#cleaner dot flow

[windmills123]

.flow week 2025 day 4 - free day !!

[whambamsami]

private show pt.2

summary: what happens in the private showroom, stays in the private showroom...stripper!bucky pt.2

pt. 1 pt.3

warnings: 18+ language, alcohol, almost smut! i promise theyre gonna fuck like bunnies in the next part of this lmao

note: if this doesnt flow super well im sorry, i didnt proofread and i did rush it a bit! i also dont totally understand how tag lists work so forgive me if i messed that up too haha, small chance i delete this and try to make it a bit cleaner!

taglist!: @sebastians-love @marianastudiesart @bowscale @staley83 @opheliabbarnes @hhyukasworld @unicornqueen05 @defn0tonyourleft <3

If the bouncer noticed your nerves, he didn’t let on. He just pulled back the plush red curtain and waved you in. 

You stepped inside before you could decide against it. 

The door shuts with a soft click.

The room smells like leather and cologne. Dim lights flicker warm over plush velvet seating. Your heart’s pounding in your chest. And you’re frozen where you stand.

Because in the center of the room, the man you’d seen on the stage was leaning against a pole, shirtless now, glistening faintly in the warm, low light. One silver chain resting against his collarbone, made of the same metal that made up his left arm. Tattoos dotted his chest and abs, thin black ink delicately drawing your eyes lower. A dangerous smirk on his lips. 

Bucky, they had said his name was.

Wonder if that was his real name.

“Oh.” You breathed.

His smirk turned wolfish. 

“So you’re the girlfriend,” he said, voice low and deep as he stepped closer. “Didn’t expect you to say yes.”

“...And if I had said no?” 

“Then I guess I would have had to come out there and ask in person,” he said, eyes raking over you. “And that could’ve gotten messy.”

You sputter just for a second before catching yourself.

“I- yeah. Thanks for the rescue. I really appreciate it.”

He tilted his head. “The rescue?” 

“Yeah. Saved me from my asshole boyfriend and his gross friends. I owe you.”

That made him pause for a beat. Considering. Calculating. 

Then he’s back in control like nothing happened.

“Is that what you think this is?” he smiled gently, stepping even closer.

You blink. “Um. Yeah? You got me away from Nick and made him look like a jackass. Not exactly a hard thing to do, but still-credit where credit’s due.”

Bucky laughed-low and rough, like gravel wrapped in velvet. He had a nice laugh, you thought. 

“Sweetheart”- and you do a great job of showing how that nickname doesn’t affect you one bit, you’re sure of it- “I didn’t save you. I picked you.”

Your stomach did something traitorous as he popped the champagne, and you didn’t miss the evil glint in his eyes when the head of the bottle was swallowed by frothy foam before he could capture it with the flutes. 

He handed you a glass. 

You needed it. 

“What does that mean?” 

He leaned in, his voice dropping to something that wrapped around your spine like silk.

“It means I saw you sitting out there, looking like you were five seconds from either crying or setting the place on fire, and I figured you could use a reminder that not everyone in the room is a complete asshole.” 

Great. More pity. Just what you needed.

But then he continued.

“And I could see your thighs squeezing together when you saw me. All the way from up on the stage.”

You let out a soft breath, surprised at how much that hit you.

But he wasn’t done. 

“It also means,” he added, reaching out to brush a lock of hair behind your ear, “I wasn’t gonna let some sweaty, insecure little prick keep looking at you like you were an object. Not when I know exactly how a woman should be treated, how you deserve to be treated.”

“Wow,” you breathe, almost to yourself, “you’re like… dangerously good at this.”

He grins. Like he had you right where he wanted you.

And suddenly the room around you felt like it was shrinking. You instinctively go to tug your dress down a bit, feeling overexposed. But he’s quicker, catching your hand in his own. 

“Don’t,” he murmurs, “you’re perfect like this.”

You should laugh it off. You should roll your eyes.

But you don’t.

Because the way he says it- like he means it-makes something deep inside you clench.

“I liked your show.” and it feels like a confession, like something you weren’t allowed to say out loud. 

“I know.” and you roll your eyes playfully before he cuts you off with, “So did your thighs.” 

You choke on your laugh.

“Confident, aren’t we?”

Bucky tilts his head a bit, and you can’t tell if he’s getting a better look at you or analyzing exactly where he needs to touch to make you weak.

“Don’t act shocked. You started it. Squeezing your thighs together while I was on stage? That’s flirting.”

“That’s called crossing my legs.”

“Cross them around my head next time, and we’ll call it even.”

You blink.

“Are you always this subtle?”

“Sweetheart,” he grins, “subtle gets you half the fun. You want subtle, go back to your boyfriend.”

You roll your eyes. “Ex-boyfriend.”

He takes another step forward. Then another. Gently leads you to sit on the red couch, so soft it felt like you were being sucked into it. God, you didn’t even want to think about what this room would look like if you turned on a blacklight- 

He straddles your lap.

And you forget how to breathe.

His knees bracket your legs, not quite touching you. His hands rest on his own thighs, muscles flexing just slightly, forearms thick and inked. 

He’s shirtless. You were clever enough to have noticed that when you first entered, but now, up close, it was all-consuming.

The glow of the lights dances across his chest, down his stomach, and whatever oil he must have used on himself amplifies every divot of his toned body. He must have spent years eating clean and hitting the gym to get this kind of figure. Every inch of him screams control.

He looks like a god. 

“You ever had a dance like this?” he asks softly. 

You shake your head, sure that it’s the last move you’ll make before you become paralyzed forever. 

“Good,” his voice is raspy, like he’s almost whispering, “I want to be your first.”

He leans forward, lips grazing the shell of your ear. 

“And your favorite.”

Then he moves.

His hips roll slow and deep, grinding just above your center, close enough to feel the heat of him through your clothes. His hands rest on the couch on either side of your shoulders, caging you in.

“How do you want this to go, doll?” he murmured, voice low and sinful “You want me slow? Gentle?”

You opened your mouth, but nothing came out. He was close-too close. You could smell him. Feel the heat coming off his skin.

“Or…” His metal hand gripped the back of the couch behind your head. “You want me to show you what your asshole boyfriend never could?”

He doesn’t touch you. Not yet.

But he doesn’t need to.

Because the way he watches your reaction-how your lips part in a silent gasp-it’s like he’s memorizing you.

You exhaled shakily.

“That one.” you say before your brain can catch up to your mouth, “That one sounds- sounds good.”

“Good,” he coos, “let’s make your boyfriend nice and jealous. Show him how a woman like you deserves to be treated.”

“God, can we please not talk about my boyfriend right now?” you mutter, doing your best to keep your hands rooted at your sides like you’re cuffed there.

Not a bad idea. 

He chuckles wickedly above you.

“You’re right, pretty girl. Sweet little thing like you, and he’s taking you to a dirty place like this? Doesn’t he know what happens when you don’t take care of your things?” he purrs, rolling his hips once more, closer this time, “Someone might take them away. Take better care of them. Someone like me.”

You hear a soft, pathetic whine pass your lips before you can stop yourself.

His mouth curls. 

“That’s my girl, let me hear it. Let me hear how much you want this.”

He’s licking up your neck, biting gently at your shoulder, sucking the sensitive spot where your neck and collarbone meet, nibbling at your earlobe.

“Bet he’s never touched you like this, doll. Never had you whining, begging for him, not like I do. And I haven’t even shown you my best moves.”

“What, the ones that require me to buy two drinks minimum?”

“Mmm. The ones I really want to try on you. The ones that might get me fired.”

Then he moved-really moved.

His hips were flush against yours. His abs brushed your chest as he leaned in, his breath ghosting over your cheek. And then he finally brought his hips to yours.

Slow. Deep. Grinding down like he already knew exactly where you needed him most.

You gasped.

Your hands shot out on instinct, landing on his thighs, hard muscle under your palms. Just as quickly as you touched him, you pull away, internally cringing at your lack of control. 

“Sorry, I-”

“What are you sorry for, doll? Touch me all you want.” and he’s grabbing your hand in his, the vibranium arm still rooted behind your head. He brings your shaking fingers to his lips, his eyes never leaving yours as he gives your fingers a soft kiss, and then he’s dragging your hand down his chest, letting you feel every smooth valley and crevice of his delicious body, still rolling his hips into yours. 

Your fingers curled around his legs as he rocked into you again-slower, rougher, the friction making the growing heat between your legs grow more intense, drawing a gasp from you. 

“God, the sounds you’re making,” he growled, pressing his forehead to yours. “You ever been this wet with your clothes still on?”

“Jesus, Bucky-” and he’s back to his attack on your neck.

You’re gonna think about this later, aren’t you?” he said against your skin. “Gonna lie in bed and replay this in your head…fingers between your thighs… wishing it was me.”

“Fuck,” you whimpered, rocking your hips up to meet his.

“There she is.”

You’re not even sure when it happens.

One second, Bucky’s hips are rolling slow and smooth against yours, his hands slipping beneath your dress in ways that definitely broke some rules, his voice wrecking you in your ear.

“You feel that, baby?”, he rasps, “That’s all me. For you.”

You’re just about to cave, to beg for him to just take you right there.

Then the door slams open.

“What the fuck?”

[shamrockqueen]

Omega retreat chapter 12

Pairing : Alpha Bucky x Omega Reader

Warnings : R18, fluff, descriptions of nudity

Word count : 1645

Bucky Masterlist

AO3 Link

Chapter 1 : Chapter 11

Your thighs felt sticky, mired with drying sweat and the slick dribble of his seed.

You tried to flex your legs, waking to the various cracks and pops of your weary bones. Your skin was chilled, small bursts of heat prickling against the cold morning air before bursting over your body as you slowly started to wake. Your vision seemed cloudy, the green trees blurring out and the daylight slipping past nearly unnoticed.

You couldn’t remember the last time you’d left this bed, couldn’t remember your last meal, or any moment your belly was filled by food. Nothing had been more important than chasing that heated high and satiating that needy little monster within you, and for now she was so eerily quiet.

What day was it now, and which morning was this?

Your aching head swam with half-cocked thoughts as you fought to kick the sheets that stuck to your damp body. Glowing memories of nights previous echoed against each throbbing corner of your brain. There were his slow moments, moving languidly like a blur. A soft caress of your tits, a thumb brushing a sensitive bud before rolling it between his fingers. It was all so raw, so hungry; it was something so beautifully savage.

You barely recalled the things he’d whispered, his growls deafened by his lips being pressed to your skin, leaving you polka-dotted with reds and purples sucked on or bitten into.

But, he’d said many of the things you should have expected from an alpha losing himself inside an omega. He was tempting you, asking that if you had the chance to be filled and bred, whether you’d let yourself grow big and round with his baby. Would you glow like they say women do? A happy, shining ember as a new life burned in your belly.

You shivered with every word of his you could recall. Every fantasy he lets you live. You’ve been allowed to do so much living after just meeting him in person. It really felt like a new lease on life, a new sensation of pleasure you’d never thought you’d feel.

Maybe you could, if you wanted, have a little family of your own. Maybe feel like an omega instead of an outsider holding one within.

Another knot, another bitten bruise left on your body. It was something you never thought you’d feel, and for the first time you were swimming peacefully through your heat instead of drowning. You felt real pleasure instead of a mindless pain that waxed and waned on the few times you allowed yourself a plastic knot. No, this was pleasure melting all over your body like the spread of dark chocolate lapped up by the flick of his hot tongue.

He was still sleeping, body slung over his side of the bed in a vulnerable lack of poise he could only afford while in a deep state of slumber. His hair was fanned around his face, a few stray tangles poking in either direction, and you felt emboldened to reach out and flick one around your middle finger.

You decide instead to finally leave the bed and venture into the bathroom for more than basic bodily functions. You definitely needed a shower, reeking of sex so good it made your head spin. A thick mix of slick and cum coupled with the twisting of your scent as it was invaded by his.

But, for now, you’d settle for brushing your teeth at the little sink, digging a lifting into your hygiene bag for some basic toiletries.

You don’t notice any discrepancies as you sought out a simple tube of toothpaste and its adjoining brush. Something just to help you feel fresh, maybe a little cleaner.

Same routine, different location, and you flow through the motions like it’s any morning before work. Minus your daily dose of caffeine, not that it would make you feel any more revived after all the strenuous exercise you’d gotten within such a small span of time.

Brush in circles, rinse with water, and spit. Your head is down, expelling the foaming mint spread to spatter into the porcelain bowl. You turned the knob at the sink to collect enough water to woosh and spit before standing back up to inspect your lips for smudges or toothpaste in the mirror.

You nearly leapt out of your skin at the sight of a large figure standing behind you in your reflection, a jolt of fear vibrating through you so quickly it was like a small shock of electricity before you recognized the face of this tall man.

“Jesus, you scared me.” You give him a laugh of relief, something small with a deep exhale from the breath you’d been holding.

“Sorry, doll.” Bucky smiled as he spoke, rubbing the sleep from one of his eyes before stepping up to slip his arms around your small shoulders.

“How’d you sleep?” He breathes each word along the tender skin behind your ear, fanning past your warm cheek.

Even after a short reprieve, you can say you didn’t miss this. Having him nearby, skin to skin, having him pressed to you as he made any old remnants of strife that dared to follow you seem smaller and smaller until it shrank away to nothing. You’d love to get used to this feeling.

“Like the dead.” You laughed moreso to yourself as you cupped some of the running water into your palm to clean up the spatters of white and blue you’d left behind in the sink.

You heard Bucky’s soft rumble of a laugh at yourself, and you finally looked back up at him. Your soft smile fell away with awe as you took in the entirety of him as his back was facing towards you. You’ve seen him in varying states of undress, even held his naked body against yours and felt nearly every inch with your small, nimble fingers.

But this, this was the whole masterpiece you had only seen in small patches of paint. Taut and tightly corded muscles along either side of his thick back. His ass looked soft like carefully sculpted marble, but with a quick flex of one of his powerful legs, you watched slack-jawed as the muscle made the cheek bob just once.

You let yourself overindulge in the sight, blissfully unaware that as his body turned and the front of him became visible, he very easily caught you staring. You couldn’t pry your eyes away, not when the chiseled planes of his stomach and abdominal muscles all came into view.

He smiles that sexy, sweet grin, smug at the lingering stare of admiration as it fanned his ego, all before clearing his throat to break the spell he seemed to unintentionally cast upon you.

You blink back, realizing you were ogling this man who’d already given himself to you as if he were a rare slab of marbled beef.

“Oh fuck, m’sorry.” You sputtered out as you busied your fingers to knock the water off your brush before putting it away.

Bucky’s eyes lingered on you for the split second your digits had dipped into that small hygiene bag. Letting out a bated breath when you zipped it shut without any further investigation.

His smile reappeared, bubbling into a soft chuckle. “No, it’s fine. You can look all you want, babe."

He leaned in past the glass door to the shower, turning the knob to ignite the showerhead with a downpour of hot water. This was before he turned back with that delicious grin.

“But, you don’t have to just stare.” His voice rumbled through the air with a low purr.

“Hm?” You were so far out of your element without the cloud of heat forcing you to reach for the things you desired most. You didn’t have to give a passing glance; you’ve been doing far more than just looking at this man for the better part of the last few days.

“Care to join me?” He asked, snapping your focus back into this beautiful reality with the lilt of his voice.

“Oh? Really?” You squeaked back, a bit of disbelief.

You never ceased to amuse him, a sentiment that was easily heard as he continued to speak. “There’s that shy girl I met, I was wondering when I’d see her again.”

“I’m sorry..it’s just.”

“No, don’t apologize. It’s cute.” His long lashes fluttered, fanning the warm blue of his eyes as he looked you over, taking in each nervous step as well as the small dribble of sweat that trailed down from your hair to hide behind your neck.

“It’s much different than the omega that tried to claw her way under my clothes.”

“I wasn’t myself, I guess.” You held onto the sink as you batted back in the conversation, better to steady yourself.

“It’s still you, doll. Just another side.” The soft tap of his toes hitting the tiled floor thrummed in your ears, in contrast to his previous covert steps as he slowly strides closer.

“I like them both.” He hummed, reaching over the small sink to cup his hand over top of yours, pressing warmth into your already tepid skin before pushing your fingers from the granite to sweep them into his grasp.

“Thank you..You don’t know how much that means to me.” The words stumbled off your tongue, they seemed so silly to say after the last couple of days.

His grin seemed to waver, something heavy weighing on it so that it dropped only slightly before swept his tongue between his lips to push the pressure away.

“So..you gonna join me? I’d love the company.”

He waited, one foot pointed outward as he was ready to hear you whisper ‘Yes’ so he could wish you away under the warm downpour of the shower and tight squeeze of his welcoming embrace.

Chapter 13

Tags : @meowmeowyoongles @black-cat-2 @cjand10 @bethyruth @scott-loki-barnes @wintrsoldrluvr @buckysdoll85 @lendeluxe @meowmeowyoongles @magnoliamermaid @heletsmelovehim @mcira @buckysbaby-doll @serendipitouslife90 @unicornicopia1 @animegirlgeeky @matchat3a @darkdemeter @iwudbutnah @winterslove1917 @daddytonysgirl17 @jvanilly @kandis-mom @onyxwolf @thebuckybarnesvault @nicestgirlonline @jbuckybarnesfan @val-writesstuff @ozwriterchick @bumblee-beezzz @cringeycookies @castiels-favorite-hunter @bohemianrhapsody86 @lillianacristina @cadencejames87 @teambarnes72 @ashychangeling @samuelkwinchester @nightofthesea @blackbirdwitch22 @mizunogamii @snapcapquartet @openup-yourmind @ashychangeling @krissydclayton93 @rivernell @futuristiczipperpeachcash

[girlballs]

is their a general overview of the niche of each kind of magic in lesser beast(both in gameplay and like, general theme, like life might be in gameplay healing and buff and in themes plants, for a lot of them the themes obvious but for example how is shadow, void, death, and soul visually or thematically distinct?)

i don't think i've made a Comprehensive post about this yet? but i can do that real quick. also keep in mind these are general descriptions, there's multiple types of magic for each element that can vary a bit (e.g. fire has Wild Fire and Flame Sorcery which are pretty similar, but Solar Sorcery has its own vibes) and also some unique spells that don't fit the usual magic schools

Fire magic is pretty straightforward thematically, it's literally just fire (Wild Fire magic has more of a "thick smoky fire" vibe and Fire Sorcery has a cleaner appearance). gameplay wise fire's main thing is the Burn status effect for DoT

Mind magic is all about geometry motifs visually (lots of projectiles are platonic solids, for instance), and gameplay wise it's like. instead of having Normal/Strong cast inputs like other spells as an analogue to light/heavy attacks, Strong cast for Mind spells triggers some secondary behavior after the spell has been cast

Light magic is thematically kind of organic and goopy, like flowing liquid light for the visuals. gameplay wise it's more of a support element- stuff like debuff cleansing and self-buff spells, although the offensive spells have the shared gimmick of being essentially hitscan instead of projectiles (+ stuff like the Force miracles from Dark Souls)

Storm magic has two major subcategories, wind and lightning, with the former type doing physical damage instead of actual elemental Storm damage. wind stuff does hella poise damage and lightning stuff has the Shock debuff (you get stunned and take a chunk of damage) as well as some stuff that chains between multiple enemies

Ice magic is also pretty straightforwardly Ice Themed, and its gameplay niche is stamina damage/max stamina penalties and shit that lingers on the ground (which, in pvp contexts, is stuff you have to jump over instead of dodging through)

Earth magic is primarily geomancy stuff, lots of flinging rocks around and launching *yourself* around by upheaving the ground under you. there's also buffs for boosting poise which is meant to be paired with the more melee-oriented spells

Life magic is mainly plant themed but there's also some "literally using your own blood to cast spells" stuff. mainly a support element, this is where 99% of the normal healing spells live

