#voltage fiction

[neerons]

Yet another example of some of the most beautiful words you could ever get 😭

Squirrel on Memory Lane Challenge (VIP Revenge & Challenge event)

[lys-lilac]

[RMD] Whispers of Yuletide Promises: Kasumi X MC

[A/N]: Hey there it's been a while! This work of me was lying in my folders for so so long, something which I worked upon last Christmas haha. Thanking my lovely @sterkeyra for taking so much of her time not only to proofread, but also suggest corrections to make it much better. So I will share half the credits with her, hehe. (Jenjen I love you!) Anyway, enjoy and let me know your thoughts!

(The characters in this work are fictional and from the title Romance MD: Always on Call by Voltage Inc. No copyrights intended.)

(out of context cute pic cause idk but I love them :p)

It was another day in the Seimei University Hospital as the subtle chill of the air was evident, hinting at the upcoming Christmas season. A sigh leaves MC's lips, as she stretches her body after work, looking at the spark of festivity in the staff's and patients' faces, sipping her coffee. Toshiki notices how she is looking around the Christmas celebration in the hospital, with a cup of coffee in his hand as well. The children, the cards they are making and the people wearing the red hats... He can see the glimmer in her eyes as she is looking all around. So he whispers to her.

"I am glad to see you so happy. Is Christmas your favorite holiday?"

A gentle pat lands on her head, which makes her snap out of her thoughts as she looks up towards the source of these sweet words.

"Ah, Dr. Kasumi, good work."

"Thank you. I am grateful that we both did a good job today. And, it is really nice to see the Christmas celebrations in our hospital. I can't wait to see what the New Year celebrations as well. But I have more important things on my mind right now."

"Yeah? What's that?"

He whispers softly, so only she can hear him.

"I keep thinking about hugging and kissing you. Could I perhaps ask you to give me one kiss before we go home? I'm not sure how long I can control myself otherwise."

"?!"

Her face flushes instantly as she looks at him with wide eyes and mouth hanging open.

"Uh... do you realize where we are?"

He laughs and whispers to her.

"What's on my mind right now is way more important than the fact that we are in front of our colleagues. So, is it too much to ask for a quick kiss? Or am I going to be punished if I do this? I don't really mind the punishment, if I can get to kiss you. And, by the look on your face, it seems you might have similar ideas in mind as well. So just let me go ahead with my plan."

"Since when did you become like this... Just three days ago I heard a certain someone, chewing off Dr. Hosho's ears for flouting public morals…"

"That was in the past. You can't blame me for the way I am behaving today. This is all your influence. You are just way too cute and your beautiful eyes are too distracting. It's driving me wild and making me want to kiss you again and again."

"D-Don't say such things in workplace." She covers his lips with her hands, to which he laughs softly, removes her hands from his lips, and whispers in a playful tone.

"See, there you go again with your sweet and cute shyness. Who knows how much of it would I be able to handle before I just snap?”

"S-Snap? What…"

"It means I might just grab your jaw and sneak a kiss right here and now. But, I won’t  make you uncomfortable at work.

"I understand that, you dummy!"

"Does that mean I can go ahead and kiss you one more time?"

"No. We have so much work, we have to buy a Christmas tree too, so. Bye." His suggestive words had taken a toll on her and she could just run away to hide her loudly beating heart from him. He laughs softly and goes after her.

"You can't really get away from me. I will keep on chasing you until you accept my kisses. I don't care how many things are on our to-do list today, as my top priority is to wrap my arms around you and make you all mine. So come back here, MC."

*A few hours later, she signs off work, and soon enough, she's out of the hospital, and waits for him at the hospital entrance. Shortly after, he takes his leave from the hospital as well. He takes his car out of the parking lot and brings it over to the entrance, where she was waiting for him.

"Get in."

She nods and gets inside, as he shuts the door watching out so that she doesn’t hit her head, and soon starts driving. But in his mind, all that was swirling was a kiss from her. He behaved at the hospital, so he deserved it as a reward. At least that’s what he thought.

"Toshiki."

Hearing her voice, he snaps out of his thoughts and looks at her, as the car comes to a halt at the redlight.

“Mm, I am listening.”

" I have something to discuss with you. Come closer, it's confidential." She gestures with her hand lightly. He laughs softly at her cute gestures and responds. He leans towards her and gets very close to her,  her breath practically tickling his ears. But he is waiting for her to share what she wanted to secretly tell him. She smiles seeing he fell into her trap, as she uses her thumb and index finger to hold his face by his cheeks, and pecks him.

Her sudden peck flusters him, as he gets all red and embarrassed. He feels like hugging her tightly, but at the same time, was too stunned to move at all. It was rare for her to actually initiate affectionate gestures like this

"That's definitely a cruel prank. Just remember that I will take my revenge on you for this tonight."

"Ahem. The light's green." She looks ahead as she pulls away, as if nothing happened. He smiles lightly, and they drive away.

"It's getting a little hard to keep my mind off you right now. Your kiss from earlier is still stuck in my mind, so can I tell you one last thing before we begin shopping for that Christmas tree?"

"What."

"If you keep on acting so shy and cute like this, then you should prepare yourself to live with the consequences of an overly romantic and love sick Toshiki Kasumi. And trust me, you don't want to live with that kind of me. I am definitely going to pester you and annoy you by being all cute, playful, affectionate, flirty, teasing and passionate."

"...!"

She tries her best to not blush and runs to the mall as a method of escape, as he parks the car. He chuckles and follows her.

The mall was decorated beautifully as it was Christmas season. Every inch and corner was worth stopping and gazing for. Whether it was apparel shops, bakery or even festive décor shops, everything was adorned with lights, elucidating a cozy atmosphere, serving as a source of warmth for the winter. As MC looks around, a shop catches her eye, selling Christmas trees and other festive items.

"Hm, this one is cute… it's not that big, and will look good on the table beside the TV. What do you say?"

He stops to take a look at the Christmas tree she is pointing out. He checks its height and tries to envision it in his living room.

"That truly looks like the perfect Christmas tree. Yes, I think we should go ahead and get this."

"Okay, I will purchase it right away." She smiles, and goes in the direction of the cash counter, but stops midway. Her eyes land on something and she runs to examine it. He notices her running now towards something, and follows her.

"Did something catch your eye? I can make a guess that it's probably a decoration item or something related to the festive mood. Did I get that right?"

She smiles hearing his hunch and nods vigorously.

"Correct! There is Christmas themed cutlery?! I am sold."

"I Knew it. There is nothing that can attract your attention more than something cute and Christmas themed. So are we going to add this cutlery set to the cart too? You seem to be obsessed with this."

"I- I will do some deliberations, wait."

His shoulders tremble seeing how she was just waddling here and there, almost sparkling from joy.

"So now you want to do some deliberations? You are just obsessed with everything here."

"Yes! Okay, I am taking this mug, that cutlery set, and this set of plates too..."

"I have a feeling you are just going to end up buying everything here at this point. I'm really curious about how much of your shopping is left. I mean, you have already bought the Christmas tree, Christmas themed decorations and now this as well. This is too much. You are even making plans about the decoration of the dinner table aren't you?"

"To be honest, I am a bit too much into the festive mood this year. Don't mind me." She rubs the back of her head in embarrassment and looks at him. His gaze softens seeing her and he answers.

“I don't mind you. In fact I think this is the cutest thing ever. As long as you are having fun, it's all good. By the way, you are not the only one feeling excited about Christmas this year. You are infecting me as well, heh.”

"Thank you." She feels relieved yet happy to be spending her time with him like that, and gives their intertwined hands a squeeze.

“Let's go home. I fear I might get into a Christmas coma now if I see any other decorations.

He laughs hearing her and answers, as he takes the bags from her hands.

"You mean a Christmas fever right? It seems like your Christmas fever is reaching its limit and it's about to make you ill."

"Hmph. Do you think I am that crazy? You know what... Maybe I should just wrap you up in a gift wrapper and parcel it to Dr. Sen. He will be over the moon for that."

He couldn’t help but chuckle and decides to give a taste of her own medicine a bit. He looks at her with a devilish smile on his face.

"Then I also have another idea. Maybe I should tie you up with a ribbon and place you under the Christmas tree as a gift to myself this year. Let's see which one of us is crazier."

"?!"

She was about to say something when his phone rings, and looking at the caller ID, his expression turns serious. He notices her expression but before she can say anything he holds a finger to his lips telling her to be quiet and he picks up the call.

"Yes, this is me. What’s the emergency?"

As he listens to the caller's voice from the other end, a serious expression settles on his face. She looks at him as she thinks they might be called in due to an emergency, so she switches to her professional self as well.

But soon after, he sighs as he frowns a bit, talking, making her worried. His face seems troubled as he talks on the phone still. She can clearly tell from his expression that whatever the doctor on the other end is saying, it's making Kasumi worry. His eyebrows are knitted together.

