1magine-engine - MC|Y/N|YOU - Tumblr Blog

I AM SOOOOO NORMAL ABOUT BAXTER’S DLC.

YUP SO TOTALLY NORMAL.

I DIDNT HAVE A SILENT INTERNAL CRISIS AT THE END OF THE SUMMER WHEN HE ***** ** **** YOU.

NEITHER DID I SLAM MY DESK WHEN WE SAW HIM AGAIN. NO!

But seriously tho, @gb-patch that was amazing. Something that was so completely different from the other storylines yet so comfortable still. Always a delight to play your games

I was a mistaken by limiting it to cursing. Because I see people using irl Russian even more often for Childe when he says terms of endearment like “любимый (l’ubímyj)” that in particular is popular in a lot of the Chilumi fics and art I’ve seen.

Yes that ^ was badly translated and copy pasted.

Something I find funny about Genshin Fics is that Childe curses in real world Russian which is all well and good but why is it that Genshin China, Genshin Japan or Genshin Germany doesnt have the same characterizations. You’re lying if you say you don’t wanna see/hear Diluc just bust one single “scheiße” when he sees Kaeya drinking at his tavern again.

Something I find funny about Genshin Fics is that Childe curses in real world Russian which is all well and good but why is it that Genshin China, Genshin Japan or Genshin Germany doesnt have the same characterizations. You’re lying if you say you don’t wanna see/hear Diluc just bust one single “scheiße” when he sees Kaeya drinking at his tavern again.

ATTENTION

To all fanfiction writers/readers. When you read fanfiction do you prefer if its written like a book with expostion and description or do you prefer it’s written with the assumption that you know the source media its written from and the appearance of characters and locations? Like say you read a Demon Slayer fic would you want to skip all the “a boy with a scar above his left eye” stuff and go straight to, yo that’s Tanjiro, or nah?

I’m on a HUNK kick. If anyone has any more content I must be notified immediately.

Pretty sure I’m the only Hunk writer active anymore so here’s a Masterpost of all my fics on AO3 :3

I’ve given Hunk his own backstory and written a handful of one shots both ship and non ship.

Everything has a read order but most can be read as stand-alone (oneshots etc)

Hope y’all like em!

Hunk’s Identity and Future

12. Who Are You?

13. Waiting for you (Hunk/Vector)

14. Meet The Family

0/15. Behind the mask (Backstory)

One Shots (Hunk/Vector)

2. In the Pale Moonlight

3. Broken bones and Dog teeth

11. Stranded

Soul Bounded Scars (DaemonAU)

NSFW One Shots (Hunk/Vector)

4. Close your Eyes

7. Clean up B-50

NSFW One Shots (Warning: Dead dove, read tags carefully)

5. Good dog bad wolf

6. Animal Impulses

One Shots (Hunk/Nikolai)

8. Marked for Death

9. Due Debts (NSFW)

10. The Price of Death (NSFW)

One Shots (No Ship)

1. Psychological Evaluation- Hunk

Your better half (OSDD AU)

I’ll update this post as I write more c:

My one joy while I lay sick in my bed dramatically like a dying victorian child is that the same people that were sl*ts for Ghost from MW2 are just as feral for HUNK from Resident Evil. Thank you and goodnight

Oathkeeper

01: Omens

Diluc x Doctor!Reader

Warnings: Mentions of blood. Slight gore. Cursing

Rating: T

Word Count: 3.9k

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Diluc

No matter the season, the air at Dawn Winery will always carry a sweetness to it. Even now as fall has fully set in and some of the grapevines threaten to go bare early, Diluc can taste it on his tongue. It’s his first welcome as he walks the path back up to the manor.

“Hello Master Diluc,” Hartman, a newer farmer under Diluc’s employ, waves at him as he passes, carrying a shovel in his other hand. Diluc nods in return, doing the same for the other workers who greet him. Some of them also carry shovels and others are lugging sacks of soil over their shoulders. Standing near the entrance, directing them, is Tunner whose stooped shoulders straighten just a little every time he greets someone. Just like they always have since Diluc was a boy.

“Ah, welcome home Master Diluc. Did you enjoy your work at the tavern today?” Tunner says, the lines around his eyes and mouth deep and happy.

“Well enough,” Diluc smiles back a little. “It was a rather slow day, save for a few Adventurers looking for their lunch.” No Knights of Favonius, he recalls. Jean must have started cracking down on the ones who drink during the day as if they haven’t any work or assignments. Once or twice when Diluc went outside for some air he glimpsed knights on their proper patrol routes and stations. Noticeably, none of the Angel’s Share regulars came anywhere near the tavern until the end of day once he had left. As it should be.

“I see you have everyone started on mounding the vines.” Diluc looks to the farmers working around the winery. “Good, never hurts to start early.”

Tunner nods. “Correct, Young Master. Especially when it comes to preparing for winter.” He does his own once over of the area, his eyes deceptively keen for his age. Though that may be because he’s been watching and caring for these lands since before Diluc was born. “Although, you can see it all around. The coming winter will be kinder to us than most.”

“Oh?” Diluc fights with a smile, knowing the last time Tunner started talking about folktales and farmers’ omens, nobody went to bed until late into the night. “How so?”

Tunner laughs. “You may not believe in the signs Young Master, but they haven’t steered me wrong in all my years,” he assures. Keen eyes for his age indeed, Diluc muses. Tunner pulls a pouch from his belt, wrinkled fingers still deft and precise as he unties it. “You can see it on the boars, not so fat as they were last year. The onions Elzer ordered from Springvale are of thinner skin as well and finally-“ the words stall in his throat, halted by a wet, hacking cough. He drops the pouch to cover his mouth. Diluc barely catches it by the strings.

“Tunner? Are you alright?” Diluc touches his shoulder, trying to guide him to a nearby create. “Please, sit and rest,” he says and Tunner follows, pointing to the pouch as he works through his fit. Diluc nudges it open with his fingers.

“Sweet flowers?”

Tunner nods, clearing his throat twice. “Yes. Still in bloom this late into the fall. A good omen.”

“Very good if it means Jilliana will have enough to make your medicine.” Diluc points out. Tunner tries to hide it, to power through but he’s not very good at it. His age doesn’t help. “Please, Tunner. You shouldn’t be pushing yourself so much. Especially if your sickness won’t go away.”

Tunner only smiles and Diluc tries his best not to flinch at the spot of red on his teeth. “I’m alright Young Master,” he croaks. “The sisters say I just need to keep myself healthy and drink the medicine they make for me.”

“And your son?” Diluc asks, recalling seeing Guy just this afternoon by the eastern gate. “You still haven’t told him? He’s your only child, he should be taking care of his father.”

“He’s a Knight now, he has duties to fulfill. I don’t want him worrying about an old man like me.” He tries to laugh but coughs again.

Diluc frowns. “He has a duty to you,” he says, remembering when Guy used to help his father around the winery and insist on doing all the heavy work. “What work could the knights have for him more important than that?”

“It’s alright Master Diluc,” Tunner insists, taking the sweet flowers from him. “I know how much you… dislike them. But for what shortcomings they possess, the Knight of Favonius serve Monstadt well. In fact, it just so happens they’ve recruited. Guy tells me that someone is coming Monstadt to be their head doctor.”

Diluc grits his teeth. “Have they now?”

No information, from idle gossip among the sisters to the sordid affairs of the knights, escape Diluc’s eyes and ears. That said, Jean must have demanded that the matter be sealed tighter than the Favonius treasury. He’s heard tell of the recruitment of a “travelling doctor” for ages now but all Diluc’s gotten are bits and pieces. Supposedly, the new head doctor will arrive at Monstadt this month and still, all he knows is a name and a vision.

“Well I certainly hope whoever it is, they’ll be of some use,” Diluc says and it would be more than he could say for a lot of those knights. “Still Tunner, while we wait for this doctor, please pace yourself. There are plenty of younger farmers around here you can task.” He pleads and smiles when Tunner heaves a defeated sigh.

“I’ll give this to Hillie to give to Jilliana,” Diluc says, snatching the sweet flowers before Tunner can ask or protest. “Just do me a favor and call it a day. The worst winter we could possibly have is one where you aren’t well enough to be with us.”

Tunner laughs, a real one and nods. “Alright, Master Diluc. Thank you.”

Diluc nods back, heading towards the manor where Adelinde is waiting at the door. He turns, making sure Tunner is still seated on his crate while the others work around him. But as he scans the rest of the area, his expression hardens spotting telltale white and gold armor in the distance. A party of four Favonius Knights stride along the dirt path, giving Dawn Winery a wide berth as they have no doubt been instructed to do. Diluc knows for a fact that no knights patrol this close to the winery. So, the only reason they’d be passing by directly is if they were heading to the Stone Gate, the border between Monstadt and Liyue. Another endeavor Diluc knows little of. It isn’t difficult to put the pieces together from there.

“Well I’ll be damned,” he mutters to himself. “Maybe there is something to Tunner’s omens.”

Hillie tilts her head a little as he approaches. “I’m sorry? Did you say something Master Diluc?”

“Nothing. Just musing to myself.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When night falls, so does the rain with it. Staring out from the window of his quarters Diluc wonders if he should have asked Tunner about omens for sudden storms as well. High winds aren’t uncommon in Monstadt, especially not in the latter half of the year. But accompanied by a heavy enough rain fall and the two make for conditions less than ideal to be out in.

For Diluc, they’ll be a minor inconvenience.

“Rain...” he mutters as he sorts through his wardrobe for a thicker coat. Regardless of how heavy the fall, Diluc has his mission, but he’ll never forget the dangers that come with a downpour like this. Faces and shapes are harder to discern in the rain, the paths are more treacherous and slippery. Mud can slow you down no matter how careful your steps, no matter how much you hurry. Rain washes away tracks all too easily. And Diluc will never forget how quickly and cleanly it also washes away blood.

Like it never happened.

He draws in a breath, willing darker memories away from the forefront of his mind as he slips his arms through an old hunting jacket. “If only it could cl-“

A bang jolts him. Thunder? But there wasn’t a flash. More follow, booming thumps in quick succession. His quarters are at the far end of the Ragvindr manor, on the second floor. But whoever’s knocking, pounding, on the front doors are desperate enough to slam up against the solid oak over and over to get the attention of whoever’s inside. The clang of the hinges beginning to give rush Diluc into action. It’s no surprise it also rouses others in the manor.

One of the maids, still dressed in her night clothes and a robe, is throwing the door open before he’s even out. “Hello?! Who is that making a ruckus at such an hou-oh! Oh archons’ grace!”

The view of the entrance is obscured by the balcony and Diluc can’t see who’s standing in the doorway, but he recognizes the voice in an instant.

“Help! People hurt! Need healing!”

Diluc’s feet pound on the hardwood, darting around the corners of the balcony and almost jumping over the railing. “Razor?”

Razor finds him in the dark. Their only light is the candle in the maid’s hand and the dim glow of the Vision at Diluc’s belt. But everything is clear enough. “Diluc!” Razor pants, his chest heaving, his clothes and hair dripping wet. Razor grunts as he struggles to hold up the shivering, blood and rain-soaked man wrapped in his coat. “He is cold! Won’t make it to the city!”

Diluc rushes down the steps. “Get a fire going!” he commands, rushing to take the injured man. Razor follows, his legs shaky and he’s struggling to catch his breath but he stays on his feet peering out into the rain through the doorway. Diluc glances at him as he sets the knight down by the fireplace. “Hillie, the fire. Did you run all the way here?”

“Yes.” Razor pants. “From the water.”

The injured knight trembles and whimpers. Hillie’s hands shake almost as badly as she tries and fails to spark the iron and flint. “Step back Hillie.” It’s her only warning before a ball of red-hot flame ignites in Diluc’s palm and he lobs it into the fireplace. “What happened? Were they attacked?”

“Hillichurls.” Razor nods, kneeling beside Diluc and the Knight. “Lots of them with big ones and Abyss Mages on the road. I could smell it from Wolvendom. Blood.”

Diluc scowls. Of course, there were Abyss Mages. Of course, knights like the ones he saw traversing the road earlier that afternoon were no match for them. Diluc glances at the young man on his floor. “You were smart, bringing him here but I don’t know how much we can do for him.” Grabbing Razor’s coat, Diluc prepares himself to shield him from Hillie’s wide, terrified gaze but is left just as dumbfounded as her. The bandages around his chest are damp but they’re not getting any bloodier. Diluc leans in a little and the man’s breathing is clear and equal. While his lips are still pale, being near the fire has stopped his shivering. “He’s-“

“Okay. For now.” Razor says, wiping away some of the blood from the young knight’s face. All that red had made it look worse than it actually was. “Razor was told to find a place that is safe, warm.”

