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zgvlt · 1 year

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sending your crush a survey form hcs first years (and idia shroud) x reader (separate) *ortho's is platonic, with reader having a crush on idia instead

author's note: insp. by that youtube trend! i haven't seen another writer do this for twst, but regardless this will be my own rendition and take on the trope! even though the gen concept is the same, each character has a different twist with theirs

general tags: gender neutral reader, fluff + attempt at humor, sfw, time skip after NRC graduation, not beta read, mix of text and images (for images, image desc/text version available for screen readers and those who prefer to read text over image)

wc: approx. 6k+ total (around 1k per character)

character: ACE TRAPPOLA premise/trope: sending the survey form to Ace, who's already your signfinicant other

HOW HE REACTS WHEN YOU SEND THE FORM LINK

The initial reaction is nothing out of the norm for Ace. Sure he doesn't seenzone or ghost you, but his quick replies consist of him typing variations of "LMAO" and "ARE YOU FRFR", as well as laugh reacting the message itself.

He also asks you if you're planning on becoming an influencer or streamer or something along those lines, why else would you want to make and send him a form like that?

After a few minutes, though, he'll start trying to call you, mentioning/pinging you to make sure you answer. If you're able to ignore his calls, he's going to make sure your phone is unusable with the amount of notifications he sends your way. Hey, maybe you'll even click on it and answer the call on accident!

Ace, as your significant other, probably knows your schedule so he's fairly confident that you have nothing else better to do than to answer him (he wouldn't be spamming you otherwise), so he's smug and not surprised that you eventually answer him. The first thing he tells you on call is,

"You're so lame, we're literally dating?! By the way... did you actually send this to other people?"

Makes fun of you if you say he's the only one but he also thinks it's sweet, and he says as much in a tone that sort of comes off as mocking at first, but it's clear after the first few seconds that he does think it's cute.

He's mature enough if you say you've sent it to other people. Rather than jealous, he's smug at the fact that he's the last crush, he's the end game.

Tells you to stay on the call as he answers the form. You'll notice that even as he's making fun of you with each question, the things he says versus the things he types differ from one another.

(And even if it didn't, you've become an expert at figuring out how to read Ace Trappola)

HOW HE ANSWERS THE QUESTIONS

Q: did you know that i liked you (don't lie) A: wtf did you downgrade me?? did i go from L O V E to L I K E...? damn 💔💔

Q: if yes, how did you find out A: because you were ALWAYS clinging onto me in our NRC days 🙄 like come on could you not leave me alone for a little bit damn you really had to spend every minute with me and then after graduation ur still all over me tsk tsk also you were all heart eyes whenever you looked at me I'm not dense!

Q: okay so did you ever like ME A: the way i know you’re asking this so you can get some new material to make fun of me with. who did you get that bad attitude from huh 🤔 anyway unfortunately i did, and because i know you’re going to try to punt me for that i’m jOKING we’re literally together of course i did and do

Q: what do you like about me A: [ticks the boxes: everything, about, me, other] wowww maybe i do hype you up too much what is this behavior

Q: how did we meet A: you were in trouble and i saved your butt no this is not historical revisionism

Q: most memorable moment(s) w/ me A: to get the sap out, every moment with you is memorable awwww im so sweet, anyway now that i said that - everytime we got in trouble w/ trein or crewel bc we kept passing notes - group bonding activity by making fun with deuce (with love!) - the time we got caught sneaking out by riddle, trey, AND cater like triple kill?? - i guessss our first date (see point three) (theyve NEVER let me forget it bruh)

Q: is there something you dont like abt me A: well if were being serious there are just like there are things you find annoying about me but weve talked about it before and were working through it anyway serious talk over!! if there are other replies to this let me know if i have to fight someone lol (or you can do it yourself and i can watch) (or just prank them or smth i support your rights AND your wrongs)

Q: answer this only if ur my s/o: ily A: why are you being so cute today should i be worried? KIDDING i love you too

Q: ty for answering any last words? A: its been a while since weve gone out, we should go on a date again tonight

AFTER HE ANSWERS THE FORM

Once Ace submits the form, he tells you to read his answers already, almost as if he's expecting you to speedrun through them.

You're totally free to make fun of him back for the things he typed out—he can try to complain or whine, even retaliate whatever you say, but the banter and playful arguing makes things more fun for him. He likes any and all of your attention, you know it as well as he does.

If you sent the form to anyone else, he asks if he can read their answers as well. He won't budge if you'd rather keep it private because the knowledge of him being the final choice bloats his head just fine, but wouldn't it be more fun to laugh at those who, to quote, "fumbled the bag" when it came to you?

(And, well, you can listen to him agree with the nice things they wrote about you, because he knows first hand just how lovable you really are and how lucky he really is to be with you)

When you get to the last question, he's grinning to himself—even without the camera turned on, you can just hear him smiling, like he knows that you're rolling your eyes.

Whatever, you can both share your sweet nothings in person, when the both of you get somewhere more comfortable to be more vulnerable with each other.

"So, you up for a date some time tonight? My treat!"

character: DEUCE SPADE premise/trope: Deuce getting the form from someone he's highly admired for years

HOW HE REACTS WHEN YOU SEND THE FORM LINK

He doesn't answer you for a few minutes, even though it's considered rude to just view your message. You can see that he's viewed your message, for sevens' sake! Still, you send one final message telling him to take his time with answering—Deuce was probably panicking or overreacting behind the screens.

He was. He gets the message while he's at work, and he has to try very hard to swallow his shout—it would be bad if he alarmed his co-workers, after all!

Tries to answer—both your message and your form—during his break, but decides that he needs far more time than his work break would allow, so he tries to focus on his job until he can go home.

His hands hover over the keyboard, and he reads the things he types out over and over again just to make sure he doesn't have any typos. If he's made you wait this long, he'll at least try to have good spelling!

DEUCE : are you sure you sent this to the right person?

Deuce has a bit of a hard time grasping that you could even have a crush on him—he's harbored a huge crush on you for YEARS, an admiration turned romantic affection that he's been, unfortunately, made fun of for his whole NRC career.

(His friends made fun of him for being such a coward, but confessing seemed so out of the question years ago! He had to focus on becoming an honor student, and you were just so...???)

When you reassure him that, yes, you did mean to send it to him, he replies that he'll answer it A.S.A.P! The sudden vigor gives you whiplash, and out of fear of formality you have to tell him that he can be as honest as possible.

It takes Deuce an hour at least to send in his answers, but when you look them over later you'll find that although he's trying to be polite and is clearly holding back (it's alright, you can have a proper talk about this some other time), his answers are genuine and his sweetness shines through.

HOW HE ANSWERS THE QUESTIONS

Q: How do we know each other? A: We both went to NRC and we shared a few classes, then we became friends

Q: Before this, did you know I liked you? A: No?! Not at all?! I mean I knew you liked me as a friend, because we were friends, but like-like? Like as a crush? I mean Ace and a few other people teased me about you liking me back then but I always thought it was a joke because you know? You’re you???

Q: Did you ever like me back? A: I didn’t think I would say it this way but yes?! Of course? I would be blind not to!

Q: If yes, how long did the crush last? A: [ticks the boxes: 3+ years, other] Um am I supposed to answer 3+ if it's ongoing...?

Q: If you liked me, why didn't you tell me? A: There were two main reasons… first I never thought I could have a chance with you, I didn’t want to ruin anything, second is just that I wanted to grow first into a better student and person, so I didn’t think I was ready to date either.

Q: What do you like most about me? A: Do I say just one thing…? It’s kinda hard to choose, and this is super embarrassing, you know. I guess I like that you never look down on me for my past and the fact that I’m still… not very cool. Even though you tell me I am. I like that you try to help me in whatever way you can, and I like that you’re always one of the first people to defend me when a bunch of jerks feel like causing trouble. And when you ran into my mom that one time, you told her really nice things about me (she told me even though you told her not to, sorry!) and I ended up liking you even more… I just find you reliable and respectable and I’ve always wanted to catch up to you since you were (are?) so out of my league?

Q: Could you imagine yourself dating me? A: Absolutely

Q: Thank you for answering! Sorry if this is awkward. Anything else to add? A: Wait can you tell me how long you liked me for? And a few other things I kind of want an explanation :’) Should I send a form too or do I just DM you?

AFTER HE ANSWERS THE FORM

Aside from wanting some explanations (as much as you're willing to give), honestly, Deuce is a little distraught (okay, more than a little—the crush had never really disappeared even after graduation). He genuinely thinks he lost his chance with you. After all, the title was in the past tense!

No he didn't lose his chance, but he's gearing himself up to just accept that you saw something good in him to the point that you once liked him—that, in a way, gives him a sense of happiness.

Maybe you're a mind reader, or maybe you're just good at detecting Deuce's tone from his answers and later messages, because you let him know that you're very much still into him, and if he still is then maybe he's willing to give the both of you a shot...?

At that point Deuce is very much glad to be at home because he's grinning ear to ear, face flushed like the color of his alma mater dorm. He feels like those teenage girls from those movies he watched with his mom on occasion—the ones who got butterflies in their stomach.

It's the fastest he texts back yet, sending you a stream of messages that all form the answer of a resounding YES.

Yes, he does call his mom later that night and tells her that he has a date coming soon. His mom always did wonder if he'd ever find a significant other amidst his busy career.

(His mother teases him a bit, but as embarrassing as it is to be teased like he was still a high schooler, his happiness overthrows it)

DEUCE : HUH?? OF COURSE I WANT TO GO ON A DTEA WITH YOU?? DEUCE : *DATE sorry I got excited. obviously, duh.., wow i'm seriously still not very cool, huh DEUCE : so... no pressure but when are you free to meet up?

character: JACK HOWL premise/trope: two best friends with very obvious mutual pining but have never said a word about their feelings, and now they live far apart. you send the form to Jack for closure (or resolution)

HOW HE REACTS WHEN YOU SEND THE FORM LINK

He wants to ask if this is a joke (even though the form title said it was not a prank), but refrains from sending in what he initially typed out. If you were serious, and he thinks you are, then it wouldn't be right for him to doubt or question your feelings.

It's going to take him a while to actually fully process the form title and form description alone, but he lets you know that he's not ignoring you or anything, he just needs a hot minute

JACK : Don't worry, I'm not ignoring you, but I need a moment. By the way, do you really want me to answer the form? Or do you want to just... call.

For one reason or another, perhaps you wanting to gauge his own interest in you, or perhaps you needing some time before properly having that conversation with him, you request he answer the form first.

Jack doesn't exactly like it when people beat around the bush, but he knows it must have taken a lot of courage out of you to confess to him. Braver than him, really, who never had the strength to let you know what he felt for you, feelings that were apparently required all this time.

Later, Jack would laugh to himself (or with you) at how silly the both of you were, wallowing in angst over unrequited love that was never actually unrequited.

A part of Jack does wish he knew earlier, maybe the both of you could have been dating all this time, but perhaps this was the timing that was meant for him and you... not that Jack knew anything about destiny or fate.

His answers are serious, but not cold, not completely. Warmth lingers, mostly from you imagining him reading the words to you, imagining his expressions as he does so.

His answers are also quite honest, although you can picture him getting somewhat embarrassed over how vulnerable he's being. Maybe typing things out instead of immediately saying them verbally helps him be less shy and awkward about this, too.

And when you read them, you can easily identify his fondness and affection for you, the one he's always possessed. Really, it's a wonder that it took him spelling out his feelings for you to realize how much he adores you.

HOW HE ANSWERS THE QUESTIONS

Q: did u ever realize i more than liked you? A: There were a few times where I really thought you might have liked me back, mostly by watching your body language, or the things my seniors (Leona and Ruggie) pointed out, but the “signs” felt so natural that I just pushed it aside.

Q: did u ever have feelings for me too? A: Let me say something first: why are you immediately assuming that I don’t have the same feelings for you? Like you’re expecting me to reject you? Really, you’re so… anyway. For the record, it’s not “did”, it’s “do”, I do have feelings for you, since we were students in NRC. That hasn’t changed even after we left and went our separate ways. And I don’t want to assume, and since I checked the other questions and you didn’t ask… I’ve probably liked you for just as long. Look, I know I’m actually a lot more dense than I thought I would be, but I didn’t think you would be, too.

Q: did you ever want to date me? A: I did, and I still do.

Q: if i said i still have feelings for you, and that i miss you, how would you feel? A: I would say I’m the same, and that I wish we lived nearer each other so I could see you right now, and tell you these things in person instead of a form.

Q: jack when’s ur next vacation/free day :( A: No vacation until next month, but I can free up my Sat-Sun if you want?

Q: what things do you like about me A: Everything? Is that bad to say? Even though I tried to push you aw[a]y at first, you still tried to be my friend, and then we got closer and closer. You appreciate my space, but you also keep me company. I’m used to being alone, but I’m glad that I wasn’t because you were always around. I think it would be easier to say what I don’t like about you, it’ll take less time.

Q: umm ive been asking so much, do u have any questions for me? A: A few, though I can ask the rest later 1) Is there a certain type of place you would want to visit any time soon? 2) Is there anything you want from my hometown? 3) Just making sure, you’re still single, right? 4) Do you really want to stop liking me?

Q: jackkk i really miss you :((( huhuhu A: i miss you too, more than i let you know. im sorry i rarely tell you that

Q: sorry im a mess, do u wanna add smth A: please call me when you’re done reading this (or when you can)

AFTER HE ANSWERS THE FORM

It's difficult for Jack to proceed with the rest of his day, especially when you tell him you're going to read his response, when you haven't called him yet.

Thankfully you don't make him wait for too long, although Jack was willing to wait if you had other urgent matters to attend to, or if you just needed more time to compose your thoughts.

Once in call, Jack takes the initiative to steer the conversation to the topic at hand—your feelings for him, his feelings for you, and what that meant for your relationship going forward.

The both of you lived quite a ways apart, and while that wasn't necessarily ideal (Jack desperately wanted to see you and hold you in his arms right now), he was sure he had the ability to make it work with you, as long as you were willing to do the same.

Weekend trips to see each other, perhaps moving closer to each other and moving in together in the future, those weren't out of the question.

There were certain topics that could always be decided on later, and he lets you know as much; he just needed to call you now so he could tell you what he's always wanted to for years.

"Hey, don't get over me just yet, not when I've been wanting to see you again."

character: EPEL FELMIER premise/trope: you have been flirting with Epel for years, even though the two of you are merely (unfortunately for you AND him) best friends. you send the form for fun, and get the retaliation you very well deserve

HOW HE REACTS WHEN YOU SEND THE FORM LINK

Seconds after sending the form, you're immediately laughing it off, launching excuses and reasons as to why you sent one (and made a form to begin with). In fact, even before you sent the link, you were already building it up to be "just another one of your flirtations" instead of what it really is

Epel loves you, really (and wow did it take him a while... and a whole bunch of people pointing out his feelings to actually realize it wasn't just the friendly kind of love), but he's very tired of... whatever was going on with the both of you

It's cute when you flirt with him to be honest, even though it's embarrassing and downright flustering more than half the time (probably the thing stopping him from ever trying to do the same unto you), but it always felt... nice. Even if he did lose his shit one too many times.

It'd feel even better if the both of you were actually dating, though

He doesn't think you've been flirting with him as a joke or anything, he'd definitely would've put a stop to it otherwise, but he still wants his feelings to be taken more seriously, and for you to consider that he is very capable of liking you back, and for you to actually give him a say

Well, this form would be a good chance for that, right?

His voice message is enough to make you nervous, the incoherent keyboard smash you sent right after is proof of it

"Hehe, just give me a few minutes, I'mma answer it properly!"

Epel tries to be smooth but his answers have some awkwardness to them, clearly attempting to emulate you and how you enjoy talking to him, but the attempts at flirting are not lost on you.

Still, you can just tell that it isn't just payback—he's very serious about the things he's writing, even with the quips and joking responses to your questions here and there.

It's his sheer honesty though, the way he writes like he just spills his feelings for you all over the keyboard without regard for any proper form, that ends up the most romantic and impactful.

HOW HE ANSWERS THE QUESTIONS

Q: hypotheticallyyyy, would u like me back A: Why would you need hypotheticals when I DO like you back? (Also, didn't you say you "hypothetically" loved me? Why is it "like" now?)

Q: *shakes 8ball* would u date me if ever A: The following is ticked: - signs point to yes - it is decidedly so - without a doubt - yes - definitely - outlook good - most likely - other: My sources (my heart) says yes

Q: so, did u know ur the apple of my eye A: You're so silly why am I even into vou..? Right, it's because l'm apple-solutely a fool for you.

Q: epel why are u still here TT A: WellI, if you want me to answer this seriously, it's because I'm getting impatient. I like/love you, you feel the same, we kind of act like we're dating half the time… actually a lot of people already think we're meant to be, so why aren't we dating yet? it's driving me crazy honestly, sometimes i think i'll just kiss you to shut you up whenever you think up some lame pickup line or when you want to hold my hand

Q: when'd ya realize u LOVED me <3- delulu A: Vil pointed out that I didn't bite your head off when you called me cute

Q: whats ur favorite moment with me <3 A: When we went to my hometown w/ the rest of our schoolmates, and then we separated from our group so I could give you a personal tour of my home. You joked that you would get lost and that we were on a date so you needed me to hold your hand, maybe u did want to hold hands but I also knew your hands were cold be SOMEONE forgot their gloves. We held hands the whole tour, and be people recognize me everyone assumed we were dating… but you didn't care if people thought (realized) you loved me, as long I never found out.. and because I was dense, I didn't until I recalled that day again

Q: not to fish for compliments BUT i will. list EVERTHING you like about me <3 A: 1) everything ;) INCLUDING your flirting, believe it or not 2) the way you can tease me and poke fun at me w/o belittling me 3) when you call me "cute" it makes me feel the same as when u call me "cool" 4) the way u enable+join me in, as our friends would say, ; "being chaotic good"

Q: what do you hate about me hehehe A: i hate that ur single and not dating me yet

Q: why did you finish this form epel A: because i want to raise apple trees and make jam with you in the future

AFTER HE ANSWERS THE FORM

The both of you have always been the type to joke with one another. It's not that neither of you take to having serious conversations, but it's always been about things you wanted to vent about, or Epel's thoughts on his appearance and femininity, or a few other things the both of you felt like bringing up. Never a love life.

