#Devil of the Rhine

[alearicci]

“she looks like a devil” – CL16

pairings: charles leclerc x oc!ann rhine

note: tysm for 35 readers, I'm very VERY happy and I am sure that this is just the beginning

part two?

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Ann Rhine stood in front of a full-length mirror in her lavishly appointed dressing room located in her penthouse. Before her exit to the car waiting for her downstairs, there was very little time left, and she took it to take one last look in the mirror and make sure that she looked good. And she looked really gorgeous.

Her long, loose brown locks were styled in elegant waves that fell easily over her shoulders. The light from the chandeliers above reflected off her perfectly manicured nails, which perfectly matched the ruby red shade of her lipstick and outfit. Her deep brown eyes, accentuated by smoky shadows, shone with anticipation of the upcoming evening.

Having changed her position, Ann could not help but appreciate her choice of evening attire. The dress was a real work of art, carefully selected from her personal collection of designer clothes. It clung to the curves of her perfect body in all the right places, emphasizing her slender figure and radiating sophistication. The dress had a deep neckline that effectively showed off her cleavage area, adding a touch of charm and passion to her image as a whole.

To complete her look, Ann chose a pair of sparkling diamond earrings that gracefully hung from her earlobes. The expensive diamonds were brilliantly cut, reflecting the light and casting a soft glow on her sharp collarbones. Her wrists were decorated with matching diamond bracelets, each of which reflected the light and added an additional touch to her overall image.

She couldn't help but feel excited and anxious as she prepared for the large-scale evening that awaited her today. It wasn't just a party; it was a special event, a charity event where celebrities from many walks of life graced the place to raise money from their visit for a good cause. The organizer was one of the most influential people in the world, which is why Ann's expectations were high. She was especially eager to see the Formula 1 drivers, because their names were also on the guest list.

Ann has attended races more than once because of sponsorship with one of the teams. Her father's company, which passed to her after his death, signed a large contract with AMG Mercedes, which is why she could often be seen in the paddock of this team. Especially, the journalists clung to the fact that she liked to spend time in the company of Lewis Hamilton. There were all kinds of headlines, they were credited with an affair, a fictitious marriage, divorce and many different things, but no one talked about the true reason. Lewis and Ann were very good friends.

And it was Lewis who instilled in her a love of racing. Of course, he very brazenly provided her with a cap with his racing number, which made the rumors grow even stronger around them, but not about that now. Ann really liked the atmosphere of racing, this adrenaline flowing through her veins, this riding at high speeds. She herself dreamed of getting behind the wheel of a car to feel this drive, but doing business did not give her the opportunity to live a little for herself.

When she received an invitation to attend this evening, she initially wanted to refuse, she has no time to attend such events, in principle, she is not a frequent guest of various parties. The duties of the director have other plans for her account. Her assistant convinced her to change her mind, because attending this event would be a good sign in the future PR company of Ann's organization. Therefore, I had to adjust the already tight schedule a little in order to smile and talk with the cream of society for several hours.

Shaking her head, dismissing the sudden thoughts that she might still write that she was ill and not go, Ann picked up her purse, turned off the light and hurriedly left the dressing room, heels clicking on the floor. After warning the housekeeper that she would arrive soon, the girl hurriedly headed for the luxury car.

The personal driver who saw her approach immediately got out of the car and opened the door for her to get in. She threw him a quiet "thank you" to which he nodded seriously and closed the door, returning to the driver's seat.

The whole trip passed in silence. Ann looked out the window and wondered if everyone invited would come. Their number exceeded fifty people, which could not surprise and terrify at the same time.

There were actors, singers, and many other celebrities. Ann wasn't supposed to be there at all, but Toto insisted that she be among the guests. After all, part of their team and part of their budget.

The car stopped in front of a majestic mansion. The red carpet was laid, there were too many photographers and journalists. There was already another car in front of them, which, as Ann realized, belonged to Pierre Gasly, the Alpine F1 team racer. His girlfriend Kika came with him and together they looked very cute and harmonious. The crowd immediately greeted them with enthusiastic sighs, and the photographers did not know how to touch each other in order to be closer to the Frenchman and make the best shots with him and his beloved.

Finally, it was Ann's turn to come out. James, her driver and bodyguard in one person, again helpfully helped her out and she, a little embarrassed, gracefully waved her fingers to everyone present. James offered her an elbow, which she accepted and they went inside.

"Miss, you look just fine. I'm sorry to break our contract of silence, but I couldn't help but say it."

"Thank you, James." Ann smiled gently and continued. "I'll leave you to have fun while I go say hello to the right people."

"Okay, miss, I'm here, remember that."

When they were inside the mansion, the energy in the room changed. The conversations subsided, heads turned, and all eyes were riveted on her exit. No one expected Ann Rhine to be there.

She herself did not expect this and smiled at everyone with the most affected smile in her life.

After examining those at the party, Ann noticed a lot of both familiar and completely unfamiliar faces. The look immediately found Lewis, as always, as if he had stepped off the cover of a fashion magazine, who, surprisingly, stood alone a little apart from everyone. Deciding to join an old acquaintance, Ann takes a glass of champagne and goes to Hamilton.

"Who do I see..."

"Oh my God, Ann!" Lewis exclaimed happily and hurried to hug his girlfriend. She kissed him lightly on the cheek, but did not touch it, so as not to stain it with red lipstick.

"Yes, it's me. I've missed you so much, champ."

***

Two more racers were standing not far from them. The two drivers of the Scuderia Ferrari are Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. They had a relaxed and friendly conversation while the main celebration had not yet begun.

While Charles was talking to his close friend in the middle of a glamorous evening, his attention couldn't help but be drawn to Ann Rhine. His gaze involuntarily wandered in her direction, captivated by her undeniable beauty and charismatic presence.

When Carlos began to talk about the recent race, Charles found that his thoughts were moving again and again to Ann. He admired how easily she seemed to attract attention, and her aura seemed to radiate confidence and grace. Her every movement was graceful and refined, attracting the attention of everyone around her. He couldn't help but be intrigued by her attractive personality, a unique trait of many celebrities he met.

"It seems to me that if I had stormed later then, everything would have turned out differently."

"Or you would have met your favorite gravel," Charles finally replied and grinned, sipped some champagne from his glass.

"Buddy, don't make me throw the contents of this glass in your face... What do you think about the new updates?"

"I think they're... Mmm... Quite good"

While Charles continued to listen to his friend, his attention remained distracted. He couldn't help but glance at Ann, admiring how easily she blended in with the other guests, making an indelible impression on every person she talked to. Her alluring presence was mesmerizing, drawing people to her like a moth to a fire.

"Wait, who are you looking at so intently and why not at me?" Carlos turned around to look at the one his partner couldn't take his eyes off. "Aah... Ann Rhine. I didn't expect to see her here. Are you surprised too, since you can't take your eyes off her?"

The more Charles watched her from afar, the more his curiosity grew. He wondered what it would be like to share a deeper connection with someone as radiant as Ann. Her sincere smile combined with her intelligent conversation awakened the desire for meaningful communication among the whirlwind of the celebrity world.