“By the other Knights?”

Razor shakes his head. “Not not knight. They are with the Knights. They are coming here. A healer.”

“Healer.” Diluc’s brows furrow. “The Doctor?”

“Yes! Doc-tor! They are coming here. Bringing more wounded.”

More. Diluc can see by the crest on his belt that the young knight at his feet is newer and of a lower rank, sent because no one ever expected they’d encounter anything on the road. He thinks back and remembers all four were the same. How many of them got hurt tonight because they were so unprepared?

“M-master Diluc!”

They turn to Hillie who’s lips quiver, pointing at three figures running through the rain up the path. Two of them carrying something between them. Someone, wrapped in a blue cloak. Once again, Diluc hears the voice before he sees who speaks.

“Make room! A bench, a cot, anything!”

Diluc turns. “Clear the table!” He says, grabbing papers and books and setting them on the floor. Hillie does the same for the inkwells and quills. “Here!” he calls, turning right as you rush in, trailing blood and rainwater across his carpet. You walk right past him hauling a heavy trunk and setting it down on one of the chairs.

“There’s not much time. This one’s barely holding on,” you say, unlatching the trunk and Diluc gets a glimpse of steel and glass before Hillie’s scream tears his eyes away. Diluc’s stomach churns. The two Knights had used every ounce of their strength and will to not jostle their wounded comrade on the bamboo stretcher, but they moved him enough for the blue cloak covering him to fall away and reveal the gashes in his chest and the icicle shards embedded in his stomach. Water and blood run from them onto the table, pooling under the Knight. You pay none of them any mind, pulling tools from your trunk and placing them on a tray you set on the table.

“Oh my gods, oh my gods!” Hillie gasps, dropping one of the inkwells in her arms. “That’s so much- s-so much blood! Is he going to be alright?!”

You don’t even glance at her. “He will be.”

“But the blood! He’s dying!”

“Not while he’s on my operating table,” You say, finally tearing your gaze away, but your hands are still busy pulling vials and tubes from your trunk. “Look at me. I understand if you’re disturbed but you need to be calm. If you’re going to help, I need you to be calm. Otherwise, I’m going to need you to leave.”

Hillie stares, shaking in her robe. “I-“

“Now.” You focus back onto the injured knight, uncorking a vial of clear liquid and pouring it out onto your hand. Instead of spilling through your fingers it condenses, forming into shapeless haze hovering above your palm. At your belt, a Hydro Vision comes alight, dimming to a soft glow as you let the little cloud darkens, taking all the dirt and blood off your hands. “I won’t ask again, miss.”

“Hillie, go wake Adelinde please,” Diluc speaks up, putting his hand on her shoulder. She jolts but nods in understanding when she meets his eyes. Her first steps towards the door are shaky but she manages to hurry to the maid’s quarters, calling out for Adelinde.

“You two.” You look to the last Knights as you pull your palm away from the mist, letting it hang in mid-air. They don’t look hurt, save for a few bruises and a nasty cut on the brow of one but otherwise they’re unharmed. “Whichever one of you still has the energy. Get to Monstadt, tell them about what happened and have them prepare beds.”

One of them, a lanky, young blonde man steps forward. He’s missing both his pauldrons and one of his bracers but his eyes are resolute. “I can go.”

“Good. Go. Take the safest path you can,” You give him a stern look. “The safest, you hear me? No one else is getting hurt tonight.”

The knight nods, saluting to you. He casts worried glances at his friends on the table and by the fireplace before rushing out the door. Razor, jumps to his feet, the urgency reigniting him. “You need Razor? What can I do?”

“You’ve done so much already,” you say to him, looking past him to the knight by the fireplace whose face is beginning to color again. Then you look to the last Knight, who’s collapsed onto the floor on his backside. “But all three of you should get out of those wet clothes and warmed up fast.”

“I can do that.”

You turn and a woman with blonde hair and blue eyes is already coming around your operating table to the Knight by the fireplace. “Will one of the guest rooms upstairs suffice Master Diluc?”

“Yes. Give them some of my spare clothes if you must.” Diluc begins to make his way over to the fireplace, but you stop him.

“My apologies Master Ragnvindr,” You say, grabbing a pair of shears and cutting through the knight’s undershirt. You peel the shreds away and Diluc is glad now that Hillie didn’t see the worst of it. Diluc recognizes wounds that could scar deeply. The knight shivers and the shards shift, they rise and fall as he breathes. Despite the grisly sight, your voice is even. “If I could please have you stay and get your assistance here?”

He approaches the table. “What do you need from me, Doctor?”

“Your vision.” You nod to the glow at his hip. You pick the vapor out of the air again, this time sweeping it over your patient’s body. Blood and dirt dye it dark red, cleaning the knight enough for Diluc to see how closely one of the icicles is buried in his ribs, mere inches away from his heart. “He fell into the lake before he got blasted by a cryo mage.”

Diluc nods, “He’ll die of the cold before you could get all of those out of him.” He peels his glove off, rubbing his hands together. His palms and fingers flush with heat.

“As close as you can get to the torso, please. Just keep them away from the shards,” you say as you gather the blood mist with a wave and let it fall, draining red into a tray. Diluc hovers his hands above the knight’s shoulders, allowing the heat to seep into the man’s pale skin. His shivering lessens but the icicles in his body begin to sweat. You gesture at him. “Turn it down a little please, the last thing we need is to melt water into his body.”

Diluc follows.

“Good.”

You pull one of the icicles right out of the knight’s stomach. Diluc gasps a little, not as much as the knight and not as loud as when you pull out another. After that it’s as if Diluc isn’t even there. He is reduced to being a heat lamp as you move his hands to where you need them and the contrast of the coolness of your skin on his heated palms make steam curl up into the air. Your hands are a flurry of movement, raining red into the tray and cleaning the wounds you pull more shards from. It makes Diluc’s stomach curl a little, seeing bits of flesh rip away with one of the icicles. You curse and out of the moist air, condense moe mist that glows a faint blue. You hover it above the wound and let it rain and the skin heals, but you pull it away before the wound closes. You murmur to yourself. “Come on, Garret. Work with me here.”

Garret. Diluc had just been calling him “the knight”.

You are more cautious then. Moving Diluc’s hands close to warm up the skin around the shards before pulling, then drawing the water out of his wounds into more dark, bloody mist drifting around his foyer.

Diluc’s arms have long gone numb before you finally tell him he can stop with a curt nod and a thank you. Diluc takes the dismissal. He may have a stronger stomach than most but even he can’t watch as you cut the knight open to look at the damage to his insides. He sits back in one of the chairs, turned away from the table, trying to massage the feeling back into his shoulders. You ignore him. At some point Razor comes back downstairs, dressed in some of Diluc’s old clothes and asks if he can help. Diluc tells him he can go back up. Razor refuses and sits by the fireplace.

Diluc almost nods off at some point. Razor goes under completely, curling up on the carpet but Diluc fights it off long enough to hear you let out a deep, relieved sigh. Diluc forces his eyes up and looks back as you are cutting the last suture. You pull your hands away from the knight’s, from Garret’s, body and look around. You find Diluc still sitting there and you startle. Your eyes dart back and forth between him and then Razor, asleep by the fireplace. “...your coat. Please.”

It takes him a moment but Diluc comes to his senses and sheds the old hunting jacket, handing it over. Before you cover Garret up Diluc catches a glimpse of a miracle. The knight’s torso was clean, the deep wounds already scarred over or gone, save for the incision going up his left side held together by big, ugly but clean stitches. Even covered, the steady rise and fall of Garret’s chest is obvious. His breathing is a little shallow but clear and equal. You put your hand on his forehead, murmuring something too low for Diluc to catch. Then you pull away.

“Fuck.”

You collapse onto the carpet, leaning back against one of the table’s legs.

Diluc pushes one of the chairs nearer. “Please. Sit.”

You shake your head with a laugh. “Can’t really get up right now. Thank you, though.” You tip your head back, eyes sliding shut as you let the light of dawn flooding in from the window soak into your haggard skin. Diluc turns, staring back at the rising sun, realizing that the rain, and with it the night, had passed in a blink. It must have been forever for you and never once had you shown any sign of tiring all throughout. But now you are just as out of breath as he would be after a long, hard-fought battle. You glance over to the fireplace in the foyer, taking in Razor curled up nearby to stay warm. “I have a lot to thank you and him for,” you chuckle but it’s more of a huff.

“He led you here.”

“Yeah and I thought he was fucking crazy. I thought,” you laugh a little, “I thought I was going to have to fight some rich asshole for a space in his basement again.” Diluc can’t help his curious stare. Watching you give orders and work for hours straight then hearing you laugh and jest is jarring. You smile, beaming at him like the dawn. “Thank you Master Ragnvindr, for helping me save their lives.”

Diluc blinks. He opens his mouth to speak.

“Doctor!”

Razor peeks out from behind a couch, leaping over to get to you. “You are done? Knight is safe?”

“Yeah kid, he’s going to be just fine, thanks to you.” You reach over and pat Razor on the head, smiling just as brightly.

Razor grins. “And you? You are okay? Everyone is okay?”

“All good.”

“Everyone is okay!” Razor nods, smiling at you then at Diluc. “I am glad!”

“So am I,” you laugh, reaching down to a skein around your waist. “No one’s dying any time soon.”

There’s a sureness in your voice that has the back of Diluc’s mind tingling and his chest aching.

“Not while I’ve got them.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AN: If you enjoyed please leave comments! Reblog! What do u think of The Doctor??? 🧐 is the word count too much?

Oathkeeper

00: Prologue

Diluc x Doctor!Reader

Warnings: Blood. Mentions of death.  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Diluc

Diluc accepts all that comes next.

Not that he can offer much resistance anyway. The searing in his chest and ache in his head that the Harbinger had left him with has subsided. Now all he feels is the last of him slip right through his fingers and drip, warm and red, down his chest. He feels his own breath growing shallow. Each one is a labor and he barely feels the hands gripping his arms and legs. Who has him, he wonders? Where are they taking him? Somewhere where no one will ever find him, or will they send him back? He finds comfort in that thought, in the idea of being buried next to his father. But he doesn’t like to think of Elzer’s frustration, Adelinde’s pained expression, Kaeya’s regret or Jean’s tears but blood and sweat have seeped into his eyes. It’s all he can see.

But he does hear voices.

“-defy orders!?”

“I’m doing wha-“

He can’t make out all of the words people around him are yelling. At him? At each other? He can’t tell that either, allowing himself to sink further.

“- so be it!”

Diluc gasps. A coolness envelops him, and he screams. The gash in his chest burns again, his body coming alight with pain. He thrashes, screaming louder when the hands holding him up grip tighter.

“-is a mistake.”

“Put him down right there.”

There’s crashing and grunting. Another spike of pain shoots up his nerves as he’s lowered down onto something and he gasps for air. The hands leave him and are replaced the same coolness that pulled him back into agony. He fights, trying to pull away from it but he can’t even manage that. The feeling travels down his chest, leaving his clothes damp and soothes his burning skin but it doesn’t do much else. “Broken ribs, bruised organs and… his lung is pierced,” someone says, a gentler voice and Diluc feels every ache and pain they list, the shadow of the Harbinger’s blade hasn’t left his chest. “He’s bleeding out inside.”

“What are you doing, then?!” Diluc can hear them clearer now, distressed, and panicked protests from a man with a deep voice.

“I don’t think there’s anything we can do.” A third voice worries, a quieter voice.

“Exactly! This is a fool’s act. He’s as good as dead!”

Yes, he is. Let him go, he wants to say. Let the suffering stop, he wants to beg. He musters up what strength he can trying to but is silenced. “Shush, don’t talk. Your jaw is broken too.” The same gentle voice chides, stricter now as the coolness caresses the side of his face. Something is touched to his lips and the voice commands. “Drink.”

He won’t.

“What. Are. You. Doing?!” One asks again, and the coolness leaves his face. Diluc manages a groan but the gentle one is right, his jaw aches. “If the Harbingers find out we helped him-“

“Leave then. If you want so badly to not get involved, to protect yourself, to let him die, leave.”

“But you-“

“I am doing my job. And if you’re going to help me. I need you to calm down. And if you can’t do that. Get. Out.”

The coolness comes back so does the thing touching his lips. “Drink,” the gentle one says and when Diluc doesn’t something slithers down his throat too fast for him to even choke on. Diluc almost gasps as his entire body relaxes. His ragged breathing slows.