(You have asked him if he was in a relationship a few times since graduation, likely to see if you had to steer clear and fully give up on him. He's guilty to asking the same questions.)

For someone who flirted with him a lot, you never brought it up seriously before. Not since the incident with the ghost bride.

Of course, he knows he could have stepped up much earlier, that the both of you could have been dating even back in NRC, but perhaps he wanted to wait (until he eventually became impatient), or he needed reassurance or a sign.

Epel's not very sure, and he doesn't think there's one definite reason, but that's besides the point. He finally got to tell you his feelings, and even though you've more than hinted that you feel the same, he wants to hear it from you this time, without you taking it back or pushing it as a joke it never was.

He has his moments of insecurity, too many to count especially in the past, but when he rings you on the phone and you pick up immediately, he's full of confidence, grinning in anticipation of what's to come.

"So, if I said I loved you, too, what would'ya think about it?"

character: SEBEK ZIGVOLT premise/trope: pretending the form you're making him answer is a regular survey you need participants for

HOW HE REACTS WHEN YOU SEND THE FORM LINK

If asked, you pretended it was a requisite you desperately needed participants for because Sebek would definitely take some time off his ever busy schedule to help a friend out. He gets it, getting participants is difficult! And because he's such a good friend, obviously he'll take some time out of his day to answer your survey!

Asks if he should send the form to Malleus and Lilia too but you absolutely refuse. You cite that they've exceeded the maximum age range, an answer Sebek readily accepts. An age range, how diligent of you to put that into consideration!

You can expect him to answer your form as soon as he's able to, and he tells you as much!

SEBEK : What an odd research topic. I never knew this was one of your interests! Still, I applaud you for your dedication and for your interest in studying fae; I shall aid you in your study! And if you have anything more to ask, feel free to call me any time!

He is... more than confused when he goes over the questions. It's always important to read all the questions before answering a test, so he employs the same tactic when he looks at the survey. He's not sure if he regrets it, but his throat certainly hates him for it—choking on nothing but his own spit.

His instincts tell him to message you IMMEDIATELY, face flushed at the idea of you playing a joke, making a fool out of him, but then... he stops himself from doing so.

You're clearly teasing him, yes, but all the same he's curious about your motives, about how you would react to his answers, about the answers you want to get out of him... or anyone else. Did you send the form to anyone else? What if you were getting answers from other people?

Oddly enough, what motivates him to answer instead of interrogating you about the form is the idea of someone else sending in the form before him. He can't have that! He had to show that he was your most reliable friend, the one you could count on if you really needed help.

Most of his answers are predictably... Sebek, loud even in text, honest in his confusion and feelings. Well, in the ones you allow him to type anyway. Probably your fault with your choice of questions. Still, it's enough to reassure you of his feelings, that you weren't just delusional and seeing things.

HOW HE ANSWERS THE QUESTIONS

Q: When you see a picture of me, what emotions are you likely to feel? A: The following is ticked: - Happy, Glad, Pleased - Shy, Nervous, Hesitant - Ecstatic, Excited, Motivated - Delighted, Charmed, Exhilarated - other: You don’t have a study at ALL, do you? How brave to fool me like this!

Q: What traits do you associate with me? A: The following is ticked: - charming - bewitching - endearing - lovable - good-looking - fascinating - other: If you’re going to list everything, why even give the option for other?

Q: With this vague scale, how would you rate your feelings for me? A: [Sebek selects the choice with the highest rank]

Q: How compatible do you think you are with me on a scale of… on a scale? A: [Sebek selects the choice with the highest rank]

Q: If I asked you on a date, how likely are you to say yes A: [Sebek selects the choice with the highest rank]

Q: How sure are you of the extent of your feelings for me A: [Sebek selects the choice with the highest rank]

[ SECTION BREAK / NOT A QUESTION ] Not a question but based on my pre-existing research, it seems our feelings are quite similar! Just sharing!

Q: Hi, I will finally allow you to rant away now :) Thanks for answering this! A: This was not only the most ridiculous test/survey I have taken in my LIFE, but also the most DIFFICULT. The way I’m not allowed to explain myself, well, expect that I will most CERTAINLY be explaining myself at a later date. It has to be on a later date because WHY DID YOU PUT A CHRACTER LIMIT ON THI

AFTER HE ANSWERS THE FORM

Are all humans so... odd and creative when it comes to expressing their feelings? Was this an expression of your feelings? Was this you wanting to court him, or perhaps asking him to court you?!

Sebek's thoughts are all over the place, but they bring out the feelings he thought had died down after graduation. Whatever charm you had placed on him had never worn off, remaining even when you weren't in his presence.

Before typing out his (very lengthy) paragraph of a text message, a paragraph more suited for an email, really, Sebek thinks of two things.

First, that Briar Valley needs better cell reception—a bunch of your text messages just came in, asking if he was answering the form, or if he was busy and got called on to do something, or if he was plain ignoring you.

(Well, by your texts, he at least knows he's the only one you've sent the form to. That gives him far too much pride than it should)

Second, that he wasn't in Briar Valley right now (the younger him never would have thought of thinking such a thing), or that you were in Briar Valley right now, so he could go up to see you and express his feelings most appropriately.

He supposes a text will do for now. A nicely worded text, if he can't send a letter (he could, but it would take too long). He can just... do something more romantic later.

SEBEK : DEAREST HUMAN! Even with our time apart, you are still as confounding and befuddling and CONFUSING as ever, you and your unusual ways of showing what I presume to be your affections for me, or at the very least signaling your interest, gathering information to analyze my own interest levels! Admittedly your attempt was, for the lack of a better way to phrase it, lacking good prose, unpoetic, and extremely weird, but nevertheless your feelings have reached me. Somehow, you have managed to render me speechless (for a few minutes), and you, in spite of your general lack of romanticism, continue to set my heart ablaze. With that said, even though I find your methods cowardly, I accept your advances, but I ask we hold off from pursuing anything until I can tell you in person. That is to say, I want for us to meet again.

[ BONUS ! ]

character: ORTHO SHROUD (& IDIA SHROUD) premise/trope: sending a form to your crush's younger brother, Ortho, mostly because you don't want to commit to confessing to Idia yet

HOW HE REACTS WHEN YOU SEND THE FORM LINK

He already knew you had feelings for his brother, but there's a different type of happiness in knowing you're willing to admit it (at least to him, if not yet Idia)

It's one thing to like his brother, and it's another thing to be able to say it. From his observations (of you, of others, and the games his brother played) and research (on online forums... and also the games his brother played), there was that probability that you would be ashamed of yourself for liking Idia, his wonderful but flawed brother. He's glad you don't seem to think that way.

That aside, he thinks you sending him the form is fun! He's more than willing to answer anything you want to know (whether it's just about him or if it's something to help you get closer to his brother)

Plus, he got called your BFF! :D

ORTHO : Your secret is safe with me! Don't worry q(≧▽≦q) My metaphorical lips are sealed!

When it comes to answering, he's straight to the point but cute, even when he says things that could come off as burns towards you or his brother. Most of all, it's very clear that he not only adores his brother, but that he cares for you, too.

HOW HE ANSWERS THE QUESTIONS

Q: hi ortho! first of all, i missed youuu 💙 A: I missed you too! I haven’t seen you since graduation ＞︿＜

Q: so since i’m sure you know i like idia, when/how did you realize? A: I was walking with you to class one day when your heart rate increased! I was really scared that something had happened to you ::>_<:: I ran a few tests out of concern, even though you were confused about why I wanted to do that. Everything was normal when I checked it, but when I suggested my brother help investigate the anomaly your heart rate rose again!

Q: just making sure, do you think idia has a clue that i like him A: Oh, absolutely! He… just kidding! Not at all! I never told him, even though I wanted to sometimes, but even if I did I don’t think he would belive me! My brother is not dense, he gets flustered by you a lot, but I think he’s too in denial that it’s possible you like him!

Q: do you think idia likes me too A: That’s a secret! Please confess to my brother first, or wait for him to confess!

Q: its okay with u if i dated him, right? A: I approve! I like you very much o(^.^)o Me and Idia always have fun with you!

Q: serious question do you think idia would open to dating right now? A: Hmmm I think it’s better that you talk to him about it! I know the both of you can come to an agreement that you’ll both be happy with ( ˇ v ˇ )

Q: aside from the fact that you love your brother and that you like me, why do you think we’re good for one another? A: I have prepared multiple answers for this question! [ 1 ] Because you like him! [ 2 ] Because you like me, too! ヾ(•ω•`)o [ 3 ] Because you understand and accept Idia without forcing him to change. [ 4 ] Because you know when Idia wants space and when he wants to hang out with you. [ 5 ] Because you smile brightly around him and he smiles brightly around you. Idia is happier seeing you than seeing Gakemo live, or getting an SSR!

Q: do u have any tips for meee A: Just be yourself! ヾ(≧ ▽ ≦)ゝ

Q: if i get rejected by idia, are you still down to be my little brother? hihi A: I don’t want to tell you the probabilities of anything, but you should have more faith in yourself! And of course! o((>ω< ))o

AFTER HE ANSWERS THE FORM

The chances are, either he gives you enough assurance to confess to Idia in the coming days/weeks, or he convinces you to wait it out when the time is right—dating sims usually had confession scenes at very specific and special locations, right? Maybe you had to wait for a sign.

Either way, it's hard not to believe you have a chance when Ortho tells you—not because of his godly skills (seriously, what kind of genius is Idia?) in analyzing data and making predictions based on probabilities, but because Ortho's the one who knows him best, who's always going to be there when he needs it.

How can you not trust him when he implies (implies, only so he won't take the chance from his brother to confess to you properly) that his brother might just have a crush on you, too?

After a while, the conversation divulges from Idia to simply catching up with Ortho, asking him how he's been doing, setting up a day where the both of you could play a few online games together (with and without Idia), but his sweet messages remain in your head all day.

ORTHO : Even though I want you to date my brother as soon as possible (please I promise the probability of him liking you back is much higher than you think!), I promise I won't interfere, so take your time! ORTHO : Even without dating him, I already see you as my other big sibling anyway \^o^/

masterlist | end notes

[ 1 ] made this in 2 days because i was just really tired from school and wanted a break, but wanted something a little less taxing brain power wise than a one-shot. i've had this idea in my head for a few months now so i thought i would finally write it out!

[ 2 ] figuring out how someone would type is a struggle, so i had to make guesses based on how they write the valentine letters + voice lines, then take some liberties based on their relationship dynamic with the reader + the tone of the premise

[ 3 ] epel: "because I want to raise apple trees and make jam with you in the future", referencing one his suitor suit (the groom outfit, i forgot what it's called in EN) voice lines

[ 4 ] speaking of epel, i asked for ideas basically on what dynamics people liked with him. unfortunately i couldn't employ EVERY idea, i mostly went with @ / syl-lithy 's with a dash of everyone elses. ig ill just have to use the other dynamics in some other work for epel 😌

#twst x reader #ace trappola x reader #deuce spade x reader #jack howl x reader #epel felmier x reader #sebek zigvolt x reader #idia shroud x reader #twisted wonderland x reader #nathya twst writing #twst hcs #twst #twisted wonderland #twst imagines #ace trappola #deuce spade #jack howl #epel felmier #sebek zigvolt #ortho shroud

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filmtv2022 · 8 months

Text

One More Ride (18+ MDNI)

All Series Masterlist

Pairing: Rhett Abbott x Reader

Summary: Rhett & Y/N spend their last night in Wabang together. Pushing away the weight of the world by falling into one another's arms.

Warnings: SMUT (this is probably the filthiest thing I've written so far) + language

A/N: I've had the general idea for this story brewing for a while. This story is a one-shot standalone that isn't connected to my series "By Your Side", but if you want more Rhett content... might I suggest that you go read that too! Enjoy & I apologize for any mistakes!

Bright hues of orange and pink washed over the wispy clouds high in the sky above the pasture. The mountains and far-off forest sat dark on the horizon. An evening breeze picked up as the sun continued to sink, throwing goosebumps over your socked feet and bare arms. It would have been easy to go and grab a hoodie from the cab of the old pickup, but you didn’t want to miss any of the sunset. Digging your toes underneath the pile of blankets that covered the bed of the truck, you leaned back, letting the warmth of Rhett’s solid frame behind you soak in your skin.

Night was quickly settling over the wild landscape, the Abbott house was barely more than a black spot in the distance. The quiet moment stretched on as you memorized the way the light painted the sky, creating a glittering mosaic of colors. The saturation changed the longer you watched. The bright oranges and pinks faded into dusky blues and purples, which you knew would eventually morph into inky blackness. Sitting here, the reality of what was coming felt heavy in the air. Change was coming, and if tradition held, the Abbott family did poorly with accepting that the world continued to turn, paving the way for the future. Closing your eyes, you inhaled deeply, reveling in the woodsy musk of Rhett’s cologne. His lips pressed a constant kiss to your hair as his hands held firmly to him. An edge of anxiety was obvious in the way he kept you close. One hand gripped tightly onto your waist, while the other drew absent-minded patterns over your thigh. Tracing over the bumps and frays of your jeans before following the line of the seams, picking at the loose threads.

“You don’t have to do this you know? You don’t have to ride tomorrow. We can leave tonight,” Turning your head to look up at him, you watched his jaw clench, “You just say the word, Rhett, and we’re gone.”

Looking down at you, his blue eyes ran dark in the dusty light, “You know it’s not that simple.”

“I know,” reaching up to hold his cheek, you pleaded with him to stay with you, to not look away, “but I also know that the only person in that house right now that gives a shit about you is Amy. And she already knows what's going to happen or has guessed as much anyway. You don’t owe them shit, Rhett.”

“They’re family.” A pained look furrowed his brow.

Shifting further, you settled yourself in his lap, your thighs on either side of his. Your face now sat even with Rhett’s, as your hands came up to hold his face, his stubble scrapped lightly at your palms. Scanning over his features, you caught the way his anxiety had settled between his brows, the lines growing deeper the longer he sat with the knowledge of what was to come & the guilt of knowing he was finally going to escape.

“Yeah, they’re family, and that doesn’t change when you drive away from this town. They will always be here, waiting for you, Rhett. But that’s the thing, they’ll always be here. Do you remember what you said? What you've promised me every year since we were eleven?”

“I don’t remember…”

“Bullshit, you remember. Tell me what you said.”

Locking eyes with you, he spoke the words in a whisper, “I said that I'd get out, that I’d get both of us out.”

“That’s right, and you know what, it’s been long enough. It’s time. Nothing is holding us here, and If we don’t leave now… I don’t know if we ever will. This place is killing you, Rhett, and I’ll be damned if I let you stay here to die.” pressing your forehead into his, your soft breath fell over his face, “Be selfish for once in your fuckin’g life… ‘cause I can’t do this without you.”

“One more ride, that’s all that I’m askin’ for. Then we’re out.”

“For you this time, one more for you. Promise me that.”

“Promise.” Holding you close by the hips, his hand slid up the length of your back, burying itself in your hair so that he could press a gentle kiss on your lips.

The glow of the sunset cast his face in shadows as the gusts of air fluttered the loose pieces of hair around his ears. The errant strands, tickled the delicate skin along your temple, making you smile. Gingerly, you reached out and tucked them back into place. You weren’t ready to relinquish the feeling of him. Trailing your fingertips down the side of his neck, you rested your palms on his chest. Rhett used his strength to haul you even closer, as if he needed to pull you inside of himself, your chest flush with his as he slid a hand down your spine. His wide hands came to rest on your ass. Raking your hands over his sides, a shiver ran over his body at the feeling of your touch. The beer he’d been drinking sat sweetly on his breath as your lips brushed together.

Desperation for you filled his every move, you were the answer to every question that ran unchecked through his mind. His mouth found your neck, nipping at the tender flesh and leaving marks in the wake. Pushing up the hem of your shirt, he shifted beneath you, slotting a thigh between your own. Using his strength, he forced your weight down. Your thoughts swam at the pressure of him holding you in place on top of him, your hips moving of their own accord. A groan fell from his lips as your head fell back in pleasure.

Sinking his fingers into the sliver of skin that sat exposed between the hem of your shirt and your jeans, a shaky breath rattled from his lungs, “Fuck.”

“Rhett.” His name was nearly a whine as you called for him.

“I know, baby.”

Helping you move, a low groan rumbled from his chest as you continued to brush up against him. Each movement sent shock waves through his body. Rhett’s hands wandered, skimming over your chest before sinking back down. Toying with the button on your jeans, but leaving it closed, he dipped his fingers beneath the waistband. His callouses were rough against, you as he continued to move. Your lips found his neck as he ghosted over your core, the pressure just enough to leave you wanting more. Taking him by the wrist, you held him in place, encouraging him to continue and silently begging for more. The rapid rise and fall of your chest spurred him on, his nerves alight with anticipation.

A whimper tumbled from you as Rhett removed his hand from your hold, but the disappointment was short-lived. With his eyes locked onto you, Rhett's fingers fumbled with the button on your waistband. Popping it open, he wasted no time dipping his fingers below the fabric.

