#i have to stop or i'm going to end up recounting the entire event

[egophiliac]

I got a really tough question.

What’s your favorite Twst event of ALL TIME?

I like Harveston

this truly is the hardest question. :( but after much consideration, I think Endless Halloween Night wins out for me, because it's nonstop Characters Being Silly the whole way through. the whole thing is just lots of these little dorks having the most ridiculous interactions, which is always my favorite! and of course the big twist is SO delightfully stupid and doubles down SO hard that it becomes AMAZING and I 100% unironically adore it. AND it's Halloween! everyone is in their cute little costumes and having a spooky adventure! it's great!

however, I am ALSO a big fan of the Harveston event! how can I not be! everyone is wearing comfy winter outfits and getting along really weirdly well with Epel's grandma and he's getting a little worried about that! my terrible loud son sews a plush squirrel and then gives it a silly little nickname and refuses to leave it behind when it breaks! the ending shot with the sled! I LOVE IT.

obviously we need the best of both worlds now

[gncrevan]

cw: depp/heard trial, abuse

.

if johnny depp defenders can go on all day about how he's just like them forreal because they were also completely falsely accused of being a bad person once uwu, then so can i, here goes:

no matter what you think of amber heard, the shit you're doing to and saying about her on the internet right now is fucking triggering to survivors and you need to stop. you are so convinced that you're justified because you think you know she's lying, but you don't. you don't know. you can't know. you're basing your conviction on how she divulges information, that her memory isn't always entirely complete and correct, how she performs her grief; and i'm here to tell you that all of these are things survivors do.

trauma is locked behind layers of dissociation. that means memory is altered, distorted, distant. some things are perfectly in focus while some cannot be recalled. time and place is often unclear. and i wanna emphasize, even normal non-traumatic memory is notoriously unreliable. add to that the way fear responses affect the encoding of memories and you end up with something "fragmented, associated with intense arousal, readily primed and triggered, and poorly contextualized into memory".

another effect of this is the division of narrative memory and emotional memory. that means on the one hand you may have poorly intelligible (for yourself and others) emotional fragments floating around in your brain, that can be triggered easily and lead to flashbacks or meltdowns. on the other hand, you may be able to recall something traumatic with clarity, but without emotion, or with a poor connection to the emotion.

when the brain processes hugely painful and scary experiences, it often gets tripped up and doesn't fully integrate them. you can think of it like the different things that make a memory - outside narrative, thoughts, physical sensations, emotions - getting stored in separate boxes instead of coming together to make a whole.

therefore it's not uncommon for survivors to recount traumatic events like they're talking about the weather, or for their emotional reaction to their own story to seem mismatched or disconnected, or for them to mix up the exact order of events, or for them not to recall everything (such as, "i was in the kitchen and then i was in the bathroom and i don't know how i got there or how much time passed"). their expressions and gestures may not fit the emotion you would expect given the topic (not to mention, all humans emote differently and body language analysis is junk science).

it's also exceedingly hard to talk about painful, intimate things while people and in this case even cameras are watching you. you are very aware of their expectations of how you perform your trauma. expecting any person to behave natural and authentic under this sort of pressure is asinine. having to restate your trauma over and over again is hard enough, being judged for it and knowing there are people watching, ready to tear you apart, is at best triggering and at worst retraumatizing.

the expectations you are projecting onto amber in order to be a "convincing" victim cannot be met by a real person. victims forget, victims show disparate emotions. victims also very often, both during and after the abuse, exhibit irrational and erratic behaviour, they might become aggressive and fight back against their abuser, taunt them, provoke them, even attack them; or lash out at others. none of that makes their claims of abuse false.

this is the personal part, i cut a lot of what i originally wrote because it felt too intimate, but i wanna try: my trauma doesn’t look like amber's, but my experiences of gaslighting and victim blaming are starkly reflected back at me in the way she is treated by media and observers. every time i tried to go up against what was happening to me, or reach out to a person of authority to help, it was turned on its head. my pleading, my crying, my detachment, my aggression, my confusion - all were taken as justification to either say that i was causing it, i was to blame, or that it wasn't happening, i was imagining and misinterpreting things, i was making things up, i was a liar. to this day i sit in therapy and have to hear my therapist tell me that my emotional expressions don't feel authentic, and i know it's because i can't connect to them, i can't touch them, i'm floating somewhere above my head, i'm always watching myself. i know that if i were sitting in a courtroom to try and prove what people did to me, i wouldn't remember it right, i wouldn't show the right emotions, i would try to overcompensate and come off as fake.

regardless of what you think of amber, abuse survivors are reading your posts and seeing your videos, and the message we receive is very clear: that you wouldn't believe us if we spoke out, because we can never be the kind of victim you deem acceptable and believable.

as a survivor, you really can't win. whatever you do will be used against you.

.

more about trauma (pdfs):

trauma and recovery

the body keeps the score

cptsd - from surviving to thriving

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terfs dni, i'm trans & not aligned with you

[the-damnable-fool]

Dracula (2020), the most disappointing piece of media I've ever seen

This fury has been rotting into my brain for at least two years now, so now I'm going to subject you to it. This is going to be a very long rant/critique/violent catharsis.

Netflix's Dracula miniseries is a three episode series starring Claes Bang, Dolly Wells, and John Hefferman. The show ran for three episodes and was written by Stephen Moffat. You may recognize him as the longtime writer for a relatively insignificant little program known as "Doctor Who".

Episode one presents us with an interesting and well executed premise. Jonathan Harker, scarred and deformed from his encounter with the eponymous Dracula, recounts his experience to Sister Agatha Van Helsing. Much of what transpires is based heavily on the events of the original novel, though you may have already gleaned from the name "Agatha Van Helsing" that some creative liberties have been taken. I won't spoil much, since I believe this episode to be worth watching. Suffice to say that the whole of the main cast is great, Harker and Agatha Van Helsing doubly so, and there's some excellent special effects work being done.

Episode two is, by and large, my favorite episode of the lot. Because of that, I'll speak even less of it. The entire episode is framed as a murder mystery aboard a boat which Dracula himself recounts to Agatha Van Helsing, which is an interesting parallel to draw with the first episode. Dracula is, obviously, the murderer, but the actual twist is truly unexpected. Agatha Van Helsing is one of those rare and delightful characters that comes across as genuinely witty, intelligent, and dangerous in all the best ways. There's very few times a character has done something and I've thought to myself "wow, that makes perfect sense, but I never would've thought to do it". She's a treat, and that wonderful character writing makes every interaction between her and Dracula come across as a devilish battle of wits. What's more, there's some genuinely heartfelt and emotional moments between the background characters that stick with me to this day.

Then you hit the cutoff point.

If you've liked the series so far, and have become attached to its tone, characters, and general quality of writing, you should stop watching five minutes before the ending of the second episode. Unless you want to be disappointed in the worst sort of way I would encourage you to cut your losses, switch off your TV, say to yourself "Damn, that was a really good two-part movie", and move on. It is not worth it. You have been warned.

Beyond this point there be spoilers.

So Episode Fucking Three

Up until now, the series had been doing a great job of constructing some very compelling, well written, and likeable characters. Agatha Van Helsing in particular was genuinely intelligent, witty, bitingly cynical, and had a character dynamic with Dracula that could only be described as "If we weren't diametrically morally opposed to one another, we'd be fucking". The crewmen of the ship they came in on were, while not heavily characterized, very human and easy to sympathize with. Johnathan Harker was both tragic and heroic while he lasted and, while I don't remember much of Mina, I remember liking her well enough. So, what do you do with a slam dunk roster of characters like that?

Well, you kill them all off in an offscreen time jump of course!

Episode three takes place in modern London and I immediately hate it. Agatha, my favorite character, is gone, as are all of the characters we've come to know and love. In their place is Agatha's indirect descendant, played by the same actress and so woefully boring that I don't remember her name at time of writing, and a couple of other generic stooges. There's a junior researcher at the facility, a couple of wildly shallow club-girl side characters that he pines after, and a few others that I forget.

If I'm completely honest with you, I didn't watch the entirety of episode three, and you'll see why in a second.

So the episode starts. We open up on Dracula, soaking wet and crawling out of the ocean on the shore of modern day London. He's immediately surrounded by a group of mercenaries armed with cameras, a helicopter, and conventional firearms, along with our new Agatha Van Helsing wannabe. Long story short, he kills a mercenary and escapes into the city as day breaks, has his cliche little "woah I'm immortal and experiencing the modern world for the first time" bit, and then gets captured in the sloppiest way imaginable.

Turns out, Mina spent the vast majority of her inherited money on creating a foundation in memory of John Harker with the specific purpose of locating and containing Dracula. It's sort of like the Foundation from the SCP universe except they only contain one mildly boring, vaguely bisexual anomaly. They've got money, professional mercenaries, trained scientists, a secret Dracula holding chamber specifically for holding Dracula, the works.

So Dracula gets dragged into the Dracula containment chamber, and this thing is the real deal. Constructed of bulletproof plexiglass and steel, able to be remotely exposed to sunlight at any time, surrounded by open floor and armed mercenaries, it's pretty safe to say that this Dracula containment chamber is easily the finest chamber ever constructed with the sole intention of containing Dracula. All he's got is a table, a chemical toilet, and an ipad loaded with digital books. He gets fed blood through a tube at regular intervals and occasionally gets poked at by researchers trying to figure out just what the fuck he is.

Now, by this point, we the audience were doing our best to get back onboard. Sure, our favorite characters were gone, save for the villain, and sure, the tone had taken a weird lurch with the time jump, but that was all fine. Just have Agatha's great great grand-niece be just as charming as she was and we can all have a grand time watching Dracula masterfully manipulate his way out of the Dracula time-out box. We've seen his guile before, so we're all primed and ready for another fantastic battle of wits, just like on the boat.

But that doesn't happen.

What follows is a brief summary of events that happen in the episode in vaguely chronological order. By reading it you may be made privy to the sudden and utter incompetence of the new lead character and to the wildly stupid turn that the writing took in episode three.

The Harker Foundation finds Draculas coffin at the bottom of the sea in the wreckage of the ship from episode two. For no good reason, Agatha's descendant (the director of this foundation) personally goes to scuba dive into the ocean to take a look at the unconscious Drac.

Also for no good goddamn reason, she sticks her whole ass thumb in his mouth to feel his fangs. He bites her thumb off instinctively, giving him the small amount of blood he needs to reawaken. That's one instance of complete incompetence before the ten minute mark.

Instead of recovering the coffin immediately, the Foundation pulls back and waits on shore with armed mercenaries until night falls hours later. Why they don't just nab him immediately while hes sleeping, I don't know, but I'll count that as a second instance of complete incompetence.

Drac escapes and kills some people, including a few mercenaries. It is established that the Foundation has the power and influence to make these deaths disappear.

Drac is transported to the Dracula holding chamber.

In the course of less than 24 hours, Dracula FIGURES OUT HOW A TABLET WORKS, GUESSES THE FUCKING WIFI PASSWORD BECAUSE ITS HIS FUCKING NAME, AND SKYPE CALLS THE LAW FIRM THAT USED TO REPRESENT HIM TWO HUNDRED YEARS AGO.

Do you see why I was furious? Do you see why my friends and I stood up and yelled at the TV screen? Do you see why we turned it off immediately? Do you see why I want to hit Stephen Moffat with a chair?

Needless to say, the lawyer takes a call from someone claiming to be a man that employed his firm two centuries prior completely seriously. He walks directly into the facility with no explanation as to how he found out where it was or why the guards let him past, and threatens to sue the Foundation if they continue to hold his client against his will.

The inferior Agatha throws up her hands and says "welp, guess we gotta let him go" and just. Let's Dracula leave. No consideration for the consequences of doing so beforehand. No thought given to the possibility that they might simply inform the relevant authorities that he'd killed people that very night and therefore should be contained and studied. They just fuckin' let him leave.

So lets recount all the insane leaps of logic that need to have transpired in order for this to happen.

One, Dracula would need to have figured out how the internet works within the span of 24 hours despite having only just learned that electricity existed. I'll give that a pass since its implied he can absorb knowledge by drinking blood.

Two, Dracula would have to guess the wifi password for this top secret, high security facility... Which is literally just DRACULA. Why the fuck was it set to his name? Why was he given a tablet that's physically capable of connecting to wifi? Why didn't the mercenaries that guard him at all times not see him using Skype and say "Hmm, maybe we should stop him from doing that"? Moreover, why the fuck does the room he's contained in even have wifi? Isn't everything I just said a massive security oversight for an organization that's poured millions into this containment facility?

Three, Dracula's lawyer would have to believe that an unknown, unsolicited caller, who has neither modern means of identifying himself nor any records verifying his existence for over two hundred years, is genuinely a client of his from two hundred years ago in need of legal counsel. Furthermore, Dracula would need to have some way of communicating his exact location to this man.

Four, the security teams responsible for keeping the facility safe and free of intruders would have to not only let this lawyer into a top secret facility based solely on his own claim that his client was inside, but let him directly into the main holding chamber that is under constant guard all without so much as warning the fucking director of the Facility.

Five, the director of this facility would have had to completely thrown out any alternative to letting a known mass murdering superbeing out of confinement despite full knowledge of what that would entail. They could've just fought the battle in court. It's easy to prove that he needs to be locked up when you can show the judge the bodies of the people he killed that day. Even if that's too much trouble, why not pop the lawyer in the back of the skull and make him disappear like the mercenary? Or Dracula's victims? It can't be that hard if you've done it three times this episode.

It's the kind of twist you would expect out of a piece of satire, not an actual, serious work written by an accredited writer. To this day I have not seen any other work of fiction take such a sudden and sharp decline in quality, and I doubt that I ever will again. It's as though the writers intentionally made every character at least thirty percent stupider just for the sake of giving Dracula his "gotcha".

So what went wrong?

Honestly, I think that the writers mistook their villain for the main character of the series, which ultimately just doesn't work. Sure, we love Dracula. We didn't come to watch the Dracula show out of our rabid love for Johnathan Harker, we came for the big scary villain. The problem is that a villain still has to be a villain. While we do love him, we don't root for him, we root for the people that oppose him despite the odds. They killed off every recurring character except for Dracula and changed the setting and tone so massively that it was completely unrecognizable from the first two episodes, and they did this because they thought the audience be invested enough in this villain for it not to matter. Not only did it backfire, but the ridiculous amount of plot mandated stupidity and Deus Ex Machina that it took to get Dracula out of his first jam in that new setting completely killed any further drive that I had to continue watching.

This lazy twist not only made the main characters look incompetent, it made Dracula look lame. He's the Prince of Darkness. The fucking Nightwalker. The King of Vampires does not call his fucking lawyer.

Anyway, I'm finished with my rant now. Congrats on sticking it out this long. There's no prize or anything.

[song-shortstories]

Heather

a short story inspired by the song Heather by Conan Gray.

not based on the singer/songwriter or any events in their life, but only the song itself. all characters and stories are entirely fictional and i don't mean to offend anyone.

content warning: death, murder

[2090 words]

Even if my station hadn't arrived, the bus would have likely stopped due to the driver falling asleep. She barely gave me a glance as I, only remaining passenger, exited the vehicle I had been living in for almost a week. Before that, it had been a train. The station I'm dropped at is the furthest from the main city. I almost feel sorry for the driver. But why should i? It's not like there's anyone to feel sorry for me. I've always had a bit of a jealousy problem, I'll admit. It's why I'm on the run, after all. Under the emerging stars, I begin walking. I don't know where I'm going; I never have. I just go, always falling into ditches along the way. I am bruised and tired, but alive. The same can't be said of some other people. When I reach the empty field, it is dark enough that I can't see my feet. I'm so far out that there are more than just a handful of stars in the sky, and I wish I could say they're beautiful without thinking of her. Remnants of anger and bitter feelings arise and I desperately try to push them down. It's late. I've got to find a place to sleep. In the distance, I can make out the faint outline of what looks to be a shed. There is no path, and the plants around me seem to grow taller with every step. They look like flowers, but I can't be sure. For fear of spiders and much scarier creatures, I don't open the shed door in the dead of the night. I just lay against the wooden wall and I guess I've become used to sleeping in strange places that I fall asleep within minutes. I wake up in a field of heathers. Memories surge to the surface of my mind, and for a moment, in the morning light I let myself think about them. I recount the events in their entirety as I get up, realising how foolish it was to sleep in an open field where wild animals could have devoured me whole. I think I'm losing the regard for my life. I don't even know why I'm still running.

It all began in the winter of last year. Me and my friend, also the love of my life, Wren, had been at a party hosted by one of our well-off classmates. They had a pool in their backyard, and the events happened so that I ended up being dared to jump in the freezing pool, in the middle of winter and in the middle of the night. It was crazy to do it, but i couldn't resist a challenge and would not be remembered as a loser. So against common sense, I did it. this was a repetitive theme in my life. Plus, the girl who dared me probably thought this was her way of getting back at me for accidentally fracturing her arm when we were seven because she had a toy I wanted. I showed her she couldn't get to me.

After I climbed out of the pool I realised how cold it was. The dare also involved me not taking my clothes off, so there was no way for me to dry off quickly. I went inside to sit in front of a heater. After a while, Wren found me there. I told him what I'd done (he hadn't been present then) and he laughed at my impulsiveness, but also made me promise I would never do anything that reckless again. I nodded, teeth chattering so hard it hurt. He took off his sweater and gave it to me, and that gesture alone warmed me up a great amount. It was a bit small on me, but I loved it anyway. I looked into his eyes and thanked him. I thought we were having a moment.

Then she walked in. Heather. She had that perpetual faint smile on her lips and probably didn't realise there were other people in the room until she looked straight at us. She smiled even brighter and greeted us. I watched Wren look at her like I wanted him to look at me and hated her even more. It was the oldest analogy in the book, but she was like a magnet; she got all the attention right as she stepped into a room, and it wasn't by purpose. Even I knew that.

'I heard someone jumped into the pool,' said Heather. 'So it's you.' There wasn't any judgment in her voice, just curiosity.

'It was a dare.' I bet she couldn't do it. Not with that pretty hair she wouldn't want to ruin.

'Good for you, but just for your safety, you should have thought about it a bit more. it's really cold.'

'Thanks. I can really tell.'

Wren nudged me and my heart fluttered at that contact. 'She's right.' He looked at Heather. 'That's what I tried to tell her. I could've talked her out of it if I was there.'

'it's done now, guys,' I said. 'No use talking about it.'

Later, everyone else had come inside as well. Wren kept asking if I wanted to go home but I was insistent. Cold couldn't hurt me. However, the lovely girl with the bright eyes and easy smile could. She'd done it too, once when I'd come second place to her in that maths contest at school last year, and that time when my mother had said Heather was such a nice girl and I should be more like her, and every time Wren smiled at her and not me. A better person wouldn't despise her for such petty things, but i had never been the better person.

When Wren dropped me off at my house later, I took off his sweater, but he put it back on me. 'Keep it. It looks better on you anyway.'

I felt hopeful, maybe he didn't care about Heather after all and liked me. I found out that wasn't true the next week. Wren and Heather had started going out. It felt as if he'd taken his sweater back from me and thrown it on the ground.