"She's absolutely amazing, isn't she? I had the pleasure of talking to her earlier. She is not only beautiful, but also incredibly smart and witty. It's really nice to see her here."

"Really? What was it like talking to her?"

"To be honest, it was quite amazing and short-lived, as she had to return to her duties. Did you hear that a few years ago she had to take responsibility and continue her father's work? We had a great conversation about her work and life in general. I was genuinely impressed by its depth and authenticity."

"She seems to be older than you?"

"Yes, she's 29. Don't ask me how I know that."

"Oh. And she looks younger."

"I agree. But she's an insanely spectacular girl."

"I support it."

"So will you approach her? Or can I get ahead of you and spend the evening in her company?"

"You'll do fine, man. See, she's talking to Lewis."

"I see I have good eyesight. Well, you keep burning her with your eyes, and I'll go to the Lando. Haven't seen him for a long time." Carlos said and, clinking glasses with his friend, hurried to Norris.

Charles had no choice but to temporarily occupy himself with looking at either Ann or the champagne bubbles in his glass.

Finally, fortunately for him, Ann was left alone.

She noticed his eyes on her and winked at him. then, she casually adjusted the hem of her dress, exposing her thigh. Charles swallowed noisily and hurriedly turned away to straighten his trousers carefully.

This was his chance.

But he was quickly overtaken by another man, forcing Monegasque to swear under his breath.

Something had to be done urgently.

[morally-grey-girlbosses]

Propaganda under the cut.

Tanya von Degurechaff:

A salaryman gets pushed in front of a train by a guy he fired and God stops time right before he's hit to ask him why he's an atheist. The salaryman answers that he can't prove that he's atually God instead of the Devil or some other being, dubbing him Being X. Then he insults Being X's business strategy and says he has never needed to pray to a higher being since he's never been in dire straits. So Being X decides to reincarnate him as Tanya Degurechaff, an orphan girl in an alternate universe Europe on the cusp of their first world war and since she's reborn in a country in which mages are conscripted into the military Being X also makes sure to load her with magic. Since she's going to be forced into the military anyway Tanya volunteers in order to get better treatment and opportunities, resolving to get promoted to the rear and live a long and very atheist life. As part of her plan to get promoted she presents herself as the perfect soldier: patriotic, ruthless, courageous, rule-following, etc. This often backfires on her as it makes her superiors think she wants to be on the front lines so she instead gets her own mage battalion that gets sent all over the front. She's called "The Devil of The Rhine" due to her effectiveness and apparent joy in killing enemies.

Fang Runin:

she has it all. war crimes. war crimes. more war crimes. she doesn’t believe in gods, she believes in power. absolutely feral and unhinged!!!

[anime-of-the-day]

Anime of the Day: ​​Saga of Tanya the Evil

Alt title: Youjo Senki

Released: 2017

Saga of Tanya the Evil is about a man who, after dissing a god, is reincarnated into the body of a girl. However, he takes his position as Tanya very seriously, and he plans to give Tanya, who was a starving orphan, a better life. So, Tanya joins the military and earns the nickname the "Devil of the Rhine”. After all, it is Tanya who launches the Empire forward to a powerful nation.

[dailydegurechaff]

I wonder, how did your SI became friends with the infamous "Devil of the Rhine?"

yknow. in my first concept of clara, they were going to meet and have a very rough start thanks to a bit of a misunderstanding, but now the story is changing so i think their first meeting pretty much goes like this

[m4chus]

even the devil of the rhine gets upset sometimes

[histoireettralala]

Victor Hugo on Talleyrand's death

For @empirearchives who was interested, here's a translation of Victor Hugo's text about Talleyrand's death. My thanks to @microcosme11 for her help <33

Choses Vues, Victor Hugo

1838

Talleyrand

19th of May

In the Rue St-Florentin, there is a palace and a sewer.

The palace, with its noble, rich, and dull architecture, was long called "Hôtel de l'Infuntado"; today, we read on its front door: Hôtel Talleyrand. During the fourty years he lived on this street, the last host of this palace might never have set eyes on this sewer.

He was a stranged, feared, and considerable character: his name was Charles-Maurice de Périgord; he was noble as Machiavel, a priest like Gondi, defrocked like Fouché, witty as Voltaire, and lame as the devil. One could say that everything limped with him: the nobility which he had put to the service of the republic, the priesthood he had dragged on the Champ-de-Mars then threw down the drain, the marriage he had broken by twenty scandals and by a voluntary separation, the wit he dishonoured through vileness. This man, nevertheless, had grandeur.

The splendours of both regimes were mixed together inside of him: he was prince of the old kingdom of France, and prince of the French Empire.

For thirty years, from the depth of his palace, from the depth of his mind, he had just about led Europe. He had let the revolution call him "tu", and had smiled at it, ironically of course; but it had not noticed. He had approached, known, observed, pierced, stirred, upturned, delved into, mocked, intellectually fertilized all the men of his era, all the ideas of his century, and there had been a few minutes in his life when, holding in his hand the four or five fearsome threads that moved the civilized universe, he had had for a puppet Napoleon the First, Emperor of the French, King of Italy, Protector of the Confederation of the Rhine, Mediator of the Swiss Confederation. Such was the game this man played.

After the Revolution of July, that old race, whose grand chambellan he was, having fallen, he found himself standing on one foot and told the people of 1830, sitting, bare-armed, on a pile of cobbles: Make me your ambassador.

He had received Mirabeau's last confession and Thiers' first confidence. He had said himself he was a great poet and had made a trilogy in three dynasties: Act I, Buonaparte's Empire; Act 2, The House of Bourbon; Act 3, The House of Orleans.

He had done all of this in his palace, and, in this palace, like a spider in its web, he had attracted into it and taken successively heroes, thinkers, great men, conquerors, kings, princes, emperors, Bonaparte, Sieyès, Mme de Staël, Chateaubriand, Benjamin Constant, Alexander of Russia, Wilhelm of Prussia, Francis of Austria, Louis XVIII, Louis-Philippe, all the golden, shiny flies who buzzed in the history of those last fourty years. The whole sparkling swarm, fascinated by this man's deep eye, had successively passed under the dark door that bore, written on its architrave: Hôtel Talleyrand.

Well, the day before yesterday, 17 March, 1838, that man died. Doctors came and embalmed the corpse. For this, like the Egyptians, they first withdrew the bowels from the belly and the brain from the skull. Once done, after they had transformed the prince de Talleyrand into a mummy, and nailed this mummy in a white satin-lined coffin, they withdrew, leaving upon a table the brain, that brain which thought so many things, inspired so many men, built so many edifices, led two revolutions, fooled twenty kings, contained the world.

Once the doctors were gone, a valet entered, he saw what they had left. Hold on! they forgot this. What to do ? He remembered that there was a sewer in the street, he went there, and threw that brain into this sewer.

Finis rerum.