Your slick coated his fingers, “So fuckin’ wet. This all for me, Darlin’?”

“Yes, Rhett, all for you.” The touch was nearly too much and yet not enough.

A wanton moan ripped from you as he continued to bring you closer to the edge. Losing his self-control, Rhett rather hastily turned you over. Settling his weight between your legs, and rolling his hips into yours, earning a heady groan from you. The ridges of the truck bed pressed sharply into your back even through the layers of blankets, but that was so far from your mind. The only thing that mattered was him.

Rhett’s hands once again slipped under your shirt, pushing it up to expose your bra. Mouthing at the top of your breasts, his patience for the garment in his way lasted only so long. His hand slipped behind your back, grasping for the clasp, and finding it. Moving just enough to free it from your body, he tossed it to the side before tugging your shirt the rest of the way off. You reached for the hem of his t-shirt, and he realized what you wanted, and quickly got rid of it

With both your tops dropped somewhere nearby, he dipped back down to capture your mouth, the kiss hungry and wild. Accepting everything that he gave, your back arched as he worshipped every inch of your body, his lips, and fingers tracing over the contours of your curves.

“So fuckin’ beautiful” he whispered as he trailed down the expanse of your stomach with featherlight kisses.

Moving lower, he gripped at your still-covered thighs, pressing kisses over your hips before turning his attention to your core. Carefully, he pushed your legs further apart, his thumb running lightly over where you needed him most, his lips following close behind, leaving a trail of fire in their wake.

“Don’t be a goddamn tease, Rhett Abbott” Twining your fingers through his hair, you tugged at the strands trying to guide him in the right direction.

A low huff of laughter rumbled through his chest, “Getting impatient aren’t ya?.”

Sitting up, he peeled your jeans from your body, his hands raking over the newly exposed skin. The heat flowing through your veins left you reeling. Adjusting your position so that you were able to look into his eyes, you brushed your lips over his as you spoke, “Yeah, I am. Are you gonna do something about it… or should I take care of myself?”

Your hand smoothed over your underwear, pushing it aside, and you dipped your fingers beneath drawing a gasp from yourself. You stayed focused on him, daring him to make the next move. A challenge he happily accepted.

“Callin’ me a tease… jesus christ woman" Stripping off his own jeans and underwear, as quickly as he could, his boots also discarded, he wasted no time returning to you.

Crashing against, you, his sure touch replaced your own. Panting into his mouth, you gave yourself over completely to him. Moving in gentle strokes and circles with his fingers, he worked you closer and closer to the edge. Feeling your body stiffen, and your breaths turn into erratic heaves, he continued to rile you up.

“Fuck, Rhett!”

“Tell me what you want, sweetheart.”

“I want- I need to-” You couldn't finish your thought, but he knew very well what you were asking for, he could feel how close you were.

“After what you said earlier… you sure you deserve it?” he relished the scent of the whiskey on your breath from earlier as he swiped over your bottom lip, nipping lightly, before tasting you.

Ghosting over your entrance, he moved at a languid pace, just enough to keep you on edge, but not enough to tip you over.

“Don’t make me beg, Rhett.” Your hand that had been grasping at his ass, slipped between you two, finding him aching and waiting for your touch. Wrapping your fingers around him, you stroked him roughly, earning a deep groan.

“I wouldn’t dream of making you beg. Just let me enjoy this for a minute, darlin’” Smirking, he pushed your hips down into the blankets as he kissed down the column of your neck.

He paid close attention to the way your breath hitched as he expertly found your most sensitive areas. Working his way down your frame, he held you in place as you writhed under his touch. Rhett’s warm breath, breezed over your core, causing you to clench in anticipation. His lips found your clit as his fingers curled inside, ripping a needy moan from you as he hummed against your body. Unable to stay still, you rolled your hips up to meet him, begging him for more. Listening to your silent pleas, his tongue worked in steady strokes, pulling you further from reality. Hanging on by a thread, you gasped in shock at the sudden loss of his touch.

“What the fuck-”

“I want to feel you around me when you come.”

Kissing you deeply, he pressed into you in one fluid motion. Both of you let go of desperate moans at the feeling of having one another so close. Pausing for a moment to catch his breath, he waited for you to give him permission to continue.

“You all right?”

“I need you to move, Rhett.”

“Good girl. You feel so fuckin’ perfect... like you were made for me.”

“Holy shit” Digging your fingers into this hair and back, you trembled at the feeling of him, your nails sinking into his skin.

The pair of you were insatiable. You rolled your hips in time with him, pulling delicious moans from each other with every thrust. Reaching up, Rhett laced his finger with yours, holding your hand up by your head as he continued to move. His pace faltered as he felt himself drawing closer to his own release. Pleasure consumed the pair of you heart and soul.

“I’m close.” his voice was airy and light as he whispered his confession.

Wrapping your legs tighter around his waist, you pulled him closer, “Let go, Rhett. I’ve got you.”

Weak moans left your lips as he quickened his pace, chasing his climax. Reaching between you, his fingers once again found your clit, “Come with me, Y/N.”

Snapping his hips in time with his touches, he felt you clench around him as you cried out. You climax washing over you in waves of lightning, setting every nerve in your body on fire. Feeling you go, Rhett was right behind. With one final thrust, you felt him fall over the edge, joining you with his release. Swallowing his sharp exhales and groans, you kissed him deeply as he came.

Slowing down, Rhett stayed buried inside of you as he shifted so that you were lying on top of him. His body was so spent that he wasn’t sure he would’ve been able to keep from collapsing on top of you if he’d stayed how you were before. Silence fell over the two of you as your lungs returned to normal, your muscles warm and pliable as you soaked in the feeling of each other. Tugging the edge of a blanket over the top of you both, Rhett ran his finger down the length of your back. The feeling of your skin soothing away the last remnants of worry. Lost in each other’s arms, it was easy to forget every fear that threatened to tear the two of you apart. Here, like this, the future seemed limitless.

“I love you, Y/N. And we’re getting out of here, just like I promised.”

“I love you too, Rhett.”

#rhett abbott x reader #lewis pullman #rhett abbott #outer range #rhett abbott smut #rhett abbott x y/n #rhett abbott x female reader

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yuriririn · 4 months

Text

Us, On the Last Month of the Year

A/N: Happy New Year! Finally, a fic for my bias. It's mostly rushed and IDK how I was able to not post this before the year ended but here it is anyway.

Also, of course, I wrote this on my phone within just 30 minutes because honestly this wasn't something I was planning on making. I have like 5 stories pending for TXT and Enha but oh well~

NP: Huling Sandali (Tayo sa Huling Buwan ng Taon) by December Avenue

PAIRING | Choi Soobin x Female Reader

WC | 983 words

GENRE | fluff; f2l (duh)

WARNINGS | None

SYNOPSIS | Maybe it was him all along and even if it was obvious for everyone else, it wasn't for you.

"Happy birthday, Soob." you take his hand as you sat on the swing. It was exactly 12 midnight, December 5th, 2023.

Soobin smiled, circling his thumb on the back of your hand, around your knuckles, his eyes on yours sending a chill down your spine. It was an electrifying feeling, something you've felt before but haven't really acknowledged all these years.

It was the 10th birthday of his you've spent together and the familiarity of it all made you feel warm, a sense of security you only feel when you're with him. It was his birthday but it was you who felt like you were reborn, on this day, like something awakened in you, only now, just when he turned 23. He's been an adult for a while and you too. You spent an entire childhood together, witnessed each other's puberty, and went through the early stages of adulthood, but tonight was something new. You have memorized his every feature being so close to him countless of times though now was different. Physically, you've been closer before, sitting on the couch as you watched anime together, sometimes even chest to chest on the train during the rush hours, one time even nose to nose under your dining table hiding from your parents for when he was being asked to come home after spending an entire play day with you.

Soobin and you. Best friends forever you vowed on his 16th birthday. It has been years since that promise and you've kept it to this day. Now, hand in hand on the swing but at arm's length, you felt like this is the closest you've ever been with him. You looked at each other for a second, but it felt like eternities in his eyes.

Was he always this handsome? Did his eyes always glint this way when he talked about his favorite movies? Were his lips always this plump as he smiled, as he pouted? Did his nose always have that line in the middle that resembled a confused little rabbit? Was his skin always this smooth, and was he always this pale? Were his hands always this gigantic as it held yours? You knew he had dimples, but were they always this deep? Was he always this cute? Did he always have this effect on you?

You don't know at what point of the night and at which part in the midst of this friendship you crossed the thin line of being platonic to romantic. It was always just a tiptoe away, a teeny-tiny push from friends to lovers but never did you think of crossing it because the mere thought of losing him as a friend when you meet your inevitable break up (if you do decide to date at an early time) dreaded you like it was a life sentence. It was the curse you had to live with to keep him by your side.

"Thanks, Y/N." he said, still never letting go, still holding onto that grip you initiated when you plucked up the courage to jump; to painfully rip the friendship tape off of your chest that covered your undying, unplatonic love for him. He loved you, adored you, endured every relationship you guys ever had that wasn't with each other. All that for this very moment, the day you decided to finally break out of that shell and dive into the pool of love.

"I love you, Soobin." your breath was visible in the cold night air. You've said this to him before, but never in this way. And he immediately knew the difference.

The temperature was low but your adrenaline was high. You have never been this brave and you regret the days where you thought you were at your most courageous because Soobin was always your source of strength, the walking talking post of hope, and all-encompassing security blanket you needed when you were afraid. He supported you all your life but you knew this was something you had to confess on your own. It was to him, for him, after all.

His eyes widen in shock, and you were ready to take back your hand, run away, and never speak to him again. The creeping possibility of a rejection rang loud inside your head and it was all you could hear.

But instead of a rejection, you see a smile. You see the gorgeous smile you've always seen before but this time full of relief, affirmation, and happiness. Back then Soobin always showed you how happy he was but he couldn't hide the look of longingness in the way he saw you smile for another. However, tonight, his smile was perfect. He was perfect.

"I love you, Y/N." he chuckled, and you could have sworn you saw his eyes water. "I love you as a woman, as my anchor, a lover, and a best friend."

All these years of being so dense and oblivious to how you felt towards each other came crashing down with just one night, one confession, one hand to hold, and just weeks before the year, your 10th year together ended.

You couldn't believe he was finally yours, and he couldn't believe you were finally his. On the last month of the year, on his birthday, you share your first kiss with your one true love, your rock, your everything, your best friend.

#blog #kpop #kpop bg #kpop boys #tomorrow x together #txt #soobin #choi soobin #txt fluff #txt fanfic #tomorrow by together #soobin x reader #soobin x y/n #soobin x you

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avatarmerida · 10 months

Text

Alliance

A short thing I found in my drafts that I forget about. I wrote it when I was overthinking the huntlow pinkie hold. It consumes me to this day. 💚💛

—-

When the scouts ran drills, none of them ever wanted to team up with Hunter. It was quite the opposite, in fact. You’d think that they’d be fighting over the honor of having the head of the coven and the Emperor’s nephew on their team, but no. Rather, they’d jump at the chance to gang up on him and Hunter couldn’t help but feel like they enjoyed getting to exclude him.

But he worked better alone, anyway. It made him work harder.

“All right team, line up!” announced Willow. “Gus is gonna rig up some illusions to test our reflexes! Let’s see if we can sniff out the real Gus and snatch some flags!”

The Entrails cheered in agreement as they ran to take their places on the field. Willow smiled at their excitement and followed suit, setting up beside Hunter who had managed to sneak away for a few hours to help run drills.

“Hey Hunter! Wanna be my partner?”

“Y-your partner?” he repeated, confused.

“Yeah!” she said with a mischievous smile. “You take the left, I take the right. If we work together, I bet we can do it in record time.”

“But we don’t... have to work together,” he said, in case she had forgotten her own instructions. “You don’t have to work with me.”

“I know I don’t have to,” she chuckled. “I want to, if you want to. You’re good at strategy; it’ll be fun.”

“Oh, yeah sure.” He said, warming up to the fact that she was serious. “I’d... like that.”

“Awesome!” Willow said with a bright smile, extending her pinky out to him. “Alliance?”

He looked at her gesture with confusion and the raised his hand to mirror hers and touched his pinky to hers. “Alliance.” He confirmed. Willow tugged his pinky, completing the promise as Gus and his illusions took to the skies and beckoned the team to come after him.

He was new, that’s why she picked him.

——

Amity took game night very seriously. The only person who took it more seriously was Hunter. Before they could begin any game, they each had to have the instructions memorized. Every dice roll, every moment, every turn has to be by the book. They prided themselves in knowing every technicality which only fueled their competitive nature even more.

“Go back four spaces and take three additional cards, Hunter!” Amity ordered, taking far too much delight in delivering the blow.

“No! I was so close to the jackpot space!” Hunter exclaimed in utter dismay as he took his punishment cards from the deck on the table.

“Amity please!” Gus groaned in desperation. “We were so close to being done! Why??”

“Because if anyone’s gonna be the champ it’s gonna be me!” She declared, furiously shaking the dice to power up her revenge roll.

“What’s up Gus? I thought you liked silly human board games.” Lus said.

“I do! But these two and their love of rules make it so hard to cheat!” Gus sighed. “Deception is half the fun.”

“Don’t worry Gus, Hunter is still the closest the victory circle,” assured Willow. “When we’re done we can go watch the clothes spin around in the dryer, that usually makes you feel better.”

“But I don’t have enough tokens to make it past the trick space!” Hunter said in a panic.

“Where did you guys even find this game?” Luz said under her breath, looking at the box.

“Hey, I’ve got plenty,” said Willow, putting the plastic coins in a pile. “You can use some of mine!”

“Oh no Willow, I couldn’t,” Hunter insisted, knowing she had worked hard for her collection. “You earned those.”

“We can share them,” she said with a shrug, having worked hard to earn them mostly to aggravate Amity. “We can work together.”

“Really? Uh, hold on lemme check the rule book I know know if it says that’s allowed...”

“Well, it doesn’t say it’s noooot,” she pointed out playfully, gathering her pieces and scooting closer to him to combine their loot. “Alliance?” She asked, sticking out her pinky. Her face donned a devious smile as Amity waited in suspense for Hunter to confirm or deny, certain their team up would dismantle everything she worked for.

“Alliance.” Hunter confirmed, grabbing her pinky with his own and furrowing his brow in determination, ready to make Amity pay for playing as the piece he wanted to play as.

She wanted to end the game, that’s why she picked him.

—-

“… and then there’s supposed to be punch there too! It’s like all the flavors mixed together, so it’s looks kinda gross but trust me it’s actually really good!” Vee continued to happily explain as the group walked down the sidewalk to her friend’s house. They had all been invited to a party and Vee and Luz were trying to cram as much information about human realm parties to their friends as possible before they arrived. For the most part, they were all excited. They had been working hard and could use a break, and of course Gus had brought his notebook to take down as much as he could. But Willow couldn’t help but notice how quiet Hunter was as he dragged his feet beside her.

“You okay, Hunter?” Willow whispered and he flinched, as though he had been so zoned out he forget where he was. “You look… sick?”

“Sick?”

“I mean, you still look really nice,” she said quickly, knowing how much time he had spent making the jean jacket he was wearing. He looked more than just nice, if she was being honest, but she had a feeling that wasn’t what was plaguing his mind. “But you look nervous.”

“I mean… maybe I am, a little,” he admitted, hoping the others couldn’t hear. “I’ve just… never been to a party before, let alone a human one. I-I don’t know what I’m supposed to say or when I’m supposed to say something or if there’s a certain place I’m supposed to sit or-.”

“Hey, it’s okay,” she assured him with a gentle giggle. “I’ve never really been to a party before either.”

“You? Really?” He practically gasped. “But you’d be so fun at parties!”

“Aw, thanks,” she blushed, subconsciously adjusting her hair clip. “But yeah, I’ve never been to a party that wasn’t a birthday party, and even then it was only me and Gus. But this sounds like it’ll be fun.”

“Really? It sounds terrifying to me,” Hunter gulped, feeling like her was turning paler.

“Well, I’m really glad you’re going,” she said sweetly, knowing he hardly had a choice in the matter. He had just gotten on better terms with Vee and turning down an invitation didn’t seem like a good way to keep that positive momentum going. His heart leapt at Willow’s words, though he was sure it was just her being nice. He hardly expected to see much of her after they arrived.

He was sure the moment they walked in, everyone would be drawn to Willow. How could they not be? She was kind, funny, charismatic and not that he noticed but she looked absolutely stunning in the green sweater she had just bought, the way it made her eyes pop even in the dim moonlight. She was interesting and fun, they’d probably form a line for the chance to talk to her. He assumed he would gravitate to a spot in the shadows, maybe see if there were any books to read. Luz had mentioned that parties where the perfect time to impress someone and while Hunter pretended not to know what she was implying, he couldn’t imagine him being impressive in this type of social setting.

“I’m actually a little nervous too,” Willow said softly and Hunter looked at her in surprise once again. “I mean, I don’t know anyone there.”

“Well, you know me,” he said simply.

“That’s true,” she smiled, glancing up at him illuminated by the streetlights. “Um, would you wanna… hang out at the party?”

“Me? A-are you sure?” Hunter said, clearing his throat. She had plenty of other options.

“Yeah,” she said. “If it’s boring or awkward we can at least talk to each other. I like talking to you.”

“Oh… I like talking to you too,” he said, stopping at the edge of the driveway as the others walked in the front door. Vee greeted her friends with open arms and proceed to introduce Luz, diving into their story about being distant cousins or something. He sighed, his chest felt tight all of a sudden imaging all the people in the house. “I just…”

Willow sensed his discomfort.