“Well?”

He doesn’t know who they’re asking.

“…fuck it.” The quiet one, the worrier, speaks up. There’s rustling and shuffling. “What do you need me to do?”

“You’re fools! Insane! Both of you!”

The gentle voice says something else but Diluc doesn’t catch it. The ache in his head ebbs away and he barely feels the hands on his chest, peeling his clothes away. He almost protests again but whatever he’s drank has rendered his faculties useless, numb. He catches one last thing before he’s pulled under. The gentle voice huffs.

“Sorry, but you’re not dying today. Not while I’ve got you.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ AN: The start of a new fic, I feel motivated to wrote. Here’s to hoping! If you’re interested I’d really appreciate a reblog. 😊 

Really, your writting is marvelous.

Wow. This is the first time I’ve ever gotten one of these like EVER 🥺

Thank you so much. And thanks to everyone who randomly finds my stuff and reblogs even considering how inconsistent I am with uploading.

Serenitea Pot Headcanons

Because Genshin has taken over my brain.

If you’re anything like me, you made your Genshin Impact Serenitea Pot with your characters in mind. And so here’s a collections of little ideas I had about how those characters might spend their time in your little pocket realm with you.

Enjoy!

Edit: I wrote this before the 1.6 update and then IT HAPPENED

Edit 2: I’m writing a Diluc fic here: Oathkeeper

Warning: Wholesomeness ahead.

Amber doesn’t seem to run out of energy. When she spots the little archery range with hilichurl targets behind the manor she gets right to shooting. This, of course, just pulls the other archers out for some friendly competition. And none of them would actually go into the house for hours until someone reminds them they have to eat.

Some of your companions find themselves preoccupied by the study you’ve put up in one of the rooms. The shelves are filled to the brim with books from both Liyue and Monstadt. Lisa keeps the place orderly, barely leaving the room. The same can be said for Albedo and Sucrose who’ve taken over a corner of the room and crammed it with alchemy equipment.

The devoted researchers only leave to train or eat. And whoever could resist the call of the dinner bell when it was Xiangling ringing. You hadn’t even needed to show her where anything was in your kitchen. One step in and she knew it like the back of her hand. You help out every once in a while but find Xiangling really doesn’t need it. Paimon is certainly delighted, glad to be left in there to get the first taste.

It leaves you free to go outside and join Bennett, Noelle or Chongyun who never seem to stop training and wanting to improve. Noelle would have been done cleaning inside and Chongyun would have a fresh batch of popsicles from the kitchen. They’ve made a space for themselves near the archery range and actually find kindred spirits and mentors in two other friends of yours.

Diluc’s expresson is absolutely comical when he sees the younger, smaller claymore users swing their weapon around like a club rather than a sword. Nevermind his face when they start spinning like tops. He teaches them how to build strength, how to use their weapons with finesse and power. They start to look up to him. It’s no surprise that outside of the teapot and without the traveller, more guests seem to stay at Dawn Winery than before.

Eula shows them how to wield with grace. Chongyun is starry eyed at seeing such a powerful and well trained Cryo claymore user like himself. Eula is only glad to help even if she doesn’t quite know how to say so directly. She and Fischl are alike in how much people have to decode what they’re saying sometimes. But she does loosen up when she’s pulled into drinking with Beidou and Kaeya.

Speaking of, Beidou would find herself right at home on one of the couches, pulling out a gourd of baijiu to unwind from a long journey. Kaeya has started his own little storage of wine in the kitchen. Diona disapproves, mixing them non-alcoholic drinks that they surely enjoy but if she’s not around they’ll just go back to their usuals.

When Kaeya’s not engaging in a drinking contest with someone, he is both encouraging Klee’s behaviour and keeping it under control. Klee loves all the open space. She’s a little disappointed she can’t go “fishing” but nearly explodes with joy when she’s told the landscape of the teapot fixes itself. When she’s finally down at the end of the day, some of you end up cleaning the soot off yourselves and picking up bomb fragments with Albedo. But at least she had fun (?)

Mona very much likes having a place to stay where she can see the stars, enjoy a nice big meal and doesn’t have to pay for ANYTHING. Meeting Xiangling is the best thing that ever happened to her. A girl willing to taste test anything and a girl willing to experiment with anything. Naturally during these times people stay out of the kitchen for their own safety.

Actually, Bennett just stays out of the kitchen in general. He’s been banned. Permanently. He can often be found outside. He’ll trip on a rock you swear you never put there and Tubby swears too, but he trips anyway. Barbara will be there to heal him. That is, if she’s not trying to coax Rosaria into doing some evening prayers or saying grace before a meal. Rosaria prefers to stand in the corners and watch. What she watching for? Who knows.

When Fischl is done with archery outside she’ll find the little corner of the study with the fantasy books and indulge herself. Here, she even gets a knack for writing her own stories and Xinqui is more than happy to listen and even give notes and exchange ideas. They take over the study whenever Albedo isn’t in there doing alchemy.

If the study is free of both of them, Zhongli is there, sitting with a cup of tea and discussing philosophy with Keqing, politics and law with Yanfei, history with Ganyu or Liyue affairs with Ningguang. If you sit in on the conversation you’ll either feel smarter than before or dumber than you’ve ever felt in your life. Should the study be occupied, Zhongli will enjoy his tea outside as the archers are trying to teach you and struggling to teach Childe how to shoot properly.

Amber: You posture needs work.

Ganyu: Maybe you should focus on proper technique before strength

Fischl: Such power...but also such inaccuracy

Venti: better luck next time!

Diona: maybe if you werent so tall you’d have better aim

Childe: OKAY, I GET IT.

Childe may pout but he enjoys the challenge, really. Whatever gets him to stop trying to rope Diluc, Eula, Jean or you into a fight. But he and Diluc actually find competition in another aspect of tea pot living; providing

The landscape may repair itself and Baizhu and Xiangling may have started a herbal and ingredients garden on the island, but supplies still ran low. It wasn’t even a competition at all. One day Diluc saw how low the manor was on certain items and decided bring some supplies with him to restock. Childe heard about it and brought more. Diluc didn’t care until Childe insisted you reward him with your attention.

It wouldn’t have turned into anything if it hadn’t been for Kaeya egging them both on, something he never does when Jean is watching. Actually everyone seems to try to be on their best behaviour for Jean. Who’s tired enough outside the teapot. She’s another one of the people who end up behind one of the desks in the study. It takes some coaxing but they either get her into a bed or at least the couch in the office.

Barbara is happy to see her get some rest. But Barbara also finds happiness in the separate little building on the island where she writes songs with Venti and Xinyan. You asked Tubby for that house when Xinyan woke up half the manor in the middle of night because she got “struck by inspiration”. But she isn’t the only one who often stays outside the manor.

For all his efforts of adapting to being more human-like, Razor still feels uncomfortable sleeping in a normal bed. Which is why there’s a corner of the island with a tent, and a bunch of dogs always waiting for him. They take to him like they’ve known him for years and are all to eager to roughouse and play with a human who isn’t as concerned with getting filthy or slobbered on.

Xiao watches this and sees Razor and the dogs huddling together for warmth from his perch on the roof of the manor. It takes some coaxing to get him to join you for anything, and some of Xiangling’s special almond tofu, but eventually he’ll jump down. Unless it’s Zhongli calling because if so he’ll be down in an instant.

When it’s night and Xiao starts to feel the pull of darkness, it’s all too convenient that the melifluous sound of a harp starts to lull him back into control. Xiao himself doesnt sleep or rest much so instead he watches over all of you inside, making sure all your dreams are well and good.

Note: I am aware I forgot Qiqi and Hu Tao, I just don’t know them well enough.

Managers’ Club (Preview)

Story: Managers’ Club

Rating: T

Fandom: Haikyuu!

At the start of the year, the newest managers of the interschool boys’ volleyball teams are appointed, recruited and, in some cases, coerced into their role. The job seemed easy enough but when things start to get complicated it’s always a good thing to have friends who can relate, who understand, and that you can talk to about anything.

A Delinquent’s Journal

Like any troublemaker going through “probation” Atsume’s supposed to keep a diary. In all honesty, she has more trouble deciding what’s not worth writing. Two weeks in, and she’s the manager for “grand uncle Yasu’s” volleyball team, she’s gained a shadow with a bad dye job, and a captain who looks at her like she's going to set the Nekoma gym on fire. Should she keep that part out? Or maybe let her probation officer know about the gang of misfits who greet her everyday by bowing at her feet. Or about the school’s betting and backmail ring. She did not sign up for any of this but, fuxk it. Teams need to be managed and gangsters don’t take themselves down. Time get to work. 

Lightning Strike

Fukurodani’s teams already have enough managers and everyone knows this. Still, they get the occasional application from people with crushes on some team member that they use for paper scrap and memos. They almost think its a joke when they find Katsumi’s application among them. No not a late application for the girls’ team, something they would’ve accepted in a heartbeat. Not even one as manager for the boys’ team. No one expected the coach to come in with junior high legend, the Raijin, Inszuma Katsumi by his side. No one expected her, a student, a freshman, to be their assistant coach. And certainly no one expected her to come in on the first day and proclaim she’s given up her sport to pursue her love for their vice captain.

Game-Play

Hikari’s never lost a match. She’s won every chess tournament, shogi competition and weekend radio show trivia quiz they’ve pointed her at. Schools all over Miyagi were clamouring for a chance to have her boost their average, to increase their prestige so it’s no surprise she goes to one of the best. Shiratorizawa wastes no time putting her to work and for two years that’s exactly what she does. When she quits yet another club, they know she’ll jump right into another. And she does, just not where anyone would’ve thought.

To follow...

Rough Draft

The Ice Princess

P.S; when I made all these screenshots I forgot Yachi doesn’t get recruited until after the first tournament. Oops.

1404 (Prologue)

Fandom: Haikyuu!! Pairing: Kuroo Tetsuro x Youtuber Reader Words: 1500+ Posted: 26/11/20

Song(s) Featured: Moon on the Water by The Dying Breed (from Beck MCS)

“It’s actually really exciting.”

Tetsuro nods, knowing Kenma means it, whatever he’s talking about. Probably something about Bouncing Ball corp. and the new game they have in development. Really, Kenma hasn’t stopped talking about it since the project started almost half a year ago and while Tetsuro is interested enough to usually listen to him rave and gush, today’s just not that kind of day.

“-and the new voice actor I have in mind is really good. We save a lot of time and money cause they speak in both languages.”

Yup, they’re probably phenomenal if Kenma is so easy to compliment them. Tetsuro racks his brain trying to remember who he’s talking about.

“I’m actually thinking about having her as a guest on stream soon.”

Uh huh.

“Oh and I’m also going to shave my head and give my hair to that middle school girl who won’t stop messaging.”

Good for them.

“Okay, how many of those have you had today?”

Tetsuro looks down at the cup of coffee he’s forgotten he’s holding. “Uh…” his brows furrow and it’s enough for Kenma to pry the cup out of his hand and set it on the far end of the table.

“And you’re always telling me to get proper sleep.” Kenma gives him a look, sipping on his own drink. He exits Discord, Tetsuro’s sagging back, drooping shoulders and lifeless eyes, more concerning than his followers’ Rule 34 fanart. “Seriously are you okay man? Have you been sleeping? At all?”

Tetsuro shakes his head, the mere mention of sleep enough to slump him over the table completely. As far as he knows, a waiter hadn’t wiped it after the last couple of people who sat down, or before he and Kenma took their place. He finds he doesn’t care. “Stupid neighbors, always either fighting or fucking all night. It’s been going on for a month now.”

“Oh that’s rough.” Kenma winces, handing him back his coffee, knowing lunch break doesn’t last forever and Tetsuro has to return to his office as a zombie. “Tried filing a noise complaint?”

He was about to, one week into the couple’s constant spats, but hearing them scream at the top of their lungs at each other about money troubles and barely keeping themselves afloat stayed his hand. Tetsuro knows how difficult it is to get an apartment in his building, a prime position near the business district at a reasonable price. He also knows his neighbors to an extent, at least what they do for a living as a preschool teacher and a struggling musician. As much as he needs his sleep, he’s not so heartless as to put them out on the streets. “It’s fine,” he promises as he downs the rest of his coffee. “I’ve been living next door to these guys for almost two years now and they’ve always seemed happy before this. They’ll work through it and I then I can get some sleep.”

“If you say so,” Kenma says but he still stares down and shakes his head at the next waitress who tries to approach them with a pot of coffee.