Watching them, I understand, sort of. Of course he'd go out with her and not me. She was pretty. I didn't come close to that. She made everyone laugh all the time while I struggled not to plot someone's murder. I'm sure Wren only laughed at my dark jokes because he felt like he had to.

It killed me, seeing them together. He'd put his arm around her casually, and I'd wish I were her, leaning into him. Wren didn't try to stop being any less of my friend, but I distanced myself from him.

It was the last straw when I saw Heather wearing another one of Wren's sweaters. It wasn't as nice as the one he'd given me, but I still felt more jealous than I had before. It wasn't fair. I couldn't bear to look at her anymore, I couldn't go on like this anymore. I wished she was dead more than ever.

I wouldn't realise how much I'd been blinded by my feelings until hours later.

I stole Wren's phone and sent Heather a text, as him. I told her to meet me at the lake, now. She was confused, but eventually agreed with a little persuasion.

I positioned myself behind a tree at the agreed location and waited patiently for her arrival. She was on time, because of course she was. She was Heather, after all.

'Hello? Wren, are you there?'

I considered. Would it be better to confront her as she was or to make this a little fun for me?

I picked up a rock beside me and took aim. It was sharp, an hit her right between the shoulder blades. She tripped over some overgrown roots and I came out of my hiding place just as she fell on her already injured back.

I loomed over her. 'Hello, Heather. not feeling so good now, are you?'

'I don't understand.' I heard the pure panic in her voice as she whispered my name and tried to make sense of the situation. 'I was supposed to meet Wren here, have you seen him, then--oh, and did you throw that rock? What's going on?'

She struggled to get up but evidently, it caused her too much pain and she fell right back down. I pinned her neck to the dirt and grinned. 'I've got control over you, finally, instead of the other way round. Do you understand how miserable you've made my life?'

She shook her head (as much as she could under my grip). 'I'm sorry, for whatever I've done. I'll make it up to you.' Pretty tears were running down her face. With my other hand I wiped them away. She flinched.

'You can't make it up to me. you can't! can you take away the affection someone--a lot of people--have for you and give it to me. Wren was mine, you stole him. Why does he give everything to you? what about what I deserve?' Flashes of memories overcame me; Wren's sweater on me, then his sweater on her, his arm around her, his eyes on her, everything for her, the universe chanting her name and not mine. I looked into her trembling eyes and realised i had a other stone in my hand.

'You're crazy,' she babbled. 'Oh my god, you are fucking crazy! You're going to kill me.'

'I am not. Crazy.' I jammed the rock into her head, hard. She immediately stilled. My breath was deep and heavy, and as I checked her neck for a pulse I realised the monstrosity I'd done. I didn't think I'd hit hard enough to kill her, but maybe I'd choked her unwittingly with my other hand.

There was no pulse. Heather was dead, or would be soon. I had to get out of here. I looked down at her. She was so weak. Soft arms and a frail body, at odds to my larger one. I scrambled off her body and gave a quick glance to my surroundings. Could rocks hold fingerprints? I threw everything I'd touched into the lake.

I looked back at Heather's corpse. Should i leave her there? It could be days till someone found her. I couldn't risk calling the police. I didn't want to leave her just like that, which made me laugh--why did I suddenly acquire a moral compass? I grabbed a bunch of wildflowers from the ground and laid them on her chest. Then I ran out of there.

It was evening as I neared my house. I'd taken the long but secluded way home, and had yet to meet anyone. I couldn't go inside like this though, as my trousers had a small but noticeable bloodstain on them. The living room lights were on, and I couldn't go to my room without passing it.

I stopped. Why was I going home anyway? I had money, enough to get by for a while until I found a way to make more. I'd committed one of the worst crimes; I could commit some more. I was a terrible liar, always had been. I wouldn't be able to hold on for long. A life on the run sounded much better than a life in prison.

Sure, the timing of my disappearance would put me high on the suspect list, but I could run. I'd live in the middle of the fucking ocean if I had to. I'd ruined everything I had--no, Heather did. I'd killed her, and now I felt invincible in a sick sort of way. Nothing could come in my way. I would beat it all. I'd make myself a new life, and if I got bored, I'd just build another one.

I thought of Wren after that, as I tugged my hood over my face and began walking. He was the main reason I'd done it, and now I couldn't have him either. My actions now seemed useless. Even in death Heather found a way to defeat me.

I'd come back for him someday, I vowed. I'd have to give the wound some time to heal.

In the distance, I heard sirens. I ran. I ran, for as long as I could, and here I am now, almost a year later, still running. As I watch the sun emerge from the clouds, I begin to think that maybe I'm not running from anyone but myself.

[catboyebooks]

i doubt this is a shock to anybody (if it is, are you like new here or something?) but i decided to spend free time with komaeda once again. though i remembered the info we learn from this scene, i didn't really remember the scene itself, and of course this is another interesting one.

first, the two of them spend some time talking and hanging out in the strawberry house, which i wanted to mention because the previous couple of hangout sessions have been rather more awkward (there was one where they just stared at each other and then another where komaeda did most of the talking and hinata found it frustrating to listen to).

once the actual scene starts, komaeda tells hinata he's really happy that hinata still wants to spend time with him after getting to know him better. hinata's like, hey, don't get the wrong idea, i'm just afraid to leave you alone because i still don't get what your deal is. komaeda says, well, it takes a lot of courage to try and understand something you can't make sense of, you definitely embody hope, your talent must be really cool, i wanna find out what it is asap, etc. hinata doesn't really seem to want to talk about this because he says "who cares about me, let's talk about you" and komaeda agrees, cracks a joke about how he'll start by talking about his own birth, then gets serious and says he wants to ask hinata something first. what does hinata think good luck is?

this is multiple-choice. the options are "the opposite of bad luck," "being lucky," and "absolute power." as may be clear from the fact that we already know komaeda's good luck is not the opposite of bad luck and the second answer is a non-answer, "absolute power" is correct. this is where things start to get really interesting.

when hinata gives this answer komaeda says that yes, his good luck is a form of absolute power, but since he can't actually control his luck it often winds up having "terrible results" for him. to try and explain, he gives hinata a few examples of how his luck cycle works, but this time they're personal examples rather than hypotheticals.

his first anecdote is about how when he was an elementary schooler, his family took a trip to the dominican republic. the airplane was hijacked (bad luck) but then a small meteorite fell from the sky and struck the hijacker, killing him (good luck) but also killing komaeda's parents (bad luck), but komaeda himself was fine and inherited all his parents' money (good luck). he recounts this story in an upbeat tone, as though he's really convinced himself that the entire sequence of events worked out just fine in the end. hinata doesn't really know how to react.

the second anecdote is about how when he was in middle school a murderer kidnapped him (bad luck), but he found a lottery ticket in the trash bag the murderer stuffed him in. once the police rescued him, he decided to check the numbers on the ticket and discovered he'd won $300 million (good luck).

komaeda then starts into a final example of something that happened to him right before starting at hope's peak (this must be him getting diagnosed with lymphoma and FTD) but then stops himself and says he shouldn't tell this story, he doesn't want to burden hinata with his "pointless situation." he then laughs it off and walks away.

hinata comments in his narration that he still feels like he doesn't know much about komaeda, but he at least gets what the hope fixation is about and thinks it's understandable, all things considered.

going to add some more thoughts to this in a reblog, hang on

[amaya-chwan]

Takeaways from Therapy Game: Restart Chapter 13 (and some Therapy Game news!)

Hello everyone! I hope you've all been well these past two months and taken care of yourselves! 💜

Before we get into our takeaways for chapter 13, I saw some news from Hinohara-sensei's Official Twitter that I would like to share with you all!

First piece of news: Therapy Game re:start volume 2 will be released on 1st June 2021! 🎉

Second: in conjunction with the release of the second volume, Sensei will have an in-person fan signing event at the Ikebukuro Animate store (animate honten) AND will have a special limited time shop featuring goods of our favourite dorks! This shop will be opened 6th-20th June! 🎉🎉

Image from Sensei's Official Twitter post! ❤️💛💜❤️

Now, what does the second piece of news mean for us not living in Japan (such as myself)? 🤔 Well, one of two things could happen:

We could see the merch on Sensei's Twitter and wish we could buy them one day 😭 OR

Animate could "potentially" release this merch for online order!

I'm not trying to get anyone's hopes up, but when I saw Animate open a special Yuri!!! on Ice shop last year, I didn't think they'd release merch online. But they did, for a very, very short period of time only! So my only hope is that they do that again for Hinohara-sensei! 🤞

Here's the special website from Sensei's twitter that has information about the fan signing event and limited time shop! It seems they'll show what merch will be available in the shop when it's all been finalised.

If I spot anymore updates about that, I'll try to post about it here! ❤️💛

Alright, down to business as usual! Let's get into our takeaways~ Thank you for being so patient with me! Life has been a little busy this year with juggling work and social life! So I really appreciate your patience! 💜

Here are our takeaways for this chapter:

Loving the brotherly love we see in this chapter! Warms my heart to no end! ❤️💛💜❤️

Minato, bb, you are growing up a lot! I am proud of you! 😭

Did I ever tell you guys that I really love Mito-san too? No? Well now I have ahah! He is just amazing and I love the energy he has--cool and lovable, yet smooth and sexy! Loving the domestic vibes I'm getting! 😍😍

AHHH SHIZUMA! Your smile is too pure, it's blinding! 🥰

Just couple goals from Shizuma and Minato, AND from Mito-san and Shouhei! (Why I don't call Mito-san Itsuki, I'll never know ahah I blame Shouhei! XDDD) ❤️💛💜❤️

The younger sibling moments in this chapter are so relatable! (I am that younger sibling ahahah!) 🤣🤣🤣

I honestly don't know what to think of Onodera at this point in time? 🤔

The (supposed) date time with Shizuma and Minato went from adorable anticipation to steamy relations in a split second, but not NSFW! 😲

And that’s it for this chapter’s takeaways! For a more detailed breakdown/summary of this chapter, please continue after the cut! Since it's been a while since the last chapter, I threw in some extra surprises in this summary, so keep reading if you want to see~  😉✨

Our chapter begins with an image of Mito-san and Minato, with Minato's cheek leaning on Mito-san's shoulder. The dialogue reads: When it seems like my overflowing emotions are about to burst from the seams, I really do yearn for this back (i.e. something familiar he can always lean on).

We see Minato spaced out on a sofa, being called by Itsuki. Itsuki tells Minato to go home if he's just going to sit there like that since he is very busy cleaning his entire home for when Shouhei moves in with him! Minato gets up, understands the situation, and helps Itsuki out.

Itsuki, knowing something has happened between Shizuma and Minato, asks Minato directly since he only goes to Itsuki's place when he is troubled, and he must be troubled by something related to Shizuma. He also says that Shizuma is worried about Minato, especially since Itsuki lied to him about Minato's whereabouts.

Minato brushes it off, saying that it's nothing big. He talks about the time when they had to drop by Shizuma's workplace, he saw a woman/Onodera (not knowing she's Shizuma's director) and that Shizuma made an very adorable face while talking to her.

Minato stops talking, so Itsuki asks if that is all to the story. Minato then says yes, so Itsuki deduces that Minato is ignoring Shizuma because he happily spoke with that woman (Onodera) and confirms with Minato, who then agrees. Itsuki blames himself for raising Minato like this and apologises to Shizuma in his inner monologue.

Minato defensively says he's told Shizuma not to do that, yet he still does. Minato's monologue says that this Shizuma--who is talking to someone unknown to him, about a story he doesn't know, in a place he doesn't know about--seems like a distant person to him.

He realises that even though he and Shizuma are together, he cannot monopolise him, and that it annoys him. So rather than tell him not to speak with others, he has chosen not to see Shizuma until he calms down. Suddenly, a handyman appears at Itsuki's home to beginning furniture installations.

Image translated from Sensei’s Twitter post here!

Minato is surprised Itsuki replaced a lot of his furniture, to which Itsuki replies: "I wonder if Shouhei-kun prefers the new ones too."  Minato says Shouhei would freeze from this "surprise" and imagines Shouhei asking how much it cost!

Itsuki, still in his happy bubble, says he wants Shouhei to also select some household furniture and accessories, so they'll go shopping together next time. Minato is happy for them since their house-moving plans are going well. Itsuki goes back to their previous topic of conversation, and says how Shizuma and Shouhei both are very charming. He recounts how Shouhei would handle different kinds of customers, from the difficult to the sad ones, how his charms and personable skills would change their mood completely, and calls him a genius who has a knack for calming customers.

Minato asks if Itsuki dislikes that, since he himself doesn't know what to think of Shizuma showing his charm and friendliness to others and that some misunderstandings would arise eventually.

Itsuki then reminds Minato that out of all the people in the world, Shizuma asked Minato to live with him, and that thought alone must've made him happy.

Minato does agree, yet it doesn't change the fact that he is unaware of what Shizuma does outside of the home. Itsuki is then suspicious that Minato and Shizuma are going to move in together too.

Minato panics, and says he just meant that from Itsuki's point of view since he's moving in with Shouhei. Just as Minato thinks he's almost let the secret slip, he gets a phone call. Itsuki tells Minato that it's Shizuma, but Minato refuses to pick it up as he is "still cleaning"--the real reason is that Minato told Shizuma he wouldn't forgive him if they speak before Minato gave the OK to talk again.

Itsuki, being the older brother, answers the phone and slides it on the desk near Minato and leaves him to talk with Shizuma, even putting it on loud speaker since Minato is preoccupied.

Shizuma is frantically trying to get a response from Minato, to which Minato responds with a simple: “What... I can hear you.” The first thing Shizuma asks is where Minato is at this present moment, fearing that he might be at a suspicious place. Minato says he isn't and is in fact in the neighbourhood doing some errands. Shizuma breathes a sigh of relief and is thankful his call finally reached Minato as no one he asked knew where Minato was, and because Shizuma was overthinking things, he was just about to go searching for him.

Minato tells him that he doesn't need to go to such lengths and make such a big fuss about it, but Shizuma tells him that he will always make a big fuss about it since it's about Minato. To avoid such a thing happening again, Shizuma tells Minato not to make him worry. Then these pages happen:

Just as their talk of their brothers' moving into together comes to an end, Shizuma gets all excited to go apartment hunting with Minato again and reminds him, not knowing that Itsuki is also listening. The Mito brothers freeze in surprise, with Itsuki soon confirming his earlier suspicions with Minato--his eyes and aura going all kira kira (i.e. sparkly). Minato tries to reprimand him for bringing it up now, but Shizuma continues on, saying he's found a few places he likes and they should start inspecting prospective apartments soon before they're overwhelmed by it all.

Minato hastily agrees to it all, and Shizuma smirks on the other end of the phone, asking Minato when they can see each other. Shizuma suggests Friday if he is too busy at the present moment, and just as Minato gives work as an excuse not to see him on that day, Itsuki jumps in and says he can go see Shizuma.

Shizuma, very surprised by the fact Itsuki overheard their conversation, says his name aloud, and Shouhei overhears him. Itsuki thanks Shizuma for letting him overhear such an adorable story featuring Shouhei. And then this happens:

Still very flustered, Minato quickly agrees to seeing Shizuma on Friday and promptly ends the call before Shizuma can even finish saying "Wait!" Itsuki happily approaches Minato and asks to hear more of their apartment hunting adventures, to which Minato replies that nothing is final yet!

We change locations, and Minato is now on the balcony scrubbing the floor. Minato recalls how he wanted to tell Itsuki about his and Shizuma's plans to move in together further down the track. He then is overjoyed at the thought that Shizuma missed him and wanted to see him. While he awaits Friday, he remembers and is embarrassed by how furious he was the last time they saw each other. He plans to start a skin routine to care for his face and to get his hair done.

Just as he thinks this, he is called out by none other than Shizuma, who is on the ground floor outside. Minato, visibly surprised, asks Shizuma why he’s here. Shizuma tells him that the shop is close to his home. Minato knows this, but is more curious as to why he is here since they just agreed to see each other on Friday. Shizuma is taken aback for a moment, before saying: 

While Minato hides away from Shizuma and quickly tries to style his hair, Itsuki overhears a ruckus on his balcony and goes to investigate. We then find out that Shouhei accompanied Shizuma. Shouhei calls out to Itsuki and asks why he didn't tell him that he was cleaning the whole house. The Ikushima brothers offer to help out with the cleaning, with Shizuma joining in because his younger brother will be under Itsuki's care soon. Itsuki happily agrees, saying that he wouldn't be able to fully clean the place if only Minato were there.

As the Ikushima brothers are getting ready to go upstairs to help, Itsuki says the brothers are indeed good, endearing people, and their charming personalities would probably make Minato and Itsuki anxious at times. Minato agrees. Itsuki then continues to say that while Shizuma and Shouhei charm those around them, the only ones who can make them smile the way they do are themselves. Minato is concerned about a possible intruder in their relationship, and Itsuki provides some brotherly advice.

We change scenes to Onodera, smoking on the clinic rooftop and thinking about Shizuma's smiling face.

We change scenes again to Minato, waiting for Shizuma at a predetermined location since it is now Friday. Happy with his new hairdo, Minato reminds himself not to get angry, to sort out the current situation they're in (i.e. Minato's one-sided anger at Shizuma), and to be calm and collected.

Shizuma then gets out of a car across the road, and looks around for Minato. Minato, who can see him very clearly, smiles happily and decides to let Shizuma look for him a little longer. A few more moments pass by, and Shizuma spots Minato and then waves happily to him. However, there is a slight problem.

Minato sees “the woman from last time” (Onodera) driving the car who then passes Shizuma his phone, with him smiling awkwardly at her. He recalls Itsuki's brotherly advice. Minato had actually asked Itsuki a follow-up question: "You say ‘just don't lose,’ but what should I actually do?" Itsuki tells him that it's something he has to figure out for himself.

Shizuma runs to Minato, apologising for making Minato wait. He explains that he was running late due to various issues, and he seemed to have dropped his phone in the car of the person who dropped him off. Before he could even tell Minato that it's his director who dropped him off, Minato says he doesn't need to say anything else and to just go out with him.

We see that Shizuma and Minato are now at a hotel, with Minato quickly pushing Shizuma onto the bed. Shizuma is annoyed at himself for letting Minato see such a scene that would cause a misunderstanding. Before heading over to the bed, Minato closes the door, turns to face Shizuma, and grins. He crawls onto the bed and immediately kisses Shizuma. He calls out Shizuma's name before asking him:

He softly pleads with Shizuma, asking for a quick response. Shizuma wonders if Minato's jealously is making him want to be held right now. He thinks Minato is really, really adorable, but also realises this isn't the right time to be thinking this. So Shizuma does tell Minato he loves him, that it's obvious he loves him very much. He apologises for causing him to worry and that he never once intended to do so. Minato cuts him off, saying that he understands and that it's okay.

