, so he was a little less effected. He were itching to get you back, but the others had spent far more time with you personally.

Shinso, on the other hand, was powering through them, wanting to know what he had to avenge when they got to that building. He wanted to know what they might be doing to you so that he could have far more reason to get them arrested.

Iida just wanted something useful to do.

"They just cleared building seven in section 3-C!" Aoyama called from his spot the progress computer that they had set up in the common room.

Aoyama was in charge of letting them know what had been cleared, what was under suspicion, and what they had ruled out completely.

"Fuck, that pretty much clears that grid section," Bakugou muttered, forcefully crossing an abandoned apartment building off his map.

"They might need to expand their net," Midoriya added. "No one knows where she is. There's the possibility that they aren't even in that area."

"I hate this!" Shouto burst out. "I feel useless just sitting here!"

"It's either this or you get stuck back on the sidelines," Bakugou reminded him and he clenched his fists.

He just wanted you back safe and sound by his side, preferably with his arm around your shoulders.

He'd been trying to remember the last thing he said to you before you had gone on that raid, but he couldn't remember.

He hoped that it was 'I love you' or something similar, but not knowing was killing him.

"Todoroki-kun," Midoriya said, laying a hand on his arm. "We will get her back."

"Yeah, we aren't giving up on her, no way in hell," Kaminari added, eyes flashing gold in the lights of the common room.

"She never gave up on us, it's not manly for us to give up on her," Kirishima chimed in.

"I know," Shouto said. "I trust you all."

It went unsaid, but understood, that when it came time to get her back, Shouto was going to be the one leading the rescue.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A week later, Himo came into the basement and said, "Do you think you can walk?"

"On one leg maybe. Why?" you asked.

Your ankle was wrapped in the cast that you had taken out, but your ankle was feeling a little better than it had been. It still throbbed every once in a while, but it could've been worse.

"The boss wants to see you."

"Oh, the big boss," you griped, rolling your eyes. "He wants to see me he can come down here himself."

Himo hesitated, but he nodded, heading back upstairs.

You had known that there was an undercover agent in the gang, but you had yet to figure out who it was.

Every member of the gang seemed to know that you were there, that, or they were much bigger than you had anticipated.

So far, Himo and Riko were your top two suspicions, given that they were the only two that were actually kind to you, but you had a small part of you that wasn't sure.

The door opening a few minutes later announced the arrival of the leader, and you steeled yourself.

"You fucking morons," the man muttered, rubbing his eyes like he had a headache. "What did I say about kids?"

"Sorry Boss, but we didn't have a choice," Li said, stepping out of the shadows.

He had been stay with you for the entire week, and it was clear that you didn't have the kind of rapport with him that you did with Riko and Himo.

You had been trying to make a storm, something, to let the someone know where you were, but you had idea of knowing whether it was working or not. You were in the experimental stages of the large storm capabilities of your quirk, and you were completely drained at the moment.

"What's your name kid?" the man asked.

His hands were covered in rings, and scars littered the little bit of skin his tailored suit showed off.

You had seen Shouto in high class clothes for gatherings that he was required by social convention to attend, so this guy was either rich, or so far into debt that he was on the run from the banks.

"You can call me Tempest," you said.

"(Y/N). Second year at U.A. Class 2-A student, and one of the new public favorites," Li said.

"Aw, you looked me up, how sweet," you taunted. "But like I said, I prefer Tempest, it sounds cooler."

"Far enough," the boss said.

He was wearing a mask that covered the top half of his face, and a fedora type hat, so there wasn't much to catalog, but you did anyway.

"Are you here to kill me?" you asked, crossing your arms over your chest, despite the way it made the chains rattle.

"No, not if you give me what I want," the man said. His voice was deep, and he looked like he was in his early thirties, but you weren't entirely sure.

"I don't know who your rat is," you stated.

"How do you know that's what I wanted?"

"When I woke up on day two, your Sandy man and Darth Vader over there were talking about it. Vader actually asked me about it." You paused, then said, "You guys do realize that I'm right under an intern right? I'm not high enough to know about UC's. Think of me like the intern's intern. I'm lucky I even got to go on the raid."

The man watched your for a moment before he said, "I hate it when people tell me the truth. It means I don't get to have any fun."

"Sucks to be you then," you replied. "So what happens now?"

"You get broken," the man said, reaching out to touch your forehead.

"Good luck with that," you muttered when he pulled away.

Then the visions started.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Everybody get up!" Aoyama shouted. "Up, up, up! Someone called in a noise complaint late last night!"

Class 2-A poured into the common room.

Shouto, Midoriya, Bakugou, Kirishima, Kaminari and Sero ran in with no shirts on, and Kaminari fell trying to pull his shorts up over his Pikachu boxers. Shinso was already in there sitting on the couch with a cup of coffee clad in a t-shirt with a cat meme and dark jeans.

The girls poured in in a mix of pajamas and hoodies that they had stolen from the boys over the last week, their hair a mess and dark bags under their eyes.

"What's going on?" Shouto asked. He knew that his bags were darker than anyone's, and no one had seen him sleep in almost three days.

"Late last night someone called the tip line anonymously to complain about screaming from a condemned building smack dab in the middle of section 1-A. Someone checked into it and there has been a lot of activity in that area lately," Aoyama explained.

He had given up trying to keep up the sparkly attitude, though some of the French had stayed.

"Is there anything else?"

"Guess which gang has been operating in the middle of that area?" Shinso said, having stayed up with the sparkly blond.

"The Numerals," Shouto said.

"Tres bein!" Aoyama replied.

"Have the heroes been notified?"

"They started a conference at three this morning," Shinso said.

"And no one told us?" Shouto asked.

"They wanted to let us sleep. They know how hard we've been working," Shinso replied.