It’s a month and two weeks in that Tetsuro reconsiders that noise complaint or at least considers gathering his neighbors from the same floor and staging an intervention. Mrs. Mamizuka across the hall has expressed her concerns to Kuroo in the elevator one morning, telling him they’ll surely notice how loud and disturbing they’ve become when they realize she hasn’t been giving them as many of her baked goods as she normally does. And Tanaka who’s taking up residence at the end of their hall has advised him to just go out at night, go to the convenience store next to the building and wait till they tire each other out or go partying with friends.

Oh, to be a college student again.

He’s not even in his mid-twenties and he wishes for the energy he used to have, the kind that could drive him through all his classes on just 3 hours of sleep. Maybe then, he could finish his damned paperwork. Maybe then he wouldn’t fall asleep on the bus and miss his stop.

“Been up working late nights Kuroo-san?” the night guard, Sato asks him when he drags his feet into the lobby after midnight.

Kuroo nods, also wishing he had half the middle aged man’s energy, because even at the latest hours of the night, Sato-san greets every tenant and guest with a smile. Kuroo could only force himself to return it. “Something like that.”

“Well you look pretty tuckered out. You should probably put off whatever you’re working on for the night Kuroo-san.” He wags an index finger like a weather man telling a fact about nature on the news. “Sleep is important you know.”

Doesn’t he know it.

When he crosses the threshold of his apartment, he doesn’t bother turning on the lights. He heads straight for his bedroom and musters up the energy to take off his jacket, tie, socks and shoes. The night is silent, save for a light chorus of crickets outside his window. He’s gotten home later than he would have any other time, a crescent moon sitting just past its peak outside his window. And he hopes, oh does he hope, that it means his neighbors have already fought all they can fight for the night. Or maybe the husband hasn’t come home yet and that’s why it hasn’t started. 

He regrets even thinking of it when he settles into bed and hears the distant sound of a door being unlocked and slammed open.

Tetsuro sighs, already rolling over to each for his messenger bag, his earphones sitting somewhere at the bottom. He stops his rummaging when no bedlam disturbs the night. Footsteps prick his ears but they don’t stomp and aren’t followed by booming voices trying to talk over each other. He rolls back over, leaning towards the wall and hearing nothing. Odd. More shuffling and trudging draw his eye up to the crag ceiling, to the apartment above his.

The kind elderly couple who used to live up there had mentioned wanting to move to the country for months. “The air is fresher there, better for old people like us,” the wife chuckled at him once when he’d helped carry her groceries across the lobby to the elevator. Not a week later, Tetsuro was helping the husband and their son move furniture out, just in time to miss the beginning of a hard spot in their neighbor’s relationship. But whoever has taken their place isn’t so fortunate but then again, maybe it’s him that’s out of luck. In the darkness of his apartment he stares up at the ceiling, brows furrowed.

He prays, prays to whatever kami watches over the luck and serenity of apartment buildings that it isn’t another couple that should’ve broken up yesterday. Hell, he’ll even take a new family with a rowdy kid. At least kids are usually out by 10 with their parents careful not to wake them, not banging on the walls or banging each other. No movie he’s watched or game he’s been in has ever left him in such suspense. After some more shuffling and gentle creak of chair legs against a wood floor, there’s silence. 

Tetsuro sits up, holding his breath.

“Full moon sways, 

gently in the night of one fine day.”

A car drives by, the doppler effect of it rushing down the street drowning out the first few notes of an acoustic guitar. Deft fingers play with practiced ease but do so with languid movement, catching on the strings more than plucking them. The voice, high and crooning, is the same, beautiful but almost lazy. Tired, he realizes, is a better word; she sounds as tired as he remembers he feels, once all the irritation at his neighbors and frustration with missing his stop ebbs away. Laying back down, he listens.

"On my way,  looking for a moment with my dear. 

Full moon waves, slowly on the surface of the lake. 

You are there, smiling in my arms 

for all those years."

Even as the song switches to strumming with the slightest bit of force, Tetsuro finds himself sinking deeper into his pillow, eyes growing heavy.

"What a fool, I don’t know ‘bout tomorrow, 

or what it’s like to be, Ah,"

He’s never heard the song in his life, neither does he remember enough of his English classes from high school to understand everything, but he doesn’t need to.

"I was sure, I couldn’t let myself go, 

even though I feel, the end."

Her voice and her guitar are muffled by the layers of wood and concrete between them. His window is open to let the cool night air and silver light of the moon in and he can tell hers is as well but she drowns out the chirping of crickets, the cars that drive by and even Tetsuro’s own thoughts as little by little, then all at once, he falls asleep.

"Full moon sways, gently in the night one fine day 

You were there, smiling in my arms,

 for all these years."

When he opens his eyes, it’s slow. Sleep inertia from a deep sleep is always worse but he finds his eyes widening as it goes away in minutes and he feel more rested than he has in years.

He blinks, staring up at the ceiling.

“Huh.”

Hmmmm. Intriguing concept to explore

Thank you all for for 1k likes on the Demon Slayer AU!

By the way, is there somwthing wrong with my asks? I kinda wanna receive asks and ya know. Interact with yall. If you want? 😂

Part 2 is up!

Obey Me: MC is Hiding Something

When MC first awakens in the council room none of them think much of them. They’re sitting there shivering like a dog left out in the rain and refuses to meet anyone’s eyes.

Lucifer starts to wonder what in devil’s name made you a good candidate for this exchange program. You barely had enough courage to answer when Lord Diavolo welcomed you so graciously, much less look dignified in any way.

Something odd he does observe though is, despite you silence and obvious terror, you seemed to accept the concepts of a Devildom and of RAD and him and his brother very easily or maybe you were just nodding along insipidly.

Mammon’s opinion of you is even lower. He already hated the idea of having to watch and make sure some stupid human didn’t get themselves killed on their first week. Damn it! That wasn’t his job! They can’t even carry a conversation, always just staring and watching everybody.

The human doesnt seem to have any kind of motivations or idea as to what they wanna do. Lucifer will never know if he leaves you alone at school for a while considering you’ve found your friends group with the other exchange students. And at home he sees no problem with letting you go off for just an hour or two. All you really do is walk around and examine the rooms and grounds. Maybe you’re an architecture freak or something.

Leviathan barely pays you any mind when you arrive, not like he ever has the chance to, being that he never leaves his room outside of going to class. But during breakfast he does notice how interested you seemed in the game console he’s playing on. And for a moment he wonders if you’re a gamer or an otaku too

but no, ugh you’re just some normie. You watch Asmo obsess over his compact mirror and Satan over whatever book he’s holding just the same. And you’re conversation is shit like Mammon said. Listless and lacking enthusiasm. But he doesnt stop you when you watch over his shoulder when he plays.

Satan doesn’t have a problem with you. That said, he doesn’t particularly like you. But he can respect how much time you seem to spend in the library, and how many books you borrow about the devildom and kinds of demons. It made sense, you wanted to know the kind of creatures you were surrounded by.

he does wonder though, why one day you seem to be borrowing a lot of Solomon’s books and Solomon’s time as well. But then again, that makes sense too, you were both human after all. Maybe you would stop flinching and get even a little more comortable with someone your race around. When one of his tomes disappear, he interrogates Mammon because of course, it’s Mammon.

Asmo likes your style. It’s not particularly glamorous or eye-catching but it matches your aesthetic. He especially admired your choices in acessories. The amulet you’re always wearing is so pretty and he swears sometimes it almost glows. And your rings were peak Devildom fashion, sharp, edgy iron designs. But he especially adored the silver spike earring you wore.

He was both delighted and smug that he was the first one to get a little closer to you. But of course, how could you resist! You even complimented the perfume he was wearing and asked where he got it. And he directed you to his favorite oils and essences shop that supplied products and ingredients from every realm. And while applying some to your wrist he catches a glimpse of a tattoo peeking out from under your sleeve but you pull your hand away, bashful. Oh, he’ll get you to show him someday. Heehee.

Beel is curious how a human can eat so much. He’s been told human athletes apparently eat a lot to maintain muscle mass and strength and the like but looking at you, you didn’t seem the type to do anything strenuous. Except he does notice that when a demon bumps you in the hall, you’re not hurt or thrown off despite the size difference. And when you’re purposely knocked into by someone else, your reaction is fast, pivoting out of the way and behind the demon and you almost look like…

Nah. You weren’t going to attack him, you began to cower and apologize again and again until Mammon had to drag you way before it got any more embarrassing. The next time you pique his interest is at the gym in the house. You always make sure to go at a time when there isn’t anyone else and he happened to go after you. But it couldn’t have been you that just used that machine. Were you really capable of lifting that much?

Luke and Simeon are sympathetic, Simeon understands the discomfort and the adjustment and answers any questions you have about the brothers and how not to piss them off or placate them if ever you did make them angry. He answers your questions about RAD and the program but does wonder. Wherever did you get an angel relic like the one hanging from your ear?

Luke says you shouldn’t be afraid of those no good demons, if anything happens you can run to Purgatory Hall and they’ll help. He promises. He likes your company and starts up baking with you, teaching dishes and pastries. He tells you a lot about Michael and lets slip things about Lucifer and the brothers back when they were still angels. You don’t push him on the subjects but you do seem pretty interested.

it all came together, very easily. First the lights, Leviathan’s screams echo in the halls as he laments not having saved soon enough. Asmodeus’ whining about losing such good selfie lighting came next and both come out into the hall, yelling for their older brother. “Lucifer!”

If not for that, Lucifer probably wouldn’t have noticed, having been locked up in his firelit office since dinner was over. Heaving a sigh he gets up. All of the yelling told him the lights were out so how could he have expected the brilliant flash of white that burned his eyes when he opened his door. He stumbles, leaning on the door frame for support as footfalls race down the hall.

He growls, feeling his wings and horns materialize but something isn’t right. His vision doesn’t return and his skin starts to burn. In the air he catches the faintest scent of something he hasn’t smelled in a long time. Holy oil.

When the little light in the fridge fades, Beel thinks he may have fucked up. But then it turns out the whole house is out so it must just be some prank. He keeps eating, uncaring whether or not he identifies what it is he’s shoveling into his mouth. Then he smells it.

once upon a time he’d caught Luke with some kind of cookies from the celestial realm. And they were some of the best cookies he’d ever had in his existence. He could never forget that smell, so when it wafts through the air coming from the main hall, he follows. Drool begins to gather beneath his tongue.

He misses the sharp, metallic scent drifting beneath it.

Satan’s vexation spikes when his reading light goes out and his peace and quiet is distrubed by his idiot brothers. Mammon probably tried to turn the power off in Levi’s room to get him out so he can sneak in and steal his stuff again. But then Asmo starts yelling, and one cry from Lucifer rattles his bones.

It’s enough to get him on his feet. But what draws a gasp from him is the flash of lightning that gives him his sight for a moment. White lightning, an impossibility in the devildom’s ever red tinged sky. He goes to the window, knocking a stack of tomes over and unlatches it. But it doesn’t budge. Using the light on his D.D.D. he tries again but it just won’t open.

Outside Satan’s door heavy footsteps, thump along in a slow rhythm. Satan races to the door and Beel is there trudging along the carpet like a zombie, his nose perched in the air.

“Beel?! What the-? What are you doing?”

“Hey what’s the big idea!? Where are you guys!? Who’s doing that weird singing?!”

Mammon calls out into the mansions, just as confused as everyone else. Satan’s brows furrow; he didn’t cause this, then. He’s about to answer but Mammon yelps, and a resounding thwack has Satan grab Beel, and race towards the sound, almost stumbling over each other’s feet in the dark. They’re only guide is the ocassional flash of white and the sound of chanting growing louder as they grow near.

It is still pitch black but years of experience and spatial awareness tells him they’re in the foyer. Satan ventures out, almost tripping over something on the ground; it’s Mammon. He lays at the top of the steps, passed out. Satan is about to shake him awake when Leviathan and Asmo come out of a hall holding up Lucifer between them. Another flash. Lucifer’s demon form flickers in and out, smoke rising from his blistering skin. Satan freezes and Beel picks up Mammon in his arms.

“Satan! What the hell is going on!?” Levi calls out into the dark over the spell.

The chanting stops. So does the lightning and they’re plunged into complete darkness. They hear the sound of plastic and a baggie hits Beelzebub square in the chest, landing on Mammon’s stomach. “Cookies?”

He smells that first but then they recognise the other scent prominent in the air as blood.

Human blood.

“Wait, where’s MC?!” Asmo’s voice comes from the black. “Are they trapped somewhere?”

Someone laughs.

