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curekibouka-writing · 8 months

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Analyzing the lullaby motif in book 7 (+translation of lyrics)

MAJOR SPOILERS for book 7 chapter 1-5

I hope everyone remembers the lullaby Malleus sang for everyone when he overblotted because that motif came back FOUR times in chapter 5 and I am going to analyze them all because they make me way too emotional 😭

Please feel free to find the lullaby motifs in this post and this post if necessary (although one of them is not included).

Translated lyrics of the lullaby:

A warm cradle

Starlight and joy

My eyes are watching over you still, let's be together

With no fear, even if we wake from this dream

Sleep, sleep, my beloved child

In dreams, I pray you would be guided to walk toward the light

(Analysis begins under the cut:)

The melody of the lullaby has been used 5 times at least in the story, they include:

When Malleus hummed it to everyone he put to sleep during his OB

When Meleanor sang it to Malleus

When Lilia sang it to Silver

When Malleus sang it to Silver

In the bgm when Sebek was helping come out of the darkness

The themes of this piece of music are love and farewell.

Motif use 2 is chronologically when the lullaby was first sung, it’s a song of love from a mother to her child when she knows they must part. I believe that when Meleanor sang this lullaby, she had already made up her mind to fight and let her guards escape with her child. She was taking the last moments she had with her child to name him "Malleus" and sing him this lullaby (7-75). Lyrics include sth like “I will be watching over you even if we wake up from this dream” and “may you be guided and walk towards the light”. But the beauty that comes with the theme of farewell is the theme of legacy. Because even though Meleanor is now gone, her song, and thus her love, never died.

Because Lilia remembers it. Motif 3 is Lilia singing it to Silver, and he’s also sung it to Malleus before. In a musical story, even if the characters lie or don’t have perfect information, the music never lies. Even if Lilia once doubted whether he could love Malleus and hatch him properly (7-77), and even if Lilia may still doubt whether he could love Silver, a human, properly (7-81), the motif symbolises love which tells us the truth — Lilia is capable of giving love. And the legacy is not just that Lilia passed the song to Malleus, it’s that Lilia internalized the song and sang it to his own son. He has seen what kind of mother Meleanor was, and he’s learnt from her kindness, her pride, her love and he has put that into how he raise his own child. Lilia has Meleanor’s legacy too.

And then to address the two Malleus motifs. First of all Malleus never sings it with lyrics, which would imply Malleus himself doesn’t fully know the true meaning of the song. However, he knows that he’s felt happiness and protection from hearing this song, so he sings it to Silver when Lilia asks him to as motif 4 (7-81). When he sang it to Silver he sounded confused, it must’ve been a long time since he’s heard the song. But he still remembers it, which means Meleanor’s love never died because Malleus remembers it all the same. It’s still in Malleus. It’s still there.

But when Malleus overblots, the song gets twisted a little bit (motif 1). However, in Malleus’s mind, it’s still a song of happiness and protection, because he overblotted trying to protect everyone’s happiness forever. But the music sounds creepy to show you the true nature of the song is not like this. The nature of the song is that "even though I cannot be with you always, I will still love you and wish for your happiness". This is the part that Malleus did not understand and did not cope with. It’s also interesting to note that Malleus sang motif 1 with a smile and no hesitation, he was completely confident and sure in what he was doing. Meanwhile, in all other three sung versions, each singer had their own different emotions in their singing, and those emotions were a lot softer, a lot less certain.

And the fifth and final use of the motif is used in the bgm when Sebek yells at Silver for him to get a grip (7-86). The song is arranged into a victorious piece with certainty and assurance. The use of the motif reminds us of the themes: love and legacy. It calls attention to these themes and entrenchs the truth that Silver IS Lilia’s legacy, and that’s only possible because of the love that Lilia has given him. The exact part where the bgm starts playing was when Silver said "Even in the darkness, I could always hear it. 'Stand up' 'Don't give in' 'Live'... it's father's voice. [...] All that he taught me, that's the proof that he had loved me. It's not a dream and not an illusion... it's true love." (I'm serious he really said "true love" for real this IS a translation T^T). When Silver saw Lilia's memories of the song, he denied the love, he said he should not deserve it. The motif had to come back because this is the moment when Silver can finally realize “Ah. This song is full of love and father sang it for me.” The motif HAD to come back because Silver has to come to accept it.

But the bgm arrangement is also made for Sebek. The bgm is full of certainty because Sebek has no doubts in what he’s telling Silver. Sebek, who has grown up alongside Silver, has witness all the love between Lilia and Silver. He KNOWS Lilia’s love is true and he’s conveying that to Silver with certainty. This bgm summarises what Sebek was doing so well, Sebek sees the love Lilia has for Silver and was literally blasting it in Silver’s ears.

As Disney's Sleeping Beauty (1959) puts it, "true love conquers all". And we've been shown that there's love in every direction among our Diasomnia found family. Let's hope that, soon enough, Silver and Sebek would wake Lilia up, and they can finally show Malleus the true meaning of his mother's lullaby and the wish she entrusted to it — that he would walk towards the light, even if she cannot be the one guiding him...

