#i just need to decide which mc to be the caster

[milktian]

finally starting to go for all achievements in code vein so that means i have to play the game through again yippee

im pretty glad i was so like,,, completionist my first go around cause now i can just do a straight shot without worrying about missing anything.

the first thing im gonna do is the bad ending so i can get all the successor's blood codes, then im gonna go neutral ending + true ending again so that's all finished. after that it's gonna be a grind session ueueueue

i think im gonna keep my build and then do new builds on new save files just to keep things interesting + i know the big bonk strength build kinda wrecks most things.

i do wanna go full completetionist for base game and then maybe ill buy dlc? idk if it's worth it though

[hphmmatthewluther]

HPHM April Prompts 2021: Day 2: The Villain of Hogwarts

It’s Day 2 of #aprilprompts2021 by @stupendousbookworm , and today we get villainous! (Note: This one’s a little short as I’m out for most of the day, but I hope you enjoy it nonetheless!)

Prompt # 2 - We all know that MC is the hero of Hogwarts. But what if they weren't? What if MC was evil? Illustrate or write a paragraph about your MC, except they're evil.

“Good news, I’ve decided I’m accepting your offer.” There was a scream. A small part of Rowan’ mind registered it as Beatrice’s voice, but the majority of their focus was on the flash of green light a few feet away. When it disappeared, the body of Patricia Rakepick was on the ground, motionless. Rowan had to cover their mouth. Their eyes moved towards the caster of that most Unforgivable Curse. They still couldn’t quite believe it. The teenager looked at the Portrait of his brother on the wall, which had an expression of pure shock. “I think you look better there,” he muttered, “At least you can’t run away now.” He turned to Rowan, whose eyes were still on Rakepick.  “What?” the killer said in the voice of Matthew Luther. “She’s part of R. She’s been torturing Merula. I can show you proof if you’d like...I wouldn’t be too far off schedule.” Rowan found themselves backing away. “You can’t have...it wasn’t...she deserved a fair trial.”

Matthew let out a hollow laugh. “Rowan, that trial would be anything but fair. Besides, as far I’m concerned, death is far better a fate than Azkaban. But don’t take that from me…” He walked over to the unconscious Merula Snyde, running a hand through her wild hair. Penny and Beatrice slowly moved away. “Something had to be done.” Matthew declared. “She was hurting, and she couldn’t say a thing. Because, for some reason, the Wizarding community seems to just despise progress.” Matthew sighed, before moving Merula so she was more comfortable. “And so, I asked myself. Why? Why are wizards so stuck in their backwards ways? It puzzled me for quite some time, I must admit. Until...I came to the solution staring me in the face.” He sighed, the smirk fading from his face. “It’s because, Rowan, wizards feel like they don’t need to worry about what Muggles think.” Rowan stared at his best friend with a great deal of confusion. “What does that have to do with anything?”

“Look, I’ve had a long look at the history of magic, and I’ve developed a theory. You see,” he began, moving towards Rakepick’s body, “In the beginning, Wizards allowed Muggles to see and share in magic. They were sort of like a large caterpillar, they moved around eating whatever they came across and poisoning any Muggles that got too close.” “Then, we went into hiding. The Statute of Secrecy, all of that. We entered a chrysalis, and we’ve done nothing but wallow. We’re trapped in walls of our own making.” he said, moving back towards Merula, who stirred slightly. “Don’t worry about a thing, songbird. I’ve got everything covered. When you wake up, you’ll be in a brand new world.” Merula hummed at that, and drifted off into a deeper sleep. “So…what?” asked Rowan, “You want us to...break free?” Matthew nodded. “We need to spread our wings. Show our true colours. The Muggles won’t be able to ignore us...and we won’t be able to ignore them. No memory charms will undo what I’ve got planned.”

“But, they’ll just make us handle all of their problems!” Rowan protested “Oh, no! Basic human decency!” Matthew jokingly lamented, putting a hand to his brow, “Something wizards are quite frankly lacking.” Rowan paused. Matthew had always been critical of the way the Wizarding World worked, but this was beyond anything they had ever seen. “You...and where are you going to be in all of this?” Matthew chuckled. “R keep trying to make me the new Dark Lord. Maybe I should start listening...if I were in charge, well, I’d have a lot I’d want to get rid of...starting with them.” He began to laugh at his own joke, and it was a laugh Rowan had heard his father do several times while telling him stories. The laugh of the vampire, or warlock, or werewolf, or whatever monster it was that night. “Matthew, I get it, really I do, but you can’t have that power!” Rowan said, raising his own wand by instinct. Matthew smirked, raising his own wand. “Really? Why ever not?”

“Expelliarmus!” came a voice, and Matthew’s wand went flying across the room. A flash of rage crossed his face as Bill Weasley moved in front of Rowan. “Nobody can be trusted with that power. A position like that’s bound to be abused! A Ravenclaw like you ought to have figured that one out!” Bill declared. Matthew considered this for a moment. “Yes, but can you blame me?” he asked, as if total power over Wizardkind wasn’t that big a deal. “You’d do the same, wouldn’t you?” “Yeah, maybe I would!” Bill admitted, “But I’m enough of a wizard to know not to get anywhere near something like that. Why do you think Dumbledore never went for total power?” “Because he was weak! Because Albus Dumbledore, unlike me, lacked the faith in himself to do what needed to be done!” “Albus Dumbledore knows himself better than most know themselves, and if you think you could be a Dark Lord, Matthew, I’m afraid you’ve got it wrong!”

There was suddenly a high-pitched cry, as into the Portrait Vault flew a large red phoenix with something in his talons. “Fawkes?” asked Matthew, sounding genuinely confused. Fawkes flew overhead, dropping the large something, which Bill caught in his hands. There was another cry, and Fawkes landed besides Beatrice and Penny, the younger of whom started to scratch its chin. The three who were standing looked at what was now in Bill’s hands. It was brown, and made of leather, and when Bill unfolded it, a floppy brim came out from under the folds. “Is that the Sorting Hat?” Rowan asked aloud. Matthew gazed at it before laughing once again.

“Oh, Dumbledore’s finally done something to protect his students, and it’s this? What, am I being resorted into Slytherin? Give me a break...” Matthew sneered, before bringing his hands together, causing them to flash with electricity.  “Wandless magic. Useful for when someone interrupts my scheming.” Rowan braced themselves as a bolt of blue lightning struck them, causing their wand to go flying along with them, pushing them against a wall and causing a few portraits to fall to the ground. Bill scowled at Matthew, who now aimed at him. “I’d make a joke about Oddjob and that hat,” the Ravenclaw said, “But...I’m afraid it would go to waste...ah, well...” There was another Blue flash as a lightning bolt headed towards Bill. The Head Boy , not really thinking, pulled up the hat in front of it…

And was surprised to still be standing. His wand and the hat had been blasted across the room, but he was unharmed. What was more, in his hand was now a brilliant silver sword, with shining rubies upon its hilt. “Oh, that is some bull...” Matthew whispered to himself, before clenching his right hand into  a fist. It glowed with magical energies, and before long a blue rapier had appeared. Bill registered that it was made of Cursed Ice. Matthew clasped it in his hand. “Just my luck that the person between me and my goals is someone I liked.” “Feeling’s mutual.” Bill confessed, feeling the weight of the sword in his hand, before pointing it at Matthew. “Last chance, mate, because I really don’t want to do this. We can leave the Vault and everything that’s happened in it.”

“I’m sorry, Bill. I can’t let things go on this way any longer. Besides, I’ve already defeated one older brother today...what’s one more? Engarde!”

[whatissleepeven]

I -

I can't stop thinking about it -

About what, you ask?

An Obey Me! and Fate/Grand Order crossover

(Warning: Long post ahead!)

Either the bois get summoned to Chaldea or they're able to summon Servants themselves

(...I'm leaning towards the first)

The tomfoolery! The shenanigans!

Imagine: Humanity's Last Master (aka you) ends up summoning them as they trek through Rome with Mash and the Servants they already summoned

They set up the summoning circle, but one minor mistake is made and the summoning glow looks a bit darker than usual and BOOM

"S-...Senpai...is this normal?"

You have no idea what's normal or not, I mean you're time travelling to save your people for fucks sake -

"Servant of the Rider Class. My True Name is Lucifer. Do not expect me to cater to your every whim."

...Wait he's a what now??

They were not supposed to have this whole "Class" thing designated to them (it's not how demonic summoning works he swears), and yet they do for some reason

(You can tell I had fun thinking of their Classes)

The introductions are...cold, to say the least

"Saber Class Servant, and none other than The Great Mammon, Avatar of Greed! I got better things to be doing, so don't go calling me whenever ya want, got it?!"

"Lancer Class...Leviathan. I have an mmorpg raid coming up, so I can't stick around."

"Berserker Class. My name is Satan. What? Are you surprised that I seem calm for a Berserker? It's quite alright; I get that reaction often enough. A word of advice: Be careful what you wish for."

"My name is Asmodeus, but you can call me Asmo darling! I'm a Caster, which is good. I can't mess up the work done on my nails and hair!"

"Hm...Oh? Sorry, I was thinking about lunch. Servant Class: Ruler. I'm Beelzebub, but most people call me Beel. Do you have any snacks on you?"

"Servant Class: Avenger. My name is Belphegor, but I doubt you'll be alive long enough to remember that. I won't do your dirty work for you, human."

You are just...done at that point. You are literally carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders and their attitudes are not helping

"Yeah, yeah, here's the gist: there's a war going on and we're trying to save the planet. The future's been incinerated, and it's our job to fix what went wrong. I don't have time for your uncooperation; get on board."

(Mash is worried for your mental health)

It takes some time, but they do manage to open up to you

The main catalyst for this is when they heard you talking to Robin Hood, who was summoned in France

"Say, Master...I gotta ask: Why are you doing this?"

You pause what you're doing, shooting him an incredulous look. "You mean saving the world?" You ask in return.

He shrugs, tilting his head forward in a slight nod. "Yeah. There's other people who could do this, aren't there?"

"There isn't." The brothers hear you say firmly. Beel almost went in because he wanted a snack, but the others held him back; the conversation had peaked their interest, and they wanted to hear what you had to say.

"Robin..." Your voice comes out strained, as if you were barely holding yourself together. "I watched innocent people die in front of me. Good people. The world outside is gone. I can't even go see my family, because they're dead. I'm not expecting you to understand, but it hurts so bad that somedays I don't feel like getting up. If I die, it's all over; humanity's done. I'll never be able to see my family's smiles again, I'll never be able to hear their laughter; I'll...I'll never be able to go back home.

"So, instead of asking why I'm doing this, you should be asking "How far are you willing to go?" instead."

Robin is silent for a while. Mammon shifts on his feet. The Green Archer finally speaks, somber but curious tone filling the air. "And? What's the verdict, Master?"

Your voice has a tone of finality to it that shoots them back to the past, back towards the Celestial War. It's final, but it's tired. "Whatever it takes."

(And, so, the brothers come to understand and even sympathize with your situation a little bit. You had to fight for the sake of others without rest, you were a leader, you were a savior, but most of all...you were alone. And something about that didn't sit right with them.)

They would fit in perfectly with Chaldea's dynamics, actually

Mammon has a gold sword he lovingly calls Goldie (yes it changes into his beloved credit card)

His Noble Phantasm is literally him raising his sword and mountains of Grimm burying his opponents from the sky as he cackles out:

"Don't worry, I'll take all that money off ya hands!"

Or, in a proud declaration:

"My sword is my love, and my love is my sin. I'll take all that you have on ya! STULTUS IN AVARITA!!"

