#meanwhile jude is like

[bubblesandpages]

It kinda cracks me up that Vivi wants the hell out of Dodge, when she's Dodge's perfect apex predator and no one can touch her.

[ikeameatballspoisonedme]

Lilsimsie hate is so boring at this point and it's always spearheaded by misogynist transphobic white gays...

[jezaldanluthar]

i am astonished nay flabbergasted that i can’t find anyone who’d rather have a kel/conor and lin/antonetta storyline in sword catcher. i’ve read conor/lin a million times (ex: cardan/jude) that it’s so repetitively boring but i rarely get a toxic relationship king and lionheart romance i kinda want it (ngl im not even that big of a conor/kel advocate i just hate the idea of lin ending up with him i want better for her)

[sweetvillainjude]

we stan a messy young faerie prince who fumbles a lot & is a total whipped loser for his wife after nearly fumbling her about a hundred times, king behaviour💅

There are two kinds of male fae love interests:

300+ years older than the girl, powerful, dark-haired, cold

Cardan

[crocwearingcryprid]

Every fear avatar experiencing the most fucked up traumatic thing, dying and getting thier powers like Jude Perry literally sets herself on fire. Mike Crew jumps out of the window. Oliver literally dies because a satellite fell on him.

Meanwhile Peter Lukas some dude smiled at him in public.

[4vanaa]

—PILOT “Family Dinner (Or Whatever This Is)” outer banks modern family au

[It’s family dinner night at Pope and Cleo’s house—an attempt at a civilized gathering that, predictably, turns into an absolute disaster before it even starts. Each family is scrambling to get ready, kids are causing havoc, and in classic Modern Family fashion, the confessionals, give us an inside look at just how unhinged this crew really is.]

[LO: CAMERON HOUSEHOLD]

The camera cuts to Rafe standing in the living room, staring at a screaming Poppy (3), who has decided she doesn’t want to wear clothes. Milo (10) is sitting on the couch, fully dressed but casually eating a Pop-Tart, while Ava (15) is still upstairs, refusing to come down.

CONFESSIONAL Rafe & You

YOU: deadpan “We’re supposed to leave in five minutes.”

RAFE: chuckling, gesturing to the mess behind him “Yeah… that’s not happening.”

YOU: “Ava won’t come downstairs, Poppy is running around naked, and Milo—” glares off-camera“—MILO, STOP FEEDING THE DOG CHIPS.”

RAFE: shrugs “At least the dog’s eating.”

—Cut to Ava upstairs, dramatically lying on her bed, scrolling on her phone.

CONFESSIONAL Ava

AVA: “I don’t even know why we have these family dinners. Every time, someone storms out, someone cries, and last time Uncle JJ almost set the backyard on fire.” pause “It was kind of iconic, though.”

—Smash cut to Rafe yelling up the stairs, “AVA, GET YOUR ASS DOWN HERE OR YOU’RE GROUNDED.”

CONFESSIONAL Poppy

POPPY: grinning, wearing fairy wings and no pants “Daddy said a bad word.”

[LO: MAYBANK HOUSEHOLD]

The Maybank house is too calm, which is a bad sign. Jax (7) is fully dressed but covered in dirt, while Maya (12) is filming a TikTok dance in the kitchen. Kai (16), still shirtless, is texting someone suspiciously while JJ is making nachos instead of getting dressed.

CONFESSIONAL Kiara & JJ

KIARA: “JJ doesn’t understand the concept of—” hand quotes “— getting ready.”

JJ: mouth full of nachos “That’s because dinner is at seven, and it is currently—” checks phone “—not seven.”

KIARA: death glare

Meanwhile, Jax is whispering something to Milo(who is FaceTiming him), clearly planning some kind of mischief.

CONFESSIONAL Jax & Maya

JAX: grinning mischievously “Milo and I are bringing stink bombs.”

MAYA: rolling her eyes “This is why we’re never invited anywhere nice.”

—Cut to Kiara snatching JJ’s nachos, forcing him upstairs. Kai is still standing there, texting, when Kiara calls him out—

KIARA: “Kai. Shirt. Now.”

KAI: grinning “Ava likes this one.”

JJ: (off-screen): “Damn right she does—OW! KIE!”

[LO: ROUTLEDGE HOUSEHOLD]

Sarah is running around, trying to wrangle Lily (9) & Bennett (4) into their shoes, while Carter (14) is sitting on the counter, eating chips, and doing absolutely nothing to help. John B is... well, he’s looking for his shoes.

CONFESSIONAL John B & Sarah

SARAH: exasperated “We’re late every. Single. Time.”

JOHN B: defensive “Okay, but, like, time is a social construct.”

SARAH: “Tell that to Cleo when we show up forty-five minutes late and she glares at us until we die.”

—Smash cut to Carter smirking.

CONFESSIONAL Carter

CARTER: “Mom and Dad are always late. I don’t even try to get ready until at least ten minutes after they freak out. At this point, it’s a science.”

[LO: HEYWARD HOUSEHOLD]

Pope and Cleo are setting up dinner, the only responsible people in the entire family. Zara (13) is helping, while Jude (8) is sneakily trying to set up a booby trap near the front door.

CONFESSIONAL Pope & Cleo

POPE: stressed “This is a simple dinner. Why is that impossible?”

CLEO: deadpan “Because we’re related to crazy people.”

The doorbell rings. It’s Topper, who has arrived early with Finn (15) & Ruby (6).

CONFESSIONAL Topper

TOPPER: smug “I don’t know why it’s so hard for everyone to be on time. My family runs like a well-oiled machine.”

—Cut to Ruby throwing a juice box at Finn’s head while he scrolls through his phone, completely unfazed.

༝ Your family shows up fifteen minutes late, and Poppy is still wearing fairy wings (but now has pants).

༝ JJ & Kiara’s kids immediately run off with Jax’s stink bombs.

༝ John B & Sarah arrive last(again), and Cleo just glares at them.

༝ Ruby and Bennett start a war over the last dinner roll.

༝ Ava & Kai are flirting, which makes Rafe visibly twitch.

༝ Jude’s booby trap actually works, and Topper gets hit with a bucket of water.

CONFESSIONAL Pope

POPE: staring blankly at the camera, wine glass in hand “I hate them all.”

CONFESSIONAL JJ & Rafe

JJ: “See, this is why we don’t try to be responsible.”

RAFE: “You don’t try because you’re lazy.”

JJ: grinning “And yet, here we are. Surviving. Thriving. Watching Topper get hit with a bucket.”

—Cut to Topper still dripping wet, cursing under his breath as Ruby and Bennett cackle.

CONFESSIONAL Poppy & Bennett

POPPY: whispers “Uncle Barry said this family is crazy.”

BENNETT: nodding seriously “Uncle Barry is right.”

—Smash cut to Barry arriving fashionably late with a six-pack of beer and a bag of chips, looking at the disaster in front of him.

CONFESSIONAL Barry

BARRY: grinning “Yeah, this is exactly why I don’t have kids.”

[caffeinatelove]

࿐ ࿔:･ﾟdating reo and nagi you play soccer with your boyfriends!

𝐛𝐲𝐫: these are just headcanons! female reader, polyamory, intended lowercase, includes swearing, possible out of character / mischaracterisation, fluff, suggestive and sexual themes!

you didn’t know much about soccer.

which, in hindsight, was kind of funny seeing as the sport was a major factor in both your boyfriends' lives. if not, what their world primarily revolved around. of course, you understood the basics… you know you get a point when the ball goes in the net. you know 'offside' is apparently a thing people fight over like it’s life or death.

oh, and you know exactly when to turn the tv on to watch real madrid play. that one’s real important.

although, reo and nagi would probably disagree.

you remember softly padding into the living room one day, only to find them cuddled up watching tv together. the familiar cheering catches your attention, and your eyes sweep over what’s displayed on the screen.

"hey, this is madrid playing, right?"

"uh–yeah!" reo lights up, beyond surprised that you even knew the team’s name. it’s a good kind of surprised, though. and he immediately scoots over, patting the cushion beside him. "got it right. good job, princess."

"they’re versing those barça guys. should be intense." nagi quietly informs as you slide into the far end of the couch. you almost never watch games with them, let alone make the effort to engage, so they’re pretty thrilled to think you’re finally taking an interest in their world.

