In a cozy sunlit corner of the Halo Cafe, Parvana, Saima and Joanne were on a video call with their friends from the other dimension, chatting as they enjoyed their snacks and tea. To their disappointment, Vega, Sofia and Ricardo weren't here. Nasmira had said that they were busy, so she got some extra snacks for them.
No one knew how they came to this topic, but Saima tilted her head and said, “You know, I noticed something we all seem to have in common. If we have something nice, something not-so-nice comes with it! Like me, I may have a gaggle of ghostly friends, and living ones, but our dorm is horrendous.”
Parvana laughed dryly. “ Funny, it’s the opposite setup for me. I live in a nice house but with some really rowdy roommates. And that’s putting it nicely.”
Saima pointedly said , “A bit too nicely considering you ACTUALLY DIED AND CAME BACK TO LIFE, but glad we’re on the same page.”
Joanne nodded as well, “My situation’s the same as Parvana. At least I have a couple of sane dormmates, at least by Saligian standards.” Seeing the looks on her friends’ faces, she added, “Though I suppose that’s not saying much. I didn’t die, at least. Yet.”
Nasmira raised an eyebrow. “Right?? And we all face near death situations more times than is normal, even in the nicest places. And sometimes we even get to have a chat with an eldritch horror or evil cult member every once in a while.”
Tasnim shuddered. “Or been cursed!” She turned to Nasmira and said, “I still haven’t thanked your friends enough for helping to cure mine, Apu. I thought I was a goner for sure!”
“Even Sirius helped in his own weird way,” Nasmira said as her shoulders slumped with relief. “We’ve all earned frequent flyer miles in the afterlife, and yet here we are, trading trauma stories like Pokemon”
“I mean, I’ve heard of following in the elders’ footsteps,” said Tasnim, “but mine were more like falling into their trapdoor!”
They all laughed. Then Marianne spoke, wiping the jam off her fingers.
“And let’s not forget that even if none of these apply to you, you’re still eligible to be a political pawn. Your entire world is toast if you make the wrong choice.”
Joanne groaned. “Tell me about it! Even worse when the world quite LITERALLY hinges on your existence”
“Ah yes,” Saima sighed, lifting her teacup, “casual divine responsibility. Just another Tuesday.”
“I’m starting to think,” Parvana mused, “The Unpaid Therapists Club sounds like a misnomer... We’re the Supernatural Nonsense Survivor Support Group. Has a nice ring to it, right?”
Tasnim nodded solemnly. “We’d need an entire department just for crisis mediation.”
“And a snack fund,” added Joanne.
Marianne raised her teacup with a smile. “Only if it includes tea strong enough to erase the memory of our last five boss fights.”
And so the friends laughed as they shared not only snacks, but also supportive company with each other despite the madness. Because sometimes, the best way to face the supernatural…is with snacks, sarcasm, and friends who really get it.
hi! i've sent this to a couple other of my favorite COD writers, but it's a psycho-analysis thing on guy that i wanted to share as im curious about other's thoughts. i should mention that i am a psych student with a special interest in male psychological trauma and "toxic masculinity" (put in quotes because idk the scientific term for it Imao)
warnings for slight spoilers, i don't believe there's much of anything too triggering, just some mention of sexism in avari, and parental/generational trauma, but nothing too detailed.
(and j*sper jumpscare at the end but it's just slander)
this also isn’t at all and excuse for abuse or anything of the sort, and that’s not what i specialize in either; it’s more like a deeper analysis of internalized sexism, now if guy did anything on the level of j*sper or got physical or anything, i would not be writing this.
so, guy starts off very controlling (literally using mind control), but when you play his route + events (specifically the ones where he goes to avari) a much deeper story unfolds.
it is my understanding that avari has very different thoughts on women, and we even see guy tell MC that his father told him all women are cruel and only want power. i believe guy has been told all his life negative things about women, and that all he has seen was his father marry for power after his mother passed. we also see in a route that guy was much more open when his mom was alive, but closed his heart to everyone when she was killed. it is also seen that guy assumed his mother was murdered by other women. so, Guy has been told all his life these things about women, ever since he was a child, and never had the chance to see any differently as he never opened up to another woman until MC.
