#moonlight cafe

You watch in shock as the cat allows Jaebeom to scratch behind his ears, bunting his furry head against his hand and purring like a madman. Cheeseburger never let strangers near him, let alone close enough to pet him. 

“He likes you,” You mumble more to yourself but he hears it anyway. 

“I like him too,” Jaebeom says happily, a sincere grin plastered on his handsome face.

“You stayed,” You said just as quietly but your feet were already carrying you closer to him. He reaches for you without thinking but you meet him halfway, hand slipping into his naturally and he has to physically restrain himself from kissing your knuckles. 

‘Baby steps’ he thinks to himself. You passed out after the mate bomb was dropped and he doesn’t want a repeat of last night.

“I’m sorry for crashing,” You told him, smoothing your thumb over his skin.

“Don’t be. Your body was just really overwhelmed,” Jaebeom explained, “You were under a lot of stress yesterday and I’m sure the shock of everything I told you didn’t help. Are you feeling better?” He asked hopefully and you offered him a smile, sliding into the seat across from him. 

“Much better,” You sigh “Could use a shower and change of clothes but I feel good. Surprisingly enough, I woke up without any chest pain for the first time in a while.”

Jaebeom is quiet for a moment but he doesn’t look upset. Just thoughtful. “Do you have any plans today?”

“No, I was just going to lay around. Nothing important.”

“Would you want to spend time with me?” He asks hesitantly, “We could talk some more and I can answer any questions you might have.”

“Yeah, of course. Do you mind if I go shower and change my clothes though?” You ask, grimacing at the fact that you’re still wearing your uniform from last night minus the shoes and socks Jaebeom stripped from you before tucking you in. 

“Not at all. Go ahead.” Jaebeom grins, running a hand along Cheeseburger’s back, making him arch happily, “I’ll make you something to eat in the meantime.”

“Oh,” You stop midway out of your seat but Jaebeom can read the question before you ask it and he chuckles, “I’ll explain later.”

“Got it,” You nod once. “Did you already change?” You ask, noticing his fresh clothes and slightly damp hair.

“Super speed,” He reminds you with a grin and you just nod dumbly, getting up and backing toward your bedroom until you're behind closed doors again. 

Holy shit. It was all real, wasn’t it? 

The word ’Mate’ circles around and around in your brain and though you don’t understand the full implications, your body seems to understand just fine. It aches to be near him at all times and explains why you gravitate toward him unknowingly. You recall following him halfway out of the diner the first night you met him. 

You seek him out without even realizing it and that must be one of the effects of being his mate. You crave his physical proximity. His comforting touch. 

You step out of the shower and dry yourself off, swiping a hand across the foggy mirror to look at yourself but your head jerks toward the door when you hear singing coming from the kitchen. There’s no hope of stopping yourself as you move through the house, the singing growing louder, clearer with each step, beckoning you forward. 

Jaebeom is so distracted at the stove that he doesn’t notice your bare feet padding across the floor, even with his superior hearing. It’s not until you're less than five feet away when he spins around, words caught in his throat as you stand before him in nothing but your towel, one hand fisted at the top of the material and he’s completely dumbstruck at the sight. 

With the sudden silence you shake your head, wondering when and how you got there before looking up at a stunned Jaebeom, his hand gripping the wooden spatula so tightly it splinters and snaps in half, the sound waking you both up. 

You look down and realize your state of undress and turn bright red, “How did I get here?” You look panicked and Jaebeom puts two and two together.

“It must be the bond...” He cocks his head quizzically, “I didn’t know it could do that.”

“Oh, yeah. Sure. Of course...mates,” You laugh awkwardly, eyes about to bug out of your head, “I’m uh, going to put clothes on now.”

Jaebeom is really trying to hold back a proud smirk at this new discovery. He feels like the fucking Pied Piper but he’s actively trying not to scare you off and it takes every ounce of self-control to stay rooted to the spot. 

You poke your head back out of your bedroom door and catch his attention again, “Maybe...no singing until I’m dressed, okay?” With your luck, next time you’d be standing before him stark naked. 

Although, you weren’t sure you would consider that unlucky.

You’re dressed in record time, sticking to something comfortable, before you exit your bedroom and the smell of hot food hits you, making your stomach rumble loudly. Jaebeom is at the table with a cup of coffee and you slip into the seat across from him, taking up a fork and digging in, “This is amazing, thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” He grins, watching your cheeks poke out adorably as you eat, “It’s been a while since I’ve had to cook but I’m glad it’s edible.”

You hum thoughtfully as you swallow another bite, “So, what’s the um...eating situation like?” You ask, embarrassment is clear in your features, and Jaebeom can’t help but laugh. 

“Hey!” You whine playfully, “It’s a legitimate question!”

“It’s fine, it’s fine!” He continues laughing, waving a hand, “It’s just cute the way you’re blushing like it’s too personal to ask.”

You roll your eyes and stuff your mouth full. 

“Yes, I can tolerate some human foods but I don’t need them to survive. It’s more like a habit I guess? I eat sometimes to blend in but nutrition-wise it does nothing for me,” He answers and you hum appreciatively, “I do consume human blood but not from the source. I haven’t fed from a human in over a hundred years and I don’t plan on it.”

“How do you get blood then?” You ask curiously, scraping the last bits of food off the plate and into your mouth before getting up to place your dishes in the sink. 

You motion over to the living room and Jaebeom gets up to follow you, taking a seat on the couch next to you, both turned comfortably to face one another.    

“Hospitals and Blood banks. With my power of influence, I literally walk in and out with whatever I need and people are none the wiser.”

“Cool,” You whisper and the genuine interest in your tone has Jaebeom chuckling again. 

“You’re not grossed out by that at all?” He asks and you're quick to shake your head. 

“Food is food, Beom,” You shrug matter of factly, “You gotta eat and you’re not hurting anyone, why would that bother me?”

Jaebeom tries not to show how much your little nickname makes him want to pin you to the couch but he needs something, has to touch you, so his hand falls upon your knee. You both look down at it and he almost panics and pulls it away but you place your hand over his, keeping it there. 

“Hey,” You whisper and his stare pierces through you, “I don’t fully know what it means to be your mate but...I can feel it. I can feel the bond between us and I want to understand it.”

“Really?” He looks completely shocked and hopeful, and so adorable your heart thuds heavily in your chest making you grip his hand a bit tighter and smile. 

“I can tell you what I know about it so far, but there are things I don’t know, like the singing...I had no idea that was a thing,” He offers a lopsided grin, hand sneaking up to the back of his neck bashfully, “I’m kind of learning as we go.”

“The physical aspect of the bond is interesting,” You say thoughtfully, playing with his fingers, “My body seeks you out on its own sometimes and I don’t even realize I’m moving. Just being in your presence is soothing but touching you is absolute serenity. And the pains when you’re gone, sometimes they get so bad,” Your face screws up thinking about the chest pains that are always mysteriously gone whenever he’s around. 

“The chest pains are my fault,” He sighs, lifting your hand and pressing your warm fingers against his cheek, “I figured that out pretty early on and tried to stay close to you as often as I could. I am uh, well acquainted with your back porch actually.”

So that’s why you have been able to sleep at night? Jaebeom had been camping outside your house just to keep you comfortable all this time? That also explains how he knew your address last night. 

“Will it always be like that?” You ask and he shakes his head. 

