The pull of that next world ignored, she instead made her own gravity, gravity of will, that would change the terrain of Bly Manor forever. And once again, she would sleep. She would wake. And she would walk.
THE HAUNTING OF BLY MANOR, ’The Romance of Certain Old Clothes’
And that's the part that's making me lose my fucking mind.
We lost an entire section of the MAIN STORY.
The livestream literally told us Valko's release was going to reveal more about the Aethercore—one of the biggest mysteries in Love and Deepspace and something that's been central to the plot from the very beginning.
So now what?
You think they can just delete him and nothing changes?
Do people genuinely think you can rip out an entire story arc without consequences?
Everything that was supposed to be revealed through Valko now has to be rewritten, redistributed, or outright cut. The main story is going to have to be retconned. Future updates are going to have to be reworked. Characters may have to be rewritten just to fill the gap he leaves.
If you're celebrating this because you "won," I sincerely hope you understand what you've actually cheered for.
Well never mind. I've just found out they've canceled Valko. I'm at work, already going through a death in family, and now this! Pockets of happiness just getting snatched away.
My thoughts on Valko? I'm in freaking danger is what! Valko would absolutely be considered to be my 'type'. I feel like he's slapped me on one cheek and kissed the other. Giggling, goofy, goop is the best way to describe me every time he comes across my screen. Ughhhhhh.
Nonmc always took the same train to her job as a simple convenience store worker. It wasn't exactly high-paying, but she could only get so far with no college education and having to take care of her little sister, Amelie, that was still in elementary. Such was a life of two people who had to live without their parents that tragically passed when nonmc was barely out of high school.
Every morning it was the same thing, nonmc would dress them both for the day before having them head out to the train station. Their small one bedroom apartment was in the outskirts of Linkon, making commuting essential for them.
Just like any other day, nonmc rushed them past crowds to beat the morning commute, thankful that she happened to snag an empty seat. With a tired huff, she had Amelie sit on her lap who in turn had her small arms holding her bun bun themed backpack in front of herself.
After shifting her purse around so it wouldn't jab into her side, she accidentally bumps her elbow against the passenger next to her. She turns quickly to apologize, only to realize the passenger sitting next to her was sleeping soundly.
Nonmc blinks blankly at the person next to her, both surprised at his lack of awareness and how handsome he was.
He had silver blonde hair and a fair complexion, someone with princely type of features. From the soft eyelashes, the slope of his nose, the perfect curve of his lips. He was absolutely handsome!
Her eyes dart down to his clothing, fighting back a gasp at his uniform. Not just any uniform, a Hunters Association uniform.
On top of having good looks, he was a hunter too?!
She had to force her gaze forward, not wanting to be caught staring at him from other passengers on the crowded train or on the off chance the man himself wakes up. But it looked like she wasn't alone in her thoughts, other people especially women were staring at this sleeping prince, ogling him like a painting.
With a quiet exhale through her nose, she adjusted her arms around Amelie who seemed just as sleepy from the early commute, focusing on which train station she needed them to head out from. It would be at least an hour until theirs, so she supposed she could at least enjoy the little warmth and touch from the man seated next to her.
She figures this moment won't last anyways, she'll leave this train and forget that this handsome man even exists.
At least until a few train stops in, she feels his head slump downward onto her shoulder, completely unprompted. She's frozen on the spot, her eye barely able to make out the silver blonde in her peripheral. She wasn't sure if she should say something or move, but something inside told her she shouldn't.
With her arms busy holding Amelie and now becoming a resting spot for this man, she was practically sandwiched in her seat. It didn't help that her seat was also closest to a train door, her other arm barricaded by the arm rest and plastic wall.
Nonmc could feel her cheeks warm with each passing second, her heart thumping as she kept her gaze down to avoid curious glances from passengers. Her mind couldn't help but ponder how they looked to others, how it might have painted a picture of a couple and their daughter.
'No, no! Don't think like that!', Nonmc could only repeat to herself silently.
After another half-hour, the announcer's voice stating a specific train stop had somehow gotten the sleeping man's attention, as if waking him up like an alarm. How did he even know?
