#also about viktor: no good deed

[aka-catnip]

jayce and viktor are so glinda and elphaba actually

[cornedbread]

i wonder if you please have me suggestions on what the bbau teachers should be what kind of youkai, if possible. i'm on art block😅

(p.s. i'm still learning japanese folklore btw)

I have a couple ideas! Hope they help you ^_^

〔Short Answer〕

Gonzalo & Faklex - Yurei (幽霊)

Faklex - Amanojoku (天邪鬼)

Viktor - Oni (鬼)

Tiara & Billy - Hannya

Billy’s Son - Chopiraku (チョウピラコ)

〔Long Answer〕

Yurei (幽霊) is a sub-type of yokai that are ghosts with unfinished business. All humans have a spirit, otherwise known as reikon, if given a proper funeral the reikon will join its’ ancestors in the afterlife. The ascended reikon will also protect its’ living family and the future generations. However if instead they are killed suddenly or hold ill feelings, the reikon will turn into a yurei and they will haunt the living until their unfinished deed or ill feelings are resolved. The more suffering a human experiences, the more powerful they will be as a Yurei.

There is a sub-type of Yurei that died at sea called “Funayurei (船幽霊).” They died at sea and they will forever haunt the sea. Funayurei have a unique fish-like appearance, basically mermaids. As their name says, “Boat Spirit,” they haunt the seas and cannot leave the seas. They fill boats with water to shipwreck and kill the passengers.

I think Gonzalo fits for this sub-type since he died at sea abruptly and probably with strong ill feelings since this was during the war. It’s also quite tragically fitting, the imagery of a reikon protecting its’ family being paralleled with a soldier protecting his country. But because of his ill feelings, this protection was more violent than defensive.

There is another sub-type of yurei that dies on land called, “Jibakurei (地縛霊).” As the name suggest “Earth-bound Spirits,” these are spirits that died abrupt deaths on land. They don’t have a unique appearance and could just be undead versions of the living person. They do not serve a specific purpose, only tied to a location or event.

The way Realex’s body is treated in the school by Faklex already makes it feel like he’s haunting the place~ Hidden away in a secret room with no door, and if Olivia finds she’ll receive a knife that she can use to, supposedly, kill Faklex or herself. Taking out the living the same way you died? Sounds similar to the Funayurei~ But that is pure coincindence, the Jibakurei is simply there to serve as a reminder of a tragedy. And Alex does that just fine, his corpse forever stuck in a cruel immortalisation of his suicide.

Speaking of Alex, what about our beloathed Faklex? Next is the Amanojaku (天邪鬼)! Amanojaku is a demon that encourages humans to do evil deeds. One infamous story is when Melon Princess was killed and then skinned by an Amanojaku. After eating her corpse, the Amanojaku was seen wearing her skin and impersonating her.

Sound familiar?~ I have a headcanon that the way Faklex steals bodies is by driving his victims to suicide, it would explain Alex’s death and the secret Olivia ending — or suicides are easy food, no need to kill if they’re already dead. Even though Amanojaku’s are focused on persuading people to commit sin, the Melon Princess story was too good to pass up. And besides, Alex is doing a great job being a bad influence on Scrina, Asmodena and Candice/Candy, forcing them to clean up and commit his murders.

Oni (鬼) are aggressive cannibal demons. They live in caves and disguise themselves as humans, they kill and eat them. They have a unique way of eating humans in one bite. Nowadays though they can be domesticated by being given offerings, in return they guard homes from intruders. They also give good fortune and wealth. The Oni mask is used to scare away disobedient children or discpline kids into becoming obedient.

The duality of an aggressive killer of human and a dilligent defender of humans reminded me of Viktor :) there is also a trope of modern Oni being troublesome and comedic, which is fitting for his cursed vr normal personality. When he is cursed he uses his human teacher disguise to befriend Angell, then hunts her down for even small mistakes. But when he’s normal he’s a jokester, but is very serious with making sure Angell survives and is able to escape or fix Infinity School.

Another member from the Infinity School is Tiara! Hannya (般若) is a sub-type of Oni. This demon was a human who was hurt deeply by her lover. Driven mad by her jealousy and pain, her spirit left her while she was alive and she turned into a demon. She now plays her revenge by targetting cruel men. Hannya mask represents destructive passion, in the shadows it either looks like it’s ugly crying or snarling angrily. Similar to Oni, the modern Hannya is much kinder. She brings protection and either good fortune or revenge.

I think Tiara would be the sub-sub-type Hanya Chunari (般若中成), this is the most powerful Hannya. Her body is still human but her face is fully transformed with a demon, with large horns. But she is not full-transformed, so it’s possible to save her with Buddhist prayers. This sub-sub-type allows Tiara to keep her opera mask and have her shadowey tarwill body be refrenced in the Hannya Chunari’s strong dark magic.

The fully-transformed sub-sub-type is Hanyang Honnari (般若本成)/Kiyo Hime (清姫), which is similar to Chunari exceot the body is now a serpent/dragon. She is found lurking manily in the ocean, unlike her other Hanya sub-sub-types. Since Honnari is fully-transformed there’s no hope of saving her, she is permanently a demon. There is a story where a monk manipulates a lady using her love for him, then makes a false promise that he will return home after a boating trip. When the lady found out he was lying the whole time, she was heartbroken and chased him to the docks. The monk left on a boat but the lady swam through the ocean, eventually emerging out the water as a Kiyo Hime and killing him.

There are two reasons I think Billy fits this: 1.) It’s a parallel to his family dying in the ocean during the war; 2.) The Monk x Lady story parallels Bob never returning home from the expedition, abandonment issues; 3.) His girlfriend is a deadbeat wife and mom. This is headcanon since there’s no official reason why Billy’s girlfriend/old friend is missing or replaced by a robot, maybe she died in child birth or Billy killed her! Idk! — After his girlfriend left him to raise his son alone, Billy was filled with alot of grief. Grief strong enough for him to build a robot in her image. And maybe grief strong enough to corrupt him into a Hannya? His only tie left to humanity — or artificial humanity — now being his son… But even that is gone too because-

Chopiraku (チョウピラコ) is a sub-type of Zashiki Warashi (座敷童子). It is the spirit of a child who was given a lavish funeral and shrine filled with offerings and their favourite toys and candies. Because of this they are much more difficult to take care of than Zashiki, but unlike Zahiki they give blessing of good fortune and wealth.

In BBEG:11YL we don’t see Billy’s Son again, I headcanon’d that it was because Son grew disillusioned with Billy’s obssesion of being “well-made” that he decided to leave and live his own life. But it’s also possible that perhaps Son died, which intensified Billy’s grief even more. And so all that remains is the spirit of a happy child stuck in the past, just like his father.

[lair-of-asmodeus]

NSFW Facts — OC Edition: Part 2, The Electric Boogaloo

[First part]

🐻 Case 7: Viktor Falkenberg

By far, he has the biggest dick with 10 inches, and yes, it’s thick and veiny.

He also has very little experience with only what his father tells him. But hey, he is aware of the dire consequences of not using protection!!

Though... He does try not to tear his partner apart while doing the deed with his s/o, because he is well aware of how big he is and that he may hurt them in the process.

If you ever decide to get him to a certain level of horniness, make him mad or jealous though, he might just fold you in half on his bed and just.. go at you.

Your loud screams can be heard from behind the door, but he doesn’t care about it. The students around his room are very scared to go in and tell you to keep it down— Well, since almost all the Savanaclaw students are in training, there isn’t that many there.

You scream and cling onto his back while having your nth orgasm, with him hitting your insides, practically rearranging your guts, fucking his cock into your hole.

“Ya like that, huh?!” He screams, silver eyes looking at yours with an ignited passion. “Ya shoulda thought TWICE before wearin’ stuff like THAT!”

“VIK—”

He slams his lips onto yours to quiet you down, roughly making out with you. You can barely keep your eyes open while your juices coats his member.

“I’ll teach ya a lesson ya won’t forget!”

He slams himself down deep inside you as his thrusts grow deeper and your voice cuts off. He fills you up with his warm seed, maybe more than intended. When he pulls away, his cock rests against your hole and he whispers in your ear.

“Should ye dare to wear somethin’ revealin’ as this, especially when there’re pervs around here, I’ll be even rough with ya... Got it?”

You can’t register what he says, but you nod, earning a chuckle from him. He lays down next to you and cuddles you.

When it comes to aftercare, he skips straight to the part where he cuddles you.. for the most of the time. If you’re done doing the deed with him in his dorm or any place where there are more beastfolks around, he may just go to the showers. He will let you get in first though! (Unless you pull him in and continue the ‘fun’~ 😉)

Will do the deed if you are close enough #6, and won’t be afraid to put all that defense into good use. He wants to know who he is dealing with and will initiate the first move if he feels like you are close enough for him to be intimate with you if he has your consent too.

⚠️ NO: Well, he doesn’t like to share his partner with anyone else. This is secretly his turn off... And also piss kink. These are just straight ‘NOPE’s.

👠 Case 8: Sakae Satou

Okay, she has the C cups with a decent hip size. (EXTRA THICC—) Though, she tends to cover them with stylish hoodies and pants unless she is in the mood. If she is feeling in the mood that day though, she may wear tighter and more revealing outfits, but only around her partner!

She keeps herself well groomed. You can’t even find a piece of hair down there! She also finds it gross to have hair down there, but won’t mention it when her partner is.. unshaved.

Despite having no experience, she secretly reads and watches these stuff. She knows a lot of things, what to do and what not to do. (E.g; She will make sure to not let teeth touch you when she gives you oral 🤭)

She is secretly into overstimulation and would like to experience it whenever she can. 🤭

Hugging her slender waist from behind, you push the toy inside her wet pussy while the vibrator buzzes on her clit.

“Mmh! [Name]..!” She moans out, panting. “Ahh! ‘S.. too much!!”

You grin at her expression full of lust, her flushed face and tears threatening to fall from her eyes. She pants heavily while holding onto your wrist. You lean forward to her and look at her pussy.

“You’re basically creaming all over, even the sheets are wet...” You coo at her.

She clasps her thighs together and weakly smacks your face with the back of her other hand.

“Shut up..! ...Ahhh!”

With a slight spasm, she bucks her hips into the air and orgasms on the bed again while the toy inside her falls out. Then she falls down, panting in your arms.

“Your face is really red...” You tease her.

After catching her breath, she punches you.

“Fuck you..!” She says with her middle finger on air.

Will do the deed if you are close enough #7, because if you are a complete stranger and/or she doesn’t see you close enough to be her partner in intimacy, she will avoid you and will spread this to the Magicam.

⚠️ NO: Well, don’t push her into doing things she is uncomfortable with.. :( (And she is not alright with piss kink as well!!)

🦊 Case 9: Yuusuke Hamamoto

Okay, he has six inches with some veins on it. But it’s less girthy and has a small red tip.

Despite not exactly being shaved, he keeps the hair short there.

Not gonna lie, he would probably hurt you a little when he fucks you. Like leaving hickeys, biting your neck, lightly pinching you... You name it! He may also grind his hips to hit more spots inside and even hold your hips and thrust in rough when he loses his cool.

During your ‘activities’, you can try touching his ears. He will just lean into your hand and let you pat him. It secretly turns him on though!!

Your hands instinctively go on his neck and you wrap your arms around it while pulling him closer. As he is balls deep in you beneath the sheets, he makes sure nobody hears anything. But it does make you feel good too. He gives you a soft kiss while pounding you. Suddenly, he halts his movements when he feels your hands around his ears, caressing them gently.

“...Mm.” He hums. “Do it again...”

You look at him in confusion, but you do it anyway.

“Mmh~” He purrs and closes his eyes, savoring the feeling. “It feels good...”

You smile at him as he kisses you again. His dick twitches in you and he lightly pushes it deeper.

Will do the deed if you are close enough #8, and will instantly kick you away and will never speak to you if you attempt to do it and he doesn’t know anything about you.

He isn’t that good at aftercare, but he will definitely help you clean up and will run a bath for you. He’ll let you get in first before going in himself too. Because he may not show it, but he is actually one of those touchy-feely people. He just hugs you from behind and washes your back.

⚠️ NO: He is NOT alright with things like golden showers and marking.

🎀 Case 10: Dorothea Minerva McCartney

She has a pair of B cups, but she tends to wear tighter bras to make it look like A cups.

She is fully shaved down there and always, ALWAYS keeps it clean.

While she may not have any experience in anything sexual and her knowledge is limited to only what she saw in sex ed, she is open to try anything! Toys? Sure, would love to! Outfits? Okay, will try! As long as it’s not something that makes her uncomfortable, she is alright with them all!

What really turns her on though? Cuddles! But like, lewd cuddles where you touch her body in that way. If you see her squirming around a little while you do it, that’s just a sign of you putting her in the mood! She may also touch you as well when you do it, she just can’t help but feel like she can show you how good it feels~

As for aftercare... She would definitely prepare a bath for the two of you regardless of how exhausted she gets. She would also make sure you go first.

“[Nickname]!”

She sweetly calls your name as you lay down on your back on the bed. You hear footsteps and feel the bed creaking a little.

“The bath is ready~” She whispers in your ear and kisses your cheek.

“...” You don’t respond and just look at her in silence. You notice that she has a large hoodie to cover herself, her coiled hair is unusually messy and she looks just as exhausted as you do. Yet, despite this, she smiles at you and sighs.

“I know you probably don’t wanna be disturbed right now, but wouldn’t it be nice to relax after a warm bath?”

You nod.

“That’d be great, Dottie...” You smile back at her and sigh, slowly sitting up on the bed.

“Then let’s go to the bathroom, ‘kay~?”

She takes your hand and leads you to the bathroom.

“Let me know if you want me to scrub your back!” She playfully chirps before leaving the bathroom for now as you sink into the warm water in the tub.

Will do the deed if you are close enough #9, because consent is the key! And she won’t be afraid to use her kickboxing knowledge to good use! :)

⚠️ NO: The thought of semi-public sex scares her and she would instantly reject it when you offer. She would also not like the golden showers and rough sex. :(

🕯️ Case 11: Fleur Dominique

She has C cups (like Sakae) and a round butt. But she tends to wear less revealing things like jeans and turtlenecks (+ an oversized parka) so it’s not too obvious! She also feels embarrassed to expose too much of her body!

She actually doesn’t have any hair down there. And I mean, hair doesn’t grow on that area. She also hates if her partner has body hair, but doesn’t even show it.

She is totally inexperienced and everything she knows is from Sex Education class, and knows nothing about how should she start it so... you’ll need to teach her how to do it.

If you wanna turn her on though, you should start with the neck kisses. She is very sensitive and shivers at even the slightest gust of wind. Hence why she tends to wear turtlenecks!

As you two sit on the couch while watching some romantic comedy, you pull her closer and playfully kiss her neck.

“Ah..!” She quietly moans, but then looks away in shame.

You decide to play with her a little more, giving more kisses to her neck.

“[Name]... C-could you stop, please..? I’m trying to watch the movie here...” She looks at you with a slight tinge of pink on her cheeks.

“Why should I?” You ask with a small smile. “Your reactions are cute... I just wanted to see more...”

“At least wait until we watch the movie to the end, you idiot!”

She smacks your head away and sits up, then covers her neck. You notice her ears are getting red like her cheeks, and she squirms around.

“Fleur...”

“Yes, [Name]?”

You pull her closer again and kiss her on the lips this time while slowly slipping your tongue in. A moan escapes from her lips as you put your hand on her hair and caress her head. She starts to tremble a bit, but slowly lets your tongue in. You start making out with her as she holds your hand.

Eventually, you two separate with a small popping noise and the saliva trail connecting your mouths separates as well. She covers her mouth and her cheeks are flushed in embarrassment.

