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slytherinslut0 · 7 months

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MATTHEO RIDDLE- Beg For Me

Chapter Twenty Nine--Info: You and Mattheo have been butting heads for months, since you were assigned as his tutor, and one day during a session full of tense bickering, he has enough.

Tags: 18+, SMUT, Masturbation, PIV, Switch!Mattheo, Dirty Talk, (slight daddy kink. Like very slight.), Spitting, Unprotected Sex, Praise Kink, Degradation Kink, Cuddling, ANGST ANGST! ALSO: FLUFF! (WHO AM I???? AM I OKAY???)

FIND THE REST OF THE CHAPTERS HERE.

The following weeks slipped away like sand through fingers--one, then another, and then another--until the imminent end of the term loomed large, only just a little ways off in the distance. Graduation was within reach, a tantalizing yet bittersweet prospect.

The journey to this point had been a relentless climb, fueled by your unwavering determination. The culmination of hard work brought a poignant mix of accomplishment and trepidation. The future held its mysteries, and you were poised on the edge, anxious about its impact on the present.

Because in the land of the present, you and Mattheo were as well as ever. You'd managed to maintain your intimate secrecy, with Emily and Theo as the exclusive keepers of your shared secret. Within the last few weeks, they had evolved into an indispensable support system, adept at aiding your discreet escapades and providing cover when facing friends. Theo, a master of diversion, orchestrated opportunities for you to slip into Mattheo's dorm unnoticed, while Emily reciprocated the favour.

Looking back over the past months, a bittersweet resonance reverberated through your thoughts, acknowledging the imminent conclusion of your tutoring and mentorship with Mattheo. Curiously, the lines between mentor and mentee had blurred, giving rise to the notion that, in an almost poetic turn, he had undoubtedly become a guiding force for you, instead. The intricate dance of mentorship had taken an unexpected yet meaningful twist, leading to the most beautiful and memorable outcome you could have ever fucking asked for.

And in the crisp embrace of a warm spring evening, the sun gracefully dipped below the horizon, yielding its space to the emerging twinkle of stars overhead. Amid this celestial transition, you found yourself immersed in the task of crafting a report for Dumbledore, which was due the following week. This document sought to encapsulate your entire journey as Mattheo's mentor and your insights into his progress.

Yet, as your quill traced its path across the parchment, reminiscing about the last few months, an unmistakable ache kindled within your chest, as if hollowing your lungs from the inside out. In that poignant moment, the yearning to see a specific curly haired boy eclipsed all else, a sentiment that transcended the mere act of putting pen to paper. In an impulsive surge, your quill found itself abandoned on the desk as you swiftly slipped into your shoes. A brief word to Emily, notifying her of your absence for the night, preceded your motivated exit through the door.

After a determined journey through the solitude of the castle, you reached the imposing door of the Slytherin common room and urgently rapped your knuckles against its rough surface. After a brief moment of silence, the door creaked open, revealing Draco Malfoy peering down at you with his trademark disheveled blonde hair. His sly smirk assessed you from head to toe, an expression reminiscent of a devil reveling in mischief.

Before you could utter a word, he casually remarked, "He's in his dorm," signaling the direction with a subtle tilt of his head. "Little late for a mentorship meeting, don't you think?"

"Past your bedtime, is it?" You teased, gleaming with a smirk of your own. "Apologizes if I interrupted your beauty sleep, princess."

Draco's silver eyes sparkled with a blend of amusement and feigned offense. "Do you think all of this just happens naturally, little bird? It's hard work, being me," he quipped with a sly grin, willingly engaging in the banter. "But if you're here for a late-night rendezvous, who am I to stand in the way of true love?"

A huff escaped you as you tried, albeit unsuccessfully, to conceal your amusement. Without speaking, you pressed forward, gracefully brushing past him in the direction of the dorms. Upon reaching the entrance to the dormitory hall, you cast a glance over your shoulder, eyes twinkling with emotion as they locked onto his silver gaze from across the room.

You shot him a cheeky smile. "You'd be a fool to even try."

The retort lingered in the air as you continued your journey, leaving a trail of playful tension in your wake, fully aware of the fact that what you just did might not have been your most brilliant move yet. But moving forward without hesitation, you briskly made your way to Mattheo's dorm.

The anticipation propelled you forward, and with a swift motion, you tried the doorknob. Finding it unlocked, you let yourself in without bothering to knock. As you squinted, easing the door shut behind you, your jaw fell open as the dimly lit room revealed Mattheo reclining on his bed, bathed in the soft glow that echoed the reflections of the black lake, still fully clothed--except for his cock, which was fully erect, fist wrapped around the girth as he pumped himself, soft moans leaving his throat.

Almost immediately, lava had begun to flow out from your centre and filter through your veins. Steadying yourself, you stepped forward, admittedly slightly caught off guard by the sheer rawness of the scene before you. His eyes were squeezed shut, brows furrowed and lips parted, his breathing ragged and heavy as he lost himself in the pleasure coursing through his body. Your breath hitched, cunt clenching in want, and you drew nearer, slowly feeling all of the ounces of your sanity leave your body, quickly being replaced by a possessed, powerful need.

"Matty..." you whispered, cautious not to startle him.

His eyes shot open, surprised by your sudden presence, stalling his movements for a moment as he exhaled a shaky breath. When you smiled at him, your possessed eyes glimpsing his cock throbbing within his fist, the shock in his gaze quickly faded, replaced by a look of pure, hungered lust.

"Raven..." he murmured, his head falling back as he slowly resumed his ministrations. "Here to finish me off, sweetheart?"

A shiver coursed through your body as his words hung in the air, the palpable intensity of his desire washing over you like a powerful wave. Compelled by an irresistible force, you moved closer to him, drawn like a moth to a flame, surrendering to the raw power of his need. Without a second thought, your fingers sought the hem of your sweater, swiftly peeling it up and off your body. The room filled with the hushed rustle of fabric as you kicked off your shoes and deftly maneuvered the zipper on your pants.

"I'll do more than finish you off, Matty..." you cooed, meeting his dark eyes as he watched you undress before him, his thumb swirling the bead of precum over the tip of his cock, his fingers tightening around the girth. "Were you thinking about me?"

"Mmm," he moaned, his hand slowly picking up its pace, leisurely moving up and down his shaft. "Always thinking about you, baby..."

Quakes of desire rattled your bones, and you moved closer still, now at the foot of his bed, focus switching between the black holes of his eyes and his thick, throbbing cock. As you let your pants slip from your waist and down your thighs, finding purchase on the floor at your feet, you wasted no time before crawling onto the bed next to him, bringing yourself to his side.

"Tell me," you murmured, trailing your fingers up the length of his strong thigh. "Tell me what you were thinking about, Matty..."

Mattheo shuddered under your touch, hissing in pleasure as he increased the pace of his strokes, his body writhing and twitching against his dark green sheets. You choked back a mewl, your pussy screaming in need for him as you watched the veins in his hand tense and contract, his eyes squeezed shut as his head fell back, jaw tensing.

"Your beautiful face...your perfect body..." he growled out, his voice hoarse with primal need, his throat torn with lust. "Your tight, wet little pussy, wrapped around my cock...fuck-"

A surge of intensity coursed through you, the clenching sensation echoing the burning passion that seemed to set the very walls of Mattheo's dorm room ablaze.

"Mm...you're in deep, aren't you, Matty..." you teased, teeth nibbling on your bottom lip, a playful smirk barely concealed. The words slipped from your lips like a whispered incantation, and you couldn't help but revel in the way his eyes fluttered open with a potent mix of lust and hunger. "Salazar himself couldn't rescue you from this, could he?"

"Six feet, baby..." Mattheo's words carried a reverent undertone, akin to a fervent prayer. "Can you blame me? Fucking look at you..."

"Six feet, huh?..." you purred, allowing your fingers to trail sensuously down his thigh. The ache between your legs intensified, a symphony of longing and passion propelling you into a frenzy of heat. "...not deep enough, I'm afraid."

Leaning over him, your lips hovered just above his, and a mischievous smirk danced on his lips. Shallow gasps escaped his throat as he slowed the pace on his cock yet again, as though he was edging himself, desperate to hang on, desperate to not cum on the fucking spot.

"Filthy girl..." he breathed, snuffing a groan deep in his throat. "Say the words and I'll go as deep as you fucking want, princess..."

"Not tonight, Matty," you smirked, softly pressing your lips to his, teasingly dragging your teeth along his bottom lip. "Let me take care of you for a change..."

The anticipation in the room was intoxicating, making you want to give in to every carnal urge you both had been holding back until now, the restraint between your bodies barely tethered.

"Let you take care of me?" he repeated, the challenge clear in his voice, his eyes locked onto yours as you reached over to stroke him, your hand gentle but insistent. He gasped in pleasure as you worked him, his dick throbbing, pulsing in your palm. "You think you can handle all of this?"

"All this time and you still underestimate me," you purred, clucking your tongue in feign disappointment. You swirled your thumb around the tip, painting more precum down his shaft. "Don't worry about me, Matty...just lay back and be a good boy for me."

"Shit..." he groaned, whimpering your name, thrusting up gently into your fist. "Call me that again."

"Good boy...so, so good..." you gripped him tighter, pushing the skin to the head, twisting your wrist. "You're so hard for me, so big..." a smirk pulled at your lips. "I bet you want to slide this pretty cock deep into my pussy, don't you?"

His eyes squeezed shut, a fervent nod accompanied by the grasp of his hands on the sheets beneath him as a guttural groan escaped. Enveloped in a pleasure-induced haze, he succumbed to the unyielding hunger that demanded satisfaction.

"Is that what you want?" you whispered, your voice tinged with a husky urgency, leaning in to brush his mouth. The words slipped past your lips, each syllable feeling foreign, as if your own voice carried the weight of unfamiliarity to your ears. "Do you want me to ride you hard, to feel my tight little pussy squeezing your cock?"

"Fucking hell..." he growled between kisses, his hard cock pulsating within your fist, he was close, you could tell. "...I've officially corrupted you, haven't I?"

"Damn right you have...you gave me permission to let loose, didn't you?..." you murmured, your lips falling toward his jawline, placing a trail of wet kisses along the ridge, slowing your motions on his dick. "Turned me into your filthy little whore...meant for taking your cock and swallowing your cum..."

"Oh my fuck-" he cried out in exasperation, his hands shooting to your wrists, pulling your fingers off his cock and directing you overtop of him, guiding you until you were straddling his waist. "Princess, you keep talking like that I'm going to fucking-"

Without giving him a chance to finish, you ripped your hands from his hold and brought them to his face, pulling his mouth to yours as you thrust your fingers through his messy curls. You rolled your cunt against his needy length, rocking your hips until the head of his cock met your clit--and you moaned into his mouth, his fervent fingers digging into your flesh with enough strength to make you wince, his pelvis jerking up against yours.

You slowly lifted one hand from his hair and moved it toward your underwear, shifting them to the side to reveal your wet heat. You let out a small gasp as your fingers slipped easily through your slick folds, collecting your wetness and teasing your pulsing entrance. As you continued to pleasure yourself, you broke the kiss and quickly brought your fingers up to your mouth, sensually sucking your own juices off of them as you held Mattheo's stare. His jaw tensed, eyes darkening with an intensity that held yours captive. Your gaze remained locked as you sensually swirled your tongue around your fingers, savoring every drop of desire before delicately pulling them free.

"My fucking Gods, Raven..." his body was tense with pleasure as he stared at you, his eyes ignited in a flame so hot you felt your skin sizzling. "You are so fucking hot...." he gripped your head, pulling you down closer to him, his breath hot against your ear as he whispered, "let me taste you, baby."

His hands moved over your body, exploring every inch of your curves as he kissed you deeply, his tongue seeking out yours with a desperate hunger. Moaning, you braced against his chest, rocking your pelvis, grinding down against his cock, and he held you tighter, meeting you stroke for stroke, swallowing your kiss like he needed it to breathe, tasting your juices off your tongue.

His hands found your chest, tugging down your bra to expose your nipples, and when the pad of his finger grazed the hardening, sensitive bud--you squeaked, breaking the kiss.

"Fuck...is that good, Matty?" You mewled, slicking your wetness along the length of his cock, feeling him pulse beneath you as he swirled his thumb over your nipple. "Or do you need another taste?"

"So fucking good, princess," he muttered, his eyes darkening with a primal hunger. "You already know I'll always need more."

A sly smirk crossed your face as you slowly traced your fingers down to your heat, sliding them back along your slit and collecting your slick juices yet again. Your eyes never left Mattheo's as you brought your fingers back up and sensually slipped them into your mouth, letting out a soft moan as you sucked them clean. With a sultry gaze, you leaned in close to him, grasping his jaw firmly.

"Open up for me, then, daddy," you whispered in his ear, your voice dripping with lust and desire. "Please..."

The sound of your own words sent shivers of excitement down your spine, and you could feel the heat building between your thighs as you teased him. Never in a million years would you have expected to say those words, and judging by Mattheo's reaction to them, neither did he. His eyes widened slightly, but he quickly composed himself, his jaw tensing with restraint as he fought off every single urge to flip you over and fuck you until you couldn't walk.

"Salazar save me..." he purred, slipping a hand into your hair, grip tightening. "As you wish."

As he parted his lips, sticking out his tongue, you leaned in closer, and with a seductive smile, you gathered your saliva and spat it into his mouth. The moment your spit connected with his tongue, you felt a surge of excitement course through your body, heightening the intensity of the moment. You weren't sure what the fuck had come over you tonight, but you were helpless to fucking stop it.

Mattheo's eyes flashed with desire as he swallowed your saliva, his tongue working to catch every last drop. It was completely, unquestionably clear that he was turned on beyond belief by your newfound confidence and boldness--unable to resist letting out a low growl of arousal in response. You grinned, pressing your lips to his in a soft, fleeting kiss.

