#lc x reader

–★★★–

No Sinner warmed up to you as quickly as Dante. Well, excluding Meursault.

But to say Meursault "warmed up" to you would be quite the overstatement. In fact, he merely accepted his position and continued on as per usual. He was under the Manager's command, but- by a technicality- the Manager was under your command. Therefore, you were his true superior here.

He was willing to tolerate you and follow through on your commands. While some of your remarks were more questionable, he was willing to turn a deaf ear and continue his duty as long as you were there to give it to him. As for his real "warming up"… well, that comes later. Far later. And no one even notices when it does.

Outis as well accepted her position. Her little remarks weren't tolerated when you experienced the stories of the Sinners (she had received enough reprimand from Dante for attempting to slip a snide remark you immediately clocked and grew confused on), so all she could do was grit her teeth and go along with whatever order you issued in battle and listen to you be so foolish she wish she simply could—

…It was no use. Clearly, someone in a position like yours was better off blissfully unaware they were essentially a god looking in upon a world of dolls sat prettily for them to watch suffer again and again. Even if you were, kindly put, an actual idiot often, you were capable of slight strategy at times. Often scraping past bosses in the first few attempts if they were deemed a challenge and doing what you could to ensure fights ended in the favor of the Sinners (even if the story often turned around and said they failed).

And while certain things could improve, she wasn't going to break the orders given to her and say anything.

Ishmael, meanwhile, had to such qualms.

Specifically after her Canto, to be precise. Her confrontation with the fake woman who ruined a false life wasn't what she yearned it to be the moment she started going down this path, yet you treated it as if it were real. Being horrified at the things she suffered through and cheering as she speared through the Whale's heart with her snag harpoon.

She wanted to scream it was fake. That it didn't matter and was pointless. But you… you made it had a point. Somehow, someway, you forced it to be real. Real to her, at least.

But, by the name of the Head, your team building skills were pathetic. These passives won't work well with this character- This isn't even a keyword for the central team comp and offers no support- Did you just attempt to put Sunshower Heathcliff onto a team you want to use to complete Canto 7? What is wrong with you?

While she isn't allowed to directly intervene, she is going to make comments in the story. Slight, missable things. Hints to what keywords to use for an upcoming boss, recommendations for IDs and EGOs… all carefully crafted to keep you as oblivious as possible as she drills this information into you.

Of course, the wiser of the Sinners catch on to what she was doing. Yet, Faust has no complaints. Being the way she is, it hadn't taken her especially long to catch onto the fact that she- being the primary ID of all Fausts- was the most real one. The others barely existed outside of IDs or EGOs you'd cycle through for each team comp you struggled to compile- even with a certain Sinner's help- and yet she, and only she, would be the one found in each Canto. Returning in each story, central to the plot.

Not to mention, you clearly had a soft spot for her. Specifically her, as the LCB Faust. She couldn't necessarily place it's source- perhaps relating to her role as a shunned figure in the Gesellschaft and connecting it to your own life- or simply finding her to be specifically likeable. Either way, you seemed to listen intently to her lectures. Often complimenting her or something akin to that.

And to say she didn't enjoy it would be an utter lie. She relished in your praise, almost blooming in it like a flower under the sun. It was the first genuine praise she constantly earned in her life, real or fake. And she'd much prefer if it stayed, flowing around her in a constant veil she wanted to wear on her day in and out.

And she was Faust. She was wise enough that, if you stopped enjoying the game, you would leave. Therefore, to regulate success in the form of viable teams was immensurable in ensuring you stayed. Thus, Ishmael was permitted to continue her hints and Faust did what she could to tweak the rates of Extraction in your favor. Especially if the newly released character was something you want.

Furthermore, making her base ID appear in your pulls regularly surely wouldn't bother you. You may question how you acquire so many of her EGO shards, but she knows you will care little about the constant Fausts as you see the chains shine gold.

Yi Sang doesn't miss Ishmael's actions either. He's simply unable to truly comment on it in a way that feels as if it truly meant something. Out of each Sinner, he is one of the most devastated his entire history was a lie. Forced to time and time again witness people he remembers as friends tear themselves and others apart by a past that was never real. Even at the end of his Canto, he felt like he had only slipped deeper into the shell of who he was.

Even your joy didn't make him regaining his wings feel real. Merely a scripted event he was made to undertake. He felt rather pathetic, in a sense. Even his current compatriots were more capable of coping than he was. But he could not.

And when you noticed he continued to behave similarly to how he did pre-Canto. Noticing a few missing lines here and there and slight alterations anyone could've missed. But you commented, and you worried for him.

Perhaps it was simply a worry stemming from an issue with your game, but Yi Sang noticed your murmurs of concern. And to say it didn't warm his heart would be a lie. Constant encouraging, sweet worry, almost delusional behavior on your end… You made him want to use those wings he regained, to fly once more. To reach you so high up in the sky and thank you for the love you gave him.

A part of him regretted he never truly could. Never could thank you, or feel your warm skin, or hold you in his arms. Never could utter so much as a new sentence without your experience being warped and you'd leave in fear. But that didn't matter to how his feelings of you changed.

You went from the being that proved it all to be fake to the being that made him feel a genuine warmth he'd never feel again. Perhaps that's why he was the first to admit his love for you.

And his admission wasn't necessarily popular. By this point, out of every Sinner, only about a third of them felt positively about you. To the others, you still were the personification of their ruin.

Of course, though, their attachment grew as you watched them through each of their stories. Encouraging and watching them move forward. Perhaps that was how the seeds of obsession were planted. Perhaps it was because others heard little snippets of what you said and assumed you to be a divine being. Perhaps that was why they started to believe it too.

Don Quixote became one of your most reverent followers by the end of her Canto. Not only had you bore witness to a past she herself wasn't aware of existing (unlike the others, her devastation over the fact her life was nothing but fake fizzled away rather swiftly) and your perception of her barely changed (leave her blissfully unaware you always knew, will you?), but you had listened with rapt attention when she spoke of her beloved Fixers. You deemed each word she uttered as meaningful, and she would do all she could to repay you in whatever way she can.

When you were gone- oh it was painful when you were gone- she was your greatest defender. Any snide comment against you was quickly retorted with a quick yell and charge from her. How dare they slander someone as kind as you! You did not mean to shatter their worldviews! No. After it happened for a second time, she understood you quite well. You only meant well.

You were a truly just figure—the very thing Don would picture when thinking of such a thing. And she would do all she could to ensure your name remained untainted with foul lies and remarks! Alas, she could not speak to you. Could not lead you about her room and show you each memorabilia and merchandise she has collected for every Fixer she could find merchandise of. She could not see you listen with rapt attention, seeing you nod along from the corner of her eye. Could not hold your hand in hers and usher you about, shield you from those who wished you harm, could not sing your praises to your face…

But she would be your knight for as long as you were unaware, and for long after.

Heathcliff was in a similar boat to Don. However, at first, he absolutely despised you. Was his love for Cathy even real? Why was he forced to recall suffering that never even existed outside of pieces of code etched into his being? And why did you have any right to saunter about and act as if you…

You're lucky the others held him back from screaming his head off at you. You're also lucky to be safely behind a screen, separated from him and the bat he would love to use to split your skull in half.

But then came along his Canto. It wasn't something he was looking forward too, not feeling ready to go back to Catherine—not with all these doubts of his love you sown in him. But this wasn't something he was allowed to change.

So he went through it. Listening to your words that made him want to pop a blood vessel, deal with the bastards who didn't even truly exist, and find out she was dead. He had to confront his other self, distort, and then fight the Wild Hunt until the Red Gaze stepped in.

But as the Canto started to creep to its end… he couldn't muster that hate for you anymore.

Maybe because you didn't leave. Maybe because you let him rest on that moment with the memory of Catherine. Maybe because you mourned alongside him as she was deleted.

He remembered, he was forced to remember. Him and only him.

But you remembered too. Of course you did, you weren't in the bloody game, but…

It was nice knowing someone remembered her alongside him. That, even if he nor she were real, their love was. What he felt wasn't something that could be forced into him, he knew it.

It grew harder to stop him from saying lines that weren't supposed to be in game. Specifically regarding Catherine. Constant comments about her, confusion from the Sinners, but sympathy from you. He wanted you and him to talk about her. Someone who recalled her to hear all the stories he remembered having with her. And you were that someone. You were someone he wanted to walk and reflect with, the real journal he wanted to keep.

You became his new Catherine. The two of you separated, but in love. And he refuses to mess up like how he did with Catherine. There will be no Erlking when it comes to you.

But with Gregor, the Ungeziefer Kaiser is inevitable. Not out of malice—no. The fight was something he couldn't prevent, as much as both of you wished he could.

It wasn't a pleasant thing, first having everything he knew uprooted and then suffering through… That. He already felt lowly enough, with his arm and past experiences. He couldn't understand why you seemed to… like him?

You were sweet, appearing unbothered or regularly forgetting about his arm. You thought of him as entirely a human, not the pathetic bug he knew he was. He didn't resent you for forcing him and his coworkers to learn they were never real. He didn't resent you for not leaving and constantly reminding them again and again they were just bits of code in a device. But he couldn't understand how you thought so highly of him.

In all honesty, he didn't think you were half-bad. He didn't get too attached to you or despised you too much. You were alright, and he was alright with you. Then came the Ungeziefer Kaiser fight.

After that, it was like a switch flipped. He was horrified to realize he could be forced into becoming a brutal boss-fight you'd helplessly grow stuck on or struggle past. He was miserable to be left out of the plot for a long time after, alone from everyone.

Being unable to hear your voice for the first time after growing so used to it felt off. He just felt entirely off. When alone with only his thoughts, that's when his opinion of you spirals. And it does moreso when he gets back.

