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thesharktanksdriver · 11 days

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The star above wano still shining (platonic)

Sorry for the long wait on another determination. I’ve had uni, my wisdom teeth being pulled and other things going on so life has been pretty hectic. I’m still working on the law and Corazon part but somehow wrote this in like 2 days. Sorry if some people are out of character, I haven’t yet made it to wano so I went off of mainly clips online and the one piece wiki. Also I haven’t written in awhile so I’m probably kinda rusty, so sorry for that lol

U guys get some crumbs of lore for waiting so long And As always everything is platonic.

Guess which character is my favourite based on how long their section is lol

Warning: child death, described gore, spoilers for wano, don’t read if you don’t want to be spoiled for some parts of wano. Read at your own risk

𝐓𝐚𝐠 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭: @peachsuka28 @emptynessinmyworld @badluckinfrench @j-s-l-m @tigerfang-rage @madokamagicaa @rymtea @angstylittleb1tch @badluckinfrench @emmbny @kenkenmaaa @yunho-leeknow @chibiduck

You once remember wano being a place of peace the first time you visited it all those years ago

Roger had went to the country to recruit Oden from Whitebeard and in those days you found yourself enjoying the beautiful island

It was a place you’d considered ever laying low in if the time came

And though it wasn’t a long stay there you had throughly enjoyed the land in which the sprawling greenery and light pink of Sakura created an indescribable beauty

It had been so long since you’d been there

So much so that you hadn’t realized you had woken up there once more

Wano was shrouded with an air of oppression upon the people you once saw flourish

Oden despite his short time on Roger’s ship had taught you alllt about the place he called home

And whatever happened here was certainly something that wouldn’t happen under his eye

So you go off to investigate yourself

Feeling yourself drawn somewhere you can’t quite place your finger on

Black Maria

For a long while you walked aimlessly within wano, sticking out like a sore thumb due to your clothing

While everyone else wears kimono’s or yukata’s your just in full on pirate gear

It isn’t exactly the best thing since it seems travellers here weren’t exactly common

So much so that you decided to try and stick to alleyways and quiet streets during the night

But even then the city was bustling, though it did still give a better opportunity to blend in

And it’s there sneaking through alleyways and criss-crossing from place to place you end up behind a brothel

The beautifully dressed women on break taking a look at you with lidded painted eyes that were quickly filled with worry

Bruises and scrapes covering your legs, unwashed hair with things stuck in it along with the clear clothes of a foreigner within the land where no one could leave of get in

The pretty women quickly drag you in the brothel, making sure to avoid occupied rooms and taking you to a spare one as they got to work on sprucing up your appearance

Even giving you a patterned yukata if your own

The hiding your old clothes away beneath the floorboards as they whisper amongst each other

And it’s then after they quickly finished a large blond woman enters through sliding shoji doors

Raging Anger appearing in her eyes before they land on you

A small child with bruises still on your small form and bandages that covered some of your cuts

Her anger disappeared as does the geisha woman who silently gives you a look “don’t tell her”

It is there you meet the woman Black Maria, the owner of this pleasure house and apart of the Beast pirates

You’ve heard of those pirates before, how people shuttered at just the name itself as if it were a curse

But as Maria gently looks you over, large hands examining your bruises with a gentle touch you can’t help but think you probably got lucky

Especially when seeing the initial anger that then bubbled away

Manicured nails making sure not to cause you more harm as she grazes over wounds

It’s there she asks where your parents were and you answer truthfully, that their long gone and it’s been you on your own

You didn’t think it was possible but her eyes softened more, a turquoise blue reminding you of precious jewels

She contemplates for a minute, then eyes then hardening a bit as she asks you if you’d like to work for her as a delivery/message bringer and you agree

Working under Maria is certainly an…odd position

Though you worked delivery for Sengoku at Marineford working for Maria is much different for you

Especially since the horned woman seems to coddle you

When she’s not entertaining customers or doing her work she often spends her time with you

Helping style your hair with ornate hairpins or picking out patterned kimono’s for you to wear

Fretting over your scraped knee’s as she chastises you in being more careful

Teaching you to play the shamisen and being proud when you pick it up with flying colours

Singing you to sleep on the nights you find yourself restless

She reminds you of a mother, maybe not your own but an extremely dotting one

But despite all this you still see some of her cruelty towards others

Though it’s not directed at you, you’ve sometimes run into her punishing others

Getting a sick glee from hearing screams and bones crack beneath flesh

It’s disturbing…especially when she does completely switches when your around

A distinct contrast from the motherly persona she puts on for you

Kissing your forehead good luck in the morning as you set out to deliver before then killing someone in cold blood just minutes later

In some ways it’s terrifying but by now on the sea you’d seen and met so many people that it’s lost its punch it might’ve when you initially set out

So you go off, delivering her letters and such to others in the beast pirates ranks

A golden hairpin of a spider crawling across a branch of flowers added to your obi to signify your protection and status as her messenger

When you come back to her personal residence she pats your head and then tells you to eat up the meal she’d had prepared specially for you

It’s nice, perhaps even a bit nostalgic for you

And after checking you over she sends you to bed in a renovated room she gave you that’s near her own

She says it’s more convenient that way, for you to be onsite and close for when she needs more deliveries

But she doesn’t tell you about how she checks on you in the night when your small cries while asleep can be quietly heard through the thin walls

Doesn’t say how she personally threatened the other commanders that if they lay a single hand on you she’d deal with them herself

Doesn’t admit how she itches with a sort of possessiveness in knowing you work for her when others begin to gain a curious interest in the small fearless child she now calls her own

She likes the gentle feeling of warmth you give her heart

Likes how she can find herself to be kind and caring with you

Enjoys the fact you value her company over business or pleasure

When you smile at her it’s genuine

And the woman who weaves webs decides that one day a new spider would take her place

Perhaps you’d take that role

But for now your her dutiful little messenger

A cute little treasure she’d take good care of and nurture as if you were her own child

Because perhaps she considers you that

When a mother spider catches a brightly shining firefly in her web, she’s hardly content in letting it go after all

“Which would you like for today?” Black Maria questions as she holds out several folded up kimonos. Each look to be high quality, all with patterns and warm comfortable material to protect from the wano weather.

You look up towards her, tilting your head a bit in confusion. “Are you sure I need so many? I’m just your delivery-“

“Don’t be ridicules dear” she cuts you off, then placing a gentle hand on your head. Normally she’d ruffle it but she had already put in the effort of styling it and didn’t want to ruin her work. “You work for me. And I can’t have my precious little messenger underprepared for the weather. Besides, I have plenty spare kimono that are wasting away not being used.”

“I’ve survived with worse before. One time I was forced out in minus 10 weather while in nothing but shorts and a shirt”. That might’ve not have been the best thing you could’ve said cause her expression shifts to horror. “But it’s fine though!-“

She sighs, then lightly flicking your forehead. “Whoever did that to you better be dead or else.” She holds out the kimono again “no ifs, ands or buts. Now pick”. Under her fierce and loving gaze you choose one of the folded bundles, a dark blue kimono with the pattern of fireflies in a field is the one you decide on

Sasaki

You meet the green haired fishman when delivering a letter to him while he was drinking

It was right before your mandatory lunch break Maria practically forces you to have when hearing that you ran around all day without stopping

So after delivering the letter you decided to stay with the relatively laidback looking who invited you to join due to his curiosity

You find Sasaki to be a relatively odd figure, not only for his relatively lax demeanour but also his burning ambition

He wants to become an All-Star within the beast pirates ranks by defeating one and taking their place

As does his colleague Who’s-Who

To be honest you haven’t really cared to learn the hierarchy of this crew

All you knew is that it seemed like these “All-stars” were the highest on the chain besides their captain Kaido

Speaking of which, Sasaki talks about him quite a bit while sipping his sake

The clear alcoholic liquid being chugged as if it were water

Sasaki holds him in a high regard, but for others on the crew…not so much

Sure, there were a few that had earned his respect for them but in others he seemed to find them too haughty

Luckily for you it seems you’ve gotten on his good side

his easygoing and your calm mix well together, a laid back charm between the two of you despite being very different in other regards

It’s due to this that on your breaks the green haired man seeks you out

At first it’s the occasional asking if you’d like to join him for some food as you start your break

But later devolves into practically kidnapping you to join him and his subordinates to party

Typically at parties adults aren’t too keen on letting you sneak some alcohol but the fishman either doesn’t care or thinks it’s funny until Black Maria and more responsible adults are on his ass about it

Speaking of which, Maria can’t help but be a little exasperated that of all people it had to be Sasaki who was the first to get attached to you

Something he rubs in the face of others later on

And uses as a sort of leverage? Your not really sure how that happened but he’s definitely holding that above Who’s-Who and Ulti as if it were a gift from the gods

But either way you find him to be fun, especially when asking him about his devil fruit or his time as his own pirate crew

Both things he talks about in high regard

While on the sea you’d actually heard about his crew, and though you’d never met them it does pique your interest

Especially since how can someone as prideful as Sasaki go from being a captain of his own crew to being an underling to another?

It’s odd

But something kinda intriguing since something like that happens very rarely

Since typically the captain is killed

But instead Sasaki was able to rise in the ranks

He’s not at the top like he wants but it would be somewhat naive to say he isn’t powerful or lucky in his own regard

His devil fruit also interests you cause….dinosaurs!!!

You’d got to see some firsthand on your couple of times waking up on little garden (and then being quickly eaten by said dinosaurs if Dorry and Brogy weren’t there)

But getting to see one that doesn’t actively try to kill you is super cool

Especially since you get to examine without being stomped like a pancake

Sasaki seems to take pride in how amazed you look, especially when you start spewing out Triceratops facts

Some from first hand experience like “did you know they have the capacity to tear off your head if the wanted too-“ and “their hardened skin allows for defence against other predators!”

To be honest after a long while of using his devil fruit the amazement effect of it had worn off

So having someone fawn over it is kinda nice

Sasaki feels appreciated by you, like he’s being listened to when he goes off on a partially drunken regal of his pirates days

And in a similar fashion Sasaki listens to you

For a unassuming kid you talk as if a library of knowledge was directly in your head

Along with that you seem to throw safety to the wind like the time you almost got into an arm wrestling contest with Ulti before he had to drag you away

Because who in their right mind would do that when she for sure would somehow accidentally kill you

You have guts for sure, something he definitely respects

But also leaves him worried shitless because what’s next? King have a tea party with you or something?!

Him and Who’s-Who made bets about whether that would happen or not and he has his good booze on the line if you somehow make that happen

And he prays that won’t happen for not only the sake of his booze and his own sanity

“Oi kid! Wanna join for some lunch?”

“I have one more letter to deliver-“ before you can finish the horned man picks you up by the scruff of your kimono giving a laugh.

“Eh don’t sweat it. I can send someone to do it for you after. You’ve been on your feet all day, you need a break”

Who’s-Who

Similarly to Sasaki, Who’s-Who is a relatively odd but interestingly determined figure

You had delivered stuff to him a few times but actually get to know him through Sasaki’s forced lunch breaks

He’s stone faced at first

But over time you see the chipping away of his somewhat serious disposition

Especially when people seemingly get on his nerves and his anger flares up

He has…quite the barrage of insults, so much so that the typically loose mouthed Sasaki covers your ears

But to be honest you’d probably heard worse with your years on the sea

Anywho (hah) you listen to a lot of his rants about his backstory

Specifically something to do with CP9? It was something government and marine related

Sounded vaguely familiar but to be honest you typically forget about the specifics of most things and people after a certain amount of time

So you just nod along as he keeps going off

Until he starts getting into stuff about history that’s blatantly wrong

Specifically about fishmen

So you correct him and that ends up in a landslide of rebutting his points with hard facts

And in that verbal exchange despite his biting tone you keep calm and explain what was wrong

And seemingly because you stood your ground he gained a liking for you?