Despite saying so, Shizuma notices the atmosphere is a little different than usual. Minato then tells Shizuma that he's been thinking of a way to ensure he doesn't lose Shizuma to anyone or lets anyone take him. The final page shows us this:

Again, THANK YOU FOR READING THIS FAR! 💜 📢  As always, please support Hinohara-sensei by purchasing her books and CDs! 📢

And that’s it for this chapter! 😲 Another cliffhanger here, and ngl that was a little (SFW-ish) steamy? I honestly do not know what to expect in the next chapter!! Dominant Minato?????  But I hope you enjoyed the few extra panels in this summary! 💜 My laptop struggled to keep up, so I will go back to only showing a handful of panels in future summaries. Please also refrain from resharing these translations and images outside of this post! Thank you for understanding! ❤️💛

The next chapter will be in next month's Dear+, so the wait isn't too much longer! So I shall see you all next month for our next set of takeaways to find out what happens next!

As always, stay safe during these turbulent times and look out for each other and for your loved ones! 💜❤️💛

[itsjamethyst]

A Descent into Delicious Delirium by J_Amethyst for swisstae

Title: A Descent into Delicious Delirium

Rating: M

Wordcount: 27,273

Content Tags: Quidditch Player Harry Potter, Quidditch Player Draco Malfoy, Enemies to Lovers, Angst with a Happy Ending, Slow Burn, Unresolved Sexual Tension, Resolved Sexual Tension, Implied Sexual Content, Sexual Humor, Drinking, Clubbing, Drunk Harry Potter, Bets & Wagers, Pining Draco Malfoy, Harry Potter in Denial, Period-Typical Homophobia, Quidditch Seekers, The Daily Prophet.

Harry makes a few piss-poor decisions. Malfoy’s still a rich prick. The lesson to be learned here: Don’t engage in a disastrous game of chicken. Unless, of course, you enjoy the idea of a naked photoshoot, and the entire Wizarding World believing you get off on Malfoy. The following is a recount of the course of events that unfolded. *All named persons have consented to the retelling of this story with stipulations of authorial dramatic flair. The author does not condone the views expressed and reflected by Rita Skeeter, The Daily Prophet, and other associated entities.

Now to thank some truly wonderful people, and a customary over-the-top spiel about how sappy I am about this fic.

I am unbelievably over the moon to finally talk about and share this fic with everyone. Writing this was such an amazing experience, and is possibly one of my favourite fics I've written to date. I feel like I say this every time a new fic gets revealed, but honestly speaking, every time I think about this fic I feel all happy inside.

Now that this fic is revealed, I can finally share that this Several Sentence Sunday post that a lot of people seemed to like is actually the deleted scene from this fic.

I want to thank everyone who helped make this story possible, so without further ado, give it up to all these phenomenal people: My alphas, @manixzen and @fantalf, you are both wonderful and were absolutely integral to this fic. From helping me with the tone and the pacing, and perfecting the events of the story.

To my beta @cam-the-chameleon, I don't even know what to say, because no words seem enough. Without you I don't think this fic would have even be possible. You are so thorough and your suggestions are always genius, some of my all time favourite moments in this fic were from your brilliant mind (WAGGLY, Horny Porker, doesn’t seem so inclined to keep away from big pairs of balls!) -- just to name a few.

Seriously, I am so proud of this story and I hope that everyone who read it enjoyed it as much as I did writing.

To the @quidditchfest mods, thank you for creating such an amazing fest. This was the very first fest I ever signed up to, and all I can say is that I am so glad to have participated.

Finally, to @swisstae. Your comments on every chapter of this fic were amazing, I am truly astonished. Thank you so, so much for all your love on that fic, I can't stop myself from going back and reading your comments... And dying a bit inside.

This fic was a lot of firsts. For one, it went through many, many changes during its infant stage. The time skips and the Prophet Article titles actually came a lot later on in the writing process. I was about half way into the fic when I completely changed the whole timeline, shifted scenes around, and decided to try the time skip headings. It was all a bit experimental, I had no idea if I was going to keep it in the final cut, but at the end of the day I'm so glad I did, because the time skips make Delicious Delirium what it is.

For the first time, I tried my hand at a little more light-hearted humour. Most of the fic is just me trying to make myself giggle with my shitty twelve-year-old humour. I'm so glad that my beta Cam shares this same humour, because we really did bounce off each other perfectly. Re: Horny Porker, doesn’t seem so inclined to keep away from big pairs of balls!

The Prophet Articles were also really entertaining to write, my favourite one is the Lockhart article. If you've read the fic, you know the one. Am I allowed to give myself a pat in the back for coming up with that Lockhart joke? Because I love it, and I was absolutely grinning when a commenter pointed that one out.

Thank you to everyone who engaged with the fic, it means the world.

[glitterge1pen]

Crayons Not Cigarettes

Kyōtani Kentarou x reader, sfw, fluff, word count 2,770

If you looked it up on google the descriptors were "small venue" and "sports arena" and "stadium". The place took roughly ten minutes to walk around, the parking lot was huge, and it had those bright white lights out in the front. The entrance was a bit grand, big pillars with dozens of different sports flags. Tons of different teams, tournaments, and practices were held here.

You were starting your part time job at the concession stands today. You had already gone through the training a couple days ago, all that was left was actually doing your job. You were hoping you had a good shift partner, that you didn't spill any drinks, that people would be nice to you.

Tonight there was a volleyball match, you decide the crowd was decent for thirty minutes before game time. The regular attendees stood in lines at the front gates, waiting to be let in. Walking up to the employee only entrance you struggled with your key card to get it open. This was exactly how your manager had done it on training day. There was only five more minutes before your shift started, you were starting to worry you might be late.

"Turn it over"

You whipped around to see another person standing right behind you. He had blonde dyed hair with black streaks, and his eyes doused in eyeliner.

"Oh, thanks"

You kinda mumble it out, embarrassed that this very cute stranger had to see you struggle opening a door.

"Do you work here too?"

You ask as you hold the door open for him.

"No"

You take his short reply as him saying the conversation is over. You still have to awkwardly walk next to him down the long employee corridor though. After a rather long pause he continues speaking.

"I'm a volleyball player. On game days we get to use the employee entrances and doors."

"Really? That's cool,"

Up further down the hall you can see where your paths will diverge.

"Well I hope the game goes well for you"

He says nothing, but does nod his head before leaving for the locker room area. You turn the other way to the employee office. Put your jacket and bag into a locker, clock in on the old desktop, and walk out to the counter to start your shift. Your shift partner isn't there yet so you begin setting things up at the booth alone.

You flick on all the machines, filling up the icee mixer with dyed flavors, a new pouch of cheese for the nacho dispenser. You unpackage plastic cups, open up different cupboards and drawers trying to familiarize yourself before you have to start serving people. You get change from the back, filling up the register. Finally your shift partner shows up. Just in time to because you start to hear the sounds of people entering.

☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙·͙*̩̩͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩̥͙　✩　*̩̩̥͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩͙‧͙ .·͙*̩̩͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩̥͙　✩　*̩̩̥͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩͙‧͙ .‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾

Your next shift was for a highschool gymnastics tournament. The concessions stand was in a large hallway between different gymnasiums, wedged between the gift shop and Subway. Since it was a smaller event you were the only one working the counter. Hardly anyone was buying anything though. The fan behind the counter gave a gentle hum, the music rather quiet amongst the sounds of people.

“You still got bottled water?”

It was that guy from your first day. You duck below the counter to grab a bottle, hand it to him and start ringing up the total.

“You guys won that game the other day, right?”

You knew they had won. You had spent your break trying to get a glimpse of the player who you had spoken to. You had only gotten to see him for a few moments, his body in the air, hand coming down on the ball sending it over the net in one fluid motion. After pulling the metal shutters down over the counter at closing, you had walked back to the courts to confirm the score.

“Yeah,”

It was here that another volleyball player came up to the counter.

“I told you that you could use one of my extra water bottles! You didn't have to go and buy one!”  

The other player turned his attention to you.

“Sorry that my scary friend is bothering you-”

“Scary?”

You asked confused, but he kept talking.

“I’m Konganegawa, me and Kyotani are both Sendai Frogs!”

Kyotani.

“Nice to meet you both”

You say.

☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙·͙*̩̩͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩̥͙　✩　*̩̩̥͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩͙‧͙ .·͙*̩̩͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩̥͙　✩　*̩̩̥͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩͙‧͙ .‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾

Kyotani sat on the counter of the concession stand. You liked it when he was perched up there, he warded customers off fairly well. You were certain that practice had ended a while ago, but you said nothing in fear of sending him away. He didn't always say much, or anything sometimes, but his presence was comforting to you. Even if it wasn't always abundantly clear you could tell he paid attention to you, like he was standing watch.

He knew your schedule, what snacks to buy for you on break, what songs you liked best on your manager's store playlist. He had quickly become your favorite part of work. It didn't matter who you shared shifts with, if you had gotten swamped at the register, or if you had to mindlessly wipe the counters with boredom. As long as Kyotani was there work wasn't ever terrible.

“The team is having a get together”

You had been re-arranging the plastic utensils on the counter but stopped to listen to him.

“You wanna come?”

☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙·͙*̩̩͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩̥͙　✩　*̩̩̥͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩͙‧͙ .·͙*̩̩͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩̥͙　✩　*̩̩̥͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩͙‧͙ .‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾

“And you like Kyotani? Like you’d want to go on a date with him?”

Yamaguchi was teasing you, his voice trying to communicate how ridiculous he thought the notion was. You had quickly grown close to him after tagging along to a few of the Sendai Frog events. He came to every game and usually made an appearance at the concession stand to chat with you or you would find him in the stands. Today was one of those days.

“You are literally dating Tsukkishima”

Yamaguchi perked up in defense,

“They are nothing alike!”

“That I can agree on”

Both of you dissolving into laughs. Yamaguchi's face steadied and got more serious.

“You really do feel that way about him?”

He asked.

“Yes, I mean even when we first met I thought he was cute, and we keep hanging out more and more, and I just keep liking him more and more”

Yamaguchi looked ready to say something else when he stopped himself. You turned around, suddenly feeling another's company. Kyotani was right there, you wondered if he had heard anything you said but his expression betrayed nothing.

“You're on your break?”

“Yeah, what's up?”

He seemed, you couldn't find the exact word, but it was between dejected and bitter. You wanted to ask if he was okay but he spoke first.

“I thought you'd be watching the game”

“We had been,”

Yamaguchi said, jumping into the conversation.

“Yeah, the first set was just about to end, concessions is gonna be swamped when I get back”

You said, you trying to meet Kyotani’s eyes, to see if they would reveal anything to you but no such luck was granted.

☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙·͙*̩̩͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩̥͙　✩　*̩̩̥͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩͙‧͙ .·͙*̩̩͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩̥͙　✩　*̩̩̥͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩͙‧͙ .‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾

You try to focus on the customers you have. A dance competition was in the big gym today, the entire place was packed. You hand out bags of popcorn, perfectly filled cups of beer to the brim. At one of the tables placed outside your stand is Kyotnai. He was practically stewing, his aura strong and unavoidable. He was making it harder to count out change and your eyes kept drifting from customers to him. He had been sitting there for a while. You thought that maybe someone else from the team would come drag him back to practice, but that didn't happen.

The last customer in line left, the competition having gotten louder, more intense, pulling people away from the food. That last customer was replaced with Kyotani’s scrunched up sulking, angry face. Normally you wouldn't call it sulking, just angry or annoyed, but he definitely had traces of sulking on him.

“A couple weeks ago,”

He got this part out fine, but the rest of his words came a little more quiet.

“You had been talking to Yamaguchi on your break during a game, who were you talking about?”

You don't know what to say. You stumble over a few words, none of them sounding right. He was so direct and challenging, you felt as if no matter what you said he would eventually pull it from you. You only managed to get one word out properly.

“Why?”

He didn't answer and this surprised you.

☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙·͙*̩̩͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩̥͙　✩　*̩̩̥͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩͙‧͙ .·͙*̩̩͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩̥͙　✩　*̩̩̥͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩͙‧͙ .‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾

Kyotani stood under one of the lamps outside the main entrance. You thought you could see the outline of a  pack of cigarettes in his pocket. He didn't smell like smoke and you had never seen him do it before. You didn't move for a moment wondering if you could catch him smoking now.

“Hey fuckface! We going or not?”

Kyotani had spotted you and called out.

“Yeah, yeah”

You said rushing over to meet him. You could no longer count on your fingers how many times you had hung out with him. A couple of movies, lots of grabbing food after his practice or your shift, that time you found out he couldn't roller skate, that one trip to the museum. He had kissed one of the statues in defiance when you told him to stop touching things. Unfortunately for him that was the exact moment you had pulled out your phone to snap some pictures.

Today though he was tagging along with you to the store. You needed to pick a couple things up before going home. He had offered to drive. In the car, you recounted that day's incidents. A spilled soda on your pants, a customer yelling at you about their cotton candy, and getting scolded for coming in five minutes late.

“Why are you working there? Not that it’s bad, but you kinda hate it”

“Anyone hates working in a job where you have to give people food and wear a collared shirt, plus I don't hate it you're there”

That part about him wasn’t something you planned to say and you chose to ignore the seinement and keep talking.

“I’m just trying to save up money right now, I have other things in life I want, and you?”

You asked, at the light he stopped to look at you.

“What do you mean?”

“You just have volleyball brain, that's it?”

He hesitated here, it was brief but it was there.

“Volleyball brain is my diagnosis”

☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙·͙*̩̩͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩̥͙　✩　*̩̩̥͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩͙‧͙ .·͙*̩̩͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩̥͙　✩　*̩̩̥͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩͙‧͙ .‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾

Once in the store Kyotani pushed a cart around while you led him up and down different aisles. You pulled off bottles of dish soap, a pack of clorox wipes. You were going to turn down to the electronics center to see if they had any cute phone cases you might want when Kyotani cut in front of you with the cart.

“Let’s go the other way”

“It’s faster if we go this way”

You tried walking past him but he didn't budge. You huff, and shoulder check him when turning in the direction he wants to go. This happens a few more times. You wanted to loop around to the grocery aisle when he insisted you lap the whole store instead of just cutting past the toys and books. You forgot to grab that extra phone charger you had been wanting and he wouldn't let you pass by the magazines to get it. In the end you had waited with the cart while he went to grab it for you.

When you were loading the bags into the back seat of his car he asked what you wanted to eat.

“You sure you want to go out? You seemed nervous in the store”

You say.

“I’m fucking hungry”

Is all he says, but you know he's trying to lighten the mood from the strange way he was acting in the store. In the car he lets you pick the music and roll the windows down.

☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙·͙*̩̩͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩̥͙　✩　*̩̩̥͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩͙‧͙ .·͙*̩̩͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩̥͙　✩　*̩̩̥͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩͙‧͙ .‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾

It was a weekend morning and once again you were back at the store. You thought about the last time you were here a couple weeks before with Kyotani. Recently you have fallen into a type of rhythm with Kyotani. You spent a lot of your free time with him, with each other's friends, your lives were almost totally meshed together. More often than not people assumed you two were dating. Even if you wanted that to be true you were still unsure how he felt about you.

You had your basket and were on the way to the check out when spotted a book on display. Oftentimes you would send pictures of frogs and frog merchandise to the Sendai Frog group chat you had been roped into. Even if you weren't on the team you had officially been adopted into the group because “you work for home base!” according to Koganegawa. You picked the book up off the shelf.

They were the cutest drawings you had ever seen. They were simple and rough. Done in crayon which made them so charming. The title of the book was Frogs Go Ribbit! , if the display card was right this was the authors fourth picture book and so far the most popular. You opened up the first pages.

Frogs ribbit all day long

When they snooze and when they watch the morning news

Each frog had different types of music notes drawn coming from their mouth. Some frogs had bright colorful notes, one had notes that looked like plants and flowers, one had notes covered in flames. The one with flames had dark lines drawn under its eyes. It reminded you of Kyotani, if you weren't going to buy the book before you were now. You turned the page. Then snapped it shut.

At the movies buying tickets, during museum visits  

It was you. Sure you were a little crayon cartoon but that was you. It was you and a little frog that looked like Kyotani. That was your hair, your favorite pair of shoes. It was you and frog Kyotani in line buying movie tickets. You pull out your phone and scroll back in your photos to when you and Kyotani had first gone to the movies. It was even the same outfit. On the museum page you gasped when you realized who the other frog was.

Tsukishima's frog had glasses, a figure that was unmistakably Yamaguchi pointing in excitement at a painting next to the frog. There was no way it wasnt Yamaguchi and Tsukki. The green tufts of hair, you had helped him dye many times now so obvious. You and Kyotani were on the museum page as well. Kyotanis frog sticking its tongue out to latch onto a statue while you hit him on the head. Little yellow exclamations drawn around the point of impact. You flipped to the next page.

In the trees, on the court they ribbit, ribbit, ribbit! It fills their hearts!

There was a Koganegawa frog hidden in a basket of volleyballs. Tsukishima's frog blocking a serve from Yamaguchi with its tongue. Yachi was also on this page cheering from the stands. You were crouched down next to Kyotani’s frog patting him on the head, a doodle of a heart floating off him. The rest of the team was there drawn as frogs as well. Sure they weren't wearing jerseys with their numbers, there wasn't a Sendai Frogs banner, but that was them.

You flip through the rest of the book rather quickly. The book telling the tale of how frogs need to take breaks from their ribbits, how they need to eat well, sleep well, and love others. The page with the frogs eating had you feeding Kyotani a plate of flies. When you closed the last page and turned over to see who the author and illustrator were, all that was there on the front cover were the initials M.D. You pull out your phone from your pocket as you start grabbing as many of the books as you can. Your hand finding the contact you were looking for.

“Yamaguchi, you're never going to believe this but I think Kyotani feels the same way I do and you're also not going to believe how I figured that out”

☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙·͙*̩̩͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩̥͙　✩　*̩̩̥͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩͙‧͙ .·͙*̩̩͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩̥͙　✩　*̩̩̥͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩͙‧͙ .‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾

A/N: ahahahahah I don't know why this ended up so long BUT ALSO LIL FROG THAT GO RIBBIT. And here's the playlist that I listened to while I wrote; cherry sparkling water

[etlunainmorte]

🖤 I See My Future Before Me 🖤

***

She managed to acquire it for a very low and reasonable price. After all, who would use an old record now, especially with the booming technological culture that was steadily becoming popular with the younger generation?

She placed the delicate thing on her glass top table and took a good long look at it. Dante would pick her up any minute now, and she must definitely get ready for the mission ahead ( this time, a couple of magic - wielding higher Demons ).

However, for some strange reason, she couldn't shake the urge that she must play at least one song with it.

With that in mind, and her strong belief in intuition ( not to mention Cassandra's constant meddling ), she picked up the vinyl record she bought along with the old instrument and proceeded to the task. And with a little help from an almost useless and age - old manual ( its pages were yellow and crumbling at the edges ) that came with the merchandise, she finally managed to play the song. She took a few steps away from the table and allowed the sweet, old music to soothe and calm her senses.

She closed her eyes, letting the melody sink in,...

... when a vision suddenly flashed through her mind.

She opened her eyes once more, unable to believe her wicked sense of premonition ( or Cassandra's ) and allowed the vision to take over her entire mind.

And in that vision, she saw herself dancing the waltz with someone - a tall man clad completely in black. They were dancing to the same music that she was listening to, in the middle of the summer night, on a beautiful, Grecian balcony, below the starry, evening sky, the full moon shining above them.

It was,... simply perfect,...

But, who was that man?

