7 Months Later

Being a baby is awesome and frustrating at the same time. Awesome because you basically have a group of adults to wait upon you. You need food? You cry and 'Walla Walla Washington', food appears magically and stuffed in your mouth. You don't even have to lift the spoon. You feel like peeing? Or pooping? You cry and 'Hocus Pocus - Sister awokus' Even if it's the middle of the night, you have people helping you pee and poop. 
Some people would say I'm a disgusting, sickening and loathsome guy with not an ounce of self respect. Guess you're right, but I would take those insults anytime, anywhere because being waited hand and foot is definitely worth it.
Now the frustrating part is that I can;t understand shit about what's going on here. Nobody speaks English and let me tell you it's easier to pick up a language and gain fluency from a blank slate than knowing a language beforehand and trying to learn a new language. It's easier for the former because you think and speak in that very language from the get go. All your thoughts and imaginations are in that language. 
While for the latter, You first think in your original tongue, translate it and then speak in the new language. All your thought and imaginations are in your original language instinctively, which leads to less practice than the former. The only thing that is going for me is that I obviously have higher intellect than other babies as well as the amount of practice I am doing consciously. I am now good enough at speaking the local language that I can at least ask for things in two word sentences. And the lack of knowledge of the local language leads to the sheer lack of information.

I know the country I am in. I know the organization that is trying to indoctrinate me is the church of this world. Now you may say that I'm being prejudiced against them without any proof but you must understand that 90% of the churches in isekai novels are always corrupt and secret evil. 
Of course Sister Violetta can never be evil, she was probably deceived into joining the church or maybe forced to get involved. But rest assured people! When I grow up I am definitely saving her and taking her away from this place. 

And who says that I don't have proof?  You see abnormal things have been happening to me. The first thing is that I am just a teeny tiny bit too strong for a baby. I weigh about 10 kilograms. How do I know it? While on our bi-monthly outing of the orphanage to the doctor to get medical checkup and shots I secretly wiggled out of the room to explore the surrounding cause I only get to go out about once every two months and that is definitely not enough to quell my adventurous spirit. As a proud delivery truck driver that has driven on the roads of 42 states and 5 countries, staying cooped up in the same building for an year may as well be called torture. 
So here I am just outside the room and what do I see? A weighing machine! Right now anything that is new to my eyes is good enough for me to be excited about, even if it's just a weighing machine. And I did what any curious baby would do. I crawled towards it as fast as I could and got on top of it. And Viola! I weigh a solid eleven kilograms. But I didn't know whether it was normal, underweight or overweight. 
Why can't these guys paste a baby weight chart on the walls. Is that too much to do? Are they looking down on us babies? Are we not important enough? But unfortunately while I was monologuing, a Nurse spotted and swooped me away from the glorious self discovery adventure I was having. Curse you evil minions of the hospitals! And with that I was put down on the sofa among the other children which resolutely ended my adventure in the hospital.
Now  you must be thinking "Hey what relation does this pointless story have with the weird things happening around you?" Now just be calm and see how the fates have woven this thread of coincidences around me.
So you see, the church has a separate room with books about religion and other subjects. I regularly 'infiltrate' that room to gain information on the organization. Who am I kidding? I just wanted to read some picture books cause I was fucking bored. So one day while I was advancing on my stealth mission I miraculously found some books in English lying on the lowest shelf in the book room. I was so happy that I nearly cried again, which would have failed the mission right there, But I controlled myself like all excellent agents do and did not let my emotions hinder me in the way of my duty.
 I took out those books and started to read them and advance my knowledge about the organization. Apparently they were stories about how saints of this religious order were tortured some eighteen hundred years ago. Some of them had their teeth violently pulled or shattered in their mouth. Some of them roasted on grills. Some of them skinned alive, Devoured by beasts, sunk in the ocean etc etc. 

Can someone please tell me what the hell is this book? And why was it in lowest shelf where children can easily pick it up and read it? And why on earth is all the text followed by graphic pictures showcasing these people undergoing torture? Is this some kind of ploy to permanently damage the kids? 
Or maybe I finally found the reason behind this organization's objective! They want revenge for them and want to destroy the world! Or maybe rule the world with their organization as the supremo of this world and kill or enslave the rest. Hmmm, this would need some more careful investigation in their origins and history. I picked up the other books in English and started reading them. they were mostly anecdotes of the previous members of their society. the last one was just a phone directory in English. But just as I was open it I heard footsteps coming towards this direction. I grew flustered and quickly tried to put the book back in the shelf. 
Nothing abnormal right? I wish I could say the same. 
I picked up those books and ran towards the lower shelf, and that's when I realized what was wrong. I was holding a stack of books weighing about two kilograms and running with it. My mind was screaming to put them down right there cause it was very abnormal, but my body said 'cool down mate, It's easy peasy'. And followed my body cause it sounded much more friendly and ran towards a cupboard to hide behind it. Just then I heard the footsteps entering the room.
"Periklis!"
I heard sister Violetta shouting my name. But no matter how sweet she is, I stopped myself from responding reflexively and giving out my hiding place. I couldn't let them know that I had already gained some fundamental knowledge about them and had started plotting against them.
After hearing those disappearing footsteps, I came out and ran towards my room. After all I had a lot to think about. I probably have above average or extraordinary strength. It's a bit too soon to call it super powered as I have yet to punch a hole through the wall. Now the question is how did I gain it? Is the organization conducting secret experiments in us? Have I been drinking diluted super soldier serum in the form of milk? Or they have been bombarding me with Vita rays when I'm sleeping? But I haven't seen the rest of the kids doing anything beyond ordinary.
 Or were my original parents some super powered people and their one for all powers passed on to me? Maybe I'm a mutant? Or maybe this is a reincarnation bonus by some lazy god who thought it was too much trouble to meet me? So many questions and yet no one to answer. But the most important question among all of them is how to proceed with this information and what measures to take? 
I would be bluffing myself if I said that I would just live normally and peacefully from now on. I have read enough web-novels, fan-fictions and stories to know the most important principle is that 'Supernatural attracts Supernatural'. To say anything else would be a lie. Now the question is what type of role is my destiny plunging me into?

A regular human dies and is reborn in another world. Common? The world has Legendary swords, Heroes, Angels, Devils and Gods? Still common? He knows the future of the world too! It's still not uncommon? he is probably going to be super-powerful. if it's still a common story then I can't help it. an Si who is not an edgelord. Harem? Who knows?

Callea was trying to get the feels of their visitor while cooking at the kitchen. They were with Deive at the living room. According to Deive, he has been friends with those men since they were kids. They were also Deive's business partners. They didn't say much but she knew that they don't like her for Deive. Even when she changed her church dress to one the nice dresses that Deive bought for her, the tension was still there. They were still uncomfortable with her.

She was not the Callea they were expecting. She was not the normal beautiful woman that her grandfather was selling.

"I think that is done, señorita," Marina said then tapped her arm. She was cooking chicken adobo with coconut milk. (Adobo is a popular Filipino dish where fish, pork, beef, chicken or vegetable would be cooked with soy sauce and vinegar and other spices. Callea's recipe was special because it has coconut milk in it.)

 She was zoning out. She didn't notice that Marina was back in the kitchen after she fixed the table at the dining area for dinner. She didn't want Marina to see the guests a while ago. She was protective of her because of her past experiences with strangers. But Deive insisted that Marina must meet his friends, too.

"They are kind and handsome, too." Marina was grinning from ear-to-ear. "Sir Averill even asked me if I am that hunchback in the story that you created. The one where people thought that she was a jinx but became the hero in the end." It was a particular favorite of Callea because she showed that not all beautiful creatures are kind and some who were considered ugly could have a good heart and even save a lot of people.

"Averill know about that? He reads my novels?" she asked in awe. Averill was a businessman. She never thought he had it in him to read graphic novels. And how did he know about her identity as an artist? Her works were popular, sure. But aside from her publisher, nobody knew the real identity of the artist behind her works. She hated attending book signings and meet and greet because she valued her privacy so much.

"Yes. Even the grumpy one is a fan of yours." Marina stopped for a bit to think. "Ah! That's Sir Lucian. Señorito Deive is so proud of you. He boasted you to his friends. You are not just a great artist but you are good in history as well. Now they are interested to visit the underground cemetery with you as their guide."

"Hmmm… Deive is now the ambassador of tourism."

"I also want to thank you."

"Why?" Callea asked and took the Pyrex container where she would put the adobo.

"Because some people looked at me differently now. I used to be treated as a jinx like I couldn't do anything good in this world. "This is the first time that some strangers treated me like a heroine because of the story you created. That I am not some devil's minion or a person with a communicable disease."

She put the Pyrex down and held her hand. "Marina, you are a good person. In God's eyes, we are all the same. We are all beautiful. It is only humans who put a standard on things. Even those who are beautiful experience human's cruelty." And she felt sad when she remembered who had to pay for her beauty.