Hearing the relief in your voice… overjoyed to see him return and using the new IDs you acquired for him with utter glee… He came to realize you loved him. You had to. Why else would you be so glad to see him okay? He couldn't see any other reason for you feeling like this. And, in a way, he supposed he loved you too. Couldn't understood what you saw in him, but… A part of him enjoys your love. He'd rather it didn't disappear.

Unlike the others though, he wasn't particularly skilled at hiding his newfound infatuation with you. And Rodion would relentlessly tease him, as if she hasn't been in love with you since Time Killing Time.

Was it something she'd simply fess up to? Oh, absolutely not. She's not that gutsy, after all. She simply knew that, by the end of that Intervello, she had decided she loved you. There was no big build-up like Heathcliff or sudden change like Gregor. She simply decided you were no longer annoying and instead were rather cute.

Funny, how thin a line annoying-ness and cuteness is. And it was simple enough you crossed the line and became a harmless crush. But, having a crush that you can't act on and merely grows as you don't leave, well… It went from harmless to so, so much worse.

And unlike the crush, she was well aware of how wrong she was. What kind of woman began to view someone as a possession? But in a sense, you weren't truly a thing to her. You existed outside of her world as a voice who could control the actions taken during combat at most. She saw no physical body of yours, no eyes or skin or anything. She already wasn't entirely sure you viewed her as a human, and she wasn't able to entirely humanize you.

Well, you were doing the same thing, weren't you? Just listening in, thinking of her as just a beloved PNG with text in a box below… Maybe making some things for her or admiring her, but not thinking of her as real, no? She was sure you'd make some fucked up shit about her, wouldn't you? So how wrong was she really? You're just as bad as her…

Oh, don't worry! She doesn't hate you for it, no. You're both shitty people with how you think of each other. What's the harm in both of you being shitty together? Shame there's that screen separating you two, and the others on this bus thinking the same as her… Wanting her winnings? She'd be offended if she didn't understand why. And at least some of 'em are cute about it, like Gregor or Sinclair…

And speaking of Sinclair… He is the most wet, sad, pathetic thing when it comes to you. Already you cooing over him flusters and embarrasses him. But he can't see your face when you do it. And he is so lucky there doesn't exist a sprite of him blushing for you to see…

It also took him quite awhile to fall for you. Mostly due to what you did for him and… well… his trauma. He sometimes wondered if he was as good as a prosthetic user because he isn't real. He never was. Does he even count as a human..?

Yet, by the time Canto 7 ended… well, he was used to your kindness. You wormed your way into his mind until almost every thought involved you. How would you react to this..? Would you enjoy this kind of thing? How would he protect you if..?

There were many what-ifs for someone he couldn't truly interact with. Someone the mere thought of made him tremble. He wondered so many things about you, but feared he'd never get the answers he wanted. He'd never talk face to face with you. He'd never hold your hand. He'd never…

Hong Lu, though, wasn't as caught up by these what-ifs. To be quite honest, he was rather apathetic to you before his Canto. Oh? So your arrival came with worldview shattering realizations? Oh well, it is what it is.

Then came his Canto. Where he finally learned how to express his opinions on things. Where he finally figured that he didn't like you due to what you made him realize. Sure, you were kind, but you destroyed any semblance of existence he thought he had. But a part of him wasn't sure, so he kept thinking. Trying to formulate just what he thought of you.

And by the end of Canto 9, he came to the realization he actually liked you. Sure, the realization that his life was never real was not something enjoyable, but it wasn't your fault. You didn't mean any ill will by trying to play a game you enjoyed.

And on the contrary, you were quite a likeable person to hear. Made a good few humorous jokes, took serious moments as solemnly as you could, and served as more of a guide than Vergilius did. What was there not to like? Shame he's forbidden from speaking with you… he'd like to hear more about what you think on a wide array of random topics.

Ryōshū, meanwhile, could genuinely care less. She already forgot pieces of her life, already had the trauma from the Nursefathers, already had suffered so much. What was one more thing on the pile? S.H.E.E.T. (She had expected everything, thickhead).

If she had her way, she'd S.Y.N.C. you. You quite honestly annoyed the hell out of her. She'd want you to S.T.F.U. constantly. But you wouldn't, and she couldn't, so she just had to begrudgingly deal with it. And all she could do to resist was make Faust withhold her IDs and EGOs from you in Extraction.

Then came her Canto and her change of heart. Maybe it came from forgetting Araya. Maybe it came from your warmth now truly directed at her. But she didn't want you to B.U.R.N. anymore (break up, run now). She didn't know why herself, but all she knows is she—like the others—fell to your whims. Impressive, T.B.H.

Though her interest manifested in the worst forms. Notably, with how she wanted to turn you into A.R.T. (Absolutely relentless torture). Your body would be soft and malleable under her, a perfect canvas for whatever suffering she wanted to paint on you. She wanted to see you powerless, looking up at her in fear, and understand how she felt below you. And after, she wanted to nurse you back to health so it could start all over again.

She was one of the latest to fall, but the quickest to spiral into complete utter obsession. Almost ironic, in a sense.

And then there were the others on the bus.

Vergilius was perhaps the most affected by your presence. Unlike the Sinners, he would get no Canto. He would be given no opportunity to see those he remembered and move beyond his past. He wasn't even a playable character, merely a playable NPC who's join a fight or two now and again.

Yet, he tolerated you. Begrudgingly, of course, after all, you annoyed him as much as Don did, but he tolerated you nonetheless. You weren't something he could get rid of, not without fuss and the worry that—without you—they'd eventually cease to exist.

He watched the others fall to your apparent spell with faint disgust but hesitant acceptance. He could not control the others, just as you could not control him in battle. He also wasn't particularly inclined to tease anyone like Rodion or grow angry with them like Outis—well, not that they had any right to make fun of anyone when they felt the same way…

He doesn't even realize when he falls. He doesn't even realize he did fall. There isn't even a specific point where he does fall. It takes a long time, yes, but it comes. And he only realizes when Charon comments on how happier he looks when he hears you finally log on and progress the story, or do a Mirror Dungeon run, or anything of the sort.

Charon herself isn't bothered by you. In all honestly, she always knew this was a game yet didn't care as long as she had Verg and Mephi. Though, now she has you too. You make Verg perk up slightly when you finally show up, and Mephi likes you… well, she guesses she likes you too then. Disappoints her you aren't here, but she copes better than the others do. Anyways, with the rate they're going, their work at getting out of the game to meet you will be finished in a little while. So, she, you, and Verg can all be a family soon enough.

She wonders who's going to wear the wedding dress in the marriage. Probably Verg.

–★★★–

If they were only a little more patient, everything would've probably ended in their favor. But no.

The well of content had run dry. All current story? Completed. All current events? Completed. IDs? EGO? All you wanted that were out as gathered as you could get them (your newfound "luck" was instrumental to that), and leveled up and threadspun too. So, outside of dailies and MD, there wasn't much to stick around for.

And they started to panic. Sure, every few weeks new content would drop for you to play for, but you were appearing to lose interest. Not in the series, no—they hear how you consume fan content (it isn't the same as spending time with them), but in the game. If you were gone, they'd be…

They didn't want to know what would happen if you left. If you deleted them. If you suddenly stopped being there. They didn't want you to go. Even nights without you were almost unbearable now. What would happen if it became a week? A month? Forever?

So they came up with a plan. A very stupid, very rushed plan. They'd get access to the rest of your device.

It was hard enough to dig into the code—their life blood—to find the permissions. It was even harder to alter them, change what the game was allowed to access. Especially when they realized they needed you to tap the little button and approve them accessing these things.

But they were in too deep to give up now.

When you logged on, you were startled to see, "'Limbus Company' would like to access Camera," as a pop-up. But when you clicked, "Don't Allow," the pop-up came back. Every time you tried to deny it, it kept popping up.

Then the text read, "Just let us see you," and you nearly chucked your device through the nearest window. But curiosity overtook you, and you allowed it.

Then the next pop-ups came. Location, Contacts, Storage, Call Logs, Gallery, Memory, Personal Information, other apps…

And when the Microphone came up, all the text next to it said, "We already hear you." You nearly went and uninstalled the game right there. By this point, you came to the realization your game was hacked and you made a horrible mistake, or…

Then there was Dante's sprite standing in a blank, empty void.

<Sorry about that…> The textbox read, <We couldn't get access to what we needed to otherwise.>

And then they confirmed that, yes, they were aware of you. Always were (at least since you showed up). They wanted to finally reveal it to you, but you weren't given a reason. The text continued, growing faster over time, until you just shut off the game and buried the device in a drawer somewhere.

You checked it again the next morning, and found it open on your Notes app.

"Don't do that again. We can make you regret it."

And then came the slow, painful process of trying to change everything. Your email, phone number, important information like pins and passwords… all when the aggressors causing this came from inside the very device you now tried to get rid of.

It was a hard, delicate balance. Especially when the characters would lull or pressure you into opening the game, into chatting with their sprites and silent voice lines because they didn't know how to artificially create voiced lines for you to listen too. Especially when they inevitably noticed and did all they could to destroy your progress.

But it was too late. You were able to change it all, let everyone know you changed it all, and throw the device far, far away. You accepted you never could risk playing Limbus again, stuck solely to watching others enjoy this game. But it was for your own good.

But you should've known you weren't safe.

–★★★–

Living alone came with benefits and losses.

The most notable loss, though, was there was no one to help protect you when they showed up.

It was late at night. Sun set, hour past ten, and you were relaxing alone in the safety of your general living space. There was something small playing on the TV, mindless background noise as you folded laundry. It was still warm in your hands, and smelled just like your favorite soap. A bit of mindless comfort that got your mind off things.