The vision ended as soon as she opened her eyes.

However, something near the window startled her. She took a good long look at it as it slowly materialized, and right then and there, she saw him - the man she was dancing with in that vision,...

It's him! The man she's been searching for for such a long time.

The man,... with the white hair,...

And he was there, standing a few feet away from her, giving her a confused, and yet longing, look, as if he was also seeing her, himself.

She cautiously went closer to him and observed how his eyes followed her movements. She knew perfectly well that he was just a vision. Of the past or future? That she was not certain.

All she knew was that he was holding out his hands in front of her in a clear gesture that successfully conveyed his desire to dance with her,...

***

XXVIII

***

"Here." Nico mumbled sleepily as she handed V a mug of warm chocolate. He thanked the woman as he took it from her hands. He was about to take a sip when he noticed the woman giving him a suspicious look. She pointed two fingers at him and said, "Eh, so you're really Vergil, huh? Dante's twin brother?”

The man smirked as he finally took a sip of the warm chocolate, its enticing scent calming his tired and restless senses. He pursed his lips as he glanced at the calm and serene evening atmosphere from the balcony of (Y/N)'s unit.

"I was." He answered, his eyes darting from one cheerfully lit house to another. Some of the residents have already made their way back to their homes after the Dreadnought incident, and things were slowly going back to its normal and boring pace.

Nico almost choked on her chocolate when she heard V's answer. She chuckled as she took a good long, and thorough look at Vergil’s form from head to foot. "You,... were?" She chuckled.

V smirked once more as he looked at her. "It's the truth."

"I don't understand. How can you not be Vergil right now? I mean, come on, Sir Changes – A - Lot!"

The man chuckled as he helplessly shook his head. He held out a single hand as little orbs of light radiated from it. The almost translucent orbs, then, spread out from his hand to his arm, then from his torso to his other arm. The orbs reached his entire body as the curious little lights morphed him back to the V that Nico was used to seeing - black leather vest, tooth necklace, a pair of unflattering black sandals, and all.

"This,... is merely an illusion.” V explained. “I could never become whole again. It is,... completely impossible. Even with the powers of the Sisters Of Fate."

"Your hair,..." Nico mused as she pointed at V's snowy white hair. "It's not turning back to black." She, then, pointed at his skin. "And your tattoos are barely even there!"

"This is how I look like before all this,... began. This,... is the real me."

"Wow. And I thought (Y/N) was the only one who can change looks,..."

At the mere sound of her name, V's heart skipped a beat and his breath clearly hitched. The girl was sleeping in her room, unconscious since the whole battle with Pandemonium ended. He promised her sister that he would take care of him, and Galatea left her body as soon as she was done healing her.

But, then, somehow, he knew deep within his tainted heart that she would never be fully healed.

Would she,... ?

His question came out like a soft breeze that was almost missed by the Artisan. She stopped sipping her chocolate and glanced back at V, seeing the man leaning on the railing and clearly looking uncomfortable.

"Sorry?"

V looked at her eyes and repeated his question. "Would she find it in her heart to forgive me? After everything I've done to her?"

"Oh, that." Nico came closer towards the man and patted him a bit forcefully on the shoulder. "Dontcha worry a thing 'bout that! She'll forgive ya and yer pretty, lil' skinny ass. Believe me.”

V chuckled at her crude humor and sighed.

"You don't have,... any idea what I did to her back in that demonic ship,..."

"I know. You killed her. Well, almost."

V's eyes widened as he straightened up and looked at her. "How did you - ?!"

"Found out? Oh, she knew 'bout that. She told me herself."

Oh, it must be Cassandra, V thought as he leaned against the railing once more. "Of course."

"But, hey, she's still alive, right? And you're fine! At least, you didn't turn evil or somethin' and caused the world's destruction."

At those ridiculously accurate words, V bowed his head down low, trying to conceal his face until he could no longer endure the emotions. With trembling shoulders and teary eyes, he threw his head back, his low and evil - sounding laughter ripping out of his throat and scaring the hell out of Nico.

"Hahaha! YOU make me laugh,..."

The woman raised an eyebrow. "O,... kay?"

"You have no idea,... how messed up I've become. I failed her. I failed miserably. I'm only here because, apparently, Galatea still thinks I'm worthy. After,... everything I did to her."

"Hey, we all make mistakes."

V smiled at her. "I will tell you,... the story of my insanity,..."

With wide, doubtful eyes, Nico patiently listened as V recounted to her the events that took place in the Dreadnought, from the moment he stabbed (Y/N) up to the point where Fleminger stabbed him, taking the Sisters away from him and letting Pandemonium kill everyone.

"Wait, wait, wait,..." Nico blabbered as she pushed the frame of her red - rimmed glasses to her nose bridge. "So, you're sayin' that,... everyone,... died?"

"Yes."

"Hooee! Well, I'm sure glad that Galatea brought you back. I wonder how I died back there?"

As Nico went on blabbering about how she could possibly die in that far off alternate universe, V suddenly saw,...

... a spectral - looking hand reaching up at the railing of the balcony just behind her. V was definitely not one to get frightened of ghosts but, the vision did startle him. He focused his gaze into it as the creature climbed up the balcony as effortlessly as it could.

It was (Y/N), and she was, somehow, strangely barefoot. Her pants looked like they were burnt from the knee down, and her movements were as light as possible. She tiptoed her way to the window when she suddenly heard some voices inside.

So, did V.

“ ... they even mentioned some famous and obscure names in the Devil Hunting business who got the invitation. And let me mention this - Dante also received one."

Her eyes widened at whatever she saw inside and she couldn't prevent herself from letting out a yelping sound.

“Someone’s listening!”

She covered her mouth and stepped away from the window.

“Looks like we have an,… unwanted visitor.” Then, he heard it. That voice. It was him. He could remember everything: this was from that time when he first arrived at this place.

So, it was true: someone really was outside that time. And it was none other than her,...

“Best to make it at home - ” He heard himself speak once more.

“Guys, guys! Stop! What did I say about making a mess?!”

“Hey, hey! There’s an intruder right - AHH!” A very loud and obnoxious noise was heard from the inside, like someone, or something, was just thrown to the other side of the room.

“To not make any?”

“Exactly! That’s just the - ah - neighbor’s cat!”

“That,… does not sound like a feline, at least to my ears.”

“Okay, okay, guys! Trust me and put your weapons down. Thank you! Now, as I was saying, we must go to this event and find out what this, Wrath of The Gods, is!”

“We cannot go shorthanded. If we take the riddle in a very literal sense, then,… we would not have enough strength. We would be dealing with the Wrath of The Gods,… after all.”

While listening to the conversation inside, he saw (Y/N) as she tiptoed her way back closer to the window, lovingly gazing at something inside. Her eyes widened, then returned to normal once more. She raised an arm and wiped the tears that started coming out of her eyes with the sleeves of her pale pink hoodie.

She was crying, and yet she looked clearly happy at what she saw. Like she finally found something she has been searching for after so long.

Like, she was deeply longing to see whatever that was,...

And this made V's heart twitch in unbelievable pain.

He,... knew who she was looking at. He knew,...

... who she was longing to meet,...

“That’s where I come in! Nero, how’s the breaker coming along?”

“It’s fine, sure.”

“Oh, yeah? Then, I’ll be making new ones.”

“Isn’t this enough?”

“No! And, you! You seem interested in all this, yes?”

“As a matter of fact, I ‘am."

“Then, go get your own formal wear! I can’t provide you with one. I’m an Artisan, not a freaking, fancy tailor!”

“Wait, like, right now?”

“Duh?! Are you, like, gonna wait till Saturday for that? Go, go, GO!”

She cautiously took a few steps away from the window once more.

“Hey, hey, if you’re looking for some chicks, then you’re in the wrong place! Get moving!”

There were more sounds, and when they finally subsided, the window violently opened and she finally entered the threshold of her own home.

“Are you crazy?! Why would you be hiding there? This is your home, for crying out loud! Are you a thief, or something?!”

“It’s him, Nico.”

“I’m sorry, what?”

“It’s him! The man with the violin in my visions!”

“Who?!”

“The one with the markings on his skin!”

“The mysterious man? Are you sure about that?”

“It. Is. HIM!”

"¿Por qué estas descalza?" V heard a distinctively different voice of that of a little girl.

He closed his eyes at the sudden change, and when he opened them once more, he was suddenly transported to a sunny, suburban place. A little girl with dark pigtails was staring at him, her hands on her hips like a wife who was angry at her husband for coming home late and drunk.

He realized she was not directly looking at him, and this made him turn around. And to his surprise, he saw (Y/N). And just like in his vision a while ago, she was barefoot, and her pants looked burnt from the knee down.

(Y/N) opened her mouth to answer but, then, she realized she can't speak the little girl's language. This made the smaller girl smile.

"¡Ven conmigo! Te llevaré a nuestra casa." The girl excitedly said as she practically went through V like he was a ghost and grabbed (Y/N)'s hand.

V followed the two as the little girl led (Y/N) to one of the charming little two - story houses on the left. The little girl opened the door and let (Y/N) in.

"¡Madre!" The girl called. "¡Madre!"

"¿Alicia?"

A woman in her mid - fifties came out from the kitchen, wiping her hands with an orange towel.

"¿Hija?" The mother's eyes widened as she abandoned her towel, practically throwing it to the side as she made her way to the two girls. "¡Que chica tan linda! ¿Es tu amiga?"

The little girl laughed and shook her head, making (Y/N) a bit surprised and culture - shocked. "Ella no habla Español. No te preocupes, yo me encargo." The girl turned to (Y/N) and pointed at herself, then her mother. "My name is Alicia. This is my mother, Maria. I go to English class every Saturday."

"Oh, that's nice." (Y/N) answered as she received a pair of slippers from the little girl. "Thanks."

"She said you're pretty."

A faint rosy tint crept up (Y/N)'s cheeks. She looked at the smiling older woman and nodded. "I, ah, thank you."

Maria nodded, understanding the words she just said.

"What are you doing outside with no shoes?" The little girl asked her as she pulled her towards the living room.

"Umm, you see, ah,..." (Y/N) muttered as she sat down on the maroon sofa. "I was, ahh, looking for someone. A white haired man who plays the violin. I've seen him pass here. Have you, umm, seen him?"

White haired man who plays the violin?

He had been here?!

Alicia turned to his mom. "Ella pregunta si hemos visto a un hombre de cabello blanco por aquí, dice que toca el violin."

Maria frowned and shook her head. “No, lo siento mucho. Pero podemos avisarte si lo llegamos a ver."

"She said no. But, we will tell you when we see him."

(Y/N)'s face showed a clearly disappointed expression. But, despite this, she still sincerely smiled and nodded. "Thank you so much."

Alicia nudged her on the elbow to help her relax. "No hay problema." She answered with a smile. "That means no problem."

"I can't believe how fast you've grown!"

V heard another voice from the hallway. He went there and saw, in shock, the same little girl,...

... except that she was now the same height as (Y/N). Her hair was no longer in pigtails. Instead, she was wearing it down. And her fashion sense seemed to have changed, as well.

"I'm a teenager now!" And clearly, she was better in English. "And it seems that you haven't aged a bit since I last saw you!"

It was true. For some reason, (Y/N) still looked the same.

How many years has passed since she first met Alicia?

"So, have you seen him?"

"Oh, that man? I think mom has!"

"Really?"

"Yeah!" Alicia grabbed her hand and led her to the living room like what she did the first time they met. "Madre, (Y/N) is here!"

The woman, whose dark brown hair has clearly turned gray, looked up from her stitch work and stood, meeting the girls halfway and kissing the both of them on their forehead. V noticed that she now walked with a slight limp.

"It has been a long, long time, Miss (Y/N)!" Maria told her in straight English, grabbing her hands and squeezing them.

"Mom studied English for you." Alicia said with a proud and huge smile.

"That's really cool!"

"Mom, she’s asking whether you've seen the man she was looking for."

To this, Maria's face suddenly fell, a frown now gracing her warm and gentle features. She only shook her head and went back to her stitch work. And without saying another word, she sat down and went on with her work like nothing even happened.

"Oh, don't mind her. She's just like that at times. But, she's not mad at you, don't worry!" Alicia whispered.

(Y/N), who was clearly alarmed at the sudden change in Maria's demeanor, couldn't help but nod as she tried to hide her worry.

"It's okay."

"You haven't given up?"

V heard Alicia's frantic voice on the hallway once more. He immediately went there and saw her,...

... clad completely in black from head to foot. She clearly looked a bit older, and she was not dragging (Y/N) around like how she used to when she was younger.

And (Y/N)?

"You still haven't changed?" Alicia questioned her with raised eyebrows.

"Where's Maria?"

Something in her question triggered something in Alicia. And it unnerved both (Y/N) and V.

"Get out."

"Sorry?"

"I said, GET OUT!" Alicia screamed as she pushed (Y/N) out of the house.

"Alicia, what happened?!"

"GO AWAY!" The girl screamed as she shut the door close. She then ran towards the sofa, grabbed Maria's old stitch work, and cried. The handiwork was clearly half - finished but, some words were visible from it.

"El amor es paciente, el amor es amable. No envi - "

"HEY!"

V snapped back to reality as Nico snapped her fingers in front of his face.

"You alright?"

"Indeed. Yes, I' am." He answered.

Nico breathed a sigh of relief as she clutched at her chest like she was having a heart attack. "I thought I lost you back there. You know, (Y/N)'s visions were short and sweet - "

"She's been to Spain."

"Sorry?"

V looked at her and repeated his words. "It's (Y/N). I saw her. She was in Spain."

"Oh, that! So, you've seen her?" Nico answered as she went back inside, V following close behind her. "You know, she's been to many places, more than what you could imagine. She's searching ten years for you, God!"

"Ten,… years?!"

"Yeah. She comes home often, though. She's learned to channel that power of hers to her feet and legs so she could move fast and jump to high places." Nico explained as she went to one of the drawers and pulled something out from it. "So, she's never really gone for too long. But, I'm gonna tell ya this: that channeling the power to her feet thing often burned her pants."

So, that's why,...

"I don't understand." V went on as he watched Nico flip through the pages of an old album. "She was searching for ten years, but I've only been to such places for three weeks. I was,… travelling. It's what I've been doing before coming here to Red Grave."

"Really? Well, it's a long story. Let's just say that she wanted to meet you because the entity that was possessing her wanted her to fulfill some kind of a mission. Don't ask." She handed the open album to V and pointed at one of the photos. "That's them."

V's eyes widened in awe as he saw the photograph of (Y/N) and Alicia during the Spanish girl's party for her sixteenth birthday.

"Alicia. One of the people she frequently visited and stopped seeing after ten years. Said she’s starting to notice."

"Notice what?" V looked up from the album.

Nico went closer to V and whispered like she was passing on a well - guarded secret to him. "Okay, this sounds weird but, she actually came from the past."

"I know."

"Yeah, yeah! I thought at first she's just plain nuts. But, listen to this: the first thing she did after recovering was search for her family's old farm in Fortuna. V, there hasn't been a farm there since a hundred years ago! It's all concrete now, and streets.

"So, she searched for her parents and any people she could remember from her past. Some of them either died already or have grandchildren of their own. And her parents? She found out that they separated and had families of their own."

"A girl,... out of her time,..." V mused as he flipped through the pages of (Y/N)'s old album, seeing her with unknown faces.

"Exactly! She's, like, super old when you think 'bout it!" Nico went to one of the paintings and looked up at it. "And, not only that, her looks stayed the same for those ten whole years I knew her. Like, she's stuck or somethin’.”

"Galatea's stasis." V breathed.

"Sorry?"

"Nothing."

Nico frowned and raised an eyebrow at him. She went on. "She craves for things from the past. So, she started collecting antiques like this. Other than helping her cope after being plucked from when she came from, these things she have reminded her of all the places she's been. They remind her of you."

The poet looked up from the album and saw Nico picking up her keys on the glass top table. There was an old record there, similar to Fleminger's, that he hasn't taken notice of before.

Was it there the whole time?

Nico saw the confusion in V's eyes as he looked at the antique. "Oh, this? She bought this about a year ago. Thought she's gonna want to listen to old songs when she wakes up. So, I took it out. It's gonna get moldy with disuse."

The woman walked towards the door but, before she went out, she turned back to V. "I'll leave her to ya, V. Don't mess this up again." And then, just like that, she walked out of the door, leaving him alone with (Y/N).

The silence felt deafening, the darkness depressing. V nearly collapsed on the sofa as he carefully placed the album next to the record. He was about to touch it when he heard a loud tapping against the window. He turned around just in time to see Griffon and Shadow entering the unit.

"HOO! We made it." Griffon breathed a sigh of relief as he made his way towards V while carrying something broken in his hands.

"I see you found it." V carefully took the broken violin from Griffon's long fingers. It was (Y/N)'s.

"Yeah, well. Kinda got all bloody searchin’ through Dreadnought's rubble for that."

"Thank you."

"Wait!" Griffon held up two long fingers in front of V and made way for Shadow to get close to the poet.

V smirked, controlling his mirth and amusement as he looked down at the now human Shadow. After the cleansing, she has turned into a pale human girl roughly the size of a middle - schooler. Her long black hair that reached her feet was awfully unkempt, and the clothes that Lady lent her a while ago was too big for her.

She quietly looked up at him with her big red eyes and showed him a pair of stilettos.

It was (Y/N)'s. She wore it when,...

"This girl took it badly when you threw them out during your mad state, if ya can’t remember. She looked for them all over the place and kept them with her." Griffon explained as Shadow gave the shoes back to V. She turned towards her fellow familiar and gave him a strange look. She, then, turned back to V with an angry, yet adorable, look. "Oh, and she's saying that she hates ya for hurting (Y/N). And that she will never forgive ya."

"Oh, I'm,..." V grasped the shoes and looked down at them, thinking of the girl who owned them. "... forgive me."

"Well, you've been a naughty schtick! Ya should've been punished for bad behavior!" The bald Demon made a ruffling gesture that was much akin to his movements when he was still a bird and collapsed on the sofa. "So, happy with yer new powers?" he, then, asked sarcastically.

"No." The poet answered monotonously as he slumped back to the sofa just beside the familiar, the shoes still in his hands.

Griffon rolled his eyes. "Figures,..."

There was a moment of silence between the two, and during this very awkward time, Shadow took a liking to the old record on the table. She poked the thing with her tiny finger and managed to turn it on, its weird mechanism startling her and making her hair stand. She drew back to a corner, giving it a confused and cautious look.

This made Griffon laugh a lot. "I wonder how that would sound, though."

"It,... wouldn't hurt if we try." The poet quietly said as he placed the shoes on the table and took the vinyl record just beside the instrument. Apparently, the record was simply titled as "Nat King Cole". He began with the long process of playing it and when the music finally came out of it, he turned it off immediately.

"Hey, why did ya turn it off?!" Griffon complained. He was about to rant more when he noticed the look on V's face. His eyes were wide and his mouth was hanging open. "V? You okay?"

"I' am. I just,..." The man held out a hesitant finger as he turned on the instrument once more.

"Unforgettable, that's what you are. Unforgettable, though near or far. Like a song of love that clings to me,... "

"It's this song." He confessed with a shaky voice. With cold and trembling hands, he covered his mouth, already feeling the tears as they started falling down his blurry eyes. "It's,... from that evening."

