#and perhaps I should simply go home and take a nap

[mrbonsaibones]

also tilting your face generally downward helps. but only if you are standing upright for some reason. spicy foods help as well along with any sort of anti-swelling medication.

I know this because I get sick so fucking often its awful.

IM GOING TO PUNCH A HOLE IN SOMEONES CAR

[tbaluver]

Hewoo! I'm so so soo weak for your family fluff headcanons aaa can I request a scenario of the little kiddies of LADS men sneaking off with reader's phone and made a video call to their papas because they've been away from home and/or simply making a silly video call to brighten up their papas day? 🥺🫶🏻

˗ˏˋ Incoming Baby Call!˗- The Love And DeepSpace Men

featuring ( in order ): xavier, zayne, rafayel, sylus, caleb genre: fluff fluff summary: your child(ren) sneak off with your phone to call them a/n: hihi anonnie! ⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡ WAHHH THANK YOU MWAH i love writing them as dads like i fear i want no husband as long as its them .·°՞(¯□¯)՞°·. this one is not beta read so i apologize for any mistakes! i have so much wip of them as papas that i hope to post soon <3 anyways i hope i did this request with justice ( ◡̀_◡́)ᕤ i hope you enjoy reading! (∩˃o˂∩)♡ any likes and reblogs are always appreciated! enjoy!

⋆｡‧˚ʚ♡ɞ˚‧｡⋆

Xavier:

Xavier was exhausted and hungry, his mission dragging on longer than he’d hoped. He couldn’t wait to get back home, pick up some dinner for his family, and finally relax. He couldn’t wait to wrap up this mission and be back home with you both.

Just as he refocused on tracking the wanderer, a soft ringtone caught his attention. Without a second to spare, he answered once he saw your name flash through his screen. But instead of you, his little boy appeared instead holding his plushie-shaped cookie.

“Hi, little buddy.” Xavier smiles softly. His son, as usual, flashes a cute peace sign in front of the camera. It was a little habit he did whenever there was a camera around and it’s a habit that you both hope he’d never outgrow.

“Papa,” his son whispers, holding up the tiny plushie to the screen as if he were offering it to him.

“Are you offering me a bite?” Xavier asked, playing along as his son nodded eagerly. “Thank you. It tastes great,” He adds, pretending to chew thoughtfully and giving a mock critic nod. “I think we should get more of these.”

It warmed Xavier’s heart to see his son share food even through the screen. Perhaps it’s something he’d watched you both share meals often and picked up on it. “Don’t forget to share with mommy too, okay?” His son nods enthusiastically, his chubby cheeks puffing out. “By the way, where is mommy?”

His son placed a finger to his lips to quietly shush him as he tilted the phone to the side, revealing you peacefully napping close to him, a plushie tucked under your arm. Xavier chuckles softly, not wanting to disturb you.

“Alright, let’s keep it quiet so we don’t wake mommy up okay?” He whispers, “If you take a nap now, I’ll be home before you know it.”

His son nods sleepily as he snuggles up closer to you. Even in such a small and simple moment, Xavier couldn't help but feel grateful. It reminded him just how lucky he was to come home to a family with so much love.

Zayne:

It was another busy night at the hospital. Multiple reports to go through before checking up on several other patients who are waking from surgery in a few hours. Another stressful night, but he’ll manage like he always does. Just as he was about to settle down in his seat, he checked his phone.

11 missed calls

Concern floods his body as he immediately calls you, only to find your baby daughter on the other end. “Papa!” She coos, her sweet little smile makes him feel slightly relieved. 

“Hi my love, where is Mommy?”

“in the bafroom,” She replies casually, his heart easing. That would be correct, her snowman pajamas tell him that you both should be getting ready for bed right about now. “Papa! I miss you..Are you going home now?” She pouts into the screen and Zayne only chuckles into the camera, adjusting his glasses. 

“Not yet my love.” He says softly, her pout deepening further. “I’m sorry but it seems that I’ll be here for a while.” His heart twinges at his own words. As much as he hates to disappoint his daughter, he knows this is a part of his job, something she’ll understand better as she grows older.

“But whyyy? Can’t you work here instead? You look tired papa.” She whines with pleading eyes, hoping this time she can make her father come home early again. 

He chuckles, he must’ve heard you both talking about his reports in the morning and mistaken it for something like homework. “Not tonight my love. Unfortunately, some patients need me right now”

She pouts, her head turning away, and he can’t help but feel worried. Did he upset her? He would hope not, he would want her to sleep well tonight. Maybe he should come home early or he can make it up by getting secret sweet treats together again.

“Papa, how about I read you a book then?” She asks, breaking his thoughts. She held up a book that she’s been practicing with. Maybe she noticed the bags under his eyes from the lack of sleep and is trying to cheer him up in her own little way.

“Of course,” A smile tugs on his lips as he adjusts the phone so he can hear her better. She opens the book, sounding out each word with Zayne occasionally helping her with the tricky ones. His heart swells as he watches her, she’s already growing up so fast.

She stops reading when he hears your voice in the background, asking her what she’s doing. “I’m talking to papa, mommy! I’m reading to him right now” You chuckle, thinking she was talking to a picture of him on your phone again but don’t realize she’d manage to call him this time.

“Sorry, Zayne! We can call you another time!” You quickly grab the phone to see your handsome husband’s face on the screen. You know at this hour isn’t his break but before you can say anything more, Zayne gently cuts you off.

“No, it’s fine. Stay, please. Let her keep going. I haven’t taken my break yet anyway.” His voice softens with a chuckle when he hears her cheer in the background. You smile, adjusting the phone and settling her on your lap. Together, you both help her continue reading her story before you say your goodnight’s.

Rafayel:

Boredom isn’t even the word to cover it. Rafayel felt tired, drained, from the endless back and forth conversations with multiple collectors, sucking away all the energy from him. The more he conversed with them, the heavier his eyelids became. He wanted to yawn, to make it clear how uninterested he was in their never-ending rambling. However, if he did, Thomas would surely give him an earful later or worse another due date for another art project.

He glanced around the room, jealousy gnawing at him as he watched a group of an artist's family admiring art together. He wished you and the kids were here with him. He would’ve had you here if he hadn’t procrastinated to accept the invite, the room’s capacity was already maxed out and the lists of invites were soon closed.

As the collector rambled on, Rafayel could feel his eyes slowly drooping, surely soon enough the glass in his hands would drop. Luckily, just when he thought he might lose the last bit of focus, his phone ringing caught his and the collector’s attention.

“Excuse me, it’s my wife.” The collector nodded, walking away, giving Rafayel the perfect opportunity to slip into a private bathroom.

As soon as he answered the phone, his heart lifted. On the screen were his little bundles of joy. “My little glubs!” A wide grin spread across his face, his eyes lighting up as the kids' tiny smiles beamed back at him. “What are you guys doing? Where’s Mama?" He asks, tilting his head, hoping to catch a glimpse of you through the screen.

“She’s cleaning!” One of the kids chirped, earning a playful shushing from her siblings. Rafayel chuckled, they had definitely taken your phone again.

“Papa, can you come home now? We’re bored and we miss you!” Their pleas echoed from each other, hoping he could understand that they really missed him. His heart ached, he could practically feel their tiny arms reaching out to him through the phone.

“Just a couple more hours and I’ll be home, I promise. Then we can play all night long, yeah?” He raised a brow, tilting his head.

“No Daddy! We made something for you!” One of them piped up, excitement bubbling in his voice.

“Yeah! We made our own art...ex..exa? examission?” The word came out cute, and Rafayel’s sure he meant to say was exhibition. Rafayel didn’t know yet but they had planned to surprise him with their own little art show that you were secretly setting up in the living room. You figured it would be a good idea to cheer him up after a long day without his family. However, you didn’t know the kids would take your phone while they ran off to go ‘play’.

“Papa, you have to come soon or else we’ll close!” His youngest insisted. Raf smiled, realizing this was one of their clever little ways of getting him to hurry home before they had to go to bed.

He paused for a moment, tapping his finger on his chin. His kids waited in anticipation, a playful grin spreading across his face as an idea sparked in his head. “Got it!” He said, snapping his fingers. “I’m coming home now!” The sounds of cheerful giggles erupted on the other side of the line.

Rafayel quickly exits out of the bathroom, Thomas follows behind closely while he asks where does he thinks he's going. Rafayel mentioned briefly that he had another art exhibition that was way more important than this one, making it enough to leave Thomas confused and stop in his tracks.

Sylus:

There’s nothing more infuriating when the tradesmen don’t want to cooperate even if they’re tied up. They whine and complain but the moment they realize no one’s listening, they cry out for help. But before their pleas can even form properly, Sylus silences them with a single look, fear flickering across their faces.

“One moment,” He says, raising an index finger to quiet them. Everyone's attention shifts to his ringtone, a melody of a childish tune unexpectedly playing from the speakers. The tradesmen freeze, exchanging confused glances at each other.

“Bossman said one moment!”

“Yeah, one moment!” Luke and Kieran chimed in, nodding as they let Sylus step away

Sylus taps the green button, his brow furrowing as he sees your name and contact photo flash on the screen. A wave of concern washes over him, did something happen while he was away? But that worry disappears when he sees his daughter's bright, familiar face light up on his screen.

“Daddy!! Hi daddy hiii!!” She chirps, waving excitedly at him.

“Hello, my little dove. What’s going on? Are you and Mommy alright?” He feels the tension in his shoulders ease when she nods rapidly, her little pigtails that you tied bouncing up and down. His heart melted at the sight of her, she looked almost identical to him, with white hair and red eyes yet her personality reminded him so much of yours.

“She’s in the kitchen,” She whispers as if she was sharing a secret. He assumes that she’s taken your phone in secret again. It should be fine, he has taught her to use the phone for emergencies. This wouldn’t count as much as one but he needed to take a step away before he caused one. “Papa, are you okay?” Sylus pauses, taken aback by just how perceptive she is. Perhaps it’s the vein on his forehead that’s threatening to pop. She’s sharp just like her mother.

He exhales deeply. “It’s just a rough night sweetie.”

Her brows furrowed with concern and her pout deepened, pitying her father. How she wished to hug him through the screen. “Papa, how about I sing you a song!” She offers, earning another soft chuckle from Sylus. He always sings her to sleep or cheers her up with a song so it’s no wonder she picked up the habit from him.

“Go ahead, my dove.”

Her vocals were very much like her father’s. When she spots his grin, her confidence grows, making her sing even louder.

“Make it stop!” One of the tradesmen suddenly screams, his voice cracking in desperation. “I’ll give you whatever you want- just please make it stop!” He cries, making Sylus’s ears twitch, the vein in his forehead threatening to make a reappearance.

“Papa, what was that?” She asks, tilting her head innocently.

“I think it was your audience dear. They seemed to enjoy your performance.” Her face immediately lights up, letting out a gleeful cheer.

“Can you give me a moment sweetie? I’ll be right back,” He quickly mutes the call and shuts off the camera. Quickly he extracts the necessary information before the men are lifted from the ground, their feet dangling helplessly in the air as red tendrils swirl around them. Despite their begs and cries, they vanished into thin air, leaving the room finally quiet.

With the problem dealt with, Sylus flips his phone back on. He hears your daughter’s cheerful greeting from the other end of the call, her innocent enthusiasm makes his smile return.

“Looks like you brought some good luck little dove. It seems we’re heading home early tonight.”

Caleb:

It had been a long, grueling shift in the skies. Nothing but endless stretches of blue with a few clouds to break the dullness. The minutes dragged by, each one feeling longer than the last. Caleb sat in his cockpit, his elbow propped on the console and his chin resting on his hand as he gazed at his screen. He could handle a shift here and there but ever since your family has grown, miles away from everything he cared about, it weighed on him.

That’s when a familiar, cheerful ringtone broke through the silence.

Caleb immediately perks up, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips when he sees your name and a photo of you flash on the screen. However it wasn’t you on the other end, it was someone much smaller and cuter and very much identical to him.

“Dad, dad!” The little boy grins ear to ear. Caleb couldn’t help but grin back, the weariness from his shift fading away.

“Hey there, squirt! What’s up?” Nothing seems to be wrong as he reads from his son’s facial expression. “Where’s mom? Everything alright there?” But of course, he just had to make sure. He would not hesitate to fly this ship back around.

“Yeah! She’s in the kitchen cleaning up. I ate all my vegetables just like you said!” His son beamed, making Caleb chuckle, shaking his head fondly.

“Good job! Don’t forget to thank your mom too, alright?” Your son nods enthusiastically, his eyes sparkling but Caleb couldn’t figure out why he could be so hyper until he held up a thick book about the Jurassic era.

“Dad, I finished this whole book!” He said, flipping through the pages to show his dad the pictures. “Did you know black beetles are one of the only creatures that survived the Jurassic era? We should go find some!” His tiny finger lands on a picture of a massive beetle, his eyes wide with awe.

Caleb chuckled, his heart melting at how much his son was almost like him. “That’s awesome buddy. You know, I think-”

Before Caleb could say anything more, a soldier by his door interrupts him. “Colonel, sir-!” Caleb’s fingers twitched, slamming the door shut before he finished his sentence. 

He returned his attention to his son, letting him continue his chatter about dinosaurs, and beetles while Caleb would chime in, sharing a little fact or story like how he used to tell you when you were walking on your way to school or just to help you fall asleep at nights.

Time seemed to slip away as Caleb listened to his son’s excited ramblings, the hours of his shift seemed to go faster than he realized. Even though he still had a while to go, hearing the voice of his family was enough to keep him going.

ʚɞ cr. for the divider @/ cafekitsune

ʚɞ my other works if you want to check it out! Love And DeepSpace Masterlist, Pg. 2

[clockwayswrites]

Birb.... back?! Part 36

masterpost am sick, be kind

finally unstuck this!

By later afternoon, Bruce was officially worried. Even with Lian put down for a nap, Danny was no where to be found. Bruce had been telling himself that Danny was making himself scarce because of the active toddler, but even that felt flimsy with how fondly Danny spoke of his own niece. Though of course, that was without wings in play.

Maybe Danny was trying to avoid having his feathers pulled on.

Maybe Danny was afraid of himself.

“Alfred, have you seen Danny?”

“No sir,” Alfred said as he looked up from the dinner he was preparing. “Perhaps he went with Master Damian to help at the animal shelter?”

Bruce shook his head. “I’ve already checked. Tim, Cass, and Steph are still out. Duke just got home. Dick went with Jason, much to Jason’s annoyance.”

“He did remind to text me as much, as they may not make it back for dinner,” Alfred said. “But it remains that I have not seen Danny. He never came round for lunch, either.”

Bruce gave a little hum to show he heard the concerning news. That was far more than simply avoiding a toddler. He went over to the phone in the kitchen that Alfred still insisted on having and pulled down the false panel next to it. On the revealed screen, Bruce went through the biometric log in process: meant to be as quick as it was secure. As soon as he was in the system, Bruce activated the infared camera for the Manor and surrounding land.

Him and Alfred in the kitchen, Lian in her room, various pets, Duke in the study having just come up from the Cave…

There.

Bruce closed out of the system, made sure it was all the way out, and closed the panel up before he headed off. The only other human sized signature (and at least it was human sized), was in the guest wing. It was tucked away in some shuttered an unused lounge. It had to be Danny.

Not wanting to startle Danny, Bruce gave a soft knock on the door before he opened it and slipped inside. The room was still in that way only a room that hadn’t been used for decades could get. The furniture was cloth covered, the valuable and useful items all moved to other rooms where they would be looked after. The rest was just there like ghosts of Wayne Manor past. The only disturbance to the room was the drape of the window seat, just barely pulled back where it was pushed open by Danny’s knees.

“Danny?” Bruce asked. He worked to cross the room as carefully as Danny had. Not a cloth was disturbed.

“Do you think Alfred would have the time to drive me back to my apartment before dinner?” Danny asked. His voice calm in a way that felt detached. He didn’t look towards Bruce. “I should… get back. I should check on my plants. I should do some work. I’m sure that in this case Lucius would understand me keeping some awkward hours, but I should get back to it.”

Bruce continued to slowly cross the room. He sat against the arm of a cloth covered chair across from the window. Danny was back lit by the light, making him hard for Bruce to see. “I’m sure Lucius would understand you taking more time if you need it.”

Danny just gave a soft hum.

“If you really want to go back home, I can drive you back,” Bruce said. “Though I assure you that there’s no rush to leave from our side.”

“You’re supposed to be spending time with your granddaughter,” Danny said. There was an off warble to his words.

“She’s napping and will be out for another hour at least. Structured rest time is apparently very important for toddlers,” Bruce said, still amused at the lecture that he had gotten from Jason on it all.

“Structure helps them know what to expect so that they can better cope with the day at an age where they are constantly experiencing new events and sensations,” Danny parroted back. Apparently he had some lectures of his own.

“Your sister and niece,” Bruce said with a little nod. “You can of course do whatever you feel most comfortable doing, but I did a bit expect to see you around with Lian some today.”

That was the wrong thing to say, by Danny’s slight flinch, or maybe the right thing to say for getting to the bottom of what was wrong.

