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pauking5 · 6 months

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Addicting Taste Chapter 3

Synopsis: Enishi Yukishiro was on a mission to execute his piece de la resistance. A plan to avenge his beloved sister. Until you showed up. Will you be a part of his downfall or will you try to save him?

Pairing: Enishi Yukishiro x reader

Genre: strangers to lovers, sunshine and sunshine protector, comedic relief, slow burn, a lot of fluff, occasional smut

Words: 8k+

A/N: Chapter 3 is finally here! It is more of a filler to give you more of a back story on our lovely oc. Things will start picking up speed soon :)

Powered by Mackenyu’s outstanding portrayal of Enishi’s character in Rurouni Kenshin: The Final, I hereby present you a story ripped from the figments of my mind. I hope you’ll love their story as much as I do. Enjoy lovelies, Paula.

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Next Chapter 5 Bonus Chapter 6

“You’re the boss of the Shanghai mafia.” “You’ve been saying that for the past five minutes.”

This was too much for your brain to process.

He’s a mafia boss? He was the person in command of the gang with some of the best mercenaries in the whole continent? And you just so happened to get involved with his kind?

You hated his kind. They took everything from you and left you with nothing. You were on a mission to wipe them out no matter what. But your confidence was currently faltering and you couldn't stop the trembling that overtook your hands.

You sat down on the couch in front of the desk he was leaning on, feeling too overwhelmed. The embroidered plush seat offered you some comfort, providing relief to your aching back and tense muscles.

You couldn’t comprehend this situation at all. Nothing about it made sense. You stared into the nothingness in front of you, trying to find some sort of clarity. All kinds of thoughts swarmed around your mind, ranging from worse to well, much worse.

Enishi observed you from his spot against the mahogany desk. He looked worried, which was a first. Your sudden quietness was like a bad omen. The moment you stopped smiling was the moment light disappeared from the room. The paleness of your face and the way your hands trembled told him something was very wrong.

He felt that squeeze in his chest again, wanting to hear you beaming and chatting eagerly again. He didn't know what made him react like this whenever he was around you but it drove him insane. He wanted to say something, anything to bring back your smile, but he couldn’t exactly find the right words. So he settled on a distraction. The reason he brought you over to his mansion.

“You can stay here for the night. I owe you that much,” he said. He wanted you to react, to say something, anything.

You turned your head in his direction, eyes lost in a spiraling abyss. Stay here? I can’t stay here.

But where am I supposed to go? I’m not exactly able to find another place to stay, especially around here. And it’s pretty late already.

What’s gonna happen if I spend one night here? He will eat me. Or send me to the woods as wolf bait. I could make friends with the wolves though. They might not eat me.

He watched as you thought his proposal through. You tilted your head on all sides, analysing all possible scenarios whilst anxiously bouncing your leg. Then finally, your small voice broke through the room, barely audible to anyone else but the both of you.

“I… I don’t want to be a bother.”

“Nonsense. You took me in and you didn’t have to after everything. Please stay… for tonight?” he pushed, unsure of how else to plead with you. He couldn’t believe that he was begging for a stranger to stay the night.

“Okay.”

“Okay?” he asks, surprised that you accepted his offer.

You nodded shyly to show him your certainty and he felt relieved. He didn’t know why he needed you to accept so bad. All he knew was that he wanted you here for as long as he could have you.

Your bright aura somehow mingled with his dark one and they couldn’t be separated anymore. It was like you were magnets, unknowingly attracting each other.

“Come with me,” he said as he took your hand and pulled you off the couch. His grip on your hand was even softer than the first time he grabbed it when you escaped the precinct. It gave you goosebumps again.

He led you out of his office, taking a left down a long corridor. The tall walls were decked with even more paintings. They were all so captivating, landscapes and silhouettes mingling into one as you flew by. But one in particular caught your attention. Pale orange and green bled to make a sunset, cresting over the steep hills of a valley. There was something about the way the green from the bottom morphed into a dark blue the more your eyes went up the slopes and the sky got darker. It strangely reminded you of Enishi’s eyes, the same dark blue hue gracing the outline of his irises. The hills sat strong and reliable, guarding a tiny village down in the valley. They were letting just enough sunlight in to shine down on its crops. It was beautiful. You wished you could look at it for longer but the hand holding yours was itching to get somewhere.

The wooden floors creaked under your steps the more pressure you put on them. The mansion may have looked like a new building from the outside, but the interior seemed lived in for decades prior to your visit. Tapered walls curled in some corners as if they were afraid that standing straight would be too painful. White silk curtains flowed by the windows in a ghostly dance, twisting and twirling against each other and resisting the close pull of the wind. They would push and pull until one of them kicked the other out in the cold even if they didn’t mean to.

You were yanked back to reality by Enishi’s feet coming to a halt in front of a pair of oak double doors. Pushing them open with a creak, he walked you in, his hand still holding yours.

A gasp got stuck in your throat as you took in the sight before you. A beige princess-like aesthetic dominated the whole room, from the queen-sized bed to the vanity in the corner. The wooden floors decorated with floral carpets contrasted perfectly with the style. A few more paintings hung off the walls to add some colour to the space. It was almost identical to your old bedroom back home.

He watched as you marveled at the room’s interior. Your cheeks gained back their blush came and you looked like your normal self again. Looking down at your interlocked hands he noticed that your hand stopped trembling too. It was only then he saw how well your small hand fit in his. It looked protected from any possible danger that could ever threaten you. He kind of liked the feeling.

“It’s beautiful,” you said as you snapped him back to the present.

“I hope it’s gonna be to your liking. In case you want to… stay longer than just for tonight.”

You turned back to him. It was a tempting offer. You didn’t have a place waiting for you or anything urgent to tend to. But you needed some time to mull it over, starting with everything that happened in the last 24 hours.

“I’ll think about it,” you said, trying to not get his hopes up too much.

You weren’t sure why he wanted you to stay. You were strangers after all. You weren’t useful to him in any way and you weren’t really planning to be.

“I’ll leave you to it. There should be towels in the bathroom. If there’s anything else you need please let me know.”

He was awfully hospitable to you and you found yourself a little unable to refuse him. Those eyes of his started charming you to accept anything he could ask of you. They looked so doe and warm whenever he looked at you. It made you wonder if he's ever looked at anyone else like that.

“Thank you,” you said shyly.

Nodding to you he headed towards the door. You didn’t even realise he was still holding your hand this whole time until he let go. You were kind of getting used to his cold fingers lacing with your warm ones. With his hand on the door handle, he threw one more look your way to see if you’re okay and he left for his office.

You walked further into the room and sat down on the bed. Feeling the golden patterns sawn on the duvet on top you sighed. You felt nothing but drained. All you wanted to do was to lay down and sleep. But after taking a whiff of your blouse you thought a shower would do you better first. You couldn't roll around in these expensive sheets smelling like a pig.

If the room impressed you, the bathroom left you even more in awe. The gold and white aesthetic seemed to whirl around in here too. Your family was somewhat well off from the tailoring business and your house was nice, but this was next level rich. The tiles on the floor were sparkling clean and a floral design spread across the walls from corner to corner. The sink surface was marble and the cabinets had golden handles with all kinds of drawings resembling birds. A deep bathtub in the corner had brass designs on the feet supporting it and they were like an artwork in itself. The whole bathroom screamed comfort and relaxation. You were pretty sure that if heaven existed this was it.

“Maybe I don’t have to leave this place so soon... IS THAT BUBBLE SHAMPOO?!”

—————————————————————————

After a long shower you were dressed in clean clothes and ready for bed. Diving under the big duvet and setting your head on the soft pillows, you sighed and closed your eyes waiting for sleep to take you. A few minutes turned to a few hours and you couldn’t fall sleep. You tossed and turned around until the whole bed was thrashed.

Flopping on your back you huffed an exasperated sigh and sat up. Thinking of what could do the trick and lull you to sleep somehow you remembered tea was always a go to solution. Tea it is.

Kicking back the duvet you let your feet pad onto the wooden floors and out of your room. You didn’t know the place so getting to the kitchen was an adventure. You circled the mansion multiple times before you found it… three doors down from your own. Well, you had to admit your sense of direction wasn’t the greatest.

Pushing the doors open, your feet met the cold tiled floor. The kitchen was more of a green and beige cottage style making it look so cozy. A big kitchen island entered your vision, furnished in the same marble the bathroom sink in your room had.

Your room. Huh. You could get used to that actually.

The island stretched in the middle of the cooking area, with a few stools around the side. Sliding your palm along its smooth top you couldn’t help but wonder how rich this man actually was. Like sure, arms trades were hugely profitable in these times, but that couldn’t be a big source of income.

Turning to the shelving you noticed there were a lot of them. You scourged every single cabinet until you found a mug and what looked like a tiny satchel of herbs. Holding it to your nose you smelled it to discover it was hibiscus tea.

Is this a joke? Of all the teas I could find, it’s my favourite. The one I used to drink a lot as a kid. A soft smile took over your lips as you scanned the tiny satchel.

You couldn’t help but relish in the small moment as you were brewing your tea. You haven’t had a warm cup in a long time and it got you excited. Letting the herb mix sit for a few minutes, you took the teapot and slowly poured it into the cup. You got lost in the rosy colour of the liquid and filled the cup to the top on accident.

“Oh, crap,” you said as you leaned down to slurp the drink so it wouldn’t overflow.

Just as you leaned back up a deep voice spoke to you from the door of the kitchen.

“What are you doing here?”

The sudden disturbance made you jump, knocking the cup to the floor in the process. The tiny porcelain smashed to the floor and broke into dozens of small pieces. Your eyes widened and you quickly scrambled to the floor to pick them up muttering curses.

“Shit. I’m… I was just… the tea…”

You didn’t even realise he was crouching next to you until his hand latched onto yours, stopping you from reaching for a sharp piece.

“You’re gonna get hurt.”

As you looked up your eyes met his. They looked troubled, sailing in stormy waters and his words sounded like a warning of something far worse than a ceramic cut on your finger. He wasn’t telling you off for breaking the cup. He was telling you off for being clumsy. Was he worried?

The way his eyes peered into you made your insides flutter. You felt your cheeks getting warm and your throat got dry the more you continued with this staring contest. So before you could crumple your pride and throw it to the bin you pulled your hand away from his and sat up straight. He seemed to snap out of a similar trance as he coughed and shook his head.

You leaned back on the counter and watched as he picked up the rest of the broken china. When he finished inspecting the tiles for any stray bits he got back up and dropped the contents in his hand in the bin.

Then he turned to you and he had that look again. The same one he had in that alley as he took your breath away. He took you in, from your wet hair to the bathrobe that sat secure over your nightgown. He took slow steps towards you, making you push farther into the island counter. Coming close enough that your noses almost touched, he put his hands on the counter top on each of your sides. He caged you between his body and the marble island and you felt your heartbeat rising to an all time high. Leaning even closer to your face he stopped at a distance you could feel his breath fan your lips.

“You didn’t answer my question.”

“W-what question?” you stuttered. Why am I stuttering?! I need to get a grip.

“What are you doing here?” he asked again, this time with a teasing smirk playing on his lips. He loved how initiating the smallest proximity between you was enough to make you cave. If he could have you like this every day he would.

“I couldn’t sleep,” you admitted dropping your head to the ground to avoid his prying eyes. When you lowered your head he was hit with your fresh rosy scent. It drove him wild.

Trying to muster up some courage you pushed a question his way too.

“What mafia member drinks hibiscus tea?”

“I do.”

“You do?” you replied a little surprised. Last time you checked hibiscus was too girly for men.

“Yeah. It’s the only tea I like.”

You’ve got to be shitting me. The boss of the powerful Shanghai mafia likes hibiscus tea. You tried to keep your giggles to yourself but failed.

“Hey! Why are you laughing?”

“Nothing. I just… this is too good. The leader of one of the most feared mafias in the world drinks hibiscus tea! Do you know how ridiculous that sounds?“

You continued laughing until your stomach hurt. He shook his head at your antics and stepped away from you, freeing you from his hold.

“I’ll make you another one.”

“You don’t have to.”

“Just shut up and sit down.”

You obeyed and took a seat on the other side of the island. Watching as he made quick work of the teapot with his back turned to you, you couldn’t help but wonder how muscly he was underneath that blouse. You smacked your cheeks lightly to make these thoughts disappear from your head just as Enishi turned around with a freshly brewed cup of tea. He walked around the island and placed it down in front of you, taking a seat by your side.

“Why are you up this late?”

“I told you, I couldn’t sleep. Figured a tea wouldn’t hurt,” you said as you scratched the back of your neck. “Why are you up this late?”

“I don’t really sleep that much.”

You could tell from his sunken eyes and the bags pooling around his orbits that he lacked sleep. What was he working on so hard in the middle of the night?

“Do you want to talk about it? Or we could talk about something else. Like the fact that you’re really good with those guns.” He was deflecting but you let him off this time.

“I’m not. It’s just something that helped me survive in the long-run. My father used to teach me how to shoot in our garden, whenever mom went down to the market. The pistols I use were his,” you said with a small smile recalling all the times your mother caught the two of you and scolded your dad.

Enishi noticed how relaxed you got whenever you talked about your family. It seemed you were brought up in a really loving one. He’s always wondered how that felt like.

“What happened to them?”

“That’s a story for another time. But after that… I had to leave and try to survive on my own. I joined a few fighting rings in Edo and I learned a thing or two about combat and shooting.”

“Wait. Fighting rings all the way in Edo?”

“Yeah. It was the only place I could make some money and have a roof above my head. It wasn’t the most comfortable thing in the world but it was decent. I did that for a few years until my reputation got the best of me.”

“What do you mean by reputation?”

“I was known for leaving my opponents in a pool of their own blood whenever they underestimated me,” you said as you sipped on your tea.

“Wait,” his brain seemed to shortcircuit as it recalled a few memories. It all suddenly clicked in his head. “ You’re Barairo?!”

“At your service,” you smiled.

Flashback

Rounding the corner, Enishi continued following a man he caught sight of on the street. He heard him talking about a fighting ring down in the suburbs and the exclusive fight happening tonight.

He’s been constantly hearing about this fighter called Barairo. There was no way they could be that good that the whole city would talk about them. So he went to see it for himself.

Sneaking behind the man he got inside an underground tunnel and continued following him. The closer he got to the end of the tunnel the louder the yelling got.

Coming out of the tunnel he saw a bunch of people gathered around the mouth of a pit. They were chanting as two fighters took center stage. He stepped closer to the barrier to take a look.

“In the corner we have the big and bulky fury. All the way from Osaka, please welcome the shadow of night, Yanokage.”

He raised his axe in the air and hit his fist on his chest in a show of power but people didn’t really cheer for him. It seemed like they were waiting eagerly for the other opponent to make their presence known.

“In this corner we have our pride. Representing Edo, please welcome our crimson rose, Barairo.” Cheers erupted from all sides. Seems like they all came for… her? Barairo is a girl? She doesn’t even look much older than me.

As she stepped closer to the middle of the pit, he got a better look at her. Her clothes were torn on all sides and her hair was long, cascading down her shoulders. Her hands were holding two pistols in a death grip. Her eyes were screaming crimson red, just like her nickname, and they had a murderous glint. As if all it took was a wrong breath in her direction and she would skewer you with her guns without even pulling the trigger.

“Let the fight begin!”

“A girl is the famous Barairo? Ha ha ha! A girl. This is ridiculous,” Yanokage said as he was twirling his axe around.

His laugh was enough to make her look his way. A sickening grin took over her features. Oh, this guy was fucked.

She let him bask in the moment. But he was just a little fish that didn’t know it was caged with the biggest shark. Testing the territory of his predator was going to cost him dearly.

Seeing his hesitation in attacking she took the reins and with one swift kick to his ankles he was sprawled on the ground. She straddled his middle, dragging her pistols down his neck as she watched him struggle. How she managed to pin him to the floor when he was twice her size was beyond me.

Yanokage got annoyed by her antics so he threw her off to the side with a grunt and got back to his feet.

“I’m going to enjoy killing you, little girl.”

He launched himself at her but she was quick to dodge his attacks. When he got tired of swinging his axe she started digging punches everywhere she saw a spot left unprotected. The force of her moves pushed him back making him stumble on his feet. With one swing of her leg she got high enough to hit his face. A few teeth flew out of his mouth onto the floor.

He was pissed and he wanted to end her. But before he could take a step in her direction she pulled the trigger. Not just once or twice, but multiple times. He didn’t even get a chance to block the fire, his body getting churned by all the bullets she fired his way. What was scarier was that she was smiling. She was enjoying this in a sick way and the crowd loved it.

The cheers intensified as the bulky man crumbled to the floor of the pit. The girl took her guns and headed towards her corner to exit stage. Before she went inside she turned to the gray dot in her peripheral vision. A gray mop of hair was staring down at her from the end of the railing. She stared back at him and he noticed a change in her eyes. They were sad and filled with regret, a total contrast to the sadistic look she had a few moments ago. One blink and she was gone from his sight.

After that, he went to a few of her next fights and studied her combat style. She moved on impulse and trusted her gut but she was lacking the force to execute them. Her small stature allowed her to lead her enemies into a trap, waiting ready to kill them in cold blood. That was the last he’s seen of you before he left Edo. Until now.

————

You looked different now. The energy around you was changed. Your smile didn’t hold that much murderous intent. It brimmed with calm and peace. It was like Barairo didn’t even exist.

“Why did you stop?”

“I was good. But it was only an outlet for frustration. I couldn’t control her anymore. She consumed me to the point everything I did felt empty,” you said with a heavy sigh.

“Barairo is in the past. She was angry and upset at the world. The best thing I could do for her is let her go. For both my peace and hers.”

“After that, some rich people hired me to get rid of their trash. Bureau officials, clan members stepping wrong, their spouses’ secret lovers. It wasn’t much better but it’s the only job I could do,” you said as you rolled the remaining tea in the cup.