"You're a fucking filthy little slut..." he growled, smirking as you giggled at his reaction, unable to control yourself. "So...so fucking filthy."

"Mhm," you mused through a smile, grazing your lips over his. "But I'm your filthy little slut."

A mischievous twinkle ignited in your eye as you leaned in, initiating a deep and passionate kiss. Your tongue danced with his, exploring the recesses of his mouth with fervor. The heat and passion intensified, a soft moan escaping your lips, signaling your body's eager response to his touch. His hands, once cradling your head, now roamed up and down your back, tracing every curve and inch with an exploratory hunger.

"Raven," he murmured, his voice a rasped, almost desperate plea. "As much as I'm loving this foreplay...you're driving me to the fucking edge of insanity here..."

"You always were teetering on the edge, Matty," you teased, a wicked gleam in your eyes. "I'm just here to push you over."

Smirking against his mouth, you brought a hand down, directing his cock to your throbbing entrance before finally, finally sinking down onto his thick shaft, gasping as you felt him fill you up completely. A deep, animalistic groan escaped Mattheo's lips as he felt you, tight and wet, enveloping him fully.

"Mmm, you're so fucking big, Matty..." you moaned, your voice filled with unbridled passion. "So fucking deep."

You savoured the feeling of being stretched to your limit, taking a moment to let yourself adjust to how deep and big he was before you slowly began to shift your hips, slowly began to ride him.

Mattheo's lips parted, chest reaching for air as he let you adjust, pulsing inside of you. "Mhm...all for you, my girl...fuck-all yours..."

Your movements were slow and tantalizing, your hips rolling gently as you rocked back and forth on top of him, stretching yourself open with his cock. You could feel him grow harder inside you with each passing moment, the sound of his low moans driving you wild with lust. Looking down at him, you could see the desire in his eyes, his hands gripping your hips tightly as he thrust up to meet your movements.

"Fuck-" you gasped as he rutted up into you, his movements turning more aggressive by the second. "All mine-all fucking mine..."

Mattheo's strength overwhelmed you--he slammed you from below, fucking up into you, forcing gasps and squeals from your lungs. Bliss blazed through your blood as the force of his thrusts throttled you, body quaking, breasts bouncing. His face was screwed in a twist of lust and effort, lip furled, strangled growls escaping his chest--he pumped hard, fast, pinching you in his hands as his own pleasure built.

"Fuck," he growled, "that's right--do you like that?"

"Yes...Gods-yes..." the words were as unfiltered as you were. "I love it..."

"Good--good girl." His stare devoured you while you rode him. "So beautiful..so perfect..." a hand glided up your side, cupping one of your tits. "And all mine..." he grunted, punished you with a particularly hard thrust-you yelped. "Say it."

"Yours-" you howled, a sharp gasp fleeing your chest as his rough hand pulled back and smacked your ass, his strokes deep and powerful. You could feel his hips slamming against your body, the force sending waves of pleasure coursing through you. "All yours, Matty!"

He growled, seething, teeth barred in a snarl as he smacked your ass again, sending a jolt of pain and pleasure shooting through your body. You cried out, arching your back as he urged you on with each smack.

"Don't hold back, baby," Mattheo growled, his voice filled with raw desire. "I want to hear you scream my fucking name...let them know who you fucking belong to."

With those words, he pumped into you harder and faster, his body slamming against yours so hard that the bed began to shake, headboard slamming against the wall with every thrust. You could feel yourself getting closer and closer to the edge, teetering on the brink of ecstasy.

"Fuck! Mattheo!" You moaned, your voice breaking with pleasure. "Please! Don't stop Matty-fuck-"

"Fuck," he growled again. "You're so fucking tight..." his pace switched, and he rammed your cunt with brutal, deep strokes, striking your cervix with white streaks of pain. "You take my cock so fucking well baby...so fucking perfect..."

"Matty-" you gasped, quaking, clit screaming for attention. "Please-"

"Fuck-" he hissed. "My filthy fucking slut wants to cum, doesn't she?"

Without waiting a singular moment for your response, Mattheo groaned, shifting you off of him until you found yourself on your back against the soft expanse of his sheets. Like a starved animal, he wasted no time at all before he climbed back over you, peeling your legs wide, both hands gripping your thighs and pushing them back against your chest before he split you back open, cock cleaving your cunt in one deep, harsh thrust. In pleasure, you sobbed.

"Mhm...such a good girl..." he cooed, eyes dark and hungry as he shifted a hand to your head, cradling the back of your neck as he leaned forward and pressed his forehead against yours. "My perfect girl...my fucking perfect little cumslut..."

Whinging, you gasped, lost in the depth of his eyes as he fucked you harder, deeper, his hand leaving your leg and snaking down between your thighs, harshly rolling over your clit. You cried out, clenching and convulsing against him as he fucked you into the mattress, his eyes never once leaving yours, each stroke bringing new, desperate breath to your lungs as you felt him building your orgasm block by block, thrust by thrust.

"Is that what you are-shit-" Mattheo groaned, deep and low as his hand shifted to grip your jaw, pinching your cheeks together. He slicked your clit while he fucked you, the sensations warm and wet and spinning you to the height of euphoria. "Say it."

"Yes-fuck-" you practically screamed, unable to break your eyes from his, the eye contact alone nearly pushing you over the edge of bliss. "I'm yours! I'm your fucking cumslut-"

"Cum-fuck-cum for me," he ordered through barred teeth, "cum on this fucking cock..."

Like his perfectly trained pet, you obeyed, falling over the edge of ecstasy, pleasure coursing through every inch of your body as you cried out his name. Mattheo groaned, breath sputtering in his lungs, lids squeezed shut as he continued to pound into you relentlessly, his own climax fast approaching. With one final thrust, he let out a low growl and came inside you, filling you with the warmth of his release, his forehead resting against yours, your pulses pounding in pace until he had regained enough composure to push up and pull out.

As he reclined back on his bed, Mattheo drew you into an intimate embrace, enfolding you securely against his chest. Beneath your ear, his heart throbbed with a rapid tempo, and his breath, hot and laboured, danced against your skin. In a shared moment of quietude, words became superfluous. Both of you lay there, intertwined, finding solace in the cocoon of each other's arms.

In the aftermath of your intimate embrace, Mattheo's voice sliced through the tranquil stillness with genuine curiosity.

"Why did you come here tonight?" His words hung in the air, laden with a desire for understanding. "Not that I'm complaining, I'm just-"

Your smirk adorned your lips as you shifted, peering up at him. "I just missed you."

He blinked, a faint flush tinging his cheeks. His hold on you tightened, one hand delicately weaving through your hair.

"You missed me, huh?" Amusement danced in his tone, a smirk crawling across his perfect plush lips. "Poor little bird. Helpless without me."

A scoff escaped you, but the grin betrayed your playful facade. "On second thought, I take it back-"

"Nope," he interjected, his fingers gently arranging your hair behind your ear. "Too late for that, princess."

You huffed, eyelids fluttering as you reveled in the warmth of his body, nestled in his secure embrace. "Perhaps you're right...but let's not forget that you were the one jerking off while thinking-"

"Touché," he responded, his nails digging into your scalp, a playful attempt to silence you. "It's just...you know the boys will have questions tomorrow...there's no fucking way they didn't hear us."

You captured your lip between your teeth, a moment of contemplation enveloping you as your fingers traced aimless patterns over Mattheo's chest. The room held a quiet intimacy, interrupted only by the gentle caress of your touch.

"Good," you finally responded, your voice dipped in a low timbre. "I don't really care anymore, Matty...I just...I just want to be with you."

"I know..." he cooed, his fingers tenderly weaving through your hair, fingertips massaging your scalp. "Just a couple more weeks...then we don't have to hide anymore."

His words carried both a promise and an underlying uncertainty that resonated with you. Graduation loomed on the horizon, a gateway to a future fraught with unknowns. As he spoke, a pang of apprehension gripped you. The freedom from secrecy seemed tantalizing, yet the uncertainties beyond graduation loomed like a shadow in your thoughts.

"I started writing your mentorship report for Dumbledore tonight," you softly admitted, the words carrying a whisper-like weight. The pending admission feeling like pulling teeth from your gums. "That's why I came...it, um...it made me anxious...worried."

"Worried?" he repeated, his head nuzzling against yours. "Why?"

A fragile silence lingered before you whispered, "I just don't know what's going to happen to us after this... I mean, if I get a job here and-"

"Shh, Raven..." he murmured, pulling you impossibly closer. "Doesn't matter where you are, where I am... we'll make it work."

Your heart fluttered, a mix of uncertainty and hope intertwining. "Will we?"

"We will," he assured, pulling the sheets up and over you both as if creating a cocoon of reassurance, "nothing could ever keep me from you..."

You shifted once more, your gaze rising to meet his, a newfound warmth enveloping your entire being, surpassing the comforting embrace of any blanket or the flickering glow of a fire. Your eyes locked onto him, taking in the sight before you--his lids rested gently closed, long lashes casting delicate shadows on his flushed cheeks, while his fingers continued their soothing journey through your hair.

It was a tableau of serenity, a moment where you witnessed Mattheo in a state of unparalleled contentment and relaxation, radiating a happiness you had never seen him wear so vividly.

"How can you be so sure?" you murmured, almost afraid to disrupt the tranquility that surrounded him.

"Because we've weathered it all already, and just look at us..." he responded, his smile radiating, even without opening his eyes. "Besides, where else could I go? Who else could I love but you?"

A gentle chuckle, laced with both disbelief and affection, escaped your lips. You couldn't fucking believe that this was your life, you couldn't believe that this was the same man from a few months ago.

"Are you feeling okay?..." you teased, the playful incredulity in your voice echoing the rare and serene side of him that unfolded before you. "Who are you, and what have you done with Mattheo Riddle?"

"What can I say, Raven," he murmured, the softness of his tone carrying a hint of vulnerability. "You've changed me."

You scoffed, suppressing a full-blown giggle. "I didn't change anything; you did that all yourself."

"Save the modesty, princess," he husked, a subtle edge of desire in his voice. "You could change the fucking world with your hands behind your back."

"My Gods, Mattheo..." you breathed, your entire body tingling. "If you wanted me to get on my knees for you all you had to do was ask."

With a tender smile, Mattheo shifted you onto your side, drawing you closer. He settled behind you, his face nuzzling into the curve of your neck. One arm slid gently beneath your head, cradling it, while the other wrapped around your waist in a comforting embrace. You melted into him, pushing back against his body as tight as you could.

"This will do, Raven," he murmured, his warm breath caressing your neck. "But if you keep pushing your ass against me like that, we're going to have a problem."

"Mm," you smirked, relishing the tightening grip of his hand on your waist. "Not a problem that we can't fix."

He huffed, choosing to remain silent, but you could feel his grin against your skin. A brief pause hung in the air, the room submerged in a serene stillness. Beyond the window, the black lake flickered in the moonlit night, its waves reflecting the shimmering light like liquid silver.

Breaking the quietude, Mattheo's voice, a soft murmur, rekindled the conversation. "You know," he said, his words carrying a wistful note, "the only time I ever slept well was when you were in my arms."

"Why?" you inquired, your voice a gentle prompt, as curiosity laced the quiet exchange. "Do you usually have trouble sleeping?"

"Usually," he sighed, a blend of fondness and vulnerability threading through his words. "Yet another part of me you seemed to effortlessly fix."

A brief pause enveloped you both, the stillness broken only by the rhythmic cadence of his breathing, the rise and fall of his chest against your back. As you felt him slowly surrender to the embrace of sleep, his grip on you loosening, a smile of contentment graced your lips.

"Sleep," you whispered, your voice a gentle reassurance, barely audible in the quiet room. "I'll fend off the bad dreams if they dare to approach."

“My fierce little protector.” He huffed, his voice a deep, raspy drawl. "I'm so fucking in love with you."

Your heart warmed, melting at his words. "And I'm fucking so in love with you."

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hotvintagepoll · 2 months

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This is a three-way poll. Only one of these women will continue to the fourth round of the bracket.

Propaganda

Ava Gardner (The Killers, The Barefoot Contessa)— She's so goddamn hot. Her and Frank Sinatra could've sandwiched me and I would've thanked them for the privilege

Leonor Maia (The Tyrannical Father)— She didn't do a lot of movies but in The Tyrannical Father she is so pretty and charming that there's a guy who's obsessed with her to such a degree he is still a meme 80 years later. Her character's name is Tatão and the guy would stare at her whenever she was there and say her name to the tune of everything. A clock ticking: ta-tão, ta-tão, ta-tão. And to this day one of the lines people know the best from that very quotable movie is "ta-tão". She inspired crushes and horniness of legendary levels.

Louise Brooks (Pandora's Box, Diary of a Lost Girl)—Louise Brooks started off as a dancer and went to work in the Follies before going to Hollywood. Disappointed with her roles there, she went to Germany and proceeded to make Pandora's Box, the first film to show a lesbian on-screen (not her but one of her many doomed admirers in the film), and Diary of a Lost Girl, both of which are considered two of the greatest films of the 20th century. She helped popularize the bob and natural acting, acting far more subtly than her contemporaries who treated the camera as a stage audience. After the collapse of her film career and a remarkably rough patch as a high-end sex worker, she was rediscovered and did film criticism, notably "Lulu in Hollywood," which Rodger Ebert called "indispensable." Also, christ. Look at her.

This is round 3 of the tournament. All other polls in this bracket can be found here. Please reblog with further support of your beloved hot sexy vintage woman.

[additional propaganda submitted under the cut.]

Ava Gardner:

Ava Gardner is one of my favorite actresses of all time. Although a lot of her roles in movies are about her being beautiful and nothing else, there are some films where her acting truly shines.