Danny wrung his hands. “I didn’t… Jason didn’t…”

When Danny seemed unable (or at least unwilling) to continue, Bruce reached out his hand. It felt like reaching across a divide. It was a relief when Danny reached back.

Gently, Bruce curled his hand around Danny’s, mindful of the overly sharp fingernails. He brushed his thumb over the dusting of fine feathers there. A thousand variables spun through his mind about why Danny was continuing to change now and what could be done about it.

“Jason is worried I could hurt Lian,” Danny explained in that same detached voice. “And when this happens… it’s easy to see why he fears that.”

“That’s less about you, I think, and more about things that Jason fears most,” Bruce said. “When Jason… when he was dead to us, it was because I failed him.”

“Bruce—”

“No, it’s true,” Bruce said with a shake of his head. “I was trying to protect him. Protect him from the world and the ugliness of things and his own anger… but I did it poorly. I didn’t know I needed to explain myself or where to even start. And that led into him trying to find his birth mother and—well, everything else. Lian may not be his, not yet, but it’s really just time. And I think that Jason’s biggest fear is to fail to protect her. It makes him overly cautious.”

“But is he wrong?” Danny asked.

“Yes,” Bruce answered without hesitation.

Danny snorted. “Such easy belief.”

“When did this happen?” Bruce asked. He ran his fingers over Danny’s taloned fingers to make it clear what he was asking.

“…when I got how afraid of me Jason was.”

Bruce “When you saw yourself as a monster because of it. Perhaps a bit of a self fulfilling prophecy then?”

Danny gave a tired little snort. “You and my doctor would have a grand time talking about the psychology of this whole change.”

“Well, I’m a fan of psychology. It helped save my relationships with my family,” Bruce said. “But for what it’s worth? This? Your hands? That doesn’t make you a monster.”

“Doesn’t it?” Danny asked.

“No,” Bruce said before he brought the hand up to press a kiss to it. “Now, if you really want to go home, I’ll take you, but don’t go because you’re running.”

Danny gave an over the top sigh. “No?”

“No,” Bruce said with a little smile.

“Okay. I’ll stay at least through the night,” Danny agreed, “but I do think that I should go back tomorrow. I should check on my plants, check on work, take some time to just… think.”

“That sounds like a much better plan. As does getting out of this room.” Bruce stood, Danny’s hand still in his. “Alfred would hate to know that you were in a room that wasn’t properly set up.”

“Oh, well, for Alfred then,” Danny said as he stood and let Bruce lead him from the gloomy room.

“Of course, for Alfred.”

[it-happened-one-fic]

Gluttony - Leona

Author Notes: It was actually really difficult to choose what I was going to post this week. But I've been a little busy lately, so I finally just chose this one rather than working on polishing some of my other fics. I wrote this one to the song "Too Sweet" by Hozier and that most certainly showed in the writing. With that said though, I'm pretty pleased with how this fic turned out. As per usual, reader is gender-neutral. I hope you enjoy!

Type: Gender neutral reader/ fluff/ some angst with comfort/ romance implied/ some pining/ sfw

Word count: 1528

Leona opened his eyes groggily, a frown on his face, as soon as the sun shone down through the leaves of the tree that hung over him, briefly blinding him before he sat up.

A hum from his left had his ears twitching before he twisted to see you lying right by his side. A slight smile on your face as the shadows of the leaves swayed across your form, and he felt his eyebrows raise.

He wasn’t particularly surprised to see you, though he knew the same couldn’t be said for anyone who might have seen you here.

Leona was no fool. He knew that you and him were pretty much perfect opposites. That’s why everyone always looked so confused when you were walking along beside him. Chattering away with a happy expression or teasing him about something that had recently gone in a way he hadn’t planned for it to.

Leona was the hated second prince. It was his burden, and it was one he’d carried his entire life. It was nothing new.

He was bitter, unpleasant, and something that people preferred to avoid either out of fear or powerful levels of distaste.

And then there was you. Sweet and far more optimistic than he thought he could ever be. And perhaps more interestingly, you were no fool. You knew everything wasn’t flowers and dreams. How could you not when you lived in a place like Ramshackle dorm and didn’t even have a way to get home? 

You were seemingly trapped in a world that wasn’t your own, but you didn’t let that stop you. Instead, you just keep going with your head held high, a smile on your face, and a laugh on your lips as you shrugged it off. It was admirable.

But it also simply wasn’t him. And that was something he knew perfectly well.

That simple fact was also the exact reason your classmates would find it so odd to see you slumbering here by his side and not somewhere else with someone who was a better match for your sweet disposition.

Leona leaned forward, propping his head on his chin as he looked down at where you slept by his side. You’d come here to study in the botanical garden while he’d slumbered next to you. It was something you often did, though he couldn’t fathom why.

It was almost like you either wanted the company or didn’t want him to be lonely. Either of which was ridiculous, since he could think of plenty of people who’d want to be your study buddy, and he certainly didn't want company for his naps.

But then, Leona also didn’t mind your presence, though he had his own reasons for not running you off.

Leona tilted his head slightly, sighing at the sight of you, before pulling the book whose corner was jabbing into your side out of your hands and setting it off to the side where you’d quickly find it after waking up.

He idly scanned the area, half rolling his eyes as he confirmed that your feline companion was nowhere to be seen.

Grim had no doubt long since abandoned you in favor of avoiding anything even close to work.

As for you, Leona didn’t know if you were foolish or bold to have fallen asleep right next to him with no one around to protect you. But here you were curled up at his side, as if he weren’t someone who could easily harm you and were instead someone who would take care of you should you need it.

Which wasn’t something he could really deny to himself, but you didn’t need to know that.

After all, you’d seen him when he’d overblotted and you knew he wasn’t a good person. That should have been enough to send you scrambling to get away from him. But instead, here you were. 

And it was ridiculous.

It was true that it might have taken Jack a little while to realize that Leona wasn’t someone he needed to look up to, but Leona’s actions at the Spelldrive competition had cleared up Jack’s misunderstandings about him. 

Ruggie had always known what sort of person Leona was. It was one of the reasons he hung around. After all, there was safety in sticking close to people like Leona, so long as you remembered what they were truly like.

Both realized, for better or worse, that Leona was not a misunderstood individual who was secretly good. He was jaded, always beaten by others, and essentially worthless.

But then there was you, who was seemingly unbothered by any of this. 

And it wasn’t even like you didn’t believe Leona’s flaws existed; he could work with that. Instead, it was almost like you didn’t care. Like you didn’t really expect him to change outside of your occasional prodding for him to take better care of himself.

You saw his flaws—that much he knew from the times you had bickered with him over something—but you just seemed to accept them. The same way you just seemed to accept other people’s flaws as something that was just a part of them. Only ever really scolding others, or even Leona himself, when their actions either harmed themselves or others.

And that's how Leona knew you were simply too sweet for him. Too sweet for him to endure being near, but simultaneously too sweet for him to turn away.

It was just another show of how worthless he was at anything he tried to do and how little his own efforts mattered. He could try to push you away, but he couldn’t ever stop himself from clinging to you. 

As if you were one of the last sweet bits of his otherwise bitter life. A potent method of making everything else seem to fall away and be ignored so long as he just gets a fleeting taste of that kindness.

And Leona had tried to ignore you, but it was somehow impossible, even when he knew that being close to him could easily taint that sweetness of yours and turn it into a bitterness more like his.

But Leona also knew that you and him were all but opposites, and that was probably where the attraction of being near you lay.

Though that realization did nothing to lessen that attraction, no matter how frustrating it might be.

You shifted, letting out some sort of groggy sound and causing him to snort in amusement at your lethargic movements that had you shifting closer to him as if you craved his warmth. Coming closer to him instead of distancing yourself like you should.

It was ridiculous, watching you now, to think that you’d somehow bested him in the past. But you had. You’d beaten him as well as numerous others at their own game. Making them look like fools, as you seemed to change things simply by existing.

And maybe you did. After all, you weren’t of this world. And perhaps that was why it was so hard for him to detach himself from you.

Your eyes fluttered open, and you twisted to look up at the lion beastman, who didn’t even bother hiding his amusement as you blinked up at him before groggily sitting up, “What time is it?”

Leona glanced around, his ears twitching slightly as he listened to the distant sounds of students chattering as they left their club areas before he looked back your way, “Time to be getting back to the dorms. Club practice has already let out.”

You nodded, not looking terribly surprised and seemingly resigned to having lost the rest of your study period.

“Have you seen Grim?” You frowned lightly as you glanced around, and Leona snorted, leaning back and relaxing once more against the ground, lazily watching you as you collected your books.

“Nope,” At the single word you glanced over at him with raised eyebrows that almost made him want to take back all the previous thoughts he’d had about you being sweet.

But then that tiny bit of bite you had to you only ever seemed to emphasize your sweetness. It was what kept you interesting and at odds with the fools at RSA.

Because, unlike them, you managed to have a certain degree of cunning even with your sweetness. After all, he hadn’t been lying that day when he’d told Azul that you were far more dastardly than the scheming cephalo-punk was.

That was probably another reason why Leona had given up on pushing you away and had even come to expect your presence. He was a glutton for punishment, and with you being a villain that was sweet enough to even catch him unawares, you were certainly enough to keep him on his toes. 

His gaze held yours even as he felt yet another chip in the wall of his defenses fall away, despite the fact that he’d always maintained these walls around himself.

He may not want to let you in, but you really were too sweet for him, and it was reaching the point that Leona was becoming more and more willing to let himself give into his gluttony.

[bwobgames]

She remembers the first time she met Nina.

It was when He took her home for the first time.

They had mistook the deadline for an assignment, and they had to rush part of a project in very little time. Seeing as He lived closer, they made a run for it.

“I should still have an unopened pack of energy drinks and enough coffee for 20 cups so we might just make it”

“Leave that for later, start planning the introduction!”

“This is gonna be worse than my metroid run”

He unlocks his door at record speed, because of course he does.

“I'll get the things I printed. You get settled”

“Alright, grab me a-”

There is a woman.

There is a sleeping woman at the table.

“...There's a really bad intruder at your house.”

“WHAT?!”

He runs over, somehow not dropping any of the papers he messily put together.

“Agh, you scared me for nothing, grab these”

“Eugene who is this.”

Actually, she can recognize her a little. She has seen her talking to him on campus sometimes. New roommate?

“It's Nina. World's number one champion at giving bad first impressions. Hey, wake up”

“Noooo”

“We have visitors”

“awawhat?!”

While that is an expression Marigold could never see on Eugene, somehow this girl looks like him.

She connects the dots

“Your sister?”

“Obviously. Oh, wait. I didn't tell you before?”

“Whoops. Mistake. I'm a bit too used to people seeing us as a pair”

“Excuse me! Are you Miss Marigold? I've been told wonderful things about you! It's a pleasure!”

“Uh. Likewise”

She offers a cold handshake.

At the time, she couldn't understand how those two were in any way related. And her grumpiness at the time didn't help.

How could a man as hardworking as Eugene have a sister who simply decides to take a nap on a table?

Then she found out Nina's studying to become a teacher. In this economy.

Does she have any ambition? Any sense of responsibility? Or is she planning on mooching off Eugene's career?

Nina is everything her parents warned her about.

She helped in keeping them awake that night, bringing drinks and making noise, but due to their busy work they didn't notice.

Of course, as her friendship with Him started to develop, Marigold found it beneficial to befriend his sister. Perhaps befriend is too much. She is now colleagues with his friend's sister.

But that changed the day of her birthday.

They were out of a hard test, going for a walk in the city.

“Ok, I calculated everything and even if I completely fail I still pass, so it's fine!”

“There's no way you failed, you're awesome!”

Marigold is aware that Arnold is only befriending Kevin for his parents connection to the wine industry. And Kevin is in no way worried about his grades because he's aware his parents could sue the teacher easily. Again.

Now Ashley is going to pipe in with something about celebrating, as she has no cares in the world. She is married after all.

“We should celebrate that it's finally over!”

“Yeah!”

This is a great opportunity for Mari for more networking. If she can get them talking about other friends she'll get a bigger network.

Maybe if she gets them a little drunk…

“Wait, Marigold, isn't it your birthday today?”

Oh. Surprise Kevin interjection.

“Oh, I forgot about it”

“We were so busy studying, it completely flew over our heads”

And here's a wildcard, Eugene Coli. Someone with a name like that clearly wasn't a wanted pregnancy.

They are similar, in a way. They are both ambitious, they both need to work their way to the top. They both know what's right.

She can see potential in him. She can see a future where they are strong, on top.

She could use him.

And as she has found out in drunken stupors, he might enjoy it!

They pass a toy shop.

“What about something from here? For the birthday girl? Might make you feel younger”

Well now that's just rude. A lot of her male classmates are still not used to dealing with ladies.

“What will I get from that? An useless thing to gather dust in my room? Please, if I wanted that I would get a Philosophy degree”

It makes everyone laugh, as she foresaw. Thus redirecting their rude comments somewhere else.

A lady cannot be rude. And an entrepreneur cannot risk losing connections.

This is the correct way.

There are many contradictions in her head. She ignores them.

“Let's do a double celebration then, for us and Marigold. Oh! I want pizza!”

.

.

.

.

.

When all her classes are finally over for the day, Nina of all people asks for help retrieving something she forgot in a locker.

Why couldn't she bother someone else was a mystery, but Marigold needs the Coli connection anyways.

She wonders if it's really worth it, it's not like he talks much about his sister anyways. Maybe they grew separately.

But while the data is not clear, she'll go with her.

The weather was lovely.

<PREV START NEXT>

[reverse1999fics]

Hallo! I not sure request is open if is not feel free to decline this sorry! If is alright could i request 6 and medicine pocket separately with a shy and timid s/o who worries a lot and hides behind them doesn’t have any friends but likes to just be by their side most of the time and clings to them? Hope you have a nice day!

Woohoo! Back on that grind and cranking out requests!! They are open btw!!

Please forgive me if either of them are a little ooc! I don't have MP and I skipped through the story so I don't entirely know 6's personality all that well!!

Medicine Pocket & 6 w/a Timid/Shy S/O (separate)

Medicine Pocket is someone with a very flamboyant personality, always being able to speak their mind. They never quite understood why or how you could be so timid, but that didn't stop them from loving you all the same.

Their tall physic let off an intimidating aura to those who didn't know them properly, but to you it was a source of comfort. Their height makes it easy for you to hide behind, holding their hand or a part of their coat and trailing behind them like a child would play follow the leader. Of course Medicine Pocket had no issue with this, even taking pride in how safe you'd feel around them and only them.

No matter that you don't have many friends, neither do they due to how... Different they are to others, all they need is to be in your company they say. Others were frustrating and didn't understand what they were trying to say, what they meant, but you did. You always understood their words and actions, so you were the only person they truly wanted to be around.

Clingy? You? Clearly you've never met them because goodness only knows how much they love to be around you. Even if it were you just simply being in the same room as them, they want to be near you. You know them better than anyone else, understand their weird antics and never judge them for how they acted or what they did. That was something they held close to their heart, right next to you, so of course your affection is needed on a daily basis! Sit next to them while they work on projects or go through paperwork, lay your head on their shoulder, read a book on the couch they moved in the room just for you, take a nice nap, sit on their lap, let them sit on your lap! Anything, as long as you were with them.

6 is a person driven to perfection when it comes to his work, someone strict with his rules and follows them all to a T. You, are a slight exception though. Oh how adorable you are to him, holding onto his sash while standing behind him, cowering from the other numbers like a little kitten. He had a soft spot for you, that much was clear to everyone

Being of high status on the island, he was a busy person, usually so busy he comes off as a recluse. But never was he too busy to ignore you even for a moment. Come into his arms after a long day of interacting with people, sit in his lap and rest to regain your social battery while he works on equations and problem solving. Your battery recharges just as much as his does, so let him rest his head on yours for a moment but don't question his closed eyes. He's just letting them rest for a moment.

You need not worry about not having many friends, he wouldn't say he has many either, if any at all. You are his one and only, why pay attention to others when he has you to keep him company? He'd rather stay home with you by his side with a good book of philosophy rather than go out with others. His robes will keep you warm, so snuggle up to his side and read along with him if you do so please.

His personality severely contradicts your own, having a more serious and stern personality that goes against your timid one, but that never stops him from loving you all the same. Should the two of you be away from each other he'll leave a piece of him with you, perhaps something on his person he wears often, or maybe a book he knows you'd like. When he is with you he'll never mind you grabbing a hold of his hand, even when others are around. He finds it adorable how you seem to try and melt into his arm as you hold onto it while others are around and chatting.

[kkami-writes]

hybrid hearts ━ chapter two. wc. 2.1k

It’s early morning when you wake up, the sun just starting to rise and rays of sunlight begin to peak in through the curtains. Your eyes flutter open, taking a few seconds to let your brain fully wake up. When you glance over to your left you’re not all that surprised to find a boy in your bed. Well, that’s only partly true as you didn’t know the gender of the ferret from yesterday but you knew that the boy next to you had indeed been the animal from yesterday. It wasn’t hard to tell, what with the small white ears on top of his head or the distinct beauty mark under his eye that had been visible in his domestic form.