"I'll sleep when we get her back," Shouto snapped, heading for the conference room.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Aizawa shouldn't have been surprised when his former students streamed into the meeting that was being held to rescue (Y/L/N), but he was.

Though that might have been because most of the boys were shirtless and the girls were clad in their pajamas, and hoodies that were clearly not theirs.

"Catch us up," Shouto demanded.

"Shouto, what are you-"

"Shouto, you are aware that this is merely to scope out the building, correct?" Aizawa interrupted, glancing at his former class.

"We don't fucking care," Bakugou snarled. "You're going to catch us up, and you're going to let us join, because she's our friend, and we're the strongest team that you could ask for."

"We can't, in good conscience, let kids into-"

"Do we need to mention all the times that the League has attacked us in the last year? Not to mention Gentle Criminal, Stain, the whole Chisaki ordeal, should we go on?" Midoriya asked, frowning.

Endeavor went to talk again but more students started to talk.

"We can help," Kirishima chimed in. "We want to help."

"Besides," Kaminari added before any of the adults could chime in, "the more hands you have the better it'll be. We can capture more members and get her back. It's a win-win scenario. Gangs are known to be disorganized. If you can get word to your informant about a stealth mission, you might be able to get both them and (Y/L/N) out with minimal risk to them both."

"And we have useful quirks," Jirou supplied. "Kaminari can kill any power they have, Bakugou and Midoriya are good for taking stuff down, so are Kirishima and Sato. Todoroki is more than capable of restraining anyone that he comes across, and I can tell you where people are, how many and so on."

"Not to mention I can make communicators that are much harder to disconnect," Momo piped up.

"People don't really know about me yet," Shinso said, hands in his jeans pockets. "They don't know my quirk, so they're much more likely to fall for me, which is more than helpful for you, since it makes fighting back much less likely."

"We want to get her back, me more than anyone," Shouto said, arms crossed over his chest. "We can useful. Besides, I don't think I need to mention all the times that we've stepped in without your permission and gotten the objective completed while keeping everything legal."

Aizawa sighed.

"We really should just let them help," he said. "They're going to keep pushing, and I don't want any of them expelled and arrested. They are some of the best up and coming heroes. Besides, they all make good points."

"I feel the need to point out," Midoriya chimed in, "that the more of us you take, the more heroes you can have causing a distraction, or the more you can release to recharge and work on other things that are starting to take precedent, like the drug that the gang is manufacturing and selling."

There were more whispers, and finally the heroes sighed.

"Alright, but you're working with Eraserhead and Endeavor, since they're going to be leading the mission with Fatgum."

"We can work with that," Bakugou said. "But we want permission to engage if necessary."

"You would have that anyway," Fatgum said.

"We also want credit if we find her," Sero added. "We aren't going to let possible attackers think that we're defenseless. They take on one of us, they take on all of us."

"That can be discussed," Present Mic assured them.

"This should go without saying," Shouto began, "that I get to ride with her in the ambulance when we find her."

"Everyone assumed that anyway," Midnight told him. "Don't worry Todoroki, no one is going to keep you away from her."

Endeavor opened his mouth, but sharp looks from everyone had him shutting it again.

The students nodded.

"Now catch us up," Bakugou demanded.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You couldn't remember when you had stopped processing things the proper way.

You couldn't remember a time before the nightmares.

They talked to you, they wanted you to know about an informant. Sometimes Shouto appeared, smiling and reaching his hands out to you. Sometimes your father walked in, drunk as always, shouting at you to do better.

You retreated in on yourself.

You turned to that small part of your brain that you had made to wait out the fighting, the yelling, the hurt. You retreated into the part of yourself that you knew no one could ever enter but you.

Shouto was there like he always was. He wasn't entirely your Shouto, but he wasn't the nightmare either.

He was a figment of your imagination, but he made things a little bit better.

"I'll come," he assured you. "I'll find you."

You were lying in a meadow, a small clearing surrounded by trees that were bent over you to create a small dome of shade.

"I know you will," you told him, reaching your hand out to him.

He touched his fingers to yours, but you couldn't feel it.

You remembered someone in the past calling it dissociating, but you weren't a professional yet.

You had never done it at U.A. since you had never felt the need, but this wasn't something that you would ever be able to forget how to do.

You could still see the nightmares, but it was like it was far away, background noise.

"Do you think that you'll ever go back?" Shouto asked. "Do you think that you'll ever go back to me?"

"Maybe, if the nightmares ever stop. If I think that it's actually you that I'm going back to," you said, watching him carefully.

"Do you remember the last thing you said to me?" Shouto inquired.

"Yeah. I said, 'I'll always come back to you'. Why are you asking me that?"

"Do you remember what I said to you?"

"You said, 'Promise me you'll be safe?' I was about to go on the raid, and you were upset about not being able to go with me."

"Do you promise to remember that?" Shouto asked.

"Yeah, I promise," you told him, smiling a little.

"(Y/F/N)! Oh, darling, what did they do to you? (Y/F/N), can you hear me?"

The nightmare was getting better at looking like the real Shouto, and this one had the same voice.

"Go to him," the dream Shouto said, sitting up.

"Why?"

"(Y/F/N), blink if you can hear me," Shouto demanded.

You forced yourself to blink.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Shouto couldn't describe to absolute relief it was to see you blink.

He had seen the discarded cast off to the side of you, and he wasn't sure whether you would be able to hear him in that state.

"Hey darling, come on, we're gonna get you out of here, I promise," he murmured, touching your face lightly.

"Sh-Shouto," you rasped. "Shouto, wh-what was the last thing that you said to me?"

"Darling, don't try to speak," he told you, trying to figure out how to cut through the chains without hurting you.

"Shouto, what was the last thing that you said to me?" you asked again, reaching up to grab his hand.

"'Do you promise me that you'll be safe?'" he said, eyes roving over you to try and see any wounds. "That's what I said to you."

