#*•.¸♡ hannah speaks ♡��.•*

[saturdays--sun]

me, pacing back and forth around my bedroom: —and cherry red has the "cherry red, sour green" line, and intellectual property is red, and this next one is neon green and it's a switching pov thing— and in brainwashed, he says "it's been a week, i'm still at your house" and in fuck about it, there's the "you've been at my crib for like the seventh day in a row" line AND in the secret life of me, sunday is referenced a lot, which is the seventh day of the week, which ties into the religious trauma theme of intellectual property AND—

saturday, utterly confused but loves listening to me talk about things i'm passionate about, but also waiting for me to stop so he can ask me to come back to bed:

[majestyeverlasting]

Thank you so so much for writing and taking my Harry Castillo request! It was everything I wanted and SO much more! Thank you again and I can’t wait to see what you write next ❤️

Of course!! That's so sweet of you to say. I appreciate you for sending it in, it was a lot of fun to write. 🥹🤍

[landoughnut]

Green Light, Red Flag

♡ masterlist - request

♡ pairing - max verstappen x fem!reader

♡ summary - max likes you, but it takes the strong feeling of jealousy to admit it

♡ warnings - jealous max, angry-ish love confession, fluff

♡ w/c & a/n - 1.1k | du du du du

"To Super Max!"

The cheer echoes through the private room of the Monaco nightclub as champagne flows freely. Another win, another celebration, and you can't help but smile as you watch Max try (and fail) to dodge the shower of bubbles from his teammates.

"Honestly, you'd think they'd be tired of spraying champagne after the podium," you mutter to your friend, Hannah, who's watching the chaos with amusement.

"Bold of you to assume they ever get tired of it," she laughs.

You've been part of the Red Bull team's PR department long enough to know she's right. Your eyes drift back to Max, who's now arguing with Checo about something, gesturing wildly with his hands the way he does when he's excited. His face is flushed from the champagne and victory, hair still messed up from his helmet, and you ignore the familiar flutter in your stomach when he catches your eye across the room.

"Oi!" He calls out, making his way over. "Why aren't you celebrating properly?"

You raise your barely-touched glass. "Some of us have to work tomorrow, Verstappen."

"Tomorrow's problem," he says, dropping into the seat next to you. His shoulder brushes yours, and you pretend not to notice. "Today we celebrate."

"You mean you celebrate. I just watch you lot make fools of yourselves."

He clutches his chest in mock offense. "I'm wounded. Here I am, trying to include you in my moment of glory—"

"Your fifteenth moment of glory this season," you correct.

"—and you're just standing here judging me." But he's grinning, that competitive spark in his eyes that you've come to know so well.

"Someone has to keep your ego in check."

"That's what I keep you around for," he says, and something in his tone makes you look at him sharply, but he's already being called away by Christian for photos.

You watch him go, trying to ignore Hannah's knowing look. "Don't start," you warn her.

"I didn't say anything!"

"You were thinking it very loudly."

The night progresses in a blur of music and laughter. You're in the middle of a conversation with GP when you feel someone tap your shoulder.

"Excuse me," says a voice you don't recognize. You turn to find a rather handsome man in an expensive suit. "I couldn't help but notice you from across the room. I'm James."

"Oh, um, hi," you manage, caught off guard by his forward approach.

"I'm with the Mercedes hospitality team," he continues smoothly. "Would you like to dance?"

Before you can respond, you feel a presence behind you – familiar, solid, radiating tension.

"She's busy," Max says flatly.

James raises an eyebrow. "I believe the lady can speak for herself?"

You turn to give Max an exasperated look, but the words die in your throat. You've seen every version of his competitive face – the focused pre-race stare, the triumphant victory grin, the frustrated post-DNF scowl. But this? This is new. His jaw is set, eyes dark with something that looks suspiciously like jealousy.

"Max," you say carefully, "I can handle this."

"Can you?" he snaps, then immediately looks like he regrets it.

James glances between you two, understanding dawning on his face. "Ah, I see. My apologies, I didn't realize—"

"There's nothing to realize," you say quickly, at the same time Max growls, "Yeah, you should apologize."

"I'm just going to..." James gestures vaguely and makes a tactical retreat that would make Toto proud.

You round on Max. "What the hell was that?"

"What was what?" He's doing that thing where he pretends to be completely oblivious, which might work on journalists but has never worked on you.

"That whole caveman routine! Since when do you care who I dance with?"

"I don't," he says, but he won't meet your eyes. "I just... don't trust that guy."

"Right, because clearly I can't make that judgment for myself?"

"That's not what I—" He runs a hand through his hair in frustration. "Can we not do this here?"

You glance around, suddenly aware that several people are trying very hard to pretend they're not watching this exchange. "Fine. Outside. Now."

The Monaco night air is cool against your skin as you step onto the club's terrace. The city glitters below, the same streets Max was racing through just hours ago. He's standing at the railing, knuckles white where he grips it.

"Max," you say softly, "what's really going on?"

He's quiet for so long you think he might not answer. Then: "I don't like seeing you with other guys."

Your heart stutters. "Why?"

"Because!" He turns to face you, and there's that intensity again, the one that makes him such a force on track. "Because every time some guy looks at you like that, I want to... I don't know. Put up a safety car or something."

A laugh bubbles up despite yourself. "Did you just make a racing analogy about your feelings?"

"Shut up," but there's a smile tugging at his lips. "I'm trying to be serious here."

"Sorry, sorry." You step closer. "Please, continue with your vehicular emotions."

He groans. "This is why I never said anything. You make everything into a joke."

"Says the king of deflection." You're close enough now to see the flecks of gold in his eyes. "But if you're being serious... I don't like seeing you with other people either."

His breath catches. "No?"

"No." You reach up to straighten his collar, letting your hand linger. "Kind of ruins my plans to eventually marry you and steal all your trophies."

The tension breaks as he laughs, real and warm, his hands finding your waist. "That's your master plan? Bit obvious, isn't it?"

"Well, I was going to be subtle about it, but then you had to go and get all jealous and dramatic—"

He cuts you off with a kiss, and oh – this is nothing like the Max the world sees. This is soft and sweet and just a little desperate, like he's been holding back for as long as you have. You melt into it, fingers curling into his shirt.

When you break apart, he rests his forehead against yours. "Just so we're clear," he murmurs, "this means you're not dancing with anyone else tonight."

"Possessive much?"

"You like it."

"Maybe." You steal another quick kiss. "But only because you're cute when you're jealous."

"I wasn't jealous," he protests automatically.

"Sure, and you also 'don't care' about breaking Seb's record."

He pinches your side playfully. "You're impossible."

"Yeah," you agree, sliding your arms around his neck. "But I'm your impossible."

His smile – soft and real and just for you – is better than any podium celebration. "Deal."

When you eventually return to the party, hand in hand, no one looks surprised. Checo hands Hannah what looks suspiciously like betting money, GP just rolls his eyes fondly, and Christian mutters something that sounds like "finally" into his drink.

Max doesn't leave your side for the rest of the night, and if he holds you a little closer when James walks past, well – you're not complaining. After all, some victories are worth celebrating more than others.

[hysteria-things]

♛ THREE ° •

ʚ♡ɞ 𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐓 | 𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓 | 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐘𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓 | 𝐍𝐄𝐗𝐓 ʚ♡ɞ

𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: matt x reader

𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲: you get a very interesting invitation from the one and only matthew sturniolo.

𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: SUGGESTIVE, swearing

𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 295

𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫'𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞: SO SORRY this is insanely short i’m not feeling good but also i want there to be more details in the next part😭

you can’t help but stare intently at your phone screen for the past five minutes. the tour ended for the boys a few days ago. chris won, but you and matt have been talking if he’s not busy nonstop. you’re honestly not sure if he told his brothers about you yet.

it’s pretty late, and you have been texting before bed. you did not think it would lead to this.

“you are so fake for leaving me to go to L.A. for your boyfriend matthew sturniolo.” hannah says for what feels like the thirtieth time, folding your clothes and helping you pack.

since you have no idea how long you’re staying for, you have two suitcases sprawled on your bed. you roll your eyes at the girl, zipping the suitcase and placing it on the ground. “i met him two weeks ago, he is certainly not my boyfriend.”

“not yet.” she winks.

“in all honesty, i don’t think this will last.” you sigh. “i mean, he’s incredibly famous, and a hundred girls gawk over him every day.”

she blinks at you, crossing her arms and popping a hip out. she’s giving you the are you serious? look. “girl.” she starts. “you guys have been texting every day, and he invited you to fly out to his house in L.A. — which he’s paying for. let alone you had sex with him. i don’t know him as well as you do, but i don’t think he’s the type to do that with any girl he lays eyes on. am i right, or am i right?”

you stay silent for a beat before speaking. “you’re right.”

“i know i am.” she smiles. “now let’s finish packing those bags. you got an early flight to los angeles tomorrow.”

𝐭𝐚𝐠 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭!

@bunbunbl0gs @lexisecretaccx @thy-mission @angelic-sturniolos111 @sophssturn @mattsneezing @janiellasblog @blahbel668 @meg-sturniolo @mattslolita @sturnbaby @imwetforyourmom @tillies33ssss @sturnifyed @mayhem-72 @ripmattitude @p1xieswrld @alorsxsturn @txssvx @sttzee @multiluvr @delilahprentiss @matthewsspecial @sturnolio-luvs @sturniolho @suga-daddy-69 @tworosesblackthorn @luckistar-posts @gnxosblog @junnniiieee07 @sturnioloslurps @tylerthecreatorsrealwife @flowerxbunnie @imaslut4kehlani @sturniolosandmoree @hertvgirl @whoreforchrissturniolo @sturniolotriplettoplover @stars4matt @freshsturns @loverrsposts @sturnlcvr @elliesturniolo1 @tpvmz @user283926392 @lalalands86 @sukiipjs @sturniologirl813 @leahrab @chrissturniolosslut @h3arts4harry @sturnioloblogs @creamoncreamoncream2 @luv4kozume @ivyyyyyysposts @mirxcle1 @iluvm4ttsturni0l0 @catalina-island @mbsbaby @mattsdollie @pinkfarts @slut4mattsturn @thesturniolos @vickeyzloserz @nononopenono1 @bitchydragonparadise @gdsvhtwa @hrt-attack @bellasfavbisexual @dwntwn-strnlo @venusbabysblog @meerkatzthings @crazychrisl0v3r @maggieflms @strtuniolo @mutualsafe @riasturns @sturniolowhore @antpile00 @ashley9282828 @stingerayyy2

[yourmotherlma0]

●Shogi chpt.1

♡Togame Joe x Gn!Reader

♡Warnings: you/your/yourself pronouns used, 1700 words, fluff, slow-ish burn, mild cussing i think idfk i went through like 50 drafts, old people being cuties, I love old people, reigan arataka and mob as guest stars btw

// Next

♡♤♡♤♡♤

Shishitorens territory has always been a lively place. It was filled with bars and nightlife that most cities lacked but just because it was quiet during the day, didn't mean it was silent. Steam curled around the old wood beams of the bathhouse, muffling the sound of conversation. It was late evening, the time when only the regulars came. Elderly men and women shuffled across the tile floors just a room over, towels wrapped around their bodies, and a soft clacking of shogi tiles was heard from the corner table in the lounge.

Togame sat, shirt half-buttoned and loosely resting on his shoulders, a towel draped over his wet hair. His sharp eyes flicked across the shogi board. His opponent, an energetic old man named Mr.arataka, scratched his cheek and sighed.

“You're lucky that I tend to go easy on the younger folk kid, if I went full power right from the start half of Japan would be in shambles from my power.” the old man grumbled. “You're just salty that I won, aren't you?” Togame murmured, moving a piece back into its starting position. His voice was even and his presence was calm yet unreadable. The sort of quiet that held danger and dignity in equal measure. The kind of silence you can only find in a double life delinquent like jo togame or hannah montana.

Mr.arataka chuckled and leaned back, popping a complementary rice cracker into his mouth. “You need someone who’ll challenge you more than I can.” “Are you volunteering to find them?” “Who do you think I am? I've already found them, introducing one of the best shogi masters ever, ehem- right behind me of course...” The old man awkwardly scooted his chair to the side and frantically waved over someone that was behind him. “Hey brat! Come here for a sec!”

