#must uncover the mystery before i can move on with my life

[jojotichakorn]

me: yeah, i dont really understand people who are sad and decide to listen to sad music to make themselves even sadder 🤨

also me, experiencing insane levels of pain on my first day of period and puking my guts out every three seconds: hey, you know what we should do? reread random moments from your message history with your ex best friend in an attempt to figure out what you've done wrong 🤡

[viesantewrites]

𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐝

(𝐫𝐞𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧)

Robert Fischer (Inception) x Reader

note: Hey guys, I‘ve rewritten this story a bit and decided to post it on my sideblog. I've changed some of the themes and also that the main character is no longer an OC named Victoria, but the reader. I think this story is kinda difficult to write, which is why I've rewritten it several times. I love plots like Shutter Island and tried to do something similar here & it‘s also a story about parasocial relationships and unrequited love.

summary: The reader is hopelessly in love with her boss Robert Fischer, but he doesn't seem to be interested in her. By an unexpected coincidence, they meet in the city and his sudden intense affection for her confuses her. The reader begins to suspect that something is wrong, and when she finally uncovers the truth about her encounters with Fischer the heartbreaking reality is revealed to her.

you don‘t have to watch the movie to understand the story.

age gap, but the characters are both adults. Robert is 37-39, is divorced and has a child. The reader is about 28/29.

word count: 5000+

warnings: topics like mental illness, depression, this is a quite dark and heavy story

It was just half past seven when she heard the familiar footsteps in the corridor approaching the office next door. A key was inserted into the lock and a moment later the door opened.

Glancing around to make sure her workspace wasn't too messy, she threw an old paper cup into the bin before her boss poked his head through the door.

"Good morning, Miss YN, so busy already?" he asked with a tired smile. "It doesn't reflect well on me as a boss to have my assistant here before me. I'm sorry, Monday mornings are always a bit stressful for me."

"No problem, Mr Fischer. I've already sorted the mail for you, it's on your desk," she said kindly, watching him as he took off his coat and hung it on the coat rack, a little damp from the rain.

"Thank you, I can count on you."

He was a very elegant, handsome man, about ten years her senior, with dark hair, blue eyes, high cheekbones and an elegant black suit. She must have stared at him a little too long, because he turned to her with a questioning smile.

Immediately her cheeks flushed and she turned back to her computer screen, but by then Mr Fischer had already approached her and placed some documents on her desk. "Please scan them all and email them to Mr Parker, he's been waiting for them for days," he said to her. "It would be best if we sat down together later and quickly discuss my tasks for today, there is a lot to do. If I'm not mistaken, I have a client meeting at three today."

"At two, sir," she corrected him, handing him a planner with today's date thickly underlined.

He started to grin. "You see, this is exactly why I have an assistant."

Fischer disappeared into his office.

She sighed slightly and went to work scanning the documents. She had been working for Fischer Morrow, one of the world's largest energy companies, for barely a month. Their headquarters had moved from Sydney to London after the death of their CEO, Maurice Fischer. Her current boss, Robert Fischer, was a direct descendant.

She liked Fischer Jr a lot. He was friendly, supportive and didn't get angry when things didn't go to plan. But in some ways he always seemed so unapproachable. For example, he never talked about his private life and YN had no idea who he was outside of work. Then again, he was her boss and his private life was none of her business. But deep down she admitted that she was very interested in him.

The days flew by and she finally felt as if she had been employed by Fischer Morrow for an eternity. But who Robert Fischer really was remained a mystery.

One evening, as she was about to leave, she quietly opened the door to Fischer's office. He was sitting in front of his computer, his chin resting on his hands. "Have a nice evening, Mr Fischer." He jumped slightly, obviously not having heard her come in, but then he smiled. "Thank you, you too."

YN looked at her watch. "It's almost half past seven, don't you want to finish your work soon? Don't you have a wife waiting for you?"

Mr Fischer shrugged. "I've been divorced for a few years now, and I only see my daughter at weekends. The only thing waiting for me is an empty, dark apartment."

YN held her breath. It was the first time he had told her anything about his private life. But in the same second, he seemed to regret his words.

"No one waits for me either," she said. "Except for my cat."

Fischer raised an eyebrow with a smile. "At least that's something."

Finally she said goodbye and left the office. But all the way home, she kept thinking about her conversation with Fischer.

Was he perhaps as lonely as she was?

Tired, YN lay in bed. She didn't even have the strength to change her clothes and remove her make up. Although she wanted nothing more than to get out of that itchy, uncomfortable dress and tights. A soft meow sounded beside her and she felt something soft brush against her arm. Smiling, she pulled the cat closer and buried her face in its white fur.

Since leaving her small home village for London, she had no one to talk to. Her old friends had all left her and moved on with their own lives. Robert Fischer was the only one she spoke to regularly, though it was far from a friendship. With the cat in her arms, she turned to the other side. But what if she had feelings for him?

Maybe she should tell him. But wasn't that too much? He was still her boss, after all, and there were probably plenty of women who were interested in him.

She quickly pushed the thought aside and closed her eyes.

Robert Fischer turned curiously when he heard the quick clicking of heels in the corridor. Panting, his assistant opened the door and dropped her bag on the desk.

"Miss YN, are you okay?"

Her hair was messy, her coat hung loosely over her shoulders as if she hadn't had time to put it on properly, and her lipstick was a little smudged.

"I… overslept," she said, panting. "I'm sorry."

Fischer looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "It's okay. But it shouldn't happen again."

"Of course not, sir," she replied immediately.

He quickly disappeared into his office and returned with a thick stack of papers and a folder.

"Would you be so kind as to sort these documents alphabetically for me? They've been on my desk for days and I haven't had a chance to get to them. I know it's not an exciting task."

She nodded and took the heavy pile from his hand. Fischer thanked her and hurried back to his office.

Sighing, she set to work. But with each page, she found her concentration fading and her mind wandering. Her head ached, her eyes burned and she felt incredibly tired. But she tried not to show it, kept working as hard as she could and finally put the sorted file back on Mr Fischer's desk.

Exhausted, she walked back to her office, sat down in her chair and buried her face in her hands. She was shivering and her ears were ringing. Was it because she had forgotten to take her medicine today?

"Miss YN?" she heard her boss' voice.

She turned immediately and forced a smile. "Yes, Mr Fischer?"

"I have an job interview scheduled for ten, would you be so kind as to prepare the conference room for it?"

"Of course, sir."

He stopped halfway and looked at Victoria questioningly. "Are you okay? You look so pale." She nodded quickly, forcing a smile. "Everything's fine, Mr Fischer." Fischer looked at her, raised his eyebrows, then handed her the key to the meeting room and disappeared back into his office.

A strange feeling of dizziness spread through her head as she walked down the long corridor leading to the conference rooms.

What was wrong with her today?

When it started to get dark outside, YN finally turned off her computer and reached for her bag. The strange dizziness had improved during the day, leading her to conclude that she simply needed a break from work. Fortunately, it was Friday. She knocked gently on Fischer's door, as she always did before leaving, to wish him a pleasant evening. He was sitting there as usual, his chin resting on his hand, deep in thought. He glanced up briefly and nodded politely, noticing her in the doorway. He looked stunningly handsome today, even after this long and exhausting day.

"I didn't ask you how the job interviews went this morning," she asked curiously. Fischer shook his head. "Terribly," he said. "None of these people I'd want in my company." His voice was cold and dismissive, and for a moment she thought he was referring to her, even though she knew he meant someone else. She smiled awkwardly and shrugged slightly. "Well, maybe the next one will be better."

Fischer remained silent.

"Have a good weekend, Mr Fischer."

"You too, Miss YN." He gave her a friendly smile.

"Do you have any plans for the weekend? I know a good restaurant, would you like to join me?" The moment she realised what she had just said, she bit her lip, her face turning red. Had she completely lost her mind? She desperately hoped he hadn't heard what she'd asked, but it was too late. She could see Fischer raise his eyebrows in confusion and stare at her.

"No, Miss YN. I'm not interested. I keep my work and personal life strictly separate." She immediately looked down, embarrassed. Thoughts raced through her mind like a rollercoaster and her cheeks felt as if they were on fire. "I'm sorry, Mr Fischer, I shouldn't have asked you that." She finally grabbed her bag and left the office without another word, feeling Fischer's gaze on her back.

It was drizzling lightly as she walked through the busy streets of London. The cold air did her good and she felt her head clear a little.

Why had she done this? It had been clear from the start that a man like him would reject her. But the words had come out of her mouth as if she had completely lost control. She felt a tear roll down her cheek and quickly wiped it away. She didn't want to have a mental breakdown in public, even though it felt like Fischer had torn her heart into a thousand pieces. Suddenly the strange dizziness returned and her vision blurred slightly. The sounds of London became muffled, as if she were incredibly far away.

"Miss YN, wait!" she suddenly heard a voice behind her that seemed to be getting closer.

She turned around. The dizziness had disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. Startled, her eyes widened as she saw the person in front of her - it was Mr Fischer. What was he doing here? Had he followed her? She tried to speak, but all she could manage was a hoarse stutter.

"I wanted to apologize, Miss YN. It wasn't very nice of me to brush you off like that," he said with a gentle laugh. His voice sounded strangely different, softer than usual. Wordless and spellbound, she stared into the pair of light blue eyes before her, apologetic and gentle in their expression. She knew Mr Fischer had blue eyes, but she'd never noticed how incredibly bright they looked.

"It's okay, don't worry," she managed to say, her knees shaking with excitement.

"No, no, Miss YN. I'll think about the dinner offer, okay? Just because we work together doesn't mean we can't have dinner together, does it?" Fischer suggested, and she nodded slowly, then smiled.

Why this sudden change of heart?

"Well, see you soon." He waved goodbye and YN, still completely confused, raised her hand in response. But before she could form another thought, he had disappeared into the crowd.

Carefully, YN pressed the shutter on her old camera, focusing the lens on the small lake in front of her. Satisfied, she lowered it. She was confident that this snapshot would turn out well. This park was a place she often visited to clear her head and pursue her passion, photography, as it offered many beautiful subjects. Especially now, in autumn, when the trees were covered with colourful leaves and the silence was slowly descending, with only the occasional pedestrian passing by.

Her dizziness had eased a little, but not completely. Fortunately, it was Saturday and she had the whole day to herself. YN sat down on a bench under a tree that looked to be at least a hundred years old.

She sat there for a while, lost in thought. Eventually she got up and made her way to the West End. The streets of London were noisy and busy as she walked, looking for a warm place in a café and something to eat. Crowds of people rushed past her, music played from somewhere and loud voices filled the air. Exhausted, she rubbed her temples. Maybe she should have stayed home and rested.

Suddenly she held her breath as she spotted a familiar face in the crowd. Dark hair, high cheekbones and piercing blue eyes. Fischer. But before she could think, he had already noticed her and started to smile at her.

"Miss YN, how nice to see you! What a coincidence!"

It was the first time she had seen him in his casual clothes rather than one of his business suits. But this was no less elegant and stylish. He was wearing a well-fitting black coat, a grey knitted jumper underneath and black trousers. It was so strange to see him outside his office at Fischer Morrow Company. Suddenly he didn't seem so unapproachable and distant anymore.

"What are you doing here?" she asked curiously.

He paused for a moment. He seemed to be considering whether or not to tell her.

"I brought my little girl to her friend's house for a sleepover. She's been asking me for weeks because her mum won't let her."

"So you're a cool dad," YN replied.

Fischer rolled his eyes. "I'm the one who lets her get away with everything. We had to turn back twice because she realised she had forgotten her favourite stuffed animal and her toothbrush."

She laughed softly. In a strange way, she enjoyed him talking so openly about his life.

"Oh wow, that looks amazing. It's quite old, isn't it?" Mr Fischer pointed to the camera around her neck. "From the 1960s. But it takes incredibly good pictures for that time," she explained. Fischer seemed genuinely impressed. "Do you have more like it?"

"I have quite a few. From the 50s to the 80s, actually, and of course some modern digital cameras. Photography has been my passion since I was a child," she explained. Fischer looked at her with an interested smile. "So there's actually film in there that needs to be developed?" she nodded in confirmation. "Some photo shops still offer that service, yes."

Mr Fischer seemed genuinely interested in her hobby, asking her questions about it as they walked side by side through the streets of London. She felt incredibly comfortable in his presence and hoped he wouldn't leave so soon. Finally he pointed to the camera again. "Would you take a picture of me, please? I'd like a 60's style photo of myself." YN's heart began to beat faster in her chest. What had he just said?

"Of course, Mr Fischer," she replied nervously. "Robert. My name is Robert," he replied. Suddenly, she stopped in her tracks, completely surprised. No one at Fischer Morrow Ltd called him by his first name, and outside the company she had only heard his uncle, Peter Browning, call him Robert.

"Let's find a nice spot for the photo," he said, letting his gaze wander until it settled on a beautiful fountain.

Carefully, she picked up the camera, took a few steps back and held it directly in front of Robert's face. "Smile, please," she instructed him, finally pressing the shutter.

A pedestrian who had just passed them looked at YN with a confused expression and shook his head. Frowning, she looked after him before carefully tucking the camera into her handbag.

Are you hungry?" asked Robert. "We could go to a restaurant."

Surprised, she looked at him. "I don't know…" she said hesitantly, biting her lower lip. In fact, she had never expected to be asked such a question.

He looked at her with raised eyebrows and she could see the disappointment in his eyes. Finally, she worked up the courage to say what was on her mind.

"It's just… To be honest, you told me yesterday that you were someone who kept your work and personal life strictly separate. Maybe it would be better if we did. After all, I'm your employee."

As much as she wanted to spend time with him, she was afraid of developing even more feelings for him. Robert nodded slowly and shoved his hands into his coat pockets.

"I really like you. I just never wanted to show it, that's why I was so reserved with you and told you I wasn't interested in you".

She closed her eyes and let out a sigh as a ton of thoughts went through her head. Robert finally nodded at her with a slightly disappointed look on his face and turned on his heel.

"Wait!" she called after him.

He stopped immediately and looked at her hopefully.

"Let's give it a try, shall we?"

"YN… is that a French name?"

Robert's voice sounded slightly tipsy as he grinned curiously at her, twirling his wine glass casually in his hands.

He had taken her to a rather fancy and expensive place, the walls were dark wood panelling, the chairs were covered in red velvet and soft jazz music was playing on one of the radios. Robert looked hauntingly beautiful that night. His skin seemed incredibly soft and flawless, his jawline even more prominent, and his blue eyes shone almost ghostly in the dim light, almost like he wasn’t real…

She smiled, nodded and took a sip from her glass. "My father is French. I grew up in France but moved to England when I was 15."

He nodded with interest, rubbing his chin with his finger.

"And you? I heard you're Australian," she asked curiously.

Robert laughed and ran a hand through his dark hair. "Well, my accent makes it obvious."

YN blushed and looked down at her plate. What a stupid question.

But Robert didn't seem to mind too much, because he started talking about his life in Sydney, how he had finally moved to London after his father's death, and she listened with interest.

But suddenly he stopped and looked at her thoughtfully. "But I'm probably just boring you."

YN immediately shook her head. "No, you're not," she told him. "I find it really interesting to find out all this about you."

At that moment a waitress came to their table with a smile and asked YN in a friendly tone if she had enjoyed her meal. But the waitress paid no attention to Robert, YN noticed with surprise. Perhaps she was just being extra polite to the lady.

Robert pulled out a black leather purse and rummaged through it. Quickly, YN pulled a few notes out of her habdbag and handed them to the waitress. "Keep the change," she said.

The waitress looked at her with wide eyes, "Thank you, ma'am," she said gratefully, "have a nice evening.

Then she turned and left the table.

"You didn't have to do that," Robert said. "As a gentleman, it's actually my job to pay."

She shook her head in amusement. "I bet that's never happened to you before, has it?"

Robert shook his head and took the last drink from his glass. There was a moment of silence between them.

"All right. So what's the plan for the rest of the evening?"

She looked at him in surprise. As soon as he said the words, she felt a tingle in her stomach.

The church clock struck twelve as she crossed the street hand in hand with Robert. It was freezing, and she had pulled her scarf so far up her face that only her eyes and nose were visible. Her date looked at her with amusement. "Are you going to rob a bank?" he asked, laughing out loud.

"Shh!" she snapped at him, putting her fingers to his lips. "You'll wake up the whole neighbourhood."

Although it was quite dark and she could only make out Robert, she knew that his typical mischievous grin was back on his face. She pulled him firmly behind her until they reached the small white building.

"Is this where you live?" Robert asked.

She put her finger to his lips for a second time until Robert stopped talking and looked silently into her eyes. Her heart was beating in her chest as she finally stood on her toes, put her arms around his neck and placed her lips on his. Robert returned the kiss without hesitation and gently pulled her into his arms. YN could hardly believe what was happening. It was everything she had secretly wanted for months. They remained like this for a moment before she finally let go of him and reached for her key.

She felt for Robert's upper arm and finally pulled him into her apartment, closing the door behind him. She immediately wrapped her arms around him and began to kiss him again. His lips were a little cold and tasted of wine. Together they stumbled backwards into her bedroom, taking off his coat, which she tossed carelessly to the floor.

Robert's fingers stroked carefully along her hip and fumbled a little with her belt while she was busy putting little kisses on his neck. With slightly trembling hands she pulled his jumper over his head and Robert took her hand.

"Are you nervous?" he wanted to know. She remained silent.

"Don't be," he whispered softly into her ear, taking her in his arms again and pulling her onto the bed. Breathing softly, she clung to his chest, leaned back and finally closed her eyes as she felt his warm skin against hers.

The sun shone through the half-open curtains, creating a narrow, bright streak across the floor. Blinking, she opened her eyes and stretched. But immediately a sharp pain shot through her head again and she held her forehead tiredly. Confused, she sat up and tried to remember what had happened yesterday.

But when she heard soft breathing next to her, she turned quickly and all the events of last night came back to her. Smiling, she looked over at Robert, snuggled up next to her in her beige blanket, sleeping peacefully. Tenderly stroking his messy hair, she lay down beside him again and then began to caress his bare chest. Perhaps what they had done was wrong. After all, they were two people who should never have fallen in love. But it had happened, and it felt so right. They remained in this position for some time, Robert asleep and YN lost in thought.

Her eyes swept through the bedroom until they settled on a small white box on her dresser. Quickly sitting up, she reached for it and put a small pill into her mouth. Eventually, Robert began to move a little beside her, opening his eyes tiredly. Smiling broadly, she gave him a small kiss on the tip of his nose.

"Good morning," she whispered.

"Good morning," Robert murmured in a raspy morning voice.

"Did you sleep well?" she asked.