[captainpotatosan]

Tanya Degurechaff

"The Devil of the Rhine."

Yōjo Senki / The Saga of Tanya the Evil

Writer: Carlo Zen / Illustrator: Shinobu Shinotsuki

[my-little-girlboss]

I wanna put Tanya into Termina, I think it would be good enrichment for her.

Especially cause she'd absolutely be like "I'm a pacifist, I believe in constructive transactions" after just destroying some horrible beastie and being covered in viscera.

Plus, her going Moonscorched would be terrifying, truly the most Devil of the Rhine ever 🥰

[writer-of-various]

Nancy Turner : Poem

When the ship stopped

Fate became clear

Each soldier climbing over the ship walls

Down a netted rope into a Higgins boat

She stood watching with fierce emeralds

Reflecting off the stormy sea

As they leave their life behind

Each sharp wave toppling them around

The realize this was a price to be paid

This isn't their war, one they saw in the letters

This isn't what they prepared for when the motor man's head popped off

She stood calculating, orders left and right

Wishing for the sun light to blind her eyes

No sun no sky no nothing in between

Just darkness and clouds, roaring seas

Gunfire, high and low, who did it come from

She didn't know

Guiding men into hell, she felt like she was the devil herself

This fight isn't for a man

Neither is it for a woman

Storm the beach, sand high in the air

Take out the gunners in their lair

A young boy stabbed in the stomach, another wounded with guilt

One wanting to be back home, another never seeing this before

One with hard eyes needing the count, the last her brother, who didn't need to see this

Nevermind the pain, the horror, the guilt

Push through for Marigny

For the Rhine

Take the enemy out, they did that to them

Guilt, Fear, Madness, all the same

The stabbed boy gets captured

A Jew POW is never left unbothered

The youngest one with bright eyes gets to go home

See his wife

But the brotherhood they share,

The horrors they lived

No man left behind

No mission too difficult

No sacrifice too great

Duty comes first

Until is doesn't

You don't mess with her boys

They come first

Every sacrifice great

Like the one her brother gave

They cross the bridge

Into the heartland of the Rhine

Closer and closer

And victory comes

The stabbed boy is found, fragile and tainted

But a brother's love, a sister's love, the friendship, camaraderie, found family feels, all so pathetic but it was all they had left

They return home, medals on their chest, ribbons and pressed uniforms

Grateful showers, hot water, fresh warm food, clean water

But she wasn't over with the war that took her brother

[loosesodamarble]

For That Special Day Part 2

Summary: While Josele seeks help from Solara, Nacht gets assistance on his wedding gift from someone a little closer to home. Collaboration writing piece with Taja (@faewraithsworld).

Genre: general, humor

Word count: ~5300

..........

Night. A time of peace, quiet, and thoughtfulness. The final sentiment was one that sat at the forefront of Nacht's mind, had been for a few days.

Because Nacht had to be thoughtful about this. About the gift he would present Josele when they...

Nacht felt her face warm and his heart race with the thought.

He and Josele had decided to get married. Soon. They didn't want to prolong the engagement for fear that tragedy might strike again if they put it off.

They had already arranged a date and invited their witnesses. All that was left was to prepare wedding gifts. Something in place of a ceremony and guests and rings. A simple exchange of gifts between husband and wife-to-be.

Nacht knew what he wanted for Josele. She still deserved jewels to wear. To symbolize what a treasure she was to him. To signify that she was his and he was hers.

Earrings he had determined. At first he thought it might be ill-suited as the relic that Almatra was connected to was an earring. But then he considered he would be giving Josele a pair, something balanced. And the pair of earrings could make what was once painful into something beautiful. That was something Nacht and Josele were trying to do with their lives all around.

Although Nacht had decided on what to give Josele, he still had yet to find a pair.

Because Nacht couldn't give Josele—his star, his darling, and the love of his life—just any pair of earrings. They didn't have to be perfect. But they had to be suitable, worthy, meaningful.

Josele deserved as such. After all that had been said and done, after all they had been through. Nacht wanted to give Josele something that was more than just jewelry.

But how to do that? Nacht wondered to himself as he paced his room.

If he continued to pace, the floor might’ve been permanently scuffed by the repetitive movement. But he wasn't going to stop soon.

"Perhaps you should get her earrings that match her eyes?" Gimodelo asked as he and the other devils formed at the edge of Nacht's vision.

"But consider that Mastar Nacht's brother did the same with the ring," Plumede remarked with a sigh. "Master needs to do something unique from his brother."

"But then the ring and earrings would match too," Walgner pointed out. "Wouldn't that look nice?"

"Who cares if it matches? Would it convey what Master wants to say to Lady Josele?" Slotos argued back.

"What is it that you want to say with the gift, Master?" Gimodelo asked.

All the devils looked at Nacht and he paused to look at them.

What was it that Nacht wanted to say? There weren't any words but... Emotions to share.

The love Nacht felt for Josele. The fact that they were together at last. A hope for their future together to be bright.

Nacht looked past his devils and out the window. The night sky was made bright by the light of the stars and moon.

Stars. Symbols of hope. And like Josele.

And the moon with it's silver glow. Light in darkness. Like Nacht.

"Silver and stars..." Nacht muttered to himself. The four devils stared at Nacht with wide, eager eyes. "Yes, that would be very suitable."

"And you thought about jewels too," Plumede said. "Maybe white diamonds to match the silver?"

"Or brown to match Lady Josele?"

"You could do blue to match your eyes!"

Nacht closed his eyes in thought. "Blue. But not like my eyes..."

As for where to get the gemstones for the earrings...

There was only one person Nacht could turn to for that.

After avoiding the traps leading to the ladies' rooms at the base, Nacht finally found the room belonging to Acylla.

Acylla Rhine. One of the Black Bulls earliest members, just behind Henry and Josele. As such, Acylla had become a dear friend to Josele. It only made sense for Nacht to go to her at that time.

Nacht knocked on the door to Acylla's room. Then, he waited.

It was only a moment until Acylla pulled the door to her room open and greeted Nacht with a mild, "Evening Nacht. What brings you here?"

"I would like to ask for your assistance on a matter," Nacht answered.

"If it's an impromptu mission, no," Acylla stated, her neutral expression barely changing as she spoke.

"Not to worry. It's not a mission, more like an errand if you want an idea for what it is."

Acylla raised an inquiring brow. "What kind of errand? This late at night at that."

"Doll, just say no and come back to bed!" Zora's voice called from within the bedroom.

Nacht glanced past Acylla, into the room to find Zora lounging on her bed, then met her gaze again. He wasn't going to pry. He didn't need to and, more importantly, he didn't want to know. "I'll be quick so as not to keep you from Zora."

"Oh how generous of you." Acylla's tone was sardonic and she smirked up at Nacht. She crossed her arms and leaned against the doorway, a casualness that Nacht had yet to fully get used to since properly integrating into the squad. "So an errand. It's not too late so depending on what it is, I might be able to manage."