"sick! so… where’s jude bellingham?"

a moment of silence.

when you turn to face your boyfriends' they’re both sporting the same incredibly unimpressed look. and you swear that reo’s eyebrow twitched.

"so that’s what this is about." he mutters, feeling a tad bit betrayed, and it sounds like he’s speaking more to himself than anything.

"what? i just think he’s a good player." you sheepishly whistle, leaning forward to ogle the tv once said athlete finally comes on.

"he’s not even that good!" reo suddenly snaps, arms crossed over his chest, and it’s definitely not about soccer anymore.

"overrated." nagi huffs, reaching for the remote with way too much effort for someone who usually refuses to walk more than five steps unless bribed. "this is getting tiresome. let’s watch something else."

"i agree.” reo grumbles.

he changes the channel and some stupid cartoon animation starts playing. you blink, unable to believe their childish jealousy. "are you two serious?"

after that, you realise that your type must be immature men. you also make a mental note to never again disclose even the notion of having a celebrity crush around them. but the incident ultimately makes you realise that you probably could try a little harder to understand the sport they love.

so a few days later, you casually bring it up over breakfast. "would it be okay if i played soccer with you guys sometime?"

and just like that, your two boyfriends are choking on their orange juice. nagi slowly blinks like he misheard you, and reo’s staring like you just proposed. which, to be fair, you might as well have.

because the idea of you wanting to play soccer with them, of you wanting to be part of something they love so much? it makes their heart warm. to their knowledge you’ve never really played before, but that doesn’t matter, because they’re already jumping at the chance to say yes.

nagi nods his head curtly. "i’d be okay with that."

meanwhile, reo’s practically bouncing up and down, unable to contain his excitement. "of course we can play together! i’ll get you whatever you need. shin guards, a personal coach, hell, i’ll rent out the local park just so we can–"

"my backyard is fine." you quickly respond, grabbing onto his shoulders to stop him from freaking out any further.

he pauses, your touch grounding him. "you sure, princess?"

"yes! i don’t wanna pursue it or anything like that, i just know how much you two really enjoy it. so, why not? i wanna spend time doing something that you guys like." you quietly admit. and that response has them absolutely melting. it’s settled. cemented. you’re all going to play soccer together.

and so, the day eventually rolls around.

like promised, it’s nothing serious, just the three of you preparing to play a game of soccer in your oddly spacious backyard.

nagi’s half-asleep placing some cones down in vague formations, like he’s making it up as he goes. and reo’s struggling to get the portable goal net upright. when finally, you finish getting ready.

"we can start now!" you announce, stepping outside.

with your compression shirt hugging everything, a form fitting skirt to match that swayed with every step and the final kill shot; a pair of baby pink cleats that are so offensively cute, it’s truly a miracle the grass didn’t catch on fire beneath you.

both boys falter immediately upon noticing you. reo can feel his heart hammering in his ears. a noise that only intensifies once he catches sight of your bare thighs under the skirt. and then the adorable cleats just below them. oh god. a cone slips out of nagi’s grip by accident — like the muscles in his hand just went completely slack.

"okay, guys, i’m ready." you rest your hands on your hips.

that’s when the white haired boy suddenly tilts his head all the way back, staring up at the sky and directly into the sun as if trying to blind himself.

"um, treasure, what are you doing?" reo coughs into his hand, voice strained like he’s holding his self control together with nothing more than dental floss.

"just in case i get a nose bleed." nagi says flatly. "it’s a real hassle when it drips on your clothes, you know?"

"guys? is everything okay?" your voice cuts in, extremely oblivious to what’s causing their very weird demeanour.

reo opens his practically foaming mouth. closes it. tries again.

"it’s just, uh," he mutters, "you’re usually supposed to wear loose clothes when you, uh…"

your face flushes slightly in embarrassment, the slip up highlighting how little you know about the sport. "oh. should i change into something else then?"

"NO."

you’re flustered, sure, but also a little amused. they look like they’re about to spontaneously combust and you’ve barely said three sentences. was it really riling them up this much?

"so… i take it my clothes are okay?"

they both nod like zombies, looking a little bit glazed over.

you hum in determination, moving over to the ball and hesitantly kicking it forward, trying to get used to rolling it under your foot. "alright then, let’s start."

reo tugs at the collar of his jersey, letting out a half exasperated half strangled sound. "she’s trying to kill me."

"us." nagi corrects, finally looking back down at you, before immediately adverting his eyes again. "that outfit… hmph. she could’ve warned us beforehand."

after everyone calms down, you finally agree to start playing. and you realise that you’re actually a bit nervous. of course this was meant to be nothing more than a fun game with your partners, where they teach you as you go along, but they were essentially both pro players. who wouldn’t be a bit nervous?

but surprisingly, both your boyfriends' are so soft about it.

maybe you were just too accustomed to witnessing their ruthlessness while in blue lock, because you weren’t expecting it.

but nagi stays close to help your stance. he’ll lightly touch your waist while guiding you, the action sending unwarranted butterflies in your stomach. "other side." he’ll mumble, adjusting your foot with his. "there you go."

you’re definitely getting babied, but you don’t mind it. you actually enjoy how nagi whispers quiet words of encouragement. whereas reo, on the other hand, was acting like your own personal cheerleader, praising everything and anything you do like you’re some kind of prodigy. even though you’re the farthest one from it.

you kick the ball and miss?

he’s clapping.

you then attempt to chase after it and stumble a bit?

well, now he’s cheering. "that was so close! you’re a natural!"

you try to pass but it’s crooked and you somehow trip and plant yourself face first into the grass?

"ah shit–err, you’re doing so well, princess! keep it up!" he’s jumping up and down like you won the world cup.

to say they were being supportive would probably be an understatement. nagi was definitely more patient with you, calmly going through the steps of whatever you couldn’t really figure out. but since reo was able to mask his own restlessness with overcompensating compliments, none of it ended up being too much for you. both of them were a massive help throughout it all.

and the moment you actually start getting into it, oooh, they totally lose it.

you dribble a little. maybe chase the ball across the grass faster without tripping. the pleats in your tiny skirt flutter with every movement, and they’re both just watching with hearts in their eyes. because this is essentially their two favourite things in the whole wide world. together. actually, that might be subjective with nagi because he’d probably throw his iphone into that mix.

also they definitely fight at least once or twice or maybe even a couple times over who gets to show or teach you something.

"i said i was gonna show her that." "mmm. you were too slow."

anyways, perhaps by sheer luck, or possibly fate, you actually manage to kick the ball hard enough to send it sailing straight into the goal. there’s a pause due to your own shock. before you’re throwing your hands up in ecstasy, as the thrill of victory, although barely earned, rushes through you.

"goal!” you gush, jumping up and down in the spot and almost tripping over thin air with the action.

and your boyfriends' don’t even try to be chill about it. reo let’s out a dramatic whoop, running forward before lifting you in the air. nagi trails behind, with a lazy smile on his mouth and his arms already open for the inevitable group hug.

"you did it, y/n." reo commends, and you can tell by his tone that he wasn’t actually expecting you to do it.

"mhm. that was fun." nagi adds, looking genuinely impressed by your effort.

you exhale sharply. "wow, i sounded like isagi just now, didn’t i? he’s such a good player. i don’t understand how he does this everyday with other people."

another moment of silence. oh, there’s that eyebrow twitch from reo again. "we are standing right here."

"ah, yeah. you guys are good players too." you bashfully add, moving to pull them both into a hug again. it’s sweaty but filled with love.

"you wanna go back inside now and take a celebratory nap?" nagi asks, a hopeful note in his tone.

"nope, let’s continue playing!" you chirp, before pulling away to go and grab the ball. the two boys exchange a look.

you continue playing to your hearts content. until it almost starts to border sunset, and you’re way too exhausted to move even another bone in your body. you’re panting wildly, flushed body pressed against the grass as you try to desperately catch your breath. your boyfriends' are all but tranquil as they move next to you on the grass.

"how are you two not dying?" you grunt.

reo shrugs, leaning back on his palms and spreading his legs out. "we kind of do this everyday."

