#in the short time they've known each other they've given more of the real them than anyone else has ever known in MILLENNIA

[shuttershocky]

Thinking about Riddell again.

Aside from the fact that the best character in Mahoyo only showed up in its last chapter, Riddell's fascinating because Nasu's always written about how living as a mage sucks, but Riddell's maybe the first time he directly compared it to something and the comparison he chose was being a child celebrity.

Riddell's both. A powerful mage (who's even the Lord of Botany at the Clock Tower by Case Files) and a star musician going on world tours (possibly even a rock star given that Aoko's a fan of hers that tapes her shows) as a mere teenager, you would think her most outstanding trait would be her pride or haughtiness or her overbearing sense of superiority, but while she does have all those traits, the first thing you actually notice about her is that she's incredibly pathetic and sad.

In her very first scene, she breaks into the Kuonji Mansion on a helicopter and cancels her concert, furious that she wasn't invited to Alice's birthday party. Alice explains that (even if they've known each other since childhood) they are rival mages that should kill each other, and they have in fact tried to in the past. Riddell agrees but immediately brushes it off, forcibly adding herself to the guests. Alice later literally crushes her heart with magic. Riddell responds by heaving blood and stumbling back up, saying "It'll take more than a heart attack to kill me!" to keep participating in the party.

It becomes a running theme in the very short time Mahoyo shows her off. Riddell flaunts her wealth, power (both socially and magically) and fame, but is constantly upended by how pitiful she is. She'll talk up her legion of adoring fans but cancel her concert last minute to crash the birthday party of someone actively trying to murder her, because Alice is probably her only real friend. She talks up her daddy buying a helicopter for her with a snap of her fingers, but it turns out she's the one actually making money for the family with her music career. She doesn't even enjoy music, it just makes money to be a celebrity, money that she's got to earn herself.

There's even bonus scenes that you might miss. When Riddell talks to people over the phone, she's highly animated, bossy, and temperamental like a true diva, but if you choose to see an optional scene and spy on her when she's alone she's incredibly depressed and mutters to herself repeatedly about how she's ruined before putting her diva face back on to rejoin the party.

Even when Riddell's trying to lord it over other people, she can't stop slipping in how desperate she is for any human connection. When she says she'll simply take a helicopter home, she offers a ride to anyone, literally somebody, anybody, even the complete strangers in the mansion, because she's soooo rich and generous. Totally.

And it makes sense. A mage family putting all the responsibility and burden of learning the family secrets, transferring the crests, adding to the legacy, and finally securing an heir to keep it all going has a lot in common with a family pushing their celebrity child star into showbiz, keeping the money rolling in while monopolizing their time and keeping them from forming normal relationships with their peers.

It's especially notable that the magical rule Alice uses to try to kill Riddell changes its killing method depending on the person. Someone who just thinks of money can turn into bills, a baker that loves bread can be taken out via a flour explosion, etc.

Riddell's method of death is a heart attack. Some of the cast think it's because an extraordinary person like her most fears an ordinary peasant's death, but it can also be commentary on the stress and overwork her dual lives will lead her to, or reflective of the crushing emptiness she feels with the life she's got.

Anyway it's insane that a scene-stealer like her showed up only in the last chapter, serving no purpose other than to be hilariously cringe and to act as a hook for a Mahoyo sequel that never happened.

[zeegaazeegaah]

could you maybe do something with gavi where youre dating but youre a famous model whos known for having lots of bfs and being a party girl and he gets a bit insecure because all the media are saying your cheating on him, but you assure him hes enough and you go to an event together looking really cute and its just fluff,, sorry if its long 😭♥️

fame; gavi

word count: 2,305

a/n: There might be parts or sentences that might offend you. Please take them with a grain of salt. They are for the plot to make sense. Remember, this is all purely fiction. You're reading fan fiction.

It would be a blatant lie to say there are no pros to being -what today's society considers- beautiful because her beauty has gotten her this far. From being a mere teenager some years ago, she went on to being one of the top models in the world doing endless shows, endorsing brands one after another, and being in advertisements. Her beauty allowed her to pay her parents back for the support they've always given her, it allowed her to buy them a luxurious house, dress them in luxurious clothing, it allowed her siblings to buy cars, and live in nice apartments with their partners.

Now here's the problem. Men want her. Women do as well but it's not the same. One would stalk you, and be so obsessed with you to the point you have to think of implementing restraining orders against them while the other, wouldn't even think of reaching such lengths. Even if they do, it can't be as scary. Being a woman this successful at her young age has equal, if not more, cons than pros. One glance at someone at a private party of some multi-millionaire and they think you're in love with them. Of course, they would, not just anybody attends these parties. With the amount of money they have, their entire personality is based on that which allows them to delude themselves into thinking anybody wants them while completely forgetting the fact that she is an independent woman who has just as much money as them.

She is not as easy as the media portrays her to be. Surely a grown woman like her would pursue someone who interests her, especially, when she can have whoever she wants but that doesn't mean she dates everyone she lies her eyes upon just for the heck of it. When you're a woman who is pretty and rich and successful, doesn't want people to deem her as beauty with no brains. People are bound to hate you. Even women. You'll hear from TV the countless men she 'broke the hearts of', them claiming she is a succubus who seduced them but is it truly what happens?

She doesn't have time for that. To be frank, she rarely has time for herself, let alone men, which leads to unfortunate short-lasting relationships with each man. And men being men, they would spread lies about her to the media for attention. She just lets them. They are jealous that she does not feel hung up on them after the breakup. They are jealous that she moves on just as quickly as they do. Truthfully, almost every man she has dated thought of her as a prize to win, to possess, and once they got her, they no longer treated her as nicely, no longer treated her as an equal. The lack of respect became evident and it was crystal clear they'd continue to think she is some dumb pretty girl who earned easy money.

Her friends? There are no real friends when you are self-made rich, especially in this industry. Her ex-colleagues hate her, wondering how long her career will last since they want her to fall from grace the way they did. Yet, they still keep tabs on her, whisper fake compliments to her ears, and be on her nice side just in case they need her for a favour one day. Whatever friends she has for the time being are her managers, public relations team, personal makeup artists, and stylists who would leave her just as fast as they appeared her my life. They would move on to work for someone who would benefit them whenever. Wherever she goes, people would talk behind her back, and more often than not it's never something nice.

She got lonely. Throwing countless parties every time she got a bit of time for herself only to have more people have things to gossip about, and more lies to tell the media. More 'friends' going behind her back and posting countless pictures of the parties That's how many people know her. A successful top model, a player, and a party girl.

She met Gavi at an after-party of the brand of a product they both endorsed for. They needed to interact for the sake of working for the same brand but she tried her best to avoid him. Engaging in small talk only, in case people start to talk about how she targeted a football athlete to lure this time. She needed none of that drama. However, she has enjoyed football all her life and watched matches whenever she could. Nobody needed to know that, she didn't need people around her to go, "Oh, so you like football? Name-" Thus she already knew how Gavi plays and how well he does so. The second time they met was after her PR team suggested it would be good for her image to go watch Barcelona FC's match live as they both became colleagues recently. She was already impressed by his skills but after she got to watch it live, she was beyond impressed.

After the match, this time, however, the small talk was avoided. She was way too enthusiastic to prevent herself from spilling compliments laced with deep football knowledge on their team's performance which received positive responses but a quite remarkable expression from the said colleague. While she was leaving, he followed behind, which he must've been told by someone to do out of politeness.

"So, what was that reaction?" She stopped and raised a brow at him.

A flush appeared on his face before he blinked rapidly to reply, "I-I wasn't expecting you to-"

"-know about football?"

He aggressively shook his head, eyes widening, "No! I wasn't expecting you to miss out on your schedules to watch our game."

"How do you know that?" She cornered him.

"You're famous. How would I not know? We were told about it." He gulped.

"Is that so?" An amused smile appeared on her face as she crossed her arms over her chest. "Or did you search me?"

He finally looked her in the eye properly, "Do you do that to everyone?"

There you go. She lets out an annoyed sigh, rolling her eyes while doing so, "Of course, you'd think that. Just like everyone."

"I don't know what you mean by that but I am having a hard time here being teased by one of the prettiest women ever so, you should have mercy on me." His face morphed into a flirtatious expression which surprised her.

Her mouth widened before she sent a smile at him, "Dear, don't you worry. It's nothing harmful. Plus, you're a kid."

"I'm eighteen and you're older than me by barely two or three years. Who are you calling kid?"

"Woah, how do I formally apologise then?"

"You can start by befriending me."

And indeed, they were friends. In fact, Gavi was the closest and most real friend she has ever had. Him being around her age helped a lot. Their sense of humour matched. He wasn't rude or disrespectful, he'd always listen. He wouldn't hesitate to voice out exactly what he thought about something and she did the same. She listened to him vent when he wasn't performing well despite trying his best. She listened to him voice out his frustration, she tried her best to understand him and be there for him whenever he rang. Gradually they began to find time for themselves to hang out and with her experience, they sneaked out successfully without getting caught. Away from the cameras, away from the stares.

And then, they became more than friends.

×××

If anyone took a peek at Gavi's mind they'd probably laugh at how ridiculous the new information would be to them. Gavi? Spain's youngest player? The youngest player in his country to score a goal in the world cup? Someone so successful at his young age is insecure? What for?

His eyes trail across the dark room with colourful flashes of light and lands on his girlfriend. The woman wanted by everyone. He sees some men hit on her only to be met with a tight-lipped smile that politely told them to back off. In order to maintain a peaceful relationship, they keep it a secret from the world, from the scrutiny of people, and from the unsolicited comments of journalists that could sabotage it and disrupt their peace. It's certainly much better this way but it also has its cons as one can see.

Gavi clenches his jaw with a pointed stare at other men approaching her and engaging in conversations. Her gown is black with a slit that starts from the top of her right thigh. She looks absolutely gorgeous. Not only in his eyes but in everyone's as well. He notices one of the men give her a once-over, making sure to check her out before he has to leave her be. One can tell his veins are pulsing as he clenches his jaw harder and begins to breathe noisily. Her eyes finally catch his across the room, his breath almost hitches at the sight of her subtle smile for him but his head is too preoccupied with other emotions at the moment.

As she begins to approach him, he stalks away towards the exit's direction and informs his manager that he isn't going to stay in this event any longer. He drives off to his house in his car without her, it's not like they can get into one car in front of people anyway. Not long after she arrives. Her eyebrows are drawn together in concern as she tilts her head to look him in the eye, grabbing him by the shoulders. "Babe, are you okay?"

It's as if her touch has magic, all of his anger dissipates in an instant. He feels vulnerable. He tries to look back into her eyes, only to fail to do so as he ducks his chin. The look of concern doesn't leave her face as she notices that. Her hands begin to rub his shoulders as she whispers, "Will you tell me what was that at the event? You seemed angry."

Now he feels like a complete jerk. He seemed to be angry at her when in fact it wasn't the case. He feels stupid for walking away from her and driving off without letting her know like an immature person. She doesn't deserve this. He closes his eyes, taking a deep breath before heaving it. Opening his eyes to look into hers, he mumbles a sorry quietly.

She frowns at that before grabbing his hands to make him sit on the sofa behind them and settles beside him. Her hands reach to hold his face, her fingers softly trailing from the apples of his cheek to his chin. "Don't be sorry. There must be a reason you're angry. I've never actually seen you angry so it's worrying me."

"It's just that," he rakes a hand into his hair, sighing. "the way they look at you made me so angry. I couldn't do anything on top of that. Everyone wants you but then again you told me about how you were treated in your previous relationships so that makes me angrier."

She gets up to sit on his lap and wraps an arm around his neck, the other hand holding his chin. "That makes a lot of sense. I hope you realise that your feelings are valid. I can see why you are angry or frustrated or whatever you're feeling right now. Okay?"

He nods his head in response.

She leans closer, her face merely an inch or two away from his. Tilting his chin with her hand, she looks directly at him, "Next time you're mad, just ring me and let it out. Say what you gotta say. I will do the same. Do you get it?"

He lets out a chuckle at that before grabbing her face in his hands and pulls her head towards him to engulf her lips with his into a kiss. She giggles at first but it transpires into them making out for some time before she breaks off to land a peck on his forehead.