“It’s because our physical bond is not sealed,” He explains, a nervous edge to his voice, “It is my understanding that any ill effects caused by the bond will disappear once we’re mated.” His eyes widen and he quickly adds, “If that’s what you wanted!”

“Like...sex?” You ask innocently and Jaebeom nearly chokes on his own spit. 

“Well, it’s uh,” He curses under his breath and you try not to giggle at his struggle, “It’s called ‘mating’ but it’s mostly, um, biting. I think the sex part is…optional.”

You eye him curiously and he swallows hard. “Duly noted.”

Jaebeom is now looking anywhere else when he nearly jumps, feeling you tap the inside of his palm and he looks up to see you smirking. “Why are you being so shy all of a sudden?” You giggle again, making him smile bashfully. 

“I’m trying not to freak you out,” He laughs, “Normal people can just say ‘I like you, will you go out with me?’ and I’m trying to ease you into ‘Everything that I am belongs to you, would you be interested in being being mated to me for eternity?’” He snorts with a sense of self depreciation and your breath catches in your throat. 

“Oh shit,” He panics again, “I’m an idiot. That was too mu-”

He can’t finish his sentence because you’ve cut him off with your lips against his and it takes him a moment to process that before he’s wrapping his arms around your body and pulling you against him. If you thought simply holding hands felt divine it was nothing compared to being kissed by him or held against his chest with his hands sliding up your back and into your hair. 

Your mind was void of anything but him and it was easy to find yourself drifting, your head tipping back, mouth falling open on a sigh as Jaebeom’s lips trapeze down the column of your throat. He suddenly pulls back and blinks a few times, the spell broken, leaving you both panting and staring at one another. 

“Why did you stop?” You ask, chest still heaving with unused adrenaline. 

Jaebeom’s hands are entirely still, his breathing evening out when he finally reminds himself that he doesn’t need the extra oxygen. “Because, if I don’t stop now...I don’t think I could. Don’t know if I’d be able to fight it.”

“What do you mean?” You ask as you reach for his hair but his hand shoots up and grabs your wrist lightning fast.

“I mean,” He grunts as he struggles to remain still beneath you, “That my mate instincts are screaming at me to claim you and if I don’t calm down, I will end up doing something stupid.”

“Like?” You dare to ask, not an ounce of fear for what his answer may be. 

His eyes darken before the warm brown is overtaken by a deep red color and his voice drops an octave or two when he says, “Taking you right here in the middle of your living room without you fully understanding the repercussions of mating and I really need you know what you’re signing up for because there is no going back.”

You swallow that lump of information and climb out of his lap, moving toward the other side of the couch and sitting with your knees tucked to your chest, “Feel better?” You ask sheepishly and he cracks a half smile. 

“Still might jump you if you move too fast,” He somewhat jokes but it eases the tension in the room, “How about you?”

“I...don’t like being so far away,” You admit, embarrassed to even say it aloud. After being so close to him, it’s like fighting a strong magnetic pull. Your body was near vibrating with the need to simply touch him. 

Jaebeom surprises you when he reaches for both your ankles, stretching your legs out and placing your feet in his lap, “This better?”

It’s not a cure-all, but it provided some semblance of physical contact and you were more than happy to accept it. “Yeah, actually,” You cover up a laugh, “Thank you.”

After a moment of only slightly awkward silence, you peered over at him. “So...are you always so...intense when it comes to sex? Or...” You snicker and he swats your ankle light-heartedly.  

“Only for you, my love,” He smirks and you regret opening your mouth to tease him in the first place. Your cheeks are burning and you pull a pillow over your face to hide it. 

“You can’t say stuff like that!” You whine, taking the pillow and tossing it at his perfect face. Too bad he catches it with ease, blocking your shot. 

“Why not?” He grins, fingers tracing over the soft skin on your foot. 

“Do you want me to come back over there before you get to the fine print?” You fix him with a stare and his eyebrows shoot up before he’s shaking his head rapidly. 

 “As much as I would love that,” He sighs, “Fine print first.”

“From all that I’ve read, being mated is a life-long deal. Once our bond is sealed, we will always be linked to one another. Even if one day you came to hate me, you would still ache for my touch to the point of madness if you resisted. It would be the same for myself.”

You process his words. A lifetime commitment. 

“Hypothetically, if we didn’t like each other, could we choose not to be mated? Like what would happen if we never sealed the bond.”

Jaebeom leans against his fist with his elbow propped on the back of the couch. “Well, from what I’ve read, if two mates were separated by choice, and by a great distance, permanently, the bond would fade over time though sometimes it can take years of living with the negative effects before the bond fades completely.”

He notices the way you swallow, eyes shifting to your hands in your lap before you look back up. “Would you um...change me?” You ask quietly and his brows shoot up so you wave your hands, “I just mean, obviously you’re immortal and I’m, well, not, so when we’re talking ‘life-long’ is that just my human life? Like one day I die and you live on without me? Would that hurt you?”

“I would die of heartbreak,” He says simply. 

You chuckle awkwardly thinking he’s just being dramatic but his expression does not change. “You’re kidding, right?”

“To have your mate torn from you and your bond severed in such a way is said to be the cruelest fate,” He goes on, fingers dancing over the skin of your calf reverently, “Some starve until they turn to stone and dust, some driven mad by the loneliness take a stake to their own hearts or toss themselves into the flames.”

You cover your mouth in abject horror. You didn’t want to have to think about Jaebeom having to experience something so tragic and painful that he’d cease to exist himself. 

“Vera,” Jaebeom calls your name gently, leaning closer, “Even if we only got to spend the next sixty years together, it would have been worth it and when your time comes, I wouldn’t want to remain in this world without you anyway. My own death does not frighten me. Continuing life without you...that’s not something I would wish for myself.”

“So, change me.” 

His eyes widened astronomically. It’s not as though he didn’t think you’d ask but you sound so at ease with the notion trading in your human life for an immortal one. No fear, no hesitation, just your own simple solution to your dilemma. 

“You seem surprised,” You interrupt his train of thought, dragging his gaze up to your face with your fingers beneath his chin. “Do you not wish to have me forever?”

Your teasing tone makes him roll his eyes. “Of course I do.” There is a pregnant pause where he just drinks in your features. “I have never wanted anything in all my years as much as I want you.”

“So, have me,” You tip your head back and laugh, “I’m not asking you to do anything right this second. I just want you to consider that perhaps I don’t like the idea of leaving you behind and a forever together sounds much nicer.”

“I would always remain at your side,” He argues and you cut him off. 

“So you can be eternally young and handsome while I grow old and grey. Tell me, do you have a grandma kink you haven’t told me about?”

Jaebeom scoffs and huffs out a laugh, “Alright, alright...I just want you to take the time to really think about it. We don’t have to rush anything.”

“And how long shall I think about it? Until I’m fifty? So I can be old forever?”

“You’re going to cause me a lifetime of trouble, aren’t you?”

You nod with a smug satisfaction and climb back into his lap. He wraps his arms around you and meets your lips halfway, grinning like a fool as you kiss him with every bit of assurance that yes, you will give him a lifetime of trouble.

A long lifetime. 

He pulls back, chuckling when you chase his lips blindly, “I’ll make you a deal.”

You raise your brows, fingers toying with the neckline of his shirt and he sighs bemusedly. “I will turn you,” he says and your eyes light up with excitement, “On your thirtieth birthday.”

Deflating, you smack his shoulder. 

“Oh, come on...it’s not that far away.” He kisses your pouted lips and you hum thoughtfully. He was right and honestly, what did a few more years matter in the grand scheme of things. 

