Hxh Shalnark - Tumblr Posts - Page 2

Which Meteor City!Spiders would straight up tell their s/o that they like them, and which ones would attempt to drop hints first (assuming they ever decide to stay it to s/o out loud)?

Ooo let’s find out…!

Full credit to la-squadra1234

Feitan- he would say something along the lines of “I like you dummy”

Phinks- honestly he would drop hints but I don’t think that he would straight up say it

Chrollo- he would drop a bit of hints and then after just say it

Hisoka- is obviously going to be creepy about it and obviously just going to say it 

Uvogin- he would just say it while he is drinking a beer 

Nobunaga- he would drop hints, but I don’t think that he would directly say it 

Franklin- he would just tell you he doesn’t have shame about it

Shalnark- he’s very subtle about it. He will drop little hints and then eventually just say it if his s/o isn’t catching on 

That’s it for today everybody I hope everybody enjoyed as much as I did making this Sorry that I haven’t been the active recently I’m just really busy with school and stuff like that

I will see everybody in the next Post bye now!

I've created a s/o for the blondie spiders (paku, shal & phinks) and her personality is:

Clumsy, kind, awkward, a little shy and likes to help

I love your headcanons, so I would like to know how your hc would be for the spiders blondies pls :D

That is so cute. Of course I can!

I’m pretty sure this is the first time I have ever done a female character!!!

Full credit to la-squadra1234

Phinks-

He would most definitely tease them a lot

 He would definitely enjoy playing games with his s/o

He would definitely joke around with his s/o and if it made them sad, he would instantly feel super guilty about it

He would teach his s/o how to properly wrestle  somebody

He would also teach them self defence

Shalnark-

He would teach them how to make his favourite kind of cookies

(which happens to be a chocolate chunk. If you are wondering, I just made that up though)

He would teach his s/o the skill of manipulation, and how to manipulate somebody, even if you have no nen ability

He would definitely take his s/o to go on long walks with him through cool trails, and tons of nature 

Pakunoda-

She would definitely keep it from them that she is in the phantom troupe as she wouldn’t want to ruin the relationship she would feel very guilty about it, but she would just keep it to herself

 She secretly uses her mind powers to see what they are thinking about

 She would teach them how to make all kinds of food, especially the ones that she loves

 She would teach them how to use a gun properly 

That’s it for today everybody I hope everybody enjoys as much as I did making this. This was actually really fun to make and I liked it a lot 

I will see everybody in the next Post bye now!

Hey so, I was looking at myself in the mirror and thought ( :( ) so I was wondering how “phantom troupe men would comfort their insecure daughter”

AAAAAAAAA This is so cute!!!!!!

Full credit to la-squadra1234

Feitan-

He wouldn’t really know what to say so he would just sit down with his daughter and hug them because he’s not very good with comforting 

Phinks-

He would hug his daughter and keep reminding them about how beautiful they are, and that they have nothing to worry about and if anybody says anything negative towards them and or about them, he will break all of their bones in their body 

Chrollo-

He would immediately use his sweet and caring voice and hug his daughter and let them know that everything is going to be OK and that they are perfect just the way they are 

Hisoka-

He would immediately start acting very confident, and he would start teaching his daughter how she can be confident 

Uvogin-

He would hug his daughter and say that it’s OK and then after he would kill anybody if they said anything about her in the past whether it’s to her face or to other people 

Shalnark-

He would say something like “hey hey hey don’t stress about this you are beautiful just the way you are and if other people don’t think so then why even bother talking to them they’re not worth your time or your energy or the effort that you put into talking to them. Trust me, you are amazing!” he would just be super sweet, caring, and understanding 

Nobunaga-

He would go from comforting mode to attack mode real quick. It’s like he did a whole ass 180 he would ask his daughter if anybody said anything to them, and he would kill them along with their entire family if so 

Franklin-

He’s a very chill dad, but this is some thing that he was afraid of happening to his daughter. He would immediately do everything that he knows how to do and he would call up the girls in the phantom troupe, and ask them for advice and see if they can come over and help his daughter 

That’s it for today everybody I hope everybody enjoyed as much as I did making this. This was very nice to make

I will see everybody in the next Post bye now!

How might each of the Meteor City!Spiders react to an s/o with a Nen Ability that is an (almost) exact opposite/counter to their own?

This is a good one!

Full credit to la-squadra1234

Feitan-

He honestly wouldn’t really care as long as the person isn’t a threat to him 

Phinks-

He would be interested and he would definitely want to know more about it 

Chrollo-

He would be interested in the ability and if he ever broke up with them, or they ever broke up with him, he would steal their ability not just as revenge, but because he’s fascinated by it 

Shalnark-

He’s pretty chill about it he has seen it also he doesn’t really care that much 

Uvogin-

He would definitely want to wrestle 

Nobunaga-

He would definitely want to train with the person to see how much he can get his ability to be like there’s just to see if it can make him more strong 

Franklin-

He wouldn’t really care at all. He only really cares about his ability and if it’s good or not, and to train his ability. 

I hope everybody enjoyed it as much as I did making this it was really fun to make!!!

I will see everybody in the next Post bye now!

Sorry 🙈 I’m the one that asked for the phantom troupe members with an insecure s/o - I did look first but didn’t find anything, so I thought I’d ask - I’ll look again ❤️

Now I’m mad I just did this entire thing and then it kicked me off of the app and now I have to do it all over again

You were correct I will do it I thought I made an insecurity one, but it was specifically about a nose insecurity

Feitan-

“ Why are you even insecure? You are gorgeous you have absolutely no reason to be insecure. I think you are absolutely perfect and that’s all that matters ”

Phinks-

“ I don’t think or talk so lowly about yourself You are a amazing person and that’s undeniable ”

Chrollo-

“I personally think that you are gorgeous, but there is more than just looks personality counts to”

Hisoka-

“shut up you’re pretty.”