Your not sure how but you guessed he thought you’d be a pushover (it depends on the situation)

But for a kid who’s job was being a messenger you seemingly proved yourself to him in some weird convoluted way

Though that might’ve also been because you answered some of his questions about some myths he had been interested in

The sun god and the star god

Apparently he’d heard about the two while in jail, the stories giving him hope of one day being free and having the power to achieve his goals

Two enigmatic beings that surpassed even you in how old they were

Two shining beacons acting as hope for the hopeless and shackled down

Giving people the power to rebel and achieve their dreams

Even you hadn’t heard too much about the two, just odd myths here and there

But with what you did have seemed to satisfy the pink haired man

But that brought up the question of how you knew those myths

Something you don’t really reveal and just write off as “heard it somewhere”

But at this point Who’s-Who didn’t care enough to question it

Let alone try and get you into trouble when you’ve been one of the only people to actually be able to give him more information

So he’s satisfied

At least for now

Sometimes you run into him on your way to deliver things and he joins you for a bit of the way if he has nothing to do

You slow down a bit to a brisk walk as he leisurely follows suit

Conversation following quickly after on a wide variety of topics

He’ll be damned to admit it but your way too good of a kid to be stuck here

Let alone be kinda working for the beast pirates considering their reputation

But he supposes that every has their reasons

And it doesn’t seem like you’d be able to leave anytime soon considering Maria practically dotes on you like your her own flesh and blood

But he won’t say that aloud

Not when the blond woman would throttle him

And you’d probably look at him all confused

For such a mature kid your still pretty naive and clueless in some departments

I mean come on! Do you not see how the scariest woman on the damn island is basically wrapped around your finger

She almost attacked Sasaki for sneaking you some sake and it was only because of you politely asking her not that she didn’t

He’s definitely partially convinced you have some sort of friendship devil fruit or something

That thought is only becoming more prominent when you somehow befriend Ulti

“So you and Sasaki want to become an “All-Star” right? How does that work?”

“Either Kaido elects you himself or you prove yourself by defeating an All-Star and taking their place”

You nod, then asking “so who do you wanna beat?”

He smiles “doesn’t matter, as long as I become an All-Star is the goal”

Ulti

The cutesy and hot tempered young lady is one you run into by accident since Maria didn’t trust that she wouldn’t blow a fuse somehow if you had to deliver a letter to her

But nether the less you both meet

And seemingly like Black Maria she finds you to be cute

Which means you have less of a chance to be victim to being attacked by her unless you reallly provoked her somehow

But luckily you haven’t! Especially when you can see subtly gestures as to when she gets irritated

She gets volatile pretty quick but it’s just as easy to be able to calm her down when you call her “lady Ulti”

She seems to like the idea of being a polite lady of high society and maturity

So much so that when she’s not angry she tries to fit this image

And she also seems to like cutsy girlish things

Both of which you indulge her in which gets you in her good graces much to everyone’s shock and amazement

To be honest you don’t really get the deal? This might be you just being desensitized to this kinda stuff but she’s honestly not to hard to deal with

Calling her “lady Ulti” or buying her a few cute charms with some of the money Black Maria gives you seems to placate her anger in most instances

Something that others seem to be thankful for

Though she’s a fierce-some pirate with a temper she also enjoys some of the more simple things in life

She likes to have tea parties with you and do mundane things like shopping or having her hair braided

Perhaps due to being the older sister and caretaker to her brother after their father died she hadn’t had much a childhood to experience such things

Not that you mind, you can’t even really remember your childhood before taking to the sea

Your parents faces blurred and distorted, voices lost like whispers in the wind, their warm hugs dissipated into cold nothingness

So you enjoy your time with her, reliving a time of innocent happiness just as she does

She gets a bit over excited at times not realizing her strength like the time she almost crushed your spine in a hug

But she slowly begins to realize how in comparison your much more fragile than her and others around her

Page one definitely helps her with this quite a bit, especially considering she was like this when they were kids and back then she also had to regulate her strength around people (aka him with her death hugs)

Speaking of her brother she actually pretty happy she’s found a friend?

He’s not really sure how it happened but he’s genuinely happy for her, (also cause she doesn’t cling to him as much, she still does occasionally but now your her main target lol)

She acts a lot like how a sister would

Though she’s sometimes bratty she’s still caring and mischievous in a fun way

Often dragging you away to play games or browse through the shops nearby

It’s honestly pretty nice (when she’s not angry)

But with this comes some genuine moments with her

After their dad died Kaido had taken her and Page one in

As the eldest she decided she needed to step up

And while she did do that she felt like she lost time in enjoying her childhood, of spending time with her brother and forming genuine connections

Being in the beast pirates is a constant power struggle

People always trying to climb to the top no matter the cost

She’s lost a portion of herself in establishing stability for both herself and Page one

Now trying to make up for it even if he saw her clingy affection as annoying

Because at heart she does care

She cares a lot about the few who’ve made the effort to see her

And even if she snaps like a twig when things don’t go her way she doesn’t really mean to

It’s just how she reacts and she can’t really hone it back despite her attempts to do so

But you see that when others don’t

And she deeply appreciates it in her own way

So when she barges in and takes you shopping it’s her trying to show how she appreciates the efforts

Or when she picks you up and sits you atop her shoulder so you can see above the crowd and not get lost

Black Maria is certainly in for a surprise when she finds the two of you having a tea party but decidedly joins in

It’s odd seeing Ulti so happy without snapping in the span of a few minutes but Maria is pleasantly impressed

Though she does get a bit annoyed when Ulti then starts hounding her to send more letters so she has more excuses to play Hanafuda with you (you let her win each time)

Everyone seems to pity your eardrums for when she squeals in joy

“Hey lady Ulti, do you wanna get matching Omamori charms?” You say holding up two of the small luck charms, she turns to you eyes widening with delight.

“Kya!! Really!”

“Sure, it’s why I asked”

Yamato

You met Yamato completely by accident not knowing who he was or why he was in the walls

But at this point you don’t question anything as he freezes in place and you just ask “yo…are you alright? Should I go orrrrr?” In which shakes his head

And then you leave

But then a few days later he finds you while on your way back to Black Maria’s

In which he talks to you

In many ways you find Yamato to be aspiring as you feel his determination burn brightly and strong

He’s faced adversity yet he stands tall admits it all

And….well seeing him idolize Oden and even pick up his mannerism is kinda oddly comforting to you

It must have been years (how many exactly you don’t know) since you last saw Oden but it feels like yesterday

You remember talking with him on the Jolly Roger

Remember him regaling proudly of his homeland and of the Whitebeard pirates who welcomed him aboard

Remember his goodbye to the Roger crew and his joyous hug before stepping off the ship into what now feels like a shadow of what used to be his home

And now your faced with someone who acts like him

Oden was a friend who felt like an old one despite how little time he truly spent with you

And as quickly as he came into your life he was gone like many others you’d met, and all the same it stings and burns like acid

You’d never met his family like he promised

Never had that giant feast he promised Shanks, Buggy and you when you’d all visit

Never got to fulfil in fully raising Momonosuke

Never had the chance in fulfilling his life before his spark was snuffed out

But as you talk more with the young prince you see that while he isn’t Oden himself it certainly feels like in some sense your talking a bit to Oden again

Seeing how Yamato seemingly fights against his father

Against all those you’d somehow come to know while technically working for the beast pirates is inspiring

Especially considering how strong they all are

You didn’t need to see them fight to know how powerful even non All-Stars were

I mean, Kaido wouldn’t be named an “emperor” of the sea and was able to conquer a nation if he wasn’t a powerhouse

Yet Yamato keeps fighting

Because Yamato wouldn’t back down…no he couldn’t back down

Just like Oden wouldn’t

You have to sneak out to hang out with the red horned prince but no one really bats an eye

Not when they just assume your being a kid

So at night Yamato and you hang out

And you tell him your experiences with Oden yourself

And much to your surprise he believes you

He believe you wholeheartedly so much so that it makes you confused

Until he pulls out an old book, partially withered by age yet loved and cared for to keep its contents in surviving longer

And in that book in which Oden wrote while on the high sea with the likes of Whitebeard and Roger

He mentioned a young sailor child that was on Roger’s ship, one he nicknamed within the book as “Chīsana hoshi”

Little star

An affectionate nickname the Daimyo would give to you

The mysterious child whom told stories of the stars and of tales untold

One with what felt like great burning stars in their eyes and wormed their way into the hearts of many

One that sang with the sea and knew secrets untold

To be honest you’d be more touched by the sentiment if Oden didn’t tact on to the end a stick figure drawing of you

Cause wow….for someone who was well educated and wrote so eloquently he really just outed you with a stick figure

Speaking of which, you’d gone years without there being proper photos or drawings of you to escape the world governments attention

But it’s a stick figure

A god damn stick figure

You can’t tell if your upset or kinda impressed

Either way it’s safe to say that Yamato hounds you with questions

But you can’t say you don’t enjoy it as it refreshes your memory a bit

Something you never mind especially when you find yourself remembering details your quickly forgetting over the years

And Yamato seems to notice this as you go blank for a few seconds trying to remember

The slow look of horror as you find yourself not being able to recall some moments

Some things completely lost to the static of your mind and time

And the ecstatic enthusiasm faded from Yamato seeing how broken down the more you try to recall

And realizing you can’t

So he instead shifts the topic

Talking about his yearning for freedom

Anything to take your mind off remembering

And it doesn’t work until he mentions a catalyst to this

Ace

“Ace…as in Portgas Ace?” You question warily watching as Yamato’s expression lights up. He practically springs up, taking out a small piece of paper you recognize as a vivre card

“You know him!” He exclaims excitedly.

“Yeah i helped raise him” you say pulling out the small sun charm as Yamato’s eyes widen in surprise.

“WHAT?!?”

King

Once more you meet him via deliveries but Maria gives you a fair warning about him

Announce your presence and do not go in without his permission lest you end up as ash pile on the ground

Fun

Though probably not one of the worst ways to die

You’d know that personally

But anyways you end up where his office should be

Never going this far into the fortress before now

To be honest the layout was a bit confusing but you made your way after asking a few passerby’s for directions

Them then giving you pitied stares as you go on your way

This guy can’t be that bad right?

And then arrive at the office announcing yourself with mail for him from Miss Black Maria

Keeping the honourifics just in case

For a moment there’s silence and then you hear movement

And the squeaking of something?

Why was there squeaking? Was he in leather pants or something-

And then the shoji doors open

And wow…..you didn’t expect that

Is he in…did you interrupt him or something???!??!

Your staring at this leather wearing head to toe dude with spikes and shit and- did he have a live flame in his back??

Yeah…this is weird even for you and that’s saying something

You hand him the letter and quickly scurry off

Not noticing the flame above him shining a bit brighter than usual

But he does

That’s Odd? Is what he notes to himself

When you deliver to him again it’s relatively the same routine as last time

Though you notice he pays closer attention

Watches your uncomfortable expression as you wait for him to take the letter and let you leave already

And when he does you scurry off again

For some reason though it happens again

His plume burning brighter than it usually would, an almost golden yellow colour rather than the typically orange and red he was used to

That hadn’t happened before

And now looking at it again did the fire begins to change shape?

