So... I found this and now it keeps coming to mind. You hear about "life-changing writing advice" all the time and usually its really not—but honestly this is it man.
I love the lawyer metaphor, because whenever I see “John knew that...” in prose writing I immediately think “how? How does he know it?” Interrogate your witnesses. Cross-examine them. Make them explain their reasoning. It pays dividends.
First, let me preface this with something very important: you can treat all of this advice as SECOND-DRAFT ADVICE. It is so much easier to rewrite this kind of stuff once you have words on the page. Telling yourself the first draft is totally appropriate and acceptable.
What we’re talking about here are FILTER WORDS (and to some degree verbs of being). Yes, “thought” words are included. But so are “heard, saw, looked, tasted, smelled” etc.—most words having to do with the senses.
This isn’t black and white advice; sometimes you’ll use these words and that’s okay. They’re not WRONG. They’re just weaker. And they’re weaker because they create distance between the reader and the experience of the character.*
If you want your reader to feel like they’re experiencing the story right alongside the character, you want to cut down on filter words.
*This is particularly important with first person and close third POVs. The reader always knows whose eyes they’re seeing through and thoughts they’re privy to. So you don’t need to tell them “I saw X.” Or “I heard X.” Or “I thought Y.” You can just jump into the action/observation as it’s happening.
This is also where you want to pay attention to verbs of being.
“It was rainy.” Versus: “The rain pounded against the roof.” Or “The rain howled like an injured animal.” Or “The rain tapped against the window like an anxious lover.” All of these are inviting the reader deeper into the experience of the story by using stronger verbs and similes. And, at the same time, they stir feelings (instead of TELLING feelings). And feelings keep your reader engaged. Engaged readers keep turning pages; engaged readers become FANS.
The most valuable advice that Author Ex gave me through the years that we wrote together was this: the problem with all these filter words is that they create distance in the POV.
That means that when you read a line like
John saw that the curtains were open.
It immediately takes you OUT of the character's perspective and instead tells you what they experience as a secondhand observation.
You don't have to get fancy or purple with how you rephrase things like this. Not everything needs a ton of breathing room.
You wanna know what's perfectly impactful while keeping a tight POV?
This was one of my all time most powerful writing lessons! This mindset shift makes you a stronger writer immediately in a way that just keeps getting easier and better for you.
The take I always have on advice like this is that "John saw that the curtains were open." and "The curtains were open." are sentences that are telling you two different pieces of information.
Some of this, yes, is about POV distance--but some of it is also about the information being conveyed by the sentence. If you are using a sentence like "John saw that the windows were open" it should be because the information you are seeking to convey is that John saw it.
Maybe this matters because the next time John looks back they are closed, and so he's doubting what he saw. Maybe it matters because he later has to recount information about the room he was in, and it's notable that he specifically saw that the windows were open. The fact and method of his observation is part of the point of the sentence, rather than simply the observation itself.
When we are using sense verbs, it should be because part of the point is the sense. Same with "thought", "felt", etc.: "Mary thought that Susan looked a little thin" is telling us a different piece of information than "Susan looked a little thin."
Contrarily, at least in my opinion, simple telling phrasing like "It was rainy" can sometimes bring us more into a character's head than something showing like "The rain howled like an injured animal." I have read books when a relatively plain-spoken/plain-thinking character suddenly starts having elaborate descriptions of things like scenery or weather, and it is abundantly clear that the author wanted to spruce up their writing and avoid "telling." The problem is that it drags me as the reader out of the character's head and shows me where all of the strings are. I'm suddenly thinking about how the author is worried about being yelled at for "telling" instead of just reading the story.
Your writing, down to the sentence structure and word choice level, should be about what you are trying to accomplish. Is the point to tell us that the window was open, or is it to tell us that John saw that the window was open?
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tricky words I always see misspelled in fics: a guide
Viscous/vicious – Viscous is generally used to describe the consistency of blood or other thick liquids. Vicious is used to describe something or someone who is violent.
Piqued/Peaked/Peeked – To pique someone’s interest is to catch or tease their attention. When something peaks, it reaches its total height or intensity. To peek (at) something is to look briefly, or glance.
Discrete/Discreet – this is a tough one. Discrete means to be separate, or distinct, i.e., two discrete theories. Conversely, when someone is discreet, they are being secretive or cautious to avoid attention.
Segue/Segway – one is a transition between things, the other is a thing you can ride at the park and definitely fall off of.