Shadow magic is very smoke-and-fog themed visually for the non-offensive spells (invisibility, short range teleporting, some spells to bypass locked shit, etc), and the offensive ones are largely focused on summoned ephemeral weapons both as melee spells and projectiles (i.e. the basic ranged shadow spell is effectively just summoning arrows) which all partially or completely ignore blocking

Death magic is weird since it's mainly focused on summoning minions and debuffing enemies instead of dealing damage directly, but there's some like tentacle and skeletal themed stuff for sucking the MP out of enemies. also minions are gonna be partially skeletal versions of existing enemies

Holy magic is visually all about spectral chains and runic circles, and holy spears show up as a motif in some of the offensive spells that aren't just "blast dudes with golden light". also mechanically there's a Paralyzed debuff (pins an enemy in place but doesn't deal damage) and a Purify effect that removes buffs from the target

Dragon magic is split into two main groups, transformation magic that temporarily gives you draconic features (wings for air mobility, tail for big sweeps, etc.) and Draconic Duelist spells that summon bound weapons with like a funky twilight sky color palette. There's also a subset of duelist spells that are like weapon arts that occupy spell slots, and can only be cast with special dragon weapons

Void magic has some aesthetic overlap with Fire, but void flames are black + deep red and notably don't emit any light. Void has debuffs that prevent poise regeneration, and also some grapple attacks meant to be used on other players

Cosmic magic is star (excluding the sun) and celestial body themed. lots of opening tiny portals into space to chuck star particles and comets at people, or yoink them around with gravity (represented as deep blue/black ripples and refraction effects)

Magma magic is obviously magma and lava themed, lots of hot rocks and hot goop. shares the "lingering ground hazard" stuff with Ice magic and also features a lot of "buffs that have tradeoffs" stuff like "you do more poise damage but you're constantly taking damage over time"

Soul magic is weird and i'm actually not settled on the aesthetics or vibes still. it was originally gonna be "spells that cost HP, and spells that are more effective at low HP" mechanically but i'm not really 100% digging that concept honestly

Chaos magic is. green. the whole thing visually is that there's no consistent theme because the spells are all twisted versions of existing spells, with the connecting thread of the Volatile debuff (you explode and get launched into the air). so you've got e.g. Chaos Firespear which chucks a big spear of green fire with a DoT that builds up Volatile over time, Chaos Lightning Bolt calls green lightning from a distance and chains to other enemies to inflict Volatile, etc.

holy shit that was a long answer sorry

[normalguy100]

reality-warping being inhabiting your office that loves when you piss yourself - part 1

you're almost done with your work project, almost almost almost -

you're the last person in the office. all the other cubicles are empty and the lights are off. the only thing allowing you to see your keyboard is the bluish-white glow emanating from your monitor.

you have to piss really, really fucking bad.

you're glad that no one else is here, actually, and glad that the business you work for is too small for security cameras, because you gave up on the facade of pretending you don't have to go around half an hour ago. your legs are squeezed together, one of your hands jammed in your crotch to help hold back the flow. but you're almost done with this project. you type in the last few sentences of your email one-handed, insert your files in the attachments section, and hit send.

"finally," you think, and at the realization that you're actually done and can go relieve yourself, your bladder releases a little spurt of piss. no, no, not yet! you stand up, eying your empty water bottle with serious consideration. but, no. you don't want to. you like that water bottle. you'll never be able to drink out of it again if you piss in it. the bathroom is just down the hall.

with that, you hurry out of your department and down the hall towards the bathroom. the doors of various other departments whizz past as you move as quickly as you can in your current state. it feels so much more urgent now, without your work to distract you. every step emphasizes the pressure, and it seems like the bathroom can't possibly be this far away. it's just down the hall!

you continue on down the hall, both hands buried in your crotch. it's not like anyone is going to see you, and if you don't hold yourself you're pretty sure it's going to come out. your job doesn't have nightly cleaners, and people will connect the dots if they see a huge fucking puddle in the morning. they know you were the last to leave.

finally, finally, you get to the end of the hall, with a staircase going down into the lobby. you halt in confusion. you *know* that there should have been a bathroom between your office and here, you have to go. it's so bad you can barely think, and another little leak exits you. there's now a very, very present wet spot in the front of your underwear, and the quickly cooling wetness is not helping you hold the rest of the flood back. you let out a groan. you must have missed the bathroom in your haste to reach it. you turn around and start to head back towards where it must be.

it's a difficult, arduous journey back towards your department, and you leak again during it. to your dismay, you don't run into the bathroom despite your sharpened attention. it's like it's somehow vanished from existence. you arrive back at the door to your department and turn around, stalking determinedly now. you will not miss the bathroom again.

you only make it past a few more department doors when you leak again, longer this time, and realize that whatever is going on, you're not going to be able to hold it any longer.

you run back towards your own department, now ready to just give up and piss in your water bottle, but the door doesn't come, only the doors of departments you don't recognize. you rattle at one of their knobs, determined to at least find a trash can or something to piss in so you don't just leave a puddle in the hall. the door doesn't budge. you drop the handle and try another. nothing.

"no, no, no no no," you mumble under your breath. you run down the hall, not even knowing what you're looking for at this point. you just need to get out of there. but there is no out. you're leaking every few seconds, now, completely uncontrollably, until you have to stop.

it's coming out.

trying to clench your body's muscles does nothing, holding yourself does nothing. you can't stop the flow of piss exiting your body. the already-present dark patch on the front of your pants growing in size as rivulets stream down between your legs. your legs turn to jelly as you void yourself completely, and you fall to your knees. it feels endless. it soaks your socks and dribbles into your shoes.

when you stand up, whole body shuddering with the aftershocks of relief, the bathroom door is right there, as if mocking you.

"oh, come on," you complain.

you sponge at your pants in front of the sink, take your socks off, and then get an armful of paper towels to clean up at least some of your mess, but when you step out of the bathroom, the puddle is just... gone.

as you leave the building, the halls are once again their normal lengths, and the sound of the metal handrail on the stairs seems almost cheerful.

you find your car in the parking lot, and take one last look at the office building. a light flashes, on and off. it's your window, the one by your cubicle. you stare at the building for a moment more before driving home

[bubblewrapsnek]

Phantomarine Live reread: Prologue

I'm anticipating the reread before the chapter finishes cause I want to read it now again, altho I wanted to wait the chapter to be over to have a cleaner finish line for mental order and to avoid posing questions to things that would be maybe have more ground to speculate on or outright be answered in a few days This is my first time rereading Phantomarine, so if anyone is actually goint to read these posts expect me to come to realizations about stuff that everyone knew ages ago probably, also it's my first time liveblogging something since a friend suggested it could be appreciated, I am not convinced there would be interested but it can't hurt I guess. That said I hate the idea of clogging with posts and like keeping stuff a bit more tidy, so I'll post one post per chapter with my thoughts, silly ramblings and whatever comes to my mind that I feel like sharing while trying to put my thoughts in order

So uhh if you exist and are reading, have fun and feel free to interact!

First thing I'll not here with a few examples and try to not say everytime, but I can't help seeing how the royal family brands EVERYTHING with the Manta, I swear you could fill a where's waldo book by searching the mantas in Phantomarine's pages at this A manta hat, manta drawer, manta desk, and a manta polo in just the first pages, I swear they have a disney park-esque gift shop outside the palace

A manta hat, manta drawer, manta desk, and a manta polo in just the first pages, I swear they have a disney park-esque gift shop outside the palace

Bonus neat things, the candle has the same pattern as Cheline's dress and there is what I guess is a samoyede on Irving's shirt

Next thing is something I hadn't noticed before but I've seen already people point out in the comments now, Irving having very clearly pink eyes, at first I thought it might have been lighting but in the pages where he is alive they are very clearly pink, and even when in shock the characters get drawn with pinprick irises, while the others get black dots he has pink and is even more blatant in the shot with the Fata morgana stabbing them where he is eye to eye with a Fata with the same eyes

Bonus: alive Lani is very cute

I pointed the next thing in another post but I love how Cheline wanted to be sure to scapegoat the Fata Morgana so much she painted the arrows and bow too with Cheth's name bands(confirmed to be painted on by the transcript too altho it was the only possible reason they had those bad with what we know now), also I love that the cyan outline was faintly on the Fata Morgana's eye from the beginning

I am also getting suspicious about the ghosts being blue and the veins(referred as such in the transcript) that spread from the bite being purple, tho I don't have a concrete or sound thought about this

Also, something I love a lot in comics is paneling so some of this won't be thoughts but just panels that are really pretty or fun or creative here I love how the action flows very well, having many details making what happens readable such as the "magic" squares making phae's body on the bottom edge of the silouhette in the middle also appear on the heart, showing the wound being "repaired"

Love the veins snaking behind her

Something I had completely glossed over was Phae's middle name being Augusta, and I do find it possible to have a reading on it, as Augustus was the name and title that Octavian took as the first emperor of rome, the member of a what can be considered a royal lineage establishing the name for himself and becoming a key turning point in the history of an empire, just as I can see Phae become the turning point for the history of her reign, a change of the guard and of the status quo of the kingdom she watches over

End in the end, to finish the prologue of this reread, a funny typo Cheth appears, tipping his fedora: "M'Phaedra"

[sorryimananti-romantic]

Horizon (Chapter 1)

series masterlist

faerieprince!san x oc

royal/fantasy au, soulmate au

chapter wc: ~20k

chapter warnings: fluff, angst, tragedy, violence warnings, mention of death/su!cide, past traumas, a lot of atz interactions

chapter synopsis: gaeul gains consciousness after coming back from the dead, finding her magic reversing. the eight faerie princes and the princess can feel her presence disrupting the flow of nature. as wooyoung comes across gaeul and offers his help along with jongho, san arrives and finds that his connection with gaeul is unique. they start connecting dots and realise this might be the doing of an old enemy. seonghwa and yena worry it might be a result of a time anomaly. elsewhere, hongjoong sets to investigate the source and the case of the missing faeries with mingi, yeosang and yunho.

All Gaeul knew as dark spots started appearing in front of her eyes was the utter wrongness of this all.

All that she knew nothing of.

Nothing made sense anymore. The pain coursing through her body made her hurl her guts out into the potted plant in front of her and she almost fainted. She barely heard the passersby panic as they watched her skin turn from a dangerous pale to a flushed colour, to their surprise. Usually it was the other way.

Gaeul's head threatened to explode with the pain. She couldn't register anything at that moment. She didn't feel two wrinkly yet feminine hands grab her by the arms. She didn't feel someone carry her on their back. Neither did she recall how exactly she passed out.

She just knew that everything was wrong. She was supposed to be dead, yet she was breathing-

Everything was wrong, wrong, wrong-

—----------------

The glass of wine shattered dramatically on the floor, the red colour of the drink staining the white rug, to everyone's disappointment but more so surprise. San blinked a few times as if coming out of a trance.

"Are you okay?" Seokmin frowned, for once worried, unlike his usually cheerful and 'everything is fun and games unless someone is dying' manner. Though one could argue that he worried more than the rest. 

San nodded, resting his hand on the ash ends of his overgrown hair. He bent down to pick up the shards but one of the cleaners made it disappear with a wave of his hand. San nodded in silent thanks.

"You don't look like it, man, I'm just saying," San’s Right Hand glanced at Mingyu who nodded, the two of them ganging up to stare at San. "You've been more clumsy ever since we came back from Wooyoung’s kingdom four months ago."

“I think he’s been clumsier ever since Antares.”

Antares, in Hongjoong's Kingdom. The City of Lights, representative of the Prince of Light itself. The place where everything concluded. 

Everything, San summed it up in his head. The past two years had been the strangest of his life. He had somehow ended up meeting Yeosang's lost twin, Yena. The Princess of Space to the Prince of Spirit. San had also ended up helping the Lost Princess who wasn't aware of her identity at that time. During that process, he helped reclaim her powers and brought her back into everyone's life. Watched her battle her worst enemy who was once her best friend. Watched her fall in love with Seonghwa, the Prince of Dark. What a pair they made-

"San?" Mingyu called out and San hummed in response, aware that he hadn't really been listening to whatever he had said. "Where's your mind right now?"

"Away, away," San almost sang, playing it off with a smile sent at his guard. "Lost in the complexity of time and space."

"I get that," Seokmin agreed. "Sometimes when I'm working, this sudden realisation dawns upon me- ahh, that's what happened! You know? You suddenly recall something and realise how fate played us all for Princess Yena."

"Exactly," San laughed. "I mean, we did relive some piece of our life twice because she time travelled to save Seonghwa. I like to think back and wonder how it happened."

"You've been doing a lot of that lately. You don't look well, San," Mingyu was worried. "You've been way too clumsy on your feet. You'd think as the Prince of Earth, you'd be steadier."

"I've only grown weary," San got up, looking pointedly at the two of his closest court members. "I just need to rest. I'm absolutely fine. Don't get your knickers in a twist."

“There’s also the matter of the missing faeries- the number has risen from two to six in the last few months,” Seokmin sighed, showing San the reports. San scrolled through them, not really reading but thinking as Seokmin explained. “No traces detected. But a common occurrence is that all of them went missing in the thick of the forest or near the river. One witness reported some sort of a creature-”

“Could be a shapeshifter who’s doing the deed then,” San tossed the reports. “Send guards at the sites to investigate- and go along with them, the both of you. I need you two to report to me as soon as possible.”

Before the two of them could protest, San strolled outside the office, walking casually enough to his chamber. Once he was in the privacy of his room, he rushed to the sink and washed his face with cold water, watching his hands shake.

His heart had sank dangerously a few minutes ago- it wasn't the usual nervousness. It was a sign that something was wrong in this land- something so wrong unlike anything he had ever felt before. Maybe the ‘creature’ wasn’t even a faerie at all. Maybe that’s what it was.

Something was absolutely, utterly wrong. And it was calling out to him.

—----------------

"Madame! Wake up! Can you hear me?"

Gaeul clenched her eyes shut, wondering if she could cease to exist. But the voice only grew louder, forcing her to reality and she opened her eyes after a few not so gentle taps to her cheek.

"You need to drink this," the old woman forced the tip of the bowl to her mouth, making Gaeul swallow the bitter liquid that could only be medicine. She wanted to tell her that no medicine would work on her. How she knew that, she wasn't aware but she just knew, and she had only proven it in the previous few days as she threw up anything she ate, bleeding from her nose or eyes a few times a day, fainting horribly and whatnot. 

The healers believed she was cursed at this point. They had never seen a faerie who could be in this condition and not simply die. It's like the very thing that had forced her into this condition was also the thing keeping her alive.

"Where am I?" Gaeul asked, aware that she didn't have much time before she would start feeling sick again. She looked at the various shelves lined with jars of what looked like anything from food to medicine to potions. A few frames of what looked like her family sat on the table by the fireplace.

"It's my house but also a clinic," the woman passed her a wet towel to wipe her face.

"No, I mean… What city? What kingdom?"

"Oh dear," she tucked Gaeul's dark hair behind her ears. "You're in Nunki. Kingdom of Sagittarius? Prince Wooyoung's territory? Recall how you got here?"

Oh she recalled, alright. Somehow, she had found herself in the middle of a forest, no memory of how she had gotten there. Gaeul recalled bits and pieces- something that she wasn't sure was memory, past life, or worse. Or maybe it was both- she had no idea. All she recalled right now was what might have been her 'death'- killed by the man with hair the colour of blood. Why? She did not recall.

But if it really was a recent memory, how was she alive without a scar of that blow? How was she here, existing? Or was it just her imagination, a dream? Gaeul almost scratched her hair out and the old woman who had gone to get her some snacks frowned at her. 

"Maybe we should take you to the High Healers. I've never heard or seen something like this, I'll tell you the truth. I can't do much except give you rejuvenating potions."

"Uh, thank you, but I think I'll pass-" she coughed, her hand reflexively going to cover her mouth, feeling something wet- blood. 

Internal bleeding? Great, she thought. Just what she needed.

"Yeah… I think not," the woman rolled her sleeves determinedly, setting her herbs down. "Wash up if you can, I'm calling the carriage."

Gaeul decided she was too weak to protest so she got up with immense struggle and made it to the toilet, retching her guts out and crying before coming out.

"See? You look a mere second away from death. Let's go."

—--------------

“Ah, the air doesn’t smell right these days.”

“Maybe you should admit that your sense of smell has gotten weak,” Siyeon looked at her Prince. Wooyoung frowned at her.

“I’m the Prince of Air. There’s no way my sense of smell can get bad.”

“Maybe he just sniffed himself,” Changbin commented as he walked in front of the two, dumping their camping bags in front of them unceremoniously. “What do you think?”

Siyeon grinned and Wooyoung shook his head at his Right Hand and Guard. “You lot will never understand.”

After bickering back and forth for a few moments while the three set up their tent, Wooyoung went to wash his face at the stream just a few feet ahead while Changbin and Siyeon looked at each other, worried. 

“You’re thinking what I’m thinking?” Changbin asked.

“Last time he smelled something funny, it was Princess Yena. Remember how he complained about smelling something strange ever since she stepped on this continent?”

“That’s what I’m saying,” Changbin watched the Prince wipe his face and look at the mountains distantly. “I mean, everything’s been peaceful. It’s been more than two years, yeah?”

“Yeah,” Siyeon bit her lip nervously. “Let me casually ask him what exactly smells so strange to him later.”

“You two look awfully serious,” Wooyoung commented as he walked back, sitting in front of the wood that Siyeon had gathered. Siyeon sat cross-legged in front of him, lighting a fire with a click of her fingers. 

“We’re not always cackling like someone I know,” she grinned and Wooyoung rolled his eyes. 

“I have to admit that it’s nice to be out,” he leaned back, looking up at the cloudy sky. “I haven’t really had time to breathe ever since we came back from Antares, isn’t that so?”

“Yep,” Changbin said. “It was busier than we expected.”

“Well, the Lost Princess was found and now she rightfully sits on her throne. The people still have mixed feelings.”

“Can’t blame them, but if they knew of the hell that she, that you all have been through for peace to come… I think they will stop complaining.”

“Well, we can’t exactly tell people that the Princess went back in time and travelled different dimensions to defeat the monster- that darkling who could very well have destroyed our planet,” Wooyoung looked at Siyeon, having proven his point, inhaling deeply and wrinkling his nose. 

“You still smell something funny?” Changbin teased.

“What exactly can you smell?” Siyeon asked casually. 

“I don’t know, is what’s strange,” Wooyoung sighed, looking grim. “It’s not far. But it’s… nothing I’ve ever smelt before. With Yena, I could feel her magic and tell that it resembled Yeosang, but this? This just smells… wrong, somehow. Not of this world. I can’t really pinpoint the source either.”

Siyeon straightened- as the Prince’s Right Hand, jokes and teasing aside, she knew never to take anything he said unseriously. “Do you think it’s a darkling?”

“No, it’s not that,” Wooyoung looked sure, sniffing the air again for good measure. “If faeries, minus their magic scent, smell like honey, darklings have this inherent ‘burnt’ scent. Like burnt wood- not necessarily the bad kind. I can’t smell magic on whatever this thing is. I only smell… burnt honey. Does that make sense?”

Changbin couldn’t help but scoff at that. “A mix?”

“No, no, nevermind what I just said,” Wooyoung straightened. “This just smells… wrong. Like it’s not supposed to be here. Look at this,” Wooyoung slid his sleeve up, showing the raised hair on his arms. “I literally have goosebumps just after a whiff of it.”

“What if it’s your soulmate?” Siyeon wiggled her brows and Wooyoung narrowed his eyes at her.

“I don’t think my soulmate would smell wrong to me, Siyeon. Jokes aside, should we inspect?”

“Isn’t today your day off?” Changbin asked.

