#cannot WAIT for next chapter also

[officialaemondtargaryen]

Age Of Consent [part five]

Summary: Dustin’s older sister thinks Eddie Munson could be a bad influence on her younger brother due to their history. Can he change her mind?

Pairing: Eddie Munson x Fem!Henderson!Reader

Word Count: 3.083

What you’ll find in this series: big angst, wholesome fluff, sexual content, drug use, tobacco use, alcohol use, and a lot of profanity. This is a slow burn- buckle up, buttercup.

A/N: Halfway through!! Remember I post an update daily at 12:00 PM EST, tags are unfortunately closed for this series. Really hope you guys like this one! Can't wait for what happens next!

Read Part Four || Read Part Six

When your brother mentioned that he wanted to go to a concert, you weren't sure what to expect, but you certainly did not expect to pull up to a dingy, poorly lit bar on the outskirts of town.

"Dustin," you said. "I think you have the wrong address."

"I most certainly don't," he replied with a wide smile. "Come on, let's go."

The inside was just about as welcoming as the parking lot. If your mother knew that you had brought her sweet, sweet baby boy into a dive bar, she would flatline on the spot. You mentally reminded yourself to make sure that Dustin pinky swore to never tell her about this little escapade later.

No one even seemed phased by the presence of Dustin which both relieved and frightened you. A scantily clad waitress brought over two glasses of water and asked if you wanted something stronger, but you declined. You had a feeling that she wouldn't even card you.

The lights dimmed and Dustin began to cheer. He was the only one.

You could see four dark figures walk out onto the stage and pick up their instruments. The beginning notes of a song that you faintly recognized played through the amplifiers and your brother cheered loudly, once again. The spotlight hit the stage and your jaw just about hit the floor.

You could not believe that your brother had brought you to a Corroded Coffin show. This was the exact reason why you didn't want Dustin hanging around Eddie; he had clearly been deceiving you from the jump and this was one-thousand percent a setup. It was as clear as day to you now. You had gone two years without once seeing Eddie in this small town, but the moment your brother got involved you started seeing him everywhere? Total setup.

However, you were still so goddamn impressed by the boy's ingenuity that you weren't mad at him one bit. You knew your brother was smart, you should have known that he would have figured out that you still had feelings for Eddie.

Speaking of impressed, you were enamored by Eddie's band and how good they had become over the years. You didn't recognize any of the other kids, but they were great, and probably the best metal cover band that you had ever heard of- not that you had heard of many in Hawkins. Out of all of them, however, it was Eddie who was the best. He had been playing the guitar since he could tie his shoes, pretty much, and it was obvious that he was extremely talented.

You couldn't tear your eyes away from his hands.

Your surroundings melted away as you became entranced by the way his fingers worked the neck of his guitar with such delicacy, such ease. His hair was damp with sweat as he bounced around the stage, that effortless charisma on full display for the small crowd. You remembered when he used to pull out his acoustic guitar and play for you; his onstage persona was the complete opposite of the softness of his bedroom.

After every song, Dustin screamed at the top of his lungs in support of his friends. You could see the shy smile on Eddie's lips every time and it made your heart melt.

When the set was over, Eddie hopped down off of the stage and immediately made his way over to the table.

"Dude!" Dustin yelled, giving Eddie a high-five. "That was so awesome!"

"Thanks, man," Eddie said before his eyes landed on you. "I'm glad you were able to make it."

"I lost a bet, remember?" You smiled at him and he laughed. "That was pretty impressive, I gotta hand it to you."

Eddie placed a hand on his chest sarcastically. "That is just about the best damn compliment you could give a guy, Ms. Henderson, considering how hard it is to impress you."

"Can we get something to eat?" Dustin interrupted. "I'm starving."

"You should have had something to eat before we left." You chided. "It's so late, I doubt anyone's open."

"There's a diner down the road that has the best burgers in all of Indiana," Eddie added. "I am also on the verge of starvation if you want to go. I know it's way past your bedtime, kid."

"Can we go, Y/N?" Dustin pleaded. "I'm not even tired!"

"You are spoiled, you know that?" You asked your brother.

He was already running out of the door to the car. Eddie grabbed your elbow before you could head out after him. It was a simple touch, but it made your cheeks flush; you hoped that he hadn't noticed with how dimly lit the bar was. You looked at his hand holding on to your arm and he immediately pulled away, shoving his hands in his pockets as if he was in trouble.

"I gotta stick around here long enough to take down the equipment," he said softly. "The diner is about five minutes from here, you just take a left out of the parking lot and keep going straight. It'll be on the right-hand side of the road. I'll meet you there in about twenty minutes, this won't take long."

"Sure," you replied. "I'll see you there."

"Can't wait," he smiled.

You had been fighting the butterflies in your stomach from the moment you had left The Hideout bar to the moment that Eddie's van pulled into the diner parking lot. It was a losing battle, but you weren't ready to give in to them. Not yet. You couldn't just give up the ghost after two years of being at war with your own feelings. You wouldn't let him get off that easy, no matter how hard he or your brother were trying.

He slid into the booth next to Dustin, across from you, and immediately the nonsense began. Eddie and your brother were like opposite sides of the same coin; they read the same books, played the same games, watched the same movies. They were both brilliant, yet immature, and didn't care about who stared at them or how big of a scene they caused.

In the two hours that you spent in that booth, you don't think you had laughed this hard since your dad was alive. Between Dustin's snappy comebacks and Eddie's jokes, your cheeks were in pain from smiling so much.

And it was comforting to see Dustin so happy.

"Getting tired?" You asked your brother as he let a yawn slip. "We should probably get going."

Dustin wanted to protest, but both you and Eddie reminded him that he had school in the morning. You were surprised when Eddie asked for one check and fished out a twenty-dollar bill to cover your meals. You had mentioned to him that it wasn't necessary for him to do that, but he waved a hand at you, muttering something about it being no big deal.

"Thanks for coming to see my band play," he said quietly as he walked you to your car. Dustin was already in the front seat waiting on you. "Despite the fact that you only came because you lost a bet. You don't have to remind me that you definitely would not have come if it weren't for that, I already know."

You smiled, "you know me so well."

"That I do, m'lady."

"Look, I know that you have school tomorrow," you began, not really knowing how to finish this particular sentence without feeling like you were choking on thin air. "But I'm not quite as tired as that guy," you pointed over your shoulder at Dustin who was practically already asleep in the car. "You want to maybe- I don't know- If you wanted to come over? You totally don't have to, I would definitely understand."

You were rambling.

"Y-yeah," Eddie blurted almost as soon as the question left your lips. He was a little confused, definitely shocked, but ready to go with you wherever you asked nonetheless.

"Okay, cool." You replied doing your best not to smile like a goddamn idiot and play it cool. "You want to just follow us?"

"Sure," he nodded, still surprised that you would even ask him to come over and in front of your brother, no doubt.

You climbed into your car, trying to ignore your brother's stare.

"Did you just invite Eddie over to our house?"

"Yes," you replied as you started up the ignition. "And you're not going to tell mom, considering that this was your plan all along. You're especially not going to tell her that the little concert you wanted to go to so bad was at a dive bar. Pinky promise me."

Dustin wrapped his little finger around yours and bound the contract.

The drive back to your house was longer than usual. You weren't quite sure what made you want to invite Eddie back to your house, but you were only slightly regretting it. It's not like you could get all the way into your driveway and tell him that you had changed your mind.

"Straight to bed," you told your brother when you pulled up outside of your house. The lights were off, signaling that your mother had already gone to bed herself.

Eddie had parked across the street out of habit. He never wanted your mother to question why there was a creepy white van sitting directly in front of her house, especially since she had no idea that he even existed in your life. Dustin gave him a wave before heading inside, leaving the two of you alone.

"For old time's sake?" He asked, holding a joint between his fingers.

"I will not be so easily corrupted, my good sir."

"Says the young lady who used to sneak me in through her window every night," he countered. "Should I go grab the ladder from the side of the house?"

You playfully shoved him before heading towards the front door. Eddie stayed where he was, however, not sure what to do. You turned around and motioned for him to follow you and he was at your side in an instant. When you passed through the front door, Eddie was stalled by the pictures that hung on the walls of the foyer; there was a picture for every year, almost. He had never been through your front door, never stood in your living room. This was all new to him and he needed a moment to take it all in.

"Look at your cheeks," he whispered with a smile as he pointed to one of your baby pictures.

"Come on," you whined, pulling him by the hand into your kitchen.

You knew that your mother kept a few cans of beer in the very back of the fridge in case she ever had company- which was never, and you were certain that it was probably stale, but you still fished them out from behind the two-week old leftovers and handed them to Eddie.

"Who's corrupting who?" He asked with a quiet chuckle.

"Come on, let's go."

"Oh, I'm taking these!" He whispered excitedly as he grabbed a bag of Doritos off of your counter.

You guided him through your backyard to Dustin's treehouse. He was insistent that you go up the ladder first, possibly out of chivalry, definitely because he wanted to stare at your ass. He handed you the beers and the Doritos before pulling himself up the ladder behind you. The tree house was small, and missing a roof at this point. Your dad had built it for Dustin when he was only five, so it had definitely seen better days.

But it offered a clear view of the sky and the crickets in the background provided a beautiful soundtrack.