Perhaps you should feel shocked or even mad that he had decided to sleep in your bed while as a human but you find yourself not really caring. Instead you’re rather happy that he had finally decided to show his face after keeping you in suspense yesterday, staying only in his ferret form.

So you take the moment to admire the rather pretty boy in your bed who has long black hair that reached down to his neck and plush pink lips. He looks so peaceful sleeping that you startle just a little when his eyes flutter open, directly looking at you.

“Like what you see?” The boy mutters, sleep thick in his throat as he brings a hand to rub away the sleep in his eyes. You’re caught off guard by his words but recover fairly quickly, raising an eyebrow at him.

“No, just simply wondering why there’s a strange boy in my bed,” He flushes softly at that, moving to cover himself with the covers and you just want to coo at how cute he is.

“Sorry. I just- I dunno. Wanted you to see me to make sure you really knew what you were getting into,” His voice is barely louder than a whisper.

You’re smiling to yourself as you come to pull the covers down just enough to see his pretty face again, eyes blinking up at you.

“What’s your name?”

“…Hyunjin,”

“Well Hyunjin, do you want some breakfast?”

“…yeah, okay,”

As you set the table for the two of you, a simple breakfast of eggs and toast, you see the boy yawn, noticing that his canines are definitely sharper than a normal humans, similar to that of his domestic form.

“You could have slept more, you know?” You say as you slip into your own seat, starting to eat. Hyunjin shakes his head, happily digging into the food you have provided, still feeling rather hungry even though he had indeed eaten the leftovers you had saved for him.

“It’s ok. I can take a nap later,”

The rest of breakfast is spent in silence, mostly due to Hyunjin being too busy stuffing his face. You take a glance at him, definitely noticing that he’s much skinnier than he probably should be, your casual shirt is baggier on him than it is on you. A frown falls on your face at that thought. How long had he been on the streets for?

Once Hyunjin has finished cleaning off his place he murmurs a quick thank you and it’s so soft you almost don’t even hear it. He starts to fidget in his seat a little, anxiety practically rolling off of him in waves as if unsure what to do.

“So. What’s your story? If you don’t mind me asking,” You break the slightly awkward silence between the two of you, though maybe your question wasn’t exactly the ice breaker you should start with.

Hyunjin just shrugs, as if it’s not a very interesting story. “Mm, I was a gift to a ten year old girl. Why they bought a hybrid for a little girl I’ll never know. They pretty much forbid me from being in my human form though so I was reduced to being just a ferret. I only ever got to stretch out my legs when no one was home. That was my life for a few years. Eventually she got bored of me, constantly forgetting to feed me or changing my water. After a while her parents got tired and surrendered me. But instead of doing it properly they just left me on the side of the road somewhere. I didn’t want to go back to a shelter so, I just decided that being a stray was probably better than getting adopted by someone only to be forgotten again,”

A frown tugs at your lips. People could be so cruel.

“So what do you want to do?” You ask simply but he tilts his head, both confusion and curiosity swimming in his eyes. “I mean do you want to stay here? Or you can leave of course. I’m not gonna make you to stay or anything,”

“Wait. You’d let me stay here?”

“Yeah, I don’t see why not? As you can tell I have plenty of room so it’s not really a bother,” Hyunjin blinks at you, as if not believing your words. “Again, it’s up to you. I’m not gonna force you into something that would make you feel uncomfortable or worse, trapped again,”

He seems to be rather deep in thought so you let him take the time to process your words. If you’re honest you hadn’t really stopped to think about your own words either, just spewing out what felt right. You had always been someone who went with the flow, to ‘trust the process’. Rarely did you ever look before you leaped. Yet this felt right. If Hyunjin chose to stay, it would be a decision you would never regret.

“So…you would adopt me if I stay?”

“Again, If you want. You could also be independent if you wanted, I’d still be happy to give you a room,”

“I just turned twenty though, I’m not eligible to apply for independence,” You shrug at this, moving to rest your chin in the palm of your hand.

“It’s up to you still, if it makes you uncomfortable I don’t have to adopt you,”

“But! You could get in trouble for having an unowned hybrid,” At this you grin, teeth almost glinting.

“That only makes it more fun, yeah?” Your tone is light so he can clearly see that you are just joking “Seriously, it’s up to you. Whatever will make you happy,” Hyunjin falls into another silence, eyebrows furrowed in thought. “Do you want to sleep on it? You don’t have to make a decision now,”

“No!” He startles you with how loud his voice is suddenly, causing him to flush at his own volume. “I mean- no, it’s ok. If…you’re ok with it, I’d be um. Happy if you adopted me. I wouldn’t want you to get in trouble because of me,”

“Then it’s settled. We can go to the shelter tomorrow to fill out paperwork, sound good?”

Hyunjin nods at this before getting up out of his seat, coming closer to you. You blink up at him, curious about what he was doing. Gently he takes your hand before bringing it up to his lips, pressing a soft kiss against your bandaged finger.

Your cheeks flush a bright red without your permission and you certainly don’t miss the way Hyunjin’s lips curl up just slightly into a smirk at your reaction.

“I’m sorry for biting you. Thank you. For letting me stay. Really,”

The adoption process is easy, thankfully. Since Hyunjin’s previous owners had abandoned him, it was as simple as signing a few papers. In the eyes of the law you were now Hyunjin’s rightful owner but, you had made it perfectly clear to the boy that you did not see yourself as that. He was an equal in your house and you would never treat him as anything less. That he was simply like a roommate to you.

Because of this the boy had insisted on getting a job, wanting to pay you rent or something in exchange for letting you stay with him. The two of you had argued back and forth on the subject, with you not wanting Hyunjin to feel like he owed you and Hyunjin not wanting to feel like a burden. In the end you agreed, only because of those stupid pretty sparkly eyes that stared at you as he begged. That and you felt like it was a good step towards him feeling like his own person, after all, you didn’t want the poor boy to be stuck home while you were off at work.

Yet a week passed by with no luck from Hyunjin’s end. You had come back home from work one day to find the boy at the dinner table, sitting in a chair as his upper body was sprawled across the surface. You had quickly learned that the ferret was rather dramatic, but he certainly added some much needed flair in your life.

You walked over to the boy, petting his head softly to which he nuzzled a little further into your hand. “No luck?”

Hyunjin groans. “No. Either they don’t hire hybrids or the salary just isn’t worth it,” He whines, cheek pressed to the table and a pout on his lips.

“I’m sure something will come along,” You hum out, moving around the kitchen to start on dinner. Hyunjin waddles up from behind you so he can circle his arms around your middle, resting his head on your shoulder. You had learned very quickly that he was very affectionate, something most hybrids had in common. It was the most common reason people adopted one, to have a companion, someone to make your life a little less lonely.

But it was also the main reason people abandoned their hybrids. Too clingy, too needy. If you were honest you were a bit touched starved yourself. Your last relationship had been a few years ago and even then your partners had made you feel bad about it, calling you similar words. So you certainly didn’t mind Hyunjin’s touchy nature.

“What if nothing comes?” Hyunjin’s voice is soft and there’s a twinge of disappointment in his tone A soft sigh falls from your lips before you move to turn in his embrace, letting your own arms wrap around his shoulders. You could tell how bad he wanted this, how much he wanted to feel independent, for his DNA to not be what defines him. He buries his face further into the crook of your neck.

It’s then that the idea pops in your head.

“Oh! Hyun!!!” He startles out of your arms for a second, ever the dramatic ferret with comedically large eyes. Though you suppose your voice was a little louder than usual. “Oops sorry, got a little excited,” You laugh while the boy continues to just blink at you. “Why don’t you just come work for me?”

“Huh?”

“Remember I told you I owned a book cafe? You should just come work there! I don’t know why I didn’t think about it sooner!!” At this, Hyunjin’s eyes sparkle for just a second before he’s frowning.

“But - doesn’t that defeat the purpose? You’d be paying me instead of me paying you for rent,” You frown, nose scrunching up as you try to think of a solution.

“Ok, what about this then. You come work for me and I pay you an actual wage,” Hyunjin opens his mouth to protest but you cut him off with a finger to his plush lips. “BUT. I’ll deduct rent” You say the words with finger quotations and he glares at you. “From your paycheck but still leave you enough that you can spend or save how ever you’d like,” Hyunjin still seems a little hesitant so you pull out your best pout and puppy dog eyes. The boy is practically putty in your hands. “I couuuuuld really use the help now that my seasonal employees have left after the winter season,”

He lets out a huff, seemingly annoyed but the small grin that’s blooming on his face easily gives him away.

“Ok, ok fine! But only because you seem like you reaaaaaaally need me,” his lips quirk into a smirk and you have to hold back from rolling his eyes. Of course he takes the opportunity to one up you.

“I do, I need you sooooooo bad hyunnie,” You’re not one to back down though, continuing your little game, batting your eyelashes for added effect. It seems that you win this round as his face turns a bright red, turning away to hide his flushed cheeks. Hyunjin lets out an embarrassed squeak before skittering off, yelling out to you to let him know when dinner is ready.

You laugh softly to yourself, going back to preparing a dinner for the two of you. Yeah, you think Hyunjin is going to make an excellent edition to your life. previous / masterlist / next full house taglist (50/50) ♪ send an ask or sign up here!: @the-sweetest-rose @heeseungsgf @chaotic-world-of-the-j @gemi-moon @liknws @satsuri3su @borahae-reads @minhwa @hyunestrella @soffieisme @slay-and-gay @inlovewithallmusic @bratty-tingz @foliea @skzhoes @strawberryepie  @0325tiny @royal-shinigami @soulphoenix1618 @scallywag1299 @bumbleellieskz @chocolate-scoups @loverlixie @orchid-mantis-petals @bbokari711 @zonked-times @rubberduckieyourtheone @bluesunshineflower @maliamaiden @everglowdaisies @im-lost-please-help @dreamerwasfound @the-simpy-simp @twistedsiren @beautifulcolorgarden @bangtanmix73 @alnex05 @strayzid @space-nerd1188 @poody1608 @lovestayforev @hanniemylovelyquokka @nykto-philia @yoonrimin @stayconnecteed @bbygrlhannie @minhoie @cutiespaghetti @abbiestearsricochet @ilychee08

[theshotsheardacrossworlds]

Hibernation

Set post-game. Halsin starts to feel more tired every day and knows what it means---he will need to hibernate. NSFW.

“Daddy Halsin, are you alright?” One of the tiefling children asked him. He had been showing the children how to take care of the vegetable seeds they had planted in the greenhouse when a jolt of fatigue went through him. Third time this has happened today. Is it that time again? “Daddy Halsin?”

He offered a gentle smile to the child. “Yes, Eustace. I’m well, simply tired.”

One of the other children, a human girl named Poppy, thought for a moment before suggesting, “You should take a nap with Miss Annie, Daddy Halsin. You’re always so happy after being with her!”

He could not help but laugh and ruffled the child’s hair. “You’re very right, Poppy! Miss Annie does make me happy.” He looked at one of the druids, a dragonborn from Baldur’s Gate. “Can you continue their lesson, friend? After, let them wander the square and play to their hearts’ content.”

The druid gave a nod. “Of course. Now children…”

Thankfully Halsin was able to slip away without too much crying, and soon he opened the door to his and Anais’s cottage on the edge of what was Reithwin and now known as Moonrise. He and his beloved agreed to live away from the town center (so I may easily go into the woods whenever I please) but with a kitchen of her design (higher than usual counters and a large hearth) and additions of nature throughout. It was a beautiful home. Certainly not as grand as that manor she grew up in, but thankfully her tastes are much simpler than her mother’s. He smelled something sweet as he entered the cottage. Honey cakes?

“You’re back early!” Anais looked up from her book. She was sitting at the table, her apron covered in flour.

He smiled as he bent to kiss her. She is perfect. She fills my heart with such joy. “I was feeling tired.”

“Again?” Her voice was tinged with worry.

Pulling up his chair next to hers, he sighed. “Yes, but I think I know what it is.” She offered an encouraging nod, and he continued. “Every so often, the bear needs to hibernate. It’s getting to be that time.” He watched as she put a slip of paper inside her book and closed it.

“How long?”

“It can range from a week to three months. It’s never the same, and I won’t know for long I’ve been hibernating until I wake.” She’s going to ask if she can come with me. Oh Annie, please…

As she serious as he had ever seen her, she asked, “Can I come with you?”

He sandwiched one of her hands in his as he shook his head. “No. It’s far too dangerous. Best to stay here and—” Please don’t fight me on this. It’s too dangerous. Far, far too dangerous.

Anais smiled sadly. “Carry on as best I can.”

The two sat in silence for a few moments before he spoke again. “I will write to your mother, Nadia, and Astarion to see if any of them would like to be with you while I’m gone. Or perhaps Gale could make the trip from Waterdeep. Or Shadowheart and her parents?” I would also suggest Wyll and Karlach, but alas, they cannot return from Avernus, and gods know where Lae’zel is.

Her other hand now rested on the top of his. “Oh no, please. I don’t want to be a bother. Besides, I’m not alone when I have Scratch, Horace, and Obie here. And there’s also everyone in town. I’ll be okay.” She reassured him with a kiss on his cheek.

Their foreheads touched as he closed his eyes. I don’t want you to feel alone. I want you to be surrounded by love and care while I hibernate. It will make my sleep much more peaceful. “Since we have coupled, we have not spent one night apart. I worry if my hibernation lasts more than a week or two you will be lonely, my heart.” And it breaks my heart to see you sad.

She wrinkled her nose and gave him a quick peck. “Oh, I’ll be alright. Don’t worry about me.” Impossible, dearest one. “Is there anything else we need to do before you, I assume, go into a cave and sleep?”

Halsin chuckled heartily. “Yes! I’ll start scouting for one tomorrow. There is something else, Annie. I need to put on some weight.”

Anais raised an eyebrow. “How much?”

“Usually between forty to sixty pounds. Though,” he remembered a specific hibernation, soon after the Shadow Curse took hold. “There was one time I barely put on forty pounds, and it was…erm, not a pleasant experience. So please forgive me if I eat us out of house and home for the next several weeks.” Upon hearing her laugh, he shook his head. “You’re taking this remarkably well, my heart.”

She waved a dismissive hand with a grin. “To be honest, when you pass a certain point, some things are just filed under ‘strange but interesting druid things.’ This happens to be one of them.” Giving him a kiss on the cheek, she rose to check the items in the oven. “Ooh, these are all done.” Taking the honey cakes out of the oven, she placed the tray on the stovetop. “Nice and fresh, love, though if you’re going to grab one or two, just wait until they cool a bit.”

Chuckling, he rose and embraced her from behind, his large, calloused hands resting on her apron covered belly. “I was…thinking of something else, my love. As I make ready for hibernation, what if I leave you a piece of me?” We’ve spoken about this before, but why does my heart race so?

“A piece of you, hm? A lock of your hair perhaps?” She cannot be serious. “Or,” Praise Silvanus, she’s teasing. “Something else entirely?”

He huffed a breath as he tugged on her earlobe. “Does ‘something else entirely’ cover me filling you to the brim with my seed until it takes, blessing us with a child?”

A small gasp escaped her, her hands now covering his. Attempting to cover mine. Hers are smaller…and so very lovely. “What a coincidence it does! When shall we begin, Halsin love?”

He gave her a quick squeeze before releasing her and taking a honey cake. “Right after I have a few of these, my heart.”

They spent the rest of the day in bed---laughing, making love, and Halsin leaving the bed every so often for more honey cakes. How blessed am I to love a woman who is brave, brilliant, beautiful, and an excellent baker. Annie is truly one of a kind.

***

Halsin was in heaven.

Or what was as close as he would get to it.

In wildshape, he was on his back in a small clearing outside Moonrise, his belly full of fruit, milk, and honey as Anais scratched behind a soft ear. She had been reading a book her mother sent (“More bawdy romance, love” she said) after a morning filled with music lessons for the children. She has taken on the role of teacher so well. The way she lights up when they learn something new is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen.

“I still have some more strawberries if you’re still hungry, my handsome bear.” she said sweetly. Annie always casts Speak to Animals or drinks a Potion of Animal Speaking before I go into wildshape. The sweetest and most thoughtful woman alive… “There’s still plenty of honey too.”

He huffed. “In a short while, my heart. Need things to settle first.”

She nodded, her nose wrinkling. “Alright, love.” Placing her bookmark where she left off, she closed the book and put it down. She then shifted so she was sitting closer to the bear’s middle. “Belly rub?”

Silvanus preserve me. “If…if that is something you wish to do, sweet one, then by all means.”

Anais slowly rubbed circles on his fur-covered belly, humming her favorite waltz. To Halsin, he had never seen a more beautiful sight. The way the sun is hitting her skin, it appears as if she’s glowing with radiance. Oak Father, thank you for sending her to me. Upon hearing him moan, she chuckled. “That good, huh?”

