#after the “burnt dinners” I think it's time to draw them with their children ...

[clj-art-blog]

Her Damutou & His Xiaohuayao And a "slightly" burnt dinner...🔥🫣😏

[otmaaromanovas]

Hey would you mind Could you give us a huge insight of Maria and Anastasia Nikolaevna's personalitys? in some rare quotes said by someone who met them both ?

I would love to read more facts and quotes about the little pair .

Hello! Of course! I'm going to split this into two parts: this part will be about Maria, and another post will be about Anastasia.

Here are some rare, lesser known quotes, about Maria Nikolaevna (or writings from Maria herself) that capture her personality well.

"Marie was kindness and unselfishness personified" - Olga Voronova, Upheaval

Letter from Olga to aunt Xenia - "1916 August 26th … Papa brings an attendant with him to dinner, and Mordvinov comes every evening and we torment and scare him. Yesterday we discharged the conductor and drew a beard, moustache and eyebrows with a burnt cork on Marie and put her on the train. Of course, he didn't recognize her, and he was terribly tormented when during a game of hide and seek in the dark, she ran into him in the corridor and rudely pushed him. He said that it was some kind of half-drunk conductor, and found her impudent, because we gave her cigarettes and she paced about importantly, smoking them." - George Hawkins, Correspondence of the Russian Grand Duchesses: Letters of the Daughters of the Last Tsar

"The other Grand Duchesses were still children. Marie Nicholatevna was a robust, well developed little girl with big blue eves, of a typical Russian beauty. She had an excellent memory and every time somathing to be remembered her sisters always turned to her. - Alexander Spiridovitch, Last Years at Tsarskoe Selo, Volume 2

"One day the little Grand Duchess Anastasie was sitting in my lap, coughing and choking away, when the Grand Duchess Marie came to her and putting her face close up to her said, " Baby, darling, cough on me." Greatly amazed, I asked her what she meant, and the dear child said, " I am so sorry to see my dear little sister so ill, and I thought if I could take it from her she would be better." Was it not touching?" - Margaretta Eagar, Six Years at the Russian Court

The following are from George Hawkins, Alexei: Russia's Last Tsesarevich - Letters, diaries and writings - volume 1:

Note from Alexandra to Alexei, dated 1 December 1914: "Don’t tease Maria."

Letter from Tatiana to Alexei, Spring-Summer 1916 "...Taube [patient] (the one with no legs, do you remember him?) and Marie yell so you’d think the whole infirmary can hear them, they make such a fuss, and they all shout and argue. It is awfully funny to watch them."

Letter from Maria to Alexei after Alexei asked Maria to draw Joy the dog: "16 December 1916. My dear darling Alexei! I don’t know how big you want me to draw Joy, but I will give it a go, and if it doesn’t turn out, I can do it again…. I have just tried to sketch Joy but it didn't work out because I don’t really remember what he looks like and it ended up looking nothing like him, so I won’t send it to you. When you bring Joy to me, then I will be able to draw him."

The following are from Joseph T. Fuhrmann, Nicholas II and Alexandra Feodorovna. The complete Wartime Correspondence April 1914 – March 1917:

Alexandra to Nicholas "[January] 24 1915 …Marie stands at the door & alas! picks her nose..."

Alexandra to Nicholas "January 2 1916 …Baby began writing his first diary yesterday. - Marie helped him, his spelling is of course queer."

Alexandra to Nicholas "April 2 1916 …Marie is in a grump mood & grumbles all the time & bellows at one, she & Olga have B. [Codeword for 'Becker', meaning their periods]"

The following are from George Hawkins, Correspondence of the Russian Grand Duchesses: Letters of the Daughters of the Last Tsar:

Fanmail letter from American girl Dolores Sybilla Adam to Olga and Tatiana: "Jan 24 1913 …I cannot ever thank you enough for the picture that was sent to me… But tell me is Marie the only one that ever smiles…?"

Letter from Maria to Tatiana: "Tatiana my darling. Thank you very much for the note and good wishes. Although I have not seen my husband [an inside joke amongst the sisters, most likely referring to their crushes] yet, I did see him in a dream. Today we will go to the Grand Palace and I hope that Provotorov (i.e.: your husband) will tell us a lot of nonsense. It’s boring without you. I hope that I will see ND [Nikolai Dmitrievich Demenkov, her crush] again… 9th Dec. 1914"

Letter from Maria to Olga Voronova: "Dec 29th 1914 …The other day we were at a Christmas party at Mama's nanny school. There are now many children of the reserves, so awfully sweet! We gave them all toys and they rejoiced in them, and each showed his nanny what he received. They are so appetising. Some are very small, some are even only two weeks old. I really love young children, and play with them, holding them in my arms. Do you like little children?"

Letter from Pierre Gilliard to Maria: "10 December 1916 …Be careful, Maria Nikolaevna, if you continue to tease me, I will avenge myself!!!!"

Letter from Olga to Nicholas II: "16 August [circa 1904] - Peterhof. Dear Papa …Maria went to sleep in the afternoon, and Anastasia crept under the mattress and slept there with Maria on top of her. When she got up we all laughed, and so did she." - Maylunas and Mironenko, A Lifelong Passion

Letter from Alexandra to Nicholas: "14 June 1915 - I congratulate you with all my loving heart for our big Marie’s 16th birthday… Pity you are not here. She enjoyed all her presents, I gave her her first ring from us made out of one of my Buchara diamonds. She is so cheery and gay today." - Maylunas and Mironenko, A Lifelong Passion

Letter from Anastasia to Nicholas: "26 August 1915 …I am sitting on the couch near Alexei as he is having dinner with M. Gilliard, while Maria is running around like crazy. …This morning [Doctor] Ostrogorsky came to see me, but Maria and I were still in bed, then Maria covered herself with the blanket, then he entered and listened to my [lungs], but when he finished, I quietly uncovered the blanket and Maria had to climb out, and she was very embarrassed." - Helen Azar, George Hawkins, Anastasia Romanov: The Tsar's Youngest Daughter Speaks Through Her Writings

"When I first knew the Grand Duchess Marie, she was quite a child, but during the Revolution she became very devoted to me, and I to her, and we spent most of our time together — she was a wonderful girl, possessed of tremendous reserve force, and I never realised her unselfish nature until those dreadful days. She too was exceeding fair, dowered with the classic beauty of the Romanoffs; her eyes were dark blue, shaded by long lashes, and she had masses of dark brown hair. Marie was plump, and the Empress often teased her about this; she was not so lively as her sisters, but she was much more decided in her outlook. The Grand Duchess Marie knew at once what she wanted, and why she wanted it." - Lili Dehn, The Real Tsaritsa

"Count Grabbe says of the Tsar's third daughter, clearly his favorite: "With her large gray, luminous eyes, her classical features, and languorous movements, she was the true type of Russian beauty, the most good- natured and artless of the four sisters, with endearing qualities which drew people to her." More outgoing than her older sisters, Maria Nikolaievna loved children and used to talk to soldiers about their families. She knew the names of many of the Koncoy Cossacks and Standart sailors, took an interest in their affairs and managed out of her $9 a month allowance to send little gifts to their children. With all her gentle ways, she was strong and solidly built, like her grandfather Alexander III. Her sisters called her "Mashka" and sometimes "Little Bow-wow."" - Count Alexander Grabbe, The private world of the last Tsar, in the photographs and notes of General Count Alexander Grabbe

"The Grand Duchess Maria Nicholaevna was a young wcnnan of broad build. She was very strong; for example, she could lift me up from the ground. She had lighter hair than Tatiana, but darker than Olga. (Olga Nicholaevna had brown hair, of a golden shade, and Maria Nicholaevna had brown hair with a light shade.) She had very nice, light grey eyes. She was very good looking, but got too thin after her illness. She had a great talent for painting and always liked to exercise it. She played the piano indifferently and was not as capable as Olga or Tatiana. She was modest and simple and probably had the qualities of a good wife and mother. She was fond of children and was inclined to be lazy. She liked Tobolsk and told me that she would be quite happy to stay there. It is quite difficult for me to tell you whom she preferred — her father or her mother." - Examination of Sidney Gibbes, The Last Days of the Romanovs

"The Grand Duchess Maria was eighteen ; she was tall, strong, and better looking than the other sisters. She painted well and was the most amiable. She always used to speak to the soldiers, questioned them, and knew very well the names of their wives, the number of their children, and the amount of land owned by the soldiers. All the intimate affairs in such cases were always known to her. Like the Grand Duchess Olga, she loved her father more than the rest. On account of her simplicity and affability she was given the pet name by the family of "Mashka." And by this term she was called by her brother and by her sisters." - Examination of Commissar E. S. Kobylinsky, The Last Days of the Romanovs

Hope you found it interesting or learnt something new! Will post Anastasia's a little later :)

[xjulixred45x]

How would be manon interacting with klaus and karin? What would be vince/rody think about it?

aww that would definitely be adorable!

Manon has definitely interacted with Klaus a lot in the time she and Rody have been together. either because of the times when Rody acted as babysitter for his parents taking care of him or even because of Rody himself wanting his two favorite people to interact with each other.

Rody, like I said, is the type of older brother who brags a lot about his little brother for being so smart and yada yada. so Manon finds Klaus to be a very adorable and tender child.

I can definitely see Klaus drawing pictures of Manon, of Manon with Rody, of Manon, Rody and him together, etc. The two end up having a fit of tenderness.

Klaus is also one of the (un)lucky ones who gets to try Manon's food, which although it is better than oatmeal or burnt cereal...yes, let's say that Manon is lucky that Klaus is as polite as he is sweet.

MANON FIXING KLAUS'S CLOTHES BECAUSE RODY DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO SEW SHIT I CAN'T--

Manon was the one who took care of Klaus when Rody couldn't and even went to pick him up from school, so in general I would say that she loved him a lot (especially being an only child) and was happy that he and Rody loved each other.

Rody loved the dynamic between Manon and Klaus. And I even fantasized about what it would be like if Manon would play the same way she does with Klaus with her children, maybe? one day?

After the breakup, it was difficult for both Manon and Rody to explain the situation to Klaus :'(although she would probably agree to take care of Klaus occasionally to 1- do Rody a favor and 2- Klaus is a sweetheart, how can she tell him No?

With Vincent it is a much more complicated case, I would say that he even doesn't like Manon interacting with Karin, but at least he has a reason. Since knowing that Manon is using him as a rebound, he believes that if she tries to get closer to Karin it is out of interest. and he doesn't want to involve Karin in this drama.

but...on the other hand...he can't really do much against Manon when Karin genuinely warms to her (and vice versa).

I imagine Vince is SUPER strict with the babysitters he hires for Karin, like, he has a whole roster of rules they have to follow if they want to work AT HIS HOUSE with HIS DAUGHTER. and Vince fires without hesitation those who have broken one rule or more (even something like eating fast food or delivery is worthy of firing in his eyes).

and the few nannies who stay don't stay for long. They love Karin but HATE Vince. so they work occasionally/in emergencies. so Vince ends up in a bind now that the restaurant is more popular and he needs to supervise it.

So he takes advantage of Manon's interest and has her as a FREE babysitter so Karin can have a proper babysitter without him worrying.....although in this AU it is most likely that this will backfire and Manon will end up going his home ONLY for Karin🤣(like that meme of "MOVE BITCH!!")

Manon and Karin would do a lot of girly things, draw together, go shopping (with Vince's money lol), do crafts, they tried to cook dinner together once and surprisingly it didn't turn out too bad? It was not burned or too bitter, that's progress!

Manon would even stay OVERTIME so she could read Karin a bedtime story and she's definitely the type of person who will bitch at Karin's Bullies if she runs into them. She helps Karin gain confidence by telling her how cute and smart she is :3 I can see Manon doing many hairstyles for Karin, braids, pigtails, buns, etc. And she also lets Karin do her makeup or let her draw her.

definitely in this rare AU Manon has a much better chance of surviving 😅 thanks to the favor of the adorable children.

[tia-amorosa]

Sunset Died - Bunch Family (2)

At the hospital, Judy has an interesting conversation with Yumi. "I was at the town hall two days ago and handed in my Testament. "/"oh, I thought you would have done that a long time ago"/"no, when my son was still alive, I hadn't given it much thought. But now… It's important to me that Sam is well when I'm gone. I don't want him to end up in an orphanage or with the wrong people.“.

"and who did you have in mind instead? would you like to hand over guardianship to someone?"/ "yes,… things are going very well for the little one at the moment, Morgana and her husband are taking very good care of him…". Judy raised her eyebrows with a smile. "The two of them?"/ "mhm. And I really hope he'll be fine. Besides, I don't think it will be long before they have a family of their own." Judy had to smile a little. "my goodness, the things you notice, hnhn…".

"Well, it's unavoidable to hear something in this house that you shouldn't necessarily hear. But I very much hope that they will accept my wish"/ "I hope so… And if not, I'm sure we'll find another solution, you won't be alone, Sam"/ "I'd at least like to see my son's gravestone given a good place in the cemetery"/ "You will, I promise".

Later, while the children are busy with themselves and the wife is on her way home, Jack takes care of the garden. It's a miracle that the blast didn't tear the apple trees out of the ground. The ones he had planted before his children were born. "I might have to get rid of the weeds".

It's just after 8 p.m. when Judy arrives back home. And Jack is always happy when she's back. Since his accident, he has been concentrating more on his family and getting to know and appreciate his wife again. "it's good to have you home again".

"I always come home, Jack"/ "I know. But since this thing, I've just become a bit more sensitive. It's almost embarrassing… I'm actually in the military and I'm used to other things. I've seen comrades die… And friends here…"/ "And I'm still here. I need your help, Jack, or rather Morgana and Jamie".

They sat down together on the sofa. "What's wrong with them?"/ "There's nothing wrong with them, but they would like to expand their equipment for the infirmary. They found an intact X-ray machine in the cellar under the old hospital. But it doesn't work without electricity…"/ "mhm, that's logical, yes"…

"They would need a generator to get the thing running. and they would only ever switch it on when they really need it. After that, it's turned off again, to save gas, of course"/ "finding a generator isn't the hardest thing, but gas?"/ "maybe at the old gas station? It can't all have been burnt there"/ "no".

"It's been a while, there was a rumor that they had found an underground pipe through which the petrol was pumped out of the filling station and diverted"/ "and where to?"/ "The old warehouse,…they've probably already sold it all on the black market"/ "do you think? Maybe there are still some leftovers there…"/ "Nobody drives here by car anymore anyway".

"That doesn't have to mean anything, Jack. There's bound to be something else. Can't you check?"/ "hmm…"/ "Or ask Xander. He may have chosen the wrong side, but he's got his heart in the right place… He works there"/ "Well, you can't call it work either… OK, is there still time until tomorrow?"/ "Sure. I'll make us dinner now".

While Judy is preparing dinner, her son can come to her. "Couldn't Holly stay?"/ "No, she wanted to be a decent daughter and sleep between mommy and daddy again."/ "She's not really doing that?"/ "No, of course not,… What are you making?"/ "Cheese noodles"/ "with that disgusting milk powder? Oh man… Do you know what would be important here? A few cows"/ "and where should we get them?"/ "yeah… good question…".

The day draws to a close and night falls. Lisa managed to be home in time for dinner. She was supposed to be home earlier, but… As is the case with teenagers, they always find it hard to get away from each other.

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

End of Part 2

@greenplumbboblover 💓

Poses by @poses-by-bee 🥰

[toku-explained]

Sentika F8ABA6 Jisariz

This series of 15 minute episodes is the product of Inoue Masahiro's PINK no Tokusatsu project. As the episodes are freely available, and GINGANEN have even provided subs, I think it's fair to go over the whole series like this.

While things will gradually change, each episode sees schoolgirl Ayuka awaken in a new world after dying, Jisariz hunting her, while the enigmatic Radkeeper "observes". It seems like this has been going on for a while, a nightmare haunting Ayuka, but Jisariz has only now started talking to her.