Your eyes widened in surprise before tears slipped out of your eyes.

"Sho, it really is you!"

"Darling, hey," he murmured, touching your face softly.

You were sobbing now, fully body sobs, and Shouto wanted so badly to take a moment to just relish in the fact that you were safe, but he had to get you out of there as soon as possilbe.

"Tsukuyomi," Shouto called. "Can Dark Shadow cut through chains?"

"Yes."

"I'm on the basement level of the building. I have Tempest, can you meet us down here?"

"On our way," Tokoyami assured him.

"Guys, I have her, she's in the basement with me, we're getting her out as we speak," Shouto declared over the coms, and he was met with cheers and relief that you were okay.

"How many of you are here?" you asked, wiping at your face.

"The whole class is here," Shouto told you. "Most of the hero agencies sent representatives that are here too."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah, people were really upset that you were taken, especially with the role you played in apprehending Numeral gang members on the last raid, and the part you played in bringing the drug to light."

"Wow," you murmured, making Shouto laugh.

"Hold on just a little bit longer darling," he coaxed. "Our friends are on the way."

"I can't believe that it's really you," you whispered, touching his face softly, rubbing your thumb over his scar the way you did.

"Oh darling, what did they do to you?" he asked.

"For the past couple of days they've been trying to break me, they want to know who the undercover agent is. I don't know who it is though, so the leader of the Numerals used his quirk on me. He makes the drugs. His quirk makes you see things, makes you feel things. It's like he can burrow into your head and take the images out of your head."

You shuddered in his arms and he frowned as Tokoyami appeared in the doorway.

"Hello (Y/L/N)," he said, smiling at you.

"Hey little bird," you replied, your smile watery with emotions.

"Can Dark Shadow get through those chains?"

"Of course," Tokoyami told Shouto.

"Hello starlight," Dark Shadow said.

"Hi Dark Shadow," you murmured, stroking the sentinent creature before he tore through the chains like paper mache.

You rubbed at your wrists for a moment before you threw your arms around Shouto, burying your face in his neck.

"Sho," you sobbed, tears back full force.

"I've got you darling," he murmured. "I've got you. You're free, you're free."

You nodded, arms tight around him.

Shouto scooped you up, cradling you against his chest, letting you sob as much as you needed to.

The paramedics that had been called to the scene hadn't managed to get Shouto to let go of you, and you showed no signs of letting go of him, so they had managed to do everything they needed to with you clinging to him.

"She'll need physical therapy, not to mention professional trauma therapy. She's malnourished and dehydrated, not to mention suffering from exhaustion and a very severe concussion. Her ankle needs to be further inspected, and there's some internal damage, some cracked ribs that might need to be taken care of, but we can do some more thorough work at the hospital. I assume that you're coming with her?" the paramedic asked when he was finished.

"Yes, I'm her boyfriend," Shouto said.

"Alright, well, you have to let go of her so that we can get her hooked up to an IV and make sure that we don't make her concussion any worse. You really shouldn't have moved her, but there's only so much we can do about that now," the other paramedic told him.

"I-It's okay Shouto," you murmured, pulling away from him enough to wipe your face off.

Your breathing was ragged, and you looked like you wanted to go back to being unconscious, but you allowed the paramedics to get you onto an IV and a bed with a neck supporter.

"Shouto, will you stay with me?" you asked.

"Always darling," Shouto said, gripping your hand.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Forthree weeks afterwards, you were stuck in the hospital. Your ankle hadn't been as bad as it had been feared, you back on your feet in a week, and you were undergoing physical therapy.

You were back to a normal diet, and you were going to therapy three times a week. Well, the shrink came to you, but semantics.

Your class visited every day, bringing you your homework and recorded lessons, most of them crying, and more than elated that you were back, safe.

Shouto, after being given permission by your parents, was being counted as a family member, and he had been practically living in the hospital with you.

For the first week, he had refused to leave your hospital room. He had slept curled around you, despite the machines that you had been hooked up to, he had missed class, staying with you and keeping you company.

There was also the reason of him being the only one to be able to calm you down after a nightmare.

There were nightmares where you woke up sweaty and nervous, asking the nurse on the night shift to light the candles that were all around your room.

But there were some that had you hurtling to the small bathroom in your room, hurling the contents of your stomach up. Then there were the ones that got so bad that you locked yourself in the bathroom, hiding yourself away in a corner until someone noticed and got a hold of Shouto.

They were getting better, and you were getting better about people coming up behind you, the touching.

For a few days after being admitted to the hospital, the only person who could touch you was Shouto.

Your mother had been heart broken every time you flinched away from her touches.

Your father had only come once, and he had been carried out by hospital staff after Shouto had tossed him out of your room.

You had retreated into yourself after that, and had come clean to Shouto about some of what had happened while you were being held hostage.

The therapy was helping, and so was the massive support that you were getting from the public and other heroes that had been in similar situations.

Your friends were very understanding of you not touching them as much anymore, and you and Bakugou were closer than ever, since he had experienced something similar.

Today was your first day back in the dorms, and you weren't going to lie to yourself, you were nervous.

The class had slowly starting moving all the gifts that you were receiving into your room, so you were only carrying a small bag.

"Shouto," you began. "You know that you can walk away if I get to be too much right?"

It had been bothering you for a while, that he had stayed with you for so long. It had bothered you that he had given up so much of his time for you, while getting very little from you in return.

"Why would I do that?" Shouto asked cocking his head to the side in confusion.

"I just mean that . . . well, I know that I haven't been the easiest girlfriend to have recently, and I . . . I have more issues than when we first started dating, and things have changed. I'm way more high maintenance than I was. I wouldn't blame you if you wanted a different girl-"

"Stop it right there," he demanded, turning to you.

His eyes were hard, despite his soft tone of voice.