#twisted wonderland #twst #twst spoilers #twisted wonderland spoilers #twst ch 7 spoilers #twst chapter 7 #lilia vanrouge #silver #twst silver #sebek zigvolt #malleus draconia #mallenoa draconia #meleanor draconia #twst book 7 #twst translation #twst analysis #diasomnia

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curekibouka-writing · 8 months

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The voice acting in book 7 chapter 5

I have no time to make full posts about any of these 😭 Just know that I’m extremely impressed with the range of tones every character had in this update 😭😭😭

Spoilers under the cut

There’s Baul who’s usually shouting but this time he has to be the voice of reason when Lilia’s uncalm and that’s just so good 😭 He’s so cool when he reasons with Lilia and also take lead of the troop

There’s Meleanor. We first hear her singing a lullaby to Malleus egg which was super soft and gentle, and then suddenly she’s blasting everyone with lightning and sounds incredibly threatening. She continues to switch between the two tones in the middle of sentences throughout the following conversation. Definitely recommend paying attention to her tone changes, they’re very important.

There’s Lilia. Because really since when does Midorikawa ever disappoint? I was most impressed by that one moment when they were escaping through the waterways, and Lilia insists that he should go back to help Meleanor, but after a LOT of convincing from Baul he realised he can’t go back and he wears his mask and takes charge again and the colour of his voice changes completely. He was juggling between a respectful tone and a close friend tone when he talks to Meleanor too. Also note that all of the aforementioned are completely different than the modern Lilia that we know of. The Lilia in Silver’s childhood is also voiced and he’s much sounding closer to our Lilia but still different. Which means in this chapter there are at least four DISTINCT NEW voices that Midorikawa devised for Lilia.

And then there’s Silver. The contrast with his normal self… HELP. Silver weeping is already heartbreaking enough, but wait till Silver YELLS at full volume how he’s a child of the enemy and how he doesn’t deserve to be loved by Lilia or Malleus. There’s also some parts where Silver sounds like he’s given up on everything and he has no energy to go on but it still somehow sound different from his usual sleepy voice. Also there was a very short part with younger Silver and Sebek? I’m guessing around 13-14 years old. They were learning levitation magic. Shimazaki voiced that Silver too and somehow he can be excited while still sounding sleepy??? WHAT KIND OF MAGIC IS THIS JEJCHSVDKHCHWJDKF

But above all that, this time I was actually most impressed by Sebek?!!??? The amount of tone changes he had in this one update is INSANE. I know he’s a man of many emotions but this is so insane that I can’t even list it out. There’s determined Sebek, embarrassed Sebek, smug Sebek, sarcastic Sebek, proud Sebek, thoughtful Sebek, 14yo Sebek and 12yo-ish Sebek voiced by the same person but sound different, there’s also Sebek crying and yelling at Silver saying he’s an idiot if he thinks Lilia doesn’t love him. He never has a giant switch moment where he doesn’t talk like himself the way Lilia and Silver did, he’s pretty much always his arrogant noisy self, but the amount of nuances his arrogant noisy self can have was just insanely impressive.

Also Meleanor sang and Lilia sang and Malleus also sang… oh yes I forgot to talk about Malleus. I missed hearing him gentle and happy with his found family 😭 He sounded like a big brother to Silver and Sebek in Lilia’s memories. Also not his awkward first encounter with Silver help me……

In conclusion this update is nothing without voice so I beg everyone please please please please please read it with voice pleaseeeeee 😭😭😭

#twisted wonderland #Twst #Twst spoilers #twst ch 7 spoilers #silver #twst silver #lilia vanrouge #sebek zigvolt #mallenoa draconia #Meleanor draconia #baul zigvolt #malleus draconia #kibouka chatters

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curekibouka-writing · 8 months

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youtube

Twst book 7 chapter 5 reaction livestream

I plan to livestream my reaction to book 7 chapter 5 just like how I did chapter 3... please don't let me cry alone guys 😭 Please feel free to check it out if you want to read the story too~

Synopsis of book 7 chapter 5 translated under the cut:

Lilia is injured after shielding Silver at the "Eastern Rock". As they are looking after Lilia, a message that the Wild Rose Castle has been sieged is delivered to them.

#self promo #kibouka chatters #twst livestream

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curekibouka-writing · 8 months

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5 hours left~

youtube

Twst Stitch event chapter 3 reaction livestream

I will be live-streaming my reading through Twst episode 7 chapter 3 in real time tomorrow, reacting and summarising in English. Please feel free to check it out if you want to read the story with me ^w^

#twst livestream #kibouka chatters

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curekibouka-writing · 8 months

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Would you guys want to see...

I missed the first two chapters but would you guys want me to start livestreaming and summarising the Stitch event story starting from chapter 3?

Personally I love Stitch a lot and I cried in the movie multiple times and I have so much to say about the event already, I think livestreaming it might be fun! Would you guys join me if I do it? ^w^

#self promo #kibouka chatters #twst spoilers #twst livestream

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curekibouka-writing · 9 months

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A Conversation (Twst fanfic)

**SPOILERS for Book 7**

Summary: A light that has once touched you would never fade, the magic never vanishes. It seeps into moments of your life, and dwells in the best parts of your heart.

Word count: 1628

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A/N: This is my third fic for the event “Anthems of Old” from @briarvalleyarchives. This piece is inspired by the song "A Coversation" from Mary Poppins Returns.

First fic - They Live in You

Second fic - Love is a Song

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“We haven’t spoken in so long, father,” Silver sets down the cardboard boxes he was carrying with magic and doesn’t bother lighting up the lamps in their empty cottage.

There is no one here to answer him, even though his mind could vividly remember the image of his father being there, hanging from the ceiling, hair dangling, lips grinning, welcoming him home.

He thought he was taking it quite well for a while. He never cried like that after that one time, and he could attend school and go about his life without any big issues. But now that he’s home, all the little pieces Lilia had left scattered in his life come together in a beautifully cruel mirage.

This is wrong. He knows in his mind this is wrong. This was their home. This is his home. He knows that and still he abandons the boxes by the doorway and follows the phantom of his father to the table, sits, and pretends it could talk back.