We begin in what looks like a future cityscape, also in the OP, Jisariz discarding a letter notifying him of disciplinary action, before jumping worlds

Episode 1 takes place in a forest, Radkeeper watches a candle burn down. Ayuka's phone doesn't work. Jisariz stops her after she falls while running for him, giving her a knee injury, and reveals he's been able to predict where she will go due to her unconsciously always choosing to go left, he then catches her again when she deliberately goes right, as he predicted she would after hearing his advice. She winds up at a cabin near a cliffside, as night falls and the candle is near burnt out, Jisariz offers her a knife, telling her she can only return to her own world if he kills her or she kills him. When she doesn't take it, be pushed her from the cliff.

Episode 2 appears to be more of a funfair. Radkeeper watches a toy robot wind down. Ayuka's legs is still injured, and she is soon beset by soldiers, who hunt her down seeing she's human. She gets away thanks to a distraction from Jisariz and remembering his advice, but encounters a woman who also wants to kill her. Jisariz appears after a giant bear and the soldiers turn up, and uses her phone to initiate a Keitai Henka, placing the phone into the headset that appears. This seems to reveal Jisariz's form is an image projected on a black body, which then inverts into F8ABA6 Jisariz, which fights with a sickle and defeats all of them, revealing they are all toys bearing grudges against humans for discarding them, that's the purpose of this world. Ayuka picks up the bear before Jisariz informs her this isn't the world she is looking for, and shoots her dead with a toy gun.

Episode 3 sees Ayuka wake up in a bed, hearing a musical tone reminds her of singing with a precious friend, but she remembers nothing about them. When she instinctually sings, she is interrupted by a woman, who informs her telepathically that speaking is forbidden, introducing herself as Rinko. Rinko reads Ayuka's mind to learn of what's happened, when her roommate, Soutarou returns, they'll let her stay for a bit. They note the music has been playing a long time, but don't know why. There were lyrics, and Rinko recalls singing them with Araragi when they were children. Later at dinner, Araragi and a cohort knock on the door, ready to punish all of them from Ayuka talking when she awoke. They try to flee, but Ayuka yelps in pain and they're caught, Soutarou opts to hold them off, one keeps up. Ayuka then apologises for running into someone, drawing public ire, Rinko pushes her away so their pursuer chases her, as Ayuka is lead by a voice to a man in eccentric clothing like Jisariz, but his focal colour is blue. He is called Fobia, and also speaks freely, and helps her, as Jisariz has also arrived. Fobia explains that the ban on speaking was due to telepathy being freely available, and any hidden intentions could not be hidden by telepathy. However, Fobia wants to change this world, and wants her help to do so, casually mentioning if she doesn't return her world will be destroyed, then is interrupted by Jisariz arriving. Jisariz rejects the notion they were ever friends, and Fobia mentions both of them desire to possess Ayuka, and the two start clashing, and Ayuka is left watching in shock.

Episode 4, continuing on, sees Jisariz criticise Fobia wanting to change this world, Fobia arguing leading is part of the duty of the Sentika, and mocking Jisariz for losing the Revuke, but is then made to realise they've drawn attention from people shocked they're speaking outloud, Radkeeper is there with a helium balloon. Fobia leaves, and Jisariz advises Ayuka not to trust him, she doesn't have the will to kill him yet, but does have a request. Araragi and Tsurumaru captured Soutarou and Rinko, and are demanding explanations about Ayuka, fearing others will start speaking freely, as the two defiantly do so. Owing the pair, Ayuka requests Jisariz help free them, and they all flee together, people witnessing seem more envious of the fact they speak out than angry at doing so, Soutaro and Rinko call out they should do so. Jisariz sees Radkeeper's balloon is nearly down, Fobia now opting to challenge him while Jisariz is out of time. His own Keitai Henka sequence transforms him into the blue, gun wielding 0066C0 Fobia. Jisariz uses Ayuka's phone again, but Fobia thinks he shouldn't have been able to Keitai Henka, however his ranged fighting keeps Jisariz at bay. Jisariz encourages Ayuka to help the people break the shackles of silence by starting to sing the song. She is reluctant, but starts and Jisariz works to close the distance to Fobia, initially only Soutarou and Rinko sing, but by the time Araragi and Tsurumaru arrive the whole crowd has joined in the song, wishing for a new world, and by the end even they have accepted it, as Jisariz defeats Fobia, but he no longer has a need for Ayuka and lets Jisariz continue. Jisariz and Ayuka reunite, and an image appears in the air to Ayuka, a picture of F8ABA6 Jisariz's arm, he has her open the Revuke app and place it in one of 6 empty spaces on a flower pattern. Collecting these proofs of her accomplishments is what she should be doing. She thanks him for helping her and saving this world, and he stand her. Soutarou and Rinko briefly notice she's gone, but are distracted by further conversation. In a dark room, a group monitor worlds, lead by the man called Zeigen.

In episode 5, Ayuka awakens to find her vision basically non-existent, and is surrounded by masked people wondering if she's human. They're scared off, and she's helped up, by Marou Kaijin Gulf, alongside his brother Gallia. She's perturbed when Gallia let's slip they're all Kaijin, and Yabai Kamen and an entourage make comments that they may be disrupting the balance, then leaves after spotting Jisariz nearby. Jisariz is currently with Radkeeper, who wears a mask and had a spinning pinwheel. The brothers let Ayuka sleep, the first human they've seen, and Gulf thinks he can cure her eyesight with a herb mentioned in an old book as being in the Valley of Fear. Gallia wants to go, but Gulf warns the book's info could be outdated, among other things. Yabai Kamen plans to set a trap. Ayuka and the brothers have dinner, and Ayuka explains she has something to fulfill and then she'll leave, Gallia, saddened, runs off. Wishing he could be human too, Yabai Kamen corners him, and tells him there's only one thing he can do to keep her safe. Gallia agreed to do it.

Episode 6 opens with Ayuka having explained what's happened to Gulf, when Jisariz approaches, Gulf recognises him from the description and defends Ayuka, Gallia returns and drags her away, Yabai Kamen then double crosses him, intending to make her into an exhibit. Gallia tells Gulf what happened, and Jisariz, seeing time running out thanks to Radkeeper, sends them to the Valley of Fear. Jisariz arrives at Yabai Kamen's base and knocks out the others as Gulf and Gallia discuss their desire to live as their own people. With only Yabai Kamen left, Jisariz uses Keita Henka. Gulf and Gallia leap into the Valley of Fear to obtain the plant, but are left falling. Jisariz defeats Yabai Kamen, who resents him being a hero while Masked, then frees Ayuka. Gulf and Gallia return with the plant, and as Ayuka expressed concern for Gallia she makes the image of Jisariz's head appear. They apply the medicine and patch her up, but when she wakes up Jisariz tells her the brothers have gone, though they did make sure she woke up. Jisariz gives Ayuka medicine, which turns out to poison her, and when Gallia looks back, Ayuka is gone.

Episode 7 sees Ayuka awaken on the beach. She sits, noting she is weirdly getting used to this, but is still upset by what she has to do, and doesn't notice the man in green, Vanitas, notice her. In a palace, the man in yellow Degeal, is lord and is informed of a message from Gundial HQ about Jisariz, he will deal with it as necessary. Vanitas approaches Ayuka, who recognises the seal he wears from Jisariz, and he warns her to leave this world without interfering. She tells Jisariz about the encounter when she sees him, Radkeeper has a sprouting plant in a pot chained to him. No one in the village will talk aside from some comment about the weather, but she helps a girl find her mother, then collapses as they reunite, awakening back at the beach. Vanitas approaches angrily, while Jisariz appears, greeting his former mentor. The two fight, until Vanitas becomes offended and uses Keitai Henka to become 4DB56A Vanitas, using a large fist weapon. Ayuka has to get Jisariz her phone before he can change as well. Vanitas questions of Gundial have given him permission to Keitai Henka in other worlds, but he's just hacked the system. Vanitas declares himself, as an Iruk, a second human, superior, and despite Jisariz's efforts overpowers him, eventually landing a blow that shatters his body, which crumbles to dust. Ayuka witnesses her phone land, and the Gundial app delete itself. Radkeeper's plant has grown quite a bit.

Episode 8 sees Ayuka flee Vanitas, shocked at Jisariz' loss. In Gundial HQ, the leadership have no record of Jisariz's matter transferring, so he appears to be dead, troublesome for them, as they will likely need a century to identify a new candidate, but Zeigen seems to be ignoring them. Ayuka flees Vanitas, but finds everyone in the same places, including the girl, Vanitas stops her helping the girl, and catches her at the house, throttling her. Radkeeper's flower is blooming. She awakens again at the beach, as Radkeeper's flower is wilting, Vanitas tells her this world always repeats the same day, her involving herself is just a nuisance. Ayuka begs for help, and the left leg image appears and flies towards her phone, where Jisariz takes both. Apparently he forcefully split himself, something forbidden and dangerous, and declares only he can kill Ayuka, which she finds weirdly comforting. Jisariz and Vanitas fight again, but the senior Sentika declares he knows all his opponent can do, but Jisariz has a new trick, pulling a laser sword out of the hilt of his scythe, and impaling his mentor. Jisariz asks his mentor why he doesn't change this world, but he can't with his family there. The flower is nearly dead, as Jisariz tells Ayuka that the next day, Vanitas' daughter lost her life to the sea, and he wasn't there because of his duties, the world as it is one of his regrets. When she expresses relief he is safe, he mocks her, and she slaps him, saying she doesn't care about anything anymore. He punches her, saying she has no choice, before choking her with one hand, once she's dead he apologises for her fate. After the two are gone, Radkeeper walks the beach to where their footprints vanished, and looks to the town, where Vanitas' daughter is still stood, and smiles pensively, before moving on.

Episode 9 opens on an old schoolhouse, Jisariz sitting at a desk contemplating recent events and questioning aloud to Radkeeper, holding a puzzle with only one piece, is he's wrong, and getting no response, leaves, only to encounter himself, who says he is, indeed, wrong. Ayuka awakens outside the school, questioning of she's trapped doing this, and is confronted by her own double. Ayuka's double torments her by voicing her fears and worries, leaving her terrified, Jisariz' is less successful, as the original continues to deny it's words, before saying he knows it isn't him, because even he isn't himself. Ayuka's double manages to trigger fragments of memories, of a family dinner, school with a friend, holding the completed Jisariz emblem in class, her friend asking about it, and reaching out in desperation towards someone. The double questions if she can't remember more, or refuses to, telling her she has a responsibility to, before Fobia suddenly arrives, warning not to listen to her, and scaring the double off, and expressing concern if he doesn't find Jisariz soon. Jisariz expresses that Jisariz is him, nothing else matters, the double laughs, and initiates a Keitai Henka, burning away into F8ABA6 Jisariz, and fighting the other, as the skies darken, and a storm breaks out.

Jisariz' double beats him, mocking him for changing. Fobia helps Ayuka, and they witness the fight. Ayuka is confused, but Fobia points out that as Ayuka has her smartphone, they know which is their ally. As the double gets really angry, Fobia blasts if, scaring it off, but Jisariz is annoyed by the interference. Time passes in near silence, only 4 pieces missing from Radkeeper's puzzle. Fobia explains to Ayuka this is a world without anyone, but where your double manifests to voice hidden thoughts and doubts. Fobia explains to Jisariz that after they caused the changes to the world he managed, he was summoned by HQ and ordered to chase Jisariz, licensed to Keitai Henka in other worlds, but chose on his own to help him, and asks if he's after guidance or resolve, when the double of Jisariz appears. Jisariz demands Fobia not interfere and starts fighting, Fobia in turn stops Ayuka giving her phone until Jisariz asks for it. As the double goes to deliver a killing blow, Jisariz dodges and pulls the hidden blade out the scythe, stabbing the double. After it's dead he declares he is Jisariz, but he's crying. The torso image appears to Ayuka, only 2 left, Fobia tosses the phone to Jisariz. Ayuka wonders if Jisariz has no choice to continue, but she has been stabbed by the thrown blade before she notices. Jisariz orders Fobia not to follow him. Ayuka appears in the court of Degeal, and on awakening is welcomed to his world.

Given they are now in the world of desire, Fobia hopes that for once Jisariz won't act, only to see him making his way in the direction of the castle. His quarry takes a look from the opulence of the castle to see the squalor others live in, then announces himself. Degeal has most of his entourage leave, Ragos standing by, as he realises from questioning her that Jisariz hasn't explained the rules to her. He explains his world is one without any desire, and what she and Jisariz have been doing by disrupting each world's rules is dangerous, and summons his sword, aiming to execute her. Ragos actually tries to stop this, but Fobia stops him, promising to get her away and stop Jisariz acting, her own world is in danger after all. Degeal shows Ayuka the destruction taking place in her world, devastation she caused, and which she must act to undo by gathering the pieces. Ayuka still can't remember. Jisariz arrives, promising to just leave, but Degeal doesn't want disruption to other worlds either, and swings, neither Jisariz nor Fobia can stop him, but Ragos takes the blow, to his sister's horror. Jisariz admonishes, Degeal, who he used to respect, for the way he has ruled over this world, and swears to crush it. Degeal becomes FFD063 Degeal, his black body not inverting, but producing the armour from within, and Jisariz takes his own Sentika form. Ayuka starts remembering more, specifically something more with the full image, and calling out for Shiori. Degeal has Jisariz at his mercy, ignoring shots from Fobia, and swings down, when Ayuka calls for Jisariz, who glows pink, a symbol appears on her eyes, as Jisariz transforms into a more mechanical, armoured form.

Gundial HQ are trying to work out who gave the authority for Jisariz to power up, but Zeigen is just amused. Jisariz' new abilities allow him to overpower Degeal completely, who acknowledges his loss, at which point the power up vanishes in an instant and Ayuka collapses. Jisariz' apologises for Ragos. Ayuka obtains the left arm, one piece remains, and they prepare to leave to settle things to save their world. Phobia believes he has no business assisting with the last one and leaves.

They arrive at Ayuka's world. Jisariz informs her that when Radkeeper's candle goes out, the world will be destroyed, and the seal is the emotions making up this world, the emotions she has gathered, happiness, friendship, anger, shock and love, and still to collect is sorrow. This forces Ayuka to remember how she tried to encourage Shiori to be more involved with others, only for her to then catch her about to jump from the school roof, she leapt, and in that moment the seal broke and the pieces vanished, as did Ayuka. Producing his sword, Jisariz tells her to kill him, reminding her he told her at the start either he kills her or she kills him, she begs him to just kill her so they can go to another world, she cannot do it, there must be another way. It takes a lot of encouragement, and the candle is almost burnt down, but she does it, the seal is completed, the world saved, and Ayuka is able to stop Shiori jumping. While walking with Shiori Ayuka bumps into Jisariz who she doesn't remember, but apologises and takes her phone back, once they're gone, Jisariz collapses against a post, still pained at least, and asks Radkeeper what's so amusing, before leaving, only to start having his body fall apart, seeing the image of his Sentika form, Ayuka looking back for a moment after he vanishes. A new Sentika is now in this world, and she says Jisariz will witness hell. At Gundial, Zeigen waits.

[hotpotrandomfics]

PJO Fic: Ciel Capture the Flag

Disclaimer: Hello, everyone! This is my attempt at writing fan fics again, over the past year I had quite a lot of stuff going on and it has had an effect on my writing. That said I will take any constructive criticism and feedback to improve and get to a more confident space to post more frequently. Additionally, the following characters are property of @mastrmiscellaneous: Justin Colby Peters, Lucille Peters, and Clara Osta.

Summary: Ciel and his friends are attempting to devise a strategy to beat the reigning capture the flag MVPs: Percy and Annabeth. What will it take to surprise and trick the Camp’s veterans?