"What is it..?" She holds his hand to calm him down.

"...I have to go London now."

She just blinks at him with a blank expression, as she wasn't able to process the news. Why so suddenly?

"What... what do you mean you have to go London now?"

He looks at her and nods with a somber expression on his face. She can see his lips drawn into a tight line, and his gaze away from her.

"I got a call from the hospital asking me to come to London. A high risk patient came in and they need me there urgently. I have to catch a flight right now, and can’t be back until tomorrow."

"..."

Realizing the gravity of the situation, she nods in understanding.

"Don't worry. You will save the patient. I am sure."

*He can see the concern in her eyes and notices that she is also starting to worry for the patient. Seeing her change in expression when she was bubbling with joy just moments ago, makes him sad.

"Thank you. I will see what I can do. But I'm sorry to have just rushed you like this. I thought we would have more time today but it's a sudden emergency situation and I can't afford to let the patient down. I'm sorry."

"You don't have to be sorry. I understand…”

She thinks about asking to join and assist him in the surgery, but since it was on a short call, and she also had a surgery to perform the next day, she stops herself and smiles.

"Have a safe journey."

He looks at her and notices how she is holding herself back for his and the patients’ sake as well and smiles*

"I really appreciate how thoughtful and caring you are being right now. Please take care of yourself until I come back home. That is my order, understand? You can't miss your surgery just because of some emergency case of mine.”

"Don't worry. I will save the patient too. Leave it to me, and go."

"I trust you. Go ahead and make sure the patient is saved. Don't worry about me. You take care of yourself and the patient, okay?"

"Yup."

He can tell she is slightly upset with him going suddenly and it is making him feel bad. So he wraps his arms around her and whispers softly.

"I will be back as early as possible, don't worry. I will also call you as soon as I reach home so that you know I am back and safe. In the meanwhile, please take care of yourself. You are the only one I have my hopes set on for your patient's care. You will be the only one to see this through now."

Her hold on him tightens a bit, as she hugs him back, and then lets him go. She couldn’t let him get bothered with her emotions when there were serious matters to take care of at present.

"Mm. Let's go home. You have to pack up too."

They return home, and after some time, she sees him off to the airport. When she comes to his apartment, she sees the Christmas decor lying on the table, and sighs. The reason why she was so pumped for Christmas was because she was getting to spend it together with someone for the first time after so many years. But oh well, their job was important. She shakes her head to dispel away the negative thoughts, but can feel her heart ache as she starts to miss him already. The silence around her seems so cold, that she wants to call him just to hear his voice. But she doesn't as she knows how crucial his surgery would be, and he needed to be focused as well. So she forces herself to focus on decorating the tree perfectly.

The moment the lights illuminate the room, she can feel the magical and mystical atmosphere of Christmas surrounding her. She looks up, closes her eyes and prays for him to have a smooth and safe journey to London and hoping that his surgery would go well. Soon, she goes to sleep.

[Next morning]

She starts to wake up from her deep sleep. As she opens her eyes and looks around, the first thing she realizes is the glow of the Christmas lights. All the decorations from yesterday were still there on the tree. She feels happy and relieved to see the decorations in the morning. Her eyes flit towards the clock, making her think if he already had reached or not. So, she keeps her phone there, waiting for his call and goes to get ready for work in the meanwhile. Soon after, she reaches the hospital, and tries to make her busy with work.

As the time keeps flying by, a visible frown starts to appear on her face, seeing there was not a single call or text from him. Every type of thought riles up her mind. What if something terrible had happened? She keeps trying to suppress these thoughts and tries to be positive about everything.

As she knew how closed off he gets when he loses a patient, she can feel her worry increasing now. She keeps trying to suppress these thoughts and tries to be positive about everything. She couldn’t work properly the whole day, let alone noticing the banters of the peanut gallery trying to cheer her up.

[That evening]

As she completes her tasks for the day, she signs off work. She feels the anxiousness rising in her, as she realizes that the day has passed again without a call from him, so she decides to call him. She feels a little hesitant at first, but calls him anyway. Soon, it gets picked up. She can feel the tension lifting off her chest, as she sighs out of relief, hearing a familiar voice from the other end.

"Toshiki…"

The other end of the line was silent for a moment, followed by a soft chuckle.

"I guess I am just as anxious as you were."

"...why are you sounding like this? What happened?"

She knew he was hiding something, so she waits for him to answer. From the way she seemed to have held her breath she seemed worried. He smiles softly, thinking how worried he made her, and answers honestly.

"Nothing much. I guess the surgery is just taking much more time than I expected, due to some unforeseen complications that appeared.”

"You got me scared... Don't worry, everything will be okay. Are you alright?"

He feels relieved when she believes him and is able to calm herself down. He smiles and whispers softly.

"I am just a bit tired and exhausted. I am trying my best to make sure the surgery turns out okay. But I have to admit, I was getting a little worried too. The surgery is taking a lot more time than I thought it would. Hopefully you are right and everything will be alright. And don't worry. I'm not going to let down the patient or myself. I will do what I can to make the surgery go well. You take care as well okay? I will definitely call you as soon as the surgery is over."

"Sure..."

She stops herself from probing him more and ends the call. He also ends the call and sits for a bit, trying to collect his thoughts. He feels happy that he managed to pacify her concern without having to flat out lie to her. But he also knows that he probably just smudged the truth to someone who is very smart and aware of things. He knows he can't fool her for long. But he also thinks this was necessary for her to not worry too much, so that she focuses on her work properly. He takes a deep breath before he goes back to his work.

As he faces the sterile hospital surroundings, a palpable sense of loneliness settles in. The faint jingles of distant carols only amplify the stark contrast between the festive spirit outside and the clinical reality within. Each patient becomes a reminder of the distance from loved ones, as the weight of duty on Christmas Eve hangs on his shoulders. The soft glow of a desk lamp casts long shadows, emphasizing the solitude that accompanies him. He can feel the emptiness inside. The loneliness is not just limited to the empty hallways and rooms of this hospital but has seeped into him as well. He feels a profound sense of emptiness and longing for some company on this festive Christmas Eve. The loneliness was killing his heart.

Meanwhile, MC reaches home as her mind was occupied with only Toshiki. Seeing an empty apartment on a festive season doesn't fail to make her remember how she is used to always stay cooped up in her room with either work or spending time with herself. She grapples with the bittersweet struggle of preparing a festive meal for two, the missing half haunting every joyful decoration. An unopened gift waits beneath the tree, a symbol of shared moments postponed. Her phone buzzes with holiday wishes from family and friends, yet each cheerful message accentuates the void of the absence of him. Amid the laughter and festivities, an unspoken ache lingers, a connection strained by the miles that separate them on this Christmas night.

She gets lost in her thoughts as she sees the festive nightscape. The Christmas lights were the only things that welcomed her home that night. Everything looks perfect, almost too perfect, yet empty as it couldn’t replace the warm and cheerful presence that she is missing beside her, with him being far away in London. As she looks down from the window of his apartment, she feels a sense of longing for her beloved that holy night.

[3 hours later, same night]

Back in London, almost several hours pass as the surgery gets over. It's successful, as he comes out of the operation theatre, and it's already midnight. He couldn't help but be reminded of how he used to work himself to death during the festive seasons so as to not feel lonely. He couldn't help but reminded of his nagging friend Mitsuharu, who made sure he enjoys every day and is not left out.

In the quiet moments, his mind involuntarily drifts back to a time when Christmas was a tapestry of warmth and joy. He recalls the comforting scent of freshly baked cookies, the twinkling lights adorning the family tree, and the contagious laughter echoing through the cozy living room. Each memory becomes a sepia-toned vignette, a stark contrast to the antiseptic hum of the hospital. In those brief reveries, nostalgia dances with the harsh reality of the present, creating a poignant symphony of longing for the holiday magic of yesteryears.

The memory of his mother planting different flowers for him in winter and the snowdrops blooming around their home brings a smile to his lips. He remembers the memories of snow falling and he and his mother enjoying the snow together. He realizes how these good memories of his childhood were something which is missing on Christmas, and how his adulthood was, missing those memories. As he walks out of the hospital, he feels the warmth and the magic of Christmas in his life missing.

[Next morning]

Toshiki's eyes flutter open feeling the sunlight hitting his visage. He feels a little relieved when he realizes the surgery is over and he did not have to lose a patient. He was worried about that. But he realizes how he is missing every small moment in the morning after a Christmas night with her. The empty spot next to him in bed, the small moments of having a Christmas morning coffee with her, the feeling of her hand in his hand as he would wish her a Merry Christmas, the small gestures of love in the morning... All these small things were missing.