But that….no he muses to himself that can’t be

It sounds vaguely familiar to something he once heard before the testing and before he lost his homeland

A legend whispered as comfort from a mother he can’t remember in his sleep

Something about a star and its burning flames

But king shakes his head

He’s suspicious but he doesn’t have much to go off now especially since the legends of his people are mostly lost

Besides not even he can remember the myths of his home

Barely old enough to even walk before being stripped of it and shipped off by the world government for testing

He wouldn’t be able remember much let alone remember it actively

Let alone know about a god they used to worship when barely anything is known of them compared to that of Joyboy

Plus your just some kid Maria took pity on, one that a few of the others seemed to have also taken a liking to

Nothing more and nothing less

But something deep in him told him the opposite

Like a small lick of a flame from a candle in the dark

A quiet glow in the sea of shadows

Faint and minuscule but there

Like a single star in the midnight sky, there shining but small and alone

…or at least that’s what this emotional constipated bird man says at first

Because you had apparently survived your delivery to King without being turned to ash has led to other messages being sent through Maria to you to him

Maria was enraged at first but you somehow talked her into it along with the fact that she gets more profit by charging for this service

Soo…. You end up meeting the learning wearing giant of a man

And somehow make conversation with him

To be honest not even he’s sure how it happened

It just did

Cause he asked about how your parents felt about this and it went into a long discussion with you

Specifically about how

A) their dead

B) you don’t remember them

And C) it’s been so long on your own you didn’t even remember where your home was

All of which he understands more than anyone else

To be honest that small question opened a floodgate in him he didn’t expect nor want

But either way it was opened and he couldn’t close it

Because every time he looks at you now he sees himself

Eyes that have seen too much for their age

Eyes that used to be wide and full of wonder reduced to that of tired ones

But unlike him at that age you don’t have the resenting anger he did

To be fair he perhaps had more to be angry about yet it also leaves him confused

How did you turn out the way you did despite it all?

A child who ended up in one of the worse environments possible yet thrives

A child who befriended or got on the good sides of notorious criminals and killers

A child despite seemingly loosing everything still keeping the spark to still find happiness

He sees in which you enjoy the rain despite the cold chill it leaves and the threat of sickness

Watches as you feed your packed bento from Maria’s cooks to a murder of crows even when your stomach grumbles

Observes while you keep strumming a guitar or keep walking even when your feet or fingers bleed

In a lot of ways your like him yet also the complete opposite

And it leaves him confused

And makes him watch

And-

“You don’t have to watch from the shadows you know?” You say not looking up from feeding your crow as he perches on your outstretched finger. You sit on the edge of the railing of a balcony, dangerously close to falling with a simple breeze “I don’t mind the company”

“You noticed me?” The lunarian man mumbles walking out from the doorway and stands by the rail as you continue to feed the bird. He watches the small winged creature, it caws in curiosity at his arrival and tilts its head curiously at the sight of his similar wings.

“You’re not too hard to notice to be fair….but it was your flame that sounded me off. It’s subtle but it’s there” you turn to look at him, petting the feathered little friend. “You notice that kinda thing after a while of being on your own. Even the smallest shift in the wind can alert your mind, giving the hope that someone else was there…but I get the feeling you know that already”

“I do”

A smile appears across your face. “Great minds think alike” your tone is somewhat joyous yet he hears a somewhat sad edge “don’t they Reggie?”

“Reggie? Is that the bird?”

“Yep, raised him and the flock myself!”

“You…raised them all?” Red eyes look out to nearby tree’s, at least 40 beady eyes stare out at him.

“Found them half dead after some villagers tried to kill them. Bad luck or whatever, but sounds like whack superstitions to me” you hold out Reggie to him (leaving out that these were the descendants of those same birds) “wanna hold him?”

King reluctantly takes the bird, the small gentle creature hopping onto his finger. It reacts….positively to him? Much to his surprise. King goes silent for a few moments, watching the midnight feathered bird then rubs its head against him. “I’m confused about you”

“Oh?”

“How are you the way are despite everything?” It’s a broad question “aren’t you angry at the world?”

You give a laugh “of course I’m angry. It took a long time to realize I was, so much had happened to me” you go a bit quiet at the last part but suddenly perk up again as you add “but I’ve met so many good people, seen so many beautiful things. And maybe…just maybe that makes me more content than it does angry. Don’t get me wrong, I still get upset but I have people there for me, some kinda healthy ways to deal with it I guess”

Reggie nudges king as the All-Star goes a bit quiet watching as you then stand on the balcony railing. He quirks an eyebrow beneath his mask, what are you doing-

“Wanna see something cool?” Before he can answer you raise out your arms leaning back dangerously, things practically go in slow motion for him as he races to grab you before you can do your trick

“WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?!?, do you have a death wish or something?!?”

“death isn’t that bad? There are worse things than death, believe me. But I was gonna-“ dear gods if he didn’t have white hair already then it would be after that

After that king for some reason keeps thinking about that moment

More specifically your mindset of death

And what the fuck have been through?

But he’s not wondering that in concern of course (definitely not)

More-so curiosity and how it could benefit Kaido (of course)

So he keeps thinking about it

And you

And ends up worrying that you’ll do something stupid again so he goes to find you

And make sure you didn’t do something stupid again that killed you

And wondering if you know how many near misses with death you have on a daily basis

So he goes back to watching silently

And…then joining you when you point out you know he’s there

And it’s not his fault that you seem to ease up to his company

And that you aren’t as annoying as his colleagues (when your not doing near death stupid shit)

And-

Oh fuuuuuuuuuuuuck

He quite literally goes through the 5 stages of grief

First is denial, of course he didn’t care for you

You were just some kid Maria employed and it was just more convenient to make sure you stayed alive- oi why the fuck is queen trying to drag you on stage for his stupid concert

Second is anger, and he’s unsure if he’s angry at you, himself or the situation because honestly how could he possibly somehow get attached to a kid of all things?! Let alone a weird one that seemingly relates to….him and loosing a home he doesn’t remember

Third is bargaining, no! He’s in control here! He’s can just stop talking with you and stop worrying….wait didn’t you just say you were gonna go out in the beast infested forest

Fourth is depression, because oh god he’s attached. The literal only other person he’s attached to is Kaido for obvious reasons. He didn’t think he needed other attachments to others but now he cares and god does it suck when you a god damn extrovert who’s also a magnet for trouble

And finally is acceptance, because he’s attached now god damn it and it’s simultaneous yours and (mostly) his problem

To be honest you don’t really mind at this point

Coming to enjoy his more quiet company after getting over his…odd attire (something which you now poke at him for)

Plus his wings and fire was cool

Oh! And his rad devil fruit too!!!

Dinosaurs were cool in general so it’s definitely an A+ in your books

Not gonna lie the dichotomy of chill sweet kid that everyone has a soft spot for and literally the scariest dude out there is one you find hilarious

Especially after you walked past a confused Sasaki who got a “yo” from you and a death glare from king

It definitely causes heads to turn while king doesn’t care you just find it funny as hell

You find him to be like…a scary big brother

Sure, he rolls his eyes sometimes at your jokes but you know he cares in his own ways when he stopes you from falling down another flight of stairs Cora-style

He seems to express this by just being around you, listening and protecting you

It’s nice

And also gives you the warning that he’s more attentive than most others

Honestly he seems to have a sixth sense for when you try and hide yet another scrape or cut

Like you could have the smallest splatter of mud on your kimono and he’s already figured out you fell earlier

and then calling you an idiot before dragging you to the nearest doctor employed by his crew

It’s honestly impressive and a bit worrying

So you definitely are careful about some of the things you say

But you still tell him stories

Regal your woes of adventures but frame them as being on Wano

And he listens to them all the same

Soaking up your words

One day you give to him a charm fashioned of moonstones, a small piece of gold you carved into a small star,and spare feathers of your crows whom had come to immediately love him (especially perching on his shoulders for warmth)

And in return he give you one of his feathers, one freshly plucked from his wing that you later turn into an earring

What you don’t know is that of the little things he’s remembered of his home is that the gift you gave him was something akin to a lunarian’s gift towards a close friend

He knows at this point with his flame still turning a bright gold and changing shape it can’t be coincidence

But for now he leaves it be

That can be answered later

Especially when for once King feels like Alber again

A lone boy who lost his home who yearned to find someone like him

And though he didn’t find another Lunarian he found someone else instead

But that was fine for him

“This may be a weird question, but do you ever wish you could fly high enough to touch the stars?” You asked one night looking up towards a brightly shining night sky.

Alber looks up for a moment wings involuntarily flexing at the thought of it “it’s all I ever wanted”. It had been a dream of his ever since he had been locked away and prodded at, to fly so high to the stars that would comfort him with their warmth compared to his barely flickering flame. To let a god whose name he can’t remember hear his prayers.

You both share this silent moment both realizing something about the other

For you it’s how his flame shines a light gold, dancing as they formed a familiar four pointed star you’d yet to forget

While for him it’s the fact that for a moment he sees in the depths of yours eyes the brightest star in the sky that used to reside over his home

Queen

Once more you get a warning from Black Maria about him and you think it can’t possibly be more weird than king

You walk in on this dude having a full on concert whilst the crowd of beast pirates roar in cheers for him

Somehow you begin to believe that maybe Kaido hires the most insane weirdo’s out there

Like Roger literally sometimes found random people on the street and asked them to join

But this, this is a new level of finding people

He also gives you kinda off vibes

So you stay clear, handing the note to one of his men and asking forgot it to be delivered when his performance was done

Dodged a bullet there

Though you would admit his song was kinda catchy

…separate the art from the artist? Nah, he probably did some war crimes or worse

Next time your not so lucky though

Catching him just before his concert as apparently one of the lead guitarist flunked out due to being too hungover

Queen, not being to keen to really talk to anyone because this would fuck up his concert and he was very very fucking upset over that

Like borderline really dramatically upset about it

I mean, you guess you can’t blame him but still

He was taking it a bit far by throwing someone against the wall though

You’d rather not start a civil war if Black Maria heard he accidentally squished you like a stress toy so you step up instead

Taking the lone guitar held up by a relatively scared pirate and take a Quick Look at the sheet to memorize it after a minute or two

Looks like your deliveries would be on a bit of a pause until this was done

You just thank whatever gods there are that Maria is a forgiving boss (to you at least) and that over your many years alone on the barren sea you picked up just about every instrument you could and mastered them (partially to pass time and keep sane)

Though this was also partially due to Brook and the Rumbar pirates

Turning to the still scared shitless assistant yelling at him to tell you what you need to play

Which seemingly gets the attention of the large blond who was now looking down at your curiously

Picking you up by the scruff (why did everyone do that and why was everyone so damn tall here???) to get a proper look at you

Inquisitively trying to figure out just exactly who you were before seeing the hairpin Maria gave you

But then that brings up new questions

Ones he’s about to ask before you tell him that you’d fill in for the first half of the show as long as he’d get someone for the second half and take the mail you have for him

He quirks a brow asking if your any good

And just say that your rusty but good enough to get the job done

With that he puts you down, somewhat relived that at least you’d be somewhat competent

And with that the crowd keeps cheering waiting for him to come on stage

You tie up the sleeves of your kimono for more movement and ready your hand movements

It’s been awhile since you played guitar or even a bass but it would have to do

You would always prefer you ukulele anyways but you were decent with other instruments

So with that you enter the stage via a staircase up and through a side door

Just before queen is literally launched on stage

And then you begin as the crowd goes wild

Typically when you’d play you were by yourself so you could never really gauge how good you were

Like sure, you could sometimes see your progress but in other times it all sounded and played the same

In a sense it was lonely but filling at the same time

You were always a solo, yet it filled the sound of the quiet waves and relative silence you’d normally experience

A silence that sometimes became chilling as you laid there

Days to weeks on end

With no one

With nothing but memories

With nothing but your mind to fill it

It’s why you had found yourself taking to so many hobbies

If only to fill time and oblivion

You’d hands move on their own as you pick up on what was slowly lost to you

Becoming more complicated and impressive as you find yourself having fun with it

You even pull off a few tricks if only to make the show better

Might as well show off a little when you have people to show off too

Queen keeps singing as do the chorus of fans

Eh screw it

Lifting the guitar behind your head is more a challenge due to its weight rather than you playing it

You’d perfected the party trick after many many many attempts and practice

And after a moment of getting used to it again the muscle memory kicked in

The crowd goes wild and your not sure if it’s from Queen or your performance

Probably Queen

You close your eyes in concentration

It was easier that way when getting into the groove of it for you

Closing your eyes and concentrating

Just letting yourself play as the world around you faded out into a darkness that you’ve familiarized yourself with

Keep going even if your sweating buckets

Keep playing even if your things go numb and bleed

You dealt with worse

There was that time your hand was chopped off and you were left to die

To bleed out

You know the feeling Almost intimately

The pain

The drowsiness

The want for sleep

And then finish

Your hand strums down and the final cord rings out

You open your eyes and ears to the crowd silent for a moment

And staring at you

As does Queen and the others on the stage

Wow were you that bad-

Deafening cheers then ring out and you stand there looking around confused for a moment

Then spotting the new guitarist frozen and almost paper white, he must’ve been horrified at your performance

Hand him the guitar you pat his back

Giving him a small smile and a “break a leg out there” before rummaging through your pockets to hand Queen the letter

You look to the still cheering crowd and their hands already raised to catch you

Giving a peace sign to performers on stage and then you dive into the crowd

Letting them throw you into the air before catching you again multiple times, then eventually get you to the door

Not long later Queen tries to get you to sign a “music deal”?