"(Y/F/N), I don't want anyone other than you," he said. "I don't care if you wake me up at three in the morning screaming. I don't care if you sometimes have days where you feel like you can't say anything to me. I don't care if you have days where you can't get out of bed. I love you. I love you more than anything, and those things are not going to stop me from loving you.

"You are one of the strongest women in my life, and I am not letting you go because you have some issues. We've all got issues, hell, I have issues we haven't even touched on. Those things are just another part of you that I get to love. Alright?"

You nodded, blinking back tears.

"What did I ever do to deserve you?" you asked softly, wrapping your arms around his neck.

He waited for a moment before he wrapped his arms around your waist.

You weren't entirely sure why touch was such a problem for you now. Other than the injuries you had received during the fight, nothing had happened to you that would explain it, nothing you could remember anyway.

There had been some retrograde amnesia that went along with your kidnapping, though the doctors had assured you that those memories would come back with enough time.

And they had. There were still a few blank spots, but there weren't nearly as many as there had been.

"All the right things," he murmured, kissing your forehead hesitantly.

"I love you too Shouto," you told him.

He smiled softly at you, then turned towards the doors.

They opened, revealing your friends and a huge banner with your characterized face on it.

"Surprise!" they all said, though they didn't yell it like you had thought they would.

"Welcome home (Y/F/N)," Shouto said, sliding his arm around your shoulders as you both walked out.

Yeah, this was home.

#shouto fluff #shouto todoroki x reader #todoroki shoto x reader #todoroki x reader #shouto x reader #shoto x reader #shoto todoroki x reader #todoroko shouto x reader #todoroki fluff #shouto angst #angst to fluff #todoroki angst #i have no idea where this came from #honestly #what went on inside my head to make this thing?

[obsidiancreates]

Master's Degree (Part 7)

"Okay, remember what the doctor said," Maddie says as she leads her husband inside. Vlad huffs with effort as Jack leans on him a bit (at Maddie's request), but Maddie's full attention is on her husband. "Rest for at least another day."

"How can I rest when there's ghosts about?!"

Vlad winces. He rubs his ear, which was far too close to that shout for comfort. "Well, good to know the reaction didn't harm your throat too much there, Jack."

"Yeah, sure is lucky, isn't it?" Jack grins. "We can have a game of 'Is Jack Down The Hall or Down The Block' like the old days!"

"Yes, well, as riveting as that sounds, I actually wanted to discuss something with you." He leads then into a den and they all sit. Vlad sighs. "You see, Daniel and I had a little talk this morning."

Maddie and Jack both become concerned right away, leaning forward.

"Young Daniel told me that he, too, had an Accident relating to a portal, after I comforted him after Jack's reaction. Once he'd told me and gone off to rest, I talked with Jasmine. Very insightful, your daughter. Remarkable young woman, just like you Maddie. She agreed I can help the boy."

"Well that's great news!" Jack grins at Vlad, and then coughs. "But uhhh, what does he need help with?"

Vlad looks at him blankly, and then with complete and utter bafflement. "What?" he splutters.

"Well it's just that, he's fine," Maddie agrees with a shrug. "We checked him over, and he hasn't been showing any signs of mental trouble. He can still go into the lab for his chores just fine."

Vlad keeps staring. "... Jasmine said he's been struggling."

"Well, sure, but that's just because he's been lazy lately," Maddie says with a slight twitter of a laugh and wave of her hand. "Skipping chores, not finishing homework, missing class..." Her amusement fades as she lists the slip-ups.

"Maddie, doesn't that sound like depression, perhaps?" Vlad can't believe his ears.

They both stare at him blankly now.

Vlad sits back. Clearly they need explanation. He'd expect this from jack, but not Maddie, this ignorance. "You see, when I had my Accident..."

He lets it linger, waiting. Waiting for them to show remorse. But they just seem interested.

"... When I had my Accident," he says again, voice tighter, "I fell into a bit of a depressive state."

Sleepless night plagued with nightmare, nurses who liked to experiment with his always-fluctuating pain tolerance and healing speed, the slow freezing as life left his body in the days leading to his first full transformation, the realization he was no longer human...

He clears his throat. "It was difficult to deal with."

"But Danny didn't get ecto-acne." Jack rubs his chin. "What would he be depressed about?"

"Almost dying?" Vlad supplies.

"Ha! He was fine, he was wearing his HAZMAT suit he said!"

"Well, he still got harmed." They think a HAZMAT suit would protect him?

"What's your point, Vlad?" Maddie crosses her arms and narrows her eyes. "Do you think we've failed him in some way?"

Vlad's eyes widen, and he holds up his hands. "Absolutely not, Maddie, you haven't failed him at all! I'm sure you a wonderful mother! No, I'm simply saying that I spoke with Jasmine, and we agreed that perhaps Daniel will benefit from discussing his Accident with me."

More than Vlad previously realized, even.

Jack lights up. "You two bonding? I love it!"

"Well, I suppose that's one way to think of it-"

Jack stands up and pulls Vlad into a hug. "You'll be sure to whip him into shape, ol' V-Man! Just show him how you got so rich and powerful!"

"Yes, marvelous idea," Vlad says dryly. "And here I was planning to teach him the finance system I used in college: spend any disposable income on only coffee and hair gel."

Jack laughs boisterously. "You kill me, Vlad!" He drops his old friend. "With you as a guide I'm sure Danny will be back to trying hard and doing well in school in no time!"

"Trust me, I'll be sure to give him plenty of supplemental lessons." Vlad looks at Maddie. "Are you alright with this, as well?"

She sighs, arms still crossed. "I just don't know that he needs extra help with anything."

Vlad takes her hand in his, looking her in the eyes. "Everyone needs a little extra help sometimes. To get through a tough time, to reach their full potential... to realize mistakes they've made. To fix those mistakes."

Maddie's expression softens. "... Alright. Alright, I suppose if he is having trouble and feels like he can't come to us... you're the best alternative."