"okay, but, you’ve barely even broken a sweat! you guys are something inhuman."

he chuckles before fixing you with that familiar cocky smile. "just saving my stamina for later, sweet girl."

you scoff, but the implication makes your face flare up anyway. sometimes, you hated reo and his effortless charm.

nagi plops down next to you. except he slides a little lower than usual, casually tugging your legs across his torso like it’s a weighted blanket he wishes to die beneath. "you’re cute when you try." he mumbles, arms locked around your thighs.

you’re too exhausted to react to the mildly patronising tone in his comment. you just groan and continue to melt into the grass.

until they begin inching closer. of course.

reo’s fingers suddenly brush through your messily strewn hair, tucking a few strands behind your ear. "you’ve earned a reward, you know. learning how to play so well. scoring that one goal."

you let out a laugh, shaking your head at his antics. "you’re too much."

"you love it." he hums, already leaning in.

it barely gives you time to register the little soft kisses that nagi is pressing just above your knee. dragging his lips up your thigh. you can barely make out the faint sound of his mumbling. "bet you’re still warm from running." he rasps. "let me taste."

hearing that alone almost makes you malfunction. you didn’t even get the chance to get out of your practice clothes before they’re suddenly pinning you down on the grass, mouths and hands on a mission.

"guys, wait, i’m like, all sweaty. everywhere. this is not—hot."

"says who?" reo challenges, already kissing down your throat. he zeroes in on your pulse point, which is still thrumming from the adrenaline of playing. and now something else entirely.

"says me." you weakly retort, but it seems like they have no shame in their game.

nagi hums, still tracing his mouth alarmingly close to a certain area. "hm. but you did so good."

"we just want to celebrate our little mvp." reo adds with a chuckle, but you can tell he’s holding himself back. if the almost hungry look in his eyes is anything to go.

you scramble for a sliver of dignity. "can i at least take a shower first?"

"no.” nagi whines, fingers reaching for your skirt. "i don’t want you to take this off yet. you look too pretty in it.” he mumbles. "like, too much."

your face burns at the compliment. nagi is so soft spoken to the point where everything he says sounds innocent. even if it’s not. especially when it’s not. that’s what makes it so dangerous. you squirm. "but i’m gross–"

that’s when reo grabs your wrists to press you flush against the grass completely. the choppy leaves dig into your skin; a silent order to stop the wriggling.

the glint in his eyes is almost animalistic, and when he murmurs it’s a strained sound. like he’s been holding this in for hours. "you think we care about that?"

you blink, breath suddenly caught in your throat. what kind of horny demon managed to simultaneously possess the both of them? sure, you knew that exercise was an incubator for endorphins. you also knew that your boyfriends' loved to ambush you with a tag-team. but something about this was different. it had to be their desperation.

your scrutinising gaze flickers between them. "literally what has gotten into you freaks?"

and then reo leans in, deciding to mercifully tell you the truth. his mouth is right at your ear, but the words are just loud enough for nagi to hear, too.

"this whole day all i could think about was having your legs over my shoulders." he exhales shakily. "with the cleats still on."

your heart stutters. and your brain blanks. your thighs twitch without your permission.

even nagi let’s out a guttural sound at the mental image. and that’s when it clicks. that’s why they’re acting like this. they’re being so borderline feral because this is something that has really got them going. like, this outfit. and you, playing soccer, in general. the whole shebang.

your suspicions are confirmed when reo continues. "watching you run around in that tiny skirt has been driving me crazy, too." his forehead is pressed to yours now, barely containing himself. "please."

your face goes scarlet at the pure yearning in his tone. they wanted you this badly? suddenly your brain feels foggy. and your willpower is surely slipping away.

"she’s shaking." nagi comments. "cute."

you let out mortified laugh, finally accepting your fate with a heart that’s beating way too fast for reasons completely unrelated to physical activity.

"i hate you both." you mumble in resignation.

five minutes later you’re making noises that probably say otherwise.

[darlingod]

@rayoraish you’re right SHE RLLY DID CALL DIBS

Jude: I swear to god if Cardan is my sisters secret lover. ANYONE but him.

*has been having a thing with Locke*

Jude: ANYONE but Cardan please dear god

[nlvrr]

GOAL OF THE HEART | jude bellingham

summary: a joke about being terrible at football leads to a flirty one-on-one session with jude, where teasing turns into something more.

warnings: none!

pairing: jude bellingham x fem!reader

it started out as a joke. during a group hangout, you’d admitted—half embarrassed, half amused—that football and you simply didn’t mix. you told them that you might actually be the worst player alive, no exaggeration needed.

jude, who’d been sipping on a drink nearby, nearly choked when he heard you. his eyes immediately lit up with playful disbelief, that signature grin spreading across his face like he’d just found the world’s biggest challenge.

“the worst player alive?” he repeated, leaning closer as if he needed to double-check. “nah. you can’t be serious.”

“dead serious,” you replied with a shrug, though you felt your cheeks heating under his gaze. “i’m a lost cause. don’t even try.”

he leaned back, crossing his arms with an air of smug confidence. “oh, we’re not letting that slide. i could coach you in, like, an hour. easy.”

“that sounds like a waste of your time,” you said with a laugh, but jude’s grin only widened.

“you scared?” he asked, tilting his head slightly, eyes narrowing in mock challenge.

and that was it. somehow, you ended up agreeing to a one-on-one training session, and now, here you were at the park, standing awkwardly on the grass while jude twirled a football like it was part of his hand. the late-afternoon sun hung low in the sky, bathing everything in golden light.

he set the ball down in front of you, already smirking. “all right, superstar. let’s see what i’m working with.”

you shot him a look before kicking the ball… straight into your own shin. it bounced pitifully off to the side, and you winced. jude, meanwhile, doubled over with laughter.

“oh my god,” he gasped, hands on his knees. “okay, that was worse than i thought it’d be.”

“shut up,” you muttered, crossing your arms.

“no, seriously,” he said between chuckles, walking over to grab the ball. “you’ve got, like, negative ball control. i thought you were joking!”

“do you want me to leave?”

he bit back another laugh, stepping closer until he was face-to-face with you. “you’re not getting out of this that easy.” his grin softened into something more encouraging. “but don’t worry, i’ve got you. you’re in good hands.”

“debatable,” you muttered, earning another laugh.

jude spent the next twenty minutes attempting to teach you the basics—emphasis on “attempting.” he showed you how to dribble with the inside of your foot, how to balance, how to aim. but every time you tried, you either tripped, kicked the ball in a completely wrong direction, or sent it rolling barely two feet in front of you.

“this is hopeless,” you groaned, throwing up your hands after yet another failed attempt.

“nah,” jude said, walking back over with that same annoyingly cocky grin. “you’re just… how do i say this nicely? really bad.”

you smacked his arm lightly, glaring at him even though his laughter was contagious.

“okay, okay,” he said, holding up his hands in surrender. “maybe we need a new approach.”

before you could ask what he meant, jude stepped behind you. his chest brushed against your back as he rested his hands on your arms, guiding them downward.

“relax,” he said, his voice dropping a little lower, sending an involuntary shiver down your spine. “you’re way too tense. just focus on the ball.”

it was impossible to focus when his breath was warm against your ear and his hands were moving so gently yet firmly.

“you sure this is about football?” you shot back, glancing at him over your shoulder.

his lips curved into a smirk, and he leaned in just slightly closer. “why? is something distracting you?”

“you’re so annoying,” you muttered, cheeks flushing.

he only chuckled, his hands still resting lightly on yours. “keep telling yourself that.”

after what felt like a century, you finally managed to kick the ball into the makeshift goal. it wasn’t exactly a highlight-worthy shot—it rolled awkwardly into the bottom corner—but it counted. you turned to jude, expecting a teasing remark, only to find him lying flat on the ground, arms stretched out like he’d been dramatically defeated.

“you win!” he groaned, clutching his chest like he was in pain. “the student has surpassed the master.”

“oh my god, get up!” you laughed, walking over to nudge his side with your foot.

“i mean it,” he said, grinning up at you. “i’ve been absolutely humbled. what a performance.”

you rolled your eyes and plopped down on the grass beside him, both of you flushed and out of breath.

“admit it,” jude said after a moment, turning his head to look at you. “you had fun.”

you tilted your head toward him, raising a brow. “fun? with you? never.”

he grinned, shifting so he was leaning up on one elbow, his face suddenly a lot closer to yours. “nah, you love it. you love me, actually. go ahead, say it.”

“keep dreaming, bellingham,” you shot back, but the way his gaze dropped—just briefly—to your lips made your heart skip.