"MC…”

His fingertips graze over the spot next to him in bed. As he was deep in his thoughts, he suddenly remembers a conversation he had with his friend Mitsuharu about Christmas. They were talking about the meaning of Christmas and as always, Mitsuharu was not able to understand or appreciate much of what he was saying. He always felt that Mitsuharu could never truly understand the real essence of Christmas.

Soon, he gets ready to board the plane. Kasumi’s thoughts were all about Christmas and about the missing pieces of it inside him. He begins questioning the meaning of Christmas in his mind. He was deeply troubled by the thoughts of so many people suffering, so many missing out on the joy and happiness of Christmas. A time meant for happiness and togetherness is becoming a time of despair and loneliness for so many. How could he possibly feel happy in a world where such a condition was the reality?

[13 hours later, that evening]

As the plane lands in Tokyo, he can now feel the darkness of reality seeping in him as he proceeds towards the airport exit. He is worried that this darkness may affect his meeting with her. But, he keeps his emotions hidden behind a mask of his calm and composed self.

*He reaches his apartment soon, as his hand is now over the door handle. Maybe a hug from his beloved would calm him down? Toshiki muses, as he unlocks the door. The sight of the beautifully illuminated Christmas tree and the living room makes him pause, as he feels a little surprised by the scene. For a second, he feels happy to see how well she has kept the house decorated, only to realize that the person that he wanted to be welcomed by the most was missing.

"MC?"

Maybe she is outside? His thoughts seem to linger on her absence from the scene, as he walks about the living room, looking around at how beautifully everything has been set up. He even checks the kitchen in case she is there, but it was in vain. The feeling of her missing seems to be pervading the whole scene. The Christmas decoration seems to not be able to bring the warmth it used to bring when she was there. The beautiful scene lacks her presence. She should've at least let him know that she would go out, he wonders.

He takes his phone to look for text messages from her, and is surprised to find none. Maybe she went somewhere to do something? Maybe she got called in by the hospital? Or maybe she wanted to surprise him by showing him the decorations? This was becoming more and more disturbing and troubling for him, as the time ticked by.

As he was lost in his thoughts and worries and was about to call Takado to ask about her, a text message arrives for him, making a small ding sound. He looks at it quickly, thinking it could be from her, but to his disappointment, it was from Matsunaga - a patient has requested to meet him at the nearby amusement park, and he has to go as the patient is very important.

Kasumi was surprised at the news of such a patient request. How was he supposed to go and see some patient when she was missing? But maybe, she went to Asuka's or Missy's and forgot to tell him? He settles on this thought, and sends her a quick text, as he steps outside his apartment.

[That night, amusement park]

He reaches the amusement park and is amazed to see the colorful illuminations everywhere. There is so much to see and so many places to explore. It is like the park has turned into a fairy land. He is surprised by how much the park has been transformed. But instead of being lost in the beauty of it, he starts to wonder why the patient has asked him to come here. Maybe the patient wanted him to see this? But whatever the reason is that the patient has called him here, was unable to distract him from thinking about her.

He sees people with their families, friends and loved ones everywhere. Everyone was enjoying the festivity. This sight brings a sense of loneliness inside him. Everyone was enjoying the day with their loved ones around them. And here he was, all alone. No family with him, no close friend by his side, no MC by his side. His isolation seems to be making the festival a bit difficult for him to bear. He was trying to stop his negative thoughts looking at the illuminations, but the feeling of loneliness was only making it more difficult.

"Isn't that pretty?"

He snaps out of his thoughts, as hears a familiar voice, and feels a familiar presence near him. Was he hallucinating? Probably... cause he heard her voice. He slowly turns to find the owner of the voice. His heart skips a beat finding that it was indeed his beloved, his MC, looking so beautiful with her gaze on him, that she could be the most beautiful ornament in that entire festivity. She was all covered up in a fluffy jacket and was wearing a scarf around her neck, as she smiles at him.

"Welcome back, Toshiki."

For once, the dark emperor had no words. His face lights up to her beautiful greeting. He is unable to reply back, as they both look at each other with a feeling of happiness. The moment was like a spell of kindness that they both are casting over each other, making them both drown in a strange euphoria where there were no words to describe the feeling. Nothing felt like moving, But it just felt perfect. He felt an almost unbelievable sense of love and closeness between them.

"MC, you-"

"Ah, that's right. It's late, but belated merry Christmas."

Kasumi smiles as she gives him a small box. He takes the box in his hands, observing it a bit. He feels a little hesitant to open it but after a few seconds, he decides to open it. Soon, he sees something shining brightly with its beautiful brilliance... a promise ring. He is amazed at how well crafted it looked. He looks up at her, with a feeling of gratitude and appreciation in his eyes. She laughs awkwardly seeing him, as she caresses her hair.

"Well, I know that this might seem cringe, as we are not allowed to wear rings at work, but- I just wanted to give you something which reminds you that you always have me by your side."

"..."

"Um... are you angry, as I orchestrated all this, and didn't inform you? You haven't said a word to me."

He only smiles hearing that, shakes his head and holds her hands more tightly. Instead of answering, he wraps his arms around her, capturing her attention with a mischievous glint in his eyes. Gently, he places a warm kiss on the tip of her nose, the laughter in his voice painting the moment with affection.

"Your nose is red and rosy like a reindeer's..."

"Mm?"

She blinks in surprise as she feels a soft sensation on her nose, not knowing exactly what happened. At her startled expression, he couldn't resist any longer. He pulls her close to him and kisses her nose, her cheeks, and her eyes. Her reaction to his moves is making him go all out. Soon, he pulls away, looking at her, and hugs her.

His thoughts begin to wander with a sort of peace. He realizes that it's not selfish to want things for him. He was a human, after all. But who made him human, was her. Instead of overthinking about the people who meet with tragic incidents and don't get to spend their holidays with loved ones, it's far better to focus on working so that they get better soon. And at the same time, it's okay to desire for happiness, for a loved one. It doesn't make him selfish. He begins to realize the importance of enjoying the happy moments of life. It was only when he had met her that he realized that there was no harm in wanting things for him. A love like hers, like a pure ray of sunlight, has a way to make his thoughts brighter and better. Meeting her made him realize that there’s nothing wrong to be wanting things for himself. It showed him that true love wouldn’t make him selfish; and that it would be okay to ask selfish for your beloved. It was okay to desire for happiness with her.

Maybe this was the intention of his friend Mitsuharu too. He didn't want Toshiki to spend Christmas all alone by himself, so he pretended to not like Christmas parties and all, and instead hung out with him by dragging him to his home.

As his thoughts continue to wander through this idea, he realizes that all this time he was overthinking and overanalyzing things. Instead of enjoying his life and letting happiness happen to him, he was worried about thinking too much on things that didn't matter. Now he is realizing that he doesn't have to be so self-critical. Instead of being so cautious and strict towards him, he can let his guard down and let happiness happen; he too can be a little selfish and desire to have a little happiness for himself. Maybe that's the way to enjoy life more and fully.

She looks at him as she finds him delved in thoughts.

"Toshiki? You okay?"

"Yes, I am fine. Don't worry about me. I was just going through some thoughts but now I realized how pointless these thoughts are. It is pointless to overthink about things and always think that things will be bad. Instead, one can sit back and enjoy things sometimes. That is a far better thing to do."

"Is that so? That's good..."

He can feel her uneasiness about him. She is still feeling concerned for him. So, he thinks of something to make her feel better. He has had his realization, he has had his moment of introspection, now is time to bring her back from her uneasiness.

"But, before I let myself chill out and relax, there is something I wanna do."

"Mm?"

He smiles shyly and brings her close. He brings his forehead to her forehead and speaks quietly to her.

"You know, I haven't thanked you for the promise ring that you gave me. But I wanted to thank you. I don't have words to describe its beautiful craftsmanship, but I can tell you that this ring holds a special meaning to me. So, thank you very much. I will be keeping this with me always, and I will always have you by my side."

"Oh... I am happy if you liked it. No need to thank me."

 She smiles and extends her hand to him.

"Let's go home and make up for the Christmas time we missed yesterday."

He smiles and takes her hand, intertwining his fingers in hers. To him, she is the warmth of his heart. All the worries and stress melt away to make way for a sense of peace and love that has taken over him. He feels like he has found the ultimate happiness in his life, as he walks with her hand in hand. The rings shine on their fingers; the beauty around them is just an added bonus, for he does not need anything to look beautiful with her beside him. Her presence alone makes everything beautiful and magical for him.

--------------

[chirp-a-chirp]

Court of Darkness: Untamed

Couple: Roy and MC (MC named Carla)

Other Characters: Sherry, Rio, Fenn

Description: Why does Roy, the consort who strives to obtain the “perfect prince” image, have a hairstyle that can only be described as an “elegant mop top”?