"Yes, wonderfully." He yawned loudly and took her into his arms as she laid her head lovingly on his shoulder.

"Wait, what time is it?" he suddenly wanted to know.

"Quarter past ten, why do you ask?" she replied.

"Shit," Robert muttered as he let go of the hug, jumped out of the bed and started to pick up his clothes, which were strewn all over the floor.

"Wait, wait, where are you going?" she asked, looking at him in confusion.

"I should've picked up my daughter by now," he replied, hurrying to get dressed.

Sighing, she pulled the blanket around her a little tighter. "Can't it wait? Can't you stay for breakfast?"

"I'm sorry, but I'm sure she's already waiting for me.“ Robert dodged her questions, grabbing his coat on the floor and sighing when he saw her disappointed look.

He walked slowly towards her, stroking her chin with his finger, and finally whispered: "We can catch up later." Then he put a soft kiss on her lips before turning around and disappearing through the door. She sank back into the pillows and pulled the blanket over her head.

The rest of Sunday flew by. Mostly because her mind was on Robert and she could hardly wait to see him again tomorrow at work. She had probably never looked forward to a Monday in her life as much as she did that day.

The next morning, YN carefully applied her lipstick and looked at herself in the bathroom mirror. She noticed that the collar of her white blouse was a little crooked and quickly adjusted it. She wanted to look her best for Robert today, so he wouldn't change his mind and lose interest in her.

Humming softly, she put on her black high heels and grabbed her handbag. She quickly put another pill into her mouth and put the box in her bag. Her headache was completely gone and her head finally felt clear and light again. In a good mood, she breathed in the fresh morning air and made her way to work.

Her heels clicked on the floor as she walked down the familiar corridor of Fischer Morrow. The lights were on in Robert's office. She ran a final hand through her hair, smoothed her blouse and opened the door to her own office.

The air was stuffy and hot. Coughing, she ran to the window and opened it.

"Good morning, Miss YN, I hope you had a nice weekend," a familiar voice sounded from behind her.

Startled, she turned to see Robert's face as he stuck his head through the door, as he always did.

Why didn't he call her by her first name? Confused, she stared at him, trying to form a clear sentence. "But… But… we spent it together…" her voice finally broke. Her head suddenly hurt again.

He seemed so different again. Not the Robert she had spent the weekend with, not the one who had apologised for being too rude to her, not the one who had made her laugh and told her about his life. He seemed more like the one she had worked with for months, the one who never revealed anything about himself.

"Miss YN? I haven't seen you since Friday, when you left my office after… asking me that question."

Her heart almost stopped. Suddenly her knees gave way and she sank to the floor.

"Are you okay? Are you feeling unwell?" Concerned, he bent down to her. "Do you want to go home and rest?"

She nodded slightly and wiped a tear from her eye, which had turned her fingers black from the carefully applied mascara. Then she got up and left the office.

At home, she lay motionless on her bed, tears streaming down her cheeks. She couldn't think straight and her throat felt incredibly dry. The door to her room, which was only ajar, opened gently and something small and white slipped through. Sniffling, she stretched out her arms and lifted her cat onto the bed.

Everything that had happened that weekend had been fake. She had made it all up. And all of this happened because she had forgotten to take the pills she was taking for her delusions. Robert hadn't really followed her on Friday evening; it was all a figment of her imagination. While his real self was still sitting in the office, probably not thinking about her at all. Everything suddenly made sense: why Robert looked a bit different, why his voice sounded different, the waitress who ignored him on Saturday because she couldn’t actually see him, the pedestrian who gave her a confused look because she was talking to herself while taking the photo.

The photo.

She immediately got up, put on her shoes and walked to the photo shop where she had left the film to be developed. Her heart raced as the staff handed her the envelope with the photos. Trembling, she finally grabbed the Saturday night photo, without looking at it herself, and held it up to the staff's face. "What do you see?" she asked.

The young man looked at her in confusion, but remained polite. "The fountain at Piccadilly Circus. Great picture, it turned out really nice."

"Anything else?" she asked.

"No, ma'am," he replied, and it felt like a slap in her face. Fischer had never been there with her. Only her lonely and sad mind had led her to believe that he was interested in her and loved her. Tears welled in her eyes and she left the shop without another word. When she got home, she immediately took the white box of pills from her handbag, rushed into the kitchen, opened the box and poured the pills into the bin.

Crying and with burning eyes, she finally lay down on her bed and buried her head in the pillow as her cat purred softly beside her. She must have stayed like that for hours, as the sun began to set again outside her window. When she finally lifted her head and wiped the tears from her face, she saw a dark-haired man sitting beside her bed, looking at her lovingly with his pale blue eyes. A smile suddenly appeared on her face and she began to laugh, pulling the man into a tight embrace.

some explanations because i know that story is kinda mind-fucking:

• Is Robert Fischer all a creation of the readers mind?

- No he actually exists, he’s her boss and she‘s in love with him, so she imagines dating him.

• When is he real, when is he fake?

- - The Robert Fischer in the office is real, he turns her down when she asks him out, leaving YN heartbroken. The moment she leaves the office, she starts to imagine what it would be like if he apologised to her, so the man who follows her is just her imagination. The real Robert Fischer is still in his office at Fischer-Morrow.

When she visits the city on Saturday and meets "Robert" and goes on a date with him, it's also just her imagination. That's why other people react to her with confusion, because she's basically talking to herself all the time. On Sunday morning, when she wakes up next to him, he's still fake. When she takes her pills, he quickly "disappears" (he says he has to pick up his daughter...) because they stop her delusions.

On Monday morning, when she gets back to her office, the real Robert Fischer is there again, who hadn't seen her since he had rejected her on Friday evening.

When she gets home, she throws away her pills and her delusions begin again. The man who sat next to her on the bed and comforted her is again the imaginary version of Robert.

[viesanterieures]

Locked In Mind

Robert Fischer (Inception) x female Reader

note: Welcome to my third Cillian Character fanfic, hope you like it :) I love plots like Shutter Island and tried to do something similar here & it‘s also a story about parasocial relationships and unrequited love.

summary: The reader is hopelessly in love with her boss Robert Fischer, but he doesn't seem to be interested in her. By an unexpected coincidence, they meet in the city and his sudden intense affection for her confuses her. The reader begins to suspect that something is wrong, and when she finally uncovers the truth about her encounters with Fischer the heartbreaking reality is revealed to her.

word count: 5000+

Masterlist

warnings: mental illness, depression

you don‘t have to watch the movie to understand the story.

It was just half past seven when she heard the familiar footsteps in the corridor approaching the office next door. A key was inserted into the lock and a moment later the door opened.

Glancing around to make sure her workspace wasn't too messy, she threw an old paper cup into the bin before her boss poked his head through the door.

"Good morning, Miss YN, so busy already?" he asked with a tired smile. "It doesn't reflect well on me as a boss to have my assistant here before me. I'm sorry, Monday mornings are always a bit stressful for me."

"No problem, Mr Fischer. I've already sorted the mail for you, it's on your desk," she said kindly, watching him as he took off his coat and hung it on the coat rack, a little damp from the rain.

"Thank you, I can count on you."

He was a very elegant, handsome man, about ten years her senior, with dark hair, blue eyes, high cheekbones and an elegant black suit. She must have stared at him a little too long, because he turned to her with a questioning smile.

Immediately her cheeks flushed and she turned back to her computer screen, but by then Mr Fischer had already approached her and placed some documents on her desk. "Please scan them all and email them to Mr Parker, he's been waiting for them for days," he said to her. It would be best if we sat down together later and quickly discuss my tasks for today, there is a lot to do. If I'm not mistaken, I have a client meeting at three today.

"At two, sir," she corrected him, handing him a planner with today's date thickly underlined.

He started to grin. "You see, this is exactly why I have an assistant."

Fischer disappeared into his office.

She sighed slightly and went to work scanning the documents. She had been working for Fischer Morrow, one of the world's largest energy companies, for barely a month. Their headquarters had moved from Sydney to London after the death of their CEO, Maurice Fischer. Her current boss, Robert Fischer, was a direct descendant.

She liked Fischer Jr a lot. He was friendly, supportive and didn't get angry when things didn't go to plan. But in some ways he always seemed so unapproachable. For example, he never talked about his private life and YN had no idea who he was outside of work. Then again, he was her boss and his private life was none of her business. But deep down she admitted that she was very interested in him.

The days flew by and she finally felt as if she had been employed by Fischer Morrow for an eternity. But who Robert Fischer really was remained a mystery.

One evening, as she was about to leave, she quietly opened the door to Fischer's office. He was sitting in front of his computer, his chin resting on his hands. "Have a nice evening, Mr Fischer." He jumped slightly, obviously not having heard her come in, but then he smiled. "Thank you, you too."

YN looked at her watch. "It's almost half past seven, don't you want to finish your work soon? Don't you have a wife waiting for you?"

Mr Fischer shrugged. "I've been divorced for a few years now, and I only see my daughter at weekends. The only thing waiting for me is an empty, dark apartment."

YN held her breath. It was the first time he had told her anything about his private life. But in the same second, he seemed to regret his words.

"No one waits for me either," she said. "Except for my cat."

Fischer raised an eyebrow with a smile. "At least that's something."

Finally she said goodbye and left the office. But all the way home, she kept thinking about her conversation with Fischer.

Was he perhaps as lonely as she was?

Tired, YN lay in bed. She didn't even have the strength to change her clothes and remove her make up. Although she wanted nothing more than to get out of that itchy, uncomfortable dress and tights. A soft meow sounded beside her and she felt something soft brush against her arm. Smiling, she pulled the cat closer and buried her face in its white fur.

Since leaving her small home village for London, she had no one to talk to. Her old friends had all left her and moved on with their own lives. Robert Fischer was the only one she spoke to regularly, though it was far from a friendship. With the cat in her arms, she turned to the other side. But what if she had feelings for him?

Maybe she should tell him. But wasn't that too much? He was still her boss, after all, and there were probably plenty of women who were interested in him.

She quickly pushed the thought aside and closed her eyes.

Robert Fischer turned curiously when he heard the quick clicking of heels in the corridor. Panting, his assistant opened the door and dropped her bag on the desk.

"Miss YN, are you okay?"

Her hair was messy, her coat hung loosely over her shoulders as if she hadn't had time to put it on properly, and her lipstick was a little smudged.

"I… overslept," she said, panting. "I'm sorry."

Fischer looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "It's okay. But it shouldn't happen again."

"Of course not, sir," she replied immediately.

He quickly disappeared into his office and returned with a thick stack of papers and a folder.

"Would you be so kind as to sort these documents alphabetically for me? They've been on my desk for days. I know it's not an exciting task."

She nodded and took the heavy pile from his hand. Fischer thanked her and hurried back to his office.

Sighing, she set to work. But with each page, she found her concentration fading and her mind wandering. Her head ached, her eyes burned and she felt incredibly tired. But she tried not to show it, kept working as hard as she could and finally put the sorted file back on Mr Fischer's desk.

Exhausted, she walked back to her office, sat down in her chair and buried her face in her hands. She was shivering and her ears were ringing. Was it because she had forgotten to take her medicine today?

"Miss YN?" she heard her boss' voice.

She turned immediately and forced a smile. "Yes, Mr Fischer?"

"I have an job interview scheduled for ten, would you be so kind as to prepare the conference room for it?"

"Of course, sir."

He stopped halfway and looked at Victoria questioningly. "Are you okay? You look so pale." She nodded quickly, forcing a smile. "Everything's fine, Mr Fischer." Fischer looked at her, raised his eyebrows, then handed her the key to the meeting room and disappeared back into his office.

A strange feeling of dizziness spread through her head as she walked down the long corridor leading to the conference rooms.

What was wrong with her today?

When it started to get dark outside, YN finally turned off her computer and grabbed her bag. The strange dizziness had improved during the day, leading her to conclude that she simply needed a break from work. Fortunately, it was Friday. She knocked gently on Fischer's door, as she always did before leaving, to wish him a pleasant evening. He was sitting there as usual, his chin resting on his hand, deep in thought. He glanced up briefly and nodded politely, noticing her in the doorway. He looked stunningly handsome today, even after this long and exhausting day.

"I didn't ask you how the job interviews went this morning," she asked curiously. Fischer shook his head. "Terribly," he said. "None of these people I'd want in my company." His voice was cold and dismissive, and for a moment she thought he was referring to her, even though she knew he meant someone else. She smiled awkwardly and shrugged slightly. "Well, maybe the next one will be better."

Fischer remained silent.

"Have a good weekend, Mr Fischer."

"You too, Miss YN." He gave her a friendly smile.

"Do you have any plans for the weekend? I know a good restaurant, would you like to join me?" The moment she realised what she had just said, she bit her lip, her face turning red. Had she completely lost her mind? She desperately hoped he hadn't heard what she'd asked, but it was too late. She could see Fischer raise his eyebrows in confusion and stare at her.

"No, Miss YN. I'm not interested. I keep my work and personal life strictly separate." She immediately looked down, embarrassed. Thoughts raced through her mind like a rollercoaster and her cheeks felt as if they were on fire. "I'm sorry, Mr Fischer, I shouldn't have asked you that." She finally grabbed her bag and left the office without another word, feeling Fischer's gaze on her back.

It was drizzling lightly as she walked through the busy streets of London. The cold air did her good and she felt her head clear a little.

Why had she done this? It had been clear from the start that a man like him would reject her. But the words had come out of her mouth as if she had completely lost control. She felt a tear roll down her cheek and quickly wiped it away. She didn't want to have a mental breakdown in public, even though it felt like Fischer had torn her heart into a thousand pieces. Suddenly the strange dizziness returned and her vision blurred slightly. The sounds of London became muffled, as if she were incredibly far away.

Miss YN, wait!" she suddenly heard a voice behind her that seemed to be getting closer.

She turned around. The dizziness had disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. Startled, her eyes widened as she saw the person in front of her - it was Mr Fischer. What was he doing here? Had he followed her? She tried to speak, but all she could manage was a hoarse stutter.

"I wanted to apologize, Miss YN. It wasn't very nice of me to brush you off like that," he said with a gentle laugh. His voice sounded strangely different, softer than usual. Wordless and spellbound, she stared into the pair of light blue eyes before her, apologetic and gentle in their expression. She knew Mr Fischer had blue eyes, but she'd never noticed how incredibly bright they were.

"It's okay, don't worry," she managed to say, her knees shaking with excitement.

"No, no, Miss YN. I'll think about the dinner offer, okay? Just because we work together doesn't mean we can't have dinner together, does it?" Fischer suggested, and she nodded slowly, then smiled.

Why this sudden change of mind?

"Well, see you soon." He waved goodbye and YN, still completely confused, raised her hand in response. But before she could form another thought, he had disappeared into the crowd.

Carefully, YN pressed the shutter on her old camera, focusing the lens on the small lake in front of her. Satisfied, she lowered it. She was confident that this snapshot would turn out well. This park was a place she often visited to clear her head and pursue her passion, photography, as it offered many beautiful subjects. Especially now, in autumn, when the trees were covered with colourful leaves and the silence was slowly descending, with only the occasional pedestrian passing by.

Her dizziness had eased a little, but not completely. Fortunately, it was Saturday and she had the whole day to herself. YN sat down on a bench under a tree that looked to be at least a hundred years old.

She sat there for a while, lost in thought. Eventually she got up and made her way to the West End. The streets of London were noisy and busy as she walked, looking for a warm place in a café and something to eat. Crowds of people rushed past her, music played from somewhere and loud voices filled the air. Exhausted, she rubbed her temples. Maybe she should have stayed home and rested.

Suddenly she held her breath as she spotted a familiar face in the crowd. Dark hair, high cheekbones and piercing blue eyes. Fischer. But before she could think, he had already noticed her and started to smile at her.

"Miss YN, how nice to see you! What a coincidence!"

It was the first time she had seen him in his casual clothes rather than one of his business suits. But this was no less elegant and stylish. He was wearing a well-fitting black coat, a grey knitted jumper underneath, black trousers and leather shoes. It was so strange to see him outside his office at Fischer Morrow Company. Suddenly he didn't seem so unapproachable and distant anymore.

"What are you doing here?" she asked curiously.

He paused for a moment. He seemed to be considering whether or not to tell her.

"I brought my little girl to her friend's house for a sleepover. She's been asking me for weeks because her mum won't let her."

"So you're a cool dad," YN replied.

Fischer rolled his eyes. "I'm the one who lets her get away with everything. We had to turn back twice because she realised she had forgotten her favourite stuffed animal and her toothbrush."

She laughed softly. In a strange way, she enjoyed him talking so openly about his life.

"Oh wow, that looks amazing. It's quite old, isn't it?" Mr Fischer pointed to the camera around her neck. "From the 1960s. But it takes incredibly good pictures for that time," she explained. Fischer seemed genuinely impressed. "Do you have more like it?"

"I have quite a few. From the 50s to the 80s, actually, and of course some modern digital cameras. Photography has been my passion since I was a child," she explained. Fischer looked at her with an interested smile. "So there's actually film in there that needs to be developed?" she nodded in confirmation. "Some photo shops still offer that service, yes."

Mr Fischer seemed genuinely interested in her hobby, asking her questions about it as they walked side by side through the streets of London. She felt incredibly comfortable in his presence and hoped he wouldn't leave so soon. Finally he pointed to the camera again. "Would you take a picture of me, please? I'd like a 60's style photo of myself." YN's heart began to race in her chest. What had he just said?

"Of course, Mr Fischer," she replied nervously. "Robert. My name is Robert," he replied. Suddenly, she stopped in her tracks, completely surprised. No one at Fischer Morrow Ltd called him by his first name, and outside the company she had only heard his uncle, Peter Browning, call him Robert.

"Let's find a nice spot for the photo," he said, letting his gaze wander until it settled on a beautiful fountain.

Carefully, she picked up the camera, took a few steps back and held it directly in front of Robert's face. "Smile, please," she instructed him, finally pressing the shutter.

A pedestrian who had just passed them looked at YN with a confused expression and shook his head. Frowning, she looked after him before carefully tucking the camera into her handbag.

Are you hungry?" asked Robert. "We could go to a restaurant."

Surprised, she looked at him. "I don't know…" she said hesitantly, chewing her lower lip. In fact, she had never expected to be asked such a question.

He looked at her with raised eyebrows and she could see the disappointment in his eyes. Finally, she worked up the courage to say what was on her mind.

"It's just… To be honest, you told me yesterday that you were someone who kept your work and personal life strictly separate. Maybe it would be better if we did. After all, I'm your employee."

As much as she wanted to spend time with him, she was afraid of developing any more feelings for him. Robert nodded slowly and shoved his hands into his coat pockets.