He blinks languidly, his head slowly raising from her shoulder. He yawns audibly, the sound quite adorable if she was being honest.
From the side, she could see him turn to her, processing his surroundings before humming sleepily.
"Hm. Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to sleep on you like that."
Nonmc had to suppress a physical squeal from the low, drowsy timbre of his voice that went perfectly well with his handsome face.
"U-Uh, no, no-- It's, um-- It's fine. Don't worry." She stammers, shifting her gaze to and away from him.
With him awake now, she could see the deep blue of his eyes. It was such an enchanting color.
He nods subtly, humming again in response. He glances down to Amelie snoring quietly against nonmc's chest, a small almost inaudible laugh from deep within his chest accompanying his smile before he's already lifting up from his seat to head out through one of the opening train doors.
She could only stare wide-eyed in awe as he rose to his full height, leaving without sparing another glance. Her eyes followed him as he left the train, the closing doors giving a brief glimpse of his form before he truly disappeared into the crowd.
Her shoulders slumped down once the train started back up on its journey, already mourning a lost 'meet-cute'. If only she woke him up and started a conversation or something! But alas, she was too shy to even think of doing so.
Her track record for boyfriends was... zero to none.
Nonmc was too busy worrying about Amelie and working enough overtime to afford their living, that even thinking about dating was a definite no-go. Besides, who'd want a women in her mid-20's with a young girl that could be perceived as her young daughter?
Which is why she put that singular moment into the back of her mind like it was a figment of her imagination, getting back to her daily life before he even existed.
She didn't even see that man again anyways as the weeks passed, so perhaps it really was one of those movie moments that felt too good to be true. Like a dream almost.
Her real concern at the moment was what she was going to make for dinner. With enough money saved up and getting an approved half-day from work, she made sure to pick up Amelie as soon as she could from school rather than have her stay with the teachers for a few hours afterschool like normal.
Hand-in-hand, the two of them were heading down the stairs to the underground train station, wide smiles adorning their faces.
"So you can choose whatever you want to eat today!" Nonmc exclaimed to Amelie, their arms swinging between them.
"Anything?" Amelie responds just as excitedly.
"Mhm. Anything!"
Amelie hums in deep thought, her cheeks rounded with her pout, before gazing up at nonmc with sparkles in her eyes.
"Dumplings! And noodles! The ones we got on my birthday!"
"Hah, oh really, you want those? Are you sure it's not because that restaurant also sells bun bun shaped baos too?" She teases with narrowing eyes, making Amelie giggle conspiratorially.
Nonmc sighs dramatically, tipping her head back like it was a big pain.
"Oh, fine, I suppose we can get them. But we have to hurry, those bun bun baos sell out fast."
Amelie nods quickly, her little loafers starting to tap happily with each step towards the train platform.
Just as nonmc was smiling adoringly at her younger sister's enthusiasm, the sudden cries and commotion from deep within the area gets her attention. She turns to the echoing noise, eyes widening as the crowd started to bolt in the other direction they were heading towards.
Before she could even question what was happening, the roars of wanderers along with metal and concrete loudly smashing to bits not that far down makes the blood in her face drain.
She hurriedly tugs her purse further up her shoulder and picks Amelie up from the ground in one quick motion, not wanting to stick around for what was inevitably going to get worse.
"Jiějie?" Amelie questions as she wrapped her trembling arms around nonmc's neck, her eyebrows scrunching together in fear.
Nonmc locked eyes with Amelie, trying to keep her face calm despite feeling the same impending terror while she adjusted her sister's backpack straps better around her small shoulders.
"It's okay, everything's okay. We have to get home another way, all right?" She reassures her, earning a meek hum from Amelie, "Good, now, don't let go."
Amelie does as she instructed, her small body curling inward as nonmc covered her hands protectively over her held body. She starts speeding into a sprint as best she could in the panicked crowd, the cacophony of other people screaming out things and alerting the Hunters Association through phones becoming painfully ear-ringing.
The crowd shoved and pulled throughout, causing nonmc's feet to constantly side-step in order to slip past openings she could find. As she was about to place her foot down onto one empty spot within the train station floor, a group of people rushed forward in the last moment.