Conscious/Conscience/Conscientious – to be conscious is to be awake, i.e., not unconscious, or to be aware of something. Your conscience is the little voice in your head telling you not to eat the entire pint of ice cream. Finally, to be conscientious is to be good, to do things thoroughly, to be ruled by an inner moral code.
Hope this helped! Please add more if you think of them!
Counsel/Council - counsel is advice, the advice giver, or the verb form of giving said advice. Council is the group of people who come together to discuss and/or make decisions.
Desert/Desert/Dessert - desert is a barren landscape where little precipitation occurs. desert - abandon (a person, cause, or organization) in a way considered disloyal or treacherous. dessert - a usually sweet course or dish (as of pastry or ice cream) usually served at the end of a meal.
OH MY TIME IS HERE! I HAVE MADE A POST I KEEP FOR THIS EXACTLY
Taunt/Taut - Taunt is a jeer or provocation, taut means to be pulled tight, or not slack
Weary/Wary - weary means tired and wary means cautious
Rogue/Rouge - rogue is a person who has unaffiliated themselves from what they were before (is the general understanding); a person or thing that behaves in an aberrant, faulty, or unpredictable way - rouge is red
Wonton/Wanton - a wonton is a dumpling, wanton is (of a cruel or violent action) deliberate and unprovoked and/or sexually unrestrained
Haphazard/Halfhazard - haphazard means to have a lack of plan, order, or direction - the other isn’t a word
Corporal/Corporeal - corporal is a lack of plan, order, or direction and corporeal is to have a physical existence: to be tangible: of a person’s body
Peck/Pec - the first is a kiss (peck) and the second is the shortened version of pectoral (pec)
Virile/Viral - to be virile is to have strength, energy, and a strong sex drive (typically said about men) and then this last year (2020) has personally taught us, is how viral a plague can really be, so of the nature of, caused by, or relating to a virus or viruses
Vulnerable/Venerable - vulnerable means being susceptible to physical or emotional attack or harm, and if a person is venerable they’re accorded a great deal of respect, especially because of age, wisdom, or character (or if you’re religious, holy)
Dyed is something that is colored, and died is deceased
I wrote a whole list of these years ago, but the same misspellings persist, unfortunately.
Advice/Advise - in American English advice is a noun, you can give it to people, and advise is a verb, the act of giving advice
Ball/Bawl - people ball their fists when they are angry and ready to fight; people bawl when they cry loudly like a baby
Bear/Bare - to bear is to carry something physical or figurative like “to bear arms” or “to bear good news;” bare is when something is hairless, naked, or exposed as in the expression “baring your soul”
Hanger/Hangar - clothes go on a hanger in a closet or on a rack; airplanes go in a hangar to keep them safe
Definite/Defiant - when something is a sure thing it is definite; when someone acts out against authority they are defiant
Pour/Pore - you pour drinks or pour out your feelings, but your pores are the tiny holes in your skin that keep it healthy
Palate/Palette/Pallet - palate is the surface of your tongue that allows you to taste (e.g. palatable means “is enjoyable to eat”); a palette is a set of color options for paint or makeup; a pallet is a wooden platform heavy shipments are placed on so forklifts can move them around, or a pallet is a mattress stuffed with straw
One more example that I don’t see misspelled, but do see misused:
Soiled - primarily used to describe clothing or fabric that has been made very dirty with something gross and wet (feces, mud, vomit, food, etc.). It is not just a synonym for “wet,” it is very specific. If your female character has “soiled panties,” she is not sexy she just pooped her pants.
Sodden - a close synonym to “soaked,” except it normally has a negative meaning whereas soaked is neutral. You use sodden for objects that have been made soggy or ruined by too much liquid. It is not often used for buildings, cars, or other normally solid objects. Unless the building is made of straw or the car has a fabric interior and was flooded, neither will be described as sodden.
This is partly why I stress that people READ more books if they want to be taken seriously as published authors. You make a lot more mistakes if you don’t know what your language should look like in print!
The Moments That Broke Me In Darius’ Route *Heavy Spoilers
Unfortunately I fell in love with this broken man because his story has all the tropes I'm weak for... and i need to yap about it
Darius and MC eating candies on bed.
Darius laughing in inappropriate moments and MC finding it cute.