He listened intently as you told him about your past, a part of it at least. He knew you had your limits. You weren’t Barairo anymore. You were Miyu now. And he was the only one to meet both of you.

“You know, the men that work for me are all skilled in steel weapons, like knives or swords. But I don’t have anyone who can shoot a gun on my team.”

He knew what he asked of you was way over the border. What he asked of you was commitment. A long term job. Something you’ve done before that left you asking yourself if anything you were doing was worth it.

“Enishi…”

“I could pay you. Anything. You’d have a roof over your head and… warm tea every night.”

“But I’m not trained in combat properly and I don’t know how to use other weapons. And you saw how my stamina is the worst part about me.”

“I could train you. We could make it become the best thing about you.”

We. He really wanted you here. The truth was that he didn’t want you to wake up tomorrow and go out the door knowing he might never see you again when he finally found you again after all these years.

“You don’t have to give me an answer right now. Just sleep on it and tell me what you decide in the morning,” he said as a small smile graced his lips.

Were you dreaming? Enishi was actually smiling? A real genuine smile that wasn’t his usual cocky grin? Maybe you needed to get to bed first before doing any rational thinking.

“Okay. I’ll think about it,” you say as you got up to put your cup in the sink, heading towards the door. Before you walked off you turned back to Enishi to find him looking right back at you.

“Thank you. For the tea… and everything,” you said, smiling.

With that you quickly spun on your feet and made your way back to your room. Enishi was left in a daze staring at the spot you were at mere seconds ago. He felt his heart squeeze again and punched the feeling away with his fist. Was he getting sick or something?

You got in bed and felt sleep take you as soon as you slipped under the covers. You kind of made up your mind regarding what Enishi asked you. Smiling to yourself you drifted off to sleep.

————————————————————————

You woke up pretty early. The room was still pretty dark with the October mornings keeping the world in slumber for a few more hours. You sat up with a stretch and went over to your bag to pick an outfit for today. Most of your clothes needed serious washing. Going for a clean shirt with silk strings laced up at the front and a pair of practical pants you changed and made your way to the kitchen.

You thought of reviving your cooking skills by making some food for everyone, to repay the hospitality. Counting about ten men you saw around the mansion, including Enishi, you went looking through the cupboards again. Unfortunately, you came to the conclusion that there weren’t enough supplies to make anything.

Just as you were recalculating your plan you caught sight of a figure leaning on the doors that went from the kitchen to the outside terrace. Checking to see who it was, you found the monnocle guy from last night.

“Good morning madame,” he saluted you, rather enthusiastically at the ass crack of dawn.

“Good morning…”

“Wu Heixing, madame!”

“Good morning, Wu. You don’t have to call me madame.”

“It’s to show my respect to you as you’re a guest of Master Enishi.” The members of this mafia surprised you one by one.

“Do you happen to know if there’s a market nearby? I want to cook something for you all.”

“There is one in the village down in the valley. You have to go through the meadow though.”

“Thank you.”

“With pleasure, madame.”

You found a shopping basket laying around and got your coin pouch, leaving for the meadow to try and find the village. Just as you reached it, the sun started rising up in the sky. The light made it easier to notice the busying merchants and all their carts already set all around the small square.

Your stomach was growling at the sight before you. Vegetables, fruits, cured meat, pastries. Your mouth watered at all the delicacies. As you were browsing the vendors you spotted the farmer that gave you a ride yesterday. He was in charge of a cart full of fruits. He recognised you right away and sent you a polite smile.

“Good morning.”

“Good morning, miss.”

“Thank you again for the ride yesterday.”

“It was no problem. I’m always glad to help Master Enishi considering all that he does for us.”

He was helping out the villagers? Huh. It seemed like he had more layers to him than you thought. You wanted to find out more.

“What does he help out with?”

“He helps us with the crops every once in a while. He’s also our main customer and always comes here on Sundays to get food for his family.”

Ah, so the villagers don’t know the mafia lives close by and that Enishi is the boss. Or they do, but they’re too charmed by him to question it.

“Is there anything I could get for you, miss?”

“Yes! Give me all the fresh produce you’ve got.”

You went around shopping for everything you needed to prepare a hearty lunch and to have some food around. With your basket full to the brim you checked your coin satchel. You had only one left. Everything you had left from your jobs was spent on all the food you balanced on your arms.

“I spent them well. This was for a good cause,” you thought to yourself, shedding a small tear as you walked back to the mansion.

—————————————————————————

The kitchen smelled absolutely divine. The scent of different flavors danced around in the air, reaching all the way to Enishi’s office. He was fast asleep on the chair after working on plans all night.

Something tingled his nose and made him wake up. A few quick whiffs of the scent made his stomach grumble. The pronounced aroma of a pork roast and the distinctive spices of a vegetable soup put him in a trance.

He was on autopilot as he made a beeline towards the kitchen, debating whom could it be that cooked food this divine. Wu couldn’t stir a soup to save his life. The rest of his goons were not kitchen staff material either. That left only… you.

Pushing open the double doors to the kitchen, the smell was so intense it hit him like a train. He closed his eyes in silent appreciation and just took in the tang of spices sitting in the air.

Opening them he took sight of the whole kitchen. The oven was set on the roast while busy hands worked on stirring the soup on the stove. The island was filled with all different kinds of specialties already prepared. Fruit platters, fried rice, boiled eggs, trays of steamed dumplings, even salads. There was enough to feed a whole army. You definitely thought of everyone around the villa.

Creeping closer he saw you sway around humming a tune foreign to his ears. An orange apron hugged your body and looked adorable on you. You had a small smile on your face as you stirred the contents in the pot and he couldn’t help but smile at you.

An evil idea crossed his mind as he sneaked up behind you and put his hands on your waist. You jumped at the sudden contact and were ready to smack whoever sneaked up on you with the wooden spoon. That was until a familiar chuckle came from behind and you relaxed in the hold.

“I almost had a heart attack,” you say turning around and smacking him on the chest. “Don’t ever sneak up on me like that again.”

“Okay, okay. I won’t. I promise.”

“You better,” you say still smiling.

You stayed like that for a few more moments until the smell of the pork roast getting a little too roasted alerted you it needed to be pulled out of the oven. Breaking away from him, you spun around to the oven and got it out, placing it on the stove to check it. Cutting a small piece you blew air on it and held it to Enishi’s mouth. He hesitated at first, but the rumble of his stomach made him take a bite.

The more he chewed on it the more his insides melted at the amazing taste. He hasn’t had this kind of tasty cooking since his sister. He does cook for his gang members but it could never come close to the magic you made.

“It tastes amazing, Miyu.”

“Thank you,” you say with a smile.

He was melting inside again but he couldn’t tell if it was because of the food or your smile.

“Can I help with anything?”

“Yes! You can call everyone to the table outside and take some of the food out there.”

With a nod he picked up a few trays and headed outside. He was surprised to see the table wiped clean with cutlery and dishes already arranged for everyone.

As soon as the soup was done cooking, you served the food to everyone and went back inside to put everything back to its place. By the time you were done, everyone was done, leaving only you and Enishi at the table.

“Come sit and eat with me.”

“You didn’t eat with everyone?”

“I was waiting for you.”

Despite his stomach protesting at the lack of contents inside he decided to wait for you as you surely didn’t eat anything either.

“Well I’m here now so let’s dig in.”

You piled two plates up high with everything you cooked and dove straight in. The way you were gobbling up food in a very wild manner made Enishi stop mid-way from slurping his bowl of soup to look at you. Despite your lack of table manners, he thought you looked absolutely adorable. Sensing him staring you looked at him and stopped chewing.

“What?” you said with a mouth full of food.

“You have something on your face.”

“I do? Where?”

“Here,” he said as he raised a hand to your lips to get the hanging piece of salad away.

“Thank you.”

The only sounds in the air were of you enjoying the lunch together. The silence made your mind wander back to his question last night.

Did he still want you to stay? What if he changed his mind? What if you made up your mind for nothing? Deciding to get it over with you swallowed the food and took a breath.

“I need to talk to you about something. It’s about what you asked me last night.”

“Go on.”

Taking a chug of water from your glass you braced your throat to tell him your answer.

“I decided… to stay. I’ll join you.”

“Wait. Really?”

“Yes. I don’t really have anything else to do and I could use something to work on for the time being,” you say taking another sip of water.

“Great. Then we can start training tomorrow.” You spit out the water you were drinking.

“TOMORROW?! So soon?”

“I don’t have time to waste especially with the failed plan that got me in the precinct a few nights ago. We need to get going.”

You nodded sinking back into your chair as you ate a little slower. You had no idea what awaited tomorrow you, but it should be quite an enjoyable experience to receive training from someone like Enishi.

————————————————————————

There was nothing enjoyable about this shit. Instructor Enishi was a total asshole. You could barely hold your own and he threw you straight into combat with his goons. Something about ‘building character through practice’. You defended all their attacks but you couldn’t get absolutely none in.

“If you’re going to keep defending you will tire out faster than your opponent.” He was watching you from the side as five of his men ambushed you.

“It’s kind of impossible to attack when I don’t know how,” you strained as you defended a few more punches thrown your way. You lost your footing for a second and a punch was dug into your side so harshly that it threw you to the other side of the garden. You groaned as you hit the ground face-down, tasting some grass in your mouth. A pair of feet came into view as you lifted your head up off the ground to see a familiar mop of hair towering over you.

“Giving up already?” he teased as he crouched down next to you.

You weren’t going to give him the satisfaction. No, you were going to prove a point. That you belonged here.

So grabbing a fistful of grass you sat up and dusted your clothes of the dirt. Huffing out a breath you ran into the circle of men and went at it again. And again. And again. You only got a few kicks and punches in each time before you were thrown back to the ground.

“Enough. You’re dismissed.”

You leaned against a nearby tree and took a breather. Your face was covered in dirt and dust pricked at your eyes. You were nothing short of frustrated with yourself. Staring at your hands you tried to visualise the attacks she used to do. You couldn’t bring that fight instinct back no matter how hard you tried and it drove you up the fucking wall.

Shooting wasn’t a problem, but combat was essential. You had to rewire those instincts back into you somehow, but you were lost on where to even begin.

Enishi walked over and sat down in front of you. He saw the look in your eyes as you scanned your hands. He could tell you were afraid. You couldn’t let Barairo back in without losing yourself in the process and he had to find a way to help you.

“I saw you fighting back then.” Your eyes snapped up at him as he spoke. “I was amazed at how a small teenage girl could manhandle all those beasts. I snuck in a few of your fights and studied the way you moved a lot.”

“If you can’t remember the way I’ll teach it to you. We can start at the beginning and work our way up again.”

There was that word again. We. He was so adamant on training you the best he could. But he couldn’t do it if you weren’t willing to. It’s not that you didn’t want to. You just couldn’t.

“What if I’m a total waste of time?”

“If you were,” he got up and dusted his pants, “I wouldn’t have asked you to join me.”

That was enough to drive you back to your hopeful self. Maybe you could do this. Maybe you could become good without bringing that monster back. You just needed to try.

—————————————————————————

The next few days were spent running over the basics. Increasing your stamina was the first goal on the list. It looked easy in your head. That was until Enishi turned full commando on you.

You were hiking the hills and the trails around the village at least twice a day. He increased the pace every time you went there. You took short breaks every half an hour only to do sit ups or climb a tree to strengthen your muscles. He always chose the most difficult trees and it felt like it was on purpose at times.

You were currently sat in one of the trees about three meters from the ground, hugging its trunk like a koala as you sat on a branch. You were exhausted out of your mind.

“Come on, Miyu.”

“Can I stay here for five minutes?”

“We’re only halfway through the hike. If you’re not coming down I’m leaving you here.”

“WAIT!”

Despite all the difficulties of training there was one part of it you really enjoyed. The sight of Enishi in a tank top as he walked in front of you. It was the highlight of your day.

You came out of the woods to a clearing, a river running through the dunes and down to the village. Enishi went closer to get some water, gathering it in his hands. After sipping on it he gathered a bit more and swept it back over his face and hair. Droplets of water were shamelessly running down his arms, making his veins sparkle. Some of it was going down his chest soaking his tank top and letting you see a little more of the hidden goodies.

You were sure you were drooling as your trance blurred all of your surroundings. Taking a step forward you failed to see the rocks on the ground, slipping and falling into a grass patch to the side. Enishi’s head snapped to you.

“You good?”

“I’m good,” you say, giving him a thumbs up from your spot on the ground.

You continued on your trail until you reached the last tree line to the top of the hill. Your lungs were heaving and your breath was anything but normal. If I just let myself fall would I reach the bottom faster? Looking behind you to see the distance to the bottom you shook your head to get rid of the thought.

The tree line ended and you came to a big opening. You made it to the top of the hill. So the training was proving a little useful.

You pushed your aching limbs to where Enishi was standing. Reaching him you stood up and stretched your body. You saw him looking off into the distance and you followed his eyes to see what he was looking at that had him so captivated.

The minute you laid eyes on the view you fell in love. The hill you hiked was overlooking the village down in the valley and the other hills that were protecting it away from the world. Wait… This was the same as the painting back at the mansion.

You made a habit out of stopping by it before you went to sleep every day. Each time you stood in front of it you noticed other little details hidden inside. The way the trees covered each other, creating a bird shelter for the night. Or the way the hills looked as if they were silently whispering to each other. They couldn’t move to embrace each other but the slopes they laid on together seemed to be enough for them.

Someone was watching you every time you stopped by, unbeknownst to you. Leaning on a wall further behind you, he analysed your face to try and make out your reaction. He was taken aback when all he found was admiration and curiosity, wonder dancing in your eyes as you took in each detail. He got a little confused every time you leaned in closer and quirked your eyebrow at it, only to let out a breath of relief when you sat back and had a grin on your face.

“The painting back at the mansion… the orange and green landscape. Did you paint that?”

He only chuckled in response and went to sit down on the grass, as you followed suit. You both mimicked each other’s position, spreading your limbs on the grass, arms supporting your upper bodies.

“I thought you’d figure it out faster.”

You pushed his shoulder at that remark, ripping another chuckle from him.

“The painting is beautiful. So detailed and intricate in technique. But it does not compare to the real thing. This view is pure art.”

He looked at you as you elaborated on everything you loved about the painting. You seemed to know a lot about the arts. It was nice to have something new in common with you, besides your love for hibiscus tea.

“I’m glad you like it. If you wait just a second… there it is.”

The sky bled orange meeting the green mounds of earth, exactly like the painting. Your breath got caught in your throat as the sunset became more prominent. It was the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen.

Enishi wasn’t focusing on the sunset over the hills. He was watching another sunset happening right beside him. Your cheeks were flushed pink from the effort you put into hiking. The light breeze was brushing your hair with every wave in the air and your clothes were sticking to you uncomfortably. But you looked absolutely serene. He wished he could paint this view instead of any landscape in the world.

—————————————————————————

You got back to the mansion just before it got dark. Grabbing an apple you ate it and quickly dashed to the bathroom to get out of your sweaty clothes and enjoy a bath. You made the mistake of sitting on your bed before actually getting to the bathroom, laying down on top of the duvet.

“I’ll just close my eyes for five minutes.”

Those five minutes turned into a few hours. Enishi was looking for you to ask if you’ve eaten anything. As he came to your room he noticed the door was open halfway. Knocing on it he called your name but got no response. Pushing it open he took in the sight of you sprawled on your bed still in your training clothes. His heart warmed up so much he thought it would burst. You must’ve been so tired.

Coming closer to your bed he sat down on the edge. Your head was sitting uncomfortably on the duvet so he gently put a hand under your head and lifted it to place a pillow under it. Laying your head back down he let his hand card through your hair to let it loose. You sighed in your sleep at the action, a smile tugging on your lips.

He smoothed a hand from your temple down to your cheek and you took him by surprise turning on your side, curling into him. Your hand grabbed at his shirt and he was locked into place with no way to escape.

His heart started beating rapidly as he looked at you. You had his shirt into a death grip as if you were holding an anchor that could bring you back from dreamland to the real world. He found himself smiling again. It started coming out more naturally the more he was with you.

He folded his big hand over your small one and stroked it lightly to get you to loosen your hold. Your fist unclenched and you let him free. He slowly got up from the bed careful not to wake you. Finding a spare blanket he draped it over you so you wouldn’t get cold. He smoothed your hair once more to get some stray hairs away from your face and went out the door, softly closing it behind him. He couldn’t stop smiling.

—————————————————————————

Thank you for reading! As always, comments, notes and reblogs are welcome :)

#Addicting Taste #enishi yukishiro #rurouni kenshin #enishi yukishiro fanfiction #enishi yukishiro x reader #enishi yukishiro x you

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fairsexynasty · 9 months

Text

—DIFFICULT THINGS

jamie tartt x lasso!reader

ONE. TOWNIE

summary: lucy moves to richmond with a memory that doesn’t quite forget what her dad did to her. however, ted is as happy as a goldfish.

warnings: cursing, unlikeable female protagonist, father issues, abandonment issues, resentment

a/n: welcome to this very new series i WILL finish. my love for this show has overtaken my time and i am very excited to be writing this. this chapter is set during “two aces.”

——————

Leonard Cohen once said, “There’s a crack in everything; that’s how the light gets in.” But my world has been infused with the darkest of shadows. Everywhere I search is covered by a dark spot. It seeps into my life from my dreams, nightmares, and memories. I don’t think I was delivered by the hand of God, nor will I be expecting any blessing in the near future. It’s the hope that kills you.

I had that epiphany when I turned seven. No one had ever seen a child so jaded, so self-aware. When I learned that the father I wished for wasn’t that interested in fully being in my life, I accepted it entirely, for what it was worth. He’s popped in and out, coming in as quickly as he leaves, only sticking around for moments he deemed essential to me.

And the worse part is that he’s a good man—a good man with a daughter who felt evil.