Her foot gets caught in between the tangled legs, all of them tripping upon one another. She profusely apologies through heaving breath, one of her hands cushioning Amelie's head during the tumble.
The group that tripped her were the first to get up, their instincts telling them to run rather than help. Nonmc was left to scramble upward, grunting as she pulled her own weight and Amelie's up.
She was ready to turn on her heel when she hears Amelie cry out, making her pause and dart her eyes about for any injuries.
"Jiějie!"
"What's wrong? Are you hurt?"
Amelie's eyes start to fill with tears as she shook her head vehemently, one arm loosening from nonmc's neck to point at the bun bun keychain across the floor, the one that should be attached to her backpack and was now getting trampled on.
"Amelie, we can't. We have to go--"
"No! Jiějie! Please! Bun bun!"
With Amelie continuing to wail harder with reddened eyes and cheeks, nonmc huffs in resignation, knowing it will only cause her younger sister to resent her for it when this was all over. Instead of running towards the train station stairs as planned, she pushed past the opposing crowd to get to the keychain.
With pained grunts and heaves, the crowd dispersed enough for her to crouch down and grab the dirtied bun bun keychain. With the emptier train station, she makes a show of holding up the keychain to Amelie and placing it into her own jacket pocket.
"Here, I'll put it in my jacket pocket. Now, we need to--"
Her explanation gets cut off as soon as a wanderer sliced through the air, hitting the brick and pipes of the train station ceiling above them. They both scream out in fear, before nonmc turns them both the other way.
Another wanderer dashes past, barreling nearly into a few straggling people still trying to leave. They were getting pinned down on all sides, the exits blocked.
Amelie cries into nonmc's neck, both of them holding onto each other desperately. Nonmc holds her breath from where she stood, eyes squinting tightly together as a wanderer was about to swing their bladed arm.
She awaits the pain, only to hear a zipping swoosh of metal ringing past her ears. Wanderers growl and roar with each slice cutting into their stone exterior, flashes of light bursting across the station.
Nonmc finds the will to flutter her eyes open, catching the sight of white, lavender, and silver blonde disappearing and reappearing around them. For a second, the man appears for longer, making her lips part in shock.
It was the same man from before. The sleepy prince.
Compared to how docile and soft-looking he was that time, his cerulean eyes were hardened and focused. His body was quick, his sword attacks precise.
He was practically magic in the eyes of a simple civilian like her who had no evol to her own name. In mere minutes, the wanderers were reduced to dust, the train station becoming quiet with the exception of flickering lights and the creaking of damaged pipes.
The small group of stragglers looked on in admiration as he started tapping away at his Hunters watch, likely getting other Hunters in the area to take over.
Eventually, he turns to the group, which makes them all give their exclaimed thanks in appreciation from afar before deciding now was the time to hurry up the stairs.
Nonmc, on the other hand, stood in place despite the danger finally over. She couldn't look away from him, the dashing savior that said very little words.
Before she even realizes it, she's slowly walking her way over to him, making even Amelie glance over curiously to who they were approaching.
He stares back at them, tilting his head slightly. His expression was back to what she remembered before, less guarded and more so closer to soft confusion.
"I, um... Thank you for helping us." Nonmc manages, feeling her heart tighten nervously.
"It's nothing. Just my job."
"R-Right... your job."
He continues to blink for a few silent moments, shifting his gaze between them both before raising his eyebrows slightly in recognition.
"Oh, I remember you. You let me use your shoulder to sleep before."
Nonmc coughs inwardly, her cheeks starting to redden.
"Ah, yeah. That was me, hah..."
"Well, thank you for that time."
"That's..! To thank me for that is..." She trails off once she sees a thin droplet of blood start to run down his cheek, the noticeable wound making her gasp worriedly, "You're hurt!"
"Oh. It's--"
"Don't say it's nothing. It's not." She says sternly, her older sister mode on full display.
She sets Amelie down gently before sifting inside her purse with scrunched eyebrows.
"How can you be okay with getting hurt like this? Are you in pain anywhere else?"
