#so even from the start they didnt like the dream visitor

[elfcollector]

the emperor: you may call me the emperor delight: i would sooner die, thanks

[kuni-is-daddy]

I'm absolutely in love with your writing! I'd really like to see more of Lesser Lord!reader, the dynamic is *chef kiss*.

Sub! Wanderer X Top/dom Lesser Lord Fem Reader!

'A moment of dreams'

FT:// Spoilers for Nahidas First story quest. WordCount: 2k+ (Mostly their dynamic.)

//: GoodBoy/mommy Kink, Teasing, Calls reader darling sometimes.

CW: Minors do NOT interact past the cut! This is a NSFW POST!!

|Scaraficlist!|ScaraNSFWAlphabet|WandererBdaySpecial|

After One of the 6 cardinal sins of the akademiya we're committed by A now expelled scholar, Moseis. You spent most of your days around the akademiya for 'the moment of dreams' festival; At a weekly expense Scholars and avid readers would eagerly await your Enlightening opinion and guidance on Dreams, Beliefs and other teyvat events.

With the sun setting Over the akademiyas roof top the line finally concluded. 1 man was standing by. "Lessor lord Y/N!" He called out, dressed in black and brown drapes. It was Ata, A usual visitor who recently started studying in Vahumana. You yawned then sat up in the chair and brushed some paperwork aside. His cheeks flashed a bright red and he covered his face behind two papers, The back of it already seeped dried ink through the lines. He leaned down and slid you his papers shyly.

You slid your gold embedded bracelets up, then retrieved his papers, The handwriting was rather sloppy. Grabbing a pen you began to write on the crumpled paper, highlighting certain parts of the young mans dream that seemed significant (Or really, The only parts you understood). As the two of you began to discuss his dreams and concerns You couldnt help but think of Kuni, He's also been studying at Vahumana under your request but treated it more like a hobby. He didnt attend lectures, Take extra classes or interact with other scholars of his branch. For Archons sake He barely touched the 'diabetically' sweet cake they gave him for his birthday and shared his slice with you. Then claimed that they followed him in the forest just go even give him a gift. Just how did they know he was there…

He asked you once, but you merely shrugged and drifted off on the path to hide your smile. Continuing to pick through beds of flowers while he relaxed on a stump. As he rested a couple of aranara began to pass by. "Hat rana hat rana! Did you enjoy your special day? Aranara came with gifts on request of Queen Aranyani!" 'Aranyani..?' Arunakula came by with a flower in its hand, A lotus, Then placed it besides his hat. Wanderer sucked his teeth but stayed quiet as another gave him a flower. Once they left, he had 3 yellow Lotus's. Then put them in his pocket softly once the Aranara left.

After a Gesture and parting smile you greeted Ata off, He then bowed graciously again. You sighed and pushed yourself out the chair, taking a folder of papers with your pen clipped inside it and your keychain. Two Matra stood outside the event and immediately held their heads down as you left. "Lord Y/n Its Pretty late for you to be out so freely. Should we escort you back to the pal-" One of them asked but got elbow'd By the other. "Forgive his insensitiveness Great dendro archon, Just let us know if you need anything." "I will. Thank you. Please Conclude the festival for today." They nodded and you then continued walking to the Sanctuary. Holding your head down slightly to avoid your citizens gaze on your way home.

You closed the door behind you, Then placed your keys by the rack. A cool breeze of lavender began to flood your sense of smell, While bells softly chimed in between the showerhead running in the distance. Some chimes we're a lower pitch while the others came from 'Hat guys' Kasa hat He hanged up besides your rack. As you walked towards your room The door was already halfway opened with your desk Freshly organized; Plenty of forums, Books marked and a Framed Picture of You and Kuni By the akademiya. A bright smile on your face. while his face was hidden behind his hat. (When you look closer there's a smudge of lipstick on his cheek). After placing your purse down, you Sat at your desk. 'A follow up on the expelled scholar, On support of a personal Account of mine.'

After what felt like hours, You finished up some work for the night. The moon's gaze was already gleaming through your side window and onto your bedsheets, practically calling out for you to take a break. You closed your folder then rested your head on the desk, Unaware of the paper which slid out. 'Lessor lord Y/n shouldn't be out so freely at this time. shut up you idiot! We'll get fired!' Why wouldnt you be out 'so freely'? You we're their archon after all. The gracious and generous archon they ever so adored, The highest authority Within their land, The savior of the aranara and Queen of the forest, The- "Assumingly Deaf Archon." A soft voice rung through your ear and you opened your eyes. "Dont tell me. You we're too 'Caught up' with whatever you we're doing to pay any attention to me calling you."

It was getting late and you we're still wearing your formal Robe and dress while he wore a lousy t-shirt and shorts with a towel wrapped around his hair, placing a mug of tea infront of you. "….Im fine Kuni, You dont have to worry about me." He scoffed then picked up the paper you dropped. Blinking and squinting his eyes at the handwriting. "A….ran..Kan- tsk Who wrote this? Their handwriting is atrocious. Even the Aranara could write better than this." Shit. You forgot to give Ata all his papers back. "Oh- It belongs to a scholar…I'll have to return it when i see him." You took the paper from kuni, Putting it back into your decorated folder. His lips curling at the bright colors. "Your still choosing to sit around with those humans all day? Couldn't they just figure out those Useless problems themselves." he dried out his hair with the towel.

--

"Its not that. I cant fully empathize with the pain and lost, they've experienced. So I want to be by their side now for recovery." "…Besides…Since you've been a good boy, you can come whenever you like." You drunk some of the tea. "A good boy?" you nodded. "A prisoner getting treated for a day out…To watch a bunch of humans Scurry around, argue, then wait in a line for your Benevolence. How childish. Id be better off listening to one of their boring lectures." Kuni Sat on your bed, Then placed the towel on your counter Next to the vase of lotus's. Despite his 'rebirth' and how he's previously 'encountered' you as a balladeer, He still saw himself as a bit of a prisoner. You didn't fully understand why he felt that way, But still chose to stay by his side as you once promised during the Joururi Incident. Doing everything in your power to help him adjust. Simply put, You we're in love with the Puppet. "Really? But i thought you liked being called my good boy?" You got up from the desk then stood infront of him, Kuni sighed and tried averting his gaze But you softly held his smooth face and planted a kiss on his lips to tease him. You began to shift onto his lap. And expected him to Shift over or complain a bit but the puppet stared into your e/c eyes with pink patches of blush on his face. He kissed you back and pulled you further into his lap. He smelled of light Lavender conditioner. "Well..Do you? Your gonna be my good boy?" You tilted your head, staring at his now perked up lips. "S-stop Calling me that."

He loved it.

His cock twitched in his pants as you chanted the nickname once more. As you climbed further to position yourself ontop of him your Cape swayed softly on his leg. "I-I told you before, Its redundant. Because im your Pri-ah~" Before he could protest again you dug into his neck and laid kissed down to his shoulder. Wanderer's hand reached to cover his mouth, muffling his soft moans while you started biting along his skin. To shift back and forth along his short's fabric, your clothed clit rubbed against his building hard on. He pulled his free along your blouse, then up to your cape, reaching recklessly for the buttons and popping one of them off until you pulled away, Ripping the fabric from his grip. "Mn mn. I changed my mind. Maybe I shouldnt call you my good boy." You shoo'd his hand away as he reached for you again. Kuni panted as he was left alone on the bed with his shirt wrinkled and neck littered in kisses. He watched as you walked towards your desk. "N-no! Wait…" He sat up while you slowly crossed your arms.

"Oh? I dont know…I'll just go finish up my work then go to bed, I'm a bit tired." You yawned and kuni knew it was fake, you we're willing to drag this out for as long as you wanted with him wrapped around your finger. But His body was already missing your warmth against his and pented up from you just biting along his neck. "P-please.." He whispered then began to dig his fingers into the sheets in frustration. But you tilted your head and pretended to not hear. "Hm? I didnt hear you Kuni?" You smirked and he gritted his teeth. "Please Darling..I want it..I cant i- I'll be a good boy- I-" Kuni fell back onto the bed as you pressed your lips against his, the both of you fell onto the pillow while you we're ontop of him. He wrapped his arms around you, Pressing your breasts against his body. The puppet panted during the intense kiss, His lips already became glossy as your tongue swirled around his and he dug his fingers in your hair. "F-fuck..More~ More please y/n~" "Theres my good boy..What more do you want~?"

"I-inside- Please~ Let me fuck you.." You smirked at his words "Your Such a filthy puppet Kuni…" You kissed him again and finally parted lips, crawling down to the visible tent in his pants. Your legs shivered a bit at the mark of his tip leaking precum that smeared onto his boxers as you pulled them down, His cock springing up near your face. "Now. You think you can be a good boy and wait?" You teased and placed kitten licks along the head of his cock. He balled his hands in a fist and nodded. You pulled his shirt up a little further, resting your free hand on the V line of his slim body. The puppet chew'd on his lip enough to draw blood, Trying to maintain the little bit of morality he still had while you bobbed up and down gently on his cock, with the head hitting your gag reflex you moaned into his cock almost in a buzzing sensation. "Fuck~!…Hnn~" Kuni's legs shifted up a bit in-between you. He was close And your clit throbbed through your cotton garments. Your mouth Popped off his cock before he could cum. "W-wha.. Shit why'd you stop?" He said through heavy breathes trying to sound demanding, But it only came out as a pathetic whimper. "Ah ah..Didnt you say you'd be patient? Im giving you your reward now."

You finally pulled your Blouse and skirt off, Giving Kuni a quick show within his lustful vision. Your slit coated the skin of his cock, with your folds smearing it further while guiding it to your pussy. 'Hah..yes please~ D-dont tease me' You sunk onto his shaft and your walls immediately rubbed on his cock, A moan spilled from your lips and your nails dug into his skin to stay in rhythm. "Kuni~ Your doing so well~ Filling me up just like that~" his hips bucked up at your praise and his pride finally slipped. "Ah~ Yes! Mommy~! S' good~ Y/-y/n Your so warm~ fuck! please please~!" He whined and began to babble while you sloshed up and down his cock, Filling the room with mixed sounds of your skin slapping together and Kuni's loud moans. The pleasure from being inside you and your praise over whelmed him. You gave him everything he's ever wanted, from a person, and especially a god. His Bangs began to turn frazzled and hid his Slashed eyeliner and now teary eyes. " Your such a pretty boy arent you kuni~? Does my- ah.. good boy want to cum~?" "Yes~ Fuck yes please! wanna cum mommy!" Kuni already started messily bucking his hips into yours to chase his high. "K~kuni Dont go so fast~ Y-your gonna make me ah~! your gonna make me cum~!" He gripped onto your hand, Intertwining it through his. then held onto your thigh with the other to plunge himself as far as he could into your warmth, repeatedly hitting your core with each thrust. "M-mommy~! i- Ah~! oh fuck!" with a few more bucks of his hips kuni slammed you into him again, whimpering as ropes of his sticky load painted your insides while your orgasm coaxed his cock.

Both your highs subsided and Kuni finally pulled out from his cock being nested inside you. His cum slowly oozing out your pussy and onto your now stained sheets. You looked down on the already fucked out puppet through heated breathes, He was utterly speechless from his orgasm and For a moment you two stayed silent, With you laying on Kuni's chest now half asleep while he ran his finger through locks of your hair. "Y/n." "Yes Kuni?" You replied and He stayed silent, As if The puppet was gathering his thoughts. "I love you." He muttered out through his now hoarse voice and let out a soft huff after hearing himself. You smiled warmly and held onto his hand, Rubbing your thumb along his ring. "I love you too."

A/N: THANK U ALL FOR BEING SO KIND. <3 Anon Im not sure if you wanted smut but I hope this was okay for a mostly fluff then smut one.

[masked-constellations]

Tw// Scopophobia / Eye contact

Guess who's making a welcome home AU :]]]

info on it under the cut!

the place where Ringmaster Wally and the others exist is some sort of dream realm. it started existing after a kid watched the og Welcome Home show and dreamed about it and it ended up becoming a carnival like place instead of a normal neighborhood. the kid told all of their friends about it so much that the other kids also began dreaming it. so many kids dreaming it multiple times made it gain enough power that it doesnt need the kids to exist anymore and its just become its own reality at this point though eventually as the show was cancelled and fell into obscurity, the kids stopped dreaming about the place, the place seemed to have been abandoned by the ones who created it in the first place and the performers didnt understand why, as they dont know or understand the concept of aging up and moving on n stuff

they're confused on why no one visited anymore, but they still do their best to keep the place in shape! in case someone shows up. some of them lost hope on it though, coping in their own ways as they miss the kids, grown bored of their acts as they didnt have any motives to come up with new performances others in denial, especially Wally, thinking the kids will come back someday, maybe theyre just... busy.. too busy to play! yea thats it!... they dont even know theyre in a dreamland until thats group of people begin receiving Welcome home's content and what not, as more and more people begin learning or remembering about the forgotten show, for the first time in years, they finally have visitors again

they have. abandonment issues, would probably try to make the Dreamer's stay as much as possible until they inevitably fade out of existence(aka they wake up via alarms or someone waking them up). they probably freak out about it the first couple of times as they had forgetten that happens sometimes, it used to happen with the kids when their parents would wake them

its likely you become a regular in there, especially if you have fond memories of the show or have good thoughts and feeling about it from what youve learned in the site, as this AU's Home gained most of the power over the land, it helps keep everything together and used to bring back kids who would get lost in other dreams, as dreams do that weird transition from one place to another sometimes. Home did become weak over the years of no Dreamers visiting, its powers would get stronger the more Dreamers there were, but it has enough to keep you from not visiting. sometimes it'll give you a break from the carnival, mainly because it needs a rest from using all the remaining power it has to keep you coming back

THIS IS ALL I HAVE FOR NOW BUT IM GOING TO THINK MORE!!

[anime-for-the-sleepless]

To all ends part 3

Aizawa x you

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

It didn't take long for Aizawa's resources to track the IP address down. What he didn't expect, though, was that you'd go as far as leaving the country to get away from him. His heart ached to the point he clutched his chest, trying to keep his breathing under control as his thoughts raced. You went to obviously great lengths to put so much distance between you and him, but the one thing he realized most was that since you left, he's been a mess. He loves you, and without you in his life, he feels incomplete. He went home, shower, shaved a bit, completely cleaning himself up before he made preparations to fly to the States to you. If when he got there and you told him you no longer loved him, he would leavSqpe you alone so you could move on and be happy, but hoped that you wouldn't turn him away.

It wasn't long till he was in the air, leg bouncing nervously.

---

Over the weekend, you completely forgot about the email you had left minimized on the work computer, unknowing that your co-worker hit send for you. Your weekend was uneventful, just restocking your groceries, doing chores around your apartment, and binge watching true crime shows.

The weekend seemed to drag since you moved out here, without work to distract you from your thoughts and the painful hole in your heart where Aizawa was. You couldn't help but ache thinking about him and how much you missed him, wondering if he's moved on? What you never would have guessed he was up to is searching for you.

Monday arrived, and you were back at the lab when one of the other assistants told you that you had a visitor. Curious who could it be, you didnt know anyone outside your job here. So you quickly made your way down to the lobby.

--

The elevator dinged, and the doors opened. There at the desk he stood waiting for you. Hair pulled back in a bun, he hated wearing a suit and tie, but wanted to look his best for you, still wearing his capture scarf as always. In his hand, a bouquet of sunflowers and roses. His nervousness skyrocketed as he watched you step off the elevator, freezing in your tracks when your eyes landed on him.

To him, you were as gorgeous as ever. Even though he could tell you were exhausted, you were still radiant. His feet carried him to you before he could even figure out what he would say.

"Y/N.." Aizawa whispered, afraid if he spoke too loud, you'd fade away, the way you always did in his dreams.

---

Tears pricked your eyes. You couldn't believe he was here. How did he find you? Your thoughts swirled, but you couldn't stop yourself from throwing your arms around his neck and start crying into his chest. You had missed him so badly, and thought he must hate you for leaving, but here he was.. looking for you.

---

As soon as you threw yourself against him, he wrapped his arms around you tightly, kissing the crown of your head. You two stayed like this for a few moments before you led him to an empty conference room to talk. He kept your hand in his, even after you both sat down.

Both of you tried to talk at the same time, chuckling nervously.

"Please, Y/N. Let me say what I came to say, and then I'll go if you want me to." He pleaded, silently waiting till you nodded shyly.

" I am so sorry for making you feel uncared about, unloved, so badly you fled this far without telling anyone. That you felt like you couldn't even tell those close to you.. I am sorry for neglecting you and our relationship. I was just trying to earn money picking up extra shifts and jobs so that i could give you your dream wedding down to even the slightest detail. I wanted it to be a day you would remember as the happiest day of your life because I didn't want to wait too long before marrying you, and i wanted to surprise you. I should have told you what i was planning." He paused to try to calm his pounding heart.

---

You looked at him with more tears threatening to spill from your eyes.

"Shouta.." You breathed. "My dream wedding is you being at the end of the asile, waiting for me. I didn't need a big fancy wedding or an expensive dress. I just needed you. I would have told you this had I known all the added missions and patrols you were doing were for that. I thought you were picking up jobs to avoid coming home..to me." You couldn't stop the sob from escaping you before you carried on.

"I felt so alone, like i had become a buden to you. I missed you, i missed us. But it felt like all that was gone. I couldn't.. i couldn't keep living there feeling that way. And i knew that the best thing for both of us was for me to leave because if there was a chance, I'd run into you, and if i did, it would hurt too much. I didn't want you to feel like you had to be with me, so i came out here where there was zero chance of that happening. Or at least that's what i thought. But how did you find me?"

Silence, other than the clock on the wall that kept ticking.

---

He reached up and cupped your cheek, brushing away the tears that slid down it.

"Baby, you are not a burden. You never have been, never will be. I am sorry I was so preoccupied that i failed to notice how much you were hurting and how much you needed me to be there. How I let you down.. I love you and have been searching for you since the day you left. I would still be looking. Had you not sent that email." He smiled softly, thinking about the email that led him back to you.

---

You blinked in confusion for a moment before realizing that your co-worker must have hit send before leaving that night.