"I really like you. I just never wanted to show it, that's why I was so reserved with you and told you I wasn't interested in you".

She closed her eyes and let out a sigh as a ton of thoughts went through her head. Robert finally nodded at her with a slightly disappointed look on his face and turned on his heel.

"Wait!" she called after him.

He stopped immediately and looked at her hopefully.

"Let's give it a try, shall we?"

YN… is that a French name?"

Robert's voice sounded slightly tipsy as he grinned curiously at her, twirling his wine glass casually in his hands. The plate in front of him was empty and he had now carefully placed the cutlery on it, waiting for a waitress to take it away.

He had taken her to a rather fancy and expensive place, the walls were dark wood panelling, the chairs were covered in red velvet and soft jazz music was playing on one of the radios. Robert looked hauntingly beautiful that night. His skin seemed incredibly soft and flawless, his jawline even more prominent, and his blue eyes shone almost ghostly in the dim light, almost like he wasn’t real…

She smiled, nodded and took a sip from her glass. "My father is French. I grew up in France but moved to England when I was 15."

He nodded with interest, rubbing his chin with his forefinger.

"And you? I heard you're Australian," she asked curiously.

Robert laughed and ran a hand through his dark hair. "Well, my accent makes it obvious."

YN blushed and looked down at her plate. What a stupid question.

But Robert didn't seem to mind too much, because he started talking about his life in Sydney, how he had finally moved to London after his father's death, and she listened with interest.

But suddenly he stopped and looked at her thoughtfully. "But I'm probably just boring you."

YN immediately shook her head. "No, you're not," she told him. "I find it really interesting to find out all this about you."

At that moment a waitress came to their table with a smile and asked YN in a friendly tone if she had enjoyed her meal. But the waitress paid no attention to Robert, YN noticed with surprise. Perhaps she was just being extra polite to the lady.

YN's date pulled out a black leather purse and rummaged through it. Quickly, YN pulled a few notes out of the bag and handed them to the waitress. "Keep the change," she said.

The waitress looked at her with wide eyes, "Thank you, ma'am," she said gratefully, "have a nice evening.

Then she turned and left the table.

"You didn't have to do that," Robert said. "As a gentleman, it's actually my job to pay."

She shook her head in amusement. "I bet that's never happened to you before, has it?"

Robert shook his head and took the last drink from his glass. There was a moment of silence between them.

"All right. So what's the plan for the rest of the evening?"

She looked at him in surprise. As soon as he said the words, she felt a tingle in her stomach.

The church clock struck twelve as she crossed the street hand in hand with Robert. It was freezing, and she had pulled her scarf so far up her face that only her eyes and nose were visible. Her date looked at her with amusement. "Are you going to rob a bank?" he asked, laughing out loud.

"Shh!" she snapped at him, putting her fingers to his lips. "You'll wake up the whole neighbourhood."

Although it was quite dark and she could only make out Robert, she knew that his typical mischievous grin was back on his face. She pulled him firmly behind her until they reached the small white building.

"Is this where you live?" Robert asked.

She put her finger to his lips for a second time until Robert stopped talking and looked silently into her eyes. Her heart was pounding in her chest as she finally stood on her toes, put her arms around his neck and placed her lips on his. Robert returned the kiss without hesitation and gently pulled her into his arms. YN could hardly believe what was happening. It was everything she had secretly wanted for months. They remained like this for a moment before she finally let go of him and reached for her key.

She felt for Robert's upper arm and finally pulled him into her apartment, closing the door behind him. She immediately wrapped her arms around him and began to kiss him again. His lips were a little cold and tasted of wine. Together they stumbled backwards into her bedroom, taking off his coat, which she tossed carelessly to the floor.

Robert's fingers stroked carefully along her hip and fumbled a little with her belt while she was busy planting little kisses on his neck. With slightly trembling hands she pulled his jumper over his head and Robert took her hand.

"Are you nervous?" he wanted to know. She remained silent.

"Don't be," he whispered softly into her ear, taking her in his arms again and pulling her onto the bed. Breathing softly, she clung to his chest, leaned back and finally closed her eyes as she felt his warm skin against hers.

The sun shone through the half-open curtains, creating a narrow, bright streak across the floor. Blinking, she opened her eyes and stretched. But immediately a sharp pain shot through her head again and she held her forehead tiredly. Confused, she sat up and tried to remember what had happened yesterday.

But when she heard soft breathing next to her, she turned quickly and all the events of last night came back to her. Smiling, she looked over at Robert, snuggled up next to her in her beige blanket, sleeping peacefully. Tenderly stroking his messy hair, she lay down beside him again and then began to caress his chest. Perhaps what they had done was wrong. After all, they were two people who should never have fallen in love. But it had happened, and it felt so right. They remained in this position for some time, Robert asleep and YN lost in thought.

Her eyes swept through the bedroom until they settled on a small white box on her dresser. Quickly sitting up, she reached for it and put a small pill into her mouth. Eventually, Robert began to move a little beside her, opening his eyes tiredly. Smiling broadly, she gave him a small kiss on the tip of his nose.

"Good morning," she whispered.

"Good morning," Robert murmured in a raspy morning voice.

"Did you sleep well?" she asked.

"Yes, wonderfully." He yawned loudly and took her into his arms as she laid her head lovingly on his shoulder.

"Wait, what time is it?" he suddenly wanted to know.

"Quarter past ten, why do you ask?" she replied.

"Shit," Robert muttered as he let go of the hug, jumped out of the bed and started to pick up his clothes, which were strewn all over the floor.

"Wait, wait, where are you going?" she asked, looking at him in confusion.

"I should've picked up my daughter by now," he replied, hurrying to get dressed.

Sighing, she pulled the blanket around her a little tighter. "Can't it wait? Can't you stay for breakfast?"

"I'm sorry, but I'm sure she's already waiting for me.“ Robert dodged her questions, grabbing his coat on the floor and sighing when he saw her disappointed look.

He walked slowly towards her, stroking her chin with his finger, and finally whispered: "We can catch up later." Then he put a soft kiss on her lips before turning around and disappearing through the door. She sank back into the pillows and pulled the blanket over her head.

The rest of Sunday flew by. Mostly because her mind was on Robert and she could hardly wait to see him again tomorrow at work. She had probably never looked forward to a Monday in her life as much as she did that day.

The next morning, YN carefully applied her lipstick and looked at herself in the bathroom mirror. She noticed that the collar of her white blouse was a little crooked and quickly adjusted it. She wanted to look her best for Robert today, so he wouldn't change his mind and lose interest in her.

Humming softly, she put on her black high heels and grabbed her handbag. She quickly put another pill into her mouth and put the box in her bag. Her headache was completely gone and her head finally felt clear and light again. In a good mood, she breathed in the fresh morning air and made her way to work.

Her heels clicked on the floor as she walked down the familiar corridor of Fischer Morrow. The lights were on in Robert's office. She ran a final hand through her hair, smoothed her blouse and opened the door to her own office.

The air was stuffy and hot. Coughing, she ran to the window and opened it.

"Good morning, Miss YN, I hope you had a nice weekend," a familiar voice sounded from behind her.

Startled, she turned to see Robert's face as he stuck his head through the door, as he always did.

Why didn't he call her by her first name? Confused, she stared at him, trying to form a clear sentence. "But… But… we spent it together…" her voice finally broke. Her head suddenly hurt again.

He seemed so different again. Not the Robert she had spent the weekend with, not the one who had apologised for being too rude to her, not the one who had made her laugh and told her about his life. He seemed more like the one she had worked with for months, the one who never revealed anything about himself.

"Miss YN? I haven't seen you since Friday, when you left my office after… asking me that question."

Her heart almost stopped. Suddenly her knees gave way and she sank to the floor.

"Are you okay? Are you feeling unwell?" Concerned, he bent down to her. "Do you want to go home and rest?"

She nodded slightly and wiped a tear from her eye, which had turned her fingers black from the carefully applied mascara. Then she got up and left the office.

At home, she lay motionless on her bed, tears streaming down her cheeks. She couldn't think straight and her throat felt incredibly dry. The door to her room, which was only ajar, opened gently and something small and white slipped through. Sniffling, she stretched out her arms and lifted her cat onto the bed.

Everything that had happened that weekend had been fake. She had made it all up. And all of this happened because she had forgotten to take the pills she was taking for her delusions. Robert hadn't really followed her on Friday evening; it was all a figment of her imagination. While his real self was still sitting in the office, probably not thinking about her at all. Everything suddenly made sense: why Robert looked a bit different, why his voice sounded different, the waitress who ignored him on Saturday because she couldn’t actually see him, the pedestrian who gave her a confused look because she was talking to herself while taking the photo.

The photo.

She immediately got up, put on her shoes and walked to the photo shop where she had left the film to be developed. Her heart raced as the staff handed her the envelope with the photos. Trembling, she finally grabbed the Saturday night photo, without looking at it herself, and held it up to the staff's face. "What do you see?" she asked.

The young man looked at her in confusion, but remained polite. "The fountain at Piccadilly Circus. Great picture, it turned out really nice."

"Anything else?" she asked.

"No, ma'am," he replied, and it felt like a slap in her face. Fischer had never been there with her. Only her lonely and sad mind had led her to believe that he was interested in her and loved her. Tears welled in her eyes and she left the shop without another word. When she got home, she immediately took the white box of pills from her handbag, rushed into the kitchen, opened the box and poured the pills into the bin.

Crying and with burning eyes, she finally lay down on her bed and buried her head in the pillow as her cat purred softly beside her. She must have stayed like that for hours, as the sun began to set again outside her window. When she finally lifted her head and wiped the tears from her face, she saw a dark-haired man sitting beside her bed, looking at her lovingly with his pale blue eyes. A smile suddenly appeared on her face and she began to laugh, pulling the man into a tight embrace.

some explanations because i know that story is kinda mind-fucking:

• Is Robert Fischer all a creation of the readers mind?

- No he actually exists, he’s her boss and she‘s in love with him, so she imagines dating him.

• When is he real, when is he fake?

- The version Robert Fischer in the office is real, he turns her down when she asks him out, leaving YN heartbroken. The moment she leaves the office, she starts to imagine what it would be like if he apologised to her, so the man who follows her is just her imagination. The real Robert Fischer is still in his office at Fischer-Morrow.

When she visits the city on Saturday and meets "Robert" and goes on a date with him, it's also just her imagination. That's why other people react to her with confusion, because she's basically talking to herself all the time. On Sunday morning, when she wakes up next to him, he's still fake. When she takes her pills, he quickly "disappears" (he says he has to pick up his daughter...) because they stop her delusions.

On Monday morning, when she gets back to her office, the real Robert Fischer is there again, who hadn't seen her since he had rejected her on Friday evening.

When she gets home, she throws away her pills and her delusions begin again. The man who sat next to her on the bed and comforted her is again the imaginary version of Robert.

[kenziedrawz]

Hello to all who may see this post! I, Kenzie, come at you once again with yet another splendid roleplay server. As you may know i have advertised a roleplay server upon my tumblr in the past, but this one is a different one. (as always, the invite link is at the bottom.)

So let me ask you a question, do you like slice of life rp mixed with a bit of adventure, a lot of mystery and just a teeny bit of horror if you consider some certain implications? Then boy do I have the right roleplay for you!

Introducing, Crown's County! A roleplay that's a mix of primarily Slice of Life and Mystery. Your setting is the small little town of Crown's County, but that begs the question, how did you character get there? Did they move there one day? Or had they lived there all their lives? (somehow, neither of those seem just right)

Can you trust your memories? That will all depend on your Awareness Level, or AL for short! AL is a fun little mechanic for this roleplay, and will help you with rolls(like in dnd) and serves as a marker towards your character's progression in solving all of Crown's County's mysteries!

But do you think that's all i have to share? Nope! Because I have a limited time offer for those willing to join! (and stay)

Behold! For the low low price of joining and participating in this roleplay, you too can get a blorboplied drawing of one of your characters! But make sure to do so before January 7th(aest) And if that's not enough incentive to join, we have plenty of lore to uncover!

Though, you are also welcome to simply just spectate if that's what floats your boat.

The possibilities in Crown's County are almost endless! You could make a (sealed for lore purposes) Eldritch Horror work in retail! You could investigate a spooky forest! You can get up to highschool hyjinks! There's tons of possibilities to be discovered!

Of course, we do have rules though.

} You know what I'm gonna say, don't be rude, transphobic, Homophobic, Racist, you get the jist, don't be a jerk.

} Proshipping will not be tolerated here, if you are a proshipper then please get the heck out of this server.

} There's a limit of two to three main characters per person, however you can request to play an NPC character as well

} If your character has powers, I must say that they are sealed. They can use pathetically weak versions of those powers though. (Such as, someone who can fly can just levitate now.) Why? Well, that's a lore reason i can't spill yet

} Yes, there is a chance that your characters can die in this rp. But, who's to say that a new version of them can't come and take their place? But, if your character dies, then don't throw a hissy fit. There's a chance they can come back

} Please be patient with the mods (aka me), we have our own schedules and such

} Don't make yourself a protagonist, or a mary-sue/gary-stu. While I admit being all powerful and being unable to get hurt by like, anything. Nobody really has all that much power here, not even gods.

} If you wish to do any evil plotting or secret actions, then do so in your private channel which will be provided to you by the mods upon you claiming a character or saying that you will be roleplaying.

} Absolutely no ERP or NSFW, there are minors on this server

} Oh yeah, if you want to ship your character with someone else's character within the RP you must ask for their permission to pursue their character

} Non-human characters will have to be humanized but can retain certain non-human aspects, but not too many. (for lore reasons)

} PLEASE remember to censor potentially triggering topics, if you don't know how to censor it's just putting || on both sides of the text you are censoring

} Please abide by the Blacklist.

and those are all the rules! More may be added if seen as necessary.

And finally, you've reached the end of this post, where the server link is! I hope you enjoyed reading, and look forwards to promotional doodles as well! I hope you enjoy your time in Crown's County.

Also have some more examples of the Blorbo-plied style! (mostly ocs)

and a bonus more complex doodle of the aforementioned potential eldritch horror working in retail

[richincolor]

We have seven new books to share with you this week. It's a great way to wrap up the month. Which ones are on your TBR list?

The Melancholy of Summer by Louisa Onomé Feiwel Friends

Doesn’t she see? I can do this on my own.

Summer Uzoma is fine. Sure, her parents went on the run after they were accused of committing a crime, leaving her behind. Sure, she’s been alternating stays with her friends’ families. Sure, she sometimes still secretly visits her old home. And sure, she has trouble talking about any of this. But she’s fine. She has her skateboard and her bus pass. She just has to turn eighteen in a few weeks and then she’ll really and truly be free.

So it’s extra annoying when a nosy social worker gets involved. Summer doesn’t expect any relative to be able to take her in, so she’s very surprised to hear that she’ll now be living with her cousin Olu—someone she hasn’t seen in years, who’s a famous singer in Japan last she heard, and who’s not much older than Summer.

Life with Olu is awkward for many reasons—not least of all because Olu has her own drama to deal with. But with her cousin and friends’ efforts, maybe Summer can learn to trust people enough to let them in again? — Cover image and summary via Goodreads

Rhythm & Muse by India Hill Brown Quill Tree Books

Darren Johnson lives in his head. There, he can pine for his crush–total dream girl, Delia Dawson–in peace, away from the unsolicited opinions of his talkative family and showboat friends. When Delia announces a theme song contest for her popular podcast, Dillie D in the Place to Be, Darren’s friends–convinced he’ll never make a move–submit one of his secret side projects for consideration.

After the anonymous romantic verse catches Dillie’s ear, she sets out to uncover the mystery singer behind the track. Now Darren must decide: Is he ready to step out of the shadows and take the lead in his own life? — Cover image and summary via Goodreads

You Bet Your Heart by Danielle Parker Joy Revolution

A riveting, swoon-worthy teen romance centered on two high achievers fighting for the title of high school valedictorian and falling in love along the way, from debut author Danielle Parker.

Sasha Johnson-Sun might not know everything—like how to fully heal after her dad’s passing or how many more Saturdays her mom can spend cleaning houses. But the one thing Sasha is certain of? She will graduate this year as Skyline High’s class valedictorian.

At least, she was sure before the principal calls Sasha and her cute, effortlessly gifted ex–best friend, Ezra Davis-Goldberg, into his office to deliver earth-shattering they’re tied for valedictorian and the scholarship attached…

This outcome can’t be left to chance. So, Sasha and Ezra agree on a best-of-three, winner-take-all academic bet. As they go head-to-head, they are forced not only to reexamine why they drifted apart but also to figure out who they’ve become since. With her future hanging in the balance, Sasha must honor her family’s sacrifices by winning (at all costs) or give her heart a shot at finding happiness? — Cover image and summary via Goodreads

Her Good Side by Rebekah Weatherspoon Razorbill

Sixteen-year-old Bethany Greene, though confident and self-assured, is what they call a late-bloomer. She’s never had a boyfriend, date, or first kiss. She’s determined to change that but after her crush turns her down cold for Homecoming–declaring her too inexperienced–and all her back-up ideas fall through, she cautiously agrees to go with her best friend’s boyfriend Jacob. A platonic date is better than no date, right? Until Saylor breaks up with said boyfriend.

Dumped twice in just two months, Jacob Yeun wonders if he’s the problem. After years hiding behind his camera and a shocking summer glow up, he wasn’t quite ready for all the attention or to be someone’s boyfriend. There are no guides for his particular circumstances, or for taking your ex’s best friend to the dance.

Why not make the best of an awkward situation? Bethany and Jacob decide to fake date for practice, building their confidence in matters of the heart.

And it works–guys are finally noticing Bethany. But things get complicated as their kissing sessions–for research of course!–start to feel real. This arrangement was supposed to help them in dating other people, but what if their perfect match is right in front of them? — Cover image and summary via Goodreads

When the Vibe is Right by Sarah Dass Balzer & Bray

There are two things Tess Crawford knows for sure:

• She’s destined to be a great Trinidadian Carnival costume designer like her renowned uncle, Russell Messina, and will one day inherit leadership of the family’s masquerade band, Grandeur. • Her classmate, the popular social media influencer, Brandon Richards, is the bane of her existence. Everything about him irks her, from his annoying nickname for Tess (Boop) to his association with David, her awful ex.

But when the future of Grandeur nears the brink of collapse in the face of band rivalry, Tess finds to her chagrin that she must team up with Brandon in a desperate attempt to revive the company.

As Tess and Brandon spend more time together, Tess begins to wonder if everything she thought she knew might not be so certain after all. . . .