You were balancing a stack of towels that the nursing home residents have used, normally this work would fall to the bathhouse staff but you would die just standing there without anything to keep your hands busy. Mr.arataka had insisted you join the group that went to the bathhouse each afternoon today. He was insistent and said he wanted to introduce you to someone so how could you refuse? You set the towels down and walked over to the two men at a small table in the corner when you suddenly paused mid step. Your eyes met togames. There was no smile, but something like curiosity sparked behind his gaze.

“This is uh… this is some brat,” Mr.arataka said. “Takes care of me better than my kid and is the best shogi student i've ever had. Not to brag on their behalf but I've taught them everything I know. ” “Did you forget my name or something..? And you haven't taught me anything-” You tried to speak but were quickly silenced by an older mans hand over your mouth. “They're a real prodigy in the making and it's all thanks to my teachings, and brat this is Togame, he's a bit mediocre at the game but he's a quick learner. He might come for your spot as my pupil one day.” The old man interrupted while Togame raised an eyebrow at his words. “That right?” You offered a small yet confident smile. “I did beat Mr.arataka three times in a row this morning.”

“That doesn't take much.” Jo said slowly. You've just met him and it felt like his every action was in .5x speed. Mr.arataka quickly ranted out a series of defences towards Togames comment but it was all swiftly ignored by us two.

Togame gestured to the seat across from him and you silently took his offer. You played one round. Then another. Togame wasn’t loud or showy in his tactics, he was all pressure. Every slow move of a shogi tile he made backed you further and further into a corner without ever making a scene of it, not even his expression would change or falter as he kept up the relentless assault against your pieces. He was good but you kept up. And that was the flaw of the way he played. The more you were able to react and keep calm despite the amount of pressure he tossed at you the more his own defenses fell apart.

His brow twitched in amusement. Not quite a smile, but something close. “You’re not bad.” You sipped your half empty bottled green tea that you bought from a vending machine when you arrived at the bathhouse, now lukewarm from its neglect until now, letting your fingers hover over one of your tiles as you slid the pieces back into their starting position. “Neither are you.” Mr.arataka glanced between the younger duo silently. “Mr.arataka, Shigeo is here.” One of your coworkers called out to the table you sat at with a youngish boy next to her. You waved off the older man as he stood and strutted out of the building, leaving you with Togame. 

Togame stayed silent as the older man left, you half expected him to leave as well but he stayed seated. His gaze shifted between yourself and the shogi board as words could visibly get caught in his throat. The air of cockieness that he had around him shifted the second Mr.arataka left and all that was left was an awkward teen. The time that passed during our shogi games suddenly was much more noticeable. The steamy air that swept through to the lobby was suddenly much clearer and the number of people entering and leaving the bathhouse was suddenly little to none. Togames shirt was slightly damp from his longer hair resting on it for as long as it has. The silence that fell between you both was awkward since this was your first interaction ever. 

What kind of asshole leaves the two people he just introduced to each other alone together?

The sentence rang through both of your heads simultaneously as you desperately looked for any way to start a conversation with this guy. Only a few words were exchanged during the shogi games and each beat of silence only made your quest for anything to get rid of the awkward feeling between you both more difficult. He fidgeted slightly, not in an obvious way, his finger tapped once and stopped before his gaze jumped from one of the shogi tiles to another. You couldn't take it anymore. 

“So…” you started, your voice was too loud starting off and it harshly cut through the awkward silence that had layered itself over the room. You softened your tone as you continued, “do you come here often or did you just feel like glaring at older men and losing at shogi today?” He blinked once at your words and you could see as he slowly processed your words before a slow breath came out. Not quite a laugh but definitely close. His lips curled into a small almost unnoticeable smile at your stupid attempt at playful banter which gave you a small sense of victory. 

“You think I lost?” he noted lightly as you shrugged in response. “You didn't win… most of them.” “I still won some.” he stretched slightly, the towel that had been resting on his head slipped off and he caught it just before it hit the ground. “Only a few” you subconsciously rolled the cap of your now empty tea bottle between your fingers as Togame slowly stood with a small grunt that made him seem significantly older than he actually was. “Can I walk you back… it's late.” 

You blinked, not because of the offer itself but because it surprised you how quietly he had said it. Almost like he was nervous asking such a simple and overall nice question and now that you were looking at him over again it was obvious that he was nervous. “Sure.” you smiled softly and stood, gently and discreetly trying to wipe the nerves off of the palms of your hands and onto your jeans. “If you can walk me all the way home old man.” a low huff came from him as you both stepped out of the bathhouse, tossing any trash you had as you did so. “Is that how you talk to someone kind enough to let you win?” “you wish you let me win.” He didn't argue but he didn't confirm either as he walked by your side, slightly behind you so you could lead the way to your house since he obviously didn't know the general direction, much less exact location. 

The cold air bit your skin as you walked. A light chatter between the two of you filled the silence, some of the conversation felt forced but as you walked it slowly became more natural. The old wooden steps that led to your front door creaked under your weight as you stepped up it. Part of you wanted to offer him some tea but his voice and calloused hand on your wrist halted your train of thought completely. His tone was even but his voice was low, he kept his eyes on his hand on your wrist as he finally choked out the words. 

“Do you know who I am?” he asked quietly. You glanced back at him silently, but he kept his gaze downwards… you could tell that something deep inside of him feared the answer. That same thing feared people as a whole. For him, in this moment at least there was nothing more important than your answer to this seemingly small and simple question.

♡♤♡♤♡♤

♡ Inspired by the fact he plays go and shogi with the old men at public baths

♡BONUS♡

“Master arataka… who were those people you were sitting with?” “Well mob, sometimes you make bets with people like I did and will do absolutely anything to get that money.” the older man and his kid(?) walked home together shortly after they left the bathhouse. “You made a bet?” the younger boy looked up at the man he's called his master for years in curiosity “what kind?”. The older man walked in long strides as he pretended to proudly look into the distance, in reality he had a small bead of sweat dripping from his forehead in nerves. “I bet 200,000 yen that I could get Togame, the big guy that sucks at shogi, dating within a month.” “That's a lot of money…” “Well, mob, I am confident that I will win and in no way did I bet that much because I was provoked or tricked.”

♡♤♡♤♡♤

[willows-writings]

‼️This post is part of a choose your own adventure series and is not meant to be read stand-alone. Click HERE to go to the masterlist and Chapter beginnings‼️

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Question the group?

Prologue

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"Wait what are we talking about?"

Everyone's attention suddenly snaps to you as you mumble out words, no one thought you were anywhere near sober enough to hear them.

Mike, ever the leader, speaks first "Nothing y/n go to bed."

"No don't brush me off I wanna know!" You huff and Sam has to adjust her grip on you.

Jess rolls her eyes and walks closer to you "Look y/n all you need to know is we're playing a little prank on Hannah, she's been trying to get with Mike and needs to be taught a lesson."

You frown "But that's mean, Hannah- Hannah invited us all up here, this is her place, we gotta be nice invitees." your eyes are starting to slip close and more and more weight is being leaned onto Sam.

Ashley steps forward now "Technically it was Josh who invited us, but anyways it's nothing bad, just a small little prank." She smiles at you in a way that reassures your drunken mind.

You giggle, "Okk then, I'll help her dye all your teeth blue later in revenge." You are humored by your own joke and start giggling and laughing more.

Sam lets out a sigh and starts to drag you away. "Bye guys, I hope you make the right decision."

You close your eyes and lean againist Sam trusting her to take you somewhere as the world spins beneath your eyelids. By the time you open then again you are in a room lit by a fire that you can see Beth standing by and a couch in front of it that holds your boyfriend.

"Joshhhh" you break off from Sam and stumble to the couch, nearly tripping over the edge of it before flopping down on top of the man already laying there.

"Y/n babyyy my gorgeous amazing other half." His words were also slurred and his arms clumsily come up to curl around you tightly as he buries his face in your hair. You giggle and turn your face towards the fire to find Beth looking at the two of you fondly.

"Hiii Elizabeth, Bethy, my lovely friend." You reach the hand closest out to her and she takes it and gives it a little squeeze.

"Hi y/n. Partied hard?" She's smiling in a way that says she's already taken pictures of the scene to use as blackmail later on.

"Ugh yes, and just give me like thirty minutes and I will be ready to party again." As you say this your eyes drift further closed and you feel yourself relaxing more and more into Josh.

"Mhm sure." She snorts and lets go of your hand which you wrap around Josh. "Sleep well y/n, we can party tomorrow night."

You hum contently and close your eyes. You nestle your face into the crook of Josh's neck and settle further into your comfy human pillow. Between the heat of your boyfriend and the fire, you find yourself drifting off to sleep to the quiet crackle of wood, and breathing of Josh in minutes.

ʚїɞ

The way you wake up isn't quiet.

Instead of soft fire glow it's harsh red and blue lights. Instead of soft breathing it's loud voices and the crackle of walkie-talkies.

Those sounds stay for weeks until suddenly it's quiet. Quiet as in feelings of regret and grief. Quiet as in sobbing over a closed case and two graves.

You think you prefer the sirens.

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End of Prologue

Chapter 1

OBaC Masterlist

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Prologue is finished! Sorry if this isn't accurate to how you personally would act drunk. Featuring a little fluffy moment with Josh and Beth before the bad stuff. :( Did all the talk of seeing Hannah and Beth later make you sad hehe. I felt evil putting that in.

Anyways I'm putting the text for the beginning of Chapter 1 above but I need to rewatch some of the game first so I can write everything accurately. It will be linked when it's done which will most likely be later this week or early next week!! As always likes, reblogs and comments are appriciated!

[halfarchived]

🍃𓂅 middle regressor jamie taylor headcanons

this became … incredibly long . but i’ve been more n more attached to jamie lately n i can’t stop thinking about a tiny jamie 🌱 ♡

⌗ . . . Jamie regresses around 8 - 14 . It’s usually always involuntary and triggered by emotional distress (sad flashbacks, a hard day, anyone messing around in her gardens) It usually manifests as anger or sadness, and she has a hard time expressing them in a way that doesn’t involve shutting down or lashing out.

꩜ . . . Hannah is the first to recognize the signs. She doesn’t push for answers or an explanation, she simply makes her a cup of tea and sits with her until she’s ready to talk about what’s currently bothering her.

𖧧 . . . Owen notices too, of course. He’s maybe the one person in the world who knows her the most (before Dani arrives). He’s endlessly patient with her, never treating her like she’s fragile and allowing her space. When she storms into the kitchen, frustrated, he gives her tiny kitchen tasks to do — stirring, chopping veggies, kneading dough, anything to keep her hands busy while he keeps an eye on her. He also cracks the worst dad jokes ever:

“Jamie, do you know why the tomato blushed?”

“I swear to God, Owen..”

“Because it saw the salad dressing.”

It always earns him an eyeroll, but the corners of her mouth twitches, and he counts it as a win.

ᝰ . . . Dani finds out by accident after Jamie has an outburst of anger after something in the garden pushes her over the edge. She snaps at Dani over seemingly nothing, storms away, doesn’t let herself cry. But Dani, patient and perceptive, pieces it together. How she clenches her fist like a child mid-tantrum, huffing and pouting but can’t explain why. When she finally finds her again, she’s curled up on the greenhouse’s couch. Dani sits with her, not speaking until Jamie mumbles a quiet apology along with, “…didn’t mean to yell.” Dani only nods, gently holding her hand in her own. “I know. Do you wanna tell me whats going on?”

↟ . . . Whenever Jamie is especially restless or upset, Dani will take her away from the others and into the garden. She’ll get her to ground herself busying her hands in the soil of a plant that needs to be potted, rip out the weeds in the garden to relieve some of her frustration, or sometimes, places a hand-held shovel in her hands. “Here. Let it out.” Dani says, directing her towards an empty patch in the garden. Jamie digs into the soil aggressively, and it helps.

⌗ . . . When Jamie refuses to talk about what’s upsetting her, Dani gently prompts her by asking about the plants. Jamie doesn’t realize that she’s subconsciously expressing herself as she rambles about which ones need more care, which are thriving, and which ones are being stubborn little buggers. Dani always listens, looks between the lines, recognizes Jamie communicating her own feelings with the use of her plants.

꩜ . . . When Jamie’s upset, she fidgets without thinking. She drags a pen across the pants of her overalls in messy, hard doodles or tugs at loose threads until they snap. Dani notices, gently placing pages of paper in her lap, murmuring “Here, try this instead.” Jamie grumbles at first, but eventually gives in, furiously scribbling on the paper or tearing it to shreds.