Griffon saw the changes in V's demeanor and actually felt sorry for him. He tapped V's shoulder in a sincere effort to calm him down.

"Unforgettable in every way, and forevermore, that's how you'll stay,..."

He stood up and went towards the window, all the painful memories of everything that happened within a single week coming back to him. He found the love of his life, danced with her, and lost her because of his foolishness.

All because he let himself be manipulated.

Still unable to control his emotions, and the tears that came along with them, he turned back, and saw,...

... the girl, herself, standing a few feet away from him looking confused like he was.

But, this time, unlike any other vision he had of her, she looked like she was actually seeing him for real. She went closer towards him as he observed all of her movements. He held out his arms, hoping for his desire to dance with her once more to come across.

And, as if by some form of an unknown miracle, she let his hands take hers as they began the basic steps of the waltz,...

... just like the first time they did it on the Grecian balcony that evening.

"That's why darling, it's incredible, that someone so unforgettable, thinks that I am unforgettable too."

Griffon and Shadow silently watched as V danced with something they couldn't see. The male familiar shook his head and grinned as he saw the poet actually enjoying the dance.

"No, never before has someone been more,..."

He tried to hold her closer despite the fear that she would vanish and rested his head on the crook of her neck.

"Unforgettable,… in every way,..."

He quietly and gently sang along, the lyrics tearing a new wound to his already beaten heart. How he wanted to hold her so much, how he wanted to actually feel her smooth skin against his,...

... how he longed to dance with her once more.

But, she’s hurt. Because of him.

And instead of her actually dancing with him, she’s lying on that bed inside her room with no guarantee of when she’d wake up.

"And forevermore,… that's how you'll stay,..." He felt a warm sensation on his body and realized that her vision was rubbing him on the back, her arms around him, wanting him to cease crying. He looked at her eyes and cupped her cheeks. "That's why darling,… it's incredible,… that someone,… so unforgettable,… thinks that I ‘am,… unforgettable too,..." His heart ached with each word he sang, feeling like they were directed towards him and making him feel guilty than ever before.

He wanted so much to tell her that: that she’s unforgettable,…

… that he was grateful to her for everything that she did for him for the past ten years,…

… that he was grateful that she found him and made his life a little less miserable.

But, of course, he had to make a very stupid mistake of hurting her.

And he regret everything he did and did not do to her.

As the song came to an end, his face inched closer to hers. He wanted so much to feel her lips against his,...

... when something startled her.

She reluctantly pulled away from him as she looked at the door behind her. She opened her mouth and said something he couldn't hear, and turned to face him once more. She gave him a warm, and yet weak, smile as she held up a single hand to caress his face. After that, she stepped away from him and went to the door, looking at him one last time before finally going through it.

"Please,..." V begged her, holding out a helpless and powerless hand to reach her. "Don't,... leave me,..."

***

🖤 Special thanks to @beyond-the-mirror for the Spanish dialogue and translations. Also for introducing Alicia and Maria. 🖤

🖤 @la-vita , @micaelagua , @vergils-daughter , @lessy86 , @diabeticsugarush , @ehrzeth , @ceruleanworld , @simmy-ships , @boundbysoul , @heaven-on-a-landslide , and @krazy06 . 🖤

***

She heard a knock on the door and heard Dante calling her name. She turned away from the lonely man, not really wanting to go.

"I'm coming!" She called back, then looked at her partner's anguished face once more. Despite the pain that she suddenly felt in her heart upon seeing a vision of him, she still made an effort to caress his face and smiled, reassuring him, hoping that he would understand. She left him standing there in the middle of the room.

And as she glanced back at him, the sight that greeted her hurt her even more. In fact, the pain was unbearable.

His tears were streaming down his face, his expression simply too painful to withstand.

He doesn't want her to go.

He,... doesn't want her to leave,...

***

[theshamsandherzahraat]

(untitled frank castle ff) III

word count: ~2.1k

warnings: mentions of physical assault, descriptions of pain (?), recount of (post-)traumatic experiences × (people, if you can't handle your cake, i kindly ask you to not engage ._. not that it’s absolutely unforgiving but be warned in any case and stay safe <3)

part 1, part 2

note: this time i had a tough time deciding where to put the cut and how to end it, specifically with the flashback-y dialogue. i guess it’s not that big of a deal to let you indirectly know in what direction it will sort of go from now on. and i hope that the reader’s perspective still finds a certain degree of resonance with every lovely person who is about to find themselves in this story’s tellings. also; i am completely terrified that the majority of you guys did not sign up for this slow-burn-ish course of events and that i won’t have the future joy of sharing this with you but i promise: it will get so SO much better. i hope you can find the patience to bear with my writing.

(p/s: i still don’t know what title to give this ff. i guess it will be a surprise to all of us once it decides to reveal itself...)

@bunnywritesmarvel  – i know you need motivation to start the next piece of your awesome story (everybody now click!) and my tagging you here is by no means to put pressure on that. i just wish that you’re doing well and life doesn't deprive you of warm bread :) so just relax and enjoy reading at any time...

@siezethewrites :') newly found mutual who is very much appreciated for having hopped on the castle train and not leaving any time soon. bless you!

–

“Well; I guess I left sometime around ten.” Amy took the empty plate from your hands and carefully placed it on the coffee table without breaking eye contact. Almost instinctively you grabbed a nearby pillow and wrapped your arms around it, pressing it to your chest a notch too tightly. “Pete was still on his book, reading like time didn't even exist – I was lowkey jealous of him, so carefree he looked. And the infamous fellas left an hour earlier. As far as I remember it had rained that day and the drizzle was still ongoing.” You bent your head over your back and had an upside down look out of the window, imagining to hear a soft patter on the glass before you inhaled in a refocusing manner. “Halfway through I decided to unpack my umbrella when that guy whose fingers I wanted to break was standing infront of me alongside his pals. In that moment I knew I had to react fast but I couldn't see that other asshole coming from behind me…” You hid your dry mouth behind the pillow, anticipating the rush of crippling heat. You needed a moment, though there was not even a single moment sufficient enough to pick up the weight you felt delicately crushing you. “Shit, they thrusted that rag against my face for minutes and I wouldn't stop resisting, kicking around and stuff. The whole situation felt so ridiculous – man, fuck! On some messed up level I even felt relieved that one of them decided to throw my head against a lamppost. I was out. Done. Just gone.”

“…What happened then?” You glanced up at the girl who was nervously biting on her thumb's nail with wavering eyes.

“I have no idea. For all I know, anything could have happened. Just the sheer thought of it still terrifies me to this day, Amy.”

“I… I know. I'm sorry you had to go through that.” You thought she was going for a quick but sweet hand squeeze but instead she pulled herself closer to you, taking a proper seat on the couch whilst gently placing both of your legs over her lap. She was watching the ceiling as if it was going to reveal to her the missing secrets to a peaceful life.

“Yeah, me, too…” You laid your head on the headrest and wanted to succumb to a protective force other than mere cushions. “Next thing I remember is… Waking up in that room where Frank was apparently living and my entire head was throbbing.” That headache had left behind the impression of catching a bunch of bowling balls. With your face.

“I hope he got to you in time…”

“He told me he did. When I opened my eyes, I couldn't move a muscle, I was still in an unwanted state of shock I guess. Physically. And before my brain started processing everything, I saw Frank sitting on the floor." He was shirtless with a towel draped around his shoulders, hair lightly dripping wet on the pages of a book he was reading – again. "The scarce light in the room framed his demeanor so warmly… Now I hope you will not judge me for saying this but… I had never felt that kind of calm. Ever. In fact it was so soothing that it didn't last long. Like a summer's breeze almost."

“Mhm… The way you describe things…” she pointed out with a simultaneous move to pick up the tea, handing over your mug with an unperturbed smile. “It's like I'm right there with you.”

“Thanks… Now I know which parts to leave out so that you won't be right there with me.” You held up your tea in a sign of triumph as you flashed a smirk-turned-grin at her.

“Hahaha…” This may have been the first time you heard the girl genuinely laugh. She was facing you and her sincere comportment gave you feelings of reassurance that repressed the burning within to a concentrated area on your right leg.

“Frank immediately noticed my lingering gaze and didn't want to come too close when he approached me, telling me that everything was okay, that I did not have to worry about him, let alone the damn assholes. That by taking me here it was the best thing he could have done to help me. And the more he talked the more I was melting into the mattress.” Your grip on the mug resolved most of its tension as you remembered what that felt like with every fiber of your body. “Not in a sexual way obviously; right. I guess I just wanted to hold on to that peacefulness before my fear-loaded thoughts would basically shoot up the roof. But it never came to that until I was all by myself.”

“You spent the night there? With Frank gone?”

“No, dear one.”

“He stayed?”

“He asked me if I had anyone to go to whereupon I told him that I only had a rented apartment and my roommate living there with me.” You slightly shifted in your more than comfortable seat to snuggle into the blanket that fell off your shoulders. “The small radiator in the room was all the way on because I'd gotten soaked in the rain, you know. Frank told me that he didn't want to change my clothes while I was unconscious and therefore lent a few extra blankets from his neighbors to prevent me from catching a cold…” At this point you were slowly getting absorbed by the idea of revisiting those untroubled moments of a past long gone.

“Very considerate that rugged hipster…” Amy's attempts of maintaining a gentle stream of the mood were delightful.

“Yeah… He then gave me some of his clean clothes right after he slipped into his almost dried up shirt and went out into the hallway. I got changed, picked up my bag which he had neatly placed on a rickety chair"  – it's funny how he had chosen to sit on the floor and let your stuff exclusively fill that seat – "and then I took one last look around that fortress of strained darkness. A display of… of... I actually don't know of what…”

“'The Punisher who punishes himself'…”

“…” You shook your head.

“… So he walked you to your place?”

“Yupp. On the way we stopped at a bodega where he bought a bottle of water and some giant candybars for me. He KNEW before I could even notice myself that I was so damn hungry and sugar deprived because of what happened… I ate in silence. And I also cried in silence. I don't know. The weight caught on to me faster than I expected, you know. We walked through the streets at one in the morning and I literally felt like a baby but also not like a baby because I also felt like crap.” You remember Frank's arm purposefully brushing against your fragile figure so that his proximity allowed you to hold on to the hem of his jacket with one hand, while the other one was awkwardly switching between stuffing your mouth with chocolate and wiping off the running tears.

“A crappy baby. Wait, no – that sounds wrong!”

“Pffffhahahah...”

“Well,” she sighed and took her last sip of tea “I am certainly not a wizard of words like you.”

“What are words if they are not being heard?”

“…”

“Thanks, Amy.” You said and squeezed her elbow. “Your company made me feel more human than the last few days combined.”

“Are you serious or are you trying to change topics here?” She squinted her eyes at you in a playful manner.

“I am one hundred percent serious, girl.”

“Oh… Okay…” Her nearest hand now patted yours. “I think you're more than welcome, considering that you had to mostly put up with Mr. Crankypants.”

“Hey. His pants are everything but cranky.” You raised a valid point.

“Oh, really?… Did he tell you that while taking them off or what?” But you did not see this one coming.

“Wow. WOW. If he heard what you just said…” Utter disbelief painted your countenance with a flushing tint of red that tickled your ears.

“I thought this was a safe zone.” Amy crossed her arms and looked away. Her one leg was mildly tapping on the floor by which you could tell her irritated mood.

“Which, no doubt, it is.” You scooted a little forward but tried to avoid making her any more uncomfortable. “I'm in there with you. But I can't have you talk like that behind the back of a man who also saved your life, dear one.”

“And how exactly did Frank become your man then?”

“What?”

“What what?”

“Why would you say 'your' man?”

“Urrrh… Because you just said that yourself?”

“Noooo… Wait. No. No? Really? I said that?”

“I am one hundred percent serious, girl.”

“Huh…” You didn't know what felt more ridiculous: The girl who jumps at every opportunity to make fun of your expressions or the fact that you apparently addressed Frank as 'your man'. “I bet he wouldn't like my calling him that… ANYWAYS–”

“– Was your roommate at home when Frank dropped you off?” She interrupted your futile escape in action with her unexpected question.

“Urrrggh…” Your head fell into the back of your neck with a loud groan. “You're still on that? I am so damn tired, Amy!”

“How can you even sleep after two big slices of apple pie?” You shot up your head and sent her an intense look.

“Like a bear!” Jokingly you held up both your hands like claws, forgetting that there wasn't a small child sitting infront of you who would most likely appreciate that.

“Please…”

“… No, …” A small pause allowed you to remember why you had begun telling her all this in the first place and it helped you fight off the drowsiness for the time being. “Nobody was there. Empty apartment. My roommate was out, I don't remember what she said to me in the morning, but I knew she wouldn't be home. Maybe if Frank knew that I'd be alone he wouldn't have taken off, or maybe he would have, I don't know. But I didn't tell him. When we were at the front of the building, I froze, I didn't know what to do with myself in that moment. I couldn't look at him, my vision was still blurred from tears, and my nose was running. And he just stood there, close, but not too close, with my bag over his shoulder, turning his head around a few times. Then he took the trash from my hands.” They had been cold and you lightly flinched at his touch, regaining some conscious connection to your fingers. His felt electrifying with a quietening sweep against your skin. “When I lifted my gaze from senselessly staring at our shoes, I saw…” his knitted eyebrows that shadowed over his deep brown orbs. A slight twinkle you saw in them, presumably reflecting the street lights around the block. One corner of his lips was thinly curled up to not look too harsh as he tried his best to not make you feel overpowered in any way. After all he was a big man. That's when you wanted to disappear into thin air because you couldn't move at all to find some comfort in his embrace that would reach him underneath his bearded chin. Your body was still adjusting. “I saw him sliding off my bag and take a step around me to place it around my shoulders – God, I must have looked like a complete idiot.”

“You probably graduated from being a baby to a first grader.”

“Very funny.”

“Obviously…”

“He told me to go on in.” As you were paying attention to the soft tone of Frank's voice that replayed in your head, you breathed in through your nose and felt the familiar taste of rain in your lungs again somehow. Your chest; that night you perceived a rising heat – a storm was brewing inside of you and you were able to find the last moment of silence as you let yourself fall into his safe arms. Your entire body had now been reclaimed by you once again. It's alright. You walk in there, lock your door, and go straight to sleep. Tomorrow will be better, I promise. “And I did.”

*

“After that, you know, I kept an eye on you, …”

“... I'm flattered I guess.”

“And after a while I stopped hoping for you to leave, to go back to your home, to your family… That pro'ly doesn't sound right but–”

“– If I wouldn't have told you that I wanted to hit the road, would you have left on your own that day?”

“As hard as that would've been, yeah, totally.”

“Ouch.”

“But you're here now. With me.”

[technicallyoneofakind]

Running Away

Author's Note:

We're back with the group during the events of the game! Woot! This time I wanted to write one where Swaine and Esther have a friendly chat. They never really just talk to each other, it seems. I mean there is that one scene late in the game, but otherwise… yeah. They just argue like siblings…

Again, shout out to moonbird for inspiration here- at least for the first portion. As for those of you who have been just as generous to favorite, review, comment, or- hell- even read this mess, I thank you greatly. I mean it.

Anyway, on with the show!

Disclaimer: While I may own a copy of this game and wish I owned Swaine… I don't own the rights to it or Swaine. I do own the ideas I use for my fics, though… I think.

~.~.~

A peaceful sleep did not find him that night. He thought the nightmares would have ceased since he joined the three since they destroyed that thing that plagued his heart. No. As it turned out, nightmares, especially his, had many sources.

He dreamed he was in a world of darkness. He wasn't alone- the two kids in the group, a young Al Mamoonian girl and a boy from another world, were there as well. They weren't standing by his side as they always did when things looked serious. Instead, they had been taken, ensnared by an unseen adversary. They were being dragged under, reaching out for help.

He froze. Part of him wanted to run away, the instinct of self-preservation screaming at him. Part of him wanted to pull the two out of danger, to pull them to safety. Part of him knew, that despite whatever choice he made, it was already too late.

He ran toward them, an overwhelming urge to protect his friends overtaking him. When he reached toward them, the blond girl was quickly dragged under. He cursed himself for being to slow. Instead, he reached for the young wizard.

He hesitated when the face he saw shifted to that of his brother's, the sage's eyes possessed by the shadows. He froze, out of shock.

"Why try? Just run away. That's all you're ever good for," it mocked, the voice distorted. It sounded like multiple people, especially his own, speaking in unison. He grimaced, hesitating further.

When he withdrew his hand, it cackled at him. It almost sounded like an anguished cry.

"Stop it," he shouted. "Just stop!" He gripped his hair, pulling at it. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry," he repeated, backing away. The cackling grew louder. When he looked up, he found its source. Possessed faces of the two he had just tried to save as well as his own father's and brother's hovered over and surrounded him. He lowered his gaze again to avoid the horrid sight.

The cackling suddenly stopped. "You call yourself a prince?! You're barely even a man. Coward," the voices sneered.

"Just, shut up, would you! Leave me alone," he cried, falling to his knees. They roared with laughter at his suffering. He could feel them converging in on him.

"No," he shouted. "Don't-," he began to protest.

"Swaine, wake up," a familiar voice called. He found himself being shaken awake. He opened his eyes to find Esther, the blond. She sighed tiredly and rubbed an eye. "You were thrashing around and shouting in your sleep," she began to explain to him. "You woke me up."

"Huh," he found himself only able to groan. He rolled over, frowning. "Sorry. Go back to sleep," he groggily ordered despite the fear of that dream coming back to haunt him again.

"Are you okay," Esther asked the thief. "You sounded like you were having a really bad nightmare."

Silence. Perhaps he hoped she would think he fell back asleep if he didn't answer.

"D-do you want to talk about it," she prodded, seemingly wide awake now. That trick would have never worked on her. He tended to snore rather loudly when he did fall asleep.

"Go to bed, Esther," he growled, looking over his left shoulder. He knew sleeping on her side of the fire was a bad idea from the start. The other two took the other side so if any wandering creature approached they would know to alert the rest. He was left with the familiar tamer- the girl who he'd come wager as someone who'd poke a sleeping bear if it snored too loudly.

"I'm not going to bed until I know what's going on, Swaine," she demanded, huffing.

He rolled over to face her quickly, scowling. "I had a nightmare. The end. Now, will you kindly: Go. To. Sleep," he snapped in a vain attempt to keep his personal dilemma quiet.

"That's the part I want to help you with, though. The nightmare," she persisted, oddly concerned about his wellbeing.

He raised an eyebrow at her. "Since when do you care? Here's a bit of knowledge you seemed to have missed, Esther: everyone has a bad dream every now and again. Everyone."

She sighed and finally returned to her sleeping bag. "Fine," she grumpily adhered, snuggling down into the purple sack. "Wake me when you need to talk."

An hour seemed to pass. He couldn't go back to sleep, he quickly found. He dreaded to think if what horrors would await him. He sat up and rubbed his forehead. He looked around and recalled their location. They were on No Isle of Mine, a rocky island near the shores of Autumnia. He could wander off and return by the time everyone got up. No one would miss him.

