#v: everything you never knew about fairies and were too afraid to ask

[dreamsofalifea]

((So, I've been meaning to post this for awhile, and thanks to a friend I've finally been given the motivation to do so. In other words, I have a Gravity Falls AU now!!

In this verse, Shy has faerie blood in her family tree, and though she has no real power, she's a magnet for weirdness. Especially the kind of weirdness brought about by faeries themselves.

As a child, she had several imaginary friends. At the time, her mother thought nothing of it, after all, it's just what kids did. But as she got older, it became concerning, and when she disappeared one day, only to be found at the bottom of an abandoned well...she wasn't allowed to see them anymore. Since that day, her ability to see the Fey was clouded, but upon moving to somewhere so rife with the supernatural, her eyes are back open, whether she wants them to be or not.))

#ooc #v: everything you never knew about fairies and were too afraid to ask

[ladyartemesia]

The Kiss

◐ PART VIII of THE ALPHA ◐

◐ Series Masterlist ◐

◐ Part I ◐ Part II ◐ Part III ◐ Part IV ◐ Part V ◐ Part VI ◐ Part VII ◐

Pairing: Alpha Werewolf Jimin x Omega Reader

Rating: Hard Mature 18+ (for this installment)

Warnings: this one is a little darker, descriptions of violence, ABO sexual dynamics including discussion of scenting, marking, mating, and claiming, strong sexual innuendo, discussion of violence relating to ritual combat, possessive behavior, injuries and discussion of injuries, lots of people have, use and are threatened by knives, kidnapping and drugging, its not as bad as it sounds, but it is definitely a bit darker…

Word Count: 4250

Author’s Note: I said it before but it bears repeating...You have no idea what your support has meant to me. Truly your asks and your messages and comments…they made me so happy. You made me believe that people wouldn’t forget about this story. I am so grateful you were able to wait. As many of you know I faced a medical emergency recently and you were all so lovely. The best followers on this site and I MEAN that. As always, my angels @ppersonna @xjoonchildx and  @untaemedqueen​  were (and continue to be) the best betas and the best friends anyone could ask for. My thanks to ALL of you for helping me bring this story to life! I don’t know what I would do without your daily encouragement and your daily support. You guys are the heartbeat of this story. It wouldn’t be here without you.

——◐——

Two Years Ago 

——◐——

Centuries ago the moon goddess stumbled across her human soulmate while he was sleeping. Struck by his beauty, but reluctant to reveal her identity, the goddess began to visit him in his dreams where she could hide her true form and appear before him as a mortal woman. 

In the world of dreams their love flourished and from that blessed union the packs were born…

The wolf nations celebrated this sacred romance every ten years during the Festival of the Lover’s Moon…

The day of the festival was spent eating and drinking and dancing at large parties, but when the sun went down… well—

That’s when things got really interesting. 

On the night of Lover’s Moon the young unmated wolves of the pack were permitted to commemorate this legendary love story in a decidedly scandalous manner. 

The unmated men assumed the role of the goddess’s sleeping lover—they were blindfolded (to represent slumber) and led into a large sectioned off area of the dark forest to ‘wait and dream.’

Unmated she-wolves over the age of maturity (eighteen) took herbal scent suppressors and ventured out into that very same forest in order to anonymously ‘visit’ the young men ‘in their dreams’...

The rules for what exactly that meant were pretty fast and loose which was why Min Yoongi was thanking the goddess and every other deity he could think of that Yunli was still seventeen. 

“But I will be eighteen in two days! Please can’t I just—“

“No. Absolutely not under any circumstances ever.”

“But Yoonji is going!”

“Ji-ah is nearly nineteen and has never been interested in any of the snotty little man-pups of our pack.” He snorted. “She’s probably going out just so she can shove a bunch of them in the lake.”

“I wouldn’t count on it,” Yunli mumbled irritably. 

Kim Taehyung yawned idly and snuggled into the cozy little pallet he prepared at the base of his favorite tree. The blindfold he and all the other unmated ‘lovers’  wore was made from witchcloth and could not be removed while the sun was down—so he had snuck into the forest earlier to set everything up. 

Now all he had to do was wait until—

“H-Hi Taehyung.”

Oh sh—

“Uh. Hello...Miss.”

Taehyung didn’t recognize the owner of that voice, but he knew for sure who it wasn’t. 

“I was hoping to find you tonight.”

This is not good. 

“Well I’m—I’m flattered… naturally but—”

She touched his hand and he squeaked. 

“I was thinking you and I might get to know each other a little bet—eep!”

The sharp point of a custom blade pressed directly into the unfortunate young beta girl’s pulse point. 

“Are you lost, puppy?”

A heavy cloak obscured the newcomer’s features, but there was no mistaking her meaning. 

Taehyung bit his lip to keep from snorting as the poor she-wolf scrambled away. 

“Ji-ah,” he tsked with feigned disapproval, “that wasn’t very nice.”

Min Yoonji grinned as she sheathed her wicked looking dagger and slid languidly into his arms. 

“You don’t like nice girls, Kim Taehyung.”

“I like you,” he whispered breathlessly against her lips. “Nice or not—it doesn't matter to me…” His hands slid greedily over her soft curves—pulling her closer till he felt the beat of her heart against his own. “I’ll like anything as long as it’s you.” 

This was the stupidest idea in the history of stupid ideas. 

Jimin huffed as he struggled to find a comfortable position against the giant boulder he’d chosen as his perch.

Why did I let Taehyung talk me into this?

He could be at home—in bed—comfortably sleeping off the all-day feast he’d indulged in. 

Instead he was out in the middle of the forest sitting blindfolded on a rock in the off chance that one of the she-wolves was out looking for him. 

Not bloody likely. 

Not when prime targets like Namjoon, Hoseok, Jungkook—and countless others—were scattered throughout the woods. 

“Park Jimin?”

Every hair on Jimin’s body stood on end. 

It was a soft whisper—the speaker clearly didn’t want her voice to be recognized, yet something about the sound sent a curious frisson of interest down his spine. 

He gulped. 

“Yes… that’s me. But if you’re looking for Hoseok he’s just a little deeper in. You probably caught his scent downwind so—”

“I’m not looking for Hoseok.”

Jimin licked his lips and the sight of it sparked a odd curl of heat in the pit of your belly. 

“I don’t know where anyone else is…”

“That’s quite alright.” A muted shuffle of movement reached his ears as you settled down beside him. “I was looking for you.” 

“Oh…” He rubbed the back of his neck idly. “Are you sure?”

Laughter like fairy bells whispered through the air and Jimin felt his heart clench.

Don’t get your hopes up. 

“Who are you?”

You were silent for a long time and then—

“I am someone who owes you a debt. One I have never been able to repay.”

Jimin’s head tilted curiously as he considered your words. 

“I’m sorry, miss… you must be mistaken. There isn’t—“

“You don’t remember.” 

It was a statement—not a question. Your voice was nearer now. He could feel the warmth of your body close to his—though not quite touching. “It was your wolf that saved me. But you had not gone through the Change yet.”

Familiar shame spiked sharply in his chest.

“I’m seven years past the Change...Why have you never mentioned this before?”

“Circumstances prevented me from doing so.” 

There was a cold finality to your pronouncement—which of course did nothing but further inflame his curiosity. 

“Then why come to me now?”

“I’ve come to repay you.”

Jimin’s mouth dropped open. 

Were you trying to—?!

“Oh—no please that-that’s not necessary—I could never take advantage of—”

You giggled again.  

“I am not offering my body, Park Jimin.”

Jimin breathed a heavy sigh of relief then shook his head with a wry chuckle. 

“Well considering the circumstances I can hardly be blamed for assuming you might be. And honestly most men would jump at the chance to—”

“You...are not most men.” 

Jimin’s eyes narrowed beneath his blindfold. 

“Little she-wolf—I may not be wrestling bears for fun or bare knuckle boxing in the town square, but I am still an alpha.”

The weight of his command poured over your body as he spoke the last word. There was no order or intent—he had simply given you a taste of his power. 

Aside from your direct blood relatives, no alpha had ever dared unleash their compel in your presence—therefore you were utterly unprepared for the effect it had on you—

Utterly unprepared for the strange surge of want so potent and profound that it stole the breath from your body. 

It was primal—invigorating—

Sensual.

You and your wolf may not have been entirely connected yet, but she was suddenly quite vocal about her desire to fully bask in Park Jimin’s attention.

A wicked grin played over his lips as he leaned in closer and you could almost feel the soft brush of his lips against your cheek. 

“Did you think I would not desire the touch of a beautiful woman in the moonlight?” he whispered. 

Please touch me, Alpha. 

Your eyes widened. 

Dear goddess. Your inner wolf was turning out to be a shameless hussy. 

“You might desire it, but you are far too  honorable to accept it as payment for a debt.”

Jimin drew back warily. 

You were correct of course. After all he had refused you when he believed that was your intent but—

“How could you know that?”

Evade. Evade now. 

“Well... how could you know I was beautiful? You’re blindfolded.”

He shrugged and your wolf took careful note of the way it made all the pretty muscles in his back and shoulders ripple. 

He will give us such strong—

Oh boy. 

He will do no such thing. Please calm down. 

“Not everything must be seen with your eyes.”

Is that how you found me? All those years ago...

Questions churned chaotically beneath your consciousness but you dared not give voice to them. 

Focus.

“I must repay this debt. Ask for what you want and—if it is in my power—I swear it will be yours.”

Jimin smiled again, but this time it was somehow softer. For a moment he looked almost…

Sad. 

“I’m afraid that the only thing I have ever wanted is not within your power to give...and I dare not ask you or anyone else for it.”

For her. 

He sighed and drew even farther away from you—in fact it seemed like he was preparing to leave. 

No. 

Your hand reached out almost of it's its own accord and wrapped tightly around his wrist. The contact sent a shock of searing heat through his veins and he froze. 

“Please alpha. It is not acceptable for someone like me—” a leader, a Luna, “—to owe another my life and offer nothing in return. You must let me pay my debt.”

Omega, his wolf growled, sweet perfect omega. 

Suppressors may have hidden your scent, but the siren song of an omega pleading prettily in his ear was unmistakable—irresistible…

“What if all I want is your name?”

You sighed deeply. 

“I cannot give you that. My name is… not mine to offer.”

Jimin laughed. 

“A woman I cannot remember with a name I cannot know and whose face I cannot see.” He shook his head. “Perhaps you are just a figment of my imagination.”

It was hard to explain what happened next...For whatever reason his words cut you deeply and you were overcome with the desire—no need—to refute them somehow. 

“I’m real enough,” you whispered, bringing his hand to your cheek. 

Jimin was genuinely beginning to wonder if you were a witch as well as a she-wolf. Being close to you was intoxicating and the urge to draw you in was steadily overpowering every other thought.

“Could I ask you for a kiss, then?”

“You—...You saved my life and all you want... is a kiss?”

The air grew heavier as the strange magnetic pull between you swelled to a silent inescapable crescendo. 

“In Seoul I often searched for someone who could ease my loneliness, yet each time I walked away emptier than before.” His thumb brushed gently over your lips and your eyes fluttered shut. “I have never had a kiss that meant anything to me.”

But yours might. 

It was unclear who moved first, whether he pulled you to him or you surged forward but when your bodies aligned and your lips met his for the first time it was as if you had never been separate from one another. 

As if you had always been deeply—intimately —together. 

The indescribable feel of him lit over your senses like a struck match. It was an ignition in the purest sense of the word— a fiery visceral awakening fueled by a consuming flood of desire. 

Yes, Alpha. 

He might never see your face or hear your name, but Jimin knew he would remember the taste of you for the rest of his life. It was hot and bright like liquid sunshine— a pure relentless light flowing through him where there was once only darkness. 

A soft needy moan rose up from your chest and he growled in primal satisfaction as you melted against him. 

Your fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt of their own accord, desperately trying to bring him closer until he wrapped his arms around you in a heated embrace. 

“Please,” he begged breathlessly against your mouth. “Please tell me who you are.”

The words crashed over you like a bucket of ice —dousing the hazy pleasure of his kiss with a cold bite of reality. Suddenly you were wrenching yourself away from him and your wolf whimpered in misery at the loss of his touch. 

“I can’t,” you whispered. 

And then you were gone. 

“Did someone hurt you?”

You looked up to find Jin taking in your tears with cold fury. 

Twin knives were already gleaming dangerously in his hands and he appeared ready to filet whichever bastard was foolish enough to make you cry. 

“No,” you sniffed—well aware of how pitiful you were at the moment—crying in the corner of your cousin’s kitchen. “I got myself into this mess without any help—as usual.”

Jin sighed and slid down next to you. 

“Tell me.”

“Something happened that I…I didn’t intend.”

“Oh I knew that already. The Luna isn’t supposed to be running around on the night of Lover’s Moon in a forest full of blind horny wolves—“

You snorted and shook your head. 

“You’re absolutely right. I should have stayed away.”

Jin’s eyes narrowed and he wondered if perhaps you had caught Kim Namjoon with another omega. Nothing would be official until after the Change of course, but your bond with him was basically a foregone conclusion at this point. 

“You went looking for someone...didn’t you.”

You nodded miserably—all but confirming his fears. He made a mental note to push Namjoon in the swamp at the next available opportunity. 

“You know... the stories say that a Luna is powerfully drawn to her mate under the Lover’s Moon—that her wolf can sense him even before the Change.”  He reached over and gently began to brush the tears from your eyes. “So it’s not surprising that you sought him out, but it’s not really fair to hold whatever it is you saw against him. There is no relationship between you yet and…” he chuckled, “kisses beneath festival moonlight don’t really mean anything anyways.”

It was clear that Jin had somehow gotten the entirely wrong impression, but perhaps that was for the best. 

No one knew of your connection to Jimin and no one had seen what passed between you. 

Still…

Something about his assessment stung you. 

“You really believe that? ...That a kiss exchanged tonight means nothing?”

“I do.” Jin spoke with conviction. “There’s ancient magic at play in those woods. You can’t always trust what you see—or what you feel.”

“Oh I...I didn’t know…”

After a moment you laid your head against his shoulder and let the last of your tears run silently down your cheek. 

“Jin-ah have you ever wanted something you knew you couldn’t have?”

“Yes.” He sighed heavily and pulled you in to snuggle a bit closer. “When I was younger I dreamed of having a mate just like everyone else…”

The words were so softly spoken—almost wistful. Your heart splintered just hearing them. 

“But… she could be out there—your mate.”

Jin shook his head. 

“When is the last time you heard of a female alpha?”

Fresh tears welled up in your eyes. 

“Jin…”

“Hey,” he whispered, “don’t waste your crying on me. I’ve long since come to terms with who and what I am.”

“You’re not sad anymore?”

“Well… maybe sometimes I am… but I had to accept that people like us are not like everyone else. Our destinies were written long before we were born.”

“And you believe you’re destined to be alone?”

“Wolves in a pack are never really alone.”

“Yes...but they can be lonely,” you whispered thinking back to Jimin’s words. 

For a moment Jin’s eyes were the saddest you had ever seen them. 

“Well...I suppose they can.”  Then he chuckled and gave your nose an affectionate little tap. “But you don’t need to worry about that. When the time comes Namjoon will take his place at your side and the two of you will build a wonderful life together... Isn’t that what you want?”

Isn’t it?

Your treacherous thoughts drifted back to the boy in the moonlight—to the way your body sang when he touched you and the strange insatiable desire to know him and be known by him in return.

“Please...Tell me who you are.”

A heavy ache settled in your heart. 

You were the Luna of the mountain nations. A true born moon princess. 

You could never be the woman who kissed Park Jimin underneath the stars. 

You were not like everybody else. 

“...Yes. That is what I want.”

——◐——

Now 

——◐——

Jimin’s heart pounded as he tore through the dark paths of the wood with Taehyung, Yoongi, and Jungkook close behind. 

He had never led an attack—had never been trained to command wolves in battle. 

It was his first true test of leadership and he hadn’t even been a leader for twenty-four hours. 

Yet the fears and anxieties that might have normally clouded his mind were notably absent. 

There was only you.

Ironically Jimin owed Namjoon yet another debt—this time for explaining what exactly someone like him was capable of. 

The alpha Jin captured had given up their plan and position after being exposed to Jimin’s unique gifting, so he had a concrete target in his mind… He suspected however, that your captors had taken precautions after leaving some of their men behind. They had shifted their camp. 

But it wouldn’t be enough to save them. 

Jimin didn’t need your location to find you. 

He spent years refusing to look at you, and even then he always knew exactly where you were. He could sense you in any crowd—hear your voice in a thousand.

Once it had tormented him cruelly to be so aware of you. 

Now it was the only thing keeping him sane. 

He followed the connection between his heart and yours like a lifeline and it guided him as surely as the stars. 

The alphas followed him without question. 

If any of them harbored lingering doubts before, they were firmly laid to rest after what they saw at the cottage. No ordinary wolf could do what he had done. 

The Alpha would bring back their Luna and retribution would be swift indeed. 

The drugs in your system kept swinging you in and out of lucidity like a nightmarish pendulum. You tried to shift after the initial nausea faded, but whatever they gave you kept your wolf caged beneath your skin. 

Jimin

The longing you felt for your mate was the only thing tethering you to reality. You could almost hear him echoing in the far corners of your mind—  

I’m coming Omega—hold on. 

I’ll find you. 

Part of you recognized that his voice was likely nothing more than the wistful creation of your drug-addled mind, still you clung to it like the last shred of hope while the minutes (or hours) flew past.

Chaos clouded your thoughts even in clearer moments as many unavoidable concerns forced their way through the haze. 

Jin was at the house with you when they broke in. You had no way of knowing if he survived. 

The men who took you were crass and irreverent. Their eyes followed your form with too much interest and too little respect. 

It was starting to get cold and (due to you nearly dismembering a high council member and needing to be compelled unconscious) you were still wearing a thin white ceremonial dress which offered very little protection from the elements. 

You wondered idly if your idiot captors would let you freeze to death before they accomplished whatever it was they took you for. They clearly needed you for something or you would have been long dead by now. 

None of them struck you as particularly brilliant planners so the mastermind must be somewhere else... 

Frankly the entire situation was as puzzling as it was troubling. Iron Claw had always gotten along well with your pack. 

Technically they were (almost) what the human governments called a vassal state. The presence of a Luna determined the dominant pack in a region and the Luna of the mountain nations had been born into Silver Fang—your pack—for the last thousand years or so. 

Why would they challenge us now? 

The birth of a Luna indicated that the goddess had chosen that pack to lead. Their willingness—not only to kidnap you—but to go against the dominant pack by doing so was alarming to say the least. 

A sudden explosion of movement and sound interrupted your contemplation. Motion erupted all around you—boots pounding on the ground, men falling into their wolf forms, knives being drawn… 

You lifted your head—straining forward to see the source of the commotion—and nearly collapsed in relief when you finally did. 

Alpha

Your mate stood at the edge of the camp flanked by two enormous black wolves. 

A deadly looking jingum sword gleamed dangerously in his right hand. You recognized it immediately as your great-grandfather’s combat blade—the thousand year-old weapon of the Silver Fang Alphas. 

Relief flooded your chest all over again at the sight of it. Only Jin could have given him that sword—which meant he was still alive. 

The black wolves—Yoongi and Jungkook—snarled viciously but made no move to attack. 

Your captors were still scrambling into some sort of combat formation when Jimin finally spoke. 

“You have violated our sacred laws, trespassed in sovereign pack lands, kidnapped a Luna under the protection of our goddess, abducted the mate of the Silver Fang Alpha, and risked open war between our peoples.” He took a single step forward. “Surrender now and I will be merciful.”

The biggest of your captors—a man you recognized as the de facto leader—spat viciously on the ground. 

“You are not my Alpha,” he growled.

A cold—almost cruel—smile twisted over Jimin’s lips.

“Very well.”

Then he dropped to one knee and a massive grey wolf—Taehyung—leapt over his head and tore out the defiant leader’s throat before he even hit the ground. 

Your mouth dropped open. 

Bangtan formation.

Yoongi and Jungkook lunged forward in opposite directions, tackling their targets to the forest floor in a bloody clash of teeth and claws. 

One of the larger Iron Claw alphas half-shifted and charged Jimin but his arm shot out lightning fast, catching his attacker by the throat to send him flying through the air into a tree. 

The next several minutes could only be described as terrifyingly beautiful.

It was immediately clear that Jimin had been holding back when he fought Namjoon. 

He dispatched his opponents with such elegant savagery it was almost art.

You were so mesmerized watching Jimin sensually sword dance his way through a dozen alphas nearly twice his size that you almost missed Taehyung’s wolf rushing over with a dagger clenched between his teeth. 

Luna are you okay? 

You grinned and held up your rope-bound wrists. 

“I’ll be better once you pass me that knife.”

Taehyung nodded once and dropped the blade at your feet before tackling another wolf that was tearing towards the two of you. 

You sawed through the ties around your ankle first then twisted your arms to try and slice through the restraints on your wrist. 

The Iron Claw wolves were clearly no match for Jimin and his alphas. 

Jungkook and Yoongi chased after the few who were trying to run while Taehyung half-shifted to subdue the handful of wolves left alive as prisoners. Only Jimin continued to fight as the last three of your captors still standing took turns being slammed into the dirt by his strikes. 

He was clearly capable of dispatching them, but you were fairly convinced that you would die if you had to stay away from him for another second. The ropes, however, were surprisingly thick and the angle you were cutting them at wasn’t the best. If only—

You were almost free when you saw it. 

One of your captors had pulled a hunting javelin from their supply wagon. He must have hid himself at the onset of the fight, but now he was comfortably concealed by the shadows—and taking aim at Jimin. 

Your heart dropped into your stomach. 

The attacker appeared to handle the weapon with familiarity. He was too far back—too well hidden—Jimin would never see him in time—

The last cord around your wrist snapped and you were on your feet, pushing through the combined haze of fury and sedatives to charge the wolf who dared attack your mate. 

By the time he saw you it was far too late. 

Under the effects of the drug your aim was a little skewed but you weren’t Kim Seokjin’s cousin for nothing. 

One clean flick of your wrist and the dagger shot through the air, burying itself between the brute’s shoulder blades—all the way to the hilt. 

His body fell to the ground just as Jimin sent the last of your captors careening into a pile of previously defeated foes. 

For a moment all was quiet. 

Then your eyes locked across the distance and everything around you sharpened to a single whispered word. 

“Jimin.”

He had run non-stop for miles and torn apart a dozen wolves to get to your side—no amount of space between you now was tolerable. 

The sword clattered to the forest floor as he moved toward you—desperate to feel you—to wrap himself around you and know that you were safe. 

What happened next was as natural as breathing.

You opened to him and he lifted you into his arms, taking your lips in a hot unrepentant kiss. 

Fire exploded across your senses, burning away everything but the touch and taste of him. Every part of you was at once fiercely and gloriously alive. Desperate moans passed between you as he licked into your mouth—a dark primal promise of the pleasure he would take between your thighs. 

“Alpha,” you whimpered, too delirious with want to manage anything else. 

Suddenly Jimin’s eyes shot open. His hands flew to cup your face, searching it with a mixture of realization and disbelief.

“You… It was you.”

