"I could explain more about the Laplace Demon concept if you, dear readers, are interested but that would be for another occasion. Another essay hehe."
Pleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleaseplease đ
Thank you so much for giving me an excuse to talk about this dear anon!
In this post i'll elaborate further about something i said in the end of this super long post. As always TW for 14dwy spoilers!
(Joke's on you, sir, i DID come here for the tales of old)
And this tale in specific is really old. Around two hundred years old to be specific. In 1814 a man known by the name Pierre-Simon de Laplace wrote an essay about a deterministic concept known later as the "Laplace's demon" (although he already seemed to be exploring this concept since 1773)
We may regard the present state of the universe as the effect of its past and the cause of its future. An intellect which at a certain moment would know all forces that set nature in motion, and all positions of all items of which nature is composed, if this intellect were also vast enough to submit these data to analysis, it would embrace in a single formula the movements of the greatest bodies of the universe and those of the tiniest atom; for such an intellect nothing would be uncertain and the future just like the past could be present before its eyes.
(Pierre Simon Laplace, Philosophical Essay on Probabilities.)
But what does this all mean? Well basically this man spoke about a hypothetical "intelligence" (he didn't precisely used the word "demon") that, knowing the precise location of every particle in the universe and where they were headed, they would be able to guess the past and future values for any given time. In other words, we would be referring to an almighty hypothetical "thing" able to see the past and future of every single thing in the universe.
Of course this is all a model, a theory, an exploration on what would happen if something like this existed in the first place. After all, it was all a philosophical essay in the first place, wasn't it?
"Une intelligence ... Rien ne serait incertain pour elle, et l'avenir, comme le passé, serait présent à ses yeux."
Of course, Mr. Laplace wasn't the only one to explore the idea of an almighty intelligence since other philosophers like Condorcet, Holbach and Diderot also wrote about it.
Now there are several theories (some more modern than others) to explain why an intelligence of this nature will never be possible to exist but there is one that might ring a bell for some people "The Chaos Theory"
Or as some might know it: The butterfly effect.
This theory basically poses that minor variations between the starting conditions of two systems can result in major differences. That's why you say that "A butterfly flying in certain direction today can lead to huge catastrophes tomorrow" it's not something (so) literal but it is useful to illustrate how small can be the variation and how huge can be the result. Of course the change doesn't have to be huge. It can be a minor change, but a change nonetheless.
Btw chaos theory is applicable when knowledge of the system is imperfect, whereas Laplace's demon assumes perfect knowledge of the system, therefore the variability leading to chaos in chaos theory and non-variability in the knowledge of the world Laplace's demon holds are noncomparable.
Glad you ask. Actually a lot.
Starting off with the idea of how perfect is this game integrating even its genre (Visual Novel) to the theory. I believe there is no bigger example of the butterfly efect than a Visual Novel, where choosing (or not) certain options can lead to certain results (big or small). Very much like the butterfly effect. And funnily enough, it's us, the player, the embodiment of this umpredictability, since we are the ones that make the choices in the game. We are the antagonists of a hypothetical Laplace's Demon. We are it's antonym. We are an angel. The idea of a change that the system cannot predict. Of course this is questionable. Because as much as we have certain "freedom" we still need to abide by the choices that the very game gives to us.
This takes us back to the question of who is the entity that speaks to us in this cryptic messages on day four? Who is this (allegedly) Laplace's Demon? and what are my personal arguments on why i don't think it's [REDACTED].
Let's start by breaking down the messages. I have them all decoded in my previous post along with a really easy (i hope so) explanation on how the cipher works.
"...ATTEMPTING TO REWRITE WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN ORDAINED SINCE THE BEGINNING"
Here, the entity mentions the certainty of the past, but not the certainty of the future.
"...ATTEMPTING TO DIG UP THE ROOTS OF FATE AS THOUGH IT WERE A WEED AND PLANTING YOUR OWN CORRUPT SEEDLING IN ITS PLACE"
Here, the entity presumably refers to the idea of our (very limited) free will and how we're pushing the limits of the system (in this case by attempting to keep advancing on a route that supposedly leads nowhere else). To make this more clear, this entity speaks to us when we load the save file multiple times trying to keep advancing down that path when the course of action contemplated is that we should just stop and load another save file. We're persistent creatures, after all.
"PERHAPS WE ARE THE SAME, THEN"
Of course fucking âšnotâš
"I TOO FIND ENJOYMENT IN DISRUPTING THE VINES OF KISMET AND WATCHING HIM STRUGGLE"
Now i swear i never heard the word "kismet" before this day. But it seems to be some sort of archaic synonim of the word "fate". Although according to Cambridge Dictionary it is actually "A force that (some people) think controls what happens in the future, and is outside human control"
Also, this entity seems to be having its fun with Ren/REDACTED's struggles. It doesn't really see our unpredictability (yet) as a threat.
"TWAS I WHO GAVE HIM HIS GIFT, AS I DID WITH OTHERS..."
AND THIS
This right here boy oh boy.
(As pretentious as this title is, please hear me out)
There's a really interesting article named Embracing ÎÏγοÏ: Programming as Imitation of the Divine that basically says:
The programmer must begin by defining things â material or conceptual. âWe are unable to reason or communicate effectively if we do not first make the effort to know what each thing is.â (Rayside, Campbell) By considering the ontological questions of the things in our world, in order to represent them accurately (and therefore ethically) in our programs, the programmer enters into the philosophical praxis. Next, the programmer adds layers of identity and logic on top of their ontological discovery, continuing in the praxis.
But the programmer takes it a step further â the outcome of their investigation is not only their immaterial thought but, in executing the program, the manifestation of their philosophical endeavor into material reality. The program choreographs trillions of elementary charges through a crystalline maze, harnessing the virtually infinite charge of the Earth, incinerating the remains of starlight-fueled ancient beings in order to realize the reasoning of its programmer. Here the affair enters into the realm of Ethics.
âThe programmer is attempting to solve a practical problem by instructing a computer to act in a particular fashion. This requires moving from the indicative to the imperative: from can or may to should. For a philosopher in the tradition, this move from the indicative to the imperative is the domain of moral science.â (Rayside, Campbell) Any actions taken by the program are the direct ethical responsibility of the programmer.
Furthermore, the programmer, as the source of reason and will driving a program, manifesting it into existence, becomes in that instant the λÏÎłÎżÏ ÏÏΔÏΌαÏÎčÎșÏÏ (âlogos spermatikosâ) incarnate. The programmerâs reason, tapped into the divine Reason (λÏγοÏ), is generated into existence in the Universe and commands reasonable actions of inanimate matter.
Basically the programmer goes through each and every stage a deity would go through when creating the universe.
AND GUESS WHO IS A PROGRAMMER IN 14DWY???