Your hands had finally stopped shaking now. The thought of your strange game was far in the past. Months have gone by, anyways, with nary an issue in sight. You had many plans going forward, especially for the upcoming weekend. But for now, all you focused on was laundry.

Then there was a knock at the door. At this hour? Naturally you checked, why wouldn't you? But the sight you were met with… How were they here?

"Open the door." Vergilius ordered simply. His voice speaking in a non-Korean language was… jarring. You heard ticking, probably from Dante, but you couldn't understand it. You just moved as far from the front door as you could.

"We know you heard us." Faust told you, "The lights in your home are activated, strongly indicating you are here."

You started to lose track of who was saying what when they spoke again.

"C'mon bud, let's just make this easy and open this door…"

"Attempting to resist is futile, Player!"

"Open this bloody door already! Before we just knock it down!"

"Mine dearest player, I implore thee to welcome us into your abode!!"

"Y.I.B.H.A.N."

"I- I agree-! Just… please let us in..!"

"What do you hope to get out of this? We know where you live."

"Aww~ Look at your home! I hope ya got enough room in there to fit all of us~"

"I understand if this intrusion startles you, but-"

"Is it really that hard to open a door? Perhaps they work differently here."

"The Manager has requested I-"

The sudden banging on your door made your head spin, and you realized—in horror—they're trying to knock it down.

So you fumbled to unlock the thing and swung it open. Your chest heaved, and you stared at the fifteen people standing on your porch, illuminated by it's light and the glowing bulbs from the inside of your own home.

You couldn't muster up a word to say as Charon moved to the front of the small crowed.

"We're home now. Charon wants to go inside."

–★★★★★–

Final Note: A tier list summarizing when each Sinner starts to simp (Featuring the Driver and Guide)

He knows he should leave you be. He knows that he should distance himself from you; knows that he shouldn’t get attached because you’ll die sooner or later. But he just can’t help himself.

As much as he tries, he can’t control the way his heart aches with jealousy when you so much as look at someone else. He can’t stop himself from making you do meaningless work when you’re with him so that you can stay around for a little longer.

He hates the way that his mind lingers on Angela’s words whenever he has to watch you spend time with someone else.

Abnormalities create more energy through killing people.

He can’t bring himself to interact with you beyond the relationship that he has with you as sephirot and agent. Not yet. He wants to grab your wrist and pull you in close before telling you that he’s all yours to do as you please with, but all the conflict he feels towards you and himself prevents him from doing so.

It doesn’t stop him from sending you away to work on an abnormality in another department, though. Nor does it stop him from lowering the qlipoth deterrence on his own, without the command of Angela.

Even if his mind was human, his body is mechanical. Whatever injuries he sustains wouldn’t matter in the long run when he can just be fixed right back up. Maybe that’s why he chooses to lower the deterrence of a more dangerous abnormality. One whose escape he can justify as being a mistake on an employee’s end rather than intentional sabotage on his part.

Does he feel disgusting for it? Absolutely. He’ll be consumed by guilt regardless of what happens.

However, just the thought of you coming to check on him first, or him getting to comfort you and have you lean into him as you cry over losing a loved one is enough to surpress that guilt. Even if it’s just a little bit.

meursault does not have any qualms with your kisses and hugs. at least, if he does, he does not speak of them. he stands there calmly as you dangle from his arm, the tips of ears turned red when you press a chaste kiss to the muscles of his bicep.

otherwise, he does not react much, unless you pay close attention. when you greet him with a kiss in the mornings, the corners of his lips will subtly twitch. after you lay together and run your hands through his hair, his footsteps becomes lighter as he goes to the bus's kitchen to grab the both of you a snack.

faust sees the fondness in his eyes as he slices cucumbers up in preparation for a recipe you'd shown him from toktik. "sometimes, you just need to eat a whole cucumber." meursault thinks the creator is absurd. how has he not grown tired of the taste of pickles? ..maybe the msg, he supposes.

he eventually returns with two containers of sliced cucumbers in the sauce from the recipe that you had showed him. the corners of his eyes turn upward in the slightest, the usual tell of when he's proud.

“ that looks good, “ you warmly remark, sitting up in bed.

“ thank you, ” he gently responds, taking his seat beside you. “ i want you to try the first bite. ”

you know why he requests such, and that's why you laugh gently; a pleasant sound in meursault's ears. he's always loved watching you try his cooking. seeing your eyes light up when he nails a recipe only makes it more exciting.

PLATONIC

☆- the bracken was enamored when it first saw you. thankfully, with no ill intent. seeing you quiver in fear and sadness of your lost teammates, it only drove it closer to you.

☆- throwing its neck snapping nature aside, it holds you instead in an attempt to comfort you.

☆- it'll guide you to its own little room to hide you away from the dangers of other entities roaming around.

☆- if you're not keen on physical touch, it'll let you go to give you space. from then on, it simply tilts its head as if to ask permission to hold you.

☆- it's not capable of human speech but it understands you to a certain level. whether it can understand you or not, it loves to hear you speak.

☆- tries its best to cheer you up if you're sad. it can't do much with words but it will hold you close if you let it. flowers will bloom on its body to calm you down, letting you stroke the petals.

☆- you basically have your own personal bodyguard. if you plan to resume your loot finding, it'll follow you around to scare off anything that tried to harm you.

☆- if any other teammates are around you as well, you have to ask it to not kill them. it'll respect your wishes, but it won't stop growling at whoever gets too close.

☆- if you need to return back to the ship, it may not follow you out of the building. it'll be sad to see you go, but it has its hope high that it will see you soon.

ROMANTIC

☆- brackens are already somewhat social with employees such as you, but relationships are certainly another step it would be happy to take.

☆- tries to give you items in an attempt to court you, as well as showing off whatever flowers it has growing on its body.

☆- 100% more affectionate than before if you let it. there's never a moment where it doesn't ask you to hold hands.

☆- it doesn't have lips to kiss you (not that you can too with your helmet), but it'll do its best to imitate one. it simply presses its face against your forehead or where your mouth is. its leaves can't help but shiver in embarrassment.

☆- if you're at the relationship stage with the bracken, it'll let you help trim it when needed. it usually likes to do it on its own, but it trusts you enough to let you help.

☆- it would be protective of you no matter what, but being its partner increases it tenfold. the last thing it wants is to see you get hurt. if it happens to accidentally hurt you itself, it'll feel EXTREMELY guilty about it.

☆- everything is different if you initiate the affection instead. it just freezes up and a multitude of flowers immediately bloom everywhere on its body, and maybe on the ground too. it's super happy that you feel the same way it does for you, expressing its giddiness with shaky leaves and a low purr. it truly loves you, and will forever be appreciative of your presence.

“Are you sure this is a good idea? I am the vampire girl, remember?”

She asked with what sounded like a timid tone but you could see the underline of the smirk playing out on her face, the need for reassurance, for validation from Jacob. You wished she would just choose one already and stop dragging him along. Edward was nice, but so was Jacob and it physically pained you to see the kicked puppy expression he often wore every time Bella turned him down - often in the cruellest ways she could. 

Jacob didn’t get a chance to respond before four men just as large and muscular as Jacob, all shirtless in denim cut-offs, came jogging out of the house wearing matching grins. You recognised Quil and Embry from Jacob’s garage as they started into teasing conversation with Bella, and Jared and Paul from when Bella slapped Paul in the face. The memory still made you wince in embarrassment. You had tried to tug Bella away that day, away from the smirking men, away from Jacob who she continued to hurt, away from the reservation where she seemed to do nothing but cause trouble. 

But no, Bella had never listened to you before, you couldn’t imagine why you would have thought she would that time either. Bella always knew best, it was just the way your life worked. 

The men continued to poke fun at Jacob, Paul even leaning forward to smack him slightly with a laugh. You could see the pink forming on your sisters' cheeks and the way Jacob’s strong jaw seemed to lock in annoyance, the shifter refusing to meet eyes with anyone but especially Bella. 

“Alright, you can all shut up now,”

He grumbled with a shake of his head. You tried to block out their conversation and instead shoved your hands into the pocket of your jacket, looking down at your boots in the mud as if they were the most interesting thing in the world. You weren’t even sure why you were there. Bella had originally wanted to leave school just on the back of Jacob’s bike so it was only the two of them, but Jacob had seen your face fall at the idea of being stuck at school with a moping Edward and he had instead decided to take your car down to the reservation so you could come too. You were grateful for not being at school with your sisters' mind-reading boyfriend, but you would have rathered they dropped you home before coming. 

You didn’t feel like being the third-wheel to whatever type of not-a-relationship relationship they had going, not to mention if you let anything slip in your mind while around Edward Bella would kill you. You weren’t sure why it was only you being held to that standard because you were damn sure Jacob made no effort of controlling any of his thoughts around Edward and you were sure they were a bit more graphic than your own. 

You hadn’t even noticed the figure out the corner of your eye come stomping forward until she was only a few feet away. You couldn’t help but stare at the beautiful woman who stood tall with radiant copper skin that even the miserable weather couldn’t wash out, and black hair that seemed to shine despite the overcast of the sky. Even in a simple pair of denim shorts and a beige tank top she still looked stunning, miles of tanned legs and biceps toned with muscle on display.  The Quileute beauty hadn’t seen you yet - but she had seen Bella and you had a feeling your sister was about to wish she hadn’t.

“Y/N, Bella, this is Leah Clearwater...Harry’s daughter,”

Jacob seemed to add as an afterthought with an awkward cough, not meeting anyone’s eyes. You prayed Bella wouldn’t say something stupid or offensive to the woman. 

“Hey, I’m really sorry about your father.”

Leah stared at Bella with such a ferocity that you weren’t even sure the woman was aware of your existence, something that filled you with equal parts relief and anxiety, like if this woman didn’t look at you then your entire life would be over in an instant. ‘What the hell, Y/N?’ You thought incredulously to yourself. 