Something told him otherwise. He shook his head, closing his eyes and remained there in thought. What did it mean, he pondered. Why am I so shaken up about it? It was just a dream, he argued in his head.

He looked at the sleeping familiar tamer and considered her offer. He didn't want to disturb her… but maybe the girl was right, for once. Maybe this was something he needed to talk to someone to work out.

He crawled down to her sleeping bag and shook her awake. "Esther, hey."

She turned her head, her eyes squeezing shut even more so before they finally opened. She looked up to see a tired thief smirking down at her. "Hmm? What is it," she yawned at him.

"About that chat. I could use some help working that nightmare out after all...," he sheepishly admitted. "Sorry for pushing you away, earlier. I was just being stubborn." He looked away and rubbed the back of his neck.

She giggled and sat up, flashing him a reassuring smile. "It's alright. Tell me about this nightmare..."

"Oh, wow… that sounds horrifying," the blond gasped. She had her hands over her mouth and her eyes wide. "Do you think it's guilt? Of running away when… well… you know."

The man shook his head. "I'm not sure. The demon called me a coward, too…," he admitted. "And I couldn't save you or Oliver." At that, he winced and looked out to the ocean. "In the end, I couldn't even save myself." He held his hands up in front of him and looked down at them.

"Maybe you're worried you'll let us down," Esther proposed, confused herself.

"Well, now I am. If you lot get in a bind, who's to say I won't hesitate," he asked her, though it was more to himself. "Who's to say I won't just…" He threw his hands down in a fit of frustration.

"…run away," Esther finished. "But… You wouldn't. You haven't before. You've pulled through for us when we needed it so many times," she recounted, recalling countless battles where, if it hadn't been for the thief, they would have been done for.

He locked his eyes with hers for a moment. He turned his head away slowly, pensively. He sighed through his nose and closed his eyes and slowly nodded. "I know. But still…" He opened his eyes again, glancing down. "I really am a coward, Esther. I'm always afraid. It wouldn't matter who I'm with, or where I'm at. I'm always going to be afraid." He shook his head, chuckling. "I don't know how you and Oliver can just plunge into danger without a single doubt in your mind. I kind of admire that, really."

Silence fell on them for a moment. Esther looked down, contemplating his words.

"You're not a coward," she stated.

His attention snapped back to her. He looked at the blonde, surprised. "I'm sorry… what did you say?"

"You. Are not. A coward," she spelled out for him. She looked up at the man with that usual headstrong look in her eye. "It takes courage still stand up and fight, even when you're afraid. A coward really would just run away. You can't be a coward!"

He let out a sigh, shaking his head. "I can't believe what I'm hearing… Esther…" He looked at the girl with an incredulous expression. "I think if you lot weren't there, I'd be running for the hills. I really do."

"Then that makes you even less of a coward, doesn't it? A coward would just abandon his friends," she argued, glaring up at Swaine.

"Hah! You're confusing courage with responsibility, aren't you?" He looked back out at sea, avoiding her glare. "I'm just doing what I think is right, that's all…" There was a tinge of disappointment and longing in his voice. He eventually turned his entire person towards the view of the distant shore, hoping to end the conversation

Another wave of silence passed over them. The sound of the sea and distant mechanical creatures moving around kept them in a soothing company.

"Then it's your sense of responsibility that gives you your courage…," she finally answered. "It gives you a reason to fight!" She placed her right hand over her heart, gripping the fabric of her top. "All of us… we all have our own reasons for enduring what we have. It's what gives us our strength, our fearlessness."

The man didn't respond. He continued to stubbornly look out at the moonlit sea.

Esther sighed, her hand loosening its grip as she looked down. "I'm… I'm always scared, too…," she divulged quietly.

The thief's eyes widened, unseen by the familiar tamer. He turned his head to glance at her. "How?"

She looked up, turning her gaze to the lanky form next to her. "Huh," was all she offered.

Turning quickly so he could directly face her he clarified, "How are you, of all people, scared? I mean, we are going up against the Dark Djinn- but honestly… You always seem so… Agh…" He shut his eyes and looked away before looking back at her. "You don't seem to worry about it at all, is what I'm trying to say." He motioned with his hand, raising an eyebrow.

"I'm… I'm actually terrified of facing the Dark Djinn," she muttered. "I'm always a little worried that we won't make it when we fight something big." She looked up, sporting a fierce strongminded expression the thief had seen many a time. "I know, though, that I can't let it get the best of me. I won't be intimidated! What kind of person would I be if I didn't at least try?"

He smirked and then laughed. "So, you're running away, too?"

The girl tilted her head, confused. "What do you mean?"

He motioned around himself, a nonchalant attitude about him. "We're both running away… from ourselves."

She raised an eyebrow. "'From ourselves'?" He wasn't making a bit of sense. "What does that even mean?"

"Think of it as a metaphor. We're both trying to avoid things about ourselves we don't want to acknowledge." He wasn't exactly sure if his analogy would take. Giving motivational speeches on a limited amount of sleep wasn't exactly his forte.

She paused for a moment. "But… if I'm running away from my fear, then… what are you running from, Swaine?"

"There's quite a bit, really. The biggest one being my own sense of identity. I've been trying to work that one out for a while now." He collapsed down on the ground, his arms spread over his head. "Even now, I don't know who I am, Esther…" He looked up at the sky.

"You seem pretty confident in being a thief," she noted coyly.

"But I'm a prince, too. What do you make of that?" He studied the stars, admiring their beauty in the clear night sky. Swaine the pickpocket and Gascon the prince seemed sometimes polar opposites of each other. "I can't be both, you know."

"Of course you can! Just don't act like a common criminal," she suggested. "You're both the same person. And just because you happen to be a prince, that shouldn't change anything. You're still you, aren't you," she noted while leaning on her arms, bent over from her cross-legged position on her sleeping bag. "Why don't you just focus on that?"

"Am I, now? I wouldn't exactly call myself princely material, Esther, especially in my current state." He lied there in thought. I guess, though… she has a point- maybe there really is no point separating the two, now.

Another hour seemed to pass.

"Swaine," she started, observing the man. He had closed his eyes in silent contemplation earlier. She started to think he'd fallen asleep when he didn't answer. She sat back up, an unsure face taking over. "I'm actually kind of envious of you… I can't be my self- not really. There's probably still so much you hide from everyone, too but…" She hesitated. "Even if you aren't sure of who you are, you always seem so confident in your abilities. I'm always worried I'll mess up." She let out a nervous laugh. "I guess that's a pretty common fear. I just never felt brave enough to admit it."

"I can't just say I'm scared either like you can." The blond looked at the thief, his facial expression unchanged. "I've got to be strong, right? That means putting on a brave face, righting wrongs, and helping people, doesn't it? I-," she faltered, her words were full of doubt. "I shouldn't be scared- not of anything." She swallowed, a lump of anxiety forming in her throat.

"It's alright to be afraid, you know," a voice from beside the girl consoled. "You don't always have to be so headstrong."

She looked at Swaine. The man had his eyes closed, still. "I…," she started. There it was again, the proud attitude of a former prince.

He sat up again, massaging his temple. "Gees. What did we just talk about? You're just running away from it again." He crossed his arms, analyzing the situation. It seemed she had built this up for quite some time. He leaned forward. "Don't bottle it up… It will eventually explode, your worries, I mean," he advised softly.

She smiled, grateful for his support. "You mean like you were doing earlier," she joked, elbowing him.

He winced, holding his abdomen and leaning away. "Yeah, I'm no saint," he coughed. He looked at the giggling teen. "I wouldn't mind lending an ear, you know."

"Alright, but don't fuss if I wake you for a midnight chat," she warned, wagging a finger.

The thief huffed and rolled his eyes. "I make no promises."

The two couldn't go back to sleep after that. They kind of just sat in awe of the night sky and the large moon that hung overhead. For once, they sat in silent agreement with each other. When morning finally came, things finally went back to normal.

"You guys are up early," Oliver observed groggily, not noticing what was really going on for a moment. They seemed to be leaning on each other for support, the lack of sleep caught up with them. "Umm… Swaine, Esther- you two okay?"

The fairy walked in front of them and snapped his fingers in front of their content faces, unaware of the awkward position they were in. "Flippin' heck, mun. They're out like a light! No wonder they ent pushing each other away right now!"

Oliver walked over to the pair and gripped the familiar tamer's shoulder, shaking it, figuring he could survive a magic harp attack to the face better than a gunshot. "Hey, Esther. Esther, it's time to wake up."

The girl blearily opened her eyes. It took a moment for her to register where she was. She felt her cheek rub against the sleeve of the man's coat, causing her to look up slightly. She quickly woke up, straightening herself and scrambling a couple feet from Swaine. "Agh," she yelped. She punched the man she had accidentally used as a pillow.

"Ouch! Hey! What was that for," the thief snapped, instantly wide awake and rubbing his arm.

"For letting me lean on you like that!" She scowled at him.

The thief looked at her, though his focus was on what had exactly happened. He stayed silent for a moment.

"Honestly… I don't remember even turning in for the night, Esther. Do you," he wisely asked, having put the pieces together. Honestly, he thought. I have more of a thing for the ground than anyone here, considering that's where everyone usually sleeps. The hell, Esther?

The girl thought for a moment herself. She realized she didn't. "…Yeah… Sorry for jumping to such a silly conclusion, Swaine," She apologized to the rugged mess of a man who still held his arm. He looked back at the boy by now, blearily taking in an explanation of the day's plans.

"Oi, we better get goin'! Sun's already up," the fairy shouted at the group. All in agreement, they packed up camp and prepared to be whisked away by a purple dragon.

Oliver sounded the horn. As they waited, Esther nudged Swaine gently. "Hey."

"Hmm," he nonchalantly responded, not bothering to look at her.

"Thanks for the chat." It was kind of funny, in a way. She felt as if he had helped her more than she helped him.

Tengri landed in front of them and they were off, flying where the wind would take them on their adventure to save the world.

~.~.~

A/N:

Tried to keep it platonic with some fluffy humor at the end. I actually don't pair those two together. Really. They really do come off as siblings that bicker more than anything to me. We need more platonic Swaine and Esther fics where they just talk or do stuff together as friends. I feel that's kind of lacking in the fanbase.

Fun fact, I actually wrote part of this staying over at a friend's place. We stayed up late and talked about stuff. She even showed me this cool comic she found! I find it funny: I think it affected how I approached this one-shot in a positive manner. Like the part where Swaine lays back on the ground while he's sitting next to Esther? Yeah. I did that a couple of times while sitting on her bed with my laptop in my lap. I took small little breaks when I found it hard to come up with reasonable reactions between these two- that's when we chatted and had fun.

In any case. Please, do review. I'd love to hear your thoughts!

[ec-sanderssides]

Soooo,,, (I'm very sorry if my random prompts/ideas are annoying lol) But could you do a jealous/pining!logic or anxiety where the other three are dating already and logic/anxiety is severely jealous. It slowly builds up until one day, maybe when filming a video(?), the others start flirting/kissing each other and logic/anxiety *has/had to leave the room*. The others come investigate why logic/anxiety left so suddenly and you can decide where to go from there(?) I hope you have fun with (1)

This prompt if you decide to do it! Have a great day!!! 💗 (2) ~ Rose Anon

Well this sure got long. Sorry this took a while. Also! You never annoy me! I love your prompts, it makes my day to see them in my inbox. Anyway, hope you like this. It was a hard choice but I eventually chose Anxiety, since I already did a fic where Logic is the one insecure about their relationship.

He was fine. Really.

He had just wanted to be alone that was all. Nothing else. He was completely fine, everything fucking perfect. He was lying on his bed blasting music because he wanted to. There was no other reason. At all.

……

He was so fucked.

Three weeks earlier.

When Morality called him into the common area, Anxiety didn’t think much of it. The eldest side frequently tried to coax him out for “bonding time,” so Anxiety figured this was just another attempt to make him socialize.

But when he got to the room, the other three were sitting on the couches looking unexpectedly nervous. Anxiety slowed at that, his eyes flicking between the three of them.

“What’s going on?” he asked, part of him wanting to back out and run.

“Ah, well, we, that is the three of us, just wanted to tell you something, um, that we, uh, thought you should know.” Morality bumbled out, unusually flustered.

“Okaaay,” Anxiety drawled out, his tone not portraying his rising heart rate. “Is this something I should be worried about?”

“Oh, no!” Morality replied hastily. “Nothing bad! It’s just, ah-“

“New,” Logic cut in, “and very different. It will likely bring some changes to the mindscape, so we thought you should be informed. Also you are our friend, and culturally it is important for friends to be told of such things.”

Anxiety’s brow furrowed. What the heck was going on?

“Can I get a translation of that?” he said.

“We’re dating!” Prince blurted out, his entire body bouncing with excitement as he turned to beam at his apparent boyfriends.

Anxiety blinked. Well that was definitely different.

“Um, congrats?” he said slowly. “So when did this happen?”

“We got together a week ago,” Morality beamed. “Sorry we didn’t tell you earlier, it was just so new! We just wanted to take some time to settle into it first.”

“Don’t, don’t worry about it” Anxiety mumbled, one hand going to rub the back of his head. “So is that all? Can I go now?”

“You can, but you’re also welcome to stay and watch a film with us” Logic replied. “We were about to watch A Dog’s Purpose. Patton requested it.” He then turned towards Morality, his normally neutral expressions softening into a smile. Anxiety had never seen Logic look like that before.

“That’s okay,“ he replied, “I don’t want to interrupt your date night or anything like that. You guys have fun.”

With that he ducked out of the room. He wasn’t sure why, but he felt a little sick to his stomach. He really was happy for them. Sure, hearing that the three of them and gotten together had surprised him, but the more he thought about it, the more it made sense. And they definitely seemed to make each other happy which was good. So why did he feel so weird?

Deciding it didn’t really matter, Anxiety decided to mess around on his laptop for a bit. Whatever he was feeling, it would probably be cured by a few hours of scrolling through Tumblr.

Two weeks ago.

Anxiety had decided to leave his room voluntarily for once. He’d been feeling restless lately, and he was hoping that a quick snack trip would calm his jitters. What he didn’t expect was to walk into the kitchen and see Morality pressed up against the counter with Prince kissing the life out of him, as Logic stood just a mere foot away, his eyes dark as he watched them.

He must have made some kind of sound in his surprise, as the two abruptly broke the kiss and turned to stare at him. Feeling flushed, and sure that his face was redder than firetruck, he cleared his throat and made a few awkward gestures, as he began to back out of the room.

“I-I’m just gonna, you know, g-go. Now. Sorry.” he stuttered out, sure that he was only making the situation more awkward.

Much to his horror though, before he could flee the room in shame. Morality moved away from Prince and towards him.

“No, no, it’s okay,” he giggled. “Not your fault. We should have known better. Did you come in here to get something?”

“I’m okay,’ Anxiety replied quickly, his voice sounding a bit higher pitched that it normally was. “Really, I’m just going to leave. You can just get back to wh-what you were, yeah, I’m just gonna go.”

With that he all but raced from the room, hands going up to try and cool down his flushed cheeks. He was never leaving his room again, ever. God, he couldn’t believe he had walked in on them.

It was kind of hot though, a voice inside his head murmured.

Yeah, it was, he thought. Then, wait….

Oh no.

Nope, nope nope! He thought furiously. We are not going there! We are erasing that thought forever and ever. Nope. Done.

As soon as he reached his room, Anxiety locked the door behind him. He needed to distract himself. Anything to move on from what had just happened. He just needed to stop thinking about it, that was all. It had been a weird day and clearly stress was starting to get to him. He’d be back to normal by tomorrow.

Refusing to dwell any further on the event or his thoughts on it, Anxiety turned to Netflix. He still needed to catch up on Voltron.

One week ago.

Anxiety hunched in on himself, as he pushed his food around on his plate. Ever since the incident of the week before, he’d been trying to avoid leaving his room as much as possible. But eventually Prince had come to drag him out, insisting that even Disney villains needed to eat, and that Logic and Morality had not only made beef stew, but also some homemade bread.

So here he was, sitting at dinner table trying to force himself to eat. It wasn’t that the food wasn’t good. It smelled delicious, but he just didn’t feel hungry.

At the sound of laughter, he flicked his eyes up to see Morality giving Logic butterfly kisses, making him squirm in his seat slightly, as Prince looked on and laughed.

Anxiety felt a pang in his stomach. He’d never seen a bunch of idiots so in love. He knew he should be happy for them, but he just couldn’t seem to muster up the emotions.

He moodily turned his gaze back to his stew. Stabbing a potato with his fork, he stared at it heavily, trying to make himself actually eat it. He needed to get over himself. Whatever this weird mood he’d gotten into, it needed to end.

But as more laughter rang out, Anxiety knew that staying here wouldn’t help. Dropping his napkin over his plate to carefully conceal just how little he had actually eaten, he stood up.

“Going to go back to my room and nap” he muttered, keeping his head down so he wouldn’t have to watch the reactions of the others. Still keeping his gaze downward, he stumbled out of the kitchen.

He could hear some murmuring behind him. They were probably wondering what was wrong with him. Well joke’s on them, he only wished he knew.

Earlier that day.

Thomas had summoned them for another video. Anxiety hadn’t wanted to come out, but Thomas summoned him directly, leaving him no choice. He actually wasn’t sure what it was supposed to be about though, as Prince had managed to derail the whole thing when he told Thomas about the new relationship.

Now the video seemed entirely focused on those three, as they happily recounted how it happened.

“I had been feeling strongly about them for some time now” Prince boomed out. “but I was unsure of how to confess my feelings. I was still contemplating what to do when the three of us had a movie night. Logan had gotten up to get more popcorn, when he tripped and landed in my lap. And, well, with him so close, I couldn’t help but to reach out and kiss him.”

“It was very sweet to watch,” Morality continued the story. “But I remember feeling a bit disappointed, and I’d planned to leave the room, when they grabbed my hands.”

“The kiss was a surprise” Logic said, “A good one though. And when Patton went to leave, I received another surprise when I realized I didn’t want to let him go. I startled myself actually. But thankfully, Roman had also reached out to him, so I knew this wasn’t a feeling I was alone in.”

“Yes,” Prince agreed. “So the two of us pulled Patton closer, and we, well, we talked and we kissed, and it all just turned out wonderfully!”

Anxiety’s fists clenched. It wasn’t fair. They were so perfect, and happy together, the three of them fitting like puzzle pieces. And here he was alone, and out of place. Why was he even here? He didn’t need to stay here, awkward and unnecessary, feeling sick and stupid as he looked at perfection, wishing that he could be part of it too- oh.

Oh shit!

He had to leave. Now.

Not even bothering to make and excuse, he sank down immediately, popping into his room. His heart pounding and his head spinning, as he turned up his music as loud as it would go.

But lying on his bed, staring up at the ceiling in desperation, not even the loudest music he had could drown out his realization. He was in love with the others.

He was so very, very fucked.

After about an hour of listening to music. Anxiety had calmed down slightly. Okay, so he was in love with them. Yes, that sucked. Yes, he was going to be miserably jealous. But, the others didn’t know, and he spent most of his time in his room anyway, so he could just hide. Hide until the feeling went away.