Set in lush, gorgeous Trinidad, this is a novel about finding love in the most unexpected places. — Cover image and summary via Goodreads

The Moonlit Vine by Elizabeth Santiago Tu Books

Fourteen-year-old Taína just learned that she is a descendant of a long line of strong Taíno women, but will knowing this help her bring peace and justice to her family and community?

Despite her name, Taína Perez doesn’t know anything about her Taíno heritage, nor has she ever tried to learn. After all, how would ancient Puerto Rican history help with everything going on? There’s constant trouble at school and in her neighborhood, her older brother was kicked out of the house, and with her mom at work, she’s left alone to care for her little brother and aging grandmother. It’s a lot for a 14-year-old to manage.

But life takes a wild turn when her abuela tells her she is a direct descendant of Anacaona, the beloved Taíno leader, warrior, and poet, who was murdered by the Spanish in 1503. Abuela also gives her an amulet and a zemi and says that it’s time for her to step into her power like the women who came before her. But is that even possible? People like her hardly make it out of their circumstances, and the problems in her home and community are way bigger than Taína can manage. Or are they?

A modern tale with interstitial historical chapters, The Moonlit Vine brings readers a powerful story of the collective struggle, hope, and liberation of Puerto Rican and Taíno peoples.

Also available in Spanish! — Cover image and summary via Goodreads

The Books of Clash Volume 1: Legendary Legends of Legendarious Achievery by Gene Luen Yang illustrated by Les McClaine and Alison Acton First Second

Based on Clash of Clans and Clash Royale and penned by superstar graphic novelist Gene Luen Yang, this first volume of this action-packed eight-volume series brings the characters from everyone’s favorite mobile gaming sensation to life!

SEE! The illustrated exploits of one young Hog Rider and his trusted companion in an unpredictable tale of fantasy and adventure!

READ! Their journey from no-good warriors on the battlefield to true heroes of the Royal Arena!

BATTLE! When danger strikes the village of JazzyPickles and its colorful cast of characters in this heartwarming and hilarious graphic novel based on two of the world’s most popular video games.

In this epic new series set in the world of Clash of Clans and Clash Royale , experience a laugh-out-loud tale of friendship and fun! –– Cover image and summary via Goodreads

[lacollectionneuse1967]

fic updates/preview ?

in over my head yet again...

started outlining a new theseus fic!!

multi-chapter dark police procedural.

+ slow burn romance.

the year is 1950.

for five years theseus has been working for the american auror's office: some shitty, underfunded post in rural massachusetts. after his brother died at the hands of grindelwald and war swept through europe like a bad dream, theseus could no longer stomach england, could no longer stomach personhood. newt's death swallowed theseus's life and then death itself swallowed the world--wwii came and went. theseus moved to the u.s. without looking back.

five long, hard years on the force have left him worn and hardened. less of a person and more of a profession--without his work all he has is grief.

working as an auror in america has been nothing like working in england, or in europe.  overseas, there’s some semblance of law and order and magical propriety, some strung-together “magical community" exists. but america is 40x as large as the rainy island theseus hails from. stretches of cornfields and barren plains, unbroken mountains and blackened swamps and dreary little pockets of death and magic, everywhere. abandoned churches and truck stops and rotting bridges. aurors are spread thin and not respected here. dark wizards get away with nearly anything. nearly. theseus is that nearly. he can't obliterate the darkness but he can chip away at the edges.

it's all routine. instant coffee and donuts and fluorescent lighting. with an uncooperative magical population and far too much ground to cover, his job has mostly been documenting crimes that he's powerless to solve.

but then magical children start disappearing across the whole of new england.

the country is in an uproar. there's talks of shutting down the school.

the u.s. magical congress blames a dark wizard serial killer and sets theseus's office on the killer's trail, but theseus senses that a far more sinister conspiracy is at play. no bodies have been found--he believes the children must still be alive somewhere. for now, at least...

enter Y/N. defense against the dark arts professor and the youngest instructor at ilvermony school of witchcraft and wizardry.

your most beloved student was one of the children who was taken, and you'll stop at nothing to get him back, even if it means having to work alongside the withheld and terminally grouchy theseus scamander. your student was like a little brother to you. you couldn't live with yourself if you didn't at least try to find him.

theseus isn't too keen on letting you help with the investigation. he can hardly stand you, to be frank. sometimes he just looks at you and feels his hollow chest ache, he doesn't know why or what to do with it. he can't bear to have anyone get close to him--not after newt's death--but, as the investigation unfolds, he also realizes he can't bear to see you hurt, and 'close to him' is the only place he can keep you safe.... theseus couldn't save his own little brother, but maybe he can still save yours. he believes his life has been wasted and ravaged by time--that, by some sorry accident, he's lost his soul--but if his life can be of use to you, then it could never be useless...

besides, there's a case to crack and you're the only one who can help him.

----

workplace romance with a bit of the bodyguard trope! hurt-comfort elements too (theseus thinks he's too broken to love, boo).

the mystery / detective storyline gets VERYYYY dark but there's still the slow burn romance & magical aspect to provide some levity, i think! basically it;s you and theseus uncovering some really dark, crazy shit and forming an unbreakable trauma-bond because of it :0))) but also!! romance and grumpy-sunshine banter muahaha

think true detective s1 / twin peaks meets The Bodyguard (1992)

thoughts? LIKE is this something you're interested in reading or should i stick to the fluffy theseus stories i'd planned before :o ?

[nidamae-approvedhpfanfics]

Fanfic .com favorites as of March 2024

The list is long mostly Harry Potter but a few Labyrinth.

ALPHABETICAL B-C

Back to the Beginning by burnable Harry Potter u:07-02-2020 - Harry finds himself thrust into his four-year old body, after Voldemort killed him in the forest in what would have been his seventh year. Knowing what he did, he decided to fix some things he never had a chance to before. He'd not go into the magical world untrained this time. OP Harry. Science, magic and discovery. Harem.

Back in the Game by Demoph-the-Black Harry Potter u:11-27-2022 - Harry has planned for years, only for Dumbledore to put a wrench in the works. "You have to die... so long and thanks for all the fish." But his plan will move on even without him. Except... Death has something else in mind. My 1st fic, crosspost from AO3, crack!

Back to the Past by Glorioux Harry Potter u:04-11-2021 - Can Apocalypse be averted? The magical world is a place of horror. Hermione goes back to the moment where all went wrong. Will anyone believe her. Dumbledore made amistake, Grindenwald escaped, and The Magical word is ending; can she stop it? First she must kill the pretender, glamoured to seem like Sirius.

Backward Without Purpose by birdwoman95 Harry Potter u:06-28-2016 - A re-do story full of cliches and cussing. I dislike the Weasley family in general and Ron in specific, so you may want to pass if he's your hero. Adult, Auror Harry is thrown back to his 10 year old body. What does he do? Kick @ and take names, of course. Rating is for the recounting of crimes by a Very Bad Man.

Basilisk-born by Ebenbild Harry Potter u:03-26-2021 - What if the Dementor attack in 5th year had ended with Harry losing? What if someone had stepped in to save him? And what if Harry ended up in the past with a chance to be more than he ever was before? A story about a forcibly time travelled Harry and its consequences... Manipulative Dumbledore, 'Slytherin!Harry', Time Travel!

Basilisk Go Boom! by BeepKeeper Harry Potter u:03-25-2018 - Here's a short story set during Harry's third year. Who gives a fourteen-year-old a powerful artefact to bend time. Did anyone monitor her use? Did anyone warn her of the consequences of misuse? Also something different with Basilisk! Dumbledore Ron & Sirius bashing (no pairings)

Bastard Prince by RhiannanT Harry Potter u:12-11-2016 - Book two in the Outcast's Alley series. Having accepted his place in the Court, Tobias must learn how to fulfill it, as well as handle new revelations about his parentage.

Bathtime by Ruya Firtina Labyrinth u:06-20-2012 - Sarah gets completely dunked in the Bog of Eternal Stench, and there is only one way to get rid of the stink. Okay, I lied before, but now it is really Complete!

Beautiful Things Can Come From The Dark by yesterdayschild4 Harry Potter u:11-28-2009 - He finds her, broken and bleeding, and it will change everything. A rape aftermath story told from Draco Malfoy's POV. DHr

Beauty and the Beast by Lightning09 Harry Potter u:11-12-2016 - Kind. Scared. Smart. Loving. Not words you would use to describe Draco Malfoy. But the war had it's toll on everyone. But Draco Malfoy? During their 8th year of school, Hermione discovers the side of Draco she never would have thought possible. Love and War. Beauty and the Beast. Two opposites who find themselves in one another. DRAMIONE *Sequel out NOW!*

Becoming Neville by Jedi Rita Harry Potter u:06-07-2006 - COMPLETE Neville's Gran breaks her hip just after his fifth year at Hogwarts, and he must spend the summer with Harry and Remus. They discover a hidden message in the candy wrappers his mother has been giving him, and begin to uncover the mystery.

Before the Dawn by snarkyroxy Harry Potter u:07-12-2006 - In her seventh year, a latenight discovery changes Hermione Granger's view on a great many things. Severus Snape is just one of them. Complete.

Beginning of a New Life by rlpj4 Harry Potter u:07-27-2010 - AU. After the events of fourth year, Harry does not return to Privet Drive. He, with the help of Gringotts, decides to travel and learn as much as he can to help him in the fight against Voldemort. Super!Harry, Time-Travel!Harry

Behind Blue Eyes by elmembrila Harry Potter u:11-14-2019 - It's the summer after the Department of Mysteries and Harry Potter's about to do something drastic, something nobody expects, and he may not be alone. Following the lives of Harry and the Order as they battle against each other.

Behind the Mask by tookkia Harry Potter u:08-09-2017 - It begins when he asks her to dance; charming, dashing, Hermione is enchanted; pity it's not who she expects. Tensions continue to rise, though, when a new poison threatens the magical world, more fatal than childish grudges. An impossible pair, surreally perfect.

Beltane Child by White Angel of Auralon Harry Potter u:09-01-2013 - Harry needs some time to let his guard down in the war. So he goes to a celebration just before he, Ron and Hermione plan to get Hufflepuff's Cup from Bellatrix Lestrange's vault. Who could have guessed what the consequences would be?

Beneath Your Window by Crookshanks.x Harry Potter u:06-06-2008 - Hermione finds her life in turmoil and decides that the best move is to run from it all. To her surprise, she's not the only one running from life. DHr fic, Complete.

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by Perhentian.en Harry Potter u:04-21-2022 - Hermione had grown quite used to help Harry each time her friend managed to end up in some impossible situation, and this even if the war with Voldemort had been over for a long time. But when Harry, faced with the destruction of the magical world, decides to throw his friends back in time, Hermione is appalled. And what about this reckless plan of his to somehow use Voldemort?

Beyond the Sacred by Lomonaaeren Harry Potter u:12-02-2022 - Members of the "Sacred Twenty-Eight": "Don't you wish you were sacred like me?" Harry: "Not really, no." COMPLETE.

Birdshot by BeepKeeper Harry Potter u:04-01-2022 - Harry's exceptional summer between third and fourth years at Hogwarts begins with revising the goblin wars and figuring out how to get help from trusted adults. He spends time in the sunshine and thinks about his runic arrays and cartouche. The summer gets intense before return to Hogwarts where professors have stupid restrictions once again. BASH DUMBLEDORE BASH Magical Britain

Black Family Business by Nargled Harry Potter u:05-11-2016 - The war and the trials are over. Draco is finally going to become the Heir to the Black Family. And there's nothing that bloody Potter can do about it. Chapter two added, updated.

Blind My Eyes, Sew Them Shut by Greenaleydis Harry Potter u:11-17-2017 - After a close brush with the Death Eaters, Hermione awakens blinded and on the run with a familiar snarky Slytherin. In hiding, Hermione and Draco must find a way to survive - and somehow thwart a plot that could alter their very world. Dramione, post-DH, COMPLETE.

Blood of My Blood by Lomonaaeren Harry Potter u:11-19-2022 - HPTN, AU. Theo knows that someone in Hogwarts is using blood magic, the kind that scrapes at his senses. But without knowing more information, he can't seek them out or stop them. Purely by chance, he finds Harry Potter with blood soaking through bandages on the back of his hand, and discovers the power of taking a risk. Twoshot. COMPLETE.

Blood of an Enemy by Foamy the Squirrel Harry Potter u:08-12-2004 - Hermione kills Voldemort at the end of Sixth year. Over the summer she is turned into a Vampyre. When she returns to school, friendless and alone, she finds out how cruel life really is. -COMPLETED-

Bolt Fashion by White Angel of Auralon Harry Potter u:12-27-2015 - Harry Potter knows that money can give you power and influence. He has learned that from a young age on, seeing how his relatives get away with many things. And others having way much more than you do can be a problem. Thus he starts his path to cause a small revolution in its own right. No matter if Dumbledore doesn't like it. Two-shot.

Bond by MrBenzedrine Harry Potter u:05-24-2017 - What happens at "Bond" stays at "Bond" -Hermione is taken out for drinks at club "Bond", an establishment that can offer you anything from some alcohol and dancing to SO much more. When she, quite literally, falls into Draco Malfoy's lap, will she open up her mind and explore sexual desires she never knew she had? Kink. COMPLETE **FIRST PLACE: BEST SMUT 2017 Dramione Awards**

Bonds of Blood by LiteraryLuminary Harry Potter u:05-04-2005 - Today marks the end of her debt to Lily, paid in blood. On Harry's 17th birthday, Petunia bids farewell to her nephew. She anticipates freedom the instant he is placed in his guardian's care, but is given poetic justice in its stead.

Bone of the Father by BeepKeeper Harry Potter u:04-11-2023 - The ritual in the Graveyard to resurrect Lord Voldemort reveals a problem for Tom Riddle, Jr. Something is missing when he steps out of the cauldron, something he couldn't get from Tom Riddle, Sr's bone. (Bashing Riddle, Dumbledore, professors, Houses at Hogwarts, and Ministry for Magic)

Break the Pattern: Tri-Wizard by Squirrel of Shadow Harry Potter u:03-27-2015 - As Tri-Wizard tournament approaches, Harry Potter prepares himself. He is unwilling to dance to the whims of manipulative old men, and he's laid the groundwork for what he has to do. This year's Quiddich has already been cancelled, and with the shadow of the Tournament threatening him with peril, Harry's got a plan to slip the old manipulative bastard's leash. Crack-ish! Bash!Draco

Breath of the Nundu by corvusdraconis Harry Potter u:10-09-2016 - [HG/SS] AU/Crackfic: One morning, Severus Snape wakes up with a furry visitor snuggled under the quilt with him. As he pulls back the quilt, two glowing eyes lock with his, and everything is turned on its ear. As the rest of his visitor crawls out from under the covers, he realises he has a problem. There is a Nundu cub in his bed, and for some reason, she's bound to him.

Broken by inadaze22 Harry Potter u:07-15-2009 - He felt something close to pity for the woman in front of him. And while that disturbed Draco to no end, what really disgusted him most of all was the harrowing fact that someone or something had broken Hermione Granger's spirit beyond recognition. Revised 2019. Update your Epubs.

Broken Bonds by broomstick flyer Harry Potter u:01-28-2015 - Harry is not happy about the adult responce to the Dementor attack in Little whinging. His letter to the order at Grimmauld place has some unforseen consequences some of which turn out quite good for both Harry and Hermione.

Broken Feathers by naarna Harry Potter u:08-26-2020 - It's been eight years since Draco last spoke with Hermione, and now she has disappeared. Will he put everything into finding her? WIP. Dramione. Creature!Hermione. EWE. (COMPLETED)

Building a Life by redhead414 Harry Potter u:04-23-2012 - A 12 Part Epilogue to "It's All Uncharted."

Bundle of Joy by LadyTuesday Harry Potter u:06-03-2013 - Seeking: An intelligent, capable wizard amenable to assisting a bright, independent, magically-formidable single witch in the conception of a child. Insemination only: no sexual congress; non-negotiable. Further contact will be established following receipt of preliminary letter of interest. Address all inquiries by owl to Joy Bundle c/o Hogsmeade Owl Post.

Burning Boils by SilverAngel99 Harry Potter u:09-28-2005 - COMPLETED! It is the end of the 7th Hermione is overcome by a strange illness that can be cured by a potion. Unfortunately, Madam Pomfrey is ill as well, and Snape is called up to take care of the young Gryffindor. What happens when she needs his undivide

Calculation by fringeperson Harry Potter u:12-08-2011 - Young Harry liked numbers, he liked using numbers and working out the value of things. When he found out that he was a wizard and had a big pile of gold... well, he had something new to calculate. oneshot, complete, don't own.

Can You Manage? by bruhdawg Harry Potter u:07-30-2021 - "'Are you sure you can manage it, Granger'" - Hermione has, once again, gotten caught for being out after hours. Dumbledore and McGonagall agree that the best punishment for her... is to work for the slytherin quidditch team. How will she survive? - dramione *sexual content and slight sexual assault/harassment* *All characters and majority of settings belong to J.K Rowling*

Cards of Truth by cleotheo Harry Potter u:06-27-2018 - When Snape catches Harry and Ron with a card game designed by the Weasley twins, he decides that the seventh years should play as it's nearing the end of the year and all their work has been done. However, the game reveals a few secrets, and more are revealed when the game continues in the head dorms. Fun and light-hearted one-shot.

Cat got your tongue? by VaingloriousHound Harry Potter u:09-16-2020 - Harry successfully manages his animagus transformation. And that's about all he's able to manage. Daphne's insistent attention seems entirely unmanageable for him and his poor heart. Slight AU.

Cats in the Cradle by hermionewiz27 Harry Potter u:12-16-2014 - When Minerva McGonagall heard she had to visit all of the muggle-born students in her house, she expected a tedious beginning to her holiday. When she ended up bringing a student home with her, it gave her the piece of her family she had been missing.

Champions of the Founders by StormyFireDragon Harry Potter u:04-09-2013 - What happens when the founders have enough? Why they come back and help turn the wizarding world upside down. See how people's lives will be changed and see what happens when you upset their heirs. HP/LL DM/SB

Chances Are by keeperoliver Harry Potter u:12-19-2015 - A five year old Harry is taken from an abusive Vernon and Petunia Dursley because of an accident. This accident changes Harry and these changes may decide the fate of the wizarding world. Ron Bashing. All Characters and settings are the creation of J.K. Rowilng

Change Comes to the Changeless by Lomonaaeren Harry Potter u:11-25-2022 - Fawkes thought about leaving the wizarding world altogether after the death of Albus Dumbledore. But there is another that needs his care and has attracted his fascination. Fawkes does not intend to let Harry Potter walk to his death. COMPLETE.

