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u/13taM

▲ 399 r/blacc_gye

She is quite bold today (Daily Dialyn posting day 9)

I would fumble instantly if she were to fix me with those piercing golden eyes of hers...hell...id get the leash myself if needed....oh Dialyn....another sad day of you not being real...of you being nothing but a glorified nft in that virtual prison...

Sources:

https://x.com/DorahDew/status/1994043667007635806/photo/1

https://www.pixiv.net/en/artworks/143892333

https://www.pixiv.net/en/artworks/139178766

https://www.pixiv.net/en/artworks/138853326

https://www.pixiv.net/en/artworks/138757532

u/13taM — 4 days ago
▲ 4.5k r/ZZZ_Official

Naughty customer rep 😈🐼

Divine back arch, an arch that would make any men fall weak to their knees, her piercing golden eyes demand authority along the slightly visible small fangs petruding from her plump soft lips, they all make me lose the battle before it even begins.

Her smile is one of confidence, she knows that she already won and is now visibly mocking you knowing damn well that you will never be scored the occasion to feel any of her curves…

Very impressive for her 145 cm height, a sight to behold making most guys glance back towards her direction at least once or twice, some bold ones even thrice if they felt cocky or threw subtlety out the window, their call.

The jiggles blessing our eyes....she punching way way way out of her league...but wait....whats thats in the distance......that damned lamp...in the corner....w...w...what is it? I....i need to approach it....its....haze....its capitvating me...no....its glow starts shining brighter and brighter until.....yet my eyes are not hurting...wait....the red background is fading....replaced by now painfull to comprenhend white lines....slowly consuming the whole place.....DIALYN! NO DIALYNNNNNN!

The alarm rang....I woke up in a cold sweat.....yet again....real life hit...and sadly....she will never be by my side to comfort me....another damned vivid nightmares...my pills ran out...to my dismay...life has to move forward.

(Also the spook shack fic is coming out soon, thanks to everyone that read it, it will take longer since now i am looking into how to improve the flow of dialogue between multiple characters)

Source: https://x.com/i/status/1994636509111357654

u/13taM — 6 days ago
▲ 293 r/blacc_gye

Naughty customer rep 😈🐼(Daily Dialyn posting day 7)

Divine back arch, an arch that would make any men fall weak to their knees, her piercing golden eyes demand authority along the slightly visible small fangs petruding from her plump soft lips, they all make me lose the battle before it even begins.

Her smile is one of confidence, she knows that she already won and is now visibly mocking you knowing damn well that you will never be scored the occasion to feel any of her curves…

Very impressive for her 145 cm height, a sight to behold making most guys glance back towards her direction at least once or twice, some bold ones even thrice if they felt cocky or threw subtlety out the window, their call.

The jiggles blessing our eyes....she punching way way way out of her league...but wait....whats thats in the distance......that damned lamp...in the corner....w...w...what is it? I....i need to approach it....its....haze....its capitvating me...no....its glow starts shining brighter and brighter until.....yet my eyes are not hurting...wait....the red background is fading....replaced by now painfull to comprenhend white lines....slowly consuming the whole place.....DIALYN! NO DIALYNNNNNN!

The alarm rang....I woke up in a cold sweat.....yet again....real life hit...and sadly....she will never be by my side to comfort me....another damned vivid nightmares...my pills ran out...to my dismay...life has to move forward

As usual sources:

https://x.com/i/status/1994636509111357654

https://x.com/Deadnooodles/status/1996511076754837711?s=19

https://x.com/i/status/2001113852050850262

https://x.com/i/status/2017689485530775834

https://x.com/jumozi11/status/2005621531968417999?s=20

u/13taM — 6 days ago
▲ 1.4k r/ZenlessZoneZero

She worked up quite a sweat ( by SBGU)

If only she were real, I would do the best...and I mean give it my all for the slight chance of this perfect-bodied goddess to even glance towards my direction.

Her piercing golden eyes and sculpted face give me the will to get out of bed daily and push forward.

I would melt the skin off my hands with the strongest soaps or hand sanitizers if that meant having the honor of holding her delicate milky pale delicate hands.

She may lack in size, but she sure as hell makes up for it in character...elegance...sassiness...kindness... Not even the countless stars in this universe are enough, paling in the face of my eternal love for her.

I'd willingly accept being beheaded by Zhao if it means that she will spare a few seconds to talk with me once I'm dead or even better...allow me the chance to breach...and invade her head and mind...oh, Dialyn...

I'd destroy every chair/bench if it meant that you would sit on my face and smother me with those perfect, juicy, voluptuous cheeks of yours after a hard day of work so I could bask in their miasma and sniff to my heart's content.

I know who I'm up against...that damned rust bucket...clanker...bolt muncher...I swear...I'll replace his oil with piss...so his shaft can malfunction, leaving only me to be able to claim you...make you mine...give you my world...

Source: https://danbooru.donmai.us/posts/10357313

u/13taM — 7 days ago
▲ 86 r/blacc_gye

Don't forget your daily dose of Dialyn! (Day 5 of daily Dialyn posting)

5 arts today

Sources:

https://www.zerochan.net/4648851

https://www.pixiv.net/en/artworks/138629377

https://www.pixiv.net/en/artworks/139563587

https://x.com/HMimikyu/status/2009475316922917279

https://x.com/kuramu\_chowder/status/2007378211697766897?s=61

Ill keep the arts number at 5 so its easier to scroll and not a chore to find a certain photo in case someone wants to save it, have a great day everyone!

u/13taM — 8 days ago
▲ 63 r/blacc_gye

Ah, my petite chou-fleur!

If only she were real, I would do the best...and I mean give it my all for the slight chance of this perfect-bodied goddess to even glance towards my direction.

Her piercing golden eyes and sculpted face give me the will to get out of bed daily and push forward.

I would melt the skin off my hands with the strongest soaps or hand sanitizers if that meant having the honor of holding her delicate milky pale delicate hands.

She may lack in size, but she sure as hell makes up for it in character...elegance...sassiness...kindness... Not even the countless stars in this universe are enough, paling in the face of my eternal love for her.

I'd willingly accept being beheaded by Zhao if it means that she will spare a few seconds to talk with me once I'm dead or even better...allow me the chance to breach...and invade her head and mind...oh, Dialyn...

I'd destroy every chair/bench if it meant that you would sit on my face and smother me with those perfect, juicy, voluptuous cheeks of yours after a hard day of work so I could bask in their miasma and sniff to my heart's content.

I know who I'm up against...that damned rust bucket...clanker...bolt muncher...I swear...I'll replace his oil with piss...so his shaft can malfunction, leaving only me to be able to claim you...make you mine...give you my world...

Source: https://www.pixiv.net/en/artworks/138718025

Also second pic is her gracing my account with her STUNNING beauty.

u/13taM — 10 days ago
▲ 509 r/ZZZ_Official

A GOATed friendship (P1)

Hello everyone, its me again and recently i've decided to continue my stories with one involving my favourite faction, spook shack, i love their dynamic and friendship, they look like the ideal friend group that lasts a life time no matter what. So sit back, relax and enjoy this peacefull lecture! Part 1 serves as a build up for the next part which will focus more on our beloved goat Thiren!

