#linkon new year

[hananoami]

Linkon Chibi Report

■ New Year's Specialty 「Year-End Review」

In their lively city, Linkon citizens achieved many things this past year.✨ Please check your year-end review, Miss Hunter!

[yuri-is-online]

Love and Deepspace Timeline: Xavier

This is all speculation and should not be taken as fact, I have made a previous post about Zayne, but as stated there I do not have the necessary cards to make one for Rafayel and will direct you to this post by u/joonmin on the love and deepspace subreddit. This post is being made before I have managed to complete the Myths date (as soon as I hit level 55 it is over for you hos) and will be updated at some point once I have finished it, but I think I have enough information to explain Xav's overall timeline and hopefully clear up a few things for people missing his cards.

I have included a TL;DR at the end of the post for people who don't want to get lost in the weeds of theorizing.

Some information from that post about Zayne will be re-hashed here to help provide context about the game's setting. SPOILERS FOR ALL IN GAME CONTENT UP TO CHAPTER 8, VARIOUS MOMENTS, AND ANECDOTES, PROCEED WITH CARE.

Current Timeline

The current timeline where the main story of LAD takes place is set in the year 2048 in a place called Linkon City. We are told that the Deepspace Tunnel opened 14 years prior and that is when wanderers started invading earth. There is a lack of understanding about why this has happened, and it has sparked an interest in space exploration in the hopes of finding a solution.

The Hunters Association is sort of like an adventurers guild? It's supervised by the government, and is sort of split between Hunters like MC and researchers attempting to understand what makes the wanderers tick.

This includes researching protocores, currently the only thing the hunter's association knows for sure is that they contain a great deal of energy, and that they can cause disease in humans based off of which category the protocore falls into. This is confirmed the be what is wrong with MC, and appears to be a problem all versions of her share.

The events immediately following the opening of the Deepspace Tunnel are referred to as the Catastrophe due to the amount of destruction caused by the influx of wanderers. This is what birthed the N109 Zone. According to the in game Spacepedia, it is surrounded by various other "no-hunt" zones, which it further clarifies as being places with "a chaotic Protofield and frequent Wanderer appearances," i.e. really dangerous places for people to live let alone go to. Civilians are outright banned and hunters need special permission to enter because of just how dangerous these places are considered to be.

Unlike Zayne and Rafayel, Xavier does not have an alternate self yet. The versions of him in his myths card and all of his anecdotes are all the same person, just at various points in his long life. The technicality of this is addressed in one of the shareable posts: Immortality No Longer A Dream! The article goes into detail about how a new biotech company using protocores to regenerate the heart. You can share this article with each of the three boys, who have different types of reactions, but Xavier's is not one of surprise or skepticism, but of acceptance. The article itself talks about immortality as something everyone will one day be able to accomplish, but Xavier disagrees.

Xavier's first two anecdotes, A Special Vacation and Passing By, both establish how exactly he has been living his life on earth since his arrival. We learn that he has been doing his best to keep a low profile by moving between various jobs and tries to avoid making friends. As mentioned by @exactlycleverpirate in the replies of this post (who has made their own timeline you can check out here) "Xavier says he has been on Earth for 214 years, and that this will be his last. That means he arrived in 1834. We also see in one of his Tender Moments, that he rented a book from the library 30 years ago. So he has definitely been on Earth longer than the Deepspace tunnel has been around." Chapter 8 ends tells us that soon Earth and Philos will be in alignment for the first time in billions of years, which is likely why Xavier says this year will be his last, but I am unclear about what exactly that will cause.

We learn that there are other immortals from the same place as Xavier living in Linkon City, and that some of the see him as a traitor. We can assume that many of these immortals are involved with Onychinus due to Xavier's knowledge of and interest in their organization.

It's not clear how or when Xavier chose to start working as a Deepspace Hunter, but the other jobs he's taken all seem to be related to the military/evol combat. He is also very keen on fighting wanderers, so being a hunter is a good way for him to hide in plain sight. Which is what he has been trying to do.

His Precious Bonfire date suggests he has been a hunter longer than MC and has a reputation of not participating in team events. He has the highest level of access to the Hunters Association database and seems to have a good working relationship with Jenna, who seems content to let him do his own thing. She also attempted to assign MC as his partner, in part seemingly because she wants to protect MC's evol.

There is of course also the concept of Lumiere, a legendary hunter who appears during the catastrophe caused by the Deepspace Tunnel and wreaked any wanderer he came across. He has a light evol, a giant bounty on his head, and looks exactly like Xavier when we see his wanted poster in Chapter 8. While MC might have her doubts, since we the reader know Xavier is immortal, it's not much of a jump to say these two hunters are the same person.

Chapter 8 gives us more detailed look at the exact dynamics these immortals have with each other, but I think it makes sense to talk about Xavier's origins first so we know where he is coming from.

Philos Timeline

As I said on my other post, all of the Myths cards take place on the planet of Philos. In the present timeline, Philos is no longer a planet, just a lonely core floating in deepspace at the other end of the deepspace tunnel. In Xavier's third anecdote, When Shooting Stars Fall, we finally learn what Philos is: it's Earth. An Earth that has been reborn by substituting the planet's old core with an artificial one and with a different name.

Now this anecdote takes place in the year 214, which is explained to us as meaning 214 years has passed since Earth was destroyed and reborn as Philos. How does that make sense if we are currently on a very much alive earth with a very dead Philos on the other end of the Deepspace Tunnel? No clue, but I think that's going to be one of the main focuses of the story. Something had to happen to Earth to make it become Philos, and then something happened to Philos to make it uninhabitable. Given what we know, both are likely related to wanderers.

I also want to briefly mention that in Rafayel's myths card, it is mentioned that the sea is missing so the Lemurians have no home. Based off of MC's description of the weather and how "fragmented landmasses" are being held together, I wonder if the re-birth of Earth as Philos is what caused the seas to dry up? And if so what role did MC have in the creation of Philos if any?

This anecdote is from the pov of MC who is studying at a school she simply refers to as "The Academy." It is unclear if this is the same school as she and Xavier are attending in his Lightseeker cards, but based off the uniform he wears and the sword he carries I think this is likely meant to be a highschool of some sort, and the Astria Knyght Academy is a form of military school equivalent to a college.

Xavier's words about immortality being a privilege come into play here as we learn something about MC: she always seems to have heart problems, specifically she always seems to have Protocore Syndrome, the exact same disease she currently has. In this anecdote she explains it as being a birth defect that has only one cure, a special protocore. One that supposedly can cure any illness.

Protocore disease prevents the patient from living forever, something Xavier finds very hard to accept. He abandons MC for a month without telling her where he is going to try and find this Protocore that she needs to live, but comes back too late. By the time he finds her, the core can't save her and he holds her as she dies. She asks if he thinks they will meet in her next life and he promises to always wait for her.

We know current timeline MC has shards of an Aether core in her heart, and that her heart is currently stable. While the anecdote does not outright say that the cure to Protocore Syndrome is an Aether core, Xavier's knowledge of them and his emotions when MC brings them up to him makes me think it probably is. Currently we do not know how an Aether core can be obtained, other than (assuming that is what he brought MC) Xavier was injured getting one. The MC here says she is unable to live for more that a century, something that has changed in her next re-incarnation but we don't know why.

When MC re-incarnates she is brought under the tutelage of the Grandis Knight, the personal knight and retainer to the King of Philos. Xavier is the Crown Prince of Philos, and is also studying under swordplay under the Grandis Knight. She has no memories of Xaveir, who does not tell her about their shared past despite holding on to the gift she made for him: a star sword tassel. This doesn't seem to bother him as much as you might expect, he mostly just seems happy to have her alive again.

She is stupid jealous of that tassel because Xavier openly admits to being in love with the girl who gave it to him. But he also speaks about her and the MC in the same sentence if that makes any sense? He sees both versions of her as her, and just as he promised he intends to wait for her so they can be together.

Xavier is an interesting character (to me anyway) because he has a pretty clear arc to his attitude towards his relationship with MC as he ages. He starts off as being shy in the third anecdote, then he moves to being openly teasing and affectionate (outright asking to elope and saying things that make it sounds like they might have been betrothed) in his lightseeker cards, to how he is at the end of his myths date and currently with MC: restrained in his interactions with her but unable to completely keep himself away. Why he has become restrained, why he thinks he needs to distance himself from MC is unclear. What is clear is that he has no interest in taking the throne from his father, a man he actively hates and does not seem to see eye to eye with. While their relationship seems to have always been tense, the breaking point is during Xavier's Gladius Ceremony.

The Gladius Ceremony is a sort of coming of age ceremony where the heir proves their ability to ascend the throne by killing a wanderer with nothing but their lightblade. Something happened during that trial that Xavier does not want to talk about and MC mentions he has "changed" since then. Like he left part of himself behind????

As an interesting note this trial takes place in a forest, a sentient forest much like No-Hunt Zone 7 in chapter three.

Xavier says he cannot be the man his father wants. What his father wants is not clear, but I personally think it has something to do with what wanderers are as Xavier seems to have a degree of sympathy towards them if they show a degree of sentience. It also might have something to do with how Philos was made, as both MC and Xavier acknowledge that the planet is dying.

The MC mentions that Xavier leaves her a lot but always comes back within a specified time frame. He goes on expeditions into Deepspace, but never tells MC what he is looking for and we as a reader do not learn. He does, however, mention finding a newborn planet filled with flowers and offers to take MC there if she will give up on being a knight. She is confused, as her entire life's purpose has been to be his knight, and doesn't fully comprehend a world where Xavier isn't going to be king.

But the card story starts with MC being crowned Queen, with Xavier as her Grandis knight, so we know that's what will happen. So neither of them got what they wanted in the end.

The "Lightseeker" title of Xavier's card refers to a unit of knights that are commanded by the Crown Prince and answer only to the royal family. Their duty is to keep Philos safe from Wanderers, much like the modern day Hunter's Association. Both the MC and Xavier are training to become Lightseekers, and have a sort of rivalry for the spot. MC keeps beating Xavier when they spar but he seems to have the stronger Evol so they're quite equally matched. It's stupid cute how everyone but Jeremiah thinks they hate each other, speaking of which:

Jeremiah is a friend of MC's in the same class as her. He's also her wingman who keeps trying to help set her and Xavier up, something Xav doesn't seem fully aware of. He's stupid jealous of their friendship which Jeremiah seems to find really funny (he's the only one who knows how delulu they are for each other and seems to find a lot of enjoyment in teasing them.)

Jeremiah also ends up being a knight under MC's command after they graduate the academy. Xavier however... goes missing after a meeting with his father and does not reappear even after he dies. He is missing for a period of 200 years until MC finds him again in the same forest that his Galdius Ceremony took place in. He saves her from... something. An illusion? A cosmic vortex? Whatever it was Xavier has discovered something that affects the health of people's hearts. And he seems determined to not get close to MC or let MC get close to him because of it.

I think it might just be because she is about to die from her disease, which she doesn't seem aware she has but always does, and Xavier doesn't want to have to watch her die again. But I haven't finished the card yet so I don't know.

He also seems to be under the impression the whole world is going to end now, and not just Philos.

The last thing we need to take from all of this information about Philos is the existence of a group called the Backtrackers. Xavier was with them once, but he isn't anymore. MC was seemingly under their care and, according to his Passing By anecdote, traveled through the Deepspace Tunnel with them but was lost. I'll explain more about what I think about them now that we're ready to return to the present timeline, but just know that the Backtrackers are A) from the Philos timeline and B) likely immortal just like Xavier is.

Back to the Present

In Chapter 8 you are either introduced or re-introduced to Jeremiah, who now owns a flower shop called Philo, likely named after his home planet of Philos. He is a friend of Xavier's and they both share the same current goals, which includes protecting the MC. Jer's job in this chapter is to provide MC with a fake identity to use in the N109 zone, but he does provide us with some information to try and tie up some loose ends with Xavier's timeline.

While the Nonintervention principal he refers to probably does have something to do with MC, it also likely just refers the fact that since both Xavier and Jeremiah are from Philos and therefore the future they are trying not to interfere with the timeline too much. Something that whoever blew up MC's house does not care about anymore, implying that if that was indeed Onychinus then we can assume they likely are also immortals from Philos who want MC and her Aether core for something.

When MC finds Xavier again after his 200 year disappearing act he is leading a squad of Lightseekers from various units. I think these are probably the Backtrackers, and that there was a split in the group after the MC and the Aether core went missing during their journey into the Deepspace Tunnel. We know that at least Xavier has been here longer than the Deepspace Tunnel has been, but there is room for speculation around Jeremiah and the others. As Pirate again pointed out in the comments, whatever disaster during the travel the Backtrackers took into the Deepspace Tunnel likely caused them to arrive at a bunch of different points in time.

While this confirms that Xavier and Jeremiah are not from this timeline it raises a lot of questions about MC. Her memory is constantly spotty, and I had wondered if that had something to do with the Aether core... but now.

With the way Xavier tries to limit his interactions with her and says he's the last person who should be trying to get close to her I wonder if Xavier is worried MC is being erased from time? Or if she belongs to this timeline so while he loves her, while he wants to be the one she chooses, he subconsciously knows he's from a doomed timeline and therefore unable to stay with her. This also raises questions about the other two love interests; we know MC has forgotten things about Rafayel and I theorized she has forgotten something about Zayne. Is this because they also don't belong? Does MC not belong? Or is it something related to the trauma MC experienced from being experimented on?