Changed Past by White Angel of Auralon Harry Potter u:07-26-2015 - Auror Harry Potter was hunting a criminal that caused lots of death. Just what he didn't expect was ending in the past, thanks to said criminal's actions. He was never one to sit by while injustice happened, so sitting still until he found a way home wasn't really going to happen. No matter what Hermione had told him about time-travel. One-Shot

Chaos by JustBored21 Harry Potter u:11-24-2019 - Harry gets thrown back in time and ends up in his ten year old body. This time, he's going to do everything different, this time he will have a proper relationship with the love of his life who happens to be a Siren and this time he's not playing Dumbledore's games.Dumbledore, Hermione, select Weasley bashing. Harry x original character. Crazy, overpowered and insane Harry

Chaos of the Potter Family by ReynaAtTheEnd Harry Potter u:08-08-2016 - 6th year AU. Dumbledore messed with Harry's family even more than anyone suspected. Ginny discovers that she was born Guinevere Potter. Harry discovers that, in a twisted system, the power of having multiple houses to his name is undeniable. He sets out to turn this twisted system against itself; and maybe restore the nobility of the former kings. Harry/Luna/harem, dark

Charm School by night.drive Harry Potter u:06-28-2016 - COMPLETE. Ginny Weasley finds herself trying to navigate the strange and confusing traditions of pure-blood society in Narcissa Malfoy's Charm School, where she encounters catty girls, a meticulous teacher, and worst of all, Draco Malfoy. Will she come out on top or be defeated? EPILOGUE POSTED.

Charmed to You by CJRed Harry Potter u:08-18-2016 - Hermione comes up with a charm that allows 'bonded soul' matches, something that has been unheard of for generations. What will Hermione do when her own magic matches her with Draco Malfoy? Unique pairings. This Hermione is a scarred war hero in a political job. She is not going to act like a brash teen and starts out in shock and reserved. Not for all readers.

Checklists by Gin's Comettail Harry Potter u:04-30-2009 - A G/D/B study in absurdity. Harry's left Ginny at Hogwarts, but does that mean any devastatingly sexy pair of boys can swoop in and steal her heart, Blaise wonders? To which Draco says - Wait, WHAT?

Child of Prophecy by VashonBeader Harry Potter u:08-24-2020 - Harry Potter is brought to Gringotts. Adventure ensues. Loving Weasleys, a bit of Dumbledore bashing, but not the focus. Harry/Hermione. This is a roller-coaster ride, so buckle up and have fun!

Choices by erm31323 Harry Potter u:11-14-2022 - Hermione takes a holiday before the second anniversary of Ron's death, hoping to decide if she is ready to move on with her life. Adrian is spending the last month before he must fulfill his familial responsibilities travelling on the continent. When the two run into one another, neither expect the outcome. Not Epilogue compliant

Christmas at Hogwarts by cleotheo Harry Potter u:12-22-2014 - A ferocious storm forces Dumbledore to shut Hogwarts for the Christmas holidays. However, in their haste to leave the Professors end up leaving a small handful of students behind. How will three Gryffindors and three Slytherins cope with spending Christmas at Hogwarts? Fun, festive story.

Chronos Historia by In Dreams Harry Potter u:04-08-2018 - Hermione and Draco stumble upon a mysterious portal and find themselves hurtled back through time a thousand years. Forced to team up to find a way home, they quickly realize that much of the history they believed to be fact, wasn't true after all. A founders era, time travel Dramione. Winner of Most Creative Plot in the Granger Enchanted Awards 2018.

Claimed By A Slytherin by Andy'sGirl4485 Harry Potter u:08-25-2011 - Hermione Granger had lost her bloody mind. At least, that's what the current circumstances would lead one to believe. AU HG/DM Hermione loses a bet and has to wear the claim tag of a certain Slytherin. Comedy, Romance, Fluff, Lemons and Happy Ending!

Closest When We're Very Far Away by GaeilgeRua Harry Potter u:03-03-2017 - Seven years after Hermione rode the dragon out of Gringotts with Harry and Ron, the Ministry has approved her petition to send someone to find it. That someone is Charlie Weasley.

Confused Beauty by DisneyKd4 Harry Potter u:04-04-2014 - She couldn't bring her parents memories back. She had to become a new person and befriend the Grangers as Briar Rose. As life is starting to fall into place again, one birthday changes everything -again. Who exactly are her parents? Why is Draco Malfoy back in her life? And how many more lies are there going to be?:/Pureblood Hermione -plot line loosely connected to Sleeping Beauty

Consequentially Yours by Nyruserra Harry Potter u:07-24-2009 - The war is over, and the recovering Wizarding Community adopts a new Marriage Law to cope with the sudden rise of bloodsicknesses. Poor Oliver, he's about to find out that the consequences of doing the right thing can get very out of hand! Not HBP Com.

Contrats? I Don't Need No Stinking Contracts by Alpha-The-Omega Harry Potter u:12-08-2010 - Harry learns of betrayal and shenanigans in dealing with most of the Order. WHat does he do? ONESHOT

Cornering Mediwitch Granger by Twilight to Midnight Harry Potter u:09-27-2007 - Five years after Hogwarts, Hermione is a mediwitch oblivious to the world of romance but Draco Malfoy is about to change that. If she won't admit she loves him then Draco will just have to force it out of her in the only way a slytherin sex god knows how.

Correcting Mistakes by potterlad81 Harry Potter u:09-12-2018 - At the end of his rope, Harry makes a desperate bid to reclaim his life... all of it. A brief time travel fic.

Correspondence by emikae Harry Potter u:02-22-2005 - Harry isn't getting his letters, so he take things into his own hands, and owls Voldemort to see if he is intercepting them. A surprising thing happens... Complete!

Coven of The Rose by CRose Harry Potter u:09-06-2009 - Harry's escaped from Azkaban and wants Revenge! Now this isn't your normal everyday kind of revenge, Harry is a second generation Marauder with a bone to pick with just about everyone that thinks they can just discard him like a worn out shoe

Craving Curves by WeasleyForMe Harry Potter u:02-08-2012 - Fred is surprised to find how much Hermione has grown up since her days as the Gryffindor bookworm. He's even more surprised by how much he wants her. Hermione/Fred rated M

Creative Landscaping by Acacia Vix Harry Potter u:01-14-2021 - Harry decides to let off some steam. This gives him ideas for handling the Triwizard Tournament. T rating may be overdoing it.

Crookshanks the Matchmaker by midwestern sorceress Harry Potter u:06-10-2013 - All Crookshanks wants is for his mistress Hermione Granger to be happy. But he knows she won't find the happiness she needs with the readheaded male. So, one evening, he chooses to take matters into his own hands. Or paws. H/Hr.

Cwéne by artemisgirl Harry Potter u:11-02-2016 - Hermione watches the inky sky, alone, and wishes upon a star. She wishes for an equal, someone to stand at her side as she takes a stand against the world. And when the Fates deliver him to her, the world will never be the same again.

[detectiveichijouji]

Case 37 - The Uncovering Truth beneath the "Truth"?!

[AO3 version]

After the Digimon Kaiser imposter pretended to be Taichi on the phone and mysteriously attacked Miyako, Iori and then Daisuke... Ken realized that the only person he suspected to be the enemy and the one who claims to have been erased from reality since their first contact at school…

“The faux Digimon Kaiser is…”

He pointed at the masked boy:

“... Nokita Yuu, am I correct?”

The game has been cleared. Ken had just won, right?

The faker removed the mask and the hood, revealing it to be indeed Nokita. He was smiling as if Ken recognizing him was a consolation prize for all the misfortune that had fallen upon him.

“I knew you would figure things out, Ichijouji-kun,” Nokita said, “You were always smarter than any of us. Only you refused to acknowledge that.”

“I’m sorry for what happened to you, but you shouldn’t attack the others…! Maybe if I use that Digimental I can-- I can try to bring you back…”

“Now you want to save me…?” Nokita said with an annoyed tone, “You betrayed me before. And you know what that Digimental does, right? It has a high price to pay. Would you risk destroying everything just to undo your mistake?”

“We can make it work… I don’t want anyone to suffer the consequences of my choices anymore…!”

“K-Ken… D-don’t do that!” Daisuke said, still with some difficulty.

“But Daisuke…!! He’s… He’s right, I messed this up, it’s my fault--”

“STOP… TAKING RESPONSIBILITY… FOR THINGS YOU CAN’T CONTROL!” Daisuke grabbed Ken by his shoulders, even if he knew this could end up really bad.

“...”

“Daisuke-san is right,” Paildramon (Stingmon side) said, “This is not your fault.”

“No, it is his fault,” Nokita shook his head, “Thanks to Ichijouji-kun I don’t exist anymore. But being an anomaly within space-time made me able to do certain things I couldn’t before. So, thank you for erasing me, Ichijouji-kun.”

“S-STOP TOYING WITH HIM-- ACK!!”

“I warned you, Motomiya Daisuke,” Nokita snapped his finger, “If you tried to interfere in my reunion with my beloved old friend… You and your pathetic group would pay for it.”

“... If you don’t want me to fix things, what do you want then?!” Ken babbled nervously as he watched Daisuke fall on his knees, “There must be a way to solve this without having to hurt everyone else, not even yourself…!”

“Do I look like I care?” Nokita said, uninterested, “The old Ichijouji Ken would just agree with Akiyama and do what his pathetic role model wanted to be done. So why do you care about me now? You could’ve done that before causing all this unfortunate reality for us.”

“... I care because… I had done awful things here too, maybe even worse than you could imagine. But I learned from my mistakes, and I learned to move forward.”

“Oh? Another of those heroic speeches?” he scoffed.

“I’m saying that you can learn something from your mistakes rather than trying to run away from them.”

“Are you giving me life’s lessons now?”

"I want to solve it, in a peaceful way. If you're willing to. You said that we used to be friends, right?"

“Yeah, I said it… We were friends. Best friends…”

Ken smiled, this could mean he doesn’t need to fight Nokita at all--

“... But we are not anymore.”

?!!!

Suddenly, a wolf-like warrior with light swords surprised Ken, how had his guard down. Paildramon rushed to block the enemy’s swords, and thus saved their human partner from that attack. Paildramon shoved the digimon -- Wolfmon -- to the side. Ken realized that Daisuke had disappeared and then reached the unfortunate conclusion that…

“!!!”

… That digimon was Daisuke.

“Ken, what should we do?” Paildramon asked, with both sides of the Jogress in unison. It meant even XV-mon was not sure what they should do.

“Why did you do that?” Ken gave Nokita a deadly glare.

“This is what I want now, make you suffer. Make every single one of your friends in your new reality go after you,” Nokita smirked, delighted with that reaction.

“...” Wolfmon was mute, differently from previous victims they faced.

“Daisuke, please stop!” Ken turned to the digimon who was actually one of his most treasured friends in his entire life, “I said I can’t fight you… Don’t force me to do it!”

“...”

“Dammit, Daisuke!” Paildramon (XV-mon side) growled, “You’re stronger than this, snap out of it!!”

“It’s useless,” Nokita said, triumphantly, “Remember what I said? Being turned into an anomaly gave me abilities you don’t even imagine. Those fake shards weren’t done with the wicked Digimental, you buffoon. They were replicas with my power. The power I acquired when I reacted to the Digimental of Desire you broke while playing the tyrant role.”

“H-how?!” Ken turned back to him, “I broke that Digimental 6 years ago! Why didn’t you come to haunt me before?!”

“Ah, silly Ichijouji-kun… Just because I was powered by the broken pieces of that digimental doesn’t mean I could do it alone. Did you forget? I had a little help too.”

Ken kept being attacked by Wolfmon, and having Paildramon to protect him.

“Besides… you pathetic sad meat puppet called Oikawa Yukio had a strong barrier. I only managed to get here… Because of Unryuuji Naito-san’s weak spirit. His innocent curiosity about the shard found by a merchant digimon was enough to drive him insane and let him and his digimon partner find the rest and spread it through the human world.”

“What?!” Ken gritted his teeth, “You…!!”

“I told you. If Millenniummon was Akiyama Ryo’s nemesis… I’m your nemesis. You made this choice. And I will make you regret existing.”

“...”

It’s my fault. Daisuke might be mad at me for saying this. But this is all my fault. I might not have memories of what Nokita-kun is accusing me of, but… I deep down know it was because of my choice that I caused everyone to suffer.

If I used that Digimental… If that Digimental’s price was to corrupt me in this new world…Was it worth it then? Was erasing Nokita-kun’s existence right?

I can’t escape from this fate.I can’t--

Ken closed his eyes, Paildramon protected him again from Wolfmon. He wanted a button to reset everything again, if it was all truth. If it was all because of him.

“UN DEUX TROIS!!”

Suddenly a laser beam was fired from a top hat. The beam hit Wolfmon, who stopped attacking for unknown reasons. When Ken opened his eyes, he and Paildramon saw the gallant Arsenemon standing in front of them.

“You should not succumb to this vile spirit, mon ami. This person… Made his own choices before you made yours.”

“Huh?” Ken blinked.

“You think you can twist the truth, Nokita Yuu… Or should I say… Hikawa Yuuichi?”

“... Tsc. You came to ruin my fun again?” Nokita asked with a monotone voice.

“Hikawa Yuuichi?” Ken looked at Arsenemon, clueless.

“This person here… Used to be mademoiselle Hikawa Mizuki’s old brother.”

“Oh, someone who really remembers me? I thought Quantumon had altered everyone’s memories before disappearing.”

“He did not get betrayed by Akiyama Ryo, Hino Akari and you. It was the opposite.” Arsenemon revealed, “Hikawa Yuuichi’s heart was taunted by the power of Moon-Millenniummon shards, unfortunately… And since his digimon was compatible with said power… He tried to negotiate with the evil digimon to spare everyone as a trade off for him and his partner.”

“... How do you know that?”

“Ken did not erase you because he wanted to. You asked him to get rid of you before you could destroy everything. You didn’t want Millenniummon to use you and your digimon as vessels anymore, so Babamon risked her life taking everyone to the city of Larc and find the Digimental of Desire, to summon Quantumon and change the reality before you could awake Millenniummon’s destructive power.”

“Is… Is it true?” Ken asked, “Those are completely different stories!! They don’t match!”

“Monsieur Ichijouji Ken… Millenniummon corrupted Hikawa Yuuichi’s body and killed Hino Akari and Akiyama Ryo, who were trying to give you enough time to find the forbidden Digimental in Larc.”

“Our narratives don’t match, Arsenemon” Hikawa said, nonchalantly, “You’re just messing it up with his poor head even more. Aren’t you ashamed of doing a dirty trick like this?”

“Oh, I know… Because I was in Larc back in time, but Babamon used her power to send me to Witchelny, which was not affected by this. I suspect ma chère grand-mère was a step forward and left me as witness. She also left… Instructions with my belongings.”

“So you were from there?” Paildramon (XV-mon side) asked.

“Like your friend says, bingo.”

“... No, that can't be true…” Hikawa said, “It’s impossible… I… I!!”

“You’re just working under the orders of the reminiscence of that wicked power, monsieur Hikawa. Please… Stop here… Or… We will have to destroy what was left of you.

“You’re mocking me?! You’re lying to me?! I never remember seeing YOU there, Arsenemon! You never existed in that old reality!”

“I wasn’t Arsenemon yet, I was a BlackTailmon. Tu t'en souviens maintenant? ”

“W-what, you… You were that BlackTailmon…!!?”

 “... I don’t want to kill him,” Ken frowned, “Arsenemon, if what you said is true… Daisuke was right all this time and he’s not a bad person…”

“You’re just… playing with my head like they did it to me! The digimon… condemned my partner and I… And then…!!”

Suddenly… And surprisingly…

“GHN!!”

Wolfmon moved. And he stabbed Hikawa Yuuichi with his sword. Since Hikawa-kun wasn’t the same anymore… It meant that…

“H-How c-could you do t-that to me…!?”

“You… You… Won’t… Take control… Of… Us…!!”

… something inside Daisuke was still resisting that corrupted power. But why, why would Daisuke, who had said he wouldn’t do that… That he wouldn’t attack a human…

Would suddenly change his mind and do it anyway?

“I see…” Hikawa fell on his knees, “You’re still loyal to Ichijouji-kun… Right?”

“D-Daisuke, why did you do that?!” Ken shouted, terrified.

“B-Because… He’s… not… m…!!” and then, the evolution broke. Daisuke fell on the floor.

“Daisuke!!” Ken and Paildramon panicked, and went to his encounter.

“Mon ami!!” Arsenemon followed the other two.

“Kh… So… You used it… Again” Hikawa breathed heavily, due to the damage caused by the holy powers contained in Wolfmon’s light sword, “I thought you wanted… revenge…”

“What are you talking about?!” Ken snapped, then looked at Daisuke, “Daisuke are you ok--”

“... Ken, please,” Daisuke said, out of the blue, “End me now.”

“Huh?!” / “Pardon?” 

“I’m sorry for doing this…” the goggle boy continued, “I’ve spent… Years and years… Trying to not let that part of me break the promise we made…”

“P-Promise…?!”

“You might not remember… But that time I said…”

“Ken, I can’t hold this anymore…! I’m sorry, okay? I’m sorry for… Betraying you.” “Yuuichi-kun… I…” “You were right… Akiyama-san was right about Millenniummon… Since… YukiAgumon was compatible with that power… I thought I could… control it and save everyone.” “I refuse to do that--” “Listen, Ken! I committed a terrible mistake, this digimon will destroy the world if you don’t exile me from this universe! Before I could cause more pain to you… Please…!” Ken was trembling, with the Digimental of Desire in hands. “They said that this Digimental has a price to pay for its powers… I don’t… I don’t want to use it against you! You’re my best friend, Yuuichi-kun!” “Ngh… Just do it! YukiAgumon is gone because of me…! And then… then Akiyama-san and Hino-san… “ “N-No…!” “I promise that I will find a way to meet you again! Just please… kick me out of this dimension, reality, whatever Babamon said!” “... You… You promise…? You promise you will be back?” “I never break my promises! You have to-- !!” “Yuuichi-kun…!!” Wormmon used his silky thread to catch Ken and pull him away from Yuuichi. Then, the young Ken used the Digimental on Wormmon, Armor-evolving his partner into Quantumon. “Unlimited Journey!” Quantumon opened a portal by transforming the space by quantum processing, before Hikawa could reach Ken at a very very short distance. The gate created by the fairy-type digimon thus absorbed him and next Mugendramon, closing seconds one the human and the digimon vanished. Ken wanted to say something, but suddenly, Quantumon evolution broke and the Digimental returned to the boy’s hands. It started to glow and its forbidden power started to consume Ken’s body. “K-Ken-chan!!” Then… Everything turned pitch black.

“I’m sorry.” Daisuke (?) sighed, “You have to destroy what’s left of me. Now.”