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[hyucksong]

nct dream as roommates

a/n: *romantically calls you bro* 

lee mark 

the roommate that walked in on you taking a shower on the first night you moved in and avoided you for a week afterward

he even went as far as browsing different apartments to live in because baby boy was too afraid to face you

sometimes wakes up before you and he always prepares your coffee or tea and sets it by your bed for you when you wake up…sometimes sits on the edge of your bed to watch you

asks you to do his laundry because he doesn’t know how to separate the colors

you’re fine with doing them because he tries his absolute bestest with everything else, and it’s so cute

the first time he did the laundry you were sick…and you got a whole new wardrobe of pink clothing the next day

always does the dishes and you do the laundry…he’ll clean the living room and kitchen if you clean the bathrooms…he’ll go grocery shopping…only if you go with him

asks you to do his hair when he meets up with his friends, and if you say no he says “okay” and then pouts until you agree

you really like photography but hiring models is expensive so you always ask mark to model for you

and he always agrees, blushing while doing so

make-up artists are expensive too, so you also get him dressed up and add whatever you want to his face

(once you did a fairy photoshoot and he had freckles and pink cheeks and your heart did the thing) 

this time you need him to sit still for hours because it's supposedly a big photoshoot with a few other photographers coming too, so there’s a lot of looks to get through 

you do the first look before you get to the photo site to save time

he thinks nothing of you curling his hair until he looks up at you and time slows as his heart stops…

because you smell like vanilla and your nose is scrunched in concentration…because your breathing is heavy as you run to the bathroom to get more things before you’re late…

because you’re biting your lip while looking at him, admiring your own work, proud of the way the make-up came out, but a little disheartened because it looked like you put a little too much blush (even though you only put a little) 

and mark thinks,,, oh no

fuck

huang renjun

your best friend since you were a child

you’re used to ‘living with him’ because you practically lived with him as a kid; you were always at his house spending the night or vice versa 

he wakes you up an hour after he gets up because ‘he needs his peaceful time’

claims that ‘you’re the worst person to live with’ but refuses to look for another apartment because ‘no one else can handle you but me’

(in reality, he knows that there will never be anyone else he’ss comfortable with as you) 

he wakes you up by throwing a pillow in your face and or flopping on your bed next to you and bouncing a few times

once got really scared because you weren’t waking up no matter what he did, and when he started to tear up you opened your eyes and pushed him off the bed 

you just didn’t want to be woken up that day and tried to ignore him, but apparently, you ignored him for too long because he genuinely freaking out on the inside

he’s watched ‘what’s eating gilbert grape’ okay he was SCARED

he didn’t talk to you for three days after that....only started to wake you up again because you made the effort to wake up before him and make him breakfast in bed with hot tea

he expected you to leave his room after you gave it to him, but you just looked at him for a minute before sitting on the bed next to him, getting under the covers with him 

he focused on the fact you were taking up all the space instead of the now-familiar thrum of his heartbreak against his ribcage

(he’s felt it for the past fewyears, he’s gotten used to drowning it out) 

“y/nnnnnnn what are you doingggggg”

“shut up i made the breakfast, can’t i at least sit next to my favorite boy?”

...he’s your favorite boy?...okaythatwasreallycutebuthe’llneveradmitit

“o...kay...”

blushes when you lay your head on his shoulder in bed, watching whatever he’s doing on his phone, because your cheek is warm against his shirt and its bleeding through onto his skin and weiowioegfhowieh

but also yells at you when you take a bite of his toast and bolt out of the room, giggling

“yAH y/N”

lee jeno

the roommate that was awkward for the first month because he didn’t really want to room with a girl because then he can’t spend saturday with the boys 

then he brought them home one day without telling you and was expected to get his ass Whopped but you were drinking vodka and crying while watching Cars so

yeah you were the perfect roommate for him

you drink together

saturday may be for the boys but sunday is for drinking your problems away with your roommate 

can’t cook but will make BOMB desserts for you both every friday...also fridays are pizza nights and you both order a large cheese pizza with ranch on the side and a pint of dr.pepper

yall have the same diet but he has a six-pack and you don’t so you call bullshit on health and everything it is

both of you fall asleep on the couch all the time, TV still playing the game soundtrack with the controllers on the floor, blinking from low battery

jeno alwayswakes up before you, and he doesn’t admit it, but he loves to watch you sleep

you just look so...ethereal 

even with the drool

ANYWAY

you are one of the bros...he’s even taken a shit when you took a shower before -- that’s how close you are 

then one day you get dressed up real pretty and he’s making fun of you, laughing “you never look this nice who’s holding you at gunpoint”

“i’m going on a date jeno hop off my DICK”

“,,,what”

immediately felt defensive and was questioing who could like you and why you were going on a saturday night when it was busy on the streets and also please call the guy and cancel the date because he wants to watch toy story with you and eat pasta why are you going out with someone has he met him why haven’t you told jeno about this guy you know what you should just not go

and it’s when you walk out the door rolling your eyes, promising to be back home before 9pm with a cute shirt on and nice perfume on when jeno realizes 

that damn he hates to see you leave,,,but he loves to watch you go

(and he might have the teeniest, weeniest crush on you) 

lee donghyuck

the type to never clean the dishes and always makes you do them even if he cooks because he hates the feeling of wet food

then one day he sees you v e r y stressed over school work and he just...cleans the whole house

you come back from the library and you’re like,,,the fuck where’s haechan and what have you done with him

in turn, you buy him a headset that he’s been wanting for the past year...and you think he’s about to propose to you after you give them to him

but in all reality he’s just so happy that you even remembered something so trivial...like he talking about them once (1) and you remembered?

...cute bitch

he’s a big prankster, but in an endearing way, so whenever he goes too far you never really stay mad because he’s just a little unaware of the anger his pranks cause

plus you always get back at him 

always :)

you both are basically the same people; you’re passionate about your studies and he’s passionate about gaming and dancing

yall are the bad bitches that no one messes with 

BET that yall wear matching fits whenever you two go out together

you get together to watch his favorite youtubers do let’s plays of popular games

one day yall sit down to watch some outlast 2

and boy

did you underestimate the scare factor

so now you’re three episodes deep into the let’s play and your head is buried in haechans stomach because you’re laying down facing away from the TV, clinging to the poor boy

he doesn’t know if his heart is beating so fast because of the jumpscare or because of the way you look up at him when you ask if the scary part is over yet

he doesn’t like seeing you scared with tears in your eyes...but the way you’re clinging to him makes him want to watch a thousand more scary episodes...

...if it means you’ll cuddle with him

na jaemin

the best roommate you could ever ask for

he loves to clean and cook, not to mention he’s an absolute sweetheart!!!!!!!

you started to live with him because you had posted an ad on a website for a roommate and he sent back a reply

but the texts used so many of (=｀ω´=) these emojis you just assumed it was a girl

he was not

every night before you go to bed, he’ll walk into your room and whisper “good night, sleep well” to you before petting you head and walking out

people always wonder if you’re dating, but you always reply that it’s just the way he is

until one night you invite your (asshole) project partner to your apartment and she flirts with him endLESSLY,,, not doing her work or anything, just talking with jaems

like it’s pissing you off, and you think it’s pissing him off, and you’re about to send her home when you notice the storm outside and you realize,,,, you’re too good of a person to do that

so she sleeps on the couch, and you do the same, just so you can keep an eye on her and so that she isn’t left alone with jaemin at any point (poor boy looked like he’s about to combust if she tries to talk to him again) 

and jaemin does his usual routine even with the extra company, stroking your head and even going as far as to place a kiss on your forehead

“what about me, do I get a kiss” the girl annoyingly asked

“no, you’re not yn” and hE WALKS AWAY AND CLOSES THE DOOR TO HIS ROOM 

there’s silence in your head as you process his words, a little shocked and confused as to what he means, but most of all, your thoughts consist of;

oh shit oh shit oh shit oh shit

you might have just fallen for him (let’s face it, you’ve been in love with him (just not as long as he’d been in love with you)) 

zhong chenle

not going to lie, you two did NOT get along in the beginning

you were each other’s first roommates, and you knew he was extroverted, but you underestimated the differences between your personalities

like,,, no please don’t invite the dreamies over again for the eighth time this week I can’t focus on homework with all the screaming

but even with all the head-butting, the chores are split evenly because he’s practicing to ‘be marriage material for his future wife’

you don’t care as long as he just does what he’s supposed to, and you two aren’t exactly the closest

but there are times when you connect, like on lazy Sunday afternoons where you both just relax on the couch...anywaY

and he always rolls his eyes, telling you that ‘you need to stop being a hermit and make some friends’

‘get some confidence’

‘why don’t you put any effort into how you dress’

it hurts a little...you know you’re not the prettiest and you don’t really try anyway

but to have it pointed out to you just...stings

and after a guy rejects you (after you built up courage for a whole years to confess to him) your confidence is at an all-time low (he said no because ‘you were too bland’ like wtf fUCk you)

and you’re just crying and eating spaghetti o’s, telling chenle as oon as you walk into the door that you’re ‘too sensitive for his bullshit today’ 

to which chenle doesn’t care... then he sees your puffy eyes and asks wha happens

you tell him, and he just gets...angry

(and jealous?)

he goes on a tangent, mocking the guy, saying that ‘you’re the most doen-to-earth natural beauty’ he’s ever seen and that ‘any guy who doesn’t fall in love with your cute sarcastic personality’ is dumber than a rock

he grumbles for the rest of the night, sitting and watching movies with you; it makes your heart swell that he’s getting so mad for you

and at the end of the mini-movie night, and he strokes your hair saying  that you’re ‘his little introvert’,

you decide that ‘opposite attract’ is 100% true

(and chenle notices that you have very pretty lips)

park jisung

you two are dorm roommates at a dance school, and y’all are so cute all the teachers LOVE you

like you both just spend so much time together it’s ridiculous

yall walk to class together, then from class to class together, eat lunch together, after school activities, walk back to the dorms, meet each other’s friends, go out on the weekends together...everything

it feels weird to not be with him

(the teachers have a bet that you’ll be dating before your senior year)

the dorm is just a studio apartment with two bedrooms (your parents both pay a lot for space) 

so chores aren’t too hard, in fact, you both usually spend the last few hours of daylight on Sunday nights straightening up your apartment from the hectic week before, to start off completely fresh and new

nothing big ever happens on Sundays around the home, but one day jisung (who went to hang out with chenle (he invited you but you pouted and said you had too much hmwk)) found a little puppy on the side of the road

and then proceeded to sneak into the dorms with it, hiding it under his shirt

when he showed you what he found, you couldn’t be mad...it was just so cute (both jisung’s little smile and the puppy) 

but you noticed it was shivering, and you whined, ‘jisung you didn’t even notice it was cold oH My GoD, go get it some water and food’ while you set up a nest of blankets for the little guy

hours later when the puppy had eaten and subsequently fallen asleep in your lap, you turned to jisung

‘let’s name it mousie’

‘what that’s dumb’

‘it’s not dumb! i wanna name it that because it looks like you whenever you sleep! it's so cute hehehe’

you thought jisung was WHAT when he slept

jisung didn’t talk for a whole minute, drinking in your words and thinking about them over and over again, in the meantime you were just smiling down at the puppy

your cheeks were red with happiness and your nose was a little red from sneezing (because the puppy was covered in pollen from being outside) and your gaze was filled with such love that jisung shivered

you let out a sigh and plopped your head on his shoulder, and all his feelings he’d ever had for you exploded in his chest, and he tensed (though if you noticed, you didn’t day anything)

you just kept and petting the dog

and damn did jisung want to be that dog

#jeno #jaemin #haechan #mark #jisung #renjun #chenle #nct dream reactions #nct dream #jeno fluff #jaemin fluff #mark fluff #haechan fluff #renjun fluff #chenle fluff #jisung fluff #nct dream fluff #nct #nct fluff #park jisung #mark lee #nct reactions #nct dream bullet point #nct cute #mark imagines #jeno imagines #jaemin imagines #renjun imagines #chenle imagines #jisung imagines

[mrs-han]

Day Three - Fairy Tales

@juminweek2019

Day Three Fairy Tales

Better late than never! Thank you guys so much for the 2-week extension!