“Good to see things the way they were,” he starts, a stiff smile pulling at his hardened face. He can see outside the window the tree stump in their front yard on which his father used to leave his woodchopping tool also magical blade carelessly. He can see it has a dent there, now clearly visible because it’s empty.

“Come now, why the frown, my dear?” Silver’s eyes shoot back to the chair across from him, where the imaginary Lilia would laugh in response.

And that was the first magic Silver had known in his life, the greatest magic his father had ever shown him. Whenever his father would laugh and hug him, it would feel like ocean waves cradling him, clouds enfolding his body, moonlight showering over him. It would feel like a great fire with all its mighty strength just gently grazing the skin on his cheek to make him cozy and warm. It would feel like everything was fine.

The imaginary Lilia was halfway across the table, his hands outstretched, almost touching Silver. But as Silver’s fist strikes powerlessly against the table, the mirage vanishes, the magic vanishes.

This is wrong. All this lamenting, all this moping, this isn’t how his father had told him to carry on. And Silver wants to believe that his father had raised him to be strong, strong enough that he could stand up again even if he has lost his whole world, because that was the kind of strength his father had.

Though that silhouette he always chased after is gone, that hand offered to help him get to his feet is no longer there, he can still hear that stern voice echoing, “Stand up, Silver. Stand up.”

Silver gives a glance to the cardboard boxes he left by the doorway. He brought these back from his father’s room in Diasomnia, he promised himself that he would keep these trinkets and knickknacks, he promised himself that he would tidy them up properly. Yet he remains motionless in his seat.

It’s no use. No matter how hard he tries to grab hold, what’s left of his father only continues to slip through his fingers. “Where did you go? Why did you go?” No matter how many times he repeats these questions at the air, no answer would come.

He is tired. Lying down on the table, he lets his eyes close. Maybe he should sleep, he feels so tired…

“Silver?” the horned visitor calls out from the doorway, stopping at the boxes at his feet curiously. No reply came, so he calls again, “Silver.”

Silver’s eyes open sharply at the voice and he bolts up from his seat, standing straight, “Malleus-sama! What brings you here?”

And now Malleus feels bad, his presence makes it difficult for Silver to loosen up, even though he knows the boy needed that more than anything at the moment.

“To check on you,” Malleus says with the mildest tone he can manage, which is quite difficult for him, “Are you alright, Silver? It’s not like you to just leave those boxes at the door.”

“My apologies. I was…” Silver pauses. He doesn’t quite know what he was even doing, “I was… uh…”

“Be at ease,” Malleus walks to the table and taps his finger on Silver’s seat, himself settling in the one next to it, “No need to fret.”

Silver lowers his head in gratitude, but he can’t find the words to reply. He sits quietly with his hands folded.

Malleus frowns at the subtle hints of distress in Silver’s voice and expression, “Is it painful?” he tries to probe, “For you to be back here?”

“No, of course not,” Silver says hastily, “This is my home.” But then he lowers his head again, “It only… feels silent.”

Malleus does not reply. He understands the sentiment but he doesn’t say it. He too had been in the palace’s music room, playing his father’s cello, and even though the beautiful timbre reverberated smoothly off painted stone walls, he had found it silent.

But not for this cottage. His mind can still vividly remember the image of Lilia sitting in front of the fireplace, singing gently a nostalgic lullaby to put a human baby to sleep. He can still hear Lilia’s voice echoing in these wooden walls the way it did in his heart when Lilia had sung the same melody to him as a child. He can be sure Lilia was here, is here, still here.

So Malleus tries to do it how Lilia would. He tries to remember what Lilia sounded like when he spoke softly. He tries to follow how Lilia would crouch down to meet the children’s eyes. He tries to tell Silver what he thinks Lilia would — what he thinks Lilia should’ve said, “Silver, do you remember one of his lullabies that you loved as a child?”

Silver raises his head as he tries to think, “The ‘love is a song’ one? How nostalgic.” He manages a small smile at the memory.

“Yes. ‘Love is a song that never ends’ is how it goes,” Malleus confirms, and continues, “For me, I feel like I can understand what his song means, when I look at you.”

“Me? But how? It’s father’s song…”

“Yes, it’s Lilia’s song for you. You are the one who remembers it, he wanted you to be the one to remember it. You were who he chose to love, and so you are the proof that he had loved.” Malleus shifts his gesture. That was the answer he filled in for Lilia, now he takes in a brief breath, and narrates his own, “When I look at you, Silver, I feel like I can see him too.”

“How can that be true, Malleus-sama?” Silver shakes his head, “I look nothing like father.”

Malleus blinks, and the image he saw of Lilia by the fireplace is swiftly replaced by the image of Lilia standing beside Silver, hugging the human by the shoulders with strength and gentleness, and then he’d stroke Silver’s cheeks, or rest his hand on Silver’s head, and he’d grin like the happiest fae in the world.

“It’s truer than you can imagine,” Malleus smiles, forcing his eyes to return from the image of Lilia back to Silver, “He lives in you, after all.”

“That is not true,” Silver looks away this time, “We only had a decade and a few more years. There was not enough of him that I have taken after. I wish I could live more like him and proudly say that I—”

“You are his son, Silver,” Malleus interrupts. There were many things that Lilia didn’t want to leave behind for Silver, many things that he didn’t want Silver to take after, but that’s beside the point right now. “You are his one and only son. And if you ever have doubts about that, look at your reflection next time you think of him, then you would surely remember how your smile was always meant for him.”