“Fine,” you finally agree. His resulting smile is worth it alone. “What about sealing the bond? Will you make me wait for that too?”

“Are you sure you want it?”

It’s silly of him to ask such a thing at this point. “I’m sensing more stipulations…”

He laughs, a beautiful, rich sound falling from his lips. “Hear me out.”

As it turns out...his suggestion to wait to seal the bond was not so terrible. 

Even though you had reassured him about a million times that you were ready, not to mention how physically difficult it was to refrain from giving in and sealing the bond out of pure instinct, he had only good intentions. 

It wasn’t as if he really thought you’d change your mind, but he wanted to give you a taste of what life together could be like, he wanted to prove to you that he was worth it. 

You spoke to your boss at the diner and as taken aback as he was at your request for the next three weeks off, he granted them with a little knowing smile.

 You immediately drove home and packed a few bags, Jaebeom chuckling at your indecision on what to bring along for the extended trip. Cheeseburger for the most part seemed disinterested. That is until you stuck him in the back of your car and started off toward the nearest airport. 

New York City was an entirely different world. 

Jaebeom spent most of his time traveling but he kept a few homes in different locations around the world, this one being the closest to one of his primary employers in the states, The Museum of Natural History. It was incredible to see so many new things and almost a shock to your system but it was nothing short of amazing. 

Cheeseburger quickly found a new favorite sunning spot in the window seat in Jaebeom’s living room and once finding out where his food bowl was placed, had acted like this had been his home from the beginning. He hadn’t even made a fuss about all the travel time. Perhaps that fat cat had wanted out of that old town just as much as you had. 

Your first two weeks were spent sightseeing, trying new cafes and restaurants, and just taking in every bit of wonder the big city had to offer with your lover by your side. He bought you a vintage camera and found endless amounts of joy watching you take photos of every little thing that caught your eye. 

Just as often as you spent time out exploring the city, you found nights home together happening frequently. Jaebeom loved to watch you cook, hands around your middle as he followed you around the kitchen pressing kisses into your hair. Staying up late into the evening hours on the patio with a few glasses of wine, sharing life stories until you could hardly keep your eyes open and he carried you to bed. 

Speaking of beds...you still roomed separately. 

Jaebeom had given you your own room and for a good reason you supposed, if his wish to wait was going to stand a chance. You were both caught up in a whirlwind of romantic dates and whispered affirmations tangled up on the couch with heated kisses and wandering hands but that leash of restraint remained and he always put you to sleep in your own bed each night. 

That came to an abrupt end three days before you were due to fly home. 

One thing you had been particularly interested in checking out was the city’s nightlife. It wasn’t as if your little old town had anything close to a club like the ones here, thrumming with loud music and a euphoric sort of energy. You found yourself in a dizzy state as you entered the Lynx night club on the arm of your mate, staring up at the extravagant lighting fixtures and dancers covered in body paint on elevated stages throughout. It wasn’t any old club, even you knew that. 

You spent a little time at the bar together drinking and enjoying each other’s company, Jaebeom’s hand resting on the exposed skin of your thigh. He’d taken you shopping the day before and you’d found a dress that you instantly fell in love with.

Having nowhere to wear a short black dress such as the one painting your curves currently, you hadn’t ever owned something so risque and the way Jaebeom’s eyes hadn’t left you all night made you feel sexier than ever. It was a heady feeling and you let it take over, leading you out to the dance floor to put on a show for your mate who lingered at the bar, raking his eyes over you unabashedly. 

One song turns to three and your eyes close for a moment just letting the sound wash over you as your body responds naturally to the beat and the bartender briefly steals Jaebeom’s attention away.

“Hello, little human,” A melodic voice rings out, causing your eyes to pop open. 

Before you stands a man with a crisp black suit, hair perfectly coiffed aside from a few stray wisps framing his forehead. He smiles, blindingly white teeth and pointed canines visible as if he feels no need to hide them. 

“Why is it that you smell like a vampire?…” He moves and is suddenly towering over you, “It’s all over you and yet, you’re left unattended...no mating marks on your pretty skin.” There’s a calculating look in his eyes as he assesses you, “A play thing perhaps?”

Your heart rate spikes and he smirks, hearing the sound. “Where are they, little one? I think I’d like to meet your keeper.”

You’re about to point over his shoulder but the man suddenly turns to find Jaebeom glaring at the back of his head. By no means does the man look at all nervous or offended, he merely takes a step to the side and you quickly glue yourself to Jaebeom, his arm wrapping around you automatically. The protective stance is telling enough.

“There you are,” The man draws with a smile, “I could smell another vampire nearby but all I found was your pretty little human mate.”

Jaebeom’s hard gaze softens just a fraction. “You’re a vampire?”

The man laughs, eyebrows furrowing, “Is it not obvious? Should I be offended?”

“I’ve never met another of our kind,” Jaebeom admits freely and he’s met with a stark look of shock. 

“Surely you have a maker?”

“Deadbeat, I suppose,” Jaebeom shrugs before reaching out a hand, “Jaebeom.”

The man seems impressed and takes it, “Jinyoung,” He offers before glancing at you, “And your darling mate?”

“Vera,” You squeak out, distracted by the two powerful beings at your side. 

“Enchanted,” Jinyoung grins, “Would you both like to sit and have a drink with me?”

Jaebeom looks down at you for approval but you can tell this is something he wants. He’s never met another vampire and you know he’s curious. You look up at Jinyoung and nod your head, “Sure, let’s grab a table.”

You almost spill your drink when Jinyoung says he’s nearly five hundred years old, though the elder vampire’s hand dashes across the table and stills the glass at the last second. Jinyoung is intrigued by Jaebeom and the fact that he’s been on his own since the beginning. Even more so that he’s as well in control as he is without guidance. 

Jaebeom’s fingers ghost along the inside of your knee absently as he and Jinyoung chat like two people who have known each other their whole lives. He was so at ease with the older vampire, asking him questions about his maker, his abilities, and so on. 

Jinyoung was in his early twenties when he turned. He had fallen ill around his twenty-fifth birthday and his town’s doctor couldn’t cure him...or at least, that’s what the townsfolk were told. The doctor's daughter, Selene, spent two weeks at Jinyoung’s bedside, nursing him in hopes of the young man surviving but when his time neared she begged and begged her father to fix him by any means necessary. 

He awoke to find Selene staring down at him with alarmed ruby irises.

“So your mate bond didn’t even register until you were turned?” You ask curiously. You were still plenty human and your bond was palpable. 

“Selene believes that I was too weakened for her to realize what we were to each other,” He smiles wistfully, “She always says she just thought I was too pretty to die and didn’t want to see me go.”

“Is your mate near?” Jaebeom asks, his fingers subtly squeezing your skin. 

Jinyoung notices the shift under the table and smirks quietly, “She has some business with the owner here. She’ll be down shortly, ” He chuckles pinning Jaebeom with his gaze, “Now, if you don’t mind me asking, is there a reason why you’ve not marked your mate? It’s dangerous for her to be unmarked, especially in such a big city.”

“I only wished to give her plenty of time to change her mind,” Jaebeom answers with an underlying tone of guilt. You lay your hand over his atop your thigh comfortingly. You understood why he had wanted to wait. “Why is it dangerous for her?”