"Go to the visitors now. I will put the food on the table," said Marina and shooed her away.

Callea removed her apron and left the kitchen. At the living room, Keiran was playing the piano. Deive and his friends were laughing with Sydney's antics about her graphic novel that he read. It was a piece of happy jazz music and was fit for jovial mood.

They stopped talking when Lucian saw her. "Your bride is here," he said to Deive.

Sydney stopped talking and moving entirely and his jaw was slack. He looked like he was afraid to move. He was still afraid of her. He apologized for screaming a while ago when she took off her veil. She couldn't laugh much afterward because he looked like he was about to have a heart attack. Deive had to give him his water canister and made her drink water to calm him down. She promised not to scare him anymore. Well, not that much.

She forced a smile. "Dinner will be ready in a bit."

"I could smell the ginataang adobo. It makes me hungrier," said Lucian and stood up.

While Averill walked towards her. She noticed that he was holding a copy of her graphic novel and a pentel pen. "Could you please sign an autograph for me?"

She stepped back and shook her head. "I don't sign autographs. I mean, not in person." She didn't even want to face her fans. It was weird that someone asked her to personally sign her book.

Lucian crossed his arms over his chest. Drat! The man looked intimidating when his attention was focused on her. "As Deive's future, you can't refuse us. In return, we will guard Deive so he won't stray to other women."

"Don't be like that, man," Deive complained. "I am a good boy. I am faithful." Then Deive smiled at her. "Please sign it for my friends."

He couldn't say no to Deive at that point. His friends would find it more it weirder if she would refuse them furthermore. She took the pentel pen from Averill. She was a bit shaking as she signed her book that had just been released at the market last month. She smiled when she got a hang of it. It also felt great to sign her own book. "Just make sure that my identity will be anonymous to others. I just gave in because you would make sure that Deive won't go back to his womanizing ways."

Deive scratched his own head. "I am a good boy," he insisted.

"Can I make a request?" asked Sydney and raise his hand. "Deive said you like cosplaying the characters you created. Can you cosplay the red vampire Zapira for me? I got a crush on her."

"What?!" exclaimed Deive and hooked his arm on Sidney's neck and tried to choke him.

The rest of them laughed. It was crazy. They were so adorable. And she realized that she hadn't laughed for a long time in the company of strangers. Before it comes easily. That was the old her. She never thought she would experience it again. It was liberating. Deive made him laugh again. With that laugh, Deive also opened the door to her heart. And she would let him inside her heart even if he won't ask for it.

An arranged marriage to a perfect bride.

To keep him in line, playboy Deive Hontiveros needs to marry Callea Lopez so he could start his own business. He thought he got lucky when he sees how beautiful and caring Callea is.

She lives in a haunted mansion though and he got plagued by a mysterious ghost of a woman and her cat from hell.

He must protect his bride at all cost. 

But what if Callea is one with the darkness?