Before you could open your mouth to say something, a knock at the door stopped you.

The receptionist poked her head in and informed you that you were needed back in the lab.

You stood up immediately and thanked her, trying to figure out what to say to Aizawa.

---

He beat you to it.

"Let me take you to dinner tonight."

---

You nodded, agreeing to meet him back in the lobby at seven o'clock.

Taglist:

@tired-teacher-blog

[my-lunaberg]

I came up with that AU the other day thats like, what if Wilbur approached Tubbo to make drugs first which leads to Tubbo becoming his right hand man instead of Tommy, but I had some issues properly developing it because if their personalities and goals stay the same and its just that one change then nothing is really different after the Manberg/Pogtopia war because Tommy would still reject the presidency for his discs and Tubbo wouldnt get himself exiled and even if he did something exile-worthy, Dream wouldnt double down the way he did in canon, because he cares about Tommy and his discs and not Tubbo. However, Im rewatching Tommys exile vods and he keeps going on about "if the roles were reversed and Tubbo was exiled" and it gave me some ideas

So, I still dont really know how Tubbo would get himself exiled, so Im not even gonna talk about it

First, I do think Tommy would want to visit him even if they had an argument before the exile and I definitely think Dream would be spending a lot of time with him in order to prevent it (and yknow, for manipulation reasons). Tommy would probably be a lot less suceptible to Dreams emotional manipulation attempts since he has more of a support system in Lmanberg, so I feel like Dream might try to influence the way he runs Lmanberg instead. I think Tommy would struggle quite a lot with being the president and it would make him feel bad on top of missing Tubbo, so Dream could maybe exploit that idk

I dont really know if Tubbo would actually have more visitors like Tommy is saying because yeah, Tommy was pretty destructive and some people didnt like him but he did have friends who (aside from Tubbo kinda) really had no reason not to stop by. Idk, I'd say he would get as many visitors as Tommy in canon, he just would actively push them away because he doesnt have the mindset of "oh theyre just doing this out of pity and I dont like it" (although thats something that could develop over the course of his exile)

Back when the exile arc was still on-going, there were speculations that Tommy would join Dream and become a protegee of sorts and nothing close to that ended up happening BUT I feel like Tubbo would be more likely to join Dream if he was put in that situation. Like, Tommy has said multiple times that the disc are the most important thing to himand I feel like that already kinda got to him but if he was isolated with Dream manipulating him, I think it could convince him to join him. And then we could have a really interesting conflict between Tommy and Tubbo and really confront the fact that he seems to care more about his discs than literally anything else. I think there would also be some good internal conflict from Tubbo because yknow, siding with Dream has historically gone bad for former presidents of Lmanberg. ALSO maybe he would think a lot about that thing Wilbur told him during the festival that was like "youre just a yes-man" and reflect on that or something

This would be the point where the AU starts diverting more and more from canon since Tubbo doesnt move in with Techno n Phil and all that doesnt happen because hes still just with Dream, but i dont really know how exactly it would divert rn. Maybe I'll come up with that as Im watching idk

[player-tag]

dsmp!grian, part 1 [more if people want it!]

it was on grian that he fell, really, he wasn't paying attention to where he was going. he was admiring his and pearl's building, treeza (he still didnt like that name, but couldnt think of anything better...) when he backed a little too far.

he suddenly felt the ground under him disappear.

of course. he didn't even have an elytra on. he'd lose all his stuff. he was going to have to grind so hard for his stuff back. fantastic.

he sighed as he fell down. screaming would be no help, nor would crying. he knew to be calm and try his hardest not to make himself in a bad mood. so he waited until he fell out of the world.

he waited. and waited. and waited and waited and-

"hold on," he said, trying to move across the dark void.

he floated across, seeing nothing but the usual void you see. there was nothing for kilometers around, and everything felt empty.

then it appeared. it looked like what you would imagine a biblically accurate angel to look like. a hundred eyes spread across its body, halos circling it. its cape flowed majestically around, the stars hidden in the cape's inner side. it wasn't a star pattern, actually stars. they moved and grian saw multiple constellations in there. it had a spherical white head, detached from its body. XD was written on it.

who are you?

it didn't physically say it, but grian heard it in his head.

"grian," he replied, looked at the XD sphere. it felt like the best place to look.

hmm, you're not from our world, are you? you're from a more... powerful one. a more... peaceful, server.

grian nodded. he must've been teleported to a different server. he didn't leave his hermitcraft server often at all, expect for mcc. and even that was rare. he didn't know what other servers would be like. hopefully not too bad.

i do not have the power to teleport you back, i'm afraid. you'll need to find and speak to your own admin and this world's admin. i'm afraid this admin isn't... the best person, to say the least. he will not let you leave unless he wants to. i am sorry.

"wait, you aren't you the admin?" grian asked, confused. this creature looked like a god. how could it not help him?

no, unfortunately, i am not. please do not be scared, though, for i will help you as much as i can. i will teleport you to the physical overworld and send my sister, drista, to check on you often. i will not harm you, but not even i can control the occupants of this broken world, so they may act hostile. please do not provoke them. try to be nice and compliant, for it will help.

the creature had started chanting in a foreign language.

∴𝙹∴ ℸ ̣ ⍑╎ᓭ ∴ᔑᓭ ᔑ ∴ᔑᓭℸ ̣ ᒷ↸ ᒷ⎓⎓𝙹∷ℸ ̣ 𝙹リ ||𝙹⚍∷ ᒷリ↸ ᒲᔑリ ꖎᒲᔑ𝙹

"okay... but one more question!"

it stopped.

"what is the name of this world?"

it sighed, lifting up its arms.

dream smp.

and then it snapped its fingers.

the spawn looked nice. the rest of the world though, was a post apocalyptic wasteland. creeper holes, half cut down trees, and literally no way to indicate which way you should be going to reach the main 'hub'.

he had spawned with a communicator with him. as soon as he spawned in, it exploded with messages.

grian joined the game.

tubbo_: new member pog???

foolishgamers: tommy did you invite a person without dreams permission again?

tommyinnit: stfu that green bitch is in prison, and no i didn't

wilbursoot: what the fuck???

the_eret: guys be nice maybe they’re a visitor!

grian read the messages over. he'd heard these names before, probably from mcc.

he was expecting someone to come zooming in with an elytra or something, but instead a blond boy dropped in with a trident in his hand.

“who the fuck are you?“ he asked, pointing a netherite axe at grian’s chest.

“who are you?” groan joking asked, lowering the boys axe with his finger. the boy glared at him, obviously threatening to cut off his arm. grian gave an awkward cough, and smiled.

“i‘m grian, from the hermitcraft server!”

”okay, so you’re british, judging from your accent. hermitcraft, did you say? isn’t it that server thats like all powerful and peaceful and has rules and shit, innit?” the boy rambled, circling grian and looking him up and down.

”uh, yeah. nice to meet you, but I really must meet the admin so I can go back,” grian said, looking around and checking his communicator to see if anyone was willing to help.

”well, dream is currently in prison, so you’d have to schedule a meeting with sam. wouldn’t recommend that though, becuse dream would probably kill you before letting you go. he‘ll probably ask for some shitty favour or somthin’,” the boy explained.

grian swallowed. why was their admin in prison? that’s not good.

“um, i’ll still try. can you help me, uh... what‘s your name?”

”tommy.”

“so, can you help me, tommy?”

“sure. not like I have anything better to do.”

andddd that’s part 1! if yall want part 2, then I might do it lmao.

[angelicmichael]

What if Xavier had a kid he didn't know about and he meets them for the first time after he's already a ghost? Maybe there's a kindergarten group that takes a trip to the camp, and he just has this spirit intuition as soon as he sees them and KNOWS it's his child. Do you think you could expand on this idea? I'd love to see what you come up with!

A/N: This was so fun, thank you for this idea dear anon!! I'm sorry it's late but hopefully u like it 😶. Also, I apologize this is so dark and heavy- I didnt intend for it.. it just, kinda happened lmfao. I turned this into a 'x reader' and it starts with Xaviers POV and ends with readers perspective!! First few paragraphs are pretty dark and then the rest is weird.. angst fluff LOL.Hope yall enjoy 💖💖💖

Warnings: First few paragraphs discuss Xavier's thots about dying SO, it highkey gets dark yall I'm so sorry, mentions of anger?? issues, mentions of murder, stops getting dark roughly around paragraph 6 if u wanna skip all that, MAJOR ANGST, reuniting, very brief Xantana reference 😈, mention of kids, bit of fluff.. think that's it :)

In Xaviers eyes; the worst part of being killed in a desolate camp and having to reside there for the rest of eternity; wasnt the fact that he would have to handle Richard Rameriez and tolerate his peers for eons to come. Sure, both of those things required an adjustment period but.. the realization that his life with you was abruptly cut short, was what truly broke him.

It took him being stripped from everything he once knew to truly appreciate how heavenly life once was before Camp Redwood. He had a steady job, good friends, and a relationship with a actual living, breathing person.. Not to shade Montana or anything, of course. However he had taken all of those things for fucking granted; moving to Camp Redwood definetly had made him become humble- at the very least. He was now nothing but a mere shell of the person he once was; nothing to bring him out of this absolute living nightmare he found himself in.. At first this mindset nearly consumed him, it drove him to kill multiple times.

There was no point in trying to conceal the anger he felt, no way of trying to channel it out into a more socially appropriate way and at this point.. there really was no point in trying to do so. Out here in the forest, espically after he was killed, life outside of the forest soon seemed as if it was some type of myth or fairytale- something not real or attainable. Time in the redwood forest felt different- days quickly bled and melted into weeks, and then months.. trying to guess the date was something Xavier gave up on doing after about the first week.

As much as he tried to deny it, being dead and becoming trapped here had completly made him lose his grip on reality and his previous life. Soon enough, the thought that life even fully existed outside of the camp and that there was actual fucking laws against killing (something which was now a leisurely hobby) had completly slipped his mind momentarily in the beginning as well. Out here in the forest, nothing felt real execpt for his anger that he held onto so tightly.

It was really the only thing he had left; atleast for a while.

The pain of losing his partner, (y/n), still remained but letting that grief not consume him was easily the hardest battle he had fought in his life. Xavier realized he still had his friends - and if he really was going to live for eternity, he sure wasnt going to spend it angry.

After so many years of being 'cursed' to spend forever in this forest, keeping track of the time was something Xavier rarely bothered with, but - it was obvious by the suns posistion, and even the slight mist that made the grass wet that it was just starting to cut into morning. Xavier walked through the forest alone, nowhere in particular to go or to necessarily do, only a sudden need to go and be alone. Almost a beckoning, for him to go and be somewhere else. To witness something.

His days were more often than not purely mundane; he had absolutely no excuse to not listen to this odd and sudden attraction he felt toward a very particular spot in the camp.. so, that's what brought him to where he stood now. Close to the road that brought visitors (a nice word for victims) into Camp Redwood, right next to the mess hall which was rarely used close by.

Xavier felt wildly uncomfortable standing so close to the place which previously held so much trauma - and honestly still did.. The place where Chef Bertie died. Xavier paused, about to just say 'fuck it' and just give up and go back to where his friends resided (or atleast Montana) when.. he heard it.

His sign, the thing that seemingly enticed him in the first place.

It first sounded like the old, familar sounds of tires coming across a gravel road - Xaviers mind immeadietly jumped to perhaps this could be new people.. new vistors.. new victims.

His blood ran cold when he heard something else; an eerie ringing of chains hitting against the ground. Something that was mostly a associated with buses.. and hauntingly familar. He had little to no time to think or even act on his suspicion when he noticed that a yellow school bus full, and nearly combusting with children was pulling into the camp.

Xavier wasnt exactly certain the bounds that ghosts had when it came to certain bodily functions like vomiting, but hes sure that under normal circumstances he would certainly be sick by now. Nevertheless he could feel his body tense up and the other natural symptoms associated with anxiety also kicked in. Urging him to clumsily get out of vision; he stumbled behind a few trees that poorly blocked him from sight. He continued to watch in complete and utter horror as the bus came to a stop, and it didnt take long for kids to start pouring out of the bus. Xavier felt his heart drop and his blood run cold every time a kid exited the bus and stepped on the dirt soil of Camp Redwood.

Xavier whipped his head around; scanning the surrounding area to make sure no other ghosts were here to bear witness to this.. Xavier was nearly always down to commit murder, it was really the only thing that kept him from fully going insane from pure fucking boredom but - kids? There was no fucking way he would let anyone touch them.

While he thoroughly scanned the area, he noticed a few adults leave the bus out of his periphery vision. He thought nothing of it, chaperones were to be expected on elementary field trips but.. the strange beckoning feeling he felt ealier visited him again, urging him to turn his head fully and look at one of the chaperones more closely. Instantaneously, he then automatically realized why he felt so compelled to come to this spot.. Why he was meant to be here at this exact moment.. It was you.

At first he thought he was merely hallucinating; you definetly looked significantly different from the last time he had saw you but.. he knew it was you, his partner that he had before his life completly went to shit (minus the catastrophe that occured with Blake, of course). He knew instantly, it was your eyes, your stature and just.. your overall warm and familiar aura that gave your identity away. He couldnt believe that the person he had so fucking desperately wanted to see more than anyone or anything was only a few feet away - and now, that you were finally here... All he wanted for you to do was to leave.

As soon as he saw you he felt a sudden tightness posses his chest and throat which accompanied the formation of tears burning his eyes; hastily blurring his vision. He had to physically restrain himself from sobbing outloud; trying his best to just swallow down his tears. His whole body felt as if it was on fire with anxiety, but he chose to continue to stand still behind a few dainty trees - trying to pull himself together so he could actually have the chance to think critically and choose what the ever living fuck he was going to do next.

While he waited for his blurry vision to clear, he chose to focus on the semi distant figure that he knew was you. He took in the little details; like how the sun highlighted the colors in your hair and your simple but charming outfit. It took him several moments to think of why you would even be here in the first place, with a school bus- and thats when another dreadful realization hit him.

Only parents were mainly chaperones when it came to elementary field trips.. meaning-

No other thought crossed Xaviers mind as his eyes flicked down inhumanely fast to the child where (y/n) stood next too.. and immeadietly he knew.

The features the child shared of both you and Xavier were partially a giveaway, but most importantly.. it was the feeling he had that confirmed his belief. The initial anxiety he felt of the kids arriving still remained but was significantly muted and mostly replaced with a overwhelming sense of pure love. The feeling spread to every fiber of his being, and so did a odd urge to protect this small being which he knew was his.

Not ever in his entire life had he felt this way about someone (execpt for perhaps, you). He felt himself taking a few steps forward, at first completly involuntary but he knew he had to talk to you. Just the idea of reuniting tasted so fucking good but, he knew he couldnt get too greedy if he was going to talk to you. He knew confronting you had to be solely done in order to save you and his child, he couldnt get carried away. He wouldnt.

He tried his best to appear casual as he submerged from behind the trees, his hands held behind his back - the only way he could get them to stop shaking. He tried to relax his shoulders and appear confident as he strided up to you; your back turned toward him. He continued until he was directly behind you, he wanted to tap your shoulder but - touching you seemed out of the question. That would confirm everything, it would make it seem actually real and not like this just some torturous dream.

"(Y/n)"? He spoke.

Xaviers breath hitched as he watched you whip around to face him. He studied your features as you went from looking utterly confused to surprised beyond belief.

"Xavier, what-"

"We need to talk".

Xavier quickly grabbed your hand, leading you away from herd of kids and the few sparse chaperones that were amongst them. A few of them gave you two a few odd looks but neither you or Xavier particularly cared, after all this was the first time in years you two had seen eachother. You hastily followed his lead, feeling slightly embarrassed that it was obvious how nervous and simply caught off guard you currently were. Your palms (one of which was still holding onto Xaviers hand) were starting to moisten with sweat. These feelings only amplified once Xavier turned around to face you. The intensity that was in his eyes put you on edge - never in your time of dating or knowing him did he ever look so serious with you.

"What are you doing here"? Xavier spoke, his voice was still in a higher pitch, slightly breaking.

"What"?

After years of not being able to see you, in fact; years of you not even knowing where he went - this was how he chose to greet you?? Automatically your blood ran cold with the sudden realization that something was wrong. Seriously wrong.. but the feeling didnt just apply to your ex boyfriend. It was the entire camp.

"Its not safe here, you need to take the kids and leave". Xaviers voice more visibly shook this time as he spoke; as if his words physically pained him.

Your heart skipped a beat, the sudden pain and anguish starting to fully settle in. You couldnt believe it; after years of not seeing you - this was all he had to say? Was he fucking joking?

"What? A-are you kidding? Xavier, I havent seen you in years- I didnt even know you would be here-"

"I'm sorry (y/n). I'm so sorry but you have no idea what this place is like. You just need to go, and the kids. And promise me you wont come back".

It was torturous to watch tears gather in Xaviers eyes, and watch as they streaked down his cheeks. The sadness you previously felt was now washed away with red, hot rage. The feeling spread throughout your body like a wildfire that he was seemingly rejecting you.. but you knew now this wasnt some pathetic excuse. Something was seriously wrong here; and now it was starting to become too obvious to ignore.

Xavier looked hauntingly the exact same from the last time you saw him. He forever, looked as if he was still stuck in the same moment of time - like in the summer of 1984, which was when you last saw him.

You didnt realize you were still holding onto one of his hands until you reflexively tried to move it to brush away his tears that were still staining his cheeks; but awkwardly.. you chose to do so with your other hand. Squeezing the one hand you were still holding onto a bit tighter.

He winced as you touched him, and as much you tried your damn best to hold it together - you could feel tears starting to burn your eyes as well.

"I cant promise I wont ever come back, Xavier. I need to see you again, and what about-" you said softly, about to reference the child you two shared together.

"No, you'll see me again (y/n). I promise.. okay"?

He brought your hand up to his mouth to kiss your knuckles; the tears you trying so desperately to hold in were now sliding down your cheeks. Your breathing was now horribly choppy. You were on the brink of full on sobbing but you held yourself back - it was nearly time for you to go.

The fact you would have to go back to go the others and make up some bullshit excuse to leave, put a bitter taste in your mouth.. but your sure Xavier had a valid reason for ushering you to leave. Even if he didnt want to tell you right now; you trusted him with your life.