Your not sure what that is but King quickly intercepted by kicking the door down and burning said paper

He’s still trying to get you to preform again

“If you think that was good, you should see my ukulele game. It’s my favourite” you say picking up the same guitar you preformed with last time, distantly in the crowd you see Sasaki, Who’s-Who and Ulti who seemingly dragged along Page One.

“Kid, I don’t think that will make you much money” Queen responds as he readies himself

“It’s not about money, it’s for fun. Besides, I’m not that good at guitar anyways”

“Say that to the crowd”

Kaido

While staying in wano and traversing the place of the beast pirates home you’ve noticed an odd pulling sensation

You noticed it when you first came to wano, but as you got closer to the layer of beasts it got stronger

Pulling and directing you deeper into the almost literal lions den

You’d yet to find out what it was but you’d sometimes come closer to it

As if it moved within this place

But today you’d have the opportunity to perhaps find it, apparently Maria wanted to drag you along to a meeting issued by Kaido himself

Why? Well you weren’t all that sure but it was something along the lines of Kaido’s curiosity and her deciding that it was best for you to get more Involved

Whatever that meant

You had the feeling she was wanting you to officially join

Something of which that others seemed to agree on

Normally when this would happen you’d have somehow died or run away but…your not sure what’s holding you back this time

Maybe it’s that mysterious pull

That’s what you chalk it up to yet you know there are other reasons

Maria for sure is one

King is another

Both for some reason are people you can’t quite want to say goodbye to

But you know it will come eventually

So you push the thoughts away for later

Maria eagerly dresses you up today, doing your hair with the upmost precision

Gently directing your head while she adds she light touches of makeup

She looks proudly at her work (or is it you?) before explaining what the meeting was about…pirates politics or something

You didn’t really get it but just nodded along as she giggled

Booping your nose and saying all you had to do was just be there

Which you were more than fine with

So you go with her

Deeper into Kaido’s territory

That odd pull getting greater and at the same time somehow weaker

Like a frequency on a radio

You hadn’t even noticed it but your now at the door to the meeting room

King crouched down to be closer to your eye level asking if your ok

You haven’t even noticed how much of a daze you were in

You nod, just saying your alright

He accepts it but clearly still has a bit of worry

And in you enter

Everyone but Kaido inside

Page one being Ashley’s with hugs by Ulti

Sasaki and Who’s-who glaring daggers as Queen and then King

Maria has you sit down beside her, cooing over how adorable you apparently look

Ulti then joining in

Other in the room giving you pitied stares

But that’s before shoji doors slide open

And everyone straightens in their seats

For a moment there is silence

And then

You hear your name

Looking up you catch eyes with the somewhat elusive Kaido but for a man who’s said to be bloodthirsty and stoic his face is molded into that of guilt?

Guilt, surprise and perhaps a tinge of sadness

Everyone’s eyes are on you now but all you can focus on is Kaido’s

Pools of gold tinged with recognition

He knows you

Or rather knew you

You try to think back

He knows you, you must’ve met him before but…you don’t remember

you didn’t remember him…..

You don’t remember

You don’t remembeṙ̶̖͖͍͖̺̹̗̘͖̔͜

You don’t remembė̵̡̬̰͓̜͚̰̤̯̈́̀̒̎ṙ̶̖͖͍͖̺̹̗̘͖̔͜

You don’t rememb̶̧̝̕ė̵̡̬̰͓̜͚̰̤̯̈́̀̒̎ṙ̶̖͖͍͖̺̹̗̘͖̔͜

You don’t remem̴̨̛̼̺̤͙̑̿͗̔̉̀͜b̶̧̝̕ė̵̡̬̰͓̜͚̰̤̯̈́̀̒̎ṙ̶̖͖͍͖̺̹̗̘͖̔͜

You don’t reme̵̢̟̤̠̥̓m̴̨̛̼̺̤͙̑̿͗̔̉̀͜b̶̧̝̕ė̵̡̬̰͓̜͚̰̤̯̈́̀̒̎ṙ̶̖͖͍͖̺̹̗̘͖̔͜

You don’t rem̴͕͈̥̣͌͑̈̚e̵̢̟̤̠̥̓m̴̨̛̼̺̤͙̑̿͗̔̉̀͜b̶̧̝̕ė̵̡̬̰͓̜͚̰̤̯̈́̀̒̎ṙ̶̖͖͍͖̺̹̗̘͖̔͜

You don’t re̸̤̎m̴͕͈̥̣͌͑̈̚e̵̢̟̤̠̥̓m̴̨̛̼̺̤͙̑̿͗̔̉̀͜b̶̧̝̕ė̵̡̬̰͓̜͚̰̤̯̈́̀̒̎ṙ̶̖͖͍͖̺̹̗̘͖̔͜

You don’t ̸̮̓́̎̊̉̕͘͠r̵̬͈̣̭̎̾̔͗̓̕͜e̸̤̎m̴͕͈̥̣͌͑̈̚e̵̢̟̤̠̥̓m̴̨̛̼̺̤͙̑̿͗̔̉̀͜b̶̧̝̕ė̵̡̬̰͓̜͚̰̤̯̈́̀̒̎ṙ̶̖͖͍͖̺̹̗̘͖̔͜

You don’t̸̺̪͈͔̮̫̉͊͆̓́̔̎͘͝ ̸̮̓́̎̊̉̕͘͠r̵̬͈̣̭̎̾̔͗̓̕͜e̸̤̎m̴͕͈̥̣͌͑̈̚e̵̢̟̤̠̥̓m̴̨̛̼̺̤͙̑̿͗̔̉̀͜b̶̧̝̕ė̵̡̬̰͓̜͚̰̤̯̈́̀̒̎ṙ̶̖͖͍͖̺̹̗̘͖̔͜

You don ̴̛̺̋́͌̌̓̍̃̇̂t̸̺̪͈͔̮̫̉͊͆̓́̔̎͘͝ r̵̬͈̣̭̎̾̔͗̓̕͜e̸̤̎m̴͕͈̥̣͌͑̈̚e̵̢̟̤̠̥̓m̴̨̛̼̺̤͙̑̿͗̔̉̀͜b̶̧̝̕ė̵̡̬̰͓̜͚̰̤̯̈́̀̒̎ṙ̶̖͖͍͖̺̹̗̘͖̔͜

You don̷̡̰̰̳̳̥̲͎̅̒’̴̛̺̋́͌̌̓̍̃̇̂t̸̺̪͈͔̮̫̉͊͆̓́̔̎͘͝ ̸̮̓́̎̊̉̕͘͠r̵̬͈̣̭̎̾̔͗̓̕͜e̸̤̎m̴͕͈̥̣͌͑̈̚e̵̢̟̤̠̥̓m̴̨̛̼̺̤͙̑̿͗̔̉̀͜b̶̧̝̕ė̵̡̬̰͓̜͚̰̤̯̈́̀̒̎ṙ̶̖͖͍͖̺̹̗̘͖̔͜

You dơ̶̗̱̅̑̒̅͂n̷̡̰̰̳̳̥̲͎̅̒’̴̛̺̋́͌̌̓̍̃̇̂t̸̺̪͈͔̮̫̉͊͆̓́̔̎͘͝ ̸̮̓́̎̊̉̕͘͠r̵̬͈̣̭̎̾̔͗̓̕͜e̸̤̎m̴͕͈̥̣͌͑̈̚e̵̢̟̤̠̥̓m̴̨̛̼̺̤͙̑̿͗̔̉̀͜b̶̧̝̕ė̵̡̬̰͓̜͚̰̤̯̈́̀̒̎ṙ̶̖͖͍͖̺̹̗̘͖̔͜

You d̵̯̰̈́̐̈ͅơ̶̗̱̅̑̒̅͂n̷̡̰̰̳̳̥̲͎̅̒’̴̛̺̋́͌̌̓̍̃̇̂t̸̺̪͈͔̮̫̉͊͆̓́̔̎͘͝ ̸̮̓́̎̊̉̕͘͠r̵̬͈̣̭̎̾̔͗̓̕͜e̸̤̎m̴͕͈̥̣͌͑̈̚e̵̢̟̤̠̥̓m̴̨̛̼̺̤͙̑̿͗̔̉̀͜b̶̧̝̕ė̵̡̬̰͓̜͚̰̤̯̈́̀̒̎ṙ̶̖͖͍͖̺̹̗̘͖̔͜

Yoų̶̛͚͈̫̯̻̩͙̍̾͠ ̷͍͇̮̙̼͙̤̜͊́͗̓͠d̵̯̰̈́̐̈ͅơ̶̗̱̅̑̒̅͂n̷̡̰̰̳̳̥̲͎̅̒’̴̛̺̋́͌̌̓̍̃̇̂t̸̺̪͈͔̮̫̉͊͆̓́̔̎͘͝ ̸̮̓́̎̊̉̕͘͠r̵̬͈̣̭̎̾̔͗̓̕͜e̸̤̎m̴͕͈̥̣͌͑̈̚e̵̢̟̤̠̥̓m̴̨̛̼̺̤͙̑̿͗̔̉̀͜b̶̧̝̕ė̵̡̬̰͓̜͚̰̤̯̈́̀̒̎ṙ̶̖͖͍͖̺̹̗̘͖̔͜

Yö̶̹͕̩͓͉̤̲̟̟́̾͜ų̶̛͚͈̫̯̻̩͙̍̾͠ ̷͍͇̮̙̼͙̤̜͊́͗̓͠d̵̯̰̈́̐̈ͅơ̶̗̱̅̑̒̅͂n̷̡̰̰̳̳̥̲͎̅̒’̴̛̺̋́͌̌̓̍̃̇̂t̸̺̪͈͔̮̫̉͊͆̓́̔̎͘͝ ̸̮̓́̎̊̉̕͘͠r̵̬͈̣̭̎̾̔͗̓̕͜e̸̤̎m̴͕͈̥̣͌͑̈̚e̵̢̟̤̠̥̓m̴̨̛̼̺̤͙̑̿͗̔̉̀͜b̶̧̝̕ė̵̡̬̰͓̜͚̰̤̯̈́̀̒̎ṙ̶̖͖͍͖̺̹̗̘͖̔͜

Y̸̢̰̼̟̱͉̏̇͊͠ö̶̹͕̩͓͉̤̲̟̟́̾͜ų̶̛͚͈̫̯̻̩͙̍̾͠ ̷͍͇̮̙̼͙̤̜͊́͗̓͠d̵̯̰̈́̐̈ͅơ̶̗̱̅̑̒̅͂n̷̡̰̰̳̳̥̲͎̅̒’̴̛̺̋́͌̌̓̍̃̇̂t̸̺̪͈͔̮̫̉͊͆̓́̔̎͘͝ ̸̮̓́̎̊̉̕͘͠r̵̬͈̣̭̎̾̔͗̓̕͜e̸̤̎m̴͕͈̥̣͌͑̈̚e̵̢̟̤̠̥̓m̴̨̛̼̺̤͙̑̿͗̔̉̀͜b̶̧̝̕ė̵̡̬̰͓̜͚̰̤̯̈́̀̒̎ṙ̶̖͖͍͖̺̹̗̘͖̔͜

Your forgetting more and more

You know some things have been a bit foggy but you didn’t think you’ve forgotten someone again

How many times this has happened you’re not sure, is this the first? Or one of many?

