#welcome to my yuri mind palace ^ _ ^

[loriache]

Thoughts of a newly resurrected girl

[purrtyhatemachine]

i want lesbian fight club

[authorhjk1]

December special 2025

Hi everyone!

I know you guys might think this is way too early, since December is in literally 12 month. But after last time, I realized that I need to have a little more time to write the individual stories, which also means we need to do the voting earlier. I haven't set a date yet, but I'm aiming for something around October. Also, last time a couple of people mentioned that the time to send in requests was a little too short. So here we are!

Pretty much the same rules as before. Everything goes. You can request anything for the December specials and when I read your request and answer it, I'll let you know what I think and maybe make a few changes, if I don't feel comfortable writing specific kinks and such. I'll answer every request I get as soon as possible and add it to my personal list of requests. I'll then write a short "teaser" like I did before, so we can keep the request list, which I will update regularly at the end of this post, relatively short, because sometimes I get quite long requests. You can send me requests by messaging me directly, or by sending an ask to my inbox. Please make sure you label your requests as "December special requests". I'll make a tag for the requests I get, so you can scroll through them like last year.

The year 2025 will have four Sundays throughout December. That means I'll be writing four stories. A Christmas/Winter theme is preferred, but not a requirement. I'll post reminders probably every two months, so you guys don't forget that you can send in requests. I haven't decided on how the voting is gonna be, since we tried two different styles so far. I'll tell you more about that when the time comes. I'll add the link to this post to my pinned post, so you guys can easily access it. If I forgot any important information, please let me know.

Looking forward to your requests this year!

List of requests for the December special 2025:

1.

You, Irene and the new coworker Seulgi work for a media company, who produces music videos for entertainment companies. Around this time of the year, two female soloists are about to have their comebacks. Im Yoona and Karina. They both have similar music, similar concepts and the same target audience, which makes them natural rivals. A good music video always impact on a song's popularity and success. Which of the two can convince your team to invest more time and attention into their music video?

(A continuation of "Welcome party")

2.

G!P Ryujin brought back a surprise from Itzy's tour. A tied up Yeji in your bedroom. You make her watch you fuck Ryujin, before the two of you use Yeji however you want.

3.

IU planned on enjoying some relaxing vacation after a busy year. But she completely forgot about a quite important part of her most recent contract with a new investor. That means her vacation will include no relaxing at all. IU isn't prepared for what awaits her. The first mistake was to think that she'll be attending to only the CEO's needs.

4.

You're still getting accustomed to living with your new step family. Your new step mom Taeyeon and her daughters Karina and Winter seem to like you though. But one day everything is suddenly different. They don't just like you. All three of them find you attractive. And you're not sure how you're going to handle all three of them at once.

5.

While watching a new historical kdrama, you suddenly find yourself trapped in that time period. Being put into the role of a military general, you fight for your king on the battlefield and in the palace. But just when you think you're getting used to living like this, Yuri and Yoona turn your new world upside down again.

6.

You've been working on all kinds of different things in your father's garage since you can remember. Around Christmas you finally manage to build something that changes your life forever. A device to control another person's mind. You try out on your stepsister Gahyun for fun, making her do your chores. But when you accidentally see your stepmom Jiu while she's changing, you realize that you can use your new toy in all sorts of ways.

7.

For some people your life might seem like the ultimate dream. Sleeping with hot girls on a daily basis. For a living. All kinds of fetishes and kinks. No limits.

And yet, being a pornstar in Japan is not always the dream. Pressure, backlash, performance, the perfect image. So many things to consider. But if someone is blessed like you, why wouldn't they choose this life?

8.

The Christmas party at your workplace was decent. But that quickly changed when your hot boss Giselle told you to follow her.

When the night neared its end, you notice how four of your coworkers stand together and talk and you soon feel pretty nervous. Giselle, Seulgi from HR, Ryujin with whom you used to share an office with and Julie, your secretary. You have history with all of them. Before you know it they involve you in a competition that will change the end of this year drastically. The four of them are all proud of their bodies, especially their asses. You're going to be the judge. Who's got the best?

9.

(I decided to make this a possible continuation of "Heaven on earth")

After Miyeon's and Minnie's adventure at the message parlor Miyeon notices that there's another woman who desperately needs a different kind of relaxation. Karina always seemed stressed to her, but when Miyeon catches her doing all sorts of things in her dressing room she decides the younger woman needs to make an appointment with you.

When Karina arrives, she's impressed by your professionalism. She can't help but try to test you though. She has been unable to satisfy her needs properly for so long. Being a sex addict as an idol is almost impossible. So she makes you a very unprofessional offer. Make her cum by just stimulating her tits. And if you are good enough, she'll gladly become your free use pet.

10.

Jennie loves wearing revealing clothes. That's why it all started with a nip slip. The short clip of her "accident" quickly went viral. The rush of adrenaline and lust Jennie experienced while reading online comments was something she never felt before. The accidental nip slip turned into a deliberate picture of her pussy, without anyone knowing whose it was. That picture then turned into a short leaked video of her getting fucked by a fan. One thing let to another and now Jennie is not just an idol. She's a pornstar.

11.

IU has been growing tired of her idol image. Especially in the bedroom. No matter who she slept with, people were careful, respectful and always followed her lead. Or in other words: they were boring. IU misses the thrill of having someone who just takes her like he owns her. She needs someone to put her in her place. Someone she can give control over herself to.

And so, after missing out on proper sex for too long, IU decides to take action. Seducing a whole boy group of young men was almost too easy for her. But she is finding in them what she has been looking for. Desire, dominance and stamina. She gladly becomes their free use toy as they start their first world tour.

12.

Jessi becomes more and more envious of all those younger idols as she becomes older. She knows that she never really fit the Korean beauty standard, but her jealousy keeps on growing. To her surprise, two famous idols ask her for advice. Both Kazuha and Karina are having trouble. They're both convinced that most fans only like them for their looks and not their hard work and music. As the three of them become more comfortable and vulnerable with each other, Jessi sees an opportunity to let go of her pent up jealousy. Her desire to put these young idols in their place only grows when Wonyoung and Yuna doubt her teachings.

13.

(Continuation of [JUX-794] Mischievous teacher Kang Seulgi, after school gangbang! Lots of cream pies!)

Now that the five students have had the pleasure of using one of their teachers however they like, they decide to raise the stakes. Bae Joohyun isn't just their history teacher, but also the coldest and most elegant of the teachers at their school. With Seulgi's help the five of them try to seduce the cold woman. Will they be able to turn her into their free use teacher as well?

14.

A solo release is obviously very different from having a group comeback. But that isn't new for someone like Hyoyeon. She is pleasantly surprised though when she meets one of her new backup dancers. The two of you work well together while preparing for her performances and Hyoyeon's attraction towards you definitely helps. On the night of your first official performance together the two of you celebrate at her apartment.

[shoko-komi]

The Komi Report - Communication 455

This week in Komi Can't Communicate:

A little crime...

...and a little date.

Read It: Mangareader Mangakakalot Viz Media (Now open to the UK, Ireland, New Zealand, and Australia!) Mangadex

Lily Sukida was here only a moment ago, how could she miss the yuri date?

We're already on the last day of the culture festival... U_U it's not over yet so there may be more to come, but it seems to be a very short and quiet one for Year 3. Even the traditional Tadano force-fem had to be slipped in quickly without much fanfare... still, if the Sukida emoi surprise attack is the climax of the fun, then that's a damn good high to hit.

This chapter is cute! Some Najimi mischief is always welcome. And the TadaKomi date is sweet. It's more of the same from them, but I don't mind that. I like more of the same, if it's something I like. I've already talked a bunch of times about how much Komi has grown, so I'll skim over that even though I love to see it. I'll also skim over the date since all I have to say is "cute!!!". I'm also ignoring the appearance of a certain individual. I am the ignorer.

In my mind palace, Tadano goes girlmode permanently. I think it would improve the manga (the bias opinion of a himejoshi). I daydream of a fanfic about Tadano coming out as a trans girl - he helped Komi break out of her shell and become the person she wanted to be, so it would be narratively beautiful for her to turn around and help Tadano do the same. That would be the major arc of the third year if I was writing this

Komi is with me on this. She'd love it

Dastardly creature...

Isagi hype!!! And I forget the name of Isagi's student council subordinate but I'm glad to see her too. Actually, Isagi's term as President ended, right? I guess she moved on to organising paramilitaries. Good for her.

Tadano always cops it when Najimi causes trouble asjkldbnaljsdnalsdjasdnalskd

Anytime Komi talks with a different font than her usual soft cursive I go crazy for it.

Komi should kill. I want her to kill. The girls are out for blood (I'm girls)

Michita hype!!!!!! You and me both, Michita.

---------------------------------------

Some good news!! You may have noticed up above in the links section, but Viz Media has made their manga available to a handful of countries outside North America. No longer will I have to connect my VPN to servers in Miami to read new Komi as quickly as possible. Weh heh heh (satisfied laugh)

They also uploaded a few chapters to Mangadex. I don't know what's going on there or if it will continue.

--------------------------------------------------

A nice chapter (～￣▽￣)～

It looks like next week is a rest week for Oda, so I'll see you in a fortnight! Until then, stay safe 💞

[thetradlesbian]

TOXIC YURI TUESDAY

Please tell you your favorite example of toxic Yuri. I welcome wholesome Yuri everyday however I feel we need a day to talk about toxic Yuri so it doesn't build up in our mind palaces. Personally, my mind palace is only full of the wholesome kind but as a fair and just ruler of this blog I will give a space for the toxic kind.

Your resident girl kisser,

Leb

[theweasleytwinsownmyjuicyass]

Shadows of doubt pt. 2

Pairing: Seokjin x f!reader

Genre: arranged marriage, angst, fluff, hurt to comfort.

Word count: 3.4K

A/n: Sorry for the long wait but the second part is finally here! It’s exam season at my uni right now so i didn’t have much time to write:// Please leave a comment if you enjoyed it (and even if you didn’t enjoy it! It helps me learn:))

Shadows of doubt pt. 1, Unmasked lies (set after events of Shadows of doubt pt. 2)

<

Sparkly sunlight danced across your office mingling on a fresh bouquet of tulips adorning your desk.

Life just couldn’t get any better. You currently felt on top of the world with your marriage finally mending itself day by day due to an emotional connection between your husband and you.

Not only was your marriage on the highest cloud but your company has taken off as well. New customers signing contracts and investing huge amounts of money into your delicate visions.

Today’s contract with the Min’s has set a milestone in your company’s record worth celebrating.

An idea of a big party to welcome your new clients as well as celebrate your hard work popped into your mind and the first person you wanted to share it with was your loving husband.

With a joyful smile on your face, you picked up your phone and dialled Seokjin's number.

As the phone rang, anticipation built up inside you. Each ring seemed to stretch on for an eternity until finally he answered, or so you thought…

“Seokjin you won’t believe what happened today!” your voice was filled with excitement.

“Oh, Y/n, Seokjin is busy right now, is there anything you’d like me too pass on to him” a velvet soprano of none other but Seokjin’s assistant Yuri made the corners of your lips fall.

“I see…… well could you let him know that my company is having a celebration this evening? It will be held at the grand palaces of Yang‘s” the previous excitement had fizzled out of your tone.

"I'll inform him, Y/n, but he is very busy today" Yuri's voice was distant as she replied, with an undertone of mockery, which made your stomach twist with a strange emotion.

How could you even begin to describe the woman named Yuri. She was one of the richest heiresses’ in Korea, but had chosen a job of an assistant secretary to Kim Seokjin before you had the chance to know him as your arranged husband.

She was undoubtedly gorgeous with a slim figure, long black hair that contrasted her porcelain like white skin and big beautiful eyes. All of the aunties praised her for her good looks, even if her manners didn’t shine as bright as her outside.

You had never cared for her until the marriage. You had known of Yuri’s and Seokjin’s alleged romance, there was a rumour saying that Yuri and Seokjin were sleeping together and even planned to marry which most believed to be true. Although such rumours were spread a few years before your marriage it didn’t stop everyone from mentioning it to you after the wedding.

For the first half of the marriage you had believed that Seokjin and Yuri were still in a secret relationship seeing as the two of you never engaged in a conversation, let alone anything physical. But now you were completely content with your marriage and trusted your husband more than anyone else.

You also wanted to trust Yuri, feeling as you could have misunderstood the woman you had never met, but you could not let yourself. There was something about her tone that you disliked as she spoke to you and most importantly she never called you in a polite manner always using your name, which at first surprised you until you remembered the kind of attitude she carried.

You sat back in your chair letting your face relax and get rid of the tension. You had a party to get ready for and you wanted to look perfect as a pink diamond for your husband.

As the evening arrived and the party commenced, your excitement began to wane. Seokjin was nowhere to be seen, and your worry only grew with each passing minute. You glanced at your phone, hoping for a missed call or a message from him, but it remained silent, only your unread messages and unanswered calls covering the screen.

You nervously pulled your lip between your teeth which made Namjoon pull on your arm slightly.

“Stop that before you bite it open” Namjoon was painfully aware of your anxious behaviour, low voice expressing care. “What’s on your mind?”

“Sorry it’s just… Seokjin is not here. And he’s not picking up my calls or answering my messages… I'm starting to get really worried. What if something happened to him?”

"Y/n, I'm sure he's only running late and there is nothing to worry about." Namjoon's eyes narrowed with concern as he observed your growing distress.

You nodded, trying to convince yourself that everything was fine, but deep down, anxiety continued to gnaw at you. You couldn't shake off the feeling that something was amiss.

As the hours passed, the celebration went on without Seokjin's presence. Your heart sank, and you excused yourself from the crowd, retreating into a quiet corner of the venue.

Feeling the weight of the situation, you pulled out your phone once again, desperately hoping for a response from Seokjin. But as you scrolled through her messages and call logs, disappointment and worry etched across your face.

“Either he is ignoring me on purpose or he is over working himself again” a sad sign left your lips.

You went back into the venue and quickly found Namjoon among the crowd.

“Joonie I’m going to go look for Seokjin will you manage to wrap up the party alone?”

“Of course boss, no problem. Oh and be careful I think it’s raining!” Namjoon set you off with one of his dazzling smiled and a cute wave which you returned quickly leaving the party.

You made your way to Seokjin’s offices without a hitch. When you spotted his car in the garage anger flowed through you and you were ready to scold him the second you saw him for working so hard.