"Okay.. Fine. I'm coming back though, and I'm sorry I couldnt find you sooner". You admitted.

You dropped his hand that you were still holding in order to wrap your arms around him. To get one final touch to remember him by. You were desperate to fully touch him and to be wrapped in his embrace, something you had desperately and madly missed. As he held you; you tried to soak in his scent, his aura.. just the fact that he was even here seriously with you, in this moment.

You previously assumed Xavier had passed away; that was easier to come to terms with rather than thinking he willingly ran away or.. that something else more sinister had happened. A part of you wanted to be frustrated that you were leaving with more questions than answers but.. you didnt care. Your heart didnt care. You were just happy you were able to see your boyfriend.. no matter the circumstance or conditions it came with. Even though you were stupidly happy, your thoughts kept annoyingly circling back to the same question - how was Xavier here with you, living.. breathing.. in the flesh. How was this possible? You were about to speak your thoughts outloud when you first felt Xavier break away from you. You didnt get as much as a second glance just when you felt something soft on your cheek. Perhaps a goodbye kiss? and then.. just like he wasnt there at all, he was gone. Almost as if he completly disintegrated into the fresh, morning sky.

You felt your entire body stiffen as you realized he was gone.. again. It was difficult to pinpoint exactly how you felt. It was a nasty mix of both grief and anger that left you completly speechless and deathly still. You took a step back to combat the feeling, and attempted to look casual (and not like the person whom you were just hugging had completly fucking vanished). Sheepishly taking a look at the group you had arrived with and making sure none of them noticed your.. odd behavior.

Sure enough, none of them did. They all stood, and continued on conversing just like they were before you had broke away from them. Smiling and laughing as if nothing was wrong; just like they didnt have a care in the world - just as if the love of their life wasnt ripped away from them for a second time.

Even though Xavier was now gone, that odd, unsettling feeling still lingered with you. Like something was terribly wrong here, in Camp Redwood. The feeling wasn't entirely bad though; sure - the overall air in this place reeked of something terrible but.. now you felt something else mixed into it. A comforting essence of safety; Xaviers presence. You knew he wasnt directly beside you anymore but he was somewhere.. lurking. Watching you, as you begrudgingly walked over to the group you came with. Making up a bullshit excuse in your head so you could escape whatever this place was pretending to be.

Taglist: @michaellangdonstanaccount @langdonsexual @jimmason @blakewaterxx @dark-mei-rose @9layerdevilfoodcake @prophecy-is-inevitable @matildaofoz @beautyiswithinchaos @frenchlangdon @instincts-baby let me know if u would like to be added!! :)

[funneyheehooman]

i cannot BELIEVE I DIDNT LIKE the 'disc finale is staged theory' before yesterday. i cannot BELIEVE myself- ITS SO FUCKING SMART. i just watched animagician's video on it and it puts so many things into retrospect- it is absolutely genius, it is backed up by so, so so much evidence, everything calls for it- c!dream would NEVER be as hasty as he was for the final disc confrontation!!! THIS HAS TO BE IT WHAT THE FUCK??1GRYFT SDFHJA ITUYGH!HUGYTF!!

LMAO-

for shame vil I've believed this theory when it first started going around >:D /lh (pff- What made u turn away from it initially tho :0?)

And ur so right- just overall what happened at the time really points to it.

With c!dream, he was never super flashy, and even if he was he usually wasnt the main focus (ie. Nov. 16th, Doomsday, etc). He'd usually let the others take the more prominent role.

With the disc finale, it just felt so odd to me honestly, he created this blackstone structure just to house everybody's attachments? (this one is more in character but still the extent he does it). And with a very conventiely placed portal that anyone could walk to and get in if they knew where they were going?

As well, before the finale, c!dream and c!punz had a discussion about the nature of their relationship. That even though c!punz is a mercenary, and their relationship has been mostly for transaction sake, they both agreed that their relation goes beyond simple service and payment. That they were friends.

As well, c!dream warned c!punz that being too close to him could lead to him getting hurt. They had to figure out some way to show that c!punz wasn't on c!dreams side anymore. Originally I believe they planned on c!dream tried to steal/or kill c!punz horse pumpkin. But that's never brought up again.

C!punz was the guy who knew where c!dream was located, he knew where the portal was, and he was the one who lead the charge against c!dream. The reason? C!Tommy paid c!punz more than c!dream did (which I sincerely doubt, c!dream used to be one of the richest players, but I digress) c!punz and c!dream both just had a discussion on how they shouldnt be seen as allies. And a perfect opportunity comes right into their laps to show how they arent allies anymore.. just feels like too much of a coincidence.

Then, we get to Enderboo (c!ranboo in his enderstate), both cc!ranboo and cc!dream said that the staring at eachother was on purpose. Why would it be though? If this wasn't planned, wouldn't enderboo try helping his ally? No, instead it's been confirmed that in the beginning Enderboo was c!dreams most common visitor. Also I do wanna mention that Enderboo is just c!ranboo but with all of his memories intact. So Enderboo isnt a separate entity but just the same c!ranboo (this has been confirmed in a lore stream). The relationship between the two is so vague, but I really believe it's a mutual partnership or mentor/student dynamic (esp with the lessons).

And dont even get me started on the stone theory lol- both c!ranboo and c!punz have both gone like "oh we need stone chat, why? It's a secret chat :)/I dont really know ik I just need it" like CMON. That's so fucking suspicious (I'll link a good post about the stone theory here when I find it ;;)

I could talk forever on this theory- like I 99.9% believe it's true theres just too much pointing to it imo

But just imagining c!dream practicing monologuing evilly to c!ranboo and c!punz and they're both trying not to laugh in the background makes me just 🥰🥰

Also the skeppy cage is funny ngl, just imagining that discussion is fkn hilarious pff-

[kdramachitchat]

Episode 7 - Shows how our past experiences shapes up the person we become today. A look back on Ms. Jung and Gaon’s backstory.

The episode starts right back from the previous episode wherein Yohan exposes the SRF and the people around it involved in a scandal for the Dream Home project.

War against false accusations

To whoever gives them a tip Yohan will compensate all the money to them. All the members except Ms. Jung are in shock. She was in a calm state manner as if she expected this to happen. Ms Jung reminded them to calm down as it’s all groundless accusations. 

The Blue House holds a press conference and they are carefully looking into it. The President breaks into the press room and tells the reporters himself that the accusations are all false. The President is also fired up and told the press different kinds of reports he found about Yohan. He also copies Yohan and if anyone gave the President tip he will provide the tipper a significant reward.

Gaon and Yohan talks about how Yohan is basically against a entire country. Yohan pointed out on where they spend the rest of the money and they used it through advertisement. They use it to the different kinds of media outlets to advertise and exaggerate noblesse oblige. They create a wealthy image of the social responsibility. They use it as a weapon to take over. The Dream Home project is just a front of creating a large asylum by using the citizen’s money to put the homeless, poor and social discontent all in 1 area and out of sight. Once they set aside those people, they will advertise a widespread redevelopment of the city.

Gaon decides to help him under a few conditions. Subornation of perjury, abduction, blackmail and making a fool with his lies to the citizens is not something he’ll abide on. He’s not a shady law-maker. Not infront of his parents who died because of a conman and Soohyun. Yohan’s next step is to create division against the people.

Yohan visits the Minbo group. He then gets a call from the Chairman of People Media Group Mr. Park to meet up, same with Mr. Min of Minbo Group.

Yohan also visits the President’s office and does a impromptu livestream. Yohan tells President Heo that he will look into the foundation’s corruption. Yohan diverted the public and tells them that the President invited him to the Blue House to give a joint statement.

After Yohan’s visit at the Blue House, he went home and found out that GaOn has found a weak spot. They spend too much on PR. They release articles saying that the foundation has donated 10-20m dollars to the Dream Home project. Gaon comments that the money is too big for the donations to be solely from the public. GaOn suggested that they need the foundation’s financial date. The date from Park and Min are fake so it looks like the others embezzled money. They also havent been receiving proper tip offs although Yohan still wants to pay them. To Yohan it doesnt matter if they dont get the content what matters is the number. He wants the number of tip offs to be known to the public. Yohan says that they need to fool people by having confidence. GaOn commented that he sounded like a experienced con artist. Hmm. Yohan although mentions that this is a bit different because he’s spending his own money and he clearly knows that GaOn has been effected by a con artist in the past. This surely hits home. GaOn at night starts having nightmares about his parents.

Social Responsibility Foundation Healing Mentor Lecture

A proper introduction about Ms. Jung from Ms. Jung herself. She talks about the meaning of her name and how her mother thought she would grow up to be a ordinary and good person. She talks about her childhood, how her mother used to beat her up everytime she’s drunk. Seeing the children brings her back memories and one of the visitors shared their similar stories. Ms. Jung as a child got into fights and got in trouble. Everyone around her insulted, teased and beated her so she had no choice. She was hungry too. When she was 12, she worked for a wealthy family with nice children. They were nice and never swore. If she’d be good as them her mom probably wouldn't beat her. 

To become a good child, she advice that you have to be rich. You can only be nice if you were able to meet ends. The world is a jungle, when you have a prey you have to survive by all means. Bite back if they bite hard, steal something if you have to. She also gives them a reality check that the world is tougher especially for lonely girls like them. Beasts are everywhere no matter how educated and respected they are. If they are surrounded by scumbags they should take advantage of it. The law is never on their side and they must secure evidence. Record the evidence if they must. To end her statement, they should torment that person until the day they die. Threaten them and destroy everything they have along the way until the person becomes tame as a dog. A female guest ask if Ms. Jung’s mother love her now, she mentions that her mother passed away when she was 12. She was drunk and fell down the stairs at their neighborhood.

The head of the lecturer complimented about her speech and tells her to come back. Ms. Jung suddenly pushes her down the stairs with one of the guest witnessing her. I guess her mother wasn’t exactly drunk? Maybe Ms. Jung was the one who pushed her own mother down the stairs. The female guest wasn’t shocked but was happy after Ms. Jung winked back at her.

Ga On’s past

GaOn’s parents passed away when he was 16. He told Elijah that his parents were conned by a horrible con artist. His father took his own life and the mother collapsed from shock. Elijah says that it’s something that he won’t be able to forget easily. They both compared their past and how difficult it is for them to forget. He talked about how he hated being alone and so he slept, hung out with anyone anywhere. He compared himself to a stray dog. Ga On complimented Elijah how she’s a strong and incredible person. How she used to deal with being lonely in the house. Both seem to get along well now.

Yohan starts reading books on how to handle talking to a teenager like Elijah. He prepares himself before entering Elijah’s room. Even to the point on having to memorize the things he’d learn. He starts to ask awkward questions which made the scene funny. Elijah shut the door but then eventually asked about Ga On’s parents to Yohan. Yohan with a smile explained to Elijah that his parents were conned of hundreds of millions of dollars through a pyramid scheme. The result leaded to 10 victims who committed suicide from it.

Live show

During the live show, Yohan shows a recording of him meeting with Mr Park and Min handing over a envelope. Yohan revealed that they gave a subcontract to a company run by a family member. They bought a site for their future business venture in advance. The documents had opposing details that will be looked on. He also revealed the status of the donations. Yohan puts a spotlight on GaOn and adds his previous comment that the donations didnt add up. If they dont embezzle the money, then they never donated from the beginning. Yohan then exposes GaOn’s family history to the pubic. GaOn looked shocked and mad, Yohan certainly didnt ask for consent to reveal it and now the reporters are flocking him for a statement. They will reveal the contents of the tip off they receive next week. After the show Yohan and GaOn argued once again about GaOn’s principles.

Visiting Doh Youngchoon

Yohan and GaOn arrives at the correction facility center to visit Doh Youngchoon without GaOn knowing. They arrive and the police mentions how they support the 2 judges. GaOn couldnt believe his eyes, he is shocked by Doh’s appearance. The police officer incharge of the visitation mentioned that he received extra charges and was sentenced to 17 years. GaOn was floored and is completely emotional on the system works.

Ms. Jung as the new SRF Chairwoman

Ms. Jung is psychotic as hell too. She forgives Mr. Seo then stabs him at the end. They released a statement that he committed suicide due to the embezzlement scandal and have destroyed all the evidence. They announced Ms. Jung Sunah as the new chairwoman of the SRF.

[freddiesaysalright]

A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes - Chapter 5

Gwilym!Prince Charming x Reader

Summary: After losing your parents, your step-family makes your life impossible. That is, until Prince Gwilym holds a ball. It’s your one chance for everything to change.

Word Count: 4.1k

Tag List: @psychosupernatural, @someone-get-a-medic, @bensrhapsody, @deakyclicks, @crazylittlethingcalledobsession, @minigranger, @crazyweirdocalledfriday, @the-moving-finger-writes, @assembledherethevolunteers, @rose-writes-prose, @queenlover05, @26-7-49, @drowsebaby, @im-an-adult-ish, @queen-paladin, @rogerina-owns-me, @mirkwoodshewolf, @namelesslosers, @headl0ng, @captvianswaan, @folietracksix​, @baltimoresweethearts​, @killer-queen-87​, @haileymoreolikestupid, @itsametaphorgwil​, @misslolasworld​, @whitequeen-ofwillowgreen​

A/N: It’s the grand finale! Thank you again for all the lovely responses to this fic! I can’t believe I’m almost done with the Disney AUs already! also i barely proofread this because i was so excited to post it so if you see a typo no you didnt

Warning(s): brief descriptions of abuse

Moodboard

Prologue  Chapter 1  Chapter 2  Chapter 3  Chapter 4

Chapter 5 here we go!!!

Frank and his daughters came home about an hour after you did. You were already back in your servant clothes and waiting by the door. You took their cloaks and bags, and began hanging them on the rack in the main hall. 

“How was your night?” you asked politely. 

“It was a splendid evening, Y/N,” Frank answered. “More than you could ever hope for.”

“I’m sure it was,” you returned, holding back a smirk. If only he knew. 

“I’m relieved to see you have not stolen anything else from my wife’s closet,” he sneered.

You shook your head. “No, sir. I wouldn’t dream of it. I’ve been thoroughly educated.”

“Very good,” he said, seeming displeased that he couldn’t goad you. 

But nothing could spoil this night. It was perfect. 

“Is there anything you need before going to bed?” you asked. 

“I’m fine, but you’ll of course help the girls get changed,” he said. 

You nodded again. “Absolutely.”

He watched you suspiciously as you followed your step sisters up the stairs. You were calm. Too calm. And you were humming, which you didn’t normally do. Plus the tune was something he had heard somewhere - but no event would have had you in attendance. His frown deepened. Something was up.

***

Gwilym returned to the palace two hours later, empty handed and broken-hearted. Rami and Ben were waiting on the steps for him, but as he walked up, he only shook his head. They sighed, disappointed for their friend. Thankfully, the remaining guests had all gone home. 

“Sorry, mate,” Ben said. 

“There was no sign of her?” Rami asked. 

“No,” Gwilym said. “Even the carriage tracks just seemed to disappear. It was like she just vanished.”

“So, all we’ve got to go on is the shoe?” Ben wondered, holding it up. 

Gwilym had only entrusted his best friends with it, and they had kept it from his father. 

“It’s made of glass,” Gwilym said. “Which means it only fits her.”

“So what are we gonna do?” Rami asked. “Try the shoe on every woman in the kingdom?”

“Only the single women,” Gwilym said, as if it were obvious.

Rami and Ben shared a surprised look. 

“I hope you’re joking,” Ben said. 

“Far from it,” Gwilym replied. “I’m going to find that girl, and I’m going to marry her.”

Rami sighed. “Very well, then. But let’s start in the morning.”

“Thank you both,” Gwilym said, relieved. They had every reason to leave now. Both had duties at home, and had done what was socially expected. With the ball over, there was no obligation to stay. “Really.”

“Of course we’re gonna help you,” Ben said. “But I’m with Rami. Starting tomorrow.”

“You guys go on up, I’ll be right behind you,” Gwilym insisted. 

His friends shrugged, but did as he requested and went inside. Gwilym remained, holding that glass piece of you carefully in the crook of his arm. He looked out into the night sky, hoping somehow you could feel his desperation. 

“I am coming for you, my darling,” he said quietly. 

***

You yawned as the sun peered into your room through your curtains. You were feeling unusually light this morning. Like you were still floating just above the ballroom floor. With a contented sigh, you stretched and forced yourself out of bed. Frank and the girls would be needing their breakfast soon, but you knew you had a little extra time today. They’d certainly have a bit of a lie in after the late night. 

You threw your dress and apron on. You did a spin around your room, giggling as you imagined Gwilym there with you. Then you had to slow to a stop. It was a fantasy, nothing more. One glorious night. But now it was time to return to reality and your true life. Still, you could cling to the dream for one morning.

Humming to yourself, you put the pot on to boil and began prepping plates for breakfast. You set a pan atop the stove to start some sausages when you heard the jingle of a bell. You looked at the wall. It was coming from Eleanor’s room, so you guessed she was up. You asked Elsie to start the food and went back upstairs to get your step sister dressed. When you reached the landing, you saw Frank emerging from his room, already dressed. 

“Good morning,” you said kindly. 

“Y/N, what did you get up to last night?” he asked. 

“Why, nothing, sir,” you said. “I cleaned up, as you instructed, changed clothes, and got a head start on some other chores. When those were done, I occupied myself by reading.”

He seemed skeptical. “I see. I hope you weren’t reading anything too fanciful. You mustn’t fill your mind with...unrealistic dreams and fantasies.”

Your brow furrowed with confusion. What was he implying?

“No, sir,” you said. “I try to keep everything practical.”

“Good,” he said. “Now get to work.”

You nodded, a bit perplexed, but continued into Eleanor’s room.

***

In the morning, Gwilym was the first up. He hardly slept at all. He wrote a decree for his father to send out, that he and Ben and Rami would be making the rounds through town and the countryside to find the owner of the missing shoe. They would begin today, and search until the prince had found his lost love.

To his shock, the king agreed to this. He read over it at the breakfast table, nodding at each point. The ladies were to try on the shoe and if it fit, it must be the girl who Gwilym met at the ball.

“Very well,” he said. “You’ll begin today?”