“for real, though,” he murmured, brushing a stray piece of hair from your face, his hand lingering for just a beat too long. “you did good today.”

you bit back a shy smile, pretending to brush it off. “well, what do i get for being your star player?”

he tilted his head, eyes sparkling with mischief. “how about dinner? you earned it.”

your heart raced, and before you could argue, he added with a smirk, “plus, someone’s gotta keep the coach company.”

rolling your eyes, you laughed. “you’re unbelievable.”

but you didn’t say no.

[pedriache]

Could you write something for jobe. Maybe you guys gets into a fight and you’re surrounded by his family all day. They seem to notice the tension but doesn’t say anything but at some point or after a comment from him you break down and leave to be alone in your room. Leaving everyone shocked and surprised by the situation since you guys are very private. Maybe it could be during Christmas or a holiday?! Anyways if you want to. Thanks !

Never is a promise — Jobe Bellingham.

Pairing: Jobe Bellingham x Gn!Reader

Summary: After an argument and some back handed comments during a Christmas dinner, you’re left humiliated and upset, and you realize never was a promise Jobe apparently couldn’t keep.

Word count: 830

Disclaimer/s: arguing, yelling, & angst, ends happishly!

A/N: tbh idk where i was going with this

“It’s not that big of a deal,” you hiss, trying to keep your voice low enough as to not disturb his family that was in the next room.

Jobe lets out a low groan. “Yes, it is!” You’d been arguing for the past ten minutes all because you didn’t mention a job promotion to him before your family.

“Listen, Jobe. Seriously, it’s not a big thing! All it gives me is a higher income, other than that it’s not a big deal! Let it go.” You rub your temples, “can we please just go back to the table? This is embarrassing.”

The boy rolls his eyes, pushing his body away from the counter. “Yeah, sure. Whatever.” He speaks through clenched teeth, glancing to the kitchen door before striding his way through it.

You follow after him, forcing a smile onto your lips as you take your seat beside your boyfriend. Tension flows throughout the dining room, everyone was on edge. It wasn’t like Jobe’s argument with you was subtle. It had started at the table before you had excused the both of you into the kitchen.

“So! How do you like the food?” Denise asks, a wavering smile on her face as she looks in your direction.

You mirror her expression, fork playing with the food on your plate. “Good! Thank you.” You nod, taking a bite although you had no appetite whatsoever.

Silence again. Deafening silence.

“So this promotion—“ Your lips clamp shut, eyes darting to your boyfriend. His jaw clenches tightly, a laugh of disbelief escaping his lips. You loved the woman, but she did not read context clues well.

“Yeah, tell them all about it.” He says sarcastically, eyes finding yours in a heat of annoyance.

That was your final straw. Your eyes flutter to the ceiling, blinking a few times to calm yourself. You slowly stand up, “I need to go take a breather!”

The second you left, making haste to your bedroom, Jobe’s parents, and Jude, look his way with disappointment evident in their faces. “Mate…” Jude sighs, “come on. It’s Christmas.”

Jobe takes a quick glance to the Christmas tree a few feet away, lips pursing tightly. “Stay out of this, Jude.” He was more annoyed at the fact that this was all happening in front of his family, than the original reason you were even fighting over.

Meanwhile, you were sat on your bed, hands rubbing your thighs as you took even breaths. You knew you should’ve told him. But in your head, the promotion wasn’t a big deal. It was small and nearing meaningless, but apparently not to Jobe.

He’d never gotten mad at you. He’d been upset sure, but mad? That was a reaction you had not expected. At the beginning of your relationship, a whole year and a half prior, he’d promised he would never hurt you, never raise his voice. And he hadn’t. Until now. ‘Never’ is a big promise, and you knew you shouldn’t have held it to such a standard.

The soft click of the door opening and shutting had your head snapping up, “What’re you doing?” Your eyes narrow slightly.

Jobe leans against the doorframe, chewing on his cheek. He lets out a long breath, hand running over his face. “Listen—“

“It’s fine.” You snap. You didn’t want to argue, just wanted it to go away. You wanted to enjoy the holiday, to pretend anything even happened.

Too busy staring at your hands, you only notice Jobe sat beside you when the bed dips and your body slips closer to his. Your thighs touch, but you are quick to scoot over. Your boyfriend sighs at the movement.

“I’m sorry, okay? I just wish you told me these things! They’re important to me, and you never tell me things anymore. I mean, it’s not just the promotion.” He clears his throat, “I don’t want to argue with you. I don’t want to fight and ruin the holidays.”

You look back to Jobe, “right. Okay.” No apology from you, which Jobe’s jaw ticks at, but he doesn’t say anything.

“So, we can go back? Talk about this later?” He suggests, playing with the strings of his hoodie. He doesn’t make a move to stand up, though.

Standing up off the bed, you nod. “Yeah, sure.” You begin to walk away, but you’re stopped when Jobe’s hand wraps loosely around your arm, pulling you back into him. His arms securing around your torso, keeping your back flush to him.

Held in his arms, Jobe’s head rests on your shoulder, placing a soft kiss there. “I’m sorry I got upset.” He murmurs, giving you a quick squeeze, which you reciprocate reluctantly. Your hands resting on his arms.

“I know.” You huff, “i’m sorry I didn’t tell you about the promotion.”

Jobe hums into your neck, using his index fingers to turn your chin in his direction. He gives you a dimple showing smile. “I love you, always. Even when I am upset.”

Now you were a little less angry with the whole situation, those few small words meaning more than a petty argument. “I love you too, idiot.” You add, giving him a playful scowl.

Likes , comments , & reblog’s are all appreciated. Let me know if you want tagged in any of my posts <3

DTS , @halfwayhearted @spidybaby !

[madockisser]

thinking abt the significance of balekin looking nearly identical to cardan. not enough for people being unable to tell them apart, but enough for jude to point it out often.

could have fueled cardans hatred for jude seeing that she had a similar looking and loving sibling while he had a similar looking sibling that treated him like garbage.

he once asked jude if having a twin made her feel like she was doubled or half of herself, which makes me wonder how he would’ve felt.

with his and balekins contrasting ideals, ways of living, and views of the world, i imagine he felt quite like balekins half. but he protected himself by acting like balekin, cold and cruel. He played at being balekins mirror rather than his half.

only balekin really saw the side of him that was like his half. this could also explain more of why balekin beats him, if he sees cardan as his weaker half. further seeing him as the embodiment of all of his failures?

meanwhile, cardan saw jude and Taryn’s contrasting personalities, but saw that they still loved each other. despite being so different and looking so alike, it’s hard to tell what Cardan thought of them. if they were halves of one whole or doubles. mirrored faces but opposite personalities.

also makes me wonder if his outlook on human twins as a whole played a role in how he felt abt them. must’ve been awfully confusing to see two twinned humans in a world where there’s no such thing lol. the closest thing the fae have to twins is changelings, and it’s heavily implied that Judes like Taryn’s faerie changeling. (Her horns, her wit, etc)

despite how it may have irritated him that jude received love from a sibling, he must’ve felt similar to jude, because they both were halves of one whole in a sense. both trying to please their elder sibling.

jude was the superior half compared to Taryn (sorry but this is just how cardan perceived it) bc she could fight and was smart and stood up for herself, meanwhile he was the widely regarded inferior brother to balekin. still, they both worked hard to become more like their siblings, or to at least put on that front. and cardan recognized that. he recognized Taryn’s influence (her warning jude off of fighting back), and jude later recognized balekins influence on Cardan.

add on: this could also be why he so adamantly dislikes Taryn. he sees his weakness in her. and unlike cardan, Taryn never really stands up for herself. not to jude, not to Locke, not to their circle. if jude is the superior sibling, like balekin to cardan, then cardan is the inferior, like Taryn, right? i think he would dislike having to be similar to someone that allows themself to be walked all over. Cardan hates to be perceived as weak. Goes out of his way to avoid it.

i think this may have drawn them to one another. Jude’s willingness to “ally” w him. cardans falling for her. they just understood eachother on a deeper level bc they shared the wrath of an older sibling lol

add on: i like how Taryn’s betrayal came right before the kidnapping. i like how cardan was sorta included(or atleast aware) and i like how jude asked him abt it. and then balekins wrath is an obvious theme in that convo. then they smooched it up. i like to think its bc they understood each other on a deeper level. not just jude trying to torment him. Jude realized that they were more similar than she ever bothered to realize. hence the smooching and hence the enjoying?

later, in marriage, they no longer have to play at some false persona, no longer have to please an elder brother or appeal to an elder sisters needs.

but idk. just a thought. Might be reaching but idc 🫶

[nig0i]

Translated Kinako Ball

Courtesy to my sibling @yalbaystaken, who translated the soccer ball Kinako was holding in the Chrono Stone finale. The messages are adorable.