Let me know if you liked it down below!

Disclaimer: contains some heavy emotional bits and heavy typical spook shack toomfoolery and shenanigans.

The story is also fully SFW.

Source for art: https://x.com/i/status/1952500811009044802

The story:

YES YES, sir , indeed this magic necklace was found in the Cretan Hollow, far far away from safety and prying eyes… a unique…and pricey, sculpted by Miasma and porcelumex” said our beloved red haired rascal to a customer “I get it but…can’t we haggle a bit on the price? Unless this thing starts floating in front of me there's no way anyone with a working brain would pay such a price tag” the customer was visibly pissed now, adjusting his glasses while his body language hinted at his patience running thin , only a miracle could finish this deal.

“Well then, watch this!” said Yuzuha smiling smugly, she then tapped her foot twice….what followed left him shocked.

After a few seconds a magical azure aura enveloped the trinket, causing it to float in front of their very eyes “I can’t believe it!” “H…how is it doing that!” Yuzuha smiled yet again, she surely had him hooked now.

“Told you…here at Mythic Wares, everything is magical" A pause followed “I’ll buy it! I can't wait for my kid to see it!” he shouted ceremoniously “By any means….the doses are small but if they are little tell them to avoid biting it” said Yuzuha fixing him with a quick two second serious look. They then agreed on the said price and the customer left in a hurry, happy for stumbling across such an “artifact”.

Yuzuha then closed the door and shouted “Ok, you can come out now!”

“The magic should last him a few more weeks ...it will float or hover above surfaces every once in a while…” said Lucia who now peered from behind a corner, her horns glinting in the pale store's light contrasting with her cloak. “You know we can’t just sell them porcelumex, only very dumbed down versions able to be imbued with traces of their formal power” added the goat Thiren who now placed her staff down.

“I know..i know…but at least you gotta see the bright side, each lie has a seed of truth in it! So is it really cheating?” said Yuzuha who was now preparing a small bowl of nuts and dried fruits for his chattering companion. As soon as she set the bowl down, the little rascal came in rushing, having the curtsey to nuzzle for a few seconds aganist Lucias leg as a form of greeting before gorging onto the delectable food.

“At least he has manners…” teased Yuzuha while rolling her eyes, she then sighed slightly “Look…we can’t just sell them the real stuff ... It's dangerous…Porcelumex is a very volatile and dangerous substance hence we use half truths. Also…” she leaned closer, her breath being incredibly warm to Lucia pointed ear; “I can’t let Manato be the only source of income…nor ask Alice for help…i want to pull my own weight around” she then retreated “ I swear i can hear that pouty voice even when she is not around, miss Ukinami this, miss Ukinami that i swear its like that bunny has manners drilled into her very being.”

They both laughed after the short impression and looked out the window, the night was still young and a thing was clear: the moon was gorgeous yet very terrifying.

The moon hung high above Failume Heights like a scar that never healed.

One half still glowed with its familiar pale light, cold yet comforting against the night sky. The other had been consumed by Ether corruption, swallowed by a spreading darkness rimmed with faint violet radiance. Cracks and jagged formations crawled across its surface like a sickness slowly devouring it from within.

Even the clouds had seemed reluctant in passing it.

“Yuzuha…today i came back from one of my trips…and i was wondering if….” “The guest room is empty…yes…i told you already that you don’t have to ask..” the reply was short, but it had depth and to drive her point even further she continued “ You already know that dad, Kaede and Sumire love your company and tales, hell they go crazy over the diary entries you keep on making so read them a few and you are set for the night…sorry…meant day for you”

Lucia just smiled and hugged her briefly, while the two embraced the mischievous Kama decided to also butt in and jump atop their heads, hugging with his own little furry paws "He's never this clingy with me i swear to me" said Yuzuha while parting from the embrace and picking him up” Lucia just laughed, she loved conventional and unconventional pets, fact proven by Chestnut so seeing the little critter acting like this always managed to rake a smile on her face.

Fast forward a few hours later and Lucia was now residing on the shop's roof, relishing in the night's chilly weather and ambience, she was alone, Yuzuha and her family long asleep.

She was on her phone, checking the Spook Shacks forum and working on another post regarding her latest expedition. “Yeah…it will surely blow up this time…the photos are way more realistic….but i need to come up with a catchy title hmm” as she was thinking a notification managed to steal her attention, a small parfait icon stand ealing the upper half of her screen.

“Mind if I join you? Just finished another commission and only you are awake at this hour” the goat Thiren starred at the message for a moment before smiling softly. A bit of company was always welcome, especially when it came from someone like Yidhari.

Their conversations were never dull; somehow, they always drifted into deep and strangely profound topics about Hollows, humanity, even the universe itself.

It made sense, really. Yidhari was a writer, someone who shaped described them in detail, while Lucia was an explorer who experienced them firsthand. Creativity and experience, imgination and discovery their dynamic fitting together like a natural yin and yang. No wonder she always found herself looking forward to their talks.

Ten minutes later followed by a few barely audible thumbs, Lucia found herself stargazing side by side with Yidhari.

“I have to tell you something…but…you have to be quiet….otherwise the others will wake up…” sighed the octopus Thiren, while her glowing, mesmerizing eyes fixed a shooting star. Lucia, just nodded and waited with baited breath, she was always on edge when hearing her stories and this time was no different.

“During this last commission of mine…while I was deep within the bowels of the Cretan Hollow….i got surrounded…the foes were formidabble…my chances of escaping were thinning by the second” she paused, showing the goat Thiren one of her bandaged tentacles, the appendage flicking weakly and painfully back in resting position. “Blows were coming from all of the directions…my hammer was also getting mauled…but….then” she paused again for dramatic effect “I could hear a soothing lullaby….followed by a towering figure…slaughtering them….and helping me escape….”

“Go on” said Lucia in a fainter strained voice “ The air around the creature felt heavy, wrong but….oddly familiar like the Hollow itself bent quietly around its presence. Every slow step she took backward felt too loud against the silence until fear finally overtook caution and she turned, disappearing into the fog without daring to look back. I think you know alre-”

“Ah-Deh” said Lucia finally getting the picture “No….i saw it with my own eyes…i bid him goodbye…sang him farewell for a peaceful afterlife” Yidhari shushed her with a tentacle gently “I know..but my eyes never deceive me…we still don’t fully grasp the Hollow capabilities…hence…i come with a suggestion…” “go on” Yidhari always loved her eagerness so she resumed “We can leave in a few days…but for now we theave to stay….Alices birthday Is coming up…she would love for us all to gather and have fun….” , as eager as Lucia was to go look after her supposed dad return she would never forgive herself it it meant letting her friends down.

