darling-series

[darling-series]

Darling Arc 1: Part 2 out now on Webtoon~!

https://www.webtoons.com/en/canvas/darling/arc-1-part-2/viewer?title_no=1061869&episode_no=3

[darling-series]

Part 1 of Arc 1 of Darling out now on Webtoon~!!

https://www.webtoons.com/en/canvas/darling/arc-1-part-1/viewer?title_no=1061869&episode_no=2

[darling-series]

Sneak peak from chapter 1 of the first volume of Darling: Nebula~!

Coming soon~

https://www.webtoons.com/en/canvas/darling/list?title_no=1061869

[darling-series]

DARLING WEBTOON NOW UP~!

Thank you for your patience, I’ll try to update as much as I can~

—Belle <3

[darling-series]

Thank you for your patience, announcement coming VERY soon~!

“—One thousand little voices in 8 stars,

they serve the moon, do they not?

You have no need for a moon.

Cradling what truly matters, the sun stands alone.

Burning ever brighter, the sun will set you free.”

Big Announcement Coming Soon~

[darling-series]

SHI BACKSTORIES #8 ~ FLEUR JUSTE

TW: Attempted suicide

Fleur Juste was born at a time in which women were not respected in the courtroom. Her father was a prestigious lawyer and her mother was a passionate activist. Her parents’ stances on life would go on to shape her into a determined, respectable person with strong morals and a taste for justice. As she grew up, she was dead set on one goal: Fleur wanted to be a lawyer.

At the age of 15, Fleur attempted to take law classes. However, she was denied due to her gender. Unable to do anything about the rejection, she left, but not without her ever stronger desire to pursue what she dreamed of. Following her denial, she threw herself into studying law, staying up for hours each night to study each and every page of any book she could get her hands on. Unable to get any education in a school, she was personally taught by her father. Never skipping one day of training, she listened attentively, practicing her arguments and techniques whenever she wasn’t actively in a lesson. By age 16, she was more educated than most actual students. Knowing her skill, she applied to the prestigious school specializing in law, Arcadia Academy. However, yet again, she was denied because of her gender. This time, Fleur could feel something burning inside of her. She knew what she was capable of, so she decided to go up to the school herself and argue her case, as any dedicated lawyer would.

The day following her rejection, she approached the front desk of Arcadia, notebooks and law books in hand. She had done research the night prior, discovering the name of the building’s headmaster as well as the skills and qualifications required to attend. Confidently and stoically speaking to the receptionist, she asked for a direct meeting with Mr. Astor, the aforementioned headmaster. The woman behind the counter, looking at her with a scowl, begrudgingly got up from her desk to fetch Astor. After a long while, Fleur was called back to Astor’s office. As Fleur sat down in the large, leather chair in front of the desk, she laid down her books and have the headmaster a sharp look. “Fleur Juste, daughter of Louis Juste and future artourney. I presume you’re the prestigious Mr. Astor, yes?” Fleur asked, reaching out her hand for a handshake. Astor shook her hand. He was an older man with a thick brow, constantly furrowed yet everlastingly attentive. “Yes ma’am, please state your business”. Fleur took a deep breath and looked back up with the same sharp, determined look she seemed to always have. “This school only accepts the most talented and dedicated aspiring lawyers in all of Farras, and I believe that I am exactly fit for thi-“ She was interrupted. “And you applied, didn’t you? I remember reviewing the application of a Fleur Juste. Your application was perfect, but I’m afraid we can’t accept you. You’re a wo-“ This time, Fleur interrupted him. “I’m well aware that I’m a woman, thank you. But you must understand something, Mr. Astor. Why does it matter what I am? In a courtroom, everyone is equal, are they not? I’d have you know, I’ve reviewed your application requirements. I have much more training than the majority of students in your school. You DID read the list of my qualifications didn’t you? If you are going to deny a person the opportunity to defend the defenseless because of something as simple as a skirt, then you are disobeying the very foundations of the court that you pledge to uphold. If equal standing is so very important in the courtroom, then you should have no giving me as fair of a chance as any other student in this school, Mr. Astor”. She spoke confidently and firmly, with a tone of voice fit of a professional attorney. Astor looked up at Fleur who was now standing her hands on his desk. After a long silence, he finally spoke. “Show me your application, Ms. Juste”. Her face not breaking, Fleur slid her papers over to him. One by one, Astor reviewed her qualifications as a small smile appeared on his face. “I will admit, you were right about having more qualifications than most of my students, as well as the fact that you trained under Louis Juste… But— no formal education? Why’s that?” She sighed. “Just as you stated sir, I’m a woman. They won’t let me attend”. Mr. Astor chuckled to himself. “You’ve already displayed your argumentative capabilities and showed me a most impressive application”. He slid her a turned over piece of paper. “If you’re going to attend Arcadia, you better do something good with yourself, understood?” Fleur smiled as she read the paper. It was an acceptance letter to Arcadia Academy. “Now, I’m well aware of what you come from. As the only female student here, it’s going to be tough. I expect that you can work through that”. She shook his hand. “Of course, Mr. Astor”. The two smiled at each other as she turned around. “Oh, I must not forget, may I receive a schedule?”

That night, Fleur prepared everything she had. Textbooks, notebooks, and pens, all went into a neatly arranged bag. She smiled to herself as she reflected on the events of her meeting with Astor. She had initially been surprised when he stated that he had to reject her because of her gender, as in all of her research, he seemed like a more equal standing man. Fleur suspected that it hadn’t actually been him who read over her application, as she was sure if he read it, she would have been offered a bit more opportunity. As she settled down her thoughts, she laid in her bed, awaiting the day coming. She would be attending Arcadia Academy.