Jinyoung opens his mouth to speak but a strikingly beautiful tall woman appears  behind him, laying a hand over his shoulder elegantly. She has deeply bronzed skin and sharp yet gently inquisitive hazel eyes. Her long hair falling in waves around her as shifts forward, “Jinyoung, mi corazon, have you made new friends?”

He takes her hand and pulls it to his lips, looking up at her with a smile, “Selene, this is Jaebeom and his mate, Vera. It seems as though we are the first vampires either of them have met, ever.”

Selene gasps, her eyes widening, hand shooting up to her mouth. She says something in Spanish you don’t understand but Jaebeom seems to understand just fine and dips his head in acknowledgement. Jinyoung pulls out the chair next to him and she falls into it, switching back to English easily. 

“You are human, no?” 

You nod nervously and she pouts at Jaebeom, “You haven’t sealed your bond though you already recognize each other as mates?”

“Darling, I was just about to explain,” Jinyoung chuckles, “You see, Vera stands out like a beacon to other immortals. She is human, full of blood and a beating heart but she smells like a vampire and well, we’re a curious sort.”

“It is not unheard of for a vampire to keep a human mate but the bond, your mating marks are what protects you from other vampires,” Selene explains. She cranes her neck and shows you a crescent shaped scar at the base of her throat. “Mates are rare and sacred in our kind….without them someone might think you’re an unclaimed plaything.”

Jaebeom turns toward you, eyes flitting down to yours. “I’m so sorry, my love,” He whispers, “I wasn’t aware I had left you so vulnerable by bringing you here...perhaps we should go home. It’s a small town. It'd be safer for now…”

Selene and Jinyoung seem to share a quick thought through a simple glance and she reaches out toward your free hand, grasping it gently. 

“You don’t have to leave, either of you. Our kind tend to stick together like...familia,” She chuckles at the way you nod along, “We call it a coven and though there are none established here currently, we are hoping to change that,” Selene offers with a proud smile, leaning into the kiss Jinyoung presses to her temple. 

You look at Jaebeom, eyes tracing over his features in an effort to read him. “Beom, I don’t want to go back. I want you. I want our new life together, forever. This ironically sounds like a blessing.”

There's a round of light laughter at your choice of words and Jinyoung clears his throat, stealing your mate’s attention. “We can teach you things about yourself that you cannot learn from old texts and when it comes time, we can help you support Vera through her transition.”

That perks your ears and Jaebeom huffs, “We agreed on thirty.”

You open your mouth to protest but Selene loosens a beautiful laugh, “You will still be young and beautiful at thirty. I would have let Jinyoung settle into maturity for a few more years if I could have,” She cups his jaw, thumbing over his cheeks adoringly, “Then he might have been able to grow a proper beard.”

Jinyoung nips at her fingers and she pulls them away with a light laugh. They were so beautiful together, so happy, even after all the time they’ve been at each other’s side. It gives you hope for your future with Jaebeom at yours. A lifetime with your soulmate. 

You spend a few more hours chatting together until you release a little yawn making the other three chuckle. One day, you wouldn’t have the need for sleep as humans do but for now, you bid your goodbyes to your new friends and let your mate take you home for the evening. 

Jaebeom seems pensive on the way home, his fingers drumming absently on the steering wheel. You can tell he is thinking about Selene and Jinyoung’s offer as if his thoughts echo in your own mind. A home, a family, the opportunity for the both of you to learn more about who he is and who you are yet to be.

It sounds so promising to you but for Jaebeom who has lived a much longer existence, you know there may be some hesitancy. Whatever you choose, you’ll choose together. That much you know. 

You can feel the shift in the atmosphere the moment you hear the car keys clink against the marble counter top and you look over your shoulder to find your mate watching you. There is a cracking sound and you glance down at his hand, white knuckled, gripping the counter. His eyes shifted from his usual dark brown to a crimson red and you pause mid-step. 

“You’re ruining the marble,” You whisper, skin beginning a slow burn from the heat in his stare. “What are you thinking?”

Jaebeom grits his teeth and straightens his posture, releasing the stone audibly as pieces crumble off and hit the floor. “Forgive me, love. It’s been an eventful night.”

You turn around and close the distance between your bodies, reaching up to cradle his face in your hands. “I liked them, if that’s of any help to your internal debare. I like it here, in New York...I think it would be a great place for us to settle down, for as long as we can. Cheeseburger likes it too.”

The last sentence is punctuated by a fat “Mrow!” as Cheeseburger himself seems to appear from nowhere. You chuckle as Jaebeom reaches down to scoop the mammoth sized feline up and cradle him in his arms.

“Why don’t you feed the cat while I go change out of this and we can talk a little more about it? Sounds good?”

Cheeseburger nearly nose dives out of your mate’s arms at the mention of the f-word and you laugh at the way Jaebeom struggles to catch him despite his quick reflexes. 

You flick on the light in your bedroom, taking a moment to admire the view of the night sky from your open window. The city lights are beautiful yet far below and create a magically sort of glow. You really do love it here.

Dropping your bag on the dresser you peer at yourself in the mirror. 

Your hair isn’t half the mess you thought it would be considering your dancing was cut short and your makeup still looked rather put together. It was a shame you’d wash it all away so soon but what catches your eye is the little purple bruise on the side of your throat. It’s so small, you hadn’t even had the sense to cover it and seeing it now brings another wave of desire crashing over you. 

Selene’s mark was beautiful and something she was so proud of. You wanted that too. A mark that solidifies your bond to your mate. You wanted to see your lover’s impression permanently, not in some small, fleeting symbol of affection. 

“Jaebeom, can you come here for a minute?”

You consider recanting but Jaebeom is already stepping into the threshold of your bedroom, glancing at you curiously. You turn your back to him, looking at him through the mirror's reflection. “Can you unzip my dress?”

The flash of his eyes is so quick but now you know what you’re looking for and you don’t miss it. He steps closer, fingers grabbing the zipper and pulling very slowly down the length of your spine. Every inch revealed sets your mate on edge and so you call his name again, just loud enough for his hearing to pick up, and his eyes meet yours in the mirror once more. 

“Would you do anything for me?”

Jaebeom kisses your hair, eyes fluttering closed for a brief moment only to open with full crimson irises, “Of course, my love.”

“Seal the bond.”

Your command is final and he hasn’t the will or want to argue with you any longer. 

He spins you around and pulls your body close, hand coming up to brace the side of your face gently. His brows furrow for a moment, deep in thought. “The bite can sometimes be...painful without a good distraction,” He says quietly, free hand stroking the bare skin of your back exposed by your open dress.

“So, distract me then.”

Jaebeom’s head tips back with laughter. “My bold, beautiful, bossy mate,” His eyes dip down to your lips with a smirk, “Any requests on where to place your mark?”

You pull out of his arms and shimmy your dress the rest of the way off. Jaebeom’s fingers flex against nothing but air and he tries to keep from stepping forward until you give him an answer. “Somewhere others will see it and know I belong to you.”

One second you’re standing near the dresser in your bedroom and the next you’re flat on your back in the middle of Jaebeom’s four poster bed in the next room over. He flits around the room and you try to keep up with his movements. The door clicks shut and the lock turns. The lights cut off until all you’re left with is the glow of candlelight and the city skyline coming to life through the tall glass windows. 

When he stops moving his shirt is open revealing smooth, flawless skin, and his belt is discarded somewhere on the ground. He suddenly appears above you, caging you above the mattress in his cool embrace. You reach for him and that's all it takes for his lips to find yours, tongue tangling smoothly with your own in a need to get as close as humanly possible and beyond. 