(Ren/REDACTED in case you don't know hehe)
When the entity says "I gave him his gift" i believe this is exactly what he is referring to. While a Laplace's Demon knows every particle in the physical systems (and assumes it's knowledge of said system is perfect), a programmer works with Operative Systems (Windows, Linux, Ubuntu).
As for us, the angel, the antagonist of the demon of Laplace, we are the chaos theory, the one that conceives the knowledge of the system as imperfect.
Btw the person manipulating some choices in certain moments? Totally Ren/REDACTED. As they have the power of messing with the game and are totally self-aware of this being a visual novel.
But who gave Ren/REDACTED this power? Was Ren/REDACTED so skillful that they were able to defy the laws of worldbuilding? Picture this: the equivalent would be a programmer in the real world so skillful that they become able to defy the reality itself.
I believe the responsible is this "all knowing entity" since it just said it itself "It was I who gave him his gift". After all he is, and i quote, "THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE, COMBINED INTO ONE" really ominous shit.
There are obvious gaps in this theory but it's the best i can do with the limited knowledge i have. I am not a physicist so i can't really dwell in formulas and numbers as much as i would. Maybe i'll interview a professor in college in the future but for now i hope this is enough.
Uhhhh this is my first time posting a fic anywhere lmao, idk what I'm doing but enjoy ig? :D Ren and image belong to @14dayswithyou content warnings are in the tags
Summary: Angel runs into trouble after hanging out with Jae and Teo
2.1k words
âGet away from me!â I yell as loudly as I can, hoping to either get the guy to back off or get someone elseâs attention. Of course the one time I decide to go to a bar and try to be social I get some creep trying to follow me home.
The man was swaying just a bit, clearly intoxicated, with shoulder-length black hair falling over their flushed face in greasy strands. I was pretty sure I could take him down if need be, but the fact that he was blocking the only way out from the alleyway concerned me. I had used the back exit specifically to avoid him, but he was a step ahead of me, probably not the first time heâs done this.
He began speaking again, slightly slurring his words, âAwww, câmon, a pretty girl like you walking home alone? Sânot safe, let mâcome with you.â
I glare, âListen, Iâm not interested in anything you have to offer me, what I would appreciate most is if you got out of my way.â
He takes a step forward and I take a matching step back. He croons, âIâm not gonna hurt ya, stop being so paranoid.â
This time when he steps forward, I hold my ground, shifting my stance and holding my hands out in something between a placating gesture and a guard, âIâm warning you now, if you donât back offâŠâ
I donât finish the threat as I donât really have any leverage. My phoneâs battery is dead so I canât call for help, and my knife is in my bag, which I had forgotten to even bring. Sure, I knew martial arts, but that probably wouldnât mean much to this guy.
So as he staggers closer, giggling, I follow his movements, recalling some of the simplest ways to take someone down. But just as he gets within range, his entire demeanor changes, his dazed look and swaying stance fall into a predatory glare and light-footed lunge. I catch the glint of what was probably a knife slashing from behind his back and sloppily swing my arm down to block it. I intercept his forearm, but donât have the strength to hold back a full-bodied swing at a momentâs notice, so the blade catches my shirt and burns across my hip.
For a moment, the world freezes. I can hear a thousand thoughts and regrets flash through my mind, but they sound distant, detached. The man steps out of my reach and gives me a disgusting grin while I stand in shock. My hand shakily moves to cover the open wound, and I canât help but look down at the thick liquid smearing on my palm. I try to step backwards, but the twisting of the wound sends jolts of searing pain up my side and I fall, holding my hip as hard as I can as I yell out expletives.
From my collapsed position on the ground I raise my head to keep track of my attacker, but he just stands laughing at me, apparently reveling in the first blood he had managed to take. What I didnât expect to see, though, was a different figure, clad in all black and wielding a sledgehammer above their head, aiming at the black-haired stranger in complete silence. I canât see their face clearly since their hoodie shadowed it, but I can feel their anger as the sledgehammer makes impact with the strangerâs head, flinging his entire body to the side with the force of the blow.
I stare at what's left of the manâs head as it makes impact with the wall of the alley and slowly slides back down. Red. Everything was red. The walls, the ground, the body that was laying crumpled at their junction, and the face of the person who undoubtedly just killed him. As I follow the trail of red, I notice its hue doesnât stain their clothes, only turns it a richer shade of black. But their faceâŠ
It's twisted into an ugly expression, something between disgust, frustration, and utter apathy as they consider the body before them. The splashes of red sharply contrast their pale skin as it drips down their cheek. I shuffle backwards as best I can, fighting the morbid curiosity to look back to the silent body on my left, instead keeping them fixed on the cold face in front of me. I see a flash of blue as they turn away hurriedly, dragging a neck gaiter higher over their nose and pulling their hood low once again before approaching me.
I belatedly notice the tears running down my face and try to wipe them away, not wanting to appear weak before this new opponent, though there probably wasnât much chance of that at this point. My efforts accomplish nothing but smearing my own blood and dirt across my face, but I have no time to worry about that as my back hits the dead end behind me.
I canât hear anything except the roaring pain in my side and my heartbeat thrumming in my ears louder than any bassline Iâd heard before. I glance behind me to confirm that there was indeed no escape before returning to the shadowy figure now crouching just out of my reach.
To my surprise, when his gloved hand returned from the depths of his pocket, it held not a weapon, but a phone. He speaks into it in a foreign language, and a million thoughts run through my brain, piecing together what I can from my shaky understanding: Fuck, he called someone. Thatâs Japanese. I know Japanese! DaijĆbudesu? Itâs okay? No the fuck itâs not! Is he even talking to me? Something about this place? Someone staying here? Fuck, is he calling in reinforcements? Whoâs on the other line? Kudasai? This bitch is being polite??? Is it the police?
When he finishes speaking, he immediately turns the phone to face me. I read the displayed text:
âAll right. Called an ambulance. Please exist here and keep stress on the defects.â
Despite the situation, I let out a choked laugh at the shoddy translation, though luckily it managed to convey the pieces I hadnât understood. The blue, red, yellow, and green logo in the top right corner confirmed my suspicions, âGoogle translate? Really? Thatâs not even close to what you said. Google sucks at translating Japanese; youâd be better off with Spanish or another romance language, if you know it,â I ramble out what comes to mind, whether he can understand me or not.
It seems like he understands me since he makes a surprised sound and shakes his head before turning the phone back to read it himself and letting out an irritated sigh. He pulls off a glove to attempt typing but I speak up again, despite my voice shaking and hitching so badly that he might need google translate to figure out what Iâm saying, âI think I know what- what⊠you mean. Do you- do you- do-. You- FUCK,â cursing to dispel my stutter, I continue, âYou want me to stay here for the ambulance and keep pressure on the cut, right? Thank⊠you?â It feels weird to thank someone who just smashed a guyâs head in, but staying on their good side was probably the best idea for now.