6

Talin hesitated outside his bedroom door, his gaze on the breakfast tray he'd made.  He'd burned the toast a bit, but it was edible.  Pushing the door open, he entered the bedroom to find Dimitri sitting up.  Ignoring his heart's little skip, Talin took the tray to Dimitri's side of the bed.
"I brought coffee," he said banging the tray slightly on the bedside table.
Dimitri helped him steady the tray.  Once it was safe, Dimitri took his left hand.
"I hope you're not leaving me to disappear downstairs," Dimitri said.
Talin laughed.
"No, I called Lori; she'll handle opening the club."
"Good," Dimitri tugged on his hand until he sat on the side of the bed.
"You took my rose," Talin said, shifting until he sat legs crossed on the bed facing Dimitri.
Reaching for the tray, he placed it on the space between them.  He took Dimitri's cup of coffee and held it out.
Dimitri took the cup with a small shrug.
"You don't need black roses, Talin.  I'll get you vibrant red ones if that's what you want."
"But, the black one was unique.  I don't even know where it came from."
Dimitri pressed a finger on his lips.
"Don't worry about a dead rose, my dear.  I'll get you a whole plant."
"And where will I put a rose plant?" Talin asked putting jam on Dimitri's toast.  "I don't have a garden out there."
Dimitri nodded to the windows and the little balcony built in there.
"We'll put a flower pot there."
"What about when it snows?"
"We'll wrap it up." Dimitri grinned.
Talin shook his head.
"You have a solution for everything."
Dimitri nodded.
"That's right."
Talin scoffed.
"It gives you a big ego."
Dimitri bit into the toast with a small happy sigh.
"I want to eat breakfast with you everyday."
"I doubt that," Talin said applying marmalade on his toast.  "You have Kat cooking for you."
"I'm a third-wheel in that house."  Dimitri grinned.  "She and Lukas have eyes for each other in the morning."
Talin laughed at that picture.  He doubted Dimitri would ever be a third-wheel in any situation.  His personality brought him up front and center.
"You don't believe me," Dimitri said.
"I think they both love you too much to make you feel like a third-wheel.  You're whining," Talin said.
"Jeez, there's no joking with you."  Dimitri sipped his coffee.  "Still, I prefer having toast with you to any fancy breakfast."
Talin felt warmth burst inside him and he took a bite of toast to hide it.  They ate in silence for a few minutes.
Talin reached out to wipe away toast crumbs caught on the corner of Dimitri's mouth.  Dimitri took his hand and pressed a kiss on his fingers.
"What are you doing today?" Talin asked.
Dimitri sighed.
"I have to go to the marina.  Lukas needs help with one of our charter boats.  Something's wrong with the engine."
"You like working with engines.  The day I went to your place, I found you working on a pump engine.  Is that what you do all day?"
"I do a lot of things in a day," Dimitri answered.
"Things like what?" Talin asked, wanting to know all he could about Dimitri.
So far, all he knew was that the man had insomnia, and liked to sleep in Talin's bed.
Dimitri put his coffee cup on the bedside table.
"Lukas and I own the marina together, but he does the administrative work and dealing with customers.  Kat helps but she has her restaurant to deal with.  I work behind the scenes.  I check the charter boats, do maintenance and if anyone needs help with their boat, I handle that.  We offer warehouse space, so I make sure shipments are in order.  My job gives me a flexible schedule and I get to work with my hands."
"And your men, those guys you hang with, what do they do?" Talin asked.
"Sean and Tomas help me," Dimitri said.  "They handle all the warehouse problems which can be trying."
Talin met amused blue eyes.
"Satisfied?" Dimitri asked.
"Nope," Talin shook his head.  "Where did you go last night?  I saw your car in the parking lot before I fell asleep.  You weren't in the club, I called Lori to ask."
"A friend picked me up," Dimitri said with a slight shrug.
"What friend?"
"Business friend," Dimitri said.  "He had an emergency to do with a shipment and needed my help."
"Is that why you didn't sleep?" Talin asked with a frown.  "Dimitri, you have to take better care of yourself.  I know how it is to overwork."
"Don't worry about me," Dimitri said.  "I don't sleep that much anyway.  Besides, I slept the whole day yesterday."
"Still," Talin moved the tray to the bedside table.
Dimitri pushed the sheets away and moved closer, reminding Talin that he was still in his boxer shorts.  They hadn't done anything beyond a few kisses and holding each other.  Dimitri sunk his fingers into Talin's hair, tilting Talin's head back so that they could kiss.
All thoughts of what Dimitri did or didn't do disappeared.  Dimitri tasted like coffee, strawberry jam and toast.  Dimitri's tongue stroked his, Talin pressed closer, his arms moving up Dimitri's strong upper arms to his shoulders.  He could kiss Dimitri all day.  Their kisses were drugging, heated...he sighed when Dimitri broke away to trail kisses along his jaw to his neck.
His fingers sunk into Dimitri's mink black hair, and a moan escaped when Dimitri bit at the curve of his neck and shoulder.
"I've dreamt of holding you like this," Dimitri said sucking on the sensitive spot.  "I can't believe it's finally happening."
"Why do you keep saying that?  Am I really so unapproachable?" Talin asked leaning back to meet Dimitri's gaze.
"I—," Dimitri pressed a kiss on his jaw and let him go.  "It seemed better to look at you from a far."
Talin sighed and got off the bed.  "Well, seems you're still looking from afar."
"Why do you say that?" Dimitri asked in surprise.
"Nothing," Talin said, picking a knitted sweater he'd thrown over an armchair beside his bed.  "I have no clue what we're doing, so—, it doesn't matter what I say."
Talin wore the grey sweater and tugged it over his t-shirt.
"Talin."
Talin tried…he tried…to fight that sexy voice, alas he was mortal and weak.  Dimitri's low voice was tempting; it felt like expensive silk stroking his cock, arousal slammed him hard.  He wanted…meeting pale blue eyes, he sighed, berating his body for wanting a man with secrets like Dimitri.
"What?" he asked.
Their gazes locked.
"I want in," Dimitri said, "all the way."
Talin forced himself to look away from Dimitri.
"Ah…well, if it was sex you wanted, you could have asked that first day," Talin said, trying to joke through the intensity of Dimitri's words.
He had no idea what to say.  He didn't know if he could handle someone getting to know him.
Isn't that what Dimitri was implying here?
It had to be…he frowned.
"Sex is easy, I want more than that.  I need it, Talin," Dimitri stated.
Dimitri got off the bed in a fluid motion and closed the distance between them with a few steps.
Talin couldn't help the gasp when Dimitri held his shoulders, turning him, so they faced each other.  Unable to resist, Talin touched Dimitri's stomach, his fingers tracing soft hair dusting down to the waistband of black boxer shorts.
Dimitri ran his fingers through Talin's hair, stroking the long messy strands.  Talin leaned into the touch.  It was so new, yet so familiar: comforting, he let out a shaky breath and looked up to meet Dimitri's gaze.
"Can we take it slow?" Talin asked
His chest felt tight, fear creeping in at the thought of allowing someone in…again.
Dimitri's smile was slow, roguish…sexy…jeez, everything the man did linked back to sex.
Talin's cock hardened, pressing against his jeans.
"Whatever you want, Talin," Dimitri said leaning to touch his lips to Talin's, "as long as you let me have breakfast with you."
Talin chuckled.
"And have my bed for sleeping?" he asked.
"Yep," Dimitri said his fingers bunching in Talin's hair gently.  Using the hold on his hair, Dimitri tilted Talin's head back, "for sleeping…and other pleasurable activities, hopefully soon."
Talin closed his eyes when Dimitri finally kissed him, this time leaving no doubt what type of pleasurable activities Dimitri wanted.
***
The trash pick-up truck showed up at around one o'clock.  They were two days late.  Talin stood at the back door watching them clear the trash area.  He'd been worried the health officers would show up and find the trash area messy.  Health officers were a pain…not to mention the fines…he sighed and stepped back into the building.  He needed to call the removal company and straighten the schedule.
Instead of going to the main club floor where Lori was dealing with late deliveries, Talin went to his office.  He'd spent the past thirty minutes compiling a list of potential waiters for hire.  Settling behind his desk, his gaze fell on the card Detective James left him.  He'd brought it down here by mistake.
Picking it up, he touched the number with a frown.  Dimitri thought it was a good idea for him to keep the card.  When he'd asked why, Dimitri had smiled and told him to let the detective know if Ken Luther showed up at the club.
Dimitri.
Now there was a man with secrets.
Talin opened the top drawer of his desk and dropped the card inside, his thoughts firmly on Dimitri as they had been through the week.  They'd only spoken for four days, and it felt like he'd always known Dimitri.
It had to be the epic kisses, Talin thought with a smile, though the secrets intrigued him too.
Like last night, he'd glanced out the living room windows to see Dimitri's car in the parking lot.  Talin wondered why Dimitri would leave his car in the parking lot when he'd need it to get to the marina.  Then there was the Caleb Barnes saga, and the two men who followed Dimitri around.  Then there was this morning…why had Dimitri looked so stressed when he'd shown up?
The questions were many, but then the kisses filled his thoughts and the questions rather took a backseat.
He was in lust with Dimitri's kisses.
Talin touched his lips and couldn't help smiling at the memory of Dimitri pressing him against the front door before he left two hours ago.  He hadn't wanted that kiss to end.  He'd instead wanted them to go back to his bed.
Dimitri, however, had broken the kiss, patiently held him until they both could breath easier, and then he'd left with a devastating smile.
Damn Dimitri, he frowned, the man had insane self-control.
"Talin," an amused deep voice broke into his thoughts.
He glanced up to find a tall thin black man smiling at him.
"Carl," Talin said, pleasantly surprised.
Getting up, Talin walked around the desk to meet Carl and give him a tight hug.  He laughed when Carl patted his back and tugged on his ponytail.  Carl Brown was his oldest friend.
"I knocked twice, but you seem preoccupied," Carl said stepping back to study him.  "I see smiles, visiting the land of the living again, Talin?"
Talin chuckled and playfully punched Carl's arm.
"It's great to see you, Carl.  Did Terry kick you out of the house today?  I haven't seen you in a while."
Carl laughed and moved to take a seat on the armchairs set before Talin's desk.  Talin joined him, moving his chair so that it faced Carl.
"She's driving me crazy," Carl said, his voice soft, dripping with fondness.
Terry was Carl's wife.  Talin had been Carl's best man at their wedding six years ago.  They had one two-year-old boy they both doted on.  Carl was madly in love with his little family.  Happiness radiated from deep within.  It brightened Carl's dark brown eyes as nothing else could.
Talin was jealous.
"You haven't come to visit the Turnip," Carl said studying him.  "We worried.  Terry asked me to come here and drag you out to lunch."
Talin smiled at the mention of Carl and Terry's eclectic bookshop.  He missed that place; the couple had a knack of stocking the bookshop with the best of books.  They'd let Talin name bookshop when they first opened it.  Talin still couldn't believe Terry had agreed to call the bookstore the Turnip.
"That woman," Talin smiled.  "She's so bossy."
"She worries about you," Carl said leaning forward, elbows on his knees.  "Although, I have to say, you're not as depressing as you usually are.  What's changed?"
Talin scoffed.  "What are you talking about?"
"Secret smiles, happy eyes, hmm…" Carl grinned.  "Anyone I know?"
Talin shrugged.
"Not really," he said not ready to mention Dimitri's name.
Carl gave him a knowing look and stood.
"Guess you're not ready to share.  Come on then, I'm not taking no for an answer.  We're going to the steakhouse down the street.  We need to get some meat on them bones."
Talin gave the list of names on his desk a wistful glance.
Carl took his arm before he could launch any protest and led him out of his office.  Talin barely grabbed his jacket on the way out before Carl closed the door.
It was wonderful to walk down the street with Carl.  He listened to Carl talk about his son, and watching him grow.  Carl talked about Terry, love in his every word.  He'd forgotten what this was like, just listening…Carl could talk for hours…somehow it had always seemed like the best thing about Carl.  He'd never needed to talk, Carl did it all…Talin just listened.
"How's your store, Carl?" Talin asked as they settled in their seats at the Steakhouse.
Carl picked up his napkin giving him a surprised look.
"Doing great, Terry ordered new graphic novels, you could come over and check them out."
"That sounds like a plan," Talin said studying the menu.
"Really?" Carl asked sitting back.  "She's kept stuff for you for months."
"I'll drive to the bookshop later."  Talin looked up to find Carl staring at him.  "What?"
Carl took the menu away from him.
"Okay, what have you done with the real Talin?"
Talin laughed.
"I'm the same old Talin."
"No you're not," Carl shook his head.  "You're definitely not the same Talin I've seen the past four years."
Talin held Carl's gaze for a moment, before he looked away.
The past filled the silence between them…too close…too hard…yet now; Talin took in a deep breath and let it out slow.
"I'm sorry," Carl said his tone regretful, "I've ruined it."
"No," Talin shook his head.  "There's nothing to be sorry about.  I-I checked out…"
Carl studied him, and then reached out to squeeze his hand.
"Don't think about it.  I'm insanely happy to see the icicles melting.  Please, let's go to the bookshop after this.  It will be like old times."
Talin watched Carl pick up the menu, a small grin on his lips.  He wondered why he'd never seen how much his self-imposed exile worried Carl.
"I feel like having barbecue short ribs," Carl said grinning at him.  "What do you say?"
Talin laughed.
"Sure, definitely feel like getting sauce all over my face.  Why not?"
Carl nodded and called their waiter.
****
Hours later, Talin drove back to the Talon from Carl and Terry's bookshop feeling happy.  He'd strapped in a box full of new copies of fantasy graphic novels on the passenger seat.  Terry knew his tastes well, and she'd kept the best titles for him.  Glancing at the box, memories came back, happy memories.  He'd always loved graphic art, the more conceptual the better.  Carl and Terry had helped fuel that love through the years, encouraged him when he'd created it too.  Thinking about his art skills brought back memories.
Memories…the vault in his head clicked open.
Gabriel.
Talin remembered afternoons in the sun, seated under a huge oak tree, the grass so green…gorgeous green, but not as gorgeous as Gabriel's green eyes.  He remembered sketching those eyes, trying to put them on paper, and capture the light just right…but never quite getting it.  Kisses under that tree, giggles of delight…followed by…emptiness.
On coming headlights blinded him, and Talin jerked his car to the side of the road, his foot heavy on the brakes.  He came to a stop with a jerk as the driver behind him honked his irritation.
Glancing at the box on the passenger seat, Talin wondered when the past would stop hurting.
His cell phone buzzed.  Glancing at the caller ID, he let out a soft sigh when he saw Dimitri's number.
"Where are you?" Dimitri asked when he answered.
"On the way back to the club," Talin said adjusting his seatbelt.  "I went to see old friends.  Are you at the Talon?"
"I stopped by to drop something off, you weren't there," Dimitri said.  "Are you alright?"
Talin glanced at the box of graphic novels.
"Yeah, I'm fine.  Are you coming over tonight?"
"Later," Dimitri said, his voice filled with promise.
Talin smiled.  "I'll wait."
"Drive safe," Dimitri said then.
Ending the call, Talin placed the phone on its holder on the dash.  Holding the steering wheel with both hands, he let out a steadying breath and eased back into traffic.
"Steady, steady…," he whispered.
***
Back at the club, Talin helped Lori clear tables for the night.  It was almost three o'clock in the morning, Dimitri still hadn't shown up.  Picking up the last stool, he overturned it on the table and stretched his arms above his head.  His shoulder muscles complained and he dropped his arms.
"Did you have fun with Carl?" Lori asked as she filled out the daily forms.  "I saw him drag you out of here earlier."
"Yeah," Talin said taking the rag he held to the counter.  "I didn't realize I was neglecting them until I saw him today.  Their son is walking and everything.  It was surreal, I remember a small tiny baby who had to be carried with care."
Lori chuckled.
"Boss, you haven't noticed much these last few months.  Working, working," she shook her head.  "I guess you've turned on a switch in there.  I can't wait for the new employees you're hiring.  It will mean day offs."
Talin frowned.  "You get day offs."
Lori scoffed.
"From where?" she asked looking around the empty club.  "I'm pretty sure the bulk of the work has been between you and me."
Talin picked up the dirty rags and went around the counter to dump them in the washing machine.  He put in the right amount of soap and started it.
"Dimitri came over earlier," Lori said as she put away the daily forms.
She went back to his office and brought back a package wrapped with delicate green netting.  She placed the package before him with a wide smile.
"Unwrap it, I've been dying to see what's inside all night."
Talin undid the green string holding it all together, and the netting fell away.  He grinned when he saw the small potted plant, the thorns unmistakable.
"A plant?" Lori asked.
She touched the earthenware pot with intricate designs on its surface.
"The pot is expensive.  I don't get it."
Talin touched the leaves carefully.
"It's a rose plant."
"A rose plant?" Lori frowned.
Talin ignored her confusion and instead reached for the card tucked into the plant.  He opened it and found Dimitri had written a note.
>>>For your balcony, water it everyday. D
Talin placed the card on the counter and went to the sink.  He picked up a beer mug and filled it with cold water.  Lori gave him an amused look when he returned to water the plant carefully.
Twenty minutes later, he carried the box of graphic novels, with the rose plant carefully balanced on top, upstairs.  Stopping at his door, he got his keys and unlocked the door.  Ignoring the lights, Talin went into the living room to place the box on the coffee table.
He went back to close the door and turn on the lights.  That's when he saw the white envelope on front door rug.  Frowning, he picked it up, as he locked the door.  Opening the envelope, he pulled out a picture with a note on the back.
'Dimitri Sedlackov is dangerous.  He's not what he seems.'
"Well, that's ominous," he said under his breath turning the picture.
There was Dimitri holding a bundle of…money?
Talin frowned.
***

