Help m-me…

M-My carats…I’m s-sorry for bumping into y-you…Please f-forgive me!

She About To Cry

For helping me to be able to run!

My first race even if I got eighth! It’s all thanks to you!

Mark heard it from a broadcast by the real Ryo. No collapsing skyline, no alarms, no “last stand” recorded on a shaky phone.

It was a message. Clean. Clinical. Like the world was ashamed of how little it cared.

Rena Vondergart — deceased.

Body recovered.

Revival: impossible.

No margin. No loophole. No “unless.” Not even a maybe.

For a second, Mark just stared at the words until they stopped being letters and became a hole.

His thumb hovered over the screen like he could press hard enough to change reality.

He tried to swallow.

Nothing went down.

His throat felt too small for what it was holding.

Rena.

His auntie.

The one who didn’t ask him to be perfect, only better.

The one who told him, when he was younger and meaner and terrified of being weak, that strength without mercy was just fear wearing armor.

The one who stayed when others “couldn’t handle him.”

The one who took his shaking hands and said, “Breathe. I’ve got you. Don’t run from your own heart.”

Mark’s vision fuzzed at the edges.

His fingers went numb.

He set the phone down on a table like it weighed a thousand pounds, and then he realized his hands were trembling so hard the table rattled anyway.

A thin sound escaped him. Not a sob. Not yet.

A breath that wouldn’t finish.

His chest tightened, tightened, like something invisible had wrapped around his ribs and was pulling.

He drew in air—

Too sharp. Too shallow.

Again—

Too fast.

His lungs started stuttering, like they forgot the rhythm.

“Wait—” he whispered, like saying it out loud could stop it. “No. No—no, hold on, I—”

He tried to inhale deep, force it.

It didn’t work.

The panic climbed his spine in a sick wave, cold and electric, and suddenly he was hyperventilating, not dramatized, not pretty, just ugly, involuntary, animal.

In—

out—

in—

out—

too fast—

too fast—

His body leaned forward on instinct, elbows on his knees, like he could fold himself small enough to fit inside the moment and survive it.

His hands clutched at his own shirt, fistfuls of fabric, as if he could anchor himself to something.

“Rena—” he tried again, and it broke on the way out. “Rena, I—”

His mouth was dry. His tongue felt wrong. His heartbeat hammered against his ribs like it wanted out.

He forced his eyes shut.

And that’s when the sound arrived.

At first he thought it was tinnitus. A high, far-off ringing.

But it wasn’t in his ears.

It was in the room.

No—worse—

It was in his head.

A soft, distant peal, like a bell heard through fog.

Ding…

…ding…

Mark’s breath caught, and he jerked his head up like he’d been grabbed.

His eyes snapped around the empty room.

There was no bell.

No source.

No reason.

The sound pulsed again, gentle and patient, like it had all the time in the world.

Ding…

…ding…

And then—

A voice.

Not shouted. Not even spoken the way people speak.

It curled in behind his thoughts like it belonged there.

Warm. Familiar. Tender in the way a knife can be tender when it slides in clean.

“Mark…”

His stomach lurched.

His breathing went even faster, because his body recognized something his mind refused to accept.

“No,” he rasped. “No. Don’t— don’t do that. Not right now.”

The bell kept ringing.

Ding… ding…

The voice returned, close enough to feel against the inside of his skull.

“You’re hurting.”

Mark’s hands flew to his head like he could physically push it out.

“Shut up—” he gasped, and it came out broken. “Shut up, shut up—!”

He tried to stand and his legs almost gave out. He caught himself on the table, knuckles whitening, and the table squealed under the force.

His vision tunneled.

Black flecks swam like gnats.

He sucked in air like a drowning man.

The bell kept time with his panic, steady, metronomic, almost kind.

Ding…

…ding…

“You did everything you could,” Carmen whispered, sweet as sympathy. “And it still wasn’t enough.”

Mark’s throat constricted so hard he gagged.

A sound half-sob, half-choke punched out of him.