A light that has once touched you would never fade, the magic never vanishes. It seeps into moments of your life, and dwells in the best parts of your heart. Lilia did fumble and falter, and his ways were not the best to say the least, but his song and light and love and magic had still been delivered properly. Lilia’s song will always echo in this cottage, and will never end, for it is a part of what constitutes Silver, a part of what raised Silver to be who he is now.

“I see…” Silver puts a hand to his chest, “There is so much that father had left behind for me.” There is so much of Lilia that he already has. It’s just that he has never looked hard enough in the mirror, never looked hard enough at himself to see it.

“Thank you, Malleus-sama,” Silver bows his head, and when he raises his eyes again he thought he could see Lilia flying beside Malleus, practically glowing with pride, “Thank you for giving me such kind words, words that father might have given me.”

Malleus pauses. Did it sound like that? Did he sound like Lilia? He lets out a breath he didn’t remember holding in. He feels Lilia’s hands on his tensed shoulders, and he muses quietly, “I see. I see Lilia has left behind much for me as well.”

Silver continues, “Would you like to stay for dinner tonight, Malleus-sama? We could invite Sebek as well. I’m sure father would be delighted, if he were here.”

And it was as if they could both hear Lilia’s voice coming from above their heads, hanging from the ceiling, hair dangling, lips grinning, “A wonderful idea, my dear!”

#twisted wonderland #twst silver #malleus draconia #lilia vanrouge #twst writing #twst fanfiction #twst fanfic #twisted wonderland fanfiction #twisted wonderland writing #twst #diasomnia #twst spoilers

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curekibouka-writing · 9 months

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Lettieeeeeeeeeeeee 🥺 THANK YOUUUUU

So the stumbling part comes from listening to Midorikawa Hikaru sing Love is a Song, because even though it’s not an amazing vocal performance, it had a lot of emotions in it. That’s why I start to think what if Lilia sang this to Silver? What if he’s nervous and scared because he doesn’t actually know how to take care of a child but he’s still singing it because he believes it would work?

And also I tried to show that although Mallenoa’s song was meant for her son, it inspired Lilia nevertheless. I just love their relationship so much 😭 Imagine Lilia seeing Mallenoa become a mother, watching her embark on a new chapter of her life. Imagine not having been able to save her in time for that new chapter to start but still remembering so much of how much she tried to be there for her son… No one is born knowing how to be a parent, and Mallenoa was the only guide Lilia had to follow…

Love is a Song (Twst fanfic)

**mild SPOILERS for Book 7 chapter 4**

Summary: Children are creatures of love and magic. If so, he’s willing to stay right here and give the last of what little he has.

Word count: 1528

Warning: Referenced character death

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A/N: This is for the event “Anthems of Old” from @briarvalleyarchives. This piece is inspired by the song "Love is a Song" from Bambi. Please feel free to listen to the Midorikawa Hikaru (Lilia's voice actor) cover of this song too! And pls wish me luck in finishing the third fic before the deadline ;~;

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It was a particularly still and freezing winter night in the remote woods in Briar Valley — or at least, it would have been, until you venture deep enough into the woods to hear the endless waves of a baby screaming and crying from a cottage too small for his enormous tantrum.

Some of Lilia’s bats have already been flying around wobbly since minutes ago due to the overwhelming noise, and Lilia himself is at wits’ end as well.

“Come on, Silver, please,” for the first time in he doesn’t know how long, Lilia pleads, “You are going to cry yourself a sore little throat at this rate.”

His son isn’t a baby who cries particularly much. He suspected it was the weather at first. Silver’s hand felt colder than usual as it grabbed vehemently at Lilia’s fingers, which caused Lilia quite an unsettled frown, considering that a human baby’s body temperature should easily exceed that of a nocturnal fae.

So now he sits with his son on his lap in front of the fireplace, and it only gives him another cause for concern because — considering how weak human constitutions are, let alone that of a human baby’s — the dry air is only going to make his poor boy’s throat that much more painful as the cries go on and on and on.

In all honesty, he has been summoned to the palace tonight, and he is already late. He would very much like to avoid being struck by Malleus’s lightning, or the Queen’s, even if they mean it as a tease more than a punishment. But he could not bring himself to even move from those tiny fingers. What if his sharp black nails rip that soft, rosy skin? What if his inhuman strength snaps that clumsy, fragile hand? What if?

“Please, my dear, I’m only leaving for one night,” Lilia continues to plead, it might be laughable how helpless he sounds in face of his son’s screaming protests, “The bats and the animals will be here with you. You love playing with them, do you not?”

As a thorough proof that he is not listening at all, Silver gives two small coughs and continues his raging screeches.

Letting out a sigh, Lilia glances around the cottage for anything that might help. He sees the clock hands showing that it’s well past Silver’s bedtime, yet the stubborn little baby is having none of that. It does not matter how exhausted he is, he’s determined that he isn’t letting Lilia go anywhere.

Letting out a heavier sigh, Lilia begins searching his memories for the answer to this dilemma.

“Children so young don’t understand our words yet,” her voice said in the dark abysses of his memories, of a time that he thought was too bright yet too painful to recall.

He opens his eyes and he was there again. In the chamber lit by ghastly green candlelight. He was folding his arms as he mumbled, “What a pain.”

She shook her head mockingly, “I’m sure even a stubborn prick like yourself will change your mind once you meet him.” She gestured at the egg she was cradling in her tail with pride.

“He’s just an egg right now. You don’t know that.”

“I know he would love you, Lilia,” she chuckled confidently, “Children are creatures of love and magic. You keep them close, let them feel loved and safe, and they would cling onto you with their tiny little hands and cry for you if you try to leave them.”

“They’re really a pain.”