“Yes,” Gwilym said. “I want to find her as soon as possible.”

“Alright, son,” the king replied. He looked at the prince and offered a sincere smile. “And best of luck.”

Gwilym beamed. “Thank you, Father!”

And so, they began their search within the palace, where the out of town noble guests were staying. Gwilym had his doubts about those girls because he met them before you even came through the door. But he knew everyone deserved a fair chance. When the shoe fit none of those women, they made their way into town, with a few guards along for protection. 

***

Frank received a letter from the palace early in the morning. He looked it over and you saw a flash of...something cross his face. You couldn’t place the emotion though. It seemed almost like a glimmer of hope. His eyes glanced over at you before quickly turning to his daughters. 

“Girls, get yourselves looking nice,” he said. “We’ll be having visitors from the palace this afternoon.”

“The palace?” you questioned, without meaning to, but you could hardly help yourself. 

“Yes, but that isn’t any of your business, Y/N,” he snapped. “Get my daughters ready and then proceed with your chores as usual. You are not to make your presence known while the visitors are here.”

You nodded apologetically. As you made your way back to the kitchen, you wondered if the visitors Frank referred to could be Gwilym and his father. Was he looking for you? Something in your heart told you he was, but you hardly even dared to hope. Such a thing was the stuff of dreams. And yet, the ball seemed like a dream too, but it was as real as the tea kettle you carried. You began devising a plan. 

As the day wore on, you completed your chores quickly. You wanted to prepare yourself as well. Your gut was telling you Gwilym was on his way to take you away from here. And you had all the proof you needed in that slipper that was hidden beneath your bed. So when you finished sweeping the entrance hall, you ran up to your room to get it. Only, when you opened your door, you came to an abrupt stop. Frank was sitting on your bed, holding the slipper by the heel. One wrong move of his fingers and it would fall, risking a break. 

“Well, well, well,” he said darkly. “I had a feeling you had made your way to the ball. You’ve been far too dreamy to have had as dull a night as you claim.”

Your heart rate quickened. 

“That’s mine,” you said, feeling childish as the words left your mouth. “It was given to me.”

Frank laughed humorlessly. “Oh, likely story. I suppose this is another one of my wife’s things you stole.”

“You cannot stop me from this,” you said, ignoring the accusation. “The prince loves me.”

“Against his better judgement, I believe that’s true,” he admitted.

You blinked, surprised at your step father’s nonchalance about this. Did that mean he would accept it? No. There had to be something else he was getting at. 

“As it is, though,” he said. “You’re spoken for.”

You frowned as your stomach dropped. 

“What are you talking about?” you asked. 

“You’re mine, Y/N,” he said, getting to his feet and straightening his jacket with his free hand. “And mine alone.”

A chill ran down your spine. Was he really saying what you thought he was saying?

���I’m not a slave, Frank,” you said. “I am free to do this.”

“I do not intend to make you my slave,” he said. “I intend to make you my wife.”

Your body went rigid as the blood ran out of your face. The very idea made your stomach churn. The thought of being his wife, sharing his bed, bearing his children...you nearly heaved right there in front of him.

“No,” you said firmly. “I won’t.”

“I’m afraid you don’t have a choice,” he said. 

“It’s sick!” you cried. “I’m your daughter!”

“Step daughter,” he said. “I will have this estate, Y/N. You will do for me what your mother could not. My son will be the true and rightful heir, and start a new line.”

“Are you not happy with the children you have?” you wondered, completely rocked to your core. “Why do you insist on a son?”

“Sons are the only useful offspring,” he scoffed. “Daughters are just mouths to feed until you can marry them off, and even then, what’s theirs will never belong to their family. It belongs to their husbands. Well, I am not going to lose everything because my previous wives were too weak to give me what I want.”

“I will not,” you refused again. “I’ll run away.”

“And leave behind your home?” he taunted. “The one your father built so lovingly with your mother?”

“It will no longer be a home to me if I am trapped in such a marriage,” you said. 

“I’m not giving you a choice, Y/N,” he sighed. “I’ll keep eyes on you everywhere, I’ll lock you in your room, whatever it takes. Or, you can submit to me now and become mistress of this house as you were born to be.”

“I’ll die before I marry you,” you spat. “I’ll die before I bear any child of yours. I’ll -”

“No need to go on,” he said. He was being alarmingly calm about this. “I know the rest. But you will marry me, Y/N. You will have my son, and you’ll do it all without complaint. Just as you have with everything I have ever given you.”

You blinked again. So everything he’d put you through was a test? A way to manipulate you into obeying his every command? He was...grooming you? Your stomach gave another lurch.

“But first,” he said. “We will need to squash your dreams of Prince Gwilym.”

“What do you -”

He cut off your question by hurling your slipper into the wall. It shattered with a crash, which drowned out your anguished cry. You sank to your knees, hopeless. 

“There now,” he said. “I’m only teaching you the harsh lesson of reality.” 

Tears fell freely down your cheeks. You heard loud knocking at the front door, but barely registered it. 

“That’ll be him,” Frank said. 

You snapped to your senses and started to rise for one last desperate escape attempt, but Frank was faster. You felt the blow of his palm against your cheek before you even saw it coming. You fell to the ground, face throbbing. You wanted to scream, or cry, or swing back at him, but you were completely numb from the shock. You couldn’t feel anything but the sting on your skin.

“Do not resist me again, Y/N,” Frank warned. 

With that, he walked out of your room, and you heard him turn the lock. You were trapped. You curled into a ball on your floor and wept quietly. 

***

Gwilym was relieved when the door finally opened. This was the last house of the day. He saw a man there, whose smile was...unconvincing to say the least. He bowed. 

“We are happy to see you, Prince Gwilym,” he said. “I am Frank Tarleton, and I believe one of my daughters is the girl you’re searching for.”

Gwilym raised a brow. “But you don’t know which?”

Frank blinked, taken aback, and then laughed an empty sort of laugh. “Good one, your highness. Please, come in.”

Gwilym looked at Ben and Rami who both shrugged. They followed Frank inside and into the drawing room, where two young women sat on the couch, looking nervous. Ben explained everything, with Frank nodding eagerly along. Something about the man struck Gwilym as slimy. He was too polite, too eager to please, and it seemed even his own daughters were made uncomfortable by him. Gwilym sighed. 

“Let’s get this over with,” he mumbled. 

He was beginning to lose hope. Who was left, if not these girls? And yet, neither of them struck him as the one he was looking for.

***

You listened carefully at your door, not daring to make any more noise. If Frank returned, he might do worse than strike you. But you could listen to what was happening downstairs. 

It was a bit maddening to hear, though. To be so close to Gwilym now, and yet so far. To be a prisoner now in your own home was worse than being a servant. And the worst part was seeing the proof of your identity lying in pieces beside you. You felt like the slipper. Broken. Completely in pieces. Like your dreams too. 

You heard the front door open and close again. You went to your window and watched Gwilym mount his horse, his friends on either side of him, and trot away toward town. Was that truly the last time you would see your love?

It couldn’t be. Now, you could hear Frank’s familiar footsteps coming back up the stairs. You knew you had to make a break for it as soon as he opened the door. You braced yourself. You had no time to pack anything, no time to grab money or valuables. You would have to break away with nothing but the clothes on your back and a prayer. 

You watched the doorknob turn, feeling as if everything was in slow motion. It creaked slowly open and Frank’s body appeared in the door frame. He reached for you, but you ducked under his arm, darted down the hall, flew down the stairs, and straight out the front door. 

You ran. As fast as your legs could carry you, not even daring to look back to see if Frank was in pursuit. You just hurtled toward town, hoping that anyone could help you. You would give up your home, and everything you knew - you would even give up your life - before marrying Frank. You had to escape, even if it meant becoming a beggar. 

You burst through the back door of the tavern, tears streaming down your cheeks, and chest heaving. Flying through the kitchen, you threw open the doors to the dining area and found Zelda behind the bar. She looked up at the commotion you were making, took in the sight of you, and her brow furrowed. 

“Zelda, please!” you cried, frantic. “I need help!”

You went to her, and she took you in her arms. 

“Y/N, what’s -”

She didn’t get to finish her question before Frank came barreling through. He must not have been far behind. You let out a scream. Zelda pushed you behind her and you cowered at her back. She put her arms out to shield you further. 

“Zelda, remove yourself if you know what’s good for you,” Frank threatened. 

“Don’t, Zelda, please!” you begged. “Don’t let him take me! He’s going to force me to marry him! Please!”

She stiffened in front of you. “Oh, no you don’t, Frank. I will not stand by and let you do this.”

“Stand back or you’re fired,” he warned. 

“I don’t care,” she shot back. “I won’t let you have her!”

“I’m afraid it’s not up to you,” he returned harshly. 

He grabbed her by the shoulders and tried to move her, but Zelda was a stout woman with considerable strength. She resisted him, taking hold of his biceps and forcing him back several steps. Her advantage was clearly gained by the element of surprise. 

“Run, Y/N!” she cried. “Get out of here!” 

Panicked, you leapt over the counter and wrenched the door open. You threw yourself out of it, trying to ignore the sounds of the struggle behind you. You darted into the street and sprinted as fast as you could away from the tavern. You had no idea where you would go from here - but you could not stay and be forced into a lifetime of Frank. 

You glanced back. To your horror, you saw that Frank was emerging from the tavern and had spotted you right away. With a gasp, you turned back around and sped up. Only, as you turned, you didn’t realize what was in front of you. You ran right smack into a man’s back. The force of the collision put you on your rear in the dirt. 

Wincing, you looked up. Your jaw dropped. It was Gwilym!

He met your gaze and froze as well. For a moment, you were both back at the ball, when he’d come up to you on the stairs and asked you to dance. He recognized you instantly. 

“It’s you,” he whispered. 

You opened your mouth to respond, but a sudden stinging on your scalp caused you to cry out instead. Frank had fisted his hand around your hair and dragged you to your feet. 

“Your highness!” he gasped, noticing Gwilym. “I do apologize. My servant here has forgotten her manners.” He looked at you and continued through gritted teeth. “And her place.”

He yanked your hair on the last word for extra emphasis. Gwilym’s chest tightened as he watched Frank manhandle you. He briefly imagined himself drawing his sword and plunging it right into Frank’s chest, but he refrained. 

“Release her,” he ordered. 

Frank looked at the prince, bewildered. 

“I’m sorry?” he questioned.

Gwilym’s expression darkened. “I told you to release her.”

Frank hesitated. 

“Now!” Gwilym shouted. 

You relaxed when Frank finally let go. Your scalp still itched with soreness. You desperately wanted to throw yourself into Gwilym’s arms but you were still afraid of what Frank might do. You did take a cautious step back. 

“Your highness, I’m dealing with an unruly servant girl,” Frank said. “But she is mine and I may do with her as I please.”

Your lip trembled and you shook your head. 

“That’s not true,” you sobbed. “You know it’s not, I’m your step daughter and you’re forcing me to -”

“SILENCE!” Frank roared, and raised his hand.

You shrieked and covered your face with your arms. But the blow didn’t come. You peeked out, lowering your shield just barely. Gwilym had taken hold of Frank’s wrist. Rami and Ben, who you just noticed being present, both had their hands on their swords. Now was your chance. 

“Don’t let him take me back,” you begged again. “Please, your highness, don’t let him.”

Out of the corner of your eye, you saw Zelda trotting up the street. She halted when she took in the scene before her. 

“Sir Tarleton,” Gwilym said, releasing Frank’s arm. “We were at your home and I asked you if you had any more women residing there besides your daughters. You lied.”

“It wasn’t a lie, really,” Frank argued. “Just an omission. You see, there’s no way this girl was at the ball when I forbid her from going.”

“If that’s true, then you are still in trouble,” Gwilym said. “All eligible maidens were to attend.”

“She’s only a servant -”

“I know you’re lying, Tarleton,” Gwilym interrupted. “Now stand down.”

Frank stepped away from the prince, shooting glances between him and you. Gwilym turned to Ben.

“The slipper please, Ben,” he said. 

“No!” Frank protested, starting toward you, but Rami stopped him.

Ben handed Gwilym the slipped you’d left behind on the staircase. You wiped your cheeks, clearing away the dirt and tears, and held your prince’s gaze. You smiled at him.

“I knew you were the girl from the tavern,” he said gently. “I knew I recognized you.”

“And the cemetery,” you reminded him.

“Yes,” he chuckled. “I remember.”

“How did someone like you even notice someone like me?” you wondered, amazed. 

“Because you are the most beautiful person I’ve ever met,” he told you simply. “Inside and out. And from that moment in the cemetery I saw what you truly are - a princess.”

You flushed, looking bashfully at the ground. 

“I’m not really a -”

“Maybe not by birth,” he said. “But in heart.”

You met his eyes again. Those eyes that from the first time you saw them, told you the kindness of this man’s soul. 

He knelt down onto one knee, holding out the slipper. It made you ache for the lost one Frank smashed, but you were relieved that you had left one behind at the palace. You toed off your boot and raised your leg. Ben stepped closer to help you balance and you shot him a grateful look. Then, you slid your delicate foot into the glass slipper. It fit perfectly. 

Gwilym’s face lit up like a firework. Ben let go of your hand as Gwilym laughed, took you up in his arms and spun you around. You giggled with joy as well. He lowered you gently to the ground.

“Now, will you please tell me your name?” he asked. 

You chuckled. “It’s Y/N.” 

“Y/N,” he repeated, and cupped your cheek in his palm. “How beautiful.”

“No!” Frank shouted again, and this time Rami had to grab him to stop him. “No! You cannot take her from me!”

“The girl does not belong to you,” Gwilym said sternly. He turned and faced Frank. “I see very clearly now that you have been mistreating her. She is free to choose whatever she likes.”

“I’m her father!” Frank insisted. 

“Step father,” you said. Then you looked up at Gwilym. “I choose you, my love.” 

“I’m glad to hear it,” he replied. “Sir Tarleton, you’ll be taken into custody.”

Frank’s eyes went wide as the guards moved to take him from Rami. They clapped iron rings around his wrists. He seemed too shocked to struggle. 

“Take him to the dungeon to await trial for his crimes,” Gwilym instructed. He faced you again. “And you, my darling, may come with me to the palace.”

“For how long?” you wondered. 

“Forever, if you wish it,” he assured you. 

“I could hardly wish for more,” you said happily. 

He took your hand and helped you onto his horse. Together, you headed for safety, and building a life together. In true love.

***

You and Gwilym married as soon as possible. The whole kingdom was thrilled at the wedding. Frank was tried and convicted for his abuse, but would not serve a life sentence, so instead of prison, he was banished from the kingdom. Even so, early in your marriage to Gwilym, you frequently had nightmares where your stepfather returned. 

Gwilym was as loving and patient a partner as you could hope for. He let you talk through your trauma, and he made sure to never do anything that caused you fear. His support helped you to truly heal. 

Your step sisters had to move from the estate, which was now yours entirely. Eleanor and Miranda were surprisingly happy to take over their father’s first business, the tavern, which they ran successfully with Zelda. They both eventually found merchant husbands and lived peacefully, and you were genuinely happy for them.  

But the greatest joy Gwilym ever gave you was your children. You had two boys and two girls, and they were the light of the whole kingdom’s eye - but especially the king, who lived a long and healthy life with his grandchildren. You had no other description for your life besides happily ever after.

[honeydots]

127 with shuake would be good.

"My hands are not clean, and maybe they never will be, but they can still carry you home when you're ready to sleep."

once again. didnt forget abt these. im working thru em. 

Summary: Goro wakes up one day in a hospital bed with only a bullet wound to keep him company, and not a single memory of who he used to be. 

-

(ao3 link)

-

He was almost certain the last few weeks had been a dream. 

Or maybe, several long and white coated dreams. The kinds with bright lights at an arm's length, and ill-fitting clothes, and men coming in waves carrying their clipboards as flags. With deep voices all at once whispering, echoing, “what is your name?” 

Maybe he was in a hospital. 

His first day of full consciousness was slow and lonely. His second day too, time spent wiggling his toes and counting ceiling spots. Day three he asked for a glass of water and scared a nurse out of her skin, and his week was kickstarted. Which only really meant an actual doctor came in and declared retrograde amnesia the only explanation for his condition.

His “condition” was quite the word to use. Which condition? They could play bingo. Was it his memory loss (obvious, weak narrative), or could it have been the state of comatose he’d been in (intriguing), or even the bullet wound (now here was a mystery, what a plotline) he’d heard remarkably little about? Amnesia, the fickle bastard, was the type to bring one answer to dinner, and disappear by morning. 

But what did he know? 

Well, he knew that this was a pretty shitty hospital.  As far as how he assumed they should be managed, this one was on a low tier. And according to the nurse, as was their police station. Incompetent, and uncaring of his case, which had apparently been made. 

It’d been a week now. He could get up. Limited, with his IV, but he could. The nurse said later that maybe the police would listen to him now, since he was conscious, basically up and kicking. ‘Listen to him now,’ was also an interesting phrase, because he hadn’t been speaking in the first place. 

He wasn’t injured. His vitals were fine, the nurses had told him, and commented he was taking up an unnecessary bed. Not that he could actually make any kind of sound argument, which was frustrating enough on its own, but this didn’t seem like proper procedure. 

He was, once again, very alone in his room. He thought about going to the police station. Incompetent as they may be, there would be no answers here. There was no one here to help him; some healthy boy in a hospital bed. 

He got up. His IV was stuck in poorly, the tape just barely holding on. They’d disconnected him from all sorts of machines. Nothing was roping him down except for saline solution and his own two feet. 

And, he was already standing. 

It wasn’t hard to pull out. 

His hospital gown was tied all the way down, falling just past his knees. He had odd socks on, their texture was weird, and they were several sizes too big. They were thick and patterned, maybe slip proof? But shoeless as he was, they would do.  

The hallway was very empty. He was on the ground floor, but he wasn’t sure there were other stories. Maybe one, or a basement. It didn’t matter much. There just wasn’t anyone around. His concern was in that he didn’t know how long their absence would last. 

There was a glass door at the end of the hallway.

To the police he’d go. A medical bill dodging amnesiac would probably get him some attention. Enough to get a name? 