“...I... haven’t done anything like this... Or felt... Ahh, my head is a mess..!” She utters while looking away.

“We can take this to the bedroom if you want...” You reply and sigh. “Do you want to continue?”

“I-I don’t know... All I know is that there is a weird feeling on my chest and I feel strange... My body feels hot and I feel hot in some.. parts on myself... What have you done to me?!”

You chuckle, clearly amused, and smile.

“So, you feel good now... Right?”

“I don’t know... It’s hot...”

You lean down to kiss her neck again, and she softly moans in response.

“[Name]... Nngh...” You hear her say while slowly putting her hand on your head. She then starts patting your head as you leave more kisses to her collarbone.

“We should probably take this to the bedroom~” You whisper in her ear.

She looks around and glances at her brother who is sleeping on the couch. Then she looks back at you and nods.

“L-let’s go...”

As for aftercare, she will immediately head to the shower to get cleaned herself first. If you want to join her, she will simply push you away until she is done. Then she will clean up the bath after herself and let you in. (Unless you want to initiate another round there... 😳 Then she might let you in... 50/50!)

Will do the deed if you are close enough #10! She isn’t afraid to attack you if you are a complete stranger to her, and certainly isn’t afraid to tell her brother about the matter. So if you even try to get intimate with her without getting to know each other, she won’t be afraid to use violence. (And she is the type of person who is usually against violence!)

⚠️ NO: Oof... A lot of ‘no’s coming from her... But to name a few; golden showers, unprotected sex, semi-public sex, exhibitionism, rope tying and blood sports.

🪄 Case 12: Sorrel Valentino Dominique

[Sorry, I’m not going to drop our dearest magician’s facts until I drop his profile! Please be patient! :3]

[elizade-vil]

We just saw elizaveta augusta liddell entering the rabbit hole. I heard through the grapevine that their loyalties lie with [ the Jabberwocks ] and that they also go by the devil*. Be careful, they work for them as a failed nepo baby / professional liability / glorified trainer and can sometimes be reckless, impulsive, or even volatile  but I’ve also heard some people say that they were loyal, exuberant and quite personable.

( tw violence , assault )

stats

full name:  elizaveta augusta liddell

nickname(s)/alias(es):  eliza, el, the devil

age:  26

date of birth:  june 26

star sign:  cancer

place of birth:  devon, england

current location:  london

gender:  woman but as a threat

pronouns:  she/they

sexual orientation:  lesbian menace

religion:  agnostic / apathetic  

occupation: trainer of recruits / failed nepo baby / professional liability

family:  constantine liddell ( father – deceased ), tbd ( mother ) , viktor liddell ( older brother ) , alexei liddell ( older brother ) , zoya liddell ( older sister ) , one more older sibling

education level:  kicked out of several prestigious boarding schools  

living arrangements:  flat paid for with daddy’s money in kensington  

financial status:  wealthy

spoken languages:  english, mandarin, french, russian

details

Eliza found it hard to sleep.

Her flat – paid for with dead daddy’s money, of course – conveniently close to her siblings and the others tasked to keep an eye on her, was perfectly fucking fine. Too fine, too convenient, and way too fucking close for the hurricane in human skin that was Elizaveta Liddell.

Really - she was bored; achingly, mind-numbingly, maddeningly bored.  Her skin screamed out for violence, her various scars protesting the banality of training those god forsaken idiotic recruits. Until now, she’d never fully appreciated the pain inherent in the phrase ‘itching for a fight’, nails digging into her arms in an attempt to resist every cell in her body crying out for release. 

As a child, Eliza had taken to violence the way other children took to reading, or maths, or perhaps a musical instrument. Does not play well with others - was how her teachers phrased it all through primary school. And for a while, they didn’t want to believe it. She came in such a pretty package, big blue eyes and a darling face, her ponytail slightly askew and accented with an overly large bow. And what a good family, they all said, the Liddell’s ran Devon, even to this day.

But there were…incidents. Some could be dismissed as childish spats in the school yard, willful ignorance playing a huge role in this. Still, the school could not overlook the time a classmate ended up with a pair of scissors jabbed into their thigh; and although no one could firmly tie Eliza to the deed, she’d watched the blood drip down the leg of the student next to her with what was described as a chilling interest. Various boarding schools did little to tame this violent streak, though it was difficult to tie such violence to a Liddell. The once friend who ended up at the bottom of a staircase with several broken bones whilst Eliza cried her very best crocodile tears, such a lovely friend to wait by the injured girl’s side. The school tossed her out for theft – the one thing they could actually prove. At the next school there was a rash of sudden illnesses – all girls who’d dared defy little Eliza Liddell’s will when she arrived. Unable to tie the poisonings to the blonde, the school accused her of cheating ( guilty ) and had her thrown out.

A cadre of well meaning but ultimately ineffective teachers and other school administrators offered a variety of explanations - the trauma of the youngest child, attention seeking, perhaps she simply wasn’t challenged enough at school? Eliza wanted to shrug, brush away their concerns with the simple fact she’d come to accept about herself - she liked how it felt. But instead the blonde got better at hiding, leaning into that pretty face and charm she could summon if she tried hard enough.  She learned to fight dirty, literally tooth and nail, learned to lean into her smaller stature and the presumed weakness. 

By her teens, Eliza was quite sure she could be lethal if she wanted. Her early twenties only proved this point.  

She knew her father controlled the Jabberwocks, as the youngest Liddell she’d learned to listen at doors and hide in corners as soon as she could walk. His death was a shock – Eliza overseas in one of the various schools. Constantine had never been a loving father, nor was he particularly present in her life – but he was still her father. Maybe it was the sudden lack of fear, the slight chaos that persisted before her eldest brother took over – but Eliza’s teen years were her most violent and volatile.

Of course, that was when she thought she still contributed. When Eliza hoped her anger and violence was honed into a weapon poised to do her family’s bidding. Sometimes, late at night in that too silent flat, her rage turned against her. Eliza would pace, the anger mixing with bitterness and resentment, a toxic blend resulting in uncharacteristic self-doubt. Did they think she was weak? Some stupid, vapid socialite like her sister or Max? Or was Viktor so self-obsessed that he could not see the benefit her brand of jagged cruelty might offer?

But no, Eliza was on a very short leash and in an even shorter temper. Training nobody recruits in basic self-defense was almost more offensive than if her brother had called her a slur. But Viktor controlled the money, and Eliza needed that – so she did her best not to kill the idiots.

This bar was supposed to be safe, yet it took every ounce of self-control Eliza could summon to keep from smashing her glass into the face of one of the aforementioned idiotic recruits who dared speak to her outside of training. Instead, the blonde shot him a glare that threatened to take a year off his life and made it approximately twenty more minutes before fucking losing it. 

In her defense, Eliza fucking hated to be touched except under very specific circumstances of her choosing. And really, they all should have foreseen something like this happening – her leash and temper were both notoriously short. The man was blind drunk, embarrassingly so, such that she’d expected someone else to step in. Here Eliza will admit to one single mistake, she underestimated the will of drunk and vulgar man who’d spent his afternoon being bossed around by her.

So when he grabbed her ass and slurred something about not taking directions from girls - really, who could blame her for how quickly she slammed his head into the table?

[esthermika]

hewwo!

What the mweaning of life? Should we comwit cwimes if we think they're fair? I'm just a silly cat giwl asking silly qwestions UwU

The quest for the meaning of life has been an eternal pursuit that has captivated human minds throughout the ages. Philosophers, theologians, scientists, and ordinary individuals alike have grappled with this enigmatic question, seeking answers to the fundamental purpose of existence. The multifaceted nature of this inquiry has led to a plethora of perspectives, beliefs, and interpretations, making it a subject of immense interest and debate. In this essay, we shall embark on an exhaustive journey through history, philosophy, religion, and science, as we explore the intricacies of this age-old question: "What is the meaning of life?"

The Philosophical Quest for Meaning

Philosophers have long been at the forefront of exploring the meaning of life. Ancient thinkers such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle sought to unveil the essence of human existence and its place in the cosmos. Aristotle, for instance, argued that the ultimate purpose of life was eudaimonia, or "flourishing," achieved through the cultivation of virtues and the pursuit of knowledge.

Existentialists like Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus approached the question from a different angle, emphasizing individual responsibility and the creation of personal meaning in an otherwise indifferent universe. Their works delved into the absurdity of life and the need for individuals to embrace their freedom and define their own existence.

Furthermore, in the contemporary era, philosophers like Viktor Frankl proposed that the search for meaning is at the core of human nature. Drawing from his experiences as a Holocaust survivor, Frankl developed logotherapy, which asserts that finding purpose even in the most challenging circumstances is the key to psychological well-being.

The Religious Perspectives on Life's Meaning

Religion has played an integral role in shaping the understanding of life's purpose for billions of people worldwide. Different religious traditions offer diverse perspectives on the meaning of life, each rooted in sacred texts, doctrines, and rituals.

In Christianity, the belief that life's meaning lies in devotion to God, following the teachings of Jesus Christ, and achieving salvation through faith and good deeds prevails. Islam, too, emphasizes submission to Allah's will, following the guidance of the Quran, and performing righteous actions as the path to eternal reward.

Buddhism, on the other hand, seeks the cessation of suffering through the pursuit of enlightenment and detachment from material desires. Hinduism teaches that the purpose of life is to attain moksha, liberation from the cycle of birth and death, achieved through karma, dharma, and spiritual realization.

The Meaning of Life in Scientific Discourse

Science, with its empirical approach and rigorous methodology, has also contributed to the discussion of life's meaning. While scientific inquiry primarily focuses on understanding the natural world, it has indirectly shed light on human existence.

Biological sciences explore the origins of life, the complexities of evolution, and the genetic underpinnings of human behavior. Psychology delves into human consciousness, emotions, and cognition, attempting to comprehend what drives individuals to seek meaning and purpose.

Astrophysics and cosmology contemplate the grandeur of the universe, leading some to speculate about the potential existence of extraterrestrial life and its implications on the meaning of our own existence.

Synthesizing Perspectives: Towards a Comprehensive Understanding

As we navigate through the myriad of philosophical, religious, and scientific perspectives on the meaning of life, it becomes evident that no single answer can satisfy all of humanity. Each viewpoint offers unique insights into the complexity of this profound question, and a synthesis of these perspectives might lead us closer to a comprehensive understanding.

The human condition is one of diversity, and with it comes the richness of human experiences, beliefs, and cultures. Recognizing the validity of different worldviews and appreciating the wisdom they bring to life's meaning is an essential step towards fostering empathy, understanding, and harmony in a diverse world.

Conclusion

The search for the meaning of life is a timeless endeavor that transcends cultural, philosophical, and scientific boundaries. From ancient philosophies to contemporary scientific discoveries, every aspect of human knowledge contributes to our quest for purpose and understanding.

Perhaps the true meaning of life lies not in finding a definitive answer, but in the pursuit itself—an ongoing journey of introspection, growth, and enlightenment. Embracing the diversity of perspectives and recognizing the interconnectedness of all life may be the key to unlocking the deeper mysteries of existence.

In the end, we must remember that the pursuit of meaning is an individual and collective endeavor, shaped by our unique perspectives and experiences. As we continue on this eternal quest, let us embrace the beauty of life, the wonder of existence, and the potential to create our own meaning in a vast and mysterious universe.

Also you can do crimes for fun and no one can stop you

[sanguine-salvation]

🎮 Pixelscape: If muse could star in their very own video game, what type of game would it be? If they are already a video game character, what types of video games do they/would they like to play?

[ Aesthetic Themed Askbox Game - ACCEPTING ]

Viktor shrugged. "Me, starring? I'm not sure why." The thought was a bit of a strange one, but they still thought about it. "I think... a stealth game." They brighten up with a shade of genuine excitement. "Can you imagine? Lurking through the shadows with a good deed on the end of a knife? An elegant exercise in quiet. Maybe have some puzzles, too. ... No symbolic reason or anything. I just like them." They grin.

"As for games I like to play? Well," they smirk, "I actually like video games. I play whatever seems interesting, I'm not really a genre person. I just like playing for satisfaction's sake. And winning."

A higher power would like to reveal to other curious higher powers that Viktor has a collect-a-thon problem. They will collect everything to 110% even if it drives them up the wall batty and they should probably take a break. Also, they play for blood in competitive games. It's vicious. Blue shells. So many blue shells.

They shrugged again. "... Oh, and I like Kirby."

[chickenparm]

Omg, I don't know how to express the things that I want to say, and the fact that I'm not native is very unhelpful. I'm just like-- Wow. I decided to read «Grave Error (Viktor/f!Reader)» — um, how shall I put it — not because I planned to read something more than just hopefully good nsfw work. But, Gods, turns out that I accidentally came across something real wonderful. All the feelings, emotions, descriptions… Maybe this is one of the most beautifully written fanfics I ever read in English (okay, it's sounds kinda strange, because I'm literally talking about smut, BUT). I'm in awe. I love your style. You made everything sounds so… aesthetic?

The more I write this, the more I think how odd it may sounds because of the fanfic specific. I'm just used to the fact that only works in my first language can seem so beautiful to me, so I feel the need to tell you how impressed I am.

Thank you for this!!! Have a nice day! ♡♡♡

you make my heart so full and happy, i love u

also smut can be beautiful. trust me there's some smut out there that i've read that i don't realize i'm reading about 2 people fucking until the deed is finished because it's done so artfully. i'm a little heavy-handed with it lmao

@kikorenart has also done some amazing VA work for that fic if you're into that sort of thing. i can't recommend it enough to beat your mea- i mean listen to peacefully with your hands above the covers.