TL;DR

This was all pretty complicated so I thought I would sum up the basic points because I felt a bit incoherent.

Xavier is the Crown Prince of Philos, a future version of Earth that was created by replacing Earth's core with a fake one.

This fake core allowed the citizens of Philos to live forever unless they had the rare heart condition know as Protocore Syndrome, something the MC always has no matter how many times she is reborn.

The cure to Protocore Syndrome is a rare Protocore that Xavier tries to get for her but gets back with too late. He watches her die and while he was already shown dislike seeing her injured, this seems to turn it into a genuine trauma of his. He is shown to be deeply distraught seeing her gravely injured or sick in multiple moments/dates and is determined to take care of her. In a rare decision by the writers, this does not appear to manifest itself as a desire to not see her engage in combat as he trusts her ability to take care of herself, just maybe not her willingness.

MC is reborn and begins military training with Xavier intending to become his knight, but Xavier refuses to take the throne of Philos for reasons he does not share with MC. He also begins disappearing for long periods of time on journeys into space. On one of these journeys he finds a young planet filled with flowers and attempts to convince MC to elope with him and abandon her dreams of being a knight. He seems uncertain if MC's desire to be with him is just because she has been told she is to be his knight or if it is because she genuinely loves him; Xavier knows which one he wants it to be though.

After talking with his father he disappears for 200 years and founds a group of knights investigating a forest with an unstable Protofeild where killed Wanderers simply don't stay dead. It is my theory that these are the Backtrackers mentioned by past MC, Jeremiah, and Xavier.

Xavier arrives in this current timeline in year 1834. Other immortals from Philos begin to arrive in the current timeline at different points and agree upon something they call the Nonintervention Principal, likely to keep from destroying the spacetime continuum too much. What they are refusing to intervene in is unclear.

The Backtrackers made a journey through the Deepspace Tunnel with future past MC and an Aether core, but something goes wrong and she disappears. Xavier has been waiting to see her again ever since he got here, and intends to wait forever.

There are more immortals than just Xavier and Jeremiah living in Current Timeline Linkon City, some of which are very likely allied with Onychinus and searching for the MC. Why is related to the Aether core in her heart, but might also have something to do with her Evol.

It is my personal belief that many of these citizens of Philos used to be in the Backtrackers, but even if they didn't they see Xavier as a traitor to his people and more importantly to them. Why is unclear, but I imagine it might be because of their goals for the MC and her Aether core. In a broader sense it might be because they intend to do something to current earth to save their home, and Xavier disagrees with that but the two things do not seem mutually exclusive.

Earth and Philos are about to be in very close alignment, and both Xavier and Jeremiah expect something bad to happen around that time.

Final Thoughts

I would be interested in knowing the direct Chinese translation of these particular lines from precious bonfire to see if there is any difference to them... but honestly this is one of the things that sold me on him. She dies and he follows the traces of her light until he finds her again, and he tries to keep her alive but he fails and so he follows her again.

I saw at least one post wondering of Xavier will betray MC and rip the Aether core out of her heart, and I want to clear that up here. I understand why people might think this if they haven't read any of his anecdotes but no, that's not going to happen unless it's the only way to save MC's life. Xavier very much wants to keep MC alive, his efforts to distance himself and withhold information from her are always done to serve that goal.

Rafayel is the one who has a pretty good reason to want to cut out MC's heart, not Xavier. And I do mean good reason I don't really hate him for it and am not trying to imply he's a bad character or a bad romance option for it.

One of Xavier's immortal friends is name Noah. There is always a chance that this is a coincidence, but there's a part of me that wonders if he shares the same name as Dr Noah because they are the same person. The anecdote he appears in involves Xavier getting him a new identity so I don't think they're likely to be related.

I actually really like MC , Xavier, and Jeremiah's friendship and sort of hope it gets some focus in some small way in the future. Jer and Xav had to have bonded over losing MC, not to mention Jeremiah spent 200 years fighting Wanderers with MC under her command. She talks about him as being her best friend!!! I want to see more of him!!! (if he doesn't have a partner and if I can't have Tara x Jenna I should be allowed Tara x Jeremiah)

I'm worried there might be a plot point that involves Xavier dying in the future and then maybe we get to meet a different timeline version of him and end up on the opposite side of the "can't tell this ghost wearing your face how I really feel" spectrum.

Speaking of which I like how Xav seems to respect MC's current life and doesn't expect her to be a carbon copy of her past selves. It's nice (stares at critically acclaimed mmorpg villain Emet Selch)

Anyway that's it. I'll update the post when I finish the Myths card, which I fully expect to make me cry like a baby. If anything confused you my askbox is open, just because I write for twst doesn't mean I am not open to talking about this if I made mistakes or if you feel like any of this was unclear.

[exactlycleverpirate]

Timeline from Xavier's Perspective Part 2

EDIT: Updated with some new information and some adjustments.

(Includes spoilers for basically everything, including all myths.)

This is an update of my earlier post. See Part 1 here.

Timeline from Xavier's perspective (Part 2/Earth):

Timejump.

?1248 (“It’s been 800 years!”)? Sometime in a past life, Rafayel and MC were lovers. (Is this when MC was trapped on the Island of Songs in a hut by herself, doomed to someday drown and Rafayel comes, gives her his heart and saves her?) Then she is cursed and turned into a Sea Witch in the Abyssal Rift. She has no memory of Rafayel or being human. Rafayel exchanges his scale, eternal blood, and a shell with his voice in order to turn MC human and restore her memories. Then he turns to sea foam. (Fragrant Dream.) (This could all be an actual dream or allusion that never happen or hasn't happened yet. However, this could be when Rafayel gifted MC one of his scales and formed the bond between them.)

2018 Xavier checks out a book in the library that MC will check out 30 years later. (An 

1834 AD Xavier, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Noah (Likely actually Jeremiah, due to translation error), and others stranded on Earth. (This timing comes from a promotional video where Xavier says he has been on Earth for 214 years.) (Part of a team called the Backtrackers. Were on a Backtrack mission when something went wrong in the Deepspace tunnel.)

Appointment)

2021 Zayne born Sept 5th.

2024 (...probably) Rafayel born March 6th

2025 The year Xavier claims he was born, on Oct 16th.

2026-2027 MC born. (This age comes from chapter 5.1. The letter she gets from Grandma says she was 7-8 when they started experimenting on her, and she was adopted by Grandma after the Chronorift Catastrophe in 2034.)

Child Rafayel likes escaping to explore the ocean. On one or more of these excursions, he sees a lantern festival and puts out their lanterns. (Ocean At Night)

2032 Xavier joins Arthur's police team. (Anecdote 2)

2033 That winter, Noah (Likely actually Jeremiah, due to translation error) contacts Xavier for information to make a new identity. Noah mentions wanting to be an ordinary person in this timeline and that he fell in love. Xavier fakes his death as a police officer and encounters a lost little girl with a bunny plushie. Fights Isaiah in Linkon city in a fight that makes the whole city go dark. He disguises this by making it look like there is a meteor shower. (Anecdote 2)

2034 Deepspace tunnel appears and Chronorift Catastrophe (timespace anomaly in Linkon city). MC is 7-8, taken in by Grandma. Caleb is also adopted by Grandma. 12 year old Zayne loses control of his Evol at the end of summer and has a nightmare about the Grim Reaper for the first time. Rafayel would be 10 at this time. Xavier appears as Lumiere for the first time, kills the first Wanderer in the Chronorift Catastrophe and saves MC. On December 31st, Lemurian ruins are discovered, after a tsunami southeast of Linkon city, when a rift opens up and reveals it. Her grandma participates in experiments to fuse a human heart and a protocore. At some point, MC's heart is fused with an Aether core. Onichynus and Dr. Noah are both somehow linked to these experiments. Her first heart doctor is Dr. Noah.

At some point in MC and Rafayel's childhood, Rafayel visits the surface world but gets trapped on the beach on his return trip (on Ebb Day?) (Perhaps during her field trip to Hat Island?) She saves him and they make a pinkie promise. Rafayel says if she doesn't return, he will chase her to the ends of the earth. (Nightly Stroll)

Child Rafayel is given a Whale Call as a means of protection, in case something happens on one of his escapes from Lemuria. However, he never uses it, because he never escapes again after this, and sometime later he buries it in the Lemurian city. (Whalefall Lament)

Child Rafayel is tricked and his people slaughtered. Some survivors go into hiding living on land among humans, including his Aunt Talia and K. (Anecdote 3)

Sometime before 2038, MC goes on a field trip to Hat Island (possibly when she meets Rafayel?).

2035 Zayne (age 14) begins medical school at Skywalk University, spends 6 years in med school program. (It normally takes 8.) (From his biography on the hospital wall.)

2043 Zayne (age 22) graduates from medical school. Goes on a mission to the Arctic where he is forced to mercy kill his mission leader who is being consumed by some sort of ice (Anecdote 2). Begins work at Linkon Central Hospital. (From his biography on the hospital wall.)

Rafayel's Anecdote 3 immediately precedes Anecdote 2 (See 2044-2047). Rafayel is singing in the opera and seeking revenge overseas in Verona under the name Mo. He is being investigated by a private detective named Louis. He is not painting at this time. His Aunt Talia is also in Verona. He attends a Seamoon Ceremony for a fellow Lemurian survivor, K. Lemurians are hiding amongst humanity, but being hunted, tortured, harvested for their scales and blood and killed. Rafayel then moves to Linkon city and resumes painting again. He has a photo of MC in his pocket. (Anecdote 3).

Sometime between 2043-2045 MC (17-18) begins attending University of Linkon. (School year usually begins in September.)

2043-2047 Rafayel's Anecdote 2 takes place sometime in this timeframe while MC is at University of Lincoln. That summer, his painting Illusion projects him into the spotlight as a popular artist. In late summer, he becomes a lecturer at University of Linkon. He receives information on her from someone at the Nest. He believes there are “predators'' surrounding her, some of whom may be trying to use her to trap him, so he is wary about approaching her. He burns the photos and information the man who investigated her collects about her. He describes his feelings toward her as painful and addictive, thinking he is ready to spend the rest of his days with her, but also wants to settle the score between them. (Anecdote 2). Thomas becomes Rafayel’s agent. (Anecdote 1).

2045 Xavier meets Arthur at his tombstone. (Anecdote 2)

2046 Zayne makes a groundbreaking discovery about the effects of the Evol gene on heart development. (From the AKSO hospital article about him). He receives the Starcatcher and Linde Awards. (From his biography on the hospital wall.)

2047-2048 MC graduates. (School year usually ends June-July)

2048 Pregame: Zayne becomes chief surgeon. Zayne becomes MC's doctor 6 months before the story begins (in July of 2048, making 6 months prior the month of January) (Dr. Dean/Noah was her doctor before him). Also 6 months before the story begins, Raymond begins exhibiting symptoms of mental confusion and other abnormal behavior. At the start of the year, (per Main Story chpt 2.6) Rafayel returns to the country from overseas. He is known for spending six months painting in his studio, then traveling the world for inspiration/materials for the other 6 months. The month before the main story, Rafayel's art broke the record for the highest selling art at Lizio Auctions. Raymond buys a painting from Rafayel's gallery.

2048 Story begins Wednesday, July 1st (most likely), with MC being initiated as a Hunter in the Hunter's Association. MC is about 21-22, and her Evol has to do with Resonance, Anhaunsen Class. Rafayel is 24, Fire Evol. Zayne is 27, Ice Evol. Xavier claims to be 23, Light Evol. Traceback II is approaching the event horizon and entering the black hole.

See Love and Deepspace: the Story So Far Part 1.

Sometime in the future, after the destruction of Linkon but before the destruction of Earth, Grim Reaper Zayne lives, killing humans turned Wanderer and dreaming of a life as a doctor with the woman he loves. (Anecdote 3)

Part 1 and 2 in this timeline continue in a loop perpetually?

[kykyonthemoon]

Limerence

(noun) — a mental state of profound romantic infatuation, deep obsession, and fantastical longing

⋆˚✿˖° This chapter is a part of a mini-series of dark fairy tales and romance sets in another universe. It consists of three chapters, each with a Male Lead and is separated from one another.

⋆˚✿˖° Character x Reader/MC, from another (OC's) point of view. Reader/MC's pronounce is "she/her/hers".

⋆˚✿˖° Warnings & tags: 16+, MDNI, angst, hurt, thriller, emotional and mind control, manipulation, obsession, unrequited love, major character death, dark fantasy, dark fairy tale, sci-fi theme, m.urder, serial killer, imprisonment, abusive, reference to drugs.

⋆˚✿˖° Detective Cooper is my OC.

⋆˚✿˖° Read more chapters:

✦ Rafayel's ✦ Xavier's

⋆˚✿˖° Masterlist

Chapter: The Goddess — in which he heals and kills for her

⋆˚✿˖° Word count: 4k3

Each white snowflake descended gently to the earth, resting on Detective Cooper's black revolver, which was frozen in the air. The crystal barricade in front of him fractured and dissolved. The ice on his palm eventually melted into frozen droplets of water, allowing him to move again. With a very slow movement, he lowered the gun.