The door was not locked. That was probably good, for a hospital, and not a security breach, which is where his mind had initially gone. 

Doors are meant to be opened, he thought. There really isn’t anything wrong with that. 

It was just a little bright outside. The sun was up but not too far. He was in the parking lot, and it was almost entirely devoid of cars. Small, small hospital. 

He didn’t exactly have a map, and no nurse was around to give him any condescending directions. He’d might as well go forward, then. He started walking, and thought to himself how odd his feet felt on the concrete. 

No one was out. He hesitated to call it deserted, just maybe a bit early. He kept walking, nerves high, still worried he might get mauled by a stray doctor.

It seemed like this was a very small town, going by his surroundings. Lots of trees, and cracked roads, and old buildings. He didn’t think much of taking it all in. He’d have time for sightseeing when he remembered his initials. 

A bit farther ahead was a woman, leaning on a car parked on the side of the road. She was glaring down at her phone. She looked— maybe irritated? Or tired. He wondered if he could ask her for directions. An aimless stroll through town wouldn’t take him to where he was going, after all. 

“Excuse me,” he called, “Ma’am? Do you know the way to the police station?” He approached her with just enough caution to call it looking out for himself, ignoring the sorry state he was already in. 

She glanced up from her phone. Her hair was short, and dark, and it bobbed around her face. She registered him for a moment, and her eyes went big. 

“Holy shit.” 

He knew enough to know that wasn’t the answer he was looking for. “I need to go to the police, please.” 

The woman kept staring at him. “You—” she stuttered, “are you Goro Akechi? You are, aren’t you?” 

This encounter was already going awry. Did she know him? “Do you know me?” 

“Uh…I mean, no, we’ve never met.” She pushed herself off her car, and slowly put her phone back into her pocket. 

That wasn’t really what he meant. He needed to persist, here. This could be a lucky hit. “No I— Do you know who I am?” 

Blatant confusion spread across her face. “Uh…  Are you not Goro Akechi?”

“I don’t know,” he answered. 

She stared at him again, almost suspicious. Then she looked him up and down.

“Are you… coming from the hospital?” 

“Yes.” He watched her mouth open just a bit in disbelief. He wondered how this woman knew him. If explaining would get more information out of her, then he’d do it. Privacy only existed when you had something to protect, after all. “I’ve been given an amnesiac diagnosis, you see. I’m going to the police station to see if I can find any sort of lead on myself.” 

She looked shocked. “Amnesia? And you’re going to the cops?” She blinked, and suddenly looked very serious. She grabbed one of his shoulders. “Wait. That’s bad news. Don’t go to the police.” 

He (Goro?) hadn’t expected to hear that.“What? And why shouldn’t I?”  

“You… holy shit, kid, do you actually have amnesia?” She pinched the bridge of her nose. “Listen you need to— oh good god, this is gonna sound like I’m trying to kidnap you— I definitely know who you are. I can tell you but we shouldn’t… here. If someone finds you… ” She exhaled hard, and looked him dead on. It made Goro freeze. “Fuck, okay. The gist of it is— you’re in more danger than you realize. Like, a lot more. Will you come talk with me in my car?” 

Alright. So, a lot to process, and a lot he didn’t know how to. He didn’t even know if he should process it, or if that was the kind of story that should be immediately disregarded. Someone telling you to not go to the police and please get in their car seemed like a textbook stranger-danger red flag. There had been something uneasy about her tone, though. Like genuine concern— not that such a thing couldn’t be perfected and acted, however. 

But she’d given him a name. And it felt almost tangible, the more he thought about it. Less bendable and more sturdy. It was very easy to attach to himself. And it was a lead, wasn’t it? 

“Hey, did you get discharged, or are you just wandering around? Cause they’re gonna be looking for you if they didn’t let you out,” said the woman, jump starting Goro (almost certainly, Goro) out of his head. “And kid, I cannot just let you turn yourself in to the cops.” 

‘Turn myself in,’ he thought to himself. Such particular wording. It made his stomach drop. This woman knew more than him, clearly. And really, for fucks sake, if he died, he died. Obviously he hadn’t left enough of a mark on anyone to warrant not a single visitor during a five year coma. According to the nurses, it was more evident that he’d simply been dumped in town— like someone had already been trying to get rid of him. 

Well, whoever they were, they’d forgotten to bury his bones. 

He straightened himself up. “Okay.” 

She looked surprised, at first. She swallowed around it. “...Yep, okay then. Hop in before you change your mind.” She popped open her car door, and Goro circled around the side and followed suit. 

Her car was messy. It was filled with food wrappers and empty bottles, but papers and notebooks were scattered around, too. So she kept busy, it seemed. He decided he’d consider this a point in the not-about-to-murder-you direction. Too much here that could be used as evidence against her. Too personalized. He was almost envious. 

She adjusted her seat forwards and turned on the ignition. She was a bit jittery, Goro noticed, as she scratched the back of her head vigorously. 

“So, I’m gonna drive us somewhere that isn’t here but I can talk and drive so, just— like,  just a second, okay?” 

He nodded. She drummed her fingers against the steering wheel. “...Goddamn,” she muttered, and then pressed down on the gas, turning her car onto the barren road. 

She kept her eyes forward, but kept true to her promise of talking. She sighed. “Right. So, uh, to start… Okay, first, my name’s Ichiko Ohya, I’m a journalist. Get that cleared away. Next comes you which is a bit more complicated, but you probably wanna know why we’re dodging cops so I’ll start there. Or, as close to there as I can.”

He would take anything he could get from her, actually. The cops situation was undeniably concerning, but right now he was essentially a sentient empty shell, absorbing everything for the first time. A kid in a metaphorical candy store, but the store was a dodgy reporter who still might be kidnapping him and just stalling.  He’d call himself the kid, but it dawned on him he didn’t even know how old he was. Fantastic. More things the hospital staff hadn’t bothered to tell him. 

“Your name’s Goro Akechi. I told you that already but, that’s you. At least I’m like, ninety percent sure.” She spared him a glance. “You do look a bit different but all in all I’m— I’m pretty sure. Just the hair and the stubble, you know.” 

Goro hadn’t exactly looked in a mirror recently, so no, he didn’t know. He knew he had long hair— certainly longer than Ohya’s. He rubbed his jaw and felt the rough and gritty bristles that had prickled onto him. It bothered him that he didn’t know. It bothered him that he didn’t know what he looked like. 

Ohya continued, not letting him dwell for long. “You’re also sort of famous. Well, you were, and it was mainly with teenagers and moms in the city, but you were a popular detective. So, that’s how I know you. And I swear I’m getting to the running from cops part, but you have to know this first first. Oh, shit, it’s right here.” She took a sharp turn into a grocery store, and Goro had to grip the side to keep steady in his seat. 

She didn’t act very sheepish about it. “Sorry, for that. We’re gonna talk in here.” 

She paused her explanation to pull into a spot, which Goro felt a little thankful for because, under his circumstances, that felt like a lot of information to take in. He was well known, but not well known enough that anyone out here knew him. ‘Famous detective’ raised some weird alarms in his head, a position absurd enough that it might be true. It felt unfortunately right, like a disappointing truth. It was different from his name, more unwelcome. But it didn’t click either. Nothing had been clicking at all. 

There was a pit growing in his stomach, like something was in there, chewing down on his insides. But he’d found he didn’t care for ignorance, so he would put up with it for as long as it took. 

Ohya turned her car off, pushed her seat away from the wheel, and got herself comfortable. She faced him, nonchalant but sincere. “So this is where the really juicy stuff comes in, alright? So like, listen up now, if you weren’t.” There was something very serious about her eyes. 

As if he’d have let any of her explanation slip under his radar. “I’m listening.”  

That was a good enough answer for her, it seemed. 

“I’m trying to think of the best way to explain this, honestly,” she started, thumbing the back of her hand. “You… okay, there was this guy. He was a really big politician that you were involved with, and it’s kind of a gray area as far as what you were doing for him, but you and him worked together. Kind of. He was a really shitty guy.” 

She looked like she was considering her words. She turned her focus out the windshield for a moment, and sighed again. “He basically ended up confessing because this group— well, actually, they don’t matter right now. He confessed, and he talked about you. For some of it. It was a long fucking confession. But half of what he said wasn’t even coherent. He was talking about some crazy shit and no one knows what he meant by it. You were part of that whole section.” She paused again, thinking. Goro let the silence sit. He didn’t want to jump to a conclusion until he’d heard her out. Which was proving difficult, truthfully, because this all left a sour taste in his mouth, one that had almost certainly been there before. 

“They wanted to take you in for questioning, but you disappeared. And, to add fuel to the fire, they were having a hard time getting any actual concrete evidence,” she began. “Can’t make an arrest based on a confession alone. He did other things, too, and that's what he ended up being indicted for, but there's still that problem. This whole chunk of confession is still there that technically lines up with his timeline of events, but there’s no way to prove it. That’s why they want you,” Ohya’s expression darkened. “At least, publicly, that’s why they want you.” 

She readjusted in her seat again. She faced him fully. “This guy— Shido’s his name— he’s got goons. Not to mention, he had complete control over the police, and there are other higher up’s who worked with him. Some of those guys got busted with Shido’s confession, but there’s a few where there just isn’t enough evidence to put ‘em away. These are the ones who you need to watch out for.” She took a deep breath, not finished. 

“I’m gonna be frank with you,” she continued. “They want you dead. They don’t want a single loose end, and you’re still dangling. The police are on their side. Are you understanding me?”

Goro tried to let the words sink in. That was more than a lot to think about. The creature in his stomach was grinning now, he could tell. But, this was also no time to get overwhelmed. If her words were true— which, the overwrought familiarity of her explanation compelled him to trust them— he needed to keep his head above the water. 

“So these— subordinates. You’re saying they’re after my life? They can’t be actively hunting me down, if they have the influence you’re implying, or I’d have been found by now,”  Goro said, deciding to ignore the fear creeping up his spine. “So then, what’s my public status? How unlikely was it that I was the egoless comatose patient they were searching for?” 

“Uh…” said Ohya, seeming like she was the stunned one. “Well, you’re right, they don’t really have a manhunt right now. I guess I don’t need to worry about beating around the bush here— you’re presumed dead.”

Interesting. “That doesn’t surprise me,” he said, furrowing his brow. “But, obviously, a body was never found. They’re probably prioritizing morgues then, not hospitals. That does explain why I wasn’t discovered after all this time.” Though, if they’re smart, they’d also keep an eye on cases like his. They probably were, in fact. He’d gotten lucky that the police here were clueless. 

Ohya gave him a very funny look. “You know, it’s almost creepy how well you’re taking this. You were in a coma this whole time?” She shook her head. “I’d have thought you’d be more out of it, honestly.” 

“Is this not what you’d consider a wake-up call? I’ve been ‘out of it’ for a week. It’s common sense that I’d react like this,” he told her. Just going outside had cleared his head. He had a feeling hospitals had never been a fitting place for him. “Yes, I was in a coma,” he added, as an afterthought. “They said I’d been shot.” 

Just as the words left his mouth, he realized the implications that had. 

Ohya noticed just as fast. “You said shot?” 

They’d certainly both had the same assumption— maybe an attempt had already been made after his life. 

But there was something that felt wrong about that scenario, too. “I’m not… entirely sure it’s what you think it is,“ he replied. Maybe wrong wasn’t the correct word but, it wasn’t completely right either. “There’s no benefit to not making my body public. And, if they’re really after me, it seems messy, to say the least, that they didn’t finish the job properly.” He tried to speak confidently. The effort was familiar, too. Part of him wondered when he’d get the chance to do some self-analysis and tear himself apart. 

Ohya caught on very quick, rolling with every punch Goro gave. “Christ, kid. What kind of shady shit were you into? So we’re thinking you’ve got another group after you?” 

“I don’t know.” 

He really didn’t. There were missing pieces, but that was evident. He had no end of missing pieces. If he was supposed to be some detective, then maybe he should get on with acting like it, and figure out whatever the hell this was.

Whatever business he’d wrapped himself into. 

Ohya, again, spoke too quickly for Goro to finish digging through his own head.

“Maaan, I’ve really got myself into something haven’t I?” She rubbed her eyes, like she was already exhausted. “Look, I’m a busy woman. Don’t expect much out of me, but apparently I’ve got a bad habit of adopting puppies. So I’ll see if I can at least point you in the right direction, okay?” 

He didn’t have much of another choice, other than to let himself be killed. He nodded again, not sure whether to call himself pleased or solemn. 

She buzzed her lips and looked at him, obviously thinking. Then she opened her car door. “Well, okay. First things first, you gotta get some clothes, ‘cause you can’t go walking around like that. God, you don’t even have shoes…” She got out and stretched, and then turned back to him for one last comment. “Don’t expect much, okay? I’m not made of money. Don’t you dare go anywhere, either.” 

She slammed the door shut and started walking into the store. 

Goro was glad for the moment of peace. He let his jaw relax, closing his eyes. He hated how familiar the stress felt, and how desperate he was to welcome the feeling. A life or death promise was about as thrilling as one day should get. 

Getting any memory back was his top priority. But he didn’t have an inkling of where to start. He didn’t have a phone, or a computer, and certainly not a home. He guessed he could use a public computer at a library, but just searching himself might raise more questions than answers. They’d be important questions, he was sure, but he wondered about the bias, the assumptions, the fact that it’d be an outside perspective looking in. He didn’t know how delicately he should go about regaining his memories. 

Not to mention, he had only the word of a stranger and a low feeling in his stomach confirming he was even Goro Akechi. And now, with the reputation he’d had, if he even wanted to be him was questionable. Memories of such a life seemed… unpleasurable, at best, but he hadn’t set himself up to be able to just start over. Remembering his past was his best chance at plain old survival. 

He wanted to have some kind of plan before Ohya came back, but he was drawing blanks. What he really needed was someone who knew him personally. Beyond media attention, if there was a single poor soul around who’d actually known him. He found himself doubting such an existence, past anyone who was out for his head. 

He heard the car doors unlock, and he opened his eyes. Ohya was walking back with two bags, and she was on her phone again, barely looking where she was going. Well, there goes him having a plan. Bouncing ideas back and forth was the last thing he wanted to do. It was time wasted and he knew he would get frustrated, but his choices were limited. At least Ohya seemed pretty knowledgeable. It was possible she knew more than she was letting on, too. 

She opened up the car door and tossed the bags onto his lap. “Hey,” she began, setting herself back into place, “I got your stuff but— I remembered something in there that might be a good starting place for you, if I can run that by ya.” 

Or, of course, he could hear Ohya out and avoid idea bouncing all together. Something solid had come by much quicker than he thought. 

*****

Ohya’s plan wasn’t bad at all. 

She’d told him she had a contact from a few years ago, who was in charge of a bundle of self storage units. Apparently a certain “Goro Akechi” had registered himself one a couple months or so after Goro’s public disappearance. They’d told her once they noticed the name, but Ohya hadn’t taken up the lead at the time. When Goro asked why they’d even told her that, she left it at “no reason important,” and kept the topic adamantly off the table. Goro would push the envelope if it weren’t for the fact that his life (a life he didn’t even know he had, for the record, and one that still bothered him) was on the line. 

If this unit did belong to him, there could be a very solid lead on himself in there, and leads on his acquaintances, too. Ohya didn’t know if the garage still existed, though. So she said she’d give them a call and see if they could figure something out. 

Which is what led to Goro sitting in a barber’s chair. After he’d gotten dressed (an ensemble of sweats, a sweatshirt, and tennis shoes) Ohya had commented that he looked like he belonged in a homeless shelter, and “really needed a haircut.”

She said something about how he’d always kept himself looking clean, and Goro believed it. He was already feeling discomfited the way he was. So unkempt and basically filthy. So, she decided that while she was getting her contact all in order, she’d pay for him getting a trim and a shave. 

She was helping him more than he’d expected her to, in ways he didn’t really expect. But he’d take what he could get. He’d hardly had a reason to say no. 

He sat waiting in front of a mirror. He hadn’t gotten a good look at himself until now, but god, she was right, he looked pretty fucking bad. 

The first thought that came to him was sickly. Eyes sunken in, deep bags under his eyes. You wouldn’t expect him to have just been in a permanent state of slumber for the past five years. Or maybe the correct assumption would be, a coma hadn’t been enough sleep for him. 

His hair was just below his shoulders, and he had a very pitiful looking beard. He didn’t recognize himself. He didn’t think that would change much after his haircut, but it made him itch. It was a face that didn’t feel like his. He wanted to rip it off and replace it with a new one, one he knew better. 

Maybe he’d never liked looking at his reflection. 

Ohya had spoken to the barber for him. The one he got either wasn’t the talkative type, or really got his vibe of not wanting to speak to anyone. She went to work in silence, washing his hair with fruity shampoo and dressing him in a long black apron. That was all fine, albeit uncomfortable, but once she started cutting, Goro found he couldn't watch. The snips were loud, and definite, and it left his chest feeling tight. He couldn’t do anything but let his thoughts run blank. 

He wondered if that was hair he’d had before his incident, now falling away. He’d have the same eyes, and organs, and teeth, too. But he felt all wrong in this body. Like it had gone on without him. 

He was thankful when she moved to his beard. Just for a moment, though, because having someone so close to his face made him want to retreat as far back into himself as possible. A blade so close to his throat. He wondered how hard of a push it would take to make a cut. He wondered how deeply he’d have to go to make it bleed. 

 Maybe he’d always hated barbers, too. 

When she’d announced she was finished, and Goro forced himself to look back in the mirror, it actually took him aback. It had taken years off him. She’d styled his bangs, and left no hair on his chin, but most importantly, it was clean. Soft looking. Pleasant. 

It was almost enough to distract him from the discolored scar plastered on his forehead. 

He stared for probably too long. His disheveled bangs had kept it clearly out of view on his first glance, but now that he was fresh and groomed, it pushed its way into the limelight. It was reddish, and almost shiny, and painstakingly circular. 

He could feel dread bubbling up. He tore himself away from the mirror, and found an instant sense of relief when he wasn’t staring anymore. 

Reflections and barbers. More to read into later, he supposed. He was learning he had been quite the hassle. What an annoyance. 