now this is where the beauty comes in. after a while, guy begins to truly love MC for herself and not just her power, and even tells her what he was told about women and says she changed that. guy was able to swallow his ego and be emotionally open to MC and begin to see her as an individual and not just a vessel for power. guy defends her to her father and tells him off saying that he truly loves her and no other, and it is not just because of her power, and that she will make a fine queen. we see him praise her throughout his stories and events, and through his thoughts we see he is truly a changed man who has changed his outlook on women through his love for MC.
although he is not yet open to fully sharing his thoughts quite yet, we see that he is actively working on himself for MC.
we also see a boyish side come out of him during these emotional moments, that i believe to be trauma regression and suppressed feelings that he has had to endure due to the excessively violent and aggressive nature of avari. i truly think guy's initial act towards MC is due to trauma and abuse he suffered in avari, and he only begun realizing he was lied to and was wrong about women through his relationship with MC. guy is actually my favorite character because of this, and i think it's truly a beautifully complex story that the creators made.
also, i love how his toxic masculinity was turned around and how it tells the story that growing up in such a toxic environment can truly damage a man.
thank you for reading my long ass ramble about a fictional character in a mobile game that i am utterly obsessed with.
Thanks for confirming that this man DESPERATELY NEEDS THERAPY
Real talk, tho. I am not a psychology major (psychology is more of a special interest of mine, so take what I say with a grain of salt. Or a kilogram. idk), but I can say that all of your points are valid. Growing up in a toxic environment will mess someone up, especially as a child. Bro basically grew up indoctrinated by the Saligian version of Andrew Tate's pHILosOPhY (for lack of a better term) and seeing that view on women unfold his eyes over and over again probably gave him a lot of trust issues too.
I do kind of appreciate that, despite him being very rough around the edges, his character was still ultimately salvageable. I just kind of wish we had the chance to explore his backstory more in his own consort path tho, cuz I feel that bit was a bit rushed. Or maybe it wasn't and I'm remembering wrong? Feel free to correct me on this. It's been a hot minute since I read his consort path
I still don't really like Guy, at least not as a consort, but I do appreciate his character growth, and you really hit the nail on the head
“Boo! Boo!” an angry Peekaboo chirped. How long has it been since you paid your friends at Jabberwock a visit? You lost track after being bombarded left and right with missions. The days blurred into weeks, so it’s become nigh impossible to keep track of how long it’s been before you got any proper rest. And it looks like Peekaboo was not happy with your absence. He stamped on the floor in indignation, and poor Haru was mortified.
“Peekaboo!” He chided, wagging a finger at the peeved creature. “MC’s been super busy! Don’t you yell at them!”
You couldn’t help but chuckle, the sound came out surprisingly light. “It’s fine. I get it. The little guy must’ve missed me a lot. Honestly... I missed him too.” You reached out, giving Peekaboo a fond scratch on the head, even as it huffed and turned its back on you with exaggerated flair. Though he soon melted into your touch, almost purring like a contented cat.
“Those missions must have been exhausting,” Haru said. You always did appreciate how much he doted on the anomalous animals as if they were his children. And that care extended to his ghoul and human friends alike. Right now his eyes were scanning you from head to toe. If you were trying to hide any sign of fatigue, you were doing a really bad job at it. Your clothes were clean and it seems like you took a well-deserved shower earlier, but your posture and dark circles betrayed how exhausted you were. You looked like an invertebrate. He grinned suddenly, breaking through your haze of exhaustion like sunlight after a storm.
“Lucky for you,” he said, “I already tackled all the chores at Jabberwock. The dorm’s spotless, the kitchen’s stocked, and we’ve got the whole place to ourselves!”
“And it’s not even 3pm?” You said. “I’m impressed! And kind of concerned. I really don’t deserve you. Or Peekaboo for that matter”
“Don’t be silly!” Haru teased with a wink. “But lucky for you, Peekaboo and I are a package deal.”
Even as exhaustion tugged at your body, the warmth in your chest was undeniable. For now, you could finally rest, surrounded by friends who always seemed to know exactly what you needed.
“I hope you’re hungry because I prepared a picnic just for the three of us!” He went in and out of the kitchen so fast you’d think he teleported. You’d slap him silly if he was using his stigma. You were well aware of how much of a toll it takes on his body and you’d rather he didn’t exhaust himself to take care of you.
“Wow, Haru. Thank you,” you said. Then, narrowing your eyes in mock sternness, you added, “But I swear, if you wore yourself out making this, I’ll be very cross with you.”