Finally, the day arrived. Putting on her most professional clothes, Fleur made her way to the academy. As she sat down for class, the others stared at her in bewilderment and disbelief. As Astor had said, she was the only female student attending. As the day went on, Fleur persisted bravely. All until her criminal law class. As she raised her hand to answer a question, her professor told her to put her hand down, as she should just sit and listen, not participate. Hearing this, Fleur continued her confident persistence. As a student as capable as anyone else, she was not going to be disrespected. She answered fhe question anyway, getting it perfectly correct. As her professor scowled at her, he was forced to admit she was spot on. Day after day, her educated at Arcadia continued. Time and time again, she would have to prove her standing as an equal student in the classroom, some acts successful and some not. By the end of the first semester, she was known as a force to be reckoned with: Fleur Juste, the only woman at Arcadia Academy, a confident woman who would not accept the intolerance of those around her.

One day, Fleur was walking down the steps of Arcadia to return home after a long day. At the end of the steps, she spotted a man sitting down, his head in his hands. He looked to be poor, his clothes tattered and face dirty. As she stared at him, she noticed the other students as they walked past him with no care, some even making faces at the man. Sitting down beside him, Fleur offered her compassion. “Good afternoon sir, is something the matter?” The man looked up at her. “W-well ma’am, you see—“ He took his ripped hat off of his head and held it gently in front of him. “I was accused of something I didn’t do— and I’m not going to be able to prove myself. I can’t afford a lawyer and they will never believe my word over my accuser’s…” Fleur looked at the man with pity. She sympathized with him, he was someone facing injustice in a world in which he needed to prove himself to. “Well,” she spoke, “My name is Fleur Juste. You’re sitting on the steps of the Arcadia Academy, a law school. I study here. If you could tell me the details of your case, I may be able to try my hardest to defend you”. The man’s face lit up as he began to explain everything, words spilling out of his mouth like water rapidly pouring from a faucet. Fleur listened attentively to every word as she pondered the facts of what he was saying. Just from his testimony, she could tell that there were clear holes in his accuser’s story. The man was being accused of murdering a man of higher status’ wife. As he finished blurting out his words, Fleur offered her help. Happily accepting, the two exchanged addresses so they could write to each other about the coming case. As they were about to part ways, Fleur asked: “Before I take my leave, what is your name? I need to address the letters to someone”. The man, already on his way, called back: “Michael Lapier!”

Over the coming weeks, more information and evidence would be revealed through Michael and Fleur’s letters and meetings. As the facts were presented, Fleur began to consider the case one with a clear cut answer: one of Michael’s innocence. A month after their initial conversation on the steps of Arcadia, a trial date was set: March 17, 1937. Day by day, piece of evidence after peace of evidence, the date grew closer. Soon, it was time for Fleur to be established as Michael’s official lawyer. Despite her confidence, there was some doubt in her. She was not only a woman, but a minor. She knew she wouldn’t be respected on stand, but would she even be allowed in the courtroom? Her mind raced as she brought her fears to her father. As she explained, he said something Fleur would never forget. “So, what are you going to do? You know this man is innocent, and you can do something about it. Your evidence is together and your defense is air tight, any jury with a touch of sanity would take it into account. As an attorney, it is your duty to do everything you can to save this man. It doesn’t matter what you need to do, what matters is that someone’s life is on the line”. Her father was exactly right. She needed to confront this case head on, murder was an offense worthy of the death penalty. If Michael were to be convicted, he would be killed. Fleur needed to act.

As quickly as the entire ordeal began, the day of the trial had already arrived. Bringing along her prepared evidence and a terrified Michael Lapier, Fleur stepped into the courtroom with her usual confident demeanor. The event seemed to be a spectacle, with people from all over the community watching from the stands, Fleur recognized a few students from Arcadia, but someone stood out the most: Mr. Astor. As Fleur stepped up to the podium, he gave her a respectful nod. Taking her seat, a man in the jury hollered: “You’re kidding me, you’re KIDDING ME! This WOMAN is going to be defending this scumbag?! HAH-! IF ANYONE THOUGHT HE EVEN HAD A SLIGHT CHANCE BEFORE WE SAW ALL THIS, YOU’D BETTER BE-“ The judge slammed down his gavel, silencing the entire room in an instant. Fleur was unfazed, she had been through situations like this before. The judge was a bored looking old man who spoke as if he hadn’t slept in years. “Miss… Juste, was it? Are you qualified to be here? How old are you? You understand that women aren’t supposed to act as attorneys, don’t you?” Fleur took a deep breath. At the time of the trial, she was 17 years old. She couldn’t say this, however. Michael needed defense, and she was going to be the one to provide it. Nobody else would, this was his only chance to be saved. Amidst the snickering courtroom, Fleur spoke firmly and held her head high. “Your honor, I am 19 years old. I am a student at Arcadia Academy and I WILL be defending my client here today”. From the crowd, Astor furrowed his brow. Fleur had lied about her age. The judge rolled his eyes and sighed. “Alright, ok”. He uninterestedly hit down the gavel, officially beginning the trial.

