#people are so. human. in their grief. PHEW.

[menelaiad]

Achilles and Odysseus in Homer voice in no uncertain terms their desire to embrace the departed. The Greeks described this type of unrequited yearning with the term pothos. On the one hand, such pothos for the departed, and more specifically for their touch, offered a path towards remembrance by strengthening empathetic engagement with the memorials, engaging multiple senses, and rehearsing the memory of the dead. On the other hand, it offered little comfort, but instead drew attention to the very absence of the deceased. Pothos for the dead was relentless.

i am Unwell

#this essay on death in the ancient world in general is #actually really freaking tough to research and write #people are so. human. in their grief. PHEW. #pothos for the departed ...................... #just to clarify: odysseus does this with aga. odysseus' pothos is for aga.

[mxdreemurr]

Frisk and Chara Loop de Loop

Words: 4347

Summary: Frisk and Chara are in The Underground, still.

Includes: Meandering structure, interpretive character study, some melancholy, some grief, mention of continuous resets, allusion to no mercy, the difficulties of communicating with people you care about and asking for help, determination.

Chara and Frisk are explicitly part of the Dreemurr family in this, so don't read if you don't agree with that I guess.

Enjoy!

“Oof.” 

You let out a small ‘oof’ as you hit the pile of leaves, landing on your back and staring up at the hole you fell through. The purple stone of The Ruins is all around you. After a moment of blinking slowly upwards, you extend your left arm and raise your hand palm-up in the air over your head. You’re thinking about how it looks like in anime openings or AMVs sometimes when characters do that, and that it’s cool. 

It does kind of look like that. And it is kind of cool.

“How many times has this been?” I think at you.

“Only three or four,” you think back.

I huff mentally. “No, Frisk. Not falling down these holes and landing on the leaves. The whole, everything. Not even just resets, but getting to see Asriel and everyone leaving The Underground and stuff.” I try to cover up my small outburst of emotion and hope you didn’t notice too much.

You lower your arm, resting your hands on your stomach. “I don’t know,” you think. “It’s like Flowey says, it’s—. It’s like waking up from a dream sometimes, you know? They kind of blur together a couple back…” You heave a big sigh and kick your feet. “What about you? Do you know how many times?”

“I…” I mentally furrow my brows. “I’m not great at keeping track of stuff like that. Math is for losers. Tch.” So what if I’m not as great at hiding my emotions as I’d like to be.

Silence stretches on with neither of us saying anything. You close your eyes fully. Eventually I speak up again in your head.

“Frisk… How many more times do you want to keep doing this…? It’s not like Asriel and I need our bodies back that much… Perhaps a change of priorities is in order, and it’s like Asriel said, our parents have moved on, them seeing us again—”

“Stop. Chara. You deserve a happier ending. Both of you do. And your mom and dad love you! They wouldn’t be anything but overjoyed to see you again, I know this. And me too… It’s not just for you, you know. Your family loves you.”

I mentally lean my head on my hand and roll my eyes at you, but I can’t help giving the energy of a small smile.

You smile as well, and lace your fingers together.

“Can we just lie here for a little while?”

“Yeah, of course, yeah.”

***

After only a moment of pause, Papyrus continues on with: “WELL!!! THIS CHALLENGE!!! IT SEEMS… MAYBE… TOO EASY TO DEFEAT THE HUMAN WITH. YEAH! WE CAN’T USE THIS ONE!!! I AM A SKELETON WITH STANDARDS!!! MY PUZZLES ARE VERY FAIR! AND MY TRAPS ARE EXPERTLY COOKED! BUT THIS METHOD IS TOO DIRECT! NO CLASS AT ALL! AWAY IT GOES!”

The various spikes and spears and flamethrowers and dogs are retracted back from whence they came.

“PHEW! WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT!? THIS WAS ANOTHER DECISIVE VICTORY FOR PAPYRUS!!” 

“NYEH!!” 

“HEH!!” 

“…” 

“HEH???”

After Papyrus confusedly makes his exit, you step off the rock-painted-like-a-bridge, feet crunching into the snow covering the ground. You turn and look over at Sans still planted in his spot to the side where he’s been watching the scene unfold. Sans shrugs at you and says, “i don’t know what my brother’s going to do now. if I were you, i would make sure i understand blue attacks.”

You give a polite nod at him and turn to continue on towards town, but he stops you. Seems like he has something more to say?

“hey, kid. you’ve got this look in your eye… you seem dead set about something. determined, you could say? i know you must want to befriend my brother real bad, but uh. no need to be a hero about it. take care of yourself.”

You set your mouth in a line and give another nod, then a hesitant little wave over your shoulder as you turn and head towards Snowdin.

…

“Frisk… I hate to say it, but do you think he may have a point?

You shake your head side to side. “No. Sans is funny, and likes to assume his assumptions about things are true… but it’s not like he really knows anything about us.”

I pause for a second

“…Assume his assumptions…?”

“Sumptions his wumptions?”

“Gumptions his dumptions???”

(… That little bit of impromptu nonsense wordplay got you smiling.)

“Chara.” The goofy smile falls from your mouth a little and turns into something more wistful (Uh oh). “I know you’re trying to look out for me. Thank you.”

“You’re… very welcome.”

“We don’t need to be turning to Sans for advice, though.”

“…I suppose we can agree on that at least. I don’t like when he threatens you. And his puns are B grade at best.”

“Okay no need to grumble, Chara,” you giggle. “And Sans isn’t that bad, in the end. The point is though, I want you to trust me. If there can be one human you can trust—”

“Frisk!!!” I laugh, “of course I trust you. We’re, like, family, you know? How many times has Toriel adopted you? I’ll always trust my family. And I’m sure you could even count as honorary monster at this point, if you wanted.”

“Hmm, I’ll have to think about it…” You do a dramatic little shrug. “But, good. I’m glad you trust me. We’re going to keep on going and I’m going to save you. Both of you.”

(Oh. Oh no. Oh geez, oh crud.)

“Um, Frisk, I don’t know if—”

“Ah ah ah!!! You don’t get to say you don’t deserve it! We talked about this, remember?”

“Yeah, I remember, but—”

“No-butts!!! Hey, how about we go get a cinnamon bunny? I bet that’ll cheer you up!”

“… That’s very thoughtful of you Frisk. Alright.”

“Yesss-!” You do a little victory pose and start skipping to get to the shop faster.

…

“Frisk, you remind me of myself sometimes.”

“Thanks!!!”

(…I don’t think you get it.)

***

Water falls all around us as a familiar tune begins to play. You kneel in front of the old statue, the red umbrella propped up in its arms. The ground is wet and dirty, but even still, you know I would be kneeling beside you if I could. You know I would bow my head if I could. I would put my face in my hands. I would embrace it in a hug and weep on its shoulder. Every time.

You pat your hand on the ground beside you, seeming to understand. I can feel the stone and grit.

“You’ll get your hands dirty. Not to mention your knees already. The water makes all the gravel and stuff stick to you.”

“I know.”

“Woshua wouldn’t be pleased.”

You chuckle lightly, and bow your head for a quiet moment.

After a long couple minutes of silence, you tentatively ask: “Do you remember the music box that’s in here?”

“Of course. It was a gift from our parents. Asgore had a friend who did craftwork like this. It’s beautiful… I, uh, I think this is a good home for it now. We really loved exploring Waterfall.”

You smile a little. “You know it’s not that long until we can see Asriel again, right?”

“I know that!!! Silly!” I respond, exasperated but a little amused. “It’s just that, well… Ugh. You know…” I trail off.

“I do know.”

“He deserved better, he does deserve better. He was so scared and alone as a flower, and then, and then there’s this, the journey and The Barrier, but then he’s just alone again? Even when we can get him to come with us, he still won’t tell mom and dad who he is… and he’s still stuck as a flower! How is that fair…”

“I feel the same way… but about you too. Stuck without a body, also not ready to tell our parents. And I bet that he would feel the same as well. Asriel would want us to be doing this.”

…

(Ugh. If only they knew.)

“Just let them go. 

Let Frisk be happy. 

Let Frisk live their life.”

(What have I been doing. Frisk… you… You have a life too…)

You only seem to be half expecting a response; you’re already hoisting yourself to your feet, and leaning over to give the statue a goodbye kiss on the top of the head. You have so many confident, bright feelings radiating off your soul. I take another look at the statue as you politely step back, before you turn to continue on. 

Asriel…

“Um. Yeah, I guess you’re probably right, huh. He would want us to be doing this.”

You smile confidently and give a nod, marching onwards and outwards through the caverns of Waterfall, its denizens mostly watching on from out of the way. 

(Frisk… I remember when we first met, when you first fell into The Underground. You were so frightened, so afraid and beaten down. Every kindness was like a miracle to you. You were intimidated by the size of the pie, wouldn’t leave mom, and then kept getting captured by Papyrus because you wanted a place to stay. Look at you now, huh… I just hope you can stay this way, keep your determination and your hope, I don’t know if what you’re trying to do is even possible…)

***

The sweltering heat of Hotland is all-encompassing as you make your way along the stone path, the large pool of magma stretching out to your right with The CORE plunked right in the middle of it. Always a little uncomfortable coming through here with that sweater of yours. Not that I can critique your choices in clothing, though.

You stop midway along the path and turn and look at The CORE.

(I’ve been doing my narration schtick as usual, but I’ve been kind of tense since the statue in Waterfall… Maybe it’s time for a good-natured joke.)

“Hey, Frisk,” I nudge you mentally, “you ever think about jumping in there?” I ask, referring to the large pool of magma.

You roll your eyes at me. “Uh, yeah, obviously.” I raise a figurative eyebrow at you. “Not like I’m going to though. Too hot for a bath, don’t wanna become Frisk Soup today.”

I chuckle at that. “Also the magical platforms that save you if you fall.”

“Oh yeah, also that.” We’re both giggling a little now.

After a moment though you cross your arms and put your hand on your chin  thoughtfully as you survey the familiar scene before us. “Hey, Chara. You know Gaster?”

“Uh, yeah…?” I have no idea where you’re going to go with this question, but I hope nowhere too personal about my past.

“… What do you think was his creation that he fell into…? Was it The CORE?”

“The CORE?” I echoed, “hmmm. Lots of places to fall into in and around it I suppose. All the magma that feeds it, and then all the glow-y foggy stuff inside… It’s certainly magical as heck in order to generate magical power, obviously, but I’ve never heard of a reason for it to have the power to shatter someone across time and space…? Not like I know that much about it though… it’s not my specialty,” I sniff.

“And you’re not even a scientist. And you’re like thirteen.”

“I suppose,” I say, doing the mental equivalent of looking at my fingernails. “You’re like, twelve though? So don’t get on my case about it.”

“Hmm, I suppose,” you say in mockery. We manage to last two seconds before smiling at each other and giggling again.

…

(Perhaps it would be constructive to inform Frisk more about what I know of the machines in The True Lab… Well… Maybe one of these resets if it becomes relevant. We’ll see.)

***

Your quiet footfalls across the wooden floorboards make some of the only sound to be heard in the house right now. The white and grey colour scheme lends a feeling like an old photograph. It’s so quiet, no one happens to be visiting at this time, and Asgore spends so much time in the garden taking care of the flowers. I clench your fists unconsciously.

“Before we get the keys and your stuff, is there anything in particular you’d like to see this time, Chara?”

“… The teacups. In the cupboard in the kitchen.”

You nod, and smile, and take us over there.

You reach up on your tip-toes and open the cupboard doors. Inside are plates, bowls, and a collection of painted teacups, all sitting on a yellow checkered cloth. I mentally indicate which one I want and you pick it up for me and bring it down. It’s white porcelain with a soft green and yellow floral design on it. I can feel the weight and coolness in your hands.

I remember sitting at the big table, beside Asriel on the long side, mom and dad on both ends. Sometimes, an hour or so after dinner, the family would have tea together. And I was always invited (But it was okay if I didn’t go, and stayed in our room instead). My brother and I would have herbal teas, I liked the floral ones. I remember mostly listening, to the warm happy conversation of a family (My family, I’d only just barely been able to accept that). Listening to the low, comforting sounds of talking back and forth between our parents, my brother’s bright, excited additions to the conversation, it’s a memory that is unspeakably precious to me now. I would occasionally be asked to join in with my thoughts on something, or how I’ve been doing, but never pressured to talk more than I wanted. Everything was always gentle encouragement but never forcing me into anything I wasn’t comfortable with yet (The kindness was overwhelming, I’ll never be able to pay it back in full).

I remember Asriel nudging me under the table, passing me a folded-up note while our parents were talking. A promise in his handwriting to show me a new secret hide-away, along with a little doodle of us. 

We smiled at each other then, and I can feel myself smiling now, my emotions soaking over to Frisk’s body across the soul that we share.

“It must be a good memory,” Frisk thinks to me.

“Mhm, it is,” is all I respond.

I blink the tears out of Frisk’s eyes, coming back to the present. I look around the empty kitchen and feel us in an empty house. The reality is still there, my family is scattered; my brother and I died, and mom and dad at complete opposite ends of The Underground. And it’s my fault.

I look at the teacup in your hands and think about if we were to drop it how it would shatter. I think about how once we reset it would be back together, back on the shelf. I think about Flowey.

I don’t think about the warm mental waves of comfort that you’re sending me, or how you’ve lowered your trembling body to the ground in a crouch and are rocking us back and forth soothingly. I don’t think about how I failed to make my thoughts as private as I would have liked.

“Hey, Chara, it’s not your fault, okay? You’ll be okay, we’ll get your family together again properly, I promise. I’m not going to stop trying. It’ll be okay…” I listen to you go on with your reassurances. I’m appreciative for it. It takes a minute but I manage to even out our breathing which I hadn’t noticed had become slightly frantic. “…Your family loves you, they would never blame you for anything.”

I gaze out the kitchen doorway at the family dining table, focussing on the details of what I can see. I take the biggest inhale and let out the biggest sigh possible, and send you a mental thumbs-up. I take all my feelings of guilt and failure, and I take all my feelings of belonging and love from my memory, and I try to hold them between your hands in this teacup.

After insisting repeatedly that I’m okay enough for us to get up, you do get us up, and return the teacup back to the shelf we found it on.

“Alright Frisk, you lead the way. Let’s get to seeing Asgore soon though, I still feel like I’m suffocating a little bit from all of this memory and feelings and junk.” (And the empty house and the quiet and how I’m not going to cry more I just need to get moving). “It’ll be nice to see him again, even if he’s… going to try to kill us— oh geez we’re on a rollercoaster until the end huh.”

You grab the key from the kitchen and add it to your keychain, and then set off in a little jog out through the dining and living room to the hallway. “Not true! We’ll have a nice event with Alphys and Undyne set up! Courtesy of Papyrus and his Flowery Friend.” You do a little smile at me. I do a little mental eye-roll at you, but smile too.