He nods and reaches out a hand toward my head, which I would have withdrawn from if my head wasnât already against the wall, but since I couldnât, I just squeezed my eyes shut, hoping whatever came next wouldnât be too painful. When I feel a gentle ruffling sensation of my hair, my eyes pop back open in surprise. I clearly see their own eyes for the first time, looking at me far more softly than they had any right to.
My confused look seemed to shake them out of whatever reverie they were in, and he abruptly retrieves his hand, looking down again and mumbling, âăăă, çźăăăă.â
To reinforce his meaning, he covers his own eyes before pointing at me. I hesitantly raise a hand over my eyes, but peek through a sliver to make sure he wasnât going to try anything. He didnât, instead turning and standing, approaching the dead man. I close the gap, not wanting to see what he did.
The swirling, sickening feeling in my gut only increases the more I think about the strangerâs eyes. A strikingly beautiful color, ocean blue with a hint of pink swirling through them if you looked closely enough. I was sure I had seen them before but couldnât recall when or where. What bothered me more though, were their eyebrows. Pink. I only knew one insanely tall person with pink hair.
But of course it couldnât be him, itâs not like pink hair is unheard of. And he would never be able to wield a sledgehammer like that, heâs always so timid⊠and those definitely werenât his eyes. His are a much lighter baby blue. Plus he speaks English, he probably doesnât even know Japanese. I reassure myself. Surely my partner could never kill someone with such ease.
Despite my conclusion, I canât help but spread my fingers again, peeking out to see the personâs form dropping a half-full trash bag on the spot where the remains of the manâs head was, covering the worst of the remaining viscera. I couldnât see the body anywhere, but the dumpster was closed now, and I wasnât about to check it. I evaluate his height, placing it at about six and a half feet. The same as⊠No. But what if?
I see him pick up the serrated knife that was left on the ground, inspecting it closely, though for what I wasnât sure. I drop my hand from my eyes, instead using it to brace against the wall as I try to stand up, but hiss in pain and slide right back down. This grabs the attention of the black-clad figure and he takes a few hasty steps towards me, gesturing for me to stay down.
I warily eye the knife in his hand, and he gets the message, tossing it behind him somewhere carelessly before opening his hands, showing that theyâre empty. They then back away, glancing between me and the entrance of the alleyway a few times before turning to leave.
I call out desperately, âWait!â Iâd never be able to face my boyfriend if I didnât confirm this wasnât him now, but how could I do that? I continue in a timid voice, forcing a few more tears to roll down my face, âDonât leave me, please. Iâm scaredâŠâ
He hesitantly turns back to me but stays where he is, clearly uncertain.
I let my bottom lip tremble, âCould you just⊠could I hold your hand?â I cringe internally at the insane request, but to my surprise it seems to convince them as they return to my side, kneeling on one knee and offering his right hand to me.
But thatâs not what I needed, so I winced and snatched both of my hands back to my hip. When he reaches for my hip with his left hand, I grip onto it as though it was the only thing keeping me from dying. To my shock, I feel what I was looking for. A ring on their ring finger, the same thickness and width as the one he always wore around his neck.
I freeze, not able to meet their eyes. Turns out I knew nothing of my boyfriend of three months. I pull my hand back as unobtrusively as possible, betrayal and horror coursing through my veins as I murmur, âSorry, you probably should go before the ambulance gets here.â
I watch as they pause, clearly thrown by my sudden change of heart. But when we hear sirens closing in from the distance, they shoot to their feet and briskly walk out of the alleyway, casually grabbing the sledgehammer they had left standing in the middle of the path as though it weighed nothing. I shivered at the comfort he handles the weapon with.
When the ambulance arrives, they asked me a multitude of questions, most I didnât know the answer to. When they asked me who was responsible for my wound, I just pointed a shaky finger towards the dumpster, âI think heâs in thereâŠâ
When questioned further about the second figure, I only gave vague answers, not anything that would be helpful in a search. Luckily for me, my swimming vision and pounding headache finally gave way to sweet unconsciousness, the blood loss finally catching up to me.
renren again cause im pretty devoted to my wife
+extra my dumb ass trying to draw renren on roblox (ren so goofy there
(pls ignore my lil sister avatar on the corner
Convincing Redacted they're good enough, this time through metaphor á( á )á idk thought I'd try something out lol, trust, I know it's cringe
mdni !! / 14 days with you / sfw / redacted belongs to @14dayswithyou
I am pulled from my sleep as I feel something shift. My eyes blearily open to find a blue gaze matching mine anxiously, âSorry, Angel, did I wake yâup?â
I groan lowly, âNo, yâfine. Wha timeâs it?â
ââŠFour.â
My eyes shoot open, âP.m.?!â
Ren calmingly rubs a thumb over my forearm, âNo, a.m.â
I settle back down into the sheets, relieved, âOh⊠well then go back to sleep, youâre already more behind than usual.â
They immediately protest, âNo mânot.â
I give them a look and they avoid my gaze, giving me all the information I needed. I gently question, âYou alright?â
He pauses half a second before answering, âYes.â
I nod, âMm, whatâs wrong?â
He snorts lightly, ââSaid mâfine, just watching you.â
I pull him into my chest, laying my head on his, âI know. But you were thinking, not just watching. Thereâs a difference.â
Thereâs a long silence before he responds, ââŠDâyou think⊠if there was a god⊠dâyou think She would ever bâcapable of loving a mortal as much as they love Her?... A god has a whole world, an infinite amount of people, places, and things tâlove. But all the mortal has is Them. How could such a perfect being ever truly love such an insignificant, imperfect fleck on Their world?â
I consider, well aware of his true meaning and trying to respond in kind, âWell, I wouldnât know how a god would feel . But from my perspective, I donât see how a god could not love a mortal. There are so many ways to love, and surely their love for a person, a soul, would be more powerful than any of the others, right? A soul is so special, a type of god in its own right, able to create and destroy, to live and love and experience and share their experience back to the world in a unique way not even a god can.âÂ
Ren responds, âBut there are billions of other souls. Why a specific one? Especially if theyâre one thatâs flawed, broken beyond repair, a failure of creation? Why not a true god, to be level and equal to Them, powerful enough to fulfill Her every desire?â
I think over his question, âWhat use is one god to another? If one can fulfil a desire, so can the other, sameness has no meaning. The thrilling part is the new, the learning, the sharing of souls. No creation is a failure, and nothing is truly broken, only changed. Flaws are what make things interesting, unique, and compelling. Even shattered glass can make for beautiful mosaics, or stained-glass windows.â
Ren scoffs, âUnless itâs fractured into pieces too small tâfit into a work of art. Sharp enough tâcut and useless fâanything else.â
I frown, trailing my hand up and down his back comfortingly, âThen itâs frit, and can become swirls of gorgeous color if utilized by an artist willing to see its potential, to handle it with care and love as it should have been from the beginning.â
Another pause, then, âWhat if itâs a weed instead then? Ugly, unwanted, and choking out other plants for its own selfish desires.â
I shake my head, âPlants and animals do what they have to do to survive. Itâs their environment that defines the lengths they must go to, not their form, nor their inherent nature. You canât blame something for trying to survive. If it is considered ugly and unwanted, then it is in the wrong environment and beheld by the wrong person. A dandelion is considered a weed to adults, but a wonder to children. A flower that is so bright and shining, that becomes a sphere of fluff, whose seeds become dancers in the wind.â I laugh a bit at my own whimsical description.