The grip on his control slips for just a moment but it’s enough to tear the silk brasserie from your chest. A chill races over you and your lover compensates for it, dropping his mouth to your chest to warm you with searing lips and tongue alone, his hands busy at the hem of your matching underwear he’s trying desperately not to ruin as well. 

Every touch is euphoric. Your body thrums with energy and you arch in his hands, gasping for air each time he kisses your skin or nips at it with sharp canines, tongue laving over the love bites soothingly as if he’s preparing you for the real thing with the constant pricking sensation. 

You push his shirt over his shoulders and he pulls it off, quickly discarding it over the side of the bed. Now with a clear view, there are scars that litter his torso. Some small, some wicked looking and you’re reminded of the person your mate used to be. It’s easy to forget how much life he has lived, how much he is yet to live and you want to live it with him. You want to uncover his past and map out a future by his side.

He tongues the tip of one pointed canine and keeps himself propped over you with enough distance to appreciate your body completely. He cocks his head as he runs his free hand between the valley of your breasts, down the plane of your stomach and your breath catches in your throat when it slips into your panties, deft fingers stroking your heat slowly. 

Your mouth parts upon contact, eyes falling closed on a whim but his voice pierces through the quiet of the room, commanding you to keep your eyes open. The eroticism of watching him holding himself over you with supernatural strength while he fingers you open is intense, so much so that your body spasms with early warnings of an impending orgasm. 

The heel of his palm digs into your clit with a jolt of electricity and you keen loudly into the air between you, breaths coming in short pants now, chest heaving with the effort. With one simple flick of the wrist you’re free falling into a weightless abyss, only your mate’s soft voice coaxing your body into a state of relaxation. 

“Beautiful,” He whispers, hands stroking every inch of your skin, “I’ll never tire of watching you fall apart like this.”

He kisses your face, the side of your open mouth, and you catch him before he can pull away, licking into his mouth with hot, wanton tongue. He obliges you as always, allowing you to pull at his hair, bite his pretty lips. He grinds his hips against you, eliciting a high pitched moan and the tether to sanity tears just a little more. 

Your hands reach for his pants and you shove the material past his hips, eyes meeting briefly before he follows through with your silent order. With his gift of speed he merely flashes before your eyes at the side of the bed, one second half dressed, fully nude the next, and then he’s covering your body without barriers because you hadn’t even processed the removal of your underwear in the mix of it all. 

Your lips meet in a flurry of motion and he slips between your thighs, finding a home in your heat and making you cry out in pleasure. He rolls his hips, your body thrumming with elation of finally having your mate deep inside you. His kisses fall upon your face, your jaw, your neck and his tongue rolls over the spot where your shoulder meets the base of your throat in question. You nod your head in affirmation and he kisses the spot over and over again as he brings you impossibly close to your end. 

Your eyes shoot open the second his teeth sink into your skin. You're flooded with warmth and an overload of euphoria that sends you crashing into ecstasy with a loud cry. Your mate works you through it, rolls his hips until his own falter and still, teeth still buried deep in your shoulder as he groans around his mouthful, only releasing the deep sound when he pulls back, pupils blown wide. 

Jaebeom brings his own wrist to his mouth, biting down until blood blooms at the surface of his flawless skin and lowers it to your mouth, “Drink, Vera,” He lifts your head gently, “Drink and our bond will be sealed.”

It’s an eternal vow, a bonding of souls and you don’t hesitate. 

You swallow down the bitter taste and the most shocking part of it is the tingling sensation over the bite mark. Your eyes flash to the side and Jaebeom's thumb strokes over your collarbone in fascination. “It’s healing itself,” He says softly, “A scar will be left behind but the wound itself heals with the blood of your mate.”

Your lover suddenly jolts back, placing a hand against his chest in bewilderment. 

“What’s wrong? What’s happening?” You ask, pushing yourself up on weak limbs. 

He’s quiet for a moment and then he laughs, a joyful sound erupting from his chest. “I can feel it,” He says wondrously, “I can feel your heartbeat in my own chest, like...like you’re here, you’re a part of me. It’s amazing!”

He wraps you up in his arms, kissing you until you place your hand against his chest to pull back for air. You stare at your hand curiously. You feel nothing beneath his skin and look up at him curiously. “I can’t feel it.”

“My heart doesn’t actually beat, love. The feeling I'm experiencing is more like an imitation of your own. I could even feel it speed up when we kissed just now.”

He is so elated by this turn of events. It must be because you’re still human because Jinyoung had mentioned no such thing. He and Selene were both turned before they sealed their own mate bond though. 

You stretch your limbs tiredly, falling back against the pillows with a warm smile. You run your fingers over the mark and feel the dips and ridges of the scarring that signifies your bond. Jaebeom watches you fondly. 

He comes to rest next to you, planting his lips on the soft skin of your shoulder. 

“My mate,” He sighs happily, “I love you more than the moon loves all the stars in the sky. I will faithfully stay by your side and vow to cherish you every day of our long lives filled with many adventures.”

You meet his gaze and smile. “I love you and I’m looking forward to it.” 

You roll closer, kissing him softly before pulling back with a playful gleam in your eyes, “I promise to give you a long lifetime filled with nothing but trouble.”

GOT7 M.List | Main M.List

a/n

didn't really know how to end this one but it's been such a long time coming!! I really needed this kind of comfort a few months ago, so honestly, it probably would have been more helpful if I had posted this before I really needed to reread it or anything. oh well! at least I posted it!

I hope you have a lovely day

all the love,

- BB🍵💖

tags!!

@katsukichu 💖💖💖💖💖

to briefly summarize Strange house, it's a visual novel where you play as Lavi while he, Kanda, and Toma are out on a mission. while returning back to the Order, you have the option of making various choices to either take detours, explore new missions, and more. depending on the first 2 choices you make determines which scenario (or “route”) you go down, with each focused on Lavi x Kanda.

here's a scan of the official guidebook for the game which shows a brief overview of this route as well as exactly how to get the true ending - every route has multiple endings, but only one good / true ending with the rest being bad endings or dead endings.

the route starts by Lavi saying they should find a place to stay and end up staying in the town nearby. Toma is able to secure them a place to spend the night - but rumor has it that the manor is haunted. according to local legend, the daughter of a lord lived and died there while waiting on her husband to return home from war. now, everyone avoids the place.

the three of them arrive at the manor and as soon as Lavi and Kanda walk inside, the door slams shut behind them - even their innocence can't break down the door and all of the windows show no sign of letting them escape.

they tell Toma to sit tight and that they'll sleep the night in the manor and it'll hopefully be resolved by the morning (or they'll be able to sleuth out a solution in time).

after doing some more exploring and finding nothing too abnormal, they decide to call it a night - in separate rooms, despite already being a couple (or maybe just coworkers with benefits?). Kanda tells Lavi he'll come get him in a few hours. of course, Lavi can be impatient, and if you do then nothing really happens aside from Kanda yelling at Lavi.

once Lavi waits, he hears something and goes outside his room to investigate...

...and there's a strange-looking Kanda there! Lavi is confused but naturally lets him in his room. Kanda immediately gets close to Lavi, sitting right up next to him on his bed.

and here you might notice, "wait, this is a different artist!" and you'd be right! it's not uncommon for visual novels to have a separate sprite artist and CG artist, but it is uncommon to have multiple CG artists (at least where they're each doing separate CGs rather than 1 artist doing sketches & lines and 1 artist doing the coloring). this route has several artists tackling CGs (and the most CGs in a route so far I believe?), which we'll see more of soon.

anyway, Lavi has 2 choices - denial ("this can't be Kanda!") or acceptance ("how could I deny my Kanda?"). if you accept Kanda's affection, he pulls Lavi close and pulls out a knife. the end.