The prosecution was made up of a stern looking man as well as Michael’s accuser, a man of higher status named Frank Birch. The trial started out with loose evidence that Michael was the murderer of Birch’s wife. Seeing the clear holes, Fleur objected, refuting all of their evidence near perfectly. Awhile she was granted the seemingly luxurious opportunity to state her case without interruption, she was soon subjected to what she expected was going to happen this entire time. The man leading the prosecution looked directly at the judge, his words cutting Fleur like a thousand knives. “Your honor, what credibility is there to any objection just made against my evidence? This is a woman going against me, one who seems to believe herself to be smart enough to refute every fact I just provided. I understand she said she studies at Arcadia, your honor, and believe that I have no ill intention when I say this, but how can we be so sure of this seemingly random WOMAN’S testimony? For all we know, she could be a lowly harlot defending this poor man out of what, fear? Love? Women aren’t even supposed to be in this courtroom. I pity her”. As Fleur argued back in disbelief, proving her status as a qualified lawyer when she was interrupted by the boom of the banging gavel. The entire trial went on in this discriminatory manner, with Fleur’s right to her defense of Michael being called into question more than the prosecution’s hole filled evidence. By the end of the trial, once the jury had left to vote, the crowd was yet again snickering. Fleur and Michael looked at each other in disbelief of what they had just witnessed as Fleur promised she would try her hardest for an appeal if what seemed like the inevitable were to really happen.

Not even an hour later, the jury returned as the judge read out the verdict. Guilty. Despite the concrete evidence proving him innocent, Michael Lapier was charged with the murder of Frank Birch’s wife, warranting the death penalty. Fleur was in shock. The court was about to sentence an innocent man to death all because they couldn’t handle the thought of a woman proving them wrong. For the first time in her career, she teared up. She felt sick as she pleaded with the judge to reconsider, all until she felt a hand on her shoulder. A somber, but smiling Michael gently spoke to her. “Miss Juste, I’m real grateful for what you did for me here today. You did amazing and it’s— it’s not your fault. Please Mis— Fleur, never give up. You’re an excellent lawyer, ma’am”. As Michael began to be led out in handcuffs, Fleur felt her knees getting weak. An innocent man was going to die— because of her. If she had found Michael a different attorney, a male one, perhaps, he would have lived. As the court was let out, she fell to her knees at the bottom of the steps, assuming the same very position she had found Michael in that day outside of Arcadia. As she put her head in her hands, just as he did, she heard a familiar voice. “You did a fine job, miss Juste”. She looked up, her once sharp eyes filling with tears. It was Astor offering her words of little comfort as he left with the rest of the crowd.

That night, Fleur couldn’t sleep. She was a lawyer: someone who was meant to uphold justice, and she had lead an innocent man to his death. She blamed herself entirely, believing that his death could have been prevented if it weren’t for her. She was consumed by guilt. She was the very opposite of what she fought to be. In the dead of night, she snuck out to a long, winding, rushing river. She knew what she was going to do, if she was going to obstruct justice, then she would make it right. In that river, the aspiring attorney Fleur Juste was going to commit suicide. As she once again felt her knees growing weak, her guilty mind beckoning her into the rushing water, she heard the deep, commanding voice of a woman behind her. Fleur Juste was not going to die that night. As she slowly turned around to face the owner of the voice, she threw herself into something much more fulfilling than a watery grave. In the dead of night, by that lonely river, the Shi of Justice would be born.

[darling-series]

ROSALYN’S STORIES ~ LEECHES

[darling-series]

SHI BACKSTORIES #7 ~ KIЯAI KOKORO

-.-- --- ..- / -.. .. -.. -. .-..-. - / - .... .. -. -.- / -.-- --- ..- / -.-. --- ..- .-.. -.. / .-.. . .- ...- . / -- . / .- .-.. --- -. . / ..-. --- .-. . ...- . .-. --..-- / -.. .. -.. / -.-- --- ..- ..--.. / -- -.-- / -.. .- .-. .-.. .. -. --. --..-- / .-- . / .-- . .-. . / -- . .- -. - / - --- / -... . / - --- --. . - .... . .-. .-.-.- / -.-- --- ..- / .-- . .-. . / -- . .- -. - / - --- / -.. .. . / .-- .. - .... / -- . .-.-.-

*****, -.-- --- ..- / .- .-. . / -- .. -. .

???

[darling-series]

SHI BACKSTORIES #6 ~ LENORE LOCKLEARE

TW: Religious trauma, abuse

Lenore Lockleare was raised in a wildly religious household consisting of just her and her parents. As her parents believed that is was god’s will to have as many children as possible, Lenore was intended to have many siblings. However, the pair were unable to have any more than her.

Lenore’s family was deeply religious. Everything in her life revolved around god. Everyday, it was constant prayer. Anytime she did something wrong in the eyes of her parents, she was physically abused and forced to “repent”. Nearly everything in her life was a sin to be repented. “In the name of god”, she was forced to follow an incredibly strict life style. She couldn’t cut her hair, show any skin that wasn’t her hands, neck, or face, display any sort of non-pencil straight posture, or show any intense emotion. All of these things would lead to abuse and a session of repent. She wasn’t even allowed to go to school, as her parents didn’t want Lenore gaining any outside influence that would “lead her off the path of god”.

Lenore dreaded her inevitable sessions of repent. In one, she would be forced onto her knees as one of her parents, usually her father, stood behind her. As she would frantically pray, she would be beaten. She would only be allowed to stop when she got through an hour worth of prayer all whilst being abused. If she screamed or cried, she would be yelled at and forced to start over. Because of this, Lenore grew up never showing much emotion, which in her parent’s eyes, was disgusting as “a lady should always have a pleasant demeanor, not this lack of care”.

Lenore only had one escape from her abuse: the local library. Whenever she could, she would go there and read for hours. The fantasy she indulged in was her only outlet into the real world. For hours, she would sit on the library floor and read until it closed. However, this was Lenore’s secret to keep. She generally wasn’t allowed in any public, especially not the library. To her parents, what she read would “lead her off the path of god”. Because of this, Lenore would lie to her parents and say she was going to their local church.