Word Count: 1,856

The night began like any other night at the end of the week at Camp Half Blood, a nice dinner with cabin mates, toast to the gods, and the occasional Ares or Hermes kid throwing a random chicken leg. Ciel was discussing the plans for capturing the flag after dinner was finished. He along with the members of Hephaestus, Apollo, Hades, Nemesis, Dioynasis, Hebe, Hecate, and Hestia cabin had made an allegiance in the hopes of beating the camp's strongest fighters. Granted, numbers were not on their side wouldn't give them any advantage but rather relying on their expertise and the power within their parent's domains was their ace. Ciel in the past two summers has become the head of the Hecate cabin but was still not used to his leadership role nor believe he was capable of the position. Though his siblings and cabin mates would argue otherwise, to them, their brother was a superior sorcerer and a capable fighter but it was his compassion that shattered the stigma of the children of Hecate. They couldn't do many of the things he could do but they never stop striving to be better, to them he was their paragon of what a hero could be. Now if they could win capture the flag then they'd get bragging rites for the next week and wouldn't have to clean stables. "So," Ciel began, "we know many of the big hitters are for this battle. Jackson, Chase, McClain, Stoles, and La Rue. Any suggestions?" Ciel glanced at the heads of his alliance. "We could distract Annabeth with a spider." Leo Valdez piped up with a smirk, pulling from his famous toolbelt an automaton of a spider. "I got enough for at least a dozen of Athena cabin. "That's lame," Lucille Peters chimed. "You didn't make them into grenades?" "Chiron checked me since last time my design burnt at least three campers from Aphrodite cabin eyebrows off!" Leo wasn't big on his younger half-sister giving him grief about his work. "Lucy, did you make them into grenades?" Ciel questioned as Lucille gave a cheeky grin. "Who the hell do you think I am?" "Language." Justin Peters, son of Apollo and older brother to Lucille reprimanded his sister but received an unkind gesture of her middle finger. "I'm telling Mom." "Can you focus? Grenades are fine but we have a big thing to worry about. Percy and Annabeth on the same team?" Clara Osta, daughter of Hades and member of the Guardians mentioned drawing everyone's focus back to the planning. "We hold them off or we overpower them." "Clara, you're more strategic than most of us. I'd defer to you on what the plan would be," Ciel spoke. He always felt that if he didn't have an answer he could rely on his friend's judgment and capacity to plan at the moment. "I'm the only one among us with superior enough skills to fight at least one of them." Clara began unveiling her plan for the plan of attack against the coalition that was shouting in the distance. The horn that Chiron held had yet to be blown so they had enough time to at least get into position. The war cry of campers began echoing through the forest as many campers charged from their starting locations on the battlefield that many of them have fought dozens upon dozens of times. Lucille and Leo took the southeast location of the creek between the mainline of the battlefield, both holding war hammers of varied sizes as they took on the first wave of cabin 6 campers. They along with their members of cabin 9 and assistance from cabin 7 pushed them into a tight fatal funnel with arrows and stink bombs. Those who were able to get through their funnel however were met with surprise attacks by cabin 20, stalling the vanguard from breaking through further into their territory by magical nets with a mix of cabin 12 using plants to grab members of cabins 4, 5, 10, 11, 14, 17, 19. With this advantage for the moment, the combined forces of members of Hephaestus, Apollo, Hades, Nemesis, Dioynasis, Hebe, Hecate, and Hestia were able to disarm and knock out a number of their opponents. With a mixed collection of cries from a number of these campers of surprise and frustration escaped some of these campers. Many even shouted in curses like Clarisse La Rue, daughter of Ares, who was able to escape her binds and began cutting the vines and nets of her comrades. "Oh, you think this is cute?!" Clarisse called out into the forest. "You think a cowardly trick like this will keep us from victory?!" "Well, yeah." Justin from the top of a tree about a few yards away said as he knocked an arrow toward the feared daughter of Ares. "Your group isn't all that smart if you're leading the charge, La Rue." The blond boy grinned as he kept shooting several arrows at many of his adversaries. "Plus, you got something behind you!" "What?!" Clarisse turned around expecting to be attacked from behind her but was shocked no one was there and the fact that all the nets and binds holding her comrades, and seemed to disappear except for a few. "How- fucking cabin 20!" Cabin 20 as a collective had set a large illusion up to a certain point past their defensive position so that the majority of their forces could protect their flag. All the opponents that their enemies believed they fought were each other while twisted, was a valuable trick for a one-time use. As Clarisse rallied her companions, a separate party of campers made to sneak past the enemy's line to meet against two of the Seven. Percy and Annabeth were mere feet away from crossing their coalition territory into the opposing campers' territory but were blocked off by two campers. Ciel and Clara both with their weapons drawn and ready to engage the legendary Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase. "Just you two?" Percy questioned in a curious tone. "Yep, just us," Ciel said as he spun his butterfly swords. "Granted, this was really the only thing I could think of." "You two are pretty cocky if you think you can handle us. Brave, but cocky," Annabeth said as she readied her fighting stance. "Óla eínai díkaia ston érota kai ston pólemo," Clara exclaimed before rushing in towards Percy while Ciel covered her flank by running towards Annabeth. The battle began and the cries of their mettle and blades rang along the creek shore. Ciel made to get in close with his butterfly swords by sliding and parrying Annabeth's counter-assault. The pair block each other strikes in a dance of close quarters that seemed to be its own tornado that no one foolish enough would jump into the current fray. Ciel reversed his grip on his butterfly swords in a reverse grip, crossing his arms in a parallel manner after briefly disengaging Annabeth. "You've gotten good," Annabeth commented, "though I think you're weaker than me." "Maybe, though I know my strengths and know not to bark, unlike a certain Daughter of Athena." Ciel remembered his brief with his fellow team captains on how to use the know failures of his betters like Annabeth. Ciel returned to his melee while goading Annabeth on how her skill wasn't all that. Her skills with a dagger and her bone sword were not as great as she believed. While he wasn't good at this, Ciel needed to cause Annabeth to lose focus enough for the next part of his battle plan. Annabeth kept pushing on Ciel, despite their height difference the young child of Hecate was superior and his movements were not weighed by his mass but he was swift. Annabeth notices his footwork and means of countering her, all close and considerate of his vital points, never overreaching but keeping his timing mixed enough to not seem impractical. She had to admit he had grown from the shy boy who joined them at the worse point in the history of the camp. "You've gotten better," Annabeth commented as slipped under Ciel's guard swinging in an uppercut motion to his helmet and the tip of her knife missing his left eye. "You aren't quick like me, Silverstein." "You talk too much," Ciel said as he dropped into a leg sweep before causing the Daughter of Aphrodite to fall on her back. "Here's a gift." Ciel snapped his finger as a large tarantula landed on top of Annabeth's breastplate causing the girl to wail louder than any monster in the nearest hundred miles around the camp. Annabeth began to swipe at the furry eight-legged devil that her siblings have been infamous for having a large disdain. Though the eight-legged demon just kept climbing around her and hissing a storm to her greater surprise and fear a second tarantula appeared by her feet circling her. As cruel as it seemed, overstimulating a demigod and applying their innate fears from their godly parents was a means to dominate the battlefield because; if one of your greatest leaders is indisposed then you can keep pulling the threads of their plans and destroy their seams. Though the chaos, Ciel created was about to be thwarted by the Hero of Olympus: Percy Jackson. "Dude, not cool!" Percy shouted as he pushed past Clara feinting hitting her with his sword in order to charge at Ciel like a minotaur fresh out of Tartarus. "That was dirty!" Shouting, Percy came within Ciel's guard, too close for Percy to properly use Riptide but enough room for Ciel who wasn't just some magician because of his mother's blood but skilled at close-quarters, especially with his Baat Jaam Do (butterfly swords) called Proángelos (or Harbinger). Ciel used the quillon, his sword guard hook in order to trap Percy's sword hand before twisting the son of Poseidon's wrist in an unorthodox manner in order to cause discomfort. The brief pain was an opening one couldn't get so easily on the Hero of Olympus, not unless you were willing to play dirty. "Ow ow ow, OW! Fuck!" Percy barked out before slamming his head into Ciel's own causing him to lessen the pressure on his wrist. "Dude, what gives?! First, spiders on Annabeth, and now you try to break my wrist?" "I plan on winning this time, HA!" Ciel reversed the grips of Harbinger so their knuckle-bow covered the son of Hecate's hand like a set of knuckledusters before bellowing a mighty as he threw a fist at Percy who attempted to dodge only to be surprised by the brief indigo holographic of a giant hand with a set of similar knuckledusters coating the hand as well slamming into Percy at a high velocity that sent him tumbling into the river. "Y-you clever, little, son of a...." before Jackson could think of finishing that sentence the sound of Chiron's conch shell blew signaling the end of the game of capture the flag. In the far distance, Chiron had announced that Ciel's team had just one-up them and won. "Bitch."

[omgkalyppso]

How about 5 and 17 for those OC ship asks!! Any ship you want to talk about

Thank you for the ask! I'll answer for my bg3 durge oc Meabh (they/she) and the villain Enver Gortash.

5. Where was their first kiss? What kinds of emotions were tied up in the moment or aftermath?

I headcanon Meabh and Enver knew each other since childhood, separated for a time, but reunited two years into Enver returning to Baldur's Gate. She was out on the streets with ill intent but rather than pursuing their own goal single-mindedly, they allow themself to be enticed and distracted by the sight of this short man being crowded into an alley. She sees some of Enver's inventions and hidden weapons, and doesn't quite step in, but kills one attacker who sought to run and another he'd simply knocked out, a strange and unexpected addition to his predicament.

He was surprised to be both recognized and remembered. I imagine them exchanging dialogue that foreshadows Meabh's eventual amnesia. They don't kiss then, but Enver's fascinated with discovering how Meabh has survived, and they're not unattractive, so he invites them to dinner, with a few days preparation - and enough time for Meabh to perform work enough to please her father.

But it is after this dinner that they share their first kiss. Under a bridge in the Lower City. Meabh's more curious than emotional, delighted by the sensations and the way Enver looks at her — different than reverent cultists, fearful victims, moronic souls who'd seek to direct their violence, or even those who would leer on the street if they deigned to let others see them. Enver would have expected Meabh to have burnt out if he'd deigned to think of them at all since his return to Baldur's Gate — he had thought of them occasionally during his time away, when he'd been fed and when he'd been tempted to kill the devils in his company or die trying. But now, Meabh's presence feels significant, an omen of the best kind, and with the potential of being a resource and inspiration. He wants to know everything of the dark machinations of their mind, how they evade the so-called justice of Gods and men, and what other ways they might be good for each other.

17. Do these partners ever live together? If so, do they both / all give up their previous living spaces or does one move in with another / do some move in with another? Are there disagreements about decorating / aesthetics / furniture? If so, what compromises can be found?

I have to see how The Ending plays out for them to decide what happens with them post-canon.

Pre-canon they do not live together. As children the whole of their time was spent outdoors. As adults, for various reasons at different stages of their plots and their relationship, Meabh doesn't risk making a home of anywhere but the temple, and Enver doesn't dare ask — though he makes their welcome obvious. Once Enver has his own estate in the Upper City, a factory / workshop by the docks, and the Iron Throne is under construction, he no longer has the need to seduce the nobility for their money when coercing and blackmailing them for their loyalty is far more fitting for a man of his station. His influence extends, but he is no longer running across the planes, and so, at home, he allows himself to feel at home, and to have expectations, he keeps a wardrobe for Meabh, implements to care and style their hair, tools and toys for their sexual intimacy, a room for them to draw in, and another that they might use to kill in, if not in ritual to Bhaal at least in a fit of passion, as well as access into a basement where he keeps a workshop for each of them.

I think if Meabh ever moved in, that while the foyer might have more than an incidental amount of iconography to Bane, especially an overhead window and an eight foot wide mask immediately across and above from the entrance door, above staircases and a balcony leading inwards; that a grand mosaic or comparable depiction of Bhaal is installed in the floor so the two deities can stare each other down, feeling superior in the execution of their own portrayal - Bhaal, in the foundation, inescapable, whole, vs Bane's glorious, imposing oversight, not underfoot, fractioned like the facets of a jewel.

[blzzrdstryr]

By proxy

Platonic yandere!Kaeya & child!gn!reader

Wordcount: 2195

A.N.: My first time writing platonic yanderes, hope you'll enjoy.

It's an impulsive decision for the most part - taking you, that is.

Kaeya trudges through the Wolfendom forest, a couple of his underlings, Addler and Otto, following behind as they trail a group of treasure hoarders. Criminal gang must have known that knights are on their tail, there's no other explanation for their sudden fleeing, leaving an already broken camp behind and taking only the most valuable possessions.

It's raining and he silently curses, even if this will give him advantage in battle, but archons, it's so cold. Huge droplets fall on the ground with a resounding sound, drenching everything and turning the forest landscape deep into nigh impassable terrain. Mud clings to their feet, slowing the group down, as the Sun starts to set. Sky turns all shades of purple and red, dimming light throwing the last rays over the Mondstadt as the darkness settles, yet Kaeya and his group still carry forward through the palisade of tall trees.

“Sir”, Otto carefully starts: “It seems that criminals are already several miles away from us”.

Kaeya nods for the knight to continue, already knowing that it will be an ask to stop - the weather is hellish and the rain is one of the heaviest Kaeya has ever had to experience.

“With how strong this rainfall is, the gang's traces will be gone in under an hour”

"All the more reasons to push on and catch them then", Alberich replies, paying zero attention to Adler's slight trembling or Otto's teeth chattering. The group continues on their path through descending darkness, their footsteps hasting despite the clinging and growing fatigue.

Suddenly, as the knights make their way around the cliff, a slight whimper is heard. It's human enough to stop the group - maybe some unlucky civilian got in the way of the gang, maybe criminals left their injured one. Kaeya just nods to the pair, as Otto and Adler unsheathe their weapons, wordlessly understanding the gesture.

Cavalry captain takes a step into the forest pit with a raised sword, all sight and ears, light blue vision on his belt shining and flickering both in caution and anticipation. He walks slowly and quietly, like a cat, careful not to step on the leaves and twigs lying around, and then he sees you.

You are a child, all thin and small in the way that the sick are. There are dark circles under your tired eyes, and the scrapes all over your body. You look already dead. He runs up to you, as he sees your figure swaying and knees buckling, saving you from the fall. Your skin burns Kaeya as he carries you back to the knights - it must be fever then. You blink at him several times, saying something, but your voice is too small and weak to make out anything among the droplets falling, and then you stop, eyes rolling back and head lolling to the side. You blacked out.

He thinks about handing your body to either of the knights and then continuing to run after the gang into the knight, but then decides against it - heavy rain must have blurred all the footsteps they left. Adler almost fails. You escape your delirium a couple of times, babbling words about forest and rain and wolves, and Kaeya, despite his focus on the trail ahead, can't help but listen to what you say. It's childish nonsense for the most part, an incomprehensible product of the feverish mind, yet sometimes you say meaningful things - I thought I would die, I got scared of wolf howls, The rain was so cold.

Some small part of him shrinks and aches at these words, a long buried hurt resurfacing once again. Kaeya frowns and huffs as he tries to get rid of the images of the days long gone in his mind - rainy night, hunger, pain, cold, he will die here. His lips quirk and a humorless laugh escapes him - the irony is painful.

He drops you off at the church, concerned Barbara taking you to the hospital and Kaeya, after a brief report to Jean, goes home, his mind still stuck on the memories of days long past. You will be fine, he tells himself, the church has good healers and the orphanage is nearby. Once you get better, you’ll get sent there, where devoted nuns will raise to be another disciple.

You had a look of a deadman - a strange catatonic serenity was radiating off of you, as you looked at the captain with a glazed yet piercing eyes, both seeing him and through him. It’s cold, so cold, yet no one is here. There are hot tears on his face, wet tracks burning his skin. His tummy is empty and aching, cold bites at his limbs, but Kaeya patiently waits for the adult to return. Father said that Kaeya was their last hope, so sure he would never leave him to die, right?