“Oh, you don’t need to worry about that.”

Lightning flashes again, bathing the foyer in glaring white. It’s only for a moment but their eyes are quick enough. It becomes clear where the stench of blood was coming from. “After all, I’m not trapped in here with you…”

Your eyes seem to glow, vacant of whatever fear or trepidation you’ve deceived them with for weeks. In your hand is the earring Asmo admired so much, the silver tip dripping red. At your side, your palm is sliced open, already clotting as you’ve used all you needed for the seal activating the devil’s trap around the entire house. Your sleeves are pushed up to the elbows the sigils and signs inked into your skin tasting air again after so long. As you place your hand on the seal they come alight. Your lips curl over your teeth.

“You’re trapped in here….with me.”

Solomon knows a demon slayer when he sees one. And he tells you right off the bat whatever you’re planning it isn’t a good idea. You’re outnumbered and overpowered by them.

but then he sees human world magic light up the skies and decides maybe it’s a good time to visit the House of Lamentations.

To be Continued….

Obey Me: Demon Slayer MC (2)

Part One

——————

You’ve been removed from the House of Lamentations...for a week. None of the brothers could argue, really.

Beelzebub feels kinda bad. If you were already cautious of them before you must have been terrified now. Being around angels and a fellow human would do some good but Beel has to resist coming over. The cookies you left are divine after all, so sweet and rich with the Celestial Realm ingredients. But when you return he should ask you why they seem to leave such a bitter taste in his mouth, maybe you fouled up with a measurement or two? Still, he eats them, getting crumbs all over the bandages that wrap around his thigh and right arm.

Satan will let Mammon off just this once. His missing tome was returned by you just a few hours ago, thwarting Mammon’s scheme and while he’s glad it’s back, it irritates him. The very sight of it makes him want to tear it apart and burn it. The soreness from last night’s scuffle doesn’t help his vexation any. Neither does the random drop of blood staining a couple of pages. Human blood, he notes but he feels no guilt. It’s not like he was the one that accidentally hit you last night. Besides, it’ll teach you to get involved in disputes between them. Though he will admit, going into his demon form over it may have been an exaggeration.

Asmodeus frowns at the silver spike earring he receives in the mail. It looks a lot like yours, which was why he ordered it. Except it’s a little less intricate and it didn’t quite shine the way yours does. But that‘s beside the point. Really? He just didn’t like it anymore. He didn’t like looking at it, trying it and though it likely still looks good, he didn’t like it on you, especially. Oh he always knew it looked dangerous but that was part of the charm! Now though, after recalling you accidentally cut yourself, the charm might’ve been a little dead.

Leviathan curses when he sees he didn’t save at an important point in Ruri-chan Adventures: High School Days. Impossible! He always saves so he can go back to all the cute, awesome things Ruri-chan said! And yet, there’s a gap between crucial scenes anyway. Ugh, it was all because of that stupid argument last night. He never would’ve thought they’d get him so riled up, he’d actually transform and join the fight over it, over...whatever it had been. And now the cuts on his arms sting when they come in contact with his jacket sleeves, ichor staining the inside lining. Just, ugh, this is the pits.

Mammon is still nursing a headache. He can’t remember whatever it is they got mad at him for last night, but did they really have to hit him so hard he passed out!? A little excessive, geez. At least today they’re nice to him...almost too nice. Ah shit, was he being blamed for last night? Is that why he’s been replaced as your watchdog? Were they buttering him up so they were going to punish him?! Nah! It couldn’t be, Lucifer would’ve done it already and Lucifer hasn’t left his room since yesterday.

Sitting in his bed with his pink tinged skin slathered in some remedy Barbatos whipped up, Lucifer can’t help but feel ridiculous. What was Diavolo thinking? Playing around with Holy Oil like that? Yes it had no effect on demons but Lucifer and his brothers weren’t always demons. It couldn’t be used to trap them like it used to but it could still incapacitate them. It had been so painful, he could hardly remember what happened afterwards but apparently his brothers got into a fight over something trivial and you got caught in the middle. He’d have to apologize to you later.

Regardless when he’d woken up, Diavolo was telling him (forcing him) to take the day off. He’d apologized only once but profusely, his ever-jovial smile faltering. Lucifer insisted he forgives him, it was an accident after all. Diavolo goes right back to smiling after that and tells him his duty of watching over you has been handed over to someone else for the week. Just until you’ve calmed down.

Luke is so miffed about what happened! He knew those demons would lose control and try to hurt you! Luke is ecstatic to have you in Purgatory Hall, of course. You recreated his cookies perfectly the other day and your knack for picking up recipes is amazing. Well, most recipes, your devildom dishes always end up...catastrophic. Maybe it was because of your basically being abducted here that made you so uncomfortable with anything devildom related. Still, he loves your company.

Simeon is, of course, delighted to have you. Even as low spirited as you seemed when you came in this morning. You presence has always given him a sense of tranquility and familiarity, as though you’re an old friend. And so he treats you as such, even if you seemed down at first, he catches you smiling every once in a while to yourself, twirling your angel relic earring as if remembering something fond by it. He just wishes you’d warm up to Solomon too.

Given the chance, you’d warm up. So warm, in fact, you could set him on fucking fire and collect the ashes so you could burn that too.

“f you keep being so quiet, I’m going to start getting suspicious”

You scowl at the bathroom door. Your newly appointed warden is waiting outside in your temporary room for you to be done. “Oh I’m sorry, did you want me to narrate everything I’m doing or are you just being a prick?”

“MC-“

“Second one, got it.”

You step out from beneath the shower, turning the valve in quick, jerky movements. They squeak as the water stops and it seems to satisfy Solomon for now. As you dry yourself off, out of the corner of your eye, you catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror above the sink. You scowl at the chains of light wrapping around your chest and arms that shine the same pale gold as Solomon’s ring of power. If you could see the back of your head, you’re sure the bruised lump on it would bare his mark too. Or that of his baseball bat.

Why does he even have that?

“Mc?”

You secure the towel around yourself. “Alright I’m coming out.”

You’ve effectively piqued Solomon’s interest. When he was told another human would be attending RAD, he hadn’t expected much. But here you are, standing before him as the could’ve-been slayer of the Avatars of the Seven Sins. But realistically speaking you probably could’ve only taken three of them on with what you tried. But three would be enough, after all; you incapacitated the two most powerful demons of the House, cut up the third, held off the most aggressive and injured the strongest. Other than the cut you did yourself on your palm and his own hit to the back of your head, there isn’t a scratch on you.

A demon slayer. He had so many questions that he couldn’t ask you last night in front of Diavolo and Barbatos who definitely knew something but refused to speak on it. How did you discover your powers? Did you know it couldn’t just be human magic? Who taught you?

He settles on one, “What exactly was your plan?” his back to you, as you changed into sleepwear. The rustle of fabric stops for a second. He elaborates, even if you had fought the other brothers off or maybe escaped while your modified devil’s trap kept them locked in the House. Where would you go? What would you do? How would you go home, if that was your goal at all? You answer him with a question of your own. “Why’d you stop at incapacitating me, why save them?”

Quid pro quo. There’s a door in the human world, in Wyoming, USA, that opened to hell and reading Satan’s book you found out it opened to this circle of hell. No one had opened that door since 2007 but you knew how. All it would take from this side was one sacrifice. You look Solomon dead in the eye as you say it and he laughs.

His laugh is as infuriating as his answer. “The semester’s just begun MC, would be a shame to end it so early with a sudden war, eh?” Besides, he tells you, things get a lot more interesting for him this way.

You nearly throttle him right then and there. Instead, you settle for sleeping last night off, the soft glow and hum of Solomon’s magic lulling you to sleep and locking you in your room. War he’d said and you decided, plans can wait till you’ve had some rest.

Barbatos would be lying if he said the current conversation didn’t interest him almost as much as serving tonight’s tea did but not quite. But who could blame him? It is an excellent blend and Solomon is an excellent guest. He would have been more comfortable serving at the palace but the House of Lamentations was suitable enough to host. Besides, he shares Lord Diavolo’s wish to stay close to Lucifer while he heals.

“Still feeling a bit drained?” Diavolo asks as Barbatos sets a down a plate of holyberry muffins on the coffee table of Lucifer’s office.

Solomon smiles, expressing his thanks before picking up his cup. “Just a bit. But not to worry,” he says savoring the tea’s rich minty aftertaste. It banishes the chill from his bones in a way even Lucifer’s roaring fireplace can’t. “I had enough strength left in me to bind MC to their room at Purgatory.”

“Impressive. Especially after having to cast a memory spell so powerful just a few hour prior.” Diavolo compliments but he says it as if he’s making an observation about the weather. Not that he has to compliment Solomon at all, but from what he has gleaned in his short time in the exchange program, Diavolo is not one to be so lukewarm.

“So, what’s the big secret? If you’ll allow me to be so bold Lord Diavolo,” Solomon says, smiling still. He puts down his cup, turning to face the demon-prince head on. “I don’t very much like being in the dark with matters I become involved in.”

Diavolo sighs. No pleasantries will delay the conversation any further, it seems. “A Nephilim” he says, finishing his fist cup. Barbatos is there in an instant to refill it but all Diavolo can spare is a nod in thanks. “That’s what MC is. I know that’s your biggest question. As for your next one, yes I knew when I chose for the program.”

“Well that certainly explains some things,” Solomon grabs his chin, thinking back to the flashes of light, Celestial light in the devildom’s sky. Then there was cutting off the power, something that couldnt be achieved by just shutting down a generator, not when all generators ran on magic and could only be disrupted by magic. But that wasn’t all, you had undone every room enchantment, broken every curse on the doors labelled off limits for you. Finally, there was the main doors of the House of Lamentations. The seal was no mere devil’s trap, the likes of which wouldn’t have worked on six demons who had once been fallen angels. It was a powerful spell, one that should have drained any human of their strength to not only cast but also maintain.

But then there was the seal itself and the tattoos covering most of your skin.

“They can’t be the only one.”

Solomon’s musings are cut short. Diavolo has finished half of Barbatos’ brew but keeps drinking. “The seal and the marks? It’s been hundreds of years but I would recognize those anywhere. Someone had to have taught MC such careful and studied magic. And that someone is from order of hunters and demon slayers who protect the human world.”

“The Left Hand of God,” Solomon frowns. “I thought that was a myth. A lie to cover up Gabriel’s fall?” Such information being unknown to him twists his insides.

“The lie, is that Gabriel fell at all.” Diavolo finally sets down the cup rubbing one of his temples. “Towards the end of my father’s reign, he let some demons run rampant. Gabriel was sent to earth in human form, to send them back here. But it didn’t end with him, his children and their children formed the Left Hand of God. Part of the reason why my father’s still in slumber is he’s recovering from a great war he once had with them. It was declared a draw, when the Celestials interfered, siding with the humans. The treaties were drawn, and they’ve been protecting the human world for centuries since then.”

“And you brought one here.”

“I didn’t know that I did.”

Solomon raises a brow. “You knew about MC’s blood but not about the affiliation to the Left Hand? How does that elude you of all demons?”

Diavolo’s hand on his armrest clenches and for a moment, Solomon fears he’s overstepped but Diavolo takes one breath and his body relaxes.

“Solomon, what I’m about to tell you? No one can know, not yet.”

Outside the office, Belphegor’s knuckles drain white as he grips his pillow. Diavolo has brought a demon slayer to their House. One that threatened and hurt his brothers. The damned Prince didn’t listen, no one listened when he swore humans were nothing but vermin. He doesn’t stay for the rest of whatever they talk about, turning to stalk off down the hall to the foyer.

If Diavolo won’t deal with this. Then he will.

To Be Continued...

———————————————

@vicardi-the-fool @poppy-pom @aspenflower17 @game-lover-yess @sibit360 @siana-loves-you

Comment if you wanna be tagged for the next ones, I think this might become a whole ass series.

P.S I’m sorry this took so long I had no idea that part one was gonna get so much positive feedback. At some point I said “okay when itgets to 666 notes, I’ll get part 2 upbu then it was there within an hour of me saying so. And I kinda panicked cause what if this one is t as good or disnt get as much interest. So thank you all very much!

Oh my lord.

I’m delighted, I did not expect such a response from something I penned (typed?) and posted on a whim. Thank you for such a positive response.

And now I’m legally obligated to the other parts ASAP, aren’t? 😂

Update: It’s up!

Part 2

Obey Me: MC is Hiding Something

When MC first awakens in the council room none of them think much of them. They’re sitting there shivering like a dog left out in the rain and refuses to meet anyone’s eyes.