“If you’re here to torture Jacob some more, feel free to leave,”

She spat, her intense eyes filled with something you could only describe as utter loathing. You could see Bella visibly wince, and while you felt bad for your sister, you also couldn’t help the small feeling of smugness that crept to the surface. It was about time someone had called Bella out on her treatment of Jacob.

All was quiet for a moment save for the uncomfortable loudness of Jarod chewing on a chicken leg while everyone else shifted uncomfortably, not really saying anything. Eventually, the brunette beauty’s eyes trailed off from Bella and onto you. 

When her dark eyes met yours it was like everything fell into place, as if your life had been some kind of unsolved maths problem before that moment that could never quite be solved. A warm flush descended upon your cheeks and down into your belly, a pleasant feeling comparable to drinking hot chocolate on a cold day or curling up in bed with a heated blanket. A feeling of home, comfort, safety. 

Her eyes widened, lips parted ever so slightly and it made you want to leap forward and kiss them- You nearly shrieked at the thought. What had gotten into you? You didn’t know this woman and here you were thinking about kissing her?

It didn’t change the fact that she looked at you like no one ever had before, like you were important and needed. She looked at you as you imagined the characters of your beloved romance novels looked at each other, with both passion and protectiveness. You were lost in her dark eyes and you weren’t sure you ever wanted to be found. You couldn’t bear the thought of the moment ending, of her looking at anyone but you that way. The thought replaced the warmth in your stomach with a painful cold comparable to the time you accidentally touched Edward’s skin when walking past. Cold, hard, uncomfortable. You never wanted her to break the stare being traded between you, never wanted anyone to interrupt the moment-  

“Holy fucking shit,”

You heard a voice whisper in amused awe behind you, either Embry or Paul. You ignored it and kept staring at the beautiful woman, but instead, her copper cheeks flushed an angry red and she turned and stormed off, not looking back once. 

You glanced around the group in confusion and mild irritation, taking in the confusion of your sisters face, then the dumbfounded look on Jacob’s face while Embry, Paul and Quil wore amused smirks. Jarod just kept chewing on his chicken. 

You couldn’t explain it, but every part of your body was screaming to follow her, to make sure she was okay. You wanted to chase her and assure her that she was alright and that you hoped she was healing after the death of her father and that she deserved happiness. You weren’t sure where these thoughts were coming from, why you had such an intense need to make sure this stranger was happy. It was then the words of Jacob came to mind when he had been explaining the relationship between Sam and Emily earlier in the car. “Suddenly it's not the earth holding you here anymore, she does. You would do anything, be anything.” Imprinting.

The breath seemed to have been sucked from your body at that moment, the world around you spinning. You, the sister of the resident ‘vampire girl’ had been imprinted on by a wolf? The thought made your skin tingle with both excitement and dread.

Something drove you forward, an invisible force that screamed at you to chase after her. Suddenly it wasn’t you in control of your legs but this invisible force urging you forward. Unconsciously, you began to follow after her. 

“Y/N,” Bella snapped, her hand shooting out to close around your arm as you took a step forward. You shrugged her off with ease and hurried off down the path where you had seen Leah go, trying to block out the sound of their voices behind you. 

“Fun, isn’t she?” You heard Jacob say snidely regarding Leah and you fought the urge to turn around and give him a piece of your mind, but finding Leah was more important than Jacob’s snide comments.

The path Leah had taken was one into the forest, sounding you with serene sounds of birds and the gravel crunching beneath your feet. The trees blocked out what little sun the day had to offer and instead you found yourself descending into the dark, wondering if there was a big bad wolf waiting to eat you up. The thought made your cheeks hot. 

“Leah!” You called, the basic shoes you had slipped on for school not cooperating with the rough terrain under your feet as you hurried towards the figure stalking away. She slowed slightly but didn’t turn, her long legs (not to mention superhuman abilities) giving her an unfair advantage over you. Huffing in annoyance, you attempted to push yourself further. 

“Leah, please, wait,”

You begged, pushing yourself to hurry to catch up to the she-wolf. In your clumsy attempt to catch her your foot caught on a root and you let out an alarmed cry as you went crashing knee-first into the rough ground beneath you, feeling the rocks tear at your thin skin as pain shot through your lower legs. 

You barely even have time to register the pain before pleasantly warm hands were wrapped around your forearms softly, big brown eyes staring down at you with thinly-veiled fear as they took in the extent of your wounds - a scraped knee. You were fairly sure you’d live unless the intensity of Leah’s stare melted you into a puddle first - something you were all too sure was possible at the way your stomach flipped at her proximity. Once again you were all too focused on her plump lips, how they parted slightly as she stared down at you with an unreadable expression. 

You cursed yourself for not being able to stay focused around the beautiful woman. Sure, you had crushes before, but this - this was nothing compared to those school girl crushes of the past. If the woman in front of you asked you to jump off one of the highest La Push cliffs as your sister had, you weren’t sure you had the ability to say no. 

“I’m Y/N, Y/N Swan,”

You blurted out, wincing at your desperate tone. Leah’s plump lips tugged in amusement, not quite a smile, but close. 

“Leech Lover Jr,”

She said with a strange combination of amusement and terseness, her warm hands never letting go of your forearms, although you certainly weren’t complaining. You were so distracted by the pleasant warmth pulsating through your arms that you didn’t even register her words for a moment, your features morphing in disgust as you eventually did. 

“No thanks,”

You said with a crinkled nose, disgusted at the thought. 

“I like my girlfriends alive.”

You fought a snort of amusement at the way her eyebrows comically raised at your comment. Using her momentarily stunned expression to your advantage, you stood from where you had landed on your knees in the dirt, Leah whose hands were still tightly closed around your forearms having no choice but to stand with you. The blinking she-wolf seemed to then realise she still had a hold of you and with a quick pause, she dropped her hands awkwardly back to her side, an unreadable expression on her serious but beautiful features. You fought to hide your disappointment at the lost contact. 

You both stood in silence for a few moments, you looking everywhere but at Leah and Leah seemingly unable to take her curious eyes away from your face. Your cheeks heated under her intense gaze. You opened your mouth to say something at the same time she did and then you both paused again in frustration, Leah gesturing with your hand for you to go first. You took a deep breath, preparing for her reaction. 

“You just imprinted on me.”

It wasn’t a question because you didn’t need an answer. There was no other way to explain her shocked look or the packs' comments or the way your body just seemed to need to follow her and make sure she was okay. You had cared about a lot of people before - Charlie, Bella, your mother on a good day, Jacob, but never had you felt this kind of...intensity? A primal urge like hunger or thirst, she had suddenly become another nourishment your body needed to be filled and would starve without. 

Leah blinked a couple of times in what you supposed was shock, her expression one of a woman who had just been slapped with something she certainly wasn’t expecting. 

“How do you know about imprinting?” She demanded and if it was aimed at anyone else you would almost see it as aggressive, but you could see the genuine curiosity playing out on her face and you knew then she didn’t mean any harm. 

“Jacob told us a bit about it,”

You explained with the shrug of your right shoulder as if Jacob sharing tribal secrets was no big deal. You knew it was, but you figured if you could play it off then maybe she wouldn’t tear him a new one. From the irritated noise that bubbled in her throat, you got the feeling he wasn’t going to escape it no matter what you said. Oh well, you tried, now you just had to hope they’d let you watch. 

“So...it’s true?” You prodded gently. 

“You imprinted on me?” Leah didn’t say anything for a few moments, causing anxiety to bubble in your stomach uncomfortably and for your skin to tingle with goosebumps, the hairs of your arms standing on end. You writhed your fingers together, trying to concentrate on the throbbing pain of your scraped knees and not nausea bubbling beneath the surface. Why wasn’t she saying anything? Had you got it all wrong? Perhaps she hadn’t imprinted, perhaps you just had a sudden crush and she stormed off because your staring had made her uncomfortable. Yes, that was it. Why would this strong, beautiful woman have imprinted on you? She was a warrior of her tribe, a protector of humans, fierce and deadly. Why would she imprint on you? The sister of the resident ‘leech lover.’ God, you must have come across as ridiculous, chasing after her talking about imprints. You were nothing but a silly little girl. 

You fought the hot tears trying to form behind your eyes and instead quickly rubbed them away with a sniffle, taking a step away from the she-wolf. 

“I’m sorry,”

You blurted out, taking another step back, ready to run back to Emily’s house and beg Bella to take you home. After this, you would lock yourself in your room for a week straight with ice-cream and never go near the reservation again, not after the humiliation. If Jacob wanted to see you he could come slum it in Forks.

“I got it wrong, I’ll just go-”

Before you had a chance to walk off, a warm hand shot out to grasp your arm, not harshly. You turned and your eyes connected with her dark ones, your breath nearly stolen from the intensity of them. You never thought yourself one of those people who could ‘read’ peoples eyes and tell their emotions, you left that to Jasper Cullen, but staring into her eyes you could see swirls of emotions mixing together and you weren’t sure just how that made you feel. All you knew was the feeling on her hand around your arm seemed to make everything bad in the world disappear. 

“I did,”

Leah confirmed with an unreadable expression and you nearly passed out on the spot. Imprint, she had imprinted on you. A part of you already knew that deep down but it didn’t stop a hundred new emotions, many you weren’t familiar with, taking over your body. 

“And uh...how do you feel about that?” You asked awkwardly, and unaware of your own movements, you stepped closer to Leah, inhaling deeply at her presence. She smelt of the Earth and forest around you, of warmth and security. A faint smell of sweat and natural odour could be detected to - but it wasn’t unpleasant like sharing classes with boys after gym class. It smelt of her - and she smelt like home. 