“Guess i will have to pull an good ol all morninger” but to her surprise Yidhari denied “No..I talked with the others before leaving for the comission….so…considering your…circumstances we will pull an all nighter..plenty of hours for fun .”

Lucia sat in silence for a few seconds, she then smiled ear to ear and hugged Yidh, Dadtightly “You guys are the best….best…best!!!!” “Oh crap” she realised how loudly he shouted and quickly covered her mouth.

Morning came in deceptively fast, Lucia went to the promised guest room and was long asleep with Yidhari closing the door behind her.

She then walked the hallway towards the stairs with the intent of leaving but a groggy voice called from behind “Morning…mhwaaaah…glad your back…we will have breakfast soon, mind staying?” asked Yuzuha who was not braiding her flowing red hair. “Would be my pleasure…but i have to hit the sack….the last commission surely kicked my, tentacles…i will visit later tho…so we can settle some more details regarding….” Yuzuha smiled “Lady bunnies special day right? Riiiiiiight?” Yidhari just nodded, they then bid each other goodbye and Yuzuha resumed her work at the store.

While they were busy serving the last few customers, the doorbell chimed once onre, announcing a tall, familiar presence.

Manato stepped inside, clothes stained with grease and dust probably fresh off yet another side gigI He gave Yuzuha and Li a quick greeting before immediately heading for the bathroom to wash up.

“I swear that beefhead works more than a divorced dad,” Yuzuha teased, leaning against the broom in her hands.

To her surprise, Li actually laughed.

“One day he’s polishing motorcycles, the next he’s babysitting someone else’s,” she continued with a grin. “I’m telling you, the guy crammed twenty years of experience into three.”

Her words were blunt as always, but there was no real bite behind them, only the kind of teasing reserved for someone that she genuinely cared about.

Upon returning from the bathroom he placed an apple on the counter for Kama and some dennies, converted they add up to 100 bucks, he then straightened his jacket, dressed his voice and spoke “So…what are we getting for Alice's big event? She has everything..” he pondered while Yuzuha took the money and added them to a jar which served as a special fund that they made for this exact occasion.

They pondered ideas, items, clothes but what could you even get for someone as rich as her? Suddenly Yuzuha’s dad spoke while polishing the counter “How about something with sentimental value? A token of gratitude for your friendship” upon hearing that Yuzuha and Manato looked at each other then at Li Baorong who just casually might have saved their asses. Then as their brains caught one, each spoke in turns: “ I can ask A-Cing and A-Yuet to make a drawing or something hand made” “And i can ask Kaede and Sumire, maybe they can meet up and make it while we use the funds to” then they both spoke in unison, their eyes comically widening “BUY THEM WHAT THEY NEED!”

It all clicked into place.

Friday meant no school, which meant the kids were free to focus entirely on the surprise gift they had been planning for weeks.

Manato had been given the important task of bringing them over, a responsibility he handled with utmost efficiency. A couple of lollipops and a coupon that granted them permission to skip one vegetable-filled meal for the day was all it took to win them over completely.

The bribery worked like a charm.

While waiting for them to arrive Yuzuha and her dad baked cookies, and a killer lasagna so that the kids would be nourished and ready to give it their all. The birthday was on Sunday which meant that they had less than 48 hours to be ready.

As the night approached, Lucia and Yidhari had their part in this as well, one was tasked with searching for shiny relics that would compliment the gift and the other with writing a heartfelt anniversary card, I will let you guess who did each. Upon regrouping back at the store the atmosphere was as carefree as ever even if the clock was showing that it was way past midnight.

Li Barong was the first to go upstairs, thanking everyone for the wonderful time he had.

The ever so thoughtful Kama decided to follow him, the commotion was making the small chittering critter feel uneasy especially with small kids around that could pull his tail.

““Oh Damidamidamio, sunlight’ll tell me where to go ” sang Lucia while Yidhari masterfully played the guitar, she was giddy today, after all she was spending time with her friends who at this point could be considered her family, something that even her tribe taught her to be one of the unique precious blessings that this fleeting life could offer.

While singing everyone started to join along one by one with Manato and A-Cing joining first “We laugh and run, all night long

Damidamidamio~Rivers guide the way we roam” A-Yuan then queued in “When the night is gone, the journey will carry on” “To the secret untold, to the wonder we hold “ last line had Yuzuha crumbling as well and joining “Running out the woods we know,little ship we tip tap toe” following Yuzuha, Kaede and Sumire contributed with their voices too.

As the song neared its end, a series of knocks echoed from the front door.

The room immediately went still.

For a split second, Lucia feared it might be a noise complaint from one of the neighbors. Slowly, she and Manato approached the door, careful not to make too much sound. He leaned toward the visor first then froze.

Lucia’s stomach dropped the moment she looked too .Alice.But…how?

The entire ground floor was covered in decorations, wrapping paper, tools, and half-finished preparations. One glance inside and the surprise they had spent hours putting together would be completely ruined.

“What are you two doing there frozen like statues let me see” Yuzuha peered through the peephole and froze as well then quickly turned towards the others and gestured for them to hide all of the gifts and decorations she then turned towards the door and in the calmest voice that she could muster replied shortly “Just a moment bunny queen!”

While everyone else was tidying up ,Lucia had the perfect idea to buy time, grabbing her staff and stepping outside she greeted the rabbit Thiren.

Upon meeting each other they hugged briefly and Lucia took in her appearance, casting a warm glow over both with a flick of her staff. “Welcome good friend!” shouted Lucia, the Thiren just nodded and smiled softly.

Alice's outfit blended a neat school-uniform style with practical combat gear. A crisp white blouse and dark pleated skirt gave her a clean, refined look, while the mechanical harness around her waist and the heavy boots added a more technical, utilitarian edge. Black patterned tights and red accents tied everything together nicely.

Her heterochromatic eyes stood out the most soft, warm, and quietly attentive, contrasting the intimidating equipment she carried and the neutral face emoji that displayed on her waistband. It was clear that something greatly upsetted her.

“The others are inside, right? May I come in?” she asked, her voice as soft and gentle as ever.

The faint commotion from inside made her small round ears flick once in curiosity.

“Adorable…” Lucia muttered under her breath though not quietly enough.

Alice immediately stiffened, her cheeks flushing pink. “M….mphh-I heard that!” as awkward as it was, this little back and forth lasted just long enough for the crew to finish cleaning. Just when Lucia was about to explain herself , miraculously the door opened with Yidhari smiling and inviting them in, the crisis averted.

Everyone welcomed their royal friend and even gave her some of the food which she happily ate but not before “ppppppfffrrrrrtttt” sitting on a whoopie cushion that Yuzuha placed mere moments before she sat.

“Mmmph….Yuzuhaaaa!” pouted Alice from the crude prank, feeling the room shrink.

Before Yuzuha could reply, a pillow hits her in the face, taking the rascal off guard and causing her to lose balance slightly “Hey watch it!” Said Yuzuha catching the pillow and shooting Lucia a deadly glare, instead of feeling threatened the goat Thiren just laughed “What? Had to return the favour, she just arrived and your pulling pranks already”

Upon hearing this Alice's face softened “T…thanks…miss Elowen…” Yuzuha just rolled her eyes and butted in again “Again with the formalities? We are your friends for crying out loud! Call her Lucia!” Alice just sighed and complied "Thanks..Lucia..”