“Thanks for your help Frisk, you’re a real life saver.”

“Hehe, shucks Chara, anytime.” You add the hallway key to your keychain as well. You linger outside the door to me and Asriel’s bedroom, as if asking if I’m ready. I signal an affirmative and you open the door.

Two neatly wrapped presents, as always. “Thank you Flowey,” I say in a slightly teasing but affectionate tone. You sit down cross-legged to open up the two gifts. My heart-shaped locket and rusty knife, best comfort items I could ask for.

…

Before you can get up off the floor, I speak up and think at you “You know Frisk. You’re putting a lot of burden on yourself for me. This… mission that you’ve taken upon yourself for me and my brother’s sake. I’m grateful, very much so. But I want to make sure you know you can rely on me too, you can ask for help, I’m here if you need to talk about anything… I feel like it’s been a few resets since we’ve visited the quiche room—” 

“Ha—! Chara, you’re hilarious. You know I’m always okay!”

“That’s… not true.” I’m a bit surprised at your sudden reaction.

Perhaps realizing that that sounded slightly forced you wiggle awkwardly in place and try again. “Well, I may have climbed a mountain that it’s said people disappear on, that’s true. But! I’ve made so many friends, and I have a new family now! It’s all so bright and colourful, and I’m so happy to have ended up here. This journey together through The Underground, meeting everyone… There were tough parts, but finding out how kind monsters can are…! And then the catharsis at the end, I couldn’t ask for more.”

“Okay, but… This has all happened, according to both of us and what we can remember, uncountable times since the first. How is it going enjoying being with your new family when we keep leaving everything and going back to the start?”

“I—,” You sound taken aback, “there was a time I stayed with them on the surface for a while!!!”

“And then you came to me begging for me to reset again, because you couldn’t bear not having gotten the perfectest, best, most happy ending! Because you need to be the best, most perfect kid possible, and you need to be everyone’s hero!!!” … I stop, realized that was maybe a bit harsh. And that I might have accidentally said all that out loud with your mouth.

I slump and let go of your body. “I’m sorry, Frisk. I’m going to say it outright, which is hard for me; but you really do remind me of myself, and not in a good way. I don’t want you destroying yourself over trying to save everyone. I can’t make you stop, and I’m not going to abandon you, we’re partners in this; but I just want you to know that it’s okay to ask for help. Will you remember that? Please?”

“…Yeah, I’ll do my best.”

Shoot. You sound kind of broken-hearted. 

“I’m really sorry Frisk. I’m just. Scared for you. But I shouldn’t say things like that. It’s not your fault. I love you, Frisk, you’re the best sibling I could ask for. Or, well, tied for first place. I hope you understand.”

You giggle a little bit. “You too Chara. I never thought I would have a family like you, and Asriel, and Toriel and Asgore… I love you too. And I guess you’re right. Maybe I do have problems.” You’ve leaned back from your cross-legged position and are now lying on the floor. “And you’re the last person I should be hiding from. We share a soul. So it’s kinda silly.”

“It’s not silly, but… I see what you mean.” We smile at each other again.

You tilt your head back, peering under my bed. “Hey Chara! You want anything from under here? Oh—, woah… I never realized how cluttered it is under here…”

“No, thank you, Frisk. I’m good,” I laugh. And I do feel good for now actually. “I can collect my things once I have my body back. And it’s cluttered because eventually I was no longer hiding under there all the time.” I chuckle a little and you beam an absolutely radiant and sappy smile at me.

Even if you’re hell-bent on repeating my past mistakes, I’ll be right there with you the whole way.

After your lovely commentary on how I keep my side of the room, we’re ready to get up and continue on our way. We a brief look around in Asgore’s room, head back out to the middle of the house, and then turn to make our way down the stairs. Just as you’re about to step down, we both notice something yellow out of the corner of your eye. You turn your head, and there’s Flowey, in the front doorway of the house. He looks at us, and we look at him, and then he burrows away into the ground.

***

Streaks and splashes of colour and light fill the world around you. Like a thousand prisms broke open and spilled their rainbows. Stars rain down like the sky was falling. The world is ending. Again.

We hug Asriel tightly.

***

“Frisk… Don’t you have anything better to do?”

Asriel twists around a little to look at you from where he’s kneeling in front of the golden flowers, having sat down when he thought you were leaving. His small look of surprise changes to a pinched brow as you sit down beside him. You cross your legs and start running your fingers over the flowers, both of you bathed in golden light from the late afternoon sun.

Asriel settles back into his previous position, resting his paws on the soil on either side of his knees, looking down at the flowers, up at the hole in the ceiling, and then sideways at you. He gives a little sigh.

“I guess you can stay here a little longer, just… not too long, okay?”

You nod a little at him. A minute or two passes.

“You know Frisk, I don’t know everything that’s going on with you… The Barrier has broken and monsters can go free, but it’s okay if you still have your own problems.” He shuffles nervously. “I hope you know it’s okay to ask for help out there; you have a new family who really loves you! Of course you could tell me about anything, but… it’s just that I’m going to be a flower again soon… But you should tell Toriel, Asgore, or even Papyrus if there’s something on your mind!”

“I will”, you sign, and smile.

When you get up to go, I manage to quietly mumble out “See you later, Asriel.”

***

“ …

I’m sorry.

You’ve probably heard this a hundred times already, haven’t you…?

…

Well, that’s all—”

“Wait”

“Wait? You want me to wait?”

“I have— I have heard it. A hundred times before.”

“Hah, and what, you want to gloat about it…?”

“No, you’re right. It’s been too many. I want to ask for help. I couldn’t ask for help when I was still alive, but I’m doing it now. And I know you want us to let Frisk go, but Frisk is too, we’re asking for help.”

“… You and me both,” Flowey smiles ruefully, “what do you want me to do about it though?”

“Nothing right now, I just. Thought you should know. Keep the family in the loop whenever we can and all. We’ll talk after the reset, okay? Try not to attack us right away.” I smile back.

“Haha, well, no promises. I don’t know what you two are up to yet, and I can’t say I’m pleased it’s taken this many resets, but. I guess I’ll look forward to being filled in, in the past.” He scoffs a little. “See you soon, Chara.”

I take a ghostly breath, clench my fists, and fall back.

***

You open your eyes and see the morning light filtering down from the hole above us, filling the cavern around us, and dancing on the golden flowers cradling your body. Motes of dust drift through the air.

You sit up and rub your eyes, looking around. Flowers, crumbling pillars, and an entranceway before us.

Just beyond that entranceway, Flowey is straining to hear what’s going on in the room he just ran away from when a human fell into it. Farther than that, a grey door stands stark against a rocky wall of Waterfall. A clam monster is waiting to gossip about her neighbour’s daughter. The Underground is still full of mysteries to discover, people to meet, and things to do. I know we’ll find a way forward, together.

#No this didn't really come together into a cohesive story but yes I will post it anyways #Yes the title is just what I named the document and then I didn't come up with a better one #Undertale #safeutdr #safe-utdr #Undertale fics #Undertale fanfiction #Frisk Dreemurr #Chara Dreemurr #Asriel Dreemurr #Don't interact if you're going to be a weirdo in general #Pro-shippers stay away or else #(the knife)

[bookaddict24-7]

REVIEWS OF THE WEEK!

EVERY WEEK I WILL POST VARIOUS REVIEWS I’VE WRITTEN SO FAR IN 2024. YOU CAN CHECK OUT MY GOODREADS FOR MORE UP-TO-DATE REVIEWS HERE.

___

76. Legacy by Nora Roberts--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

There's truly something magical about reading a Nora Roberts novel--they're fun, sometimes simple, and a great way to pass the time. I'm starting to notice the formula to her romantic suspense novels, but you know what? I will devour them every time.

LEGACY was a good read with some sweet characters and a really creepy serial killer stalking women and hunting them. This is one thing I think Roberts is a little too good at--creating those creepy evil people stalking and threatening to kill the MC.

I loved the dogs in this and how everything came together at the end. I'm glad I was able to give this one a shot!

Will hopefully read more of her books in March!

___

77. Love Me Today by A.L. Jackson--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I started LOVE ME TODAY because I have found myself craving more romantic suspense and this one fed that craving pretty well. It had the romance, the smut, the mysterious murderer haunting one of the MCs, and the incredibly adorable kid. Also, the single parent trope? Yes, please.

LOVE ME TODAY wasn't anything mind blowing, but it was such a satisfying read. The FMC was someone who wore her heart on her sleeve and was so pure (not in a gross way, just in a "I will love you no matter what" way), that her personality on the page felt very wholesome. She was a great foil for the MMC, who was the epitome of dark, broody, and jaded.

While I did enjoy their romance and their interactions with the tiny human, I thought the nickname the MMC had for the FMC could have been...better, or at least not repeated as much LOL. The spicy scenes were sometimes cringe because of the repetitive use of the nickname.

Really, really enjoyed the murderer reveal. Also, now I want to read the next one in the series because it's another trope I love.

___

78. Villain and the Geek by L.C. Davis--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

That ending and the fact that the next one doesn't have a release date yet? Ahhhhh!

These are short, emotional, smutty, and addicting books. I devoured the first series near the end of the year last year and was thrilled to see that this one was coming out so soon after I finished book 1 in the sequel series. I want more! I want to get some answers and I want to see Constantine spoil the hell out of Devon because he deserves that.

I'm not going to lie, I love the whole emotional aspect of this book. It's like a punch to the heart to see how Constantine treats Devon, knowing it's going to bite him in the ass.

I need more and I'm sad the next book is supposedly the final instalment in their story.

___

79. The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Incredible. Absolutely incredible.

I don't know what I was expecting from THE BOOK OF DOORS, but it wasn't the twisty way everything connected. Or the way the characters were written and grew so much with the story. Brown absolutely killed it with this book and I definitely want to keep an eye out for his next books now.

THE BOOK OF DOORS is a book about magic, yes, but also about love, family, friendships, and grief--the power of letting go and how sometimes, even if we have the power to change things, it's sometimes best to leave things as they are because of their impact on us. Brown's book had so much more depth than I was expecting and I'm here still recovering from it all.

The amount of times I was left with my mouth open because of a revelation, or a turn in the storyline? Phew.

I highly recommend this one, even if the friend of the FMC was annoying LOL. She grew, too, as a character, but man I wanted to slap some sense into her LOL.

Definitely add this to your TBR! You may or may not want to cry a couple of times, too.

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80. Fangirl Down by Tessa Bailey--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

FANGIRL DOWN is the first book I've read by Tessa Bailey in a long time and I have to say, I'm both surprised and impressed! I think this is going to be the perfect summer read for anyone looking for a light, quick, and sexy summer read.

The dynamic between the two characters worked fantastically and their communication level was *chef's kiss*. I also appreciated the inclusion of a main character with diabetes. Although I don't have diabetes myself, it was great seeing that representation in a romance novel.

The FMC was a badass, even if she was sometimes stubborn to the point of it being a bit frustrating. I loved how she handled the people around her in her new famous role. I extra loved that any simple issues surrounding that world didn't become any main issues in the book. I liked that Bailey focused on the couple and their growths as people.

I know nothing about golf, so it was interesting reading about a romance that featured it--it was strangely refreshing that it wasn't another hockey, or football romance.

I do recommend this one, if not for the great characters, then for the smutty good times.

___

81. Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I'll admit that it took me a bit to get back into this universe with DEAD IN THE FAMILY. I think because a lot seemingly happened between the last book and this one. I'm sure there are short stories and novellas, but I didn't read them so jumping into this one was like jumping into a deep end I didn't even know was there.

But when I finally DID get back into this, I actually found myself really enjoying it. Sookie is growing super jaded as she gets older and I'm actually enjoying that because it's more realistic. There's a scene where a character comments that the Sookie from a year ago would drink something without a second thought and now she's all worried. I like this because Sookie has seem some Shit.

I also really liked this one because it dealt a lot with grief and familial connections. ALTHOUGH, this is also creepy af with some of the themes and one new character. That made me incredibly uncomfortable.

___

Have you read any of these? What were your thoughts?

___

Happy reading!

#Review #Reviews #reviews of the week #booklr #books and reading #books #read #reading #bookish #features #bookworm #bookaholic #book blogger #book blog #book tumblr #readers #reader #readers of tumblr #my writing #my opinions #book list #long text post #books books books

[creaturebehavior]

finally coming around the bend

beginning to realize my own worth. it’s really taken this long to start to feel something change within me but i’m really becoming aware that i’m special and that it’s okay to be myself and the right people will love me for who i am and i only want the right people in my life.

it’s hard to see my assets through my flaws but i’m beginning to remember that i can be flawed and still be a human worthy of life and love. i can be flawed and also have good qualities about me. those things are not mutually exclusive, and i’m not unique in this human experience of having character defects and having character assets at the same time.

i often feel like i’m seeking permission to love myself from other people. like if they tell me i’m good enough then phew, it must be true. but i’m beginning to let this go and give myself permission to love myself despite being imperfect, and without the permission of others. i am allowed to do this.

i also realize on occasion, and then somehow forget about it again, that i don’t give myself permission to be happy. i’m afraid of happiness and joy. this is something i have to remember to face and try to work through.

i dont know where the fear of happiness comes from. is it the fear of the absence of the happiness that follows?

whether i like it or not, happiness is fleeting, intangible, and all feelings come and go. i have to accept this about happiness in a different way.

i think i fear happiness because the end of happiness after feels like grief or it feels like a huge plummet in dopamine which is difficult to cope with. so i avoid happiness altogether to try and avoid the crash that comes when it ends.

but all feelings come and go anyway. so i need to learn to let happiness in, and i need to learn to let happiness go without it shattering my world.

i don’t want to fear happiness or joy. i want to bring more light into my life. i wish it weren’t so scary. i don’t even feel ready for happiness as i’m writing this. but at least i know i want to get there

[firstumcschenectady]

“Hallelujah, It Is Finished!” based in theory on John 21:1-14 as a story of resurrection

Dear ones, it is official. The era of institutional discrimination against queer and trans people in the United Methodist church has ended.

The phrase that said that “homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching” is gone, and our new statement on Human sexuality reads:

We affirm human sexuality as a sacred gift and acknowledge that sexual intimacy contributes to fostering the emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being of individuals and to nurturing healthy sexual relationships that are grounded in love, care and respect.

Human sexuality is a healthy and natural part of life that is expressed in wonderfully diverse ways from birth to death. It is shaped by a combination of nature and nurture: heredity and genetic factors on the one hand and childhood development and environment on the other. We further honor the diversity of choices and vocations in relation to sexuality such as celibacy, marriage and singleness.

We support the rights of all people to exercise personal consent in sexual

relationships, to make decisions about their own bodies and be supported in those decisions, to receive comprehensive sexual education, to be free from sexual exploitation and violence, and to have access to adequate sexual health care.