𖧧 . . . As much as she trusts Dani, she struggles to let herself be upset and small around her. She hates feeling vulnerable, hates the idea of Dani seeing her as weak. So she hides it, bites back her words, clenches her fists, avoids Dani when she feels herself slipping. But Dani always notices. She never pushes, just waits, and offers reassurances.

ᝰ . . . Sometimes, that’s all it takes. Dani pulls her close, tucking Jamie’s head underneath her chin while Jamie clings to her, fists curling into Dani’s sweater as she finally let’s go, shaking, sobbing, letting it pour out. Dani holds her, rubbing her back, whispering to her gently that she’s got her.

↟ . . . Jamie often steals Owen’s sweaters. She would never admit it, but she finds a certain comfort in them (and Owen knows - he starts to purposely leave some around the Manor for her to find). They’re big and soft and the right type of ugly, and they smell like fresh bread and a hint of his cologne. Owen never calls her out on it, just smirks when he sees her drowning in the oversized sleeves and says, “looks better on you anyway, mate.”

⌗ . . . Owen is Jamie’s favourite person to annoy when regressed. She sits on the counter, snatching ingredients before he can stop her. “Jamie, that cheese is for the sauce.” “Dunno what you’re talkin’ about, mate.” (as she very obviously shoves more pieces into her mouth) Sometimes if she’s had a particularly bad day, he’ll hand her a rolling pin and some dough, saying “Take your anger out on this.”

(“What about the gluten molecules?” “Oh, they’ll survive.”)

꩜ . . . While she doesn’t really play, she can never say no if Flora invites her to a tea party or Miles wants to play tag, and she finds that she absolutely adores it (not that she would admit that ,, )

𖧧 . . . She’s also fiercely protective over the kids, her protective instincts skyrocketing when she’s regressed. If they do so much as trip, Jamie is by their side in seconds, fussing over them and eyes welling up in worry. If someone speaks to them too harshly, she’s immediately defensive. Dani has to gently remind her that they’ll alright, gently trying to ground her, but she doesn’t settle until she sees it for herself.

[world-of-wales]

WILLIAM INTRODUCING HIS PRINCESS TO HIS BESTIE ♡

The Prince and Princess of Wales speak to Hannah Waddingham as they attend Royal Variety Performance at Royal Albert Hall in London || 30 NOVEMBER 2023

[maria-of-the-waves]

Soul Fire (TCFxKHR! AU) (Part 1)

I really like the concept of the dying will flames in Katekyou Hitman Reborn! In fact, I love it! ٩(♡ε♡)۶

This concept is quite interesting from my perspective, the being able to manifest the power of your soul through your will to live is very cool for me °˖✧◝(⁰▿⁰)◜✧˖°

I am not going to give an explanation of what the flames are since the publication is not about that, instead, I am going to give the link that will explain what they are.

(All credits to villainsandvictimsalliance ⸜(*ˊᗜˋ*)⸝)

And given the basic explanation, I'm going to give my ideas on how they work in this AU:

The Dying Will Flames come from the excess energy that the soul constantly emits. If you have accumulated a large amount of energy in your soul and find yourself in a near-death situation where your highest priority is to survive, your will can break the barrier between the physical and spiritual worlds, allowing you to access your flames and making you active. When this happens, small holes open in your soul that with time, use and trauma can become larger, causing chronic spiritual pain, that is where bonds and harmony come in. Links to other flames (and therefore souls) can help as pain relievers for all parties involved by superficially plugging the gaps and not allowing the core of the soul to be exposed. The exception to this is the flames of the sky which, due to their harmony attribute, can fill the gaps in other souls but not in their own, while the elements fill the gaps in their Sky, which makes this type of bond highly sought after. It is not just about healing the soul, it is a promise of eternal loyalty and devotion between each party, letting your own soul find a home in your Sky to fill the gaps in it and knowing that you will always have someone in who to trust for the rest of your life. Both harmony and general bonds are promises of eternal trust and loyalty, no active person will ever try to harm anyone they are bonded with much less an element to their Sky. A Sky needs a bond with each of the elements to stay sane and healthy physically, mentally and spiritually. The more powerful he is, the more links he needs. These can be created immediately if the souls are very compatible or by courtship if they don't are.

Well, with that explained, here is my TCF AU using this concept (o^ ^o)b.

Cale is definitely a Misty Sky, someone who can accept anyone without discrimination, but seeking the maximum benefit for himself and his people at all times.

He is someone who will deceive and swindle to achieve his goals by seeking out anything that he thinks may be useful or annoying to his enemies, but at the same time he is totally incapable of deceiving those he considers his by telling only lies for omission and half-truths.

He will justify any display of affection as manipulation or pretend to ignore it, but the way his worst fear is that his people will die and ending up alone speaks volumes about his character.

He is possessive of everything that is his, including his people, and will always pay for every offense or good act. For example, he prolonged Hannah's suffering by giving her healing potions and delaying Mary's arrival for everything she did to the whales, but once she paid for his offenses he did everything he could to help her.

But the curse make him difficult to have bonds.

After all, being a Sky he would need to have precious people to keep his soul complete and not fall into madness, and we all already know that he does the curse.

During the cataclysm each and every one of the humans with enough will to do everything possible to live awakens their flames to later (once society is rebuilt) be studied, revealing what explained at the beginning.

Moving on to another topic, I firmly believe that Cale's family in the Shelter (LSH (Cloud), LSW (Lightning), LJJ (Sun), JMS (Mist), Grandma Kim (Rain) and maybe PJT (Storm)) They were his first set of items allowing him to heal and maintain his sanity, but his curse took them away from him.

He later formed a bond with CJS (Sunny Rain) until the unclassified monster disaster occurred.

Team 1 that he led began to court him, but the trauma prevented him from forming complete bonds by creating too many holes for them alone to fill, leaving them all suffering, Cale by not being able to form new bonds and the team by refusing to accept another Sky wearing down the souls of all of them.

On the other hand, the original Cale is also a Misty Sky, the Thames are a long line of powerful Sky's who unlocked this power on Earth 1 but which is inaccessible without intervention for the inhabitants of almost all worlds except for the variants of the land.

Cale was born with active flames due to the difficulties of childbirth, harmonizing with his mother (a Sunny Sky) in the process.

During his childhood he harmonized with Eric (Rain), Amiru (Storm) and Gilbert (Lightning) after accidentally waking them up with his flames, but after the death of his mother he tried to distance himself from them without success causing them all to be very clingy to each other. yes and promise never to abandon each other.

After the arrival of Basen and Violan he began to act like trash in hopes that the collateral families would stop insulting his father's new family, thereby destroying his reputation in the process.

He was in a courtship process with Ron (Mist) and Beacrox (Cloud) before starting to act, but he interrupted it by starting to treat them as simple servants.

Then the Harris Village accident happens and Choi Han's beating completely undoes any trace of harmony with the Molans.

The Plaza Terror accident kills Basen and seriously injures the nobles of the northwest who begin to stay with Cale in a villa within a small town.

The War occurs by killing the rest of the Henituse family and taking most of the people in the northeastern territory with it.

Cale, Eric, Amiru and Gilbert, letting themselves be carried away by the desire for revenge, enlist in the army, quickly rising through the ranks until the battle in Puzzle City arrives.

During that battle each of them dies and Cale is taken to the God of Death who offers him a deal.

Since both his and Kim-Cale's souls are incredibly damaged he offers to send him back in time to the moment before he met Choi Han and fuse his souls.

Og-Cale insists that Kim-Cale must be there if the deal involves him and the God of Death brings him in while he was taking a nap on his day off, accidentally dragging Team 1 along due to the courtship.

They protest without wanting to send their leader (Sky) to a world destined for destruction until GoD blurts out that the reincarnation of the shelter family lives in that world which makes them stop trying knowing that Kim-Cale would do anything for see his elements again, so they start negotiating to go with him (Min Ah including his family being the only one with close relatives ( ╥ω╥ ))

Cale protests that they should not waste their lives for a trip that would bring them no benefit, but they tell him that they do not do it for benefits, but do it solely out of their loyalty.

This last exchange causes Cale to finally understand that they would stay by his side and finally accepts them into his Sky, establishing harmony.

Og-Cale on the other hand watches the exchange, and feeling a little jealous (very, very jealous (￢_￢)) tells GoD if Kim-Cale can take his people with him because he couldn't do the same demanding that Eric, Amiru and Gilbert travel with him.

GoD, wanting Nameless 1 to be saved, accepts the demand and quickly brings them, taking advantage of the fact that they recently died, to explain everything to them.

Only when they are about to seal the deal does Kim-Cale realize that GoD never mentioned what had happened to CJS and after much insistence he finally blurts out that he had become his subordinate and that he was currently on a mission in another country. world.

On the condition that CJS visits him as soon as possible he accepts the deal.

The deal is finally complete, Kim-Cale and Og-Cale will be a single person once the respective regression and transmigration begins, the nobles of the northeast will return to their bodies from before the Plaza Terror accident and the Koreans will be left in a merchant caravan with forged identification documents just one day from Rain City.

[saturdays--sun]

new fnaf dlc means i'm going to be inundated with more theories about what happened to michael as if he's not perfectly fine and well and lying in bed with me right now 🙄

[majestyeverlasting]

✨Forceful reminder you are a unique soul, irreplaceable in this world, and bring so much to everyone you meet. You have done so much good and have so much more to do. Thank you for just being you✨

…Oh. This was very unexpected, but very appreciated. Very powerful words. Thank you, whoever you are <3

[03jyh23]

🌷⌇one step at a time finding our way back part 14; a choi jongho mini-series

ex-boyfriend! idol! jongho x ex-girlfriend! single-mom! reader

│ series masterlist│ next │

│synopsis: five years have passed since jongho last saw you. your lives have taken drastically different paths, with jongho achieving fame and you focusing on raising your daughter, nari, in quiet anonymity. when jongho discovers he has a daughter, he's determined to be a part of her life.

│genre: a slice of life, romance, fluff, some angst

│trigger warnings: mild emotional distress, discussion of custody/legal matters, light public judgment/prejudice

│words: 7.4k

│reminder: what you're about to read is purely fiction, so let's keep it separate from reality.

!minors do not interact!

if you haven't already, please check out the special chapter Discovering Us posted last week! i hope you'll enjoy today's update—as we're approaching the end of the series, don't hesitate to drop me an inbox with your thoughts! anything else you'd love to read before we wrap up?

as always,

love, mon ♡

│taglist: │ @seventeenthingsblr │@DALSUWAHA │

│ @ateez-atiny380 │ @yoonshiiu │ @sndeoki │ @bomi-ja │

│ @vixensss │ @all-fandoms-rise │ @finnydraws │

│ @jonghosbrainrot │ @ateezswonderland │ @stayatinykatsy

│@chickenscoups │ @ana-stasssiaaa │ @starryunho │

│ @originalcupcakenacho │ @ultrapinkvoidbouquet │

│ @sweetinsaniiity│ @jennifermakmur│ @mitchii │

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│@lveegsoi │

│ if you wish to be tagged let me know here! ♡

A soft sliver of morning light crept through the curtains, casting golden patterns across the walls. Jongho stirred awake to the sensation of a small hand pressed against his cheek and a tiny foot wedged firmly into his side.

Blinking his eyes open, he found Nari sprawled across the bed like a little starfish, her hair a tangled mess of soft waves, and her bunny clutched tightly in one arm. Her face was peaceful, her breathing steady — the kind of calm only deep, dream-filled sleep could bring.

He couldn't help but smile, his chest warm and full as he watched her for a moment.

With gentle movements, careful not to disturb her slumber, he disentangled himself from the bedsheets and her tiny limbs. The morning sun painted her features in soft gold, making her look almost ethereal, so much like you, yet with unmistakable traces of him in the curve of her nose and cheekbones. These quiet moments made his heart swell with an overwhelming love, a feeling so profound it almost took his breath away. Jongho reached for his phone, smiling when he saw a good morning message from you.

The message was simple but made his heart skip:

"Miss you both already. Hope my favorite people slept well♡."

His thumbs hovered over the keyboard as he considered his response. After a moment, he typed:

"We miss you too. Had a little midnight adventure with princess—she needed Woo. But she's sleeping like an angel now."

He attached a quick photo he'd taken earlier—Nari curled up peacefully with her bunny, her dark hair fanned out on the pillow.

Your reply came instantly:

"She looks so precious! ♡ Just like her daddy."

Jongho felt warmth spread across his cheeks, grateful no one was around to see his embarrassingly wide smile. Before he could respond, another message from you appeared:

"Speaking of sleep... did you get any rest after our... conversation last night?"