You sat leaning against one of the wooden beams, Eddie was opposite you. Your feet playfully bumping into his. He cracked open a can of beer and passed it to you before opening one of his own and taking a swig. He placed the joint from earlier in his mouth and lit it, inhaling deeply before blowing the smoke out into the night.

"You remember the first time you brought me over here?"

He passed the joint off to you and you took it without hesitation.

"How could I forget?" You asked, taking a long drag. The burn of the smoke in your throat made you cough. "You were so nervous. You didn't want to touch anything in my room, you were afraid you would break something."

You reached out to pass the joint back to him. His calloused fingers brushed against yours, sending a shiver through your arm. He took a hit of the joint and gently knocked the ashes off of the end.

"I was nervous because when I got there you looked me dead in the eye and asked me to take your virginity. I, too, was a seventeen-year-old virgin, how else was I supposed to react?"

"Hm," you remembered that night fondly. "You were so cute asking me for permission every twenty seconds."

"Just in case you changed your mind."

Eddie reached back out to you, passing the joint; your fingers lingering a little longer this time. The effects of the high were wearing on you, as they always did. You were giggling over nothing with eyes half-open. Eddie wasn't helping; his constant jokes and theatrics as he re-told past memories had you crying from laughing. You prayed that no one could hear you, it had to be past midnight by now.

At this point, you were both laying on your backs looking up at the stars and talking about nothing that mattered because neither one of you wanted to ruin this moment. You were pressed against each other, side-by-side, the warmth from his body keeping you from getting too cold. Your hands touched, back to back, but you could feel his fingers itching to intertwine with yours.

"Fuck, I've missed this," he said softly as his thumb rubbed circles on the back of your hand.

You became suddenly hyper-aware of the situation that you had put yourself in. Your mind began to fixate on the fact that he was holding your hand in his, and that you were completely leaning into him. The high immediately dissipated and you were left with the aching feeling that you were about to cross a line that you did not want to cross.

"I think you should go," was all that you could think to say. "I didn't realize it was so late." You had hoped the last part would soften it.

He sat up and frowned, "Did I do something wrong?"

"All of this is wrong, Eddie." You sighed. "We shouldn't be doing this."

"Why?" He asked, his voice breaking. "I thought we were having a good time."

"We were," you answered honestly.

"Then what is it?" He pushed. You paused. "I'm still not fucking good enough for you am I?" You sighed in response, not wanting to go down this road with him right now. "Well, I am so sorry that I don't fit into the cookie-cutter life that you always wanted; good college, pastel sweaters, conformity."

"Wasn't even able to get into a good college because of you, so don't even bring that shit up right now." The words came heavily from your mouth and were laced with anger.

Eddie stops and turns to you.

"What?"

You had thought about this argument for a long time.

"I know that you remember the day we were caught smoking pot out past the football fields, even though you swore up and down no one ever came out there." You recollected. "I had to put on the performance of a lifetime pretending that I was sick for that 10-day suspension so that my mom didn't find out."

"In case you weren't aware, things like that go on your public record, making it impossible for me to get into a decent school." You could feel your eyes burning. "I applied for almost every college in the goddamned country."

Eddie sighed and reached a hand out to comfort you but you pushed him away. "Y/N, I didn't realize-"

"Of course you didn't," you cried. "You were so- so fucking selfish back then, all you cared about was your little club, your guitar, and your punk ass reputation. I wanted to break up with you then, I almost did, but I loved you so much."

"Baby," he whispered, trying to pull you into his arms. "I'm so sorry."

"I didn't want to break up with you Eddie, but I had to. That day at graduation, I just couldn't do it anymore."

You could see his eyes glossy in the moonlight. He was mere inches away from you, wanting nothing more than to hold you and somehow make this better. He felt fucking awful, and suddenly he realized what you meant when you said that his choices had a way of bleeding into the lives of the people around him. Fuck, he felt like such an asshole.

"You should really go," you said once again.

He nodded, knowing that there was nothing that he could say or do to remedy this situation. In his heart he also knew that trying to win you back was a moot point. You were right to have broken up with him, to never want to see him again. Hell, he wouldn't have wanted to see himself either.

In high school, all that you had talked about was getting out of Hawkins and getting into a good school with a good theater program. The fact that he had something to do with you not being able to achieve those dreams made him feel sick to his stomach. He remembered that day as if it were yesterday. You didn't even want to go out there. You said that you needed to study for your Literature test, but he begged you to skip lunch with him and head out towards the woods.

He remembered how you didn't talk to him for almost a month after that.

He climbed down from the treehouse and turned back one more time, but you wouldn't look at him. He muttered something under his breath that you couldn't quite hear before stalking off into the darkness. You could hear his van start-up and take off down the road, leaving you with nothing but an ache in your gut and a feeling of regret.

Tags (closed):

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#my girl what is wrong #please stop living in the past bestie #also i love one (1) sad boy #when i say that i cannot wait for you guys to read the next few chapters i mean it with a passion #eddie munson #eddie munson imagine #eddie munson x you #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson x y/n #eddie x reader #eddie x you #eddie imagine #stranger things imagine #eddie munson smut #eddie munson drabble #eddie munson series #eddie munson fic #eddie munson fan fic #eddie munson fanfic #fanfic #fanfiction #stranger things fic #stranger things series #stranger things fan fic #stranger things netflix #stranger things x y/n #dustin henderson #joseph quinn #joe quinn #eddie stranger things

[lesbiansanemi]

Checking the mail and @tobytoon absolutely made my day will these!!!! They are getting refrigerator privileges 😌 (—> will eventually lead to me trying to explain the plot of wind-blown lilies to my roommate who still doesn’t fully understand the concept of fanfiction lmao)

Anyways! If any of y’all here haven’t checked out their art, fic, and AUs, highly, highly recommend! They are SO good omg

#very excited for Thursday when I have no work/no responsibilities other than laundry so I can hopefully binge read a good chunk #of its fic Kizuki eye. cannot wait #but omg yeah will be staring at these for Five Billion Hours I’m so FJFJDJDKSKSKSKS #fuck I also need to actually finish up the next chapter of wind blown lilies which is sitting half finished in the drafts #hopefully sometime in the next week or two! #kimetsu no yaiba #sanemi shinazugawa #fic fanart #kaz rambles

[gonersgoners]

remember when i said over a year ago that vegapunk's arc would start revealing even more of sanji's power and potential and how hard that was worrying me? yeah

#i'm clearly talking to myself here since this blog is basically a corner of my brain #but last chapter having sanji deflect a light beam and both kizaru and franky reacting the way they did #and zoro commenting in wano you cannot possibly block a laser... lmao....lmao! #ooooh man i just. feel oda is cooking something for sanji. and since there was a parallel with the wings of the pirate king #in recent chapters (where oda typically shows both sanji and zoro fighting and not just one of them) #just... man. man! man. lol #i know i can't let myself go and talk about all things going through my mind anymore because of. lol guilt and fear of being annoying #but god. that moment stirred something in me. like you're resurrecting a fucking corpse #so i am both scared and excited about next chapters and what this means for sanji #i was saying from DAY ONE of this arc being centered about vegapunk that it would eventually #touch on sanji and this is it. this is happening #if this for some reason isn't it. and oda will for some reason just let this slide or die in the shadows? i won't understand it #because of JUDGE and VEGAPUNK and QUEEN being partners and being linked to vegapunk! like come on. the connection is there #and this laser deflecting thing seems to finally touch on this red thread i've been holding with both my fingers like an insane person #so yeah. lol. listening to a video right now about it and finally. FINALLY i see SOMEONE ELSE point out that #not mentioning judge still is giga weird. so here's hoping. here's hoping #also lol it was very fun to be on reddit and look at so many people being MAD that sanji managed to do that. and that we got a little bit o #mr prince vibes. LMAO STAY MAD. my boy is being treated good right now and i can't wait for oda to destroy me #(again) lol #GG rambles

[perhaps-in-anotherdream]

[CN] Victor x MC – S2 CH 37 – Part 2 (Eng Translation)

“Being by your side is not ‘luck.’ It’s destiny.”

“This person in front of me is the origin of my strength, my safe haven, and the direction of my voyage returning home.”

Do remember to read PART 1 first: Here!

⌚ This post contains detailed spoilers for a chapter that is yet to be released on the global server. ⌚

•─────⋅◍♡◍⋅─────•

–

✧ [CH 37-9] ✧

While MC is reflecting on how she’s gotten back what belongs to her (i.e., CORE) but doesn’t know how to use it, and how NW may require longer to develop a cure——

Anna calls to make sure everything is okay with her (MC hasn’t contacted her since the NW CORE study began and handed over responsibilities to her).

After confirming everything is great with her company——

MC: That’s great. Then I can keep my back straight and report to CEO Victor!

–

━━━ [Cut To The Road, Narrator POV] ━━━

Just as Anna hangs up the phone, Kiki, who’s been waiting on the roadside to catch a bus together, comes over.

Kiki: Anna, what did the boss say? Is she okay?

Anna: She’s very good. It’s just that...

Kiki: What’s wrong?

Anna: It’s not much. Just now, after learning that the company’s benefit is good, MC said she would have the confidence to report to CEO Victor...

Anna: But which CEO Victor was she talking about?

–

━━━ [Cut Back To Victor’s House, MC POV] ━━━

The sunlight shines through the gauze curtains, casting a bright shadow on my face. I open my eyes, only to find that it’s already daylight.