At this point you didn’t even care that he missed your party and was ignoring you for the whole day, you cared about his health that was thinning every day more and more.

When you exited the lift at his floor you could barely make out the way to his door as the lights were out everywhere.

But there was a faint glow coming from Seokjin’s office.

Peering into Seokjin's office, you saw him sitting at a table in candle light, engrossed in conversation with his Yuri. They were having dinner together and his hand was covering hers on the table while the other rubbed her shoulder that was engulfed by the jacket you had designed for him not even a week ago.

The scene shattered your heart into a million pieces. The pain of betrayal overwhelmed you, leaving you breathless. All his sweet words and reassurances that you had believed erased themselves from your brain, leaving you with anything but distrust in the man.  

Tears welled up in your eyes as you turned away, you could no longer look at the way his eyes looked into hers softly.

Wordlessly you straightened up and walked back to your car, feeling a mixture of heartbreak, anger, and betrayal.

With each step the gold band around your finger became heavier and solidified the determination within you.

You knew what you had to do.

Returning home, you quickly packed your belongings, each item a painful reminder of the shattered love you were growing for so long. Tears were streaming down your face as you made the decision to leave this home, to distance yourself from the pain that now consumed you whole.

In the midst of your heart-wrenching pain, you sought a safe place in the comforting presence of your dear friend Namjoon. Tears streamed down your face as you collapsed onto his shoulder, finding a safe haven in his embrace.

Namjoon, understanding the depth of your sorrow, held you tightly, his voice soothing and gentle.

"Y/n, it's going to be okay. I'm here for you, always. Let it all out."

Through your sobs, you managed to speak, your voice choked with anguish as Namjoon led you inside his apartment.

"Namjoon, I can't believe this is happening. How could he betray me like this?" you cried out, feeling your heart physically breaking you gnawed at your chest with your hands.

Namjoon's soothing voice washed over you as he gently held your hands from hurting yourself further.

"I know, Y/n, you don’t deserve this."

Your cries grew louder, the pain piercing through every fibre of your being. Namjoon's caring gaze met yours as he stood from the couch to retreat a bottle of calming pills from his room.

“Here take these, they’ll help you calm down” he handed you two pills and a glass of water but you were shaking so much you couldn’t hold the glass in your hands. Before it could slip out of your grip Namjoon caught it carefully in his hands and helped you drink from it like you were a toddler.

As the medication began to take effect, a sense of calm washed over you. Your cries subsided, and the weight on your chest lessened. Namjoon stayed by your side, ensuring you were comfortable and safe.

…

Seokjin stepped through the front door of his home, exhaustion etched on his face. The maid, startled by his sudden arrival, approached him with a concerned expression.

"Mr. Kim, where did Mrs. Kim go? She left a few hours ago with her bags" the maid informed him, her voice laced with worry.

Seokjin's brows furrowed in confusion.

"What are you talking about?  Y/n left? Did she say anything?"

The maid shook her head.

"I'm afraid not, sir. She seemed distraught, and she didn't respond when I asked her where she was going. She just left without a word."

Panic coursed through Seokjin's veins as he quickly pulled out his phone, dialling your number and sending frantic text messages. But there was no response, only an eerie silence that hung in the air.

His voice trembled with a mix of confusion and desperation as he muttered to himself, "Why would she leave without saying anything? What happened? Y/n, please answer me…"

With each passing moment, Seokjin's worry grew, and a heavy weight settled in his chest. The thought of you leaving, consumed his mind. He could no longer fathom the idea of a life without you, and the mere possibility sent him into a state of despair.

He continued to call and text, pleading for a response, hoping against hope that you would answer and provide some explanation. But the silence persisted, leaving him feeling lost and helpless.

"I need to find her," Seokjin murmured to himself pulling at his hair out of frustration, his voice filled with determination. "I can't let her slip away like this without an explanation."

With a resolute expression, he grabbed his car keys and rushed out of the house, determined to track you down, to confront you for leaving without saying anything to him.

That’s how Seokjin found himself standing in front of Namjoon's apartment in the pouring rain, his body shivering from the cold and his heart heavy with pain.

He quickly knocked on the door praying to all the gods that you’re inside.

And his prayers are answered when you open the door. A small smile appears on his face but not for long as you reach for the door closing it again.

Seokjin reacts quickly reaching his hand out and stopping the door from closing.

"Y/n, please, let’s talk" he pleaded, his voice filled with desperation.

"Seokjin, I don't want to talk to you" you said, your voice laced with pain.

Confusion washed over him.

"What? Why? Why did you leave?" He struggled to catch his breath, his words tumbling out in a rush.

"Just go, Seokjin. We can talk tomorrow at the attorney's office" you replied, your voice trembling, eyes casted to the ground.

His heart sank at the mention of the attorney's office.

"What? What are you talking about?"

"I'll end your misery and divorce you, so you and Yuri can be happy together" you said, your words filled with a mix of hurt and anger.

Seokjin's eyes widened in disbelief.

"What? No, no, no. What are you saying? What does Yuri have to do with this?"

Tears welled up in your eyes as you spoke, your voice trembling with pain.

"Seokjin, I saw you. The both of you. Tonight. I was at your office."

"You were at my office?" he asked, his voice filled with disbelief.

"Yes, I was looking for you like a fool because I got worried for my husband when you didn't come to my party, only to find you two basically on top of each other in an empty office, having dinner in the candle light" you explained, your voice breaking as your eyes once again welled with tears.

"Party? Y/n, what party? What are you talking about?" Seokjin asked, his voice filled with confusion.

"I called Yuri today, and she was supposed to tell you about it" you said, your voice filled with disappointment, still believing he purposefully missed your event.

"Oh..." Seokjin's voice trailed off as he began to understand the situation. Why Yuri was so adamant about finishing a new deal today, why she asked him for advice on her relationship and why she burrowed his phone earlier in the day.

"Seokjin, I don't care anymore, okay?" you said, your voice filled with resignation.

"Y/n, please! I had no idea about the party" Seokjin pleaded, desperation evident in his voice.

"Stop lying to me. I called Yuri, and she was-" you said, your voice quivering with emotion.

“Well she didn’t! She lied to me too!” Seokjin finally yelled out, unable to control his emotions.

Tears streamed down your face as you listened to his words, knowing that this situation was definitely ruined by Yuri and not Seokjin.

"But it still doesn't explain the two of you having dinner together."

A scene of the two popped into your mind again, still as fresh, still as painful.

Seokjin took a deep breath, his voice filled with sincerity.

"Yuri said that she got dumped by her fiancé, and she needed a shoulder to cry on… Y/n, I would never as much as look at another woman with such intentions. You are my wife, and you are the only one. There was never another option. It was always you. Ever since my father said your name, ever since I saw you, it was you and you only. If divorcing me will make you happier you can do it but just know that you are my first and only wife and I’ll do everything in my power to make you happy even if it means cutting my heart into pieces and letting you go I’ll do it, but not without putting up a fight. I’m not going to let you go easily without having shown you how much i can love, without being the husband i have dreamed of being for you since day one, without giving you all the things and all the love you deserve."

His words pierced through your pain, and for a moment, you saw the raw vulnerability in his eyes.

Your eyes cleared, and all you saw was a young boy in front of you who had been suffering just as much as you had, drenched in rain and shaking from the cold, his lips turning blue, eyes teary and earnest.

“Y/n I only love you. I love you.” His eyebrows knitted together, tears mixing with rain droplets on his cheeks as the silence coming from your side made his heart ache with every beat it took.

“Come in you must be freezing” your voice was gentle and warm, unlike before, which let Seokjin relax as your hand circled his arm.

Namjoon appeared in the doorway, his expression angry and protective, hands set in front of his chest. Even you had to agree he looked scary and turned your gaze at Seokjin who was looking down barely lifting his eyes at the larger man.

"I'm sorry to intrude" Seokjin murmured, feeling small in front of the tall and furious Namjoon.

“Joonie please give him some dry clothes while I make tea” you eyed Namjoon reaching out to touch his arm and bring his death glare away from your husband.

He finally looks at you and nods his head letting out a sign.

You went to make the tea, leaving the two men alone. Namjoon tossed Seokjin some dry clothes, his voice filled with a mix of sternness and concern.

"I know that you love her. But no matter how many flowers and gifts you send her or how many times you say it to her, it won't fix what you've broken today. She might not hate you anymore, but the damage is done. And this kind of damage you can’t fix with an expensive pair of earrings or a shiny car.”

Seokjin's eyes met Namjoon's, and he nodded solemnly.

"I understand.”

“Show up for her. Emotionally. Gift her flowers from my own hands, take her out, hold her hand. Be present with her if you really want to make a change."

Seokjin nodded, his gaze intense.

“I will. I can’t afford to lose the only person that matters to me.” His eyes looked down at the wedding band adorning his finger.

"Good. Fight for her, Seokjin. Show her the love and commitment she deserves and it’ll be smooth sailing from then on." Namjoon’s hand connected with Seokjin’s shoulder and he lost balance from the impact for a second but Namjoon only smirked at the older man.

As you returned with the tea, the room was filled with a comfortable silence that let you take a deep breath finally feeling content after the hectic day.

“Here have some” you handed Seokjin the cup and passed another to Namjoon, silently thanking him for being nice with Seokjin.

You sat beside Seokjin on the couch ad brushed your hand through his still damp hair.

You looked at each other eyes filled with love and care, today’s shadows dissipating from your hearts as you finally opened yourselves to one another.

Seokjin cuddled up to you and quickly succumbed to sleep. Before your mind could escape to the dream world you felt a blanket being placed on top of you two and opened your eyes to see the man without who you wouldn’t have been able to really know your husband.

“Thank you” you smiled softly at your friend and he returned your smile, happy to finally see you fulfilled, cheeks rosy and your husband nestled perfectly into your chest clutching you close like a small child would.

…

Seokjin's warm presence next to you filled you with a sense of comfort and contentment. The moonlight cast a soft glow over the room, adding a touch of magic to the dark atmosphere.

His eyes glistened with emotion, and you can't help but be captivated by his gaze.

“Everything okay?” your eyes meet his in the unlit room, only moonlight illuminating his delicate features.

“Everything’s perfect. I love you Y/n” he smiles staring deeply into your eyes.

Your palm finds his cheek and caresses it softly and without wasting another second you lean in and place a sweet kiss on his plump lips.

“I love you too Seokjin” you look into his eyes seeing tears of joy appearing in them reflecting the depth of his emotions. His smile widens, radiating happiness and love.

“But I love you more”

As he leans in to kiss you again, the air fills with a sense of playfulness. His sweet gesture makes you giggle, an expression of pure delight escaping your lips. In this moment, the world fades away, and all that matters is the love shared between the two of you.

You continue to embrace each other, cherishing the love that binds you together. In the quiet darkness of the room, your hearts beat as one, and the promise of beautiful days ahead fills the air.

>

[shinebrite97]

Read part 4 here

          "I accept."           

          The exact opposite of what she came here to say. But his expression gave away his response before he could say it.

          The tips of his cheeks, right below his golden eyes, all the way to the top of his ears were burning red. 

          What had once been a frown, slowly lifted, turning up and up, until his white teeth shone right through his parted lips. His face seemed to contort, cheeks puffing, lips puckering, eyes squinting, building up until he burst.

           "Really? You will? Oh thank you so much Yuri! I cannot tell you how happy this makes me. There are no words in any of the three realms that will ever explain how grateful I am to you!" 

            "Lord-"

            "Oh please Yuri, forgo the title just this once!"

            "Diavolo…" she said.

            "Yes, my dear?" He asked.

            "I'm placing all my trust in you, that this plan will work."  She said. "I'm ready to work hard, and I hope that I live up to your expectations." 

            "I'm sure you will." He replied.

                                                 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

           As per Lord Diavolo's orders, Yuri was excused from class for the test of the day, he even went as far as to inform Lucifer himself. 

             Yuri wasn't sure what she expected with Diavolo called him into the council room. But he placed a hand on the center of her back and stated that he was taking her out of class for the day. She was even more shocked when Diavolo added that she'd be spending the night at his castle. 

             His face was unreadable, the kind of expression she saw so rarely that chilled her more than his anger. But he bowed his head, quietly agreeing to the arrangement and asked Yuri if there was anything she'd like brought over. 

            He promised that Mammon would deliver her an overnight bag and they would see her the following night. 

              And while she couldn't hear what he said, she found it odd that he was mumbling on his way out.

               As Diavolo led her away from the academy and walked with her through town, she noticed him fighting ever so slightly. His hand seemed to gravitate toward her, to her arm, to her back, but then he would pull it back to his side, after the fourth time she had caught slight movement in the corner of her vision, she stopped walking.

                "Is something wrong, Yuri?" He asked.

                "May I?" She asked, slowly stepping closer. She offered her hand first, carefully pulling his sleeve until he relaxed his arm, holding out a few inches from his side, just enough that she could wrap her arm around his. Bringing his hand up closer to his chest so that her hand held his bicep, she brought her other hand to his sleeve, holding on and taking the first step forward.

                "Yuri...what are you…?"

                "I'm sorry…" she replied, immediately pulling her hand away. 

                His quick reflexes caught her, keeping her hand locked in the hinge of his elbow.

                "I have no problem with it." He replied. "But...are you okay with-?" 

                "Yes," she giggled. "In fact...I like it. You feel warm and it's getting a bit windy out here." 

                "Then allow me." He pulled her closer to his side. Holding her hands in his one free hand, and leading her up the hill back to his castle.

                                                      ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

                "So I told Simeon...if you're going to let him prepare dinner for your household… dare him to use canned Boarback! There's no way Solomon could mess that up!" Yuri tossed her head back as she laughed. 

                 "Then what happened?" She asked.

               "Apparently he wanted to add "his own personal flair" instead of just heating it from the can, and ended up using three cups of powdered sugar instead of flour."

                 "Oh no!" She shrieked. 

                 "Simeon said that Luke seemed to like it, only because it was so sweet. He said that they might even be able to trick Lucifer and his brothers into eating it...so long as they don't say who made it."

                "That is so funny!" 

                "Well, here we are, my dear." Diavolo said. Yuri was surprised when he didn't reach into his pocket for a key, and even more surprised when the door opened, but seeing Barbatos bow in the entryway made sense.

                "Welcome home, young master." He paused halfway to standing upright, the rest of his graceful motion was stuttered and hesitant.

                 "Yuri..." He said.