Vlad smiles. "You won't regret trusting me with him, Maddie." he stands up. "I'll make sure he flourishes."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Danny floats above the lab, watching his parents work.

He sees himself standing by them, a small child, tugging on their pants. "Mommy, there's something in the wall!"

"Not now, Danny."

"Daddy, there's a ghost!" Child Danny points at the back wall, shaking.

Jack doesn't look at him. "None of the detectors are going off, son."

Child Danny looks at the wall. He snatches a ghost-blasting gun from a desk and walks over to it. "Go away!"

The portal is there. It wasn't there before. It's swirling, spilling bright-green light and the stench of ectoplasm everywhere. His parents still don't turn around.

Child Danny holds the ray gun up. "Leave me alone!"

The portal sparks and crackles. Child Danny tears up. "Mommy! It's-"

"Jack, look at this!"

Child Danny swallows as his parents keep ignoring him. "I-I'll blast you away!"

"No, kid, don't!" Danny tries to move in to grab himself, but can't.

The portal sparks again, a bolt almost hitting Child Danny. The child shuts his eyes, and shoots.

"NO!" Danny dives for the little version of himself at the same time that the portal explodes, finally able to move.

Danny peels open his eyes. His parents stand over him, staring down. "Jack, look. It didn't even get his eye color right."

"What?" Danny can't move again.

"Darn ectoplasmic alterations." Jack pulls a glove on over his glove. "Well, let's put it in the cage and see how it reacts! A New Ghost should yield a lot of new information!"

Maddie swoops Danny up with the Ghost Net. "Do you think it knows it used to be named Danny?"

"I do!"

"Shush, ghost."

They shove him into a cage. There's a mirror in it, somehow. He's himself, a ghost, and a child. He shakes the cage. "MOM! DAD! NO!"

"I think it's mostly made of panic," Maddie says. "I wonder what Danny felt when he got caught in the explosion."

"IT HURT!"

"We'll never know!" Jack says brightly. "But at least we have a new specimen! Now where's that Ecto-Slicer?"

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Daniel? Daniel!"

Danny gasps awake, feeling someone shaking him. He sits right up, ready to fight.

"Daniel, it's me!" Vlad holds Danny's shoulders, something akin to panic clear on his face. "You were having a nightmare, dear boy!"

Danny clenches his jaw, trying to stop his lip from trembling.

Vlad frowns. "Daniel?"

"I'm fine." Danny's voice is tight.

"... Are you sure?"

Are you sure. Are you sure. Vlad says it so concerned. So attentive. Not pushy, not demanding answers. Just attentive.

Danny feels a tear slip out. "... They don't care." His voice cracks. "Do they?"

Vlad blinks, a little taken aback. He looks away for a moment. "... I don't know, Daniel. I would hope they do."

"They didn't ask."

"... About what?"

He hugs himself. "I woke up alone. I turned back for the first time after an hour. They weren't there. When they finally came down I was sitting dazed at one of their desks. I think my clothes were ripped up. They asked if I'd seen a ghost. I..."

He hugs tighter, squeezing his eyes shut. "I think I shook my head. I think I pointed at the portal. And they were excited it was working."

"Oh, little badger..."

"I know it was like, a life goal," he sniffles, a lump in his throat. "But I was an afterthought. It-it was only a few seconds, but I was an afterthought. And still they don't... notice..." A sob escapes. Danny grits his teeth and shakes his head, trying to keep the rest in.

Vlad puts a comforting arm around Danny, moving to sit beside him. "I thought you wanted to keep it secret?"

He's not judging. Vlad isn't judging, he's just listening. Danny feels relieved and confused at the same time.

"I do. But I want them to know something is wrong." He wipes his eyes. "I want them to know I'm not just some bad, lazy kid. I want them to know I'm just struggling. Even while I try my best. God, I want them to know I'm trying my best."

Vlad sighs, rubbing Danny's arm. He has that air about him, the aura of an adult about to tell a kid something they need to hear... but will hate to hear. The regret, and resignation.

"Some people are simply... oblivious, Daniel. It's a cold, unkind truth in life. Sometimes, no matter how much you try to make something clear without saying it outright, no-one notices. It can be a good thing... or a bad one."

Danny nods. Pros and Cons. Everything in his life is one big list of pros and cons these days. "It's just unfair."

"It is. One can lose so much because of it. But you know what?"

Danny looks at Vlad. Vlad smiles.

"You're here, right now. With someone who understand you, your needs, your feelings. You're with me, and I'm here to listen."

Danny tears up again. He swallows the lump in his throat.

He hugs Vlad, tight. Vlad hugs back. It's not the world's best hug. They're both colder than they should be. Both a little too bony in some places, a little too sharp.

Danny hugs tighter anyway. Because they're both like that. So it's the best hug he's ever had.

Vlad pulls away, smiling at Danny. "And perhaps," he says, picking up where he left off, "I can find a way to be here for you always. Whenever you need a little help, or guidance."

Danny wipes his eyes again, feeling some... tight knot, loosen in his chest.

Yeah. He's... not alone in it. He's got an adult, a real adult, who sees that he's trying. Sees that he's doing his best in every way he can.

Who understands.

"... Uncle Vlad?"

"Yes?"

"... Can we practice making that shield again?"

#Danny Phantom #Danny Fenton #Jack Fenton #Maddie Fenton #vlad masters #vlad plasmius #manipulation tw

[symphonyofthewrite]

If These Walls Could Talk 

Freaking GORGEOUS cover art by Junki Sakuraba on Instagram and Deviantart!! Definitely go check him out!! His art is incredible, and from what I can tell he’s really nice dude. He absolutely went above and beyond with this prompt. 10/10 would commission again. (And probably will once I save up enough money XD)

The wonderful art later in the chaper is by niuan_ on instagram!!