Shalnark-

“Huh mind, repeating what you just said, don’t make me manipulate you and force you to think that you are the prettiest person on the entire earth because I will as long as you feel confident that’s all that matters to me ”

Nobunaga-

“seriously I don’t even get why you feel that way about yourself. I mean look at you you’re gorgeous there’s no need or reason that you should be thinking about yourself like this”

Uvogin-

“Whether you think that you are pretty or not I love you so it doesn’t matter but if you really want to get that deep, you are absolutely gorgeous ”

Franklin-

“Regardless of whatever you think about yourself, I’m going to care about you and love you but for the record you are pretty and gorgeous so stop thinking so bad of yourself ”

That’s it for today everybody I hope everybody enjoyed as much as I did making this. I’m sorry that I have not been very active at all. It’s just that school is almost finish, but once it is finished for me I will hopefully have the time to make a bunch of stories in the summer

I will see everybody in the next post bye now!

Pt 2 of phantom troupe reacting to “nobunaga’s daughter acting like Mikan Tsumiki from Danganronpa (very sensitive,overly apologetic,very clumsy,very pretty,and idk if I should add this but when she falls she kinda makes an erotic pose)

Ofcccccc that would be so cute!

Feitan-

He honestly was expecting either one of two things by meeting his daughter, either his daughter, being a total brat and a menace or sweet, shy, and funny and kind 

Phinks-

He was a bit taken aback, but he just kept his mouth shut as it’s not his business 

Chrollo-

He found it sweet, but definitely wanted the kid to stay away from the phantom troupe to not interfere or so the kid does not get hurt, but he only cares about that just so he doesn’t lose Nobunaga 

Uvogin-

He already knows what Nobunagas kid is like after all, he is the child’s uncle 

Franklin-

He heard of Nobunagas daughter’s personality through uvogin so he already knew what to expect, and there were no surprises 

Shalnark-

He honestly wouldn’t really care. He would just find it pretty nice to have somebody that is also kind rather than completely insane and just sadistic 

Hisoka-

The motherfucker wouldn’t even be allowed around Nobunagas daughter, but if somehow he did end up getting around Nobunagas daughter, he would keep his distance, but watch closely, and he would find it fascinating 

That’s it for today everybody I hope everybody enjoyed as much as I did making this I like making things like these, and I especially like making things that are easy for me to make and that don’t take a lot of time lolll

 I will see everybody in the next post bye now!

Which the phantom troupe men prefers “dad,daddy,father,or papa”?

I was waiting for this one!

Feitan-

Father and dad 

Phinks-

Dad and papa

Nobunaga-

Papa and father 

Chrollo-

Father, dad, and daddy

Hisoka-

Daddy and father 

Shalnark-

You can call him all of them he doesn’t care he likes all of them. He doesn’t really have a preference.

Franklin-

Dad and father 

Uvogin-

Daddy and dad

That’s it for today everybody I hope everybody enjoys as much as I did making this. If I’m being honest, I was waiting for this request to come in. I knew that it would come in eventually, but I was just waiting lol

I will see everybody in the next post bye now!

What type of s/o do you think each of the Meteor City!Spiders would most likely go yandere for?

Feitan-

most definitely a sweet, innocent and naïve person 

Phinks-

Honestly, he doesn’t have too much of a strong preference they just have to be dumb to not be able to leave him 

Chrollo-

A cute kind and caring person that puts other people before themselves 

Nobunaga-

Anybody as long as he can get what he wants out of it, he doesn’t really care 

Shalnark-

A person that is like him minus the crazy stuff more so just sweet, cute kind caring funny

Franklin-

A calm, quiet, sweet and collected person 

Uvogin-

A gullible and stupid person that will fall for everything and listen to his instructions 

That’s it for today everybody I hope everybody has enjoyed as much as I did writing it. Sorry that I have not been very active recently I have just been taking very long breaks and honestly I have been enjoying it!

Btw I feel like I’m forgetting a character so just let me know if I am lol

I will see everybody in the next post bye now!

Ok I got a cute but a lil angsty one “phantom troupe men realizing that their little girl isn’t little anymore and growing up”

Ooo this is a good one

Feitan-

He would slowly, but surely start to get annoyed, he would try to hide it and act like he doesn’t notice anything, but he notices way too much for his liking 

Phinks-

He loves his daughter, regardless, whether she grows up or not, but he really wants his little girl back 

Chrollo-

Now that his daughter is getting more older, he is getting worried as that means that she is going to catch onto what the phantom troupe is, and on top of that…BOYS is the biggest problem for him 

Shalnark-

He just acts like nothing ever happened and there is no change Because if he acts like he doesn’t notice anything then eventually he just won’t be bothered by anything 

Uvogin-

There are some things that he has to painfully  for his foot down to as his daughter is now getting older his daughter wants to do more things and more mature stuff and he just doesn’t like it 

Nobunaga-

It’s just not for him. He doesn’t like it. He needs his little girl back it will definitely be super hard for him to come to terms with it 

Hisoka-

He honestly doesn’t really know what to do about it, so he just acts like nothing is bothering him although it’s pretty obvious something is nobody mentions it or brings up the topic 

Franklin-

Out of all of the men, he’s probably going to take it the best and start to come to terms with it, and have different coping mechanisms for it along with secretly spying on his daughter just to make sure nothing bad is going on and that she does not get hurt by anybody or by accident 

I hope everybody enjoyed as much as I did writing this I like writing things like these honestly

I will see everybody in the next post bye now!