Deep down, Anxiety knew this wouldn’t work, but he had to try. It wasn’t like there was really another option. He was never going to get what he wanted, and if he threw a fit about it, he’d just cost himself their friendship. No, it was better to keep quiet and hidden till he had himself under control

But just after resigning himself to weeks of misery, there was a knock on the door.

Anxiety froze. Oh no. Oh, no, no, no, no. He wasn’t ready to see them!

Maybe if I don’t respond they’ll go away, he thought desperately.

But even that hope was crushed by Prince calling out “Anxiety, we know you’re in there.”

Okay, you can do this, he thought as he shuffled towards the door. I’ll just tell them I wasn’t feeling well and that I’m going to try and sleep it off. That will hopefully get them to back off and get out of the room.

Palms sweating, he reluctantly opened the door to see the three of the standing there, looking at him with varying degrees of concern.

“Hey,” he muttered, “what’s up?”

“Shouldn’t we be asking you that?” Prince said, raising an eyebrow. “You’re the one who vanished for no reason, Mr. Panic! at the Video.”

Ignoring the nickname, Anxiety mumbled in reply, “Just wasn’t feeling well”

A hand was then pressed to his forehead. “Oh, are you alright” Morality asked, concern bubbling out. “You do look a little flushed.”

Anxiety shied away from the hand. “It’s nothing,” he insisted, still refusing to meet their eyes. “I’m just going to sleep it off. I’ll be better in the morning.”

With that, he went to close the door, hoping to end this whole encounter before he could put himself through any more pain or humiliation. But Logic’s hand stopped him.

“Are you sure that’s the full truth?” he asked, his eyes intense in a way that made Anxiety suppress a shiver. “This isn’t the first incident of odd behavior. You’ve been acting strangely for weeks now. Even since we announced our relationship in fact.”

Anxiety froze. Well, shit.

Prince’s eyes narrowed. “Is that what this is?” he demanded, his voice now more angry than concerned. “Do you have a problem with the three of us being together?”

“No!” Anxiety blurted out horrified. He couldn’t have them think that! Desperate to keep them from hating him, he started babbling.

“No, I don’t have a problem with it! You guys are fantastic together. You make each other so fucking happy, and it’s great. I’m happy for you, really. And I hope that you stay happy, I swear. Please believe me, I don’t have a problem with it. And I’m so sorry I’ve been acting weird. You guys are just so fucking perfect, and I just wish-“

Anxiety cut himself off before he could blurt out anything else. His face now burning, he ducked his head, praying that the others weren’t mad.

When he dared to peek up at them trying to judge their reaction, Morality was looking thoughtful.

“Anxiety,” he said slowly, moving closer. “Stop me if you aren’t okay with this.”

Okay with what? Anxiety wondered bewildered, but before he could ask, his face was cupped, and Morality was getting closer, and closer, and then.

He was kissing him. Morality was kissing him.

Anxiety flailed a bit, his hands rising into the air uncertainly. He didn’t know what to do. Part of him desperately wanted to lean into it, but the other part of him was terrified of what might happen afterwards.

When Morality broke the kiss, his thumbs still stroking Anxiety’s cheeks, Anxiety could only gasp up at him, all his words just out of reach.

Eventually he managed to speak.

“W-w-what was that” he stuttered, eyes darting nervously to the other two, who were still watching. (Were they mad?)

“I-I don’t understand,” he continued, trying to make sense of it all.

“Really, you can’t figure it out,” Prince purred, moving closer. Oh god, he was right next to him now. His hand came up to rest on the back of Anxiety’s neck. “You can’t even guess.”

Much to his mortification, Anxiety could only squeak in response. At the sound of it, a smirk crossed Prince’s face, and the hand on Anxiety’s neck tightened, pulling him closer, and Prince was right there! And-

Anxiety abruptly pulled out of Prince’s grasp, his heart feeling like it was going to burst from his chest.

“What the hell is going on?” he demanded, caught halfway between fury and fear. “Is this some kind of joke?”

Prince straightened up from where he had been leaning over Anxiety, looking indignant, but it was Logic who spoke.

“Why would this be a joke?” he asked frowning.

Anxiety let a bitter laugh escape his lips. “Really?” he spat out. “You think I’m that stupid? Look I know I’ve been acting like an idiot recently, but that doesn’t mean I’m that stupid. Why the hell would any of you ever be interested in me? Why would anyone?”

Not wanting to see the moment when they came clean and let pretense fall, he turned away. “You can just go,” he called out over his shoulder. “I don’t fucking need this.”

But then hands were grabbing him, pulling him back towards the door. He struggled, trying to escape, but they were too strong, and soon he was wrapped in Prince’s embrace with Logic and Morality standing in front of him.

Giving up on breaking Prince’s hold, Anxiety dropped his eyes instead, wishing that they’d just let him go. But soon even that reprieve was taken from him, as Logic lifted his chin.

“Anxiety,” he said firmly. “We need to establish something. If you do not wish to enter a relationship with us because you are uninterested, that is fine. Simply tell us so and we will leave.”

“However,” here his gaze turned steely, and Anxiety’s breath caught in his chest. “If you are refusing us because you are laboring under the impression that it is us who is uninterested, or that you do not deserve to be part of such a relationship, that is entirely untrue, and such assumptions would need to be corrected immediately. Do you understand?”

Anxiety respond. He just couldn’t. It was too much to process, Logan’s words, Roman’s arms, the way Patton had begun to lean up against him. He didn’t know what to do!

His distress must have shown on his face because Logan’s eyes softened in intensity, as he stepped closer.

“Anxiety,” he said gently. “We like you. We’ve wanted you to join our relationship for some time now. The only question is, do you like us back.”

Still struggling to breath, Anxiety licked his lips and tried to muster a response, but no sound emerged. Logan’s hand came up to cradle his head. “Just nod yes or no,” he told him.

Head still reeling with everything that had happened, Anxiety did the only thing he could. He nodded.

Logan lips slid into smile, and then suddenly those lips were on his, moving gently against them.

Anxiety let his eyes slip shut, as he melted into the kiss. This- this was really happening.

Then the moment was broken, as he was spun around in Roman’s arms to gaze up at the other side. “I didn’t get to kiss your pretty lips earlier,” Roman murmured, looking at Anxiety in a way that made him squirm.

And then Roman’s arms tightened, and they were kissing, Roman’s lips pressing hot and intently against his. As the kiss went on, Roman pulled Anxiety’s lower lip into his mouth, biting on it slightly, making Anxiety gasp, with Roman taking the opportunity to deepen the kiss.

When he was finally released, his head swimming, Anxiety barely had time to breath before he was turned yet again to face Patton, who began to press kisses to every inch of his face. Not just his lips, but his cheeks, his nose, his forehead. It was overwhelming.

A hand slid into his hair and tipped his head back as Patton moved to his neck, making Anxiety meet Logan’s eyes.

“Think you understand now?” the other teased, his eyes glittering.

Head still spinning, Anxiety could only pant in response. But Logan’s smirk said he understood. And judging by his chuckle, so did Roman.

Logan leaned in again, making Anxiety’s eyes flutter shut.

“We are never going to let you go,” he murmured against Anxiety’s lips. “You’re stuck with us.”

Anxiety was okay with that.

[3ezentrum3-blog]

Would You Listen to Your Doctor If He Said to You "I'm Sorry, But You're Beyond Cure So Give Up?"

That is the end result for me and I wasn't prepared to simply rests and surrender.

I'm a disease survivor. My name is Michael Mihalcic and It's been a long time since I recuperated from disease. I'm still here to recount my account of expectation, assurance and valor - the mettle I never knew I had until the point when I got disease.

I battled lymphoma and against the chances, beat disease when my specialists had abandoned restorative treatment.

I'll impart my story to you.

I've generally trusted your contemplations constantly go before your activities. I've additionally perused that you draw in things toward you, great and awful, just by the intensity of your contemplations. At that point it's nothing unexpected that I pulled in lymphoma disease into my life. I was always considering and (facetiously) saying "I wager I have leukemia or something". All things considered, I was entirely damn close, would i say i wasn't?

I share my story - not to awe you - but rather to urge you that even after impossible chances; you also can recoup from tumor and recover your life to typical.

I'll impart to you the indispensable advances I used to do only that. My conviction is that in the event that you have the capacity, at that point you have the obligation to impart your data to others. Furthermore, to have any kind of effect to other individuals' lives.

5 physical checkups later....

So here's my story - everything started with a unimportant and extremely irritating hack. This is what happened. I thought I grabbed an infection - thus did my GP, at first. In any case, after the fifth visit back to my GP with that bothering hack, my GP proposed we run more tests.

A x-beam uncovered a huge mass arranged between my heart and lungs. The mass was contacting my throat - that is what was causing the irritating hack!

Instantly worried by the mass he found, my GP requested a biopsy. Slicing through my rib confine, specialists found I had a dangerous development. Unfit to work because of the nearness to my heart and lungs, a course of chemotherapy took after by radiation treatment was recommended.

Give The Body A chance to recuperate Itself!

About part of the way through the chemotherapy treatment I built up a perilously high and hazardous temperature. Hurried to healing facility, we found that my resistant framework was essentially shot, exhausted, wiped out!

Inside two days the Director of Intensive Care suggested that I be put in a prompted comma. He stated, "We have to give the body a chance to mend itself". What he implied was - stop the strolling, talking, assimilation, everything - every real procedure. With the goal that the body could redirect all vitality into recuperating. Quit everything other than breathing and mending!

Little did I or my family realize that I'd be in a state of unconsciousness for two weeks.

Amid this time I had two close demise encounters.

Through The Tunnel of White Light

Experiencing a passage of white light, I had this unbelievable sentiment of euphoria. No more torment. No more stresses. Only a sentiment of unadulterated delight and bliss. I was free. Be that as it may, where was I?

Toward the finish of the passage of white light I saw two ways. One way was weighed down with roses and the other loaded down with thistles. Clearly I picked the appeal of the sweet noticing roses. Once on this way, out of the blue I was dreadful that I may have picked the wrong way... was this the way to salvation or to limbo?

I was welcomed by Saint Peter at the Pearly Gates (which I assume takes after my religious convictions). I was informed that I had two options. The decision was basic - stay and be given a mystery, or return and finish your life's excursion.

Mystery? What secret????? Mmmm. I was revealed that the mystery was "a similar mystery that was imparted inside every single one of us during childbirth"

What's more, what precisely was that mystery?

I don't have the foggiest idea! I can't let you know. Gee golly. I returned and finish my trip. What's more, they didn't reveal to me the mystery!

Before my returning through the passage, I saw a huge screen show up before me. My entire life flashed before me on that wide screen - incorporating past, show - and future.

At that point I returned through the passage of white light and ecstasy where I reconnected with my body. Be that as it may, I had no clue where I was.

I Knew I'd Be Lead To The Information I Needed To Survive Cancer

Following my close demise encounters I knew I'd survive disease. I had an incomplete trip that I finished. I returned. I knew I'd find and take in the aptitudes I'd have to conquer malignancy. In any case, I'm bouncing ahead...

Reconnecting with the body turned out to be somewhat troublesome. As I was contacted by that flashing, widely inclusive, brilliant, upbeat euphoria, I thought that it was extremely hard to give up and overlook.

When I stirred I ended up in the best trial of my life. I was as yet not completely mindful of the end result for me. You see after the trance state I was intensely calmed for the following week, so my psyche was in an overwhelming mist - every one of those medications!

Following three weeks in a state of insensibility and substantial sedation, I lost the utilization of my muscles. Solid myopathy was the outcome. My muscles had lost the capacity to work. Whatever I could do was move my pointer. Furthermore, with awesome trouble, move my neck from side to side. There was a wrap reducing of my neck which was holding a tracheotomy tube.

After The Coma I Was 99% Incapacitated

When I got up from the extreme lethargies and recovered my faculties I discovered I was 99% crippled.

My test had started.

Reviewing my inward quality and direction, I set out on a trip of recuperation to energetic wellbeing and found various imperative keys to wellbeing and prosperity en route.

The indispensable keys I found consolidate the psychological, physical, enthusiastic and otherworldly parts of genuine wellbeing. I'll impart to you the imperative keys I found. The reason for tumor can't just be credited to one factor. What's more, in this way, neither can the fix.

The Vital Keys To Recovery

The crucial keys are:

Mental - It's critical to have the right outlook most importantly. I unequivocally trust that your musings represent your result. That is on the grounds that your musings affect your emotions or your activities and these thus inspire you or not to act in certain ways, these can be great or awful.

So on the off chance that you have negative contemplations these will lead you to negative emotions and activities and you'll get negative outcomes... You'll review my negative contemplations about tumor above?

Enthusiastic - Suppressed sentiments of outrage, dissatisfaction, unworthiness, and blame and so on, these add to pressure and awkwardness in the body and in this way put weight on your invulnerable framework.

Research proposes that by not managing successfully with your feelings contribute to a great extent to ailment inside the body. Louise Hay a prominent creator and proprietor of Hay House Publications, unequivocally trusts in the mind body association and that specific feelings can cause tumors and other ailment.

Physical - It is indispensable for disease sufferers to detox the body. This implies you have to dispose of all the harmful substances coursing through your body. These poisons trade off your insusceptible framework. The vitality that could be utilized to mend and scrub your body is occupied somewhere else and puts a huge strain on your invulnerable framework.

Next, you have to bolster your body for ideal insusceptibility. So you have to eat nourishments that mend your body and not hurt it. You have to eat nourishments that "starve" your disease. Ultimately you have to supercharge your body against malady. This alludes to devouring certain nourishments and supplements that are high strength sustenance.

Otherworldly - Spirituality is one of the keys I found. As I specified before I have reconnected with my otherworldly side.

Following my experience many individuals have asked me what I did to recuperate from tumor. I genuinely trust that there is no convenient solution here or an enchantment pill that will take out tumor until the end of time.

I do trust that an all encompassing methodology - mental, profound, physical and enthusiastic is the response to disease recuperation. It's no mishap that I survived tumor as well as have had no re-events of growth since. Trust me when I say it's no mischance.

I'm a disease survivor since I declined to surrender when my specialists came up short on options. I discovered characteristic choices that changed my life and I have never thought back. What's more, that is the reason I'm ready to impart my tumor story to you now. The regular options worked for me!

Michael Mihalcic is a disease survivor, persevering through a state of insensibility and close demise encounters. Michael and his significant other, Barbara King, put over the most recent 10+ years looking into elective wellbeing. Visit [http://www.LymphomaAdvice.com/articles] to peruse about how Michael beat tumor and how you can too with the 6 stage recipe.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/master/Michael_Mihalcic/266254

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2642868

[etlunainmorte]

🖤 I See My Future Before Me 🖤

***

She managed to acquire it for a very low and reasonable price. After all, who would use an old record now, especially with the booming technological culture that was steadily becoming popular with the younger generation?

She placed the delicate thing on her glass top table and took a good long look at it. Dante would pick her up any minute now, and she must definitely get ready for the mission ahead ( this time, a couple of magic - wielding higher Demons ).

However, for some strange reason, she couldn't shake the urge that she must play at least one song with it.

With that in mind, and her strong belief in intuition ( not to mention Cassandra's constant meddling ), she picked up the vinyl record she bought along with the old instrument and proceeded to the task. And with a little help from an almost useless and age - old manual ( its pages were yellow and crumbling at the edges ) that came with the merchandise, she finally managed to play the song. She took a few steps away from the table and allowed the sweet, old music to soothe and calm her senses.

She closed her eyes, letting the melody sink in,...

... when a vision suddenly flashed through her mind.

She opened her eyes once more, unable to believe her wicked sense of premonition ( or Cassandra's ) and allowed the vision to take over her entire mind.

And in that vision, she saw herself dancing the waltz with someone - a tall man clad completely in black. They were dancing to the same music that she was listening to, in the middle of the summer night, on a beautiful, Grecian balcony, below the starry, evening sky, the full moon shining above them.

It was,... simply perfect,...

But, who was that man?

The vision ended as soon as she opened her eyes.

However, something near the window startled her. She took a good long look at it as it slowly materialized, and right then and there, she saw him - the man she was dancing with in that vision,...

It's him! The man she's been searching for for such a long time.

The man,... with the white hair,...

And he was there, standing a few feet away from her, giving her a confused, and yet longing, look, as if he was also seeing her, himself.

She cautiously went closer to him and observed how his eyes followed her movements. She knew perfectly well that he was just a vision. Of the past or future? That she was not certain.

All she knew was that he was holding out his hands in front of her in a clear gesture that successfully conveyed his desire to dance with her,...

***

XXVIII

***

"Here." Nico mumbled sleepily as she handed V a mug of warm chocolate. He thanked the woman as he took it from her hands. He was about to take a sip when he noticed the woman giving him a suspicious look. She pointed two fingers at him and said, "Eh, so you're really Vergil, huh? Dante's twin brother?”

The man smirked as he finally took a sip of the warm chocolate, its enticing scent calming his tired and restless senses. He pursed his lips as he glanced at the calm and serene evening atmosphere from the balcony of (Y/N)'s unit.

"I was." He answered, his eyes darting from one cheerfully lit house to another. Some of the residents have already made their way back to their homes after the Dreadnought incident, and things were slowly going back to its normal and boring pace.

Nico almost choked on her chocolate when she heard V's answer. She chuckled as she took a good long, and thorough look at Vergil’s form from head to foot. "You,... were?" She chuckled.

V smirked once more as he looked at her. "It's the truth."

"I don't understand. How can you not be Vergil right now? I mean, come on, Sir Changes – A - Lot!"

The man chuckled as he helplessly shook his head. He held out a single hand as little orbs of light radiated from it. The almost translucent orbs, then, spread out from his hand to his arm, then from his torso to his other arm. The orbs reached his entire body as the curious little lights morphed him back to the V that Nico was used to seeing - black leather vest, tooth necklace, a pair of unflattering black sandals, and all.

"This,... is merely an illusion.” V explained. “I could never become whole again. It is,... completely impossible. Even with the powers of the Sisters Of Fate."

"Your hair,..." Nico mused as she pointed at V's snowy white hair. "It's not turning back to black." She, then, pointed at his skin. "And your tattoos are barely even there!"

"This is how I look like before all this,... began. This,... is the real me."

"Wow. And I thought (Y/N) was the only one who can change looks,..."

At the mere sound of her name, V's heart skipped a beat and his breath clearly hitched. The girl was sleeping in her room, unconscious since the whole battle with Pandemonium ended. He promised her sister that he would take care of him, and Galatea left her body as soon as she was done healing her.

But, then, somehow, he knew deep within his tainted heart that she would never be fully healed.

Would she,... ?

His question came out like a soft breeze that was almost missed by the Artisan. She stopped sipping her chocolate and glanced back at V, seeing the man leaning on the railing and clearly looking uncomfortable.

"Sorry?"

V looked at her eyes and repeated his question. "Would she find it in her heart to forgive me? After everything I've done to her?"

"Oh, that." Nico came closer towards the man and patted him a bit forcefully on the shoulder. "Dontcha worry a thing 'bout that! She'll forgive ya and yer pretty, lil' skinny ass. Believe me.”

V chuckled at her crude humor and sighed.

"You don't have,... any idea what I did to her back in that demonic ship,..."