“Hey, no worries,” she said. “How about if one us wants to leave early, we walk home together?”

“Really? You wouldn’t mind?”

“Of course not,” she said. “We can always think of an excuse to leave. I’d rather be walking with you than at a party without you.”

“Oh.”

“And Luz mentioned there might be games and we’ve always been a great team at games,” she smiled. She did not bring up one game Luz had mentioned in particular, mostly as a joke, where two people spend seven minutes together. She didn’t necessary plan on participating, but if she did she’d want Hunter as her partner. “Or if someone talks to one of us and we don’t know what to say we can help each other out.”

“I’d really like that,” Hunter said with a sigh of relief, his hands fidgeting at his sides. Willow smiled, happy to see he was okay with her idea. She brought up her pinkie and offered it to him with a bright smile.

“Alliance?”

He looked at her, still confused as to how she was so content to spend the whole night with him. But he couldn’t say it wasn’t an ideal situation for him.

“Alliance.” He said, linking his pinkie to hers. But this time instead of releasing it after they sealed the promise, she brought their hands down to their sides and used it to lead him inside. He knew everyone who saw them would assume they were together but he did not remove himself from her grasp.

She didn’t want to talk to strangers, that’s what she did it.

She didn’t want to get lost, that’s what she did it.

She knew he would hide in a dark corner without her, that’s why she did it.

She was was worried he’d say something dumb and blow their cover, that’s why she did it.

Hunter’s mind flooded with excuses for why she did not drop his hand and stood so close to him without hesitation. Because he couldn’t fathom the reason for their alliance was because she wanted him on her side because she just wanted to be with him. She could pick anyone, but she kept picking him.

#huntlow #huntlow fanfiction #winter toh #toh fanfiction #the owl house #toh #Willow park #Hunter toh

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coraniaid · 2 months

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There's so many good ones so I wanna ask one more! (Feel free to ignore of course!) Fuffy + 91. "I can't breathe." Happy writing! (Tbh I am team full season rewrite tho if/when you feel up to it! 😂 I'd love to see another! You did so incredible with the first one)

You sent this prompt in months ago, I know, but ... uh, better late than never?

(This is canon compliant and set in late Season 3, so I hope you like angst.)

In her whole short life leading up to today, Faith's only ever memorized four phone numbers.

The first of them was the phone number of the tiny apartment she’d lived in with her mother ever since she was a kid. The dismal too-small box back in Southie that she’d spent years dreaming of escape from. Not that she ever had any reason to call that one, or to invite anyone else to call her either. Unlike some people, she didn't exactly have a fawning little gang of sycophants and hangers-on to arrange late night gossip sessions with.

She used to have to give that number to teachers though sometimes. Before she was smart enough to just take the hint and drop out of school entirely. They used to demand it after summoning her to some principal’s office or some classroom for after-school detention, then get pissed at her when nobody answered. As if it were Faith’s fault her mom was too busy enjoying the drinking and passing out parts of life to pick up the phone. As if she’d ever asked for her to do that.

(Hell, maybe if she’d just asked her to carry on drinking herself to death then her mom would’ve stopped. God knows she’d never given Faith anything else she’d ever asked for.)

Anyway, that was one number she could go ahead and forget. Good riddance to that.

Then there was Diana's number. Diana Dormer.

Diana was her first Watcher, and – in every way that mattered – her last Watcher too. Snobby Rupert Giles had only ever looked at her like she was a cheap, flawed copy of his favorite golden Slayer, and lying Mrs Post had only ever been using her to get her hands on that stupid glove, and that jailbait-chasing creep Wesley was somehow worse than both of them put together. But Diana had been okay. For a Watcher, anyway. She’d been all right.

Diana had given her her number early on, shortly after she’d first invited Faith to stay at her place. "In case of emergencies," she'd said gently. “Or if you just want to talk.”

Faith had never known when to use it. Never been sure what Diana wanted from her until it was too late to ask. Her Watcher's house had been real nice, the few times she’d gone round to visit, but she'd worried that there was some kind of trick she wasn’t spotting, some strings attached that she’d not be able to escape. So however much she’d wanted to, she'd never actually called her on it. Not really.

She'd rung the number once, for the first time and the last, only after Diana died. When even a stupid little kid should've known it was way too late. Driven by some weak childish impulse on a very bad night, after a string of at least a dozen bad nights, when she was already halfway across the country. It rang and rang and rang and however long she waited nobody had ever answered.

Well, what had she expected to happen anyway? Diana was dead and she’d not been good enough to stop it and no amount of wishing would ever change that.

She could probably go ahead and forget that number too.

The Mayor had given her his number, as well, last of everyone. “Saving the best till last as usual, are you Faith?” he might have asked her, beaming at her in his office over another plate of cookies. (The Mayor hated crumbs and mess and disorder, that wasn’t a secret, but somehow he never seemed to mind her eating at his desk.)

It was his private office number, direct line. Not the one most people had to call. The real one: the one Trick had used, and Mr Finch, and maybe some other dead losers Faith had offed without knowing it. That was good. it meant he trusted her, that she was useful to him. That she was safe. She didn't think she'd ever call him on it either though. What if she said something stupid and pissed him off? What if he decided he could do better?

Mayor Wilkins wasn’t Diana. The Mayor wasn't all right. Not really. He was a monster, and a killer, and he was wicked gross. Only … he was on her side, wasn't he? He’d set her up in this place, hadn’t he? A little nicer than that dump of a motel she’d been left to rot in. He’d given her a chance. He got her, the way nobody else in this town did. The real her. After all, she was a monster too. Everyone knew it. She belonged, with him, in a way she’d never belonged anywhere before.

Use it or not, she'd be hanging onto his number for a while. It wasn’t as if she had a choice.

And then there was the third number. The one she didn’t want to think about. The most important number. Her number. Buffy Summers’s number. The Buffy Summers, the one Diana had told her about almost a year ago. The one Faith had known about, somehow, even before that, the face she’d glimpsed in her dreams the night before she’d woken up stronger and stranger and different than before.

The other Slayer – the real Slayer, Faith supposes, the good Slayer – had given her number to Faith herself on her third night in Sunnydale, after the big fight with Kakistos.

They’d been hungry, after dusting that old monster. Both of them. Starving. And, maybe, they'd both been feeling something else. Something that Faith had been sure she’d seen, deep in Buffy’s eyes, that very first night they’d met. A feeling she’d never been able to talk about it with anyone else, because they wouldn’t have been able to understand. The feeling she’d always gotten after a good slay. The high that kept her going, night after night, vamp after vamp.

They were hungry, but the only place open that late at night was a crappy little diner a few blocks away from the vamps’ old hideout. It had been nearly deserted when they’d shown up, no other customers at all, and for a minute Faith had been worried they’d be turned away. She probably would’ve been, she thinks, if she’d been on her own. Something about her just had that effect on people. She was trouble, she was a problem, and it was like everyone could smell it on her. Like a stink she couldn’t ever wash away.

But she’d been with Buffy, Sunnydale’s golden girl, and nobody in the world had ever known how to say no to her. That was why, not long after arriving, they’d been sitting together squashed up at a little plastic table, a table piled high with more burgers and fries and milkshakes than Faith had seen in one place for a long time. More food than she’d ever had since she’d lost Diana.

Buffy might have claimed to crave nothing more than low-fat yogurt back when she was with her friends, but Faith hadn’t bought it. No way that could be true. And that night, when it was just the two of them, Buffy hadn’t bothered to pretend. She’d torn through the burgers almost as fast as Faith, almost as if she didn’t have a mom at home who’d stay up late waiting for her and cook her hot food any time she asked. Almost as if she was as empty inside as Faith was.

At one point, she’d looked up at Faith, mouth still slightly smeared with sauce, and Faith had had the weirdest feeling. Because, fuck, this was Buffy Summers, the girl she’d dreamed about being the first night she was Called. This was the girl whose death she’d lived through in her nightmares, just like she’d lived through a second death bleeding out on the library floor at some vampire’s feet, and falling through the air to the ground far below, and hundreds of other deaths before that.

Buffy Summers, who Diana had told her stories about as if she were some kind of fairy tale. Buffy Summers, who she’d dreamed about again as she fled across the country, running for her life, not knowing where else she could turn to. Buffy Summers, who’d drowned but lived to joke about it, who’d never lost a fight, who blew up demons with rocket launchers and was really real. Who was real and alive and warm and sitting so close to her, and who – even disheveled and dirty after a fight, even with fading bruises on her arms and ketchup stains on her fingers – was the most beautiful girl Faith had ever seen in her life. Buffy Summers, who was like her, but better. Perfected. Perfect.

She’d looked up at her, and Faith had felt her heart lurch in her chest in a way that had nothing to do with all the greasy junk food they were eating. And for the first time in the longest time, she’d dared to let herself hope that maybe everything was going to be okay.

If things had been just a little different back then, if Buffy had given her just the smallest, slightest sign, Faith thinks she might have kissed her right then and there.

Not a quick kiss on the forehead, like she had after their big fight back in Angel’s mansion, but a proper kiss. The sort of kiss a girl like Buffy deserved. Romantic. Slow and deliberate. Gentle and soft and forgiving in a way that Faith could never make herself be.

But things hadn’t been different. They never were. Everywhere you went things were always exactly the same forever. Buffy had glanced away; a tired-looking waitress had shown up to ask if they were going to be done soon; the moment had slipped out of her fingers, unseized.

So Faith had just helped herself to the last few fries on Buffy’s plate when she was almost finished, smirked at her with her mouth full when the other girl protested, then left her to foot the bill and made her way alone back to her motel room.

Alone.

She’d been alone for months, out on the wrong part of town, and nobody had cared. Not really.

Giles had come round to see her once, much too late, almost a week after she’d arrived in Sunnydale. He’d looked over the place, peering over his glasses, barely managing to hide his distaste, and asked her haltingly if she was looking for somewhere else to stay. Well, nice try. Faith wasn’t about to fall for that one. What was he going to suggest: putting her up in the spare room in his place? Out of the goodness of his heart, or something? How dumb did he think she was?

“I’m five by five here, G-man,” she’d smiled insincerely, almost as keen to see the back of him as he obviously was to leave.

You couldn’t trust guys, even older guys who seemed okay at first. Even guys you were supposed to be able to trust. Especially not those guys. Faith wasn’t naive enough to think otherwise. She hadn’t been that naive for a very long time.

Buffy had come around to see her a few times, too. Not so much after they’d fought over Mrs Post’s glove – well, to be fair, Faith hadn’t exactly wanted to see her then either – but a couple of times. The last time was just before Christmas, when Buffy’s mom had guilted her into inviting Faith over for the night.

She might have kissed her that night, too. She might have, if she could’ve gotten away with it. Found some way to play it off as a joke. Lurked around the mistletoe and surprised her with a shy and furtive peck on the cheek at the stroke of midnight. She might have kissed her, if that damn vampire hadn’t shown up to ruin everything.

As it was, Buffy hadn’t even hung around to open Faith’s crappy little presents. She hadn’t even cared. Just abandoned Faith again, the way everyone else did. Left her to guard her mom like she was some kind of dog. Like she was a stray she’d briefly felt sorry for and invited into the warmth for a night, only to regret it when she realized how flea-bitten and mangy and disgusting she truly was.

She always thought she was better than you, Faith reminds herself angrily, hating the way she always forgets. Right from the beginning, and you never ever let yourself see it.

Sometimes she still thinks about calling her, even now. What for, she isn't sure. It's not like they were ever friends, is it? Not really. Buffy was just using her, same as everyone else. She gets that now, even if she'd never wanted to admit it. There was no way Buffy had ever been going to let her into her life for real. There was no way Buffy was going to admit that they were alike.

Still, she thinks about it, some nights. Most nights. She’s been thinking about it tonight.

It’s idiotic. She’s idiotic. She’s embarrassing herself again. it's just like Red had told her, back in the Mayor's office. It's too late, it's way too late. She knows that. She’s known it for a while. She’s not a stupid kid anymore.

Only … she’s never going to get another chance, is she? One way or another, it’s all going to be over soon.

It's well after midnight when she finally screws up the courage to pick up the phone. Not long to go until graduation day now. Not long to go until the Mayor's big ascension. This town will get what’s coming to it, and so will Buffy Summers. And so will she. Everything will be different.

"Willow?" Buffy says sleepily on the other end of the line, when Faith finally has the guts to dial her number. "Is that you? Are you okay?"

Faith feels herself scowling at the mention of that little witch's name, the smile she’d not been able to stop when she heard Buffy’s voice curdling on her face.

Red. That smug little witch. Of course Buffy would ask about her. Of course Buffy would choose her over Faith, again and again. Willow’s not a Slayer. She isn’t like them, she isn’t important. She’s soft and weak and shy and coddled and she’s got a family and a house and a future. She doesn’t need Buffy the way that Faith needs her. Why can’t Buffy see that?

Too late, she realizes how long it’s taking her to answer. Now Buffy's getting impatient. Sounding a little more stern.

"Who is this? What do you want?"

Faith freezes. The little script she’d pieced together in her mind all evening fades into gray nothingness. What does she want? Forgiveness, maybe. Absolution. For somebody else to really see her and agree that this was the only way that things could go. That, really, none of this was anybody’s fault. Or maybe she just wants a chance to say goodbye.

I should have kissed you, back then, she thinks. That night after we dusted Kakistos.

She can see in her mind exactly how it would have played out. Like a scene from a movie – not one of those grainy black and white flicks she used to watch on the broken television in the motel after patrol, but a real movie, on the big screen, so bright and colorful and sharp and real that it almost hurts to look at.

You'd have tasted sweet, but just a little salty, between those fries you were demolishing and the specks of strawberry milkshake waiting on your upper lip. You’d have tasted just like I imagined, all those summer nights on the run. And afterwards … afterwards, you’d have gone all shocked and wide-eyed for a second and neither of us would've said anything. Then you'd have turned all pink and protested and pretended you hadn’t been into it at all, and maybe you’d not have talked to me again for weeks and weeks afterwards. You’d probably have been weird about it for months.

But I think it would’ve been worth it. To show you. Who I was, and who you were. To take what I wanted, just for a moment. To have what I was sure we both wanted, deep down. What we both needed. To know that I was right, and that the two of us were the same. To taste it.

And now it's like ... it's like I'm drowning, like I can't breathe. I’m in that quarry the kids used to fool around in, back in Boston. I’ve jumped in from way up top like always, only something’s gone wrong. I'm stuck. I can’t get out, I can’t even move, and I'm waving for help but nobody can see me. Nobody wants to see me.

It’s just like it was back then, after I failed Diana, except I know nobody’s going to take my hand and drag me out this time. I know there’s nowhere left for me to run, and no other Slayer I can trek across the country to find is going to save me. I know the only way out is down into the dark. The only thing left to do is let the water in and drown.

Faith opens her mouth. Hesitates again, for the last time. Buffy doesn't give her another chance.

"I don't know who you are or how you got this number, but I know this isn't funny," the other girl whispers furiously. "It’s the middle of the night and I’m trying to sleep. Don't ever call here again."

The line goes dead before Faith can say a word.

#btvs #fanfiction #fuffy #asks #thanks!

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prettyboysdontlookatexplosions · 1 year

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when i was a kid my school would occasionally make me memorize stuff, by which i mean that we were given instructions to learn by heart something no one would ever think you could possibly learn by any method that did not involve some time spent sweating over basic facts or phrases detached from any other kind of complexity (i am including this loose off the cuff definition to distinguish these things from math facts, which we were also expected to memorize as far as i could tell but which many educators will tell you are best internalized through frequent contextualized use in problem solving, about which i have become very skeptical). some things off the top of my head i remember are a silly poem in third grade punning on "try try again"; the US postal codes, capitals, and map locations of every US state; the beginning of the declaration of independence and the preamble to the constitution; at least the beginning and possibly more than that of the gettysburg address; the order of the books of the bible (i went to episcopalian school); the first ten digits of pi (more than anyone will ever need for the sake of a calculation you can't use a calculator for). this kind of activity is pretty much wholly out of educational fashion these days, and i'm not saying that any of these was by itself important to memorize or that they were all assigned with the best intentions (my 7th and 8th grade history teacher was i believe at the time a doctoral student at columbia, which i pieced together later when i unexpectedly had him in college for a semester; he was much better with college students than with middle schoolers, whom he like pretty obviously disliked, although i do have some sympathy in retrospect for the nightmarishly patriotic textbook series the school had selected given that he was writing his dissertation on reconstruction, and i think assigned the gettysburg address as a way to avoid lesson planning).

but recently it occurred to me that there was actually an educative outcome, at least, in being asked occasionally to engage in the exercise of memorization, which is that it meant i learned how to memorize things. i gained a fresh appreciation for this when working with a student who also has a tutor for her foreign language class because, she said, she was really struggling with memorizing the conjugations, and then later i thought to ask her how she goes about memorizing things when she needs to, and she said basically she reads them over a lot, which is, like, not a memorization technique. i'm not actually sure how i learned to memorize - i think a lot of what i did was variations on things i imported actually from how my piano teacher taught me to memorize (start from the end, repeating the last measure 3 times with the music and 3 times without, then add the measure before, first in isolation, then putting them together) - and i don't remember any of my teachers giving us explicit instruction in memorization (unless you count my latin teacher having us chant the first declension until we could do it in our sleep), although it's entirely possible they did. and i didn't know, like, all of Best Practices for memorizing (such as the spacing effect). but the stuff i did more or less lined up with some stuff that cognitive research would seem to suggest, most crucially the fact that you have to test yourself to memorize, not just review, which i think might be something i picked up from becoming aware of like the concept of flashcards, which have also fallen very much out of favor in much of ed world. (i didn't always make flashcards, but for things like latin or science vocab in high school i would write out terms or words down a page, try to write their definitions/translations/etc. next to them, check my answers, and then try to do to that again until i got them all right).

anyway. like i alluded to above, i am coming to believe more and more that memorizing - not gaining fluency with, not practicing, but straight-up memorizing, set-up and answer and no in between, again and again and again - is maybe good in math, particularly once we get to multiplication. like, the thing about kids who have learned a lot of flexible strategies for quickly computing basic multiplication facts but have not been asked to well and truly fucking Memorize them is that they are good multipliers but division is fucking hard for them, which is sort of a microcosm of my general bone to pick with the anti-memorization people. sure, if a kid knows that that 6 x 8 is the same as 12 x 4 is the same as 24 x 2 is the same as 48, they can calculate 6 x 8 whenever they want and they also know a bunch about how numbers work together and that's neat and like probably there is a place for doing that kind of thinking in math. but the payoff of memorizing 6 x 8 = 48 is not, actually, limited to calculating 6 x 8, IMO. it's about adding to your mental toolbox of facts associated with the number 48 that you can quickly, almost automatically, retrieve if it might be handy. if you have that extremely tight long term memory association between 6 x 8 and 48, it is a lot easier for you to solve, for example, the equation x^2 + 14 x + 48, or to simplify the expression (x+8)(6x + 48) / (x^2 + 16 + 64), neither of which involves calculating 6 x 8. an academically useful thing my middle school math teacher was unusual in asking us to memorize was the first 25 perfect squares in both directions (the first 25 positive integers squared, and the square roots of the first 25 perfect squares). i feel like all middle schoolers should memorize those, because it constantly came in handy in high school to be able to look at 324 and know instantly it was 18 squared.

but - all that said - i kind of also just feel like, even setting the math of it all aside, knowing how to memorize shit is like, an important and useful life skill, and there are some domains once you get advanced enough where it becomes pretty much impossible to do well or progress in actually learning them if you can't memorize, such as learning any foreign language. so, i dunno. i kinda feel like maybe giving kids the occasional dumb thing to memorize, if it comes with some guidelines & instruction on what that process should look like (modeling how to test yourself, etc.), can be... good, maybe? or at least, like, fine. although i will also say all this also makes a GREAT argument for giving kids some kind of access to a drama class or at least some mini stage-related activity of some kind each year (my school had the sixth graders do a shakespeare, which was another earlyish memorization experience of mine and more fun than the declaration of independence).

