#notes: this chapter was twisted and fucked up and the headmaster is twisted and fucked up

[akuarchives]

Chapter 39

[sanctum-of-ramshackle]

“I’ll fight anybody, I’ll fight everybody…”

[TWST AU]: In this timeline, there’s an MC/Yuu who is also from the Valorant universe, but with unique abilities.

[Synopsis]: Agent!MC/Yuu was testing the limits of their abilities, but somehow ended with twisted fairytale shenanigans.

[Gender Neutral MC/Yuu]

[TW]: Fighting, guns, some cursing, and mild body horror? (Scarring on MC/Yuu’s body) and I think that’s about everything.

[(A/N)]: Have I already told you I love this character? I can’t help it! My main blog is basically plagued with reblogs of this Valorant agent.

[(A/N #2)]: You know the drill! This MC/Yuu variant is between 16-18 age range and gifs will be included to visualize what kind of actions will there be.

[(A/N #3)]: Yami [闇 (やみ)] meaning “Darkness” or “The Dark” in Japanese.

[Daichi Yamamoto- One Way]

[Yoru Fan Beat Trailer ft. AK-69, Hanabi, Kojo]

Agent Yami [闇 (やみ)], a.k.a. MC/Yuu Kiritani is the cousin of Agent Yoru, The Riftwalker.

They got in contact with Radianite when they also were checking in the infamous Icebox, promptly getting affected by its properties and developed similar abilities like their cool older cousin.

You can say the training was painful.

Agent!MC/Yuu: *Dejects through one of their rifts and lands on Yoru* Ryo?! Are you okay?

Yoru: *Groans* I’m good. Fix your landing.

Agent!MC/Yuu: Sorry. I’ll get it better.

With enough timing and practice, they’re ready for missions.

Having two Riftwalkers would be beneficial for every mission.

Sometimes they compete each other on who gets the highest kill count.

During another training session, they wanted to test the limits to their riftwalking powers, but Yoru warned them the consequences of misusing their abilities.

Did they listen? No.

Did they leave a note for their cousin explaining about ��breaking limits”? Yes.

As they were traveling through rifts and the darkness, they continued further ahead.

…

Agent Yami somehow ended up in a castle after dark.

They take off their mask and become cautious as this is unfamiliar territory.

Agent Yami pulls out their firearm, ready to shoot possible enemies.

Just as they were about to sneak out, they were spotted by Headmaster Crowley.

Crowley: Excuse me? Students are prohibited to be in this area.

Agent!MC/Yuu: くそ [Kuso].

Crowley: Hm?

Agent Yami flash-bangs in front of Crowley, temporarily blinding him.

Crowley: My eyes!

They knock him over and start running away from the scene.

While they ran, Agent Yami trips over what seems to be a huge furry monster.

Agent!MC/Yuu: Fuck. How did I trip over a cat?

Grim: Who are you callin’ a cat?! I’m Grim the Great!

Agent!MC/Yuu: …It talks. I’m leaving. *Rips open a rift*

Grim: Nyah?! Wait! *Grabs onto them*

Agent!MC/Yuu: Get off! You’ll get harmed in the darkness.

Crowley: *Finds the two* Seize your running!

The two ran off again and Agent Yami tucks Grim in their leather coat.

The young agent pulls out their mask, immediately wears it, then rips open another rift and jumps through.

Both of them ended up in the Mirror Chamber where the dorm-sorting ceremony takes place like in the Prologue.

Everyone was looking at the newcomer, with confusion.

Agent!MC/Yuu: What the…Is this a cult?

Crowley: *Barges inside* You! How dare you blinding the headmaster of Night Raven College?

Agent!MC/Yuu: *Confused* Night Raven what?

Crowley: The all-boys school of magic.

Agent!MC/Yuu: …Are you trippin’ or somethin’?

Needless to say, there were explanations exchanged and the ceremony continued.

Oh yeah.

Agent Yami can’t go back to their dimension as their dimensional scars are opening up and need time to heal over.

It wasn’t pleasant to see.

[During Chapter 1: Riddle’s Overblot]

Deuce: Where’s MC/Yuu?!

Agent!MC/Yuu: *Rips through a rift behind Overblot!Riddle*

Agent!MC/Yuu: *Counterattacks him with a baseball bat*

*WHAM!!!*

Ace & Deuce: OH!

Overblot!Riddle: *Spits out the Blot stone and falls unconscious*

Trey: RIDDLE!!!

Agent!MC/Yuu: I cannot waste bullets on someone like him.

[P.E.: Sports Field]

Agent!MC/Yuu: *Practicing their abilities* *Sends out a mirror decoy of themselves*

Cater: Yo, Yami-Chan/Kun!

Agent!MC/Yuu: Cater, don’t come towards-!

[Cater broke the decoy and he also became temporarily blinded from the flash.]

Agent!MC/Yuu: *Helps guiding the poor Third Year back to his dorm* I told you not to come close whenever I’m training. My FAKEOUT decoy is effective.

Cater: Sorry, Yami…

Agent!MC/Yuu: *Sighs* ‘Is this how Ryo feels with his colleagues?’

[Hallway]

Savanaclaw Student: You think you’re so tough because you have those weird powers.

Agent!MC/Yuu: Are you trying to pick a fight? You think that’s tough considering you’ll lose anyway.

Savanaclaw Student: Why you little… *Throws a punch*

Agent!MC/Yuu: *Blocks the attack* Trying to instigate a brawl? Bad idea.

[They use their riftwalking abilities to attack the Savanaclaw student. They dodge the blows, punches their face, kicking them off balance and knocks them over.]

Savanaclaw Student: *Lying on the floor with their head spinning*

Agent!MC/Yuu: *Pulls out their Butterfly Comb to fix their hair* I told you. Bad idea to instigate a brawl. *Walks away*

Epel: *Watched the whole fight* Whoa.

[Ramshackle Dorm]

Deuce: *Notices the visible scars* Yami…You have scars?

Agent!MC/Yuu: Hm? Oh, yeah. These Dimensional scars are from walking through the rifts. My cousin told me that this Radiant power is not much of a blessing and consequences will happen. I have to ease off from using too much.

Deuce: Oh. Then what about these?

Agent!MC/Yuu: Previous missions and fights. I guess finishing fights runs in the family.

I’m thinking after surviving a fairytale bogus world, they’re able to return to their original world.

You can imagine the young agent sprinting through the halls of the base, trying to find their mentor/blood-related relative.

Agent!MC/Yuu: YORU!

Yoru: YAMI!

Agent!MC/Yuu: *Tackles him with a tight hug*

Yoru:くそ [Kuso]! What was that for?

Agent!MC/Yuu: I’m sorry I broke the limits! I went through a hellish experience and it took me so long to find the pathway back here with everybody I know and love. How long was I gone for?

Yoru: A month.

Agent!MC/Yuu: …Seriously? I suffered a month? It was a year for me.

Yeah, MC/Yuu will never break limits again.

✨[Reblogging helps creators and creates more content.]💫

[twistedwonderlandsimps]

(infodump anon here!) Okay so assuming you've already done the savanaclaw chapter here's my take on how the Relive! Yuu AU would go!!! Okay so starting directly from where we left off---considering that Crowley still hasn't assigned Yuu to investigate the shenanigans and most of the Heartslabyul boys (excluding Cater are here) are in Ramshackle so the start goes a little bit differently (But the story still goes the same no matter how poorly executed the whole chap was but this isn't a rewrite so moving on---).

So basically the start goes a little bit something like this: The atmosphere is nice and everything is fine. The guys are just now goofing off and bantering around amongst themselves with Yuu sometimes chiming in a thing or two. Trey and Riddle don't say a word about what... happened but the two of them make a mental note to approach their freshmen about it later (they have to after all, it feels wrong to just hide it from them not when they've been trying to protect Yuu. They have to apologize to them too.) But then it gets broken when bastard crow man Crowley arrives to assign Yuu as the investigator to finish this whole mess. The guys protest not wanting to put Yuu in anymore danger but alas the headmaster's amazing skill is ignoring all of his promise and dumping them to the most capable person even if the said person is a whole ass child but i digress. Anyways after assigning Yuu the headmaster goes away leaving the boys to try and convince Yuu not to go through with this but Yuu is stubborn and tells them not to worry but the Heartslabyul boys are just as stubborn so they all manage to convince Yuu to let them tag along--just to be safe. Moving on the next day. The same thing still goes along Cater tags along, they go to a bunch of dorms and then... They meet the tweels. So this is where it all goes downhill and where Cater joins the trauma group!!! Yay!!!! *cries*

Anywayys You know how the tweels chase after the group and fight them? The same thing happens but Yuu dies during the fight, how it goes--goes something like this: During the fight Floyd gets too caught up in the moment and tries to punch Ace in a way that will obviously kill him due to his strength (he's a merman, and non-human folks are described to be stronger than their human counterparts...) Yuu steps in but... They couldn't block the hit in time and ends up getting blown away. They hit the wall where Cater is nearby and well... a crack could be heard resounding. They fall limp and Cater scrambles to their side, desperate. The others aren't stupid and well... lets just say there was a reason why you never angered wonderland and its residents--the original deal or the twisted version of it. Anyways, so the tweels back off after the heartslabyul boys start raging back at them due to the fact that they have to go back to Mostro Lounge (they don't realize their mistake but don't worry they will someday :D)

And the boys scramble to where Yuu is with Cater just in shock. Because oh fuck, oh fuck---Yuu is--Yuu is, and just as he's about to spiral the other members nudge him to where Yuu's head wound is and look see its healing its fine and Yuu's eyes flutter open to Cater's wide and disbelieving ones and Yuu's heart breaks.

You can decide what happens during/after this huehuehue >:)))

Hshsshkskshkhs—it’s been a long time, I know, I know. This ask has been marinated for too long in the ask box and I’ve only managed to answer it now, ehehe.

===

Personally, I think the chances of someone killing Yuu accidentally when there’s about 5 people following after them who can ‘see’ and is aware of Yuu’s ‘condition’ is extremely low (but never zero). Especially when one of them, Riddle, recently just witnessed one of Yuu’s deaths. Still, there’s that unspoken underlying tension just hanging in the air. Meeting the tweels would just make the others more aware of their surroundings and, subsequently, of Yuu. They’ll think of things like, ‘What things can kill Yuu here? The risk of being with these unknown people and the risk of being in an unsafe environment?’, ‘If something happens, how can we avoid it?’, ‘They’re dangerous, what do we do if they attack? Who’ll be targeted first?’, or ‘How likely is Yuu to die in the presence of these two?’

Also, I like to think Floyd has some control over his strength but then again he’s a wild card which makes him pretty unexpected so him getting too caught up in the moment and losing control over his strength doesn’t sound too impossible. Rather than straight up killing anyone, though, he might just seriously injure them.

Also also, I think it’s much more exciting if Cater witnesses Yuu dying when Yuu thinks that they’re all alone. Maybe Yuu broke a rib and it punctured their lungs because of the punch or something but instead of seeking medical and magical help, they thought it would be better to just off themselves to instantly get healed because zero evidence. From what I know of Cater, he’s good at hiding his thoughts and feelings, preferring to keep to himself. He also doesn’t tell anyone of his issues so witnessing a scene like this would prompt him to investigate in secret rather than straight up ask Yuu what the fuck just happened, and with his clones, getting the information he needs might be significantly faster. Anyway, he’s still trying to process the first stage of grief. They all are. Let them be.

He’ll start to notice weird inconsistencies in stories regarding Yuu like that time at Main Street when Grim and Ace were fighting. The other students who were passing there told him that they got detention because they scorched the Queen of Hearts statue but he checked the video footage that someone fortunately took that day and it was clear that the statue wasn’t touched in any way but why did he feel like he was overlooking something?

He also asks the braincell group on what they did in the Dwarf’s Mine back then and notice that they all seem tight-lipped about it, having looks of unease appearing on their face.

Additionally, he’s noticed that Riddle and Trey have been recently encouraging their dorm members to hold on to the railings when they were walking on the stairs. It was better to be safe than sorry after all, they said. One missed step and you could sprain your ankle, or twist your arm, or hit your head on the way down, or break your ne--

Though, ever since the Dorm Leader and the Vice Dorm Leader started to keep reminding them to do this, Cater noticed that Yuu always had a death grip on the railings whenever they took the stairs while their other hand rubbed their neck uncomfortably.

Cater will probably keep the fact that he vaguely knows what’s going on a secret and keeps a closer eye on Yuu.

So anyway, the braincell group doesn’t know that Trey, Riddle, and Cater knows. Trey and Riddle knows that the braincell group knows but doesn’t know that Cater knows. Cater suspects that Trey, Riddle and the braincell group’s hiding something and it might have something to do with what he saw that time when Yuu thought they were alone. Yuu’s just vibing. They’re all pretending that everything’s okay when nothing’s okay. Someone please get them all therapy.

[lemoncherrypop]

To Build A Home

seventeen x harry potter au

deatheater!seungcheol x gryffindorprincess!reader

summary:  The war has finally come and your entire world falls into ruin. After a surprise attack from the Death Eaters, you barely escape with your life and find refuge in a faraway safe house. Everything would have been fine, all things considered, except for the fact that you had fallen right into the snake’s pit. 

notes: no major warnings in this chapter. just as a little heads up, my fic will have a handful of OC characters, so i hope you don’t mind too much. once again, thanks again to @minigum​ for being my amazing beta. you have all my love 🖤 length: 6k

Series Masterlist

One l Two l Three | Four | Five | Six l coming soon...

Chapter Two

//

A wand whips out and points directly at your neck the second you walk through the door.

“Who transfigured his toad into a worm instead of a snake last year?” A familiar voice questions you with a quiet but menacing authority.

The room you enter is too bright in contrast to the outside world, and there is a strong earthy scent hanging in the air from the dozens of candles placed on every surface. You rub your eyes with a soiled hand in an attempt to clear your vision, and try to shove the wand away from your jugular when someone roughly seizes both your hands away. There’s a grunt from you in protest, but you’ve already fought your battle, and you are too weak to resist as your wrists are twisted behind your back in a tight vice.

“What the fuck is going—”

“Answer the question.” A different voice cuts you off.

You blink angrily, adjusting your vision from the grim in your eyes.

“It was Josh,” you answer puzzled, eyes finally coming to see another one of your classmates from Slytherin, Jeon Wonwoo.

“Our third year— who got knocked down by that hippogriff in our care of magical creatures class?” Another strange question.

“Hey—”

“Shut it. We need an answer.”

Swallowing, you surveyed the room with suspicion. Mingyu was standing by himself with a stoic expression, arms crossed and leaning against a wall on the side. The one holding their wand to your neck and asking you the bizarre questions was Wonwoo. Immobilized, you sneak a glance with a side eye and see Xu Minghao, yet another Slytherin, locking your hands aggressively behind your back.

Snarling, you try to get a better grip on your wand when it flies out of your hand. Your head snaps up with a gasp, your eyes leveling directly to the man who cast the disarming charm.

Choi Seungcheol. The worst of all the Slytherins.

He was your own personal hell.

He was the boy who went out of his way to ruin your life in every way possible since you bumped into him accidently before the sorting hat. He was the one who knocked you off your broomstick during the final Quidditch match in your fifth year, making you snap both of your legs in half from the steep drop. He was the one who ratted out the whereabouts of your fellow muggleborn friends to try and get them caught by his Death Eater father. He was the one who snuck in over a hundred Death Eaters into Hogwarts last year, and murdered the Headmaster.

He was one of them now. He was a Death Eater. And he’d be suspect number one if your body was ever found dead in a ditch of Knockturn Alley.

Seungcheol stood just a few steps away from you, sneering and looking down at you with his usual haughty and arrogant expression. He twirled your wand in his fingers, mockingly.

“Answer the question,” Minghao repeats, pressing down even harder on your hands.

“Who got knocked down by the hippogriff?” You scoff, eyes narrowing as you glare into Seungcheol’s dark eyes. “Well, I’m looking right at him.”

Seungcheol bristles at your answer, head jerking to the side and opened his mouth with a deep scowl. “Of all the fucking questions to ask!”

“That’s not important right now,” Wonwoo snaps back at him.

“What’s with all these questions?” you complain, sounding exasperated. You’ve resigned to the fact that Minghao was holding you in a deeply uncomfortable position at the moment. If you had your usual strength, you would’ve been able to snap the skinny twat’s body into two in an instant, but your escape from Hogwarts had drained almost all your physical energy.

“It’s routine here.” Mingyu speaks up. “We have to make sure you’re not someone else. Polyjuice has gotten very popular this year.”

Wonwoo keeps his distance with you and mutters a few spells under his breath, then begins scanning your face, keeping the tip of his wand disturbingly close to your eyes.

“Excuse me��� for fuck’s sake, Wonwoo,” You snarl at him. “What the fuck is this now? Give me back my fucking wand!”

“Definitely not under the imperius curse either,” Seungcheol chuckles darkly. In a taunt, he dangles his wand in front of your eyes to try to spark your temper. “There’s that bitchy attitude no ones missed.”

Wonwoo scowls at Seungcheol’s crude comment, and draws his wand back when he’s done scanning you. “She’s clean.” He states and nods to Minghao.

Minghao reluctantly lets go of you, and you rub your sore wrists as you continue to glare at Seungcheol.

“The fuck are you looking at—”

Nails drawn out like claws, you jump on him. Diving your fingers immediately into his hair and jumper, you get a good grip on him and manage to get one good kick to his groin before the rest of the boys pull you back.

Seungcheol bends over in pain and crumples down onto the floor. Your wand falls out of his hand and rolls out of his way on the carpet.

“Let go of me!” You shout, almost biting the air as your movements are once again restricted. “What the fuck is he doing here? He’s a fucking Death Eater!”

Minghao easily resumes his previous position. “I’d be careful if I were you.” He tells you as a warning, but you can’t help but laugh at his words.

“Careful of who?” You crack up at the sight of your worst enemy on his knees in front of you. “Of this dickhead?”

“Look around you,” Seungcheol grits out. “In case you haven’t noticed, we’re all Death Eaters here. You’re in our territory now, bitch. You’ll be knocked down before you can even open your filthy mudblood mouth!”

Your eyes narrow to slits when you hear the word. “That’s a load of shit coming from someone whose on the floor—”

“He’s right,” Wonwoo interrupts you. “We’ve all got the mark.”

“What—” Your mouth drops open. “All of you? Death Eaters?”

Wonwoo presses his lips tightly together, eyes flitting up to Mingyu’s and lets go of his grip on your arm.

“Mingyu?” You turn to the towering man on your other side, watching him step back after he also releases your arm. “Even you?”

Mingyu nods slowly, carefully watching setting a distance between you and himself. “That’s why we’re all in this house,” he says. “We’re here to hide.”

Venom bubbled up in your throat, you could taste it in the back of your throat. “I knew it. I knew she should’ve never dated you! How could you do this?”