"Will you keep playing my knight in shining armour this way for a long time?" He pretends to think while asking that.

"Toxic masculinity…" she huffs while rolling her eyes.

His eyebrows shoot up at the accusation. "I only called you that as a compliment."

"Sounded like a mockery to me." She accuses him yet again, narrowing her eyes playfully at him.

This time he rolls his eyes before a sarcastic smile takes over, "I was a minute away from crying into your shoulders. Is that toxic masculinity?"

She laughs at that before muttering, "Well, seeing you cry would've been a sight to behold though."

"What!?"

×××

They fall asleep cuddling, after watching an old action movie to laugh at the CGI. Gavi wakes up first and spends a good amount of time staring at her sleeping face, finding it adorable. There is an embarrassing lovestruck look on his face that he prefers to keep secret from her.

"Take a picture, it will last longer." She mumbles from her sleep to which he jumps away.

"You scared me." He clutches his chest with widened eyes. "Since when have you been awake!?"

"Long enough to know you're a creep." She smirks, her eyes still closed.

"Oh, is that so?"

"I don't like that tone of yours, Pablo." She says before opening one eye to check what he is up to, only to see his hands reach for his neck. "Omg, you're not doing that. You know how ticklish I am there, I'll kill you."

"Too late."

"You're so- O MY GOD- done when I catch you."

[rileys-battlecats]

Finally made some simple reference sheets for my little guys :D I also put together some little facts about them and their personalities :P

Minare

pronounced mee-NAH-ray

Half leader, half figurehead to the rebellion against the current king and his heir

The people who work with her respect her as the last scion of the true royal line, but also they have known her since she was Fresh Out The Womb so she's also kind of their baby. Collectively. Collective rebel baby

Disregard the fact she's like. Early twenties. That's their baby girl

This makes Minare A Little Insane. She loves the rebels, they've supported her and her family through the worst times they've seen in living memory, but also She's An Adult and she NEEDS to have someone respect her and her decisions.

Her opinions don't always hold the weight that she thinks they should, her being the future ruler of the kingdom and all

Much of her work in the rebellion is stunted by the fact that she is THE last of the true royal family, so she is Not Expendable. They have to keep her safe, and she knows why, but it's also a little infuriating that she can't help more

Dangerous missions are an Absoultely Not, but Mina still helps by doing safer missions and planning/strategizing

She's been given tons of self-defense training, and she carries a short blade with her just about everywhere. This is seen as slightly unusual, but ultimately understandable for a young lady when she's traveling on her own often. Like having a can of pepper spray with you

Makes casual friends very easily; she manages to seem incredibly open and personable while simultaneously telling you Nothing important about her personal life

That being said, she doesn't have many close friends. She doesn't want to put anyone in danger, and she also doesn't want to put herself or the rebels in danger by making an opening that could be exploited. Her friendship with Vaitus is something that happens without her really meaning for it to happen. She just looks up one day and realizes she's gotten way too attached to this guy that was supposed to just be another acquaintance

She's got a protective streak a mile wide. if she makes the connection in her brain that she's responsible for someone, they INSTANTLY become someone Under Her Protection. This clashes with the inherent sacrifices she has to make as a leader of a political rebellion with high stakes consequences for each decision made

If one were to ask a random citizen of the capital if they know Minare, 9 times out of 10 they're at least acquainted with her. she's always keeping an ear out for people who need help, and is known for being able to give them a hand. If she's not doing the helping herself, she probably knows a guy

Loves finicky work. tinkering, fixing things, touching up stuff, anything that most people would find boring to work on, she's your gal

Vaitus

I'm. not sure how to explain pronunciation like I did with Minare. It's 'Vai' like in 'vital', and 'tus' like in 'tusk'

Doing His Best™

Crown Prince of the kingdom. I think I might name the kingdom 'Acora' but I haven't decided on that quite yet

"Crown" Prince is kind of an unnecessary title, since there's no other heirs. There used to be! Up until Vaitus was around 7 years old, he was one of the last in line for the throne. But then An Event occurred. I will get into this event at another time, I've got a few animatic ideas for it :P

Vaitus is less than enthused (read: terrified) by the idea of becoming king one day, but he's also aware that the kingdom would almost certainly fall into chaos if the current king died without a ready heir. A rush to fill a power vacuum could tear the kingdom apart. So he just. keeps on keeping on!

Fantasy autism. it's just like real life autism except the royal physicians diagnosed him with "occasionally possessed of foul spirits and daemons" so the diagnosis wasn't really helpful. He has no idea why he suddenly loses the ability to speak (or sometimes even think) in high stress situations. this is especially unfortunate when most of his life consists of going from one high-stress situation to another

Very thoughtful. will not speak until he's got the full sentence ready + 3 possible follow up sentences depending on where the conversation goes

Animal lover. but he doesn't know this until he gets to interact with an animal. he meets one (1) stray dog and is so normal about it (lying)

TERMINAL rbf

Was told as a child that it's impolite to not make eye contact with people, so now he makes All The Eye Contact. he's being polite. wait what do you mean he's being scary

[paintbrushyy]

Gentle Gestures

Read on AO3

Ship: Bokuaka

Rating: T

Tags: Birthday fic, presents, kissing, fluff

Summary:

Bokuto brings Akaashi to the roof for a surprise, and Akaashi waits patiently for what it is. ~ "Bokuto-san, what are you doing with all this?" Akaashi places the top on his lunch box and sets it down next to him, adjusting the blanket on his lap. It's warm and very soft. And he recognizes it as one that sits on the top of Bokuto's bed. "Are you finished eating?" Bokuto asks. "Yes, but I want to know what's happening." Bokuto smiles and turns his entire body towards Akaashi. He sits cross legged, and pulls his bag into his lap. "Bokuto-san..." "Shh, you'll understand in a moment Keiji." Akaashi's heart flips at the way he says this, at the use of his given name. They don't use their names very freely yet. They use them in only very intimate spaces, when there's no chance for anyone else to hear. They say them like they're secrets only they know of each other. ~

Bokuto asked if Akaashi wanted to go to the roof during lunch. As soon as he found him on campus that morning, it was like he was waiting to ask. And of course...Akaashi said yes.

Bokuto leads them up the stairs to the top door, opening it in silence. It's bright out, but it's cold, and the wind is sharp on the roof. It cuts deep into their skin. So Akaashi pulls up the loop of his scarf to cover his face more.

"It's cold out here," he comments, but Bokuto doesn't respond, just hums in agreement before sitting down by the fence. He smiles up at Akaashi, still standing by the door. Bokuto pats the concrete at his side to offer Akaashi a seat next to him. He's never been able to deny Bokuto anything. So he sits, folding his knees and opening his lunch in his lap. "Bokuto-san, is there a reason you wanted to sit out here?" Akaashi asks. But again Bokuto just shrugs and seems to dismiss him.

"Just seemed nice out today."

Today, it rings out like a bell in Akaashi's head. It's today. Today is happening, and Bokuto hasn't said the one thing Akaashi had somewhat been waiting for through all his classes. But he doesn't touch the subject, he doesn't want to pressure Bokuto.

"Yeah, I guess it is," he whispers, looking up at the sky.

"Yup." Bokuto's opened his lunch and started eating the sandwich he bought. And Akaashi too lets the questions in his mouth fade as he opens his own lunch.

His mother packed it, and it has some of his favorites. And usually he'd eat his least favorite towards the best part. But today is special, so he decides to start with the best first.

Akaashi picks up the mandarin, pressing his thumb down to try and open it. But it just squishes, and as he struggles to not crush the fruit another hand reaches in between his.

"Here," Bokuto whispers. He take s the fruit, and using his nail, cuts open the skin, and pulls off a peel.

"I think I cut my nails too short this morning," Akaashi whispers as a weak excuse. But Bokuto just shakes his head and continues with a smile. He doesn't have to peel the entire thing, but he does. And Akaashi watches intently as Bokuto's surprisingly gentle hands pull away each piece of skin. Slowly he reveals its heart and then pulls off one small wedge.

"My tax," Bokuto whispers, then hands the fruit back. He pops the mandarin wedge in his mouth and smiles brightly at Akaashi.

Akaashi cradles the tiny mandarin in his two hands and looks up at Bokuto.

"Thank you," he whispers and looks down.

" Any time," Bokuto says. Akaashi eats a wedge of the mandarin, the sweetness bursting in his mouth. And he feels the strangest urge to cry. He can't stop thinking of something he read. About peeling a mandarin meaning "I love you." And even though he's known this. Even though they've said it to each other before. The simple, gentle, act of Bokuto doing this somehow makes it feel like the most real truth on earth.

They eat quietly for sometime, until Akaashi finishes his meal. Bokuto finishes first, and when he does he starts digging around in his bag. He pulls out a blanket that's been shoved and crumpled around his books. And Akaashi watches in silence as he pulls it over them. He holds up his food and lets Bokuto place it over his lap and wonders what's the point. Bokuto is doing something and Akaashi isn't sure what or why. But he watches, trusting the process and waiting for this obvious surprise. But eventually it becomes overwhelming when Bokuto just stares at him and waits.

"Bokuto-san, what are you doing with all this?" Akaashi places the top on his lunch box and sets it down next to him, adjusting the blanket on his lap. It's warm and very soft. And he recognizes it as one that sits on the top of Bokuto's bed.

"Are you finished eating?" Bokuto asks.

"Yes, but I want to know what's happening." Bokuto smiles and turns his entire body towards Akaashi. He sits cross legged, and pulls his bag into his lap. "Bokuto-san..."

"Shh, you'll understand in a moment Keiji." Akaashi's heart flips at the way he says this, at the use of his given name. They don't use their names very freely yet. They use them in only very intimate spaces, when there's no chance for anyone else to hear. They say them like they're secrets only they know of each other.

So Akaashi waits, because now he knows that whatever this is, Bokuto's trying to be loving. Akaashi turns his body to face Bokuto's as well. Slowly Bokuto pulls out a paper container with a small ribbon wrapped around it. Bokuto pushes his bag out of his lap, and positions the box so that when opened the top flips to the side. 

"It's technically a gift, so you should pull the ribbon, but I'm going to light the candle so I'll hold it," Bokuto says.

Akaashi's heart is racing now. They lean into each other, and Akaashi feels their knees start to touch. He reaches and pulls on the red ribbon, pulling it loose until it falls away. Bokuto opens the white box and reveals a bright red red velvet cupcake. It's got white frosting and bits of yellow sprinkles on top.

"Okay," Bokuto whispers. He reaches to his side and pulls out a small birthday candle and places it in the center of the pastry. Then he reaches again and pulls out a lighter, something he very much shouldn't have at school. Akaashi's eyes widen a little. "Don't tell," Bokuto whispers, "I stole it from my kitchen this morning."

A cloud covers the sun overhead. Bokuto with one hand holding the box of the cupcake, lights the candle with the other. And between them it glows over their faces.

"Make a wish, Keiji," Bokuto says and stares over the cupcake, watching him with golden glowing eyes. Bokuto tosses the lighter in his lap, and cups one hand to the side of the flame to keep the wind from blowing it out. He holds it up closer to Akaashi's lips. "Blow it out." Akaashi looks from the cupcake to him and swallows. He closes his eyes and places a hand on Bokuto's knee, leaning forward and blows out the candle.

It's so silent that his breath sounds like a whisper in their ears and when the candle goes out the sun returns. Akaashi opens his eyes. He leans away and Bokuto lowers the cupcake.

"Did you make a good wish?" He asks. It makes Akaashi's heart clench in his chest. He nods.

"Yeah I think I made a good wish." Akaashi can't resist his impulsive decision, and he isn't sure he tries very hard to. He can't stop smiling, and there are bouts of giggles trapped in his chest. He never feels like this at school, he never feels like this in the open, this giddy and overwhelmed. These aren't public emotions. These are emotions he only feels with Bokuto, feelings he only feels when they're alone and believing in forever.

He picks up the cupcake from between them and sets it to the side on the ground. Bokuto watches him with a smile and then his eyes grow wide as Akaashi gets to his knees. The blanket falls from his lap and he feels his legs get colder, but it doesn't faze him. He shuffles closer and Bokuto's hands come up instinctively to hold his hips. Akaashi settles in Bokuto's lap and doesn't wait to pull him into a kiss and let himself be held. He lets go of any fear of being caught and embraces the warmth of Bokuto's body against his own. He just wants Bokuto, kissing him till death.