(Translates (from Google) to "Greed of the Fool")

(It also gives you an increased drop rate in materials)

Leviathan's weapon is his trident

He's surprised that he wasn't summoned as a Rider, once he got used to the "Class" thing (which was fairly quick, he's seen an anime like this before). I mean, he has a giant snake named Henry 1.0 and Lothan that he would've loved to fight side by side with

He usually doesn't fight, but he proves to be invaluable in Okeanos since he has knowledge on war strategies at sea

His Noble Phantasm is a bit strange, but endearing (sad). He rushes forward with his trident glowing, saying either:

"I can't get the latest Ruri-chan merch because you blew up the world...I won't forgive you. I can't forgive you!"

Or, in a somber tone:

"Even though it's fun, a gamer's life becomes stifling if you keep playing by yourself. I hope you're watching, (Y/N)! EX SOLA INVIDIA!!"

(Translates (from Google) to "Envy of the Lonely")

(Chance of Death increases with Overcharge, and it hits a single enemy)

Satan? Even though he's a Berserker, he behaves more like a Caster (initially)

He's holding a book that shoots out beams of pure energy at his opponents

His Noble Phantasm is...more violent

"Ah, so you've decided to call upon my Noble Phantasm...don't blame me if it's too much for you."

Or, he begins in a deathly calm voice:

"I am me; that's all I need to be. I know this, so why...? Why does this happen? TELL ME! "

He discards his books altogether, grabbing a single enemy with his bare hands and ripping them to shreds.

Asmo’s skill is charming his enemy, which confuses most people since you’d think it’d be his Noble Phantasm

Instead, it boosts his allies’ attacks and NP by 30%

“Don’t get too hurt out there~!”

Beel’s Noble Phantasm heals all allies and increases their attack

“We can’t fight on an empty stomach.”

(Once he hits his last Ascension, your party gets the added bonus of him attacking a single enemy with a lance. All other Ascensions has him using his fists for attacks.)

Belphie’s Noble Phantasm is almost as violent as Satan’s, and yes...he chokes out a single enemy out (rip MC)

“HA! You think I’d work with the likes of you, a lowly human? Get out of my sight.”

It’s Instant Death, unless Evasion or Invincibility is activated

Lucifer’s pride is a bit wounded. He’s a Rider, of all things??

(...He eventually gets used to it though)

His Noble Phantasm is him literally mounting Cerberus and raising his spear towards the heavens, looking as radiant as the days before the Fall

“It seems drastic times call for drastic measures. Cerberus, I trust you to handle things here.”

And Cerberus runs forth, either chomping the enemy in two or breathing fire at them and turning them into ash. (It hits everyone)

Satan and Jekyll hang out a lot because, well...they’re a lot alike

Mammon can and will do stupid shit with the Cu Squad and you cannot change my mind

One time he teamed up with Cascu to steal the other Cu’s spears (Mammon wanted to sell them on Akuzon), and well...half of Chaldea is still in repair to this day

Merlin of all Servants is the one to look after Belphie and Beel

They usually hang out in the garden Robin tends to, Asterios occasionally joining them while bringing both food and Euryale

Asmo frequently visits Medea, dragging Medusa into their group

(Dantes grows fond of Beel overtime, I mean Beel is just so pure there’s no way you couldn’t like him)

Lucifer and EMIYA butt heads at first, but they end up becoming friends despite that

Lucifer admires EMIYA’s skill to keep up with Servants who have a black hole for a stomach, and EMIYA admires Lucifer’s skill to round up his brothers effortlessly when the need to arises (or so he thinks, because he does not know about the Hate Lucifer Club which is run by Satan and Belphie).

Levi and Fran have a pure kind of friendship that must be protected at all costs

He shows her new animes and games, and even though she’s confused most of the time she never fails to listen to his ramblings, nodding whenit was appropriate

BONUS: Undateables (+ Luke)!

Solomon’s situation is...peculiar.

He’s not a Servant, but he behaves like one??

(He’s actually a mage that helps you on your journey to save humanity)

Unlike Da Vinci, he’s able to accompany you to the Singularities (free of charge, too!)

Once he sees the other Solomon, all he says is “I see...interesting.”

(Ngl he probably figured out everything by the time you all went to Okeanos)

Asmo also drags him into his group (consisting of Medea and Medusa), offering to paint his nails as they talk about anything and everything

Simeon is a Lancer and you can’t change my mind

He’s more of a buffer for your team, like Asmo. His skills are primarily healing, and his NP saps the health of an opponent while healing someone other than himself with that health (he cannot heal himself)

He gets along great with Karna!! The two are so nice and kind that it hurts to look at them both for too long

Solomon tells him about the gossip Asmo has on the other Servants. He always listens with an amused look on his face.

Luke is a smol Caster, but he will not hesitate to break your kneecaps

He, too, is a buffer for your team

“I’ll defend you from those demons, (Y/N)!”

His Noble Phantasm heals all allies, restoring their health by 20%

He bakes with Fsn Cu at night, having Proto Cu and Robin Hood try out his sweets. Beel is there 10/10 times, eating any failures or rejects

Diavolo is Ruler Class because he is literally the Ruler of Hell

Surprisingly (to you, at first), he’s the one who always asks to accompany you. He’s very open and considerate, wanting to help wherever and whenever he can

“The Human Realm is essential if we are to establish harmony between the three Realms. Without it there...angels and demons would fight each other for eternity.”

He tells you about his ideas for an exchange program and you offer him input

His Noble Phantasm is applying Invincibility to two allies for 3 turns after dealing heavy damage to a single enemy (cannot apply Invincibility to himself)

He likes to talk with Caster Gil and Archer Gil about their past, going to Ko Gil on occasion. He helps look after the child Servants, and he can often be found reading bedtime stories to them

(Everyone was scared of him at first once they found out who he was, so he usually held off revealing his True Identity)

Barbatos, at first glance, seems like an Archer...but in reality is an Assassin

(HE CONTROLS TIME FOR F*S SAKE)

His Noble Phantasm, depending on the enemy selected, can revive a fallen ally and add them to the Sub Team

(This is only if the enemy that killed the ally is selected)

This stuns him for 3 turns no matter what

He likes to chat with the Tamamo that helps EMIYA in the kitchen. How the two are communicating without issues is up to anyone’s guess

[silent-silver-slip]

Ooh I'm curious about Defying Curses

I’m so excited to answer!!! Which is wild because I’ve been dreading thinking about Defying Curses for ages. I forgot how it felt to be like excited over this project.

Okay, so originally Defying Curses was sparked by this idea about a morally grey pirate captain cursed to die in five years and only giving her heart to someone and expecting nothing back can the curse be broken.

Of course, writing it was slightly something different largely because I struggled with writing a morally grey character and also wanted to try my hand at a soft magic system. As a result, I ended up in a world where magic was normal and the fae definitely existed and sometimes you ended up in their world by stepping into a fae circle (definitely something you want to avoid).

The story ended up following our pirate captain before she becomes a captain. Instead, we see her escape her village and out onto the sea and eventually she becomes a captain. During that time, she gathers her crew who largely remain nameless for stylistic reasons (going to explain that later because it’s a neat detail I’m somewhat proud of).

Except, during her travels, their ship is attacked by a stronger pirate crew and they almost all die. Our captain (gonna call her MC for now) decides that she wants revenge and goes on a hunt for a weapon that they’ve heard rumours about. She does, of course, find the weapon with her crew - but for taking it, she’s cursed to die in five years unless she gives up her heart. Which our MC refuses to do.

They go and fight the other pirate crew, grab their revenge, during which one of the crew - MC’s second mate - loses his magic to ensure their win. It’s the first time that MC says one of her crew’s names. From there, the story follows a little adventure that MC has with each crew member where she finally begins to use their name.

Except, five years pass and MC grows weak. Obviously though, there’s a happy ending because MC loves her crew and her ship and gave her heart up to them metaphorically.

Currently, I’m just in the stage where I need to edit this or rewrite or do something with it. So it’s one of my WIPs that’s currently being ignored.

Snippet and notes on the crew below

Crew

The crew also all have some rather interesting stories and they’re rather interesting characters.

You’ve got our second mate, who’s part-fae.

The quartermaster and the navigator are in love and one of them was once a prince who ran away to be with the stableboy.

There’s the carpenter who can control wood which is very helpful when you’re on a ship and also when your wheelchair is made of wood.

There are the twins who are fighters and can shape-shift into wolves.

There’s the doctor who’s part merfolk, but more human than anything else.

And I think the last crew member is a messenger who may have magic because they can whistle and understand crows but swears they don’t?

I’m aware that’s not a lot, but I’m trying to do this off memory so I could be off. Regardless, it was a lot of fun to write AND the characters all have such interesting side stories (which... is where Not Your Cinderella Story comes from - it’s about the quartermaster and navigator before they reach the ocean).

Snippet:

one time, and you remember it so clearly, you’re not meaning to get into a fight with this massive ship of metal that screams danger, but they follow you in the darkness, hunting you down until they are close. they attack, first with weapons, and then they board and one of them stands on your ship’s deck, hands alight with fire, (and you wish that was a metaphor, but it was not).

and your ship is wood and it burns so so easily.

beneath the cloudless sky, your first mate’s ears are pointed and his teeth are sharp and he snarls like an animal. the other crew have iron in their weapons and he is shot in the arm and goes down with a howl. you do not think he is dead but you do not know, (it scares you).

the flames roar and inch up the mast, but your carpenter is there and wood is flying from his wheelchair and injuring your opponents. the mast grows and enfolds on itself and the deck swallows fire; without air, the fire disappears but the fire-caster is closing in on your carpenter. your navigator dives down with a yell, weapon in hand, and blocks the fire-caster, (but he has no magic and you fear you know how this ends).

crows scream, swooping down with claws outstretched. and you watch and fight as your ship tries not to burn and your crew try to stay alive. you do not see an easy way out of this. but you refuse to let your adventure end here. not when you have so much to live for. you are so young and your crew are young and you do not want to die.

here is what people don’t talk about: there is magic in blood and blood in magic. on a ship that someone is trying to burn, there is blood spilt from those with magic and one with sharp teeth and pointed ears. the ship fights back with its very body and someone controls it and also doesn’t because the ship loves its crew too. there is a prince who ran away to be with a stableboy and they fought for love together. there is a stableboy who ran away because sometimes you are better than what you should have been. there is a person with one arm and four crows who can whistle like the best of them, who can speak to birds but swears they have no magic. there is also you.

and so you all fight and the waves swell and the wind screams and your injured first mate stands, daring and glaring, and the moon stares down and the stars watch and your ship takes flight, pulled through the ocean by magic and you don’t know how it works. it just does.

Oh god, this grew so long. Thank you so much for asking!! I now might one day pick this project up again, I’m so excited about it once more.

[retroandreal]

Lose You (Darius x MC)

HAAAAAAAA!! This was sooo overdue... I’m so sorry for the people I disappointed (I’m sorry my discord family) This one took me a really long time cause I wanted to capture Darius’ angst during the whole ordeal of controlling his powers which took longer than expected... like 3 days overdue @official-alex-cyprin​ cause I love you, crouton loves you xoxox

AN: This was inspired by the song ‘Lose You’ by Eric Nam, who is like my favourite male singer.

Warnings; angst (i tried) and like a small soft smut scene which is more fluff than sinning smut... bye I’m leaving...

