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taeu7 · 7 months

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"In Tune with Love: You, the Melody of My Heart"

PART 7

Wonwoo was momentarily stunned into silence, the weight of his members' knowing gazes heavy upon him. Clearing his throat, he found his voice, albeit softer than usual. "Look, guys," he began, his plea earnest, "let's keep this a secret for a while. I promised Y/n to respect her decision. Please, help me out this time."

The members exchanged glances, an unspoken agreement passing between them. One by one, they nodded, their loyalty unwavering. "We've got your back," DK affirmed, "We'll keep it under wraps until the right time. No need to rush things and cause a mess."

Seeking to lighten the mood, Mingyu leaned back in his seat, a playful smirk dancing on his lips. "Y/n's a cute girl, but tell us, Wonwoo, who made the first move when you guys started dating?"

Wonwoo's cheeks flushed a shade pinker, but he met Mingyu's gaze with a smile. "I guess I'm the one who fell much harder. It's like I've always liked her, but I was blind to my own heart. I'm the lucky one, to have found someone who makes every moment feel like a favorite song on repeat," he confessed, his words a tender melody to the ears of his friends.

DK let out a low whistle, his eyes wide with surprise. "I never knew Wonwoo hyung could be this romantic," he said, a note of admiration in his voice.

Hoshi clapped Wonwoo on the back, his grin infectious. "Our Wonwoo is the best, isn't he? A true poet at heart," he declared, the pride in his voice unmistakable.

Laughter and light-hearted teasing filled the car, a chorus of brotherhood that echoed long into the night.

Wonwoo returned to his apartment, a rare day off on the horizon. He reached for his phone, his fingers tapping out a message to Y/n.

Wonwoo: Hey, how was your day? Are you free tomorrow? Let’s go on a date.

Y/n: Cool! Finally, we’ll have our time.

Wonwoo: Yes! I’ll pick you up at 9 am.

Y/n: Okay! But where are we going?

Wonwoo: It’s a surprise!

Y/n: Now I’m even more excited. The excitement was a tangible thing, a flutter in her chest that kept sleep at bay. She rose from her bed, pacing the room as she contemplated the perfect outfit for the occasion. Her wardrobe doors swung open, revealing rows of clothes, each piece holding memories and possibilities.

In a burst of inspiration, she reached for her phone again, this time to call her best friend Aera. The face that greeted her on the screen was sleepy but soon brightened with excitement.

Y/n: Babes, help me with the dress. What should I wear for our first date?

Aera: Wow, so you finally made it! When did it happen?

Y/n: I’ll tell you the whole story when we meet. Now, help me with this.

One by one, Y/n held up dresses to the camera, each one a contender for the day that would soon dawn. Aera’s discerning eye was invaluable, her suggestions punctuated with laughter and encouragement.

Finally, they settled on the perfect dress, one that struck the delicate balance between comfort and style, a piece that made Y/n’s heart sing.

Y/n: That’s perfect, I love it too. Thank you! What would I do without you?

Aera: Okay, okay, enough buttering! All the best for your date.

Y/n: Yes!

The call ended, and Y/n laid out the chosen dress, her heart still racing with anticipation. She tried to imagine the day ahead, the places Wonwoo might take her, the conversations they would share. It was all too much, too wonderful, and with a smile lingering on her lips, she finally surrendered to sleep, her dreams a canvas for tomorrow’s promises.

Next morning Wonwoo was already outside, his eyes scanning for Y/n. As she stepped out, the morning light caught in her hair, turning it into a halo around her face. She was a vision of loveliness, her outfit chosen with care—a soft pastel dress that swayed with each step, complemented by a pair of comfortable yet stylish shoes, perfect for a day of adventure.

“Sorry I’m a bit late,” Y/n apologized, her cheeks tinged with pink.

“It’s okay! But you look so pretty,” Wonwoo said, his eyes crinkling with a smile that reached his soul. He reached into the back seat and brought out a neatly packed breakfast. “This is for you, have it,” he said, patting her head with the gentlest of smiles.

“Thank you! You’re the sweetest… Now tell me, where are we going?” Y/n asked, her curiosity piqued as she accepted the breakfast.

“Wait until we arrive…” Wonwoo teased, a playful note in his voice.

As they drove, Wonwoo shared that Mingyu, Hoshi, and DK had discovered their secret, but he assured her that he had handled the situation. Y/n felt a wave of relief wash over her.

“Sorry, Wonwoo, but I promise I’ll look for the right time and tell them about us. I just don’t want to make things awkward between us,” Y/n said, her voice earnest.

“I understand,” Wonwoo replied, squeezing her hand reassuringly while expertly steering the car with the other.

“We’re about to reach,” he announced after a while.

“I guess I know where we are going,” Y/n said, a knowing smile on her lips.