"I know. You killed her. Well, almost."

V's eyes widened as he straightened up and looked at her. "How did you - ?!"

"Found out? Oh, she knew 'bout that. She told me herself."

Oh, it must be Cassandra, V thought as he leaned against the railing once more. "Of course."

"But, hey, she's still alive, right? And you're fine! At least, you didn't turn evil or somethin' and caused the world's destruction."

At those ridiculously accurate words, V bowed his head down low, trying to conceal his face until he could no longer endure the emotions. With trembling shoulders and teary eyes, he threw his head back, his low and evil - sounding laughter ripping out of his throat and scaring the hell out of Nico.

"Hahaha! YOU make me laugh,..."

The woman raised an eyebrow. "O,... kay?"

"You have no idea,... how messed up I've become. I failed her. I failed miserably. I'm only here because, apparently, Galatea still thinks I'm worthy. After,... everything I did to her."

"Hey, we all make mistakes." V smiled at her. "I will tell you,... the story of my insanity,..."

With wide, doubtful eyes, Nico patiently listened as V recounted to her the events that took place in the Dreadnought, from the moment he stabbed (Y/N) up to the point where Fleminger stabbed him, taking the Sisters away from him and letting Pandemonium kill everyone.

"Wait, wait, wait,..." Nico blabbered as she pushed the frame of her red - rimmed glasses to her nose bridge. "So, you're sayin' that,... everyone,... died?"

"Yes."

"Hooee! Well, I'm sure glad that Galatea brought you back. I wonder how I died back there?"

As Nico went on blabbering about how she could possibly die in that far off alternate universe, V suddenly saw,...

... a spectral - looking hand reaching up at the railing of the balcony just behind her. V was definitely not one to get frightened of ghosts but, the vision did startle him. He focused his gaze into it as the creature climbed up the balcony as effortlessly as it could.

It was (Y/N), and she was, somehow, strangely barefoot. Her pants looked like they were burnt from the knee down, and her movements were as light as possible. She tiptoed her way to the window when she suddenly heard some voices inside.

So, did V.

“ ... they even mentioned some famous and obscure names in the Devil Hunting business who got the invitation. And let me mention this - Dante also received one."

Her eyes widened at whatever she saw inside and she couldn't prevent herself from letting out a yelping sound.

“Someone’s listening!”

She covered her mouth and stepped away from the window.

“Looks like we have an,… unwanted visitor.” Then, he heard it. That voice. It was him. He could remember everything: this was from that time when he first arrived at this place.

So, it was true: someone really was outside that time. And it was none other than her,...

“Best to make it at home - ” He heard himself speak once more.

“Guys, guys! Stop! What did I say about making a mess?!”

“Hey, hey! There’s an intruder right - AHH!” A very loud and obnoxious noise was heard from the inside, like someone, or something, was just thrown to the other side of the room.

“To not make any?”

“Exactly! That’s just the - ah - neighbor’s cat!”

“That,… does not sound like a feline, at least to my ears.”

“Okay, okay, guys! Trust me and put your weapons down. Thank you! Now, as I was saying, we must go to this event and find out what this, Wrath of The Gods, is!”

“We cannot go shorthanded. If we take the riddle in a very literal sense, then,… we would not have enough strength. We would be dealing with the Wrath of The Gods,… after all.”

While listening to the conversation inside, he saw (Y/N) as she tiptoed her way back closer to the window, lovingly gazing at something inside. Her eyes widened, then returned to normal once more. She raised an arm and wiped the tears that started coming out of her eyes with the sleeves of her pale pink hoodie.

She was crying, and yet,...

... she looked clearly happy at what she saw. Like she finally found something she has been searching for after so long.

Like, she was deeply longing to see whatever that was,...

And this made V's heart twitch in unbelievable pain.

He,... knew who she was looking at. He knew,...

... who she was longing to meet,...

“That’s where I come in! Nero, how’s the breaker coming along?”

“It’s fine, sure.”

“Oh, yeah? Then, I’ll be making new ones.”

“Isn’t this enough?”

“No! And, you! You seem interested in all this, yes?”

“As a matter of fact, I ‘am."

“Then, go get your own formal wear! I can’t provide you with one. I’m an Artisan, not a freaking, fancy tailor!”

“Wait, like, right now?”

“Duh?! Are you, like, gonna wait till Saturday for that? Go, go, GO!”

She cautiously took a few steps away from the window once more.

“Hey, hey, if you’re looking for some chicks, then you’re in the wrong place! Get moving!”

There were more sounds, and when they finally subsided, the window violently opened and she finally entered the threshold of her own home.

“Are you crazy?! Why would you be hiding there? This is your home, for crying out loud! Are you a thief, or something?!”

“It’s him, Nico.”

“I’m sorry, what?”

“It’s him! The man with the violin in my visions!”

“Who?!”

“The one with the markings on his skin!”

“The mysterious man? Are you sure about that?”

“It. Is. HIM!”

"¿Por qué estas descalza?" V heard a distinctively different voice of that of a little girl.

He closed his eyes at the sudden change, and when he opened them once more, he was suddenly transported to a sunny, suburban place. A little girl with dark pigtails was staring at him, her hands on her hips like a wife who was angry at her husband for coming home late and drunk.

He realized she was not directly looking at him, and this made him turn around. And to his surprise, he saw (Y/N). And just like in his vision a while ago, she was barefoot, and her pants looked burnt from the knee down.

(Y/N) opened her mouth to answer but, then, she realized she can't speak the little girl's language. This made the smaller girl smile.

"¡Ven conmigo! Te llevaré a nuestra casa." The girl excitedly said as she practically went through V like he was a ghost and grabbed (Y/N)'s hand.

V followed the two as the little girl led (Y/N) to one of the charming little two - story houses on the left. The little girl opened the door and let (Y/N) in.

"¡Madre!" The girl called. "¡Madre!"

"¿Alicia?"

A woman in her mid - fifties came out from the kitchen, wiping her hands with an orange towel.

"¿Hija?" The mother's eyes widened as she abandoned her towel, practically throwing it to the side as she made her way to the two girls. "¡Que chica tan linda! ¿Es tu amiga?"

The little girl laughed and shook her head, making (Y/N) a bit surprised and culture - shocked. "Ella no habla Español. No te preocupes, yo me encargo." The girl turned to (Y/N) and pointed at herself, then her mother. "My name is Alicia. This is my mother, Maria. I go to English class every Saturday."

"Oh, that's nice." (Y/N) answered as she received a pair of slippers from the little girl. "Thanks."

"She said you're pretty."

A faint rosy tint crept up (Y/N)'s cheeks. She looked at the smiling older woman and nodded. "I, ah, thank you."

Maria nodded, understanding the words she just said.

"What are you doing outside with no shoes?" The little girl asked her as she pulled her towards the living room.

"Umm, you see, ah,..." (Y/N) muttered as she sat down on the maroon sofa. "I was, ahh, looking for someone. A white haired man who plays the violin. I've seen him pass here. Have you, umm, seen him?"

White haired man who plays the violin?

He had been here?!

Alicia turned to his mom. "Ella pregunta si hemos visto a un hombre de cabello blanco por aquí, dice que toca el violin."

Maria frowned and shook her head. “No, lo siento mucho. Pero podemos avisarte si lo llegamos a ver."

"She said no. But, we will tell you when we see him."

(Y/N)'s face showed a clearly disappointed expression. But, despite this, she still sincerely smiled and nodded. "Thank you so much."

Alicia nudged her on the elbow to help her relax. "No hay problema." She answered with a smile. "That means no problem."

"I can't believe how fast you've grown!"

V heard another voice from the hallway. He went there and saw, in shock, the same little girl,...

... except that she was now the same height as (Y/N). Her hair was no longer in pigtails. Instead, she was wearing it down. And her fashion sense seemed to have changed, as well.

"I'm a teenager now!" And clearly, she was better in English. "And it seems that you haven't aged a bit since I last saw you!"

It was true. For some reason, (Y/N) still looked the same.

How many years has passed since she first met Alicia?

"So, have you seen him?"

"Oh, that man? I think mom has!"

"Really?"

"Yeah!" Alicia grabbed her hand and led her to the living room like what she did the first time they met. "Madre, (Y/N) is here!"

The woman, whose dark brown hair has clearly turned gray, looked up from her stitch work and stood, meeting the girls halfway and kissing the both of them on their forehead. V noticed that she now walked with a slight limp.

"It has been a long, long time, Miss (Y/N)!" Maria told her in straight English, grabbing her hands and squeezing them.

"Mom studied English for you." Alicia said with a proud and huge smile.

"That's really cool!"

"Mom, she’s asking whether you've seen the man she was looking for."

To this, Maria's face suddenly fell, a frown now gracing her warm and gentle features. She only shook her head and went back to her stitch work. And without saying another word, she sat down and went on with her work like nothing even happened.

"Oh, don't mind her. She's just like that at times. But, she's not mad at you, don't worry!" Alicia whispered.

(Y/N), who was clearly alarmed at the sudden change in Maria's demeanor, couldn't help but nod as she tried to hide her worry.

"It's okay."

"You haven't given up?"

V heard Alicia's frantic voice on the hallway once more. He immediately went there and saw her,...

... clad completely in black from head to foot. She clearly looked a bit older, and she was not dragging (Y/N) around like how she used to when she was younger.

And (Y/N)?

"You still haven't changed?" Alicia questioned her with raised eyebrows.

"Where's Maria?"

Something in her question triggered something in Alicia. And it unnerved both (Y/N) and V.

"Get out."

"Sorry?"

"I said, GET OUT!" Alicia screamed as she pushed (Y/N) out of the house.

"Alicia, what happened?!"

"GO AWAY!" The girl screamed as she shut the door close. She then ran towards the sofa, grabbed Maria's old stitch work, and cried. The handiwork was clearly half - finished but, some words were visible from it.

"El amor es paciente, el amor es amable. No envi - "

"HEY!"

V snapped back to reality as Nico snapped her fingers in front of his face.

"You alright?"

"Indeed. Yes, I' am." He answered.

Nico breathed a sigh of relief as she clutched at her chest like she was having a heart attack. "I thought I lost you back there. You know, (Y/N)'s visions were short and sweet - "

"She's been to Spain."

"Sorry?"

V looked at her and repeated his words. "It's (Y/N). I saw her. She was in Spain."

"Oh, that! So, you've seen her?" Nico answered as she went back inside, V following close behind her. "You know, she's been to many places, more than what you could imagine. She's searching ten years for you, God!"

"Ten,… years?!"

"Yeah. She comes home often, though. She's learned to channel that power of hers to her feet and legs so she could move fast and jump to high places." Nico explained as she went to one of the drawers and pulled something out from it. "So, she's never really gone for too long. But, I'm gonna tell ya this: that channeling the power to her feet thing often burned her pants."

So, that's why,...

"I don't understand." V went on as he watched Nico flip through the pages of an old album. "She was searching for ten years, but I've only been to such places for three weeks. I was,… travelling. It's what I've been doing before coming here to Red Grave."

"Really? Well, it's a long story. Let's just say that she wanted to meet you because the entity that was possessing her wanted her to fulfill some kind of a mission. Don't ask." She handed the open album to V and pointed at one of the photos. "That's them."

V's eyes widened in awe as he saw the photograph of (Y/N) and Alicia during the Spanish girl's party for her sixteenth birthday.

"Alicia. One of the people she frequently visited and stopped seeing after ten years. Said she’s starting to notice."

"Notice what?" V looked up from the album.

Nico went closer to V and whispered like she was passing on a well - guarded secret to him. "Okay, this sounds weird but, she actually came from the past."

"I know."

"Yeah, yeah! I thought at first she's just plain nuts. But, listen to this: the first thing she did after recovering was search for her family's old farm in Fortuna. V, there hasn't been a farm there since a hundred years ago! It's all concrete now, and streets.

"So, she searched for her parents and any people she could remember from her past. Some of them either died already or have grandchildren of their own. And her parents? She found out that they separated and had families of their own."

"A girl,... out of her time,..." V mused as he flipped through the pages of (Y/N)'s old album, seeing her with unknown faces.

"Exactly! She's, like, super old when you think 'bout it!" Nico went to one of the paintings and looked up at it. "And, not only that, her looks stayed the same for those ten whole years I knew her. Like, she's stuck or somethin’.”

"Galatea's stasis." V breathed.

"Sorry?"

"Nothing"

Nico frowned and raised an eyebrow at him. She went on. "She craves for things from the past. So, she started collecting antiques like this. Other than helping her cope after being plucked from when she came from, these things she have reminded her of all the places she's been. They remind her of you."

The poet looked up from the album and saw Nico picking up her keys on the glass top table. There was an old record there, similar to Fleminger's, that he hasn't taken notice of before.

Was it there the whole time?

Nico saw the confusion in V's eyes as he looked at the antique. "Oh, this? She bought this about a year ago. Thought she's gonna want to listen to old songs when she wakes up. So, I took it out. It's gonna get moldy with disuse."

The woman walked towards the door but, before she went out, she turned back to V. "I'll leave her to ya, V. Don't mess this up again." And then, just like that, she walked out of the door, leaving him alone with (Y/N).

The silence felt deafening, the darkness depressing. V nearly collapsed on the sofa as he carefully placed the album next to the record. He was about to touch it when he heard a loud tapping against the window. He turned around just in time to see Griffon and Shadow entering the unit.

"HOO! We made it." Griffon breathed a sigh of relief as he made his way towards V while carrying something broken in his hands.

"I see you found it." V carefully took the broken violin from Griffon's long fingers. It was (Y/N)'s.

"Yeah, well. Kinda got all bloody searchin’ through Dreadnought's rubble for that."

"Thank you."

"Wait!" Griffon held up two long fingers in front of V and made way for Shadow to get close to the poet.

V smirked, controlling his mirth and amusement as he looked down at the now human Shadow. After the cleansing, she has turned into a pale human girl roughly the size of a middle - schooler. Her long black hair that reached her feet was awfully unkempt, and the clothes that Lady lent her a while ago was too big for her.

She quietly looked up at him with her big red eyes and showed him a pair of stilettos.

It was (Y/N)'s. She wore it when,...

"This girl took it badly when you threw them out during your mad state, if ya can’t remember. She looked for them all over the place and kept them with her." Griffon explained as Shadow gave the shoes back to V. She turned towards her fellow familiar and gave him a strange look. She, then, turned back to V with an angry, yet adorable, look. "Oh, and she's saying that she hates ya for hurting (Y/N). And that she will never forgive ya."

"Oh, I'm,..." V grasped the shoes and looked down at them, thinking of the girl who owned them. "... forgive me."

"Well, you've been a naughty schtick! Ya should've been punished for bad behavior!" The bald Demon made a ruffling gesture that was much akin to his movements when he was still a bird and collapsed on the sofa. "So, happy with yer new powers?" he, then, asked sarcastically.

"No." The poet answered monotonously as he slumped back to the sofa just beside the familiar, the shoes still in his hands.

Griffon rolled his eyes. "Figures,..."

There was a moment of silence between the two, and during this very awkward time, Shadow took a liking to the old record on the table. She poked the thing with her tiny finger and managed to turn it on, its weird mechanism startling her and making her hair stand. She drew back to a corner, giving it a confused and cautious look.

This made Griffon laugh a lot. "I wonder how that would sound, though."

"It,... wouldn't hurt if we try." The poet quietly said as he placed the shoes on the table and took the vinyl record just beside the instrument. Apparently, the record was simply titled as "Nat King Cole". He began with the long process of playing it and when the music finally came out of it, he turned it off immediately.

"Hey, why did ya turn it off?!" Griffon complained. He was about to rant more when he noticed the look on V's face. His eyes were wide and his mouth was hanging open. "V? You okay?"

"I' am. I just,..." The man held out a hesitant finger as he turned on the instrument once more.

"Unforgettable, that's what you are.

Unforgettable, though near or far.

Like a song of love that clings to me,... "

"It's this song." He confessed with a shaky voice. With cold and trembling hands, he covered his mouth, already feeling the tears as they started falling down his blurry eyes. "It's,... from that evening."

Griffon saw the changes in V's demeanor and actually felt sorry for him. He tapped V's shoulder in a sincere effort to calm him down.

"Unforgettable in every way,

And forevermore,

That's how you'll stay,..."

He stood up and went towards the window, all the painful memories of everything that happened within a single week coming back to him. He found the love of his life, danced with her, and lost her because of his foolishness.

All because he let himself be manipulated.

Still unable to control his emotions, and the tears that came along with them, he turned back, and saw,...

... the girl, herself, standing a few feet away from him looking confused like he was.

But, this time, unlike any other vision he had of her, she looked like she was actually seeing him for real. She went closer towards him as he observed all of her movements. He held out his arms, hoping for his desire to dance with her once more to come across.

And, as if by some form of an unknown miracle, she let his hands take hers as they began the basic steps of the waltz,...

... just like the first time they did it on the Grecian balcony that evening.

"That's why darling, it's incredible,

That someone so unforgettable,

Thinks that I am unforgettable too."

Griffon and Shadow silently watched as V danced with something they couldn't see. The male familiar shook his head and grinned as he saw the poet actually enjoying the dance.

"No, never before has someone been more,..."

He tried to hold her closer despite the fear that she would vanish and rested his head on the crook of her neck.

"Unforgettable,… in every way,..."

He quietly and gently sang along, the lyrics tearing a new wound to his already beaten heart. How he wanted to hold her so much, how he wanted to actually feel her smooth skin against his,...

... how he longed to dance with her once more.

But, she’s hurt. Because of him.

And instead of her actually dancing with him, she’s lying on that bed inside her room with no guarantee of when she’d wake up.

"And forevermore,… that's how you'll stay,..." He felt a warm sensation on his body and realized that her vision was rubbing him on the back, her arms around him, wanting him to cease crying. He looked at her eyes and cupped her cheeks. "That's why darling,… it's incredible,… that someone,… so unforgettable,… thinks that I ‘am,… unforgettable too,..." His heart ached with each word he sang, feeling like they were directed towards him and making him feel guilty than ever before.

He wanted so much to tell her that: that she’s unforgettable,…

… that he was grateful to her for everything that she did for him for the past ten years,…

… that he was grateful that she found him and made his life a little less miserable.

But, of course, he had to make a very stupid mistake of hurting her.

And he regret everything he did and did not do to her.

As the song came to an end, his face inched closer to hers. He wanted so much to feel her lips against his,...

... when something startled her.

She reluctantly pulled away from him as she looked at the door behind her. She opened her mouth and said something he couldn't hear, and turned to face him once more. She gave him a warm, and yet weak, smile as she held up a single hand to caress his face. After that, she stepped away from him and went to the door, looking at him one last time before finally going through it.

"Please,..." V begged her, holding out a helpless and powerless hand to reach her. "Don't,... leave me,..."

***

🖤 Special thanks to @beyond-the-mirror for the Spanish dialogue and translations. And for also introducing us to Alicia and Maria. 🖤

🖤 @la-vita , @micaelagua , @ceruleanworld , @lessy86 , @ehrzeth , @diabeticsugarush , @simmy-ships , @boundbysoul , @heaven-on-a-landslide , and @krazy06 . 🖤