“I didn’t have a choice.” His voice is devoid of any emotions. “None of us did.”

“I can’t believe I was dumb enough to trust someone like you!”

“You can trust us—”

“You’re just like the rest of them snakes—”

“Hey, listen. Just listen!” Minghao snaps, losing his calm and grabs your shoulders, forcibly turning you around so you could face him. “We won’t hurt you, not here. We’re all in hiding! No one will hurt you.”

“Says who?” Seungcheol growls.

“Shut it!” Mingyu barks at him. “You made a deal with me, asshole.”

“How am I supposed to trust any of you?” You question them angrily. “You’re still Death Eaters!”

“We were Death Eaters,” Wonwoo corrects you. “We’ve all defected.”

“Bullshit! You think I’d believe that? Just look at the mark on your arms!”

“The mark on our arms?” Seungcheol rounds back, pushing Mingyu to the side to face you directly. “You think we don’t fucking know what’s on our arms?”

Gritting your teeth, you look up at him with fury. Poison dripping from your eyes.

Seungcheol sharply tugs his sleeve up his arm, angling his forearm for you to see his Dark Mark. “Why don’t you see for yourself? Here. Take a closer look.” He sneers at his own arm, looking down at the scar as if it were a deformity. “Do you see it now?”

The skin on his forearm looked as if it had patched itself over and over again. The mark was still very distinct, the black of the skull and the snake were still very prominent, but the details were blurry, and the skin that outlined the mark looked as if they had eroded away. It reminded you vaguely of the scars on your knees from when you had tripped onto a concrete pavement as a child. Your fingers reached out tentatively, curious to know how the broken skin felt like, but Seungcheol pulled his arm back away instantly.

“Who did that?” The question falls out of your lips before you can even process it.

“We did.” Wonwoo answers for the group. “Like I said, we’ve all defected.”

“We can’t get rid of it,” Minghao adds on.”No matter what we did, the mark wouldn’t disappear. Think it goes down to the bone, it’s a cursed mark after all. It’ll be with us forever, I reckon. The least we can do is tarnish the skin that it’s on. We hated even looking at it.”

“You harmed yourself for this?” You gulp down acid, eyeing the Dark Mark with apprehension. Was the snake moving on it’s own? Or was it just the muscle in Minghao’s arm that twitched? You didn’t know.

“Hurt like a bitch to do it. Still does.” Seungcheol stares down at it somberly. “Fact of the matter is, we’re just a bunch of rejects. Fucking cowards, all of us. We ran away to hide because we didn’t want to fight in the war.”

“It’s not because we’re cowards. No, we’re just trying to survive.” Wonwoo sternly corrects him.

“Do you believe us now?” Mingyu looks at you tiredly, running his fingers through his hair with a deep sigh. “Doesn’t matter anyhow, I can’t be here any longer. I need to be outside.” He grabs a long trench coat off a hanger on the wall and storms back outside.

Baffled, you ask, “He’s going back out in this weather?” You watch him from the large window, and he quickly walks out past the wards.

“Are you daft?” Seungcheol rolls his eyes at you. “Who do you think he’s waiting for?”

Your eyes open wide in surprise. “Jean!” you gasp, hope blooming in your chest. “She’s coming here as well?”

“Sweet Salazar, do you know nothing?” Minghao looks down at you with almost a pitiful expression.

“I’ll knock that look off your face, you shithead,” you scowl. “The only instructions I got was to reach my portkey after midnight. Jean didn’t tell me anything else.”

“Mingyu asked her not to,” Wonwoo admitted. “It’s safer for us the less people know of this house. We can’t compromise anything.”

“I still voted to not have you to join us, by the way.” Seungcheol jeered.

“If I knew you’d be in here, I would’ve just stayed at Hogwarts and fought alongside the professors!” You retort back vehemently.

“To fight the Death Eaters? You really are mad. With what skills, Princess?” He mocks you.

Hearing your childish nickname roll out so easily from his mouth easily brought your blood back to a boil. Oh how much you loathed this man.

“How convenient of you to forget the time I beat you during our dueling match.” You crossed your arms across your chest, openly taunting him of his past embarrassments.

“In third year? We were only children back then—”

“And I’ve only gotten better with time—”

“But you suck at potions—”

“But I’m the best in defense against the dark arts!”

“Load of horseshit!”

“What am I going to do when a Death Eater attacks me straight on? Throw a draught of the living death at them!?”

“ Enough .” Minghao slices through the air with a sharp look. “You’re still acting like children, the both of you.”

“I’ll have you know, I fought off two Death Eaters on my own to get here,” you continue, ignoring Minghao’s dark glare. “Managed to knock out a Death Eater named Cicero, and I could’ve been captured by the other, but I outran him.”

“Cicero?” Wonwoo’s eyes widen by a fraction. “Shit. Why would they send him?”

“If Cicero went after you… the other Death Eater must’ve been Selpie.” Minghao quirks an eyebrow, expression still dark but now with a hint of awe. “They work as a pair. Always together. Gotta give you more credit, Gryffindor, I’m surprised you managed to outrun him.

A shaky breath slips out of your lips. “I almost didn’t,” you admit to them reluctantly. “I could feel his fingers on the back of my neck before I reached the portkey.” Damn yourself for even showing the snakes even the tiniest sign of weakness.

Wonwoo bends down to pick up your wand and stares at it in his hand. He seemed hesitant to hand it back to you, but only a short moment passes before he places it back into your open hand. “Well, if my words mean anything to you… I am glad that you made it here.”

Your fingers curl around your wand, feeling the safety in the magic rushing back in the tip of your fingers again. You aren’t sure what to make of his words. Your mistrust of the Slytherins had run in your blood for so long, but for the first time ever, Wonwoo seemed genuine.

“Getting caught by those two is worse than death itself.” Minghao tells you, and it almost sounds like a forewarning.

A cold shiver runs down your back and you remember the manic laughter of the Death Eater who chased you. There’s a chill in the air, but you blame it on your sodden clothes that’s still stuck to every part of your body. “How so?” You didn’t want to ask, but your morbid curiosity got the better of you.

“They’ve got a weird fetish in torturing people.” Seungcheol cracks a hollow smile. “They kidnap mudbloods, lock them up in cages, and tortures them all day and night. They experiment with dark magic, all sorts of hexes and curses and odd potions. Says death is too easy for them, that they have to work towards it.”

“I got caught trying to give a roll of bread to a man one night,” Wonwoo muttered. “Spent two weeks in the dungeon for that.”

“I warned you not to.” Seungcheol shook his head. “You’re lucky that solitary confinement was all you got.”

“How can I just stand still? He was Seokmin’s father—”

“Who gives a rat’s ass about that useless Hufflepuff?”

“Wait— wait . Did you say Seokmin?” Your heart plummets into your stomach. “His father got caught?”

Wonwoo turns away, and his face is vacant of any expressions, both hands clenched tightly into fists. “Yes, but it was only his father.” He was attempting to reassure you. “Seokmin wasn’t there.”

“What… happened to him?” Your voice comes out weak, a whisper. “His father? Is he… is he still alive?”

“He was still alive the night we escaped from Seungcheol’s manor,” Minghao answers for you stoically, clapping his hand on your shoulder to bring your attention to him. “Enough of this. You made it, and that’s what we should focus on, yeah?”

“Thank the fucking skies above us.” Seungcheol’s back to being a prat, and he’s jeering at you once more. “We’re now blessed with Gryffindor’s princess within our midst.”

“For Salazar’s sake, am I going to have to listen to this everyday?” Wonwoo chides. “We’re not at school anymore.”

“Why ask questions when you already know the answer?” Minghao responds. “You expect him to mature overnight?”

“Whatever, dickheads. I’m going back upstairs,” Seungcheol grunts, throwing you one final glare before turning around towards the staircase. “Call me when it’s time.”

“I can’t promise no broken bones,” you turn to the other two boys grumpily.

Wonwoo places a hand on your shoulder. “Just don’t make it my problem, alright?” His eyes venture down your body, scanning you for any clear wounds. “We need to get you patched up. You’re hurt, aren’t you?”

“I’ve got the kit right here,” Minghao says, already reaching for a metal box on the sofa table. “We’ve only got one bottle of essence of dittany left, do you think you’ll need it?”

“I can take care of myself,” you frown, slapping away Wonwoo’s hand. Your ferocity towards the snakes is already coming back to you once again at Minghao’s suspicious hospitality. “You can piss off into your rooms already.”

Minghao stares at you, and his normally stoic face slowly curls up into a grin.

“Suit yourself,” he drops a small vial and a box of bandages back into the box in front of you. “Get cleaned up in your room then, the longer you stay here, the dirtier the carpet is getting.”

You frown even deeper. “No, I’m staying here,” you state. “I’m going to wait for Jean.”

Minghao looks slowly down at you with clear disdain. “Your room is up the stairs, down the hallway— last door on the right.” The fucking prick was ignoring you.

“I’m going to wait,” you repeat, your temper still simmering in your veins.

“And I’m telling you where your room is.” Minghao rolls his eyes at you for what seemed like the hundredth time tonight. You wanted so badly to stab his snake eyes out of his scrawny head. “I’m trying to be polite here—”

“You’re doing a shit job at it—”

“ You’re ruining the carpet ,” Minghao tells you again, putting thick emphasis after every word.

Wonwoo grabs him by his elbow and jerks him away from you, sensing another round of hostility rising. “Even if she did arrive now,” Wonwoo cuts in between you and Minghao, “I bet Mingyu’s outside giving her a… warm welcome. You’ll feel better once you get out of those clothes.”

You gnaw on your bottom lip silently, not at all comforted at the thought of a worthlessly tall beanstalk standing outside in the rain waiting for your best friend. It should be you out there.

“You’re cold, aren’t you?”

You squirm uncomfortably, the damp clothes doing nothing but adding onto your discomfort. “What if she can’t make it?” You voice out loud your worries for the first time that night.

Minghao sighs deeply, and you barely catch a glimpse of his face before he turns to the giant window. Pity .

“What if she got caught?” You continue, your skin feeling colder and colder by the second. “What if I never see her again?”

Wonwoo places both hands on your shoulders, and you don’t push him away this time. “You’ll see her again,” he says softly, like a promise. He was trying to comfort you

“You’ll only feel worse the longer you stand there.” Minghao stays unmoved from his spot. “We’ll let you know when she gets here.”

“But really though,” Wonwoo stares down at you pointedly. “The room’s getting more muddy by the second. Wash up.”

You find it much easier to push Wonwoo away from you this time. “Fine, you arse.” You didn’t have the energy to start yet another fight with the snakes. “Don’t have to be such rude pricks about it.” You grumble before dragging yourself towards the stairs.

//

It pained you to admit it, but you had been wrong about them. It seemed out of politeness, no one had made a comment on your atrocious appearance on purpose, and it made you hate them all the more.

You looked disturbingly gaunt, dark purple had sunk deep into the hollows of your eyes, and your hair— your fucking hair. Wet dirt had somehow caked themselves into whole sections of your hair, and they've now separated into damp clumps with dead leaves sticking out at odd angles.

A dog that had spent a long evening rolling around in a puddle of mud and rocks surely looked better than you.

Peeling your gritty, wet clothes off your body was a chore and a half, but you managed to shed yourself completely free of all garments and got inside the tub. The scaldingly hot water felt sinfully good on your skin. It burned as it rained down on you, but in the most heavenly way possible. Every nick and wound you got screamed in pain, but you diligently rubbed your fingers over them, ridding them of the caked on blood and dirt as much as possible.

You waited until the water finally ran clear to properly wash yourself. Scents of orange flower and vanilla perfused the room when you applied your shampoo, and warm chestnut when you applied your conditioner. Breathing in deeply, the warm smells soothe your aching muscles and your exhausted mind.

Taking your time in washing your body, you carefully avoid your wounds with your sudsy hands until you’ve reached every inch of your skin. It took some time, but you finally finished your shower, and stepped back out of the tub.

A towel wrapped itself around you, and with a quick flick of your wand, your hair began drying on its own. Wiping away at the fog in the mirror, you stared at yourself with a fatigued expression. Still hollow eyed and wearied, you were pleased to see that the hot shower had brought some color back into your cheeks.

The warm air swirling around you slowly comes to a still, body dry enough to slip into your clean clothes. Your thick jumper dress falls well below your knees, and you pull on a pair of your favorite knitted socks. You look in the mirror one last time to fix your hair properly now that it was free of all branches and pebbles, and sigh.

Because holy fucking fuck . Both corners of your mouth are tugged down deeply into a scowl. Your raging wrath for the Slytherins hasn’t even properly begun yet, and it was the worst feeling in the world. Worse than being chased by two murderous Death Eaters, you decide, because you were stuck in the snake’s den now and you couldn’t even do anything about it. You were a guest in the snake’s den, and there were so. Many. Fucking. Snakes.

//

The carpet in your room had indents of your feet at this point. Pacing back and forth continuously from your bed to the window, your eyes flicker up to the clock every few seconds to check the time. It was well past two in the morning, and the hopes of your friend escaping successfully were slipping away like sand in an hourglass.

There is a knock on your door.

“She’s here.” A voice says. Wonwoo? Or Mingyu? You weren’t sure, but it didn’t matter. You bolted out the door, running down the hallway and going down the stairs two steps at a time.

She was sitting right there, in the common room, with her face caked with just as much dirt and blood as you had, but she was alive.

You didn’t even give her the time to react, because you threw yourself onto her before she even got a chance to say your name.

“Fucking hell! She’s injured!” Mingyu is the one to tear you away from her, annoyance clear on his face. “Can’t you see the blood?”

“Oh fuck—” you gasp, not even mad at Mingyu’s rough handling on you. “Oh no, I’m so sorry! You’re hurt, oh my gods—”

“I’m fine!” Jean breathes out exasperated. “It’s okay. I’m okay.” She looks better than you did, still just as beat up as you were, but her eyes looked so bright, so clear, and alive. The corners of yours started prickling with salt water.

“You’ve got blood dripping down your face,” Mingyu growls angrily. “Fucking fine, my fucking arse—”

“I made it here,” she stops him firmly. “A little blood isn’t going to kill me.”

“Thank Godric, you’re alive,” you almost whimper, falling on the floor next to her. “I was so scared that you got caught, I’ve been waiting hours… what happened to you?”

Jean looks away sheepishly, almost as if she got caught doing something bad. “I ran into the forest. I got— well, I got lost, and that’s why it took me so long.”

“What?! You went where?!” you shriek. “Inside the bloody forest?”

“Have you gone mad!” Mingyu jumps in, sounding just as appalled as you.

“I couldn’t shake them off, hey, listen to me—” Jean raises a finger to silence both of you. “I already had two Death Eaters on my trail, but I saw another one coming in on me from the side. They got too close to my portkey, I couldn’t risk it! I can’t fight three Death Eaters on my own, so I had to lose them.”

“Damn you, and your fucking calculations. I swear woman, you’ll be the end of me—”

“Oh fuck off, Mingyu!” you curse at him, defending your friend from a natural instinct. “You talk as if you’re anywhere near her level—”

“I had to lose them,” Jean cuts you both off, bringing up her finger again with a serious look. “I ran in because I had a higher chance of survival if I used the Forbidden Forest to my advantage. It was three against one, I would’ve lost in a heartbeat.” She levels her eyes to both you and Mingyu, making sure no one will interrupt her again. “The forest was so dark, it worked out well, and very quickly too, because they all got lost and separated within minutes of entering the forest. The forest was so dark, however, I ended up losing my path too. I couldn’t make anything out, it took me ages to try and retrace my steps without letting myself be known. I don’t know what happened to the Death Eaters that followed me, but I made it out. I found my portkey.”

Mingyu shuts his eyes, and rubs his palms in slow circles on his closed lids.

“At least you know that your plan worked,” you huff out, knowing that you were speaking for both yourself and idiot beanstalk next to you.

“Have I ever been wrong?” Jean smirks confidently. “Even if I end up with a couple of bruises and cuts here and there, I’m always right.”

“Infuritatly so,” Mingyu mutters, and he drops to his knees and immediately opens the medicine kit. “Let me tend to your wounds.”

Jean places her arm onto his open hand. “Don’t waste your essence of dittany on me,” she stops him with a look when she notices a small phial. “I’ve only got a few nicks, and those will heal just fine in a couple of days.”

“Fine,” he grumbles in annoyance, choosing instead to disinfect her wounds.

“What about the school?” You grabbed a handkerchief and wet it with alcohol before tending to her head. A bit of blood was still dripping down her forehead. “Do you think Hogwarts will be okay?”

She leveled her eyes onto your worried ones. “The castle was in flames by the time we had left, but Hogwarts will be fine.” It was simply astounding how calm and collected she looked compared to how you felt on the inside.

“I couldn’t even stay and fight, I just ran away.” You shook your head in distraught, muttering under your breath as thought about your beloved home being burnt down to ashes. “It must be in ruins by now.”

“Our professors are some of the most powerful witches and wizards in our world, the school will survive,” she reassures you, using her voice of reason as Ravenclaw’s star student. “If anything, we’ve helped them out by escaping. They’ve got two less students to worry about. I’m sure we’re not the only muggle borns who ran away tonight.”

“You think the others had escaped too?” MIngyu looks up at her in surprise.

“They must have, they can’t stay there anymore.” Jean’s tone turns somber. “The school will never operate the same, it is not safe for any of us.”

“I hope Josh and Vernon are doing okay… I haven’t seen them at all since the school year started.” You gnaw nervously on your bottom lip. Noticing your best housemates disappearance at the beginning of the school year was just the beginning of your worries. It was unusual for them to not even send you an owl considering this would’ve been your final year in school together. “Jihoon hasn’t heard anything from them either.”

“I’m sure they’re fine,” Mingyu scoffs too easily, “They’ve got that dumb Gryffindor luck, I bet those idiots are throwing back cheap muggle shots together in some dingy looking flat.”

“What did I tell you about being a dick?” Jean scolds him, slapping his shoulder as he applies ointment on her arm.

“Oh, come on,” he groans dramatically, pouting. “I’ve already been civil enough with that idiot Soonyoung. It’s a miracle enough that that rodent of a boy got into Ravenclaw, but you want me to be nice to those Gryffindorks now too?”

“You’ve basically signed a contract to stop being such a prick once I gave you permission to date me,” Jean flicks his forehead sharply. “You know I keep a tally on you.”

“My Gods, you are incorrigible.”

You stick your finger down your throat and pretend to gag. “Did not miss seeing the two of you flirt in front of me. Keep everything else behind closed doors, thank you very much.”

“I’m sorry, by the way.” Jean turns to you, looking rueful. “I wanted to tell you where the portkey led, I just—”

“You knew I would have refused,” you finish her sentence for her. “Yeah, yeah, I already figured it out. And you thought right. I would’ve refused to come here if I knew ahead of time I’d be crashing into the snake’s den.”