I'm not sure if this is supposed to be a dead end or what - it just says he pulls out a knife and cuts to the title screen. and given what the true ending is, I'm not even sure what the point is here, but I digress.

Lavi has to deny Kanda twice, pushing back on him and saying he's an illusion. if he does this, the seductive Kanda disappears. Lavi hears something outside his door and finds the real Kanda there.

Kanda says he had a dream where Lavi was there, except something was wrong - he was really calm and competent, no matter how much Kanda yelled at him. Lavi takes the jab and avoids telling Kanda what he saw, instead saying it was a weak Kanda. the two decide to explore the manor some more now that things are really suspicious with Kanda pushing Lavi to get up. Lavi realizes this is definitely his Kanda, but he's still a little sad...

they find a sprawling corridor full of similar-looking rooms. the corridor goes on for seemingly forever - Lavi takes the initiative to investigate while Kanda gets increasingly frustrated. not long after, Lavi realizes Kanda isn't beside him anymore. he frantically tries opening doors, only to find....

...a woman who looks incredibly similar to Kanda. she asks him why he's disturbing her, to which he asks if she lives in this manor despite being told it was vacant. she doesn't answer and disappears behind a door. when Lavi follows her...

he finds himself back in the Order's dining hall. Lavi tries to correct himself that this is only a room that looks similar to the dining hall, since he's still investigating the manor, but someone calls his name.

Allen and Lenalee appear, much to Lavi's confusion. they tell him they're about to leave on a mission - just the 3 of them, though. Lavi asks about Kanda.

when Allen asks him who Yuu is, Lavi hopes it's a mean joke and asks Lenalee to correct him. but when she also says she doesn't know who Yuu is, Lavi starts freaking out internally. he calms himself by going back over everything and coming to the natural conclusion that this is another hallucination.

while he ponders if this is the work of akuma or innocence, the Order (along with Allen and Lenalee) fade away and he finds himself in a room at the manor. in front of him is the same woman once more.

Lavi tries asking her some questions like if she's the cause of the illusions but she remains silent, only staring at him sadly. when he asks if she knows where his partner is, she looks stern but points towards the door, fading away once more. Lavi hurries along.

except, when he finally finds Kanda, he's in a bit of a Mood. apparently Kanda has been fighting off illusions of Lavi and thinks this is just another one.

the two immediately start fighting.

Lavi tries talking Kanda out of it and proving he's the real Lavi but it doesn't work. he has a choice to counterattack, call Toma for help, or do nothing, but the end result is still the same. Lavi can either fight back or run away.

if Lavi fights back, the resulting fight is so explosive they destroy the ground and end up on the floor below them. they're able to walk it off, now agreeing that they're both the real person, but the ghost appears once more - and takes Lavi off into one more eternal dream. this is the last "dead" end of the route.

the real answer is to run away - he doesn't want to hurt Kanda but he also can't talk his way out of it, so Lavi runs. they end up on the floor below where the ghost girl appears in front of both of them.

she explains that she just wanted Lavi to stay home. when Kanda asks why she created illusions where Lavi was attacking him, she says she just wanted him to die. her name is Juno Moreta and this is her manor.

Lavi realizing that they won't be able to escape until they help Juno realize that she's dead. Juno has been waiting for a long time for her husband to come home and believes Lavi is him.

she admonishes Lavi for showing up at home with another partner, there's a mention about Kanda looking like a woman, and Kanda and Juno begin arguing. if Lavi tries to stop Kanda it results in a bad ending where Juno disappears, letting them escape but not resolving anything. if Lavi waits for them to resolve it themselves, the story continues.

(this is probably my favorite CG in the route, I really like this artist's style)

Lavi is unable to really say anything and just watches them resolve it themselves, saying it's kind of nice to watch them both argue since they look so similar. Juno admits she knew immediately Kanda was a man and apologizes for saying that. now that they're not at each other's throats, Lavi explains that he's not her husband. again, she admits she knew that in the bottom of her heart because her husband is much nicer. but she kept them here because she heard a voice in the back of her mind telling her that that was her husband and she needed to trap him here.

the voice was strongest when she's at the entrance to the house, which was where all of this mess started in the first place. the three of them head over there.

Lavi explains that they couldn't open the door, to which Juno easily opens it. the three of them step outside the manor and hear Toma's voice over the golem. he says that while they were stuck, he heard another rumor from the locals - the woman's husband did eventually return, but died on the front door step before being able to see her and was buried in a grave by the manor. Lavi and Kanda thank him before pulling Juno off to see it.

the name on the grave is Lavil Moreta (because of course it is). seeing her husband's grave is almost enough to bring Juno some peace - almost. she asks Lavi and Kanda to move him to be with her grave, admitting that she's had the feeling she was dead for quite some time. Lavi agrees and she disappears for the final time.

while digging up his grave, they find the cause of all this - a notebook with innocence. the notebook reads that Lavil is worried Juno will be lonely without him and that he hopes anyone who stops by will keep her company.

Lavi and Kanda reflect on the love Lavil and Juno had for each other and Lavi hopes he'll be able to spend more of these precious moments with Kanda.

and that's the end of scenario b!

overall I enjoyed it, as this was written by the author from the first scenario, Dolly. scenario a is still my overall favorite but this one is definitely second. it felt very close to the source material but did feel rather short and most of the dead endings don't make sense here.

for one, I wish some parts of it were a little longer. this route by far had the most artwork in it, as not only did it have 3 CG artists across 6 CGs but it also had artwork for Allen and Lenalee (who don't appear in scenarios A & C) but was only used for maybe 10 lines total. I hope scenario D ends up using those sprites, because as a VN dev and artist it feels like such a waste of good art!! this scenario also had at least 2 brand new music tracks which were very welcome changes - there's a really sweet but melancholic romantic piece that plays when Lavi first sees illusion Kanda. lots of assets went into this route so I wish it was a little longer to make better use of them. for example, it would've been fun to see Lavi get stuck in the illusion of the Order with fake Allen & Lenalee for more than a few seconds, have him reconsider if he was even on a mission, but see through the cracks of the illusion and find out some kind of information on Juno or Lavil in the process (maybe a book? a portrait?).

secondly, this scenario had several dead endings which didn't make complete sense to me. I can understand why Juno wanted to kill Kanda at first, but why does Lavi end up dying in parts? why does illusion Kanda stab (???) Lavi? if this was Juno keeping Lavi here forever, why the mention of a knife? maybe I'm misreading it but that felt like an odd detail that could've easily been rewritten to something like "and Lavi never woke up again".

it's pretty funny though that the basis of this scenario is basically an alternate Kanda & Lavi where they're a straight couple, given what we now know about Kanda & Alma... this game released in September 2010, so it was in development before (?) Alma's backstory was released. truly, soulmate stories are intrinsically d.gray-man...