Cavalry captain barely sleeps through the night, memories and inner demons eating him from inside. When he does manage to doze off, a vague picture of darkening forests and howling winds wake him up, a fervent chanting buzzing in his head - Where is his father? Where is his father? Where is his father?.

Kaeya comes to you the next day, as his shift ends, legs heading to the towering church at the top on their own. Barbara leads him to your bed, your unconscious form lying limply. Idol explains your health issues to him - fever, malnutrition, inflammation, common cold and slight poisoning. The scratches you had yesterday were healed, Barbara says, but the rest of the problems can't be easily fixed with a bit of a hydro.

"Then, what medicines do they need?", Kaeya asks, understanding the unspoken words. The Church of Favonius, despite the large funding it receives from the city's treasury, still lacks a lot of resources and materials. People are free to come and get cured, without having a single mora to pay, which means that most of the remedies disappear at an alarming rate - be it some herbal balm for aching joints or a simple linen bandage.

The idol rustles in the hidden pockets of her dress, taking out a pencil and sheet of paper and begins to write, the list grows as Kaeya’s eyebrows get higher and higher. There are dried Liyuen herbs, exotic Sumeru fruits, specially treated Snezhnayan and Fontaine tinctures and medicines.

Kaeya is taken aback for a second by the sheer length of the final list - most of the items will have to be ordered and shipped and despite his salary of the captain allowing such expenses, it’s still strange to spend so much mora - a complete stranger. Captain contemplates just leaving you there - nuns will take care of you, but the hurt resurfaces again and he sees another person lying on the small hospital bed - little him, scared and confused.

He ends up buying all the listed things, and despite his efforts not to, continues to regularly check up on you when he has time. Sometimes, Barbara says, you wake up from your slumber, enough to utter some confused noises and questions, but then you drowse off again, both sickness and medicine pulling you back to sleep.

Kaeya, to his displeasure, never catches you conscious in time, until he comes one evening, expecting to spend the time looking at you sleeping again only to see you half sitting on the bed. Your posture gets straight the second you notice him too, an expression of confusion and fear appearing on your face.

"Hello", Kaeya starts, slowly walking up towards you, keeping his posture small and voice as friendly as possible:"I am that knight who carried you here, remember?", he explains, seeing the further abashment on you face.

You nod at him, prompting him to continue:"So, I just decided to visit you to ask you how you got in the forest and why were you alone"

"Sister Barbara said that you came here almost everyday," you reply, voice absolutely flat and face having no expression. Kaeya looks at you briefly - it’s rare for children to speak in such a cold manner, you must have something on your mind then.

"Yes, I did" , he says in the same friendly tone.

"Just to know why I was in the forest?" , your voice betrays you, a hint of hurt seeping into it. Ah, that’s why you asked.

"Hm, of course no! I also wanted to see you get better" , he smiles at the end, leaning a bit closer to you. You mull over his words, thinking of their sincerity, and then a later second you say, with much less caution and guard up:

"Well I am better now and…" you get silent for a good minute:"I don't remember why I was there. I think it's because of the fever". Your voice becomes strangely controlled again - you lie to Kaeya, you didn’t forget anything. A part of cavalry captain swells and purrs, recognizing himself in you,

"Do you want to live with me?". He asks instead of trying to get the truth out of you. Your eyes shine and a surprised noise comes out of your mouth at his suggestion - something between a squeak and high pitched yelp.

His apartment isn't the best place to bring the child in - there are far too many bottles and not enough food - Kaeya lives off the takeout from the Good hunter and the skewers he grills when missions call him to leave the city walls. Nonetheless, you don’t look too disgusted with his living conditions, so he considers it a win, as he heads for the tiny kitchen to make you a soup.

It turns out a bit burnt in the end - Kaeya added too much wood to the stove, but you still gulp it down, not leaving anything and thank him for the meal. He makes a mental note to buy you a bed - right now you’re sleeping on a small couch, and clothes to change.

You are a quiet child, too fast to apologize for the smallest mistakes and wary of him when he’s in a foul mood - it gives Kaeya an idea why you were in the woods. Your days together flow slowly and steady with Kaeya falling into routine - he wakes up, makes a breakfast for the both of you, you eat it, as you shyly tell him about your newest interest or finding - a drawing, a strange bug, a shiny rock of unusual colour, then he leaves for work, instructing you to go to the neighbours if you have issues, and leaving a premade dinner for you. Then he comes back, now listening to you talking about your day - you were drawing again, or you played with the other kids, or you were running and catching the butterflies, the now dead insects left for him to look at.

It’s a mundane life, something that Kaeya thought will never please him. There is a large pit inside of him - it was growing and festering with years - Khaenri’ah, father, Diluc, Crepus, that fight. It’s ugly and snarling and thoroughly scorched, a part of his soul that keeps him awake and anxious and angry and sad during bad nights. The pit quiets a bit when Kaeya takes care of you - toys, foods, games, the same way he wishes he was treated as a child.

Crepus Ragnvindr was a nice person, he took Kaeya in, clothed and fed and kept him safe for years, yet there was always an invisible line that separated Khaenri'ahn from Diluc - warmer voice, higher expectations, more praise. Kaeya doubts Crepus noticed this truly tiny gap in treatment, Diluc for sure didn’t. Alberich did his best to ignore it, yet he couldn’t, this difference nagged him at the back of his mind, alienating him in the newfound home.

That must be why he does his best to spoil you - it's new toys and furniture and evening walks around the Mondstadt with you on his shoulders. Soon, a new rumour starts to travel around Mondstadt - about a stray being picked up by another stray. Amber seemingly forgives him for the incident with Collei, Jean gives him a raise the same month, for child expenses, she succinctly says, Albedo off handedly mentions Klee and her desire for friendships, even Lisa gives him a couple of fairytale books, warning him what will happen if he will be late to return them beforehand. Diluc doesn't comment on the irony the next time they happen to meet, but he sees some Dawn Winery workers looking after you, when he is busy with Favonius stuff.

Kaeya, for the first time in years, feels truly happy. He has family again - you and him this time and he's willing to smother you with affections. He buys you things he wishes he had, and teaches you the skills he thinks will help you in life - how to fight, how to lie, how to kill someone with words alone.

It's a strange love he has for you - never seeing you as you - but it's genuine and all encompassing. Kaeya doesn't want little him to suffer again.

[minor-solemnity]

Compasses

(Very self-indulgent hurt/comfort fluffy oneshot, you’ve been warned, I guess?)

“Do you want to talk about it?” You murmur, your gaze slanting over his expression with a mix of affection and sadness. He makes no move that he’s heard you, just continues to stare across the lake. But he doesn’t shake your hand away and so you continue to trace patterns across his arm. 

“So, Dumbledore is a bit of a prat, isn’t he?” You say as you flop on the ground besides Tom. It’s taken you ages to find him. He’d disappeared just before dinner and you hadn’t been able to spot him when you’d checked all of his usual haunts. You know that his bad mood has something to do with your Transfiguration professor, though you’re unsure what it was exactly that had transpired between the two of them. 

Besides you, Tom stares pensively out at the lake and beyond it, the Forbidden Forest. In the light of the setting sun, his features soften and you are suddenly struck by just how young Tom is. At sixteen years old, Tom is already a formidable wizard. You’ve seen him perform feats of magic that most grown wizards wouldn’t even begin to dream of attempting. His magical prowess and almost encyclopaedic knowledge about the wizarding world means that he is often mistaken for being far older than he is. It’s not just that, of course, there’s something in his eyes that speaks of a person who has seen and done things that no sixteen year old should ever have seen or done. 

Now though, he looks young. He looks young and sad and lost. Your heart might break a little at the slight downturn of his lips, the tightness around his eyes, the tension in his shoulders. With a sigh, you reach out and tentatively touch his forearm, your fingers curling around his jumper as you begin to rub small circles through the fabric. “Do you want to talk about it?” You murmur, your gaze slanting over his expression with a mix of affection and sadness. He makes no move that he’s heard you, just continues to stare across the lake. But he doesn’t shake your hand away and so you continue to trace patterns across his arm. 

Minutes tick by and the sun continues to set on the horizon. The warmth of the day leaches slowly into a cool, spring evening. “He looks at me as though I’ll never be anything more than a disappointment,” Tom murmurs at last and his voice is so quiet you might not have heard him if you hadn’t seen his mouth moving. “Even now, when I’ve done everything right… He only sees the worst of me.” You frown slightly at his words. It’s not a secret that Dumbledore doesn’t like Tom. Sure, he treats him with politeness and Tom’s grades haven’t suffered, but it’s difficult to deny the professor’s coldness towards Tom. Sometimes you notice Dumbledore watching him at meals in the hall and the expression he wears is never positive. 

He shifts beside you, stretching his long legs out in front of him and twisting until he is curled inwards towards you. You reach around and tuck his head into the crook of your shoulder. You rest your weight on one arm stretched out behind you and gently begin to card the finger of your other through the dark curls at the nape of his neck. “Why do you care what one man thinks?” You ask after a pause and immediately regret the question when Tom tenses, his body going rigid at your side. 

He doesn’t move away from you though and eventually, he relaxes. “You know he was the wizard who introduced me to magic when I was eleven?” And no, you did not know that. Tom had told you about his muggle father once and had promptly sworn you to secrecy, but he’s notoriously tight-lipped about his past and his life outside of Hogwarts. You don’t push him for information, knowing intimately the frustration he feels at having to constantly prove himself worthy to his housemates and the deep sense that he must do more, be more to prove to himself that he truly belongs. You shake your head and besides you, Tom sighs a bone-deep, weary sound. 

“He burnt my wardrobe. That was the first display of intentional magic I’d ever witnessed, and he burnt everything I owned.” Your eyebrows raise in shock and the hand you have in his hair tightens reflexively around his curls. You don’t loosen them until he makes a sound at the back of his throat.

“That’s awful, why?” You shiver and it’s not just from the chill in the rapidly cooling night air.

“I told him that I could do magic, that the children I lived with were… scared of me because of it. He didn’t react kindly.” Something in his careful phrasing makes you think that there is probably more to the story than he is telling you. You imagine that Tom had a greater hand in the other children’s fear than he is letting on; Tom is quick with a wand and, more than anything, hates being disrespected. Still, you can’t imagine what an eleven year could have said that would make a grown man react with such force. “I suppose I learnt an important lesson from him though,” He says, turning to face you fully. Even now, after years of knowing Tom, you are struck by his beauty. His eyes meet yours with an intensity that both draws you in and makes you want to shy away. 

You don’t move your hand from his neck, he leans in and brushes his lips across your cheek and you instinctively lean towards him, pouting when he moves back and huffs out a quiet laugh. “What was this important lesson, then?” In your opinion, nothing is as important as Tom pressing his lips to yours this very moment, though Tom seems to disagree.

“First impressions count for a lot. I’ll never convince him that I’m worth his effort.” You pull back from him slightly, taking in his expression. He looks better than he did when you first found him, but there’s still a tightness to his features that clues you in on how he’s actually feeling. With a small sigh, you bring your hand to his cheek and trace the curve of his jawline gently. 

“Tom, trying to convince someone of something they don’t want to believe is a fool’s game. You can only live your life on your terms and one day, he will see you for the man that you are, not the villain he seems to believe you are.” He looks at you curiously, a small frown appearing on his forehead and you wonder what on earth it is that you could have said to offend him. 

And then, quietly, as though he doesn’t want you to hear what he’s saying, he whispers, “What if he’s right?” 

And oh. Oh. 

You suppose it makes sense in a way. The orphanage, his parents, and apparently, Dumbledore all rejected him for one reason or another… And now, even though he is by all accounts an excellent student and perfect charming person to be around, you wouldn’t call the boys he hangs around with his friends. They looked down on him before his Slytherin heritage became semi-common knowledge, and now they treat him with respect and deference, but not with kindness or closeness. It makes sense that he might start believing it.

Choosing your words carefully, you say, “He’s not right if you don’t want him to be. You’re the most accomplished wizard I know, if anyone can subvert expectations, it’s you.” You pause and then add with a small grin, “Besides, you’ll have me, won’t you? I’ll always be around to make sure you turn out all right.”

Finally, finally, the tightness in his expression lifts entirely and when he looks at you next it’s with a mix of fondness and exasperation. “And I suppose I should count myself lucky to have you as my moral compass.” Your grin widens and you don’t even notice the cold that’s definitely set in with nightfall because it’s at this moment that he decides that now is a good time to kiss you.

[staynskz]

Making Amends

Pairing: Husband Bangchan x Wife female reader

Genre: angst

Word count: 2.5k

Warning(s): None

 Prologue: You and Chan had dated for some time before deciding it was a good time to marry. You both had children soon after marriage; Aris, your daughter, is 5 years old, and Eli, your son, is 3 years old. You both had a wonderful marriage. Compromises were always made to work around everyone’s schedule, but you were sure to make sure everything was always in order around your home. Sometimes, those compromises were you being too forgiving at times. It was hard, but it could be worse. Chan was always helpful, but there were also times where he overworked and forgot to worry about his responsibilities at home. Those were times that got dark and hard for you.

There were so many blessings in your life: your two children, Aris and Eli, your husband, Chan, and so many more people you’ve gotten to know over the years. Sometimes, life would get in the way, but it was so hard to try and smile through it all. You understood that Chan was busy producing and leading the group, but you also knew that there could’ve been ways around both of your schedules to make time for each other. If you could do it, Chan should be willing to compromise too. You felt like you were giving too much time to everyone else but yourself. It was getting harder and harder every day. Chan kept coming home late and was overworking himself, but you loved him too much to bother to ask for any help. The children were still so young, and you wanted nothing but to watch them grow up. It was too much now. You were overthinking, weren’t you?