Nacht was torn; he and Josele wanted to keep their marriage under wraps, but he needed to tell Acylla what it was that he wanted... needed... done. He supposed he could just play it off as something completely normal and inconspicuous.

Right?

He hummed. "I need a crystal."

Acylla blinked at his words, cocking her head to the side.

"You need… a crystal?" she questioned slowly, getting a nod. "You needed one bad enough that you decided to come to my room at… whatever time it is, and ask?" Nacht sighed; this may prove to be a more involved process than he thought.

"Come back in the morning. We're busy." Zora called from the room, making Nacht a bit uncomfortable as Acylla flushed ever so slightly; she looked backwards with a huff.

"Shut up you big baby." She turned back, closing the door more to block Zora out of their conversation. "Look, Nacht. If you need me to make you a crystal then you're going to have to be specific. I can't help you if you don't explain what this is about. Do you know what kind you want? What color? Is there a meaning behind it? Are you giving it to Jojo?" 

"There's... that much to it?" Nacht asked almost in shock at how much Acylla was already asking him; he furrowed his brows when she smiled, nodding.

"Josele it is. Alright. Let me get a robe; this may take a while."

Nacht waited outside Acylla's room until she emerged wrapped in a fluffy robe and carrying a small notepad in her hands. As the door to the woman's room closed, Zora could be heard indignantly shouting "You're still the worst, vice captain!"

Click.

"Hnnn... He doesn't need to exaggerate so much," Acylla groaned rolling her eyes. She then glanced up at Nacht in the corner of her eye. "So, common area?"

"Would you prefer walking or is going by shadow alright with you?" Nacht offered, raising his grimoire.

There was an extended silence as Acylla looked between Nacht's face and their shadows. Nacht took no offense. He understood her hesitation, that she might not yet fully trust him. Then, Nacht and Acylla's eyes met.

Was it cliche to consider her eyes crystal clear? But there was no denying that there was a brightness and sharpness to them, like a polished, cut gemstone. She quietly examined him.

Finally, Acylla answered. "Since you offered, shadows. Just don't lose me on the way."

"And incur the squad's wrath? Certainly not."

One moment they were submerged in darkness and the next, Nacht and Acylla stood in the comfortable space of the hideout's common area. Acylla didn't hesitate to take a seat on a couch.

"So about that crystal you wanted..." She flipped open the notepad and smiled.

Now that they were actually getting ready to figure out what gem it was that Nacht wanted, he was frozen; he didn't know how to proceed with this. He'd spent so long thinking about him and his star, waiting for the moment that they could truly call themselves each others, and...

He didn't know what to do.

"Nacht!" Acylla's voice cut through his thoughts, and he looked at her; her eyes were full of concern despite her outward cool attitude towards him. "Are you okay? You don't have to stress about this that much you know; no matter what, Jojo's going to love this because it's coming from you."

That comment seemed to ground Nacht as he nodded slowly; she was right. So long as this came from him, Josele would love it.

It was still daunting, though.

"Blue." He said with certainty, meeting Acylla's eyes with confidence; the look that the crystal mage gave him was one of waiting.

"Um... Nacht, there are hundreds of shades of blue, and countless blue crystals. Then there's the fact that different blues mean different things." she urged, and he balked.

"You are joking, Acylla; aren't you?" 

"Not at all, actually." Acylla said with a nervous chuckle that had Nacht sighing. He thought about it, and thought about it, but couldn't see the differences in his head.

"Here. I have an idea." Acylla said after a few moments of silence. She placed her notepad down on her thigh, and held her hand towards the table that, for once, was not in splinters nor covered in Vanessa's wine bottles.

Nacht watched as small gems started falling onto the table from Acylla's hand, each one different in size, shape, and even in color; or rather shade. After a few minutes the magic stopped, leaving three rows of blue gems.

"You strike me as a visual learner for this particular subject." She sounded tired, but before he could say anything to her she shook her head. "Look. You and I may not be the best of friends, but you mean the world to Jojo. If this takes us all night, so be it; you wanted my help, and I'm giving it. Take your time, Nacht, and look those over. Find one you like, and we'll narrow things down from there."

It was true. They were not the best of friends; they were barely even friends at all. His reappearance to the squad was one that Acylla did not take towards well, though he couldn't really blame her; he was surprised for a while that she would even talk to him at all. And yet Nacht knew there was no better person to ask for help on this; she knew Josele best aside from himself and Yami, and had one of the biggest hearts on the squad.

She was also one of the only emotionally intelligent Bulls. Everyone else was... well... they're Bulls for a reason.

He looked over the crystals on the table; while it was hard, he could see the faintest of shade changes, and some blues were richer than others. Some were rocky, others smooth, and some downright strange. He picked them up one at a time to better inspect them, until finally he saw one that he liked.

"That one."

Acylla looked at what Nacht was holding, and smiled; "A sapphire. Now we're getting somewhere. You know that to most people they symbolize wisdom and virtue, but… when given to someone you love, particularly as something like an engagement ring, it symbolizes faithfulness and sincerity."

"An engagement ring? Who said anything about an engagement; it's just a gift." Nacht thought he handled that reaction relatively well, but by the look on Acylla's face...

He would never be good at poker. At least with her.

Acylla glanced up at Nacht and tilted her head as she smiled.

"C'mon Nacht, everyone knows you and Jojo are gonna marry eventually."

Nacht pursed his lips and felt his face heat up. Hoping that Acylla wouldn't notice was useless and just trusted she wouldn't comment on it.

"Let's keep the discussion on the crystals," he said as his eyes fell to the sapphire in his hand.

"Right right." Acylla nodded and there was a sigh in her voice. Looks like I'll have to wait on getting an answer to that. She leaned back on the couch and noted the stone and its color range for reference on her notepad. "So what drew you to the stone?"

Nacht was quiet for a moment as he turned the small sapphire between his fingers. "This shade reminds me of Josie. Her grimoire and... when she uses Beacon of Hope, the stars are this same shade of blue."

"Hmm." Acylla tapped the notepad. "Her Star Magic and... You call her 'star' too." Nacht nodded. "Do you perhaps want to lean into that idea of stars? I think I have just the right gem for that."

Nacht smiled. A warm grin that reminded Acylla of Zora whenever he offered to tie a ribbon into her hair. Not that she would tell either men. But it amused her that they were more alike than they would want.

"Yes. If it's possible."

"Well, what you have there is a regular sapphire," Acylla started. She sat up more straight. "But there's a gem called a star sapphire, very similar in color and appearance though not exact. And the symbolism of the stone is that of destiny, faith, and hope."

Nacht's eyes went wide.

"I take it you like the idea?"

"Very much."

Acylla concentrated and created a star sapphire. She then handed it to Nacht to examine more closely.

"Just for an example. And with the gemstone picked out, we can move onto the actual cut of the gem." Acylla went to a new page in the notepad and sketched a few shapes. A teardrop cut. A round cut. And others she had learned over the years. Then she showed the sketches to Nacht. "Which one do you like?"

Nacht took the notepad and pencil from Acylla's hand and flipped to a new page.