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tammyjackson50-blog · 1 year

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five years ago || P.2

(writing without any plans, just what U'm thinkung at the moment, so I hope that it will turn out ok lol)

//<;- Part one // Part three ->

Summary: What happens when you find your way back to a good friend from the past through a song he wrote five years ago?

A week later

It has been a week since I made that post , and ever since then I didn't return the note with his song back to the box, I put it right next to my computer.

I already memorized the note because of the number of times I have read it.

I didn't believe that he would see my post, like, what are the odds? But….I check my email every day, even though I'm trying to just forget about it.

Anyway, it has been five years, will he even remember it at all?

"Bestie, did you check your email?" Kat asked, "Yes, I did, nothing new, Katie, we should just forget about it, it's a bit ridiculous, I guess," she laughs. "Oh, come on, don't tell me that you don't want him to see your post, that you are not waiting to talk to him again, so he could write songs for you again." I looked at her smiling—" not funny, didn't laugh “.

She got up and went over to the door of my room. "Come on, party pooper, let's go out , maybe an ice cream will cheer you up." I got up. "Who said that I'm upset?”.

The weather is getting hot, summer is around the corner.

"Kat, do you really want to go out of town now?" I asked my very lovely friend, who just loves doing stuff spontaneously. "YES, It’s going to be fun! " she said as she held my arm while we were walking towards the freaking train.

20 minutes later

"Ice cream, Katrina, ice cream," she looked at me, rolling her eyes, "I know, Y/N, I know! Sorry, Mcfly, but I know this good place, and they have amazing ice cream” She calls me Mcfly because of my favorite movie, "Back to the Future."

"I really hope that this ice cream is worth it, Styles." guess why I call her like that.

Few minutes have passed, and there are a lot of people in the train station, obviously, people who are going to work, people who are going to meet their friends or family members, hang out, and there are people who are not going on the train, people that are trying to make money by singing or playing instruments in the train station here.

Our train finally came, since there were many people it was kinda hard to get into the train.

As the door opened we were getting pushed by the people around us, people that are trying to get into the train like we are.

As we tried to get in,I accidentally pushed someone, causing them to drop the drink they were holding.

Somehow I managed to bend down to the floor to pick up the drink, while all the people around me rushed to the train.

I just prayed that I wouldn't get pushed or something.

“ I’m so sorry sir, I didn’t mean to” he got up and I looked at him “ no no that’s fine- Y/n? “ Everything stopped, for a moment I forgot about the train and Kat, it felt like a weird dream, he was the last person I thought I'd see “ Eddie? “ it was hard to even hear what he was saying because of the loud noises in the background but I swear that he said my name. “ Y/N WE NEED TO GO “ Kat grabbed my arm and then he held my hand, I don’t know what he tried to do but everything was going so fast that I held his hand for a second and I was already on the train.

We didn’t find a place to sit in the train for obvious reasons, we were a bit squashed because of the amount of people that were in the train.

I looked at my hand trying not to drop what I'm holding—a ring, a ring that slipped off one of his fingers, a ring that really made me believe it was really him and not just someone who looked like him.

Back at home

It was a nice day, honestly , and it went by really fast.

After we got out the train I told Kat what happened before she grabbed my arm so I wouldn't miss the train. We were in the line for the ice cream, it did look like a very promising place if you ask me.

“ What the fuck Y/n, are you joking ? “ she said and her voice was getting high from what I told her “ I wish I was joking Kat, I’m really confused “ the line was getting shorter.

“ What are you going to do now? “ I looked at the ring and said “ no idea Katie, probably nothing you know “.

We were talking about what happened, Kat wanted me to have fun and not overthink so much ,so we went to the mall and we just enjoyed the day together until the evening.

And here I am now, sitting in front of my computer in the dark, thinking about what happened in the train station, until my thoughts were cut off when a notification sound came out of my computer.

I got a message from my Gmail, so I clicked on it,

It was from someone named

- @ Michelle86

would you like me to continue?

Btw, my favorite movie is back to the future lol

#eddie x you #eddie stranger things #eddie x reader #eddie munson #eddie x y/n #eddie munson fic #eddie munson x y/n #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson imagine #stranger things 4 #boyfriend #fun fiction #imagine #rockstar eddie munson #eddie munson x you #stranger things #harry styles #back to the future #marty mcfly

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carleylyonwrites · 1 year

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Ever since 2016, my evenings and weekends have been filled with theatre. And I don't mean watching it — I mean creating it. Directing, performing, dramaturge-ing (is there an actual word for that?), flipping from hanger to hanger in closets stuffed to the brim with vintage costumes, rummaging through mountains of props, building up confidence in bright-eyed young actors, pacifying my fair share of divas... and holding my breath as the music fades down, the lights fade up, and the play begins.

All of this was crammed into the hours of the day not occupied by a nine-to-five job. Theatre is not something I have to do. It's something I choose to do because of the joy it brings me. I've been asked many times over the years by family and friends, "Don't you get tired?" And my honest answer has always been, "No way. I love it."

But today, in the year of our Lord 2023, as a 30-year-old woman who's been involved in something like 17 productions since graduating from college, I am officially tired.

It's kind of weird when I think about it, because I know people twice my age who are hustling just as hard — if not harder — than I was, and they don't seem to be burnt out. Then again, what's that thing people always say, something about how "the only person you should be competing with is yourself"? Pretty sure someone said that. Once. Maybe. Anyway.

This doesn't mean I don't adore live theatre, or performing, or directing. It doesn't mean I want to stop forever. But life has taught me that when intuition speaks, I'm a fool if I don't listen. When I picture sitting down at my desk to block a show, when I imagine finishing up my day job only to jump in the car and drive off to a rehearsal that will stretch all the way up to (and nowadays, past) this gal's bedtime, I feel visceral resistance, with two simple words permeating every ounce of my being:

Maybe you've got something in your life that has burnt you out, like theatre has burnt me out. Maybe your intuition is telling you it's time to take a break. If that's the case, consider this your sign to listen to that intuition. I did, and after politely declining a few opportunities in 2023 that — while lovely on paper — sent my gut running for the hills, I feel like I've just taken one giant exhale.

Without any further ado, and because we love a list in this house, here is a list of five things I'm going to do this year with all the glorious spare time I'll have in light of my lil hiatus from the stage.

Number 1: Literally Nothing Jerry: "So uh, what'd you do last night?" Elaine: "Nothing." Jerry: "I know, 'nothing,' but what did you actually do?" Elaine: "Literally nothing. I sat in a chair and I stared." I firmly believe that we as human beings should be shamelessly vocal in our desire to do nothing. In 2023, I will be blocking off entire evenings to do nothing. Get home from work, make some dinner, futz around with jigsaw puzzles, rewatch Gilmore Girls for the billionth time. And if someone asks me, "Hey are you busy Tuesday night? Wanna hang out?" on a night when I've scheduled nothing, my answer will be, "Yeah, sorry, I'm busy Tuesday doing nothing." Here's the way I look at it: My husband and I want to have a child soon. This may be the last year for the foreseeable future that I'm not responsible for the survival, happiness, health, and well-being of a helpless potato sack (albeit a cute potato sack whom I will love with all my heart) of a human being. So yeah. I feel like I deserve a year where, several nights per week, I do absolutely nothing. Number 2: Read a Bunch of Books I used to avoid reading for leisure at all costs. There are a few reasons for this. First and foremost, I was usually too busy reading scripts so I could come up with production concepts, block shows, conduct research, memorize lines... all that jazz. Second, I hated the ergonomics of reading. I was always uncomfortable, and I was too busy fixating on my discomfort to process any of what I was attempting to read. And third, I have this thing where I hate the way pages feel between my fingertips. Sacrilege, I know. Then, a year or so ago, I gave an e-reader a chance. And dangit, if that thing didn't change the trajectory of my entire life.

I dislike Jeff Bezos as much as the next middle class citizen, so I gerrymander my ethics by adoring my sticker-covered sage green Kindle Paperwhite, drawing the line at actually buying books from Amazon. Instead, I've turned into a Libby app addict, renting the e-books from my local library. And you know what? I can live with that. Especially because it's led to an approximately 3,900% increase in the number of books I read annually. I set a Goodreads goal to read 30 books in 2023. It's Feb. 1, and I've already read 12. I'm no mathematician, but all signs point to yes, devouring works of fiction is a way that I actually want to spend my time. Number 3: Paint Silly Little Pictures I'll keep this one short, because there's really no big story to it. Painting is one of those things that makes me feel warm, fuzzy, and fulfilled inside. Am I an expert painter? No. Are there hundreds of millions of better painters than me in this world? Absolutely. Do the images I paint make my heart happy? Yep. They really do. There is something so darn cool about seeing a thing or a place in my head, and then creating it out of thin air. That's what painting is for me. I just love it, plain and simple, but I've so rarely had the time to sit down and do it regularly. This year, Imma do that.

Number 4: Climb (Fake) Rocks Physical fitness is the worst thing ever, period. I don't want to work out. I don't enjoy working out. I don't feel healthy or happy or accomplished after I work out. I'm also 30, and I'd like to, you know, survive for a while yet. So, against all odds, I found a workout routine that doesn't make me want to curl up in a dark corner and die: rock climbing.

Rock climbing holds a special place in my heart as the one activity in high school gym class that I actually enjoyed. And when an old college friend and I recently reconnected, and I found out they were a member at a climbing gym, I thought, "Hmm... maybe. Just maybe."

Am I any good at it? Hell no. But is it tons of fun? Is it a challenge that for some reason keeps drawing me back in for more? Is the chalk bag I bought very adorable and aesthetically pleasing? Do I feel kinda sexy and adventurous while doing it?

Hell yes.

And you best believe getting home from rehearsals at 10:30 or 11 PM every night was draining my already non-existent motivation to exercise well below zero. Thus, the year of no theatre becomes the year I try (and probably fail, but who cares?) to become a semi-decent climber.

Number 5: Make Music I'm pretty darn lucky to have grown up in a musical household. Both my parents can play the piano, and I started messing around on a baby grand (I know, right? Privilege for days) when I was about 5 years old. I'm no Mozart, and I'm definitely not the best pianist in my family, but I can play pretty darn well, and I miss the days where I used to be able to sit at the piano for two, three, four-hour stretches and just play. Stumble through sheet music with my mediocre reading skills, figure out favorite songs by ear, play old classics that my muscles refuse to forget. I never want to say to someone, "Oh, I used to play all the time, but I can't remember any of it anymore." So this year, we're setting aside designated time for piano therapy.

In January, I learned how to play "Rocket Man." Solid start. So maybe I shoot to learn one song per month. That'd be pretty cool. And if a song a month is too much, that's okay, too. The chance to even sit and improv for a few hours after work is something that completely fell by the wayside when evenings were all booked up, and on weekends, exhaustion caught up to me and deterred me from using any kind of creative energy. The idea of waking up early on a Saturday morning and plucking away, no schedule, nowhere to be, no one to tell me it's time to stop? Yes, please.

Well, I guess that's it. Or as the kids say (I think they say this?), "That's it. That's the Tweet."

Happy 2023, everyone.

#stagelife #2023 diary

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saranghae-hoe · 9 months

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[SatoSugu Fanfic] 行かないで

Rating: SFW / PG

Pairing: Gojou x Geto (SatoSugu)

Note: 行かないで=ikanai de= don't go

AO3 Link

Despite the brisk chill in the air, he chose to sit outside of the café that used to be his favorite so many years ago. It was too late for the café to be open, but he sat in the once familiar chairs with their permanently chipped paint anyway, remembering how things used to be. A small smirk playing at the corner of his lips, he took a long drag from his cigarette, enjoying that slow burning feeling crawling down his throat and spreading into his lungs.

“I thought you quit.” A long lost voice peppered with bitterness called across the plaza.

Gojou turned to face the man he had once loved so passionately, so deeply, so…naively. It was a frightening romance where neither could get enough of the other. Seeing Geto's face in person again after so many years of only imagining it, thousands of memories flooded into his mind. Their happiness, their sadness, their anger; all of it washed over him in an instant. His lungs felt heavy as if he really were drowning. “Sorry,” he mustered, squashing the mini flame against the table.

Unimpressed, Geto sat in the chair opposite him. He looked at Gojou, held his gaze for a moment, and opened his mouth to say something. Nothing came out. Perhaps he was caught up in his own memories as well. Breaking eye contact, Geto moved his gaze to the remains of smoke trailing from the cigarette. Gojou watched him, watched him watching things. His heart pounded as if remembering what Geto being so close had done to him in the past. His fingers twitched, a reflex urging him to grab the hand that used to fit so perfectly with his. He remembered all the things he had loved–still loved–about Geto. His sharp, dark eyes and his even sharper wit; a partner in battle, in love.

“How long will you be in the area?” Geto asked suddenly, unable to take the silence any longer. There had been a time when the silence between them had been comfortable, enjoyable even. Just two souls sharing their space and their time. Any sense of ease between them had dissipated. They were strangers now. Worse than strangers, actually. They were just people they used to know.

Gojou looked away from him, staring down the desolate alleyway ahead of him. Was this the only thing Geto wanted to ask him, after all their time apart? “Just until Sunday,” he answered, reaching for another cigarette without thinking, subconsciously missing the feeling of something between his fingers. He stopped himself.

“One day?” Geto frowned. “You haven’t shown me your face in how many years…”

“I have to get back. You’ve created a lot of trouble for us, after all,” Gojou said wryly, giving in and sliding a cigarette out of his pack. “Sorry,” he mumbled around the white stick, holding his lighter to his mouth.

“Why did you ask to meet?” Geto said, finally asking the million dollar question.

Gojou had been waiting for this question ever since he had called Geto earlier in the day. He still wasn’t sure what his answer was. A lull in the fighting had him wandering to old haunts, his mind filled with thoughts of his old lover as places they used to visit appeared before him. They spent the day together there, a night together here…every storefront seemed to drive another nail into his chest. Before he fully realized what he was doing, his phone was in his hand and he was entering a number he somehow still had memorized. He wondered briefly, as he listened to the dial tone, if the number would even work. After all, why would Geto leave himself so easily contacted? A tremble of excitement tore through when the line connected, a nostalgic voice greeting him brightly, unaware of who was waiting on the other side.

Noticing that Geto was still waiting for him to answer, Gojou shrugged, taking a deep, soothing drag. “Not sure,” he said.

Geto frowned, either from the smoke or Gojou’s answer. “Not sure?” he questioned. “Aren’t we a little past this game?”

Gojou grinned around his cigarette. He didn’t think he’d get this far. He didn’t have any sort of plan. He had never needed one with Geto before. What did he actually want? To apologize or to get an apology in return, for all the things they had said to each other? To ask him to explain himself and his actions? It was unlikely that he’d get anything that he was truly looking for. “To see your face again,” he finally answered. It wasn’t a total lie.

He wasn’t sure what he expected Geto’s response to be. Gojou watched out of the corner of his eye as the man he had once shared everything with gave an incredulous sigh. Then, Geto reached out and grabbed the cigarette from his lips. He watched with interest as Geto brought the small flame to his own mouth and inhaled, his eyes closing with the sensation. “Shoko?” he asked, letting the smoke out of his lungs slowly, not giving the cigarette back.

“She’s good,” Gojou said, reaching for another cigarette, but found his pack empty. “Busy, as you might have guessed.”