“I’m going to be leaving you for a while”

The shock on her face says it all. Shock? Betrayal? Confusion? I read her like an open book, but I just cannot bare to shut away our story yet. I am not the man worthy to be standing by her side, how can I when all I feel is the guilt of possessing a demon inside of me while being an assassin myself. I would take a thousand more beatings from Cal than to have her turn her back on me. This is why I have to do this; to be apart from you, so I can learn how to control the demons inside of me to keep you safe and carefree for the rest of time itself.

“Da-Darius… what about me?”

A single tear runs down the side of her face, catching the luminescent neon lights of the Ferris-wheel we ascended to the top of. A soft whisper comes out of her

“You can’t leave me, Darius…”

I dare walk the few paces that separate the distance between us. I silently ask for her permission to touch her, to wipe away the stray tear. She leans into my touch. It’s painful. I close my eyes to savor the feeling of her bare skin against the palm of my hand.  

Eyes wide shut, dreamin’ about you

“Listen, I’m not leaving you forever. But I will be leaving the old me behind; the Darius that is confused about himself, the Darius that is afraid of falling, the Darius that withers at the feeling of commitment. But I promise I will come back a better man. A man worthy to be standing beside you as an assassin, as Lust, as Darius Ricci and as yours. I will carry your love with me until I can bask in the feelings of being in your presence again. For now, though, I need to become that man you deserve.”

Hot blood rush turning a cold blue

She collapses her body inwards towards mine. So full of life yet trembling at the thought that she will have to live some time without her near me. The feeling of her softness and weight ebbs and flows through me like the calmness of the rooftop pool where we once made love. The smooth riding of the freight train where she and I made love again under the sapphire moonlight. Those moments in time will forever be suspended in my memory as I recall my forever known Lust being turned on it’s head and replaced by the foreign feeling of love.

“When will you come back to me, Darius?”

I let out a pained sigh.

“I don’t know yet, but I promise the moment I know when it’s right I will return to you”

I gently push her back but still keep a gentle hold on both her shoulders. Her trembling has receded, and her tears have all dried up; now looking at me, expectantly. She has opened my eyes to so many new things about this sinful world. One that I though that has been plagued by the demons. All my life I only knew how to be content with what I have. But she taught me how to love, and now I need to learn how to love myself again.

“I’m going to learn to love myself, so that I can love you”

Staring at perfection, I’m about to wreck it. It’s just something I gotta do

I need to start fresh with myself, come to terms with the demon inside of me that will always be threatening to take over my body. For the troupe, for myself, and for her.

I think I wanna lose you, just to find my way back to you

I give her one last kiss, desperate to relish in the feeling of her unrequited love she is so willing to offer to me despite all the ugliness that I have shown her, forced upon her.

Then I jump to the world below. Leaving my one true love where I once stood next to her.

I don’t wanna to let go, but I gotta let go

~~~~~

It’s been only a few days and I miss her already. The bleakness of this abandoned shipping container that I dare to call ‘home’ does nothing to calm my desperation to be next to her again. But I know I have to hold out, I need to become strong enough to stand next to her and keep her safe; from the demons around us and the demon within me that is constantly trying to claw its way from the chambers of my control and take over. Counting my days that I estimate to be in here, I decide not to continue living out of my duffle bag and unpack the bare necessities that I brought with me. Assigning the appropriate places of the minimal items that I brough I finally have enough courage to fish out the final thing out of the bottom of the bag; my blanket. Our blanket. The blanket that we both used while we riskily made love on the moving train that one night. I never felt as free as I did on that night; free to delve into the lust that I have always suppressed… finally letting it all out and carry the night with myself and MC in a long moment of bliss and love. I bundle the blanket to cover my face and I deeply breathe in; taking in its scent.

“Still smells like her”

You might think I’m some kind of crazy

I flop down on the sorry excuse of a bed and cocoon myself within the blanket, making myself an oasis in the form of a blanket burrito. If only she was here with me, it would be a perfect moment just shared between the both of us. In a sense, I always used sex as a tool to wield; to get close, to manipulate and even to use sex as a meaningless pastime. Sure, I hurt many women but something inside me knew that she was out there. Now, sex is a cherished moment between her and I, that I would never dare to share with anyone else. I want so badly to be sharing the same bed as you. I know you and can even so far as predict you; you’re lying in my bed, the only way you can physically be close to me without me being next to you. Trust me; I really want that too. But we can’t. You’re not safe with me.

I can’t blame you if you hate me, asking me “did you even love me?”

I adjust myself while suppressing the needy feeling of lust and make myself comfortable for another endless night of attempting to sleep… and as usual, sleep doesn’t come easy. Pulling my phone from the charging port, the bright light obstructs my vision as my eyes adjust to the sudden brightness. My lock-screen is so predictable; her and I on top of the very train, in our bare intimates and our blanket wrapped around us, her kissing my cheek and my fist pumped straight into the air. It’s amazing how different a week in time can become. Now I lay here… alone.

It’s just something I gotta do

~~~~~

"Fuck... that one hurt a lot"

I look at the burning flesh on my right forearm, leaking with the demonic green blood. Quickly rushing to the sink to assist in closing up the wound, the coolness of the water does nothing to soothe the pulsating ache of the newly open wound. Medical procedures were never really up my alley. Usually Malakai and his basic first-aid training paired with a few hours of bedrest did wonders for me. Recently, before my departure from the troupe, she was always the one who tended to our wounds... paying closer attention to me. Those gentle touches are what I miss on a daily basis; from the purposeful wound cleaning and firm bandaging to the teasing yet pleasurable touches she gave me whenever we had a moment to ourselves. Only she knew how to bring me to such climatic bliss. She knows my body so well, but not without due experience of exploring each other's needs and limitations. It's amazing how far the human body can be pushed to its limit. But never in my life as an aerial trapeze artist has my body ever been tested to its limit as far as my desperate attempt to control the clawing demon inside of me. It hurts. Everyday. But I deal with it.

I'm feelin' nothing, I'm feelin' nothing

I think of her every time. I have only been able to deal with the physical and mental pain because I know once all of this is over, I will be able to return to the troupe. To her. Most importantly. I can feel her again. She's aching and alone in my abandoned bed. I want to reach her, somehow. I break out one of Malakai's books that he loaned out to me just before I made my retreat into self-exclusion.

"Demonic projections... if I can just find the page... dreams, dreams, dreams... here! To enter a vessel's dreams..."

Usually, the demons abused this power of being able to interfere with a human's dreams. To drive them crazy. To manipulate them without even realizing. But I want to use this ability for my own lawful good; I want to see her again, even if it just in her dreams. I know she dreams of me, but she relives the moments where I left her on top of the Ferris-wheel all those nights ago. I stripped that happiness from her... it is my responsibility to bring that happiness back, and even give her a little bit of reassurance that I'm still living and breathing every day.

Dreamin' about you

"For the most painless intervention, the vessel must be in a slumber for the caster to remain uninterrupted or the rift will cause major disruption to one's state of wellbeing" I stare at the paragraph

"Well... fuck me... I hope you're dreaming of me..."

Because I always do

Every night

Since we broke up

I think I wanna break up, just to make it all up to you

~~~~~

Like a white, hot pain, the feeling of the demon scars rips through my flesh and permanently but figuratively scar mt face as if it were an actual indentation from a blazing iron rod. Marked; like the gullible cattle that the demons have rounded up and taken over with their presence and violating the souls of the sinning humans around them. I stare at my marked face in the mirror. It's much easier to force the marks off of my face now that I have been honing and controlling the demon inside of me. Plus, being away from the city of sin itself has allowed me to grasp onto the control i need to master dream interception and manipulation.

Ten past 3am, I know that she is sound asleep. I’ve been observing her sleeping pattern for the past week and a half all while practicing my powers. To her, it will seem like she had a lucid dream of me next to her; but I never talk to her, reach out to her, or call her name. No matter how many times she calls out my name, I know that we cannot be together in her dreams. No matter how many times she tries to reach out for me, I know that we cannot be together.

Just hold on, a little bit further.

See you touch, but I'm feelin' nothing

Not yet.

But I hold onto my projection in her dream as long as I can, before it starts to physically hurt.

"Come on, baby. I know you can see me!"

I start to feel my projection sizzle and dissolve away. She cries out in her dream and I feel her violently jerk awake in a cold sweat. I hastily return to my full form inside of my bleak shipping container.

So... close...

So... fucking... close...

"FUCK THIS SHIT!!"

I hurl the closest thing to me and peg it against the rusty, cold metal hearing the echoing clang of thick porcelain hit the tin and shattering across the floor. Running my hands through the tendrils of my already unkempt hair, I sit at the foot of my mattress, cradling my throbbing head in my hands before deciding that paracetamol is a more affective solution than whining like Avi when he has to go to bed before Ripley.

"Painkillers, painkillers... Fuck my head hurts like a bitch…"

I pop two in my mouth, dry-swallowing since I just shattered my only cup, and letting the exhaustion take over my body as I fall into a dreamless slumber.

I'm feelin' nothing

~~~~~

“Darius?”

I hear her.

“Darius… baby?”

Wiping the sleep away from my eyes, I turn on a full 360 axis and take in my surroundings. My… My room?

“DARIUS! It’s you!!”

“Wh- What...?”

My vision slowly becomes crystal clear as I can clearly make out the lines of a person. Not just any person, my person. My love, who I have been aching to see and touch for the past days gone by, in my dreams. No, our dreams. Her dainty stature and her signature, unique curves of her body spark the familiarity of her voice that blissfully echoes in my head. The features of her face are what captivate me the most, no matter how long it may be. Thirty minutes, waking up to her in the mornings or after the weeks and days we have been apart. I will never forget her. She is forever ingrained in my mind, and I need to remind her once again.

“I knew you would come back to me…”

She visibly sees how the past weeks have taken a toll on my body, the bags under my eyes and the slight discoloration of my skin. She silently asks permission before she paces the room and jumps into my outstretched and waiting arms.

“Baby, you don’t know how long I have been waiting to finally touch you…”

“Heh… I can tell”

She shoots me her cute but minx-like smirk. She’s the only one that can make me become like this; a blushing mess. But I’m not going to lie that she is the only one that can make be feel this way. Sure, the sex I’ve had up until was nice, but she takes it to a whole other level. She can undo me with just a flick of her wrists… or tongue. She has put a spell on me, one that I cannot fathom, but I don’t want it to end. I shoot her my own signature smirk back.

“Well my angel, what are we going to be about it?”

“Later… this is a dream, right? Where exactly are you?”

I know what she’s doing, she’s trying to bait me. She wants to find me, help me.

Not now.

“Far away from Vegas, but right now I’m here with you. And that’s all that matters”

I’m in California, you, you out in Georgia, but we’re both in the same room

I kiss her, with everything I have. And not long after all our clothes, except for our most intimates are sprawled across my bedroom floor. We’re both panting messes by the time we separate ourselves from each other to catch our breath.

“God! I’ve missed you so much, your skin on mine and the way you touch me”

“Oh yeah? Well, we’re in for a long night you and me”

I slowly place feather-like kisses down the ravine of her breasts, lightly teasing her to hear that sinful reaction out of her.

“O-Oh! Darius!”

Not yet, my love.

Travelling closer to her belly-button, I marvel at her toned stomach and the slight build of muscle that is slowly peeking its way through her Adonis and eventually eyeing my final destination. Hovering over where I want to be the most. I place kisses on each side of her pelvic bones in between my words.