She then ate and forgot about her embarrassment as the multitude of flavours melted on her tongue, her friends were amazing, not even the best cooks in her estate came even close to this masterfully made lasagna that she was just eating.

The kids were all gone upstairs sleeping, now it was only “Spook shack” gathered in Yuzuha’s lower floor just as before, rambling about various topics after watching some obscure inter-knot documentaries.

What was supposed to be a secret birthday preparation quickly turned into an all out sleepover.

“ My my yeah….the uncanny valley is such an interesting mind twister…why did we develop this primal fear?” asked Yidhari while rubbing her chin with one of her tentacles “Beats me….ive been in the Hollows and i’ve seen nothing of this matter….even if things got scary” said Manato while doing the dishes “Oh oh, i think there was some sort of predator who used to resemble humans, hunting us all down via deception and trickery!” Added Lucia, clapping her hand together.

Alice was terrified of this discussion but decided to put on a brave front for her friends, as her mismatched eyes darted around the room something wasn’t quite adding up “Uh…g….guys…where is….Yuzuha?”

“Good question….shes been gone for a while…let's look after her” said Mananto

Yeah! Great idea…that way we can cover more ground and since the store has two floors we will split in two pairs of two” said Lucia while flashing everyone a thumbs up and bouncing around exited

Manato and Lucia remained downstairs, they were the clumsier ones so the risks of waking the others would have been higher if the roles were reversed while Alice and Yidhari quickly went to the second floor.

Alice ears perked up, she swore that she could hear small footsteps coming from the ceiling and from within the walls “Mmm….these sound like rats or pests….last time ive read a post about it, the OPs whole bathroom flooded with big roaches” said Yidhari, not helping Alice's case at all who grew more and more uneasy with each passing minute.

They then decided to go up the cellar, Alice following Yidhari on the squeaky ladder as they made their way up.

The cellar was cramped and carried an eerie atmosphere, darkness swallowing the small room almost entirely. The strange chittering noises echoed louder up here, skittering through the walls and making the air feel heavier with every second.

They searched everywhere through old chests, dusty containers, even beneath worn carpets. Just as they were about to give up, two hands suddenly grabbed Alice’s shoulders from behind. The bunny Thiren face whitened, she froze up then let out an undignified scream only for laughter to follow.

Yuzuha was the one who scared her from behind, wearing a grotesque antique mask, while Kama laughed from above in his own small adorable way, hanging from above on a foundation wood pillar.

“Got you real good this time! You should have seen your face! Ahahahahaha! There’s no such things as creepy demons around” Yuzuha laughed again only for a hand and a few more appendages to curl on her shoulder and legs from behind, frightening her as well, the red haired brat jumped back also, hugging Alice but quickly being flooded with relief and silent anger when she realised that she also fell for one of the oldest tricks in the book.

“Got you too,” laughed Yidhari carefree.

Alice just laughed and held onto both now, speaking in her adorable higher pitched voice “Haha that's what you deserve for pranking me!”

After a few hours they eventually went to sleep later in various rooms and places around the store except Lucia who noticed that Alice was sitting alone on the balcony gazing in the distance.

“Trouble sleeping huh?” Asked Lucia who used her staff as a small blue colored torchlight. “Yeah….ive had a lot on my mind” said the bunny Thiren who hid her face while some tears stained her cheeks “My dad” the silence that followed was deafening.

“I understand….I miss….Ah-Deh as well…..from what Yidhari has told me…getting past grief is a slow and painful journey”

Alice’s ears perked up, she could always rely on her friends to be understood and be there for her in their own ways and late nights talk with the Night Emissary herself were a rare but always welcomed surprise. “He…never cared about my grades….nor manners….he was there for me…myself…seeing me for more than an mere heir or statusl…” she held back tears now but Lucia quickly spoke “Your dad died a hero…..rescuing Yuzuha from those dreaded labs…im sure if he were still around….he would have been the best dad in the world” that opened the floodgates for both her and Alice that quickly hugged each other tightly, the goat Thiren crouching slightly so that Alice could rest her head on her shoulder.

They both sat in silence, Lucia was combing her hair and tail gently with a brush while they were both stargazing.

When the morning, sorry afternoon came they were both asleep in the guest room onto the opposite sides of a bed.

“I swear at this rate i gotta start changing rent” commented Yuzuha while making her way down stairs to greet the others, it was the weekend which meant that Mythic Wares was closed, allowing the others to work and finish Alice's gifts in peace. Once it was done, Manato and Yidhari took it and bid each other farewell, both promising to be back by midnight for the anniversary.

“They are some very lovely people…I'm so glad that you are all getting along this nicely…makes me real proud” said Li Barong while calculating the week's profit at his desk.

“Don’t mention it dad…they are alright” Yuzuha has always dreaded these talks, the ones that made her all vulnerable and unable to hide behind her mask of smugness and lighthearted pranks. “Yuzu…it's not your fault…it was his choice to rescue you all those years back…something which still makes me grateful to this day…please” he paused to wipe his glasses that started to fog up, he then got up and comically enough, placed a hand on her shoulder, she stilled “You are the best sister that Kaede and Sumire could ever ask for”

“Thanks…anyway…i will go and do homework! Till midnight yeah…” defended Yuzuha that started to walk away “Yeah yeah sure, since when do you do that during the summer” added Li now holding back a laugh “Shut it…ugh”

Yuzuha went to her room, guilt still lingering but way less present than before. She put some earphones in and listened to music while petting Kama and dozing off as well, napping in this lovely afternoon.

A single notification woke her an hour later, from a poorly drawn sketch of Manato on the notification bar.

“[Hey…i baked the cake with Yidhari and the kids]” he then attached a photo to potentially the tastiest treat that she had ever laid her eyes upon: A pastel green birthday cake decorated with elegant buttercream flowers in pink, white, and green tones. It has five lit green candles on top, delicate floral piping around the edges, and “Happy Birthday” written in white icing on the side. The cake has a soft, classy, and cozy aesthetic.

She then typed “ [Holy fuck)” was all that she could type, marveling at the image.

She then redirected everyone the invitation message and started setting things into place by making a separate group to discuss the details in further depth with everyone except Alice , who has now gone home to prepare the mansion for the party.

[“Let's make this royal bunny have the best damn birthday ever!”] was the last message she typed before setting the phone down and starting to prepare as well.

u/13taM — 12 days ago
▲ 392 r/ZZZ_Official

Greetings everyone, ive recently picked up writting fics about zzz characters as a means of doing something somewhat productive in my free time and entertaining.

By no means i brag or think that they are good but they certainly helped in letting out my creativity.

So far ive written mainly about my favourite characters which were Dialyn and Jane Doe along a few others that contrasted them but now i set my sights on Lucia since ive always liked her backstory , motives and straight up silliness and nerddiness.