“You’re sweet, MC, but I’m totally fine!” He said with a chuckle.
Unconvinced, you raised an eyebrow at him and then turned your gaze to Peekaboo. “Peekaboo, spill the beans—did papa overwork himself?”
The small round creature shook his body from side to side, an emphatic “no.” You smirked, biting back a laugh. “Good,” you replied. “I’d be sad too if he did.”
Haru burst out laughing, and you couldn’t help but join him, your gratitude bubbling to the surface in the form of warm, unrestrained laughter.
“Thanks, Haru,” you said again, softer this time. “You’re the best.”
“Always,” he replied, his grin as bright as the relief blooming in your chest."
And so, Haru gently wrapped his arm around you, his touch steady and comforting, and guided you outside to bask in the sunlight. Haru laid out the picnic blanket and arranged the food as Peekaboo was darting around like a tiny whirlwind of energy. Everything about this scene felt so perfect to you. You felt like a spouse returning home from a long and grueling day of work to the warm smile of your partner and the laughter of a rambunctious child.
“Peekaboo seems really energetic today,” You chuckled as you watched the little white furball run around like a child on sugar. Haru chuckled, his gaze lingering on you with quiet fondness. “He’s excited to have you back.”
You laughed, cutting him off before he could say more. “That’s fine. I’ll take this over the chaos of those missions any day.”
Haru’s smile was warm, his gaze holding yours as though the rest of the world had faded away. His hand brushed gently along your cheek, his touch feather-light yet grounding. As his face leaned closer, his lips parting slightly, you felt your breath hitch—a shared moment, intimate and unspoken, drawing you together.
Your gaze softened, your heart swelling as you leaned into him, meeting his lips in a tender, lingering kiss. The world could wait.
“Boo! Boo!” Peekaboo called out to you demanding to play. You turned to see him determinedly rolling a ball toward you, his little body puffed up with impatience. You pulled away with a laugh, the warmth in your chest still there.
“We’ll pick up where we left off later,” he promised, his voice low and teasing, his thumb brushing your cheek one last time. “Alright, Peekaboo, we’ll play with you.”
Haru stood, offering you his hand with a grin. “Let’s make sure we give him some good memories, too.”
As the three of you played, laughter echoing in the air, the earlier tenderness lingered, a quiet promise that moments like these—filled with love and joy—were the ones you treasured most."
Ren was convinced he was able to give Haru the slip by some sort of witchcraft. But that didn’t matter too much to him now. He was finally in the sanctuary of the usually empty diner. Well, today it was almost empty save for you studying here, and Ritsu passing by for his regular black coffee. It’s times like these he’s thankful he took up work here in this diner, and for some reason seeing you here made the ambiance strangely comforting. Not that he had any reason to complain about the near silence save for the occasional notification sounds from his phone. And the odd smells from some of the kitchen’s ingredients he had unfortunately become familiar with had become more bearable as well. Ren smiled in spite of himself as Ritsu bid him and you farewell and headed off to sort out any new shenanigans.
Ren still had about fifteen minutes before the daily login reset for the day so he decided to check his progress for the day and find out how to optimize the next day’s rewards. It didn’t look like there was all that much to do, since this time’s event he cleared all the story and gameplay. And there were a couple simple tasks to farm for stamina, and he needed all he could get. They were simple puzzles, so no more than two minutes was needed. His fingers moved deftly across the screen, the soft glow of his phone lighting up his face.
Unconsciously, his gaze drifted to you sitting by the window. The sun filtered through the glass panes of the window, enveloping you in its warm light like a halo. He could have sworn the sunlight was woven into your skin, making you look like you were an otherworldly being. You were finally given a break (sort of) to study though the stack of books and notes in front of you seemed just as daunting as any field assignment. Ren couldn’t help but feel bad for you, it was always either missions or assignments for you.
But he was soon shaken out of his reverie when you sensed him staring and then waved at him with a smile. His heart skipped a beat as he stumbled behind the counter, cursing his own foolishness. Of all the times to look like an utter clown! Heat crept up his neck and bloomed across his cheeks as he hastily grabbed a random towel to feign busyness. What was worse, the counter was reflective, and he could still see the embarrassed mess of himself. “Pull it together, Ren,” he muttered under his breath, glaring at the towel as though it were responsible for his predicament.