He bit back a groan, memories of your teasing voice and the sound of water flooding back.

"Eventually," he typed, adding a smirking emoji. "Though someone made it very difficult."

A soft knock at his door interrupted his thoughts.

"Jongho?" Wooyoung's voice came softly, tinged with concern. "It's almost time for Nari's preschool—San made pancakes if you two want some." His voice lowered as his eyes landed on Nari's sleeping form, "Sorry, I didn't realize she was still sleeping. We'll keep some food warm for you, but you might want to start getting ready soon."

"Oh shit, you're right," he whispered, sitting up slowly. "Thanks hyung," Jongho called back softly. "I'll wake her up and we'll be there in a second."

"Better hurry, you don't want to be late to preschool," Wooyoung teased through the door.

Jongho turned his attention back to Nari, gently brushing her hair away from her face. "Princess," he whispered, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. "Time to wake up, sweetheart." He leaned over and brushed a stray lock of hair from Nari's face. "Hey, sleepyhead," he said gently, tracing little circles on her arm. "It's time to wake up. There's a whole day waiting for us."

Nari scrunched her nose adorably, hugging Woo closer to her chest as she slowly blinked her eyes open. "Daddy?" Nari's eyes fluttered open slowly, still heavy with sleep. She blinked up at him, a tiny yawn escaping her lips.

"Good morning, baby," he smiled, kissing the top of her head gently. "Uncle Wooyoung and Uncle San made us breakfast. How does that sound?"

A sleepy smile spread across her face as she rubbed her eyes with her tiny fist. "Pancakes?" she asked hopefully.

"Mmhmm," Jongho chuckled, helping her sit up. "But we'd better hurry before Uncle Wooyoung eats them all."

That got Nari moving a bit faster, her eyes brightening at the promise of breakfast. She carefully tucked Woo under her arm and reached up for Jongho, still a bit wobbly with sleep. "Can I have strawberries too?" she asked, her voice sweet and hopeful as Jongho scooped her up.

"Of course, princess," he smiled, booping her nose gently. He adjusted her in his arms, making sure she was secure as they headed toward the kitchen.

The kitchen was filled with the warm, sweet scent of pancakes and freshly brewed coffee when Jongho carried Nari in on his hip. The morning sun slanted in through the blinds, casting golden stripes across the counter, catching in the steam rising from the stovetop. Despite the homey ambiance, the air was thick, too still, like the moment before a storm breaks.

San stood at the stove, stiff as a board, his jaw clenched as he flipped a pancake with far more concentration than necessary. His back was rigid, like he was standing at attention rather than making breakfast. The pancake landed in the pan with a hiss, and for a second too long, he didn't move. Only when the edges started to smoke did he blink and quickly flip it—burnt.

"Shit," he muttered under his breath.

Across the room, Wooyoung busied himself with the table, but the way he arranged the cutlery—symmetrical, deliberate, like setting traps—betrayed his nerves. He was quiet, far too quiet for a morning where he would usually be humming or dramatically narrating the coffee pouring.

"Look who's finally awake!" Wooyoung beamed as he spotted Nari. She immediately squirmed out of Jongho's arms and ran to Wooyoung, wrapping her tiny arms around his legs. He scooped her up in a quick hug before helping her into her chair. "And just in time—the pancakes are… perfect." His pause on the last word was almost imperceptible. Almost.

San's shoulders jumped, reacting to the compliment like a reflex. He turned, flashing a small, uncertain smile that didn't reach his eyes. "There are strawberries too," he said, and when his gaze met Wooyoung's for the briefest second, something passed between them—unspoken, sharp—and then it was gone.

Nari bounced excitedly in her seat as San placed a plate of golden pancakes in front of her, "Thank you, Uncle San!" she chirped, already reaching for her fork.

Jongho watched his daughter's pure delight, but couldn't help noticing the way San's smile faltered slightly as he stepped back from the table. The tension between his hyungs was palpable, hanging in the air like static before a thunderstorm. Even as Wooyoung fussed over Nari, making sure her napkin was properly placed, his movements seemed calculated, careful not to brush against San who hovered nearby.

"Can I have strawberries?" Nari asked sweetly, unaware of the tension hovering above her head. When Wooyoung reached for the bowl of strawberries at the same time as San, their fingers brushed for half a breath before both jerked away as if stung.

"I'll get them," Jongho said smoothly, already crossing the room, his curiosity piqued. "You two are going to break a dish with all this dodging."

"Thanks," they said at once, then both froze and looked in opposite directions.

Nari, meanwhile, had taken a firm stand on syrup usage and was now in the middle of drowning her pancakes with it.

"Whoa there, princess!" Jongho quickly reached over to steady the syrup bottle before the pancakes became completely submerged. "Let's save some for next time, okay?" He exchanged an amused glance with Wooyoung and San, the moment of lightness briefly cutting through the strange tension between them.

"These look amazing, San," Jongho said innocently, handing Nari a napkin. "You must've been up early to make them. Very early."

San blinked, and for a split second, his expression cracked. He glanced at Wooyoung—just a flicker—and quickly down at his plate.

"Not that early," he muttered, cheeks flushed.

"I dunno," Jongho mused, sitting across from them, his tone light but calculated. "You two have that 'didn’t sleep much' look." He took a sip of his coffee. "A bit flushed. Bit twitchy."

San stiffened so sharply that his fork scraped his plate. Across from him, Wooyoung blinked, jaw tensing like he was bracing for impact.

And then, with perfect, unknowing timing, Nari lifted her head and beamed. "I always sleep best when Mommy hugs me," she declared proudly, drizzling syrup with great care over her last piece of pancake. "Last night, Daddy hugged me and I slept so well! Maybe Uncle Wooyoung should hug Uncle San too—then he won't look so tired."

The silence that followed was instant and excruciating.

Wooyoung made a noise that was somewhere between a gasp and a wheeze. San's hand slipped on his glass, nearly tipping over his coffee. Jongho pressed his lips together, trying—and failing—to hide the smirk that curved at the edges. In that moment, watching the crimson spread across both his hyungs' faces, Jongho couldn't help but wonder if his daughter had some sort of supernatural ability to cut straight through adult pretenses. Her innocent suggestion hung in the air like a perfectly thrown dart, landing exactly where the tension was thickest.

Wooyoung cleared his throat and gave Nari a wobbly smile. "You might be right, sweetheart," he said gently, cheeks pink. "Hugs do help sometimes."

San, suddenly very interested in the syrup bottle, didn't look up. His ears, however, were bright red.

Jongho raised his eyebrows, deadpan. "I mean, who wouldn't sleep like a baby while cuddling?"

Wooyoung dropped his fork. Again. The metallic clink echoed in the heavy silence, while San just covered his face with one hand and muttered something unintelligible.

"Uncle Wooyoung, why is your face all red? Are you sick?"

Wooyoung choked mid-sip of coffee, eyes wide. Across from him, San stiffened and stared at his plate as though it could swallow him whole.

"I'm not—" Wooyoung coughed. "It's just hot in here, sweetie."

San didn't say a word, but Jongho caught the way he rubbed the back of his neck, fingers lingering there like a nervous tic.

Wooyoung pretended to clear a crumb that didn't exist. "So. Pancakes."

"Pancakes," San echoed dully.

"Best breakfast ever," Nari declared, holding up her fork like a trophy. "I want pancakes every day."

"I think Uncle San might burn the kitchen down if we did," Jongho muttered under his breath. Wooyoung finally laughed, soft and strained. San caught Jongho's eye and shot him a look that could have melted steel. But before he could respond, Nari piped up again, completely oblivious to the tension around her.

"Can I have more strawberries?" she asked, holding up her empty plate with hopeful eyes. The request broke through the thick atmosphere like a ray of sunshine, drawing genuine smiles from all three adults. San quickly reached for the bowl of strawberries and placed some on her plate.

The clink of forks against plates had softened into the ambient hum of a morning trying too hard to feel normal. Wooyoung sat quietly, elbows resting on the edge of the table, eyes distant. Across from him, San shifted in his seat, his leg bouncing under the table with jittery energy. He hadn't finished his pancakes. In fact, he'd barely touched them beyond the one half-hearted bite he'd taken while Nari chattered about the dream she had involving a castle made of pillows and a dragon.

The tension had grown legs—long, spindly, invisible ones—and was pacing circles around the table.

"I should go," San said abruptly, voice slicing through the stillness. He stood, pushing his chair back with a screech that made Wooyoung flinch. "I've got a workout."

He made for the counter, grabbing his water bottle with too much purpose, as if movement alone might outrun whatever unspoken thing was still coiling tight inside his chest.

Jongho, seated cross-legged on one of the kitchen chairs with his coffee cradled lazily between his hands, arched a brow. "You're seriously heading to the gym after eating, what, half a pancake?"

San didn't turn around. "I'll have a protein shake."

Jongho scoffed. "A protein shake?" he echoed, the corner of his mouth lifting. "What are you, a walking fitness cliché now? Are you planning to deadlift your feelings?" It was meant as a joke—sharp, teasing, but with the lightness of sibling camaraderie. It didn't land. San's shoulders remained locked, his eyes were hidden from view, but his stillness was telling. He was unraveling, one tightly wound thread at a time.

Wooyoung looked up then, frowning. His voice came gently but urgently, laced with concern. "San, that's not enough. At least finish something solid. Your blood sugar—"

"I said I'm fine," San snapped. The words, though not loud, were brittle. Too brittle. They shattered against the walls and ricocheted through the kitchen like a warning bell. Silence bloomed in their wake. Thick. Cold. Startling in its weight.

Wooyoung's lips parted, startled, then slowly pressed together again. His hands dropped from the table to his lap, fingers curling into his palms. His eyes, usually so expressive, dulled into something unreadable.

San realized it too late. The sharpness of his own voice echoed in his ears, louder now in hindsight, uglier. He turned back, guilt immediately softening the lines of his face.

"I didn't mean that," he said quickly, voice low. "I just... I really need to move. Clear my head."

Wooyoung nodded once, not looking at him. "Right. Yeah." His tone was paper-thin.

Jongho watched all of this unfold with the silent awareness of someone too perceptive for his own good. His usual smirk had faded, replaced by something quieter, more measured, as he reached out to wipe syrup from Nari's chin.

San stood near the door now, looking more like a silhouette than a person—half there, half somewhere else. He looked at Nari, a ghost of a smile tugging at his lips. "Bye-bye, princess, I'll see you really soon!"

"Okay!" She said brightly, licking strawberry juice off her thumb.

The door shut behind him with a soft finality, and the air felt immediately cooler. Wooyoung sat unmoving, the silence pressing in around him like static.

Jongho set his mug down slowly, breaking the quiet. "Well," he said, voice casual but deliberate, "that went well."

Wooyoung didn't answer. But Jongho saw it—the way his hyung's jaw clenched ever so slightly. The way he blinked a second too long. The way his fingers trembled, just once, before curling around the mug again like it might steady him. He stood suddenly, the chair legs scraping harshly against the floor, and began to clear the table with a forcefulness that bordered on frantic. Plates clinked together too loudly. The syrup bottle nearly toppled when he grabbed it. The butter knife made a dull metallic thunk as it hit the sink.

"Alright, Jongho —go help Nari get dressed, yeah? Preschool starts in, like, thirty minutes and you still haven't brushed her hair and her backpack's not ready, right?" His words came in a breathless tumble, disjointed, a little too high-pitched. Nari blinked up at him from her chair, mouth sticky with syrup, clearly confused by the sudden shift in energy. "You need to hurry. She'll be late for preschool." His movements were quick, almost frantic, as he stacked dishes with shaking hands. "Where are her shoes? You should— you should get going, right? The traffic might be—"

"Wooyoung hyung—"

"I'm fine," Wooyoung cut in quickly, already turning away to scrub the plates like they'd insulted him. "I just want things done. We have a schedule, right?" The faucet roared as he cranked it on too hard, spraying water over the counter. He didn't seem to notice.

The front door creaked open behind him, and Wooyoung startled visibly. He turned too fast, dish towel clenched tightly in one hand.

"Wooyoung," Hongjoong's voice cut through the kitchen as he appeared in the doorway, concern etched across his features. "I just passed San on the stairs. He practically walked right through me—didn't even hear me calling his name. What happened?"

Wooyoung's hands stilled on the dish towel, his knuckles white from gripping it too tightly. He stared at the doorway, mouth opening and closing like he was trying to find words that wouldn't come.