Geto laughed dryly. “I’m sure she’s pissed.” Noticing Gojou's shortage, he handed the cigarette back. “You really should quit.”

“I won’t call you like this again,” Gojou blurted.

Anger and pain and betrayal flashed wildly through Geto’s dark eyes. “Satoru,” he purred, his tone heavy with disappointment. Gojou tried to ignore the way hearing his name come from those lips made him feel. Calling him out had been a mistake. “I asked you to join me, and you turned me down,”

No, no, no…he didn’t want to hear this.

“You said we could still see each other.”

Gojou didn’t want to hear how betrayed Geto felt when he was still nursing his own wounds. Geto asked him to follow. Gojou asked him to stay. Neither one had the power to go against their own convictions. It didn’t matter how much they loved each other. At that time, it wasn’t a lesson they were prepared to accept. The years had not made their separation any easier to comprehend.

“I waited for you to contact me so many times.”

Stupidity. Naivety. If he didn’t have such a vivid recollection of that day, he would hardly believe he had agreed to something like that. Had he really thought they could act like nothing had changed? Knowing how much death had stacked up on their side, how much pain Geto’s actions had caused, Gojou couldn’t maintain his sanity and face both sides at the same time. He wasn’t strong enough for that.

“And then you call me after how many years, ask me to meet…just to say you only wanted to see my face.” Geto leaned back into his chair, raising his head to look at the murky skies above. “Well, have you had your fill yet?” He turned his neck so Gojou could see the small smile he was wearing.

This had truly been a mistake. If he spent any longer sitting beside him, what stupid thing would come out of his mouth next? He couldn’t let this momentary weakness continue. “I’ll go grab us some coffee,” Gojou said abruptly, flicking his cigarette to the ground. He stood and intended to start walking. Geto made a sound and it made his breath halt.

If he asked me not to go right now, what would I say?

If he asked me to stay, how should I answer him?

He wasn’t sure how many heartbeats he stood there for, but still Geto said nothing. That was his answer. Gojou finally started walking, heading in the direction of a convenience store, but didn’t have any intention of going inside.

Either the wind or his mind was playing tricks on him, but he swore the sound of a softly whispered 行かないで touched his ears. Foolish as it was, Gojou turned around. The only thing that remained in that spot was a trail of smoke from his still smoldering cigarette.

“Aren’t you the one who left first?”

#satosugu #jujutsu kaisen #jjk #satosugu fanfic #jujutsu kaisen fanfic #jjk fanfic #gojou satoru x geto suguru #gojou satoru #geto suguru #angst

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xivu-arath · 1 year

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vit, on quesh

“Become a Republic privateer, they said. It’ll be profitable, they said. Funny how no one mentioned the visiting toxic warzones part in the pitch.”

“You can just leave,” Akaavi points out from where she’s leaning against the wall of the hangar. “You seem to bear no love for the Republic.”

“Don’t say that too loudly, or Corso will pout.” Thankfully, Corso himself isn’t close enough to hear the jibe – he’s still involved in a game of sabacc with Bowdaar, and has been stuck trying to beat the Wookie for the last hour. “Anyways, it’s not every day that someone offers me their entire fleet if I bail them out of trouble. I’m a simple man, and I like the simple pleasures in life – ships and credits.”

For some reason, she doesn’t look like she’s buying that last line. For someone with no eyebrows, Akaavi is very good at giving the impression that she’s raising hers.

“Don’t let the Captain fool you,” Risha says, lounging gracefully despite the fact that she’s sorting through some of the latest cargo from Balmorra. It’s a talent he still hasn’t managed to pick up, and he’s banged his shoulder – once, memorably, on C2 – a few times trying. “He’s got a selfless streak buried underneath all that charm.”

“Hardly a streak. More like... a soft spot. A very small soft spot, okay?” Vit says, trying to defend whatever shreds remain of his tough spacer reputation. At least Bowdaar’s busy or he’d be fending off exaggerated stories of getting tame bogwings down from trees. “Anyways, these guys have ships and credits and if I don’t come through for them, no one else is going to.”

“Not the Republic?” Akaavi asks, and he twitches his lekku in restrained contempt.

“The Republic only steps in with us when we’ve got something it wants. It won’t rescue some deniable assets with an Imperial target on their backs.”

“Smart,” Risha says. “And ruthless, of course. That’s the trouble with working with the big players – they know just how much you’re worth, and they can always throw you away and get a few dozen replacements.”

“And that’s why I don’t trust ‘em, pretty ideals and all,” he says firmly. “If you’re not entirely with them, you’re not worth all that much.” It’s something he almost hopes Corso won’t ever figure out for himself. Sure, his automatic support of the Republic’s a bit naive but he’d rather have him hold on to that and maybe be proven right sometimes than have a rude awakening at the worst moment.

“So helping them means you’ll be risking your life.” That’s Akaavi again, and Vit doubts she actually cares about the privateers in the first place – she’s just trying to figure him out, staring as if she’s about to bore a hole in him with her eyes alone. Fair enough. It’s not as if Balmorra was a good opportunity for either of them to get to know each other.

Well. He did get very well acquainted with her penchant for dropping in unexpectedly and killing people. No one should look that attractive while whirling that oversized mace around. And heshould have more survival instinct than noticing that when people are shooting at him.

“Risking my life for credits, Akaavi. I do that all the time anyways, no matter what some might imply about my intentions.” He can feel Risha rolling her eyes at him and flips his lekku back at her. “But it being worth it doesn’t stop me from complaining about, again: toxic warzone.”

“Complain too much and the Imperials will find a new target to shoot at,” Akaavi says, which... might be a joke or serious. It’s hard to tell, with Mandalorians.

“And that’s why I’m taking you with me. I get to complain, you get to bash people over the head, we both end up happy.”

He can’t be sure, but he thinks that gets her grimly murderous expression to lighten up to grimly stern instead. Well, at least he knows how to keep his crew satisfied.

“I know you don’t know how to be careful, but try to come back alive,” Risha drawls. “It’d be a shame if we had to go in and rescue you. Poison is terrible for my complexion.”

“Yeah, and Bowdaar would need to take a bath for a solid week,” he jibes back. Akaavi is still watching them, with the intent focus of someone listening to a language they don’t know very well. “I’ll do my best to not get shot. C’mon, Akaavi – let’s go earn ourselves a fleet.”

#wip days #my words #vitnako #awww I should have written more with vit #he's fun

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juniperhillpatient · 1 year

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🔥 The Scream franchise (or just the piece you care the most about)

Hm well I just think it’s the best franchise of all time!

I love every single installment. Obviously the first movie is a classic & honestly the most iconic movie ever made. Every single line is a banger, the cast is flawless - the surprises are fun every time, the mystery is perfect & it’s just my favorite movie for a season. All the movies are great but 2 & 3 were slightly less memorable for me personally. 4 was a banger to me - & I’ll fully admit a huge part of that is my love for Emma Roberts lol! But I also just think 4 regained some of the cleverness & wit that makes Scream so fun & wasn’t quite as memorable in 2 & 3, sorry. They were still good but I just feel like 4 had much more memorable main characters & the intro with the different Stab movies is so fun! Also we see the closest Sidney has come to death ever which is really scary!

The 5th movie is also great! Love the new cast, love Sidney getting sent off (although I feel bad for Neve getting done dirty) loved Jenna Ortega’s performance more than anything. I can’t wait for more of the Carpenter sisters’ characters in season 6!

I also love the MTV series! It’s flawed & it gets some hate but you know what? It did a really great & fun job carrying over the vibes of the Scream franchise to a TV show to me. Shit, I might need to do some re watching I’m just remember how freaking fun that show was! I loooooved the characters of the OG cast soooo much too Omg Emma & Audrey & Brooke & Jake were my OTPs & Noah was such a fun character!

Now - controversial but I also enjoyed the new cast of season 4 (iirc that’s the right season, if I got it wrong sorry I’m too lazy to google lol). I think the mystery was well done & the main flaw was that they tried to do too much with too many characters in a very short time. That said, the characters were intriguing & if we’d gotten more seasons with them I think I’d have grown to love them like I did the cast of seasons 1-3!

Anyway this basically gave me an excuse to ramble about how much I love Scream so thanks! 😁

#scream #asks #ask games #Ty! 💕

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kxlinthesky · 1 year

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EPISODE 4 LIGHT NOVEL Chapter 3-4 English Translation

The chapel was deserted.

All was still and quiet as the grave... until a loud, ominous creeeak shattered the silence. The back door leading to the engine room opened, admitting two individuals into the chamber. One was the older brother of the family head, Cain. The other was the groom-to-be, Jack.

Together, the pair proceeded into the chapel proper, Cain with a noticeable spring in his step. “– lunar eclipse will start soon,” he was saying as he walked up to the horoscope. He halted in its center. “Did Anastasia read your fortune for you today?”

“... No,” Jack replied, “Nasha said there was no need, since it was obvious I’d be happy.”

“I see. Well, you don’t find happiness by sitting on your ass and waiting for it to come to you, anyway.” The lights in the chapel had been lowered in preparation for the ceremony under the eclipse, and perhaps that was why Cain’s smile looked oddly warped.

Jack’s mouth pressed into an uncomfortable line. “So, um, you said you wanted to talk?” he prompted. “... You sent that letter, of all things, and I still don’t have my lines for the vows completely memorized yet. I need to get back to Eliza soon.”

“Oh, come on, you can hang around a little while longer. She’ll be coming here anyway once it’s time for the ceremony,” Cain replied, tugging on Jack’s arm. “That being said... you really are a lucky guy, Jack. You were born into a branch family and you don’t have that much magic, but you’re still going to succeed the McCreech family once you marry Eliza.”

Jack’s eyebrows furrowed. His head slowly tilted to the side. “... Eliza’s the one who’s going to take on that responsibility, not me. I love her... I want to support her. I don’t care about power or anything. That’s all there is to it.”

“Ha!” Cain’s short, barking laugh echoed through the chamber like a gunshot. “You know, this family has an absurd amount of power, especially from the outside looking in, so you have to know that what you just said is laughable, right? Aren’t you frustrated?”

Jack’s head tilted even further. “You’re a McCreech, too; you don’t have to tell me that. I know that alchemy isn’t some pretty little world of magic and wonder. Toolmakers and historians carry a heavy burden, and if that power destroyed the current economic equilibrium, a lot of people would go down with it. Ever since we were young, Eliza’s been giving her family serious thought, worrying and suffering the whole time... and she’s still trying to stand on her own two feet despite that.”

A tiny smile rose unbidden to Jack’s face as he went on, fond and sad in equal measure. “She’s been trying to push Nasha – Anastasia away as a kindness. It’s as the master’s always said – ‘To use our power correctly, we require strength and those who would support us.’” Jack focused his attention back on Cain. “... What have you seen this whole time when you looked at her – at this whole family?”

“Haah – ugh....” Cain let out a long, gravelly sigh, bending so far over backwards it was a wonder his back didn’t crack. He pressed his hands to his face, but they weren’t enough to mask the jealousy, irritation, and rage dancing across his expression. “This is why ignorant children are...!” His nails clawed at the air, shredding his reason to bits. “You don’t get it!” he exploded. “You don’t understand what this family is worth, what we can do! We hold in our hands the source of power and influence the likes of which peasants can’t even dream of!”

Cain’s voice rose in a screech dripping with malice, and with it went every last scrap of whatever veneer of refinement he’d managed to build. “Now is the era of weapons! And yet my foolish father and younger brother continue to hide behind their pathetic jeweler mask without even trying to grasp the easy profits within their reach. What good does researching the truth do? Soon the time will come where those who support military might and healthcare will triumph, and we could be one of them! We have that power! And yet they don’t even try! Why?! Are they idiots?! I could do so much more! I could rise into the ranks of nobility – it would be child’s play, even!... But I was passed up as the successor because my magic is weak, in favor of my idiotic brother who spends his days tinkering with his little machines! That bastard can go straight to hell for all I care!”

With the true depths of his fury laid bare, Cain struck at Jack. The groom, however, immediately tilted his body back and deflected the incoming fist, falling into a bow stance. “The person who taught me medicine also taught me martial arts,” he told Cain. “If you keep going, I’ll have no choice but to take you on. Is that all right with you?”

There was a pause. Cain clicked his tongue. He pointed a fist at Jack, and a misty sort of liquid sprayed out from the ring on his finger.

“Ah?!”

Jack was blinded by the roiling cloud, throwing an arm up to shield his eyes, and that was all the opening Cain needed to shove him down. As the groom went sprawling onto the floor, Cain pressed hard on his chest.

“What are you doing?!” shouted Jack. He struggled to get up, but Cain kept him planted firmly in place, straddling his chest and striking him across the cheek.

“Don’t worry, Jack,” murmured Cain. “Eliza will be yours, just like you wanted.”

Around them, the chapel’s shadows grew deeper, darker.

The eclipse had begun.

The edge of the moon was slowly turning pitch-black. As the white disc in the sky eroded away, so too did the moonlight shining through the skylight start to fade.

“Do you know what this is...?” Cain shook a tiny glass vial in front of Jack’s face. Dark crimson liquid splashed around inside the perfume-like bottle. “This is a drug used by the secret service.”

“A drug...?” echoed Jack weakly.

“More specifically, poison. If a person takes small doses of it over a long period of time, they’ll die. And what’s more, this particular poison is special – completely undetectable in the human body. I could’ve created my own poison if I wanted, but anything I made would’ve left an alchemical trace behind. This, though... this makes it look like they died of natural causes.” Cain shook the vial again and leaned in close, his voice dropping to barely a whisper. “And I’m going to make you take it. Three doses and you’ll wither away before everyone’s eyes.”

“Make me – you can’t mean, Eliza...?!” A shiver wracked Jack’s spine. That look on Cain’s face... it was downright unholy. He shoved the man on top of him as hard as he possibly could, but Cain was just too heavy to dislodge. “You’re insane! You devil!” Jack screamed. “I won’t let you do this!”

Cain bared his teeth in a feral grin. “Sorry to inform you, but I’m perfectly sane. I’ve always been like this – my father even said I was a ‘carbon copy of our ancestors.’ The McCreeches of old were full of rational folk like me.” It was something he clearly took pride in, if the subtle puffing of his chest was any indication. “I’ve already slipped several doses of this into Eliza’s tea, and oh, was it thrilling every time! My father and Arby can testify to how well it works.”

“Huh...?” Jack was struck speechless.

His father and brother. All those times they drank the tea – that meant....

His words fell like stones, heavy and hesitant. “The previous head’s declining health... his passing... and the current master’s recent illness... you mean...?”

“I do indeed,” Cain answered.

Jack’s body and voice trembled. “A-And that drug, Eliza’s taken it, too?!”

“A tiny bit every morning,” Cain replied with a cruel smile. “She’s cautious around me, doesn’t let her guard down, but she’s much more relaxed around the servants. That woman borrowed money from me, you see. She listens to whatever I tell her to do.”

“The servants? That woman....” Jack’s mind flashed back to earlier in the day, when everyone had gathered over the unconscious servant. There had been another servant there.... “Wait, her? From back then?”

“Unfortunately, she’s also stupid. I told her to say that she saw you roughing up that other servant, but she was too scared to even manage that. I told her to switch the emblems of the rooms upstairs and steal all the elemental keys, but she only managed to switch two plates and grab the water key.” Cain shook her head, lips curled in distaste. “But she did at least manage to dose Eliza’s tea every day, so I’ll give her that. This right here is the third and final dose. With this, Eliza will wilt away along with her foolish father.”

“No...!” Jack’s expression fell into complete, utter despair. He writhed in place, desperate to escape his confines. “How dare you!” he screamed.

Cain cackled. If Jack’s expression was a storm cloud, Cain’s was a clear, sunny day. “Hey, don’t worry, I’ll at least let you have the wedding ceremony tonight – well, your body, at least.”

“My body?”

“Oh, yes.” With a low chuckle, Cain pressed his palm directly over Jack’s heart and murmured, “Tonight, your soul will leave your body and vanish into nothing. And tonight, my body will die. That makes us even, right? You’ll lose your soul; I’ll lose my body.”

Jack shook his head wildly. “Wh-What are you saying?” He couldn’t wrap his head around the nonsense Cain was spouting.

Cain struck him across the face again in lieu of a response. He then climbed to his feet only to lash out with a sharp kick into Jack’s side, the impact and Jack’s weak groan mingling in the air. The poor groom curled into a ball on the ground, his hands clutching at his side as he coughed.

With Jack preoccupied, Cain approached the great model of the solar system. He reached out and began shifting the piece representing the Earth. “I’d wanted to wait until the eclipse was at its peak, but those two alchemists know about the keys,” he grumbled. “Now I have to move things along before they can interfere. Oh, there’s no need to worry, by the way – that servant already proved that this will work.”

Jack weakly raised his head, but his body couldn’t follow. “The... servant...? You don’t....” His fingers desperately scrabbled for purchase on the horoscope tiles beneath him.

“I proved that his body wouldn’t die even after I stole his soul out from his shadow,” Cain continued. “I can freely take over your body, no problem.”

“That... was your doing...?! That’s – human experimentation?! Human sacrifice?!”

Cain waved the accusation off like it was nothing. “It’s fine, he was actually a pretty nasty piece of work. If the police had caught him, he would’ve got the death penalty anyway. That’s why I hired him for my experiment. He was a good worker.”

“You’re a monster...!”

“Oh, don’t get so upset, our ancestors did it, too,” Cain said flippantly. “They’d transfer their souls into younger bodies on lunar eclipses to preserve their knowledge and their studies for eternity – this entire tower is one gigantic tool for that exact purpose. And tonight, I will follow in their footsteps. I will take your body, marry Eliza, and finally obtain everything – this house, this family, your powerful magic! Now let’s get started!”