#BLNovel #boymeetsboyworld
Talin focuses on work, barely giving anything else attention. One encounter in his club's parking lot drags him out of his dull life. 
Dimitri has watched Talin for so long, when Talin storms into his workshop, Dimitri decides he won't stay in the sidelines any longer. Dimitri decides he wants Talin for life.

Lena was not mad at Kris. She guessed that this was karma for her highly intense sexual desires. Luckily though, in the end, she didn't spend a lot of time horse riding. The men did their own races, everyone losing to Kris, obviously, while the woman just drank some tea and watched the men ride around.

"I had a dream." Grandma Shen spoke first. "In my dream, we were fishing. My young self with my husband. And in that dream, we caught a big fish. But we let it go. But the fish didn't go when we release it, instead, it stayed and swam around our boat in circles."

Lena continued to drink her tea but then she realized that her grandmother and mother was looking at her. She quietly placed down her cup of tea and looked at them.

"What?" She asked.

"Fish dreams usually mean that you're pregnant or someone close to you is."

"I am not pregnant!" Lena claimed.

She looked down on her stomach and touched it. She couldn't be... she just had her first intercourse a little over a week ago. And she's still on her birth controls... she couldn't be..., right? How early does one know if they are pregnant or not?

"Mother must have had a dream about me." Aunt Ma spoke.

Everyone's eye widened and looked at her.

"I am 5 weeks pregnant. We weren't going to tell everyone yet until we find out the gender."

"Aiya! Is that why you were not drinking yesterday. Sister, congratulations!" Shen Milli smiled.

"That's great news! I hope it is a girl." Grandma Shen replied.

"When are you going to find out about the gender?" Lena asked.

"Well, it has been a busy week and with the family gathering too, we didn't find the right time yet. We were going to visit the hospital after we go back home."

"That's good!" Grandma Shen was happy.

Shen Milli was also happy. She was not able to have a big family, but she was glad that Shen Yue (Aunt Ma) was able to have a big family. She was still young to have one or two more children.

"Don't tell Shen Ma yet, he wanted it to be a surprise for everyone." Aunt Ma smiled.

"The kids will be very happy to have a younger sibling." Lena added.

"I hope the triplets will be better behaved knowing that they will be older brothers."

Everyone laughed.

"Lena... when are you going to get married and start your own family. I married your uncle when I was around your age and only got lucky with two pregnancies. The triplets just made it a big number."

"I... maybe when I find what I want to do first."

"You're stepping down from LUX after the partnership release, are you not?"

"Yes. I was only helping my mother manage it for a while. There are better candidates to be president of the company."

"You're marrying Kris Li, anyways. You can follow your dreams instead of following your man's dream this time." Aunt Ma said, referring to how Lena chased Andy to business school instead of following her passion.

"Yeah."

The women talked more about clothes and fashion before it was time for dinner.

Lena had considered following her passion after leaving LUX. The original Lena had just really dreamed of being an amazing wife and stay at home mother. However, Lena... Shen Qian, pursued her major in graphic designs and arts.

Shen Qian was stuck doing web and project designs because it was a good-paying job. Well, at least before Erik fired her.... But her young self really wanted to pursue a career in graphic novels.

After dinner, everyone went to the springs. The area not only has a large natural grass field for the horses but a good part of the area had natural springs. The men went to their own area while the women stayed separated from them.

Although Lena and Kris did not spend much time together, they both enjoyed the nice little vacation. Kris had a good time with the Shen family. Of course, grandpa made sure to remember his name correctly this time and never stopped to remind Kris when the wedding date will be.

Shen Mao was saying he wanted a small wedding but Shen Ma suggested a big wedding. Shen Mo, on the other hand, was mostly silent.

Kris felt that he got along well with almost everyone... but there was just something about Shen Mo.

Everyone had left the water early. Kris left too but he came back after seeing that Shen Mo was still there.

"I thought you would be gone already. We've had stole you for the whole day, you must be missing Lena." Shen Mo spoke as Kris got back into the water.

"I miss her every second I am away from her, but it's not every day that I get to spend time with the other people she cherishes."

"Hmmm..." Shen Mo nodded. A good reply indeed.

There was a long silence as both of them sat in the water.

"I feel that you don't like me." Kris bluntly asked.

Shen Mo opened his eyes and looked at Kris. He smiled. "I don't like your family."

"I don't too."

"Good. It should stay that way."

"Why do you not like my family?"

"Some things are best if you just don't know. Like everyone else here... they can look at you and be happy with you. Every time I look at you... I see your father and your grandfather. But I don't know you. Are you your father? or your grandfather? I should not let a parent's sin be their child's."

Shen Mo got up from the water. "So I am not exactly disliking you but I am just not as accepting as the others. But don't worry, if Lena truly loves you, then there is no need for me to worry. I only hope you truly love her back."

Shen Mo started walking out but he stopped. He looked back at Kris. "There is one thing though..."

Kris looked at him.

"Be wary of the Zhao family. A Li can never trust a Zhao." And with that, Shen Mo left Kris alone in the water.

'Zhao...?' Kris try to process the words that Shen Mo spoke. There had always been tension between the Zhao and Li family... each family had always been wary of each other. 

'Hugh....' Kris looked up to the night sky. But, He can always trust Hugh.

Shen Mo said that it was better for Kris not to know... but Kris felt like he needed to know. What is his parent's sin? His family had done many horrible things... he included.... does any of them have to do with the Shen family?

Kris got up from the water and walked out. He put on his robe and walked to his room. Everyone mostly had separated room. When he opened his door, he immediately spot Lena lying on his bed, texting on her phone.