Hey, if the ask box is open can i ask for Phantom troupe reaction to meeting identical triplets for a Mission.

I love your blog and writing style btw :)

Awww thank you so much and of course!!!!

Feitan-

He would be a little weirded out for no reason, but he would just keep to himself as usual 

Phinks-

He would be shocked, he would be repeating what the hell in his head and out loud It’s just crazy to him 

Chrollo-

He would find it pretty fascinating, but wouldn’t think any kind of way about it really

Nobunaga-

He would be pretty shocked, but he would find it cool 

Uvogin-

He would keep repeating that that’s amazing 

Shalnark-

He would be surprised, and happy to see that because it’s not some thing that you see every day 

Franklin-

He would just say “oh wow that’s not something that you see every day” but then he would shut up about it because he doesn’t want to be annoying 

Hisoka-

He would be very fascinated and try to learn more about it, even though there’s nothing to learn about it really 

That’s it for today everybody I hope everybody enjoyed as much as I did writing this. This was super cute too right and it’s some thing that I haven’t done before so a new experience is nice

This is a update sorry it took me so long to get this out. It was in my drafts and I just had a gut feeling that some thing was in my drafts so I went to check and I looked and seen this 

I will see everybody in the next post bye now!

How would the phantom troupe men act with a daughter who looks and acts just like them,what would there relationship be like with them (also how you doing <3)

Heyyy I’m doing pretty good. I have been wanting to make a story for a little bit but I needed the time too and I also needed to settle in a bit but I’m finally ready! How are you<33

And of course I can do that!

Feitan-

He’s happy that he has a child that can carry on doing what he does best when he dies 

Phinks-

He finds it pretty cool, but he doesn’t really care that much as long as his child doesn’t do exactly the same things as he does he doesn’t really mind it 

Chrollo-

He just hopes that his child doesn’t start a gang, and instead joins the phantom troupe  when his kid is a little older, of course 

Hisoka-

He is a little disappointing, considering that his personality is ✨unique✨

Nobunaga-

He finds it kind of impressive how much his child has learned off of just seeing what he does 

Shalnark-

He finds it cool, and in the future, he will definitely teach his child more 

Uvogin-

He definitely brags about it to everybody because he is so impressed and happy and excited about it 

Franklin-

He is very chill about it, and he tells his child to hide his powers from his friends and other people and only use them if it’s a life or death situation 

I hope everybody enjoyed as much as I did making this. I’m sorry that I have not been posting for a while. I just had to get settled in and everything but I’m ready

I will see everybody in the next Post bye now!

Ok I’ve had this one on my mind after rewatching “Brave” for the 100th time pov:you and your dad (who’s a phantom troupe member )get into a big argument and out of fury he grabs one of your most beloved item and destroys it in front of you and you end up running far away into the wood while balling your eyes out,what is his reaction?

awww this actually makes me so sad😭

feitan-

for a while, he would just be pissy and in a mood and he wouldn’t go after his child but after he realizes that his child isn’t coming back home anytime soon he immediately goes out and tries to find his kid. He even calls up some of the phantom troupe, and tells them what happened even though he doesn’t want to. He knows it’s the best because he wants to get his kid back as soon as his child was found, he immediately apologized and replace the item that he purposely broke 

phinks-

(this man already has anger issues as it is, and is also petty sooo making him mad is like a big mistake)  he would immediately go after his child and start scolding his child for trying to run away and he would ground the kid but later on around night time he would realize that that was a bad move, and he just made it out of anger, and he would immediately unground his child and apologize 

chrollo-

he would be too lazy to go after his child, but he also doesn’t want anything bad to happen to his child, so he sends feitan, nobunaga, or one of the girls (all individually, like he would not send them all together all at once) to go and bring back his child and obviously he apologizes afterwards

nobunaga-

he would immediately attempt to fix whatever he broke, and then when he realize that that wasn’t going to help the situation, he went after his child, and once he found his child, he immediately hug them and went into apology mode and replace the item as soon as possible 

uvogin-

he would immediately right away, know that he fucked up real bad, and he would immediately called nobunaga and if he doesn’t answer, then he would call shalnark well going after his child and trying to find his child. He would immediately yell into the phone everything that happened and once he finds his child, he would immediately apologize and carry his child back home and spend as much quality time with his child from that day forward because he feels so guilty about it 

shalnark-

seeing his child cry, brakes him physically, and mentally and emotionally so he immediately felt horrible for what he did, and tries to calm his child down along with himself, and then after he explains himself to his child, and why he did that and he would hug his child, and they would talk it out

Franklin-

he would clean up whatever mess he made, and then go after his child. He would try his hardest to keep the phantom troupe out of it as it’s none of their business and he really doesn’t want them getting involved anyways especially not with his family life he resorts to getting his child ice cream and spending more time with his kid and apologizing over and over again not feeling like it’s good enough 

hisoka-

he honestly wouldn’t care that much, although he would clean up the mess and all of that he wouldn’t apologize to his child until months later when him and his child are having a deep conversation also, he wouldn’t go after his child at all because he knows that his child is eventually going to come running back because his kid doesn’t have any resources and doesn’t know how to survive in the real world without any guidance or experience 

that’s it for today everybody I hope everybody enjoyed as much as I did making this

I will see everybody in the next Post bye now!



Which of the Stands wielded by each of the Egypt 9 Glory Gods would each of the Spiders be most interested in?