                 "Hey Barbatos." She said, throwing her hand up in an awkward wave.

                 "Is she aware, Milord?" He asked in a low voice.

                 "Yes, and she agreed." Diavolo replied.

                 "Excellent." He smiled. "Please come inside. I will prepare a tea tray at once." 

                 "We will take it in my underground study." 

                 "Very well, Milord." 

                                                       ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

                  Yuri had no idea what to expect with an underground study. She never really knew what to expect with anything when it came to these particular demons. 

                  Hell was classier than she thought, but it was still hell. 

                  Lucifer had high standards when it came to his home, but he was still a demon.

                  In this case, the underground tunnels were just as they sounded. Dank, but not dusty. Stone walls caught the sounds of their footsteps and echoed them back, adding to the ambience of some far off drips and deep reverbs of some growling creature.

                 "Don't mind that, Yuri. Diavolo said. "Tunnel systems lead all throughout the Devildom, and there is a special one for Cerberus." 

                 "Okay..." she muttered. 

                 She wasn't sure who took the other's hand first, or when she had migrated closer to his side, but once he stopped walking and she bodily fell against him; he chuckled, catching her easily and producing a key from the folds of his uniform robe.

                   "We're going to start with my family tree," he said. "Then we can move on to our grimoire."

                  A demon's grimoire is his livelihood. Yuri remembered hearing it straight from Lucifer, when Luke had stumbled across his tomes by accident.

                  I'm about to see his whole life. Every strength and weaknesse. His summoning, and his potential downfall.

                 "Are you sure I should see that?" She asked. 

                 "Of course, Yuri," he replied. "I-I know what you're thinking…but I trust you." The stretch of his lips was faint, but he held the smile in his eyes. She felt the blush on her face as his own cheeks heated up, and she dropped her gaze to giggle awkwardly. Flustered. 

                  "If I couldn't bear my all to you, I wouldn't have asked you to marry me." He said. 

                   "Okay." 

                   Yuri cringed at how small her voice sounded, knowing exactly what was hiding behind that single word.

                   The impulsive, touched-starved part of her brain screamed her attraction to him. His kindness, that boyish smile that seemed to de-age him, and the soft tone he seemed to always hold with her. 

                   Her heart hammered in her chest, barely slowing even when Diavolo set a large book down on the table between them. 

                   It took up the full left half of the table, and Diavolo stood up, standing behind her as he carefully flipped the weathered pages. He stopped in the center of the book, spanning both pages was a swooping tree design, small portraits contained generations of Diavolo's family. Each one looking regal, not a smile in sight, and despite being just ink on paper, Yuri felt a spike in her pulse, a rush of fear in her brain.

                   Monsters.

                   Features were quite right. Eyes too big, teeth too sharp, necks too long, ears too pointed.

                   It was clear that they were demons, and she tried to remind herself exactly where she was. 

                  Of course they're demons. 

                  Yuri watched as he pointed to the ink sketch of a woman with large liquid-golden eyes and gold-tipped wings spanning out behind her. 

               "My mother," he said. "She died when I was very young."

                  "I'm sorry to hear that," she replied.

                  "I don't have many memories of her. But my father loved her.

                  "Is that him?" Yuri asked, gesturing to the portrait beside his mother's.

                  "Yes," he said. 

                  "You look just like him." She replied. "At least in the face." She smiled, glancing up and locking her eyes on his. It was a piercing stare that made him look away first. He cleared his throat, loosening the tight collar of his shirt and taking a step back.

                 "What is it?" He asked. 

                 "Oh...nothing," Yuri replied. "I just realized that...you have your mother's eyes."

                 "Hmm…" Diavolo stood up fully, straightening his ruby robe and avoiding eye contact as he worked to compose himself. "I suppose I do." 

                "Is something wrong, sir? She asked.

                Diavolo opened his mouth, only to be interrupted by the stone door opening as Barbatos entered. He bowed deeply, setting the tea tray on the free half of the table and lifting a saucer and cup.

                 "I apologize for interrupting," he said. "Will Miss Yuri be staying for dinner tonight?" 

                 "Yes." Diavolo said. "She will also spend the night in the palace, Lucifer said he would send his brother Mammon with a collection of things for her." 

                 "Very well. I will begin the preparations.

                 Barbatos turned to leave, bowing once more and quickly leaving the room, the stone door closing behind him with a grating sound.

                  "Now where were we?" 

[delkios]

The Beginning of Forever (ToV)

I gotta say, the fact that the game ends with all the world's blastia turning into spirits, I'm shocked and somewhat disappointed at the lack of post-game spirit world speculation. I kind of like a Shaman King-esque situation where spirits (weaker spirits) are tiny floating figures that can lend a person of their choosing their power or empower items. I also like the idea that the barrier blastia became city spirits that can act in their own interests but also protect their respective cities. Eventually. After Estelle ran around for a year or two trying to talk the spirits into being cooperative. Title: The Beginning of Forever Fandom: Tales of Vesperia Rating: G Word Count: 2618 In Responds to: Fluri Week 2019: Sweet Sunday Characters: Flynn, Yuri, cameo by Judith and a couple OCs Summary: Future fic, it's the first day of the rest of Flynn's life. Flynn wakes up with the sun, even though he doesn't have to anymore. For a moment he's disoriented, mind automatically shuffling through his schedule, making lists of all the things he has to do in order to prepare for his first meeting and stalling out when he remembers he doesn't have any today. Or for the foreseeable future. He lays in bed, even though his body is already becoming restless, and wonders how the hell he's going to survive the rest of his life. Mornings in Aurnion are chilly most times of the year so, when it's time for the markets to open and Flynn finally leaves, he pulls on a coat. It's admittedly too fancy for something as simple as shopping, a parting gift from Ioder, but it's currently the only one he's unpacked. The house is on the outskirts of Aurnion- it's current outskirts, the original wall had long been taken down as the town grew -so it's a bit of a walk but it allows Flynn time to enjoy the sun and scent of dew-laden grass and the nearby forest.

The market itself is a little on the hectic side, mainly from all the people wanting to talk to him and give him gifts, welcoming him to the town he'd helped found. Then a couple knights joined the crowd, and the town's knight commander, then the mayor and even a couple guild representatives and Flynn will absolutely deny that he ended up making some awkward excuse and farewell before taking what groceries he'd managed to buy and running. He hopes the novelty of his presence wears off quickly. As he clears the last row of houses, Flynn spots Ba'ul in the open area behind his house- part of the reason for getting it, really -and quickens his pace. The Entelexeia hasn't changed a bit, though Flynn swears he gets a bigger each time Flynn sees him. As Flynn expects, Judith is there and he takes her hand in greeting. "Ba'ul, Judith. Always a pleasure." "Same." She reaches forward with her other hand, brushing her fingertips along his jaw. "The beard suits you." Flynn laughs- he's had that beard for over a decade now. "You always say that." "And it's always true. Karol asked me to apologize for missing your retirement ceremony on his behalf." "It's alright. You were all there for the important one." The one held a week earlier in the Lower Quarter which, despite spending nearly forty years living in and working out of the palace, still felt more like home to him. It had been a sprawling, raucous party that had lasted nearly to dawn, music and lights, dancing and laughter and so many people from all over eager to tell him how proud they were and wishing the best in his future. In contrast, his official retirement ceremony was as expected for an upper class event: stuffy with decorum and full of nobles and dignitaries and politicians who pretended they'd always liked Flynn and would miss him dreadfully. Estelle and Rita were about the only people worth sticking through it for. Especially when Rita would 'accidentally' wheel over the feet of particularly annoying 'well wishers'. If anyone asks, Flynn will freely admit he's glad he'll never have to go to one of those things again. "Speaking of which, Yuri brought your gift inside already." All the people he'd known and grew up with in the Lower Quarter had decided to make him a quilt, each square a message from a person or family. It ended up being about the size of a wall tapestry and Flynn had asked Judith to bring it to Aurnion for him. She turns back toward Ba'ul and Flynn asks, "Are you leaving already?" Judith winks back over her shoulder. "I'd hate to get in the way of your reunion." That enigmatic smile and her taste in clothes are the only things that hasn't changed. Honestly, Flynn is somewhat jealous of that. He hadn't thought himself a vain man until he began to visibly slide out of his physical prime, pushing himself harder through his workouts and trying to ignore the aches and pains that lingered longer until Estelle and Ioder and, finally, Yuri banded together to knock sense back into him. But Judith didn't care about how the passage of time changed her looks, unashamed of showing off her wrinkles and stretch marks and rolls. Flynn supposed having her as a sort of role model helped him cope with his own physical imperfections. "Besides, we'll be back soon enough for your house warming party." Flynn just huffs at her in reply, waving Judith and Ba'ul farewell. Then when he enters the house he's greeted by, "Well, well. If it isn't the former commandant," Flynn's breath catches. Sure, they'd seen each other a week ago but his breath always catches, his heart always skips a beat whenever he sees Yuri for the first time. It has since they were in their twenties. "Took you long enough." Flynn can't help a fond smile even as he shoots back, "Not everyone's retirement process is as simple as telling Karol you'll be retiring in five months." Yuri just shrugs. "You get the better pension, so trade off. By the way, Estelle know you stole one of her dogs?" Flynn reflexively looks down at Thierry at Yuri's side, his tail wagging lightly as Flynn's attention. "Estelle gave him to me. She figured now I'd have time to train a dog." Thierry's young, hasn't yet grown out of his puppy stage entirely. He's also Repede's great-something grandson though, asides from his tail, there's no other resemblance. He's mostly black sable with pale tan patches on his chest and around his red eyes. Flynn isn't certain if Thierry is stockier than Repede was or if maybe Estelle spoils her pets overmuch. "Just how I wanted to spend my retirement years," Yuri sighs, all for show, "babysitting even more things." "I'm pretty sure it's usually the other way around. Isn't that right, Luna?" Yuri's right hand from just below the elbow unravels into a dark mist before reforming into a long, flat spirit, not unlike a ribbon eel whose body is made out of midnight and stars, spine rimmed an iridescent yellow. Luna's full, glowing eyes curves into happy crescents as she swirls around Flynn in greeting. Flynn lets the spirit weave between his fingers. "You've been keeping Yuri in line for me, haven't you?" She trills in response. "I swear," Yuri says in mock indignation, "she likes you better than me." From behind Yuri's thick braid of silver hair, another spirit pops out, hissing at Flynn in actual indignation. Flynn winces and chuckles. "I'm sorry I didn't wake you, Aska. I only went to the market." Aska, a three legged bird-like creature with a ring for a body and a tiny sun floating inside, isn't placated, glaring at Flynn while allowing Yuri to scratch under its chin and coo about how mean and thoughtless Flynn is. Thierry grumbles at the lack of attention directed to himself and goes to thrust his head under Flynn's hand for skritches. "How'd Zaphias take you leaving?" Yuri asks as he takes Flynn's groceries and heads toward the kitchen. "Well enough, I think." Flynn goes to stand in the entry way, watching as Yuri begins to cook, their spirits finally switching back to their preferred people. Luna fashions herself back into Yuri's hand to help him cook. "It took a while for them to understand that I'd be leaving- really leaving -and that they'd need to work with the new commandant." Zaphias resides in the Sword Stair, right where their core used to sit. It had taken both Flynn and Estelle years of careful coaxing and handling before they agreed to lend their power, under direction of Flynn and Ioder, to protecting Zaphias instead of acting out on their own. "You think they'll listen to Ilka?" "I can only hope." Flynn has the utmost confidence in the new commandant, otherwise he wouldn't have retired. "I've seen her work with the spirits protecting Halure and the ports. I'm certain she can handle Zaphias. But," he says because he knows that look Yuri is side-eying him with, "that's not anything I need to worry about any more. So what was so dire it needed Brave Vesperia's founding members to get back into action?" Yuri waves a hand and says something vague about council troubles- Dahngrest has been trying to implement an actual system of government to avoid another succession issue -which he obviously doesn't care about on top of being retired and goes into far more detail about how apparently Karol and Harry's granddaughters nearly eloped and that Karol was needed to mediate his family on the issue. "It's not that anyone doesn't want them getting hitched," Yuri explains as they finish up their breakfast, "it's just the girls don't want a big affair but Harry's the former Don and Karol's the founder of one of the biggest guilds so people keep butting in." Flynn hums, draining the last of his tea. "I believe I'm still a legally recognized officiant. Just to throw that out there." Given one of the women involved is the daughter of Yuri's -and, by extension, Flynn's -godson, he feels obligated to help where he can. Yuri laughs, "If it gets that bad, I'm sure Karol'll be happy to ship 'em our way." He gets up to let Aska and Luna out of the house, Thierry playfully chasing and nipping after them. As they clean up, Flynn talks about the weekend he spent in Halure with Estelle and Rita and their family- the Ristelle Mob, as Yuri dubbed them -as well as the trip from Zaphias, being picked up by Patty despite her technically still being a wanted criminal. She gave Flynn her obligatory threat of kidnapping Yuri for her harem in the same breath she promised to come for the house warming party. Yuri just laughs. And when Flynn mentions swinging by Zaude to pay his respects to Raven, Yuri looks both sad and fond. It had been by Raven's request- when he refused to let Rita find an alternative to his failing heart -that he be buried in such a remote place where few, even now, were allowed to go. A place, he said, where he'd no longer be bothered, his simple grave kept company by two equally simple markers, one for Yeager and the other marked Casey. There had been flowers put there recently, Flynn notes, likely by Gauche and Droite who had all but disappeared after the Adephagos. On paper Flynn had, due to their involvement with Leviathan's Claw, put a warrant out for their arrest but put minimal resources into actually finding them. After a few years with barely even rumors of their presence, Flynn had quietly shuffled those warrants to where all others would eventually forget about them. He wonders, every now and again, if they ever a found a way to be happy. A finger roughly pokes him in the forehead. "Ow!" Flynn says out of reflex rather than pain. "What was that for?" "Because you're gonna scratch up my pan if you keep wiping it like that," Yuri says. "And also I know when you're thinking about work. Or what used to be your work," he added with a very pointed stress on the word. "Sorry," Flynn replies because it's not worth lying about it, putting away the now thoroughly dried pan. He takes a moment to watch Yuri wipe the sink and then his hand dry and stretch his arms up and back until his spine curves and joints pop. "So?" Flynn asks. "Now what?" "How was your walk into town?" Flynn sighs. Yuri grins right back. "Yeah, that's what I thought. Think we'd be better off taking a nap right now." Flynn looks at him as if he'd just said something completely alien. "Nap?" "Yup. I got up too damn early to get here and I'll bet you woke up too damn early yourself. And you gotta learn to take it easy so," Yuri grabs Flynn's shoulder and spins him around until he's facing toward the bedroom, "nap." "But... Thierry-" "Can use the dog door to get back in. And if he hasn't figured out how to to use it, Luna and Aska can show 'im." Despite his protests, Flynn makes it to the bedroom with only a bit of prodding though he feels somewhat foolish changing back into his sleeping clothes at Yuri's insistence. He's much more amendable to the idea when it becomes apparent that Yuri is joining him. As they get into bed, arranging themselves around each other with practiced ease, Flynn gets startled when, instead of tucking his face against Flynn's neck as he usually does, Yuri leans in close enough to cause Flynn to push into the mattress reflexively. "What?" "When did you last spend any time in the sun? I can see your freckles again." He chuckles. "Forgot you had 'em, actually." "Your memory must be going," Flynn quips dryly, "because you said the exact same thing last week." "Can't help it if I'm not used to you being so pale." Yuri laces their fingers together, holding their joined hands up where Flynn can easily see. "You're almost as pale as me now." He's not, really, but there's no denying Flynn is not nearly as tanned as he used to be. He lets their hands drop and Yuri slides around a bit so he can prop his head up on Flynn's chest. Flynn doesn't bother attempting to crane his neck to look at him, he knows that angle is too awkward on a good day. "So how was your first twenty four hours as a free man?" Yuri asks. Flynn's mouth and brow creases as he bluntly says, "Boring." Yuri doesn't try very hard to hide the fact that he's laughing. "I know how that is. Haven't figured out what you're going to do with yourself yet?" Flynn sighs. "When I first started the retirement process, I thought I had plenty of time to do so." "But you didn't," Yuri states, apparently unsurprised. "No." He snorts, then stretches back out next to Flynn. "Good luck with that." Flynn lifts a hand up just to drop it knuckles down on Yuri's back. "You could offer suggestions." "I have a hard enough time keeping myself busy, thanks." But he hums and tilts his head to look at Flynn thoughtfully. "Is there anything you've wanted to do but never had the time?" He looks up at the ceiling, dwelling on the question and coming up blank. Yuri snorts again but doesn't turn away. After a long moment, Flynn asks, "Should we get married?" "Oh, it only took you thirty years to ask," Yuri teases. "Only because I got tired of waiting for you to." "Couldn't. Made a bet with Judy 'bout who'd crack and ask first." Flynn turns to give Yuri a mild glare. "You did not." "Didn't I?" Honestly it's absurd enough to go either way. "In that case you owe me half of whatever you won." "Yeah, yeah." Yuri scoots over to rest his head on Flynn's chest, fingers scratching through his beard. "Yes, by the way." "Hm?" "To getting married. Your memory must be going, old man." Flynn rolls them over, pressing Yuri into the bed. "I'll show you how old I am." "Good idea. I better sample the goods before committing." Flynn sighs. "I can't believe I'm marrying you." "Me, either," Yuri quips but, as they kiss, Flynn can taste the words and I can't wait on his lips.