Gifset: https://www.tumblr.com/pelopides/721438308726603776/ava-gardner-as-pandora-reynolds-pandora-and-the

Gifset 2: https://www.tumblr.com/portraitoflestatonfire/731899355804598272/if-the-loustat-reunion-doesnt-look-like-this-then

HER FACE. LOOK AT IT. Also was a life long supporter of civil rights and a member of the NAACP, had lots of fun love affairs with other stars, bullfighters, married several times but was also happy in between to just have lovers and was unapologetically herself.

I literally gasp every time I see her.

Between 1942 and 1964, Ava Gardner was credited in no less 50 films, and is still considered by some to be the most beautiful actresses that ever graced the silver screen. Despite life-long insecurities regarding her talent as an actress, she weathered public scandal, industry hostility, and outright condemnation by the Catholic Church with fearless grace. She would later in life talk candidly about the reality and pain of living through two (studio approved!!) abortions during her short marriage to Frank Sinatra, and while the two of them could not make their relationship work, they remained in each other’s lives for nearly 30 years. She would forever describe herself as a small-town girl who just got lucky, but always felt like a beautiful outsider.

Really genuinely one of the most beautiful human beings I have ever seen. An autodidact. Had amazing chemistry with Gregory Peck to the point where I do think about watching On The Beach again sometimes because they're so good together even though that movie did destroy me. Was a great femme fatale in many movies.

There is no additional propaganda for Leonor Maia.

Louise Brooks:

"Defined the style of the modern flapper. A gaze that could make a stone fall in love."

"Louise Brooks left a legend far greater than her real achievement as an actress, but even today few people have seen her films. In our own time, the fascination with Brooks seems to have begun in 1979 with a profile by Kenneth Tynan in the New Yorker, which revealed that the actress who made her last movie in 1938 was alive and living in Rochester, N.Y. Such was the power of Tynan's prose that people began to seek out her existing films, primarily this one, to discover what the fuss was about. What we see here is a healthy young woman -- she was 23 when the film was released -- with whom the camera, under G.W. Pabst's influence, is fascinated. There is a deep paradox in Brooks and her career: the American girl who found success in the troubled Europe between two wars; the vivid personality who briefly dazzled two continents but faded into obscurity; the liberated woman who had affairs with such prominent men as CBS founder William S. Paley as well as with women including (by her account) Greta Garbo but wound up a solitary recluse. And all of this seems perfectly in keeping with her most celebrated role in Pandora's Box. For despite her bright vitality, her flashing dark eyes and brilliant smile, Brooks's Lulu becomes the ultimate femme fatale, careering her way toward destruction, not only of her lovers but eventually of herself."

"She invented having bangs to indicate that you have borderline personality disorder"

"chances are if youve ever seen a "flapper girl" character or even just art of a generic flapper type made after the 20s it was based on her appearance - particularly the bob hairstyle! she had some pretty rough experiences through her life before during and after her tumultuous acting career which ended in 1938 but she made it to the 80s, wrote an autobiography and did a lot of interviews that she was never afraid of being honest in about her own life or peers of the age, and apparently was unabashed about some affairs she had with well known women (including greta garbo!!)"

"She read Proust and Schopenhauer on set between sets. She was one of the original flappers/new women of the 1920s. She had a one night stand with Garbo and was the inspiration for Sally Bowles in Cabaret. Truly a stone cold fox."

"on her wikipedia page it says her biographer said she "loved women as a homosexual man, rather than as a lesbian, would love them" and while i have no idea if this is true or not i thought that was very gender of her"

"despite being american she was big in german expressionist films and thus her aesthetic was unmatched!!"

So far ahead of her time in regard to portraying complicated women. Timeless elegance. "I learned to act by watching Martha Graham dance, and I learned to dance by watching Charlie Chaplin act.” - Louise Brooks

#leonor maia #louise brooks #ava gardner #hotvintagepoll #fuck that old woman #ladies 3

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anxiousheart7 · 9 months

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*spoilers* Astarion’s story - analysis and thoughts

I’ve been thinking quite a lot on Astarion the last couple of weeks, and the journey I’ve been on with him. I’ve seen a lot of content about him.

I’ll start by saying this - I didn’t ascend him. I couldn’t. I did, however, watch the ascension on YouTube but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. And I’m going to explain why.

Here’s the TL:DR version, with my deeper dive below.

As Astarion gets his revenge in Cazador, his flurry of knives felt oddly satisfying to me. It was a release as grim and cathartic. That cry of pain and ending felt necessary for him. I came out of that palace knowing that it was ok and he’d be ok.

The ascension felt gratuitous. Watching him carve exactly what Cazador put him through should have been cathartic too, but it wasn’t. I just felt a shiver of cold. And that was the moment I knew it was the ‘bad’ ending.

Experiencing Astarion’s Journey - delving deeper

I don’t think I’ve ever quite experienced a character story like his before. Here’s someone who is quite clearly designed to draw you in via the usual routes. He’s attractive, he’s got the funny lines. He’s the rogue - a lot of D&D players’ favourite class. He quickly becomes indispensable.

At the start, his flirting was fun. Act 1 I think is supposed to be a light hearted toe in the water, so to speak. Right up until your first major choice with the goblin vs tiefling conflict. Then it becomes real. But until then you can spend copious amounts of time wandering and chatting to your new friends in camp while some of them (namely Lae’zel, Gale, Karlach and Astarion) go straight to ‘i want you’ territory. And you’ll gravitate to those that are ready to get hot and heavy because…video game sex.

There was such a focus on romancing your camp and you lean into that so heavily in act 1. Approval is all-important. And his approval is harder to get, so you try harder with your choices. You want this guy. Like really want him. He’s like ambrosia. And, if you’re not one of the 100k rejections toted in Larion’s infographic, you get him.

As a recovering people pleaser, I’m not going to lie, that was a hard concept to grasp. To make your choices based on who you were trying to impress is exactly the kind of behaviour I’ve been trying to step away from in real life. But hey, this is a game so I’ll be ok.

And then it starts…

Looking back, there’s this line that stood out ‘it felt like you weren’t all there’. Despite his insistence later, Astarion was very likely going to that place of dissociation that he talks about later on. And that’s sad, because as Tav you want this milestone to be special. You want them to fall in love with you. The reward for all your hard-earned approval hiking.

But Astarion masks. He masks well, but you can tell on Insight that it’s all an act. Even when you look closely, the ham fisted complements he throws at you reflects the 10 charisma he’s carrying around. He works as a lothario not because he’s an adept silver-tongued Casanova. It’s because he’s simply beautiful. People see him and want him. His looks mask what’s going on underneath. But then you look into his eyes and it’s right there, plain as day.

There’s so much more underneath. I have watched the scene over and over with the hammy chat up lines as he’s trying to convince you to sleep with him again (I got propositioned first before the tiefling party) and the more I watch, the more I believe that ‘I love you’ wasn’t an act. They wouldn’t have given you three brush off comment choices if it was. He meant that, and I don’t think he even realised he meant it until he found the words coming out of his mouth - as though he was daring himself to say it.

With Astarion, it’s all in the eyes.

And, as someone who has seen those eyes in the mirror on a pretty regular basis, I knew there and then until he started revealing his backstory - the scars, the master and all the rest, I knew this was going to hit very hard and this man was a deep well. He was so lost that he barely had any idea of who he was any more.

By the time you’re well into Act 2, you’re starting to get the gist of him. You learn about his sadness and sense of loss around his identity before he was turned. You learn about the scars. And you learn about Cazador. I got the sense that all of this exposition was almost like a therapy dump from him. Thoughts and feelings he’s wanted to express for decades but hasn’t had a soul to tell - or he’s been compelled not to by his master. Now he can get them out. He can voice how unfair and unjust it feels. The sarcasm, the cynicism, all a way of expressing how much pain he is in. But one thing he’s never lost is the knowledge that he doesn’t deserve this. He hasn’t been beaten down so much to believe that he is unworthy of better treatment. And that sense of self is what I believe has kept him going all this time. He knows it wasn’t his fault. He knows Cazador was a cruel, sadistic monster.

And I hugged him. Of course I hugged him. I defended his autonomy from the moonrise drow and I hugged him after. At this point I’d fallen as hard for him as he had for me. I cared for him. I couldn’t make any of those obviously awful choices with him. When the details of the ritual came up I felt a knot in my stomach. And sure enough every time we talked after that point he talked about taking that power and I thought ‘this will be rough’.

It reminded me of a lot of really bad experiences I’d had in the past. Boyfriends and friends who were clearly bad for me and I was bad for them. And yet, I needed to help this guy. This person who had nobody for so long. Who didn’t know what it felt like to have someone actually care about him.

I looked this as someone who has experienced trauma in their life. How would I feel. How have I felt? To be scared of so many things. To wonder why on earth would I do something nice for someone else when I’ve sat in alleys, starving and in pain while people just walk on by. No gods to answer my pleas for help. I’d be cynical and disapproving too. I’d have a warped sense of humour. I’d want to never feel that again. Of course he saw the one thing that could protect him and feel compelled to grasp it with both hands.

Astarion has conjured up feelings in me I thought were long gone.

Astarion’s finale

The images I’ve included in this post have been doing the rounds on tumblr and this hits so hard it hurts. Astarion’s journey ends in such as way that it’s meant to be hard.

If you’re a gamer that commodifies your characters as a series of stats or objectifies them based on their design, then ascend him. It doesn’t matter to you. And I’ve seen plenty of people on message boards and Facebook saying exactly that - “but he gets these powers and is so badass”. They’ve never seen past the facade. He was a jerk at the start of the game, a creepy flirt and a vampire ready to be staked. And that was it.

Every excessive power in this game has a major consequence that you have to live with. This choice I think is one of the biggest before the climax of the game.

The ascension pretty much erases him. It takes who he was and the healing that he’s done and throws it away, as if it never really mattered.

And to him he’s worth exactly what he thought he was to begin with. His self-worth is warped into superiority and his hunger and fear replaced with a hunger for power and dominance. He’s not free in this form. He just becomes a new kind of imprisoned. He’s placed in stasis forevermore. And this won’t last forever because as absolute power corrupts absolutely, it also falls. Just like Ozymandius, he’ll rise and collapse under his own grandiose. And he’ll take you with him if you let him.

That steamy scene before he turns you is basically exactly what the Larion writer is saying - you’ve not empathised or grown here. Have your sex scene and then enjoy your eternal enslavement with New Cazador. It’s a bad ending for you and Astarion. You get to be exactly what he was, no matter what pretty words he tried to convince you with - he’s still that 10 charisma trying to convince himself as much as you. He’s Act 1 Astarion with some nifty new powers. He will control you like a doll and yours will be the same half life his was. He’ll start with promises of being his right hand, but somewhere down the line you’ll do or say something and he’ll do to you what was done to him. It’s the ultimate narcissistic relationship.

If Astarion walks away, he’s him. Truly him. With purpose and a new path to walk. You can build a new life together with nothing holding you back. The trauma behind him, he can now walk a path of healing for himself and learn who he is. It makes me feel hopeful and joyful that he gets a second chance.

And that’s where I’m at. My ideal ending is for them both to go off together searching for a cure for his vampirism. Whether it’s possible, who knows - on writing this I’m still to finish my first run of the game. But at least there’s that glimmer of hope in that ending.

I think Astarion is beautiful. There’s a reason half the internet is madly in love with him right now. But if you let yourself, he becomes more than a nice body and a pretty face. His complexity opens up like a puzzle box and you feel the satisfaction of a truly beautiful arc come to its climax. He’s a beautifully written and crafted character and I’m so glad to have experienced his story.

I could say so much more…but it’s long enough as it is. Thanks for reading x

#baldur's gate 3 #astarion #astarion ancunin #bg3 astarion

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asksythe · 1 year

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Hua Cheng’s Design

Source: 孤世中逢影 Gu Shi Zhong Feng Ying (weibo) on Hua Cheng’s design as based on Miao ethnic group culture - with snippets from a Chinese Documentary on Miao Ethnic People and an interview with Shi sifu, one of the last traditional Miao silversmiths - Sina TV.

Translator: Sythe / NPD Khanh

Hua Cheng’s character design. As we all know, the image of Hua Cheng was established based on the Miao ethnic group, so let's see the specific origin of things on Hua Cheng’s person.

1. Red umbrella:

The red umbrella in Miao culture is one of the indispensable props at marriage and celebrations. The red umbrella symbolizes great auspiciousness as one’s desires, numerous children and grandchildren, sheltering from the wind and rain, exorcising evil spirits, and shielding people from disasters. All of these together are a perfect fit to represent the blessings of the heavens (Tian Guan Ci Fu, the name of the novel) with no taboos or misfortunes.

At the same time, in the opening episode of Tian Guan Ci Fu, Xie Lian mistook Hua Cheng for a bridegroom ghost. The situation fits perfectly like a miracle as a red umbrella is required for a wedding.

2. Silver butterfly, maple leaves.

The Miao people have long had an ancient song, "Feng Mu Ge" (Song of the Maple Tree), to praise the beauty of life. The Miao people also consider butterflies as the ancestral mother, who can bless the village to be peaceful, the children to thrive, and the nation to flourish.

Maple leaves and butterflies represent rebirth, and reincarnation. These motifs can be seen in the culture of the Miao people everywhere, from clothes to jewelry to household decorations. The most famous is the Hong He area, located in an autonomous district of the Miao ethnic group in Yunnan. Whether it is nature or people, maple leaves and butterflies are popular, cherished symbols.

ps. The butterfly decoration that the author saw while traveling in Yunnan is also an inspiration.

"When I was traveling in Yunnan, there was a butterfly decoration in front of the hotel elevator,” Mo Xiang looked at it and thought. After a while, she said proudly, "He will raise a kaleidoscope of butterflies." (From MXTX Author’s Notes and Interview)

3. Silver Jewelry

This goes without saying much, silverware is an important component of Miao culture, "the more beautiful, the better;” "Miao people’s iconic silver jewelry is used to pray for peace and as a token of love or a proposal of marriage.” Speaking of which, Hua Cheng’s character design is based on ethnic Miao people. Of course, the same jewelry is used. The inheritor of the art of Miao silversmithing, Shi sifu, also said, Hua Cheng is steeped in Miao Guang symbolism and aesthetics.