Disclaimer: the story won't have any form or smut or excessive romance but i want to focus on some new aspects that i did not hammer in past stories which are world building under a form of diary entires.

Ive listened and taken into account feedback from past posts and now i want to ask you guys/girls something important, what would you all like for this story to feature? World building, Flora and Faunas inside a Hollow, more characters from spook shack? Im open to suggestions!

I plan to make it a two or three parter and make sure that its a relaxing and fun read for anyone that may stumble upon them.

Thats it and thank you for the attention and engagement shown in past posts( means a lot) , have a great day and goodluck on the new upcoming banners!

Art source: https://www.pixiv.net/en/artworks/136357929

u/13taM — 16 days ago
▲ 2.4k r/ZZZ_Official

Hello everyone, here we are yet again with another finale for my Jane Doe fic. It was supposed to be a two parter but I had way more inspiration than I expected at first.

If only she was real..such perfection…such curves…type of person to leave you drained both physically and financially while you would blindly ask for more…because of course…we all want more.

Source for art: https://x.com/i/status/1826399709206106138

Full fic uploaded here, u can see it offline via the link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1P06imcWtFVqqBIm8S1OOD5j6B\_tA9BL1JT5Ntqc\_IWw/edit?usp=drivesdk

A rats nest of issues (part 3)

“Jane, rerouting the call now they’re almost there,” Wise said, his voice steady through the bulky headset. He sat inside the unmarked van parked across the street, eyes fixed on the scene.

Her earpiece buzzed softly before connecting. After a brief pause, a different voice came through male, unfamiliar , cold “Salutations Miss ...Connors, within five minutes we will be exactly at the pick up point, did you manage to arrive?”

“Yes…and hurry up already, we have matters to discuss” “Affirmative, the vehicle is a blacked out BMW 7 series” the line then went cold, leaving the Rat Thiren to ponder just how much she will have to play into this to get what she is after.

The car arrived shortly after, tall, long, imposing and fully tinted out, fit for an organisation such as TOPS, they were not playing around when it came to such reports, so her performance will have be stellar to say the least, the mask of a pissed off consultant will need to become one with her.

The car’s massive rear door slid open with a low mechanical whirr—no one inside bothered to touch it. Upon entering a strange sense of….unease washed over her, something that she did not remotely even feel when faced even with the merciless Mountain Lions gang or the towering, bulky impossible muscular frame of Razor.

This was different.

On the backseats on the other side sat a lanky blonde haired man wearing thick sunglasses followed by the car's rear console armrest propped down, its cooled cupholders sporting two crystal clear glasses, only one having a bit of liquid left in it, it was clear that he had been inside the car for quite some time.

“I am Ethan , assigned to help and weigh your reports. We heard of a company whose report was..far from pleasant” he quickly downed the glass and grabbed a small unassuming remote from his leather trimmed doorcard.

With a press of a red button, the sunshades rose silently from the door panels and rear windows, sealing the cabin off from the outside. A moment later, the panoramic roof dimmed, bathing the interior in a muted, controlled glow.

Jane piercing blue eyes glanced towards him lightning fast, noticing faint red particles radiating from under his sunglasses. She played it off by faking a small reassuring smile.

He looked at her but waited for the sequence to finish before pressing another button.

From the headliner above, a large screen unfolded smoothly, locking into place in front of them.

“So….you have claims, we TOPS must assure that all gears are adequately spinning…which means the old/worn ones need to go….” “Right…i came here because...” her voice was laced with neutrality, devoid of any strong feeling nor hostility, truly a master at work “There is this company…Cell Ivex…whom specialised in alimentary supplies such as chocolate…meat…oils….they claimed it was cell cultured and completely safe” as if on cue the screen lit up with the aforementioned company logo and basic informations “And let me guess….they were not as…healthy or safe as claimed?” “Bingo ... .upon deeper research their products were linked to aggressive diseases and even traces of Ether…” Ethan downed another glass while listening.

“And let me guess….their sales…tanked….how did we not….” “Exactly sir ... .they are still clinging on, investors too stubborn or delirious to acknowledge the failed product, hence i contacted you …my reports show them still syphoning TOPS valuable funds…millions a year…”

A long silence followed, the cars luxury amenities also meant a top tier noise insulation from the outside world, something which gravely amplified the tension which the rat Thiren smartly played off by using a vanity mirror to fix her makeup.

The van also didn’t slouch either, its rugged appearance was perfect disguise that allowed it to blend onto the now urban setting at a few cars distance, Wise meanwhile was listening carefully to everything. They would have to detour soon.

Eous needed to begin its part of the operation, which meant Jane would be left with only the primary recording function active.

Ahead, the route split at a crowded roundabout, one exit leading straight to their destination… the other toward the companion Hollow.

The choice was already made.

“Jane… we have to move,” Wise’s voice came through, strained but steady.

Then, softer fading.

“P-please… take care”

The signal broke followed by silence. She cursed under her breath but maintained her composure.

“You guys might want to hold on” said Nicole who now rested her foot firmly on the accelerator, flooring it, she weaved through traffic like second nature, a driving style that would put formula 1 drivers to shame.

The van seemed weightless and as nimble as a small hatchback, Billy hurried to anchor Wise's equipment while Anby also held Wise down by his shoulders, Nekomata could only laugh strapped to the passenger side by the groaning seatbelt. “Hm ... .smells good…now please hold tight…manager” He could just nod as his stomach started to make rumbling sounds, his food was not very happy about it nor his digestion.

He decided to look at the headliner, the rusty metal providing fleeting soothfulness.

A few bolts and stains aligned just enough to form something… a face. Vague, imperfect

but unmistakably smiling.

He stared a little longer than he should have.

The longer he looked, the more it shifted. Subtle changes, tricks of the light or maybe his motion sickened mind filling in the gaps. The outline softened, the features grew familiar. For a brief, quiet second… It looked like her.

Like Jane. His mind started to derail with worry but then loud braking occurred followed by a loss of traction.

The van came to a screeching halt, something which by only the grace of the creator could make happen.

Wise scurried outside, inhaling weakly lungfulls of fresh air and heaving slightly, his brain slowly and gratefully coming to terms with the change of pace.

He started to lightly stretch his limbs while the Hares each got out one by one, a mockingly sweet voice perturbing his thoughts “Im sorry to disappoint you….proxiee but this was just a drop off” he rolled his eyes and faked a smile “Yes…but im positive that a few minutes of air won’t do much harm”. Dreading the fact that he will soon have to set foot in that damned vehicle our silver haired protagonist decided to check on the others.

Billy was now propped on the side of the van , waiting for the others to be ready, playing rock paper scissors with Eous who was somehow always winning despite lacking one of the crucial requirements for this game, fingers.

Anby and Nekomata were also ready, gazing in the distance at the companion Hollow that hummed faintly. They will have to soon thread it, the mission must resume afterall.