That’s a good idea!

honestly, I can’t really say specifically what they would all be interested in specifically because I think that all of them would be interested in every single one of them BUT  I do think the main characters that they would be interested in the most is….

Mariah

Alessi

AND

Younger D’arby

That’s it for today everybody I’m sorry that it’s kind of short, but I can’t really put my finger down on what each of them would like…sorry😅

I will see everybody in the next Post bye now!

How do you think the Spiders would react to the Three Page Ora scene?

this is a good one let’s find out!!!

feitan-

“I could do better nen still superior”

phinks-

“oh wow that kid has some fists”

chrollo-

“i don’t think it would be that bad of a idea to recruit this kid maybe we can shape him into one of us”

uvogin-

“hey he’s almost as strong as me!”

Franklin-

“boss what should we do about this kid he seems to good to let go”

nobunaga-

“uvo what do you think about this kid i like him boss let take him”

shalnark-

“hmm he has good power i’ll give him that!”

hisoka-

“oh my~ i like him..”

That’s it for today everybody I hope everybody enjoyed it as much as I did writing this. I’m sorry that I took like an 18 day break off I know it’s a wild, but I am busy and the break was also really nice because writing all the time constantly is a lot of stress even if it’s just three stories a week when you start writing stories, to the extent that I do you understand what I mean😅

I will see everybody in the next Post bye now!

How do you think the Spiders would react to Diavolo (the main antagonist of Jojo Part 5 and the boss of Passione)?

chrollo-

“oh his skills are quite in impressive I might just have to steal it..”

phinks-

“holy shit this guy as strong as hell and I can’t even understand what’s going on right now”

feitan-

“idiots…who allowed HIM to be the mafia boss out of all people…he..can barely do his job as it is. We operate, much better.”

Nobunaga-

“would my ability even stand a chance against this guy..? I can sense a power difference definitely but, is it possible?”

Franklin-

“now who the hell allowed this guy to get into such a mess Clearly, the mafia boss doesn’t know how to cover his own steps very well I think we should take over..*

uvogin-

“Oh wow what the hell is even going on I don’t get anything. Can someone please explain what’s going on Geez, this guy looks like he’s going through a lot.”

shalnark-

“hey you guys this guy over here looks interesting. Do you think he would be useful to me if I’m manipulated him? I’m going to give it a try okay?”

hisoka-

“he’s not even worthy of watching..he foolish and trash complete and total rubbish gon has much more potential than he will ever have I need to stick to my main targets and stop looking for other back ups”

That’s it for today everybody I hope everybody enjoyed I’m going to be making posts very slowly, so expect that.

I will see everybody in the next post bye now!

Sweet Hibiscus Tea.

Yan Shalnark x F Reader.

Synopsis: After a day of finally trying to face your social anxiety, you walk home alone. The roads are empty, quiet, and eerie. But you are almost home now, aren’t you? You are not going to cry anymore. Just when you think life is starting to turn around for you, it goes in the exact opposite direction. 

Warnings: Yandere themes, violence, kidnapping, misogyny, not SFW implications, psychological horror elements, manipulation, panic attacks, Shalnark being an asshole, unhealthy relationships, and stalking.

Word Count: 5k.

Can be considered to be within the Hier Encore universe.

Ten Songs Like This Piece:

Look Who’s Inside Again by Bo Burnham

Things She Said by Chris Garneau

Baby Bride Rag by Roar

Butch 4 Butch by Rio Romeo

Appetite of a People-Pleaser by Ghost and Pals

Valentine, Texas by Mitski

I’m Yer Dad by GRLwood

Cry Baby by Melanie Martinez

Freaks by Surf Curse

Neighbour by Mother Mother

“You stay soft, you get beaten; only natural to harden up.” — Mitski, Stay Soft

*~*~*~*

Regardless of how much time has passed, this convenience store always remains the same.

There is always the familiar, tired face of the clerk behind the cash register, her gaze never on you or any other customer who walks in and out of the doors, a simple, muted hello being the only proof that she noticed you.

The lights dim and blink without fail, fading from white to a shade of daffodil to dark flaxen before disappearing and resurfacing yet again as alabaster. No matter how black the night sky is, the less-than-bright illumination never changes.

Neither does the rest of the scenery.

Next to the payment area are two vending machines, with one not functioning. It is dead, with the glass broken by a punch that left a large gaping hole in the dead center. Once when you accidentally touched the front wall while bending down to get your can of lemonade from the working one, it left a sticky residue that had you rubbing your palm on your sweater for what felt like an eternity. It somewhat helped, you guessed, but it also stained your clothes. The vending machine to its right was always out of most sweet drinks, often leaving you with the choice of coffee, lemonade, green tea, or water.

You don’t buy any snacks aside from strawberry Pocky and, if you are lucky, a chocolate bar.

But you do buy meals here because it is cheap. Usually fish with miso or a salad, but there have been times when you can find a premade sandwich.

The total cost comes to between 500 to 1000 Jenny. There is always a poster that claims the cashier is the employee of the month, though you are certain that she is the only one who works there.

The only thing that ever changes is the calendar behind her. The past dates are crossed out in red ink that is in the form of thick, scraggly lines. They remind you of the drawings you used to make as a child when your father was too busy screaming outside your door and your mother was too powerless to do anything but cry and yelp as he hit her. One time you drew them fighting, and when one of your maids saw it, it inevitably found its way to his desk.

Needless to say, he was not happy by any means.

*~*~*~*

The calendar behind the worker reads the 17th of April, 1998. On this day in 1985, your first and only ever friend, the head gardener’s apprentice, went missing. When you eventually gathered up the courage after waiting for hours outside, you went to your father’s room to ask where she was.