4. Other

If you read the novel, it’s not difficult to figure out:

Huacheng used a red umbrella because when he was young and weak and had nothing. Xie Lian gave him a red umbrella to shield him from the wind and rain.

Hua Cheng uses corral beads because this is one of Xie Lien's lost earrings. In Taoism, coral represents the heart. Taking this into account, Xie Lian in the book had two corral earrings. The implication of this symbolism then becomes quite enticing.

Hua Cheng strung the red string of fated love because, during the Gentle Fragrance part of the book, Xie Lian gently cut a hair strand and gifted it to him. In our country's traditional culture, tying your hair together represents binding marriage. The red line represents your destined intertwined path.

From the beginning to the end, the author demonstrated the changes in Hua Cheng. "Become a better, stronger person because of him, for him". All of Hua Cheng’s character progressions developed according to the plot, gradually revealing layers of meaning, and not built by forced intention. Therefore, in successfully portraying such a character, the author moved the reader’s heart and created a miracle.

A Love that is unchanged even in the face of death.

#MXTX #tgcf #Hua Cheng #Translation #Sina TV

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dawnsbreaking · 1 year

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Hello have you ever thought about how the Avatar of Wrath isn’t really all that angry? Because I have. At great length. (500ish word textpost essay about Satan’s character arc below)

From the beginning of the game, it’s obvious that Satan is the most in control of his sin. When he first appears in the story, it is almost unclear what his assigned flaw even is. He’s calm and collected. On a surface level, he seems to exhibit pride more often than wrath. This appearance of control, though, is a direct result of the self-loathing and inwardly-directed anger that is the true manifestation of his sin.

I think that the circumstance of Satan’s creation is the main reason for his self-loathing. Most of Satan’s big character moments are centered around overcoming negative feelings surrounding his creation, so I’d be remiss not to connect this thread.

Lucifer tore his wings from his back as an expression of overwhelming anger and those wings became Satan. To be created as a direct result of a traumatic event takes a toll. Not only was Satan born from Lucifer’s wrath, he was born from an act of self-mutilation, which thematically parallels Satan’s self-hatred. It’s clear that this connection was intentional.

Aside from his identity struggles from being born from Lucifer, Satan views himself as an artifact of the Celestial War and, by extension, Lilith’s death.

Truly, Satan is the silver lining of the Celestial War. He is the good that came from all of the bad. But, in himself, he can only see all of the bad. All of the pain that his existence causes for his brothers. He doesn’t think he is a good enough replacement for Lilith, he doesn’t think that he is a blessing enough to counterbalance the curse of losing their home. He can’t undo all of the pain and suffering that fell from the sky alongside him. He imagines his brothers feel this pain at the sight of him, so he resolves to make his existence less painful.

Satan minimizes his own pain, minimizes his flaw. He channels all of his energy into making himself worth the trouble. He does this, in part, by collecting knowledge. His penchant for reading has a twofold effect, here, it is a solitary activity (alone, he can’t be a bother to others) and it makes him indispensable.

While the other brothers' sins manifest externally, Satan’s sin manifests, for the most part, internally. This sets him apart from the others in terms of character development because the one-size-fits-most “learn to overcome my sin and become less selfish through the power of love” trajectory doesn’t suit his arc. In fact, his arc runs directly opposite.

Rather than learning to control himself and minimize his flaw, Satan must grow more comfortable with his own identity and learn to channel his wrath to positive effect. It does not benefit Satan to exhibit less wrath because he is already unaffected by his wrath for the most part.

While the other brothers' arcs guide them to minimize their sins and step outside of themselves to care for the others, Satan must let his sin be part of his unique identity. More importantly, he must learn to trust that his brothers (and MC) see the good in him enough to take up more space.

TLDR: let satan be angry sometimes, as a treat <3

#i'm so normal about satan i promise #he is so unique among the brothers for so many reasons we must remember this #he middle brothered so hard they made him honorary middle brother despite being youngest by age #like you've simply GOT to hand it to him #606.txt #obey me #omswd #obey me analysis #om #obey me shall we date one master to rule them all #obey me shall we date #satan obey me #obey me spoilers #satan om #obey me satan #satan #i love him 💚

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trillgutterbug · 4 months

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being back on my hbo war bullshit rn (jk im never not on my hbo war bullshit) seems like a good time to mention the very cool jacob vouza, a native of guadalcanal. from 1916 onwards he was part of the island's constable force, aka the system of policemen and law enforcers run by the colonial government, which was a scattering of primarily british and australian military and bureaucratic personnel, such as coastwatcher martin clemens (who wrote a great book about his experiences spying on the japanese).

the pacific (the hbo show, i mean) has a good number of narrative faults, but one of its most egregious content faults imo is its complete lack of acknowledgement of the native solomon islanders who were not just instrumental to the american victory, but utterly indispensible. without their knowledge of the terrain, their protection, guidance, and supplying of the coastwatchers who provided pivotal intel on japanese troop/air/naval movement ("forty bombers heading yours"), and their constant rescuing of stranded american troops (particularly air and navy men, including 26yo jfk) and white civilians, it is genuinely questionable how much longer or worse the war might have ended up being.

jacob vouza (whom martin clemens described as incredibly loyal, cheerful, brave, a fierce individualist, and tremendously skilled in bushcraft) had retired from the constabulary pre-war, but rejoined a year later when the japanese landed on guadalcanal. he helped clemens escape into the jungle, then eventually helped him reach the american lines safely. afterwards, he oversaw a network of native scouts and participated in regular spying missions, gathering information on japanese troop movements. on one of these missions, he was apprehended by the japanese, who found a tiny american flag in his possession. they tied him up and interrogated him. he refused to give them any information on the americans, despite being tortured for hours with beatings, stabbings, hanging, and being forced to lie on a red ant hill with open wounds. eventually, having bayoneted him in the limbs, face, throat, and stomach, the japanese left him for dead. he chewed through his bindings and escaped into the jungle, where he made his way for three miles through an active battlefield to the american lines. upon reaching the marines, he refused medical treatment until he could personally deliver a message to clemens and the commander of the 2nd battalion 1st marines. despite being unable to stand and barely able to speak through the wound in his throat, he informed them that the japanese were massing for a huge, imminent assault on the critical american-held henderson airfield. he described the japanese numbers, positions, and weaponry. he also dictated a final message to his wife and children, which clemens wrote down with one hand, while holding vouza's hand with the other. his warning came only about ten minutes ahead of the japanese attack, but that was just enough time for the marines to assemble a successful defense in the correct place.

vouza was quickly rushed to field surgery and received a massive transfusion (tangentially, this was in the time of a segregated american military, in which it was illegal for black and white soldiers to provide one another blood transfusions; although vouza was not considered black per se by the american military, it's nonetheless a notable element of the cultural landscape at the time), which saved his life. later, he was awarded a number of medals from both the american and british governments, including the silver star. in 1979, clemens successfully campaigned to have him knighted. following vouza's death in 1984, clemens also organised the installation of a commemorative memorial in his hometown.

it's remarkable (derogatory) to me that the pacific (the show), despite its amazing dedication in general to accuracy and exhaustive detail, didn't say a peep about jacob vouza (or any native person whatsoever), despite spending most of episode 2 re-enacting this specific battle. his actions weren't just a footnote, but genuinely the crux of the american victory. he was a very incredible person, one of the many examples of contributions native solomon islanders made to the war effort, and we should remember him accordingly!

#most of this info comes directly from martin clemens' book 'alone on guadalcanal'#it really is a great book! racist in its own way of course (see: the title) but for the time and circumstances honestly pretty equitable #eg clemens does explicitly note that the title is disingenuous considering the many native people he depended on for his survival #lonely vigil by walter lord is also a fantastic read about the coastwatchers in general #guadalcanal #the pacific #hbo war #jacob vouza

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tricitymonsters · 3 months

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Progress Report 2/27

Originally, I had been aiming for an early Q1 release of the Introductory chapter. As most of you know, I have been beset with delays in getting the UI/UX implemented. I have sat down with my UI designer and we came up with a delivery ultimatum that will give TCM the UI it deserves, ready to be handed off to a programmer for implementation and polishing. Because of this ultimatum, and because I want to give my programmer adequate time to work, I am pushing the release date of the Introductory chapter into Q2- the release date is slated for MAY 20.

What happened? Essentially, scope was misjudged and my designer was stretched thin between a myriad of other projects and IRL obligations. By December they were beginning to feel the effects of burnout and we agreed to reconvene in January. At this point, we discussed what we could do to mitigate scope creep and set a mutually-agreed upon final delivery date at the end of March, which leaves April and some of May for implementation, bug fixes, and Steam testing.

That sucks. It does a little but lo there is a silver lining! The intro has been delayed but that has not stopped me from proceeding with writing and coding further chapters and getting more art completed. This means there will be a few special occasions where all three characters will get a chapter update in the same month.

So, again, sorry for the push back but I want to avoid putting my contractors into crunch and still give myself ample time to bug test the finished product. Delays are the bane of my existence but we’re all human and sometimes it just is what it is. That being said, I’m very proud of how TCM is shaping up for its big Steam debut and your support in getting there has been completely indispensable.

Final call to action! What does TCM need now? It needs you to wishlist it!

Visit https://store.steampowered.com/app/2414410/Tri_City_Monsters/(you gotta be logged in to see it) and add the game to your wishlist!

This helps the game do better during launch by boosting its performance in Steam’s algorithms. Additionally, having over 1000 wishlists makes the game eligible to appear in daily New & Popular rankings which will SERIOUSLY improve TCM’s visibility to a huge number of players. As of this writing, we’re at about 650 so we don’t have that far to go!

Also to be noted: I will be doing a wishlists drive in a couple weeks where in I donate $$$ to a given organization based on how many new wishlists the game gets. I'm still ironing out the details but this will be taking place here and on discord so stay tuned for that.

#christ i think that was everything!!#game development

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unsoundedcomic · 1 year

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Where does General Bell find his goons? They all just seem so happy and eager to be committing treason and team kill their fellow Crescians in his name. Does he ever have to worry about friendly fire where some idiot forgets someone is a fellow traitor and stabs them in the name of the revolution?

Bell's followers run the gamut between what Hetr, Abby, and Keon all displayed. Some are like Keon and feel Cresce should be using technology like Delicieu's Silver Weapon and other questionable tactics in their war against the north. Some are like Hetr and want to attach themselves to Bell because they think that loyalty will see them rewarded when he's in power. Some are like Abby, and are eager for outlets for their sadism and bullying.

All of them find Queen Sonorie's continued reign to be unacceptable. They want her out at all costs, and General Bell in charge of the country.

Friendly fire isn't too much of a concern here :3 Bell's dudes are all wearing the white and grey of his personal guard. Many of them have a particular hatred of Toma and any other of the Queen's personal Peaceguard, so they'd be quite chuffed to score his head. Bell's at the finish line, and now is the time for his mooks to show off just how indispensable they are to him.

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ethanreedbooks · 10 months

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TMNT Franchise Crosses $1 Billion Mark in 2023 with the Release of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem

In a shell-shocking turn of events, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) franchise has shattered financial expectations, surging past the remarkable milestone of $1 billion in global retail sales in the wake of its latest cinematic installment, "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem." This animated film, co-produced by Paramount, Nickelodeon, and Seth Rogen's Point Grey, is creating mutant mayhem not just on screen, but also in the financial realm.

As the TMNT brand powers into the future, the 2023 release of "Mutant Mayhem" is leading the charge with its impressive journey toward $100 million at the global box office. Industry insiders predict that this film's success will serve as the driving force behind the brand's incredible achievement of surpassing $1 billion in global retail sales for the year.

Paramount Pictures Studios, under the guidance of Brian Robbins, has masterfully breathed new life into the nearly four-decade-old comic IP created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. This resurgence began in 2009 when Paramount acquired the rights to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IP. Since then, the brand has soared to stratospheric heights, amassing a staggering $8 billion in global merchandise sales by 2022.

The latest reboot has captured the hearts of long-time fans and new enthusiasts alike, setting the stage for an impressive financial journey. Forecasts for the U.S. and Canadian markets are notably optimistic, with projections suggesting that the film's earnings could potentially exceed $110 million.

But it's not just the silver screen that is contributing to the franchise's meteoric rise. The TMNT brand's success has been bolstered by an extensive range of merchandise partnerships, boasting over 400 licensees for the film and an impressive 1,100 for the brand as a whole. Notable collaborations with giants like Playmates, Hasbro, Mattel, Crayola, Funko, and General Mills have resulted in products gracing over 550 retailers worldwide, including heavy hitters like Walmart, Target, Amazon, and Macy's.

In an age where digital integration plays a pivotal role, TMNT has expertly embraced this trend. The franchise's digital footprint has expanded through strategic gaming and publishing collaborations, including titles like Minecraft, The Sims FreePlay, Fruit Ninja, as well as partnerships with Random House and IDW. A standout addition is the game "TMNT: Battle Tycoon" on the Roblox platform, further cementing the brand's online presence.

Promotion has played an indispensable role in TMNT's recent triumphs. A vast network of advertising channels has contributed to over half a billion impressions across domestic CBS, adult networks, and social media platforms. Paramount's PlutoTV has diligently showcased the franchise's various iterations, while the TMNT YouTube channel boasts a staggering 2.66 million subscribers.

The TMNT legacy has further been invigorated by exclusive content offerings. Paramount+, the streaming service, now houses all four series and eight movies in multiple countries, while Nickelodeon resorts and attractions provide immersive experiences for fans of all ages.