From a distance, sirens sounded. He stared at the city of Linkon on the horizon, which appeared like shimmering stars in the black night. An aircraft had just been dispatched and was flashing its light into the garden, revealing all of the secrets kept hidden for so long.

Cooper narrowed his gaze. He glanced up to the middle of the garden full of jasmine blooms, where there was a shelter made of marble and wood. In the center of that place, on a daybed an ice sculpture of a female in a reclining posture. Prostrating next to her was another figure who had not yet entirely frozen; his head rested on the daybed, and his icy hand held the sculpture's.

Detective Cooper took a deep breath. The cool breeze carried an almost faint aroma of jasmine. He turned and walked away, leaving the tragedy where it had started.

It seemed like just yesterday when Detective Cooper met Zayne for the first time.

The young doctor left the first impression on Cooper as a perfect combination of mechanics and biology. A cyborg. Zayne was a product of ASTRA, the world's foremost technology corporation dedicated to developing robots with human bodies, living like humans, and, of course, exceeding humans in numerous aspects.

That was such a problem with cyborgs. They were too sophisticated, too knowledgeable, and too competent. They overwhelmed real humans, even Cooper. This was how it felt to work with Zayne.

Thanks to the doctor's help, Cooper quickly solved the case. And even though he did not like working with cyborgs, he had to admit that Zayne's presence was necessary for his career. Through repeated contacts, the ice wall surrounding him melted over time. And Zayne, a cyborg, gradually revealed more of his human side.

As for Cooper, he had long considered Zayne a partner. But an occurrence five years ago transformed the doctor into an entirely different person. A cyborg that showed no emotion, as he used to be.

Cooper recalled a tragic accident that occurred in Linkon's suburbs that year. On the way back from her vacation, the little princess of the ASTRA empire was viciously attacked by Wanderers. Upon hearing the news, Cooper hurried there immediately. Yet all he saw were the Wanderers' bodies rapidly dissolving in the snow, blood spraying all over the place, covering Zayne's wide back as he turned away, the dying girl in his arms. That was the last time Cooper interacted with him.

It was not until five years later that Cooper set foot back in Dr. Zayne's office.

It was a late night. The streets were deserted, with flickering neon lights obscuring the sanitation robots. The city slept, but Akso Hospital remained awake as always. Detective Cooper sat alone in the office, waiting. Few hours later, the door opened and Zayne walked inside with perfectly synchronized steps.

“Long time no see, Doctor Zayne.”

Zayne nodded to the detective before returning to his seat behind the desk. He was still wearing his surgical attire, which was concealed by a white blouse. His spectacles were pushed up on the bridge of his nose, and his forehead was still beading with sweat.

"I trust that the surgery was successful?"

"Yes." Zayne replied briefly. Surely he knew what Cooper came here for. “My apologies for making you wait so long.”

"No problem." Cooper settled into the chair across from Zayne on the opposite side of the desk. The doctor remained the same, impeccable as the first time they met. Only Cooper had begun to feel old age creeping up on him, even though he was only nearly forty.

“Saving lives is the most important,” Cooper added. “That's what you were created to do.”

Zayne gave no response, just gazed at him.

“All right, no more rambling. I really need your help, Doctor Zayne.”

"I'm ready to help." Zayne expressed the same thing whenever they worked together. Cooper provided a quick summary of the matter he was investigating. It was a missing case. Many, to be precise. He had enough evidence to assume that the most recent incident was linked to cases that had occurred many years ago.

Cooper placed on the desk photos of the girl who had been missing for nearly half a year. Zayne paid great attention to them while listening to the detective's clarification, which included details about previous cases.

“The victims were young women between the ages of twenty-five and thirty. Their appearance has many similarities. And above all, they are all patients or have been treated at Akso Hospital.”

Silence fell on Doctor Zayne's extremely organized and clean office, furnished in a minimalist and modern manner with a black and white color scheme. A moment later, he said:

“I recognize a few faces here. They were my patients. Others belong to departments that I do not supervise.”

Cooper nodded, but seemed disappointed since he had anticipated Zayne to add something he did not know.

Their conversation went on for a little longer, yet it led them nowhere. Although Zayne gave valuable information regarding each victim's itinerary while at Akso Hospital, including who they might meet during that time, (Cooper was secretly grateful for a cyborg's superior abilities!), the investigation remained deadlocked. All victims vanished after being discharged from the hospital without any further contact.

The clock struck three in the morning, Cooper's thoughts became clouded with exhaustion, rendering him unable to think. He needed to alter the subject.

“It's been a while since we talked like this. You know, about the cases or other things in our lives.”

His response was the consistent, precise sound of Zayne typing on the keyboard.

"This feeling doesn't change either!" Cooper said with a laugh. At that point, his gaze was drawn to the corner of Zayne's desk, where there was a photograph of him and the heiress of the ASTRA corporation - the one who had given him life.

"How is she?"

Zayne's fingers, which were racing across the keyboard, came to a halt. Something shifted in his eyes for only a fraction of a second. Then he returned to his former state.

“She is well. Thank you for your regards.”

The young lady in the photo was smiling and clutching a bouquet of flowers while standing close to Zayne. She was so beautiful and talented. Yet since that accident, she had entirely concealed herself in an isolated place distant from Linkon City. She refused to appear in public, nor did she welcome guests to her mansion. She only kept one cyborg with her, and that was Zayne.

"That accident was truly horrifying for her…" Cooper recalled. Among the clicking sounds from Zayne's desk, he knew that the doctor was still listening. "I couldn't believe anybody could make it through something like that. But she recovered. It was you who saved her life.”

Zayne came to a complete halt. He leaned back slightly and examined the neatly framed photograph. It had been on his desk for the past ten years, ever since he began his employment at the hospital.

"I just did my job." He responded. After that, the room went silent again.

Cooper mused. Nobody knew how Doctor Zayne saved the life of that woman, whom he dubbed Goddess since she was his Creator. He did not take her to Akso Hospital, but instead returned to her residence, which was equipped with advanced medical technology and facilities. The news that she had been saved became a miracle, and everyone appreciated Dr. Zayne's hands even more.

"Sometimes I miss her energy." Cooper said out, breaking the stillness. "When she found out you were helping me investigate a few cases, she was so excited and asked to join. Although, I must confess, she was quite skilled at messing up clues, and it was you who had to assist me sort it out. Haha!"

Cooper was irritated when he merely received a nod from Zayne. The doctor would spend hours talking about his Goddess, only when Cooper knew how to initiate the conversation. But now it seemed that whenever someone mentioned her, he said as little as possible. Was he also adopting her secluded lifestyle after the accident?

When it was too late, Detective Cooper had to bid his former partner goodbye. Before departing, he made it obvious that he wanted to see Zayne's Goddess again. But the doctor only gazed at him deeply, without a response.

Zayne drove home at dawn. As a cyborg, he did not require as much sleep as a human, yet severe sleep was at times necessary. Still, he had been unable to sleep peacefully since the event occurred. Every time he closed his eyes, the only thing he dreamed of was her body lying in a pool of blood.

He saved her. He must believe it. However, she was no longer the same person she had been before the accident.

The enormous gate opened after scanning Zayne's face. Their home was set on a snowy mountain, with thick layers of bulletproof glass surrounding it. Most of the building was constructed of stone and wood, giving people a sense of modernism and classicism. One side faced the mountain and woodlands, while the other faced the sea and Linkon City. There was also a jasmine garden where Zayne spent hours with The Goddess while she rested there.

He walked through the main entrance made of oak. Greeting him was a woman sleeping soundly on a comfortable sofa in the reading room. He softly raised his feet and crouched down next to her.

His rough, scarred hands lifted her hair, revealing a familiar, pretty face. It was the very first face he saw when he opened his eyes, although now it had been somewhat altered by the passage of time. His touch awakened her. She got up.

“Zayne?” She called, and he reached out a hand to take hers.

Zayne helped her sit up straight. Lately, she had been losing weight, her body was constantly cold and she did sleep a lot.

“Why don't you go into the bedroom?” He asked.

“I'm… sorry…” She murmured. “I was just a little tired and fell asleep without knowing…”

Zayne frowned. Even a simple expression like that made her shudder. She held his hand so tightly, apologized.

“I didn't mean it… I know you told me to always go to the bedroom to stay warm… But…”

"Hush." Zayne placed a finger on the corner of her mouth, keeping her mute. “Lately, you often don't do what I say anymore.”

Her body quivered slightly. Her hands clenched on the sofa underneath. She dared not say a word if Zayne forbade her so. He continued to scold her:

“You don't sleep in the proper place. You don't take enough medications. And you met someone you shouldn't have met."

She shook her head aggressively. She muttered: "N-No... that's not true..."

“Have I allowed you to speak?”

Zayne's expression was melancholy as he stared at her. He was kneeling on one knee on the floor, but his physique still dominated hers, and his powerful voice made her shiver even more.

"You already know your punishment for disobeying orders." Zayne spoke again. He reached out to wipe away the hot tears streaming down her cheeks. "There you go again. The Goddess does not cry."

Zayne instantly stood up. Still with that cold gaze, he looked down at her. With trembling hands, she reached to him and pleaded: 

"Please..." Don't…"

"What's the matter?" His stern voice reverberated throughout the room. "Don't you want to become The Goddess you once were?"

“I… want to… But… I'm scared… Please, Zayne…”

She begged, but to no avail. Zayne did not respond. He approached the door, while she stood up and stumbled behind him.

Many hours later, well past noon, Zayne carried her back to the bedroom. She was freezing and shivering still. Cold sweat erupted all over her body. Yet in that semi-conscious state, she remembered something significant.

She recalled dancing with Zayne, in a garden filled with jasmine blossoms. She was still young at the time, and he was only a little older than her. When did he become such a heartless cyborg toward her? Was it because she forgot who she was and that angered him?

Who was she? There were some faint recollections that surfaced. She was the heir to a technology empire. She was a properly trained hunter. She was a schoolteacher. She was a painter. She was a mechanic. She was a scientist... In all of those scenarios, she had always been a girl with a fragile heart.

And just like that, in all her dreams there was Zayne. Whoever he said she was, she was precisely that person. He intended her to become The Goddess, she would be The Goddess for him. She desired to be the person Zayne worshiped. The only person he held dearly.

But why did he treat her that way? He confined her in a freezing cellar. He injected her with hallucinogens. He left her half-dead. And he solely stopped when she was almost unable to tolerate it anymore.

She heard Zayne's footsteps entering the room. The edge of the bed declined as he sat next to her. His cool fingers brushed her hair again.

"Get some sleep. You will feel better when you wake up."

Was it true that she would ever feel better?

The dismal sky indicated an impending hurricane. She cried. But her tears were hidden into the thick cushion. At the moment, she recalled something else.

She waited for Zayne to depart, and as the door closed, she searched under her headrest and took out an old phone.

She could not clearly recall the origin of this phone, yet it recognized her face. She had found it in the old archive of the mansion, some time after the third time she endured Zayne's punishment. Perhaps since that day, she had planned to leave this place.

She rummaged through the pocket of her nightgown for a business card. On it written a name: Detective Cooper.

Detective Cooper's investigation hit a dead end. The only clue he had turned out to be untrustworthy, due to her incoherent state.

He had traveled to that mansion to find The Goddess. She was still as beautiful as he remembered, only the bright smile and virgo he had seen in her were now lost.

She vaguely recalled their acquaintance; everything else was as blurred as the mist that covered the residence. He had anticipated her to provide more valuable clues to the case, but after the encounter, he had to reconsider his entire conclusion.

The first missing cases occurred five years ago. There had been twelve equivalent cases thus far. Despite the differences in their occupations, hometowns, and nationalities, the victims were all about the same age. They had identical physique shapes and even similar appearances. They all resembled a single individual. The Goddess.

For Detective Cooper, there was no such thing as a coincidence. His visit to Akso Hospital that day was mostly to determine Zayne's reaction. However, the doctor made no mention of the fact that the missing ladies all had something in common with the person he regarded most highly, which made Cooper suspicious. He came to see her knowing Zayne was not home at the time. With his instincts, he felt she was somehow tied to those disappearances. Perhaps she was the one being targeted after all.

There were still plenty of details that were left unclear. Cooper attempted to connect the dots, but was unable to discover any evidence to support his conclusion. That night, Detective Cooper was stressing out alone in his office when he received an anonymous phone call.

“Detective…” A familiar female voice rang out on the other end of the line. “Save me… Please save me…”

"You are—?…"

“Zayne! He's… gone insane… Please… get me out of here… I don't want to go back… I don't want to go back to that place… AAAARGH!”

A scream sounded out, followed by a sequence of noises, and then a beeping sound. Detective Cooper rushed out of the office at full speed, started the car and headed towards the mansion in the snowy mountains outside Linkon City.

The first time he woke up, Zayne was in the jasmine garden. Standing before him was a delicate face with a gentle smile.

“It is my honor to serve you, Master.”

He bowed to the lady. The sound of her laughter resonated around the lovely afternoon garden.

"There's no need to call me that."

She was considerably shorter than him, and he tended to lower himself so she would not have difficulties seeking his eyes. When she sat on the daybed, he would be on the floor by her feet. When she fell asleep, he would spend the entire night outside the chamber, guarding her dreams. She would sometimes lay her head on his lap and fall asleep after humming a few songs. Even though she disagreed with him calling her "master," he privately referred to her as his Goddess.