Thank you @mysmesqueenie and @thatsmyjuman for the inspiration!!

~~~

“I’m not supposed to talk to strangers.”

The sharp, brash tone in your voice caused Jumin to raise a brow in amusement. He wasn’t used to being barked at. Usually, those who were in charge of looking after his well-being did everything they could to stay on his good side.

And here you were, a maiden in the middle of the forest, carrying a small basket of berries and shooting him a dirty look.

Your eyes skeptically scanned him from his head to his toe, and you clutched your basket closer to your chest, afraid that he would try to steal your goods.

“Whoever taught you that is wise,” Jumin spoke. “But I assure you I mean you no harm.”

You didn’t believe him for a second. Growing up in a secluded area, you grew up believing good people were difficult to come by.

This rather intimidating-looking man didn’t seem like a good man. You turned quickly, eager to get away from him.

“However,” Jumin continued. “It’s rare that I meet anyone out here.”

You paused. 

“Do you live in the town north of here?”

Red-faced, you turned and puffed your cheeks indignantly. “I said, I’m not supposed to talk to strangers.”

Did you really not know who he was?

Jumin took two steps forward - you, two steps back. You didn’t curtsy or drop your basket, actions he was all too used to seeing. You didn’t utter words of worship or at the very least, words of respect.

How intriguing.

“I’m not going to hurt you,” Jumin spoke gingerly. "And I would appreciate it if you answered my questions. Not repeat what I already know.”

“If you already know, then you shouldn’t be asking me questions,” you spat.

“Fair enough. Before I leave you to it, I think it only fair that I warn you of a siren.”

Your senses heightened. “What siren?”

“There’s a voice that I’ve heard only recently. A voice that carries a song through these trees effortlessly.”

You felt your cheeks and your ears grow warm.

“The song they sang… it went something like… ehm. I know you ~ I walk with you once upon a dream.”

Your tense shoulders lowered and you faced him, your fears ebbing away. 

Jumin placed a hand on his hip. “The song from that fairy tale. Sleeping Beauty, wasn’t it?” 

“You… you heard that?” You asked timidly.

“I did. I have excellent hearing.”

“That… that wasn’t a siren. That was… well… me.”

Jumin’s eyes widened. “You?” 

“Yeah. I like to sing when I’m out here. It’s calming.”

“I see… so you are the siren.”

“I’m not a siren. If anything, I’m… surprised you know the song.”

“My favorite animated film is about the sleeping beauty. My mother, she used to sing me that song countless times when I was a child,” Jumin sighed, his eyes sparkling with fondness.

“Mine too,” you chimed. “My mother saw that it soothed me, so she milked it as often as she could.”

“Milked it? What does that mean?”

“Are you serious?” You guffawed. 

“Hm… is this term in the urban dictionary?” Jumin spoke softly to himself, digging into his coat pocket and fishing out a small book.

“Wow… you're from a different world, aren't you?”

Jumin’s head shot up. You truly didn’t recognize him? 

“And you, lady? You still haven’t answered my question.”

“Oh… I don’t live in the town, no,” your brows knit together. “And it's an invasion of privacy to tell you where I’m actually from.”

His brow rose. “That’s why I didn’t ask you.”

“Yeah, well.”

Not needing to worry or care about keeping up appearances and finally, finally talking to someone as a… human being… allowed Jumin to decompress. He smiled easily at your blasé attitude, and he wanted more.

His head tilted curiously. “Have you considered coming to the palace to perform for the King?”

“What?” You moved your basket to hide the flush on your cheeks. “There’s a King?”

Jumin’s usual small chuckle changed into a loud, boisterous laugh. "You're from a different world, aren't you lady?”

“Well, I live out in the middle of the forest,” you grunted, embarrassed that you had eaten your own words. “I grew up out here, surrounded by wildlife -”

Jumin grinned. “Did you just divulge where you lived?”

“Wha -! N-no, I didn’t mean…”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“No, please forget what I just said -”

“Jumin?”

Another voice gave you cause for alarm. You had already run into one stranger - you didn’t plan on running into another. “I gotta go.”

Jumin’s hand delicately touched yours. “Wait a moment, hold on -”

“Jumin, there you are.” A tall, broad figure dressed smartly in a sky blue three-piece suit, strode up the hill. “When are you coming back? The ambassadors are arriving, and Jaehee is mad with worry because you aren’t there.”

“V,” Jumin sighed. “I thought they collectively decided to postpone their trip.”

V dipped his head respectfully toward his friend and sovereign. “Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Who were you talking to, anyway?”

Jumin turned to where you once stood - only to find that you were long gone, not a trace of you left behind. Disappointment overwhelmed him - he had no way of finding you. He was so caught up in the moment that he didn’t think to ask you what your name was. Would you have given it to him had he asked? 

“Ah… it isn’t important,” Jumin replied somberly. 

“It doesn’t seem that way. Not according to the tone in your voice.”

“Did you not see the woman standing in front of me?” Jumin took bold strides forward, determined to seek you out with his eyes alone. 

“I only saw you,” V answered warily, following closely behind. 

You had truly managed to get away from him. He couldn’t help but admire that somehow. But he was determined, now more than ever, to find you. With his resources and little to no time, he would. 

“Besides. You were talking to a woman?” V teased. “Is the world coming to an end as we know it?”

“Why are you so surprised? I talk to women,” Jumin replied defensively.

“You mean a woman. I’ve only ever seen you talk to Jaehee.”

“If the women within the court were more relevant, I would have no problem striking up conversations with them.”

“Ouch,” V hissed. “That’s harsh, Jumin.”

“Was it?” 

“No wonder you make so many people cry. Not just the women, mind you.”

“Have I made you cry, V?”

“... No comment.”

Jumin’s lips puckered in contemplation. V knew immediately that his friend’s process of thinking would take more time than they had and he cleared his throat.

“You can think about that later. Right now, we need to head back. Your Majesty.”

Jumin rolled his eyes. “You know I don’t like it when you call me that.”

V smirked impishly. “Which is exactly why I will continue calling you that.” 

“So childish,” Jumin smiled. “Come.”

It was the first time in a long time he felt normal. Whatever normal meant. He was able to sneak off the palace grounds without an escort and have an absorbing conversation with you, the unnamed woman of the forest. As V accompanied him back to the palace grounds and as his attendants and retainers dropped what they were doing to glorify their King, Jumin’s heart raced mildly; he couldn’t stop thinking about you. He craved casualty and deviance from the superfluity of court… things he felt he would only get from you.

“V?” “Yes, Your Maj -”

“Don’t. Are there any homes in the forest?”

“Homes? Ah… not that I’m aware of, but I will certainly find out. Give me a couple of hours.”

“You’re the man, V.”

He would find you again. This time, you wouldn’t slip away from him so easily.

#mystic messenger #jumin han #mein schatz #jumin x mc #jumin x reader #juminweek2019 #Fairy Tales #can you medicate a broken heart ~ make your tragedies a work of art ~

[sebthesnipe]

The Dreamer by Whatwashernameagin an Analysis? Part 3

All portions:

Chapter 1: Part 1 // Part 2 // Part 3 // Part 4

Chapter 2: Part 1 // Part 2 // Part 3 // Part 4

The Dreamer 

@whatwashernameagain​

Let’s jump right in, shall we?

Reminder: Spoilers under cut! 

If we pick up where we left off, Logan talks about The Dreamer’s/Roman’s vision of the future ‘where everyone could live in love and harmony, and humanity would grow into its glowing, gallant potential, coexisting in friendship with nature and respecting the planet while creating a world fir for fairy tails’. “Why would no one see that [The Dreamer] was clearly delusional” (Whatwashernameagain)? Can anyone say… Foreshadowing?

I know I haven’t made it to chapter 2 yet but I need to bring this up so… If you haven’t read Chapter 2 yet then skip this bit.

*****CHAPTER 2 SPOILERS**** 

Once again, Roman’s character portrait is gaining more depth with this paragraph. In Chapter 2 we learn that Roman really does see the future this way. The knowledge has a sense of innocence that Logan obviously finds annoying but adds yet another endearing quality to the hero. I won’t go into too much detail about Chapter 2 but the foreshadowing here is quite lovely and shouldn’t be ignored. Logan calls Roman delusional for his vision and he truly is. With everything that we learn in Chapter 2 we see just how delusional the hero really is. But its not only for the future… his delusions go far deeper, involving his family, his duty, his team… I’ll stop there. You’ll just have to read my analysis of Chapter 2 when I eventually get there.

Now back to our regular scheduled programming…

*****END OF CHAPTER 2 SPOILERS*****

 Okay… so this next para…. Oh man… So many thoughts…. “Despite his illogical argumentation, [The Dreamer] had somehow kept him from some of the more drastic measures [Logan’s] supercomputer suggested would be necessity for the continued well-being of all – much to the computer’s ire” (Whatwashernameagain). So, I really want to use two types of literary theories here… one being reader-response and the other bordering psychoanalysis. In other words, more Freud stuff.  Don’t worry I’m not going to go into too much detail this time.

When I read this para all I can picture is the left and right side of the brain, which is really what Roman and Logan are aren’t they? I’ve briefly touched on the fact that Logan and Roman are polar opposites complimenting themselves before but… this para makes me consider it in a different way. Roman is acting almost like a conscious here; providing a line to draw when Logan starts to get out of control. Roman is the reigns that are yanked when Logan goes too fast. He keeps the Logical side in check. Fitting. Poetic. Perfect. Love it, Eva.

And… This super computer has so much Sass… Must be Remy. XP

With the introduction of Remy we get another burst of the light hearted humor that comes with his personality. Eva balances the character well, in my opinion. Remy is supposed to be a supercomputer with some sass but writing a character that is a computer can be difficult. I really would like to spend some time discussing Remy but I am afraid that I can’t go into to much detail. Remy in this scene is more of a support character, and there isn’t much to go on at the moment… Of course, knowing Eva, this will change in the future. I am sure he has plenty to say about Remy as the story progresses. As it stands Remy makes for a good comic relief and fantastic transitional device, pulling the reader from Logan’s thoughts back into the present to help the story move on.

 **I’m going to pause here for a moment. While analyzing the entrance of Remy I grew curious about a few things and decided to ask her. I am going back to edit this in because while writing this portion of the analysis I felt as if I was missing something. Why did she choose Remy specifically to be the supercomputer and how does it play into any of this? I knew there had to be a reason, but I hadn’t managed to figure it out. So, I asked. Here was her response:

“So I absolutely thought about why I wanted Remy as the computer. Computers are associated with cool predictability and lacking emotional competence and stiff, predictable speech patterns. Everything Logan already is. Especially this computer, who has to calculate the highest odds- the value of human life - has to make extremely cold and emotionless decisions. He would have escalated Logan’s crusade dramatically had he behaved exactly like Logic at its worst and purest moments. And their conversations would have read like Logan talking to his Mini me. He had to break up that stereotype because we already have a human trying to operate like a computer. If the calculation of our actions through utilitarian predictions are possible (which I believe they are) the reverse - the creation of unique and emotionally capable A.I.s needs to be taken into account soon. Though Remy is not part of the deliberation yet, his ability for human emotion demands he be included. He makes that demand by being essentially the most human of all of them and I will go into (too much) Detail when it’s time for his arc.”

When she told me this I was floored! I knew that she put more deliberation into her writing than most, but I had never really expected this. That sounds as if I underestimated her but that isn’t the case. I knew she had considered it or I wouldn’t have asked but… Well this is just so beautiful… I suppose there is a reason she is such a fantastic writer… And this people, is one of them. Absolutely stunning, Eva. **

 We jump back into Logan’s thoughts within the next paragraph. Remy accused the man of not ‘giving an f’ about what he says. He states that he attempts to follow Remy’s advice without prejudice. “However, whenever he endeavored to put those plans into action or even considered it, something made him hesitate. It was like a bug, hindering his rational thought process. A pesky pop-up window halting his deliberations and muddling his convictions with banal platitudes and illogical rambling” (Whatwashernameagain). I LOVE this paragraph!

So, the imagery here is fantastic. Eva uses a wonderful simile that really catches Logan’s personality. But I’ll have to get into that in a moment. I want to touch on something else first. We know that Logan is driven by Logic; he is Thomas’ logical side after all. That being said, it has been discussed within her Keep Him Safe fandom that Logan is/maybe autistic. I think that it is very fitting for Logan to be autistic (though this may be due to the fact that I am autistic as well). The thing is… and I really wish I had the source for this, but I don’t know what I’ve done with it and can’t for the life of me find it again. I am sorry. Anyways, if we look at this logically Logan is thirty years old (thought Eva may change that but the Logan in Sanders Sides is thirty because Thomas is thirty so I’m going with it); Which means that he grew up in 1990s. There wasn’t a lot of treatment for mild cases of autism in the nineties. In fact, it wasn’t until 2013 Autism Spectrum disorders were classified in DSM-V (History of Autism Treatment). Even if children were diagnosed before then, most cases in the 1980s and some in the 1990 used ECT, which involves passing small electric currents through the brain to intentionally trigger a brief seizure (History of Autism Treatment). These seizures are supposed to be hypothesized to change the brain chemistry in a way to reduce mental health symptoms (History of Autism Treatment). ECT is still used in some cases of autism today, though it is rare (History of Autism Treatment). Why is this important? Well, I am 27 years old. I grew up in the same era of Logan. I am also autistic so believe me when I say that /if/ someone tried to get Logan treated as a child he would have been subject to countless medications, off the wall treatment plans and subject to so many misdiagnoses that eventually he would have simply folded in on himself as we’ve seen him do throughout this work. On top of that, when he eventually came off of the treatments, he would had molded himself to avoid them at all costs becoming cold and driven by logic, blocking away as much of the emotional side of himself as he could and thus becoming the Logan we know today. This defense mechanism would obvious move into his adult years. I don’t know if this is Logan’s history in this work, this is merely speculation, but I am quite fond of the idea and historically speaking it is entirely possible.

 **Author confirmed Logan is autistic**

 I explain all this because if a person tries to block out emotions that are core to the very existence of a human being than what happens? Well, the example Eva gives, that’s what; “He attempted to follow the disgruntled computer’s advices without prejudice. However, whenever he endeavored to put those plans into action or even considered it, something made him hesitate” (Whatwashernameagain). Logan obviously tries to be as cold and calculating as his computer but despite his efforts, the fact remains… He is /not/ a computer; and he never will be. No matter how logical you try to be… no matter how much you block out your emotions, they will turn up here and there and there is NOTHING you can do to stop them. It is part of the human condition. Which brings me back to the simile I mentioned.

“It was like a bug, hindering his rational thought process. A pesky pop-up window halting his deliberations and muddling his convictions with banal platitudes and illogical rambling” (Whatwashernameagain).

This simile reinforces my hypothesis, but I still can’t say that it is true. Regardless it does show the struggle between Logan’s desire to be cold and calculating and his humanity; even basically describing himself as a computer (I’m pretty sure Remy would have a few things to say about that if he knew).  He describes his humanity as a bug, or a virus, a pop-up messing with his head. Or… Could it be that it’s not his humanity that’s bothering him at all… Maybe it’s something… or someone else….

He states that this virus is “muddling his convictions with banal platitudes and illogical rambling”. For those of you about to look up the definition of banal platitudes, I’ve already done the work for you lol. It basically means clichés. So… clichés and ‘illogical’ rambling? Sound like anyone we know? Maybe a certain Dreamer? I talk as if Logan’s pesky humanity and The Dreamer are two different issues entirely but they are not. Roman seems to be a symbol of Logan’s unwanted humanity; something he both needs to define himself and hates because he wishes he didn’t need it. It is quite a wonderful use of symbolism and philosophical structure, beautifully executed. Someone once told me that a superhero is only as good as its villain. I believe that has some truth to it and vice versa. What would Batman be without the Joker or The Riddler? But it also poses the question… What would we be without our humanity. What would good be without bad? In life we define everything as a comparison. If you try to describe the color red you wouldn’t be able to because they can not compare the color to things that are red. In a world without bad, we wouldn’t recognize the good and in a world without good, the bad is just life. Would it be the same if the Utilitarianist didn’t have The Dreamer? If Logan didn’t have Roman?

This an actual concept in the literary world known as the dialectical method. “The dialectical method of analysis begins with particular sense data (knowledge of a single object). But such focus on a particular object of knowledge immediately invites reflection on what the particular object is not. It is not a concept or idea or category. We look at the legal system, for example, and see a law, but to understand a particular law fully we need to know what the principle or idea is that makes it a law" (Rivkin, Julie). While it doesn’t exactly work 100% for Roman and Logan in this instant, it basically mean that one thing is only defined by comparing it to another. But that is for another story…

A good writer makes their reader want to ask questions, to learn more… we see that here without a doubt.

I mentioned that the ‘banal platitudes and illogical ramblings Logan mentioned that were distracting him could be Roman and the next line confirms that theory: “The Dreamer was intruding on his mental solitude increasingly often with the memories of his wide eyes, predictably shocked at learning about the Utilitarianist’s latest plans, before determination lit a fire in his green eyes.” I’m sure his eyes are not the only thing crossing Logan’s mind… As I said before, Roman is a good representation of Logan’s conscious here, with a subtext of attraction that is ever present when it comes to his thoughts about the hero. Logan goes on to describe Roman’s banter once more but this time… there’s something a little different to his words.

“His voice was like a constraining vice around his chest, forcing him to remember his outraged claims of rightness and kindness and chivalry and peace – foolish banalities standing in the way of real benefits for the world. And yet his arguments kept resurfacing in his mind, playing like a broken record. Hopes for unity and joint efforts and belief in humanity’s solidarity and such naive nonsense. Data had proven the probability of success for his hopes at about 8%. A waste of time” (Whatwashernameagain).

8%.... 8%... Of course, Logan would know that! He talks about this hero getting in his way and messing up his plans but when it comes down to it the constant reminder seems to point to one thing… (Besides denial and attraction which we’ve already covered) Jealousy. Logan obviously isn’t jealous of The Dreamer’s popularity or social status, he doesn’t have a care for though things. No, the thing Logan is jealous of is hope. Let’s think about this for a moment. Sure, Roman is the symbol of hope for the country but that’s a different kind of hope. No, the thing that Logan continuously points out is the man’s ignorant hopeful view of a future that is almost impossible… Well, 92% impossible anyways. Logan is autistic… he is driven by logic, pushing down all his emotions as best he can because they are inherently bad… at least that is what he was conditioned to believe; you can’t push down just the bad emotions, its an all or nothing type of deal if you’re trying to be the most logical being you can be… Which means all the good emotions went with them… Logan doesn’t feel emotions like most people… like Roman…

I’m not saying that he doesn’t feel emotions, being autistic can sometimes mean you simply don’t feel emotions the same way as others. Plus, it makes sense for Logan to suppress them… ANYWAYS, I’m getting sidetracked. My point is that a lot of times when you struggle with something like that (or even depression (since ‘numbness’ can be a symptom of depression)) it can be quite difficult to see others enjoying emotions that you are incapable/not use to feeling. It is possible that this might be the case with Logan. Roman’s hope for the future, despite complaining of his naivety, is something Logan covets. It is something he probably respects, though he’d never admit it. I’m sure he no doubt calculated the statistics of Roman’s future to prep for his next argument but also because he was just a little bit curious as to how likely it really is. I even doubt he would actually tell Roman he only had an 8% chance of succeeding because he doesn’t want to see disappointment on those beautiful features; he’d probably just tell him the chances were slim… Though Roman would no doubt be one of those guys that would respond to ‘Fat chance’ with ‘I have a chance; and its fat!”.    Of course, the next paragraph confirms my thoughts on Roman’s reaction to the information and once again reinforces Logan’s thoughts on just how handsome The Dreamer is.

The thing I want to draw attention to next is another opinion of Logan’s. Eva writes from his POV “Thankfully, many of his actions were far too advanced for a simple mind like the Dreamer’s, which afforded him the ability to work in peace. The threat of law-enforcement was hardly severe enough to warrant his attention. Still, he had interrupted his work and caused critical failure to several of his more drastic plans” (Whatwashernameagain).  So, this brings up a number of things we were not privy to beforehand. First, it paints the dynamic in a bit of a different light. It brings our attention to the fact that Logan doesn’t see the man as the sharpest tool in the shed. We learn in Chapter 2 that that isn’t exactly the reason behind it all but Logan, of course is not privy to this… yet. Once again, we see Logan have a bit of a superiority complex, though I doubt he means to or even realizes it. In society today, knowledge is power, and Logan has a lot of it. His view that Roman is less intelligent puts him lower on the power scale and therefore beneath him. This reinforces the same imagery offered earlier in the story, calling Roman a ‘thorn in [Logan’s] shoe’ and the fact that Logan is not happy being attracted to him. On the opposite side it also reinforces just how adorably innocent Roman is.

I LOVE this next bit! Logan mentions that he had not made Roman a target despite Remy’s insistence and explains his position of the subject: “he was trying to be useful in his own way. Criminals and terrorist attempting to profit of the system’s flaws or praying on the weak were an issue the Utilitarianist was aware of, even if he had little time to devote to such matters as we worked on the grand scheme of things. Pedophiles were most deplorable, yes, but Remy could not devote his processor power to chasing every single individual. They had brought two sex-trafficking rings to light with the help of their white-hat-hackers and had, by making the addresses of the offenders’ public, dealt with a lot of them indirectly, yet a single kidnapping was a too small variable to devote any time to” (Whatwashernameagain). So far, we’ve seen Logan move from frustration, obsession, denial, attraction, respect to envy… now we see… understanding? While some may think this is a bit contradictory, I would have to disagree… In fact, it makes complete sense that Logan would accept and understand Roman’s heroic persona. Afterall, the two of them share the same goal, they simply go about it in two different extremes.

Logan wants a better world where things like corrupt governments are nonexistent and every person can walk to their car at night without having to cling to their pepper spray or keys so desperately. Granted, he is attempting to accomplish this on such a large scale that it will not happen anytime soon, but the intention is still there. In his mind, the end justifies the means and therefore the Utilitarianist was born. Roman wants the same world, granted there are a few more rainbows and most certainly more glitter in his vision but it is the same none the less. The only difference is Roman’s sense of morality stopping him from doing something as drastic as Logan does. I think Logan sees this and though he considers the unwillingness a type of weakness he can see that Roman has a use and therefore has value (just as the utilitarianism principle suggests). In fact, in a way, Roman is assisting Logan in his goals, though it is a very small way. He is basically taking care of smaller crimes while Logan attempts to handle the big guns. This, of course, paints their dynamic in a bit of different light; Logan being the brains while Roman fumbles about and makes his job far more difficult that it needs to be. Think of it like Pinky and the Brain, or Dexter (from Dexter’s Laboratory) and his sister DeeDee (Is my age showing?). Within the next two paragraphs

Logan talks about the hero saving a young girl and the ‘almost-admiration’ that he had felt for the hero who was basically doing something Logan was incapable of; which reinforces the analysis. A small snippet of their interactions is seen for the first time; Roman lecturing about every life counts and using power for good; Logan making a smart-ass comment in return and blasting him off the oil rig with high pressured water. This is actually quite a beautiful scene because it shows the rivalry (despite Logan’s complaining) is filled with more of a playfulness than actual malice. It is obvious that Logan doesn’t really want to harm Roman and vice versa. It makes for a very soft moment for the reader, warming them a bit.

The playfulness continues through the next scene. Logan reminisces about a moment when Roman’s ‘incompetence’ managed to get him captured by another villain. There is a lot to read during this scene so I will try to be brief (I am trying to shorten these parts while also moving a bit quicker through the work, so I don’t bore you guys too much). Logan states that “only Remy had managed to piece together his whereabouts after Logan had mentioned his failure to appear in front of a camera for a solid two days. Leaving him to die in the hands of such an individual might have caused a significant amount of unrest and subsequent danger to the public” (Whatwashernameagain).

First off, do you really pay Roman so much attention that you notice when he’s not there to brighten your day? Of course you do. I’m sure he would love the attention if he knew about it. Anyways, the last sentence provides more insight into what I have previously said about Logan’s recognition of Roman’s usefulness. He states that Roman’s disappearance would cause unrest and subsequent danger to the public. While, he may be making excuses, according to Remy, he does recognize this to be try and it is. If the public discovered The Dreamer was gone crime would spike, people’s hope would disappear causing them to lash out in fear and over protectiveness; everything Logan was working towards wouldn’t necessarily crumble but would no doubt be slowed. Which brings me back to the whole dialectical theory thing from earlier, which I won’t bore you with again. Just know that everything is related to something else in meaning, including Logan and Roman.

Love the light humor of Remy calling Logan his ‘computer-world-interaction device! LOL! Aside from the light humor, the interaction is a good resource in rounding out Remy as a character. It offers the reader a chance to understand that Remy needs/wants to interact with the outside world, to experience what it is to be apart of society outside his connections with the internet… Don’t we all Remy… Don’t we all… It develops Remy into the AI he is supposed to be rather than the image of a computer we originally had.

“Saving the Dreamer from his own incompetence was not a concession to his naive beliefs. No, certainly not! If anything, his wailing and warbling had caused Logan a headache as he’d dragged him out of the bunker, arguing the whole way” (Whatwashernameagain).

Logan SAVED Roman?! I love this. Irony at its finest! The villain saves the hero. Poetic justice! It also paints Logan to have a heart, though he denies it, which is quite nice too. Too bad Roman has no idea that his initials are carved in the ice around said heart. Best part is, we actually get to see a small snippet of the argument between the two: “’Uhhng you’re such an impossible motherf- um motherboard! Because you’re like a computer! Cold and emotionless!’ [The Dreamer] wailed, narrowly avoiding uttering a vile insult in his frustration. He prided himself on a hero’s impeccable manners, after all” (whatwashernameagain).

So, this snippet does a lot of things for Roman’s persona here. It provides him with the sass we hadn’t seen from him yet, giving him a bit more personality and a small bit of his POV which is a first in the story as well. We also can see the stark contrast between his and Logan’s frustration. Roman loses a bit of control in his frustration and almost curses; while Logan’s frustration, while intense, was still controlled almost to perfection (minus the one time he almost got caught because Roman got him to argue with him). His calm cool demeanor rarely cracking. Roman, as we see here, however, is the opposite, wearing the emotion on his sleeve and allowing it to flow freely rather than being bottled up and locked away like Logan attempts to do.

“Why had he cared to save this man after all? Not because of the softly uttered gratitude he’d finally muttered as he’d bundled him into an intimidated police officer’s car or his wide, awed eyes as he’d materialized out of the shadows of his cell, perfectly adjusted to the darkness in his neck-high sleek, black suit and high-tech mask that made him resemble a nimble, black cat. Or the way his expression had morphed into a knowing, almost warm smile before their differences had made their tempers rise once again” (Whatwashernameagain).

Okay, first off… Lets look at the structure here. This is another thing I love about Eva’s writing. I’ve mentioned time and time again, her ability to transition from one POV to another seamlessly but she also does it with timeframes. We’ve seen it a few times now, but this is probably the most obvious one which is why I waited until I got to this point before bringing it up. Before this para we were reading a small snippet of the arguing as Logan dragged Roman to safety. Now, we see Logan deposit Roman into a car and then BAM! Back in the cell he had been being kept in. The best part is that it is done so seamlessly that the reader doesn’t even really think about the fact that they are jumping back and forth in this timeline, they are simply able to piece it together as if it was all one piece… absolutely beautiful…

This para also gives a small insight into the humanity in Logan I had mentioned before, the humanity that only seems to come out when Roman is around; thus, reinforcing the fact that Roman /is/ Logan’s humanity. It also is a reminder of Logan’s denial but who is paying attention to that anymore?

Logan mentions the ‘softly uttered gratitude’ that Roman mutters as he was bundled in the car; making me wonder just how often Logan is thanked? Probably never… It is no wonder it was something of note here. It is like feeding a steak to someone who is accustomed to instant ramen: Surprising but not unwelcomed.

He also talks about Roman’s ‘wide, awed eyes,’ the look turning into a ‘knowing, almost warm smile.’ This is another example of how Eva manages to catch emotions so beautifully. This is also a wonderful example of Reader-Response theory as well. She mentions the physical reaction that Roman has at the appearance of Logan, but she leaves everything else up to the reader to fill in the blank… to shape the story. Still, she gave us just enough to work with.

Roman is obviously surprised that someone was there for him as his eyes go wide, but its really the fact that it is Logan, his opposite, his rival, that is there to save him. The shock fades quickly though as everything Roman has been arguing with the man over seems to come true in his eyes. Logan has just proven Roman right in the sense that Logan is good at heart and /can/ do the right thing… that there is hope that he can be led down the ‘right’ path. But the smile he offered wasn’t cocky or conceited if that were the case. It was simply ‘warm’. The complexity of human thought and emotions is far to vast for anyone to really /know/ what Roman was thinking her but I’m going to give a guess: Roman saw for the first time that his rival was not only living up to Roman’s hopes and expectations but was, in a way, providing him with a sense of friendship that Roman probably wasn’t accustomed to. Or at least a sense of affection (platonic or otherwise). No doubt, being a hero was a very lonely existence.

And we end the scene with Logan mentioning Remy’s like for Roman and his ‘cute ass and mouth.’  That’s Remy for you.

Thank you for joining me for Part 3 of this analysis. I apologize for the length and want to thank you for baring with me through it.

Yes, this is a repost. I had posted a very short Part 3 earlier today and did not want to end the Chapter 1 analysis on an odd number, so I combined Parts 3 and 4.

I will see you guys in part 4! Feel free to send me an ask or message with questions, concerns, emotional outbursts or things you simply would like to discuss or add! Thank you all!

  “History of Autism Treatment.” Applied Behavior Analysis Programs Guide, https://www.appliedbehavioranalysisprograms.com/history-autism-treatment/.

Rivkin, Julie. Literary Theory: a Practical Introduction. Wiley-Blackwell, 2017.

Whatwashernameagain. “The Dreamer - Chapter 1.” Hello Guys Gals And Non Binary Friends, 8 Sept. 2019, https://whatwashernameagain.tumblr.com/post/187581477262/the-dreamer-chapter-1.

#The dreamer #villain!logan #Hero!roman #sanders sides #logince #logan sanders #roman sanders #logan/roman #roman/logan #analysis #readerresponse #reaction #fanfiction

[forallyourikemensengokuneeds]

Through hell ch 1

I thought i posted this a few days ago. If i did I forgot to tag it. @famousclamcashweasel for you

The doctors all told him it would be like this but he didn't want to believe them. He wasn't ready for this to happen. He had not told her yet. She still believed that he did this for some reason like getting out of work not the truth of the fact he was deeply in love with the small woman. She had to of seen the truth over the two weeks he cared for her, living in her house and watching over her. He knew she had to have seen it regardless of the words not being said aloud.

She had two good days. It looked like she was getting better. The fever that had

Taken hold of her body had eased. When he had called the doctors office with that news they told him to watch closer. This was a sign. She had more energy on those two days then she had in weeks prior. He had thought that the infection had been beaten finally. The nurse that called back had warned him but he was too hopeful to listen.

She was burning up now. Her swallow breaths coming hard and labored. Her eyes closed a few hours ago and had not reopened despite him begging and pleading with her to open them. She was to tired to move from the couch and she had told him before if it was her time she would find her place. She wanted the couch curled up under the soft fake fur blanket she favored. She was in the corner of the v shaped couch. Every few minutes it seemed like time would stand still as the longer it took for her to take a breath.