As the years went by, Lenore was mentally freed of her parents’ beliefs. She was the farthest thing from a religious person. In her parents’ eyes, she was a sinner. She indulged in literary fantasy, wanted to lead a life of her own, and even showed interest in women as opposed to men. One day, in a somewhat reckless decision, Lenore obtained a journal. There, she would write about all of her thoughts, her will to get away from religion, her desires in life, and her will to end up with a woman. If this journal was ever to be found, it couldn’t even be imaged what would have happened to Lenore. So, she hid it in the most secret part of her room: a false bottom to one of her nightstand drawers with a hidden compartment underneath. If one was to lift a certain hidden object, the compartment would be revealed and the journal could be accessed. Lenore had some confidence that this would keep it safe.

One day, after a few months of the journal being hidden, Lenore was at the library that her parents believed was church. Her mother had recently gained suspicion out of what seemed like nowhere that Lenore was straying from her family’s “pure, godly ways”. Because of this, she decided to search her room. Place after place, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. All until her hand brushed a suspicious looking object in Lenore’s nightstand drawer. She tried to pick it up, only for the entire bottom of the drawer to lift up, revealing the journal. Her mother looked through it and read the entire thing, word for word. Lenore’s beliefs and desires were now out.

That evening, Lenore returned home to find her parents awaiting her by the door. Quicker than she could react, she was grabbed by the shoulder and thrown into the wall. She didn’t even have a chance to close the door. Her father’s booming screams filled the room as she was severely reprimanded. While it was never stated what she did, Lenore knew this reaction could only mean one thing: they found the journal. As she was beaten and screamed at, she got a desperate idea. The front door still wasn’t closed. She could run. Just then, Lenore managed to slip out of her father’s grasp and bolt out the front door, running as far as she could. Her house was in a relatively secluded area. In front of it lead to a small town housing places such as the library while whine it housed a deep forest. She thought about running to the library, but her parents knew their way around town. They would find her eventually. In a split second decision, she raced around her house and into the woods with her father trailing close behind her. Throughout thorns, brush, and endlessly twisting trees, she avoided his grasp, never once stopping. After what seemed like forever, she had lost him. She was alone in the woods, or so she thought. The tall, slim figure of a lady with horns greeted her, sitting on a fallen log. In that deep patch of forest, the Shi of Resilience would be born.

[darling-series]

SHI BACKSTORIES #5 ~ RIMI UTA

TW: Abuse, accidental murder, mentions of suicide

Rimi Uta was an only child. When she was very very young, she watched her mother scroll through the channels on the family tv. As the channels went by, one caught Rimi’s eye. She urged her mother to stop as she got close to the screen, where the live footage of an idol concert was playing. As Rimi’s face lit up, she knew exactly what her dream was: she wanted to become an idol, one that would make people as happy as that fated broadcast made her.

Rimi’s parents were supportive of her dream. She took vocal lessons and dance classes, everyday practicing to be just like the idols she saw online. When she was just 14, she began to apply to idol agencies. Rejection after rejection, Rimi never gave up hope. Her entire life would change when she auditioned to Starstruck, the agency owned by the serious, business savvy Viktor Lazarus. Recognizing her incredible talent, Lazarus personally took Rimi under his wing to put her out there as the ultimate idol. From that day, Rimi’s life would change forever.

Soon after signing to Starstruck, Rimi held her first concert with the intense professional marketing of Lazarus. Despite her nervousness, she seemed to effortlessly catch the crowd’s attention. In the coming months, Rimi’s dreams would come true: she was an idol. With her flashy visuals and glittering voice, she was adored by her fans, being referred to as the “angel idol”. As time passed by, she would become the most popular idol in all of Farras. Everything seemed perfect— from the outside.

As Rimi climbed to fame, Lazarus became more aggressive. Every slight “mistake” she made would result in physical abuse. Nearly every show would result in a new collection of bruises covering her body. Her entire staff knew, but they couldn’t say anything. The only person she could confide in was her right hand employee, Marie. On the rare occasion Lazarus had to take off, Marie was Rimi’s stand in manager. As much as she wanted to speak up, she knew she could never, Lazarus was very rich and powerful. With what seemed like a flick of his wrist, he could blacklist anyone from any potential job. Despite the constant abuse, Rimi stayed resilient. She was determined to bring hope and joy to her audience, no matter what got in her way. As long as she could still make people happy, everything was worth it. No matter how broken she was, she would never give up her hope to lift others up.

One day, Rimi held an after show meet and greet. Fan after fan, she shook hands and gave smiles, all under the sharp watch of Lazarus. Everything proceeded as normal until a pair of girls came before her. One had long black hair, piercing blue eyes, and a smile that never seemed to come off of her face. The other had long pink hair and stood close to the other with a serious expression. She would mumble unintelligible things to her counterpart frequently. The girl with the black hair shook Rimi’s hand and spoke. “My, you’re Rimi Uta aren’t you? I’m not from around here, but I’ve seen your picture all over these streets~” Just then, she did something that shook Rimi to her core. Her long, slender fingers rolled up Rimi’s glove, revealing bruises and cuts from her abuse at the hands of Lazarus. As Rimi stared at the girl in terror, she giggled. “It’s alright, my name is Lucillia. Don’t forget that, alright~?” Just as quickly as she arrived, she turned around and left. As the two began to exit, the girl with the pink hair looked back at Rimi with a concerned yet comforting expression on her face. Rimi was left stunned and confused, sitting there helplessly as Lazarus gave her a look that stabbed her like a thousand knives.

As the meet and greet ended, Lazarus dragged Rimi into a backroom. She knew what was going to happen. As Lazarus was much larger and stronger than her, he picked her up by her collar and pinned her against the wall. His deep, threatening voice slithered out as he commanded her to meet him at the top of the Starstruck building the next evening to discuss what had happened that day. Rimi, terrified, agreed as he slammed her down, leaving her in her ever familiar tears as she awaited the inevitable.