[septembersghost]

I just want to say that I have lots of Jewish friends and also Jewish ancestry in my family, and I've been to Israel and it was incredible, so.. I just want to tell you that I support Jews and admire your traditions, and just want to give you a huge hug? anti-Semitism sucks. (also what makes zero sense to me is why kanye west is anti black when he's black himself??? how is this supposed to work)

it's been so scary to me to witness the steep rise of this over the past few years - the harmful rhetoric, the hate crimes, all of it, it just breaks my heart. and any prejudice does, we're seeing an increase in so much bigotry directed towards disparate, vulnerable groups, and it's soul crushing at times. it's upsetting and mind boggling how cruel and discriminatory people can be towards others. antisemitism bordering on violence is something i dealt with directly in high-school, over a span of time and traumatic incidents, so it makes it particularly personal in that sense, i know what it looks and feels like close up. i know we lost family in europe who we can never bring out of the ashes. i know i wouldn't be here at all had my grandparents' families not fled the old country because they were already facing pogroms, before the n*zi regime even rose to power, had they not landed on the shores of ellis island. i know our names were changed. all of my elder family is gone now, so those last connections to those places went with them, just as the last eyewitness accounts of survivors of the death camps are becoming more past than present too. my elderly friend who held my hands in his as he told me about watching his family rounded up, some shot in the ghetto, all separated in freezing train cars, divided at the camps and never seen again. it's not ancient history (though there's been plenty of persecution and exiles and forced conversions and executions there too). it's only removed by a couple of generations, but as their voices recede to history, we have to speak for them.

memory and learning are such important themes in jewish culture, and for all those before us and all those who didn't get the chance at their lives, we're supposed to remember them, remember for them. light the flame for them. that memory is another of our senses, meant to be collective, to derive meaning from the history. so when i see targeted hate directed at the jewish people, it's not only that it's visceral for me because i've faced it directly, it aches for all of us still living, for all those who've been lost, all those who've gone before us, whose memories are kept as blessings.

i always admit i'm more culturally jewish than religiously, i still enjoy gentile celebrations too because i spent so much time with that part of my family, and i don't regret that or feel conflict over it, i'm happy to have experienced different things and been surrounded by open exchanges of beliefs in a compassionate manner, but i identify with my jewish heritage in a far stronger and more spiritual way.

the mitzvot that mean the most to me are those centered on the importance of kindness. kindness and love are key facets of jewish teachings, and it is meant to extend to all people, to the animals, even to blessings of objects. we're supposed to do mitzvahs, good deeds, we're supposed to act in chesed or gemilut hasadim  (literally loving-kindness). to see jewish people characterized in the untrue cruelty that people like kanye peddle is not only dangerous, it's wounding. (there are also black jewish people and they have no association with the hate group he mentioned. likewise, his anti-blackness is despicable and something i cannot begin to speak on or explain, as is the same with his ilk like cand*ce ow*ns. his misogyny is also persistent.)

i think about viktor frankl writing, "Then I grasped the meaning of the greatest secret that human poetry and human thought and belief have to impart: The salvation of man is through love and in love," and elie wiesel, "There is divine beauty in learning, just as there is human beauty in tolerance. To learn means to accept the postulate that life did not begin at my birth. Others have been here before me, and I walk in their footsteps. The books I have read were composed by generations of fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, teachers and disciples. I am the sum total of their experiences, their quests. And so are you."

we're supposed to be tasked with healing, with repairing whatever of the hurt we can in the world (tikkun olam), leaving it just a bit more mended than it was when we got here, and it's like...hateful words take a knife to the stitching. i see the poison of that, when it's accepted, when it's furthered and emboldened, and it makes the fight a little fiercer, a little harder and heavier, because i know that it goes too deep to fix in far too many minds and places. all we can do is try our best to patch it again where that's possible.

anyway! i'm rambling as usual, but thank you for your kind words and understanding. it helps and means a lot to me, and i'm sending you a huge hug in return 💙💙💙

[caitlinsnicket]

body worshipping them (arcane preference)

a/n: this is nsfw. be warned. feel free to like, reblog and leave a comment!

| Jinx

you have her pressed up against the bed, just the way she likes it

she expects you to sit on her face or to just go down on her like you usually do

but you take her hands on yours and kiss every finger, every little crevice and patch of skin you can reach

you whisper "angel" and "lovely"

she hates you for it

she hates you for making her feel like this

so much love, for someone like her?

she doesn't deserve it

tries to push you off of her

you just hold her softer, staring in her eyes

"you're perfect. flawless. there's nothing in this world I wouldn't do for you"

she just starts crying, and then kisses you

it burns her chest, but its a good kind of pain

she loves your love

"thank you"

you keep kissing every little mark and ink in her, and she just purrs

cums in your mouth and immediatly pulls you up to kiss you

holds you close and buries her face in your neck, allowing herself to feel vulnerable

| Vi

she's used to be the one in charge, the one who does the dirty, the one who does all the work

but when you start kissing her back so gently, and telling her how much you love the things she can do with her muscles, she melts

it's not like she's never had someone appreciate her before, but this is different

this is intimate

you keep praising her body, until she's naked and breathless underneath you, whimpering and moaning

"these arms, this neck. this chest. i fucking love you"

she smirks at you and shows her teeth

"then show me how much you love me"

she keeps her posture, the big dom guiding you throught you eating her out, but you can see the blush on her face

you finger her while staring into her eyes

"you're the most precious little thing i've ever seen. you look so pretty like this"

you whisper her name and she just explodes, clinging to you for dear life

finds out she's a switch

also has a praise kink

| Caitlyn

she loves making out with you, especially when you're so touchy

you sit her on a table in her bedroom and start kissing her thighs and telling her how good of a girl she is

oh my god wait what

"what- what are you doing?"

you're not usually this vocal

or so praising

or so domINANT

"i'm pampering my girl. my good girl. who's always so good for me and who does so many good deeds. you deserve this. you're so pretty"

she just can't stop her hips from bucking in your face, and repeats your name like a prayer

(might let out a 'mommy' slip out who knows)

"was i... was i good?"

you kiss her shoulders and arms

"you were the best"

blushes for a whole week

| Ekko

he knows he's cute and cool and all that, and he feels good about his body

but after all he's done, after who he's hurt, it's hard to see himself as someone capable of being good

so when you hold his hands up to your neck and tell him you trust him with your life, he just gets warm

"these hands aren't made for war. they're made for building a future, and they were made to protect. but you weren't. you're just a boy who deserves the world"

then you kiss those world wrecking hands

the same ones that soothe you when you have nightmares

you ride him so slowly, he thinks he's melting

he feels at home

he feels loved

| Silco

he holds himself as if he feels like the best all the time

but he still gets self conscious from time to time

one night he sees a man flirting with you

but it was a tough week, so he just goes up to his office without saying nothing

you realise something was wrong

you go up there and he's just sitting there looking at nothing

you sit on his lap and hold his face gently

"what is it?"

"you could do better than me"

sitting in silence for a while

you start kissing the scarred side of his face

he sighs, relieved

"you're the best i could ever do. it's you, and its always gonna be you. you're mine, silco"

he purrs, enjoying the attention you're paying to him

just holds you while you kiss him all over the place, gently drawing shapes with his fingers

might moan a little idk

| Viktor

he's super insecure, there's doubts all over his head

so one day he goes to your house after finishing up in the lab

and you have a nice little dinner set up for both of you

he just gets overwhelmed

why would you be with him? there's no reason why

but you just kiss him and tell him why

"these hands, because they take care of me and they are building the future"

"this face, because it's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen"

you start taking off his clothes to see him better, and he just blushes and lets you

"your neck, because it's so sensitive and so pretty"

you bite him and he can't stop the whimpers

"your whole body is so precious to me. let me show you. let me love you, Vik"

cue to the best blowjob and ride of his life

holds you tightly to his chest, enjoying your warmth

has a collar of bite marks all over his neck and chest

shows it proudly

[charliedawn]

Any fandom/slashers would date ftm asexual

I just feel sad and lonely right now

P.S love your work

(Thank you. And I hope you'll like this work.)

Pennywise :

"That makes us both, doll."

Pennywise has an aversion for touching and being asexual kinda goes with it. Well, he is asexual in the sense that he would understand your situation and respect it.

He was actually surprised when you confessed to him and felt confused, as he never doubted you were too.

He could feel it, but didn't think it was his business, until you asked if he was bothered by it.

"Bothered ? No offense. But, I chose you because of it. You are nice, and what we got going is good. I don't need s*x for us to work."

To sum it up, Pennywise is fine just living in peace with you and wouldn't mind at all that you are asexual.

Don't worry. If you hadn't said anything ? He would have still figured it out.

Perks of being a mind reader.

Patricia (The Horde) :

"Oh, honey..Don't worry. It's normal. I don't care about that. You're perfect."

Patricia wouldn't mind.

She's the kind of person that wants to leave her chastity intact forever, so it would work for her.

She likes you because you always were and are kind to her, even when she explained her situation to you.

However, the whole going from a woman to a man might be confusing to her at first.

But, she's working on her acceptance and would understand in the end.

"I'm sorry I didn't get it right away, but we love you either way, sweetie. You'll always be the best thing that happened to us and nothing will change that." *kisses your forehead lovingly*

Jason :

Asexual ? What's that ?

You would have to explain to him what it means and Jason would listen attentively.

He would think about it and finally shrug.

"Jason..Doesn't care..Likes Y/N, because nice to Jason."

He wouldn't mind.

He's been taught all his life that s*x is bad and was only allowed very few distractions in his life.

He wouldn't know how to "do s*x" even if he wanted to.

Innocent and clueless in this area. Virgin to the bone.

I would be surprised if he even had a boner in his life.

"Jason..Happy with Y/N. Doesn't..want them to leave." *hugs you*

He would accept it and be happy either way.

Shigaraki :

Shigaraki.

😂

Considering he could actually kill you on accident by not focusing for one minute.

S*x might not be his priority in life.

He would be happy to find someone willing to love him and understand his struggles when it comes to his powers.

He was actually the one who told you he couldn't actually commit to the deed from the beginning.

He was afraid of accidentally hurting you.

"I can't..lose focus. I can't hurt you. You're..okay with that, right ?"

He was so nervous at first, but relief washed over him when you confessed you were asexual.

"That's..good. Thank you."

Vanya/Viktor :

Viktor would understand your struggles and sympathize, as he had to go through the same transition.

He would date you and help you.

He would support you and make sure you feel as comfortable as possible in the relationship.

Viktor *takes your hand and smiles* : "There's nothing wrong with being different. You are amazing, and I can't wait for you to meet my family. They'll love you, because I sure do."

Viktor who is usually so unsure about everything in his life, was so sure about you.

He knew dating you would be the best decision of his life.

And, he turned out to be right.

You would also protect each other from other rude narrow-minded people and understand each other in a way that no one else can.

Armitage Hux :

General Hux had been asked multiple times to marry and fond a family, so he may produce more children for the First Order.

He couldn't exactly disobey and say that he had no intention of having an heir.

It would be considered treason and Hux liked his head attached to his neck.

He then found you and realized you were an asexual as you were talking to a stormtrooper trying to flirt with you.

He quickly lost interest, while Hux's only grew and he decided he would take you as his partner and hence, he would have an excuse to not produce any child for the First Order.

You would be a valuable asset to his plans...And slowly turn into something more.

"I was lost before you and I..I thought I would never find someone so similar to me..someone that would understand me. But, you became someone I can't find myself without.."

J :

"Ace..*smiles* Did you know that the ace is the highest playing card in the deck ? It means excellence and whoever gets an ace is one lucky fellow." (I know. I already used that in another post, but I just thought it was too good to waste.)

He would support and kiss the back of your hand like a true gentleman.

Once J likes you ? It's forever.

He wouldn't care about having s*x. The guy is the mastermind of crime and would be happy if you just stayed with him.

He is not judgemental.

No. Sorry. That's not what I meant.

He IS judgemental. But, not when it comes to sexuality.

He just judges society in general. But, he wouldn't judge you for being different.

He likes different.

J *smiles widely* : "There's nothing I love more than a man who knows what he wants ! And you ? You look like you found it ! I respect you even more for that !"

Stephen Strange :

"Really ? Oh..Well, I didn't know that."

Liar. He knew. There are no secrets you can hide from Stephen Strange.

He can see the multiple outcomes of a lifetime.

Once you're in his life ? You can be sure he knows you better than yourself.

He could pinpoint the exact time and place you would meet to its very second and since he allowed it, you can be sure he would have no trouble with you as a person.

He will accept you.

There is nothing Stephen hates more than fake people. And, when he saw you in his future ?

He fell for your honesty and knew there would be nothing you could say or do that would break that.

As long as you have a bright mind, Stephen will love you either way.

Stephen *smiles fondly at you* : "You glow, and if I had to choose between you and anyone else in this world who I could have s*x with ? Guess what ? I would choose you. Every time."

Hannibal Jr. :

"Interesting."

Now, Hannibal Jr. has had s*x before, but let's say, it wouldn't be a problem for him.

He tested his preferences, and turns out ?

He grew bored of it.

Hannibal Jr. doesn't care about s*x or that you're a man. He is open-minded, but he would also be cautious.

Hannibal Jr. is not one to give his trust easily. His love even less.

He would first learn as much as he can and see if you are worth it ? (Very complicated man)

But, once you've gained his interest ? He would be one of the best partners you can have and bring you everywhere, make you see the world.

He's very cultured and as such, has been to many different places.

One thing is for sure, you would never get bored with him.

Besides, he is an individual who eats people, let's say nothing can faze him.

Luna Lovegood :

Luna. Luna is peculiar and she knows it, is proud of it even.

She would never judge anyone.

She would be happy to date you, if you wouldn't mind her constant "loony" behavior and her regular "nargle" hunts in return.

Luna *giggles and shows you her new finding excitedly* : "Look ! I found one ! A purple nargle ! They were supposed to be extinct !"

She was the first to discover a new race of nargles and bring it to the minister of magical creatures.

She wouldn't make an issue out of your sexuality. She would be just as happy to make you tag along on her many adventures.

Luna *tilts her head to the side when you tell her* : "And ? That's great. Is it supposed to be a problem ?"

Bless her soul. The girl is too good for this world.

[my2phetaliaheadcanons]

Can I ask the 2p allies and the 2p axis, separately to each of them, reacting to a love confession from a close country with whom they recently developed feelings but did not yet confess because they feared she would reject them as she was too good a girl for them? ❤️

“I love you.” That was all it took to change his world.

France – François stood there. He couldn’t have heard that right, did they really just confess to him?

He is confused. François is a firm believer that you often get someone at a similar level to you in relationships. An example of this is wanting to be with someone active, for the relationship to work you have to either already by at that level or work toward that level of fitness. So, to have perfection not only acknowledge him, but like him back causes a second or two of him blue screening.

After his blue screening, François will tell her how he feels. His words will be kept simple but will feel poetic. He will also not allow her to leave his side until a time and day is set for their first date.

America – Allen smiled, it wasn’t the overconfident smirk or the wide predator’s grin he usually showed. It was a genuine smile big and full of hope.

For Allen, in this moment the world felt bright and colorful. The sounds that were once so loud became quiet and the only beings to exist were the two of them. He was happy and this level of purity was not something he had felt in a long time.

Since this relationship is with someone that Allen feels like would reject him, he would feel his ego grow. Don’t get me wrong, he would be amazing and happy, but it would boost his ego. It was not only a sign your love was meant to be, but that he was also irresistible.

Allen would take her on a date that very hour. It would be something informal like dinner at a diner. They would talk for a while and enjoy each other’s presence.

Canada – Matt’s hand came to cover his face. Looking closely, one could see the blush covering his cheeks as he laughed.

Laughing may seem like a weird reaction, but it is one way Matt shows feelings of relief and joy. He had never expected to end up with this cutie and for her to confess first, that isn’t very manly of him. In his mind, he would have imagined various different scenarios where he finally let this fear go and manned up. Many of them involved him winning her heart in a fight or competition. Though, he was not upset with this.

Matt would take a note out of François’ book and plan a date with her, but he would treat her to something before the date. If they had a meeting before the date, he would bring a small gift for her to the meeting and would work extra hard to be chivalrous.

England – Oliver looked stumped for a moment, before asking if it was heartfelt. Her reply of a confirmation sent Oliver launching into her arms.

Since Oliver works in the realm of emotional manipulation, he would do his best to certain that emotions like love were actually felt by the woman he yearned for. He would accept the words after double checking and be willing to show he love for her openly. After a day or two past connections would resurface, and he would be paranoid about it. Though, if she stays true in both word and deed, Oliver would do all he could to make up for his odd behavior.

Being the nation known for chivalry, he will fall right into the boyfriend role. Opening doors, carrying things for you, and coming up with amazing dates would be his forte.

Russia – Viktor’s body relaxed when he registered the words that came from her mouth. A small smile graced his features as he gently pulled her close.

This man of tradition would feel both relief and agitation. His relief in that she felt the same, while agitation that he failed to notice her pining. Viktor would tell himself that he would have to make up for his lack of attention. This would mean taking extra care to the needs of his snowflake. After all a good man does not leave his woman wanting.

Viktor would surprise her with a date a couple days after the confession. He during the time in between he would talk with her nearest kin and ensure that they know she is in good hands and that he wants the same thing has them, her happiness.

China – Jin could feel his eyes water as he smiled. He was not this blessed often and he would not take this chance for guaranteed.

It had been so long since Jin could say that a person made him happy. The last few decades, joy had come in fleeting bursts from worldly pleasures and had left him searching. Until she walked in, but the difference between them felt like canyons that Jin could never cross. She was too good, pure, and precious. While Jin walked along the deranged and dirt of the earth.