For his life was a gift granted by her. By using technology from the ASTRA corporation, she had created a cyborg, a perfect replica of the childhood friend whom she cherished so much. He possessed that person's appearance, intelligence, talent, and name.

“From now on, you are Zayne.” His Goddess said. “You shall continue his work and live his dreams."

The real Zayne had passed away a long time ago. After being unable to control his Evol, he chose to dissolve himself. Cyborg specialized in the medical field was originally a project of a lifetime that The Goddess and him had collaborated on.

Even though he was only a replacement, cyborg Zayne was delighted to stay with his Goddess. They lived together at a mountain mansion. Every day, she read books, sang, and danced in the garden of jasmine. She taught him everything she knew, evoking deep human emotions in him. He cared for and safeguarded her, while she granted him the grace to walk alongside her everywhere, to keep her company, and watch time impact her gradually while his physique stayed untouched.

His universe revolved around her. She gave him a reason to exist, which was to save lives.

That day, he should have accompanied her. Yet, the duty he was assigned since awakening obliged him to remain at Akso Hospital. He saved someone else's life, but he was unable to save hers.

Her lifeless, bloodied corpse lay on the surgery table. He had tried every method he knew, but her heart no longer beat.

His world crumbled from that day on.

Though, he still had a glimmer of hope. He took her protocore and memories. Her body was preserved by him in ice that never melted. He placed her on the daybed in the shelter, surrounded by a jasmine garden. It was where she often laid down to rest, her eyes always fixed on the metropolis in the distance.

Then, in the darkness, he began his hunt.

The woman with a similar figure was chosen by him from among the patients in the cardiology department at Akso Hospital. He implanted the core and memories of The Goddess into her body. He brainwashed her and through surgery, he transformed her into a version of the Goddess. However, the first experiment proved unsuccessful. She was quick to remember who she was and what he had done to her.

The second person, followed by the third... With each experiment, Zayne learned and improved. However, although the look was easy to replicate, the demeanor was not. Every time a girl said or did something that differed from his Goddess, he deemed her a failure. Then she was made into an ice sculpture in the garden, duplicating every moment of The Goddess he adored.

A sculpture depicting her seated and reading a book. The other portrayed her dancing. Another one featured her cooking meals... Across the garden placed eleven sculptures, all centered on the original essence, the true Goddess.

That night, the twelfth piece would join them.

Zayne raised the woman's chin in a delicate manner. A visage similar to that of a Goddess was staring at him. But he knew it was not her. She would not weep, she would not plead like that. She was quite resilient in taking on everything, including death. Even in the moment when Zayne failed to protect her, still she smiled and said, "You're here."

As for the person who was steadily frozen in that standing posture, she was weeping and begging him to release her. She used to be a scientist. How unfortunate; her brain was almost perfect for receiving all of the Goddess' memories, as well as the prior females' pasts; nevertheless, that was a side impact Zayne did not desire. However, this woman was not obedient at all. She in secret disposed of the medication he had given her and discovered an old but still functional phone in the archive. She intended to run away but Zayne intervened just in time.

"Quiet." He spoke in his usual calm tone, but it sent chills down the woman's spine, literally. Since her body was almost entirely frozen. Zayne added: "Smile. "My Goddess looked nothing like this."

It was always the same; they screamed, they cursed, they pleaded for life. How ugly! None of them were worthy of wearing the face of The Goddess! It was Zayne's hands that adjusted their faces before the freezing procedure was complete. As a result, they all transformed into beautiful ice sculptures at last.

He came closer, carefully extracting the Goddess' protoccore from the false woman's heart and ending her agony.

When Detective Cooper arrived, the mansion's gate was already open. He heard screams in the jasmine garden, followed by a sudden silence. He immediately took out his gun and moved towards it.

He discovered Zayne's collection of ice sculptures in the garden. Twelve sculptures representing varying looks of the same person were coated in a thin layer of ice that was nearly transparent, allowing the faces of those inside to be seen. Zayne was in the center of the place, kneeling close to the daybed. His hand was softly stroking the hand of the woman who was lying down.

"Do not come close." Zayne's words sounded like anguish. Detective Cooper aimed his gun at him and shot.

A layer of ice developed from the ground, forming a crystal fortress between them. Cooper's bullet ended up caught inside.

"Zayne!" Detective Cooper shouted. "Stop it! You will suffer the consequences for your crime!”

"Consequences?" There came an uncanny laugh from the shelter. Zayne gave Cooper a grieving look. "Having to live in a world without her is already a punishment."

Cooper proceeded one step further. The ice spread to his legs and knees before swiftly covering his hands.

"Zayne, what are you doing? This isn't you. This is not what you were made for!"

Zayne's gaze returned to the Goddess, filled with affection. Her face was so calm behind the thin covering of ice. He replied: 

"That's true. She created me to heal people. Yet, I hurt them.

Silence arrived. For a very long moment, there was only the sound of the wind howling.

"I knew you would find out the truth, Detective Cooper." Zayne cracked a smile at him from over the ice wall. "I just hope I have a little more time to create a perfect replica of her."

Cooper, with a portion of his body immobilized, had become a reluctant audience for Zayne's monologue.

"I've tried a variety of ways throughout the last five years. But I've never been successful. I can't replicate my Goddess. And now I know why."

Zayne leant forward slightly. His arm wrapped over her head, cradling her. He muttered:

“For, in this world, she is the only one. Thus even if I searched the entire earth, I wouldn't find her a second time. I have made my own judgment.”

“What are you going to do?” Detective Cooper said impatiently. He had called for reinforcements and they were on their way. This place would be surrounded in just a few short minutes. No one could escape, not even a sophisticated cyborg with the Evol of Ice. However, it appeared that Zayne had no intention of escaping. 

“I disappointed her…” His voice began to tremble. “I could not save her… I murdered others so that I could replace her…”

Therefore, Zayne, himself, was a failed experiment. Everything that failed would be discarded. A fragment of black ice erupted on his chest and penetrated his body.

"Zayne!" Detective Cooper called out. From where he stood, he could see ice sprouting from Zayne's back. It was a torture.

“I do not deserve to see her again in the afterlife, if there is such a place… But if my life must end here… Please let me die… beside her…”

Zayne's words and breathing became stagnant. Detective Cooper attempted to escape, but he discovered that he could only move once the ice Zayne had summoned melted away, just as life was leaving his body.

Zayne shed a tear toward The Goddess as he placed his head close to her. His hand clenched on hers. He whispered one last time before he, himself, sank into the never-ending ice:

“Let me… die… by your side…”

[nobodys-saviour]

timeline but only from Earth. no myths. Because I'm not that insane to include them yet. you would have to make me drunk, first

speculations/unsure things will be marked with an asterisk (*)

edit: this is outdated

1749

Lizio Auctions was founded (Life, Lizio Auctions)

1834

the backtrackers, composed of people from Philos (including, but not limited to Xavier, Jeremiah, and Isaiah) crash into Earth's past, looking for the Aether Core that can save their planet (and subsequently, Xavier's MC). they find that they cannot return to Philos. (Main Story, Chapter 8. Xavier's character intro video/PV)

2021

Zayne is born (based on his age on the profile)

2024

Rafayel is supposedly born (based on his in-game profile + interview)*

2025

Xavier's fake ass birth year (based on his interview)

2027

MC's prospective birth year* — MC said she and caleb 1) were adopted after the chronorift Catastrophe and 2) she was 7yo when she was adopted (Characters, Josephine)

2032

Spring - Xavier is assigned to Evol Special Police Task Force 013 as No. ST-1101. (Xavier's Anecdote 2)

2033

- Three days after new year: "Noah" (probably actually Jeremiah, there were just translation errors) visits Xavier

- Xavier saves a little girl with a bunny plushie. possibly 6 yr old MC.

- Xavier "dies" in a fire

(Xavier, Anecdote 2,)

2034

- opening of deepspace tunnel, first wanderer attack. Referred to as "Chronorift Catastrophe" (Message, Deepspace Tunnel)

- Xavier as "Lumiere" saves people, including MC (Tale, Lumiere. Main Story, Chapter 6)

- first appearance of lumerian ruins (Tale, Lemuria)

- adoption of MC (7yo) and Caleb by Grandma Josephine (Characters, Josephine)

- experiments on MC (Chapter 4)

- N109 zone starts to be rife with illegal stuff (Tale, N109 Zone)

2034-2047

- Grandma Josephine, Caleb, and MC are family friends with Zayne's family. They often eat out together (Bond, A Frozen Promise)

- Zayne's EVOL gets unstable, attacked a childhood friend by accident, possibly MC. (Main story, chapter 5)

- Zayne leaves all of a sudden, going no contact. They don't see each other again for more than a decade. (Main Story, Chapter 1 and 5)

- (2045) Xavier visits the officer tombstone. Meets his former captain, Captain Arthur (Xavier, Anecdote 2)

- Zayne graduates early from medical school (Tender Moments, Delicacy)

- Becomes an army medic. Mercy killed his senior, William. (Zayne, Anecdote 2)

- Events of Rafayel's Anecdote 3, Phantom of the Siren. He goes by ship to Linkon City by the end of it (Rafayel, Anecdote 3)

- MC's reunion with Zayne, half a year before the main story starts (Main story, chapter 1)

2048

- main story

Far future*

- Linkon city is not what it once was

- protocores are revealed to be harmful, and turns people into Wanderers

(Zayne anecdote 3)

Even further into the future

- Earth's core dies.

(Xavier, Anecdote 3)

More more more future

- they replace the earth's core which in turn makes it into a "new" planet

(Xavier, Anecdote 3)

[roll-of-royces]

HC: The LaDS Find Out You're A Single Mom & Meet Your Ex

This was an open request @exactlycleverpirate had on her page. SO here we go. I had a lot of fun on this prompt and I made new banners!

FINDING OUT . With him knowing you since the two of you were young; it perhaps takes Zayne most, out of the three, by surprise. It shouldn't of course, it's been years and yet … there you are. He finds out because you, trusting Zayne as the very best doctor in Linkon, bring your child to him for a check-up. Concerns about your heart condition affecting their growth encourage you to tell Zayne about your child. You love them far too much to selfishly keep them a secret.  

After the initial shock, which for Zayne results in a whole lot of stunned blinking, he changes focus. Because this is you, and this child, with eyes the same color as yours, is a part of you. And he needs to do his job. Because you're right, he doesn't know what the effects you may have passed on are.  

He runs through his tests, but he's softer than usual (though he does often become less cold when in the children's ward). Zayne hands them a seal made of snow to entertain them during the blood testing, makes soft whispered jokes that has them giggling, and makes sure they get not one but three stickers for their bravery. And well … if he notices you are a blushing mess because of the positive interaction then that in yet another advantage.  

By the end of the appointment your child seems rather fond of him, and boldly invited him to dinner. Zayne accepts, much to your stammering surprise. He gives you a smile as the three of you leave, reminding you, yes it's okay. Whether it is three or two or more he is happy. He is with you. 

MEETING THE EX . Zayne knew he would eventually have to meet the father of your child, though he does on principal secretly dislike him. How could he have respect for a man that creates a child and then abandons them and the perfect woman on top of it. But he didn't really expect your ex to be so … disgusting.  

He's quick with a crass statement, or underhanded comment. Zayne made sure to stay back, to allow you to control the encounter but his normally well-controlled temper rises when your ex grabs your chin forcing you to look at him.  No one touches you, no one.

He doesn't mean to, but he's got his hand around the man's wrist yanking him back. Protectiveness curling up in his gut, "That's more than enough."  

Your ex thinks he wants to fight, but Zayne will not give him the satisfaction. He doesn't need to, he's a trained field medic. Zayne knows a thousand ways to kill someone quickly without ever getting a drop of blood on him. And the best part.  

Ice melts. What weapon, officer?  

FINDING OUT . Xavier finds out on bring your kid to work day. You'd been putting off telling him, because you didn't know what he would think. Though you're certain he probably already knows after all he lives on the floor above you. But maybe not, because his coffee cup is on the floor liquid seeping into his boots. He blinks at you, shakes his head as if to clear it and makes his way over.  

Xavier doesn't address you, instead he sinks onto one knee, coffee already forgotten and asks, "So who are you?"  

Your kid is taken with him right away, maybe it's the brightness that always clings to Xavier, maybe it's the stories you’ve already told (after all Deepspace Hunters are cool). Or maybe it's the kindness, the way that the moment Xavier looks at them it's as if they are together in a separate world.  

They spend the day with each other more than your kid spends with you. It becomes a bit of a game, swordsmanship with pens for weapons, Xavier whipping them down the hall in a rolling chair as you laugh so hard you can't breathe. It's a complete success.  

Xavier looks over at you, eyes drooping from fatigue after running around with your little one he smiles. "They look just like you." His smile continues, "I hope our child does too." And then before you can figure out what to say to that as your heart beats too fast in your chest, he falls asleep at his desk, your little one passed out in the chair next to him. Two sleeping stars, the greatest lights of your life.  

MEETING THE EX . Your prior partner visits you at the office, even though you've asked him a dozen times not to. He does it anyway, maybe just to vex you. So you're already irritated when he gets there, more so when he knocks over your pencil holder just to be rude.  