The “funding ban” is gone – church support at levels can be extended to organizations doing ministry with LGBTQIA+ folx.

We don't call anyone “self-proclaimed practicing homosexuals” anymore (PHEW), and now we affirm that queer clergy can be ordained and appointed in The United Methodist Church AND that if they can't be safely appointed at home they can be appointed across conference lines.

We now allow clergy to preside over and UM churches to host same-gender weddings.

There are no longer chargeable offenses for ones' sexual orientation or for doing same-gender weddings.

AND we've created a process to RESTORE CREDENTIALS of those who lost them because of their sexuality, gender identity, or presiding over a wedding. (It remains to be seen if anyone will use this.)

AND we've put in place a regionalization plan that allows for areas around the world to do ministry in ways that work for them, THANK GOD, and also means we can move from these NEUTRAL stances to POSTITIVE statements in the near future.

Friends, that first one, the “incompatibility clause” was added in 1972 and we've been fighting to remove it every since. 52 years.

The era of harm to God's beloved queer and trans people through The United Methodist Church is OVER.

HALLELUJAH.

I have a memory of being in junior high Sunday school and learning that The United Methodist Church was bigoted against queer people and being simply horrified that they didn't know better yet. I thought back then that it was just a matter of time for the church to catch up.

I remember going to General Conference in 2004 and learning how intentional and organized the homophobic movement was. It blew me away. It wasn't simply that the church forgot to notice they had this justice issue to fix. It was that people were working hard, with great intentionality, to do harm to God's beloveds.

I have done my part, to change the church. So have you. So have tens or hundreds of thousands of people. Maybe more. I can't quite process how many people have worked so hard to bring this day. The laborers have been many, and until this past two weeks the fruits have been few. But here we are.

THIS is the First Sunday of a fully inclusive United Methodist Church.

And, I thought it would feel better.

It is like I forgot about how pain works. I forgot that when the active harm stops coming, that's when you finally get to really feel it all. That's when the grief hits. That's when the anger is finally able to be let out.

Until this week the harms kept coming, and all we could do was survive.

And now we have to heal.

Darn it.

IT IS FINISHED, HALLELUJAH.

And.

And we lost beloveds to suicide. And we lost those called to other churches or professions. And we lost the full authenticity of those called and serving. And we lost members who were told they were incompatible, or they couldn't get married, or they couldn't have their kid baptized. And we lost those who just couldn't stay anymore. And those who have been WAITING have lost so many years.

52 years.

AND, sorry, I know I'm Debbie Downer, but we know we closed the Central Jurisdictions in 1968 to create a beautifully diverse fully shared body of Christ and racism is still alive and well anyway. And we also know that women have had full ordination rights since 1954 but don't have pay equity or any other kind of equity. So removing formal discrimination doesn't solve the whole problem.

You already knew that too.

Ever since the rules changed to allow all of our siblings their ordination rights, I've been humming Mark Miller's song “The Journey Isn't Over.” God's call in my life to bring justice in the church and the world for God's beloveds who are trans and queer hasn't changed. I'm so grateful, so very, very grateful not to be ashamed of my denomination more. But the journey isn't over:

From Seneca Falls,

from Selma to Stonewall

we've come a long way,

we've come a long way.

From Seneca Falls,

from Selma to Stonewall

we've come a long way,

but the journey isn't over.

Friends, THIS journey will be over when God's beloveds who are trans and queer, God's beloveds who are women and non-binary people, God's beloveds who are BIPOC, God's beloveds with disabilities, AND ALL of God's beloveds are able to live in fullness and abundance in the kindom of God.

From now until then, we're called to make it so.

Hallelujah, THIS STAGE is finished, AND the journey isn't over. Amen

#thinking church #progressive christianity #fumc schenectady #first umc schenectady #schenectady #umc #rev sara e baron #hope #lent #The new inclusive United Methodist Church #It is a new day #Today is the day #Not apologizing anymore #52 years #Mark Miller

[paxilparachute]

what is lost can be found again.

grief is hard. its so complicated too. like when my great grandma passed I was sad but all I could do was just stand there next to my moms bed and just watch them cry while my dad was watching Maury and telling us to “pray”. girl what the fuck god gonna do now? she's dead! or when my grandpa passed away man it was so sad. im here stuck in the south and my pops was all the way up north. distance also fucks up with grief because I was so far away from pops it was hard to just let it sit in and cry. but when my childhood friend passed away. god. I've never felt so much pain in my fucking life. the way I found out to still pisses me off 3 years later. I found out over fucking instagram spam. it was the first of November and I woke up from a hella hard nap from sleeping on a blow up mattress in my moms one bed apartment. I remember reading it, closing my phone and then it hit. unlocked phone, scroll instagram, boom, “she died” I thought it was some dumb prank like that can't be real I was literally talking to her yesterday morning about her kickback what do you mean she's gone? I remember knocking on my moms door. I was silent. until I told her she passed. sometimes you have that cute cry with the couple tears rolling down your cheek but this cry? phew it was a horrible scream cry. I still remember the feeling, the setting, calling my friends who were in her friend group checking on them. I had to spill the news to my friends over text too. they were in school, I was homeschooled by then. I wish I told them in person but id rather them find out from me than social media or the classmates from school. took me well over a month to get out the horrible depressive state I was in. I couldn't move I couldn't walk I couldn't do anything but just think. started going to therapy to help with the loss of a friend started having out with friends more and started to cherish every moment I had with my family because for that short period of time I thought someone else close to me is going to die. talk about anxiety holy fuck. grief can be scary but what I learned is that human life is precious and to appreciate the people you have in your life at this very moment. everyday I think of you girl. wish you were here so we could make our fashion brand that we talked about or going to clubs and talking about people we like. love you 

  paxilparachute 

#blog #blogger #lifeblog #lifeblogging #grief #griefandloss #grief journal #loss #love #life

[midnight-and-his-melodiverse]

My Favorite short things I've written (to tide y'all over until I introduce my other WIPs)

This is a Melodiverse oneshot fic titled: "Fleeting Vulnerability", written 1/21/2022!

(feat. Midnight and Staticlight)

It's not often Midnight would catch Staticlight in his emotionally vulnerable moments (only when he's outside his head, of course.) but yet there he was. Sitting outside in the edge of the white void that was the appearance of his mind. He hung his head in sadness, trying his best to suppress the grief as Midnight approached him.

"What's up?" Midnight settled down with him, feeling the featureless ground underneath him. It wasn't like Staticlight to be like this, though Midnight played along. Staticlight sighed deeply, before turning his head to face the wall, which now had a view of Penwood City's skyline. 

"I'm gonna tell you something Midnight." He turns to him. "That time we were out in the middle of the lake, not gonna lie, I freaked out more than I should have." He pauses, as it turns to night on the horizon. "...you know what, I need a distraction from all this." Staticlight got up, briefly embracing Midnight in a genuine hug, then snapping his fingers, the scene blurred as he woke up with a start.

"What the fuck?" Midnight thought to himself as Staticlight responded. "You see this?" He laughed. "Looks like your brain tried to think that I, out of all people could be emotionally vulnerable!" Midnight smiled, putting his shoulder around Staticlight. "You're a bitch, Static. But over the years that we've been a part of eachother, I've grown to like that about you."

This is a Melodiverse oneshot fic titled: "A Secret Birthday Purchase", written 3/07/2022!

(feat. Midnight, Staticlight, and my brother's OC, Cixol!)

"I know you're trying to sweet talk the cashier Staticlight! You can't hide that from me!" Midnight said as he tried to stop him from compulsively grabbing random items. Staticlight, like a little kid, didn't obey his commands though and distracted Midnight, at which time he bolted towards a random aisle in the store.

As he was looking through the different assortments of items, he spotted a very tall man. "Hey there, do you know where I can buy a gift for Midnight?" The man leaned down. " What are you getting for him?" The man asked. "I don't know yet." Staticlight whispered, as he had the sneaking suspicion that Midnight was walking around the store looking for him while also buying more grocery items. "Oh I remember." Staticlight thought to himself. "A birthday gift! But what would he like though?"

"I think I know where the birthday aisle is!" The man said, leading Staticlight through the store to the aisle. "Also, nice to meet you, the name's Cixol!"

"What a neat name." Staticlight said. He looked through the shelves until he came across a toy set with a familiar layout. "Wait, is that the Midnight's Misfortunate Talk Show studio playset? Oh, he'll love this!" He said as Midnight passed by him. Out of hesitation he flung the toy behind his back, hoping he didn't see it. "What do you have there Staticlight?" He gave a sheepish grin. "Nothing! Just a little something I thought we needed for your bedroom!" Midnight shrugged. "Oh, cool! I'm going to head to the checkout lane so we can buy our stuff! Come over there when you're done getting items!" He walked away and Staticlight breathed a sigh of relief. "Phew. Glad he didn't see that!" A couple minutes passed and they had checked out their items and headed to Midnight's car. After a bit of driving, they arrived home and Staticlight hastily placed the toy set on Midnight's bed. "He's gonna love this." This is a Melodiverse AU fic titled: "A Bee and a Half-Demon", written 4/30/2022!

(feat. Midnight, Ambrosia)

Midnight had come home from his night at the talk show and he was close to falling asleep. Though he couldn't rest yet, not without seeing Ambrosia, his lovely bee-human hybrid girlfriend first.

Midnight walked through the house and, spotting the couch, sat down and cuddled next to her.

"Hey Ambrose! How are ya doin?" Midnight smiled warmly. But he noticed that Ambrosia leaned back as if out of fear. What's wrong? He thought to himself and went to touch his hair, then he felt small cold demon horns that had sprouted over the last week and that's when the realization hit him.

"I never knew you were a demon! Stay back!" Ambrosia's eyebrows went in a familiar angry pattern and she approached him, softly pushing him towards the front door, then shoved him out with a loud BANG that resounded in his ears.

Midnight lost hope for further romance the following day and kept thinking to himself: "Who would accept a person like me?", breaking down in tears.

This is a Melodiverse AU short titled: "Mr. Altera", written 5/28/2022!

(feat. Midnight, Staticlight)

"Mr. Altera." The sudden calling of Midnight's middle name made him shiver. Something must've gone horribly wrong. Not like he'd expect less, as Staticlight had created enough chaos as it was.

Midnight, in his most neat of attire walked towards his office. He nearly jumped when he saw Staticlight sitting in his chair. He was confused. "The hell are you doing in my office, Staticlight? Also you fucking startled me by calling my middle name."

Staticlight laughed. "Y'know, just wanted to see how you'd react." Midnight sighed, facepalming and mumbling under his breath. "Could I really expect less, fuckin' hell..."Midnight slammed the door, leaving Staticlight to his own devices. What could he do anyway? "Short Things I've Written that aren't for my WIPs" Taglist:

#themelodiverse #character: Midnight #character: Staticlight #Midnight writes #but it's not for his WIPs #character: Ambrosia

[astaroth1357]

Can I please ask for the undatables reaction to an cute, short, bubbly MC who despite being super kind can easily kick some demons asses

Undateables React to a Cute Demon-Kicking Badass

Alright, making some good progress here. The number left is now in the single digits. There are some that I’m going to have to do some extra research for so there may be a slight lull in content while those get drafted, but they’re over tricky topics and I want to be able to approach them with as much respect as I can. Thank you for waiting as long as you have, I’ll get them done as soon as I’m able!

Diavolo

… Oh dear... What has he done? This wasn’t in their file!

At first he thought they were quite nice, they seemed friendly enough and happy to help him with this little unity experiment.

But then he started getting weird reports of rowdy lesser demons turning up injured… and the new human was always involved…

At first, he thought that had to be a coincidence! They seemed so… harmless. They’re small and adorable! Surely they just had a habit of being in the wrong place from time to time… right?

He was pretty much in complete denial until he saw them toss a rather murderous Belphie across the room like a sack of potatoes in one of Barb’s doors...

Ah… Well… It may be just a little unnerving that this random human he invited into his innermost court just happens to be so strong, but he guesses it turned out well in the long run…

He tells Barbs to just pretend that he planned for that all along and none of the brothers were the wiser. Phew! 😁

Barbatos

Going to have to keep an eye on this one…

Wasn't as shocked as everybody else that they had such hidden strength. Even the friendliest people can have hidden sides to them… he would know.

Brought their strength to Diavolo attention as soon as he could confirm it, but since his Lord seemed reluctant to make any moves that could threaten his dream, Barbs took action on his own… from the shadows, of course.

Lowkey starts stalking them throughout their time there. Not to be creepy or anything, it was because they could be a threat.

He does find their personality pleasant at least… It does ease his stress some that they seem genuinely kindhearted (and not secretly planning a coup).

He never quite gets over his suspicion of them, but he eventually lets up on the surveillance after he’s sure they’re not planning anything. Just be very mindful around his Lord, MC…

Simeon

Well that’s… unexpected.

He hadn’t exactly known a lot of humans in his life but he doesn’t recall them being that strong normally… Has he just been missing something all these years?

In truth, he enjoys being around the MC for their cheerfulness and finds them to be very sweet. Honestly, they’re a breath of fresh air in such a dreary place…

Which is why it’s all the more startling for him when they turn around and just… deck demons like they’re nothing! Where does that strength even come from??

Ultimately, sweet man that he is, he starts watching out for them more so they don’t end up getting themselves hurt… Even if you CAN beat demons, that doesn’t mean you should, MC. 🤨

(Plus, their abilities are really getting to Luke and he would rather not have his young ward’s dislike of demons start getting a… violent edge to it...)

Luke

WoooAAaaaHHHHH!!! Are all humans that strong???

The little boy was floored when he found out that the MC could fight demons! Like. How?? Weren’t humans really weak?? (No offense)

They ended up proving their strength to him when they defended him from a couple lesser demon bullies… At that point they earned themselves a fanboy.

FINALLY someone willing to stand up to those nasty demons!! They were just who he wanted to be while he was down here, kind but awesome! (And by “awesome” he secretly means kickass) You know if he were older then those awful brothers wouldn’t be calling him names anymore…

Simeon has to come in and remind him that his excitement can border a little close to the line of… bloodlust unangelic and he should try to be more understanding but it only does so much…

Act responsibly, MC. The kids are watching.

Solomon

Yeah, he had his suspicions… They just had a certain feel about them.

Honestly, he was pretty impressed. It took him centuries to get to the strength he’s at, yet they make demon fighting look easy.

… That doesn't mean he's above a little "scientific" curiosity here and there. Watch yourself, MC, you've piqued the interest of the Witty Sorcerer… best be prepared.

When he's not giving them fun little challenges cleverly disguised experiments, then he's drafting them in with him to cause the brothers grief.