Lucifer starts to wonder what in devil’s name made you a good candidate for this exchange program. You barely had enough courage to answer when Lord Diavolo welcomed you so graciously, much less look dignified in any way.

Something odd he does observe though is, despite you silence and obvious terror, you seemed to accept the concepts of a Devildom and of RAD and him and his brother very easily or maybe you were just nodding along insipidly.

Mammon’s opinion of you is even lower. He already hated the idea of having to watch and make sure some stupid human didn’t get themselves killed on their first week. Damn it! That wasn’t his job! They can’t even carry a conversation, always just staring and watching everybody.

The human doesnt seem to have any kind of motivations or idea as to what they wanna do. Lucifer will never know if he leaves you alone at school for a while considering you’ve found your friends group with the other exchange students. And at home he sees no problem with letting you go off for just an hour or two. All you really do is walk around and examine the rooms and grounds. Maybe you’re an architecture freak or something.

Leviathan barely pays you any mind when you arrive, not like he ever has the chance to, being that he never leaves his room outside of going to class. But during breakfast he does notice how interested you seemed in the game console he’s playing on. And for a moment he wonders if you’re a gamer or an otaku too

but no, ugh you’re just some normie. You watch Asmo obsess over his compact mirror and Satan over whatever book he’s holding just the same. And you’re conversation is shit like Mammon said. Listless and lacking enthusiasm. But he doesnt stop you when you watch over his shoulder when he plays.

Satan doesn’t have a problem with you. That said, he doesn’t particularly like you. But he can respect how much time you seem to spend in the library, and how many books you borrow about the devildom and kinds of demons. It made sense, you wanted to know the kind of creatures you were surrounded by.

he does wonder though, why one day you seem to be borrowing a lot of Solomon’s books and Solomon’s time as well. But then again, that makes sense too, you were both human after all. Maybe you would stop flinching and get even a little more comortable with someone your race around. When one of his tomes disappear, he interrogates Mammon because of course, it’s Mammon.

Asmo likes your style. It’s not particularly glamorous or eye-catching but it matches your aesthetic. He especially admired your choices in acessories. The amulet you’re always wearing is so pretty and he swears sometimes it almost glows. And your rings were peak Devildom fashion, sharp, edgy iron designs. But he especially adored the silver spike earring you wore.

He was both delighted and smug that he was the first one to get a little closer to you. But of course, how could you resist! You even complimented the perfume he was wearing and asked where he got it. And he directed you to his favorite oils and essences shop that supplied products and ingredients from every realm. And while applying some to your wrist he catches a glimpse of a tattoo peeking out from under your sleeve but you pull your hand away, bashful. Oh, he’ll get you to show him someday. Heehee.

Beel is curious how a human can eat so much. He’s been told human athletes apparently eat a lot to maintain muscle mass and strength and the like but looking at you, you didn’t seem the type to do anything strenuous. Except he does notice that when a demon bumps you in the hall, you’re not hurt or thrown off despite the size difference. And when you’re purposely knocked into by someone else, your reaction is fast, pivoting out of the way and behind the demon and you almost look like…

Nah. You weren’t going to attack him, you began to cower and apologize again and again until Mammon had to drag you way before it got any more embarrassing. The next time you pique his interest is at the gym in the house. You always make sure to go at a time when there isn’t anyone else and he happened to go after you. But it couldn’t have been you that just used that machine. Were you really capable of lifting that much?

Luke and Simeon are sympathetic, Simeon understands the discomfort and the adjustment and answers any questions you have about the brothers and how not to piss them off or placate them if ever you did make them angry. He answers your questions about RAD and the program but does wonder. Wherever did you get an angel relic like the one hanging from your ear?

Luke says you shouldn’t be afraid of those no good demons, if anything happens you can run to Purgatory Hall and they’ll help. He promises. He likes your company and starts up baking with you, teaching dishes and pastries. He tells you a lot about Michael and lets slip things about Lucifer and the brothers back when they were still angels. You don’t push him on the subjects but you do seem pretty interested.

it all came together, very easily. First the lights, Leviathan’s screams echo in the halls as he laments not having saved soon enough. Asmodeus’ whining about losing such good selfie lighting came next and both come out into the hall, yelling for their older brother. “Lucifer!”

If not for that, Lucifer probably wouldn’t have noticed, having been locked up in his firelit office since dinner was over. Heaving a sigh he gets up. All of the yelling told him the lights were out so how could he have expected the brilliant flash of white that burned his eyes when he opened his door. He stumbles, leaning on the door frame for support as footfalls race down the hall.

He growls, feeling his wings and horns materialize but something isn’t right. His vision doesn’t return and his skin starts to burn. In the air he catches the faintest scent of something he hasn’t smelled in a long time. Holy oil.

When the little light in the fridge fades, Beel thinks he may have fucked up. But then it turns out the whole house is out so it must just be some prank. He keeps eating, uncaring whether or not he identifies what it is he’s shoveling into his mouth. Then he smells it.

once upon a time he’d caught Luke with some kind of cookies from the celestial realm. And they were some of the best cookies he’d ever had in his existence. He could never forget that smell, so when it wafts through the air coming from the main hall, he follows. Drool begins to gather beneath his tongue.

He misses the sharp, metallic scent drifting beneath it.

Satan’s vexation spikes when his reading light goes out and his peace and quiet is distrubed by his idiot brothers. Mammon probably tried to turn the power off in Levi’s room to get him out so he can sneak in and steal his stuff again. But then Asmo starts yelling, and one cry from Lucifer rattles his bones.

It’s enough to get him on his feet. But what draws a gasp from him is the flash of lightning that gives him his sight for a moment. White lightning, an impossibility in the devildom’s ever red tinged sky. He goes to the window, knocking a stack of tomes over and unlatches it. But it doesn’t budge. Using the light on his D.D.D. he tries again but it just won’t open.

Outside Satan’s door heavy footsteps, thump along in a slow rhythm. Satan races to the door and Beel is there trudging along the carpet like a zombie, his nose perched in the air.

“Beel?! What the-? What are you doing?”

“Hey what’s the big idea!? Where are you guys!? Who’s doing that weird singing?!”

Mammon calls out into the mansions, just as confused as everyone else. Satan’s brows furrow; he didn’t cause this, then. He’s about to answer but Mammon yelps, and a resounding thwack has Satan grab Beel, and race towards the sound, almost stumbling over each other’s feet in the dark. They’re only guide is the ocassional flash of white and the sound of chanting growing louder as they grow near.

It is still pitch black but years of experience and spatial awareness tells him they’re in the foyer. Satan ventures out, almost tripping over something on the ground; it’s Mammon. He lays at the top of the steps, passed out. Satan is about to shake him awake when Leviathan and Asmo come out of a hall holding up Lucifer between them. Another flash. Lucifer’s demon form flickers in and out, smoke rising from his blistering skin. Satan freezes and Beel picks up Mammon in his arms.

“Satan! What the hell is going on!?” Levi calls out into the dark over the spell.

The chanting stops. So does the lightning and they’re plunged into complete darkness. They hear the sound of plastic and a baggie hits Beelzebub square in the chest, landing on Mammon’s stomach. “Cookies?”

He smells that first but then they recognise the other scent prominent in the air as blood.

Human blood.

“Wait, where’s MC?!” Asmo’s voice comes from the black. “Are they trapped somewhere?”

Someone laughs.

“Oh, you don’t need to worry about that.”

Lightning flashes again, bathing the foyer in glaring white. It’s only for a moment but their eyes are quick enough. It becomes clear where the stench of blood was coming from. “After all, I’m not trapped in here with you…”

Your eyes seem to glow, vacant of whatever fear or trepidation you’ve deceived them with for weeks. In your hand is the earring Asmo admired so much, the silver tip dripping red. At your side, your palm is sliced open, already clotting as you’ve used all you needed for the seal activating the devil’s trap around the entire house. Your sleeves are pushed up to the elbows the sigils and signs inked into your skin tasting air again after so long. As you place your hand on the seal they come alight. Your lips curl over your teeth.

“You’re trapped in here….with me.”

Solomon knows a demon slayer when he sees one. And he tells you right off the bat whatever you’re planning it isn’t a good idea. You’re outnumbered and overpowered by them.

but then he sees human world magic light up the skies and decides maybe it’s a good time to visit the House of Lamentations.

To be Continued….

Evidence that Lucifer is a softie: Part ??? Of Infinity.

Obey Me: MC is Hiding Something

When MC first awakens in the council room no one thinks much of them. They’re sitting there shivering like a dog left out in the rain and refuses to meet anyone’s eyes.

Lucifer starts to wonder what in devil’s name made you a good candidate for this exchange program. You barely had enough courage to answer when Lord Diavolo welcomed you so graciously, much less look dignified in any way.

Something odd he does observe though is, despite your silence and obvious terror, you seemed to accept the concepts of a Devildom and of RAD and him and his brother very easily or maybe you were just nodding along insipidly.

Mammon’s opinion of you is even lower. He already hated the idea of having to watch and make sure some stupid human didn’t get themselves killed on their first week. Damn it! That wasn’t his job! They can’t even carry a conversation, always just staring and watching everybody.

The human doesnt seem to have any kind of motivations or idea as to what they wanna do. Lucifer will never know if he leaves you alone at school for a while considering you’ve found your friends group with the other exchange students. And at home he sees no problem with letting you go off for just an hour or two. All you really do is walk around and examine the rooms and grounds. Maybe you’re an architecture freak or something.

Leviathan barely pays you any mind when you arrive, not like he ever has the chance to, being that he never leaves his room outside of going to class. But during breakfast he does notice how interested you seemed in the game console he’s playing on. And for a moment he wonders if you’re a gamer or an otaku too

but no, ugh you’re just some normie. You watch Asmo obsess over his compact mirror and Satan over whatever book he’s holding just the same. And you’re conversation is shit like Mammon said. Listless and lacking enthusiasm. But he doesnt stop you when you watch over his shoulder when he plays.

Satan doesn’t have a problem with you. That said, he doesn’t particularly like you. But he can respect how much time you seem to spend in the library, and how many books you borrow about the devildom and kinds of demons. It made sense, you wanted to know the kind of creatures you were surrounded by.

he does wonder though, why one day you seem to be borrowing a lot of Solomon’s books and Solomon’s time as well. But then again, that makes sense too, you were both human after all. Maybe you would stop flinching and get even a little more comortable with someone your race around. When one of his tomes disappear, he interrogates Mammon because of course, it’s Mammon.

Asmo likes your style. It’s not particularly glamorous or eye-catching but it matches your aesthetic. He especially admired your choices in acessories. The amulet you’re always wearing is so pretty and he swears sometimes it almost glows. And your rings were peak Devildom fashion, sharp, edgy iron designs. But he especially adored the silver spike earring you wore.

He was both delighted and smug that he was the first one to get a little closer to you. But of course, how could you resist! You even complimented the perfume he was wearing and asked where he got it. And he directed you to his favorite oils and essences shop that supplied products and ingredients from every realm. And while applying some to your wrist he catches a glimpse of a tattoo peeking out from under your sleeve but you pull your hand away, bashful. Oh, he’ll get you to show him someday. Heehee.

Beel is curious how a human can eat so much. He’s been told human athletes apparently eat a lot to maintain muscle mass and strength and the like but looking at you, you didn’t seem the type to do anything strenuous. Except he does notice that when a demon bumps you in the hall, you’re not hurt or thrown off despite the size difference. And when you’re purposely knocked into by someone else, your reaction is fast, pivoting out of the way and behind the demon and you almost look like...

Nah. You weren’t going to attack him, you began to cower and apologize again and again until Mammon had to drag you way before it got any more embarrassing. The next time you pique his interest is at the gym in the house. You always make sure to go at a time when there isn’t anyone else and he happened to go after you. But it couldn’t have been you that just used that machine. Were you really capable of lifting that much?

Luke and Simeon are sympathetic, Simeon understands the discomfort and the adjustment and answers any questions you have about the brothers and how not to piss them off or placate them if ever you did make them angry. He answers your questions about RAD and the program but does wonder. Wherever did you get an angel relic like the one hanging from your ear?

Luke says you shouldn’t be afraid of those no good demons, if anything happens you can run to Purgatory Hall and they’ll help. He promises. He likes your company and starts up baking with you, teaching dishes and pastries. He tells you a lot about Michael and lets slip things about Lucifer and the brothers back when they were still angels. You don’t push him on the subjects but you do seem pretty interested.

it all came together, very easily. First the lights, Leviathan’s screams echo in the halls as he laments not having saved soon enough. Asmodeus’ whining about losing such good selfie lighting came next and both come out into the hall, yelling for their older brother. “Lucifer!”