“She has been removed from the premises for distracting you instead of doing her job.” The answer you got was to the point, because when has he ever been warm to you? “I made sure that she had learned her lesson before she died. She was in pain the whole time. It was a shame to put a bullet between her pretty eyes. But at least she had a bit more use to me beforehand.”

You cried and cried until you threw up.

That is when your mother, the usual bandage over her left cheek this time, came in and sat on your bed gently, sadly.

She patted the area next to her and slowly you stood up from the floor where you kneeled as you sobbed and went over. She asked you if you wanted a hug and you said no. She responded with a simple nod, respecting your answer. But then what she said next turned your tear-stricken face into a glare.

“She’s alive.” She muttered, along with thanks to God and a hold of the cross on her neck. 

“...What?”

Your mother shushed you when she heard footsteps coming to the door. When the sound eventually leaves further into the hallway, she leans into your ear while pointing to your vanity. Your gaze leads you to the dusty cat statue made of garnet.

It got shattered a little while ago when a maid cleaning your room accidentally made it fall to the floor. You felt bad for her as she was a new hire, so you never told anyone aside from your mother. You knew that if your father, the head of this household, ever found out he would punish her severely, even when he did not care for the statue at all. You got to choose, if you were lucky, which part gets whipped or cut off.

“Yes.”

Her short answer leaves you almost jumping up out of your seat. “...Huh?”

“At last week’s banquet, she caught the attention of your father’s wealthiest business partner.” She turns to the curtains covering the lone window in your room, her back now facing you. “She was tricked into boarding a car when the driver claimed you were inside waiting for her. To the partner in question, she is nothing but another pretty face to add to his collection.”

At the slight turn of the doorknob next door, you two go as still as wax people in a museum. “Why did he lie to me?”

“Why? Well, he certainly did not want you rebelling against his decision.”

“But I have never rebelled against him before.”

“I know.” Your mother lets out a sharp laugh, salty and sour. “I know you are always trying to be good, trying to stay under the radar. I know, I know because you are a lot like me. but now I am going to teach you a lesson about your father and the world at large. Remember that a man’s resentful attitude will always result in a woman’s agony, physical or otherwise, always. However, when things go right for a man, a woman is either praised like a dog or ignored until something goes wrong because it is never enough.”

You can’t breathe. “But why? Why, why, why? What did I do wrong? What could I have done right?”

She shakes her head. “Nothing. There is nothing you can do or could have done. No matter what, your faults will always be found. That is how most men are raised, to find, and how most women are raised, to hide.”

“...”

“Men’s hearts are such cruel, small things. Oftentimes they can only fit themselves in them, but there have been times where even they cannot fit.” She is still holding onto the cross charm on her gold necklace, firmer than she has ever held you. “They are cold, are or are almost dead. There is no room for people like you and me. No room at all. All they see us as is something to own, something with no feelings whatsoever, and whose only purpose is to please no matter the cost. Such pigs, all of them.” She murmurs some prayers that you cannot hear. “I want you to be better. I want what is best for you, what I never have been able to accomplish; run and live.”

She opens the drawer beside your bed, and you don’t do anything to stop her. It is not like you can hide anything, from her or anyone else in this house. Whatever is buried eventually resurfaces. She pulls out your rarely used bible, a thick layer of dust on the leather cover. It smells and makes you cough. She doesn’t though.

“At least your father does not force you to read this day and night.”

“Mmhmm.”

“It is one of the few things I appreciate him not doing, I do not want you to grow up hating the church.”

“I know.”

“He has made you hate a lot of things already.”

She turns the pages, dust flying around the cold air.

“He made me hate a lot of things too. Blankets, steaks, cameras. The color white, the color black, the color red. The sounds of belts unbuckling, the sound of laughter, the sounds of doors opening and closing and locking.”

You don’t say anything, only looking at her hands. Only in the dark can you not see her scars, her blooming wrinkles, and the bruises that are always fresh. 

You don’t say anything, because you have learned from a very young age that you are her only listening ear. You are the only one who keeps her head on her shoulders. You don’t say anything, because she is right. He has made you hate plenty of things. But, but, but. But you can’t hate him, and you can’t hate your mother.

You can’t hate her, because who knows what she would do when she finds out that no one cares about her pain in this hell?

“Mother.” You mutter, putting your head on her shoulder as you scan the text on the page that she selected. She does not stop you. 

“Yes, [First]?”

“Do you hate me?” You ask, trying so very hard to not let her see the tears that threaten to come out of your eyes. “Because… because… if I wasn’t conceived, you wouldn’t be here hurting, would you?”

You could swear that you heard her heart skip a beat.

“...I would not be here, yes.”

She is honest, for once. You know at least some of this situation is all your fault.

“Do you hate me?”

“...”

“Mother, please answer me.”

You hear a sniffle as she starts mumbling the words written. “‘A gracious woman gets honor, and violent men get riches.’”

You choose not to press on the subject. You don’t want her to suffer anymore.

*~*~*~*

You buy an orange-flavored Ramune soda, a pack of pork ginger instant ramen, and strawberry Pocky.

The total would come to about 600 Jenny if your quick calculations are right. You could get something extra, like a topping for your ramen or some chips. But would it be wise? You have never been someone who finishes their plate after you had ran away, so what if you just waste your money?

So, you decide not to get anything else.

You walk to the cash register.

You hear an explosion from the back of the building. Small sparks of white and orange. The lights go off before you can place your chosen items down, and you can hear the employee cursing under her breath. The breaker. What happened?