 After finishing the dishes, showering the children, and tucking them into their beds, you finally were able to sit on your bed before ending the night by closing your eyes. You couldn’t close your eyes. You didn’t know what tomorrow held. Chan still wasn’t home either. All of the thoughts in your head brought you to tears. You hadn’t cried like this before. You were broken, burnt out, and exhausted. Being a loving mother, doting wife, and friends to others was too much now. You could only keep crying into your hands. It felt like it was nonstop. You weren’t you anymore; you’d changed. Wanting to avoid getting puffy eyes in the morning, you decided to get up and clean your eyes before going to bed. As you looked up, you saw a figure that made you jump from shock. It was Chan. Trying to wipe your tears away before he could see them, you smiled at him saying, “hi babe, you’re home early.” He didn’t say anything. He just stared at you. He knew you were hurting. You always did that. You hid your pain regardless of how much it hurt you to keep it altogether. To avoid the worried stare he had in his eyes, you got up to go to the bathroom. Hurrying past him, you hoped that he wouldn’t say anything about your crying. Chan knew how to read the room. He knew that you didn’t like to talk about anything until you were ready. “Babe…why were you crying?” he asked quietly. Darn it! He asked! Shit! Shit! Shit! What do you say? Turning around, you saw that Chan was still staring at the bed. Before more tears could form, you assured, “I was just watching a really good movie. It touched my heart, so I’m just relaxing from it.” “You don’t cry like that over movies, Y/N…” “Well this just reminded me of a lot of sad stories I’d heard about,” you were doing anything to lie to avoid a scolding from Chan about you not opening up to him about your problems. “Y/N-” “I’m telling the truth, Chan, it’s not that serious-“ was all you could muster before he turned around and stared at you. That stare was like nothing you’ve ever seen before. He was so tired, yet so worried about you as well. His eyebags were dark and bigger than the night before. You just hoped that he would let it slide. You went silent. When Chan looked at you like this, you were unable to lie and say that you were okay. He knew you, inside and out. You were both inseparable-soulmates as some would say. The red string that ties your souls together was being pulled from you both and drawing you far away from each other. “Don’t lie to me, Y/N. You know I don’t like it when you lie. We said we would be open and honest from the day we’ve been together until now. There’s nothing that we should be keeping from each other.” “Chan, I…” Should you keep lying until you get out of this rut? You were able to fool Chan for awhile sometimes, but this time it wasn’t going to work. “I’ve just been stressed…” “Stressed about what?” he asked as he slowly approached you. “About everything, honestly. There’s so much that I need to take care of, and the kids are still growing up, and I’m trying to make dinner every night, I’m trying to sleep every night, I’m trying to make sure you’re doing okay, I’m trying to make sure all of my duties at work are complete before the day ends, it all just keeps going around and around, Chan. It’s never going to stop. And… it feels like you’re not here to help me, Chan. I feel so alone, and I’m trying to make sure everyone’s doing okay while I’m not okay…” Chan was always a good listener; whatever problems you had, he was there to offer knowledgeable advice. He was silent this time around. You looked up at him staring straight down at you. “So, you’re saying you’re mad at me?” “Wait, no. Chan, I’m not-I mean-I am, just a little bit, but-” “Why didn’t you just say it then? You know that you could’ve just told me. I’m always here to listen to whatever problems you have, babe.” “Well… you’ve been so busy producing that I didn’t want to bother you at all. I wanted to make sure you weren’t stressed for whatever project you have going on at work.” “But we said-” “Yes, Chan. I know what we promised each other when we got married, but sometimes it’s not enough for-” “So you think I’m not doing enough?” “What? No. Chan, I didn’t mean it like that.” “You could’ve just said it to me if you wanted me to do more, Y/N. You know that I love you and I want what’s best for our family. Why do you-” “How am I supposed to tell you when you’re always busy, Chan?!” There it was… your limiting point. You hated it when people asked you why you didn’t say anything in the beginning. You were too considerate for your own good. “How am I supposed to talk to a husband who’s never home?! My husband isn’t home to help me cook dinner, bathe the children, and can’t even get home to eat least enjoy dinner with me?!” “Oh, so you ARE mad at me. Well, if you said anything to me, I would’ve-” “Stop saying that! Stop saying that if I said something you would’ve done something, Chan! You know that I’m busy, yet you leave me home with the children to care for, and I do everything for this house! If you truly cared, you would’ve SEEN that I was exhausted from doing this all on my own!” “Well, I’ve just been-” “Sometimes, it doesn’t even feel like I’m a married woman, Chan! These women out here have husbands who worry about them, who take care of them, who do everything they can to make a house function, but you just worry about work! Do you even care about us?! Your wife who works AND cleans your house?! Your children who barely get to see you as they’re growing up?!” You weren’t thinking clearly. You were angry. You were angry at life, the world, and especially Chan at this moment. You didn’t think those words would come out of your mouth, though. You never meant to say hurtful things to each other, but stressful times would sometimes get the best of you both. Chan scoffed at your response and walked backwards toward to closet. “Well, I’m sorry that you feel like a single mother, Y/N. Sorry that I can’t be the perfect husband for you or be the perfect father for our children.” “Chan…I didn’t mean that. I-” “We’ll just leave it at that,” Chan said as he grabbed his suitcase and jacket, leaving the bedroom. You knew where he was going… back to the studio to produce more. You were frustrated as hell, but you had work in the morning and were already tired from the day, so you decided it was time to call it day and slid into the covers to sleep.

 Over the next few days, you and Chan barely spoke to each other. You didn’t want to speak to an angry Chan, and hurting him with your words was enough. However, the kids were able to sense the tension between you and Chan. They knew that on normal days, mommy and daddy would wake them up, and everybody would get ready together. On normal days, mommy and daddy would cook dinner together with daddy back hugging and kissing mommy until mommy had to kick him out from being too annoying. When cleaning after dinner, mommy and daddy would have a dance session in the kitchen. On normal days, daddy would put on a show for them, and have them all tackle and tickle mommy until mommy gave up laughing. On normal days, daddy would come home from work early, and daddy would share what daddy created in the studio. The past few days weren’t normal. Aris and Eli knew that. Even at a young age, they knew that mommy and daddy weren’t happy. On Saturday morning, Aris asked you, “Mommy… are you and daddy mad at each other?” Lost in your own train of thought, you snapped back into reality as your daughter tapped you for an answer. “Huh? What was that, honey?” “I saidddd are you and daddy mad at each other???” What were you supposed to tell your kids? That you and Chan had an argument? Hell no. “No, baby. We’re fine. Don’t worry about it, okay? You need to eat your breakfast before you go to uncle Binnie’s, okay?” Eyeing Eli suspiciously, she goes back to eating her breakfast. Trying to hide the tears brimming in your eyes, you smiled at the kids before going back to eating your own breakfast. Today was a Saturday, and you didn’t feel prepared to work at all. You had been hauling your ass around at work for the past few weeks preparing for a project you had to present today. They’d pushed dates around, causing you an even bigger headache, and making you have to change plans last minute. The kids were dropped off at Changbin and his s/o’s house. They’d volunteered to take care of the kids since you and Chan were both working.

 After work, you were on your way to Changbin’s house. Outside his house, you saw Chan’s car parked in front of his house. You texted Chan that the kids were going to be at Changbin’s house, but he never replied. You were surprised he didn’t inform you if he was going to pick them up or not either. Inhaling deeply, you got out of your car and walked towards the front door. Ringing the doorbell, you heard little bits of laughter and shrieking coming from inside. The kids always loved their uncle Binnie; he never failed to entertain them. Chan was the one who came to open the door. You stood by the front door, instructing the kids that their fun time with uncle Binnie was over. Bummed out, they said bye to their uncle and auntie Binnie.

 After tucking the children into bed together, Chan approached you. “Why do the kids know that we’re not happy right now?” “What do you mean? I don’t understand.” “The kids told Changbin that we were arguing and were mad at each other,” he explained. You stood speechless. You knew children would say random things, but you didn’t think your daughter could pick up so easily on small clues. “Don’t act so innocent, Y/N. I know you’re always gossiping on the phone with your girlfriends about how unhappy you are in our marriage.” Those words stung. They hurt even worse than if someone were to take a knife and penetrate your heart with it. “How would I know, Chan?! Maybe it’s because they don’t see their father! Maybe it’s because they know that none of us are happy in this damn house!” “Don’t play the victim. I know that it’s because of your big mouth that our children have to hear about this!” There he was… attacking you again-for something that was entirely out of your control. “MY BIG MOUTH?! I HAVEN’T EVEN SPOKEN TO MY FRIENDS FOR THE PAST FEW WEEKS BECAUSE I’VE BEEN SO BUSY! IF YOU ACTUALLY KNEW MY DAY TO DAY SCHEDULE, YOU WOULD KNOW THAT OUR CHILDREN AREN’T DUMB, CHAN! YOU WOULD KNOW THAT YOUR CHILDREN ARE GROWING UP WITHOUT YOU!” He was angry-trying to stay calm, but the silence was from anger, not from understanding nor from love. Where did your marriage go wrong? Where did you both turn into hate-filled lovers, who can’t even speak to each other without raising your voices? You didn’t know, and you didn’t care. You had been patient enough. You were silent for too long. It wasn’t going to change anything. There was so much that you wanted to say, but you knew Chan wasn’t going to do anything either. His compromises were the bare minimum. To hide the tears that were falling down your face, you turned your back towards Chan, and walked out the door. It was hard enough that you felt like a single mother. Before leaving the room, you admitted to Chan, “You know what, maybe I am unhappy in this marriage. I do feel like a single mother taking care of my own children…Maybe it’s time we find new things to do rather than stay in this worthless relationship, Chan.”

Your marriage was failing. Not was… is. Your marriage was something you’d wanted to be so proud of since you were a little girl. You imagined yourself being the caring, doting mother and wife, and being the one everyone else was envious of. It was the total opposite now. Everyone pitied you because you had a husband who didn’t care for you, probably hated you as well. There were so many things going on inside your head, you couldn’t think clearly anymore. At work, you couldn’t focus. The words you’d said to Chan-that you knew pierced his heart as well. You felt so guilty. Was your marriage going to end in divorce? Was it going to be the relationship you promised to never have? Either way, it was going to be one hell of a struggle trying to please everyone’s schedules.

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Author’s Note: Hi, I’m just barely starting out this series. I’m not sure how many parts I’m gonna write, but hopefully you guys liked it! :) Give me some critical feedback or advice on my writing if you want too! I want to continuously write better!

Tag list: @crispbang 

[bowieandqueen11]

Luke Crain Headcanons

Request: Hi🥺I’m usually not to good about making request but I’m trying to breakout of my shell on that cause you are an amazing writer and I love everything you write!! But can I request a Luke Crain headcanon where you guys grew up together but distanced while he was in rehab but you came back together after what happened with Nellie! Thank you so much you’re an angel🥺💛 

Thank you SO much @cathrinexxxv​ I LOVE LUKE CRAIN! Also I’m so ready to binge watch all of Bly Manor tomorrow!! <3

You and Luke first met when you were very young. As in, really really little. To this day, you’re still constantly teasing him and making him blush smile about his huge magnifying pair of glasses and his obsession with bowler hats.

You and your family used to live in the small village which was a fifteen minute walk away from the looming heights of Hill House, so when a rumour started spreading down the houses that a new family full of children were moving in for the summer, you, naturally, were intrigued.

One night, when you had heard from your mother that the new family had moved in, you sneaked out your back garden on a warm afternoon before dinner, cutting through the dark and dingy forest until you reached the outskirts of the property. Seeing a boy around your own age sitting on his own on the burnt grass, you waved to Luke from behind the branch of a nearby, crooked oak tree. He was startled, to say the least, but as he watched you hide slightly behind the bark, he was surprised to find he wasn’t scared in the slightest.

He felt as if he almost knew you already. As if this was always meant to happen, that you were meant to find each other here.

Nudging his glasses back up the bridge of the nose, he shyly waved back. Once he finally realised that you weren’t going to budge from your hiding place, nervous from the stories your neighbours had told you about this house, he decided to pick up his crayons in one fist and his paper in the other, before he sets off half stumbling, half stomping along the uneven ground towards you.

When he finally reaches the trunk, he stops and looks at you kind of funnily, tilting his head slightly before he decides the right reaction was to smile at you.

‘My name is Luke Crain. Do you want to play with me? All my siblings ignore me and they don’t want to draw with me.’

The two of you spent the rest of the afternoon huddled under the shaking leaves, sitting on the roots of the tree, Luke tracing out a picture and you giggling as you tried to bump his hand out of the way to colour it in.

From then on, the two of you were inseparable. Nellie loved you of course, and saw you as her honorary best friend as well, as did the rest of the siblings (even though Shirley would never admit it, and Theo was too stubborn to), which meant constant sleepovers at Hill House.

Hugh would always chuckle and shake his head when he peeked into Luke and Nellie’s room, seeing Nell asleep on a red bean bag with a half open bag of sweets lying deserted by her feet, and you and Luke sprawled out on the mat by the iron railings of his bed, snoring. 

You were also the only one he allowed up into his treehouse. Although, sometimes he was too embarrassed to let you, or his siblings, in, because he had stuck pictures up on the wall of the drawings he had tried to do of you.

Growing up with Luke also meant having to calm him down after he starts seeing the tall, floating ghost. Sometimes you would try to climb up the ivy outside of his bedroom window, only to topple into the house headfirst when you start to hear Luke’s high pitched screaming coming from under his bed. Although Olivia would come running in, she would always end up comforting sobbing Nellie, as Luke would only grab onto you, the two of you sitting on the edge of his bed as you remind him the rule.

‘Breathe in and out Luke, that’s it. In and out, seven times - that’s what keeps you safe.’

‘Eight’, he would say with a trembling breath. ‘Eight times. You’re my family too.’

The two of you were gutted when Luke had to move away, but your parents could already see how close the two of you were, and so decided that a move away and a new school for you, perhaps, wasn’t the worst idea. Especially, they decided, since you had been there that night as well.

Although the two of you were close for the whole of your childhood, it takes Luke until he’s eighteen years old to realise just how long he’s really been in love with you. It takes some nudging on from Nellie, pointing out how you would run up to his locker during breaks between classes and just fill him in on how your day was going - each break, no matter how long it had been, without fail. Luke was the only person you wanted to talk to, and from the look of pure delight on Luke’s face as he leans against his locker door and gives his full, undivided attention to you, you’re the only person he wants to listen to.

Or how, Nellie would continue, you would come round to their house for dinner, and although Aunt Janet tried to separate the two of you by sitting you opposite each other, you would just spend the whole dinner ignoring whatever Theo was talking about and giving each other funny looks as you kicked each other in the shin.

Or, when the two of you got a bit older, and you would sneak out of your dorm to visit him in the middle of the night, throwing little rocks at his window until his curtains would rustle and the window latch would be thrown open, his grinning face peering down at you. Despite having spent the whole weekend together, reading to each other in the town’s local library, or just lying shoulder to shoulder watching movies, the two of you would sit out in his garden, on the dewy grass, constantly craving each other’s company. You made him blush one night, when you suddenly grabbed his hand and intertwined his growing fingers over your smaller ones, pointing up at the moon, and the glowing stars, not realising the little side eye, euphoric look he would give you. 

That’s when he finally realised how immensely, and terrifyingly in love with you he was.

It scared him, to realise this, but deep down he knew it had always been you.

He has so many nightmares though. So many nights are spent with his head lying heavy in your lap, as you brush through his golden hair, trying to shush him and calm him down, or rocking him as he cries into your shoulder because of the nightmares he has about his mother, or about Abigail.

As the two of you start to escape your teenage years, and the wishful chasing after each other that came with it, your relationship becomes slightly more strained when he starts using. You choose to move in with Nellie for a while, once he finally goes to rehab. When she gets married, and you're forced to find somewhere new to live, you think you'll never hear from the Crains again - you get the odd visit from Nell, or Theo, but they're so busy enjoying the newly wed life, or studying for their degree that it's not enough - nothing fills the hole that comes from missing Luke. 

It hurts that he never comes to see you, but little did you know that he used to sit at his little beige desk every night, underneath the barred window, just staring up at the moon as he bit on the edge of his pen, a feeling of such wistfulness and loneliness and longing weighing down his chest.

He used to write you a letter, every day, just pouring out all the feelings he was too afraid to tell you, but he always crumples them up and throws them away, too scared to send them.

When Steve phones you up to tell you the news about Nellie’s passing, you told him to immediately come and pick you up.

You're terrified when you open the door and walk out into the bone chilling night to hug him, your heart thumping in your chest when he tells you about how Luke has left rehab again and is somewhere out on the streets, probably using. It breaks your heart, but you know you have to be the one to find him, to bring him back.

When you reach him, and see the man you've loved since you were a child wandering, shoeless and shivering along the freezing, cracked pavement, muttering to himself, you can’t help a tear slip out as you unbuckle your seatbelt and hop out of Steve’s rental.

Luke is so terrified, he doesnt recognise you for a second. It’s only a second, though, before his eyes widen and he pounces on you, wrapping you into him so familiarly, his frame looming large above you but yet feels so fragile in your grasp as he buries his head into the side of your neck and starts crying.

‘I’m so, so cold, Y/n, and my arms are s-s-so stiff, and I’m s-so sorry, I’m so sorry-’

You can’t bear to tell him the news, so you just hold the nape of his neck and pull him tight against your chest, hating the way his whole body shakes in your hold.

On the day of Nell’s funeral, he doesn't leave your side once - it’s as if the two of you had never been separated at all. As everyone files in through the main door, ignoring the sour face on Shirley as they wander into the reception area, you and Luke just sit knee to knee on the couch opposite the entryway.

‘I tried to write to you,’ he starts, as he fumbles a cigarette from out of his breast pocket and tucks it away behind his ear, trying to busy himself with anything so he doesn’t have to meet your confused eyes, and so you don’t have to see the guilt ridden in his. ‘I want you to know that. Nellie kept on telling me off, but i just didn't know how to say what i needed to say to you.’