[twinfanfics]

The tale of the three head beast. The marching fishes (20/21)

WE ARE BACK!! 

Fandom: Digimon GoT au.

Charaters: All the choosen children from Adventure, 02, Tamer and sometimes Frontier. 

Ships: Taiyama, Joumi, Daiken, Takary, TakatoxYuri, RikaxRyo . . . 

Second part of the tale of the three head beast series, you can read the first part The chosen children Here and here, or look for the tag  3t3hb  on this blog.

Resume: Three years had pased since Taichi won the hand of princess Sora and both get crowned King and Queen of the living land, now they must faced the duty of the monarchs, but the King is must worried about cover his affair with the royal guard. The war started on the Honest Island, does the King Joe would manage it?. Mean while at the other side of the sea Takato and Ruki stronger their forces.

And you can read all past chapters of the marching fishes in the links below or in AO3

ACT 1. ESCENE 1: THE RAIN

ACT 1. ESCENE 2: THE WILL  

ACT 1. ESCENE 3: THE TRIP

ACT 1. ESCENE 4:THE SON

ACT 2. SCENE 1: THE ARRIVAL

ACT 2. SCENE 2: BROTHERHOOD

ACT 2. SCENE 3: MOTHER | **warning suicide attempt**

ACT 2. SCENE 4: THE BATTLE OF THE IKKAKU ISLAND

ACT 3. SCENE 1: THE INTERROGATION

ACT 3. ESCENE 2:  DELIVERY

ACT 3. ESCENE 3: RED DRESS

ACT 4. ESCENE 1:TRIAL

ACT 4. ESCENE 2: THE SAINT QUEEN

ACT 4. ESCENE 3:THE SPY

ACT 4. ESCENE 4: INTRUDERS

ACT 4: SCENE 5: THE BROKEN SWORD

ACT 5: SCENE 1: THE WIDOW

ACT 5: SCENE 2: WELCOME HOME

ACT 5 : SCENE 3: FAITH

ACT 5: SCENE 4: LIONHEART  (Chapter after the cut)

“Why?” the old man ask as soon as the knife penetrate his skin, the surprise take all the strench that remains on his body, he didn't fight, he didn't scream, he just repeat “Why?” 

But Henry didn't answered�� to his corpse, he left the room of his former allie as quiet as he entered, he has a fair mision, not good or noble, but fair. 

Kill the spies, prove his loyalty, serve the King 

The death of the counselor was  scandalous; a member of the court stabbed on his own bedroom;  all the castle shake with fear, everybody talked about the  silver knife nail over the body and the beautiful symbol engraved on the handle: a  flower with diamonds as petals, the symbol of the light 

The king was there when Henry inspected the room, he, the trusty adviser, the wiser; the one in charge of investigate his own crime, Takato really was that naive, kill him would be so easy. 

To be fair, Henry had not be his first choice, Takato instanly search for Ruki, but she denied it, is the work of a coward  she said pretending to know nothing, what an amazing liar. 

Gallant lick the blood of the carpet before it could be clean it and  the Lion buried the body and burn all of the gathering. 

In all the palace no one cried the dead of counselor as the Queen, such a crime was no common on Piramide, they were used to fights at coliseum, the honor to die with your opponent in front of you; but for Takato, raised on the old temple, a childhood on the cult, killing on the dark was expected; he fails at comforting his wife. 

The lion carried her around the castle, throwing suspicious and curses to anyone who come closer, doing the job he had done all his life: be the champion of the Queen.

 “Is the work of your enemies your majesty” Henry Wong asure kneeling in front of the King and Queen 

“How?” Takato tried to look compose and fails “How did they surpass our defenses?” 

“and why him? “ Yuri  as usually asked the questions that Takato would never ask “Why send an  from a old man when the Queen and KIng live in the same castle?” 

“I don't know” he standed up and spoke calm and slowly   “But i promise i will found out” 

“Tenemos que prepararnos” the queen continues “we must reinforce the castle, bend the guard…” Lion was beside her, nodding with his head after every order 

“Momantai” 

“Excuse me?” 

“Momantai” he repeat “Is mean no te preocupes” he turns to Takato “Not to worry” 

“How i cannot be worried if a man is killed in my own castle” Yuri yells, send wàs so little,he could take her down with no effort; The Lion standed up.

“Because that man was a target” still serene he continues “ just think about it, someone entered the castle and only attack an old council, not you or the King, my guess is that is personal, not only that, my thought is that no one really break into the castle, it was an inside job” 

He felt Ruki eyes over him, the entire court gasped, the queen sobed

“the guards saw nothing, the lock was not forced, there was no sign of a fight, the murderer was someone the council knew, someone he trusted, the murderer is a member of this castle, probably a spy from the light” 

The gasp became a scream, and the sob became tears 

“And you tell me not to worried about it?” 

“Gallant is with you all the time,  the Lion protect the Queen, and now that we are aware of this spy he or she would not be able to act without been caught”  he bow “Momantai” and excuse himself out of the audience. 

“Are you out of your mind?”  Ruki follow him  “what is wrong with you?” 

“the best lies are the ones who begins with the true” 

“Don't mess with me Wong!” she come closer “just tell me who the others spies are and i would handle it! this is way out of you control!” 

“Wong!” another figure run to them 

“Hide”  

“I don't take orders from you!” 

“Just do it!” and very much to her regret she obeyed

“Wong!” a man approached to him, he was sweating despite the cold weather “Wong! we need to talk, the counselor! what you said¡” the man searched for a safe place to speak “ are we in danger?” 

Ruki recognized him as one of the guard

“listen” a little tremble on his voice, subtle and fake “my hope is that whoever is behind this crime would panic after my declaration, I only act by the command of the alchemist” 

“Did you speak with him?” both men whispered but Ruki was able to listen  “What did he said?” 

“What I need to know, I told you, I merely  follow his instructions” one hand over his shoulder “I trust in his guide, if my purpose is to die for the light, then it will be” 

The man become a young boy at his words 

“Yes, yes of course” he mumble “I, i think the same, i just… im use to the life in this city” 

“Are you coming outside of the light my friend?” 

“No! of course not, im sorry for bothering you is just.. i have doubs” 

“Doubs about the true of the light or about our lider? 

 the fear on his face was enough  answer

Ruki come out of her hide at the same time he running away 

“Nervous men make stupid mistakes” 

“Dont lecture me” she was not convince “this is gonna explode in your face, let me help you” 

“You are helping” he sigh “The king would recognize your murder technique in an instant, I´ll do it, one by one until the last one snap” 

“or you…” 

“I´m calm” he breath, exasperate “I´m in control” even when he was thinking in a millions ways of break her neck

Ruki look at him with her big menacing eyes “Koushiro train you well” 

“I never told you he was my teacher” 

“You didn't have to” but she pause, as  if she was afraid “don't forget why are we doing this, our goal” and she look back at the throne room, the King smile as he talk and welcome the audiences, the light shine over Takato crown making him look almost divine “Only a child of the sun must reight over the living land” 

“For the glory of the house of courage” 

 “For the glory of the house of courage!” she repeat, hoping that he knew what he was doing, hoping that trust in him would not be as disastrous as it was trusting his teacher.

That night the archers of the wall shoot the guard who tried to escape at the middle of the night.  

Two days later one of the maids  throw herself from one window 

One of the gardeners was found floating on the south fountain one week later 

His work was almost done, one last victim and it would be over. 

He called him to met on the garden at dawn, at diference of the others this time they will fight, Henry will won, then he will drag his corpse to the King chamber claiming that he was the perpetrator, ending all doubs over his persona and bringing peace at the castle. 

The last spy  appear at dawn, as planning,  sweating and at the edge of tears, the oldest sidesman of the castle. Henry feel the rush on his blood, still he remains calm. 

“My friend” he said with a smile, barely controlling his excitement “i´m so happy that  you come to me in this our darkest moment” 

 “I´m sorry” he barely whisper,  something was wrong

Another figure emerged between the leaves, tall as a three, strong and proud, The lion looked at him as you can only see the traitors 

“se terminó Wong” he roar 

“Dear light” he turn to the old man “What had you done?” 

“The right thing my friend” his grind was peacefully but twisted “ the right thing” 

 “You…” Henry rush   “You old snitch” 

“hard words on the mouth of a spy” the Lion was still there, with his old chain and ball “I didn't want to believe it” 

“but is true” the sideman step back as he talked “ Wong is the one who communicate with the great alchemist, he had been an informant for him since before the King even married our queen” 

“As same as you!” 

“but he come to me with the true, he regret his past  and swear the rest of his life in favor of Piramide” 

“I´m in favor of Piramide!” Henry need to thing faser, “I´m purging all the light of this city” 

“All except you” 

“That was not...!” 

“Liar!” the heavy chain hit the floor, Henry need to act, The lion would not fail a second time. 

He need a strategy, a way out, he need to focus, to think, he would not follow into dispair; the firmest tree is the only one that can stand the storm 

“I´m not following the orders of the alquemist…” he said trying to stay calm 

“You called this man to murder him, just as you had murder so many others, you attack them from the back and  set them up as accidents, rejecting the honorable pat of a true warrior, do you denied those crimes?” 

“No, but listen…” if only he could explain 

“You lied about your loyalties, you share the secrets of the crown with their enemies” 

“I´m loyal to the king!” his plea sound empty “My only concern is the safety of the King!” 

The lion speak since his hearth “And i only live to protect my Queen” 

The queen, the fragile girl who cried with every dead, and those tears where his sentence, the Lion would kill him for bringing pain to  the monarch 

Even then, he keep breathing, he search for an exit, a distraction, an opportunity 

But then he hear the laugh of the sideman, his bitter utterly obnoxious laugh, suddenly it's fill all his thoughts, all his mind, the mocking of a buffon; he didn't care for the King, or the Kingdom or the magic or the Courage, he was a man manipulating the true to his benefit; Henry get mad at seen at him, not for the imminent death but for how much he could see himself in that elder. 

The calm before the storm was over. . . 

“Wong! Henry stop!” The hand of Ruki hold his wrist, he drop the chain and the ball fall to a pool  of blood,  his eyesight was blurry, his coat was dyed red, to his right the inert body of the old man lay on the ground “What are you doing?” 

What was he doing?

Breath… breath…  he remains  himself and stand up, the ground feel warm, under him layed another body, in horror he saw the lion heads crush on the floor, more than fourteen stabs on his back, with total security injuries perpetrated by his hand

“It's dawning, come on Wong, we have to clean up this disaster”

“Its to late” he remain inmobil, perplexe by the unspoken crimes, soon screams shocked the wind around him, the life in the palace begins early. 

A monster roar, the King was near and he was covered in rot and violence, he did not stand the storm, he was the storm. 

“Run!” Ruki commanded at the same time that she throw over him a dark water.  And what else he could do. 

Henry jumped and ran the faster, the monsters of the King would smell the blood and start follow him at any second. But they didn’t, Henry saw the dark shadow of Ruki colecting every drop of blood that fall from his body. The warrior didn´t stop until the water of the sea had cover him to head to toe. When the shadow of Ruki let him he stayed under the ocean, hopping for the salt water to clean his concience and clean his doubs. He noticed that he still had the heavy weapon of León on his hand, it was drowing him at the deptest of the blue. Henry colected his stregnth  and get out of the water.