Transcription:

Let's play soccer! - Mark Evans (Endou Mamoru).

Come back again. - Axel Blaze (Gouenji Shuuya).

We'll play soccer again! - Arion Sherwind (Matsukaze Tenma).

I wanted to play more soccer with everyone. - J.P. Lapin (Nishizono Shinsuke).

Take care! - Ryouma Nishiki (Nishiki Ryouma).

I'll never forget you guys! - Skye Blye (Sorano Aoi).

See ya. - Jade Greene (Seto Midori).

I want to see you again! - Rosie Redd (Yamana Akane).

Let's meet again! - Victor Blade (Tsurugi Kyousuke) (yes, with the exclamation mark. he's adorable)

We'll always be friends. - Riccardo Di Rigo (Shindou Takuto).

I really had fun. - Sol Daystar (Amemiya Taiyou).

EDIT: On the rightmost lowest hexagon, it can be guessed that it says:

We'll always we waiting for you - Subaru Honda (Kurumada Goichi). (Only "itsudemo matte" / "always wait" can be seen, alongside with "Kurumad". The rest is an educated guess.)

I'd like to meet you again - Wanli Changcheng (Amagi Daichi). (Only "meet"/"ai" and "want"/"hoshii" can be seen. Half of a kanji is there too, and given its shape and that it's on the same hexagon as Kurumada, we can deduce it's Wanli's name.)

Transcription:

Come back again! - Aitor Cazador (Kariya Masaki).

Come back to play! - Lucien Dark (Kageyama Hikaru) (approximated translation, as not everything was visible).

Do your best, everyone! - Samguk Han (Sangoku Taichi).

Come back any time. - Celia Hills (Otonashi Haruna).

Take care of your health. - Jude Sharp (Kidou Yuuto).

EDIT: On the second image, on the leftmost lowest hexagon, these messages can be inferred:

Let's meet again. - Hugh (Nanasuke Ichino). Between both perspectives, "Mata", "ao yo" (the full message) and "Nanasuke" can be seen.

I had fun. - Shun (Aoyama Shunsuke). "Tanoshi" "ta yo" and the kanji for "Ao" can be seen. The rest is a guess.

Meanwhile, on the other side, there are two cut hexagons:

On the top one, you can make out "mata" and the kanji for "Haya" below - Hayami/Eugene's name. The message is probably something along the lines of "mata ne"/"see you" or some such.

Over it, there's the kana for "chi", and nothing else. If we take into account the other image (upper left), we can see the last kanji for Hamano/Adé's name, so it's his message. There are two lines of kanas above his signature, but we can't make them out well - the second one is "to". Any ideas?

On the lowest rightmost hexagon, there's the kanji for "gen", presumably part of "genki (de)" (translation: "Stay well". It's used when you don't expect to see the person for a long while). There's no kanji to see who it belongs to. The people without a confirmed message are Kurama/Michael and Kirino/Gabi, so pick your poison.

(Fun fact: in the localization, at least the Spanish one, they erased the messages outright. My childhood was a lie.)

[amirawrah]

⭐︎Before you go

with JUDE BELLINGHAM⭐︎

synopsis: After a fight, Jude realizes mid-flight he can’t stand being mad at you—and sends a text that says it all.

The suitcase zipped shut with finality, but the tension in the room had already settled long before that.

Jude stood by the door, jaw tight, eyes a little too sharp. You were across the room, arms crossed, a knot in your throat you refused to let spill over. The argument had been stupid. Pointless, really. Something about miscommunication, plans changing last-minute, and him not listening when you really needed him to.

“You’re making this a bigger deal than it needs to be,” he said, voice edged with frustration as he pulled on his coat.

Your chest stung. “No, Jude. I’m making it a big deal because it is one. I needed you here this week and you completely blew me off.”

“I didn’t blow you off. I had training—”

“It’s always training. Always football.”

“And this is my job—!”

“And I’m supposed to be your wife!” you snapped, voice cracking just a little.

Silence.

He looked at you then, eyes flickering with guilt, but it was too late. The damage was done. Your breathing was shallow, tears threatening the edges of your lashes, and Jude looked like he wanted to reach out—like maybe he wanted to drop everything and come to you—but pride had a tighter grip.

So instead, he grabbed his bag.

And walked out.

No goodbye. No kiss.

Just the sound of the door closing like a full stop.

You didn’t cry until an hour later.

You didn’t check your phone, didn’t reply to the “u good?” text from your best friend. You were just angry—at him, at yourself for caring so much, at how something so small could feel so deeply hurtful when it came from him.

Meanwhile, thousands of feet above the ground, Jude Bellingham sat in his seat, head against the window, hating himself.

He couldn’t focus. Couldn’t sleep. Couldn’t even pretend to listen to the music in his AirPods.

Because the second he walked out of that house, something started twisting in his chest. The sound of your voice—shaky, hurt—kept replaying in his mind like a loop.

His phone was on airplane mode, but his notes app was open.

And the words spilled out.

I hate this. I hate that we fought before I left. You were right. You needed me and I was selfish. I get tunnel vision sometimes, and that’s not fair to you. You always show up for me, and I didn’t show up for you when it mattered. I’m sorry, baby. I really am. The truth is, being away from you after that argument? Hurts like hell. I can’t breathe right. I keep thinking about your face and the way I walked away from you. I would never choose football over you. Not ever. I love the game, but you’re my home. I don’t care what time I land—I’m calling you. I need to hear your voice. Need to know you’re okay. I love you. I’ll keep saying it until you believe it again. J

The moment the plane hit the runway, your phone lit up.

Missed calls.

Then another. Then three more.

You stared at the screen, heart thudding. Then came the ping of the message. Long. Scrolling. Raw.

You read every word twice.

By the time the next call came through, you answered.

“Hi,” you whispered.

The line crackled. “Thank God,” Jude exhaled.

His voice was soft. Panicked. Tired. “I’ve been calling you nonstop. I—I didn’t sleep on the flight, I just kept thinking about you.”

You didn’t say anything at first.

Then finally: “You hurt me.”

“I know,” he said, instantly. “And I’m sorry. I swear I’ve never regretted anything more.”

There was a beat. And then, with less anger and more ache, you added, “You left. That’s what really hurt.”

He inhaled sharply. “I’ll never do that again.”

Your throat tightened. “Jude…”

“I love you,” he said, again and again, like a prayer. “And I’m coming home after this match. I don’t care what coach says. I’m coming home to you.”

A silence passed. But this time, it wasn’t cold—it was warm. Heavy with love still bruised, but healing.

“I love you too,” you finally said. “Just… come home safe, okay?”

“You’re all I’ll be thinking about,” he promised.

And you knew he meant it.

Later that night, as you lay in bed alone, your phone buzzed again.

Jude💍: I know you’re probably asleep, but just in case you’re not… I miss you. Still reading that text I wrote on the plane like it’s gonna fix anything. It won’t. I know that. I just want to hold you again. Make it better.

You stared at the message, the glow of your phone the only light in the room. A sigh escaped your lips. You weren't even mad anymore—just worn down, emotionally wrung out.

Still, your thumbs moved.

I'm not asleep. I miss you too. That message helped. But I need more than words when you come home, Jude. I need you to prove I’m still your priority.

You watched the three little dots pop up almost instantly.

Jude💍: You are. I swear on everything, love. You are. I already told coach I’m flying straight back to Madrid after the match. I’ll be home in two days. Can we start fresh when I get back? No anger. Just me and you.

You hesitated for a second.

If you bring my favorite pastries maybe.

Jude💍: Done. I’ll buy a whole damn bakery if that’s what it takes.

That finally made you smile. For the first time all day, the weight in your chest lifted—just a little.

Two days later...

You were in the kitchen, hair tied up, a hoodie swallowing you whole, scrolling your phone when you heard the familiar sound of keys in the door.

Your heart stuttered.

You didn’t even have time to react before you heard his voice.

“Baby?”

You turned.

And there he was—hood up, duffle bag slung over his shoulder, a small brown paper bag in one hand, his eyes locked right on you like he hadn’t seen daylight since he left.

Neither of you spoke at first.