I used to wish something terrible would happen to me. A broken collarbone. A car accident. Cancer. If something like that happened to me, I thought he’d return and stay for good.

But those things never happened. I’ve never broken any bones. I’ve never crashed my car into a tree. I’m perfectly healthy. And after all this time, Dad has moved on.

I have a half-brother. Thirteen or fourteen years my junior, it’s disgusting how I’m not too sure about the gap. I’ve never met him, nor do I want to meet him. I envy a child who cannot understand the weight of the word ‘father’ because he’ll always take it for granted.

When I crawl through my memories, I can see Dad crystal clear. He showed up to every one of my birthdays until age sixteen. That’s probably because my brother was old enough to ask and understand why Dad was leaving him. Dad came to my first dance, a father-daughter dance. It was one of the nights I honestly felt pretty. He and I danced the night away, stuffing our faces with candy and desserts and drinking our weight’s worth of soda pop. Dad taught me how to ride a bike. Although it ended with scraping my knees, he helped me up, cleaned my knees, and kissed each one. Dad drove me to my first day of high school. The morning went by quickly, but I can still remember the smile on his face as I waved goodbye to him and walked through the school doors.

I want to be thankful for what I’ve gotten from my dad. But he could have done so much more. Am I not worth the effort?

And it hurts to hate my mother as much as I do.

She could clean up her act for Dad, but once he was on his way home, she’d finally ease into consciousness. We would fight. She’d accuse me of not appreciating her. She’d belittle me and never congratulated me on my accomplishments. She’s manipulative. Controlling. Narcissistic. Evil. I know I’m no good, either. But women like that love confrontation. And she got the best of me every single time.

But I’m a grown woman now. I’m twenty. I have a life. A freedom I’ve never known. I’m trying to be honest, to prove I am everything Mom never thought I’d be. I’m trying to make Dad proud of me. Because everyone else is sure as hell proud of him, he’s Ted Lasso: a simple man with a simple plan who was pulled to spread his kindness in Richmond, England, by coaching their god-awful team. I watched the news with a frown as soon as they announced his new endeavor. If he got a new beginning, why can’t I?

And that’s why I decided to pack up my things and move to England.

I’ve been here before. My mother and I moved around due to her line of work. Whether it was Shanghai, Princeton, Kuala Lumpur, or Rome, I could never call those places home. I feel like Richmond is going to be different. I’m not hopeful. Just curious.

——

The park seems comforting. There appears to be a rhythm that compliments the people. Kids playing soccer, and shops opening for the day.

I sit and watch the world awaken. People pass me by as I sit on the bench, not one of them stopping their routine for me, except one.

lHis greetings were met with responses of “Wanker,” a word I found oddly endearing. He continued down the park trail, saying ‘good morning’ to me mindlessly.

I replied with a deadpan “Wanker,” which surprised him, given my American accent. He turned back, his eyes lighting up in recognition.

“Oh, my lordy-lord,” he muttered, smiling as he said my name, “Lucy.” He looks at me as if I’m a fucking unicorn. His eyes soften, and the smile that always reaches his eyes is suddenly on his face. “ Lucy !” he breathes out as if he’s too scared to say it louder like I’ll run away and leave.

“Hi, Dad.” He pulls me from my seat on the bench and envelops me into the biggest bear hug I’ve ever gotten from him. And those hugs are grizzly and unrelenting.

He lifts me off my feet and holds my head to his shoulder. “Oh, how I love you, Lucy girl. I can’t believe it!”

I groan, feeling slightly embarrassed. "Dad, please put me down. I'm not as tiny as Henry is," I say with a laugh. He puts me down with a smile, but there’s a flash of a solemn look on his face. I guess my mention of Henry has filled him with some semblance of guilt. I can’t tell if that satisfies me or not. "I think you're wondering why I'm here," I say, the false smile still on my face. "And the only reason is because I wanted to see you, Dad. I missed you," I add, trying to perfect the role of the doting daughter, even though it doesn't come naturally.

“Oh, I missed you too, Pumpkin. I’m glad you’re here.” He spots my luggage standing against the bench. “Looks like you’re gonna be visiting for a while, huh?”

I nod slowly, my gaze briefly shifting away. "Yeah, I am. Needed a change of scenery for a while," I admit, hoping he won't probe further into my true reasons for being here.

Dad nods, but I spot him scanning my face for any information I won’t outwardly tell him. Perhaps it’s a parently instinct, or maybe it’s just a Ted Lasso thing. The smile on my face doesn’t falter.

“So, how’s your mom?”

The question hangs in the air, and I can sense the curiosity in his eyes. I clench my jaw and roll my eyes in annoyance. "I really don't want to talk about her right now," I say firmly, hoping to steer the conversation away from a topic I'd rather avoid.

Dad gives me one of those fatherly smiles, understanding my need for privacy but also indicating he'll inquire about it later. "Alright then. How about we get you settled into my place? Don't care if you've found one already. I got you here with me, and you're not going anywhere, missy. I hope that's alright with you," he adds, his face hopeful as he waits for my response.

I acquiesce to his requests. It’s the least I can do. “Sure, Dad. I’d love to.”

He cheers with a fist pump, then wrangles me into yet another bear hug before I tell him he’s crushing my ribs, and he dramatically lets me go with a pout on his face.

I follow him down the streets to his apartment door. We enter, and it’s pretty lovely, yet it feels so hollow. There’s an opened jar of peanut butter on the island. I can tell he radiates joy as we unpack my things into an extra bedroom. I wonder how lonely he’s been without his son and wife.

Yeah. This is the least I can do.

——

After unpacking and settling in, Dad practically begs me to come to Nelson Road with him, and since I’m already feeling a bit guilty, I come along with him.

Upon entering, some guy with a full beard and eyebrows that make him look perpetually constipated looks at me. Well, it’s more of a glare. He walks up to Dad and me, not once taking his eyes off me. I narrow my eyes in response, shooting him a cold glare of my own. “Who the fuck is this? Don’t tell me Rebecca hired another fucking American.” His voice is deep and rumbling and full of snark.

"Seriously, do all British guys walk around with a stick up their ass?" I quip, but my remark falls on deaf ears. I catch the man clenching his jaw at my question. Ah, it seems he doesn't take kindly to being disrespected. One jab at his masculinity, and he's ready to go to war without a second thought.

"Roy Kent, meet my daughter, Lucille," Dad introduces, but I quickly interject, "Lucy to you." I emphasize my preference, not one to stand on formality. "Who the fuck are you, Roy Kent?" I ask, gauging his reaction as he looks between me and my dad, clearly trying to figure something out. I decide to clear the air, "Yeah, my mom isn't Michelle," I clarify, hoping to put any confusion to rest.

Roy's response is a simple "Oh," followed by a grunt as he exits the scene. My dad remains unfazed and carries on, guiding me towards the locker room with his arm casually draped around my shoulder.

"Coach Beard! We've got a new cast member!" Dad announces to the room as we walk out together, seemingly excited to introduce me to his colleagues.

A man with a book and a golf hat turns his chair around and observes us. “Well, well, well. If it isn’t the fussbudget,” he says. “Hello, Lucy. I’m Coach Beard. I’ve heard all about you.”

I can't help but snort at the situation. "That's impossible," I retort with a snarky tone. Coach Beard finds my reaction amusing, letting out a chuckle, while my dad gives a slight frown, but I know a few jabs won't easily rattle him.

Suddenly, a strong voice breaks the chatter, announcing, "Ayo, the gaffer's got another kid!" The rest of the men turn their attention to me, their eyes filled with wonder and intrigue. They excitedly chat, asking if they saw what they think they did.

Exiting the office, we step into the open room where my dad proudly introduces me to the team. "Fellas, I'd like to introduce you to my daughter. This is Lucy, everyone."

The players greet me with waves and hellos, except for one guy sitting on the bench, engrossed in his phone, occasionally laughing. I point him out, asking, "Who's that?"

"Jamie Tartt. Hey, Beard, what's the deal with Jamie?" my dad inquires, and seemingly out of nowhere, Jamie appears beside us without making a sound.

Beard responds, "Says he can't practice today. Says he's hurt."

I observe my dad's face dropping with disappointment as he turns to walk out the door and over to Jamie, concern etched across his features.

The whole situation was intense, and I couldn't recall ever seeing my father this angry before. It seemed like there had never been an opportunity for him to get this worked up until now. Watching him unleash his frustration on Jamie reminded me of my mom, who had her share of heated moments. While my dad appeared to be justified in his outburst, Jamie's disrespectful behavior only reinforced my 'British men suck shit' theory.

Feeling overwhelmed, a tingling sensation crept into my head, and my heart raced with the familiar signs of an impending panic attack. I needed to escape, so I swiftly turned on my heel and walked out of the office, trying to distract myself by fiddling with the rings on my fingers.

Wandering aimlessly down the halls, I searched for a private space to catch my breath and calm down. Passing a laughing man, a short guy carrying a laundry bag, and a stunning blonde woman who seemed out of place here, I stopped in my tracks when I heard my dad's name mentioned in a hushed conversation.

"Rebecca, I don't think Coach Lasso will be too thrilled about you trading Jamie away.”

“Higgins, listen to me. I don't care if Lasso is trying to get through to Jamie or if he begs him to come back. Jamie is not returning, and that's precisely what I need," she asserts before abruptly changing the subject, "Now, let me go hunt down my biscuits. They're late."

Realization hits me like a ton of bricks. Dad is being sabotaged. All this time, I believed he was here to make a positive impact on the team, but it turns out they see him as nothing more than a joke. Stepping away from the door, I attempt to make a quick exit, only to collide with a statuesque woman who towers over me.

She glances down at me, exuding power through her stature and fashion, but I'm not intimidated. "Why, hello there, whoever you are. Are you lost?" she inquires.

Ah, this must be Rebecca. The woman who plans to screw my father over. I can't help but roll my eyes at her. "No. Just looking for the bathroom," I retort.

Rebecca gestures towards the sign, displaying her passive-aggressiveness. "Well, it's just around the corner. Right where the 'bathroom' sign is," she points out.

"Cool," I respond nonchalantly, not letting her faze me. "Oh, and by the way, my name's Lucy. Thanks for hiring my dad to coach!"

I catch a flicker of terror in Rebecca's eyes before I walk away, grinning to myself. Drama seems to follow me wherever I go, even in Richmond. Old habits die hard, I suppose.

——

After my quick trip to the loo, I wander over to the dog track, where Dad and Beard stand, closely observing the team's training session. I can't help but chuckle at Jamie's predicament as he wears a penny and sets up cones.

Dad notices my arrival and playfully calls out, "Oh, there you are, Waldo! What were you doing?"

His attempts at humor fail to catch me off guard. While I understand his references, I refuse to engage in the corniness. "Nothing, just using the bathroom," I reply with a mischievous grin, not willing to spill the beans about Rebecca's scheming ways. "Oh, and I met Rebecca. She seems nice," I lie sarcastically, well aware of her conniving nature.

Before Dad can respond, a rather handsome player approaches us gracefully. "Hello there. Sorry, Coach Lasso, but I couldn't continue practice without introducing myself to our guest," he says with a charming smile. "My name is Sam Obisanya. It's a pleasure to meet you, Lucy. The other players and I were wondering if you'd care to join us on the field for a few minutes. We'd like to have some fun at Jamie's expense. Is that alright?"

I return Sam's smile and reply, "Uh, sure. But I haven't played in years, dude. Not sure I'll be any good among you professionals.”

Sam brushes off my concerns, reassuring me, "Oh, that's alright, Lucy. I'm sure Thierry will let you score a couple of goals. Come on!" With that, he guides me towards the field, announcing to the team, "She said yes, you guys!" Their enthusiastic cheers fill the air.

As we assemble for a quick game, a guy with a buzzed fade named Isaac addresses me, confirming my name, "Alright, Lucy, is it?" I nod, and he explains the teams, "We're gonna split into five and five, and you're gonna play with the lads who ain't got a kit on."

"Sounds good," I respond with enthusiasm. I turn to the guys without kits, and each extends a hand for a handshake. I go down the line, shaking hands with each one. There's a short man with curly hair, Bumbercatch, followed by a tall fellow with a broad smile, Jan Maas. Then, a highly energetic man named Dani Rojas greets me, not wasting any time to exclaim, "Football is life!" right in front of me. The last guy, a mousey brunette named Colin, completes the line-up.

Quickly getting into formation with my newfound teammates, they place me front and center for the play. I'm facing off with Sam, who gives me a friendly smile. At the sound of the whistle, we both dash for the ball, but I swiftly take control and dribble it down the field. Roy Kent charges towards me, determined to tackle the ball away, but I outmaneuver him with a quick juke, causing him to land on his ass. The guys react with astonishment, and suddenly, the game shifts from Sam's gentle start to full intensity.

Isaac rushes towards me, sporting a determined expression, but I pass the ball to Dani Rojas, who's open and ready. Dani drives it down the field, but as soon as he spots an opportunity, he passes it back to me. With precision, I shoot the ball into the goal, leaving the goalkeeper stunned as it whizzes past him.

The entire team stands in complete silence, including my dad and Coach Beard, who are both staring at me with their mouths agape. The momentary hush is broken by Jamie Tartt, who teasingly remarks, "Ay, wanker's kid just got you real good, lads." He winks at me, provoking a gag from me followed by a flip-off.

Isaac can't contain his excitement, exclaiming, "Shit, bruv! You just broke Roy Kent's ankles!"

Roy growls behind me, clearly not pleased with being outplayed. "You got fucking lucky, kid," he grumbles.

I don't back down, confidently replying, "Luck's got nothing to do with it. Either you're cursed or you just ate shit, Kent."

I have to admit, Richmond has exceeded my expectations thus far, but I won't let it get the best of me just yet.

#fairsexynasty #ted lasso x reader #jamie tartt x reader #jamie tartt x ofc #ted lasso fanfiction

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dimdiamond · 7 months

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You know, what really strikes me with Tintin in Tibet is at the beginning, when Tintin gets Chang's letter, Haddock has no idea of who this boy is. Normally, we would expect, considering how important is for Tintin his friendship with Chang and vice versa, that Tintin would have talked about Chang at least once to Haddock and yet it seems like he hasn't. Understandably, our first thought is to be weirded out and kinda disappointed with Tintin and blame Herge for not handling his cast properly. But, I read this as how Tintin's character is.

I don't know how often Tintin and Chang exchange letters and how they keep in touch but it seems that it's not that often, or even if it is, Tintin doesn't get into the trouble to explain Haddock (hiding it from him is another explanation but I don't think it's that possible, considering Tintin's and Haddock's friendship and characters and how, if this was the case, Tintin wouldn't explain to Haddock from who the letter is and what it says). However, we see Tintin being really excited to receive Chang's letter and thrilled to meet him again after so long. So, the possibility of Tintin not cherishing or remembering his friend is nonexistent, especially if we take into consideration what happens to the rest of the book. Then why Tintin hasn't talked about Chang to Haddock? Has he even told him about his previous adventures, before meeting him?

I believe that this scene shows exactly Tintin's character and how he handles opening up to others. Simply he doesn't if he doesn't see any reason to do so. He tends to be secretive not from malice or anything bad, but because he isn't comfortable with being the centre of attention. Yeah, ironically, the famous journalist prefers to be a spectator and a listener than be on the scene and talk. Certainly this has helped to his job and his fame, as, even we, the readers, can't help but want to know more about him and see him. Tintin doesn't aim for this attention though and that's what it makes him appealing as a character.

Back to our topic, Tintin rarely talks about himself and when he does is because it just happened, not planning or intending to do so, and even then he gives so few information about him and his life (for example "I interviewed a pilot" and then never mentions it again). It is possible that Tintin has mentioned his trip to Shanghai or something of his adventure there but never went to the details. And this is the interesting part where Haddock hasn't asked for more details. More than once, Haddock has shown his respect to Tintin and his limits and never pressured him to anything. This is how their friendship, and most of their friendships with others, go. They accept each other for who they are now and their past won't change their opinion on them (actually they focus too much to the present but this is another topic). So, if this applies to both of them, why the need to say more?

My point with all this is that, instead of seeing Tintin's lack of mention of his friend (and any other irl person's to be frank) as something bad and mean, we should see it as how Tintin is and this doesn't diminish his feelings and his care and his bonds with others. For Tintin (and even Haddock) not talking about someone or something doesn't equal to dismissing it. He doesn't feel the need to say out loud something that he knows and feels already. If it happens to be mentioned he will talk and he won't lie. If it doesn't happen to be mentioned, then he won't initiate the talk. And for this exact reason I believe that Chang knows about Haddock and Calculus and maybe Nestor from Tintin's letters. Because Tintin's life and adventures revolves around them and he can't say something about him without mentioning them at least once (and probably after Tibet and staying home more the mentions become more and more).

Basically Tintin has the attention span of a cat (between other characteristics) and if something doesn't happen right in front of him he won't acknowledge it and that doesn't make him a bad person and friend.

#hey look at me talking about tintin in tibet for the 115th time #anyway just some thoughts because i caught myself feeling weird about it and then i remembered how i barely talk about me to others #tintin #chang #chang chong chen #captain haddock #archibald haddock #the adventures of tintin #tintin in tibet

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takearisk-xo · 9 months

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Day 7: Lover written for #SeveralSunlitDaylights & @corneliaavenue-ao3

a version of this has existed since may of 2020 and it feels so good to finally put it into the universe after sitting on it for three (THREE!) years... i have a feeling i will continue this at some point and hopefully turn it into a full blow fic, but until then, enjoy some non-traditional, pandemic themed, sex pollen, a/b/o dynamics <33

They said it started in China. At the annual festival in Shanghai.

Some experts claimed the mutation originated because of an uncharacteristically dry winter. Some blamed climate change. Others said it was all part of the cyclical nature of the earth. A purification process. Nature taking its course.