It was getting close. His heart was breaking with every second she was struggling. He had to tell her. He needed to say the words even just once. He moved closer to her along with a box of frozen ice packs and he scooped her up into his arms with ease as he settled back into the same spot she had been in before. She had chosen her place but he would adjust that. If she was going to die it would be in his arms as he told her the truth.

"My love, can you hear me?", he asked as he started placing the ice packs around her gently. She didn't speak but he felt her move slightly closer to him. He took her almost lifeless hand in his and intertwined his fingers with her tiny digits. He brought it to his face so she could feel his face one more time as he then brought the tiny hand to his lips. He spoke again this time as he held her hand against his face, cupping his cheeks. "Sweetheart I know you think that I volunteered to take care of you because I wanted to get out of work or some other stupid thing. That isn't the truth though, I hope you know that. The fact is I had feelings for you that even I didn't understand until maybe a week ago. Princess I can't let you go without you knowing the truth. I don't want to let you go at all. I love you. I need you to stay with me. I know it is hard right now. I know your tiny body has fought so hard but god damnit I need you. Please don't leave me."

He never wanted anything in this life more than for her to return to him. He began to mutter to himself something he remembered from school,"over hill, over dale,

Thorough bush, thorough brier,

Over park, over pale,

Thorough flood, thorough fire!

I do wander everywhere,

Swifter than the moon's sphere;

And I serve the Fairy Queen,

To dew her orbs upon the green;

The cowslips tall her pensioners be;

In their gold coats spots you see;

Those be rubies, fairy favours;

In those freckles live their savours;

I must go seek some dewdrops here,

And hang a pearl in every cowslip's ear."

He wished fairies were real at this moment and he could call on them to fix her.

Her blue eyes flickered open slightly. He knew that was more than he could have asked for. She tried moving her arm, he could feel the muscles trying to work. He helped it up and let her direct it to his shoulder. She moved her finger against his neck and tried to look him in the eyes. She was struggling with her eyes and he didn't want her to use her last bit of energy to appease him in someway. He continued to place the ice packed over her in a last ditch effort for some miracle to happen.

Hours past. He never moved from the spot with her in his lap cradled against him as he hummed or even sang to her to keep her going. Her arm slung over his shoulder would flicker with moment every once in a while. Her breathing was still swallow but seemed slightly more eased. He was afraid to fall asleep though. If this was her last night he wanted to be there till the end. He had a cup of ice that was mostly water at this point but he would dip his fingers in it and find a chip or two and placed it in her mouth. On the few times he couldn't he would place his dripping finger on her mouth to at least try to keep her hydrated. He was now also burning but only because of the heat she was producing.

His eyes fell. His head went into the corner of the walls and rested there. Every so often he would wake with a start and then he would remember and stare at her. She was still breathing. He would then rest his head again and then drift off for a few minutes. He did that throughout the night. When daybreak happened and he saw the new days light for the first time he again remembered the tiny woman in his arms. He looked down at her and waited. It seemed like forever he just started at her. Her cheeks had paled throughout the night no longer flushed with the raging fever she had the night prior. It seemed her hand had gripped tighter onto his shoulder. He was frantic for a moment when he realized her breathing has ease and was not so loud as to echo throughout the silence of the large room.

He felt her move and he released a breath of pure relief. Though he had slept some the first few moments had already worn him out completely. He brushed a finger down her soft skin of her face. She was cooler now. Still had the fever but she was cooler than the night before. He let out a chuckle.

"Only you could laugh like that." She said softly.

"Do you remember last night, my love?" He asked softly.

"All of it Mitsuhide." She replied and tried to smile and it came out looking lopsided.

"All of it?" He asked as he peered into her eyes.

"Did you mean it?" She asked softly.

"Of course I meant it,silly girl." He chuckled. "I'm surprised though that you actually heard me. I thought it was time."

"It was." She said even softer. "I can't explain it I wasn't really here though."

"You were here, my love." He said looking down at her.

"No, Mitsuhide I wasn't. My body was here but I was not. I heard you though. You seemed so far away at the time. I knew what you were saying and as soon as you said it I felt differently. I'm not saying I was in a white light or something like that but I was dying.I could feel myself shutting down and not being able to do a damn thing about it. Then you spoke." She spoke with a dry throat and it was still raspy and forced.

"And That did what exactly?" He asked as he brushed the hair off her face as he looked into her eyes.

"It made me want to fight." She said evenly.

"It did?" He was shocked.

"I needed to know you were here." She said as she touched his neck and shoulder lightly. "The more I could feel you the more I wanted to fight."

"So what happens now?" He asked softly.

"We fight." She tried smiling again.

"We do, how?" He asked.

"Western medicine isn't helping. In fact I think it is making every single thing worse. We treat it my way now." She said softly. "Give me a reason to fight Mitsuhide I am not better now. I just have more fight now."

"Okay princess, we will try this your way." He said softly as he bent and kissed her forehead. "At this point what do we have to lose?"

"Everything, Mitsuhide, now we could lose everything." She whispered as she closed her eyes. He touched her back softly as she snuggled closer to him. He hoped he had not just dreamed that whole thing. He had hope again. She had indeed survived the night. She was a fighter. She was a warrior. She was so much stronger than him and she wanted to fight because of him. He looked down at her with so much open love he wished she would open her eyes just to see it. "Stop staring at me."

He chuckled to himself and kissed her forehead again, "never my love. For this moment on you are the only woman I see and I will look as long and as hard at you as I want to. Get used to it."

"I could just die you know." She said softly.

"Doesn't matter anymore. In this life or the next I will find you and love you then too." He said to her softly as her breathing became more even. "Now sleep my love. You need your strength more than ever."

He was holding his phone and was looking up things to help her when she opened her eyes. He knew there was many things that he needed get. He was looking up where to get the different things. He was making plans to get everything that day if she could sit long enough in the car. He was continually reading different articles and different treatment options. He knew the hardest thing to to combat was the infection in her blood. The first round of antibiotics did nothing for her except make things worse. She had a allergic reaction to the medication and it seemed she went down hill from that day. She had gotten worse instead of better since the horrid reaction. That had to be the first thing he help her attack so she could start to get better.

"Sweetheart can you sit in the car?" He asked.

"I think so, why?" She said.

"While you have been sleeping I have been researching things." He stated as he brushed his fingers through her hair slowly.

"What did you find?" She asked trying to sit more up on her own and failing. He helped her and handed her a glass of water.

"Some things that we can try." He said as he handed her a slip of paper. She looked at the list and nodded.

"I think this might work. You want to get my chair into the car?" She asked.

"I will just carry you." He said as he looked at her.

"I want to go into the store with you." She said.

"No." He said.

"Why not?" She asked.

"I can't leave you here but I am not going to expose you to anything more to fight off." He said and she began to pout. He shook his head, "Princess you can get mad at me all you want I will not risk you like that."

"Fine." She said with a huff.

"Come my love let us begin a new treatment for you." He said. "Let's begin to fight this together."

#ikemen sengoku inspired #through hell #akechi mitsuhide

[bluepenguinstories]

Happiness Overload Chapter Thirty-One

My acquired genie, Mephistopheles, and I underwent our mission to escape from the clutches of this strange and mysterious underground facility. I know what you're thinking: a genie? Really? Look, if I can accept the strange, so can you.

I had to stop for a second. Despite having my fill of food and, in theory, having recovered from my whole ordeal earlier, I was still short on breath. I slammed my fist against the wall, not caring if a soldier or some kind of artificial intelligence or security system heard.

“Damn it all! I don't know where the hell I'm going! I'm just running and for what? Everything looks the same!”

“HAVE YOU TRIED NOT RUNNING?”

I glared at my involuntary companion.

“Thanks. That's such a great idea. I'll walk and enjoy the scenery that's trying to kill me. That'll help me escape much faster.” I was still frustrated. “I'm sorry. You've been amazing, I just don't like that I don't feel like I'm in control of this situation. You could say I'm like Mavis in this regard, but I don't like not knowing. Y'know?”

“I KNOW! AND I KNOW THAT IF YOU'RE LOST, IT WON'T MATTER IF YOU WALK OR RUN SO MAY AS WELL WALK!”

I had to pause and make meaning out of the shouting I was presented with. “Hmm...yes...if I run, I might miss something vital. Not to mention, as lucky as I've been, I'll still get killed if I'm careless. But if I assess my surroundings and find something of use, I might just be able to get out of here.”

“YAY! I SAID SOMETHING GOOD!”

I stopped slouching and stood up.

That or I'm just trying to make meaning out of something without meaning.

“Come on, let's get a move on,” I motioned to the cute, yet intimidating creature.

As I inched my way through every metal wall, doing my best to make note of any potential traps and tricks, listening to the sound of potential footsteps, my companion floated in the air without a care in the world.

An ambassador at a press conference took to the stage.

“I would now like to take a moment to decompose,” he began, and never continued. He passed out at the podium. Everyone applauded. I was there when it happened. I was in the front row, chewing bubblegum.

When I left the conference room, I noticed a faint scent of bubblegum fill the halls. It reminded me of my youth and how mother would always make the best bubblegum pies. This led me into a stupor in which I began chewing on the walls; they all tasted like her pies. I was in a lucid state, having felt something so clear that it was like my whole life before had ceased to exist. I knew this was going on elsewhere, differing experiences, though how I knew, I did not know.

No such activity. Further breath of release, relief. I turned to my companion and whispered.

“I need a weapon.”

“WHY?” She continued her loud cheerful voice, even as she asked a question. I say 'she' as if this thing wasn't a 'they' or 'it' or anything at all.

“I need something to defend myself. I can't be happy if I'm dead, can I?”

“SURE YOU CAN!”

I wanted to slap myself. I wanted to slap this creature as well for yelling in this endless series of corridors when danger could be lurking any which way.

“Come on. It'll make me real happy if I have something to defend myself with. Case in point, what if a few soldiers come running and they want to kill me?”

“THEY CAN IF IT MAKES THEM HAPPY TO!”

“Okay, but what if I want to kill them?”

“EVERYONE IS KILLED! YAY!”

“Okay, but hypothetically speaking, what if it's not killing me that makes them happy, but trying to kill me and it's not killing them that makes me happy, but just having something to fight them with makes me happy.”

“SAY NO MORE!”

In my hand appeared a metallic wrench-like object.

“What? A taser?”

“ACTUALLY IT EXPANDS SO YOU CAN SLICE ANY OBJECT, BE IT A POTTED PLANT, OR SOMEONE'S LIMB! IT'S JUST LIKE CUTTING A CUCUMBER! BEST PART IS IT LEAVES A CLEAN CUT, LIKE A CAUTERIZER! WHICH MEANS NO BLOOD!”

No blood...an effective weapon...I was caught in a daze of wonderful words.

“That...sounds...AMAZING! Thank you so much! I could kiss you right now!” I burst into excitement. I felt as if tears of joy would start streaming at any moment.

“YAY!”

Not even giving it much thought, I did the next thing I could think to do and leaned up to Mephistopheles' cheek and kissed them. I regretted doing so and turned away; rather than their cheek feeling like that of a person's, or any other animal, or any kind of physical sensation for that matter, it felt like I had touched the feeling of love itself and it was such an overwhelming and wholesome and menacing and wrong sensation.

We continued walking through the halls. I didn't stop to look at the creature. I was grateful for the weapon and that was about it. The silence was starting to get to me. It was killing me. Nothing trying to kill me was getting to be too much. While I didn't want to acknowledge what was next to me, I felt I needed to fill the air with something.

“Can you tell me something?” I asked, continuing to walk and not look them in the eye.

“WILL IT MAKE YOU HAPPY?”

I thought about it. My knowledge of genies was limited, but I've consumed enough media in my lifetime to know you had to be mindful of what you said.

“I'm not sure, but I want to know anyway.”

“OKIE-DOKIE!”

Wow. I couldn't believe it was that easy.

“Is Blanc...” I was having trouble saying it. “...are they dead?”

“YEP! AT LEAST A FEW TIMES! THEY'RE ALSO ALIVE!”

My eyes widened. “Wait. Really? How is that possible?”

“MULTIPLE UNIVERSES!”

Whatever came over me, a nerve got struck.

“I'm talking about the one I knew! Did I see Blanc die in that fire?”

“YEP! SURE DID!”

“I see...”

There was a moment of silence. I couldn't stand that.

“What about Mavis, then? Will she be fine?”

“I CAN'T MAKE ANY PROMISES!”

“Damn it! I need to go back! I need to do something, then! I don't want anyone else dying when I could have saved them!”

“THAT WON'T MAKE HER HAPPY!”

“But she'll be alive! What am I supposed to do?”

“KEEP GOING!”

“But...”

I started to turn around. I wanted to run back. Try to find Mavis. Try to save her. From whatever might come her way. Yet, I stopped myself.

“Why were they at the facility? Why weren't they safe with you?”

“THEY WANTED TO SAVE YOU!”

That's when it clicked. It might have played out the same way had I decided to run back to save Mavis. Or maybe it wouldn't. Maybe if I died, she would live. I wasn't sure what options I had and Mephistopheles wasn't giving me any promises.

“I bet you told them 'I can't make any promises' too...”

“NOPE!”

“I'm fine, though! I'm alive!” I slammed my fist against the wall. “Blanc, you idiot...”

After a deep sigh, I had one more question.

“Can you tell me what ever happened to V--” I was about to finish the name, but stopped myself. “Never mind. I should just let ghosts die, right?” I winced and tried at a smile. However numbed to it all I was, I knew there were tears streaming down my cheeks just thinking of these people.

“IF YOU'RE CURIOUS, THERE'S A ROOM BEHIND THE WALL!”

“Whoa, really?”

I started feeling around for a hidden block to push, or a button, something. It all felt like the same metallic wall. Nothing was revealing the room, if this fairy or genie was even to be trusted. I thought of giving up before my strange companion chimed in.

“HERE YOU GO!”

The wall slid open to reveal a room with several monitors, lockers, and a desk. It wasn't unlike Mavis' room, or the eccentric Dr. Chekhov's.

“Thanks,” I groaned.

“HAPPY TO HELP!”

Inside, I saw a button along the wall and pressed it, already having a good idea what it would do. The wall slid back in place and I let out a sigh of relief and sank to the floor.

“I've got everything in my favor right now, but I still don't think I can do this...”

Mephistopheles just did their usual floating about. I would have loved to peer inside that mind of theirs, but something told me there wasn't much to peer into. That, or the opposite; that there would be too much to digest and I would lose all sanity in the process. Luckily for me, I had my doubts I even had much sanity left to retain.

We sat at a dockside past midnight, the two of us. Her red hair shone through even in spite of the darkness, accented further whenever the light of a nearby lighthouse would pass.

I turned to her, I could tell she was nervous. Even though she played it cool during the day, I knew her well enough to know that deep down, she was just a huge awkward mess. I couldn't help but laugh about how flustered she was.

“What's so funny?” Velvet asked, not seeming to appreciate the humor of it all.

“Your face!” I nudged.

“People have told me I have Resting Bitch Face, but sheesh, I didn't need to hear it from you.”

“I like it! It's cute!”

“That's even worse!” She whined.

We laughed together and enjoyed the quiet sounds that would be made this time at night. Aside from the roar of the ocean, there was the occasional car that zoomed past and angry drunkards ranting at the sky. Some may have considered being out so late when the activities past dusk were not safe ones. Assaults, muggings, you name it. Somehow, though, it just made the whole thing more beautiful to me.

I remember the first time we sat at our usual spot, she asked me if I was afraid.

“Not at all,” I had told her. “I'm used to it.”

She shivered, though I wasn't sure whether it was the cold, nervousness, or a generalized fear. I suppose the last two were similar enough.

“How?”

I shrugged. Didn't I already give her the answer?

“Anything that could hurt us could do so any time of day.”

“That doesn't make it right...I'd rather live in a world where I can be safe.”

At the moment, though, she wasn't afraid of the night. Nervous, maybe, but I think she sensed what I would tell her.

I leaned over and squeezed her, hugged her tight, then kissed her several times on the cheek, and one on her lips. I could tell they were a little chapped. This time of year, it was approaching winter...

“Thanks,” she sighed, and held my hand with both of hers.

“You know, one of these days, I'm going to disappear.”

I just went right out with it. I could have eased in, but I didn't believe in such a thing, anyway.

“What do you mean?”

“I'm not a fan of staying in one place. I get restless. One of these days, you'll just stop seeing me. Don't take it personally, it's just who I am.”

“But what about us?” She protested. I just laughed. Might have been insensitive of me, but maybe I was just as nervous as her to be so forward with the truth.

“Just enjoy this while you can, then. What's happening right now doesn't change who I am.”

“I could follow you, though! I don't mind where you go, I can endure it!”

I shook my head.

“Not so sure you could...”

“You don't know that! You don't know me at all, ch...chump!” There she goes, nervous and trying to sound tough.

“You should stay where you're at. Continue your studies. You've got a future ahead of you, I'm sure of it.”

She didn't cry, she didn't argue further. She retreated to her silence. This wouldn't do, either. I stood up and pulled her up with me.

“Come on, let's dance! I think I hear the otters!”

There may not have been any otters and I knew she didn't really know how to dance, but it was past midnight and there was a full moon, so we had nothing to lose by enjoying our company together just a little bit longer.

The lockers weren't difficult to open, in spite of the advanced code keeping them locked. There was always a way to open locks and no amount of security would stop me.

First one opened, just filled with useless junk; tupperware filled with meatloaf and piles of porn mags.

“...Ew. They still make those things?”

I shut that locker back up. I was sure the meat, however gross it was, could have come in handy in case I got hungry again, but I wanted no part in that.

Second locker had just what I needed: a prinny outfit.

“This might disgust me even more than those magazines...”

“IT'S FUN TO DRESS UP!”

I gulped. Fair enough, I guess. There was one time I recall hearing about how Blanc dressed up in a Prinny armor and fooled other soldiers (or in this case, hired mercenaries) into thinking they were one of them and said how Euphoria was their daughter and it was 'take your daughter to work day'. Maybe if I did the same, I could get out of here scot-free.

After slipping into the armor, I trudged out of the room, not even bothering to look at any of the many monitors. Maybe one of them could have told me the way out. I wasn't thinking about every little step at the time, though.

Just outside of the room, back into the halls, I heard the heavy footsteps of several soldiers.

“Crap...they spared no time, huh?”

I still had the slicer, or taser, or whatever it was with me. I had the armor, though not one of their weapons. I should have been safe enough. When they appeared from around the corner, I spotted three, maybe four of them. I let them march told me with their weapons in front of them.

Charisma, don't fail me now.

They each pointed their guns at me, each one possibly as large as my entire body.

“Guys, guys, it's cool!”

They were standing right next to me now. The one who stood in front of them all was so close that it felt like a dragon puffing smoky breaths down at me. The soldier turned their head up, motioning in the direction of Mephistopheles.

“Who is that?”

“That's my daughter! It's Take Your Daughter to Work Day, don'cha know?” I wasn't sure why I had to include that last part. I had never been in Minnesota long enough for it to have left an impression on me.

“False. That was six months ago. The punishment for lying is death. The punishment for harboring unauthorized personnel is also death. No exceptions.”

“Well fuck!” That was a bust.

I lifted my right leg and kicked high enough to knock the soldiers' chest, then shoved them into the other two. No, three. Fuck. Again. There were more soldiers than I counted. No, not four. Five.

The others, who had missed the impact, fired their machine guns at me. I was grateful that the armor was impervious to their weapons, though by that logic, it meant I could steal their gun and do no damage to them, either.

“Think, Velvet, think...”

Even if the bullets weren't affecting me, the impact was enough to knock me down as well. I fell back into the adjacent wall. Next thing I knew, two soldiers stood over me with their feet raised, ready to step down and smash me.

I reached for the taser and drew it out. With a forward slash, both of their foots were chopped clean off from their lower legs. I picked myself up and chopped up their lower arms next.

“Whoa,” I marveled at it. “This thing really is nifty.”

Still more shooting. More soldiers. Not all of the shots fired were at me.

I turned to my chipper companion.

“They're firing at you too!” I shouted.

“ARE THEY? I DIDN'T NOTICE OVER THE SOUND OF HOW HAPPY I AM!”

Indeed, how would that creature have noticed? From what it seemed, none of the rounds even registered. Not a single one got close enough to so much as graze the genie.

I shook my head. There were still things I may never understand.

I managed to charge at the other soldiers, grab one of their guns, and beat them over the head with it. Under normal circumstances I doubt I'd even be able to lift such a thing, but I was not under normal circumstances, as evidenced by the power of the Prinny armor.

After slicing away at the remaining few, there was but one on the ground, still breathing. Actually, I think they were all alive, and just unable to move. I drew a sigh of relief and removed my helmet. Risky maneuver if another soldier were to come and shoot me.

“Ribbit-ribbit,” the remaining soldier groaned.

“...What?”

I removed their helmet and the first thing I noticed was green skin.

Aliens?

“NOPE!” Mephisto answered. “FROGGIES!”

“That makes zero sense, but after all I've been through, what does it matter?”

I walked past the croaking frog-soldier. I'd have more questions, except I didn't care for the answers.

Hop, skip, jump. All was quiet on the Polo front, yup yup!

I could have really gone for some flies, or ay GRUB at all! Hunger was a gay fro's worst nightmare. Or maybe it was straight frogs. Wasn't sure which was worse. Sure hoped Gumby was okay. Sucks having to leave such a brilliant axolotl behind. Oh, the tortured mind of a genius! He must've been going through H-E-C-K HELL!

Marco, too! Actually, Marco could rot and die a horrible death for all I cared! Actually, if not for Marco, I wouldn't be alive, so I guess I owe him that much. Plus, a big bro is a big bro. Or something, yo! So Marco could die just a little.

“Oh, to meet such cute froggy girls,” I sang to no one in particular in my staticked voice as I made more hops, skips, and jumps. My voice box was weird as HECK but without it...well...HECK, yo!

Taking off the suit proved to be a little difficult, and while I was in the process, I overheard the cheerful little cherub chastise me.

“YOU PROBABLY SHOULDN'T DO THAT!”

“Why? I might get killed?”

“IF IT MAKES YOU HAPPY, GO AHEAD!”

“If I die, I may as well die wearing something comfortable.”

While I was almost getting myself out (I just had one leg left...) I paused and had a thought.

“You know, why can't you just whisk me out of here?”

“BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T MAKE YOU HAPPY!”

“Fuck that! I think I would be very happy to be out!” I retorted.

“SURE! BUT NOT SO SUDDEN!”

I shook my head. “Some genie you are.”

“NOT A GENIE! BUT IT MAKES ME HAPPY TO BE CALLED ONE!”

“Happy this, happy that. I just want peace.”

“NOPE!”

I wanted to roar, kick, scream. But I already knew none of those things would make a difference.

“What do you know, anyway? Does my unhappiness make me happy?”

“YEP!”

I was out of the suit and on my feet. For something that liked to bring joy, she sure knew the right places to hurt.

“That...doesn't make any sense.”

“YOU ALREADY KNOW HOW IT MAKES SENSE!”

Hunched. My hands balled into fists. Head down. I was ready to fly into a rage. But instead of fight, it was a flight; I ran ever forward. I didn't know what would come for me, if anything. I didn't know if I would ever find a surface, an escape to this whole ordeal. Something was just telling me I needed to run and keep running.

Multiple paths. I took a left.

Another fork, a right.

Still unknown. There were moments I could have figured out where I needed to go. That room. She, they, Mephistopheles, whatever other names that being went by, pretty much gave me the opportunity and I used it for other means instead. It wasn't just an unconscious decision, was it? Yet I had no answer of my own for why I chose to opt out of such answers. All I knew to do was move and that's all I would do.

That was, until I reached a dead end. Dead end, or another door. What was it with me and doors? Sheesh.

“Can you tell me where it leads?” I turned my head, but dared not look their way.

“YOU ALREADY KNOW!”

I groaned. “I really don't...”

The door slid open and I walked through. There could have been a trap that could have killed me instantly. I no longer cared, but for the record, I was fine. I didn't step on any panels. No lasers struck me down. No poison. Nothing.

What I walked into was a wide, open area, like an arena. Rusted pipes made up the walls. I began to cough. Then again, maybe the air was poisoned with the rust from the walls. What illuminated the space, I couldn't be sure of, but what was clear was the darkness at the other end: where I had to go next.

I began to run, until I noticed a sound that stopped me in my tracks.

“Hop! Skip! Jump!” Came a sound not unlike the being beside me, but just a little more tinny, metallic, like a voice coming from a radio. Accompanied the voice was plopping sounds, until the dread came into view: the frog-humanoid Mavis and I had encountered before.

Another hop from the genetic hybrid and I took to the defensive.

“Another move and I'll turn you into frog fractions!” I barked and held out the slicer my partner had given me.

“OMIGODILOVETHATGAME!” They opened their mouth and the words came pouring out.

Maybe not for the best, but my dropped my guard, out of sheer confusion.

“You can talk?”

“Yeah! It's SO cool! By the way, YO! I'm a GIRL!” She, or rather, the thing she pointed to said, excitement and all. What she pointed to was some sort of device around her neck. “Name's Polo, YO!”

I waved, too weakened by the confusion I faced. “Hi...Polo.”

She waved back with her stringy little arms and her long tongue that flapped about.

“BY the WAY! I could NEVER get past that text adventure part, YO! Could you???”

“I...uh...I guess?” I shook my head. “Look! I'm just trying to get out of here, so if you don't get out of the way, you're done for!”

She made one more hop, which freaked me out. I swung and flailed the slicer about but of course, it did nothing, as I was still too far from her.

“Oh! OH! It's YOU!”

“It me,” I growled. I reminded myself of the Hulk at that instant.

“OYO! You and that other girl were SO CUTE! OMIGOSH!”

“Thanks...” I replied, before being reminded of all the things Polo could do with that tongue of hers. I remember Mavis' ankle being in pain and how far that tongue stretched for. If Polo wanted to, I was sure she could jump far enough to land right on top of me and swallow me whole and yet here I was thinking I had any sort of defense against her. “So am I free to go or what?”

Silly me. Thinking I should have asked such a question when I was the one at a disadvantage. As if this frog lady was some kind of cop and I had been pulled over.

“Hmm...” She lifted a leg and stuck it in her mouth. “I really shouldn't, YO! Buuuut...You're, like, REALLY cute! Soo...”

I started to walk forward, even if I couldn't really trust that thing.

“Buuuuuuuuuut...on the OTHER hand...DAMN, YO! I want a FROG GIRLFRIEND! WAAAA!”

“DONE!” Echoed the being which I had forgotten about. This time having appeared as a statuesque figure in a robe with long and pure white feathered wings and a crown of olive branches. The being held a harp and struck it, though no sound came from the harp. I turned back to Polo to see another frog-humanoid just beside her in a stunning polka-dot dress and longer limbs than Polo (who herself looked more like a fat Yoshi than a frog).

“WHOA!” Polo looked at the figure. “Thanks! This is...It makes me so...HAPPY!”

“OF COURSE IT DOES!” The harp-strumming goddess spoke.

Polo paused. “Wait...you're...Euphoria? You're that ANGEL! OHMIGOSHYOUARE!”

“HI!”

I started to slink past the greetings between the strange beings before Polo stopped me.

“Y'KNOW! My brother's gonna be PISSED if he knows I let you go!”

“Well, I don't know your brother, but he sounds like a real dick,” I remarked. Not only did I not know her 'brother' but I was not interested in finding out.

“Yeah! He is!” She laughed, though it was more like one of those speak and spell toys saying 'HA-HA', if that makes any sense. “Anyway, SEE-YA!”

I picked up the pace and started to bolt, but then I thought of something.

“Hey, if you see Mavis, you'll let her go too, right?”

“I can't make ANY promises, YO! She might be SO cute I might wanna EAT her!”

“Damn it!” I told myself I needed to run back, find her, take her with me, something. I knew we could have escaped together. Why would I have wanted that when we were so willing to kill each other when I met her? Was it because I understood the terrible things this place had done to her? I didn't think that was it. It was just who I was that wanted her safe.

“You should probs go 'fore I change my mind, YO!”

Damn it, damn it, damn it all! I cursed myself as I ran. I'm such a fucking coward.

Passed that room, far past it. Narrow halls continued, but looked and smelled further of rust. I still had no idea where I was going. I wasn't sure if that floating being was still with me. Just in case they were, I asked:

“Am I getting any closer to getting out of here?”

“SURE! IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT!”

When I turned around, I didn't see the same sight I was used to seeing.

I had the BEST of thoughts!

“I've always been the one doing the swallowing whole, but I've never been eaten. Now that we're girlfriends, you think you could devour me?”

WOW! I was surprised my voice box could say that SO eloquently!

My girlfriend stood next to me and croaked.

If this relationship was going to work, we would need to COMMUNICATE!

Lucky for ME, I was BLESSED with not only a GIRLFRIEND, but also an ANGEL! Euphoria must've heard me, because my acquired frog girlfriend opened her mouth real wiiiiide.

What I was met with was not the same floating person I had come to expect, but instead, something more like a spiral. Not floating, either, but not on the surface of anything. As if it occupied its own space outside of what should have been visible. No, not only that, but it wasn't even really a spiral, but a miniature black hole, devouring itself. But I didn't think that to be correct, either.

Colors flickered. Single flickering dot, on and off, that's all it was. All they were. You could say the dot was 'colors' but it seemed more like a singular color, yet one I didn't know of. Some kind of amalgamation of all the colors in the visible spectrum, yet none of them at all.

“Just what are you really?”

“I'M THE EMBODIMENT OF HAPPINESS!”

That sounded both right and wrong from what I've seen of them thus far.

“If that's true, why does it hurt being around you?”

“YOU SURE LOVE ASKING QUESTIONS! HERE'S ONE FOR YOU! WHAT IS IT ABOUT HAPPINESS THAT HURTS YOU?”

“It doesn't. My turn: why do you look like that?”

“IT'S WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY! WHEN YOU SAW ME BEFORE, YOU SAW WHAT MADE OTHERS HAPPY TO SEE! IF YOU SHOULD ASK ANYTHING, HOW ABOUT WHAT IT IS ABOUT THIS FORM THAT MAKES YOU HAPPY?”

“It doesn't,” I shook my head. Well, 'makes me happy' may have been the wrong word choice...

“It's because it's just an emotion, a fleeting feeling. As all emotions are.”

“AS ALL THINGS ARE! SO WHY NOT ENJOY IT?”

“I do, when it comes, and you can't say I don't. Because I do. Got that?”

I wasn't sure how it started. That I was playing twenty-one questions with an incorporeal being.

“GOT IT! SO HOW ABOUT LETTING IT LAST A LITTLE LONGER FROM TIME TO TIME?”

“We both know the answer to that! Because I wouldn't know what to do if I did! So how about you tell me, huh?”

“I CANNOT ANSWER THAT FOR YOU, SILLY! WHY DO YOU SAY YOU WOULDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO? THERE'S NOTHING TO DO BUT BE HAPPY!”

“And that's wrong! Don't you know that?”

“I DON'T KNOW THAT! ALL I KNOW IS HAPPINESS! SO TELL ME WHAT'S WRONG ABOUT THAT?”

“Because! I've abandoned people, people I care about, I've let them die! I let them go off and then the next thing I know, they're gone, and if I had done something, they wouldn't be dead, but I repeat the same thing with the next person I end up caring about! I go off without a care in the world and if I hadn't gone off, then they'd be alive, but the bottom line is, people I meet die and it's always my fault!”

“YEP! THAT SURE DOES HAPPEN! BUT SO WHAT?”

“So what? Did you not hear –?”

“YOU CAN'T CONTROL OTHERS! JUST AS YOU GO OFF ON YOUR OWN SOMETIMES, SO DO OTHERS!”

“Yes, but my mistakes! If I didn't fuck up so bad so many times in my life, others would be alive, I'm sure of it! I could be happy!”

“YOU COULD BE NOW!”

“But I haven't earned it! I've done terrible things!”

“WHAT IF I WERE TO TELL YOU THAT BLANC ASKED IF YOU WOULD BE OKAY WHEN AND I TOLD THEM THAT DYING WAS OKAY AS LONG AS YOU WERE HAPPY!”

“...Is that supposed to make me feel any better? “MAYBE! MAYBE NOT! BUT MAYBE YOU'RE STILL ALIVE BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT YET HAPPY!”

“That's, like, the opposite of an aesop. But fine. Let's play that game. You make others happy. Make me happy so I can die.”

“WOULD YOU REALLY BE HAPPY, THOUGH, IF YOU DON'T ALLOW YOURSELF TO FEEL IT?”

“I don't care! Just work your magic!”

Around me were multiples of the color that flickered. They made up the walls and the floors, the ceilings. Even my fingertips seemed to have traces of them.

“This whole place...is you...”

The way it contorted itself, changed its layout, its image. It all had to be the work of this thing, if it was even real. I had no proof of that, no evidence, and yet I knew just from being around these lights that it was the case.

“YOU MAY UTILIZE ME AND YET YOU DON'T ALLOW YOURSELF TO FEEL ME!”

“That's because...I...!”

The word 'guilty' repeated itself on the walls, ceiling, floor.

Wow, really laying it on thick, huh?

Not to say that the word was written on every surface, but it replaced itself with the surfaces. I wasn't even sure if the word meant anything any more or if it was just that creature's way of tormenting me. Whatever it happened to be, I wasn't having it.

The word repeated itself in a continuous loop, so that it would make sure it was the only word I was allowed to see. To the point that I wasn't sure if the word even had meaning anymore. My brain could think nothing but 'guilty, guilty, guilty' and of what, I couldn't have told you.

“BECAUSE I HAVEN'T FINISHED WHAT I SET OUT TO DO!” I screamed into the words themselves, ran past them, and up a flight of guilt where a hatch lay, made of more guilt. I pushed it open and found myself in a blazing desert. Sand sank in and I pulled myself up, unsure of what had transpired.