“Well,” Wooyoung got up, brushing his clothes, shaking his head so the dark tendrils of his hair messed up before he swept them back. “I don’t think us Princes can ever have a day off. And there’s also the matter of the missing faeries. There really can’t be peace even among the same race, huh?”

Siyeon scoffed. “Our fathers gave their lives to transport all faerie-kind to this planet, away from the cruelty of humans and darklings, and all it takes is two decades before we start acting like the very creatures we ran away from.”

“Let’s hope it is only a faerie, Siyeon,” Wooyoung looked grim. “Let’s hope.”

—----------------

Gaeul was pretty sure that she had passed out for most of the carriage ride before the woman stopped the carriage, waking her up. 

“We’ve travelled for six hours now. I stopped two hours ago too but you were out cold. Now is the time to wash up and eat something. We’re stopping at an inn, come on now.”

Gaeul sat up straight, waiting for her head to stop spinning. “Are we staying here for the night?”

“That’s right,” she said, extending a hand and Gaeul took it as she jumped down, grateful the woman had not put her in a dress- just loose trousers and a shirt. “Come on, let’s get you inside and see if you can eat.”

She ordered soup and bread for Gaeul and she played with the bread, not feeling very hungry though her stomach grumbled. “Why are you helping me?”

“Why not?” She said, urging Gaeul to eat. “I’m not going to ask you to return the favour, if that’s what you’re worried about. I’m just doing my duty. I’m going to drop you off at the High Healers and then you can forget about me, if that’s what you wish.”

“No, no, I… I didn’t mean it like that. Thank you for helping me,” Gaeul folded her arms, hugging herself. “It’s just… I wish I hadn’t been a burden to you.”

“Well, thanks to you, I get to meet my old friends in the palace,” the woman smiled and Gaeul sighed internally.

The Palace. She had forgotten the High Healers resided in the same space as the Prince. She briefly wondered if she would get to see Prince Wooyoung from afar. 

“I can’t eat more,” Gaeul apologised and the woman told her not to force herself. She led her to a room, Gaeul taking the mattress and sitting down in front of the window, staring wistfully at the two suns that lit the sky, the purple one brighter than the orange, casting a dark but purple glow across the night sky with a slight orange tint. 

Now that her head was clearer, she could recall something that felt like her own life, yet she watched it through a third eye. Fragments of herself playing on the beach, using her magic to grow flowers out of thin air or breathe life into dying animals- was she a healer? She couldn’t exactly recall. Gaeul raised her hands in the air, willing some sort of magic to come to her but she felt worse than empty. There was this pit in her heart that she was sure had never been there before. And it felt wrong.

Gaeul tried harder but it only made blood trickle down her nose and before she could wipe it, she fainted into the endless bliss. 

—-----------------

Yena woke up covered in sweat and out of breath again.

She was glad Seonghwa was beside her. He was sleeping peacefully and Yena smiled at that, sliding out of the covers careful not to wake him up as she tiptoed to the bathroom, wanting to take off everything and just sit in some cold water. 

She let the cold water soak her body, sliding down the tub until the tip of her chin touched the surface. She shut her eyes and tried to recall if she had seen a nightmare, but as the several times before, she knew she had seen no dream or nightmare. She had simply woken up, feeling that something wasn’t right. 

This feeling wasn’t new to Yena at all. Her magic was very sensitive and she could sense something wrong even when her magic was blocked and she wasn’t aware of her identity. But this feeling was new, and it unsettled her in ways that she couldn’t explain. Like an impending doom. 

She almost jumped out of her skin when she felt Seonghwa’s hand on her hand, sighing in relief when she opened her eyes and saw it was only her husband. Seonghwa frowned but smiled. “What’s wrong, love? You didn’t even sense me coming.”

“I was just thinking,” Yena squeezed Seonghwa’s hand. 

��That same feeling again? Woke you up?”

“Yeah,” she slid further down in the tub, her blonde hair floating around her. “Something isn’t right in this… world right now, Seonghwa. I don’t know how big or small it is, if it’s here on this planet or in one of my dimensions or on another planet, but… something that is not supposed to exist is present- I can feel it. Tell me you feel it too.”

Seonghwa hesitated but finally nodded- Yena, of all people, should know. “I don’t know how exactly but I just know that it’s dark in nature- not necessarily a darkling,” Seonghwa added when he felt Yena tense. “It’s not that. It’s… something or someone, and if it’s a person, it’s not a darkling. I can’t say if it’s a faerie either. I just know that it is out of place. It shouldn’t be here.”

“So you can feel the darkness in magic too, Prince of Dark?”

“That’s the thing which is confusing me,” Seonghwa sighed. I can’t really feel any sort of magic. Not yet. Maybe it’s not magical, whatever this is.”

“Seonghwa,” Yena shut her eyes. She didn’t need to say more- Seonghwa could hear it anyway since he was touching her. Yena pushed her thoughts in his mind-

I’m so tired. Whatever this is… it’s wearing me out. I’m not ready for whatever it is. But… I know that I can’t ignore it either.

Seonghwa squeezed her hand, leaning down to plant a soft kiss on her lips. “You’re not alone this time. All of us are with you. Let me send a message to the others, see if they’ve felt something amiss too. Let’s rest for now, eh?”

Yena nodded, splashing water on her face that merged with the tears that rolled down her eyes before Seonghwa could see it.

—--------------------

Gaeul couldn’t breathe.

She woke up in the middle of the night, out of breath. The calm and chill breeze flowing through the open window did nothing to calm her down. She had to go outside, right now. She almost shook the woman awake but decided against it, stumbling down the stairs and making her way out and gasping for air as if she was being suffocated.

This wasn’t anything new. Many times her healer had caught her outside, unconscious, mostly a bloody mess. She would try to wake her up for a few moments before giving up and dragging her back. But this time…

Gaeul didn’t feel sick. For the first time in whatever length of time had passed, Gaeul suddenly could see and feel. Her head had never been clearer. 

As if in a trance, Gaeul looked at her hands, sinking to the ground and picking up a wilting daisy. Gaeul tried recalling how her magic worked- it was second nature to her, from what she had recalled so far.

Gaeul shut her eyes, trying to reach her heart and will her magic to unleash, but the pit, that goddamned endless pit in her heart called to her and-

Gaeul was down memory lane. The redhead who had killed her mercilessly- why? What crime had she committed? Was it a past life? If so, why did she not remember anything-

“Are you okay?” She heard the familiar voice of the healer and it pulled her out of her trance. Gaeul turned her neck back to look at the woman who approached her cautiously.

“I just needed some air,” Gaeul got up, exhaling. “Did I wake you up?”

“No, I just felt strange. Woke up to see you weren’t there with me so I decided to check. Are you sure you feel okay?”

“Yeah, I feel better, I was just-” Gaeul looked at the flower in her palm, her eyes widening with horror as she saw it was no longer wilted but dead.

“I was just looking at this… flower,” Gaeul managed to say out loud. The woman raised a brow, inspecting the flower in her palm. 

“This looks… why is this grey?” 

“That’s what I’m saying,” Gaeul locked eyes with her. “It’s beyond dead.”

—---------------

Jongho felt it then. The strange feeling that had been looming around him for a few months now… he couldn’t deny it anymore or shrug it off as some sort of a nervous spell. It was real and existing. 

And it was unnatural in every sense.

Jongho wiped sweat off his forehead and walked to the garden right outside his room. He had to check something and he hoped he would get answers. He sat down on the grass, closing his eyes and sending himself in a meditative state as his powers reached out and connected with everything that was natural around him.

He had no idea how long he stayed like that, but he could feel his skin warm up- the sun was probably out now which meant that he had been here for hours now. His magic reached out and further, linking with everything until he finally found the one thing that it didn’t connect with-

It made Jongho queasy in a matter of seconds and he tried wrapping his magic around it- it was a person, alright. He could hear the heartbeat. But the magic that it contained, it was no longer natural. And the very existence of this person…

His magic repelled and came back with a jolt, making Jongho gasp and clutch his throat as he normalised his breathing.

This wasn’t right. Something had gone incredibly wrong, and he needed to see the others right now. But first… he would go to Wooyoung and get his help in pinpointing who exactly this was.

Jongho got up, walking to his room, hearing the faint knocks on his door before it opened to reveal his Right Hand, Jooheon, who waved cheerfully but the smile fell off his face. “Have you been up all night? Because you look like a mess. Should I call the healers?”

“No, it’s okay,” Jongho almost tripped on his feet, laughing a bit. “Just used my magic all night, no big deal-”

Jooheon watched Jongho’s eyes roll back before he fell unceremoniously on, thankfully, the couch, though the position looked painful. Jooheon tsk-ed, shaking his head at how Jongho had tried shrugging it off. “Hyungwon! The Prince has fainted!”

Hyungwon peeked inside, narrowing his eyes at Jooheon who told him that Jongho had been awake all night. “Are you sure he didn’t just fall back to sleep after spending all his magic?”

He hadn’t.

—----------------

Yunho was the first one who received Seonghwa’s message. He read it over and over again, then tossed the paper into the nearest water body, dissolving it and making it one with the water.

If you have seen or felt something strange or wrong, unfamiliar or unnatural, whatever it was, report now.

Yunho couldn’t help but throw his head in his hands as he wondered how whatever he had felt months ago was related to this. He recalled the night from four months ago when he had started feeling a strange pit in his stomach, like a gut feeling that something was about to happen.

He had gone to the shore for a week straight, trying to feel it out, but it was just so unfamiliar. He had no idea what it was. Nobody around him felt it, so he wondered if it was just inside his head. He wondered if he needed to meet up with his friends and had been lonely recently.

He met up with Mingi. He stayed in his kingdom for two days. He didn’t feel anything there, but as he travelled back, the feeling grew stronger and stronger. He tried to find the source, swam endlessly in the ocean but to no avail. 

And then one day, as quick as it had appeared, it disappeared completely. Yunho wondered then- had someone practised dark magic? 

Somehow, the feeling reminded him very much of the one he’d got when Yena had been dumped in the middle of the ocean after jumping back in time and Yunho, unaware of her existence, had known a part of him was in danger and had gone to save her without knowing who he was saving.

Now he felt that he was in danger. Everyone was. It was like the same feeling yet its meaning was the opposite.

It felt wrong.

And last night, he had felt it briefly again. He had wondered if he was flipping but now he knew that he was still sane, alright. 

Yunho sighed, going to his room and picking up a pen, beginning to write on the note.

Seonghwa and Yena.

Something is not right. I can’t explain it here, but I have a feeling that it’s connected to all of us. We have done something wrong.

—----------------

Gaeul couldn’t believe what she just did. 

After summoning up her magic for the first time in as long as she could remember, she breathed death into a flower instead of life. She couldn’t believe her eyes. 

And it didn’t stop at that. When Gaeul followed the old woman inside and she touched her forehead to heal her, the woman jolted back as if she had been hit by an electric current. 

“What have you done?” She simply asked before she fell unconscious. Gaeul almost thought she had killed her too, but when her panic wore off she saw the healer’s chest still rising up and down, though slow enough to call for some medical attention. However, Gaeul was in no state to try that. She wasn’t even sure if she was a danger by simply being near. So Gaeul did what she had been doing for a while now- she ran.

She couldn’t risk being discovered anymore. She was a danger to all the living beings around her- her magic was getting out of control and as she dived deeper into the forest, she realised the trees around her that were unfortunate to have touched her were all wilting and dying as well.

She was death itself.

Gaeul had no idea how long she ran but she stopped when she heard the faint footsteps of men and a horse. Gaeul hid behind a tree, careful not to touch it. She peeked to see the two figures clad in black, muttering something. 

Gaeul decided it was time to calm herself before she did any more damage. She shut her eyes and inhaled, breathing deeply in.

Everything would be okay. She would be okay. She would go to the High Healers herself. She would figure this out. There was no reason to give up yet-

She heard- no, felt something whip through the forest behind her-

“What have we got here?”

Gaeul’s eyes flew open- she hadn’t even heard the men come in front of her. The other man scanned her rather slowly, up and down. She gulped. 

“What’s this pretty little thing doing in the middle of the forest at this hour?”

This wasn’t good. Her calm heart started beating rapidly again and she could feel the magic stirring in her stomach- perhaps their horse felt it too, because it panicked as soon as their eyes met. One of the men tried to hold its reins but the horse ran in the opposite direction, making the man follow him. The other who simply watched shook his head. 

“He always gets unlucky at times like this,” he scoffed, but it changed into a smirk that made Gaeul draw back until her back touched the tree. “Perhaps, I can offer you some help-”

She felt something whoosh past where the horse and man had just been running off to. The man in front of her turned too, frowning but dismissing it as nothing. Gaeul decided to use the distraction to her favour- heavens knew what prowled in the forest at this hour.

“I’m- I’m good,” Gaeul managed to say, “I’ll be on my way.”

Gaeul started turning away, wanting to run, but the man grabbed her arm and Gaeul tried snatching it with a glare, but he pulled her forward. 

“Now, now,” he whispered, “Be a good girl for me, will you?”

Something went off inside Gaeul. She nodded and grabbed his other hand, and shut her eyes, sending her magic through, and it wasn’t until she heard the man gasp for breath that she opened her eyes to see that he had shrivelled, just like the flower.

That was not what Gaeul had intended to do. She dropped her hands but the remains of her magic inside the man made sure that every last ounce of life was sucked out from him. Gaeul’s eyes blurred and she started running away, unable to breathe or run properly, but she couldn’t stop.

She had just killed a man.

She had not just killed. She had done something else. 

She slowed down and spotted a set of yellow glowing eyes growing closer with every second, eyes that had to be larger than her hands. The sinister feeling of the creature and the magic inside her was so overwhelming that she welcomed unconsciousness.

—-------------------

Yeosang felt it the minute that it happened. 

Someone had died a horribly gruesome death- nothing like he had felt before.

As the Prince of Spirit, he didn’t feel everyone’s death. That would be too much for him. But sometimes, the spirits who were still in pain after their death… he felt that. He didn’t share their pain but he could feel that they were hurt. 

Yeosang was still lying on his bed, having woken up from his sleep the moment he felt it. He decided to check and see if he could get answers. Yeosang shut his eyes and focused on the deepest part of his mind, which was when his own spirit dissociated from his body and his soul shifted to the dimension that was a gateway for souls itself.

The spirit wasn’t far- not for Yeosang, who could jump directly to the spirit he wanted to meet. Yeosang tried doing that, but to his surprise, it didn’t work. His heart sank- something was wrong- not with him, but with the entire situation.

Yeosang roamed around in that dimension- it was all bleak and cloudy with no clues to what direction you were travelling in. He thought for a few moments and decided he would take another way- jump to the spirit nearest to his target.

But as soon as he did that, Yeosang fell on his knees. He could feel the spirit’s pain now. Yeosang struggled to breathe, getting up on his feet with immense effort and almost crawling towards the source.

If Yeosang was in his body then, he would have thrown up after seeing the grey ‘corpse’ that he saw. There was absolutely no way- the spirits that walked this dimension carried no scars of their life. But somehow… 

“What happened?” Yeosang asked the walking corpse- its eyes were sunken and the only thing that gave indication of life. The skin was grey, hair burnt, all bones and skin.

The poor spirit tried speaking but it looked like it no longer held that ability. Yeosang sighed, walking to the spirit and touching it- he felt the unnaturalness of whatever had hurt it. 

“I can rid you of your pain, if you don’t wish to walk in this dimension eternally like this. It is time to make a decision- do you want to stay because of some unfinished business, move on to a place I cannot guarantee might be heaven or hell, or cease to exist?”

The spirit held up three fingers. Yeosang nodded, touching its forehead and watched it disappear- not into smoke like spirits usually did, but into ashes.

Yeosang prayed no one else would meet a fate like him.

—-------------------

Mingi couldn’t sleep- not after feeling a soul burn twice.

Ever since Mingi had saved Yena from being their darkling enemy’s hostage and Yena had accidentally taken Mingi to another timeless dimension, Mingi could feel magic deeper than ever. He always thought being the Prince of Fire meant fire on the surface, the element of fire, but it was more than that, he learned after. 

The first time he experienced a soul burning was when Yeosang had done the ‘soul extermination’, as Mingi dubbed it. Mingi had woken up with something like hot flashes, and no amount of cold showers could make him feel better. He talked to Yeosang, who was living nearest to him as they shared a continent. Yeosang then explained that some spirits in one of his dimensions could turn evil or become a threat if they stayed for too long and refused to move on. In cases like these, Yeosang would ‘kill’ the spirit. Yeosang was surprised to learn that it felt like burning- but how Mingi could feel it, he had no idea.

“Must be because of Yena and staying in that dimension for too long,” Yeosang had told him. “When you are somewhere you are not supposed to be, you live with the consequences. Looks like you can feel the fire inside of a soul now, Mingi.”

He was right. Mingi could feel when a living soul was burning with too much magic, something the possessor’s body couldn’t handle. Mingi could also feel whenever Yeosang burnt a spirit.

But he had never felt a soul burn twice- and both of those felt wrong in a way. Unnatural. Yeosang burning a spirit never felt wrong.

Mingi got up and decided to write a fire message to Yeosang. 

Not sure if this was normal, but a soul burned. Twice. It felt wrong. Did you mess up or something? Because I’m getting a very strange feeling.

Mingi tossed the paper into the air and it caught flames, burning and disappearing. He waited for a reply, and when he got it, his heart sank to his feet.

You’re right. It is wrong and unnatural. This wasn’t me. Something’s walking around burning souls from the inside out. Not like you- not with fire. It’s like someone breathed death into the soul. I’m sending a message to Seonghwa- maybe he or Yena knows something. You should talk to Hongjoong- he might have something related to this in his big old library.

Mingi decided to send a fire message to Hongjoong in the morning- he wasn’t sure if he was awake and had felt whatever had happened.

—-----------------

Hongjoong felt everything that happened.

It was the one power he wished he didn’t possess. He was the Prince of Light. That didn’t mean that he had to know if everything was right wherever light touched a life.

But it did. And it kept him awake more nights than he had slept peacefully in his life.

The boys- the Princes always made fun of how Hongjoong could pass out anywhere. How Hongjoong always looked like he was tired and didn’t get enough sleep. He never told them they were right- he never got enough sleep. Not since Yena went missing when she was only two. Hongjoong was three then, and he hadn’t known then but when Yena was found and everything fell back in place, he finally started getting better sleep. He searched his library for old records and realised that put simply, the reason he never got to get enough sleep in the first two decades of his life was… Yena.

When he told Yena, she couldn’t stop laughing. And then Hongjoong couldn’t stop laughing because of how mad all of this was. 

But after everything fell back in place, he slept well for a few months. He would only feel strange when someone’s magic had problems or someone tried a silly trick. Nothing that he couldn’t ignore now, given years of practice.

A few months later, he felt the strangest he had ever felt in his entire life- perhaps even more than when the darkling used his magic openly to kill. He immediately checked with Seonghwa and Yena to see if everything was fine, but they weren’t the reason this time. And they had felt it too.

Hongjoong told them not to worry about it, that sometimes, in one of the many dimensions that layered this planet, something goes wrong. It’s natural.

But this feeling was anything but natural. 

So he decided to investigate on his own. He couldn’t pinpoint a source and there was no use travelling when he had a kingdom to run. He decided to check the records then.

But it had been months and he had found nothing, and the feeling only grew until tonight, when he felt that something had shifted in the air, in magic itself. Something was not where and how it was supposed to be.

He was pretty sure he was going to get a message from one of the Princes soon. There was no way that he was the only one feeling this.

—-----------------------

Gaeul woke up not because of the loud chirps of the birds but because every part of her body was aching immensely. She sat up with much struggle, lost for a few blissful moments as she looked around her before the events of last night made her put her head in her hands and sigh.

She had just killed a man. And… there was something that approached her- a monster that might have just spared her life.