Strategic promotional partnerships have also added significant media value, generating 3 billion impressions. The collaboration with Pizza Hut stands out, featuring in-movie integration, custom animated spots, AR mobile gaming experiences, and TMNT-branded Pizza Vans. International markets also witnessed the release of limited-edition pizzas inspired by the film. Innovative marketing campaigns, such as Xbox's pizza-scented video game controllers, sweeping custom designs, and TMNT-themed events, have further elevated the brand's appeal. The synergy extends even into fashion, as a TMNT and Pizza Hut apparel line graced the shelves of Primark stores.

As "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem" continues to captivate audiences in theaters, it's evident that these Heroes in a Half-Shell are more prominent, bolder, and more beloved than ever before. With its strategic collaborations, innovative marketing endeavors, and the undying loyalty of its fan base, the TMNT franchise has proven that age is just a number and the pursuit of adventure is timeless.

#TMNT #Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #Mutant Mayhem #Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem

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bitterseaproduction · 26 days

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An Indispensable Silver Lining | The Hobbit Ref Dump

So, I can’t (see: don’t want to) go on with An Indispensable Silver-Lining until I can sit down and rewatch some Desolation of Smaug to pin down some character locations, and I really wanna decide if I’m going full movie-verse or embracing a specific fanedit or book+movie mix and what timeline I want to hold myself to for Thorin—

Can you believe I started this fic thinking ‘I’m not going to get bogged down by canon or details this time. I just wanna write for the fun’? 😂 That went well.

Point is, just because I want to gather some canon facts? It hasn’t stopped me from writing up 1500 words of a chapter 2+ plan, or over 6 THOUSAND WORDS of long-term storyboarding in less than THREE DAYS covering Smaug and the men/dwarves/elves factions and the orcs and some of the bagginshield progression and the ‘act 1’ climax and like three ways ‘act 2’ could break bad, and— well, you can tell it’s a true passion project when I keep stepping away, think of another thing, and scramble back to my phone to jot down a few hundred more words in whatever moments I can steal. And, more pertinent to this post, I can’t stop devouring a ton of resources and inspiration.

So, with that in mind, I thought I’d just share something of those sources! For fun, for later reference for myself as I write, for practical use if you’d like it yourself, or maybe you just want something else to read and these are great fics/lore bits to choose!

Updated May 15th, 2024. Additions marked with a *

The Hobbit Trilogy Fan Edit Sources

A Comprehensive Guide to Fan Edits of the Hobbit Trilogy An older list, but viable for what it covers

Help on choosing Hobbit fan edit? Which is the best? A second reddit list, a bit more modern.

FanEdit.org: Lord of the Rings franchise A comprehensive list of options for The Hobbit + other LotR works

* Specific Fan Edits

I still need to watch all of the edits I've found properly from beginning to end, but after skimming through a number of options, looking for specific wants and do-not-wants in each and reading/watching a few things on how each version was created, I think I have narrowed my interest down to these three fan edits:

Chris Hartwell's Hobbit Trilogy A very comprehensive cut that keeps pretty much all of the movie beats intact, just trims down the trilogy's more clunky spots to create a more polished film experience. (i.e. a reduced Radagast, Alfrid, older Bilbo, some of the action scenes, etc.) Generally prioritizes Bilbo as the MC and his dynamic with Thorin as the through-line of the story and includes some of the extended scenes that highlight both, which I really appreciate.

The Hobbit, or There and Back Again An edit that more fully cuts some of the less loved factors of the movies like the Tauriel romance, but not nearly as cut-heavy as a lot of the more well-known fan edits.

The Compromise Cut Very similar to 'or There and Back Again' but more ambitious in rearranging footage to create new beats to cover cuts vs 'or There and Back Again' being more of a clean 'straight from the source' cut.

For my purposes, Hartwell's will probably be my go-to for full lore and plot inclusion & the most 'bang for my buck' while being a cleaner watch than the OG, while There and Back Again or The Compromise Cut are what I would share with friends who despise some of the film-only content, but are willing to give the trilogy another try.

I know there are a number of other great edits of there, M4 and MapleFilms being especially loved, ~but~ I set a rule for myself that any edit that cut the carrock hug was instantly out, so these were the three I landed on.

Resource Websites

The Encyclopedia of Arda Tolkien Gateway LotR Online

Specific Details

TEoA: A Viewer’s Companion (AUJ) TEoA: A Viewer’s Companion (DoS) TEoA: A Viewer’s Companion (TBoFA) TEoA: Longbeards + The Other Clans

TG: Quest Motivations Generally good overview of the point of the quest and what happened.

TG: Smaug Role / Gandalf motivation "Following the sack of Erebor, Gandalf felt that Sauron would take advantage of Middle-earth's weakened state and attack Rivendell and Lothlórien or try regain Angmar; he also feared that Sauron "might use" Smaug "with terrible effect". [...The White Council] attacked Dol Guldur in TA 2941, while Sauron and Smaug could not "help one another". [...] his adversaries were able to drive him from the fortress with relative ease. [...] Sauron abandoned Dol Guldur willingly, and returned secretly to Mordor, where he would openly declare himself in TA 2951, and began preparations for his final war to dominate Middle-earth."

TG: The Arkenstone Arkenstone info from book and adaptations

* Khuzdul Words for Fanfiction Writers A resource for Khuzdul words for - as the name says - fanfic writers!

Durin's Line Tapestry from DoS Shows the family connections with original book birth dates for all. Even though it was presumably made pre-sacking in 2770, and 3 of the company depicted were born after Erebor fell. That... is curious.

The Line of Dwarves A more thorough (and intriguing) look at the dwarf lines and relevant dates, all book-based.

Comprehensive Genealogy Chart of all the Hobbits from J.R.R. Tolkien's Legendarium My gosh is this expansive... and hard to load up on a screen, but if you don't want to miss something, check this!

HOBBIT FAMILY TREE: How are Bilbo, Frodo, Pippin, Merry, and Sam related? The less brain-breaking hobbit tree that focuses on the main 5 from the books.

Lord of the Rings Hobbit Family Tree More of a middle-ground on the 2 above options.

* Prominent Hobbit Families and Individuals A lovely breakdown of the hobbit families as a group, what they are like and who are the crucial members of those families.

Bag-End PJ Hobbit Map Crucial for Bilbo background & any Shire scenes if they come!

* Untangling Middle-Earth's many routes to evil A map of where all of the characters traveled in The Hobbit and The Lord of the RIngs! I found this handy when I was trying to track Gandalf in particular.

A chronology of The Hobbit A day-by-day breakdown of the journey in The Hobbit, great for what-ifs and assessing likely travel times!

Suggested Alternative Timeline For The Hobbit by @avelera A very nice older post on a potential timeline alternative for The Hobbit films. As said above, the films do use the original dates in places, but as this post says, they don't always make sense about it. This is a nice option to consider instead.

Major Inspiration Fics

Backs To The Wall by @conkers-thecosy My current top TH/LotR read, a great active WIP, definitely a direct inspiration to me with the failure to get into Erebor leading things off course! And I'll likely have a parallel Laketown focus for a bit, though nothing as detailed and lived-in as Conkers' fic. And, aside from great writing and general motivation to write TH/Bagginshield, I love the portrayals of the characters (BILBO, Thorin, Gandalf, Dwalin, Nori, Bard and the Bardlings--) and pairings. Definitely tempting me towards Dwalin/Nori here!

And I'm Your Lionheart by Lee_Whimsy There always seems to be a fic in every fandom of mine that draws me in very early, becomes and instant fave, and then hangs there unfinished but perpetually on my mind. The 'one that got away' fic. This is it, and I shall forever love it, and you can just bet it will bleed into my takes somewhere, especially with Gandalf and Legolas and Bard and Fíli, if I recall correctly. I should totally reread this, or at least sections of it. Reading to the 'end' is... painful.

The Most Precious of Treasures by @sapphireshelle91 Another long untouched WIP, but a VERY different one, as it is a) post-TBoFA, and b) features a female Bilbo and parentshield with dwobbit!Frodo. I include this one because a) I love a number of the characterizations, b) if 'And I'm Your Lionheart' gives me the infrastructure and maintenance inspiration for Erebor, THIS fic delivers on the politics and intrigue, and c) I am a HUGE sucker for parentshield, be it biological or adoptive, so naturally I'm contemplating it for my own fic. Still iffy on which way I'll take it, but I've fallen down some intriguing rabbit holes in regards to Shire culture and Bilbo's background while considering the biological option, and I'd be loathe to abandon those ideas now. But either way, this fic deserves a definite nod for motivating me to come up with ideas.

Home Behind and Home Ahead by Etharei Love the characterizations in this one, and anything that gives me a tap into Bilbo's character is appreciated. And I don't know if I'll draw much on it for this fic in particular, but I love all forms of parentshield and this is a lovely dynamic between the three characters, so I'd happily draw from it in the abstract.

* Planting a Hobbit by @northerntrash I adore the vibe of this! A sweet 'Bilbo in Erebor' AU focused on the dwarves (Thorin especially) being so silly and endearing in their efforts to make Bilbo happy, and featuring some nice world and dynamic building in the process.

* Bad Blood by @conkers-thecosy Yo~ give me a nice what-if any day, and having it feature a protective!Bilbo + ardent!Thorin + gremlin!elvenking in the process, with a side of dwarven culture and royal politics? For it.

* [explicit!] Safe and Distant by Lindzzz I ADORE a Bilbo like this. A Bilbo who isn't oblivious about his feelings or denying them, but whose self-image/image of Thorin makes him unable to Comprehend anything not one-sided could come of those feelings. Who celebrates Thorin's good regard with joy and accepts it as 'enough' and 'more than he could ask for'. Who would probably just combust at the idea Thorin might want more, might want something beyond what their adventure can provide, just as Bilbo does... or just as Bilbo would, if he would allow himself to even accept that as a possibility. A Bilbo who finds the idea of Thorin wanting him back terrifying, because to hope for that and be wrong? It would shatter him. ...Yeah, I am very, very for this Bilbo. (And that doesn't even touch on the Thorin or the last chapter, omg-)

* [explicit] Canoodling by @avelera This fic is sweet. This fic is funny. This fic touches on differences between the Tolkien cultures and misunderstandings and the unique ways that could affect intimacy with a couple, and you know that bagginshield is a gold mine opportunity for all of that. I love any explicit work that plays with experience levels and expectations and lets the couple mess up and then swing it back around to lovely afterwards, because that's realistic and relatable and thus, when done right, all the more attractive a read! And this one does it well, a good foundation read.

#bagginshield #the hobbit #an indispensable silver lining #aisl reference #reference post #fic recommendations #the hobbit fan edits #If I don't get to watch DoS or at least a fanedit this weekend I will riot

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perhaps-in-anotherdream · 2 years

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[CN] Victor’s Mystery Box DLC – “Date” (Eng Translation)

“tu me manques” – You’re an indispensable part of my existence. I’m incapable of being without you.

“j'appartiens a toi” – I belong to you.

“for the rest of our lives, forever.”

The following content is part of the Mystery Box Merch. The contents of the mystery box are exclusive to CN for players who’ve purchased the merch, and won’t make it to the global server! ♡

Do note that, this is not exactly part of the main storyline or the dates. You can treat this as “an independent date” which contains flavors from the actual storyline! A MUST READ!!! 🥺❤️

—

I’ve decided to not translate the “full-on angst” LOL cause it’s TOO MUCH contents. and I just don’t have the energy or the time ;-;

—

Allow me to give you some context from the storyline that are “necessary for the date”, instead of drowning you in the ocean of angst:

The story revolves around the conflict between Evolvers and ordinary people, BS drama, MC’s QUEEN identity and all that thing.

In Victor’s branch, he receives an email from MC which she thought was a spam and accidentally sent to Victor (he gets so “proud” later how he is her “go-to person” LOL 🤣🫀).

MC learns about how Victor got trapped in a phantasmagoria (because cue. the drama mentioned earlier), and figures she is the one to blame because if it weren’t for her – he probably would be living a relatively trouble-free life, and she’s the one who gets him into distress all the time (we see MC doing this continuously from S1 CH 18-21 as well) ಥ_ಥ

Along the way as she (i.e., you as the player lol) solves puzzles, she finds souvenirs Victor had stored to give her cue. more heartbreak. [they are actual souvenirs btw, you receive them with the merch box].

At one point, MC enters Victor’s subconscious mind and CUE. (P A I N + TEARS)^∞. She also sees visions of his time at the Space-Time Bureau, the ten thousand years—

And how in all those countless images in his memory during those years, SHE IS EVER PRESENT, his little secret silver lining to keep himself together.

The answer of a puzzle at a certain stage was – “I won’t leave you alone.” – the reference to his “Homeward Bound R&S”

And we see MC replying to him in her mind,

“Victor, I know... and I won’t leave you alone either.”

MC manages to find Victor in the end, and the two of them work together to find a way to get out of the phantasmagoria cue. more puzzles + playing card games with a mystery man cue. MORE P A I N + more hugs and hand-holding, as always 🥺❤️

While Victor expresses how he is proud of MC and all that, MC asks “how could be he so calm and certain the whole time, what if she failed to solve the puzzle in the phantasmagoria.”

Victor shows MC the cards he had drawn. A straight Royal Flush! MC realizes they could’ve gotten out even if she hadn’t solved the puzzles and asks him why he didn’t use the cards then? He replies,

“I didn’t look at the cards until you solved the password. I believed you could do it. This deck of cards is simply an alternative.”

~ ಥ‿ಥ

MC says that the “goddess of fortune” must be by Victor’s side. And we see him looking deeply into her eyes and saying,

“Indeed.”

sobbing intensifies

Anyway, after they break out of that painful illusion, MC is obviously heartbroken about the memories she saw, but what intensifies that is – Victor still can’t get out of this dimension.