Bokuto sighs when their lips meet and he kisses Akaashi back easily. His hands tighten slightly as they slide onto Akaashi's waist, and Akaashi can feel Bokuto pulling on his shirt, probably wishing it weren't there. Bokuto's heart is racing under Akaashi's palms at his pulse, holding him as their lips move. There's a cloud that escapes from between them as they both sigh out hot breaths between a kiss, where their warmth meet the cold of winter.

But eventually their smiles get in the way.

"Happy birthday, Keiji," Bokuto whispers when Akaashi pulls away, finally saying what Akaashi was waiting for, what he was silently and patiently wishing to hear.

Bokuto doesn't ask what Akaashi's wish was but Akaashi says it anyway.

"You," Akaashi whispers. And Bokuto's brows turn up a little.

"What?"

"You," Akaashi says, "that's what I wished for, I wished for you."

He swears he sees Bokuto's cheeks get pinker, and he feels the back of his neck get warmer under Akaashi's palm. It makes him smile and he leans in again to place a soft kiss on his lips again, just a peck before pulling away.

"Keiji you cant tell me though, or else it wont come true." Bokuto seems concerned all of a sudden but Akaashi looks at him with a smile and holds him tighter. He shakes his head.

"I don't believe that. Why would keeping something from someone I love make it any stronger?" Bokuto blinks a few times.

"Well cause, cause it's supposed to be between you and the universe."

Akaashi nods at this.

"You are my universe Kou," he whispers, and smiles in a way that almost hurts. "You'll keep my wishes safe, I know you will." He leans forward again, and Bokuto lets him take as he pleases, saying what he wishes and accepting all of Akaashi's truths. He lets his complains dissolve into their kiss, and Akaashi fully indulge in what he's always craving. "Thank you, Koutarou," Akaashi whispers, quietly and hopelessly, wishing on Bokuto's name, knowing in all the world it is the best place to put them.

//END

Thanks for reading! You can find me here on tumblr or on AO3 and twitter! Don't forget to share/reblog so more people can read!

MY AO3

MY TWITTER

[sirquibble]

OC Lore - Malachai and Esmerelda :)

Here's some lore at the request of a certain @crackpotposter

World Building Shenanigans

Now, these two are the basis of a bigger storyline that I plan to expand on whenever I have the motivation to. The premise of this world is that there are multiple deities, each deity would typically have a faction dedicated to worshipping them alone, but most people sort of have a general reverence for them all. I like to think there's a hierarchy of Gods, Malachai and Esmerelda being at the top (The Creator would technically be above them and the highest ranking being, but more on him later).

Each God has a Temple built for them by the mortals. A God's Temple is their home, and where mortals could come to ask for blessings or pray, and where their factions would work to maintain the grounds and worship them (a Temple's architecture often reflects the public opinion of the God which it belongs to). Within a God's Temple is their Altar, which could be as simple as an engraved stone slab or as elaborate as a 20ft tall lifelike statue. An Altar is the most sacred thing a God has, a symbol of status and influence, to deface or damage a God's Altar is the most severe insult possible to the God.

Character Shenanigans

Now, the Creator is the being that initially set the universe into motion, and is the being that creates the Gods. Only Esmerelda can contact him, and even so, he rarely responds.

Malachai, the God of Death, is quiet and patient and is the most in touch with the mortals out of all the Gods as he will meet every human who has been, is, and will be, at their deaths. He isn't the cruel grim reaper type, and instead tries to give the gentlest deaths he can, acting more like a guide to the afterlife rather than an executioner. The only times he'd ever be cold to a recently deceased soul is that of someone who has intentionally ended the life of others, there's nothing he hates more than someone cutting another's life short and disrupting fate. He is kind in his own ways, but very withdrawn, spending most of his days in his Temple gardens, tending to his prized white roses.

Esmerelda, the Goddess of Life, is bubbly and kind but very chaotic, and while she created the human race and most living things, she really isn't in touch with the mortals at all. She's sweet and good natured, but occasionally she can let the constant stream of adoration from the mortals get to her head, causing her to act in ways one would consider rather egotistical. She's very creative, spending the majority of her free time in her art studio, painting, sculpting, and drawing. Esmerelda is very hardworking and a perfectionist by every sense of the word, spending hours upon hours crafting the perfect sunsets, adding the right amount of dew to the grass in the mornings, adjusting the clouds in the sky to be just so.

Despite what one would assume, Esmerelda and Malachai are not enemies. They have been friends since the Beginning, and even lovers in a sense. They were the first two beings to exist (apart from the Creator) and so grew incredibly close over the eons that they've known each other. They are asexual, sexless beings (though they each choose to present as a particular gender) and they love each other in the way one would love someone they've known since the beginning of time. Esmerelda is Malachai's respite and Malachai is Esmerelda's inspiration.

In the beginning of time, Esmerelda and Malachai were brought into the universe as nothing but two souls, two beings without a physical form. After a couple decades simply existing together, the first real task given to Esmerelda from the Creator was to craft vessels for them both, and so Esmerelda sculpted both the physical forms they take (in her mind, Malachai's face is the most beautiful thing she's ever made, but she'd never tell anyone that). In the early days, their Temples were nothing but shacks, empty apart from their Altars, but as civilization grew, so did their following and the host of Gods that came into being. Esmerelda's Temple grew into a white marbled palace, open and bright, flowers and plant foliage brimming from every available space, while Malachai's Temple became a tall, gothic building, dark and looming with high spires (Malachai, of course, despised this. He would have much preferred something like Esmerelda's Temple, but there was nothing he could really do about it). Since the start, Esmerelda was always the most beloved God by far, whereas Malachai was revered on the basis of an unfounded terror rather than respect.

[cutiedwaekki]

PUPPYM DETECTIVE

CHAPTER 5 : NO MORE EXPECTATION

part 1 ; part 2 ; part 3&4

Everything seemed more logical until now, but I had the distinct impression that I was missing a part of the story to fully understand it.

So I grabbed my phone and, using the Dictaphone app, began to summarize my progress on this investigation.

2 months after the death of General Councilor Jung, I'm not giving up. I've discovered that several people were responsible for his murder. So the field of culprits has been widened, but I think I've got an idea of where to look.

Digging into the past of the three stores on the Miroh street , I discovered some amazing things:

• Felix and Changbin's bakery has been around for at least three years. The two are a married couple who make no secret of their love for each other and their fantasies about the oldest putting on weight. A little funfact is that they've been dating since high school and graduated from the same university as Jisung and me.

Felix is rather jovial and smiles like a ray of human sunshine, he's the one who manages the kitchen part of their bakery while Changbin although I haven't had the chance to talk to him for long is described by Jisung as a noisy but funny guy. My question every time I see him is if this guy can still walk with his weight, i mean ... he's huge ! I've always seen him sitting on a seat, a chair (or two lately) but never standing.I have the impression that if one of the two hides something these definitely Changbin but that Felix covers it, I do not see another explanation

Let's move on to Minho's cat's cafe, he and his brother are both chaebols of the great CEO Yang, who seems to have a preference for his little brother since he's his illegitimate son born out of wedlock- my god, it's such a cliché.

Anyway, I tried to contact my brother so that he could tell me more about Jeongin But, but I didn't find anything very interesting: just a random college student, he had good grades and seemed rather popular in his class. Minho, on the other hand, is like a ghost who never existed. I looked up "Lee Minho" and even "Yang Minho" on the Internet, but nothing ... no leads and there was no way I ask my father any information, I'd rather die then talk to that piece of sh-

I'm sorry ... Well, to get back to them, I haven't found anything suspicious about them, but their father is. PDG Yang, is also known as the rich corrupt entrepreneur who puts his own interests before those of others and who thinks that money is the solution to everything.

In short: a jerk.Their father is justly interesting with his various projects, including Project 143, which consists of building more factories to increase supply and export internationally. Except that the factory is supposed to be built not far from Stayville, so it would be a death sentence for the town's inhabitants, or else relocate them elsewhere than where many of them were born and raised.

How do I know? Jisung was given a file and was talking about bribing the town councillor and the mayor to get the project accepted. Of course Jisung refused, and he assured me that Mayor Bahng would too.

So if the Lee/Yang brothers have anything to do with this story, it's probably to do with leir perr and project 143. Also, on the day councilman Jung was killed, Jelngin launched his last lesson of the day... pretty strange, isn't it?

Anyway, I didn't want to talk about him, although there are things to say: Hwang Hyunjin. A former world-famous model who quit everything overnight to move to Stayville to open a bed'n breakfast.

His case is also a mystery, because from what I could find he had an impeccable career without the slightest scandal, and the only one he had was linked to the fact that he was attached to a mafia branch and that his modeling agency was precisely a means of laundering money.

Honestly, I'm not surprised, he's a real jerk who thinks he can do whatever he wants, so if he's a former mafioso, it's the height of cliché here! Maybe his goal is to launder money here away from the mafioso and far from the prying eyes . Which explains his relationship with Mayor Bahng!

Speaking of him, I find this mayor rather suspicious, and I'm not just saying that because I voted for their Daengmo mascot! Kind of a long story bjt as joke in Stayville the mascots always present themselves at the ekections if the candidate ever sucks, this year it was Daengmo, a plush dog

In fact, although he's a fair mayor and allows stayville a good economic situation, I find him far too easily manipulated, just look at how Hyunjin wrapped him around his finger with sex and food! He was no longer the athletic, fair-minded mayor everyone knew him to be, he was now just a walking pile of corruptible fat and out of shape , manipulated by a potentate ex-mafioso with a bastard's back.

Then I say that but i do get a little out of shape ... well little, better say's a lot. I had to ask Jisung to lend me one of his jeans because mine don't zip anymore. Oh and now i just can't stop eating ! it seems that as you get older you gain weight more easily but I'm only 23 , I'm not that old, am I?

But it's not my fault, Jisung always brings back food when he comes home from work and always feeds him when I'm concentrating on the investigation. Maybe I've put on weight because of Jisung's case, but at least he's become much more cuddly with me! It was a sort of routine where after each day we'd sit on the sofa and hug each other for a long time without saying a word, as if this simple embrace was enough to make us forget our daily lives.

Poor Jisung, he was so closely involved in all this that he couldn't do anything about it. I feel sorry for him, who didn't ask for anything, but found himself sitting on the desk of someone who'd been murdered.I miss him, if only he didn't have a charity gala in the next village.

Yet someone knocked and rang the doorbell again and again. Curious, I pulled on a sweater and opened the door.Oh no, not him again.

-"Seung"

- "I'm sorry sir, I have nothing to do with you" I said as I closed the door on my "father".

- "Seungmin please, it's important"

- "It's always important with you "

- "It's about Jisung!"

My heart caught a beat, I took fright and reluctantly decided to open the door.

-"Is everyone here? Chan asked shyly.

-"Idiot, you can see that someone is still missing.

- "Hey, we didn't talk to you fatso!" defended Hyunjin.

- "Fatso?! How dare you call me like that you little-".

- "Eurk you're spitting on me, I'm sure I'll get fat because of you're saliva" Changbin would have stood up to teach Hyunjin a lesson, but he'd eaten too much and couldn't get up from his chair without being humiliated again by the tall blond.

-"Stop your immature bickering, you look like damn kids !" exclaimed Minho, sighing heavily.

-"I remind you that we're not here out of friendship" confided Hyunjin, who then turned on Minho.

-"Oh no, I've been dreaming of becoming friends with you" cried Changbin falsely as the three of them began to bicker, leaving Chan confuse on how to deal with the situation.

-"Wow, calm down, I remind you that the situation is critical, that's why we're all here! So if we can put our differences aside, that would be great!" said Felix supportively, arriving with a feast of salted muffins which he placed on the table before taking a seat.

-"You're right Lixie sorry" said shyly Changbin, placing a tender kiss on his husband's cheek.

- "Ew ... love " said Hyunjin, earning himself a confused look from Chan, who ended up covering it with a kiss a few minutes

-"Well, he's going to be late, isn't he? As usual, I suppose" accused Linho, who was impatiently tapping his foot while looking at the door.