Mingyu purses his lips, choosing not to respond out of his love for Jean.

“Do you forgive me?” Jean looks at you, puppy eyes and all, and pleads for an answer she already knows.

“Don’t look at me like that. Ugh!” You finish taping up the gauze on her forehead and look away with a scowl. “You already know I have, you bitch.”

Rich laughter rings in the air, and you must be absolutely knackered because you’re not sure if it’s from Jean or Mingyu, or from both of them, but it brings out your first genuine smile in the house.

“Well, I think I got all of your cuts cleaned out,” Mingyu slowly stands up, and scans his eyes down her body, triple checking to make sure he took care of every little wound. “Why don’t you get washed up now?”

You point towards the stairs. “Yeah, our room’s upstairs on the—”

“Oh— uh, no, no. She’ll be staying with me.” Mingyu wags a finger in your face, a brow raised in amusement. “ My room is upstairs, first door on the left.”

Your face drops, and you turn to look at Jean with your mouth gaped open like a goldfish.

“Sorry!” She has the gale to look sheepish. “I just— I just kind of assumed I’d be staying in his room?” Jean’s shoulders are up to her ears in clear embarrassment.

“ Disgusting . Absolute heathens, the two of you.” Your finger points at both of them back and forth in an accusatory fashion. “Alright, go to your room then. Bet you can’t wait to get your hands on each other, you animals.”

“Don’t be jealous because you’ve got no one,” Mingyu sticks his tongue at you, his boyish face scrunched up foolishly. “Don’t get too lonely spending your nights alone.”

A different finger is shot towards him now, and he sniggers as he pulls Jean in with one arm.

“I still don’t trust you, snake.”

He smirks. “Think I care what you think? Have a good night, Princess.’

//

The common room was now back to normal, no marks of blood or dirt in sight. Wonwoo slipped his wand back into his pocket, satisfied with himself after a fairly short amount of time of scourgifying the carpet spotless clean. He and Minghao came out after both of the house’s new recruits settled into their rooms to clean up after their mess.

Minghao is already settled into an armchair and waves his hand, motioning for his friend to join him in the matching chair across from him. A hot kettle pours itself into two empty cups in front of them.

“We’ve got the Gryffindor Princess and the Slytherin Prince under one roof now,” Minghao smirks, taking a sip from his piping hot cup. “This’ll be fun.”

“You need to redefine your definition of fun ,” Wonwoo rubs the bridge of his nose, creases getting etched into his forehead. “I expect we’ll be cleaning up broken glass every other day.”

“Aw, come on! Don’t tell me you’re not looking forward to this,” Minghao grins even wider. “Those two won’t be able to keep their hands off each other!”

Wonwoo looked at him apathetically. “Remember your words when you’re filling up all the holes we’re inevitably going to get within these walls.” He quietly advises, “We’re all going to live in this house together now.”

“Make their mess, their problem then,” Minghao scoffs. “I’m just excited to see their fights. It’s been so boring here with just you three, I need some action in here.”

“Whatever you say…” Wonwoo wearily drags his hands down his face. “I’m tucking in for the night. You’re staying up, I presume?”

Minghao takes another sip from his cup. “I’m staying here,” he nods, staring out the window. “I told her I’d wait for her.”

//

You wanted some air.

The rain had stopped long ago, and a heavy mist had settled on top of the fields. A quick warming charm made your clothes toasty enough for you to walk out the front door.

The early rays of the morning sun were beginning to rise, and it cast a sobering glow to the view in front of you. It was officially the end of summer, and the heather was in full bloom. Waves of perennials washed down the hills, goldenrods and sneeze weeds clumped together into clusters and moved like ocean waves in the wind.

Hogwarts was always so beautiful during this time of year, when the smell of fall was in the air, and all the trees were beginning their journeys into hibernation. All the professors and students would slowly get ready for all the cold season holidays, and everyone would get abuzz with excitement.

With a heavy heart, you came to the slow, crippling realization that you would not be spending your last year at Hogwarts. You didn’t know how long your stay would be here in this cottage, but it was devastatingly soul crushing. There was nothing in the world you loved more than that school, and you were so tragically ripped away from it in your final year.

It does not help anyone to be naive, especially during times of War, but you prayed with a hopeful heart that a miracle would come. You wanted so badly for the War to end, and for all your friends and family to be safe.

A cold rush of air seeps through your jumper, and you shiver, knocking all wishful thoughts out of your head. Like the warmth of the summer season, your hope for a happy ending was whisked away by the wind.

“Take two steps back, would you?”

Whipping around, you see Seungcheol standing a few steps behind you, his wand raised high up into the air.

“You’re almost at the borderline,” he continues. “I need to do this properly.”

“What are you doing?” You did what he asked for, and watched him.

Seungcheol ignores you, concentrating only on the air above him.

“ Protego totalum… salvio hexia… repello muggletum… muffliato… cave inimicum… ”

Protective enchantments and concealments charms. He was hiding the cottage. You turn back around, watching the air in front of you ripple and blur. The spells only needed a few moments before taking effect, but Seungcheol repeated the spells several times over until the air stood completely still.

“We take rounds here. We need to cast them twice a day, morning and night.” Seungcheol’s eyes finally settle down on you. “We can never be too careful.”

And he walks back inside.

[azozzoni]

restless & wreckless - a VDS fic

For @vdsweek day 7 - Chapter 2 of 8.

A few notes before we get going. This is a continuation of the badboy!Luc from a few weeks ago. Chapters will be posted weekly beginning next Monday. You can follow along on ao3 if you prefer. Also. big thanks to @hopetofantasy for answering all my stupid questions about Belgian schools <3

*

Lucas inspected the dark blue nail polish as he brushed on the last coat, glistening under the overcast sky above, ignoring the looks cast his way by fellow students as they milled around the courtyard on break. Propping his foot up on the low wall, Lucas twisted the bottle shut and blew on his nails to dry them, gaze drifting across the yard to where a familiar group of people stood by the wall.

As Lucas watched, Jens’ eyes slid past his friend, the tiny one with messy brown hair, over his shoulder, and landed on Lucas.

Lucas didn’t bother to look away, blowing on his nails slowly. He knew exactly why Jens was looking, that he wouldn’t do anything other than look, not out here, not with his friends all around—the loud one and the one who asked stupid questions in class. Lucas hadn’t bothered to learn their names. It wasn’t important, who they were.

Jens dropped his gaze a minute later and Lucas smirked to himself, shaking his head as he tested the dryness of his nails. They were still a little sticky and he raised them to his lips again as the bell rang for class.

Settling in, Lucas stayed on the ledge as the rest of the students headed inside. He had absolutely no desire to sit through another hour of class, another hour of things he didn’t care about. He’d learn just as much sitting out here, waiting for his nails to dry.

“Aren’t you going to class?”

Jens’ voice brought Lucas’ gaze up, finding him standing before him, hands in the pocket of his hoodie.

“Why?” Lucas asked, tilting his head to the side as Jens opened his mouth, like maybe he was thinking of the answer.

“Because we have to,” Jens said finally, and Lucas wondered where his friends had gone. Jens was rarely without them, except when he was hitting on girls. He must have thought his friends a liability where that was concerned. What did that say about why he was talking to Lucas?

Scoffing, Lucas blew on his nails again, watching how Jens’ eyebrows furrowed slightly. “Do you do everything you have to?”

Jens didn’t reply right away, jerking his shoulders instead. “I guess not.”

Standing there in the rapidly emptying courtyard, Lucas smiled to himself. He knew exactly what to expect with Jens. Jens was curious. Jens couldn’t resist the mystery of Lucas, the rumors that persisted about why he’d left The Netherlands, that he’d been expelled from his last school, that he’d set fire to the headmaster’s office.

Lucas didn’t care to correct the rumors. After all, they worked in his favor.

The more people speculated, the further they got from the truth.

They also worked with Jens, who was standing outside in the chill, overcast day just to ask why he wasn’t joining the herd going to class. Jens could already be inside, joking with his friend, the curly-haired one who sat two seats in front of Lucas and always kind of smelled like kabobs. But he wasn’t. And Lucas knew exactly why.

“I’m sick of being here,” Lucas said finally, tucking the nail polish bottle in his bag, swinging it over his shoulder as he pushed himself off the wall, coming far too close to Jens, eyes grazing down his chest for a lingering second. “I need some air.”

“We’re outside,” Jens said dumbly, and Lucas licked his lips, shaking his head instead of rolling his eyes. Jens wasn’t the brightest bulb in the box.

Stepping away, he glanced over his shoulder as Jens didn’t move.

“You coming?”

Jens seemed to pause, but not for very long as he joined Lucas and they left school behind.

*

In the few months Lucas had been in Antwerp, he’d learned a few things. For one, his dad was just as much of an asshole as he’d always suspected but never had confirmed until he’d moved them there. Two, there was absolutely nowhere interesting to go in Antwerp that wasn’t a museum or a park, and three, people really did fear the unknown.

Not Jens, though. Jens seemed to like it, seemed to be completely into following Lucas wherever he wanted to go. Even if it was a boring park, filled with winding paths, bushes and trees, graffiti-ed walls, benches with peeling paint, grass trampled and damp as Lucas leaned against the wide trunk of a tree, watching the way Jens looked around, stepping up to lean next to him, eyes sliding to Lucas.

Licking his lips, Lucas didn’t speak. There wasn’t anything to talk about as far as he was concerned, not even when he could see Jens thinking, trying to figure this out, figure him out.

He hadn’t picked Jens because he would push, would try to figure things out. He knew, from those few moments he’d spent with Jens, that Jens would do whatever he wanted. He’d followed him out here, hadn’t he? Had barely questioned it, was now watching Lucas’ mouth, eyes half-lidded, distracted as Lucas let his fingers drift over his neck.

His fingers closed around Jens’ hood, a sharp yank and Jens stumbled over his feet, dazed, pressed up against the tree as he licked his own lips slowly, wanting.

Jens’ lips were warm against Lucas’, a soft slide as they parted, invited Lucas’ tongue inside, sucked gently as his hands skated up Lucas’ back to grasp his neck. Despite the chill of the day, Lucas felt warm with his fingers curled in Jens’ red hoodie, releasing it only to push underneath the hem as Jens made a surprised noise.

He felt Jens’ heavy breath as he pulled away, and Lucas didn’t care what he was going to say as Jens opened his mouth.

“Lucas,” Jens got out as Lucas’ mouth slid down his jaw, caught somewhere between a protest and encouragement.

Lucas ignored him, tilting Jens’ jaw up, tongue sliding down his throat instead. He’d been with enough straight guys to know where the line was, where it went from just fucking around to being ‘too much.’ Kissing was okay, kissing was good, but hands anywhere other than over the clothes, except maybe a hand job with their eyes closed, was crossing some invisible line.

He wasn’t stupid enough not to know how it went, how it was going to go with Jens. Jens didn’t want his friends to know. Jens probably pretended he didn’t even know Lucas’ name around his friends. Lucas was cool with that. He expected that.

“Do you do this a lot?” he heard Jens ask, words mumbled in his ear as Lucas’ tongue followed the line of his throat up to his ear, slipping inside, and Jens’ hand on his neck twitched, gripping harder.

“Do what?” Lucas asked, daring Jens to say it, to admit exactly what they were doing. Lucas knew what he was doing as he tugged Jens’ earlobe between his teeth and exhaled into his ear with a soft sigh, teasing.

“Skip,” Jens replied after a second, as though he’d lost his train of thought with Lucas sucking the soft patch of skin beneath his ear.

Rolling his eyes, Lucas moved back to drag Jens’ bottom lip between his teeth. “Because you’ve never skipped.”

“Sure, but not to—” Jens cut himself off with a frown, licking his lips as he took a breath.

Lucas didn’t need him to finish that sentence, running a hand through his hair, pulling his curls over his forehead, fixing Jens with a challenging look.

“None of those girls you flirt with ever wanted to cut class and hook up?” he asked easily, raising his eyebrows. “Maybe you’re not as good as you think.”

“Excuse me?” Jens asked, a hint of a smile at the edge of his mouth. “You’re the one who invited me.”

“And you came without question,” Lucas said, smoothing down his jacket as Jens let go of his neck. “What does that say about you?”

Plucking a cigarette from his pocket, Lucas lit it as he waited for Jens’ response, though he already knew the answer. Lucas knew how it went with these types of things.

For a moment, Jens didn’t reply, running his tongue over his lower lip as though still tasting Lucas, contemplating his answer. Looking away, Lucas exhaled the smoke, fingering the cigarette, gazing out at the park. Far in the distance, he watched a mother pushing a stroller down the winding path.

“I guess it says I’m not that smart,” Jens said finally, and when Lucas glanced back, he was smiling.

“Can’t argue with that,” Lucas drawled, and Jens scoffed.

“You could try.”

Lucas shrugged in reply, flicking the half-smoked cigarette to the ground instead and exhaling the smoke. He knew how this would go. A few make out sessions with the resident bad boy then he’d go back to those simpering girls his friends stared at, that made him look like a stud. In the meantime, Lucas could enjoy how unimpressed Jens looked at his lack of reply.

“So,” Jens said after a minute, as though continuing a conversation, and Lucas raised an eyebrow. “Do you do this often?”

“Do what?” Lucas repeated pointedly, tilting his head to the side as Jens bit his bottom lip.

“Cut class to make out with hot guys?” Jens said this time, stepping in closer to Lucas, who smirked, surprised despite himself.

“Wouldn’t you like to know,” he said, and Jens nodded after a second.

“Maybe I would.”

Lucas scoffed, reaching up to pat Jens’ cheek. “Yeah, okay,” he said simply. Rolling his eyes, he ignored the way Jens’ eyebrows went up. “How about you shut up now and do what you came here to do.”

It was a second before Jens smiled, disbelieving, shaking his head, but that was enough for Lucas as he grabbed Jens by the sides and pulled him in close. They weren’t here to talk about what Lucas did or didn’t do often. It didn’t matter. All that mattered was that Jens’ lips were soft and inviting, and close enough to kiss, which was exactly what Lucas did. Jens could figure out his own answers to his questions because Lucas certainly wasn’t going to provide any answers.

Lucas knew what he wanted, and it wasn’t to talk, and that was exactly what he was going to do.

[wildest-dreams-at-midnight]

SDS High School AU Chapter 1

Meliodas yawned and Zeldris snickered in response. “School hasn’t even started yet,” Zeldris reminded. “How are you already tired?”

“This year’s going to fucking suck,” Meliodas complained. “Dad’s more insane than usual and I’m a junior.”  

“You have the Sins, I’m sure you’ll get into plenty of trouble,” Zeldris said. “And besides, it’s not like you can really get punished.”

“You’re surprisingly optimistic this morning Zel,” Meliodas pointed out. “You’re usually a nightmare this early.” He was slightly annoyed his younger brother was in such a good mood at eight AM. It should be illegal.

“I’m excited,” Zeldris defended.  

“About seeing your girlfriend again?” The two brothers laughed as they walked through the wrought iron gates of the school grounds.  

“You too, you haven’t seen Elizabeth all summer, you must miss her like hell.” Meliodas huffed and bumping into his brother so he stumbled slightly to the side. Zeldris simply smiled.

A plaza paved in red bricks was dominated by a copper fountain, the water catching the light of the rising sun. Manicured green lawns sloped up to red brick and marble buildings. Students were milling around and stretching out on steps, avoiding the grass so as to not stain their uniforms. Flowers hugged the diameter of the trees scattered across the grounds. Meliodas noticed the rest of the Sins were sitting on the lip of the fountain.  

“Do you know where the rest of the cousins are?” Meliodas asked Zeldris.  

“Yeah they’re sitting on the steps of the science building,” Zel pointed to the building that was farthest away where a small group of other students were all lounging around, looking completely unenergized. Nobody was going near them either.

“Are you going to look for Gelda?” Meliodas stretched out the syllables of the name, taking enjoyment in how Zeldris’s face lit up red.

“Shut up! You’re just jealous you haven’t worked up the nerve to make a move with Elizabeth,” Zeldris argued.  

“Gelda was the one who asked you out,” Meliodas reminded as he turned towards the fountain. It amused him to no end that the rest of the student body was keeping as far away from the Sins as possible. “I’ll see you later.”  

“Meliodas!” a tall girl with brown pigtails and purple eyes yelled and waved furiously.  

“Yo Diane!” He waved at his brother again before heading to his friends.  

“Were the last two weeks good for you Captain?” Before Meliodas could answer a very loud “captain!” was yelled out.  

“Ban!” They ran up to each other and gave rapid high-fives before slamming their arms down on the fountain edge. “King, referee.” He rolled his eyes but complied.  

“Go,” he said unenthusiastically. The arm-wrestling match was over quickly, with Meliodas forcing Ban’s arm down.  

“I win for the tenth time in a row,” Meliodas boasted with a grin. “Better luck next time, bastard.” Ban snorted in response.  

“Will you two ever grow up?” King asked.  

“Why would they do that?” a soft, sweet voice asked.  

“Hey Elaine,” Meliodas waved at King’s younger sister and Ban’s girlfriend. Elaine gave Meliodas a hug before she sat next to Ban.  

“Besides, you’re all juniors,” she said. “What else are you supposed to do this year?”

“Exactly, this is the year for having fun,” Ban argued. “Besides, Cap’n can get us out of any trouble, right?” Meliodas huffed but didn’t disagree.

“Did you have a good summer Captain?” Diane repeated, not at all pleased that her question was ignored.  

“It was ok. Zel and I had to go to some conference for private schools in the area because of Dad and it was boring as fuck.”  

“Did you meet Arthur while you were there?” Merlin asked.  

“He didn’t want to get into any trouble with the two of us, but he was nice enough,” Meliodas answered. “He talked about you a lot actually, Merlin.”

“What did he say?” Gowther asked. Merlin simply raised an eyebrow and smiled a secret smile. It didn’t escape Meliodas’s notice that Escanor looked slightly hurt at that. The group of seven continued reminiscing about their summer escapades but fell silent as the group they referred to as ‘the Archangels’ walked by. Meliodas grinned and waved at them, smirking when he was given a twisted expression full of disdain. Meliodas’s face fell when he noticed Elizabeth was sandwiched between them.  

“Elizabeth!” Diane cried and barreled through two of them to wrap her friend in a giant hug.  

“Hi Diane,” she choked out. Diane heard the strain in her voice and pulled back. “Did you all have a good summer?”

“We did, why weren’t you able to come with us this year?”  

“Elizabeth.” Ludociel’s voice was severe. “You’re not allowed to talk to them.”  

“What the fuck?” Ban demanded. “She’s been with us for ten goddamn years, why the sudden change, Goddess?”  

“That’s none of your concern,” Mael snapped.  