“You’ve no idea…feels so good, my heart…”

She puckered her lips a little and winked at him. Another way of giving each other kisses while I’m in wildshape. “Good. And don’t worry, my beautiful bear---I love doing things for you, big or small.” How true that is, especially anything with the children. She adores every child and acts as a mother to all. “Oh, and before I forget---the care package from Mum should be arriving tomorrow or the day after. I told her to put in lots of snacks with honey in them for you.”

Halsin groaned loudly as she continued her ministrations. “So thoughtful, lover. You’re so good…” As I hope I am to you. Perhaps I should show her how much I adore her. A golden glow surrounded him as he wildshaped back into an elf. “Come here to me…”

Smiling softly, she shifted to lay down next to him, curling into his more substantial side. Not that she minds. I could be a worm, and she would love me. Blessings be upon you, Oak Father. Thank you for her. “Always coming to you. For you. On you.” She snorted, beginning to laugh. “With you.” They laughed for a few minutes with Halsin tickling her upper arm.

He pressed several kisses to her red hair and murmured, “Come with me before you start supper. Come with me after. Come with me once more after dessert…and more…” Seeing the knowing grin tugging on her lips, he held onto her wide hips as she straddled him. And mindful of how full I am. I am blessed. “More…” She will know how much I desire her.

She rocked a little on the ever-growing bulge in his trousers and chuckled. “And you accuse me of being greedy? You’ve been wanting me more than usual, lover. I’m not complaining, mind you.” Her hands traveled down her sides and rested on top of his. “Is this how it usually is for you when preparing for hibernation?”

He furrowed his brow. “Hmm, the fire burns a little hotter some years but never like this.”

Anais thought for a moment. “Maybe because the burdens you once carried---the battle at Moonrise, the Shadow Curse, Thaniel, the responsibilities of the grove---are no longer present? You said yourself your heart feels lighter than it has in centuries.”

“Very true. It could be that. It could be something else entirely. However,” he squeezed her hips and stared at her with his most loving gaze. “I will choose to believe it is because of you.” After all, it is because of you that light shines here once more. Nature thrives here because of you. My heart is full of joy every day because of you.

Her cheeks flushed pink. Nature blessed her in so many beautiful ways. “You are quite possibly the sweetest man to ever exist,” she smiled brighter than a million suns. “And I adore you.” Untying the laces on his breeches (which are far too tight in more ways than one), she freed his aching member, earning her a groan. “Time to come with me, love.” Hiking up her dress a little, she slowly sank down his massive length and not being silent about it as is her way. Finally, be loud, my heart! “Decided against panties today…had a feeling we’d be…” Yes. Good. Very good, my love. “Gods, I’ve no idea how I get you inside me every time…you’re so bloody huge…”

“Ah, and yet, you take me so well!” He let her adjust to him for a few moments until he was fully hilted inside her. Oak Father take me. She is your most lovely creation. Thrusting slowly, Halsin bit back a moan as she rolled her soft hips. “Annie…my love…”

She clenched around him and squeezed her brown eyes shut. “W-what do you desire?”

“To stay like this…and…” He licked his lips. “The honey.”

With ease, Anais summoned a pair of mage hands that opened the jar of honey and brought it back to her and Halsin. “How should we do this?” She clenched around him and moaned softly. “Eat honey off my hand? Pour?”

“Pour…please, my heart…” He panted, his cock twitching inside her. Oak Father, fill me with your bounty, and let me fill her with my seed. “Please, I beg of you…”

Her cheeks turned redder as she smiled sweetly, tipping the jar towards his lips. “No need to beg, my handsome bear.” She cooed. “I can’t possibly tease the one who owns my heart, can I? Not when he’s been so incredibly good to me lately.” Her smile grew brighter as he swallowed the honey. How am I so blessed? It is the highest honor to hold your heart, dearest one. “That’s it, Halsin love. Jar’s almost empty, and then,” she winked. “Want to me to bounce on your cock for a bit?”

Gulping down the rest of the honey, his calloused hands squeezed her soft hips and thrusted upwards making her to moan. More. I must have more. My blood is on fire. All I want is her. All I need is her. Her. Annie. My heart. My everything.

His everything then tossed the empty jar aside as Halsin swallowed, rolling her hips slowly. “Fucking hells, you’re so bloody much, love…” She reached for his hands, grasping them in hers. “Gods…Halsin, fill me…please…”

“As if…I can ever…deny you…” He huffed, thrusting with as much frequency as he could. He could feel his own end coming quickly but hoped as always that she comes first. It is only right that my sweetest Annie experience pleasure before me. Giving one of her hands a squeeze, he let go. The hand dove under her dress to find the spot where they were joined and began to rub furiously. He reveled in her reaction---completely, openly, happily debauched. That I am the cause of her pleasure brings me so much joy…more so knowing that she feels the same for me. “And if this doesn’t take…I shall fill you again, my love.” So close. Oak Father, hear me---let me bring her bliss always. Let this be the seed that creates life.

“HALSIN!” Anais screamed as her orgasm ripped through her.

Moments later, he reached his own peak, hazel eyes glowing gold. Several grunts escaped him as he once again gripped both her hands. “Annie…” Halsin sighed, feeling not only impossibly full but entirely spent.

She rolled off him and onto her back, staring at the sky. “Yes?”

“Perhaps we may nap here a while before returning home?” He waited for her to respond before noticing she immediately fell asleep. Chuckling, he laid on his side and brushed a few strands of red hair out of her perfect face. “Rest now, sweet one, for there will be more later.”

***

Today is the day. Halsin heaved a sigh as his feet hit the bedroom floor. Today I will leave to hibernate. Today I leave Annie for who knows how long. Annie, my love… As tears began to form in his eyes, he remembered something she said the previous night that made his heart feel lighter.

“Think of it this way---you’re taking a lot of me with you.” Anais wrinkled her nose, giggled, and kissed his cheek. “About sixty pounds worth, I’d say. I’m keeping you snuggly warm until you wake and return to me.”

He was not ashamed to admit that he began to cry after hearing her say that and held her in his arms for some time, refusing to let her go. Not that she minds. She once said if she could spend eternity in my arms she would. The feeling is certainly mutual, my heart.

“I packed a few more herbs to make healing potions in your bag. And some freshly baked cinnamon rolls!” Anais said as she leaned in the doorway of their bedroom. While she was smiling, it did not reach her brown eyes. “I keep trying to think if there’s anything else you need—”

Halsin held up a hand. “You’ve done enough, my love. I am more than prepared for hibernation.” Standing, he grabbed the only pair of trousers that still fit and put them on. “All thanks to you of course.” He smiled warmly at her as he tied them. Loosely. They’ll be off as soon as I reach the cave. Then wildshape. Then sleep. And hopefully dream of her. “Your mother is still arriving tomorrow?”

“Yes. I think she might be staying longer than originally planned. Now that she knows the Ironworks can indeed function without her, she wants to see just how long it can function without her.” She giggled and walked to Halsin, giving him an adoring look over. “Gods, you’re gorgeous. Do you know that, love?”

He enveloped her in his arms and pressed a kiss to her head. “I am nothing when compared to your beauty. Nature truly outdid itself when it created you.”

She rested her head under his chin and grinned. “Flatterer.”

“It’s not flattery when it’s true, my heart.”

Normally she would banter with him further. Instead, she hummed softly and ran her hands over his back and sides. “I’m going to miss you.” She whispered after a few minutes.

Annie, please. I do not wish to cry. I want to leave you with a smile, not with any more tears. “As I will miss you, sweet one. Oak Father willing, I will return to you much sooner than we think.” He cupped her face and kissed her forehead gently. OH! “Remember that Eustace loves—”

“The lavender soap at bathtime. I know. They’ll be alright.”

He had said goodbye to the children the previous night, and while it was not easy for anyone (there were many tears shed and hugs given), he knew they were in the best hands. “Forgive me, I—”

She silenced him with a short kiss and a knowing smile. “We’ll be alright. Now,” she stepped back and sighed, hands on her hips. “Let’s get this show on the road.”

He laughed and hugged her one more time. “I love you, Annie.”

More than you will ever know.

[spicyllewyn]

Kinktober 5. - Pregnant / lactation.

Will Dempsey x F!Reader.

Tags & warnings. Pregnancy + lactation. (+18)

As you all know I hate Will for no real reason, this is my peace offering to a fictional character, lol.

Word count. 2K

Summary. You love babying him.

Kinktober masterlist.

Pregnancy was becoming unbearable at times; you felt heavy, your feet ached even after just a few steps around the house, and sleeping at night was turning into a daily battle. Fortunately, there was no doubt in your mind that you had chosen the right life partner.

The only thing keeping you sane right now was Will and how he went out of his way to make you happy and make this whole thing more bearable.

You always joked with him, saying that anyway, all of this was his fault, so the least he could do for you was to fulfill your cravings and massage your shoulders until you fell asleep.

Oh, and that pillow with a hole in the center that allowed you to lie face down.

"I miss my pillow," you murmured in a low tone as you remembered it. You closed the door behind you slowly.

Will's room was just as he had left it several years ago when he left home for college, where he met you. Nonetheless, you wandered around with curiosity, looking at his movie posters that perhaps only he had seen, and the occasional Lego figure that you doubted he would let his future child touch someday.

"I told you we could come up with some excuse."

"Every time you suggest we make up an excuse, it has to do with pretending that one of us died," you rolled your eyes. "Your parents are not believing it for more than two times in a row." When you had 4 walls around you for privacy, your hands went to the hem of your shirt, getting rid of it, clearly tired of wearing any type of clothing.

Will watched you from the bed, as if you were giving him a personal show. His eyes roaming over your bare skin, always lingering a few extra seconds on your breasts before looking up again and pretending that the lack of sex wasn't killing him.

You were both too introverted to simply ask at gynecologist appointments, “Hey, is it wise to have uncontrolled sex against some furniture at this point in pregnancy?” so you just assumed the answer was no.

“Did you do something to your hair?”

You frowned at his question.

"What?"

“I'm serious, I notice something different about you.”

One of his pillows landed right in his face, making him laugh. You already knew that joke too well.

“Yes, idiot, I'm pregnant.” The mattress squeaked as you lay down, only wearing your loose pants and the sports bra that had become your best friend a few days ago because it turns out that your normal bras decided they didn't want to close anymore eventually.

That was the only piece of fabric that kept your tits in place, tight and comfortable. It was also a headache for Will.

The changes that pregnancy had made in your body never ceased to amaze him even though he had analyzed each one for hours as the months passed. There was the obvious, that completely new sparkle in your eyes, your cheeks flushed 24/7 and your skin seemed to be glowing more than ever.

But on the other hand there were the things that made him fantasize about the nights he stayed on the couch fucking his own hand to try to control the impulses that attacked him more times than he would like lately. Your hips became wider, your thighs were softer but oh, his favorite part was definitely your breasts.

Round, full, hard, delicious.

You were complaining about pain recently and he didn't know if that was a sign that he should help you in some way or just not touch you and wait patiently for the pain to go away in a few weeks when the baby was born.

“Did you know…” He murmured, taking his eyes off his phone for a few seconds to look at you. You did the same.

Lying together to chat or just watch stupid videos on your phones had become routine when the pain in your back kept you from sleeping or when you took too many naps throughout the day and all your energy was reserved for the night.

Yes, Will stayed up with you each and every one of those times.

"Did I know what?"

“Did you know that there are freaks who like milk?”

You frowned.

“I like milk, what's so strange about it?”

He rolled his eyes with a small smile.

“Breast milk, I mean.”

“Oh…” Needless to say, you already knew that the father of your future baby was… peculiar. He had perfectly mastered the act of bringing up the strangest topics of conversation lately. You shrugged. “It doesn't seem that strange to me.”

"No?" If your gaze hadn't returned to your phone you would have noticed the mischievous glint on his eyes.

You had taken the bait.

“No, I mean.” There you went, to reason with the madman, always engrossed in his midnight talks. “You used to suck on my boobs all the time, do you mean you wouldn't do it anymore if there was milk involved? Not to mention that you are addicted to eating me out, it wouldn't be the first time you drink some liquid from my body.”

“Mhm.” He pretended to consider your response before nodding slowly, agreeing with you. The truth is that Will had considered the possibility since he had noticed the circular stains that suddenly began to appear on your shirts. “You have a point.”

"See?" You felt triumphant to think that you had changed his way of thinking. Your gaze returned to your phone and you took the topic for granted.

“Though I don't understand how anyone could be sexually attracted to that.”

You looked up again.

“Are you kidding?”

“Of course not, don't you think it's strange?”

You rolled your eyes, finally lowering your phone and placing it on the cabinet next to you so you could face him.

"Do you want to try?"

"What?" He played dumb and you fell into his trap again.

"Do you want to try? I will show you that there is nothing strange about it.”

He again pretended to consider your proposal and with his lower lip trapped between his teeth he nodded slowly.

"Good." He also put his phone aside, sitting up in bed as if considering which position was best to settle into. His pupils dilated when he saw you take off your top.

He had been trying for a long time not to stare at your completely naked breasts or else we wasn't going to be able to control himself anymore. Your nipples were always hard, occasionally with a drop or two of milk running through them, so sensitive and delicious.

You looked at him, clearing your throat to get his attention.

"Take off your shirt." Your voice sounded like an order.

He obediently did so. His tanned skin making your mouth water and making your cheeks blush even more than usual. You were a hormonal mess a long time ago.

“How should I…?”

“Just lay your head here.” You pointed to the hill where your pregnant belly began, just below your breasts.

“But, I don't want to hurt-”

“You're not going to hurt me, Will.” Your voice came out in frustration as you gave two small taps to the area you had pointed out before. He hesitated a little before taking his place there, the weight of his head and part of his body was not uncomfortable, on the contrary, his body heat felt stupidly good.

Skin to skin contact was something you wouldn't trade for a million dollars.

“You look so pretty like this.” You whispered in a low, loving voice. A dopey smile on your face when you had the chance to see him from a completely new angle.

His huge eyes were fixed on you, he had to look up so he could fix his gaze on you while you looked down. Your fingers gently ran through his hair, a while ago you had noticed that his curls became more noticeable when his hair was a little longer than usual.

“Go on.” You cooed while he licked his lips.

You didn't have to ask twice, Will settled into his spot and took part of your breast into his mouth, pressing his tongue against your hard, sensitive nipple.

A shiver ran down your spine, resulting in a wave of pleasure directly between your legs. A delicious heat pooling on your lower abdomen.

He for his part moaned against your skin. You tasted so sweet.

“T-That's it.” You encouraged him with blushing cheeks. “Just like that, baby.”

It didn't take him long to pick up the pace he wanted, you could hear him gulp and suck, over and over again while your trembling hands ran through his hair slowly, comforting him.

You knew how much he was enjoying it when you saw him close his eyes. A couple of drops running down the edge of his lips.

“You taste so fucking good.” It was the only thing he stammered before going back to his job. He rested the weight of his body on you a little more and you didn't complain, you missed having him on you so much, caging you against any surface that he found and his body.

He raised a hand, his fingers squeezing your breast as if he wanted to squeeze out every last drop. His cock twitched under his baggy pants and you at the same time squeezed your legs together, your slick already making your underwear wet and sticky.

“Do you like it, baby?” Your voice was breathy.

It was incredible how your bodies began to react as if you were a pair of desperate teenagers, seeking relief in any friction you might have with each other.

“Help me with t-the other one, yeah? Please?" You begged when you could finally feel some kind of relief on your tit, it was no longer hard and swollen. All this time you had only needed this? If you had known before.

He looked up with dilated pupils, licking his lips with heavy breathing.

"Please." You whispered once more, your fingers giving his hair a light tug that snapped him out of the spell you seemed to have placed on him with just a few gulps of warm milk.

You gave him a push with your hand and he obeyed, tracing exactly four circles around your right nipple before leaning down again and taking it into his mouth. Now that he was almost face down to reach the other side his hips began a slow rocking motion against the bed.

You, meanwhile, squeezed your legs together, your soft thighs giving you a bit of relief that made you whimper.

“Such a good boy.” You closed your eyes, your chest rising and falling rapidly, finding it impossible to calm the rhythm of your breathing. Eventually you understood that it wasn't just the sensitivity of your body, it was the situation.

Your sweet voice praising him, listening to the way he swallowed and the way he whimpered desperately just from the pleasure that sucking on your tit gave him.

You were no longer hiding the clumsy movements of your hips, nor was he the way he pretended to be fucking the mattress. His sensitive cock throbing every time he rubbed against his favorite blanket.

The friction was giving delicious warmth to his needy erection and your milk was doing the same to his entire body. Warm and delicious running through his throat.

Your thrusts were making the mattress creak under your bodies although you didn't last more than a couple of seconds longer. Abstinence was your best excuse to explain why something like this had led you to have one of the most delicious orgasms of your entire relationship.

It was definitely not what you had done per se, right?

When he pushed himself up so he could kiss you you could taste the milk and his saliva combined. You understood well why the taste had driven him crazy.

“See?” You whispered against his lips. “Not weird at all.”