They arrived at their destination—an amusement park! Y/n’s eyes lit up with delight.

“How did you know I always wanted to come here with my boyfriend?” she asked, her voice filled with wonder.

“I think watching too much drama helped,” Wonwoo admitted, touching his hair shyly.

“Awww! Let’s go inside,” Y/n beamed, her excitement palpable.

As they entered the gates, Y/n’s eyes darted around the crowd. “What if people recognize you? This can’t be good,” she fretted.

“No one will, chill! Wearing a mask will help,” Wonwoo reassured her, his confidence soothing her nerves.

“But it would be even better if you disguised as a girl, don’t you think? Like in those dramas,” Y/n teased, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

“Yeah, sure, maybe next time,” Wonwoo laughed, the sound warm and genuine.

They found themselves in a hairband store, surrounded by an array of charming accessories. “Let’s take this couple’s hairband with the cute teddy on it,” Y/n suggested, her voice bubbling with excitement.

“Anything you say,” Wonwoo agreed, his heart full.

Y/n instructed him to lean down, and she placed the hairband on him with the utmost care. “See, you look so cute,” she cooed.

Wonwoo, in turn, helped her wear one. “Uhmmmm, you look even cuter,” he said, his voice soft with affection. The amusement park was alive with the sounds of laughter and the sweet scent of cotton candy in the air. Wonwoo and Y/n found themselves amidst the magic, their hands intertwined as they navigated through the vibrant throngs of people.

They approached the merry-go-round, its lights twinkling like stars in the daylight. Wonwoo helped Y/n onto a painted steed, a gallant knight to her graceful queen. As the music began, a lilting melody, they rode in circles, but to them, it felt like a dance just for two.

Wonwoo: “This feels like a scene from a movie, doesn’t it?”

Y/n: “Yes, a perfect moment frozen in time.”

Their laughter mingled with the carousel’s tune, a perfect harmony to the rhythm of their joy.

After the ride, they wandered, hand in hand, to the ice cream stand. Wonwoo chose chocolate, Y/n butterscotch, and they sat on a nearby bench, sharing bites and stories. The ice cream was sweet, but the looks they shared were sweeter.

Y/n: “I think your chocolate ice cream looks better than mine.”

Wonwoo: “Here, try it,” he said, offering her a spoonful. “Everything tastes better when I’m with you.”

As the day progressed, they captured memories with selfies, their faces close, smiles wide. Each click of the camera was a snapshot of happiness, a keepsake for days to come.

Wonwoo: “We’ll look back at these pictures years from now and remember how perfect today was.”

Y/n: “Let’s make every picture count then,” she said, pulling him close for another photo.

The sun began to dip, casting a golden glow over the park. They found themselves at the top of the Ferris wheel, the world below them a miniature wonderland. The moment was ripe with romance, the kind that fills the pages of novels and the scenes of films.

As the Ferris wheel reached its zenith, Y/n turned to Wonwoo, her eyes reflecting the twinkling lights below. “You know,” she began, a playful seriousness in her tone, “there’s a myth that if you kiss at the top of the Ferris wheel, your love grows stronger and lasts forever.”

Wonwoo looked into her eyes, the soft glow of the sunset bathing them in a gentle light. “Is that so?” he replied, his voice a whisper that only she could hear. “Then I suppose we have to test that myth, don’t we?”

Y/n nodded, her heart beating so fast. As their lips met, the world seemed to stand still, the noise of the amusement park fading into a hushed silence. It was a kiss that spoke of promises and whispered dreams, a seal over their feelings, binding them in the sweetest of spells.

Wonwoo: “If that myth is true, then our love is now unbreakable.”

Y/n: “I think it was already strong, but now… it’s invincible.”

They shared a smile, their connection deepening with the shared secret of the kiss.

The evening had crept upon them, painting the sky in shades of twilight as Wonwoo and Y/n reluctantly decided it was time to leave. The drive home was quiet, a comfortable silence filled with the unspoken wish that the day could stretch on indefinitely.

They reached Y/n’s home, the car’s engine coming to a gentle halt. Outside, under the soft glow of the streetlights, they stood close, the air around them charged with the day’s shared joy. Y/n: “I wish this day would never end,” she murmured, her voice muffled against his chest.

Wonwoo: “I wish that too,” he replied, his arms tightening around her.

In the comfort of their hug, the world around them seemed to stand still—until a familiar voice cut through the moment like a knife.

Jeonghan: “What’s going on here?” he asked, his tone serious, giving them the deadliest of scares. Y/n and Wonwoo sprang apart, their hearts racing from the surprise. Jeonghan stood there, an eyebrow raised in question, the seriousness of his tone belied by the twinkle of amusement in his eyes.

To be continued.......... !