Alternate Description: @aide-falls I finally finished your “hair-raising” Roy story request! AKA why is drawing this 2D man’s hair so difficult? @x-daedalus-x @jaysquid @daegupaksu you might appreciate this too 🙂

Tags: Fluffy crack? Crack-filled fluff? And partial innuendo because Fenn’s in it.

…

Carla, Sherry, and Rio make their way to the entrance of Roy’s room. The group are meeting for a picnic on the rooftop garden. As Sherry pushes the door, they hear an exasperated cry.

For Creator’s Sake! For once, do as I ask!

Carla opens the door further, alarmed at Roy’s rare outburst. Sherry exchanges a fond look at Rio and closes the door, leaving a small crack to peer inside Roy’s room.

Sherry: Ah, dear brother is at it again.

Rio: What’s he using this time?

Sherry: Looks like some kind of enchanted gel from Luxure.

Carla: What are you all talking about?!

Sherry gestures for Carla to look through the crack in the door. Carla sees Roy’s back as he’s standing next to a floor-length mirror. Through the mirror’s reflection, Carla notices that Roy’s lips are pursed in a tight line as he slathers copious amounts of gel in his hair to try and slick it back. At this point, his hair looks as if it’s been electrified and licked by numerous cows.

A frown appears on Carla’s face. She loves Roy’s hair. It’s soft, warm, with golden highlights among the light pink strands; it reminds her of pink and yellow wildflowers that blossom in all directions, seeking the sun. With its many layers, subtle waves, and upturned tips, Roy’s hair is as elegant as a mop top can be. But mop top it certainly is.

Carla sighs, understanding in an instant. Hair reminiscent of wildflowers is NOT princely, or so Roy thinks. Crisp white jackets; finely embroidered capes; golden buttons with the Invidian crest tailor-fit to his clothes; and, of course, an ever-present smile—these are the successful pieces to the princely image Roy tries to project in public. It never occurred to Carla until now that his unruly hair is the one part that never fit that self-imposed prince perfect persona of his.

Sherry: *Turns to Carla* Roy’s hair has always been messy. About once a year, he gets it in his head to try and tame it. Magic, enchantments, gel, hairspray—nothing’s worked.

Carla: Not even S:Rank magic?

Rio: Lynt tried magically styling Roy’s hair once, but it looked more like a birds nest perched on his head.

Sherry: Then the headmaster got involved. But Lou ended up styling Roy’s hair to be an ACTUAL nest. A few birds made Roy’s hair their home for weeks.

Carla: WEEKS?!

Sherry: Why yes. A pair of rare exotic birds nested there. And these are birds that, once their eggs are laid, can’t be disturbed without harming them.

Rio: Roy got used to sleeping sitting up pretty quick. He was very gentle with them.

Sherry: And now the birds reside in the Invidian royal gardens!

Carla: OK, I wasn’t expecting THAT. Has Roy ever tried just cutting his hair?

Sherry: Yes, but for every strand of hair he cuts, two new ones appear in its place instantly. So there’s little point in doing so.

Carla: So my paramour has a magical hydra in hair form on top of his head?!

Rio: Yeah! But at least his hair doesn’t grow beyond what it is now!

Carla: Is there ANYTHING ELSE I should know about Roy’s hair?

Sherry: When Roy stands out in the sun long enough, his hair smells like strawberries!

Rio: Carla’s hair also smells like strawberries!

Carla: That’s my shampoo Rio. Not magical pheromone hydra hair.

Fenn: Well, well, well! Is there a reason why we’re all admiring Roy’s assets like this? *Points a finger through the cracked door at Roy’s backside as Roy continues to glob gel on his head*

Rio: Roy’s trying to gussy up his hair again. He seems super focused so we didn’t want to distract him.

Sherry: That gel brother’s using appears very expensive. Did you gift that to him Prince Fenn?

Fenn: Ah, yes. I owed Roy. He recently helped me with a situation involving an Akedian diplomat’s daughter that was—alas, I can’t say anymore for the Princess’s sake.

Sherry: I have a very active imagination. I can fill in the details!

Rio: I’m sure you were a great help Fenn, even before Roy stepped in!

Carla: *Sigh* Maybe you should give some of your imaginative powers to Rio, Sherry?

Fenn: *Continues peeking through the cracked door* Our dear Roy looks as if there’s a wet mop on top of his head! It’s quite the look.

Carla: Yeah, well, Roy looks GREAT wet.

Sherry: …

Rio: Aw, have you both gotten wet walking in the rain together?

Carla: *Claps hands over her mouth* Oh God, forget I said that!

Fenn: You and Roy do seem VERY devout when you take baths together. Oh God, Oh Vane…

Carla: Roy’s room is soundproofed! How would you know what we—

Fenn: I live next door to Roy remember. And my imagination is much more active than Sherry’s. Not that I need to imagine, Treasure. You and Roy are loud enough to pierce through ANY sound barrier.

Carla: S-stop joking Fenn!

Fenn: Oh Heartspell, sweet Heartspell, just like that…

Sherry: I wish my imagination weren’t QUITE so active now.

Rio: Why not Sherry? Walks in the rain are fun! Though Roy doesn’t seem the kind of chap to like that sort of thing.

Fenn: Roy and Treasure engage in a very different water activity Rio. Rather enthusiastically, in fact—

Carla: ANYWAYS…Fenn, is the gel you gave Roy special?

Fenn: Not sure it’s special, but it has to be better than the gel Jasper and Guy gave Roy that one time.

Carla: How so?

Fenn: Guy’s gel MAY have caught on fire while Roy was teaching a potions class…

Carla: WHAT?!

Fenn: Hmmm, the gel had some black market ingredients Jasper failed to mention were present. But don’t worry. Roy’s fan club doused him with lots of water! They were VERY excited about that.

Sherry: Poor Roy was positively mobbed.

Carla: So that answers the question “Has Roy participated in a Wet T-Shirt contest”…

There. It is finished!

Fenn, Rio, Sherry, and Carla crowd the door at Roy’s words. For a brief moment, Roy’s hair is successfully slicked back, not a strand out of place, his hair the very picture of a fairytale prince. Roy smiles in satisfaction.

Sproooooooong!

As if the hair had a mind of its own, the gel leaps off of Roy’s head, flying in all directions. Gobs of gel land on the mirror, walls, tea cups, and nearby tables. One gob splatters on the front door, narrowly missing the four people watching.

Roy hangs his head slightly and removes the remaining gel from his hair. With a poof, his hair reverts back to its usual mop top shape. His arms fall to his sides, hands clinched in tight fists.

I just…wanted to look dashing for Carla. Just once.

Carla’s heart clinches at the sad tone in Roy’s voice. His hair obsession is not just about the prince persona—not now. He wishes to look good for her. Carla turns to Sherry and Rio.

Carla: Please go on without me. I’ll bring Roy along in a minute.

Rio: OK then. Fenn, come join us mate! There’s enough food for us all.

Sherry: Good luck Carla.

Fenn: Sorry the gel didn’t work. At least Roy’s hair didn’t catch fire! Feel free to douse him with water though since Roy clearly likes it when you do it Treasure! *Wink wink*

Carla rolls her eyes as Fenn, Rio, and Sherry leave. She opens the door and walks in, grabbing a single-stemmed pink rose from a nearby vase. Carla approaches Roy from behind; she wraps her arms around his waist and places the rose in Roy’s right hand.

Carla: Roses are not the only flowers that are beautiful, you know.

Roy: *Surprised* Oh?

Carla: Roses—they’re refined, elegant, radiant. When I see them, I instantly think of Invidia—and you.

Carla: *Turns so that she’s facing Roy, standing on tiptoes as she runs her fingers through his hair* But, you also remind me of wildflowers.

Roy: *Laughs softly* Really? Pray tell why.

Carla: Like your hair, there’s an aspect of you that yearns to be free. That part is a little wild, a little unexpected, untamed. And I love it. Please don’t hide it away. Please.

Carla’s words pierce Roy’s soul. A winding affection grabs Roy’s heart and refuses to let go. His arms wrap tightly around Carla as he holds her close. He whispers in her ear.

Roy: So, which do you prefer—roses or wildflowers?

Carla: *Hovers her lips just above Roy’s and whispers back* Both.

[blood-moon-night-coining]

Project Voltage

Fairy Type Miku Kin

[PT: Project Voltage | Fairy Type Miku Kin]

A flag for those who are (other)kin of the Fairy type trainer Miku!

[ID: None yet]

[Tagging] @radiomogai, @liom-archive, @kin-flags, and @accessmogai

[Master list] for more project voltage kin flags, look here(link)!

[Flag Temp] Link

[drama-glob]

Sparks Fly

Megan interviews Juniper as part of a report to hopefully reduce prejudice against reformed criminals.