‘Luke, its okay, i understand how difficult it was for you-’

‘No-no, Y/n, no more excuses! You mean so much to me and i- i cant... i can't lose anyone else. Just-’

He's so gentle when he finally reaches over and kisses you, trying to shake off his fear and just show you what he meant instead. His suit rumples against your chest as he smooshes himself against you, cupping your cheeks softly with his large hands as he tilts you to the side to meet him in a needy, a desperate, a long anticipated kiss. 

He doesn’t pull away - he can't - until you finally break for air, and only then does he finally concede and places his forehead against yours with a soft thud, just closing his eyes in both agony and bliss.

‘I’m sorry that took me so long to do.’

‘It was worth the wait. Although, I have to be honest, your timing has always been rubbish.’

He chuckles, his deep voice vibrating against your chest as he rests his head on your shoulder like a lost puppy, gazing up at you with those wide, lost eyes, and for the first time you can finally see the adoration and awe and just pure love that’s always been in them.

For the rest of the reception. before he tells you of his plans to go back and burn Hill House to the ground, is spent with the two of you escaping from his siblings by stepping outside and sitting on Shirley’s porch. Your arms stay linked tightly together, as if afraid to let go again, and his coat is wrapped around both of your shoulders as he rests against you, just content to be surrounded by your presence.

[the-fandom-is-now-my-life]

Look, I already lost the place as the first shummatsu no valkire fanfic/headcanon/x reader. I just wanted to be the first one on something, please just ignore this

"Teacher my family is hosting a Christmas party, I was asked to invite you"

Stopping writing in the black board williams turned to face his student

" I am afraid I may not be able to attend. My wife wished to spend Christmas in our house, she wants the whole family together for once"

The silence filled the classroom

" Teacher Moriarty is married?!" Yelled a student of the back row

"Is it truly so hard to believe? Do I look so unapproachable?" Joked williams

"No! But we can't believe you are married so young" commented the front row student " how did you both meet?"

" If I didn't know any better I would say you are trying to escape classes by asking about my personal life"

"I bet it was romantic! Maybe in the birthday of a common friend and from there the love bug grew in them" a student stated

" Maybe in a masquerade? The mysteriousness of the event plus the sexiness of not knowing who you are talking to. I can assure you they met at masquerade, the atmosphere is perfect." Another student argued

In no time the classroom was a battlefield about how their teacher met his wife. It had developed in so little time williams was truly surprised by their interest

Hitting his book in the desk he stated " well, may we continue with the lesson"

"But teacher! Just one and then we can continue"

"Yes teacher, just one and we don't bother anymore!"

Giving up he gave in"Good grief, I guess one of how we met won't hurt anyone. But after that we have to continue with class"

"Yes teacher!"

"Well, after the death of our parents, my siblings and I went to live with a distant relative of us, who also happened to have visitors who had a daughter, YN was her name. I was sitting in the garden thinking and then…"

Seated on one of the garden benches william decided to plan the next step on his scheme, but he was surprised by a pair of arms wrapping around his neck

"So you are the one who burnt down his family. courageous" the face of a child not older than 12 appear in-between the leaves and branches

Even taken aback williams didn't stutter when lying " what are you talking about? It was a sad accident that left me and my brothers without parents. It's nothing to joke around with"

Giggling the young kid poked his left eyebrow " this one rises when you lie, how cute. My name is YN YS, you might be one the moriarty children, aren't you?"

"Could you please stop poking my eyebrow?"

"You are so cute, how old are you?"

"14"

"Don't lie to me, you are far too cute to be that old, but your eyebrow didn't raise, could it be your real age?

"What would I gain from lying about my age"

The child let out an agreement sound before sitting by his side "maybe because of…" but she was interrupted by a deep masculine voice

"YN, where are you baby?"

She turned around and yelled" I'm going papa!" Facing williams again and continuing " well, father is calling for me, let's meet at dinner. I want to know if your brothers are as cute as you" she hopped off of the bench and decided to clean a bit her dress and leave " don't try anything funny, I will be checking the candles" hugging him goodbye and kissing his cheek the little kid set off, leaving williams surprised.

you knew the truth, but what were your reasons for believing that? Maybe if he could talk to you he could make you think it was an accident, but on the other hand if he insists too much it would be incriminating. Putting his hands in his pocket he found a piece of paper written on, when have you put a message on him. The letter said :

if you burn down uncle's house at least you take responsibility and take me with you until I marry

followed by an angry drawing. You were truly interesting or so thought williams . He will have to investigate you and your background deeply. What an interesting girl.

Even after changing a few details of your first meeting the story, like you knowing he started the fire, seemed plausible "... And that was how we met. Now we must continue with the subject." Standing up and opening his book he continued. " We will now see this two formulas, and you will have to tell m-"

"But professor williams! We want to know more, don't we?" A sound of agreement filled the room

" Didn't we make a deal? Now open your textbook on the pag-" and he was interrupted again

" Not even a detail about your first kiss? Or your wedding?"

" What's the reason that you are all so interested in my private life"

"My sister wanted to marry you" "I thought professor moriarty was a loner wolf" " I wanted to know if your love story was like in fairy tales" and other reasons could be heard in the classroom.

Taking deep breath he decided to ignore the reasons and keep on teaching " open your textbook at 67" he didn't say anything at the sight of the sad students who were whining about love stories and fairytales " if you do well in tomorrow exam I might tell you about our first kiss" the atmosphere suddenly lifted. Now the students would give their hundred percent.

[ohmypreciousgirl]

Xicheng AU Rec List

This time I compiled my favorite AU fics for @waterandsilver! Hope everyone will enjoy this list too ♥

Just Two Lost Souls 46,978

Even if it is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife, husband, or companion, all Jiang Cheng really wants is to run his company, take care of his pets, and maybe get some sleep. Unfortunately the new job promotion to CEO comes with a loaded social calendar and a need for some sort of companion.

So clearly the most sensible answer is to start dating the man he's had a crush on since he was a teenager.

Because nothing could go wrong there. Sequels: Hold Me Like You Want Me; I Am Yours, If You Are Mine; Jiang Cheng and the Lans; You Get a Torch and a Flame and Burn The Path You Want.

i don't really care how much silence kills me 15,611 [Part 1 of all the lights couldn't put out the dark] It’s been around 2 years since Jiang Cheng has last seen to his brother, and a little over a year since the last time he spoke to him, when they locked eyes at Nie Huaisang’s art exhibition. Jiang Cheng had only come because Huaisang had explicitly promised him he wouldn’t be here. He knows Wuxian and Wangji have just moved back into the area after traveling, and he has every intention of avoiding them at all costs, just like he avoids his college-era crush Lan Xichen. 

But it would seem that the universe has other ideas.

charcoal on newsprint 2,151 [Part 1 of fine art] Xichen distantly realizes that there is no way Huaisang had actually told Jiang Cheng that this is a nude modeling session. He can already hear Jiang Cheng’s clear baritone, dripping with sarcasm, telling the entire dinner table “So, Zewu Jun wanted me naked in front of all his students.” at the next Lan-Jiang family dinner.Uncle is going to have his head. 

Madam Yu is going to skewer him alive before that. Or, Jiang Cheng models for life drawing in his spare time.

Family 2,514 [Part 1 of The Lan-Jiang Family] Jiang Cheng stops dead in the doorway as he takes in the horrendous state the apartment is in; toys and clothes everywhere, new furniture, child-furniture, all over the place, and no matter where Jiang Cheng’s gaze drops, it’s been taking over by stuff that belongs to a child.

A child that is still screaming, almost drowning out Lan Xichen’s attempts to calm it down.

“What the actual fuck is happening here?” Jiang Cheng blurts out and while it does nothing to stop the child from screaming, Lan Xichen freezes.

Worthy of a god 1,859 [Part 1 of The most faithful] Jiang Cheng knows that there is a chance Chifeng-zun will choose him; he is the god of war and rage and ever since Jiang Cheng was old enough to scowl there had been talk at Lotus Pier, how well he would fit with that.

But Jiang Cheng also knows that there is a bigger chance of no god choosing him at all.

Not just a vacation [Part 1 of The best catch] The next night Lan Xichen goes back to the beach. He keeps out of sight at first, hoping to catch the man unawares first, his mind still reeling from the research he did during the day.

It’s probably not what Lan Qiren and Lan Wangji wanted for him when they sent him on this vacation, but Lan Xichen needs to know what’s going on here. The only thing his research turned up were tales of mermaid and Lan Xichen is not ready to believe that.

Until he catches sight of a rather huge tail, flapping out of the water.

What Happens in Vegas Comes Home to Taiwan 3,120 [Part 1 of What Happens in Vegas] What do you do when your brother is getting married to someone you can’t stand?

The answer probably shouldn’t be to marry his brother, but in Lan Xichen’s defense, he didn’t know Las Vegas would allow drunk people to tie the knot at three o’clock in the damn morning.

A Lionheart 19,916 Wherein Xichen is a Crown Prince and Jiang Cheng is his bodyguard.

Emergency Help Wanted 76,819 EMERGENCY HELP WANTED I lied when I got my job. I told them I had a kid so I could leave early from work to pick him up from daycare, take him to doctor's appointments, and occasionally miss a day when he's sick. Long story short, I'm in too deep. I didn't think it through. Looking to rent a kid for bring your child to work day. Must be a boy ages four to six, longish dark hair, likes soccer. Must also be artistic as the macaroni noodle paintings I made seem a little advanced for his age. Also, I will pay extra for someone willing to play the role of husband when dropping him off. He's a prosecuting attorney who often brings his work home. Message me for further details. Serious inquiries only.

how to not fall in love in a broken elevator 2,741 [Part 1 of a guide to falling in love (for runaways and heirs)] Jiang Cheng and Lan Xichen get stuck in an elevator together.

Stream 4,494 He’s in love with Lan Xichen.

Jiang Cheng blinks once, twice and allows the feeling to fill him completely, at least once, before he ruthlessly squashes it down and locks it into the deepest parts of himself.

By the time Lan Xichen stops laughing and turns his attention back to Jiang Cheng, it’s as if nothing ever happened. Sequel: Umbrella - Savor

Jiang Cheng knows what he’s worth, after all, and it’s definitely not enough for the First Jade of Gusu.

How to get revenge on your brothers: A Guide by Jiang Cheng and Lan Xichen 8,339 “That’s it. That’s the solution.”

Jiang Cheng opened an eye confused. “What do you mean?”

There was a weird light in Lan Xichen’s eyes and for a moment Jiang Cheng thought the other had gone crazy. “We will make them understand what it feels like seeing their brothers being… intimate with each other.”

Talent Hunt Crew Finds Angry Guy Shouting On College Campus, Recruits Him For Vocal Projection Abilities 80,575 Jiang Cheng, resident Angry Guy and heir to a conglomerate empire, has never been the apple of his father’s eye. Quashed under the shadow of his brilliant brother, the music prodigy Wei Wuxian, Jiang Cheng sees his chance to turn things around when he is recruited by the All-Stars Lan Talent Hunt. One problem: he can’t sing to save his goddamn life.

do you eat pringles with or without the shell? 32,291 Wei Wuxian smiles at him, the bastard. “I’m proud of you for figuring this out. That means Xichen-ge is your gay awakening.”

“Don’t put it like that,” Jiang Cheng sighs but he isn’t wrong.

All This Could Be Yours 17,337 After transferring to the main branch of his family’s publishing business and into his newly-acquired responsibilities as its CEO and managing director, Lan Huan finds himself stressed and burnt out. His brother recommends a solution.

Jiang Cheng is too gay to deal with this shit.

how should i know what tomorrow will bring 1,630 “If they can’t accept the fact that Jin Ling will always be there, then they might as well fuck off.” Jiang Cheng points out.

“Well, sure.” Wei Wuxian concedes. “But you don’t even give them time to know if they want to be involved with you before you’re kicking them away. That’s not how first dates are supposed to go.”

“How would you know,” Jiang Cheng grumbles, annoyed that Wei Wuxian is right. This time. “You haven’t been on a date since like, 2002.”

Children's Secrets 5,225 Jiang Cheng and Lan Xichen swap nephews for a weekend. Some revelations are made.

the Magical-Realism of Awkwardness 10,168 Jiang Cheng thinks things can't get worse when he is forced to third wheel Wei Wuxian and Lanzhan's date.

Then Lan Xichen shows up and proves that things damn well can.

(Or, what shapes up to be one of the worst days of Jiang Cheng's life takes an entirely different turn.)

in the incense is tangled a cool moon 3,614 Some loves aren't meant to be, Wanyin knows. 

Pay me in love 2,770 Madame Yu watches Lan Xichen walk away, until he is out of earshot, before she turns towards Jiang Cheng.

“What are you paying him?” she wants to know and Jiang Cheng can do nothing but stare dumbly at her.

“What?” he asks when she doesn’t say anything else.

“Did you really think I would believe you’re dating Lan Xichen, CEO of Lan Enterprises? Nice try, Jiang Cheng. Now tell me what you’re paying him.”

a slight tilt of perception 5,238 It was just a dance. 

Jiang Cheng, trying to avoid the society matrons and their matchmaking-themed whispers, accepted a dance invitation from Lan Xichen, an old friend.

He forgot that his dance partner was probably the most eligible bachelor in the room.

He forgot that was all it could take: a moment, a look, hands intertwined in a dance—and everything could change.

Not at all fake 3,070 “Tomorrow,” Jiang Cheng gives back and then makes a noise as if he’s dying. “Fucking hell, I’m a dead man. If I show up tomorrow without anyone in tow—without someone in tow who can give Lan Wangji a run for his money—then I am dead.”

There’s a beat of silence and then Lan Xichen says “Take me.”

Jiang Cheng blinks a few times, processing the words, but even after a full minute they don’t make any sense.

For better, for worse 6,713 People forget marriage vows are more than pretty words. It's easy to honor them when it comes to good things but they're easily forgotten when it comes to darker times. Lan Huan, however, always keeps them in mind. To love someone like Jiang Cheng, who wears his emotions on his sleeve due his terrible parents, is to remember that love is not simple.

Glow 3,033 [Part 1 of Eldritch!Lans AU] Jiang Cheng carefully turns his head, maybe the absence of his boyfriend is what woke him up, but when he looks at Lan Xichen’s side, he’s met with something so dark it even stands out against the darkness of the night.

There’s a void next to him in bed and Jiang Cheng throws himself out of it, Zidian already crackling and sparking, illuminating the room in a faint purple.

White Lotus in Bloom 7,147 As the Crown Prince from Gusu Lan visiting YunMeng Jiang, Lan Huan was beyond excited to attend the region's famous Lotus Festival, where he meets a boy in purple and black.

Never Had I Ever 56,263 Nie Mingjue is almost certain that Jin Guangyao has an ulterior motive for dating his best friend, Lan Xichen. However despite voicing his concerns, his best friend seems unconvinced and Lan Xichen continues to date the said man. Unable to give up just yet, Nie Mingjue tries a different tactic--convincing his best friend the man is not the right person for him by setting him up. Fortunately for him, Wei Wuxian's youngest brother is very much single and seems to be just the kind of person his best friend needs. Can Jiang Cheng truly change Lan Xichen's mind, or will Nie Mingjue's plan is a disaster from the beginning?

As he struggles to develop his nascent singing abilities, Jiang Cheng finds himself sucked into the whirlwind drama of reality TV, helped along by his adoring siblings, his irritable vocal coach Wen Qing, and strangely enough, the unfairly attractive host of the All-Stars Lan Talent Hunt, Lan Xichen. Somewhere in the glare of the stage lights and an unexpected first love, Jiang Cheng stumbles upon the thing he was searching for all along: the courage to dream — and to attempt the impossible.