After torturing a man to death in a grotesque way, blood-covered Darius tries to r*pe MC (shattered mirror scene) But as she breaks down, confessing her love through tears, something in him falters. He drapes his bloodstained coat over her torn clothes and leaves the inn, disappearing into the rain. After crying for hours MC gathers herself and steps outside. She discovers that Darius has arranged a carriage for her and even left behind new clothes. After changing into new dress in the carriage MC encounters William. William comforts her and gives relationship advice.
Next day, irritated tsundere Darius and lovesick MC doing a milk puzzle on the floor like little kids, while talking about Darius' past and her love for him
MC keeps following Darius to prove her love, and he acts annoyed but just as she’s about to give up, he stops in his tracks, sulks, and waits asking why she isn’t coming after him.
Darius later attempts to abduct Liam Elbert and Alfonse. Desperate to stop him, MC presses a knife to her own throat, threatening him with her life. Faced with her resolve, Darius relents and releases the Crown members. But he takes her instead, and it causes Vogel members to doubt him as their leader, planting the seeds of future rebellion.
In a lifeless, abandoned town, MC rests her head against Darius’s shoulder. Together, they stand before a statue of a one-winged angel. They talk about belief and religion. Then Darius gently careeses her cheek with his bare hand and suddenly recoils, his eyes wide with terror(freaks out seeing her worst future lol). He orders Nika and Rin to release her, rejects her completely, and flees. (Honestly my favorite scene, i was waiting for this since the very beginning)
Darius explains to Vogel members how he will not let them to kill MC (he called William to protect her) and accepts being killed by them, yet when MC jumps between him and the sword while telling everyone she believes Darius Vogel regardless of what others think, he regains his will to fight.
MC losing her common sense, feeling nothing at the sight of blood and even not caring about making love in blood-covered sheets. She just accepts the fact that forgiveness is no longer meant for her.
When her old friends see her again, something feels deeply wrong. They hear the softness in her voice as she speaks of Darius yet what she describes is anything but normal. Later seeing Darius they notice that the innocent girl they once knew is gone. In her place stands someone who has willingly given her soul to a demon.
Darius can't say "I love you" to the person he truly loves because of his curse. Otherwise he will die. That's way, he tells MC to kill him with her love.
Darius and his father (the king of Germany) saying each other hollow "I love you"s in a twisted manner. Later, Darius compares it to MC's I love you's, and realizes that he has finally found what he craved for so long: a genuine love, a place to belong.
CHEVALIER HIJACKING THE APP 2026- BEHIND THE SCENES EPISODES ABOUT HIM- TRANSLATION
Story from Clavis: As Clavis approached the sleeping Chevalier with an adhesive sleep mask designed like a pleading-face emoji, he was hurled through the window by a drowsy Chevalier, shattering the windowpane as he fell into the garden.
Story from Yves: Fed up with Clavis' pranks, Yves turned to Chevalier for advice on spotting the traps. Instead of helping, Chevalier roasted him for being unobservant, which caused Yves to binge-eat that day.
Story from Luke: Among the forest animals Luke befriended, there is an aloof squirrel. Due to its constant disdainful attitude, Luke named it Chevalier the Second.
Story from Leon: Since Chevalier rejects his invitations to banquets, he once tried to hold one in the library, bringing alcohol and dried meat. However, after that, Chevalier stopped talking to him for a while.
Story from Rio: When he goes drinking with the guard Lucian and Cyran, the knight of the external affairs faction, it usually turns into a meeting where they praise the greatness of Chevalier.
Story from Nokto: If he wants to truly get rid of a woman who chases him, he takes shelter at Chevalier's side, relying on the tiger’s unapproachability to overcome the situation
Story from Licht: The sword Licht uses when training alone is actually one that Chevalier discarded in the past. He fetched it in secret and cherishes like a treasure.
Story from Sariel: Chevalier is able to receive reports from Nokto while checking documents, giving orders to Sariel and throwing a paperweight at Clavis who is creeping toward him, all at the same time.
Story from Jin: Wanting to improve his relationship with Chevalier, he suggested accompanying him on an official duty. However, unable to stand the silence in the carriage, he appeared quite pale upon their return.
Story from Keith: Since he gets nervous while talking to Chevalier, he always drinks herbal tea before meeting him to calm himself.
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"Let's play Fangen. I want to test how much intelligence and physical strength you have."
===Round 1 ===
[MC runs into Victor's office]
Victor: Oh! You surprised me. What happened?
MC: Please hide me!
Victor: F-From who!?
I frantically explained the situation to confused Victor and made him hide me under his desk.