With his reassurance and courage, MC leaves him there to solve more puzzles (but solving the puzzles were really fun tho haha🤡) Anyway, in the end, when MC manages to rescue Victor—

“Victor, I did it. I really have gotten you back.”

we find out—

Victor already knew everything was a trap from the start, and he went ahead after receiving the email from her, because he figured MC could be in danger. It turns out, ultimately he’s the one who rescued MC.

–

[Note: the aspect of “rescuing MC” is the same for all love interests btw ;-; but, their stories of being caught in the phantasmagoria, interactions with MC, events and everything else are different, of course, similar to the main story itself / their dates haha~ 💕]

–

Of course, Victor doesn’t breathe a word about his pain cue. his space-time bureau and other memories MC has seen. MC realizes how it’s not because “she is in his life that he is forced to be tangled in danger and pain,” rather it has always been “his choice to face the danger for her from beginning to end.”~ cue. Victor comforting and reassuring MC how none of this chaos was her fault~ 🥺

[same for all love interest] They catch the Evolver who caused the whole drama yes he has his own tragic story, more Evolver and ordinary people clash, and MC’s QUEEN identity being the “said” reason of it all—— 🤡

[branching out again] In response to Victor’s question, “how does she feel about her QUEEN identity”—

As usual, MC pours her heart out to him and tells him that she still doesn’t know what to feel. But she understands she has to “accept” this identity, and she will focus on the present instead of the future, one step at a time. Because this is what HE taught her you have no idea how I’ve been throwing hands by the time I reached here 😭😭

Ending with——

In this world – perhaps there are many who act in a certain way in spite of themselves, and there is no perfection. But I know that, no matter when or what happens, the six letters “Victor” will be my salvation, my strength, and my anchor in the journey to further beyond.

—

✧ [DATE – Part 1] ✧

The color of the sky outside the window is gradually turning dark. I sort out all the materials in my hands, heaving a soft sigh of relief.

It’s a project that isn’t very promising –– it’s about finding and taking notes of those families who have been unfortunately bereaved of their only child due to Evol, so that the entire society can see and pay attention to them.

Over the past few decades, Evolver attacks have resulted in the loss of many innocent lives. Each number represents a family and a painful story.

What happened in that phantasmagoria is merely a miniature version of these countless stories.

Dazed, I ponder for a while before returning to my senses. I lower my head and turn on my phone. The message I sent two hours ago hasn’t yet received a reply.

MC: Is Victor that busy...

Recently, LFG has taken on leading a collaboration project with a number of organizations. And as the person in charge, Victor has been so busy that he’s had his head buried deep in work and chaos, so much so that I’ve rarely seen him for a few days.

Every time I see him, it’s just quick glances at a meeting or while giving a report.

I scroll through the message history. He mostly found the time to reply with a “yes,” “redo,” or “talk to Goldman” – concise and comprehensive.

The last reply was at 1 a.m. this morning –– “Souvenir won’t be opening its doors these days.”

MC: Sigh...

I plop my face down on the desk, thinking about how I’m going to send him a text.

MC: It can’t go on like this. Why don’t I find a way to give him a treat?

As soon as this thought pops into my head, I can’t put it off any longer. I prance onto my seat at a galloping speed, ready to pry the information out of Goldman first.

MC: Goldman, I heard that the new project you guys are working on is going smoothly?

Goldman: Where did you hear that? But at least there are no more meetings scheduled for tonight; as of now.

MC: Ah, that’s indeed a help from heaven for me too!

Rejoicing, I dig out the spare key to Souvenir that Victor has given me earlier and tread out into the twilight before he gets off work.

As the sky slowly grows dusky, many people on the road are hurrying back home. I seem to be one of them as well.

When I arrive at Souvenir carrying the ingredients I’ve bought, the last shaft of twilight shrouds the white storefront, suddenly making me feel a speck of softness.

The door to Souvenir is still closed for business. I fish out my key and insert it into the keyhole, only to find that the door is not locked.

MC: That’s strange. Could it be that Mr. Mills is here?

Pushing the door open, I see a ray of light escaping to the dimly lit dining room through the half-opened door of the kitchen. A thought suddenly flits through my mind. I promptly accelerate my pace and run over.

MC: Victor––!

I slam open the half-closed door with a jerk. But to my dismay, even though the light is on, there’s no one in the kitchen...

MC: I guess he should still be at work...

I let out a bitter laugh, but a voice suddenly transmits from behind me––

Victor: What are you doing here?

When this voice, the one I couldn’t be more familiar with, rings out, my nose uncontrollably becomes a little sore. I turn my head impatiently and see Victor standing in the doorway.

He is still wearing his suit; only the jacket has been taken off, the weariness of the past few days lingering in his features. It’s only when he looks at me does the fatigue between his brows dissipate for a brief moment.

Victor: I just heard your voice and thought it was an illusion.

Victor’s gaze travels downward and lands on the key held in my hand, revealing a moment of understanding.

Victor: Why did you suddenly think of coming over?

MC: I just suddenly felt like... I haven’t seen you for ages.

Seeing that I’m still continuously eyeing him up from head to toe, Victor can’t help but break into laughter.

Victor: That’s your illusion.

Victor: Wasn’t it three days ago when you came in to submit a whimsical proposal and put down your grand statement on the spot?

Thinking back to that scene of me strongly arguing on my grounds and ultimately saying, “I will definitely make you guys approve it,” – my eyes can’t help but drift for a moment.

MC: That’s not... it’s because this project is really important.

MC: Although there is some difficulty with getting people invested in the early stage and the promotion of the show...

MC: However, it’s still possible to obtain good returns through a variety of means.

Listening to my frank and eloquent speech, Victor kneads the space between his eyebrows as though having a bit of a headache.

Victor: I’ll ask Goldman to compile a list of some trustworthy organizations to give to you.

Victor: However, I’m still putting my foot down on my original judgment. You can leave this project for someone else to handle.

He pauses in his words, hidden worries floating in his gaze.

Victor: Don’t let what happened in the phantasmagoria affect you too deeply.

MC: I...

MC: I can’t make any promises. The things that happened are facts, and the existence of pain is also real. There’s no use in running away from it.

MC: I’ll do the best of my capabilities to refine the proposal for this project until it gets approved.

Victor’s brows knit together into a tight frown, and I can see clearly that he doesn’t approve of this. I crane my neck and stare straight into his eyes, unwilling to retreat even half a step.

Finally, he sighs softly. Akin to a sign of concession, it causes my tense nerves to loosen up subsequently.

Victor: ...it seems that you end up persuading me every time.

MC: After all, my greatest merit is that I don’t ever admit defeat so easily!

Victor releases a soft chuckle.

Victor: Your self-awareness is fairly accurate.

Victor: I’ll be waiting for your refined proposal. And if it’s outstanding enough, I won’t stop you.

With that said, he crosses over to me and walks into the kitchen, rolling up the cuffs of his shirt several times as he does so.

Victor: Now it’s time for rest. You can set aside work-related matters for the time being.

Seeing that he has started to tidy up the cooking table that hasn't been used in some time, I also pick up a cleaning rag, prepared to help.

MC: Let me help too!

Victor: The cloth you’re holding is not used for wiping the table.

Victor: Don’t tell me that you especially came here just to clean up?

He turns his line of sight towards the ingredients on the side that I’ve completely forgotten about. It’s just at this moment do I recall the purpose of my coming over.

MC: ! I almost forgot...

MC: Actually, I was thinking that you’ve been working too hard recently, and I wanted to surprise you by trying out a new recipe...

But what I didn’t expect was for this plan to have foil as the outcome as soon as I set foot in the kitchen. Victor laughs softly; evidently, this thought of mine has also crossed his mind.

Victor: Dummy.

Victor: In case I hadn’t shown up, would the great meal you intended to prepare be devoted to your own stomach?

MC: Of course not. I had already inquired from Goldman in advance that you guys didn’t need to attend any meeting tonight.

MC: However, I was planning to call you after everything was prepared... didn’t you say that Souvenir isn’t gonna be open for business these days?

Victor: Looks like you’re in pretty good spirits since you’re talking so much.

Victor: A certain dummy had been drooping her head in depression the other day. So, I planned to try out a new dessert to cheer her up.

Victor: But now, seeing as she is still in the mood to comfort other people, this dessert doesn’t seem necessary.

Even though he says this, a light smile hangs at the corners of his lips.

My heart softens. It turns out that all my frustrations that I’ve painstakingly suppressed laid themselves bare before his eyes regardless.

MC: I’m sorry for making you worried. You clearly have been so busy lately...

Victor: In a few days, this project will reach the end of its phase, and I will hand over the rest to them to carry it out.

Victor: So that we can avoid letting you have the illusion again that “you haven’t seen me for ages.”

He gives me a meaningful look, a smile playing in his eyes. He then turns around to fetch the apron that is hanging on the side.

MC: Hold on a sec! Leave this to me!

One step ahead of him, I snatch the black apron hanging on the wall and hurriedly tie it on myself.

MC: I’m the chef today!

MC: Recently, I’ve meticulously studied a new dish. Although I cannot compare to the Souvenir’s chef, I can still manage to make it work~

Victor raises his eyebrows, a little surprised.

Victor: Are you sure you can do it yourself?

MC: Mm-hmm!! Leave the kitchen in my care now. You go out and get some rest first.

Seeing that he still wants to continue saying something, I rush to snatch his words.

MC: You can wait and see. No worries.

Victor: I’m leaving this all in your hands then.

He releases a chuckle, a handsome arc gracing the corners of his lips.

Victor: Don’t “blow up” my kitchen, though.

After prattling on with confidence, I kick Victor out of the kitchen, intending to implement my plan.

I bend down to open the cabinet to take out the utensils and ingredients, but find that the cabinet door is locked with an intricate combination lock hanging from it.

And the design on the combination lock seems to match the pattern on the Souvenir’s key in my hand...

—

[Players need to find out the answer to the riddle from the Souvenir’s key and commemorative coins they received in the merch]

Answer: TU ME MANQUES

This is actually one of the most beautiful French phrases ever!!!

On the surface it means, “I miss you.” But the structure of the sentence actually indicates – “You’re missing (from me).” So there’s a deeper meaning to this phrase, “You’re a part of me that I was missing. You’re crucial to my existence like a body organ or blood, and I can’t live without you.”

You’ll see Victor explaining it in a bit. Also, this phrase was on Victor’s 4th birthday karma too! 🥺💘

—

After some careful observation and comparison, I’ve finally figured out the password to open the lock. I carefully turn the gears to the correct letters. With a “click,” the lock opens.

The password above rests on a string of letters – “tu me manques.”

MC: French? It feels so familiar...

My brows crease into a frown as I search through my memory. Suddenly, an image from a long time ago floods into my mind––

–

━━━ [FLASHBACK BEGINS] ━━━

It was the time when Victor went on a business trip to France for more than half a month. When he came back, I especially snatched the airport pick-up job from Goldman.

MC: Tu me manques, Monsieur Victor~

Victor: ...don’t use “Tu me manques” casually with other people. For ordinary relationships, just using “Je pense à toi” would be enough.

MC: Why? Don’t they both mean the same thing?

Victor: [sighs] “Tu me manques” means more than just “I miss you”...

Victor: It also means, “You’re an indispensable part of my existence. I’m incapable of being without you.”

━━━ [FLASHBACK ENDS] ━━━

–

As I look at this familiar French phrase, a feeling of sourness slowly spreads through every corner of my heart, making my nose tingle.

So it turns out that I’m not the only one who’s been longing for the time spent together with him. He feels the same way too.

—

┈┈ ◍♡◍ ┈┈┈ ◍♡◍ ┈┈

—

✧ [DATE – PART 2] ✧

After gathering my emotions, I carefully remove the combination lock and put it aside before opening the cabinet and taking out the things I need from inside.

MC: First of all, let’s dice the vegetables...

Lowering my head, I wash and cut the vegetables one by one, following the steps in the recipe. Then, I toss the butter into the pan.

The butter melts into the pan with a soft “sizzling” noise. I, however, unwittingly begin to zone out.

My train of thoughts unconsciously returns to that phantasmagoria. The scenes seem to still linger vividly before my eyes, trying to drag me down into the shadows.

The aroma of food arising from the pan reminds me that it’s time to move on to the next step. I scramble to open the can of tomatoes and prepare to pour them into the pan.

MC: So hot...!

“Clang” –– the empty can falls onto the counter. I draw my hand back in pain and find a red mark on my finger from the burn.

MC: No, no, don’t think too much about it for now!

I turn down the heat and shake my head vigorously from side to side, as though this will toss away all those numerous turbulent thoughts.

Victor: What are you doing?

Hearing the voice, I turn my head and find Victor standing in the kitchen doorway, quietly watching me for who knows how long.

He repeats his words, his eyes seeming to see through all my concealment. But those eyes land on me as they have always had, just like any time in the past – as though nothing has changed, no matter what they’ve been through.

MC: I just accidentally...

For a moment, I find myself unable to find a suitable answer, but Victor doesn’t wait for my explanation. He walks over to me in a few steps, his expression somewhat piercing.

Victor: Give me your hand.

On tenterhooks, I anxiously place my scalded hand behind my back, still trying to find a way to refute.

MC: There are no blisters from the burn. It really isn’t that serious.

Victor takes hold of my hand that I was trying to hind behind me. When he touches an edge of the burned area, I can’t help but draw in a sharp breath.

MC: [hisses in pain] Sss...

Victor: Is this what you call “not serious?”

He frowns at me, his face wearing traces of dismay.

Victor: The first thing you need to do when you get burned is to treat it immediately, not stand around and be lost in thoughts.

Allowing no explanation, he places my hand under the water to rinse it off. His movements, however, are of great care and caution. Feeling slightly uncomfortable, I want to draw my hand out of his shackle, only to receive a faint warning in return.

Victor: Don’t squirm. It’ll still take a little longer to rinse.

Only after confirming that I’m no longer flailing about does Victor take out what appears to be an unopened burn cream from one of the drawers in the corner.