“And they’re adorable. You’re a caring person with a big heart beneath that nasty tongue of yours. We both trust you to protect him if the need arises, but we trust you more to care for him the way we do when he hatches into this world.”

Lilia would’ve scoffed and told her how misplaced their trust was, if only she wasn’t always right. He didn’t understand what she saw in him, but he couldn’t say she was wrong. “I have never taken care of children before,” that was his attempt to deter her.

“Neither have I,” she admitted. But then she brought her egg close to her chest, and the air began to swell with her magic. The candlelight flickered, and in an instant, they were no longer ghastly, only soft and ephemeral. They seemed to blink with the colour of her voice as her magic flowed into her child, “I know he doesn’t see or hear me yet. But I’ll make sure that he feels me, that he knows I’m right here.”

And what did she do afterwards? Yes, Lilia remembers. He hasn’t done this in the last century or so but he remembers.

He brings Silver close to his chest — she said it’d make children feel safer — and breathes in.

He remembers the notes, the melody, the words. He remembers, and still he trembled. What if his son doesn’t understand the song? What if his voice scares the baby? What if—

‘Children so young don’t understand our words yet.’

“… you’re right.”

‘Just make sure he feels...’

“I’m right here, Silver, I’m right here.”

With the warmth of the fireplace pushing him on, Lilia begins to sing.

Love is a song that never ends

He remembers. He remembers why he stowed this song away in a tiny little attic in his memories like so many other things that belonged to her.

Life may be swift and fleeting

The song… her words were too true. It could bring him into a dream so real that he could almost feel them there again.

Hope may die yet love's beautiful music

But no. That’s not what she wanted to leave behind. It’s her voice, her tone, her presence, that she wanted her son to remember, that Lilia swore to pass on.

Comes each day like the dawn

And the candlelight that outlined her features that day, the glow of her voice that was like the warmth of fire on his skin, is never forgotten, never gone. It’s right there for him to remember.

It wasn’t a light meant for him. But it was a light that touched him and changed him and inspired him nonetheless. And once touched by such a light, it never fades.

So her song will never end. A century ago Lilia had often sung it to Malleus in her stead. Malleus remembers it, hums it, plays it on his violin. Whenever he does, Lilia knows that his mother would always be there with him. And Lilia could look to the night sky and ask her in his heart whether he was doing this right, whether he honoured her trust.

But now it’s different. Lilia lowers his head and gazes at his son, his own child lying snugly in his arms, his own precious little baby now soothed by the song and his voice, finally feeling exhausted from all that crying, and beginning to drift off to sleep.

“May the night bless you,” is a phrase he was so used to repeating after the lullaby, but he holds his tongue. He brings his son close, brushes aside the growing sprouts of silver hair, and leaves a kiss on his forehead.

The sleeping infant soon lets go of Lilia. With magic, Lilia smoothly slips another layer of pyjama onto Silver to keep him warm and places him gently into the crib. And as the sparkles of his magic fades from his child, he wonders — as he so often wonders lately — how much longer would his magic last.

He puts out the fireplace with a flick of his finger. He could’ve sworn when he first found out about his withering body, he was quite ready to join those on the other side of that night sky. But now, he thinks to himself in the darkness, what could he leave behind for his Silver with so little time?

No. He doesn’t need his song to last forever. He doesn’t need to leave anything behind. Wouldn’t it be better if the path that Silver will choose one day has none of Lilia’s footsteps? He frankly doesn’t know.

If she was truly right, and one day Silver would cling onto him and cry for him when he leaves, then at least, he wishes Silver would understand the words he left in this song.

His bats offer to watch over the baby, but he dismisses them softly, pulling up a chair by Silver’s bedside. He wonders — as he so often wonders lately — since when does it feel so simple for his lips to melt into a smile.

Nobody knows how the child is going to grow from now on. All Lilia knows is that, if children are creatures of love and magic, today right here, he’s willing to give the last of what little he has.

Outside the cottage window, the horned visitor hears and watches as the lights dim while Lilia’s garnet eyes continue to glow over the child. Malleus chuckles silently, wondering how amused his grandmother would be to learn of why Lilia was absent that night.

#feedback to kibouka uwu #lilia vanrouge #mallenoa draconia #twst silver

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curekibouka-writing · 9 months

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Please Kibouka the way you write is so so well and detailed I just love it. I remember coming across your Sleep Tight, My Dears fanfic on Ao3 a couple years back and let me tell you it still haunts me to this day 😭😭

The They Live in You fic is so so good and even more so with the extra notes you wrote, I love it 💞💞 The way these two have each other and can depend on each other my heart 💞💞

Sleep Tight, My Dears can be read here and They Live in You can be read here.

Dang Sleep Tight, My Dears is like 3 years ago, it’s my very first Twst fic actually, I don’t know how to feel about it anymore especially after so much happened in ch7 😂

But Hana, I’m so happy you came across my fic 🥺 I actually remember you as one of the first people who ever commented on my Twst fics, and that was so important to me continuing to write Diasomnia fics! If that fics haunts you to this day, I still want to thank you to this day as well 🥰

And for the extra notes on They Live in You, I want to thank you guys for even reading them ;~; There is so much thought I put into that fic and the next two song fics (one of them has not been posted yet) because there is so much I want to scream about the Diasomnia relationships and I can never put it all in one story because then it would destroy the flow of the story aaaaaaaa 🤡The extra notes are for me to let stuff out 😂

#feedback to kibouka uwu #kibouka chatters

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curekibouka-writing · 9 months

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Love is a Song (Twst fanfic)

**mild SPOILERS for Book 7 chapter 4**

Summary: Children are creatures of love and magic. If so, he’s willing to stay right here and give the last of what little he has.