"I had something more irregular in mind," he stated, letting out a sound between an exhale and a laugh. He started to jot something down.

Acylla raised a brow. "You had a shape in mind but not the gem?" Then she shook her head. "Better than nothing. So what shape?"

Nacht remained silent for a few more seconds, focusing on the paper. Then, he returned the stationary to Acylla. She looked at what Nacht sketched out. It was the shape of a four-pointed star, with the point facing downward being longer than all the others.

It made Acylla raise her eyebrow. Not a typical shape for an engagement ring. Was this really just a random present for Josele? But then why come to Acylla?

"Huh," was all Acylla could manage.

"Is that a good or a bad—?"

Acylla's gaze shot up to Nacht. "Neutral," she interjected, almost without thinking. "I wasn't expecting this shape." She tapped the shape with her pencil. "It really isn't a ring?"

Nacht groaned, "It really isn't."

Acylla tapped the pencil against her lips as she furrowed her brow. What in the Clover Kingdom was this supposed to be? She understood the star shape was a reference to Josele, but that was it! How was she supposed to work with a man who wouldn't even tell her the whole situation? She couldn't help as much as she wanted in these conditions.

But, she would try.

"Okay… can you at least tell me what size you want this shape to be?" She asked, looking at Nacht in hopes of getting a straight answer.

"Um… average size?"

"Aver— Average size?! For the love of god, Nacht, what the hell do you think ‘average size’ is?" Acylla groaned as she flipped to an empty page and started sketching the odd shape over and over again, each time getting larger and larger in size until there had to be about ten options. "Pick a size. If it's not there, pick the two sizes that you think it falls between."

Nacht sighed a little.

He knew that by not telling her off the bat what it was, it was making this more difficult, but… He just didn't want to make a big deal on something that was for him and Josele. She would see it when they finished.

He glanced over the sketches, and tapped on "Size 4" as the woman had labeled them.

"This one should be perfect; may I see it?"

Acylla nodded and produced a star sapphire of the requested size and shape; it took her a little longer, likely due to the odd shape, but when it was finished she handed it to him.

"Here you are. What do you think?"

Nacht held up the crystal star between two fingers and raised it up. He held it in the direction of a window, letting the moonlight stream in and shine through the gem. Each aspect of the gem came together nicely to make something just right for Josele. And with the touch of Acylla making it, it was even better.

"Josele is sure to love it," Nacht said in answer to Acylla's question. "Now all I need is a second one to match."

Acylla's eye twitched.

"S-second?" Acylla muttered, her hands slowly curling up into fists. But she took a deep breath before she replied. "Seriously Nacht. Earlier you said you needed 'a crystal,' as in singular and now you're telling me you want two?" She screwed her eyes shut and groaned. "You keeping secrets really is making it more difficult..."

"Apologies," Nacht muttered. "If you would like to know, the jewels are meant for earrings."

Acylla's eyes shot open. "Earrings?" She sucked in a breath. "I know it's been a while since Almatra but..."

Nacht sighed and nodded. "I've thought of it. And I'd like to replace that dark past with something more... hopeful."

"Uh-huh... Alright then. Time for number two." Acylla raised her hands, closed her eyes in concentration, and started to call upon her mana. Earrings are an interesting choice. She felt her mana condensing into a solid form.  But I guess the sentiment is in the right place. Jojo's been touching her ears too so she might actually want earrings.

"...lla?"

But why come to me? Nacht could've easily gone to a jeweler for this. Is he really so lazy to not go out? Or... Acylla felt herself frown. No, he's not so low of a person as to take advantage of his position as vice captain.

"Acyl...?"

And what is this even for? Nacht can be thoughtful but to want something so precise for a "random" gift? There has to be some occasion for it.

"Acylla!"

She felt a yank on her hands. There was a small clattering. Looking down, Acylla saw a fractured and foggy blue crystal on the table.

"Ah." She had gotten more distracted than she should've.

"I'm uh… I'm sorry about that." Acylla flexed her fingers as she leaned back into the couch,  watching as small flecks of crystal fell from them; that distraction triggered latent problems with her curse that she hadn't touched on yet. Nothing dangerous, of course, but still something that could prove problematic. 

"What was that, exactly?" Nacht questioned, shocking Acylla somewhat; now he wants to act nice?

"A side effect of my curse that came about due to a cluttered mind; nothing dangerous, just annoying." She answered as she rubbed her face with her hands. "Much like this is turning out to be."

Nacht assumed she had meant to be quieter with her muttering, though he couldn't blame her.

"I have made this go on for longer than I intended. Did you want to stop for now? Until your mind is less cluttered?" Nacht pressed, and Acylla sighed.

I suppose he has to have some care for others for Jojo to see something in him.

"What I want is a straight answer, Nacht. If all you wanted was a pair of earrings then why wouldn't you just go to a jeweler? Am I just a means to an end here? Did you think that as the Vice Captain you could request my services whenever for however long?" Well it wasn't what Acylla was going to say, but it was coming out now. "It's a matter of mutual respect and understanding; you being shady, pardon the pun, breeds none of that here."

Nacht sighed after Acylla finished her outburst which was remarkably quiet despite the fury and annoyance behind the words, and shifted under her now steely gaze. Taking that as his answer, Acylla scoffed.

"Fine. Don't tell me why I just spent a chunk of the night with you when I could have at least been with someone that gives a damn." She clenched her fist. "You know, it really isn't that hard to talk to people, Nacht. It's not like you're going to spontaneously combust if you ask someone for help in a truthful manner. You've been here long enough that I would have hoped you'd dropped this holier than thou attitude you have, but clearly I was wrong." With a glare she smacked her closed fist against the table, and when she opened her hand the second gem came out in perfect condition. "I'll admit. A part of me came out because I was hoping we could begin a better friendship, even if it was just for Jojo's sake, but now that feels like a foolish fantasy. Enjoy your earrings." She turned and started to walk away.

Nacht shot up from his seat and called, "Acylla wait!"

The woman stopped and looked at Nacht over her shoulder. She said nothing, only raised her brow.

Nacht opened his mouth then closed it again. He couldn't say. Or maybe he didn't want to. Regardless, the truth wasn't coming out. In the end, Nacht only averted his gaze and muttered,

"I apologize for the trouble."

Acylla sighed. "You should. Thank you for that at least." She continued on her way. As was her right.

"Goodnight, Miss Acylla," Nacht said to her retreating form. What he got back was a lazy wave of the hand.

When Nacht could no longer see Acylla's form or hear her footsteps, he sat back down. His eyes found the jewels.

They were absolutely flawless. Naturally, they were for Josele's sake so Acylla would put in such effort.

Nacht hunched over and buried his face in his hands. He had made the process difficult. He was the one keeping the truth of the gift a secret. It wasn't that the others would oppose which kept Josele and Nacht from coming out with the news outright. Everyone would know, it just wouldn't be right away. But because Nacht felt he couldn't tell anyone...

And that was the crux of it.