I looked down the hatch, nothing but darkness. The hatch itself was a steel grating. It must have been heavy enough that I shouldn't have been able to lift it. Yet here I was, standing in the middle of who knows where in the state of what I presumed to still be Nevada. No one was beside me and I couldn't even think of what parts of my time down there actually happened.

Sweat manifested, dizziness set in. My feeble self closed the hatch, then fell to the ground. Soon I would pass out of heat exhaustion, or just a general sense of disorientation. I was sure of it.

#happiness overload #writing #stories #psychological horror #metaphysical #angels #dark comedy #happiness #gay frogs #love #lesbians #hey look I finally wrote the next chapter #anyway make of this what you will #in all seriousness I actually quite enjoyed writing this chapter #thriller #horror

[cinnamon-pineforest]

(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_LApFnTfP8)

((When I listened to this song I was hit with a story idea. But, since I obviously can't write it because it would have this song in it (I'd want to attempt to make it into a book), I decided to do the next best thing. Write the scene that has this song in it. I hope I did an okay job on it. 😅 ))

Maria flew across the sky and towards the sea. Everything that the great sorceress said couldn't be true. There's no way her sweet Daniel would succumb to dark sea magic. As clueless and clumsy he may be, he was a sailor through and through and sailors never gave up. They were the pride and joy of all mystics of the sea. They were far from pushovers. 

Her long braided red hair whipped behind her and her green eyes narrowed. Her sparkling fairy wings were beginning to become sore but she continued to press on. When she reached the ocean she flew harder and faster. The salty sea water splashed onto her clothes and sturdy mountain boots. The fairy merely ascended until she was high in the cloudy sky. She scanned the area for any signs of Daniels old fashioned ship. 

Maria perked up when she heard her phone ding off in her pants pocket. She pulled it out and saw lots of massages and missed calls from her friends and teachers. She rolled her eyes and pocketed her phone. Even if she wanted to contact them right now she couldn't. Service where she currently was at was terrible. Besides, she was too afraid of accidentally dropping her phone into the ocean. She couldn't afford to buy a new one. 

After one speed spell and over two hours of searching later Maria finally heard something that wasn't sea related. It was voices! She turned herself invisible and flew to the source. She spotted an old fashioned ship and familiar faces. There was no mistaking it. This was Daniels ship. 

Just as she was about to lift the invisibility spell and call out to them she notice something odd. The crew looked a bit different. They were still the same people she knew. But, they all had a dark blue tint to their eyes. It looked unnatural. Yes, there were spells that could change ones eye color. However, this looked different. 

A door shutting snapped the fairy out of her thoughts. Someone had just walked on deck. Judging from the clothes and hat, it was the captain. That was good. She could ask him what was going on and why they had suddenly disappeared. 

She quietly flew down to the ship and hovered over the deck. She looked at the captains face only to almost gasp in surprise. It was Daniel! She recognized his freckled baby face anywhere! But, he wasn't captain of this ship. He was a deck hand. Just like the others, he had a dark blue tint to his eyes. Just what in blue blazes is going on?

She followed from a healthy distance from him as he walked to the front of the ship. He stopped and breathed in the salty air. After a moment he dug into his shirt and pulled out the necklace Maria had given him. Said fairy warmly smiled. It made her feel good knowing he still had it with him.

Daniel brushed his thumb over the glass dolphin and sighed. He turned his gaze towards the cloudy sky and began to sing. "~Cruel and cold, like winds on the sea. Will you ever return to me? Hear my voice, sing with the tide. My love will never die.~"

Maria raised an eyebrow. Was he really singing? Yes, she knew Daniel loved to sing and often joked about becoming an opera singer. But, seriously? He was even casting a music spell so there would be music playing in the area while he sang. She briefly glanced at the crew and saw they weren't playing attention to him. 

"~Over waves, deep in the blue. I will give up my heart for you. Ten long years, I'll wait to go by. My love will never die.~"

Maria had enough. She wanted answers and she wanted them now. She lifted the invisibility spell and landed on deck. Her boots clicked as they landed on the wooden floor. All eyes turned to her. Before she could speak a single word one of the crew members casted a spell on some rope and it tightly wrapped around her. She struggled to not fall onto her knees. Why were they doing this? They all knew her!

Daniel ran towards her with an unsettling smile on his face. "~Come my love, be one with the sea. Rule with me for eternity.~" He grabbed her biceps as she struggled to break the rope. "~Drown all dreams, so mercilessly. And leave their souls to me!"

What was wrong with him? Was he really asking her to rule the sea with him? That was ridiculous. If it weren't for the fact he was right in front of her and she knew for a fact he rarely drank, she would wonder if he was drunk.

He let her go and took a few steps back, holding his arms out slightly. "~Play the song you sang long ago and wherever the storm may blow!~" He placed a hand on his chest. "~You will find the key to my heart. We'll never be apart.~"

Maria had enough. Using her strength and a quick fire spell to scorch the ropes, she broke free. When she tried to take to the skies ropes wrapped around her ankles. The crew was trying to drag her back down onto the ship!

Daniel grinned a bit more and a wild glint gleamed in his eyes. "~Wild and strong, you can't be contained! Never bound nor never chained.~" He watched as Maria casted minor energy blasts and tried to get the crew members to let her go. "~Wounds you caused will never mend. And you will never end!~"

Maria finally had it and burned the ropes. Finally free she flew up into the air and turned herself invisible again. Seeing the crew not attempting to capture her again she stopped and looked at Daniel with an heartbroken look. He was looking in the area she was just in. His crazed smile faded and he gained a sad look on his face. He signed sadly and looked at his necklace. "~Cruel and cold, like winds on the sea. Will you ever return to me?~" He looked up at the sky. "~Hear my voice, sing with the tide. Our love will never die.~"

The fairy blinked as the song drew to a close. The music faded away and Daniel tucked his necklace back into his shirt. What was wrong with him? Was he really under the enchantment of dark sea magic, along with the rest of the crew? Where was their captain? How were they able to avoid everyone's radar when she found them in a matter of hours?

So many questions and no answers. Maria shook her head and flew in the direction where she first came from. It seemed the great sorceress was right. Daniel and his friends really were under the enchantment of dark sea magic. She just didn't want to believe it. However, maybe the great sorceress, along with her teachers, could help her find the answers to all her questions.

#short story #one shot

[ikesenlemonadestandstories]

Food Fight

Request by @dmiqueles and @yvckie for MC who’s turned into a child! Hope you enjoy this!

All My Love,

T~ If you’re interested all of my other works can be found on the Master List! Read at your own leisure! I’ll be at a wedding most of the weekend so imma be extra busy but will be fielding questions/comments (^.^)v have a great one honey bees!

[Mitsuhide]

I had been gone a few weeks, not to say that’s the longest stretch of time I’ve had to leave the princess in the care of my vassals but I wasn’t particularly fond of our time apart so I was hurrying to get back to the manor. Despite all of my times traveling I had never returned to my place in such a state of disarray. The moment I stepped into the hallway from the entrance everyone seemed to freeze, all of them either balancing something expensive high above eye level or wrestling a six year old little girl. Since when did we have so many young girls in the manor.

As calmly as possible I walked over to my most trusted vassal, who happened to by holding both a vase and tray of tea cups well above a little girl who’s kimono skirt was trapped under his footing so she couldn’t run away.

“Might I ask what is going on? Why does everyone seem to have a little girl with them.”

“Actually Lord Mitsuhide, almost a week ago all of the women in the residence fell ill after a trip to the baths. In the morning when we woke up they were all gone, these little girls in their place.”

“All of them.” trying to keep my eyes calm and my face stoic

“Yes Milord.”

“Even the Princess?”

“Yes, though she’s the reason we believe the women didn’t disappear only to be replaced by young girls, rather they have been cursed to look like children.”

“Oh and why is that.”

I was escorted back to our room and equipped with several sugar stars to use in ‘an emergency’ whatever that meant...I still didn’t see how a young (YN) could be so terrifying that the only way to subdue them was to use candy.

I slid the door open and saw them sitting at my writing desk reading, what I could only assume was a book of fairy tales. I’m impressed it was odd to see a child that small reading a book that large. Either they still had retained their education through this curse or the children of the future were held to a much higher standard of learning.

“Little mouse, I’m back.” no response, they just continued to read. Odd. I repeated myself sitting opposite them at the table.

“Oh, you finally came home. About time.” What was this? Quite a brazen young thing you had become, or were rather.

“That I have little mouse.”

“I’m hungry” they dead-panned looking me straight in eyes. The person I was looking at was undoubtedly you, the same face shape, the happy familiar innocence in your swirling cinnamon eyes.

“Then let's go get you fed, shall we princess?” they shook their head vigorously as I whisked them off the floor carrying them down towards the kitchens.

…

I had sent for Masamune in hopes that he would be able to help us feed the little one, gods knew I couldn’t. He arrived in a timely fashion, for once, if only to laugh at the site of me carrying a small child who was gnawing away at the fabric of my scarf and sticking their fingers in every facial orifice they could reach.

“Stop laughing and help me feed them. They have refused everything offered by my kitchen staff screaming about something called ‘pizza’ the only thing that keeps them calm are these god forsaken konpeito.”

“Pizza?” he looked confused “I’ve never heard of that….we may be in a bit of a bind.”

“See little mouse, nobody knows what pizza is. You must pick something else.” and that’s when they screamed. A high pitched blood curdling scream that could have rattled the windows. Out of air you stopped, a dreadful silence filling the room and then, as if your bones were made of nothing more that mochi, you threw yourself backward twisting in a fashion that should have been impossible for any human being, trying to wretch yourself from my grip.

…

He was your last resort, you hated to let one of Kenshin’s men know that you knew he was here poking around but you couldn’t stand the screaming any longer. You knew he was a friend of theirs from the future and you were hoping the ninja could offer some insight as to how to fix (YN) or help make pizza.

As expected Yukimura and Sasuke were found at their stall in the market, both equally surprised to have us approach, and with a child no less. As quickly and efficiently as I could I gave Sasuke as much information about what was going on.

“I know what pizza is. If you can get me these ingredients I can try to make some for (YN).”

“Wonderful. Masamune will help you shop for the items and will escort you back to my manor. Please be quick.”

…

We were waiting in the kitchen for the two of them to return, (YN) occupied themselves with several of the wooden spoons, dancing around the kitchen banging on other random buckets and containers.  Squealing with delight when the pair walked in, they ran over to lock onto Masamune’s shin. Unable to detach them he started walking around the kitchen, it took everything in my power not to laugh at the extra little thunk when his left leg came down slightly heavier from their weight around it.

“You’re going to need a crowbar to remove (YN)” Sasuke stated, expression flat yet oddly mirthful.

“What’s a crowbar, and where do I get one?” Masamune turned to him quickly.

“A crowbar is a long, typically flat metal rod used as a type of lever to open or detach things difficult or impossible to remove otherwise. You can find it in the same place you can find pizza I’m afraid.”

“So it’s from your town? Where the hell did you two even grow up anyway…” Masamune looked confused.

“Can we have this discussion later, right now we need to make pizza before they start screaming again.” I pointed to the little one wrapped around Masamune's leg.

“Agreed.”

…

It didn’t take long for (YN) to get bored of hanging onto the One-Eyed Dragon, he had made it too much of a challenge, jumping and swinging his leg around while they were attached. Instead, they were wondering around the kitchen space with a barrel over their head smacking into every other piece of furniture in the room. Unfortunately for us, no matter how many times they went running into something solid only to land on their bottom, they continued to get up and run again, this behavior was put to a stop when they almost ran into the small opening of the oven.

“How about you help us cook instead (YN)-chan?” Sasuke suggested as the little one nodded vigorously.

Bad idea. Absolutely terrible idea. You were covered in wheat flour, tracking it all around the kitchen, you had splattered at least a quarter of the tomato paste Masamune had made on the walls, shredded cheese was literally all over, mostly found in Sasuke’s hair, half of the onions had been haphazardly peeled and pulled apart by your devious little fingers, and now we stood in a stalemate. You had two eggs, one in each hand...where you had gotten them was beyond me, but you had them raised directly overhead threatening to slam them into the ground if anyone took so much as one step closer to you. You were a very clever child I would have to give you that. I took my eyes off you for a second and the next thing I know Masamune is diving for you as the eggs splinter on the ground, yolk spilling out all over the floor.

“All right little mouse. Back up.” They listen looking wide eyed at my now stern tone. “Why would you do that.”

“Why not?”

“Oh gods they did not just…” words beyond that seemed to fail Masamune as he rolled over on his side laughing. Even the ninja was chuckling as he put the mostly complete pizza in the oven, but I had just about had it.

…

The idea had been to make you sit in a time-out in our room until the other two brought the finished food to us. I had just shut the door behind me when a very shrill shrieking began all throughout the manor, followed swiftly but the clamoring of my men, this was exasperating...thinking up a plan to find whoever had cursed my staff and girlfriend was put on hold when I was pulled forward by an unexpectedly heavy weight in my arms.

I looked down and there you were, right as rain. There was confusion then, at the same time as I, you noticed the child’s clothing you were wearing earlier no longer sufficiently covered you. You scrambled out of my arms in an attempt to find something more suitable to wear, eyes darting around the room, frazzled movements barely keeping up with your mind I’m sure.

“Princess, you’re acting as though I’ve never seen you so immodestly dressed.”

“Mitsuhide.” they straightened looking me dead in the eyes. “That wasn’t a dream was it?”

“It was not…” I closed the gap between us, elated to see them as they normally are again “and you were quite the ornery child.” grabbing a lock of familiar silk tresses.

“Crap, crap, crap, crap…” you pulled away again, this time I stopped you, grabbing onto your wrist. your eyes met mine pleading with me.

“I promise I’ll make it up to you later. Pizza doesn’t take that long to cook and if you don’t let me get dressed everyone is going to see me ‘less than modest’ do you really want to deal with that right now?” 

They had a point, reluctantly I let go of your wrist and made my way into the hallway, a safety measure to make sure no unneeded visitors arrived before (YN) was decent.

…

The pizza was commendable, I couldn’t taste it, but the texture was pleasant enough. It was an oddity here but I had been reassured it was a very common food where they were from. 

Dinner flew by, surely because of the company, and I saw both Masamune and Sasuke out of the manor.

On the way back to my room, several of my vassals stopped to report that all of the maid staff had returned to normal and everyone was working double to get all of the household chores complete that had gone untouched since they ‘disappeared.’ Thanking them for their statements I headed back to (YN).

As I slid the door open they stood to greet me with a smile and a slight bow, walking forward to take one of my hands before raising onto their toes to offer me a kiss as I wrapped them in an embrace.

“I never did get to tell you earlier. Welcome home Mitsuhide.”

Tagging @little-mini-me-world, @kthomas325 have a nice Friday!

#ikemen sengoku #ikesen #ikésen #ikémen sengoku #ikesen mitsuhide #ikesen mitsuhide x reader #cybird #fanfic #finished request #short story #one shot #my story #fan fic

[galileosunshine]

A Fallen Angel’s Consolation

Rating: General Words: 2855 Series: Love Live! Sunshine!! Pairing: YohaRiko

Summary: Yoshiko treats Riko out to dinner, and tries to act the part of a proper girlfriend. And that means - no Yohane. 

Written for @aisuwa as a makeup gift for Secret Admirers 2018 exchange! 

Read on AO3

Tsushima Yoshiko had never been more on edge in her life.

She was a jittery mess of nerves on the inside, and she fought to not constantly fidget with her hands or fix her hair or sigh. All of it was because of what she had planned for this evening with her girlfriend, a certain senior with red hair and a passion for playing piano.

It wasn’t that their evening’s plans involved anything out of the ordinary. It was just a Valentine’s day dinner at a restaurant. Granted, the restaurant was rather upscale, located on Awashima Island, served gourmet dishes along with balcony views of Uchiura’s sea, and required a certain dress code and at least a week’s prior reservation. And all of it came at a hefty sum of money.

Ok, it was pretty extravagant. Yoshiko wanted to do something special for their Valentine’s. But besides the fancy dinner, Yoshiko didn’t want anything else be out of the ordinary. And to be specific, she wanted to be herself unassuming – and that meant none of her fallen angel pretenses and speeches about hell or little demons. Absolutely nothing Yohane-related.

She wanted everything to be proper, down-to-earth…because Riko was a proper, down-to-earth kind of girl.

Yoshiko and Riko had only been dating for a couple months. And for that matter, it was the first time Yoshiko had dated anyone, so she had more than a few anxieties about how their relationship was going. She definitely didn’t want to screw this evening up. She wanted Riko to have fun, without having to be embarrassed about her own girlfriend while in public.

And that’s what made her worry. Yoshiko just hoped she could keep her fallen angel side under control.

Yoshiko swallowed down her nervousness as she finally arrived at Riko’s house, pulling her car into the driveway. She gave her makeup and hair a final lookover in the mirror before exiting the car and heading up the path to Riko’s front door.

Before Yoshiko even had a chance to knock, the door opened and Riko stepped out to greet her with an enthusiastic smile.

“Yocchan! You’re here!”

Riko wore a low-high, off shoulder dress, in her namesake’s color of pink, and a small pearl necklace hung around her neck. Her hair was styled with waves, and it was swept to one side and hung over one shoulder. It nearly made Yoshiko forget how to breathe, and for a second, all of her worries were forgotten. But only a second.

“Riri!” Yoshiko said, then quickly bit her tongue. “I-I mean…Riko! You look great!” Yoshiko mentally berated herself for letting herself trip up already. She had to be more careful than she thought, or else she’d unconsciously fall into her habits.

Riko tilted her head slightly, confused at Yoshiko not calling her by her usual nickname, but she quickly put it out of her mind. Their reservation was in thirty minutes, and it wouldn’t look good to be late.

“You look great too, Yocchan,” she returned the compliment. Then she smiled playfully. “I half expected you to be in some gothic getup and your face painted all white, but here you are.”

“Whaaaat?” Yoshiko let out a forced laugh. “I wouldn’t do that!”

“I don’t know…” Riko feigned.

“I wouldn’t! Not for a night like tonight,” Yoshiko said, feeling her cheeks get hot. “And certainly not for the kind of place we’re going to.” Yoshiko didn’t mention that luckily for her, her mom had a spare black dress that fit her, or else she really might be in one of those gothic dresses. But Riko didn’t need to know that.

“I know, I’m joking,” Riko giggled. She stepped out of the doorway and clutched Yoshiko’s arm. “Shall we go?”

Yoshiko gulped at the sudden cool sensation of Riko’s arm against her own. “Ahh, yeah! Let us descend to – I mean! Um…yeah, let’s go.” Mentally berating herself again, Yoshiko led the two of them back to the car.

It started a week ago, at the shoe lockers after school.

“Hey Riri,” Yoshiko asked nervously, leaning against the wall of lockers. Riko was switching out her shoes as they talked.

“What’s up, Yocchan?” she replied.

“Next week…is Valentine’s, right?”

“Yeah, that’s right. What about it?”

Yoshiko’s eyes darted about. “Well…I was wondering…what you wanted to do? I mean I know the tradition is the girl gets chocolate for her boyfriend, or the person she likes, but since we’re both girls…do I, like, give you chocolate, or do you give me chocolate or…I mean, not that either of us is the ‘guy’ in the relationship, but…y’know! Or, um we can both get each other chocolate, or…”

Yoshiko’s head swam as she babbled. Why was it so awkward talking about this stuff? She thought she’d get use to this lovey-dovey stuff after a couple months of dating. But she was still as tongue-tied as ever when she was with Riko.

Riko answered with a laugh. “You’re overthinking it, Yocchan. Just like you said, we can both get each other chocolate. C’mon let’s walk.”

They exited the school building and began their daily walk down the long slope leading up to Uranohoshi, and that led to the bus stop at its end.

“There’s one other thing!” Yoshiko said, calling after Riko.

“What is it?”

“I kinda…wanted to do something special too. Besides just the chocolate.”

“Something special?” Riko echoed, and she hummed in musing.

“Eh? What’s wrong?”

“Well usually when you say ‘special,’ it means some kind of Satanic ritual or something else involving Yohane.”

“Ahh, that’d be nice…wait, no! I don’t mean anything like that!”

Riko wasn’t convinced, however.

“Are you sure?” she said, narrowing her eyes. “I don’t want to be dragged into one of your little demon shenanigans.”

“It’s not that!” Yoshiko replied in a fit of embarrassment. “I was just thinking of going out for a nice dinner? It’d be my treat! My mom was telling me about this fancy new restaurant that opened on Awashima Island. We might be able to get a reservation there. That is, if you want to…”

Yoshiko’s face felt, as she might say, hotter than the flames of hell. And her embarrassment only got worse as Riko stayed silent for the next several seconds, until they stopped walking, having arrived at the bus stop.

Finally, Riko turned toward her and gave an earnest smile. “Yeah, that sounds nice!” As relief flooded through, Yoshiko’s body, Riko stepped closer to the dark-haired girl and planted a small kiss on her cheek. “As long as you don’t make a scene and nothing ends in a public spectacle then, I’d be happy to!”

“G-great!” Yoshiko responded, her heart racing out of control, both from the kiss, and in excitement for the coming week. “I promise you won’t be disappointed!”

Although Riko probably didn’t mean her words to be taken so seriously, Yoshiko was determined to act the part of the proper girlfriend on this date.

And so, on their ferry ride to Awashima, she didn’t make any comments about crossing the River Styx or entering the realm of Hades, or about the night being as dark as her tainted soul, and she certainly didn’t stand at the helm of the boat, claiming it be her vessel in their journey to the underworld. As much as she wanted to.

Riko found Yoshiko’s demeanor to be strange as well, voicing her concern.

“Are you alright, Yocchan? You seem awfully quiet.”

“Do I?” Yoshiko said back, and Riko raised an eyebrow.

“What’s wrong?”

Nothing was wrong, Yoshiko wanted to say. But she knew that would just make Riko more curious. And the last thing she wanted was for Riko to be worried about her on their date.

What made the entire situation worse was that, whenever she didn’t know how to respond to something, she always had her Yohane persona to fall back on. It made everything easier when she could turn it into a joke. But now she couldn’t even do that.

“I just want you to enjoy yourself,” Yoshiko said instead, with a smile that she hoped would ease Riko’s worry. Then she pointed to the sky, trying to divert attention away from herself. “Look, the stars. Aren’t they pretty?”

“Yeah,” she replied without looking. She only continued to stare at Yoshiko, concerned etched even deeper on her face.

When they arrived on the island, they were ushered to the restaurant, where they claimed their reservation and were seated on an open-air balcony overlooking the Uchiura waters. Off in the distance, they could make out the lighthouse, its beam of light circling around and around. Little lamps were also set adrift in the water below, and combined with the fairy lights that lined the railings, Yoshiko and Riko felt like they were floating among stars.

“Wow, this is beautiful,” Riko said. “I feel like I’m in a dream.” Seeing the enchanted gleam in Riko’s eyes, Yoshiko smiled, perhaps her first genuine smile that night.

Soon, they had their drinks, and were offered menus.

“Geh,” Yoshiko flinched, eyeing the rows and rows of fancy sounding dishes. “I can’t even pronounce half of these!”

Riko giggled. “I think some of these are in French.”

“What? How am I supposed to know what to order? They don’t even have pictures!”

“Maybe we should ask for a children’s menu?”

Yoshiko sputtered. “H-hey! I don’t need a children’s menu!”

“Oh?”

Yoshiko raised her chin up haughtily and made a V-sign in front of her eyes. “The great Yohane has lived ages, millennia, longer than you fellow mortals. She certainly does not require a chil–”

Yoshiko came to an abrupt halt, realizing what she was doing. Her hand came down from her face in an instant.

“O…kay?” Riko said, curious as to why she had stopped. “But I would think that Yohane, having lived so long, would at least be able to read a few foreign languages.”

“Let’s…not bring up Yohane, ok?” Yoshiko said, her face turning red. She quickly looked about the room to make sure no one had seen her. In the fine dining establishment they were in, Yoshiko was afraid she might even get a complaint for making ‘gang’ signs.

Riko furrowed her eyes in confusion. Now she really suspected that something was wrong. But once again, she decided to let it go for the moment, and instead focused back on the menu.

“We could pick at random?” Riko suggested. Despite her teasing, she had to admit that she couldn’t make out most of the food options either.

“Pick at random?” Yoshiko echoed.

“Yeah, my mom and I do it sometimes. It’s kind of fun, to get something completely unexpected.”

“What if we don’t like it?”

“Usually, since we’re getting two dishes, there’s something we can enjoy. We can share that, and ignore whatever we don’t like.”

Yoshiko thought for a second. She looked down again, at the words written on the laminated pages, with all its roman letters in fancy squiggly lines, and the extra vowels and accent marks that made her brain hurt deciphering how to pronounce them.

“Y’know, I like that! Let’s do it, Riri!” Yoshiko said, she really didn’t have any better ideas. And then she realized what she said. “I mean – ! Good idea…Riko.”

“Ok, that’s it.” Riko closed her menu with a loud thump and tossed it on the table. She folded her arms and put on her best ‘stern’ face, making sure to looks Yoshiko square in the eyes. “Tell me what’s wrong.”

“Wh-! What? Nothing’s wrong! I’m completely okay! What gave you that idea?”

“Well for one, you’re reacting like that.”

Yoshiko flushed.

“You won’t call me Riri, which you always do, even when I tell you not to! And you’ve only cracked one Yohane line this entire evening! You’re acting like… Well, you’re not acting like you.”

Yoshiko hid behind her menu. What could she say? She couldn’t deny that everything Riko said was true.

“Sorry…” Yoshiko mumbled out apologetically, and Riko immediately softened. She didn’t mean to yell at her. She was trying to help Yoshiko after all, not make her feel worse. Riko reached across the table and laced her fingers through Yoshiko’s.

“Yocchan,” she said, her voice low and hopefully soothing. “You said you want me to enjoy myself, but I can’t have fun if you’re not having fun either, ok? So tell me what’s wrong.”

Yoshiko set down her menu with her free hand, and took a long intake of breath before letting it out in a sigh.

“Well…you said you didn’t want anything Yohane related tonight, so I was trying to be…y’know, not. I was trying to be normal.”

Riko pursed her lips. “Is that all?”

Yoshiko nodded.

“You’re really an idiot, Yocchan.”

“H-huh?”

“I said not to make a public spectacle. You don’t have to completely avoid being Yohane, I didn’t mean it like that.”

“But…”

Yoshiko went silent, her eyes taking on a faraway look, and Riko started to realize that it wasn’t simply a misunderstanding on Yoshiko’s part. The source of Yoshiko’s worry went deeper, farther into her past. And when the girl finally spoke up, her voice was cracked and wavering, a mix of fear and anxiety that spoke of years of being rejected and ridiculed for being Yohane.

“It’s just…I don’t want you to hate me,” Yoshiko said, barely above a whisper. “You’re my first girlfriend, and…you’re the first person who’s accepted me despite…well, everything. And also today’s Valentine’s day, so I wanted you to have a good time, and so…because you made it sound like you didn’t want anything to do with Yohane tonight I…”

Yoshiko trailed off. She probably wasn’t making sense anyways, but more so because she was afraid that she’d start crying if she said any more. Her body was already trembling enough as it is. Riko was also looking at her as though she’d break into a million pieces at the slightest breath. She certainly felt that way.

Yoshiko felt her hand being squeezed.

“Yocchan, I don’t hate you, or your fallen angel stuff. I mean, I don’t like it when you drag me into it or make a scene in public, but I don’t hate you for being you.”

Riko sighed. It’d take more than a few words of consolation for scars this deep.

“I love your passion for all the fallen angel stuff, I admire it. And I love how you can just put yourself out there, and unapologetically be yourself. It’s really helped me too, to come out of my shell, and be more assertive. I love all of you, Yocchan, so you don’t need to pretend to be something you’re not, ok? Not with me.”

Yoshiko’s eyes met Riko’s for an instant, and then looked away. And then she looked at Riko again, and the second time, she held her gaze.

“You…mean it?”

“Of course I do.”

Yoshiko squeezed Riko’s hand back, and gave her a shy half smile, pointed tooth and all. “You really are my most loyal little demon, Ri– …Riri.”

Riko’s heart heaved a sigh of relief. She felt that at that moment, the entire evening could’ve ended and their time would’ve been worth it. Normally she’d brush off a comment about her being a little demon, but in that moment, it was the highest praise she could ask for.

Because it wasn’t just praise. It was Yoshiko saying thank you. Thank you for being there for her, for putting up with her, and most of all, for accepting her. And that’s when Riko stumbled upon another realization.

Perhaps that was all Yoshiko was ever asking for, when she invited people to become her little demons.

“Ahem,” a voice called from behind Riko, and they both swiveled their heads toward the source of the sound. “Are you ready to order?” It was their waiter, who had been standing there for who knows how long.

Yoshiko and Riko exchanged glances and smiled knowingly at each other, before Riko turned back to the waiter.

“Yes, we are.”

And as planned, they picked randomly off the menu, pointing at a spot and requesting whatever their fingers landed on.

The rest of the evening passed just as lightheartedly. They chatted about school and recent Aqours activities, laughing at each other’s blunders and swearing to do better. They talked about new songs, even coming up with some new concepts for their subunit. When their orders arrived, and they saw the food sitting on their platters, they had a fun moment of “so that’s what that was!” and enjoyed trying each other’s dishes.

Most of all though, was the feeling of freedom Yoshiko felt. She was more boisterous and “fallen angel” than ever, at one point even trying to perform a summoning by drawing a pentagram with ketchup.

And through it all, she basked in the light of Riko’s eyes, and the warmth of her smile, that told her she was accepted, and that she was loved.

Notes: Well, I never expected myself to write a YohaRiko fic ^^;; I probably wouldn’t have if it weren’t for this exchange. Although it is faaaar from being my favorite ship, it was a nice challenge to try and write for it, and to try and understand it a bit more. I hope you enjoyed!

#Love Live! Sunshine!! #YohaRiko #Riko Sakurauchi #Yoshiko Tsushima #fanfic #my writing

[taejinpurple-blog]

TOXIC BITES - Chapter 7

AN: An angsty kind of fic. Can be a trigger for anyone who has ever been in a toxic relationship before.

*REMEMBER this is just a fanfic used for entertainment so please enjoy it*

Mature content so please read responsibly.

                       The Heart Speaks

Jin looked at Namjoon as he spoke to the other men in front of him. Jin wasn't sure what type of supernatural beings they were but he knew they weren't vampires.

"What are you?" A man with long teal hair asked Jin,

"What am I?"

"Yeah, are you a vampire? Demon? Fallen angel? Fairy?"

"I'm human," he said and their mouths dropped.

"You're human?!" They exclaimed, and he nodded.

"No offense but you're the most beautiful human I had ever seen." The man with short brunette hair said. Jin's cheeks turned a soft red.

The man with teal hair nodded. "Yeah, usually supernatural beings are born with above average looks. You could easily fit in and no one would even question."

"Thank you." Jin politely bowed his head.

"Are you and Namjoon dating? You two make a fine pair honestly."

"Leave it to Namjoon to find the exotic gems."

They all laughed.

"You two are funny but no Jin is just my personal guest."

"You rarely have those."

"Yeah, I'm sure he'll be yours soon." They laughed before walking away.

"Sorry if they made you feel uncomfortable. They are demons and aren't around many humans."

"That's fine."

"You look good." Namjoon smiled at him.

"Thank you and as do you."

"Namjoon Hyung, thank you for inviting me to your party," V said coming into sight. Jin's eyes widened when he saw V but he remained calm.

"I'm glad you came. You've been in such a bad mood these last couple of weeks I was afraid that you wouldn't show up."

V's eyes narrowed a bit but he let out a small laugh. "Your parties are always the best. How could I pass up the opportunity of socializing with snobby upperclassmen who just wanna talk about all the humans they've fucked in the past?"

Jin's eyes widened and he glanced at Namjoon who wasn't amused but he just nodded.

"I was certain that Shiwon would be here by your side like he is every party you have," V smirked as he folded his arms.

"Nope Shiwon isn't here with me. I'm here with Jin and a couple of gentlemen were just telling us what a fine pair we are, right Jin?" Namjoon's hand slid down to his lower back and Jin cleared his throat nodding his head.

"Yes."

He clutched his fists and walked away without saying anything. He was furious but he knew attacking Namjoon was instant death. And Jin would blame himself, so he decided to keep a safe distance from them. He needed something to clog his senses.

"TaeTae you came!" Baekhyun exclaimed hugging him.

"Yeah ...I decided to come after all."

"Great, let's have some fun!"

"Hyung, did Suho Hyung bring his drink mix?"

"Of course he did! Why?"

"I want to let loose tonight and introduce me to those guys you were talking about."

"Say no more, my child!" Baekhyun draped his arm around V's shoulder.

Jin watched V walking away with a group of vampires.

"Is Taehyung the vampire you were involved with?" Namjoon asked.

"Yeah ..."

"Do you wanna go to him?" Jin looked at Namjoon. "I'm not an upper-class vampire for nothing. Unlike others, I can hear your thoughts and your mind is calling Taehyung. However, it seems likes you usually run to him."

"I don't wanna be weak anymore." He whispered.

"So you won't run to him this time?"

"I won't," Jin said looking Namjoon in the eyes.

"Let's put that to the test ...come with me."