As she arrived home that day, she took off her gloves and changed into something more comfortable. She threw her clothes in the wash and laid down on her bed, still shaking from what had happened that day. Her mind raced with confusion. Who were those girls? Why did the one tell her her name? Rimi clutched her ears in an attempt to make the thoughts stop. Curling up tightly in her bed, she eventually fell asleep.

The next day’s evening, Rimi was tense. She had worn the gloves she washed yesterday, as if anyone recognized her in public, she did not want another to see the wounds on her hands. She made her way to the rooftop of Starstruck’s main building to meet with a furious Lazarus. As the sun melted into the skyline in a warm, now nauseating sunset, Lazarus spoke. At first he was stern, but he soon turned to screaming. He screamed at Rimi for what had happened, for letting someone find out about his abuse towards her. Rimi stood there, holding in her tears the best she could. She had done this many times before. As quickly as Lazarus started yelling, he began getting physical. He struck Rimi in her stomach, causing her to lean forward in pain. As he went back for another hit, Rimi reacted out of instinct. She pushed him back in self defense, shoving hard enough to make him topple over. Rimi had pushed too hard. As Lazarus found himself losing his balance, he tried desperately to grab on to the tall fence surrounding the roof. However, he was not quick enough. Viktor Lazarus fell off the roof of the Starstruck building, being killed instantly by the hard concrete below.

Rimi stood in shock, she had just killed Lazarus. It was an accident out of self defense, but Rimi was still shaken to her core. In her frantic panic, she ran as fast as she could out of the building. She would not be seen by anyone, as it was late and past closing hours. She sprinted into the allies of Farras, alone and terrified. As she fell to her knees, burying her head into her arms, she heard a familiar voice. “Hey, are you alright?” Tears rolling down her face, she looked up. It was the girl with the pink hair from the meet and greet. She bent down to face Rimi. “Don’t be afraid, I know how you feel. I— well, we, know what happened. You don’t need to worry anymore”. As Rimi stared at the girl in confusion, another familiar figure came out from a corner. It was the girl who had rolled up Rimi’s glove. “Rimi Uta, I see your will is strong, stronger than most others. That hope in you… it never dies out. You don’t have to suffer anymore. Come with me, Rimi”, she gently said. In that alleyway, the Shi of Hope would be born.

Within around an hour, the police found Lazarus’ body on the sidewalk. In the following days, an autopsy would be performed. Nothing suspicious was found on him. To rule out the suspicion of foul play, they asked people closest to him about the circumstances of his death. About a week later, his death would officially be ruled a suicide. The most influential testimony, that of his wife’s, stated that he had struggled with depression and often drank when he arrived home from work.

Nobody ever knew what happened, nobody besides Rimi, the Shis, and Anden. Rimi had worn her freshly washed gloves, there was no indication she had touched Lazarus and no record of their meeting that day.

[darling-series]

Happy Pride Month from Darling~!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As a lesbian creator who draws a bunch of magical lesbians, happy pride~!!

(While we’re here… just gonna mention that Fleur and Lenore are a canon couple~)

[darling-series]

SHI BACKSTORIES #4 ~ LUCKY KLEEBLATT

TW: Abuse, substance abuse, death

Lucky Kleeblatt, named Mia Kleeblatt, was born to a small family of only herself and her parents. As she grew up, her parents never kept it a secret that she wasn’t meant to be born. The two never paid any real attention to Lucky, and when they did, it was filled with screaming and on occasion, physical abuse. On days where she saw “weird things” around the house, she would try her best to avoid her parents. When those were out, the two became more violent than usual.

For her entire life, Lucky was terrified of her household. Her only escape was her school, as it was the only place in her life where she was truly safe. On her way back from school, she would always stop for every clover field she came across to look for four leaf clovers. Sometimes, she would even walk to places far away to find more fields. The more time she spent there, the less time she would have to spend in her house. She would search until the sun went down and it got dark. By then, she would be too afraid to stay outside by herself and would eventually make her way home. On days Lucky would find a four leaf clover, she would walk home with what little happiness she could have. To her, a four leaf clover meant that the day would be a lucky one, one where her parents would leave her alone. Maybe if she found enough, they would finally love her.

One day, Lucky was taking her usual walk home. This time, she had wandered much farther than usual. While she knew her way around her area of town, she was nearly half an hour away from her house. All was worth it, however. Lucky had found a large clover field she had never seen before. She got down and searched for four leaf clovers for hours until the sun began to set. With a bright smile, she looked at what she had found that day: 8 clovers, much more than she had ever found before. For what seemed like the first time in her entire life, she walked home beaming, her hands filled with her clovers. By the time she got home, it was pitch black outside.

Lucky happily skipped up to the steps to her house and opened the door. In her joy, she hadn’t realized that the door was already unlocked. She swung open the door and squinted, closing her eyes in fear. She had opened it hard, causing it to make a loud creak. She shivered, expecting the noise to alert her parents. She stood for nearly two minutes expecting screaming but it never came. The house was silent. Lucky finally opened her eyes, confused. Her mother sloppily laid on the couch, one arm hanging off of it. Her father laid on the floor. This wasn’t out of the ordinary for Lucky, her parents seemed to always fall asleep in any place besides their bed. She quietly walked to her room, placing her clovers on her dirty nightstand. Pulling her worn covers over her, she slowly fell asleep.

The next morning was a Saturday. Lucky didn’t like weekends, they meant no school and no escape from her house. Usually, she awoke to the sound of arguing or screaming. This morning however, the house was silent. Lucky got out of bed and peaked around her doorframe, her parents were still asleep in the same positions they were in the night before. She looked behind her at the clovers she found the evening before, maybe this really was her lucky day. She quietly opened the front door and made her way around the blocks of Farras, searching for more fields.