"No. Maybe some bruises but I'll be--"
"Bruises?! And you're only saying that now? How are still standing?"
He purses his lips at having been reprimanded by the shorter woman, her strict tone fizzling out any of his excuses. Amelie was watching him the entire time until she finally reached a hand up to tug at his jacket to get his attention.
"Gēgē needs to apologize for lying about being hurt. Jiějie doesn't like that."
"...Oh?" He sounds off in bewilderment.
"Amelie..." Nonmc warns softly but Amelie is already speaking again.
"I hurt my knee from climbing a tree one time. When jiějie asked me, I lied that I didn't do it. Then she told me it was bad to lie. So gēgē should do the same."
Nonmc sighs as she got out her travel size medical kit out from her purse, searching for an alcohol wipe and band aid from within it.
"You don't have to listen to her--"
"No, she's right. I'm sorry about lying." He states, clearing his throat when nonmc looked on with surprise, "...I'll try to not do it again."
"Oh... Well, uh... Thank you for saying so."
He nods in agreement, his eyes going to Amelie who gave him an approving thumbs up. He huffs a short laugh through his nose, his hand coming up to brush affectionately over the top of her head in response.
"Here's something to help you." Nonmc offers, handing him the alcohol wipe and band aid, "Sorry about the band aid, I only have ones I give to Amelie."
He looks down at the band aid printed with a bunch of bun buns, making him hold back another laugh.
"It's okay. I'll take it."
She lets him open the alcohol wipe packet halfway before noticing his contemplative hum as he stares down at the items.
"Something wrong?" She asks.
"It's just... I don't know where the wound is. Without a mirror, it's kind of..."
"O-Oh..! Well..."
"You can help gēgē, can't you, jiějie?" Amelie suggests, looking upward with hopeful eyes.
They both turn to one another awkwardly, almost trying to silently gauge each other's reaction to that before turning back to Amelie.
"I don't think he would be okay with that, Amelie..."
"I'm fine with it." He corrects, offering the things back to her.
"You're sure..?"
He nods swiftly, giving a small smile to show he was agreeable. It didn't help that it only made her heart do somersaults in her chest, but who was she to not take an opportunity presented to her like this?
"All right, then..."
That next minute, nonmc is gently moving the wipe across his cheekbone, making sure to clean every little speck of blood and dirt on his skin. She tried not to think about how close he was or how his eyes stared deeply at her.
She didn't know what he was thinking in that moment, all she knew was she was quickly developing a crush on this mysterious, handsome man. Maybe it was the lack of boyfriends over the years, but somehow she felt an attraction that would not go away.
"I... didn't get your name." He mentions in the silence.
"Hm? It's, um... Nonmc."
"Nonmc..." He repeats quietly, almost tenderly, "I'm Xavier."
"N-Nice to meet you, Xavier." She responds back in a wavering, bashful voice, "That's Amelie. My mèimei."
Xavier blinks a bit once she finished cleaning him up, gazing down at Amelie with a friendly smile.
"Hello, Amelie. Nice to meet you."
"Hello, gēgē! Hehe, you're prince bun bun now!"
His eyes widen at Amelie looking over at the bun bun patterned band aid on his cheek, his hand coming up to touch the edges of it.
"Oh? I am? I'm the prince of bun buns..?"
"Yeah!"
"Well... that's true. All the bun buns follow me since I'm their leader."
"Really!?"
Nonmc couldn't help but giggle softly as he played along, covering her mouth with one hand as her eyes crinkled in amusement. He shifted his eyes over to her, seemingly mesmerized by something in her expression.
Amelie grasps nonmc's hand a few seconds later, grumbling a bit and patting her stomach.
"Jiějie? Are we still getting dumplings? I'm hungry."
"Hm? Oh, that's right! We're running late!" She exclaims in realization, turning her head over to the stairs.
"Where are you heading?" Xavier chimes in, tilting his head in question.
"Oh, just a restaurant by downtown Linkon. They sell bun bun baos so she really wants them."
He hums a bit, nodding in understanding.
"I know where that is."
"Really? You do?"
