#ariawrites

✿ in which — ◞۫ ׅ you watch megumi suffer in your arms after fighting sukuna.

⡞⠳⣄⣀⣠⠞⢷ ֹ۪ alternate jjk universe.

wc ⋮ ⌗ ┆0.9k

i still remember that day.

the day his blood poured over my hands as i help his head at my chest.

it was warm, like his smile, and it stained my clothes too.

his spikey hair i played with was flat and drenched in rain.

i was kneeled on the ground, whispering his name over and over like he was a prayer i was trying to hold onto.

"megumi, megumi stay with me baby, megumi please."

my tears felt heavy for the first time in a while, and the dropped onto his face, mixing with his blood.

i wanted to shake him, yell at him to fight against the pain, and get up.

but i couldn't.

it felt as if my voice was chained and locked, and the key was thrown away.

A fairytale retelling of Rapunzel, told by Sophie while making use of handmade paper puppets to Eva who, at first, listened and asked a few questions before joining in and adding to the story.

The fic is written in a style that utilizes some text formatting, there is no descriptors and dialogue tags used as the entire format can be easily read without it.

A very merry happy holidays to @amonen ! I was your secret santa for @mhykchristmas ! :D

The topic I was given is Forest Bathing (whatever that means)

#

It was just too freakin cold. Beau stomped through the woods, boots crunching in the snow and swearing at the career path that had led to her walking through the snowy woods in -20 celsius weather. 

Did she love living in the woods and chopping down trees and taking care of Cadecueus’s grove? Yes. 

Could she appreciate that when her nose was freezing off? No.

“Go into the woods Beauregard,” she muttered, “See how frozen the river is, Beauregard. I need data for my stupid science project, Beauregard and I’m a frail weak ginger boy who would die in the snow.” She shoved a tree out of the way and it snapped back, catching her in the shoulder and dumping a pile of snow on her head. “For fucks! sake!” Cold slid down her back as the snow found an impossible gap between her thick scarf and jacket. 

She hopped farther down the path, scrabbling to shake the snow off her spine. 

Rounding the bend, she came to the small river and the wooden bridge that topped it. The river was covered in ice, but flowing underneath. If she was quick, she could probably get Caleb’s sensor out of the water and-

“Oh. Hello?”

Beau froze. Mittens on her head as she tried to brush the last of the snow off. There shouldn’t have been anyone else in the woods today. Too cold. Too far away from anything but their research cabin.

But there was. 

And that person wasn’t just out in the snow. They were fully in the cold cold water up to their armpits, arms spread out on the ice to keep them from sinking.

“Holy shit,” Beau sprinted towards the bank, “Hold on. Let me help you!” It was a woman. Broad shouldered as the trees and strikingly beautiful, with eyes of two colours and long black hair streaked through with white. No coat. Shirt soaked through, “Were you walking on the ice? It looks thick but it’s easy to fall.”

The women shook her head, lips blue, as she deadpanned, “No. I was taking a bath.”

Beau froze, shocked. 

“That was a joke,” the woman said, “I’m sorry. I don’t know why I thought to try when I had fallen through the ice. I’m not even normally good at jokes.”

Odile stared up at the ceiling, her vision blurry with the other eye obscured by a light coming from her face, or rather, the cracks forming on her body. It's just about what she expected, really. Taking on the entire House, not allowing even a single break during any battle, pushing and pushing far past the limits of what one body could take, all by herself… She did it all by herself. She was at her wit's end, anyone would be, with the very situation she found herself in, anyone would be. To be stuck in a timeloop, to witness the people you care about get hurt over and over again, to witness the victory of a battle hard won only to start over again and again, to witness the end of the journey and listen to the broken record that is the Headhouse Maiden over and over again.

She never really understood Why? Why are they stuck in a timeloop? Why is she the only one that remembers? Even after going through so many loops, finding out more about the secrets of the world, wish craft, the island north of Vaugarde, the King, Siffrin… Right, Siffrin, the most suspicious one of all, to be able to read that strange script in some loops. Some. Some… Odile didn't like the prerequisite for it. To die to the King's strange attack, it seems to have a next loop effect on Siffrin, she didn't like it. Not one bit. But it did tell her something, that whatever is happening right now is connected to him in one way or another.

Not like it matters now though, her vision on her other eye is completely obscured by a blinding white light. And her hearing, has gotten muffled, she can feel her… family members, by her side. They seem to be speaking, shouting as well maybe.