The King watch horrified. The corpses of Leon and the old coin advisor were on the floor. There was blood and human parts all over the place. 

“It must had been an ugly battle” Ruki said 

“What?” Takato asked incredulous “Why León would fight an old man?”

“He was obviusly hidden his force, but they kill each other, that is clear” Ruki spoke with force and saw how Takato believed her “we found our killer”

“What?” the child repeated

“One of them was the killer and the other his last victim” 

A heartrending scream cut the conversation. 

Takato turned over himself and hold his trembling wife. 

“León!” The Queen cry and scream as she fallen over the corpse of his protector. 

The King hold her. The three sauros get together and howl. Ruki commanded the guard and get shure to clean everything. 

The murders stopped and for three months the castle cover its standar of black. The Queen stopped to cry a week after the body was buried, but she wasn’t talking anymore. The King hold her hand and talk to her, but her eyes failed to look at him. 

The Queen versed over herself and The King versed over her pale Queen. 

The throne of Piramide was weak.

[sankta-alina-s]

Ivan frowned and sighed at the glare his cousin gave him.

"I don't know why I have to marry."

"Because you're a male and it's expected of you? Besides Mama said she's a good fit for you."

Ivan snorted and looked to the carriage as it pulled up. He raised his chin and clasped his hands behind his back. He could feel Aleksander a few feet watching with his younger cousins, really sisters if he was being honest.

Anastasiya was the Duchess of the Tula province. She'd been to the capital to see how the Grisha Nobles were fairing. She'd interviewed a few for their Kniaz Ivan. Ivan hadn't come, he hadn't been allowed to.

It frustrated him to no end that just because his elder brothers had been present he couldn't be. It's not like David, Fedyor or Yuri had a better eye for these things than he did. Fedyor spent more time dragging courtiers in card games and gaining more wlearh than he could spend in a thousand lifetimes. David spent more time council meetings than anywhere else in the palace to know what he liked. And Yuri barely left his chair once he found a good book to read.

Besides wasn't the whole point to find his mate to have the best child? He was sure there something about romance and everlasting love in those lessons but he'd keep that to himself. Even if he'd seen David and Irena go from best friends to betrothed. That was David, he put everyone at ease when he remembered how to.

He hissed jumping when Genya jabbed him in the side. His eyes skipped over his aunt somehow impeccably put together on the four day journey here.

He looked past her to see the woman everyone had picked for him. He frowned slightly looking to Genya.

"She's a bit plain though. Ow!"

He frowned rubbing at his wrist when she stabbed him with a needle. She brushed past him hugging her mother and moving to -

"You must be Alina! Welcome to the Tula manor. Forgive my cousin he's a little awestruck at the moment. Did you have bags?"

Anastasiya had been more than happy to tell her plans for the next few months. She'd wanted Alina and Ivan to get to know each other far from the capital. The manor seemed like the best decision with its immense greenery and forests.

She'd also been excited to tell her of her eldest Genya who would be Alina's age. She'd hoped they be good friends.

//au where grisha are Nobles and are trained at the capital? Only a few are chosen to then be married into the monarchy. I feel like you had a noble verse for Alina but let me know!//

It was a great honor to be chosen as potential mate to one of the Tsar's sons. At least, that was what Alina's mother insisted upon reminding her of. Once Alina's family had been high in the ranks of Ravkan nobility; she could claim ancestry to the previous regime. Her father's title of Count of Caryeva was nothing to look down upon, yet it wasn't nearly as grand as could be.

As the only child of Count Mikhail Alexandrovich and Countess Rumi Feodorovna, she would inherit her father's title, land, and wealth. Caryeva was made prosperous through horses; auctions, races, and breeding. Alina had sat a horse as soon as she could walk and thus was an accomplished horsewoman. Combined with the exclusivity of her Small Science gifts, it wasn't an exaggeration to say that Alina was ranked high in the marriage market.

It rankled her that she couldn't ride to the manor and was instead cooped up in the carriage. Alina had to admit that the Duchess of Tula was a pleasant companion, even if she'd been nervous to make small talk with her for so long.

Alina had hoped that the initial meeting between herself and her prospective betrothed might be delayed. She was by no means vain yet she wouldn't have minded a chance to clean herself up after days of travel.

Barely had Alina alighted her eyes upon the crowd when Genya was set upon her. The redhead's vibrancy echoed her mother's.

"I do," she said, looking back to the carriage. "My lady's maid can direct the unpacking to your steward."

Her mother had ensured that her wardrobe befitted the daughter of a count.

Alina's gaze returned to the assembled party before settling upon who she assumed was Ivan by his expression.

[realisticallycynical]

In the Rough

part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5 (you are here), part 6, part 7, part 8, based on @skygemspeaks’s prompt

Previously: As soon as Yuuri has settled into his role as Prince Victor’s personal bodyguard, his childhood friend Prince Phichit appears. Yuuri fears for his secret, as there is no doubt that his friend will be more than surprised to find Yuuri here, in the palace of the Nikiforovs.

Yuuri’s blood runs cold when he hears the crier announce the incoming royal.

“Presenting His Royal Highness, Crown Prince of the Southeast, Phichit Chulalont!”

Of all the royals that could possibly be visiting during Yuuri’s tenure here, the only one that could possibly be worse than Phichit would be Mari. He and Prince Phichit (affectionately dubbed Phichan by a three year old Yuuri) have been friends since Phichit was born, and there’s no one in the world that knows Yuuri better. They played together as children, and rode together during their many visits to each other’s respective kingdoms. They even lived together for a time, when they took a few years to travel for their schooling. In fact, it’s not uncommon (or wasn’t uncommon, Yuuri guiltily thinks) for the two of them to sleep in the same bed; they’ve been doing it since they were children. At one point Yuuri’s parents had even wondered whether the two of them should be betrothed, but they both vehemently refused. They were much better off as friends, they knew. Besides, Phichit is in love with one of his guards, which Yuuri mercilessly teases (teased) him about regularly.

Yuuri has no doubt that Phichit has been made aware of his disappearance, but he also remembers writing the boy several letters when Mari first started to pull away. He can only hope that when– not if –Phichit recognizes him, that he manages to put the two together before he exposes Yuuri.

Luckily, Victor is still not here (though he will be soon) and the Tzar is overseeing Prince Yuri’s lessons after one too many ditching attempts. For once, Yuuri is alone in the throne room.

By the time Phichit and his entourage (Seung-Gil, Leo, and Guang-Hong, all of whom Yuuri knows well) arrive in a throne room, Yuuri is kneeling, as is proper. He’s sweating from nerves, and it’s all he can do to keep his voice from shaking when he speaks in Phichit’s native language, accent near perfect from years of practice.

“I formally apologize for making you wait. His Highness will be here soon, so please, make yourself comfortable.”

He hears Phichit’s sharp intake of breath and knows he’s been found out. “On your feet, soldier. Let me see your face.”

Slowly, so slowly, Yuuri rises to face him. He can hear footsteps coming from a direction of Victor’s bedchambers, and meets Phichit’s eyes desperately. In the few seconds that it takes for Victor and Otabek to reach a throne room, the two of them reach a silent agreement, a complex conversation that’s only possible because of how well they know each other.

A wide-eyed, desperate look. I’ll explain everything, I promise.

A look of disbelief. Yuuri, is it really you?

Lowered eyes for just a second. Later. I’ll tell you everything, just please play along.

The barest hint of tears. I missed you.

Bowed head. …I missed you too, Phichan.

A hand on the shoulder. You’ll explain later?

A tiny nod. I swear.

A light squeeze on the shoulder before pulling away. Okay.

The other three pairs of eyes widen in recognition as well, but they stay silent. If their prince isn’t going to say anything, Yuuri is sure that they won’t either; those men are nothing if not loyal.

“Yuuri,” Victor whines, jumping on his back with his entire bodyweight. “I missed you!”

Yuuri can’t help but glance over at Phichit self-consciously. The boy looks amused, eyebrow raised and arms crossed. Yuuri can read him like a book, but he can’t afford to react any differently from how he normally would, or Otabek may suspect something.

He pries Victor off gently but firmly. “Victor, you’re being extremely rude. Besides, it’s been less than an hour since I saw you last.”

“An hour too long,” Victor says, kissing Yuuri’s hand dramatically. Yuuri privately agrees with him, but that’s an issue for another time, especially since Victor is just teasing. “Though I suppose you’re right. I apologize, Your Highness. Welcome back to our palace. I assume that your trip went without issue?”

“Of course.” Phichit says with a mischievous smile, glancing at Yuuri for a fraction of a second. “I’m more than glad to be back, especially now that I’m finally here. I see you’ve inducted a new member of your staff.”

Victor’s grin is blinding, and Yuuri doesn’t know how to process it. He’s noticed that Victor carries himself like a man who has known loneliness; it seems as though he’s attached to Yuuri in the same way that a child would attach itself to a blanket. “Isn’t he great? So polite and well behaved. I’m proud to call him my personal bodyguard.”

“May I ask his name?” Phichit’s eyes sparkle with concealed mirth that Yuuri is sure only he can see.

“Of course!” Victor claps his hands once in excitement; he always does seem to enjoy showing Yuuri off. “His name is Yuuri Nishigori, of Yutopia. He saved my life in the forest, so I decided to bring him here and give him a job as a reward.”

Guang-Hong laughs when he hears Yuuri’s “name,” but manages to cover it up as a cough. “Excuse me.”

Yuuri gives him a severe look. Don’t forget I know about your affair with Leo. Not, of course, that Phichit would care, but it’s nice to have some blackmail material on his friends once in a while.

“Excuse my guard, he’s laughing at my antics. I must admit to some deception, Prince Victor,” Phichit says with a small grin.

Victor raises and eyebrow in that way that Yuuri has noticed means that he’s mildly amused. “Oh?”

Phichit nods. “You see, Yuuri and I have already met.”

Oh no, Phichit please no. Yuuri’s grip on the hilt of his sword anxiously.

“It’s a story quite similar to yours, actually.” Phichit smiles at Yuuri. I’ve got this. “I was travelling the continent for school a few years ago, and I wandered from the caravan of boredom. I found a view I particularly liked and wandered too close to the edge of a cliff. Your guard saved my life.”

Yuuri remembers that day, actually. Phichit had scared the life out of him, wandering off like that.

“Phichan, why would you go so close to the edge? You could have died!” Yuuri could feel his heartbeat in his throat. “If I’d lost you…”

Phichit was shaking, his usual grin far from his face. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”

“In fact, we became friends soon after.” Well, that’s a bold-faced lie, but Yuuri can’t expect anything different if he wants to keep his secret safe.

Victor looks at Yuuri with wide eyes. “Wow! My Yuuri is so amazing, why didn’t you tell me that you knew another royal?”

I know several, actually. Phichit just happens to be the one that’s here. “It, uh, it never came up, I suppose.”

“You were named for the missing prince, right Yuuri?” Phichit cuts in.

When Yuuri nods, Victor looks confused. “What do you mean, missing prince?”

“Ah, I forget how cut off this country is from its neighbors,” Phichit says, looking apologetic and slightly sad. The sadness, Yuuri can tell, is entirely real. He feels a sharp twinge of guilt about causing it. “Yutopia’s prince, Yuuri Katsuki, went missing several months past. He’s a very dear friend of mine.”

There’s a short period of silence, where Yuuri is sure that Victor is trying to find the appropriate words to respond to a revelation like this.

“Victor, if I may make a suggestion,” Otabek says, startling them all. “Pardon my intrusion into your conversation, but perhaps, for the duration of the prince’s stay, Nishigori should stay with his company. It may make the prince more comfortable, and I am willing to take over for him for and few days.”

Yuuri blinks. Otabek has just opened a way for him to spend time with Phichit and explain himself, without even knowing what he was doing.

He’s sure that Victor is about to protest, but there’s a distinct moment when any protests die. The look of absolute gratitude on Phichit’s face could melt a heart of stone.

“I… I suppose… that would be fine,” Victor manages. His hesitation confuses Yuuri, but the confusion is overpowered by something else.

He only vaguely notices the glances Victor keeps sneaking at him for the rest of the night, and he doesn’t think about what they mean. He’s going to miss spending time with Victor one on one, but it’s only for a few days. Besides, Phichit is going to be spending a lot of time in a presence of the royal family anyway, so things won’t be so different.

As soon as the two of them close the door to Phichit’s bedchamber later that night, Yuuri finds himself being tackled on all sides by four overexcited men. Leo, Guang-Hong, and Seung-Gil look skeptical when Yuuri explains his reasons for vanishing, but Phichit– Phichan, who knows how Yuuri’s mind works, who knows everything about him –nods and understands. He swears to keep the secret, as long as Yuuri promises in turn to be home in time for his sister’s coronation.

It’s enough, for now.

[penciltrash-blog]

[Yuri on Ice | Teen Up and Audiences | Yurio x Otabek | Royalty, ABO Dynamics AU (non - traditional), Friends To Lovers, Prince Yuri, Aged-up Yuri, Commoner Otabek] 

[Read Part 1 here]

Otabek was loading his saddlebags. He carried only the very basic essentials for his journey to the neighboring capital where the Ranking tournament was held. That involved a limited change of clothing, a blanket and a canvas tarp to survive the chill of night, a water canteen, a little food and his weapons. He didn't want to burden his horse during the two day ride to his destination. He was all set to leave within the next hour.

He’d thought about paying a quick visit to the palace, mostly to see Yuri’s face and lock his scent in his memory so the separation of a whole month would be easier on him. They'd barely gotten any private moments lately as Otabek had been completely relieved of his duties for the last week. The Prince’s schedule was busy too. He'd had to welcome foreign delegates to discuss the dispute relating to the Plisetsky territory.

King Nikolai was old and on constant medication. Some of the neighboring empires were trying to take advantage of the situation. Fortunately, Yuri had returned from abroad and was effectively handling affairs but the Plisetsky kingdom needed their Alpha heir. Yuri was under tremendous pressure to select his Alpha and get mated at the ceremony on the eve of his eighteenth birthday.

The more the situation worsened, the more Otabek focussed on completing the  first stage of the Ranking tournament so that he could - No, he didn't want to hype his dreams of actually proposing to the Prince. He couldn't. Yuri was a Level Ten Omega and even if Otabek somehow managed to clear the first stage, that would only involve revaluation of his status from Level One. He could rise to Level Two or at most Level Five. He'd still be nowhere near Yuri’s status and he doubted any royal in their right mind would appreciate that in a mate.