Tag list. @ninebluehearts @shousha133 @unear7hly @onefinnedwonder-fm @automnepoet @lokisremainingsanity @uncle-eggy @just-a-nightdreamer @spktrgantenk @chinglewingledingledong @queerponcho @faretheeoscar @spideyman-peter

Remember to comment if you want to be on the kinktober tag list!! <3

[katrine-fd]

Bows and Pianos🎀

Pairing: Merold x Fem Reader

TLDR: After years of waiting and gentle guidance from My Melody and Merold My Sweet Piano has finally announced her knight. What Merold did not expect was that this knight was someone from his childhood and the two had made a silly promise as children.

Note: The mc is kind of based on an oc but physical descriptions (except outfit wise) will be vague for the reader insert lol 🩷 Also I tried my best but he might be a bit OOC SORRY

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✧ ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✧･ﾟ:* ✧･ﾟ:* ✧

Romarriche watched as Merold quietly sipped his tea, uncharacteristically quiet. This side of him was something he only showed when he had nightmares the previous night or was deep in thoughts. Rimicha was happily chatting with Hallritt and Sanah, Puruth nodding to whatever the young man was saying, completely not paying attention to the pink knight.

The older Knight approached his friend and tapped his shoulder very softly, you would almost not feel it.

“Is everything alright Merold?”- his tone showed concerned for his friend.

“Ooooh yeah, I am fine~.”- cut of the conversation to and end. That was until Puruth decided to interject, everyone else having quieted down to hear the conversation.

“I have heard of a rumor going around from some of our bards that traveled to the My Melody Kingdom a few weeks ago”

Rimicha interjected quietly invested. “A rumor?”

Puruth let out a soft chuckle, continued. “I have heard that My Sweet Piano has picked a Knight for herself!”

Hallritt interjected. “Oh Lord Hello Kitty mentioned it to me too! That My Sweet Piano had never really cared much for the politics of knighthood but that decided to pick a Knight recently!”

Rimicha happily clapped his hands. “Isn’t this great Merold? You will get someone to help you, since My Sweet Piano is part of your domain!”

At his point his head was buried on his hands, looking like he was having an upset stomach or that someone had exposed an embarrassing secret of his.

Romarriche wanting to not overstep, but also curious himself added to it. “Do you not get along with the new knight?”

Merold groaned. Shaking his head, he sighed, biting into a cookie. Puruth decided to continue with the information he had acquired.

“They also said she was quite the lovely young woman!”

“So she is nice?” Rimicha was now confused. Merold almost made this poor person sound like they were some level of unpleasant.

Puruth added enthusiastically like he was telling the best kind of story. “Very nice! She even helped them carry their luggage when she found them in the road!”

Romarriche thought for a minute, who could this mysterious young woman be? He then almost had a realization, letting out a small chuckle.

“Is this perhaps about someone you met when you were younger?”

The pink haired man groaned a bit “It has been years since we have talked, so I really didn’t expect that she would suddenly because Piano’s Knight” he let out another sigh before he shoved another cookie down.

“Well good to see all of you. I should return home”

He left. He simply did not want to be discussing his past relationships with his fellow Bouquet members, Romarriche knew to a certain extent about his past so he knew that his old friend was teasing him lightly.

................✨................✨................

Taking the carriage home, while enjoying a nice nap he dreaming of it.

The two of them running through the fields of flowers and all the sheep she was responsible for. The two fell down on the flowery field, as he laid back on the grass looking at the clouds as she weaved something, her back to him.

“What are you doing?”

“Just a little thing! Don’t look! Its a surprise” - She sounded so proud of of the little trinket. She giggle as she put something on his head. Touching it he felt the soft petals as she smiled. He sat next to her and pulled a flower pulling her hand to him, using the flower as a makeshift ring, holding her hands up to his chest he smiled at her.

“I promise that when we are older I will marry you and we will spend the whole day playing in the flowers”

That made her giggle as she nodded enthusiastically as they could hear Kurode whining as he ran up to them, after having been left behind while they were playing, him crashing down next to them, while she showed him her flower ring.

“Merold said that I would be his wife when we are older!”

Kurode looked at them like they just told him the weirdest story on the planet. Merold ruffling his hair in a playful manner.

He was surprised that when he awoke and left his carriage, there she was. The woman he was trying to avoid, hair done, wearing a frilly dress with a intricate flower crown and bonnet, a pout on her face with her eye with beady tears forming.

Ah. She was upset.

“Merold! Were where you!?”

“I was at Romarriche’s.”

“You promised you were going to have tea with me!”

“I forgot~”- Lies.

“I told you yesterday! Right after the report!” - Her voice was raised. As she followed him upset.

“There is a lot going on, it completely slipped my mind hehe~”- Yup, another lie.

“What is your problem!” -She was getting angry, pointing at him with an accusatory finger.

“What do you mean?”- He knew why she was upset.

“Well not only have you been a jerk to me ever since we have met again, but you don’t even want to spend time together! We used to be friends! I was so happy to suddenly be picked by Piano, I could finally talk to my friend again!”

“What are you talking about? You could have come talk to me either way”

“How? You don’t even want to spend time with me while I am on an equal rank as you! How could I ever even think you TALK to me if I was just a Shepard!”

She was crying and Merold hate that. He did feel bad, after all this was more of issue with his own problems than her.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to make you upset”

“Well? Are you going to explain WHY? Why do you keep ignoring me?”-She was sniffling, tears still running down her face. He took his handkerchief from his pocket and cleaned her face with gentle pats, to not ruin the very light soft make up she had put.

“It’s been too long. I am not the same person you knew when we were kids.”

“What do you mean?”- He could feel her hand grab at his sleeve.

“I have developed a bad personality to the point he left me as well. It was easier to act like you weren’t here than being left alone again after you realized I had become someone completely different from the kid that made that promise to you”.

“You mean that we would get married?”

He coughed awkwardly. God he was so embarrassed of remembering that memory. She held his hand with both of her own pulling it to her face.

“I mean...I would like if you kept it but I also did not even expect you to remember that promise we made. I am glad you still remember it” She let out a playful giggle, still holding onto his hand.

Merold on another hand felt somewhat foolish now, covering his face with his other hand out of pure embarrassment. He did not like being the one being teased. She wasn’t done though.

“I am still happy to see you. I wanted us to get along and be friends again... I will not say I didn’t wish to be more but it has been a long time. At least let me be your friend!”

He sighed. Embarrassment still evident. “You will regret it you know.”

“Well that will be a problem for me, not? Plus you were always a mischievous person even as a child. You own me an outing thought! I wasted the whole day looking for you” -she pouted.

“Alright, alright.”

“I will await a renewal of the proposal too!”

He coughed after gagging on his saliva. “Oi- don’t be hasty now!”

She laughed as she dragged him by her iron grip with him just accepting it.

[snowalwayslandsontop]

@d2sejanus--plinth Coriolanus let himself into the Penthouse apartment, cursing silently when he felt the weight of the world remaining on his shoulders. Usually when he returned home, to their sanctuary, he would feel himself relaxing as soon as he closed the door behind him. But tonight was not going to be one of those nights, he had known that before even leaving the office. His meeting with Ravinstill was playing heavily on his mind and he had been left still dissecting his words and comments long after he had left the Presidents office. He had been working such long hours, most days not getting home until midnight. Games season was almost upon them. The Reaping Ceremony was less than a week away. Finishing touches were still being put on the arena but it was almost ready. Coriolanus had been overseeing all the work and his own plans coming to fruition, as well as keeping an eye on some of the unrest in the Districts. There always was some minor uprisings just before the Games were due to commence, tensions running high. There had been a few minor scuffles but nothing a few well placed bullets and a couple delayed food shipments wouldn't crush quickly. He had gone to see the President, for an update on both the Arena and the events that had been taking place across Panem. Ravinstill had been pleased, or at least Coriolanus had thought so until their meeting was drawing to a close. "I'll be hosting a viewing party for the Games first day. I'd like all spouses and partners to attend. I know that you'll be busy in the control room but Sejanus is more than welcome." Ravinstill had told him as they were wrapping up the meeting. "I believe Sejanus will be rostered on at the hospital on that day Sir." Coriolanus had paused as he was closing his folders and notebook. Sejanus always tried to keep busy during the Games. They were impossible to avoid, short of laying in a dark room until they were over. He never asked Sejanus to attend any of the events, although he had come last year to the Opening Ceremony for the Games. It had been his first year as Head Game Maker and even Sejanus had felt he should attend. To show everyone that he had a supportive partner. "I'm certain that he can take the day off Coriolanus. It's Game season." Ravinstills tone was firm and left no room for discussion. Coriolanus had looked up from his bag that he had busying himself with, seeing the look in the Presidents eyes. Pointed and unwavering. This was not a friendly invitation, extended to the man that most viewed as his spouse. This was mandatory and he knew there was a mild threat in there somewhere. Against him or Sejanus or perhaps both of them. He had been sensing the slight shift in the President lately towards him. Since taking over Gauls position, he had been becoming even more popular amongst the people of Panem and he was certain Ravinstill was starting to view him as a serious threat. He wasn't wrong. "Yes Sir. I'll make sure he's available and in attendance." Coriolanus had simply nodded, knowing he could not risk even hinting that Sejanus wouldn't be attending. He wished the President a good night before he had walked out of his office, feeling sick.

The feeling had not eased, even now that he was home. He'd left the office early, the first time in weeks. He knew Sejanus had been offering to take the later shifts at the hospital, with him away in the lead up to the Games. But he had worked the early shift so Coriolanus knew he'd likely find him somewhere, napping or curled up with a book somewhere. He just needed to see him. He slipped off his jacket and hung it up, placing his briefcase down as he heard footsteps clicking along the wooden hardboard floors. Not Sejanus yet but their Giant Poodle who had come to greet him. That gave him cause to smile as Maple pressed against his legs, clearly waiting for pats and cuddles. He gave a soft woof in greeting and Coriolanus leaned down to give him a scratch behind his ears. "Good evening to you Maple." He gave her some gentle scratches along her jaw, her tail wagging happily. She was always a delight to come home to. He had bought the dog for Sejanus shortly after he had become Head Game Maker. He had known the job would entail long hours and he had loathed the idea of Sejanus coming home to an empty apartment night after night. They had servants but he wanted someone to keep Sejanus company in his absence. "Please tell me that you have not been testing the taste of the couch pillows again. They taste exactly the same as the last ones you ate." he chuckled softly. It was impossible to be mad at him, not when he gave him the same puppy dog eyes that Sejanus gave him. Once Maple was satisfied that with amount of pats and scratches he had gotten, he went running back through the apartment, no doubt to wherever Sejanus was. Coriolanus followed his footsteps, finding Sejanus curled up on one of their oversized lounge chairs. He had fallen asleep, his book opened and resting in his lap. He enjoyed the sight for a few moments. He looked so peaceful and Coriolanus knew the news he was about to bring him would leave him anything but peaceful. Clearly Sejanus must have felt his gaze up upon him because he started to stir. His eyes were heavy as they opened, smiling and looking surprised when he saw Coriolanus standing across the room. "I just got home but I didn't want to disturb you." Coriolanus smiled softly at him, his heart still feeling heavy but a little lighter now.

[mrsfrederickchilton]

FREDERICK. Chapter 50

If you haven't seen 1958 movie Elevator to the Gallows (Frantic / Lift to the Scaffold / Ascenseur pour l'échafaud), I recommend it, I like it!

Even watch the movie at home Dr. Chilton was going worn a shirt and pants. You shook your head when you saw him. Thanks for not wearing a suit.

“Do you have any other clothes at all?” you asked.

“What's wrong with this one?”

“People usually don't wear this at home.”

“I do,” he replied.

Dr. Chilton didn't say that he usually wore a robe. Or no robe at all, if it was hot. He also didn't say that he had other clothes, he just thought it was inappropriate to wear jeans in your presence. He seemed too careless in them. You weren't supposed to see him like this.

“Okay, what can I do with you...”

You yourself were in a soft turtleneck and half-sports, half-home pants, which many people had adopted both at home and on the street. This suited you, in principle. You ate the recently delivered pizza, then you threw a bag of popcorn in the microwave and began to look for a bowl for it. At this time, Dr. Chilton was in the living room, plugging in a player to the TV and adjusting the sofa cushions. He would never admit to you that he would gladly sink down on these cushions and take a couple of hours of nap. Preferably with you by his side. He returned to the kitchen, looked at you and almost forgot about his fatigue. Despite the fact that Dr. Chilton had slept very little in the last few days, your presence was incredibly invigorating to him. He even had some plans after watching the movie; he hoped that they coincided with yours. Or at least that you would support them. There was a pop, and Dr. Chilton flinched.

“What is it?” he asked when you chuckled.

“Popcorn. I told you so.”

“You did, but…”

He looked incredulously from you to the microwave, which made a few more pops, and back to you.

“Have you never made popcorn?”

“No.”

In Dr. Chilton's understanding, popcorn was something that was sold in cinemas before the film. And not something that was popping horribly right there in his kitchen. The intervals between pops began to lengthen, and soon you were pulling the bulging bag out of the microwave, shaking it, and carefully opening it. The intoxicating aroma of freshly popped popcorn filled the kitchen.

“Is everything ready?” you asked.

The movie was plugged in and waiting for you, the pillows were laid out, the blanket was spread out, even glasses of water were on the coffee table. So Dr. Chilton nodded, and you tipped the hot popcorn into a large bowl, then carried it solemnly into the living room. There were four of you: you, Dr. Chilton, the grand piano, and a little awkwardness. This was perhaps the most casual of your meetings; you didn't count the game park, the few dinners at Dr. Chilton's apartment had felt more like restaurant dinners, and the intimacy that often followed them had been completely erased from your memory. The dim lighting, the soft pillows, and the cute beige throw blanket gave the appearance of coziness; you weren't sure if it would become real for you both. At least, not for you. But you had a good movie and still-hot popcorn, which made the evening bearable enough, no matter how it will end. Dr. Chilton seemed more uncomfortable than you. You and your criminal often watched something, curled up on the couch in each other's arms; Dr. Chilton clearly didn't know what to do with the throw blanket or what to do with his hands. Should he hug you? Or might it seem like he's already hinting at something else? You placed the bowl of popcorn on the couch, dividing the space between you and Dr. Chilton. Not to keep him from getting physical, but simply because it was easier for you to grab the popcorn. You've taken the blanket for yourself so far, and you've finally turned on the movie.

Elevator to the Gallows. You entered yours when you met your criminal. Or when you couldn't call the police. Or when you decided to stay with him against your better judgment? Either way, you knew what you were getting into. You just hoped that the elevator would go slowly enough to make it worth it. And you still hope.

I love you. I won't leave you, Julien.

You glanced sideways at Dr. Chilton, who was staring intently at the screen. Would he draw any parallels? Maybe there would be some kind of therapeutic conversation — about the film, the parallels, or your life? Or maybe Dr. Chilton would just want to go to bed. Although, someone like him can combine both...

We will be free, Julien.

You reached for the popcorn. Will you?

The popcorn was stretched out for a whole fifteen minutes. A record, considering how quickly you usually ate it. Dr. Chilton didn't seem to like it much — you doubted he'd ever eaten it properly — but he did like the way your hands sometimes bumped into each other in the bowl.

His phone, which was always with him, in his jacket pocket, on the table or in his briefcase, was now lying on the sofa table. Dr. Chilton had apologized in advance, saying that he was expecting some important work message, although with you he usually put the phone away and forgot about it, completely focused on you. Unfortunately. And judging by the vibration, the message came, distracting Dr. Chilton from the TV screen. You could have paused the movie, but you were too lazy. And it was the right decision, because you were able to pretend to be engrossed in what was happening on the screen, although what was happening right next to you was much more interesting. Dr. Chilton reached for his phone. His fingers were slightly oily from the popcorn, and although he wiped his hands with a napkin, the sensor completely refused to recognize the owner by fingerprint. After three unsuccessful attempts, the phone asked Dr. Chilton to enter a graphic key. The psychiatrist glanced at you — you were looking at the TV screen with your heart beating so hard you were sure he could hear it — thought about it (the fingerprint almost always worked, so he almost forgot the key), drew an intricate figure... Fortunately, it was correct: the phone unlocked. Dr. Chilton poked at the phone, either answering a letter or confirming some data, then looked at you again:

“Sorry,” he said, reaching for his briefcase and putting his phone in it. “It won’t distract you anymore.”

“It’s okay,” you smiled, showing with all your appearance that you were thinking only about the movie.

Dr. Chilton calmed down and continued watching, unaware that a minute ago you believed in God.

Thank you, Lord. Really, thank you. Mysterious ways. Thank you and the makers of buttery popcorn. THANK YOU, GOD.

Your heart was still beating faster than usual, because you had something urgent to do.

“I need a minute,” you said.

“Sure,” he pressed pause.

You went to the restroom, taking your phone with you. You drew Dr. Chilton’s graphic key in your notes. Five times to remember it. You flushed the toilet. You set the same key instead of a PIN code for your phone and successfully unlocked it several times. Memorized. Turned on the water in the sink and checked everything again.

Hallowed be thy name.

Honestly, you didn't count on such luck.