You didn’t want to forget

But you had already forgotten your parents

Your home that now resembles an empty house within your mind

The distinct smell of something wafting in the air that’s familiar and sweet and warm and forgotten to your taste buds

Their voices muffled like hearing them rooms away, hearing but never distinguishing just what their saying

Your neighbour’s like blots of colour through the window as they tend a garden

Your old friends…..But did you have any in the first place?

You don’t know

You don’t know the answer to any of those questions anymore

But with the look in his eyes he knows you

But you don’t know him

And some sort of fear wraps around your heart

Squeezing it

Sweat running down your shaking form

Like a fawn in the jaws of a bear

Your head pounds with unease

You don’t know what to do

What are you supposed to say? Sorry I can’t remember you cause I’ve lived so long that I’ve began to forget stuff?!?

What do you do?!?

His eyes says he wants answers but even if you give him one you see the outcome

You see a possessiveness

Like a dragon and a horde

You’ll be stuck here like wano’s resident with the only difference in your case being that your given a special status

Like a prized pet

You run

Maybe it’s the cowards way out but this was coming either way

No matter how hard it always is

You knew this wasn’t forever and now your forced to do this

You have to die yet once more

Running through the halls with Kaido and many of his commanders on your tail isn’t a fun experience

But your small

And quick

And have ran for your life too many times to know your advantages here

Ducking and slide across wooden floors

You manage to loose them all after a small bit of running

Them splitting up to find you quicker

It’s too bad it ended up like this

Too bad you couldn’t leave on good terms

Or find that pull

But now comes the end

It’s ironic that it’s the balcony you sat on with king that one day

One that you were gonna jump off of regardless but now it’s not a trick where your crows would’ve caught you

And it’s even more iconic now that it’s king that notices you stand and then fall from that edge

But like before he catches you

Hand grabbing yours in an iron grip

His flame sparking up intensely

Your not sure what he’s feeling or what he’s saying

All you can focus on is static

And saying a small “I’m sorry” before slashing his hand with Maria’s hairpin

It cuts at the leather, for a moment you feel his human skin before you slip

Let go

And fall

His flame sparks up once more coming to the shape of that familiar four pointed star you’d see in moments once more

Gold light engulfing your vision

There’s a crack and then pain

And laying on the cold hard ground as blood pools

Reaching a bloody hand up you hold a small spark

Warm and familiar as you feel Maria pick you up in her own

It’s odd but she had been the closest thing you could compare to a mother

You wish you could’ve told her that but the spark holds your attention

Cradled in your palm

You bring it close to your chest in which it collides with

Sparks shoot out at the collision

Before a calm washes over you as cracks begin to form and you break away

“Oden?”

#platonic #determination!#one piece #one piece x reader #beast pirates x reader #beast pirates #Black Maria x reader #king the wildfire x reader #sasaki x reader #who’s-who x reader #Ulti x reader #Yamato x reader #kaido x reader

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kittyball23 · 8 months

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I haven't been able to get Spruce and his Muppet wife Brandi out of my head ever since that Vacay Island clip came out 💕

Per usual, I have headcanons:

Spruce's name change to "Bruce" was inspired by his wife's name

All 13 of their kids have names that start with "Br" (e.g. Bryce, Braxton, Brandon, Brianna, Brittney, Brady, Brody, Brooke, Bryan, Bruno, Brenda, Brill, Brucie Jr.)

A majority of the kids are boys, given that boys run in Spruce's side of the family (plus there is a sign in one of the concept arts for the cantina they run that was called "Bruce and Sons'")

The kiddos are convinced right away that Branch is related to them since his name starts with "Br"

At the start of their relationship, Brandi played hard-to-get at first, not so easily charmed by Spruce right away, which aided in Spruce falling in love with her for being different than the previous girls he's flirted with

Brandi is better at keeping the kids in line due to her being bigger than them, unlike Spruce

Spruce loves to spoil his kiddos with desserts from their cantina and with all sorts of fun activities on Vacay Island, like surfing💜

#trolls #trolls 3 #trolls band together #spruce trolls #brandi trolls #dreamworks #i'm calling this ship sprandi people and i will tag as such #sprandi #kittyball's artstuff #100+

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madarasgirl · 4 months

Text

A Night for Hunting Ch.15 -A New Home

T/W: Alucard (Ultimate) x F!Reader, soft yandere, romance, Hellsing cast, mild sexual content, somnophilia, ‘blood drinking,’ depressed vampire @alastorhazbin On AO3 Words: 4989

Happy New Year! I have good vibes about this upcoming year already. Looking back, this account is now one year old! Crazy how everything I wrote under this name was done within the last year. I do think there is improvement between now and what I first wrote. Hopefully I will continue to get better as I write more this year!

The manor and its adjacent towers were constructed in the Victorian style. There was only one main building, but it was massive, with hundreds of windows lining a mansion of at least three stories tall. From outside, there may have been another top floor. Perhaps the sole purpose of this upper level was simply to grant greater ceiling height to the foyer or another central room, which seemed an aesthetic the wealthy aspired to.

You continued to gawp at the scale of the place. It had seemed as if the forest stretched on forever when the manor suddenly came into view from behind a gargantuan fence. The coiffered lawn hugged a paved path on either side, ending elegantly in a line of manicured spruce trees.

You swallowed as you entered the foyer and stepped closer to Alucard. The entrance was every bit as stately as this building’s exterior, but your observations of the decor were cut short by an older gentleman who came to greet you. Silver cuff links adorned a neatly pressed dress shirt and the muted violet vest complimented his slacks well. Wisps of bangs escaped a shaggy ponytail, swaying as he dipped his head.

“Alucard,” he acknowledged the vampire before turning to you and you stiffened as he bent into a slight bow with an arm over his chest. “Young Miss, welcome to Hellsing.” He spoke with a polished lilt.

Your eyes widened and you almost flinched at the clipped words. You were not expecting anyone to bow to you, not even the posh butler. As quick to fluster as you were, you barely managed to squeak out a reply. “Y-yes! Thank you!”

The corners of the old man’s crow feet crinkled around slate grey eyes with the cordial smile. “You may call me ‘Walter.’ I am the Hellsing family’s butler.” He extended an arm towards you with the palm up and you snatched it up to shake.

“Nice to meet you too!” You stammered, clutching the worn hand between both of yours as you introduced yourself.

For a beat, no one spoke, but Walter’s teeth were now showing through the smile.

“Your jacket, Young Miss?” He clarified.

Of course he meant your jacket. This man was clearly a proper member of the English upper society. You nearly buried your burning face in your hands as the other man took your outerwear after you removed it, feeling Alucard mocking you while you decided to ignore him.

“If you would follow me,” the butler said as he turned on his heel and strode through the foyer, disappearing down a hall.

Multiple corridors passed by. This was no ordinary mansion. It was the headquarters of a secret organization that hunted vampires and ghouls for generations. How in the world was this vast organization and the existence of such creatures kept confidential? Perhaps ‘agreeing’ to stay here with Alucard was a mistake. What were you doing here? You had no business poking around with hunts for the undead.

Hold your head high, little one. You belong here as much as anyone.

How that could be was beyond you. You weren’t strong or dangerous like the few guards you glimpsed. Neither were you as sophisticated as the butler or the other members of staff you came across thus far. It was as if even the serving staff were selected for decorum. You looked as uncomfortable and undignified as you felt to be standing where you were. Your steps faltered and you let yourself fall behind, your eyes tracking Alucard’s retreating back up ahead with longing, knowing it would be unwise to seek his touch in the midst of watching eyes.

Rumbling laughter echoed as his touch brushed your mind once again. You are a human within a human organization. It is the police girl and I who are out of place, silly child.

His voice jolted you from your reveries and you rushed to catch up. You prayed Alucard was correct as you were ushered up a grand set of stairs in solid oak and into another room, forcefully straightening your back with the meek hope of projecting poise you did not feel.

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

The stout door fell shut behind you, and with it went the last of your freedom. Your gaze fell on the lone figure by a sprawling wooden desk where a stoic blonde woman sat with her mouth hidden behind intertwined fingers. She wore men’s attire, complete with a cravat and cross at her throat. The outfit suited her demeanor well. The light reflected off her glasses and when the glint passed, you caught the brilliant calculating stare of crystal blue.

You immediately knew you were being evaluated. You let out a breath as the nervous weight returned, coiling heavily in your stomach and your gaze nearly fell from hers. Shifting your weight to your other foot, your fingers twitched as you fought the urge to stick your hands in your pockets.

You only remembered to keep breathing when Walter put a closed fist to his lips and cleared his throat.

“You are looking at Sir Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing, head of the Hellsing Organization.” Walter swept forward and bent at the hips in a formal bow to address his master, then retreated into the shadows of the room. You could barely see the man once he settled against the wall by Integra’s side.

You didn’t meet Sir Hellsing’s gaze again for fear of appearing overly bold, but lowered your head in greeting. You licked your lips and nibbled the inside of the bottom, still trying desperately not to let out too many indications of your anxiety. It felt like you were being stripped bare. This was Alucard’s master. Her presence was just as commanding and words wouldn’t come to your now parched throat.

Long moments passed in silence as your heart hammered away. There was no slouch in your posture nor restless bounce to your feet. You would not allow yourself to present yourself in such a slovenly manner. Though you were under no physical threat, you may as well have been on trial at a cross examination.

Your silent judge took out a cigar and spoke at last.

“So this is the woman occupying my servant's time. And who inspired him to steal my jet for a night,” the master of the castle uttered casually with a raised brow and an unreadable grin.

Walter stepped up to her side to light the cigar she dangled between her lips and she exhaled with a plume of smoke. The spicy aromas of tobacco and leather filled your nose. Sir Hellsing took another extended draw with her eyes closed before letting it out. The ghostly fumes trailed into the air in lazy tendrils and gradually vanished.

You too wanted to disappear under the scrutiny of so many intimidating people, but her words caught your attention.

You shot Alucard a dirty look. He stole it? But of course he did. It was exactly like how you came home one night to an empty apartment. The bat bastard had collected all your stuff for 'safekeeping' and announced it was time for you to move in with him. What about your human rights?! The asshole next to you cackled boorishly and appeared much too pleased with himself.

“Shut up about that! It isn’t funny!” You snapped at him before remembering yourself too late as you looked back at Sir Integra with mortification. “I mean–”

Surprise passed fleetingly by the other woman’s face until it was replaced by the faintest hint of a smile. “At ease,” she waved you off as the damn vampire interrupted.

“Delightfully feisty, is she not, Master?”

"Alucard, the circumstances may be amusing to you, but do not forget that I gave you leave to bring a civilian here. Hellsing’s purpose is no trifling matter.” The woman reprimanded the vampire before her gaze settled on you. “You are his responsibility. However, you will undergo basic training. Do not make me rescind this demonstration of goodwill."