"Oh, you're finally back."

"How did you get in?" Kris asked as he closed and locked the door.

"Through the window."

"...." This was the fifth floor. And there is no balcony.... did Lena really come through the window?

"Naw... I picked the lock on the door."

"You've been watching too many movies." Kris took off his robe and put on his sleeping clothes. He crawled into bed with Lena. "You're not sleeping here right?"

"No... my mom will probably come to check on me later." Lena smiled and gave Kris a kiss. "I just wanted to see you before I sleep tonight."

Why didn't you choose the second male lead instead?! He treats you better?!

They are called the second male leads because they don't get the main female lead. 

But wait... I just got transmigrated as the villainess?! I am bullying the female lead... and everyone hates me?! 

Well, screw you female lead and male lead.. I don't need both of you!

*Looks around* Where is my second male lead? Is it you, you or you? AHH.. just choose the cutest one! 

This is a story about a Lena who has transmigrated to a new body and a parallel like world. 

Her fate is bounded to be the villainess of the story. How can she make herself loveable and find her second male lead when every move she makes, she is fated to cause trouble? 

The world is a different place when everything is not made to go correctly. Will she defy her fate or follow it? Will there be love awaiting her in the end? 

----------------
 

Sneak Peek but edited to hide the guy's name for no spoiling.

She hiccuped. "It's f**ken ugly!" He stared down her head. Lena raised her arm and put her hand in front of it. "Can I touch?"

Without even approving, Lena touched it. First, she poked on it like it was some exotic species, then she gently placed her entire hand on it. He could feel her warm hand on his cold body. It sent a warm tingle throughout his body. 

"Does it hurt?" Lena asked.

"No. Pain is just an emotion in the brain. I might feel it at first, but I already learned how to avoid the pain, hiding it away."

Lena stood up, standing in front of him. "Sorry I was rude. You can see mine too."

"What? I don't want --" 

Lena lifted her shirt up a bit but he grabbed her hands to stop and pulled the shirt back down. "I don't need to see it."

"But, mine's pretty. You need to see it!"

"I really don't want to see it."

"Are you calling it ugly too?! No it's pretty, I promise!"

——————

The picture is from Pinterest... something I just grabbed for covers.

It was just another day for him. Birds still singing, in a chirp contrast of the vibrant metropolis and children laughter playing in the park. A well-deserved holiday, toiling in sweat and energy drinks for 4-months in his grueling work as an animator for anime studio.
All in all, the weather is sunny and a bright day ahead. He stared boringly to the ceiling, waiting for a single blip from the computer on the desk beside his bed.
Even with the advancement of humanity, every goods and luxury beyond imagination only away from their fingertips, entertainment is still an expensive media for the crew behind that sold cheaply without any kind of appreciation other than being 'entertaining'.
It's fine for him, although the job is most often under-paid, a sad irony when the company could make billions in a single launch. He has been the key-animator, artist, once a doujin creator and a modder in a gaming community, it was his passion.
Though, it was dwindling in the coming years. Becoming a person, that his collagenous talked in their youth, referred to as working-zombies. He had no dreams, following wherever the windswept. Some said, he was a gifted child, being able to learn everything at a fast rate, only to be hindered by the lack of ambition.
It's fine. He thought, again and again.
Still staring at the grey ceiling. Most of the colorful articles inside his room were gathering dust, a testament of how long he is been away from the once-safe bastion of him. Old plastic models, standing idly behind the glass casket. If auctioned it could sell, perhaps thousands or millions, being the older, lost, and original figurines, in other words, his collection could become an article of antiquity.
Passionate fans and collectors might be screamed in rage when seeing the state those figurines being treated to. Unappreciated, and collecting in the dust. Either way, he had no time to appreciate it at any time, not anymore. When his holiday could be cut short at any time with a single phone call from his boss.
Might a good time, to buy a personal assistant. It was once the dreamt of his youth, hell every adolescent boy will dream of it when technology is not as advanced as it is now. Android and artificial intelligence are not only realized in the book of Asimov, but they also do and can dream of electric sheep in this day with the news of the latest models that capable to feel emotion.
And again, the idea was left down the gutter, when everything was so hectic on the studio's he barely thought about his personal life other than gulping the energy drink, and nutrient bar.
BLINK
He tilted his head to the left, which takes shorter than I expected.
The computer is could be described as… again, antiques. Plastic LED monitor, and a bulky CPU with a mere 16gb Ram and old generation graphic card and processor of 9th series that once boasted as a beast among computers specification in the past day of age, now regarded as would a stone-ax from the ancient era.
He didn't care, preferring the dream of his youth rather than the newest cognitive-user interface and virtual reality. A hologram computer that connected to the neural implant, the people of old said.
Windows 7, the OS is pleasantly nostalgic to him. With its blue theme as the User Interface, and once become the most stable OS he preferred.
A faint tug of a smile formed upon his face. Sweeping the dark bang away, he hovered the cursor to various icons presented on the layer of the monitor.
Hearts of Iron IV
Civilization V
Stellaris
Endless Space
Endless Legend
He frowned, why everything is strategy games. Of course, he loves to become Saint Hitler or Stalin in another timeline or play as the Emperor of mankind that Purge every Xenos and Liberals in every sight… but he can't control time. Now, where did he put another video game.
Homework
Obviously not that, when the size is 400gb. He ought to hide that later, the dark-haired man noted.
His dream was once, to play graphic consuming video games when his youth is filled with envy for the richer kids that capable to ask and wink their parents to buy a gaming system, not the poor him though.
And now… he appreciated that graphic doesn't equal great gameplay. Sure, newer games had a great graphic and story, but none could replace a childhood fondness and memory.
Animuland
Okay, he paused his cursor. Nah, I got no time for anime.
Senseless and Mass-shooting inducing games.
He questions his youth-self taste in a naming folder, seriously, granted the media is still as foolish as ever… okay, he ought to agree with the notion of the naming.
With a click another array of an icon presented to him.
Doom.
Nice, but let's take a look at another option that had a depth story.
Fallout 4
Fuck Marcy and Gay Preston, He hates them. Next!
Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind.
Cliffracers, driving gamer nuts since 2002.
Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.
Ugh, he can't stand the awful face of the people, next!
Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.
6090 Hours spend, wow, so much time wasted. He could become a president twice over if he didn't play Skyrim.
All other games were also enticing to play, he can't bear to choose between one. Since when playing games become such stressful indulgence.
And then, after excruciatingly and time wasted. Flap, he back to his bed.
Not that!
I wanted to play a game, to fill this momentous holiday!
Ugh, it makes him remember Todd's meme. Breasts are temporary, Skyrim is eternal.
Godd Howard, is there any other reason?
No, Skyrim is it then.
There should be a proverb when in doubt play Skyrim.
He relented to his inner desire, succumbed to the whisper of Godd Howard.
He forgot his old save anyway, might start a new game. Installing a few mods shouldn't take time.
12-Hours has passed, he noted the dusk sky outside the window.
And yet, he still not played the game. Apparently, Skyrim modding has not died yet, and he had a hard time choosing the right mod to suit his next gameplay.
After a few deliberations, and customize every mod he deemed as cheating with high-stat and is easy to obtain. He customized it so those items will be hard to get, such as through high-level blacksmith skills, rare ingredients through mod that adds a new monster, or outright end-game quest rewards.
It was rather easy for him, but very time consuming and tedious which he found as another joy why he likes Skyrim and its other series.
64-Hours has passed, his room once littered with dust now accompanied with garbage strewn all over. The kind of room where one usually found in 30-years old Wizard and The Ilk where they don't want to work.
It's fine, he can call the cleaning service anyway. Such is the thought of someone who lives in a near utopian society where all demand can be met with a single swipe.
439-Hours has passed, his eye widened once he saw the number when he pressed the exit button after… weeks of play. Somehow, he managed to left for days without sleep, granted all the energy drink strewn across his room. A rather harmful habit. He hurriedly opened the log history of his interface computer, revealing hundreds of missed calls and messages left unread.
Oh shit, most of the call is from his boss and other colleagues. He found it a sad thing, as there's no other contact from his friends or family. What a cruel world.
Uwwah, the movie got delayed because of his absence. A rather crushing burden was placed on his back. Once he went to the studio, the only fury of his boss awaits and the letter of his retirement will await. He didn't want to go there, ah, I hope the world end tomorrow or something.
I'm sorry, I played a game too much last night Tee-He~ Like hell he could do that.
He opened the nearest cabinet and grabbing the oldest alcoholic drink he had stored. His eyes grew weary, the black hair loses its luster, and his back becomes hunched. And soon after a few big gulps, he found himself nodding on the bed.
He feels to not have the desire to wake up.  
"Hey, you! You're finally awake!"
Oh, don't make such a mistake, he already read too many counts of Light novel to know where this is going. The voice is rather alien to him, there's no one in his apartment and no one had the keys other than the owner whom is a woman. And burglar won't even bother to wake him up.
And most importantly he knew that lines all too well.
He's screwed, isn't he?