Again, Lucky arrived back home as nightfall seeped in. She quietly opened the door to find her parents in the same positions they were in that morning and the night before. This time, she was concerned. She walked into the living room to look at them. She gently touched her mother’s hand as it slung over the edge of the couch. It was cold. She felt her father’s arm, it was cold. There were bottles and needles unknown to Lucky strewn throughout the living room. She started to shake both of her parents, nothing. Even though they were nothing short of terrible to her, she still felt herself begin to cry. All she ever wanted was a normal family, and now they were gone. She would never have the family that she so craved.

She sobbed and ran out of her house, sprinting aimlessly down every block she could until she found herself in a familiar place, the clover field from Friday evening. Tears in her eyes, she looked up as her gaze met that of a tall, eerie lady with sharp eyes. However, she reached out her arms for Lucky. Despite not knowing anything about this strange woman, she ran into her arms, being met with a comforting embrace. While Lucky didn’t know it quite yet, in that very clover field, the Shi of Luck would be born.

[darling-series]

SHI BACKSTORIES #3 ~ ALINA WIECZNY

TW: Medical abuse, mentions of vomiting/poisoning

Alina Wieczny ended up with a small family. When she was two years old, her father left her mother, leaving the two alone. Around the time her father left, she was supposed to have a sister. The child did not make it.

While Alina seemed to begin to lead a normal life, the same could not be said for her mother. Over the years, she tried many desperate attempts to get her husband back, all failing. She was alone and miserable. When Alina was about seven, her mother decided that all would change. It started at nights without dinner. On nights Alina would eat, her food would always be a hint too salty while her drinks tasted off. Being young and unaware, she didn’t question it. For a few months, this continued. Tastes outside of salt became a delicacy to Alina. One night, she awoke in the middle of the night, nauseous like never before. Attempting to get out of bed, she fell to the floor and vomited. As she looked up, she saw her mother standing in her doorway, all of the lights in the house still off. Her figure seemed eerie, like a thin, twisted tree in a patch of ordinary forest. As Alina started to feel weak, her eyes closed. She woke up the next morning in her bed as if nothing had happened the night before.

In the following months, vomiting would become commonplace for Alina. She could feel her small, frail body becoming weaker as her meals became saltier and less frequent. This is where the hospital visits started. As she was admitted for the first time at eight years old, she was suffering from weakness, vomiting, and intense thirst. Her mother, seeming terrified, explained to the doctors that all of the sudden, her poor little girl hadn’t been eating and would throw up most of what she managed to get her to consume. The doctors tested Alina for all sorts of things, everything coming back negative. In an attempt to get her weak body to consume the nutrients it so desperately needed, they put her on a feeding tube. For a few weeks, Alina would remain in the hospital, her condition slowly improving. Eventually, she would be discharged.

A few months later, Alina’s mother returned in a panic with a yet again weak and frail Alina. This time, her symptoms had worsened with additional confusion. As the doctors checked her yet again, everything seemed normal. They put her on a feeding tube for a second time as they continued to try and determine the cause of Alina’s condition. The doctors tested for everything they could think of, but again, nothing. Alina was seemingly normal. Nobody could figure out what was wrong with her. A few weeks later, to the dismay of Alina’s mother, Alina was discharged yet again.

This became routine. Vomit, weakness, thirst, confusion, hospital visit, feeding tube. Nobody knew the cause, except for Alina’s mother. All Alina could taste was salt. She was being starved and force fed dangerous amounts of salt. When she was given food, it would be coated in salt. When she was not eating, salt would be forced down her throat. In secret, when she was on a feeding tube, salt would be poured into it. Enough to make her incredibly sick, but never enough to kill her. This is not what Alina’s mother wanted to happen, she wanted her daughter to be sick. When Alina would inevitably be admitted to the hospital, her mother would play the role of the helpless, concerned mother watching her young daughter waste away before her eyes. In reality, this was all her fault. There was a void in her life. She was lonely. She needed something, anything. Alina was her tool.

As the years passed, it only got worse. As her weak body could barely handle any more salt, she began to experience muscle spasms and seizures. Because of this, when she was fifteen years old, she was admitted to the hospital full time for around the clock care where the doctors could observe her everyday to finally find the cause of her ailment. No matter what any doctor did, what test they ran, how long they sat in her hospital room, her abuse never stopped. Alina’s tongue seemed permanently tainted with the sickening taste of salt. She was angry and afraid, she felt as if it was obvious what was happening to her, but nobody could seem to open their eyes and see it. She wanted to speak out, but she couldn’t. Her mother was always there. She was not going to let her tool be gone, not after all of the years.

On good days, Alina would have enough strength to walk around the hospital. As a long time resident, she was known by the staff and allowed to do this with permission. Every time she walked, one room would always catch her eye. It never had a patient in it. By the empty bed was a window that was left open near constantly. She would stop and stare. Alina often found herself lost in thought, if she could just make it through that window… The hospital was in a relatively reclusive part of town. Behind it were steep hills with a soft tree line. Alina thought long and hard. If she had enough strength, she could probably make it up one of those hills. Her abuse was not going to stop on its own. There was never an end in sight. If no one would end it for her, Alina would end it for herself.

Alina had made her decision. She had nothing left to lose. For a few days, she asked the doctors remove her mother from the room. Each time, they obliged. Her mother was enraged, but eventually she had to go home. She couldn’t stay in the halls of the hospital for days on end, she needed to take care of something somewhere else eventually. On the third night alone, Alina gathered what minuscule amount of strength she had to walk. She made her way to that always empty room, wishing like never before that that window would be open as usual. It was. She looked around, this was it. She was as quiet as possible as she weakly moved the window a bit farther up, managing to squeeze her frail body through. Once out, she wasted no time moving as fast as she could to the hills. When she arrived, climbing up them was a challenge. She kept falling over, each time picking herself back up. This would be the end. She was never going to go back. Frail and shaking, she made her way to the top. As she barely stood up, a deep voice gently called to her.