Then, he dropped the bag and crossed the room in three long strides, wrapping you up in the tightest hug like he was afraid you’d vanish if he let go.

His face buried in your neck. “I’m so sorry,” he whispered, voice thick. “So, so sorry.”

You clutched the back of his hoodie, the lump in your throat returning—but this time, it wasn’t pain. It was relief.

“I know,” you breathed. “I know.”

He pulled back just enough to look at you, thumb brushing your cheek. “You have no idea how much I missed you.”

“I think I do,” you whispered, leaning into his touch.

And then he kissed you.

Slow and deep—like a promise, like an apology, like a thousand words he couldn’t say fast enough.

When he finally pulled back, he grinned, eyes glassy.

“I got your pastries.”

You laughed, forehead pressed to his. “Then we’re good.”

Later that night, you both curled up on the couch, limbs tangled under a blanket, the TV playing but long forgotten.

He held your hand against his chest like he needed the reassurance you were still there. And you rested your head on his shoulder, silently grateful that love—real love—could bend, break a little… and still come back stronger.

And Jude?

He never missed another goodbye again.

[cheshireliam]

"The Daily Records: Ring Schwartz & Ellis Twilight" Party Event: Chapter 1

This is a fan-made translation solely for entertainment purposes with no guaranteed perfection; expect mistakes, grammatical errors, and some creative liberties. All original content and media used belongs to Cybird. Please support the game by buying their stories and playing their games. Reblogs appreciated.

Read this before interacting

Darius: I have a favour to ask of you, Ring. 

— The moment Darius opened his mouth to speak, sounding so casual as though it were ordinary small talk, Ring rushed to his side like a well-trained hunting dog.

Ring: … Want me to kill someone? 

Darius: Fufu, it’s great you have so much bloodlust, but… not this time. 

Darius: We haven’t been in England for long, so we don’t have many friends here who would willingly support us, right? 

Darius: While we do have people who will use their slyness for our benefit… 

Darius: We still lack someone who can be of real help when things turn violent. 

Ring: … That’s true. 

Ring: The people you call our allies seem much smarter than me.

Ring: But I don’t think many of them can actually pick up a sword and fight… 

Darius: Yup. Well done on being observant, Ring. 

Darius: That's why… I’m thinking of adding a strong member to our “family”. 

Nica: I looked into Crown, and… 

Nica: The one with the strongest physical abilities amongst them is Ellis Twilight. 

Darius: And so I’d like Ring to look into his character. 

Ring: His character…? 

Darius: Yeah. I want you to observe him from up close… and decide if he’s worthy of being part of our “family”. 

Ring: Got it. Leave it to me. 

With a firm nod, Ring immediately left the room to carry out Darius’ order. 

Darius: … Is it possible Ring intends to approach Ellis now?

Darius: I hope he doesn't anger anyone for visiting at this late hour…

Nica: He’ll be fine. Who knows, he might even get Ellis to be fond of him. 

Nica: Besides, sending Ring to interact with Ellis—

Nica: A way to use his pure, sincere nature to ease Ellis’ wariness toward us, isn’t it? 

Nica: It’s all part of your plan. 

Darius: Fufu… you know me so well, Nica. 

Darius: If it were you or me approaching Ellis, not just Ellis Twilight, but even Jude Jazza would be on high alert. 

Nica: Whereas Ring won’t really be seen as a threat. 

Darius: Exactly. 

Darius: Well then… I wonder if our adorable little puppy will do a good job. 

Narrowing his honey-coloured eyes, Darius smiled. 

…

Meanwhile, in a corner of London— 

Two figures walked through the silent streets at night, the sound  of their footsteps on the cobblestone echoing rhythmically. 

But in the next moment— one of them stops in his tracks. 

Jude: … Ellis. 

The other person stopped at the sound of his name. 

Ellis: Yeah… someone’s following us. 

Ellis: Jude, you go ahead to the meeting first. I’ll take care of them and join you later. 

…

After parting ways with Jude, Ellis slipped into a dark alleyway and hid himself in the shadows. 

He quietly gripped his familiar black knife while listening to the approaching footsteps. 

And the instant the presence of his pursuer entered his range, the knife in his hand formed an arc in the air, cutting into the darkness. 

Ellis: Ha…! 

With his extraordinary physical ability— Ellis’ attack was both swift and heavy. 

An average person would never have been able to react in time, however… the pursuer managed to block Ellis’ knife with a sword. 

Sharp metal blades clashed, sparks flew, and the loud clang ripped through the silence of the night.

Ellis: Huh? You’re… Ring from Vogel? 

Ring: Y-yeah, I am… but why did you suddenly attack me? 

Ellis: Sorry. I thought you were an assassin going after Jude… 

Ellis lowered his guard and put away his knife. Ring did the same, putting away his sword. 

Ellis: What are you doing here, Ring? It looked like you were following Jude and I… 

Ring: Umm… I wanted to get to know you, so I followed you. 

Ellis: Really? … Will doing that make you happy?

Ring: Y-yeah! I think it definitely would! 

Ellis: If it’ll make you happy… then I’ll tell you more about myself. 

Ring: Wait, just like that…? Are you sure about that? 

Ellis: Yeah. … But I have work to do right now, so we’ll have to leave that to another day.

Ellis: Are you free tomorrow at around noon? 

…

Jude: Ellis, ya sure took yer own sweet time gettin’ back. That guy gave ya trouble? 

Ellis: No, not exactly… 

Ellis: … I’m going to have lunch with Ring.

Jude: Hah? 

[cosmowgyral]

Villain's Festival 2025

This is a fan translation so please don't expect it to be 100% accurate. Creative liberties have been taken. All content belongs to Cybird. Reblogs are appreciated. Hope you enjoy!

⊹▸ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟓

A long time had passed, yet there was no sign of the battle to determine the strongest man coming to an end.

Jude: Tch…ya dodged even that kick! Movin’ like a proper gentleman, ain’tcha?

William: I’m honoured by your praise.

Jude: That weren’t no damn praise!

Meanwhile, Liam, who had vanished, crept up on Victor.

Liam: Gotcha….!

Sensing his presence, Victor shifted slightly to the side, adjusting his position just enough.

Liam wondered why Victor had suddenly shifted, but pursued him nonetheless.

In that instant, he collided with Ring, who was in the middle of fighting Nica.

Ring: Whoa, what is this…? Feels like there’s some invisible wall here…

Nica: That’s Liam, isn’t it?

Without a moment’s hesitation, Nica fired at him.

Liam: Damn that was close!

Twisting his body at the last second, he narrowly dodged the bullet.

Victor: Phew…so much to think about in the middle of this chaos.

With just a single step, Victor had maneuvered Liam and Ring into colliding with each other. He tightened his grip on his sword once more.

Harrison: Hate to interrupt your breather, but you’ve got more than one person targeting you.

Without giving Victor a moment’s rest, Harrison swung his sword at him.

Next to them, Alfons and Darius were locked in a clash of sword and staff.

Darius: Hehe, you’re stronger than I expected.

Alfons: If you eat everything without being picky, you’ll grow stronger.

Darius: Isn’t that just an excuse from someone who doesn’t have the luxury of choice?

Darius: Also, mind your footing.

Aflons: Footing?

The moment the question left his lips, Alfons’ foot caught in a dip in the ground, throwing him off balance.

Darius: See you later, Alfons Sylvatica.

Darius raised his cane, ready to strike.

But before it could do that, a bullet knocked it aside.

Roger: How about you hold off on taking him down for now?

Roger raised his rifle once more, taking aim at Darius.

Darius: A touching display of friendship, is it?

Alfons: Could you not say such unsettling things?

Roger: Haah. I just figured I missed out on giving him a proper fight.

Roger: But.. you are first. I’ll be the one to show you your worst future.

As he taunted Darius and pulled the trigger, Alfons swung his sword, diverting the bullet’s trajectory.

Roger: You…! I just went out of my way to save you..!

Alfons: I didn’t ask for your help. I don’t like dancing to your tune.

Roger: You little….

On the other side, Elbert sensed someone approaching from behind and raised his sword, blocking the attack in one swift motion.

Ellis: Amazing…how did you know I was there?

Ellis, who had tried to ambush Elbert, let out an honest sound of admiration.

Elbert: You’re quick, Ellis, too fast for the eye to follow…but you can’t control the shadow you cast on the ground.

Ellis: …I see. So you spotted my shadow.