“Try to resist, MC. It will make the experience so… much… more… memorable”

~~~~~

Basking in the afterglow of our many rounds of lovemaking and pent-up lust, a sheen of sweat covering our entire naked forms, still calming down from the multistory climaxes we brought each other to. The tips of the Nevada sand dunes slowly give way to the blistering desert sunrise. Our time together in our dreams is nearly up.

“Are you coming back to me anytime soon, Darius?”

“Baby, I don’t know. I still don’t trust myself to stay sane around you. I sometimes just find my markings on my face while just working out in my room and I go into a demonic rage. I’m so, so sorry MC”

But if I stay with you, we won’t make it

Stroking the nape of my neck, she places her intoxicating feather-like kisses across my collarbones leaving her precious marks all over me.

She sighs.

“That’s ok, Darius. I’m just happy you’re safe”

The familiar warmth of her body slowly starts to dissolve, replaced by a white, hot and painful rage. It’s calling to me again.

Please.

Just a few more minutes.

With her.

“Darius! You’re fading!!”

“I know, my love. I’m losing you again…”

“Please…” she cries behind her rolling tears.

She grasps onto the remainder of my solid fingers, not before my body turns into a translucent representation of me.

“I promise, I will make it up to you”

I think I wanna break up, just to make it all up to you

I say in a whisper before I disappear into nothingness… I manage to say one more thing, for her.

“I think I wanna lose you, just to find my way back to you”

I don’t want to let go

But I gotta let go

[bittersweetmelxdy]

If its not to much trouble could i get some kiro x reader where she shows him how to make pudding

This request is months old, but I finally finished it, thank you for being patient with me, and I hope you like it :)

Recipe used: BBC Good Food Cherry chocolate meringue pots

Title: Sweeter than cherries and chocolate Pairing: Kiro x MC Words: 1511

“Okay, let’s get started.”  

“Miss Chips you know what you’re doing right?”

“You’ve eaten my pudding before, Kiro, trust me I’ve done this before.”

You had decided that since Kiro’s favourite food is pudding, it was high time he made pudding himself from scratch at least once. Kiro had opened the door that morning, surprised on his rare day off to see his girlfriend at his door bright and early, laden with shopping bags. You had pushed past him and placed the shopping bags in his kitchen, and started unloading the shopping bags whilst explaining to your boyfriend what exactly you had planned for today, leading you back to the present moment.  

“Here put this on.” You threw an apron at Kiro, and he caught it but looked at you bewildered.  

“Miss Chips, what’s this?”

“An apron, I got it because it matches mine.” You said happily, taking the apron out of Kiro’s hands, throwing it over his head and standing behind him to tie it securely.  

Kiro made a choked sound, and looking over his shoulder you saw the apples of his cheeks were sporting a rosy hue, a teasing smile crossed your face as you peeked over at him.  

“Awww Kiro, are you embarrassed?” you teased, placing a kiss on his cheek.  

“O-o-of course not Miss Chips, what’s the first step.” Kiro busied himself, pulling ingredients out of the shopping bags.

You unlocked your phone and pulled up the recipe, Kiro peeking over your shoulder to see what you were making, scrolling down the recipe for a preliminary read through, you nodded and moved to get the eggs out of the carton carefully, placing them next to a large mixing bowl. You expertly cracked the egg on the counter top and letting the egg white drain into the bowl, by passing the yolk from one egg shell to the other. Kiro’s eyes widened in awe and bounced next to you.

“Hey, can you teach me how to do that?” he said happily.

You laughed and handed him an egg, steeping to the side and coaching him through it. Kiro pouted adorably in concentration, but of course he did it perfectly the first time, and dropped the egg shell and yolk in the rubbish container with a flourish. You rolled your eyes playfully at him and hip-checked him.

“Alright, Mr Perfection Kiro, you can whisk if you’re so good at this.” you teased handing him the hand whisk and whilst Kiro did that, you weighed out the caster sugar.

A little while later Kiro called, “Miss Chips, it’s done!” and after checking it you deemed it ready for the next step, standing side by side you adding the caster sugar into the bowl, whilst Kiro continued whisk the mixture, until the mixture was glossy.

You stopped him, and then for the final step you carefully folded in the icing sugar that Kiro had weighed out, but you did have to swat him a couple of times when he tried to eat the icing sugar from the bowl when he thought you weren’t looking.

“Kiro, we literally measured that out, stop eating it!” you scolded lightly.

After piping the mixture into parchment paper, you cut out, you placed them in the oven and set the timer for 1½ hours. Leaving the kitchen, the two of you settled on Kiro’s sofa and you immediately snuggled into his side, him throwing his arm over your shoulders and wrapping you in his arms. You glanced around at the papers scattered around the living space and leaned over Kiro’s embrace to pick one up, Kiro immediately snatched it from you and pulled you back abruptly.

“Kiro, let me see!”

“No, it’s not,” Kiro stopped before finishing shyly, “it’s not finished yet.”

You tilted your head at him, “You’ve let me see your unfinished songs before?”

“You can’t see this one, this one has to be perfect before you see it,” Kiro kissed the tip of your nose, before flashing that perfect smile of his.  

“Fine,” you sighed, “I guess I’ll just have to wait then. Here I thought Kiro kept no secrets from me. I thought he loved me” you swooned dramatically, peaking at him out of the corner of your eye.

Kiro’s form shook with laughter at your acting, “Sorry Miss Chips, amazing performance but not this time.” he said nuzzling your nose with his.

The two of you, spent the rest of the time until the timer beeped, talking about what had been going on with each other recently. Before today, the two of you had been swamped with work so this rare day off had come as a welcome blessing for both of you, as you were finally able to just relax in each other’s presence and enjoy each other’s company. You pushed your head into the crook of his neck, your nose brushing just under his ear. Kiro laughed lightly at the ticklish sensation and tilted his head, but just before he could speak the timer went off from the kitchen. You groaned in protest, untangling yourself from your boyfriend, and padding over to the kitchen to pull the trays out of the oven, after checking them, and after throwing a clean tea towel haphazardly over the trays you walked back, just as Kiro was about to get up himself. You immediately sat on the sofa and pulled him back, throwing a leg over his hip to keep him in place.

“Don’t we need to-”

“It needs to cool, we have time.”

Kiro shrugged, not one to reject cuddles, and he eased his arm around your waist, as you placed a kiss on the underside of his jaw, then after brushing your nose along his jawline you placed your head on his chest, ear just over his heart. You shut your eyes, soothed by the sound of Kiro’s steady heartbeat, and a yawn pushed past your lips. Kiro buried his nose in your hair inhaling it’s scent, a fond smile painted on his lips as his soft eyes watched your form rise and fall with your breathing.

“Alright Miss Chips, we’ll take a nap, how about that?” Kiro said, closing his eyes and resting his head against yours, joining you in a light slumber.

“So, are we done?” Kiro asked stretching his arms out above his head as you disentangled your limbs from each other, rubbing the sleep from your eyes.  

“No, that just the first step.” you replied, hopping up and heading to the kitchen, getting the next set of ingredients out, “Since you did a good job the first time, can you whisk the cream for me?”

“Sure, don’t worry Miss Chips, Kiro is on the case.” he said, rolling his sleeves up and winking at you.  

“You’re hand whisking so go slowly, you don’t want to over whisk this, okay?” Kiro nodded at you and kissed your temple as you chopped the chocolate and then proceeded to the microwave, and melted the chocolate in a bowl, stirring every 15 seconds.  

You took out 2 glasses and spooned the pre-prepared cherry compote you had made the night before, until it half-filled each glass, you then turned around to check on Kiro.  

“Kiro! Don’t eat the cream!”  

Kiro jumped and smiled bashfully at you, “I can’t take my eyes off you can I?” you giggled, and Kiro kissed your cheek, replied with a smirk and a “Nope.”

You removed the now cooled meringues from the parchment paper and broke them into small pieces, which you then folded carefully into the cream. After that you moved the bowl to the glasses, and spooned the cream mixture into the glasses, then you drizzled the chocolate over the top as for good measure added two glace cherries to finish.  

“Now we can eat!” you announced, taking your phone out to take a picture of the two desserts, to place on your moments. Kiro wrapped his arms around your form, positioned his own phone for a picture, once he had taken the picture, he locked his phone and wrapped his arms around your waist, placing his chin atop your head.

“You know, I’m surprised this actually went well.” Kiro mused.

You scoffed in disbelief, “I can’t believe you didn’t trust me.” you picked up on of the glasses and a spoon, and spun around in his embrace.  

You took a big spoonful and lifted it up to his lips, Kiro opened his mouth and you fed him the dessert. Kiro tilted his head from side to side, contemplating the taste, before beaming down at you, “Truly delicious, Miss Chips!”

“Yeah, see I told you what I was doing!” you placed the glass and the spoon back on the counter top.

“You? I think you’ll find it was all me!” Kiro teased, and when you lifted your head to protest, he pressed his lips to yours, your lips sliding over each other, and as you smiling into the kiss, you thought to yourself how the kiss tasted like cherries and chocolate. Only much, much sweeter.

[mrsjihyunkim]

A Witch’s Heart

                            Ch 10-- The Bonds of Our Blood

Jumin reveals his reasons for kissing MC which puts a wall between them. He then tells a secret that not even V knew about his best friend which leads to an origin story of witch hunters. With everything out in the open MC leaves to see an old friend while V tells Jumin of her painful past. 

"Bind." Jumin felt himself pulled to the wall and he couldn't move any part of his body. "How do you know about me? Are you a hunter?" V still reeling in shock didn't know what to do let alone say. MC held her wand at Jumin's throat and V saw that there was nothing but murderous intent radiating from her. "I won't ask again." The invisible bounds tightened around Jumin and his face twisted in pain. "The truth will set you free. Only lies will cause your demise."

"I'm not a hunter. I just needed to be sure that you were actually a witch." The bonds that held Jumin loosened and he took a deep breath. Adjusting his cufflinks again he looked between V and MC. "I suppose I should give an explanation now." V nodded still not able to find any words while MC remained on guard. It had been hundreds of years since someone had gotten the drop on her like that. It would take a good explanation for her to give him a sliver of trust after this. Jumin and V took seats at the table but MC stayed standing incase she needed to protect V. Noticing her stand off nature made Jumin feel a little guilty about his actions. "I assure you MC I mean no harm. I honestly only needed conformation of your magic and I knew that meant you had to get emotional." She knew that he was telling the truth but he still knew too much for her to trust him. When she made no move to sit down or relax V grabbed her hand.

"MC we need to at least hear him out. That was definitely a shock to see, but I've known Jumin my whole life and he wouldn't do anything like that without a good reason." His words were almost enough to cox her to sit now, but her brows knitted together to show she wouldn't budge.

"It better be a very damn good reason. Otherwise my magic will be the least of his worries." V knew exactly what she meant and it made him shiver. Suddenly worried for his best friend he looked to him with pleading eyes and hoped that there was a good reason. "Now what in seven hells are you doing here and how do you know I'm a witch?" Jumin took a deep breath and looked her straight in the eyes.

"I come from a line of witch hunters but they died away with my grandfather. He always told me stories of magic and let me many books and odd trinkets. Of course I also believed him to be senile because magic is just illogical. Then about two years ago Rika confided in me about being a witch. Apparently the crystal I used as a paper weight was some kind of magic object, which led her to believe that she could confide in me." Jumin pulled a small, round, pink crystal ball out of his jacket pocket and the ball instantly flew to MC. Her heart sank as soon as she held it. The carried the memory of a witch who had been killed by a hunter and he'd taken this as his trophy. "I take it by your reaction that it's more than a mere crystal." MC nodded.

"Crystals act somewhat like a memory bank. They soak up magic that's been imprinted with feelings and emotions. This one is heavy with pain. I can see her final moments as her life was taken away from her. All because she healed someone." Not able to stand the visions anymore MC placed the crystal on the counter. V moved to go comfort her but she held out her hand. "I'm alright." V frowned at her but sat back down. Then MC turned her attention back to Jumin. "So you knew about Rika. What all did she tell you?" Jumin's face turned sour as he recalled all the things he knew Rika had done.