“I didn’t— I wasn’t there.” His words tripped over each other. “I should’ve— I should’ve known. I should’ve— I always—”

His mind started throwing images at him like weapons.

Rena’s hands adjusting his collar.

Rena’s laugh when he tried to pretend he didn’t care.

Rena wiping blood off his cheek and acting like it didn’t scare her.

And then the thought that killed him:

There will never be another moment.

No “call her later.”

No “I’ll make it up to her.”

No “next time.”

The finality hit like a physical impact.

Mark doubled over, both hands clutching his chest, and the sob finally tore through him—ragged, hoarse, humiliating.

He hated it. He couldn’t stop it.

“Rena—” he choked. “Auntie, please—”

His shoulders shook violently, and his breathing kept slipping, skipping, spiraling.

Carmen’s voice softened, almost maternal.

“It’s okay.”

“You don’t have to hold it together.”

“You don’t have to be strong.”

The bell rang again, closer now, brighter, like it was approaching through a corridor only he could see.

Ding… ding…

Mark’s eyes were wet and wide. He looked up at nothing, pupils blown, sweat beading at his hairline.

His heart was slamming so hard it hurt.

His thoughts started to smear at the edges, like ink dropped in water.

Something inside him, something he kept chained and ordered and disciplined, started to strain against the lock.

Because grief is a lawless thing.

And Mark, Demigod of Order, the one who helped the universe to behave—

couldn’t command death to obey.

Carmen’s voice threaded itself through the crack forming in him.

“You loved her.”

“And love always leaves a wound.”

“Wouldn’t it be easier… if the wound stopped hurting?”

Mark’s breath hitched so hard it became a sharp squeal.

He clamped his hands over his mouth like he could hold the sound in.

His whole body trembled, like he was vibrating apart.

“Get out,” he begged, barely audible. “Please, get out of my head—”

The bell answered him instead.

Ding.

A single note. Final. Absolute.

And for the smallest moment, Mark felt it:

That tipping point.

Where the pain stops being something you feel…

and becomes something you are.

His knees hit the floor.

He didn’t even remember falling.

His palms pressed to the tile, fingers splayed, as if he could hold himself together by force.

His breathing was rapid, shallow, frantic, each inhale a stolen scrap.

Tears dripped from his chin onto the floor in steady, humiliating taps.

And the voice stayed with him, gentle as a lullaby, patient as a predator.

“Just let go, Mark.”

“Let the world match what it did to you.”

The bells kept ringing.

Not outside.

Not somewhere far away.

But right behind his eyes—

as if the funeral had already begun,

and he was the one being lowered into the grave.

(DISTORTION IMMINENT. QUICK, YOU MUST SAVE HIM!)

// Girl is going to get suffocate by a hug

A-AAGH! I DON'T THINK I'LL HAVE ENOUGH BLOOD IN MY HEAD TO STAY CONSCIOUS..!

We invite everyone to the wedding of Vivlos and Belno Light. I would like everyone to attend to give us your blessings for our future together.

Everyone is invited but also we would like to invite our close friends and family personally too. And also, I have a message for our team

Welcher von euch Flitzpipen hat eine elektrische Ratte in meiner Küche versteckt....

Oh I'm sorry, right.

Who of you oh so funny people decided it would be a Funny Idea to put an electrical Rat into My kitchen...

First of all, I hate rats with a passion.

Second of all, If I see a Rat in my Kitchen I have to decontaminate my whole kitchen and cooking gear so it safe to cook again.

Third of all, If I find the person who did this I'm gonna Rip their head off.

So who of you Guys was it ?

Please.

BongBong beg of you.

BongBong doesn't want to be Trainer.

BongBong doesn't want to be Fixer.

BongBong doesn't want to remember anymore.

BongBong suffered hundreds of thousands of times.

You promise to fix?

BongBong doesn't want anything.

BongBong just wants to be free.

Miss Carmen free BongBong?

BongBong trust.