Ren counters, âItâs invasive, an eyesore, and takes over spaces where it never belonged, using up resources from the ones deserving tâbe there.â
I lean back slightly to look them in the eyes, âIt sounds like youâre the wrong beholder then. Dandelions are versatile, resilient, and can sustain others through healing and sustenance. Every part of it is valuable in some way or another, if you care enough to look beyond the surface.â
They look back at me with wonder, âY'so optimistic.â
I grin back at him, âI was a nihilist for a long time, I just happened to finally find meaning in the world.â
He questions, âAnd whatâs that?â
I smile brightly, finding their hand under the covers and intertwining it with my own, âYou,â his real name rolls off your tongue so naturally, like it was always meant to be there.
I bring the back of his hand to my lips, trying to convey every bit of emotion I felt for them through my touch and gaze.
They seem frozen for a second, staring at me in shock. Just before he shifts to hide behind his bangs, I see tears fill his eyes as they turn downwards.
I quickly reach out to turn their face back to me, watching anxiously as he furiously tries to blink away his tears, âHey, listen. I know what youâre thinking right now. I understand the instinct to tear down everything Iâve said, to write it off as me just being careless or misguided. But itâs true, and I need you to believe it.â Tears are now streaming down his face as silent as they are relentless, and knowing how much they hate me seeing them cry, I pull them back into a tight hug.
I continue gently, âIâve seen you at your worst, yeah? When you were crazy with jealousy and hatred and thought I was going to leave you. But I didnât. Iâm still here, and Iâm going to be for a very long time. Not because you made and executed the perfect plan, not because I have no other choice, but because I want to be. Because Iâve seen you as you are, and I fucking love you. And just because that contradicts your view of yourself doesnât mean itâs wrong. It means youâve been in the wrong environment for 23 years, and I intend to fix that.â
After a pause I add in a more lighthearted tone, âAnd if that means I have to beat the shit out of the voice in your head that keeps saying horrible shit to you, thatâs what Iâm gonna fuckin do.â
Ren cracks a weak smile, âHowâre yâgonna do that? Theyâre a stubborn bitch, and largely immaterial.â
âLike this.â I return my hands to their face and plant a kiss on their forehead. I then move to each of his cheeks. I leave one on his nose and each of his eyelids, and then everywhere in between.
After we are both laughing from my onslaught, I finally pull away, âBetter?â
Ren responds with the faintest hint of a smile, âOne more couldnât hurt. Just tâmake sure.â
I chuckle, âAlright, one more, but then we have to go back to sleep.â
He pouts at my words, but ultimately gives in when I lean in, and we share a soft kiss.
After, I hold my arms open, allowing them to cuddle in closer, wrapping their arms around me and laying their head on my chest. Our legs naturally intertwine as we sink back into the pillows around us. I absentmindedly trace patterns on the back of his shoulder as we fade back into the obscurity of sleep, together.
[ OC x Canon ][ AU - Alternate Universe ]
Encounter "It just might have the thing you're looking for, but beware, little traveler. lots of people, for some reason, never return once they enter the forest." "... They disappear?" "Most likely. I heard whispers about faeries inhabiting this area, but there hasn't been any sightings in a long, long time."
Genre: G.N Reader (Angst!)
Summary: You're the Corland Bay Butcher, The Serial Killer, you heard in the news, Bodies, dead, gone, You're nuts! What if, someone was helping ya back to keep you safe, Will you see through his act after all, You met him first. NOT HIM
Violence & Gore â Mentions of knives, blood, and killing.
Mental Instability â Implied unhinged thoughts, intrusive urges.
Obsession & Fixation â Thoughts circling around a past encounter.
Dark Poetic Themes â Romanticization of violence and chaos.
Self-Awareness of Morality â Internal conflict about killing/mercy.
Shakespearean-style Poetic Bullying â Intense self-deprecation with a dramatic, lyrical flair.
You're a killer.
Not just any killerâa serial killer.
Why? Could be justice. Could be fun. Could be nothing at all, just a way to kill time. Could be moneyâblood-soaked bills stacking up in your pocket like trophies. Itâs on you. But no matter the reasonâyouâre a fucking serial killer.
A name whispered in alleys. A face nobody remembers. A shadow in the wrong places at the
You're a killer.
Not just any killerâa serial killer. The kind that gets headlines, Netflix docuseries, and edgy teenage fans who call you âmisunderstoodâ while painting their nails black. Maybe you do it for justice (sure). Maybe for fun (closer). Maybe for nothing at all, because boredom is a worse death than whatever you dish out. Or maybeâjust maybeâfor money, âcause even murderers gotta eat.
You, though? Youâre a special breed of fucked. You donât just kill; you curate. A gallery of ruined bodies, each arranged with a shit bow and a shit-eating grin. You're the scum of the earth, and you know it. Flaunt it, really.
Theyâll try to psychoanalyze you. Daddy issues, mommy issues, the whole trauma-riddled spiel. Theyâll say youâre broken. That you snap at the world because the world snapped at you first. Theyâll search for meaning where there is none. You donât care to distinguish truth from the realâtwo entirely different beasts.
You probably fake-hate black holes because theyâre clichĂ© but would style yourself after one with a smile. Suck the light out of the room, leave nothing but a cold abyss.
And yet.
You are a fucking liar.
A cute little library assistant by morning, shelving books with a saccharine smile, whispering âshhhâ to old ladies and college students. By night? Youâre a fucking scary-ass serial killer in a raincoat, dripping something that ainât just rain.
Crowbar, knivesâhell, anything sharp enough to carve flesh from bone. Baby, itâs your choice of weapon. You love blood. Live it, breathe it, bathe in it like itâs a second skin. Your love language? JK, no. You donât need love when youâve got arteries splitting open like pages in a well-loved book.
Turn the page. Whoâs next?
Alsoâsadlyâan anime fan. A shit living show called Attack on Giant owns a piece of your rotten little heart. You know itâs bad. You donât care.
And worse? You have a fictional husband. Haruki Haruko. The timid, sympathetic, air-headed (but in a good way), people-pleaser type. Cotton candy in human form. The kind of guy whoâd apologize for bleeding on your knife.
How the fuck does a blood-soaked abomination like you love a walking pink marshmallow like him?
Itâs fictional. STOP.
And it gets worse.