Cain ecstatically turned the lock on the Earth piece, anchoring it in place. From where Jack was lying on the floor, it now overlapped perfectly over the sun relief against the back wall.

“This device will pull your soul from your body and transfer my soul into your empty vessel. What a happy ending! Your body will live on, married to Eliza! But well, after the marriage goes through and I steal her magic, I’ll administer the last dose of poison to that cheeky woman and send her back to you, how’s that sound? That way you won’t be lonely for long.” Cain held his hands out over the model’s pedestal. A specialized alchemical circle, made of four overlapping rings, sprang to life under his palms. “Originally this device needed four alchemists to function... but my ring is specially made, you see? Beautiful, isn’t it? It was a good thing I managed to get my hands on it. It can stand in for the four keys.” His face glowed with merciless rapture. This was no longer a man – this was a feral beast standing confident, knowing that everything it wanted was within its grasp.

He snapped his fingers. The sun relief suddenly lit up, bathing the entire chamber in light, but with the Earth piece where it was, the part of the horoscope Jack was in remained swathed in shadow. The sun, the Earth, and the horoscope formed a perfectly straight line... almost like....

Jack’s breath caught in his throat. “... An eclipse....”

“Now die, Jack!” Cain howled. “Die for my glory!” He leisurely walked around to the front door, where the light of the spell didn’t reach, and watched on with unholy glee.

Jack struggled to his feet, gritting his teeth through the pain. He had to stop Cain. He had to make sure Eliza wasn’t caught up in this horrific plan. He had to save her.

He took a step forward.

“Jack!”

The back door slammed open. Eliza came flying through.

“Eliza...!” Jack gasped.

The chapel burst with an emerald flash, suffusing Jack’s body before he could blink. In an instant, a wave of blackness crashed against his mind, calling his consciousness away. He couldn’t resist. As his soul, his very self, began to vanish from his body, Jack looked at Eliza.

His beloved.

There was no time to warn her of Cain’s sinister plot, but he could manage a single smile in his final moments.

... It’ll be all right. You’re clever. You’ll understand. You can escape this.

In that instant –

BOOOM!! An earthshattering quake rocked the bergfried to its very foundations.

And as the tower swayed, Jack’s soulless body lost all strength and toppled to the floor in a crumpled heap.

“NOOOO!”

With a scream, Eliza dashed over to Jack. Her toes caught on the hem of her dress as she ran, and she toppled to the ground, dislodging her tiara and sending the metal skittering across the tiles, but she scrambled up and kept going like she didn’t even notice. When she reached Jack’s body she fell to her knees and cradled him to her chest. “Jack! What’s wrong?!” she cried.

Jack didn’t so much as stir.

Cain blinked. “Oh, you’re early, Eliza,” he said, mildly surprised.

Eliza turned an aggravated glare on Cain. “What did you do to him?!”

“You fool,” he sighed. “And here I thought we could’ve held the ceremony after the soul transfer without a fuss. You’re quite the miserable woman.”

“Wh... What? What are you saying...?”

Instead of answering, Cain turned once more to the solar system and raised the hand wearing the ring toward the pedestal. With a ga-chunk, the model began to rotate. “Don’t worry,” he said as he went, “I’ll use Jack’s body well. I’m going to transfer my soul into it, you see. This should work out in your favor, too, don’t you think? He’s too weak to bear the responsibility of our family, and he probably doesn’t know how to treat a lady right, besides.”

The blinding light within the chapel was slowly turning a pure, brilliant white. Cain licked his lips like a wild animal. His victory was assured. Above them, the silvery moon continued to fade, its light replaced by a blood red disc.

As the chapel darkened, Eliza’s voice echoed through the chamber like a gunshot. “– You’re unforgivable.” Her voice, her entire body, shook with pure fury.

“No!” Another voice shouted at them from above, as if to drown Eliza out. Anastasia came flying down the stairs. “Sister, run!” The younger girl ran full tilt toward her sister, Ellie trailing behind her. The two had been watching everything from the balcony for some time – they had seen with their own eyes what happened between Cain and Jack.

“You can’t, you can’t switch bodies and souls...!” Ellie’s voice was tinged with desperation. She knew something the others didn’t. The two sprinted as fast as their little legs could carry them, hoping beyond hope that they could save Jack and Eliza from a terrible fate....

But someone grabbed their arms before they could get very far, dragging them away from the light and into a shadowy corner of the room. “Stop!” the stranger hissed. “That horoscope is a special alchemical technique! If you step into the light you’ll get caught in it, too!”

Anastasia and Ellie looked up, startled, to find a silver-haired young man standing there. He had been with Owl earlier, he was....

“Huitt...?”

And as Ellie quietly said his name, the door burst open with a thunderous BANG!

Standing there in the open doorway was Owl, with Tristan, Ralph, and Hannah just behind him.

Owl noticed the two hiding in the corner immediately and dashed up to them, calling, “Ellie! Anastasia! What happened?!” He had seen the light leaking from the cracks in the doorway, had felt the tremor rock the tower. Whatever was going on, it was clearly not normal.

Pale as a ghost, Anastasia raised a trembling hand and pointed at Cain. “U-Uncle... Uncle Cain is...!” She couldn’t get the words out. It was too much. Everything she’d seen, everything she’d heard up on the balcony, it had shocked her to her very core. She could barely produce a sound, let along a full sentence.

Ellie answered in her place. “Owl, Mr. Jack’s soul was....”

His soul.... “The forbidden art of soul separation?!” Owl glanced around wildly. “No, it can’t – it shouldn’t work without four alchemists!” There weren’t enough alchemists in the room until Owl’s group had showed up!

“He was alone!” Ellie shouted.

“Alone?” Then how? Owl’s eyes narrowed in Cain’s direction.

The man had the gall to raise his hands in mock surrender like the whole thing was one big joke. “I don’t know what they’re talking about,” he said with a hint of self-deprecation. “I didn’t do anything – hell, I don’t have the magic to do anything. The alchemy infused into the tower just had a bit of a malfunction, that’s all. Jack will wake up soon enough. Just give it a bit.”

Owl wavered for a split second. It was true, after all. Cain wasn’t powerful enough to activate the spell. Unfortunately, Cain took advantage of his hesitation to continue shifting the glowing white planets on the model around, and ancient script along the base shining brighter and brighter with every adjustment.

“Don’t touch those!” Anastasia yelled, quaking with horror. She had seen the tragedy occur once already... who knew what would happen if he set it off a second time?

Of everyone in the chapel, one person saw her reaction and realized the truth of what was going on. Tristan was quick to act.

“Inescapable World!!!”

Clang! The butt of his cane struck the floor. In an instant, Tristan’s alchemy spread out from around his feet, turning the entire chapel floor into one giant golden chessboard.

“Tristan?!” Owl yelped, whirling around to face his father in surprise.

“Owl! Stop Cain and get Jack’s body!”

“Huh?”

“We can’t let him do what he wants!” Tristan shouted. “Jack must have lost his soul! I can keep it from escaping if it’s still in the circle, but not forever! Hurry!”

Owl still didn’t fully understand what was going on, but one sharp glare from Tristan was enough to send him running for Jack’s body in a desperate bid to protect it. He knew that the older man’s judgment was sound in situations like this; he had survived many a battlefield in his day, after all, and his capacity for split-second decision making was second to none.

– But this situation had progressed beyond even his imagination.

“Unforgivable! I won’t forgive you! Jack, please, no, don’t leave me here alone...! I won’t, I can’t forgive you...!”

Eliza’s teary voice, rapidly turning raw from screaming, whirled through the air like a furious maelstrom. A faint breeze began to pick up around her.

“Eliza?” Owl felt the wind pulling at his ankles and stumbled to a halt. His eyes caught something black gradually pouring out from beneath her feet. “... That’s –?!”

He could hardly believe it, but there was no mistaking the signs. Eliza’s wedding dress was slowing darkening, snow-white to ash gray to inky black. A chill crept down Owl’s spine. “Miasma... she’s Demonizing!” He immediately changed course, grabbing Ellie and Anastasia by the shoulders and shoving them toward Tristan. “Don’t come any closer! Get behind Tristan, now!”

Ellie and Anastasia resisted – they wanted to go to Eliza, help Eliza – but Ralph and Hannah stepped up and carried them over to hide them behind Tristan. Anastasia was in tears as she struggled mightily in the butler’s arms, wracked with despair. “Let me go!” she screamed. “Eliza is –!”

Ralph refused to budge a single inch. “It would be best to do as Master Owl says,” he told her. “Please stay here, where you will be safe.”

“You absolutely can’t get any closer either, Lady Ellie!” Hannah tried to cajole Ellie as well, but the girl kept her eyes firmly locked on Owl’s back.

“Again...?” As Owl raced for Jack’s body again, Ellie clasped her trembling hands together. “I... can never do anything....”

Sadness, helplessness, and distress swirled and eddied in her heart as her head drooped low.

Owl rushed up to Eliza. She was still clutching Jack’s body. “Eliza! Stay strong!” he called. “I’m going to pick up Jack!” He reached out for Jack –

“Don’t touch him!!!”

“?!”

Before Owl could so much as blink, thorny vines as black as night burst out of the ground and slammed into his side, sending him careening all the way back to the edges of the chamber.

“Ugh...!”

The black vines cracked against the floor in an unmistakable threat, warning anyone else from getting closer. They were already clawing their way up her body from the hem of her dress. Several of the slender vines wound around each other until they formed a massive whip as thick as a crocodile’s tail that smashed into the ground in anguish. More and more thorns wriggled out of the ground until the entire chapel floor had turned into a veritable spiky pit.

“She’s degrading so fast...?! Why?! She didn’t look infected at all!” Owl swiped his gloved hand across the floor and shouted, “Transmute!”

A golden formula appeared around his hand.

“Wave molecule!”

A burst of flame roared to life and hurtled straight for the thorns, but they disappeared before they could reach Eliza in the center of the writhing mass. To make matters worse, more thorns wormed their way out from the burnt section of floor as if they were sparked to life by the flames.

“Shit...!” Owl clicked his tongue. He couldn’t get any closer.

Meanwhile, Eliza clung to Jack’s body, sobbing her heart out. “Jack... my Jack...! You were the only one who understood my pain...!!” There was something black spilling from her lips as she spoke – miasma in the shape of flower petals, pouring out like a waterfall.

“No! Stop!” Owl shouted as the top of his lungs. “You have to control yourself! Tristan can still...!”

But it was no use. The miasma danced around the writhing thorns as if spurring them on, and together they began to enshroud Eliza’s body. It wasn’t long before the bride vanished under a dark cocoon in the waning moonlight. “No! NO! ELIZA! STOP!”

– At last, the moon hung completely black in the dead center of the skylight. The dark hole in the night sky slowly lightened, turning into a crimson pool of blood casting an ominous glow over the land, sowing unease in the hearts of all who bore witness to its eerie shine.

And under its sinister light, a golden crown started to glitter.

Anastasia saw the giant black cocoon bathed in the scarlet light of the moon and began to wail. “Why?! Sister, why?! Mr. Jack wouldn’t want this!”

Her pleas were for naught; the cocoon was an impenetrable barrier through which nothing could hope to reach, and Eliza was lost in its depths. Unlike the other Demonizations, this time the shell began to faintly burn as it cracked open, its surface sizzling as the miasma charred and crumbled into ash.

And the silhouette inside, when it appeared, simply stood there quietly.

Owl couldn’t speak. He could hardly even breathe. A dreadful chill coursed through his being, every hair on his body standing on end. He unconsciously took a single step back.

“Lilith...!”

The person who emerged from the cocoon was a bride clad in pure black.

A wheel of darkness, so pure it was almost divine, stood against her back. Her face was masked by blood red roses under her flowing veil. Most terrifying of all, though, was the lower half of her body... because it wasn’t there. Everything below the waist was gone, replaced by a vast expanse of burgundy darkness ready and waiting to swallow anything and everything into its embrace of crawling thorns.

Eliza had taken on the form of a Demon that was the stuff of nightmares itself, Lilith.

“What have you done to my husband...?”

Her voice was a mere whisper, but the piercing cold in her words was an icy spear that penetrated Owl’s ears just fine. A shudder wracked his very core. Every nerve was pinched and frozen, as if her single sentence had dropped him into an arctic snowfield.

“Sister....” Anastasia felt the effects, too. So powerfully, in fact, that she couldn’t bear the weight. She collapsed in a dead faint without another word.

Owl clapped his hands to his ears. “This can’t be...” he muttered.

This was wrong.

This was all wrong.

All the Demons Owl had faced thus far had lost themselves to their desires, reduced to savage, howling beasts incapable of reason. But she was different. Her power, her intelligence... her everything was beyond any Demon he’d ever seen. She wasn’t a clown, wasn’t an animal... Lilith was a woman. The first woman, the one born alongside Adam, the one rejected and cast down by the god who created her.

The one who had eventually become the all-powerful Queen of Demons.

Eliza had become something – someone – that could envelop everything in the world in an unfathomable nightmare.

It only took a second for Owl to realize just what kind of havoc this mighty Demon before him could wreak. His hands clasped together so tightly his shaking fingers turned white.

“Have you hidden his soul somewhere...?”

The thorns rustled as they crept along the floor. Eliza – no, Lilith glared at Cain from underneath her black veil.

“Why did you take my husband from me...? Why...?”

Swish swish went the thorns across the tiles. Lilith steadily approached Cain, the thorns snaking alongside her. An uncharacteristic squeak bubbled out of Cain’s throat as he backed away and fell to the ground in a flabbergasted heap. He hadn’t even considered the possibility of Eliza turning into a Demon.

“Were you that jealous of Jack?” she asked. “Is that why you killed him...?”

“Wha – n-no, that’s not it! Jack can come back, I-I can revive him! Easy! No problem! Right?” Cain tried to scrabble back, shaking like a leaf in a hurricane, but he was so paralyzed by fear that he couldn’t find the strength to stand. He raised his ring, pressing it to the solar system model as he tried desperately to activate the secret soul technique... but the model only gave a sad, unpleasant ga-chunk. Aside from the slow, blinking glow coming from the ancient script along the pedestal, nothing happened.

And watching the entire spectacle near the entrance to the chapel was Mastema, whose lips were curled in a wide smile that slashed his face open like a chasm. “As expected of a McCreech woman,” he murmured ecstatically. “Lunar eclipse Demons are far better than I expected...! That drug is remarkably efficient. This will make for a fine harvest of high-quality azoth.” He squirmed in place, barely holding onto his patience.

And from a corner of the room... a single young man watched him.

“Wait, Eliza! Don’t come over here! I can bring your husband back! I just need to activate the orrery and I can... why isn’t it moving?! Move, damn you! MOVE!!” Cain clung to the device, a disgraceful, whining child disguised as a man.

Lilith glared down her nose at him. Her gaze slid to the script etched into the pedestal. “... I understand just what kind of horrid device this is now,” she said. “Sacrificing countless souls, for knowledge, for power, all so a single alchemist’s soul could endure for eternity.... Uncle... you were blessed. You had freed yourself from this cursed bloodline... so why...?”

“B-Blessed...?”

“Why did you want power? Fortune? Why did you want this cursed blood...!!”

Pitch black vines ensnared Cain’s legs, crawling up his body to constrict his throat in a mere heartbeat. They tugged and writhed as if trying to drag him into the forest of thorns in Lilith’s dress. There could only be one fate awaiting anyone unfortunate enough to be pulled inside – hellish torture.

Tristan’s voice rose once more, echoing throughout the chamber. “Hannah! Ralph! Don’t let her hurt anyone! And recover Jack’s body!”

““Yes, sir!!”” The pair shot off like bullets.

Hannah took point. “I am Master Tristan’s vanguard maid, Hannah, and I will execute his orders!” She leaped into the air, twirling as she did to flip her skirt up just enough to reveal the set of polished knives attached to her thigh. “Forgive me, Lady Eliza, but I must defeat you!” she shouted.

With a flick of her wrist, she unsheathed her knives and sent them hurtling through the air in a storm of gleaming silver. They flew straight and true, each one stabbing through the hem of Lilith’s dress and affixing the Demon to the floor.

“Move and I will strike you down!”

More and more knives rained down until the dress and thorns were all pinned to the tiles. With Lilith stuck in place, Hannah ripped away the vines keeping Cain down and tossed him toward Tristan. Cain scrabbled away, screaming all the while.

“Don’t get in my way!”

Lilith swatted away all the knives around her feet away with a single swipe of her arm. A strong breeze ruffled the hem of her veil, which was all the warning Hannah got before a fresh tidal wave of thorns shot out straight at her. The maid was quick to fire back with even more knives... but the thorns outnumbered even her impressive arsenal. “Ralph! What are you doing?!” she screeched. “Give me a hand here!”

“You can manage on your own for a little while longer, don’t you think?” Ralph replied, as calm as always.

As he dashed along the wall to circle around to Lilith’s rear, his hand rose to the hollow of his throat and ever so slightly loosened his tie. His eyes flicked up to the crimson moon hanging over them.

“Instinct onset...!”

In a single second, the depths of his eyes glowed bright green. One more second, and his mouth split wide, releasing a geyser of black petal-like miasma that enveloped his body in a shining cocoon in the blink of an eye.

Even from within his sudden casing, Ralph’s voice carried clearly, albeit with a noticeable animalistic growl underlying his words. “I am Master Tristan’s berserk butler Ralph, and I will execute his orders.”