-"I remind you that you're the one who's close to him, so you should know better than anyone whether he's on time or not", Felix commented almost dryly.

But just as Minho was about to retort, the door suddenly opened, letting the breathless latecomer in.

-"Ah, here he is!"

- "Come on Jisung, you're exaggerating, we said 6.30pm not 7pm! Chan said in exasperation, which made Hyunjin laugh.

- "Sorry, I had to sort something out, I remind you that I live with the enemy"

- "Oh Lixie that's sweet, he calls his boyfriend an enemy~"

- "He's not my boyfriend, you don't know how hard it is to put him on the wrong track, he's too smart for that shit!" Declare Jisung before taking his place on the last remaining seat.

-"I find it amazing that he still hasn't suspected you, I mean, you're the ideal suspect but the idiot still hasn't noticed!"

- "stop it Minho, I'm not happy about treating him like that either, but he can't harm our project like that!"

- "It's true that M.Han is our leader" teased Hyunjin, earning a glare from the concerned.

-"Enough chatter, let's recap the facts"

- "So you're sure that even if he has several leads Seungmin won't be able to trace them back to all of us?"

-"I promise you Felix, I've known him since we were kids, he thinks I'm innocent of everything! He didn't even consider me as a potential suspect!"

Everyone looked at each other in astonishment before laughing loudly.

-"And then, thanks to Changbin's plan, he spends more time digesting all that food than thinking!"

-"See ? I bet you must be excited by that" then added Felix who hastened to put his hand on the belly of his lover

Changbin then smiled proudly as Felix congratulated him by offering him a cookie.

- "So we just have to lay low until it calms down?"

- "Channie, you don't understand... this pseudo detective won't give up until he finds someone to blame"

- "But he can't know it's us!-.... but who will it be?"

Everyone reflected before Minho had a sudden idea

- "Isn't it rumored that while he was dating Choi Yena, he was also sleeping with his brother Choi San?"

Everyone nodded, seeming to already know the outcome of this plan.

Poor detective puppy m, things weren't turning out the way he'd expected

-"No i don't want to hear you !"

-"Seugmin i beg you to hear what i have to say , i have proof that Jisung is involved in the death of the municipal councilor!"

but Seungmin didn't want to hear anything, he felt like that night, where his father lectured him for long hours on the dangers of homosexuality after he had sex with Jisung.

Because of that and although he had only half listened to it, he had trouble pairing up with the quokka despite their shared common feelings.

So at that moment he felt this mixed feeling, he did not know which camos this ranger ... that of his father who abandoned him or his best friend / crush?

[mobius-m-mobius]

LOKI APPRECIATION WEEK 2022  ♡ ⤷ Day 6 - Favorite Dynamic(s) - LOKIUS + TRUST

[allnewalldifferentwildspider]

Zuko & Katara's Relationship Dynamic

This is like the third or fourth time I've tried to write up this post so please bare with me.

Oh wow. That video. Hopefully everyone has seen it now. Not only did it articulate arguments I've been making for years, but it also brought up ideas I had never thought of or noticed before. Watching that and watching the second half of Book 3 again (because it's my favorite) made me want to redo my zutara dynamic post.

I'm going to be using the tiny bits and pieces the show gave us to see how Zuko and Katara's relationship looks and how it would look if they gave us more because...Bryke really fucking hated zutara. I mean, I guess they did.

Katara is compassionate; Zuko is empathetic

A lot of anti-zutara arguments have said that Zuko and Katara could never be together because they would constantly fight and hate each other and it end sooner than later. Not only does this actually describe maiko, but that argument would need to ignore the characters' actual character.

One of Katara's biggest character traits is how compassionate she is. She has a drive to help others and ease their pain. Whether it's getting Aang out of the iceberg or healing a Fire Nation fishing village, Katara will go out of her way to help someone in need.

Katara: No. I will never ever turn my back on people who need me.

Zuko is very emotional and passionate person. As much as he tried to hide it to appease his father, Zuko does want to open up and connect with people. Unfortunately, aside from his uncle, most of the other people he knows are like Zhao and Azula. Not the most understanding of crowds. But because of this he can pick up what people are really thinking and feeling. Think of it as a defense mechanism he developed growing up around people like Azula.

Get these two kinds of people together and you get the crystal catacombs scene. Katara lashes out at Zuko until she breaks down. When she does Zuko opens up with empathy since they have something in common. This creates the beginning of an understanding between the two. Zuko uses that to finally open up to someone who isn't his uncle and Katara listens and reaches out to help. Contrast to the first episode of Book 3 when Zuko tries to voice his thoughts and concerns to Mai and she...doesn't really care.

Something similar happens during The Southern Raiders. Zuko figures out that Katara is taking out her anger of being separated from her father by The Fire Nation onto him and even connecting her mother's death to him.

It's not the first time Zuko has done this either. He easily figured out that Sokka was planning on going to The Boiling Rock. He does it again during Sozin's Comet when he tells Katara that Aang needs to figure out what to do about Ozai by himself.

There's a noticeable pattern of behavior by the time Sozin's Comet arrives. Zuko voices his concerns about meeting his uncle again and Katara is right there to help him through it.

Zuko's empathy combined with Katara's compassion creates almost a cycle of understanding and emotional vulnerability that the two can't really get with anyone else. One notices the other having concerns or problems and goes to give comfort by words or by actions.

Zuko still has a temper but so does Katara

Even after Zuko's fever dream character change thing, even after The Day of Black Sun, he still has it in him to yell at anyone who commits even the slightest transgressions against him:

Aang: That one felt kinda hot. Zuko: Don't patronize me. You know what it's supposed to look like. Aang: Sorry, sifu hotman. Zuko: And stop calling me that!

Sokka: So all we have to do is make Zuko angry. Easy enough. *pokes him with his sword* *annoying laugh* Zuko: All right! Cut it out!

Maybe it's the firebender in him or maybe he really is just like that. Basically if you annoy him, he'll let you know. What people sometimes overlook is that while it takes Katara a bit longer, she also gets worked up when people upset her.

Toph: What's the matter? Can't handle some dirt, Madame Fussy Britches? Katara: Oh, sorry, did I splash you, mud slug?

And remember, it was Katara getting angry at Sokka that even broke the iceberg that revealed Aang.

Katara: Ugh, I'm embarrassed to be related to you! Ever since Mom died I've been doing all the work around camp while you've been off playing soldier! Sokka: Uh... Katara? Katara: I even wash all the clothes! Have you ever smelled your dirty socks? Let me tell you, NOT PLEASANT! Sokka: Katara! Settle down! Katara: No, that's it. I'm done helping you. From now on, you're on your own!

The point is that it is both Zuko and Katara that are very passionate and emotional people. One of them isn't emotionally dominating the other because they both wear their emotions on their sleeves.

This also comes in to play when they set goals for themselves. When Zuko sets a goal, he puts everything into it. Katara is the same way. The difference is that Zuko's drive sometimes gives him a one-track mind while Katara is more flexible. Like for example Zuko being so focused on finding Aang before Sozin's Comet that he ignores Toph's story about her childhood versus Katara wanting to go to the North Pole but taking time to stop and help whoever they come across.

This passion also fuels their values and how strongly they stand by their beliefs. I already put The Painted Lady quote up above but Zuko's morality is what is making him so angry at himself during The Beach. He knows what he did was wrong, but he couldn't face it yet.

Sometimes their emotions get the better of them, but it's only because they are passionate about what they're doing.

Their natural teamwork is amazing

I can't provide a lot of clues in this bit because it's more of a visual thing. Just consider how flawlessly their plans worked during their attack on The Southern Raiders. Especially when you consider that it was a stealth mission so they barely even said anything to each other during and it still went incredibly well.

You could see it again during their mock battle with The Melon Lord. Sokka must have noticed because he paired them together to deliver some "liquidy-hot offence." And they pulled it off, again, without having to say anything.

They've only been a team for a few weeks(?), days(?) but they act as if they've been doing it for years.

They trust each other's judgment

Piggybacking of the previous point, Zuko and Katara have only been a team for a while but there seems to be a level of understanding in terms of judgement. They both know that whatever the other chooses is going to be a well-thought out decision. Maybe it's because they see each other as the mature members of the group even though Sokka is the same age as Zuko? I don't know.

Aang disappears right before they embark on their fight against the Fire Lord, and out of nowhere, Katara puts Zuko in charge.

Zuko: Get out of the bison's mouth, Sokka. We have a real problem here. Aang is nowhere to be found and the comet is only two days away. Katara: What should we do Zuko? Zuko: I don't know. Why are you all looking at me? Katara: Well, you are kind of the expert on tracking Aang.

and that wasn't the first time in that episode that she went along with one of Zuko's decisions

Katara: Aang, don't walk away from this. *She begins to walk towards him as a hand touches her shoulder to stop her from doing so.* Zuko: Let him go. He needs time to sort it out by himself.

As a lot of people have pointed out during the entirety of The Southern Raiders, Zuko never gives a suggestion on what he thinks Katara should do. Aside from making it a stealth mission, he follows her lead the entire way.

Katara teases Zuko (and he lets her)

The fun one. This one has two parts: pre and post The Southern Raiders.

Before The Southern Raiders, Katara was tolerating Zuko. She was still angry with him about the betrayal at Ba Sing Se. Getting little jabs at him was the only thing that was really helping her from loosing her cool around him.

Katara: I'm sorry. I'm just laughing at the irony. You know... how it would have been nice for us if you lost your firebending a long time ago? Zuko: Well it's not lost. It's just weaker for some reason. Katara: Maybe you're just not as good as you think you are. Toph: Ouch.

He just finished yelling at Aang and Sokka but all he does is glare at Katara. She does it again, but to be fair, he kind of set himself up for it.

Zuko: It's a sacred form that happens to be thousands of years old! Katara: Oh yeah? What's your little form called? Zuko: ...The Dancing Dragon.

Then comes post The Southern Raiders and...yeah, she's still picking on him and he still lets her. Granted it's a lot more playful this time around.

Zuko: They make me totally stiff and humorless. Katara: Actually, I think that actor's pretty spot on. Zuko: How could you say that? Actor Uncle: Let's forget about the Avatar and get massages. Actor Zuko: How could you say that?! (Cut back to Katara wearing a satisfied grin on her face and she looks to an expressionless Zuko as he slouches in his seat.)

I love pointing it out every time. She teases him and he does nothing about it.

Katara: Er, no. I was looking for cooking pots in the attic and I found this. Look at baby Zuko! Isn't he cute? Oh lighten up, I was just teasing.

And she admits it!

-

So what can we take away from this? From what little time they were given together (thanks, Bryke) it seems that Zuko and Katara really understand each other on an intimate emotional level. They can sense when the other is distressed and offer comfort. They're both passionate in and out of combat, for better or for worse. They're comfortable with each other as if they've known each other for years even though it's such a short time. Katara also likes to add a little bit of playfulness in there with Zuko letting her have her fun, again, showing how comfortable they are with each other.

I do think their relationship could have gone to romantic sooner than later if you would have given it a bit more time. Like first half of a hypothetical Book 4.

To me, at least.

[meenah-chan]

Safe haven

a Diavolo x GN! MC fanfic

2.36k words

Genre: Angst

Trigger warning: Insane deadly stunt but not suicide, please don't read if you have this triggers. And please don't try this at home... or anywhere

Part 2 (Safe Haven ~Another Story~) | Part 3 (Safe Haven ~Epilogue~)

Masterlist

It is their sanctuary. A place that has everything they could wish for...

if only, fate isn't fickle...

"If I jump, will you save me again?"

"What a wretched soul I have..."

It’s been an hour since they were staring far in the horizon. Dusk is on its way, with the lake gulping the sun whole to bring forth darkness in the grassy land they’re on. That place is secluded, surrounded with trees serving as its walls. As if it were cradling them away from everything.

It's not their first-time watching day turn to night on where they are. They’ve known that spot enough to vividly paint the place on a whim.

It was neither a simple place as it seems. That place is a part of the human realm, untouched by anyone but two persons— them and Diavolo. A place which witnessed how the said Prince dropped on his knees and confessed he likes them. The place they admit they felt the same.

The place where they held hands in their secret rendezvous; times where the Future king would go to whenever he ran away from his endless responsibilities for a day and spend it with them, with words of affections and adorations for each other. It is their safe haven.