An avid Skyrim player found himself inside the Danmachi world, as his game character nonetheless!!

Okay seriously, I just wanted to make a danmachi fic without the MC joining yet another Hestia familia and babysitting Bell.

You can give me a tip jar if you like some of my works. Nothing is locked behind paywall no worries.
https://ko-fi.com/nyanmato

DISCLAIMER: I don't own any known works that may be presented inside this fic, it rightfully belongs to its respective owner.

As Elsa close her eyes and embrace death she found her self floating in a dark void with nothing to see she get confused as she expected herself to be in hell chained and tortured for eternity but here she is floating in the void,  she look down to inspect her self to find that she is still the same except she has no flesh and transparent like hologram, a spiritor a soul, she start thinking about her strange situation and eventually an idea forms in her mind that she is in some kind of hell but an exile one that suppose to stay a lone for eternity and with no communication with any living being "well I expected more but it is better that way I like this one more than be to tortured for eternity , although it will be boring but I can pass the time meditating after all is my favorite hobby, now I thing about it it is much better this way I can do my favorite hobby for eternity and no need for food, water and other necessities as I am a spirit, soul or an hollow like that anime that James use to watch".

Elsa start laughing after remembering james love for anime and novels in his younger years, as she was remembering the past she notice a light coming out from the area of her chest she was puzzled and look at it as the light start growing and coming out and float in front of her,  the light solidified to form a jade,  A black jade with three coloured lines red, blue and one with constant change in colour although specific ones being light blue,  purple, gold and red crimson.
Elsa instantly try to move her body away but she notice that she can't move her self and watch frustrated and helpless as the black jade start moving to her head, all while Elsa was trying to move her body and struggle against whatever was holding her down but the jade already touch her head, as Elsa wait for something to happen the jade once again turn to light and fused with her soul/spirit as she felt nothing she was confused and wonder what was that about,  when suddenly pain shot through her but she only frown her eyebrows and endure through it when she suddenly blank out and information come to her mind about a fantasy world full with cultivators,  divine beasts and unknown mystic things, cultivation levels and notice a Cultivation Technique come with the information as Elsa regain her composure she has a very weird expression on her face as she is trying to understand and fully comprehension what is waiting for her, as Elsa start to regain her usual expressionless face "well that was surprising to think that such a think will happen to me,  well if this world is anything like the novels I use to read with James then I think I can adept to it but if it different then I need be cautious and perhaps it will more fun to cultivate there , well when I get there I make sure if the information I receive it true or not, and if it is true then anytime soon I will reborn as a new baby in that world so I will wait and see"             As Elsa start waiting,  she thought about the meditation part and thought about doing it so she just close her eyes and start meditating in the same position she is as she can't move her body yet,  as Elsa meditate she lost the time as she just there, after unknown time she start felling a pulling force pulling her,  she open her eyes and saw a crack open on front of her, she just look at it and Elsa get sucked, as she travel in a long tunnel she suddenly saw the end of the tunnel and fell in womb as she perceive , Elsa look at her new body and judging by it's look the age of the body is about 5 to 6 months meaning that she has about 7 to 6 months for her birth,  Elsa then start looking at the information she got from the jade and understand the graphic of this world and social system " so the world is is separated to five continent each one of those is bigger than Africa and Asia combined together meaning the world is 10 times bigger than earth, hmm well for sure the world is big it will be more interesting to find about the secrets in this world, about the cultivation levels it says there is nine realms in cultivation stander thing, moving on there also levels of power for organisation, empires, sects and clans in this world also are measured in nine levels too.                                  now about the cultivation technique the name is 7- heavenly star,  allow the cultivator to cultivate seven daos, three of them been lightening, fire and water with the other four the cultivator can choose what he or she wants " as so like this Elsa spend her time in the womb absorbing the information she got unaware that her birth time is close.
and one day as she was still immerse in her planing for her future and what to do if any situation rise, she suddenly feel a sucking force pulling her to an opening that appear,  Elsa realize that she was about to born,  so she just wait until she get her head out and immediately start crying as soon she get her head out to not draw attention to her of being any abnormal baby.

mean while the new mother of Elsa was screaming her heart out and the nanny was saying to her "Madam push a little more I can see the head, just a little more "
The madam just continue to scream and finally with one last push the nanny receive the baby and the baby start crying.
the nanny says " madam is a baby girl congratulations madam ching ".
"give to me" madam chino says.
the nanny give the baby to madam ching , as madam ching was holding her baby and lovingly holding her little hand the baby stop crying and fell sleep, when the door to the room was opened and a man wearing a leisure clothes come in, the madam that was so lovingly and gentle suddenly her expression change to and indifferent expression " oh my lord is good to see you, here you new daughter Ye Ching,  what do you think is a good name is it? " The man now identified as Lord Ching "Madam as usual you give a good name, I just come to check on youand I see you are also very well along side our daughter,  now that I have check excuse me I will be going " and without waiting for her respond he left the room, strangely the maids and the nanny all have a normal expression on their faces like is everyday thing to see the Lord and his wife treating each other this way but it is consider normal if you know the nature of the Ching family they are known to have only one rule in their family and that is if your talented in any field you are welcome but if you aren't then there is no place between us for you and that person will mysterly disappear from the family thus the family is notoriously famous for its cruel nature although the other families are not not less cruel but they at least keep their useless member a live and just keep them away from power and the resources of the family.

but unknown to the Lord and his wife and the servants the baby girl was not sleep and listen to the exchange that happen between  her parents and thought ' interesting it seem that my new family is not a loving family but a family built on benefits,  although myother seems to care for me as long as I not interfere with her matter and crossing her base line' Elsa start smiling and this time really fall sleep thinking ' no shackles'.

And this day will be known in the future as the day the Queen come to life.