If not for that, Lucifer probably wouldn’t have noticed, having been locked up in his firelit office since dinner was over. Heaving a sigh he gets up. All of the yelling told him the lights were out so how could he have expected the brilliant flash of white that burned his eyes when he opened his door. He stumbles, leaning on the door frame for support as footfalls race down the hall.

He growls, feeling his wings and horns materialize but something isn’t right. His vision doesn’t return and his skin starts to burn. In the air he catches the faintest scent of something he hasn’t smelled in a long time. Holy oil.

When the little light in the fridge fades, Beel thinks he may have fucked up. But then it turns out the whole house is out so it must just be some prank. He keeps eating, uncaring whether or not he identifies what it is he’s shoveling into his mouth. Then he smells it.

once upon a time he’d caught Luke with some kind of cookies from the celestial realm. And they were some of the best cookies he’d ever had in his existence. He could never forget that smell, so when it wafts through the air coming from the main hall, he follows. Drool begins to gather beneath his tongue.

He misses the sharp, metallic scent drifting beneath it.

Satan’s vexation spikes when his reading light goes out and his peace and quiet is distrubed by his idiot brothers. Mammon probably tried to turn the power off in Levi’s room to get him out so he can sneak in and steal his stuff again. But then Asmo starts yelling, and one cry from Lucifer rattles his bones.

It’s enough to get him on his feet. But what draws a gasp from him is the flash of lightning that gives him his sight for a moment. White lightning, an impossibility in the devildom’s ever red tinged sky. He goes to the window, knocking a stack of tomes over and unlatches it. But it doesn’t budge. Using the light on his D.D.D. he tries again but it just won’t open.

Outside Satan’s door heavy footsteps, thump along in a slow rhythm. Satan races to the door and Beel is there trudging along the carpet like a zombie, his nose perched in the air.

“Beel?! What the-? What are you doing?”

“Hey what’s the big idea!? Where are you guys!? Who’s doing that weird singing?!”

Mammon calls out into the mansions, just as confused as everyone else. Satan’s brows furrow; he didn’t cause this, then. He’s about to answer but Mammon yelps, and a resounding thwack has Satan grab Beel, and race towards the sound, almost stumbling over each other’s feet in the dark. They’re only guide is the ocassional flash of white and the sound of chanting growing louder as they grow near.

It is still pitch black but years of experience and spatial awareness tells him they’re in the foyer. Satan ventures out, almost tripping over something on the ground; it’s Mammon. He lays at the top of the steps, passed out. Satan is about to shake him awake when Leviathan and Asmo come out of a hall holding up Lucifer between them. Another flash. Lucifer’s demon form flickers in and out, smoke rising from his blistering skin. Satan freezes and Beel picks up Mammon in his arms.

“Satan! What the hell is going on!?” Levi calls out into the dark over the spell.

The chanting stops. So does the lightning and they’re plunged into complete darkness. They hear the sound of plastic and a baggie hits Beelzebub square in the chest, landing on Mammon’s stomach. “Cookies?”

He smells that first but then they recognise the other scent prominent in the air as blood.

Human blood.

“Wait, where’s MC?!” Asmo’s voice comes from the black. “Are they trapped somewhere?”

Someone laughs.

“Oh, you don’t need to worry about that.”

Lightning flashes again, bathing the foyer in glaring white. It’s only for a moment but their eyes are quick enough. It becomes clear where the stench of blood was coming from. “After all, I’m not trapped in here with you...”

Your eyes seem to glow, vacant of whatever fear or trepidation you’ve deceived them with for weeks. In your hand is the earring Asmo admired so much, the silver tip dripping red. At your side, your palm is sliced open, already clotting as you’ve used all you needed for the seal activating the devil’s trap around the entire house. Your sleeves are pushed up to the elbows the sigils and signs inked into your skin tasting air again after so long. As you place your hand on the seal they come alight. Your lips curl over your teeth.

“You’re trapped in here....with me.”

Solomon knows a demon slayer when he sees one. And he tells you right off the bat whatever you’re planning it isn’t a good idea. You’re outnumbered and overpowered by them.

but then he sees otherworldly magic light up the skies and decides maybe it’s a good time to visit the House of Lamentations.

Part 2

This was. Everything I want to say about the issue, the writing and the absurd dominatrix headcanons people have extrapolated from that scene.

Hi! You mentioned in the comments on Twitter that the court scene (when Levi beats Eren up) gets misinterpreted a lot. What exactly do you mean? I don't know where else to ask, Tumblr seems like the most convenient place for long replies. I love your drawings btw and have a nice day!

Thank you very much for loving my art <3

And YESSSSSS THANK YOU FOR THIS QUESTION I really needed an excuse to talk about it and now I finally was enabled to do so lol

When the anime first came out, this scene absolutely blew my mind, I watched it like 100500 times. It was so intense and interesting to me for all the wrong reasons lol Looking back, I think it’s fair to say that this was scene that cemented Levi’s status of a violent and dominant person who is all about discipline and showing brats their place, so to speak. So yeah, in retrospect, this whole situation did him dirty.

After some time passed and we revisited SnK again, this scene suddenly felt… off. And this is why I love rewatching/rereading stuff: when you know Levi’s character better, his motives and priorities, and come back to this scene, you just know there is something wrong about it. It was the first scene when Levi got physical. We’ll see him getting aggressive and kicky again (I’ll address this later…), but this particular scene is very different from the other ones.

I also want to mention that what really got me thinking about all that is this scene. To me personally this reads as “oh come on, I said so much cringey hot bullshit to them, how am I supposed to show my face to them now that we failed miserably?”, and that was the moment when I realized that Levi didn’t mean anything there at all. It was all bs.

I also need to mention that we’re slow af and it takes ages for us to come to the most obvious conclusions, so I’m sorry if some of the things here are too obvious.

Since I can’t just write a short and lovely answer to your question, why don’t we analyze the scene and figure out what the hell happened back then.

Starting with Eren losing his shit and shouting, scaring the heck out of people who are already horrified of him.

These people have no idea what to do with Eren, to them he is a monster, an anomaly, an uncontrollable unpredictable beast who can end the humanity if they’re not careful (lol the irony). They panic to the point of almost shooting him to death.

They are scared shitless, they’re in panic.

And then there comes Heichou. Like a wrecking ball.

«Bonk»

At first glance, the scene is very obvious: the entire manga page is dedicated to Levi kicking Eren and basically asserting his dominance. He shows that he isn’t scared of the monster that Eren is. Other people might be threatened by Eren, but he isn’t – he can deal with him easily and can shut him up with just one kick.

... except this isn’t true.

I want you to take a closer look at Levi’s face on this page, especially the third frame.

This frame got me thinking because at first I wasn’t sure about what emotion it can be (just in case Isayama doesn’t know what he draws, which isn’t really true. I feel bad for doubting him lol). And if his emotion isn’t important, then why did Isayama make such a big deal about it: he basically dedicated an entire page to it, the frame with Eren is much smaller in comparison. Levi isn’t concerned about Eren slightly throwing up, all the people that watch them have mostly the same expressions.

After thinking for a while I realized that the emotion on Levi’s face is fear. We’ve seen this face before (and after…):

If we don’t interpret it as fear, then well what is it? What did Yams want to say? Levi isn’t smug, he isn’t strict and stoic, he’s not mad or firm (his mouth and eyebrows show it), he has a clear emotion on his face. I think he’s most likely afraid that Eren might transform because he was kicked so harshly (or because Eren would get angry thanks to that horrible treatment), but at the same time it’s not like Levi can hold back: the whole thing needs to look believable. He’s fully aware that Eren is very dangerous, he knows it better than anyone else.

And yes, believable. Because this is a fucking stage play.

After looking at Eren all shook and stuff, he continues with his performance for the crowd:

What an interesting opinion you got there, Levi. The most interesting part is that you never ever mentioned it after that and we’ve never seen you act upon it, unless future chapters prove me wrong. Also... a punishment for what? For Eren defending himself, especially when Levi was the one who said that people from inner walls were pigs? Levi himself was mad at MP and would actually most likely openly agree with Eren lol

I said it 1004552 times already: Levi doesn’t care about subordination or discipline. He never punishes his subordinates, he isn’t strict and he lets people decide for themselves. He loves giving everyone a choice because it was his first lesson with titans which made him change his mind about many things. He is physical, can’t argue with that, but he isn’t sadistic and doesn’t think it’s a good punishment either.

… he said, looking at the people around them and not Eren.

Why is he looking at them and not Eren who he's supposed to teach some discipline lesson? That's because this lesson is not for Eren, it's for convincing everybody else that there is a lesson to begin with. He needs to see their reactions and he honestly doesn't give a fuck about Eren here, even though he's supposed to be the most dangerous person here. Why? Probably because if Eren wanted to transform, he would've done it already. It's a reach, but it might be the same logic with torn off fingernails with pastor Nick.

In the court scene Levi plays the role of a lunatic who is also a titan whisperer with questionable but effective training techniques. Because people wanted an uncontrollable beast to be either tamed or killed. I already said that this was a stage play, but dang it, this is such a stage play.

Look at these frames and what they’re focusing on. The second frame, the one with Eren’s angry face on it, takes like 2/3 of the overall space there. We see what these people see, and they see something dangerous, something that can snap and kill them all. Understanding how dangerous the situation is, Nile asks Levi to stop.

But Levi is too busy smacking Eren with his foot, he says “what” like he’s doing something so insignificant that idk anymore. Look at this frame. It’s small, it’s almost comedic. It shows how easy for Levi it all is. At least it looks like it to Nile and his folks, and this is what Levi and the SC are going for.

Aaaand this is where it gets more than obvious.

Now, when people started to have doubts about this whole situation and think that maybe Levi is the only one who can work with Eren, Erwin suddenly has something to say.

Look at this mastermind of a script writer lol.

They couldn’t have just suggested this plan in court. They NEEDED to be convincing, they NEEDED to SHOW that the plan would work. They needed to show that Eren can control himself perfectly despite of his emotions when he was beaten up and it worked. So they prepared an entire spectacle, although I’d say it’s more of an improv show lol.

It was just another gamble for Erwin. He gambled that Eren would lose his cool and they’d get a perfect opportunity to show that they can control him easily. With the ways that these people can understand – violence and aggression, something that’s hard to argue with.

And these aren’t Levi’s ways to control someone. Both Erwin and Levi know that people see Levi as a cruel lunatic and they wouldn’t doubt that Levi would be strict and controlling enough with Eren (especially after that convincing rant about discipline...), so Levi easily takes this role for the greater good.

He even got Eren confused about all that:

By the way, I’m pretty sure you also remember that this isn’t the only time when it’s mentioned Levi plays the role of a lunatic. And although the situation is slightly different there, this is still the same role:

Ok, so back to the courtroom scene. I mean, the scene after that.

This is one of those moments where I go “wow why didn’t I notice this earlier” because Erwin basically admitted it openly: he said that he was a gambler and he made his bet, the bet paid off, the plan was successful, Levi was going to get recognized by the Academy for his amazing acting skills. But to be fair, I didn’t really carefully think about Erwin’s plan before, this is why the scene was so confusing to me.

Aaand the first thing that Levi does after all that is running to Eren to make sure what he doesn’t hate him, which to me proves ones again that Levi isn’t sadistic and he doesn’t really believe in what he was talking about back there. He’s always so concerned about his subordinates, why would it be different for Eren?

I don’t see an aggressive and cruel man who is also a dog trainer that deals with every situation with disciplinary kicks.

What I see is a socially awkward grumpy man who ruined Eren’s first impression of him and doesn’t want Eren to hate him. He is relieved when Eren says that he understands that it was all a show. If he really believed in what he was preaching back there, he wouldn’t care.

So yeah, the thing about Levi being physical. He is physical and sometimes aggressive, I can’t deny that, it’s an important part of his character. But he kicks and punches people only when he’s emotionally frustrated (or angry), most likely thanks to Kenny who taught him how to fight to survive in the Underground. That’s why it’s the first reflex for him when situations get stressful. All of this is purely my assumption though, the reasons for Levi being physical are purely something that I have no solid proof for, so feel free to disagree here.

He punches Jean and Eren when he’s mad at Erwin (and I think he feels guilty about it afterwards, when he went to talk(?) to Eren and ended up listening to EMA’s conversation about the ocean); he punches Eren on the roof because Erwin is fucking dying; he stomps Annie’s head because he’s irritated and mad at her for killing so many people; he kicks Eren on a blimp because he’s sad af about Eren and doesn’t know what’s going on with him + the situation Eren put all of them in was extremely dangerous, and... you get the idea.