Gaeul looked around her- the grass was still green, the flowers and plants still alive. Cautiously, she plucked a wild flower from the ground and held it for a few moments.

Nothing happened.

Good, she thought. I hope I never get that magic back.

Her mouth felt parched and her stomach felt tight. She shut her eyes, listening to the sounds of nature- her fae senses still worked perfectly for some reason. She could hear some sort of water body nearby so she decided to follow the sound. 

She was on her own now with no idea of which direction she had gone. She could be straying away from the Palace, for all she knew. But then… she wondered if she wanted to endanger the innocent healers there as well. 

Plus… the Prince lived there. She was pretty sure he was strong enough to kill her with just a wave of his hand, or maybe even a mere thought. She gulped, not sure if she wanted him to do exactly that or if she wanted to run away from it.

Gaeul walked for a few hours without stopping, without thinking about her magic in case it rose back from the pit in her heart. When the sound of water became louder, she practically ran in joy, stopping at the edge of River Al-Ard, looking far into the distance at the mountains of what could only be Rukbat- the capital. The place where the Prince resided.

Gaeul’s destination.

As she washed her hands and face and sat down, sinking her feet in the water, she wondered if she was worth saving. She could not figure out if the memories she had were actually her own or hallucinations at this point. But what she was sure of was that no one cared for her. She was lost. 

And she was a danger to everyone. To herself too.

Gaeul looked up at the white fluffy clouds, smiling for the first time since she could recall. Time had only made her more miserable. Maybe she should put an end to all of it.

After all, this was a nice spot to die. 

Gaeul started sinking herself down and down into the river, until the water came to her chin. She looked up for the last time, smiling as tears ran down, before she fully submerged herself into the water-

“Not so easily, you won’t!”

Gaeul panicked, thinking someone must have tracked her down after finding the poor man she had killed. She risked a one second eye contact with whoever had called her, finding not one but three people. She instantly dived deeper in the river.

“I got this,” Changbin started towards the river but Wooyoung grabbed his arm, shaking his head.

“She’s going to kill you if she touches you, I can feel it,” Wooyoung looked as grim as he sounded. “She’s not going to drown to her death.”

“So we stand here and do nothing?” Siyeon asked.

“Just don’t get any closer than this and let me handle it,” Wooyoung warned, hands raised. He made sure the girl trying to drown wouldn’t be able to lose her breath. That was all he could do for now.

Gaeul, meanwhile, wasn’t surprised, but for a different reason. She recalled what her healer had once told her- that whatever was killing her was also keeping her alive. Gaeul thought it was her magic keeping her alive.

She wasn’t entirely wrong.

She felt the magic rolling uncontrollably in her stomach and she dreaded whatever was going to happen. 

This was a bad idea.

Gaeul knew her magic was going to explode with a burst, killing everything near it. So she dived up, trying to be faster than her magic, and she only had time to scream ‘RUN!’ before she folded in herself and her magic burst with a wave.

Wooyoung immediately drew a shield around the three of them but that wasn’t enough to hold him steady. He was thrown with the others a good few feet away, and when it was over and they got to their feet, they gasped collectively.

Everything within a few miles radius had… died. The trees were grey- Wooyoung had never seen anything like it. Everything looked like it was going to turn into ash with one touch. Remains of what could be fishes and other sea creatures unfortunate enough to have been victims of that magic floated at the surface of the sea. The birds fell as ashes floated timelessly in the air and Wooyoung touched a few, frowning because it resembled snow. 

Gaeul looked around helplessly, tears of relief rolling down her cheeks when she saw the three were alive, mixed with tears of regret- she did not want to live anymore. Not after this.

“You’re lucky I’m the Prince of Air,” Wooyoung walked carefully towards her. “Because it looks like you need help.”

Gaeul gulped as she heard that- Prince Wooyoung had somehow found her. Was she some sort of a threat that he needed to exterminate-

“I’m not going to hurt you,” his voice was calming.

“I’ll hurt you,” Gaeul’s voice was barely a whisper. “I don’t want to, but I don’t know what’s wrong with me, my magic isn’t right- I-”

“Slow down, slow down,” Wooyoung nodded. “First, get out of the river. Come on, take my hand.”

“You’ll die if I take your hand.”

“I won’t,” the Prince passed Gaeul a warm smile. “I can feel that your magic is spent. You’re as normal as me right now.”

Gaeul looked at him sceptically- he was the Prince. He wasn’t normal anyway. Hesitating, she swam forward and took his hand, letting him drag her out of the river. She met eyes with the others who looked like they were ready to kill her this instant.

“Relax, they’re only my guard and my Right Hand,” Wooyoung passed the two a look and they shrugged, looking helplessly at each other. “Let me dry you.”

With a wave of his hand, all the water had dried from her skin and clothes. Gaeul nervously looked down and then around her- she really had sucked the life out of everything-

Is that why she was getting better? Healthier? No, no-

“Let’s get out of here first, shall we? We just crossed the river to come here by that boat-” Wooyoung pointed at his left where at a distance the boat was tied. “Looks like we need to get back anyway. We can talk while we row.”

Once settled in the boat, Changbin and Siyeon rowing, Wooyoung sat in front of Gaeul, scanning her- she was a faerie alright. Not an ounce of darkling blood in her. But her magic wasn’t right.

“I could sense you, perhaps because you were near me. Your magic- you weren’t born with this, were you?”

“I used to breathe life into things,” Gaeul smiled helplessly. “Looks like I suck the life out now.”

“Interesting,” Wooyoung stuck his tongue in his cheek while he scanned Gaeul again. Siyeon kicked his back lightly, muttering not to freak the girl out. Wooyoung shook his head. “So, how did you get here?”

“I don’t know, actually. I’m really confused about why and how I’m here. I think I lost my memories or something too. All I remember is that a few months ago, one day, I found myself at the beach- somewhere near Ascella. I literally just fell on the sand from nowhere- and I’ve been really sick since then. I keep coughing blood and fainting, but I’m clearly not dying. I went from being bones and skin to this-” she looked down at herself. Better than skin and bones. 

“Do you remember who you are?”

“That’s the thing,” Gaeul sighed. “I don’t know if what I remember is a memory or a past life or something I made up.”

“I see, the healers might be able to help with that,” Wooyoung nodded. “Tell me about your magic now.”

“I didn’t know about this until last night. All my magic has done so far is make me sick. I was actually travelling to the Palace with a healer- she thought that the High Healers could help me. Last night, I held a wilting flower and tried making it alive like I used to- I think I used to,” Gaeul shook her head. “Anyways, the flower turned grey like now. And then… I think I hurt my healer too. She fainted but thankfully she was alive. But then…”

“You killed someone a few hours ago, didn’t you?”

Siyeon rolled her eyes at how blunt Wooyoung was. The girl clearly wasn’t handling all this well. She wiped her forehead and eyes and then looked down.

“I never meant to. I felt threatened, and it just happened- it wasn’t in my control. That’s why I panicked. I’ve only ever healed things- I’ve never hurt them. And now-”

Gaeul couldn’t hold back her silent sobs anymore and she hid her face in her hands. Wooyoung looked back at Siyeon and Changbin who were clapping sarcastically. 

“Good job,” Siyeon muttered, shaking her head.

“What?” Wooyoung sighed. “I need to get the facts straight before I risk my healer’s lives, don’t you think?”

“He’s right,” Gaeul wiped her face, her eyes steadfast now. “I don’t wish to put anyone else at risk. If you think it’s wise to get rid of me, then do so. I have nothing holding me back.”

Wooyoung sighed, looking at her dark eyes- they had a tinge of grey, looking perhaps as hopeless as she felt. Wooyoung wasn’t sure if she was as innocent as she claimed she was. “You are a threat, yes, but that doesn’t mean you get to die so easily. Every life is precious and meaningful and so is yours. We need to look into whatever’s up with you, because you know it feels unnatural, your magic, right? It feels-”

“Wrong, I know,” Gaeul looked at him to his surprise. “Everything inside me is screaming that this is wrong, whatever happened to me. I’m not where I’m supposed to be. Nothing’s right. I think… you’ll need to look into my past if you want to see the origin of this.”

“Look into your past, huh?” Wooyoung looked at Changbin. “Now which one of us could do that again?”

—-------------------

To say that San was in a state of frenzy was a severe understatement. 

In the past few days, he had been beyond restless. He was not focusing on his work to the point that his Right Hand, Seokmin complained that San should just step down since Seokmin was the one doing all the work anyway. However, he was worried too- he had never seen his Prince like this. 

San tried explaining it to him, to himself, but it wasn’t that simple. He wasn’t sure if he had felt whatever this thing was before he had visited Rukbat four months ago but he was sure that thing was around there, and him going to Rukbat had somehow made both him and that thing restless. How the two were connected, he had no idea.

But after the amount of magic and wrongness he felt in the matter of the last 24 hours, he knew he needed to get back to Rukbat. And he couldn’t let anyone know. 

Truth be told, he himself wasn’t sure what he was about to do. He had no idea who or what he was looking for. Something in his mind, in his heart, screamed at him to go, go, go. Go and find whatever was wrong and make it right. He simply had to trust his gut at this point, trust the thing tugging at him. 

So San sat down still for the first time in a while as he etched out a plan in his head. He would leave at night when everyone thought he was asleep, take the secret tunnel out (he wasn’t even sure if he could call that tunnel ‘secret’ anymore since not only his Right Hand and Guard but one of his healers and Princess Yena knew of it too) and then…

Take a carriage? Walk? It would take far too long.

He needed Yena to portal him. That was the quickest and safest route. But he wasn’t sure Yena would understand or agree. Especially after the message he had gotten from them. And after all that had happened with Yena… he couldn’t ask that of her.

He needed to do this himself.

He waited rather patiently for the night to approach and everyone to sleep, which was when he packed a bag and took the tunnel out, went to the nearest stable and took a horse and started riding towards Rukbat.

He prayed he would get there before things went more wrong than they already were. 

—-------------------

Jongho could feel each and every moment of the magical blast that had killed so much. It didn’t hurt him, and he was glad it didn’t because feeling its existence alone made his heart ache. 

He wasn’t sure why exactly he had fainted earlier in the morning too. He was the Prince of Nature- doing magic while meditating and stretching his vision was like second nature to him. But this time, something fought back. And that was as dangerous as it could get not only for him, but all the Princes. Perhaps, he thought, Princess Yena could fight back against something like this. She was the most experienced in that department. 

When he gained consciousness after fainting, he learned that he had been out for about six hours. That was a long period of time and even had his healer worried because the most he had been out was two hours, and that was when he had spent all his energy doing similar magic.  

Jongho tried to explain to Jooheon why he needed to get to Wooyoung as soon as possible. Jooheon was suspicious about all of this, and he kept insisting it was a trap.

“Look, all I’m saying is that if you felt it, Prince Wooyoung must have felt it as well. He’ll take care of it- no scratch that. You both should sit this one out. This feels like a trap- especially with the recent problem that we have going on.”

“Did you feel it?” Jongho asked and Jooheon shook his head no. “That’s what I’m saying. This is like a cry for help, not a trap. As for the missing faeries… I didn’t really feel anything there.”

“That’s like, the first trick in the book of traps,” Hyungwon, who was reading a book, peeked up. “Are you seriously risking yourself for whatever this… person is?”

“In risking myself, I save a lot of lives that could possibly be lost if we don’t get this under control,” Jongho was groaning with frustration now. “If you’re not coming along, I’m going by myself-”

“Hey, hey, now that’s not what we meant,” Jooheon laughed helplessly, looking at Hyungwon who only shrugged. “I’ll take care of things here. Take Changkyun at least. And Hyungwon too.”

“You ready?” Jongho asked Hyungwon and he rolled his eyes.

“This feels an awful lot like the time we went along with Princess Yena,” he said and Jongho laughed, agreeing. Changkyun arrived, all dressed up for-

“We’re not going into battle, dammit,” Jongho laughed but Changkyun wasn’t having any of it. He only shrugged and Jongho nodded, urging Hyungwon to follow him out. They were going to Rukbat and it wasn’t very far from here- a long ride and a river was what separated them. 

“Do you think we should let the others know too?” Jongho wondered out loud when they settled into the carriage, the horses made specially for quick transport by magic speeding twice as fast as a normal horse. “I mean, Seonghwa did order us to report anything strange.”

“I know what you’re thinking,” Hyungwon scoffed. “You want to find the person first before you give them anything.”

“Yeah, you got me,” Jongho shifted in his seat, running a hand through his red hair. “It’s just that I don’t want them to worry about something that we’re not sure about. I’m pretty sure Wooyoung ignored their message too, so there’s that as well.”

“If only you Princes could communicate better,” Hyungwon almost laughed. “Would have saved you a lot of trouble, wouldn't it?”

Hyungwon was both right and wrong. The Princes and the Princess were all anxious about whatever was ‘wrong’ now, trying to either pinpoint an origin or search for it. One could argue that providing them with more information would worry them more, especially if it was a threat that could be easily exterminated. However, no one knew what exactly that threat was- not even Wooyoung who was present with that said threat.

—-----------------

“Well,” Wooyoung sighed, a grimace on his face as he poked one of his healers in the arm, lying unconscious on the floor. “This didn’t go as planned.”

Gaeul had her head in her hands. “I didn’t mean to- I was asleep and he came to change my bandages or something. I got scared.”

Gaeul and Wooyoung had arrived at his castle a while ago and Wooyoung had let her admire the glass structure that was the castle before escorting her to the basement where she would be staying, saying something about how he needed to get her in there before her magic replenished. It seemed like she wasn’t faring well though.

“Progress though,” Wooyoung passed a smile though Gaeul could swear he was mocking her. “At least he’s not dead.”

“He would have been if not for Jiu there,” Gaeul pointed at the woman sitting bored at the other end of the room. 

“That’s right,” Jiu looked serious. “I was waiting for her to admit that before I interrupted.”

Wooyoung rolled his eyes, “I guess it was a good idea to have you here after all.”

“Definitely,” Jiu looked at Gaeul and Gaeul hated that there was pity in her eyes, though she could not blame her. She herself was to blame after all. “Can we change shifts now? I need to catch up on my sleep.”

“Go on then,” Wooyoung dismissed her and she gladly left. Wooyoung turned his attention to Gaeul. “How are we feeling today?”

“The same?” It came out more as a question. “I don’t feel anything much here- the basement is… not as suffocating as it first sounded. In fact, I’m more relaxed now.”

“And that was the purpose of keeping you here,” Wooyoung took a seat, running a hand through his dark hair, the faint light in the room making the golden streaks in his hair shine. “Anyways, Jongho is arriving soon. I thought I’d let you know.”

“Prince Jongho?”

“The one and only,” Wooyoung grinned. Gaeul visibly gulped- being in the presence of one of them was intimidating enough. “He’s the Prince of Nature. If anyone can help you figure your magic out, it’s him, since you presumably had similar magic as him.”

“Presumably… So Yoohyeon still didn’t get past my memories?” Gaeul asked, referring to the healer who had first attended to her. 

“Surprisingly, no,” Wooyoung sighed as he nodded. “Yoohyeon is an expert at healing amnesia and similar disorders. There must be something preventing her from accessing your memories-” he paused when he recalled how San had been the one able to access Yena’s memories when no one else could. He wondered if he should call him.

“Something wrong?” Gaeul asked cautiously, tucking her hair behind her ears. 

“Nothing, I just had… an idea. Anyways, I came here to let you know about Jongho, and… warn you about something. If your magic is as threatening as we think, we might have to put you in the cell here in the basement- it is laced with nullifying magic. It’s not as scary as it sounds- you just won’t feel your magic. Are you okay with that?”

Gaeul thought for a few moments- the last thing she wanted was to be a danger to the Princes. Of course she was okay. “Nothing will go wrong though, I hope?”

“I’m hoping that is so,” Wooyoung got up when he heard a knock on the door and let the guards who were carrying three trays filled with a variety of dishes inside the room. “Let’s eat while we talk.”

Gaeul could get used to this, she thought. Prince Wooyoung- or Wooyoung, as he insisted he be called- wasn’t as scary as she thought. He was easy to talk to. He didn’t make her feel like she was an alien, which truthfully, everyone else made her feel like. And he was humble. He ate with her at least once a day for the three days she had been here. She wondered if all the Princes were like this, and sometimes she would ask Wooyoung about his life. He would answer without hesitation most of the time.

“If it is a memory, I remember the time you came to the beach- near Ascella, when I was 10,” Gaeul scooped some chicken and mashed potatoes in her plate and Wooyoung raised a brow- Gaeul hadn’t talked much about herself so far. “I think I lived somewhere near there. It’s where I found myself in this state.”

“I’ve only been to Ascella beach a handful of times, and yes, I did visit when I was 10- we’re the same age, it seems.”

“I remember something about how you caused some sort of a storm and scared everyone present. I, unfortunately, was one of them.”

“Ah, so it was that time,” Wooyoung laughed. “I blame San- he was there with me too.”

“Prince San was with you at that time?” Gaeul wowed. “So I saw him too?”

“You must have if you saw me,” Wooyoung took a bite of the bun, thinking. “San pissed me off so I threatened him with a storm. He threatened to let the sand swallow me. We cooled down then.”

Gaeul almost giggled, holding herself back, and Wooyoung looked at her, amused. “You know, you’re allowed to laugh in my company.”

“Actually… I haven’t laughed in a while,” Gaeul admitted. “So… I think this was a memory, right?”

“Definitely, which means what you remember is mostly memories. Do you remember your parents?”

“I think I do. My father was a healer, but he died when I was 15. My mother… She followed soon after. My aunts and uncles took care of me after that.”

“What’s the last memory that you remember?” Wooyoung asked. 

Gaeul thought for a moment- it was the memory that confused her the most, that made her question if she remembered a past life or something. “I think I was travelling in this kingdom… somewhere east. I think I saw this red haired guy do something- I can’t recall. All I know is that I saw his eyes glow before he killed me-”

“You saw his eyes glow?” Wooyoung frowned. This sounded an awful lot like someone he wished he didn’t know.

“If I’m not tripping, yes,” Gaeul’s eyes were steel- she knew it sounded unbelievable but she remembered this moment the most clearly. “They glowed like gold. Like-”

“Amber eyes, huh?” Wooyoung’s suspicions were confirmed. “Red hair and eyes that change to amber. Who are you, Gaeul?”

Gaeul frowned and then the door opened, revealing dark hair and a very handsome man walked in, eyes wide as he looked from her to Wooyoung and then back.

“Nice timing, Jongho,” Wooyoung didn’t finish his plate- he had no appetite anymore. “Kieran’s playing with us even from another world.”

—-------------------

Hongjoong was startled, to put it simply, when Yena and Seonghwa portalled right in front of him, in his room. He could never get used to the jumpscare he got, and he was positive that one day he was going to pass away because of a heart attack due to Yena startling him.

“A little warning is always nice!” Hongjoong yelled at the two, clutching his heart and exhaling, and Seonghwa chuckled. 

“We did send a little warning,” Yena pointed out. “Why didn’t you reply? It has been three days. This is so unlike you- I thought something happened.”

“I’m sorry, I’ve just been… busy,” Hongjoong shrugged as he ran his eyes around the room, Yena and Seonghwa following. There were books, scrolls, maps, everything scattered around him. Yena skimmed through a few notes that made no sense to her. Hongjoong got up, feeling guilty because Yena looked like she was actually worried that something happened to him. “I’m sorry, come here.”

Yena pouted before walking to Hongjoong and hugging him, Seonghwa joining the two as well. “You should have let us know, Hongjoong.”

“Well, now that you’re both here, I’ll just tell you in person,” Hongjoong pushed a few books aside to make room on the floor. “So here’s how it is.”