The cocoon split open with an audible crack like a sheet of ice, revealing a rather large wolf – no, it was Ralph, but he now sported a wolf’s tail swaying behind him and bestial ears atop his head. Ivory fangs jutted out from his lips. His black tuxedo had lightened to a silvery gray, and from his long gloved fingers came even longer razor-sharp claws. Topping off the whole ensemble was a collar and chain wrapped around his neck. He was a werewolf, a perfect blend of ferocity and decorum. He was a Demon.

But even though Ralph had Demonized, there was no light of corruption in his eyes. Like Nick and Clemens before him, his sanity remained perfectly intact.

“Pardon me,” Ralph murmured. He leaped forward and landed at Lilith’s feet, one hand stretched out toward the thorny prison holding Jack’s body captive. “I will be taking Master Jack for a moment.”

“Don’t touch him!” Lilith snarled. She lashed out with her thorns, knocking Ralph back before he could grab Jack. More vines bunched together to form a spiky whip for another blow, and the second attack sent Ralph’s body hurtling into the air.

“Ralph!” Hannah screamed.

“I’m fine!” Ralph called back even as he spun crazily through the air. He somehow managed to land up on the ceiling. “Don’t lose focus!”

Lilith, however, saw her chance. In the split second that Hannah was distracted, she swung her whip down on the maid. “He is my husband! I won’t let anyone have him!”

“!!”

Lilith’s voice rang through the space like a piercing ultrasonic wave. Hannah’s hands tingled from the roar, numbness spreading down to her fingertips. She managed to keep ahold of her knives, but the shock delayed her counterattack enough to give Lilith the opportunity to strike mercilessly with her whip. Hannah watched the onslaught of oncoming thorns and knew deep in her heart that she couldn’t dodge in time. Her only hope was to try and defend herself, praying that she could at least minimize the damage.

Then Ralph called, “Don’t let up! Keep attacking!” In the next instant, he leaped down toward Hannah, tearing the whip to shreds with his claws. “Or are you out of knives already?” He landed neatly in front of his companion, his claws glinting in the light as he sliced and diced the black spikes.

Hannah’s brows furrowed, irritated at his jab. “Of course not! Since when did you learn to sass like that, Ralph?” She flipped up her apron this time, revealing a row of tiny hand grenades. She pulled one out, pulled the pin, and lobbed it at Lilith’s head.

“Um, Hannah?!” Ralph yelped, eyes widening. “Blowing her up might be a bit too far...!” Was she trying to demolish the entire room?

“It’s not explosive,” Hannah replied just as the grenade went off by Lilith’s head with a loud BOOM! Instead of flames, however, white smoke billowed out, enveloping the Demon and masking her from sight. “You can still track her by scent even if you can’t see her, right?”

“... I see!” Without further delay, Ralph leaped into the explosion of smoke, vanishing into the white clouds.

Lilith’s voice floated out of the smoke, screaming in frustration, “Stupid trick...!” Then a bestial whine echoed from within, and Ralph tumbled back out of the cloud, flying through the air in a neat arc before slamming into the floor and skidding to a half in a crumpled heap. Evidently Lilith had swatted him away again.

“Ralph!” Hannah pulled a second grenade from her apron and raised her arm, but –

“I’m all right!” The rough landing had reduced Ralph’s voice to a pained groan, but he twisted to reveal what he had clutched in his arms. “Mission accomplished!”

It was Jack’s body. Ralph clambered to his feet and carried Jack to Tristan while Hannah tossed the second grenade. With another BOOM, a second thick cloud of smoke poured out of the explosion, further masking Lilith under a white curtain. “I leave him to you, Master Owl!” she called behind her.

“Easy for you to say,” Owl sighed, but he still took a step forward. He planted his feet and readied his gun. His fingers were still shaking ever so slightly, though, his instincts screaming at him that this was different from every other Demon he’d faced. He licked his dry lips, staring at the smoke. “Honestly, I’d rather run... but –” He raised his gun and pointed it directly at the cloud.

“I will never forgive you!” Lilith roared, her wrathful voice echoing throughout the chapel. BOOM! The floor shook beneath their feet. A shock wave rolled through the chamber, dispersing the smoke in the blink of an eye. The Queen of Demons emerged from the cloud, surrounded by even more wriggling black vines. “Give him back! Give him back!! Give me back my Jack! My husband! Mine! My one and only!!”

Her thorns shot out in all directions as she wailed, slicing and smashing their way through the walls and floor. The surrounding doors were pulverized. The model of the solar system toppled to the ground. Even the sun relief against the back wall crumbled to pieces under their indiscriminate assault.

“We’ll give your husband back! Calm down!” Owl shouted back as he formed a glowing golden circle around his gun. He clicked his tongue when her whips gave no indicating of slowing down. “... Shit, she won’t listen to a word we say unless we weaken her first!”

One thorn whip shot straight at him, ready and willing to strike him down. However, Owl simply aimed, squinted straight ahead, and planted his feet firmly on the ground, ready to fire.

“Defense Knight!” Another voice called out from behind Owl, and a massive white horse appeared beside the detective. The horse gave a high-pitched whinny, then turned around and kicked back with its hind feet, blocking the blow from the whip. It leaped over Owl’s head, trampling the thorns underfoot as it galloped toward the center of the room.

The horse protecting Owl was one of Tristan’s alchemical techniques – the chess pieces he envisioned and brought to life moved to his will. However, whenever he used one of them, he had to keep his cane planted on the ground, rendering him immobile. Hannah and Ralph had to stick close to protect him when that happened.

“Hurry Owl,” Tristan instructed. “I need time to construct a cage to keep Jack’s soul pinned.”

“I know!” Owl replied without looking back. He drew a square around the light with his finger and called, “Medical record!” The light transformed into words that coalesced into a single page.

... But the recipe fell apart before it could even really get started.

Owl flipped his coat open as he scanned the document grimly, revealing the rows of glittering test tubes and other equipment within. He plucked a single class case out and gripped it hard enough to shatter before summoning a circle around his palm. This was already risky. Trying to find the core in a Demon as ridiculously massive as this would be as difficult as finding a needle in a particularly spiky haystack. Still, he chanted the words, “Transmute – exmycin,” releasing wisps of steam from between his clenched fingers and compressing the materials within into a medicinal bullet. He loaded it into his gun and aimed.

“Eliza!” he yelled. “I’ll make you a happy bride if it’s the last thing I do! That’s why I’m here!”

He pulled the trigger.

“Transmute – lutizolam!!”

BANG! The bullet fired straight through the golden alchemical circle. It weaved through the maze of thorns as it flew straight and true toward Lilith’s heart, golden light streaming behind it like the tail of a comet.

... But it was not to be.

“I can only be happy if I’m at Jack’s side!!”

Lilith’s voice rang like a high-pitched bell.

And just before the bullet scored a direct hit on her heart, it burst open with a loud POP!

Owl had no words. He gaped like a fish as he watched her obliterate the bullet he’d poured his everything into with just a shout. The sheer horrific reality of the situation nearly broke his heart, even as he desperately tried to piece it back together. “How strong even is she?” he wondered aloud. The fact that he didn’t have an answer left him trembling. His medicine may be amazing, but medicine only works if the person takes it.

“As expected of a McCreech lady, hm,” Tristan whispered from behind Owl.

Owl glanced back with furrowed brows. Tristan definitely sounded like he knew something Owl didn’t. “What do you mean?”

“Later,” Tristan replied with a shake of his head. “I would wager that Lilith isn’t even using half of her power. If she were being serious, she could have easily demolished this entire building by now. We have to return her to normal before that happens.”

Owl let out a long sigh. “... Real easy for you to say,” he muttered. Did Tristan fully realize just how monumental of a task that was? The detective grabbed another glass case from his coat with a bitter grimace, preparing to transmute another bullet. This one had to be even stronger than the last if they wanted to make it out of this.

“Transmute –”

His voice shook and broke on the first word. Can I do this? Hesitation flashed through his mind, brief but powerful enough to choke his thoughts.

But he had no choice. It was do or die. He shook his doubts away with a deep breath and opened his mouth to start again.

“Would you like some help?”

Owl stumbled to a halt again, this time because a massive white cloth suddenly swished open before his eyes – a recognizable white cloth. It was the very same fluttering cape he’d let slip through his fingers on the train. Instead of his chant, what came out of Owl’s mouth as an incredulous, “Hude Lou?!”

The infamous thief had joined him without his noticing, standing at his side and seemingly oddly entertained by the circumstances. “I really do love that surprised look on your face,” Hude Lou commented. “In fact, I might be getting addicted.”

“You idiot! What are you doing?!”

“Now, don’t be rude. I’m trying to lend you a hand here.”

“You’re what?”

“You have no chance of success as things stand, right?” Hude Lou held up a hand, revealing a familiar tiara in his grip – he must have scooped it up at some point after it fell off Eliza’s head. The thief twirled the circlet of metal around his finger, tipping Owl a wink.

“... No offense, but I don’t plan on getting help from a thief,” Owl countered. “Besides, you already got what you came here for, so there’s nothing in it for you if you stick around.”

“Oh, but there is.” Hude Lou pointed up to the skylight. “My calling card specifically said ‘a moonless night,’ but – see, look?” Up above, the total eclipse of the moon had passed, and a tiny sliver of golden light was reappearing on the edge of the circle. “If I stole the tiara now, then I would’ve lied on my card.”

“That’s ridiculously honest of you,” Owl snarked, not tearing his eyes from Lilith. The thief cared about those kinds of things? Baffling.

“I care about these kinds of things,” Hude Lou replied easily. “Everyone needs to have utmost faith in my calling cards. If I break my promise even once, then no one would trust me ever again.”

“... I mean, I guess?” He... might have a point. Owl mentally shrugged.

Hude Lou twirled the tiara around again. “See? So I’ll help you out. I’ll just have to come back and steal the gem next time there’s a wedding on a new moon. We’ll need it to finish this, though.”

“Do you have an idea?”

“Just one.” Hude Lou turned and beckoned to... Ellie, of all people. She was still hiding behind Tristan. “Come here!”

Owl started. So did Ellie, her eyes growing wide and round from the sudden address.

“We need you!” Hude Lou continued. “Come over here! You want to help Owl, don’t you?”

“...!” Ellie took a step forward as if pulled by invisible strings.

“Stop! It’s dangerous!” Owl shouted, slapping Hude Lou’s hand down.

“Let me keep my promise,” Hude Lou said.

“Promise?”

“I said I would tell you why Ellie reacted to the red stone, didn’t I?”

Owl’s breath caught in his throat.

“I can tell you who exactly she is and how she isn’t a normal girl,” the thief continued, “but it might be easier to show you.”

Owl couldn’t come up with an objection. His heart thumped painfully in his chest under Hude Lou’s resolute gaze.

He’d... wanted to believe that Ellie was just a normal girl, but that was just wishful thinking.

She’d never been normal, not since the moment they’d met.

She had been a white sculpture at first. Then she’d absorbed azoth and turned into a living, breathing human. And ever since then, he’d gotten this odd sense from her again and again, something that felt distinctly non-human, incessantly needling at his brain.

He’d realized that... and he couldn’t accept the truth.

There was something inside Ellie... some kind of phenomenal, unfathomable power.

“Owl...!” Ellie rushed up to his side, blissfully unaware of his misgivings.

“Lady Ellie!” Hannah tried to pull her back, but she couldn’t chase after the girl when she still needed to protect Tristan from the onslaught of thorns.

Ralph tried to run after her instead, but Tristan’s voice called out, “Let her go.”

Ralph halted. “What?”

“She’s our queen sacrifice, our one chance of turning things around.”

While those three were occupied, Ellie leaped at Owl as if to embrace him. Her tiny hands clutched at his coat. Imploring doe eyes stared up into his. There was no mistaking her heartfelt desire to help however she could. With her face pressed tightly into his coat, she started, “Owl, I –”

Before she could finish, though, Hude Lou wrapped her in his cape and pulled her away. “Don’t worry, I’ll protect you,” he told her. “You won’t get so much as a scratch as long as I’m here. You’re a valuable ‘flask,’ after all.”

“Flask?”

“An extremely small one, mind, but yes, a flask. That’s why we only have one shot at this. If we fail, she probably won’t be able to bear the strain.”

He pulled the red gemstone from the tiara in his hands and cleanly snapped the stone in two, then pressed one half against Ellie’s collarbone without further delay.

“Ah...?!” The second the stone made contact with her skin, Ellie let out a strangled scream, her body twisting away in anguish.

Owl’s face contorted with rage in an instant. “What did you do?!” he shouted at Hude Lou.

“Don’t look at us, Owl, look at her! She’s coming!” Hude Lou yelled back.

As if on cue, a thorn whip hurtled straight toward them, cleaving the air with an audile thwip. Owl dodged the strike in the nick of time with a groan and pressed his palm to the floor, sparking a fresh flame that charred the incoming thorns.

While Owl kept Lilith busy, Ellie continued to writhe around screaming. Her body was locking up as it tried to rid itself of the stone’s influence. Hude Lou wrapped his cape even tighter around her.

“M-My... purpose...?” she panted.

“That’s right. There’s something you can do for Owl, isn’t there? You have that power!”

Ellie’s breath burst out in a shallow gasp. She clutched the cape around her tight with both hands. “For Owl... I....”

Her pupils blew wide. The stone against her collarbone sank until it fully absorbed into her body. The second Hude Lou saw it, he shouted, “Owl! Get ready! The furnace inside her is active!”

“What?”

“I’ll cover you!” Hude Lou pulled a single card from his sleeve and flung it toward the floor. The second it pierced through the tile, the thief chanted a spell. “Glacier Gauge!”

A silver alchemical circle appeared around the card in a flash, and the entire floor began to ice over as the room filled with the sound of cracking ice. It was cooling alchemy. Hude Lou must have worked his alchemy into the card beforehand. The thorns caught in the expanding field of ice grew stiff from the frost. However, they weren’t rendered immobile – the ice slowed them down, yes, but they weren’t completely frozen. It wasn’t long before they shattered the icy layer and resumed their assault, barely the worse for wear.

“So my alchemy’s no good after all!” Hude Lou clicked his tongue. He pulled out even more cards, launching them all toward Lilith. They caught in the walls and on her dress, creating more fields of ice around her that turned her thorns and clothes white. It only lasted a moment, though, before she destroyed the ice as if nothing happened. “But it’s at least buying us some time...!” he continued, hurling even more cards in her direction.

Owl gripped his gun firmly in his right hand while clenching his left. More steam than usual was wafting from between his fingers – the heat in his palm as he transmuted the medicine was reacting to the cooler than usual surroundings. “Lilith... no, Eliza!” he shouted. “We’ll bring your husband back, I promise!”

Lilith tilted her head at Owl’s desperate yell. “I don’t believe you! This world stole Jack from me! I don’t believe anything anymore! I can’t believe anything anymore!” More thorns sprouted from around the stubborn woman’s feet as she shouted, destroying the ice around her.

“Please believe me! We can revive your husband! Tristan is keeping his soul secure right now! We can still save him!”

“Liar! It’s a lie! It’s all lies! Everything, everything is a LIE! I gave up my freedom to live in this cursed home, and even that decision ended up failing me! Everything is fake...!”

“I’m not lying!”

“I don’t want to hear anything from you anymore...!!” Lilith was near faint from her raw despair.

Owl took one massive breath, then screamed with all his might, “So! You don’t believe your little sister, either, then!”

Lilith’s shoulders twitched. It was faint, and it was quick, but it was there.

“She came to my office all by herself, and she told me!” he continued at the top of his lungs. “She asked me to make you a happy bride! Can you not hear her voice, either?! Even when you shut her out, she continued to believe in your kindness with all her heart! Can you not hear that?!”

“... Th-That’s –”

“Are you saying her wishes are a lie, too?!”

The thorns froze in place. Her eyes under her black veil sought out her sister... unconscious behind Tristan. “... Anastasia...” she murmured shakily. There was a spark of warmth in that one word.

“Now, Owl! Shoot!” Hude Lou shouted as he shoved Ellie’s back. She stumbled forward one step, then two steps, nearly falling on her face until she pressed against Owl’s back. Golden light exuded from her body.

“I came here to grant your sister’s wish. And Jack’s wish to support you... I want to grant that, too!” Owl loaded his gun with the bullet in his left hand, then aimed the muzzle directly at Lilith. She stared the barrel down, but her thorns remained quiet, immobile. She had stopped resisting.

He faced her head-on, and pulled the trigger.

“Disassemble – lutorank!!”

BANG!

The bullet fired straight through the golden alchemical circle once more. The shot flew straight for Lilith’s chest, but this time, the bullet struck true without disintegrating midway -- but it stopped right against her skin. The bullet could reach her, but it couldn’t pierce her. Owl gritted his teeth at the second failure.

“Owl...!!”

Ellie called Owl’s name as she clung to his back, and as she did a crimson alchemical circle twinkled to life around her collarbone before flowing into Owl’s golden formula. “What is this?!” the detective gasped.

The light poured into his alchemy like an avalanche, snaking its way up to the bullet’s line of fire. The golden trails left behind by the bullet instantly swelled up several times over, becoming a tidal wave of light that surged toward Lilith. The bullet resting against her skin shot up again as if it had been fired twice, rotating wildly as it tried to break her skin. With a crack and a pop, the bullet pierced through, burrowing its way into her body.

Lilith didn’t resist. “... Anastasia, you foolish girl...” she murmured. “And after I was so cruel to you, too....” She seemed to embrace the bullet as she pressed both her hands to her chest.

A whisper from a voice brimming with kindness floated in the air. “Jack... I’m coming back to you now.”

And the wave of light swallowed Lilith whole.

original written by Nagaya Kawaji here

#kotonoha project #I said I would take a bullet for jack #and I'm not the only one ;)

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