At least, he thought, none of his dormmates—especially Haru, thank whatever deity was watching over him—were around to witness this. But still, you had seen it, and that thought alone was enough to make him wish he could sink into the floor.
What was that about? You wondered. You shrugged it off and checked the time on your phone. It looked like the daily login just reset, so you logged in to the game. You glanced over at the counter to see a still red-faced Ren also on his phone, no doubt logging into his game also. He took this event quite seriously, especially since he really wanted the rewards. He told you before that this is the story update he was looking forward to most. Sadly for you, you’d have to complete it at a later time. If you played any more, you wouldn’t be able to concentrate on your studies. Or so you told yourself, but your gaze shifted towards the now calm Ren behind the counter. His brow was furrowed in concentration as his fingers danced across his screen. The faint glow of the screen cast a subtle light onto his features, highlighting the sharp line of his jaw and the way his dark lashes fluttered with each blink. You couldn’t help but admire how focused he seemed, utterly lost in his digital world. Ren's brows knit together, his lips pressed into a slight pout that was, admittedly, kind of cute. You shook your head, trying to snap yourself out of it. Focus, you chided internally. Your study notes were waiting, and you really couldn’t afford to fall behind.
But the diner’s quiet ambiance, combined with Ren’s calm yet oddly captivating presence, made it harder than ever to concentrate. Ren let out a faint “yes” before he set his phone down. His stamina was probably depleted right now, so he let the gauge recharge. He looked up and made eye contact with you. Immediately he went beet red.
“Oh, hey, Ren,” you said. “Don’t mind me, I’m just admiring how cute you looked just now.”
“H-Hey! You can’t just say that!” He sputtered.
“Why not? It’s just us here, and you are indeed cute.”
Ren fumbled for words, his mind scrambling for a witty comeback but delivering none. He resorted to pretending to be engrossed in wiping down the already spotless counter, though his crimson face betrayed him. His ears burned as if your words had set him ablaze, and the towel in his hands twisted tighter with every passing second.
“MC, you will be the death of me.” he finally managed, his voice a mix of embarrassment and something softer, something almost shy.
You chuckled. “Anyway, think you can get me a latte? Kinda need caffeine and sugar right now.”
Ren seized the opportunity to escape. “Sure!” he muttered before darting into the kitchen, grateful for the excuse to hide his embarrassment.
As the door swung shut behind him, you heard a muffled, “God… damn it!”
Smiling to yourself, you turned back to your books. This was shaping up to be a good day after all.
Alan hadn't exactly been dealt the best hand in life. Growing up, he got into more than his share of scrapes, earning scars from some of them. He supposed this was to be expected, given his circumstances, so he never really paid them any mind. That is, until the night he committed the greatest atrocity—he had taken a life. With his bare hands, no less. Though he was unscathed, he could never see his scars in the same indifferent light again. Now all he could do was swallow his horror and disgust and carry on with his day. Sometimes literally, as bile would often threaten to climb up his throat.
Being the captain of Vagastrom did have some of its perks, though. None of his dorm mates really gave much thought to his scars. Although, some of them were fascinated by them, much to his dismay. Was this really all they saw? Just battle scars? Trophies of a life hard-lived? The thought churned his stomach, bile rising as he clenched his fists, the jagged lines on his knuckles mocking him. They didn’t understand—how could they? These weren’t badges of honor. They were brands, seared into his skin by the worst thing he’d ever done.
Part of him wanted them to at least see what it was like. To have their hands sullied by blood and dirt. To see the look of utter disbelief and betrayal upon their victim’s face. To have that feel as if that blood permanently caked onto their hands. To have those images burned into their retinas. But he still knew that no matter how much anger simmered inside him—at his dorm mates for their casual fascination or, more often, at himself—he couldn’t wish the same fate upon them. The thought of any of them committing an act as vile as murder made his chest tighten. He couldn’t bear the idea of them waking up to bloodied hands, unable to scrub the memory clean, condemned to carry the unbearable weight of their own guilt if they survived jail time. The scars might heal, but the rot inside never did. And the intrusive thoughts of wanting them to experience that just cemented that for him SO firmly.