I wonder if they're calling me stupid…

She'd chuckle if she could. After all the hurtful things she had told them prior to… this. She wouldn't even mind if they start cursing at her. She deserves it. Odile moved her one somewhat good eye to see who was beside her. It was Siffrin, she thinks, and someone else, Boniface, maybe. Are they crying? Out of anger or worry? Is the one blurring her vision death… or tears? She doesn't know anymore. She can see the silhouette of an arm moving, hers maybe, she can't feel it, but maybe it is. There are numerous cracks on it, a blinding light seeping through. That's hers alright.

The King is gone, right? She wanted to confirm. Vaugarde will be saved, right? She wanted to ask them. Everything will be alright now? She didn't want to die with any regrets.

Well, at the very least, the funeral ceremony of Ka Bue was fulfilled in a way, not in a traditional sense and definitely not what she expected to happen either. With a body seemingly made of gems, to shatter upon death. It's hauntingly beautiful. At the very least… She won't have to burden them in her death…

[You… Closed… Yo u yyyyooo u u u uuu u rrrrrrrr r r eeeyy e ee e ee sss s s ss s . . . ]

[.. . . . . .. . Yoouu u uuu rr eyeeeee e ee esss s s s… o p e n e d . . . once more.]

Odile flinched, an electrifying jolt seemingly passed by her body, beads of sweat immediately formed on her forehead, with eyes blown wide, she quickly scanned her surroundings. She's back… at the shop in… Dormont…??? How…? WHY?!

Her gaze darted to the sound of the door opening, it was Siffrin with Mirabelle seemingly following behind him. And he… looks like he's seen a ghost…

Amy and Bibi stared at the horizon, the sun slowly lowering itself below it, painting the world amidst its rays a warm glow of the mixture of yellow, orange, and everything in between, to create a breathtaking view every afternoon. The two simply watched the setting sun in silence, sitting beside each other on a thin yet comfortable fabric keeping the sand away from their skins.

Amy was the first one to tear her gaze away from the sunset to glance at Bibi, the love of her life. Sitting on the beach like this reminded her of when they were younger, when everything felt harsh, and when the world was a fragile glass cage she was trapped in, hanging above a dark abyss waiting to swallow her whole. With one wrong move, the cage would break, leaving her at the mercy of an endless chasm, never to be seen again. A small part of her was still rather guilty of what happened that time on the beach in the past, seeing a vision of her mother's figure reflected on Bibi's eye and turning away from her like that. And another part of her was still embarrassed thinking back to what would've happened during then had she not covered Bibi's mouth.

“Amy~~~” Bibi's playful voice snapped her back to reality. She had been far too distracted by her thoughts that she hadn't realized just how close Bibi is to her now. Their noses were nearly touching.

The sudden closeness made Amy jump a bit, moving backwards with a flinch and the sensation of her face burning was very noticeable.

“Y-yes, Bibi?” She stuttered out.

Bibi looked at her, with a smile as dazzling as the view behind her and eyes as warm as the sun itself. Bibi herself, could rival the sun. The very thought of that made Amy dizzy. Was it because of the heat or something else?

Pray tell, what have you learned? What have you found? What knowledge have you gained?

Stars, stars, stars. They are the gems of the sky.

Pray tell, the price of which you may pay? To what extent shall you let go? To what extent shall you pursue Life?

Gems, gems, gems. I am but a shard of what once was whole.

Pray tell, what have you learned? What have you found? To what extent shall you let go? To what extent

are you willing

to sacrifice

to be whole

again?

Crabs, crabs, crabs. This is inevitable, for I am never whole without them.

Are

you

yourself?

To be myself is to be whole, to be whole is to be with them. To be with them is to be myself.

Pray tell, should your memories be forgotten

who will you

forget

?

Myself.

.

.

.

]

[You doze off, you dreamt you were talking to someone.]

[You can't remember anything else.]

A person with bright hair stood blankly in front of the shelves, they held an open book, one that they wanted to read through for a bit before deciding to buy. But somehow, like a lightbulb going out, its mind was plunge into the depths of an eternal darkness. It felt as though their entire identity was slipping, memories they knew was just there moments ago were fading far too fast for them to grasp. What was it doing here again?

“Hey…?”