Devildom be warned, there's now two strong humans running around and they're out for-... well okay, not blood but mostly irritation and general annoyance.

Asmo's going to have to keep an eye on these two or they may accidentally start a bar fight or three...

#obey me #obey me shall we date #shall-we-date-obey-me #obey me undateables #obey me diavolo #obey me barbatos #obey me simeon #obey me solomon #obey me luke #obey me headcanons #obey me scenarios

[strawberry--bride]

DIABOLIK LOVERS Haunted Dark Bridal ー Sharon’s Route [PROLOGUE]

Monologue

The most painful thing in this world,

is losing your home. Your place-to-be.

No matter how dire the situation,

if you are surrounded by people who love and care for you.

No obstacle is invincible. 

Then ーー Where do I belong?

Having long lost the place I once considered home.

I spent many years in a place which would provide for me. 

I had food, a roof above my head, a warm bed to sleep in at night.

But could I truly call this my home? 

Those doubts would lurk in the back of my mind, keeping me up at night.

Until one day, I was made a special offer. 

If I complied, I would be given the thing my heart longs for the most.

ーー A new home.

Location: Sakamaki Manor ;; Outside

Sharon: This is the place, right...?

( Woah...Amazing. I’ve never seen a house quite this big. They even have a garden! )

*Knock knock*

Sharon: Excuse meー! My name’s Sharon. I’m supposed to move in here today! 

...

...

( No response...? How strange. They should have been informed through the Church. )

*Knock knock*

Sharon: Hello...? Anybody home...!?

Sharon: ( What to do...? There doesn’t seem to be anyone home right now. It’s already getting dark. I can’t just stand here all night either. )

*Creaaaaak*

Sharon: ...Huh? Did the...door just open by itself?

( Does that mean I can go inside? I feel a little hesitant just entering someone else’s home butーー I was told I could live here so it should be fine, right? )

She enters the manor.

 Location: Sakamaki Manor ;; Entrance Hall

Sharon: Just as I thought, the inside is equally spacious. I can’t imagine just one person living in such a large house all by themselves. Cleaning must take quite some time as well.

She puts down her suitcase.

*Thud*

Sharon: Phew...

( ...It’s so quiet. Almost as if the house is deserted. I wonder if the owner is out at the moment? In that case, I should probably wait in the living room. )

Sharon looks around.

Sharon: I guess it’s...that way?

*Rustle*

Sharon: ...!!

( I...Did I just...step on something? It felt...strangely soft and... )

???: ーー Oi.

Sharon: ...Kyah!

Sharon: ( A person...!? Oh my gosh. I just arrived here and the first thing I do is step on someone! )

???: ...

Sharon: I’m terribly sorry! I didn’t think there would be someone lying on the floor and...!

( ...Speaking of which, what were they doing down there anyway!? ...Sleeping? No way, right? When you have a house this large, you definitely don’t need to use the floor as a bed... )

???: Haah...

Sharon: Oh no! Are you feeling ill, perhaps? In that case, I shall call a doctor right away!

???: ...You’re loud. How am I supposed to enjoy my Rachmaninov when you’re screaming the place down? 

Sharon: Rach...mani...? ...E-Either way, if you’re not feeling sick, then what were you doing on the floor?

???: Wasting his time away listening to music rather than making himself useful, per usual, I would assume. Well, I suppose it is best not to have any expectations of this man in the first place, as he will only let you down in the end.

Sharon: ...!? 

( A voice...? Out of nowhere...!? )

Sharon: ...Wah!!

( Where did he come from...? )

???: Now, who might you be?

Sharon: Ah...I’m sorry! My name’s Sharon. I’m an orphan at the Catholic orphanage downtown. I was told by our related Church that the resident of this manor has been so kind to take me in. Are you...perhaps the owner?

???: ...I see. It seems you are the next...sacrifice.

Sharon: Excuse me?

???: Nothing. I was simply talking to myself. ...Ahem. My name is Sakamaki Reiji. The second eldest son of this family and one of the residents here. ...The man you had the ‘honor’ of meeting earlier is Shuu. While you may not suspect so given his deplorable behavior, he is - quite unfortunately - my elder brother.

Sharon: Reiji-san...and Shuu-san, was it? It’s a pleasure meeting you both!

Shuu: ...

Reiji: I assume that is your luggage over there? A room has been prepared for you. We will have one of our servants bring everything upstairs.

Sharon: Thank you very much!

( Thank god...So there wasn’t any mistake after all. )

Sharon: Oh! Right! I actually brought a little gift with me! They’re homemade muffins I made this morーー

*CRASH*

Sharon: ーー ning...!?

Startled by the loud noise, she drops the box with muffins.

*Thud*

???: YOU FUCKIN’ BASTARD!! I swear once I get my hands on youーー! 

???: Ahaha! I can’t believe you actually fell for that one! Lame-o!

Reiji: ...

Shuu: Haah...

Sharon: ( H-Hold on, hold on, hold on! Eh? Eeeeh!? I’m not dreaming, right!? That person just punched a hole through the wall!? )

Reiji: Ahem. ...Allow me to introduce. The one who destroyed the wall is the youngest son, Sakamaki Subaru. Next to him is Sakamaki Ayato, the eldest of the triplets. 

ーー You two, explain this situation at once!

Ayato: ...Che. Reiji. I didn’t do anythin’! Not my fault that Subaru ate those prank chocolates I left out on the kitchen counter.

Subaru: Fuck off! You definitely did that on purpose! ...I can still feel my mouth burnin’...!!

Sharon: ( ...Prank chocolates? I guess he means those filled with mustard and other spicy condiments, right? I didn’t know people actually bought those. )

Ayato: Of course! I was hopin’ to catch Kanato. Can you imagine what kinda face he would make when poppin’ one of those bad boys in his mouth?

???: ...Say, did you hear that, Teddy? ...I hope Ayato sleeps with one eye open tonight. He might just run into...unfortunate accident.

Sharon: ...Eh!?

( Another person just appeared out of thin air!? )

Ayato: Keh. The lunatic’s here.

Reiji: Sakamaki Kanato, the middle triplet. 

...Kanato, If you wish to commit a homicide, please do so outside of the walls of this manor. It takes forever to remove blood stains from the carpet.

Kanato: I don’t recall having to take orders from you.

ーー However, you’re lucky as I happen to be in a good mood right now. I believe I heard someone mention muffins? 

Sharon: ...Ah, yes! I made these myse...Huh? ...Oh.

Shuu: It’s not blood, but I think the carpet will need some cleaning regardless.

Reiji: Good grief...

Sharon: Oh no...! The box must have slipped from my fingertips when I heard the sudden crash and...

Ayato: Ah-ahー Look what you did, Subaru. It’s always the youngest child causin’ trouble.

Subaru: HAAH!? All of this started ‘cause you left those stupid chocolates out!

Sharon: ...They turned out really good too. What a shame.

Subaru: ...!! ...O-Oi...You...Um...My bad.

Kanato: ...Unforgivable. 

Sharon: Eh?

Kanato: ...HOW WILL YOU MAKE THIS UP TO ME!?

Sharon: ( W-Why is he getting upset at me all of a sudden!? It was obviously just an accident!? )

Um...I’m not sure...I could make some new ones later?

???: There, there, Kanato-kun~ Relax! Even if the muffins were wasted, there’s a delicious snack just waiting to be devoured...

*Rustle*

Sharon: ...!

( Someone wrapped their arms around me from behind!? )

???: ...Right here~ ...Nfu~

Sharon: ...Eh!?

( I-Is he talking about me!? )

Reiji: ...And finally, the youngest triplet, Sakamaki Laito. 

Ayato: Oi, Laito! No way you’re gettin’ the first taste again! I still haven’t forgotten last time!

Laito: Eeeh~? It’s not my fault you’re so slow, Ayato-kun~ However, if you’re so insistent on taking a bite out of her, I wouldn’t mind sharing, you know? I’m sure it’d make for a refreshing and thrilling experience~

Ayato: Geh! In your dreams, you perv!

Sharon: ( Taste? Bite...? Why are they talking as if I’m their food!? )

Excusーー

Shuu: ...Strawberries.

Sharon: Eh?

Kanato: What are you talking about? I don’t see any strawberries around.

Reiji: Shuu. Explain yourself.

Shuu: Your panties. They had strawberries on them.

Sharon: ...!!

( When did he...!? Ah! When I stepped on him...! )

Ayato: Pfftー!! Strawberries! How old are you, five? That’s hella lame!

Laito: Hm...~ Strawberries are not bad but with such a lovely body, I’m sure you could pull off something a little more erotic~

Subaru: ...

Laito: Oh, my bad~ I forgot baby bro was in the room. I suppose talking about a woman’s underwear is still a little too much for him to handle.

Subaru: S-Shut up...!!

Reiji: ...Enough! No more on this topic! ...Haah. Is it really that much to ask for you lot to behave? Just for one day?

Ayato: ーー Anyway, Reiji. Who’s this chick anyway? Tonight’s dinner?

Sharon: D-Dinner...!? I’m sorry but...Why are you all talking as if I’m food or something!?

Ayato: Shut it! Nobody asked for your opinion, Ichigo Pantsu.

Sharon: I-Ichigo paーー!? I have a name...! ...It’s Sharon.

Ayato: Yeah, yeah. I-chi-go Pa-n-tsu.

Laito: Hm~ This Bitch-chan does smell sweet just like strawberries. Perhaps I should call you ‘Ichigo-chan’ instead~?

Kanato: She really does. I’m sure her blood would taste just as sweet...Oh? What’s that, Teddy? You’d like to have a taste? Fufu...Good idea. I was just feeling a little peckish myself.

Reiji: Haah...I shall be in my study room. ...Ayato, Kanato, Laito. Please treat our new resident with some respect. It would be a shame to lose another one so soon.

Sharon: ...Wait, please! I’m afraid I don’t quite grasp the situation yet!

Reiji: Haah...Good grief. You must not be very smart, are you? Did you truly believe you would be allowed to stay here for free?

Sharon: ...Eh?

Laito: Nfu~ He’s right, Ichigo-chan. Everything in this world comes at a price. In your case...That would be the delicious blood pumping through your veins...

Sharon: M-My blood...? 

Ayato: Heh. You seriously haven’t realized?

Kanato: Teddy...Humans are truly so foolish, aren’t they?

Subaru: Che...Stop beatin’ ‘round the bush already and just tell her.

Shuu: We are Vampires. So the only thing a human such as yourself would have to offer, is your blood.

Reiji: In return, you will be allowed to stay here in this manor. Food, clothes and all other daily necessities willl be provided as well.

Sharon: Vam...pires? That must be some sort of joke, right? It was the Church who arranged this place for me! They would neverーー! 

Besides...Vampires only exist in fairytales!

Reiji: Good grief. This is why I simply cannot deal with humans. Not only are they incredibly foolish, they are horribly naive and trusting as well.

Subaru: In other words, you were set up. Just deal with it.

Sharon: ...

( No way, right...? This has to be some sort of mistake? Or a bad dream...? )

Shuu: Pwaah...Anyway, you guys do as you please. I’m going to my room to nap.

Subaru: I’m leaving too.

Reiji: Well then, if you’d excuse me now.

The three of them leave.

Sharon: ...

Laito: Oh dear~? Is that despair I see in your eyes? You poor little thing! Don’t worry, Laito-kun wil make sure to comfort you. After all, there is no better cure for betrayal than pleasure.

Ayato: Don’t be so down, Ichigo Pantsu! It’s not that bad of a deal! You get to offer your blood to Yours Truly after all!

Kanato: Fufu...I’m sure we’ll get along just fine. If you’re lucky, you might even make it into my precious collection one day~

Sharon: ...!!

She suddenly pushes them away.

*THUD*

Ayato: ...Woah!?

Laito: ...Aah~ Not bad, Ichigo-chan! I like myself a feisty girl at times!

Kanato: Ugh! ...What are you doing!? I nearly dropped Teddy just now.

Sharon: ...

She runs upstairs.

Location: Sakamaki Manor ;; Hallway

Sharon: Haah, haah, haah...

( Say, God...? )

( Is this my penalty...? )

( Are you punishing me for my crimes of the past...? )

Monologue

I just kept on running and running.

As said question repeated itself inside my head.

That must be it.

Those guys were exactly right. 

Humans are foolish. I was foolish. 

Foolish to believe I would be given a new home.

After all, people like me.

ーー They don’t deserve a happy ending.

ーー PROLOGUE: END ーー

[ Dark Prologue ] ->

#diabolik lovers #diabolik lovers oc #sharon's route #(( aaaah it's starting !! )) #(( feedback is welcome and encouraged <33 )) #(( this general prologue focuses on her arrival at the S manor and her first meeting with the boys )) #(( dark prologue will touch upon her backstory a little and her first time attending the academy )) #(( then the other dark scenarios will develop her relationship with all 6 brothers through different scenarios )) #(( if there's a specific idea you have for a fun scenario idea )) #(( please let me know!! ))

[dialovers-translations]

Diabolik Lovers VANDEAD CARNIVAL ;; Normal Ending

--> This ending is the same across all ten different routes. You can unlock it by failing to select the right choices in the individual chapters. 

ー The scene starts in the dining hall

Yui: ( I had plenty of worries at first, but ultimately, I was able to enjoy the Carnival quite a bit. )

( I’m glad I was able to make some nice memories... )

( However, for some reason I’m kind of...exhausted...It’s the good kind of tiredness though. )

Phew...

Ayato: Whatcha sighin’ for, Chichinashi?

Azusa: Eve, are you okay? 

Yui: I’m just feeling a little tired.

Reiji: Good grief...Even though the Carnival’s finale has yet to come.

A dinner prepared by the nr. 1 rated chef in the whole Demon World is about to be served.

Subaru: Well, can’t blame you for bein’ tired after you walked all over the place...Oi, take a seat here.

Yui: Thank you, Subaru-kun.

Kou: Hold it, Subaru-kun! M-neko-chan is the Queen, remember?

She should sit here, no?

Yui: Eh...? In the very middle...?

Kou: Exactly! Sitting next to Subaru-kun by the edge of the table (1) would be way below your rank! 

Subaru: Oi, you bastard! You better don’t think you can get away with casually insultin’ me like that!

*THUD*

Ruki: Oi, quit the violence. Take a good look at the table. Can you not see the beautifully lined up cutlery?

Subaru: Aah!? So what!?

Yuma: He’s upset ‘cause hittin’ the table will mess up the set up.

Shuu: Who cares about that...Haah, let’s just start eating already. I’m sleepy...

Kanato: ーー want to...

Ayato: Aah? Didya say somethin’ just now, Kanato?

Kanato: I said I don’t want to.

Why do we need to all gather around the table together and have dinner as a group?

I want to enjoy my meal with just me, her and Teddy...