"She didn't tell me much. It was more just her showing me what she could do and what she wanted to achieve." His brow frowned as he looked to V. "I tried to tell you about her time and time again V but she had you under some kind of magic that made you not only forget, but remain completely infatuated with her no matter what she did. I tried so hard to get through to you but nothing I did worked." Jumin bit his cheek remembering how useless he felt to help his friend during those times. MC could sense all of Jumin's emotions tangling up inside of him and she lowered her guard just a bit. When she did there was a noticeable change in the air and V smiled at MC as she took a seat at the table.

"I see. I always sensed something off about their relationship but I never saw the two of them together so I couldn't be sure." MC poundered this for a bit only to come back to it later. "That still begs the question of how you knew I was a witch though." She folded her hands over her wand and rested them on the table.

"I didn't really. All I had were suspicions that started not long before V's injuries. Rika said something about another witch trying to get close to V and it had her frantic. Seeing as how you're the only other woman V interacts with I thought of you. Then the night of V's injury, not only did you arrive quickly, you healed an injury that should of needed surgery. That same night you also compelled me to sleep and I couldn't wake up no matter how much I tried. My final clue came earlier today when I found you in my head trying to erase my memories of Rika. It felt like my memories were on fire but it stopped once you were gone. There was also this nagging feeling that you were hurt or something. So I came over here to see for myself and confront you on my theory." MC pinched her nose in annoyance. Everything made sense now and it was almost laughable. Her domestic life had dulled her senses so low that not only did she miss the presence of another witch but now a hunter decedent. She really was a special kind of idiot.

"Well that's puts so many things into perspective." When V gave her a curious look she rolled her eyes. "Since Jumin has hunter blood using on magic on him makes us connected. It's how they hunt witches. Also this means that Jumin caused the backlash during the spell earlier, not Yoosung. See hunter blood pretty much makes him immune to most magic. Unless the caster uses physical touch or is in close proximity. So when I tried to take his memories of Rika he pushed me and the magic out, causing a backlash." Finally understanding what she meant V nodded. He was still surprised by this secret Jumin had but he couldn't be angry. After all V had kept plenty from him, even if in vain.

"Speaking of, why were you trying to erase Rika?" It then dawned on them that Jumin knew nothing of what happened last night. V looked to MC and she nodded, letting him know that he should be the one to explain.

"Well last night Rika abducted Saeran, and drugged him with some kind of potion or something." A brief flash of panic came across Jumin's face. "He's alright now. MC and Saeyoung saved him. However after that MC went to go stop Rika permanently. Long story short MC trapped Rika inside of a stone that acts like an alternate universe. Then,"

"You decided to erase her from everyone memories rather than explain about magic?" Jumin finished for V while looking at MC. When she nodded Jumin leaned back in his chair and ran a hand through his hair. Granted he was still fairly new to the idea of magic but he could imagine that would take an incredible power. V could read Jumin's thoughts on his face and couldn't help but smile.

"I know it still baffles me that she pulled it off. Even if only barley." Jumin raised an eyebrow at V's last sentence. "She almost killed herself in the process of doing it." V frowned at the memory and glanced at MC. Jumin looked between the two and did notice that something was different between them.

"I see. So MC just what kind of witch are you?" MC only laughed at his question. Jumin always had been suspicious of her age, so she might as well tell him.

"I'm an old one. Over four hundred years to be precise." Jumin couldn't hide his shock even if he wanted to and V only laughed.

"I know. I'm still having a hard time believing it. Apparently I have a thing for older women." MC rolled her eyes and Jumin raised an eyebrow. Seeing his friends curiosity rising V began to explain. "Rika was apparently a hundred years old." Jumin's eyes widened again and MC nodded to confirm. He cleared his throat and went to address MC.

"MC I know that this is your home but would you mind if I talked with V in private for a moment? This is a lot more information than I expected." MC's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "If you still don't trust me then V and I can always talk outside the house." Jumin smiled as if knowing very well that she didn't like that idea any better. Letting out a defeated sigh MC stood up.

"No it's alright. I should cleanse the crystal you brought anyway, the house is starting to smell." She picked up the crystal and paused at the door. "Faust dear do keep an eye on things for me please." The snake popped out of her hiding place in V's shirt. Squeeze?  "If that's what you need to do. I'll be in my room." Seeing the shock on Jumin's face made MC feel satisfied before she headed toward her bedroom. Once they heard the door close V let out a gentle laugh and petted Faust.

"Don't worry she's a good snake." Seeing his best friend with a snake wrapped around him was something that Jumin never thought he'd see.

"I thought you were afraid of snakes?" V nodded and Jumin was even more confused.

"Oh no I am but I guess I don't think of Faust as a snake. She's definitely a friend and she feels familiar to me." He let out another soft chuckle. "I suppose that's why they call them familiars." Jumin only nodded as he watched the snake coil up on the table in front of V, the red eyes never leaving him. "Faust this is Jumin, my childhood friend." The snake tilted her head as if studying Jumin. Hunter. V frowned at Faust's words knowing that it meant she didn't trust Jumin either.

"What did she say?" Jumin was both warry and full of curiosity. Even though he had seen magic with his own two eyes there was still so much he didn't understand. Especially about his family history.

"She called you a hunter. I suppose she doesn't trust you either." V let out a sigh and Jumin frowned. He understood MC not trusting him after the stunt he pulled but what did this snake know.

"I honestly don't even know what that means. All I know is that hunters kill witches but I have no desire to do any of that. You know that right?" V nodded and smiled at him. This made Jumin feel much more at ease. "Good. Maybe you can convince MC of that. I feel like she would of killed me on sight if you hadn't been here." V wanted to deny it but he knew better than anyone how much MC hated hunters. Not to mention she wasn't exactly hiding the murderous feeling she was projecting earlier.

"It's not that she doesn't trust you. It's just that I don't think she's ever had a good experience with a hunter. Just give her time and she'll see you mean no harm." V's smile made Jumin hope he was right, but for now it was a moot point.

"Well that aside how are you feeling? You look better than I've seen you look in years." Jumin's words had caught V by surprise and he blushed a little, not sure what to do.

"I honestly feel better than I've felt in years. I'm not blaming myself as much as I used to and I feel like I actually have energy." Jumin seemed to be thinking. He figured this must be due to not being under Rika's magic but he wasn't sure. However another concern weighed on Jumin's mind. V seemed too ok with everything that had happened and it didn't seem right.

"Ok allow me another question." When V nodded Jumin continued. "Are you really in love with MC? I mean I always suspected that you were but I was never sure with Rika in the picture." V's cheeks had turned pink at Jumin's question and he realized that he had never voiced his feelings about MC to anyone. Had he really been that obvious the whole time? Thinking back though he felt like the feelings were always there but that they constantly got buried by something.

"Am I really that obvious?" Jumin only shrugged and tugged at his neck tie.

"Yes and no I suppose. It's obvious that you care about her a lot but no one can be too sure. For the longest time we all thought that you were happy with Rika and it was just a friendship. Then things took a turn at some point. I think spending so much time with MC was weakening Rika's hold on you, because you started to talk about her more. I think it was then that everyone began to suspect. Zen even went so far one time as to ask if you were cheating on Rika with MC." Jumin seemed completely bored with the whole notion but V was beyond shocked. Maybe his love with Rika had all been a lie but he never would of cheated. Seeing his friends shock made Jumin concerned. "Do you not remember this? It was in a chat room with Zen, Assistant Kang, you, and myself." V shook his head and clenched his fist. A lot of his memories were so hazy and he hated it. The only clear ones were of his childhood and recent ones with MC and the twins.

"No. A lot of my memories from the past are hazy. Especially when they involve Rika. Like everything is right there on the tip of my tongue but I can't give any details. Do you think it's because of Rika's magic?" Jumin only shrugged and V sighed. He hated that more questions had appeared right after everything seemed to have ended. "It seems we both have questions but no answers." Jumin nodded and he knew where V was going with this.

"And you want to ask MC if she has any answers?" V nodded and Jumin smiled at their mutual understanding. It had been so long since they had sat down and talked like this. Jumin felt foolish for worrying about their bond in the first place. V stood up from the table about to go get MC but she had already turned the corner into the room.

"Oh I was just coming to get you." She looked tired and V grew concerned. "Is everything ok?" Blinking a little bit MC remembered the current situation.

"Mmmhmm. Just sleepy. Are you two finished talking now?" V nodded and MC moved to the counter to make some tea. They watched as she didn't even use the stove but magic to heat the water. Things floated around the kitchen as MC didn't even use her hands to put sugar or cream in it. She then walked over to the table with the cup of tea following behind her. Only when she sat down at the table did she actually use her hand to bring the tea up to her lips. When the surprise from Jumin and V registered with her she raised an eyebrow. "What? You both know about magic so there's no point in hiding it. Not to mention I'm too tired to do such tedious things." V frowned at her and she rolled her eyes. "Don't give me that look. It hasn't even been twenty four hours since I've come back. I was dead long enough for rigormortis to set in. So while I'm fine my body is still adjusting. No need to fuss." V let out a sigh and sat back down at the table.

"You said that you were dead. How is it that you're here now?" MC put her hands together and when she pulled them apart the word magic in rainbow letters appeared between them. Jumin frowned at her answer and realized that she wasn't going to answer him. "Do you really not trust me because of who my ancestors were?" MC sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose.

"In a way yes. I trust you as a person but I don't trust your blood. See hunter blood has a way of acting on it's own. I've known plenty of people with the blood who don't want to be hunters but they give into it. It's like werewolves and vampires. Vampires just want to be left alone but werewolves go out of their way to kill them. All because of a love story hundreds of years ago." This now had both the men's interests.

"A love story? What does that mean?" For the first time in two years Jumin felt like he was actually close to answers. His brain almost craved them just to make sense of this new side of him. "MC please tell me what you know. I can't stand not knowing who I am anymore." The words barely came out of his mouth and V was shocked. He'd never seen Jumin sound so vulnerable and he looked to MC, almost pleading. Letting out a sigh she downed her tea. A plate of dango appeared on the table as well as some other treats, and MC popped one in her mouth before speaking.

"It's actually thousands not hundreds but then again dates mean nothing to me." Popping another skewer of dango in her mouth she began to recall the story. "Apparently there was a man named Greyson, who had fallen in love with the local beauty, named Lucy. He tried everything to win her affection but she didn't swing his way. In fact she was already in a secret relationship with a handmade, Kisa, from the palace. Well Greyson discovered them during a surprise visit to the Lucy's house. He went into a rage and tried to kill the two. They escaped into the woods where Kisa revealed that she was actually a witch. After that day Greyson continued to hunt them and made sure that his kin would too. That was the start of the hunters story and they're actually fucking proud of it." She didn't bother to hide the hate in her voice and Jumin could understand it now.

"So what does that mean about me then?" Jumin really couldn't see himself killing anyone but he felt like ignoring this issue was the wrong choice. When he saw MC shrug he frowned.