A/n : i hope you guys will like it ! Do drop your feedback ☺️ It inspires me to write better! Thank you ❤️

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krisssssssy · 5 months

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This is technically for Ardyn's birthday on 4/30, but I was too impatient. Give this man a happy ending. I will post the text here, since it's short, but you can read on AO3 via the link above.

Summary: Ardyn wakes after the events of Dawn of the Future, reunited with his beloved.

Audience: Teen and Up

It was the warmth of the sun against his closed eyelids that stirred Ardyn from his slumber.

He blinked his eyes open, the light nearly blinding, as if he had not opened them in a millennia, or more. It hurt, he realized, the harsh rays of what seemed to be a mid-afternoon sun. Yet, it did not hurt as it had once. The scourge beneath his skin was oddly quiet.

As his eyes adjusted, he glanced around, finding himself in a place he often visited in dreams. Fields of golden wheat flanked him on all sides, and a great Linden tree grew marvelously to his right, little yellow buds bursting forth from its leaves. He could smell it - not just the earthy scent of the wheat, but the sunny, honey-fragranced blossoms from the tree. He had forgotten, somehow, what this place smelled like, and it made his heart ache.

In all his dreams, whether set upon him by his own tortured mind, or from the Bladekeeper himself, he had never felt the sun on his face, or breathed in the natural scent of the world around him. This alone motivated him to sit up, anticipating the usual ache of his limbs, the stirring of the scourge in his veins whenever he moved. But there was nothing. He felt, for the first time in how many thousands of years, light. He moved his arm about in front of him, testing the sensation.

A familiar, tinkling laugh flooded his ears, the sound so overwhelming his eyes began to water. He scanned the environment, turning his body with an uncharacteristic ease. The sun behind her cast her frame in shadow, but he recognized her, of course. She was a frequent visitor, though it was difficult, at times, to ascertain whether it was the woman from his memories, or from the Bladekeeper’s dark visions.

“Ardyn,” she called out, drawing out his name on her lips, her voice as carefree and beautiful as he remembered. Sometimes in dreams, her face was but a shadow, or missing entirely, and it caused him great anguish upon waking. But as she grew closer, he saw her, clearer than he could ever remember.

Was this some trick? he pondered. He knew the Gods’ own cruelty too well to trust that such visions would be benevolent, and he eyed her, cautiously, though his heart raced with affection.

She stopped suddenly, setting her hands against her hips, her face set in a scowl. “You cannot greet your fiancée properly?”

Ardyn looked up at her, confused. In all his dreams she had never been like this. He began to laugh, daring for a moment to believe this truly was his beloved.

She made a “hmph” sound, looking away from him for a moment, before she moved towards him once more. “Do you know how long I’ve waited for you, my love?”

She stood above him, hands at her hips, looking as petulant and beautiful as he remembered. She wore her traditional Oracle gown, a white cotton draped delicately over her small frame, golden bangles clinking on her wrists. Her hair was as he remembered, cut short, just above the shoulders, and the same shade of blonde as the linden tree blossoms that were scattered on the grass. Her eyes were a brilliant cerulean, so similar to the eyes he once had, before the scourge had turned them a sickly yellow. My Aera, he thought. His heart felt as if it might burst.

“This is a strange dream,” he said aloud, and Aera huffed, crossing her arms over her chest.

“I know!” she said, excitedly, before kneeling down before him and grabbing his hand.

He looked at his fingers curiously as she held them, no longer adorned by his usual leather gloves, and he realized he was not wearing his usual clothing at all. He had on his old linen shirt, and simple trousers - what he used to wear, however many hundreds of years ago.

He felt a sudden pain radiating from his hand, and he looked in stunned surprise as Aera bit him, her teeth sinking into the flesh of his index finger. In all his many dreams, she had never done that. He gasped, trying to comprehend that what he was feeling was actual pain.

In all the time he had lived with the scourge, his body grew dull to most sensations. Even the harshest pain was like a faint touch, the only sensation, truly, was the one of the scourge writhing within himself. That ached, of course, but the pain of the scourge drowned out everything else, so that even when Noctis had defeated him, even those feelings were overwhelmed by the scourge dancing inside him like an unruly flame.

He furrowed his brow. Noctis had defeated him. So where was he now?

Aera was looking at him expectantly, her teeth still embedded in his finger.

“Is this the Beyond?” he asked, though in truth, it did not look as he remembered.

She released his finger. “No, you silly man. There is no Beyond, not anymore. Don’t you remember?”

He tried to remember. “The Chosen King,” he said slowly. “He killed me.”

Aera flung herself dramatically against the grass beside him, huffing. “You don’t remember anything!”

He smiled at her, despite his confusion. He had forgotten in all this time how endearing she was, how genuine her emotion, the way her eyes seemed to twinkle, an everpresent love and affection always radiating off of her. The true Oracle, he thought. His Oracle.