Hongjoong started explaining how there were no records of such magic existing, but he didn’t think it was something natural- as in, no one of fae blood could be born with such a power. “A darkling would have been a different matter, but I believe it’s a faerie. Darklings feel different, but they don’t feel wrong, as you know.”

Yena knew that all too well. She nodded, tensing. Seonghwa put a hand on her back- some scars never faded. “So how would a faerie possess such magic in the first place? And what sort of magic are we even talking about?”

“All I know for now is that the magic has evolved to take this shape. It wasn’t always like this- or if it was, it had been subdued like your magic, Yena. But… I think we would have still felt something if that was the case. Because when you were missing, we always knew deep down that you were alive.”

“That’s right,” Seonghwa nodded. “So who’s this faerie?”

“Surprisingly enough, Wooyoung is on it,” Hongjoong said and Seonghwa and Yena looked at each other. Hongjoong laughed. “I guess Wooyoung didn’t tell you?”

“That brat,” Yena muttered. “How come?”

Hongjoong explained how Wooyoung had been the nearest to the faerie and had taken her to the High Healers to get answers. “They’re keeping her in his basement- she won’t be a danger there.”

“Good idea,” Seonghwa nodded. Yena looked back and forth between the two.

“Wait, hold up. Some poor thing is in Wooyoung’s basement? You know how wrong that sounds?”

The two burst out laughing, and Hongjoong shook his head. “Wooyoung had… problems with his powers, as you have heard. The basement his parents built was specialised to contain all magic inside those four walls. No magic can get across that.”

“I wonder who this faerie is though…” Yena shuddered- she recalled the time she was having trouble with her own magic and felt so hopeless. “Do we know who she is?”

“I have a feeling we will soon,” Hongjoong said knowingly.

What Hongjoong didn’t tell them was that San was probably on his way to Rukbat. Hongjoong had received a message from San’s court letting him know about how he had ‘ran away’ from his kingdom. Hongjoong was very curious about why San felt the sudden need to leave without letting anyone know. Was he feeling something about this situation differently than the others?

But then again, San was always sensitive. He felt Yena’s magic even when it was blocked and believed she was the Lost Princess before anyone else. If he had ignored Yena at that time… Hongjoong shuddered- they wouldn’t be here right now, none of them. So Hongjoong decided that there must have been a reason for San to act this way, and that he would give him time to come to terms with whatever his reasoning was.

Yena and Seonghwa looked at each other- Hongjoong knew something more than he told them. Seonghwa shrugged, figuring if it was something important, he’d know soon anyway. “Should we do something about this? Or let Wooyoung handle this?”

“I say let Wooyoung handle this… for now. I have a feeling we’re all involved in this somehow,” Hongjoong looked grim as he met eyes with Yena. “I think… let’s wait for Wooyoung’s verdict on this before I make any guesses.”

Yena’s heart sank- she instantly knew what Hongjoong meant. Over and over throughout the two and a half years, Yena had worried if going back in time had been the right decision after all. Of course, it had- she had saved Seonghwa from his untimely death. She would do it again. But… maybe she could have done it in a different way? Taken a different approach? Hongjoong told her it was alright to feel paranoid about this, considering what she had been through, but he had never imagined one day he would actually have to worry about this seriously.

That was, in fact, what he was trying to find in his archives now. There wasn’t much about time travel in the first place, kept strictly confidential, and he was worried they would have to figure this one out on their own. He decided at that moment to let Yeosang in on this possibility but keep Yena as uninvolved as possible until they were sure- he didn’t want her to worry more.

“What did you feel, Yena? And Seonghwa?” Hongjoong asked, changing the topic before Yena could probe any further.

“Something unnatural- it is not supposed to exist,” Yena admitted, rubbing her arms. 

“Something dark in nature- which made me wonder if it was a darkling, but… it’s different, isn’t it?” Seonghwa raised a brow and Hongjoong agreed. Seonghwa and Hongjoong, with their magic, were like two peas in a pod. Light and Dark. They felt exactly the same way about magic ever since they were little.

“You should go back and stay until you’re needed,” Hongjoong got up, stretching. “There’s no need to worry and gather right now- there’s no point. Let’s believe in Wooyoung- I heard Jongho’s joining him soon so we can feel comfortable that there’s one brain that would actually be working.”

The two laughed, nodding- Jongho would keep Wooyoung in place, definitely. “Well, it was nice to meet you,” Seonghwa shook his head, smiling. “We just wanted to check on you.”

“Next time you decide to ‘check’ on me, give me a heads-up first,” Hongjoong put a hand on his heart, eyes wide. “You nearly stopped my heart.”

“This was Yena’s idea, to scare you-” Seonghwa was ambushed by Yena putting a hand over his mouth, shaking her head in denial while laughing, portalling back in an instant. Hongjoong’s smile fell, and he went back to the journal he had hid behind him when they had arrived.

This was definitely connected to all of them. And it wasn’t good. Whoever that faerie was didn’t matter anymore- she was merely a glitch in the matrix now. And glitches… shouldn’t exist.

—-----------------

San was having the most intense deja vu of his life. 

He was travelling the same route as the one he took about two years ago- except that now he was using that route to travel away from home. He stopped at the same spots as he did, except that this time he was alone. 

About two years ago, he had visited the border for some business, and on his way back he had encountered a lost traveller- Yena, whom he later discovered was the Princess Yena. He had felt the connection to her instantly, though he couldn’t put a finger on what exactly it meant. After all, it was a huge coincidence that he met Yena like that- but to this date, he wasn’t sure if they had met each other because of an unlikely coincidence or because Kieran played them all like chess pieces on his board.

Kieran. The darkling who claimed the identity of the late 9th Prince of Illusions- Junyoung- to the point that he forgot his real name. And then he assumed multiple identities to get close to Yena and Seonghwa.

San sighed as he poked the burning fire he had built with a piece of wood while he took a break from travelling. He kept thinking of two years ago- how oblivious they had all been until the worst happened- Kieran killed Seonghwa. Yena had to go back in time and risk a paradox that could mean the end of everyone’s existence just to get Seonghwa back. Everyone agreed to do that, and it went smoothly, except that there were two versions of Yena existing-

Everything, including Seonghwa’s death and Yena going back in time was meant to happen. Kieran had played them over and over again. He had killed Seonghwa on purpose, knowing Yena would go back in time. And then when they reached the climax again- when Kieran was supposed to kill Seonghwa- he took Yena instead. 

San had to admit, he was a criminal genius, Kieran was. He made Yena mess with time- the most dangerous magic one could possibly possess. He couldn’t help but think this unnatural feeling was a result of the time travelling- how he knew, San had no idea. It’s like he could feel it all over again- everything, just like he had felt Yena was one of them. His magic was sensitive that way.

But this time… something was different, and it drove him crazy. It wasn’t just the magic he could sense. He could sense the anxiety that came with it, whoever this was. He could feel the panic, the hurt. He had never felt closer to someone, and he had never imagined he could when miles separated them. Just how was he connected to this? He could understand that Yena could feel whoever this was- probably connected to her magic in one way or another. He could understand that Seonghwa could feel its dark nature too, which meant Hongjoong must have felt it too. 

It made him scratch his hair out- he wanted nothing more than to see just who this was that drove him crazy. They probably didn’t even know how San felt. He was so curious and scared about what the future held for him.

—--------------

Hongjoong wondered if such a dimension existed where he could watch the past rewind like a deity. 

Hongjoong had been scribbling notes from what he got- any clue, any indication or sign, just about anything relevant or irrelevant. He had been sitting in a pile of pages and books for days now, and he finally got a message from Wooyoung that confirmed all of his suspicions. 

Kieran might have killed Gaeul- I don’t know how the timelines work, but he killed Gaeul, or tried to. The point is, she is alive. Her magic became the opposite of what it used to be. She lost her memories. She looks like she came back from the dead, literally. Jongho is here- let me know how to handle this.

Hongjoong felt like throwing up- either from the restlessness or the fact that Kieran really had messed up. He needed to see Gaeul, needed to hear everything from her in person. And he needed to keep Yena out of this. He couldn’t involve her again- not so soon, not unless she was the key to putting things back again.

She had already been through so much. He couldn’t do this to her again.

Hongjoong wrote a message to Yunho first. Let Seonghwa know, without Yena’s knowledge, to keep Yena out of this until and if she’s required. That was enough to let Yunho and Seonghwa know that they were involved in this whether they wanted to or not.

Then Hongjoong wrote a message to Wooyoung, letting him know that he would be coming to Rukbat. It would take him about three days. Until then, Jongho and Wooyoung would have to get the most out of her.

Hongjoong packed a bag with his necessities before taking a quick shower. He was going to leave immediately. When he came out, his Right Hand Jaebeom was waiting for him. 

“You look like you’ll pass out if you stay awake any longer,” Jaebeom shook his head. “A little rest before travelling isn’t a bad idea if you’re insisting on travelling alone.”

Hongjoong sighed. “Maybe I should take someone. I don’t have time to spare, Jaebeom.”

“Let Yugyeom accompany you then,” Jaebeom got up, patting Hongjoong’s back to encourage him. “He can return once he drops you off at Rukbat.”

“Should I?” Hongjoong wondered out loud but his thoughts were miles away. Jaebeom shook his head, amused, as he sent someone to call for Yugyeom while they ate lunch.

“I might need to summon some High Healers if the situation calls for it,” Hongjoong munched on pasta as he recalled how some of his healers had really helped Yena calm down when her magic was going out of control. “Have them on standby.”

“I will,” Jaebeom assured him. “And if someone sends a message for you?”

Hongjoong knew he meant Yena- he was going to pretend that he was here. “You’re good at pretending you’re me, aren’t you? I mean, you have been writing the official documents for me since forever-”

“We’re practically the same,” Jaebeom rolled his eyes. “Hongjoong. She’ll know in a second.”

“Ah, I don’t know. Just get someone to fire-message me or something so we can deal with it.”

“And if I can’t reach you?” Jaebeom scoffed.

“Then pretend you are me, and tell dear old Princess Yena that everything is alright and under control. Try to sound like me,” Hongjoong gave Jaebeom a fake wide smile that had him laughing out loud.

“Alright, alright. I got this. We got this.”

“We got nothing, Jaebeom. Everything is a mess now,” Hongjoong sighed.

—-----------------

“So you’re telling me,” Jongho rolled dramatically along the wall, leaving Gaeul baffled- she had never imagined the Princes were so… casual. “You’re telling me that somehow, Kieran has unintentionally or intentionally messed up the timeline and she’s here when she’s supposed to be dead?”

“We don’t know that yet,” Wooyoung was half lying on the floor, drawing circles with his finger. “That’s what she remembers. Her memory is as good as Seonghwa’s ability to sit cross-legged.”

“But Seonghwa can’t sit cross-legged-”

“Exactly,” Wooyoung looked at Jongho and he snorted. Gaeul, who was sitting on her bed with her knees drawn to her chest, watched the two panic- that’s what it had to be- the calm before the storm.

"But then…" Jongho sank down on the ground. "Suppose she was killed in the previous timeline. In this timeline, somehow, she's alive. How is that any different from Seonghwa's situation?"

"Exactly," Wooyoung clapped. "He didn't become anti-dark just because he didn't die in this timeline."

"Anti-dark would be called light, Wooyoung," Gaeul mumbled and Jongho snorted.

"Whatever," Wooyoung waved his hand in dismissal. "Seonghwa remains the Prince of Dark."

"So Princess Yena went back in time to save Prince Seonghwa?" Gaeul looked at the two. "Just what happened two years ago? All I remember is hearing rumours of Prince Yeosang's twin being alive."

"Uh, nothing happened," Jongho smiled and gave Wooyoung a side-eye. Wooyoung shrugged.

"She might as well know, Jongho. For some reason, she is involved directly or indirectly with what happened two years ago."

Gaeul watched the two bicker back and forth, her stomach twisting nervously. "Can I get some fresh air?"

"Yeah, we can open the windows-"

"No, I mean… can I go out? I feel like I'm suffocating right now," Gaeul gulped.

Wooyoung narrowed his eyes suspiciously but Jongho stood up. "Of course you can. You don't have to worry about your magic getting out of control too. I think the two of us can handle it if something happens."

Wooyoung gaped as he watched Jongho extend a friendly hand to Gaeul and she took it hesitantly, following him outside, urging Wooyoung to come along as well. Jongho led her to one of the gardens in the back without many guards. He watched as Gaeul simply strolled along the path etched beside the walls, brushing her fingers along the plants along the way. Wooyoung and Jongho stood watching, and Wooyoung elbowed him.

"What were you thinking?"

"Don't make her feel like a prisoner here, Wooyoung," Jongho warned as he looked at the elder Prince. "Her magic… I felt it when I took her hand. If she gets nervous or anxious - which you do a great job at making her feel- her magic can explode with a wave. Let her feel that she's free and she has nothing much to worry about while we figure this out. And don't tell her too much about what happened, will you?"

"Ugh, I can't wait for Hongjoong to come," Wooyoung groaned. "We literally have no idea what we're doing right now."

"Exactly," Jongho sighed. "Anti-nature. I never thought I'd see that one day- not from a faerie, at least."

"Do you feel anything else apart from the magic?" Wooyoung asked. Jongho shook his head.

"I don't even know what I really feel. She just makes me… nervous. She makes my magic nervous. I figured because our magics are opposite now, so…"

"No luck with the healers as well," Wooyoung watched Gaeul lay down flat on the grass as she stared at the sky. "Do you think it's a… trap? All of this? She could be Kieran 2.0. Or she could be a bait."

"Whatever it is, needs to be dealt with quickly," Jongho looked at Wooyoung. "Before things get worse. Because I sense it. You do too, right?"

"Impending doom," Wooyoung sighed. "The worst feeling I've ever had."

—-----------------

San reached in the middle of the night, sighing in relief only when he saw the dim lights glowing from the glass structure of what was Wooyoung’s palace. He felt relaxed for the first time in a while since he could sense Wooyoung and Jongho- he wasn’t surprised Jongho came. But….

He could also feel another presence strong enough to be reckoned with. Not as strong as the Princes, but close enough. San bit the inside of his cheeks, realising the gravity of the situation- he had no idea who he was looking for, but someone called out to him desperately. Desperately enough to make him travel all alone for days. And now that he was closer… the feeling only grew.

Meanwhile, Gaeul woke up with her body covered in sweat, gasping for breath. She was alone in her room but she was pretty sure there was a healer or a guard stationed outside, and some stationed on the stairs. She could suddenly sense everyone-

She shut her eyes as her body shook with a jolt- someone was here. Someone she wasn’t sure she wanted to meet, but her magic was almost suffocating her- the pit in her heart… she felt like she was drowning.

Gaeul stood up with shaky legs, going first to the sink to wash her face. Her eyes looked sunken but the silver in her eyes still glowed. She frowned- she wasn’t sure she ever had silver in her dark eyes before. Running a hand through her short hair, she cautiously opened the door, finding one of the healers, Yoohyeon, dozing off in the hall.

Gaeul wondered if she should wake Yoohyeon up and ask her if she could go outside, or let her sleep. But with her magic getting out of control, making her feel like it would burst any moment, she was worried she’d be a danger. So she slowly walked to Yoohyeon and called her name twice, making Yoohyeon stretch dramatically before she opened her eyes. She checked her wristwatch- it was nearly 3 in the morning. 

“Something wrong?” 

“I feel like my magic is going to burst in a wave like it did earlier,” Gaeul was almost jumping on her feet now, “I need to go out.”

“Uh, I think I need to take you to the cell in that case. Your magic won’t be able to escape those walls.”

“You don’t understand,” Gaeul panicked, feeling something slowly crawl inside her body, making its way up. “I need air. If I go in there, I don’t know what damage I would do-”

Yoohyeon got up, nodding her head, about to hold Gaeul and rub her arms but she flinched away. She sighed. “I know you don’t mean harm. But the cell- it’s built specifically to contain magic inside. Come on- you’ll be fine. It’s like a big room- you won’t feel like it’s suffocating you.”

Gaeul reluctantly followed Yoohyeon to the other end of the hall, feeling her magic rise to her chest now. She scanned the cell- it was very plain, just 4 walls and a single lamp illuminating its inside. Gaeul looked at Yoohyeon helplessly.

“I’m going to call for someone while you stay there, okay?” Yoohyeon smiled warmly, but it did nothing to calm Gaeul down. Yoohyeon shut the door, and Gaeul found herself surrounded by four walls. She slid down by one of them, facing the door.

It’s okay, she told herself. If you go outside, you’ll hurt and kill things. It’s better to stay inside until the magic wears out.

Only, the magic wasn’t wearing out. It grew more in intensity, and San felt it- felt the change in the nature of the magic like it was his own. Something was fueling the magic further. San leaned forward on his horse, urging it to go faster. By the time he reached the gates, he could feel it.

Impending doom.

He jumped off the horse, the guards letting him in instantly. He entered the building, looking around- everything seemed normal. He started towards Wooyoung’s room upstairs but then he felt it-

The basement.

San scoffed- of course whoever it was was in the basement. San took the shortcut, going outside until he was at the backside of the palace, asking the guards stationed out to let him in. 

“Prince Wooyoung doesn’t allow anyone to go inside at night-”

“For fuck’s sake, let me in and get as far away as you can unless you want to die tonight,” San’s eyes glowed and that was enough for the guards to open the lock and get the hell away from there. He spotted Yoohyeon who came his way,

“Prince San? What are you doing here?”

“Get Wooyoung immediately, there’s no time,” San warned, “Whoever’s inside? Their magic is going to explode.”

“But she is in the cell-”

“The cell that nullifies magic?” San shook his head. “It’s fueling it instead. Get Wooyoung and Jongho immediately.”

Yoohyeon gasped, running off and San rushed downstairs, opening every door- he had never been in the basement personally. By the time he reached the end of the hall, he could hear someone’s sobs and chokes. 

San stopped for a moment outside the door that had to be the one. He frowned- even with the dangerous magic bound to kill everything, he could feel something else- a connection. Was it because this faerie was somehow connected to what took place two years ago? He wasn’t sure. With a deep breath, he opened the door and he sucked in his breath when he saw a girl with her knees brought to her chest, sobbing.

This was the last thing he was expecting to see. It was like Yena’s situation all over again. San slowly stepped inside, muttering a soft ‘hey’, causing the girl to look up-

Gaeul and San both felt it then- something inside them tugging and calling out to each other, and it was not magic.

Gaeul frowned, ignoring whatever it was in case it made her magic any angrier. “You should get away. It’s not safe here.”

“I came to get you out of here,” San’s warm voice left Gaeul surprised, especially when he smiled and his whole face softened. He sat down on one knee in front of her, scanning her. “It’s not safe to be here. You need to get out.”

“Who are you?” Gaeul almost whispered. San extended his hand.

“I’m San. I’m sure you’ve already heard about me now.”

Gaeul pursed her lips, stifling her smile. She had, alright. She glanced at his extended hand. “If I hold your hand, I might possibly kill you.”

“You won’t,” San assured. “Trust me.”

If it was Wooyoung or anyone else, Gaeul would have never taken their hand at a time like this. She would have screamed at them to run away from her, to get as far away as possible. But something about San was so different than anyone else she had met so far. And without hesitation, she took his hand, his calloused fingers providing her instant consolation that everything would be alright. 

Without saying anything else, San started leading her away from the room, sending a little spark of his own magic through their connected hands, trying to figure out the nature of her magic and just how unsafe everyone was. By the time he got out, Wooyoung and Jongho audibly gasped.

“Are you stupid?!” Wooyoung yelled. “Her magic will hurt you!”

“No, it won’t,” San shook his head. “I’ve got this, trust me. Just… follow me. And create a shield around us while you’re at it. I don’t know what’s going to happen.”

Wooyooung and Jongho watched San lead Gaeul to the garden that she’d gone to earlier, both of them standing in disbelief for a few moments before they looked at each other. 