~~~~*~~~~

Jimin pushed Jungkook against the wall as the room door shut behind them. He captured Jungkook's lips, sliding his tongue into his mouth. Jimin grabbed Jungkook's waist pulling his body into his.

Jungkook pushed back a bit looking Jimin in the eyes.

"I have never been with a guy before."

Jimin stopped inches from his pink lips. "Is this something you want?"

Jungkook swallowed hard as Jimin's hand brushed over his bulge making him shudder. He opened his mouth to speak but Jimin caught his lips again. His tongue swirled around Jimin's as a soft moan escaped his lips.

"is this what you want?" Jimin asked him again.

Jungkook pushed at his chest and looked down to the floor. "I can't make that decision just yet ..." He pushed passed Jimin and rushed out the room.

Jimin sighed leaning against the wall while running his hand through his hair.

"Liar."

~~~~*~~~~

V down another drink and bobbed his head to the music. Something by Girl's Day was blasting. A fallen angel came behind him and rubbed up against his body. He looked at the green eyed-man who licked his lips.

"You look sexy, wanna have some fun?"

V tilted his head and stopped his lips inches away from the fallen angel. "No, now get lost."

The man scoffed. "Your lost." He disappeared. V saw his cup was empty and staggered away from the area to get another drink. He bumped into a demon who turned and shoved him.

"Watch where you're going, douche!"

"Do you have a problem with me?! Wanna fight punk?!" V slurred his words as he stared at the four demons in front of him. "I can handle all four of you! Bring it on!"

The demon looked around not seeing anyone else but the two of them.

Baekhyun rushed over to V and moved him away from the demon "What are you doing dufus? You know Namjoon would hand you a new ass if you fight at his party."

"I don't care what he thinks! He's a man stealer!"

"Man-stealer? What the hell are you talking about?!"

"He's stealing Jin from me!" V ran his hand through his hair in frustration.

"Jin is here?"

"Yes! With Namjoon Hyung!"

"That's tough, Namjoon is everything you're not."

V glared at him and they walked outside on the balcony.

"Just go find someone else."

V leaned against the banister. "I don't want to ...I love him too much."

"I swear to god you're so annoying." Baekhyun ruffled his hair in frustration. "Then go and tell the man how you feel!"

"He already pushed me away!"

"Because you probably did something idiotic in the process. Just go to him and tell him. Tell him everything that's in your head and stop being stubborn. If he's the one and you lose him you'll never be happy."

V pressed his lips tightly and rushed through the crowd.

"Good luck."

~~~~*~~~~

Namjoon stood with Jin on the balcony of the fourth floor.

"Wow, the view of the city from here is beautiful."

"I like this view, it's very calming."

"It is."

Namjoon looked at Jin. "There's a reason why I sought you out."

Jin looked at him.

"It wasn't just because of your company."

"Then why?"

"I saw Taehyung watching you. He came to your apartment and watched you through your window."

Jin's eyes widened.

"Taehyung did?"

Namjoon nodded. "You were singing a sad song and started to cry. He then disappeared and I saw you. I felt like you didn't deserve to suffer like that and I thought the idiot wasn't good enough for you. I guess what I'm saying is, I'm interested in you and if you truly want to get over him. I'll show you how a real man is supposed to treat you."

Jin swallowed the lump in his throat.

"I um ..."

"Give me another chance!" V's voice came from behind them and they turned to the door. "Jin I love you! I love you more than my stupid brain and heart can comprehend."

V ran to Jin dropping to his knees. He grabbed his hands. "Please, I promise to do whatever you want. You wanna cuddle and not have sex for two weeks that's fine. You want me to sit in the house with you and not go out with Jimin, fine! You want me to be gentle and show you real love, fine. I just need you in my life again."

Jin opened his mouth to speak but gasped when V collapsed in his arms.

#taejin is real #taejinshipper #taejin is real taejin jikook bts vjin vjin taejinshipper kookmin yoonseok #taejin fanfic #bts vjin #TAEJIN IS REAL TAEJIN JIKOOK BTS VJIN VJIN TAEJINSHIPPER KOOKMIN YOONSEOK TAEJIN FANFIC

[dreamsofalifea]

@siximpossiblethoughts continued from x

There was a long pause.

"...May I speak to Alice, please? If she's not here, where can I find her?"

#i hope this is okay! #v: everything you never knew about fairies and were too afraid to ask

[noisinnocent]

Northside Serpent Pt. 1 | Sweet Pea

A/N: This is my first ever fanfiction to be ever posted so don’t be too harsh?

Sweet Pea X OC

Plot: A hidden serpent from the northside balances what it means to be a serpent and valuing friendship.

WARNING A PART OF THIS HAS BEEN EDITED TO MATCH THE PART TWO BUT IT’S ONLY A VERY SMALL EDIT. THIS IS JUST A HEADS UP!!

I stepped up to the side up platform clutching my clothes. When I got my signal, I got up the platform and started the Serpent's Dance. I maintained a straight face, but my eyes wandered all over the bar watching the reactions of the other Serpents there. As I finished my dance, I ran down the stage and took the sheets I had prepared and wrapped myself in them. I looked at Tall Boy who nodded towards the bar. No one knew me, they just think I was some stripper dancing on that stage, but Tall Boy knew. I had done the three other initiations secretly with only Tall Boy and four other senior serpents, they had informed FP though. After I got dressed I headed towards the bar where Tall Boy was, and we headed to the back.

"That was the last initiation just need to get your Serpent Tattoo then" Tall Boy said. I simply nodded.

"Tall Boy could I ask you a favor?"

"What is it?"

"If anybody asks my name is Fairy Queen, not Tatiana King. FP would also know me immediately."

"Sure, you being a Serpent is a secret. Your secret is safe with us. FP made sure of it before he went to jail."

"Where are you getting?" Tall Boy asks as I prepared to get inked.

"Just under the nape."

I took a day off from school just to relax and process everything that's happened to me the past few days. I had done my initiation right after class where I immediately headed to the White Wyrm. I had just gotten my Serpent tattoo. My Serpent Jacket was hidden in my closet. And I just became an official Serpent.

The next day I finally went back to school. Nobody cared that i was gone obviously, they were still hooked on the whole red circle thing Archie started. I had English for first period, it was the only class that had given us assigned seats.

"Oh my god Tatiana, where have you been. You were absent yesterday." Betty said, she was assigned to the seat next to mine.