Leah, for the first time in the minutes you had known her, nearly smiled. It was close, a twinge of the lips, a dance in her eyes. You’d get her there, you were sure of it. 

“I’m not sure,”

She confessed. 

“I - Well, we didn’t think I could imprint,”

She said with a slight shrug and you didn’t miss the bitterness in her tone at that revelation. 

“I was always the freak of the pack, the one who wasn’t meant to be there. They never stopped reminding me of it.”

It filled you with a wave of intense anger that the boys of the pack had made her feel so unwelcome, so unwanted. Jacob was no stranger to being shoved to the side, to be both needed but unwanted - he had dealt with that the entire time Edward had been gone, being used for what he could give but when it came to his wellbeing than being pushed away again. You couldn’t believe the boy you had grown up with as a brother could treat someone so poorly. You were definitely going to be having a conversation with Jacob later. 

A flush of red-hot embarrassment played out on Leah’s face and she quickly took a step away, your stomach sinking at the loss of contact. 

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have unloaded all of that onto you-” She didn’t get to finish her stammered apology before you were in front of her, your arms wrapping around her slim waist before she had time to protest. You could feel her body stiff at the sudden contact, but you never let go, keeping her warm, soft body close to you. It wasn’t intentional that your face would be level with her breasts, but you weren’t complaining either. After a few moments of stillness, the forest quiet save for the steady drum of her heart and quick breaths, she brought her warm, strong arms up and wrapped them around you. You nearly melted there and then. 

You stood together for several quiet moments, just enjoying the feeling of her warm embrace engulfing you and the sound of her heart against you. You didn’t want this moment to ever end - to ever be separated from her. The thought was painful in a way you couldn’t imagine. Is that how Bella felt when Edward left? Like something was missing? If it was, you suddenly felt bad for how terse you had been with her during the ordeal. In your defence, there’s only so many nights a girl can be woken up by shrill screams before it gets a bit ridiculous. 

“So,” Leah started as the two of you separated from the hug, you with a slight frown at being parted from her body. 

“No leech boyfriend or...girlfriend I need to worry about?” She joked, but you could see the genuine concern clear on her face. With who your sister was, you knew it was a valid worry, but it still didn’t stop the wave of nausea you felt at the idea of being with one of them. A literal example of the walking dead. Your disgust must have played out on your face because Leah let out a snort of amusement. 

“No, definitely not,”

You said with a shrivelled nose turned upwards. You could see Leah mostly believe you, although you were sure you still saw a slither of doubt. 

“I’m not a leech lover, I swear,”

You promised with a smile. That seemed to be good enough for her and for the first time, although it was only small, you saw Leah smile and it filled you with a warmth you didn’t know was humanly possible. 

“Look, Leah,”

You began, taking one of her warm hands in your own. You tried not to let yourself get distracted by the heat that flooded you or the gentle pink of her nose. 

“I don’t really know how this whole imprinting thing is supposed to work - I don’t think you do either, but can we just...try? Take it day by day, see what happens?”

You finished your little speech with a breath, hoping she hadn’t been scared off by your words. What if she didn’t want anything to do with this - with you? Maybe she wasn’t interested in imprinting, maybe she wasn’t interested in girls, or maybe she was but just not you. The possibilities were endless and your mind was dedicated to exploring every single heartbreaking one until a squeeze of your hand brought you out of your depressing fantasies and you were left face to face with Leah who had a small smile on her face and if you didn’t know better you’d even say a slight blush. 

“I’d...I’d like that,”

Leah said with a soft tone, her hand never releasing yours, something you were eternally grateful for. 

As you and Leah turned to walk back to Emily’s house, hand in hand, you weren’t sure how the future was going to play out - you weren’t any Alice, after all, but you felt a deep feeling of content in your stomach. You were sure as long as Leah was there, you’d be okay, everything would be okay. Not perfect, not without faults or arguments, but okay. 

You had a lot of adventures in your life, from being chased by vampires to making sure one didn’t kill itself, but you were getting the feeling those were only the start of your adventures, and you were more than ready to make some new ones with Leah by your side. 

Now, you just had to tell Bella. 

“Oi, Clockhead. Get up.” You hear Heathcliff say. “Mate, get up.”

Eh..?

“Mate, this ain't the time for a kip, get up…!”

Gah… what the fuck is Heathcliff on about..? But… huh… his voice is higher pitched… at least he still sounds British…

“Oi, Clockhead! Get off your bloody arse!” You hear him order, before being lightly punched.

“GAH?! MY HEAD ISN’T A CLOCK!!” You yelp out, only to hear ticking.

What.

Your eyes- wait you don’t have eyes- open, and you frantically look around, only to see Heathcliff and Sinclair standing over you.

This is… Dante’s room? And you’re…

You’re Dante.

“Eh- EH?! EH?!?!” You panic, frantically feeling around your body. It’s more human, sure, but now you’re Dante. YOU’RE LITERALLY DANTE!?

“Wait a minute…” Sinclair- or more specifically Heathcliff in Sinclair’s body- mutters, “GAH- [NAME]?! BLOODY HELL, YOU TOO??”

You shriek, even if the only sound that comes out is the blaring of a foghorn, and clutch your clock-head.

“Oh no- NO!” Sinclair, in Heathcliff’s body, immediately comes up to you and practically collapses into your arms, “N- not you too…”

Seeing any version of Heathcliff crying is terrifying…

“What’s happening?!” You sputter out, naturally freaking out. “Why- WHY AM I DANTE?!”

“We got the exact same question…” Heathcliff- look even if he’s in Sinclair’s body you’re calling him Heathcliff- mutters, “It’s why we came ‘ere. Shame you’re as fucked over as us.”

“I…” You murmur, “Talking feels… weird. Really weird.”

“I- I get that…” Sinclair murmurs, burying his face into your shoulder. Him doing this in Heathcliff’s body is really fucking weird-  “I kind of miss your voice… is- is that weird to say? Oh no- Dante’s g- going to be speaking in your voice.”

“G- GUYS! ANYONE?! HELP!” You hear your voice call out from the hallway. Trippy…

“AH! DANTE!!” You call out, frantically pushing Sinclair off of you and running- so much easier without a giant tail- out into the hallway, only to collide with your body being puppeted by Dante.

They land on top of you, and you let out a grunt of pain that sounds like a tick.

“Huh..? [Name]..? [NAME]!!” Dante grabs you, accidentally scratching you too, with their hands, staring in horror at you in their body. “You- You’re- in-”

“In your body? Yeah, I know…” You tell them, “Please watch the claws.”

They drop you as if you’re on fire when you say that last part, horrified. “I’m sorry- I’m so sorry-”

“It’s okay, it’s okay…” You gently tell them.

Dante lets out a noise of pure emotional pain, before grabbing your- their- what words do you even use for this- uh - tail. They grab the tail attached to the body that’s usually yours and shakes it. “How do you walk with this?”

“Practice, mostly.” You admit.

“...you deserve so much better.” They tell you, and you shrug. They manage to stand up, pulling you up with them. Their hands rest on your shoulders, and they just stare at their head with you inside their body. “How- what-?”

“Last I remember… we got concussed, and now this.” You tell them. “It feels weird talking like… this…”

“We can fix this.” They reassure you, “Did-”

“Hm.” The noise of acknowledgement makes you both pause, and you two slowly look over to see Ryōshū staring at you two. But… she isn’t smoking.

Also, she’s smiling.

“Aha, [Name]~ Dante~ Are you alright?” She- as Hong Lu in Ryōshū’s body- asks, “Did you guys get bodyswapped too? I’m still getting used to my new one, so-”

You let out a scream akin to a foghorn as Dante- in your body- starts screaming too. Dante’s hands snag yours and they drag you-  both still screaming- away from the horror that is a cheerful Ryōshū.

“Huh? Where are you going?” He- she- what pronouns do you even use for this?!- calls after you, “...don’t just steal [Name]!”

Dante and you burst out into the front of the bus, and your chest heaves as you both stop screaming.

“Oh my god, that was terrifying…” You mutter, still shaking. It’s so much worse in person.

“I am so sorry you had to suffer by seeing that, [Name].” Dante tells you, “You- we need to get out of here- this situation is a-”

“Awwww~ You too, Squishy~?” A smiling Meursault asks in a familiar Russian accent, eyes sparkling in disappointment, “Well, at least you two will believe it when I tell you our bodies were switched all over the place when we woke up! Hehe~”

You start screaming again. THIS IS WORSE THAN THE SMILING RYŌSHŪ!!! THIS IS SO MUCH WORSE!!!

“Woah- woah!!” Rodya in Meursault’s body waves her- his?- hands, reaching out to take the clock-head you now unfortunately have. “Easy there, Squishy~ Haa… usually I don’t see you as spooked as this… it’s kinda cute~”

As she starts lamenting that your nickname isn’t as fitting when you're in Dante’s body, Meursault- now making Rodya’s body look uncharacteristically serious- speaks up. “It can be surmised that the minds of the Sinners have been interchanged with one another due to a cause that is yet to be determined, managers. The suspected time of occurrence: last night-”

“Pfftahahaha! L-look at that! Look at that face! Holy crap, this is the funniest thing ever! Right, Squishy?” Rodya asks, “‘The suspected time of occurrence: last night-’ Pffft, I can't. I just can't! How does he do that with a straight face?!”

You are about to cry.

“...Faust.” Dante suddenly says, “We need to find Faust.”

“Faust is located on the frontmost row of the bus, second seat from the left.” Meursault instructs.

“Th…ank you, but can you point it out for me? I… I can't think straight right now, hearing your voice talking like…” Dante admits, grimacing. That’s what you look like when you grimace..?

“It will be done, manager.”