You and your online friend MOTH? Howling for Haruko like a couple of rabid fangirls. CAPS LOCK ON. ESSAYS IN THE GROUP CHAT. âHE DESERVES THE WORLDâ âHIS LITTLE SMILEâ âI WANNA PROTECT HIMâ â all while your hands are still sticky with blood.
MOTH doesnât know youâre a killer. Shut up. They think youâre normal. That you just have âdark humorâ and a really convincing way of describing knife wounds.
âomg if haruko was real iâd die for him <3â
You? Staring at your body count. Thinking, buddy, I donât even die for me.
Life was fine. Whatever fine means for someone like you.
Then two idiots fucked up. Bad dudes. Real pieces of shit. The kind that makes even God wanna look away. They got your eyesâmetaphorically or literally, who caresâand suddenly, you had a reason. An excuse.
You were already a killer. Now youâre a haunting.
They go first. Before the others. Before the side quests and the casual bloodshed. You want them to know. To feel it. The way your presence clings, the way their shadows stretch too long at night.
They look over their shoulders. They see nothing. For now.
You donât just kill them. You ruin them.
The first one goes slow. Too slow. You take your time, peeling back skin like wrapping paper, watching them twitch, eyes rolling like marbles in their sockets. You laugh. You LAUGH. It bubbles out of you, high and breathless, like this is the funniest shit youâve ever seen. Because it is. Because they thought they were untouchable, and now theyâre meat.
The second one? Screaming. Begging. Doesnât matter. Youâre an artist, and their body is just another canvas. You make something beautifulâuglyâperfect. A mess of red and twitching limbs. Your hands are soaked, your raincoat is dripping, and you feel fucking alive.
And then.
Someoneâs watching you.
The air shifts. The hairs on your neck rise.
What the fuck.
You pause. The feeling lingersâsomeone watching, something just out of sight. But you? You just shrug.
Eh.
Not your problem. If they saw, they saw. If they didnât, theyâll wish they had. You wipe your crowbar off on whatâs left of them, let the sticky warmth seep into your gloves, and turn on your heel like this was just another Tuesday.
Footsteps. Yours. Handprints. Also yours.
If the police are slick enough to find you? Good for them. Youâll make it fun.
Youâre gone. Vanished into the night like the walking crime scene you are.
And thenâhe arrives.
A man, moving like heâs got all the time in the world. A black hoodie, mask pulled up just enough to hide what matters. Black hair, messy but intentional, like he ran his hands through it one too many times. And his eyesâblue. Too blue. Like the kind youâd see in angel paintings before they ruined you. Too bright. Too sweet.
If you were still there, youâd think, No fucking way.
But youâre not. And he? Heâs got cleaning supplies.
Because it seems like you left.
He starts to clean. Like itâs routine. Like heâs done this before.
But you didnât leave.
You grab him from behindâhard. Slam him down, pinning him with your weight, breath hot against his ear. He barely fights back.
âThe fuck do you think youâre doing?â you snarl, pressing down harder. âWhat are you, some undercover cop? Finally found the killer? Corland Bayâs sweet psycho serial killer?â
His eyesâtoo fucking blueâwiden. Stunned. Mouth slightly open, like heâs trying to form words but forgot how. And something about the way his face flushesâ**soft pink, creeping up his neckâ**is wrong.
You donât notice. You press the knife against his throat. Harder.
âTalk.** Now.**â
You keep him pinned.
Knee digging into his ribs, knife pressed against his throat, eyes narrowed. "What kind of detectiveâpoliceâwhatever the fuck are you?" You hiss, pressing just a little harder, feeling the faint hitch in his breath beneath the blade.
But thenâhis breathing.
It changes. Too heavy. Too shaky.
Like... ahhhh???!?!!?
AHâ????
Your grip tightens. "The fuck is wrong with you?" You growl.
And him? His pupils are blown, his cheeks are flushed, and his breath is ragged in a way thatâs not fear.
Oh.
Oh, what the fuck.
You press the knife a little deeper. Not enough to kill, just enough to scare. Or maybe to feel the pulse beneath the bladeâfast, uneven, a little too eager.
"Youâre gonna die here, you know that?" you murmur. Cute. Like this is just conversation. Like youâre talking about the weather. Another collection. Another body. You grin, sharp and mean.
But heâs still fucking flustered.
Still breathing all wrong. Eyes shining. Like he wants to say something. You peel his mask up, slow, deliberate. His fingers twitch, reaching like heâs gonna stop youâno. You shove his head back down, hard.
Almost makes him faint. Almost does.
You glance around. The mess. The streaks of red. The bleach.
Oh.
What the hell was he trying to clean up?
You look back down, and his eyesâtoo blue, too brightâare glassy, struggling to focus. He tries again to speak. You donât care. You push his head down againâtoo hard.
He goes limp.
You sigh, irritated. Tear the mask away.
And pause.
Tall. 6â5â, easy. Sleeper buildâlean but solid. Hands covered in marks. Scratches, burnsâold, deep, childhood scars. Piercings that gleam under the shitty streetlights.
And his face?
...Pretty.
Too pretty.
And somewhat familiar.
What the fuck.
He was trying to clean up the mess. Your mess. The blood, the gore, the little bits of art you left behind like a signature.
A serial killer fan? A wannabe? Some poor, mentally ill fuck who thought you were some kind of idol?
Hah.
Darlinâ, he was being nice.
Nice enough to clean up after you, to make sure your ass stayed off the radar. And you knocked him out.
Killing him now? Sad. Kind of a waste. But itâs tempting. The way his throat is right there, the way his too-pretty face would look even prettier painted red.
Nah.
Lifeâs shit. Heâll grow out of it. Probably. Or he wonât.
And wouldnât that be interesting?
Too hot to kill.
Thatâs the excuse you land on. Not the stupidest one youâve made, not the worst, but damn if it isnât pathetic. You. Showing mercy. Saint Y/N, patron of dumbasses who clean crime scenes.
You almost carry himâalmost. Heâs fucking heavy. Dead weight in every sense of the word, and your arms are not built for this. You drag him instead, yanking him into another alleyway, gritting your teeth at every awkward shuffle of his too-tall, too-pretty, too-stupid body.
He could wake up. Could see the sun. Could get scared, maybe. Maybe heâll take the hint. Maybe heâll run. Maybe heâll get the fuck out of Corland Bay and out of your life.
Oh, Y/N.
You showed sympathy.
Youâre a saint, arenât you?
Why the fuck was he trying to clean the mess?
Weird-ass serial killer fan? Some freak with a savior complex? Someone worse?
You donât care. You wonât care.
Your work here is done. Corland Bay sleeps. So should you.
You yawn, stretch, crack your neck. Good night, dumbass.
You need to sleep. For your work.
You had⊠a dream.
A little child. Small hands, soft voice. He tries to give you a ring.
Innocent. Loved you.