"Look it was just one day okay? I was feeling a bit under the weather. It wasn't like I was gone for a whole week."

"But I know you. You've never missed school even once. Even if you were a bit sick or just a headache."

"Just let it slide Betty it's nothing."

When class ended Betty told me we should sit together at lunch. I just said yes and headed to my chemistry class where Archie then got called out by Principal Weatherbee and Sheriff Keller. I took that opportunity to sit beside Veronica.

"What was that all about 'Nica?"

"I don't know. I hope Archie is okay."

"Don't you think it's still about that Red Circle thing?"

"I think so. Again, the t-shirts were my idea."

"Maybe he's done something worse, for Sheriff Keller to actually go here." Veronica looked so worried and I just rubbed her back to help comfort her.

Veronica and I had the same class before going to lunch, so I was now walking beside her while she was standing out so much with her scoop neck red circle shirt. We got to a table where Betty was scribbling over a notebook looking very stressed.

"Hey Betty, what's that?" I asked taking one of the discarded papers as I sat down.

"I'm trying to decipher this cipher from the Black Hood." She answered and runs a hand through her hair, taking a short break.

"Well it's lunch time and I think you need to eat here." Veronica then gives her the sandwich she bought for Betty.

"Thanks V." Betty takes the sandwich and takes a bite. "This cipher is so hard, but it seems so familiar."

"Maybe I can help with this?" I asked. Betty hands me the cipher, a paper and a pencil.

I scribbled down the symbols trying to match them up with potential letters while Veronica and Betty talked. I had tried it for a while but decided to give up. For the Black Hood to make something as complicated as this he must be smart, I thought.

"I tried, and I failed. This is hard considering also the fact that I'm bad at deciphering things."

"It's okay T. At least you tried." Betty sighed.

"By the way I never asked you but where were you yesterday T." Veronica asked as she remembers my absence.

"Feeling sick but decided I'd go to school today."

"So, you're still sick?"

"A bit but I can't be gone too long, not when you guys are stressed out with this Black Hood guy and I'm doing nothing." Veronica side hugs me.

"Thanks T. You really are an awesome friend. I was thinking are you guys game for a sleepover at the Pembrooke later?"

"I can't. I'm heading over to Jug's we were going to hopefully solve this cipher."

"What about you T? You up for it?"

"Sure, just after my mom leaves so that I can spontaneously force her to let me."

After I got of at the Pembrooke I asked if Veronica was there and their butler, Andre, said she was out. I decided to call her to ask if we were still continuing.

"Hey 'Nica, where are you?"

"I'm at Archie's"

"What happened you sound worried."

"Some Southside Serpents were here earlier asking for a fight and they went to an open lot. Oh my god what if Archie gets seriously hurt."

"Okay just wait there and we'll go find Archie and maybe help him."

I hurried to Archie's running as fast as I can, getting soaked in the rain. I knocked at the door and Veronica opened for me ready to leave. She immediately went off and I followed her. We watched a while as the Bulldogs and Serpents fought. I wanted to step in, but I had a fear I'd get discovered so I stayed with Veronica out of sight. It got worse and I decided to run towards the fight, but I noticed Veronica take something from her bag and slowly walked towards the crowed as well. She raised her arm and revealed a gun. I run back towards her hoping to get the gun in time, but she fired it upwards. I looked back to the fight and saw they were shocked by the gun shot. I ran towards Archie and helped him up. I decided to glance at the Serpents who were just getting back from being shaken up by the sound of a gunshot. I met eyes with the eyes of the other serpents but I briefly locked eyes with the guy who had just beaten up Archie. He seemed to be notice me, but I had immediately run back to Veronica while helping Archie. I looked back, and I saw the Serpents runaway. Veronica then helped me with Archie.

We went back to Archie's place, but I decided not to stay as I knew they needed to talk. I was soaking wet and it was still raining. I debated whether I would go to the White Wyrm and just sneak on the Serpents if they were okay or I would go home. I decided on the latter. As I laid down in bed I remembered the rules I just broke. In unity, there is strength; no serpent is left for dead; and a serpent never betrays his own.

"You look like you didn't sleep at all." Veronica said as she walked beside me.

"I couldn't. Last night, I was- I just didn't expect that to happen."

"Well the Serpents would always want trouble, won't they?"

"I guess" I muttered. I was a coward. Maybe I wasn't a serpent after all, even after doing my initiation.

"Well at least we manage to stop them in time before they tried killing each other."

Veronica and Kevin were talking about some Nick St. Clair guy when Betty and Archie came in.

"Hey Betty, how'd it go solving that cipher?" I asked as she sat beside me

"We managed to solve it and cause a bit of a panic to the parents at the emergency town meeting. How 'bout your sleepover with V?"

"We cancelled. The rain was too strong, and Nica wanted to go to Archie’s, so I just stayed at home."

After a few days I got a call from Tall Boy telling me to go to the White Wyrm, I asked if I had to bring my jacket in which he answered that I should decide for myself. I ended up leaving the jacket behind but wearing a hooded jacket, so I won't be caught. I got to the White Wyrm and saw Jughead reciting the laws to Tall Boy. Is Jughead joining the serpents? Is his father letting him?

"What is the last law?" Tall Boy shouted

"In unity there is strength" Jughead shouted back

"In unity there is strength" Everyone shouted including me.

Jughead finished and went on to do his next task, retrieving the knife from the box. I mindlessly clutched my right wrist remembering where I got bitten. He managed to do it with ease though getting bitten at the same time. When all the crowd scattered to what they were previously doing I walked to the bar where I waited for Tall Boy.

"Why'd you call me here?"

"Thought you'd want to see FP's son do the initiation. Besides you haven't come in a while I was wondering what had happened to you."

"I just needed to finally understand what it meant to be a serpent. A serpent never shows cowardice. Yet here I am afraid to show my face to the others."

"Hey Tall Boy up for a game of pool?" A deep voice says behind me. Tall Boy nods his head.

"I'm gonna leave you here Fairy Queen."

I looked at Tall Boy as he goes to play pool. I noticed the guy who had asked him to play was the same guy who beat up Archie. I noticed him sporting a black eye. Despite being freakishly tall I'm shocked Archie managed to punch him that high. I didn't leave immediately as I thought I would. I got closer and leaned on a wall far from the most of them.

"You don't look like you're from here." A looked beside me and see a girl with pink pigtails.

"I know. Maybe because I'm not."

"So, you're a Northsider."

"I'm a Southsider, just doesn't go around here too much."

"Anyways, I'm Toni Topaz."

"Fairy Queen."

We shook hands and just leaned on that wall watching the others play. We did some small talk before she heads near the pool table and talks with the tall serpent. I decided not to stay much longer so when Toni looked here I waved goodbye. As I left I noticed the tall serpent watch me with suspicious eyes. Did he recognize me from the fight?

I saw Veronica, Betty, Archie and an unfamiliar guy talking, and I decided to head towards them. I then learn his name was Nick St. Clair the one Veronica was talking about before. He invites me to the party he was hosting at the Five Seasons in which I decline. Veronica then leaves with Nick and Archie goes of to the rest of the football team. Betty and I decided to go to Pop's for some milkshakes. We were talking for a while before she gets a call looking terrified, she runs out to answer it. I didn't follow her instead I went for her to come back. When she came back, she had a horrified look on her face. She sat in front of me sitting still and contemplated on her thoughts.

"Betty what's wrong?" I kept asking.

She finally answered. "You- you- you're a serpent," she says quietly.

"Who told you that?"

"Is it true T? That you're a serpent?"

"Who told you that?"

"It doesn't matter is it true that you're a serpent!" Her voice got louder, even silencing some of the booths beside us.

"It is. But you have to trust me, I'm not a bad person. You know me Betty."

"It's bad enough Jughead is hanging out with serpents. Then I find out one of my best friends is a serpent." She storms off and I ran after her.

"Betty, you know me I'm not bad. I haven't done anything wrong."

"You might not have done anything wrong right now, but you might. You're in a gang Tatiana."

"It's because I had to okay."

"Why is it because we aren't enough for you? Is it because we wouldn't do anything bad? Is it because we're Northsiders?"

"It's something more than that okay."

"Well it still doesn't change the fact that you're a serpent."

I went to the White Wyrm at night still wearing a hoodie. I went to the bar where Tall Boy was making a drink.

"What the fuck Tall Boy, how the hell did someone know I joined the serpents."

"Fairy Queen, what are you doing here?"

"Answer the damn question Tall Boy."

"Nobody knows except the people who saw your initiations."

"Then how the fuck did my Northsider friend find out that I was a serpent."

"I don't know. But I’ll beat up the person who told on you."

"That doesn't change the fact that someone else besides you guys know that I'm a serpent."

"Look why does it matter."

"I go to Riverdale High for fucksake. What do you think happens when people find the fuck out that I'm a serpent."

He sighs and hands me a drink. "This is the only time I'll allow you to drink- " I don't let him finish and drink the whole damn thing. Ignoring the burning sensation in my throat.

He leaves me alone and I think I needed just that. To be alone in my own thoughts. But Toni comes and sits beside me.

"What were you talking to Tall Boy about."

"It's none of your business."

"Wow. Sorry your highness am I not worthy of your presence. News flash you're in my territory. If you haven't figured it out yet I'm a serpent, and I don't appreciate being disrespected."

"Is something wrong here?" A deep voice says from behind me.

"I think I can handle it Sweet Pea." I hold back a laugh at his name. Sweet Pea, really?

I decided to storm off in case I get recognized but Sweet Pea managed to grasp my shoulder before I could leave. He turns me around and he looks into my eyes and I look into his. Like a light bulb just flashed he remember me instantly.

"You were with that Northsider who shot the gun."

"You're a Northsider? First you disrespect me then you lie to my face." Toni looked at me with an intense glare. But I'm not gonna hide away. A serpent never shows cowardice.

"Well I'm sorry for minding my own business. And is being a Northsider that bad."

"You Northsiders go blame everything that happens in your damn side of the town and blame us, and you think that's minding your own business." Sweet Pea spats.

"What's going on here?" Tall Boy asked as he approached us.

"Just a lost Northsider looking for trouble," Toni answered.

"Fairy Queen, look doesn't mean some Northsider finds out you're a Serpent you're gonna look for trouble here." Tall Boy then gets me from Sweet Pea's grasp.

"I wasn't. I'm just not in the mood and then they just started misinterpreting everything I've said."

"You're a serpent? But you've never done the initiation. I didn't even see you do the dance." Sweet Pea said.

"That misogynistic dance? Yeah, I've done it. I've done every initiation but the Gauntlet, but I don't recall girls requiring the gauntlet."

"She's a serpent. But it's supposed to be kept a secret and I need you two keep your mouth shut as well."

"And why would we do that?" Sweet Pea says in a challenging tone glaring daggers at Tall Boy.

"Because a serpent doesn't betray his own. Unless you want me dead Sweet Pea and that doesn't sit too well with the rules does it. I suggest keeping your mouth shut."

I notice him wanting to punch me, but I hold my ground.

A/N: Sorry for the lack of Sweet Pea development, it will be like this for a few parts if I continue. But don’t worry there is still interaction between them.

#sweet pea #sweet pea x oc #sweetpea #riverdale #serpent #northside #southside #southside serpents #fanfic

[outpostsofbabel]

Demigods and Semi-devils, Chapter V (IX)

The scroll described many exercises of the other meridians and acupoints, all aimed at helping the reader tap another person’s inner energies. Duan Yu went through these briefly, but felt that studying them would go against his principles and be rather greedy besides. So, he set them aside for the time being.

At the bottom of the scroll, the words “Light Steps Over the Waves” caught his eye. He called to mind several lines from the Ode to the Nymph of the Luo River:

She steps lightly across the waves,

Water droplets settle like dust on her silk stockings...

She turns and her eyes are full of life,

Her beautiful skin as fair as white jade.

She holds her words in her mouth, saying nothing,

With an air like a tranquil orchid.

So graceful and elegant is she,

That I completely forget myself.

These famous verses, written by Cao Zhi centuries ago, slowly unfurled in Duan Yu’s head.

She strikes a balance between plump and frail; 

The tall and short of her are perfectly proportioned, 

With shoulders shaped as if by carving, 

Waist slender as though bound with a cord; 

At her slim throat and curving neck 

The pale flesh lies open to view, 

No scented ointments overlaying it, 

No coat of leaden powder applied. 

Cloud-bank coiffure rising steeply, 

Long eyebrows delicately arched, 

Red lips that shed their light abroad, 

White teeth gleaming within, 

Bright eyes skilled at glances,

A dimple to round off the base of the cheek

Her rare form wonderfully enchanting, 

Her manner quiet, her pose demure. 

Gentle-hearted, broad of mind, 

She entrances with every word she speaks

Duan Yu thought of the fairy woman’s beautiful face and elegant posture - “as clear as the rosy light of dawn, as luminous as the lotus above the green waters”. To follow her bidding was the pinnacle of happiness on earth, and he felt as though he would gladly die a hundred deaths for her with no regrets. I will learn this Light Steps Across the Waves, he thought. After all, it is for running away, and not for killing people. Nothing but good can come out of its.

The scroll detailed the various steps for this technique, and also included the 64 hexagrams from the Book of Changes. He was familiar with this book, and had no trouble memorising them all. 

However, some of the steps listed in the scroll puzzled him deeply, for there seemed to be no logical way of smoothly moving from one stance to the next. Then, he realised the only way to do so was to perform a somersault in mid air. The scroll also instructed him to leap back and forth, as well as dodge and dart from side to side.

Part of Duan Yu’s scholarly mind loved the challenge of trying to solve a difficult puzzle, and derived great joy from finding the solution to a problem. So, one can find this sort of pleasure in martial arts as well, he thought. Indeed, it is no less than the enjoyment of studying books and memorising scriptures.

So it was that a day passed, with Duan Yu grasping about a quarter of what was in the scroll. After dinner, he continued practising his footwork before bed. Even at night, the names of the acupoints and meridians continued swimming hazily through his mind.

In the middle of the night, Duan Yu was suddenly awoken by a loud bellowing. It sounded like a cow, but much louder and more aggressive than any cow he had ever heard. The Boundless Mountain, he knew, was full of strange and dangerous beasts. So when the bellowing stopped, he thought nothing more of it. Putting his head down on the pillow, he tried to go back to sleep.

“It’s been a long time since we heard the Giant Crimson Bullfrog,” he heard a voice say outside. “I wonder if its cry tonight brings us good luck or ill.”

“Things can’t get much worse for us, can they?” another voice replied. “It’s more than enough to thank the gods for, if all of us in the Eastern Branch get home safe.”

Duan Yu recognised these as the voices of Yu Guangbiao and Wu Guangsheng. They had evidently taken up residence in the house next to his, in order to make sure he didn’t escape.

“You know, it’s not so bad that the Boundless Sword answers to Lingjiu Palace now,” Wu Guangsheng said. “Our freedom has been curtailed, yes. But we’ve gained a powerful backer as well. No, what really pisses me off is that the Western Branch is clearly inferior to us. So why did the Divine Messenger appoint Xin Shuangqing as master of the Boundless Cave? Even our own master has to answer to her now.”

“Well, every leader in Lingjiu Palace - from the Tianshan Tonglao downwards - is a woman. They say that no man is truly trustworthy,” Yu Guangbiao replied. “They say it was a kindly gesture of the Messenger to appoint Master Xin as our head, for now the Palace will look upon us with different eyes. Look how they treated Sikong Xuan. Why,  they were much kinder to our Master Xin.”

“Brother Yu, there’s something else I don’t understand. Why was the Divine Messenger so polite to that kid next door? All that ‘Young Master Duan’ stuff. It’s a bit too much, isn’t it?”

Hearing his name mentioned, Duan Yu listened harder than ever.

Yu Guangbiao laughed. “This stays between you and me, got it? Now, when a young lady calls a pretty boy like him ‘Young Master Duan’, all politely,” - he affected a nasal tone, imitating the Divine Messenger’s voice - “what do you think it means?”

“What?” said Wu Guangsheng loudly. “She fancies that pretty face?”

“Shh, don’t wake the pretty boy up! I’m not a divine roundworm in her divine belly, so how would I know what her divine thoughts are? But I believe Master Xin has seen it too. That’s why she told us to keep a close eye on him and make sure he doesn’t escape.”

“So how long are we keeping him?”

“You heard Messenger Fu just now. She said-” Here, Yu Guangbiao mimicked the woman’s voice again. “-take him down and if the Four Brigands kick up a fuss, tell them to take it up with me at the Misty Peak. And what were we to do after that? Nobody dared to ask her, of course. What if she sent orders to have the kid sent to Lingjiu Palace one day, but we’d taken him off and killed him or let him go? We would be in deep shit, I’ll tell you that.”

“So if she doesn’t say anything about him, we’re just supposed to keep him locked up here for his whole life, just in case she decides to drop by and say hi?”

“That’s about right, eh?”

Duan Yu was filled with alarm. Messenger Fu called me “young master” because she could see at a glance that I’m the educated sort, not because of any twisted rubbish you people have been thinking! You could shut me up until I’ve grown a long white beard and she still wouldn’t be interested in my face.

“So doesn’t that mean the both of us-” Duan Yu heard Wu Guangsheng say, but he was cut off by another three loud bellowing croaks from the bullfrog. The young man stopped talking instantly. After some time had passed with no further noise from the frog, he continued: “That creature’s croaking always gives me the creeps. Who knows how many souls Old Father Plague is about to reap now?”

“They say that he rides on the Giant Crimson Bullfrog,” Yu Guangbiao replied. “It’s all talk, of course. And the Lord of Wisdom rides a lion, and the Lord of Truth rides a white elephant, and the Grand Supreme Elderly Lord rides a green ox... This bullfrog is supposed to be the king of all venomous beasts, with great power. Its venom is legendary. Who knows if it really is the steed of the Lord of Plague?”

“What do you think it looks like?”

Yu Guangbiao chuckled. “What, you keen to have a look?”

Wu Guangsheng laughed too. “Nah. You can describe it to me after you’ve had a glimpse.”

“If I ever caught sight of it, its poisonous vapours would blind me in an instant. The fumes would so addle my brain that I’m afraid I would never be able to tell you what I’d seen. Tell you what, let’s both go look for it together.”

There followed the sound of footsteps, and Duan Yu heard someone lift the latch of the door.

“H-hey...quit messing around,” Wu Guangsheng said nervously. The latch rattled again. It sounded as though the younger man was securing the door.

Yu Guangbiao laughed again. “Hah, you thought I’d really have the guts to go searching for it? Look at you, trembling like a rabbit.”

“You shouldn’t jinx things by cracking jokes like that. Everything is fine now, so let’s just go to sleep.”

The other man changed the subject. “Hey, do you think that bloody pair - Gan Guanghao and Ge Guangpei - are actually going to get away with it?”

“No one’s seen or scented anything of them for days,” Wu Guangsheng replied. “So they really may.”

“Well, I’ve got a pretty good idea of what Gan Guanghao’s good at. First, he’s good at lazing around and flirting with people. Next, he’s good at being completely uninterested in improving his swordplay. And lastly, he’s good at charming women with honeyed words. They’ve been searching for him all over. Even the Messenger herself has been sent out. Could they really have given all these people the slip? I don’t believe.”

“You may not believe it, but it is what it is.”

“I bet the two of them must have made their way into the deep mountains and run into the Crimson Bullfrog.”

Wu Guangsheng made a little ‘Ah!’ sound.

“They must have fled to the most remote, wild country,” Yu Guangbiao continued. “When they saw the bullfrog, they were entirely overcome by its poisonous vapours and their bodies were reduced to two puddles of blood and pus. That’s why no one has found any trace of them yet.”

“That makes some sense, I guess.”

“Some sense?” Yu Guangbiao snapped. “Why, if they hadn’t run into the bullfrog, then the whole situation would make no sense at all!”

“Maybe they just couldn’t hold it in,” Wu Guangsheng suggested. “Maybe things started to get heated, deep in the high mountains. And then at night, while they were flopping around like carp, why, they flopped right off a cliff.” Both men started sniggering.

Mu Wanqing killed both Gan Guanghao and Ge Guangpei, back at that teahouse, Duan Yu thought. Surely the Boundless Sword can’t have missed that? The owner must have buried the bodies as quickly as he could, to avoid any trouble. None of the villagers would have dared to tell the Boundless Sword the truth, if they had come knocking as they usually do, bristling with weapons and with those fierce expressions on their faces.

“You know, it’s really not a big deal to have two disciples elope like that,” Wu Guangsheng said. “Like they say: ‘The eunuchs fret but the emperor remains calm.’ So why is the Messenger so desperate to find them and bring them back?”

“Use that brain of yours, and think about it,” his companion replied.

Wu Guangsheng was silent for a long time. “You know I’ve never been as sharp as you,” he said finally. “I can’t figure out what it’s all about.”

“Right, riddle me this: Why is Lingjiu Palace so keen on taking over our Wuliang Palace?”

“According to Brother Tang, it’s probably because of the Boundless Jade Cliff. When Messenger Fu first arrived, the first things she asked about were the shadows on the cliff and their swordplay, and that sort of thing. Wait, that’s it. We’ve all sworn not to reveal anything about that cliff to anyone. But Gan Guanghao and Ge Guangpei didn’t swear any such vow. If they were willing to betray their own clan, there’s no telling what other secrets they may spill.”

There was a loud smack, as though Wu Guangsheng had slapped his thigh in triumph. “Yes, that’s why Lingjiu Palace wants them dead!”

“Be quiet!” hissed Yu Guangbiao in a low voice. “There’s someone next door. Have you forgotten that?”

“Yes, yes,” Wu Guangsheng said hurriedly. He paused, then said: “That Gan Guanghao is one lucky bastard, isn’t he? He managed to get that soft, fair little body wrapped around his little finger and shear her like a little lamb. Shit, he may have been reduced to a bloody mass, but at least...ah.”

The two men continued in this vein, and try as he might, Duan Yu could not block out the sounds of their vulgar jests coming from next door. He set his mind to thinking about the meridians and acupoints listed Divine Art of the Northern Darkness instead. After some time, he was so deep in thought that even though the obscene conversation continued on, Duan Yu heard none of it at all.

[lcydragneel]

Nalu 53 for the dirty jenga? •3•

Rating: Slightly mature/nsfw, but I’d still say Teen 

Word Count: 1,427

sorry it took so long, but I did put a lot of effort into it :)

dirty jenga prompt list

Dirty Jenga Prompt #53: Go into the shower together for 5 minutes (clothes optional)

 Lucy stared across the tub into Natsu’s eyes as they both held a blank stare. When her partner first offered to take a bath with her, she had been appalled at the thought. Sure she showed a lot of skin with her slightly revealing outfits, but she did have some dignity about her nude self.

  Even if they were part of the Fairy Tail family, and he had seen her naked tons of times. That never made her less embarrassed each time, and especially not when he offers the situation.

  Lucy only agreed because he had seemed so calm that she had to trust him. He practically knew everything about her including every inch of her appearance seeing as they were together almost 24/7. She had agreed reluctantly after a small staring contest and a lot of blushing on her part.

  The only condition was that if after five minutes she was uncomfortable that the blonde would jump out immediately.

  “Why are looking at me with that weird face?” The pinkette asked with a slight raised eyebrow from across her large shower/bath combination.

  Upon hearing his comment, Lucy instantly got annoyed. “My face is not weird!” She screamed at him while lightly splashing around in frustration.