And then you came into the picture. Little did Alan expect that things would take a massive turn after meeting you. He would sometimes catch you watching him absently stare at his hands. At first you would look away, and quite frankly, he wished it would stay that way. You having that level of fear of him would make things a lot easier for him, but his own desire to have you around told him otherwise. Why did you have to get so comfortable around him? Why did he let himself get so… attached to you? And why do you look at his hands with concern? He’s the last person who needs, or rather, deserves any semblance of concern, let alone from you. Your neck is constantly on the line even without the curse, so why spend any thought on him?
“...Lan.”
“Alan?”
“Earth to Alan?”
Your voice snapped him out of his thoughts. That’s right… You were supposed to be reviewing documents with him. He looked at your pile of unfinished documents and noticed the difference between yours and his own. How long was he spacing out?
“Is... Is everything okay?” You asked. There you go again, showing him undeserved worry.
“Yeah…” he replied. “Just a little spaced out.”
You stared at him uncomprehendingly before ultimately deciding to take a small break. It’s not like staring at his hands while a stack of documents sat in front of him would accomplish anything, so he agreed. But what you said next really took him aback.
“Can I see your hands please?”
“Um… Okay?”
He held out his hands toward you, although not without hesitation. His fingers suddenly felt a lot heavier than normal. Immediately your fingers traced over the lines over his scars and his breath hitched. In any normal circumstance, he’d melt into your soft, warm hands without any hesitation. They were a balm to his larger, more calloused ones, but right now all he wanted to do was pull away from you. You were the last person who deserves to have their own hands sullied by his. As if the blood from his own hands would stain your own. Of course, this was cruel for him as well, since your kindness and gentle hands were a reminder of everything he craved. But he didn’t deserve this from you. And you didn’t deserve the sins seeping from his hands onto your own. As if your own curse wasn’t enough. Why do you have to dirty your own hands willingly? His thoughts drifted to the times he absent-mindedly patted your head, and he sensed the bile burning in his chest again.
You must have sensed Alan was starting to pull away, so you tighten your grip slightly.
“Please give me a moment,” you said, the lines of concern becoming more pronounced. Alan didn’t like where this was going. At least, that’s what he told himself.
You reached for a pen and started to scribble something on his hands where his scars were. “What are you doing?” he muttered, his brow furrowing slightly.
He watched as the pen rather clumsily glided across his hands. But the strokes still had purpose behind them, and even he could tell that much. He was too entranced to say anything as he watched the small, intricate shapes materialize. You soon stopped once you covered all the scars you could see on his hands. His hands and his chest suddenly felt lighter, much to his own shock.
“Why did you do that…?” Alan muttered.
“I don’t know what you’ve been through exactly,” You replied. “But I can’t just sit idly by while you’re suffering!”
“You-”
“You may see yourself as a monster, but I know that’s not true.” It didn’t look like you were going to back down. He let you carry on knowing you had a lot more to say. A lot more lies. But he couldn’t help but feel comforted.
“Even if the rumours are true, that you killed someone, it’s clear that you regret doing it. So much so that it’s going to consume you. I don’t know the full backstory behind these scars, but I don’t want you to look at them with so much disgust.”
It looks like you were holding back tears at this point. But still you kept going.
“These are the same hands that saved me and Sho from Takeru. I like how they feel when you pat my head. They helped me to stay grounded while I was spiralling in my own thoughts. So please…”
The words seem to have gotten stuck in your throat.
“You shouldn’t feel sad for me,” Alan finally said, unable to look you in the eye. “I don’t deserve it.”
But you were more stubborn than he expected. You shook your head, the tears in your eyes threatening to spill over. “Don't say that,” you said. Your voice was trembling, but it was steady enough to carry the weight of your words. “You think you’re beyond saving, that you don’t deserve kindness, but that’s not your choice to make. You mean something to me, to Sho, to everyone who’s still here because of you.”
Alan’s throat tightened as he looked away, his jaw clenching. He wanted to argue, to throw your words back at you, but he couldn’t. The tears that welled in your eyes only seemed to fuel your resolve.
“Stop it,” he muttered, his voice cracking. “Stop making me out to be someone I’m not. I don’t want you to…” He trailed off, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. “I don’t want you to look at me like that. Like… Like I’m worth something.”
You reached out, your fingers brushing against his hand, tentative yet firm. ”But you are worth something. You just can’t see it right now. I know you’ve made mistakes—ones I can’t begin to imagine—but you’re still here, trying. That’s more than a lot of people can say.”