Something wasn’t adding up, a crucial piece was missing “Ugh, where are those two goody too shoes officers, they were supposed to be right behind us” stammered Nicole while combing one of Nekomatas ears gently, which caused the Thirens said ear to twitch “M…m….Maybe….they got lost” Nicole just rolled her eyes and whined “No way, i swear if this is all a ploy im gonna be so—”

She was quickly cut off by Wise hastily answering his phone, his hand tightened around the phone, Nekomata could swear that she could hear the screen just crack before he let go and sighed “Zhu Yuan and Qingyi got caught sidetracked….they are needed for some mass arrests and damage control back at PubSec”

The whole group went silent, but in that small hopeless moment a glimmer of hope shone bright, the pink haired leader Rose up proudly and dressed her voice with a few short coughs “So what? This is just a small inconvenience…i reckon its time that we remind Wise just why we are the best”

‘“Billy, Anby, Nekomata we don’t have time to waste. Take Eous and navigate through the Hollow,” Nicole said, punctuating it with a light punch to Wise’s shoulder. “I will take Wise and get him back pronto at that street” rolling her eyes she then smiled at Billy, urging the construct to say what he had been dying to do so in these types of situations.

His optics opened wide and with a proud march he masterfully loaded his magnums while shouting proudly “STARLIGHT ITS TIME TO SHINE”

Anby simply smiled, quietly encouraged by the rising morale. She reached down and picked up Eous, giving the chubby little helper a light shake until its optics flickered to life in a steady blue.

The connection is now stable once again.

A familiar voice crackled through its speakers.

“I should be connecting any second now. The map’s already downloaded so we’re good to go, sorry for the delay guys, now lets go kick some ass!”

And with that the mission resumed, Nicole drove hastily with Wise in the back while the others entered the elusive Hollow, ready for any challenge that might come their way.

The ever shifting fractured realm proved mildly challenging for our squad that sliced through the threats like paper. Each fissure brings them closer to the goal which was a clean escape route for Jane if things got dire.

They emerged through the fissure into an open field.

Desolation stretched endlessly before them, the land barren and still. Above, a heavy, clouded sky pressed down against the Hollow’s outer shell, amplifying the eerie silence that clung to everything.

“We should find a cluster of abandoned houses nearby…” Eous cooed, raising a small mechanical limb to point ahead. “The fissure we need is in the third one to the left second floor.”

“Also Fairy detected elevated Ether levels in this region caution must be exercised”

Nekomata pupils dilated suddenly, pouncing right above the bangboos head, piercing an ethereals core cleanly right before it could strike Billy from behind with its mutated cleaver arm.

As if on cue Anby focused, sizing up and down the horde that now surrounded the team.

“Seems like we’re surrounded…lets keep the bangboo in the center”

The fight broke up mere moments later, Nekomata slicing the legs off four alpecas, causing them a loss of balance and a perfect opening for Anby to swiftly behead them.

Billy focused down two fauns, blasting and hitting bullseye on their cores before they could come any closer.

More and more corrupted beings poured in now followed by a horde of blastcrawlers which were led by two infested Alpecas which commanded them by letting off a loud screeching roar, a sound so loud that made Nekomata lose focus and balance slightly due to her sensitive hearing.

As the cat Thiren lost footing a hopitali blade almost skewered her from behind before Anby kicked her out of the way and clashed her blade with the monster's one, the fiery exchange birthing a spark shower as metal grinded on metal.

Billy quickly assisted, firing a bullet right in the middle of its core, allowing Anby to lock onto another threat but as more and more came in, they knew that they had to hurry and also make sure that Belle's vessel was unharmed so in true Starlight knight fashion Billy suggested a rash plan.

“Manager, I sure hope you don’t share the same motion sickness as your brother because this mission will surely pick a spinny turn” “Wait what are you planning to—” the construct quickly threw Eous towards Anby while doing a backflip to avoid another impaling strike.

They were on the run now, passing Eous around like a game of hot potato while bolting towards the house and quickly disposing of the lingering Ethereals.

The house loomed closer and closer but so did the chasing horde, Nekomata making use yet again of her small stature used her feline like grace to scale the house wall and hoist the bangboo to safety, which produced heaving sounds from a now dizzy Belle that felt like the whole room was spinning with her back at Random Play.

The mischievous cat Thiren climbed through a broken window and placed the vessel down right next to the fissure in a desolate room. She then winked at it and jumped right back down to help his other teammates.

Billy’s guns rang loudly accompanied by loud electric sounds and slashes, this deadly symphony resounded for minutes to come until it suddenly subsided.

Belle, now who regained her senses, fully grew afraid of the supposed lack and sound and started to walk but to her horror loud noises came from the other side of the house which sounded like frantic steps up the stairs.

She was alone, vulnerable but before she could find any place to hide the rooms door swung loudly to the wall as three familiar figures emerged victorious.

“No worries, we sustained minor damage” replied the same monotonous voice that the proxies grew to love.

Anby was checking Billy and Nekomatas conditions with cold meticulousness to assess for any hints of bleeding or corruption but could find none. “Ok….mm were good to go so….lets take the fissure”.

“Okay… Ether corruption is minimal here,” Belle said, her voice steady through Eous. “Let’s keep a low profile and wait for further instructions. This should be the right area.”

Under her control, the chubby Bangboo waddled over to a rusted swing set and carefully settled onto one of the creaking seats, going still as if it were just another abandoned fixture in the empty playground.

The wind whispered faintly through the broken structures around them as the second phase of their plan could be set in place.

Back when Fairy and Qingyi mapped the areas, something peculiar piqued their interest, an ex TOPS warehouse which now sat abandoned right at the edge of the targeted companion Hollow and right where Jane would pass through after the undercover mission, perhaps a perfect place to set a small comp and check for any interesting loot.

Back on the road, the van cut through traffic with purpose.

Wise, now used to her aggressive driving, just held onto his setup in the back row.

“Arriving soon proxie, lets see how your….girlfriend is doing ” said Nicole with her usual bratty voice that this time seemed to carry faint traces of resentment and perhaps even envy, a tone that went completely over his head considering the circumstances.

He started to recognise the buildings that they passed, meaning that they were getting closer.

Ten minutes later and they were already parked from where they had left before the drop off. Nicole sat back relieved after hearing of Hares ' progress while Wise shot Zhu Yuan a quick message only for the text bracket to display a gray mark which meant that she had no internet in her area, great ...just great.

Not wasting another second he paired once again with Jane's earpiece, his heart beating louder than ever when he heard silence from the other hand, this pattern was already becoming repetitive and stressful.

“My my….look who decided to finally call back” warmth and relief washed over his whole body “I was starting to feel ditched…..something that i greatly hate” another long pause “These matters can be ...properly addressed later….and trust me…they won’t involve any words” Nicole could swear that at that moment Wise's face displayed a whole new shade of red, clueless to what he was really hearing hence the bulky headphones he wore.