The teenager sat back in her chair as she gazed around the large area, noting a couple young adults on the computers in the corner, a black-haired girl about her age reading a textbook while doing her homework and an elderly man who appeared to work at the library as he was pushing a cart of books down the aisle. Megan then pulled out her phone and decided to text a quick message to Hiro about seeing if they could hang out at Joe’s Diner tomorrow. As soon as she hit send, she heard a female voice say, “Excuse me, are you Megan Cruz?”

The brown-haired individual looked up from her device almost immediately and was greeted to the sight of a taller, young blonde about a year or so older than her. She was wearing a purple top with a cute bunny on it along with white capris, but she also appeared to be a bit nervous as she stood before Megan. It had been over six months since the reporter had last seen her in person, but instantly recognized her as Juniper of High Voltage.

The supersleuth gave a short “Oh” as she scrambled out of her seat to stand up and properly greet the reformed dancer. “Yes, I am Megan Cruz and you’re Juniper, right?” she inquired as she politely extended her hand.

“That’s my name. Don’t wear it out,” the taller of the two lightheartedly quipped as she shook the offered appendage, her apprehension melting away a little.

Here is the link on AO3:

@spyrkle4 @enbydemirainbowbigfoot Enjoy the fluff! ^_^<3

[onefernecito]

Can you believe Vivienne Tang invented romanticism?

[hellcatinnc]

Happy Birthday Anastasia Lynzel

Wishing this sweet girl a happy birthday on her special day.

[istanbulite]

ok. i need to compare Astraeus (Lovestruck) to Blade (WIP - Shepherds of Haven) bc as i was trying to make them on Black Desert Mobile i noticed they r pretty similar in... looks

both black haired / eyed with a sort of cropped hairstyle (one is 5'9 and the other is 6'3" tho)

both swordsmen

both given an east Asian... design. I mean Astraeus downright uses a katana as his main weapon and his theme is cherry flowers (which...i still don't know why as he s a Greek mythological figure but *shrug* im used to it now), Blade less so I suppose, i mean his last name is apparently a Welsh name but its just... here and there you get the sense that's the main inspiration for his culture - food, words, style whatever - which i dont like, tbh, making the emotionless, brutal species Like That but I can head-canon around it all I like its the canon (for now) world-building

this i like :D 1 is from an app that shut down.. like 2 years ago and the other is from a WIP work, not all out yet

both have older brothers, though Astraeus surely suffered more in his hands, having served him for years if not decades and it ends with a death... We dont know what that particular thing gonna go with Blade but I think it wont be that brutal.

Both sort of leaders, Astraeus is to titan army (or whats left of it more like) and Blade to Shepherds militia.

THEIR RELATIONSHIP W THE MC: Astraeus pretty much starts in love with the MC, he's low-key a stalker (i mean high key he did kidnap her...) and they have this... connection. Immediately. With Blade... it's... so not that. It's a slow process. Just as strong but slow and steady against.. whatever the fuck was up with Astraeus at one point (and yall kno he s my #1)

Astraeus is very chaotic, the MC says at one point chaos 'thrives within him' (or around him) he's a titan god after all and Blade is.. once again. Not that. Astraeus wears his heart on his sleeve. That's my favorite thing about him actually, he's one of the closest examples I saw to the male femme fatale idea. He's seductive and emotional and acts according to his heart. Blade falls a bit dull against that because we just have…. too many of the emotionless warrior guys, though I gotta give its due, he does his category well - say.. compared to Adam from Wayhaven Chronicles (and there I do love Ava, I know they are the same person but listen almost no female character is Like That) and you can tell he starts caring for the mc - obviously, which makes him much more appealing then the rest of the so called macho guys.

Astraeus is a poet. Blade points out he likes reading poetry. Does he write? I don't know but its surely not a corner of his personality I feel

They also both like gardening, once again Astraeus is more passionate about it, growing a tree in a land where nothing grows (Tartarus) Blade mentioned it but it's not like.. his thing - so far

Overall this made me realize maybe we don't know Blade well, despite the countless asks n everything or that he needs a certain.. something. Not everyone has to be passionate and emotional of course but like uhm... He's a bit too perfect and bland, WHICH is maybe his flaw I mean other characters do call him boring and dour and again the story is far from over so we'll see!

[shinonometrash]

The Dapper Wolf

Court of Darkness Fan Fiction - Short Story

Rating: General

Main Characters: MC, Lance Ira, Robin (MC’s familiar), Grushia

You can check out other content that I’ve written/made by clicking here!

~~

One day in the forest–

Lance is lounging under a tree as usual when MC and Robin appear.

MC: Hi Lance!

MC waves, wearing a warm smile.

Robin: Master Lance!

Robin, seeming especially energetic, zooms over to Lance.

Robin:  Look! Look what milady gave me!

He flies around in excited circles, eager to show off.

Lance: Hm? What am I looking at?

MC: Oh, I bought him a bow tie while I was out shopping today. He absolutely adores it.

Robin: Doesn’t it look just dashing against my fur?

Lance: Haha, very cute.

Smiling, Lance scritches Robin gently behind the ears.

In response to hearing Robin’s animated voice, Grushia trots over curiously.

Robin: Master Grushia, look at my new bow tie! Milady bought it for me!

Grushia sniffs at the new accessory around Robin’s neck when MC suddenly exclaims.

MC: Oh yeah! Grushia, wait there! I have something for you, too!

Grushia: Aroo?

Grushia’s ears perk up in anticipation as he eagerly waits to see what MC brought him.

After a moment of rummaging, MC produces a slightly larger bow tie from her bag.

MC: I got you one too! Now you and Robin can match!

Grushia: Arroo!

Lance: What, no, you're not giving him a bow tie!

Before MC can put the bow tie on Grushia, Lance exclaims this.

Unlike Grushia, he is very clearly not enthusiastic about the idea.

MC: Why not?

Lance: Because! He’s a wolf.

Ignoring him, she slips the bow tie over the wolf’s head.

MC: So?

Lance: Wolves don't wear bow ties.

MC:  Says who? Look, he wants to wear it!

Grushia wags his tail excitedly as she adjusts the bow tie around his neck.

Lance: Oi, Grushia, you’re a wolf, not a blasted lap dog!

MC: There, perfect!

Now sporting a fetching bow tie, Grushia sits down in front of Lance, staring up at him.

MC: Haha, I think he wants to know what you think!

Lance: …

MC: You don't want to hurt Grushia’s feelings do you?

Lance: …

MC: Lance, look, you're making Grushia sad!

Grushia: *whimpers*

MC: Aww, come here Grushia. Don't listen to big ‘ol meanie Lance. I, for one, think you look very dapper in your bow tie!

Grushia sits down next to MC and she wraps her arms around him protectively, throwing a glare towards her paramour.

Grushia’s ears droop as he looks at Lance with a sad expression.

Grushia: Arroo…

Lance: Come on, don’t you think this is a bit much?

Lance looks exasperated as he watches his paramour and wolf companion, who is now laying on the ground, resting his head in MC’s lap pitifully as she comfortingly pets him.

MC: Really, you look very handsome! No matter what Lance might say!

Lance: Don’t put words in my mouth-

Robin: Yes! I think you look very dashing too, Master Grushia!

Hovering at MC’s shoulder, Robin also throws an angry kitty glare towards Lance.

Lance: For Creator’s sake…

Lance’s exasperation quickly turns to irritation at the melodramatic display everybody is putting on.

MC: It’s okay Grushia, even if Lance won’t accept you, I’ll ALWAYS accept you for who you are. I’m sure he’ll come around eventually…

Lance: Stop making me the villain here!

MC: Then say it.

Lance: Say what?

MC: “Grushia, that bow tie makes you look very cute and handsome!”

Lance: …

Everybody stares at Lance expectantly.

Lance: …

MC: Well?

Lance: I-I don’t think you look bad in that bow tie, Grushia.

Grushia whines, sounding disappointed as he returns his head to MC’s lap.

Lance: Wasn’t that good enough?

MC: Nope, you have to say it word for word.

Lance: Dragon’s teeth…

Lance curses under his breath before resigning himself to his fate.

Lance: Grushia, that bow tie makes you look v-very…cute and handsome…

Grushia: Arrooo!

Immediately perking up, Gruschia wags his tail happily and begins prancing around, proudly displaying his new accessory.

Lance acts exasperated as he shakes his head, but is unable to completely hide the smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

Robin: Come on Master Grushia, let’s go show all the others in the forest!

Grushia: Arroo!

MC and Lance watch as the two animals disappear into the forest.

MC: Oh my gosh!! I just remembered!

Lance: What?

MC: They had matching bow ties for people too!

Lance: …

MC: Darn, I should've bought it while I was there! I'll have to go back into town tomorrow and buy one…

MC: Just imagine, you and Grushia, wearing matching bow ties! Ahhh, that’d be SOO cu-

Lance: NO.