“Damn it, I don’t get paid enough for this shit.” She grumbles, putting her thumb and pointer finger on the bridge of her nose, rubbing. “No raises whatsoever. Only one here. Without me, this place wouldn’t be working, ungrateful pricks.”

Fighting the way your heart rate shoots up, you decide that talking to her would be best. It wouldn’t hurt to talk to someone aside from your boss, right? 

Maybe your anxieties would quell, and you can eventually graduate to talking to your co-workers, that would be a dream come true for you.

You haven’t had a friend, a real friend, ever since Rose was taken from you all those years ago. You still cry whenever you think about her. You miss her. Is she dead, is she alive?

You still blame yourself. If only you hadn’t talked to her, maybe she would still be with you. What kind of adult would she have been? A kind one, a responsible one? You would still be friends at least, wouldn’t you? Or would she grow to hate you, if she didn’t already?

You keep telling yourself that she wouldn’t and didn’t, but that is not what your mind tells you.

Is she dead?

You could picture a rotting corpse six feet under. An unmarked grave. Glassy, dead, amber eyes looking upward to anyone who looks down, helpless, pleading. You always liked them, always complimenting them much to Rose’s shy chuckles. She was so pretty, that much was true. You could only imagine how beautiful she would have been as an adult.

Her looks were a personal gift from God, the heavens, and the angels.

But if she didn’t have them, would she not have been treated like she was in the estate?

“Erm, excuse me,” You mutter, taking a few steps forward. “If you want I can go check it out.”

It is what Rose would do. She always liked helping others. You just wish that people would have appreciated it more and seen past her appearance. It was a double-edged sword. It helped her become the head gardener’s apprentice but also caught the attention of both your father and his business partners. You felt bad for her, and still do.

The employee turns around, her confusion prominent despite the dark. 

“Erm,” You mutter, looking down at your hands and entangling your fingers in one another. You could feel the heat rushing to your cheeks in embarrassment. “Is that okay?”

It takes a few moments to respond. Her surprise was unexpected, as you never spoke to her outside of asking her if she had change or telling her you hoped that she had a good night. Rose would be better at this kind of thing. You once had a dream that at a fast food joint, an adult her would order for you and correct the staff when they put pickles on your burger. It’s what could have been, funny moments like that. She had always been the one to take charge, you following her like a lost puppy.

You miss her so much.

So much.

The worker slowly nods. “...Okay.”

“...It’s in the back, right? The breaker.”

This is so awkward. Rose would be better. You wish she was here. Or your mother. Anyone.

“...Uh. Um… I like your eyeliner.” As soon as you say that, you curse at yourself, not wanting to sound like a creep. The woman’s confusion becomes even more prominent.

“...Thanks, and yeah, it’s in the back.”

“...Okay.” Jesus Christ. You turn away from her, the heat on your cheeks hot enough to be mistaken for a fever. This is not what Rose would have done.

“...You can leave your stuff here.” She says, and you quickly spin your heel and put your items on the counter. “It’s not like they are going to grow legs and run off, so relax.”

“...” You both chuckle, and you feel slightly better. “...Thanks. I’ll go now.”

“...” You start walking. “Wrong way.”

You stop.

It takes you a few seconds for you to move back to first base and go off in the opposite direction. As soon as you open the creaky steel door, strong rain and cold wind greet you, along with a loud clap of thunder and lightning.

Perhaps you could go back and get your umbrella from the stand by the door. But that would be even more awkward.

“Stupid. Stupid.”

“If we are lucky, the wind simply detached it or something. Not the best at this sort of thing, though.”

“I don’t think breakers detach.” You could picture her shrugging and scoffing at your murmur. “Sorry. Sorry. Just… sorry. I’m the best at this sort of thing either.”

You close the door behind you and start looking amongst the pitter-patter of the raindrops and gusts that nearly make you fall over. 

Stupid. Why do you make everything so weird? Rose would have been so much more charismatic. It was one of her strongest traits after all.

Stupid.

It’s hard to see. Trying not to trip over stones and cracked cement, you grip onto the wall and walk forward. Soon, you feel something.

“Ew, ew, ew!” You cry out, quickly moving your hand away from the slimy slug. “Ew!”

“You okay?”

“Uh, nothing. Just a bug. Yeah, just a bug.”

You hear a chuckle. Stupid.

“Sorry!” You exclaim, almost bowing your head. “Sorry! Really!”

Making sure you don’t touch the slug again, you keep moving.

Eventually, you find the breaker. But it wasn’t what you were expecting by any means. The damage almost looks like it was done on purpose, the way it was open and covered in soot. Did something get to it?

The breaker that exploded was a mass of melted metal that had been blown apart from the intense amount of heat and pressure. It was now barely recognizable as a single unit–parts of it scattered across the cement path and others having been fused and becoming something else entirely. The metal had been melted and blown upwards in the sheer force of the explosion, coating parts of the wall, wet grass, and roof with small, solidified droplets of metal. The ground around the remains of the breaker is burnt and scarred with traces of the immense fire that had consumed it.

It seems the rain put it out.

“No hope for this, huh?”

“Hey,” The employee calls out. “How bad is it? If there is nothing you can do, come back inside.”

So, you do.

The way she turns at you is robotic almost. A smile is on her face that was not there before. She nods when she sees you. Something tells you to not approach.

“It exploded into molten metal.”

“Oh well.”

Under the stormy skies, her gaze turns pale. Her eyes, seemingly captivating, lack any hint of vitality, while her lips curve in a disarming and saccharine manner. A shiver runs down your spine as you meet her gaze, every fiber of your being urging you to flee. Deep within your primal instincts, an innate awareness stirs, recognizing the smile as a charade, a mask of humanity that ventures into the realm of unease: akin to an artificial being adorned with synthetic flesh or a wax figure encased in glass. Those lifeless, white eyes, coupled with a forked tongue and an unsettlingly beautiful countenance, leave you with an undeniable sense of mistrust.