And youâyou looked. You canât remember your own expression, but your face felt warm, felt happy. Like he was everything. Like he was your darling. A sweet boy.
You canât see his face.
"Do you wanna marry meâŠ? Angel! I'll take good care of youâŠ"
His voiceâsoft, bright, hopeful.
You donât get to answer.
Because Leon, your ass of a friend, grabs your hand, pushes the boyâs away. The ring falls. The boy stumbles.
Heâs crying.
"He's a freak! I told ya! Why did you hang out with him? Look!"
You couldnât say anything.
You didnât.
Leonânah. He took your hand. You let him.
And you watched.
Watched the boy cry. Watched him pick up the ring.
Your older self watched.
Watched your kid self. Watched the way your little hands twitched, how your feet stayed planted, how your mouthâsilent.
You felt something. Like you wanted to remember. Like if you just reached a little furtherâ
Thenâ
A sound.
Loud. Jarring. A kick to the ribs of your dream.
Yeah. You woke up.
Congrats.
Youâre the beauty of gore.
Coffee. Black, like your soul or whatever. Bitter, like your mornings.
You flip on the news. Same shit, different day.
"Yet another body was pulled from Bluemoss this morning. Authorities believe it was the work of the infamous Corland Bay Butcherâ"
What a fucking name.
Hideous.
You hate it. If you were gonna be branded a legend, youâd at least give yourself a name with some style. But no. The public loves their sensationalist, overcooked horror movie bullshit.
And this case? This crime?
Itâs years old.
What the fuck.
Maybe people are just dumb.
Itâs like that one show, Dexter. The whole Bay Harbor Butcher thing. Lame. At least Dexter got a name with a little biteâthis? This sounds like something a washed-up true crime podcaster would spit out between sips of pumpkin spice.
People shouldâve named you something cool. Something with presence. Something that rolls off the tongue like a whispered threat.
You sip your coffee, scalding hot, burning the tip of your tongue. Whatever. You like the pain.
The news anchor drones on, their voice that usual mix of forced solemnity and thinly veiled excitement. Because thatâs what this is, right? The public eats this shit up. Blood and bodies and mystery.
And the dumbest part? This case is years old.
Theyâre still talking about it, still digging up corpses like long-forgotten relics, still pretending they care.
But you know the truth.
People donât care about the dead. They care about the thrill. The spectacle. The fear.
You roll your eyes and take another sip. Yeah, whatever.
You do like Dexter, though. Good show. But come on, at least his name had branding.
Moth texts. Buzz, buzz. Your phone screen lights up.
You flick open the keyboard, thumbs hovering. Moth is sweet. Thoughtful, even. Different time zones and all, but they still check in. You shoot back a quick "Thank you!" because youâre a saint.
Grey bubble. Theyâre typing.
Moth
"btwww! did u see the latest AoG ep?? i heard Haruko got an outfit change!!!!"
Moth
"spoil it for me. did he really change his hairstyle as well?"
You scoff. Baby stays the same.
You type back so fast your screen almost cracks.
"HHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE"
He didnât. Still the same. Still cute. Still sweet. Still the most lovable little cutie to ever exist.
You hammer it into the keyboard like itâs gospel.
Moth
"LMAOOO bless. also. shouldnât u be at work rn."
âŠOh. Oh, shit.
FUCK.
You throw the phone. You bolt. Clothes? Shitty. Aesthetic? Somewhere between 2018 emo-core and 'I let a Tumblr gremlin dress me in the dark.'
WHY?
Fuck it. Youâre emo.
You catch yourself in the mirror. Oh. Oh damn.
You look hot. Like feral raccoon meets 2018 Hot Topic cashier meets 'I definitely bite.'
Self-confidence? SKYROCKETED. You are an icon. A menace. A walking, talking Tumblr sexyperson if Tumblr had any taste.
Oh shit.
Work.
Oh no.
Oh no no no.
You canât be feeling yourself this much and then drop a fucking uwu. Thatâs a war crime. Thatâs illegal. Thatâsâ
âŠYou wink at yourself in the mirror anyway.
"Time to cause problems."
Door swings open. The world outside assaults you with daylight. Gross.
"Oh! Hey there, Angel! Looking good!"
Violetâs standing there, all sunshine and soil-stained fingers, practically glowing in the morning light. Sickening. If it were anyone else, youâd gag. But itâs Violet. So you deal with it.
You flick your eyes to her hip, where yet another potted plant balances like a permanent attachment. Her whole apartment? Basically a jungle. If you didnât know better, youâd swear she was growing a sentient vine army in there, plotting to take over the world with nothing but greenery and kindness.
You? Not complaining. The air always smells fresh, floral, and earthy as hell whenever sheâs aroundâa perfect mask for the lingering traces of smoke and death clinging to you.
"New plant?" you ask, because duh.
Violet grins, fishing for her keys. "Mm-hmm! This oneâs a rosemary bush! Thought itâd be nice to have something useful."
Useful? You know fifty different ways to kill someone with rosemary. You smile.
"Nice."
Violet eyes you up and down, her expression turning downright delighted.
"Loving the look today, Angel! Very... 2018 Tumblr emo."
You snort. "You wound me."
"No, seriously! I kinda wanna raid your closet one day." She nudges you playfully, still grinning like sheâs just discovered a hidden treasure trove of goth fashion secrets. If only she knew.
You laugh, all teeth and mischief. "Sure, sure. One day."
One day. Which means never. Because the only thing your closet is full of? Knives. Knives, crowbars, and the occasional bloodstained hoodie. Hardly the wardrobe of an alt-fashion influencer.
Then she dropped a bomb.
You blink. "Nope. Nada. Never heard of him."
Violet narrows her eyes, lips pursing. "You sure? "'Cause he seemed real familiar with you.""
Your stomach does this weird little flip, like your instincts are tapping at your ribs, whispering, Hey, maybe pay attention to this one. But you shut that feeling down real fast.
"Violet, babe, I think you dreamed this one up." You flash a grin, all casual confidence, even as your mind works overtime, flipping through the mental Rolodex of potential problems.
Tall guy? Dark hoodie? Alternative fashion? Too many belts? Jesus, what is he, a Final Fantasy character?
"No clue who that is," you repeat, a little slower this time, letting the lie settle.
Violet hums, unconvinced. "Weird. "
You shrug, pretending your skin isn't crawling just a little. "Sounds like a him problem."
But in the back of your mind, you know damn well this is gonna be a you problem real soon.
"No worries, Vi. I got work now, I'll check later." You wave a dismissive hand, already stepping away.
Check later? Lmao, no. You didnât give a shit. Who the hell would stalk you?
âŠUnlessâ
Oh.
If it was a stalker, then they were bold. And if they were bold, that meant either two things:
They were stupid. In which case, easy kill.
They were a detective.
And ohhhh, baby, wouldnât that be fun?
You bite your lip, suppressing the grin creeping up. A detective? Hunting you? Now that was hot.