Your heart plummeted at the mention of training, knowing you would struggle under the tutelage of anyone who hunted monsters for a living. But you were permitted to stay with Alucard (even if you complained a lot). Not knowing what response was most appropriate, you stood even straighter at attention with your chin tilted up slightly. This was a military compound afterall.

“Yes ma’am!” You shouted, though you felt no confidence from the declaration.

Her lips twitched as her expression softened a touch. Steel blue eyes continued to appraise you, yet the severe furrow to her brows eased. Her fingers drummed across the desk. Unexpectedly, she gave you her blessings.

"Take care of him. He is little more than a sobbing child," she stated.

Huh? Who was this woman to insult him so? You looked to Alucard, but the said vampire didn’t seem offended. Rather, he was grinning from ear to ear, appearing very pleased he was permitted to keep you. You were utterly confused by their dynamic.

“I expect as much from the woman who earned my wayward servant’s affections. You may leave.” She dismissed you.

Your vampire turned, hiding you from prying eyes and murmuring words only meant for you. "This is now your home, little dove." He caressed the crown of your head as you stared at him with huge eyes filled with uncertainty. His eyes snapped to a younger blonde girl standing by the wall who you did not notice prior and she stumbled awkwardly to attention with a salute.

“Ah, y-yes, Master!”

You left the chamber accompanied by a young changeling and the warmth of her sire’s gaze lingering on your back.

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

Seras, the relatively new fledgling, was your tour guide. A part of you still wanted to dislike her, but she was just too sweet. It was nice to have someone normal to talk to who didn’t make you feel like you were strapped to a dissection table.

“Soooo…you came here with Master?!” She ventured after half an hour of meaningless banter and showing you around the training grounds.

“Yes I did.” You were uncomfortable with the prospects of having to explain your relationship to anyone since you've never had to, but the feeling was particularly intense with Alucard's changeling.

“How did you meet?” She asked while turning back to you with a chipper smile.

Gosh, this was getting so awkward you almost wanted to scratch your own head.

“...We ran into each other one night after I was done at work…” Your thoughts raced. Could she smell the half-truth? Seras seemed naive and kind of cute, but she remained a stranger you just met. How much could you tell her? How much did she already know?

“Oh! I hope you were okay! Master would insult me if I did something like that,” she casted her eyes to the side and pouted, nearly deflating with her attestation.

You chortled with laughter, empathising with the young girl as you stated with a vacant stare, “He laughs at me all the time.”

At that she cheered up and the tension in your thoughts released as the two of you found some common ground while venting about Alucard’s indiscretions.

You walked side-by-side. The blonde vampiress rambled on as she took you through the main features of the manor. Hall after hall passed as she led you between each room you would need.

Wainscotting, coffered ceilings, gilded crown moulding, crystal chandeliers, plush carpets, rare marble tiles. Every lavish upgrade you could think of, you saw somewhere in the residence without it appearing gaudy. It was stunning, but…strangely gloomy. And just like the way Shangri-la was not you, you were a fish out of water here as well. The feeling only grew stronger the further you went. You scoffed at Alucard’s assertion that you belonged here, sorely missing the warm coziness of a home that was no longer yours.

As you toured the premises with Seras, it became apparent that there were way fewer servants of the kind you expected, the ones who would help run an estate of this size. Sure there were cleaners and workers in the kitchen and the manor was tasteful and clean. But oddly, it was soldiers who made up the bulk of the visible staff.

You and Seras passed another patrol as she showed you to your bedroom on the second floor.

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

You bid her goodnight and sighed with relief when you were at last afforded the luxury of privacy.

Your jacket hung in an open closet. All your belongings were there in the room, packed into boxes in a neat corner. That was the entirety of it? Your possessions were certainly humble when juxtaposed into a room as spacious as this. After exploring your storage options, you began the tedious work of unpacking.

A wealth of information was delivered to you today. You were reeling from whiplash. Even if Alucard previously broached the topic of moving in, the abrupt relocation into this organization was overwhelming.

Your new ‘home’ was beautiful, yet…everything about it was dreadfully formal and you got the sense that this compound operated under a rigid hierarchy and set of rules.

This was no simple rich person's playground and getting used to this authoritarian setting was going to be beyond difficult. You tossed around in bed as your thoughts wandered. Did your place here depend entirely on Alucard and Integra’s favour? You knew your vampire would not allow you to be mistreated, yet you did not know your standing without Alucard by your side nor what was expected of you. What would become of you?

They said it would be easier if you slowly transitioned to a nocturnal lifestyle if you were to live here, but you were exhausted by everything you saw. As you rolled into the soft satin sheets to try and sleep, you sighed. The opulence that was present even in your new bedroom was entirely foreign.

Everywhere you went, the people you encountered were pleasant, but the stares and whispers followed closely on your tails. They knew. Everyone knew you came with Alucard and of the sudden delivery of a stranger’s belongings before you were brought here. And guessing your relationship was no challenge.

You had barely seen Alucard since you arrived. Instead you were escorted from one oversized room to the next as Seras stuffed your head with random facts you’d need to know. As you were thrown flailing headfirst into the world of the supernatural (which you didn’t wholly ask for), the simmering doubt bubbled into a seething boil.

They said Alucard stayed in the basement. Some familiarity would be much appreciated right now. Would you be in trouble? You wanted to see him more than anything to know that everything will be okay. To sit in his lap and stare into the sunset as he soothed away your fears with the lull in his words and gentle touch.

You stayed on your toes to muffle unnecessary noise as you slipped out of your room and traced your path back to a hidden entrance in an unassuming hallway, which was where Seras told you he stayed during your tour.

With careful hands, you pulled at the door, which didn’t budge until you put your weight behind it and yanked. You winced at the unoiled creak that groaned louder than thunder in the silence.

It was a staircase.

You saw only as far as four steps down before it became pitch black. You walked in anyways and closed the door behind you so no one would be privy to you sneaking around.

You couldn't see anything. There was no moonlight or wall lights. Just the nothingness that swallowed you whole as you shut yourself in.

Alucard. You called him.

No reply.

He must be here. His signature was ubiquitous, a welcome oppression that gave density to the air you inhaled. You felt around blindly, and softly, softly, in the shadows, one tentative step at a time, you made it to the bottom of the stairs while remaining close to the wall. Your fingers brushed a plaque and you traced the letters tentatively.

...T-O-R…TORTURE?

Surely that must be wrong. Unease rippled through your mind as you gulped. You hugged yourself and rubbed your ears. Without the whisper of your steps, the silence became deafening as well. With nothing to see or hear, you stood alone in a void, but he was here. You knew it in your soul.

You stayed put to try letting your eyes adjust to the lack of light, but even that was hopeless. You couldn’t even differentiate if your eyes were open or closed. This was the kind of place where spidery demons of legend ambush their prey from the shadows. There was an almost imperceptible draft blowing past you and the air felt wet. Your nose curled with revulsion as you imagined what this place must look like.

The darkness and silence and moldy dampness gave you the creeps, but this was his lair. Monsters and whatnot may lurk in this world, but the scariest of them all…was your lover. You were invincible here. Nothing could harm you.

You let out an audible breath to remind yourself that you have only temporarily lost your senses. Sightless, you kept shuffling along, staying close to the walls to help guide your way. Whether this place was cramped, you could not tell, not even if it was a hallway or an open cavern. Your flesh prickled into chicken skin from the eeriness.

While everyone else stayed in the lavish manor above, Alucard lived here?

Minor interactions from the day welled up and you recounted how uneasy others were around him. Were you once the same? Realization dawned and your chest squeezed tight. He gave his services to this organization, but they treated him like…a monster to be caged, ostracized, and feared. Your lips pressed together in a taut line as you picked up the pace to rush to your vampire.

You ran out of wall to follow. You must have arrived at a turn. Or it could be a wall ending within a spacious room.

Alucard? You reached for him in your mind.

Still he did not answer. You stumbled over your feet and dithered where you were. Perhaps coming here uninvited was a bad idea, but before you could decide which direction to walk next, you heard him.

This is no place for a sweet human like yourself. Turn back.

"Why bring me all the way here only to turn me away now?"

Speaking out loud was equivalent to screaming into the abyss, shattering the engulfing silence. It reverberated and your words echoed off into the distance for you to voice your question over and over. "You invited me to live with you. I came to Hellsing for you. I chose to be here with you."

A pregnant pause after your words faded. When there was nothing for several more moments and you were about to march forward blindly anyways, he answered.

Very well. Come to me, he whispered.

Alucard lit the way. Hundreds of thousands of eyes opened along the stones, guiding the path to him. You now saw you were in a long corridor, the end of which was not visible.

You followed his macabre lead, feeling his pull more as you neared, a tyrannical energy that grew more potent with each step. The blanket of power was so welcome.

He had such a flair for theatrics. He could just come out and greet you like a good host. Chuckling bounced around your head.

There is no fun in that, little one.

You snorted, but sobered up as you studied your newly visible surroundings. The basement was not yet finished. It was bleak and indeed dank with mildew. Something dripped in the distance.

Alucard lives here? This was no home. This repugnant hole in the ground was more like…a dungeon.

”How unseemly for a lady to come seeking a monster’s company at night,” the vampire murmured, pressing behind your back with his hands wrapped around your waist. You gasped at the unexpected presence, then sighed in relief and leaned back into him.

"You aren't a monster," you said softly while reaching back to pull him against you by the thighs. It was true that you hadn’t truly thought of him as one in a very long time. His chest rumbled from purring as he nuzzled into the side of your head. “Your home is so lonely.” You pushed your forehead to his as he continued to nudge against you, closing your eyes to breathe him in as a wave of sadness washed over your senses.

As you basked in his solid presence behind you, the darkness lost its foreboding. You were now wrapped in the safe blanket of night. His darkness, which hid and protected you, unweaved the intricate web ensnaring you with fear. He disappeared as you made your way into a clearing, but your fright was already banished. Knowing Alucard was right here with you gave you peace of mind.

Meagre torches came on one by one and you followed the garish light that made you squint. Everywhere your eyes fell, empty blood bags were illuminated by each consecutive lamp alighting, leading to a massive throne that occupied the middle of the room. There Alucard sat in solitude with his chin on a fist. Blood splattered the floor where the drained packets lay.

“I have been famished lately,” he rumbled, his bangs shielding one gleaming eye from view.

“What’s new? Do you always gorge yourself like this? Such a messy eater.” You replied with a cringe, then looked away from the littered floor. “I couldn't sleep, so I decided to pay you a visit.”

The King smiled a toothy grin and extended a hand to you. “Come here, little one.”

Tiptoeing gingerly around the blood sacks, you reached the King, who pulled you into his lap. As you leaned against him, your tension from the day melted away from the physical contact and you yawned.

You lay your head on Alucard’s shoulder, then peered up at him through lidded eyes.

“A lot of things happened today,” you mumbled.

“...”

“I was shown so many rooms and told so many things, I doubt I’d even remember all of it, especially the arbitrary rules. I’m sure I’d get lost though.”

“...”

“There’s a hallway with these classical paintings, the ones with the fancy gold frames. They look like they might be originals! It was really weird how they were all just a bit tilted though. Is that something rich people just do for rich people's reasons?”

You were rambling. He must already know the random trivia when it came to this mansion, but you continued to blab about the various things you were shown in the Hellsing manor as your lover quietly listened to you unload. Your heart quivered, the stress from the move at last catching up.

"...Why me, Alucard?" You whispered against his chest as you fiddled with the hem of your shirt.

"You are a fool if you must ask."

He plucked you from his lap and took you through another room, where you spotted a palatial bed to the side, fit for a king, but he brought you to his coffin instead. It was an enormous wooden box, glossy black with engraving that you couldn’t discern in the poor lighting. The lid floated off by itself and you peeked inside.