“You’re not mad? Really? Um…”

Something is off. What happened? She looks more like an imposter than anything else. But if she is, where did the real cashier go?

“Don’t worry.” She says, her voice oddly chipper and no longer confused by your awkwardness. “It’s fine. I’m quitting anyway, so it’ll be my boss’ problem.”

You turn your head. “Really?”

She nods. Something is off.

“Like really?”

You blink multiple times and you don’t think she does. She just stands there. Slowly, she nods. Something tells you to run yet again.

“Um… um… okay. Okay. I’ll just pay and leave. How much does it come up to?”

She shakes her head.

“Um. I have to pay. It’s thievery if I don’t.” You get closer. “It’s the law.”

“It’s fine.”

“I can’t just not pay.” You say, taking out your wallet from your sweater pocket. “That’s stealing. It’s wrong.”

Every action she takes is measured and precise, and she seems to move like a machine rather than a person. It’s as if she’s been programmed to act and talk in a certain way, and she doesn’t seem to have the ability to break out of that. She simply stares at you, not speaking.

Run.

You undo the metallic button, hearing the shuffling of paper Jenny within your wallet. “Um. Let me pay. Please.”

She simply shakes her head again.

“It’s fine.” The employee says, the smile still plastered on her face. There is quite more than a hint of blankness and detachment in her expression. She speaks in a mechanical and emotionless manner, her words delivered as though repeated from a script of carefully chosen sentences. Her movements are quick and precise, putting your chosen items in a plastic bag. There is no life or energy in her actions, instead, she moves like a mindless machine, performing her tasks before her without showing any personality of her own. Is it better to just accept it?

What should you do? What shouldn’t you do? Is she joking? Should you leave?

What would Rose do?

One of her hands grasps onto the plastic handles and she holds it out before you. There is no authenticity or warmth. Her eyes are blank. What happened? Should you ask? Should you just take the bag without saying anything further?

“Okay,” You murmur, obeying her silent command. “I hope you don’t get into any trouble though.”

*~*~*~*

Boss (9th May 1996 17:45)

Did you find anything?

Boss (9th May 1996 17:45)

Feitan found her heels nearby along with some blood, so she couldn’t have gotten very far.

You (9th May 1996 17:45)

Nothing yet

Boss (9th May 1996 17:47)

Try checking the stores nearby.

Boss (9th May 1996 17:47)

From the blood trail, she is most likely injured from running and trying to fix herself up in some sort of shelter.

Boss (9th May 1996 17:48)

She may have also discarded the rest of her clothes, not just the heels, and is currently wearing something else.

You (9th May 1996 18:15)

I found a dress and jewelry at the bottom of a lake

You (9th May 1996 18:18)

(image sent)

Boss (9th May 1996 18:20)

That’s it.

Boss (9th May 1996 18:20)

Disappointing. I’ll send over Pakunoda to ask people nearby.

You (9th May 1996 18:20)

K

You (9th May 1996 18:21)

Don’t cry, I’m sure we’ll find her soon :) 

Boss (9th May 1996 18:22)

I wasn’t crying.

Boss (9th May 1996 18:22)

I just thought she came around already.

Boss (9th May 1996 18:23)

This will set our heists back weeks.

Boss (9th May 1996 18:24)

She has planned this out for more than a year, it seems.

*~*~*~*

Bum, bum, bum. Dun, dun, dun. Whunnnnnn, wooooooo, ummmmmmm. You can’t hear anything else. The sounds sting your ears like an aggravated hornet. 

The darkness around you is solid, more so than the cracked, aged concrete path beneath your shoes. There is a tiny light in the distance; a streetlamp.

Silence.

“...”

“Have a good day!”

“...Thank you.”

Let there be light.

“Um…” You can’t see anything. The sounds… stopped. “...Time to go home.”

But the pain stays. 

It feels like a drill. 

It hurts.

“...” You feel deaf and blind. No, maybe something even worse. “...”

You turn around, to the dark convenience store, and you see the cashier still staring at you. “Have a good day!”

“...”

“[First]?”

…How does she know your name? Did you say it to her in the past?

When you look into the abyss, the abyss also looks into you.

“[First], dear.” She starts waving as you look at her. “[First]. [First]. [First]. [First]. [First]!”

There is nothing but emptiness. Is your name all she can say? What happened to her? It is like she has regressed. Like a storm cloud in summer, you do not wish for this pain. Now you feel deaf and blind and mute now. 

You almost wish that you were dead. All there is is pain. Bum, bum, bum. Dun, dun, dun. Whunnnnnn, wooooooo, ummmmmmm. 

Interruption. The sounds returned. Is this good? Is this bad? Does it matter at all? 

You walk. You don’t speak. Only walk. You can’t breathe. You can only move. Bum, bum, bum. Dun, dun, dun. 

Whunnnnnn, wooooooo, ummmmmmm. 

A hand clamps over your mouth.

You drop the plastic bag from shock, and then you finally hear something other than those sounds; glass shattering.

“Sh…” A voice, calm, along with the smell of oranges. “It’s okay.”

“...!”

“Don’t scream.”

The touch of lips, a man’s lips, on your ear, thin and hard. 

“Breathe. Just breathe for me, okay?”

But you can’t. The wind goes down your throat. It is suffocating. You can’t breathe. You smell oranges and something rotting, blood.

It stinks. It fucking stinks.