“Did you hear that?” Wooyoung scoffed. “Trust me, he said. Trust this little-”

“Shut up and create a shield,” Jongho laughed. “He must have a reason. He’s not as stupid as you.”

“Sure,” Wooyoung mocked. “A reason. Let’s hear that.”

San stopped in the middle of the garden, instructing Jongho and Wooyoung to shield themselves while they were at it. Wooyoung protested but San assured them he would not get hurt.

“It’s like when Yena had a block,” he explained finally, glancing at Gaeul. “I know what to do. I’m basically an expert at this now.”

“Right. Let’s see how far you get blown off. Gaeul! Make sure your magic throws him a good few miles away- maybe out of Rukbat.”

Gaeul was practically squirming. “I can’t hold it in anymore.”

“You don’t have to,” San took her other hand. “Close your eyes and try to reach the root of your magic. I’ll be there.”

The two of them shut their eyes, and Gaeul almost screamed- her magic was seconds away from exploding, but she saw it. It had to be San’s magic- the reddish brown, almost golden thread making its way beside her magic, circling it. Gaeul shook her head- he would get hurt. 

“This is not my magic. I cannot control it,” Gaeul whispered and San squeezed her hands to let her know that he could hear her. “Just looking at it is making me suffocate.”

“I understand now,” San replied. “Just… stay strong. It’s going to hurt.”

Gaeul had no idea how much it was going to hurt, but when San’s magic coiled around the black and silver raging storm of magic and covered it entirely, she felt a moment of calm. And then his magic started squeezing her magic into nothingness- or at least it tried, because Gaeul’s ear piercing screams made San flinch and realise this was not going to work. He instantly created a shield around himself and dropped Gaeul’s hands, making her sink to the ground and clutch her head.

And then a wave came, nothing like San had imagined. If he hadn’t shielded himself, he would have been obliterated. Jongho and Wooyoung sent their magic back, fighting the wave and containing it within the small sphere so no one else would get hurt. For a good minute, it was a battle for their life before Gaeul stopped screaming and slumped down, unconscious. San breathed, slumping down with her, looking at Jongho and Wooyoung in disbelief. Wooyoung scanned the perimeter- thankfully, only the area within the sphere had ‘died’. The grass was grey, the flowers were ashes. Jongho sank down to his knees.

“I don’t feel so good,” Jongho’s face was pale. Wooyoung bent down next to him, touching his forehead. It was because of the magic being opposite in nature to Jongho. Wooyoung lent some of his strength to him just in time to stop him from fainting as well. He let Jongho lie down on the grass, out of energy.

“Well,” Wooyoung looked at San, grinning. “This is interesting.”

San glared at him before struggling up on his feet and joining the two, laughing helplessly as he sank down with the two. “I had to withdraw. This magic… It's not fae magic. It’s not even darkling magic.” He drew out his hand and frowned- the ashes were cold- like snow.

“Tell me about it,” Wooyoung sighed. “Jongho calls it ‘anti-nature’.”

“That’s because she used to have the magic of nature,” Jongho practically wailed. “Look around you and tell me this sight doesn’t scream ‘anti-nature’.”

San nodded- he had never seen anything like this. The grass and flowers hadn’t wilted- they had turned ash. “The cell, Wooyoung. It was fueling her magic. I could feel it from a mile away.”

“Well, shit,” Wooyoung looked at Gaeul, worried for a second that she had died but her chest rising up and down slowly relieved him. “Does that mean her magic can’t even be called magic?”

“Unnatural,” San scoffed. “Death- but not simply death. This is something beyond dead- look at this,” he plucked the grey grass that softened into powder with his touch. “Anti-magic. What is the opposite of magic, Wooyoung?”

“Mundane? But this is anything but that. This is… bewitchery, but it’s not that either. Bewitchery was what Junyoung’s uncle tried to do. This is… I don’t know. Let’s hope Hongjoong has a name for this, because if he does not… we’re in deep, deep trouble.”

—-------------------

The next afternoon, Wooyoung got a message from Hongjoong informing him that he’d be taking a little ‘detour’ in hopes of confirming his theory. The message was as ambiguous as it could get, so the three decided to chat with Gaeul.

Gaeul, however, was not having it. The boys were either bickering with each other about things she did not understand, or staring at her like an alien which made her fidget a lot. And right now, the boys were doing the latter. Gaeul stared back at the three of them for a good few moments before she turned around, making them face her back, which was when they broke out of their trance.

“I’m sorry,” San chuckled, “I’m just… confused. Please turn around, Gaeul.”

Gaeul sighed- she did not understand why San saying her name sounded so different. She turned around and her heart immediately warmed at the way he looked at her- sharp eyes that were so soft at times. “What happened last night?”

“I tried calming your magic down, but we have a theory…” San looked at Wooyoung and Jongho, wondering if it was wise to let her know.

“I have an idea so please let me know,” Gaeul gave Jongho and Wooyoung a side-eye when they tried warning San with wide eyes and bobbing heads. “Please tell me what’s going on with me. I’m as confused as you all are.”

“That, I believe,” San nodded. “Your magic… it’s not ‘magic’ anymore. Not like every faerie on this planet. Not even like the darklings-”

“You keep talking about darklings,” Gaeul looked at Wooyoung. “Kieran, was it? Who was he? Have you met a lot of darklings? Are they on this planet?”

“Slow down,” Wooyoung laughed. “Kieran was a darkling, yes, on this planet but not of his own accord. He’s the only one we’ve met.”

“We’ve met Neve too,” Jongho added.

“For like ten seconds, Jongho,” Wooyoung rolled his eyes.

“Ten seconds?” Gaeul was starting to believe that Wooyoung and Jongho weren’t quite sane in the head.

“Yes, he popped in from another dimension to say hi and take Kieran back,” Wooyoung looked at Gaeul as if daring her to call it bullshit. 

“So what does this Kieran possibly have to do with me?”

“You mentioned red hair and glowing eyes… amber eyes?” San asked cautiously and Gaeul nodded hesitantly.

“I believe, yes. He supposedly killed me. Could be a dream.”

“I don’t think it’s a dream,” San looked at Wooyoung. “There’s a reason her magic reversed itself. Why would Kieran kill her though?”

“That’s the one thing I don’t understand,” Jongho tilted his head as he watched Gaeul. “She was a normal faerie with an affinity for nature. Nothing unusual there. Did she see something or hear something she wasn’t supposed to? Or was it mere bad luck?”

“Kieran wasn’t one to kill someone without a reason, was he? Every move he made, every life he took was calculated. As far as I know, he hasn’t even killed that many people.”

“San’s right,” Wooyoung started. “Two years ago… that’s the point of Kieran’s life where he couldn’t risk making a mistake. Killing Gaeul, who lived a very normal life at the beach with her family… there must have been a reason. And that reason is to fuck us up, obviously, but there’s another reason that I feel is more valid.”

“So are we going to watch me everyday like we’ve been doing for days now? Or are we doing something?” Gaeul was starting to hate the basement now. 

“Dear old Hongjoong went on a little trip before coming here,” Wooyoung sighed. “Until then, I suggest we stay put and not try anything.”

“Don’t look at me,” San raised his hands in surrender. “I only prevented an explosion that would have obliterated your ass.”

“We would have been fine,” Wooyoung rolled his eyes. “Tell him, Jongho.”

“I’m not telling him anything,” it was Jongho’s turn to surrender. “After experiencing it firsthand, I’m done assuming things about Gaeul.”

“Something tells me there’s more to your story,” Gaeul raised her eyebrow. Jongho sighed, giving in.

“I could feel you all the way in my castle. The day Wooyoung found you… your magic touched a flower, didn’t it?” Gaeul nodded, surprised, and he continued. “When your magic exploded, I felt it. It was unnatural, and I’m the Prince of Nature. Of course I would feel it- just like last night. It makes me feel sick- no offence to you.”

“None taken. It makes me sick too,” Gaeul sighed, looking away. “But… how come you can feel it from so far away? Do all Princes have like… a sensor?”

“Something like that,” San laughed. “Jongho felt it because of the magic. Wooyoung felt it because you were close, right?”

“Yeah, probably,” Wooyoung nodded. “And you felt it because?”

“I don’t know,” San shrugged, recalling the other feeling he had. His eyes met Gaeul at that moment and his heart sank- and so did Gaeul’s. “I… I’ve been feeling her for months now. I think… when I came to visit you last time, Wooyoung. Four months ago? The proximity might have triggered it.”

“But you’ve been feeling her all along?” Jongho frowned. “Is it because your magic is sensitive?” 

“Probably,” San nodded slowly. “I could feel the magic growing slowly. I could feel that it was wrong. But there was something else- it made me nervous to the point that I couldn’t focus.”

“Weird,” Wooyoung made a face. “Yena and Seonghwa felt it too, probably because it’s connected to the two somehow. We’re keeping Yena out of this, in case you decide to send her a cute message about how you saved my ass from obliterating-”

“I won’t,” San kicked Wooyoung’s leg, making Jongho and Gaeul giggle. “She’s had enough already.”

“What’s the Princess like?” Gaeul asked and the three looked at her. “I don’t think I ever heard about her while I was… alive? Before Kieran supposedly killed me.”

“She’s like us,” Wooyoung smiled.

“She’s like Wooyoung,” Jongho sighed and Wooyoung smacked his arm. 

“What’s wrong with that!?”

“So when did you hear about the Princess?” Jongho asked, ignoring Wooyoung altogether.

“A few months ago… I found myself at the beach, but I was in no state to move and I had no memory. I somehow made it to the forest and some people found me. Everything’s fuzzy- I don’t even know when this amnesia episode started. It could be a few months or a year-”

“What’s the first ‘news’ you heard, if you can recall?” Jongho asked and looked at the two Princes. “I think we can figure out when she woke up. Or came back to life. Whatever it is.”

“Prince Seonghwa and Princess Yena’s wedding was going to take place in a few days,” Gaeul recalled- it was the most memorable news she had heard that had stuck with her. “I remember because I had no idea who this Yena girl was. And then later I found out that she was the Lost Princess.”

“But it’s been 6 months,” Wooyoung frowned. “When we say two years ago, we actually mean two and a half. So… she woke up before Yena’s wedding. We didn’t feel her for four months at most, right? Unless someone felt it earlier. Does that mean her magic wasn’t in this state at that point?”

“That’s right,” Gaeul confirmed. “That time is hazy but I remember the faeries wondering if I had magic in the first place.”

“If Hongjoong was here, we would have figured all of this out in one sitting,” Jongho groaned, slumping down on the couch. 

“Did Prince Hongjoong feel this too?” Gaeul asked.

“Oh, he feels everything,” San waved a hand in dismissal. “Everything that the light touches, I think.”

“So if you’re the Prince of Earth, do you feel everything that happens on this land?”

“Something like that. Yunho is the Prince of Water, so he feels everything wrong in the ocean-” San paused, his mouth parting as he looked at Gaeul. “Didn’t you say you were found by the beach?”

“Uh, yeah?”

“So Yunho must have felt when exactly!” San got up, clapping. “See? We have a brain too. We don’t always need Hongjoong.”

Gaeul tried stifling her smile but the look on Jongho’s face and the grimace on Wooyoung’s made her laugh and she put a hand on her mouth as San turned, muttering sorry. He only shook his head in amusement. 

“Jongho, quick. Write a message to Yunho and ask when exactly he felt something was wrong.”

“Does it matter?” Gaeul asked. “Where was I for the two years that I have no memory of?”

“And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why we always need Hongjoong,” Jongho bowed dramatically, making San pout as he slumped back to the couch.

—------------------

The last thing Mingi expected one fine Sunday morning was Yeosang strolling into his chamber, materialising out of thin air, and immediately fainting right on the couch.

For a second, Mingi panicked, but he could see his chest rise and fall. Mingi poked his arms- he even twitched, his blonde hair falling messily on his forehead. Mingi shook his head, scoffing. “A little warning would have been nice!”

Yeosang, of course, didn’t respond. It appeared that he had portalled himself. His portalling method was very different from Yena, and he had started practising it not too long ago, though he always had a theory it would work. But turning into a spirit and then materialising into a body elsewhere was risky business- more risky than Yena opening a portal in space and risk portalling somewhere else- or some ‘time’ else. 

Or perhaps, Mingi thought as he sat down beside Yeosang, going back to his documents, perhaps portalling into an unknown dimension with a different flow of time was more dangerous.

Mingi recalled the time when the darkling Kieran had almost driven Yena mad, forcing her to practise her time magic so he could go back in time for some twisted revenge. Mingi had found Yena just in time, and Yena in a state of panic had accidentally portalled herself and Mingi into another dimension where time flow was different. After spending months in that dimension, they came back when Yena finally figured out exactly where she was, finding that only a few hours had passed in reality.

If Yena had been alone, he wasn’t sure she would have made it back. She was in no state to be alone, after being a hostage to Kieran. Mingi wondered sometimes if he was fated to be the one to find Yena. It had somehow made his magic different, spending that time with her in a dimension where no one else but the two existed. 

This was definitely why he could feel some poor soul with its own magic burning it. He was sure Yeosang could feel it too and was here to talk about it.

He was right. When Yeosang finally woke up, it took him a good few moments to gain his senses. Mingi pointed to the bottle of water in front of him and he hungrily gulped all of it down- portalling, for some reason, left him parched. Once he had finished the last drop, he finally breathed.

“You look well,” Yeosang commented.

“Because I have been sitting in my own body unlike someone in this room,” Mingi scoffed, amused. “What are you up to?”

“I heard some rumours that I thought I’d share with you first,” Yeosang leaned forward, “Some very… interesting rumours.”

Mingi ran a hand through his red hair. “Well?”

“Apparently,” Yeosang’s eyes glittered, “someone actually came back from the dead.”

Mingi gave Yeosang the side-eye. “As in?”

Yeosang huffed. “My spirits tell me that something was amiss. As you know, time flow doesn’t affect them. So when Yena changed the timeline, nothing in that dimension changed. Anyways, from the reports I gathered, there was some sort of black hole- if you can call it that- forming in that dimension. I don’t know how I missed it, but some tell me it didn’t stay in the same place.”

“And what does that mean?” Mingi frowned.

“Apparently the hole grew until it disappeared one day about six months ago. Again, I’m not sure about the time, but that’s what I got.”

“I think Yunho told me when he felt something strange. He was out in the ocean for days trying to figure out whatever it was.”

Yeosang paled after hearing that. “That sounds too similar to necromancy. Water and black holes. The dimension of the dead. Never a good combination. But… necromancy doesn’t work like that. It’s done by someone, and the black hole doesn’t ‘travel’ around the dimension, it sticks to the reality here. And… there’s something else.”

Mingi raised his brows in anticipation and Yeosang sighed. “I casually confirmed with San, Wooyoung, and Jongho’s court, but there have been people going ‘missing’ in the past few months. No traces, no pattern. My spirits tell me that they’re alive, but they… They are in another dimension. Maybe sucked by the black hole.”

“That’s crazy, why would someone willingly go into something that looked like a black hole?”

“Unless they were dragged in it,” Yeosang bit his lips. “If my sources aren’t lying- and they have no reason to- they believe some ‘otherworldly’ creatures now prowl in this land.”

Mingi sat back, taking a deep breath. He wasn’t sure he was ready to face ‘otherworldly’ creatures- the creatures that already existed on this planet were enough. “So what’s your verdict?” 

“Hongjoong. He needs to hear this. I think… it’s time we all gathered. Whatever this is, it’s not supposed to exist.”

“Actually,” Mingi pursed his lips, “I can feel it too. A soul burning from too much magic, except it’s not magic. It’s… something different.”

“Yeah. It has the ability to disintegrate living beings. What do we do?”

“Send a message to Hongjoong first,” Mingi immediately started writing a message. “We need to gather.”

—------------------

Hongjoong was in the middle of the Peridot Sea, somewhere between Mingi’s Kingdom of Leo and Wooyoung’s Kingdom of Sagittarius, when he got Mingi’s message informing him that apparently someone was back from the dead and they needed to meet in person so they could discuss it properly.

Hongjoong looked up at the cloudy sky, as gloomy as his mood. Yugyeom, who was quite pleased with the detour because he needed a break from the castle duties, raised a brow. “Everything alright?”

“Not at all,” Hongjoong smiled helplessly, asking for a pen. He scribbled his location and dared Yeosang to portal himself here since there was a chance he would very well land in the sea.

Yeosang’s reply through Mingi’s fire message came a minute later, a very provocative drawing along with a request to land on their continent- Algieba was the closest. Hongjoong sent an okay, instructing Yugyeom to turn their course west. Yugyeom, who had an affinity for air, helped the ship change its course without much effort. They could already see land so it would only take about an hour.

As soon as he landed at the beach, he sent Yeosang and Mingi the message. Yugyeom brought food from the ship. “Good thing we landed. With this amount of food you wouldn’t last two days.”

Hongjoong passed him a side-eye. “You should have stored more.”

“Who decided to take a detour in the middle of our very planned-out tour to Rukbat?” Yugyeom scoffed, slumping down on the sand and opening the bag which included snacks and everything unhealthy that Hongjoong loved to eat. Hongjoong picked a box of cookies, offering some as an apology and Yugyeom rolled his eyes, laughing.

“I’m probably going to Mingi’s castle. Wanna join me?”

“I should,” Yugyeom nodded. “It’s been a while since I met Wonpil.”

“Ah, yes,” Hongjoong nodded. “You have friends everywhere. Let’s hope we get a ride before we get a heatstroke in the desert.”

Luckily for the two, Mingi had already sent some of his friends that resided in the desert to pick Hongjoong and Yugyeom. The two dozed off the entire ride back, waking up only when they stopped to get a good night’s rest and then the next day, they reached Mingi’s castle, greeted by an unusually grim looking duo.

“At least wear a smile when you greet me!” Hongjoong wailed and the two burst out laughing which was when Hongjoong realised this was an act and he ran forward to smack them. “I swear I will never get a break!”

“You’ll be wearing this grim face soon enough, don’t worry,” Yeosang laughed, dodging a hit to the arm. “Come on. Let’s eat before we lose our appetite.”

Yugyeom took that as a clue to run away. “I don’t wish to lose my appetite. Hongjoong, I’ll be staying here for a day or two before I go back. That okay?”

Everyone gave him a thumbs-up and watched him spot Wonpil and happily run to his old friend. “See?” Hongjoong watched them hug like long lost brothers. “That’s how you greet a friend.”

“Whatever,” Mingi grinned cheekily, ruffling Hongjoong’s ginger hair. “Come along before I drag you there.”

The three avoided discussing anything over dinner, enjoying the carefree bantering and making fun of each other just like everything was normal, to the point where for a moment they forgot all about the trouble they were in.

“I have something to say about this,” Hongjoong began. Yeosang started clapping and Mingi wheezed with laughter. “I haven’t even begun!”

“You’ve said enough,” Yeosang laughed. “You don’t get the right to tell me to stop portalling like this when you literally disappear into the light. At this rate, you’ll find yourself some thousand light years away from us. At least I’ll only be lost in another dimension.”

“It doesn’t work like that-”

“Should I try materialising into fire?” Mingi cackled and Hongjoong rolled his eyes at how Yeosang and Mingi kept trolling him.

“You’ll burn yourself if you ever try that,” Hongjoong commented. “Just because you’re the Prince of Fire doesn’t mean-”

“Yes, Hongjoong, just because you’re the Prince of Light doesn’t mean you get to shine your light of wisdom on us,” Mingi said and the room fell silent before the three started hollering again, Yeosang applauding.

“If you’re done fooling around,” Jae, Mingi’s Right Hand entered, shaking his head in amusement at the young princes. “The chambers are ready, and tea awaits.”

“Ah, yes, time to sleep,” Hongjoong nodded, getting up, hearing one of the two mutter ‘boomer’. “Thank you- and please make sure Yugyeom leaves after two days. Yugyeom and Wonpil shouldn’t be together for too long.”