Ellis: Well then… how about this?

Abandoning his surprise attack, Ellis swung his knife straight at Elbert.

In response, Elbert deftly parried the attacks with graceful swordplay.

Amidst the chaos, Victor noticed someone entering through the training hall’s entrance.

Victor: …Kate?

Kate: Ah, Victor….! You’ve been fighting for ages now. Isn’t it over yet?

Kate: If this goes on any longer, I’m worried someone’s going to get seriously hurt.

Victor: Sorry for worrying you, but this fight won’t end until there’s only one left standing.

Kate: I heard from William too. It’s a battle to decide the strongest man, isn’t it?

Kate: Why did it come to this?

Victor: Well, it’s because of something I said.

--(flashback)--

Victor had invited Crown and Vogel to inspect the newly built training grounds on the outskirts of the palace.

And just as the tour of the training grounds was coming to an end—

Victor casually brought up an out of context topic.

Victor: By the way, I was thinking of buying a dress for Kate for her mission, but I can’t decide on the color.

Victor: Would it be alright if I asked everyone here for their opinion on what color would suit her the best?

All 11 of them suggested different colors.

Liam: Pink, for sure! I know Kate’s style better than anyone, so there’s no doubt about it.

Ellis: I think… violet would suit her. It would make Kate’s gentle smile stand out even more.

Each of them had their own opinion on which color would best enhance Kate’s charm.

Jude: Hah…so stupid, pickin’ colors like that. No wonder ya missed the mark on yesterday’s mission.

Harrison: I didn’t miss it. That was a distraction shot to draw the enemy’s attention. Maybe it’s you who doesn’t get it?

Before long, the conversation spiralled out of control, turning into a full-blown argument that was impossible to contain.

Victor: Ah, for heaven’s sake! Fine, fine! Let’s just settle this with a fight and see who’s the strongest man here!

Victor: The one who wins gets to decide the color of Kate’s dress…is everyone okay with that?

--(flashback ends)--

Kate: No way…is that what this fight is all about?

Victor: The desire to wrap someone as beautiful as you in my own color… that’s not something I can suppress.

Victor: Well, I want to gift you a jet-black dress….so I’m off!

Kate: Huh?! Wait, Victor…!

Ignoring Kate’s plea, Victor joined the chaos with a playful wink.

Kate: Everyone! Stop this at once! Don’t fight over something like this!!

Whether the twelve would stop or not was uncertain, but I knew I had to say something.

Kate: I’ll choose the color that suits me the best myself…!!

Kate: Whoever doesn’t stop this fight right now, I’ll never wear the color chosen by that person ever again!!

Kate: I’ll choose the color of the dress! I’m the strongest one here!!

The moment I raised my voice in concern for them, the villains froze in place…

Eventually, everyone lowered the weapons and relaxed their fighting stances.

And so, the long battle to determine the strongest man—sparked by the question of Kate’s dress color—came to an end.

Her single remark finally brought it all to a close.

[Chapter 4] [Masterlist]

➽──────────────❥

Oh lord, this was so silly!

But 12 hot men fighting over who gets to choose a woman's dress? Now that feels like a real dream. 😆

[judesmoonbeauty]

𝕁𝕦𝕕𝕖 𝕁𝕒𝕫𝕫𝕒'𝕤 𝕄𝕒𝕚𝕟 𝕊𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕪: ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝟙𝟝 + 𝕊𝕚𝕕𝕖 𝕊𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕪, "𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕎𝕠𝕞𝕒𝕟 𝕎𝕙𝕠 𝕊𝕒𝕪𝕤 𝕊𝕙𝕖 𝕃𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕤 𝕄𝕖"

This is a fan translation only. Please expect grammatical errors and translation inaccuracies. This is a full translation. Creative liberties are taken for characterization and smoother translation process. Cybird owns everything. Re-blogs are appreciated, but please do not post my translation elsewhere. Thank you for your support! ☾.

— I hear a distant voice calling me.

Liam: Kate?

Kate: ……Liam.

The spoon holding my soup dripped onto the plate without reaching my mouth.

(Oh…..)

The moment I saw Liam looking at me with a worried expression, I felt like I had woken up from a dream and was brought back to reality.

(That's right, I told Jude that I liked him.)

I wanted to be something that would connect Jude to this world - like an anchor for a ship.

So I made him a solemn promise.

Lit tls to “a prayerful promise”.

But….

[Flashback]

Jude: Love’s a curse.

Kate: ….What do you mean?

Jude: Mean just that.

Jude: Tellin’ someone ya love ‘em is the same as cursin’ ‘em

Jude: Heartbroken when it’s lost, hateful when it’s stolen, resentful when betrayed by it…

Jude: And yet still can’t resist it. Ain’t that the root ‘o all evil?

[Flashback Ends]

"I don’t wanna curse o’ be cursed," he said as he rejected me.

(I can’t tell him that, but….)

If I keep quiet, I'll just make Liam more worried.

Kate: Well, you see, Liam -

Liam: Don’t force yourself. I didn't talk to you because I wanted to force you.

Liam: But if there's anything I can do for you, please let me know. Really, anything.

Liam said with a gentle smile.

That gentle smile made me want to ask -

Kate: What does love mean to you, Liam?

Liam: That’s a tough question, but…..

Liam: For me, love is something that you can't have no matter how much you want it.

Liam: I've always wondered what love looks like, but I still don't even know the outline of it.….

Liam was smiling, but there was a faint shadow of darkness in his rose-colored eyes.

(Oh, I see…)

Like Jude, Liam may be struggling with the uncertainty of love.

Kate: …..Perhaps, my thinking’s been too superficial.

Kate: I assume that things like love and feelings can sometimes save people.

It’s painful because he loved.

It’s detestable because he loved.

For Jude, love does not take a kind form.

Whereas his fate tangles around his feet like briars.

(It's absurd of me to even feel heartbroken about being rejected…..)

Liam: ….Why’s that a bad thing?

Kate: Hm?

When I looked up, Liam was still wearing his soft smile.

Liam: Like you said, I don't think love or other people's feelings are necessarily a salvation. But….

Liam: Knowing that, there will always be people who will be saved by your willingness to believe in them.

Liam: In fact, when I see you being so earnest…..I feel a little saved.

Liam: I'm so embarrassed to even mention it!

Liam put his hand to his cheek and laughed playfully…..

Liam: I'll make you some hot tea so you can sleep well, sweetie.

Liam: So, just eat up and wait for me.

He glances at the soup and bread laid out on the table, and then with the nimbleness of a cat, he leaves for the kitchen.

Kate: ….Thank you, Liam.

I took a sip of the soup and savored the flavor along with Liam’s kind words.

Meanwhile, at the same time…..

Jude was in his study, irritably tidying up some papers when someone came up to him -

Victor: Oh, did you think that I was Kate?

When Jude turned around, Victor frowned apologetically.

Jude: How annoyin’. Are yer eyes just fer show, as ya can see I’m workin’. Say what’cha need ‘n leave.

Victor: Jude, can I speak to you for a moment?

Jude: Ain’t got nothin’ to talk t’ya ‘bout.

Victor: Are you hiding anything from me- Or rather, from Crown?

Jude smiled aloofly at the question.

Jude: What kinda borin’ arse question’s that. It’s somethin’ a parent would ask a teenage brat.

Jude: ‘Sides, yer the one that’s hidin’ somethin’.

Victor: Me?

Jude: Harrison hates ya ‘cause he knows yer harborin’ some kinda lie.

Jude: The hell’s yer aim, offerin’ extraordinary conditions ‘n gatherin’ the cursed.

Victor: …………

Victor simply smiled at the unexpected exchange as if it had nothing to do with him.

Jude: Can ya not ask somethin’ ya won’t answer yerself?

Victor: Negotiating with the president of a trading company is quite difficult. I’ve been bested. I'll try again later.

Victor: Just remember this, Jude.

A smile full of affection changed the entire testy atmosphere that had existed just a moment ago.

Victor: I always wish for the freedom of all of you at Crown. There is no falsehood in this feeling.

Victor: And when your freedom is threatened...

Victor: I intend to do whatever it takes.

—The next day.

I headed to Raven Ltd. to go to work as usual.

I entered the office, still unable to forget the conversation I had with Jude that night when…..

There was an uneasy atmosphere in the president's office.

(Huh….?)

Kate: Good morning. What’s up?