I really shouldn't have gone drinking that night with my friends. I mean, sure, I had just graduated from high school and I needed to celebrate that somehow but I had never gone drinking before. I was what you would call a boring guy because I never went out drinking, partying and doing drugs. I just knew better –results of spending most of your time reading random stuff on the internet-.
Anyways, I really shouldn't have gone drinking that night. I should've gone home, celebrated the fact I was out of school with my parents, the ones I knew really gave a damn about what happened to me, and after that I should've done what I do best: play videogames until I gave myself brain damage and passed out until the next morning to repeat the same thing every day until it was time for me to go to college.
Heh. College. I was really looking forward to that. I really wanted to get a degree in graphic designs and graphic animation so I could get a job in the video game development industry. Those had been my plans. But no. But fucking no! I had to ruin them just because I couldn't say no! Come with us, they'd said. It will be fun, they'd said. I did went with them. And I did had fun –made out with three different girls, two at the same time even-.
What they didn't tell me, however, was the fact that I was going to stare my own death in the face while I was too drunk to see that the green light was one for the vehicles on the street, not the people walking through the city. I knew how to drive but my parents knew I was going to go drinking so they didn't give me the vehicle for obvious reasons. I was supposed to call them so they could pick me up but in my drunken brilliance I decided to walk home.
A load of good shit that did me. I had stumbled forward, ignoring the warning of the homeless guy who was sitting next to the lamppost on that corner, and slowly rose my head when a bright light and an annoying loud sound suddenly blared against my drunken senses. I don't know how I can recall this with even half of the clarity I am but this is what I remember. That night I saw my life flash before my own eyes before I was hit by a car.
I remember half of my bones breaking and puncturing most of my internal organs. The pain had been excruciating. Milliseconds –don't ask me how I could a perceive such a tiny time frame because I do not know- after that I felt my head been separated from my body due to the strength which the car had hit me. I remember seeing my body sent flying meters away before my eyes turned to the horrified eyes of the man as he stared back at me.
But most of all. I remember ten words appearing in front of me as everything dulled as I began to die.
GAME OVER
Would you like to try again?
Yes/No
I don't know if it had been the survival instinct of a dying being making the choice for me. I don't even know if my mind even questioned the absurdity of words appearing out of nowhere as my head flew away from my body. The only think I knew was that I saw an opportunity to keep living. So, moved by instinct, I said yes in my mind. The words had disappeared. My head continued flying away as my body was crushed by the car that had killed me.
My consciousness, however, was transported elsewhere.
-DxD: Gamer-
You have slept in your bed. Your HP and MP have been fully restored. All ailments have been cured.
What
In
The
Actual
Fuck!
While my thoughts were raging a mile a second I was sure my face –or what I believed to be my face- was kept blank as I stared at the blue box with black letters in front of me. Not a moment ago I was reflecting of the decisions I took that led to me dying when I suddenly find myself laying comfortably in a bed staring at a message box suspiciously similar to the ones that appeared on 'The Gamer' manga I have been reading lately.
I looked around in panic trying to discern where I was but there was nothing distinctive of the room other than it was filled with posters of naked females that were very beautiful and very well endowed. When I was sure I was going to start hyperventilating, a wave of calmness overwhelmed the anxiety I was feeling me and my brain directed my consciousness into thinking about the situation at hand.
I was in an unknown place. First priority: Learn where I am. Secondary objectives: Find out why those letters appeared in front of my face when I woke up and why they resembled a manga I had been reading in the past and why I found myself calm all of sudden when I should be getting a heart attack.
That was when another box appeared.
Quest Alert!
Where in the hell I am?!
You have found yourself in an unknown place and weird stuff is happening around you not even ten seconds after you woke up! Find out where you are! Secondary objectives: Learn about the weird things happening around you.
Reward: 500 XP. 1000 XP if the secondary objective is completed. Skill Book. Not being a clueless idiot.
I narrowed my eyes at the message box appearing and realized that it was exactly like the ones that would appear before Han Jee-Han when he got a quest. Meaning that this 'weird things' were actually The Gamer ability manifesting before me in its default form. My deduction was proven correct when the secondary objective in the quest message box became grayed out and a plus sign appeared beside it meaning I had completed it.
When I didn't panic because of this knowledge being learned, I realized this was indeed the real deal and the skill Gamer's Mind was already changing me. Deciding to go with the flow as I didn't feel like I was in some kind of dream and I distinctly remembered everything from my live to the point I 'died', I rose up from the bed and went to search for a mirror to look at myself. Maybe it will give me a clue into where I was. I suspected that I was in the world of The Gamer for obvious reasons.
There was a small mirror in the room and I approached it with some trepidation that was quickly washed away by Gamer's Mind. I was surprised, however, when brown eyes stared back at me from the surface of the mirror. Dark brown hair was messily sitting on top of 'my' head and it was also framing and slightly above average looking face. I had already deduced who 'I' was but the letters floating above my head only served to confirm it.
Issei Hyoudou. Lvl 1.
The Gamer
I was in the world of High School DxD and apparently my consciousness has replaced that of the main character. Immediately after I thought that a ping was heard in my mind and a message box telling me I had completed the quest appeared. Immediately after a bright light appeared on my suddenly cupped hands as a white thin book appeared in my hands. I heard another ping sound and another message box appeared in front of me.
Your level has increased by one! Your level has increased by one!
Okay so let me get this straight. I died. Of that I had no doubt. And then I was reborn in the world of one of my favorite anime/manga/light novels series as its main character wielding the abilities of the main character of another series I had recently began to read…
Surprisingly –or maybe not- I felt not at ease with that revelation but more like content in a very grim fashion. I have to admit that more than once I had wanted to live in a world of fantasy wielding incredible powers, fighting bad guys and doing what it needed to be done with the hot girls that kept appearing on the shows and manga I have read. As I dismissed all the message boxes that had appeared on my field of vision I realized that this was my chance to do exactly that.
The first thing I needed to do was to find out exactly when I was in the timeline of the DxD universe. Looking at myself –Issei- on the mirror once again I realized that I couldn't be far from where the light novels began since I looked around Issei's age when that happened. That's when I realized that I did have my memories of my previous life but I didn't possess Issei's from this life. I can recall being friends with Irina Shidou and thinking she was a boy but only that from the past and I was sure it was because I have already saw that in the light novels.
The next thing I needed to do was prepare myself for when shit hit the fan. I decided I was going to go by the timeline as it was presented in the light novels and alter it as little as I could because the slightest thing I did could heavily alter how stuff happened. I admit I was afraid of getting caught off guard –try not being when you were killed because you were caught off guard drunk- and I certainly didn't want to die again.
That line of thinking made me recall the book that I was still holding in my hands so I brought it up to my face. Even though it appeared out of light it felt like a real book but according to the quest that rewarded it to me it was a skill book. I focused on it and as I expected a blue window appeared.
You have acquired the skill book 'Mana Manipulation'. Would you like to learn this skill?
Yes/No
I pressed the yes button and I stared as the book was enveloped in bright light before I absorbed said light. As it died down and the window disappeared automatically I became aware of the magical energy swirling inside of me and knowledge on how to manipulate it filled my mind. As I began to marvel at the sensation of it –it was like a warm limb deep inside your core waiting to be used- another window appeared.
Mana Manipulation. Passive. Lvl Max. Allows the user to freely manipulate mana which is the energy within most living beings. Passively increases INT by 10%. Passively increases mana pool by 10%.
I nodded at that and dismissed the window as I moved away from in front of the mirror and took a seat on my bed. I knew that I was still incredibly week even by the standars of this world and my previous one but I still needed to know where I stood at the moment. I took a deep breath and decided to use my voice for the first time since waking up as Issei Hyoudou.
"Status."
Name: Issei Hyoudou
Title: N/A
Status: N/A
Race: Human Job: The Gamer
Level: Lvl 3 Next Level: 0.0%
HP: 325/325 R: 0.5% (1.6) per Minute
MP: 907/907 R: 1.4% (12.7) per Minute
STR: 4
VIT: 5
DEX: 3
INT: 33 (30+3)
WIS: 14
LUCK: 10
Stat Points: 10
Money: 0$
I got over the fact that my voice sounded different and that I spoke a different language even thought I still perceived it as English very fast once I saw my stats. They were definitely better than I was expecting them to be but to be honest I was not surprised by them. They actually made a lot of sense once I spent a minute analyzing them.
STR was the Strength modifier and it governed the physical damage I could deliver and the amount of weight I could carry. It was pretty accurate as far things go. From what I knew about Issei's character he never trained nor performed any physical activity before he became a devil and was forced to do so. I was tempted to put points into it immediately but I knew that since it was so low I could rise it up by training physically and that I should save those points for later.
The same happened with VIT and DEX, the Vitality and Dexterity modifiers respectively. Vitality essentially governed the amount of stamina and max HP I possessed. I deduced that VIT modified the amount of HP on a 25/1 ratio if the amount I had a level one was 100 without taking into account my VIT of 5. Dexterity governed how fast I was physically, my reflexes, my reaction time, my coordination, my body awareness and my aptitude for acrobatics and flexibility. The same occurred here as with STR so the modifier was pretty accurate.
INT was the Intelligence modifier and it governed the potential I had to acquire new knowledge and the amount of mana I possessed. And as humbly as possible I realized that it was very accurate too. Before I died I had been a very good student. Not only that but I spent my time reading and learning new stuff along with playing a lot of games that forced me to think things through so I knew that my mental capabilities were above average.
The amount of mana I possessed was also accurate if the same happened with INT and MP as with VIT and HP: a ratio 25/1 if my base MP without taking into account my INT at Lvl one had been 50, half of my initial HP at 100, which was the common on most games if you choose a class with an average affinity for everything which I knew I was.
WIS was the wisdom modifier and it governed my ability to make the correct decision, how I used the knowledge in my possession and mana regeneration. I think it was also pretty accurate since I like to think that all the choices I made through my short previous life had been the correct ones –except for the one that had made it so my previous life was short of course-. It seemed like the regeneration of my mana was directly proportional to the amount of WIS I had calculated in percentages. And the same seemed to happen with my HP. Good to know.
LUCK was the luck modifier obviously and it governed, you guessed, how lucky I was. However, I know that it also governs the quality of the drops I get from fighting mobs and how prone I was to getting a critical strike. A lot of people would think that luck is a useless stat to increase, and it normally would be because you can normally raise your stats through stats points, but since I could modify my other stats by training and doing other stuff I can see the potential here. But I wasn't going to get ahead of myself.
Looking at my stats I realized that I had the perfect build to become a mage class character just going by how high INT and WIS were when I was in level 3 but this 'game system' allowed me to get points in all stats by doing certain actions. I knew I could rise my STR, VIT and DEX by doing specific exercises for each. I could raise my INT by studying and I could raise my WIS by making correct during difficult situations. LUCK was the only one that I needed stats points to raise because there was no way to get lucky on purpose.

I died after making my first bad decission I wasn't expecting to be reborn in a world of Devils, Angels, Fallen Angels and Yokai. I wasn't expecting to the be the 'main character'. I wasn't expecting for my life to become a game. I will, however, make the most of this peculiar situation. 


SI OC as Issei! Badass Main Character! MassHarem! Lemons!


(NOT MY BOOK)
Link : https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11986220/1/DxD-Gamer

"Mommy Nu, look! I made this book!" Ara exclaimed happily. She spent two full days making her first story book.  

Gen held up his project and said proudly, "And I built this toy!" 

Nuchi smiled bewilderly. They definitely take after their parents. These children are children of inventors and creators. She knelt down to their height and embraced. 