You came back, took the empty bowl off the couch, and turned on the movie. It worked. You stared at the TV screen, but you couldn’t quite catch what was happening. Oh well, you’d already watched it anyway. It worked! But there's something else you didn't catch. You were still under the blanket, and Dr. Chilton wasn’t, even though the bowl was no longer separating you. But you didn’t want to pull the blanket over yourself with him. You didn’t want to do it so much that your eyes rolled back in your head at the thought. It was too… cute. It wasn’t what either of you needed. Although, looking at Dr. Chilton’s slightly saddened expression, you figured you could only speak for yourself. Well, he deserved it for the phone. You sighed and draped part of the blanket over him. Of course, he immediately decided he needed to move closer to you. You glanced at the briefcase where his phone was hidden and forced yourself to relax. Five minutes later, he pulled the blanket over you better and laid his head on your shoulder. How touching.

How fucking touching.

“Don't fall asleep,” you said, placing your hand under the blanket on his thigh.

“It's hard to fall asleep here,” Dr. Chilton muttered, either because of that or because of the gunshots on the screen, and you continued watching, each thinking about your own things.

Florence was beautiful after all. Even at the very end.

I'll wake up alone.

You woke up like that once. And you’ve woken up like that every time since. At least they had photographs. But here we are together. Together again, at least somewhere. You don’t even have that. Now you are together only in your memories and the disapproving glances of others who know. If you were Florence, you would take each of them with you. Anywhere — to a new life, to prison, or to the grave. By the way, the photographs were really wonderful. You wish you had similar. You see, they won’t be able to separate us. You didn’t even notice how deeply you were touched. Was this a normal reaction? You thought it was more than normal, but you should check with Dr. Chilton. You opened your mouth to ask him what he thought — about the film and the ending, but you realized in time that you would not get an answer. Only now did you feel how calmly and measuredly he was breathing.

Dr. Chilton was sleeping on your shoulder in a deep, serene sleep.

Next chapter (Chapter 51)

Masterlist

[archivalofsins]

My thoughts on @tsumigram Unknown Memories. Spoilers for Tsumigram if you haven't read it yet. I'll be going through these one at time in one post since I have free time currently.

First off from a cursory look the Unknown Memories all have different color separators at the beginning of each. They seem to be a mix of the prisoners colors at some points. Except for maybe Mint Candy which seems to be just Miku's color.

But I could be wrong about the separators being a mix of the prisoners colors they involve. On the post itself it is very reminiscent of Miku's prisoner color though,

My computer is always in dark mode so hard to tell for me. I'll follow this train of thought while looking over each memory.

Unknown Memory 1: Candle

A girl sitting at the table looks around, maybe searching for another source of light; the shades of purple are barely getting through the half-closed curtains.

Given that the color purple is brought up here- My first assumption may have been wrong. Likely not a mix of the colors of the characters being discussed. Since purple brings to mind thoughts of Ayame. Though it could just be a way of describing the setting sun here that accidentally calls her to mind. Due to her prisoner color.

Could it be the colors of the verdicts then? If so the orange on the most recent one could be a mix of Savior and Perpetrator. Meant to representative of Kai.

Hmm, I guess I'll see when I get to Unknown Memory 4: Bandage though that may not be it either it's seems more plausible at this point though.

This seems to be a conversation between Ego and Kouta. Maybe... From what I remember of the two it seems to be them.

Such serene moments are nice at times, though they become lonely easily.

...You know, being left all alone is really unpleasant.

— It's annoying that the sky gets dark so early. She is waving her hand near the flame. Maybe don't play with fire. You’re acting like a toddler. The hell? — Will you be alright on your way home? He gives her a dissatisfied look and lightly slaps her hand, until she removes it, pouting; ah, this girl simply got a chance to procrastinate on studies, even if it means dwelling in boredom. — You should rather be worried about yourself. — Not that I'm worried about you. He seems to frown even more. She stares at the candle with half-closed eyes. — I figured. Again. Ugh, ugh, this conversation is crumbling.

Trial 1 - 003 Voice drama: "Green Waters of Oblivion"

Ego: Aw-w. You seem to be pretty calm about your current situation, though. Do you often get locked up in dark places?

Kouta: Huh.

Ego: This is the kind of impression I got about your appearance.

Kouta: …

Ego: Sorry, I've failed at keeping up a conversation again. Please don't glare at me like this.

Kouta: You remind me of someone…

Ego: Am I?

Kouta: Ah, no… who…

Ego: Eh?

Kouta: I've just got a weird feeling. Ego: What?

Kouta: I don't quite remember who.

— Huh? Did the lights go out? A girl sitting at the table looks around, maybe searching for another source of light; the shades of purple are barely getting through the half-closed curtains. — Let me check…

Trial 1 - 003 Memory report

— What do you want?

Not sure, I guess she was pouting. Of course, what else would she be doing.

— I don't like that girl. Don't talk to her.

— She's the one talking to me. Can't help it.

— Do you not care about me?

As if it's me who doesn't care! You constantly complain about each other to me.

— I'm taking a nap.

— It's dangerous to sleep in the train. I might be in a bad mood and not wake you up in time. I'm in a bad mood today, by the way.

— Don't care.

— Good luck at Kisaragi station.

— Thank you very much.

— That was stupid, I know. It was. — Well, you were little. — I didn't get the answer I wished for, so I never participated in divination again. Oh, so that's the reason. — Huh? Did you have a desired image of a lover? She stares at him for, perhaps, half a minute; he awkwardly tilts his head. Is he supposed to proceed to talk? Did he say something wrong, and she's planning to avoid him forever, until they graduate and their paths never cross once more? How complicated. People really must stop being so complicated. — You're quite dumb, aren't you. — What the hell?

Kouta: Do you feel like there's something you can come back to?

Ego: Hm?

Kouta: Uh, such as… You feel at a loss in university and then remember your childhood dreams. They might be frozen now, but they're still here. Or, you come back to nice memories and find comfort in them again.

Ego: Ah, I understand. Knowing that you used to have something and don't anymore is seriously depressing, but it can give hope in hard times as well.

Kouta: There are also people who didn't have anything from the very start. This kind of unfairness. Not having anything, ever.

Ego: Oh.

Kouta: If you had a decent childhood, you can't get it.

Right, maybe he will remember something warm as well, staring so pensively. Nostalgic, you say, huh… I wonder what it's like, having memories to come back to…

Oh if I just finished it... It would have been pretty clear it was him huh. So, the first Unknown Memory is between Kouta and Ego. How nice.

Well I don't think anything outside of that so let's continue to Unknown Memory two.

— Of course. Do you not know how people make friends? — I don't in fact. — Then your middle school must have been lonely.

Seems pretty rough still. Well hopefully he learns how to make friends in his own time.

Unknown Memory 2: Breeze

This one isn't really hiding the fact it's from Ayame's perspective. She's in the image art she was also voted victim so the border still being blue makes sense. If those things are related that is.

— Is it okay to take photos here? I want to show it to my friends. — You have a lot of friends, don't you, ▆▆▆▆▆-chan. She freezes with a smartphone in her hand. — I suppose… Why all of a sudden? — I just find it amazing that you get along with so many people. Perhaps it's your natural charm as an idol. — Hmph… Her slight blush must not be that noticeable among the azure light that envelopes them. The air here resembles a tender breeze. — Yeah, but I stopped hanging out with most of them after I moved here. — Are you having trouble finding friends in your new school? — Kind of… She's frowning, staring into the screen, then puts it up to take a photo of the marine animals. — Because I repeated a year and all… — Ahh, sorry for making you remember bad things.

Trial 1 - 005 Voice drama: "La-la~♪ A Fresh Voice"

Ayame: Ah… Thanks… But I still feel embarrassed, so… O-okay. Muku Ayame, sixteen years old. I'm a high school student�� and… that's it. N-need I tell you about my hobbies?

Ego: Sixteen?

Ayame: Ah…!

Ego: Your profile says you’re nineteen.

Ayame: R-right. Um, right. Time goes by fast, and my appearance doesn't change, so I sometimes forget my age. Eh, e-he-he. A, a-also, you seem so mature in comparison to me, I really can't get used to that I'm older than you…

Ego: …

Ayame: Uh…

Ego: Hm?

Ayame: W-why… are you staring at me?

Ego: I'd like a proper explanation.

Ayame: Proper explanation…? Is it… that much of a difference? When I talk to Chise-chan, or Mi-kun… I don't feel any difference. …So I never really thought much about it.

Ego: Huh?

Ayame: U-uh.

Ego: Did you tell anyone in the prison that you're sixteen?

Ayame: I-I don't remember?

Ego: Did you lie about being a high school student too?

Ayame: I'm not lying! I told you I'm simply forgetting. I'm really in high school. I repeated a year once. I don't know where to go to university either.

Now the issue comes into play when it comes to figuring out who she is with.

— R-right… W-well, then, I wouldn't become a sailor if you weren't with me. — I'm definitely way too weak. My job is sitting at home and staring at a PC, you know. — Ehh? You put your efforts down too much. They're walking past the large aquariums. The girl keeps on gazing above her, not looking where they're going; what is the other person’s attention focused on, though, is unknown to her, but she can feel that he's holding her shoulders from behind in case she accidentally trips. If she trips, he would grasp her, helping her stay on her feet; then pull her closer and say she should be more careful, while she's sighing and repeating, I thought I'd really fall! It happened before, she knows. The feeling of the other person’s hands on her shoulders is a reminder that she can endlessly allow herself to be awkward, it's going to be fine.

Given this information it seems to be Toa.

Trial 1 - 007 Voice drama: ".exe"

Ego: Ahem.

Toa: Eh?

Ego: I'm the one who's supposed to lead the interrogation, so please don't talk so much without my command anymore, alright? Thank you.

Toa: W-wah! That's the senpai’s power, I see now… I beg, don't punish me…

Ego: Is this a joke?

Toa: No, no, I'm genuinely an idiot and scared of punishment.

Later in the Voice Drama

Ego: Are you ignoring me?

Toa: You didn't give me a command to talk yet. What unclear instructions!

Ego: As expected.

Toa: But it's okay, you're only a teen doing such a hard job.

Ego: Do you want to witness the senpai’s true power again?

Toa: No, no! I don't know if my heart will survive another time!

Ego: Then kindly stop fooling around.

Toa: It's just the way I am…

Later in the Voice Drama

Toa: Ehh, becoming a murderer at my age would be horrible. And, like, I don't remember killing anyone? That even sounds weird… But I'm not the best of friends, yeah. I thought this would be my crime! Maybe it's somehow connected to the reason I'm here.

Later in the Voice Drama

Ego: What do you write?

Toa: Ack, it's not like stories or anything. I'm not creative in the slightest. It's more similar to a personal diary.

Ego: Are you still writing now that you're in prison?

Toa: Physical notebooks are unsafe to keep, and there are no smartphones, so, no, I don't. Eh, did you want to take a look? There's nothing of interest, no worries.

Ego: Is that so.

Toa: I'm not good at writing. I mean, teachers praise my school essays, but that's it. I'm not particularly good at anything else, either. As I said, my only special skill is being an awful friend!

— Ehh? You put your efforts down too much.

Ego: Crime of… being a bad friend?

Toa: Yeah.

Ego: Would it really… be enough to be locked up in a prison?

Toa: I wonder. Wait, does the Warden-senpai herself think that my imprisonment is unfair?!

Ego: Uhh, for the time being, can you introduce yourself?

Toa: Eh?

Ego: It's one of the necessary questions during interrogation. Actually, we should have started from it.

Toa: Ahh, is that so. I'm not good at talking about myself. It's pretty awkward… But, I'll do my best. I'm 15 years old and studying at school. Umm, what else? Oh, right, my name is Suzuki Toa I guess.

Ego: What are you doing in your free time?

Toa: Hobbies… Well, I mostly hang out with other people from school. But… I guess writing can be considered a hobby of mine?

— Is it okay to take photos here? I want to show it to my friends. — You have a lot of friends, don't you, ▆▆▆▆▆-chan. She freezes with a smartphone in her hand. — I suppose… Why all of a sudden? — I just find it amazing that you get along with so many people. Perhaps it's your natural charm as an idol.

Trial 1 - 007 Memory report

I can smile and throw a peace sign on the school photo, but I’m inexpressive and quiet, someone like this is a perfect listener, so others naturally give their secrets to me.

You're all lucky that I easily forget them, because I couldn't care less, but it's fine, it's a fair trade — tell me anything, just don't ever leave me in solitude.

I'm not liked easily.

— Isn't it not nice that you're chatting with your friends while I'm standing next to you? — Ah! - she raises her head and takes a glimpse of the other person’s pitiable smile, before the phone disappears in the pocket of her small bag decorated with pins and ribbons. — I'm sorry… Letting out an apologizing giggle, the girl grips the other person’s hand and pulls him further, pointing at the waters surrounding them.

Trial 1 - 007 Voice drama: ".exe"

Toa: Fine, fine… Hm-m… I can let people copy my homework, but I can't explain the material to them. I'm not hardworking, so my free hours last the whole day and I'm always ready to spend time together or talk, but whenever I'm present, I can't do anything. I don't know what to say to support the other person, I'm too much of a coward to help, I don't voice out my opinions, the way I express my emotions is weird. There are a lot of things to list. —Ah, I must have said too much. Please forget it. No, although it's not so easy…

Trial 1 - 007 Memory report

The truth is that, I don't hear what I'm saying; because my only purpose is to fill the silence, or because I’m so much, so much afraid, the reality grows unreachably distant…

What is the other person’s attention focused on, though, is unknown to her.

His voice drama and Miku's are the only one's to reference computer terminology. This person seems to be around the same age as Ayame and has difficulty making friends or maintaining relationships. It helps that Miku frankly just isn't tall enough to put a hand around Ayame's shoulder and no one else references computers.

Mumbling “it's fine”, she rotates the phone vertically and continues to look into it, fastly tapping with her fingers, then taking a pause, then tapping again. Sensing that the other visitors are slightly pushing her from behind in the narrow corridor, she makes a step forward, closer to the glass, without a word or additional movement; the sound of bubbles coming from the aquarium must be the only thing in her environment that she’s currently paying actual attention to.

Being suffocated and crushed by a crowd, how much of an acceptable death would that be? - When the classroom gets too empty, I feel anxious. I'd rather die in a crowd collapse. 

If I were to choose what describes me, it'd be a Bystander. - Isn't it not nice that you're chatting with your friends while I'm standing next to you?

Ahh, I hate being called weird. I don't care if people lie to me or use me; but I hate being ignored and pushed away.

Trial 1 - 005 Memory report

I want to talk to someone, though we're in a fight again.

Mhm, I know, if you're a part of my fate, we'll always come back together, so I don't need to worry. Meadow flowers, fluffy clouds covering my head, taking messy photos that only we will keep.

Look, there's a cat!

We exchange cosmetics and aroma candles; of course, bracelets of our colors as well.

The dry scent of summer wraps the girl; she catches a glimpse of a black cat skipping past her and squints in thought.

Trial 1 - 005 Memory report

I'm tired after school, you're busy with the theater club; we'll go out on the weekend, surely… Huh? Wait, I have another audience. Oh, and you need to host a group game…

Trial 1 - 002 Voice drama: "Vers Libre!"

Ego: Group games of this kind are popular as well, right? I don’t remember very well, but I think I had some experience with them at school.

Remi: Yes, yes! I also had, and a lot of it! I was usually the one organizing games at school.

Trial 1 - 005 Memory report

How annoying, I don't care then.

I’m going to be good today. Don't feel and don't show too much, no tears and no requests, smile whenever you're talked to; capricious kids get scolded, patient kids receive a reward at the end of the year — I learned this rule right after my first breath.

Kind of suffocating… Looking up at the white ceiling instead of the star-filled sky, the light barely gets through… How do people write stories? I would like to try my hand at it too. …Hm, but keeping it as a secret would be horrible. Because I'm watched and,

I'm a proper friend—

Trial 1 - 007 Voice drama: ".exe"

Ego: What do you write?

Toa: Ack, it's not like stories or anything. I'm not creative in the slightest. It's more similar to a personal diary.

Ego: Are you still writing now that you're in prison?

Toa: Physical notebooks are unsafe to keep, and there are no smartphones, so, no, I don't.

I'm not good at writing. - As I said, my only special skill is being an awful friend!

Unknown Memory 3: Mint candy

Like with Ayame it's pretty clear that this Unknown Memory is from the perspective of Miku. The one with him is more than likely Hiro considering the description,

I remember people mistook her for a young boy from time to time, so she talked in an especially high-pitched voice while we were there, just to avoid conversations that would last for too long and include too many unnecessary questions.

Also Hiiro's voice drama is literally called Fraud and that's what is currently being committed in this Unknown Memory. Several people are pretending to be family when they're not. That's fraud. It also stands to reason that if they're pretending to be a family and Hiiro is taking the roll of older sister. Than there is a mother and father here.

Something that would take two people who look old enough to have a kid around her age. The only two prisoners fit that age range are-

Kai and Hotaru.

So the other two referred two within in this may be them.