Jude: Hah, guess the princess can’t even read the mood.

Kate: S-sorry….

Ellis: Good morning, Kate. Actually, Theo was attacked.

Kate: What! Why…..no, more importantly, how’s Theo’s condition?

Jude: At home recuperatin’ with a broke leg.

Jude: He’s a bloke that’s lived through desperate times. He ain’t gonna go down that easy.

Kate: .... I'm glad. I'm really, really glad.….

A civilian like Theo doesn’t simply get attacked.

(Which means…..)

Kate: If Theo was attacked….

Jude: Eyewitnesses confirm that the perp’s are members of that crime group.

Technically, the kana for “syndicate” is used throughout the story, but I got tired of calling it that.

(I thought so.)

Ellis: It seems like Theo was attacked at the same time you were last night, Kate.

Ellis: They’ve attacked Jude and I together plenty of times until now.

Ellis: But, it didn’t involve regular employees.

Kate: Then the group’s becoming more aggressive, right?

[Flashback]

Nica: That means Kate also has a right to know. So, here’s the latest intel.

Nica: It looks like the British military and the crime syndicate have finally established contact.

[Flashback Ends]

I heard this story from Nica just a few days ago.

It's not clear exactly what the British military and crime syndicates are up to by joining forces.

But it's evident that both parties desperately want the report and blueprints of Jude's experiment results.

Jude: I’m endin’ it.

Ellis: What are you planning to do when you say, end it?

Jude: Arranged a meetin’ with syndicate’s top brass.

Jude: I’ll give ‘em the reports ‘n blueprints they want so badly.

Jude: Condition’s t’come alone, but they probably won’t keep it.

(No way….!)

With the conditions in their favor, there’s no way this will end smoothly.

Ellis: Jude, I’ll go too.

Kate: I’ll go too!

(I don't want Jude to die, and I don't want to leave his side.)

(I don't know if there's anything I can do, but I can't give up.)

Jude: ……….

I looked at him pleadingly, and then Jude gave me a look, as if he had given up.

Jude: My lab. 8:00 p.m.

And just a few hours before meeting with the crime group executive……

Jude: ……….

The London streetlights softly illuminate his handsome profile.

Ellis went to get a carriage, so he wasn’t present.

During that unexpected moment alone together, I spoke to him a tad nervously.

Kate: U-Um…..Ju-Jude.

Here, Kate is trying to say Jude-san, but it comes out as Jude-Hyan. While, Jude asks “Why are you biting like that?” The kanji he uses can mean literally mean “to bite or to chew,” but when repeated twice, it can mean “to fumble on one’s words or to stutter”. Jude technically just said "bite", but I assume he means stutter, and opted to tl it accordingly.

Jude: Why ya stutterin’ like that?

Kate: Y-You’re right….Ahaha.

(Ughh, that was a failure.)

Jude: You can just drink your milk and wait quietly, princess.

Kate: I'll admit I'm nervous, but it's not because of the task.

Jude: Then what?

Kate: Well…..

His cold profile seemed to have forgotten that he had rejected me.

The moonlight shines silver through his hair.

The gentle, benevolent light of the moon reaches all the way to this earth where we live.

There's no way I can reach the moon.

(No matter how much I stretch out my hands, I can't reach Jude…)

I feel like the vast distance that separates the moon from the earth, is the same as the distance between Jude and I.

Kate: ….. It's nothing after all.

At a loss for words, I looked down and a shadow suddenly fell over my face.

Jude: ………

(What -)

I looked up and saw Jude leaning one hand on the wall, looking down at me.

Jude: Seems like ya have no idea what negotiation’s all ‘bout.

Kate: Ju-Jude….?

Jude: Well, more importantly.

As my eyes widen, his fingertips gently trace the corner of my lips.

The moon I longed for seemed to be approaching within reach, and my heart suddenly started beating faster as I held my breath…..

Jude: Haven’t forgotten yer promise, have ya?

His Side Story: "The Woman Who Says She Loves Me"

"I've fallen in love with you," Kate tells me.

It's as if she is gently handing the beautiful feelings in her heart into my hands.

This could also be rendered as “pure feelings.”

But I push them away.

Jude: Love’s a curse.

A voice so sober that it surprised even me, fell into the space between the two of us.

Kate: ….What do you mean?

Jude: Mean just that.

Jude: Tellin’ someone ya love ‘em is the same as cursin’ ‘em.

Jude: Heartbroken when it’s lost, hateful when it’s stolen, resentful when betrayed by it…

Jude: And yet still can’t resist it. Ain’t that the root ‘o all evil?

I felt Kate hold her breath.

Jude: I killed lottsa people. Incurred lottsa hatred.

Jude: And it seems like I’m cursed with the fate of “dyin’ with hatred fer this world.”

It is a guaranteed miserably bad ending.

Jude: Ain’t gonna die an honest death, ‘n I’m goin’ t’hell anyway.

Jude: That's why...

(Kate, you said you loved me, but…)

Jude: I don’t wanna curse o’ be cursed.

Kate: Jude…..

Kate’s eyes trembled sadly and even at a time like this, I found it uncharacteristically beautiful.

I thought it was cute how Kate was so shaken by my every word and clung to me desperately.

That’s precisely why.

(Curse o’ no curse, this doesn't suit a princess.)

The carriage stopped in front of Crown Castle and I got off in silence.

Leaving Kate there alone.

As I was tidying up some documents in my study to distract myself, I noticed a figure standing by the door.

Victor: Oh, did you think that I was Kate?

(It's you. What's with that concerned look in yer eyes?)

I can’t stomach this guy at all.

Jude: How annoyin’. Yer eyes just fer show, as ya can see I’m workin’. Say what’cha need ‘n leave.

Victor: Jude, can I speak to you for a moment?

Jude: Ain’t got nothin’ to talk t’ya ‘bout.

Victor: Are you hiding anything from me- Or rather, from Crown?

(…….Ha.)

Jude: What kinda borin’ ass question’s that. It’s somethin’ a parent would ask a teenage brat.

Jude: ‘Sides, yer the one that’s hidin’ somethin’.

Victor: Me?

His feigning innocence is nauseating.

Jude: Harrison hates ya ‘cause he knows yer harborin’ some kinda lie.

Jude: The hell’s yer aim, offerin’ extraordinary conditions ‘n gatherin’ the cursed.

Victor: …………..

The Queen's advisor, whose true intentions are unclear, simply smiles faintly.

Jude: Can ya not ask somethin’ ya won’t answer yerself?

Negotiating with the president of a trading company is quite difficult. I’ve been bested. I'll try again later.

Victor: Just remember this, Jude.

When I looked up, I saw a gaze full of affection staring at me.

Victor: I always wish for the freedom of all of the Crowns. There is no falsehood in this feeling.

Victor: And when your freedom is threatened...

Victor: I intend to do whatever it takes.

With that said, he briskly walked away, without leaving a trace of his presence.

(He just comes ‘ere, says what he wants ‘n runs away. How sickenin’.)

(‘N what's with the freedom thin’? Everybody’s just sayin’ whatever the hell they want.)

Since that time when I lost everything, nothing has been important to me.

I didn't want anything important.

(Even if I have somethin’…..It’ll just be taken over ‘n over ‘n over again.)

The line literally tls as: "Even if I have somethin’…..It’ll just be taken, taken, taken, over ‘n over." The above line is more localized, but I also wanted to include this since it really shows the pain Jude feels with loss.

So it was easier to not have anything important, and I thought that was fine.

(But)

Before I knew it, I was surrounded by people who were telling me how important I was.

(Idiots. Whaddya mean by freedom ‘n love.)

I close my eyes to swallow my irritation……

[Flashback]

Kate: Even if it’s annoying please….please listen to me

Kate: ….. I know how happy I’d be if you fell in love with me.

Kate: But more importantly…..I want to live with you.

Jude: ….Live with me?

Kate: Yes. If something miserable happens, we'll suffer together. If something happy happens, we'll laugh together.

Kate: Help each other out when there's danger, fight every now and then, and then make up.

Kate: Like that, forever and ever.

[Flashback Ends]

All I can think of Kate’s face and words.

(The biggest idiot’s…..me.)

(I'm the biggest idiot fer not bein’ able to push her away ‘cause she was so cute.)

I closed my eyes again forgetting to smoke, waiting for Kate to disappear.

[Main Story Master List] [Chapter 16]

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