Xavier seems to appear out of nowhere and he's barely recognizable. There's something sharp about him, fatigue entirely absent in his eyes. Something angry and soldier like, it's the look he gets before he takes on a particularly nasty Wanderer.  

"Office is for friends and family only. You don't have clearance." His voice is harsh, your ex draws back in surprise, muttering excuses.  

You half expect Xavier to lead him out physically, dragging him by the arm all the way. He doesn't but mostly because your ex is already on the move, thinking Xavier is some high level exec, which in a way he is. When your ex is in the elevator Xavier makes his way back up to you.  

"Are you alright?" He starts picking up your pencils for you, making sure they're the same way they were before.  

You stand and hug him, and Xavier holds you tight.  

FINDING OUT . You're out at the market, your child close by when you run into Rafayel leaning over a market stall. He spots you before you can hide in the crowd, because you really should have told him already but you keep chickening out. He makes his way over, gait casual. "Babysitting?" He asks.  

You could lie, but you'd never do that to your child. Never pretend blatantly they are an inconvenience to be hidden away, you tell him the truth. Rafayel falls into about twenty different woo is me complaints about having not been told sooner. He throws his arm around you pretending to be mortally injured, but you notice no hurt in his eyes.  

When you ask if he's really not mad he just winks, "Two muses is better than one." The three of you spend the rest of the early afternoon shopping and getting lunch. Like always Rafayel is casual with his money, buying things both you and your child have your eyes on.  

He spoils you, feeds you well, and you return as a group to his studio. Your kid is enchanted by all the paintings, running around looking at them, touching them. Rafayel lets him, utterly unconcerned and even content. Really he looks happy, as if the world is a little brighter.  

Once your little one fully explores Rafayel ends up setting up an entire painting station for them, lying on the floor drawing shapes and images across a massive canvas. You didn't know that that canvas would hang in his bedroom for years.  

MEETING THE EX . He shows up at Rafayel's studio because of course he does. You don't even know he's there to pick up your kid until Rafayel is answering the door with a curt, "Who are you?"  

Once his identity is confirmed Rafayel calls out to you. He doesn't want to let him in, and you understand why. This is where you are most comfortable together, it's a safe place. He doesn't want that influenced by a negative source and well your ex hates that. He gets ruder, snapping at you to hurry up.  

"Don’t take that tone with my lady." Rafayel says, calm, collected. He looks furious.  

Your ex advances, but Rafayel doesn't flinch back like most would. He keeps his sturdy presence in the doorway, blocking him. "Bigger and better have tried." He mocks, "Don't make me ruin this shirt, my girl likes it."  

They stand off until you rush to make sure the switch goes well, frantically looking between them the whole time. When your ex leaves Rafayel reaches out and touches your cheek, his eyes dark, "Alright, muse?"  

You are, you have him.  

[violet-hartley]

Part 1 - To Begin - Prologue (2/4)

The boy who passes by

Not long after the New Year, many of Linkon’s residents still bask in the holiday spirit. However, Bloomshore District’s Special Task Force, specifically team 013, was in panic. After five long years, the were welcoming a new recruit. “Heard his Evol is light or something. He’s usually only responsible for providing light and scouting a path during missions. Support role… It’s not that impressive.” “Impressive people won’t be sent to our team. Staying here for a year is almost like being buried in the ground for a decade.” “So, he’s just like us. A nobody.” Luke hands over the newcomer’s information to Tommy. “Is he here to fix our hallway’s lights?” Arthur is hit by a wave of mixed emotions while looking at his team chuckle about their own jokes. This marks the sixteenth year as a police officer and ninth as the Captain of Team 013. In his younger days, his passion led him to numerous accomplishments, but a severe injury from a high-risk mission five years ago significantly diminished his mobility. He knows he must utilize the energy of a new blood to somehow mold this group of misfits back into shape. “Attention, everyone!” Arthur closes the door with a bang, breaking the chatty atmosphere. “Three o’clock in the afternoon, the rookie will report for duty. We only got two hours left, so we need to start preparing! Tommy, are you working part-time as a junk collector? This pizza box has been here for weeks. Throw it away!” Arthur is completely oblivious to the neck pillow he’s still wearing and doesn’t see the poker-faced expressions on his crew’s faces. “And this figurine on your desk, Luke. I’ve told you not to bring this into our office. It makes us look bad!” “Yes, sir!”Luke hides the action figurine in the drawer of his desk. The captain is nervous. Team 013 is at the bottom of the hierarchy. After numerous reshuffles, they have been whittled down to a single captain, two officers, and a support technician who has just submitted a transfer request. They’re hardly what one could call a “team”. In their early years, they made a name for themselves by solving several major cases. However, their present has nothing of their past luster, marked by a lack of talent. Their reputation has taken a hit due to failed investigations. When their department relocated, they were left behind to handle the task of “sorting through” a plethora of old files. To this day, they still inhabit the old building. As time passed, they were all but forgotten, their only interactions with the others being to occasional job to retrieve files or search at the headquarters. The captain couldn’t possible know his life and that of his team was about to change.

At the age of 23, the rookie Xavier stand before the door, holding a cardboard box. His uniform is neat, and his expressionless face clean. He sticks out, being the only lively person in the otherwise gloomy hallway. “Excuse me…” As the door swings open, a group of people, in the midst of their hustle and bustle, lift their heads. They are dumbfounded by the face illuminated under the bright, white light. “A college student?” “Has he graduated yet?” “Everyone who comes here is just a bunch of pretty boys…” Slightly awkward, Arthur clears is throat, signaling for everyone to quiet down. His eyes filled, with anticipation, move to the newcomer. “You must be Xav, right? Why don’t you introduce yourself?” “Xavier, male, 23. I’m the newest member. I look forward to working with you,” the young man says, heading straight to an isolated desk in he corner. He places the cardboard boxed beside the computer and silently starts to arrange his things. Tommy and Luke simultaneously exchange disgruntled glances. What’s this guy’s deal?

However, as time passes, Luke’s impression begins to change. Whether it’s tasks assigned by the higher- ups or senior members, Xavier always completed them quickly and methodically. He works until they’re done, but nothing more. He is never late, but he doesn’t leave early. His Evil is even more useful. Sometimes, for reasons unknown, a flash of light causes the criminal they’re chasing to unexpectedly drop to the ground.

“Our target this time is an old friend Lawrence.” Team 013 has its usual mission briefing. Lawrence made his fortune selling Evol hallucinogens, distributing his supply to major entertainment venues in Linkon City and Skyhaven. Whether he’s smart of has someone else guiding him, they always arrive either too late to find him or the goods are gone. Just last month, Arthur was disheartened, declaring that if they failed again, it would be handed over to another team. Tommy understood this was subtle hint from the higher-ups that Team 013 didn’t to continue existing. “Our mission this time is rather unique,” Arthur says, surveying the group. “According to reliable sources, Lawrence be at the newly opened Palace Bathhouse next month. The purpose of this meeting is to select an undercover agent.” The room is silent. All eyes turn to Xavier, who is eating his noodled in the corner. Initially lost in thought, Xavier slowly raises his head, feeling many gazes on him. The undercover agent needs to be handsome and young or they’d be seen as suspicious. Xavier fits the criteria. To Luke and Tommy’s relief the agreement is quickly made. Xavier will be the undercover agent.

The Palace has only been open for a month, staffed by young people around the same age as Xavier. After receiving the work badge, Xavier promptly completes his on boarding. The moment he finishes, his supervisor urges him to clock in. “Where’s Alexander?” The supervisor anxiously scans the area. “…What? A stomachache? Then who will go to Fontainebleau? Roman said he wanted to show this batch to Lawrence…” Xavier willingly raises his hand. “I can go, sir.” “You’re the newcomer, aren’t you” The supervisor sizes up the young man. Realizing he doesn’t have a better solution at the moment, he nods.

Xavier arrived at the private room, Fontainebleau. Two bodyguards stand at the door, only allowing him to enter after a thorough search. As Xavier steps inside, a client is already lying on the massage bed. He pushes the tool cart to the side of the bed, simultaneously retrieving the essential oil and slipping on gloves. “Hello. Is this your first time here? Could I interest you in a membership?” Xavier’s hands press onto the man’s spine. The third vertebra, fifth… By the time they reach the seventh, a strong pressure causes Lawrence to almost scream from the pain. The man tries to light his head, but quickly realizes he is being held down. “Where’s your supply?” “W-who are you?!” Lawrence gasps. “Let go… Let go of me! Help— Ouch!” Someone break through the door, and a group of guards instantly appear at the entrance. Xavier looks at them and releases Lawrence. “Don’t you know whose turf this is!” Lawrence snatches a fun from one of his men. The others also raise their weapons, all pointed at Xavier. Xavier slowly removes his gloves, leaving everyone unsure of his next move. For a moment, no one moves. Without even seeing Xavier move, some of the men are knocked down by a sudden burst of light. The young man holds a sword seemingly forged from moonlight itself. By the time Lawrence comes back to his senses, all of the mend around have been taken down. By the time Luke arrives as backup, Xavier stands alone amidst a circle of fallen bodyguards. In the corner, Lawrence is tied up with bed sheets, his neck at an odd angle. “X-Xavier? Did you take out everyone in this room?!” “No.” Xavier walks down the corridor, pulling Luke by his collar. He walks for a bit and then stops. Luke follows Xavier’s gaze. A flood of men in black suits spill out of the elevator. “I’m not very strong, so you’ll have to do the fighting,” Xavier says. All Luke knows is that the grip on his collar loosens, and then he’s tossed out of the hallway. “You didn’t look like you were losing— Aaahhh!”

Half a month later, at the commendation ceremony, Luke scratches his head. Under the fervent gaze of his fellow officers, he steps onto the stage to speak. “I’m not quite sure what happened myself. Seeing all those people, I steeled myself and thought, ‘Might as well close my eyes and take a gamble!’ Then, I just started punching. Before I knew it, they fell like dominos.” Luke recalls that day with a smirk. “Maybe they were just too weak! Oh, the true hero of this incident was our team’s Xavie…”

In the following weeks more inexplainable things happened. Polar Bear, notorious for selling illicit Evol drugs, shows up at the doorstep of the police station. He was tied up, weeping and confessing his sins. Another two months later, Kash, who had been using his Evol to do telecom scams, is found live streaming on MeTube, dramatically slapping himself. Tears stream down his face as he implores everyone not to trust calls from unknow, overseas numbers. For some reasons, Team 013 can’t quite articulate, ever since Xavier joined, their previously inept team somehow found their fighting spirit. Whether Xavier is as simple as he appears to be, no one wants to know. Everyone seems to have an unspoken understanding to guard his secret.

New year arrives. Outside the fireworks echoes. Inside the police station, the break room buzzes with warmth and growing merriment. At the heart of the table is hot pot. Luke has brought freshly wrapped dumplings from home, sparking a debate with Tommy about whether pork-filled or seafood-filled dumplings taste better. Xavier steps outside for some fresh air. Not long after, Arthur follows him, handing him a can of beer while lighting up a cigarette. “Last month, while doing inventory, I found a file missing from the archive,” Arthur says, exhaling a smoke ring without glancing at Xavier. “An event that happened decades ago. The involved party is long gone, and the office gave up looking into it. I wonder who still cares about this case.” Xavier watches him in silence, patiently waiting for what will be said next. “I immediately requested for your personal files from HQ. There was a match in the portrait database. I found This.” Arthur turns to Xavier, handing him a picture. In the faded, yellowed photograph are the traces of a man with grayish- brown hair. His figure is tall, slender. Xavier takes the picture. After a small beam of light, all that remains is a blurry white silhouette. “Everyone has secrets.” Arthur chuckles. “The older we are, the less expectations we have for the new year. Regardless of our days, life continues in its steady, monotonous flow. We hope you choose to stay.” He gives him one last glance before going inside leaving Xavier. Through the floor-to-ceiling window, a group of people can be seen mimicking the TV anchor’s lively dance, exclaiming “Happy New Year!” Xavier sighs, wondering if these people are truly capable of being a competent team. He lifts his head, staring at the New Year’s fireworks that burst at the stroke of midnight above a thousand high-rise buildings. It’s time for him to leave again…

[mstiu]

CHAPTER ONE: Analia

"From that chaos emerged a new breed of warriors, the Deepspace Hunters, who dedicated their lives to protecting humanity..."

Linkon City, Hunters Association HQ

In the grand hall of the Hunters Association HQ, candidates gathered anxiously. Among them was a young woman with determination shining in her eyes. She listened intently as the President addressed the room.

"Fourteen years ago, the Deepspace Tunnel brought darkness to our city. But through the bravery of our hunters, we have reclaimed a sense of normalcy. However, the threat of the Wanderers still lingers. Today, we welcome a new generation of Deepspace Hunters who will carry the torch of hope."

Whispers circulated among the candidates, their voices hushed with nervous excitement as the President's words hung in the air. Analia felt a gentle tap on her shoulder and turned to see a fellow candidate, a young woman with a nervous smile.

"After they hand out our badges, we'll be assigned to a squad, which will determine our future… Aren't you nervous?"

Analia returned the smile, her voice steady and she replied softly.

"It's natural to feel nervous, but it's important to stay calm."