On the top of those hills, the Shi of Happiness would be born.

[darling-series]

SHI BACKSTORIES #2 ~ CORA ANTHIZO

Cora Anthizo was born into a relatively normal family. It was just her, her mother, her father, and her little sister, Lydia. Her parents never paid much attention to their children, often leaving Cora and Lydia to their own devices. In her over abundance of spare time, Cora would research all sorts of animals, particularly bugs.

In any sort of social situation, Cora was an outcast. The other children at the school she attended would avoid her at all costs, some even going as far as to bully her. Even amidst her parents’ neglect and her peers’ avoidance, Cora stayed content. To her, this was not the worst situation she could be in. Plus, she had Lydia. Lydia was the only person who truly cared for Cora. The two were extremely close, spending their days together when Cora wasn’t off researching.

Behind the siblings’ suburban house was a large forest that the two constantly found themselves in. One day, Cora was jotting down notes about a butterfly she saw on a leaf when Lydia tugged at her sleeve. Grabbing her sister’s attention, she pointed behind her into the vast forest. Confused, Cora asked what was there, as she saw nothing. Lydia, holding back a smile, told her about a tall lady who was standing there, watching them. According to her, the lady did not seem malicious, but stood with a smile. Hearing this, Cora brought Lydia inside for the day.

In the following days, the memory of the lady became faint as the two began to continue their ventures in the woods. All until one night. As Cora was tucking Lydia into bed, she looked up at her. Lydia, with a huge smile on her face, told Cora that she had once again seen the lady in the woods. This time, she spoke. Her voice was deep and commanding, yet gentle and friendly. She was intrigued by Cora. In response, Cora told her sister to stop interacting with the lady and said goodnight, making sure all of the curtains in the house are shut. That night, Cora laid in her bed, unable to sleep. Her mind was racing. Who was this lady in the woods? Why was she so interested in her specifically? Was this lady even real, or just Lydia’s wild imagination? She couldn’t take it anymore. She got out of bed and stood at the tree line, staring into the darkness. All of the sudden, a voice… deep yet gentle. Cora felt a shiver down her spine as it asked her to come closer. Barely being able to move her feet, the figure of a woman appeared before her. She was tall and somber, her thin yet assertive figure looking down upon Cora like an owl observing its prey. However, her eyes were soft. She spoke gently to Cora, telling her to not be afraid, she posed no threat. Shaking where she stood, Cora managed to mutter out a question “W-who are you…?” The lady smiled and bent down to Cora’s height. She explained clearly and softly: she was Luciferia Andenia, queen of the hollow kingdom of Anden. She had found Cora particularly intriguing, her will was strong and pure.

Luciferia smiled warmly at Cora, reaching out her hand for the still startled girl. She beckoned her to not be alarmed. Against her better judgement, Cora let her curiosity get the better of her and took her hand as the two began to slowly make their way into the forest. As they did, Luciferia continued to explain. Recently, the threat of “leeches” had grown stronger, and she needed more defense to protect humans like Cora. Suspicious, Cora asked question after question, to which Luciferia answered each with her same gentle demeanor. Still suspicious, yet very curious, Cora asked her final question: “How do I know you’re telling the truth? Why do you expect me to trust you?” Luciferia yet again bent down and smiled, guiding Cora’s hand to her horns, something Cora’s mind seemed to have gloss over at the sight of this mysterious lady. “These are real, are they not? When have you seen a sur— human with horns such as these?” Cora stopped, puzzled. Just then, the two heard a sudden rustling behind them.

Luciferia’s gentle eyes sharpened as a long, slithering, tentacle-like creature came out from a tree. It was pitch black and erratic, moving towards the pair. In what seemed like an instant, Luciferia reached out her arm, using a brightly lit power unknown to Cora to eradicate the creature. It writhed as it fell not onto, but into the ground where it disappeared. Breathless, Cora looked up at Luciferia for an explanation. “That was a leech, do you believe me now, miss Cora?” Cora nodded her head. There was no way what she could have seen was anything normal. Her eyes softening again, Luciferia began to speak: “The leeches are not going to stop their ascent on their own. They are erratic and ravenous, and I have no doubt that without more help, their threat will continue to escalate. There are other girls like you, Cora. I need you to consider something very important, could you do that for me?” She bent down. “Come with me. You can save your people, the people you care about. Unguarded life cannot last forever, I have experienced it myself. If you choose to come with me, you will become a Shi, a guardian of the surface. Alongside 5 others, you will fight against the leeches to save this world. I can guarantee your safety”. She stood back up. “This is something special, Cora. Your will is strong, you will make a fine Shi. If you choose to accept my offer, come back into the woods, alone”.

Cora was shocked. What was she talking about? She thought it through, these leeches are coming for her people, the ones she cares about, and if she goes with Luciferia then she will be able to fight against them. …Plus, she wouldn’t be alone, would she? She was told there were 5 others. Her curiosity was going wild. Ashe asked Luciferia one final question, would she be able to see Lydia again? Luciferia’s brow furrowed. “I cannot guarantee that. However, I can guarantee her safety. With another Shi, the threat of the leeches would decrease, and people such as your sister would not be at risk”.