After washing up, I habitually walk over to the dining table with ease. While browsing the news, I look at Victor’s figure from time to time, who is preparing breakfast.

Not long after, he comes to the table with two plates of egg rolls and shoots me a glance.

Victor: You are pretty self-conscious in this regard.

MC: After all, a good breakfast is the only way to have the strength to start a new day.

Victor pulls out a chair and sits opposite me, pushing over a plate of egg rolls.

Victor: So what does a certain someone plan to do after breakfast?

MC: Whether it’s the blood disease or the mechanical boxes, now there are people following up on them.

MC: The only thing making no progress is the overlapping phenomenon. So I’m thinking, why not enter an overlapping zone and have a look?

A little troubled, I pick up a table knife and paddle it through the egg roll, watching the tender golden puree slowly flowing out.

MC: The news just said the fluctuations in the space-time overlap zones are becoming more and more widespread, and the frequency of their appearance is increasing too.

MC: And if this goes on, it will soon cover the entire Loveland City.

Victor pours half a cup of coffee in an unhurried manner.

Victor: You ought to know that numerous eyes have their gazes fixed on the CORE right now.

MC: I’m mentally prepared for that. The biggest inconvenience at the present stage, though, is only the leech-like NW.

MC: They need CORE for their experiment, so they will always want to ensure that I’m under their radar.

MC: However, because of the cooperation regarding the effective cure, they supposedly won’t act rashly for the time being.

MC: And if they do take the trouble to find a door, I can act according to the circumstances when the situation calls for it.

Victor: Good analysis. But aside from the NW, you still have a thornier opponent.

Victor cuts off a corner of the egg roll as he speaks.

MC: …hm?

A little confused, I look at Victor and hear him speak.

Victor: [dramatic×3 voice LOL]  BLACK SWAN.

I’m rendered slightly speechless, almost thinking I’ve misheard.

MC: …it’s not supposed to be a cold joke?

Victor: …of course not.

Victor: BS is coming up with a plan for an operation, and there is a high probability that CORE will be included in it.

Victor: [even more dramatic]  And just yesterday, you revealed the information that CORE is inside you to the BOSS of BS.

My movements freeze for a moment, and the knife in my hand is clenched involuntarily, producing a noise against the porcelain plate.

After a few moments, I tug at the corners of my lips with a wry smile as the cause and effects flash through my brain at lightning speed.

MC: It’s really like manna from heaven, falling right at the doorstep of BS.

MC: This meal I’m having now… it’s not gonna be my last breakfast, is it?

Victor lowers his gaze noncommittally, taking a sip of his coffee. Resting my chin on my hand, I observe his expression for a while and speak to sound out.

MC: BOSS, will you cut me some slack and act as if nothing happened?

Victor: Certainly not. But I can give you an opportunity to ask questions.

Victor: If used correctly, this can become your winning point.

Sensing the atmosphere loosening up, I put down the knife and ask a little insatiably.

MC: For the sake of previously having worked for the organization for so long, could I get an extra chance?

Victor raises an eyebrow, a hint of helplessness flashes across his eyes, and his expression seems to be one of acquiescence. I seize this opportunity to think for a while, and suddenly something occurs to me.

MC: Hold on a sec. The thing about the CORE being inside me, did you only find out about this yesterday?

Victor chuckles softly, wiping the corner of his lips.

Victor: Nope.

…as expected. No wonder he didn’t seem surprised at all yesterday.

Having the vague conjecture in my mind verified, I hesitate a moment before speaking again.

MC: So when did you find out about this?

Victor: Around the meteor event.

–

[Tidbits]: He’s here referring to the events of post-CH 18 to pre-CH 25. In CH 18, after escaping NW, Victor asked someone to verify MC’s report the two of them had found, and the CH ended with him meeting with Time Observer Zero. As confirmed in CH 26, he was at the Space-time Bureau during the time he was MIA, and upon returning, chased MC out of BS, among many other things he did~ (PAIN WHO ಥ⁠_⁠ಥ)

–

My eyes widen slightly. Incredulous, as I’m about to ask more questions, Victor cuts me off as though he’s already anticipated for me to do so.

Victor: Let’s end that one here. As I said, it’s a one-time opportunity only.

MC: [sulking]  ...

I bitterly take the final bite of my egg roll, muttering under my breath.

MC: ...you truly are a man of your word.

MC: But hearing what you’ve said, I, on the contrary, feel there isn’t any need to worry about BS.

MC: After all, the formidable BOSS of BS already knew CORE was on me before I had explained the circumstances to him.

MC: If he really wanted to do something to me, BS would have already done it a long time ago, wouldn’t it?

Victor raises an eyebrow at my words.

Victor: You’ve drawn this conclusion too rashly and haven’t taken the entire range of possibilities into consideration.

Victor: Perhaps BS didn’t take any action before because the timing wasn’t ripe. And perhaps now, the time has arrived.

Victor: Of course, utilizing the power of CORE requires your cooperation. Therefore, you can consider whether you want to cooperate with BS and, through this, get rid of those inconveniences.

There’s a calmness and weighing up in his tone, as though he is confronting a cooperative partner at the same level, or an opponent across the chessboard who cannot be underestimated.

I cock my head and ponder for a moment.

MC: Very tempting conditions, but I refuse.

MC: Although you have downplayed it, in the light of what I’ve heard and my experience in the past, this partnership cannot be that simple.

MC: Even if the problem is solved using BS, it’d still cost me an equal amount of price.

MC: [that smug smile LOL] This agrees with CEO Victor’s business principles, does it not?

MC: And right now, I don’t intend to create diversions for myself by anything other than the overlapping space-time incident.

Victor taps his fingertips on the dining table.

Victor: Back to the overlapping phenomenon, then. How do you plan to settle this?

MC: I’m thinking of investigating that space thoroughly first, then finding out more about CORE from it and accelerating the process of controlling it.

MC: Since this phenomenon is generated by the awakening of the CORE, there is a certain possibility that it will be bound by the CORE.

MC: The prerequisite is that I have complete control of this power.

Seemingly disapproving, Victor shakes his head.

Victor: One point, the quantity of time you’ll require to be able to control CORE is unknown. Perhaps before then, the space-time overlap will cover the entire Loveland City.

MC: ...then l’ll change the direction. Oh right! Aside from developing effective medicine, NW is also carrying out research on the CORE.

MC: If I add clauses in the cooperation with NW... or just infiltrate NW, perhaps I’ll be able to find crucial information?

Victor releases an imperceptibly soft laugh.

Victor: But you should also be clear that putting your hopes on NW is tantamount to giving up the initiative.

MC: …indeed.

The loopholes in my envisagement are unsparingly pointed out one by one. I open my mouth, only to find myself rendered utterly speechless.

Victor straightens up a little and speaks in a manner as though making an invitation.

Victor: The cooperation with BS will not affect your resolving of the space-time overlap. On the contrary, it may also be a help to you.

MC: Is there any connection between the two?

Victor: The phenomenon of space-time overlapping is a part of the Prophecy of Fatima.

–

[Tidbits]: I won’t go into much detail here, but the “Prophecy of Fatima” is a series of apocalyptic visions and prophecies. In the MLQC verse, BS was originally founded in 1908 to prevent those prophecies from happening by a group of 12 from the future who weren’t part of this world until, of course, the organization was led astray. There will be a little more about this later~ [see how the CH name and tagline are SO significant ಥ⁠‿⁠ಥ]

–

MC: Hold on... the Prophecy of Fatima? What’s that?

I blink a little in puzzlement at the quick succession of unknown information. However, Victor raises his eyebrows with his expression of remaining calm in the hour of peril, not answering my question.

Victor: This is confidential content of BS, and is not to be shared with anyone who isn’t a member of the organization.

Victor: Of course, if we were to enter a partnership, I’d consider disclosing it.

MC: ...

I ponder for a moment, sighing resignedly.

MC: Come to think of it, I seem to have never been able to say no to your proposals.

Victor: You will always have the right to choose.

Victor: [gets more mischievous LOL]  But accordingly, I will also designate more terms so that you’re incapable of refusing.

His tone is laced with that familiar certainty and calmness, and I involuntarily curl the corners of my lips.

MC: In that regard, our partnership is confirmed, then?

I hold out my pinky to Victor as I speak, wiggling it lightly. He straightens up knowingly and hooks my pinky finger.

Victor: Mm, the partnership is confirmed.

His voice is solemn, as though it’s not a childish agreement, but a real contract.

I unconsciously reel in my relaxed posture and lock eyes with his focused gaze.

The dining table in front of us seems to have turned into a negotiating table. And the promise of this moment is the most solid commitment of all.

I withdraw my hand and look at my pinky, the corners of my lips arching up.

MC: Reaching the negotiation benignly with clear terms, and each playing their part for the common good after leaving the table…

MC: So, this is how it feels like to be your partner.

Victor’s hand lifting the plate pauses in its motion, and he looks at me a little helplessly, a peal of intermittent laughter flowing through his tone.

Victor: The partnership with you began a long time ago, back in the day when I invested in [MC’s Company Name].

Victor: Or do you need me to pull out the resources and let you fight for the funding once more so that you can feel the process of reaching the cooperation all over again?