“It actually is.” Meliodas broke his silence and walked forward to stand next to Diane. “You’ve acted like she didn’t exist for years. Why the sudden possessiveness?”  

“It’s not being possessive!”

“I didn’t know you were so desperate for attention Mael,” Meliodas sneered. “You’re holding people hostage now?” Meliodas could feel all the blood rushing to his head. His temples were throbbing with anger and breaking Mael’s neck was sounding like a better idea each second.  

“I’m not going to waste my time responding to you.” Apparently Mael was trying to take the high road but Meliodas wasn’t willing to let that happen.  

“You just did.” Mael spluttered and Tarmiel cleared his throat.  

“Come along Elizabeth,” Ludociel ordered.  

“You can’t tell her—” Elizabeth interrupted King.  

“It’s ok. Really. I don’t want a fight breaking out.” She gave Meliodas a glance and he could see the pain in her eyes. If she had been in tears, he would have gone on a rampage. When the Archangels were out of earshot Meliodas snickered.  

“What’s so funny Captain?” Escanor asked.  

“Elizabeth and I may or may not have all the same classes,” Meliodas explained.  

“Your Dad wants the two of you to get together almost more than you do,” Merlin commented.  

“it does seem that way,” Gowther agreed.  

“But the archangels are also in your year,” Elaine said. “Couldn’t you have classes with them?”  

“Dad made sure to keep them separated from Elizabeth. They’re all in the same classes, and I’m sure some of you can’t avoid them, but there’s only one class we have with them and it’s with a teacher who does seating charts religiously.”  

“Denzel?” they all asked in unison, which Meliodas nodded at.

“Your Dad’s keeping us separated?” Diane pouted, changing the subject.

“Not without good reason,” Merlin pointed out. “I’m sure he doesn’t want any more teachers complaining. Especially after freshman year.” The group laughed at that. Meliodas kept an eye out in case they approached the science building, which was likely since Elizabeth’s first class was physics, like his. Thankfully, they hadn’t reached the Commandments, a group of people who answered to his father which consisted of Zeldris and their nine cousins, either by blood or in name. On cue, bells rang through the air and the groans from all the students were audible.  

“I have Dreyfus first,” Diane said. “What about all of you?”

“I do too,” Meliodas added. “I think Ban and King do also.”  

“How do you know that?” King demanded.  

“Also Elaine, you’ll probably have some classes with Zel, keep an eye on him?”  

“Of course Meliodas,” she agreed.  

“Hey answer me,” King demanded.

“I looked up what your schedules were before school started,” he replied as the group started to walk to the cluster of structures.  

“Seriously?”  

“No. You were holding your schedule and I saw it when I went to arm-wrestle Ban.” King groaned and went to follow the other three. “See you all later!” Everyone parted to make way for them, not wanting to be on their bad side. Rumors had swept through the school about what happened to people who had been bullying those that weren’t defendable and Meliodas’s wrath was legendary. Everyone knew what had happened to the people who had dared to make fun of Zeldris. Naturally Meliodas had gotten away with it. His father could be a pain in the ass, but at least he turned a blind eye to the trouble they got into. Being the son of the school’s headmaster had its perks, he supposed.  

He slowed his gait as they approached the science building where Elizabeth was shooing her new bodyguards away. When they had left Meliodas approached with a wave.  

“Elizabeth!” Her face lit up, the happiest he had seen from her so far and they all hurried inside. After making sure the hallway was empty, Elizabeth flung herself at the blond with a tight hug. Meliodas heard her heartbeat and the rhythm soothed his fire from earlier.  

“What’s your schedule?” she asked after pulling away and hugging Ban and King.  

“We have all the same classes,” Meliodas said with a wide grin. “And better yet, we only have math with the Archangels.”  

“Really? That’s amazing!”

“You can thank Dad, I had nothing to do with it.” As they made their way through the building, it was easy to see that classes had already started. Through windows of some doors, teachers were lecturing, in others students were working at lab stations. Meliodas noted with some amusement that one of the flasks already looked like it was smoking.  

“Wonder how long it’ll be before the first fire alarm goes off this year,” Diane said as they passed by a lab room. “I think it’ll be two weeks.”

“I give it a week at most,” Ban said.  

“I’m saying a week and a half,” King countered.  

“I’ll bet three days,” Meliodas called behind him.  

“You’re not planning on starting another fire are you Captain?” King asked. Meliodas rolled his eyes but a grin present on his face.  

“That was Ban’s fault.” Ban spluttered in protest but Meliodas just laughed and ignored him. The bell rang as soon as they slipped into their classroom. All the light in the room came from the floor-to-ceiling windows that made up the right wall of the room. Nobody was outside, everyone already in their first class of the year. Meliodas was pleased to see that the seats in the back of the room were empty and the other students had given them a wide berth. Melascula and Galand were already there, looking as bored as ever. Meliodas waved to his cousins. Melascula jumped up and gave Elizabeth a hug.  

“We missed you this summer, Lizzie,” Melascula said. “Without you, there were only six girls. And no one could keep this one,” she jabbed her thumb at Meliodas, “in line.”  

“I’m sorry,” Elizabeth apologized. “I really wanted to, but I moved in with my mother and she, well, to say she dislikes everyone is putting it lightly.”  

“You mean you live in that stuffy old mansion now?” Galand asked, perking up now that there was some form of drama. Elizabeth nodded and Galand let out a harsh bark of laughter. “Remember when we were younger, and we got into that huge pillow fight there?” In a rare display of mischievousness, King high-fived Ban enthusiastically.  

“And then we slashed the rest of the pillows open,” Meliodas finished.  

“Everyone, settle down,” Dreyfus said as he came into the room. “I hope all of you had a good summer.” He took attendance and had everyone go around the room and introduce themselves and say what they did over the summer. Ban was called first from their group. He didn’t bother standing up instead raised a hand in greeting. “Name’s Ban. This summer we,” he gestured to the people around him, “spent a month at the Captain’s beach house.”  

“Where you almost set the palm trees on fire,” King reminded.  

“It’s not like we didn’t have the water to put it out with,” Ban argued.  

“We also went snorkeling,” Diane added.  

“And ziplining,” King continued.  

“Lots of bonfires,” was all Meliodas said.  

“Galand tried to surf and ended up wiping out for a solid half hour,” Melascula said with a dry smile.  

“You got stung by a jellyfish,” Galand retorted. Then it was Elizabeth’s turn.  

“I’m Elizabeth, and I moved in with my mother this summer since I grew up at my uncle’s house.”  

Then Dreyfus started talking about what physics for the year was going to be like. “We will be doing physics experiments with things that can’t be blown up,” he informed with a pointed look at Meliodas and Ban. The two boys grinned and high-fived each other “Challenge accepted,” they said in unison. Dreyfus just sighed and continued through the rest of class. When the bell rang the group of five wandered outside and Elizabeth looked down at her schedule.  

“It says we have math next.” A chorus of groans immediately followed.  

“Denzel is the worst,” King complained. “Remember that time he docked points on an exam because I forgot to turn the study guide for it in?” Meliodas bumped Elizabeth’s shoulder in reassurance.  

“Elizabeth, you should walk ahead of us,” Merlin called with Escanor and Gowther in tow. “So the four righteous do-gooders will give you a break and not bother you.”

“Do the seven of us all have math together?” Escanor asked.  

“I believe so,” Gowther replied. Ban and Meliodas gave wicked grins.  

“You going to get us out of trouble Captain?” Ban teased.  

“We’re probably going to be seated away with each other,” Diane mentioned.  

“So we’ll just use our phones,” Merlin answered smoothly.

“Sounds like a plan,” Meliodas agreed.  

“Did you stay away from them?” Ludociel demanded of Elizabeth as the group of four stopped her in the middle of the path.

“It was difficult since we had the same class,” Elizabeth responded. “And the only seats were in the back. Where they sat.”

Sariel exhaled through clenched teeth. “Try to stay away from them in the next class please.”

“But we all have math together,” King said.  “With Denzel who, if you’ve forgotten, religiously follows his seating charts. So it’s not really up to her.”  

“Did your father plan this?” Mael pressed.  

“You’ll have to ask him,” Meliodas deadpanned. “He doesn’t tell me this shit.” Meliodas and the rest of the Sins swept by the four of them before Gowther stopped and turned around.  

“There is also a good chance that some of the Commandments are in the class as well. Ta-ta.” Ludociel’s face was burning red as they moved to the math building.  

“Captain, can we bring her on the camping trip this weekend?” Diane whispered. After the first week of school, all of the Commandments, the Sins, and Meliodas’s father would go camping on private ground the Blade family owned. It was something they did every semester. Not to mention the copious amounts of alcohol they all drank over the course of two nights. Elizabeth would only have a few small sips but she enjoyed it nonetheless.  

“I think we can sneak her out with Gil’s help,” Meliodas replied. Gilthunder was one of the people who was over at Elizabeth’s mother’s mansion a lot and was a year younger than them. He had idolized Meliodas when he was younger, and he still respected him. He also cared deeply for Elizabeth since his girlfriend was her cousin. Meliodas knew he could count on him for help.  

“Oh, good thinking,” Diane said. They stopped in front of a building that had a brick path leading up to another brick building. Honeybees were lazing above the blue and purple morning glories that grew along the white metal archway at the beginning of the path.

“If I remember correctly Tarmiel and Sariel, your next class is history,” Meliodas pointed out when they were still hovering around Elizabeth. “I wouldn’t want you to be late on the first day of class.” Of course, everyone saw through that in a second.  

“Just because you’re the Headmaster’s son doesn’t mean you’re above everyone else,” Ludociel snapped. Meliodas raised his hands in response.  

“I just stated a fact, you’re the one who read into it.” Meliodas heard grumbling but ignored it as he pushed open the front door to the building. The windows of the classroom were thrown open, allowing fresh air to make the room feel more relaxing. The seating chart was up on the whiteboard. Meliodas resisted the urge to cheer when he saw he and Elizabeth were sitting next to each other. The rest of the Sins were spread out around the room, so texting, as Merlin suggested, would have to be used. Meliodas’s mouth twisted when he saw Mael was sitting behind Elizabeth. Ludociel was sitting next to Meliodas, which he could deal with. Melascula and Galand were seated next to each other, close to Diane and Escanor. Gloxinia and Drole were seated at opposite sides of the room, not close to any of their friends.

Once again, they had to go around the room and say what they did over the summer. The Sins happily repeated what they had said in physics, with Merlin adding “shooting off fireworks.”  

“And then watching Monspeet trying to keep the house from setting on fire,” Escanor continued.  

“Derieri helped,” Gowther piped up.  

“Of course she did,” King muttered. The Sins all snickered at that knowing the two were inseparable. Gloxinia had said that he had almost gotten a concussion diving into their pool while Drole talked about jumping off of rocks into the ocean. When it was Mael’s turn, Meliodas tuned out, not at all caring about what they had to say. The others would be making fun of it anyway. A quick glance at his phone screen showed that the two of them only took classes and “got to know Elizabeth better” since she was living with them now. Despite the jealousy, he fought past it and when Ludociel cast a triumphant look at him, Meliodas remained blank-faced.  

The class passed agonizingly slow. Math was difficult to make fun and Denzel had the most monotone voice Meliodas had ever heard. He only used black whiteboard markers and the few times he asked questions only a handful of people ever answered. Meliodas could see Ban crumpling small balls of paper and threw them at Mael’s head, while King was drifting in and out of sleep. Elizabeth was taking notes but her eyes seemed slightly glazed. Meliodas ripped off a piece of notebook paper asking if she was ok and passed it to her when Mael was looking at his notebook. Elizabeth slipped the note back and he saw that she had written she was ok, just bored and zoning out. Mael hissed but the two ignored him, happily passing notes throughout the rest of the class.  

When it was time for lunch, Meliodas lead the Sins and Elizabeth to one of his favorite spots on campus: the roof of the social studies building. They went up a staircase that was designated as ‘Roof Access: Employees Only’ but Meliodas picked the lock with ease. The staircase ended in a cramped concrete room full with maintenance and janitorial equipment. He shoved the door open and reflexively blinked in the bright sunlight. Stone railing lined the perimeter of the roof with stone planters overflowing with pink and purple flowers. They all sat down on sun-warmed, smooth stone.  

“So Elizabeth,” Diane began as she sat down and pulled some food from her backpack. “What did happen this summer?”  

“Do we have to talk about this now?” she pleaded. “I haven’t seen my best friends all summer and I just want to spend time with you now.”  

“Sure thing,” Meliodas agreed before anyone could say anything. “You can tell us, all of us, about it this weekend.”

“How are you going to get her out of that prison?” Ban asked.  

“Gilthunder and Griamore. Right Captain?” Merlin answered.  

“Exactly. We’ve all been over there often enough to know the place like the back of our hand, breaking her out will be easy. Especially if we have the Commandments there too.”  

“Will they want to help though?” Escanor asked.  

“Estarossa definitely will to get back at his brother,” Gowther replied. “He seems to enjoy antagonizing him.”  

“Melascula will too,” Diane added. “She kept going on and on about how she missed having you around.”  

“Zel will too. We can pull it off,” Meliodas stated and pulled out his phone. He set up a group chat with the Commandments, the Sins, Elizabeth, and the two sophomores. By the time lunch was over a pretty good plan was in place for this weekend. It was much less elaborate than what Meliodas had originally thought of, but it was just as effective if not more due to its simplicity.  

“I think this will work,” Diane cheered and Elizabeth threw herself at Meliodas.  

“Thank you so much Meliodas!” Meliodas held her just as tightly.  

“Anything for you, Princess.”

@zorria @gsunny6

[youngwrites-prompts]

CHAPTER ONE

𝙻𝚞𝚌𝚊

"For there is hope in every heart." His mother's sickeningly sweet words oozed from her mouth like honey. She grasped his cheeks harshly, her perfectly manicured nails dug into his flesh leaving behind indents. "Wipe that frown, darling. It's only your first day." Her eyes shone with everything beautiful and gold (though sharing the same eye color, hers belittled his measly ones in comparison).

Wincing slightly, Luca removed her hands from his face. "What's wrong with me attending public school?"

She looked at him in exaggerated disbelief. "Darling, we're aristocrats now! We don't slump it with those below us anymore." She flung her hands in the air dramatically, almost hitting him in the process.

What she meant to say was she's sleeping with the aristocrats now. But of course, he didn't voice that out loud.

Rosalie Jones was -how shall he put this lightly?- an interesting woman with one goal: to survive. And though he of course respected his mother's goal, it didn't mean he approved of her demeaning methods. She'd do anything to shed her image from the past and if donning herself in satin dresses and adorning her neck with strings of pearls and sleeping with married wealthy men is the way then so be it.

Her latest lover, or more preferably husband was none other than Erik Coldwell. A dignified man of few words and even fewer virtues. One of the high-powered patricians that ruled West Mines with a fist of steel. And only just a few months ago became his new stepfather. He'd like to believe that he was simply moved with pity for them and took them in from the kindest of his heart. But he knew that would only be a lie, afterall his mother had him wrapped around her slender finger many years ago and similar to how she gripped his cheek, she also gripped this man's heart and held it in a tight grip of desire.

"But why a Catholic school? You don't even believe in God," His miserable pleas fell upon death's ear.

She ignored him and instead, frowned at his attire. Who could blame her?

In the full length mirror, he could clearly see a tall, lanky boy wearing a navy blue bucket hat and a loose fitted denim jacket. His converse were ragged and beaten up after years of owning them. "Darling, to be frank. You look like crap.Why couldn't you wear the lovely clothes I picked out for you?" She pouted, gesturing to the blazer waistcoat and jeans she laid out on the bed.

"It just isn't my style, Mom," He frowned.

She clicked her tongue. "Ridiculous! You would look marvelous, like a young Prince Harry."

Prince Harry is white, mother. Have you forgotten? Was on the tip of his tongue but a sarcastic drawl interrupted him.

"I do have to agree with your mother for once, Luca." Bright, cerulean eyes met his through the mirror.

Myron Coldwell snorted, "You do look like shit."

Heat crawled at his neck, nipping his skin like a fiery flame. He rubbed the back of his ear, turning away from the mirror, not wanting to see his image anymore.

"Language," His mother reprimanded.

Myron's eyes darkened, and his mouth pulled into a thin line. "You may have forgotten, Rosalie but you're not my fucking mother."

Rosalie pulled back in dismay, her hand meeting her mouth.

Rarely ever experienced, anger enveloped Luca in an overbearing embrace and led him blindly towards the oblivious Myron. Hands holding onto the material of his shirt,he lifted him up to meet his eyes. He gritted out with clenched teeth. "Don't ever disrespect my mother that way." Myron's nose flared, and pure resentment danced in his eyes.

Rosalie touched his shoulder. "Darling?"

He released his hold and Myron collapsed to the ground, coughing. He picked himself up, brushing at his trousers. "I didn't think you had it in you, champ."

"It's me you have the problem with. Not her."

Myron let out a sardonic laugh. "I don't think you understand, you little shithead." He shoved his finger in his face, jamming his nose in the process. "The problem is with this entire fucking household."

The words hung in the air, the atmosphere tense and thick.

"Okay. Okay I believe that will be enough." A booming voice filled with power came from the threshold. Myron twisted his lips into an ugly scowl, with narrowed eyes he followed the movements of Erik Coldwell making his way to the middle of the room. The persian rug softened the sounds of his loafers clad shoes as he paused at Luca's side, laying a firm hand upon his shoulder.

"What's going on here?" Though the question was directed to all, his attention zeroed in on Myron.

"Nothing," Luca said.

Myron huffed, and stubbornly looked away. In that exact moment, he reminded Luca of an edgy poet with a wicked gleam in his eye, tousled hair, ink-stained fingertips and a black turtleneck. What a troubled boy.

"Luca and Rosalie are family now, and you will do everything in your power to treat them with the respect they deserve," Erik said.

"Funny, where was the same respect for mom?" Myron snarled, tremors running through his body, hands clenched into fists by his side.

Erik folded his arms, voice stern. "Do not bring your mother into this mess. Let her rest in peace. You will not sully her name."

Myron shook his head in disbelief. "God, I hate you."

Erik didn't even falter. "You will bring Luca with you to school, this is all that I ask."

"Fuck you." He barrelled past them, almost knocking Luca off his feet.

Erik sighed, pulling his mother into his arms. She kissed his cheek, wrapping her hand around his waist. "I want to apologise for my son's behavior, Luca. He means no harm. He's in a very reckless phase in his life."

Luca didn't quite understand how Erik was so placid after losing his wife only a couple months ago. Luca almost pitied Myron. He forced a smile to slip on his face and waved it off, "It's okay."

"Darling, you should hurry before he leaves," His mother said.

"If he hasn't already," Erik sighed. "I won't be surprised."