When he realized the her words were true, Jin’s tears flowed. Despite their differences, he always hoped they would be like the love stories that are so common. Lovers from different worlds that end up creating a beauty all their own.

Jin would be determined to make this relationship work. Right from the get-go he would be ready to change habits in his life to ensure that he could stay with his light.

Italy – Luciano had felt the woman of his dreams was above his station. An impossible dream meant to be indulged in the quiet hours of the morning, and yet here it was. His fantasy becoming a reality with the bright rays of the morning light. Luciano was quick to capture her lips within his own, almost as a way for him to confirm that this was not a dream.

Luciano may be smoother than butter, but even he can catch feelings. Wanting for someone that he believes that he could never have is torture. He never meant for his heart to be caught and now that it was, he had been fantasizing about them. Their words caught him off guard, it made him wonder if he was still home, lost in the throws of the land of dreams.

The kiss would not last long, but the break wouldn’t either. With a confirmation of reality, Luciano will turn up the charm and continue the kisses.

Romano – Fabrizio didn’t register that he yelled out a yes until he heard her melodious giggles. He blushed and tried to recover from his outburst, but he failed as he joined her in a chorus of laughter.

This drama king’s scream would cause the birds to panic and the rabbits to run. As much as he loves her and has gotten to know her, he would be shocked by her confession. Her purity would make him doubt that he had any chance with her. So, before the confession, he was content to just be with her.

After confession, Fabrizio would make her his number one model and do all he can to make her even more beautiful. He would love her natural beauty, obviously, but to be given the opportunity to make his angel more lustrous than the moon would be something he could never turn down.

Germany – Without a second thought Luther kissed her. He had been wanting this for so long and why not celebrate.

Luther would have been flirting around to get his mind off his sweetheart. His heart would ache because of the dark thoughts telling him, he had no chance. It would have lead to him feeling empty and tried. He was shocked when she confessed, because he thought he didn’t deserve her. He flirted with others, but he guessed she saw through him.

In the same moment he was shocked, he reacted. He put all his longing and happiness into that kiss. Luther wanted her to know that he was hers and that she would get everything he had to offer.

Luther would not leave her that night. He would spend all the time he had with her, talking about how happy he was they were together. How sorry and stupid he was for flirting with others in front of her. They would share laughs and end the night cuddling.

Prussia – Wilhelm nodded. He wasn’t sure why, but he could not form the words to say, “me too.” Though judging by her smile, Wilhelm guessed that she understood too.

Though quiet, Wilhelm can be further shocked into silence. The phrase “I love you” was one he rarely even heard between him and his family. To hear it from this angel, it caused his vocal cords to seize. He wanted nothing more than to offer prayers of gratitude to his God. Despite his fallen state, and her purity, Wilhelm had been blessed with her love.

Wilhelm would not be able to talk for a bit after. He would be so happy and allow his lover to do all the talking. Once he could control his vocal cords, Wilhelm would ask if it would be okay to take her out for a date. With the start of their courtship assured, Wilhelm would then bask in her presence.

Japan – Kurai may not have smiled, but there was something in his eyes and his posture that showed joy.

Kurai knew that he had blood staining his hands, and he did not want to tarnish his blossom. It would bring him shame to even think about taking her light and turning it dark. Yet, Kurai could not stop his mind from wondering what her lips felt like and what she was like in her most tender moments. Their distance hurt, but he could only hope of one day gaining the confidence to over come it.

With her confession Kurai felt a weight leave his shoulders. Maybe he could find joy in this life. Maybe it came from falling in love with her. Though he doesn’t show much emotion, Kurai shows it in actions. He will hold her hand so tenderly in that moment and look upon her with eyes full of love.

[cedricslover]

Troubled pt.2

Pairing: Cedric x fem! reader

Pt.1 Pt.2 Pt.3 Pt.4 Pt.5 Pt.6 (Final)

Series summary: A very unfortunate situation happened and it resulted in very unfortunate events. You had everything, a good boyfriend that everyone dreamed of, best friends that you got in a twin pack, and a loving school. It was a calm before a storm and in your sixth year the storm came. You faced the consequences your deceased parents run from, you were only left with your only family, your little brother. What would you do in order to save him? The answer is, everything, even if it means joining a terrorist group of wizards, joining THE DEATH EATERS...

Chapter summary: The first task took place and after that the Yule Ball came. You reminisced memories from the past as your boyfriend makes a surprise.

Note: there is no specific house:))) i can make requests if y’all have one. Italicized paragraphs are the memories. (Also the notes, but you can distinguish them)

Warnings: a little tiny angst, and almost all are just fluff. 

Word count:  4,3k

"You got this alright" You said while brushing Cedric's hair, nervousness filled your voice. Cedric catches your hand that you used to brush his hair. He slowly put it in his chest, directly to his heart, you can feel his heart beating really fast. "I'm also very nervous, I'm scared, love, but if we continue to be scared then what will happen?" He said while looking at you softly, "You should be the one calming me down, not the other way around" he added that made the both of you chuckle. But that chuckle ended when a flash filled your surroundings.

"Aaah, first Harry Potter and that Granger girl, now Cedric Diggory and who might be this girl is." Rita Skeeter walked towards the both of you. "Mr. Diggory. Just one little change of what really happened, I can make you more famous than that little Harry, we all know he overshadowed you, that spot he has in the media? It should be you. Well, that-" Rita was interrupted by you.

"If you won't say anything nice, then just go, be a dung beetle or something" You said that made Rita’s jaw drop, no one knew that she was an animagus, but you saw it, one time when she tried to sneak in the Gryffindor's common room, probably to get more story of Harry.

Pathetic, you said to yourself

"I- let's go" Rita said to her photographer and left the tent. You looked around and saw Viktor Krum, Fleur, Harry, and Hermione look at you. "Everything's okay don't worry" you said to them. Viktor nodded, Harry and Hermione asked you again through a thumbs up and you replied with a thumbs up too, while Fleur walked towards the both of you.

"Ahre you sure you two ahre fine? Whaht deed zat lahdy said?"  Her soothing voice asked you, her French accent really mesmerizes you everytime. Fleur and you became friends the moment they arrived, even though she admitted she had an eye for your lover, she respected your relationship. "Of course, you should sit back, don't worry" you gave her a soft smile.

"Should we worry about Rita?" Cedric asked you after you talked to Fleur, "I don't know, but forget her for the meantime. You," you shifted your gaze to his eyes, your hands landed on his shoulder and straightened it. "still have a task to complete" you smiled.

"Good day champions! Gather round please" Dumbledore entered the tent, you also saw Barty Crouch, Madame Maxime, Karkaroff, and others. The champions gathered forming a circle, you were dragged there as Cedric held your hand on the way.

While Dumbledore was talking he suddenly noticed you, "Miss Y/L/N, what are you doing here?" He asked you and you smiled awkwardly, letting go of Cedric's hand, Dumbledore then noticed Hermione who was just right beside him. "And miss Granger?" You hid your laugh and excused yourself from the crowd and dragged Hermione out.

"I thought he wouldn't notice" You said while you two walked your way to the bleachers, "Me too! I was just right by his side and he still noticed you first" Hermione exclaimed and you both laughed.

"Place your bets lads!!" You heard the twins' voice as soon as you arrived at the wooden bleachers. "Oh please give me a break" You said when the twins looked at you teasingly, asking you to place your bet on the champions. “Oh come on Georgie, we both know where she would put her bets on” Fred winked at you and you just rolled your eyes while smiling. They all know. The cannon was fired and it was the cue that the first triwizard task will start.

You breathed heavily when you saw Cedric went out, your gazes met and you gave him a little smile with a nod. “Good luck” you mouthed.

It was a rough start, as soon as Cedric saw the opportunity he immediately transfigured a rock into a Labrador, but luck was not on his side today. The Swedish Short Snout lost interest at the dog and chased Cedric instead. Tension was definitely in the atmosphere, a lot of cheering and a lot of grunts too as they all bent their bodies like it was them who was facing the dragon.

“CEDRIC!” You shouted. The dragon just breathed fire directly to Cedric's face. Without a doubt you immediately ran down not minding the people you bumped into. “Excuse me, sorry” are the only words that came from your mouth You arrived at the tent and was greeted by Madam Pomrey’s worried face.

“He’s fine dear. The burn is not that severe. I already applied orange paste, he’ll be fine in a few hours.” She said looking at you with a soft smile and tapped your shoulder. You felt relieved.

As Madam Pomfrey left, without a doubt you entered the space where Cedric was in, you knew it was him because of his silhouette.

“You doin’ fine there love?” you said softly as soon as he saw you. He smiled and tapped the space beside him, gesturing you to sit.

“How was it?” You asked and observed his face. You dared not to touch it, afraid that you might hurt him more. “Scary” he said and widened his eyes, trying to scare you.

“Rate it from 1 to 10, ten being the highest” you replied and crossed your arms while looking at him with your left eyebrow raised and lips slightly curved to a smile.

“Ooh! I would say an eleven!” Cedric answered while putting the back of his hand to his forehead, acting very dramatic. You shake your head while laughing. “No but seriously, how bad is it?” you stood up and faced Cedric. Now his level is only in your stomach, “It really was scary” he said with a gloomy tone and grabbed your waist with only one arm as his other arm was covering his face.

“People die in this tournament. I’m still scared” he added, laying down his head to your stomach. You felt his sigh, the heat from his breath. “And it’s okay” you replied to him while caressing his hair, “It’s okay to be scared”.

“Now that our lesson is done, I have something to say, better not pack your things yet” Professor McGonagall said as her class ended. “The Yule Ball is approaching- a tradition of the Triwizard Tournament. A formal dance that will be held on the evening of Christmas. Only fourth years and above are allowed to attend, but of course you can invite a younger student. This will be a great chance for all of you- especially you’re all almost grown ups, I suppose this is the best time to let our-er- hairs down. That’s all.” The room was filled with giggles as you all packed your textbooks.

“Who are you taking Fred?” you asked as you and the twins walked side by side in the halls. “Angelina” he answered that made you and George poke his waist and start teasing him. “Hmm Angelina huh” you said teasingly and made your eyebrows go up and down while George laughed. “Stop” Fred exclaimed while looking scarlet. His freckles are now more prominent, “you look like a strawberry” you pointed to his face and laughed. “Oh Godric” George did nothing but laugh too while Fred covered his face, trying not to laugh too as your and George’s laugh are contagious.

Days passed by and a lot of students had been asked out. You smiled at the thought of the future lovely evening. Christmas is getting nearer but to your absolute disappointment, your boyfriend hasn't asked you yet. You think of this as childish, he's already your lover, why would he even ask you, isn't that supposed to be automatic. But of course, you wanted to experience what others felt, how these Durmstrang men asked your friends including Hermione. The looks and giggles they gave each other. You wanted to experience it. Nevertheless, you knew Cedric was busy, figuring out the next task, the pressure he has to put up with. So you decided to shrug off your immaturity.

"Hey how are you?" You said and sat at the end of Cedric's bed. His broad back facing you as he was sitting at his study table, writing in a parchment, probably doing his homework. He answered you with a "hmmm" indicating that he's fine. You were still worried he might overwork himself but you already warned him before, besides, you're always there whenever he needs someone to stop him.

"Hey, hey" you walked to him and moved your hands smoothly on his back and hugged him from the neck. You rested your face on his shoulder while peeking at his work. "You wanna take a break first? You look tired baby" you said with concern visible in your voice. He shifted his head to your side, you both stared at each other for a while, his bags weren't there but you know he is tired, "come on, stand up, I'm not taking "I'm fine" for an answer" you stood up straight and offered your hands that he eventually reached and held.

"I surely needed a rest" Cedric said hoarsely, grabbed you and held your hips. "And thankfully my rest is here" he added before pinning you to him and greeted you with a kiss.

You tasted his lips, coffee, that was the first thing that you tasted, until it became him, his taste. You wrapped your arms to his neck to pull him closer, one, two, three, four, five. Five minutes before you two broke that kiss.

"So you're an ass grabbing boyfriend now?" You said and looked at his hand in your buttcheek. "Maybe" Cedric shrugged and chuckled as he squeezed it again.

"Come on, let's sleep, I'm tired too" but before you can even walk towards the bed, your feet were not on the ground, he was carrying you, bridal style. "Oh Godric" you exclaimed, shocked, and almost screamed when he playfully tried to throw you.

"Nahhh I can't do that" He said and laid you down carefully on his bed. "Now let's cuddle" he pulled you in a tight hug but not that tight that it will hurt. Your head on his chest and you breathed in his smell. "You smell good" you unconsciously said, hypnotized by his scent. "I know, I always do" he replied boastfully. "Couldn't agree more" were the last words you said before you sank to sleep in his arms.

You woke up at first not aware that it was a weekend, you panicked until you saw a note stating

"It's weekend love, Saturday, I know you might panic but don't worry, it's a weekend. Now I want you to take a bath in my restroom, of course your essentials are there. You can use any of my sweaters too. It's a cold day."           -Ced;)

You smiled at the thought that Cedric wrote this while you snore at your sleep, adding the winking face, winking Cedric is such a cutie.

You got a towel and bathrobe from his cabinet and headed for the restroom in his dorm, but before you entered you gazed at the other bed which was supposed to be his roommate's space, it looks like it wasn't even moved. You shrugged and just thought that Adam (Cedric's blonde and full of himself roommate) was just in another girls dormitory, he was definitely a playboy.

While humming your favorite song, you noticed a note just like the one at the bedside table earlier.

“Lookin’ and smellin’ good I reckon. Now, can you please go to the place we first met. There’s a gift waiting for you there;)”                    -Ced<3

You laughed at the heart at the end. Familiar butterflies started taking up space in your tummy.  You looked at yourself in the mirror, and in a snap, your smile was gone. Reality slapped you. This, what you are experiencing, will be gone. Gone. Everything. You didn’t even realize, tears started rushing down to your face. You questioned your decision, your life, your parents. Why? Why?!

“Y/N??” you heard someone called you from outside, right away you wiped the tears. “Y-Yeah?!” you slightly shouted, trying to cover up the crack in your voice.

“Oh you’re there. I’m just going to get my things. Don’t come out yet. I don’t want to see Cedric’s property with only a bathrobe covering her body” It was Adam’s voice, it was his playful laugh. You rolled your eyes while you started fixing your face.

“I’m no one's property Adam. Shut it” You said and just got a laugh as a reply. “Alright. I’m heading out. Peace!” you heard the door shut. Your cue to come out.

“Hmm what to wear?” You talked out loud as you wandered your eyes to Cedric’s cabinet. You noticed a note again.

“ Got you undies babyyyy. I want to try them though:( ”                   -Ceddie

“Merlin’s beard” you stifled a laugh but it immediately transitioned to your jaw dropping as you opened a drawer full of underwear for women. After processing the thought of how he managed to get the right size and WHERE DID HE BOUGHT THEM. You picked out what you felt wearing today and decided to wear Cedric’s caramel colored sweater.

Now to head to the Transfiguration classroom. Where you two first met.

“Late are we Miss Y/L/N? Care to explain?” Professor McGonagall greeted you as you entered the classroom. Other first years’ heads are turned to you. Waiting for your answer. “I got lo-” but before you can continue a redhead who stood tall with his prefect badge appeared beside you. “She got lost, professor, helped her, sorry for the interruption. Prefect duties y’know what I mean” he playfully winked at the professor who then let you off.

“Go sit beside Diggory” she said and started teaching as soon as you sat. You didn’t talk, your attention was all just to professor McGonagall. Transfiguration is a great subject but one of the hardest according to your father, that’s why you were so focused.

“Class dismissed” McGonagall stated and you carefully picked up your things. “Oi Diggory!” you heard a voice of a boy near you and the next thing you knew is that the boy beside you was thrown a crumpled parchment. “We don’t want your itty pretty face here! Shove off Hufflepuff” a boy laughed together with his friend. Your brows furrowed and remembered what your father taught you.