–

[Anika’s Notes]: Fighting for funding incident never happened in S2, MC’s company thrived from the beginning as she did her best under his guidance since MC was 18 & Victor was 24. So this is yet another hint at either him remembering or seeing (at space-time bureau) his S1 memories~ 👀 PG gib us the R&S dammit ಥ⁠‿⁠ಥ

–

•─────⋅◍♡◍⋅─────•

–

✧ [CH 37-11] ✧

Victor’s actions are in motion without the slightest delay, as always. The day after we’ve reached the partnership, arrangements for me to participate in the operation are already prepared.

The metal doors of the private elevator slowly close in front of us. Recalling what he told me last night, I speak with uncertainty.

MC: Would it be a bit risky for me to sneak into the Twelve main gods...

Victor: All successes are accompanied by risks. You can trust my judgment.

Victor: [sulking]  Or is it that the cooperative partner I have chosen doesn’t have faith in me?

Victor says, pressing a few floor keys.

His gaze is as calm as it has always been, as though there isn’t anything in this world worth worrying about.

MC: It certainly is not. Being with you, I’ve never needed to worry about anything.

—

Victor leaves MC with the necessary instructions.

As planned, MC meets Anole (yes, it’s the S2 ver. of that appearance changing evolver from S1), and he helps MC put on the disguise of one of the Twelves, who is absent from today’s meeting by design [keep MC’s disguise in mind]***

Amid the grave, quiet ambiance of the meeting, Victor discloses that the organization has located CORE.

As expected, it gives rise to enthusiastic clamors, and people “express their different views” towards the CORE – Hades wanting to wipe away “inferior humans” (!ofc🤡), while others hoping to lead the path to evolution.

Having silently watched the drama so far, Victor declares that the carrier of CORE has infiltrated in disguise at his behest in this very conference room, but he won’t disclose the person’s identity.

That declaration, again, stirs everyone up while MC relishes on the side LOL~ :>

Victor then announces that he has more to say:

—

Victor: BLACK SWAN has always paid particular attention to impartiality.

Victor: Opportunities and information are never miserly to those who are trustworthy. This, of course, also includes CORE.

Victor: Therefore, what you guys have to do is prove that you are worthy of this information, and this trust.

His gaze slowly glides over the crowd, his eyes gleaming with a cold light.

Victor: But equally, if someone brings about harm to BLACK SWAN…

Victor: This information, then, will forever remain sealed.

Hades narrows his eyes with a bleak expression.

Hades: What does BOSS mean by this, does he suspect a devil among us?

As though he’s heard something incredibly ridiculous, Victor curls the corners of his lips, but there is no trace of warmth in his eyes.

Victor: It appears that everyone here has a poor memory.

Victor: Do I need to take some time out of the main gods’ meeting to help you all recall the STF’s suppression of BS?

MC: !?

The conference room lapses into a deadly silence within a split second. Victor’s cold words reverberate in the large room.

Victor: I’ve already warned some of you before. Who is doing what behind the scenes, I’m well aware of everything.

Victor: But you guys tried to test the limits of my acceptance, and even drew inconveniences to the organization.

Victor’s voice grows heavier.

Victor: The previous purges were simply the beginning. All factors that are not conducive to BS will be removed one by one.

–

[Tidbits]: He’s referring to S2 CH 25 chasing outs btw~

–

Victor: Dionysus, who was arrested a few days ago, was one of them. But he is not worth pitying, and someone more powerful will take his position.

Victor: And everyone present here is equally replaceable.

Everyone in the conference room falls silent, each with different expressions written on their faces. I seize the moment and open my mouth in an ambiguous voice.

MC: Since disclosing the CORE among us is not on the agenda, I’m assuming BOSS has something else to announce?

Victor’s eyes sweep over the faces of everyone one by one. Although I know his plan, I still shiver a little when I meet his tranquil gaze.

Victor: There is indeed something more important for you guys to witness.

Victor: This is the fundamental purpose for which you have become the twelve main gods.

—

With these words, everyone is instantly and abruptly brought to a desolate wasteland from the conference room, leaving them utterly shocked.

MC notes a uniquely shaped slab of stone standing tall behind Victor, its pitch-black color glowing in the bleak daylight, and its design is unlike anything she’s seen before.

At Artemis’s snarky urging, Victor explains unhurriedly:

—

Victor: In 1908, the ones who originally established BS came here.

Victor: They founded BS for the same objective, to change a prophecy.

At these words, someone in the crowd lets out an impatient, light sneer.

??: BOSS, we have very little interest in the development history of BS. Let’s not waste everyone’s time.

Victor’s voice becomes even heavier.

Victor: If you don’t have the patience for that, you may leave right now.

The crowd, which has been stirring restlessly, lapses into silence after a few moments of whispering. Amid the stillness enshrouding the entire surrounding, the complex emotions of crossing swords seem to be surging.

Victor: The original purpose of BS was more than just human evolution; it was simply a way to accomplish the ultimate goal.

Victor: But in the process, someone tampered with the original purpose and falsified the prophecy itself.

Victor: And today, I am here to rectify it.

Victor turns around, looking behind him with an indifferent expression.

Victor: Now, does anyone else have an objection?

–

•─────⋅◍♡◍⋅─────•

–

✧ [CH 37-12] ✧

Of course, there’s a “polite objection” (from Poseidon) asking for the credibility of the prophecy Victor spoke of and if this place truly is the “Land of Advent.”

Victor, naturally, says he has the means to prove his words. He affirms if the carrier of CORE uses their power on the slab of stone, it will respond to them.  

Knowing it’s her turn to step up, MC is puzzled about how to use the power of the CORE, and if it’s similar to how she used the QUEEN gene in the past.

At this moment, reading MC’s mind as always, Victor throws in the air that “the person simply needs to imagine themselves using the power.”

Getting the hint, MC does so, and not long after, the slab is soon enveloped with luminous white light.

[ Now, here’s a BREATHTAKINGLY BEAUTIFUL description of the “majestic entity” (it sounds kinda sacred actually haha) that emerges, and I’m gonna skip LOL :> ]  Long story short, those lights gradually reveal the silhouette of, literally, a spanning-to-the-sky edifice with the black door sealed with metal chains.

Naturally, it leaves everyone dazed, and as someone tries to get close, the edifice steps back on its own.

—

??: The Land of Advent denies your entry because you guys do not have that qualification.

A male voice suddenly shatters the silence, but it does not belong to anyone present on the scene.

??: Here is the origin of the variables, the endpoint of the omens. The trajectory was extended, and everything began from here.

I follow the voice and see that a man wearing a black cloak has appeared in front of the slab at some point. His face is hidden in the dark hood, making it impossible to see his appearance clearly.

Victor gives him a slight nod in greeting.

Victor: Eos.

??: Eos? How could a first generation of the gods be here?

A question, carrying shock, transmits from the crowd. I look up in some astonishment as I hear someone speak.

??: Haven’t those people all fallen already?

The first generation of gods, fallen... all kinds of unfamiliar details, known only to the insiders, surge to me. They are reminiscent of a clutter of thoughts filling my brain.

I look incredulously at the man behind the hood and see him raise his hand slightly.

The black streams of light suddenly coalesce in the air, and in the next instant, scatter in all directions.

The wisps of darkness grow increasingly thicker, obstructing the entire sky, with only the silhouette of the edifice becoming continuously clearer.

Suddenly, the chains on the gate begin to move. And the moment they crash to the ground with a loud bang, the door opens little by little.

I look towards the door in bewilderment and uncertainty, but can only see the darkness with no end in sight. Immediately afterward, a voice resounds from the depths.

“We come from the future, only with the purpose of better evolution of the human race.

We possess Evol; we create everything.

QUEEN will surely awaken and usher in transformation.

We look forward to walking side by side in the new world.”

For a moment, the only thing that can be heard in the world amid the darkness is that voice, and it’s as if the sound is knocking on the soul.

The familiarity of this content involuntarily makes me clench my fingertips. I suddenly react to something, causing me to be breathless.

...this content, it seems, is a bit different from what I remember.

Heart pounding in my chest, I anxiously recollect for a moment and finally remember the memories in the back of my mind, the content of the manifesto I had seen in the underground of the hacker conference.

–

[Tidbits]: MC is referring to S1 CH 8 btw~ :>

–

Back then, the beams of light cast into that room had reflected these words on the dimly lit wall:

“No one can stand in our way, for we are the ones to rule the world.”

But now, those words have disappeared.

Could this be the part... that Victor said had been tampered with?

Before I have time to think about it clearly, the darkness that pervades the surrounding disperses like a tide, and is replaced by a light that arrives from somewhere unbeknownst to me.

The glaring beam of light makes me close my eyes instinctively, and I can faintly hear shrieks from beside me.

I don’t know how long has passed when I open my eyes extremely cautiously, only to find an empty, pure white space entering my vision.

The slab of stone, the Twelve main gods, the towering edifice... everything has disappeared without any trace whatsoever.

I subconsciously search for Victor, but I’m unable to spot any signs of that familiar silhouette.

In front of me is only a shimmering staircase dappled with soft light, stretching towards the distant sky as though it’s guiding me in a certain direction.

I hesitantly approach and see my own appearance being faintly reflected in the pure and limpid texture of the steps.

MC: ...what’s going on?

I mutter to myself and touch my cheek; then I suddenly hear the sound of footsteps coming from behind me.

I turn back subconsciously and find myself looking into a familiar pair of eyes.