He reached his hand out to touch hers, so small in comparison, yet when he looked at her, he was in awe of her strength. How much stronger she had always been, compared to him. Did she not realize what he had become?

She looked over to him and smiled, her eyes squinting closed. When she opened them once more, she frowned, seeing the doubt and grief on his face. “This is no place to be sad, my love.”

“Where are we?” he asked, so afraid that if he closed his eyes, he would wake up from this dream, and be cocooned by darkness once more. His eyes watered.

“We are in the realm of possibility,” she said matter-of-factly. “The Chosen King did not kill you, my love. You sacrificed yourself to rid Eos of the Astrals and the Bladekeeper’s tyranny. The Beyond is no more.”

He tried to remember, but it was like trying to recall a dream upon waking, like sand slipping through his fingers. There was a comfort, though, that Aera would remember for him.

She smiled and looked over to him, squeezing his hand. “You are a hero.”

“A hero?” he asked, incredulously. “I am no hero.”

“Ah, Ardyn,” she said wistfully, scooting closer to him and laying her head upon his shoulder. “You took Noctis’s place as the sacrificial King, felt the blades of the 13 before - well, after you, I suppose. To not only dispel the darkness, my love, but to grant Noctis a new life. He succeeded in destroying the Bladekeeper, and that is why you are here now, and not trapped endlessly in the Beyond.”

“You are real,” he said quietly.

She whipped her head up towards him animatedly, her eyes full of a kind of stubborn heat. “I am! And I can bite you again, if you forget.”

He began to weep, unsure why, of all her words, it was these that made him believe. He laughed between his sobs, his chest heaving, and Aera flung herself around him, squeezing him so tightly his breath caught.

He wiped the tears from his face, annoyed that he was crying, because it always stained his face and clothing an ugly purple. But when he looked at his hand it was clear. He wiped it against his white linen shirt, to be sure, but there was no trace of the scourge.

“You no longer have such a curse upon you, my love. You are free.”

“Is this…heaven?” he asked, tentatively, wondering if perhaps the Astrals were simply a microcosm of something even larger - was there a God that existed above the Bladekeeper himself? What remained? Evidently, there was something, and he felt foolish, for all this time believing the Universe to be so narrow.

“You could call it that. But no word can sufficiently define it. I said before, this is the realm of possibility. Where we go from here, my love, is our choice.”

“I want to stay here, with you,” Ardyn said, firmly. Aera grinned at him, and shoved him back onto the grass, pushing on his chest. She straddled him, her face mischievous, and he simply gazed up at her awestruck by her beauty. How had he forgotten?

“You are still plagued with regret,” she said.

Ardyn was silent for a moment. “Yes,” he agreed.

“It’s only natural,” she said simply, “But you must understand, my love, the slate can be wiped clean. You are you, now, truly. My Ardyn.”

“I…I will try. I put my faith into you, entirely,” he said, looking upon his fiancée with reverence.

She smiled. “You are wise to do so,” she said teasingly. “We have an eternity, my love. The memories of your time enveloped in darkness are already fading.”

“What have I done to deserve such an afterlife?”

“It is as all creatures deserve. Someday we will dissolve back into the Source, to be remade, anew.”

He did not truly understand, tears still spilling from the corners of his eyes. Aera’s gentle fingers brushed them off his cheeks, and she leaned down, placing a soft kiss against his lips.

Why had he ever left her? he thought, returning her kiss, threading his hand through her golden hair. In the time before Angelgard, he had sought to rid the world of the scourge, entirely by himself, leaving Aera alone. Now the thought seemed utterly mad. He could not leave her side, now.

“I love you,” he said, the words bursting forth as if by reflex, forceful and intense.

Aera giggled, pressing her forehead to his. “I have loved you always, and I will love you always still.”

She rolled off of him to lay on her side, facing him, her hand coming to his cheek. Ardyn slipped an arm over her waist, pulling her body into his, breathing in her fresh, floral smell, the scent of sylleblossoms flooding his senses. It calmed him, whatever sorrow and regret he felt before fading in her presence.

“She who moves Heaven and Earth,” Ardyn said softly, remembering the verse from the Cosmogony.

Aera laughed, kissing his face. “And I would move them once more, if it led me to you.”

----

Thank you for reading! I know I make Aera a bit sassier than she appears in Episode Ardyn but she IS quite sassy in the Prologue, so whatever. Ardyn loves it.