The End.

~~

If you enjoyed this story, please consider reblogging! It’s one of the best ways to show support for content creators since Tumblr doesn’t rely heavily on algorithms and things easily get lost in the tags.

You can check out other content that I’ve written/made by clicking here! 

[fang-and-feather]

Recovering my Star's Shine

Fandom: Star-Crossed Myth

Rating: Gen

Categories: F/M

Pairing: Zyglavis/OC

Words: 1231

Prompt(s): Starting with preparations way too early and "Okay, maybe I DO need help putting the star on top of the tree.", from the "’tis the season for love" content creation challenge hosted by @xxsycamore and @voltage-vixen

Summary: Zyglavis return to the mansion to find his girlfriend decorating the house for Christmas a little too early and he worries, both about her reason and her methods but does his best to help her through it.

(Fang and I planned to do at least three fics each for the challenge, one for each of our favorite otomes and the last one for a new one of our choice that we wanted to write for but hadn't the courage to yet. I don't know if we'll manage, though, but I'm glad I at least finished this one.)

Among all the things Zyglavis loved about his girlfriend, she was hardworking, efficient and many times thought ahead of things, but she could exaggerate these things.

That afternoon, in the beginning of July, when the god of Libra returned from the heavens, he found Rinka alone in the living room, atop a ladder, putting the finishing touches on the Christmas tree, the rest of the room already decorated.

“Zyglavis!” she called out when she saw him enter. “I wasn’t expecting you so early. When I arrived and found nobody home, I thought something had happened.”

Her smile was bright and genuine, but her eyes darted around, her posture was more lax than usual, especially for her precarious perch, and while she held to the ladder with one hand, as she stopped her task to talk to him, her other hand played with the little keychain dangling from her belt.

“There was an incident, but we already dealt with it. Is it not too early for Christmas?”

“Maybe,” Rinka returned her attention to the decorations and Zyglavis stepped closer when she bent dangerously to pick something from the box on the sofa, “but I received these earlier than expected, and they would be more of a clutter with the box in my apartment, and I already have a list of so many things to do in December, maybe a little of November too, and it’s not like these are getting in anyone’s way.”

She said it all in one breath and then let out a weary sigh.

They hadn't seen each other in a couple of weeks and it was obvious something happened during that time.

“Do you want help?” It would be easier to get her attention if they finished it, rather than trying to convince her to stop.

“It’s okay. I’ll finish this in a minute.” Rinka reached for another decoration from the almost empty box when her body swayed and she had to hold tighter with both hands to the ladder.

“You better step down from there.” It was an order, not a warning. Rinka would try to play it off otherwise.

“Fine.” Rinka conceded with a sigh, but as she took the first step when her foot slipped and Zyglavis had to catch her.

“Are you hurt?” He asked, debating where to set her on the ground or on the sofa.

“I’m fine, thanks to you. You don’t have to worry.”

“Of course I have to worry, because you seem to love to make me, too.” Zyglavis sighed, setting her down, a little relieved to see his girlfriend could stand on her own, but he still hugged her from behind, maybe afraid she would try to climb again if he let go. “Your sisters told me you were busy with work, but it is clear you haven’t been sleeping properly. And, on top of it, you decide to decorate the house for Christmas, months early, on your own. What is happening?”

The others would say he worried too much about her but, with Rinka, sometimes he had to, because she didn’t worry about herself.

“I’m really fine.” Zyglavis gave her a little room when she tried to get away, but Rinka only turned to face him and give him a kiss. “Give me a couple more days and I’ll start recovering.”

“A couple more days is when you will finish your recent work project? Is there anything I can help with?”

Rinka lowered her head, then closed her eyes tight and her body almost collapsed against him again. She sighed, then looked up at him.

“Maybe I DO need help to put the star on top of the tree.”

She was smiling again, but Zyglavis knew she was trying to hide something.

“Right, but afterward you will rest for the rest of the day.”

“Zyglavis! You know I…”

“I’ll accept no complaints. I won’t ask what you are hiding for now, but you will do as I say. Do you understand?”

He didn’t like having to be this forceful with his girlfriend, but sometimes that was the only way to protect her.

“Fine. I understand.”

She looked down again, and Zyglavis caressed her cheek, making her look up again.

“I am only worried about your health. Work or not, you shouldn’t push yourself so hard. You have always been good at doing your work efficiently and taking care of yourself.”

“I know. It had nothing to do with work. I just had an awful week. The Christmas decorations cheer me up.” Rinka nuzzled his chest and Zyglavis hugged her tighter once again. A part of him wished they could stay like that, but not only it was obvious his girlfriend needed sleep, also someone could walk in at any moment. It was a surprise they hadn’t. “I’ll rest if you stay with me.”

His girlfriend’s voice was no more than a whisper, but there was a tremble in it. Such a sign of vulnerability was unlike her and only served to make him more worried.

“I will be by your side for as long as you need me.” Zyglavis kissed the top of her head and Rinka chuckled.

“So, about that star…”

There was an excited glint in her eyes when she looked at him again, that he smiled back.

“Here.” He picked it from the box and put it in her hand, Rinka’s expression switching for one of surprise and she turned to look back at the three. Then he held her tighter.

Almost immediately, she looked down and noticed what he had done.

Flying just high enough and holding her with a hand, he took the hand she was still holding the star on with the other and the two placed it on the three together.

“Thank you, Zyglavis. But that’s not how I was expecting you to help.”

“I know. But you are my beloved, and I would do anything to make sure you are happy and safe, so you can rely on me for anything.”

Back on the ground, he gently spun her around and kissed her.

“I would love nothing more than to keep you in my arms for the rest of the day but, right now you really need to rest.”

With an arm around her shoulders, Zyglavis started guiding Rinka to his room.

“But…” Zyglavis just stared at her and Rinka laughed instead. “Fine. But I’ll probably wake up in time for dinner, anyway. Can we continue after that?”

“If you are not having any more dizzy spells.”

Rinka nodded, but the movement made her flinch. He helped her the rest of the way and into the bed.

“Can I have at least a goodnight kiss?”

It was also a chaste kiss. Not enough for either of them, he knew, but it wasn’t time to tire her more.

“You can have more later if you at least stay quiet until dinner.”

“But you’ll stay by my side, right?”

There was a hint of fear in her eyes now, and Zyglavis held her hand.

“Always.”

And that was a promise. Zyglavis thought he understood a little better than what was haunting her. It was something in her mind rather than something concrete, something that his godly powers probably couldn’t do much about. But he would do the best possible and always be by her side, because he loved her more than anything.

[keikaru]

Navy Bird - Pirates in Love

Originally written in 2019. Edited in 2024.

This fandom may be dead, but I’m still here with content! During my FF.net days, lots of readers really wanted my OC from “Pirates in Reminisce Island” to end with Eduardo (and so do I). Dedicating this fic to my old PIL readers if you’re out there. <3

Synopsis: Mina is the daughter of a naval officer. She believes in the law and justice, but soon enough, she discovers corruption is rampant among officers. When she points out their amoral behavior, they turn their weapons on her. She injures one of them out of self-defense but is afraid of their retaliation on the priory. In a strange twist of fate, a member of the Sirius crew saves her, which leads her to reevaluate her beliefs about the pirates.  

(You can read this story without any knowledge of PIL.)

Navy Bird

I was raised to believe that navy officers were moral men driven by justice and chivalry.

So why did my hand grip a blade and turned it against men of virtue and righteousness? Officers who were meant to be defenders of the helpless, men who were meant to be incorruptible and deemed worthy of a medal pinned to their lapel…why was itI who raised a hand in defiance to their cruelty?

“You’ll pay for that you wretched whore!” One of the officers yelled, before turning his attention back to his wounded comrade.

I lowered my gaze to the injured man. His back was against the wall as he hunched over, hand pressed over the injury. A crimson stain flourished from underneath his palm, blotting his ivory uniform into a color that matched the wickedness in his heart.

Before the men reacted, I turned and fled from the dim alley. My boots hit the ground, and I heard my heartbeat thunder in my ears.

Adrenaline coursed through my veins as I ran into the night. Darkness found me, steadied me, and told me I would be safe if I kept moving.

I wanted to cry and spill the contents of my dinner onto the ground but was held back by my fear of being caught. My fate was tied to the morning sun, but I couldn’t abandon the priory. They took me in after my father died. The least I could do was warn them about the officer’s retaliation.

The priory would be set ablaze, that much I knew. At the very least, I could warn them about the officer’s retaliation and give them enough time to leave.

I bit my tongue. I held no love for the bastards that seized my town. I knew violence was wrong, but the pain the officer felt was less compared to my people.

Hot tears blurred my vision as I bolted blindly past a bar. A silhouette flickered ahead, and I narrowly avoided a well-dressed man.