Victor stands behind me, gazing at me calmly, seemingly not at all surprised by what’s happening right now.

My heart, which has been at a loss just now, seems to have found its fulcrum and suddenly calms down. I briskly walk up to Victor.

MC: What is this place? Even Anole’s disguise has lost effectiveness…

Victor shakes his head.

Victor: It’s the first time I’ve been here too.

Victor: Everything here is probably some kind of Evol construction. It’s not surprising that it has resulted in Evol’s ability not working.

Victor’s expression is tranquil and calm, as though what he’s just said isn’t worth paying heed to. I hesitate a moment before opening my mouth.

MC: …so where did the others go?

Victor: This space is only open to the person who possesses CORE. They have been taken to a different space to witness that history.

Victor: When it’s all over, everyone will be returned to the original spot.

MC: Will we also be sent to the place we were just now after we leave here?

MC: …but what should we do now since my disguise is not working? Won’t my identity be revealed?

Victor: It won’t be.

Victor answers me resolutely and decisively. At the same time, I think of something in hindsight.

MC: Phew, that’s good. Wait a minute… why do you know so much about this? Also, why are you allowed to enter this place?

Victor’s eyes land on me with an expression written across his face that says, “why do you have so many questions.”

Victor: I’ve asked Eos to help, and he’s promised I can make it easier for you. So don’t worry. He will see that it’s handled.

Victor says, looking toward the steps of the path of light in front of us.

It spans forward quietly, dissipating at the end in a patchwork of light, as if it’s making a silent call.

Victor seems to feel something as he withdraws his gaze and opens his mouth to me.

Victor: Let’s go, some people should have been waiting for you for a long time.

I nod. Just as I’m about to move forward, my footstep suddenly stops.

MC: One last question! You haven’t told me; why would Eos help with this?

Victor’s eyelashes quiver slightly, and he speaks after a moment of silence.

Victor: I made a deal with him.

I freeze, and then it comes to my realization that there must be some kind of price involved in this deal.

My eyes sweep over Victor at lightning speed, and I speak with some urgency.

MC: What are the conditions he offered? Have you been hurt?

Victor: It’s not important. Since I’ve agreed, I can afford it.

Although he downplays it, I know very clearly that the price asked by the first generation of gods is bound to be not so simple.

This man seems to have always been like this, standing in front of me, calmly paying some price I don’t know about and bearing it all alone.

And then he returns to me as if nothing has happened and tells me that I don’t need to worry about a thing.

My eyes trace over his countenance inch by inch, then I lower my gaze with some astringency, murmuring softly.

MC: Didn’t we agree to just trust me and not let me rely on you?

Victor: [gentlest voice to exist, ever]  That is why I am standing here.

Victor: [continuation x2]  I said I would face it together with you, didn’t I?

I look up in a daze and meet Victor’s eyes.

In this void and quiet world, only his eyes shine with infinite tenderness and certainty.

Like an invitation, or some kind of guidance–– Victor steps on the stairs, turns back to me, and reaches out slightly.

Victor: Let’s go together.

–

•─────⋅◍♡◍⋅─────•

–

✧ [CH 37-13] ✧

The flights of steps before us seems to have no end.

Palms interlaced with each other, as I climb upwards with Victor, I feel as if time has lost its concept, and I already can’t remember how long we’ve been walking.

I only know that if I were to turn around, I would no longer be able to see the beginning point of the zigzagged staircase behind us.

Gradually, my body begins to feel unwell.

I don’t know if it’s the exhaustion from the walk or something else, but the dizziness intensifies with each step forward.

The burning in my chest becomes distinct in my gasp for breaths, as if it were a viscous and boiling swamp that would engulf my consciousness at any moment.

I purse my lips to death. In a trance, I think of that NW experiment I was forced into for stimulating CORE.

At that time, my perception was also obliterated by such a burning pain. Could it be that this staircase is also some kind of system to stimulate CORE?

I take a step up the steps as I struggle to contemplate, and suddenly I feel a fleeting stinging pain in the back of my head as if being pricked by a needle.

My body sways, and I nearly lose my balance. At this moment, a warm, strong hand holds me steady.

Victor: [sounds like he’s in pain]  Can you still go on?

MC: …absolutely. Compared with the NW experiments, it’s not that unbearable.

MC: I’m the chosen carrier of CORE, don’t underestimate me.

I look up as I speak, using all my willpower to lift the corners of my lips into a smile.

Victor looks at me quietly, his gaze clear and tender. He seems to be able to see through all my pretense and persistence amidst the staggering breaths.

After a few moments, he speaks in a low voice.

Victor: Thankfully, you are.

His words are reminiscent of some kind of peaceful sentiments, and I don’t know why but I ask in return:

MC: Is it something to be thankful for?

He replies with a soft “hmm,” and his deep and low voice brushes past my ears, giving my heart a reassuring certainty.

Victor: Even though the dummy I know would’ve seized every glimmer of opportunity with an overflowing zealous heart even if she wasn’t the CORE…

Victor: But CORE always means power.

Victor: With it, you will have more possibilities to solve problems, and also have the authority to choose in the face of many things.

It’s as though a ray of light from the heavens has shone through the foggy haze. I look into that pair of serene eyes and murmur.

MC: Actually, I used to feel that I was forced to take on a lot of heavy things because of the CORE.

MC: There have been many times when I was clearly exhausted, but I still had to persevere and keep going forward.

I say, looking at my empty palm.

MC: But now, I am slowly realizing that CORE has brought me even more than what I have to bear.

MC: As you said, I also have power because of it.

MC: I can change many things, instead of just having to stand still and wait to accept the outcome.

A tinge of warm hue flashes through Victor’s eyes.

Victor: Mm. In that regard, you are very lucky.

MC: Come to think of it, it really seems to be the case.

MC: But it’s not just because I have CORE, but because I’ve had you by my side all along.

As I speak, I sway our interlocked hands, hearing the hint of laughter tinting Victor’s voice.

Victor: In this regard, you are not right.

Victor: Being by your side is not “luck.” It’s destiny.

This familiar certainty causes a warm current to surge through my heart. I look back into his eyes and walk up the steps together with him.

–

[Tidbits]: Reference to the similar words in S1 CH 24 Black Cabin reunion~ ಥ⁠_⁠ಥ

–

The intense pain seems to keep growing as I climb up, the burning sensation spreading from my chest to my entire body.

I can’t help but tighten my hold on Victor’s hand, as if trying to draw some strength from it.

He doesn’t say anything, only holds my hand just as tightly and slows down his pace in accordance with mine.

On the endless staircase, we slowly advance together, the long shadows behind us seeming to blend into one.

I don’t know how long has passed when my almost paralyzed nerves suddenly shiver, reminiscent of a dragonfly lightly touching the water’s surface.

As if sensing something, I raise my head and look to the end of the flights of steps, feeling something that seems to be shimmering among the specks of light.

As if it’s telling me–– the following path is for me to walk on my own.

My body freezes up slightly. Victor immediately lurches to a stop and looks at me, as though waiting for me to say something.

MC: Just accompany me until here.

Victor doesn’t speak, but he doesn’t let go of my hand either. He simply gazes at me quietly for a long time, just like he’s watched me in every moment before as I ran towards the goal.

Victor: Go on, I’ll keep watching you.

I nod. Even though I’m already well aware of the answer to this question since long ago, I still gaze into that pair of eyes and speak softly.

MC: Will you still be here when I come back?

Victor: I’ve told you before, I’ll accompany you. The homeward journey alone is too far. Although I can’t be with you to continue moving forward, I won’t let you return alone.

I stagger up on my tiptoes and hug him, wanting to freeze time for even a second, all so I can sink deeper into this embrace.

The arms falling behind me slowly tighten. Encased by the familiar and reassuring scent, I close my eyes.

This person in front of me is the origin of my strength, my safe haven, and the direction of my voyage returning home.

No matter what lies ahead, as long as he is there, I can always rest easy.

I take deep breaths and soon feel a hand patting my head.

Victor: What happened again?

MC: Accumulating some strength for the rest of the journey ahead.

MC: I don’t know what I’ll encounter up ahead. But all I have to do is think that I’ll be welcomed in your arms, and I’ll be able to keep pressing on.

Victor: …dummy.

His soft and helpless voice brushes against my ear. I reluctantly put down my arms, turn around, and walk up the steps.

The pain cuts through every nerve in my limbs, but I grit my teeth and continue moving forward.

Even when the warmth on my palms is no longer there, I know that Victor is watching me from behind.

The path stretches step by step beneath my feet, and the brilliant rays grow all the more blazing. I look up in a trance and find that I’ve already reached the end of the steps.

The radiance before my eyes scatters into specks of lights, wrapping me in them. It’s as though they are swimming along my figure, dispelling the pain in my body.

The dizziness in my brain finally becomes clear, and the senses slowly return. And my palm seems to become a little heavy.

I lower my head as an afterthought and see that my hand has been holding a golden dagger at some point.

It’s coated with a hazy light and seems to be engraved with some sort of pattern.

Before I can see it clearly, it disappears into my palm the next second.

The light in the space suddenly flares up for a twinkling of a moment and soon returns to softness.

–

━━━ [NARRATOR POV BEGINS] ━━━

At the starting point of the steps, a figure wearing a hood stands beside Victor and speaks slowly.