MC: I can relax finally...
But the relief didn't last long. A knock sounded at the office door.
Darius: Hello, Victor. Has MC come by?
MC: !!
I quickly covered my mouth. Victor, still seated, smiled calmly.
Victor: No, she hasn’t. Is something wrong?
Darius: We’re playing a game with her. It’s supposed to be tag but players are free to improvise as they wish.
Darius: I guess it’s turned into hide-and-seek by now.
A dull thud echoed from the desk as if Darius’s shoe had bumped against it.
Did he... notice!?
Victor: I’m not sure what you’re talking about but .. I hope you are treating Crown's Fairytale Keeper with due respect
Darius: Of course, I’m taking good care of her. Though she’s Vogel’s Fairytale Keeper now too.
I felt the tension rising above me and looked up to check on them. However, Victor was just smiling with mirth
Darius: Well, we still have plenty of time. I’d like to enjoy this a little longer.
Darius: If you happen to see MC, pass along my regards
The sound of his footsteps gradually faded away. A few seconds later, as the door clicked shut, Victor pushed his chair back.
Victor: Seems like he's gone
MC: Thank you
I leaned against the desk, my muscles going weak from the sudden relief.
Victor, unable to ignore the sight, stood up and gently pulled me to my feet by holding both of my hands.
Victor: You had better take some rest before leaving
He gestured toward his chair. I sat down, letting out a long sigh, and met Victor’s worried gaze.
Victor: Would you like me to stop him?
I was grateful for Victor's offer but I couldn't nod. I didn’t know what would happen if I lost, but.. It was a crucial point to see whether I could be useful for Vogel. If I gave up now, getting closer to them would only become harder in the future.
I didn’t want to run away from this challenge.
MC: No, I will do my best and won’t let him catch me until the end.
MC: I dont want to give up like this.
Getting up, I opened the door just a little and checked the corridor. After confirming that Darius had left,, I dashed out.
MC: Thank you so much Victor
Victor who was left in the office looked at the door dumbfounded
Victor: S-she is so invested...
===Round 2 ===
[MC bumps into Willaim at the garden.]
MC: Did you see anyone on your way here?
William: No, I didn’t run into anyone but it looks like something’s going on.
MC: Actually, it’s a long story, but I’m running away from Darius.
William: I see…? I don’t quite get it, but it sounds fun.
William: Fun enough that I’d like to join in. But first, could you tell me how things ended up like this?
I explained everything such as how I was running from Darius, why I shouldn't get caught, and how I hid in Victor’s office. As he listened, the corners of his mouth gradually lifted into a smile.
William: I see. Vogel is quite creative.
William: Still, it seems like it’ll be difficult to keep running on your own.
Facing his gentle smile, I nodded eagerly.
MC: Absolutely, so could you please help me?
William: If that’s what you want, gladly.
At that moment, I heard footsteps approaching. William pointed toward a nearby bush.
William: Go there. If it’s Darius, I’ll cover for you.
I slipped into the bush as he instructed. Then, I heard someone softly singing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star."
It was Darius’s voice.
But the pitch was so off that... It felt like the stars twinkling in the sky were plummeting to the ground.
As I frowned at the unsettling melody that stirred a sense of fear, it stopped.
Darius: William? Why are you here?
A strong voice echoed in response.
William: I was taking a stroll since the weather is nice. What were you doing here?
Darius: I was chasing someone. But I didn’t expect to run into you here.
Darius: I'm happy to see you... I feel like today will be a good day
William: It is my pleasure
As they spoke, I noticed William’s hand gesturing behind his back.
He wants me to slip away using this chance. I moved quietly, without a sound.
Darius: By the way, did you see MC?
My body trembled at the mention of my name but William pointed toward the path in the opposite direction.
William: Yes, she ran to that way. She seemed in such a hurry that I couldn't talk to her.
As Darius turned his back, William winked at me
" Thank you so much!" I moved my lips in a silent thank you and left with quick steps.
They literally came up with the worst villain they could have written in this political climate😭 Route summary requires a trigger warning itself:
Darius: It is the same as slaughtering livestock. Cows, pigs and chickens are kept alive until the times comes, they don't posses any rights.
Darius: Inferior race "humans" is no different. They don't need to have rights. Their life and death are ours to command as we see fit.
The demon doesn't trust humans.
He genuinely thinks human lives are of no value.