Word count: 1528

Warning: Referenced character death

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Some of Lilia’s bats have already been flying around wobbly since minutes ago due to the overwhelming noise, and Lilia himself is at wits’ end as well.

“Come on, Silver, please,” for the first time in he doesn’t know how long, Lilia pleads, “You are going to cry yourself a sore little throat at this rate.”

As a thorough proof that he is not listening at all, Silver gives two small coughs and continues his raging screeches.

Letting out a heavier sigh, Lilia begins searching his memories for the answer to this dilemma.

“Children so young don’t understand our words yet,” her voice said in the dark abysses of his memories, of a time that he thought was too bright yet too painful to recall.

He opens his eyes and he was there again. In the chamber lit by ghastly green candlelight. He was folding his arms as he mumbled, “What a pain.”

She shook her head mockingly, “I’m sure even a stubborn prick like yourself will change your mind once you meet him.” She gestured at the egg she was cradling in her tail with pride.

“He’s just an egg right now. You don’t know that.”

“They’re really a pain.”

And what did she do afterwards? Yes, Lilia remembers. He hasn’t done this in the last century or so but he remembers.

He brings Silver close to his chest — she said it’d make children feel safer — and breathes in.

He remembers the notes, the melody, the words. He remembers, and still he trembled. What if his son doesn’t understand the song? What if his voice scares the baby? What if—

‘Children so young don’t understand our words yet.’

“… you’re right.”

‘Just make sure he feels...’

“I’m right here, Silver, I’m right here.”

With the warmth of the fireplace pushing him on, Lilia begins to sing.

Love is a song that never ends

He remembers. He remembers why he stowed this song away in a tiny little attic in his memories like so many other things that belonged to her.

Life may be swift and fleeting

The song… her words were too true. It could bring him into a dream so real that he could almost feel them there again.

Hope may die yet love's beautiful music

But no. That’s not what she wanted to leave behind. It’s her voice, her tone, her presence, that she wanted her son to remember, that Lilia swore to pass on.

Comes each day like the dawn

And the candlelight that outlined her features that day, the glow of her voice that was like the warmth of fire on his skin, is never forgotten, never gone. It’s right there for him to remember.

It wasn’t a light meant for him. But it was a light that touched him and changed him and inspired him nonetheless. And once touched by such a light, it never fades.

If she was truly right, and one day Silver would cling onto him and cry for him when he leaves, then at least, he wishes Silver would understand the words he left in this song.

Nobody knows how the child is going to grow from now on. All Lilia knows is that, if children are creatures of love and magic, today right here, he’s willing to give the last of what little he has.

#twisted wonderland #lilia vanrouge #silver #twst silver #twst writing #malleus draconia #mallenoa draconia #twst fanfiction #twst fanfic #twst angst #twisted wonderland fanfiction #twisted wonderland writing #twst #diasomnia #twst spoilers

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curekibouka-writing · 9 months

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Aaaaaah thank you! 🥺

This isn’t my first song fic but it’s rare that I write a fic for a song that means so much to me cuz usually I wouldn’t do it in fear I can’t do the song justice 🫠 and I’m so glad you like it!

I actually had to struggle whether I wanted to choose “They Live in You” or “He Lives in You” cuz lyrics-wise the former fits better but atmosphere and character-wise the latter fits better (ultimately succumbed for the lyrics but hear me out—). This fic has satisfied my need to put Lilia in Rafiki’s role (extremely huge missed opportunity in the Sunset Savannah event imo 😤). Does anyone remember how excited Rafiki was when he (she in the musical) found out Simba was alive? Remember how Rafiki continues to teach Simba the lessons Mufasa never had the chance to teach? Remember how Rafiki hugged Mufasa in the Circle of Life number? Remember how, when Simba steps up to be king, Rafiki looks at him proudly, but Simba goes up to hug Rafiki??? THIS. This is exactly what I see in Lilia and Malleus. The fact that Lilia is almost Malleus’s family even if he could never replace Mallenoa and Levan. The fact that Malleus’s growth gives Lilia hope as well. And then the more I read into both of these relationships, the more I love this song even more I just can’t I just can’t anymore 😭😭😭

They Live in You (Twst fanfic)

**mild SPOILERS for Book 7 chapter 4**

Summary: Perhaps for the first time in his life, Malleus tried to look harder at himself. He never noticed how, even if he was still young, one could see without a doubt, he was Malleus Draconia, and he was their child.

Word count: 1275

Warning: Referenced character death. Mentions of war.

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A/N: This is for the event “Anthems of Old” from @briarvalleyarchives. This piece is inspired by the song "They Live in You" from the Lion King musical. This might or might not be fic number one to a series depending on whether I can finish the other two before the deadline XD

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The door to the music room was swung open with an energetic bam. The young prince glanced up from the cello he was playing, a small smile warming the golden shimmer of his tired eyes.

“Lilia—“

“Malleus~ It’s been months! Did you miss me, my boy?” Lilia was still in his full armour with his iconic mask, but even so his bright grin was heard, and he asked with a vitality one would think is impossible for a soldier who had so recently returned from battle.

“I’m no child, Lilia.”

“Awww but you did, didn’t you?” Lilia opened his arms, awaiting an embrace.

Malleus put down the cello bow but shook his head slowly. A gesture that Lilia understood. The older fae’s hands dropped to the side of his body, his armour clanging in the process.

“It’s good to see you return safely, Lilia.”

Lilia nodded and bowed slightly, before taking off his mask, choosing not to kneel in front of Malleus like talking to a child, but to keep standing straight instead.