‘Never let someone step on you, but don’t use your blood as an excuse. Use your skills’

“Oi Goyle!” you mocked what he said and threw back the paper. “Next time, pick someone your own size.” you said, remembering that you were taught by your father to defend yourself at an early age. “And what size is that? Your size? You're smaller than Diggory! Both your princess and prince faces won’t defend yourselves” he replied, obviously pissed.

“Oh yeah?” You walked towards him, acting like an adult but deep down you were quivering. You only had your father as your partner in these types of situations, but here it is, you have to defend someone, like what your father expected you to do.

Kicking him in his groin was the only thing you did that made his ‘friend’ run. “I hope your little brother doesn’t turn out like you. It’s just the first day and you started picking on somebody. Pathetic” you grabbed your things and the little hand of Cedric Diggory and left the groaning Goyle.

“Why’d you do that?” the boy asked as you two walked, “I just felt the need to.” you answered without even looking at him. “Do you want some?” he suddenly stopped, and asked as he handed out a box of chocolate frog. “You mean it?” you were astonished. “Of course, you stood up for me there. I should thank you. Here” he reached for your hand, opened it, and placed the box. “I’m Cedric by the way, Cedric Diggory” he offered his hand, “Y/n-” you stacked the chocolate frog in your bag before you accepted his hand “Y/L/N”.

“Nice to meet you” you both said in unison.

“Here’s the spot” You stated and stood at the exact place where two first years shook hands in 1989. You looked around and suddenly a first year handed you a little paper, it was a note again, “thank you” you smiled sweetly to the girl and she giggled as she ran away.

“I had to buy cauldron cakes now, in exchange for that girl to give you this note. Anyway, I was really a gutless boy before huh? But thanks to you, you had all the guts, thanks for sharing by the way. Thank you for being at my side that time, and I know you will always be. Now go where I confessed, or more like, we confessed to each other ;)”                               -Cedric the lover boy

And again, another chuckle escaped your mouth. Without a doubt you walked fast towards the wooden bridge, a lot of students were there but you can’t find the person you wanted to see. “Ah there’s our pretty girl. Come on, Diggory wanted to give you this actually. Never opened it. Promise” George said and put his arm around your shoulder. “Cross our hearts” The twins said as they handed you a very very folded note. Of course you were suspicious of them, that's why you looked at them and squinted your eyes.

“We promise. We didn’t read it. Cedric told us not to, said it was very private. And you know how we respect your privacy.” Fred told you, they sounded sincere that made you believe them. You do agree, they respect your privacy so much.

“FRED AND GEORGE!” you heard Lee’s voice, and by the sound of it you knew, they pranked him. “Seriously? Lee?” you crossed your arms and asked them with disbelief. “We didn’t have any choices anymore!” they both said as they ran. Shaking your head, you opened the note.

“I know the twins won’t open this. I trust them. Remember when I confessed? I really thought it was one-sided. You always said we’re close friends, that you see me as a brother. I really thought about it, it made me stay awake all night. Until I realized I’ll take the risk to say I like you, very much.”                              -Cedric Diggory PS: head to our spot;)

You looked around as the winter breeze hit your face, blowing your hair, and making you shiver. It was this same time, winter, when exactly one year ago, Cedric confessed his feelings for you.

“Hey, sorry for waiting, got caught up in Potions” You said as you arrived at the wooden bridge where Cedric told you to meet him up. “What is it that you want to talk about?” You put down your bag next to his, both of you then stared at the view. The lake, the snow, the trees, and the chatter of people from afar.

“You’re amazing” he broke the silence, confusion wrapped your head. You looked at him and said “I know” and chuckled, looking back to the view again. “I can’t list down how wonderful of a person you are and you know I will always be here for you. Like what you did before.” Your smile slowly faded, your heart started racing, you felt your face heating up, you hoped, he might have felt what you were feeling. Maybe you don’t have to be scared of ruining the friendship you two built, maybe he likes yo- “As-as your friend of course” Cedric added, your heart dropped, hope disappeared in a snap, then you decided to shift your gaze to Cedric again. “Me too” you forced a smile as you look at his perfect face. That sharp jawline, slightly disheveled brown hair, his grey eyes that will make you forget your name. “Me too Ced” you said as you picked up your bag. “I’ve got to go. It will get dark soon” you said and turned your back to him, fighting your tears to drop, it can wait, you told yourself. It was your last straw, but turns out you’re just a friend.

Yeah, friends.

“Fuck it” you heard Cedric uttered under his breath, before you could take a step you were stopped when someone held your wrist. You inhaled first, trying not to pop, before you turned your face again.

“Do you still have something to say Ced? I told you it’s almost getting dark.” you looked at the sun on your side who’s now just peeking. The sky is a mix of colors, blue and orange, completely different but blended just right.

“I know you’re not doing well since your parents- and I don’t know. When you cried to me when you got the letter, I wanted to be by your side, all the time, day and night,  I wanted to protect you from the pain. I want to be the one to comfort you. I want to be the person you will run to whenever you want comfort. I want to be your home. I want to kiss you goodnight, I want to say that I’m always here. When you showed me your fragile side, all I wanted to do was protect you, take care of you. I want you to-” Cedric stopped when he felt your lips meet his.

“I like you too” You said as you distanced your face to his. Your heart beating really fast, butterflies, your stomach was filled with butterflies.

He grabbed your waist and pulled you again for another kiss. “I like you, very very much” he said between your kisses.

You smiled as you remembered the first kiss you two shared, the sun and the moon was your audience. The wind blew again that made you shiver.

“Now to our spot” you said to yourself and started walking towards the Black Lake.

You arrived at the Black Lake and roamed your eyes towards your spot, when you saw the tree you then slowly walked towards it, cautious about the snow.

You started searching the surrounding, looking for another note when suddenly you felt a presence behind you. In a flash you turned your back and was greeted by a sweet smile of Cedric Diggory.

“Hello” He said and opened his arms, which you threw yourself right away.

“What’s this for Ced?” You asked him as he embraced you, heating both of your bodies from the cold breeze. His chin resting on the top of your head as you leaned on his chest. “It’s our anniversary today. Don’t tell me you forgot?” he asked, surprised. You laughed and turned around, cupped his face and planted a peck on his nose as you tiptoed. “Why would I?” you said and reached for your pocket.

“In fact I got you this” you said, handing him a bracelet, a bracelet you made when you were young, with your grandma. “My grandma loved making these types of things. One time she told me to make one and she’d teach me. That’s the one I made. I cherished it very much. Because she said that I should only give that to the person that I’d like to spend my lifetime with. She even put a spell on it. She’s great at divination. A spell that if the right person wears it, your initials will appear.” You told him while reminiscing.

“I know it’s not that much but-” Cedric cut you off, “It’s the thought that counts. Besides, it looks great. What do you mean?” He wrapped the bracelet on his wrist. Tension grew and grew as you two looked at the bracelet, waiting for the initial to appear on the space where it should be.

C.D.

You two saw it, you almost cried out of joy while Cedric started punching the air. “Guess you have to spend your lifetime with me now” He told you and winked. “Now for my gift.” he reaches out to his pocket and brings out a velvet box. He opened it and two rings greeted you. Butterfly matching rings.

“Here” he slid yours to your finger and you also slid his on his finger. “It’s cute” you said and looked at it, yours was a butterfly while Cedric has a space for a butterfly. “We both complete each other” Cedric said as the two of you tried to intertwine the rings. Your butterfly fits perfectly in the space provided for it. You two looked at each other with smiling eyes that your mouths can’t compare. You felt that you two were the only people there, the only people in this world. In this moment you never cared, you let go of your burdens and just smiled with your safe space. Your safe person, that you know will wait for you, accept you, and be there by your side, helping you.

You smacked the back of Fred’s head after he asked Angelina to the ball. “You don’t ask a girl like that.” you said and rolled your eyes, “Don’t do that George” you warned George who just nodded enthusiastically. “Oh I almost forgot, mum told us that you should send a letter to her about what dress you want. Like your preferences, she’ll buy them the same time as Ginny’s and ours too. And if you’re so worried about mum spending money on you even though you know she takes care of you like a daughter, you can slip a few galleons on the mail, she wouldn’t agree with it but for your peace of mind just please do it” Fred said as he ate. “Really? Thank Merlin” you replied as if it felt like one of your problems faded. “But did Cedric asked you?” George’s voice was muffled as his mouth was full, “Don’t talk when your mouth is full, and yes, he did, yesterday.” you said and couldn’t even hide your smile.

“She’s still in love isn’t she?” George asked Fred who just nodded. While you just scoffed thinking about how Cedric asked you to the ball after he gave you your matching rings. Butterflies again, over and over again.

[silverhandy]

I saw the devil (in me) - chapter 2

contains some heavy spoilers for the devil ending

chapter 1 I ao3

If he was expecting a profound sign that V is gone, he found none. Night City was just as Takemura remembered it - crowded, flashy, and devoid of taste, both figuratively and literally. Vendors were outshouting one another, each determined to lure a potential client into an inevitable culinary disappointment. Takemura found himself navigating through the busy market that an unfortunate shortcut led him through. In hindsight, he should have ordered a cab and arrive at the address Viktor provided unscathed and in a much shorter time, but he felt the need to stretch his legs, or at least that’s what he’d been telling himself. He still had plenty of time before the memorial service started and he didn’t want to arrive either too early or too late - the first one would no doubt result in a lot of uncomfortable silence and the latter would make it seem like he didn’t care. Takemura wasn’t too keen on either of these options and that meant a long stroll through the city.

He could never grasp why V seemed to like this place so much. She spoke about it often, cursing corporations, gangs, and ever present exploitation to kingdom come, but she also seemed to fit in like a perfect piece of the puzzle, a small, but necessary cog in a living, breathing machine. She moved through it freely, her loud confidence and necessary caution interchanging in a wild dance that made the entire city spin. Where V shined, Takemura found himself losing rhythm, coming from the strict, organized world of the Arasaka military, and eventually realizing that he’d never learn the dance that made one feel at home in a place like this.

As he approached Vista del Ray, a strong smell of old frying oil and fish gave way to more subtle scents, identical all around the world in places like this, Heywood or Shinjuku, it didn’t matter. Cigarette smoke floating up and chasing the wind, too much cologne on a young, elegantly dressed men that almost bumped into him, too focused on going through his emails to look ahead, a dinner burnt, tenants desperately attempting to air the apartment by opening a window as wide as it would go, which unfortunately for them wasn’t very far. All of that mixing, shifting, evolving into what could only be called a smell of desperation and longing for an opportunity.

Takemura left the main street and turned left into an alley, feeling the intense stares of a group of young men leaning heavily on a graffiti-covered, brick wall. He knew the type, so he just gave them a warning glare, aiding them in measuring the odds. As expected, none of them approached him, having done the math and realizing that they stand no chance. He wasn’t a local, so maybe if they stumbled upon someone else like him they’d go for it, but Takemura had Arasaka written all over his features, suit and tech.

El Coyote Cojo seemed like a bar identical to many others, but the second Takemura walked through the door, he was sure he was in the right place. There was no music playing, the room filled with a murmur of hushed conversations between all the people who came to say their final goodbyes. And there were quite a lot of them. Takemura felt the corners of his lips go up in a sad smile. Of course, V had a lot of people who’d want to be here, the open suite full of them, standing in their small, respective groups, some around the tall tables, others hunched over their drinks at the bar. From where Takemura was standing, he hardly saw any familiar face, but then again, in those short few weeks he got to know V, there wasn’t much opportunity to get to know all the people she was close with. There was no time for that and more importantly, he didn’t feel like it was his place to intrude into her personal life. After all, they were just coworkers, of sorts, helping each other towards a common goal.

That is, until that stakeout on the roof. If Takemura was to pinpoint a moment where he could in full confidence call V a friend, it was those few hours they spent going over the entry points to Arasaka Industrial Park, analyzing the routes of transports going in and out, coming up with yet another idea how to get in without getting shot on the spot.

Then they got pizza and the conversation naturally shifted into something more casual, them reminiscing on their pasts and their futures. How different things were back then. V in what might’ve been her best, determined to get her life back and him doing the same.

It seemed none of them got what they wanted.

Someone passed next to him, whispering something about him getting a move on under their breath, and only then did Takemura realize that he was still standing in the doorway, staring somewhere above the heads of the mourners. Glad that he hadn't caught the attention of everyone in the room, he took a few steps forward and then, finally, he noticed Viktor, waving at him from his seat at the edge of the bar.

When Takemura approached him and took a seat next to the ripperdoc, the first thing he noticed was that Viktor looked noticeably older, dark circles under his eyes only adding to the feeling. Dressed in a classy, black suit that sure has seen better days, Viktor looked out of place, almost like...

"I was already thinkin’ you wouldn't make it." he started, mindlessly rolling the nearly empty glass in his hand. "How was your flight?"

Small talk, then.

"Good enough, thank you." then, after a moment of deliberation, Takemura added. "I usually do not fly commercial."

"Oh? What on earth stopped Arasaka’s golden boy from taking an AV?" Viktor asked, calling a bartender with a wave of his hand.

Takemura hesitated for a moment, but before the looming pressure of every passing second making the situation more awkward had a chance to set in, the bartender, a tall, heavily tattooed Latino man approached them to take his order.

"Just water, please." the bartender’s brow shot up, as if asking Takemura if he was sure, especially considering the occasion, but seeing that his client wouldn’t backtrack, he simply pulled up a glass. When it was full, two cubes of ice clinking inside, Takemura looked back at Viktor, still patiently waiting for his answer.

"My higher ups don’t exactly know that I am here." he finally said, taking a sip from his glass to wash down the ping of anxiety he felt swelling up the moment he mentioned his unauthorized trip across the ocean. Not that it mattered anymore. The sword laid at the bottom of his suitcase, carefully wrapped in silk, just waiting for him to get some closure he apparently longed for so desperately.

This time, Viktor’s brow shot up.

"No leave to mourn a friend?"

"I’m afraid they would not consider it a reason important enough to neglect my duties."

"You clearly did."

"Yes, fully aware of the consequences that await. But I could not miss it, I suppose I needed some…"

"Closure? And they wouldn’t let you have that? No wonder they call it a soul sucking job. Sorry to pry, but why don’t you just quit? Put in a two months notice or somethin'?"

"It does not work like that. Not when you have been there for as long as I have."

Viktor clearly wanted to say something, but just as he opened his mouth, everyone present started walking up to the area on the left from the bar, gathering around a small table covered in freshly lit candles, V’s photo in the middle. She was smiling, little reflections of the candle flames dancing in her eyes. V’s hair was shorter than Takemura remembered, it must’ve been taken well before they met. In a better time.

It was Viktor who stood in front of the crowd to address them. His voice sounded strained at first, unusually high, but he cleared his throat, once, twice and didn’t let his voice break even once. He spoke with confidence, yet calmly, the same reassuring voice Takemura remembered from when he ended up in his clinic alongside V, with multiple gunshot wounds and some more or less minor lacerations.

After Viktor was done, a young woman with colorful hair took his place. Clearly battling with her shaking voice, she told about the time she and V went diving in the ruins of her childhood hometown. How she still had the camera that V fished out for her and how she’s still trying to fix it, but even if she won’t be able to bring such an antique back to life, a braindance they recorded together will keep a piece of V alive forever. After that, people started taking turns, each with their little story of what V meant for them. Takemura couldn’t quite focus, each new face blending with another, a never-ending litany composed of the good deeds of a woman that no longer was among them. When it was his turn to speak, Takemura hesitated.