Eos: Everything is moving forward toward an already determined future. Even if a temporary deviation arises because of her, it will be amended by the will of the world.

Eos: When that juncture arrives, everyone will need her.

There is not a single ripple in Victor’s voice as he speaks.

Victor: [this coldness is utterly different from ANY of his icy voices before]  I brought her here, but it does not mean that I approve of her fulfilling your mission.

Victor: [continuation]  She does not belong to you guys.

The face behind the hood seems to remain unmoved.

Eos: This is not up to you and me to choose. It has all been foreordained a long time ago. Once, for some reason, our observations were confined to that only remaining parallel world.

Eos: We have spent a tremendous amount of time trying to confirm Evol’s survival or otherwise, to investigate its different possibilities. The answer obtained from that is not merely a simple figure. You and I both know that very well.

The man looks towards the end of the stairs, his tone impassive.

Eos: We understand that others will not give their everything for other worlds. Therefore, we accepted being overthrown, and accepted that the prophecy had been falsified. But our goal has never changed from beginning to end.

Eos: Whether for us, the next civilization, or yourselves, she is destined to walk before the world.

Looking at the figure approaching from the distance, Victor opens his mouth, his voice carrying a kind of certainty and determination.

Victor: [again, utterly different from all the times before]  Her existence has never been because other people “need” her.

Victor: [continuation]  She only needs to be herself. She does not have to be any other existence.

Eos’s voice trails off with a faint lilt.

Eos: But there are some things she needs to face eventually.

━━━ [NARRATOR POV ENDS] ━━━

–

•─────⋅◍♡◍⋅─────•

–

✧ [CH 37-15] ✧

A slight residual warmth lingers in my palm as though I can still feel the touch of the dagger.

I find myself immersing in amazement, clutching my palm as I walk down the stairs step by step. From a distance, I can see Victor’s silhouette waiting at the foot of the steps.

Just like he said, he would walk the journey back home side by side with me.

The joy seems to be as light as a feather, overflowing within me. My pace speeds up unconsciously as I run up to him in brisk steps.

Victor’s eyes soften a little imperceptibly, his gaze sweeping over me carefully as though confirming something.

I react in hindsight and speak in a rush.

MC: It’s done. I don’t feel any pain anymore.

Victor’s shoulders seem to slack a bit after hearing my words, and he nods.

Victor: Let’s go, then.

My brimming wonderment parks in my throat, and I tug at his sleeve with some surprise.

MC: Aren’t you gonna ask me anything else?

Victor: I’ve already learned what I wanted to know the most.

Victor: As for the rest, there will be opportunities later.

As soon as the words are out of his mouth, the invisible ripples surface before us once again. Like when we came, the scenes in all directions have begun to blur.

I take Victor’s outstretched hand in mine and close my eyes with my mind at peace.

Within a moment’s work, the originally quiet surrounding suddenly becomes more clamorous, and a slightly cool air brushes past the ears.

I open my eyes and find myself standing on some skywalk somewhere. The tall buildings are faintly visible in the distance in the limpid red twilight.

Not far away, the Twelve main gods are standing scattered in twos and threes, seemingly still immersed in the scene they have just witnessed.

I breathe a small sigh of relief, only to suddenly feel a sharp tightening of the palm holding my wrist.

I look at Victor with some confusion, but see that his brows are tightly furrowed, and a rarely seen grave expression emerges on his face.

My gaze descends unconsciously, falling on my wrist.

The skin that greets my eyes is still smooth, fair and clear, and has not become wrinkled.

MC: !!

A layer of cold sweat violently climbs up my back. How could Anole’s disguise not have been restored?

For an instant, my heart almost stops at half a beat. I turn my head to look at Victor, my voice shivering faintly as I open my mouth.

MC: Didn’t that Eos say he would help us? What should we do now…

In response to my words, a male voice reminiscent of aria rings out from behind me.

Poseidon: Bravo~ I didn’t expect BOSS to prepare such a great show for us.

I turn around and see Poseidon exaggeratedly bowing in Victor’s direction.

His voice draws the attention of the other main gods immersed in their own thoughts, causing them to look toward us, and their eyes land precisely on me without exception.

Their looks of either surprise or hostility turn into a sudden realization almost within a few moments, and they converge on me like wild animals hunting their prey.

Poseidon: Little did we know that underneath the mysterious veil of CORE was actually Nox. Come to think of it, BOSS chasing you out of BS really made us waste a lot of time we could have had with you~

Poseidon saunters over as he speaks, and I can ineffably make out a hint of excitement behind the white mask.

Although not explicitly stated, the meaning beyond Poseidon’s words is to implicate Victor. No matter what, we must not let the operation be exposed at this moment.

With this thought in mind, I open my mouth in feigned calmness.

MC: Whether it’s arranging for me to leave BS temporarily or calling me back, BOSS has his own plans.

MC: As subordinates, we only need to obey. How to play the game of chess is not for you to explain, is it?

Poseidon lets out a delighted laugh.

Poseidon: Indeed, I was overthinking it. I can’t believe I was worried that BOSS  had something else in mind when he expelled Nox before… that’s truly absurd.

Poseidon: Anyway, since Nox is a member of the organization, she must also identify with our pursuit. How about leaving with us now and dedicating yourself and CORE entirely to where you belong, the organization? What do you think about that~

He exaggeratedly raises his arm as if he is singing a hymn. And behind him, a number of figures have gathered at some point.

I even see faint flashes of gray mist and white light in my peripheral vision.

…it’s Evol. These main gods have made no secret of their restraining dread for CORE. Are they trying to use their power to make me allow myself to be captured without putting up a fight?

Victor: It seems that you guys still haven’t learned the lesson.

Victor suddenly speaks in a heavy tone, carrying with it a few hints of intimidation while not revealing his anger.

Victor: Before acting self-righteously, how about contemplating clearly?

Victor: Why did I ask Nox to conceal her identity and arrange for you all to witness the prophecy.

A quietude hangs in the air of the spacious and empty rooftop. It seems that the calls and songs of a few tiny birds can be heard from the distance.

A few moments later, Hades takes the lead to part the crowd and stand out.

Hades: BOSS, you’re going around in a big circle. What exactly do you want to do?

Victor stands in front of me, calmly overlooking the crowd.

Victor: BS has already gone so far down the road of pursuing power that some people forget it’s merely a path to achieve a goal.

Victor: Or is it that as the main gods, all you want is this tawdry thing called “control of the world?”

Some people’s faces become visibly unsightly, but Victor turns a blind eye to them.

Victor: Being led by wrong notions has already caused unnecessary problems for the organization.

Victor: I don’t want to see the power of BS used only to carry out a pointless chase for evolution anymore.

After a brief moment of silence, Poseidon steps forward from the middle of the crowd.

Poseidon: I believe that everyone will remember your words wholeheartedly~ But even for the sake of the brand new future of BS that you spoke of, we still need to have CORE in our hands.

The color of Victor’s eyes seems to be churning, overwhelmed with heavy emotions. Shortly after, a strong hand spins me around and supports my shoulder.

Victor: Indeed so.

Victor: But what if, I don’t need CORE?

The words I hadn’t anticipated at all fall into my ears, and my eyes widen slightly. The next second, the icy muzzle of a gun is pressed against my temple.

Victor wraps his arm around me from behind, firmly imprisoning my body and seemingly cutting off any possibility of my escape.

MC: Victor, you––

My unfinished words are drowned out by the slight exertion of the force of his hand. The skin of my temple is throbbing, and I can almost clearly hear the sound of the trigger being stroked by a finger pad.

Victor never mentioned that there was also this part in the plan.

Numerous cacophonies of obstructions drift from before me. It seems that the gods are agitatedly talking about something, but I have no time to part my attention by listening to their words.

The icy temperature of the muzzle is magnified infinitely through my skin, stirring my shuddering breath bit by bit.

Cold sweat soaks my back, my dampened clothes clinging clammily to my body. I forget to breathe for a moment, opening my mouth in helplessness and fluster.

“BANG.”

A bird suddenly swoops up from a tree, screeching as it flies toward the blood-like setting sun.

•─────⋅◍♡◍⋅─────•

—

❤️ [Calls and Moments]: In Progress...

—

#the explosion of info in this chapter literally had my brain spiraling for two days straight LOL ⊙⁠﹏⁠⊙ #Eos’s “peptalk” is basically what Zero has been telling Victor for two seasons straight—“you CANNOT save her. It’s doomed.” #and he be like “I DID IT BEFORE. I CAN DO IT AGAIN.” Except for the fact that— Eos is “not” Zero in any way haha :> #it’s confirmed this man is not human LMAO. even if he’s “supposed to be” 2D – there’s NO 2D WAY in which he could possibly be human aksbkv— #— while also being THE MOST humanely human one could possibly imagine. I love him so much ಥ⁠_⁠ಥ Head empty. just THEM❤️ #also–– someone gib me a time machine i shall travel to next December. how the heck on earth i’m supposed wait THAT LONG PG💀🔪 #mlqc victor #mlqc li zeyan #mr love victor #mlqc #mr love queen's choice #恋与制作人 #李泽言 #love and producer #mlqc cn #mlqc spoilers #mlqc translations

[blackkatmagic]

The whole chapter was gutting in the best way. I also love how the jedi are portrayed as kind and empathetic, and how viciously they'll all feel the massacre but they agree to view it regardless. And I said it in my comment but the little moment where Tholme reaches out to Quinlan before he touches the wrap really stood out to me.