But clearing Stage-One would be his ticket to Stage Two of the tournament where the high ranking Alphas - Level Six to Level Ten - would compete to enhance their rank. Stage Two was scheduled in two months and Otabek was ready to die to reach it, if that was what it needed.

A Level One Alpha getting a Stage Two opportunity wasn't unheard of. But it was rare and tough, especially at your very first attempt in the tournament, but Otabek was determined to prove to everyone he could do it.

“Hey, brother,” Sabrina’s voice cut through his thoughts as she came rushing towards him, panting as if she'd come running a mile, her hand clutching a drawstring pouch.

“Strawberries?” Otabek enthused, snatching the pouch out of her grip. “It's so early. How- When did you even wake up to get these?”

“I know you love them.” Sabrina beamed at him. “I thought they'd be handy during your journey.”

“That's so nice of you, sister,” he wrapped his arm around Sabrina, squeezing her in a half hug and kissed her temple. He was about to take a bite of the tempting fruit when they were interrupted by a sudden noise.

“Are you trying to run away without goodbyes?” Otabek almost dropped the pouch on the ground.

“Yura?” the name escaped his mouth without his permission. He twisted his neck, checking the area to make sure the Prince was accompanied by his guards. He couldn't find one.

The Prince’s smile widened at hearing his childhood nickname, his body visibly relaxed, eyes glinting in surprise. “Thank goodness you're finally calling me that.”

“Have you tricked your guards again?” Otabek demanded, ignoring the delight on Yuri’s face.

“Well, you can't blame me. They're very slow.” Yuri walked towards him, his red tunic looking gorgeous against his pale skin. Otabek wasn't pleased about Yuri’s reckless behavior, but he couldn't take his eyes off the Prince. “They can't beat my horse riding the way you do,” Yuri continued, halting right in front of Otabek. “Plus, I wanted to give you this .” He raised his hand that was wrapped in a piece of cheetah print fabric made of fine silk.

It was a scarf.

Before Otabek could move, Yuri was already unwrapping Otabek’s usual black, cotton scarf from around his neck, replacing it with the one in his hand.

A shiver ran down his spine as Yuri’s fingers, which were rather cold in the early morning chill, brushed against his bare neck. The material felt smooth and tickled his skin. Otabek didn't want to indulge himself in guessing its price. It must have cost at least his monthly wage.

“It's for good luck,” Yuri leaned away a little to admire the view. “Looks good on you,” he added, patting Otabek’s shoulders, dusting off the non existent dirt. “D‘you like it?” he asked, eyes searching Otabek’s.

“Y-yes. Thank you so much,” Otabek finally remembered to reply, his eyes tripping over the pink blush that colored Yuri’s cheeks. “This’s beautiful,” he breathed, not sure if he was talking about the scarf anymore.

Yuri leaned forward, wrapping his arms around Otabek. “One month,” he murmured in his ear, hands at his back clutched the fabric of Otabek’s tunic. “Why do you have to leave now?”

Otabek couldn't help the way his heart stuttered in his chest. In two years, Yuri might have grown up to handle critical political issues, but when it came to Otabek, he was still the same. Possessive about his childhood friend as if his world revolved around him, like Otabek actually mattered to him.

“Will you come to watch the games?” Otabek asked, his hands looping around Yuri’s back and settling on his lean hips. He couldn't make himself hope that the Prince would have enough time to witness the tournament.

“I wouldn't miss it for the world.” Yuri buried his face in Otabek’s shoulder, scenting him. “You probably won’t recognize me in the crowd of onlookers. But I'd be there. I promise.” They held each other for a long moment, breathing in each other’s scent, listening to the steady rhythm of their combined heartbeats.

They jumped apart when Sabrina cleared her throat loudly. “ Hello , I'm standing right here.”

“Oh… Sabrina?” Yuri huffed, noticing her for the first time. “I didn't-”

“Yeah, yeah. You didn't notice me,” Sabrina teased. “You hardly do that when my brother’s around, my Prince.”

“Sabrina,” Otabek warned, unable to find the courage to glance up at Yuri.

“What's this?” Luckily, Yuri’s eyes found the strawberries, saving him from further awkward comments from his sister. “... and where's my share?” Yuri complained.

Otabek adored the way the two Omegas interacted with each other. Sabrina was seventeen, hardly a year younger than Yuri, but she shared an open bond with him. Yuri’s status never came between them. Probably, it was an Omega thing, or they’d bonded over their common goal of teasing Otabek whenever the opportunity presented itself.

“Your share’s safe with me,” Sabrina assured, dangling one more pouch in front of Yuri’s face. When the Prince tried to grab for it, she easily dodged him. “But… let's see Otabek off first.”

Yuri pouted but pulled Otabek into a hug anyway. “Make me proud, Beka.” He patted his back, gripping Otabek tight, close, as if he couldn’t get enough. “Come back to me soon. I'll be waiting.”

When Otabek mounted his horse, Yuri was still there. His face was a mixture of sad and happy emotions, one hand carried a pouch of strawberries and the other gripped the worn out scarf that belonged to Otabek like his only thread of life.

In the coming month, this would probably be his last look at Yuri and Otabek wanted to tattoo it in his memory. Forever.

******

Otabek listened to the closing melody of the inauguration ceremony. The tune felt heavenly in the quiet surroundings. His eyes fluttered closed, thoughts skittering back to the warmth of home, the green blanket of fresh fields, the open sound of Sabrina’s laughter, the earthy scent of his father, the frown on Yakov’s forehead, the kind smile behind the King’s thick moustache and… to Yuri’s hazel green eyes.

The moment he'd stepped inside the arena two days before, he'd been handed the key of his room which barely occupied a single bed and a wall-mounted cupboard. At least, the bedsheets were clean and that was enough for Otabek to lay down at night after finishing his routines in the practice ground.

They’d been sorted by their ranks - Level One to Five. The draws had been declared by the juries and displayed on the arena’s notice board. The entire arena had been divided to hold the level-centric matches first where all the Alphas would compete against their co-level opponent and try to score maximum points.

Stage One of the tournament involved three sports - Wrestling, Jousting and Sword Fighting. The selection was decided again by a draw.

Only one Alpha from each level was eligible to challenge the highest scorer of the next level. Generally, the Alpha’s went for a level or two up. These competitions were tiring and chances of beating the highest scorer of the next level were pretty minimal. Losing it involved a major risk of hampering your level-centric scores.

Otabek had different plans altogether. He’d been training with Yuri since he was seven and was fortunate enough to have gotten exposure to the very best guidance and techniques. Something that many high rankers never received. He wasn’t going to rush but consider each match as they came, with complete focus.

The music stopped, bringing him back to reality. The referee called out his name as his match was supposed to open the tournament. It didn't make him nervous. It was good to start early rather than having to control his anxiety watching the other contenders fight.

Otabek looked around. Only Level Four and Five matches were opened for public viewing and the stands were almost empty. All the contenders immediately headed back to their rooms or the practice ground to continue their routines. No one seemed interested in witnessing some unknown, beginner’s game.

It was a wrestling challenge for Otabek.

The points were awarded on the basis of explosive actions and risks. A wrestler needed to win two out of three games in order to win the match except when there was a Fall, where both shoulders of the defensive wrestler was pinned to the ground in total submission for a whole three seconds. Then the match ended on a Clear Fall.

Otabek bowed to his opponent, an young Alpha from the south - Kenjirou Minami.

The blonde Alpha with weird, long, red, textured locks, smiled at him and Otabek twitched his lips in reply. Of course, Kenjirou was nervous. Otabek noticed the beads of sweat that lined up on his forehead. He was lean, at least a head shorter, and the uneasy twitching of his limbs indicated he was a rookie, just like Otabek.

A sharp blow of the whistle from the referee brought him back to reality, clearing his mind of any lingering thoughts. He spread his legs, digging his leather shoes into the soft ground, taking a defensive stance.

Alpha Kenjirou though had different plans. He barged straight at Otabek, his hands spread wide, inviting and defenseless. Wrong move , Otabek remembered all the sharp smacks of Yakov’s hand on the back of his head when he’d made the same mistake repeatedly at the age of ten.

Easily, Otabek dodged his reckless advance, slipping behind his back, turning him around. He hooked his leg into Kenjirou's, toppling the Alpha backward and pinning him to the ground with all the strength he’d got in his worked up muscles. Kenjirou didn’t even get a chance to blink.

The referee looked taken aback. For a moment, he stood there frozen, clearly not expecting an ultimate move at such an early stage of the game. But then, immediately he rushed to count the beats.

One… Two… Three…

That was it. A Clear Fall.

The match was over.

Alpha Kenjirou looked bewildered, his brown eyes wide, unable to register what had happened to him. He was so baffled that he actually took Otabek’s offered hand to get back up on his feet. Kenjirou glanced at the referee, who only shrugged in response. A dead silence spread around the entire stadium at the sudden outcome of the fight.

“Aaaaaaad the winner of the Level One… Game One… by a Clear Fall is… Alpha Otabek Altin. ” Otabek’s heart was hammering in his chest as the referee raised his arm, proclaiming him as the winner of the match.

The match had finished in thirty seconds, creating a new record of the fastest win at Level One, ever.

 *********

The Level One matches ran for a week.

At the end of the week, Otabek’s score stood unbeaten, the highest among all the encounters at that level.

When he read his name at the top of the chart on the arena’s notice board, Otabek felt his eyes dampen with overwhelming emotion. He knew he was capable. Of course, he did. But still the shock of the reality was a bit much to take in. That night, he slept peacefully after spending a whole week in restless slumber due to aching muscles and disturbing dreams, his hands clutching the scarf, that Yuri had given him, close to his chest.

Otabek was all set for his Level Two match.

It was a jousting challenge. A game of physical strength, balance and coordination where the two contenders rode their horses towards each other, wielding their lances. They desired a common aim of breaking the lance on the rival's armour, or unhorsing them.

“Goooood j-ob, Ebony,” Otabek cooed, slowly, making his horse understand his praising tone rather than the words. Horses didn't understand words.

Ebony was his companion for the jousting match and was assigned to him by the tournament’s officials for the course of the games. He massaged Ebony’s neck and the horse immediately leaned into the touch. Otabek smiled, rewarding him with the treat of an apple. “Uh-huh, you liked it, didn't you?”

“Of course, he loved it.” Otabek snapped his head up at a sudden remark.

It was a young man with brown eyes and dark messy hair. He looked familiar. Otabek had seen him on the practice ground during a slot designated for the Level Five Alphas. He vaguely remembered seeing him at the dormitory room that was exactly adjacent to Otabek’s.

“I'm Phichit Chulanont.” The man offered his hand, his lips curved in a smile, open and welcoming.

Otabek returned a firm handshake. “Otabek Altin,” he greeted with a nod.

“I know,” Alpha Phichit beamed at him. “We’re neighbors,” he added with a wink, noting the confusion on Otabek’s face. “I also watched your match. I must say, you were great. It’s really hard to believe that you're only a Level One.”

Otabek felt the tips of his ears burn with the compliment. He’d faced attention for the entire week. Whenever he passed along the dormitory corridors or at the practice ground, he'd felt the constant weight of it. Even though the contenders hadn't considered him a threat, they'd clearly started noticing his presence.

“I, uh- I'm trained,” Otabek stuttered, unable to come up with a suitable justification.

“I can see that,” Phichit’s eyes flicked between Otabek and Ebony. He walked towards the horse and asked Otabek’s permission to hold his reins.

Otabek allowed him, watching the Alpha with curious eyes. For some reason, it didn't raise his hackles.

“Y’know, Ebony was assigned to me last year for my jousting event.” Phichit carded his fingers through Ebony’s mane, laughing to himself at a memory of something amusing. “I didn't even know his name back then. And he almost kicked me in the face.”

Otabek snorted, shooting a matching grin at the other Alpha. Phichit might have been a Level Five, but he seemed approachable, free from the prejudice that came as a package with being a high ranker. “He's a good horse,” Otabek muttered over his smile, trying to defend his horse, mostly to tease Phichit.

“Not with everyone.” Phichit retorted, flailing his hand at Ebony as if he'd been betrayed. By the horse. And, Otabek felt his smile widen as they continued conversing with ease.

They’d both finished their practice. As they headed for their rooms together, Otabek handed Ebony over to a stable boy, collecting his armor from a bench.

“Have you finished your challenge?” Otabek asked as he struggled to balance his massive helmet in his hands.

“Not yet,” Phichit huffed out a sigh. “Let me.” He grabbed the helmet from Otabek’s hands, ignoring his hesitation, comfortably tucking it under his arm. “My game is scheduled for next week. Waiting can be really excruciating, y’know? You're lucky that you’ve finished yours first.”

“I can understand,” Otabek hummed, losing himself to the memories of the past. A cool breeze of air blew past his ears, ruffling his now free hair that had been dampened by the sweat after the long hours of heavy exercise. “I've been waiting to participate in this tournament for two years now, I wasn't eligible.”

“Whoa,” Phichit looked impressed. He turned towards Otabek, eyes wide. “How can you be ready at such an early age? Are you a royal?”

“What? No.” Otabek gaped at him, opening and closing his mouth, struggling to find his words.

“A knight then?”

“No,” Otabek croaked as he tried hard not to lose his footing on the dormitory stairs. “I just serve as the Prince’s guard.”

“Oh,” Phichit muttered, eyebrows still creased, as if he was still trying to wrap his head around the newly acquired information, probably regarding Otabek’s advanced skills and his occupation.

“His highness is very generous,” Otabek couldn't stop himself from praising Yuri. If it wasn't for him, Otabek would have been labouring on a farm for his living. “He allowed me fine training and a mentor.”

“Really?” Phichit squeaked, his eyebrows raised, touching his hairline. “It's Prince Plisetsky, right?” They’d reached their rooms and Otabek had to pause and wait for the Alpha to hand over his helmet. “No wonder my king desires him so much.”

Otabek’s heart skipped a beat. He was so taken aback by the unexpected turn of the conversation that he almost lost his grip around the armor. “Your king?” he managed to get out from his tight throat.

Phichit didn't seem to notice Otabek’s turmoil and he continued in a casual tone. “Yes. King Peter Denisovich.” He fumbled in his pocket to get his key out. “He wasn't exactly pleased when the Plisetsky kingdom didn't invite him for the Prince’s courting process.”