It looked like a velvet mattress padded with cushioning on the sides. If it weren’t for the knowledge that it was a coffin, it wouldn’t be too bizarre at all. You glanced over and saw Alucard looking at you as if he was waiting for you to freak out. You got in instead.

It was surprisingly spacious inside, until Alucard joined and crowded you. Clearly these were made for single occupation! The lid closed and darkness engulfed you. This was supposed to be creepy, but you found yourself remarkably unbothered as the vampire rearranged the two of you until he was under you with the silken fabric of his cravat against your face.

No heartbeat. The dead silence of his chest was well-known to you. Up so close to the one you wanted most the entire time you were here, you began to drift.

That you braved the dark to seek him for comfort gave Alucard great pleasure. Now locked in with him, there was no way to escape the coffin unless he allowed it. He let his mind wander. A balm to his battered soul, that was what you were.

“My Darling, if there ever comes a time you are in danger and I am absent, hide in this coffin. It will provide you with some measure of protection.”

You mumbled something in reply and burrowed into him, but your vampire wasn’t ready to let you fade away.

His hands roamed your body, his erection pressed taut against your stomach. He dragged you up by the armpits as you squealed until his lips met yours. Smooth lips tugged at you and you groggily let him in, distantly wondering what you would do if copper filled his mouth.

It didn’t. He tasted, as always, of vintage wine, and you melted into him with the yearning of a day spilling over. Suckling his tongue, you shyly brought his hands from your back to your chest and pressed his fingertips into the fat pads there. He was happy to massage you, making you squirm when he rolled and pinched your peaks.

Through a closed-eye grin, you giggled, "You’re freezing, but I'll keep you warm when you sleep from now on."

The vampire's cock twitched. Vibrant orangey-yellow irises narrowed slightly before swirling with affection as he squeezed you to his chest with extra limbs.

You slipped towards sleep with a smile on your face. At last, while you lay in a cramped wooden box underground on top of a living corpse, you were comfortable to be where you were.

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

Pain.

You gasped. The shocking sensation seared your nerves, yet you found it impossible to remove yourself from the terrible feeling. It passed immediately as the pain numbed, then melded into pleasure unlike anything you’d ever experienced. Your mind went blank as another wave rolled through simultaneously with a distant pull at your neck. Have you gone mad? If people abused drugs for ecstasy such as this, you too would go delirious from addiction.

Blood feeds blood.

Your body jolted feebly under a weight that would not give way, forcing you to remain immobile and endure the electrified sparks up your spine.

Alucard.

His teeth sank deep into your throat as he took that lengthy drag. Your essence funnelled into him while you spun, intoxicated from desire.

Blood calls blood.

Excruciatingly enticing.

You tilted your head to grant him access to your soul.

Blood is, and blood was,

You didn’t even wince this time as slick pooled from blazing loins and your back arched. More. You needed more.

He was inside you. Thick and delicious and somehow you were accommodating him despite his immense size, the siren-song of his whispers in your ears, rending your existence apart with sultry thoughts and promises of eternity.

And blood shall ever be.

He was pounding you into the plush cushions of a coffin. Making you whole. An angel found her wings.

Daughter of the Night.

Pain and pleasure were the same. Coherent thought escaped as you became one. The only certainty was that this was meant to be–

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

The Bird of Hermes is My Name

Eating My Wings to Keep Me Tame

You woke with a start panting, sweat clinging to your brows and soaking your back. You were indeed lying on plush cushions and still inside the coffin with your crotch soaked in juice. There was suddenly so much room?

No, you were not alone. Alucard was on top of you as a weighted blanket of shadow. His hand was tight on your mound.

"Such indelicate fantasies you hold, my Dear."

You may have been in absolute darkness, but you heard the smirk in his voice. A giant eye opened, hovering where you assumed the coffin’s lid was, examining you with a wild gaze as invisible hands palmed your body. Your sopping pussy throbbed as she recalled the dream.

"Ha! As if! You put those delusions in my head!"

The vampire chuckled at the retort.

It felt so real. You could almost feel his phantom teeth in your vein and your lifeblood leaving the warm confines of your vessel to mingle with his. You could almost feel him moving through you, filling you. You shuddered with craving for that completeness again.

But what was that?

You grasped through the haze searching for something you didn't know. All you had were fragments of a barely remembered dream that made no sense.

The coffin lid lifted and you drank in the new air.

His shadow rippled and slid around you as if he was your sleeping bag. “Perhaps I went too far. Back to sleep, Dear. There are long days ahead of you.”

You chucked it down to Alucard being Alucard and putting strange ideas in your mind. His eye was so red and lustrous, almost like a prized ruby, though it shimmered even without light. You shifted however much you could and relaxed. It really had been a long day and night. You were so drained, you knew you would fall asleep the moment your eyes closed. Your confusion dissipated as you settled and it was apparent you could barely move in his embrace.

Alucard wrapped you snugly. Reassuringly.

For the first time since coming to Hellsing, you felt a sense of belonging within the claustrophobic confines of a vampire's coffin, something akin to being at home.

You slept like a newborn until midday.

Yours.

~To Be Continued~

Next chapter: Just Another Day in Paradise -------------------- Notes: (Please read)

A modified version of this chapter (with a sort of “happily ever after”) was originally intended to be the end of this story. But after a reader asked about whether Millennium will feature, I think yes, since the relationship between Alucard and his Reader would be incomplete without delving into some of Hellsing’s enemies. And so this fic continues again haha.

Now that we will be covering canon events and the main cast is finally featured, I’m honestly full of trepidation. Whereas when it was only Alu and Reader, I felt I was allowed to do whatever I wanted (to some extent). With Millennium coming into the picture also brings the issue of handling triggering/sensitive content. I am super scared I’ll screw up the story from here on out. There is an outline for most of the upcoming chapters, but the story will not be fully canon-compliant. Rather, it will only be inspired by canon events and I will take some liberties with how vampire things work.

But know that the story gets darker and the rating will change to “Explicit” (possibly even DD:DNE due to the chapters with Millennium). Please heed the tags and warnings when the time comes.

I hope you guys don’t mind the references to other popular media and works, of which there are a number throughout this fanfic. Fantasy is my favourite genre and my favourite author (Brandon Sanderson) loves to incorporate references to his other books within his epic fantasy world, where all of the different planets are linked by common origins, magic principles (even if the magic systems themselves differ), and an unseen war between their gods spanning millennia. The storylines and characters are starting to collide in Sanderson’s “Cosmere.” Whenever I spot some of these ‘Easter eggs,’ I feel so self-satisfied and like I’m such a good fan. I hope you smile too if you see one of my references to a song/movie/novel/play/anime/musical/etc.

P.S. You sweet summer child. You don’t bring up “human rights” with Vlad the Impaler :D

#alucard x reader #alucard x you #alucard hellsing #alucard fanfiction #alucard #hellsing alucard #hellsing ultimate #my comfort vampire #vampire romance #hellsing ova #hellsing fanfiction #hellsing fandom

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artsartblog · 4 months

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I caved and finally made a Trolls oc. I don’t have a lot on her, but she’s a precious bean.

Briar is a pop troll, but she loves all kinds of music. She briefly lost her cool after feeling like she didn’t fit in amongst her fellow pop trolls when she just no longer felt happy singing or dancing to the pop music, but once she heard other music her color came back. She definitely enjoys rock more than pop, but purely because she’s gotten tired of hearing only pop for her whole life. Variety is key in keeping her happy. She got the skull belt after the events of World Tour because she just loved it so much. The flower in her hair is a clip on jewelry type thing, the flower is fake because she would have to constantly get a new flower every time the original one died. As stated above she lowkey a fan of BroZone. She liked them a lot when she was younger, but now that she’s older she feels silly for being so into the group. Though that does stop her from occasionally listening to their record every once in awhile as a way to just let her be herself.

I really only caved and made a Trolls oc because of @tea0w0stache and @0ketlyn-s Brotherhood AU. It’s so good and I love all the designs and love Bruce (Spruce is just my favorite character in the Trolls canon anyways). That love has been channeled into my oc (for the fun of it) because I have her having a crush on Bruce but she really just keeps it to herself. However, as an outcast (because she’s not that big of a fan of how the pop trolls worship JD, Bruce and Floyd like they’re a godsend) she does occasionally talk to Poppy about things because she really doesn’t know who else to talk to that just will listen. Plus, Briar really isn’t good with socializing. She tends to stick to herself and just makes things that could possibly make their hidden existence better. She would love to be more sociable, but prefers to view things from a distance. The flower skirt she wears is actually something she’s made. She’s pretty good at making outfits, but she makes other things. Especially if she’s in a really creative mood.

Don’t take what I said for the Brotherhood AU seriously since it’s not my AU and I purely made that version of her for fun. BH!Poppy and BH!Bruce do not belong to me, they belong to Dex and Ket. As far as I know the AU is still underdevelopment and whatnot. If you’re interested go check out both of their blogs and ask them about it. I’m purely an outsider just looking in and creating a bit of fun (and small bit of fanart). Go support the two of them, they’re really cool people!!!

Anyways, idk if I’ll actually do much with Briar since I just couldn’t resist making a Trolls oc any longer. With that being said hope you all enjoyed the art! If you want to see more Briar art let me know, any questions on her you are free to ask. Likes are nice, but reblogs help others see the art so if you want your mutuals and followers to see it reblog it ^w^ As always, hope you’re having a wonderful day and stay creative!

#my art #my digital art #my oc #my oc art #troll oc #trolls #trolls oc #trolls original character #briar trolls oc #brotherhood au #not my au #fanart?#a bit of fanart #oc art #brotherhood au poppy #brotherhood au bruce

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sprucefrog · 9 months

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Korok of a man

#even before the moss he was such a korok #bdoubleo #bdoubleo100 #bdubs #iskall85 #iskall #hermitcraft #hermitcraft s6 #hc #hc6 #spruce clips #mcyt

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matmiraculous · 4 months

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Bug AU

Did someone ask for Bug AU info dump? No? Too bad. So trolls in this au are usually 4-5 inches tall instead of 5-6 like regular trolls

Each tribe is a different type of bug. Pop are moths, Classical are crickets, Rock are wasps/bees, Funk are beetles, Techno are dragonflies, Country are spiders.

They're basically like little fairies? Kinda? Its like regular trolls but with bug features. Pop trolls for example, have antenna, wings, and are extra fluffy.

Pop trolls usually learn to actually fly (as opposed to gliding) around 13 so young trollings don't get hurt or in trouble.

Rock trolls have stingers instead of tail tufts.

Country trolls are spider centaurs.

Funk trolls are the biggest trolls.

Bergens in this au are reptilian and kept the pop trolls in a terrarium instead of a cage.

To keep trolls from escaping during Trollstice, Bergen's clipped their wings, involving punching a hole into each piece of the wing. Said hole never heals and it permanent in the case a troll manages to escape.

Pop trolls have different "roles" in their society. Builders, gatherers, (when in the village) scouts, and entertainers. Spruce, Floyd and Branch were entertainers.

#trolls #trolls 3 #trolls band together #dreamworks trolls #tbt #trolls tbt #bug au #trolls branch #trolls bruce #trolls brozone

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melpomene-writes · 9 months

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sleeper

minatozaki sana x gn! reader // angst (slight mention of blood)

your nails are bright pink, short-clipped, glinting in the dim light as you draw a line over sana’s bare stomach.

“what are you thinking about?” you ask.

“you,” sana says. her eyes are on your hands as they drift, slow and almost lazy, sketching swirls across her summer-darkened skin. around you both, the room is quiet except for cicadas screaming outside, the humming of the old lamp above your heads. it’s just the two of you — backlit, you’re sitting on sana’s hips and falling into her headfirst. sana’s eyelashes flutter. “always.”

you smile faintly, drag a finger down her side, from rib to hip.