Nacht so often felt like he couldn't say what he wanted or needed to say. It was the case with Morgen, Josele, and Yami. Each and every time, the words he left unsaid hurt someone.

And though the situation wasn't as dire, Nacht had done the same with Acylla.

He had been foolish to think he could involve Acylla while still keeping her in the dark. His thoughts wandered to Acylla's words.

"Mutual respect and understanding." "Begin a better friendship."

She really had been more than generous with him. Perhaps... he should do the same, albeit belatedly...

.....

BAM!

With the bedroom door securely closed, Acylla massaged her temples and groaned.

"I swear... That man..."

"I take it the 'errand' didn't go well," Zora said with a know-it-all tone. Acylla looked over to Zora and found him lounging on the bed, book in hand. "Here's an idea, you and him fight to be vice captain, I'm sure everyone would love to see you beat him into the dirt."

"I think I'll pass on that," Acylla mumbled, shuffling over. She crawled on top of the bed and curled into Zora's side. He was warm. She was tired. The perfect combination.

"Tired, Doll?" Zora's voice was soft as he combed a hand though Acylla's hair.

"And confused," Acylla answered as she closed her eyes. "That damn vice captain really doesn't know what he's doing half the time."

"Keh hee hee. Say that again."

Acylla shook her head. "Later. When I'm rested."

"Aight then."

Sleep didn’t come easily the rest of the night. Even with Zora holding her close and the bed being so comfortable, Acylla’s mind continued to question the situation with Nacht.

She was trying to be friendly, or at least understanding. But Nacht kept his distance. It started to discourage her.

Is my effort wasted? Acylla asked herself in her last moments of consciousness.

…..

When it was morning, Acylla rose early as breakfast duty was hers that day. With her hair tied up and ingredients spread across the counter, she was ready to cook a hearty wake up call for the squad.

It was while she was beating the eggs that she got interrupted.

“Good morning, Miss Acylla.”

She stopped stirring to turn and stare at Nacht. She tried not to glare but she could feel her eyes narrowing a bit.

“Good morning to you too, Nacht,” Acylla replied coolly before returning her attention to the eggs. “This sure is a surprise. I didn’t know you could manifest in daylight.”

Nacht smiled self-deprecatingly and snickered.

“That’s actually a good one. I can see why Josele likes your humor.”

“Ugh. Don’t try to butter me up. It’s not going to work.”

“I know. I just… thought to…” Nacht paused. Acylla glanced at him. His smile had faded and his brows were pinched together. “To return the sentiment you’ve been trying to show me.”

It was Acylla’s turn to pause. She looked at Nacht curiously.

This kind of turn around feels too good to be true. “What’s the catch?” she asked defensively.

Nacht shook his head.

“No catch. That would be unfair to you.”

“O… kay…” Acylla looked at the eggs and decided they were ready for the pan. What am I even supposed to say about this, anyway? “I wish you’d decided to be friendly earlier on...” She poured the eggs into the pan, making them sizzle.

“I understand that,” Nacht sighed. “I don’t even have a reason to be so—”

“Aggravating? Shady? Isolated?”

Nacht shot Acylla a flat stare and she smirked, knowing he couldn’t argue with the assessment.

“Difficult,” Nacht said.

“Yeah, that too.”

Acylla fell silent as she made sure none of the egg stuck to the sides of the pan so as not to bring about Charmy's wrath, hyper aware of Nacht standing not too far behind her; she was certainly curious about what Nacht wanted to talk about, but she didn't want to give him the satisfaction of knowing that he'd piqued her interest.

"First, I owe you an apology; more than one, likely, but this is an apology for making you feel as though I thought I was better than you. I'm not. B—"

"Gee thanks. It's so much—"

"Acylla, if you'd please I would like to finish." Nacht said, interrupting the woman; they both fell silent, the only sound heard was the sizzling in the pan. The moment seemed to last an eternity.

"I'm sorry. Please go on." Acylla said quietly, not looking behind her.

"Thank you. I apologize for ever coming across as someone who believes themselves better than others; with everything that I've done in the past to the people that were trying to be friends to me, I know I am not better than anyone. But in this situation, I just wanted one thing to myself; since joining the squad I've felt out of place, and that everything I once had to myself is now shared. I wanted to be selfish for this moment, but I see that was not the best way to approach such a meaningful topic to the two of us. So here I am to tell you why I wanted those earrings. Josele and I are getting married."

For a second, the sizzling was the only sound that filled the kitchen again; that was until the spatula clattered to the counter as Acylla dropped it, turning around with a mix of joy, suprirse, and relief on her face.

"You're wh—!"

"Please, Miss Acylla, they wish to keep it quiet!" Acylla wasn't entirely sure which of Nacht's devils manifested to fly into her face in a panic, but the shock of the moment caused her to step back and cover her mouth with one hand.

The other hand found its way to the hot stove.

"Shit!" She turned and put her hand under the faucet as Nacht stepped forward to try and help. "Nacht, please; just go and get the burn ointment for me. Also... congratulations?" The strained smile on her face, though worrisome to the both of them, broke through the tension in the kitchen enough to cause them both to chuckle as Nacht nodded.

"Very well. I'll be back in a moment."

While keeping her burned hand under the water, Acylla managed to reach the stove and shut off the heat and slide the pan off the burner to save the eggs.

Married! Josele and Nacht are getting married! Acylla hopped on her toes. The pain in her hand seemed to fade with the joyful news echoing in her mind. It's happening! And here I was, worrying that they'd dance around the topic forever! Although it does feel like it's happening quite suddenly. Have they been sneaking around doing preparations without anyone noticing? Or is it a recent decision? Either way... Suddenly, an impish smile crossed Acylla's face. "Heh heh."

"What are you smiling about?"

Acylla jolted at the sound of Nacht's voice but quickly calmed herself. She turned to him and grinned more warmly.

"Um, the announcement you just made, obviously," Acylla giggled. "It's—!"

"A secret." Nacht put a finger in front of his lips, the corners of which were turned up. He stepped up to Acylla and helped her tend to her wound. As he did, he met Acylla's gaze. "Thank you, by the way."

"You're welcome. Those crystals weren't all that—"

"Not just the crystals," Nacht interjected. "But for being Josie's friend and for... giving me a chance."

Acylla smiled back. "I try."

Nacht finished wrapping Acylla's hand. Acylla tested the movement of it then looked to Nacht.

"Think you could help me with breakfast? I'll forgive you for last night's troubles if you do."

The man chuckled. "I certainly can help."

..........

~BONUS SCENE~

The making of breakfast passed by quickly with Nacht's help, and Acylla found it rather enjoyable to have the company and learn more about the once-negligent vice captain—

"Wait, so you've been working with the devils for more than ten years now? That's incredible!"

"Yes. And since meeting them, they've become dear companions of mine." There was an echo of "Aww....we love you too, Master Nacht!" from the shadows.

She learned about the fiance to one of her dearest friends—

"I assure you that we will tell the others with time. But for now I ask for a bit of discretion, please?"

"Of course, Nacht; I understand now."