“I don’t understan--” Paildramon was interrupted by Arsenemon then:

“I see… Monsieur Hikawa used what was left of his good heart on monsieur Motomiya… C'est intéressant…”

“What is he planning to do?” Ken asked, already aware about Hikawa using Daisuke’s body to communicate with them.

“I’m afraid that my other-self… will use that power for something bad…” he frowned, then he looked at Arsenemon, “Please, finish me before I use the last shards…!!”

“Miyako-san and Iori-kun…!!” the boy gasped, and Arsenemon chuckled victoriously. Ken did not get it so he just stared at the phantom thief, “What’s so funny, our friends are in dang--”

“I didn’t come alone, mon ami…”

Hikari was facing Vritramon, who was sadly a forced evolution between Miyako and Hawkmon. Unlike Daisuke’s case, Hawkmon was somehow absorbed by the fragment the moment it was activated.

“Miyako-san, please stop…!”

Angewomon had to intervene, protecting Hikari from the enemy. The two didn’t want to fight their friends. So they kept calling for Miyako and Hawkmon’s consciences deep inside Vritramon.

“Hawkmon, you’re not going to let this shard control you!!”

Vritramon was exactly Miyako’s at her worst -- a berserker with no mind. Not even the cool temper and nobility aura from Hawkmon was present in that form. Both felt more like an untamable beast than anything, running amok.

Hikari and Angewomon had to lure Vritramon to outside, so the angel digimon carried her human partner to the streets. Luckily, Vtritramon followed them, and attacked in midair. Once they landed, Angewomon put Hikari on the ground and shot a holy arrow against the opponent.

“Miyako-san… Hawkmon! Please, open your eyes!!” Hikari yelled once more.

But it was useless, until the moment Vitramon came into their direction again and something like a shield blocked the way.

A rabbit-like digimon wearing armor -- Crescemon -- suddenly popped in with…

“Lune-san, why are you…?!” Hikari gasped, not believing that.

“Look, Étoile explained why we should team up,” the other girl answered with a serious gaze, approaching Hikari, “Seems like… We’re connected because of Ichijouji-kun.”

 “Connected?” Angewomon repeated, curious.

“... The Digimon Kaiser guy fighting you… Seems like he was my brother once. And I want to make him pay for messing with Youta, Kayono and Ryouma so much…!”

“So, you’re helping us now…?” Hikari asked, rhetorically.

“Yeah, sure. But I won’t hold back against your friends. Crescemon, you know what to do.”

“Alright!” the sassy bun digimon nodded, “Get ready, Angewomon. I’ll shatter that gem thing and you heal’em!”

“So this is your plan” the angel-like digimon smirked, “Good, because if you hurt our friends…”

“... ‘I won’t forgive you’, right?”

“The shard is on Miyako-san’s right hand!” Hikari informed Crescemon.

Vritramon attacked with their super weapons localized in their arms, shooting lasers against the opponents. Crescemon protected the girls while Angemon dodged in the midair, and shot a holy arrow at Vritramon, who ceased fire to block the arrow.

“Lunatic Dance!!”

Crescemon then started to move really quickly, like if she was multiplying and dancing around Vritramon. The poor digimon seemed to not be able to follow her steps very well, so the armored bun digimon managed to hit them several times, one of them hitting the shard attached to Miyako’s hand.

Vritramon growled in pain, and then… the evolution broke, releasing Miyako and Hawkmon from it. Angewomon came next, caught the duo and used her holy powers on them.

“Heaven’s Cure!!”

Then she gently healed them with a bright warm pure light coming from her hands. 

They were saved. Hikari was relieved.

Meanwhile, Takeru and Angemon were facing Mercuremon, which was a forced evolution of Iori and Armadimon -- who was absorbed by the shard once activated as well.

Again, Takeru and Angemon were unable to fight them. Angemon feared hurting Iori in the process more than Armadimon. The whole old discourse that had made Takeru clash with Daisuke in the past had another meaning when a human is involved.

Takeru knew no matter what Iori asked him to do, he wouldn’t be able to lay a finger on his friend and Jogress partner. But he knew the shard being destroyed meant he could break Iori and Armadimon free from that form.

“Iori-kun… Armadimon, snap out of it!” Takeru shouted, as Angemon blocked Mercuremon’s attacks, which was able to use Armadimon and his evolutions’ data to attack with the mirrors attached on Mercuremon’s arms.

Angemon was lost, he wanted to do something but what if he hurt Iori in the process?

“Takeru, we have to do something…!” Angemon repelled Digmon’s drills coming from the Mirror of Irony (Mercuremon’s weapons) with his holy rod.

“But…”

Mercuremon was nothing like Iori nor Armadimon, It felt more likely a merciless and cold hearted foe. The cheerful laid-back energy from Armadimon was gone, and the digimon form had no resemblance with Iori’s righteous nature.

Takeru couldn’t let a fight happen inside the building, so just like Hikari, he and Angemon lured Mercuremon to the outside, who used the mirrors to fast-travel thru the air. The corrupted evolution popped in front of Angemon and used Submarimon’s oxygen torpedoes against them.

Angemon dodged the attack in midair, and then tried to attack with his holy energy, only to be absorbed by the mirrors and to be reflected back to him. It was when Mercuremon used Shakkoumon’s laser beams on Angemon, hitting the angel’s wing and forcing him to land on the street nearby the building.

Mercuremon continued to attack until Flaremon suddenly appeared and assaulted the digimon, pushing them away from Takeru and Angemon.

“What? Flaremon, what are you--” Angemon exclaimed;

“Takaishi!” Soleil came to meet the other boy, “You have to fight back!”

“What?! You don’t understand, Iori-kun is…!”

“You idiot, this is not about putting him down!!” Soleil growled, impatiently.

"Don't just pretend to care about us!" Takeru gritted his teeth and argued back, “You don’t think about the others and their feelin--”

“Of course I do think about the others!” Soleil shouted, “Despite everything… The only person I deeply cared about in that stupid family was Akari and I can’t turn my back on whoever knew or know my big sis.”

“Huh…?”

“Hino Akari, she became a Chosen Child way before you and me. Étoile… Noel said she was the reason Ichijouji became one later. Witnessing a digimon event is what causes one human to become a Chosen Child, right?”

“Yeah, but…”

“So whoever is Akari’s friend… Is my business too.”

“So you mean you will… Fight Iori-kun?”

“Takaishi, did you forget that you can break that evolution if you break the darn shard or not?!”

“... You’re right, but…”

“It’s in the right hand,” Angemon said instead.

“-- We couldn’t get a chance to reach it… Yet. They keep attacking us,” Takeru quickly added, a bit embarrassed for letting his panic control him before.

“Oh, so you’re not chickening here?” Soleil sighed, but relieved, “If that’s the case… Flaremon and I can get you a chance to break that dumb gem.”

“You… have a plan?” Angemon asked.

“Not yet, but… Stay alert, we can find out how to break that shard if we work together.”

“You’re not that different from us then…” Takeru nodded, making Soleil blush a bit.

“Anyway… Flaremon, the target might use those mirrors to reflect projectiles. So no long-ranged attacks! Don’t hold back, grab’ em and let Angemon do the rest!”

“Understood,” Flaremon nodded.

Mercuremon kept using Armadimon’s data to shoot projectiles like Digmon’s drills or Submarimon’s oxygen bullets. Angemon repelled those, serving as a human shield for Flaremon. 

“Maybe if we… Find a way to stop the projectiles…” Takeru mused.

“If that’s the case… Flaremon, time to use the Crimson Lion Dance on them!!” 

Then, Flaremon used a mad flurry of grappling moves against Mercuremon, breaking the Mirrors of Irony and thus preventing the enemy from attacking or reflecting attacks.

“W-wow…” Takeru exclaimed in awe. 

“Oh so sorry, I guess you got a big bad luck wave coming right back to you, kid”

“Heaven’s Knuckle!!”

Angemon smashed the wicked fragment, by shooting a beam of holy light from his fist. The evolution broke and then, Flaremon grabbed Iori and Armadimon, gently and carefully.

“See what I meant?” Soleil said, prideful.

“You got a soft side, huh,” Takeru teased him.

“... I only did that for my sister, and Noel. Besides… A certain person is giving Mizuki a bad name, and I want to make him pay.”

“... You mean that… Those other two came to help us?” Ken asked, quite rhetorically.

Arsenemon nodded his head, “When it comes to someone they care deeply… They’re just like you six.”

“... I’m sorry to interrupt, but we had two shards left” the good Hikawa (possessing Daisuke’s body at the moment) reminded them, “That alone might not be able to invoke a strong digimon against us, but…”

“But..?” Paildramon (Stingmon side) asked.

“Sigh. Being stuck in between the realities and dimensions while most of my body and mind were corrupted by a part of Millenniummon’s power… Possibly gave me ideas and…”

Daisuke (Hikawa) frowned before he continued, “I watched you from there, I know what Millenniummon had done to you and to Akiyama-san again. I watched everything from that starting point. I’m sorry for Akiyama-san disappearing out of nowhere, Ken.”

“It’s not your fault about that--”

“Look, he… He didn’t disappear for no reason, like I said… Millenniummon is his nemesis so it did not die, it was still alive and the Digital World gathered a few Chosen Children to help prepare Akiyama-san for the worst battle in his life. Hino-san was there, but none of them knew they were once friends.”

“Huh…?”

“Akiyama was totally consumed by anger when he learned Millenniummon was still alive, and he went after his nemesis… To avenge you.”

That shocking reveal hurt Ken even more.

“Despite everything… even here… You and him were bound to be friends, right?”

“Hey dude, what ya mean??” deep inside, Daisuke was listening to that chit chat (though Ken, Paildramon and Arsenemon couldn’t hear him at the moment), “What do ya think the ‘evil you’ will do now??”

“What kind of ideas did ya get??”

“Please tell me it’s not like, reviving an ol' enemy of us…” Daisuke sighed, though he was quite concerned. He was so tired of the old villains from the past coming back…

“... Stop running our surprises… Yuuichi!” the cursed non-human vessel scoffed.

“What do you plan to do now…?” Paildramon (XV-mon side) stared at the villain.

“Hurry up, Ken” Daisuke (Hikawa) said again, “Destroy me!”

“You can’t get rid of me, you fool” the evil vessel smirked, “If I die, you cease to exist forever.”

Ken was troubled, everything that just happened…

Watching his friends getting hurt, watching a friend who once existed being tricked by something evil, the big news that Akiyama Ryo went to fight Millenniummon all alone and in order to avenge him for the evil spore in his neck…

… Everything was just giving him more and more mixed feelings. Awful feelings.

Maybe things would’ve been better if I never existed--

“STOP RIGHT THERE!”

But then, something…

Something deep inside Ken spoke louder in his mind…

“YOU IDIOT! THINK ABOUT WHAT DAISUKE SAID TO YOU BEFORE!! BACK IN TIME, WHEN YOU WERE FULL OF REGRETS OF THOSE HORRIBLE SINS YOU COMMITTED!”

What Daisuke said… before…?

“IF YOU WISH YOU HADN’T EXISTED YOU WILL BE JUST MAKING EVERYTHING BE IN VAIN! IF YOU HADN’T EXISTED, THIS WOULDN’T HAVE PREVENTED UNFORTUNATE THINGS TO HAPPEN TO YOUR FRIENDS AND EVERYONE AT ALL!”

… If I die here… I won’t be able to accomplish anything. I wouldn’t have met Wormmon, Ryo-san, Daisuke, Miyako-san, Iori-kun, Takeru-kun, Hikari-san… Hikawa-kun… Everyone.

“THEN WHY THE HECK ARE YOU THINKING THINGS WOULD’VE BE BETTER IF YOU WERE GONE OR IF YOU NEVER HAD EXISTED!?”

I… No, this is not right. I do have a reason to exist, even if I made mistakes in any past or present… What’s left is to move forward and learn with them.

I knew that. I learned that with Daisuke. I even said it to Hikawa-kun…

“DON’T GIVE UP RIGHT NOW!!”

… That something was indeed Ken’s heart.

“Ichijouji-kun, Daisuke-kun!!” he heard Takeru’s voice from the horizon, and it was the others gathering with them at the rooftop. 

Miyako and Iori were fine (Angewomon had healed Iori and Armadimon already), and their partners were Jogressed as Silphymon and Shakkoumon once they reached the top.

“Miyako-san, Iori-kun!” Ken was relieved to see them okay now.

“... Tsc, I’ll end this now…” the vessel said, and then it snapped its fingers, summoning a white scaled Agumon. But, weirdly, the digimon didn’t move or… Seemed to be awake?

“A white Agumon??” Miyako commented.

“... D-do not dare!!” Daisuke (Hikawa) shouted, desperately.

The vessel sniggered when Hikawa reacted to the YukiAgumon in front of them, and thus fused the remaining shards with that Agumon, cyborg-like digimon similar to Mugendramon, but… It was different and reddish.

“What’s this…?” Daisuke asked Hikawa, from inside his own mind, “It does look like what Taichi-san said to be Mugendramon but… It’s… red?”

“That’s Chaosdramon,” Hikawa explained with his eyes widened, “That one finished form of Mugendramon, and it’s also… able to evolve into…”

“... Darn it…” Ken cursed.

What should we do now…??

[stonedregulus]

September Reads

(Yes, I am very behind. My apologies.)

I read 12 books this month and 0 fics... Apparently I was in an Original Fiction mood. Oops! These are in the order I read them.

The Infinite Noise by Lauren Shippen

Summary:

Caleb Michaels is a sixteen-year-old champion running back. Other than that his life is pretty normal. But when Caleb starts experiencing mood swings that are out of the ordinary for even a teenager, his life moves beyond “typical.” Caleb is an Atypical, an individual with enhanced abilities. Which sounds pretty cool except Caleb's ability is extreme empathy—he feels the emotions of everyone around him. Being an empath in high school would be hard enough, but Caleb's life becomes even more complicated when he keeps getting pulled into the emotional orbit of one of his classmates, Adam. Adam's feelings are big and all-consuming, but they fit together with Caleb's feelings in a way that he can't quite understand. Caleb's therapist, Dr. Bright, encourages Caleb to explore this connection by befriending Adam. As he and Adam grow closer, Caleb learns more about his ability, himself, his therapist—who seems to know a lot more than she lets on—and just how dangerous being an Atypical can be.

Page Count: 352 Genre: YA My Rating: ★★★/5 My Review:

Okay, I had to work for this one. The plot was a bit slow—I feel like it didn’t start to pick up until around Chapter 20. I am also confused by and why the author decided to introduce new characters and start adding on a deeper plot with only a third of the book left. Those loose ends were not tied up at all so I’m hoping the author wraps it all up and answers questions in the 2nd and 3rd books. I think the story line was fine, and the it was written well. I related far too deeply to Adam. I love him and I just want to protect him from the world. LGBTQ+ rep, yay! TW: self-harm, depression, anxiety, homophobia, homophobic slur

Winter’s Orbit by Everina Maxwell

Summary:

While the Iskat Empire has long dominated the system through treaties and political alliances, several planets, including Thea, have begun to chafe under Iskat's rule. When tragedy befalls Imperial Prince Taam, his Thean widower, Jainan, is rushed into an arranged marriage with Taam's cousin, the disreputable Kiem, in a bid to keep the rising hostilities between the two worlds under control. But when it comes to light that Prince Taam's death may not have been an accident, and that Jainan himself may be a suspect, the unlikely pair must overcome their misgivings and learn to trust one another as they navigate the perils of the Iskat court, try to solve a murder, and prevent an interplanetary war... all while dealing with their growing feelings for each other.

Page Count: 432 Genre: Sci-Fi, Romance, Space Opera My Rating: ★★★★/5 My Review:

Court politics, galactic treaties, murder, & slow-burn romance. Its like RWRB meets Star Wars. I’ve actually never read a space opera before but I really enjoyed this! Also hello arranged marriage trope?! Yes gimme gimme.

The Gravity of Us by Phil Stamper

Summary:

As a successful social media journalist with half a million followers, seventeen-year-old Cal is used to sharing his life online. But when his pilot father is selected for a highly publicized NASA mission to Mars, Cal and his family relocate from Brooklyn to Houston and are thrust into a media circus. Amidst the chaos, Cal meets sensitive and mysterious Leon, another “Astrokid,” and finds himself falling head over heels—fast. As the frenzy around the mission grows, so does their connection. But when secrets about the program are uncovered, Cal must find a way to reveal the truth without hurting the people who have become most important to him.

Page Count: 336 Genre: YA My Rating: ★★★/5 My Review:

This was really cute. I felt like every character was relatable at some point which was nice but I had a hard time grabbing on to one specific character to make my blorbo. Idk if that makes sense but I normally like to kind of latch onto one character and instead I felt like I was just kind of floating between a few. The MC is a bit whiney but it’s a cute story! I just felt a bit disappointed with the ending. It kind of felt like ‘idk how to end this sooooo uhm, the end?’

The Darkness Outside Us by Eliot Schrefer

Summary:

Two boys, alone in space. After the first settler on Titan trips her distress signal, neither remaining country on Earth can afford to scramble a rescue of its own, and so two sworn enemies are installed in the same spaceship.

Ambrose wakes up on the Coordinated Endeavor, with no memory of a launch. There’s more that doesn’t add up: Evidence indicates strangers have been on board, the ship’s operating system is voiced by his mother, and his handsome, brooding shipmate has barricaded himself away. But nothing will stop Ambrose from making his mission succeed—not when he’s rescuing his own sister. In order to survive the ship’s secrets, Ambrose and Kodiak will need to work together and learn to trust one another… especially once they discover what they are truly up against. Love might be the only way to survive.

Page Count: 416 Genre: YA, Sci-Fi, Dystopian My Rating: ★★★★★/5 My Review:

This… This is going to be the book that I judge all books on for the rest of my life. Holy shit. No, really, holy shit. I don’t want to over-hype this but I cannot stress enough how good this was. You have got to read this. At first I was laughing because the humor was on point and then suddenly it turned into “Oh fucking shit, what the fuck, what the fuck, what the fuck?!” This book gave me an existential crisis. I just… wow. Okay? Just wow.

The Temperature of Me and You by Brian Zepka

Summary:

Sixteen-year-old Dylan Highmark thought his winter was going to be full of boring shifts at the Dairy Queen, until he finds himself in love with a boy who's literally too hot to handle. Dylan has always wanted a boyfriend, but the suburbs surrounding Philadelphia do not have a lot in the way of options. Then, in walks Jordan, a completely normal (and undeniably cute) boy who also happens to run at a cool 110 degrees Fahrenheit. When the boys start spending time together, Dylan begins feeling all kinds of ways, and when he spikes a fever for two weeks and is suddenly coughing flames, he thinks he might be suffering from something more than just a crush. Jordan forces Dylan to keep his symptoms a secret. But as the pressure mounts and Dylan becomes distant with his closest friends and family, he pushes Jordan for answers. Jordan's revelations of why he's like this, where he came from, and who's after him leaves Dylan realizing how much first love is truly out of this world. And if Earth supports life that breathes oxygen, then love can only keep Jordan and Dylan together for so long.