All these scenes (apart from Annie, ofc) show Levi being violent towards his own people, and they actually have little in common with the way he treats his enemies – Levi is brutal to them, he doesn’t show mercy, he breaks their bones like nothing. I know Eren got the same treatment once, but let’s not forget that Erwin was dying, and Levi remembers that Eren can heal himself pretty well. Levi didn’t touch Mikasa who held a sword to his throat in the same scene.

And this is why I don’t think the courtroom scene shows us anything about Levi and what he believes in. this just isn’t the same. I’ve never properly been a part of the fandom, but you don’t need to be a genius to notice the way people treat this scene since 2013. It fucked up people’s perception of Ereri and Levi, thus so much hatred towards them.

TL;DR: Levi kicked Eren as a part of Erwin’s plan, not because he wanted to show the brat™ his place and to discipline him with his sick moves.

Canon. As far as I’m concerned

OM! Brothers with an odd wake up call

it’s 3:22 am idk what this is but i hope ya like it

cringe, cussing, and gn!mc

Lucifer

It was the morning after your arrival when you went to Lucifer’s study and asked if you could wake his brothers up

“Go ahead.”

He didn’t think much of it until he heard the sound of pans smashing against each other and a song being played

“I’M TIRED OF Y’ALL BITCHES IN THIS HOUSE- Y’ALL GONNA MAKE ME LOSE MY MIND”

What in the Devildom is the human exchange student doing?!

“WHERE’S THE FUCKING POTS?! WHERE’S THE FUCKING POTS?! GET- THE- FUCK- UP-!”

He stepped out of his office only to find you running through the halls, smashing pans, and singing- no- screaming at the top of your lungs

“I DON’T GOT NO SLEEP ‘CAUSE O’ Y’ALL! Y’ALL AIN’T NEVER GONNA SLEEP ‘CAUSE O’ ME!!”

Lucifer quickly put a stop to your antics before one of his brothers tried to kill you

You were dragged into his office and lectured for exactly 1 hour and 27 minutes

He hates it when he hears the sound of you screaming random words he doesn’t understand

It got worst when Levi started to join you

Great, now I have two idiots to lecture

Mammon

That morning of your first wake up call, he had just gotten home from the casino to find Lucifer chasing the human who was screaming and clanking pans

“What the fu-“

Needless to say, you left a pretty good impression on him. He had a great laugh as you were dragged by Lucifer into his office for a long lecture

It was funny until he got a taste of your wake up call

“It’s Wednesday, my dudes!”

What is the human doing shouting in the hallway?

“AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH”

He opened the door and saw you. With goggles on?

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!”

You kept screaming. He saw Satan opening the door down the hall, a dark aura surrounding him

He pulled you inside his room and called you an absolute idiot

Mammon now uses your wake up calls as a distraction for when he steals from his brothers

Leviathan

He was awake when you first did your wake up calls and found it to be hilarious because he understood the memes

Although, he was rather surprised when you asked to borrow his loud speaker for another one of your wake up calls

Eager to see your next chaotic wake up call, he lent it to you

“You know you gotta do the cooking by the book, you know you can’t be lazy!”

A children’s song? Oh wait-

“BREAK IT DOWN, BITCH! LEMME SEE YOU BACK IT UP-“

He was howling with laughter as you violently screamed the lyrics

He was also reprimanded by Lucifer for “giving MC a speaker to scream a vulgar song”

Levi always joins in whenever you do a wake up call, even if he gets lectured

Satan

Right off the bat, he absolutely despised your wake up calls

He was so invested in a beautifully written novel when he heard,

“IS THERE ANYTHING BETTER THAN PUSSY?! YES! A REALLY GOOD BOOK!”

That’s true but would you sHUT THE FUCK UP-

If it weren’t for Lucifer’s and Mammon’s interferences, you would’ve been dead already

Then he noticed how much Lucifer hated your wake up calls

He stands to the side every time you get Lucifer worked up because of your screaming

And he absolutely adored that one time you ran away from Lucifer while yelling,

“I’M A BAD BITCH, YOU CAN’T KILL ME!”

He’s on the borderline of hating and loving your antics

Asmodeus

“This SCREAMING isn’t good for my SKIN!” Asmodeus screeched at you. How ironic

Your odd antics always wakes him up from his beauty sleep and he hates it

“AND THERE WERE ROOMMATES!!”

No- no, nOT AGAIN-

“OH MY GOSH! THEY WERE ROOMMATES!!”

Levi?! You too?!

There is nothing he hates more than when it’s morning and he hears your voice

He honestly hates your voice

Beelzebub

He was... So utterly confused when he hears you screaming for the first time

If anything, he was concerned and checked up on you

But Lucifer has already snatched you away to lecture you

Every time he hears your wake up calls, he always checks up on you to see if you’re alright

He was especially concerned when he heard you scream,

“I smell like beef... I SMELL LIKE BEEF!!”

“I-I don’t? Where’s the beef-?”

He’s genuinely worried about your yelling, try not to do it so often

Belphegor

His first time hearing your wake up calls was up in the attic

He was... Extremely confused.

First of all, that doesn’t sound like any of his brothers. Second of all, what the fuck is happening?

Nowadays, he usually sleeps through your loud wake up calls

On rare occasions, he’ll watch with Satan as you and Levi get chased by Lucifer

I don't know who needs to hear this but your version of Tim Drake (or any of the batfam really) is valid.

Goofy, clever, idealistic, trying to be more mature than he is? Excellent.

Snarky, sleepy, drinks too much coffee, a lil depressed? Great.

Trash monster, gen z chaotic energy, no fucks given, just a weirdo teen? Perfect.

Strategic genius, could take over the world, ambitious, smart ass? Amazing.

Wide-eyed, innocent, robin fanboy, just wants to be loved? Beautiful.

It's all good stuff!! I love it!!! Keep up the good work!!!

The Riddler: What speaks without-

Nightwing: [holds up a hand] WAIT!

Riddler: Did you just inter-

Nightwing: [not paying attention] wait, shhhhh...is that?

Riddler: ...[whispering] what?

Nightwing: [super excited] The ice cream van! Sorry, Nygma we have to cut this short. Let me just- [throws a batarang at the doom-machine of the day, destroying it] Ok, see you! [takes off]

Riddler: I- but- [weakly] wait...

-

Riddler: [burst out of an underground elevator] My my, Hood, looks like-

Red Hood: [shoots him in the leg]

Riddler: [yelps and collapses]

Red Hood: No, go on. Looks like...?

-

Riddler: One knows the past, the other-

Red Robin: [on his phone] lame

Riddler: the -the other... Would you pay ATTENTION?

Red Robin: WoUlD YOu PaY AttENtION

Riddler: Rude

Red Robin: [still on the phone] Hi, is this Del Taco? I'd like to make an order-

Riddler: Are you seriously calling for TAKE-OUT now?

Red Robin: [glares at him] it's Del Taco

Riddler: SO?

Red Robin: [dead serious] they have fr e sh avoca do.

Nightwing: [shouting from a nearby roof] WHY ARE YOU ON PATROL YOU'VE BEEN UP FOR 50 HOURS GO TO SLEEP

Red Robin: [whispers to Riddler] Ssshhh, he doesn't know I'm here.

-

Riddler: Looks like I have the upper hand-

Robin: [gaze fixed on Riddler's foot] You stepped on a beetle.

Riddler: -and Batman- wait what?

Robin: [stabs a katana through Riddler's other foot] SHE WAS AN INNOCENT

Riddler: WHY DO YOU PEOPLE ALWAYS GO FOR THE LEGS

-

Batman: Riddler. So you're behind this.

Riddler: [steps into the light] Yes! And now- you're at my mercy!

Batman: ...what are you planning? What could you possibly have to gain from this?

Riddler: Well, I got you here, didn't I? Which mean I can finally tell you tO GET YOUR FUCKING KIDS UNDER CONTROL THEY'RE MEAN AND VIOLENT AND THEY KEEP IGNORING ME HOW ARE YOU SO GOOD AT BEATING UP CRIMINALS AND SO USELESS AT TEACHING YOUR CHILDREN COMMON DECENCY?? I WORK HARD! [to his henchmen] DON'T I WORK HARD?? AND FOR WHAT??

Batman: ...

Riddler: YOU'RE GONNA GO HOME AND HAVE A SERIOUS TALK WITH YOUR LITTLE BRATS ABOUT RESPECTING THEIR ELDERS OR I SWEAR TO GOD I WILL BLOW UP THIS CITY

Who Was Robin Jason Todd?

Different writers, from fans and DC, all seem to have a different idea about who Jason Todd was as Robin.

Some fans say that he was a soft innocent boy before the evil writers got him.

Others constantly say he was nothing but a pain in Batman’s side.

So I collected a bunch of panels to really put together what he was actually like:

Well, Jason always smoked. I seen some people say that was added later on to make him look bad, but this comes from his first or second issue. He was always a smoker.

A bit of a Rock N Roller, and maybe metal head going off those choices of posters.

He also always had a distaste for authority and a potty mouth.

Jason didn’t even want to be adopted or taken in, since he gotten so used to his street-oriented life style.

But right from the beginning that he genuinely did have a good heart, and would put himself in harm’s way despite anyone telling him no, because he believed that someone had to stop the bad guys.

So in his first story, this was who he was.

In the next story we learned that Jason was a 5th Grade dropout.

I have no idea how old Jason was when Bruce found him though, I only know that Jason is 2 to 3 years older than Tim, because in an issue of Young Justice, Jason is said to would’ve been 17 at a time were Timmy was either 14 or 15.

Due to a time jump between his first story and this one, that’s around six months or more, also given how much training he has, and how he’s clearly growing to be quite a buff kid. I can’t exactly say how long Jason was Robin either.

We also learn that Jason really loved education, and he reminded Bruce a lot of Dick. (Maybe it’s how they cut his hair the same exact way)

So this is were people seem to have a split on who he is, because his first story introduces him as a rough street kid, and this one shows him being a kind school-oriented kid.

They seem to ignore the literal next issue though for those that wanna say he was ONLY a kind school-oriented kid.

Because surprisingly (to some people), he wasn’t a one note character and was still really violent, with murderous tenancies.

His second story showed that even though he loved school, and had a good heart. He still had a dark side to him.

Bruce wasn’t happy.

Jason wasn’t happy either, and could get quite emotional.

(The panel above was after Jason learned that Two Face killed his dad but before Jason tried to kill him)

The people that wanna say Jason was nothing but a thorn in Batman’s side ignore though, is that Batman was actually understanding of Jason.

Believe it or not, he didn’t just beat Jason in the head. He actually talked to him about it.

He still really enjoyed school too. While he wasn’t much of a typical geek or anything of the sort, given his tastes and general attitude. He still loved education and showed that he appreciated the opportunities he was given, even if he didn’t want to be adopted originally.

Despite that he still grew to be a rebel if he genuinely thought he was going to stop a good guy. The seeds that would grow once he became the Red Hood were still there. His methods were always more violent, and he still didn’t always listen.

He even showed that the knew how to use a gun excellently, but the context to this one for anyone confused, is that he’s shooting a robot. He’s not actually killing a man. I’m just showing the panel to show that A LOT of what he would be like as the Red Hood was always there.

Also apparently no one told him who the heck Nightwing was at first, and this actually made me laugh inside a little bit, because he’s just in total shock over this. Timmy would’ve gave Jason a freak out if Jason knew a little kid knew who he was.

Throughout the series we even see Jason work hard at becoming that muscular, tall, chiseled man that we know as the Red Hood from the scrawny street rat. I’m proud of him.

He also shows insecurity when he learns who Dick was. Meaning that he wasn’t completely cold hearted.

Even though there was a lot of times were he showed no sympathy towards various criminals.

Jason could also get quite cocky.

and straight reckless.

That panel is from “Death in the Family”, and people say that they made him more violent in that story, but from all that I’ve seen. He’s always been that way as a Robin.

They got straight eerie about him too.

It wasn’t a shocker he enjoyed the bars when he got old enough though.

So basically: He was an angry, emotional, reckless, rebellious, violent street kid. Who was also genuinely heroic, good hearted, and only got violent when he thought it was the right thing to do. He didn’t hurt just anybody, he only hurt violent criminals who did awful thing.

Honestly Jason just needed a therapist to help him through his problems, because he wasn’t a bad guy. He just had troubles that made him act out in violent ways.