Otabek remembered the name. The level ten Alpha with a dozen Omegas to show off. He felt a shudder run down his spine at the thought of Yuri being one of them.

“But I can relate to your Prince’s decision. My brother’s an Omega.” Yes, Phichit was saying something and Otabek’s mind was running on a different wavelength altogether. He needed to calm down and listen to Phichit’s voice. “I respect his choice,” Phichit huffed, turning the key to unlock his door. “But again… Politics is a dirty game.”

Indeed, politics was a dirty game. Phichit’s words kept reverberating in Otabek’s mind long after the Alpha had taken his leave.

******

Otabek snapped the flap of his metal helmet closed, fixing his eyes on his opponent through its slits, taking in a deep breath to control his nerves. The armor was heavy. It suffocated him, reducing the supply of fresh air. His clothes stuck to his skin from the sweat that covered his body like an extra layer.

Alpha Seung-gil Lee, the winner of Level two, looked ready as he stared right back at Otabek, challenging him.

Otabek readied himself for the joust, holding his lance upright, contemplating the moves in his mind before the match actually began. He felt Ebony breathing below him, his hooves scraping the ground like a bull ready to charge.

“We're going to do this,” he muttered to Ebony, more to reassure his pounding heart than the horse.

For a moment, everything went eerily quiet. Otabek could literally hear the thumping of his heartbeats in his ears. Then, with a wild wave of a flag, the joust began.

Otabek kicked his heels to Ebony’s flanks, spurring his horse on to advance. The next instant, both the Alphas were at full-tilt, lowering their lances to strike their opponent. Otabek aimed for Seung-gil's body, hoping to hit a decisive blow. Seung-gil, on the other hand, raised his lance, pointing it at Otabek’s helmet.

A loud crash broke the silence.

The tip of Otabek’s lance had made the first contact, crashing into Seung-gil’s armored chest. The impact had made Seung-gil lose his aim, his lance barely brushing Otabek’s arm. Otabek watched him as he wobbled for a brief moment before getting his balance back on his horse.

“O-Kay,” Otabek breathed as he rode to the opposite end. “That was okay. That was good,” he kept chanting, patting Ebony’s neck, before the second pass began.

Seung-gil had lowered his lance, this time aiming for his rival’s chest, same as Otabek had planned. They both rode with all their might, redoubling their efforts to make the other Alpha lick the dirt. The clouds of dust were barely settling between them. Otabek coughed, his breath coming out in erratic puffs. He blinked and the next instance he was thrown back by a solid blow to his chest that made his heart stop for a moment.

He saw stars in bright daylight. Everything swirled around him as he sucked in thick gulps of air and waited for the cutting ache just below his collarbone to pass. He was hurt, even through the thick layer of his metal armor. He couldn't focus, couldn't think, but his fingers clutched at the reins for his dear life. He couldn't afford to go down, not now. Not like this .

When the ringing in his ears finally subsided, he knew Ebony had slowed down, balancing Otabek’s weight on his back, supporting him through the vulnerable moment. Even in his unsettled state, Otabek’s lips twitched into a smile. His heart swelled with silent gratitude. He owed his honor to Ebony.

“C'mon, my friend. Let's finish this,” he roared as they charged for the third pass, lance tilted high in the air, aiming straight for Seung-gil’s helmet. Ebony ran like the wind, in a mighty display of his mute agreement of Otabek’s command.  

Otabek watched as the tip of his opponent's lance approached with lightning speed, aiming for the center of his chest. He knew Seung-gil would reach him first. Under the weight of the heavy metal, he tried to twist his body at the very last second in a futile attempt to escape the unavoidable blow. But still, the lance hit his shoulder. Pain pierced down his spine, numbing his brain. He knew he'd been fast and still had a strong grip around his weapon.

The next thing he knew the lance in his hand had shattered to half. He'd hit the target.

Otabek snapped his neck around, shooting a desperate glance over his shoulder even before Ebony could reach the other end. He was met with the sight of Seung-gil laid out flat on the ground, trying to get up under the weight of his armor, his horse skittering out of the field, free and abandoned.

Otabek had unhorsed the Alpha. He'd done it . His shoulders slumped as the relief washed over his whole body, making it slack.

Otabek dismounted his horse, removing his helmet with his shaking hands. He flung his arms around Ebony’s neck. “Th-Thank you,” he managed to get out of his dry mouth, voice lower than a whisper. He was trembling as the waves of overwhelming emotion passed through his gut.

“Aaaaaaad the winner of the Level Two… final challenge is… Alpha Otabek Altin. ” This time when the judge announced it, he heard a few shout outs from the crowd echoing his name. Phichit’s was the loudest.

[To be continued...]

[flytsofangels]

The Fan Mail Fix

(Written for my daughter on her birthday.  Hope you like it.  I sure love you!)

Yuri was tired.

He’d spent the last few hours trying to perfect the new moves in his routine — step, turn, repeat — and he had just about had enough.  Enough practice.  Enough ice.  Enough cold.

Enough wondering what that mark was really supposed to mean.

After all, when you’re born into a world where your soul mate is marked by a coloration that created a letter of the alphabet on the skin of your hand, you’re supposed to be more relaxed.  More secure.  More certain that there really is someone out there for you to love and who will love you in return.  Wasn’t that the whole point?  To be able to feel secure?

But he didn’t.  Because his hand and his reality didn’t match.

Because … well … Viktor.

Viktor.  Who hadn’t bothered to show up to coach him today.  Who was probably sitting around in the hot spring or stuffing his face or …

Or being completely adorable with that floof of a dog of his …

Viktor.  Whose name started with a “V” and not the “B” that was clearly marked on Yuri’s hand.

It was what made Yuri so tired:  thinking in these circles against the yearning of his own heart.  Because his heart told him that Viktor was the one.  The man who caused all those fluttering butterflies to romp around in his stomach when he saw him.  The man whose lips Yuri desperately wanted to feel under his own, if only to know how soft they were.  And to make those butterflies dance around inside of him even more energetically.

Yuri could see himself with Viktor well past the time that either of them would be able to perform even a single Axel, sharing every moment and thought with each other until they were very gray and very … well, not as athletic as they both were right now.  And not as driven to win at any cost.  That would be a nice day, someday.

But right now, Yuri was consumed by his need to train and succeed.  And he would happily say that Viktor was making that possible.  His new coach was helping him make all of his dreams come true.

Except for that ultimate dream.  The one that was promised on his hand.

Yuri tugged the hood of his heavy coat up and stuffed both of his mittened hands into his pockets, dropping his head to stare at the snow-covered sidewalk that would lead him back home.  When he had trudged up to the Ice Palace, the skies had been gray in the kind of way that always promised snow, but he hadn’t realized that so much of the white stuff had drifted down from the heavens while he trained.  If he had known the weather was going to turn, he would have kept himself at home.  Snow could be so unpredictable; he might have been trapped up here, alone.  With only his circular thoughts to occupy him.

Not that he had managed to get away from them during his training.  Once the movements had been impressed onto his muscles, Yuri had used only the smallest portion of his conscious mind to tell his feet, legs, arms, and torso what to do next.  Instead, his mind had wandered back to his greatest conundrum.

Why was there a letter “B” on his hand when he loved someone whose name started with the letter “V”?

There were two easy answers, of course.  The easiest — the one that didn’t go most powerfully against what he had been taught from the moment he had been born — was that he didn’t actually love Viktor.  He probably was just experiencing an infatuation, based on the fact that the internationally renowned, champion figure skater had left behind his own dreams of more time in the spotlight to seek out and coach Yuri.  It had been the Russian’s choice:  there was no way that Yuri could afford to reimburse or adequately compensate Viktor for the time and energy that had been poured into the hours of training during the past few months.  He was almost forced to accept it as a gift, and that fact made it even harder for him to face his new coach with any offerings of his love.  He owed Viktor too much in his professional life to try to drag the Russian into his personal life, too.

On the other hand, the other easy answer was that the tradition was wrong.  Even though he had been raised on the idea that there was a soul mate in the world for him — someone who had a name that matched the first initial clearly marked on his hand — he had been raised with some other, equally as false ideas.  Like you could catch a cold simply by walking outdoors in winter with wet hair.  Or that you can see the Great Wall of China from space.  Just because that’s the way that people had always thought things would work didn’t mean that was true.  He felt his love for Viktor too deeply and achingly for him to simply dismiss it.  So perhaps this soul mate tradition was wrong.

Except every experience in his life said that it wasn’t.  His parents.  Yuko and her husband.  So many, many others.

Yuri sighed and watched the heat of his breath form into a misty vapor that wrapped around his head.  If he wasn’t careful, the vaporous breath would cover his glasses, making it impossible for him to see where he was going for a few steps.  Not that being blind in the snow was dangerous here in town, but he didn’t like that idea of not knowing where he was going.  He might step off a curb into traffic or twist his ankle on something he couldn’t see.

Or he could lose his heart to the wrong person.

It was useless, he reminded himself, to continue to think about it at all.  He wasn’t going to solve anything by chasing his own tail like this.  It was better to push it into the background and concentrate on his skating.  At least that would keep him occupied.  Mostly.

Stepping through the front door of his home, he stomped the snow from his footwear and slipped out of his coat.  After hanging it from a hook by the portal, he sank down on the step and tugged off his boots, placing them where the melting snow wouldn’t seep into anyone else’s shoes.  Sliding his feet into his house slippers, he headed off to his bedroom.

“Yuri!  Is that you?” his mother called to him.

“It’s me,” he replied, stifling the sigh that he wanted to let escape.  He knew he should be more grateful that he was still allowed to live at home — was even welcomed there.  But right at this moment, he wanted to be alone more than anything.

His mother walked into the room, a wide wooden spoon in one hand.  “I’m so glad you didn’t get trapped by the snow.  When I saw it get heavier, I was so worried about you.  But then again, you would have been in your favorite place, wouldn’t you?”

Would I? he asked himself silently.  The Ice Palace had been his favorite place.  Until Viktor.  Now — anywhere where his coach was was so much preferable.  But his mother was waiting for an answer, so he said, “Of course.”  If only to keep her from asking any more questions.

“Anyway,” she continued brightly, almost as if she hadn’t heard his response, “I need you to take Viktor’s mail to his room.  It seems like he finally got his coach to forward it to him, and I really hate to disturb him, especially since he’s devoting so much time to your career.  Can you carry it to him for me, please?”

“Sure,” Yuri mumbled and then turned to look at the huge, duffle-bag-sized mail satchel that was leaning against the wall.  Surprised, he blurted out, “That?  You want me to carry that to Viktor’s room?”

But his mother had already left the room.  “Thanks, honey!” she called back to him.

Sighing again, Yuri walked over to the bag and looked down at it.  Then he kicked it for good measure.  It was just one more reminder of all the things that were more attractive to the Russian than him and his career.  Out there, in the spotlight, Viktor was a star, the heart-throb of millions, the handsome and charismatic champion who had rocketed awareness of figure skating to new world-wide heights.  Yuri had the hardest time understanding why one floundering figure skater had drawn his coach away from all of that.

Squatting down in front of the bag, he wrapped both of his arms around it and then used his powerful thighs to lift it.  He tottered to one side, relying on his memories of the house to help him down the corridors until he was at Viktor’s door.  With one foot, he pounded on the portal and waited.

“Come in!” Viktor called, his voice muffled by the door.

Yuri sighed in frustration.  His hands were occupied simply keeping this giant bag of mail from spilling across the floor of the hallway.  He kicked the door again.

“Come … oh … Just a minute …”

The door opened, and Yuri staggered forward until he was in the center of Viktor’s room.  Unfortunately, his arms suddenly gave out, and the duffle hit the floor, the drawstrings releasing their tight hold and spilling a variety of bright envelopes and packages across the floor.  He groaned at the mess and looked up at his coach.

“Sorry …” he started and then stopped seeing the small smile on Viktor’s face.  That smile, those eyes, that face.  It was almost too much, and Yuri turned away, squatting down in the mess and beginning to stuff the mail back into its container.

“You don’t have to do that,” Viktor said, moving beside him so that his knee brushed against Yuri’s.  The butterflies that filled his stomach began to dance heatedly in excitement.  “I can pick this mess up myself.  After all, it’s really mine.”

“No, no,” Yuri disagreed reflexively.  “I made the mess.  I can at least …”

He paused when he heard Viktor laughing beside him and looked over at the stark white envelope in his coach’s hands.  Or it was supposed to be white.  Whoever had sent it to Viktor had pressed a set of lips coated with lipstick repeatedly to the white surface, decorating the paper with kiss after kiss.

It was like a graphic reminder of Yuri’s own secret desires, and he looked down at the envelopes and packets in his own hands.

“I get a lot of these,” Viktor said, a little laugh in his voice.  “It’s wonderful to know that so many people love me.  All kinds of people, all over the world.”

“Yeah,” Yuri said slowly.  “That’s lucky for you.”  But he could lift his eyes from the paper in his hand, and he also didn’t seem to be able to move.  He heard the sound of ripping and the rustling of a letter being smoothed open and then that laugh, the laugh that he loved, echoed around the room again.

“Another marriage proposal.  They just never give up.”

When you’re the prize, Yuri wanted to argue aloud, who wouldn’t fight forever?  Who wouldn’t give up everything — including their dreams — just to be near you?  To wake up beside you every morning?  To go to sleep with you every night?

Angry with the despair that he could feel threatening to choke him, Yuri stuffed his handful of envelopes back into the mail bag.  Unfortunately, one letter slipped out between his fingers, and he reached down to pick up the paper from the floor.  Without thinking about it, he read the address listed on the front, staring at the strange characters, almost not believing what he was seeing.

“What’s this?” he said softly, extending his arm and seeing the envelope shake in his nervous fingers.

“What’s what?” Viktor replied, looking up from the box of chocolates that he had opened, supplied by another adoring fan.

“Here on the envelope?  Is this for you?”

Viktor nodded.  “Sure.  That’s my name.  In Cyrillic characters.  You know that’s how we write in Russia, right?”

“I hadn’t thought about it.  I hadn’t though about anything other than the characters used in English.”

“Well, that’s silly,” his coach said, popping a dark, creamy candy between those lips that Yuri longed to kiss.  “People in Japan don’t even write like that.  But I suppose you all learn English characters after you learn Japanese.  Is it important?  It just has my name and my address from my coach’s training center in Russia.”  Viktor shrugged and turned back to his candies.