"Yeah, I've been there before. They have some spicy noodles I like."
"Then do you know a faster route to get there? Maybe by the streets?"
He chuckles lightly, shaking his head.
"We don't need to walk or drive. I can take us there right now."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Well... do you trust me?"
It was an odd question especially after so much has happened in such short time, and yet she knew the answer right away.
"I do."
He smiles more widely, nodding and gesturing over to Amelie.
"All right, just grab a hold of Amelie. I'll do the rest."
She raises a disbelieving eyebrow but still nonetheless lifts up Amelie back into her arms.
"Okay, so what’s next--"
Xavier suddenly crouches down to lift nonmc up from her feet, putting her into a bridal carry. Nonmc and Amelie make noises of surprise as he easily holds them both in his arms, their eyes wide in shock.
"Now hold on tight." He advises nonmc, waiting until she tentatively placed one arm around his neck before dashing out of the train station.
"Xavier, what're you..!"
As soon as he ascends up the stairs and out of the train station entrance, he starts to emanate a golden glow around them. His closed eyes widened once his evol was charged, launching them upward into the sky and past city buildings.
Nonmc and Amelie's screaming into the afternoon sky is a culmination of fear and excitement, their hair whipping about from Xavier's fast launching and jumps across various rooftops. Despite nonmc's clear worries, he held onto them both tightly and assuredly, not daring to drop them.
Before long, his boots scuffle onto the pavement, the very restaurant she mentioned now just a short walk away. Nonmc didn't even realize she had her head nestled into his neck until she lifted it up, blowing back a piece of her hair that was falling over her face.
Xavier chuckles at the state of their hair, continuing to hold them as he waited for nonmc to recover.
"Here we are. The line doesn't look too bad right now."
Nonmc grumbles quietly, upturning her eyes at him. She couldn't even be angry with that bright look on his face or the fact that he smelled so lovely up close despite having fought wanderers. Like fresh linens and baby powder.
Amelie, on the other hand, was full on belly laughing. Like this was the best thing that's ever happened.
"Haha! Gēgē is a flying bun bun prince!" Amelie shouted, clutching happily onto Xavier's jacket.
He continued to laugh in tandem with her little sister as he finally set them both down. His gloved hand did however brush behind nonmc's back before he took a small step away, almost reluctant to not have her near anymore.
Nonmc clears her throat, gathering Amelie's hand once they started to walk towards the restaurant.
"I suppose I should treat you for all you've done." She ponders.
Xavier smiles, his gaze completely care-free while following at her side, his gloved hand just inches from holding her free one.
"Don't worry. I have a loyalty card with all the stamps except one. Tonight I can get a discount."
"Huh? But... that's yours."
"I don't mind. Maybe we can come back again and start a new one."
"A new one... Together?"
"Yeah." He answers immediately, glancing over with a gaze that causes her heart to stutter, "Together."
Her eyes slowly widened, her cheeks now flushed completely. Was he... flirting?
She took a deep swallow, looking forward with a few rapid, bashful blinks.
"Is that a no?" He asks, a hint of teasing beneath the surface.
"N-No. I... I would like that, actually." She mutters.
If only nonmc dared to look his way, she'd be able to see the hint of red starting to bloom against the tips of his ears. An equal sense of elation at her answer.
"All right. I'll get your number after dinner, then I'll take you both home. That sound okay?"
She nods back subtly, hiding the smile growing on her lips.
Nonmc would have never imagined today would end up like this. Gaining a new friend, a potential something more.
Likewise, Xavier usually would have gone home by now, already dreading the reports to write for the next work day. But now, he had someone to look forward to seeing, hopefully for a long time.
I'm undecided about him. Don't get me wrong, he's cute. With him being a 'wolf', I feel they could've given him longer hair and facial hair. He looks too clean! Maybe it's just my western idea of werewolf, but I'm feeling 'Eh' about him right now. I'm welcome to being convinced otherwise.
Henry Cavill as Charles Brandon in The Tudors (2007-2010)
Douglas Booth as Romeo Montague in Romeo & Juliet (2013)
Sean Teale as Dario Penza in Rosaline (2022)