Hell, maybe you'd let them catch up just for the thrill. Let them get close, real closeâclose enough to think they had youâbefore you turned the tables.
Oooooh. Fuck.
Yeah. Thatâd be fun.
You hit send before you can second-guess yourself. Maybe itâs better to leave it at that. Maybe itâs better to pretend you donât care. Maybe, maybe, maybe. You can stack those maybes like a house of cards, but it wonât stop the wind from blowing.
Youâve got bigger things to deal with. A shitty apartment. A shittier job. The nagging feeling that something off is creeping up behind you, but you? You walk faster.
You breathe deep, step through the library doors, and let the scent of old paper settle the static under your skin. Itâs grounding. Familiar. The only thing that stays still in a world that never does.
And thenâ
âOh!â
Elanor.
Sweet, doting Elanor, with her scatterbrained ways and her insufferable meddling. Sheâs already smiling, head tilting, eyes flicking you over like sheâs about to say something thatâll make you regret showing up today.
âSooooo?â She hums, teasing. âHow does it feel to no longer be the one in charge of stacking books all day long?â
Before you can answer, she keeps going, because of course she does.
âAlthough⊠youâll still have to work the front desk from time to time, unfortunately.â
You shrug. Offer a smileâif it even counts. Make your way past her before she can wring you into another conversation that leaves you tired before noon.
The familiar chime of the library door rings. Someoneâs entered. Not your problem. You duck down, slide your bag under the desk, start pulling out your things. You focus.
The hum of the library settles you, slow and steady, like an IV drip to an addict. Bookshelves, faint ink-and-paper perfume, the distant murmur of people who still think this place is a sanctuary.
And thenâagain.
Elanor.
Her voice drops into something light, airy, knowing. Fuck.
âLooks like heâs back again.â
Your fingers freeze on the paper in front of you.
âYou know, that new guy? The one who always checks out the books you put on display?â
Sheâs got a grin in her voice. It makes your eye twitch.
âAnd if I didnât know any betterââ (you donât, Elanor, you never do,) âIâd say he has a little crush on you.â
Pause.
âBecause he was staring. A lot.â
Oh, for fuckâs sake.
You shove her chair so it spins away from you, ignoring the heat creeping up your neck.
The universe, it seems, has chosen today to test your patience.
And nowâbecause fate is cruel and Elanor is worseâ
Aisle 8.
The red light above the shelves blinks. Someone needs help. Him.
Of course.
You sigh. Drag yourself up. Refuse to look at her. You donât need toâher glee is practically a tangible thing, radiating off her in smug waves. You weave through the shelves, every step an exercise in reluctant inevitability.
And thenâthere he is.
A broad figure. Back turned. Wearing the comfiest cardigan youâve ever seen. He hasnât noticed you yet.
You clear your throat. âAhem.â
Flinch.
He turns.
Stops.
And for the first time all day, so do you.
Pink.
Pink hair. Soft eyes. Tallâtoo tall. Looking at you like heâs just walked into a dream he wasnât ready for.
You stare.
He stares.
Somewhere, distantly, reality stirs.
His jaw moves, something almost forming before it stumbles out clumsy and quiet:
âWoah⊠You lookâŠâ
A beat.
His eyes flick over you, unreadable, thoughtful, confused.
âBut I thought you preferred softer clothingâŠ? Thatâs why IâŠâ
Why he what?
His voice dies. He clears his throat, face burning cherry-pink, matching his hair.
âAhem! Um⊠S-Sorry, I hope Iâm not bothering you.â
And youâoh, youâ
You donât know what the fuck is going on.
Howâs that?
Not about this. Not about him.
But his voice drags you back, an anchor to the present, and you scramble to piece together whatever sentence just left his cherry-stained lips. Thereâs a kind of innocence in the way he struggles for the right words, tripping over them like a nervous actor missing his cue. Itâs almost endearing. Almost.
You give him a slow nod, a silent cue to keep going.
He takes a breath.
ââŠI need some help. IâIâm looking for a specific book, you see, butâŠâ
And there it is. The sleeve-tugging hesitation. That stammer, that nervous shift, like a protagonist straight out of one of Mothâs favorite anime. Theyâre going to absolutely lose it when you tell them about this later.
The stranger tries again, steadier this time, his gaze catching yours with something just a little too sharp.
ââŠDo you have any books on native flora? The best Iâve found are on generic wildlife, but nothing on Corland Bayâs plants.â
Plants? Your first thought is to direct him to Violetâthis is her territoryâbut instead, you let out a quiet chuckle and step a little closer, scanning the shelf beside him.
He twitches. Not awayâcloser. Just slightly. A shift so subtle itâs almost imperceptible, except for the way his breath hitches when your scent brushes past him.
âNo, youâre in the right section,â you murmur. âTheyâre just⊠buried.â
Your fingers ghost along the book spines, slow, deliberate, until you find the one. You tug it free, turning it in your hands before offering it to him.
âThis the one?â
He doesnât answer right away. Not with words, at least. His gaze lingersâtoo long, too intenseâbefore he finally reaches for it. His fingers brush yours, barely, but thereâs a slight tremor in them.
Then he flips through the pages, scanning, searchingâ
And stops.
âYes,â he breathes, triumphant. âThis is perfect. Thank youâŠâ
You barely have time to nod before he adds, almost too softly:
âHaha, youâre like an angel, you know that? So kind.â
Your heart stumbles. Your lips partâ
ââŠWhat?â
His expression shatters into pure, unfiltered horror.
âOh my Godââ His face flushes, hands flying up as if he could physically shove the words back into his mouth. âI didnâtâDid I actually say that out loud? Oh, shit, Iâm so sorry. That wasâThat mustâve been so weirdââ
Itâs adorable, in a train-wreck kind of way.
You bite back a grin, raising your hands in mock surrender. âRelax. Just caught me off guard, is all.â
His eyes flicker with somethingârelief? Embarrassment? Itâs hard to tell beneath the flush crawling up his neck.
âR-Really?â His voice is softer now, hopeful. âWell, I meant it.â
You sigh, shaking your head. âSure.â
And that should be the end of it. You should step away. Let him bask in his mortification. But he doesnât move. Just watches. A silent, expectant sort of tension stretching between you.
You clear your throat. âUh. You shouldnât stare like that.â
His head tilts, almost curious. âWhy not?â
Your stomach twists.
âBecause I donât know you,â you reply, words lighter than the weight pressing against your ribs.
His lips twitch, like heâs suppressing a smile. âAh. A technicality.â
You exhale sharply, already regretting this entire conversation. âYou havenât even told me your name.â
âHavenât I?â
A pause.
Then, smoothly: âRed- Ren.â
Ren. The name tastes unfamiliar, but something about it scratches at the back of your mind. The way he says itâlike itâs borrowed. Like itâs just another book on a shelf, waiting to be picked up and put back down under a different title.