He flinched at your touch but didn’t pull away this time. His heart ached, torn between the comfort of your words and the crushing weight of his guilt. “You don’t know what I’ve done,” he whispered, his voice barely audible.
“I don’t need to know everything,” you replied, your hand wrapping gently around his own. “I just need to know who you are now. And right now, you’re someone who’s hurting, someone who’s trying to carry the weight of the world alone. You don’t have to do that anymore.”
For a moment, the room was silent. The warmth of your hand seeped into his, a reminder of something he thought he’d lost long ago. He hated himself for craving it, for letting your words sink in even just a little.
“I…” His voice faltered. He didn’t know what to say. Alan had heard of the phrase "kill them with kindness,' but right now he thinks you might quite literally do that to him.
“You’re not alone, Alan,” you said softly, your tears finally spilling over. “And no matter how much you push me away, I’m not going to leave you behind.”
He closed his eyes, swallowing the lump in his throat. Maybe he didn’t deserve this. But for the first time, he wasn’t sure if he wanted to fight it anymore. Right now he let himself succumb to the warmth of your embrace. That's all he needed at the moment.
Summary: Vega tries to come to terms with the fact he's stuck in Bound Arlyn. Sorceress Giana tries to help him navigate this new confusing world. Part 2 of Vega's backstory
Why did he do something so stupid? Arcturus told him not to look back. But he had–and now he was back in this place.
It was still magical alright, but it wasn’t the way he remembered. The field was now devoid of any life save for the whispering foliage around him and the hum of the insects within the grass. Everything that once looked like a fairytale landscape was now shrouded in darkness, illuminated by the pale moonlight and the hundreds of stars twinkling around it.
Nasmira loved the night sky. Sometimes he’d watch the stars with her when they happened to be outside together in the warm season. In any normal circumstance, he’d have loved to bring her here to stargaze and hear her prattle on about the cosmos.
The air here felt colder to him. Colder than the nights near the end of summer vacation. He hugged his arms tightly to his chest, but his own body temperature wasn’t enough to ebb the cold.
He couldn’t stay here for long.
“Arcturus?” he called out. Only silence answered. His chest tightened. With lead-heavy feet, he searched the field, only to find nobody. The more he called out, the more his eyes welled up. His sobs didn’t fade into the night, though—they drew someone to him. A pale-skinned woman with silver-white hair and ash-blue eyes found him.
“Hello, little one. Are you lost?”
“Ah-” was all he managed.
“Don’t worry. I want to help. My name is Giana.”
“I-I’m Vega,” he stammered
“Do you know where your parents are, Vega?”
He shook his head. “I fell down a hole in the park, and now I’m here. Arcturus told me to not look back when going back, but I did…”
Giana frowned at this. “A child from Mid Eartheim, then…” she muttered.
He blinked. “Mid what?” Just where did he end up?
She smiled a little sadly. “That’s what sorcerers call your world. You’ve crossed into ours—Bound Arlyn.”
Sorcerers? That would explain some things. Vega’s voice finally came back to him.
“Can you… take me back to Mid Eartheim?” he quietly asked.
Giana’s face fell. “I’m so sorry. That level of magic is beyond my own skill and mana tolerance.”
Bile began to climb up Vega’s throat. “So… I can’t go home?”
She knelt to meet his eyes. “I won’t abandon you. Come with me, Vega. I can give you shelter at the very least.”
Seeing as there was nothing else to do, He took Giana’s hand and followed her lead.
“Where are we going?” he asked as they began to walk.
“To my home in the North Boundary,” she said. “It gets quite cold up there, so I’ll get you something warm before we go.”
“Thanks, but it’s okay, you don’t need to...”
“Do you have a jacket?”
He shook his head.
“Then please accept this.”
The two made a short stop in town to buy a thick wool jacket–a bit too big for Vega’s frame–but still he thanked her.
At the train station, Vega stared at the locomotive in front of him. He had read about things like this in fantasy books before. Normally, he would have been more enthusiastic to board one, but now, not so much. Giana tried to converse with him, but his answers were short. Still she was patient with him. “Do you like books?” was one of the questions. Vega’s voice didn’t seem to cooperate with him, so he just nodded. She smiled and gave him one. “This should pass the time.” But upon Vega taking one look at the cover, he noticed there was one problem. “Miss Giana… I can’t read this language,” he said.