"I honestly don't know. I've never let a hunter live long enough to talk." His eyes widened at her words and she sighed. "That doesn't mean I was going to just kill you. I can sense that you're different and that's part of the reason I let you explain yourself. Obviously though the twins and V stayed my hand too. They've made me soft." Jumin was still surprised by how casual she sounded about all of this, but it also made him insanely curious. He had seen first hand how caring she was and to hear her talk about killing so casually was different.

"You don't have to lie. I don't doubt that you would of killed me if my reasons wasn't satisfactory. It was a risk that I knew I was taking. You really should give me more credit though MC. I already knew that you were nothing like what it says in my grandfather's books. Although it wouldn't surprise me if you're the force of nature he talks about in them." MC raised an eyebrow. For the first Jumin actually had peaked her curiosity.

"You still want me to trust you Jumin?" He nodded and MC smiled. "Then will you let me borrow everything your grandfather had on the hunters?" Jumin was curious as to why she wanted them but he saw no reason to object.

"I suppose. I could have someone bring them over here within an hour or so." He went to pull out his phone but MC shook her head.

"No need just give me your hand." The request seemed odd but he listened. "Pay attention V this is a useful spell." V nodded and watched as Jumin's hand rested MC's. She cleared away all the treats on the table except for the plate of half finished dango. "Now Jumin, close your eyes and picture everything you have regarding the hunters. Just think about it clearly in your mind." He did as he was told and thought of the boxes of books and trinkets that his grandfather had left him. In his mind he went through the items one by one. V watched in awe as items began to pile on the table. He could feel MC's magic connecting her to Jumin and that must be what was helping her materialize the items. "Is that everything Jumin?"

"Yes. Other than the crystal I brought with me that's everything I have." Satisfied with his answer she ended the connection and Jumin found his body felt somewhat fuzzy. Like there had just been a current running through it. When he looked at the table his jaw dropped in shock. There on the table sat every item he had pictured in his mind. "Amazing. How did you do it? Can you tell me?" MC was taken aback a bit by the compliment. Jumin's natural curiosity seemed to be what made him different from other hunters but she could only wonder how long that would last. Instead of answering him she looked to V to see if he knew. His amazed face was beyond cute as she found herself staring.

"I've read about these spells. It's like a type of psychometry but instead of just seeing the items you teleport them. Is that right?" MC smiled at him and nodded.

"How did you know that V?" Jumin didn't bother to hide his surprise. V only chuckled and pulled out the book MC gave him to read.

"MC gave me this book to read so that I could understand the basics of magic. It's actually quite fascinating. Apparently everyone is capable of magic since it stems from nature but it requires total acceptance. There's also some basic spells in here that I wish to try." V gave a hopeful glance at MC but she didn't look up from the book she was flipping through.

"Soon dear. We've barely had a moment to breath with everything going on. Magic takes patience above all else." Jumin began to think and while he was various curious about magic he didn't know if it would benefit him.

"Are you planning to learn magic V?" When asked the question V hesitated still but less than he had earlier.

"I'd like to but it's up to MC to teach me. I get the feeling she doesn't want me to learn." MC only shrugged thumbing through another book.

"I just don't want you to have any regret. When you can answer without hesitation then I'll teach you. Hesitating with magic is like pouring gasoline over a fire. It's going to blow up in your face." She moved onto the next book and Jumin's curiosity had moved with her.

"MC what exactly are you looking for?" This time she actually looked up from the book and at the pair.

"Rika said something about having a coven. So I'm seeing if there are any clues in here that could give me any information. As far as I knew this area had been dead of witch activity for at least two hundred years. But if there are other witches in the area then I need to be ready. Especially if any of them practice dark magic like Rika." She looked composed as she talked but V could see the worry in her eyes.

"What will you do if you find them?" V's question stemmed from worry. He had seen MC fight Rika and how much it took out of her. If she had to that again, and against more than one person, V was worried she might not get so lucky this time. When MC only shrugged it gave him a slight relief. It seemed she didn't plan on using that spell again which was good.

"I'm not sure honestly. It depends on if they are a threat." Jumin was now curious by what she would do if they were.

"And if they are?" His question hung in the air for a moment and V was surprised by how forward his question was. It was almost like he wanted her to say the obvious idea they both shared. MC looked at Jumin and a steely resolve in her eyes.

"Then I keep my family and RFA safe. No matter what." Both V and Jumin seemed surprised that the RFA was included in her answer. "What?" She set the book down and looked between them.

"It's just that you've never expressed a desire to protect the RFA before." Jumin nodded to agree with V and MC sighed.

"Of course I protect the RFA. I've been doing it since it was founded." V's jaw literally dropped and MC only smiled.

"What? Did you honestly think I just let things be when the twins were involved? They love the RFA more than anything so I've always kept a watchful eye to make sure nothing happened to anyone." V let out a laugh and ran a hand through his hair. This woman just kept surprising him and he loved it.

"Exactly how did you help?" The question sounded more suspicious than he meant it but MC didn't take it personal. In fact it made her laugh

"More like how didn't I. I've healed Zen's injuries, cast focus spells on Yoosung to keep his grades up, and don't even get me started on poor Jaehee." Jumin raised an eyebrow not sure what sure what she meant. "That poor girl is so overworked that her blood is mostly energy potions. Hells the only reason she sleeps is because Alonzo planted a sleeping pouch in her home. Seriously Jumin give her a vacation or something." He frowned at her suggestion and was about to counter her when V started laughing. They both looked at him like he had gone insane but V only continued to laugh.

"Sorry it's just that all the strange traits in the RFA suddenly make sense. Zen's monster healing factor, Yoosung somehow managing to pass tests, and Jaehee's ability to not drown in work. It was all you." He grabbed her hand and she blushed at the sudden affection. "Thank you MC for protecting them when I couldn't." Biting her lip she hid her face behind one of the books, but V only kissed the hand he was holding. She didn't like other people seeing her being so affectionate. Jumin on the other hand smiled at the scene. He didn't know much about love, but he knew his friend, and this was him truly happy. There were no tired expressions on his face, no hesitation in his voice to speak, and his smile was brighter than Jumin had seen in the last eleven years.

"I'd also like to thank you MC." Forgetting her flustered state MC peeked at Jumin over the book.

"Whatever for?" Jumin smiled at her and looked between the two of them.

"For everything you've done. I'll admit when you came to heal V's eyes I was a little suspicious but I can see how much you care for him. In fact you care about more than you let on if I'm not mistaken." MC put the book down and smiled.

"Yes and no. See I stand by what I said that night I treated him. My main concern is the twins and I'll protect them from getting hurt no matter the cost. So many of my actions stem from that desire and the includes protecting the other members. I know how much the boys love all of you and worry about everyone. They're truly kind unlike me." Both V and Jumin frowned at her answer and she sighed, folding her hand over each other. "That's not to say I'm completely heartless. I love V and the twins for than anything, but they tend to stress too much over others. So I help the other members so that they don't needlessly worry." V was still frowning at her answer and she let out another sigh. "I'm not saying that I dislike the other members or anything. I'm simply stating or that without the three of you I'd have no desire to help them." To Jumin this made sense. It was a sensible way of thinking and he commended her for it.

"I see. You only take actions to help the people you care about and without those people there'd be no reason for you to do anything." MC nodded and Jumin gave a small smile. "It seems we have a similar way of thinking." MC only shrugged and stood up from the table. She picked up a bag and began to put some of the books in it. It wasn't that Jumin  minded but he didn't like how she didn't explain anything. "What are you doing?" She looked up at Jumin surprised that he was asking.

"Most of these are coded and I can't decipher." There was a slight frustration in her voice and it worried V. "However I think I know someone who can help me." She groaned at the sheer thought of who she had to go see but it was a necessary evil. The look on her face only made V worry more. Who ever she was talking about she clearly didn't want to go see.

"Who? Are you sure it's a safe idea? Should I come with you?" MC's eyes went wide and she pushed V back in his chair.

"No! Absolutely not. It's bad enough that I have to go see her but bringing you would just make her even more of a pain." MC shivered at the mere idea of what could happen if she brought V. Jumin found this behavior strangely curious. MC seemed almost scared of the person she was talking about.

"MC just who are you going to see?" Jumin could tell that V also wanted to know, so he didn't see the harm in asking. MC hesitated not sure if she should answer. It would only raise more questions but she didn't want to lie to V. Pinching the bridge of her nose MC let out a long sigh.

"I'm going to go see Saizo's sister Yuki. She'll have the answers I need, I'm sure of it." V's eyes widened at her answer and a million questions filled his brain.

"You mean she's still alive?" MC nodded and Jumin was now confused and clearly missing some information. MC looked over to Jumin and could see that he was completely confused by the current conversation.

"V now is not really the time to talk about this. I'll go see Yuki and while I'm gone you can tell Jumin what you see fit. I don't mind if he knows." V was still too stunned say anything so he nodded. MC planted a kiss on his cheek and smiled. "Thank you. Utsusemi come please." The huge black crow flew through the house, causing Jumin to jump, and landed on MC's arm. "I'll call if I'm not going to be home by dinner." Again V could only nod as MC disappeared from the house. Leaving both V and Jumin with questions. Only a few minutes had passed since MC left but to V it felt like hours. He never in a million years imagined that anyone related to Saizo would still be alive. It also made V wonder why MC never mentioned it before. She was so fond of Saizo and it showed when she talked about him but she never said anything about him having a sister. Jumin could tell that something had shocked his friend but without the proper knowledge he couldn't be of any help.

"What was MC talking about when she left? Is there something I'm not supposed to know?" V snapped out of his thoughts and smiled at his friend.

"Well she said I can tell you so I might as well. See about four hundred years ago MC was living in Japan during the warring states era. There she met a man named Saizo and they fell in love." V knew it was in the past but he still felt a stab to his heart when he said it out loud. "They had twins together and she was content enough to give up magic." Jumin was beyond intrigued by V's story. Knowing this explained why MC took to the twins so quickly. She must of seen something of her own children in them.

"MC is still a witch though so what changed?" V's face fell at the question as he remembered seeing the pain on MC's face. Even though it happened so long ago he knew that it would always be fresh in her heart, just like him with his mother.

"Hunters came after MC but she wasn't home. A fire broke out, killing Saizo and the twins." V's throat felt tight as he told Jumin the rest of the story. He remembered seeing MC break down after telling him and he hated that she carried such a heavy pain inside of her. Jumin also felt very solemn after knowing this. It never once crossed his mind that MC had fallen in love or ever bared any children. Even he knew that losing those things would be very painful for anyone, but he couldn't imagine carrying that pain for so long. "It makes me feel insecure in a way." Hearing V say that made Jumin raise an eyebrow. V chuckled nervously and ran a hand through his hair. "She grieved over him for centuries. I don't think I can ever compete with him." Jumin frowned at V's theory.

"I think you can." This seemed to perk V up a bit and Jumin was glad. "I know I'm not the best with feelings and emotions, but I know that MC wouldn't open up to just anyone. Especially after a loss like that, and who knows how many other losses. I mean she is four hundred years old, so I'm sure she's seen plenty of people die." Realizing that his point was lost on V Jumin cleared his throat. "My point is that she must care about you a great deal because she's let you in. I don't think that's something she does casually." V listened intently to Jumin's words and thought them over. He wanted to believe that it was true but the fact that she never told him about Saizo's sister still being alive made him uneasy. Jumin noticed that V still seemed doubtful and he realized that it must have to do with this Yuki person. MC had said that it was Saizo's sister and that she was still alive. "Are you doubtful because of this Yuki person?" V nodded and swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat.