Is it important? Yuri gasped, gripping the envelope against his chest to try to hide the excited trembling that was racing through his body.  Important?  It was the second most life-changing moment of Yuri’s entire life.

Unable to believe that he had seen what his eyes had shown him, Yuri pulled the envelope away from his heart and stared down at the black letters chasing each other across the surface.  With one trembling fingertip, he traced the first letter — the alien, Cyrillic character — that made up Viktor’s name.  And his heart sang.

Over and over again, he followed the lines of the character.  Not two angled lines, but a more swooping, curving pair with one straight line.

Like the letter “B”.

[sirnica]

20 question tag

I was tagged by sweet and awesome   @my-son-taehyung

rules : answer the questions in a new post and tag 20 blogs you would like to get to know better (did anyone ever tag 20 blogs on this?).

nickname: people call me Nejra. mom calls me Nera. Surgery department calls me Hi 

starsign: Aquarius 

height: 1,65cm (i think)

time right now: 00:21

last thing googled: marriage (i’m making a presentation and i kinda wanna put a picture of a same sex couple to represent the marriage between organic and non organic food production but i’m a woos)

favourite music artists: Troye Sivan, BTS (seriously, they are amazing),  Caravan Palace (i did not know electro swing was a genre but i love it); anime openings (i’m not even sorry)

song stuck in your head: black betty

last movie watched: Rogue One

last TV show watched: Ore monogatari. for goodness sake, how can anything be that pure. it’s soo cute (and it’s a straight romance, so you know it has to be cute if i’m praising it so much)

what are you wearing right now: pijama

when did you create your blog?: sometimes in may-ish of 2012, after binging sherlock. i needed people to help me cope with the reichenbach fall (i still do, tbh)

what kind of stuff do you post: welcome to my twisted mind. we have fandoms, memes and suffering. 

do you have any other blogs: nope. this one is too much. 

do you get asks regularly: i have a few buddies online, if that counts. 

why did you choose your (fave?): they blasted music on a boombox outside my window. 

edit: url: well, it was the summer of 2014; the fault in our stars was at the top of the world and this weird new thing called “welcome to night vale” came into our lives so it was only logical to combine the two. ALL HAIL THE GLOW CLOUD 

 gender: Female

hogwarts house: Slytherin (i thought i might be ravenclaw or even a puff, but it’s always slytherin.)

pokemon team: team mystics(level 24, a proud parent of a 2364 cp gyarados called magikarp, just putting that out there). 

favourite colour: green, blue. 

average hours of sleep: 6-9, it depends on tumblr. 

lucky number:  don’t have that (i am a jaded old ahole, who doesn’t believe in shit, including oneself)

favourite character(s): cast of yuri on ice, sherlock, luna lovegood, Shigeo Kageyama  from mob psycho 100 (seriously, goals), 

how many blankets do you sleep with: just one.

dream job: do you want to make me cry? (but seriously, writer or a goat herder. not a veterinarian. just not a vet)

following: 118

I tag  @letsrevitup  @froggyphevoli  @meda-is-not-a-virus 

[recentanimenews]

Anime NYC 2019, Day Two

Saturday started with a live drawing from TAa, the author of Today’s Menu for the Emiya Family. Denpa’s panel Friday did not have much time to introduce her, so this was very welcome. She loves Fate, and her art is excellent – throughout the panel she drew Saber smiling and holding a rice bowl.

TAa started doing Fate fanart as a hobby, then was asked to do a chapter for an anthology, which is how she got a foot in the door. She was then approached to do the EMiya Family manga as a one-shot, and then when it was successful it got picked up as a series. She did that plus her day job for a year and a half, then this became too much, and now she draws manga full time.

She has assistants now, but did not at first, which shows how much work she was putting into the series. As for Fate itself, she got into the series through Fate/Zero, then bought the FSN game and became totally obsessed with it – this is why she started to draw art. She also loved Fate/Hollow Ataraxia, FSN’s sequel game, though notes it’s very hard to find these days. (One of the Emiya Family chapters with Assassin was almost an adaptation of a scene from Ataraxia.)

Ed Chavez, who was the moderator of the live drawing, talked about how cute and soft the anime was, and also the time and budget that UFOTable put into it. When she first heard about the anime, TAa thought she was being pranked! It was a rapid production from inception to release date – possibly as the company is so familiar with the Fate characters. She also got some new ideas discussing things with the anime staff.

When thinking of a new idea for a chapter, usually the food idea comes first, then she thinks of the characters that best suit that food. She also incorporates a lot of seasons and holidays. Type-Moon has almost no involvement at all – this is all her.

We then got some Q&A. She enjoys Japanese food as her comfort food, says obviously she’d want Shirou to cook for her if she had a choice. She and the editor do eat the meals that are in the manga – a tonkatsu was her favorite, though that chapter is not published yet. She was then asked what her favorite characters are to draw – she loves long-haired characters, particularly Rider.

Someone asked if we might see Bazett, the star of Fate/Hollow Ataraxia, and someone else asked if the mysterious robed figure hanging out with Gilgamesh is Caren rather than Kirie. She hedged on the second, but definitely has Bazett in mind for a future chapter if she can think of a good way to introduce her and incorporate the food. Someone also asked about New York City food in the manga – Shirou buys bagels for everyone?

It was agreed that the flashback episode with Shirou and Kiritsugu was the best of the anime episodes. She tries to keep the series very kind and “happy in life” – since Fate was a big battle game originally, she wanted to see more of the day-to-day life. As such, don’t expect a lot of Zero characters or the Lancer “hot dog” joke from Ataraxia. This series is too nice and sweet for things like that.

This is considered the right time for a series to come out – not because cooking manga are new in popularity – in Japan, they’ve always been popular – but because of the popularity of Fate, which ten years ago was not as high. She was also asked her favorite heroine, and the audience tensed – it’s a dangerous question. She likes them all, but picked Saber.

My next panel was Square Enix, which was doing its first Anime NYC panel. After quite a bit of audio difficulty, we started with a video showing off SE’s most famous properties. Tanya Biswas (formerly with Yen) and Leyla Aker (formerly with Viz) are the people behin things in America, with Masa also on the panel as the Square Enix rep. Masa has been to this con before, notes how fun it always is.

They did a recap of prior licenses, and trailers for two of them. Most of these have been talked about before – A Man and His Cat, Cherry Magic and Soul Eater’s Perfect Edition got the most talk. They also gave away A Man and His Cat merch, including a fantastic plushie. We then got several new announcements.

Ragna Crimson is a dark fantasy title from Gangan Joker. A man sets out to get revenge on the dragons who destroyed his partner. The Apothecary Diaries (Kusuriya no Hitorigoto) is probably the title I was most interested in. A woman working in the palace and trying to keep a low profile is found to have knowledge of herbal medicine, and after saving a royal heir, she’s promoted and ends up involved in palace intrigues. She’s apparently quite eccentric. This runs in Big Gangan.

Beauty and the Feast (Yakumo-san wa Edzuke ga Shitai) is a May-December romance, sort of, as a 28-year-old widow finds herself cooking for her 16-year-old neighbor, and food (and possibly romance, but mostly food) follows. It runs in Young Gangan. The Great Jahy Will Not Be Defeated! (Jahy-sama wa Kujikenai!) is a Gangan Joker title about a former demon villainess who’s now in modern Japan and also a cute little girl. Can she get her poweres back? Can her frustration stop being cute? Likely no to both questions.

By the Grace of the Gods (Kamitachi ni Hirowareta Otoko) just had its novel licensed by J-Novel Club. It’s from SE’s MangaUP! app and stars a reincarnated salaryman reincarnated as a boy with magic powers, who discovers that slimes are more valuable than you’d expect. Finally, we get the only novel of the panel, NieR Automata – Yorha Boys. It’s a prequel to the game, and another novel in a series which has already had some novels released by Viz Media.

Next up was Yen Press, who had a ton of new books and also a ton of light novels. The biggest surprise came first – High School DxD, whose manga was licensed in 2014, finally is getting the light novels released. This was a constant request, right up there with Date a Live and Gamers!. I recall not liking the first manga much, but suspecting I’d be more interested in a prose version. Now I get to see if I’m right.

They alternated between manga and novel announcements, so next was Bestia, a Shonen Ace series about a boy who goes to London to discover his past and finds magical beasts and adventure. We then got another surprise LN – High School Prodigies Have It Easy Even in Another World, whose manga started coming out in 2018, from the creator of Chivalry of a Failed Knight, also recently licensed.

Lust Geass is a Young Ace title that will play well with fans of ecchi manga, the story of a boy who finds a spell that will cause women’s sexual desires to explode. Restaurant to Another World has already had a manga release digitally via Crunchyroll, but Yen are now going to be releasing it in print. And another light novel, The Demon Sword Master of Excalibur Academy (Seiken Gakuin no Maken Tsukai) which combines demon lords and magical academies – two hot genres in one!

A monster girl harem manga came next, To Save the World, Can You Wake Up the Morning After with a Demi-Human? (Sekai wo Sukuu Tame ni Ajin to Asa-chun Dekimasenka?). It turns out our hero is destined to father the hero who will defeat the demon king… and so everyone wants to sleep with him. (When did Yen Press become Seven Seas?) Another light novel follows, more on the slow life side: Banished from the Heroes’ Party, I Decided to Live a Quiet Life in the Countryside (Shin no Nakama ja Nai to Yuusha no Party wo Oidasareta node, Henkyou de Slow Life suru Koto ni Shimashita), a Kadokawa series whose title is its premise.

Sadako at the End of the World (Shuumatsu no Sadako-san) is a post-apocalyptic Sadako manga, where she finds that those who watched the videotape are delighted to see her, as she’s another human being in this wasteland. It sounds fun, is complete in one volume, and ran in Comic Gene. Another light novel, In the Land of Leadale (Leadale no Daichi nite), about a girl with injuries who ends up in a game world. Judging by the cover, this is also a slow life series.

A yuri manga is next: I Love You So Much I Hate You (Nikurashii hodo Aishiteru). A Kadokawa manga, it’s an office life yuri title with adult concerns and problems. The last novel announced is a one-shot, Three Days of Happiness (Sugaru Miaki), a dark fantasy about a young man who sells his lifespan for cash. It’s apparently quite interesting. Lastly, Yen has licensed the Carole and Tuesday manga, based on the anime, which runs in Young Ace.

Q&A then started, but remembering how excruciating that was last year, I left early.

My last stop was J-Novel Club’s panel, with Sam Pinansky and Aimee Zink introducing a giant pile of new series. They started with two new print announcements – Sexiled, which has had huge buzz ever since it came out, and My Next Life As a Villainess!, which is also getting an anime next year. (More villainesses are coming later in this panel.)

Kodansha has a new imprint called Legend Novels, and from it JNC licensed five new novels. (No new manga announcements this time, these are all novels.) The Economics of Prophecy: Avoiding Disaster in Another World (Yogen no Keizaigaku) seems to be along the lines of Realist Hero, as a reincarnated economics whiz and a princess with prophetic abilities try to save the world.

Kobold King features a gentle man who was very powerful and respected in his time trying to quietly relax and befriend the local kobolds… who are very mistrusting of his powerful self! Outer Ragna (Game Jikkyō ni yoru Kōryaku to Gyakushū no Isekai Kami Senki) doesn’t have the Japanese protagonist, a livestreamer, enter a game world himself – instead he possessed the female lead! Her Majesty’s Swarm (Joō-heika no Isekai Senryaku) has a girl ending up in a game as an evil queen, and unlike a lot of villainesses in these sorts of books, seems to embrace her evil. Also, spiders warning for this one.

Isekai Rebuilding Project (Isekai Saiken Keikaku) was touted by Sam as the first North American book with “isekai” untranslated in the title. It’s about a Japanese man who is called to “fix” worlds where the isekai’d hero has saved the world and gone home… but left too many cultural issues that can’t be put back inside Pandora’s box. Also, the hero has a friend who is a dragon. Seems to be a slow life title.

A new partner for J-Novel Cliub, Pash! Books, gives us the next few series. Teogonia was described as “what if a Ghibli movie was a light novel?”, and he notes this is pure Japanese fantasy about a booy who awaken old memories and discovers the real rules of the world. The World’s Least Interesting Master Swordsman (Jimi na Kensei wa Soredemo Saikyou desu) sounds like a cross between One-Punch Man and I’ve Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years, as a reincarnated boy practices his sword skills for 500 years and is the strongest around… but his techniques are boring!

We’re then told about a new label, J-Novel Heart, that will be publishing shoujo light novels! This has long been requested by fans. (By the way, My Next Life As a Villainess!, which is a shoujo LN in Japan, will switch to this new label in print.) The first book is called Tearmoon Empire, which features a spoiled brat of a noble who ends up getting killed because of her family. She ends up redoing her life, and (despite still being spoiled) tries her hardest to avoid getting killed again.

The Tales of Marielle Clarac (each book will be called “The _______ of Marielle Clarac”) isa romance and mystery book, as the rather plain noble girl tries to figure out why the super perfect man of her dreams wants to marry her – is there an ulterior motive? It’s a good book “for wallflowers”. The Bibliophile Princess (Mushikaburi-Hime) is another book with mystery, conspiracy and intrigue, and (as you might guess) has a book lover as the main character.

I Refuse to Be Your Enemy! (Watashi wa Teki ni Narimasen!) is another in those “my reawakened memories tell me I’m actually a villain who gets killed off” sort of books, only instead of trying to fix things with the various handsome young men this girl tries to flee from everything. That won’t go well. Fukushu wo Chikatta Shironeko wa Ryuuou no Hiza no Ue de Damin wo Musaboru, which has a tentative but unapproved English title of The White Cat’s Revenge as Plotted from the Dragon King’s Lap, has the best friend of the heroine abandoned in a forest, then turned into a cat. We follow the friend as she tries to get revenge on the “heroine” who abandoned her.

The final license was the biggest surprise: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Isekai, a doujinshi light novel collaboration between six light novel authors, including those behind Tanya the Evil and Re: Zero. It’s a short story anthology, essentially, that began when the authors asked themselves what they’d do if they were isekai’d. This is licensed directly from the authors – no company involved! It’s also pretty short, so should be available soon.

That was the final announcement, and I then headed out to get dinner and type all this up. Tomorrow we get one big panel, and that’s about it. Surprise me, Kodansha and Vertical!

By: Sean Gaffney