The President continued, his voice commanding attention. "Our goal as hunters is to extract the Protocores from Wanderers - in hopes of destroying them once and for all! Congratulations to all of you for passing the rigorous selection process. Your dedication and hard work have not gone unnoticed. Now, let us begin the badge ceremony and welcome you as official Deepspace Hunters"

Analia's heart raced as the first candidate was called to the stage. She watched as they received their badge, a symbol of their commitment to protect humanity against the Wanderers. The whispers of anticipation grew louder around her.

The other young woman nudged Analia, urging her forward. "That's you, isn't it? Hurry, get on stage!" Analia took a deep breath, steeling herself for the moment she had been waiting for. With steady steps, she made her way to the stage, her heart pounding in her chest. The President's eyes met hers, his nod signaling her to proceed. She approached the device, placing her hand on it to confirm her personal information.

"Ah, Anhausen class… It's been a while since I've seen this Evol. You have a lot of potential for growth and might even acquire new abilities. I can see why Jenna picked you as soon as the rookie list was released to the public."

The device rang as it cannot detect her Evol level, "Can't be detected?" The president questioned as he raised a brow.

"Sir, that's likely because a Wanderer attacked me fourteen years ago. And ever since then, my Evol level hasn't been stable." Analia sighed.

The President's eyes softened with understanding.

"…Understood. That event changed the lives of many. Your Evol level is not the only criterion we use when evaluating a Deepspace Hunter. As long as you have the skills, this industry welcomes you with open arms."

Analia felt a wave of relief wash over her. She had feared that her unstable Evol level would hinder her progress. But the President's words reassured her that her worth as a hunter went beyond a single measurement.

...She mustered up the courage to ask a question that had been weighing on her mind. "Sir, if I may ask, is there anyone by the name of Amaia who joined Deepspace?" The President furrowed his brow, deep in thought. "Hmm… There are no hunters that go by that name. But it does sound familiar… I have a feeling I've heard it before…"

Analia's eyes gleamed with hope, her voice filled with longing. Could it be that Amaia was also a hunter? She had to find her, to reunite with the person who held a special place in her heart. "Oh, Sir, if you ever find someone with that name… May I please have it known immediately?" Analia pleaded.

The President regarded her with a mix of curiosity and compassion. "Of course, but I must ask… Why?" Analia's gaze turned distant, lost in memories, her voice softened as she spoke. "Well… She's someone I know and is very special to me."

The President nodded, a hint of understanding in his eyes. "I will inform you immediately once I do so. But for now, congratulations, Analia. You are now a Deepspace Hunter." A surge of pride and determination filled Analia's being as the President handed her a badge, encased in a small blue box. She accepted it with gratitude, knowing that this was just the beginning of her journey.

Analia and Tara made their way back to their quarters in the base after a grueling mission against the enigmatic Wanderers. As they settled down, Tara couldn't contain her excitement about the mission data analysis and the prospects it held for their future assignments.

"Data Analysis, Captain: Andrew. Wow, Data analysis! Yesterday's fortune was right!" Tara exclaimed, her voice filled with enthusiasm. She glanced at her wrist device, which displayed the information. "Well, what does yours say?"

Analia checked her own device and read aloud, "Sector: Alpha team, Captain: Jenna."

Tara's eyes widened in awe. "You're working directly under Jenna!? Wow… Can I visit you in the future whenever I want?"

Analia chuckled at Tara's excitement but teased her gently. "Are you sure you're not using that as an excuse to gawk at Captain Jenna?"

Tara blushed but quickly changed the subject. "Well, that's it for today! Wanna grab a bite to eat?"

Analia agreed, and they decided to try the new diner across the street. It was a place Tara had been eager to visit since she had heard about it. They left their quarters and made their way to the diner, their steps filled with anticipation.

As they walked, Analia overheard a conversation between two fellow hunters nearby. Curiosity piqued, she slowed her pace, allowing Tara to move ahead. The hushed discussion caught her attention.

"Have you heard that some new hunters came back injured after their mission?" One whispered.

Another replied, concern evident in his voice, "Yeah, I did. I'm a bit worried about what happened to them. Heard about the rumors?"

Analia's interest grew, and she discreetly moved closer, pretending to adjust the strap on her equipment.

"About what?" they asked, his voice lowered even further.

"That one medic," He continued. "Not gonna lie, she looks intimidating… Like an old yet beautiful haunted doll… It's giving me shivers thinking about it."

The female nodded in agreement. "Yeah… The fact that she can heal injuries and regain their full stamina just with a touch of her hands. Some people are saying that she's not human or something like that… Crazy, right?"

Analia's mind raced with questions, but before she could listen further, Tara called her name, breaking her concentration.

"Analia? Are you coming?" Tara's voice snapped her back to reality. Analia quickly turned her attention away from the conversation and rejoined Tara.

"Oh, coming!" Analia replied, her voice tinged with a hint of intrigue. She glanced back at the hunters, who were still engaged in their discussion, and then continued walking with Tara, leaving the conversation behind...

[skynapple]

Budding Romance | Ch. 8

Love and Deepspace | Jeremiah x MC / slow-burn / friends-to-lovers

warnings: none

Multi-chapter | A03 link

Beginning | <- Prev | Next ->

"Encounter" Jeremiah has a long not very good day

A normal off day for Jeremiah included a day in the greenhouse, tending to plants, organizing bouquets for the shop, and finally spent time organizing data and deep in virtual network with backtrackers. 

He’d told Xavier once that he wasn’t fond of earth food. After all these years and all the cuisines readily available in Linkon City, he still had few favorites. Unlike Xavier whom was like a bottomless pit for meat. Because of Jeremiah’s desire for healthier alternatives, and maybe it made him a picky eater, he found himself often forgetting to eat anything at all if he hadn’t taken the time to prepare anything himself.

Hours into his work, he realized he hadn't eaten anything all day. While he hated delivery takeout, it was worth it if it meant he didn’t have to leave what he was focused on. He ordered from a familiar slightly healthier spot closeby, and continued on. 

About twenty minutes after the delivery app notified him that it had been canceled. A refund was quickly issued. Sighing, he reordered for a different location, and buried himself in his work to distract himself.

This time, his delivery’s arrival window came and went.

Weird.

He was standing outside waiting in the light of dusk, noting that it was strangely too dark for this point in Summer. 

That's when he saw it. A luminivore wanderer roaming the streets in front of the shop corner, absorbing light from the street lamps. Dread filled him at what it meant.

How? They're not supposed to get through the barricades to the city.

It was too late. Citizens were already feeling to their homes, the wanderer reeling at citizens, scratching at doors and walls creating grating metal sounds. 

No, no, no!

“Where are the hunters?!” Voices called in panic.

Centuries of instinct kicked in, and he skillfully dove to save a man from the grasp of the wanderer. 

His sword appeared in a flare of golden light in his hand, catching the wanderers attention. In a flash, a knight returned to battle, muscles ripe with memory, pulling him forward into action. It only took a few minutes to bring the wanderer down. Passerby who had yet to flee clapped on the streets in cheers, naturally assuming he was merely an off-duty hunter. 

Bitterly, he cursed. Damnit. Not good.

Although he didn’t see any mobile devices around, he knew he’d have to scour the internet now to make sure no one caught it. Quickly he grabbed the protocore that floated from the wanderer and smashed it in his hand, rushing to disappear back to his shop, evol police sirens beginning to blare behind him. The less evidence, the better. 

The digital walls were in concealment mode already, creating a safe haven for him as he ducked inside. On his phone was a notification for failed delivery due to a wanderer attack. Another refund was sent to his account. Annoyed, he grabbed a protein bar and decided the quick fulfillment of calories was probably a better option, especially given the exertion of energy.

Despite being in a safe area, his heart still pounded and he felt himself jolting at noises that weren’t there. All it took was one bout of action to bring up old reflexes, and with it, old fears. Momentarily as he sat to his work, he thought of his somewhat ‘new’ friend. She was a hunter in this life, wasn’t she? He wondered how many times she’d patrolled the area that he’d just never been aware of. Despite not being a military leader, it suddenly occurred to him that she might still have similar fears. For some reason seeing her all pink and cute had created a version of her so separate in his mind that he was almost struggling to see the image of her in his mind attacking wanderers head on the way she had in the past. It almost… worried him. 

Does he worry about her too?

Thoughts of the other day also floated up the more he thought about her, and he wondered if Xavier ended up taking her to the summer market after all, or if he had been determined to be an idiot and neglected to follow-through.

I really have to make sure he doesn't leave her this time.

An unfamiliar pang of sadness struck in his heart. He knew it was a delicate situation for Xavier, but deep down, he knew he wouldn’t be able to stand another lifetime of watching her be sad over a distant man.

For a while he lay, unable to focus, and finally closed his devices, settled them away, and went to the very back of the greenhouse. There in a locked, hidden container, he pulled out a vintage-looking photo of a couple in some mountainous area. His forefinger stroked over the image of a woman's face before setting it down on the small table there. 

“Hey, Lo. I made a friend lately. Well, she’s sort of an old friend. Sort of.” He laughed. “She’s funnier these days. You would have gotten along. Except, she can't keep plants alive.” He chuckled and continued to speak to the photograph, chin resting on his hand, telling it about the day he had, about Xavier’s obsession with her, about how the man was beating around the bush lately, about his fears, and worries. “I don’t know. I just think…she deserves someone in her life who's going to stay." He yawned, barely able to keep his eyes open. “I’ll come see you on your birthday.”

With one last look at her image, he dragged his tired body up, neglecting to put the photo away.

Xavier's words from the past came to him bitterly. "You’ll outlive her.”

In the cruelest way possible, he had.

I wanted to prove him wrong.

Heart heavy with emotion that he hadn't allowed himself to feel in a long time, he left the building, locking it behind him to go home and lay his head to rest, filled with fuzzy memories of a lover long gone.

[hananoami]

My wish? Well, I have many, but most of the ones related to you have come true. As for the others that haven't yet, I'm not in a rush. As long as I have you, there will always be a day to fulfill them in the future. I know that from now on, every New Year, I won't be alone anymore. And neither will you.

[adelheidvonschicksal]

Spoilers for myths

////

@crystalrainforest

On your comment about the myth stories continuing,

I hope not for Rafayel. His myth said chapter 1 in the end, and I assume the Human King is not going to like that the princess technically ran away with the enemy/pet when he already wanted to capture all Lemurians and execute them. I can easily seeing that continuing from Whalefall City. Maybe even some type of war? Or the two having to part ways. I’m assuming Rafayel will go into slumber to bring back the seas or that MC will still be sacrificed.

However, Zayne and Xavier aren’t with their MC’s by the end, so that leaves so many questions on what could be done. Xavier is obviously traveling, and Zayne’s Myth says he wasn’t seen again.

Zayne’s is easy to make a new lifetime, such as the Egyptian King (?) who tried to fix his wife’s heart and failed in one Tender Moments. Plus, we already know he has dozens of lifetime with MC already. Then, there’s also dawn breaker who could still potentially meet another MC.

Xavier is trickier. For now, we only know he has three romances. His high school love, queen MC, and Linkon MC. It could possibly be lore about his 214 years on Eath or mention the fact that queen MC might be dead, as based on Anecdote 3. But right now, I can’t think of any story for him where MC would be heavily involved so I’m most curious about that even though I like Rafayel’s myth the most, so i hope it continues.

[exactlycleverpirate]

This has been updated. See the new version here:

Part 1

Part 2

Really rough timeline from Xavier's perspective:

(Spoilers for main story, anecdotes, and character myths. I haven't finished the myths yet, so some things could change)

Xavier is born on Philos. Clearly someone important, as he is constantly under guard. Life is connected to the core of Philos, making him and most people on Philos immortal while the planet remains.

Xavier went to school with MC in year 214, which is 214 years after the destruction of earth. MC has a fatal heart condition.

MC gives him the star charm and dies in his arms. Xavier promises to seek her out in her future lives.

(Rafayel and Zayne's myths on Philos?)

Xavier meets MC again at a Philos Academy as knights in training, sometime near the end of Philos’ life as a planet. Jeremiah goes to the Academy too. Xavier is now a prince (was he from the start?), though he rejects the role. He has a trial in the forest that changes his attitude/demeanor noticeably.

The king dies, and Xavier disappears for about 200 years. MC and Xavier meet up again while investigating the suspicious forest full of Wanderers. Jeremiah is part of MC’s squad.

At some point MC becomes Queen and Xavier her knight.

Xavier leaves MC’s service, and she fakes his death, claiming he died with honors.

Timejump to the past.

1834 Xavier, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Noah, and others stranded on Earth (Part of a team called the Backtrackers? Were on a Backtrack mission when something went wrong in the Deepsace tunnel.)

2018 Xavier checks out a book in the library that MC will check out 30 years later.

2021 Zayne born Sept 5th.

2024 Rafayel born March 6th.

2026 MC born.

At some point in MC and Rafayel's childhood, she saves him and they makes a vow. Also, Rafayel is tricked and his people, the Lemurians, are slaughtered. Some few survivors go into hiding living on land among humans, including his Aunt Talia.

2032 Xavier joins Arthur's police team.

2033 That winter, Noah contacts Xavier for information to make a new identity. Noah mentions wanting to be an ordinary person in this timeline and that he fell in love. Xavier fakes his death as a police officer and encounters a lost little girl. Fights Isaiah in Linkon city in a fight that makes the whole city go dark.