#ardyn izunia #ardyn lucis caelum #ff15 ardyn #ffxv ardyn #final fantasy 15 #ffxv #ffxv fanfic #ff15 fanfic #ardyn izunia fanfic

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btsrkv · 1 year

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Jimin - AERA ( scan 보정)

#jimin #park jimin #bts

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diamondtaem6v6 · 2 years

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✨ 160229 - SHINee’s interview for ‘AERA’ Magazine

The group name is said to be a coined word with the meaning of “a person who bathes in shining light”. It’s been five years since their debut in Japan. In fact, they are beginning to shine in the light.

In January, the 4th album “DxDxD” was released in Japan. The nationwide tour “SHINee WORLD 2016 ~DxDxD~” had also started.

— Please tell us about your enthusiasm for the tour.

Minho: We had to show everyone a new side of us. We were determined to do so. When I first stood at the Tokyo Dome stage in 2015, I was very moved. This time too, the first Kyocera Dome and the second Tokyo Dome performances are scheduled for the end of the arena tour. We’d like to express our appreciation to many fans.

Key: We’ve been longing for dome concerts since our debut. They’re special, after all.

Jonghyun: I’m thankful from the bottom of my heart for being able to sing in such a big place.

Onew: That’s why we have to show our cool side! (laughs)

Taemin: I’m having the most fun when I’m having a concert. That’s why I’m so happy to be able to travel all over Japan again.

— At the concerts, you sang a lot of songs from the album “DxDxD” that was just released in January, right?

Key: When I was recording them, I wanted to sing them on stage as soon as possible. When I first listened to ‘WANTED’, I thought “This absolutely have to be a rock music”.

Jonghyun: “Moon Drop” is a nice one to listen to while driving with your girlfriend.

All: Ohh!

Minho: “DxDxD” is for when you want to feel excited.

Taemin: “Boys Will Be Boys” for when you want to feel rejuvenated.

Onew: “LOVE” is nice for when you take a walk in the woods.

Key: Umm, do you ever go to the woods? (laughs)

SHINee said it’s been a long time since they had an interview with a magazine in Japan. When they start talking, they react to each other’s words one after another, and at the end it always turn into laughter.

This interview took place the day after the two-day live at Marine Messe Fukuoka, which marked the beginning of the tour.

— When you debuted in Korea, you were all teenagers. Has anything changed since you reached your 20s?

Minho: Even if you watch the same movie, you feel differently in your teens and 20s. In the same way, when I sing a song I recorded before, I feel that my impression is different and that it has changed.

Jonghyun: Age doesn’t matter to me. I don’t really like being influenced by numbers. I want to cherish my emotions.

Key: I have come to understand Onew’s (who is 1 year older) feelings. After the concert, my body felt heavy. I heard that Onew felt like this.

Onew: It will get more and more painful~ (laughs)

Taemin: We are mentally young (laughs).

Key: But all 5 of us have been active for several years, people don’t change so easily!

Onew: Not so much.

Key: I longed to become an adult when I reached my 20s. But I haven’t changed much. I think we can just stay like this. The 5 of us will continue to do our best.

— What are your future goals?

Taemin: I’m planning my solo activities, so I want to show my different self from SHINee. I want to create a new feeling to both music and dance.

Key: Now that my dream of performing at the dome has come true, I want to improve my singing and dancing skills and meet everyone (at concerts).

Jonghyun: I think the same goes for me. To stay healthy and keep up the good work so as not to get injured. I want to keep this current state.

Onew: That’s a good thing. It’s important.

Minho: I feel the same way. I’m so loved by everyone, so I’ll work so hard to the point my body will break down.

Jonghyun: I just said “not to get injured” though…

Minho: So until just before my body breaks down. I will do my best until just before that!

Onew: And I want to tell more and more funny jokes! (laughs)

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

Credits: ‘AERA’ Magazine, February 2016 (No.9) issue

Scans: 贝贝no貝貝 (Weibo)

JPN - ENG translation: @DiamondTaem

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erosianexile · 2 years

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Excerpt from Chapter 1, Book 1 of the Night Gem series.

Aera caught up with Vaye and followed her across the Southern Field, past the sleeping huts and into Southside Forest, where the trees enveloped her in an aroma of maple and pine. It thrilled her to explore the mysterious shadows of the forbidden places she so often fantasized about… but where were they going? It felt like her dream world, but it wasn’t, as the trees had leaves and none were white. Crickets chirped, leaves crunched, and coos resounded. Aera spotted a small silver bird with a white belly in a tree. “That’s a mockingbird imitating a hawk,” Vaye explained. “Ee-u, ee-u,” cooed a large, regal bird nearby. “Ee-u, ee-u,” sang the mockingbird. Its imitation was indistinguishable from the original. Aera glanced at Vaye and the two exchanged a smile. As Vaye continued onward, Aera scanned the forest for white trees, but discovered none. She listened to the birdsongs, the scuffles of squirrels and the swoosh of wind against leaves, but Vaye walked so stealthily, her footsteps were inaudible. The gurgle of water crept up in the distance and grew louder as they came to an open grove teeming with tall grass and wildflowers. Aera spotted a brook rippling beyond, then noticed a dirt path nearby, leading through the grass to an ancient stone cottage. Behind it, a massive stone wall towered over everything and extended beyond sight in both directions. “That’s the Fence,” Vaye said. “It surrounds the commune.” Aera knew about the Fence. The instructors claimed it was there to keep everyone safe. She craned to see the top, where iron palisades with knife-like points menaced the sky. The Fence made her feel trapped, not safe.