"I—" He cleared his throat and waved a hand vaguely. "Nothing. He went to the gym. Like always."

Hongjoong's gaze didn't budge. "Did he?"

Wooyoung busied himself with stacking cups, but his movements were jerky now, uncoordinated. "You know how he gets. All protein shakes and reps when he's—" He faltered. "—when he's in his head."

"I asked what happened," Hongjoong said, voice low but firm. "Not where he went."

Something in Wooyoung's breath hitched.

Jongho stood quietly, cradling Nari in his arms as he stepped away from the tense air of the kitchen. He didn't need to hear more. Whatever had happened between Wooyoung and San—it was written in the awkward silences, the sidelong glances, the tremble in Wooyoung's voice—wasn't meant for Nari's little ears.

Without a word, he carried Nari down the hallway, her small arms looping lazily around his neck, her cheek resting against his shoulder.

The bathroom door creaked open on soft hinges. Jongho flicked on the light and set Nari down carefully on the edge of the sink. Her round face was a sticky canvas of syrup smudges and strawberry streaks, her cheeks kissed pink from excitement and sugar.

"Well, someone clearly won the syrup war this morning," Jongho teased as he dampened a washcloth with warm water. Nari giggled, kicking her heels against the cabinet as she watched herself in the mirror.

"Hold still, princess," he murmured with practiced patience, gently dabbing away the mess. She squirmed dramatically, scrunching her nose and pulling faces at her reflection. "Hey now," Jongho chuckled, adjusting her chin with a gentle thumb. "You're lucky you're cute."

With her face clean, he handed her the toothbrush. She squeezed a comically large blob of toothpaste onto the bristles—nearly the size of her whole toothbrush.

"Whoa, whoa, Nari. You're brushing, not frosting a cake," he said with a laugh, wiping off the excess.

She brushed enthusiastically for exactly seven seconds before becoming distracted.

"Brush your teeth," Jongho reminded, gently guiding her hand. "And don't swallow it." Nari gave a vague grunt of acknowledgment before sloshing water in her rainbow cup and spitting dramatically into the sink.

Back in Jongho's bedroom, the morning light had grown warmer, filtering through the curtains in golden rays. Nari bounced on her toes as Jongho unzipped her backpack and pulled out the clothes you had packed yesterday. Each item was neatly folded.

"Alright," Jongho said, holding up options like a fashion consultant. "What's the outfit of the day? We've got comfy leggings, your blue shorts, or... drumroll..." He unfurled the yellow dress. "Your floral power move."

"The yellow dress!" Nari crowed, pointing as if she were commanding an army. "With the flowers!"

Jongho raised an eyebrow. "You sure? What if we hit the park after school? Dresses are hard to climb in."

She crossed her arms, tiny chin tilting in protest. "I'll be careful!"

He sighed, already defeated by the sheer willpower packed into her pint-sized frame. "Okay, okay. But we're packing your leggings just in case. Deal?"

"Deal!"

As she stepped into the outfit, humming to herself, Jongho knelt to help her with the buttons. His movements were gentle, steady. The quiet intimacy of the moment softened the edges of his thoughts—muting whatever storm was brewing in the rest of the house.

"Daddy," Nari chirped, hands on her hips now, hair a wild storm cloud of curls and sleep. "Can you do my hair pretty? Like Mommy does?"

"You mean the braids?"

Nari nodded enthusiastically. "Like the two ones on the sides."

He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Princess, Daddy's fingers are better with guitar strings than tiny hair elastics…"

She gave him that look. The big eyes, round as moons. Lips pushed out in a pleading pout. It was his kryptonite. "Please?" she whispered, and that was it.

He tapped the rug beside him. "Come here then. Sit still. No guarantees it'll be fancy."

She beamed and plopped down cross-legged. Jongho gathered the brush and the tiny floral hair ties, crouching behind her. He started brushing, gently at first, then tugging just slightly as he tried to part her hair into even halves. It was like trying to divide a cloud with a ruler.

"Ow," she whined, even though he was barely touching her.

"Drama," he muttered under his breath, gaining a soft giggle from Nari. His hands fumbled with the part. The hair kept slipping, one side fluffier than the other. He tried twisting it into a decent braid but ended up with something more like a sad rope.

"Okay, no, that's not right," he mumbled to himself, unraveling it. Another attempt. Worse.

"Daaaddy," Nari sang-songed in complaint, beginning to sway like she was about to bolt.

"Don't move, I swear—" Jongho exhaled, sitting back on his heels in defeat, brush dangling from his fingers. "This is a trap," he muttered, half to himself. "Hair's a trap."

Nari looked over her shoulder, brow furrowed. "Can I just wear a hat?"

"No," he sighed. "No shortcuts. A Choi never quits!"

Then, desperate, Jongho stood and strode to the doorway, voice pitched louder now. "Hyung? Little help here?"

A few seconds later, hurried footsteps padded down the hallway. Hongjoong appeared first, curious, followed by Wooyoung, who was still clutching a dish towel in one hand. They both paused in the doorway at the sight: Nari sitting patiently on the floor like a princess awaiting her court maidens, Jongho with the hairbrush held out in surrender.

"What's the emergency?" Hongjoong asked, eyebrows raised.

"Hair," Jongho said flatly. "I tried. I failed. We're both emotionally scarred."

Wooyoung grinned, already walking over. "Hand her over. You can't just dive into braiding without level-two clearance. This is elite-tier babysitting."

Jongho stepped back with exaggerated relief. "Thank God."

Nari looked up at Wooyoung with a delighted squeal. "Uncle Woo! Do you know how to make the pretty ones?"

"Of course I do," he said, kneeling in front of her with practiced ease. "You want the twin braids with the little twist in front, right?" She nodded so fast her curls bounced like springs.

As Wooyoung got to work, gently brushing and sectioning her hair like it was second nature, Jongho leaned against the doorway, watching the scene unfold. Hongjoong hovered nearby, arms crossed, a small smirk tugging at his lips. "She's got you wrapped around her little finger," he murmured to Jongho.

"Don't I know it," Jongho muttered, crossing his arms. They both watched as Wooyoung hummed softly, deft fingers braiding and tying, and Nari swayed happily, absolutely glowing. By the time Wooyoung tied off the second braid with a matching yellow ribbon, Nari looked like a sunflower in full bloom. She clapped her hands, delighted with herself in the mirror Jongho held up.

"Perfect!" she declared. "You're the best, Uncle Woo."

"Don't tell your daddy that," Wooyoung whispered conspiratorially, flicking one of her ribbons. "He tried, you know."

"He did!" Nari said cheerfully, "But he made my hair all lumpy."

"Brutal," Jongho muttered, gathering her backpack with exaggerated offense. "I did my best."

They moved to the hallway by the front door, amid the soft clatter of shoes, zippers, and bags being readied.

"You've got your snack, your extra sweater, and your crayons," Jongho said, kneeling to double-knot her laces. "Anything else?"

"My hugs," Nari said immediately, flinging her arms around his neck.

Jongho squeezed her close, eyes briefly fluttering shut. "That's the most important thing."

Wooyoung stood by the doorframe. He'd grown quiet since finishing her hair, looking distant, his mind caught in the morning's kitchen tension and San's sharp words. His eyes darted down the hallway, as if expecting someone to appear. No one did.

"You okay?" Jongho asked under his breath as he straightened, slinging Nari's backpack onto one shoulder. He didn't need to specify who he meant.

Wooyoung nodded too quickly. "Yeah. Just... still waking up, I guess."

Hongjoong appeared behind him just then, slipping on his own shoes with quiet efficiency. "I'll leave with you guys, I need to catch up on some work," then leaned down to tap Nari's nose. "You ready to impress your teachers with that hair?"

She beamed. "They're gonna say I'm a flower fairy."

Wooyoung chuckled softly, stepping back as the three of them moved toward the front door. Nari bounded ahead, her voice echoing in bursts of sugar-rush excitement. Jongho lingered, his eyes narrowing as he noticed the vacant tension still clinging to Wooyoung's frame. "I'll call you later," Jongho said, gentle but firm.

Wooyoung just nodded again, lips pressed tight. He turned away before the door closed, retreating to the kitchen with sharp, silent movements. The space felt too quiet now that Nari's laughter had faded away.

In the hallway outside, as Nari skipped toward the elevator, Jongho leaned toward Hongjoong and murmured: "Something happened between them."

Hongjoong didn't respond right away. He just looked ahead, jaw tight. "I know."

The way down to the parking lot, Jongho carried Nari in his arms, her backpack swinging gently against his side. Hongjoong walked alongside them, keys jingling in his hand. The morning air was crisp, carrying the metallic scent of the underground garage.

"Have a good day, little princess," Hongjoong said, ruffling Nari's hair carefully to avoid disturbing Wooyoung's handiwork. He gave a small wave before heading toward his own car.

Jongho opened the back door with a practiced motion, lifting Nari into the car seat like a delicate treasure. "Arms up," he murmured, and she obeyed instantly. He buckled her in, then checked the straps twice, tugging gently at the chest clip before leaning in close. "Let's keep this our little secret, okay?" he whispered conspiratorially, his eyes glinting with mischief.

Nari blinked at him with wide, innocent amusement. "What secret?" she whispered back, delighted.

"That we're running just a tiny bit late," Jongho said, holding a finger to his lips.

Her giggle was instant, bright as bells. "Okay, Daddy," she agreed solemnly, clutching her backpack. "Can we listen to music now?"

Sliding into the driver's seat, Jongho was already calculating the fastest route through mid-morning traffic. "Of course, princess," he said as he turned the key, the engine humming to life. "Any special requests?"

"Say My Name!" she chirped, bouncing a little. "Pleeeease?"

Jongho chuckled, tapping through the car's screen until the familiar opening synth kicked in. "You've got good taste," he muttered with a grin. As the beat filled the car, he caught her reflection in the rearview mirror—head bobbing, lips already forming the lyrics like muscle memory. The sound of her small voice blending with the music, sharp and sweet and uncannily on pitch, tugged something loose in his chest.

She was a natural. Just like… him.

The car sped down the familiar route, the city blurring past in streaks of gold and steel. But time seemed to slow, suspended in that brief pocket of joy. Jongho found himself singing along without thinking, harmonizing on the chorus with the kind of ease that only came from loving something—someone—with your whole soul.

Finally pulling up to the preschool, he parked with a practiced ease, but the moment he shut off the engine, the air between him and Nari seemed to pulse with anticipation. The rush was over, but a new kind of tension was beginning to brew. He turned to look at her in the rearview mirror. "Ready to show off your yellow dress?" She nodded enthusiastically, her tiny fists clenching the straps of her glitter-splashed backpack.

Jongho stepped out and circled the car, opening the back door and crouching down beside her. He unbuckled her gently, lifting her out with a quiet grunt before setting her down and checking the fit of her backpack over her small shoulders. "Too tight?" he asked.

She shook her head, braids bouncing. "It's perfect, Daddy."

He smiled—there was something deeply grounding in that word, no matter how new it still felt on her tongue. Together, they made their way toward the preschool entrance, where a teacher stood by the glass double doors with a clipboard in hand.

The woman smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Good morning," she said, polite but measured. Her gaze slid over Nari before settling on Jongho with subtle scrutiny. "Can I help you?"

"I'm here to drop off Nari," Jongho replied smoothly, offering her a small nod. "First day for me, though—her mom usually does drop-off."

The teacher's smile faltered slightly as she glanced down at her clipboard, flipping a page. "I'm sorry, sir, but I don't see your name listed as one of Nari's authorized caregivers. In situations like this, I'm required to contact her legal guardian before allowing the child to stay."

"Oh—right." Jongho's smile dimmed. He scratched the back of his neck, caught off guard. "I'm Choi Jongho. I'm Nari’s father. It's just that… yeah, this is my first time doing drop-off, but—"

"I understand," the teacher said, her voice taking on a firmer edge. "But our records show Nari's mother as a single parent. There's no father listed on the official documentation."

The air shifted.

Jongho felt it like a cold rush over the back of his neck. He hadn't expected this—not here, not like this, in broad daylight, with Nari gripping his hand. His throat tightened as a dozen quiet insecurities clawed their way to the surface.

"I am her father," he said quietly, then louder. "Just—look at her. She's not scared. She's not confused. She knows me."