Ohya met him at the entrance. Pure amusement was all over her face. “Shorter than I expected, but you’re looking pretty smart like that.” Her eyes went to his scar, but she made no comment on it. She frowned, but that was all. 

Goro didn’t mind her reluctance on the topic. He raised his eyebrows, and spoke with the silent mutual understanding of  “that is one gnarly goddamn scar” between them. “Ah, and I’m sure the sweatpants add to the look.” 

“Watch it,” she snapped back, sliding into her usual demeanor. “Not like I could get you Levi’s, kid.” 

She paid for his haircut, and out of the shop they went. They walked to the car in anticipating silence. She had her phone out again, texting someone now. Goro didn’t want to get his hopes up. Texting could mean anything, or nothing, or half of one or the other. 

She pushed her seat back getting into the car, and pulled one leg up with her. Goro waited for her to speak, keeping himself tense. He really wouldn’t be able to loosen up if he tried, like a wound up doll who’d gotten stuck. 

Ohya broke the quiet. “It’s still there.” 

Goro sucked in, but didn’t let himself relax. Nothing ended there. It was one check off a list, but not all of them.

 “And can we go in?” 

Ohya blew air out of her mouth. “Well, she said she wants to make sure it's you, because there's only so many privacy laws she wants to break.” She shrugged at him. “But honestly, looking at you now, there's not a doubt in my mind you’re Goro Akechi. So, you can chill about it.” 

He leaned back into his seat. The tensity had not left him. Something was making him lucky today, and he hated it. He would feel much more comfortable in the mitts of misfortune. But he couldn’t help feeling giddy, too. Like something was rubbing circles into his back, easing, but not erasing, bits and pieces of his concerns. It was something to focus on, and a goal to achieve. Above all, that relief made him feel pathetic. 

“I was gonna ask if you wanted to go today or not, but you look more thrilled than I think I’ve ever seen you, so I’m just gonna take that as a yes.” 

He hated the way she worded that. He frowned. “Only if you’re as concerned about my identity as you seemed to be earlier. You’re welcome to take your time, I’m surely not going anywhere.” 

“You’re snarky! I never realized you had an attitude,” Ohya laughed. 

She got the car going, and they were on their way to the unit. Apparently it was quite a ways, and Ohya advised him he’d better buckle in for a long one. 

He could feel his eyelids getting heavy. He had things he wanted to think about, and questions he wanted to ask. Working up a tolerance to being active was not something that could be done in a day, but fuck if he wouldn’t try anyway. 

But, despite how he tried to fight it, Goro fell asleep. 

*****

He woke up when they were about ten minutes from the units. Ohya commented she’d thought it was a little funny that he’d been so exhausted doing just about nothing all day, but admitted too that his body was probably pretty weak, and he really should take it easy. As easy as he could, at least. 

They were both quiet for the remainder of the drive. The sun was getting low now. They were passing by suburbs between grassy fields, driving past exit by exit. He had no idea how long they’d been going for. Ohya had called herself busy, and Goro believed it, so her continual help felt unusual. People weren’t just like this, he was almost sure. 

She also knew things that felt… almost inappropriately relevant to him. The topic of the unit still tingled in the back of his mind. Why had they called her about his storage? And for that matter, why had she even known so much about him? The information she had felt intimate— like the results of a deep investigation. Had this all been yielded from that politician? 

But Ohya had a distinct air of privacy. There could’ve been something personal about her aid, but Goro figured that she wouldn’t crack easily. It might be better to leave it— personal matters tended to yield lasting effects, after all. At least, he assumed so. He really wasn’t sure if that was as big of a plus as it appeared on the surface, though. 

When the centre came into view, Goro let those thoughts ease into the back of his mind. He could focus on Ohya’s MO later. This was leaps and bounds more important to him; if anything was going to last, it was this. He could play detective, just like he was supposed to, and maybe come across some special clue. Perhaps he could test out his muscle memory and flex whatever skills he presumed he’d had. 

They arrived, and it looked extremely closed. Like the only customers they’d been expecting were ghosts. The lights in the windows were off, and the gate guarding the units was shut tight. It wasn’t encouraging. 

Ohya read his expression pretty clearly. She bumped his shoulder with her fist. “She knows we’re coming, my contact’s still here. The front just closes at 6:00. I’ll deal with it, so just stay put for now.” 

And just as she said, after she hopped out of her car and approached the office, the door swiftly opened and a woman joined Ohya outside. The two of them seemed friendly. Goro watched as they talked, noting quizzically to himself that Ohya was someone who talked with her hands. 

Ohya gestured to her car and they both looked over to Goro. He watched them walk over, and obeyed smartly when Ohya signaled him to roll down his window. 

 The woman peeked her head around to look at him, her eyebrows arched high. “Wow,” she said, completely staring now. “I mean, he looks like him, that’s for sure.” 

Ohya grinned. “Sure does. That enough for you to let us in?” She didn’t really say it as a request, more like an expectation. Goro appreciated the tone. 

She fiddled with her bottom lip. “Hmm. You said amnesia? He got any doctor's notes about that?” She asked, giving cue to Ohya’s sour expression. 

“You didn’t say a word about notes 

on the phone, you know.” 

The contact clicked her tongue, and looked back to Goro. She bit the inside of her cheek, and sighed. “Just cause it’s you, Ohya, I’ll take that nasty scar on his forehead as my confirmation.” She rubbed the back of her neck. “Come with me inside, I’ll get his key.” 

Ohya made a haughty noise of achievement, and followed the woman back in. Goro rolled up the window again. 

They were taking a little while. He rubbed at his scar absentmindedly. So obviously a bullet wound, maybe that had been the real reason his barber hadn’t made much conversation. Whoever tried to kill him had shot just where it counted. You don’t fire a warning shot into a head. He wondered if he’d deserved it, and doubted he didn’t.  

Goro removed his hand when Ohya reemerged from the building, and she was looking confident. She slid back into her car and jingled the key to his unit victoriously. “Easy peasy. She’s gonna open the gate for us in a second. Your unit number is 508.” 

They waited for a little while, nerves ever growing, until the automatic gates opened on their own, groaning and creaking until fully extended. Ohya started her car and drove in, squinting at the unit numbers in the low light.

Rows upon rows of garages awaited them. This must’ve been a pretty large lot, by the looks of things. The dirt road was the only uneven piece of scenery, the repetition was endless. He kept a watchful eye on the unit numbers, as well, skipping between the evens and the odds. 

After a few right turns, and one very tight u-turn, they were there. 508 stood wedged between its neighbors, almost at the end of the row, but not quite. Not a thing stood out about it. It was just as gray and worn and untouched as the rest of the facility. Not even the dirt was remarkable. It reminded him of the hospital. 

Ohya held the key out to Goro. 

“I’m assuming you want this to be a ‘just you’ kinda thing?” 

The gesture was something he should’ve expected, but didn’t. It made him hesitate for a moment. 

He took the key. “I appreciate it,” he said. 

“No sweat.” 

He got out of her car, and she drove off to the end of the row. She stayed parked within general sight of the unit. It was essentially pseudo privacy, but neither of them knew how long he’d be in there, and who knows what this could trigger. Ohya also didn’t seem like she knew a thing about amnesia. He wouldn’t look to her for comfort of any sort, but there was reassurance in her being a safe figure. 

He took a deep breath. In through the nose, out through the mouth. This was his step one. He’d gotten himself into some deep shit, his past self hadn’t seemed to have a shred of self preservation in mind. Had he not encountered Ohya, he could’ve been dead by the hands of the crooks that call themselves the police by now. He had a lot more steps to cover, and each one would be riskier than the next. He was much more on his own than he realistically should’ve been. Most people had friends, as far as he knew. But this was seemingly his own fault. He wanted to know why exactly it was his fault. 

One more deep breath. 

He inserted the key into the lock, and grabbed the handle of the metal shutter. He pushed up, and with a squeak of rust and a bang of metal, he opened up his door to more dangerous times. 

And it was nearly empty. 

It was barren concrete. Newly disturbed dust was floating about. It was eerily quiet, and the stale air made his throat itch. Cobwebs stuck in the corners, barely visible in the low light of the setting sun. Though he wouldn’t call it underwhelming. 

In the center of the floor was a cardboard box. About medium sized, without a lid. It matched well with the rest of the room, lined with dust and unaltered. He kneeled in front of it. 

It was its contents that felt much more exciting. There were papers, lots of them. Thick manila envelopes full of information for him to flip through. He scooted back towards the entrance and pulled the box along with, trying to get the last of the light funneling in to help him read. 

It was heavier than he expected, and he didn’t know how much to attribute that to his current lack of strength. He took out the first envelope and it, despite the dust, was clear and candid. When he flipped it around, he noticed with eagerness that there was writing on the front. He tried to make it out as clearly as he could, and in careful handwriting, it read: “05/21/2020— Case No. 1471” 

It was a case file. He pulled out another envelope, and it was similarly marked. His interest was surely piqued. There must’ve been some sort of relevance to these, if they were going to be so pointedly left here. He pulled out a third, and then a fourth, and from the weight he’d expected many more. But, the pile ended there. Instead, what filled the rest of the box was another, smaller, wooden one. 

He took it out delicately, gripping it securely around the sides to ensure he didn’t drop it. This seemed much more… personal. Shiny cherry wood, latched but not locked, just small enough to sit on his lap firmly. A thought that couldn’t help but be excited came to mind. 

This could’ve belonged to me. 

He wasted no time. He undid the latch, and it gave a satisfying click. The hinges creaked just barely as his clammy hands lifted the lid, and pulled all the way back, until it rested hanging by itself. 

Inside sat more papers. Some were crisper than others, some had obviously been crumpled and then flattened out again. But there was consistency in each of them being folded neatly in half, stacked neatly on top of each other. 

He picked up the one from the beginning of the pile, unfolded it, and was surprised to find it had hardly been written on; a simple “To you,” at the top. This was a candidate that had been clearly wadded up and discarded. He set it down carefully, and picked up the next. 

This one hadn’t been written on much, either. It said even less, just “Hello.” 

He picked up another, and another. It was all soft stationary, each topped with slightly different wordings, and some decorated with a couple lines, even. But they were all just about the same, a simple greeting, and then resigning. 

They were letters. Or rather— drafts for one. So he’d learned today that he was indecisive, maybe a bit quick tempered, but potentially also at least organized. He assumed the existence of these drafts meant he’d never gotten around to sending his letter, either. And perhaps he’d never get such a chance, if this visit didn’t convince any muggy memories to creep out of their caves.  

As he pulled out drafts and read his pathetic one-liners, he came across a page that was different. There was actually a fair amount of content on it, over a paragraph's worth. It had obviously also been cast aside, but even a spare scrap could be useful to him, in this state. He used the last of the remaining light to read it. 

“To whom it may concern, 

I would like to skip the inherent shamefulness of writing a letter to you, of all things, in my introduction, and I will title this ambiguously under the assumption that if you believe this does truly not concern you, that you will save me the mortification of reading through it anyways. 

I won’t formally phrase this as a farewell, but you should take it as one. 

Our unknowns are too great to write, and while you were not innocent, neither am I, and there are truths between the two of us that shouldn’t have remained unspoken. I’ve never thought to run from the blame. 

My hands are not clean, and maybe they never will be, but they can still carry you home when you’re ready to sleep. 

Perhaps a fact I recognized too late.

I do not want to say goodbye, however I—“

It cut off. 

The letter left a lump in Goro’s throat. He read it through once more. He wanted to analyze each sentence down to its core, but the light had died out. But there were bits and pieces, words that suck out in his mind. “Farewell,” “Innocent,” “Unspoken.”

“Too late.”

Goro bit down on his lip hard. The case files— those he understood. With the life he’d allegedly lived and the people he’d known, of course something like that would be predominant. They were fact on paper, ignorant of bias, they’d be full of names and leads. They were important. But, he didn’t understand why these almost-letters had been left here. Out of anything that could’ve been kept. Had there been someone he’d felt so strongly for? To be kept in safety behind lock and key? 

To identify this person— that could be his next goal to achieving his memories. To ignite the fire of their eventual reunion, and perhaps they could know what happened to him. They could come easy, though he suspected that anyone who he’d decided to be so rottenly open with wouldn’t be typical. But, they would also know him, past the media, past the appearances. 

And, though he wasn’t going to admit it, he’d needed something more hopeful to work towards. 

He put the papers back where they belonged, placed the entire case back into the cardboard box, and stacked the case files back atop it. 

There was no telling how old these letters were. They could’ve been from much before his incident. But this set him up for a goal, a big one, that might get him back to whatever meager place he’d left himself in. 

He picked up the box, and prepared himself to head back outside to Ohya. He needed to muster up his resolve, because this was only the first out of two very important clues this visit could provide. 

He positioned the box onto his waist, and took one last look into the dark before closing up his unit. He returned to Ohya’s car, pulling open the door without so much as a greeting, and set the box on the floor in front of his seat. 

Ohya leaned forward, interested. “That a box you got?” 

He wasn’t going to talk about the embarrassing letters he found. Even if he wanted to, his second clue came first. “It’s not that important right now,” he lied. “Is your contact still here?” 

She raised her eyebrows at him, but let the topic drop. “Sure is. She can’t leave ‘till we leave.” 

Good. “I need to speak with her.” 

She hummed in reply, seeming very curious by his idea. They drove back up to the entrance, Ohya not questioning his motives, but still giving him an inquiring side eye every so often. 

They got out of the car together this time, and walked into the front office. The woman was reading behind the counter, almost completely in the dark, with only a desk lamp lighting her work area. 

She glanced up at them, and placed her book upside down. “Hey there. You got that key?” 

“Yes,” Goro replied. He placed it lightly on the counter. She took it without a word, and got up to put it back on its hook. Goro stopped her before she turned. “I have a question for you.” 

She seemed a little surprised. She glanced between him and Ohya, and then put her free hand on her hip. “Okay?”

He hoped he could push his luck just a bit further today. He’d made it this far, after all. 

“Is there any way I can see the documentation that was filed when this unit was made?” he asked. 

The woman pursed her lips. “Ohya?” 

Ohya put her hands up defensively. “Don’t look at me. This is all him.” 

The woman stared at Goro. He stared back. This was arguably the most important part of the visit. He needed to see those papers. Just a single particular part, it was the one factor that needed an explanation. He would not leave until he got that documentation, and if he had to stand his ground and pull her leg a bit to get it, he would. 

After their staring contest lasted just a moment too long, she folded her arms. “Jeez. Only because I feel bad for you, okay?” she huffed, turning on her heel. “And because my niece liked your food blog.” 

She disappeared into the back of the office, leaving Goro feeling just a bit full of himself. He would think about the food blog comment later.

Ohya lightly punched his arm. “Okay, good going. But whatcha going to do with that?” 

“There’s something I need to check,” he replied flatly. It made Ohya grunt unenthusiastically. 

The woman returned with a few papers, all paper clipped together. She tossed them onto the counter. “This is a customer copy, okay? So feel free to keep it.” She glared at Ohya. “And, I’m going home now. So, get out, please.” 

That got a laugh out of Ohya. “I know I can always count on you to bend a couple of rules for me.” 

“Out.” 

They left the building, Ohya waving her last goodbyes while Goro rushed to the car. He needed to get some light on these papers, it was long past sundown now. He slid himself into the car, clicked on one of the lights, and went to work reading, all while Ohya was still walking over. 

Ohya opened her door and stood outside watching him, leaning on the frame. First, it was with interest, but it soon turned into irritation.

“Kid, tell me what you’re looking for. You’ve got your eyeballs all over that thing,” she said. 

He didn’t let their conversation stop him from reading. He kept his eyes glued to the page, checking each word and box before moving on. 

He did owe her an explanation. Getting his thoughts out would help him focus a bit, anyway. 

“These sorts of things— storage units. Wouldn't they be paid for recurrently?” 

Ohya went quiet for a moment. “They are,” she said, and joined him in the car. “Shit. Those funds can’t be coming from you, can they.” 

“Exactly. I’m looking for the responsible billing party.” He turned onto the next page. None of the handwriting matched what he’d seen on his papers and files, which further confirmed to him that this unit hadn’t been one he’d purchased himself. Whoever this was had put all that information in there, those cases, those letters. He suspected they weren’t his mystery recipient, but he could confirm that with them once they’d met.

Why this had been done in his name, though, was beyond him. 

He flipped onto the last page, and found his prize. Big black bolded letters asking for the responsible parties name, and neat penmanship filling in the blank. 

“Sae Niijima,” he read aloud. 

Ohya gawked. 

“‘Sae Niijima?’ Seriously?” she scoffed to herself, and sunk down further in her seat. “She’s an attorney. A damn good one, too.” 

An attorney? He wondered how she could’ve known him. “She’s the one paying, apparently.” 

Ohya tapped long slender fingers onto her steering wheel again. She dropped her head. “Guess that means she’s our next lead, huh?” 

Goro adjusted himself in his seat. “It does.” 

“Ahh, man,” she complained. “You’re really somebody who’s in with the big guns, you know. You better let me have some exclusive with you after all this is done, or something.” 

Goro gave way a hint of a smile. Probably his first since he’d woken up. If this would be the last of his luck, so be it. He hated to rely on something so shifty and mischievous, anyways. This was a start, barely a sprout, to whatever his big picture was. But he’d see himself to the very top. 

Really, he’d already died once. Hardly a way to go but up. 

“We’ll see.” 

[startwithbrooklyn]

THE GREAT ND REWATCH OF 2021 / SEPTEMBER 30, 2019 // larkspur lane/the whisper box

this post is a double whammy cause they have 2 eps happen in the same day if u can believe it (thats how awful judging timelines in this show is!!)

-"hi josh..." LMAOOOOOOO

-BESS just breaking in lmaooo how many god damn times does bess just shit the bed in this show

-LOVE her frowny face at nancys closet ("my expectations are low" lmfaoooo but this would totally be me)

-"bet she meant it metaphorically" okayyy but then why did lucy say that at all? i feel like theres defo more to this story, combined with josh's cagey behavior (part of which is to get nancy to stop looking into shit d/t him and karen but still)

-"they dont accept visitors unless they're family" .....🙂

-ace "youre really good at that" to bess i fuckin love this friendship with all my heart (also love their talk at the claw mirroring nick & nancys talk in the last ep)

-also PINK AND ORANGE BESS ARE U BLIND (also 1) why tf would nancy own this and 2) where would she wear it??)