#xenne #excerpt #female author #authors of tumblr #fantasy books #book excerpt #writers and readers #writeblr #writers on tumblr

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fy-wonwoo · 1 year

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[SCAN] aera japan magazine – wonwoo (1,2)

#jeon wonwoo #wonwoo #seventeen #svt #scan #aera

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sunlightfeeling · 10 months

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AERA Style Magazine: Spring 2020 Vol. 46

#kimura takuya #木村拓哉 #takuya kimura #scans #magazine #aera had the right idea with this shoot…..#they always do tho #always top-tier

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richea · 7 months

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"Your Smile I Have Yet to See" by marina

Source: Tales of Hearts Anthology Comic Translation: richea Scans/cleaning/typesetting: @aera-enfys

Read it here

imgur.com/a/dqE9wQZ

#seines translation #tales of hearts #beryl benito #hisui hearts #kohaku hearts #shing meteoryte #innes lorenz

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letsquestjess · 7 months

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Blood Daughter - Chapter 14: Following the Trail

Story Summary: After Kallar Viren flees the Empire, his daughter sets out to find him, only to discover he has been taken by Imperials. With help from Clone Force 99, Zeraphine pushes through her losses in a race against the clock to rescue her father or face the galaxy as the last of her family.

Warnings: Depictions of violence.

Chapter 13 | Chapter 15

Read from the beginning.

-- -- -- -- --

As the temperature in the cockpit rose to nearly unbearable levels, Zeraphine loosened the top buttons of her jacket. Stifling streams beat from the vents in visible waves, churning at the already scorching air billowing from the engines.

“I knew we should have checked the metres before we took off,” she huffed out. “It’s hotter than a Tatooine sauna in here.”

“The readings do not indicate any abnormalities in the ship’s function,” Tech responded after a concise glimpse at the metres in question. “We are fine.”

“You may be, but I am not used to heat like this.” Zeraphine fanned herself with her collar and wandered the length of the cockpit in search of a cooler spot. Beneath her feet, the expanse of space wavered behind the transparisteel floor, and she contemplated lying on the ground to test if the cold of the galaxy might reach through the transparent panels. “Phomina Nine is pleasant. Colder.” Home.

The word held in her mind. Years had passed since she last set foot on home soil, since she had seen the white trunks and violet leaves of the forests and the foamy crests of the seas. When she closed her eyes, she could still envision the sprawling valleys and the jade hills, Aera and Avis resting at opposite ends of The Spine of Vitra and Cirrus flourishing beyond the towering Carnmar Mountains. Capital of Phomina Nine. The place of her birth and her childhood. Before her training, before she had been thrown mercilessly at her predestined fate, that radiant city had nurtured her, caressed her with temperate sunlight and inspired her to grow.

The longer her father remained a prisoner of the Empire, the more she heard the call of her homeworld. Would they take him there? Would they cruelly expose to him the extent of their destruction to inflict further pain? Already burdened by the loss of a wife and daughter, he now had to endure the knowledge the Imperials paraded and marched over the land he had devoted himself to defending. Without a doubt, those monsters would want him to see it.

Too predictable, Zeraphine reminded herself. They are aware you’re looking for him. To take him home would be to hand him to you directly. They won’t risk that… but I might.

“Ah ha!” Tech said as his fingers scrolled up and down the console screen. “A group of prisoners were removed from a large Imperial ship in the sector. It appears your father is on the list.”

Zeraphine scanned the information, gaze honing in on the chain code.

“Unfortunately, there are discrepancies, like the ones you previously found,” the intelligence clone added. “Look here and here where the data does not correlate.”

With a grumbled nod, she straightened up from the monitor and rested her hands on her hips. “So, this is a dead end?”

“Not exactly. While I was sifting through the variations, I may have located the ship we are searching for. The problem is, it stopped to fuel on Toth Dromia and the records are proving difficult.” Tech transferred the notes to his datapad and handed it over to the commander.

“Seems to me as though someone tried to scrub them.”

“Precisely.”

“They didn’t do a very good job. Some parts of the transaction are still there.” Zeraphine muttered a curse and set the device beside the keyboard. Without the missing pieces, locating her father would be like hunting for a specific drop of water in a lake.