MC: You’ve actually got burn cream prepared here?

Victor: Just in case. Better safe than sorry.

He sweeps a glance over me, pulls out a paper towel, and gently soaks up the water from my hand before squeezing the white ointment onto his own.

MC: I can do it myself...

Not giving me any chance to choose, he lowers his head and applies the ointment to my fingers.

The icy ointment slowly coats my faintly stinging skin. But the truth is, what’s even more powerful than this cold presence is the touch of his finger pads – tender and patient.

Victor: All right, don’t touch the water for a while.

MC: It really doesn’t hurt that much anymore.

I explain with a little guilty conscience. Victor glances at me.

Victor: Didn’t you just say that it didn’t hurt?

Victor: Every time you cook, something always seems to happen.

He looks in the direction of the stove. The fire has been turned off, but there is red tomato juice spilled all over the pan and countertop, akin to a “scene of a tragedy.”

And the tomatoes, carrots, and king oyster mushrooms that have been sliced to different sizes in the pan... are soaked in the tomato juice. The entire composition doesn’t look the least bit appetizing.

Victor: The new recipe you were boasting about – were you referring to making a chaotic stew with seasonal vegetables?

Victor: It really seems like I shouldn’t have looked forward too much to your new recipe.

MC: Actually, that’s only the first step. The next step is to take the ingredients out of the pan, and then...

My mind spins at lightning speed, thinking about how I’m going to devise. Seeing me like this, Victor sighs a little helplessly.

Victor: There’s no next step.

He leans down, reaching his outstretched arms to my sides. The sudden movement causes me to have no other option but look up at his face, making my upper body fall backward––

Victor: Don’t move back. Careful!

Before my back hits the cooking table, Victor wraps his arm around my waist just in time, pulling me back.

The pepper bottle that has been knocked down by his movements rolls away. I stare wide-eyed at his enlarged facial features, my heartbeat involuntarily accelerating a little.

MC: [nervous] Wh-what’s wrong?

Victor: Dummy. What did you think I was going to do?

My reaction elicits a low chuckle from Victor. His body heat seeps through his arms that are wrapped around me, making me somewhat crave this temperature and reluctant to let go.

But he quickly draws back his arms and unties the apron strap behind me with his fingers.

Victor: If you’re unable to concentrate on cooking with your heart and soul, then you will be just wasting the ingredients.

Victor: Therefore, you’re temporarily deprived of your right to be the chef.

MC: !! I can still try harder!

Victor, however, doesn’t give me that opportunity. He pulls out a folded handwritten card and places it in my hand.

Victor: I’ve written down what I wanted to say to you.

MC: What?

For a while, I find myself unable to return to my senses and stare blankly at Victor. A soft laugh spills from his throat as though he’s pleased with the sight before him.

Victor: See for yourself.

Victor: And if you can’t understand, I’ll tell you again.

His eyes are like the dark, bottomless night, but there’s a tenderness concealed in their depths that no one knows.

Victor: Now, the kitchen should be returned to me.

–

Just like I kicked him out of the kitchen earlier, Victor closes the kitchen door on me.

A small, warm lamp illuminates the dining room, and a soft etude is playing on the stereo off to one side.

Victor: You rest here for a while.

Victor places a glass of warm water with fragrant lemon balm in front of me. As I’m about to say thank you, a cacophonous cooing sound suddenly escapes my stomach.

I lower my head in embarrassment and bury my face in my palms, only to hear a soft laugh coming from above my head.

Victor: It’s already a bit late for dinner today, and there aren’t any ingredients in the fridge. So, we can only keep everything simple.

Victor: I won’t let you be hungry for too long.

Only when I hear Victor’s footsteps gradually receding in the distance, do I lift my face to look at his back, heaving a sigh of relief.

Souvenir’s lounge is utterly empty, and there isn’t a single soul except for me. The gentle piano melody makes everything quiet. I can even hear the minute of movements coming from the kitchen––

The knife’s edge lightly landing on the chopping board in a swift motion, the butter melting on the fire, the water instantly evaporating from the vegetables with a “bzzz” sound…

These sounds portray the methodical manner in which Victor moves in front of the cooking table, like a commander handling a butcher’s cleaver with ease.

The long-awaited tranquility embraces my unease. The mere thought of him being there just across the wall makes me feel at peace.

I compose myself and open the folded letter. The handwriting that I couldn’t be more familiar with comes into my view again––

–

[The letter is a part of the merch players received]:

To Dummy:

When it comes to loving bravado, a certain someone has always been very persistent. Even if your gloom has long been written all over your face, you still have to say that you’re doing fine when it comes to it. Sometimes I really don’t know where this “stubbornness” of yours comes from. There are some things I’ll only say once, so listen carefully.

In the past, you didn’t use to think things through enough and even made reckless decisions. But now, you’ve grown far beyond my expectations. That day in the phantasmagoria–– I’m absolutely certain that I saw a different you. The “transformation” that you, yourself, have been clamoring about has indeed lived up to its name.

In the face of setbacks, you are able to calmly adjust your mentality and confront the challenges with a positive attitude. In the midst of adversities, you are able to stand firm in your convictions and devote everything you’ve got to the unknown future… these characteristics are incomparably precious. But, the outcomes attained from the setbacks and adversities are equally precious too. I’ve never considered them as painful memories, but rather, they are irreplaceable gains on the road to growth in the long run.

From this point of view, there’s no need for a certain dummy to be sullen because of that phantasmagoria. Instead, why don’t you pull out your “vacation checklist” and check out what you want to see and where you want to go. I’m on vacation next month, so I’ll leave the arrangements in your hands.

Victor.

—

After slowly reading the entire letter, I stare at the six letters “Victor” in the signature in a bit of a trance.

Every word of the letter seems to tell me that my anxieties and struggles over the past few days–– he has seen them all.

’That I’m not the only one who remembers how I’ve staggered and zigzagged along this whole journey onward to my growth, transforming through every adversity.

This journey towards hope is a long, long run. But fortunately, there’s another person to accompany me.

MC: Victor, thank you…

I draw in a deep breath and set down the heavy boulder weighing down on my heart, finally breaking into a relaxed smile.

As I put aside this important and precious handwritten letter with great care, I smell a wisp of aroma emanating from the kitchen and can’t help but start looking forward to Victor’s cooking, which I haven’t tasted in a long time.

On the back of the chair opposite the dining table rests the jacket that Victor has taken off. His wallet is also casually placed on the table, an identity card slipping out of a corner of its compartment.

The pattern on the card surface seems to be somewhat familiar-looking. My heart stirs. By some curious coincidence or miracle, I pull it out and quietly scan the QR code on it with my phone––

–

[Tidbits: If your phone supports the NFC function, and you scan Victor’s card – this is what you get *sobbing in hands*]

MESSAGE:

J'ai envie de rester avec toi, toute la vie. 某人念叨的惊喜, 不知道这个算不算。

MEANING:

“[in French] I want to be with you, for all my life, forever.” The surprise that a certain someone keeps talking about–– I wonder if this counts as one.

–

[Personal Notes]: YESSS!!! YOU GODDAMN BET IT WAS A SURPRISE!! 🥺 Tbh tho, I can’t say I’m surprised that Victor writers would be throwing mega-bombs like this, but still... you just never get used to being loved and cherished in this way... UGGHHH VICTOR WHY ARE YOU JUST SO HNNNGNNNNN 😭💘🤲

–

[Players have to find out the answer to the clue from this game]:

ANSWER: 余生可期

This phrase is actually hard to translate into English. It’s essentially what Victor said in French, but in Chinese, it’s more of a “vow.”

余生 means – “rest of one’s life.” 可期 can have different meanings based on the context. It’s him basically saying, // (if you want) the future waiting ahead is “us, together,” and it’s valid for the rest of our lives. //

—

With great difficulty, I find the final answer. I lightly stroke the identity card with my fingers, a warmth swirling in the depths of my heart.

Who would have known that within it is concealed a cryptic message from his heart?

As I listen to the sound of Victor cooking in the kitchen, a warm current gushes out of my heart, a feeling of stability suddenly coming over me.

In the future that belongs to “us,” we will have each other for the rest of our lives, forever.

–– this is the pledge that he has made to me.

After thinking about it, I take out a pen and surreptitiously write a sentence in French on a corner of his identity card.

This is the answer I wrote to him, and it’s also our secret.

After the ink has solidified, I carefully put the identity card back into Victor’s wallet.

He will find out my little secret when he uses it the next time.

—

┈┈ ◍♡◍ ┈┈┈ ◍♡◍ ┈┈

—

✧ [DATE – Part 3] ✧

Having put away the identity card, I sneak a surveying glance at the kitchen behind me to confirm Victor hasn’t noticed my actions just now.

But before I can heave a sigh of relief, his shadow has already stepped out of the kitchen.

MC: !!

Victor, carrying the tray, crashes straight into my frenetic gaze. He stops in his motion, his eyes seeming to ask me why I’m losing my head in a panic.

I stand up sheepishly, trying to find a justification for my anomaly.

MC: Let me help you with those!

Victor: No need. You just sit tight.

MC: Hmm…

I pretend to be nonchalant and sit upright and still with my hands on my lap, watching as Victor places a plate of creamy-white mushroom bisque in front of me.

MC: So fragrant… it looks super delicious!

Victor: The vegetables you diced have also been preserved.

Victor: Fortunately, the rescue was carried out in time, and the flavor is pretty good.

He sets down another plate of pasta with tomato sauce, filled with side vegetables that I cut up into all kinds of big and small sizes.

The diced vegetables that just earlier looked like the scene of a massacre are reborn after being cooked in his hands. So much so that their different contrasting sizes now have taken on a hint of amusement.

Victor: This is all that was left in the kitchen. The next time we have time, I’ll make something a bit more sumptuous.

Victor takes his seat opposite me, and spreads out the napkin with graceful movements.

MC: No, this is already very good! There’re so many people who would want to eat this, but can’t!

Victor: You can have it anytime you want.

Victor: After all, the key to this place is in your hands.

Hearing what he means, my face turns red. I can’t help but mutter in a small voice.

MC: What’s important is not the key. It’s the person…

I scoop a spoonful of the bisque into my mouth. The rich, creamy aroma diffuses across my taste buds, sliding down my esophagus with just the right temperature.

But I release a sigh inexplicably, squeezing the spoon at the taste that the tip of my tongue undoubtedly is so sentimentally attached to.

Victor: What’s wrong? Is the taste not to your liking?

MC: No! It’s delicious!

I lift my head, locking eyes with Victor’s tolerant and focused gaze. Beneath the warm yellow light, his silhouette seems to be tinged with warm colors too.

He waits for me to brew my answer slowly, neither rushing nor urging me–– as though he has plenty of patience. This is the tenderness that belongs uniquely to him.

My heart grows warm, my eyes crinkling themselves into a smile again to reassure him.

MC: Actually, I just feel a little guilty.

MC: If I didn’t have Evol, the actions of those people wouldn’t have implicated innocent lives, and they wouldn’t have been separated by life and death.

MC: But here I am, I can still enjoy such peace and quiet of everyday life, like a despicable thief…

At this point, I lapse into silence. Suddenly, a large hand lands on the top of my head.

Victor: MC, you haven’t done anything wrong.

His voice is gentle, soft, and certain, without the slightest hint of hesitation.

Victor: It’s not essentially your fault. You’ve simply been given the identity of “QUEEN.”

Victor: And you’re foreordained to become even more powerful. When that time comes, you will be able to dismantle their operations and put an end to this crisis, once and for all.

Victor: And you are the only one who can do that.

“Can I really?”

As soon as this thought flits across my mind, I immediately squash it.

I look up. In Victor’s eyes is reflected my somewhat bewildered gaze, but he only raises the corners of his lips in a soft smile.

Victor: A true “thief” won’t feel any guilt over the matter. Those who initiated the evil practice are the real thieves.

Victor: Usually, you’re a little brighter. How come you know how to bash your head against the wall at a time like this?

MC: In fact, I’ve always understood that there’s no use in being frustrated. The more important thing is the future.

MC: I can do it… no. Yes, I can definitely do it!

I clench my fists and give him a smile brimming with enthusiasm.

Victor: You better keep your word.

He loosens his slightly furrowed brows, the hint of a smile cresting on his face along with it. He then bends down and takes out a doll from a shopping bag.

Victor: I was going to give it to you a bit later.

Puzzled, I meet the Shiba Inu’s giddily giggling face and can’t help but laugh along with it.

Victor: I went to the mall before coming here. Its giggling face bears the most resemblance to you.

MC: …that obviously looks very cute!

I take the silly Shiba Inu and knead its smiling face.

MC: What made you think of buying this?

Victor pauses for a bit, as if he somewhat doesn’t want to answer this question. But eventually, he releases a sigh under my burning gaze.

Victor: When you first gave me your Shiba Inu, you said that looking at its laughter can cure all bad emotions.

Victor: I don’t have a deep experience or understanding of this matter, though. However, this time, I hope it can cheer you up instead.

Victor: This doll, I think, was the one with the happiest grin in there.

–

[Tidbits]: Victor is talking about “Rooftop Date,” where MC finds out about his mom and gives him her old Shiba Inu doll, which her dad gifted her as a kid. She told him–– this doll has accompanied her through laughter and sorrows for many years, and she hopes it can do the same for him now. MC gives Victor the very same Shiba Inu doll in S2 CH 4 as well. 🥺❤️

–

My eyes widen slightly at these words. I didn’t realize that he still remembers these words I once said.

Victor: Now, it seems that it has accomplished its mission very well.

He looks at the doll in my arms with some tenderness in his gaze.

I look down at the Shiba Inu doll, which is smiling extraordinarily happily, and suddenly spot a crown pattern on the doll’s stomach…

–

[Players have to find the answer to the riddle from the B.S. archive they received as merch]:

ANSWER: 我陪你证明永远

MEANING: I’ll accompany you to prove “forever.”