As if on cue, Nari beamed up at the teacher, arms circling Jongho's leg in a tight hug. "This is my daddy!" she chirped proudly. "He sings with ATEEZ, and we listened to 'Say My Name', and Daddy was singing with me!"

Jongho gave a breathless laugh, but the teacher remained hesitant, her brow furrowing deeper. "I'm truly sorry. I don't doubt your care for her, but without legal verification or a direct call from her mother, I can't allow her to stay. It's policy. We take child safety very seriously."

He nodded, even as frustration prickled behind his eyes. He didn't want to cause a scene—not in front of Nari. Not on a day that had started with such promise. With shaking fingers, he pulled his phone from his jacket pocket and unlocked it, already searching for your contact. "I'll call her mom," he said. His voice was quiet but steady. "She'll clear this up."

The teacher gave a small nod, her posture still guarded. "That would be best."

Jongho turned slightly away from the door, pressing the phone to his ear. As the line rang, his eyes drifted down to Nari. She was crouching beside the school's flowerbed, tracing shapes in the dirt with the toe of her sneaker, completely unaware of the storm that had suddenly settled over her father's shoulders. It wasn't rejection—not exactly—but it was the kind of reminder that scraped deep: how new he was in all of this. How the systems of the world hadn't caught up to the reality of their bond.

Finally, your voice came through the speaker, laced with early morning concern.

"Hello?"

"Hey," Jongho began, his voice low but even, "Sorry to call out of the blue. We're at Nari's preschool, and there's a bit of a situation. They're asking for verification before they can let her inside. They need to hear from you directly... to confirm that I'm her dad."

There was the sound of rustling on your end, perhaps sheets or a robe. But your reply was immediate, laced with clarity and no hesitation.

"Of course. Hand me over. Put me on speaker—I'll take care of it." Relief coiled in his chest as he nodded and thumbed on the speakerphone, angling the device toward the teacher. Her eyes flicked down to it as your voice filtered into the cool morning air.

"Good morning," the teacher said, adopting the careful cadence of professional concern. "This is teacher Kim. I apologize for the inconvenience, but I do need to verify Mr. Choi's authorization directly with a legal guardian."

"Good morning, Miss Kim," you answered smoothly, your tone warm but assertive. "I understand completely. Mr. Choi has my full permission to drop off and pick up Nari anytime."

Miss Kim nodded, though her mouth remained tight. "Thank you, ma'am. For security and record-keeping purposes, we will need you to come in to update our files in person. Nari may attend class today, but we can't allow ongoing access until the documentation is formally corrected. I hope you understand—it's strictly protocol, for the safety of all the children." There was a small pause. Jongho didn't miss the way the teacher's gaze lingered on him—measured, polite, but laced with just enough implication to make his grip on the phone tighten.

Miss Kim added, "If possible, we'd prefer you come right away. Mr. Choi will wait here with us until then, just to be safe."

Jongho's jaw flexed. He didn't say a word. He didn't trust himself to—not when his heart was already pulsing with a cocktail of embarrassment and protectiveness. Beside him, Nari's little hand gripped the side of his jeans, her small fingers curling into the fabric. She was quiet now, sensing the tension like only children could. Jongho glanced down and gave her a reassuring smile, gently resting his hand atop her head.

On the other end of the line, your voice came through again, lower now, steady and composed. "Understood. I'll be there in fifteen minutes." There was a pause. Then your voice softened, meant just for him. "Jongho… don't let this shake you. It's just bureaucracy catching up to reality. This part will get fixed, I promise."

His throat felt thick. He swallowed hard before answering, voice low. "Thanks." The call ended with a soft click, and the morning seemed unnaturally quiet for a beat. Jongho lowered the phone and slipped it into his pocket, keeping his face impassive. The teacher gave a courteous nod but remained by the door, clearly still in compliance mode. So Jongho crouched down, tugging Nari gently into a hug. Her head rested against his shoulder immediately, warm and trusting. And despite the awkwardness clinging to the moment like smoke, he knew one thing with startling clarity: no policy, no paperwork, no institutional delay could dull the certainty in her tiny voice when she said, 'This is my daddy.'

Miss Kim gently took Nari’s small hand, guiding her toward the entrance of the preschool. Her grip was firm but kind, professional yet warm, as if trying to ease the girl into the routine despite the unusual tension in the air. Jongho stood back, watching silently as they moved slowly toward the building. But just before crossing the threshold, Nari paused. She looked back over her shoulder, her big eyes searching for Jongho. He was already sitting on a bench near the entrance, his posture slightly slumped, the weight of the morning pressing on him in quiet waves. The sunlight caught the faint crease between his brows—a crease that hadn't been there the day before.

Nari's small feet picked up speed. Suddenly, she tugged free from Miss Kim's hand and jogged toward Jongho, her voice ringing bright and clear. "Daddy!"

Jongho's head snapped up, surprise flickering across his face as he caught sight of her running straight into his arms. She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, burying her face against him.

"I love you, Daddy." The words hit him softer than any reassurance, warmer than any comfort he had dared hope for this morning. He closed his eyes, drawing her close, holding her as if to shield them both from the world outside. Nari's warmth seeped into him, a tiny but fierce light amid his growing sadness.

He tightened his embrace, whispering gently into her hair, "I love you too, princess." After a long moment, Nari pulled back just enough to look into his eyes, her own wide and full of trust. Without another word, she released him and turned, jogging lightly back to Miss Kim's side, her hand slipping easily back into the teacher's grasp. Jongho watched her go, the ache in his chest swelling but softened by that brief connection. He remained seated, his fingers absentmindedly tracing the grain of the wooden bench beneath him as his mind spiraled. The joy of their morning together - the singing, the laughter, the simple pleasure of taking his daughter to school - now felt tainted by this reminder of his absence from her early years. The teacher's caution was understandable, of course. But it still stung — the reminder that on paper, he wasn't officially part of Nari's life. He pulled out his phone to check the time, knowing you would arrive soon to sort out this situation, but his thoughts kept drifting to all the other 'first times' that still lay ahead of him as Nari's father.

The soft patter of hurried footsteps drew Jongho's gaze upward just in time to see you approaching, your stride purposeful yet calm. The determination etched on your face softened as your eyes locked with his, melting away the weight that had been pressing down on his chest all morning. Before he could fully process it, you bent down and pressed a gentle kiss to his lips — quick, but filled with an unspoken promise. The sudden contact startled him, a jolt of warmth spreading through the knot of anxiety inside him. His eyes widened, cheeks flushing a subtle pink.

"I... uh..." he stammered, clearly caught off guard by the public display of affection.

You couldn't help but laugh softly at his reaction. "Is the mighty Choi Jongho getting shy on me?" you teased, your eyes twinkling with mischief.

He ducked his head slightly, a small smile playing at his lips despite his embarrassment. "You just... surprised me, that's all."

"You're cute when you're flustered, you know that?" You said, your voice warm as you extended your hand to help him rise from the bench. "Let's go get all the responsible parent things done properly." The faint curve of your smile was a beacon amid the storm, an unshakable reassurance that this was just a small hurdle on the path you were walking together. He grasped your hand, the tension that had gripped his muscles loosening with the firm squeeze of your fingers. In that simple touch, he found a quiet strength — a reminder that he wasn't alone.

You led the way toward the front office, your steps sure and steady, your presence an anchor in the swirl of his thoughts. Every stride you took side by side whispered the truth Jongho needed to hold onto: We're in this. Together.

Inside, the fluorescent lights buzzed softly, casting a clinical glow over the stacks of forms and files. You moved efficiently, flipping through the paperwork, filling in details, signing here and there, all to officially recognize Jongho as Nari's father and authorized guardian.

Jongho's hand trembled slightly as he signed each document, the ink from his pen staining the paper like a fragile promise—each stroke anchoring him more deeply in this new reality. You caught the subtle tension in his jaw, the way his shoulders tightened as the weight of what this meant settled on him.

Miss Kim, who had been wary and distant earlier, now offered a tight, professional smile. "Everything appears to be in order. Of course, no further issues should arise."

But then, almost as an afterthought—her tone sharpening—she added, "It's just... unusual, I suppose, for a father to suddenly appear after so long. We've known Nari since she started here. She's always been a well-adjusted child with only her mother."

Jongho's posture stiffened, a flicker of hurt crossing his face. His jaw twitched involuntarily. Before he could respond, you stepped forward, your voice cool but resolute.

"Miss Kim," you said evenly, unwavering, "I appreciate your concern for Nari's well-being. But our family matters are private. Jongho is a devoted father. He has always had her best interests at heart."

Miss Kim's polite facade faltered; her lips pressed into a thin line, eyes briefly darting away. The judgment in her posture was unmistakable.

"Frankly, I'd appreciate it if personal opinions stayed out of professional matters. The only unusual thing here is a school administrator making assumptions about a family dynamic she doesn't fully understand. Nari has two loving parents doing their best. That should be the only thing that matters."

A flush rose to Miss Kim's cheeks, her gaze dropping to the papers on her desk as she shuffled them awkwardly. "I… of course. You're right. My apologies."

She stamped the final form with a little too much force. "Everything is finalized. You're all set."

Without another word, you turned to Jongho, catching the quiet, almost vulnerable way he looked at you—surprise, gratitude, maybe a flicker of awe shining through the fatigue. The unspoken thanks in his eyes warmed your chest.

As you left the office together, his hand found yours, squeezing it firmly but gently—a silent thank you for standing up for him and for your family.

"Will you be able to pick her up later?" you asked, glancing at your watch. "I have that late meeting today."

"Of course," Jongho answered without hesitation, the resolve in his voice comforting. "I'll see you after work?" He hesitated, a shadow of nervousness passing over his features before he spoke again. "Actually… would you like to go out for dinner tonight? Just the two of us? I' sure Wooyoung wouldn't mind staying with Nari."

Your smile blossomed effortlessly. "Are you asking me on a proper date, Choi Jongho?"

"I am," he said, shy but sincere. "We've done everything a little backwards, haven't we? Maybe it's time for a real first date."

"I'd love that," you replied, squeezing his hand. "And don't worry about this morning. It's all part of the journey, right?"

"Right," he agreed, visibly relaxing. "I'll pick you up at seven?"

You nodded, ''Seven is great. And, oh… Here," you said, pulling out your spare keys and holding them out to him. "You'll need these after picking up Nari. And maybe… pack some of her things for your place. She should feel at home in both."

Jongho stared at the keys like they were a treasure, his fingers closing gently around them. "Are you sure?" His voice was soft, touched with awe.

"Of course I'm sure," you said, brushing a hand lightly over his arm. "You're her dad. It's about time."

He nodded slowly, still holding the keys as if trying to absorb their weight. "Thank you," he said simply, but the depth in his eyes said more than words ever could.

"Seven o'clock," you reminded him with a playful wink as you moved toward your car, the keys jingling in your hand. "Don't be late for our first proper date!"

"Hey, wait—about those two houses!" Jongho called out suddenly, jogging a few steps to catch up, urgency threading through his voice.

You paused, turning with a raised brow. "What about them?"

"Nari having things at both places—that's great," he said hurriedly, stepping closer, "but I was thinking—"

"Nari will be spending time at your place now, too. She needs to feel comfortable wherever she is, Jongho. So she needs her things at both our homes," you said matter-of-factly, fingers drumming lightly against the car door. "Or… you could take her shopping for what she needs there. She'd love that."

"That's not exactly what I mean," Jongho muttered, frustration creeping into his voice. He ran a hand through his hair, shifting uneasily.

"I'm in a rush! Bye! Don't forget—seven o'clock!" you called cheerfully through the window as the engine hummed to life.

He stood watching your car disappear around the corner, the words he longed to say caught between his lips.

What I meant was… I want her to have one home. With both of us.

But the moment slipped away like, leaving him with a heavy sigh as he pulled out his phone and headed to his own car. There would be time—soon, he hoped—to say what really mattered.

♡│if you enjoy my writing please consider supporting me by tagging and reblogging│

[ask-the-identity-5-senses]

‼️ [important note at the end] ‼️

Dear Detectives

An unending yearn for companionship causes the most unfortunate of souls to seek it within themselves. Unknowingly driving it further away. Welcome our new Hunter Elias Cove - The Mimic.

(●x●) - Elias

‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵

Name

Elias Cove

Alias(es)

The Mimic

Serial NO:

317

Career

UNKNOWN / Hunter

Gender

Male ♂

Nationality

British 🇬🇧

«────── « ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ » ──────»

Character Details:

Birthday

(?) Gemini

Age

20

Likes

Thinking, friends, quiet, waffles

Dislikes

Shocks, yelling, medicine, taking his mask off, talking

Favorite Dish(es)

Waffles

"..."

‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵

Emoji sign off: 🕳️

Shipping: Depends.

Angst: Sure

Smut: maybe?

Sense: Hearing

Voice Claim: Click (REVERSE 1999)

‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵

Backstory: *Elias speaks, but not in his own voice. In fact, this voice sounds a bit older*

"Elias. This place will fix you up. Get you off that spectrum. Now stop the copying, you'll make us look bad. Bad bad. Bad."

‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵

Playlist:

Gabe - Skye Mcreery

The Ballad Of Jane Doe - Ride The Cyclone The Musical

Body - Mother Mother

Bumblebees are Out - Jack Stauber

Child Psychology - Black Box Recorder

Cradles - Sub Urban

Dandelion - Gabbie Hannah

Doomed - Mothica

Echo - Crusher P

Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want - Dream Academy

‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵

‼️ Special thing to note about Elias: ‼️

Elias is on the autistic spectrum and expresses himself through echolalia. Please be patient with him. His answers to your questions may not always seem sensical and he may even need the assistance of other characters to help him. Just try and keep an open mind about him.

‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵

NOTED INFORMATION:

Likes to mimic 0-0-4 and 0-0-2

Most cherished memory is the promise to be 'repaired'.

‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵

OPINION CHART

‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵

[mccklynaive]

⋆𐙚₊˚⊹♡ Valerie could never even fathom the loss of what clay was going through , having come to the area a while after everything happened with Hannah . whispers about her were still going around , but she was not someone who would pay attention to gossip ; she did not know the girl , nor did she have the right to judge her . however , amongst every time there have been someone speaking about her , almost every time , his name would come along behind it . again , she would not insert herself into anything , not unless he chose to tell her about the whole situation .

she might even look just the same , since her move here has not been on the . . . best circumstances . she was ripped from everything she knew , which though not much , she was not adjusting to as quickly as she thought she should ; it was interesting how she put no expectations on anyone , but expected the world of herself .

she settles her bag down , taking a seat in front of clay . resting her hands in her lap , she looks up at him , showing she is not going anywhere , not unless he asks her to . he can talk as long as he wishes , & she will be here the whole time .

" s -- start w -- where -- wherever you w -- wish . p -- per -- perhaps start w -- with now , and if y -- you need to , go b -- back -- backwards . " she suggests . she knows it is usually said to start from the beginning , but she also understands how that can still hold pain . it was always best to move forward , right ? ⋆𐙚₊˚⊹♡

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ This isn't the first time I've gone without sleep. from Clay ⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚

⋆𐙚₊˚⊹♡ though she does not say anything right now , the worry she has for his well-being is clearly displayed on her expression . her eyes trace carefully over his face , able to see how worn out he appears , & though they are not terribly close , her heart sinks little by little . biting her lip thoughtfully , she sighs quietly .

" I m -- may not be the b -- best p --- per -- person to say a -- any -- anything about this , but . . . that does not seem . . . h -- hea -- healthy . " she says carefully , knowing the information she is providing is not anything new or original , but she was worried . though she also really didn't have a right to comment , since she almost never could sleep . " I am h -- here , if y -- you ever need to t -- talk . " she offers with a soft smile . ⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ // && @taleswritten

[hannahrph]

i will also be gifing auli’i in crush along with meg donnelly and terry hu in zombies 3

[strawberrisoulmate]

Confrontation

repost of an old fic i wrote back in march of last year. i'm still super proud of it and wanted it on my new blog ♡ word count: ~5k ship: n/a (implied sigma x hannah) warnings: major spoilers for the ending of zero escape: virtue’s last reward. like. BIG SPOILERS. 

It had been a few hours since the conclusion of the Nonary Game. Everyone had made it to 9 points and escaped. But the joy and relief they’d felt upon opening the number 9 door was short-lived. Their delusional victory had been cut short, only to be met with a horrible truth about the world as they knew it. The deadly virus — Radical-6 — had spread across the entire world, causing what could only be described as the apocalypse. Complete and utter chaos filled the streets, piles of corpses around every turn, plant and animal life began to die out. 

Madness.

That’s what she thought when she heard it all. She didn’t believe it was possible for the world to just end like that. Last thing she remembered, she was on her way to school in a perfectly normal world. But to be told that the year was 2074, a full forty-five years after her last waking memory before she was brought to this place, it seemed impossible. 

But no matter how hard she tried to deny it, no matter how impossible it seemed, this was reality.

Now here she stood, in front of the closed door to the Director’s Office, fists gripping at her sleeves as she nervously bit her lip. Sigma, alongside Phi, had already left them all to travel back to the past in order to fulfill the mission set in stone by Zero Sr. and Akane Kurashiki. They’d said their bittersweet goodbyes, and as much as she knew why he had to go, it didn’t stop the tightening of her heart in her chest. Despite the plan being explained in great detail, and knowing full well that it had good intentions at its core, she couldn’t help but feel acrimonious to those who’d put them in this horrible situation. She blinked away the tears that had begun to form in her eyes and slowly raised her hand to the door.

The knock that followed was almost timid — more so than she’d intended. Her initial aim was to march straight into the office, stare Zero in the face, and demand to know why he had forced them all to suffer through this hell. Although she’d already received the basic explanation for why everyone had been brought to this facility, the answers had left her feeling unsatisfied, especially her own. Because of that, her resolve had solidified. She needed to hear it directly from Zero’s — from Sigma’s — mouth. 

The door opened silently, without waiting for a verbal cue from the other side allowing her to enter. But as she stepped inside, her eyes focused immediately onto the figure sitting alone at the desk. His back was turned to her, but she knew who he was. 

“Doctor Klim?”

The name felt foreign on her lips and addressing him as such made the hairs on her neck stand up. Even if this was Sigma, she knew that this wasn’t the same Sigma she’d gotten to know so well. Even if he shared the name, the Sigma sitting in front of her was virtually an entirely different person. 

The man’s position didn’t change when she entered the room, but he seemed to be listening, waiting for her to give her reason for wanting to speak with him. “Yes? What is it, Hannah?”

She frowned slightly when he didn’t stop his work to turn and look at her. His mannerisms felt cold and unfamiliar. “I… wanted to talk with you.” The hesitation was apparent in her voice, but even still, she continued nonetheless. “Is that alright?”

“Yes,” the man replied. “You came to discuss the results of the Nonary Game, is that correct? What do you plan to do now that it has ended?”

Hannah paused. Her eyes fell to the ground and wandered off to the side. “I don’t know,” she confessed. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do now.” She sighed, bringing her hands together in front of her as she thought briefly about all of the events preceding the present moment. “I can’t go home, because there isn’t a home for me to go back to. The only thing I can do is stay here, but what’s the point in doing that? Am I just supposed to live here and be miserable for the rest of my life?” She felt the tears that she’d previously brushed away returning, stinging her eyes as she did her best to keep them from falling. 

“Why did you even bring me here in the first place?” the girl asked with a bite in her tone. “Almost everyone else has some important reason for being here, but why me? I’m not an esper with weird telepathic abilities. I’m not a part of some secret government organization. And I’m not a clone or a robot or whatever the fuck else!” Her attempt to hold back the tears had failed despite her best effort to hide them, and she felt her face grow hot. “I’m just… me. I’m just an art student trying to get by living on her own in a shitty apartment. I don’t have anything to do with the AB Project, or the Nonary Game, or Akane Kurashiki. So…” Her voice trailed off. “So… why…?”

There was a long silence. Hannah sniffled a bit, and quickly wiped her eyes, but even so, the tears kept coming no matter how much she tried to dry them. The doctor’s hand had stopped writing, but he remained quiet for what seemed like an eternity. Then, he slowly placed his pen onto the desk and turned his chair towards her. She didn’t look up to meet his eyes, but his expression was grim and he appeared tired. His hands folded gingerly in his lap and he took a long, slow inhale before speaking. 

“I’m uncertain that the answer I can provide you will be satisfactory,” Zero began. “But in simplest terms, I can only say that I wished to protect you.”

The girl’s shoulders stiffened a bit. “Protect me?”

“You are correct that every person was brought here to serve a purpose. Of course, Phi and the younger version of myself were the main contenders of this project. Their involvement was inevitable. Clover and Tenmyouji were included because of their unique abilities as espers to access the fourth dimension. Alice, because of her connections to the SOIS and knowledge of how to deactivate the bombs placed by Dio. Dio, even if he was unaware, because of his involvement with Free the Soul and the facility attempting to shut down the AB Project. K — or Kyle, in this case — because I needed to make sure that someone would be able to take over my work in the event that something happened to me. And Luna, a GAULEM of my own creation, to observe the actions of the players and to steer them in the right direction. She was included to make sure the game ran smoothly. Every participant had a role to play.

“Now, you may have noticed that a couple participants were left out of my explanation. Quark, for instance, had no connection to the AB Project either, as you mentioned. Why was someone so young and innocent brought into such a cruel environment? Simple. He was brought along for Tenmyouji’s sake. And not only that, he volunteered to come willingly. If Quark had been abandoned on Earth, Tenmyouji certainly wouldn’t have been able to focus on the game. His judgment would have been clouded, and he wouldn’t have been in the proper mindset to play his role in the game. And that would have drastically skewed the results, don’t you think? Not only that, Quark would most likely have died, had he been left alone on a dying planet. He may have been taken into a shelter to protect him from the virus, but the odds would have been stacked against him. The likelihood he would’ve survived is close to zero. As such, he was brought alongside Tenmyouji, in order to increase the chance of success of the game, and in turn, the AB Project as a whole. Does that all make sense?”

Hannah had stood there silently, listening to him speak, but even after such a long-winded explanation, her question had yet to be answered. She understood all of what he’d said, but she still didn’t understand why she had also been included. “It makes sense, but you didn’t answer my question. That explains why Quark is here, and the others too, but you still haven’t told me why I’m here.”

“For the same reason.”

“What do you mean?”

Zero sighed and turned back to his desk, but he didn’t pick up the pen to continue his work. Instead, he gazed up at the wall in front of him, seemingly deep in thought. He opened his mouth to reply, but quickly closed it again. Hannah could see the wheels turning in his head, as if he were trying to come up with a better way of answering her in a manner she’d understand. After a few moments, he spoke.

“Do you remember what you were doing on December 25, 2028?”

The girl paused. “You mean the day I was kidnapped?”

“Yes.”

She frowned, thinking back to the day that started it all. “I was running late to class. I had stayed up late the night before, studying for a test, and I overslept. I finally made it to school, and was about to run to class, but I didn’t get the chance.” She remembered how terrified she’d been, and how she had tried to fight and scream for help, but to no avail. She had been knocked out with the white gas, just like the other participants, and when she woke up, she was in the AB Room. The memory still haunted her. 

“Correct. You were marked absent for that class, and nobody had heard from you for the rest of the day. Your parents called the school after you didn’t come home. It was Christmas, after all.”

Her lip curled and her eyebrows knitted together. “Did you— er… the other version of you, notice that I was gone from class that day?”

“Not in the moment, no,” he said frankly. “I must admit I wasn’t the most observant in my younger days.” He leaned back in his chair, keeping his gaze locked in front of him. “My past self realized it after the fact, but in retrospect, it was ultimately my fault that you were taken to begin with.”

“So then, what does that have to do with why I was forced to play the Nonary Game?”

“You were brought here for the same reason that Quark was. Quark needed to be here for Tenmyuoji’s sake, while you needed to be here for Sigma’s.” The man stopped for only a second before continuing. “Or, I suppose you could say it was for my younger self’s sake.”

“For your sake…?” Hannah could only stare at the old man, trying desperately to decipher what he was thinking or feeling. She was kidnapped and brought to this hellhole and forced to play a cruel death game… for Sigma? She couldn’t figure out what that was supposed to mean.

Zero turned to look back at her. “You still don’t understand? Sigma — my younger self — wouldn’t have been able to complete his mission without you here. You needed to be a part of the game in order for him to fully awaken his abilities and reach his full potential. It’s because of your presence in the game that he is able to jump through time as frequently, and as freely, as he can.”

“That doesn’t make any sense! Why would my being here affect his ability to travel through time? I don’t have anything to do with that, so why would I have changed anything?” the girl snapped at him. “Clearly, you knew he had the ability in the first place, right? So he would’ve figured it out just fine without me!”

“That isn’t true.”