  The blonde had been thankful that Happy had decided to wait outside the bathroom instead of joining, because he would have been teasing her too. The cat had claimed he’d stay behind in Lucy’s bedroom for the sake of not wanting to see her naked more than he had already.

  The two had been in the tub full of water for two minutes with each second full of awkward silences and stares before his comment. Lucy had no idea what to think of the situation as she sat low enough underwater that it just reached right above her shoulders. She was praying to Mavis that the bubbles covered her chest and lower region below from Natsu’s view.

  On the other hand, the pink haired boy seemed to care less. The way he comfortably sat in the ceramic tub had the water level reach halfway up his stomach, but that didn’t stop Lucy from taking small shameless glances at his six pack she could never get enough of. Not that she’d ever admit it, or care to realize she enjoyed it at all.

  All the bubbles seemed to be located at her side of the tub, so it left the water around him more clear. The bathing area was small enough that she could feel Natsu’s muscular calves stretched out beside he with toes near her bottom. Except she kept her legs tucked up to the side of the tub, so she wouldn’t have to worry about her legs slipping and hitting any body part of Natsu’s nude figure.

  It had only been three minutes at the point, and so far it had been a lot less washing of bodies and more of just awkward tension coming from the blonde and confusion from the lather.

  “Can you hand me the soap?” He asked with an unamused expression, moving to cross his arms across his chest.

  “W-what?” Lucy stuttered, still stunned in embarrassment of the situation. She hadn’t been paying enough attention to listen for his voice.

  “The soap,” He stated in the same firm voice as before, “can you hand it to me?” The pinkette repeated, a tad bit annoyed.

  She just returned a blank face still confused as to what he was saying. Lucy had just been so focused about not touching his skin, and just getting herself worked up that she couldn’t concentrate correctly.

  Instead of waiting for another response, he nonchalantly shrugged and decided to grab it himself. He slightly emerged his body from the water, and leaned towards Lucy to grab the soap bar from behind her head.

  The blonde immediately shrieked, confused as to why he had leaned over towards her. His body had rose above the water to level right at his waistline, revealing his v shaped abdomen where her eyes couldn’t help but wander underneath his hovering figure.

  After he grabbed the item, he slowly sat back down in his respective side of the tub and casted another look back at her.

  “It’s just soap,” he stated with furred eyebrows.

  Natsu was aware that the celestial mage had always acted pretty strange upon certain situations she was in, most of those involving her nudity. However at that moment it was just silly to him how nervous she was acting. He had seen and felt her naked body more times than he would be willing to count.

  He moved his hand to show her the soap bar that he was holding when all of a sudden it slipped out his palm towards Lucy. She immediately shrieked once again once her brown eyes caught sight of the object flying towards her. Upon instinct she jumped straight up into a sitting position so it wouldn’t impact her. The blonde had moved just in time that it just plopped in the water instead.

  Lucy’s eyes stared at the soap bar floating in front of her, and she silently laughed at herself for getting so worked up about it. That’s when she remembered why she’d been on edge in the first place as she turned to look up at Natsu. When she met his dark eyes, she had been slightly confused at first. He was already staring at something which she assumed was the soap seeing as it had landed beside her.

  That’s when she finally followed her gaze to a region below her face. In realization, she slowly look down in horror, afraid to find what he was staring at since she already had a slight clue. That’s when Lucy remembered she had sat up completely leaving her breasts visible above the water. To her luck, of course that’s what he had been staring at.

  Her slight perky, large breasts stood out right above the water level in his viewing range. Her nipples had been hard from the cold temperature in the tub, making them super visible. Lucy had been so used to seeing her body naked every time she showered that she hadn’t registered that Natsu was able to see her body once again, but she knew other people could look at her body in a different way than she’d look at her own.

  “Pervert!” The blonde yelled, dipping her body down below the water again to conceal her breasts. “The five minutes is up, get out!”

  Snapping out of his concentration, Natsu’s eyes flickered back up to her face to see her pouty and angry expression.

  “I just wanted the soap,” he called back with a scoff, taking notice that her mood had done a one eighty for what seemed like the millionth time that day, to him.

 Lucy’s arms reach for a towel beside the tub before throwing at his face. He caught it with both hands, and just decided not to fight it.

  “Out of my bathroom, out of my house!” She lightly screamed, telling him to leave on habit since Natsu and Happy always had usually found their way into her apartment.

  “I know, I know. Hold on.” He called out as grabbed the towel and heaved his larger body over the side of the tub. “Jeez, I can never tell what the big deal is.”

  Lucy’s eyes followed his retreating figure as he turned to face her after he stood on her tile floor dripping wet. Natsu used her soft white towel to dry off his soaking pink locks first as he usually did, not realizing or maybe just not caring that she could view the rest of his naked body.

  Her blushing cheeks instantly got warmer and turned more crimson, if possible, as her eyes unconsciously followed down the side of his body and down past his v line she had caught sight of earlier. However, this time she got a peak of the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

  She had caught accidental glimpses at his member before, each time unintentional depending on the circumstance. However this time had been different, her jaw dropped in shock of what she saw.

  Lucy let out a small whimper in confusion, being overloaded with so many emotions. Upon hearing her small noise, Natsu looked up to meet her glance aware of where her eyes were trained to.

  Why had she been so shocked upon seeing his lower region? Didn’t she know he wore a dragon speedo everywhere he went?

#dirty jenga prompts #fairy tail #ft fanfic #nalu #natsu dragneel #lucy heartfilia #my fanfic #maria answers

[mistye-dawne]

Finding the Words

Summary: A chance meeting while taking a break from her team sends Lucy and Laxus into unfamiliar territory as Lucy tries to find balance between catering to her team and moving forward with her own life, while Laxus fights his demons and struggles to accept that he just might be good enough to have the girl of his dreams.

FF.net

Chapter 5: Too Much is Never Enough

Lucy and Evergreen began their shopping date with breakfast at a cafe on the canal then made their way to the shopping district. Lucy told her how Laxus had acted when she had asked him about Ever's whereabouts the previous day. The woman apologized if Lucy had been uncomfortable but she admitted to Lucy that Laxus had been infatuated for some time. Lucy just played her part of the surprised girl, not having told Ever that he had already asked her on a date. The celestial mage wanted to see the look on his teammates faces when they found out.

The girls continued on when Evergreen asked Lucy how she liked working solo. Lucy told her that it took some getting used to at first but overall she rather enjoyed the independence of it all and not having to share or lose any of the reward. She admitted that she was saving money to get a bigger place but had yet to start looking. She honestly didn't know where to begin looking. Lucy just wanted to move on from from what she considered childhood in a way. She didn't think of herself or her teammates as children per se, and while the memories that she had made in that apartment would always be some of her fondest, it was time for a change of scenery. If she kept up with the solo work, she'd have enough saved up to put money down on a new place.

After lunch time the two women walked into a fourth department store, having spent the morning in three but leaving each one empty handed, determined to spend a little cash on something cute. Besides, Lucy wanted something new for her date with Laxus the following night.

"This was such a great idea, Lucy! I haven't had a girls day in years," Ever claimed.

"I'm happy that you're enjoying yourself. I'm just glad to have a decent shopping partner," Lucy shot back.

"What about Levy and Cana. Aren't you three really close?"

"We are but Levy, stars bless her, has one very specific style of dress that she wears. Sure, I've got my style but I have a million different ways of putting outfits together because I like variety. As for Cana, she only ever comes out to have a chance at feeling me up." Lucy pulled a simple green off the shoulder sundress with a lace hem off the rack and studied it for a moment, thinking that it would be perfect for the fairy mage.

"I don't blame her. You've got great assets, Lucy and know how to flaunt them," Ever teased.

"Please stop. What do you think about this one?" she asked holding the green dress out to her.

Evergreen took it from her and looked at it. Deciding to try it on she handed Lucy the one she was holding. "You try this one on."

Minutes later the women stepped out of the dressing rooms to check out the outfits they'd chosen for each other. Lucy thought Evergreen looked adorable in the thigh length dress and told her that she needed a pair of flats or sandals to finish the look. Lucy had stepped out wearing a midnight blue maxi dress with a high low hem. The top of the dress was styled with a v cut halter neck and a double breasted front. Ever had very good taste and Lucy had decided what she would wear for her date with Laxus.

"You're taste in clothing is impeccable Ever. Seriously, I'm in love."

"Glad you like it. You're not so bad yourself."

The two changed out of their clothes and continued to shop for a couple more hours. When they were exhausted and bored, they went their separate ways to drop off their loot from the day's adventure and freshen up a bit. An hour later they met up at the guild and Ever started to lead them to Freed's house for dinner. Their arms were linked and they skipped down the street, nothing but smiles on their faces.

"Thank you for spending the day with me, Lucy. It really means a lot to me."

"I had a blast today, Ever. I think we should hang out more."

"You want to?" Ever asked, slightly nervous but happy all the same. Evergreen felt something familiar then. Acceptance. The last time she had felt that was the day Laxus and Bickslow had invited her to join their team. The woman had always had difficulty making friends because of her eyes but when she had met those two men her world had changed. She stopped walking then and looked over at Lucy.

"What's wrong, Evergreen? Why are you crying?" Lucy asked, concern filling her voice.

Ever wiped away the stray tears and linked her arm with Lucy's again, continuing the walk to Freed's house. "I was just thinking to back when Laxus invited me to the guild and then his team. It was just him and Bix at the time but I remember that they didn't seem to care about what my magic could do to people. They were the first ones to see me for me."

Lucy knew that feeling as well. Her team had made sure that she always felt like they wanted her with them because she was her and no one else.

"Ever, how long have you guys been together?"

Evergreen had to think for a moment. "Hmmm, well Laxus and Bix were partners for almost a year before I joined them. And then Freed joined the team about six months after I did so if you don't count those seven years that we're missing, the Thunder Legion has been a team for nearly five years."

Lucy was a little jealous. "Wow. No wonder you guys are so close. So, what made you think of the past?"

"You did, Lucy. When you said that we should hang out more it was like that time again. I was being accepted for me. I've never made friends easily if at all so I kinda latch onto people when I'm comfortable around them."

Lucy just shook her head and laughed. In some ways she and Ever were similar. They both grew up as lonely girls and when given the chance the were loved and accepted, they latched onto the source. She couldn't help but think then, was that why Natsu had left her? Had she been so attached to him that he needed space from her?

"I latch on too," she whispered then. "I grew up alone when I lost my mother and there are a lot of days when I still feel lonely."

"You always pull out of that feeling though. You reach out to everyone around you. Unlike Laxus, he pushes everyone from him."

"You can't blame him. It's how he protects himself. Just as you said, I reach out to people because I'm afraid to be left alone."

They stopped and Evergreen pulled Lucy into a hug. "You have me Lucy. And somehow you've got Bickslow wrapped around your finger already. You'll have to tell me about that someday."

The women turned to see Freed standing on the porch of a white victorian styled townhouse. It would figure that the man would live in a house the resembled his noble background. He waved them inside and led them to the dining room. For a second time Lucy enjoyed dinner, courtesy of Bickslow, with the Thunder Legion. This time over baingan bharta and a milder coconut chicken curry complete with homemade naan and basmati rice.

When they were done eating and about to start cleaning up, Freed felt his lacrima comm ring. He picked up and saw Laxus on the other end.

"Laxus, everything alright?"

"No. Get everyone and get to the station. Train leaves in thirty."

Lucy, having heard the lightning slayer"s voice grabbed the comm from Freed who went upstairs. She looked at the blonde who gave her a sheepish smile.

"Don't rush off without your team this time, Sparky. I need you back here in one piece because you now owe me a date."

"I know. I'll make it up to you."

"Be careful," she said and cut the connection.

At this point Evergreen and Freed had stopped and were starting at the celestial mage. Lucy just shrugged and shooed them out saying that she would clean up.

Five days passed before Laxus and his team returned. After the second day, Lucy took a day job to cure her boredom and on the third day she had met with a realtor to talk about buying a place. They talked about what Lucy was currently living in and what she would like to live in. As a courtesy, the agent had taken her to look at a few places to get a better idea of the mage wanted. She was impressed but the places that she'd been shown were much too large for her.

The day Laxus got back, Lucy was sitting at the bar sipping on her usual milkshake with a local magazine the the realtor had given her to look at and mark anything that caught her eye regardless of price. She had been skeptical at first, but had been reassured that numbers could always be negotiated. So there she was, circling everything that she thought she would like and wanted to see more of. She was looking at a studio flat, loving the idea of the open concept but worried that the bathroom wouldn't be up to her expectations. She shrugged and circled it anyway feeling an arm around her shoulder.

She looked up to a visorless Bickslow and beamed up at the man. "You guys are back! Is everything alright?"

The seith mage sat beside her and waved Mira down. The barmaid nodded and brought him a drink a moment later. "Guess some of the wyverns returned the forest just north of Akane but they were a lot more violent this time. They're gone for sure now though." He slid the magazine away from Lucy and looked at it, raising an eyebrow at her. "Moving huh? You picked a place yet?"

She shook her head and capped her pen. "Only just started looking. I met with a realtor the other day. He told me to mark anything I might be interested in regardless of price. I've found a few I want to look at so we'll see how I like them but most everything seems like it'll be too much space for just me."

"Hey, if you never find anything, you could always room with me. I've got an extra room," he offered with his tongue rolling from his mouth.

"Yeah right, Bix. If I had you for a roommate, my already bleak dating life would cease to exist," she mocked.

Bix clutched his chest and staggered off the stool he'd been sitting on. "My poor heart. I thought you were nice, Cosplayer."

"I am," she said and winked at him. "I'm only rude to the really important people in my life."

Then just as she wondered where he was, she saw Laxus approach the bar from the corner of her eye and turned to him. He had dark circles under his eyes and he looked downright pissed but his expression softened slightly when their eyes met.

"Hey, Sparky. You look tired."

"You have no idea, Blondie." he responded.

"Go home then. Sleep."

He shook his head and chuckled. "Can't. I have to work today so that I can take you on a date tomorrow."

She tapped a finger on her chin her eyes looking up in thought. "You do owe me one of those, don't you?"

He nodded at her. "I do."

"How do you know that I'm free tomorrow?" She tilted her head.

"I don't," he admitted in defeat. "I'm just really hoping that you aren't and you'll let me take you out tomorrow."

"Hmm, I can't stay out late," she teased then continued seriously, "I'm leaving in two days. Got a mission with Erza."

"I'll have you home by sunset, then," he countered.

"Will it be fun?"

"This is me we're talking about so you tell me, Blondie." When she said nothing and raised an eyebrow at him he added, "I promise it'll be fun."

"Fine then, it's a date." she sighed with fake disinterest. He looked down at her with that shit eating grin of his which she returned with ease. The woman fascinated him to no end. The way she challenged him kept him on his toes and he enjoyed the feeling.

The next morning Lucy woke up to the smell of a hot breakfast being made and sure enough in her kitchen were Virgo and Leo. Lucy couldn't help but to laugh at their antics. Today was an important day sure but she didn't think of it has a big deal. She never had but she also didn't have the heart to turn her spirits away whenever they did something like this. So she spent her morning with them before getting ready for a day out.

She had no idea what Laxus had planned but he had promised that it would be fun. He also intended it to last all day since he was picking her up at eleven and making sure she was home by sunset so that she could pack and rest before her mission. Looking herself over once more in the mirror when she heard a knock at the door she suddenly became very nervous. Since joining Fairy Tail, she'd been on a date here and there but her team made it impossible to regularly see someone so she had never gotten a second date.

This was Laxus though, and while she had some expectations of him she knew that the man didn't date. Still, the thought of going on a date with Laxus Dreyar left her a little stunned trying to figure out how it all had managed to come about in the first place.

When she opened her door he was standing there wearing a plain white long sleeved button down shirt with dark denim jeans and black designer boots. She looked him down once more for good measure then stepped out of her apartment and locked.

"You look handsome, Sparky."

"And you are possibly the most beautiful woman I've ever laid eyes on," he said offering her a hand.

Lucy had chosen to wear the dress Ever had her try on during their shopping date. The blonde had her half of her hair pulled up and back so that it wasn't in her face but let it fall in loose curls down her back. She had paired the dress with her favorite lace up ankle boots with a heel and wore various golden bangles on one wrist. The look was completed with a white sling bag with gold and blue trim.

She took his hand and playfully rolled her eyes, letting him lead her outside. "You're just saying that."

"I mean it, Blondie," he said seriously. Those blue eyes of his darkened slightly and her breath hitched. He really did mean it.

"So, where are we going?"

"Someplace I've been meaning to visit. Just haven't the time or a good excuse to go," he answered and pulled her close to him. She felt small cracks of lightning lick her skin and shivered at the sensation. "Close your eyes, Blondie. Promise I won't let go until you're steady." She nodded and buried her face into his chest.

It happened in an instant. She felt herself flying one moment then she was back on the ground like she hadn't left it. They stood there, Laxus still holding her against him until she was able to stand on her own. After a couple minutes, she looked up at him and smiled.

"That was one of the coolest things I've ever experienced."

He returned her smile and let her step away but held her hand still. "Yeah, what's the coolest then?"

"Visiting the Celestial Spirit Realm. Travelling by your lightning is a close second though so don't feel bad." She looked around to see that he had taken them all the way to Crocus to visit the zoo. She suddenly felt like a kid again. She couldn't remember the last time she'd been to the zoo and started to walk toward the entrance pulling Laxus with her. She wanted to see the aquarium but remembered that he had said he'd been meaning to visit.

She turned around and looked at him still walking backwards. "So, why the zoo, Sparky?"

"There's a new exhibition called 'Magnificent Macaws'. They've trained the zoo's macaws to fly half a mile from one end of the zoo to the other." He pulled ahead and led her to the new pavilion before the next presentation started.

"When you say fly, you mean free flight?"

"Yep. Just the birds in the open sky and their handlers on the ground trusting them to come back down."

Lucy admired the glint in his eyes thinking that she was probably the first person to see him like this; filled with unadulterated happiness. At the pavilion he led her to the front right against the railing and stood behind her with his hands on either of her boxing her in. Her heart warmed at the action.

They stood there then as the next presentation started. They learned a little about the nature of the birds and then watched them take flight. Their brightly colored wings shone in the sunlight as they flew overhead and took to the sky. She decided that her favorite were the green macaws as one had flown by the pair, just inches from Laxus' head letting her catch a smile on his face. Seeing that smile of his made her all the more happy that she'd agreed to spend the day with him.

When it was over she faced him, still between his arms as they waited for the crowd to clear since he had led them to the front. "Why are they your favorite, Sparky?"

"Honestly," he started and ran a hand through his spiked hair, "because I'm a bit jealous of them." Lucy furrowed her brow and tilted head, waiting for him to elaborate. "I guess I miss the freedom to take a job whenever it pleases me. I can't stay at the guild for long periods of time because I hate the feeling of being caged in but I don't have a choice anymore."

"The life of adventure. The life of a mage. The year before I ran away from my father, he kept me at the estate and had someone with me at all times. There was one occasion where he even tried to take my keys from me so I can understand the feeling of being trapped. At least a little bit."

"It's not like I have a problem helping gramps with guild work I just get stir-crazy after being around for too long. Is it wrong to feel that way?" He offered her his arm and took it, leaning into him as the two left the pavilion.

"I don't think it's wrong," she answered softly which comforted something deeper within him. "In fact, I think it's normal. You're used to a certain amount of freedom. Think of this as the transition to being guildmaster because once your grandfather passes that mantle to you, you won't be able to go on adventures anymore. Just be mindful not to overwork yourself before you get there, okay?"

Laxus couldn't believe how easy it was to talk to Lucy sometimes. He was still nervous around her and worried about saying something that would upset her but so far she seemed to be enjoying herself and he was relieved.

"What do you want to see, Blondie?" he asked not wanting to talk about himself anymore. It made him happy that Lucy wanted to know more about him but didn't want to ruin his chances with her by letting her get too close too fast.

Lucy picked up on his sudden change of subject but knew better than to push him. If he wanted more with her he would open up in time but for now, she was happy to spend the day with him. "Let's go to the aquarium."

"And what's so special about the aquarium?"

"Nothing really too specific except that I've always like the water and that's because Aquarius was my first celestial spirit. I used to summon her during bath time when I was little," she laughed at the memory. Laxus didn't miss how her smile looked a little sad then but said nothing about it. "Anyway, the source doesn't matter too much to me, the ocean, rivers, I even like the rain. Prefer them to sunny days even."

Given his magic, Laxus was fond of the rain as well, moreso when a storm was passing through. He watched her with bated breath as she drew his attention to various aquatic life and was amazed at the beauty of it all. He could easily understand how one might find comfort in it. His favorite part were sharks. She teased him by saying that maybe he felt a connection because he was a dragon slayer and a predator, just like the sharks were. He wanted to say something to her but the words just wouldn't come. She had withdrawn into herself even though she still looked happy and Laxus didn't know what to say to bring her back to him.

Lucy ran ahead to pet the stingrays and noticed Laxus lagging behind her. She knew that was being abnormally quiet since they entered the aquarium but she had made herself smile for him. She wasn't unhappy with him at all but the water, while comforting, reminded her of Aquarius and thus her mother. This was supposed to be a happy day but now she was sad at the thought of those that she'd lost and her date was probably hating her right now.

"I'm sorry, Laxus," she whispered so softly that he would have missed it if not for his enhanced hearing. She felt him walk up and stand behind her lacing his finger with her free hand while her other skimmed the surface of the water and her fingers brushed over the passing fish. "Today was supposed to be a happy day and I ruined it."

He shook his head and reached into the water as well, following her lead. "You didn't ruin anything, Lucy. But if you want, I can take you home."

"No!" she whipped around and looked into his eyes. "Let me make it up to you."

"What?! Blondie you don't need to-"

"I want to stay. Take us somewhere and watch the sunset with me?" she pleaded.

Laxus had been prepared to take her home but she wanted to stay with him. In fact she was pleading with him to let her stay. He wished that he knew what caused her to withdraw from him in the first place so he could try and make it better but he didn't know how to ask. So doing what he did best, jumped into action and took her hand leading her outside in silence. Once the two were far enough away from the crowd, he pulled her close and felt her hands clutch into his shirt.

She reveled in that tingling sensation again as he took them away from prying eyes to someplace private she hoped where no one could see her break down. She was trying so hard to not be sad but was quickly failing. Lucy continued to hold onto him until he gently pulled her away and looked into her watery eyes.

"Talk to me?" he asked sitting her down. She finally took in their surroundings and her eyes widened. They were at a lake, where she wasn't sure, but the sun was starting fall below the horizon painting the sky and water an array of reds and violets.

Lucy took a deep breath and leaned into his massive frame. "I was thinking about my mother. Another reason why I like water so much is that Aquarius was my mother's favorite spirit. I miss my mother, some days more than others."

Laxus wished he could share that sentiment with her but it was hard to miss someone when you lost them long before you could even remember them. There were nights when he'd dream and think that he remembered something but come morning it was all to hazy to recount.

"I really did have fun today, Sparky."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

He placed a finger under her chin and brought her face to his, their lips just inches apart. "Happy birthday, blondie," he whispered then kissed her cheek.

"Thank you."

The two sat in silence then and watched the sky grow darker. Lucy was still a little sad from thinking about her mother and Aquarius but here in this moment, sitting with him in front of the lake she was filled with so much happiness that it was almost too much. She knew then, however, that so long as it was Laxus, too much would never be enough.

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