2034 Deepspace tunnel appears and Chronorift Catastrophe (timespace anomaly in Linkon city). Lemurian ruins discovered. MC is 8, taken in by Grandma. Caleb is also adopted by Grandma. MC has protocore shards in her heart. Her first heart doctor is Dr. Noah. 12 year old Zayne loses control of his Evol at the end of summer and has a nightmare about the Grim Reaper for the first time.

Zayne spends 8 years in med school program (about 2037 (age 16?) to 2045 (age 24?)

2045 Xavier meets Arthur at his tombstone. (Zayne’s (age 24?) mission to the Arctic?)

Rafayel seeking revenge overseas, not painting. He then moves to Linkon city and resumes painting again.

Rafayel becomes a lecturer at Linkon University where MC is attending.

Thomas becomes Rafayel’s agent.

Zayne begins working at Akon hospital, eventually as MC’s doctor.

2048 Story begins. MC is about 22. Rafayel says he is 24. Zayne is 27. Xavier claims to be 23.

Thoughts? What am I missing? What did I get wrong? It's a lot to process.

[rj-drive-in]

Entropy Everywhere All At Once Department:

They just don't make reality like they used to.

FROM OUT OF THE OLDER CYCLE © 2023 by Rick Hutchins

“I don’t get it,” said Bellamy, his voice cracking with despair. “I just don’t get it.” This was the result of checking his headline news app one too many times.

“What don’t you get?” asked Fernando.

“All the conflict, the petty squabbling,” said Bellamy, throwing up his hands. “The wars, the hate, the politics, the religion, the ideology. What’s the point? Why does it keep happening and happening, over and over?”

“I suppose there are a lot of reasons.”

“But I mean, we’re all made of essentially the same stuff, right? We’re all made of the same cells, the same DNA, the same molecules, the same atoms, the same particles– the same elements that were formed in the same stars a billion years ago.”

“No, not all of us.”

“Exactly! So why do we– wait, what?”

“We’re actually not all made of the same particles and elements.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” demanded Bellamy, making a face like he was trying to read fine print written in cuneiform.

Fernando sighed. “Well, I suppose there’s no harm in telling you,” he said. “I, myself, am made out of a substance left over from the previous cycle of the Oscillating Universe.”

This came out of left field for Bellamy. “The previous… what…. of the what….?”

“The Oscillating Universe,” explained Fernando, “is a cosmological model that states, briefly, that the universe is created in a Big Bang, expands for trillions of years at an ever-decreasing rate, eventually stops, and then contracts more and more swiftly, finally ending in a Big Crunch, whereupon the cycle starts all over again.”

“So the previous universe is completely destroyed?” asked Bellamy, wondering why they were even talking about this.

“Not quite completely,” said Fernando, scrunching his face and wagging a finger. “Some small tiny fraction of it survives. And it survives because the matter and energy of the previous universe is superior to the Big Bang of the subsequent universe.”

“You’ve lost me,” said Bellamy.

“Let me try to find you,” said Fernando. “The name of the game is entropy. Think of making photocopies at work of a form or pamphlet or something. You start off with a pretty nice, crisp original and you make a copy. It still looks pretty nice. You can hardly tell the difference. But then you lose the original and you have to make a copy of the copy. Still good, but not as great. Next time, it’s obvious that it’s a bad copy. This happens a dozen times. A hundred times. Eventually you’re stuck with a pretty fucking shitty copy.”

“This much I can follow,” said Bellamy. “But….”

“Well, that’s what’s been happening to the universe, only it’s happened trillions of times over googolplexi of megayears. The original universe was perfect, like Heaven or something– I don’t know, I wasn’t in that one– but now we’re living in a shitty, umpteenth-generation copy. Only my ‘substance,’ as you call it, is from the previous, slightly less shitty version.”

“Actually, I called it ‘stuff.’”

“Back in my universe, we called it ‘substance,’” said Fernando. “We had a better vocabulary than you people.”

Bellamy shook his head like he had bugs in his ears. “What does all this even mean? How would you even be different? It’s still all just protons and neutrons and electrons and stuff. I mean substance.”

Fernando chuckled a bit condescendingly and shook his head. “That is where you are wrong, my friend,” he said. “The previous universe was fundamentally superior at the most quantum level.”

“At least you had a quantum level.”

Fernando shrugged. “I use the term for the sake of familiarity.”

“Well, then,” said Bellamy, folding his arms skeptically, “if you didn’t have atoms– and stuff– what did you have?”

“Okay, since you ask, I’ll tell,” said Fernando. “Our version of atoms had a perfectly spherical and solid nucleus called a centeron. From out of it grew a multitude of strings called linkons which ended in little seven-fingered hands called hands. None of your fractional particles with fractional charges that can’t decide if they’re points or strings and don’t know where they are or how fast they’re going at the same time. Just good, solid particles and strings and hands that know exactly what they are and what they’re doing.”

“How did they form elements if they were all the same?”

“Elements were determined by the special secret handshakes between those seven-fingered hands. No other element knew another element’s secret handshake. That’s how stability was maintained.”

“And this is what you’re made of?” asked Bellamy, pointing at Fernando’s belly button for some reason.

“Precisely.”

“You’re full of shit,” said Bellamy.

“Not even a little bit,” retorted Fernando. “Have you ever seen me use a restroom? I’m above that sort of thing.”

“Well, no, I suppose not.” Bellamy scratched his chin thoughtfully. “I actually don’t think I have.”

“There you go.”

Bellamy looked at him appraisingly for a long time, and then said, “But if you’re made of sterner stuff from a superior universe, why don’t you do something?”

“What do you mean? I do lots of things.”

“I mean besides playing Star Trek Online and hooking up at Applebee’s. Why don’t you do something for the world?”

“What do you expect me to do for the world?”

“I don’t know! I’m part of this shitty universe. You’re from the superior previous universe. You should be able to get out there and inspire people or something. Get them to follow you and live up to a higher standard. You should be able to lead people out of this steaming pile of a mess we’re in.”

Fernando paused for a moment. “No,” he said.

Bellamy sat up straight as a duck. “You paused for a moment!” he said. “You know I’m right! You have to do this. With greater superiority comes greater responsibility.”

“I don’t know,” said Fernando, making a sick face. “Work with people? Try to make something out of them? Seriously, they give me the willies.”

“But you are Nietzsche’s Ubermensch. You must save us!”

“You’ve read Nietzsche?”

“No, I read that in a thoughtful treatise deconstructing Superman on a blog about obsolete comic book characters.”

“That’s pathetic.”

“And proves that we need help.”

Fernando sighed. “You surely do need help.”

“Well then?”

Fernando stood up and nodded firmly. “All right, I’ll do it! I’ll bring all my superiority from the less-entropic reality of the previous cycle of the Oscillating Universe to bear, and I will save the world!”

“Hello there!” shouted Sebastian from behind.

“Jesus Christ, Sebastian!” squeaked Fernando, jumping six inches into the air. “You scared the shit out of me. Where did you come from?”

Sebastian smiled smugly. “An even older cycle,” he said.

“Damn it!” cried Fernando.

[kykyonthemoon]

Limerence (noun) — a mental state of profound romantic infatuation, deep obsession, and fantastical longing.

⋆˚✿˖° This chapter is a part of a mini-series of dark fairy tales and romance sets in another universe. It consists of three chapters, each with a Male Lead and is separated from one another.

⋆˚✿˖° Character x Reader/MC, from another (OC's) point of view. Reader/MC's pronounce is "she/her/hers".

⋆˚✿˖° Warnings & tags: 16+, MDNI, angst, hurt, thriller, emotional and mind control, manipulation, love spell, obsession, unrequited love, major character death, dark fantasy, dark fairy tale, m.urder, s.uicide attempt.

⋆˚✿˖° Leonard is my OC.

⋆˚✿˖° Read more chapters:

✦ Xavier's ✦ Zayne's

⋆˚✿˖° Masterlist

⋆˚✿˖° My friend Cery made an art for this fic here: x

Chapter: The Muse — in which he brings the world his most significant work of art.

⋆˚✿˖° Word count: 3k1

These days, the artist community was vibrant, with some even competing for acceptance to the exhibition at Mo Art Studio.

So did Leonard. He had to rush around and ask for help everywhere in order to be given a chance. Money was not an issue, but the host of this exhibition was certainly not an ordinary person. He wasn't offering tickets to the highest bidder, but rather to those who possessed an artistic vision and passed his evaluation.

“The ticket will be sent to you within the next three days. Please keep in touch.” The other end of the line cut the discussion off, but Leonard's mind remained lightheaded, unable to believe the gift he had just received.

“Wait…” He spoke before the other person hung up. “Excuse me… May I do an interview with that artist in the exhibition?”

There was no response. Leonard believed they were reviewing his proposal. He held his breath and wait for a while, then the manager named Thomas spoke:

“We do not accept interviews. But a few individual queries could suffice. Of course, if you are able to leave a good impression.”

"I got it. Thank you."

Putting the phone aside, Leonard leaned back in his office chair. How to impress Linkon's most talented painter, or should he say - the world's best artist? Despite his young age, there was no one in this city who had never heard of his work.

The artist's name was Rafayel. He became well-known for his landscape paintings, which brought admirers to a dreamlike state when they stood in front of them. He seldom appeared in public, despite having organized hundreds of major and minor exhibitions. Who he truly was remained a question, and the most mysterious part was probably his disappearance a year ago.

For a whole year there were no new paintings or art activities. No one saw him in Linkon during that time. His manager and studio kept it silent, as if everything had evaporated overnight. Then, last weekend, he unexpectedly reappeared and made an important announcement, which was an exhibition called The Muse.

In contrast to his previous events, guests had no idea what they were about to witness. According to the majority of internet comments, Rafayel returned with a work of a lifetime, a painting that exceeded anything he had ever created. That was the final result of a year-long hunt for inspiration. Of course, there were those who believed he was steadily degrading since he hadn't been able to draw anything decent in a long time and had simply planned this event to earn some money.

For Leonard, either truth was fair. He must uncover all of the details and secrets surrounding Rafayel's reappearance. Since that was what he did for a living.

Leonard was a journalist who specialized in arts. Despite his greatest efforts over several years, he still had little hope of succeeding. He had been without a single decent piece for a long time. Then the opportunity to visit the Mo Art studio presented itself before his eyes. He was not going to miss the chance to see a place that had never been accessible to the public before.

The day of the exhibition approached. Leonard had purposefully showed up early, but as he reached the gate, he noticed that about fifty formally dressed guests were already present. They were enjoying wine and food as they walked in groups into the main hall, where the primary event was held. Leonard also entered with nervousness. All of the windows and doors were wide open, allowing the sea air to convey a salty fragrance into the hallway. Rafayel's famous works are framed, and hung or placed in the center of a floral garden that the host tenderly arranged himself, giving guests the impression that they had just lost themselves in the Garden of Eden.

However, that was not the primary attention of the event. Something massive and cylindrical appeared in the center of the hall. It spanned from the ground to an exceedingly high glass ceiling. It had a diameter of up to ten meters, and was covered in a crimson velvet fabric, protecting it from inquisitive eyes of guests. Even the personnel had not an idea of what was inside.

"Rafayel did all of this himself." Thomas, the manager, spoke up. "I can't answer your questions because I'm not sure what's there. But whatever it is, it will undoubtedly live up to the name of his Muse."

The flock of intrigued guests around Thomas nodded, then split out to stroll around and admire the pillar, as if its very presence was already an art. To them, the less they comprehended something, the more valuable it became.

Leonard found a seat close to the window but not too far from the center of the hall. He was afraid of missing the opportunity to witness Rafayel's Muse. Late in the afternoon, the sun glided across the horizon, casting golden rays into the place. The guests began to get tipsy, wondering if Rafayel would show up or if this was all a hoax, when, down the stairs, the host of the party appeared.

He donned a lavish dark blue suit with sculpted sleeves and shoulders that looked to be encrusted with spectrum fish scales. His presence was as magnificent as his name, causing the entire hall to fall silent. Guests held their breath as they watched the young artist stroll down the steps, the heels of his shoes reverberating on the marble floor as if a piece of music had just been executed.

“Welcome to the exhibition.” Rafayel spoke in a solemn voice. "It appears that all of the guests here are wondering; what exactly has he been doing during the past year? Why didn't he present any of his new work? What's the point of this exhibition?"

Rafayel halted for a moment, his dark eyes behind a few purple curls scrutinizing each guest individually, as if reading them all. The corner of his mouth twisted up in delight as he effectively piqued everyone's interest. He resumed his speech:

“It all began with a muse. My muse. That's a story perhaps a lucky visitor would unveil in this exhibition. But for now…” Rafayel lifted a hand. “Let me introduce you to my one and only, Muse.”

The scorched cloth transformed into crimson tiny particles that flew all about, blending into the fiery sunset outside. The crimson sun halted in the center of the room's largest window, and emerged as an illusion was Rafayel's Muse.

Leonard blinked. In front of him stood a tank of water with a thick glass cylinder. The inside was ornamented with flowers, coral, and white pillars of broken plaster encircling an oval of the glass tank, offering him the sense that he was staring at a lost city under the depths of the ocean. There were schools of brilliant small fish swimming around, weaving between the crevices of the broken world. In the midst of the tableau, there was a woman floating in the water in an upright stance, a few meters above the tank's bottom, conveying an illusion that she was flying. Her head was adorned with pearl jewelry, eyes were closed, as if she was in deep slumber. Her hands opened, allowing the orange-red fish to whirl around her wrists. Then they invited each other to swim along her tiny unclothed arms, to her exquisite neck covered in shimmering pearls, and down to the thin white garment that was floating in the water like her own body. Her bare feet lingered above the seaweed, as if to tease them with the fact that they were unable to grasp her no matter how hard they tried.