The Forget-me-not flowers they planted are blooming around them. As the two sat beneath the shade of the tree, appreciating the presence of the flowers and each other.

Diavolo has a habit of caressing their cheeks, brushing strands of their locks past their ears, as he embraces them as if they were the most precious treasure, he has ever held. Those smiles he would beam; brighter than the sol they always see. "You're the most beautiful being I have ever seen." And they would smile back, with their feelings overflowing so much they would always pour it back to him with a kiss.

But being always in that place doesn't mean they never left it. There are times they would give him a heart attack by literally jumping off the edge of the cliff. The demon prince then would follow them in a snap, before transforming right before their eyes and seizing them.

They knew it was a foolish thing to do. No sane person would ever carry out such dumb, dangerous stunt. They do have a magic or two under their sleeves should Diavolo fail the task. Spells they would feverishly study and tirelessly practice for the sake of the success of the Exchange Student program; for the sake of making Diavolo proud of them. So, they studied hard, yet fools only around their beloved.

So, they kept on flying off to the danger at every given chance. For the feeling during the times they would fall, they had the best view they could ever see in their lifetime. How the demon they ever loved could be so... breathtaking. Turning into his demon form—metamorphosing like a dazzling butterfly, his red locks fluttering in the wind, with such golden ornaments, such golden eyes reflecting the radiance of the sun. And most of all, such playful, thrilled smiles they would willingly lay their life just to see. He seems like the mesmerizing golden red dusk. He may be a demon, but Diavolo is much more divine than the angels in their eyes.

And to think that such an ambrosial prince would hold them in his firm arms, and bury them in his well-toned chest before gliding up in the air. They really love the feeling. Akin to the flowers they cultivate symbolizes, he is their true love.

"Should we land back on the top of the land?"

"Just a little bit longer." Humming, they would place a peck onto the tip of his horn or temple whenever they would request something so badly, which then would receive a chuckle from the Demon. "Hahaha, what a pampered human... Alright, just a little bit longer." And who knows how long they stay in the air. Then they would share small talks back on the cliff, and soon be bombarded with tons of messages and missed calls from the butler and the right-hand man. They would head back home after that, before the said aides decide to search for them and find their secret haven.

It was all they could ever wish for. An everlasting love to carry inside their mortal heart.

They have everything they could ask for, until that day comes. A moonless, rainy night during the celebration of Diavolo's birth.

"I'm glad to finally meet you, the Future King of Devildom." …the day she came. Rosa, a rather respected princess, and the daughter of Queen Rose.

"...N-No, the pleasure is mine." Whether he was flustered by her sudden appearance or not, something was rather amiss. His gaze towards her was different than anything they've ever seen him make. So different yet... familiar. Like the way his eyes sparked of reverie the day they first met, except it was more profound.

Diavolo sighed, "I'm telling you, you don't have to worry. You know you're the one I love." It was nothing, he said. It was only in their imagination, he said. Even so, the connection between the two they perceived every time the two met on business, felt so real.

They were so anxious, so angry they wanted to explode. They want to blame it all on that demon princess who appeared out of nowhere, and brought everything to a big mess! They wanted to lash at her, right from the deepest pit of their stomach!

...Yet, they didn't.

They simply can't. Not when she was like an angel who descended in the land of darkness.

So pure yet so wise, so diligent and well-versed. She is strong-willed and rather capable in every aspect. She doesn't deserve to be blamed for something she didn't mean to do. It was merely a work of two hearts naturally falling for each other. It was inevitable.

Instead of brooding without doing anything, they will fight. They will fight for what's theirs. For what's right. For the specks of affection left inside Diavolo. For their love, they won't give up.

Or so they thought...

"Y/N, would you mind having tea with me later?" Barbatos asked for their attendance.

But unlike the usual afternoon tea they always share with the butler, "Where's Diavolo?" ... the prince is not around.

"The Young master has prior engagement and brought Lucifer in my stead. My apologies if it was not to your liking."

"Ahh, no. I didn't mean it like that. It's just that... having snacks with only you are unusual." It's not unusual. Rather, it never occurred even once. Diavolo tends to postpone the teatime for another time whenever he can't go, as Barbatos always join his absence.

"Actually, I asked you today about an important matter to discuss."

"...Is it related to Diavolo and me, isn't it?" They shouldn't have asked him. They hated themself for asking Diavolo's attendant.

"Yes. To be precise, it is about your relationship and the lady you met during Young master's birthday. I believe you have the right to know this." They held their breath. "I hate to break it to you but the lady you met back then, is the Young Master's... fiancée and his soulmate." The words that came off Barbatos' lips felt like cold water dumped on them.

They just want to end the conversation right there and leave the garden as fast as they can, but they forcefully pull themself together and learn the whole truth, as painful as it is for them. "...Fiancee, you said? And what do you mean by soulmate?"

"For every heir of the throne, there is a prophecy foretelling the righteous betrothed one fated for them. This Oracle has never once failed in predicting who..." Barbatos paused, evaluating whether they could take any more. "...would help the Ruler in bringing prosperity in the Devildom."

After a minute of silence, they spoke. "Does Diavolo know all about this? About her?"

"Yes... but I swear in my name, he has always wanted to be free of the prophecy and achieve prosperity through his own power."

"Where is he headed to at the moment?"

"..." Barbatos' silence tells them everything. He is with her. That's all that they needed to know.

"I... see... Thank you for telling me this."

"I— no, I don't deserve such words from you." They shook their head, "You still disclosed this even when Diavolo wanted to keep it a secret from me. I'm sorry I brought trouble to you."

"It was my own choice. I'm just doing what I think is right."

"Thank you, really..."

They left the castle, thinking a lot of things but also finally enlightened.

They never had Diavolo's heart from the start.

He is the future of the Devildom, the future of all the demons who could easily outlive them. And for that he needs an Empress who can fully support him and bear another long-lived heir. His soulmate, his forever, his other half. Everything that they could never be.

Their life is short. His' is not. He could never fathom the extent of his life like they could. That is also the reason why they could love him until the day they cease to exist, a mere blink to him.

As obvious as the glaring sun that blinds them atop that cliff, his love... is gone.

They could see it in his eyes. Every day he spends with them, his mind is somewhere else.

Even in their favorite place, his embraces were still as cold as the mountain's peak. His smile is too forced, like a one man playing before their eyes. His kisses were prickling and painful. And his gaze... He is suffering.

Like they were.

"Forgive me." It was for the Devildom, he said. His head hangs low, wearing that distressed expression.

"Hey, lift your head? The future king shouldn't bow to anyone." They smiled, cupping his cheeks to raise his face.

"Look, I understand." It was a surprise they didn't shed a drop of tear, as they pat his head gently. "Follow your heart. You'll become a great king."

He made a wise decision, to choose his bond that suddenly came that day. Someone who really owns Diavolo's heart per destiny's decree. The heart they thought he offered back then, with the trees, and the cool breeze, and the swaying leaves, and the sunset as their witnesses. The heart they thought were already theirs. The heart that slipped from their fingers as he let go of their hand when Diavolo locked eyes with his fated one.

Diavolo's love is fleeting. Or maybe it was never love from the start, but a mere curiosity on his end. A misconception, but it doesn't matter anymore. They already knew the answer.

He already achieved his true love, holding his Empress in white. He wears that smile, much, much brighter than anything they have ever seen.

The bells sing with the crowd in jubilation. It is a merry occasion, with the official new rulers of the Devildom. All were so elated.

Except for one. "What a wretched soul I have..." they uttered under their breath. They couldn't take the sight. With the man they so love to be happy in someone's arms. Rage was boiling inside them. Staying there for a second longer and they would definitely ravage everything. So, they fled the scene, escaping to their secret place surrounded by the lake and the sea of trees.

They wanted to let it all out. Pain, sorrow, rage, envy. They were overflowing with emotion more than they could take. It should be them, placing a ring on his finger! the one smiling and crying of happiness as he makes a vow! The one who should be kissing him in front of thousands of witnesses!

"WHY?! What did I do to deserve this?!" The swaying blue and white Forget-me-nots they took with utmost care came to view. "What useless plants!!" They cried out, yanking and tearing everything off the soil. "True love?! It was only me from the very start!!"

All they could do was cry. Scream until their throat goes dry, until their voice disappears.

When all energy left their body, they slumped in the grassy land they’re on. In that secluded place, surrounded with trees serving as its walls. As if it were cradling them away from everything. Hiding their wretched self from everyone.

Dazed, they stared at the sky for an hour. As its hue turns from light blue to red, their mind gets clearer. That's when they heard a familiar sound. They followed it on the tip of the cliff.

It was the roaring waves beneath the land mass. It seems like it's continuing the cries they couldn't do anymore. Roaring like it was spilling the emotions inside them.

"If I jump, will you save me again?" They spoke to the man who is no longer in that secret place. It will never be a safe haven for them anymore.

"I want to be saved by you one more time." I want to be embraced by you one last time.

They faced their back to the rim of the cliff, and took a step backward. A foot standing on a void. And so, their body tipped, losing the other foot from the ground. As their balance disappears, they see nothing but the golden rays of the sunset and the redness of the dusk. So red like Diavolo's locks, golden like his eyes. There's nothing but only traces of him; of the man who doesn't really love them as he promised.

This is foolish... They thought. They're all alone. No Diavolo will fly down and save them anymore.

"I should go home..." Dying here would only hurt him... They whispered as the firm breeze swirls beneath, ready to catch them. After all, no one will save me but I... thinking of that, another pang spiked their heart.

But the wind spell they casted couldn't catch them. When they should have been falling, a hand appeared and pulled them in an embrace.

"Please don't do this..." it was not the warmth they were expecting. Yet, streams began flowing down their cheeks, in comfort of another’s arms. With their hoarse voice they sob the sorrow of losing their safe haven.

Part 2 (Safe Haven ~Another Story~) | Part 3 (Safe Haven ~Epilogue~)

Masterlist

[erzaguin]

Huntmira: After Chapter 3

“Hey little guy, is that letter for me?” smilled Emira at the little bird who chirped happily at her. He flew in through the window and settled himself on her bed then soon started hopping about happily.

Emira could not help herself from giggling at the little bird’s enthusiasm. She really loved how high spirited he was, especially when she thought about how it was a contrast to Hunter. He was definitely a good partner for him. 

She had been surprised when the little guy had seemingly popped out of nowhere during her dance with Hunter. As soon as he had come out he parched himself on Hunter's head and started jumping up and down. During their time apart Hunter had gotten himself a palisman and not only that but he had told him all about her. From the way Hunter had been speaking about her the palisman had become extremely curious and had wanted to meet her. Emira herself was more curious about what exactly Hunter said about her that had made the palisman so curious. 

When Hunter had made his way to his room to change he had mentioned to his companion that he was changing so he could dance with her. The little rascal had seen this as an opportunity and so had hidden himself in Hunter's coat without him noticing. During their time together at the ball he had explained how he and the palisman had met, how the palisman found him after, and how he'd refused to leave his side even during his darkest hours.

Now the two were so close that Hunter could understand what the little bird was saying. Although seeing the two interacting it was easy to see how close they've become. She liked how Hunter's eyes seemed to soften when he was talking with his palisman and how much more relaxed he seemed to get. But that just goes to show you what a difference a good partner can make in a person's life. 

"Come now settle down," smiled Emira "I think you're just as excited as I am at reading the letter. Tell me do you know what it says?" She teased while giving the little bird a light scratch underneath his beak which he seemed to enjoy. 

Her fingers were trembling slightly from the excitement and nerves as she reached for the letter. She had never received a letter before from anyone let alone a love letter from someone she liked. She did her best to remove the letter from the palisman as gently as possible. She was afraid she'd hurt him by accident from how nervous she was. 

She managed to get the letter off pretty easily by just pulling on the string. Now came the truly scary part. She took a deep breath to try and steady her nerves before unfolding the letter. "Ok Em, no reason to be afraid you've got this." she said to herself as she started unfolding the letter but quickly put it down and faced the small palisman. 

"You'd tell me if there was something in here right? I mean he's not asking me to never see each other again right?" she asked with a faint tremor in her voice. She was still not confident in Hunter’s feelings for her. Maybe tonight had made him realize he only liked her as a friend or that maybe not even that.