Page Count: 416 Genre: YA, Paranormal, Fantasy My Rating: ★★★/5 My Review:

This was good but… I dunno. It lacked a bit. Like the story line was fine but it just kind of felt like… Idk I felt like there could’ve been more. I wanted moreeeee.

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

Summary:

Yadriel has summoned a ghost, and now he can’t get rid of him. When his traditional Latinx family has problems accepting his gender, Yadriel becomes determined to prove himself a real brujo. With the help of his cousin and best friend Maritza, he performs the ritual himself, and then sets out to find the ghost of his murdered cousin and set it free. However, the ghost he summons is actually Julian Diaz, the school’s resident bad boy, and Julian is not about to go quietly into death. He’s determined to find out what happened and tie up some loose ends before he leaves. Left with no choice, Yadriel agrees to help Julian, so that they can both get what they want. But the longer Yadriel spends with Julian, the less he wants to let him leave.

Page Count: 352 Genre: YA, Paranormal, Fantasy My Rating: ★★★★★/5 My Review:

If you’re going to read only one book from this list, let it be this one. HOLY WOW. FANTASTIC TRANS REP!!! I felt so seen. I loved all of the characters and ughhhhh *feral cat noises clawing off own skin* It is SO GOOD. The story line is incredible. There’s just so much. I didn’t feel like there were any loose ends, everything made sense. I love Yadriel so much I would literally kill for him.

The Extraordinaries, Flash Fire, & Heat Wave by TJ Klune

Summary:

1) Nick Bell? Not extraordinary. But being the most popular fanfiction writer in the Extraordinaries fandom is a superpower, right? After a chance encounter with Shadow Star, Nova City’s mightiest hero (and Nick’s biggest crush), Nick sets out to make himself extraordinary. And he’ll do it with or without the reluctant help of Seth Gray, Nick's best friend (and maybe the love of his life). 2) Nick landed himself the superhero boyfriend of his dreams, but with new heroes arriving in Nova City it’s up to Nick and his friends to determine who is virtuous and who is villainous. Which is a lot to handle for a guy who just wants to finish his self-insert bakery AU fanfic. 3) Nick, Seth, Gibby, and Jazz are back in action bringing justice, protection, and disaster energy to the people of Nova City. An unexpected hero returns to Nova City and crash lands into Nick's home, upturning his life, his family, and his understanding of what it means to be a hero in the explosive finale of the thrilling and hilarious Extraordinaries trilogy by New York Times bestselling author TJ Klune. 

Page Count: 400, 384, 384 Genre: YA, Fantasy My Rating: ★★★★/5 My Review:

The relationship between Nick and his dad is just *chef's kiss*. They're fucking hilarious. I laughed so hard through all three of these. Like constant laughter. I cannot even, so fucking FUNNNNNYYY. I love that the second two books really address the sort of weird cop hero worship of the first book and talked about the BLM movement in a great way. Overall a really cute superhero series with great LGBTQ rep.

What If It’s Us, & Here’s To Us by Becky Albertalli & Adam Silvera

Summary:

1) Arthur is only in New York for the summer, but if Broadway has taught him anything, it’s that the universe can deliver a showstopping romance when you least expect it. Ben thinks the universe needs to mind its business. If the universe had his back, he wouldn’t be on his way to the post office carrying a box of his ex-boyfriend’s things. But when Arthur and Ben meet-cute at the post office, what exactly does the universe have in store for them? Maybe nothing. After all, they get separated. Maybe everything. After all, they get reunited. But what if they can’t quite nail a first date . . . or a second first date . . . or a third? What if Arthur tries too hard to make it work . . . and Ben doesn’t try hard enough? What if life really isn’t like a Broadway play? But what if it is? 2) Ben has spent his first year of college working on his fantasy manuscript with his writing partner Mario, who is a great Spanish tutor, and an even better kisser. So why can’t he stop thinking about the fact that Arthur’s back in town two years after they called it quits? Arthur is in New York for a dream internship on Broadway, with a boyfriend back at home that he couldn't be happier with. But when he comes upon Ben cuddled up with a mystery boy, he starts to wonder if his feelings for Ben ever truly went away. Even as the boys try to focus on their futures, they can't seem to help running into each other in the present. Is the universe forcing them to question if they’re actually meant to be? Possibly not. After all, things didn’t work the first time around. Possibly yes. After all, the sparks are still flying. Sometimes you just have to take a leap of faith and raise a glass. Here’s to celebrating old friends! Here’s to embracing new beginnings! Here’s to believing in second chances!

Page Count: 480, 448 Genre: YA, Romantic Comedy My Rating: ★★★/5 My Review:

These are cute rom coms. The first one had A LOT of Harry Potter and JKR mentions but it was published right before she was outed as a TERF and the second one doesn’t mention HP at all so that’s good. Over all an easy read if you need something chill.

Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

Summary:

An incendiary and utterly compelling thriller with a shocking twist that delves deep into the heart of institutionalized racism, from an exceptional new YA voice. Welcome to Niveus Private Academy, where money paves the hallways, and the students are never less than perfect. Until now. Because anonymous texter, Aces, is bringing two students' dark secrets to light. Talented musician Devon buries himself in rehearsals, but he can't escape the spotlight when his private photos go public. Head girl Chiamaka isn't afraid to get what she wants, but soon everyone will know the price she has paid for power. Someone is out to get them both. Someone who holds all the aces. And they're planning much more than a high-school game... 

Page Count: 432 Genre: YA, Thriller, Mystery My Rating: ★★★★/5 My Review:

This is horrifying but depressingly plausible. I’ve seen so many reviews about how heavy handed this book is and how they didn’t like the “all white people are racist” theme. Guess what? All white people are racist. We have inherent racism, it’s been built into our minds for centuries and it’s our jobs to break down our internalized racism and work on being anti racist. Being anti racist is not a destination. It’s not enough to do a few anti racist things and mark off check boxes to say “I’m not racist.” It’s a journey that we will be on for as long as we live to continue breaking down all of the racist bullshit we’ve been fed throughout our lives. Two quotes from this book really stuck with me: “Growing up, I realized quite quickly that people hate being called racist more than they hate racism itself.” “I don’t trust white people like you do. I obviously don’t think they are all murderers, but I think they are all racist... racism is a spectrum and they all participate in it in some way. They don’t all have white hoods or call us mean things; I know that. But racism isn’t just about that—it’s not about being nice or mean. Or good versus bad. It’s bigger than that.” Most of the white people who are reviewing this book and giving it a bad rating will rant about how unfair and ridiculous it is to call all white people racist. Those reviewers are racist. Full stop. They’re so incredibly mad about being called racist instead of taking the time to evaluate themselves it’s insane, and sad, and they prove the book, which they’re so adamant about being wrong, right. Alright so now that I’m done ranting about stupid people: this book was excellent. So many twists, ones I saw coming and others I didn’t. It’s like Gossip Girl meets Get Out. Some moments are truly terrifying. It kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. There were just a few things that didn’t get answered that I really wish the author would have addressed by the end of the book because I’m left questioning what happened. I let’s set up nicely for a sequel, I assume it’s getting one, but I doubt my questions will be answered by one.

DNF:

A Marvelous Light, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

[yunakitry]

yunaka’s interview

Engage spoilers below the cut.

She stands still. The face of a cheery girl looks in awe overlooking the monastery. It’s really large, but she supposes she should have expected no less. The sun is strong, exposing all within its rays. Tactically, it never was the most ideal situation. “Wow.. This sure is a ginormous place,” she muses. An unknown voice approaches her, infiltrating the space. “Excuse me, are you Miss…–” She interrupts the knight before he can finish his sentence as a smile glistens across her face. “Zappy! Looks like my timing was good for once! Yunaka here front and center! You’re going to help get me settled, right?”

“Zappy..? What does that mean?” This man might be covered in armor from head to toe, but she can still see his eyes. It’s an intense glare, one she recognizes as a point of evaluation. He’s judging her. “Uh.. Well, if I told you, that would ruin the surprise! Anyways.. Where do I go from here?” Where does she go? Would she find the answer? Help children like the one she once was?

“There’s a few things I must ask you first,” he says bluntly. Yunaka’s eyes darted towards their surroundings- Groups of people gathered to her left and right. “Sure, sure! Where.. exactly are you questioning me? Right here?” He shakes his head, gesturing back towards the monastery. “No, of course not. Follow me.” Yunaka laughs in response, following the tall and staunch person through numerous corridors and steps. The place is filled with hidden crevices, easy enough for her to spot as they stroll.

The room she’s led to is quiet- Away from so many unknown faces. He gestures for her to sit down and that she does. Yunaka assesses the room and all its tiny details. The floor looks like someone spilled paint on it once. “Now then.. I’ll cut to the chase. What has led you to where you are today?”

Her smile drops, eyes narrowed. That is none of their business- The people of Fódlan do not know of Larimar and the life she had led. The darkened shadows of the past loom and a crimson trail threatening to reveal itself lingers. She has no desire to uncover this to a stranger, and thus, she does not. The past is a part of her and who she is- There is no denying it. Yet, the Yunaka here is one who leads a different life. She stands as a grown, changed person. The ex-assassin ventured here for freedom- For growth. “I suppose a lot has led me to this place.. But what matters is that I’m here now.” A vague answer, sure. What else can she say? What else would she want to speak? Nothing.

If that answer doesn’t suffice, she’ll be forced to lie. Yunaka doesn’t like lying, but she will if given no other option. These people don’t know her as an assassin at all! If they find out, they’ll view her differently. Her hopes to pursue her newest ambitions will be shattered. Broken like a glass vase in the middle of a dramatic fight! Instead, she gets nothing but another inquiry. “What do you believe are your greatest strengths? Greatest weaknesses?”

If she is to describe any questions she dislikes the most, it would be this one. To reveal that to a stranger is just as bad as telling a foe your intentions to kill them. It’s unfathomable and asking for trouble. It is prying and too personal, both of which are things she cannot do. “Can’t answer that, sorry.” He sits forward in his seat, head tilted. “Why not?”

She’s aware of her flaws- Her inherent distrust and the life she once led in itself. It is difficult to not display distrust when it’s all she’s ever seen. When her parents left and that man took her in, all she had known was to fight and kill. Larimar’s days are gone now, but Yunaka’s aren’t. While her past is like.. this, she has chosen to move on. She’s better than that- Stronger than it. 

The girl’s masked expression upholds itself, winking with a facade of mystery: “It’s like I’ve said! Saying that so bluntly takes away all the fun. Besides, I think my battle prowess can speak for itself- Assuming that’s what you’re asking of me.” He’s silent again. She speaks the truth- She is physically talented. A sigh threatens to leave her lips, scooting back in her seat as she hears one final inquiry. “I’ll follow up with this: If a story were written about your life, what role would you play?”

Yunaka’s arms stretch nonchalantly to break apart the tension hovering within their shared space. Why would someone want to seat themselves in the audience of such a grim play? Of one filled with abandonment and turmoil? She wouldn’t blame them if the audience was empty. Rather, it might be better off this way. “Mm.. I don’t know. Honestly, I’m not sure why anyone would want to read about me- Or watch it, for that matter.” A pause. “There’s.. A lot to it. I’d be just as content if nobody ever wrote about me, really.” Stories last a lifetime. The last thing she wants is people centuries from now remembering her as an assassin. “I do a mean impression, though! Shoot me a name and I’ll see what I can do.” He shakes his head and laughs. “A-Ah, there’s no need for that. This suffices enough for now, vague as your answers may have been. Now, then.. I will lead you to your living corridors.”

Yunaka shoots up in the air, excitement emanating for the knight to see: “Let’s get going, then!” As she walks to her room and inevitably shuts the door, her shoulders drop the second she is alone. This is okay, right? She never cared for crowds. But if she doesn’t try- doesn’t do anything- she can’t help others and herself.

[ryuzakemo128]

Four Horsemen

Chapter Six: Don't Tell Me The Odds Part 2 Pairing: Alfie Solomons x Red (Female Reader) Genre: Modern, sci-fi, fantasy, fluff, mystery

Masterlist: Link

Previous Chapter / Next Chapter

Trigger Warning: Implication of smut

[Alfie Solomon's Point of View]

Red was all I could think about, I only met her once and she left an impression on me. One I couldn't shake off. Her fiery red hair, her piercing gaze, her charcoal grey eyes holding a lifetime of secrets. During my search to find more information about her, the more I looked the less I found, she was like ghost or a phantom somehow. It only fueled my desire to know more about her, to uncover the secrets and mystery around her.

Days turned to weeks, those weeks turned into months, there was no trace of her history or background anywhere. It's like no one knows anything about her, her real name or her history before she came to England. The dream I had last night was vivid, almost real. In the dream, I woke up next to her in her home. We were lying in bed, our bodies entangled, and she was smiling at me. I reached out to touch her face, but then I woke up.

This dream was almost real, by the time I sat up I was awake. She wasn't there and I was alone in my bedroom, breathing heavily, feeling a mix of both disappointment and longing. The dream was my safe way of getting to know her without the fear of being rejected, without any risk of losing her or her disappearing like ash in the wind.

I continued to think of the dream I had throughout the day, it was so intimate and tender. The warmth of the embrace still lingering as if it actually did happen that morning. In my dreams I have found solace in the dream world where Red and I were together. Unbothered by the risks and uncertainties the world had outside.

I couldn't help but wonder what her life must have been long before she came to England, what she did before and how she manages to move around so fast. As the days go by rumors of her being a spy to being an assassin started to occur.

Aleksandr her younger brother, he usually helped out when it came to work and business matters. Even he didn't know much about her and their mother is the only person that does.

"My mother knows more than I do, whenever I asked her about her past she never said much about it. Although I can tell you one thing, her real name is Oksana Volkova." Aleksandr stated one afternoon.

[creativelyinsane]

Apex Legends Roleplay Request

Hello and welcome to yet another specific roleplay request! This has become such a hyperfocus for me and I decided to create a doc on what I’ve been wanting to roleplay.

Introduction

Call me Creatively Insane! The name says it all with the mass amount of ideas I have in mind for any sort of roleplay in the list of my focus. I am 20 years old and nonbinary(AFAB). Please use they/them pronouns for me please. I work part time and try my best to be frequent in responding to my roleplay partners. I love drawing, gaming, music and reading, Oh and roleplaying is my hobby as well.

Rules and Preferences

You MUST be 18 or older to roleplay with me. If I suspect you are a minor, I WILL ask for proof of age.

If you are interested, please DM me with a good introduction about yourself and what ideas you may have in mind.

OC(me) x Canon(you) maybe OC x OC. Please don’t get your hopes up too much about OC x OC in case I’m not in the mood.

No doubling, No I will not make any exceptions. I am tired of being taken advantage of with this.

FxM, FxNB and FxF only. No MxM. I only play as Female/NB characters only.

The only time I will play canon characters is for side interactions to move the story along.

No Harems.

I am a switch. I refuse to roleplay with just submissive characters, Makes me feel like I’m doing all the work which will make me lose immediate interest.

60/40 story to smut ratio. I would rather have a more story focus.

Romance required.

You pick the canon character you want to be. I’m not picky.

Plots and Ideas

New Season, New Face

Amaris Rivera aka Faunus, is the new face of the Apex Games. Instead of being introduced to the other legends right off the bat, she was introduced as the games started. Some saw her as they died, while the final squad saw her as they killed her. Afterwards, with some tension, introductions were passed and things seemed to go as normal as for any new legend. The longer she stays, the more she relishes there is more behind these games than what she was told. Tensions between other legends and claims of a high power in the wrong. What was going on? Will Amaris uncover the mysteries of these legends, or drag herself under as well?

This one is open for discussion of how it can go. It’s a simple new legend plot that has many open holes for extensive plots and such.

Round and Round the Merry go Round

Ex beastmaster of the traveling Falcona Circus is pulled from her usual routine and taken on a new ride. Armed with her newfound abilities and the help of the legends, she fights her way through the games just like the rest of the legends and builds new friendships along the way. Everything seemed fine until she received a message from her Ring Master. An opportunity at a job far from the usual scam stunts he pursued. This one was bigger, more dangerous. Before she could deny it, he already pulled the strings to ensure ruining her life. With blackmail and her life on the line, the beastmaster has no choice but to give into his demands.

This idea sort of revolves around finding out the ringmaster is teaming with Hammond to gain more intel on some of the legends as well as using Amaris as a disposable pawn. Of course, Hammond is only using the Falcona Ringmaster as a pawn as well to push their blame on someone else for their dirty deeds. More can be discussed if interested.

“I’m in the Furture?!”

Valerie Parkson simply had awoken to find herself not home. Instead, she finds herself in the hands of a scientist that is vague of where she is other than being in a concrete prison. A few years pass and she gets the opportunity of an escape and takes it to find that she isn’t on earth anymore. And not only that but, centuries into the future as well. Her aimless travels lands her into the hands of a legend of the Apex Games. They take her in and with the help of a few others, she’s included in the games while also trying to crack open the mystery of her missing memory and how she ended up years into the future.

That’s all I have for now. If you have other plot ideas that you wish to share, please tell me! I love hearing ideas for plots and stories!

My dms are always open and I always prefer discord to roleplay on. I make 1x1 servers to keep things organized as well.

I have headcanons that I would love to share as well and if there is any further lore that I missed, please tell me! I love discussing things with people that are just as passionate as I am!

I hope to hear from you soon!

[bibliophilebookreviews]

August BOTM Wishlist

As we approach another month, anticipation is building and I can't wait to see what BOTM will be offering in just two short weeks. I was glad to see a couple of my July hopefuls actually made it, so fingers crossed for August!

Before I get to my "official" list, let it be known that I'm still hoping for Love on the Brain, as mentioned in my previous hopefuls post. I knew I was pushing it for July, but with an August 23 release date, it has a good chance of being chosen this time. BOTM, don't let me down!

MAIN PICKS

Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Contemporary Fiction, pub date: 8/30/22)

Goodreads Blurb: Carrie Soto is fierce, and her determination to win at any cost has not made her popular. But by the time she retires from tennis, she is the best player the world has ever seen. She has shattered every record and claimed twenty Grand Slam titles. And if you ask Carrie, she is entitled to every one. She sacrificed nearly everything to become the best, with her father, Javier, as her coach. A former champion himself, Javier has trained her since the age of two.