It wasn’t made/commissioned for this fic--(though I’ve since commissioned her to make cover art for me, so stay tuned for those!)--but when I saw it I couldn’t believe it!! That’s one of my favorite images in this chapter, and I couldn’t believe another artist made a piece for the same idea independently!!

I'll put the links to their profiles either in the replies or a reblog (since tumblr is dumb about links)!!

Also, FYI, I'll be using this post as my "reblog post" meaning I'll reblog this post with the later chapters of this fic, so they're all in one place. So if you want to read more of this fic, check the reblogs on this post, chances are more chapters will be there!!

Comments and reblogs are MORE than appreciated!! If you have a spare minute you will really make my week, and motivate me to keep writing!!

Fandom: Castlevania Netflix

Summary: Vampires do not have reflections, and castles do not have hearts. But Dracula is no ordinary vampire, and Castlevania is no ordinary castle. If castles can fight, maybe they can think too.

The series, and Adrian’s childhood, told from the perspective of the castle.

Chapter Summary:

“My mother’s name was Lisa, and she was mortal…She actually showed up at his front door. She found the castle and banged the door with the pommel of her knife…She was remarkable. She beat on the door until my father let her in, and then demanded he teach her how to be a doctor.”

Chapter 1: "Lisa”

“Is this how the castle felt to you before my mother first arrived at your door?”

The castle doesn’t like children.

Well, maybe that’s too strong to say. It simply isn’t the place for them. Its existence is a signpost: leave me alone. It is not used to having company—much less a family—inside it, nor is it ready to welcome for a crying, puking, giggling thing into the world. It does not intend to be a cozy place to coddle him into adulthood.

The castle itself pierces the sky, its turrets and towers the dripping stain of the sun’s blood across the moon.

The bare walls hold no colorful tapestries for a child to enjoy, no paintings of its many inhabitants to tell of—for there was only ever one (and maybe that ought not change. It is safe to say the castle doesn’t like change). The royal red and gold carpets are more suited to kings; not designed for spit-up, mud, and scuffing. ‘Don’t play with that’ would be a motto around here; so many contraptions either easy to break, or which could break the child. The fireplaces, while almost always lit, only ever coughed warmth onto the floor before them—they provided no snug space to curl up on a winter’s day. Even the mirrors here are empty, holding nothing but a reflection of the bare walls they sit upon.

There are certain people who were seemingly born as they are; they never owned toys, never crawled on the floor, never walked with clumsy steps—their footfalls were always this calculated count—never burped on their mother’s nice shirts, and surely never had anything so dull as a childhood. They were always just…here, on the world. There was no innocence, and no losing it. So it was with Dracula.

The very thought of Dracula ever owning toys, even in some nice cottage far away from here, with a doting mother and an absent father, with a funny last name like Cronqvist, defied sense to the castle. So no, no toys here, nor any simple charts for learning; the books divulged their secrets to more mature minds. Just blood and books, gold and gears, forgotten magic means, mirrors that reflect nothing, and a pile of prayers to a good God they used to justify their ungood, and ungodly deeds.

All these things—or their absence—do not make for the picture of a baby-proof home.

The castle has grown accustomed to being cold and dark, and listening to one master alone. It’s not a quaint place lovers look on and think we’ll raise our kids here someday.

Its master isn’t the ideal father either—after all, the castle only reflected its king. Its master knows only of blood and nails, fangs and wails, words too big for a child’s mouth, and worlds too dark for a child’s heart.

Can he be soft? Can he be gentle? Can he keep those claws, which have ripped out better men’s hearts, from piercing a child’s—his child’s…how could one who killed so many have a child?—skin? He knows many spells, but is there one that can turn those screams into laughter?

He has been soft before. Once. And that is with this woman.

Many women have walked the castle’s halls: shivering, shrieking damsels at his feet; cold and calculating queens; fragile bodies on the floor, that he broke with the same regard a child does a vase that matters to someone else.

Those ordinary people who do come often have pitchforks in their mouths, and fiery words in their closed fists. Curses stacked on the end of stakes, banging like the castle is the church bell signifying their own funerals.

It is for this reason that the castle does not like outsiders, does not open its doors easily. But it cannot deny anyone entry. Unlike the humans’ doors, which find his master guilty until proven innocent.

They always came at night. At night, when the loudest sound is your own breathing. At night, when their fires echoed loudest, and their shouts burned brightest.

They came when the flowers were closed, when only the most eerie and vicious of animals played with the skins of their prey, and the moon waxed the world in cold, drunk shine. The sun could not watch them, could not show their blood-struck hands in their full glory.

She came at sunset. When the sun still glazed her deeds in sanguine auburn, but was just deciding to turn its gaze and let the kids have their fun. Not quite day, when the sun would kill things like Dracula, but not quite night, when the hours are named after witches, and lust is strongest—be it for the body, or the blood within it. Somewhere in between death and life, violence and peace.

This woman came with a knife in her hand, yes. But a knife, at least, was not a sword. It was not a pitchfork, a spear, a whip, or a stake; all weapons that signify, if the fight wasn’t there, you were bringing it with you. Not a war-starved weapon, pointing with mal-in—and -con—tent towards the castle doors and all the things inside it. Not a thirsty thing. Something that by default faced the other direction. Something that can start a fight if it wants to, but doesn’t crave it.

The golden woman came at sunset, with a knife in her hand, and looked upon this thing, this castle that others called ‘ugly’, and ‘monstrous,’ and ‘grotesque,’ looked upon it with awe, and gasped in wonder.

She knocked. She didn’t bang her fists upon the stone, didn’t ram pitchforks and assorted insults against the innocent doors, like how-dare-they protect their master.

She knocked, and the doors opened before she could raise her fist a second time. Maybe, just this once, not because they didn’t have any other choice.