Yui: K-Kanato-kun, calm down!

Kanato: How can I remain calm!? Don’t tell me you’re going to disagree with me as well? You’re fine with not being together with me...?

Yui: Um...You know, they say that food tastes better when enjoyed with a bunch of people, right?

Shuu: ...There’s absolutely no solid proof of that.

Yui: Uu...

( I-I guess I shouldn’t have expected them to fall for such a childish lie... )

B-But either way, you don’t get to eat like this every day, do you?

So don’t you think...You’d want to enjoy the food in the most delicious way possible?

Kanato: ...

ーー Understood. If you say so...

Yui: ( T-Thank god... )

Laito: Nfu~ Now that we got that out of the way, let’s get to our seats, everyone~!

I’m sure we’ll never enjoy a meal together with the Mukami’s at the same table after all, don’t you think~? Nfu~

Ruki: I sure hope so. Having to share the table with a bunch of uncultured swines is bad for my mental health.

Yuma: Ah-ahー Can’t ya at least stop talkin’ shit ‘bout others while we’re eatin’...?

Reiji: Look, the food has arrived.

*Cling*

Yui: Waah...!

Ruki: Seems like they have chosen for an elaborately planned multi-course meal to fit the Carnival...Now this is something to look forward to.

Kou: Honestly, there’s way too many forks and knives, I feel like I’ll mess up.

Yuma: Whatever. Ya can just pick a random one, right? 

Azusa: They’re good knives...I’m sure they cut wonderfully...

Ayato: It looks hella good! This piece of meat’s mine!

Subaru: Ah, oi!! You jerk! I had my eyes on that piece!!

Ayato: Idiot! The early bird gets the worm, right?

Subaru: Aah!?

Kou: Come on! Don’t fight! M-neko-chan’s startled, right?

Yui: Y-Yeah...It’s okay, Subaru-kun. There’s still plenty more, see?

Right. Give me your plate...? I’ll grab some for you.

*Cling*

Kou: Eeh~~? Why does Subaru-kun get to have all the fun? Hey, M-neko-chan, can you put some on my plate as well?

Yui: Yeah, sure!

Yuma: Come on, try this already.

Yui: Eh...?

*Cling*

Yuma: I can tell by lookin’ at these veggies. They’re fresh and packed full of nutrients, I’m sure they’ll taste delicious!

Yui: Waah...Thank you...!

Laito: Ah, Bitch-chan. Keep your plate there, okay?

Yui: Eh...?

Laito: Nfu~ I’ll drizzle plenty of this special Demon World-exclusive dressing on top...

There you go! All good to go!

Yui: Thank you, Laito-kun!

Laito: It’s fine. No need to thank me...Nfu~

Azusa: ...You’re already eating your dessert, Kanato-san...?

Kanato: I don’t need anything else. You can all eat the rest of the food as you please.

Azusa: Hm...Then...Shall I cut the cake for you?

Reiji: You shouldn’t, Kanato. You have to eat some of the other food as well to ensure a balanced diet.

You can have dessert afterwards.

Kanato: Oh come on, why not? Today is the Carnival after all. Right, Teddy?

Azusa: I can’t cut the cake yet then...?

Ruki: Exactly.

Azusa: Ruki...

Ruki: Haah...Give me that look all you want, no is no.

Come on, Azusa. Give me the knife in your hand.

Azusa: ...

Kanato: Fufu, please wait. I just had a great idea.

Azusa: ...?

Yui: Here you go, Subaru-kun. I guess this covers the basics.

*Cling*

Subaru: Yeah...

Kanato: Hey, you.

Yui: Eh...? Me?

Kanato: Exactly. Who else could I be talking to...?

Please give me that plate you’re holding right now. I’ll put on some cake as well.

Yui: B-But...This is the plate I put together for Subaru-kun...

Kanato: Uu...You’re going to ignore my order...?

Subaru: Oi, don’t you dare give it to that guy. Just hand it over to me like that.

Kanato: I was just...trying to be nice...by offering to put some of the cake on there...

Yui: ( Despite what Subaru-kun said, Kanato-kun claims he has good intentions. )

( In that case, it shouldn’t be wrong to hand Kanato-kun the plate, right...? )

In that case, I’m counting on you, Kanato-kun.

*Cling*

Subaru: Idiot! Who gave you permission to!?

Kanato: Fufu, thank you very much.

There you go, Azusa. Now you have a perfect excuse to cut the cake.

Come on, go ahead.

Azusa: Fufu, understood...

Ruki: Haah...

*Rustle*

Azusa: There you go, I cut it up...This blade is very sharp. It cuts beautifully.

Kanato: Come on, put the slice of cake on top of the plate.

Azusa: Sure...

Subaru: Oi, wait, wait, wait! The food’s gonna get all mixed up!

Don’t put it on there!

Kanato: Good grief, you’re so noisy.

Yui: ( Ah, the plate I prepared for Subaru-kun is becoming quite the mess... )

( I wonder, did Subaru-kun perhaps...realize this would happen? )

( That might be why he told me not to hand his plate to Kanato-kun... )

( I accidentally ruined it for him... )

Kanato: Here you go, Subaru. Azusa, please put some cake on this plate as well.

*Cling*

Azusa: ...

Kanato: Fufu, now I can have some cake as well.

Reiji: Kanato. Are you trying to abuse the commotion to have some cake?

Kanato: Geez, you’re so fussy, Reiji.

This is for Teddy. I won’t have any. Right, Teddy?

Eh...? What did you say just now, Teddy? Is that so? I can have some first? Fufu, thank you.

Fufu, it’s delicious.

Reiji: Haah...Good grief.

Subaru: How am I supposed to eat this hot mess of a dish!?

Yuma: ...My condolences...

Shuu: ...Haah.

Yui: ( Shuu-san seems...tired per usual... )

U-Um, you’re not going to have anything, Shuu-san?

Shuu: I don’t really need any. It’s too much of a drag.

Yui: But it’s such a rare opportunity, so you should probably try at least something...

Shuu: Then I don’t mind eating if you feed me something.

Yui: N-No way!

Kou: Say, M-neko-chan~? Are you cheating on me now?

Yui: Eh?

Kou: After Subaru-kun’s, you would prepare my plate next, remember~?

Yui: Ah, sure. I’ll do that right away, okay?

*Cling*

Yui: ( This really is quite the sight. )

( I didn’t think I’d ever see all of them around the same table... )

( It almost feels like a dream... )

Ayato: Oi, Chichinashi. Why are you over there grinnin’ by yourself?

Yui: Eh!? I-I’m not grinning, really...

Laito: Nfu~ Were you having lewd thoughts perhaps, Bitch-chan~?

Yui: N-No...!!

ー Fireworks go off outside

Yui: ...!?

Reiji: Oh dear? As if on cue, the fireworks indicating the Carnival’s finale have been set off.

Yui: Waah! Amazing...! How pretty...!

Ruki: The fireworks here are slightly different from those in the human world. They are induced with magic, so they remain in the air much longer.

Yuma: Ohー I see. I guess that’s why they keep their shape mid-air like that.

Yui: I see...That’s amazing!

Azusa: Eve, are you happy?

Yui: Yeah, I am! This is fun...!

( It was a wild ride, but I’m glad I was able to make a fun memory with everyone in the end. )

( I hope we all get to spend time together like this again one day... )

 ーー THE END ーー

Translation notes

(1) 末席 or ‘masseki’ is the term for the seat which is the furthest away from the ‘seat of honour’ at a long table.

#diabolik lovers #dialovers #vandead carnival #diabolik lovers translation #vcnormalending #shuu sakamaki #reiji sakamaki #ayato sakamaki #kanato sakamaki #laito sakamaki #subaru sakamaki #ruki mukami #kou mukami #yuma mukami #azusa mukami

[clare-with-no-i]

hi clare! <3 just wanted to gush about theogony ch 7 for a sec. lily’s grief journey…. sirius calling lily his sister (sob).. “anticipatory grief”.. that “oh” moment, my beloved….. sensitive sculptor remus.. philomel………. james PRAYING before they part. push me off a CLIFF!!!!!!!!!

ok but the thing that really did me in was this:

“It’s one of the great lamentations of history, that so much focus in the study of war is the bloodshed and the brutality; not the religiosity of companionship, the oaths between soldiers.”

i just think this is, as you’ve mentioned, one of the most powerful and key parts of this story. not only are you writing about a love story that spans centuries and cultures.. you’re humanizing characters from ancient times. they have feelings. thoughts. favorite colors. inside jokes. companionship. lovers they’re leaving behind. family to protect.

I burst into tears reading that because it punched me in the face and didn’t say sorry!! so. just saying. you rock and I say this without any pressure or entitlement - I can’t wait for chapter 8 <3

wow I might actually cry tbh!!

this, yes, this is so so important to me. it’s such a recurring impulse as someone who grew up post-industrial revolution, post-emergence of science and modern medicine, to think that—for some reason—my life is more important, more complex and emotional than those of people in antiquity. it is something I am still actively unlearning and fighting against; and, honestly? writing theogony has been really helpful with that.

I really can’t express how meaningful it is to me that you felt this, and that it stuck out. one of the core problems of the story is: is lily going to stay or go, if given the option? can a modern woman survive in antiquity? what might make her consider foregoing the comforts of modern life? and something that I’ve grappled with so much is what it might be like to witness someone dismantling that post-industrial superiority complex in real time, along with the reader.

phew. I’m not sure if you saw that YouTube comment I posted that addressed this, which brought ME to tears, but I saw it after months of agonizing over and working with this chapter, and thinking about the larger structure of the story as a whole. it hit SO hard. if this passage brought about even a fraction of those emotions, then I’ve succeeded!!

anyway, I ramble. but this just really means a lot to me. as someone who studied history, as someone who enjoys storytelling about it. really hit home.

thank you thank you!! and thank you for reading and for your patience!! very much hoping not nearly the same wait (truly I doubt anywhere near it) for next chapter. sending love!

#I’m emotional on MAAAIIIINNNN #ask #blooparound #theogony #theogony spoilers #god I’m sO #long post

[whatgaviiformes]

Fic: lend me the courage of stars

Summary: It’s the anniversary of their mother’s death, and Gordon takes John out for an adventure at sea, so unlike his home in the skies, and yet so connected. Genre: Family, Angst - Warning for grief over Mom’s death Characters: Gordon, John Words: 6K Also connected to John’s birthday month extravaganza -and I think I hit a few :) A/N: Thank you to @godsliltippy, @the-original-sineater​, and @gumnut-logic​ for the support and read throughs (the many versions of). This wouldn’t be as solid without you. Thank for, Thunderfam, for reading, and continuing to support me as I’ve worked through the last few weeks. It’s been rough, still ongoing, but this fic - and the excitement to share it with you - has been an important constant I’ve been able to fall back on.  There are a few key references made that I’d like to note - First  - This fic draws from a book I read as a young adult by Madeleine L’Engle, called A Ring of Endless Light. If you’ve read the book or her works you may recognize a few references. The name Eddington comes from an important character in her novels. 

Second - This fic also draws from Nutty’s Kermadec AU, and, through it’s evolution, just kind of kept sliding into it. I am calling this Kermadec AU-djacent. If you have not yet read “We’ll Be Home for Christmas” you should.  Thanks for letting me play around with the boys and concepts you’ve built, Nutty.  Third -  Skipper wiggled her way in and wouldn’t let go. So, as part of this story, you all get to meet Gordon’s puppy, inspired by this post here, which was a  commissioned gift from Tippy. 

Music: The title “lend me the courage of stars”  does, in fact, come from a song!  “Lend Me the Courage of Stars” - by Lights and Motion YT | Spotify No lyrics, just emotions, the genre is cinematic, and I so adore the build in this one.  Phew - that was a long one, thanks for reading. The fic in full will be over at Ao3, link below. I’ll get around to FF. Edit - FF added below :) ----- It was not a normal Tracy welcome home.

Usually, John came home to one of two scenarios. Either the whole family (and way too many people at once) met him in the hangar. And if Gordon had anything to say about it, he’d be there like a stranger at the airport waiting for their party, one LARGE sign: Looking for - Ginger with a Bagel. Or, Space Cadet Carrot Top. Or, John’s current favorite, Vulcan in Disguise.

That last one had Virgil’s handwriting all over it. 

Or, there was no one to greet him at all between rescues, maintenance work, and their own unique hobbies and passion projects. And, sure, it was sometimes a bit lonely in those cases, but there were advantages too. It gave him time to rest until he felt more human, and only then would he embark on a sibling scavenger hunt. 

Today, it had simply been Gordon who met him upon arrival, at 1100 hours, sans airport sign, greeting him with his usual squid hug, but with a bit more squeeze behind it than normal. 

“I’m glad you’re here,” Gordon breathed into his shirt. “Terra firma not good enough for you?”

“Terra Firma is fine,” John quipped. “Gravity’s not.” Gordon gripped his chest tighter, and the pressure built behind his eyes. Behind those jokes was a scared child, a little boy who lost his mom too early in life and who needed his big brother’s support on the anniversary of her death. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be, Gordon.”  Read at Ao3 Read at FF

#TBBirthdayChallenge2021 #tbbirthdaychallenge #John Tracy #Gordon Tracy #Gavii Scribit #lend me the courage of stars fic #Thunderbirds fanfiction #vox delphini

[knight-queen]

Lunatic Parade Reiji Sakamaki– (Chapter 01)

Lunatic Parade Masterlist (Complete)

Yui: (I must have to take my heart back no matter what…!)

Place: Inside Mountain / 山中

Reiji: Bernstein Caste...Let’s see. I will not take that much time from here on.

Yui: Oh I see.

Reiji: Yeah, we are about to pass through the main street, and you will hear the hassle of the parade right there.

Yui: (Oh...That place will be lively for sure.)

(There may be so many booths full of sweet smells out there just like the carnival was.)

Reiji: ...I shall expose all of the thoughts you are having now.

Yui: Yes?

Reiji: You are thinking 一what kind of special sweets could be piled up in the parade, right?

Yui: H- how did you catch it?

Reiji: Such a simple deal, it’s entirely obvious if I see this dummy loosen face of yours.

Yui: I am sorry…

Reiji: No need to feel sorry. Since the parade is entertaining, we should join this  just like the carnival.

However…

*Reiji gets closer + Screen vibrates*

Yui: Kyaa!

Reiji: Before going there, we need preparations.

We do not want to regret facing problematic things like we faced during carnival after all...alright then.

Yui: (Bottle…? It smells so lovely.)

Reiji: Front neck...and wrists. Nextly you can apply wherever you prefer.

Yui: Umm, what is this for…

Reiji: Nice smell, yes? It was a hard time for me to have the ingredients adjust the fragrance that way.

Yui: Ingredients you say?

Reiji: Right, I have purified the vampire phenomenon at an extremely high concentration.