“Lass, you’re—”

I skirted around him and hid myself in the dark.

Paranoia struck a powerful chord within me. Every voice and shadow that passed stirred a deep uneasiness inside my chest. To calm myself, I counted backwards from twenty.

When footsteps passed, I exhaled and set out again.

Up ahead, I saw the priory. All the windows were dark and curtained. I hurried along the abandoned road and prayed that someone heard the commotion and notified them to leave.

With every step I took toward the crumbling building, I realized the gravity of the situation. Where would the elderly and children go if the building burned? How would the prioress react? Will the officers harm them?

No. They only knew my face and my face alone. Everyone else was safe. I had to believe that.

As I approached the doorway, someone seized my arm. In that split second, I wondered if my blade would taste another man’s blood tonight.

I whirled around and without thinking, I brandished my blade.

When I met their eyes, it was a man.

The frown on his face was illuminated by the lantern he held. His pristine uniform signified his status in the navy.

Was he that bargoer?

As he stepped closer to me, he held a musket in his other hand. I blanched. How did he find me? Had he been trailing me? It was futile, but I lunged forward with my blade.

He sidestepped me and jabbed the musket at me. I dodged his attack, but the muzzle caught the frills of my blouse. As I scrambled to get away, he only grinned and threw me against the wooden door of the priory.

I cried out and dropped my blade as pain seared throughout my collarbone. He pressed the muzzle against my clavicle, and I gritted my teeth. My flimsy blouse was a thin layer against his cold, callous weapon.

I struggled, but he only pressed the weapon harder against me.

“If only you’d let us have our fun,” the man mused, bringing the lantern close to my face. I winced at the sudden brightness. “If it weren’t for your pretty face, this damned place would have burned down a long time ago. Funny how you’d sully yourself just to protect this shit hole of a home.”

The officer laughed, setting the lantern on the ground. He moved closer and stepped on the blade, preventing me from reaching it. With the musket still pressed to my body, he leaned forward and grabbed my chin, prying my mouth open with his thumb.

I held my gaze as he observed me, eyes raking down my torn blouse. I bristled with rage and kept quiet.  

He clicked his tongue in amusement and released my chin.

“Your father was an honorable officer. He died while defending his values, you know. A virtuous man until the end.” He reached up and brushed a stray strand of hair from my face. “It’s poetic the daughter will die the same way.”

Immediately, he struck me across the face. I gasped out in pain and cradled a hand to my cheek, blinking back tears.  

“I hate women like you.” He grabbed a fistful of my hair and forced me to look up. A scathing look mingled with disgust crossed his features. It unsettled me. “Educated, perceptive, and beautiful—pah. Women are creatures of obedience and ignorance. Not a single thought should cross that pretty little head of yours. Your father tainted you, spoiled you with the delights only a man should have.”

“My father wasn’t bound by tradition,” I spat out, twisting away from his grip. “He gifted me with knowledge because he knew I could stand as an equal in this world.”

The officer threw his head back and laughed. “Your father was a fool. His ideas of virtue and valor only made others laugh at him. He believed officers were the hand of justice in these unprecedented times.” He curled a hand around my neck but didn’t suffocate me—yet. I clawed at his gloved hand in vain as he pressed against my neck. “If he let us have our way, he wouldn’t have died, you know.”

“What are you trying to get at?” I demanded.

He slowly tightened his grip around my throat.

The officer smiled wickedly at me. “I killed him. The fool had it coming.”

The strength in my arms sapped as I stopped prying at his hands. I could only stare back in horror.

“…what?”

He was lying. I was told that my father died an honorable death—defending the townsfolk from a pirate invasion. This officer had to be lying. I had no reason to believe him. He was a lying, dishonorable cur through and through. He was goading me. Inciting rage.

But why? Why did he stare at me with those hateful eyes, filled with malice and the certainty that he did, in fact, murder my father?

“You—you bastard,” I managed out unevenly. My vision blurred as something warm rolled down my face. Something stirred within me—a rage boiled from the very depths of my heart.

Before I knew it, I ripped the musket from my blouse, string and fabric fluttering in the air. The officer took a step back, bewildered by my forcefulness. I couldn’t think properly, only blinded by pure anger I never knew laid dormant inside me. 

He hastily fired a shot but missed. The bullet lodged itself into the door behind me. I grabbed the blade from the ground and charged at him while tears rolled fresh down my face.

For tonight, I was not a killer. Only an agent of retribution.

He sidestepped my attack and swung the musket. I held up my right arm up and shielded myself from the blow. My arm screamed from pain when the musket collided, but I cared not. The man brought his weapon back and swung again—this time, in a wide arc.

I moved back but found myself cornered at the priory entrance.

He grinned, several feet away, and positioned the weapon over his shoulder, poised to fire.

By the time I threw the blade, he would have pulled the trigger. But if I hit his hand, his aim would falter, and I could escape. It was risky, but I was already a dead woman.

I accepted that I had no fate in the morning.

So I prayed. I prayed wherever I ended up, I hoped my father would forgive me for hurting another person.

The shot fired, and I fully expected to die. But the officer dropped his weapon and knelt.

“Arggh!”

From what I saw, his white pant leg was dyed crimson. I squinted and saw another figure in the dark, not too far from where we stood, brandishing his own gun.

“You’ve harassed the lass long enough.”

My savior stepped forward, but it was difficult to tell who he was. He donned an eyepatch and was dressed in dark colors.

Under the moonless sky, I sensed that he was familiar. 

Before thanking my savior, I turned to the officer on the ground. I took quick, short steps to the man. He groaned in pain and tried to reach for his weapon as I approached.

I kicked the musket far from his reach and before I knew it, I tackled him to the ground and hit him in the face. He cursed at me and called me derogatory names. No matter how many times he called me a bitch, wretch, or whore I hit him as hard as I could.

“I hope you rot in hell!” I screamed, as tears flowed freely down my face. “You took my father from me. You ruined my town. You smeared the name of navy officers and destroyed the foundation of justice and truth I believed in…! You…you’re nothing but…!”

The man below me continued to swear but stopped resisting. Finally, I dropped my hands. I huffed and glared at him, feeling exhaustion overtaking me. As I glanced at my knuckles, blood coated them.

“Kill me, why don’t you…? If it eases your pain.” He mocked, blood running down his nose. He spat out blood beside him and appeared smug. “Another will take my place even if you kill me. So do it, little lady. Do it because by tomorrow morning, you’ll be killed.”

I suddenly remembered my blade.

Wildly, I grabbed for it. Why did I ever set it down?

My emotions were strung high, scattered between grief, animosity, and rage. It was difficult to think clearly. But this man, this pathetic, rotten excuse of an official—I loathed him. I loathed him with every fiber of my being. I bristled with ferocity when I remembered the other corrupted officials who abandoned their duty and sunk deep into wickedness.   

I held the blade above my head. Time slowed. The officer below me only grinned. He welcomed it. He embraced death by my hands.

I could kill him. Kill him and avenge my father. Kill him, kill him, kill him, the voice echoed in my head. Tomorrow didn’t exist. Only in this moment did I have the chance to end his life like he ended my father’s.

But the hand that held the blade trembled. It wouldn’t budge.

Tears streamed down my face as I gazed at the man. He looked pitiful, bruised and reduced to a bloody pulp. He returned my stare. Do it, his eyes urged. Put me out of my misery.

Just then, a hand closed over my knuckles.

I glanced over my shoulder while his hand still clasped mine.  

“That’s enough, lass.” My savior’s voice was quiet, soothing.

He wore a long, ruddy colored coat lined with gold buttons. It looked luxurious and sturdy, so much more than I could ever afford. Suddenly, I forgot about the officer below me and realized my tattered attire. I held a hand to my chest to preserve what dignity I had left. My savior turned his eye away from mine and glanced at the bloodied officer instead.

“He won’t harm you anymore. Not in that state.”

I lowered my blade and numbly nodded my head.

My savior helped me to my feet and guided me away from the officer. The officer let out another string of curses, but he grew quiet as we left the priory.

I slid the blade back into my boot and secured it in its hidden sheath.

The man with the eyepatch led me somewhere quiet, and to where—I knew not. He spoke in a soothing tone, calming me from my grief-stricken state. Whatever he said, it was lost on me. I was glad that he spoke, speaking about nonsense to distract me from my dark thoughts.

He seemed very kind despite his sharp gaze. The man then offered me a tin flask and I realized it contained alcohol. Seldom did I touch alcohol, but I needed something to assuage my nerves. I drank it eagerly but slowed once the bitter flavor scorched down my throat. I coughed and wiped my mouth before handing back the flask.

He pocketed it and continued.

For a while, we walked in companionable silence. Nobody milled about, as many were fearful of the night patrols by the navy. But knowing the officers, they were most likely at bars or red districts.  