“Oh, I’ll make sure,” Jae smiled devilishly. “Let’s hope they don’t bring the castle down with their chaos.”

As the three settled in Mingi’s living room, they realised how the gravity of the situation kept nagging at their subconsciousness. Yeosang glanced at the two. “Is it time we finally address the problem?”

“You first,” Hongjoong nodded. 

“I am not sure about what time this took place, but something like necromancy brought someone back from the dead. Apparently a black hole kept moving around in my dimension of spirits, until a while ago it disappeared. I think that’s when someone came back from the dead- but it doesn’t look like they were ‘brought’ back to life. It just… happened. And it burned the soul of a faerie with its magic in a way I’ve never seen or heard of, Hongjoong. Other than that, there are reports of missing faeries throughout Kingdoms of Cancer, Sagittarius and Libra. Throughout that continent only. Apparently some ‘otherworldly’ creatures have been spotted and are said to have come from the blackholes- my spirits tell me that the missing faeries are alive but not in this plane- not in this dimension.”

“I understand,” Hongjoong nodded, his face not giving any indication of what was going on inside his head. “Mingi?”

“I felt it too, I feel it now as well,” Mingi shifted in his chair. “Whatever this magic is, it’s not normal. It’s burning the soul of the possessor, but then… at the same time it’s keeping it alive too.”

“Interesting,” Hongjoong slumped back. “The ‘it’ we are referring to is a faerie of about our age, named Gaeul. She’s in Wooyoung’s Palace right now where San and Jongho are present too.”

“Wow,” Yeosang scoffed. “Why didn’t they inform us?”

“I specifically asked them to report only to me, as I asked you two and everyone else,” Hongjoong said. “I have a theory, and it’s not good. Whatever you both told me, it’s only making my theory more plausible. According to Yunho, he detected something fishy in the ocean about six months ago. He spent days trying to figure out the source but it was like the source kept changing locations.”

“That must be when the black hole shifted to this dimension of reality?” Yeosang asked.

“Seems like it,” Hongjoong nodded. “I don’t know who Gaeul is and what makes her so special, but I believe… according to the memory she thinks she has… Kieran killed her somehow. For such a phenomenon to happen, either he calculated it to the extent that he already knew when Yena would go back in time, or it occurred unintentionally- a big, unfortunate coincidence.”

“But with Kieran, nothing is a coincidence,” Mingi pursed his lips.

“Exactly, but we cannot be too sure right now. Either way, he killed Gaeul and she came back because Yena changed the timeline and somehow, Gaeul’s life was connected to it. If Yena hadn’t changed the timeline, she would have remained dead.”

“But theoretically, like Seonghwa, Gaeul should have just been ‘alive’. How is her situation different from Seonghwa?”

“That’s what I’m trying to figure out, and we also need to check if the missing faeries are indeed connected to all of this,” Hongjoong sighed. “We need to trace that black hole, Yeosang. And we need… Yunho. Get a good night’s sleep because from tomorrow, we will travel.”

taglist: @yunnierights @monstaxdirtywonk @moni-cah @uyumilk @atxxzist @hazysan @bewitchedinyourhunger @kk-fleury @sincostansan @onedumbho3 @wooya1224 @icouldntcareless22 @jjaelly @huachengsbestie01 @ztjileen @charreddonuts @mdibby

[civettictis]

CSP Brushes i like to use!

I usually work on:

5000x5000px 500dpi

4961x7016px 600dpi for big illustrations (A4)

320x240px 500dpi for pixel art

Lineart and Sketching:

Content ID：1761353

I use this one for pretty much everything! Very much a favorite of mine.

Content ID：2019374

I mostly use ZAKUZAKU from this set. It's not really ideal for my usual artstyle, but it feels nice to use, and has good texture.

Content ID：1851133

I use this one for coloring, rendering, lineart and sketching! I customize this one with a halftone texture for rendering from time to time, as well as a similar brush with the ID: 1963562

Content ID：1888898

I use BASSY in this set! It's usually my go-to if i want to do cleaner lineart without texture. I tend to use it on lower stabilization (Between 2 and 6)

Coloring and Rendering

Content ID：1771136

I have another version of the lasso fill too, but they're pretty much the same. This one just has anti-aliasing as it's standard setting. (I do prefer to turn off anti-aliasing when doing base colours for a bigger piece since i like to use select color gamut)

Content ID：1872771

I use DAEPEN4 from the set a lot! I like using it for soft coloring or shading. I also use a duplicated version of it with a halftone texture for some rendering.

Content ID：1771071

I loooove this pen i use it 4 everything

Content ID：1893599

Rake brush i use for some textures. There's a "grainier" one with this ID: 1896418

Content ID：1754778

I use this one lots for rendering. I like the Block one the most.

Content ID：1900917

Yummy scrummy texture and color-blocking brush for rendering.

Erasing:

Content ID：1800618

I love lasso tools... Go-to stuff. I wish they made the next one as a lasso tool too...

Content ID：1800143

I forget to use this too much when i'm coloring, but it's nice when you get a good flow with it (needs to be used with a refrence layer)

For pixel art,

I like to use the standard Dot pen, and the lasso tools with ant-aliasing off. Tbf i vary my tools A LOT art to art, and i really just use whatever feels best. (this applies for non-pixel art too)

For pixel art, i really just make sure i have anti-aliasing off on the brushes i use.

In general,

I do also like some of the standard CSP brushes, like the airbrush tool (often accompanied by lasso select) and the marker pen on high stabilization for artwork like merchandise or more "technical" looking artwork.

I use a lot of various half-tone brushes, which are really just a lot that i came across by searching up half-tone or hatching.

I have far too many brushes downloaded, and i pretty frequently switch between stuff, but i tried to list the ones i most consistently use.

Additionally, a brush i like to use is the Jerma pen, which, as it may sound, is just a pen where the brush tip is a png of Jerma. The material was deleted from the CSP assets, but i still use it with custom pen pressure. It's unironically a very nice pen for less refined artwork and sketches.

[daisyrayne]

I wrote this descriptive 2nd person story out of inspiration of one of my favourite clown’s (Art the Clown from the Terrifier movies) as well as practise for myself as a descriptive writer. This story is also based on the difference between coulrophobia and the contradiction of this intense fear.

Title: Not Scared

In the corner of your small bedroom across from the open window is a glow in the dark, multi-coloured, fuzzy velvet poster of a clown. Which peculiarly their malicious and vile face painted grin does not inflict any sort of discomfort upon your eye gazing demeanour. However, the jester’s soft, rainbow - neon hair displayed on your wall art causes visual satisfaction, along with a pungent rush of positive sensations throughout your delighted figure standing by the casement inviting the brisk cool air from outside. As you gazed outside of the open window, you discovered how the polar ice - white dots glisten at night beside the dark blue, almost painted sky on the night of All Hallows Eve. Well technically it is Halloween right now since your black and blue digital alarm clock located on your red nightstand to the right side of your queen sized bed currently read 1:22am. You decided to beat everybody to the punch and go out to purchase some of your favourite candy for the traditional sugar - circulated event occurring this evening.

Grabbing your purple key chain that obtains your requirement to drive your matte black Kia forte with red interior, you tried to pick between going to the grocery store or the local gas station. Choosing the grocery store Walmart you began your venture to the location due to your prediction of greater candy selection at Walmart compared to a gas station. The second you arrived at Walmart, there was a very strong, nose penetrating, marijuana scent currently invading your nostrils. This odour was slowly being replaced by the fresh, cold air entering your car from the cracked window beside you and drove off in your Kia to your desired area of interest.

During the drive your thoughts shifted to attempting to understand the comprehension of the reasoning behind why the emotions you personally experience regarding the (to you) enthusiastic, face -painted jester is dissimilar, as opposed to coulorphobes. (Which is a fear - saturated phobia triggered by clowns.) You suppose their intense anxiety develops because when you are incapable of perceiving someone’s physical features, you notice that your brain tends to create generalizations concerning what they resemble underneath. Clown makeup is rather concealing, regardless of enabling an individual’s facial reaction to be observed. You believe that coulorphobes simply imagine that it conceals something frightening and sinister behind, when washed off.

The flow of your thinking is interrupted regarding this random concept is interrupted by a loud, ear piercing honk to your left. Generated by a frustrated middle - aged woman, with long, straight red hair, who is curing at a distracted teenage boy glued to his phone walking directly behind her blue chevy trailblazer. Mentally shaming the boy’s ignoring the presence of the lady’s car, you quickly turned off the ignition and then exited your vehicle. However, not before reminding yourself to grab one out of the four green twenty dollar bills from your lilac purple wallet, which is currently tucked into the glove compartment, to satisfy tonight’s sugar desire. That is when you noticed that the ground in this specific market’s huge marijuana - scented parking lot was significantly cleaner than it had been three days previously when you stopped by to grab essentials for your dinner one night.

You paced through Walmart’s aisles at approximately 1:36am, just a minute after an elderly couple who came into the same area you were currently in at the simultaneous time you did. Trying to recall which long shelf of groceries obtains your customary sweet treat, when you then become aware of a very tall, must be over six foot guy disguised in a black and white dirty clown outfit. As well as matching (The Crow 1994 style) intricate facial makeup. Glancing over at the only thing your eyes are drawn to in this huge store, you observed how the clown was just standing by the checkout registers pretending to act like he is going to buy one out of the various bottled soda’s next to him. This bizarre costumed individual accomplishes this by fiddling with every single soda bottle on the shelf beside him in a methodical demeanour.

The jester’s eyes were as dark as despondency and saturated with barbarity. You did not even perceive your body’s hormone regulation symptoms increasing because of your sugar desire neglection. Which is caused by your flabbergasted manner towards this mysteriously disguised clown standing beside the very last aisle of this store, right next to the now disturbed cashiers behind their registers. There is now the same, still frustrated middle aged woman (30ish) holding her little toddler’s hand, while around twenty feet away from you simultaneously and aggressively cursing as well as shamefully pointing at the black and white jester. Who is currently mocking the exasperated ginger mother with dramatic placement of his gloved hands on his costumed hips, generating sardonic facial expressions in an imitation to this new mother’s loathing towards this, in your opinion, uproarious clown. “I realize that is it Halloween sir, but do you really have to keep on scaring my son?” The red headed 30 something year old woman about two aisles away from you stated in the direction of this unique jester’s presence.

You then witnessed this lady’s facial appearance shift from infuriated and defensive to perturbed and agitated. Her facial indentations were probably emanated by the now spine - chilling grin, as well as this peculiar clowns hopefully fake blood - stained glovelettes in motion from side to side in an animatronic manner. You just stood there, not being able to move your feet, observing the comical interaction amongst each individuals. Your two dark, mesmerized pupils began to widen as you continued to observe this bizarre scene in front of you, while resisting your own contradiction of coulorphobia in your currently astonished mind.

This particular clown’s appearance obtains a white washed face, while his large, plump lips are decorated with black face point, seemingly fake thin, black arched eyebrows. As well as this jester’s pitch black eyes are outlined in dark facial paint. His clothing animates the presentation of a white bald cap obstructing the concealed hair over his head. Along with a mini black top hat securely fastened by a long, thin strap on the right side of his decorated head. Not that far away from your amused figure, this specific clown is also wearing a black and white outfit, followed by clutching a shinny, noisy, black garbage bag in his left hand.

Visually taking in this personally gratifying as well as picturesque disguise, constructed by this bizarre, unknown individual, you wondered why the woman, her son, along with the cashiers felt unsettled due to this peculiar jester’s attendance. Alongside the occasional enthusiastic sign - language conducted by this clown’s formerly white fingerless gloves, which are now mysteriously saturated with dark red liquid. Also, your curiosity questioned how your portrayal towards this dressed up jester is an entirely opposite conduct of emotion inflicted by his presence, in contrary to the other people in this grocery store. (Hence my next question)

What causes people to develop coulorphobia? Perhaps those experiencing this specific anxiety are reacting to the clowns vibrant facial paint? An art of creatively putting monochrome themed elements that would take many hours if your happened to be the one disgusting yourself on this particular evening. Or could it be this clowns dramatic, exaggerated facial expressions that you noticed often alter between contrasting, mimicked emotions which convey an apparent feeling of danger perhaps? Maybe the reasoning is note either, yet however is triggered by the unpredictability of the clowns conduct. After all, their appearance on rails emotional indications, therefore bystanders are unable to identify any malicious intentions. Either way this question still baffles me, I assume this is because of my speculative wondering regarding this personally unsympathetic phobia.

[askthekuvaqbrothers]

The Cleaner

Cletus clicked his tongue, looking upon the faces of his sleeping brothers. Their Father had explained that being identical was simply part of genetics, but not yet knowing the meaning of that word, he hoped it was something that could be changed.

Because he hated the idea of looking that disgusting. 

Argus was snoring, a trail of drool spilling from the corner of his mouth, while little flecks of gunk sat in the corners of his eyes. Rufus had ignored the ‘wash up being getting in bed’ rule and had steaks of grease and dirt all over his face, as well as snot crust on his top lip.

He rubbed his face on his sleeve to try quell the crawling of his skin. Hermes was still at work, so he couldn’t tattle and have them scold into cleaning up, and if he complained the two would brush him off- or worse! They’d try to spread their grottiness!

Holding up his beloved plush lizard, he gave a determined nod, “We’ll have to take matters into our own hands.” 

Poisonous flopped in agreement, finding itself tucked securely under arm as Cletus headed into the wash ‘room’. It was also a rule not to waste water, the resource a costly commodity among settlements, but Father would understand it was for the greater good. Once he’d positioned the stepstool by the sink, Cletus balanced Poisonous behind the tap, then attempted to hoist the bucket under the faucet. It clattered loudly, though he knew it wouldn’t be enough to stir the other two. It was much too big to fit beyond awkwardly lying on its side, where Cletus had to adjust the stool to the other side of the sink to reach the tap and start the flow. The liquid was slow to move at first, its yellow-ish grey colour only slightly more appealing than Rufus’ boogers. 

‘Ugh, that reminds me…’

He’d seen his brother wiping them under the table just the other night. With a frustrated grumble, he turned off the tap and wriggled the bucket upright, trying not to spill its contents. He carefully stepped down, only managing to hoist the bucket high enough that it banged into his knees as he carted it over to the dining table. Then he dashed back to collect Poisonous, as well as a scrap of fabric he could use as a cloth. He dipped it, wrung it, then squatted by Rufus’ usual chair. 

Before he could bring himself to check what disgusting display was on the underside, his eye caught the sight of something on the wall- smears. He shuffled closer.

‘Brown? No, they’re kinda red- oh gross!’

The shape of fingerprints clued him in. Argus was often the one with blood on his hands, either his own, or from trying to fix Rufus’ injuries. Why he felt the need to paint weird dot creatures on the wall with it was beyond Cletus. 

He stood, shaking his head, only now noticing with the light of the window behind him that the remains of breakfast were all over the table still- and the floor was in no better condition! Dirt and dust clumped in corners and smeared through walkways- the cooking pot was still sitting unwashed on the stove- The window there was spotted with who knows what-!

Poisonous slipped from his elbow, and he yelped as he twisted to save her from hitting the filthy ground. 

“Wha?! What’s going on?!”

Argus sat bolt upright, scanning the room for threats. The voice of his brother's distress was always an alarm to him, he quickly climbed off the bed and put himself in view of the upset Cletus. The green haired boy felt miserable at the mess, tears pricking in his eyes, and on instinct he held out an arm as an invitation for Argus to approach. He did so in turn, but as he came within a foot Cletus remembered how this had begun- at the sight of his drool smeared cheek! He withdrew his arm and instead, flung the wet rag still in hand directly at his brother's face, which it struck with a satisfactory slap. 

"Agh!?" 

Argus stumbled as Cletus closed the gap, planting a palm on the cloth to scrub it around, focusing on the offending mouth and andeyes. 

“Keep your grottiness to yourself!”

Argus tried to squirm away from the assault, ducking, then leaning back. When Cletus pursued, he changed tactics and moved closer, wrapping his arms around his brother's middle, hoisting him in the air. Cletus squawked again, but relented so he could grip Argus’ shoulders for support, the cloth falling into the space between them. 

“So you don’t want to be grotty hu?”

He turned and marched to the bed, where Rufus was now constricting a pillow in lieu of his brothers. Cletus turned and watched in horror as the filth smeared on the fabric, knowing Argus’ plan was to put him in that position. 

“Noooo!”

He made a desperate wiggle, which stopped Argus from moving as he put him off balance. As he swayed while trying to keep his hold, he lost his footing and spun, ending with his back on the bed and Cletus on top, letting him scrabble away. Now towering above, and with the damp cloth having followed him, he grinned.

“Prepared to be cleaned!”

He dropped onto Rufus' back, pinning him as the roughhousing roused him from his nap, though he didn’t make it to full consciousness before Cletus scrubbed at his face. 

“Mrph?!”

Argus rolled over, scrambling into a pouncing position.

“You’re cleaning terror ends here!”

He lept, but Cletus was quicker, jumping off the bed so Argus was left colliding with the confused Rufus. 

“That’s what you think!”

He’d barely made a dent in the smears, so there was only one choice- desperate measures. As his brothers tried to get up, he made a grab for the bucket, inadvertently losing his elbow pin on Poisonous as he got one hand on the lip of the bucket and the other underneath, making one mighty throw of the liquid it held. Having both just gotten to their feet, Argus and Rufus had nowhere to run as the water hit them dead on.

“Bwah, what’s going on?!” Rufus shook the water from his hair, splattering the area.

“I think we’ve been defeated.”

“We were fighting??”

Cletus put his hands on his hips, satisfied that his brothers were at least a little cleaner. Then realisation dawned on him as he felt the lack of warmth at his side. He scanned the floor, seeing his plush by the puddle on the floor, and then seeing Rufus raise his foot very purposefully.

“Don’t you dare-!”

The splash from the stomp had no mercy, sending water towards the bed, and Argus, and Poisonous-

Cletus dove, using his body to shield the lizard, letting himself be covered in water and dirt alike. Rufus cackled, stomping more, until there was little water left underfoot. Satisfied, he stilled, which Cletus took as a sign to pull himself from the floor, carefully carry and place Poisonous to their fathers study nook, then turn back to his brothers with furry in his eyes.

When Hermes returned home, he found three dirt covered children and several puddles across the floor.

[windmills123]

.flow week 2025 day 7 - endings

[bishop-percival]

@stuckinuniformdevelopment

(prev) Between the mental rattling metal and dissociation Teddy was completely unguarded. Which gave Mike the perfect, rare opportunity to peer over his shoulder. The sketches were sharp, scratchy, wispy and last but not least, tiny. Most were almost impossible to see by anyone who didn’t have their eye mere inches from the page. Despite being drawn in ballpoint pen. Although some— primarily the particularity gruesome ones and anything in the top left area— were almost as dark as a normal penstroke. There were plenty of meaningless scribbles bordering the page with larger scrawling dominating said corner. Watchdogs screaming, crying, looking directly out of the page with thousand yard stares or otherwise showing intense distress gradually emerged from the (relative) darkness. And the cleaner the sketch was, the more likely it was to wear a bowtie. As the sketches neared the middle the scribbledogs started dying incredibly gruesome deaths. Which only grew more… creative as they climbed down the page. Sawing. Falling. Drowning. Burning. Exploding. Freezing in a block of ice. A skull cracked by falling off an office chair. Electrocution. Sucked into heavy machinery by a loose sleeve. Squeezed by a giant rat woman until the eye popped. Then sweeter art appeared in the midst of violence. A very distinctive rat. A thick lensed nerd. Some watchdog wearing some stupid suit that made them look like a dog toy. Oddly enough, Shep hadn’t appeared a single time. As Mike watched, Teddy drew a watchdog torso emerging from one disk and a bottom half below another. He clicked his shuttle pen to add red dotting the bottom of the torso and blood flowing down the still-running legs. Then his hand moved to the watchdog’s head and he switched back to black. “Kshkshksh…” The identity of this watchdog became clear when Teddy gave it a ridiculously tall trapezoidal hat.