If you apply this then it will basically create no difference between you and vampires.

Yui: So…?

Reiji: Oh my goodness, your consideration is dull as always….In short, you will not be noticed by others that you are a human.

With this, vampires who get seduced by your blood-scent will not drag onto you.

Yui: Th- thank you very much…!

Reiji: Sure...you are welcome.

Yui: (Huh? I see he is wrinkling his eyebrows…)

Err, does anything happen?

Reiji: Perhaps you did not notice yet but I am smelling same as my spiece from you….to be honest, it is an odd feeling.

I never had gotten along with a vampire like this so….it is truly a displeasure.

Yui: (Oh I get it...I can’t possibly smell it simply having a floral frangrame on me.)

(But I’ve broken down a little for getting him to make such a face…)

Reiji: Well then, now that we have tidied up preparations, let us move on.

Yui: Sure….

Reiji: What is wrong? If there is something you want to say, say it please.

Yui: (Guess all of my thoughts are visible to Reiji san...let’s try to be honest about it.)

That is...I am so happy that you have made that fragrance for me.

But I was a little shocked to think that you will get displeased as I will be walking by your side all the way….

Reiji: ...Get it. Well it is very simplistic of you to take it this way.

However, the point is that you are typically concerned about me, so I do not mind.

It will mean I am having objections if I say you are a hopeless person granting that.

But一 一

*Reiji gets closer*

Reiji: I’m thinking about such a cute thing that you’ve put on the fragrance that I have prepared while thinking about you.

There is no way I am displeased for you.

Yui: Kh...that’s…

Reiji: Pay attention to my words till the very end.

It is bothersome to bring a human like you to the Demon World but,

I am simply doing all of these because I love you who is a human….It is also very obvious to say it.

I want you to walk on being by my side all the way, you know?

Yui: Kh!

Reiji: What are you being embarrassed for? ...It was you to say it though? “ I Want to walk on by your side.”

Yui: I did not say “I want to”...I said “Since I will be walking.”

Reiji: Kukuh, these are the same thing...Yui, I will let you walk by my side all the way.

Like this...closely touching each other.

Yui: ...Yes.

(Uuh...it’s so embarrassing but I am rather happy that he said it.)

Reiji: Well, I shall be done with teasing you and let us get to the castle town.

*He backs off*

Reiji: Stay close to me in such a way that I can smell the fragrance alright….get it?

Place: Glimmer Main Street / グリンマーストリート表通り

Yui: Wah…! This place is so crowded!

Reiji: Yeah, as you would expect in the parade. Anyway, how shall we get started?

Yui: Are not we going to Bernstein Castle?

Reiji: Oh my...do you think we will have any chance of accomplishment if we simply rush in being unarmed and clueless?

Yui: Ah...it is true.

Reiji: First of all, we should come up with specific future measures.

We can go around the prominent places in order to gather important information.

Since the fragrance is doing a great job just as I had expected.

Yui: True. All thanks to you!

Reiji: This result was very obvious from me….Well, for starters一

Hm…?

Yui: (Oh? He is looking behind me but for what reason…)

Reiji: Stay as you are now...You must not turn over.

Yui: Eh?

Reiji: And also...try not to get away from my sight as much as possible.

Yui: But why is that?

*Reiji gets closer*

Reiji: ...I feel like someone is following us.

Yui: What?

Reiji: There will not be any problem if they do not abduct you away but...this situation is no good I think.

I do not know what is going on but...let me hold your hand.

Yui: Kh!

Reiji: We are going to be dismissed from here...as fast as we can.

Yui: (Either ways, I cannot let go of his hand by any means!)

Place: Glimmer Main Street, Front of Wagon

Yui: (There is a huge crowd around here so we will be alright if we get puzzled to them….but who knows the outcome.)

(More than that...I’m about to be out of breath as he was walking way too fast.)

Reiji: Oof...guess it will be okay if we reduce our walking speed little by little.

However, this place is one of the territories of the Earl Walter so we must avoid being inattentive.

Yui: Yes...by the way, what kind of person is the Earl?

Reiji: Despite gathering so much information, I can say that he does not really show up his appearance.

Yui: Oh no…

Reiji: There is also one fact I had gathered from all the people.

They said “There is no way he will give stolen things back”...So he is not a  un-straightforward person who possesses unique aesthetics and philosophy.

...It is absolutely hilarious to hear all the people are having complaints about such awful facts.

Yui: It is...unforgivable.

But it surely sounds extremely difficult work to accomplish our goal. If we���.

(Don’t get my heart back then perhaps I will die….what can I do?)

Reiji: ...No need to get worried about that.

Yui: Eh…?

Reiji: You will be good since I am with you. Or...you cannot have faith in me?

Yui: It is not like that! But…

Reiji: I understand your depression. But….

I will surely save you from these.

Yui: Reiji san…!

Reiji: Good grief, do not show such a pathetic face. Or I will end up punishing you at this rate, right?

Yui: Fufuh...I am sorry.

Reiji: Haah, I get sick seeing you that you do not understand anything unless you are told….try always to put on a cheerful face.

Yui: ...Yes!

*They go away*

???: …………

Place: Tart • TatanーGlimmer Street Stores 

Yui: (Phew...It’s good that we find seats right away. I was so exhausted from walking here and there.)

(I ordered some pastry cakes since he told me I can get whatever I like but, it’s like a bang on our wallet.)

(There are also inedible fruits put onto these but these have great tastes.)

Reiji: The tea of this shop is unbelievably outstanding for having an aromatic blend in it. What about your cake?

Yui: It is super yummy. Umm...what about having a bite for tasting?

Reiji: Oh goodness...do you not think it is vulgar if two of us stick our mouth on this cake in front of the public?

Yui: Uhh...I thought this cake was preferred to your taste so I asked you.

(Haah...right, I should just eat it alone.)

Reiji: ...Nevertheless, if you want me to eat it so bad and I shall give it a thought.

Yui: But, I do not want to force you…

Reiji: Just give me that cake at once. However there is only one fork so it is troublesome.

Yui: If you are good with it then you can use my one.

Reiji: Haah, whose fork could you expect from me to use instead of yours in this situation? ...I will borrow this.

Mnm….I see. It is fastidious, very much suits my taste type.

Yui: Is that so? I am glad then…

Reiji: Yeah but...it is your cake so I am fine just by having a single bite.

Please enjoy eating this to your utmost.

Yui: Yeah.

Reiji: Now then I wanted to talk about how to get...back your heart.

Yui: Do you have any kind of precautions?

Reiji: I do….If we just ask him to give heart back like a stubborn then he will not listen to us.

We shall at least exchange something with him...something which is more valuable than your heart.

Yui: Eeh? But how…

(I wonder if it will work for our opponent who easily snatched my heart away in the first place?)

(If we do not do it smoothly then we are going to lose both of those…)

Reiji: Ofcourse there is a doubt that it will go everything as planned. We are not even in the mid-way of our progress.

What a grief...what you are thinking now is showing off in your face.

For showing up different facial expressions one after another...what an amusing person you are.

Yui: My sincere apologies….

(Uuh...what a shame on me.)

Reiji: Well then, as the continuation of our strategies follows. We will approach proposing negotiations and then we will enter in the caste from it’s frontage.

We will manage to pass through an opportunity and then we will creep in the treasure house and sharply steal the heart. 

Yui: (For some reasons, I don’t feel like this plan is made by Reiji san.)

….Will we really be able to pass it following this strategy…?

Reiji: For someone like you who is thoughtless may find it a little timidity.

But the only thing we can do now is to lead that strategy to go well.

Plus fortunately, we have so many treasures which are worthy to catch Earl’s interest.

Yui: Eh?

Reiji: The pocket watch of demise...The Earl will also love to hang out with us if we show this.

Yui: (His father...Karl-heinz gave him this watch which can tell one the end of time.)

(It is very enormous but this watch is very precious as it is full of important concepts…!)

Reiji: All now left is to...seek through an opportunity and find out the place where your heart is kept off.

Yui: But you cannot use this watch...as a bargaining tool...no way you can!

Reiji: Oh seriously, you are unbelievable...face at me.

Yui: Yes?

Reiji: Listen attentively...there is no other thing to me which is more important than your heart.

Yui: Kh!

Reiji: ...Will you still not believe my words even if I say it straightforwardly looking at your eyes?

Yui: No...you are actually misunderstanding...you words have made me so happy.

Reiji: Likewise, it is my privilege to have you consider it.

It was worthwhile continuing to train forcibly a silly person like you.

Yui: Oh come on...it is a rude way of saying.

Reiji: Heh...well then, let us move onto the next step.

Place: Saint Nore Park / サントノレパーク通り

Reiji: Umm...we are going to ride that one.

Yui: Eh? The ferris wheel?

Reiji: Why are you being so astonished?

Yui: Well…

(It makes me awfully surprised that he brings me to an amusement park to begin with….)

Reiji: What’s wrong? You are making an unconvinced face.

But...is it not very natural for me to want the two of us to spend time together?

Yui: (Kh...he said it while I was staring at him...so embarrassing...!)

Reiji: What are you thinking about...while flushing your cheeks? How awkward.

Fuh...I will deepen the red color of your face even more once two of us get inside that small-spaced closed room.

We shall get going….

Place: 観覧車 / Ferris Wheel

Yui: (We get in but...I was already tired of getting teased by him while lining up.)

(Certainly I am happy to spend time with the two of us but….all Reiji san doing for a while is just comparing the scenery with some kind of paper.)

Umm, what on the Earth you are watching?

Reiji: This is a sketch of the Bernstein Castle.

Yui: Eh? When did you get it?

Reiji: I had obtained it with an absolute secret route. First of all, in order to have a conversation with him, we have to gather information.

Yui: (Incredible...as you would expect from him.)

Reiji: So, that looks like this castle. For getting a better lookー

Yui: (He’s taking out something from his chest-pocket again. But what could it be this time?)

Reiji: Yeah, here it is. For looking far away, you will need a telescope of better quality.

Yui: (W- wow...I was freaked seeing anything coming out from his pocket.)

Reiji: Oh...there is not even a single sign of people surrounding the castle. I wonder if it is covered by any barriers.

...Aah, it has ascended to a perfect height. I wanted to view it from this angle.

By the way, this castle is built up with refined details….

Yui: (It looks a very splendid castle even if I see it with my bare eyes. I also want to have a good look.)

→Selection

I want you to show me later / あとで見せてほしい 

I want you to show me now / 今すぐ見せてほしい (+correct)

Yui: Umm...would you mind showing me too?

Reiji: Fine. But is it not okay if I show you later?

Yui: I thought...we can discover more if two of us observe instead of only one of us…

Reiji: ...Oh seriously. Your self-consciousness is very high. Alright then.

If you request that far, then I shall have you give me some valuable information for me instead of just staring at that.

Yui: Eeeh!?

Reiji: Kukuh...okay then, come here.

*Reiji gets closer*

Yui: (Wha...I was just wrapped around by arms...will I have to watch like this?)

Reiji: I shall fix you so that you will not mess up with finding the proper place. You can start to have a good view now.

Yui: Y- yes...excuse me.

(Uuh...I am feeling thumping inside but I must concentrate to find out something…!)

(Let’s see…)

ーAh! The one who is bringing the tea-set to his terrace...he is the butler san, isn’t he?

Reiji: Butler? Let me see it too….move your head to the sideway very carefully so that the telescope will not move from its current position.

Yui: S- sure!

(The more I try to not move this telescope... the less distance it becomes between Reiji san and I….how embarrassing.)

Reiji: Umm...so that person is the butler of that castle huh.

Reiji: Yui, you really figured out a great thing. It will give us a huge hint.

Yui: I am glad…!

*Sound as the ferris wheel vibrates*

Yui: Kyaaa!? Wh- what…?

*Reiji backs off*

Reiji: Hm? The ferris wheel stops moving. Is it an accident?

Yui: I- I guess so….

(What, we are stopped being hanged having pretty much a high distance from the ground...huh?)

R- Reiji san!! There is a ch-child stucked into the frame overthere!!

Reiji: Child? ...Oh, you are right. Well, there are times when some vampires start doing reckless things.

Yui: But if he falls...that boy will be able to fly up, right?

Reiji: It is impossible. Because vampires around that age and yet to be able to float in the air.

Yui: Eeeh!? Then we must help him!

Reiji: His parents will of course be out there. Someone like you who is rather a human does not have to over-worry for that.

Yui: But...ah!

(He did not fall...for getting unbalanced this time but, I can’t see that child like this!)

*Opens the door*

Reiji: Wha- wait, do not tell me you are up to help him….did you listen to what I just said?

Yui: I did...if that child cannot fly properly then I must have to save him…!

(If it’s from here, then by ignoring looking down, I may get caught up with where that child is by following this frame….)

Reiji: Good grief, I want to refrain that child...from behaving reckless this time!

*Reiji gets closer*

Yui: Eh?

Reiji: Listen, you stay here. Once I will fly out from here, you must close the door immediately. Got it?

Kh…! *Flies*

Yui: (Ah! He just flies to save that child…!)

Monologue

As soon as he reached the kid, Reiji san embraced the child and flew again.

And they safely alighted to the ground.

As Reiji san told me, I hurried up and closed the door of the ferris wheel.

Thereupon, the ferris wheel started to move. Perhaps it had stopped because that child was stuck into the framework.

Anyways, I must gotta thank Reiji san right after I get off here.

END of Monologue

Place: Saint Nore Park / サントノレパーク通り

Yui: (...Ah, Reiji san!)

Reiji: Therefore, it is very idiotic to think you will be able to fly since your parents can do it! Be ashamed of yourself!!

And must not bother other people as well….Get it?

Vampire Child A: Yes….I am so sorry….

Reiji: Good grief...If you have learned from this experience then make sure not to make the same mistake again. Understood?

Vampire Child A: Gotcha...thanks a lot, uncle. Bye bye!

Reiji: Wha-! U- uncle…!?

Yui: (...Looks like Reiji san has strictly disciplined the child but, as I thought children are really liberized.)

Reiji san.

Reiji: Oh it’s you.

Yui: Thank you so much. Back then...sorry for doing absurd things by any chance.

Reiji: Haa...not to mention it is not the first time that you are showing your nice-soul to me. I am already getting used to your these apologies.

I want to be aware that you are being kept endured long for having this kleinod inside you.

Yui: Ah…

Reiji: Since we are having an usual situation, therefore I want you to refrain stepping forward into dangerous things.

Yui: Yes...I am sorry.

Reiji: It is good if you have regrets for this…anyways, our investigation for the castle is complete.

Yui: Eh? We are done?

Reiji: We have collected enough information from the outside of the ferris wheel….what shall we do now?

Yui: Well…

Reiji: If you would want to then let us enjoy the parade...or return back to the hotel at once.