I am very curious though on what went on while making this scenario - the other 2 scenarios I've played felt more confined but this one felt like the scope kept ballooning. 2 brand new sprites that are only used for 10~ lines, 2 brand new music tracks, 6 CGs by 3 different artists... in a way, this route feels more akin to what fan projects end up being like - a lot of "yes"s to ideas which keep increasing the scope because everyone is a fan and pitching in and the directors/producers/leaders don't want to say no to a good idea. let's have Allen and Lenalee show up for just a few lines and make out sprite artist draw 2 brand new sprites and 2 face sprites that won't be reused! let's have 2 new music tracks that aren't in the other routes!

still, it's a cause for celebration that any fangame sees the light of day. making a game is hard and making volunteer fangames might even be a touch harder, especially ones like this that received a physical release. that's why I'll keep documenting doujinge like this for my doujin blog!

I only have one more scenario / route to play of Strange house which makes me sad, as I've yet to find their other 2 d.gray-man fangames that are confirmed to have had physical releases - Infinite Melody unendliche Melodie and Secret Garden. if you can find these games IRL or online, please let me know!!!

game guidebook scenario a - Dolly scenario c - Love Affair Trap: A Suspicious Bracele

to briefly summarize Strange house, you play as Lavi while he, Kanda, and Toma are out on a mission. while returning back to the Order, you have the option of making various choices to either take detours, explore new missions, and more. depending on the first 2 choices you make determines which scenario (or "route") you go down, with each focused on Lavi x Kanda.

to get scenario C, you have to choose to hurry back to town after finishing the mission and then contact the Order to see if there's any missions you can do while you're still out. the Order explains a rumor nearby your location of a man who's immortal. so, the three of them (Lavi, Kanda, and Toma) all head to the mansion.

once they get there, the supposedly elderly man who greets them... is a young man! he fully acknowledges and admits to being seemingly immortal, claiming he's lived 80 years so far.

the man, named Hewlett (side note: I had no damn clue what his name was supposed to be and had to get TL help), claims that the secret to his longevity is the bracelet around his arm. clearly, it's innocence. Lavi and Kanda immediately want to know more and want to figure out how to get the bracelet from him.

but, before that, Hewlett has... a bit of a moment when he sees Kanda. he's taken away by his beauty, but doesn't say much at the moment. the 4 of them step away into a sitting room to continue their discussion.

there, the man explains that he can't simply give the bracelet away as he can't take off the bracelet. no matter what, the bracelet will not leave his arm, even after the boys try removing it with his permission. but, there is one more possibility.

the bracelet is a family heirloom and according to a journal his ancestors made, the only way to remove the bracelet is by two people sharing vows to love one another and both putting on a pair of bracelets (Hewlett's is just one in a pair). Lavi and Kanda both have a bad feeling about this, and for good reason.

Hewlett asks Kanda to marry him.

both immediately object, but Hewlett assures them it's the only way. he goes on to say it can just be a formality and not a binding agreement, but that they would have to have a "wedding" regardless.

Lavi has the option to object or to tell Kanda to go through with it. if Lavi objects, Kanda objects with him, but Hewlett talks them both down and the boys walk off to talk things over. if Lavi accepts for Kanda, Kanda gets angry and the boys walk off to talk things over. either way, Lavi realizes the quickest (and non-lethal) way out of this is for Kanda to go along with Hewlett's plan.

as the two walk away, Kanda expresses his anger and just wants to go back to the Order and eat soba. truly, the power of soba...

Lavi knows he needs to convince Kanda to actually go through with it, so you have the choice of him starting to cry and beg him (he doesn't want Kanda to get married off!) or trying to go the rational route.

Kanda, after some coaxing, agrees.

the two go back and tell Hewlett that they agree to his terms. despite it being a "fake" wedding, Hewlett is overly eager to marry Kanda, regardless of his gender.

Hewlett gives them guests rooms in his mansion for them to stay at, with the wedding planned for the next day. however, Lavi can't go to sleep (and he certainly can't stay still) so he decides to explore the manor.

Lavi has the choice to go see Kanda or explore the manor on his own. for some reason, you have to be kind of cold to Kanda in this scenario to get the true ending - rather than go see him and provide comfort, you leave him on his own and go explore on your own.

however, if you do go see Kanda, you get a side scene of the two bonding as well as exploring the manor together. in one of Hewlett's studies, they find a picture of a woman who looks oddly just like Kanda. they realize it was an unrequited love and this is Hewlett's way of getting closure on a lost love.

...but, if Lavi explores the manor alone, you get a much, much different outlook on Hewlett.

Lavi ends up in a dark room, only to realize he's surrounded. not by humans, but mannequins. unless...?

I was already kind of eh about the premise, but this is where the scenario really started to lose me. in the room is a whole slew of "mannequins", humans that are dead but have become a dummy-like state, and all of them somewhat resemble Kanda. and for some reason they're all arranged in here like they're in a ballroom.

with some digging, Lavi manages to find a journal documenting the bracelet. it verifies that the bracelet can only be taken off when a pair of partners both wear the bracelets, but it also goes on to say it's a curse and can inflict harm on the other person if the true's love vow, well, isn't true.

so, Hewlett is a "serial killer", as described by Lavi. I mean, I guess? I'm still unsure what the point of the "mannequin" room is, but let's continue. there's a bad end here if you stay too long and keep reading where Hewlett sneaks up on Lavi, knocks him out, and sets him aside to kill later but Kanda realizes something is wrong the next day and saves Lavi, running off to the Order and Hewlett going missing. all of this is told to us afterwards.

however, if you do read up but not stay too long, Lavi is resolved to put a stop to this in the morning. he goes to bed.

the next morning is the wedding. fake or not, Kanda is given a wedding dress to wear for it.

and for mugen too. sure.

Kanda obviously isn't too happy to be in a dress and just wants the thing over with.

depending on prior choices, Hewlett's fate is sealed at this wedding.

if you explored the mansion with Kanda the prior night and found out about his unrequited love (but not him being a serial killer), then Kanda puts on the bracelet without much of a fuss (as neither know about the bracelet's curse). as soon as he puts on the bracelet, the bracelet comes off of Hewlett's wrist. all of a sudden, the innocence's effects fade away and Hewlett reverts to his elderly self, writhing in pain. Lavi and Kanda can only stand there and watch in horror.

Hewlett dies from the transformation, leaving Lavi and Kanda in a state of shock. they leave the mansion not long after in a bad end where Kanda still has the bracelet and Lavi is too shaken up to try putting it on himself.

the only way to get the true ending is to explore the mansion alone. when it comes time for the ceremony to actually take place, Lavi yells out that Kanda might die if he wears the bracelet, explaining what he read the prior night. Kanda immediately backs off, kicking back at Hewlett to try and protect himself.

however, Hewlett manages to get the bracelet on Kanda. in a similar scene as before, Hewlett's own bracelet falls off and he begins to age rapidly. Lavi understands more of what's happening this time, and even though he knows Hewlett is a murderer, he still doesn't want him to die such a horrible death.

if Lavi doesn't urge Kanda to go through with the wedding and doesn't cry & beg (both earlier choices), then Hewlett dies similar as before. Kanda digs a shallow grave for him in the back of the house but doesn't permit Lavi to try on the bracelet. the three (remember Toma?) head back to the Order, hoping Hevlaska can help take the bracelet off of Kanda.

on the true ending, Lavi jumps to action and pushes the bracelet back onto Hewlett which...somehow stops him from dying from the rapid aging and leaving him as an old man. but also the bracelet comes off?

so now Hewlett is alive (but unconscious) and Kanda still has the bracelet on. however, Kanda is still in a wedding dress and Lavi isn't going to let that go to waste. Kanda thinks similarly, asking Toma to go get ready to leave. Lavi picks up the bracelet, puts it on himself, and kisses Kanda. both bracelets fall to the ground.