-okay wtf is vampire dip

-"boss??" see this is what i meant yesterday about nancy ruining everything for nick/george

-god DAMN she sucks at dealing with this news lmaooo that emotional competency babey + love george literally agrees to help bc she feels bad (AND nicks immediate look of "you just reprimanded me for helping her last ep and i know why youre doing this rn" lmaoooo)

-LOVE george noticing nick "shout out to jean valjean" lmaooo once again nancy would never have noticed/commented on something like that

-"get the hell out of here" was this foreshadowing for an epic dad joke for these two eps? "how do you make holy water? you boil the hell out of it" 😂😂😂😂

-so what i dont get about the whole haunting is the ball + kids' laughter but its all the emphasis on "mr roper" the adult? wtf like what kind of entity is this

-"how did you ever have a solo career??" 😂

-okay amaya's hair is gorgeous here (also "you feel like a snack" ....👀) *ahhh so the reason bess feels so off balance is bc its like a top vs a top scenario

-has anyone who's ever been to prison confirmed this is what it looks like?

-love how ace is the only employee there when they all leave so he had to fucking close the place when he goes

-why does she take the whole file? time constraints? it'd be smarter to take pics + replace it (better sleuthing) but this place is clearly not well run anyway 😂

-so this is a pretty decent cover she invents but theres no way she would get away with it so easily for a real guard

-love how ace recognizes ryan's car (+ is able to find it by driving around)

-"my father wouldnt do anything like that" LMFAOOOOOO SIS WHY ARE U DEFENDING HIM ironically, ace is actually the best person suited to engage w ryan here d/t the car accident + connection with laura being ryans SIL. its a unique set up

-i am fascinated by the concept of priests + holy water being so effective here combined with mcginnis' beliefs and basically nondenominational ghosts/seances etc after that. the show is very clearly big on diversity but definitely steers clear from too much WASP stuff yk? wonder if other stuff from christianity works against the ghosts/demons like taking refuge in a church "holy ground" or using silver etc

-"did this start after the night of sept 10?" *this is where you get the time line for the seance if you didnt know

-this is so fucking funny when u realize that patient sal talks to is actually a ghost so sal really is psycho i guess 😂

-bitchsplain/tall jar of mayonnaise 🙏🏻😌 2gether 4ever

-how did ace get this van? also heart attack when he yells at carson (but then grins at him like a goofball lmaooo)

-"for nancys sake and yours" damn she owes ace big time for all this shit

-"what do we do for 7 minutes?" ...ummm play 7 minutes in heaven lmaooo 👀🥵

-was not expecting ace to look this sexy holding an axe but okay (*ah, its his short sleeve shirt showing his arms. usually hes a sleeves guy)

-"desperate for attention" nancy (from gomber) vs "bc she's starved for attention" patrice --> lucy (and candace also...) we know nancys detective work makes her seem like an attention seeker, but what was lucy doing to make them all think that? she was trying to hide her relationship with ryan, not expose it. unless they just mean the rumors about her?

-so is patrice hiding lucy's "truth" talking about lucy being a whore or lucy being a ghost? what is lucy's secret? did patrice guess she was pregnant or did patrice's somehow garbled mind remember tiffany trying to show patrice the video with lucy on it?

-wonder what captain thom thinks of this stand off w ace lmaooo

-"like you do?" top v top shenanigans

-how awko for carson to talk to karen again like this

-"oh no" ACE 😂

-love how amaya says "be a human" like shes kind of admitting people in rich circles typically arent (^this is an interesting focus in s2 when bess's rich family rejects her, thus making her human again, but nancy embraces her rich fam and experiences subsequent moral struggle which is predicted with the wraith)

-wonder what ryan thinks he could get from the marvins (which he cant get now lmaooo)

-this damn whisper box. so many questions. who named it the whisper box? why are the ropers' old possessions still there? who decided to build a mental hospital on top of it? and patrice! she "hid lucy's secrets" hannah gruen thinks tiffany tried to show patrice video w lucy on it, which patrice then specifically says she hid in the thin mans book. so patrice knows of the thin man? can she see him? does she know he was a ghost/supernatural? she must have a supernatural sense to know about him (unless sal told or some shit) so then when tiffany shows up w/ lucy being supernatural in it patrice hides it to protect her? is this why she is "crazy" kinda like victoria? supernatural elements or ability to sense ghosts makes her unstable? this is why lucy being a ghost/nursery rhyme that she repeats makes patrice worse/"stroke"? how did patrice even get into the whisper box to put the key in the bible and get out without getting trapped? also, her dementia --> lucidity is really fucking off, some people mildly switch like that but usually with dementia they cant even register new shit anymore

-...so did bess take the ride? 👀

-interesting how celia says "your father will be disappointed" but nothing of her own opinion. wonder how much celia truly puts up with to keep everett calm and nonhomicidal

-like george asking nick follow up questions that nancy never really would have asked

🥞🥞🥞(ep13)🥞🥞🥞

-is this bitch just eating a plain pancake with her bare hand?

-"extra case load and excessive volunteering" ugh. nancy's family here are like, gross in how "good" of people they are // unrealistic, trying to paint carson in the best light/ no way ryan could ever compare (but the reality is theyre not that good of people for lying about nancy) **and shes arrogant to think shes better than everyone else ie the only one who truly lives virtuously, thinks she can do no wrong sometimes even tho using sex to cope, breaking and entering, etc is not morally "good" stuff she still thinks she is the only one who doesnt lie and plays fair (like in the pilot she lists everyone else as a suspect but herself- obviously we know she isnt guilty but no one else does. (i mean in theory we really dont, what if nancy was an unreliable narrator and was actually guilty, that would be a hella cool show)its reactions like that where she cant understand why others like the chief suspect her

-ooooh ironic that in the Good Place carson readily agrees to pay her for helping with cases as opposed to s2 in reality

-nick's house has "problems" so why does he need a lawyer? as opposed to an interior designer, plumber, or realtor?

-in the Good Place nick and george realize they are not going to work out after one date. does this failure in the Good Place predict failure in reality, or merely an easier way of figuring out the truth? does this mean that the "opposite" of the Good Place is reality, or only an opinion of what is better? (nancy says "you all like me" as her opinion of them liking her is skewed; does this then only reflect nancys version for what is the "perfect life"?)

-why is bess a hippie??? and love how george curls her hair and wears pink lipstick here

-if this dream is so realistic then why is the one thing it cant conjure smoke? like how random

-love the locket being a key realization bc with things like jewelry you dont notice the weight of them until theyre gone

-"you all like me" in her perfect life nancy means they "like" her objectively/regardless of circumstance even though liking her is still an objective choice (like they "like" her because of other reasons instead of her working at the claw? (like how you make friends with coworkers/people at school every day but after you leave the job/graduate you never speak to them again) and her "thanks for showing up!" as if theyre not doing exactly that in reality 😐like where is she getting this shit? she sort of acknowledges in earlier eps she is hard to like/that she puts mysteries before friends, but also pushing them away to avoid danger like the previous ep "why do u show up" etc

-is it just me or does the inside of nicks "house" look like the drews'?

-nick has a dick scar lmaooooo (or more likely was hit in the balls or smth)

-love how nick + george match their anger in confronting sal 100% on the same level

-so when did ace go back to work after having such a busy day earlier?? lmaooo

-damn father shane is a creep (casting defo hired him for his voice) and how tf did he just poof + escape? and what did he request???

-love bess's white hair bow here 😌+ her jacket, whole outfit on point as usual

-like how bess is right that nancy has to find her way out but thats kind of a nonstarter for a room full of panicked people wanting to help

-in the Good Place theres no bad blood between drews + hudsons bc nancy is really theirs

-"the only one who has the key is you" in the Good Place nancy has the key (smaller picture, to finding out what happened to lucy but bigger picture, post-reveal) but ryan has the clues nancy needs- following the Good Place's mirroring, this just means that in reality ryan will either be completely useless or an active hindrance (but you KNOW this is a dream bc in what universe would ryan remember clues like that 😂)

-so in a perfect universe ryan acknowledges his family's "criminal empire" as opposed to reality where he only makes under cover jabs about disengaging with being an "entitled corrupt legacy criminal" ie finding the bonny scot relics but does nothing about them, etc

-"strippers" 😂

-okay what is nancys obsession w her beanie?? bc her mom made it? "wear beanies do crimes?" idk

-making the call: nancy -unable to make up for lost time/both her mothers had to find out/suffer alone / in the Good Place nancy was able to be with kate while she called, and in reality she had carson; somethig about seeing the mother looking to the daughter for strength in the Good Place instead of the reverse (which is what reality sounded like, kate being strong for nancy through the illness despite the struggle)

-concept: nancy & nick "let's wait out the storm"

-"i believe that you believe it" nick in the Good Place + owen in reality both trust nancy when she says she's seen things (owen's is the teeth) but nick in reality (and not really knowing details) doesnt think much of their "moment" bc it wasnt real (so she had to leave the Good Place to save carson- but if she had known then he wasnt her real dad, would she have stayed to be w nick?)

-stranger - suede james 💙👌🏻

-"really anxious as a kid" v telling bc of her desire to know everything to remain in control of situations like she always does now

-"the medicine or the metaphysics?"/"you cannot beat supernatural with science"

-i love nancy playing with her pinky while saying goodbye 🥺

-"always seek out the truth even if it hurts" this is straight irony bc kate never told nancy anything. like does that include the truth about nancys parentage? they taught her to seek out the truth, but who taught her that the truth is the only thing to live by? ie things dont count anymore like carson and kate straight up raising her is tossed out bc she finds out its not "the truth" like all that work/stress to protect carson + she just drops him? with kate maybe shes just upset thst she spent all that time mourning for someone who lied. and would she do the same to ryan if needed? probably

-bess and ace head tilt 💙

-like how for all the time she spent there nancy only has a subconscious memory of blue curtains

-YESSSSS i LOVEthese beautiful overhead shots of hannah's hands. so out of character for the show lmao but so gorgeous

-i feel like future eps/grand future will be nancy going through the lock boxes to help people who asked hannah for help

-the video is officially dated Aug 22, 2019

-soooooo in the first ep nancy breaks into the hudsons house and finds tiffanys secret drawer w the nail polish and finds the amulet with a note that says "for your protection HG" yet on this video tiffany says she talked to a medium who gave her the amulet sooooo am i just confused? HG is hannah gruen obvi so is the address for the medium what hannah gave her? or was the address on the amulet which nancy dissolved in salt water to see? so how would tiffany know where to go? its chicken and the egg which came first hannah or the medium?

and lastly:

i close these two eps with a thought that everything in this show is sealed in death. all the lies, the imagery, the fake constructs people put up to get by all crumple the second someone dies- all the secrets come clean just like these doors have been unsealed.

[sindevilslit]

Ok... hopefully my description doesnt get too tedious. I'm a bit nervous since I noticed I've done SO much with Selph, that I'm scared I wound up making them more like an OC.

To start things off, I saw that we get the name Selph from a file, but those same files gave the bosses nicknames rather than refer to them by they're true names, so after developing their story and powers, I call my version Mirrage. A combination of Mirror and Mirage.

Pronouns wise, I headcannon them to use they/them pronouns due to being androgynous. They have both feminine and masculine features (slim body like NiGHTS and straight lines like Reala for example). They can change their appearance (explained soon!) In any way they want, so they can even change their form to look more masculine or more feminine.

Ok, onto appearance.

Voice wise, I imagine that since they are a shapeshifter, they can change their voice. The two they use most are their 'masculine' voice (sounding like Sebastian from Black Butler) and their 'feminine' voice (sounding like Bayonetta from Bayonetta).

They are... oof... tall... like 7'8 tall. Their hat thingie is saphire blue and ebony striped, and the tails curl over their chest and inward. Lind like the frame of a vanity mirror. Clothing wise, they wear a midnight blue coat with gold buttons, white dress shirt with a white chiffon that's held by an oval lapis brooch, black dress pants, and golden calf length heeled boots and black velvet gloves.

Face wise, I imagine them having those lips on cartoon characters where just one is painted. So one lip is plain while the other gold colored. They got lashes, and... this is gonna sound wierd, bit it gets explained in their story. Their skin is literally porceline. Like those antique dolls. And their eyes are... again strange, crystal blue sclera, golden iris, and white pupils.

Ok, into story!

I headcannon that they were literrally the first nightmaren ever to be made. Wizeman created them to be the 'perfect nightmaren' so they were made to be pretty powerful. Since Wozeman was a human (at least from what I've heard), he couldnt collect ideya to create, so he had to use his own essence to make Mirrage, since they are made of a human essence, they reflected what was Wizemans heart. Hollow.

They were powerful, and got results. However they didnt follow orders the way Wizeman wanted to, they constantly went against him, and would even sneak away some ideya for themselves for more power. But they did do their job, so Wizeman let them live.

Since they are the closest to being human in terms of dream folk, they experienced what you would associate with humans. Greed, pride, wrath, lust, etc. Their very prideful of themselves, and are quite greedy. Which was their downfall.

They had been planning on overthrowing Wizeman and taking the throne. However before they had a chance to enact their plan, Wizeman had decided it was best to put them on a shorter leash. He trapped Mirrage in their own realm, a giant labyrinth that's made of mirrors from the ceiling to the floor.

They could still scare visitors and take their ideya, so they could still serve Wizeman. However her they couldnt venture outside the reflection realm, and their form is trapped inside the other realm.

However, Wizeman didnt take into co consideration that Mirrage wouldnt be confined only to their nightmare realm. Mirrage found out they they could travel through the reflection realm, but they could only see the outside world through other reflective surfaces (mirrors, water, metal, etc)

So Mirrage is essentially a wandering spirit. Able to come and go as they please. They know everyone's secrets.

However, they cannot be freed. Unless someone with as much power as Wizeman crees them, or Wizeman himself us killed, than they cannot leave the reflection realm...

Oof! Sorry about that! Anyways heres personality.

They are manipulative. They know how to manipulate someone to give them what they want. And boy are they sadistic. Due to this I imagine them being a sort of buisness 'maren. They are more then willing to bargain with anyone (visitor, 'topian, 'maren, etc), as long as they get something they want from it. I'd describe them as silver tongued sort of friendly, they can be the sweetest person you ever met, while also plotting behind your back, they are a master actor.

However, being made of a humans essence and not dream essence means they experience complicated emotions and thoughts like we do. They can indeed be sentimental, they can be empathetic. However that's only reserved for those they care about. Speaking of, they cam get attached easily, since they are the only one trapped inside the mirror realm, they might wind up growing attachments to those that pay attention to them. Think of the other mother from coraline.

They are the type of person where you have to watch everything you say around them. Because they can and will use your own words against you, so they pay attention to what you say.

Ok. Finally powers. Aside from the usual.

Glamor, they are the 'perfect shapeshifter'. Unlike NiGHTS who (seems to) only transforms into NiGHTS themed animals and such, Mirrage can not only do that, but also transform themselves into a perfect replica of another. A reflection if you will. It's how they have fantastic acting.

When a visitor is trapped in their realm, they lure them in, their like a siren, calling out to them and promising the visitor all that they desire. Even forming illusions (or... mirages?) To further entice them. They pull the visitor under a spell.

And... that's my Selph. Or Mirrage... hopefully I got everything hehe... anywho hopefully this isnt too cringy. I'd love to hear what you think!

I. LOVE.THIS!! EVerything you said is just mind blowing, everything from their looks to their story! I also love the name they have them! I didn’t realize the names to the files were nicknames! So making “Selph” a term for the imitating aspects is just 👌🏻👌🏻. And I have to agree most with the wandering spirit part! And tbh I feel like I’ve made them into an oc too! I think everyone who’s experimented with Selph has lmao. I REALLY LOVE that you gave me this submission! I’d love to see more from you in the future!

[xxwritemeastoryxx]

Forgotten Alliance Ch 48

Author: xxwritemeastoryxx

Pairings: Elijah Mikaelson x OC

Word Count: 3.5k

Warnings: None that I can think of. 

Author’s Note: We’ve made it to the five year mark in the timeline and I am freaking out about this. I’ve got a few more surprises up my sleeve before this comes to an end. Happy reading guys!

Feedback gives me life and motivation for future things. ♥

“It’s a beautiful day outside. Streets are packed with tourists. They’re drinking beers, they’re chasing beads, headed out on the vampire walking tour of New Orleans. They think it’s just a myth. Just part of our city’s charm.” Vincent said as he paced in front of all those that were sitting in the pews of the rebuilt St. Anne’s. “Well, we know better. Just like we know that there’s a storm coming. This week marks five years since the fall of the Mikaelsons.” The words had caused Elizabeth to flinch slightly as she stood off to the side. Five years. It had been that long and now she was so close to the cure. “Five years of peace. And we paid a high price for that peace. We witches, we earned that peace. We snatched back our freedom, we severed our link with our ancestors. To take back our city, we backed Elizabeth. Now, since then, we fought hard to build this community which has been thriving with Elizabeth’s help. And in the next week, as we celebrate our independence, that community will be challenged because every year we get visitors.” Vincent looked over at Elizabeth and nodded.

Elizabeth stepped forward and looked at the witches and a few others that sat before her. “As usual, I will be hosting the annual get together that the vampires assume I am throwing.” Elizabeth took a deep breath before continuing. “For the next few days I will be continuing the facade that I am a creature without her humanity. While I may act cruel during that time, I want you to know that you are safe from any harm.” She looked at several at the witches with a smile. “Veronica, as you know, will be with you while the vampires are in town. And as I’m sure most of you know, she can take down any vampire, young or old, that may be a threat. If anyone comes to try and torment your coven, know that she will be there to make sure it stays untouched.”

Elizabeth looked over at Vincent for a moment and he gave her a small smile and a nod. “After the vampires leave, it gives us another year of peace.” Elizabeth knew that was a lie. She still hadn’t told anyone that the Mikaelsons would be back within a short time. The chaos that could follow wasn’t something she wanted to think about now. While it would be a mess that she should be able to clean up, she knew that she wouldn’t be the one to do so. It would hopefully be Elijah that would be able to take her place in keeping the city as it had been while she was gone. “By the time they come for a visit again, I’m hoping to move the party elsewhere or get rid of it in its entirety.” She said with a smile. “I just ask for now that you watch each other’s backs. These visitors know the rules but will do anything to test them. So be cautious and if any of them even attempt to, you are all welcomed to watch their demise.”