"I suppose. MC never said anything about Saizo having siblings, let alone that anyone from her past was alive. If it's Saizo's sister I don't understand why she wouldn't tell me." Jumin nodded and understood V's concern.

"It does seem odd but I'm sure she has a good reason. Perhaps they were never that close or something." Jumin only shrugged and V realized that he had never even thought of something like that. It wasn't that far fetched either. V had a sister that he barely even knew.

"I guess you could be right about that. I'm sure she'll explain when she gets back." Jumin nodded and V felt a bit of relief. If there was one thing he could trust in the world it was that MC had a reason for everything.

[kaweeella]

I would like to apologize for what I’m about to do

Classpecting the twist kids. Heavy spoilers for everything in the main story as of making this post.

(with explanations) (some have more than others)

Riddle- Witch of Hope.

Those bound to the aspect of hope tend to have strict and inflexible morals, with Riddle’s insistence on everyone following every rule, that can certainly be used to describe him. I was trying to think of a class that could show his unique magic, as he doesn’t destroy or take people’s magic, just represses it. I think that the closest one for that would be the Witch, one who changes their aspect or through their aspect for themselves. In this instance it could be interpreted as changing through belief, or Riddle changing other’s powers through his belief that he is in the right. Witches are also speculated to have some sort of “familiar” that grants them great power, but the witch will need to over come the familiar’s will. For Riddle, his “familiar” would be his mother. Because of her his magic is astonishing and he is very smart, but it is because of her he has such a ridged world view and follows the rules as strictly as he does. (That is understating her negative effect on him by a great amount)

Ace- Knight of Rage.

Ace’s first introduction is him pissing off everyone around him (Insulting MC and Grim, scorching the statue, getting Deuce’s name wrong etc.) and he has a tendency to “do the impossible.” Granted, these things aren’t technically “impossible” to begin with, rather being greatly difficult, however I’m still counting it. Ace is shown to be protective, as when Riddle insults MC, he defends them, getting angry on their behalf. He also rallies his classmates against Riddle, using their anger at him to get what he wants. He uses his anger and the anger of those around him to protect what he cares about. Additionally, rage being the opposite of hope, it makes him a greater lancer to Riddle.

Deuce- Heir of Blood.

He is deeply loyal to those he is close to, and he is able to show his true power when those he is close to are in danger, and with blood being the aspect of bonds, it feels appropriate. Deuce’s Unique Magic involves him changing peoples spells, sending them towards the caster. Both instances of it’s uses he is defending his friends, using them as motivation to get the spell right.

Cater- Maid of Heart.

He creates other personas, somewhat literally. In his science card story it’s shown that Cater is likely really depressed, though he hides it, creating an upbeat and happy persona. The reason I say it’s somewhat literal is because his magic allows him to make duplicates of himself.

Trey- Heir of Life.

Spoilers for book 1 of the main story. Trey’s Unique Magic allows him to actually change the properties of things and he changed Riddle’s life, if only for a little bit, allowing him to experience things he never could previously. After Riddle gets in trouble, however, he stops trying to change things and somewhat encourages the destructive behaviors, or at least allows them. When he decides to step back in to fix things, he starts by using his magic to change Riddle’s magic and change the roses that I’m almost 90% sure he was gonna impale Ace with. He’s also known best for his baking, which, I’m pretty sure anyways, life-bound.

Leona- Prince of Breath.

Leona’s Unique Magic literally destroys anything he touches. He took over a position of power, becoming a dorm prefect, and uses his authority to get the members of his dorm to cheat. Him being a prince is somewhat fitting, in my opinion, as he is the second born son of a royal family, making him a prince that will never lead.

Jack- Knight of Blood.

Jack protects and helps people, especially those he respects and or cares about. He protects Ruggie from Leona, assisting MC when they needed him and while he might try to deny it he deeply cares about those around him. He is a protector.

Ruggie- Rouge of Life.

While he benefits at least to some degree in most schemes he’s a part of, Ruggie often uses his abilities to help others. When he pickpockets Azul to help MC and bringing almost expired food back home before winter break to share with the neighbor kids, while he was getting something out of both of those- MC out of his dorm and some cheap or free food (I don’t remember which right now) respectively, he also assists Leona, getting him food from the cafeteria when he can’t be bothered to get it himself, even stealing the food when necessary, seen with his first interactions with Grim.

Azul- Thief of Void.

He finds and uses peoples secrets and uses them against others to get what he wants. It also means “Thief of nothing” which is correct, the study guides were made perfectly legitimately, and the contracts were not signed under duress with clear terms, so *~Technically~* he did nothing wrong. He also keeps his own past shrouded, having MC steal an old photo of himself. Void is also connected to the ocean, which he is from.

Jade- Rouge of Void.

Jade, on the other hand, uncovers secrets for others, mainly Azul but he also uses his powers to help MC and Scarabia during book four. And once again, he is from the ocean.

Floyd- Heir of Time.

Floyd dances to the beat of his own drum, doing whatever he wants. He leaves when he doesn’t want to be somewhere, going at whatever pace he wants to. As far as I’m aware twice now he’s actively stopped doing whatever it was he was supposed to be doing specifically to dance, once at basketball practice and once at Scarabia. His Unique Magic is also to change directions of attacks, which he uses to defend himself and Jade.

Kalim- Page of Rage.

Kalim tends to be very confused, seemingly not always aware of what’s going on. He is kept confused by Jamil, who’s magic causes him to forget a lot of things. Also, in the fandom at least, whenever bad things happen people get upset for him and want to help him, serving him through their rage. And even after what happens, his relationship with Jamil gets repaired relatively quickly, as Jamil seems to forgive Kalim pretty quickly and Kalim does the same.

Jamil- Thief of Breath.

His plan revolves around stealing Kalim’s position of leadership by hypnotizing him and making him act in a way he desires, taking his freedom as well. He also takes Grim and MC’s freedom when he has them trapped in the dorm. Also, when he’s finally over the edge, he sends Kalim, Grim, Azul, Jade, Floyd, and MC away, flying through the air.

Vil- Maid of Space.

And with that we have a valid session. Jokes aside, Vil has on obsession with making himself beautiful, using makeup and fashion, which are both space-coded. He tries to make himself the fairest of them all. He also appears to try and keep a professional distance between himself and others, creating emotional space between them.

Epel- Page of Time.

It’s due to a music competition that Epel realizes his full potential, Vil helping him through it. He isn’t one to lay down and take things, fighting against anyone when he sees a problem, which is very time-bound behavior. Epel also garners pity from those around him with his pathetic face, getting Jack Ace and Deuce concerned for his well being and them trying to stand up for him.

Rook- Bard of Rage.

Rook tries to de-escalate things with Vil, stopping him from poisoning his competition. He also uses the absolute absurdity of breaking into a highly defended base just to give someone lotion as something of a shield, allowing him to break out the captured students. (Fun note- that’s a trope known as refuge in audacity; doing something so unthinkable with such confidence that people just let you do it, and doing absolutely insane things with nothing but utmost confidence is Rook’s specialty.) He is also perfectly aware of how he makes others feel with his antics, such as trying to piss Malleus off enough to chase him (it doesn’t work, maybe because he was trying to create rage for himself.) The confidence only a white boy could have.

Idia- Heir of Void.

Robotics, something Idia is particularly good at, is heavily void-coded. Idia also has the tendency to try and slip into the background, becoming unseen, even when he is required to be in the spot light, sending his tablet out to ceremonies he’s supposed to attend and creating a program to speak on his behalf when he needs to give a speech to an audience. He also sometimes misunderstand what people are really saying, the light of the truth being obscured by the ever consuming void that is his anxiety, which is to his detriment. An example is in his robes story, where he mistakes what Malleus is saying as being judgmental against him, when really he just doesn’t know why Idia’s wearing his robes, as he doesn’t know there’s a ceremony going on.

Ortho- Heir of Doom.

Ortho tries his best to help his brother, trying to pull himself out of his self-made spiral of self hate and doomed thinking. He tries to push his brother to self-betterment, though it rarely works. There’s also the chance he himself falling to victim to the doom. He already has once after all...

Malleus- Sylph of Time.

Malleus has been shown to seemingly have some sort of ability to manipulate time or repair, as seen in book five when he fixes the stage after it’s destroyed. With his character and time’s connection to destruction and strife, if my observations are correct, then he and others might not truly begin healing until everything is broken.

Lilia- Mage of Light,

Lilia defiantly knows more than he’s letting on, and will likely play a large role in the story. Since book seven isn’t out at the time of writing, I don’t know too much about Lilia’s role in the story but from what I have seen he is quite knowledgeable.

Silver- Knight of Mind.

Silver is already a knight, his character candy being labeled “Knight Candy.” He’s also quite level-headed, staying calm and planning pretty well. His calm could also be in some way a façade, hiding how upset he is with himself with his narcoleptic tendencies, as he has show distain for it quite a few times in the story.

Sebek- Seer of Doom.

As another one of Malleus’s attendants, Sebek is always on guard and looking for any potential danger, even when Malleus isn’t around. He also knows Malleus’s suffering as apparently there is a comic of Malleus striking him with lightning out of jealousy.

It’s done...! If you have a different opinion on any of them please feel free to tell me! I’d love to hear others thoughts on this!!!

[diphthongsfordays]

@drippingmoon this has fully just been chilling in my drafts for like...a month? More? Story of my tumblr life, lol.

But! I shall elaborate on those titles you asked about, because I'll take any chance to ramble about my nonsense :-)

Death by Dawnlight

If I GMed, I would totally turn this into a campaign setting. I still might someday, lol. I have all sorts of fun world building ideas, but every time I try to stick an actual book plotline into the world, it falls apart. The tl;dr is that the entire continent is centered around surviving the Sunstorms. Sun demons can crawl out of sunbeams, and they are fast and vicious. Cities use Casters to create and maintain Night Circles at all times, as the demons can't enter a night circle or form inside one. So you get massive cities inside night circles controlled by a lot of casters who are always working in shifts to maintain it, and only drop it during very cloudy days. The cities are separated by large stretches of nothing, and the caravans that move between them have to travel with night casters. It is EXTREMELY DANGEROUS and the casualty rate is high. Everyone always needs more casters. It's dangerous, doing it wrong damages the body and once that cycle starts it's hard to stop. Many cities draft people as casters for a set amount of time, some conscript criminals instead of using jail, it's a whole mess. The only fringe cities that exist are mostly made of of caravans and criminals who decided not to go back to a main city, and make their own little settlements with make-shift night circles. There are a lot more of these than the big cities want to admit. There's a fort that defends the mountain pass the sun cult has to use, that has the best trained scouts in the world, and also ancient magic that generates its own night circle that no one has figured out how to replicate. They are arrogant and closed-off, and keep their secrets. People are born and raised and die there, and they do not take outsiders. The sunstorms are grown stronger, and more frequent. The night circles are harder to maintain, and the magic is getting wilder. Basically, calamity is coming. Which you'd think would be a good basis for a plot, but apparently it's not, lol.

Kingdom Eternal