“Malleus, I’m sorry we lost the northern woods.”

Malleus’s lips twitched. Flames flashed in his eyes. He had watched from the castle balcony, when the borderlands were burnt down by crimson, pungent fire of war. It was far, far out of his reach, but he had heard it. He had heard the earth crack, the trees fall, the sky shrouded, the soldiers scream, summoning wind and water to push back the flames. But what’s gone is gone. The land had cried, and so had he, another piece scorched black on his father’s and mother’s beautiful land.

“I saw it happen,” the prince closed his eyes, “And all I did was watch.”

And though there were plenty of words Lilia could think of that were true and just and would tell the child he did no wrong, there was none that the child truly needed, none that the child would believe.

“You know what the northern woods used to be, don’t you, Lilia?”

Of course he did. He had been there before, accompanying the prince.

The then prince.

“Father used to go there. He used to negotiate with the inhabitants about conservation measures due to high magic density in the area and the rich magical resources that could be obtained there,” Malleus said, and then added, “I read that in books.”

He stood up, his height allowing to look at Lilia right in the eyes, “It was one of the last things my father left undone, before he was gone, wasn’t it, Lilia?” He put down the cello by his chair, “I thought I could take over it one day. The woods still had great potential, the woods still had father’s footsteps, I wanted to follow him one day. Like this cello, I wanted to be able to play it without feeling it’s too big for me one day.”

His shoulders scrunched up even though he tried to hide it, “And it’s gone now. They’re gone, again.”

And Lilia wished he had Mallenoa’s strong embrace that could enfold every inch of you, he wished he had Levan’s gentle touch that could seep right into your heart, and he knew he was wearing his cold, hard armour but still he offered the best he could to their child.

“They’re not gone,” he pulled the child close with his left hand and rested his right hand on the child’s head.

Because he understood why this mattered so much to Malleus. He had been there when the woods burnt down. He had felt a fire inside him hotter than whatever the humans had conjured because he had seen the silhouettes of his prince and his princess in those woods as they were warped by the heat of the flames and twisted into nothingness. Because it wasn’t enough killing them once, the war had killed them twice.

But Lilia could gaze up and come back because there was hope here. Because they were here.

“They live in you, Malleus.”

The child said nothing, and only pushed himself further into Lilia’s embrace.

“When you walk, I see him beside you. Every day I find his silhouette in your steps.”

Lilia let go of Malleus, shifting his right hand to the child’s cheek, “And when you smile, I see her in you.” The excitement in the way their eyes shimmered, the innocence in the way their lips curled, to Lilia, it was like she barely left.

Malleus scoffed under his breath, “You’re lying. Father was so much taller, mother was so regal. How could you see them in me?”

“How could I not, my boy?” Lilia laughed, creating a mirror-like surface with magic, “Look at yourself.”

“……” Malleus wiped his eyes and looked, “…it’s just me.”

“Look harder,” Lilia whispered, brushing up Malleus’s bangs that were covering his scales, “They’re right here.”

And perhaps for the first time in his life, Malleus tried to look harder at himself. He never noticed how the curve of his horns or the shimmer of his scales or the colours of his eyes resembled his mother’s. He never noticed how the shape of his face or his wide shoulders or his long legs resembled his father’s. Even if he was still young, one could see without a doubt, he was Malleus Draconia, and he was their child.

“See?” Lilia put his hands on Malleus’s tensed shoulders, “They live in your reflection.”

Malleus pursed his lips, shifting away from Lilia’s hands, “What good does it do? Could I be even half the ruler they were? Could I give all of myself to protect my land and my people like they did?”

Lilia’s smile faded. There were memories that were never written in any history books that he held within his head. What was pride for the kingdom was nightmares for him, what was a loss for the kingdom was a sword stabbing through his heart for the centuries to come until he finally finally joins them. He could not bear another loss, he could not let their son do that.

Lilia dispelled the magical mirror and flung open the curtains covering the music room’s glass walls. They gazed outside at the summer sun showering bright glimmers over the land that was healing, the land that was quiet and still and peaceful now.

“You are still young,” Lilia said to Malleus, but his eyes never left the scenery outside, “And you are already such a fine prince. I know you think that they live in these lands, in every creature and in every star. I know you love this kingdom that they gave every fibre of their magic to protect. I know you want to protect all that they’ve left behind for you.

“But you are not alone, my dear. Every soul that their spirits had touched are one with you in our love for this land,” Lilia took Malleus’s hand in both of his, “Be patient, my prince. There is no mountain too great. There is no limit to your power. May the night bless you.”

Malleus squeezed Lilia’s hands tightly, thinking, breathing, trying to believe that Lilia was right. And he thought about how Lilia had been there when his parents were alive, how Lilia had been their friends, how Lilia had known them and seen them and touched them. He glanced at Lilia kneeling to talk to him, to meet his downcast eyes, and he briefly wondered if this was what his father’s hands would’ve felt like too.

“Thank you, Lilia,” the child smiled in the way Lilia remembered of her, “They live in you as much as they live in me.”

#feedback to kibouka uwu #kibouka chatters #malleus draconia #lilia vanrouge #twst spoilers

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curekibouka-writing · 9 months

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HANAAAA THANK YOU 😭😭😭

The fact that you said it broke your heart and healed it is exactly how I feel about the song They Live in You/ He Lives in You and I’m so glad you feel that way for my fic 🥺 I really love the song and wanted to get the fic right so that I do the song justice.