The doors—foreboding, menacing, and all the other spooky -ings one can think of—opened to a world strewn in light; the demon’s castle looked brighter, more beautiful, more alive, than half the churches she’d been to.

Her footsteps were gentle against the castle’s floors. Not a slow, forced gentleness, but also not a piercing, purposeful march. There was no apprehension to her footsteps; her feet carried her as if anxious to take her to as many rooms as they could.

At first her steps were the only sound, enough to fool some into thinking they’re alone.

And it became clear both that she was not alone, and not a fool.

But when she saw the demon, she put the knife away, and used her words.

She used her words to repeat those she herself had heard: stories. But not the kind that make monstrous men run at the doors with naughts and crosses, the kind pious people buried along with all evidence that the world wasn’t made of black and white.

Not all the stories told that this place was cold and dark and full of death.

Amongst all the stories about death, there were others that said Vlad Tepes brought this castle to life with science, forbidden knowledge, and a little bit of lightning. Stories that say there is life here.

And, in exchange for proof that these life-stories true, Dracula asked for a trade, a trade that would prove the other stories true too. He gave up the killing a while ago—(the castle has been in one place a very long time)—but he was still not used to giving for free, and definitely not used to getting for free. Vampires trade in blood and names, not diamonds and declarations. Vampires trade in things they can swallow. This castle, too, had been a gaping hole set to swallow the world and everything that entered. Never once had it given.

And she dared to say, that this place, its master, should learn to give, when the humans have done nothing but take from them—or try their best to. He ought to be the one to invite her in, to ask what she would like, to dispense pleasant words and kind actions, when the humans forgot they invented hospitality, and showed no invitation for him to even enter their homes.

But she didn’t come with a mouth full of garlic, and hands full of superstition. Her feet did not drill holes in the floor with their sharp toll, they wandered the scenic route.

She was used to being cheated. Dracula and his castle were too. But that was not why she was there. She was not there for cheap tricks, or death. She wanted something real. A little bit of the life the castle has to offer.

Her defiance wasn’t that of a terrified citizen, or angry queen, either; rather the calm resolve of someone who is asking for something they know in their heart is good, and knows they will get it. The kind of person who believes there is good in everyone, and that this good will ultimately always win, and who won’t leave until they convince this good to show its face.

The castle has watched countless men and women cower at the foot of count Dracula. Some, do have a measure of god-sanctioned defiance; they come with whips and scourges to defeat him. The castle and the king are bound together in their resolve against them.

Except one. Except this woman. One human whom both master and castle found themselves reluctant to deny, cast away, or kill, maybe even…taken with.

She may be human, but she was not like the rest; she did not light the night on fire with her thirst for blood.

So maybe, just maybe, they could let one ray of sunlight slip through the cracks.

She was also not devoid of life, and maybe that was the key.

‘Devoid of life’ was an accurate portrayal of the castle. Bats flying out of blackness is a good description of a cave, and caves don’t usually come with the brochure ‘teeming with life’, or ‘great place to take your kids!’. The castle had a soul-sucking quality to it; those who entered often found themselves leaving less alive than they arrived. It took after its vampire master. Those who didn’t actually lose their lives within its walls, often remarked upon leaving that the flowers bloomed brighter, the birds sang louder, the grass was greener, and that they missed the sunlight.

Sunlight. Such a base thing; vampires don’t need the light or warmth to be happy.

Sunlight. Such a base way to die; wanting to get out of the cold and the dark.

“Is this how the castle felt to you before my mother first arrived at your door?”

Castlevania was alive once. Once Dracula set the pumps, and its heart began to beat. He turned the gears, and its lungs inhaled. He forged the lightning, and it began to think. Once the books, full of unknown knowledge, jumped off the shelves to get the vampire king’s attention. He filled the bottles and beakers, and they bubbled, as if laughing at a joke only they shared.

They were both alive, once.

That waned, with time. The gears got arthritis, the books caught pneumonia, the experiments atrophied. The castle ached before she came.

And Dracula, alone in the halls, picking up books and putting them down again without so much as a polite glance through them, because he read them all before. Dracula looking into fractured mirrors that could take him anywhere, but deciding there wasn’t anywhere he wanted to go. Dracula, looking into old mirrors that don’t reflect him—like there was never anything to reflect, nothing alive here to begin with, and there isn’t a master for this castle after all. Nothing but a grave. Dracula sitting alone in his study, staring into the fire. No one to talk to. No sound but flipping pages and crackling fires—nothing alive. Alive but dead. This castle. Its master. Undead is the proper term.

The other women who came through here reflected the castle, or else the castle took the life out of them the moment they entered. Queens with malice-stained past, and cracked, icy future in their eyes. Just as cold as the walls. Subjects, humans throwing gruesome insults, silky flattery, or fluttering pleas at his feet. Just as empty as the mirrors.

Only one refused the castle’s bite. Only one walked in looking for life, rather than death. Looking for a thing no one thought existed here. Already presumed dead. Put six feet beneath the ground. But maybe it was here all along; maybe the light hid in the castle’s corners while the dark came out to play, and she just had to coax it out of its hiding places. Maybe the bell was ringing all this time, she was the only one who came close enough to hear it; the only one who came to put flowers on the grave.

Maybe when she felt the machinery pumping she knew the rhythm was a heartbeat. Maybe when she heard the gears clanking she knew it was the sound of inhaling and exhaling. Maybe when she saw the lightning, she wondered what it was thinking. Maybe she looked at these books, these instruments, and saw what the vampire king saw once; something alive. They weren’t dead yet—un- or otherwise. Just sick, and in need of proper treatment. She was a doctor after all. Maybe her first subject was the very books she learned from.