Darius hijacking the account to simp over William and be a menace to everyone else ೀ⋆｡˚. ₊˚⊹ ᰔ. જ⁀➴ ♡.
Darius: Speaking of it, I encountered Crown members returning from their mission. While everyone appeared quite exhausted, William was as graceful as usual. That self-righteous monarch of his, I'm completely smitten.
Darius: It would be best if William were to join our family, yet I don't think Queen's Aide would approve it... Should I tell him that he would have more freedom in Vogel compared to Crown? What do you think?
User: Would you like some intel about William? I do have some… but it’s a secret😆
Darius: Including his relationships, I know which charity events he attends and how he spends an average day. I’m not only well-versed in what he likes, I also know what he dislikes. Since I want to give him a present in the future, I even know his clothing and shoe sizes. After hearing all that, can you still claim to know William better than I do?
User: He’s a stalk— no, he’s William’s number one fan.
User: William likes red wine. Do you like red wine Chief Darius?
Darius: I don’t have a particular preference for alcoholic drinks, but if William is going to drink with me, I’d gladly drink anything.
User: Except for William, is there any Crown member you are interested in?
Darius: Ellis, I guess. His physical strength is astonishing. Moreover, as his curse is quite useful, it might be a good idea to recruit him as well.
User: Have you ever tried the scones Victor made?
Darius: I don't like scones. Especially if they're made by Victor I'm not eating it.
User: I'm happy to see Dari-sama posting so much. Love you...
Darius: As a mere human, do you think you have the right to admire me? You’d better know your place. Besides, I’m just posting on a whim, so don’t read too much into it.
User: Do you like little birds? 🕊️
Darius: They are annoying, I don't like them. But they are satisfying to squish. I could probably crush one of them with just a single hand easily.
(we don't harm innocent beings in this house!!)
User: Do you have a favorite smell?
Darius: No, but there are smells I dislike. The smell of perfumes, the smell of spices... And, I hate the smell of humans most. It is unbearable.
(we are all out)
Darius: I’m eating Schneeballs while dealing with the paperwork. Some sugar powder got on the papers, but surely someone will clean it. I’m just going to leave it as is.
User: *Says something unhinged*
Darius: You are disgusting. Can someone take this person out?
User: Chief! Me! Me can predict the future! I'm not a cursed but my sixth sense is generally strong. Please make me your apprentice. 🥺
Darius: I can’t believe there’s someone so impudent, thinking they can be my apprentice. Then use your precious divination skills and try to predict what I’ll do next. Even someone as foolish as you knows the meaning of “purge,” right?
User: Good morning Darius. In an eastern country called Japan, I heard that there is a cursed doll that might amplify the power of your curse. Would you like one?
Darius: Is it the kind of doll you use as a proxy to take someone’s life? I always wanted a doll like it. If I manage to get one, I might just try it on you.
User: Are there things you don’t do for or give to anyone but your family? Of course, only if you don’t mind sharing…
Darius: I am very lenient with my family. I provide them with a beautiful home, plenty of food, many clothes and shoes, I even ensure they receive an education, because they are my family.
But I don't forgive betrayal. If you betray me… you know the consequences, right?
Darius: Apparently, tonight’s dinner is roast chicken. However, I prefer something a bit more elaborate. I know this already takes some effort, but I’d like a meal that takes even more time.
Darius: Nothing beats the euphoria of ruining something that took hours, even days, to create. Those humans should devote even more of their time to us special ones, the cursed. It’s also necessary to make the difference in our status crystal clear.
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OP: Now I understand why people in old times loved visiting lantern festival so much. I recreated the shrimp lantern for yuanxiaojie/ lantern festival in Song dynasty and Ming dynasty. It can be folded, unfolded, and even moved.
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content: comfort/fluffy, abuse of labor, burned out reader
Sylus
You kicked the wall with teary eyes and shaking shoulders and the dull thud echoed down the empty hallway. It was the last straw. Your control finally shattered and you had an emotional breakdown in front of everyone
Anger crushed your chest until breathing hurt. Your hands trembled as you pulled out your phone and dialed his number.
He answered on the second ring.
“Hi kitten.”
Your voice broke instantly. “I hate every one of them.”
“What an interesting way to greet your husband.”
You tried to respond, but the words dissolved into ugly sobs. Your chest heaved as months of humiliation spilled out all at once. "I’m fed up with their sh*t,"you cried. "I’m so tired. I tried so hard, I really did!"
A short silence followed.