the two contact the police and give Hewlett over to them, leaving the manor with the bracelets in tow. and that's the end of scenario c!

this scenario was shorter than scenario a, dolly, and definitely felt all over the place. scenario a had a much clearer premise and plot beats, feeling more like a filler episode from the anime. scenario c (this one) feels like they wanted to put Kanda in a dress and tried to construct a plot around that.

the rules around the bracelet felt convoluted (why did it save the guy at the end of the true route? why did it turn all of the other victims into essentially mannequins?) and the "villain" felt slapped together (why was he a serial killer??? they try to explain it as he's still not over his unrequited love, but why keep the corpses of the victims?) with no real conclusion or backstory given. it wasn't terrible, but certainly didn't feel as well put together as the first scenario.

there's still 2 more scenarios in this game that I'll be playing through and documenting here.

scenario A - Dolly

guidebook scans

I finished scenario / route 1, titled "Dolly". in visual novels, when it has multiple endings or ways the story can play out, those are typically called routes. in Strange house it has 4 main routes with multiple endings for each route, though every route is still about Lavi x Kanda.

this is the route in the guidebook, where they give you a brief glimpse at some of the CGs (cutscene artworks) for the route and which choices you need to pick in order to get the true ending.

basically, the route starts by you (playing as Lavi) out on a mission with Kanda and Toma.

after you wrap up, Lavi says that it's too far to travel back to headquarters that night (this game set sometime right after Allen sets up the Ark doors for travel as the 14th but before Lavi is captured by the Noah) and insists you find shelter in the nearby town (because he wants more time outside the Order with Kanda).

in town, Toma hears there's a mansion nearby that will provide shelter to them, so they head there and are greeted by its owner, Ralph (ラルフ).

one of the main choices for this route is...... whether you introduce Kanda to Ralpha as Kanda or Yu??? I went with Yu for my first playthrough (I didn't consult the guidebook, I just wanted to play it naturally) and that apparently locked me out of the true ending. there's several endings if you called him Yu, but you can only get the true ending by calling him Kanda.

Ralph shows them to their rooms with some small chat - Ralph lives alone in this mansion after the passing of his parents and then his sister. Lavi and Kanda stay in adjoining bedrooms and try to get some sleep.

however.... a ghost has other plans.

the vision of a ghostly woman wakes Lavi up. he goes to Kanda's room to tell him about it only to find that Kanda isn't there anymore. his bags are there, and the bed looked slept in, but Kanda was missing.

at this point you return to Lavi's room and can either investigate on your own some or immediately call Ralph in. regardless, you have to call Ralph to investigate.

when Lavi investigates on his own, he finds a bloodied and town fabric, which definitely doesn't sit well with him. he informs Toma that Kanda is missing and tells him to sit tight, that he'll solve this.

after Lavi calls Ralph to inform him that Kanda is missing, Ralph is initially skeptical (maybe he went to the bathroom? out for a walk?) but agrees to help Lavi.

the two search the mansion but come up empty. the only location inside the manor they haven't searched is the attic which has been locked up since Ralph's sister died.

Lavi is surprised it's in such a nice shape despite Ralph claiming he hasn't been in there for at least months and the mansion doesn't have any maids/butlers. there's also a portrait on the wall that Lavi notices looks similar to the ghostly woman he saw earlier that night.

you have 2 options, either inspect the portrait on your own while Ralph opens up the attic window or ask Ralph directly about the portrait. if you inspect it before asking about it, the game continues. if you ask Ralph about it, he immediately shoots Lavi in the face.

I believe this is the first bad end in the route. Lavi later wakes up at the Order with only partial memories of what happened. apparently, Kanda found him bleeding out and managed to get him back there before it was too late, though he was heavily injured. however, Ralph had escaped by that point and Kanda refuses to talk about the night at all.

if we inspect the portrait, Lavi thinks how similar it looks to the ghost he saw but before he can remark out loud, Ralph calls him over to the window.

(yeah, they just took the front of the manor and skewed the image to simulate Lavi looking downwards from the attic)

Ralph says there's something outside, to which Lavi looks out but sees nothing. Ralph then pushes Lavi out the window but he's saved by extending his hammer. once he hits the ground unscathed, Ralph opens fire on him. at this point Lavi is very confused and runs off to the forest.

Ralph follows him there but Lavi knocks him out. there's the sounds of something rustling nearby, to which Lavi can either inspect it or take the unconscious Ralph back to the manor to search for Kanda.

if he searches for the sound, he finds it's a group of akuma waiting for an ambush. Lavi easily destroys them.

when Lavi comes back from fighting, Ralph is gone. Lavi goes to the basement and finds a dying Kanda sitting with a doll that looks just like the ghost he saw. however, this is another bad end - Kanda slowly wakes up but the two go home without fully understanding events.

what you're supposed to do is ignore the sounds and immediately take Ralph back inside. Lavi heads to the basement with him where they find a dying Kanda sitting with a "doll".

because Ralph is here, he freaks out and runs away at seeing the doll. Lavi stays by Kanda's side until he's able to move. once he regains consciousness, the two leave to chase after Ralph one more time.

Kanda is still injured, but they both know he should be fine thanks to his recovery speed. Kanda thinks Ralph thought he was dead and couldn't believe he was still alive. Lavi knows Kanda was dead from those injuries but his recovery abilities saved him.

Kanda goes on to explain that Ralph is a broker for the Earl and that the woman who saved him was Ralph's sister, Lyra (ライラ). he had heard a knocking on his window and saw the woman. she told him her name and that her brother was a broker. he had wanted to sell his soul and his sister's soul to revive their parents when they died, but she was so against the plan she locked herself in the attic.

depending on if you introduced Kanda as Yu or Kanda (yep remember that choice at the beginning?) determines if you get the final bad end or the true end.

if you called him Yu, then the two run around the mansion but find Ralph dead. akuma have already found him and killed him. Lavi and Kanda destroy the remaining akuma but still go home unsatisfied as they don't fully understand what happened to Lyra.

if you called him Kanda, then the two immediately run to Ralph's study where they find him about to make a phone call. they pull him out and force him to confess.

Ralph admits to being a broker, but there's one problem - his sister is dead. he swears he wasn't lying about that, saying that she killed herself when he was adamant that they revive their parents. so who saved Kanda...? at this point, even Lavi is confused.

they go back to the basement to see a lifeless doll there, covered in Kanda's blood. Ralph confesses the rest.

this is the true end for Dolly.

Lavi and Kanda take turns staying up to make sure no more akuma attack (and that Ralph doesn't escape) and Kanda brings out the—grape juice.

cue makeout session.

the next day, they hand off the manor to a group of finders to secure it and head off back to the Order. Lavi says he's sad he didn't get to see Kanda's sleeping face (Kanda woke up before he did that morning) and hopes he gets to see it at the Order.

still, Kanda brings him in for one more kiss before they go home.

and that's only one scenario / route out of the entire game! each route was written by a different person with different CG artists.

here's the ending credits as well.

this was pretty nice! it felt like one of the side story episodes from the original anime - they venture into a creepy but ultimately inconspicuous manor at night only to find it's connected to akuma, with its own broker and ghost story. this route was probably only around 2~ hours of playtime but took me much longer as it's in JP.

also, most of the character sprites are slightly animated and it's really cute, like Lavi's blushing happy sprite when he realizes Kanda wants to drink with him.