Surprisingly, Myron did wait for him. He was leaning against the side of his car, an impressive sleek black 1967 Ford Mustang. He had a lit cigarette stuck to his lips and twirled the keys around his finger. "Stop gawking and let's go."

To ease the tension, Luca gracefully slid into the backseat. He started the engine and the car purred to life.The early morning dew crept on the surface of the glass fogging the window. Luca wiped the glass with his sleeves. Alabaster clouds idle lazily in the soft skies, wisps of saffron yellow mingling in the midst of gentle strokes of blue;a quiet destruction.

Rage over a lost penny by Beethoven played through the stereos, this came to a shock to Luca since he didn't peg Myron as the type to listen to classical music. The symphonic music continued to fill the air, the faster the tempo increased, the harder he pressed the accelerator. Everything outside becoming a blur.

The academy came to view, and it rendered him speechless. Myron maneuvered the car through a small pathway that encircled the school. As they drew closer, he marveled at the prehistoric beauty the academy seemed to possess. Gracing his sight were twin ivory towers that stood imposing up close. As they neared the parking lot, students hurried along with tailored, pleated trousers, foggy glasses from the early morning dew and leather bound bags crammed with textbooks and notes.

"Close your mouth or you'll catch flies," Myron said, eyes flickering to the rear-view mirror.

Though his mouth was closed and in fact, not gaping wide open like he'd just stated. The familiar heat crept at his neck at the derisive tone in his taunting remark. "It's beautiful," He said, and he meant it. Romanesque architecture was an architect he admired deeply.

They pulled into a parking lot filled with 1957 Corvettes and Volkswagen beetles. He parked his car into an empty lot supposedly reserved for staff. Myron tilted the rearview mirror and ran his fingers through his hair. "Let's make one thing clear, Jones. At school, we're strangers. I don't know you and you don't know me. Capiche?" He twisted the rearview mirror back in place meeting his eye.

"Yeah," Luca mumbled.

"Don't speak to me and don't make eye contact with me in the hallways," He continued, "Now get out of my car before people see us together."

When Luca didn't leave, he cocked a brow. "Well? Fuck off." Luca hurriedly unbuckled his seat belt and exited the car. Without a backward glance, he left Myron behind.

Luca longed to twirl on the balls of his feet like a graceful ballerina under the grand ornate chandelier hanging loosely from the high ceiling, glimmering like thousands of refulgent stars. But instead, he tightened his grip on his denim jacket- already an outcast from the sea of affluent scholars dressed in vintage clothing.

"You must be Luca Jones. Welcome to West Mines Academy." A fiercely beautiful, dark skin girl stood before him.

"Uh, yes. It is I." It is I? Luca slightly winced. But either the girl failed to notice or she simply didn't care.

She smiled in amusement. "I'm Olivia St.Moore. You can consider me somewhat of your guide today. Let's hurry along, shall we?" They interlocked arms and walked the halls of West Mines Academy.

She told him everything at once until it left his head swimming. She spoke about their history, (something about an European traveler laying claim to this land to an ecclesiastic declaring it as a church many years later then remodeling it to become an all boy's Catholic school then finally, opening their doors for women decades later- she stated the latter with a proud gleam. "Equality shall reign," she had said.) the students activities and went over his class schedule.

"I know it's a lot to take in but you'll get the hang of it. Usually the headmaster does this sort of thing but.." Her sentence trailed off.

He'd already know what she meant to say.

"Let me guess, he wouldn't waste time and energy on someone like me? Am I right? Someone that's not filled with riches ."

"I'm sorry, Luca. That's just the way it is," she winced.

She brought him to the right wing through a deep archway that led to a hallway of lockers. She paused in front of a locker and dutifully handed him a paper and written in the prettiest calligraphy was his locker number and code. Olivia unlocked her locker and pulled out her textbooks, gathering them into the crook of her arm.

She slammed it shut and pursed her deep fuchsia colored lips. "Our town is quite an interesting one, wouldn't you say?"

Luca cocked his head to the side. "I would like to think so?"

She sighed, tilting her head slightly in his direction. "Our history is quite a complicated one. One I promise to tell you all about when we have the time." She looked down at her diamond-rimmed piaget watch adorning her wrist. "Why don't you hurry along to your first class before you receive a demerit."

With that, they walked briskly to their assigned classes, departing ways. And for some reason, it left a hollow feeling in his chest. And he realized that feeling was loneliness.

──────

His day flew by quickly. The highlight of his day however was gaining the attention of his eccentric english teacher. It was after class and the peculiar professor had their feet propped on the desk, reading an underrated classic that he'd favor since he was a young boy:The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe. When he pointed it out, they jumped out of their seats like their pants were lit on fire. They leaned forward, their eyes dancing with excitement.

"Ah! What a deliciously disturbing work Poe had bestowed upon us, wouldn't you say, young lad?" They sing-songed.

"It must be understood, that neither by word nor deed had I given Fortunato cause to doubt my good will," They continued, "Do you truly believe this is a tale of revenge as he states to us in the beginning, or is it a tale of jealousy fueled by insanity and madness?"

Luca pondered, and decided to say, "I believe it's rather an eloquent book that Poe wrote and refreshing that he has the ability to delve into the taboo and twist the reader's mind with such macabre writing. The narrator in this story is undoubtedly an unreliable one; therefore, who are we to take his word for it? He may have vowed this was a tale of revenge, but his actions led me to believe jealousy was truly the stem of it all, as it is mostly the case."

They clapped madly, startling the students coming into the room for their next class. "How splendid! A wrong is unredressed when retribution overtakes its redresser. It is equally unredressed when the avenger fails to make himself felt as such to him who has done the wrong," They said. "My my my, Mr Jones was it? What a marvelous young man you are. My word will reach you soon."

Luca left them with that final statement, bemused. It was only a few hours later, he had understood what they meant. He was in the main wing, leaning against a pearl statue of Mary Magdalene. Whispers of new students and family of new money tickled his ears yet he had yet to come across the supposedly new students. The teacher's word came in a form of a dainty girl with long, mahogany hair framing her elfin face. She wore a beige cardigan tucked neatly into her vintage check pleated skirt.

Tucking her hair behind her ear, she murmured. "Pleasure to meet you." Up close he saw a little cherub pendant dangling from her slim neck.

"Hello," He said.

She slid a slip of paper into the palm of his hand. "From Professor Bishop." And with that, she waved him goodbye and walked off in the opposite direction. Luca stared at her retreating figure in wonder, then looked down at the slip of paper, his fingers tingling from the skin on skin contact. The paper gave a cryptic message, it read: ‎St. Michael the Archangel wing, Room 113, 3pm.

Call it curiosity if you will, but whatever it was led him to his current predicament. Sitting in a circle, he sat amongst an odd group of pretentious scholars that looked like they belonged in the 20th century, England not the small quaint town of West Mines, in the 21st century. They wore cardigans and sweaters vests in muted colors and tweed trousers. They smoked cigars and smelt of black coffee. They debated philosophy and read prose, and discussed french revolutionaries not everyday mundane topics.

There was Alaric Sebastian Watson (he preferred to go as 'Rick', he said Alaric was too iffy), an orgulous lad with bushy brows and ash freckles peppered across his face. Then there was Cyrus Rothschild. His handsome features sharp and hard like a cut diamond in the rough. Thick lips shaped as the curved body of a bow. Perched on the chair with crossed legs and fingers thumbing through the sepia pages of a foreign novel, the title written in Latin, forbidding Luca from understanding.Then, Luca's eyes bounced to the girl he met earlier (he learned her name was Aspen Berkshire) sitting elegantly next to Cyrus. She was leaning against his shoulders, her hands alighted on his knee. She felt his eyes upon her and she looked up, giving him a half smile. Luca quickly averted his eyes and his attention strayed towards the narrowed eyes of Myron. It surprised him immensely when he'd found out Myron was here. Myron, as expected, was not too happy about his presence either. He swore Luca did this to spite him. Then lastly, was Olivia St.Moore. She stood in the centre, head raised in poise, giving her the air of a regal queen.

"First and foremost, I would like to welcome Luca Jones not only to the literature club but to West Mines Academy."

Literature club?

Myron stifled a yawn, Alaric gave a haughty laugh, Cyrus merely lifted his bored gaze for a split second before lowering his eyes back to his latest read and Aspen, oh sweet Aspen clapped politely.

Luca's face burned red.

Before he could open his mouth however, someone bursted into the room, slamming the door open. Luca almost jumped out of his seat, yet the other students obviously used to this merely sighed and one person muttered under their breath: "Here we go again."

"My apologies, everyone." Professor Bishop Shawford scratched the back of their head, their wire frame glasses slipping ever so slightly. They hurried to the blackboard, however their satchel somehow caught at the edge of the desk, causing their notes to scatter.

Aspen sighed, and bent her knees to pick up the scattered notes. "Oh heavens no, what a mess! Thank you my dear. Ah." They surveyed the room until their eyes fell upon Luca. "Mr. Jones, you've arrived. Welcome, so glad to have a new member. This calls for a celebration." Suddenly, they went to a backdoor Luca hadn't seen before, then came back wheeling in a small cart of victorian style tea cup sets.

"As you already know, I'm Professor Bishop Shawford, you can please kindly and respectfully refer to me as they/them pronouns." They passed along chamomile tea to each of them, already familiar with their preference. "Milk, honey?"

"Honey, will be fine," Luca replied.

Bishop continued, "Not only do I teach here at this academy, but I work as a college professor at the St. Catherine University in the next town over."

"Yeah they teach humanities, philosophy and intro to ethics," Aspen piped in, over her cup of tea.

"That's nothing," Alaric smirked. "My cousin, Walsh? You remember Walsh right? Anyway, he teaches ten courses at Harvard. Impressive, if I do say so myself. And he has like three PhDs. How many PhDs do you have, professor?" He slurped on his tea with his pinkie raised in the air.

Olivia rolled her eyes. "Does it matter?"

Bishop blinked rapidly, their mouth opening and closing. "Well, just one." Then the familiar look of bliss fell across their androgynous features. "And I'm quite satisfied with it. Anyway, Mr. Jones, the literature club- don't mind the name, we're working on it, is simply a group of young students like yourselves who come together to discuss the fine language of english literature. Quite fascinating, isn't it?"

"I still don't get why he's got to be here," Myron muttered bitterly under his breath.

"Well Mr. Coldwell, our dear friend is here today because I couldn't resist! It would be such a shame to have missed this opportunity. Oh goodness me, I'm afraid I would have to cut this meeting short. I have a seminar I must attend to in the next fifteen minutes. My my my, see how the time has run. Ah but Punctuality is the thief of time. Any idea who said that fine line? "

"Twas Oscar Wilde," Cyrus answered, speaking up for the first time. "I am always late on principle, my principle being that punctuality is the thief of time. You best do to hurry up, Professor."

They grabbed his satchel and patted them on their heads. "Splendid! The meeting is over. I will see you all tomorrow. This goes for you too, Mr Jones." Luca nodded, satisfied, they left.

When Luca arrived home, he was beat. Today was a very interesting day indeed. Somehow he knew deep down that he would become like the strange individuals he met earlier. His mother was gone for the day, perhaps on her sixth shopping spree. He decided to work on his homework before it piled up on him in the upcoming weeks. Lofi music quietly played in the background as Luca flipped through his pages. Before he knew it, three hours has passed and through his open window night has fallen and the moon hovered anxiously like a coddling mother.

His door slid open, a sliver of orange light was seen. His mother popped her head in and she gave a soft, tired smile. "Darling, how was the school? The students? Was the school beautiful as the brochure showed?"

He answered her rapid questions: "Fine. Interesting. And the brochure couldn't possibly capture its beauty."

She gave a sigh of relief. "At least something good came off from all this." He didn't question what she meant, he could only wonder. She ruffled his head, and placed a kiss on his forehead. And with that, she left and shut his bedroom door shut.

It was 2 am when Myron came home stoned. Luca was looking up at his ceiling, deep in thought. His last cup of tea grew lukewarm on his bedside table. There was angry shouting and doors being slammed. Then the screeching of his car could be heard from outside as he departed. Then, silence. Pure and utter silence.

Luca pulled the cover up to his lips and closed his eyes. He couldn't help but think, what will tomorrow bring?

[setsureadsshit]

Lost At Sea: A List of WIP’s I am finally letting go of [ Part 2 ]

[ Part 1 ]

Exactly what it says on the tin.

Very Sincerely Yours by semaphoredrivethru

Summary: Terrified at the prospect of humiliating himself in front of the ton and completely ruining his first season with his crippling shyness, omega Stiles Stilinski does the only thing he can; he invents a sweetheart away at war. A completely fictitious and utterly gorgeous captain, a gentlemanly paragon of romance and adoration, an alpha with whom Stiles spends years "exchanging" letters.Years later, an angry, war-battered Derek Hale shows up at Stiles's door. He's no gentleman, and vehemently denies the existence of anything remotely resembling romance. He's received every last letter and has come to collect on Stiles's promises of home and marriage, no matter what.

Last Updated: 2018

Fandom & Main Pairing: Teen Wolf ; Sterek

Personal Notes: AHHHHH, THERE’S NOTHING I LIKE MORE THAN A GOOD REGENCY BODICE RIPPER AU. HOW UNFORTUNATE THAT THIS ONE NEVER GOT FINISHED. IT WAS SUCH A GOOD START TOO, I AM SO DISAPPOINTED. AHHHHHHH SO SAD.

Sold by onlyastoryteller

Summary: The government has passed two significant acts that eliminate the rights of convicted felons. When Peter Burke learns that Neal Caffrey's Work Contract has been purchased by a private citizen, he springs into action.

Last Update: 2018

Fandom & Main Pairing: White Collar ; Baffery

Personal Notes: While this fic is amazing and it hasn’t been THAT long since it was last updated (trust me, I’ve held on to fics for over 5 years on the hope it’d get updated lmao), this fandom and pairing just doesn’t interest me anymore; mostly because The Bullshit Season really turned me off from the show.

Sypha’s Boys by ShifterCat

Summary: “Back in the tomb under Greşit, Alucard asked you about that prophecy involving him. And… you blushed.”“O-oh.” That brought her up short. “Yes. That.” Sypha glanced away, gathering herself, then looked back decisively. “‘The Hunter, the Scholar, the Sleeping Soldier: they shall travel together. They shall defeat great evil together. They shall… love together.’”Trevor blinked a few times, allowing that to sink in. Then: “Your prophecy says we’re going to fuck?”

Last Update: 2019

Fandom & Main Pairing: Castlevania ; Syvorcard

Personal Notes: I mean, it says what it is on the tin - it’s just a collection of smut vignettes and after the first 5 chapters the sex kinda just gets old and I start to crave actual plot. That isn’t to say it’s not well written and I didn’t enjoy it but..you know *hand waves* 

Partners by wordswehavesaid

Summary: In which Barry Allen is the Starling City Police Department's forensics assistant. Yes, Starling.

Last Update: 2015

Fandom & Main Pairing: The Flash/Arrow ; Flarrow

Personal Notes: I love love love love LOVE this fic. I love it SO MUCH and it physically PAINS ME to let it go but it’s time. Still, at 25 hefty chapters, it’s not really a bad deal to put your time into it.

Take My Body by paraselenewoman

Summary: Derek and Jordan are Alphas. Stiles is their newly obtained omega. Everything is pretty terrifying.If given the chance, though, Stiles probably wouldn't change a thing.

Last Update: 2015

Fandom & Main Pairing: Teen Wolf ; Derek x Stiles x Parish

Personal Notes: ......okay listen. I never said I was proud of all of my fic reading choices okay BUT SOMETIMES. SOMETIMES A BITCH JUST NEEDS SOME GOOD OLD FASHIONED A/B/O Dom/sub DYNAMICS IN THEIR LIFE OKAY. YOU CAN’T SHAME ME - but I am a little embarrassed to admit it so let’s head to the next fic.

That Which Binds Them by Flarrow

Summary: Everyone is born with a mark shared by their soulmate, located somewhere around their shoulder blade. They say the mark burns upon meeting one's soulmate. Oliver knows what his is, but doesn't believe in the system. Barry doesn't know what his looks like, but he wants it to be a surprise.Set in The Flash and Arrow universes, but AU in the sense that I'm not sticking to the storyline laid out in either series, though I may borrow elements when they work for the story. Barry and Oliver are still The Flash and Arrow. Idea of the mark's location was inspired by the brand Oliver received in “The Fallen.”

Last Update: 2016

Fandom & Main Pairing: The Flash/Arrow ; Flarrow

Personal Notes: I read this a while back but I do remember it being a really good story. At 18 chapters, I didn’t feel like giving it the full re-read treatment since I’m currently on a role but I DID take the liberty of reading the very last chapter and I can say you’ll leave this fic satisfied if you do read it, even though it’s unfinished.

Steve Rogers and the Tri-Wizard Tournament by gryffindor17

Summary: There’s not a person who walks the halls of Hogwarts who doesn’t know Steve Rogers: the boy with the righteous streak, hot temper, and massive crush on the Romanian Longhorns’ star Chaser, Bucky Barnes. But Bucky exists to Steve only on the front page of The Daily Prophet. He has long since resigned himself to admiring from afar, catching games when he can or otherwise following Barnes’s crusade against injustice through printed page.Until the man himself walks into the Great Hall on the first night of their Seventh Year.Bucky’s life outside of the spotlight is hardly worthy of a footnote, never mind a headline, but no one wants to read about Bucky Barnes being found face-down and fast asleep between the shelves of Durmstrang’s impressive library. Between his studies and the Quidditch Finals looming around the corner, the last thing Bucky needs is something like the Tri-Wizard Tournament. He knows Headmaster Pierce is expecting him to volunteer, but all Bucky really wants is to pass his N.E.W.T.S. and maybe twist The Minister’s arm into passing the bill about guaranteed pay for House Elves.That is until he spots Merlin’s gift to man sitting at the Gryffindor table.Then things get complicated.

Last Update: 2016

Fandom & Main Pairing: Captain America (MCU) ; Stucky

Personal Notes: It’s rare that I actually enjoy Hogwarts AU’s and I’ve kinda dropped out of the Captain American fandom so, while this IS really well done, I’m just not interested in it anymore.

Part Of Your World by Jenetica

Summary: Derek's a werewolf. Stiles is a merman. They're not supposed to work.Luckily, they're both determined to prove that particular fact false.Sequel to "Sea Foam and Sunshine."

Last Update: 2014

Fandom & Main Pairing: Teen Wolf ; Sterek

Personal Notes: This is the second part in a series and you should def read the first one it’s fucking great. The second one is also good but...you know. Not gonna be finished ever so.