In response to her question the little bird gave her hands a small nudge with his head as a means of reassuring her that it was ok. With this she once again tried to calm her nerves and started reading. 

Dear Emira,

When I’m with you I feel I can be myself without having to wear a mask. Before I met you I don't think I had a self I could be. Because of you I was given the opportunity to truly understand myself. I now think of the things that I want for myself of who I am and who I want to be. Before I never questioned things, I never thought about what I wanted, or what would make me happy. I can’t really recall a time when I was truly happy from before we met. So when I say these past few weeks we’ve spent together have been the happiest days of my life I really do mean it. I’ve known a lot of dark days in my life but none were as dark as the days we spent apart. During our week apart I fell into despair. I hit the lowest point in my life up until now and I’m sure your sister can attest to that. This might be selfish of me but I want to spend more time with you. I was hoping that maybe you felt the same way although I would understand if you didn’t. But if you do, would you like to be my girlfriend? 

                                    Love, Hunter

Emira felt the tears running down her face before she had even realized that she was crying. The joy she felt at that moment was indescribable but there were also hints of guilt for ever having doubted Hunter’s feelings for her. He really did feel the same for her as she did for him and he even had the same fear as her. But it shouldn't be surprising the two were not used to being close with others that were not part of their own family. All of this was very new to both of them. 

The small palisman perched himself on her shoulder as if trying to console her. “I’m alright, I was just really not expecting this. Part of me really was afraid he was going to ask to never see each other again. I’m happy that it was the opposite.” She said with a smile as she wiped away the tears. 

She knew that if she saw herself in the mirror right now her face would probably be as red as Amity’s when she gets angry. The only difference would be that she could not keep herself from smiling. She actually felt a bit relieved that Hunter had sent her a letter rather than confessing at the ball thinking about how silly she must look right now sitting on her bed with a ball gown on, her face a deep crimson, and a goofy smile on her face that did not want to go away. Not only that but this was something that was real she could now keep and look at whenever she liked. 

The little birds chirping brought her back to reality. “That’s right I still have to respond.” She rushed off of her bed and got her own pen and paper so she could write her response. Her message was short: 

Meet me at our usual spot tomorrow.

Love, Em

She preferred giving her response in person. Unlike Ed she wasn’t the best at writing love letters or poems. Besides she would much rather be facing Hunter when she gave her response. 

“Thank you for coming all the way here and delivering this letter to me.” she said before giving the palisman a soft kiss on his head. “If you don’t mind, could you take this to him?” she said as he held up her own letter. In response he gave a small nod and held still so she could attach the letter to him. She folded the letter and sealed it with a kiss before tying it to the small bird’s foot. 

The small bird did not waste any time as soon as the letter was securely attached he took off flying out the same window he had home in from. Emira watched as the palisman disappeared into the darkness in the direction of the emperor's castle. 

“See you tomorrow,” she whispered. 

[author-a-holmes]

Underwing Challenge Day 3

"Who is your main cast? Describe as many of your OCs as you can cram into one post."

(Event Link) - (Day One) - (Day Two)

As many as I can cram into one post? Whooo-boy, you have no idea what you've asked for <3

Because Stolen is a Fantasy Romance, it's written in Third Person Close/Limited from the points of view of Stella Korazon and Reilly Mosswolf.

Stella Korazon

"Loving someone forever is the easy part, so long as you actually love them in the first place." - Stella

At the start of Stolen, Stella is a young but very talented thief. She was raised by her Da', Colm Korazon in a wagon that they used to travel the East Coast caravan route of Moryann.

Her greatest skills include being able to read a persons body language, and her pick-pocketing. She was taught how to fight, but her preferred reaction is to evade, dodge, run, or a mixture of the three.

Physically she's small. Short, and very slim, and with long blonde hair to her waist/hips and large blue eyes that make her look younger than she is, a look that she often uses to her advantage.

Stella's also a very good mimic, she can copy people's patterns of speech and behaviors as long as she's given sufficient time to study them.

Her biggest disadvantage is innocence. While Stella isn't naive to the dangers of Moryann, or the darker sides of the world she lives in, her Da' always encouraged social isolation. Teaching her to trust him, herself, and no one else. This makes for a strange dichotomy to her character that I enjoy playing with where she might be able to flirt with a mark and fluster them enough to rifle through their pockets unnoticed, but blush and stumble when being on the receiving end of genuine thanks or kindness.

Reilly Mosswolf

"You're in trouble, and I can help. Do I need more of a reason than that?" - Reilly

Reilly's parents were murdered when he was very young. He's elven, so very young for him was around 22 years, the developmental equivalent to mid-teens.

After his parents death, Reilly had his younger sister to look after, so he took to stealing. He was rather bad at it, and was caught. Luckily, for him, but the Guild Master of the Antillune Thieves Guild, Aldune Lamuird.

Instead of turning Reilly over to the guard, he took Reilly and his sister into the guild and looked after them, training both siblings himself when they expressed a desire to learn the trade.

At the start of Stolen, Reilly is 252 years old, and the current guild master having inherited his position from Aldune. Despite that he, and the guild, are in trouble.

For the previous year or two, there has been a rival guild from the Western side of Moryann beginning to encroach on the Antillune Guild's territory and while it hasn't yet escalated to an all out war, tensions are building.

Not least because around 6 months prior, Reilly's sister was found dead, having been clearly tortured. While Reilly is sure that the rival guild are responsible, he has no evidence and won't put the thieves under his protection at risk for a personal vendetta.

Physically, Reilly has the black eyes and sun-burnished skin of his mother's Desert Elf heritage. He also has black hair that he keeps shoulder length, and a scruff of a beard that helps give a messy edge to a face that would otherwise stand out in a crowd. He also has the traditional Forest Elf tattoo's that span from shoulder to wrist along his left arm; His family history written in elven.

His strengths are his experience, and his willingness to listen to opinions and advice other than his own. Reilly is a strong fighter, and Aldune taught him to carefully balance the racial specific talents of both his parents bloodlines, and to use them to his advantage. He has the powerful blows that belong to the forest clans, but the speed of the desert elves, making him a formidable opponent before he even picks up a blade.

Reilly's biggest disadvantage is his fear of losing people. Over the years, Reilly has lost almost everyone he's ever loved or cared for. His parents, Aldune, his sister Eryn, even a lover or two. He has an inner circle of people he relies on within the guild, six people he trusts above all others, but his best friend and the only one truly able to get through to him is Dara Brookor.

Reilly uses nicknames and pet-names to distance himself from his guild members, giving the illusion of closeness, but using the affectionate names to distance himself, and make sure he can't put a real name to a face should one of the people under his protection turn up dead.

It's when Reilly begins to use a person's real name, that they've truly begun to worm their way under his armor.

***

Stella and Reilly are surrounded by a small supporting cast, each of whom has a very important part to play in either the main characters lives, or the main plot, although that may not come to fruition within the first book...

Dara Brookor

"So you're trying to tell me that, when you realised you were developing a meaningful connection to a person you have known for less than a decade, you didn't panic, pull back, and avoid them like a complete moron?" - Dara

Dara runs most of the administrative side of the Antillune Thieves Guild. She handles all the records, job allocations and thief payments, and is also responsible for pairing up thieves whose skills will compliment each other.

She's also the best friend to Reilly Mosswolf. She met Reilly, and his sister Eryn, when they were attempting to steal from one of her clients. Before joining the guild, Dara ran a brothel in Antillune, and when Eryn Mosswolf tried to disguise herself as an employee to get close to her target, Dara interfered in an attempt to protect her staff.

Once the situation was explained, she ended up helping Eryn and Reilly with their job, and occasionally passing along information on good targets if a client tried to skip out on their bill.

Dara is over six feet tall, and almost half as broad, which is the only sign of her part ogre heritage. She has honey-blonde curls that she keeps cut to her jaw, and dark blue-green eyes.

She made good use of her imposing form to keep her staff protected and her clients in line, but eventually her establishment was set on fire by a competitor, which is when Reilly asked her to work for him instead, in the administrative side of the guild.

The fact that it meant Reilly got out of most of the paperwork was, he swears, simply a bonus.

Dara's strength is her ability to connect with people. While she isn't a thief, her long history in Antillune has given her a network on contacts across the city that feed her a steady supply of information, and Dara can quickly utilise those contacts to seek out any specific leads she or the guild needs.

Her weakness is that she doesn't want to think badly of anyone, and it can cloud her judgement. She doesn't automatically look for deceit and deception, which has often led to her finding herself in dangerous situations.

Thankfully, Dara strikes an intimidating form, can curse like an Antillune sailor, and knows how to wield blades well enough to back up her threats.

Myris Orinan

"I am not the youngest graduate from the college of Wizardry in nearly two centuries for nothing." - Myris

Myris Orinan is, simply put, a genius.

A forest elf in possession of extremely powerful elemental magic, Myris is one of only 3-4 people in Moryann who can control all four branches of elemental magic and manipulate them simultaneously to access the rare Kurro or Healing magic.

He completed his training at the College of Wizardry in less than 100 years, making him one of the youngest graduates to ever complete the training and he is also passable-to-fluent in over ten languages.

Myris is also entirely mute.

Married to Tanar Orinan, the pair met when Tanar had been hired to steal something from the library in the College of Wizardry. Myris discovered the thief, mid-job, because he'd been working late into the night and bound Tanar before demanding an explanation for his presence.

Tanar agreed to surrender the book, and forfeit the contract, in exchange for being allowed to court Myris and the pair were quickly inseparable.

Due to this close association with the Antillune Guild, however, Myris was attacked, kidnapped, and tortured for information on the guild, and on Reilly Mosswolf in particular.

Even though, at the time, he had no knowledge to give, his attackers punished him for withholding information by forcing an alchemical mixture into him that burnt away his vocal chords, effectively rending his magic useless as it's commonly accepted that without the ability to speak a spell, spellcasters and wizards are rendered powerless.

Myris proved everyone's theories on elemental magic wrong however by slowly developing his own language using hand positioning and finger shapes to communicate words and phrases, and with practice and strength of will he gradually taught himself how to cast spells with a non-verbal trigger, instead of a spoken one.

While Myris has physically recovered as well as he can from the experience, and his magic is as strong as ever, despite requiring more effort to cast non-verbally, Myris has been left with a powerful hatred of Vine, and an ever encroaching fear that such an attack will happen again.

After his recovery, and several assessments by the College to prove that he could continue to retain his Wizard title, Myris moved to the Antillune Thieves guild to work as their wizard in residence, providing wards and magical services to the guild in exchange for a modest fee and even working to create unique items to help the guild function better and to keep its members safer.

Myris does not leave the Guild grounds without Tanar by his side, and even then only in exceptional circumstances. If he is required to leave the guild for any reason, it also tends to leave him with nightmares for several weeks.

Honorable Mentions

I had some others I was going to do but this is so long already, and I'm already 7 hours into Day Four that I'm pushing them into an honorable mentions section instead.

Tanar Sotor Orinan, Indre Larieth, Lurall Penrith and Nilion Kurez are all additional members of the guilds Inner Circle.

Tanar is half plains elf and half human, and is married to Myris. He used to be the thief partner to Eryn Mosswolf after Reilly was made guild master.

Indre Larieth is a half-elf who was recruited by Nilion Kurez, but has remained steadfastly loyal to Reilly for many years. Due to her Snow Elf heritage she can appear stand-offish and cold, but she cares deeply for her chosen few, and will go to extraordinary lengths to do whatever she thinks is nessecary to protect them.

Lurall Penrith was once trained by the Ikhari guild of assassins. It wasn't a path he chose, but instead of running her decided to become good enough that the guild would have no choice but to allow him to leave. After he met Reilly, he leveraged the backing of another guild to convince the Ikhari to let him walk away. Lurall now runs the Guild Outpost in the Western Desert, but frequently visits Reilly in Antillune.

Nilion Kurez is a Forest Elf, and has been a member of the Antillune thieves guild since Aldune Lamuird founded it. He helped write many of the guilds laws, and has known Reilly most of his life, having watched him grow up inside the guild, and in many cases been one of Reilly's teachers.