"I did not know V for as long as most of you, but I am honored to have been able to call her a friend."

And that was it.

                                                              ***

"A lot of people came."

"I’d say a third of them were fixers from every single part of this fuckin’ city. Never took them for a sentimental type."

"Me neither."

"You know...you know what she told me in those last few weeks? “Viktor, if you dare to shed a single tear at my funeral, I swear I’ll rise up from the dead again and kick yer sorry ass”. It was one of the last things she told me, anyway. Couldn't really speak much later on." Viktor took another swing from the bottle, wiping his mouth on the sleeve of an already ruffled suit jacket.

Takemura didn’t ask how V was doing in those last moments. Didn’t need to, when he arrived at the clinic professor Kusama didn’t spare him any of the details. Quite the opposite, she was elaborate, listing all the end-stage symptoms in a cold, clinical tone. Upon hearing them, a thought crossed his mind that if it was about him, he’d beg to be copied and stored into Mikoshi. But not her. V wasn’t a coward like him and faced her death the way he’d never be able to.

"Viktor, I am..so deeply sorry." he just muttered, unable to form anything more concise. What was he supposed to say, anyway? How did his remorse and guilt compare to Viktor’s pain, who got a front row seat seeing all the ways V was withering away, day by day? Who must’ve spent hundreds of hours at her bedside, making sure that she’s comfortable in those last moments while Takemura spent those months bundled away in an office reviewing mountains of meaningless documents, too scared to even call her?

"Nah." Viktor waved his hand, almost knocking over Takemura’s glass. "She wouldn’t want us to mope like this. Imma be okay soon enough. After all, grieving is a process and all that. What about you? Been holdin’ up okay?"

"Yeah." Takemura said, but his voice came out coarse. He cleared his throat. "As much as circumstances allow."

Viktor hummed, clearly not convinced. For a second Takemura was sure the other man would push the matter, but he dropped it. Two shots of tequila seemingly materialized on the counter before them when Takemura wasn’t looking, too focused on Viktor and his own thoughts.

"How ‘bout just this one and we call it a day?" Viktor asked, taking the glass into his hand.

"I suppose it can’t do any harm." Takemura replied, raising his own glass. "To V?"

"To V."

                                                             ***

Paradoxically, only when cigarette smoke filled his lungs he could finally take a deep breath. He excused himself a few minutes after their fourth round of shots. It’s not like he didn’t enjoy Viktor’s company, but the doctor was too perceptive for his own good and with each sip of alcohol chipping away his composure, Takemura felt that steel grip on his throat grow tighter and tighter.

He was alone in an alley right next to the entrance, cold winter air slowly sobering him up. Most guests have already left, only a few hindered behind, talking in the same, lowered voices he heard before. Not like he could hear any of that through the music, an old rock song he couldn't recall. Takemura slowly exhaled, a cloud of smoke dulling the air in front of him. It was time.

"Do you mind?" a woman's voice, right next to him. Takemura cursed under his breath. He was getting careless, much too distracted for his own safety. He turned his head and to his relief, he recognized her. A friend of Viktor’s, this tiny blonde woman, she ran some kind of an esoteric shop in the front. Misty was her name. They chatted a few times during the weeks Takemura would drop by the clinic to check on V.

"Not at all." he replied and moved a little to the side, making room for her to lean on the brightly painted wall. She didn’t take the invitation and remained standing, her big, brown eyes staring at him in a mix of emotions he could only describe as pity. Or maybe it was concern? He couldn't tell the difference anymore.

"You know," Misty started, her voice even softer than Viktor’s during his speech. "your pain is not lesser than his."

Takemura’s hand froze halfway from taking another drag of the cigarette. "Excuse me?"

"I’m just saying you shouldn’t cut yourself off. Viktor does that too, but not like this. The pain will not disappear if you keep running from it. It’ll just chase you up, no matter what you do. It’s better to make peace with it."

He didn’t know what to say. If he was in his right mind, he’d probably make up an excuse and walk away, but her words struck a chord in him that made him freeze, not daring to move even a little.

"I have made peace with it" he finally said, putting out the cigarette on the stone wall. He’ll find a trash can to throw it in later.

"I’m not the one you need to convince, Goro."

"I..I am sorry, but I have to go. My return flight leaves in a few hours."

Misty gave him a sad smile.

"I hope you’ll soon see that you’re exactly in a place you’re supposed to be in."

[otverzhennyy]

From the In-Depth Headcanons asks.

☯ : Do they believe for every darkness there is a lightness? If not, why?

No. Viktor is quite harsh about what he believes to be the reality of the world. Even if he is not a pessimist, he is quite cynical and tired of pretending. He doesn’t believe the world to be fair, and that things are equal and even themselves out. Bad things happen and no one is punished, good deeds are not rewarded and for one act of kindness, ten greedy ones will be done. As he takes in those truths, his personal decision is to say things how they are, and simply accept it. Because, no matter how hard he would try, he doesn’t believe that he could change anything.

✗ : Explain how they portray feelings of hostility or dislike.

Viktor will very openly and directly show dislike towards someone when not in a diplomatic setting. And even then, his tone of voice tend to not hide that he’s displeased. He doesn’t hesitate to use insulting terms such as boring, stupid, moron, etc. without taking into account the other party’s sensibility, thus the reputation he has of being (rightfully so) rude. It all mostly stems from Viktor being irritated without someone to mentally challenge him or have in his head when doing nothing, and it has built up over the months at the Church, where nothing happens.

☾ : On a sleepless night, what would they be found doing?

Viktor will most likely be found outside, without his mask or Fatui coat, taking some fresh air until he feels sleepy again. The reason why he doesn’t wear any Fatui recognizable clothing and only the dark boots, pants and shirt underneath is because he knows better than to look like a sneaky Fatui at night, given how hostile the locals can be around them. This would only give them reason to make things worst. Viktor will be found, again, at one of his favorite spot which is the coast at the North of the city, sitting on the sand, because it is a quiet, clean and away from prying eyes spot compared to the bridge at the main entrance.

Honestly ? The less, let’s say, “classy” option is masturbating. As long as it takes. The relaxation you get after the afterglow just makes it easier to fall asleep. He’d do that if he feels like fresh air won’t do him any good at the moment, like if he spent all his time before bed doing some outdoor labor.

☠ : Are there any recent/daily thoughts they have about death or dying?

Viktor has had such kind of thoughts since he’s been stationed in Mondstadt. Although no one can even remotely whisper about it, it is clear for everyone involved that the Fatui are stationed in Mondstadt as a threat to occupy it and potentially take it by force on the Tsaritsa give the order to burn the old world. Viktor is prepared at the eventuality that everyone he sees everyday will truly become his enemy at any time. Although he hopes that military occupation of Mondstadt would be done without casualties, there is no guarantee that the grandmaster or acting grandmaster would want to go down peacefully.

☆ : Would they ever wish upon a falling star? If so, what would they wish?

Viktor would wish to figure out what he needs to do in life. He is just doing what seems to be the simplest thing and joining the Fatui and going along with orders while feeling like he’s doing his part is enough for him, yet he cannot help but have a sense of emptiness due to his lack of self-ambition.

εжз : What about nature do they find calming? What about nature do they find disagreeable?

As someone who grew up around hunting and survival, Viktor finds walking in nature, especially the most remote areas away from human civilizations, to be the most calming. Even in Snezhnaya, advanced technology is taking over for necessary, practical reasons alongside wilderness being more and more marked by mankind. Untouched forests and lakes are around what he was born and raised, and so he finds peace in them. The silence and the reality of the solitude through it. He also finds the discrepancy between walking in the wilds for hunting like he did back home and in Mondstadt where it is mostly for his own leisure… distressing ?

☢ : Describe a thought or dream that would cause them to have a mental meltdown.

Full-on warfare. Right now, Teyvat is at peace despite the tensions and plotting against each nation. If the countries were to take arms against Snezhnaya, even if he believed they’d win, the casualties would be devastating on all sides. Nowadays, soldiers deaths are scarce with the peace, and he’d like for it to stay that way. Viktor will have no issue doing what needs to be done. However, it doesn’t mean that he wouldn’t be profoundly distressed by having a vivid dreams of it.

[pulaasul]

Billy Batson and the Triwizard Tournament

As the Triwizard Tournament pushed through, Billy investigates the event and much more.

FFN I AO3

---------

A lot of magical games in this world were really strange, as Billy figured. One example was Quidditch, it's like someone put the rules of soccer, football, dodge ball, basketball, and some others in a blender and mixed everything thoroughly.

Apparently, His assumptions were correct. Quidditch was actually a combination of other now-defunct broom-using sports.

He can't help but admit having a sport based on flying would be a spectacle to watch if only he wasn't busy in America during the Quidditch World Cup.

The same could not be said for the Triwizard Tournament.

Utilizing the Wisdom of Solomon, Billy knew that the world he came from and this world operated on the same rules apart from having magic a secret to most of the populace with the Statute of Secrecy implemented all over the world and Rapaport's law heavily enforced in the Americas.

The question of how successful it was remains to be seen, considering not many countries were in the International Confederation of Wizards let alone have their own respective magical governments.

In utilizing the same power, Billy knew of the Triwizard Tournament's infamy. He knew of the tournament's dangerous tasks that turned up a lot of casualties amongst its participants. Unlike other tournaments from his world, this one was one of the most dangerous and fatal tournaments in existence as far as he was concerned. During his research, there was even a time when there were no declared winners because all of the traditional three champions died during one of the many perilous tasks.

Hence, when Billy had learned of a fourteen-year-old competing against seventeen and eighteen-year-olds in the tournament, not to mention the dubious way he was selected as one of the tournament's participants despite the many precautions the organizers implemented to stop any underage witch or wizard from entering, he opted to train the four champions together and gave all four of them a bigger chance at survival.

Billy, in his Captain Marvel form he aptly named William, taught the four Triwizard Champions new spells that have a high probability of helping them winning and surviving the tournament.

He had admitted to the selected participants that their sessions were more for the benefit of their youngest competitor however to avoid the matter being categorized as cheating, he also extended the offer to the other three champions.

---------

"Headmaster Dumbledore, do you have any comments on how Harry Potter was able to enter the tournament and made him the fourth participant in a tournament where there should only be three?" William questioned the Headmaster.

"No, I drew an age line around the Goblet of Fire to stop any would-be rule breakers and join the tournament to avoid casualties as young as eleven-year-olds." Hogwarts's headmaster responded. "The only way for Mr. Potter to have entered was for someone else to have put his name in."

"Are you saying that no one under the age of seventeen can enter the age line even if one were to make an aging potion or even transfigure oneself to be older?"

"Funny you say that, William," Dumbledore chuckled. "There were indeed people who used transfigurations and aging potions to pass through my age line, but they were unsuccessful."

"I had heard of that from the school's rumor mill." William nodded. "The Weasley twins found their faces aged up to elderly men judging from the apparent white hair and beard that grew by the second."

"Never a dull day with the Weasley twins." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled.

"Speaking of the Goblet of Fire, do you know its origins Headmaster?" William asked.

"I'm afraid not William." Dumbledore shook his head. "All teachers and staff are at a loss at how the Goblet managed to spit out four participants instead of the regular three." He sighed. "Even the Ministry of Magic does not know. There's a theory that the artifact was hit with a Confundus charm and made the Goblet think that there need to be four champions for the tournament instead of three."

"Do you believe the theory?"

"A few Unspeakables seems to agree."

"Unspeakables?"

"They're Ministry workers who work on time, space, astronomy, prophecies, and the heart," Dumbledore answered. "All of their work remains a secret even to the Minister himself, all we can do is ask if something was in the realm of possibility."

"If I were to ask them about the Goblet, they'll likely not to give me an answer?"

"You assume correctly William."

"If I were to give Harry Potter leverage against his older competitors, would he be potentially be forced into a penalty?"

"I cannot say."

"Well then, would it be alright if I were to teach all four champions new spells then until before midnight."

"That wouldn't be viewed as cheating because all four champions will be given the same privilege." If it was ever possible, the Headmaster's eyes twinkled even more. "You have my permission, Mr. Diggory is a prefect and he can vouch for Mr. Potter being outside of the Dormitory past curfew."

"I would like to ask permission for Mr. Creevey as well, instead of having another employee of the Mudblood be the paper's photographer during the event, I figured why not use an intern who's already on the school grounds."

"Considering Mr. Creevey already has a clearance as a student, there's less of a risk for a security breach, very well, Mr. Creevey can be outside the Dormitory after curfew on the condition that he must return to his dormitory when his head of house fetches him."

"Fair enough." William nodded.

----------

For the most part, sporting events and tournaments such as Quidditch works the same as Billy's homeworld, home universe. The spectators were entertained as they watched how each event was played like: how one member managed to score a goal, how an opponent stole the ball, even how some even blocked the ball.

It was entertaining to watch beaters slam away the quaffles, how keepers prevented the opponent team from scoring, even how seekers chased after the golden snitch to potentially win a game.

The first task of the Triwizard Tournament was a lot like that, it was entertaining to watch, albeit in a worrisome sort of way, considering the danger the participants were in: how they were going to outsmart a nesting mother. The first task of the tournament was retrieving a fake egg from a nesting dragon.

----------

"Mr. Diggory, could I have a word?" Billy questioned as he approached the bed Cedric sat on. "How did you come up of transfiguring a slab of stone into a dog?"

"I don't know," Cedric admitted. "I was just thinking that if the dragon's attention wasn't on me, I'd be able to finish the first task with ease."

"Good thinking, most dragons are easily distracted." Billy nodded. "That water eruption spell was brilliant as well." He praised.

"Well, I was just glad that I had thought of that spell before I became one fried bloke." Cedric joked. "I don't fancy being fried, mate."

"I don't think anyone would." Billy chuckled along. "With experiencing the tournament, how do you describe this?"

"This goes way beyond glory." Cedric shivered. "This is survival."

Not a moment later, Madam Pomfrey then decided to shoo Billy and Colin away from the healer tent so that she can tend to her patient in peace.

Billy and Colin then went back to the stands and they were just in time for when Fleur entered the enclosure. They watched how the Delacour fared against her opponent and immediately returned to the healer tent and waited for her injuries to be treated.

"Ms. Delacour, could I have a word?" Billy smiled.

"Oui!" Fleur nodded. "

"What did you feel when you entered the enclosure?"

"J'étais effrayée!" Fleur exclaimed. "La flamme! Endormie!" She rambled.

"Excuse me?" Billy raised an eyebrow.

"Je m'excuse," Fleur apologized. "I was so scared, I thought it was asleep but it exhaled la flamme!"

"You didn't think that the dragons would exhale flames when they're asleep?" Billy questioned.

"Oui!" Fleur nodded. "I deed not know what to do."

"From what I've seen, you were composed the whole time," Billy informed. "You were quick enough to extinguish the flames of your skirt with a water-making charm."

"I was lucky." Fleur admitted.

"Well then, after experiencing the first task, what can you say about the tournament?" Billy questioned.

"Survie!"

Billy and Colin were once again shooed away from the healer's tent and just in time for Krum to enter the enclosure. Both boys watched how the famous Viktor Krum would've done, suffice to say that he was the strongest spellcaster between the four of them, hitting the eye of a dragon, whose species were known to be able to resist magical attacks from wizards.

As soon as Krum finished, after saving the nesting mother's eggs, Billy and Colin immediately rushed to the healer's tent once more and repeated his process with Cedric and Fleur for Krum.

"Mr. Krum, how does it feel to score so high in the tournament from the start?" Billy questioned as Colin took a picture of the still panting Durmstrang student.

"It vas intense!" Krum commented. "I vas glad that I vas avul to protect the dragon's eggs." He panted. "It vould no doubt affect my standing in the tournament."