“Jane….status report”she picked up right away “My my…so professional…knew i picked right whom to claim”

“They bought the narrative, i am now speaking from one of their break rooms after a meeting where I was just presenting my case, they believed me and are now distracted….but they are very relucant…and every hallway seems more packed then the last” another faint pause “At this rate extracting intel will surely be an….unpleasant pain in my ass which u will also have the thorough task of solving…later” "There's also this guy….Ethan was his name…the executive that picked me up a few hours ago…theres something off about him, i felt inexplicable dread once i set foot near him in that damned car”

Wise entered a few prompts in his laptop and an intricate layout materialized on his screen.

“Great… the building layout is ready for each floor…just listen to me and I will guide you through the areas with the least amount of people, your card clearance level should also suffice”. As he was guiding her Nicole was looking out the van's window, noticing some black suited individuals emerging from the main entrance one by one, whispering in each other's ears and slowly checking out each parked car.

Her grip on the briefcase tensed, this was really bad news but she also knew that Wise needed to stay there no matter what.

She got out of the van and acted as if she was checking for a flat tire while the individuals approached her. By quickly faking a smile she asked “Oh….right in time….I hate being a damsell in distress but i think i got a flat tire….may i get some help?” the situation was averted successfully as the group of males politely refused her and hurried to other cars, completely taking them off the targeted list. “Hmph…men these days…can’t even get help with a tire…”

Despite brushing it off earlier, something lingered.

Nicole pushed open the door of a corner store, the bell chiming softly above her head. She grabbed a bottle of water without really looking, her mind already somewhere else.

That rat Thiren…

Her fingers tightened slightly around the bottle. The way she carried herself… that confidence… like she already knew how things would play out before anyone else even caught on.

She exhaled quietly, walking toward the counter. Cunning. Sharp. Dangerous in that effortless way…also the tail stinger…subtle and deadly.

Her gaze drifted for a second, unfocused.

And that outfit… yeah, subtle wasn’t exactly her thing, was it? A faint scoff left her under her breath.

Someone like that… you don’t mess with. You don’t even try to keep up you just hope you’re not in her way.

She paid, barely noticing the exchange, already halfway out the door.

But the thought that stuck the one that refused to let go, that kiss. Right in front of them. No hesitation. No second thoughts. Like she had already decided. Like he was already hers.

Nicole clicked her tongue softly, twisting the cap off the bottle a bit harder than necessary.

“…Tch.”

She took a long sip, eyes narrowing slightly.

Didn’t even give him time to think, she just made out with him on the spot…

“…Figures…and I bet she has no debt…”

Her grip loosened. “Yet…he still called us when the going got rough so that must mean something” a wave of appreciation washed over her, it was clear that the siblings grew fond of them and their shenanigans, no doubt in her mind.

Upon reentering the van and sliding the door closed she just looked at Wise in a different light, opposites do attract…and Jane was that for him, the positive that needed a negative….someone who had always called the shots and wasn’t afraid to speak her mind even if the other party would get hurt. She then noticed in the pale window filtered sunlight the faint marks on his neck, of course she did, pushing some dirty thoughts aside she petted his shoulder twice and returned to the driver's seat waiting for the next step but all they could do for now was wait.

Wise masterfully guided her, taking into account each employee shift and guard alike so she would draw the least amount of suspicion, every toilet or lunch break they would have? Great, Jane could advance one more hallway, every sleep deprived man or woman typing mindlessly at a desk? Another door sneakily opened via her clearance card.

“You should see a red door to your left filled with warnings and primed alarms, i am afraid that you will need a special sequence to open it” “Yes…i am right in front of it” whispered Jane “ “Great, now insert the following code…..12004521…after this you will have exactly ten seconds to enter and also insert it on the other side..or else it will lock you in and trigger a wide state alarm” “Fairty also had the courtesy to extend the allowed inside timer but its still very….very limited….Jane…you have ten minutes to load as much info as you can on the usb and get out” his fingers were shaking after that last line.

The red door quickly opened and she sneaked inside, the room was dimly lit by multiple suspended screens, a few desks and server casings, each cooled by loud humming fans.

“What exactly am I looking for? There are so many files…” Wise pondered shortly but the ever so helpful Ai assistant qued in and answered for him “Datas related to New Eridus food market….stock market….house market…it is highly advised for you to transfer as many as you can on the usb…and if by chance you stumble upon something called TOPS roundtable, albeit incredibly rare they should be one of the most valuable intel that you can get your hands on”

“Jane quickly got to work, her rodent ears flicking up and down at each distant footstep, it was scary but so thrilling at the same time. She also used her tail to type on another nearby keyboard, effectively doubling her speed.

The data she loaded in was sickening to say the least, every late night conspiracy theory that a tinfoil hat civilian might have could be proved true, she also found out about Krampus Compliance and especially Banyue, but there was no time to spare…she will have to process this later once she was in the clear.

This could change everything.

After a few more minutes she snatched the usb, slid it in her pocket and headed towards the door only for it to creak open.

It began to open more and more from the other side.

Jane froze.Then moved.Fast.

In one fluid motion, she dropped low and slid behind a nearby server casing, pressing herself into the narrow gap just beside the doorframe.

The metal was cold against her back.

The door opened wider, light spilling into the room in a thin, invasive strip. Shadows shifted across the floor, creeping toward her hiding spot.

Jane didn’t move. Didn’t blink. Every muscle locked in place, her body coiled tight, ready to react but praying she wouldn’t have to.

The USB felt heavier in her pocket.

The footsteps lingered.

She could just see the men, it was Ethan, the same one who escorted her here in that fancy car…fate was sure laughing in her face but something was off….his eyes….they glowed and eerie red…as he scoured the room he was getting closer and closer to finding her.

He looked under each server casing leading up to her and stopped at the last, the last she was now using as a hideout. He slowly bent down but right before reaching her his phone rang loudly, Jane could faintly hear what the line communicated “Two pesky PubSec officers are conducting arrests nearby and are close to obtaining a search warrant for the whole building, move now and intercept them….take drastic measures of needed..they may call backup”

Ethan let out a loud sigh and got up, narrowly missing Jane by milimeters by not searching all the way.

She was in the clear, with a subtle sigh she then got out of the room as if nobody was earlier and quickly lost herself in the building's seemingly endless halls.

Her hands were still shaking but the mask of confidence slipped back on, it was clear that she overstayed her welcome so now it was time to leave.

“Jane…i am afraid to say but you will have to leave via the backdoor and onto the newly formed companion Hollow that went unstable….the main entrance is swarmed by TOPS, a highly secretive division from them will shortly arrive so time is limited”

Krampus ....Jane thought reminiscent of what she had seen in that room, they were used to evacuating when Hollow got out of hand or other messier jobs had to be done.

The moment Jane stepped outside, the tension didn’t leave her not yet. Her eyes swept the street on instinct, then stopped.

Someone stood at the mouth of a dark alley, just a block away.

For a split second, she thought her mind was playing tricks on her.

But no, it was him, that silver hair belonged to no other than Wise.