Arriving home, Cora laid flat on her bed, mind racing. She could protect her sister, but at the cost of possibly not being able to see her anymore. She thought it over, long and hard. Was this going to be worth it? She saw what she saw in the woods, that leech, Luciferia…

Three days later, Lydia awoke in the middle of the night. She made her way to Cora’s room, seeking comfort and help getting back to sleep. To her confusion, her sister was nowhere to be found. She examined her bed, only to find a note in Cora’s handwriting.

“Lydia, I don’t know when I’ll see you again, but I need you to trust me on this, alright? Now listen, or well, read. I’m going somewhere you can’t follow me. But, I’m not abandoning you, I can promise you that. With all of my being Lydia, I would never abandon you. I’m going to a place where I can keep you safe. People like you don’t know it but— there’s danger. Lots of it. And I’m going to protect you. Don’t cry, Lydia. Don’t think of this as a goodbye, more like an ‘I’ll see you later!’, alright? Trust me, things are going to work out. You’re smart and strong Lydia. I have no doubts in my mind that you’ll turn out fine! Anytime you miss me, just remember this: I’m always with you. Im always going to be out there, keeping you safe, even though you can’t see me. This isn’t goodbye Lydia, I love you more than anything!”

[darling-series]

SHI BACKSTORIES #1 ~ LI JIHUI

Li Jihui was born into the wealthy Jihui family, consisting of her mother Maxine, her father Xiao, and eventually her younger brother Sheng. For generations, the family ran the Jihui Casino in Farras. Being the most popular in the area, it would not only bring in many people, but vast amounts of money. Li, being the oldest (and most responsible), was set to inherit ownership after her parents. Starting at a young age, she worked around the casino in dealing cards and cleaning around. When she was trusted enough, she could even make drinks. For her entire life, the Jihui Casino was her home, where she belonged. Everyday she was raring to go and get to work (much unlike Sheng, who needed to be dragged out of bed most days).

One day, a larger, sophisticated man came in. He played poker for what seemed like an eternity and then left. Soon enough, this became an everyday routine. The man would come in, play, and then leave. This routine broke when he came in with two other men. In what seemed like an instant, these three were winning every game they played, raking in amounts of cash large enough to catch the Jihui family’s attention, and especially, Li’s. She told her father the little information she knew of the men coming in everyday, to which he promised to look into it himself. Li patiently waited and days passed. When nothing had changed and the men continued to win every game, she finally asked her father what he had done. To her suspicion, he sat her down and gave her a very serious warning. He made it clear that the family was to stay out of the way of the men, and that eventually they may leave. Despite suspicion ruling over her mind, Li chose to stay silent. If her father was so sure of this, maybe things would work out. After all, Xiao Jihui was not a man who gave in easily.

Day after day, the men came in, won every game, and left, pockets brimming with cash. Still, however, Li obeyed her father. All until one of the casino’s business started plummeting. The regulars stopped coming in and any tourists in the area left with anger. What had happened? There was no way the reputable, professional Jihui Casino could possibly suffer an immense, steady decline such as this one. Nothing had changed had it? The men. Li, watching business get worse day after day, decided to go against her family.

The next time the men sat down, Li watched them carefully. She had grown up around gamblers and professionals alike, she knew the poker like the back of her hand and with this, something was not right. She watched game after game, until finally, she found it. The men were cheating, every game. A method subtle enough to the seasoned, but not enough to someone like Li. Now knowing this, she once again approached her father. Determined to save her casino, she told him everything he knew, surely he would be able to do something, right? He snapped. Xiao aggressively reiterated: the family was to stay out of the business of those men no matter what they do. Hearing this, Li felt something inside her snap too. She could not let this happen anymore. Her casino was consistently losing business and her father would not listen to her. She stormed off, coming up with a plan.

The mystery around these men was strong but Li’s determination was stronger. The next day, the routine continued. The men came in and sat down with what little players there were left. At the end of the night, Li approached the main man and gave him a challenge. If he could beat her at Poker, then him and his men would get what declining fortune the Jihuis had all to themselves. If she won, the men would all leave and never return. Seeing this young girl so confident she could beat him, the man smugly accepted. There was no way she could know their methods— or so they thought. The game began, they cheated, but Li knew better. In a stark turn of events, she won. The man was at a loss for words. But, a deal was a deal, yes? Li asserted her authority as a Jihui and attempted to ensure the men lived up to their side of the deal. Seeing this, they were enraged. The main man banged on the table and screamed at Li. There was no way he was letting the fortune him and his men were getting from the casino slip out of their fingers at the hands of a 16 year old girl. He was mad, violent, and aggressive. Suddenly, he reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a gun, pointing it straight at Li, seeing this, she ran, her determination still stronger than ever. She flew behind a counter where she picked up something she was told never to even consider going near: her father’s handgun. She leaped up, her and the man now in a tense stand-off. As he tried to run towards her, she shot. He fell to the floor, the shot was fatal. With their partner the other two men ran for it. Li had done it. She had gotten rid of the men, but at what cost? She never intended to do this. She knew it was in self defense, but she ran. She ran as far away from the casino as she could, into the dark atmosphere of the Farras night. Alone and afraid, she would be found by Luciferia Andenia. A girl with determination as strong as this was fit for a Shi, no? Lifting her from her despair, Luciferia took in the newly birthed Shi of Determination: Li Jihui.

Following the incident, Li still returned to the casino. Her family, while terrified, welcomed her back with open arms. She risked her life for their business and was forced to kill in self defense. In the coming months, things went up. The Jihuis adjusted back into their life, the other two men were arrested for charges involving what made them so dangerous to deal with, business went back up, and Li started her secret life as a Shi. To this day, Li is one of the only Shis to remain in contact with her life outside of Desiderium, never losing that passion for her family and their casino.

[darling-series]

?

[darling-series]

ROSALYN’S STORIES ~ ANDENIAN MAGIC

Enjoy more lore!!