–

I raise my head and look into Victor’s eyes, who’s sitting directly opposite me. Beneath the lights, a soft glow twinkles in his gaze.

It appears that if only his presence is there, the painful and negative emotions that have been pent up deep in my heart will be slowly dissolved by his silent tenderness, bit by bit.

’Because I know that no matter what happens, this person in front of me will accompany me and face it together with me.

I hug the Shiba Inu close to myself and can’t help grinning gleefully from ear to ear.

MC: Hehe…

Victor: Don’t just giggle. Your dinner will get cold if you don’t eat it.

At his reminder, I feel my stomach rumbling with hunger again. I fork a piece of potato and stuff it into my mouth, the soft and filling flavor making me squint in happiness.

MC: Tasty! The taste is entirely different from what I’ve practiced before, though.

Victor: If it were to be the same as your craft, Souvenir would go out of business tomorrow.

MC: I at least get the pass mark, right? I had a bit of irregularity in my game today.

Victor: When have you ever played properly, though?

MC: Although your point is very valid, I still do a passable job once in a while.

Turning my grief and indignation into appetite, I curl up the pasta and bring it to my mouth, then squint my eyes cheerfully.

The dissipation of the dark clouds reinstates my good appetite once again. Happily gorging myself, I soon polish off the plate full of pasta.

Victor: Can you still eat the dessert?

Though having just yelled-- “I’m so full,” I immediately react to the sound of his voice and look at him with anticipation written across my entire face.

MC: Is it the new one you mentioned?

Victor nods, but with a hint of rarely seen hesitation.

Victor: This is the first time I’ve tried making it, and the procedure is quite complicated. So, the taste may not be a success.

Victor: Don’t hold your expectations too high.

I never thought I’d actually hear such words from his mouth one day. I gaze at him in wonder.

MC: Y-you actually have moments when you’re not sure of something…

Victor: When something is important enough to you, it’s only natural that uncertainty will arise.

A ripple flashes in his eyes as he gets up and brings the dessert from the kitchen.

The dark blue ceramic plate gradually transitions outwards to a lighter blue, with a moon-white sphere inlaid in the center of the dessert, surrounded by little white specks on all sides as they create a starry sky.

It’s reminiscent of the vast universe in which all human unease and angst are nothing more than just an insignificant speck of dust.

Victor: Try it. You are its very first taster.

I cautiously and solemnly cut a small piece off the edge with a dessert spoon before carefully taking it into my mouth.

MC: Mmm…

The first sensation on the palate is a slight bitterness with a hint of fragrance, followed by a sweet aftertaste that pervades the tip of the tongue as the bitterness returns to the fragrant sweetness.

The crispy outer shell enveloping the soft, fluffy interior is akin to a freshly made soufflé. Only at the most appropriate moment can a flavor this wonderful be born.

Victor: The procedure of making this is different from what I’ve done before.

Victor: I tried it a little. A bit of bitterness can make the entire flavor a lot richer.

Victor explains in a light-hearted manner, as though he is simply talking about something that couldn’t be any more ordinary.

But I know that because of the recent collaborative project, every minute and every second of his time is awfully precious, and he doesn’t often even have the time to reply to messages.

Victor, who values efficiency and results above all else, spent his time on this little dessert, just so he could cheer me up.

The faint bitterness in my mouth has already faded away, leaving only the profound sweetness that engraves itself into my memory.

MC: It’s yummy~ This must be the second best dessert in the entire world! Only lagging a little bit behind your pudding!

MC: Merci, Monsieur Victor~

I look at him with immense seriousness as I speak. In exchange, my exaggerated tone of voice earns a soft chuckle from Victor.

Victor: Why are you suddenly speaking French?

MC: Because the cabinet in the kitchen was locked earlier, and then I found something…

I drag on the tail note of my sentence and stare at Victor’s face. However, Victor remains utterly unfazed, looking calm and composed as he picks up the black tea on the table and takes a sip.

Victor: What did you find?

Seeing that he isn’t taking the bait, I roll my eyes and open my mouth in a manner as though I’m hinting at something.

MC: Mm, that’s confidential! Who knows, perhaps you might find some trail in your identity card?

Victor arches an eyebrow, dropping a sentence as usual.

Victor: Deliberately creating mystery.

Despite saying this, he still opens his wallet as I have hoped and takes out the identity card that I put back in earlier.

At a glance, he sees the newly scribbled small line of handwriting on the corner: j'appartiens a toi.

–– “I belong to you.”

As Victor looks up at me with some surprise, he is met with my triumphant smile. Consequently, he also perks up the corners of his lips into a smile.

Victor: Dummy, you don’t need to say it to me. It’s not like I don’t already know that.

—

——__——__——

[Extra]:

btw, the meme I was talking about in the tags is actually this one LOL 🤣😭

—

#i know i still have an official date to translate but THERE IS NO WAY I COULD RESIST THIS!!! IT’S A MUST READ!!! 😭🫀#I COULD WRITE AN ESSAY ON THIS! MASTERPIECE!!! I LOVE PG AND MC FOR MAKING THAT MEME CANON LOL– “VICTOR HOW CAN I LIVE WITHOUT YOUUU” ಥ‿ಥ #I CAN’T EVEN WORD HOW I FEEL ABOUT THIS. NOBODY TOUCH ME I AM JUST GONNA—UGGHHH—— VICTOR WRITERS BLESS YOU FOR SUCH MAGNIFICENT WRITING🫀🌊#Victor my beloved your handwriting tho akskdjskab💀 i do see why MC loves his handwriting so much but my eyes LOL💀💫#mlqc victor #mlqc li zeyan #mr love victor #mlqc #mr love queen's choice #love and producer #恋与制作人 #李泽言 #mlqc cn #mlqc translations #mlqc spoilers

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artic-willow · 2 years

Text

Duskwood AU "Criminal On The Loose."

Chapter 1 (M) "Feelings."

Taglist: @jakelogic @crow-chaos @i-desire-jake @jakeismylover @digital-corruption @pennyl4n3 @saddah-mo @booklover-01040 @rw47vr-key7vr @red-writes-stuff @layanasstories @zmayadw @hacked-by-jake @spookycolorpeanut @leverageduskwood @lyricsofravensong @juan-nonetheway @robbybarnes @lois-carroline @captainwanderlust78 @jake01040-duskwood @silentblogsstuff @youngphilosophertragedy @slow-hazel @sasnayaandra @lem-onchan @futaba-01040 @duskwood-fandom @aisling-things @oceanipebble @withjake-blog @duskyducky @roxiuuu @duskwoodx @miraculous-duskwood-girl @riaduskwood @nala-raines @lyon-amore @justubi @renneiscent

!TW: Bad words, Medical drugs/Drugs and mention of Self-Harm (Flashback)!

*Jake’s POV*

I'm in the car, with a cigarette in my hand, parked in a parking lot. Disgusting.

I'm dirty, my mouth is just sticky from the smoke. Adorable. My hoodie is dirty with smoke residue. Disgusting. My mind cannot forget about my past. Again, disgusting.

I feel like one of my fathers, who takes drugs until he has lost all consciousness and sees reality slip out of his sight. Because he is, he has spent his life smoking as if it is the only escape and a band-aid from all pain.

...That's it, sort of. In fact you know what it does, the dangers of only consuming one cigarette.

But, I just do it. Why? Just two words, life sucks.

No, not always. Only those who see life as lousy live it as lousy. And because of that, I don't have a good life. Because I passed it only as if I were the spectator.

Yet when I was a little boy I couldn't control my emotions, so I couldn't do anything other than impose pain on myself. Scratching until I felt a bittersweet in my mouth. 'A quick remedy' in fact.

Poor little boy, emotions hurt, huh? This is why I have learned to ignore them, not to take them into consideration. If I do, will I suffer? Yes, as always. I can't let emotions win. Yet emotions hurt so much but they are indispensable, because if you don't listen to them, everyone automatically considers you a robot. Without emotions and to be thrown away.

Why does no one understand why I don't listen to my emotions? Easy. Hating a child is automatically being emotionless.

Yet that little girl is the result of an infidelity, the mother and father confirmed it. As my parents did more than once.

Even though my emotions tell me to get close to her, it looks like that little girl is pointing a gun in my forehead.

Disgusting.

She just has to be alone from me.

Without thinking I smoke again, now the smoke comes out of the window while I am in a state of 'Your wound is healed, for now!'.

From just one breath, they become five and so on.

I can only do one thing, hold a piece of paper in my fingers, not a normal piece of paper, a letter.

Jessy gave it to me. Best friend of that bitch.

As soon as I read and reread the last line, I just wanted to throw up from all the emotions I had in my body:

—

Dear Jake,

I wanted to end it, I already had the pills in my hand in my room. I just wanted to forget the pain, but it seemed too much to ask. Still, I was in front of the bar.

Needless to say, to forget the pain, I turned into a doll for him. He could bite me, he could slap me, I didn't care. It was nice.

And when it's done...It's done. Perfect, thanks phil! We will not see each other again, because I am no longer anything to him but only a sex toy...But that's okay! Bye!

But...Oops, forget about the protections.

We're running away from the government, needless to say they found out about me being pregnant. I had feelings for Jessy, but oops she told the group. Answer? Only for my protection and baby's.

And phil? Straight to jail, the group served him to the police on a silver platter. He was just a traitor to them.

But...Now I don't have a husband and a baby in my arms. I gave birth in very bad conditions. I give birth on the ground and almost die.

She's a little girl, I call her Azure. Yet I don't want her.

To recap...I have a little girl in my arms that I don't want, the hypothetical father is in prison, ‘my’ group and I are wanted all over Duskwood and at the moment we manage in a Bunker.

What should I do? Obviously run away and leave the child to the group. I spent my whole life running away from problems, like you. I've spent my entire life with a classic: 'Oops.' Just like you.

Yet I can't raise my finger at you, because you were in prison and maybe even dead.

So, we are tied. Traitor. :)

- Summer

—

I just wished the emotions at that moment hadn't left me, worse than believing what I read.

What the fuck?

She can't really have said that... 'All a misunderstanding' like she seems to be saying this, or like she is spitting in my face that everything she is doing is justified because I did it too when we knew each other as children.

No, she is not a child anymore. Grow up arrogant bitch.

Yet why does she seem to not give a shit but act like a goddamn selfish person?

I literally slide off the seat, I only feel my dry mouth with the letter between my fingers.

Damn it.

Although it is pitch dark, I see a silhouette in the shadows.

Jessy?

I see Jessy climb up and open the car door.

Wait...How long have I been here?

-"Jake! It's full of smoke in here!" She exclaims as she coughs.

He steps aside, just to let the smoke out.

I didn't know what to do. I bow a little and rub my eyes without thinking.

-"What were we doing before?" I asked. Fuck how stupid I am.

She frowns. -"Excuse me? We've been here for hours!" She gets in the car and with a bang closes the door. -"We are on a mission!"

-"Oh. Right." Respond by looking at her, although I don't have a mirror with me I can imagine my gaze darkening.

She looks at me confused, -"What happened?"

-"Is irrelevant." I answer.

-"Jake." She begins, in a slightly sarcastic voice. "I don't know you well, but you understand that something is wrong."

I sigh.

I see with the thing in the eye her looking at the paper between my fingers, I was so concentrated that I have completely forgotten about the paper.

Quickly, she takes the paper.

-"Jessica!" I exclaim and try to snatch it from her hands.

Despite this, I somehow manage to pick up the sheet. We looked like two children.

-"What is that??" She faces the letter with a lot of curiosity.

-"A letter, but it's none of your business." I rolled my eyes.

-"It's not from..." She slowly pulls away from my arm. -"...About Summer?"

I look at the void. -"Yes."

She doesn't say anything. -"I left you the letter..." She begins, "I was hoping you wouldn't find out."

-"What?" I raised my voice.

She looks up, completely scared. She gets defensive and mumbles something. -"Wait! She betrayed me too!"

- "This does not mean that you have to make me unaware of everything!" My hand slowly turns into a fist.

-”I’m sorry! But I thought you might want to look for her...You were on time!" She tries to justify herself, as if the light is now the dark.

-"Much worse!" Growl, how the fuck does this bitch afford?

I approach with a stiff fist, she takes my sweatshirt with one hand and squeezes it. I sharpen my eyebrows and she seems to be asking for mercy only with her eyes.

-”Jake! Stop! She never loved you!” What she says is a fucking sword of truth in my heart, fuck it.

As soon as she says those words, my heart punches itself. It is frustrating, it is true but above all I have never had hope with her and Jessy knows it.

I sit on the half-broken seat, a tear falls from my eye and I cover my face with my hands like a hedgehog.

-”What…What did I do wrong…She never loved me even if I wanted her heart too much…I did a lot for her…?” My voice is completely broken, like a glass jar. It echoes throughout the car even if it is extremely low.

Jessy never seems to have seen a boy cry, my dad would be disappointed in me. I look at her, her pale green eyes lightning mine.

She hugs me.

-"I'm sorry, Jake." She whispers in my ear and squeezes her arms in my neck.

I tried, tried a lot but my efforts were in vain. She never loved me, and she didn't hide it as she hid on her prairie when we were little.

I close my eyes, my throat is completely dry but I still try to let go of the stress.

As I always did when I was adolescent, but I cut myself and sometimes I still use it...I did it because the stress was deadly and I couldn't deal with it. Maybe I'm happy to be an adult, or maybe not.

Even though I am now known as a criminal, with a gun in his hand and a heart at the bottom of his body. I accept destiny, like a child without parents in a street...Without a home and a destination, but maybe the destination I want to reach comes from my heart.

The love that has not been returned, and never will.

#duskwood AU #duskwood jake #duskwood jessy #duskwood family #duskwood #duskwood everbyte #duskwood fandom #duskwood mc #duskwood au #duskwood game #love y'all <33 #<33

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