The more hysterically minded said it was the end of the fucking world.

Either way, Ginny watched in horror with the rest of Edinburgh as more and more reports flooded the news.

All across the northern hemisphere, the cherry trees were blossoming, and people were going mad.

~~~

The thing about fear was that it spread like wildfire.

Grocery stores emptied of necessities overnight. The Prime Minister issued stay at home orders, some of the more populated areas even attempted a voluntary curfew. Borders were closed, air traffic came to a grinding halt, restaurants were instructed to only offer takeout, and any non-essential businesses were told to close their doors entirely.

For a while, it all felt over-cautious.

At least until the first case hit Cardiff.

They said the little omega lasted three days in a severe heat until the pain and the dehydration finally rendered her unconscious. Her family rushed her to the emergency room and it was another two days before the hospital identified what was happening to her. They said before she was quarantined, she infected almost thirty people, nine of them hospital staff.

It spread from twenty-nine confirmed cases to over three-hundred within a week, three-hundred became eight-thousand within the month.

And that was just Wales.

~~~

Birmingham was the third city to reach critical levels of contamination, after Liverpool and Manchester.

They projected a global spread, the more densely populated areas being hit first. Each day the estimates increased, predicting numbers so catastrophic, there hadn’t been anything like it in over five-hundred years.

The real test, however, was London.

There were reports that all the major cabinet members had been moved to separate and secure locations. That way if any of them contracted the sickness, at the very least, they wouldn’t infect the rest of the country's leaders.

The worst part was nobody seemed to know anything. Records of the last pandemic were inconclusive or didn’t exist. No one knew how long the sickness lasted or how debilitating it really was. Less reliable news sources even reported deaths when the first wave hit eastern China, rumours spreading of alphas ripping each other apart over the chance to mate an omega.

But that’s all they were.

Rumours.

~~~

Designation had never mattered much to Ginny. It was just something stamped on her birth certificate next to seven pounds two ounces, eighteen inches long. Her ruts weren’t dramatic events, they were hardly even a disruption. Four times a year, she’d get the urge, use her fingers on herself three nights in a row and wait out the subsequent five days of bleeding.

Designation also hasn’t mattered to the world in decades. Suppressants went out of fashion after the turn of the century, the human race’s more animalistic instincts fading with each generation until the ruts and heats became nothing more than quarterly nuisances. Only a very small percentage of the population still needed herbs and homoeopathic blockers to get by, the rest went about their lives business as usual.

Humanity had evolved past such trivial things as Alpha, Beta, and Omega.

But now, it was all anyone could talk about.

~~~

Dawdling around the townhouse, Ginny took her frustrations out in the form of kneading a lumpy, soon to be loaf of bread while half listening to the news. Her television emitted a scratchy noise every few seconds, but for a dumpster dive, it worked fine enough. Especially since for the six weeks she’d been stuck at home, she’d hardly turned the damn thing off.

It wasn’t so much that she was dedicated to being informed, she just couldn’t bear the silence.

No honking cars, no nosy tourists, no shouting street vendors.

It was quiet in an uncomfortable way, in an unnatural way. In a way that left Ginny too much alone with her own thoughts.

As she punched the dough down as hard as she could, her telly warbled out an odd static followed by the evening news anchor chatting animatedly with a couple who supposedly recovered from the sickness.

“And you think having each other,” the journalist asked in disbelief, “helped speed up your recovery?”

“We realise it sounds a bit crazy, we aren’t even sure if there is science to support it–” a male voice responded. He sounded rational enough even though what he was saying went against every directive of social distancing. “But I’m an alpha, and my wife is an omega. When we both came down with it, we decided to stay home and wait it out together. Within a week or so we felt completely back to normal...”

Ginny snorted. The hospitals reported the illness lasting between twelve to fifteen days, not seven. And what were their credentials besides claiming to have been infected? The news station could interview anyone off the street. They’d probably interview her if she claimed she danced naked, covered in chicken’s blood beneath the full moon and it spared her. If anything, the segment was irresponsible. Now people were going to go out looking for a sex partner for the week.

Sighing at the downturn in journalistic integrity, she tuned out the rest of the interview, content to bask in the early May breeze wafting through the open windows.

Until she heard the squeak of brakes slow to a stop out front.

And muffled voices.

Followed by a car door slamming shut.

She’d just begun to wonder which bluenose neighbour had arrived to hole up in a holiday house when footsteps scuffed up the stone walk, her stone walk, and a key slid into the lock of her front door.

The knob turned, the door clicked open, and Ginny stood rooted to the spot, covered in flour as her landlord (slash older brother’s best mate) appeared framed on the stoop.

At first, Harry didn’t notice her. He stepped inside, careful to scrub his shoes on the mat before closing the door behind him and dropping his duffle unceremoniously in the foyer. He looked the same as he had nearly a year ago. He scratched a hand through the disaster hair piled atop his head then patted it all down again. His glasses were the same, and he still had the same little divot permanently etching his brow into a scowl. Beneath his anorak she could tell his lean frame still gave way to lanky limbs that shifted into slender fingers.

Then the telly switched programs, the News giving way to some crime documentary, or something. Ginny wasn’t actually paying attention. At the change in music, Harry froze with his back halfway to her and his shoulders went tight.

Then he turned on the spot, and he finally registered Ginny’s presence tucked away in the kitchen at the back of the house.

Their gazes held for several beats too long, both of them wide-eyed and startled by the existence of the other in such close proximity.

Ginny’s heart thundered inside her chest, in a way that was achingly familiar and entirely unwelcome.

“What are you– I didn’t think–” Harry stammered quickly. “Ron said he was meeting you back home?”

“He was,” Ginny answered, just as flustered. “I’d planned on it but– I couldn’t– I mean, I…changed my mind.”

Harry dug his fingers into his eyes behind his glasses and swore softly. He looked a bit peaky.

“Christ, I’m an idiot,” He croaked. “I’m so sorry. I should’ve called.”

“No, it’s fine,” she reassured, not quite sure why she was pardoning his intrusion. “It’s still your house.”

They stared at each other in the silence for several beats too long, both of them seemingly at a loss for what to do next.

“Er–” Harry finally stammered, a grin taking over his face. “Hi, by the way.”

Ginny laughed. “Yeah... long time, no see.”

They went in for a hug at the same time, but it was too light and too quick to feel natural. As he pulled away, Harry averted his gaze and let his eyes wander around the hall and the front two rooms.

“Is Luna…” he trailed off, as if those two words were question enough.

Ginny realised she was still covered in baking powder and half finished dough. She grabbed a tea towel from the hook and wiped her hands just for something to look at besides him. “She and her Dad were visiting family in Hamburg when the stay at home orders hit. She’s been stuck there for over a month. They can’t get a flight home.”

Harry nodded and let out a deep exhale of sympathy. “Fuck, yeah, that’d be awful.” He paused, shooting her a furtive glance. “And you? How–how are you?”

“Yeah, fine,” One half of her mouth tipped into a smile. “You?”

Shaking his head as if in thought, his hands fidgeted slightly in front of him. “Well, London is a disaster. They aren’t letting anyone leave their homes, or letting anyone into town. They’re letting people leave, but it took me ten days just to get approval to hop a train. I figured it couldn’t be so bad up here, you know? That’s why I…”

He trailed off again and Ginny wondered if he’d become incapable of finishing a coherent sentence in the time since she’d seen him last.

“Makes sense,” she nodded generously.

Harry remained exactly where he was, awkwardly perched on the welcome mat.

“You can come in,” Ginny asserted and he flinched a bit like he hadn’t expected to actually be allowed to stay.

“Right,” he cleared his throat and stepped forward like a man walking the plank.

Busying herself with the kettle, she tried not to be too aware of his progress through the sitting room.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him wave to the bookshelves on either side of the fireplace. “I like what you’ve done with the place.”

Ginny grinned. The house held tell-tale signs of being solely occupied by her for the last month and a half. Stray jumpers, and rumpled throw pillows, and forgotten cups of tea sat scattered all around. The dishes in the sink were piled several days too high and the bananas on her countertop were just a shade too brown.

“It’s a disaster,” she corrected, pulling her last two bags of tea out of the cupboard.

Harry flashed her a smile, but it was gone just as quickly as it came. “I mean the furniture and things. The colours.”

“The colours?” she repeated incredulously.

“Yeah,” he hummed, finally inching his way fully into the kitchen. He swallowed as his eyes settled on her once more. “It looks nice. Cosy.”

Snorting, she pulled her nearly empty carton of milk out of the refrigerator. “A sight better than when you and Ron lived here, you mean?”

That fleeting smirk again, there and then gone. “Do you know our sofa broke in two when we tried to move it out?”

“That does not surprise me in the slightest.”

Ginny poured and they both chuckled. She passed him one of the mugs and the milk, remembering how he took it. She reckoned it was one of those things she’d never forget. Like the opening to her favourite Spice Girls’ song, or her childhood phone number, or the rhymes to bonfire night. Two plus two equals four and Harry took his tea with milk, no sugar.

He tipped a splash into his cup, seemed to hesitate for a second, and then burst, “I can get a room. There’s got to be a hotel open in Old Town–”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Ginny cut across him, spooning a heap of sugar into her own tea. Again, she wasn’t quite sure why she was contradicting him, but she refused to chase the thought down, because then she’d have to acknowledge that somewhere deep down she wanted him to stay.

“Ginny,” he croaked. “I can’t intrude like this. I’ll figure something out. I’ll go stay at Sirius’ place in the country, or–”

“Harry,” she interrupted him again. “It’s your house.”

He seemed determined to put himself out. “But I can’t just show up out of the blue and–”

“Luna took your old room–” she continued as if he hadn’t spoken.

“I mean, you pay rent!” Now he was just talking to himself. “I had no right–”

“And she’s obviously not using it–” Ginny reasoned, though the ramifications of what she was suggesting crept up on her in a gradual recognition of awareness.

“I bet the Chisholm Hunter has rooms–”

“Harry!” she cut across him in humoured agitation. “It’s fine. Stay tonight, or the next few days, or a week, until you figure it out. It’s fine.”

He blinked, the furrow between his brows deepening in thought. “You’re sure it’s okay?”

“Yes,” she lied, like a liar. “It’s not a big deal.”

It was kind of a big deal, but she could handle it.

“You said they aren’t letting people into London, right?” Ginny continued. “What are you going to do? Rent a room until they let you go back home? That could be months!”

He opened his mouth as if to argue, then shut it again and exhaled sharply through his nose.

“Yeah, alright,” He conceded. “But only until I can get ahold of Sirius. Then, I swear, I’ll get out of your hair.”

The statement stung, just a little. As if getting out of her sight was vastly preferable than remaining in it.

“Where is he?” Ginny asked instead, lifting her mug to her mouth as if completely unaffected.

Harry pulled out his mobile and punched in his passcode. “Australia. Apparently their cherry trees don’t bloom until September.”

A scoff bubbled up in the back of her throat. “Lucky Australia.”

He muttered something that sounded like agreement and pressed the phone to his ear. As he meandered back into the sitting room, Ginny turned her cupboards in search of biscuits. Surely, she still had a package left somewhere.

Harry returned within moments. “Didn’t answer.”

“Well,” she shrugged, “Isn’t it like three in the morning?”

Harry gave her a flat look. “It’s Sirius.”

She laughed. “Yeah, okay, that’s fair.”

Something in his expression sparked at her reaction and it made the breath in her lungs go shallow.

Just like his smiles, the flare of something was there and then gone in an instant. She tried not to feel the familiarity of it, really she did, but something hollowed out spread through her middle at the reminder of her nearly debilitating infatuation, and then its eventual collapse.

Ginny cleared her throat, coming back to her senses. “So, you said it took you forever to get a train ticket. Have they decreased the routes?”

“Oh, erm–” Harry took a sip of tea that was clearly too hot for his mouth and he winced. “Yeah, and they’re checking into everyone who books.”

Understanding washed over her. “Right, so they make sure people aren’t…”

Great, now she was incapable of finishing her sentences.

He looked to her uncomfortably. “I hadn’t actually ever seen my birth certificate, I just always figured I was a Beta. Had to have a Doctor check me over once to make sure I wasn’t — you know — that I hadn’t gone unidentified.”

“Right, good. Nice.”

Why exactly was it nice? She should really stop talking.

“Is that why you…” He gestured vaguely south with one hand. “Couldn’t…go home?”

“Oh, er-” Ginny resisted the urge to cringe. “No.”

In reality, she’d had plenty of time to book a train to Devon before they started restricting the passengers who were designated one way or the other, but she hadn’t had the funds.

Harry’s gaze sharpened in curiosity.

“Do you want to put your stuff upstairs?” she asked brightly. “You must be knackered after travelling all day.”

~~~

Ginny retreated to the bathroom, closing the door softly behind her and leaning back against the sink. Shortly after Harry had settled into Luna’s room, his old room, she’d heard his mobile ring. His muffled voice through the mostly closed door had been maddening, and nearly too tempting to eavesdrop on, so she’d escaped.

She was half-torn. One part of her wished Sirius was offering up his country house to his godson immediately, and the other part hoped there was some flood, or fire, or other natural disaster that made it inhabitable.

Because the prospect of spending time with someone, but especially him; to not be alone hour after hour and day after day, was almost too exquisite to contemplate.

Christ, she was hopeless.

With nothing better to do than simmer in her own thoughts, Ginny turned the taps to the bath and adjusted the temperature until the shower spray was borderline scorching. She spent an excessive amount of time washing her hair and scrubbing her skin. She didn’t bother trying to figure out if she was doing it consciously or subconsciously, but she did know she was avoiding the end of her shower. Because as soon as she left the bath, she’d find out if he was staying or going.

Both scenarios felt too formidable to contemplate.

Eventually, though, the water ran cold, and Ginny couldn’t hide any longer.

After brushing her teeth, applying night cream, and wrapping herself up in her dressing gown, Ginny yanked open the bathroom door to find Harry standing directly in the doorway, with his fist raised as if to knock.

“Oh, sorry–” He muttered, his gaze flitting down her body and back up again. His face flushed just enough to notice. “That was Sirius,” he continued. “I can stay at his place, so I’ll be out of here as soon as I can book a train.”

Ginny pulled in a breath and did her best to keep it even. “Right. Good.”

She felt anything but good.

Squeezing past him and into the hallway, she kept her expression bright and open until she was safe inside her bedroom.

In her haste, she missed the way his eyes fluttered shut as she passed.

~~~

That night was unseasonably hot. The forecast had called for it to be a mild week, balmy and temperate, so Ginny wasn’t sure why the air wafting in through her open window felt so stifling. As she tossed and turned, a light sheen of sweat clung to her skin, and she contemplated the merits of another shower. This time a cold one.

She settled for a glass of water instead.

Padding down the hall toward the stairs, Ginny skirted past Luna’s room as quickly and quietly as she could. However, in the end, stealth didn’t matter.

Harry was already in the kitchen, propped up against the sink and looking pale.

“You okay?” Ginny muttered, taking a tentative step forward.

Clenching his eyes shut, Harry kept his head down and nodded. “I don’t know what’s happened to my stomach. Food poisoning or something–”

“I may have some Pepti upstairs?”

Harry nodded again.

She took a step closer, reaching for a glass from the shelf when the scent hit her. It smelled like fresh spring mornings, and the citrus of Earl Grey tea, and the warmth of never being alone. It smelled like home.

Every instinct she had screamed at her to take in more of it, to surround herself in it. Harry’s eyes met hers through the dim light and she saw him pull in a deep inhale through flared nostrils.

In an instant, her mind was restless and her body uncomfortably warm. Parts of her she didn’t know could ache, gnawed and cramped in time with her too loud pulse.

She dropped the glass she’d been holding at the same time Harry lept backwards.

In some corner of her mind, she knew what was happening. All of the doctors listed the same symptoms over and over; heightened senses, irregular body temperature, lower-abdominal cramps, increased libido. However, she was firmly ignoring the signs… especially the last one. It was much easier to dismiss her body’s immediate urges as coincidence. Otherwise, she would also have to admit what triggered it.

For fuck’s sake, Harry triggered it.

But that would mean he–

Fucking fuck, fuck, fuck.

#hinny #severalsunlitdaylights #hinny fic #a/b/o #harry/ginny #harry x ginny #my fic

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abybweisse · 6 months

Note

Hey Aby! In anticipation of the 205 chapter, I decided to go back and re-read Mey-Rin's and Bard's for clues of what may happen next to Snake and Finny. I noticed something interesting with both arcs - they both seem to hint at what their ultimate fates will be. While Bard's arc is all about meeting with wife and son while in a coma and he practically promises to return to them, Mey-Rin is an unwitting witness to a sex act, in an uncharacteristically graphic scene for Yana. Do you think that death is ultimately on the cards for Bard and (I guess) a marriage for Mey-Rin? Or is it all contained to their arcs themselves and does not mean anything beyond completing a mission?

⚠️ long post ⚠️

Assignments as foreshadowing?

I think that if Mey-Rin gets married, it would not be foreshadowed by her seeing sex acts through a keyhole.

She joined Qīng Bāng at a very young age and worked as a sniper, but she saw a lot going on around her. Well, as much as she could see without glasses. There were drugs, alcohol, and probably prostitution in and around the opium den, as well as throughout Limehouse district. One of her early assignments as an assassin was to shoot this guy at a hotel or perhaps in his own huge manor, right? He was a rival gang leader, and she shoots him while he's naked with some unnamed woman. He might have even been right in the middle of having sex when she shoots him. She's witnessed a lot in her young life.... Getting married to anyone would be despite the things she has seen and done. Reminds me of how Katniss finally settles down and has kids in The Hunger Games, even though she's been thoroughly traumatized by her experiences. So far, at least, Mey-Rin seems to have kept her mind pretty well intact. I hope she can continue to do so.