“My guess is they could not finish erasing the data in time, but traces of it had already been wiped,” Tech said. “The only way we may gather any sort of intel on the situation is if we travel there ourselves, but it will come at a considerable risk.”

Collapsing into the co-pilot seat, the former commander spun it round to face the clone seated next to her, their eyes meeting in an uneasy silence. Just as they were beginning to unravel the journey of her captive father, he slipped even further out of their reach. “You know what, Tech, I’m done being cautious. If I don’t start taking those considerable risks, I will never find him, so I’ll travel to Toth Dromia. You can keep The Progenitor in orbit and I’ll contact you as soon as I have what we need.”

Eyebrows narrowed over his goggles, Tech leaned forward, resolved hazel gaze locked onto her silvery one. “With all the respect in the galaxy, commander, my brothers and I are not willing to leave you to conduct your mission alone,” he asserted. “We agreed to help you and fully intend to keep that promise. Whatever may come our way, we shall face it together.”

* * *

The thunderous beat of transport wheels struck the stone panels and rattled over bumps in the road, settled dust scattering in the whir and churn and overused engines grinding in protest. Helmeted workers carried out their duties around the heavy vehicles, moving supplies, attaching load pipes, filling up tanks until the entire refuel station rung with the music of guzzling ships. Co-ordinators checked and double-checked the numbers, documenting each craft as it flew in and out in a heartbeat. Latching on. Taking their fill. Zipping out.

Zeraphine could smell the monotony of it in the potent, sickly stench of fuel permeating the records booth, the repetitive drive that none of the workers could escape. Work. Sleep. Eat. No time for dreams or potential. The Empire needed drones, and if production couldn’t keep up, they resorted to exploiting the locals nearest the resources.

This place did not differ from the countless others she had seen, the once prosperous worlds now reduced to mere remnants of their former splendour. Spirits dampened, beaten into dust. Orders barked and obeyed. And the fear. She would never grow accustomed to the terror those places evoked in people as the Force magnified every trace of fright and served it to her like a bitter delicacy.

“Here,” Tech said, stooping by the scomp port his datapad was attached to. As she moved away from the mottled window, he tilted the screen towards her and replayed the footage.

“That is the ship my father was on?” Zeraphine asked.

“Yes, but watch.”

In the playback, two figures crossed paths. To anybody else, the recording would have appeared normal, but she had analysed far too many tampered feeds to know what one looked like. A subtle hitch in their step, an indecisive action. It only took a split second for her keen senses to notice. “Can you reverse it, or do we need to get it back to the ship?”

“I can find the original,” Tech assured her.

His intense, gold-speckled concentration reminded her of Hayze. The quietest member of her squad, and the most observant. Wise eyes always on the move, observing, absorbing, picking up every detail. He had prided himself on a job well done, not for the praise of his superiors, but for the deep sense of relief that came from knowing he had successfully protected those he loved.

Now his spirit sailed the stars with his brothers. With Drift, and Vault, and Kyrix, and Lorn. With her mother and her sister.

“That is interesting.”

Tech’s voice pulled her from the memories of the fallen, and she refocused herself. Taking the proffered datapad, she waited until the footage had finished hastening forwards and resumed playing at a regular speed. A man dawdling in the area caught the attention of an Imperial officer. The two engaged in a hushed conversation and after a couple of minutes, a transfer was made and they parted ways.

“Audio has been wiped clean, and I cannot seem to find what is being traded,” Tech said, frustration colouring his tone as he zoomed in. “It is not coming up on any scans, but the Imperial went back to the ship your father is registered on.”

“Doesn’t matter what they were exchanging,” Zeraphine replied. She turned to the records console in the tiny booth and bypassed the security measures, gaining access to the Toth Dromia census and narrowing down the search for the mystery man. Scanning the footage into the system, a solitary document appeared. “City notes have his name listed as Corrick Sartor,” she said. “Evidence of all sorts of criminal activity and prison sentences, but he’s been keeping a low profile for the past cycle.”

“Not low enough,” Tech quipped, eliciting a brief snort from Zeraphine. “Camera footage shows he frequents an establishment called The Steel Serpent Lounge. It appears to be a gambling house.”

“Can you see when he was last there?”

“Two days ago. He seems to go fairly often.”

“Great work. He may have some information on the ship my-” In an instant, she crouched down and yanked Tech down beside her, finger to her lips as she motioned towards the window. “Security droids,” she mouthed.

He disconnected the cable from the scomp port and, maintaining a link to the cameras, located the ones focused on their location. “At least a dozen outside the booth,” Tech whispered. “More by the upper loading docks. And…” He narrowed his eyes. “It appears there is also a hired mercenary.”

“Bounty hunter?” Zeraphine asked.

“I am unsure. They do not wear the same uniform as the others, so they may be a contractor.”