Yui: I- I want to go to the parade!!!

Reiji: Heh...I can hear you even if you do not say so desperately...let us move on then.

Yui: Yes!

(It made me so happy that Reiji san has offered me…!)

Place: Saint Nore Park / サントノレパーク通り

Reiji: Every single visitor is festiving out here….if you become so slow then then you are going to stray away from me.

Yui: Yes, I will be careful.

Reiji: Good grief. I cannot simply be relieved just by hearing these words...Let me hold your hand.

*Reiji gets closer*

Yui: Th- thank you very much….

Reiji: Nope...well if good to do this once in a while.

Yui: (Somehow it looks like a dream to walk so close to him in such a thrilling place.)

Reiji: ...We cannot get fussed over this crowded place. Let us move onto a preferable place.

Yui: Sure, then what about going to the game center right there?

Reiji: I would never go there unless they are really offering a great opportunity but...if you want to then I will go.

Place: Game Center / ゲームセンター

Yui: (I thought it won’t be that enthusiastic but…)

Reiji: Ha! ...Haah!

Yui: (Unbelievably he is enjoying here, that’s good. Plus I am also happy to see his unusual sides….)

Ah! Look, only one point then it’s my victory!

Reiji: What you just say…?

Oh well, it is a game of hitting the bats. I do not quite understand the reason for playing such a barbaric game.

Let us do a match of one kind of brain game...I just found something perfect out here.

Yui: Concentration game…?

Reiji: Yeah. Although this graded game is very insufficient for me, you can challenge it.

Yui: Y- yes! I will do my best!

(Alright, let’s show my best to Reiji san!)

→Game

Words he says一

Alright then, we can start the game.

Oh my goodness.

That was amazing.

The game ends here. I am now curious about your score.

*If you win*

Yui: Oh yeesss! Reiji san, you saw it?

Reiji: I didn. You really did well.

Yui: (Glad that I did it well! ...Hm? Something comes out…?)

Reiji: Guess you get...a prize. These are bathing tickets for the Spa in the Onyx Tower.

Yui: Waah! I am so happy. Would you mind going there together, Reiji san?

Reiji: Of course I will go.

...Fuh, you are being in high-spirit just for merely a game, are you not?

Yui: But, I am so happy that...I did itttt!

Reiji: Honestly, you are looking like a child as you are raising your hand up for being overjoyed. However….

*Fades to CG*

*High five*

Yui: Eh?

(No way right...Reiji san just did it)

Reiji: I ended up doing this seeing you so overjoyed...it was not appropriate to do this though.

Yui: N- no! You made me happy!

Reiji: ...Well, it is not bad if it is with you.

*CG fades*

Reiji: If we get this opportunity next time and then I will do this again. *blushing*

Yui: ...Yup!

Reiji: Ooh, I feel so hot. Guess the air-conditioner is damaged?

Yui: (Fufu, it feels good to see his rare sides.)

Reiji: So, shall we go to the spa?

Yui: Okay!

Reiji: I got sweaty for unnecessary reasons. I shall wash out everything and relax out there.

Place: スパ / Spa

Yui: (We were supposed to meet here once we’re done changing clothes.)

Reiji: Yui

Yui: Reiji san! Sorry, did I make you wait?

Reiji: No, you are good. More importantly hurry up and get into the hot water.

Yui: A- alright….

Reiji: No matter how slim your body is, I will not want to show it to other people.

Yui: What!?

Reiji: ...Nothing really. *Flushed*

*gets into the water*

Yui: (Phew. This warming feeling is so good. I feel luxurious as it is a large bath, unusual from everyday life.)

Reiji: Kukuh...Do not make such a lifeless face which seemed to be invited to heaven.

Yui: Uuh, but it felt so good that…

Reiji: It is okay though. Plus bathing while viewing the starry sky is not bad.

Yui: Yes. It is very charming.

(But, I wonder if it is really okay to be so carefree like this…?)

Reiji: 一It is okay.

Yui: Yes?

(Have I mistakenly spelled those words from my mouth?)

Reiji: Fuh...I can watch through everything you are imagining in your head.

Yui: Oh...you are right.

Reiji: It is okay to be carefreely relaxed down like this but...we also need to do some thrills in a while.

*He gets closer*

Reiji: Certainly this situation feels extraordinary but I cannot solve it even if it gets problematic.

Therefore, please think everything like nothing wrong is going on...muwah

Yui: Hhh!?

(I didn’t imagine he would ki- kiss me in...this place…!)

Reiji: Could it be you are already starting to feel dizzy? In that case, we must get out right away…

Yui: I- I wasn’t feeling dizzy, it’s because you have just….

Reiji: Kukuh...is that so? Then let us stay like this for a while then.

Yui: (Uhh...I am just being teased. But Is it really okay to stay here like this.)

...We must get back my heart right? But if we fail…

Reiji: Rest assured. No matter what happens, I am by your side after all.

I will definitely take your heart back safely.

Yui: ...Yes.

(That’s right. Reiji san will be with me so I will of course be alright.)

(That’s why...I will believe these words.)

Reiji: ...It is great to believe in me but I do not mind if you speak that out to me, you know?

Yui: Ah, y- you are right…

(But it is very embarrassing to say it facing toward him being in this state.)

Reiji: But it will be okay now. That will be a great problem if I really get you half-conscious.

After we get back to the hotel, I shall make you speak up your imagining words one by one.

You are not allowed to disappoint me there, okay?

Yui: Kh, I- I will do my best…!

(We had a lot of fun today...feel like I’m about sleepy.)

(And also he will be by my side all the time.)

ーThe END of Chapter O1

#last lp translation qvq #lunatic parade reiji sakamaki chapter 1 #reiji sakamaki lunatic parade chapter 1 #reiji sakamaki #reiji sakamaki lunatic parade #lunatic parade reiji sakamaki #diabolik lovers translations #diabolik lovers #diabolik lovers lunatic parade reiji sakamaki #chapter 1 #final #lunatic parade translations #otome game #rejet otome games #ideal factory otome games

[amtwst-tls]

Scary Outfit Azul Personal Story Translation - Part 2

Scary Outfit Azul Part 2 Too Sophisticated!

Where Azul tries to train Silver on how to be a leader (it doesn’t go well)

Mostro Lounge

Azul: Here we are, you can go ahead and sit on the sofa in front of you. Silver: Excuse me.

Azul: That is absolutely unacceptable.

Silver: ? Have I messed up something?

Azul: Silver-san, have you already forgotten the reason you came here for?

Azul: You did come here to receive advice on how to command your dorm in the absence of your dorm head, yes?

Azul: Your posture is not befitting one who should fill such a position.

Azul: A commander should be able to inspire some fear to be respected. First, you should cross your legs.

Silver: ...Like this?

Azul: This time you're too sophisticated!!

Azul: You don't look intimidating enough. Recline into the sofa just right, and fold your arms over your knee!

Silver: U-understood..... how about now?

Azul: That will do. Now, how would you chastise a student from your dorm when they have done something wrong?

Azul: For instance, when a fight breaks out amongst them. What would you do?

Silver: ..."Hey, you should cut that out."

Azul: Wrong! Who would bother listening to such a weak warning!?

Azul: A dorm head is done for the moment he is underestimated! No, you should look down on them with a calm confidence so as to intimidate them.

Silver: ...L-Like so?

Azul: Raise your chin higher! The movement of your hands are important as well, you need to grasp complete control over your surroundings!

Silver: ...H-How about this time...?

Azul: Good! Now all you have to do is penalize them and you will have grasped complete victory!

Silver: Is this really a matter of who wins or not...?

Azul: Next, I should teach you how to cajole people- I mean, praise them for doing good work.

Azul: First, you must applaud them. The number of claps required will differ according to the situation, so keep that in mind.

----1 hour later----

----2 hours later----

----3 hours later----

Azul: Phew! I think we'll turn you into a leader yet! Azul: You are doing a splendid job, Silver-san

Silver: You have my thanks, Azul. I am beginning to feel a lot more confident now.

Azul: That is excellent! Now, next we should-

???: OII!! SILVERRRRRR!!!

Silver: Hm? Sebek, do you have any business with me?

Sebek: How are you so nonchalant YOU FOOL!!

Sebek: You were nowhere to be found after supper, and suspecting you may have fallen asleep in some ditch, I had to search everywhere for you!

Silver: Should you speak so rudely?

Silver: My my, you have quite the audacity to speak as such to your senior.*

Sebek: Ha? I have always spoken to you like this, what are you-

Silver: I have let it slide for this long, but no more.

Silver: As the acting dorm head of Diasomnia, I prohibit you from approaching Malleus-sama until you have reflected upon your attitude.

Sebek: Wh.......Wha...........

Sebek: WHAT NONSENSE ARE YOU SPEWING RIGHT NOW----!!!!

Sebek: If you are going to act like that, then I have a thing or two to say!!

Sebek: What is with that cocky manner of sitting, and those exaggerated gestures all of a sudden? Absolutely DISGUSTING.

Silver: Disgusting....?

Azul: ....!!!

Silver: ...Forgive me, Azul. It seems that I have not had enough training yet...

Azul: Hmm yes, I suppose it was not the right time to bring out your...majesty just yet.

Sebek: Wait, what are you two talking about?

Silver: Actually-

---------------------------------------------

Sebek: Y---YOU-----

Sebek: YOU ABSOLUTE MORON!!!

Silver: Sebek, you're too loud. We are at another dorm, you will bother them.

Sebek: It's not that the students refuse to listen to you because of how you act! It's because you fall asleep in the middle of instructing that they don't know what to do!!

Silver: ... I see.

Azul: My my, to think that was what happened...

Sebek: Good grief! Now stop with this nonsense and come back to the dorm immediately!

Silver: Alright.

Silver: ...Azul, I am sorry for having wasted your time.

Silver: But, I think I have come closer to understanding what is necessary to unite people.

Silver: ... You have my sincere gratitude.

Azul: It's quite alright, as long as I was able to help.

Azul: Please give my best regards to Malleus-san and Lilia-san.

???: fufufu..... kusukusukusu

Floyd: We saw that~

Jade: Indeed, we did. Azul: Do the both of you have something you want to say? Jade: Not at all, I was simply thinking that it should be quite the big deal for you to teach someone else on how to capture the human heart. Floyd: But ye know~ I don't think Azul's style of bullying people works well for someone like Jellyfish-chan~?

Azul: How rude of you to call it bullying. I was simply trying to advise him on how to act as a leader in my own way.

Azul: ...However, I suppose you are right, it did not seem to be the best approach for Silver-san. Azul: Regardless, Silver-san now owes me, and he seems to have gained confidence out of this as well. Azul: I am certain he will fulfill his role as the acting dorm head as Halloween draws close! Jade: As expected, you never act without motive do you? Azul: But of course. The more popular our Halloween event is, then consequently the number of visitors shall increase, who will make their way to our Mostro Lounge eventually... Azul: For that purpose, all the dorms must perform well. I simply lent a hand.Azul: --Now that's enough chit-chat. We need to give it our all this Halloween as well! ----------Halloween---------------

Azul: Boo!!! Azul: Well, I did warn you, didn't I? That we would give it our all. Azul: We won't hold back on trying to frighten you either! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- *When Sebek arrives, Silver tries to admonish him like Azul would and says ‘oya oya’ just like Azul lmaoo just wanted to mention it since I always translated it as ‘my my’ Part 1

#Azul Ashengrotto #jade leech #Floyd Leech #silver #twst silver #twst #twisted wonderland #twst translation #twisted wonderland tls #twst translations #twisted wonderland translations #twst event #twst halloween #twst sm #aera's tl

[obeymefictionwriting]

Open Wound

It’s been a while since I wrote a big fanfiction so here you go. This time it’s dedicated to Beel and I shall warn ya - it’s a bit darker tha my previous works. No violence or gore but a focus on psychology and inner problems.

“Oh no, not again!” 

I heard Satan’s voice far from the kitchen and shivered. When Satan was not in the mood (which, to be honest, was almost always the case), it was better to keep away from him. I’ve witnessed numerous times how quickly he flew in rage and honestly I was feeling sorrow for whoever of the brothers made him lose his temper.

I wondered what made him so made this time but then my D.D.D. rang.

“New incoming message to the HOL chat: Beel, stop eating ALL food in the fridge! Now we are out of food for dinner so go and get some!!!!”

Uh-oh. I bet Satan, as usual, wanted to get a light snack in the middle of his reading marathon and all he saw was an empty fridge. But I didn’t feel bad for Satan - I was actually worried about Beelzebub.

I get it, he is the Avatar of Gluttony and all. But something really wasn’t right about the amounts of food he consumed. Like, how can one possibly eat so much? And why?

I knew Beel too well to buy a simple “the Avatar of Gluttony” answer. I knew how passionate he could be about sports or about movies and music. And I’d never believe that he’d constantly feel hungry just because he is the avatar of gluttony. 

I went to Beel’s room because I wanted to see him and I also wanted to join him on the shopping trip. Luckily, he was alone in the room. Belphie must be napping somewhere else and it was probably the attic.

“Oh, it’s you!” Beelzebub gave me a big smile. “I was worried it was Satan who’d come to scold me again. 

“Mind if I join you for shopping?”

“Sure. I love spending time with you and was actually planning to ask you to come with me.”

We sneaked out of the house and headed to the store. While in the store, I firmly took over the shopping list. I gave in though when I saw the way Beel stares at some delicacies. “I think Lucifer won’t mind” I murmured as Beel was loading the shopping cart with packages.

“Phew that’s a lot,” Beel said enthusiastically as he easily grabbed all our bags. Once again I was amazed at how strong and cheerful he was. Seems like he never had a time of weakness: at least I couldn’t remember him whining, complaining, or showing a moment of weakness. Always reliable, always happy, and always…

“GRRRRRRRR.”

Hungry. Of course.

“Sorry,” He looked embarrassed. “All this shopping made me hungry. Mind if we stop by Madam Scream’s?”

I didn’t mind at all as I was craving something sweet. When we arrived, the place was crowded as usual but the owner, Madam Scream herself, saw Beel and gave us a wide sincere smile.

“Isn’t it my favorite customer!” She said, approaching us and hugging Beel. It was a funny thing to see, considering the woman was quite short and Beel was twice as big as her. He hugged her back carefully as if concerned about hurting her but she didn’t seem to notice. 

“My boy, you always lift my mood. How about a small cozy table right there?” And she showed us a comfortable-looking table in a dark isolated corner. In this way, almost no one could hear us and we could observe the whole cafe as if being invisible.

“That’s great, thank you!” Beel beamed with enthusiasm. “Can we have two of your famous milkshakes for the start?”