Knot Your Playmate by Halzbarry

Summary: He quickly closed his laptop and laid back on his bed. Somehow he’d convinced himself to not only sign up for an online ABO hookup website, but to also meet up with not one, but two alphas to potentially sleep with and get him through his heat. AU where Stiles is an omega, and has to sign up for an online ABO dating website to find an alpha to bring him through his heat, and possibly be a match so he doesn't flunk out of high school and get sent to remedial school because of Harris. What he doesn't expect is to find two mated alphas looking for an omega, and for feelings to start getting involved. Notice: Fic is on indefinite hiatus and is no longer being worked on.

Last Update: 2015

Fandom & Main Pairing: Teen Wolf ; Derek x Stiles x Parish

Personal Notes: .......LISTEN. IT’s GOOD OKAY????

Last To Know by Never_Says_Die

Summary: Kink meme fill in which every werewolf and shapeshifter in Beacon Hills is aware that Stiles is pregnant before he is. And apparently the first baby!werewolf being born into the pack (their Alpha's, no less) is a big freakin' deal and excuse enough for everyone to lose their damn minds. When Stiles figures out why everyone's been acting so weird around him, he's not amused. 

Last Update: 2013

Fandom & Main Pairing: Teen Wolf ; Sterek

Personal Notes: This one is basically finished, like, it’s 21 of 22 chapters but the 22nd chapter would have mostly been just putting a bow on it, it’s already wrapped you know? It’s a really good fic I really love it, I should honestly just reblog it in it’s own right but I’ve already gone through the trouble of formating it so fuck it.

Lonely Road by CranApplePye

Summary: Stiles is running from things he doesn't want to face. Derek is running from a past he cannot leave behind. Their paths collide on a lonely stretch of road when Stiles' car breaks down and Derek is the only mechanic on hand. An unexpected closeness develops, but both men are harboring secrets and Stiles may have just found the one person whose luck runs worse than his own. When the past catches up with the future, it may be one collision that neither of them can survive, and it may end up pulling everyone they love down with them.As everything begins to unravel, choices must be made. Stiles must decide how far he's able to go to protect the people he cares about, and what he'll do when he hits his breaking point. Derek must decide whether he can overcome a lifetime of betrayal enough to trust in someone again, and what he's willing to sacrifice if he is. And Scott and Allison must decide what it means to stand by your friends, and what price they are each willing to pay to do what is right.

Last Update: 2015

Fandom & Main Pairing: Teen Wolf ; Sterek

Personal Notes: I AM REALLY MAD THIS NEVER GOT FINISHED. SUCH A COMPELLING STORY. SUCH A FRESH TAKE ON WHAT THE CANON COULD HAVE BEEN. AAAAAAAAAAAAH.

Lost In The Flood by Skaboom

Summary: When social services finally barges in and takes Isaac away from his father, granting custody to his aunt, Isaac gets the first good night's sleep he's had since his mother died, but that doesn't mean that everything is easy from there on out. There's a lot of lingering damage, and with everyone gossiping about him at school, it's hard to find someone to turn to, but with the help of a caring Aunt, a great therapist, and an unexpected friendship with Stiles, a kid on his lacrosse team, Isaac might finally be on the right path.

Last Update: 2017

Fandom & Main Pairing: Teen Wolf ; Stisaac

Personal Notes: Another sad goodbye, there has never been enough Stisaac fic in this fandom for me so seeing what few good fics there were go unfinished is particularly bitter to me.

[tabithacarlisle]

*OFF THE RECORD : Part 7.......by jo ( @tabithacarlisle ;) *Catch up on OFF THE RECORD’s previous chapters parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6 here at the OTR Masterlist OTR Part 7 Notes & Disclaimers: Pixelberry Studios owns these characters, not me! I just have fun playing with them :) Pairings: Drake x Liam  (mentions: Liam x MC (Tabitha) | Maxwell x MC | Drake x MC | discussions of Liam x Drake x MC x Maxwell (!!) Warnings: 18+ NS*W, 🍋, SMUT, erotica, polyamory, marital angst, some swearing

*Author’s Note: any time you see text underlined, it’s a link to screenshots from Pixelberry’s Choices TRR scenes, or other chapters referenced from *OTR- click them!! :)

OTR Part 7: ........

“These plans look fantastic, Drake! I do...” he paused to flip through the stack of blueprints “...recall, Tabitha mentioning she wanted that land by the river on her estate to be used to build a private cottage for us in future. Is there, any... particular reason why the two of you seem in such a rush to build it now?”

“Do you remember that, um... thing I told you about?”

Liam still looked confused

“You know... you... me.... and Tabitha... the three of us....?”

The realization could clearly be seen on Liam’s face by how it at once turned from inquisitive to annoyed. Drake could read him like a book. “Oh... oh you mean that ‘thing’ I that I told both you and Tabitha that I was definitely not comfortable with partaking in and refused to do with both of you? That thing?”

“She needs this, we— we could make this work.”

“And, what, pray tell, makes you think that?”

“She wants Maxwell in on it now.”

“...what?!”

“You, me, Carlisle.... and—“ Drake blinked hard before exhaling sharply “Maxwell.”

“And this, this is what she wants? And you’re OK with it too??!”

“Listen, Your wife? is an insatiable minx. This is what she needs. This is what-- what we all need. All of us. You’re the one who said we need better communication to make this new situation work between the four of us, right? Think of it as a ... a team building exercise. Look, I wasn’t cool with Maxwell joining in at first, but she has a way of making people agree to things that they wouldn’t normally want anything to do with.”

Liam let his head fall into his hands propped up by his elbows on the desk and sighed audibly. “Yes, she does... and so do you.” He ran a hand through his hair and lifted his reading glasses off to pinch the bridge of his nose. “I don’t want to hurt her, or you. Quite frankly, I’m still unsure about how I’ll react to seeing you together with her. And now Maxwell?... for fucks’ sake.”

Drake chuckled “Exactly.” 

“Jesus, Drake... You really think this would be the best course of action for all of us?”

“Listen, we give it a shot. One time. If you aren’t into it, it‘d be the last time ever, and we could move on. Someone once told me, ‘Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it.”

“Let me guess who?”

“Yup. And, she also told me to remind you how good building that private cabin would be for the economy to create more jobs in Valtoria. Carlisle said she wants it built by all Valtorian contractors and workers. Better for PR that way.”

Liam’s mood perked up. He couldn’t help but beam with pride. “I do admit, I am so proud of her. I’m continually impressed by my wife’s political savvy. It’s hard to believe sometimes she wasn’t born to this life rather than us having plucked her out of waitressing at that dive bar in New York, isn’t it?”

“If there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s that you can’t ever underestimate Carlisle. ... Any-ways, so... if this project is a ‘go’ - I’ve gotta leave for Valtoria this afternoon. We already have appointments to field bids from ‘bout half a dozen different contractors out there. I was thinking... maybe you and me? We could go together, stay at the manor on the estate, have some alone time this weekend?...”

Liam sighed. “You make it sound so tempting. But, I can’t. I have plans tonight.”

“Your meetings with the ambassadors aren’t happening ‘till next week though! C’mon, Lee...”

“It’s not just that. It’s been, too long, since I last spent the night with Tabitha. I wanted to surprise her with a mini-break on Sardinia. We have reservations at Al Vecchio’s for dinner tonight and I’ve rented a private villa for the two of us to spend the weekend there together.”

“Ooh, smooth. Al Vecchio’s?” Drake let out a low whistle “Y’know she likes cheap Italian food too, right?”

Liam frowned incredulously, “What makes you think that?”

Busted. “Oh— um...” He winced and scratched at the back of his neck “...never mind?”

“Right... anyway, this restaurant worked best with our security needs this time, and I want the best for her.”

“So you’re leaving tonight?”

“Yes, we have the private jet ready to go. Tabitha and I will be back by Monday in time for our State visit with the German Prime Minister.”

“Well, I’m gonna miss you. At least let me give you a proper send off...” Drake’s muscle memory easily found Liam’s belt buckle as he pried it loose and cupped Liam’s bulge through his trousers with the other hand. Liam gasped for breath & closed his eyes in a reluctant grimace, pushing drake’s hands away as he readjusted his belt

“What?”

“Drake— we can’t. I can’t, rather. It’s been, nearly two weeks since I last slept with her. I need to make sure I can keep my endurance up for tonight.”

Drake scoffed and grabbed Liam by the belt-loops to pull him closer, their hips now flush against each other’s. “‘Endurance’? Fuck that, Lee. I’ve seen you go four or five times in one night.”

Liam put his head down slightly and closed his eyes, chuckling softly and trying not to blush before he met Drake’s eyes again. “You know I’m getting older.”

“Never. Not to me.”

Liam, touched by the flattery, placed his hand over Drake’s chest. “Come, now. Let me give you, a proper send off instead.”

Liam held Drake’s shoulder, kissing him hard and fastening his hand at the base of Drake’s neck. Their lips remained locked as Liam reached a hand down to push the small red button under the edge of his desk. The locks on the door to the office could be heard remotely latching from across the room. They were safe now. Drake reached up to cup Liam’s face in his calloused hands to deepen the kiss, only to be denied entry when Liam pushed him down into the leather executive desk chair.

“Oof!”

Liam lowered himself onto his knees and unzipped Drake’s pants, pulling down the elastic of his boxer briefs just enough to free his cock and balls. The shaft was almost fully erect. He looked up into Drake’s eyes hungrily while twisting one hand up and down the shaft and stroking the balls with his fingers splayed in the other, until Drake’s manhood was fully prepped. Drake tangled his fingers in Liam’s hair and groaned, closing his eyes and arching his neck back against the mahogany leather headrest. He soon felt that familiar tongue tracing the underside and sucking at the tip of his cock with his favorite mouth. It felt like home.

Drake moaned again, just a bit too audibly this time so that Liam had to lift his head. He put a finger to his lips and shushed at Drake like a school headmaster. Drake opened his eyes, and frowning hissed back at Liam “What?! Bash knows already!”

“One can never be too careful...” Liam whispered back. He winked at him and set back to work again, this time slowly easing Drake’s fully erect shaft into his mouth and deep down his throat one time, pulling back to look into Drake’s eyes as he let the tip loll around his lips and lightly stubbled cheeks before engulfing his dick again.

Drake leaned forward, bracing the back of Liam’s head and neck with his large palms. He thrusted his hips up in time to Liam’s mouth machinations, trying desperately to keep from moaning too loud. Drake bit his lip and growled under his breath, feeling his nut-sac clench in anticipation. Before he could verbally warn Liam, Drake’s release came. He shuddered, opening his eyes long enough to make sure his thick cum got deposited entirely into Liam’s eager mouth, and tapping the visible outline of his cock’s head softly on the inside of Liam’s cheek in his mouth; all the better to not leave a trace on him.

Liam swallowed softly and smiled with closed lips. Still on his knees, he opened a bottom desk drawer to find the small bottle of mint mouthwash that had been left there from their past sessions in the office. He gargled briefly before spitting into a small cup, as Drake methodically finished cleaning himself up, then readjusted his pants to tuck his shirt back in. It was clear this was a routine they had followed many times before; there was no time for ‘pillow talk’ or cuddling.

Drake did notice Liam getting up from the floor with a visible hard on bulging beneath his pants.

“Ouch, Liam? are you seriously that desperate to keep your title as the ‘Edging King?’ That’s gotta be painful. You should just let me help you out this time.”

“I told you, I have to save it for my Queen. I’ll be fine, trust me.” He rubbed Drake’s shoulder before hugging him close. “It’s only for the weekend. I’ll be back before you know it.”

“You two have fun then, and you’d better fuck her so senseless that she can barely walk when she gets back home.”

“Drake! Have you gone completely mad? She’s pregnant, I can’t just—“

“Oh, believe me, Carlisle can take it. Those pregnancy hormones of hers are a gift.” Drake winked suggestively at him as he rolled up the cabin blueprints left on Liam’s desk, walking backwards back out the door, whistling with a slight spring in his step as he left down the hall.

Liam sat back down at his desk. Drake had left one copy of the cabin plans with an empty signature field. He exhaled loudly, and taking an expensive looking fountain pen put his signature on the line above his name and title, and stamped the Royal Cordonian seal at the bottom of the blueprints. .......

Click Here to Read On >>>> OTR Part 8

OTR tag-list @bobasheebaby @indiacater @brightpinkpeppercorn @ritachacha @drakeandcamilleofvaltoria @kate-mckenzie @queen-among-writers @itsbrindleybinch @ao719 @cosigottahavefaith @alj4890 @jovialyouthmusic @be-still-my-aching-heart @basiclatinagirl @sirbeepsalot @emichelle @choiceslife @sapphovonchat @average-sunflower @museofbooks @furiousherringoperatortoad @kennaloverofdragons @fromthedeskofpaisleybleakmore @thegingerwithcurlyfries @dianalend @broxanneq @rhymesmenagerie @carabeth @drakesensworld @ladyangel70 @writinghereandthere @brightpinkpeppercorn @fumikechu

[noddytheornithopod]

So I finished Danganronpa 2 and... MY HEAD HOLY FUCK THAT WAS A LOT TO PROCESS

All the weird glitching and shit was quite eerie, it did get a bit frustrating sometimes actually.

IT’S A GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAME (or rather, the Neo World is a simulation designed to undo the brainwashing of the Ultimate Despairs - the students here). Seriously, whenever Monokuma said that it was hilarious.

Hey it’s Alter Ego! Fucking Junko created her own version of it to upload into the dead students, holy shit that’s freaky.

Okay, Makoto showing up was really cool. Byakuya appeared too, which was awesome. Oh yeah, am I missing someone? Oh of course... KYOKO KIRIGIRI APPEARS TOO!!!!!! They show up because the shutdown sequence they created needs at least half of the number of students that were in the game.

I swear Junko was hot for <akoto with how she talked about him at some points... opposites attract?

So the Ultimate Despairs actually were recruited one by one and through Junko’s persuasion... now I see why people don’t like DR3′s portrayal of things, it reduces it all to “lol she made anime that made them wackos”. How it’s described here sounds much more compelling, it’s basically her just being charismatic and influencing and manipulating people to brainwash them, and her fellow despairs then used that across the world, including with the reserve suicide.

The stuff they did to the world was shocking, but themselves? YIKES. Nagito having the fucking arm of Junko, holy shit. Also... he seemed to still hate Junko even as a Despair? Also... Hajime as Izuru telling him the shit Nagito said to Hajime about how he’s worthless... ironic.

Okay honestly the stuff they did in general is pretty fucked up. Especially... NECROPHILIA???? FUCKING NECROPHILIA????? That was so Teruteru who did that (or Soda, it’s one of the horny ones, duh).

This final chapter was seriously meta, it’s wild. IT’S A GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAME!

Giant Alter Ego Junko said her boobs are like 15 metres wide??? That’s weird. And she also mentions how it’s not a fanservice game, shit.

Junko’s voice acting was much better in this game... I actually found her kinda charismatic even as she was fucking awful instead of last time where she was just fucking awful... OH NO, AM I BEING SEDUCED INTO HER CULT OF DESPAIR???

Just as I thought, Nagito wanted to off everyone but Chiaki since they were all the Despairs... ironically, this would leave all their bodies blank, meaning Junko could hijack them. Okay seriously, the fact she wants to hijack everyone’s bodies so everyone will end up as Junko... that’s honestly pretty terrifying. It gave me freaking LOTS OF ME flashbacks.

Chiaki showed up to save Hajime after she died, holy shit. And she basically shows up to help him choose to do things his own way in the end.

All the ending stuff and the themes is something I’m REALLY going to have to process. Like... despair is defeated, but instead of hope they choose the “future”. I mean, I kinda see that as a form of hope in itself, but I guess the thing here is that they’re kinda creating their own path? I guess kinda like what Makoto decided in the first game? Just now, there’s more grey areas and every option has elements of hope and despair. Oh my gosh, I’m confused just writing this.

THANK YOU CHIAKI for telling us that it’s not important about whether you’re born with talent or not, just whether you believe in yourself. Hajime chooses to be his own person in the end and do that, and that’s what he needed to initiate the shutdown. Now we see just how much of a foil Nagito is to him.

Oh yeah Hajime was basically turned into freaking Izuru... and Hope’s Peak basically ALWAYS was researching talent to create this “Ultimate Hope”. In other words, they made Hajime a fucking ubermensch, essentially. And he killed the student council (which DR3 also contradicts, they went with the “Junko set it up” route), which started the Tragedy.

Look I know Kyoko is my big thing, but I legitimately have to wonder... since her father was the Headmaster of Hope’s Peak, what does she think of him now if he pretty much was involved in this project? I think DR3 portrayed him as conflicted or something, but I barely remember and honestly it seems like it contradicts stuff in 2 anyway so whatever lol

I definitely want to think more about the whole “gifted vs ordinary” theme. Like, it seems like the Tragedy was even able to happen was because Junko basically exploited the resentment of the Reserve Students and used that to convert them to her ideology. Nagito obviously has his social Darwinist views on this too. Junko also said something like that those who have talent end up with despair... this is kind of what she herself experiences, funnily enough. I think she said it’s because you eventually get knocked off the top, essentially. It’s certainly quite a bizarre worldview for sure, but yeah, she seems to have her own resentment for talented people in a way, but not in a sense to actually challenge the idea we even need this divide.

Chiaki’s thank you to Hajime’s, aww...

Small thing, but the ending where they showed Makoto, Kyoko and Byakuya was sweet. Makoto admiring how they were able to find a way to carve out their own futures, their nice Future Foundation outfits and Byakuya being friendly and noting Makoto’s sentimentality. They also chose to come with him even though they knew how risky it was, they had to do something even if the Future Foundation is fucked and the Neo World wasn’t fully prepared. I mean, Kyoko doesn’t surprise me that she’d work with Makoto, but Byakuya joining too really is a testament to how much he’s grown. Guess Hina, Hiro and Toko had their own stuff to do lol (I know Toko is in Ultra Despair Girls for example). Also... Kyoko’s tease about Toko to Byakuya, wow, she can show her sense of humour when she wants to. XD

But yeah, that was a pretty awesome experience. I’m not sure over whether I prefer 1 or 2, since even if 2 had a more complex and intriguing plot with its twists and turns, 1 I feel emotionally impacted me more and also had the isolated horror aspect to it. Plus, Kyoko Kirigiri. :P I found 1′s trials easier to manage overall since even on easy 2 made them more complicated, though I enjoy the brain surfing minigame 2 added. 2 also has stronger music overall. I guess 2 is more “fun”, in a sense, while 1 has that eerieness to it and unknown factor that makes you identify with the characters more? Obviously 2 had great characters too, in general I just felt more for 1′s. I guess they balance each other out in the end, lol. But yeah, overall I really enjoyed Danganronpa 2, as I did with the first game.

[setsunatama3]

Chapter 2: a new beginning

AN/ So hope is the second chapter will come out with out any errors fingers crossed if not let me know

Note  edited 10/12/19

Chapter 2: a new beginning

Naruto and Sarada are traveling the streets of Vale, one with confidence in her stride the other mopping with a pout. 