I think we can safely say she has somehow managed to remain a virgin up to this point, too. Otherwise, Georg von Siemens' inappropriate actions towards her wouldn't have been enough to make her question whether she was still worthy of marriage. Going by "Rin" and dressing as a boy until she joins the Phantomhive household might have been partly to protect her virtue. Good thing Haku was apparently only interested in her sniper abilities.

In Baldo's case, the interaction with Joanna and his son might be an indication he will have to break whatever promises he's made to them. At least for now. I mean, his claim he can now properly cook fried eggs is an exaggeration "Sebastian" calls out even before Baldo can fully return to the living realm.

I put Seb in quotations because I'm not sure whether Sebastian has infiltrated Baldo's coma or if he's just a nagging figment of his imagination.

Then again, maybe he will soon join them. We still don't have confirmation that he and the others safely made it out of Athena Sanatorium, thanks to a cliffhanger and moving on to the next assignment, with Finny and Snake. Next time we see Baldo et alia, they might be trying to take leave of the place... when Polaris freaking shows up, mad as all hell. Even if Ronald and William stick around and actually enter the fray (since it's another bizarre doll to take down), I don't see it ending too well. Baldo does seem to have this uncanny ability to survive, though, even if everyone else around him doesn't....

Either way, I highly doubt he will ever make it to Shanghai with the others, even if the others do. And if he stays in England and somehow still survives to the end of the series, this is most likely a false promise, as well:

Mostly because he's just that terrible in the kitchen.

I still somewhat hope Mey-Rin and Baldo end up together, despite their age difference. At least she is an adult already. Also, it was a very common practice in Victorian England for older men to marry much younger women, especially if those men were widowers. Much like Katniss again, perhaps Mey-Rin would only pair well with a man who has experienced much of the same trauma. Likewise, Baldo might now have trouble settling down with some completely innocent sort of woman. Katniss and Peeta go through the deadly and maddening games together. Baldo's been altered by war and losing his wife and son. Mey-Rin has been altered by her years as an assassin for a drug dealer and gang. Mey-Rin and Baldo have both been enlisted as servants for our earl, chosen because of their abilities and previous training; now they volunteer as pawns in this deadly game of chess against their young master's brother. Perhaps their bond will be strengthened by all this... if they live to see the end of it.

The main thing the first two assignments have in common, besides their basic instructions, is that Mey-Rin and Baldo each flashback to the events directly leading up to being offered positions as our earl's servants. Mey-Rin's flashback is triggered by Jane offering her the opportunity to switch sides. Her flashback shows us why her loyalty stays with our earl and Sebastian -- with the Phantomhive household.

Baldo's is triggered by Ada admitting her guilt as a survivor during warfare; Baldo feels much the same.

And he also develops loyalty towards our earl, Sebastian, and the other servants. Just like Jane ends up aiding the infiltrators, so does Ada.

As I'm typing this up, I realize "hunger games" describes both Mey-Rin's and Baldo's lives before: Mey-Rin is once fooled into biting a boot and is regularly given moldy bread to eat... while Baldo's battlefield starvation tempts him to cannibalize his fallen comrades. Sebastian barely arrives in the nick of time to stop him from eating the arm of Terry, or whoever that poor dead dude was, if it wasn't Terry. Sebastian shows up with a picnic basket filled with afternoon tea items and possibly more. The first thing our earl does to extend any kindness to Mey-Rin is provide her with the first hot, freshly prepared meal she's had in ages, perhaps as far back as she can remember.

Back to their assignments; they are paired with people who are in our earl's network but are not his servants. But Finny and Snake (and his snakes) are both Phantomhive servants, so do we get a major flashback from Finny, from Snake, from both, or from neither one? So far, Finny is having single-panel flashbacks and even briefly stating things he recalls to Snake and the top students. The orphanage reminds Finny of the research facility in some ways, and that could segue him into a major flashback. Since Doll is there, she could trigger Snake into one. However, before the assignments, they were the two we already knew the most backstory for, and we might never learn all that much more about either one. To deal with both characters, we might just continue to get tiny snippets here and there.

But Mey-Rin has a choice to make -- choose Jane's offer or remain loyal to our earl. She remains loyal, and Jane even helps her and Ran-Mao break up the blood collection operations there before parting ways. Mey-Rin and Ran-Mao just need to get to our earl and make their report.

Baldo still has a choice to make -- stay in England and return to our earl... or go with Lau and the others to China. Like I said before, he might never get to China, even if he tries. I do expect him to ultimately end up staying behind, possibly loaded down with fresh feelings of survivor's guilt. If Ada is still around when we get back to them, she might also decide to stay back and help Baldo take down the Aurora Society.

With Finny and Snake, I don't think Finny's loyalty could ever come into doubt. His choice might come down to whether he has to fight Snake. But I don't think Finny will see much, if any, choice in the matter if it comes to that.

Snake is probably about to hear Doll's full tale about the circus members' fates. Then his choice (and the choices of his individual snakes) is to either help Doll get revenge... or attempt to destroy her and shut down the orphanage. Snake is the last to join our earl's household, so he could end up the first to leave it (I don't think Tanaka has truly left). There's also the possibility that one of his snakes, like Emily, chooses Doll and must be eliminated.

There is foreshadowing in each assignment, but most of that pertains to what ends up happening in each assignment. I don't know what long-term foreshadowing there is in the assignments, other than perhaps some things not directly related to them... like:

The chance of Jane popping up again later because she hinted that she might

The shapes of souls and "aptitudes" hinting about soul transplants

If Layla ends up being Heathfield's daughter

If Layla/Al ends up being some experiment of Undertaker's regarding soul transplants

What I do see is each servant's loyalty being put to the test, and they must make quick, fateful decisions. Whatever choices they make during their assignments, they will ultimately affect the outcome of the story. Each assignment definitely has long-reaching consequences; they are not little bubbles of existence.

I hope I answered your question thoroughly. I stayed up too late working on this -- but not finishing it -- and have been half asleep all day.

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romajuliettemai · 6 months

Text

More Secret Shanghai Incorrect Quotes! (Some of these take place in a past timeline and were edited by me- word wise or name wise)

Alisa: I can’t believe my birth certificate says F... Alisa: ...How did I fail being born?

Rosalind: Stop setting things on fire because you're curious about what will happen. What will happen is fire.

Juliette: But what if something else happens just this one time.

Alisa, watching Oliver and Orion fight: Are you sure they should be fighting? What if they get hurt? Juliette, not bothered by the chaos: It’s fine. They’re too evenly matched to hurt each other. Alisa: Then... who’s the strongest out of you three? Oliver: Juliette. Orion: Juliette. Juliette: Me.

Roma: Pick a card, any card. Alisa: Fine. Roma: Wait, that's my credit card! Alisa: You said any card.

Alisa: The clock is ticking! We don't have time for this asinine tomfoolery!

Orion: This unmitigated poppycock?

Marshall: Extravagant hogwash!

Katherina: Okay, stop.

Celia: How did you used to sleep at night knowing people didn’t like you? Oliver: With the fan on.

Katherina, acting tough: You guys don't want to mess with me. Oliver: Yeah, Katherina will straight up cry in public. Don't try her. Katherina: Exactly, I will straight up- Katherina: Katherina, tearing up: Oliver, why would you say that?!

Roma: Did you miss me while I was gone? Benedikt: You were gone?

Orion: I'm not that stupid! Roma: Orion, you literally ate the wax from a babybel. Orion: ROSALIND TOLD ME IT WAS EDIBLE!

Alisa, to Oliver: If you can ever manage to get over yourself, I would highly recommend being me.

Juliette: Sorry I’m late, I was doing things. Roma: Hi, I’m ‘things’.

Rosalind : Why would I flip my shit about that? Alisa: Because you flip your shit about everything. Rosalind : Well, will you look at this. Here is my shit, and yet it remains unflipped. Just sitting there on the skillet, getting burned on one side. It’s a miracle.

Oliver: Do you always have to attack me with your words? Rosalind: Would you prefer me to use a brick?

Bailiff: Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? Oliver: No.

Orion: I intend to stay pissed at you forever. Orion: Even if I seem helpful. Oliver: Then you're in luck. Oliver: Because you don't.

Oliver: You know, you were right. Orion: About what specifically? Because I’m right about a lot of things.

Alisa: What scares you guys the most? Rosalind : Fear is just a construct. Oliver: The unstoppable marching of time that is slowly guiding us all towards an inevitable death. Orion: Orion: Roma.

#chloe gong #foul heart huntsman #foul lady fortune #secret shanghai #our violent ends #last violent call #these violent delights #secret shanghai finale #secret shanghai series #incorrect quotes

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bnhaoptr · 1 year

Text

For My Love | Gabriel AgresteXReaderFem!Terminal Disease

∆ Hope like it

∆ Gabriel Agreste X Fem! Terminal Disease

∆ Request Are Open

∆ Warnings: Adultery, Alcohol, Heterosexuality, Sex Innuendo, Inappropriate Language, Spoilers, Violence, Action, Adventure, Drama/Tragedy, Family, Fantasy, Women's Literature, Wrestling, Magic/Mysticism, Mystery, Romantic/Shoujo, Alternate Universe

∆ synopsis: Adrien Agreste had begun dating Marinette Dupain-Cheng, leaving aside his father’s hard hand and traveled to Shanghai to open his new store. Alone in his mansion, he ends up receiving a letter from his former love, he just did not expect that the news was not the most pleasant.

∆ +2000 words

The famous Eiffel Tower was fully illuminated on the French night, as if it were the only star in the sky darker than the feathers of a crow. The Seine was bustling with boats playing jazz and some couples dancing slowly in the open gardens.

Gabriel Agreste was a young punk who worked in a small hippie tent, where he styled clothes to his style. He always had a serious face and rarely gave small smiles, as if there were no reasons in his life to express joy. Or that’s what they thought, after all, when the young [Name] appeared, Agreste could barely contain her smile.

[Name], an aspiring actress and singer, performed small shows at the renowned Moulin Rouge, enchanting everyone who attended. And that’s how the young woman ended up meeting Gabriel, the boy she saw a huge talent as a fashion designer, asking her to prepare her clothes for the presentations, in which she accepted very willingly.

The relationship of both increased and intensified, making the romantic side of the Agreste flourish. Many thought that nothing could separate them. But the fame came to the boy, who began to travel around the world and dress the most internationally renowned, then, on one of these trips, Emilie appeared in the life of the French, who lost the ground when he met her. Just as Hades did with Persephone, Gabriel took Emilie to his world, making [Name] the Minta of the relationship.

Obviously the young woman suffered with the end of their relationship, wishing she had never met him. However, seeing him happy with those who left him radiant as she could not even, made his heart join the shards, overcoming and always cheering for the joy of the couple.

Years later the cycle of a loving relationship began to flow naturally, starting with the engagement and ending with the birth of the first and only child of the most influential couple in France and the world, Adrien Agreste, the child from the eyes of her loving parents.

Unfortunately, not all romance stories have happy endings. Emilie suddenly fell ill and died soon after, leaving her husband and son helpless. Gabriel never accepted the fact of losing his wife, doing everything so that his son had the best education and that nothing was missing him, even if it meant distancing himself and putting an iron hand in that small family.

Adrien no longer accepted being manipulated and living in the torment of his confused mind due to the hard hand of his beloved father. He understood that Gabriel did all that for his own good, after all, he lost his true love too soon. However, everything existed a limit and, unfortunately, Gabriel was crossing the limits.

As soon as the son of the greatest fashion designer in Paris began to relate to Marinette Dupain-Cheng, he decided to take time off and traveled with the girl to Shanghai, using as a pretext the opening of his new store in the other country, leaving his father alone in that huge mansion in central Paris.

And again, Gabriel was alone.

Like most people who find themselves lonely, both mentally and physically, feelings of nostalgia were surrounding the designer. Almost every time he found himself remembering his punk times, where he worked alongside the Seine and dated [Nome]. Maybe if you’d stayed with her, none of that would be happening.

Recalling his former passion of youth, an inspiration for a new collection came to his mind: tight dresses on the bust part and rotated in her skirts, lots of sparkle and the colors vary black, red and gold.

Gabriel could imagine [Nome] being the main model of his new collection. When I closed my eyes, I could see her walking on the catwalks with a black lace corselet that descended to a short skirt full of ruffles detailed in crimson, her beautiful long legs would be covered with a sockpants with drawn flowers and a glowing red feather adornment in their hair. [Name] would be perfect, a real representative of one of the most famous places in Paris.

A few days passed, almost dragged, inside the private studio of the Agreste. On their tables and floors were scattered all the sketches of new clothes. In his untouchable world, in the few moments of peace, he was interrupted by the bodyguard and driver, who came to warn that a letter had arrived, but that, unlike the others, it was not from someone known or an invitation.

At the time, he just ignored and left the card lying on his desk, didn’t even look at who sent it. A few hours later, after an outbreak of shaking a line of a skirt, as soon as he sat down, he took the letter and opened it, making a tear run down the corner of his cheek and falling soon after on the yellowish paper. Gabriel would recognize in a thousand years that handwriting, after all, had not changed anything.

[...]

For my love.

Gabriel, I’ve been thinking about you for years.

Whenever I see you in the tabloids or your son’s picture, I think about writing you, but I lack the courage.

Since he married Emilie I root for his happiness and cried when I heard of her passing. I wonder what you must have gone through with your son, I know it wasn’t easy, but you’re strong.

I’m sending this message because I have a short time left and did not want to die with something choking me for so long. After all, it’s been seconds, minutes, hours, months and years that I’ve been trying to tell you what drowns my heart in a succinct and beautiful way, but what I have to say has not much to shorten.

I, [Name], have always loved you Gabriel and will always love, but I will die. And I swear, on my deathbed, I will only think of you.

Always yours, [Name].

[...]

At the end of the letter, Gabriel was in tears with tears running down his thin cheeks. Many years ago I did not feel fear, pain and anguish as I was feeling at that moment. He reread that letter several times, trying to understand what had happened and how time had escaped between his fingers.

Soon Agreste called his employees and asked them to send the best fabrics to his mansion and a manual sewing machine was quickly installed in his office. He took one of the most beautiful sketches he had there, making the mold and starting the work of cutting and sewing, for the dress that was there designed by himself.

Gabriel still had the measures of [Nome] stored in a small agenda that he kept as a memory of that time. She’d be grateful to have kept that infallible good. When he finished assembling the garment, he asked his driver to take him to the address of that letter, to then find that old passion that made the flames of his heart light up again.

His hands trembled at the moment of squeezing the bell and the cold sweat dripped all over his body. As soon as the door opened, and their eyes crossed with those of [Nome], the only thing they could do at the time was to hug each other, while tears washed away all the negative feelings that were hovering over them.

"My sweet [Name], I never forgot you".

Her hands squeezed tightly the designer’s haute couture and well-done clothes, as if that could prove to her eyes that Gabriel was there of his own free will.

"I always loved you"

She almost couldn’t talk.

[Name] was in front of him. A little thinner, deeper eyes, pale cheeks and dull hair; really, did not lavish the beauty of a healthy person, but the smile proved that it was the bold girl who always loved. Gabriel was always quite sure that the gods loved those who dared and [Nome] was one of these people, but something within her had abandoned her.

Inside the living room of [Nome’s] house were photos of her performances at the Moulin Rouge, auditorium programs she was invited to and even photos of her youth with Gabriel. There were several Affairs in the life of [Nome], but never married or joined things up with someone else, it was always just her and herself.

"There was no other man in my life, Gabriel. You were the only one".

"I feel honored. I brought you a gift".

[Nome] sat in an antique wine-tone armchair and took the large white box with a huge golden bow on top. She opened it slowly, as if her fingers did not have the strength to undo the bow, and then pulled the dress out, making her lose her words.

"As always, it’s perfect!"

She put the dress in front of her and looked at a small round mirror in her living room to see how that dress looked.

"I still had your measurements saved, this dress is unique and there will be no other".

[Name] smiled, then folded the dress and put it back in the box. She took a serious look and continued:

"I’m so sorry for Emilie, I know she was the love of her life".

"My heart is big".

"I know, but I’ll be dead in a few months. Maybe weeks".

Gabriel just turned his face and took a sip of the tea [Nome] served.

"Glad to see you again".

"You’re not gonna die, I’ll pay for whatever treatment it is".

[Nome] stood up and went to him, then hugged him strongly, as he did when he felt that Agreste was down and was returned.

"I already find myself in the palliatives".

Agreste took the hand of his passion and gave a chaste kiss.

"But we just met again".

"The journey ends with the lovers meeting. Do you remember our phrase?"

Gabriel was feeling fragile, brittle and vulnerable, things he hated to feel. If he himself were not the person who akumatized others, he would be transformed at that moment.

"Then stay with me until the end".

The designer then just quietly agreed.

From that moment on, Gabriel stopped staying in his immensely lonely mansion, even freeing Adrien and Marinette from their brotherly concerns. I was thinking a little more about you and [Nome], with which you began to spend more time, taking her for a walk in the places they walked when they were younger.

When they were still a daring punk couple.

Now they were older and with other worries, hair turning gray and less fervor of longer walks. Life did this, gradually shaping each one with their obstacles, so that when they got older, they would enjoy the little time left.

However, Gabriel had to give his arm to twist. No model looked so good in her custom-made clothes as [Nome] and when she stood in front of the city lights, which illuminated the darkest night, there was no work of art that came close.

Like fire in gunpowder, violent joys have violent ends. [Nome] was hospitalized in serious condition, causing the heart of Agreste to break again.

"Why did you fall in love with me?"

Gabriel enjoyed the moments when she was still lucid and not so tired.

"Because you’re my favorite villain".

"Am I a villain?"

"Well, it did".

He combed the hair of [Nome], who could barely lift his arms.

"You know, that attitude and punk look. I always had a preference for villains, I never liked heroes".

"May I ask why?"

She stopped for a while, fixed the oxygen catheter in her nostrils, waited a few seconds and started talking again.