Agen is a good, strong Jedi. Even in the face of Anakin throwing Tan's death in his face he held on to his composure so well (but I still think he needs a gentle hug)

Mm that's a good strong Jedi you've got there. Be a shame if...anything were to happen to him instead of him getting that hug. :)

#kat answers #next chapter is also ouchy #i cannot WAIT

[truethes]

the girls are fighting.

#❛ ♡ › jupiter : 𝐨𝐨𝐜. #which girls? all OF THEM #cant believe this is really the beginning of the end #BUT MY GOOODNESSS #mah.iru vs sak.uya ??? i think im missing smth there with those two #but mik.uni vs mis.ono ... ITS HAPPENING #also ku.ro getting back up like that. sir ur NOT ALLOWED. to look that good. #i have to admit that this chapter looks so good and i cannot WAIT for it to be translated. simply bc of knowing all of ts.ubakis subclass' #death ... i even feel bad for the one guy i disliked (hi.gan i dont forgive u for ur treatment of greed pair. sorry-) #the way everyone is intertwined ... insanity. EVERYONE IS THE BUS DRIVER #sv you will always be my beloved. YOU WILL ALWAYS SHOCK ME #going to go on my monthly i love ku.ro thoughts now for the next hour :')

[cybergirlblues]

new csm chapter got me fucked up

#csm spoilers #i need nayuta to be okay first and foremost #her and asa are so power coded #BUT WHY THE FUCK ARE WE DISSECTING DENJI #i mean. i know why they wanna separate his heart from his body and split up his body to keep him from becoming cam again #BUT ASA SHOWING UP AT THE END 😏 #it would take a war to compromise this facility’s safety #well there she is #at your doorstep #cannot wait for next chapter FR !!!!!!! #tatsuki fujimoto the freak you are #i also need quanxi back because her reappearing for like 3 chapters and disappearing again is PISSING ME AWF #LIKE THAT’S MY WIFE I’M LITERALLY HER WOMAN (i’m not a woman)

[sophieswundergarten]

@nobody33333333, I finally did it!!!

Alrighty, it has taken me ages to get around to finishing all of this, because of unfortunately unavoidable things, but I am done with the semester now and so ready to spew all of my thoughts on the unsuspecting audience of poor people who follow me.

So, without further ado, I present:

Sophie's Unhinged and Excessively Hyperactive Word-Vomit "Review" of Chapter 11 of S.O.S.

Ooooh, Curtain’s evil villain motivations for tipping the boys off balance is so sinister. It’s interesting, because he is using the same tactics he used on/around Nicholas when they were children. Just. The narrative parallels.

Garrison!!

She’s so funny. Even with all she’s been through, she sees right through Curtain to his theater kid core.

(It’s still really sad, though, because she doesn’t get why he’s trying to get her opinion and he keeps forcing her)

“For someone who was fine bypassing ethical standards to rush their timeline, Curtain still put a ridiculous amount of effort into aesthetics. Not that any of this would matter if his new messengers didn’t adapt to The Whisperer.” It just hits so hard, for some reason. Maybe because you can really understand the difference of perspective between her and Curtain.

Oh!! “psychics or telepaths”, we’re getting somewhere!

It makes a lot of sense that the Whisperer tech would pick that kind of thing up!! That’s so clever, and very much something Garrison would take into account. You are so good at putting these little details into it that give the story so much more dimension and open up a lot more paths for the characters to take.

Lindsey!!! Lindsey gets a part and can do things!! I’m so excited for her :) 

Aaaaand she’s got a crush on Isaac. I can’t believe you’ve gotten me extremely invested in this as soon as I got to that line. She’s so sweet, though! I’m excited to see more of her.

And you can tell Garrison is trying to be nice, even though she’s having a breakdown fifty percent of the time and doesn’t really want to deal with teenagers.

It cracks me up that they made a full model of Reynie. Why. Just, why. Did he leave some of his clothes behind? I feel like it would have been better to make one of Kate. You can’t tell me they looked at Madge and went “Yes. I am certain that Reynie, our resident soft-hearted child who’d probably cry if he saw this bird eat a live mouse, he is the one who will be most in-tune with this child. Not Kate, no. There’s no way that the girl who was raised by a circus would be the one who will volunteer to handle the actual falcon we’re about to send to them”

I’m so proud of Number Two for breaking Madge out of a terrible zoo. 10/10 No Comments, one of the best plot points I’ve seen.

Also, this Madge perspective is so cool! Omniscient narrators don’t always remember that they can do anything, but this was a fantastic usage of it.

She’s trying so hard. Madge has made no mistakes ever she’s beautiful.

MISS PERUMAL YEAH

““Oh, Hello.” replied Nicholas awkwardly, hoping that this woman, who clearly cared about Reynie, wouldn’t notice the newly destroyed dummy that happened to be wearing one of his sweater vests.” Ajasdjgadskjl What even. He’s so silly, but that is certainly not a situation you want to be in with Miss Perumal.

I’ve said it before, but the little descriptions and dialogue tags you add to the lines from the show are so good!!! Just tiny things, like calling her “the woman” and then immediately switching to “Dipika” when she introduces herself make it so incredibly amazing. You don’t have to worry at all about it being “boring” or “redundant” because people have already seen the show.

And now we’re sad again because of Milligan. I love him but he is so full of melancholy right now :( 

I love how you’ve been incorporating Mr. Benedict’s tendency to just adopt every single child into Curtain’s character. He may not be going about it properly, or for the right reasons, but he’s just as inclined to take in (abduct) children as his brother.

Isaac cameo!!

The details in how you explain all of the tech, from the Whisperer to the Waiting Room, is ingenious and thrilling to read and I am loving it!!

It just repeats people’s thoughts!! It’s not really like an AI, more of an echo chamber that can project into people’s minds, that is so neat!

Of course, Reynie is able to distance himself by thinking about Miss Perumal, that is such a good paragraph.

And the Curtain/Nicholas parallels are back again!! He’s such a contradiction; He misses his brother and wants him back, but he also can’t stand when things remind him of Nicholas. Oh boy this man needs so much therapy goodness gracious.

Good job, Reynie for being cautious!!

Oh. Oh no this is one of my least favourite bits it’s just so awkward aaahhhhhhh

“The first thing Number Two had done was quickly search Miss. Perumal’s bags for weapons, which was fine with Dipika, since she knew that Number Two wouldn’t find anything (no one ever did).” This is why she’s one of the best characters ever. I did really like the book version, of course, but I also love the way they changed her into Pink Biker Vigilante Mom.

AAAHHHH YOUR WAY OF DESCRIBING HER THOUGHTS IS SO COOL. “Dipika Perumal had met people who wanted to hurt children. She had met people who hated children, who even enjoyed hurting them. She knew what that looked like in a person, you could see it in their faces. And she could see that Mr. Benedict and his companions were not those people. But just because they didn’t enjoy hurting children didn’t mean they wouldn’t use them, and it didn’t mean they weren’t up to anything nefarious.” YES. OH MY WORD SO GOOD.

Also Mr. Benedict being like “Yes, if I tell this lady that my recently discovered twin brother is behind all of this, it will definitely give me credibility. This is the best option”

There’s something about Number Two fixating on the food as a way to enter the conversation/be sure that if something goes wrong she’ll be there that rings very true to me. She anxious about this, and she wants to protect Mr. Benedict and exert some kind of control because she couldn’t keep the house from being broken into and now they’re in the woods and she can’t keep Rhonda from wanting to quit and she couldn’t keep Miss Perumal from finding them and the only thing she can control right now is the stuff she makes with her own hands and she’s scared that she’s falling behind because of all her failures and you can feel that she just needs to do something. You do a good job of portraying that.

CAN YOU PLEASE STOP MAKING ME CRY OVER THESE CHARACTERS????? FOR FIVE SECONDS???? OH MY WORD

And poor Sticky is ashamed of admitting that he’s afraid of not being wanted, like he thinks he isn’t even worth being upset about how he’s been treated.

It’s been kind of intriguing to see Curtain’s feelings about Reynie and Sticky slowly switch.

And now we’re back to Mr. Benedict’s questionable attempts to explain himself. Why on earth would she need background for the information you just dropped on her about your brother? That certainly wasn’t something to be expected.

AKJFshad;asdfg Number Two just casually going “He’s narcoleptic, it’s fine. Please continue to enjoy your food” and the way you write Miss Perumal’s reaction!! She’s so baffled but she adapts, as she does.

Oh goodness, she thinks he’s crazy. I feel so bad for him because he’s had such awful experiences with that, but also from her perspective it’s totally justified.

I love how she initially was trying to be nice and not trigger him but immediately forgoes this to yell at him about sending children into an underground secret tunnel.

HILDEGARD

NO, OH, HILDEGARD. Sad :( 

“Garrison tried to believe that it was for the best. The helpers were happy at the Institute, which was more than she could say for herself.” Please, I will bake you muffins if you stop destroying me like this :((((

AND SHE KNOWS. SHE KNOWS THAT SHE’S HURT PEOPLE (And herself) IN THE PAST. BUT SHE CAN’T REMEMBER.

Oh my. He feels so guilty about how they might have hurt Milligan. And he’s so alone in that.