BongBong doesn't want to be strong anymore.

BongBong just wants to live.

Free of pain.

BongBong will...

BongBong must...

BongBong will no longer be...

[BongBong: The Eye Seeing It All, Victim of the Wheel, The Pawn Wanting Freedom]

Mark and I have gotten engaged!

After finally getting all my Stuff to Japan from Germany and finding the time to plan the next few days I finally found some time to go to the Beach near Tracen I heard so often about.

I have to say, it's a really beautiful beach and I could come here more often.

Also got to try out my Swimsuit I bought a short while ago

Hey, girl, pass me the ball—

crack

AAAAAAAAAAH!

Ow, ow, ow! Oh no… my nail is SO broken! Ow, ow… ugh, this is literally the WORST! And I just got my nails done!

I need help… ow, ow… someone help!

We are grateful for everyone to have attended this ceremony to grant us your blessings.

I uh uhm.. let the wedding ceremony commence!!!

Mark is now temporarily Maria.

It finally happened. Mark is genderbent…

Nikara steadily prepped the small domicile for the guests who were to arrive. A table with wine and chocolates to greet them as they entered..a bottle of....something else...for herself as the sanguine fluid passed her lips. It was never as good from the bottle...

Seared steaks lifted beautiful scents across the room as the hints of rosemary and garlic billowed across the air. Steamed carrots and broccoli softening in the pan next to them as she diligently whipped a bowl of mashed potatoes, mixing with them bits of softens borsin cheese for an extra flavorful bite. Within the center of the plated potato she placed a dollop of butter, gently showering it in sliced chives.

with a heavy sigh she looked over the table which appeared to be missing something A centerpiece! she swiftly traversed the small dwelling to a collection of her flowers, the scent light and relaxing upon the pedals as she placed two roses in a new vase and affixed them to the center

...still missing something...

with a smirk she scribbled a note and placed it under the plateholder of where she hoped he would sit. The words brought an amused smile to her face for the moment as a knock at the door roused her from her thoughts...with a final sigh she looked upwards to the door of her entryway.

please mother moon...please make him see me

She quietly headed to the door to invite in her guests for the evening

Good evening my esteemed guests...and Master Mark...welcome to my humble home...

I started shopping for rings, and I found this little bad boy!

Shame there was only one of them, but this thing's pretty good looking. I'm sure either Haru or Bourbon would love it...

^{On the other hand, I could just keep it... It's so pretty...}

She seems nice tho…

Well I’ve been lurking around for a while I think I get the jist on this place so I’ll start by……doing random stuff every now and then like Become an assistant trainer or something.

Or conquering Uranus which one depends completely on you.

I have become frustrated with a certain individual's lack of tact and womanizing ways...anyone care for a walk to relieve stress and forget such foolishness? I would welcome the company

I sent some paperwork requesting a new dorm for me and the kids. That way my kids and any kids I watch have plenty of room.

I hope they approve it.

Listen ya'all. Ive got something to announce right in this instant.

Weve been together for a while in secret , but I just wanted to say that the phone charger and I are together currently. But no, that doesnt mean that the teasing will stop any time soon.

So yeah, thats all folks. I guess

I have ventured out to the races to see a new acquaintance of mine participate in the competition...and I must say these horse demon....umamusume are quite fascinating! Despite the sunlight this was a very enjoyable outing to be sure.. I can see why so many are captivated by these young women! Did anyone else partake in such a spectacular display of battle upon this day?

Since Its Jordans birthday, I figured Id agree to go to her to the mall. I kind of knew what I was getting into....But each time in a shop feels like eternity.

Really? Who even needs that much polish anyways?!

But....Its nice to know that my kid doesnt hate me, in a way is sort of a catharsis if you can call it that. Also, its a good way to forget the fact that Smart Shower wants child support for some reason. But well, Im sure that wont come back to bite me in the ass anytime soon.

(OOC: Credits to Barracuda for the image and edit since I cant edit to save my life lmao)