Lisa, who looked at this blotch on the sky, with Death in its towers, and darkness splattered on its walls, and thought that’s where I’ll learn to heal people. Lisa, who gaped in amazement at the beast of a building. Lisa, who didn’t shudder upon entering. Lisa, who didn’t scream when its master touched her, but turned to him with calm resolve, and told him she’d teach him to be more human. Lisa, who’s life eclipsed the undeath in this place.

And there was a trade that occurred that day. For Dracula’s immortal knowledge, Lisa would teach him how to live a mortal life. To travel the world as a man, to walks as a man, to eat and drink, laugh and cry, as a man. Immortality for mortality. They gave each other the world, as so many lovers promise to do. Vlad would make her immortal, and Lisa would make him mortal, with no exchange blood.

(Except to create a thing with both their blood running through it.)

So maybe, after all this talk of life, it is fitting that she wants to create life inside this castle.

Fitting, maybe. Fitting for her. But the castle is not mortal yet, and wishes it could protest that it isn’t the right size, refuse to try on the idea.

Dracula is apprehensive as well, for the castle and he are used to each other, they take after each other, because the cold, and the dark, and the death, and the alone does something to you after a while; you start talking to the walls. After the cold queens and quaking colleens leave, or leave their bloodstains the floor. After the beasts and their silver-stained bullets turn back into righteous men in the sun. After he simply outlives everyone else. When all the living things hate, fear, or else betray you, when all the living things can die, and you, who are undead, cannot, it’s the lifeless things that stand firm by your side. When the day ends and the shadows come out to play, when you’re the only one left, in the end you still have the walls. And then…the walls are all you have. And if you talk to them long enough you make a sort of pact, spoken or silent, with those speechless stones: ‘you’re the only one I can trust.’

Dracula speaks to them one day, says he wonders if he can do this, be a father at all, not to mention a good one. The castle cannot reply. But something deep inside the walls wonders if it might be nice to hear Dracula laugh. It might be nice to put on some different clothes. It might be nice for someone new to listen to from time to time. It might be nice to live again.

The castle is concerned. Used to doing things one way, being one way, and only hearing one voice. But that doesn’t mean it is unwilling, that it intends to kill the child.

It never kills anything—Dracula does that. It cannot do anything on its own, and that includes change.

The castle doesn’t like change.

…But that doesn’t mean it won’t.

And if its going to change, its master must change first. They must change together.

Vampires do not have reflections. But Dracula has a castle, and that castle will be damned if it isn’t his mirror.

Reflections are simple to change; put on some makeup, some war paint, a new change of clothes, get a piercing somewhere. Simple, yes, but not easy, to change completely, because that doesn’t mean anything’s changed inside.

The castle did not come equipped for child-rearing; there are no rooms full of toys and cradles and school supplies.

So if this is to be, they must build their son’s world themselves.

Together they set aside a room for the child’s arrival. Just one, single room. And the castle too knows, from the start, this room will be different from all the rest. They will put paintings on the walls, and banners in the halls; things to interest him, to tell him of his parents, at least, even if there are few other relatives to spend Christmas with. The carpets will be darker, instead of the stringent red, and they will make their words smaller, the books easier to understand. The rest of the castle is warm in color, but cool in atmosphere. This room will be cool in color, but warm in atmosphere. The fire will always be set in its place, and they will try their best to make sure the warmth reaches him; if the fire fails, they will knit blankets; if the blankets fail they will make him tea, or warm milk with honey; and when everything else fails they will hold him. If there are tears here, scornful stares will not greet them, instead, kisses and lullabies will be behind door number three. If this room lives, it will be because of something much softer than pounding metal and lighting.

If a child is to live here, they must change that reflection. Everything Dracula’s castle appears to be, this room will be the reverse. Separate. Something… other than the castle.

This room will bottle all the laughter had in this castle. This room will be made of and for living, not the death the rest of the place is steeped in. So much so that this room will not stand for bloodshed.

Lisa brings in supplies from her town; color and cloth, boards and brushes, needle, and thread, and paper; all the things one needs to build a universe.

It is Dracula who takes the paint, who changes the color to something other than the blacks and reds of the rest of the Vampire’s world, cementing on the walls themselves You will not be dark here, my castle. You will be kind to him, Castlevania. The castle doesn’t know its master to work with his hands like a human, but Vlad is not the same within this room either—this room is part of the trade. He doesn’t use magic, or science, as if he is telling himself with every hammer that they are going to change together, the way one does when talking to the mirror.

Lisa sits in a chair and stiches together cloth and fur to make little creatures, toys for the boy to play with. Soft things, not sharp. They are reflections too, littler, simpler ones, of the creatures howling and prowling outside the castle’s walls, or scurrying within them.

But it is the ceiling that is the crowning jewel of the room. Something they paint together—splashing it onto each other’s clothes and noses.

His parents love the stars. They often walk outside the castle walls, fingers knit into each other’s, to gaze at them. They are scholars at soul, and have charted the constellations. They want their child to be able to do the same, to watch the stars, even if he’s not outside. At the end of every day they want him to be sung to sleep by the symphony of the night.

For them, maybe, but to the castle, one of the most interesting things about this room, is the mirror. This is strange, as, while there are other mirrors in this house, they are nothing more than a silver decoration; they have no purpose here, unless they float in shards and possibility. This is an ordinary mirror. It does hold something now, however, and that’s Lisa—only giving more credence to the idea that she is the only living thing in this castle. The castle wonders if they think it will reflect the child, as if they are hoping he will take after his mother and the room.

The mirror, and the windows. In the rest of the castle, the windows are always closed, curtained, or too small to let any real light in. But here they are big, and inviting to all the wiles of the day. Dracula protested—fearing he would burn. Lisa insisted—hoping he would shine.

The mirror, the room, are empty now. The windows closed. The books and charts dormant as the rest. It is not dead, but it’s not alive either. Not even undead. Just a question. An almost.

The room lays on Frankenstein’s table; just one lightning strike—(or one child’s laugh)—away from breathing.

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