Giana only smiled patiently. “Then I’ll teach you.”
Once they reached Giana’s home–a mansion surrounded by pine trees–Vega couldn’t believe his eyes. Plush sofas in a cozy nook, crystal white curtains draping tall windows, pillars holding up the ceiling, and plants in every other corner.
“I understand this is a lot to take in,” said Giana. “Especially as a boy so young, but I hope we can live peacefully together.”
Vega hesitated. There was no malice in any of Giana’s gestures. No deceit, just kindness for a lost boy.
“Okay,” he whispered. “I’ll try.”
Trying really is the best he could do at the moment. He never asked to be separated from his old life, his home, or the people he loved, but for now–maybe forevermore–he had to become accustomed to life in Bound Arlyn. At least Giana is nice.
Alan Mido and Jin Kamurai with Fem! Reader who act like Vega from Arcana Twilight.
How would Alan Mido and Jin Kamurai act with a Vega!Reader
Jin
Let's be real, your personalities are gonna clash at first. You're the most reserved and cautious person within a five kilometer radius of yourself and Jin is arrogant and commanding as hell. His bluntness and brashness would challenge your methodical way of interacting
Though that's not to say he doesn't appreciate you for it. He'll grow to respect your structured way of going about life, and you could grow to appreciate his unfiltered honesty
Through your time together, you'll come to realize that you have a lot more in common than you realize. You both carry burdens and traumas that you'll need help to express.
Either you'll talk about it on your own first, or Tohma would be a middleman for the two of you.
Your own feelings of displacement and loneliness would resonate with Jin’s own struggles with his family and responsibilities. You'd find solace in knowing you have each other's backs in this regard.
And let's not forget how protective the two of you are. Jin’s natural tendency to protect those he cares about would mesh well with your own nurturing and considerate side. Jin might be vocal and assertive in his protectiveness, while you would demonstrate it through subtle, thoughtful actions. In the case of any tangible danger, or in the case where either of your mental health threatens to overwhelm you, trust that you will be there for each other. You would likely engage in a quiet competition of ensuring the other is safe and cared for, creating a relationship full of mutual acts of service
Jin might surprise you with grand, dramatic gestures, while you would reciprocate with thoughtful, understated acts of care. He'd spoil you with lavish meals, so that's something you'll need to get used to.
You would share quiet moments of connection, such as watching the stars or discussing philosophical ideas, allowing your bond to deepen beyond words.
Alan
In this scenario, you'll have to make the first move. Even if you are similar to each other in that your both emotionally inexpressive and cautious when opening up to others, though for different reasons. You'll need some time together to really get to appreciate each other's quirks but it would also lay the groundwork for a strong, trust-based connection as they gradually lower your walls.
Alan's stoic determination, inner strength, and unshakable loyalty is what drew you to him in the first place,
Alan would respect your meticulous nature, work ethic, and sense of responsibility
You would see each other as equals, sharing an unspoken understanding of the burdens you carry.
Neither of you are likely to be overtly expressive, so you'd show affection in subtle, meaningful actions—Alan might silently protect you in dangerous situations, while you would offer thoughtful care, like ensuring Alan is well-rested or patched up after a fight. And in the case Alan is in physical danger, you'd step in to protect him as well.
Your steady, composed nature could serve as a calming influence on Alan, helping him process his anger and past traumas. Conversely, Alan’s quiet strength and protective tendencies would provide you with a sense of safety and belonging.
As for activities, your love for calm, structured tasks, like tending to a greenhouse or studying magical theory, would balance Alan’s more action-oriented lifestyle.
Alan might join you in quiet activities, finding unexpected peace in them. And, you would join Alan in physical training also.
Conflicts would arise from Alan’s brashness and your adherence to rules or routines. However, you're both logical and mature, so you'd resolve issues calmly after some reflection, with Alan apologizing through actions rather than words.
Alan isn’t one for grand gestures, but his care would show through acts of service, like silently fixing something you use or standing guard when you're deeply focused on a task.
He’d occasionally surprise you with moments of tenderness, such as placing his jacket over your shoulders or offering comforting words when he senses your hidden vulnerabilities.
You would prepare something nice for him, like a meal, after a long day. Or stand by him by his side during moments of doubt.
You would help Alan find moments of calm and self-reflection, while Alan would encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and embrace spontaneity.