"Do you want to read your story to me when we get home, Ara?"

Flabbergasted to show her work, Ara replied firmly, "Okay!"

Nuchi turned to Gen, "Do you want to explain how and why you made this toy? Should we play your toy? Or should we display it?" 

Gen replied, "Wait, I'm going to build another one, then we can play." He paused, hesitated to say more but decided to say anyway. "Mommy Nu, I have nothing against you, but even if I explain, you wouldn't understand."

"What?" Nuchi felt astounded at the words that comes out of the kids' mouth. She looked at Pearl to see if Gen just implied that she was not smart enough to understand. 

Pearl shook her head that she heard it, loud and clear. 

Nuchi sighed. They definitely take after their father. "Let's go eat and go home. Mommy is busy."

Feeling restless of the earlier incident, Jeno called Zeki to dig up Nuchi's profile for him. It only took a few minutes before the file was sent to him. Jeno opened the file and browsed through the information. 

Name: Nuchi Thor
Age: 22
Occupation: Entry Level Graphic Designer
Employer: Jaces Tower Corporation
Family: None

What? She doesn't have family members? Could I have mistaken? 

After dinner, Nuchi ushered the children outside before going out herself. She drove her mini family home, got them in the bathtub to play while she washed the shirt. After some times, she went back to check up on the kids. 

"Ara and Gen, come out now. Dry yourself and put on your pajamas!" Nuchi yelled from the kitchen as she marinated chickens for next day dinner. 

The kids answered one after another. "Okay."

They got out to dry themselves and put on their pajamas. 

"Brush your teeth before you come out!" 

Ara and Gen answered, "Okay."

They pulled their own step stool to the sink, smiled and checked their teeth before grabbing their toothbrush.

Gen grabbed his tooth brush and squeezed a pea size toothpaste on the brush. "Ara, doesn't Mommy Nu feel off to you today?"

"My radar says she must meet someone new at work today." Ara turned to face Gen, "Do you think she met a man?"

Gen's imagination popped in. His image of Nuchi wasn't glorifying. She sucks at almost everything, the only talent she has is art. Her personality is lacking significantly and so is her intelligence quotient. 

"Mm… I think she met a bully." Gen replied confidently. 

"Let's observe her for more details." Ara suggested. They took after their parents so they were sharp and perceptive. In other words, little geniuses. 

By the time the twin came out, Nuchi was wrapping up tomorrow's dinner prep. 

"Mommy Nu, you haven't change?"

"Mm.. I have to do laundries and then prepare ingredients for tomorrow dinner."

Ara and Gen looked at each other. They have the same thought. 

Ara asked, "Mommy Nu, but we did laundries a few days ago. Why so soon?" They haven't dirtied anything that would need urgent washing. They have a regular daily and weekly routine. 

Nuchi paused, "Ah… I spilled food on my shirt." 

"Mm…" Ara hummed. 

Nuchi narrowed her eyes at the kids. Do they suspect something else? The kids could outsmart her any days now. She sighed, "Ara, it's your turn to read tonight. Do you want to read your book?"

Ara's eyes sparkled, "Yes!" She ran to her room to get her book. Nuchi washed her hands, took off the apron and went to the couch to wait for Ara. 

"Come Gen. Let's sit and wait for Ara."

Gen obediently walked over and sit next to Nuchi. He kept glancing at her trying to wrap his head on her peculiar energy.  

Nuchi feels like Gen's a little uptight. "Gen, what's wrong?"

He darted his eyes away and replied. "Nothing." 

Ara ran back with her book and read to Nuchi and Gen. Her book was about the different clans among animals, conflict and friendships. Children has the best imagination and it is up to the adult to nurture those imagination. Nuchi did her best to support them to be their creative self. 

After tucking the children asleep, she got CEO Jaces' shirt ready for return. Although she dreads the thought of it, the consequences could be worse if she doesn't obey. Just the thought of it scares her.

The next day, Nuchi arrived at work. She checked in at her desk and did some works. Her plan was to go up during lunch hour, hoping the CEO would be away, so she could leave the shirt in his office without bumping into him.

We all are born with one gift or another. For Nuchi, she was born spiritually gifted and because of that, she shies away from people until she has no choice but interact with people and take a corporate job. 

=====================

For the first time, his eyes shine of life as his heart pulsated at an abnormal rate. She wore a rhinestones flower shape hairband, her luscious silk wavy hairs flow like fresh spring water. Her eyes so pure and gentle like the turquoise sea and the smile that could only bring true life out of him. 

He broke free from the gathering fans and rushed across the street to chase after but a truck honked and drove through, separating him and the woman.

The launching ceremony continued. It was just that the group that followed those kinds became bigger. Those who enjoyed the bustling and hustling scene, followed the kids to see what they were doing. Seeing their kids were holding wooden toy guns marching at the front, some adults even cheered loudly to encourage them. It made those kids march even more energetically.

Soon, the group of people arrived at the small river. Under Zhou Hao's instruction, kids were spread out, but kept one meter between each other. The row was stretched a dozen meters long like the guard of honour.

The small river was around one meter deep. Although it was not very deep, it was enough to sail the wooden boat. The four kids who were holding the carrier had already gotten into the water. They were ready to let go of the carrier and let it move slowly down the river.

It was at this moment, Zhou Shuyu suddenly stopped Zhou Yu and said, "help me to take some videos, the main focus should be the carrier, but you can also film those kids as well. Use close-up shot to film."

It was summertime, what she dressed, didn't allow her to get wet. Instead, Zhou Yu was dressing the beach trunks every day, so he didn't need to worry about getting wet. After he learned about how to use the camera, he got into the river to take some close-up shot of the carrier.

Children had lined up neatly already. In Zhou Hao's command, the launching ceremony formally began. The four kids that were holding the carrier immediately let go of the carrier at the same time. Everyone was staring at the carrier, fearing that it might not be able to balance itself on the river.

Luckily, the beaver's design was very logical, the weight distribution of the carrier was also very even, so after the initial sway, it was able to balance itself well on the river and slowly move down the river.

The group of kids instantly burst into cheers. Everyone was clapping their hands and shouted in excitement. However, the representative Zhou Hao was very unhappy. "Quiet! Quiet! You guys don't have any orders. If you ruined the ceremony, you all need to run 10 laps around the village!" He jumped up and down and shouted.

With Zhou Hao's effort, the group of kids finally resumed their order, and whenever the carrier moved past a kid, they would immediately salute to the carrier.

The launching ceremony was very successful. The carrier was moved back to the yard after the ceremony and placed in the yard allowing everyone to see it. This made the carrier owner - Zhou Hao feel very proud. But he had to watch out for those careless kids, reminding them from time to time that they couldn't touch his treasure. He was scared that they might damage it.

At the moment, there were many other weapons on top of the carrier. Regardlessly what plane it was, those kids just place them on top of the carrier, some of them even place tanks on it as well. It was as if they were hosting a miniature military equipment exhibition.

Having let kids play in his yard for the whole day, those kids finally satisfied. And the project "Luhua village" was also finally completed.
  
The mood point was actually only deducted 7 points in the end. But because the property management team's special effect, currently the soldier development's mood points was 103 points. So Zhou Yu didn't need to worry about those people would go on a strike. The team that finished their work would return to the staff accommodation, although they were taking a break, the mood points would not be restored.

If he wanted to restore the mood point, he needed to have some special buildings, for example, the hot spring hotel, Travel agency, etc… however he didn't have that kind of money at the moment, so he had to leave it.

What was the most important thing at the moment, was that he needed to check the quality of the game.

The same as the comic studio, the final product came in two forms. The digital data or the game disc. The cover of the disc gave people a strong rustic feeling. It was actually quite a good design. However, from its cover, Zhou Yu still couldn't tell the quality of the game.

After starting the game, as he had expected, the graphic of the game was not as good as those big title games. If he had to compare the graphics of the game to the games that currently existed on the market, it was very similar to the graphics of the Stardew Valley. However, Zhou Yu still wondered that if its content was as good as Stardew Valley.

From the perspective of a game tester, he entered the game.

Although the game's environment was Luhua village, the main character was not Zhou Yu. Instead, players could set the name and the gender of the main character by themselves. The main storyline was not brilliant, and after the short introduction of why the main character wanted to return to his hometown, the game immediately started.

After activating the full otaku power, Zhou Yu finished the game in just a week.

And his comment was: not bad.

Farming simulation games were not something new. This game's mechanism was also nothing out of ordinary. There were many types of plants he could grow and many creatures he could raise. It was the type of games that could easily satisfy players who loved the simulation games.

Zhou Yu, a reclusive otaku, who did not like to go out of his house, was one day forced out of his house by a series of unexpected events.

This story is not made by me but I am transporting it here so people so could this Author amazing work.

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[ DELETED FOREVER ]

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