Still, you nod, forcing an easy smile. âNice to meet you, Ren.â
His gaze flickers downâto your name tag. A quiet hum leaves him.
âY/n,â he muses. âOr⊠Angel, maybe.â His grin sharpens. âBoth suit you.â
Until he tilts his head, expression sobering.
ââŠYou said you needed a new lock for your apartment.â
You blink, thrown off by the sudden shift. âYeah?â
âWhy?â
You hesitate. Thereâs no real harm in telling him, right? Itâs not like heâs the one who broke in.
âSomeone snuck in last night,â you admit, shrugging. âDidnât steal anything. But still. Creepy.â
Ren hums again, thoughtful. Then, without missing a beat:
âI could watch your place.â
Your breath catches.
You blink at him. âWhat.â
He shrugs, casual. âStay up. Keep an eye out. Handle it if anything happens.â His voice is smooth, steady, like heâs offering to water your plants while youâre away. âWouldnât be a problem.â
You stare.
He meets your gaze, unwavering.
Itâs insane. Itâs suspicious. Itâs absolutely something you should say no to.
Instead, you hear yourself say:
ââŠYou offering to be my personal bodyguard now?â
Ren smiles. âOnly if you say yes.â
"You really want to protect a stranger like me, Who knows, You-" You went closer to his ear whispered "can't trust anyone...What if, I'm luring you for my own fun..?"
He flustered, almost fell down...You giggle and left.
You smile. Evilly.
Heheheheh.
He looks cute, wonât lie. Almost too cute. Youâve always wanted to commit a Haruko crimeâsink your knife into something pretty, watch something lovely turn ruinous in your hands. Killing him would be fun.
Wouldn't lie⊠those blue eyesâ
Theyâre similar.
That man.
The one from the alley. The first one you didnât kill. The one you let walk free.
Your mind wrenches back to him, unbidden. That look in his eyes, the way he stoodâdifferent. He wasnât like the others. He was⊠something else.
And maybeâjust maybeâyour poor, gutted heartâŠ
Ugh.
Stop.
Ugh.
You smile a little.
Shitty. Yes. Youâre fucked in the head.
And oh, how you love it.
A wretched thing, a beautiful disaster, a creature born to revel in ruinâyou, a lover in the way fire loves to lick at the edges of a home, the way a knife loves the tender give of flesh.
What is it, then? This itch in your skull? This whisper in your bones? Some ghost of mercy rattling in your ribcage? How disgusting. How divine.
You let one go. One. And yet his ghost lingers like the taste of copper on your tongue. A memory dressed in blue-eyed regret.
You should carve it out. Bleed it dry. But oh, donât you adore the ache?
âËàż đđđđđđđđđ?.. đđËâ redacted x GN!reader
âąàŹ.° this baby is SO stiff, he looks like heâs in need of a massage, (posture is outrageous,) so youâre happy to give one to them!
[ REN BELONGS TO @14dayswithyou !!! ]
[ REVERSE comfort!! ] [ 18+ ] [ not proofread! per usual ]
âââââââââââââââââââ
you lay on your boyfriend's bed as you wait for them to detach from their computer.
you eye the man before you once more, hunched over and poker faced as he stares at the screen displaying some odd black and green code. you speak up for what seems to be the hundredth time,
âbabe.â you say as deeply as possible, serious and concerned. you couldn't help it! you watched him hunch over his desk for a solid four hours without taking any break. it was worrying to see them strain themself so much without rest.
the man glances at you repeatedly âpractically every two secondsâ to which heâs met with the same disappointed look on your face every single time. as much as it broke him, heâd been working for so long, he didnât really want to loose all the progress heâd made.
âren, you need a break! im serious!â you exclaim, a hint of distress in your tone as you raise your voice slightly.
frowning, you watch as he /finally/ slips his hand underneath the screen. a button clicks as the display goes dark.
he rests his head on the back of his seat and takes a deep breath, pausing for a moment.
eyes on your lover, you hope they aren't upset with you.. it was just, the sight of him being invested for so long without stretching or standing worried you. the discomfort seemed to be taking a toll on him andâ
practically snapping you out of your thoughts, they use their arms to push themself upward. finally standing on his feet, just like youâd asked.
you feel a sense of relief at the sight.
he turns to face you with an unreadable expression.
ââm sorry love.. i was so distracted-â he speaks, gradually stepping closer to you, their eyes focused on yours. ââ forgive me?â he pleads, taking notice of your furrowed brows. his hand moves to rest on your cheek, though it slowly falls.
you couldn't be upset. he did as you asked, even if you had to ask them several times.
âforgiven.. now, sit honey,â you speak, patting the cushion beside you.
calmly, they sit down, reading your expression to see if you'd really meant your forgiveness.
untangling yourself from the sheets beneath you, you expose your legs and get up to toss them on each side of your lover. as you straddle him, his breath gets caught in his throat at the sight of you, the pressure of your body finally dropping in his lap.
âall your pleas jusâ for you to have me sit again? you sure missed me, hm?â he teases, hands slowly sliding up and down your thighs. you can barely make out the hearts nearly form in his eyes between the shield of his dark bangs.
âof course..â you coo, gliding one hand up his tattooed arm, finally relaxing it on his shoulder. your other hand rests against their face. slightly moving their bangs out of the way, you reveal the glossy eyes underneath. âdo you know how long you've been sitting?â you ask, noticing how his eye bags have suddenly grown darker.
âmmm.. dunno.â they hum, leaning into your touch.
suddenly, your warm hands find their way towards his neck, slightly rubbing circles around his collarbones with your thumbs. <REDACTED> closes his eyes at the relaxing touch, hands resting on both of your hips, pressing you even further down on their lap.
âfeel good?â you whisper, not wanting to disrupt his peace.
âmhhmm..â he drifts off, head leaning forward a bit.
âshh..â you hush, âlet me take care of you.â
placing a kiss on their forehead, you continue to run your hands gently up and down his neck, applying slight pressure.
over time, the tension being placed on his upper half begins to get more intense as you dig your palms into his neck with circular motions. the more you feel around, you can definitely feel the most tense areas.
<REDACTED> inhales sharply at the contact, hissing as you place even more pressure on his tense neck.
âyou okay?â you ask, slightly removing your hands.
realization hits as their eyes shoot open. he softly takes a hold of your wrist to guide you. ââm f-fine.. keep going angel..â he huffs, placing your hands back onto his textured skin.
âit feels good, yeah?â you smile, applying slight force once more.
âsâ good.. donât stop.. please.â
they relax into your gentle touch once more, surrounding themself in your scent.
the aroma and situation suddenly becomes overstimulating..
he swiftly envelopes you in a hug. his face hidden away in the crook of your neck. his eyes begins to sting.
tears start to form as the realization of the scenario sets in. how could he get so lucky?
âso good to me.. i donât deserve it, angel.â