"I see, could you please describe the tournament in one word, now that you have experienced the first task."

"Survival." Krum responded.

---------

It was no wonder that this infamous tournament racked up a lot of casualties. The tournament was no different than the Gladiator fights during the ancient Roman Empire or bullfighting in modern times, modern times relative to his home universe. All three events endanger its participants all for the entertainment of its spectators.

Unlike the sporting events in Billy's home universe, however, the Triwizard Tournament featured an event that would normally be held at the end, concluding the event on a high note. The event was called the Yule Ball.

The Yule Ball was quite a strange event to hold right in the middle of the tournament, it was before the second task of the tournament would take place.

Strangeness of the event aside, the Yule Ball was an event Billy could never forget. The school's great hall was transformed into a ballroom made of ice: tables and chairs were covered in ice-like colors granting the illusion that everything in the Great Hall was made of ice.

The Icicles that clung to the candle-lit chandeliers gave the Great Hall a variety of colors and effects making the Great Hall seem to be a sight to behold. The addition of the snow-covered trees alongside the trees made of ice by the high table just added more to the spectacle.

Billy couldn't help but describe the entire event as, dare he say it, magical.

Once the event concluded Billy decided to investigate some claims further.

---------

"Sir Nicholas, has Mr. Potter's life been in danger before?" William questioned the ghost in one of the corridors.

"Most Certainly Sir William." Nearly Headless Nick answered.

"William's just fine Sir Nicholas." William shook his head. "Unlike you, I was never knighted or in the service of royalty."

"Very well William." Sir Nicholas nodded. "With regards to Potter, for three consecutive years, that boy finds himself in a lot of trouble starting at Hollow's Eve."

"What kinds of trouble?"

"Life-threatening kinds of trouble." The fat friar inserted himself into the conversation.

"How so?"

"A troll got inside the school grounds during 1991." Sir Nicholas hummed.

"The Chamber of Secrets was opened in 1992." The Bloody Baron hissed.

"Then there was the time when Sirius Black infiltrated the castle in 1993." The fat friar added.

"These events act some sort of precursor to the life-threatening events that Mr. Potter has faced?"

"That was true for Potter's first two years." Sir Nicholas nodded. "I feel like the one in 1993 was just pure coincidence."

"You reckon that when Potter's name was ejected from the Goblet of fire, this was only a precursor for more things to come that would threaten Potter's life?"

"We can't be too sure." The fat friar shook his head. "As the one that happened in 1993 broke what we knew of the pattern that was established."

"Sirius Black's infiltration of the castle had never gone to fruition and Peter Pettigrew was caught, or so what I've caught from talking students." Sir Nicholas offered.

"Sirius Black is back in Ministry Custody but under hospital arrest at St. Mungos and help him recover from being near the Dementors for more than a decade," William informed the ghosts. "It's largely due to the capture of Peter Pettigrew who was thought to be dead." He added. "Black will soon go to trial and would then be declared innocent depending on circumstances."

"You mean to say that Black hasn't undergone any trial for his supposed crimes?" The fat friar hissed. "What utter hypocrites, they're no better than the muggles who performed witch hunts back in the day." He scoffed.

"Anyway, do you know of any students who could possibly cast a Confundus charm on a magical object such as the Goblet of Fire?" William questioned the ghosts that have gathered.

"So this is the nature of your inquiries of Potter's life-threatening adventures." The Bloody Baron mused. "You exhibit Slytherin qualities, William."

"To answer your question, most sixth and seventh years are capable of casting the charm." The fat friar responded.

"Come to think of it, that Granger girl could possibly cast the charm herself, she's always in the library." Sir Nicholas offered.

"But none would be able to cast a charm that would confuse a magical object such as the Goblet of Fire."

"Which means, one of the teachers is responsible for the fourth champion." William deduced.

"No, that can't be it." The fat friar denied the conclusion. "No self-respecting teacher of Hogwarts would ever bring harm to the students of the school."

"You said it yourself, it'd be impossible for any of the students to be able to cast the Confundus charm on a magical object and having the desired result," William pointed out. "When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."

"The lad has a point." Sir Nicholas nodded. "No self-respecting sixth or seventh year would put the name of an underage student on the off chance that the goblet wouldn't pick them."

"Those are mere circumstantial evidence." The Bloody Baron sneered. "How could you possibly hope for the capture of the one responsible?"

"By investigating further." William smiled as he walked towards a wall.

"The Come and Go room." Sir Nicholas commented.

"Come and Go? I was under the impression that this place was called the Rock of Eternity."

"I think I heard the Grey Lady say that this was called the Room of Requirement, although I cannot remember when." The fat friar hummed.

"Regardless of what the name of the room is, I have more things to do, thank you for your inputs." William smiled at the Ghosts.

"Expecto Patronum!"

A silver-y Bengal Tiger was summoned from William's wand before it ran towards the wall and passed through it.

William summoned another silver-y Bengal Tiger and it too did the same as the first one.

---------

Before the year could've ended, Billy shared with the four champions what he had concluded with his conversation with the ghosts. He had enchanted the four champions to say his very own magic word, which he had already made as a taboo beforehand during his days as a MACUSA auror, whenever they hear the first two syllables of any of the three unforgivable curses.

It had the side effect of shocking the four champions unconscious, which put Potter in a more precarious position.

Confident that the four students would at least be protected from the killing curse, Billy left the unconscious champions by the lakeside and continue his search back in the Room of Requirement, as some of the ghosts had insisted the room to be called.

Then came the second and third tasks of the tournament and they were as boring as they can get. There's more action with muggle children playing tic-tac-toe than the second and third tasks.

The second task involved the merpeople, the grindylows, and other deepwater creatures present in the Black Lake. It was a long waiting game, all the audience saw was when the participants jumped into the water and when they came up.

It was rather impressive of Harry, and it was appreciated, that the boy jumped from the water like a dolphin before diving back in as it provided a little bit of entertainment from the longest waiting game the entire school has played.

Eventually, the participants surfaced, along with their respective hostages, the judgment of this particular task was based on the time it took for them to rescue their respective hostages, whether they were able to rescue them or not, and the merpeople's accounts of what happened underwater.

Tragedy struck right after the reveal of what the third task was about. Bartemius Crouch Sr. was found dead, whose corpse was transfigured into a human femur buried near the gamekeeper's hut.

Naturally, the main suspect was the school's gamekeeper but further investigation proves that Crouch Sr. was killed with the killing curse as what was shown by the spell 'Appare Vistigium'. That alone couldn't convict the half-giant for the death of the ministry worker.

During his investigation on Crouch Sr.'s death, he met Professor Alastor Moody. The two of them collaborated with investigating the death of one of the Ministry's department heads.

As Billy continued to collaborate with Moody, there was something off about this auror-turned-professor. He knew it was the Wisdom of Solomon at play, but he just can't place on what was off about the wizard.

One thing was for sure, that Billy knew, the walk Moody was doing, wasn't due to a disability but rather due to him trying to accommodate the prosthetic on his leg. He can identify whether the man was truly disabled or not. Freddy, his best friend, was disabled due to his blunder against Captain Nazi.

As per recommendation by both William and Moody, Minister Fudge had Professor Hagrid watched 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The move was necessitated to both prove the professor's innocence and to watch over him in case Crouch's killer would target the half giant next.

Minister Fudge's motive however wasn't as noble as William's, due to the Minister's prejudice against anyone not fully human.

The other reason why Professor Hagrid wouldn't have been the killer was that he was expelled, transfiguring a human into an inanimate object was an advanced level of magic.

---------

"William, has your investigations bore fruit?" Professor Dumbledore questioned the journalist.

"Unfortunately headmaster, no." William shook his head. "I have a few suspects but I don't have any conclusive evidence to back my claims, which as you would know, would be bad for any case."

"Right you are my boy." The headmaster nodded. "Surely the last task of the tournament would go smoothly as the first two tasks did."

"You should have not said that, Professor." William exclaimed.

"Whatever do you mean William?"

"There's a no-maj belief that if you state that something good is sure to happen in a particular event, whatever forces out there would make the event in question have worse things happen to it." William sighed.

"Surely those are mere superstitious beliefs."

"Every muggle has thought of magic as superstitious, Professor." William shook his head. "Let us just prepare."

---------

Unlike the second task, there was some sort of entertainment during the third task as soon as all the participants were inside the maze, doing the third task of the tournament.

The entertainment in question was the different arguments that broke out after all the champions had entered the maze. Different people supported either of the four champions. Naturally, the students from Durmstrang supported Krum and the students from Beaubaxtons supported Fleur.

One would think that the two Hogwarts champions would get the support of the entire school's student body, however, house loyalties reared it's ugly head and divided the school more than it already was. Naturally, the Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs supported Harry and Cedric respectively however the Ravenclaws and Slytherins were split between all four of the champions.

Some Slytherins were taunting the Gryffindors and Gryffindors taunted back.

Thankfully it never escalated to hexes and curses at each other.

One of the major downsides of this universe's separation between magic and non-magic is the fact that most muggle technologies don't work in places where there is a huge concentration of magic. It was a shame too as a wizard or witch could've been on the brooms and followed the champions while carrying cine-cameras.

Then again there is the issue of how to transfer the camera's feed to something that would be viewed by the peanut gallery, not to mention how it would work with the surrounding magic, making most technological things malfunction.

Speaking of cameras, Billy never asked the intern how he got his camera.

"Colin, how did you get your camera?" Billy asked his companion.

"This was a gift to me by my mother," Colin answered. "I think this was my 8th birthday gift and I've been using it since then."

"How'd you make it work inside the school? Aren't most muggle things do not work in the school?"

"Professor Mcgonagall and Professor Flitwick enchanted the camera when she took me to Diagon Alley for the first time where Professor Flitwick enchanted it," Colin answered. "I kinda asked Professor Mcgonagall how I can show my younger brother Hogwarts."

"That can't be it." Billy narrowed his eyes in confusion. "That would violate the Statute of Secrecy."

"I don't know myself," Colin admitted. "Mum and Dad probably know the reason why I was allowed to bring my camera."

"It is possible that your head of house informed your parents about the Statute of Secrecy." Billy nodded in understanding. "I suspect that it was to make your transition from living in a muggle society to living in the wizarding society."

"Maybe so."

Apart from the idle conversations Billy had with Colin and the taunts that happened all around the place, the third task was as boring as they come, some muggleborn first years had even agreed with his sentiment and wished.

"I wish something were to happen." A first-year Ravenclaw groaned.

"What are you talking about?" Another Ravenclaw questioned. "This is the third task of the Triwizard Tournament."

Billy merely shook his head and stopped listening to the conversation.

A moment later, the boy's wish came true as a battered, dirty Harry Potter appeared right outside the maze's entrance clutching the unconscious body of one Cedric Diggory.

Billy's eyes narrowed as the peanut gallery erupted in cheers. It's as if what happened was a breathtaking performance as the act of appearing out of nowhere, by way of the Triwizard Cup, garnered a standing ovation from everyone in the audience.

"Colin, make your way down the stands and you need to take photos," Billy ordered. "Do not bother with niceties and consent, keep taking photos. I will call William here to help, make sure to listen to what was talking."

Colin was about to open his mouth.

"No, this is not a normal situation Colin, trust me on this."

"If you say so." Colin nodded.

Colin didn't wait for any more words from the older boy and immediately went down to where the Headmaster was.

Billy pointed his wand at Colin's running form and cast a spell or two on the boy.

With everyone distracted from the round of applause that turned into shrieks of horror, Billy ran behind one of the many pillars and shouted his magic word.

"SHAZAM!"

Lightning struck Billy and he transformed into his champion form, Captain Marvel, or as he was known to the Wizarding World, William.

"What happened?! I rushed here as soon as I knew." William made his presence known.

"By Merlin! Diggory! He's dead!" Fudge exclaimed.

"I-I can't j-just leave him there." Harry wailed as he clutched Cedric's body like his life depended on it. "Not there."

"It's alright Harry, it's alright, let go." Dumbledore comforted the wailing champion.

"That's my son!" Amos rushed to his son's unconscious form. "That's my boy." He wailed.

"No!" Mrs. Diggory gasped. "Not my son!" She wailed as she too knelt by Cedric's side.

The entire Quidditch field was merely filled by the sounds of grieving parents who just saw their son lying on the floor lifeless.

William narrowed his eyes on Cedric's stomach and chest when he observed that it was moving up and down as if the boy was breathing, but it was subtle enough that no one, let alone the grieving parents, noticed.

William immediately rushed to Cedric's side and pressed his finger on the side of Cedric's neck trying, trying and trying to find something there.

A smile adorned the journalist's face as he announced.

"He's alive! Diggory's alive! We need a Medi-witch here."

"He has a pulse?!" Came the shout of one Hermoine Granger.

"Ms. Granger and any other muggleborns knowledgeable of first aid, I'm leaving you to explain what I just did to these people here," William shouted his instructions. "Colin, continue to snap photographs, and don't stop! If you have to, follow the headmaster or the Minister." He continued.

William looked down on the wailing Potter, who might've ignored everything that just happened.

"Harry, Harry." William tried to gain the young boy's attention. "You trust me, right Harry?"

Harry's only response was a nod.

"I swear Harry, Cedric is alive, you can let go so that Madam Pomfrey can get him checked." William assured the Potter.

"A-a-are you sure?" Harry questioned. "I saw the k-killing c-curse hit him."

"Yes."

"Okay."

William decided that he didn't want to wait for a gurney from the hospital wing and cut Cedric's shirt open from the middle and then cut the sleeves soon after.

As soon as Cedric's torso was bare, he immediately transfigured the cut shirt into a gurney right under the unconscious boy.

"Messers Weasley!" Professor Mcgonagall called the twins over. "Take Mr. Diggory to the Hospital Wing."

"Mr. and Mrs. Diggory you can come with me to the hospital wing." William informed Cedric's parents.

The Diggorys mutely nodded and followed the twins and William to the school's hospital wing.

---------

"If Mr. Potter's words were to be believed, Mr. Diggory was hit by the killing curse." Madam Pomfrey stated. "Is it possible?"

"I do not think so." William shook his head. "When I was teaching all of the champions some spells, spells most likely will be used in the tournament, I took the opportunity to teach them of the taboo I had MACUSA set up."

"Taboo?" Amos questioned.

"What does that have to do with anything?" Aria asked.

"I was a MACUSA auror," William admitted. "The establishment of the taboo using a word I frequently use has helped a lot of my fellow aurors on the job. If Mr. Diggory was able to say the word as the killing curse was cast, then lightning would have struck in front of him, intercepting the beam of green light that came from the killing curse."

"I see." Madam Pomfrey nodded. "How come he wasn't awake when he and Potter arrived back from wherever they were taken?"

"One of the many side effects of the lightning, especially when it intercepts any spell targeting the user, is paralysis."

"My boy wouldn't be able to move?!" Amos exclaimed.

"Temporary paralysis," William amended. "And extreme fatigue."

Both Diggory parents seemed to calm down at the correction William made.

"Extreme fatigue?" Aria questioned.

"He's very, very tired," William explained. "I reckon he had already gained consciousness before arriving back with Mr. Potter but he must've done something that his body forced him in a state of unconsciousness." He offered. "I'm not a healer but that was what my fellow aurors has experienced when they say the taboo word and intercept a spell, especially from the killing curse that was coming their way."

"When will he wake?" Cedric's mother questioned.

"Given time to rest, in a few days," William answered. "Once he wakes from this but I warn you, your son is going to have a lot of nightmares, nightmares involving what ifs."

"What if the killing curse hit him?"

"What if he and Harry had their positions switched?"

"Or he would just relive what he has witnessed wherever he and Mr. Potter was taken in the middle of the tournament."