Supporting this idea is the name redacted at the beginning seems to be Kai's surname. The redaction is separated in a way that implies seven letters. The only seven letter name given to us within the cast is Yuunagi. Making it more than likely them being referred to here. Plus, they are around the same age as Hiiro and Hotaru.

All of them doing something like this together would not be surprising to me.

The other name is redacted in a way to imply a five letter name. Which there are no five letter surnames in Tsumigram currently. If it is going by surnames it would make sense if it was Hotaru someone we do not have the legal name of.

As i said earlier just like with Ayame it's easy to infer that this Unknown Memory is from the perspective of Miku,

I hate being treated like some sort of an object that can be easily picked up and moved, but people older than me never listen, so I stayed quiet.

Miku: Stop.

Ego: Ehh, what is wrong?

Miku: Talking to me in such a voice. I'm not an elementary schooler.

Ego: Ah, for sure…

Miku: How old are you?

Ego: Eighteen.

Miku: We are only four years apart. Don't think you're that different from me.

Ego: Got it, got it.

Later in the Voice Drama

Miku: Listen to what I'm saying! I didn't decide for them to die!

Ego: Oh.

Miku: If I could choose, I wouldn't be here! Of course! But I never had a right to choose in my life, ever! I can't make my own decisions because children who disobey have to pay. How could I choose? It's easy for you to talk!

Ego: Um…

Miku: …

Ego: Mi-kun…

Miku: I hate you… I hate people like you. Acting almighty just because someone unknown gave you a little bit of rights. I won't tell you anything. Don't talk to me anymore. Ever again.

— Would you like me to buy you something? I look up, startled. — Huh? — What's so surprising? We can sometimes acquire things through the means that normal people use, you know. — That's not… - I didn't finish, instead making a pouting face. She giggled in response. — Our city rarely get markets as big as this one. Do any of the shops seem interesting? I glanced over the stalls around us. — I want sweets. — It's not very informative, - she laughed again and took a glimpse of the stalls as well. — Let's see… How about candies?

Trial 1 - 008 Memory Report

I will do it.

CAM ▆▆ ▆▆▆▆/▆▆/▆▆ 71:49:▆5:▆▆

He was still learning to live. A bunch of voices nagging and biting; to this day, I don't know how to fill all of their words inside my body, and swallow my tongue as they leave torn marks on my insides.

Let's go.

This someone gripped his hand with almost motherly touch, and he could only look up with a lost sight, hastily shuffling his feet.

I will do it. I'm not that weak.

▆AM ▆▆ ▆▆▆▆/▆▆/▆▆ ▆▆:S▆:▆R:E▆

His mind went blank each time he left the shop, everything before it wiped out; each time, he threw something new into a mush of dark blue and black colors, trying not to bend over from the burning pain in his insides.

If anything, I'll protect you.

Don't loosen your grip.

I stared into the bag for a moment. Then, I gripped it tight and pressed it to my chest, so that no one would steal it from me.

Let's talk about why this person seems to be Hotaru.

That person she mentioned was what could be referred to as a “leader”. He brought new people in, set the mood, decided what we're going to do today, and repeated “we should simply all be friends” if any problems arised; in truth, I never could understand it, simply being friends. There were plenty of those I didn't choose to be friends with. I happened there thanks to him and relied on him to help me a good amount of times, but I couldn't stand his naivety, and we were growing more and more distant. As I preferred to spend time with level-headed people like that girl, at that point I didn't know what words to use when talking to him anymore, and I subconsciously snuggled to her, as if wishing she'd protect me from this half-stranger.

Trial 1 - 001 Memory report

Yeah, maybe if I intervened, they'd go away. But I didn't. I didn't even stop to watch, because I find it boring.

Ahh, right, this is what irritates you so much, I'm soft-hearted.

Do you know my name? Nishiyama Hiiro. (Nine letter surname, five letter first name)

It’s uncomfortable to be remembered, right? I know your faculty, too. 

Because I'm good at remembering things about others. Whenever you all talk behind my back, I remember it.

Ah, I have to go out on this floor.

See you later, young lady. Or do you hate being called that?

Not in particular.

I see. I'm respectful, so I wouldn't refer to you in any way that you hate. It's nice when others are respectful, isn't it?

Ah, she left already.

People mistook her for a young boy from time to time, so she talked in an especially high-pitched voice while we were there, just to avoid conversations that would last for too long and include too many unnecessary questions.

Since the redacted spaces fit with Yuunagi's name just fine and the ones in Hotaru's Memory report align with Hiiro's name. Then the five letters should fit someone else's name as well. More than likely their surname. Since kai's surname was used. The previous redaction also displays that Hotaru and Hiiro more than likely knew each other outside of here.

Well what else proves this is more than likely Hotaru being referred to- For one this line,

I didn't know what words to use when talking to him anymore, and I subconsciously snuggled to her, as if wishing she'd protect me from this half-stranger.

Do you hate being called that? -I wouldn't refer to you in any way that you hate.

— Ah, it seems we can rest for a bit before ▆▆▆▆▆-kun finds us,

I changed my name in papers, but everyone keeps on calling me by the old one. 

Whenever you all talk behind my back, I remember it.

He brought new people in, set the mood, decided what we're going to do today, and repeated “we should simply all be friends” if any problems arised.

Trial 1 - 001 Memory report

Next year I'll do it. This is the worst, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. More than anything I enjoy fitting in. Teamwork was never known to me; this is why I have such a dream. Once I'll do it, I'll become a part of a team. That's for sure. - Ahh, right, this is what irritates you so much, I'm soft-hearted.

From the set up it seems that Miku and at the most three others snuck into this school event for free food. Under this pretense,

They put a tidy school uniform on me so the strangers surrounding us wouldn't suspect anything, and the person who walked around together with me introduced herself as my older sister if asked. She would say we decided to drop by after my classes had ended; because we don't visit events like this very often, and we don't get a chance to spend time together as family very often either. I gripped her hand as hard as I could to not get lost among all the shops. I liked the sound of “older sister”, “family” and “school”.

They enjoy the festival for a bit and then get back to their normal routine. Which seems to be shoplifting generally or bullying others. Though that's all I could really figure out on this front.

That brings us to the fourth one!

Unknown Memory 4: Bandage

Let's introduce the main characters: a boy born in an unlucky place,

Trial 1 - 008 Memory Report

Record no.2

It was a child born in an unlucky place.

and a boy born in an even unluckier one.

Q.1: Do you have a good home life?

Toa: Well, it's not a happy one.

“My friend always brings all the possible things with her, like, aside from napkins…” “…meds, candies, cosmetics, honorable mention: the impossible amount of stationery that you won't ever need on an average day, so on, so on, and all of this is not even for her.” “It's because, if another person needs something, she wants to be able to help at any time in any possible situation.” “I don't get along with others enough. So I don't bring these kinds of things with me.”

Unknown Memory 2: Breeze

— Ah! - she raises her head and takes a glimpse of the other person’s pitiable smile, before the phone disappears in the pocket of her small bag decorated with pins and ribbons.

Trial 1 - 005 Voice drama: "La-la~♪ A Fresh Voice"

Ayame: U-um. I talk to Remi-chan and Chise-chan, but they're so bright and sparkly, I need time to recover alone.

Hm… Toa-kun and Mi-kun are also nice to me, but I can't make myself spend much time with them, for some reason…

Could also be Ego but Ego predominantly writes in notebooks throughout the series,

The boy puts away the pen and leaves the room. She keeps quiet and stares down at her handwriting, crossing out the checkers on the paper; little cute-ish doodles here and there, teachers either don't mind them or have dealt with them already.

Saying teachers don't mind or have dealt with them already implies what she's writing in here is a school book. At some schools teachers have students work out of specific notebooks or designate a notebook for their class that they turn in to be looked over.

Outside of that the imagery for her journal isn't stationary,

It's a bullet journal.

Lastly Ayame is more likely to have tissues as someone trying to become an idol because they sometimes hand them out. Plus as she states,

Trial 1 - 005 Voice drama: "La-la~♪ A Fresh Voice"

Ayame: No— Nothing.

No… I'm going to be an idol, after all. I need to give love and hope no matter what happens. Even only at this last moment… I'll give it to you, Ego-chan.

Delivery from Muku Ayame! Chu~!

“…meds, candies, cosmetics, honorable mention: the impossible amount of stationery that you won't ever need on an average day, so on, so on, and all of this is not even for her.”

Trial 1 - 005 Memory report

We exchange cosmetics and aroma candles; of course, bracelets of our colors as well.

Report on the end of First Trial

Location → a closed room. ← She stated she didn't leave her house often, so must be that. Seems a bit like a hospital room.

“Okay, okay, don't voice it out. Yeah, I do often approach people. Hard to see someone else being in pain. I guess.” “It’s surprising that you don't get along with them, then. I thought everyone loves people who are caring.” … “It's that I never really care enough, I suppose…”

Trial 1 - 007 Voice drama: ".exe"

Toa: Fine, fine… Hm-m… I can let people copy my homework, but I can't explain the material to them. I'm not hardworking, so my free hours last the whole day and I'm always ready to spend time together or talk, but whenever I'm present, I can't do anything. I don't know what to say to support the other person, I'm too much of a coward to help, I don't voice out my opinions, the way I express my emotions is weird. There are a lot of things to list. —Ah, I must have said too much. Please forget it. No, although it's not so easy… Right, you must consider me weird as well, don't you, Warden-senpai.

Later in the Voice Drama

Ego: All of your emotions look a bit exaggerated.

Toa: Well, that's true. No one likes dry people, but when I'm trying to convey my emotions, it looks exaggerated.

Ego: Also, even though you consider yourself "an awful friend", you're being friendly with me.

Toa: Of course, it's nice to be on friendly terms with everyone! It’d be boring otherwise, I think? Being alone is boring.

Okay got stuck went to read the journal.

Report on the end of First Trial

Am still gravely and atrociously stuck. But that's due to the formatting of the words in the last Unknown Memories not the story itself. Sorry Tsumi dyslexia, dyscalculia and my borderline visual processing score is really fucking with this last one. Spacing it out may be helpful.

Right now I'm currently attempting to piece together the order of these events. Along with who's speaking when.

Which I think is intentional given this line,

Though as for their stories, you have to figure them out on your own.

This plays around with time too much to be read in a cohesive way. Hopping between days.

So let's try to figure out who's speaking when. Since it changes up partway through. To get a better idea of that we first need to figure out the perspective character. The perspective character here is Toa.

This is fully written from his pov. This is highlighted through the cadence used throughout. Though this line highlights that the most in my opinion.

No matter how hard he tries to keep the focus on the one he's talking to, he's staring somewhere away, how disgraceful; no need to feel sorry for a person like this. Would you care about excuses if you were ignored?

Trial 1 - 008 Memory Report

For me, you're a face in the crowd For you, I'm the crowd It's time to separate, goodbye, goodbye

“Hey, I don't want to see someone pretty like this crying.”

“I don't want to see you crying”

What? I was told this? I don't remember, nonsense.

“Come on, don't look at me like this.” The older boy lets out a weak, lighthearted laugh, then stops smiling and stares to the side with a detached gaze.

Still, whenever you appear in my sight, I can't help it— Hey… What do you think of this one, hey… Let me just— Detach more and more until it stops hurting— But another kind of pain pierces me, there's really no choice.

I'll wait for eternity, then, I'll come to meet you…

“We aren't friends”

I strangle my own throat, it's not me who is hurting, this pain doesn't belong to me.

“But can't you go with your friends?” “Sure…”

Unknown Memory 2: Breeze

"I just find it amazing that you get along with so many people. Perhaps it's your natural charm as an idol."

“I don't get along with others enough. So I don't bring these kinds of things with me.”

"…Ah. I just noticed. In the end, it's not really my story, is it?"

The world is simple; it's divided into those hurt and those not. I might get pitied, but pity is no compassion; it's a bribe, a payment, an order; even if I’m hurt for a moment as well, there's no story about my pain. I try to create it, but, how trivial — it ends up as a dagger in my body…

I was told, what a weakling. You won't get anywhere in life if you act like this.

It's my own life, though?!

—Despite that I was so obedient… Hey, fix your instructions before blaming me.

Q.5: Are you good at following directions?

Toa: I am. But most people aren't good at providing correct guidelines- So, for them it seems that I'm not.

Q.17: Feelings on authorities?

Toa: They give the most unclear directions and get the most angry when you fail to guess their thoughts. It’s a pain.

“I told you about this last week.” “Sorry!”

Trial 1 - 007 Voice drama: ".exe"

Ego: Oh, another writer.

Toa: A-another?

Ego: Remi-chan is a writer too. Did you not know? She seems to be pretty, eh… expressive about her skills in poetry.

Toa: Remi… Remi-chan… I think I remember something— about her poetry… Probably, she must have mentioned it…

Report on the end of First Trial

Memory problems.

Trial 1 - 007 Memory report

I’m sorry for being so weird, and not even capable of being useful. I’m sorry, please forget it for my sake.

Soon, I will forget it too — barely living through this body, only the rushed notes will remind.

Q.14: What are the qualities you look for in a friend?

Toa: It's enough if they let me be useful to them.

Miku: Reliability.

Miku is probably the one speaking first here. Since we know that Toa has a bad memory.

“Hey… I'll stay here with you. No need to go there. Alright? It's going to be okay.” “Even— Even if it means skipping classes! We can rest here until we're found.” “Just don't hurt yourself anymore.” If it's this kind of story, I don't want to be a part of it at all—

This pain doesn't belong to me - This is not my pain.

Trial 1 - 007 Memory report

I'm always late for an hour, I barely bring my homework and don't even bother changing my clothes when coming home; but, if you ask me to do anything, I'll do it — if you ask me to say something, I'll repeat word-by-word.

Just be sure to make clear instructions… Otherwise I can't figure out what you want.

Trial 1 - 008 Memory Report

I will I will do it I    do it   I will. I will do it. This is not my pain. Give me XXX XXXXX I I I ▆i▆▆ d▆ ▆t Please wake up soonWake up before you can remember With hands full of blood and a cowardly heart FreakYou couldn't do it in the end 

Redacted- I will do it.

Freak. You couldn't do it in the end.

Ahh, I hate being called weird. I don't care if people lie to me or use me; but I hate being ignored and pushed away.

Hey… What do you think of this one, hey… Let me just— Detach more and more until it stops hurting— 

But another kind of pain pierces me, there's really no choice. - it ends up as a dagger in my body…

Q.19: Was it your fault?

Toa: It must be my fault that I'm a bad friend, but it doesn't mean that everyone else is a good one.

Miku: No.

Tsumi are you trying to kill me specifically? Is this timed you know how to use a queue and schedule better than me. So i have to assume my timing is just fucking rancid. Okay here we go-

Unknown Memory 5: Ribbon

So this is Remi and Kai. Remi is the only one with pigtails in Tsumigram where it would need to be taken down to do braids or know the length.

Outside of that this Unknown Memory states,

— You're so complicated. — It's because I'm not a middle schooler. — Stop! — Huh? I'm not wrong though.

Star brought up how in Remi's birthday art even in the younger photo behind her she still has pigtails as well.

Report on the end of First Trial

Afraid of rejection and isolation, wants to be important.

Wants to be close to others yet keep them at an arm’s length. The feeling of distance, coldness.

— Isn't this ribbon similar to the red thread of fate? No way. — So if we wrap it around our pinkies, it's like we’re bound forever. This is too much. — No, it's stupid. — Hey!

Trial 1 - 004 Memory report

"I met someone I could care about."

Ah, how sickening, how sickening, though it's the only thing that gives me purpose. Isn't it disgusting? The feeling of liking someone. All the wrong times and wrong places are a matter of pure randomness; the human need to be glued to whoever one sees makes me wish to throw up, I avert my eyes and cover my mouth, shut up, no more, no words of ▆▆▆▆!

Redacted- Shut up, no more, no words of love.

Trial 1 - 004 Memory report

Closeness?

Physical distance? Love? Trust? Vulnerability? Those who were once close may no longer be, even though they know all about you?

— I don't believe in fate. Any relationship is just a matter of chance.

Trial 1 - 004 Memory report

I tell ▆▆▆ to stop coming to my school, but again, we have to meet here. Others are giving me weird glances; of course, it's hard for me to talk to them, I stumble and go silent, yet I hang out with someone like this. I don't want to… But you do not really…

It must look weird as hell. Ah, I know— The confused glances that people give me when I'm leaving school. How difficult.

Trial 1 - 002 Memory report

It hurts, you laugh at my poetry, it hurts even more; you say we're not friends, once again, and I make a story about an abandoned sea.

Please don't ever leave. Why is this promise so hard to make? If you don't want to leave, then why?

You always talk as if no opinion but yours exists; no wonder that everyone considers you pushy and doesn't dare to even utter a word against. — That said, I would still like to stay with others forever. The birds are chirping behind our backs. — This is the hardest part. If you want to stay forever with someone while not being bound together, you have to always work for it. I wonder when the sun will start setting.

Report on the end of First Trial

004

Rude and closed off. Fear of separation, betrayal and change. Hates fake people. Doesn't want to get close to others, but doesn't want to be left alone.