“Weapons?”

“Standard blaster. No mods. Nothing defensive.”

“Probably not a bounty hunter, then.” She shuffled over and stole a glance at the live feed on Tech’s datapad, indicating with two fingers at the left exit.

As they emerged into the brisk refuel station, she kept close to the nooks, feeling for every pulse of life, organic or mechanical, and searching for a route.

“I have signalled Echo,” Tech told her as they dipped out of one shadowed alcove and into another. “Response has marked out docking bay nine as the pickup.”

Zeraphine stared out at the abundant clouds. So high up, they seemed to bounce around the station, soaking up the amber light of the sun and turning it pastel peach. Undertones of lilac grazed them and broke apart as ships sliced and cut to guzzle fuel and depart.

The trail of numbers on the walls led her gaze to the ninth bay at the end of the long line. “Pickup point spotted, but there are too many droids in our path. We won’t get there unseen unless we make some noise.”

“Already on it.” With a few taps on his datapad, an unmanned crane released its colossal crate, the corrugated metal box plummeting to the ground in a thunderous collision. “While I was inside the system, I transferred remote control to my datapad. It will hold while I am in range.”

Zeraphine smirked with pride as she manoeuvred past the wreckage, taking care to avoid the spilled fuel. Urged by their programming, the security droids rushed to attend to the emergency. The commander extended her palm upward and conjured a shield over herself and Tech, defending them from curious onlookers and diverting attention elsewhere.

An influx of droids mobilised to the growing situation as Tech discharged more cargo. Reluctantly, the hired mercenary trailed after a group of hurrying units, gaze shaving his surroundings for any potential threats and bouncing off Zeraphine’s invisible barrier.

“Bay nine is up ahead,” she said. “Keep walking slow and-” Without warning, a droid barged into her side, and she momentarily lost her footing. The force shield popped, and the hulking unit fixed on the two.

“Intruders at bay seven,” its tinny voice box shouted. Alarms boomed and metal feet responded. “Intruders at-”

Zeraphine plunged a blade into its chest, and a shower of sparks burst from the incision. Intense blue heat melted away its outer armour, delving into the webbed cables, and it dropped with a clank and a thunk. From the far crate, the mercenary clocked them.

“Stand steady,” she instructed, withdrawing her second sword and activating the heated core.

“Received and understood, commander,” Tech confirmed. Blasters in hand, he locked on and shot an approaching droid.

Return fire pinned them in and Zeraphine channelled all of her energy into the floor. As she advanced, strong pulses trembled beneath her, sending the droids into a skittered disarray. Tech synchronised his movements with the vibrations, finding his balance within the rhythm and taking down six swaying security units.

“Keep the clankers off me,” Zeraphine said as the enraged mercenary sprinted at her. “I’ll take the hired bullet.”

The moment the four-armed bulk smashed into her, she bolstered her stance to remain upright and skidded backwards. Limbs flailed, hitting out. She deftly evaded each attempted attack and swung her blades at lightning speed until they sang. To give the mercenary credit, he moved with surprising agility, countering with an unflinching defence when she denied him any opportunity to strike her.

Blaster bolts ricocheted off the glass swords in a symphony of shots and powerful swipes battered down onto tough, craggy skin. Zeraphine dipped under fists and audible punches, leaping and landing with a tremor beneath her heels. Every ounce of training and fight she had coursed within her. She felt alive. So delightfully alive. Almost giddy with adrenaline and anticipation.

“Okay, big guy, I see how it is,” she sighed. She drove her foot down in a powerful stomp and shockwaves surged, equipment shaking and chains rattling until the rusted holders gave way.

As the mercenary’s footing faltered, Zeraphine saw her chance. Searing hot glass sizzled and pierced the rough flesh of his thigh. Once on his knees, she delivered a force-enhanced blow to his face with the hilt of her second weapon before he could even think about retaliating. Knocked cleanly unconscious, he sagged forward.

“I see the ship,” Tech called, bringing several barrels of fuel down between them and the approaching backup droids.

Zeraphine scraped the tip of her blade on the paving slabs and drove the sparks to the dark pool. The liquid ignited with the slightest brush of heat, propelling a fierce inferno into the atmosphere. When the cloud of fire reached its limit and could no longer ascend, it shifted its scorching gaze towards the ground and descended with a deafening bellow.

“Haven’t had a fight like that in a while,” she commented, her blood still ringing with the clash of glass chimes and pumping the battle through her veins. She kind of missed it, and a nostalgic thrum teased at the essence of her being.

Up ahead, The Progenitor lifted above docking bay nine with an energetic rumble and the rear ramp lowered. With a leap and a stumble, Tech and Zeraphine boarded the ship, leaving behind the chaos of their escape and a choking rush of smoke.