Comfort 1,838 Wei Wuxian always pisses him off, this is common between them. Some fights, however, make Jiang Cheng sad enough to lock himself away from people and Lan Xichen has taken on the role of always being there to comfort him.

midnight comforts 1,946 At 11:36 his phone buzzed next to his ear. Lan Huan had a strict sleeping routine, but even so he was a fairly light sleeper. He answered the call—no one he knew would call him this late without reason—and murmured a groggy greeting.

“Lan Huan?”

He sat up, already rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.

“A-Cheng?”

“I know it’s late,” he started, voice sounding odd through the phone, “but you,” he stopped again with a gasp. Now that he was more alert, Lan Huan realized with mounting horror that the hitch in his breath, the odd thickness, was from crying. “You said I could come over whenever,” he finished, voice much shakier.

To The Beat 1,859 [Part 1 of Fever]

"The bathroom is over there you fuc--"

His words caught in his throat as he saw the person on the other side. He looked a lot like Wei Ying's boyfriend, but he was smiling and his eyes were somehow kind; comparatively, the most expression he'd ever seen on Lan Zhan's face was mild disdain.

Jiang Cheng must have been staring dumbly for a while because the man cleared his throat. There was a blush rising on his cheeks, and oh fuck, that was kind of cute.

"I apologize for interrupting your night. I was told that this room was where the people who were 'no fun' were supposed to go," the man said. His voice was deep and somehow just as smooth as his skin, which was flawless.

It Took Me So Long To Find You 6,349 [Soulmate AU]

But it didn’t take him too long to realize that he was simply not worthy of the other.

So he hoped at least that they could become friends.

Lotus Pier burned down before Jiang Cheng could think of telling Lan XiChen. And after the Sunshot Campaign, he understood, being Lan XiChen’s soulmate would not just be a burden to the other, it would be a curse.

paint my skies with your skin 15,473 [Soulmate AU] “There’s no point in this, is there?” Jiang Cheng scoffs, “We both know I am not who you want your soulmate to be.”

“Soulmate or not, you have my heart and my ribbon. Only if you want it, Wanyin.”

once upon a dream 18,438 [Part 1 of once upon a dream] An au where your dreams are small snippets of your soulmate’s day. They’d show small things like buying coffee, reading a book, or hanging out with people from their perspective.

The problem was that people always have expectations and Jiang Cheng knows he always falls short of them. Time and time again.

[kalimagik]

Becoming a Home:  Journey to Hogwarts - Ch. 8

Word Count: ~3k

A/N: Here is the 8th chapter of our series that has been such a joy in my life. I have enjoyed writing this part so much. There is love and fluff and all sorts of cuteness! Huge thanks to @iliveiloveiwrite​, @heloisedaphnebrightmore​, @obsessedwithrandomthings​, and @firewhisky-kisses​ for reading and helping me come up with ideas for this chapter! I hope you all enjoy <3

Series Masterlist

The portal stood open in front of her. Ana had already hugged the other girls goodbye, they were happy to be staying, but going was just for the best. Hermione may have found the citizenship loophole, but she hadn’t seemed to warm up to Ana anymore.

She looked back at the faces that she loved so much. Who knew that a book club could have led to all of this? Even though Des, Kiara, Ellie, and Mel were there, one face wasn’t watching her - Ron. Ana had told him to stay back at the Burrow. She said her goodbyes to the Weasleys there. Only Arthur was with her now.

“Goodbye, Ana,” Ellie spoke again as Ana took a step forward, waving one more time. She could feel the power of the portal and almost see home. It was such a weird feeling. The room across the barrier was home, she should be happy to be going back. Ana hesitated a second longer - was this the right choice? If it was, why wasn’t she smiling?

“ANA! WAIT! Please, don’t go!” Ron bursted into the Ministry room, pushing through those who were seeing Ana off. He was slightly out of breath, signifying that he ran through the entire building to find her. He didn’t stop until Ana’s hands were in his own and he could brush the loose blond hair out of her face.

“What are you doing here, Ron? I told you not to come.” Ana looked past Ron at Hermione, who was in the corner, making sure everything was going smoothly. Her eyes then drifted to her four friends. Despite all being very different people, they were all romantics. They were watching her with wide eyes and pouts on their faces.

“I couldn’t just let you leave,” Ron explained, drawing his attention back to you. “Ana, love, there is such a connection here. I would be a bloody idiot if I let you go. I would never be able to forgive myself.” Ron’s eyes pleaded with her. “Just give me a chance to make your life here amazing - please.”

“I don’t know, Ron. I-I -” Ana tried to speak, but couldn’t find the words. She didn’t want to seem weak in front of him. She was supposed to be a Gryffindor afterall. The portal still spun behind her, Ron unrelenting, looking for some answers. Ana breathed in deeply. “I don’t fit in here, Ron. I’m in the way,” she spoke confidently.

“What are you talking about?” Ron was still completely confused. He thought that everything had been going off perfectly. He was searching her face, trying to find some sort of explanation.

“Ana,” Hermione interjected, stepping forward from where she had been keeping rather quiet. “I know this is Ronald’s moment, but I know that you- uh, heard me a while back - talking to Ginny. I was rather harsh with you, but I can see how happy Ron makes you and you make him.” Hermione looked down at her clasp hands. Ana could tell how hard this was, but could hear how genuine her words were. “You should stay. I’m sorry.”

Ron turned back to Ana instantly. “Please, will you stay?”

“You really want me here?” she had to reiterate more for herself than anyone else. Instead of responding, Ron drew her face to his, pressing his lips firmly against her own. He conveyed everything he couldn’t say with the kiss, not caring that everyone else was watching. “Okay, I’ll stay,” the girl grinned when she pulled away, lips swollen and face lighting up.

-

Ana stood in front of her mirror, clasping a necklace around her neck. She held the pendant tenderly in her fingers, remembering how Ron insisted on showering her with gifts after she decided to stay. Ana made him return the more expensive ones, but he insisted that she kept the little silver necklace with a diamond in the middle of a star. It was now one of her favorite possessions.

“Wow, you look beautiful,” Ron grinned, standing in the doorway of their bedroom, looking at her reflection from behind her. Ana could feel the blush spreading on her cheeks as she looked over her dress one more time. “Everyone will begin arriving soon,” Ron informed her, wrapping his arms around her waist. “This evening is going to be perfect,” he whispered, placing a kiss on Ana’s temple.

The doorbell rang and Ron went to let in the first guests. Ana and Ron had just moved into a small house together right outside of London. It may have only been six months since Ana decided to stay, but when had anything about their relationship been conventional.

As a hoard of Weasleys entered the little house, Ana thought about how nervous Ron was when he asked her to move out of the Burrow and into a house of their own the month prior.

-

“Ana?” Ron timidly entered into Bill’s old room.

“Hiya,” Ana giggled, pecking Ron’s lips. “What’s up?”

“I have a surprise for you.”

Ana groaned playfully before teasing her boyfriend. “I thought I told you no more gifts. I explicitly said that me accepting the necklace meant the end of your gifts,” she giggled.

“Well, it wouldn’t be just a present for you.” Ron pulled out a little square box. Nothing like a ring box, but just a gift box. “Go ahead, open it.” He placed the little black box in Ana’s hands. She slid the lid off and flipped over the bottom half, a little gold key falling into her hand.

Ana looked up at Ron with a confused face. “What’s this?”

“It’s been a little crowded in this house recently and I had been thinking about moving out for a while, but I was wondering if you might want to come with me,” Ron looked at the girl sitting in front of him hopefully. The moment she stepped into his life, she changed everything and this was the one way that he could think of to show her how positive a change that was for him.

“Move in with you?”

“I know that it is really fast and that we’ve barely known each other a year, but everything just feels right with you. I love you.” Her breath hitched in her chest as her heart swelled. I love you, Ana and I’m not afraid of it.”

Ana immediately reached up, wrapping her arms around Ron’s neck and pulling him closer to her. “I love you too, Ron,” she beamed before kissing him.

-

“Ana! Our favorite girl,” Fred grinned devilishly, hugging her tightly.

“Don’t you look lovely, dear!” Molly exclaimed, pulling Ana into a bear hug before hugging her own son. “The place looks amazing! You really do have quite the touch,” Molly smiled, looking around the sitting room.

“Thank you, Mrs. Weasley.”

“Ana, how many times do I have to tell you to call me Molly? Oh, George! Put that down! You are going to break it!” she scolded, turning to the younger twin. Ana chuckled to herself as the people that became her family gathered in her home, well her shared home.

Ana escaped to the kitchen for a moment to check on the dinner. She didn’t want her first big event to be ruined by a burnt ham. She was soon joined by Molly Weasley.

“I apologize for my boys. They are like having a troll in an antique shop,” Molly huffed, stirring the vegetables in the pot.

“Oh, you don’t have to do that, Molly,” Ana interjected, “You’re a guest tonight!”

“Nonsense, dear. I will always be here to help. Living with Ronald won’t be a walk in the park,” she laughed, busying herself.

“I am feeling a little nervous,” Ana admitted. “I’ve mostly lived by myself, not with another person to worry about and care for.”

“Ana, sweetheart, I can already tell that you are going to be a natural. My Ronald is in love with you, I can tell when I look at him. His eyes have always given it away,” Molly smiled sweetly. Ana could feel the blush rising in her cheeks, Molly’s words made her heart swell.

“I hope you’re right, Molly.”

“I’ve raised more than seven children, I know I’m right.” Molly affectionately rubbed Ana’s arms before pulling her into another hug. The plump woman could not have hoped for a better partner for her youngest son. She could tell when the two still lived at the Burrow that they would wind up with each other even if it took them a bit to figure it out themselves.

Ron was talking with Charlie when Ginny and Harry arrived,  Bill, Fleur, and little Victoire following shortly. “Blimey! Who knew that Ron could put together such a place,” Harry teased, hugging his best friend.

“You know that I did none of this, right mate? Between her charms and creative eye, Ana put this place together in the blink of an eye. I barely had time to offer to help.”

“Don’t forget that you picked out the kitchen counter and paint. It’s honestly my favorite part of the house,” Ana giggled, coming up beside him, greeting both Harry and Ginny.

-

“Ron?” Ana called from the kitchen while Ron unpacked in the bedroom. “What do you think of this color?” She held a swatch of possible paint colors up to the wall over the cracked countertop. The blond woman sighed, feeling defeated. The entire kitchen needed to be redone.

“Darling, breathe.” Ron could see the look and worry across her face, so naturally his wrapped his arms around her waist from behind.. “It already looks beautiful and this is the last thing we have to do.”

“That’s exactly why it has to be perfect,” she explained, holding the paint colors back up to the wall.

“I like that one,” Ron pointed to a very soft gray. “It will go with the dark blue cabinets and brings out the color in the counter I chose last week.” Ana eyed the color a bit, thinking about their previous choices before a smile erupted on her face.

“It's brilliant, Ron!” She turned in his arms to hug him, excited at the prospect of their home finally being finished.

“I can have it painted by week’s end before going back to work,” he promised. He would honestly do anything to see the smile that graced her face and as long as he was the one keeping it there, he would be happy.

-

The bell rang again and Ron went to answer because Victoire had rushed Ana, begging her to play dolls with her. The little blond had taken a liking to Ana after the first time they met and Ana created an entire world of make believe with the little girl.

“Ana,” Ron called, “Your friends are here! And Remus and Tonks of course!” Five couples noisily piled into the home, each commenting on the layout and greeting the entire Weasley family.

“Merlin!” Mel exclaimed, “it’s been too long, Ana.”

“You really should have stayed in London,” Ellie followed, pouting playfully.

“I don’t know you guys, it’s really great out here. It’s quiet, plus, I think you all are forgetting that we can apparate now. I can see you all seconds after I receive your owls,” she laughed, catching Ron’s eye from across the room. “Can I get you guys anything to drink?”

Kiara clung onto Neville’s arm. “I’ll pass on that,” she shrugged. “Maybe just a coca cola?”

“KIARA JONES? Are you turning down alcohol? I am shocked!” Ana feigned surprise.

“Bugger off,” Kaira chuckled, clinging on to Neville’s arm.

“I guess wanting a coca cola is acceptable,” Ana teased the dark haired girl, “Anyone else?”

“You know I will take one,” Des grinned widely. “Why don’t Sirius and I actually get those for everyone? It seems that you have another guest.” Des pointed to the door. Before Ana turned around to greet her last guest, she looked at all of her friends again - the friends she came to this amazing world with. They all looked so happy, each with someone they loved dearly and Ana could just see it on their faces.

Des and Sirius laughed at the bar, pouring drinks for the room. Ellie leaned into Blaise while she spoke with Tonks and Remus. Draco had his arm draped over Mel’s shoulder while speaking with the twins. She was laughing so hard at whatever the three boys had said. And Kiara and Neville were just wrapped up in each other. Thank Merlin he had given into her.

“Ana?” a soft voice spoke from the doorway.

“Hermione,” Ana smiled widely, immediately hugging the brunette. “I’m so happy that you could make it!” She held Hermione at an arm’s length, looking her up and down to make sure she looked okay. “You haven’t been working too hard, have you?” she chuckled.

“No, I actually went on holiday,” Hermione beamed. “It was wonderful.”

“Good, I’m glad. Everyone is inside, let me get you a drink,” Ana spoke, leading Hermione to where Ginny and Harry were standing. “Thank you so much for inviting me, Ana. Truly,” Hermione spoke quietly before Ana walked to get more drinks.

Friendship hadn’t come instantly, but over the last few months, Ana was really making an effort with Hermione and now they were much closer than they had been. When Ana showed interest in having a housewarming party, she instantly added Hermione to her guest list. Ron couldn’t be happier than his childhood best friend was now friends with the love of his life.

“Need some help over here, darling,” Ron asked, placing his hand on Ana’s lower back and a kiss against her temple.

“If you could take around some of the entreés, that would be brilliant. Thank you, love,” Ana grinned, handing a tray to Ron.

“I’d do anything for you,” Ron winked, taking the food around to all the chatting groups. Des popped by, handing Ana her drink before sliding her arm around Sirius’ waist, joining Ellie, Blaise, Tonks, and Remus.

Ana took in the sight of all the people she loved so much around her. There was life, happiness, and conversation filling her new home. It was exactly how she wanted it to feel all the time. It filled her heart with warmth.

“Auntie Ana?” Victoire tugged on Ana’s dress.

“Oh, sweetie, I’m not you aunt,” Ana tried to explain, bending down to be on the little girl’s level, her navy dress falling over her bent knees.

“Why not? You live with Uncle Ron?” Victoire’s innocence was precious. Ana couldn’t keep herself from smiling at the idea even though she knew that was not coming anytime soon.

Instead of arguing with the little girl, Ana just continued the conversation. “What do you need, love?”

“Do you have any cookies?”

“Mhmmmm, let me think,” Ana pretended to ponder what was in her kitchen. “You know what? I do! But, you have to make sure you eat all your dinner before you can have any, okay? Cookies don’t taste nearly as good if you don’t eat anything healthy before.” Ana laughed loudly at the disgust that appeared on Victoire’s face. “But don’t worry,” she reassured her, “I put a special batch aside for you!”

Victoire’s face brightened as she wrapped her tiny arms as far around Ana as she could before running back to her father and climbing up on his lap. It was adorable. “Someone seems to like you,” Ron cooed in Ana’s ear, wrapping his arms around her waist as if they belonged there.

“Yeah, so much so that she called me auntie,” Ana chuckled, turning in his arms so that she was facing him.

“Mhm, auntie, you say? Maybe we can make that happen one day,” Ron whispered, peppering kisses across Ana’s face, causing her to giggle.

“Not just yet,” she said over her laughter, “Let’s just enjoy this right now.” Ron nodded, kissing her forehead, then her nose, and then her lips.

“I guess I can do that,” Ron rolled his eyes, not wanting to let Ana go.

“Ronald,” she giggled, “we have guests, we should probably get back to them, and-” Ana sniffed, “I think dinner is ready!” Ana pulled away from Ron quickly and he just watched lovingly as she shuffled around the kitchen. Luckily, he was nearby because she nearly dropped the ham after pulling it out of the oven.