“and you?”

“you,” you agree, almost sadly. “always.”

///

unfortunately, this is a dream.

///

one of the dreams you like, of course.

real life, not so much. real life is not so forgiving. real life goes like this: you wake up every day from dreams like these, and you are so in love with sana it hurts, and you are never going to say a god damn thing about it.

there’s also starting to be something knotted and heavy in your chest. a hopeless, uncomfortable ache. like the one they always describe in depression pamphlets.

it’s fine, you think. you are still, mostly, able to smile. so, you ignore it.

///

in ninth grade, your whole life starts to look like this blurry, vaguely sana-shaped shell.

“what did you dream about last night?”

you look up, startled.

“you look exhausted,” sana adds, pouting in sympathy. she’s stretched out across your couch, one foot hanging off the side and swinging absently, eyebrows raised in concern. it takes you a long time to bring her face into focus. “you had a bad dream?”

“yeah,” you say, meaning no, “it was pretty bad,” meaning god, i wish real life was more like that, meaning: you loved me back, and god damn, sana, everything was just perfect. “lots of spiders.” meaning so many people came to our wedding. “i couldn’t leave.” meaning: everyone saw it coming.

“oh.” sana sits up. concern is in her eyes, and she laces your fingers together slowly, deliberately, full of the kind of love you don’t need. in the afternoon light she seems vaguely made up. “i’m sorry.”

you look down at your hands.

“it’s fine,” you say, smiling faintly, swallowing. meaning it’s just not.

///

on a monday night, you get upgraded to nightmares.

there’s a dog across the patio. you’re in greece, probably, in a vacation house. it looks like a building from santorini: huge and white, all curved, and you and the dog are on the roof, sort of — a square space, brick-floored, ten yards above the ground. a breeze murmurs across the property, just barely. the sky is bright blue and cloudless where you can see it through the branches of an overgrown spruce tree on the right; there’s an s-shaped pool in the yard below, rippling slightly, surrounded by perfectly manicured grass and a fence of palm trees. you realize you’re sitting on a lawn chair, near the edge of the patio, and that you’re dripping something thin and golden off every inch of your skin, something that puddles around your bare feet and in the cracks of the floor, glimmering slightly when the sun hits it.

the dog tilts its head. it’s brindled, pretty big, with dark brown eyes and slobbery jowls like a st. bernard. much sleeker than that, but still well-muscled. sinew piled up like a mountain scape under its dark skin. the house is deathly quiet. you get the very distinct feeling that this whole town is empty.

the wind ceases.

the dog growls, tongue lolling out of its mouth in a pant, and you can smell its breath from across the patio.

“just kill me already,” you say, annoyed, “and i can wake up. okay?”

it regards you for a second, as if considering. saliva drips down around its feet from its open mouth.

then it turns and disappears around a corner.

you spring up after it. you go flying down a set of open-air stairs to the glimmering pool and the dead grass, the steps flanked by poinsettias, the sun so bright you have to wave it out of your face like a bug. the dog’s claws make a clicking sound even in the dirt. you follow it around the edge of the pool, wondering how it leaves footprints in such dry soil, and it finally draws to a pause after the two of you make a full loop. when you look up, sana and taehyung are standing in front of you.

“what are you doing here?” sana blinks at you, silent. her hair is curled down to her waist and dripping wet, her eyes dark even in the sunlight, her face completely blank. momo is wearing the same indeterminable expression.

the dog is circling around their feet, placid.

“hello?”

sana turns to look at taehyung, lightning fast, and whispers something in her ear. taehyung does nothing, but the dog reacts instantly, its gaze sharpening, ears perking, eyes zeroing in on you. it pauses at sana’s feet, calculating. then moves forward.

“what are you doing?”

the dog snarls.

“what did you say to it?” you back up, and it follows, slow and steady. ripping up the grass with its claws. vibrating all over.

“sana—” the growling crescendos to a bark, and fear strikes your heart — your feet catch on the edge of the pool, and you stumble, feeling the water splash up over your ankle, you’re hauntingly aware of sana’s eyes watching your every move. “sana, i—”

“sorry,” the dog says, in a human voice — in sana’s voice, almost. and it pauses for half a second, giving you time to cry out, before it leaps forward with an impossible strength, apologizing again in sana’s voice, and pushes you into the water, claws snagged in your shirt, its whole body thrashing with a snarl that pulls all the breath out of your lungs, and you wake up and you’re never a dog person again.

///

“y/n, are you okay?”

“yeah,” you answer, absent. “i haven’t been sleeping well.”

you woke up this morning with circles so dark they looked like black holes. your excuse is an understatement.

“you’re not yourself.” sana’s lips are set in a frown. “what’s wrong?”

“i’m tired.”

“besides that.”

“nothing.”

“don’t lie to me, y/n.”

“you wouldn’t understand.”

“try me.”

that long pause, fragile, tenuous.

“i’m so tired,” you say, softly. tears brim in your eyes. “sana, i’m exhausted.”

sana’s features fall into place — concern, sympathy, sadness. she holds out both arms. “come here.”

her offer hurts more than it helps, but you take it.

///

you fall into your dream, the one with the dog again. right next to you this time. staring out at the pool as you face the other way.

“hey, you,” you say. it doesn’t move. under its black-and-brown fur you can see its lungs inhaling, exhaling, slowly, its expression calm and body perfectly still. you lean over and rest your forehead on its shoulder. the sun beating down on the back of your neck, its fur smelling warm and strangely real.

“we’re done being enemies now, huh? i don’t really know what you tried to teach me last time.”

the dog does nothing. you sigh.

“i am so ready to die,” you say. the words sharp in your chest. “and you’re not going to help me out, are you?”

it starts to pant, looking down at the pool. you squint: at the bottom of the six-foot end is a vaguely human-shaped hole, dark and glimmering, cut out to your size.

the dog looks at it, at you. then says in sana’s voice, “you dug it yourself.”

oh.

you are exhausted to the bone.

“i get it,” you say, climbing to your feet. the sun is still shining, and the grave is pulling you in like a magnet. “i don’t need your help anyway.”

///

“depression,” the doctor announces, scribbling something on her clipboard. “could be seasonal affective. but manic, more likely.”

you snap to attention.

“it’s winter?” she asks, surprised.

sana looks like she’s about to cry.

“is she grieving?”

“no,” sana says. her face is bright with anger, body stiff, hands curled into fists at her side. “i don’t think so. she won’t tell me.”

“it’s a possibility. i’ll give you the number of a few therapists, see what they can do, if they think medication, is a good idea.”

“thank you,” your mother says. you try to look at her, but your vision is swimming. you reach out, to grab sana’s hand — and for this one brief second, your heart starts to work again. but then sana’s phone lights up with taehyung’s number, vibrating, a heart next to her name, and you drop it, and the whole thing starts all fucking over again.

///

you’re flat on your back. the dog is sitting on your chest, heavier than it looks, paws resting against your neck. looking down at you, as impenetrable as ever.

“i hate you,” you say, feeling strangely peaceful. the dog blinks. above you, its head eclipses part of the sun, outlined in pouring gold, backlit. you stroke a hand down its chest. the fur is soft, and its breathing measured. blood is oozing, slowly, slowly, out of the puncture wounds in your chest. claw marks. but accidental.

“i know i’m stupid,” you continue. “but you’re not making it any easier.”

you tilt your head backward, off the edge of the patio. birds chirping. the hole in the pool, tantalizingly empty.

///

“i keep having these dreams about you.”

sana stares at you, stunned. she’s been over for hours, and these are the first words you’ve said: hoarse, calm, detached.

“you’re a dog,” you continue. “brindle. i’ve had it three times and it gets closer every time it happens. it talks in your voice. it killed me the first time. and after that i just kept killing myself. don’t worry,” you add, seeing the stricken look on sana’s face.

“i love you,” sana says softly.

“sana, i am so far gone,” you say, your voice breaking, and sana’s hands are shaking when she leans over and pulls you into a hug so tight and so urgent it hurts. her whole body is radiating a feverish warmth, and you suffocate in her hair as sana sobs into your shoulder, saying “i love you, saying “me too”, saying — when she pulls away, jaw set and face flushed, “we can come together.”

you swallow: “i don’t know if i can,” you respond, helpless, and sana just says, “do it for me.”

so of course, you do.

///

it takes so long. god, it takes so long.

but you do it.

for sana. with sana. six months later, a song comes on in your car that you used to love, and you start to sing along like you haven’t in forever, and it’s just such a moment that sana bursts out laughing, practically exploding with happiness, so hard that the two of you have to pull the truck over. it’s always hard. it always will be. but something is working again that didn’t used to.

at least, it does for a while.

on a friday in eleventh grade, sana gets drunk and kisses you, and for a moment, you feel the flight of hope in your chest — but sana leans back, laughs it off, and says she got a head start on the phase that’s supposed to happen in college.

and that’s all she says.

and oh, man. that fucking burns.

you leave. instantly. sana is crossfaded and whines as you crawl out the window, but you pay no attention. you leave and leave and leave. it feels like something coming out of a crawlspace coming out of a crawlspace, coming out of you, blowing out the door. your vision is swimming with so many tears you trip three times on the way home. sana calls you and calls you and you don’t pick up.

fucking unbelievable. your apartment is empty. it’s ninth grade all over again. it hurts worse this time, you think, slamming the door shut behind you, because it was so much closer.

sana said “i love you” the way out. high as shit but really meaning it. you could see it in her eyes.

so maybe tomorrow will be better. maybe. if you get one.

///

three sleeping pills but it’s only dusk. even though it was 1 am when you came home. somehow, this dream is clearer than all the others, even though the medicine that’s supposed to blunt your nightmares.

the greek house, sunset, colder than last time, all the white walls cut with dark shadows and fading yellow light. the wind existing, but barely. your hair is wet and starchy when you run a hand through it, and everything is the same as it was two years ago, the drying grass, the pool, the brick floors. the same shivering sequoia on the right. no dog.

you get up and pad down the stairs, barefoot, the poinsettias still in bloom. in the yard, there’s still no dog. the whole world is silent. there are no other houses, you realize, outside your vine-draped fence.

unperturbed, you open the sliding door for the first time. inside is a long dining table, couches lined with swirls of patterned blankets, a tv that won’t turn on. the floorboards creak no matter where you step. you continue through an empty kitchen and three doors to the hallway, where there’s a spiral staircase and a glass-walled garden. there are bedrooms and bathrooms on the right, too many to count, but you’re not really interested.

instead, you open the front door. outside: a dirty driveway, a swatch of grass, the chain-link fence. it’s getting colder by the second.

the dog is waiting for you. sitting still. its mouth closed for once. eyes glinting.

you step toward it, run your fingers along the top of its head, but it darts away toward the opening on the driveway, and you follow.

on the other side of the fence: sana and taehyung, hand in hand.

there is no gate.

you look at the dog, and something in your chest snaps into place.

“i fucking knew it,” you say.

it shrugs. sana looks over at her, confused, concerned, then at taehyung, who has the same perplexed expression. you drop to your knees and stare the dog right in the face, an uncontrollable anger vibrating in your fingertips.

“i knew it,” you repeat, giggling hysterically, and then the dog tilts its head and apologizes, in that strange, sad voice that you only now realize is your own, before it lunges, and you let it.

///

afterwards, there is no waking up.

#kpop x reader #kpop imagines #twice x reader #twice imagines #twice sana x reader #twice sana imagines #minatozaki sana x reader #minatozaki sana imagines #sana x reader #sana imagines #girl group imagines #gxg imagines #kpop #twice #twice sana #minatozaki sana #sana #girl group #gxg

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