She smiled again and left, leaving two menus on the table. We sat down and Beel immediately grabbed the menu and began studying it. Once our milkshakes appeared on the table, he took a large sip and looked at me happily:

“I’m just so glad I’m here with you and sharing my favorite food”, he said.

I felt guilty for a moment as I was about to ask him an unpleasant question. But if I didn’t, it would keep bothering me. So I took a deep breath and blurted out:

“Beel, is there a reason you eat so much? Except for you being the Avatar of Gluttony, of course. I just feel… I feel there is something more to it. Sorry if I’m wrong. And sorry for asking.”

As I was looking at his face getting darker I really blamed myself for asking. Like, what’s my problem? It’s his life and his appetite doesn’t seem to do any harm so why did I even bother? 

He’s been silent for quite some time and I was about to open my mouth, apologize and think of a way to make it up but suddenly he spoke.

“Guess I should tell you. Nobody knows, even Belphie, because this is something I never wanted to share with anyone. But I feel I can trust you. Just promise you won’t tell anyone.”

I nodded and he continued:

“Remember I told you how all three of us - me, Belphie, and Lilith - would go to the human world? I really liked it back there and what I loved most was a small pastry shop in the corner of some empty street. I remember not many people went there because they preferred bigger shops but that one was my favorite.”

His voice suddenly became sadder and I saw something in his eyes that I’ve never seen before. Was it… grief?

“There was this girl who ran the shop. She was really cute and the first time she saw me, she laughed really hard because I ate almost everything they had. Of course, she had no idea I was a demon, and still, she wasn’t scared of my appetite - she was entertained! And this fascinated me so much that I… I didn’t feel as hungry as I usually did. Instead, I was feeling all sorts of different feels: interest, happiness. Love.”

As he admitted it, I was stunned. Of course, I knew how soft and caring Beel was but I never really thought about his love life before. For me, he was a real family guy who’d spend all his time on his family and sports. And all of a sudden, it turns out there was a human girl whom he loved?

He continued:

“I started visiting her almost every day and she was really happy to see me. She’d bake special pastries just for me and I’d tell her stories about different countries and worlds. She called me a storyteller but she loved listening to them. 

I’d carry her around a lot and she was as light as a feather. I remember the way her skin smelled: vanilla and something flowery. She’d hug me really tight, scared that we might fall, but she trusted me completely and more than anything I cherished her trust.

As we grew closer, she was telling me about herself and her family. I learned that she has a small brother and that her parents were too old to run a shop so she took care of it instead. I even met her brother and he taught me how to play football. Can you imagine: a six-year-old boy teaching the team captain of Devildom? It was hilarious!

Of course, my brothers were suspecting something but all of them thought I was just drawn to human food. All, except Lucifer. He clearly understood what was going on but just let it be… Only once did he say: be careful because humans do not last long. But at that time, I didn’t care.”

He stopped and took another sip of his milkshake. When he looked back at me, he had tears in his beautiful violet eyes.

“And then she was gone. I didn’t visit the shop for a week or so because we had an important game. When I came to the shop, rushing to see her, there was an old lady at the counter. She saw me looking surprised and said “Oh, must be the boy Yuki told me about!” She then broke into tears and said something I never expected. 

Yuki had cancer and… and she left me. She left her family and me. And I was busy playing the game and never ever thought she was struggling all this time. After all these years, I feel so guilty still. And food just reminds me of her.”

As he said it, my eyes were full of tears too. Now everything was clear to me: his uncontrollable appetite and the constant willingness to help others. He didn’t want any of his loved people to get hurt again. And he was using food to forget about the past.

“Oh Beel,” I took his hand. “Is there any way I can help you? I’m so sorry. And sorry for asking.”

When he looked at me, I was surprised to see that something changed about him. Something I couldn’t quite tell…

“After keeping it inside me all these years… Talking about it is what helped me,” He said. “I feel as if something heavy was lifted from my chest. I will remember Yuki forever, of course I will. But now I feel… liberated. You understand what I’m saying?”

“I do. And you can always talk to me whenever you feel like,’ I said, stroking his cheek.

Beelzebub smiled and I felt relieved. 

“And to be honest, I don’t feel like finishing my milkshake,’ he suddenly said. “Let’s go home instead. Satan must be mad so we better bribe him with food.”

He stood up and held out his hand to me. As I took it, I felt his fingers squeezing mine. And I knew what it meant. He was thanking me.

#obey me! shall we date? #obey me #obey me beel #obey me beelzebub #beelzebub imagines

[sumire-bride]

Sumire and shuus route (demo) maniac 7

Scene is inside the school entrance 

Reiji- ah..! Sumire-san I finally found you,

Sumire- …hm…? Reiji-sama…? What is it… I need to go find Shuu-sama to bring him home…

Reiji- tch.. still hanging around that deadbeat? Honestly you baby him way to much

Haah.. whatever the case I need you to help me run some errands to the store I’d do it myself but I only have two hands and we need quite a bit after kanato’s sugar spree

Sumire- …store…? What is a store…? Is it a place…? A object…? A thing…?

Reiji- you really are hopeless.. must I explain every little thing to you? Honestly.. it doesn’t matter if you don’t know what it is all I need you to do is carry things for me understand?

Sumire- …Carry things….? If that is what you’d like me to do then… I shall do it…!

Reiji- I figured you’d say that, not that i was asking you, so come on the city isn’t to far from the school-

Sumire- …but I need to go find Shuu-sama… first.. he’s quite forgetful to get up and come home… So I need to go find him and bring him to a safe place…. Could you wait just a moment…

Reiji- uh.. bring him to safety? Are you joking?

Sumire- …I do not remember making this thing called a joke…. If you want I can make one…

Reiji- do you honestly think you need to carry him around? Honestly it just comes to show how pathetic you humans are, he’s a grown man he can get up if he wants to,

Sumire- …?… I am aware that he is grown but Shuu-sama tends to sleep on the floor… he could get hurt… like get trampled on…! Or worse… I do not want Shuu-sama to be in danger… so please just wait a moment….

Reiji- haven’t I said this just a minute ago? I don’t have time to wait around for stupid things such as that, you don’t need to mother the damm guy. It’s not like he didn’t get enough “motherly love” when we were children, he doesn’t need your attention nor your sympathy

So come along now like I said I don’t have all day to wait for you..-

*reiji takes sumires wrist in his hand*

Sumire- …ah….! Reiji-sama… please just wait a moment…! I promise I will not be long… it will only take a minute… reiji-sama…! Reiji-sama let go……!

Reiji- guh..!

*sumire pulls her arm back*

Sumire- …I said it will take a minute…. Please do not grab me like that… I will be right back….!

*sumire runs off*

Reiji- ah..! Wait just a moment..! Er..

She should be happy I’m even asking her.. haah.. I have no choice but to wait.. honestly this is such a waste of time..

*scene changes to rooftop*

Sumire- ..uh… ah..! (..there he is…! I had a feeling he would be here… and he’s sitting up…! Wonderful…!)

Shuu-sama…! Shuu-sama…!

Shuu- ah..? What do you want..

Sumire- …I am glad I found you…! I was worried you were on the floor dead…. that would not be good…

..please come home with me…. We have to hurry though… and I won’t be able to walk all the way with you because I need to do something…. So please make it home safely….

Shuu- hah? You came to me for something as stupid as that? You don’t need to baby me..

In whatever case.. what would you of all people would have to do?

Sumire- …well… reiji-sama asked me to go to this thing called a store… to grab these things called groceries…. But I wanted to make sure you were safe first…

Shuu- …

Your going to the store with that guy? You got weird taste to hang around that guy,

Sumire- …?.. but I never tasted reiji-sama… even if I did.. I think he would taste fine…

Shuu- heeh… lewd girl telling me about tasting another man..

Sumire- …?.. I am not lewd I am sumire…

Even so.. please get home safely… I will see you when we get home… okay Shuu-sama…-

*sumire begins to walk off*

Shuu- oi.. 

Sumire- ..hm…?

Shuu- I’ll come with you guys.. I need to grab something anyways as annoying as it is to go get..

Sumire- …really… amazing…! It makes me happy to know Shuu-sama is coming with us… come on… let’s go…

*sumire takes shuus hand*

Sumire- ..come on…

*scene changes to school entrance*

Reiji- ..ah.. finally you seemed to have taken your sweet time, you should feel happy I waited if I didn’t need another set of hands then I would left by now-

..you have that eyesore with you..

Sumire- ..mhm…! Shuu-sama said he wants to come with us to this place called.. “store”….

Shuu- don’t make such a big deal out of it..

Reiji- him? The deadbeat who does nothing but sleep all day..? Wants to go to the store? What did you give him to make him want to do that?

Sumire- …I didn’t give Shuu-sama anything at all… if I did then it could mean he could be in danger and… I do not want that…

Reiji- well you must have to make him want to do something for himself,

If I’m going to be completely honest, he might just be doing this because he’s actually feeling something other then sleep.. jealousy am I wrong?

Shuu- ..?.. I don’t understand what your saying nor do I care.. let’s just get this over with..

Reiji- if it means I don’t have to be around you as soon as possible then I suppose we should hurry..

You..

Sumire- …hm,.

Reiji- do try and keep up, I know you humans are quite slow

Sumire- …understood…

*scene changes to the city*

Sumire- … (…this is… a bit… well.. I’m not sure how to explain it but… Shuu-sama and reiji-sama’s aura… is.. unsettling to say the least.. They have been glaring at each other… and arguing… I’m not sure what to say…)

Shuu- just shut up.. it’s like all you ever do is nag at every little thing.. it’s a pain in my ass..

Reiji- hah? Well I’m sorry that I care about our reputation.. do you make no effort to make yourself look presentable? Your gonna ruin our name, it truly makes me wonder how your the oldest of the family..

Shuu- it’s called getting married and making a child dumbass.. it just so happened to be who’s the oldest..

Reiji- tch..

Shuu- ..mm…

Sumire- … (…this is fine.. I am fine with being between this scary aura…. I am fine… aha..)

Shuu- uh..

Reiji- my god are you that much of a klutz? I shouldn’t be surprised since you don’t do anything that you could even have the strength to pick things such as a book.. good grief

Shuu- I didn’t pick it up I bumped into the shelf making it fall.. seems like your glasses don’t do much for you to not catch that.. speaking of which do you even need those or are those just for show?

Reiji- why would I have them on if I didn’t need them you deadbeat

Shuu- whatever..

Reiji- tch..

Shuu- …

Sumire- … (…this is not fine… I am not fine with being between this scary aura… I not fine… Uu…)

..hm…? Ah…! What is this…

Reiji- hm..? What is what..?

Sumire- …this thing… it’s in a bag

Reiji- well it’s a bag of chips.. you don’t know what those are?

Sumire- …chips…? I have not heard of such a thing… is it food….?

Reiji- well I think that should be obvious we’re in a food section

Sumire- …wow… such a strange thing… food in a bag… how funny…

Reiji- ..?… haah.. come on.. read what we need off the list

Sumire- …hm…? Shuu-sama.. the list…

Shuu- ..zz…

Sumire- …Shuu-sama do not fall asleep standing… I don’t think that’s comfortable….

Reiji- oi..! Don’t fall asleep in the store you idiot…!

*smack*

Shuu- ah…! ..ow..

Tch.. no need to hit me you ass..

Reiji- well then don’t fall asleep in a store

Ahh.. I’m not to have to wash my hands with bleach now.. now give Sumire the list I don’t trust you with it

Shuu- it’s a list how can you not.. whatever.. oi you.. here..

*shuu passes Sumire the paper*

Shuu- ..uh…

Reiji- my god what now,

Shuu- Sumire.. she’s.. she’s gone..

Reiji- what do you mean she’s gone? How can she be gone she was here just a minute ago..-

She’s gone..

Shuu- ..wow… I didn’t realize.. it’s not like I didn’t say that just a second ago.. wait to go genius

Reiji- silence, go on go find her! I can’t have her go missing right now..

Shuu- ah? Why do I have to do it?

Reiji- because I have to watch the cart.. now hurry up! I don’t have all day

Shuu- ..haah.. I’m to tried for this shit..

*shuu walks off*

*scene changes to a different area in the store*

Shuu- ..what a pain.. where is she..?

..mm.. there you are..

Sumire- …..

Shuu- oi..

Sumire- ….

Shuu- ..tch… oi Rapunzel..!

Sumire- …hmm…? Ah…! Shuu-sama… hello…

Shuu- running off like that.. that guy forced me to go look for you.. you really are a pain in the ass to deal with..

Sumire- …oh.. forgive me… i saw these things…. I couldn’t help but look at them… there really pretty… what are they…?

Shuu- ..you stopped just to look at some jewellery? Guess you really are like every normal teenage girl..

Sumire- …this is jewellery…? I see… I haven’t seen any that look like this… there truly beautiful…

…I really like this one… it’s blue… it makes me think of Shuu-sama’s eyes…

Shuu- …?.. weirdo.. you always seem to like anything that looks like me.. it’s weird

Sumire- …why wouldn’t I… Shuu-sama is very amazing… I really like him…. So why wouldn’t I call in love with things that look like him… I truly love him…

Shuu- …

Love? You really are stupid

Sumire- …I know…

Shuu- whatever.. you can whatever you like.. just don’t blame me if you get hurt or.. killed

Sumire- ….if I have to die if it means to keep Shuu-sama happy then I will die…

Shuu- tch.. ..whatever… come on let’s go home…

*shuu grabs sumires forearm and pulls her up*

Sumire- …shouldn’t we go back to reiji-sama….? He could get hurt… I do not want him to…-

Shuu- if he gets hurt it’s not our issue.. plus I heard it’s gonna rain so I know your gonna freak out of you get your hair wet..

Sumire- ..rain… that thing that pours water from the sky…? Uwah….!! Come on Shuu-sama we have to hurry…!! I can’t have my hair getting ruined…! Come on come on….!!

Shuu- uh.. h-hey.. don’t pull on me so hard.. that hurts..

Oi.. are you even listening…?

*scene changes to inside the mansion*

Sumire- …phew… (..we made it back.. before that weird stuff came from the sky… goodness…)

*BAM*

Sumire- …!!..

Reiji- …haah.. haah… haah.. both of you… hah… so this is where you both were… you left me behind to carry everything.. took the list with you.. didn’t bother to let me know it was gonna rain.. so I walked home in the rain..

You guys are by far the worse people I’ve ever taken anywhere…!!

Sumire- ..uh.. (..reiji-sama does not seem pleased… I sense a dark energy from him… oh goodness..)

Shuu- well you should have been aware that it was gonna rain.. I thought you were a smart guy.. guess I was wrong..

Reiji- what was that?! Care to repeat!?

Shuu- ..gladly..

*they continue to bicker*

Sumire- … (…I’m not even sure what I feel anymore about these two arguing… oh goodness…)

—to be continued—

Maniac 6 — maniac 8