"…I warned you about what I would do if I saw you crying because of this job one more time."
You bit your lip hard enough to taste blood.
Snarky remarks. Side-eyed glances. Whispered jokes that stopped the moment you entered the room. You remembered how you stayed late to help, how you swallowed your pride to keep the peace, how kindness was repaid with ridicule.
You only wanted to do your best. To be understanding. To belong.
Enough.
“Do it,” you whispered.
A low chuckle reached your ears. "As you wish"
The line went dead.
The next morning, you slipped into a perfectly tailored suit and wore a flawless makeup, not to please them, but to armor yourself. As you walked into the building with your head held high and heels clicking, eyes followed you with fear and respect.
You were the wife of the company's largest shareholder.
Zayne
It was lunchtime, but it had been a week since you stopped eating. People around you started to point out that you had lost weight; however, it didn’t stop them from pushing more work on you.
With dark circles under your eyes and fuzzy hair, you looked at the screen of your phone. Even though you were living together, you didn’t have the chance to speak with Zayne for a while since he had been busy these days too.
You wanted to be a successful and competent woman who was aligned with him, but it wasn’t going too well.
As you sighed and closed the message screen, a hand touched your forehead. Startled by its coldness, you looked up in confusion, seeing Zayne right beside you.
"Zayne? Why are you here?"
"I took a paid leave for a week. Our plane tickets and your doctor’s report are ready."
"What?"
"Eat this first, then we will be leaving. I talked with your manager."
He put a bag with homemade meals in front of you, and next to it was a box of macarons. You thought you might be hallucinating because of lack of sleep. Your brain couldn’t process what was happening.
"Is this a fever dream?"
He sighed, his brows knitted.
"I’m sorry. I should have stopped you earlier." He took you into his arms and pressed a soft kiss to your hair.
"You did so well. I’m proud of you. But I don’t want to witness how the light in your eyes dies slowly every day."
You just nodded with distant eyes. Yet, as he started to unpack the food and feed you himself, your tears started to drop.
They were so delicious. Was the food always this tasty?
Rafayel
You were useless, ungrateful and a burden for others. The words sat heavy in your chest as you hid in the storage room with your knees pulled in, crying quietly. The faint smell of cardboard and dust felt oddly comforting, like a quiet little corner of the world where no one could hurt you further.
You tried to imagine yourself ensconced in Rafayel's arms, his fingers combing your hair...
However, not only it didn’t help, but also made you crave for more. You took a few shaky breaths and called him anyway. And the moment his voice reached you, something inside you shattered, big sobs stealing your words in an instant.
"Where are you? What happened?"
You could hear him moving, already restless with worry. You pushed yourself to speak with a tiny voice.
"I'm at office. I'm just feeling not so good. Can you talk to me a little bit about random things?"
A heavy silence fell over the line. "Rafayel...?" you whispered, guilt suddenly gnawing at you. You hated that you were bothering him, hated that you were so fragile.
“Can I burn your workplace to the ground?” he asked at last, his voice low.
"An intriguing offer but no..."
You sniffled and smiled a little.
"I'm coming to get you," he stated firmly.
"My boss won't let me leave without a good reason."
"Then we will give him a good reason."
As you closed your eyes and waited for minutes to pass, hurried footsteps echoed upstairs.
He was here.
Before you could even lift your head, his presence reached you, his soothing scent wrapping you like a soft blanket.
"Are you okay?"
He knelt in front of you, brushing your damp hair back with careful fingers. His hands cupped your cheeks and seeing his concerned gaze through your blurry vision, your lips started to tremble naturally.
"I don't know what's wrong with me."
He froze for a fraction of a second, only to pull you into his embrace and place a strong kiss to your forehead next moment.
"Nothing is wrong with you. You’re just tired. That’s all. And I'm here now. Leave the rest to me."
You wanted to argue, to say you were a burden, that you were broken but all the words dissolved against the quiet strength in his arms. You nodded, letting him lift you in his arms. He went upstairs where your colleagues and boss were waiting. Heading to the exit, he announced to the room, "I’m taking her to the hospital."
"But... she’ll be back today, right?" Your boss’s voice cut through the air, sounding more annoyed than worried. You buried your face in the creek of Rafayel's neck.
"What?"
"I mean her work isn't done. She was fine on the morning I'm sure it isn't something serious. She should come back after...."
Rafayel’s grip tightened slightly. However, he still calmly took out her phone from his pocket while supporting your weight with one arm.