AND SHE KNOWS. SHE KNOWS THAT SHE’S HURT PEOPLE (And herself) IN THE PAST. BUT SHE CAN’T REMEMBER.

Oh my. He feels so guilty about how they might have hurt Milligan. And he’s so alone in that.

She knows!! She sees the button and that whole paragraph looking into how she feels about the situation and how she fought Curtain to avoid brainsweeping the children is bone-chilling I don’t know how you managed to make us feel that way when I know what’s going to happen it’s nuts how good at this you are.

Their decaying dynamic is driving me up a wall. She doesn’t get why Curtain cares about her, but she’s using it to her advantage, all the while Curtain’s still manipulating her, but he’s trying to do it in the least malicious way possible. (And he’s failing)

“the shock of Curtain realizing the situation she was imagining. A world where they were actually held accountable for what they were doing.”

Garrison’s little dive into Curtain’s weird delusions is very interesting. He really is unsettling, because he isn’t some mastermind who spends all his time distracting people from his real intentions, he’s spending just as much time trying to convince himself of what he’s telling others that he can’t see clearly anymore.

I really appreciate how you give Miss Perumal her own opinions and personality, but you keep her thoughts directed at Reynie. That’s a tough balance.

The narrative tension in the details of how Dipika leaves thinking that Mr. B and Co aren’t intentionally hurting people, but should be stopped nonetheless, and she doesn’t see how badly she’s shaken him is so good!!

More Perumal backstory!!!

SQ!!!!

Oh, this is one of my favourite scenes in the show, just for the lines and the mirror shots and everything, I’m so excited to see your take

Aw yeah, this is brilliant.

Let him go to college!!!! Let him do the things!! Let him do his art!!!

He wants his dad to be proud!! He’s trying so hard to frame it positively, but Curtain’s a wacko and he isn’t going to let him :( 

Let him have his confidence!! He could so definitely do it, I’m so sad :(

Garrison: “Hmm, I’m going to have a look at my readings, so I can maybe hypothesise about how I could possibly find the child” The Readings: “She was in your lab, you weirdo”

Wait. WHAT????? WHAT IS THIS, BODS????? EXCUSE ME???? I MEAN, I KNOW THIS FIC IS AMAZING AND I LOVE IT BUT WHAT????? I DIDN’T EXPECT THAT TO COME OUT OF NOWHERE AND HIT ME LIKE A TON OF BRICKS

Please don’t go and put your liver in jeopardy again, Doc. I don’t think anyone can take much more of that.

AJKSFhakjsgh You always manage to come swinging out of the blue with your chapter conclusions. Goodness. I think I need to go sit down, but I still have another chapter to read and I don’t know if I can wait!!

#I tried to keep it brief(er) this time #I also think I figured out how to circumvent the character limit thing by inserting random breaks so we'll see how that goes #I've learned my lesson though and have all this saved on a doc so I can just copy-paste it over again if Tumblr decides to eat it #But we'll see about the next chapter #I'm already working on that but I wanted to post this as soon as I was able because I couldn't wait #I cannot BELIEVE how talented y'all are at writing #It drives me crazy in the good way to read through this fic #And I love every second of it #Okay I'm going to stop now and go work on one of the many many other projects I've got in store #s.o.s. #And if you saw this a minute ago it's because while I loopholed the word count it doesn't let me edit mistakes after so whoops

[lloydfrontera]

wait. did,, did they,, ommit the six white lancers that died trying to stop the mastodons? which then led to lloyd refusing to have more people sacrifice themselves in his place?? using his authority for iirc the first time to order sir blanc to retreat and leave him behind to deal with the problem?? which is one of the reasons javier is so pissed off later on??? the event that is one of lloyd's best character defining moments?? which resolution eventually leads to sir blanc implying he'd be willing to switch his loyalty to lloyd if he so asked???

did they just ommit that?!?!

#the greatest estate developer #the greatest estate developer spoilers #i am hoping beyond reason that they're waiting for the next chapter to show it which would make no sense #but it would still be better than the alternative #IF THEY SKIPPED IT I'M GONNA BE SO UPSET #because it'd also foreshadowing for two other character and plot relevant moments #lloyd's respect for other's sacrifices and the dead is crucial to his character and to the plot #and this is the first glimpse we get of it!! you cannot skip it!!! #i talk a lot <3 #tged

[piedoesnotequalpi]

After tomorrow (one more journal entry) the semester will be OVER and I'll be able to WRITE WHATEVER I WANT (Newsies fanfiction) and I will START THE NEXT CHAPTER OF THE BACHELORETTE AU

#i need to contend with uh. finding something that will cause me to work roughly full time (aka a second job) #but that is a problem for not now #i need to rest after the semester if i want to keep any hope of being a functional member of society #so i'm gonna give myself a couple weeks #isabel.tex #oh also i gotta write my exchange fic and answer those asks i got #but i've been throwing notes into my bachelorette planning doc all week since i wasn't letting myself actually write #and now i cannot WAIT to write the next chapter

[taegularities]

heyy ❤️ how're you? the last drabble was so soft 🥺🥺 enjoyed it so sm but then thought of the upcoming angst..... that might be just unpredictable from ur side now 😩

heyyy, sweetheart !! i'm okay, how are you? <3 i'm glad you liked the drabble.. it made me soft, too 🥺 and yeah tbh, some parts of cmi7 came out of nowhere even to me, so... i'm genuinely curious how you guys will like the chapter !! or what you'll feel hahaha let's go !! <3

#i'm so excited for the next few chapters #(but also cannot wait to conclude that journalist/parents arc) #anyways #notes for rid 🌹 #lili <3 #fic: colour me in

[askamnesiamoonjumper]

its taking everything in my power not to spoil the chapter one rewrite bc goddamn im soooo hyped for this thing to be done

#im like 1/4ths through it but STILL. OUGH. #cannot WAIT for this and also the next prologe chapter bc i did a little bit of it today after putting it off to work on the chap1 edit/RW #grace post

[archived-and-moving]

working on the wings au rn and like. I have had. the ending planned since the first page. i knew where I was headed and what I wanted to do. and now I am here. and the story has decided it wants to do something different. it's still similar, still carries the message I want. it's the same thing but slightly to the left, and I'm still happy with it. but also. dude.

I love how stories do that. How they adapt and how they change and flow like a river that shifts it's course when the water still needs to flow somewhere.

Like the river's still there, almost the same, barely unchanged. But the water had to run, and if it won't run in one place then it can in another.

Or I suppose you could think of your story as a snake. One that has laid in the sun on it's rock on a warm, clear afternoon. But now as the sun moves downward in the sky, as you story may progress, the snake makes itself as warm as it can on the rock, moving to the right and to the left, a mind of it's own.

Either way they are such incredible things aren't they? I'm so very excited to see the wings au come to a close, and I know that whatever you have planned will be absolutely extraordinary.

#kotlc #shattered upside down #quil tag <33 #asks #i think it's bittersweet in a way #if you know what i mean #like i've been clearing my sunday to read these chapters every other week #i've let my brain wander as to what could possibly happen next #and as excited as i am to see this marvelous fic come to an excellent close #it's also sort of sad in a way? #i don't want to let go. but i think that i just have to be ready #that's why my best friend can't consume fiction media too much. #it's because of the fact that after becoming so attached to something that you have to let it go. #and with the wings au i hope for a gentle kiss on the forehead a whole ton of longing and a final goodbye. #but i'll always be happy that it's occupied my headspace for this long #anyway!! i'm rambling quite severely!! #cannot wait!!

[saintchaser]

last line tag

(thank you @arakhnee for the tag)

James had always been the sun. He was bright, gentle and warm. Sirius was the night’s stars, a mystery that few would take the time to truly learn. The sun and the night’s stars may be different in their own way, but, essentially, they were the same. The sun and the stars, belonging to the sky, always together, a force of nature.

no pressure tags!: @fonkeloog @enbysiriusblack @mad-elia @cornishpixiez @littlequeers

#thank you for the tag sy! i also loved your pandalily one <33 pandora thought lily might be good with her too aaaa <33333 /pos #this is from the next chapter of atwfd by the way sirius' pov and i cannot wait for you guys to see it! aaa #sirius black #james potter #last line tag #my writing

[nerice]

alrdy hit wordcount in the early morning hours today so it wld be smart to not update todays wordcount (alrdy another 2k) until after midnight since i cant write tmrw but also my brain is wired in a way that does not allow for it

#esp bc next chapter IS a rewriting/arranging nightmare so i might not get much done esp if my food break takes 2 hrs again #elia txts #but on the other side of that..... beach arc at long last #(also an editing nightmare) but god i cannot wait to have a streamlined version of it for the first time since 2009

[xawkward-ariesx]

Am I supposed to be working on lior? and gaoyl? Yes. Am I working on joml instead? Also yes.

#Ace writes sometimes #writing process #JOML #LioR #GAOYL #i swear im trying to get the next chapters done for lior and gaoyl but my brain has decided its suddenly gonna focus on joml #and i simply cannot waste the opportunity so you just gonna have to wait a lil longer for those #also have a weird urge to finally get my ass in gear about gg but i doubt that will pan out but well see they deserve an update #basically have lots of will to write i just cannot seem to actually direct that energy anywhere #joml is much longer than i realised though but tbf the chapters keep spiralling out of my control so not that surprising