I can't believe I am doing this.naruto grumbled as they approached the bullhead station. A chuckle Kurama replied with, "I do believe it was the blackmail she has on you. Sasuke sure is keeping an eye on you from beyond the grave."

Whatever he huffed with disdain. As he kept pace with Sarada. 

"Well, you shouldn't have drunk that hootch that Gamakichi and Gamatatsu made!" Sarada exclaimed with a menacing smile. "Besides, you owe me for when you mpphmphhmp. "shhhhshhhhh," Naruto exclaimed. "you promised that you wouldn't talk about that; it's why I let you come with me in the first place," Naruto said. While covering her mouth with his hands.

During the ride to Beacon, Naruto reflected on how much time had passed. It had been about two years and in that time. Even their appearances changed in that time he now wore black pants, a simple shirt with the Uzumaki spiral in the center covered by a new flak jacket and his high collared haori with the Uzumaki crest on both shoulders and back and shinobi sandals. And Kurama was draped around his neck like a fur scarf. Sarada, while still wearing her glasses, changed most growing out her hair till mid-back and tied in a loose ponytail. Now wearing elbow-length fingerless gloves with steel plates on the back a qipao style dress with short tights on fishnet stockings and shinobi style knee length open-toed heels. And several belts around her waist and a large medical pouch strapped to them now wielding her father's chokutō and topping it all of with a vest. But her most noticeable change was the now complete Byakugō no In on her forehead. They had gone from not being able to even read to now having an information network and several informants and clones out in the world. To find out this world is in more turmoil then there's was when he left.

With the Biju coming along at the very least, the elemental nations lost a significant source of its conflict. Surprisingly, four of the nine Bijuu agreed to be sealed into Sarada to look after her. It was the only way he let her come blackmail or not.when they split the Bijuu Kurama, Gyūki, Shukaku, Son Gokū, and Saiken. Where all sealed into him and Sarada had formed a bond with and had Matatabi, Isobu, Kokuō, and Chōmei sealed into herself.

A deep and shrill voice shouted out in Naruto's head. "we're here, can we kill something now." Shukaku said, positively brimming with excitement. Breaking naruto out of his daze.

Kurama grumbled, "how just how did you tame him? To think I am starting to miss the psychotic kill-crazy little brother I had."

"Naru, please can we just a little we don't even have to kill them all the way only a little maiming between new friends." Shukaku pleaded 

Huffing naruto replied, "Shu, you know we have talked about this."

Shukaku interrupted, saying. "I know I know just because I like murder doesn't mean I need to even if it's fun to get the bad guys."

Sarada yelled to hurry up, "or we're going to be late," grabbing his hand and pulling him along 

Making it to the primary office, they then met the intimidating figure of one Glynda Goodwitch.

Who glared at the two and let out a short ", your late".gripping her riding crop, she then said your four minutes late; is this what we can expect from you as potential students of Beacon?

Sarada bowed and said, "we're so sorry for being late."Forcing Naruto to bow with her by gripping his head and nearly slamming him into the ground with considerable strength.

"Follow me," was the only reply they got in response.leading them to the elevators and taking the pair to the headmaster's office.glynda then knocked on the door only to get no answer after a moment. She then opened the door only to seem more irritated than before.

Naruto then laughed, saying, "there's no one here." Only to stop when he heard the sound of the riding crop in Glynda's hand as she bent it at an angle that was sure to break it. Glynda then let out a clipped "I see that I WILL find HIM!" Grunting out a, "please excuse me," at the end. And left to find the missing headmaster Ozpin. Departing the two to wait in his office.

Flashing her Sharingan around the room, Sarada then signaled to naruto, who then nodded his head ever so slightly. Signifying that he knew as well and had sensed the hidden person the moment he walked in the building. Sighing Naruto said, "you can come out now. She's gonna be pissed when she finds out that you were here the whole time."

Ozpin now thoroughly supprised pushed open the hidden compartment with is can and strode out to the pair greeting the pair with a hello and asking them to sit.

Complying and sitting in the chairs provided.

A moment passed before Ozpin spoke. "I don't usually do this accepting these late applications, I mean, especially ones that have no previous school records. But what exactly makes you think the two of you are worthy of joining these hallowed halls of Beacon?"

Naruto then responded; first, "it's always been my dream to help people, and I know that the best way to do that is to be a Huntsman. To break the cycle of hatred, that's a dream that has been passed to me. From my godfather and grandfather before him as well."

"Excuse me, Mr. Uzumaki, but can u elaborate what you mean precisely?" Ozpin asked.

Naruto then smiled and said. "To me, the best way to describe it is with what my grandfather used to call it. He called it the will of fire; it states that the entire village is like a large family unit and every huntsman with the Will of Fire loves, believes, cherishes, and fights to protect the people, as previous generations had done before them. In other words, love is the path to peace.heh, the old man also would ask me if I knew what the king was, but I never did figure out that one until after he passed."Naruto expressed with a melancholic look on his face.

Ozpin then said. "Can you tell me what you think the king is then?" 

 Naruto then said." Ya know thinking back on it now it's kinda obvious is it not. The king is the future generations that we must protect."

 Ozpin then interlaced his fingers and let out, "I see," with a barely noticeable smile on his face.

"Ms. Uchiha, and you?" Ozpin said, directing his gaze on her.

She then said while blushing. "Ever since I was a child, there was someone I looked up to he always strived to help people and encouraged everyone to do there best while showing his will of fire in his own unique way. By trying to make bonds with everyone even if they're his enemies. I once asked why, and he said to me, everyone has someone precious to them. And hating someone just cause their the enemy is a waste of time. It just means that's someone who is not a friend yet. So I want to help people and make more bonds while I am at it." finishing her statement with a smile.

"Thank you both that was very good both of you we will now move onto the aura and semblance test. Can the two of you show or explain your semblance if it's not dangerous?" Ozpin asked while moving to open a drawer to pull out an aura scale and set it on the floor.

"We both have a contract semblance with guardian spirits due to our families being distant relatives," Sarada explained. "Can you elaborate, Ms. Uchiha?" Ozpin asked her while returning to his desk. 

"Yes, while similar, our Sembalence has slight differences. While closing her eyes and opening them, my family's hereditary Sembalence gives me enhanced perception. I often find there is little I can't see with these eyes of mine. It's also rare for people of my family to have more than 2 or 3 spirits, but because of my high aura levels, I have four." She said while standing and placing her hand on her stomach. With a twist of that hand, the four spirits Matatabi, Isobu, Kokuō, and Chōmei, appeared. Each guardian reveals an ability to us over time and by how much we bond with them. Sarada explains while adjusting her glasses and deactivating her Sharingan.

 "Mr. Uzumaki, I can assume your abilities are quite similar to Ms. Uchiha here? "Ozpin asked, directing his attention to Naruto.

 "Similar yes, my family was gifted with vast amounts of aura, stamina, and regeneration. I have five guardians, and the abilities I have gained from them are a bit much for our current setting." Naruto explained while standing, and with the same motion, Gyūki, Shukaku, Son Gokū, and Saiken appeared. "Mr. Uzumaki, I only count four; the fifth one is?" Ozpin questioned with a raised eyebrow. Only for what he assumed was a fur scarf to open its eyes and yawn before hopping off his perch. Trotting lithely over next to the other Biju. "Well, that certainly is surprising. We can now move on to the aura measurement test," Ozpin stated.

"Just out of curiosity, just what is the average score here? You know so I can see what I am going for. "Naruto asked while rubbing the back of his head nervously. 

"Mr. Uzumaki, on average, the first-years score about anywhere from 200 to 400 and upperclassmen will score from 600 to 800, and the average huntsman will score from 1000 to 4000.but you should not worry about your aura score it's only a marker of where your aura levels currently are. Now to use the device, you simply need to channel your aura into the device once you step on it. The device will do the rest," Ozpin stated.

" Alright, I can to this Dattebayo," Naruto exclaimed while stepping on to the scale only for it to immediately read error and start smoking. Panicking internally, Naruto thought to himself. Fuck fuck fuck what I do!what do I do! 

"Umm, this scale is clearly defective!?" Naruto quickly said without thinking. 

This statement caused a mixed reaction from the Biju laughing hysterically and Kurama's snarky comment; "ha! You really should have seen this coming with all of us out that scale is reading all of our combined chakras. Of course, this would happen, hahahahaha! "

To Sarada facepalming. 

To Ozpin's sarcastic, "yes, I can see that."

 Getting up, Ozpin walked over to the wall on his left and press on a panel that opened a drawer. Hefting a massive and ornate older scale from the drawer set it on the floor. He then asked Naruto to use the older-looking scale.

Taking Kurama's words into consideration, he then sealed away the other four Biju and suppressed his chakra to its barest amount then stepped on to the scale. The new scale then read 9500 points. Shocking Ozpin at the number. And causing Kurama to burst out laughing internally.

Cackling with glee Kurama and Shukaku said in unison. "after all the decades of training and in chakra control, and this is the best you can do. You nearly tripled the average score of a professional huntsman!" Huffing naruto Stepped off the scale for Sarada's turn naruto then asked. "Are you sure this thing is working, right?"

 Casually taking a sip of his ever-present coffee, Ozpin took it in stride and replied. "Yes, Mr. Uzumaki, I can assure you it is working just fine. Ms. Uchiha, if you would please step on to the scale."

Nodding Sarada sealed her four Biju then stepped onto the scale. With the perfect chakra control afforded to her thanks to her mastery of the Byakugō, no In.the scale read a modest 950 points compared to naruto's Ludacris 9500. Naruto, still trying to come up with an excuse for his high number, blurted out the first thing that came to mind."Our semblance must affect the scale somehow."

"Hmm, that certainly could be possible," Ozpin said sarcastically. "But if possible, could your fox step on the scale?" The professor asked. 

"That sounds like a horrible idea," a paling naruto asserted immediately. "And why is that?" the professor asked.

"Because he is a mass of energy and aura. And, I would hate for him to break your fancy scale." Naruto said in an attempt to defend himself.

The headmaster looked at the blonde dryly and said, "Humor me."

 With that before Naruto could respond, Kurama hopped onto the scale then quickly stepped off. Now one might question why Kurama left the scale so quickly. When it took about 10 seconds for it to give a proper readout. But upon observation, the answer was quite simple.

The scale was on fire...

[oumakokichi]

Do you think the NDRV3 kids would have survived if they were in DR1 kids situation? As much as I like this change of MM I can't help but feel curious how would they play facing Junko.

Now this is a veryinteresting question. On the one hand, it’s very fun food for thoughtspecifically because ndrv3’s much more grey area of moral ambiguity and ofquestions that lie outside the debate of hope vs. despair might mean they couldactually cause some sort of upset if they were forced into the same situationas the Hope’s Peak characters.

On the other hand, this is something the game actually playswith itself in Chapter 5 and tries to lure the characters themselves intothinking, and—it’s true that by getting themselves too attached to the idea of “ideals”(where is Munakata in the background to shout “platitudes” at a time like this)they do blind themselves to much more realistic problems, like the truth, andhow their ideals and preconceptions are actually a hindrance when taken toextremes.

If we judge off of Chapter 5 alone, I can’t help but thinkthey might fare very badly. Earlier chapters, long before “hope and despair”were brought into it, showed that the characters definitely had some potentialfor thinking outside the box and avoiding the kind of “despair addiction” thatJunko herself lives to get others addicted to. But the moment they do startthinking in terms of “hope vs. despair” and put themselves on the same level asHope’s Peak Academy students is the moment they start to turn astray from thereal truth of things, and as we can see, that ended very badly, with Momota andOuma getting the worst of it.

It doesn’t help either that, while Tsumugi is certainly less infallible than Junko and definitely makes more mistakes, lies her way out ofthings more, and is unafraid of cheating, Junko is also certainly willing tocheat if it’ll get her what she wants.

Many people who I’ve seen criticizing ndrv3 seem to havethis sort of perfected hindsight vision of Junko as this “perfect mastermindwho never cheated or lied her way out of anything” and I honestly don’t understandwhere this idea came from, because Junko will absolutely interfere with thingsshe’s not supposed to or cheat, as long as it’s more amusing and more “despair-inducing”that way.

People who call the Chapter 1 trial with Kaede a “hack” inndrv3 seem to have forgotten that Junko was perfectly willing to go dress up ina mask and try to kill Naegi with a knife, and that when that failed shesabotaged her own dead sister’s body and tried to push either Naegi or Kirigirito take the fall, all because the two of them were getting in the way of hergame continuing and upsetting her predictions that “everyone” would despair inher killing game. She planted fake evidence to incriminate Kirigiri, tried tokill two people who hadn’t actually broken any rules in the killing game, andhad to be literally forced into a retrial, just as Tsumugi is forced into onefor Chapter 6 of ndrv3.

Even earlier than that, Junko was clearly willing to tamperwith actual crime scenes. In Chapter 4 of dr1, she sabotaged the entire case tolook like a more “conventional” suicide, forged a fake suicide note for Sakuraspecifically for the sake of getting Aoi to despair and try to get the wholegroup killed, and then threw a huge tantrum when everyone guessed the rightculprit in the end and executed an AI program “just because she could.” Evenher backstabbing Mukuro and killing her was technically a violation of herrules, because it was premeditated and had nothing to do with Mukuro’s “violenceagainst the headmaster,” and that’s exactly why she gets put on trial for “themurder of Mukuro Ikusaba” later on.

Junko definitely cheats, when she wants to. If people aren’tdespairing the way she wants them to and things are actually going outside ofher predictions for once, she will breakher own rules in order to force them to despair. She follows her own rules solong as it suits her, and that’s why she ultimately agrees to execute herselfaccording to the rules of her own trial—because it makes her despair, and she likes it. But I have no doubts whatsoever thatshe would absolutely cheat like hell if it seemed like the ndrv3 charactersinitially weren’t responsive to her attempts to make them despair.

Seeing Junko vs. Ouma would be…particularly interesting,because while I’ve talked at length about how Ouma is undeniably a person thatputs himself against the mastermind and loathes killing and murders to thepoint that he wants to upset their plans, it would be hard, perhaps impossible,for him to take down someone like Junko. Moreso when one particular qualityOuma definitely has that those like Kirigiri and Nanami do not isself-loathing.

Ouma’s hatred for himself and the things he’s willing to dois essential to his whole character, and it’s something Junko would know wasthere and would target. For most of ndrv3, Ouma is able to convince himself ofthe necessity of his plans and doesn’t ultimately falter until he stains hisown hands by having to get Miu and Gonta killed—because as long as he’s notkilling anyone, he’s able to justify that it’s okay to do and say otherhorrible things as long as it accomplishes the right results and gets thekilling game to end.

But Junko’s perception and analytical talent is literally superhuman,and goes above and beyond even what Ouma himself can predict or analyze. She’dknow his flaws, she’d know his similarities to people like herself andKamukura, and she would absolutely try to twist it and turn it against him andrub it in that he was “just as bad as she was.” Ouma would put up a pretty incrediblefight, I’m sure, but I feel like if it were a direct face-off between the twoof them, Junko would be pretty capable of breaking him and convincing him thathe was the bad guy, moreso considering he basically convinces himself of thisat the end of Chapter 4 in ndrv3 already.

As for the other characters, it’s interesting because Idefinitely don’t think someone like Saihara would ever have had the potentialto become a protagonist if the setting were like dr1, and if Junko was the mainantagonist and mastermind. Kaede, or even Kiibo, would be much more likely tostep up to the plate instead, because a detective like Saihara can never trulyshine in a game that calls for a “representative of hope” while Junko is playingfor Team Despair.

While I feel like Kaede would be the obvious choice to playa much more Naegi or even Komaru-like role of “cheerful girl whose mainstrength is her unending optimism,” I would actually love to see Kiibo vs.Junko too, because that would actually allow for very interesting, hugelydifferent potential from most of the other hope vs. despair set-ups we’ve seen.Kiibo by the end of ndrv3 is so pissed, and tired, and ready to literallyeliminate despair off the face of the entire planet even if it means takinghimself down in the process—in a way, he’s got the same sort of ideals abouthope as Munakata, but without turning on others or, well, without fucking up majorlythe way that Munakata did.

This of course begs the question as to who Junko would “bribe”to be her traitor, or assuming Kiibo is still a robot, if she would still usehim as a bargaining chip with the whole “Kiibo blows up if all the survivorsband together” trump card. Then again, the latter doesn’t even soundparticularly despair-inducing and might be cheating too much, even for Junko’sstandards, so I think she’d much rather have a traitor who was convinced bymore “traditional” methods of despair, i.e. blackmail and bribery, etc.

The best guess I can give is that the ndrv3 characters goingup against someone like Junko would seem to go surprisingly well at first,because they’d believe themselves to be “prepared” as students of Hope’s PeakAcademy. But the thing is that with hugely varied characters in the mix—like Ouma,who was never supposed to be someone “on the side of hope,” and who would knowthis and have this rubbed in his face by Junko, or even like Kiibo, whosewillingness to protect hope means eradicating despair at the cost of his ownlife—things wouldn’t necessarily play out the same way as dr1 or sdr2 wherethere’s at least 5 or 6 survivors every time and things end on a relativelyokay note.

Junko is someone who sees even the slightest, smallest gapof weakness and targets it and crushes it like a bug, and to her, the fact thatthe ndrv3 characters would seem so much less inclined to “hope or despair” atfirst is exactly what would make her want to push them all the more.

This was very fun to write about, and I’d really be interestedin seeing other people’s takes on it or even AUs and such! Thank you anon!

[murasaki-murasame]

Danganronpa V3 Liveblog Part 13 [Chapter 4 - Deadly Life]

I think it took me nearly half of this entire post to actually start talking about the investigation and the murder case as a whole because I got deep into Retrospective Mode [tm], lol. The latter part of this might seem disjointed and confusing because I kept rewriting parts of it, and in general I’ve been writing this post on and off for hours now while doing other stuff so I wasn’t perfectly keeping track of the flow of it.

Thoughts under the cut.

Before I talk about this part, I kinda forgot to actually talk about the plot-related hints we got in the last part. There was so much other stuff to talk about that I kinda forgot to get around to that part.

So now we have a whole collection of assorted vague hints about what happened before the killing game and what the state of the outside world is, and the question is how they interconnect. I might be forgetting some stuff, but to list it out a bit, we have the hints about Rantarou being a survivor from a previous killing game who actively wanted to participate in this one. We have the references to the Ultimate Hunt that was seemingly about hunting down and possibly killing Ultimates, which seemed to lead to everyone voluntarily undergoing amnesia in order to forget their talents and become ‘normal people’ who won’t be hunted anymore. We have the weird flashback to what seemed to be a joint funeral for the main cast, which is strange for a variety of reasons, including the question of why they’d be grouped together if they were all from different schools. We have the memories of meteorites falling to Earth and threatening some sort of apocalyptic scenario. We have the memories of a cult or some such that popped up at the time, preaching that mankind deserved damnation. We have references to a plan called the Gofer Project that was apparently designed to stop the meteorties but somehow failed. And now we have the whole scenario of everyone stuck in this walled-in academy playing a killing game. Which is obviously normal enough for this franchise, but the really weird thing is that Monokuma’s been very consistent in saying that ‘nothing exists outside of the End Wall’, and that because of that point, he’s not doing this out of a desire to broadcast the killing game to the outside world. Which throws a lot of things into question, since the goal of the killing games has basically always been to instill despair in the population by having it be publicly broadcasted.