Hawk Denill is the face of Vine in Book One, and the person who hires Stella to break into the guild and steal from Reilly Mosswolf. He is a dark character who I intend to be a thorn in Stella and Reilly's side for at least the first three books. Once a member of Reilly's own guild, Hawk was banished when the guild discovered he was responsible for a series of grisly murders in Antillune. Hawk has returned to the city only recently, confident with the backing of a new guild.

Liandra 'Andy' Jenkin is a bright but brash young thief who Dara partners with Stella once she settles into the guild. Andy is Human, but makes up for the disadvantages this gives her in speed and strength by sheer enthusiasm, and stubborn determination. Andy has a grudge of her own against Vine, since their people laid an ambush on her last job that injured her and killed her previous partner.

Colm Korazon is Stella's Da'. While Colm is also a thief, he's not a particularly good one. He raised Stella in a travelling caravan, using it as a base to sell all sorts of false herbal remedies, imitation magical items, and any other junk he could con people into purchasing. All the while training Stella to do what he could not. By the time she was old enough to blend in with the crowds that gathered around his stall, the items he attempted to sell were merely a distraction to allow Stella to silently search through pockets.

[ironhusband]

ha ha...hey! long time no see! i meant to come earlier and with gifts but i had uh...well this super embarrassing as someone who really, really knows her alcohol (i'm even a mixologist for crying out loud,) but long story incredibly short i had a little bit of an accident and caught some real fuckin' bad alcohol poisoning. i forgot a lot of things (including you again, i'm so sorry,) and i'm still having trouble remembering things, some of them very important, i'm told, but most of it has been coming back slowly but surely. the doctors were a bit worried about brain damage for a few days because i had a lot of difficulty speaking verbally long after i was sober, but when that cleared up i was given a clean bill of health and sent on my way. my niece says i talk funny now though? i personally can't tell and nobody else has commented about anything, so that might just be her.

since then most of my time has been spent dealing with the emotional fallout of some of my family members, and that's fine; most of them are just really concerned and scared for me but they've mellowed out after more than a couple reassurances that i'm not gonna get alcohol poisoning again. my mama though? god, she's been miserable. i honestly think i might have traumatized her (my aunt told me she was the one who found me and that i was on the floor choking on my own vomit, which, that's still a lot to take in,) because every time she looks at me she looks like she wants to cry and it physically pains me to see that. i know that no amount of reassuring her is gonna make her feel any better like the rest of my family, but i've been very busy trying to be a constant presence in her life anyway, been hoping that being in her line of sight whenever i can will make her feel somewhat at ease. so, that's where i've been all this time!

i'm gonna send in those samrhodeytony fic bits, i just...well you see, i forgot where i put them? and i need to do some searching? i mean, they have to be on this phone because there are these folders with labels of fandoms in them and they have writing in them too, but i don't see anything resembling a marvel or mcu folder, so i think they may be somewhere else. i also know that those two things are horror but i completely forgot everything else about them. like okay they're horror but...what else? is it monster fic, or is it psychological torture, is there any gore involved? you know? so when i find them i'll read through them and see if there's anything i think would call for me to warn you about content before i send you anything. ~🍜

Hi 🍜 anon! I want you to know I broke into the biggest grin when I realized this was you! I missed you! 

Um. Ok wow. That’s... that’s a lot. Please never apologize for being hospitalized or forgetting about me or forgetting about anything for that matter! It's also not embarrassing, it seems that you really have an issue. You really have a good reason for all of it. Seriously, I just hope you’re doing better, all that sounds so scary and awful. I know we don’t know each other but the fact that you came this close to dying and I would have never known you did or heard from you again.... yeah, that’s pretty much terrifying. I’m really worried for you.

I don't mean to overstep my boundaries here, but if you’ve been hospitalized for alcohol poisoning (and you could have had brain damage...), I think you should maybe... stop drinking for awhile. I’ve been already worried since you’ve talked a lot about memory issues due to alcohol, but seriously, it seems like it's really starting to affect your life and the lives of the people around you. I hope you get better and don’t put yourself in that danger again!

It's very nice of you to take care of your mom that way, and it makes a lot of sense that you’d be busy doing that. That reassures me somewhat, knowing that you’re constantly with people who wouldn’t let you put yourself in danger. Take care of yourself too, though? I mean, I’m sure this experience has been at least a little scary for you too. 

I’m excited to see the fics you wrote for me! Take you time with sending them in, prioritize getting better first. I’ll be here, very eager to read them! And thank you for being considerate with content warning, I appreciate it! I would probably read anything but I would need a warning for gore, abuse or physiological torture. 

Hope you’re staying safe and getting better!

[marshmallowatheart]

To All The Boys I've Loved Before (Part 22)

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14) (15) (16) (17) (18) (19) (20) (21)

Dear Veronica,

I don't mind dancing when I'm dancing with you. We should do it again sometime.

Good luck on the game today, not that you need it.

Go get 'em, bobcat.

- L

She grins, a big dopey grin; it felt silly how happy a little piece of paper could make her. But it does, it makes her really happy.

She's so distracted by the note that she's taken completely by surprise when someone bumps into her in the middle of the quad and knocks off her books from her hand. She shoots the guy a look of annoyance but he's already blended into the crowd.

Sighing, she bends down to pick it up and then another pair of hands are helping her. She looks up and sees him; Duncan Kane.

She swallows hard, she hates that her nerves are acting up around him again.

"Hey," he offers her a smile, handing her back her textbooks. "Can we talk?"

She stands back up, straightens her posture, meets his blue eyes and nods. "Walk me to my locker?" She asks and he immediately agrees.

There's so much between them but he's foregone any commentary on it in favour of talking about his senior year and it's confusing to her that he's bypassed it all and just decided to be casual about everything now that they've already made a mess of things.

She doesn't know what to say, so she nods and agrees and gives her two cents comments because if he's being casual then she can be casual.

"Everything feels so messed up and confusing lately," he says finally once they're at her locker and she takes in a breath. "All I really know is that I miss my friend and I'd like to have her back in my life, if she'll have me?"

He's leaning against the locker beside her and she's busy with transferring the books in her hand to her locker. And she never expected their reconciliation to be like this but she gives him a smiles and nods, "Of course, Duncan."

"Good," he sighs out in relief. "I'm still worried about you and Logan," he says and she has this incessant niggling feeling in her stomach since he started taking that's gotten stronger the moment he's mentioned Logan's name. "You know he still comes over?"

She freezes momentarily, her heart stops at the implied thoughts and she has to force herself to move, to breathe.

She swallows, desperate for air, and slowly continues to fiddle with the contents of her locker. Her shook heart now beating rapidly against her chest and she tries to calm down.

Everything with Logan felt so natural, so good, almost perfect that a part of herself pretended it was more than just friendship and a fake relationship.

She should have said something to Logan, she should have told him to stop being so nice to her, to stop touching her, to stop giving her notes, to stop caring about her and Heather and everything in her life; to stop making it so easy for her to fall in love with him.

How could she think that Logan had only spent time with her? Lilly's the one he wants. Of course, they were still in contact. Lilly's half the point of their fake relationship.

"He was there on Saturday and I'm pretty sure they still talk on the phone with each other," Duncan continues, the disdain clear in his voice.

Saturday. She doesn't know how to explain the gut wrenching feeling that's wearing her down. She remembers Lilly's mockery and Lilly's invitation to be friends - because Lilly and Logan were still friends, of course they were. She still hasn't mentioned it to Logan because there was no way she wanted to be on a double date with Lilly. There was no way she thought that he'd wanted to be on that date. Was there?

"Yeah, they're still friends," she answers, tight smile and clenched jaw.

"You're okay with that?" Duncan's clearly surprised and disapproving. She knows he wants what's best for her but she knows what she got herself into and Logan's helped her so she's going to help him - even if it breaks her heart.

"I trust Logan," she says and it tastes strange on her tongue now that she's given this unsettling information about him and Lilly but she needs Duncan to believe she's in a happy and fulfilling relationship even if Logan's actions prove otherwise.

"I just don't want to see you get hurt by Logan," he says gently.

She nods her head, understanding the concern but she doesn't feel appreciation for it. She feels upset, she feels betrayed and she feels heartbroken but she doesn't feel like she has any right to be because Logan hasn't promised her anything and she's known that from the start, so why did she let herself be in this position only to get hurt again when all along this was what she was trying to protect herself from?

Duncan's still waiting for her answer and she wants to say Logan won't hurt her and she knows that's true - Logan's given her everything she's signed up for and more - but in a few weeks or maybe even days she's going to look like a fool for ever saying it.

"I won't be," she assures him.

Duncan nods, his eyes lingering just over her shoulder and then she feels strong arms wrap around her sides, holding her tightly against him.

"Hey, Sugarpuss," he whispers just loud enough for Duncan to hear and drops a kiss onto her temple. He looks at the boy in front of them, smirks and says, "Hey man, how's it going?"

Duncan gives him a nod, "Alright, man. Well, I gotta go, don't wanna be late for bio. Catch you later, Ronica." He waves her off and takes his leave.

"So you and Duncan are talking again?" Logan asks, casual tone but looks at her intently, he's loosened his hold on her enough for her to turn and look at him but his hands are still holding onto her waist.

"Yeah," she bobs her head. "We are." She feels tense, agitated and moves away from his hold on her.

He blinks, surprised. He's been holding her a lot recently, touching her every chance he gets and she's never actively moved away from him before. She's even been initiating some of those touches, hugs and cheek kisses.

So he doesn't understand why she's distancing herself from him all of a sudden. His eyes drift back to where Duncan once once and he thinks that maybe he does.

He swallows the anxiousness he feels at her actions and bobs his head like she had seconds ago. "Cool, cool."

He doesn't know why he expected Duncan to never reappear in Veronica's life. Maybe a part of him wished Duncan would sulk in a corner and never show his face again.

"So," she lets out and he's trying to look her in the eye but she keeps avoiding his gaze. "Uhm, I totally forgot about this but you know how Lilly and I are working the band competition project together?"

He nods his head, taking her hand because the bell is about to ring and he's made walking her to class on his list of boyfriendly duties. He feels her tense but he doesn't let go and he finds some relief in the fact that she doesn't either.

"So I forgot about it but last Saturday she invited us out on a double date. With her and her boyfriend."

"Lilly wants to double date?" He frowns. He remembers last Saturday, he'd gone to her house and he'd told her explicitly that they were done romantically. He'd be there for her as her friend but that's it.

There's no denying that he'd loved Lilly but he's always known that she didn't love him the same way. And he didn't believe that he deserved to be loved unconditionally either.

But then Veronica happened. Her letter was filled with childhood memories and unreserved emotions that were just for him so raw and unattached to any expectations. She called him out on things he's never paid attention to and she saw past his facade even then - she saw the real him. (She did back then when they were twelve and she still does now).

Lilly wanted him as who he showed the world and Logan's realized that that wasn't a person he wanted to be.

He knows that Lilly's upset that Veronica's gotten so close to him in such a short time and he'd felt so frustrated because she'd gotten a boyfriend first.

The thing was that before Veronica, he wanted Lilly back even though she had someone else and had only told him after. Then he saw her at the car wash where she looked so damned cheerful and happy - the complete opposite of him. And then all he felt was resignation. He knew in that moment that Lilly and him were over for good.

"Yeah," Veronica says, her voice quite and tensed. "I mean it'd be a chance for you to get her back, right? See what she's been missing."

He feels his body grow still at her words. "Dinner with my ex and her new boyfriend, how does that sound like a good idea?"

It's scary to him that the idea of Veronica actively pushing him to Lilly is worse than the idea of having dinner with Lilly and whoever she'd left him for.

"If you can spend the night pretending you don't care about that then it'll probably drive her crazy."

He wants to tell her that it will definitely drive her crazy but he doesn't care anymore. Only he doesn't know how to say that to her now that he knows Duncan's back in her life the way she wanted without freaking her out and inevitably losing her completely so he takes a breath and lets out, "Okay."

Her body is stiff and she hates that she feels so wrecked over Logan's simple okay but she tries to push it down and repeats, "Okay."