She made a run for it, not even questioning why he was there, the rat Thiren hastily reached him and dragged him by the collar onto the dark alley.

“Jane…” was all he could say before her mouth met his, the kiss was fierce, claiming and very ....very long, fact proven by the lungfulls he took once they parted.

“Nicole…had to leave….we will meet her at Random Play….for now i will guide us through the Hollow and meet the others..” Once we reach them we will all get out…supposedly ten kilometers away from here…”

The plan seemed simple now…most issues seemed to fade besides a small thought that still lingered in the back of her mind…the distraction that saved her in that room.

As if he could read her thoughts, Wise replied “It’s thanks to Zhu Yuan and Qingyi that Ethan was distracted…he was dispatched to stall and talk, to delay the search warrant until everything is vacant…” Jane then grimly added “They planned to evacuate already…thanks ti the Hollow…i swear they slither like snakes out of anything…but not now….not now”

The pair held hands as they rushed onto the Hollow, both already used to its rough distortions.

Wise made quick use of his navigational skills while Jane provided cover from any Ethereals.

His heart seemed to beat faster when he noticed how gracefully she dodged the attacks and how her curves looked under strain…how the black jeans clung to her figure…how her generous bust bounced on each evasion and flip. Her tail, fifth limb was also a perfect sneak attack, its deadly precision always striking true to their pulsating cores.

“What happened, rats got your tongue?” of course she had to make use of a quip “As much as i love…the attention i think this is a highly inappropriate time” her tone was dripping seductiveness. “Lets move it dear”.

They navigated more and more fissures, more and more areas navigated. Wise could feel his heart beating louder, despite his Ether aptitude he was by no means immune from it..they needed to hurry.

His optics turned blue yet again as he successfully established a communication line with his sibling “Wise…the others are close…just one more fissure left” of course it had to be another damned fissure.

Jane was now in combat with a few blastcrawlers and hopitals while Wise now took on a defensive role, by using Fairy he shouted just in time the location of each upcoming attack. One by one each of the monsters fell, dissipating onto nothingness.

“We should be clear now, let's go!” and so they did, finally getting through the fissure and being spat in a desolate land near a warehouse.

“Go greet the others big brother, they are inside” “Thanks Belle” it was just a quick exchange but of course a welcome one.

“Rawr….look whose here….told you they would be alright”said Anby smiling once the pair made their way inside “I know…i know….meow…stop being smug about it”

“M….MANAGER…JANE!” Before either of them could say a word, Billy burst in from behind.

One arm hooked around Wise’s neck, the other around Jane’s, dragging them both in close in a loud, brotherly pull.

“Miss me?” he chimed, his voice buzzing with energy as he squeezed them tighter than necessary. Things started falling into place, the puzzle becoming more and more complete with each passing hour.

Eous and Wise worked in unison, guiding everyone the opposite way from which they came from, now reinforced with Jane they were very very formidable, even a glance towards an Ethereal would disintegrate it but their victory would be cut short by an ominous message from Fairy “The Hollow will lose integrity in…fifthteen minutes…evade as quickly as possible”

Loud sounds and rumbling started to take place as the squad increased their pace yet again, debris falling down from tall buildings and small craters materialising right where they had stepped mere moments ago, swallowing whole Ethereals that were on their tail.

Wise could feel his legs give out from the effort but he had to be strong, especially after everything.

But sports were not his forte as he was slowly falling behind the others. His heart stopped when one of his steps felt lighter than usual and cracking formed at his feet.

He shouted shortly before falling, out of options he closed his eyes but instead of a hard landing something else had caught him.

Anby and Jane held him in their arms, both panting from the catch and earlier effort.

“What a flashy catch!” Said the construct from above showing a thumbs up

“Try not to slip, idiot” quipped Jane while hoisting him on her shoulder and scaling each boulder or surface to get out of the hole.

Time ticked by, minute by minute as they did approach the last fissure. Narrowly they all got out at the same time, being spewed on a park's green grass. The Hollow shrunk right before their eyes until it was completely gone leaving only a trail of desolate buildings and destruction behind.

Victory…it was over…outside it was night already..the whole mission took almost an entire day but they were done.

Jane quickly checked her pocket and laughed when she found the usb unscathed, holding it for the others to see.

They of course had to stop for burgers, Anby knew a place that proved to have great taste, her and Jane trying new flavours and loving the greasy fast food while Wise ate at the other side of the table, being considerate enough to also order for his sister and Zhu Yuan for when they will eventually go back to the video store.

Right on cue, the low hum of an idling engine reached them Nicole was already waiting outside. Nekomata, ever thoughtful in her own way, had even picked up a burger and a side of fries for their cunning leader. After they paid they each got onto the van and Nicole sped off towards the store.

The ride back to Random Play felt…lighter.

Billy wouldn’t allow that but lighter all the same. The kind of calm that only comes after everything that could’ve gone wrong…didn’t.

The van rolled to a stop outside the familiar storefront, its neon sign casting a soft glow onto the pavement. For a brief second, no one moved.

Then Wise slid the door open. Warm air and that faint, comforting hum of electronics greeted them as they stepped inside.

Belle was already there.

She stood near the counter, turning the moment the bell above the door chimed. Relief washed over her face so quickly it barely had time to hide behind her usual composure.

She hugged everyone, taking her time “You are all back….this whole day was so tense”

Before anyone could answer, another figure shifted from the side, Zhu Yuan but instead of authority she smiled confidently " New Eridu's curtain never falls... not now, not ever "

Her posture was straight as ever, but the fading tension in her shoulders gave her away. Beside her stood Qingyi, arms folded, gaze calmly scanning the group though the faint flicker in her jade eyes suggested something closer to relief than analysis.

“Took you long enough,” Qingyi remarked, tone as dry as usual. “I was beginning to calculate unfavorable outcomes.”

Jane smirked faintly, brushing a strand of hair back as she stepped in beside Wise.

“Missed me, captain?”

Zhu Yuan didn’t take the bait though the smallest hint of a smile tugged at her lips before she turned away.

Billy clapped his hands together loudly.

“AND THE CREW IS REUNITED! A PERFECT ENDING!”

“Too loud…” Anby muttered, though she didn’t look away.

Nicole leaned against the counter, arms crossed, watching the scene unfold with a quiet huff.

“…Yeah. Not bad at all.”

Everyone forgot about their responsibilities for the time being and just enjoyed the company, new ties were made and also friendships for the cunning pink haired leader, her jealousy forgotten.

When the group parted ways only three remained, the siblings and of course Jane who looked…hungrily at our proxie.

“Wise…I'm very very tired after today .... say goodnight to your sister and let's go upstairs…” said Jane, perfectly faking a yawn and tired look.

In his room Jane wasted no time, locking his door, putting on some relaxing music and straddling his lap. “I always keep my word you know…”

That night…the last thing they did was sleep..also Belle had to cover her ears despite the music that muffled the upcoming whimpers and moans which only subsided two hours later.

The end.

u/13taM — 18 days ago