"A hero would sacrifice you for the greater good, but the villain would set the world on fire to have you".

Agreste smiled, because that’s exactly what he did with the miraculous butterfly.

"Besides, the villain has a good heart and an immense love to give to those who really deserve it".

He then sat on the corner of the stretcher and smiled:

"Just know that I would do anything to have more time with you".

"I am happy to have shared more time with you these days".

That afternoon, on his last visit to the intensive care unit, [Nome] had already begun to show improvement in death. Gabriel recognized those signs from afar. Then, before leaving, he gave a small chaste kiss on his forehead and said:

"[Name], I will love you even when everyone dies and no one else remembers us, and we are nothing but stardust wandering through infinite space".

The actress who made her career in the well-known Moulin Rouge could not even answer. I was too tired to say anything, but the smile and a tear managed to express everything I had to thank his former love.

At two and fifty-two in the morning, [Name] died. Gabriel was already expecting the call, had not even slept during the night and organized everything for the last farewell of his first love.

Just as [Nome] had said, Gabriel would put the world down to bring Emilie and her back again. No matter the timelines or the sacrifices, he would bring his loves to life again.

#miraculous fanfic #miraculoustalesofladybugandcatnoir #gabriel agreste #hawkmoth #miraculous les aventures de ladybug et chat noir #gabriel agreste x reader #angst #miraculous angst

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landinrris · 4 days

Note

In your personal universe, how did the Norrix t Shanghai situation play out?

Just like the weekend in general? My personal universe (that I'm turning partly into a "little" blurb in response to a couple of prompts) basically goes like:

Lando flies out of Monaco Monday morning most likely following all of his friends leaving from the previous few days Sunday evening. Rather than flying straight to Shanghai, he flies into Tokyo to spend a few days with Martin (and Louis and Menno tbh). He shows up and kind of surprises Martin because he's early by a day or two and a city. They spend a couple of days then lowkey in Tokyo under the radar. They do some cool touristy things and eat some amazing food, and it's a perfect little hideaway where they don't really run into anyone.

Martin's got some plans for work in Tokyo before the weekend officially starts though, so Lando finishes making his way to Shanghai alone and starts in on the weekend with the team and his obligations. They share a very nice phonecall Friday evening following Lando's Sprint Pole, and they both lament how close and yet how far they are from each other right now. Come Saturday morning, Martin and Louis make their way to Shanghai and sneak into the back of McLaren's garage to be there for whatever happens (especially in case anything substantial happens). Lando probably didn't go to the gig that night (and maybe for the best) because he needed to get as much asleep as possible, but Martin crawled into bed later fuming and ready to pass out as well. Lando probably lets him rant fully in the morning when they wake up.

Fast forward to the race, Martin and Louis practically sneak into the paddock and start the race in Red Bull's garage. They say hello to and hang out with Max a bit in the build-up, taking some photos and documenting some things for sponsor-related purposes (I'm specifically thinking of Louis' few insta pics). A little before half race distance, when the first virtual-safety car gets tripped, Martin tugs Louis towards the exit and they make the short trip down to McLaren. They flash their McLaren-specific tags (that Lando snagged for them) to whoever is sitting out front and then blend in with the background. A tiny part of Martin's brain settles, and he feels less guilty cheering for the way Lando is able to jump Checo because of Red Bull's double stack. And then Lando stays quicker than Checo, and that's pretty cool that he gets to cheer for him as well for the real first time while at a race.

Following the race, Lando runs into Martin in McLaren's areas where they've stuck around until the last possible moment before he has to run to the post-race gig. It's one of the first races Martin's been at where Lando actually has something to celebrate, and the bear hug he gives Lando is certainly reflective of that. Lando, Martin, Louis, and Max end up back on Max's plane later that evening heading back to Europe for a week off wherein Lando and Max take their selfie, and Martin is in their comments within like five minutes. Because he can, because what is subtlety anymore, because they're happy.

#what is fact and what did i just make up? you be the judge #lando #martin #norrix #ask #shoving this into my writing tag as well because why not #writing tag

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kathaynesart · 4 months

Note

...what must we do for you to learn what happened in Shanghai?

I have received SO many questions about this 0_o

Hm, I’ll tell you what, I’m considering creating a Patreon in which I’ll include extra Replica content (mostly art pieces with written excerpts/summaries). CHECK FOR POLL BELOW. It would just be fun/dramatic flavor scenes that are not important to the plot of Replica. Things like:

what actually happened in Shanghai

drama after Leo discovers they had been keeping the truth of the key from him

more Central Park Colony tom-foolery

raising baby Junior

creation of Omega and Donnie's interaction with him

Mind you, these are all things that would normally be too much for me to do for on top of Replica, as a lot of my free time is already dedicated to this comic (and I am very slow). But this could help me a lot with extra expenses and would be a nice way to cover a few things I don't feel I'd have the time to do in the actual comic. It would also be an opportunity to see comic updates in advance and possibly tutorials.

We shall see though. I don’t want to proceed with it further until done with the holiday special and some other Zine work. Once I'm back on the usual updates I'll have to figure out a possible schedule and if it's truly doable. But let me know if you would actually be interested in this, because it would really help with my decision!

#resisting the knee jerk reaction to doubt anyone would want to pay for my content #poll #rottmnt replica #replica #rottmnt #what happens in Shanghai stays in Shanghai #patreon #tmnt #kendra #donnie

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mochinek0 · 1 year

Text

Daminette December 2022: 15-Side Effects Ch.10

FIRST / PREVIOUS

Marinette panted as she rested in the hospital bed. Their pups had just been born, yet she felt like her body was still in overdrive.

"Marinette?" Damian questioned in concern.

"I-I think something is wrong." she spoke, "Too hot. Pain."

Damian quickly rushed over to her side and sniffed her mark. He couldn't smell illnesses or the faint scent of death.

'Not dying, but in pain. Is this because of our pups?'

"Father, get someone now!" he demanded.

Bruce quickly rushed out as Marinette began to pant more rapidly. Just as an older nurse walked in, the air became hot and tense. The smell of the twin's afterbirth was fading rapidly. Marinette gripped the bedrails, as her parents held the pups. Damian was busy nuzzling her, trying to keep her calm and reassure her she was safe. Suddenly, her scent changed to that of an Omega. Damian quickly pulled away from her and stared at her in shock. Marinette's panting and grip began to lessen, until she rested flat against the bed.

The nurse smiled, "It's been some time since a shifting has occurred."

"Shifting?" Sabine questioned.

"Why did my mate change from a Beta to an Omega?" Damian demanded to know.

"A long time ago, Alphas use to have free reign on who they mated, even Betas." the nurse began to explain, " If Betas were close enough to their Alphas, after birth, they would become an Omega. They would become beter suited to raising their pups. Many frowned upon it and so a law was created."

"Wait." Mari spoke, "So even the wolves, themselves, would choose Betas over Omegas?"

"Yes." the nurse answered.

"What law?" Tom asked, handing Damian and Marinette their pups back.

Bruce frowned, "I don't know about any laws."

"Not all places abided by the law, but in Europe we still do." she continued.

"What happened?" Damian pushed, "Why was the law created in the first place?"

"Some Alphas became crazed with the idea of creating new Omegas or 'Perfections'. They were called that because they were perfectly suited for their mates in every way." she answered, making the couple smile at each other, "The only problem was that not all Betas would change. Alphas started sleeping with every Beta they could find. They would keep them in their pack, but after birth, if they didin't change, they would turn their backs on them. They Beta's child was considered a Bastard, since the Alpha refused to mat until they changed. Then, they would go back to sleeping around."

"That must have caused some long lineages." Bruce inquired.

"Yes." the nurse sighed, "Sometimes the pups were sent elsewhere to be raised, instead of staying in the pack. They were watched carefully for interbreeding. Other times, the Alphas killed their child, blaming them for the Betas not changing."

Marinette hugged her pups tightly and growled.

"Habibiti, I will do no such thing." Damian spoke, slowly, "These are our pups and no harm shall come to them."

"Another reason for the law was other Omegas." she continued to explain, "Omegas, themselves, started getting upset and pushed around the Betas in their packs. Some even went as far as killing the Betas, pupped or not, for getting close to the Alpha. A law was created and Alphas were told never to touch a Beta again. Some alphas agreed. Some didn't."

"I've never heard of such a law." Bruce stated.

"It was made long before you were born. I was told about the law when I was a child from an older sibling." she answered, "Parents usually told their child at a certain age or after presenting."

"I lost my parents as a child." Bruce spoke, "My guardian never told me any of this."

"My mom is always traveling and I wasn't on speaking terms with my pops for a long time, but he is very traditional." Tom declared, "He never told me, either."

Sabine shrugged, "It's still common in Shanghai to mate, regardless of status. It was a bit of a shock when I came here and was told it was forbidden."

"Grandfather is very traditional, as well. My lineage on my mother's side contains many cultures and traditions. Surely, Grandfather would have told me about status as a child. He always assumed I would become an Alpha. He trained me to lead and be an Alpha." Damian spoke, before turning to his mate, "Me choosing to disobey my wolf, me choosing her over an Omega, choosing someone I cared about, turned her into an Omega?"

"Yes." The elder nurse smiled.

Marinette smiled at Damian, "Thank you for giving me a chance and for strengthening me so I can protect our pups."

Damian leaned down and kissed her, "I would do it again."

TAG LIST: @maribat-calendar-events @animeweebgirl @a-star-with-a-human-name @meme991001 @vixen-uchiha @abrx2002 @alysrose-starchild @fandom-trapped-03 @dood-space @moonlightstar64 @saltymiraculer @marveldcedits20 @09shell-sea09 @icerosecrystal @animegirlweeb @insane-fangirl-of-everything @blueblossombliss @nickristus-dreamer @megawhitleycalderonpaganus

#daminette december 2022 #daminette december #marinette wayne #damian wayne #child birth #bruce wayne #sabine cheng #tom dupain #pups #twins #traditional marriage #alpha #alpha laws #beta #omega #alpha damian wayne #alpha bruce wayne #omega marinette #mochinek0

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wangxianficrecs · 1 year

Text

💙 All the ways that you remain by Spodumene

💙 All the ways that you remain

by Spodumene

G, 23k, Wangxian

Summary: When Lan Zhan must return to Shanghai for a month, he leaves his beloved home in the care of Wei Ying, a timely new acquaintance. But what happens when Lan Zhan returns to find that Wei Ying has nowhere else to go?

Kay's comments: The yearning in this story was strong! My yearning! To live this kind of cottagecore dream life! Lan Zhan being in Shanghai isn't a large portion of the story, because he cuts his visit short relatively soon after tensions arise between him and his uncle and also there's a gas leak back at the cottage that Wei Ying is watching. Since he returned early, he offers Wei Ying to stay with him for the remainder of the month and what follows is so much soft yearning and falling in love and just a story about two people who grow to call each other their home. Wei Ying is also a landscape architect in this and starts reviving the yard behind the cottage, while Lan Zhan works to archive his mother's writings. Both of them carry burdens with them, which they'll eventually share. Ah, just this story! Such a soft and comforting slow-burn, really what my heart needed in this cold, cold winter.

Excerpt: “Lan Zhan,” Wei Ying says again, voice wavering just a little. “You really don’t have to.” “I want to,” Lan Zhan repeats. “Wei Ying. Please stay.” Something dark flickers across the surface of Wei Ying’s eyes, but it disappears so fast, Lan Zhan wonders if he imagined it. He’s gone perfectly still, staring at Lan Zhan like he’s never seen him before, and Lan Zhan waits, his heartbeat loud in his ears. Finally, Wei Ying speaks. “Okay,” he says, his voice small and tentative, and Lan Zhan can feel his own shoulders relaxing. He hadn’t realized just how tense he’d become.

Excerpt²: Lan Zhan watches as Wei Ying crouches down, offering each rabbit a treat as they emerge. Yin takes his immediately, but Yang sniffs suspiciously at Wei Ying’s fingers before finally accepting the tasty morsel. Wei Ying pets them both in turn, cooing softly as they respond to his ministrations, and Lan Zhan feels another incessant tug. “I knew I’d win you over,” Wei Ying is saying to Yang, who is nosing at Wei Ying’s hand in hope of more treats. “You totally love me.” Lan Zhan flushes from head to toe, his whole body suddenly aflame. Oh no, he thinks.

modern setting, modern no powers, canada, romance, first meetings, cottagecore, first meetings, there was only one bed, mentions of parent death, getting together, getting together, soft wangxian, pov wei wuxian, landscape artist wei wuxian, archive worker lan wangji, @spodumene

~*~

(Please REBLOG as a signal boost for this hard-working author if you like – or think others might like – this story.)

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wonbinisbabygurl · 11 months

Text

Bloodlust | P.S

Chapter 1

Parings:park sunghoon x black oc /reader

theme:vampire

[do not repost because i'm using my whole government name as the creator ]

word count:7k (I think)

I didn't proofread it!

[authors notes]: took me 8 months to release this chapter

@panjakes

@phattyboo90

@brownsugarbaybee

@calibabii21

@ladyzee27

Chapter 1

The broken bloodline

Mentions of blood , mature themes, and gaslighting of a female character ( please read at your own risk!)

In the secluded town of Castlevania, rumors have been circulating about strange occurrences. Women were found dead with their blood drained from their bodies; men were discovered with their heads severed. Whoever is responsible for these gruesome massacres does not seem to be human.

Many years later, the mystery of this horrific massacre remained unsolved until one day a detective named Xiu Lang, from Shanghai, was assigned to investigate these unresolved cases originating from 1630.

Maria, Xiu Lang's supervisor, stopped him as he was preparing for his extended stay in Castlevania.

"Xiu, I don't think this is a good idea," Maria said, her voice filled with concern. "Your wife has been going crazy with worry. She called me last night, and she was a wreck. She said that you haven't been home in days, and she doesn't know where you are or what you're doing. She's scared, Xiu. And I'm scared for her."

Xiu sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I know," he said. "I know she's worried. But I have to do this. It's important."

"But what if something happens to you?" Maria asked. "What if you don't come back?"

"I'll be fine," Xiu said. "I promise."

Maria shook her head. "I don't know, Xiu. This doesn't feel right."

"I have to do this," Xiu said again. "It's the only way."

Maria sighed. "I just hope you know what you're doing."

"I do," Xiu said. "Trust me."

Maria nodded, but she didn't look convinced. "Okay," she said. "But be careful."

"I will," Xiu said. He gave her a quick hug, then turned and walked away.

Maria watched him go, her heart heavy. She didn't like this one bit.

Xiu Lang grabbed his satchel and belongings before taking a sigh and turning to Maria. "Tell her that I'll be home for dinner soon. This investigation shouldn't take too long."

He stepped out the door and felt Maria grab his shoulder, looking at him with tears in her eyes.

"Please be careful. Don't die on me. Promise?" Maria asked, wiping away her teary eyes.

Xui Lang patted her on the back. "I promise."

As Xui Lang walked away in the distance he could sense Maria's gaze still on him, so he turned and threw her a good luck charm: a brown journal with an ink pen tucked inside it.

"Make sure the ink never runs out," Xui Lang said as he gave her a light smile and waved goodbye.

She returned the favor, waving back at him before they parted ways.

-Xiu Lang’s wife Raina’s perspective-

The room was engulfed in an intoxicating symphony of Rania's soft moans and the rhythmic creaking of their bed, a melodic backdrop to the passionate dance they shared. Her fingertips dug into Sunghoon's broad shoulders, leaving faint imprints of desire on his heated skin. Every touch, every graze, sent waves of electric ecstasy coursing through their intertwined bodies.

Breathless and flushed with desire, Rania whispered Sunghoon's name, her voice laden with longing and anticipation. Her words hung in the air like a sweet melody, enticing him further into the depths of their shared passion. Sunghoon, feeling his own desires surge within him, arched his back in response, the sinewy muscles of his well-defined physique rippling under a sheen of perspiration. Stray strands of hair clung to his damp forehead, framing his intense gaze as he focused on their intimate connection.

"Patience, my love," Sunghoon exhaled, his voice a mere whisper, laced with a combination of urgency and restraint. He fought to control the mounting desire that threatened to consume them both, striving to prolong the symphony of pleasure they were orchestrating.

Rania, her senses heightened by the swirling tempest of sensations, stifled a whimper of longing, her body responding to the crescendo of pleasure building within her. With a trembling voice, she managed to express her willingness to wait, to hold back the release that threatened to spill forth.

A tender smile tugged at the corners of Sunghoon's lips as he witnessed Rania's self-restraint, the depth of their connection evident in the shared understanding between them. The dance of desire continued, their bodies moving in synchrony, attuned to the symphony of their own passion.

In the hushed intimacy of their exchange, time seemed to stand still, the world outside their chamber fading into insignificance. They existed solely in this moment, immersed in a universe of shared pleasure, where their bodies whispered secrets to one another, entwined in a tapestry of raw, unadulterated desire.

As the waves of pleasure continued to crash against their bodies, each moment brought them closer to the precipice of release. But they held on, locked in a mutual agreement to prolong the exquisite tension, savoring the anticipation that danced between them like an ethereal flame.

In that shared space of restraint and desire, Rania and Sunghoon revealed in the symphony of their passion, their hearts and bodies entangled in an enchanting rhythm. They knew that when the time was right, when their connection reached its apex, the culmination would be an explosion of shared ecstasy, a crescendo that would shatter their senses and leave them forever entwined in the memory of this timeless union.

As Sunghoon's skilled touch found Rania's most sensitive spot, a surge of electrifying pleasure surged through her body. Overwhelmed by the intensity of sensation, she couldn't contain her reaction, crying out in a mixture of pleasure and longing. Her voice, muffled against Sunghoon's neck, was a raw expression of her deepest desires.