Right, it must look weird as hell, how difficult… I don't understand how to live my life very well, so I’m wasting my time on things I can't get… Not looking at her, I push the red ribbon back in her hands.

Trial 1 - 004 Memory report

Now, I'm one of those who shouldn't take on things if they don't know how to do them.

Closeness? Physical distance? Love? Trust? Vulnerability? - Closeness never matters; they switch their opinions in an instant, and always, always, always, always choose someone else instead.

[teaandtragedy]

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie - I. [Deimos x OC - R6S Fanfic]

I was in the mood to finally write something for one of my OCs, so figured I might as well start scribing down some Slimak lore 💅. If you are interested in him, you can check out his toyhouse profile HERE ! I won't be making one consistent story because I simply do not have the energy, but I'll tell his stories in a one-shot collection; maybe that way, I won't give up halfway. This probably won't end well for Slimak. Either way, enjoy <3

CONTENT WARNING: Mention of terrorist activity in a school, children's death.

Word count: 2161

_____________________________________________________________

Cyryl kicked off his boots with a heavy sigh but still made sure to somewhat nudge them to their designated place with his foot as he refused to let go of the two fully packed grocery bags in his hands. The nylon handle cut into his fingers, and they grew paler as blood had a hard time reaching in there with how the material denied it free passage. He wanted nothing more than to pack these things in and go back to bed for a nice, well-deserved nap.

Walking into the living room, the hairs on Cyryl’s neck stood up, and from the corner of his eyes, he noticed something - or rather someone - who did not belong in his well-maintained home. He placed down the grocery bags on his counter with hesitation, his eyes not leaving the form of the stranger.

The figure stood tall and confident, with their back towards Cyryl. They had their hands behind their back, observing one of the many paintings that decorated the grey-painted walls. As Cyryl shuffled to pick up the sharp letter opener that he had left on the table previously, the stranger finally turned around.

“Kept me waiting,” He huffed, their features covered by a black bulletproof mask tailored to somewhat mimic a human skull. Cyryl could feel the intruder’s scrutinizing gaze from behind their obsidian lenses. He watched as the man in full tactical gear sat down on one of the sofas and put his boots up on the table as if he owned the place. His cockiness would have usually just irritated Cyryl, but considering that he was a home invader, it made him all the more tense. Whoever this person was knew that they had the upper hand in the situation, and they were not afraid to display it.

“What do you want?” Cyryl finally spoke, his eyes squinting at the mysterious man as his brows furrowed. The question of “how did you get in” was irrelevant at this point - they made it in, and that fact mattered more than needing to find the method itself. Cyryl always considered his home safe. Many years in the military have taught them tricks that he still utilized to keep what was secure, and the fact that someone got past all of them made it known that he was not facing a simple burglar or, hell, even a common soldier.

“Straight to the point. I like you already,” The dark figure chuckled as they rested their hand in their lap, the military poncho on their back giving the illusion of it being the cape of some sort of supervillain. “You can put that down. I just want to talk. For now,” They gestured at the letter opener in Cyryl’s hand before pointing at the sofa facing his, like a therapist who encouraged their new client to feel themselves at home. The only problem was that, at the moment, Cyryl felt like his home did not belong to him. He debated within himself if he should listen or perhaps go on the offensive, but in the end, he opted to go with the safest route and sat down on the sofa after placing the opener on the table in front of him. It was still within reach if the need was there, but he knew that the rules of this engagement would not be in his favor. He was on his home turf, but devils know what the stranger had been up to in here while he was doing his groceries. He was just gone for half an hour, and that was more than enough for things to change.

The stranger sat up straight, taking their leg off of the table to address Cyryl more directly - a sign that maybe their intentions were not all malicious. Maybe. “Cyryl Fogt. Alias Slimak. It does not really roll off the tongue easily, so I’ll call you Slug if you don’t mind. You have been recommended to me.”

“By whom?”

“Well, aren’t you curious? That’s a secret, for now.” He rose up from the sofa and began to walk around the room in a casual manner, observing all of its trinkets before continuing. “But I was informed that you have been wronged. What if I told you that I can give you a chance at redemption?” They stopped their pacing to look at Cyryl, his posture indicating that he expected Cyryl’s answer to be a yes.

“Not until I know what you actually want from me.” Cyryl insisted as he tried his best to gauge anything about the intruder’s personality, but the tactical gear did little to aid in this. What he did see was top-quality equipment, one that was hard to come by or highly experimental. This meant that he had resources - arguably ones that others might envy. “And who the bloody hell are you anyway? You know my name, but I don’t know yours. I think it’s only fair that you tell me.”

“You can call me Deimos.” The stranger replied, and Cyryl could hear the smile in his voice as he did. “There is your introduction. Have you heard of the Keres Legion before?”

Cyryl nodded. While he has been discharged, it did not mean that he stopped all military activities. He still wanted to keep an eye on the global side of things, and the Keres Legion was a whisper that echoed through the dark corners of the PMC underworld. The name floated around like cloud on the sky, but their intentions remained hidden, and even his own research yielded little to no results. Perhaps this was the time to find out about them.

“Good. I expected nothing less based on what I was told about you. Now… do you remember what happened in 2014, December 10th?”

“Hard to forget,” Cyryl snorted, a snarl forming on his face as his nose wrinkled, his brows furrowed, and his upper lip lifted up just slightly on the right side to reveal one of his canines. This conversation was taking a turn that he did not expect - a personal one. The mention of the date pushed Cyryl’s heart to beat heavy with anger and frustration, and the way his posture changed told Deimos everything he needed to know.

“You and your team were sent to rescue a classroom of children.” Deimos began to recall the events despite him knowing that Cyryl knew them. “A bomb threat was called that day. However, you and your team were forced to stay idle due to bureaucracy. What happened that day?”

“You seem to know; why do I need to tell?”

“Because I want to see your anger, Slug.” Deimos tilted his head to the side like a curious dog. “After all, it sent you down the spiral that ended your career. A shame, really, considering all your achievements before.”

Cyryl took a deep breath as he thought to himself. His fingers gripped the armrest of the sofa before he lifted his fingers and began to drum with them. “We still had an entire building to clear when we got the order to cease all activity and standby. The students were on that floor, and so was the bomb. We were told to wait for command to give us the go - so we waited. Apparently, one of our politicians was giving a speech about the situation nearby, and they did not want us to walk through the scene as cameras and all were live. I knew the moment we were told to stand by that we were letting them die. If we were allowed to push forward, we would have been able to get them out before it was set to blow.”

“But you were told not to. You were forced to stand there and witness as the entire thing came crashing down. It must have been difficult. You knew what was right, and yet, they chained you down.” Deimos walked behind Cyryl as he spoke, placing his gloved hands on his shoulder. He could feel the muscles tense under his fingertips - but not at the contact, but the memory itself. “After that, you have been reported for getting in trouble with your superiors multiple times - I assume because of the lost trust. Cannot blame ya. But what if I told you that I can give you a place somewhere where we fight again? You have been tied to politicians who used you for their own chess games, taking power away from you, the person actually on the field, and who knows the weight of pulling the trigger.”

“And if I say no?” Cyryl’s question elicited another chuckle.

“I’ll leave, and you’ll never see me again.” Cyryl could tell that this was a lie. It would never be this simple. There is no chance that someone would break into his home, talk about all this classified shit, and then say that oh, they will leave. There was a plan B, and that would probably end with his death. But honestly, he did not want to say no. What Deimos said was intriguing, and the fire inside him that was kept alive by frustration had now started to dance to the lullaby of some sort of hope. But he also knew that what he was about to do could doom him. The Keres Legion was a private military company at best and a terrorist group at worst. How would he know that he would not be forced to take the life of innocents?

“What’s your principle?”

“Ah, still need convincing? Does Rainbow ring a bell?”

“The international counterterrorism unit? Of course.”

“Back in my days, it was a unit that served to keep the world safe - until they fell into the same trap as your unit did. They are now bound to politics as the world crumbles around them. They are willingly taking part in a chess game where they are nothing but pawns. I want to end Rainbow - a new unit needs to take its place, untouched by bureaucracy.”

“And Keres is the medicine to this problem?”

“It will be. But I need soldiers of devotion and skill. And you, Slug, fit the bill. You know what’s at stake.”

Cyryl looked up at Deimos, who had now circled back to sitting on the sofa in front of him, his leg, just like before, lying on the coffee table comfortably as he waited for an answer.

“Do I have a choice?”

“The fact that you are still alive should suffice as the answer to that question.”

Cyryl hated the fact that Deimos undeniably had a charm that was working on him. This mysterious soldier was bouncing his feelings around as if it were a toy, and while Cyryl knew that he was being played, he could not resist its call. Deimos was dangerous, and yet, Cyryl was attracted to this danger. He wanted to believe in what he had said against his better judgment. He looked at Deimos for one last time before averting his gaze.

“I need a separate room and bathroom from the others.” He stated before looking back at Deimos. “If that’s manageable, consider me part of your cause.”

“What makes you think you have any leverage to make such demands?” Deimos leaned forward, his head once again slightly tilted as he analyzed Cyryl’s facial expression.

“You came here yourself. You did not send some low-caliber soldier. That makes me think that I might be more desirable than your average goon. Or, you could just be really fucking bored and decided to come all the way to Poland for fun. I’ll take my chances and say it’s the first.”

Deimos leaned back with a loud hum. If not for his mask, his smirk would have been evident to the soldier sitting opposite to him. “The puppy does have fangs,” he thought to himself before clapping his hands together and standing up. “Consider it done. Welcome to the Keres Legion, soldier.”

“When are we leaving, sir?” Cyryl stood up as well, extending his hand towards Deimos for a shake - he did not expect him to take it, but when his gloved hand met his, the deal was sealed in honor as well.

“Now. Pack your things.” Deimos’ answer was curt before he simply walked out the entrance door, not bothering to give Cyryl any more information. Cyryl was sure that the moment he left his home, his life as he knew it would cease to exist. It only dawned on him what he agreed to.

“Well… shit,” He flopped back into the sofa with a sigh, his eyes glued to the ceiling. But part of him was glad. He missed being a soldier… and if there was no red tape, perhaps things could change for the better.

[lanternluck]

Theatre Bros Act 1

Deal with the Creator

Part 1

The creator goes to great lengths to try and get a one up on his rouge creations.

Starting with Eclipse.

Eclipse was tidying up after a long day of teaching kids stage etiquette. He’s a bit tuckered out but used his magic to assist in his cleaning efforts. He has plans to have a meal out with the whole family in a little while. Which he greatly dreads.

Solar and Earth basically tricked him into agreeing to it. Though not like he had much of a choice to begin with. It’s either join the meal or awkwardly sit in the car for a few hours. He’d rather be fed than bored.

Eclipse goes onto the stage to pick up a prop left behind when he hears a noise coming from one of the wings. He arms his magic and turns round to see a small figure in silhouette.

“Theatres closed, go home.” He says rather annoyed.

“Oh, I’m not here for the theatre.” An all too familiar voice says. The figure moves closer to Eclipse, revealing its form to be one of the creators drones.

“Oh great what are you doing here? If sun and moon find out, they’d flip! That would be a sight to see.”

“I am here for you Eclipse. You show great skills with your magic.” The creators drone starts.

“So you want my magic? Well too bad. I’m not gonna give it to you. Now go, I have more important things to do than to talk with your drone.” Eclipse starts to feel much more tired than before.

“Tired are you? Perhaps I could suggest you take a nap? A very long and deep one?”

“Why would I take any suggestions from you?” Eclipse started to quieten at the end there. He feels THAT tiredness. “What did you do? Where’s Solar?”

“Your brother? Oh I’m simply distracting him with another drone of mine. He should be reaching far enough for that link of yours to take its effect.”

Eclipse collapses to his knees. Realising he’s been outwitted.

“How did you… *yawn*… do this?” Eclipse says as he lays down, vision starting to blur. The drone crouches down to his level.

“It was simple really. I studied you and found that the proximity to you brother is your weakness!”

Eclipse fades into slumber.

[mittens-220]

Hataraku Maou-sama! ES!! Summary (Third Story) Part 1

So as mentioned in my previous post, the third story has a longer summary/translation from the chinese website. I'm translating it in parts and will update when I have time.

Rika came to visit:

“Hey—Urushihara-san! You’re at home, right! Can you help open the door?”

Rika was sure that she could hear the sound of rubbing cloth.

“I want to open a Gate, would only disturb for a while, let me in for a while—! Please!”

“......”

“Urushi—hara—sa–n—!”

After pressing on the doorbell a few times, a sound of someone moving slowly was finally heard from inside, Urushihara Hanzo showed an unhappy expression just as Rika predicted, looking at her through the gap in the door.

“......What.”

“I’m sorry. I want to open a Gate, thus disturbing you!”

“I’m still taking a nap?”

“Oh my, you actually just dislike troublesome things so you don’t want to pay attention to me, right? The half-eaten snack is still in the corner of the closet, and I heard you moving the first time I pressed the doorbell.”

Perhaps she hit the target, Urushihara’s frown deepened.

“.......If you want to open a Gate, can’t you just do it in the corridor.”

“This is also considered outside. And I heard Ashiya-san and Emi say, Urushihara-san usually does online shopping, right? If a delivery person, newspaper delivery person or postman enters while opening the Gate, wouldn’t that be really bad.”

“Haah……seriously. Come in quickly. I am busy.”

Even though it was not known what he could be busy with while staying in the closet, it still felt awkward to tease Urushihara, so Rika placed the angel feather pen on the tatami.

“I say, I may look like this, but I am still a demon who can get rid of a human with a finger. If you act like this some more……”

Just as Urushihara decided to at least complain with one sentence,

“Hey—”

Rika had already disappeared, the Gate also closed.

Urushihara suddenly remembered and looked towards the porch, Rika’s shoes were there.

Because Urushihara was around, she took off her shoes as if she was simply going to another person’s house.

“......Forget it, it’s not my fault anyway.”

Even though he thought about whether he should throw the shoes into the Gate, at this moment, the Gate had already closed.

“And, I am Demon General Lucifer. It doesn’t matter if you are Emilia’s friend or what, isn’t this having no sense of boundaries at all?”

Rika talked about Lucifer after meeting up with Emi:

“This is fine~but why aren’t you wearing shoes~?”

“Ah. About this.”

Rika summarised her conversation with Urushihara in Villa Rosa Sasazuka Room 201, Emerada’s expression turned stern.

“As expected~ Lucifer is scum~”

“About this, Chiho and Ashiya-san and I also frequently……eh? Scum?”

This was the first time Rika heard Emerada scold other people like this, and could not help but widen her eyes.

“This kind of person should be described like this~. Well, even though that guy is not human~”

“Ah, uh, yeah.”

“Rika-san has to be careful too, okay~. That guy Lucifer, you don’t know when he would suddenly attack humans~. Because for species like demons, in principle, you cannot be careless~”

“I, I know. Erhm, thanks for your treatment. I will pay attention next time……”

(skipping unrelated conversation)

“Based on what I understand until now, it is considered natural……but Emerada-san, dislikes Urushihara-san that much?”

“Ah…… right now?”

Emi showed a troubled smile, sitting next to Rika.

“That’s right. Because there needs to be cooperation now, so there is no choice but to interact normally, but when Em is working with the Demon King and the others, she must be trying hard to tolerate it.”

“Yeah, matters in this aspect. But, they are similar to workers who were originally in opposing factions. But, I saw Emerada-san speak with Ashiya-san, how should I put it, it feels normal.”

“When we fought with Alsiel directly, he was already a demon who could be spoken to, and additionally, Em and Lucifer, there are too many direct causes.”

“Direct causes?”

“Yeah. So, I feel that even if me and the Demon King and Lucifer are only harmonious on the surface, Em might also dislike it greatly. Even though I did not feel her showing it.”

Emi looked down slightly.

(skipping Rika wishing to listen to the story)

“Or rather, it could be because Rika suddenly became connected to Ente Isla, so I have to tell you. The original nature of the relationship between our “Hero group’ and the ‘Demon King Army’...... but with this, it might change the impression of ‘Maou’, ‘Ashiya’ and ‘Urushihara’ in your heart.”

(skip Rika agreeing to continue)

“Amongst us, Em has the greatest hostility towards the Demon King Army. Even though there are many reasons, there must be areas I also do not understand……but her hostility towards Lucifer is especially strong, there are clear reasons.”

“Un.”

Emi deliberated on her wordings, Rika did not rush her.

She was waiting for Emi to speak naturally.

“Em, lost in a direct battle with Lucifer, and was forced to submit to him. Because of this, our hometown—Western Continent Saint Aire empire, fell under Lucifer’s command.”

“Urushihara-san ruling a country, this cannot be imagined at all……but many unbelievable things also happened earlier. Demons can also rule a country huh.”

“I am also unclear on what demons in other lands can do. But, the invasion of the Demon King Army caused the areas controlled by humans to decrease rapidly, almost all of the Western Continent fell into Lucifer’s hands. My journey, started during those despairing conditions.”

Then Emi—Emilia Justina started to narrate.

The Hero’s journey of saving the world, the first story.