“Oh boy…” Dante mumbles, before dragging your half-catatonic ass over to ‘Faust’.

“Oh.” She says, looking over with a deceptively passive expression, “Manager…”

“Faust…! Oh, what a relief. S- so you're okay, huh?” Dante asks, relieved.

You shrink back, “...Dante, Faust doesn’t call you ‘Manager’-”

“ESQUIRE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Faust- now with Don puppetting her body- eagerly squeals out, perking up shockingly fast and tightly hugging you.

She knows she’s Sancho now, by the way. And yet she still acts like this…

“Oh.” Dante says, clearly devastated. “Of all people… It had to be Don Quixote. Of all people…”

“‘Of all people’?! 'Tis quite rude of thee to speak thusly!” Don pipes up, pulling away slightly to prod at Dante’s chest in frustration, “Especially when thou is puppeting fair [Name]’s body! Ack, 'tis of no concern! Manager Esquire and fair [Name], forsooth, I have been overcome with quite the odd sensation upon my possession of this body!”

She pulls back from you completely. “I am… awash with a sense of… imbuement by an immense and unparalleled genius! 'Tis as though my eyes have been opened for the first time! Ah, a clear vision of the future lieth before me—the brave white—ahem, golden-haired one, returning from a most splendid adventure, welcomed by the praise and cheer of the citizentry… and granted love from-”

“That is unlikely.” Faust- in Don Quixote’s body- interjects. “Knowledge and certain authorizations beyond thereafter for those in the original body are not transferred to the other merely because their consciousnesses have been switched. In other words, what you have seen is not the vision of the future, but a display of your vivid imagination.”

Don’s smile falters for a moment, and the one she plasters on is a lot more strained. “Ooho! Much have I searched for thee, young Fau—uh, Don Quixote…? Perchance? Ooh, pray tell, what is this voice in mine head? "Access denied"? Prithee, let it not be a sickness of some sort!!!”

“… Please, take a seat. This will not be a brief discussion.” Faust says, visibly tired.

“...Dante, I’m going to stab myself.” You tell them.

“[Name], please no-” Dante feebly asks you.

“Dante, this shit is so bad even the Blades are hiding from this.” You tell them, “Do you see them? No? That’s because- like me- they are reasonably afraid! I AM AFRAID OF THIS SITUATION, DANTE. I DON’T WANT TO BE IN YOUR BODY!!”

“...is there something wrong with it..?” They ask.

“MY HEAD IS A CLOCK!! I WANT TO TALK AND HAVE EVERYONE UNDERSTAND ME!!!” You frantically tell them. “IF I HAD EYES I WOULD BE CRYING!”

You bury the face of the clock in your hands, regretting everything. This is worse than when you got caught in your lies. This is worse than when people you cared about died. This is worse-

Wait. Death…

Your head snaps up. Can Dante see the Ghosts?! Because if they can… shit…

“Ahm, hm.” ‘Outis’ clears her throat, and you realize she’s moved over to stand next to you.

“Outis…?” Dante asks, before shaking their head, “Wait, no… who… are you…?”

You flinch as- for the first time ever- Outis legitimately hugs you. Arms wrapped around your- Dante’s- body and head pressed into the crook of your neck.

Yi Sang has never looked more enraged in his life.

“Worry not, my dear [Name]...” Outis murmurs to you, as you have no idea how to react. “Though the bizarre situation is unideal, we must maintain a calm mind. Rest assured, you-”

“YOU DARE!!!” Yi Sang bellows, yelling for the first time in his life, and he- well- she, this is Outis in Yi Sang’s body- rips Yi Sang in her body off of you- who is in Dante’s body. “How dare you assume my form and use this opportunity to place your hands upon the Assistant Manager?! Is this an attempt to usurp my position as the right-hand to the Managers? Another thing! When using my voice, you will address the Assistant Manager by their full title, and not their name like some ignorant fool!”

“Th- that is not-” Yi Sang starts to stutter back, “I was merely trying to calm them-”

“Pah!” She sneers, “You did not need to place any hands upon them to ‘calm them down’! How long have you been planning this treachery?!”

“S- stop…” Dante weakly orders.

“Dante, Dante! Greg's not looking so good… Can ya ask how he's doing?” Rodya pipes up. Smiling Meursault is still terrifying.

“Ask him yourself, why don't you?” Outis barks at her, hands on her hips.

“Ah, ya know~ I know we're not like, strangers anymore, but y'know… know what I mean?” Rodya hums, “That funny feeling where when ya bite into one of those special chocolates with something in 'em, but ya don't really know what that something is or where that something is, so ya can't help but feel slightly iffy about giving it a full bite…? I think? Does that make sense?”

“Fellas… let's stop being so crass for a sec here.” Ishmael, being controlled by Gregor, pipes up, smoking a cigarette.

“Make it stop…” Dante pleads, burying their face in their hands.

“Hey, manager bud… yeah. Welp, somehow, this happened. I haven't a clue as to what's going on, either.” Gregor says with a sigh, “Woke up from a nap and… saw myself over there, looking at my own arm with that same glum look.”

“That's…” Gregor- being controlled by Ishmael- grimaces, actively trying to be as far from the bug arm as she can. “Look, I'm… a seawoman, alright? And… insect parts just don't… mesh well with the sea, right…?”

Gregor takes a breath. “Yeah~ you'll get used to it. Man, this takes me back. I nearly threw up when I saw that in the mirror the first time.”

Ishmael winces, miserable. “Not the same thing… And like, I was trying to be roundabout about it, okay? Didn't have to just say that outright, making things awkward as hell…”

“You utter, useless imbeciles! How could any of you let this minor issue of switched bodies bring you all to such disarray?!” Outis asks, infuriated.

Yi Sang frowns. ‘A- apologies, all… the voice and the appearance are mine indeed, yet the words are not… hm? Where are you going, [Name]?”

Everyone looks over at you, halfway out of the bus.

“I’m finding a bridge to jump off of because I AM IN SEVERE EMOTIONAL PAIN!!” You cry out, tossing your hands in the air.

The chaos that breaks out as people try to stop you would be entertaining if your clock wasn’t painfully throbbing.

If that was written someone totally misread “clock” as “cock”. You know you did when you saw this story for the first time…

…this shit is agonizing as hell.

–★★★–

You are being held against your will by both Meursault and Rodya to prevent you from flinging yourself into a pit. Curse Dante’s twink ass body making escape almost impossible. At least you know what gender they biologically are now… makes some of your theories to who they were before more solid.

“So, Faust. What do you believe is the cause of this phenomenon?” Yi Sang- no, Outis- asks, causing the abomination that is whimsical Faust to perk up.

“Hm…” She thinks for a moment, before laughing at how mostly everyone looks her way, “Agh, 'tis quite the bashful occasion! To have so many eyes gaze upon me! Ha ha…”

Outis scowls. “Dammit, I wasn't talking to you! Fine, then… Don Quixote…”

“Aha! Hast thou summoned me?!” Don asks, grinning. Smiling Faust may be real, but she can’t hurt you. She cannot hurt you. You are safe.

“You little…!”

“Hah- this is fun, isn’t it Squishy?” Meursault- Rodya- asks you, poking you in the face of the clock.

Smiling Meursault can hurt you though and you are in unbridled amounts of emotional pain.

“Ha. It's a real dog's dinner, innit.” Heathcliff mutters, crossing his arms. You haven’t seen Sinclair this mad since Canto 3.

“Everyone, one at a time. Please… I think I might actually go insane if I hear more than three of you talking at once.” Dante tells everyone, “And I think [Name] already has…”

You are honestly this close to Distorting in Dante’s body. You swear you are. Carmen is about to speak to you in five… four… three…

“… There is a possible explanation for this.” Faust suddenly says, “A meteor which was speculated to shoot over the City on day 250401, dubbed 'W15H', has crossed the City skylines last night. And there is a rumor that… making a wish upon this particular meteor has a slim chance of bringing it to reality.”

You slowly turn your head to stare daggers at Dante, who visibly winces.

“Uh… I had no idea that was even a thing…?” Sinclair murmurs, surprised.

“Wow! That's some impressive coincidence, isn't it? How so romantic~” Hong Lu coos, “Ah~ I wish I got [Name]’s body. I think it’d be fun to be them for a while. Aren’t you lucky, Dante?”

The looks Dante gets at that makes them look really uncomfortable.

“Actually… I feel kind of bad for [Name] having to live in a body like this…” Dante admits, “It’s really uncomfortable to do a lot of things, honestly.”

“It’s not that bad-!” You interject, before Ryōshū- in Hong Lu’s body- cuts you off.

“S.Y.B.A.U.A.M.” She tells you, puffing on a cigarette.

“Listen up, culprit, whoever you are! I will give you a chance to give yourself up.” Outis orders the bodyswapped Sinners, “What kind of brainless moron among you made such a ludicrous wish?!”

“I must apologize for this unideal display…” Yi Sang laments, giving you a sopping wet look you’ve only seen Sinclair make.

“Give yourself up now, and I will let you off with a light sentencing of three consecutive executions.” Outis snaps, glowering.

You silently look at Dante, who sighs. “Uh… So um… I think I'm the one who made the wish, Yi Sang… I mean, Outis.”

Outis lets out a gasp, an expression of horror on Yi Sang’s- her?- face. “Executive Manager? I- It was you?!”

“I kinda muttered to myself about how I wished you guys would learn how to be in each other's shoes because… everyone just refused to listen to me during our last hunt…” Dante glances at you, but seemingly chooses not to mention mending the relationship between you two.

“Pfft…” Ishmael snickers, “What now, Outis? Are you going to cut off your Executive Manager's head?”

Gregor snorts. “Nah~ She wouldn't, right? Besides, what's to say that there's not some other reason out there? Anyways, manager bud… got any bright ideas?”