Rania's grip tightened, her nails digging into Sunghoon's back, seeking an anchor amidst the tempest of pleasure that consumed her. The sensation of her nails scraping against his skin only heightened Sunghoon's own desire, fueling the fire that burned within him. The passion between them grew more fervent, igniting an insatiable hunger that demanded to be satiated.

"I understand, my love," Sunghoon responded, his voice laced with a mix of empathy and longing. He could sense the overwhelming need within Rania, the yearning to release the mounting tension that coiled tightly within her. As their bodies moved in harmony, their connection deepened, bringing them closer to the precipice of surrender.

With every breath and movement, the anticipation in Sunghoon's chest rose, mirroring Rania's urgency. He reveled in the knowledge that he held the power to grant her the release she sought. Their connection was an intimate dance, synchronized and attuned to each other's desires, as if they were two halves of a whole.

And then, as the waves of pleasure surged, crashing against their bodies, Rania's voice reached a crescendo, her cry echoing in the intimate space they shared. The intensity of her release, her body quivering with ecstasy, left her no choice but to surrender to the overwhelming sensations coursing through her.

Sunghoon, basking in the satisfaction of his efforts, embraced Rania's release as a testament to their profound connection. Her pleasure washed over him like a cascading wave, drenching him in the remnants of her satisfaction. It was a sacred exchange, an intimate offering that solidified their bond, transcending mere physicality.

Breathing heavily, bodies entwined, they revealed in the aftermath of their passionate union. Time seemed suspended as they held each other, the sweet ache of their desires satiated, the echoes of their pleasure lingering in the air. Their connection remained unbroken, a profound bond forged in the crucible of shared pleasure.

In that fleeting moment of stillness, they knew that their love, their hunger, and their willingness to explore the depths of their desires would continue to guide them on a journey of blissful intimacy. And with a renewed sense of fulfillment, they found solace in the knowledge that they were bound together by a connection that surpassed mere physicality—a connection that would endure, grow, and thrive in the dark and passionate depths of their shared existence.

As Rania's body lay delicately draped across Sunghoon's, their eyes locked in a gaze that spoke volumes. In the soft, muted glow of the bedroom, her fair skin seemed to radiate an ethereal beauty, drawing him in with its allure. Her slender fingers traced a path over his abdomen, exploring the contours of his body, but Sunghoon halted her gentle progression, a flicker of hesitation crossing his face.

With a solemn expression, he gently pushed Rania off his body, reaching for his clothes to cover himself. The atmosphere shifted, a sense of unease settling between them like a heavy fog. Sunghoon's request for a pipe to smoke hinted at a desire to distance himself, to find solace in the tendrils of smoke that curled upward, momentarily veiling his true emotions.

Sitting together on the edge of the bed, their bodies now cloaked in fabric, they shared the pipe, passing it between them. The fragrant tendrils of smoke intertwined with the air, casting a hazy ambiance around them. Yet, beneath the seemingly tranquil act, an undercurrent of tension brewed.

Sensing the disconnect, Rania mustered the courage to question Sunghoon, her voice laced with a mixture of curiosity and concern. "Why do you always stop me during our moments of intimacy? Why is it that you never experience release?"

A heavy silence lingered in the air, pregnant with unspoken emotions. Sunghoon's gaze shifted, his eyes cast downward, evading direct contact. In the vulnerability of the moment, he knew he couldn't evade Rania's inquiry, nor could he deny her the truth any longer.

His voice tinged with a hint of remorse, broke the silence. "Rania, my love, it is not that I do not desire pleasure or yearn for release. It is a consequence of my nature, of what I have become."

He paused, gathering his thoughts, before continuing. "As a vampire, the euphoric climax that humans experience eludes me. The very essence that once allowed me to revel in such pleasures has been lost in the darkness that now engulfs me. My immortality, while affording me many gifts, has stripped away the ability to find that release, that culmination of desire."

Rania listened, her heart heavy with newfound understanding. The weight of his revelation settled upon her, weaving a tapestry of empathy and compassion. At that moment, she realized the depth of his struggle, and the sacrifices he made to exist in their shared reality.

A mixture of sadness and acceptance washed over Rania. She reached out, gently clasping Sunghoon's hand in hers, offering a silent reassurance of her unwavering support. "Sunghoon, my love, I may not fully comprehend the intricacies of your existence, but please know that my love for you extends beyond physical pleasures. Our connection transcends the confines of the physical realm. Together, we can find solace and fulfillment in the bonds we forge, even if the traditional notions of climax elude us."

Sunghoon met her gaze, his eyes shimmering with a mixture of gratitude and adoration. He squeezed her hand, acknowledging the depth of her understanding and the strength of their bond. In that shared moment, they resolved to navigate the intricacies of their intimate connection, finding solace in the uncharted territories of their love—a love that surpassed the boundaries of pleasure and redefined the very essence of their union.

Sunghoon rose from the bed, his demeanor icy and detached, as he swiftly wiped away any lingering remnants of their intimate encounter from his lips. The room was engulfed in heavy silence, disrupted only by Rania's sharp breaths. Her hurt and anger echoed through the air as she retorted, hurling a vase against the wall in a fit of frustration.

The sound of shattering glass reverberated, punctuating the tense atmosphere. Sunghoon turned to face Rania, his eyes narrowing as he confronted her defiance head-on. The room seemed to hold its breath, awaiting the next exchange between them.

Rania's voice trembled with a mix of desperation and determination as she challenged him, using the threat of revealing their illicit affair to her husband as a weapon. The words hung in the air, laden with the weight of their consequences. Sunghoon's expression hardened further, his lips forming a thin line as he considered her ultimatum.

Slowly, deliberately, Sunghoon advanced towards Rania, his fingers extending like talons, poised to caress her face. The touch of his sharp nails against her skin sent a shiver down her spine, a visceral reminder of the danger he posed. His voice, dripping with a chilling determination, cut through the silence.

"Think carefully, Rania," he hissed, his voice laced with an unmistakable edge. "If you choose to betray me, if you dare expose our secret, know that there will be dire consequences. I will not hesitate to eliminate any threat to our secret, to our existence."

The weight of his words hung heavy in the air, an unspoken warning of the darkness that resided within him. As swiftly as his touch had come, he released her, his eyes holding a dangerous glint before he turned away, his steps resolute as he made his way out of the room.

From beyond the closed door, a voice, laced with a mix of sadness and resolve, called out, marking the finality of their encounter. "Let this be the last time we see each other," Sunghoon's voice carried a hint of finality. "I want to sever all ties between us."

The words reverberated through Rania's mind, a painful reminder of the depth of their connection and the irrevocable rift that had formed between them. As Sunghoon departed from her apartment, his presence fading into the night, Rania was left to grapple with the shattered remnants of their once passionate and forbidden affair.

-End of Rania’s Pov-

In the depths of the night, a figure emerged, shrouded in an eerie pallor that seemed to drain the color from her very being. Sunghoon, determined and armed with a flickering torch, ventured into the outskirts of Castlevania, his heart pounding in anticipation of his next blood-soaked conquest. With each step, he cautiously closed the distance between himself and the mysterious young woman, her pale complexion contrasting starkly against her flowing chestnut locks. As he approached, his senses heightened, the faint sound of his own footsteps echoing in the silent air, and he made a conscious effort to avoid startling his unsuspecting target.

The moon's ethereal glow bathed the scene, casting elongated shadows that danced across the cobblestone path. Sunghoon's torch emitted a flickering light, its fiery glow highlighting the woman's features. Her alabaster skin seemed to possess an otherworldly quality, devoid of warmth and life, evoking an unsettling fascination within him. He couldn't help but be drawn to her, captivated by her haunting allure.

With careful precision, Sunghoon closed the remaining distance, his footsteps deliberately muffled as he moved closer. His heart raced, fueled by a mix of trepidation and a primal thirst that gnawed at his insides. The tension in the air was palpable as he fought to maintain his composure, his mind consumed by the sinister desire that drove him forward.

As he neared the young woman, his eyes drank in every delicate detail, from the graceful curve of her jawline to the soft tendrils of hair framing her porcelain face. It was a delicate dance of stealth and fascination, the hunter cautiously encroaching upon his unwitting prey. Sunghoon's grip tightened on the torch, his knuckles turning white, as he fought to suppress the primitive instincts that surged within him.

The encounter teetered on a precipice of anticipation, the veil of night lending an air of mystery to their clandestine meeting. Sunghoon's heart quickened, the rhythmic thud echoing in his ears as he prepared to confront his new victim, a vessel for his insatiable hunger.

"Pray to tell, Mrs. Giselle, how fares your existence?" Sung-hoon inquired politely, his body bending in a reverent bow as a sign of respect. He delicately pressed his lips against the back of her hand, his gaze fixated upon her with an unsettling intensity that revealed his sinister intentions, contemplating the permanent termination of her life, a decision that occupied his mind with fervor.

Giselle, taken aback by Sung-hoon's familiarity, regarded him with a mix of suspicion and alarm. Slowly retreating from his presence, a pocket knife materialized in her trembling hand, serving as a feeble defense mechanism against the impending threat that lurked in the shadows.

"How is it, sir, that you possess knowledge of my identity?" Giselle questioned with a hint of caution, her eyes locked upon Sung-hoon as if attempting to unravel the enigma veiled beneath his facade. The glint of the blade mirrored her apprehension, a tangible reminder of her readiness to protect herself from any harm that might befall her.

Sunghoon's response carried a disdainful undertone, mingled with a perverse amusement. "Oh, what a foolish choice, a mere pocket knife," he retorted, his voice dripping with derision. "Wouldn't a torch have been more fitting?" With those words, a sinister transformation overcame him, baring his elongated fangs in a chilling display. Without a moment's hesitation, he lunged toward Giselle, driven by an insatiable hunger that consumed his very being. In a swift and merciless assault, he unleashed his primal savagery, draining the life from her in a macabre feast that left her utterly desiccated.

As Sunghoon's insidious grip tightened around Giselle's fragile form, he keenly sensed the gradual deceleration of her heartbeats until they eventually ceased altogether. A cruel satisfaction flickered in his eyes as he beheld the woman's desperate pleas for salvation, her voice echoing with a haunting plea that fell on indifferent ears.

"Should I encounter another flavorless being like you, I shall beseech the gods themselves to bestow upon me a worthy companion, even if it means marrying beyond mortal bounds," Sunghoon remarked, his tone laced with a twisted blend of frustration and determination. Rising to his feet, he callously discarded Giselle's lifeless body into a nondescript bag, sealing her fate within its confines.

With calculated nonchalance, Sunghoon embarked on a grim mission, venturing to a nearby river to rid himself of the evidence. The weight of the bag seemed inconsequential as he cast it into the depths, its descent marked by the disturbing absence of remorse. Submerged in the unforgiving currents, Giselle's remains were carried away, her existence forever erased from the world above.

Sunghoon's body sank down into a crouched position, his head resting wearily in the palm of his hand. His gaze fixated upon the lifeless form of the woman he had recently savored, Giselle, who now lay sprawled on the ground before him. A mixture of disbelief and confusion contorted his features, his mind grappling to comprehend the surreal taste of her blood still lingering in his mouth.

In that poignant moment, time seemed suspended, as Sunghoon wrestled with the unsettling sensations coursing through his veins. The conflicting emotions of satisfaction and a gnawing hunger intertwined within him, casting a shadow of turmoil upon his countenance. The vivid memory of their encounter, now etched into his very essence, added a disorienting layer of complexity to the tableau before him.

The weight of his actions settled upon Sunghoon, bearing down upon him with an almost palpable heaviness. Despite the macabre satisfaction derived from the consumption of Giselle's life essence, an undeniable sense of unease washed over him. The stark reality of his insatiable nature and the irreversible consequences of his predatory desires now confronted him, compelling a profound self-reflection that transcended the boundaries of his own existence.

Sunghoon's body trembled slightly as he remained locked in that haunting scene, his mind swirling with conflicting emotions and thoughts. His eyes, still filled with the residue of disbelief, lingered upon Giselle's lifeless form, the weight of his actions sinking deeper into his conscience.

The taste of her blood, an intoxicating blend of life and mortality, continued to linger on his palate, like an indelible mark of their macabre encounter. It served as a reminder of the transient pleasure that he sought to fulfill, but also carried the bitter undertones of an eternal hunger that could never be truly satiated.

As he leaned upon his hand, the heaviness of remorse and fascination wrestled within him, intertwining in an intricate dance. The gravity of his existence as a predator, forever bound to the consumption of life, bore down upon his soul, stirring a maelstrom of introspection.

In that solitary moment, the echoes of Giselle's final plea for rescue resonated in Sunghoon's consciousness. Her voice, now silenced forever, became a haunting refrain, piercing his thoughts with the weight of her lost potential and stolen future.

Amidst the profound uncertainty, a flicker of remorse and empathy arose within Sunghoon, as if a sliver of his humanity fought to break free from the shackles of his monstrous nature. The recognition of his own moral descent, his descent into darkness, spurred a profound questioning of his purpose and the the bleak reality of his existence.

With each passing second, the enormity of his actions settled upon him, carving deep crevices of introspection in his psyche. The path he had chosen, strewn with shattered lives and forsaken souls, offered no respite from the tormented questions that gnawed at his core.

In the stillness of that moment, Sunghoon remained suspended between the realms of remorse and his insatiable cravings, caught in the ever-present paradox of his existence as a predator, forever tormented by the consequences of his voracious hunger.

the eternal slumber of vampires, preserving an enigmatic mystique that echoed throughout the halls.

But perhaps the most chilling chamber lay hidden beneath the castle's surface. A labyrinthine laboratory, shrouded in darkness and cobwebs, bore witness to Sunghoon's clandestine experiments. Within its confines, the alchemical pursuits of a vampire played out, unknown to the outside world. It was a forbidden realm, where shadows danced amidst dusty bookshelves and eerie glass vials. And in the depths of that laboratory, veiled from prying eyes, a chilling secret lay dormant—a preserved human body, a macabre testament to Sunghoon's insatiable desires.

Even Sunghoon's loyal butler, Pedro, was forbidden from venturing into that forbidden domain. The knowledge of what lurked in the depths remained Sunghoon's alone, locked away from prying eyes. Pedro, a steadfast servant bound by loyalty and fear, carried out his duties with an air of both reverence and trepidation, never daring to question the boundaries set by his enigmatic master.

As Sunghoon settled into the eerie familiarity of his home, he embraced the darkness that permeated every corner, a reflection of his own existence. The castle stood as a sanctuary, a haven for his nocturnal pursuits and the embodiment of his immortal existence. Within those walls, the echoes of forgotten nights and whispered secrets painted a portrait of a vampire, caught between the realms of elegance and darkness, longing for companionship but forever steeped in the solitary existence of his immortal being.

"Pedro, where is Father's portrait? It was here this morning," Sunghoon demanded, his voice tinged with impatience, as he discarded his coat carelessly, letting it fall to the ground. Pedro, feeling a pang of distress, swiftly picked up the coat and diligently folded it, placing it with precision on his master's pristine bed sheets.

"Sir, we had an unexpected visitor this morning," Pedro replied, his tone a mix of concern and trepidation. Sunghoon, now dressed in a luxurious French-made robe, settled into his black sofa chair, fixing his gaze upon Pedro with raised eyebrows. "Well, was it a man or a woman? Provide me with more details," he insisted, leaning forward in his seat, his eyes demanding a thorough account.

Pedro, visibly flustered, began to stammer, his words faltering in his attempt to convey the information. Sunghoon, growing increasingly impatient, sighed audibly, frustration seeping into his voice. "Just spit it out already, Pedro," he exhorted, his eyes narrowing in anticipation of a swift response.

Finally, Pedro reached into his pocket and produced a postcard, which he handed to Sunghoon. The postcard bore the distinct markings of a blacksmith's shop. Sunghoon's curiosity was piqued as he and accepted the card, his gaze scanning the words inscribed upon it. The message remained shrouded in mystery, leaving him to wonder about the purpose and significance of this unexpected correspondence.

As Sunghoon pondered the implications of the postcard, a surge of curiosity mingled with apprehension coursed through his veins. The blacksmith's name, a mere inked signature, held the promise of a potential connection, a thread to unravel in his quest for answers. A hint of excitement danced in his eyes, contrasting with the darkness that perpetually clung to his existence.

In that moment, the portrait of Sunghoon's father remained momentarily forgotten, overshadowed by the enigma presented by the blacksmith's postcard. It was a tantalizing invitation to delve deeper into a world where mortal and supernatural entwined, where secrets lurked in every corner, waiting to be uncovered.

Sunghoon, the master of the castle and its secrets, leaned back in his chair, a calculated smile playing upon his lips. The allure of the unknown beckoned, and he was ready to embark on yet another journey, a dance of shadows and revelations that would shape the course of his immortal existence.

Sunghoon's grip tightened around his cloak as he hastily pulled it around his body, his eyes gleaming with a sense of urgency. "Don't wait up for me, Pedro. I shall return by sunrise tomorrow," he declared, his voice carrying an air of determination. With swift movements, he made his way to the front gate, ready to mount his black horse and ride off into the night.

However, before he could make his leave into the grazing field, Pedro, panting and breathless from his hurried pursuit, managed to catch up to Sunghoon. Gasping for air, he stretched out his hand, halting Sunghoon's departure. "Wait, before you go, you will need this," Pedro managed to utter between labored breaths.

Curiosity sparked in Sunghoon's eyes as he observed the ring that Pedro presented to him. The deep red ruby embedded within it seemed to pulse with otherworldly energy, resembling a drop of blood frozen in time. Sunghoon's gaze flickered from the ring to Pedro, questioning the purpose behind this unexpected gift.

"What is this for?" Sunghoon inquired, his voice laced with intrigue and skepticism. Pedro's hand gently patted Sunghoon's back, a gesture that caused a flicker of irritation to cross his face. With an arched eyebrow, he turned to face Pedro, awaiting an explanation.