The cool air dried my tears, but my nose was colored red. I held my blouse close to my chest to preserve my modesty, but my right shoulder had a gaping hole. Frills and loose thread dangled everywhere, and if I had the materials, I would mend it later.

My thoughts whirled around as we walked, further from the light of the central district. The navy would hunt me down. Those living at the priory would have to leave. My town was already in shambles. And where was I supposed to go?

I looked ahead, seeing my savior’s back. I didn’t have a good look at his face, but he seemed oddly familiar. We never met in person, but I have seen him somewhere before. Perhaps in passing?

“Sir,” I quivered out. I was unsure if he heard me. He kept walking. “May I know your name? And, um, thank you.” I let out a shaky sigh. “For helping me. I am grateful.”

He paused so abruptly that I collided with his back.

“You’re welcome.”

I didn’t press further for his name, as I realized I haven’t introduced myself either. I found myself staring at his back as he continued walking. He had broad shoulders and moved with a confident stride.

I wonder why he saved me. Did he have his own motive? Or was it out of selflessness?

I halted.

He noticed I was no longer following him due to the absence of footfalls. He partly turned, craning his neck to look at me.

“What’re you doing, lass?” He sounded impatient. “If you don’t come along, they’ll find you.”

“Where are we going?” I asked quietly. My fingers gripped the fabric of my shirt. “At least tell me where we’re going. You have my gratitude, but you don’t fully have my trust.”

“You followed me this far and now you want an explanation?” He ran a hand through his dark hair, exasperated. “Talk about priorities. Fine—I’ll explain along the way. But first, we need to get you out of this town. You know they’ll be looking for you in the morning.”

“I know.” I began to walk again, following him. He moved, but with a sense of urgency this time. “They’ll have a bounty for my head soon. That much I’m aware.”

His strides were longer and faster than mines. I struggled to keep up.

“At the very least, my crew can drop you off at another port. You can start anew there,” he said this with finality, with no room for argument. “It’ll be difficult, but I believe you can manage. You have tenacity from what I’ve seen.”

I grew quiet again. Tears brimmed in my eyes as I thought about the events from earlier. My body ached, especially my right arm and collarbone. While I failed to see tomorrow, he was already planning my next course of action as if he was familiar with this life. Whatever this life meant. Things were moving too fast, but it was impossible to fight the pull of time. But how could he be so levelheaded in this situation? It was too much to handle. Some things sunk in, but other things didn’t.

I tipped my head back and looked up at the sky.

Above us, a few seagulls cawed and glided through the oil slick night. Stars shimmered, as if offering hope. What will tomorrow bring? I thought. What port town awaits me? As the man strode onwards, I spoke again.

“My name is Mina.” I fiddled with the loose threads of my blouse. With my free hand, I brushed the tears away. “My father was a virtuous naval officer, unlike those you just saw. And, um, my mother—she was a dancer. Both my parents died, so the priory took me in. I tried to stop the officers from taxing what little we have.”

He was quiet as he listened to my story. After a respectful pause, he spoke. “Eduardo. Just Eduardo is fine, lass. I don’t care much for formalities.”

“Ah.” I said flatly. “Eduardo. As in…Sirius?”

The name registered, but my reaction was mild. I was emotionally and physically exhausted from the events before and wasn’t as shocked as I thought I would be. Normally, fear would have gripped me, but I felt hollow. Today was already a strange day, only making room for stranger events and stranger people.

“I’ve heard the awful rumors, but I can’t believe them. Not after today because you saved my life.” I shook my head and laughed weakly. Eduardo looked at me as if I lost a few screws. Of course, there was nothing to laugh about. But I found it absurd all the same.

“You’re a member of the Sirius crew,” I mumbled, trying to make sense of everything, “pirates have saved me from the navy. Who would have thought? But isn’t the navy supposed to protect its citizens? So why—” I balled my fists, my voice rising out of confusion and anger— “why were they abusing their authority and burdening the townsfolk? Why do they exploit the weak and tax the church? Aren’t they supposed to protect? To uphold the law? Then why, why did they abandon their duty? To whom am I supposed to turn to when I need justice?”

I was frustrated beyond measure. It didn’t make sense. Officers were supposed to be paragons of goodness. Pirates were supposed to be bad. But reality was never that simple.  

My tears were relentless. Every being of my body shook as I thought of my father—the only good man among the corrupted. There had to be others, but they were so little and few in between.

“All my life, I grew up believing the navy officers were good men. But now I could see that I was blind. I fooled myself, making excuses whenever the officers committed any wrongdoings. I was blind, wasn’t I? So willfully ignorant. I looked away because I didn’t want to believe it. But no,” I spat out bitterly, my vision blurring. “Not anymore. I won’t make up excuses for them any longer. I won’t turn away. And to think…to think that the infamous Sirius pirates would save me instead. I don’t know what to believe anymore.”

“Then don’t,” Eduardo murmured quietly. “Your whole belief system built over the years just shattered in an instant. Anyone would breakdown.”

“So what do I do now?”

My legs gave out and my knees hit the ground. I pounded the ground with my balled-up fist. Desperation overwhelmed me as I tried to search for an answer. Anything to guide me in the right direction. Anything to latch onto, knowing what I believed in, has betrayed me.

I would have to start anew—a new name, new town, a fresh start. But what about everything I’ve known here? This measly port town was the only one I knew. I knew nothing of the world beyond where my feet could take me. I didn’t even say goodbye to the ones I loved and cared for at the priory.

“How am I supposed to forget this?” I sobbed, cradling my injured hand to my chest. “This is the only life I’ve known. I can’t leave it behind so easily.”

He didn’t look at me, only up at the sky. “Some turn to religion for comfort. Some learn to move on. As for you,” he fully turned, his coat billowed in the wind as he faced me. “That’s up to you to figure out, lass. But at the very least—”

With the backdrop of stars and an air of solemnity surrounding him, Eduardo knelt in front of me.

“Come with me, Mina,” he said calmly. I couldn’t help but believe in his words like scripture. “I can guarantee your safety.”

[oh-tome]

[stopitmeg]

OH

MY

GOD

!!!

[blood-moon-night-coining]

Project Voltage

Bug Type Miku Kin

[PT: Project Voltage | Bug Type Miku Kin]

A flag for those who are (other)kin of the Bug type trainer Miku!

[ID: none yet]

[Tagging] @radiomogai, @liom-archive, @kin-flags, and @accessmogai

[Master list] for more project voltage kin flags, look here(link)!

[Flag Temp] Link

[drama-glob]

Cutscenes #29

Breakout Stars

“What is it, Mama?” Juniper inquired, sitting up too in curiosity.

“I’m not sure darling,” Barb responded with a slight head tilt, now sliding off her mattress to stand up. It was then that she heard something like a gasp and a low thud, making her and her daughter stay still as they waited and stared outside their cell to see what happened next. A moment later, the sound of shuffling and footsteps came as an unknown figure came into view.

“Oh good, you’re still awake. I was worried I’d have to be rude and wake you,” the intruder in disguised charmingly spoke, flashing a pleased smile. The two women looked at each other, then back at the man just outside their cell; they continued to watch as they saw him grab the bars and easily swing it open, much to their amazement. Chris then stepped in and quietly showed that he had their outfits before informing the dancers, “These will be returned to you shortly once we’re free of this place. Congratulations ladies. I’ve been tasked by my boss to present you with an extraordinary opportunity at freedom and potential employment, but we must move on now or else their will be…undesired consequences.” His tone was polite and enticing enough, but the underlying threat of trouble, either from the guards or this man’s boss they weren’t sure and that was enough to make them go with him.

Here’s the link for AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/37997185

[sterkeyra]

Momo's reaction to

Tsugaru vs MC

When I first got to know Momo I thought I probably won't like him. I thought Tsugaru lack in taste wasn't just limited to food, but that he's also bad at judging people.

How could Momo be considered cute, or even be compared to a mini poodle? Especially if all he does is snark and grumble. After some stories later I can fully understand! His thoughts can be quite cute and he is ever so loyal! He definitely fears that Tsugaru might one day just disappear as he has no reason to live and his ambitions are to help Shirogane with his plans. I bet he directly searched the bridge when Tsugaru got slapped by MC because he was afraid Tsugaru might end his life. Momo has a lot of faith in Tsugaru but he must worry countlessly with all the risky stunts Tsugaru pulls. When Tsugaru gets reason with MC, it also adds the risk of losing it all and Momo does not know yet how to judge it. MC can both ruin it all by getting closer, but she might also be good for him. Either way, she's able to see a side of Tsugaru, that Momo could only dream of. No wonder he gets grumbly :D I am so very curious to find out more about Momos and Tsugarus past and what made him so faithful to begin with. I have plenty of ideas why already.