[kim-ruzek]

Do you think the FBI might bring up some of Voight’ past actions like everything that happened with Casey which actually led to Voight being in prison for a few weeks or months (can’t remember) before he was released and given some type of immunity deal where he was out in charge of intelligence and snitching to IA for a little while. Also cheers to Matt Casey for having punched Voight and given him a little punishment even if it was for a short time. 😂😂

I think it would be interesting especially since I’m guessing most of intelligence apart from maybe Jay and Trudy don’t know the full story of what happened between Voight and Matt.

Honestly? I don't think the FBI will-- ESPECIALLY not about what happened with Casey, because I can't ever see the show bring that up in a very direct manner. If this was real life? I definitely think it would be.

Like. If the FBI is out for Voight's blood, if they want him then yeah, I absolutely see them bringing it up. Like why I've been saying IA will not send him to prison unless it's a highly publicised thing he's done anyway, is because it would not look good on them. Like the world is (thankfully) more intolerant for dirty cops and if Voight was sent to prison/openly disgraced it would attract media attention and IA would not want that. Because they let him back out, so it wouldn't reflect good in a time where image is everything.

But the FBI won't have those same problems. Because they're above/apart from pd, which means it won't reflect badly on them, and the bad effect it would have on the cpd is just collateral in their minds.

Although like. I definitely don't think this is what's going to happen tho, full disclaimer. I'm just-- idk I'm in a weird mood and I'm finding everything amusing.

Just one thing tho. Like I know they portrayed Voight's deal as bad and that cops shouldn't "snitch" but like that's not. Great. So I'd call it reporting to IA rather than snitching. Bc reporting to IA can still be a bad thing but the language isn't like, yikes from the start.

NOW onto the next part: I find it... Hard to go cheers to Matt punching him because while like,,,, it is very satisfying to watch but idk. People have this thing about Voight being punched and just the strength of the language used makes me a lil uncomfy-- especially if people are cheering it on for Voight's bad (and violent) qualities.

And like, the Voight in fire is not the same Voight in pd as he was a villian in fire and an anti hero type guy in pd. So like while I'm happy that Casey punched him and there is moments in pd when I'm like grrr at Voight and I'm so grateful that he's been hit, it's like not the same?

Idk if this makes sense,,, I just think. It makes me uncomfortable about the surge of people celebrating this has just happened. Although I don't like expressing this too frequently bc I think I get misunderstood/that I can't explain it well and I can't phrase it any better.

And FINALLY. So cops gossip more than school girls so I very much doubt they don't know what happened. They'd have been rumours flying and like. At the very start of the show, I will agree that not much would know the ins and outs of things.

But now?

They've known each other for years. They've known 51 for years. In season one, it's implied that Adam knows at least the basis for why Voight doesn't go into Molly's.

And like if we think about the people over the years who would've known: Trudy, Al, Erin, Antonio, Jay, Gabby, Matt (also Herrmann, Cruz and Otis). That is a LOT of people, especially when we have to take into account that they regularly meet at a bar-- y'know, a place with alcohol. And alcohol makes for loose, gossiping lips.

All of intelligence has had close friendships with a least a few of these people. And have seen to get along with others (for example Kim has been seen to gave a friendly friendship with Gabby, Otis and Cruz. (Also friendly with Matt but not including him because he will have not been the one to fill everyone else in because it's directly traumatic for him)). And "so what's the deal with Voight?" would've come up.

And also like-- and this isn't directed at you, just in general-- I always find this stuff funny. Like a lot of the fandom is always like intelligence is a family!!! They are so close!!! Even tho we see basically no indication of (whatever) I know it happens. And like, I'm not disbarraging that bc same.

But I find it amusing that people are so strong on this opinion yet as soon as it comes from whether they know things they *would* if it's true, those same people are like nope they totally don't know and like. I find it amusing because it's so contradictory.

ANYWAY. That's everything I've got to say. For now, anyway! If I came off bitchy during this I'm sorry I am not trying to!!! This was all wrote with a smile and no saltiness in my heart! 💖

[yoolee]

Omg could you elaborate more on your thoughts about Yasu & Nobu's dynamic? Ever since finishing Yasu's Noble Ending I've just been really intrigued by their relationship, the way they've known each other for a long time and how they interact.. yeah, it's definitely layered..

*CRACKS KNUCKLES*

okay I had this all written out like a week ago and thenrefreshed the page accidentally (I am…kind of a loser about my writingy’all) so here we will try again. IN WORD THIS TIME.

OKAY.

SO.

FIRST.

I haven’t read Nobu’s sequel,and I don’t know what happens, so, for all I know Ieyasu could betray him and I’mjust WRONG so keep that in mind.

HERE IS THE SUPER SHORTVERSION:

To ME, Nobunaga and Ieyasuhave an indulgent, mischievous big brother to petulant, bratty and mistrustinglittle brother dynamic and I love it. I think Nobu sees wholly through Ieyasuand Ieyasu is both in denial of that and needs it and because he is Ieyasu probablysemi-actively tries to destroy any sense of kinship because of his trustissues, even if temporarily surrendering control, and being accepted on the merit of his actions and not his name, is a relief, even if he thinks he’s lying. Especiallybecause he tells himself that Nobu’s too much of a fool to do any real damagewith the control he has. THAT’S IT. THAT’S THE WHOLE OF IT. YOU CAN STOP READING IFYOU WANT.

But if you want to go downlee’s thinking-out-loud INTP rabbit hole abyss with her, HERE WE GO:

Things I headcanon about Nobuin regards to Ieyasu:

Family is desperatelyimportant to Nobu. Especially his brothers. There is a particular moment in hisMS involving cups of sake that just breaks my heart. This extends and includeseven to the point of them betraying him – that’s basically, in some sort ofways, a non-issue (it is, but, not in the stops-him-from-loving them sense)

Nobu also has a soft spot for bratty kids - we see that in his ToL ES, but in other stories as well (watch him with Sasuke!!)  And as often as not, his method for dealing with them is poking the sore spot while teaching them how to defend from it until they poke back. He openly tells us this is in part due to being a big brother, reinforcing the sibling-sense overlap.

Nobu 100% sees through Ieyasu’ss— (we see some hints of this at various points, especially because we’regiven Nobu’s little side-smirky sprite)

The BIGGEST ISSUE with Yasu’snastiness is the power imbalances, right? He’s pouring all this toxic, vicious venom into peoplewith no defense for it. BUT, with Nobu, the power structure is inverted. Yasuhas to play nice with Nobu (which makes his venom ALL THE WORSE because hehates it, right? Not right, actually, but I’ll get to that – he thinks hedoes). and Nobu can 100% handle that venom. Like. Are you kidding me? do you know what this man’s been through? One snotty little grump is entertainment more than it is hurtful. Like honestly Nobu probably thinks it’s REALLY FUNNY.

Biggest difference betweenthese two is that Nobu already sees everyone as family. We see this from himALL THE TIME – like regardless of what you may think about Inuchiyo’s route, Nobuis amazing imo. Like, he’s payingsuch close attention to the mental and emotional wellbeing of all of hisretainers that even a random cook he’s had like two interactions with rates hisOWN COAT for comfort. He sends away someone important for the same reason. InMitsuhide’s route, he semi-manipulates MC into making his favorite food just tohelp him take care of himself. Nobu may be a fool in some regards, but he gets his people, and gets what they need.

We can sort of extrapolate thatthis extends to Ieyasu as well. Nobu trusts Ieyasu, even knowing he’s amanipulative, angry little snot, and  probably knows what Ieyasu needs. So,what does Ieyasu need? (covered in a sec)

So he looks at Ieyasu and he sees the whole person. He has the luxury of doing so, because he’s one of the few people who gets to look at him straight in the eye instead of in deference, and he’s Nobu, he can do whatever he wants (including seeing a snotty, terrified, angry KID instead of a vicious, scheming, toxic lord–he sees that too, but I honestly think he sees that as fixable or he wouldn’t bother. I think he also sees it as less of a problem than it is for the same vantage point reason - like, I think he sort of figures if he drags Ieyasu around enough, time will fix it rather than active interference)

I also think Nobu just pokes at him sometimes because it’s funny to do so and we know he likes his entertainment. 

IEYASU

OKAY SO BACK TO ‘what does Ieyasu need?’ (Ieyasu needs a dang mother imo - unconditional familial love with affirmation of his inherent value as a human being and not as a Tokugawa but, back to that later)

Ieyasu has TRUST issues andIeyasu has CONTROL issues. And combined, those two things invariably cause himto poison any healthy relationship he may have. I really, really believe this.

OKAY here we go into Leerabbit holes, your mileage may vary.

I also think he’s like, inthe 19-ish age range it would explain a lot >>

I also feel like Ieyasu had WAYTOO much of other people controlling his life in a genuinely awful fashion thatwhen he has control again he a) doesn’t know how to be in control because godknows he’s never had it nor a healthy example of it b) doesn’t necessarily WANTto be in control but EVEN MORE c) doesn’t want anyone ELSE in control of himeither because he’s been down that road and we can see how horribly it affectedhim, he can’t come through that again.

To me, that’s a driving forceof why he is so gosh darn nasty. He’s completely hemmed in by a dichotomy notentirely of his own making, where he has to desperately cling onto something he doesn’t wantwith a white-knuckled death grip and that would make anyone temperamental (thathe doesn’t handle it well, to the point of being destructive and damaging, is aseparate discussion I don’t want to go down – thisis the best analysis of it I’ve seen of it and explains why my heart hurts for him as acharacter even if his behavior often isn’t immediately acceptable as a love interest)

But that choice of being incharge is taken from him when Nobu’s ordering him around. One of the interferingcomponents is removed from the equation.

Think about when we seeIeyasu’s façade cracking and when he’s at his absolute smoothest – when he’s atNobu’s beck and call. It’s effortless. He tells himself he hates it (and doesn’thide it as well as he thinks he does lolololol) BUT ALSO. He (consciously)believes Nobu is a fool. He believes he can outsmart him. There’s no risk to letting him be in charge, because Ieyasu can keep control and he can keep it in the way he’smost comfortable with – where no one else has to know. (Because if nobodyknows, nobody can take it away) so, there’s some relief to that, and he’s athis easiest to handle.

I also think deep deep deepdown Ieyasu knows Nobu knows and he trusts him anyway or why would he beserving Nobu without actively sabotaging him? But he can’t acknowledge thatbecause it would require VULNERABILITY and Ieyasu doesn’t do that.

BECAUSE REMEMBER Nobu’s place is a meritocracy. So, Ieyasu also gets to know that he’s there on the merit if his accomplishments and his actions, not his name. It’s not quite the same as being loved for who he is as a person (I think for Nobu it’s the same thing, and he may not fully understand that Ieyasu won’t/can’t understand that because for him it isn’t) but it’s as close as he’s ever gotten (Sakai obvs loves him but Ieyasu can’t separate that from the ‘Tokugawa’ component) and he craves that with a genuine desperation. Like, the poor child inside of him that never got it still needs it. So he sticks around, because, subconsciously, that’s better than nothing. Like not that he is EVER going to admit to anyone that he needs to be loved, but, everyone needs to be loved and accepted.

Yasu has to keep him at armslength and snarl his petulant, bratty little teeth because, issues, BUT he’sall bark. Whatever he’s done to Nobu (at least to my memory and routes I’veread) is minor, especially comparedto how Ieyasu behaves to and around ACTUAL ENEMIES (*side-eyes a certain Kairoute*)

ON BROTHERLYNESS

A huge part of what colorsthis for me is that Ieyasu is who eventually ends up uniting Japan, right?(*cough* uh, spoilers I guess?)  Okay well, sort of, it’s complicated BUT I do (as someone very new to this history) think it’s fair to say it’s Yasu there when the dust settles on unified Japan, and the dust stays settled, mostly, under him esp when compared to previously? History is messy.

Who taught him that? Whostarted him down that path?

To me, Ieyasu is SO MUCH likea bratty, grumpy little brother being dragged along to play cops and robbersbecause his big brother needed one more person to play the damsel in distressand it’s humiliating and he’s TICKED OFF but at the same time, he gets to beincluded in something, and he’s learning, and he’s itching for his turn becausehe’s watched everyone and they maythink he’s the dumb kid but just you wait, give him the chance to be the robberand he’ll rob you all blind.

And the twist is – Nobu knowsthat. That’s the real reason he dragged him along.

(the other is, Nobu doesn’tleave people behind)