And she learned of the sort of best friend to one Yami Sukehiro—

"How many embarrassing things do you actually know about Yami?"

"Enough to make him want to kill me if I dared speak them."

"Pfft! Oh no!"

She hadn't stopped smiling since Nacht gave her the news, the pain in her hand not a damper to her joy. However, there was one thing that still needed to be discussed....

When breakfast finished and the youngest Bulls went to take care of all the dishes, Acylla found her way to Zora and sat beside him; she had a mischievous look on her face.

"What's up with you, Doll?" Zora asked with a raised eyebrow. Acylla laughed.

"You remember that bet we had, Z?"

[lostintheloom]

An amateur urban explorer records his first and only expedition... and my very similar story at Wolfskuhlen

I actually had a similar experience. There is a big house called Wolfskuhlen in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. I lived not too far away from it back then. Less than one hour by bicycle… if you know the right way.

Back in 2007, I visited Wolfskuhlen for the first time, being only 15 years old, looking like a small Avril Lavigne. I had an enormous curiosity for horror, mysteries, but also for morbid and disturbing things. (I still have it but not that intense). So, I decided to go there all alone. In 2007, I didn't have a smartphone available, only an old Nokia phone for emergencies. I wrote down some directions and street names and even drew a little map. Equipped with a cheap digital camera and a flashlight, I embarked on a little journey into the unknown.

I completely lost my way amidst all the fields and ended up investigating the wrong forested area where I found the ruins of what seemed to be a small chapel or something like it. It had a big round table, a very small tower, and a well. Very unusual for Germany, especially that area. The atmosphere was somewhat melancholic but beautiful, and I listened to some music there while taking photos. Sadly, I no longer have those photos.

Later, I decided to find Wolfskuhlen. It was getting dark, and it started to get a bit eerie as I rode between the fields. It got darker and darker as the streetlights disappeared when I entered some dirt roads. The light from my bike was very weak, and I started to worry about getting completely lost in the dark. Somehow, I managed to find the house. It was a bit more intact than when I visited it a few years later.

I entered the house and found a strange room in the cellar with upside-down cruciform alcoves in the walls. There were things like candles and all sorts of junk lying around, as well as some creepy-looking metal gear, like big chains and a machine I couldn't recognize.

By now, the moon was shining down. I went behind the house because I had heard about a small graveyard and a bridge being there. There was indeed a bridge, but most of the area was inaccessible due to overgrown vegetation. Wolfskuhlen is surrounded by many legends and mysteries. As far as I know, it was the residence of a count or something like that. It burned down and became an orphanage where terrible things are said to have happened. There are stories about children being buried and walled in while still alive. Later, it burned down again. Some Devil worshippers held rituals or masses there in the 90s.

While returning to my bike, I wanted to go through the house again because it was easier than going around it. The ground was a muddy mess, and the vegetation had been left untended by humans for many years.

Then, I heard something in the house. It sounded like whispering. I took a few steps back, and the sounds disappeared. After a moment of silence, I heard loud footsteps in the house. It sounded like someone was walking around in there. It really gave me the chills. I was too afraid to use my flashlight and tried to run away through the area behind the house. I managed to find a small "passage" through the bushes and trees. It seemed like I could reach the road by taking that route. Eventually, I reached the road. I had to go back to the house to get my bike. While unlocking it, I looked back at the house and saw two figures that looked like women carrying some… large ropes? I was almost terrified and drove back to the streets of Budberg (the small town near the house) as fast as I could.

I visited the house two more times, in 2008 and 2009, I believe. But I brought friends with me then. I'm not going to do something like that alone again. It really taught me a lesson.

Sadly, the house had almost completely collapsed during our later visits. I wouldn't dare to enter that ruin now. It's too dangerous. I'm not sure how it looks today.

Here is a photograph I took back in 2007:

My reddit-post, containing the photograph: https://www.reddit.com/r/creepy/comments/3u2rko/i_wandered_this_forsaken_place_a_few_years_ago/

Fun fact: There is a German black metal band that used an old drawing of the house as the cover for one of their demo tapes. I can't remember the band's name right now, but I'm sure it's Wolfskuhlen.

This is what Wolfskuhlen looked like a long time ago:

[rock-and-roll-hell]

Nobody knows how to tie the simple knots that I know She grinds her leather like Liberace rhines a stone Gettin' weak in the knees and your bruises are beginnin' to show She rides just like a pony, gonna sign that filly up for the rodeo

I ain't no boy of bondage, you can use it, you can use it I'm a loose-lip talkin' jockey with a whip and track to prove it I'm the dehumanizing master You better start your talkin' 'cause I get what I go after

Where, where there's a whip, there's a way (I'm gonna tighten up the slack in your chains) Where, where there's a whip, there's a way The devil in she likes sweet beatin' dreams every day Where, where there's a whip, there's a way (I'm gonna take you, gonna take you away)

[dex-katsuragi]

Devil of the Rhine.

[anime-of-the-day]

Anime of the day underrated isekai ?

To answer your question, I’ll have to break the genre down a bit. When I think if isekai, I think of the action adventure fantasy types, the slice of life types, and the romance types. I’ve gone ahead an included the ones I plan to watch at the bottom. I know that some of these are more well known. I just kinda picked the ones I enjoyed watching.

Adventure/Fantasy:

Ascendance of a Bookworm is about a girl who is obsessed with books. After dying under a pile of books, she is reincarnated as a sickly girl in a loving family; however, in order to achieve her goal of having books, she will have to revolutionize the world. I’ve had so much fun reading the light novels of this series, and the anime does a good job adapting it.

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime is a slime who wants to become friends with humanity. While he was originally a human, Rimuru is now a slime, and while he didn’t have an original goal, after meeting a dragon and some goblins, he sets his sights on befriending humanity. I’m currently on volume 8 of Slime’s light novel series. I was reading a volume a day for a while there. I’ve been holding myself back on reading number 8.

Saga of Tanya the Evil is about a man who, after dissing a god, is reincarnated into the body of a girl. However, he takes his position as Tanya very seriously, and he plans to give Tanya, who was a starving orphan, a better life. So, Tanya joins the military and earns the nickname the "Devil of the Rhine. I also collect this series. It was such a switch from the standard isekai format.

So I'm a Spider, So What? Is about a girl who’s whole class gets reincarnated, but she doesn’t know this. She ends up a spider and does anything and everything she can to survive. By now you probably recgonize a pattern. I also collect this one.

Reincarnated as a Sword is another strange recarnation story. This is the story of Fran, a black cat beastman who yerns to evolve, and Shishou, a man who was reincarnated into a magical sword. The light novels for this series are so fun to read! I can’t wait for the next volume to drop!

Overlord is one of the big names in the genre. You have probably seen it. I also collect this one.

The Boy and the Beast is about a boy who accidentally stumbles into a beast realm. It is here that he makes a home, but the more time he spends in the human world, the more he wonders what life might be like on the other side.