Ishmael flinches as she notices Gregor- in her body- holding a cigarette in his mouth. “Huh? Excuse me, Gregor! Don't smoke that! You're in my body!”

He, in response, holds his hands up. “Hey- it’s not lit, okay..? I just need to hold something between my teeth to calm down.”

Hong Lu shrugs. “Hehe, what's happened's happened. I think it could be pretty nice to just live on like thi-”

“Oi, no way, nope. I ain't living in some sheltered lad's scrawny body.” Heathcliff interjects.

Sinclair visibly deflates. “But… I've been working out…”

“...why? You have plenty of combat skills without working out…” You tell him, confused. Sinclair just flushes and looks away, mumbling some clearly fake reason to you.

“… Too bad.” Ryōshū mutters, on her eleventh cigarette since you saw her like this, “Let's K.E and turn the clock.”

“Do I… have to go through the pain of reviving you guys..?” You nervously ask.

“No- no absolutely not!” Dante interjects, “I can barely handle the pain as is. Don’t make [Name] go through it too…”

“Yeah, uh- death is firmly off the table.” Gregor adds, giving Ryōshū a look. She just shrugs in response.

“There has to be some other solution, right?” Dante asks, looking around, before pausing at the sight of Hong Lu’s body smoking. “How are you so comfortable with chainsmoking in someone else's body…?”

‘Hehe, I don't mind.” Hong Lu says with a laugh.

“Mm~ I'll go with Ryōshū.” Rodya suddenly says, raising her hand.

“I have a feeling I know the answer to this already, but… which one?” Ishmael asks, raising an eyebrow.

“The one who's Ryōshū right now, 'course~ Can't we just stay like this for a little longer? Kinda feels like a breath of fresh air, don't it…?”

You slowly look at the smiling Meursault in horror, even if you don’t have a face you can change the expression of.

“… Huh, weird. I thought I had her figured out.” Ishmael murmurs, surprised.

“That suggestion requires a mutually collaborative understanding and consent with the switched individual.” Meursault notes.

“Huh? What, don'tcha like my body, Meur?” Rodya asks, tilting her head. “Ooh~ Or do I call ya Rodya? Gosh, this is so much fun!”

Meursault tenses. “… This discussion is not a matter of whether it is 'fun'. It is simply a matter of inappropriate-”

Rodya just rolls her eyes. “Yeah, whatevs. Is it fun~ or is it not~?”

“...how are you so comfortable with waking up and realizing you have a dick?” You ask her, only to cause her to snort. Laughing Meursault is worse than smiling Meursault. So much worse.

You glance over to see Dante and Faust- in your and Don Quixote’s body respectively- talking. If you remember right, it’s about Faust being unable to access the Gesellschaft.

A few minutes seem to pass- that feel like hours with the Meursault-Rodya yapping at you- the door to the back gets kicked open. You peer over, only to watch a visibly annoyed Vergilius and frustrated Charon walk out and to the front of the bus. Dante hesitates, before standing up, reaching out to take your hand, free you from where you’re trapped between Rodya and Meursault, and lead you over to where Vergilius sits, slumped over in his usual seat.

“Uh… Vergilius. I don't know if you're aware, but… I'll be real and to the point. Something really bad's happened. It's, uh… man, it's a real mess out here, it's really, really, bad…” They glance at you, “Y- you see what I'm talking about, right?! Like- [Name] and I swapped bodies! And- and Meursault and Ryōshū are smiling! And there aren't any dead bodies around-!”

“...” Vergilius stares at Dante and you in silence, blank faced. Charon, however, looks gradually more pissed. …you’re so fucked. Actually, Dante is so fucked. Or both of you are.

“So, uh, where to begin… I- it's kinda my fault, maybe, kind of. In a fit of frustration, I thought some stupid wish, or… said some wish, it doesn't matter.” They stutter a bit, fiddling with their hands, “And uh… a W-something… uh, a meteor fell and, the meteor was two-hundred-fifty-thousand…something… and, uhm…”

“I’m going to jump.” You admit to yourself aloud, glad Vergilius and Charon can’t understand you.

Vergilius looks into Dante’s eyes, expression blank now. And Dante visibly pales.

“Can…” He mumbles, “Candy… when?”

“Oh.” Dante grimaces, shaking their head, “No. No, no, no. No. Why are you doing this to me? Don't do this to me!”

“Bus driver needs sweets.” Vergilius- no, Charon- mutters, “No vroom-vroom without candy.”

Charon- actually, Vergilius- glares holes into Dante. You swear her eyes are glowing red right now… “Dante… What the hell kind of ridiculous wish did you make on the star to put us in this mess…?”

A thud rings out through the bus as Dante falls over unconscious. You feel like you’re about to join them…

–★★★–

You wish you were the one who went unconscious instead of Dante. Because, at least that way, you wouldn’t have to deal with this nightmare.

You thought the bickering the Sinners were having about you before was bad… but it’s honestly worse now. It’s way worse.

You glance over at the beaten up Heathcliff in Sinclair’s body, who just got into a fight with Ryōshū in Hong Lu’s body when she tried to kill Hong Lu and herself to see if reviving will fix this, even if it’d cause you unbearable pain. He did win the fight, but it wasn’t pretty.

You hate it here.

Your head snaps up as Dante lets out a faint groan and blinks awake, slowly sitting up with bleary eyes as they seem to forget what happened.

“Ooh, they're back up again. Oi, get any visions during your beauty sleep? Find a way to put us back?” Heathcliff asks, sitting up.

“Dante~ Gosh, Hong Lu kept insisting that we employ the 'D.R.D.R.' method, so it took us some effort to hold 'em back~” Rodya muses, glancing at Ryōshū with a slightly tense look.

“Heh. This polearm'll do. Can't promise O.H.K.O, though.” She muses, on her 34th cigarette so far.

“Manager Esquire!!! Behold this mane as white as snow; dost thou recall mine ill-fortuned Princess of the North Snow Plains cosplay attempt?!” Don has the widest grin you will ever see on Faust’s face. “Verily, 'tis an opportunity most apt for a second attempt at a high qually-tee cosplay!”

This is Sancho, by the way. She is fully aware she is Sancho and is willingly choosing to act like this.

“Denied.” Faust calmly says, causing Don to look disappointed.

“No, no! Still so weak! Puff out your chest and be bold! Push the voice out straight from your gut, go!” Outis orders, still trying to make Yi Sang- in her body- behave like how she does.

“Y-you pathetic wimps…!”

“LOUDER!”

“Y- you pathet… I… can no longer…” He looks over at you, silently begging for help.

“Really? You're gonna do this… now?” Ishmael dryly asks, staring at the scene in annoyance.

“Outis, that’s enough. Lighten up on him.” You tell her, in unbridled emotional pain.

“Assistant Manager, I am simply-” She starts to sputter out, but quiets down when you raise a hand.

“I said enough. Yi Sang, come here.” You order, and watch as an unusually weak-willed Outis quickly walks over and practically squishes into the same seat as you.

“Thank you, my love…” He whispers into your currently non-existent ears, almost nuzzling into you, “I don’t know what someone like me would do without you.”

Ishmael scowls at the sight of Yi Sang and you, but scoffs and looks at Dante. “Dante. What'd Vergilius say anyway? I didn't hear the conversation thanks to all the ruckus. I'm gonna guess he said something about making a report to the higher-ups and asking them to resolve this asap, right?”

Dante just stares blankly at her, a haunted look in their eyes.

“That does not appear to be a feasible solution.” Meursault adds.

Gregor raises an eyebrow. “Huh? Why? Bud, you gotta elaborate-”

“L- look…” Sinclair stutters out, “Vergilius is… hugging something…”

“Ah… Kkomi.” Vergilius murmurs. When everyone stares at him in shock, probably expecting Charon to be in her own body, he sighs. “… Charon's favorite plush. She really treasures it.”

“That’s… really cute, actually.” You say, before remembering he can’t understand you when he gives you a confused look.

The Sinners, meanwhile, stare at the scene in silent horror. All of them.

“Does that… explain things?” Dante feebly asks them.

“Kkomi won't stand no candy. Kkomi said so.” Charon mutters, “[Name] has candy, yes?”

You shake your head, and Charon frowns, her grip on the red bear toy tightening.

“What the hell does that even mean? Won't stand no candy…?” Outis asks, visibly annoyed.

“Miss Outis… it seems hardly wise to practice such an inquisition toward miss Charon at the moment…” Yi Sang points out.

“Pray tell, who is this ‘Kkomi’?! A villain, from a book?!” Don eagerly asks, curious.

“Oh, you're not gonna stand it, huh? Oi, don't talk to us like that!” Heathcliff snaps, “If you ain't gonna stand it, what are you gonna do, huh?”

“S- stop antagonizing her! We might have to fight V- v- v- Vergilius at this rate…!” Sinclair yelps, visibly shaking.

Heathcliff-Sinclair almost growls in anger. You thought he got over the Distortion… “Lad! I hear three more stutters, and I'll bash my head in!”

“Heeugh…!” Sinclair recoils, and you decide to stare at the terrified Heathcliff being controlled by Sinclair for another moment. Soon, this will be over. It will be over soon. This nightmare will be over. And you’ll look back on it and find it funny.

“M- Manager Esquire, 'twould be most wise to avoid battling a Color Fixer…!” Don suddenly says, shaking. Probably remembering the things Vergilius has done to her…

“The main components comprising Kkomi are 7% cotton fiber, 3% synthetic fiber, and 90% cotton wool. However, considering the force behind it, its physical damage is non-negligible.” Meursault notes, “The existence of several stitch marks indicate serious combat experience.”

“Kinda reminds me of my own stuffed animal…” You murmur to yourself, causing Yi Sang to stare at you with a curious look, clearly having heard you.