“What?”

“You are correct that he has always had the potential to awaken this ability; I realized this over the course of my studies. With the help of Akane Kurashiki, I was able to fully research the power to jump through worlds and how I could use that ability to prevent the spread of Radical-6 and the antimatter explosions that would throw the Earth into chaos. I spent decades pouring myself into that research, so that I would be able to one day save the world. 

“But I realized something else during that time. Over the course of those forty-five years, as I got further and further into my research, I began to have visions of the past and of the future. Flashes of memories from timelines that I had not visited began to appear in my brain, and then disappear as quickly as they’d come. As I studied more, these short bursts of memories became more frequent and some were slightly more long-lasting than others. I had determined that these were glimpses of the different worlds that my younger self had traveled to. I made note of them whenever they appeared, writing down whatever information I could remember before the memory faded away. It wasn’t long before I began to notice a pattern.

“In many of the sporadic memories that surfaced, you were almost always present.”

Those words hit her like a truck. She wasn’t exactly sure why they made her chest feel so heavy, but Hannah couldn’t ignore the feeling of her heart dropping to the pit of her stomach. She couldn’t even tell what emotion the feeling represented. Without waiting for her reaction, Zero continued. 

“I wondered, at first, what made you so important, and extended my research to finding out whatever I could about you. I speculated that you might’ve had a connection to the espers who’d participated in the past Nonary Games, or that you had been involved with the SOIS alongside Alice and were seeking to take down the Myrmidons. I sorted through every possibility of why you had shown up in all of my past self’s memories despite not having known much about you beforehand. It was odd. No matter how hard I searched, I couldn’t find any important connections that would link you to the project in any way. From what I could tell, you were just an average college student, or you were when the two of us first met. As such, I brushed it aside and resumed the development of the AB Project. 

“The glimpses of other timelines continued as well, and I continued to make note of them. What intrigued me most was that, even though most of the memories I had received revolved around the Nonary Game and the future of the AB Project, there were few that didn’t seem to fit in anywhere with my plans. Visions of my life having taken a completely different path entirely, as if Radical-6 never existed. Memories from worlds where I had continued my college life, gotten married, and had children of my own. Memories that seem so foreign to me now after all these years, but even still, they were memories of a life that I never got to live.”

The old man stopped to exhale, an expression of what Hannah could only interpret as regret read in his eyes, even if the rest of his mannerisms seemed stoic. She debated if she should say something to prompt him to keep going, or if she should wait for him to continue on his own. She decided on the latter, although it didn’t take him long to recover.

“Regardless, it was at that point that I knew there had to be something important about you. And when I pieced together other fragments of memories I had received, I determined that it would be in my, or rather, his best interest to have you participate in the game. That was my reason.”

Hannah blinked. The sudden ending of his explanation gave her a sense of whiplash. After so much buildup, she’d expected more to the answer than just “you seemed important”. In a quiet voice, she asked, “That’s it?”

He raised an eyebrow at her question. “I feel that was a quite thorough explanation, wasn’t it?” The man sighed, “I expected you might not be happy with the answer, but I’m not sure what else there is for me to tell you. I hoped that much would suffice.”

She shook her head. “No, it doesn’t. Why did I show up in your past self’s memories in the first place? And what about that suddenly turned me from some invisible nobody in your college class to a special guest contestant in your fucked up game?”

“You tell me why,” he snapped back. The sudden change in his tone made her jump back a bit, as if she were being scolded, but she recovered quickly enough. “You spent a great deal of time with my younger self in this Nonary Game, didn’t you? So why is it, do you think, that you were such an important piece of this puzzle? You’re a smart girl. I’m sure you can figure that out.”

Hannah thought through the events of the game. Of course, she knew that she and Sigma had spent a lot of time together, and that her feelings for him had only grown over that time. She remembered what he had told her right before he jumped back to the past and her heart ached.

Sigma, when you go back… promise you won’t forget about me?

Come on, don’t talk like that. There’s no way I would forget. I’m going back to fix all of this so that we can all live a better, happier life. And then, I’m gonna take you out on a real date, okay?

She brought a limp hand to her chest and held it over her heart. Her fingers loosely gripped at the fabric of her shirt and her eyes stung once more. It pained her to think about the fact that he was gone, and that she wouldn’t get to see the happier future that he’d hoped for. Maybe in another timeline, he had fixed everything and saved the world. Maybe in that world, they were together right now, living a happy life just like he’d promised her. But even if that were the case, she wouldn’t know it. She was stuck here, in this reality, trapped in a high-tech space station on the moon with no means of escape. She’d never know how things might’ve turned out had everything been different.

“Do you get it now?” Zero’s voice broke the silence, and the slew of thoughts swimming in her head. She nodded slowly, but didn’t give any indication that she was satisfied with that outcome. “He cared about you, more than either of you realized.. Your presence in this Nonary Game was crucial because that was his strongest motivator. Because he had seen countless timelines, with thousands of different outcomes, he understood that this was the only path that he could take in order to protect you. And so, you were brought here, so he could awaken his power to its highest potential. All so he could keep you safe.”

Regardless of if she understood the reason or not, it didn’t fix the hole in her chest. “What am I supposed to do now…?” the girl muttered, her eyes stuck on the floor. Her voice was barely over a whisper, and her expression had grown dark. 

“That is up to you. Whether you want to live your life here or return back to Earth is not my decision to make.”

“Don’t you think it’s unfair…?”

“Hm?”

Her hands tightened into fists. “If your past self really cared so much about me, then why did he abandon me here? Even if he does stop the spread of Radical-6 and save the world or whatever, where does that leave us? All of us here, in this timeline, don’t get that luxury. We’re stuck here forever. We don’t get to go back and try again. We don’t get a do-over. If he knew that was the case, then why did he leave me here to suffer this hell by myself?”

Hannah felt like they were just talking in circles at this point, and it wouldn’t change anything to cry and complain about their situation, but she couldn’t help feeling lonely and helpless. She knew it was selfish, but after everything they’d been through, she just wanted Sigma back. Even if they were trapped in this facility forever, with no hope of returning to their homes on Earth, she thought that maybe it would be bearable if he were here with her. If Sigma had stayed behind, then she wouldn’t have to live with this gaping hole in her chest. Even if the situation were dire and desperate, at least then, she could lean on him and he would tell her that they’d get through it together. She pulled her shaking arms around herself in a last-ditch attempt to console herself. Just as she was about to see herself out of the office, to run and hide in a corner somewhere where no one would see her cry, Zero spoke up again. 

“Do you know why I created Kyle?” he asked. The question seemed to be out of nowhere, and Hannah shook her head, still unable to look at him through her tears. “Kyle Klim, as you were made aware, is a clone of my younger self. His purpose was to serve as my spare, had anything happened to me in the process of developing the AB Project. Of course, he is a clone, but I did raise the boy from childhood, so I suppose his personality may differ quite significantly from my own. But physically, and genetically, we are identical. 

“Kyle was brought into the Nonary Game as a back-up, had Akane ended up murdered by Dio. If that happened, he was to take her place as a participant in the game. There were many timelines where that did indeed happen, and the one you all referred to as “K” was actually Kyle; however, because of my past self’s jumps through time, he was able to prevent that outcome in this timeline, and Akane’s life was spared. Because of that, Akane continued to be a participant in the game, under the guise of “K”, and Kyle was set aside, almost like he was put into storage, in case we needed him.” Zero turned his chair to face the crying girl once again. “Now, in this timeline, where Akane remains alive, we didn’t need Kyle to act as her stand-in. In that case, we could have just brought him back behind-the-scenes, along with Lagomorph — that’s Zero Jr. to you all — in order to observe the game. But there was another reason that we kept him sleeping in the treatment pod. Do you know what that other reason is?”

Hannah wiped her eyes and brought her gaze up to meet his. “N-No… I don’t.”

“You see, I anticipated the results of this timeline. After all, it was exactly what I needed to happen in order for our plan to be successful. I knew that, even if Phi and myself were able to awaken their abilities and jump back to the designated date, that the rest of you would be stuck here. It was, unfortunately, a necessary sacrifice if the project was to succeed. I’m aware that it leaves the rest of you in an undesirable position, and that there’s no way you all would be content with that, but even so, we needed to proceed this way. I knew you, in particular, would be unhappy with this outcome, and so, I kept Kyle on the sidelines as a means of… atoning, in a way.”

“Atoning…?”

“I was always aware that once my younger self’s powers fully awakened that he would have to abandon this timeline, and when that happened, he and my current self would switch places. That’s why, after he made the jump, I appeared here. Akane briefly explained the process to you all in the garden, didn’t she? Once Sigma or Phi makes a jump to the past or future, their consciousness is swapped with the version of themselves that they are jumping to. I made the first jump, once the details of the AB Project were finalized, bringing my younger self here. He and I switched places, essentially. And once the time had come for him to jump back, he and I switched once again.”

“That part, I understand… mostly. But, how is it ‘atonement’ to include Kyle in all of this?”

“As I mentioned before, Kyle and I are genetically identical. While I understand that it isn’t quite the same, I had postulated that if Kyle were here, it would make losing Sigma easier on you.”

“What?” The girl froze, confusion plastered clearly on her face. “You… brought him here… for me?” 

“That was only a partial reason overall, but essentially, yes.”

Hannah took a moment to process the information he’d just hit her with. It felt like she’d been punched in the gut with a sack of bricks. “You…” The concept itself was so simple, but for some reason, his easy explanation didn’t make it any easier to swallow. “Did you think I would just be fine with anyone as long as he had your face?” The words were out before she could stop them.

He sighed. “No, I didn’t think you would be. But it was all I could do to cushion the blow, so to speak. I know that you’re far more faithful than that, and that you wouldn’t come to accept my gesture so easily. Still, it was the only solution I could come up with. You can take it or leave it, of course, I wouldn’t force you to go along with such an idea. I only wanted to provide the option.”

She didn’t even know what to say. While, yes, Kyle had Sigma’s face, she didn’t know anything about him. When she looked at Kyle, she was only reminded of the time she’d spent with Sigma. Even if they looked the same, she could never bring it in herself to leave behind her memories of Sigma. And even if she were willing to do so, would that even be something that Kyle would want? Or would he just be ordered by Zero to fall in love with her, even if he objected? She dismissed the thought with a brush of her hand. That wasn’t an option. To think that he had even considered that she would do such a thing felt wrong; it made her stomach turn. 

But even still, she couldn’t bring herself to be mad about the suggestion. The man sitting in front of her was Zero Sr, that was an undeniable fact, but he was still Sigma. He had been the mastermind of this entire Nonary Game, had kidnapped them all, and forced them to compete in a game that would put all of their lives at risk. She should hate him. She should be enraged that this bastard was just living among them now as if nothing had happened. But despite all of that, she couldn’t feel angry; she simply felt defeated. Despite everything he had put them through, put her through, this old man was Sigma. And he had taken the time to not only figure out the best way to keep her safe through the literal end of the world, but also implemented a solution that would, in theory, soothe her loneliness and make living in this wasteland for the rest of her life somewhat bearable. He didn’t have to do so, but he did, out of consideration for her feelings, because he was Sigma. 

Even if this wasn’t the same Sigma she’d met in passing so many years ago on her college campus and since felt her heart race at the sight of him.

Even if this wasn’t the same Sigma that sat in front of her in class and got in trouble for cracking stupid jokes to his friend next to him while she doodled silly little love notes and daydreamed about what it’d be like if he asked her on a date.

Even if this wasn’t the same Sigma who she recognized immediately upon waking up in this horrible Nonary Game and that she’d been paired up with to solve and escape multiple locked room puzzles with. 

Even if this wasn’t the same Sigma who had made her heart shoot out of her chest when he kissed her in the AB Room and swore to her that he would never let anything happen to her, no matter what.

Even if this man wasn’t the same Sigma that she’d gotten to know over all this time, he still cared enough about her to do whatever he could to make sure she would be comfortable with this life. How could she be angry about that? 

She couldn’t find it in herself to say anything more to him. The girl quietly stumbled towards the door and placed a weak hand against the cold, metal frame. Her body felt drained, and it hit her that she hadn’t slept for over 36 hours. The adrenaline of the game had kept her going until now, but now that the game was over, all of her emotions, as well as her lack of sleep, caught up to her and weighed on her limbs like sandbags. She didn’t have the energy to argue or process any new information anymore. 

Right now, all she wanted to do was rest. 

And maybe, just maybe, she wouldn’t wake up.