But six years after her retirement, Carrie finds herself sitting in the stands of the 1994 US Open, watching her record be taken from her by a brutal, stunning player named Nicki Chan.

At thirty-seven years old, Carrie makes the monumental decision to come out of retirement and be coached by her father for one last year in an attempt to reclaim her record. Even if the sports media says that they never liked “the Battle-Axe” anyway. Even if her body doesn’t move as fast as it did. And even if it means swallowing her pride to train with a man she once almost opened her heart to: Bowe Huntley. Like her, he has something to prove before he gives up the game forever.

In spite of it all, Carrie Soto is back, for one epic final season. In this riveting and unforgettable novel, Taylor Jenkins Reid tells her most vulnerable, emotional story yet.

My Thoughts: First of all, we stan TJR. And even though Malibu Rising was hit-or-miss with a lot of TJR fans, Carrie Soto is sure to be a hit (see what I did there?) -- the book already has a 4.5 star rating on Goodreads. Personally, I love both tennis and a comeback story so I will be supremely disappointed if this is not chosen.

The Last Housewife by Ashley Winstead (Mystery/Thriller, pub date: 8/16/22)

Goodreads Blurb: While in college in upstate New York, Shay Evans and her best friends met a captivating man who seduced them with a web of lies about the way the world works, bringing them under his thrall. By senior year, Shay and her friend Laurel were the only ones who managed to escape. Now, eight years later, Shay's built a new life in a tony Texas suburb. But when she hears the horrifying news of Laurel's death—delivered, of all ways, by her favorite true-crime podcast crusader—she begins to suspect that the past she thought she buried is still very much alive, and the predators more dangerous than ever.

Recruiting the help of the podcast host, Shay goes back to the place she vowed never to return to in search of answers. As she follows the threads of her friend's life, she's pulled into a dark, seductive world, where wealth and privilege shield brutal philosophies that feel all too familiar. When Shay's obsession with uncovering the truth becomes so consuming she can no longer separate her desire for justice from darker desires newly reawakened, she must confront the depths of her own complicity and conditioning. But in a world built for men to rule it—both inside the cult and outside of it—is justice even possible, and if so, how far will Shay go to get it?

My Thoughts: I'm slowly getting more into thrillers, and even though this one sounds a little vague and open, it makes me interested to see what might unfold in this story. The reviews are off the charts and it sounds really intense and un-put-down-able so hopefully BOTM is getting in on this!

Mother in the Dark by Kayla Maiuri (Literary Fiction, pub date: 8/9/22)

Goodreads Blurb: When Anna's sister calls with an urgent message, Anna doesn't return the call. She knows it's about their mother.

Growing up in working class Boston in an Italian American family, Anna's childhood was sparse but comfortable--filled with homemade pasta sauce and a close-knit neighborhood. Anna and her sisters are devoted to their mother, orbiting her like the sun, trying to keep up with her loving but mercurial nature as she bounces between tenderness and bitterness.

When their father gets a new job outside the city, the family is tossed unceremoniously into a middle-class suburban existence. Anna's mother is suddenly adrift, and the darkness lurking inside her expands until it threatens to explode. Her daughters, trapped with her in the new house, isolated, must do everything they can to keep her from unraveling.

Alternating between childhood and a single weekend in Anna's twenties, in which she receives a shattering call about her mother and threatens to blow up her own precariously constructed new life in New York, Mother in the Dark asks whether we can ever really go back home when the idea of home was so unstable. Whether we can escape that instability or accept that our personalities are built around the defenses we put up. Maiuri is a master at revealing the fragile horrors of domestic family life and how the traumas of the past shape the present and generations of women.

A story about sisterhood, the complications of class, and the chains of inheritance between mothers and daughters, Mother in the Dark delivers an unvarnished portrayal of a young woman consumed by her past and a family teetering on the edge of a knife.

My Thoughts: I'm always fascinated by stories that revolve around family drama and secrets. And I love that this story alternates between Anna's childhood and adult life. Though it sounds like it might be a slow burner, the few ratings and reviews so far seem promising enough that this could be a hidden treasure for BOTM.

The Family Remains by Lisa Jewell (Mystery/Thriller, pub date: 8/9/22)

Goodreads Blurb: Early one morning on the shore of the Thames, DCI Samuel Owusu is called to the scene of a gruesome discovery. When Owusu sends the evidence for examination, he learns the bones are connected to a cold case that left three people dead on the kitchen floor in a Chelsea mansion thirty years ago.

Rachel Rimmer has also received a shock—news that her husband, Michael, has been found dead in the cellar of his house in France. All signs point to an intruder, and the French police need her to come urgently to answer questions about Michael and his past that she very much doesn’t want to answer.

After fleeing London thirty years ago in the wake of a horrific tragedy, Lucy Lamb is finally coming home. While she settles in with her children and is just about to purchase their first-ever house, her brother takes off to find the boy from their shared past whose memory haunts their present.

As they all race to discover answers to these convoluted mysteries, they will come to find that they’re connected in ways they could have never imagined.

In this masterful standalone sequel to her haunting New York Times bestseller, The Family Upstairs, Lisa Jewell proves she is writing at the height of her powers with another jaw-dropping, intricate, and affecting novel about the lengths we will go to protect the ones we love and uncover the truth.

My Thoughts: Having not read The Family Upstairs, I'm glad to know that this can be read as a standalone. However, I'm sure fans of The Family Upstairs would love the "sequel" to match their BOTM copy. However, Lisa Jewell already has 5 BOTM books so it might be a stretch for them to pick this one.

ADD-ON/SPOTLIGHT

Again, add-ons are a little unpredictable, especially with the possibility of more than 5 main picks. But here are some that I would love to see.

The Fixer Upper by Lauren Forsythe (Romance, pub date: 8/2/22)

Goodreads Blurb: In this funny and sharp romantic comedy, a woman with a knack for turning her boyfriends’ lives around starts a professional service to help wrangle men, only to be unexpectedly matched with an old flame.

Ever since she can remember, Aly has been fixing everything around her: her parents’ marriage, her colleagues’ work problems, and her friends’ love lives. After a chance meeting with an ex who has gone from a living in his parents’ basement to a married project manager in three years, she realizes she’s been fixing her boyfriends, too…

So, Aly decides to put her talents to good use and, alongside two work friends, sets up The Fixer Upper, an exclusive, underground service for women who are tired of unpaid emotional labor. Using little tricks and tips, Aly and her friends get the men to do the work themselves – to get out of the job they hate, sign up for that growth seminar, to do more parenting. Before long, a high-profile Instagram star hires them to fix-up her app developer boyfriend. There’s just one catch – he’s also Aly’s childhood best friend and first love. As Aly tackles her biggest “fixer upper” yet, she’ll have to come to terms with their complicated history and figure out how much to change someone she’d always thought was perfect as he is…

My Thoughts: Okay, I'm a sucker for romance, and I love the premise of this book. (I'm also really interested in how Aly gets these men to improve themselves!) But any book that reunites first loves is already a winner in my book. Though this one has just under 4 stars on Goodreads, I am attributing that to this book not really being on people's radar. Fingers crossed that BOTM picks this one up!

How You Grow Wings by Rimma Onoseta (YA, pub date: 8/9/22)

Goodreads Blurb: Sisters Cheta and Zam couldn’t be more different. Cheta, sharp-tongued and stubborn, never shies away from conflict—either at school or at home, where her mother fires abuse at her. Timid Zam escapes most of her mother’s anger, skating under the radar and avoiding her sister whenever possible. In a turn of good fortune, Zam is invited to live with her aunt’s family in the lap of luxury. Jealous, Cheta also leaves home, but finds a harder existence that will drive her to terrible decisions. When the sisters are reunited, Zam alone will recognize just how far Cheta has fallen—and Cheta’s fate will rest in Zam’s hands.   Debut author Rimma Onoseta deftly explores classism, colorism, cycles of abuse, how loyalty doesn’t always come attached to love, and the messy truths that sometimes family is not a source of comfort and that morality is all shades of gray.

My Thoughts: Every once in a while, a YA novel really piques my interest. I love that this is another family drama kind of story, and in particular, that these sisters are described as polar opposites and one will come to depend on the other. I am super excited to read this, and the few ratings and reviews make this sound like another hidden gem.

Mika in Real Life by Emiko Jean (Contemporary Fiction, pub date: 8/9/22)

Goodreads Blurb: One phone call changes everything.

At thirty-five, Mika Suzuki’s life is a mess. Her last relationship ended in flames. Her roommate-slash-best friend might be a hoarder. She’s a perpetual disappointment to her traditional Japanese parents. And, most recently, she’s been fired from her latest dead-end job.

Mika is at her lowest point when she receives a phone call from Penny—the daughter she placed for adoption sixteen years ago. Penny is determined to forge a relationship with her birth mother, and in turn, Mika longs to be someone Penny is proud of. Faced with her own inadequacies, Mika embellishes a fact about her life. What starts as a tiny white lie slowly snowballs into a fully-fledged fake life, one where Mika is mature, put-together, successful in love and her career.

The details of Mika’s life might be an illusion, but everything she shares with curious, headstrong Penny is real: her hopes, dreams, flaws, and Japanese heritage. The harder-won heart belongs to Thomas Calvin, Penny��s adoptive widower father. What starts as a rocky, contentious relationship slowly blossoms into a friendship and, over time, something more. But can Mika really have it all—love, her daughter, the life she’s always wanted? Or will Mika’s deceptions ultimately catch up to her? In the end, Mika must face the truth—about herself, her family, and her past—and answer the question, just who is Mika in real life?

In this brilliant new novel by from Emiko Jean, the author of the New York Times bestselling young adult novel Tokyo Ever After, comes a whip-smart, laugh-out-loud funny, and utterly heartwarming novel about motherhood, daughterhood, and love—how we find it, keep it, and how it always returns.

My Thoughts: I love when authors are versatile and write in multiple genres, so though I haven't read the Tokyo series (yet?) I am excited to read this adult novel from Emiko Jean. Not only am I interested to see how Mika builds a relationship with Penny, but I see that there might be a budding romance in the works for Mika as well. This book sounds like a light but heartwarming read and I really hope BOTM chooses it!

Thanks for reading this far! That’s it for this month!

If you have thoughts on these books or other books BOTM might offer I’d love to hear from you!

And if you’ve never tried BOTM and are interested, feel free to use this referral link to join and get your first month for just $5!

❤️

[cathygeha]

REVIEW

The Bones in the Orchard by Patricia Rice

Graveside Pryory Mystery #3

Love, LOVE, L O V E this author and everything I have read that she has written. This series is brilliantly crafted and filled with wonderful characters that I feel would be good friends if we could meet in real time. Sadly, book friends are on a plane we can only reach through reading. That said, they are always available to spend time with us by opening the book they reside in and rejoining them in their stories.

What I liked: * Patience Upton: curate’s daughter, prefers not to be in the limelight, quiet – till she’s not, has a beautiful voice, loves gardening, capable, good with children, rather taken with Henri

* Henri Lavigne: younger son of a French count, peddler, grew up part of his life in England, glib, sees what people need, good at arbitration, might be ready to settle down…with Patience?

* Getting to see how couples Hunt & Claire, Walker & Meera, and Jake & Elsa are doing

* Wondering if and/or when the others will have their stories told – so many that I won’t name them all but I am curious.

* Paul Upton and his mother Nettie – both learned much about their pasts

* The murder mystery and how it was unraveled – so glad that two of the potential murderers were exonerated

* The plot, pacing, setting, character development, and writing

* That I cared about the characters and the outcome – I am almost as eager for the nuptials to be said as I believe the characters might be!

* Thinking about where the treasure might be and when it will be found

* Knowing that there is another book to look forward to

What I didn’t like: * Who and what I was meant not to like

* Having to wait for the next book

Did I enjoy this book? Yes

Would I read more in this series? Definitely

Thank you to the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

BLURB

Award-winning author Patricia Rice brings you another light-hearted Regency romantic mystery set in Wycliffe Manor... At Gravesyde Priory, each new arrival is either a blessing—or a threat. . . Wycliffe Manor has been neglected for decades. Its new heirs are determined to create a welcoming home. Yet soon after the latest family moves into the nearby parsonage, bones are uncovered in the orchard. . . and odd strangers arrive. When her curate father returns his family to Gravesyde for the marriages of the manor's heirs, gawky spinster Patience Upton has high expectations—until her father is murdered. Shock at learning her father had a mysterious past, leads to alarm that the killer may have been after his notebook, which she now possesses. After the chapel is ransacked and a witness killed, it's clear the murderer isn't done. Desperate to find the truth, Patience accepts the aid of Henri Lavigne, Wycliffe Manor's smooth-talking rake. Intent on saving his new home and family from danger, Henri is drawn to the clergyman's guileless daughter but wonders if she hasn't reason to conceal the killer's identity. Before there will be any courting, much less marrying, the inhabitants of the manor realize if they want a chance at a future, they must hunt the killer themselves. But are they hunting one murderer. . . or more? GRAVESYDE PRIORY MYSTERY BOOKS Book #1 The Secrets of Wycliffe Manor Book #2 The Mystery of the Missing Heiress Book #3 The Bones in the Orchard Book #4 The Question of the Wedding Pearls Book #5 The Case of the Purloined Pages

[moohnshinescorner]

Moonflower: Vampires of Los Angeles

by Heather Ewen-Foster

Sonia, a 250-year-old Australian vampire, thought she had found peace in the quiet neighborhood of Whitley Heights, Hollywood. But when a mysterious creature starts slaughtering young vampires, Sonia is thrust into a deadly game of cat and mouse.

With her friend Sunny targeted by an ancient monster, Sonia must uncover the truth behind these brutal attacks. Desperate to save her friend and end the bloodshed, Sonia navigates the treacherous politics of the vampire world. Along the way, she finds herself torn between her irresistible attraction to Alex, the enigmatic human journalist helping in her investigation, and her deep bond with sexy and charismatic Sunny, Alpha Vampire extraordinaire.

As the sinister plot unravels, Sonia’s race against time becomes a pulse-pounding battle against an impossibly powerful foe. Will she uncover the truth before more lives are lost? And what sacrifices will she have to make to protect those she loves?

Moon Flower is a spellbinding urban fantasy that will leave you breathless. Heather Ewen-Foster’s suspenseful tale immerses you in a world of danger, romance, and mythical creatures. Get ready for an electrifying adventure that will keep you turning the pages late into the night.

MY REVIEW ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

So I started my New Year's with this bang up job of a book called Moon Flower. It started off real strong introducing us to the main heroine Sonia. She is 250 years old and has settled into a quiet neighborhood of Los Angeles. She just wants to live out her days in peace till the next great move. But there is an unrest beginning in her town and vampires are disappearing at an alarming rate. Sonia finds herself sucked into the middle of a mess and it may just cost her her life.

The book started off real quick and full of action. The book continues this pace with non-stop action throughout. But as I read this book I found that it would cut off a scene too sharply leaving the readers to use their imagination to finish the scenes. This is ok for most scenes, but when it comes to the final epic ending it cuts off again and this time it felt like you were robbed of something in the end. This is why I took a star away from my review.

The story itself was interesting and entertaining. It has unique and fun characters. Especially Sunny. He was an exciting character who brought life to the story. Alex on the other hand has a history that the author did not divulge into enough. I can tell there is another story to be told there.

Overall the book was a good and entertaining read. It has a lot of action and a bit of emotion to it as well. It is full of danger and adventure. Lots of blood and gore so I hope you are not squeamish. An adventure story of a power play struggle that is full of deception and jealousy.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3FLbGks

[annarellix]

The Shadow Girls by Dawn Merriman (A Rylan Flynn Mystery Book 2)

I open my eyes. The room is dark and I can see no windows, only stairs leading up to a metal trapdoor. From the shadows, a figure emerges. A little girl with long, pale hair. She smiles at me. “Are you my new mommy?” she says.

A young woman is missing. And Rylan Flynn was the last person to see her alive.

Nobody has heard from Bess Freeman since Rylan saw her leaving a bar and walking into the night with a stranger. Normally quiet and shy, Bess would never skip out on her family and friends like this. The small town of Ashby is in shock.

While the police struggle to find leads, it’s immediately clear to Rylan that this is no ordinary abduction. Her ability to see ghosts reveals sinister clues on all sides.

In the basement of an abandoned church, Rylan finds the spirit of another young woman who may be a victim. And when the police uncover human remains beneath a barn, a male figure watches them closely, then disappears.

Ashby’s handsome head detective, Ford Pierce, is as reluctant as ever to involve Rylan in the case.

But when another woman’s body is discovered hidden in a derelict family home, it’s clear that Bess is in mortal danger. And her time is running out.

For years, a killer has been lurking in Ashby, driven by a darkness that is more than human.

Desperate to find Bess before another innocent life is lost, Rylan must work with Ford to unravel a dangerous web of lies. But is she drawing closer to the truth or walking into the killer’s trap?

Buy Link(s): https://geni.us/B0C59KXLMBsocial

My Review:

This is an excellent mix of paranormal, horror and thriller. A twisty and dark story that kept me turning pages and on the edge till the end.

It surprised me with a number of twists, moved me and left me wishing I could read the next novel soon as the cliff-hanger is intriguing.

I was happy to catch up with Aunt Velma, Ford and the cast of characters. Rylan is more likeable even if I found myself thinking “Kiss him and make it clear”.

I hope that the romantic part will be solved soon as I’m not a fan of love-triangle and maybe-they-will-be-a-couple tropes as they usually takes the front seat and they bore me.

There wasn’t a lot of romance in this novel but there were a lot of ghosts and some parts were more horror-oriented. There’s a subplot that I found moving.

Ms Merriman did a good job in keeping the tension alive and making the horror part more psychological that slasher.

The characters evolved and the plot is tightly knitted and fast paced. There’s still a lot of questions about Rylan’s mother and other characters but hope they will be answered soon.

It’s an entertaining read and I can’t wait to read the next story

Many thanks to Second Sky for this digital copy, all opinions are mine

The Author:

Dawn Merriman writes creepy small town murder mysteries from her small farm in northeast Indiana where she lives with her husband and teenage children. You can often find her with muck boots on her feet and a story in her head. She enjoys animals, auctions, snorkeling and archaeology.

Dawn Merriman grew up a small town farm girl, on a small time pig farm in Indiana. She spent her young adulthood sitting on her bedroom floor scribbling stories in notebooks. She won the "Northeast Indiana Young Writers" award as a sophomore in high school.

After battling severe depression, she wrote her debut novel "How Murder Saved My Life" as therapy, mixing her love of murder mysteries and farming with climbing out of the darkness of illness.

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