"My poor boy." Aria's eyes now had tears welling on her eyes.

"The best you can do for him would be there for him whenever he wakes from his nightmares." William offered. "Train him to become better combatant."

Amos and Aria nodded as they watched their son's unconscious form, now wearing a simple plain shirt to replace the shirt that was transfigured into a gurney earlier.

---------

"Please tell me again what happened to the impostor?" William took calming breaths.

"Minister Fudge brought a dementor with him and it kissed Barty Jr." Professor Dumbledore obliged with the request.

"Please tell me you were at least able to question him?"

"We have," Professor Mcgonagall answered. "Severus was able to administer a dose Veritaserum."

"How'd you figure out that he was taking Polyjuice potion?" William questioned.

"The effects of the Polyjuice potion expired." Professor Snape dryly answered. "He was as obnoxious as Potter when he revealed to the boy what he did while posing as Moody.'

"What about Mr. Potter?"

"We were able to rescue Mr. Potter from Crouch's clutches as he was about to kill him." Professor Mcgonagall supplied.

"I've known since the Impostor Moody took Harry from my sight." Dumbledore answered.

"I take it he was the one who placed the Confundus charm on the goblet and placed Mr. Potter's name in then?" William sighed. "I had known that only the teachers and staff were capable of doing such feats." He admitted. "I even had suspicions on him but I didn't have any conclusive evidence to prove it."

"How did you figure it out?" Professor Mcgonagall questioned.

"Diggory and Potter had commented about Moody's curiosity about their progress for the second task," William answered. "But that wasn't conclusive, I needed something substantial and not circumstantial evidence to actually act on my suspicions."

"You heard everything, Colin?" William turned his back on the professors assembled.

"Yeah, William." Colin nodded as he revealed himself to the professors.

"How?!"

"All of you were busy dealing with Harry and Mr. Crouch," Colin admitted. "No one even took notice of the flashes my camera made."

"I highly doubt that boy." Professor Snape sneered. "Had there been a flash of the camera all of us would've noticed it."

"I'm telling the truth, Professor Snape." Colin insisted. "I don't know how you didn't notice it."

"Actually that was Billy's doing," William interjected. "Before he called for me, he cast a disillusionment charm on Colin and a Confundus on his camera so that no one would notice him and bar him from taking any photographs."

"That was reckless!" Professor Mcgonagall fumed.

"50 points from Gryffindor," Professor Snape declared. "For endangering yourself and sneaking in towards restricted places."

"Ten points to Gryffindor for sheer dumb luck." Professor Mcgonagall seethed.

Colin was about to protest but William's hand on his shoulder stopped him from doing so.

"And another 20 points for braving the situation despite its danger, showing Gryffindor qualities." Dumbledore declared.

William simply shook his head at the headmaster's actions, no wonder Gryffindor house won the first three house cups, as the ghosts reported.

---------

The Daily Prophet

The Boy Who Lied

By: Kekis Trecus

----------

Billy had to hand it to Minister Fudge, he can work as fast as he could if given the right motivation.

But…

Billy knew what the price behind that work ethic was. He especially knew that Cornelius Fudge was in love with the power he had as Britain's Minister for Magic.

Frankly, Minister Fudge was drunk on the legal powers that he had.

An all-out smear campaign against both Hogwarts's Headmaster and Harry Potter was instigated by the Daily Prophet the very next day. They discredited everything Harry told the people right after returning, escaping his captors.

Billy wouldn't even begin to imagine what was in store for one Cedric Diggory, once he corroborates his story with Harry's words.

Yes, once, not if, once. Cedric Diggory embodies all the traits that the Hufflepuffs value, and one of which was loyalty. Cedric was as loyal as one would come.

Speaking of smear campaigns, as far as he knew, Godfrey wasn't this ruthless when he ran a smear campaign against him or the other heroes back in his home universe. At the very least the standards for print media were still upheld, nothing in their articles was outright insulting and degrading towards the other heroes.

The Daily Prophet, however, Billy couldn't help but scoff at the news organization. The Headline itself was in clear violation of those standards using an insult from the get-go. The rest of the article wasn't even worth reading as he had already seen the words 'hallucination', 'headaches', and the like in the article's first paragraph.

The Daily Prophet was clearly building upon the articles Skeeter had printed during the Triwizard Tournament.

Billy took the time to smile to himself however, it was a good thing that he had cast a disillusionment charm on Colin before he started taking pictures. A quick narration of events from the boy alongside the testimonies from the teachers, he was able to build a good article out of it.

It was also a good thing that he can pay to distribute his paper to the Ministry of Magic and other key places in Wizarding Britain to fully inform the public.

---------

The Mudblood

Tournament Scare: Potter Claims You-Know-Who is Back

By: William Joseph Batson

In an unfortunate turn of events both Hogwarts Champions, Harry Potter and Cedric Diggory, appeared at the maze's entrance dirty, battered, and seemingly dead – in Diggory's case. As soon as Potter arrived with an unconscious Diggory, the boy immediately tried to warn everyone in the area about You-know-who and his return.

According to Potter both he and Diggory touched the Triwizard Cup together and they were transported to a graveyard. There they encountered Peter Pettigrew who immediately cast the killing curse on Diggory.

Afterward, Pettigrew, who supposedly died under Ministry custody, performed a ritual using Potter's blood and resurrected You-Know-Who.

Potter was able to escape, alongside the unconscious body of his fellow champion, the graveyard by using the Triwizard Cup once more and returned them to Hogwarts.

Last night's events have also revealed who had put Potter's name into the Goblet of Fire, it was Bartemius Crouch Jr., a convicted Death Eater who was thought to be dead. He was posing as the school's Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Auror Alastor Moody.

Minister Fudge feared for his safety and commissioned to be accompanied by a dementor from Azkaban as he questions the escaped convict. It never came to fruition as the dementor with the minister kissed the escaped convict, leaving him a shell of his former self.

According to the staff of Hogwarts, who had the foresight to question Crouch while under their custody, they found out that the Dark Mark during the Quidditch World Cup was the mark Crouch conjured himself. According to them, you-know-who was insistent on using Potter for the resurrection ritual for various reasons for which the impostor wasn't privy to.

If we can remember the events that led up to this, October 31st of 1981, you-know-who attacked the Potters in the hopes of killing a baby Harry Potter.

Two years ago, Sirius Black, who was recently declared innocent, escaped Azkaban who was presumably trying to continue his supposed master's plan, but early last year, however, everyone had it wrong and it was revealed that Pettigrew was you-know-who's servant and have been masquerading as a pet rat to a wizarding family.

According to the Ministry, Pettigrew died while under their custody earlier this year.

Late last year, someone had put Potter's name into the Goblet of Fire, forcing him to participate in the Triwizard Tournament.

Due to the severity of the situation, Diggory and Potter being unconscious, Hogwarts's Headmaster has opted to delay the announcement of the winners of the Triwizard Cup.

-----------

Billy supposed that there was a silver lining with Minister Fudge's actions. He had already revoked Albus Dumbledore's seat in the International Confederation of Wizards, which means that the Confederation Decree 7 of 1751 or the Decree protecting the leaders of the magical government of whomsoever was the Supreme Mugwump from the scrutiny of the ICW to prevent coups from happening would not be able to protect the current Minister.

Billy had already compiled a lot of evidence but most of them were flimsy at best. The evidence he needed had to be severe, like a matter of life or death.

Billy supposed he still has time to investigate, he was here to investigate the rumors of Voldemort and whether his organization could pose a threat to the Wizarding World.

[ifyourelostiamtoo]

Intellectual negotiations

Prompt: Hermione proposes to Tom, and Tom says yes.

PSA: This is a dialogue writing exercise.

Hermione: Riddle!

Tom: No.

Hermione: You’re not betrothed to any woman that I know of.

Tom: True, the prospect of settling down does not interest me in the very slightest. And I daresay you feel the same?

Hermione: The Ministry seems to value success of any kind. Society benefits from marriages in a manner that no other relationship does. Thriving partnerships between individuals imply they possess certain attractive traits such as conscientiousness, conformity, self-discipline, extraversion, trustworthiness, among others. With these in mind, I’m not opposed to one, no.

Tom: Imply they possess. Whatever spurred this on? Ms. Brown’s engagement to your red-haired knight in shining armour?

Hermione: I need your help in securing a lifelong partner.

Tom (chuckles): You must be at your wit’s end to ask for assistance. Well… I’m quite, shall we say, indisposed as of the moment. Give yourself a year, I’m positive the second you witness your friend, red-eyed with snot dribbling down her nose, rushing to your side after a trivial marital dispute will you see the light. Marriages are pathetic spectacles of dramatic actions.

Hermione: But you swore to take care of your older sister!

Tom: I haven’t forgotten my bloody promise, Hermione. I can arrange a few suitors to your liking after I’m finished with my latest endeavour. So if you are contemplating offing yourself tonight, I suggest you postpone it.

Hermione: And if I find them severely lacking?

Tom: I’m sure you will. A friendly reminder that your sanctimonious tendencies’ only accomplishment is scaring off men of sound minds and able bodies. You’re the most insufferable of swots. Perhaps an attempt to appear more desirable is in order?

Hermione: You find me tolerable, you swot.

Tom: I value your mind. Your temperament matters very little. This conversation is below you, although I, uh, understand your desperation. What I can’t wrap my head around, is how you find Weasley so appealing. It’s the strangest of things.

Hermione: I’m not, he isn’t… You’re fond of my company. I’d wager you sorely missed my presence when I paid my Bulgarian friend a visit.

Tom: You mean Viktor Krum, the world’s most famous seeker? Half-man, half–

Hermione: Nott half-mentioned you were an hour or two early picking me up from King's Cross...

Tom: I simply misread the time of your arrival. Anyway, it’s foolish tempting me to rid myself of your companionship, my dear. I'm begging to be persuaded by just about anyone. Although I’d hate to search for another to engage in verbal fore—(clears throat)—duels with, it’s not an impossible task.

Hermione: And who would replace me? Mulciber? Carrow A, or perhaps, Carrow A? Lovely Lestrange, who confuses clockwise for anti-clockwise? Unlike your lackeys, Viktor’s a sensible man. He's spending next summer with me.

Hermione: He has a pair of eyes and ears—and a tongue—that he puts to good use.

Tom: Vot you don’t fancy ‘im, nor do you appreciate his talents in flying.

Hermione:

Tom: I thought so. Brooms are for sweeping dead leaves. You're a bloody swot. You deserve another bloody swot. And if you’re insinuating my lack of abillity befriending wizards of exemplary stock, look no further than Bellatrix Black. Powerful, cunning and partial to me. Also, a Black.

Hermione: She’d lick your boots if you wish it.

Tom: I wish it. She will oblige.

Hermione: Oh, shut it, Tom! With what you’re up to, there can be no telling who you brush shoulders with. Promising myself to individuals you consider cattle—

Tom: Do not mistake my restrained contempt for anything else. Why don't you consider employing tactical strategies you picked up from playing chess with Ronald? The purebloods have some utility to boast of, aside from their elves, manors, and dwindling health and wealth. Being wed to a Malfoy would be advantageous, truly—

Hermione: They’re valuable to you and you only. Oh, you're so salivating at the possibility—an alliance with one of the ‘Sacred Twenty Eight’ to ensure your footing in the wizarding world!

Tom: I can secure their approval without auctioning off your—virtue. Four centuries have passed since Henry VIII. And Hermione, forgive me, but you have nothing, not even fifty galleons to your name.

Hermione: I’m resourceful enough to earn a measly fortune. Should the Ministry reject my inquiry, I can still be Hermione Granger, best-selling author of—

Tom: Your reputation precedes you.

Hermione: A pseudonym, then! Faced with the possibility of unhappiness for the entirety of my wand-wielding life, crawling on my knees for an inkling of respect I will never receive? Not a chance, thank you, I’d rather starve.

Tom: I won’t allow it. Nobody would dare, for they will be met by my— You’re the pragmatic one. Better accept you're growing old a spinster.

Hermione: I’m not craving for romance—I just cannot resign myself to a miserable co-existence with a man I shan't speak to! A marriage of convenience does not bother me in the slightest, but—

Tom: Then, if you fear that I cannot find you a fitting match, or if my ambitions are getting in the way of your—happiness, then I suggest that you search for one yourself. Or take on lovers if your need to… arises.

Hermione: I have.

Tom: Have what, exactly?

Hermione: Found someone, I have. We’re well-acquainted—he’s every bit as determined as myself, maybe more. Brilliant thinker who can see the bigger picture, perfect foil for someone as meticulous as me. He’s this tall and well-built, just about your size, really. Irritatingly handsome and charismatic, can make puking an art form. Our conversations are plenty stimulating and challenging—

Tom: I think I’ve heard enough. Pray tell, then, why pester me with such betrothal nonsense? Are you seeking my blessing instead? If you’re confident with your belief that you’ve met your equal, then by all means, go ahead. Tell me the date and time, and I will be there in my best robes and behaviour to send you off towards the proverbial English sunset. I can even write you a toast if you require one. To Mr. and Mrs.—Severus Snape!

Hermione:

Tom: Should or shouldn’t I judge you badly? Granted you’re a smidge inferior to me, but you’re the only person who can almost keep up.

Hermione: I measure up to you! I happen to possess the same number of Outstanding N.E.W.T.s as yourself! I have managed a perfect Arithmancy score, broken Hogwarts records—

Tom: Oh, you’ve never failed to remind me how I—

Hermione: I’m asking you. To marry me.

Tom:

Hermione:

Tom: I’ve always thought the Sorting Hat made a terrible judgment putting you in Gryffindor, but it’s clearly incapable of mistakes. A neat piece of old-world magic, don’t you reckon? Now, if you’ll excuse me…

Hermione: Wait.

Hermione: Tom Marvolo Riddle! I said stop right where you are! No, not one step!

Tom: I suppose I am permitted to shuffle in place?

Hermione: Are you so thoroughly displeased with my proposition that you cannot even offer me a denial—

Tom: My father... has allowed me to sell part of my inheritance. I was holding off informing you of this development until the deed of sale is finalised, but when you’re such a troublesome, impatient woman to deal with, it’s unbecoming.

Tom: The flat’s in Bloomsbury. I have plans to build an extensive library of sorts. If we are to live together in the near future permanently, I suggest—

Hermione: Permanently?

Tom: Did you ever picture yourself with someone else? Well, I have never imagined such a thing. We’re merely continuing our co-habiting arrangements – we’ve lived under the same roof since we were 10, for Merlin's sake. You can keep your dignity intact for as long as you wish.

Tom: I suppose a signed document changes nothing between us, and if it makes you feel more secure about your future…

Hermione:

Tom: Hold out your left hand. There.

Tom: Close your eyes.

Hermione: What for?

Tom: If I’m not mistaken, a congratulatory kiss is compulsory after accepting another’s hand in marriage, or am I?

Hermione: You’ve never been interested in upholding traditions.

Tom: Matrimony is, one that you’ve coerced me into. I’d rather not smell of spittle, but the prospect of you harping about how ungentlemanly I am…

Hermione: Not to worry. I’m plenty satisfied with the outcome of this conversation.

Tom: Wouldn’t you want to be… more than satisfied?

Hermione: I’m not the one making declarations of celibacy…

Tom: Just shut up and close your eyes, Hermione.

Hermione: I’m keeping my surname.

Tom: Very well. I need a whole study to myself. Bigger than Little Hangleton’s. Strictly off-limits to your abomination of a pet. But if you want to volunteer Crooks for target practice…

Hermione: Is it a yes?

Tom: I agree to be your husband-in-waiting, Hermione. Shall I see you at dinner?

Hermione (beaming): Will you offer a toast?

Tom: You’re the most dreadful witch I’ve ever met.