My Isekai Life: I Gained a Second Character Class and Became the Strongest Sage in the World is about a guy who gets epic slime master powers.

Slice Of Life:

Restaurant to Another World is about a restaurant who’s door magically appears in specific places. Once inside the guests can enjoy a wide range of food. I do collect this series. It can be challenging to get volumes for it, but I try.

Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear is about a gamer girl who is tossed into a fantasy world with an overpowered bear onesie. And while she is embarrassed by her attire, she doesn’t let it stop her from enjoying her life.

I've Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level is about a witch who has been killing slimes for about 300 years and has accidently maxed out her level. Once words starts getting around, challengers start showing up ruing Azusa’s easy going life.

Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill is about a guy who cooks in another world. I feel like a lot of these titles are self explanatory.

Farming Life in Another World is about guy who wanted a nice easy life farming, so he gets reincarnated with a magic farming tool and gets dropped in the middle of an extremely dangerous forest, but he doesn’t know this, and he builds a farm.

Parallel World Pharmacy is about a medical researcher who is reborn as a ten-year-old named Falma. He decides he wants to help people, and he crates a medical practice; however, this worlds medican is crazy different from what he is use to, so he’s gonna be making a lot of waves.

Uncle from Another World is about an uncle who was in a coma in the human world, but who was reincarnated into a fantasy world. One day he wakes up and he has to learn how to handle living in the modern world. He is also a hard core SEGA fan.

Romance:

The Saint's Magic Power is Omnipotent is about Sei, an office worker reincarnated into another world. However, she was not the only one summoned. Aira was also summoned, and the crown prince decrees that Aira, who was a high schooler, is the saint and he completely ignores Sei. So, she joins a research instatude and enjoys her life. That is till she accidentally starts tossing around incredible amounts of magic everywhere. Volume 8 of this series will be coming out soon. I can’t wait!

Why Raeliana Ended up at the Duke's Mansion is about Raeliana being reincarnated into a book she has read. Which means she knows her character is distended to die, so now she must find a way around her death without destroying the plot too much.

My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! Is about a gamer girl who is reincarnated into an otome game as the villainess, but she doesn’t want to have a crappy ending, so she takes over hellbent on not dying.

I'm the Villainess, So I'm Taming the Final Boss is about a girl who decides, after being reincarnated as a villainess, to make the demon king her husband. I also collect this series; it’s quite funny.

The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady is about Anis, who can’t use magic but creates magical devices the work kinda like magic, and Euphyllia, Anis’s brother’s ex-fiance. Because Ains can’t use magic, she cannot rule and is kinda useless, so her brother is forced into an engagement to Euphyllia, who he publicly rejects in place of a commer girl. So, Ains tries to fix Euphyllia’s messed up life. I collect this series too.

Ones I Haven’t Watched Yet, But Am Very Intrested In:

Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon

Saving 80,000 Gold in Another World for My Retirement

Isekai Izakaya: Japanese Food From Another World

The Most Heretical Last Boss Queen

I'm in Love with the Villainess

Suicide Squad Isekai

No Longer Allowed In Another World

[thewondermentofillustration]

A Ballad of Rupert They are praying in the ranks Of the Roundheads, giving thanks For the Mercies of the Lord! But the silken sons of sin, They will cut a pathway in For the Devil with the sword!

Lo! the shaven varlets stand With their guns on either hand But as justice, God, is thine, Will their insolence and trust Now be trampled in the dust By the Rider of the Rhine!

'Twas the dour Sir John who stood With his henchman by the wood, As I galloped in the lead, And I thought of Lady May, As I faced him in the fray, And a wicked traitor's deed.

He had wrought me cruel shame, He had mired my lady's name. There was red upon my steel, Ere I stamped is evil face, in repayment for disgrace, Underneath my chargers heel.

Yea, his bullet broke my thigh, But I watched the squadron by Till, beyond the the lifted smoke, Like a torrent from its banks, On the reeling Roundhead ranks In a mighty flood they broke.

And the last glad sound that day In mine rears where low I lay, That I heard in music ring, Was the heart-uplifting cheers Of our joyous cavaliers For Prince Rupert and the King.

Oh the blade was like a star Of that dauntless Avatar And his heart was strong as wine, Oh, my leader and my lord! Oh, my Rider of the Rhine!

There was never such as he On the land or on the sea! There was ne'er a Prince like mine. Lift your flagons with a will! Let us drink, my comrades still, To our Rupert of the Rhine!

Alek Sass - A Ballad of Rupert, The Lone Hand, Vol. 6 No. 34, 1st February, 1910

[timelesstimesgoneby]

Go For Broke

Gung Ho

War Head

The Devil's Cavaliers

Escape from Angola

The Mark of the Hawk

The Proud and the Damned

Yellowneck

Three Came Home

The Torch

Hell in Normandy

The Adventures of Tartu

Captain Scarlett

The Last Chance

The Bushwackers

This Is the Army

Kansas Pacific

The Avenger

Blood on the Sun

Flying Blind

Eagle in a Cage

The Big Lift

British Intelligence

Submarine Alert

Appointment in Tokyo

The Battle of Britain

The Memphis Belle

Divide and Conquer

The Battle of China

The Battle of Russia

Desert Victory

The Great Battle of the Volga

Prelude to War

The Nazis Strike

Attack in the Pacific

Attack! The Battle for New Britain

After Mein Kampf

Nuremberg Trials

The Secret Life of Adolf Hitler

Combat America

December 7, 1941

Payoff in the Pacific

True Glory

Tunisian Victory

The KGB Connections

Report from the Aleutians

The Stilwell Road

Submarine Warfare

Thunderbolt

To the Shores of Iwo Jima

Marines at Tarawa-Return to Guam

The Battle of San Pietro

The Pacific in Eruption

Awakening in the Pacific

The Rise of the Japanese Empire

America Goes to War in the Pacific

The U.S. and the Philippines

The Navy Holds - 1942

Guadalcanal: America's First Offensive

War in the North: The Aleutians

The Road Back: New Guinea

up the solomon's ladder bougainville

Attack in the Central Pacific:

Makin and Tarawa

The War at Sea

Speeding Up the Attack:

The Marshalls

Stepping Stones to the Philippines

Battle for the Marianas

The War in the China - Burma

India Theatre

Palau: The Fight for Bloody Nose Ridge

MacArthur Returns to the Philippines

Bloody Iwo

At Japan's Doorstep: Okinawa

The Air War on Japan

the surrounded and occupation of japan

Shiting Tides in the Orient

War in Korea

Prelude to War

America's Unpreparedness

America Goes to War

Platform for Invasion

Africa, Our First Offensive

The Campaign

Rommel Routed

Sicily, Operation Huskey Assault on Italy

Assault on Italy

The GI, Hero of the War

Victory in Italy

Preparation for Invasion

D-Day, August 4th

Beachhead and Breakthrough

Liberation of Paris

Pursuit

The Battle of Supply

The Air War

The Battle of the Bulge

Crossing the Rhine

Overrunning Germany

Victory's Aftermath

Russia

Review