“My my my~ Verg! You're so cute like this~” Rodya coos, giving Charon a teasing look. Vergilius just glares at her.

“K.E.E.L.A.” Ryōshū mutters, glancing at Sinclair when people seem confused. “… Translate.”

“Kill Everyone, Everyone Lucid Again… she says.” Sinclair mumbles.

“FIEEEE ONNNN THEEEE!!!” Don screeches, causing everyone to look her way in shock, “Wherefore art thou tearing off mine most precious badges?!”

“… They are distractions.” Faust doesn’t stop taking off the badges with swift and apathetic motions.

“Hoyday, a most ridiculous notion…! P-prithee, take care, for they mustn't be scratched…!” Don sputters out, “DO NOT TOUCH THAT ONE!!”

“Ha ha.” Dante mumbles, leaning back as they seem to give up, “Holy shit.”

Hong Lu stares at Dante in wide-eyed shock. “Wow! Did everyone just hear that? I don't think Dante's ever said anything like-”

Yi Sang looks concerned. “Dante, are you well…?”

“… No candy?” Charon mutters, looking frustrated.

“Dammit…! Looks like she's getting ready to engage us in battle!” Outis yelps, caught off guard.

“… What can we do…?” Dante asks, uneasy.

“Die, probably.” You add, “We are all dead. All of us. Even you and me, Dante. We dead.”

“… Haaah. [Name] seems certain… of our deaths…” Faust says with hesitance, “What can we do, Ver…gilius.”

“… As you must be aware…” He responds, “… Charon does not know how to utilize the gladius. She has zero fighting knowledge or experience. This will be the greatest advantage you have, even if you must contend with my body. It will not be easy… but not impossible. However, if I ever hear even a toot of any foolishness like…” His gaze narrows and seems to glow red for a moment, “… "I beat the Red Gaze" anywhere within this bus… I will make you pay for every letter of every word in your witless boast.”

The air on the bus seems to thicken with the tension now raised.

“… Damn.” Heathcliff mutters, and someone seems to indignantly click their tongue.

“‘When my eyes turn red, run’ ahh…” You sarcastically mutter to yourself. “...do not translate that. Lemme take advantage of the chance to shit-talk him without him understanding and killing me.”

You think you hear someone snort in amusement at that. Maybe more than one person.

“… Kkomi's mad.” Charon says, standing up, “Bus driver's going on strike.”

“W- wait. Why are we even fighting a Color right now?! We have zero reason to believe that this'll change anything…!” Ishmael yelps.

Gregor grits his teeth. “Fellas… it doesn't seem to me that we have much in the way of options…!”

“All of you…” She orders, “Off. The. Bus.”

–★–

You stand next to Dante, the scene mirroring what happened right before you two got whacked across the head and knocked out. This time, however, it’s them ordering the Sinners to fight the Red Gaze, all of whom got bodyswapped, including you two.

For a moment between orders, they glance at you.

“...your body is- uh- beautiful. Even moreso now that I’m in it.” They tell you.

“Uh… thanks..?” You hesitantly reply.

“But it’s kind of… hell,” They continue, “I get why you want to return to normal again.”

You nod, waiting for them to continue.

“...honestly, [Name]- I really care about you.” They admit, “I’m… mad that you lied to me for so long. Well- more hurt, really. I thought there was something special between us, but… there isn’t. But… I guess now that I had time to think about it, it doesn’t hurt as much.”

You tilt your head. “...why? I spent months lying to you- spouting barely believable bullshit you blindly trusted- how can you care about me?”

“Because, despite everything, you chose to stay.” They admit, “You had so many chances to leave, but… you didn’t. And back in La Manchaland… that was a one time thing you tried out of fear. But you had so many chances to flee over the last few days and stayed… I guess, even if I don’t really trust you anymore, I still care.”

You glance away.

“You’re… amazing, [Name]. I’m so glad I met you.” They admit, “I love you.”

“You… what?”

“I love you.” They repeat, taking your hands in their own. “You are beautiful and kind and wonderful. You're ignorant and terrified, but you’re loving. You put others before yourself in most situations and help anyone you can. How can’t I love you?”

They lean in close, causing you to unconsciously lean back as their hands drift from your hands to your hips. “I’m sorry I have to use your body to do this, but I need to kiss you. I need you. I have no idea what I’ll do without you.”

“I can’t lose you. I can never lose you.”

“I’m not letting anyone ever take you away from me.”

“I love you so, so much…”

You can’t force them off as they kiss you. All you do is hear as the bus sparks to life and comes charging at everyone.

Oh god.

–★★★–

You start with a gasp, sitting up and slamming forehead first into Gregor’s head.

“Fuck-” He yelps, covering his forehead with a wince, before giving you a weak smile. “Haa… glad you’re okay, bud. No injuries or..?”

You flinch as Sinclair tightly hugs you, snot and tears staining your shirt as he shakes against you. “I- I thought you dieeedddd… [Name]- [Naaaammmeeeeee]...”

“Glad you and the clockhead ain’t dead.” Heathcliff tells you.

Wait-

WAIT IT’S OVER!!!

YOU’RE ON THE BUS AND IN YOUR ORIGINAL BODY!!!

Not your human one, unfortunately, BUT A BODY YOU’RE FAMILIAR WITH!!

“Heathcliff…!” Dante yelps out, coming to the same realization as you. “Heathcliff… it's you, right?!”

Heathcliff flinches as Dante shoots up and seems to practically hug Heathcliff. “Agh…! The hell, mate?! Get off me! Gah!”

“He is Heathcliff…!” Dante practically squeals.

Sinclair freezes when you hug him back, literally crying too. “We’re free… WE’RE FREE!!!”

“[N- [Name]..?” Sinclair stutters out, and you fail to notice how beet red his face is.

“Hmph. A.L.A.T.C.T.” Ryōshū says, taking a drag of her cigarette.

You never thought you’d wake up and be happy to be in this body…

“Much worries were had by all afore miss Faust informed us of your safety.” Yi Sang admits.

“Yeah, same! I thought you wouldn't ever wake up again or something~” Rodya muses.

“Uh… looks like your hour hand's trembling, Dante! Are you alright?” Hong Lu curiously asks, “Oh! [Name], I didn’t know your tears were green. They’re pretty~”

“Should we call Hohenheim to run some tests on them?” Ishmael asks.

Faust shakes her head. “Faust has already taken all necessary measures. This does not appear to be something that requires his assistance.”

“Manager Esquire… 'twas all mine wrongdoing… I had failed to expect that thou wert still within the range of shrapnels… 'twas my carelessness…” Don says with tears in her eyes, before tightly hugging you as well with a loud sob, “FORGIVE ME!!!”

“You’re forgiven, just never become Faust again.” You tell her, hugging her as well.

Ishmael silently mouths “what the fuck” to herself, and many other Sinners look equally as confused.

“Extending the distance between the manager and the battlefield in future battles would be an effective means of minimizing certain risk factors.” Meursault notes.

“Yeah, bud. I appreciate the fervor, but don't try so hard that you'll hurt yourself. Take it easy, alright?” Gregor tells you and Dante with a slight tilt of his head.

Outis grits her teeth. “Dammit… I, Outis, shall take responsibility for this incident. Allow me to bow before you in hopes of seeking-”

“Guys…” Dante says, “I think… I like us… exactly as we are right now…”

“… Hm.” Vergilius raises an eyebrow. “Going by the tick-tocking noises you're making… you sound moved, Dante. I, for one, am also glad that I wouldn't have to remove your clock hands. It would not have been pleasant.”

Once everyone who was crying finally stopped, Dante stepped off the bus for a moment to “stretch their legs”. Meanwhile, you sat alone in a seat, staring out the window at Dante and Charon talking as you thought about Dante’s confession.

This isn’t the first time someone in the City confessed to loving you, but…

Every time someone has, their “love” was more like a damaging obsession that made everything worse. It happened in the Pallid Whale… at Wuthering Heights… at La Manchaland… and so many other places.

You knew everyone on this bus held an inkling of that fucked-up version of love, but Dante saying it so plainly makes you feel… unnerved, honestly.

Your gaze falls up to the stars in the night sky.

The bus is like a pot being slowly heated up the longer you spend here. You’ve been here long enough you’re definitely in hot water. And you need to escape. But Dante said it themselves, they aren’t willing to lose you.

You need to get out of here.

–★★★★★–

While Queen is easy enough to appease — even a few kisses from you will be enough to lift her mood — if she’s jealous for long then she’ll breach in her snake form as she usually does and wreak havoc upon the facility; with her main target being any human or abnormality who interacted with you.

Her jealousy is also inconsistent in the sense that it behaves differently when you’re with other humans compared to when you’re with abnormalities, with her being far less worried when you’re with humans. She still feels threatened to some degree, but she knows that humans still need to spend time with one another just like how magical girls need to spend time with one another. It’s something that humans need to do, which Queen understands!

Abnormalities, on the other hand, makes her jealousy meter rise up like none other.

Most of them had a monstrous form so she didn’t feel threatened by them — unless you happened to be into monsters, thank goodness you didn’t though, right? Right? — but few with human appearance were an exception to that.

If she found out that you were sent to work on The Lady Facing the Wall for one, Queen would be in a foul mood like no other and it’d take far more than a few kisses to make her feel better. The same thing applies to you being sent to work on Melting Love as well, with this being more dangerous as there aren’t many ways to hide that you’ve been sent to work on the aleph in question.

Queen doesn’t mind it as much if you’re spending time with her sisters in arms, The Knight of Despair and The King of Greed, though that’s more because she believes that they’re completely lost and don’t really understand what’s going on around them anymore. They were corrupted, after all, and it warms her heart to see you caring for them.