A beauty out of this world. That was what Leonard's mind could think of. When he came here, he was full of determination to discover Rafayel's secret, but now, when he witnessed its beauty with his own eyes, he was speechless. His brain felt empty, as if that beauty had filled it and he no longer needed anything else. A melodic rhythm could be heard somewhere, distant seemingly from another universe, but apparently emanating from the tank itself.

All guests were drawn to the center. Rafayel vanished among the crowd that was cheering him. Nobody suspected that Rafayel's Muse was not a painting but an entirely distinct thing. Whatever it was, she was the size of an adult in her mid-twenties. A statue or a doll that resembled a real person?

Leonard brushed past a few astonished others to get closer to the tank. Rafayel's exhibit could easily shock the entire art field. Leonard had already begun pondering concepts for his next piece. Unlike the other guests, who were merely engaged in the beauty in front of them, he was more enthralled by the narrative behind The Muse.

Who was she? Where did her story begin? Leonard sought around for Rafayel's silhouette but could not find him. However, near the stairs, he encountered Thomas with a look of panic and utter shock on his face.

“It can't be… No… It can't be her…” Those were the words Leonard could hear before Thomas bolted out of the hall.

There were just a few people invited to the show, and after approximately an hour, they had presumably spent all of their admiration and hypothesis on the tank. They met again in groups to tour Rafayel's studio. Who knows when they would be able to return here again, in ten, twenty, or even fifty years?

Leonard took advantage of the reality that people had left the area to approach closer and examine more, now that he was the only one standing nearby. The Muse was still inside, a smile on her lips, but why did Leonard feel a suffering coming from her? He strolled around the tank to better view her. It was hard to discern whether this was in fact a sculpture by Rafayel or a real person. That was also what the guests spoke about all day.

The Muse was so genuine. To the point that Leonard expected her to open her eyes and climb out of the tank. But she remained still, absorbed in her own undersea world. He stayed frozen, unable to move his gaze away from the tank, for Rafayel had previously stated that within this, his secrets hidden.

Yet Leonard, with his mundane eyes, might never discover it. The only thing he found was possibly a tiny coating of pinkish red water coming from The Muse's breast. That ruby hue seeped through the attire that enveloped her, and it looked nothing like the color that Rafayel often used in his paintings. There was something rather odd about it. It resembled blood, from The Muse herself.

The exhibition came to an end.  Guests departed on their own after being notified. Rafayel returned to the lobby. Leonard took the opportunity to ask in an instance:

“Mr. Rafayel. May I ask you a few questions regarding the exhibition?

Rafayel gazed at him. To increase his reputation, he identified himself as a journalist who specialized in writing about art.

"Ah. "I remember you." Rafayel responded. "Among the guests, you were the only one who gave an impressive answer to my question."

Leonard tried to recall the survey he was required to complete before Thomas reached him to inform he had an invitation. These questions were all about Rafayel's career, and the answers were readily accessible online. There was just one question, the last one, that sparked a lot of consideration in Leonard, while having nothing to do with Rafayel's works at all.

"If you were given a magical spell that made the person you love love you forever, would you use it?" Rafayel reiterated his query. "You're the only one who chose not to."

Leonard nodded. It was truly what he had said.

"May I know, why?" Rafayel glanced at him with curiosity. Leonard was taken aback, as he had come here expecting to be an interviewer. Who would have guessed it was the other way around?

"A spell is just an illusion." Leonard responded honestly. "That is not love." "Love must come from a true heart."

"A true heart…" Rafayel repeated each word. His eyes were as sorrowful and deep as the tranquil water, yet it was terrifying since he had no idea when the storm would arrive. "Perhaps, she would choose the same answer as you."

"Pardon?…" Leonard interrupted Rafayel's thoughts. "Who are you talking about?"

Rafayel smiled but remained silent. Fearing that the young artist might leave without answering, Leonard impatiently said:

“Aren't you talking about your Muse? Can you tell me who she is?”

Rafayel gazed at the girl in the aquarium. He smiled. Just a small movement of the lips conveyed devotion, anguish, and regret.

"She is my true heart." Rafayel's voice resembled a song. But he said nothing more, and Leonard was asked to leave right away.

The Muse's story was forever a mystery. The mystery that Leonard had yet to come very close.

That story began a year ago. Or perhaps, it had originated a long, long time ago.

When a Lemurian gives their heart to someone, it will die if not reciprocated.

Rafayel had given his to a human girl.

He met her when she was a child. She was his savior when he was expecting such a painful death on land, and she helped him return to the sea.

She could not remember who he was, nor did she know that all those years, he had been watching her from afar. Amid the waves, behind the rocks, he watched her grow up.

He met her again as a painter many years later. She happily accepted his company. But it was not all he wanted. He longed for her. He craved her touch to make her become his, in the way he had determined his heart belonged to her.

But, her heart belonged to someone else.

A year ago, she told him that she was getting married.

Rafayel could not recall how frightening his emotions were. No matter how powerful the storms were at sea, they could never match his rage at the time. And, with a dreadful calamity brewing in his head, he did what he did to her.

He bound her with an ancient Lemurian enchantment. He made her fall desperately in love with him. She did everything for him, even abandoning her engagement and following him to a far away place. A secluded island only for them. Glorious summer nights lingered forever on the beach, when she and he were entangled, merging in the waves of never-ending love. He had her how he wished.

However, like an illusion, that spell did not persist forever. It drove her to insanity. She wandered alone on the shore, tears streaming and her mouth constantly crying out the name of the person she truthfully loved with each sob. She begged of him.

“Rafayel… Please… Let me go… Please… set me free… Set me free!”

Her screams were drowned in the ocean waves. Little did she realize that seeing her in this way made his heart bleed as well.

"Please…" She sobbed. Rafayel's dagger was in her grasp, and she pressed it to her throat. "If you won't let me leave... I must free myself..."

"Hush now, my dearest…" Rafayel quietly stretched out to her. This was not her first time in this state. He approached her, placed a hand on her forehead, and brushed away her wind-blown hair. Her fingers on the dagger tightened, urging him to back away. However, Rafayel seized the blade that was cutting into her neck, forcing his hand to bleed.

"You don't want to cut yourself, dear."

She trembled and stared at Rafayel. He hummed a very familiar melody, which made her thoughts muddled once more. The dagger slipped from her hand as she collapsed to her knees on the damp beach. Screaming.

“Be still, dearest love.” Rafayel gently lowered down. His knees were next to hers, as if he, too, was begging her to stay. “I can ease all our suffering… If you listen to me now…”

She covered her ears and shook her head with ferocity as if she never wanted to hear another word from him. Rafayel smiled in bitter. She had been like this lately, forgetting who she was and how profoundly she was in love with him. But that was alright. He would help her rekindle her love. She would obey at once as soon as he began singing.

He sang their song. He sang it the first time they met, and he still sang it day by day with her by his side.

She wept tremendously. She clutched her head and pleaded with him to stop. But Rafayel could never. Just like he could not stop the waves from crashing against the shore, who could ever stop his love for her?

After a while, she became quiet. No more yelling and pleading. She gave him an empty stare and a smile.

"Rafayel." She called his name. Her hand found his body, as though she had desired to be close to him since forever. Rafayel embraced her. He stroked and kissed the top of her head. His tears sank, condensing into pearls and nestling on her hair.

“I'm sorry… I'm sorry for turning you into someone like this…” Rafayel whispered in her ear. “But I've found a way to fix everything. You shall not suffer any longer... And neither shall I..."

Rafayel held her with one hand as the other sought the dagger's hilt in the moist sand.

“Will you do this for me?”

He gazed into the eyes of hers which were dreamy under the spell of love. She nodded.

"I vow to do everything for my dearest beloved."

"Very good." Rafayel smiled as he kissed her lips. "You will always be my Muse… Mine, forever..."

The dagger swung across the fiery sunset. The water chanted its melody in an ancient ritual. Then everything fell silent.

Rafayel watched her passionately as she slept within the water tank he had specifically built for her. That was her home, now and forever.

His hand stroked across the beautiful design. Her body was adorned with jewelry crafted from his teardrops. She was a masterpiece of his lifetime, which extended to no end. His Muse. His lips found hers on the other side of the glass, and he pressed a kiss.

From now on, she would weep no more. She would feel no pain.

A crimson light emanated from inside the pocket near Rafayel's chest. He pulled out a blazing red protocore.

This entire world will soon know that, her true heart shall forever belong to him and him alone.

[ameliadamen]

Verse. Main

「 ―୨୧⋆ ˚ Biography。」

Act One. Veil of Childhood

In the tender years of her life, where most children’s days are painted with the vivid hues of innocence and joy, the girl’s early canvas remained unsettlingly blank. To her, the time before she reached the age of eight was a foggy expanse, a stretch of memory veiled in obscurity. Unbeknownst to her, those years were not filled with the laughter of play or the warmth of family; instead, they were cold and clinical, marked by the sterile touch of experimentation. The truth lay dormant within her, (within her heart), a secret history of being a child subject to the whims of science, her essence woven into the fabric of a handful of people's research.

Act Two. Echoes of Catastrophe

Then came the Chronorift Catastrophe. A cataclysmic event that reshaped the world, leaving chaos and destruction in its wake. Her memories of that time are vivid yet fragmented. She recalls waking up in an overcrowded orphanage, surrounded by other children who had lost their families. The air smelled of fear and uncertainty, and the adults moved with a weariness that spoke of tragedy. It was there, amidst the cries of abandoned children, that the girl met her adoptive grandmother, Josephine, a woman with eyes that held both guilt and hope. She took her, and Caleb, a boy a few years older than her, under her wing, offering solace and stability. Together, they navigated the aftermath of the Catastrophe, piecing together a semblance of family.

Act Three. A New Chapter

The girl defied the odds, eventually studying at Linkon University, and then, as a Hunter recruit. Now, clad in uniform, she stands at the precipice of a new chapter. Her past remains a mystery, but her resolve burns bright. She fights not only for survival but for the chance to unravel the enigma of her own existence.

[failedhero-archive]

———  BASICS  !  ♡

(PEN)NAME  :  max

PRONOUNS  :  she / her , they / them.

ZODIAC  SIGN  :  virgo! (sep 22!) 

TAKEN  OR  SINGLE  :  taken

———  THREE  FACTS  ! ♡

I have a son named Jack whose three and new  favorite thing to say is ‘I did not see that coming’ 

I’m a ‘classically trained’ Shakespearean actress

Working on my 3rd degree for Gardnerian witchcraft.

———  EXPERIENCE  !  ♡

Jesus okay uh- I started doing things on neopets but not so much writing on there because I didn’t understand it. Also I was really paranoid about people on the internet because I had a single mom who was paranoid about people on the internet. I must have catfished like- so many people because of this. I guess that counts as role play experience (this was at like 13.) I did a lot of that Hollow RPG I don’t know if anyone remembers that. Then it was Karchan after that which I eventually phased out of. I found Tumblr a little bit before the Dark Knight (the one with Bane) came out because I had a Harley Quinn muse. I’ve played in multiple fandoms but always seem to come back to SPN. I’m 30 years old so I guess I’ve been role playing for 18 years or so? Jeez. Eight of those were as Dean. 

———  MUSE  PREFERENCE  !  ♡

I play a lot more men then I do women. For some reason every time I play a female muse I either make them too hard or too soft I can never get it just right. Although I’m pretty good at Mary/Jo just cause I think I relate to them so much so it’s easier. 

My preference is bad boy with a heart of gold. Those are the muses I love the most. For instance I’ve played Linkon from The 100. Damon from TVD. Klaus from TVD. Roan from The 100 and Daryl from The Walking Dead (Daryl is a muse I miss every day I fucking love that guy.) I love characters with big feelings but who don’t know how to express them because I never learned emotional regulation? So like- this gives me a safe space to explore the depth and width of human emotion without having to experience them myself. Ya know? 

———  FLUFF  /  ANGST  /  SMUT  !  ♡

FLUFF   :  I love fluff most of all. I will never ever get tired of fluff. I always think I have to spice it up with angst so I usually try to throw that in there somewhere but- fluff is my favorite. 

ANGST   :  I love angst that means something. I am not a fan of angst for the sake of angst. It’s the same thing with romance I guess too. If it’s not meaningful and doesn’t propel the plot forward- no thanks. Just give me fluff instead. 

SMUT   :  I really love smut when it, just like angst, propels the plot forward. I always feel a bit bad about it though cause when I legit write smut the threads tend to get really long. So if you look through my blog- yeah Dean talks about sexy stuff a lot but there’s not legit smut on here for a few years. (smut also isn’t the end all be all so like, not the end of the world if you don’t like writing smut we never have to write it. sometimes it’s easier to skip)

PLOT  /  MEMES   :  I switch so much daily that I can’t give you a for sure answer. Right now I’m feeling a lot more memes because I have no idea for plots. But I still really want to write. So like- send me memes. 

stolen from @evilsded tagging: everyone who wants to do this!