It’s also worth remembering that the game started with what seemed to be some kind of time loop where, originally, everyone woke up in regular uniforms and no memories of even their talents, but then when they met Monokuma and the Monokubs, things got ‘reset’ somehow, and things started over in the exact same way, but with everyone wearing their more unique and personalized uniforms, and with memories of their talents. Kaede and Shuichi also woke up in classroom closets that were placed right next to each other, which still feels a bit fishy to me. Oh, and I imagine that sometime after this, Rantarou probably found and watched the video that his past self seemingly left for him, and that was probably how he knew about the Ultimate Hunt at the start of the game. I forget if he knew that in the ‘original loop’, though. And on the note of him, we still don’t know what his talent is.

There’s also been all sorts of fairly wild theories thrown about in-story about what might be going on, mostly involving the idea that maybe everyone really did die, and they’re currently in some kind of afterlife, which would at least explain certain fantastical things that have happened.

We also have a mysterious tile in the courtyard with writing on it that fills in more and more each chapter. Not sure what to make of that yet, but it seems to be saying something about the state of the world.

And in terms of various references made to the state of the outside world, it might be important to remember that Kirumi’s whole motive in chapter two involved her remembering that the prime minister of Japan had decided to make her the de facto prime minister in order to have her assist in saving the country. Which, in hindsight, sounds like it might have related to her being called into the Gofer Project, somehow. The question then is what happened to her after that, and how things lead to her being involved in the joint funeral everyone remembers, and her being part of this killing game just like everyone else.

I think that’s a good enough run-down of all the clues we have. There’s certain other mysteries and plots twists in the making that I can already guess about, like Kokichi probably actually being the Ultimate Prisoner, but I don’t know how much that sort of thing relates to the ‘overall story’.

Obviously it’s pretty difficult to piece these clues and hints together coherently, but the thing that keeps sticking out to me the most is that this is apparently intended to be a proper continuation/conclusion to the Hope’s Peak Saga, and not a reboot of some kind. So the question then is, how exactly did the events of the Hope’s Peak Saga set up this game’s story? It’s really hard to tell, especially since things seemed to be on a more or less good path after the DR3 anime, with Naegi becoming the new headmaster of Hope’s Peak, the whole DR2 crew being alive, Junko presumably being entirely destroyed, etc. I’m not entirely sure how that situation could have devolved enough to get us to what sounds like a literally apocalyptic scenario that also involved some kind of mass murdering/capturing of Ultimates. I mean the meteorites could have just been a really unfortunate natural disaster, but the Ultimate Hunt is what really sticks out to me. It kinda sounds like what happened around the time period of DR0 and Despair Arc, with the untalented people lashing out against Hope’s Peak academy.

I can’t really figure out where this is going. There’s way too many seemingly unconnected and wildly different sorts of plot threads to consider. Like, on the one hand you have some kind of literal apocalypse going on, and then you have some kind of revolt against the Ultimates, and then you have the implication that the V3 cast died and are in the afterlife, and then you have the references to some kind of prior killing game we haven’t heard about before, and it’s just really difficult to tell how the heck these things relate to each other. It’s also, as said, difficult to guess what Monokuma’s motive is intended to be this time. I also can’t help but wonder who’s going to be the Mastermind this time. In the last two games it was Junko, but I highly doubt it’s gonna be her. I guess it could technically be Monaca [or however you spell her name], since she’s still kinda a hanging thread, but I prefer the idea of her sticking to being a space NEET.

I should say that even if there’s still one or two spoilers I have relating to character deaths, I genuinely have no idea where the actual story is going to go, beyond the fact that it’s apparently really controversial and polarizing. That’s what everyone seems to be saying, at least. Which still feels weird to me, especially since I’ve seen people say that it’s even more divisive than DR2′s ending, which I thought was already incredibly love or hate because of how it involved plot points like virtual reality simulations and Junko being the villain for a second time. I wonder how this game could top that one. Thankfully it sounds like most people still like the ending even if they acknowledge that it’s somehow divisive, but it all sounds so make-or-break that I can’t help but be afraid that it might retroactively ruin my opinion on the game as a whole.

And on that note, I do really like the game thus far. It’s not perfect, but for the most part it’s really good. It’s really refreshing to finally be playing one of these games for myself instead of just watching LPs of them.

There’s a whole lot of things already that are pretty divisive, especially Kaede’s death, and I can’t blame anyone for being put off by points like that. But I just can’t help but like the game a lot. I think a big part of it is that I really love this game’s cast, especially the main trio [if you want to call them that] of Shuichi, Kaito, and Maki. I’ve talked about them before, but I really truly love them as characters. I get why a lot of people are probably bored by Shuichi as a protagonist, especially after the Kaede bait-and-switch, but I love him. I find his development and his emotional struggles to be really compelling. I’ve liked him as a character from the start, but I also can’t deny that him clearly being gay as fuck also makes me love him even more. It’s just a really nice feeling to be able to play a game with a protagonist who I actually feel like I can identify with on this specific level. But I promised myself I wouldn’t go on another big discussion rant thing so I’ll just cut myself off right here, lol.

I’m not entirely sure how I’d compare this game’s cast to DR2′s, but I think I definitely prefer them to DR1′s cast. I don’t really have any interest in pitting them against each other, but it’s hard not to make the comparison when your feelings toward each game’s casts hugely dictates how you feel about each game as a whole. DR2 definitely had more of a focus on being more fun and light-hearted and friendly than DR1, which I think helped make that game’s cast feel more likeable, but V3 is going for something in the middle. At least by this point I like most of the cast members in V3. I think the only characters who I actively dislike are Kiyo and Kokichi. I wouldn’t really like Miu or Angie as people in real life, but they’re at least fun and interesting enough for me to like them as characters. Kiyo was basically just outright unpleasant from start to finish, though, and his whole presence in the story was capped off with a bizarre and disturbing backstory about incest and ritualistic serial killings. And I just kinda . . . hate Kokichi. A lot. He’s slightly endearing sometimes but oh man especially with how this chapter’s going I just kinda despise him. Thankfully I’m clearly meant to hate him.

Other than that, I think the only characters I feel ambivalent about are Tsumugi, Keebo, and to a lesser extent Gonta and Himiko. But Himiko’s definitely getting up there with her recent development, and I have a soft spot for Gonta even though he really is kinda pointless as a character. So it’s mostly Tsumugi and Keebo who I just don’t feel much of anything for.

I actively like everyone else to anyone degree or another.

Anyway I should finally start talking about the actual specific part I just played, lol.

But before I do that, I wanna say that I decided to get the skill that lets me focus on one conversation at a time in mass panic debates. I still feel a bit hesitant about it, since I haven’t really had trouble with any of those parts yet, and I’m a bit worried that with this skill I might just get hyper-focused on one conversation at a time, and it might take longer to figure out the answer. We’ll see. I might take it off after this trial if I dislike it. I was debating between it and the one about revealing the first keyword in each scrum debate. That would have been really helpful earlier in the game, but as the game goes on those parts get a lot easier since the number of participants decreases. So unless they add in multiple rounds of it, I feel like that skill is just getting progressively less useful.

Either way, let’s just get to actually talking about this investigation segment.

I figured that this case was going to get a lot more complicated in this segment, and that it’d involve the implication that Miu died inside the virtual world and not outside of it, and lo and behold, that’s what happened.

There’s a lot to unpack here about how this case is set up, so I’ll just cut right to the main point and say that I think a major plot twist is going to be that the virtual world is actually arranged so that the big wall is in the middle of it, and the ‘world loading screen’ is actually more of a set-up to do with the edges of the map being connected like a portal. Basically if you just take Miu’s map and swap the two sections then you get what’s clearly meant to be the actual layout. So we actually have a scenario where the chapel and the mansion are relatively close to each other, with a wall between them. This explains why Shuichi and Tsumugi heard Keebo’s voice, because it wasn’t actually being interrupted by the world loading screen since they were well away from it. I guess we just have to assume that sound can somehow pass easily through the wall.

This also explains what happened with the signboard. I think I commented on it seeming a bit odd, but I didn’t think about it too much. But I probably should have guessed what was happening based on the flow of the river, and the fact that the signboard was stuck on the left side of the rock in the river, and not the right side. So instead of the signboard going down the river and then traveling left, it actually traveled right, looped around via the world loading screen at the edge of the map, and continued traveling right along the river until it hit the left side of the rock. I think they also established that objects, though not humans, can travel through the wall, so the signboard wouldn’t have been obstructed by that.

And obviously it also explains how Miu could have been seen near the mansion. With what we learned about the modifications she made to herself, she clearly just moved through the wall and thus immediately ended up near the mansion, where she got seen. Then everyone heard the crash of something hitting the chapel, and her presumably being killed.

One of the major points I noticed with all the evidence we got in this part is that it’s incredibly obvious Miu set this up as an opportunity for her to murder somebody, and that somebody was probably Kokichi. She obviously rewrote and lied about the game’s set-up in order to make it easy for her to navigate the map without anyone else being able to, and the rule about Kokichi freezing if she touches him was probably so that she could stop him from running away or resisting her. It’s also why she knocked away the signboard, to make sure everyone was as isolated as possible.

So I guess the big question is what exactly went wrong with her plan. And that answer probably also lies in Kokichi, who obviously knew what she was planning, and probably used his key card thing, and/or whatever he got from it, to mess with her plans and get her killed instead. I’m not entirely sure how, though. I’m also not even entirely sure if Kokichi is the one that killed her. He just seems too obvious, and as I’ve said before, I doubt he’ll die this [relatively] early. He seems too pivotal to the group dynamic to not stick around longer.

The way Miu’s body ended up makes me feel like she basically slid down the mansion roof on the lattice thing, and she flew through the wall and smashed into the chapel wall. I might be under-estimating the distance between the two buildings, but signs point to her having been up on the roof, and the layout of where her body ended up makes it seem like she crashed into the chapel wall at high speeds while holding the cell-phone and hammer and riding the lattice, and everything ended up flung about at the base of the chapel wall. Which I guess raises the question of how that happened. I feel like either she did it in an attempt to escape that back-fired and lead to her dying upon hitting the chapel, or she was somehow pushed off the roof by the killer. In which case she could have either been alive or dead by that time. It’d seem more difficult to set up that scenario if she was alive, so maybe she got killed on the roof, and then the killer pushed her off the roof using the lattice to make it look like she’d been killed near the chapel.

I guess the obvious conclusion to draw then is that she went up to the roof, met Kokichi, and then got killed by him, and since he probably knew about all the tricks with the virtual world, he set up her body to make it look like she’d been killed by the chapel, which would have seemingly removed him from suspicion.

I at least think that he’s going out of his way to implicate Kaito, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he remotely logged Kaito out in order to make him suspicious. It’s at least obvious that someone used the phone to log Kaito out, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Kokichi did it, and then planted the phone on Miu to make it seem like another thing that he couldn’t have possibly done. He might have needed to steal the phone off her, but that wouldn’t be too hard I guess. Though the whole ‘he freezes if she touches her’ rule might make that pretty difficult. I’m not sure.

It definitely seems like a big part of this case will boil down to whether we believe Kokichi’s or Kaito’s testimonies, but I can’t help but trust Kaito more. Especially since, if we take the log-in/log-out report and the stated time of death at face value, then he logged out over an hour before Miu died. And anyway, she clearly died IN the game, and not long before everyone found her body, so if Kaito really had logged out way before then and hadn’t logged in, I don’t really think he could have killed her. But part of me can’t help but worry that maybe Kokichi set up some sort of plan so that Kaito would somehow end up killing Miu without intending to. Possibly something to do with the ‘avatar error’. Maybe Kokichi tampered with Kaito’s avatar before the program started, or something.

I’m not sure what to make of the detail with the roof door lock, but clearly Miu got up there somehow, and Kaito got logged off early enough that he might have just not seen anyone come up after he left.

The worrying thing here is that, even if Kaito doesn’t seem like he actually did it, I also find it hard to suspect Kokichi, but I can’t really imagine anyone else having done it. Knowing the gist of the trick, I think that Maki, Keebo, and Himiko are free of suspicion since 1: they all seemed genuinely unaware of the trick, and 2: even if they were aware of it, as far as we know at the moment none of them could have moved through the wall of crossed the river, so if Miu really did die on the mansion roof, or get pushed off the mansion roof and die upon hitting the chapel wall, then the killer must have one way or another been stationed in the mansion part of the map. So, ignoring the possibility of someone in the chapel group knowing more than they’re letting on, we can probably write those three off the list, and focus on the five people stationed in the mansion.

We can presumably immediately cross Shuichi off the list, and I feel really hesitant to suspect Tsumugi or Gonta when they seem so innocent and motive-less, which just . . . gets us right back to Kokichi and Kaito. And honestly I’d be willing to expect that the game would prefer to keep Kokichi around so that he can continue being an antagonist, while killing Kaito off in this chapter just to make us all feel miserable. So even if I doubt that Kaito willingly murdered Miu, I wouldn’t be surprised if even via some sort of manipulation or technicality he ends up being the killer. It’d be lame if it was the character who immediately got suspected, though, even if it might play out differently than what we might expect. It’d also feel more than a bit lame for the game to kill off yet another person who Shuichi believes in. It’d just feel a bit too much like a repeat of the Kaede thing, but far less clever and unexpected. And considering how Kaede’s death was emotionally difficult to deal with when she just had like one and a half chapter’s worth of screen-time and interaction with Shuichi, Kaito’s been by his side for the entire game since her death, so it’d hurt a lot more, but in a way that’d feel sorta . . . unnecessarily tragic. Especially if it really is to do with Kokichi manipulating things to basically force Kaito to be a culprit without his knowledge. That’d feel a whole lot more shallow than Kaede intentionally murdering Rantarou in a sincere attempt to save everyone. It’d just seem like a kinda lame repeat of that whole thing with much less of the substance.

I mean, as I said, it’d definitely hurt more because there’s been more set-up and development between them, but it’d just make me more annoyed at the game if that’s where this is going, rather than sad but on board with what the game was doing, like how I felt with Kaede’s death. It’s kinda difficult to explain, but I guess it’s just the difference between something feeling natural and something feeling forced.

I know that in my last post I had my whole discussion-rant-ramble-thing about the prospect of Shuichi being gay, and that I said I didn’t really wanna talk about that sort of thing much since it’s the type of thing I’ve talked about a lot over the last year or so in relation to other fandoms, but on a sort of related note to all that, this whole chapter really feels like it’s heading in the direction of being one big complicated gay love triangle. In the sense of Shuichi being into Kaito, and Kokichi being violently jealous of Kaito because he wants Shuichi for himself. The moment at the end of the daily life part that I mentioned in my last post seems to be pretty bluntly pointing at him more or less being a yandere who’s obsessed with Shuichi, and in this section he got even more aggressive about pinning all the suspicion on Kaito and getting him away from Shuichi so he could replace him as Shuichi’s investigation partner. It’s at least pretty clear that he has an issue with Kaito specifically, which is why he decided to pin all this on him and not someone else.

[Fake edit: I ended up talking about Gay Stuff [tm] again for like three or four paragraphs so if I wind up being completely wrong and all of this is completely pointless to even discuss or speculate about, you can skip past it.]

If that’s basically Kokichi’s motive in setting all this up, then it makes me wonder if/how it might come up during the trial. And, as an extension of that, it’d make me wonder if the game might explicitly acknowledge Shuichi’s crush on Kaito for what it is. It’d be hard not to, if it’s a major part of what made Kokichi want to take Kaito out like this, if that’s what he’s doing. Mostly I just hope that it doesn’t get handled in a way like ‘Shuichi’s feelings for Kaito are ~pure and platonic~, but Kokichi? The crazy evil antagonist who has misogyny issues and probably has a criminal record? Yeah he’s gay’. That’d just be incredibly groan-worthy. It’d at least work better if the game acknowledged that both of them are gay, so the framing of it is less ‘Kokichi is gay and evil while Shuichi is straight and good’ and more ‘Kokichi is just, as an individual, a bad person’. That’d work better. It’d still be all sorts of painful if this chapter really does end with us finding out that Kokichi really was able to set Kaito up for being executed simply because he saw him as a romantic rival, but still. Not that I’m sitting here holding my breath in the hopes that maybe this will finally be the video game that has a gay male protagonist, or anything. I don’t even expect the game to acknowledge him as potentially being bi. In general I’m bracing myself for the worst, if only because it feels like this’ll end with Kaito dying, and that would be fundamentally horrible to sit through.

Even though I can’t help but worry about potential issues with framing and presentation and blahblahblah if Kokichi does end up basically being a gay yandere, it’d be interesting if it ends up showing off a more . . . petty and selfish and child-like side to himself, to crack that facade of him being some sort of cool and calculated manipulator who’s always above everyone else. It’d be messy, but I kinda like the idea of us seeing a more messy and unstable side to his personality, especially in a trial setting.

I didn’t really want to go on another whole spiel about this sorta thing immediately after what I said in my last post, but I guess this is technically about a different character so whatever. And for the most part, if I end up somehow being right about this, even though I almost don’t want to be, then it’s probably for the best that I get my thoughts down before the trial happens so that I can say that I called it in advance. And if I’m wrong then it just preserves my wrongness for posterity, like my glorious fuck-up in Chapter 2 which I still feel embarrassed about.

ANYWAY, that whole topic aside, I may as well wrap this up because this post has been going on for far too long. I’m not really sure I have a solid grasp on HOW the murder happened, exactly, beyond the idea of Miu maybe getting killed on the roof and then getting pushed off the roof and into the chapel wall, but I’m still sticking to the idea that the only real suspects I can think of are Kokichi and Kaito, and specifically I can’t help but imagine that Kokichi somehow things up so that Kaito would kill Miu without even intending to. Somehow. Maybe I’m just being paranoid and bracing myself for the most depressing option. Though I guess the most depressing option would be if Kaito turns out to be, like, genuinely evil or something and is lying about everything. I guess that’d technically be a lot more depressing. But considering how I’m completely clueless about certain pieces of evidence like the toilet paper, the roof door lock, the unique attribute of Kokichi’s avatar, and the set-up with the visors, I’m probably going to wind up confused and overwhelmed by a majority of this trial and it’s explanation of how this murder happened. Oh well.