Christ. Get away. That stink. That fucking stink. Your body rejects it by continuing to not breathe.

“Sh… Breathe. Just breathe, for me, for you, for us.”

“...St… Sto-”

“Sh…” The voice is sweet, not at all sour, like candy. “Calm down. Nothing bad is going to happen. Just breathe. You’re going to pass out.” The lips and the scent of his breath are like salted leather in a butcher’s shop, stinky and rotting. “Calm down. Don’t worry.”

“...Sto… Si-”

“Breathe. Sh… It’s okay. Breathe.”

“...Ge… Sti…”

“Sh… Breathe. Breathe, [First]. Breathe. [First]. Breathe. Breathe. It’s okay. Don’t worry about all this. Breathe.”

When you finally do, you gasp, desperate. “...Huff… Huff… Huff…”

Get off of me, I can smell you. 

“There we go!”

Your vision clears up a bit. “...Huff… Huff… Huff…”

“Just keep breathing.”

“...Huff…”

You can smell him. You can practically taste him, with his mouth so close to you.

“Whew! That was a close one!” The man exclaimed, wrapping his other arm around your waist.

Pain. Get off of me. I can smell you, I can hear you, I can taste you. Get off of me. Please.

The pain still stays, in your chest and your ears, and your head. Oranges. Blood.

Get off of me.

Please–

A pain in the back of your neck and you go limp.

Darkness. Then pain again. You can’t move. You can only breathe. Bum, bum, bum. Dun, dun, dun. Whunnnnnn, wooooooo, ummmmmmm. 

*~*~*~*

SAINTSHORE SPACE THEATRE

UNDER THE DIRECTION OF RANDOLF URASLEF, GRETEL JAMES, AND QUINCEY J. ORATICE

PAUL DONSHEL CELESTE BAKER   ANNE CROAKS

AND

THE GREAT COMET THEATRE COMPANY

SWAN LAKE

ADAPTED BY MUSIC WRITTEN BY PYOTR ILLYICH TCHAIKOVSKY

INSPIRED BY THE CHOREOGRAPHY OF JULIUS REISINGER

WITH THE WONDERFUL CAST OF

(IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE)

Odette, the White Swan………………………………………………………….JEAN YVETTE

Odile, the Black Swan……………………………………………………………...JUNO LILOU

Prince Siegfried……………………………………………………………(the name is illegible.)

The rest of the list’s names cannot be read just like Prince Siegfried.

“She is simply beautiful. Just so beautiful. Simply wonderful, perfect.”

As the spotlights ignite, their scorching beams engulf you, causing you to shield your eyes with futile resistance. The sheer force of the light overwhelms your feeble defense. An ethereal audience erupts with exuberant cheers, applause, and whistles, resonating from vacant seats. Champagne flutes collide, men erupt with hearty laughter from their very core, and women unleash piercing screams akin to banshees.

The temperature rises and the noise intensifies, repeatedly, enveloping you in a symphony of overwhelming sensations.

Onlookers casually share their thoughts.

“Get off the stage, we want to see the play, not some stagehand!”

“Boo!”

“Fuck off!”

You run off crying.

“Where is that Odile girl?”

You run into a dressing room. One used by a woman wearing a black dress. She is so pretty. Her long strawberry blonde hair falls off her bare shoulders, clearly just done with a flat iron. There is a burning smell in the air. Smoke. When her gold eyes meet yours, she marches towards you and slams the door shut.

You can almost hear sobbing coming from the other side. Cries.

“So lonely…” The woman mutters. “When will it ever be enough?”

The voice sounds familiar. Her eyes. Her hair.

Nostalgia. Memories you would much rather forget. The basement. The imaginary ripping of clothes and tears and men’s laughter.

“I can’t do this much longer…”

Someone else knocks on her door. You want to scream.

“Come out, dearest.”

The devil. Tall with curved horns and a forked tongue. You want to warn her. 

You want to save her. “I’m not going to harm you, I am going to make you happy.”

You are so focused on whether the woman opens the door or not that you do not notice what happens next until it is too late. A clawed hand on your mouth. A tongue licking your ear. Tasting your sweat. Your tears. Laughter. The rest of the world disappears, and the only one there aside from you is the one behind you.

Sh… Sh… Sh… Sh… Bum, bum, bum. Dun, dun, dun. Whunnnnnn, wooooooo, ummmmmmm. 

Get off of me. Please.

“Breathe. It makes things more fun for me.” The voice echoed like you two are in a cave.

You gasp for air, and the smell of blood and oranges fills your nostrils.

“...Huff…”

“That’s better.”

You turn around. There is a body of a man. 

But the scaled, furred, horrifying face of a demon.

“Good.” He says, smiling his sharp teeth. “Deep breaths, in and out, come on.”

You do what he says. He praises you again, you think. But you can’t hear it. Either that or you simply do not pay attention to it. What happened to the woman? 

“...”

“We should go.”

The woman. The devil, this other… thing.

“...Rose…”

The demon laughs.

“Wake up.”

*~*~*~*

The first things you hear come from a happy man’s voice. “My boss’ girlfriend ran away more than a year ago you see, and he’s been heartbroken ever since. I want to prevent that kind of loss from happening to me. Real pretty one, too! He didn’t expect it, but I don’t blame her. After all, she’s been held captive for more than a year, she had to try to escape eventually.”

…The first thing you feel is lace on your neck. A collar.

It does not tickle or hurt. It itches. 

A cold hand plays with it, and it almost chokes you. At your discomfort, the man laughs.

“You are so cute.”

Something metal is on the collar, and it blinks a small red light.

Made this really late at night but I will stand by it till I die