#dcviated

Darla had thought he'd been full of shit. The Wallcrusher? Really? Yes, Dogi was built like a tank, but surely if that were a real nickname, someone could have come up with something better... She definitely would... But as she watches his fist go through the solid stone, Darla's eyes light up, a cacophony of cackling erupting from her. "WHOA WHOA WHOA!! LUCKY SHOT!"

What in the world was she going on about again? Something, something, pumpkin spice (ugh, of course that's the more popular flavor during fall time and not cinnamon apple!!). Honestly, he felt cranky on her behalf. Yeah, how dare someone keep her away from things to enjoy! Actually, now that he had thought about it, why was she getting this worked up again?

Lost in thought, Nero almost missed the fact she had asked him about his loss of a nice and cool hoodie. His attention pulled to her- to which almost snorting in laughter when he saw her excitedly flip the hood flipped up over her head! The coolness vibe has leveled up!

"Yeah, there could be a couple reasons why. It's either cold because it's finally winter and, if you're lucky, it's a snowy wonderland as far as the eye could see. Or, it's cold because there's a ghost around sucking the heat away. Lucky for you, it's because there's a cold system rolling in for a few days. So it's not winter yet, but it sure feels like it from the temperature."

In the midst of all the weather and ghost talk, Nero noticed Eliza glancing at his arm. Oh, yeah, he forgot that wasn't really normal, was it? A casual unbothered grin, Nero simply shrugs his shoulders and raises a brow.

"You wondering about this thing? Haha, well it's a long story but, if you have somewhere to be then maybe I can give you the 'too long didn't read' version. The name's Nero, by the way, and I don't mind you wearing it. It kind of suits you, plus I don't really get cold a lot."

{ Snow Day Chaos!! ❄️ }

"S-Same here....good thing I brought little packets of hand warmers!" She giggles, taking one out to hand to Ezell. Even though her gloves, she could barely feel her fingers from playing with the cold snow for so long! "But you're right... It is worth it. Our snowman is coming out very nice!"

HISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

He’d been immersed in his work, trying to go through the stacks of paper on his desk, with some sighs and stressed tapping every now and then. It was extremely dreary, but it was his responsibility as the king, so he couldn’t complain much. It still made him a little happy to hear the door open — a bit of company amidst the bleak paperwork. It wasn’t a visitor he expected to see, though, jolting up into an upright posture.

“H-human?? Er, uh… is something… the matter…?” he asked nervously, wondering if he missed any of her recent requests. Was she mad at him for something?? He made sure those merch dolls and figures of him got to her for her to vent her anger on, too… “You um, don’t have to come all the way here if you have a request... I asked the guards to notify me should you need anything.” Which was why he hadn’t dropped by in a while. That, and he thought that it would appease her not to have to see his face.

@dcviated sent: "i want something to go right. just once." - mizuki for anyone~ Garrus kept me alive through those assignments.

Of course, whilst Estelle may not be privy to Mizuki's backstory, and how hard her life has been over the past six years - aside from the knowledge that she lives alone and she was an orphan, and apparently the CEO to one of Japan's biggest talent agencies.

Not that, that changes the friendship she's built with Estelle and Anelace - for the group, all that mattered was Mizuki herself. Currently, in a rare occurence (Anelace is off on a date with her boyfriend or something), and, in another unfamiliar event, Mizuki seems smaller, withdrawn and struggling with herself. Something Estelle quickly attunes to, considering who her brother is. She takes a seat beside the 18-year old, on the cusp of finishing high school, preparing to take on the world in her own way.

It's something Estelle admires, there's no doubt Mizuki will do great things in her future. Not that it matters greatly in this moment in time, Mizuki needs someone there for her, and Estelle would be that person.

(crying my braincells totally didn't get the first ask and now I'm laughing my ass off about how obvious it was)

"Then don't...?"

It was a rather bold suggestion from the normally timid young man, though perhaps it was his lack of patience with high stress situations. There were also other factors drawn in, but mostly he was just.. Tired.

"Or do I need to take a page out of Don Quixote's book and beat some sense into you?"

It's the sensation of burning and tearing that pulls her from blackness. Everything hurts. Her body feels like it's burning-- like something has wormed its way into her cells and it feels like she's breaking apart. She tries to take a deep breath but can't. Her chest feels heavy-- like something is squeezing her chest.

It hurts... it hurts...!

She tries to move her body-- will her eyes to open and she's desperately trying to force her hands to move, and claw open a way out

She's crashing.... Damn, were the numbers off? The boss will kill me if we come back with another failure. Oh, what the hell we've got nothing to lose. Add 10 more cc's of fluid.

?? A voice. A voice!! Someone was there!!! Someone could help her!!

Any more adrenaline and her heart will give out. She's rejecting the aug.

I don't give a damn, if it's being rejected then make her body accept it!

It hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts it hurts!!

I T H U R T S

Suddenly, Kaguya's eyes are shooting open. There are people standing over her, but she doesn't recognize anyone-- anything...! She's thrashing! She has to get away.

"Shit, stop her! At this rate the aug is going to--"

Get away! Get awaygetawaygetawatgetawatgetawatgetawatgetaway.

Kaguya's consciousness fades. When her consciousness returns, she's running through a back alley. All she can do is keep moving. Kaguya feels the unfamiliar sensation of rain on her face. The signs lit up advertising their name and it's all too bright for Kaguya-- it's too much--