“That is all for now.” Vincent said walking to stand by Elizabeth. “If anything new comes up at all, I’ll send word to meet back here.”

Elizabeth watched as everyone began standing up and leaving or began talking with each other. “I hate this.” Elizabeth said before looking over at Vincent.

“You could always turn them away.” Vincent said with a nod as he watched everyone as well. “There doesn’t need to be a celebration.”

“Then they’ll find reasons to stay.” Elizabeth said shaking her head. “It will cause suspicion and I’m sure they will end up wanting more proof that I can never give them.”

“They are still wanting answers for Elijah’s sireline aren’t they?” Vincent asked.

“There are always several.” Elizabeth said. “They believe that if the Mikaelsons have really fallen, Elijah’s sireline would have died along with him. I tell them its for my own sanity but what vampire, that has their humanity off, would worry about not having a sane mind?”

“They are expecting you to give up Elijah’s location.” It wasn’t a question but Elizabeth nodded anyways.

“Vincent, I hope you know that even if they try to burn this city to the ground to get me to say anything, I wont.” Elizabeth said as she looked back to see a few stragglers standing in the church. “Not when it comes to Elijah’s life and our bond. I will do anything to keep him safe.”

“While that does worry me,” Vincent began as he looked over at Elizabeth. “it also worries me that you have that warehouse not far from the city limits. Whatever it is that you are doing in there, it has people talking.”

“And what is it they are saying?” Elizabeth asked already knowing some of the rumors that have been said.

“That you are still trying to find someway to bring back Elijah and the others.” Vincent shook his head. “I was to believe that you had given up on finding the cure after you had come back from your trip empty handed.”

Elizabeth smirked. “It was your mistake believing a set back would stop me from saving my mate. You of all people should know that it is only a matter of time before they come back.”

“What’s going to happen when they come back here?” Vincent asked.

Elizabeth shrugged slightly. “To be honest, I have no idea. That is something that will be dealt with when the day is upon us.” Even though I wont be here. She added mentally. She wouldn’t say the words out loud. Not yet. So far everyone that was aware of what she was doing thought she would still be around when the Mikaelsons came back. “I have to get going if I am going to make it back in time for when they start arriving.”

“Where are you going?” Vincent asked curiously. He knew that Elizabeth had just come from the warehouse to speak with the witches on their plans for the week.

“I need some time to collect my thoughts.” She lied as she began walking towards the exit. “I do have a part to play the next few days.” Without another word she left St. Anne’s.

_____

The slight breeze had felt great on Elizabeth’s skin. It didn’t matter if she was in the dream world or not, it felt as real as it could be. She and Elijah were currently sitting on top of a hill overlooking much of the house and the lake that Freya had added in. It was a great scenery and it had been a while since Elizabeth had a moment of just peace as they were now.

After Elizabeth had shown Hayley the warehouse, she started visiting more often. Hayley promised to keep the secret that Elizabeth had been carrying. After a long conversation and airing out everything, Hayley and Elizabeth had an understanding of what needed to be done in order to get the cure. Hayley encouraged Elizabeth to visit more and Elizabeth agreed to that.

The moment Elizabeth had entered the dream world, Elijah never left her side. If it wasn’t for the fact that she needed time to feed, Elizabeth would have gladly spent several days not stop there until Elijah’s siblings demanded she leave for a bit.

“What is it?” Elijah asked as he watched Elizabeth. Even though it didnt seem as though she had caught the several sighs that had passed her lips, he had.

Elizabeth turned towards him and smiled at him. “Thinking.” She said softly. It was the truth but it wasn’t elaborated. There was so much going on outside of this spell that she would have to worry about. But in this moment, she was thinking about how much things would be different once they were out of this place. “All this time and I thought I would have you out of here so much earlier.”

“Liz,” he said running his hand through her hair. Hearing the nickname from him still seemed to hold a deeper meaning than when anyone else had. “You are doing the best you can. That is all we can ask for.”

Her smile faded slightly. “I know. I always wonder what would have happened if things had been done differently. But I think this time, I know that this is what was meant to happen.”

“What made you start to believe that?” He asked with a small smile.

“It’s been five years, Elijah.” She said shaking her head slightly. “I’ve tried so many different things and none of them have turned out as I hoped. As much as I hate to think about it, there were reasons all of that failed. It just took me going through it all to realize that you cant change what is supposed to happen.”

“You know something?” Elijah asked.

Elizabeth gave him a smile even though it didnt reach its full potential whenever she was around him. “I know you’ll be awake soon.” She gave a small nod with her words. “And that is all that matters to me at this moment.”

“You’ve had Jess show you more of her visions.” Elijah knew that Elizabeth had seen several of them over the last few years. But he had remembered Elizabeth saying she had no longer wanted to know the details as they got closer to being true.

“No.” She said shaking her head. “I’ve just been having a sense of Deja vu since she showed me what she had.” She took a deep breath in before letting it out. “I saw the last piece of the vision she showed me weeks ago. And that can only mean one thing to me. That you will be cured and awake from this spell soon. I may not know if it will be today, tomorrow or later this week, but I know you’ll be cured soon. I just can feel it.”

A smile pulled at Elijah’s lips. “Hearing you say that feels surreal. We’ve been here so long, it is hard to fully picture the real world.”

“You got a glance with Hope’s spell.” She reminded him with a chuckle.

“A two minute preview to the real thing.” He said with a smirk pulling at his lips.

That glimpse into the world after not seeing Elizabeth for so long had helped keep him sane until she came for a visit. All the things she had mentioned about the changes she had made to the compound had been exactly as she described. The familiarity of it being their home with touches of Elizabeth in places that he could see, had brought comfort to him.

When the spell ended, he was reminded that there would be a day that he would be free from all of this. That as soon as things worked in their favor, Elizabeth and Hayley would have them all cured and awake. Things could go back to way things were. Well, as much as they could be with the circumstances. He knew that some things had changes since the entered the spell. But as long as they were together, Elijah was sure that things would be better.

A thought crossed Elizabeth’s mind and she smiled to herself before looking at Elijah. “I know that I hardly say this, but Rebekah was right.”

Elijah laughed and shook his head. “And what is my sister right about?”

“We all deserve to go on some kind of vacation somewhere.” She nodded her head. “I get that you guys will need to get back into the swing of living again, but what better way to do that than to spend a few months lounging in a place without worrying about anything.”

“And where do you suppose we go?” He asked watching her with a smile on his face.

“Anywhere.” She said with her own smile growing. “Just somewhere away from New Orleans. It can be all of us or even just the two of us.”

“I like that idea.” He said watching as the excitement grew in Elizabeth the moment he said the words.

“Then it is settled.” Elizabeth said standing up from her spot. “After this is all over, we’ll go on a trip to see the world.” While it might be a while before they would actually be able to, the idea itself had seemed like the best idea. It gave them the hope of a future together. It gave them a chance to say they would make it through all the bad to finally come out on the other side stronger and finally enjoying their lives.

_____

“Malakai mentioned you’ve been working on a project of your own since our last visit.” Elizabeth was currently sitting at a table with several of the visiting vampires from Niklaus’s line. Many of them Elizabeth had recently met and others she had known for some time. The vampire that was speaking, Trent, Elizabeth had met several decades ago.

Elizabeth gave him a smirk as she brought the glass of wine she had in her hand up to her lips taking a drink. “If I went and told you all my evil plans you’d try to one up me. I cant have that, can I?”

“Ah so you do have something going on.” Trent smiled at her. He leaned forward in his seat eager to hear whatever details she would willingly give him. “I do hope its to break that connection of yours to your sire so we may end a line.”

Elizabeth kept a straight face even though she hated the thought of someone wanting Elijah dead. There was something inside of her that was telling her to rip his heart from his chest simply because of the threat he could be to her mate. “Maybe I am. But you see, there are two things that need to be done in order for that to happen. One I need my humanity on to try and remove the bond that is between myself and him. At this moment I feel no need to be swarmed by those pesky human emotions. Second, in order to break the sireline just as Aya had, I’d need another heart. Unfortunately the only heart I need seems to have fallen off the face of the earth.”

“You mean Hayley Marshall.” Trent said with a nod. “The last we’ve heard of her she had been living out in the woods somewhere. We were obviously close at one point seeing as she killed my informant.”

“Your informant?” Elizabeth asked with a raised brow. “You have people out looking for her as well?”

“Of course I do. It’d be nice to come to you one day with her heart as an offering.”

“That does seem like the best offering one could give.” Elizabeth said with a smirk. “It would be nice to not have my life tied to another.” Elizabeth hated acting the way she was. Every part of her was saying that she shouldn’t be saying these things. It hurt her to say them. But in order to keep up appearances as she had, she needed to do this. “I have witches keeping tabs on her daughter’s magic.” She lied easily. “I find that it is so much easier to keep up with the outburst of magic than to find a hybrid who doesn’t want to be found.”

“You believe her daughter will end up giving their whereabouts.” Trent said as he looked at the other vampires that sat with them. “Whenever we tried something to that extent, we just end up pinging in a small town in Virginia.”

“That is because there is now some training grounds for witches.” Elizabeth said with a roll of her eyes. “The Mikaelson child, however, comes from a strong line of witches.” Elizabeth said as she placed the glass back on the table before them. “Her magic will continue to grow unstable without any kind proper training. Hayley doesn’t have that kind of knowledge and I highly doubt she would trust anyone else with her daughter at this point in time.” As Elizabeth spoke, her hand went to the charm that hung from her neck. There was a comfort of holding it in her hand. “Eventually the child will give off a source of energy unlike any other that she wont be able to hide from. When that happens, we’ll know.”

“We could always use Klaus as bait.” Trent said with a shrug. “Dangle him for everyone to see and Hayley will come to save her child’s father.”

“I’ve done that before.” Elizabeth said with a shake of her head. “It leads to his lunatic exes entering my city and I will not have that. I’d rather deal with a child’s magic than deal with the horde of women Klaus has slept with. They have no use to me but a moment’s worth of entertainment.”

“What about using his blood to track his siblings?” A vampire that had been sitting next to Trent asked. “Wouldn’t it be easier to use a locator spell with his blood to find them.”

“Kelly, right?” Elizabeth said looking over at the woman. “Don’t you think I’ve tried that?”

“We’ve never seen you do it in front of us.” Kelly said with a shrug.

Elizabeth’s eyebrow rose for a moment before a smirk slowly grew on her lips. She looked over towards the side of the room and nodded to the Vampire that had been standing by the entrance to the room. Trent and Kelly watched as the vampire left the room before looking back at Elizabeth. “You wan’t proof, he’s getting just that for you.”

A moment later, Jess walked in along side the vampire. In Jess’s hand were a few key ingredients to do a spell. Coming over to the table, she set things up and placed a bowl and a knife in front of Elizabeth. Elizabeth stood from her seat and picked up the knife.

“Using Klaus’s blood does nothing to find what you are looking for.” She picked up a vial in the other hand to show them. She pulled open the top and poured it into the bowl. She nodded to Jess who began chanting a common locator spell. The vampires gathered around and watched as Jess began pouring the blood on the map before them. And just as Elizabeth assured them, the blood just puddled. It gave no indication as to where the other Mikaelson siblings would be.

“Mine on the other hand,” Elizabeth used the knife and cut into her palm, letting the blood drop on the other end of the map. Jess began chanting the spell again and the others watched as it began moving. It moved along several states before it began to spread around, as if it reached a barrier. “Each time that spell is done, that barrier is up in a different location preventing anything closer being found. She’s got one hell of a witch helping her. As I’ve said before,” Elizabeth plopped down in her seat. “The child’s magic is the easiest way to keep tabs on Hayley. She had an outburst this time last year.”

“I assume that was why you weren’t here.” Trent said as he sat back in his seat, satisfied with what he had seen.

“Believe it or not, I had her with in reach. Once Hope had controlled herself, my trace was gone and the location I had her pinpointed at was empty, with no trace of either.” Elizabeth shrugged her shoulders. “The next time, that kid looses control, any witch will be able to feel that energy with how bottled up she is.”

Malakai walked up to Elizabeth and whispered in her ear. “We need to talk privately.” Elizabeth only nodded and watched as Malakai left the room.

“It appears that little project of mine has made some progress.” Elizabeth said as she stood from her seat. Even though she had no idea what it was that Malakai wanted to speak to her about it was a better excuse than anything. “Please do enjoy yourselves while I am gone.” Elizabeth walked away from them and pulled out her phone as she followed where Malakai had gone. She quickly wrote a text message to Hayley before tucking her phone back into her pocket.

“What is it?” She asked Malakai once they were in front of the room Elizabeth had designated as a safe spot with the help of Jess’s magic.

“We have a problem.” Malakai said as he opened the door and walked in. Elizabeth followed him in and her eyes widened once she saw who was standing in the room.

Forgotten Alliance Tag: @mschellehitt @xanderling @fandom-princess-forevermore @winchestert101

As a reminder, FA has a completely separate taglist. If you would like to be added to, or taken off, please let me know!

[my-lunaberg]

Huh, I always remembered Dream killing Tommy pretty much immediately after he killed the cat but they actually had an arhument after it and Dream didnt seem that affected. interesting

I'll admit Im a little dissappointed bc Ive kinda been waiting for the moment where Dream starts to get a bit unhinged bc of the isolation affecting him and I thought this would be it but no. However, i think its like. ughhhhhh this is kinda hard to explain bear with me. So, I think Dream is very much the kinda guy who is like, fine being in solitude, just wandering around the smp completely by himself. Like Yeah, having some friends along is pretty nice and makes it more fun, but hes ultimately completely fine just being on his own. Being in prison on his own is lbviously a lot worse, but I feel like if there were no visitors allowed in his cell and Sam had installed some kind of automatic good delivery from the getgo and basically deprived him of human contact entirely, he would be like, fine if a bit bored for a good while until he'd either start slipping into depression or start having anxious fits bc he has A Thing with control and probably wouldnt take not knowing whats going on on his server for very long. Perhaps even a mixture of both, like the most awful mental illnes cocktail on earth or something

However, Sam did allow visitors and he didnt completely deprive him of human contact. People visit him like, maybe once every two weeks (excluding Ranboo here for the sake of simplicity) which means that Dream can never just get used to his isolation or Sam being the only person he can talk to. Hes constantly confronted with chances, opportunities to strenghten whatever feeble hold he still has on everyone else. He is powerless, desperately clinging onto whatever strings he can still pull and nothing is working, which basically results just results in a different flavor of the most awful mental illness cocktail on earth

Then we're gonna throw Quackity and physical torture into the mix later on and then its a mental decay speedrun babeyyyy

[dethl]

for animal crossing ask, 1-5 and 25-30!

this feels like christmas lol

UNDER THE CUT THIS IS LONG

Are you of the “Tom Nook is a crook” or “Tom Nook is an honest businessman” opinion? 

NOOK IS AN HONEST MAN AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN. rent-free loans with flexible payments, in acgc all the art he sold was ALWAYS genuine, he took in two orphans and adopted them as his nephews. 

man started with a fucking shack as a shop after being scammed to hell and back from redd, and throughout the games hes slowly been able to afford to build up his shop and later achieve his dreams of working in real-estate. you literally support each other by giving him the money to upgrade the shop, and him giving you the money to upgrade your home and furnish it! not to mention most of what he and the nooklings buy is like, literally a tanuki’s diet - fish, bugs, insects, he basically pays you for meals every day... 

SORRY I THINK I JUST GOT POSSESSED BY TOM NOOK I DIDNT EVEN GET INTO THE ABLE SISTERS STUFF. i just love how subtle the character building is in these games and how you really do watch them slowly evolve as characters, like nook starts out kinda crass in the first game, but even in THAT one he starts adapting to being more polite, and now hes like the nicest fucking man ever

Do you play as yourself or a made up character?

myself with less messy hair and clothing styles i want irl

Where is your house located? 

i made this little lake like the ones in acgc and i put my house next to that!

Who were your first villagers?

renee (rhino), that red hippo, wendy, molly (fucking starter house!), uuuuuhhh, lucky was my first islander, idk who else cuz theyre all moved out now (except lucky)

Preferable method of earning bells?

uhhh when my friends get high turnip spikes they let me sell and ill have a million or so last me for a while. ive also sold NMT before when i had a 3mil bell terraforming project cuz uhhh desperate times call for desperate measures lol

Favorite time of day to play?

i find myself gravitating towards 9AM-12PM a lot, and 4PM. dunno why

Favorite special visitor event or reward? (Ex: Selecting an art piece from Redd, aiding Guliver and getting a special item, etc)

i love redd just because hes funny lol

Favorite KK song?

two days ago, KK cruisin’, drivin’, KK sonata, cafe KK, KK synth, KK metal (goes on for an hour)

Favorite animal crossing game?

wild world!! something about that one just stands out as so unique from the other entries, like just the overall tone shift from ACGC to WW was massive and the amount of stuff that was added, it was like seriously such a driving force on making the series what it is today i love it

If you’ve played Animal Crossing before, are there any animals you’re nostalgic for? If this is your first game, has any animal in particular left some effect on you?

TABBY TABBY TABBY TABBY TABBY. i finally have her again for the first time since acgc, she has such a unique design and always left such a huge impact for me. i also recently got one of the villagers that admittedly i teared up when she left my acnl town - skye!! and as for like villagers in general that give me nostalgia, cally and candi - but holy shit did they fuck up translating their designs to HD, candi looks like she has two sets of eyes

Share a story from your gameplay

a few weeks ago i literally spent 5 hours purging my town of flowers, i think i got rid of like 980. now i think theyre all grown back .-.

a while back i traded to get julian for 100NMTs, and then a month later i was like “hm nah” and gave him for free to someone

ONCE I HAD A SCORPION SPAWN ON TOP OF A HOUSE and like, my storage was full so i couldnt just take a picture so i tried pulling my phone out. as soon as my camera app loaded it walked off.....