Ron placed many tables in a row earlier in order to fit everyone at the dining room table. It was cozy, but no one seemed to mind. Ron hit his knife against his glass after everyone had food on their plates. “How about a toast?”

“Here! Here!” George called, lifting his glass up.

Ron laughed before starting to speak, “I want to thank you all for warming Ana and I’s new home. It’s amazing to see so many people in here. You are all always welcomed like Mum opened the Burrow for everyone, I know Ana would love it,” he paused, looking at his girlfriend, “And, here is to all of the girls that turned our lives upside down when they fell into Hogwarts. I think I speak for all the lads when I say that it is the greatest chaos to ever enter our lives. Cheers!”

Glasses clinked around the table, chattering and eating beginning as Ron sat in his designated seat next to Ana. “That was beautiful,” Ana smiled, nudging Ron a bit with her shoulder.

“I meant every word of it. I love you, Ana,” Ron spoke softly, placing a gentle kiss on Ana’s lips, knowing that he would do that at least once a day for the rest of his life.

-

taglist: @jenniweaslee​​​ @just-an-outstanding-auror​​​ @the-hufflefluffwriter​​​ @ravenclaw-member​​​  @accio-slytherout​

[thistle-01]

Jezebel

If ever the devil was born without a pair of horns It was you, Jezebel, it was you If ever an angel fell, Jezebel, it was you Jezebel, it was you

Song by Frankie Laine

The stone burnt white hot over the heat of the fire, roasting the person lying on it to a steaming crisp.

He screamed - long and hard and loudly into the night… but if there ever was a person to lend an ear to his agony it wasn’t here.

Not in this place.

Not in Devil’s Ire.

/

Hoisting his axe over his left shoulder, Choi Jung Soo heaved a sigh.

He took a breath, drawing stale air and blowing out smoke, and he pushed his hair out of his face, seeking his towel.

It was draped over a chair toward the front of the furnace and he walked there, blinking his stinging eyes.

One would think he’d get used to the aerosolized carbon dust - smoke - after twelve long years slaving away at the nest of it, but it still hurt. Biting just like it had back then.

He snatched back his fingers when an axe descended beside the towel.

”The hell?”

”You think you earned yourself a break? Croaker?”

That was what all the Keepers called the working class. One in three of them would “croak,” dead, before they hit their thirtieth year.

Choi Jung Soo smiled thinly. “Just a tiny one, chief.”

The axe lodged into the towel next. “Get back to work.”

Choi Jung Soo went, wondering if he hadn’t picked the harder way out compared to his dead contemporaries. Certainly his grave didn’t threaten to divest him of his wrists for a reasonable enough request.

Sundown came and went, the crows overhead clocking out for the stars’ dinner party.

Choi Jung Soo grunted as he hefted his ore he just mined, feeling every vertebra as it struggled to align until he threw it down in the cart.

He stretched his spine, feeling pops of joints as he dawdled.

“Time’s up!”

Leaning tiredly against the handle of the cart, Choi Jung Soo muttered his relief.

He followed the train of departing workers, among them a moderately tall fellow who waved at him and dug a punch into his arm, to the exit.

The chill of the air outside the furnace swept over his skin, killing the embers - or at least soothing them - which had gathered there through the course of the day.

He rubbed his neck, stretched his elbows and knees.

If he continued in this vein he’d have lung disease before thirty, arthritis by age forty-five.

Arguably that could be sooner - but his sires had always had a lucky streak, so he was betting on it kicking in for him too.

“No supper?”

Chasnik appeared mildly concerned when Choi Jung Soo bid him goodbye, turning toward the path that would bring him home.

“Not unless a magic crane suddenly deposits me a dime,” Choi Jung Soo said easily. He clapped his hand on Chasnik’s shoulder, pushing him away. “Go. Get fed. We have more work to do tomorrow.”

“Yes -“ Chasnik hooked a hand over Choi Jung Soo’s before he could pull it back. “- and as I recall we need calories in order to make that through. Come along.”

“I’m fine.”

“Come,” Chasnik insisted and Choi Jung Soo did, eventually, cave.

tbc

- Cale Henituse as one of the ruling class’ children

- Cale Henituse leading the rebellion against the corrupt king who secretly made a deal with the devil

- ^clandestine meetings, organized crime, Alberu Crossman as the pronounced “dead, murdered as an infant by a defected traitor” son of the corrupt king biding his time

- CJS joining the rebellion after a betrayal

- CJS spearheading the movement with sponsorship in the faceless form of KRS

- eventual romance, intrigue, political cutthroat

- aka 80K+ word long fic that I may never actually write but it lives in my head anyway ahahahaha ✌️

[manga-and-stuff]

Interview with Makoto Yukimura, the Mangaka behind Vinland Saga

REALQ: What kind of child were you? Yukimura: I was a laid back kid, who took a very, very long time to come to a decision. I'd be late to dinner because I was thinking about something or other. Once, while I was alternately touching the right and left eyes of a snail, I became aware that night had fallen. I wondered why my group of friends were always in such a hurry. I would focus on something and lose the ability to tell if time was passing quickly or slowly.

REALQ: When did you first encounter manga? Yukimura: I was five-years-old and the manga was Akira Toriyama's Dr. Slump. I remember thinking the cover art was cool. When I was little, I used to think that the cover art and the story inside were drawn by different people. [Laughs]    But I watched the Dr. Slump anime before I read the manga. Later, someone told me that there was a manga that the anime was based on and I found the weekly magazine where it was serialized. In the beginning, I was dubious. I didn't see why there needed to be both a manga and an anime. Like, why do the same thing twice? How-ever, after I saw them both it made sense because each had its own idiosyncracies. REALQ: Did your parents say anything to you about reading manga? Yukimura: No, they never said anything. They came from a generation who said reading manga made you an idiot, but they didn't say any-thing. They didn't say anything when I told them at 16 that I wanted to draw manga, either.

REALQ: Was there anything that your parents, siblings, or people around you would say to you often?

Yukimura: There certainly must have been various things, but I don't remember because I was probably concentrating on something else at the time and didn't hear them. However, one thing I do remember is being told to watch out for cars. Like, at the very least, try not to die. [Laughs] Nevertheless, I really did get into a traffic accident. Once, on my way to the park to play with my friends, I ran out into the street and got hit on the side by a sedan. I rolled over the top of the car—the hood, wind-shield, top, rear window, then the trunk. Strangely, I wasn't seriously injured and played in the park afterwards. Actually, there was also another incident.    My sister and I were riding together in a car. It was just the two of us and as we were going down a hill, a car suddenly appeared and we hit its side. I was sitting in the backseat and was launched forward like a catapult. My sister was so surprised she called out, "Mako, you're flying!" Strangely, I wasn't injured that time either, and we decided not to tell our mother. [Laughs] REALQ: Did your way of thinking change after the accident? Yukimura: I think that if it did change, I wasn't conscious of it. Despite being a near-death experience, it was a miracle I wasn't injured. My mother getting angry at me afterward was more frightening. [Laughs] In terms of my "way of thinking," I'm a little different. Like something in me is lacking. It's often the case that for some reason I don't fully comprehend a conversation even if I'm really trying to concentrate on what the other person is saying. What's the reason? If I'm honest about it, it's because I'll start thinking about something else, even if it's just for a moment. REALQ: Did you also have trouble paying attention during class at school? Yukimura: Yeah. Especially classes that didn't interest me. I continued to have this problem in high school, where I'd often be sitting in class and before I realized it, the bell would ring. However, my notebook would have stuff drawn in it...manga. REALQ: Didn't teachers or friends say anything? 

Yukimura: In high school, I didn't have much of a social life, so nobody said anything. I went to reasonably academic schools [REALQ Editor's note: Yukimura graduated from Chuo University and Suginami High School] and my peers studied quite hard. The feeling that I was so different from most of the people around me had a big effect on me. I didn't fit in. I lived in my own world.

REALQ: Did student life give you anxiety? Yukimura: Anxiety was the only thing I really felt. In a way, isn't school a microcosm for society? Despite it being a microcosm, there's this feeling of being left behind. That made me really anxious and sad. But as a result of suffering in this way, I realized that society existed out-side of this microcosm—a kind of society that I had never experienced inside the microcosm of school.

REALQ :What lead you to have this epiphany? Yukimura: It occurred to me out of the blue one day when I was feeling totally devastated. I was 16. One autumn day after school I thought to myself, "I'll finish high school because if I don't, it will make my parents sad. But participating in a society reflected in this kind of microcosm will be impossible." It was just like that moment when a cup is filled to the brim with water and suddenly the surface tension breaks and it overflows.  However, thinking this made me feel better. Until that point, the "ruler" for determining success since the first year of high school had been getting good grades, getting into a good college, and then finding a job with a good company. This ruler contained within it a system of values for how one should live their life. When I decided that this was not the ruler I wanted to use to measure my own life, things became a lot easier for me. I used to get burnt out worrying so much about getting decent enough grades that would allow me to get into university. Like, "please let me just graduate!" Realizing that there was another way to live was a lifesaver. 

Of course, I think it made my parents nervous. In that era, there was still a deeply rooted notion that one's academic background was im-portant and working for a good company made you a good person. Back then, this was like saying, "Your child is the type of kid who won't find their way in the world." It was like throwing away the most important ruler and replacing it with a new ruler that was a little bent and covered with indecipherable markings. [Laughs]    REALQ: Was there anyone from your high school days who had an influence on you? Yukimura: A teacher who taught classical literature. He was apparently a teacher with quite bizarre interpretations of the material. More than anything else, what left the greatest impression on me was when he used class time to talk about how wonderful Michael Ende was [REALQ Editor's note: a German writer of children's fiction]. He introduced me to The Never Ending Story. Once I knew about Michael Ende, he became an influence on me. It was the first book I knew of in which someone wrote a book because he had a sense of obligation and a goal in relation to society and the world. I thought that someone who wrote a book because he felt that it was something he had to do was a rather beautiful thing to wish for. REALQ: Next up... Yukimura discusses the connection between himself and Thorfinn Karlsefni, the protagonist of his Vinland Saga. Is there anything that makes you hesitate when you draw your manuscripts? 

Yukimura: For characters, it's probably the hands. Hands take time to do well. The strength of a character's grip on a sword, for example. Male and female hands are hard to differentiate, too. Hands are the most expressive part of a character, after the face. 

I've heard that you can tell a person's personality from their hands, so I always look at them. [Laughs]    You can fake a facial expression, but your hands will show how hard you work or how hard you don't. If you show the character's life in their hands, you'll get a good result. REALQ: When did you start paying attention to how you drew hands? Yukimura: Since I was young. But I still find it difficult now. When I look at the work of other manga artists, sometimes the faces are well drawn, but the hands are not. To put it bluntly, if I were to choose among artists, I would choose them by how they draw their hands. REALQ: Is there anyone whose work you reference? Yukimura: I'm especially influenced by artists with high amounts of realism. When it comes to hands, it's gotta be Katsuhiro Otomo. 

It's not just his hands, though. It's everything. [Laughs] 

Also, the young, up-and-coming artists are all quite good. Their hands are pretty, but you can see the structure clearly as well. REALQ: Any thoughts on these hands? [While looking at Sigurd's hands in the manuscript] Yukimura: Yes. These hands are drawn fairly well. In Sigurd's case, de-spite the muscularity, his hands are not rough. That's because he has his underlings do the tough work. In Thorfinn's case, he has many small cuts, and there is more cracked and peeling skin.

REALQ: Are there any scenes in Vinland Saga strongly influenced by your own experience? Yukimura: When Thorfinn is on his knees, apologizing. [Laughs] The part where he says, "Please. I won't ask you to forgive me, but allow me to live a bit longer." I've been drawing manga for 20 years. There's always a shadow of guilt that hangs over me. I'm sorry for being so selfish. So, I feel I have to, at the very least, draw something that readers will love... I'm nothing without that. Thorfinn is a young viking from medieval Europe. Since his teens, he's pillaged, fought in wars, and done many other terrible things. His feelings change as he grows, and he starts to feel guilt for his past actions. The ghosts of those he killed appears in his dreams, and he is ravaged by nightmares.    I am only here today because of the care of those around me. I am truly thankful. If anything about Thorfinn comes from my experiences, it has to be this. In his current state, the protagonist has no right to convict anyone else. No matter what kind of scoundrel he meets, Thorfinn always feels that he has done something worse in the past. I think it's good this way.

REALQ: Did you know from the beginning that Thorfinn would become the way he did? Yukimura: Yeah. The story began with the premise that the protagonist is fated to have done many terrible things. He goes from being the oppressor to being the oppressed, and in doing so, he learns many things and becomes an adult. He then departs, saying, "I will go to a new land beyond the sea and build a peaceful country." That is an escape from the values that dominated European society. They do not feel that it is bad to wage war and plunder other countries. And, although their opponents are human beings, they believe they have the right to make the weak into slaves and kill them if they need be. In the society of that time, such things were seen as good things. Thorfinn experiences—and hates—both. But he is powerless to change the system... So he decides to leave. There will be terrible bloodshed if he decides to change the world. So he leaves it to Canute. Because Canute has the power and the shorter path. "I am different," he says. "I will live in a different way." When I put it into words, it seems like a lot of what I think is reflected in my work. [Laughs]

REALQ: From your childhood experiences and your writing process, I get the feeling you are a perfectionist who doesn't com-promise when it comes to goals or ideals. Do the people around you feel the same way? 

Yukimura: I think I am a perfectionist. In the past, my seniors and teachers would say, "If 100 points is amazing work and 0 points is nothing, it's easy to get to 80 points. However, each point beyond that is incredibly difficult. Past 90, it's so rough that you'll start spitting blood. And nobody gets to 100." I don't know if, by absolute standards, my work is at 80 points. But, for my own standards, I care a lot about each of those 1 or 2 points beyond 80. I care so much that others see the changes I make and say, "He pushed back the deadline for this? What's changed?" [Laughs] I've even rewritten an entire manuscript before. REALQ: Is it really rough when you have to throw out a whole manuscript? Yukimura: It's sad that to know the work won't produce results, but the worst possible thing for me is to feel regret afterwards. If I can choose to suffer for a brief moment as I draw, then I'll do it. The regrets afterward stay around much longer... REALQ: Are you happy about the reactions of your overseas readers? Yukimura: Yeah. It's encouraging to know they like my work. Especially when I heard some of them were reading Vinland Saga side-by-side with a dictionary. I forgot which language they were translating from and into, though. [Laughs]

REALQ: Let me change the subject: Advice from adults to children... Do you think it's important to emphasize the importance of having dreams? Should we tell kids to have dreams and tell them their dreams will come true? Yukimura: I used to think dreams were just desires. However, I was a good-for-nothing back then, so I think I was being resentful. [Laughs] At the very least, I don't think doing whatever you want to do is a beautiful thing. That's just you doing what you want to do. The truly beautiful things are helping others, volunteering, things like that... Finding a home for a stray dog, or doing things that no other person wants to do—that's beautiful.    This includes me, but to do what you want to do is simply selfishness. I received my role in society, but I couldn't carry it out. I wasn't a modest enough person for that. I said such things because I thought I would do what I wanted to do no matter what other people said to me. It's the same for everyone, I think. Those who do what they want and succeed are simply the ones who ended up with a place in society. It's a miracle. After all, what some people want is to carry out meaningless terrorism... But it's the same thing. Both are "dreams." REALQ: If you could give an hour of advice to your younger self, what would you say? Yukimura: I'd say, reflexively, to be 3 times as careful of oncoming traffic. [Laughs] More seriously, I'd say, "You're worried that you're inferior to others. But don't worry." I'd tell myself that there isn't only one ruler to mea-sure yourself by. "Humans come in all sorts," I'd say. "There's not a single number line that we all stand on." Text by Shuta Miura