Essentially, one kingdom violently overtook another. In that fight, the main character witnessed her father's murder while he bought her time to escape. She has massssiive survivors guilt, and so immediately dived into the rebellion movement. She acts as a courier, carrying messages for both the rebellion and for people in different cities with no way to contact each other. The capitol was immediately overrun, and the enemy kingdom announced the deaths of the entire royal family. Spoiler alert, they hardcore lied. They kept the king and queen alive, and the twin princes escaped. The older twin is a self-centered coward, and the younger just wants his parents back. The MC saves the princes, and decides to help them rescue their parents. This turns into a full scale retaking of the kingdom, but the MC and younger prince are basically just in it for family, and the older prince just wants power. There was also a whole subplot about how MC was told her mother drowned, but actually her mother had an affair and left. She shows up at some point and causes all sorts of angst for everyone. The whole story was basically an exploration of loyalty patriotism, and someday with a lot of reworking I may revisit it because I like the conflicting themes.

The Never-Dog

A short story about something that looks like a dog, but when you look closely you can tell was never actually a dog. It's an ancient creature that fell through a dimensional crack and is stuck in this little village, where a hunter who builds shrines for every animal she kills befriends it. It was this weird little horror story with a center of hope and survival that I want to revisit someday because I really liked the concept.

WIP Title Tag

Tagged by the lovely @winterandwords, thanks!!

Rules: post the names of all the files in your wip folder, regardless of how non-descriptive or ridiculous. Let people send you an ask with the title that most intrigues them and then post a little snippet of it or tell them something about it! And then tag as many people as you have wips.

Actual Scrivener Docs I currently have in dropbox

Blood Mage - old story I've cannibalized like five times and only keep because I'm physically incapable of deleting files

Dealer of Death - fully outlined duology about a young woman who uses magic and decks of cards to tell fortunes and also sometimes kill people.

Death by Dawnlight - demons that spawn out of sunlight, a sun cult that uses prisms to enact violence, several key locations, two and a half characters, and no plot

Deathdancer - current wip, more info here!

Firetide Rising Master Current for Realz -other current wip, more info here! (scrivener kept freaking out and I ended up with a bunch of copies so I needed to know which one was current lol)

Kingdom Eternal - one of the first stories I seriously worked on. The first book was called Gather the Pieces, about a secret messenger in a conquered kingdom trying to deal with her father's murder and help the former princes rescue their parents and take back their kingdom

Paraphotography - about a college student having an existential crisis who takes a risky job with some paranormal investigators to try and solve the mass disappearance that took her brother. Outlined as an experiment for 2021 NaNo, which I proceeded to...not write for 2021 NaNo

Shadowrunner - old story about mages who draw power from death and shadows. I really like it, but it needs some massive reworking and I hate the dark=evil color symbolism I somehow accidentally filled it with.

Stormshaper - love the magic system, love the city I set it in, hate the actual outline.

The Marked - half-baked idea about gods who mark their chosen ones to give them power, where each god has a set number of marks they can give. Wars are fought to gain the gods attention, favor, and powers. The Forgotten God can give one mark, and gives it to a random girl in a backwater village who doesn't know what marks are. Chaos ensues.

All of the homeless subdocuments in my Random Ramblings scrivener doc, which serves as my brain dump file

Random Writings - the dumping ground for literally anything I like. Lines, quotes, descriptions, ideas, etc.

Razanne and Ailin

Goldsworn

Familiar Magic

Niv and the Neverwhere

Selby

Rook and the Red Tree

Asha the Float Rider

The Never-Dog

Voldy-pocalyps

Spanner/Realmwalker/Broken World

No Third Chances

Sipyhon

The Thundering Dark

I don't know who's already done this, so I tentatively tag (no pressure!!): @afoolandathief, @writingonesdreams, @hyba, @avrablake, @zmwrites, @the-orangeauthor, @drippingmoon, @thegreatobsesso and OPEN TAG for anyone who wants it! Seriously please take it, I love seeing title stuff! And I have too many files to actually tag a person for each one, lol.

[paranoid-rhythm]

Interlude Translation: Caster Gilgamesh Part 2

Warning: Spoilers for those who haven’t finished Babylonia and Solomon.

I’m using the female avatar, so for convenience’s sake, I named the MC Gudako.

Seriously, Caster Gilgamesh is adorable lol

Part 1 here

TL under the cut~

???: …tsk

CasGil: After going through the pain of allotting resources to hide your identity, it seems like your battle prowess is failing you.

Did you underestimate me just because I am a Caster? Fool! Even in this form of a Caster, the fact that I am the King of Heroes is unchanged!

Fufu…

Fuhaha…

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

???: Retreat.

CasGil: Hmph! Retreating while I’m laughing, what impudence! A coward who can’t even reveal their identity, nothing but a small fry.

Mashu: Still, they have concealed their identity perfectly. I tried to analyze who they were from here but…

CasGil: I see. Mongrel, within the servants that you have summoned, do you have any idea as to who that may be?

Gudako:

1 It’s Jack-chan!

2 I wonder…

(Same result for both answers)

Da Vinci: Going by the elimination method, Jack the Ripper is the top choice for the servant who can successfully hide their identity while in battle--…

WHAT A DISASTER!!!

CasGil: What happened?!

Da Vinci: Forgive me, but I’ve confirmed that there is indeed a servant reaction missing in Chaldea right now.

Since half of the staff are knocked down, the process of checking the Saint Graph reactions was delayed.

Mashu: When I searched, Jack-san’s Saint Graph reaction disappeared. The Saint Graph pattern is in its agitated state, so it means that we did actually summon her but…

Da Vinci: Right now, I’m picking up on which servants graphs are not responding, so please wait for a while…

Gudako:

1 To think that a servant would betray me

2 ….why do I feel like this is set up too perfectly…?

(Same result for both answers)

Mashu: Senpai, there is a servant reaction nearby. As a precaution, please be alert!

Paracelsus: …I’ve disappeared from Chaldea… and when I came to, I found myself wandering in this city of fire alone…

Oh? The master and King Gilgamesh. What are you doing here?

CasGil: That’s what I want to ask you. Answer me truthfully! If you say any falsehood, I will end your life.

Paracelsus: I wonder if it’s alright to say… that I just wished for everyone’s relaxation.

While everyone do get rest on a shifting system, is it truly called “rest” when it’s an obligatory one?

I was only thinking to help eliminate their grief, for them to be able to fall into unconsciousness and rest without worrying about what happens next!

Mashu: Master… I didn’t want to say this but…

It seems that all of the staff that got knocked down came into contact with Paracelsus-san last night.

Under their pillows is a medicine bag with “Safe! Innovative! Undaunted Hohenheim Seal!” written on it…

Gudako:

1 I guess it’s fine that it’s not “Self-conceit” written there…

2 …It’s the first time that I’ve encountered such a shady servant…

(Same result for both answers)

CasGil: And so… what did you do?

Paracelsus: The staff all looked so tired, so I gave them a special medicine…

Please don’t be worried. The ingredients used aside, it works wonderfully. They would not wake until they have taken enough rest.

…Though, I don’t have any control on how tired they are… For example… if they’re fatigued for three days already, it might be possible that they won’t wake up on the third day…

CasGil: Fool! Of course they’ll die if they continue sleeping for three days without hydration and nourishment!

Paracelsus: Ehh… uh… uhm… T-that’s why that part is dependent on the person’s vitality--…

CasGil: I’ve decided. Before we continue our search, let’s take care of this fool first, mongrel!

Gudako:

1 I think that’s a good idea.

2 Let’s make him reflect on the wrong he’s done!

(Battle with Paracelsus)

CasGil: I think this would do. Have you reflected on your actions, Hohenheim?!

Paracelsus: It… hurts… a lot…

Enough to make me want to drink that medicine as well…

And the precious homunculi that I’ve carefully raised, defeated and thrown away like rocks….

My heart hurts…

CasGil: Hm?

Paracelsus: It was supposed to be a trap. Well, even so, would you still come with me?

Gudako:

1 Wait, Paracelsus!

2 We should stop that troublesome doctor!

(Same result for both answers)

CasGil: Wait, I know how you feel, but first, calm down, mongrel.

There’s no need for us to easily accept his invitation.

The enemy this time is a Caster, completely different from that Assassin from earlier.

We can easily track him.

Besides, you should try to read his intentions closely.

Gudako:

1 ...He wants to separate me from you?

2 …He doesn’t want to get scolded by you?

1st Option

CasGil: Indeed. See? You could do it if you tried. His retreat too suspicious, he’s obviously planning something.

2nd Option

CasGil: ….Seriously, this woman… Is this the limit of this generation’s understanding?

Think carefully. Try to follow his line of thinking, is what I’m saying. Try to think about why he would do such a thing.

CasGil: Besides, mongrel, isn’t there some other place that you would like to check?

Gudako: The Greater Grail!

CasGil: Indeed. There’s nothing else worthwhile in this place than that.

Mashu: Maybe we can find the answer to Jack-san and Paracelsus-san’s suspicious activities there…

CasGil: ………………….

Angra: What, you’re here already? Does that mean that those two failed?

Well, I think it was a wrong move to make that low energy oniisan the decoy?

Anyway, since it’s come to this, hello there!

Master and King-sama-chan!* Good work coming all the way here!

(*YES, he used two honorifics smh)

Da Vinci: That is… the servant we saw from the Greater Grail during the Zero incident?

His Saint Graph is not recorded in Chaldea, so why is he here? Are you the one who kidnapped Doctor Roman?

Angra: Doctor, huh. I don’t know any doctors or scholars…

Well, who’s that again?

Doctor Ronpa, was it?

Anyway, yeah I did it!

I vaguely remember accepting that kinda job!

And so, do you wanna fight it out?!

But please, be careful!

‘Cos I’m reaaally weak!

I’ll die from one punch, so there’s no complaints there, right?!

Also, if I die, the doctor’s whereabouts would forever be lost, so be careful about that, okay?!

CasGil: What?! If we carelessly end up killing you, we won’t get any information?!

What’s with this clichéd hostage situation?!

A servant using his own life as a bargaining chip?!

Gudako:

1 Then let’s gently… no, in full force!!!

2 If it’s the doctor, I’m sure Mashu can find him!

(Same result for both answers)

Mashu: Yes! Leave the exploration of the surrounding areas to me!

So please, King Gilgamesh, please defeat the enemy servant!

CasGil: Oh? And so that’s how it is, even I was surprised by this turn of events. I wonder how the next part would play out?

Angra: Hmm… absolutely not caring about my life huh, I really like that! That’s not bad!

Ah well, it’s not like I’m not used to being treated that way?

My life and death are often overlooked since the beginning anyway?

If only you rode in on my cajolery, wouldn’t that be the better outcome?

Mashu: Master!

Gudako: King Gilgamesh, behind you!

Gilgamesh: Why did you warn me too late?! That was a close one! If it hadn’t it been me, that would’ve resulted into a fatal injury!

Oh well, I’ll forgive you for barely warning me.

Show yourself, third servant!

Amakusa: I missed a great opportunity there… if only I was a bit faster, I could’ve ambushed you better.

Or was it both our fault?

Was our cooperation not good enough?

Mashu: No way… even Amakusa-san…

Please tell me, what have you done to the Doctor? Why did you do such a thing?

Amakusa: Well about that…

…Avenger, what was it again?

Avenger: You’re just gonna pass the ball to me like that, huh.

Ah, oh right! We were gonna eradicate Chaldea, was it?

Amakusa: That’s kind of clichéd, but oh well.

Alright. It’s just as he says.

The time is ripe for action, if I dare say? I guess it’s fine to say that.

CasGil: As usual, you’re a cunning man. This is the second time we’ve met, hm?

Though I have not met you directly in this form yet, the fact that my previous form met you is engraved in my Saint Graph.

I have reviewed what was recorded in my Saint Graph, and saw what you did for Uruk, holy man.

But staging a rebellion such as this, what, have you grown tired of the ways of these people of the modern era?

Amakusa: Hahaha! Though that is indeed, something I would do, I shall leave it to your imagination instead.

But let me just say one thing, no matter where or when we meet, I am me.

Angra: Hey! If your supposed surprise attack failed, why not end it quickly? Now’s not the time to chat around!

That king over there and the master too, they’ve grown tired of your talk.

Besides, the enemy is a just a Caster.

Rather than talk it out, wouldn’t it be better to beat them to a pulp with physical strength?

CasGil: Very well. I shall respond to your challenge, Avenger.

These magic wands are all part of my prided treasures!

Know their full power directly!!!

(Battle with Amakusa and Angra)