Someone tapped its shoulder, causing them to flinch, the eye on its back opened just as they turned around to face the person beside them. It was a lady with silver hair.

“You okay? You've been standing there for awhile.”

It stared at her for a few moments and then looked back at the book it was holding, then back to the lady, its mind feels so empty but it can somewhat remember that they went to this store to buy a book. Right, they traveled to Ka Bue for a visit, then they went to this store to buy a book.

“Ah… yes! Thank you for asking, m'lady!” It made a small bow as they smiled at her. That's what Lord Joséphandre would do, right? But why did it think like that?

Something is missing… And that needs to be filled.

“M-m'lady huh…?” The lady chuckled, a bit awkwardly with a mixture of amusement too, “There's no need to be THAT polite. You can call me Odette! And you?”

“I'm—” . . .

. . .

What is… their name?

. . .

I can't… remember my name…

Why can't I… remember… my name…?

. . .

It looked around, to the shelves lined with books, to the book they held on its hands, and yet no matter what they do, they can't remember its own name. With furrowed eyebrows and a slight frown on their lips, they looked back to Odette who now wore a confused and concerned expression on her face.

“Ah… Apologies Lady Odette but I can't seem to remember my name after all…”

“Is… is that so? Are you really okay?” She seemed to be taken aback by the title again.

They closed their eyes, although the eyes on its chest and back stayed open. It was an action to mimic thinking deeply, something they used to be able to do before adding another pair of eyes to its body.

When was that however?

They can't remember.

“Hmm…” They opened their eyes again, they don't need to as the eyes on their face are blind, perhaps they wanted to appear as friendly as possible, or as polite as can be, or perhaps… something is wrong… It doesn't know what, it feels as though their identity is being rewritten the more the seconds pass. “I might still be sleepy after all… Well, nothing to be too concerned about Lady Odette!”

“Ahaha… You sure are polite, aren't you?”

“Thank you! Ah! Right, are you here for something by these shelves too? My sincerest apologies if I were on your way.”

“Oh no, it's just, I noticed you pick up that book. It's one of the best philosophy books there is, in fact, a certain friend of mine and I are still on opposing debates about its topics.” Odette spoke with a slight glimmer to her eyes before she paused, “…And also, your hair… somehow reminded me of something… I can't seem to remember what it is now though.”

The person with bright hair looked back to the book again, they remember reading this moment's ago, a philosophy book in regards to Craft, written in Ka Bue's language. They studied a bit of its language before coming here yet it seemed that there are still many unfamiliar words written on the book. Right… they remembered seeing such words and wanted to study some more of the language with the help of this book as motivation.

“This book… Truth be told, Lady Odette… I can't actually understand it!” They chuckled, “I was hoping to study more until I could, although it appears that you know quite a lot about it, if it isn't too much of a bother, may I borrow some more of your time for a chat about the topics of this book accompanied with some snacks and tea on the side perhaps? My treat of course!”

“Well, I can't possibly turn down a free meal! Although…” Odette smiled and turned to the shelves beside them, “How about I pick up some more books for you too, I know some interesting books here! As payment for the meal.”

“Hahaha! So long as I pay for it! It wouldn't be a free meal then if something of monetary value is exchanged!”

“Hah! That's fair. Alright, I'll just choose then.”

The person with bright hair smiled, they'd worry about its blank mind later. It'll be alright, the ________ leads, we follow... What was it that leads though...? Where did I get that saying from again...? . . . Well! Whatever! It'll be fine!

Character: Hero (OMORI)

Time is a cruel weight that one who grieves shoulders, it marches on mercilessly with no regard to those stuck in a time that leaves someone's chest hollow. It was an experience Hero didn't want to have, but it barged into his young 15 year old life, as harsh as a storm, Hero couldn't do anything but be swept away by its winds.

One day turned to one week, one week turned to one month, one month turned to one year. And before Hero knew it, one year turned to two, yet he lay frozen in the past that haunts him in his every waking hour.

But lets none of it show.

Hero spent one year grieving in his room he refused to leave, mourning a love he never thought he'd lose so soon.

He should've seen the signs, How can I be so blind?

He was closest to her, Why didn't I notice anything?

He should've asked how she was doing, Where did everything go wrong?

Hero continues to spend this year grieving in his heart he buried deep down, replacing it with a mechanical heart to beat in its place as a machine that wakes only to study, that sleeps only to repeat an endless cycle. He never once felt whole again.