"Hi this is Rafayel. Weren't you guys looking for a good scope about my private life. I can provide you one just now. I'm about cause a scene over the mistreatment of my wife by her employer, if you want the footage..."
"What is he doing?" a colleague whispered.
"He’s a famous artist," another murmured.
Your boss’s face paled, then shifted into a forced, nervous smile. "I was joking, of course! There’s no need for that. We value our employees above all else. She should take all the time she needs."
"I'm sure you do," Rafayel replied flatly as he ended the call. And with you in his arms he finally got out of the office.
"I’m sorry," you whispered once you were outside.
He exhaled slowly "Cutie...I feel sorry too, why won't you let me set them on fire?"
"Puff.."
You hugged him tighter and he nuzzled into your neck
"So where are we running off to little escapee?"
"Surprise me."
Xavier
You were going to lose your mind. There wasn’t a single normal person in this place. Everyone was backstabbing everyone else, seizing every opportunity to undermine the each other.
You didn't go to lunch but directly call Xavier who works at your rival company on the next building
"Hello"
"Save me."
He paused for a moment
"What happened?"
"This isn’t a workplace. It’s our boss’s personal harem with intricate schemes, power games, and a swarm of sycophants. "
He let out a little chuckle.
"Would you like to come out for lunch?"
"Yes, please."
You left the office at once and headed for his building. When you saw Xavier waiting at the entrance, you smiled brightly and hugged him. He rubbed your back in slow, gentle motions. The tension in your chest loosened almost instantly, your breathing finally evening out.
As you stepped inside, warm air washed over you. The space was clean and welcoming, nothing like your own cold, cluttered office, where heating was apparently a luxury sacrificed to manage expenses. You exchanged a few words with Jeremiah and Isaiah, then left them arguing in the corridor.
Xavier led you into his office and pulled snacks and drinks from the mini-fridge. As you gossiped about your colleagues, you felt the weight on your shoulders grow lighter. Xavier listened without interrupting all along, occasionally raising an eyebrow or offering a dry comment that made you laugh despite yourself.
"You know," he said at last with a gentle voice, "You don’t belong in a place like that."
The words hit harder than you expected.
The world softened, and you felt allowed to exist exactly as you were.
"Can I stay here a little longer?" you asked softly.
Xavier smiled sweetly. "I was hoping you would."
Caleb
Caleb was taking good care of your health and mood so you thought you could overcome anything until your boss said you can't leave the office without completing this project by yourself or he will fire you. And you stayed overnight without extra payment, while your coworkers who are also responsible for the same project left without any responsibility or accusation directed at them.
This was the third day and you couldn't shower neither did you go home. Your fingers froze on the keyboard thinking about what to write in your resignation letter.
Caleb was in a mission in the deepspace tunnel and every message you sent sat unanswered. You told yourself it was better that way since you couldn’t imagine how he’d react if he knew.
You didn’t realize he’d already read them.
The office grew louder outside your glass-walled room but you didn’t have the strength to look up. Then the door burst open.
“Pack up,” Caleb said, already crossing the room. “We’re going home, Pipsqueak. I handed in your resignation letter.”
You didn’t argue. You barely nodded, letting him take your hand and guide you out.
The open workspace was chaos. Government officials and police were here and your boss was handcuffed.
Sleep evaporated from your body in an instant.
"What did you do?" you asked gobsmacked
He shrugged.
"I submitted a few additional documents to the ministry and law enforcement. It took some convincing.” His eyes hardened slightly. “I had to intervene as Colonel Caleb too."
Your boss spotted you then.
"Did you f*cking whistleblow me?!"
Caleb stepped forward before you could react.
"Careful," he said quietly. "You’re speaking to a civilian you abused."
Your boss laughed manically . “Abused? I just asked for dedication!”
Caleb didn’t raise his voice. He didn’t need to.
"Thirty unpaid overtime hours," he said, counting on his fingers. "Threats of termination. Unequal distribution of labor. Coercion. Psychological harassment. And falsified account logs." He tilted his head slightly. "You made it very easy."
Your boss’s mouth opened, then closed. The color drained from his face.
The officers began to lead him away. As they disappeared down the corridor, the building felt suddenly hollow.
Your knees buckled then with sudden relief. Caleb caught you instantly, grounding you.
You laughed weakly. "You read my messages."
"I did," he murmured near your temple his lips pressing a soft kiss.