Mike squinted to take in as much detail as he could decipher. Geeez. The page was oozing with angst. This guy was really going through it, huh? Mike studied the gruesome doodles with both concern and (even more) amusement. 

He watched as the watchdog being torn asunder by ominous disks turned into Bishop Percival. What would’ve shocked Mike to his very core not even that long ago, however, made him grin. Even snicker a little. Good. Mike was glad he could find himself slowly but surely easing out of his conditioning, his brainwashing, to take delight in the gory caricature of what was once his savior and idol.

He scanned back over the gruesome death doodles again to see if any of the watchdogs had a thin eyeglass. He figured if Teddy were to draw Mike somewhere, he’d likely be one of those. But to his surprise, he didn't see himself. That was fine...

Now at this point Mike knew better than to directly startle Teddy out of his sketching trance, so he quietly stepped back before walking across the room over to the stepladder. He dragged it back over near the desk, hoping the loud scraping sound would get through Teddy's headphones, then sat on a step.

[phoenixplans]

Ten Wild and Wonderful Florida Facts That Will Blow Your Mind

Florida isn't just about beaches and theme parks (though those are pretty great too). The Sunshine State is packed with bizarre, fascinating, and downright unbelievable facts that make it one of America's most unique destinations. From ancient geological wonders to quirky modern-day phenomena, here are ten Florida facts that will make you see the state in a whole new light.

1. Florida Has More Golf Courses Than Any Other State

With over 1,000 golf courses scattered across its landscape, Florida is quite literally a golfer's paradise. That's more courses per square mile than anywhere else in the United States. The year-round warm weather and relatively flat terrain make it the perfect place to perfect your swing, whether you're a weekend warrior or a touring professional.

2. The State is Flatter Than a Pancake (Almost Literally)

Florida's highest natural point is Britton Hill at a whopping 345 feet above sea level. To put that in perspective, that's shorter than most skyscrapers. This makes Florida the flattest state in the nation, with an average elevation of just 100 feet. The pancake comparison isn't just a figure of speech – scientists have actually determined that Florida is indeed flatter than an actual pancake!

3. Florida Has Two Rivers That Flow North

While most rivers flow south toward the Gulf of Mexico or the Atlantic Ocean, Florida breaks the rules with the St. Johns River and the Chipola River, both of which flow northward. The St. Johns River is particularly notable as one of the few major rivers in the United States that flows north, stretching 310 miles from its source near Melbourne to its mouth in Jacksonville.

4. Gatorade Was Invented at the University of Florida

The iconic sports drink that's now consumed worldwide was actually created in 1965 by researchers at the University of Florida to help the Gators football team stay hydrated in the brutal Florida heat. The original formula was far from the tasty beverage we know today – early versions were described as tasting like "toilet bowl cleaner with a hint of lemon."

5. Florida is the Only State With Two Rivers That Have the Same Name

The Withlacoochee River appears twice in Florida – once in the northern part of the state and once in the central region. These aren't connected waterways; they're completely separate rivers that happen to share the same Native American name, which means "crooked river" or "little big water."

6. The State Has More Than 30,000 Lakes

Florida's landscape is dotted with an incredible 30,000+ lakes, making it a freshwater wonderland despite being surrounded by saltwater. The largest, Lake Okeechobee, covers 730 square miles and is often called Florida's inland sea. Many of these lakes were formed by sinkholes, giving Florida one of the most unique geological features in the country.

7. Key West is Closer to Cuba Than to Miami

Geography can be deceiving! Key West sits just 90 miles from Havana, Cuba, while it's 150 miles from Miami. On a clear day, you might think you can see Cuba from the southernmost point of the continental United States, though that's actually just your imagination playing tricks on you – the curvature of the Earth makes it impossible to see Cuba from Key West.

8. Florida Produces About 70% of America's Oranges

The sunshine state lives up to its citrus reputation, producing roughly 70% of all oranges grown in the United States. Florida's orange groves cover about 480,000 acres, and the state produces over 200 million boxes of oranges annually. Most of these oranges are turned into orange juice rather than eaten fresh, making Florida the orange juice capital of America.

9. The State Has No Dinosaur Fossils

Despite being one of the most fossil-rich states in the country, Florida has never yielded a single dinosaur fossil. This is because Florida was completely underwater during the age of dinosaurs. However, the state is a treasure trove of marine fossils, including ancient sharks, whales, and the famous saber-toothed cats that roamed the area much later.

10. Florida Has the Most Lightning Strikes in the US

Florida experiences more lightning strikes than any other state, earning it the nickname "Lightning Capital of America." The state sees about 25 lightning strikes per square mile each year, with the Tampa Bay area being particularly active. This is due to Florida's unique geography, surrounded by water and experiencing frequent afternoon thunderstorms during the summer months.

The Magic of Florida Never Ends

These ten facts barely scratch the surface of what makes Florida such a fascinating and unique state. From its geological oddities to its cultural contributions, Florida continues to surprise and delight residents and visitors alike. Whether you're planning your first visit or you've called Florida home for years, there's always something new and amazing to discover in the Sunshine State.

Next time someone mentions Florida, you'll have plenty of conversation starters that go way beyond the typical Disney World and alligator stories. Florida's true magic lies in these unexpected details that make it unlike anywhere else in the world.

So what's a business who focuses on balancing self-care with productivity doing writing a random blog about the Sunshine State?

I guess you'll have to stay tuned to find out. 😉

[jcmarchi]

Salesforce to buy Informatica in $8B deal

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/salesforce-to-buy-informatica-in-8b-deal/

Salesforce to buy Informatica in $8B deal

Salesforce has agreed to acquire data management firm Informatica in a deal valued at around $8 billion. This includes equity value, minus Salesforce’s existing investment in the company. Informatica shareholders will receive $25 in cash per share.

The move aims to help Salesforce build a stronger foundation for AI tools that can act on their own, often called agentic AI. Informatica’s software is known for helping businesses collect, manage, and organise large sets of data – the kind of support Salesforce needs to improve its AI systems’ work in different business applications.

The deal brings together tools for organising and cleaning data (like Master Data Management and data integration) with Salesforce’s cloud platform. The idea is to make sure any AI features running on Salesforce have access to organised and secure data.

For companies using AI in daily operations, having the right data isn’t enough. They also need to know where that data came from, how it has been changed, and whether it can be trusted. That’s where Informatica’s tools come in with benefits such as:

Transparency: Informatica can show how data flows through systems, helping companies meet audit or regulatory needs.

Context: By combining Informatica’s metadata with Salesforce’s data models, AI agents will better understand how to connect the dots in business systems.

Governance: Features like data quality controls and policy settings help make sure AI systems rely on clean and consistent data.

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff said the acquisition supports the company’s goal of building safe and responsible AI for business use. “We’re excited to acquire Informatica … Together, we’ll supercharge Agentforce, Data Cloud, Tableau, MuleSoft, and Customer 360,” Benioff said.

Informatica CEO Amit Walia said joining Salesforce will help more businesses make better use of their data.

How this helps Salesforce’s data products

Informatica’s cloud tools will plug directly into Salesforce’s core products:

Data cloud: Informatica will help ensure data collected is trustworthy and ready to use – not just gathered in one place.

Agentforce: AI agents should be able to make smarter decisions with cleaner data and better understanding of business context.

Customer 360: Salesforce CRM tools will gain data inputs, helping sales and support teams.

MuleSoft: With Informatica’s data quality and governance tools, the data passing through MuleSoft APIs should be more reliable.

Tableau: Users of Tableau will benefit from more detailed information, as the data behind the dashboards should be better organised and easier to understand.

Steve Fisher, President and CTO at Salesforce, explained the value: “Imagine an AI agent that goes beyond simply seeing data points to understand their full context – origin, transformation, quality, and governance.”

Salesforce plans to bring Informatica’s technology into its existing systems quickly after the deal closes. This includes integrating data quality, governance, and MDM features into Agentforce and Data Cloud.

The company also said it will continue to support Informatica’s current strategy to build AI-driven data tools for use in different cloud environments.

Informatica acquisition aligns with Salesforce’s strategy

Salesforce executives described the acquisition as part of a long-term plan.

Robin Washington, President and CFO, said the company targets deals like this one when it sees a clear fit for customers and a solid financial return. “We’re laser-focused on accelerated execution,” she said, pointing to sectors like government, healthcare, and finance, where the combined tools could have most impact.

Informatica’s chairman Bruce Chizen said the deal shows how long-term investment strategies can pay off. He credited private equity backers Permira and CPP Investments for their role in guiding the company toward this outcome.

Salesforce also said it plans to invest in Informatica’s partner network and apply its own sales and marketing muscle to grow Informatica’s cloud business further.

Deal terms and next steps

The boards of both companies have approved the transaction. Shareholders representing about 63% of Informatica’s voting shares have signed off and no further votes are needed. The deal is expected to close early in Salesforce’s 2027 fiscal year, pending regulatory approval and other conditions.

Salesforce will pay for the deal using a mix of cash and new debt. The company expects the deal to add to its non-GAAP earnings, margin, and cash flow starting in the second year after closing. It does not plan to change its shareholder return plans as a result of the acquisition.

(Image from Pixabay)

See also: Oracle plans $40B Nvidia chip deal for AI facility in Texas

Want to learn more about AI and big data from industry leaders? Check out AI & Big Data Expo taking place in Amsterdam, California, and London. The comprehensive event is co-located with other leading events including Intelligent Automation Conference, BlockX, Digital Transformation Week, and Cyber Security & Cloud Expo.

Explore other upcoming enterprise technology events and webinars powered by TechForge here.

[mirrrraaa]

Vessel Tank Cleaning

Vessel Tank Cleaning

Ultimate Expert Guide to Crude Oil Storage Tank Cleaning: Advanced Techniques & Operational Mastery

I. Hyper-Detailed Sludge Analysis

1.1 Molecular-Level Characterization

FTIR Spectroscopy Fingerprinting:

Key peaks:

2,920 cm⁻¹ (aliphatic C-H)

1,700 cm⁻¹ (carbonyl groups from oxidation)

Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA):

Fig 1.1: Weight loss curve showing:

20% volatiles (<150°C)

45% pyrolyzables (150-500°C)

35% inorganic residue (>500°C)

1.2 Rheological Modeling

Herschel-Bulkley Parameters:

math

\tau = \tau_y + K \dot{\gamma}^n

Typical sludge values:

τ_y (yield stress): 180-220 Pa

K (consistency index): 45-60 Pa·sⁿ

n (flow index): 0.3-0.5

II. Next-Gen Cleaning Systems

Thermal shock (-196°C pulsed application)

Mechanical disaggregation

Effectiveness:

92% sludge removal in carbon steel tanks

40% reduction in hazardous waste vs chemical methods

III. Operational Engineering

3.1 Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)

Ventilation Simulation:

Fig 3.1: Velocity contours showing dead zones

Optimal fan placement:

45° angle from tank floor

2 m/s minimum face velocity

3.2 Mechanical Stress Analysis

FEA of Sludge Removal Forces:

Critical stress points during robotic cleaning:

Tank floor: 85 MPa (vs yield strength of 245 MPa)

Wall junctions: 120 MPa (require monitoring)

IV. HSE Quantum Leap

4.1 Predictive Gas Monitoring

Machine Learning Algorithm:

python

def predict_h2s_risk(temperature, pressure, crude_type):

model = load('h2s_predictor.h5')

return model.predict([[temp, press, crude]])

Accuracy: 94% (validated with field data)

4.2 Exoskeleton PPE

Specifications:

Powered assist: 20 kg lift capacity

Integrated gas sensors

8-hour battery life

V. Economic Optimization

5.1 Monte Carlo Cost Simulation

Input Variables:

Sludge density (normal distribution: μ=1.2 g/cm³, σ=0.1)

Labor productivity (triangular distribution: min=4m³/day, max=8m³/day)

Output:

90% confidence interval: $2.4M - $3.1M per major cleaning

5.2 Hydrocarbon Recovery ROI

Formula:

Math

Vessel Tank Cleaning

ROI = \frac{(V_{rec} \times P_{crude}) - C_{cleaning}}{C_{cleaning}} \times 100

Case: 80% recovery from 10,000m³ sludge = $1.2M value at $60/bbl

VI. Digital Twin Implementation

6.1 Live Sensor Network

IoT Deployment Map:

Vibration sensors (SKF @ 5 points)

Corrosion coupons with RFID

Ultrasonic thickness gauges

6.2 Blockchain Documentation

Smart Contract Logic:

solidity

function approveWasteDisposal() public {

require(qualityCheck == true);

require(regulatorApproval == true);

wasteApproved = true;

}

VII. Extreme Case Studies

7.1 Arctic Conditions Cleaning

Challenge: -40°C operational limit

Solution:

Insulated cleaning tent with air heaters

Methanol-based antifreeze additives

Result: 78% efficiency (vs 92% in temperate climates)

7.2 Floating Roof Tank Rescue

Incident: 200,000bbl tank roof collapse

Action Plan:

Emergency nitrogen blanketing

Step-wise robotic debris removal

3D laser scanning for structural assessment

VIII. Future Tech Roadmap

8.1 2025-2027 Horizon

Self-Propelled Nanobots:

Size: 50-100nm

Propulsion: Magnetic field guidance

Capacity: 1kg sludge/hr per million units

8.2 Plasma Gasification

Prototype Results:

99.99% hydrocarbon destruction

Syngas byproduct (15 MJ/kg energy content)

IX. Master Checklist Suite

9.1 Pre-Job Safety Analysis

Confined space permit validation

Rescue team on standby (max 5 min response)

Redundant gas detection system check

9.2 Waste Tracking Manifest

Digital Form Fields:

GPS coordinates of generation

Chain of custody signatures (biometric)

Real-time disposal facility verification

X. Global Benchmarking

10.1 Regional Productivity Metrics

Region      Avg Cleaning Days/10,000m³       Cost/m³ (USD)

Middle East       18    120

North America   22    150

Southeast Asia   25    95

10.2 Regulatory Scorecard

Strictest Compliance:

Norway (PSA norms)

Canada (AER Directive 071)

Singapore (MOM Confined Space Regs)

Final Recommendation Package:

Immediate Action: Deploy robotic cleaners with real-time viscosity monitoring

Mid-Term Investment: Install permanent tank IoT sensor arrays

Long-Term Strategy: Partner with nanotech developers for next-gen solutions

Appendices:

A. API 653 Amendment Tracker (2024 Ed.)

B. H2S Exposure Response Flowcharts

C. Sludge Density Conversion Calculator

[miiirrrooohhh]

Vessel Tank Cleaning

Vessel Tank Cleaning

Ultimate Expert Guide to Crude Oil Storage Tank Cleaning: Advanced Techniques & Operational Mastery

I. Hyper-Detailed Sludge Analysis

1.1 Molecular-Level Characterization

FTIR Spectroscopy Fingerprinting:

Key peaks:

2,920 cm⁻¹ (aliphatic C-H)

1,700 cm⁻¹ (carbonyl groups from oxidation)

Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA):

Fig 1.1: Weight loss curve showing:

20% volatiles (<150°C)

45% pyrolyzables (150-500°C)

35% inorganic residue (>500°C)

1.2 Rheological Modeling

Herschel-Bulkley Parameters:

math

\tau = \tau_y + K \dot{\gamma}^n

Typical sludge values:

τ_y (yield stress): 180-220 Pa

K (consistency index): 45-60 Pa·sⁿ

n (flow index): 0.3-0.5

II. Next-Gen Cleaning Systems

Thermal shock (-196°C pulsed application)

Mechanical disaggregation

Effectiveness:

92% sludge removal in carbon steel tanks

40% reduction in hazardous waste vs chemical methods

III. Operational Engineering

3.1 Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)

Ventilation Simulation:

Fig 3.1: Velocity contours showing dead zones

Optimal fan placement:

45° angle from tank floor

2 m/s minimum face velocity

3.2 Mechanical Stress Analysis

FEA of Sludge Removal Forces:

Critical stress points during robotic cleaning:

Tank floor: 85 MPa (vs yield strength of 245 MPa)

Wall junctions: 120 MPa (require monitoring)

IV. HSE Quantum Leap

4.1 Predictive Gas Monitoring

Machine Learning Algorithm:

python

def predict_h2s_risk(temperature, pressure, crude_type):

model = load('h2s_predictor.h5')

return model.predict([[temp, press, crude]])

Accuracy: 94% (validated with field data)

4.2 Exoskeleton PPE

Specifications:

Powered assist: 20 kg lift capacity

Integrated gas sensors

8-hour battery life

V. Economic Optimization

5.1 Monte Carlo Cost Simulation

Input Variables:

Sludge density (normal distribution: μ=1.2 g/cm³, σ=0.1)

Labor productivity (triangular distribution: min=4m³/day, max=8m³/day)

Output:

90% confidence interval: $2.4M - $3.1M per major cleaning

5.2 Hydrocarbon Recovery ROI

Formula:

Math

Vessel Tank Cleaning

ROI = \frac{(V_{rec} \times P_{crude}) - C_{cleaning}}{C_{cleaning}} \times 100

Case: 80% recovery from 10,000m³ sludge = $1.2M value at $60/bbl

VI. Digital Twin Implementation

6.1 Live Sensor Network

IoT Deployment Map:

Vibration sensors (SKF @ 5 points)

Corrosion coupons with RFID

Ultrasonic thickness gauges

6.2 Blockchain Documentation

Smart Contract Logic:

solidity

function approveWasteDisposal() public {

require(qualityCheck == true);

require(regulatorApproval == true);

wasteApproved = true;

}

VII. Extreme Case Studies

7.1 Arctic Conditions Cleaning

Challenge: -40°C operational limit

Solution:

Insulated cleaning tent with air heaters

Methanol-based antifreeze additives

Result: 78% efficiency (vs 92% in temperate climates)

7.2 Floating Roof Tank Rescue

Incident: 200,000bbl tank roof collapse

Action Plan:

Emergency nitrogen blanketing

Step-wise robotic debris removal

3D laser scanning for structural assessment

VIII. Future Tech Roadmap

8.1 2025-2027 Horizon

Self-Propelled Nanobots:

Size: 50-100nm

Propulsion: Magnetic field guidance

Capacity: 1kg sludge/hr per million units

8.2 Plasma Gasification

Prototype Results:

99.99% hydrocarbon destruction

Syngas byproduct (15 MJ/kg energy content)

IX. Master Checklist Suite

9.1 Pre-Job Safety Analysis

Confined space permit validation

Rescue team on standby (max 5 min response)

Redundant gas detection system check

9.2 Waste Tracking Manifest

Digital Form Fields:

GPS coordinates of generation

Chain of custody signatures (biometric)

Real-time disposal facility verification

X. Global Benchmarking

10.1 Regional Productivity Metrics

Region      Avg Cleaning Days/10,000m³       Cost/m³ (USD)

Middle East       18    120

North America   22    150

Southeast Asia   25    95

10.2 Regulatory Scorecard

Strictest Compliance:

Norway (PSA norms)

Canada (AER Directive 071)

Singapore (MOM Confined Space Regs)

Final Recommendation Package:

Immediate Action: Deploy robotic cleaners with real-time viscosity monitoring

Mid-Term Investment: Install permanent tank IoT sensor arrays

Long-Term Strategy: Partner with nanotech developers for next-gen solutions

Appendices:

A. API 653 Amendment Tracker (2024 Ed.)

B. H2S Exposure Response Flowcharts

C. Sludge Density Conversion Calculator