"Sire, it is time for you to embrace the next chapter of your existence—to procreate and find a wife," Pedro stated, his voice filled with a mixture of solemnity and anticipation.

Sunghoon's gaze lingered on Pedro, a complex array of emotions passing through his eyes. The notion of finding a mate and continuing his bloodline stirred conflicting feelings within him. While he had become accustomed to the solitary existence of a vampire, the idea of companionship and creating offspring ignited a glimmer of longing within his immortal heart.

As Sunghoon contemplated the weight of Pedro's words, a myriad of possibilities danced before his mind's eye. The prospect of love, devotion, and the legacy he could leave behind seemed both alluring and daunting. At that moment, he realized the significance of the ring, symbolizing a turning point in his endless existence—a chance to embrace the complex tapestry of life, even in the shadowy realm of the undead.

With a nod of acknowledgment, Sunghoon accepted the ring, sliding it onto his finger. It seemed to merge with his essence, an emblem of the future he was poised to shape. As he mounted his horse and prepared to ride into the night, the weight of Pedro's words resonated within him, leaving him with a profound sense of purpose and a newfound determination to explore the uncharted territories of love and family, even amidst the darkness that encompassed his immortal being.

Sunghoon rode Iris, his majestic black horse, with a swift and graceful gait through the picturesque valley towards Grazefield. The wind whispered through his black cloak, billowing it behind him like an ominous flag. As he made his way, a palpable aura of darkness seemed to precede him, causing the villagers to retreat into their homes, shielding themselves and their loved ones from his enigmatic presence.

Eyes followed him from behind curtained windows, children were swiftly whisked away by their anxious parents, and even the normally fearless dogs and cats cowered, sensing the supernatural essence that surrounded Sunghoon. It was a sight that had become all too familiar to him, a reminder of the isolation he had grown accustomed to in the mortal world.

As Sunghoon dismounted Iris with a gentle pat on her sleek flank, his piercing gaze scanned the village. He observed the townsfolk, their expressions a mixture of curiosity and apprehension, as they stole glances in his direction. The unspoken tension between them was palpable, a result of the folklore and legends that had woven themselves into the fabric of their lives.

Determined to accomplish his purpose, Sunghoon approached a villager with a polite and measured tone, his voice betraying a hint of the shadows that lay within him. "Excuse me, kind sir," he addressed the villager, his voice carrying a subtle allure. "Could you perhaps guide me to the dwelling of the esteemed blacksmith? I seek his expertise on a matter of great importance."

The villager, a middle-aged man with weathered features, hesitated for a moment, his eyes shifting nervously. The rumors and whispers surrounding Sunghoon's presence in the village lingered in his mind, stirring a mix of caution and curiosity. However, compelled by Sunghoon's commanding presence, the villager reluctantly offered directions, pointing towards a modest cottage nestled at the outskirts of the village.

"His dwelling lies just beyond the outskirts of Grazefield, on the path to the old mill," the villager responded, his voice tinged with a hint of trepidation. "But I advise you, stranger', exercise caution in your dealings with the blacksmith. He's a man of strong will and an affinity for the arcane."

Sunghoon inclined his head in acknowledgment, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips. "Your warning is duly noted, good sir. I shall approach the blacksmith with the utmost respect and tread carefully in the realm of his craft."

With a gesture of gratitude, Sunghoon bid the villager farewell and set off on the path leading to the abode of the enigmatic blacksmith. Each step he took echoed with a quiet determination, the weight of his purpose guiding him forward. As the twilight sky deepened, casting an eerie glow over the village, Sunghoon pressed on, prepared to face the mysteries that awaited him in the realm of the blacksmith's forge.

As Sunghoon approached the mill house, hidden away in the depths of the forest, he lightly tapped on the weathered door. It swung open, revealing a woman standing before him, clad in a leather apron with soot-stained hands. He removed his black cloak hood, revealing his enigmatic features, and couldn't help but be surprised to find a woman in the role of the blacksmith.

Curiosity getting the better of him, Sunghoon couldn't help but inquire, "Are you the blacksmith's wife?" He chuckled, expecting a conventional response. However, his assumption was met with laughter from the woman. "I am the blacksmith, my friend. Is it because I am a woman that you assumed otherwise?" Sunghoon simply nodded, acknowledging his own preconceived notions.

The blacksmith, her laughter fading into a warm smile, invited Sunghoon inside her abode. "Please, come in. Make yourself comfortable while I fetch my daughter," she said, gesturing toward the worn chair. Sunghoon took a seat, his eyes scanning the workshop adorned with an assortment of tools and the mesmerizing glow of a forge.

Intrigued by the mention of her daughter, Sunghoon's curiosity grew. He wondered what role she played in the life of this unconventional blacksmith. Moments later, the woman's voice resonated through the house. "Taebetha! He's here. Hurry up!" she called out, her voice carrying a mix of urgency and excitement.

As the anticipation built, Sunghoon found himself intrigued by the arrival of the blacksmith's daughter. He pondered what significance she held in their meeting, and how she might add another layer of depth to his interaction with this unconventional family.

Minutes later, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the house, and a young woman burst into the room. Her eyes widened upon seeing Sunghoon, a mixture of surprise and curiosity dancing within them. She bore a striking resemblance to her mother, possessing the same determination and spark that radiated from the blacksmith.

With a charming smile, Sunghoon rose from his chair, extending a polite greeting. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Taebetha," he said, his voice holding an air of intrigue. "Your mother speaks highly of your presence here. I sense there is something extraordinary about you."

Taebetha returned his smile, her eyes gleaming with a mix of curiosity and a hint of adventure. "Likewise, Sunghoon," she replied, her voice carrying a hint of excitement. "I've heard stories of your travels and the darkness that surrounds you. Perhaps together, we can unravel the mysteries that lie within and forge something extraordinary."

Sunghoon's gaze locked with Taebetha's, their shared fascination with the unknown forging a connection at that very moment. Within the walls of the mill house, a union of unique talents and unconventional paths had converged, ready to embark on a journey that would weave together their destinies and shape the course of their intertwined lives.

As Taebetha extended her hand toward Sunghoon, anticipation coursed through him. He watched intently as her lips gently brushed against the back of his hand, igniting a spark that seemed to transcend mere physical contact. The electric connection between them sent a shiver down Sunghoon's spine, stirring a newfound desire within him.

He found himself mesmerized by Taebetha's presence, taking in every detail of her enchanting allure. Her smooth brown skin seemed to glow in the moonlight, accentuating the delicate curves of her body. Sunghoon's gaze lingered on her lustrous hair, noticing the subtle down that adorned her cheeks, adding to her irresistible charm.

Shaking himself out of his momentarily dazed state, Sunghoon regained his composure. He exchanged a knowing glance with Taebetha, a silent understanding passing between them. With a courteous nod to the blacksmith, they bid her farewell, promising to return soon with tales of their journey.

Sunghoon led Taebetha towards his loyal steed, the black horse named Iris, standing tall and imposing. Graciously, he extended his hand towards her, assisting her in mounting the horse. As she settled onto the saddle, he couldn't help but notice the closeness of their bodies, igniting a subtle fire within him.

With Taebetha securely seated behind him, Sunghoon tightened his grip on the reins and guided Iris onto the path that would lead them on their shared adventure. The rhythmic sound of hooves against the earth echoed through the night as they embarked on a journey filled with mystery, danger, and an undeniable connection.

As they rode together, the wind carried their laughter and whispers, weaving their shared desires and aspirations into the fabric of their bond. The darkness of the night seemed to cloak them in secrecy, allowing them the freedom to explore the depths of their newfound connection.

With each passing mile, Sunghoon and Taebetha's interactions grew bolder, their hands occasionally intertwining, their whispered conversations filling the air with an undeniable tension. The palpable chemistry between them fueled a mix of emotions – desire, curiosity, and the anticipation of the unknown.

As they ventured deeper into the night, the boundaries between them blurred, and the lines of their individual paths intertwined. Together, they embarked on a journey that would test their resolve, challenge their beliefs, and unravel the secrets that lay dormant within their souls.

Underneath the moonlit sky, with the steady gallop of Iris beneath them, Sunghoon and Taebetha embarked on a passionate odyssey that would forever change their lives. In this shared adventure, they would discover not only the depths of their desires but also the strength of their bond as they faced the darkness that awaited them, hand in hand.

Tabetha gently wrapped her hands around Sunghoon's waist, a gesture filled with affection and commitment. "Sunghoon, I want to be your wife," she expressed, her voice filled with sincerity. "But before we take that step, I have a request. Can we wait a little longer to be intimate? I'm currently on my period, my love."

Sunghoon remained silent for a moment, absorbing her words. With a tender smile, he responded, "Of course, Tabetha. There's no need to rush. Our love goes beyond physical intimacy." He carefully lifted Tabetha in his arms and carried her to her room within the magnificent castle in Romania, their newfound sanctuary.

Sunghoon led Tabetha to her room, revealing its cozy and inviting ambiance. "Here's your room, Tabetha. Rest up, as we have an exciting day planned for tomorrow," he shared warmly before preparing to leave the room. However, Tabetha couldn't help but express her confusion, saying, "But I thought newlyweds sleep together."

Sunghoon reached out and gently caressed her chin, locking eyes with her. "It's a tradition I must follow until our marriage date. After that, we can share the same sleeping quarters, alright?" he explained, giving her a playful eyebrow raise. Tabetha nodded and respectfully replied, "Yes, Sunghoon," bowing before him.

"And one more thing," Sunghoon added, a hint of seriousness in his voice. "Please call me Sunghoon. I prefer that over being addressed as 'sir,' unless it's related to disciplinary matters."

Tabetha gently tugged on Sunghoon's arm, pulling him closer as she planted a sweet peck on his lips. "Could we make an exception to the tradition, just for tonight?" she pleaded, her voice filled with desire. With a longing gaze, she began unbuttoning Sunghoon's shirt, her fingers delicately tracing along his chest.

Sunghoon, feeling torn, slowly pushed her back, trying to resist the temptation. "Tabetha, I can't," he responded, his voice filled with restraint. However, her words and touch had ignited a deep longing within him. He let out a sigh, cupping her face gently, and gave her passionate kisses, his tongue intertwining with hers.

Gradually, he guided her to a small lounge chair, carefully seating her on it. His desire matching hers, he removed her underwear completely, his eyes filled with an intensity of longing. "Can I taste you, my love?" he whispered, his voice filled with a mix of tenderness and passion.

Taebetha pulls Sunghoon closer to her, her breath quickening in anticipation. Arousal throbbing between her legs, she speaks in a low voice, "Do whatever you like, Sunghoon." His hands slide up the length of her body, raising up her dress before his tongue slides over her entrance. She gasps aloud and her body bucks beneath his touch as pleasure surges through her veins. Sunghoon grips her thighs, intensifying the sensation cresting inside her until she cries out in ecstatic release.

She trembled as Sunghoon loosened his belt, his hands gently sliding it through the buckle with practiced ease. His hands then moved to his buttons, undone one at a time. His shirt slid off and he stood there in all his glory, illuminated by the late afternoon sun.

He looked down at her, his eyes soft and gentle as he slowly lowered his pants. He stood there, his gaze never leaving hers, and she felt her breath catch in her throat. She looked into his eyes, searching for the answer to the question she dared not voice.

Sunghoon stepped closer to her, his voice low and gentle. "May I enter you?" He asked, and she could feel the heat radiating off his body.

A slow nod was her only reply, and Sunghoon wasted no time in pushing himself into her. She gasped at the sudden intensity of the sensation, her hands contracting into fists against the sheets. He moved slowly at first, but gradually increased his pace, his hips slamming against hers and making her cry out in pleasure.

She felt her head spinning, her body alive with sensation as they moved together. Sunghoon's movements became more and more passionate as his breathing grew heavier. She could feel her pleasure rising higher and higher until finally, she tumbled over the edge, her body shuddering in bliss.

Sunghoon, too, seemed to lose himself in the moment, and soon she felt him calling out her name as he came.

They stayed like that for a few moments, their bodies still joined, before Sunghoon finally rolled off and lay beside her.

Taebetha shifted her gaze towards her beloved, Mr. Sunghoon, who would soon become her husband. At first, when her mother revealed that she was going to marry a vampire, Taebetha was filled with uncertainty. The idea of being with a man who relied on killing others for their blood was unsettling, and it sent shivers down her spine. As she sat upright on her bed, she instinctively caressed the side of her neck, where droplets of blood now trickled down.

Tabetha's vision blurred, and a wave of dizziness washed over her like she had been drugged. Overwhelmed by the pain, she clutched her head and stumbled before collapsing lifelessly onto the floor, creating a resounding thud that echoed through the room. The sound caught Sunghoon's attention, and he swiftly rushed to her side. Taebetha's eyelids were shut tight, either due to exhaustion or fainting, and her breathing was shallow.

"Tabetha!"

Sunghoon's voice reverberated with concern as he carefully lifted her and carried her back to the bed. Leaning his head against hers, he sought any sign of life, praying for her to still be breathing. Fortunately, her chest rose and fell, indicating that she was still alive, albeit disoriented and drained.

Sunghoon, realizing the impact of his actions, left the room, feeling an overwhelming sense of empathy wash over him..As Pedro trailed behind him, carefully monitoring his every move, he couldn't help but notice the weariness etched into his eyes.

"What's going on, Sunghoon?" Pedro asked with a look of confusion as Sunghoon hurriedly searched through his sleeping quarters, seemingly searching for a locked box.

Sunghoon frantically rummaged through his belongings, tossing items onto the floor in his haste. He finally found what he was looking for - a syringe.

"We should hurry before any changes occur."

Pedro waits for a moment before taking the syringe from Sunghoon's hand. He then respectfully bows to his master before heading into Taebeatha's room to administer the injection. As he watched, he noticed her wince in discomfort as the syringe was administered.

"It's almost over, miss," Pedro said with a concerned expression as he noticed her shaking from the effects of the injection.

As Pedro looked towards the door, he noticed Sunghoon standing there. He promptly got up and bowed to him, whispering something in his ear before leaving.

Sunghoon approached her with a composed demeanor, noticing that she appeared to have regained her composure after the intense emotional turmoil within her. Gently, he reached out and rested his hand on her rich, dark skin, delicately caressing her cheek. His gaze met hers, as he sought signs of vitality or vulnerability within her warm, brown Orbs.

He tried to gain her attention by snapping his fingers right in front of her face, despite her eyes remaining tightly shut due to the injection. Perplexed, he ran his fingers through his hair, puzzled as to why his spell wasn't having any effect. "What's happening? Why isn't it working?" he pondered, questioning himself. Casting another intense gaze into her eyes, he felt a gulp forming in his throat as he noticed her arm, devoid of life.

Time was running out, and he had to save her life. Failure was not an option, especially after failing to save his previous lover. Growing impatient, his eyes started to transform into a reddish hue, his fangs slightly revealing themselves. Succumbing to desperation, he sank his teeth into her skin, drawing her blood. However, even as he drank from her, there was no immediate response.

Gradually, her eyes began to flutter open, but her gaze shifted downward, fixing upon Sunghoon, who had traces of blood lingering on his mouth.

As Tabetha stepped into the tub, a soothing cascade of hot water mingled with warm water enveloped her body, providing a sense of relaxation. Sunghoon joined her, entering the tub right after, and took a moment to glance at himself in the mirror. He carefully wiped away the remnants of blood from his mouth using a towel, his gaze then shifting to Tabetha as she began to cleanse her body, the water flowing over her skin.

Despite having recently indulged in Tabetha's delicious blood, Sunghoon found himself grappling with resurfacing sexual desires for her. He struggled to maintain self-control, knowing that his longing stemmed from the unique and enticing taste of her blood. It was an unfamiliar sensation, the desire to keep someone close solely for the pleasure their blood brought. Yet, he knew he must resist these urges and focus on their connection beyond the physical, as he cherished her presence beyond the confines of his thirst.

In the depths of Sunghoon's being, the seductive allure of Tabetha's blood continued to stir his primal instincts. The taste lingered on his lips, fueling a longing that was difficult to suppress. He fought an internal battle, torn between his insatiable desire and his genuine affection for her. As he gazed upon Tabetha, her body glistening with water in the dimly lit bathroom, his eyes betrayed his inner struggle. The lines between lust and love blurred, creating a potent cocktail of emotions within him. The connection they shared transcended mere physicality, and Sunghoon knew that succumbing to his desires would jeopardize what they could build together.

He mustered all his strength, forcing his eyes to meet hers. At that moment, he made a silent promise to himself to protect her, to cherish her not only for the intoxicating taste of her blood but for the person she was. With every fiber of his being, he fought to control his urges and channeled his energy into nurturing their emotional bond, knowing that their love went far deeper than any carnal desire could ever satisfy.

"Sunghoon," a voice echoed from the other side of the room, drawing Sunghoon's attention. He turned to see Tabetha, now standing there naked, her body on display. As he approached her, a surge of protective instinct washed over him. He reached out and handed her a towel, gently draping it around her curvy frame, ensuring her comfort and modesty.

"You know," she said, crossing her arms and arching an eyebrow, "if you could be more honest with me, it would help me trust you a bit more." Her words struck a chord within Sunghoon, causing a surge of conflicting emotions. The instant urge to lie surged through him, driven by the fear of revealing his darkest secrets. Throughout his existence as a vampire, he had faced judgment and persecution, leading him to hide in the shadows of both the immortal world and the harsh, unforgiving realm of humanity.

He leaned in closer, his breath gently brushing against her skin, causing her to gasp involuntarily. "If I were to reveal my true nature to you," he whispered, his voice tinged with both longing and uncertainty, "would you promise to bear a child for me?"

#ambw kpop #enhypen fanfic #stream bite me #kpop black reader #vampires #enhypen ambw #sunghoon is a red flag #might need to bring some holy water because the priest is just ugh in the next chapter #lord forgive me for my sins on writing this

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