The hug is my trying to foreshadow the last line 😌

They Live in You (Twst fanfic)

**mild SPOILERS for Book 7 chapter 4**

Word count: 1275

Warning: Referenced character death. Mentions of war.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The door to the music room was swung open with an energetic bam. The young prince glanced up from the cello he was playing, a small smile warming the golden shimmer of his tired eyes.

“Lilia—“

“I’m no child, Lilia.”

“Awww but you did, didn’t you?” Lilia opened his arms, awaiting an embrace.

Malleus put down the cello bow but shook his head slowly. A gesture that Lilia understood. The older fae’s hands dropped to the side of his body, his armour clanging in the process.

“It’s good to see you return safely, Lilia.”

Lilia nodded and bowed slightly, before taking off his mask, choosing not to kneel in front of Malleus like talking to a child, but to keep standing straight instead.

“Malleus, I’m sorry we lost the northern woods.”

“I saw it happen,” the prince closed his eyes, “And all I did was watch.”

“You know what the northern woods used to be, don’t you, Lilia?”

Of course he did. He had been there before, accompanying the prince.

The then prince.

His shoulders scrunched up even though he tried to hide it, “And it’s gone now. They’re gone, again.”

“They’re not gone,” he pulled the child close with his left hand and rested his right hand on the child’s head.

But Lilia could gaze up and come back because there was hope here. Because they were here.

“They live in you, Malleus.”

The child said nothing, and only pushed himself further into Lilia’s embrace.

“When you walk, I see him beside you. Every day I find his silhouette in your steps.”

Malleus scoffed under his breath, “You’re lying. Father was so much taller, mother was so regal. How could you see them in me?”

“How could I not, my boy?” Lilia laughed, creating a mirror-like surface with magic, “Look at yourself.”

“……” Malleus wiped his eyes and looked, “…it’s just me.”

“Look harder,” Lilia whispered, brushing up Malleus’s bangs that were covering his scales, “They’re right here.”

“See?” Lilia put his hands on Malleus’s tensed shoulders, “They live in your reflection.”

“Thank you, Lilia,” the child smiled in the way Lilia remembered of her, “They live in you as much as they live in me.”

#feedback to kibouka uwu #kibouka chatters #twst spoilers #malleus draconia #lilia vanrouge

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curekibouka-writing · 9 months

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HELP WHAT DID I DO TO DESERVE A FULL PAGE OF LOVING COMMENTS???? 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺 Thank you so much hwjxhagshjchs

Yessssss I want to show that no matter how much Lilia wants to be there for Malleus, he can never replace the parents who are already gone. But he still tries to do it because he cared for his friends so much and he cares for Malleus so much he just can’t bear to see Malleus suffer alone.

And the thing is it works both ways. Lilia being there for Malleus, Malleus being there for Lilia, I want to believe they both cope with the loss by being with each other. That’s why there’s the ending line and why I chose this song. Because, in the original, Rafiki sang “he lives in you” and then “he lives in me”. Because to Lilia, his friends will always be living on in Malleus, he will always see the shadows of Mallenoa and Levan in Malleus. But to Malleus, he can get in touch with memories and teachings of his parents through Lilia. And it’s not just that, it’s a shared memory among the whole Land of Briar. The citizens won’t forget that they lost their adored prince and princess to war. They mourned together even if it’s not a personal loss for them. There is expectations for Malleus, but there’s also a shared responsibility and loyalty to the Land of Briar for everyone.

I just 😭😭😭 I wasn’t actually really satisfied with how this fic went cuz it deviates from the blueprints in my head and I really love this song and I didn’t want to mess it up but your comments just really reminded me of why I wanted to write this fic in the first place, because the song and Malleus’s whole situation are both beautifully sad and I love beautifully sad stuff 🤡

They Live in You (Twst fanfic)

Word count: 1275

Warning: Referenced character death. Mentions of war.

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The door to the music room was swung open with an energetic bam. The young prince glanced up from the cello he was playing, a small smile warming the golden shimmer of his tired eyes.

“Lilia—“

“I’m no child, Lilia.”

“Awww but you did, didn’t you?” Lilia opened his arms, awaiting an embrace.

Malleus put down the cello bow but shook his head slowly. A gesture that Lilia understood. The older fae’s hands dropped to the side of his body, his armour clanging in the process.

“It’s good to see you return safely, Lilia.”

Lilia nodded and bowed slightly, before taking off his mask, choosing not to kneel in front of Malleus like talking to a child, but to keep standing straight instead.

“Malleus, I’m sorry we lost the northern woods.”

“I saw it happen,” the prince closed his eyes, “And all I did was watch.”

“You know what the northern woods used to be, don’t you, Lilia?”

Of course he did. He had been there before, accompanying the prince.

The then prince.

His shoulders scrunched up even though he tried to hide it, “And it’s gone now. They’re gone, again.”

“They’re not gone,” he pulled the child close with his left hand and rested his right hand on the child’s head.

But Lilia could gaze up and come back because there was hope here. Because they were here.

“They live in you, Malleus.”

The child said nothing, and only pushed himself further into Lilia’s embrace.

“When you walk, I see him beside you. Every day I find his silhouette in your steps.”

Lilia let go of Malleus, shifting his right hand to the child’s cheek, ��And when you smile, I see her in you.” The excitement in the way their eyes shimmered, the innocence in the way their lips curled, to Lilia, it was like she barely left.

Malleus scoffed under his breath, “You’re lying. Father was so much taller, mother was so regal. How could you see them in me?”

“How could I not, my boy?” Lilia laughed, creating a mirror-like surface with magic, “Look at yourself.”

“……” Malleus wiped his eyes and looked, “…it’s just me.”

“Look harder,” Lilia whispered, brushing up Malleus’s bangs that were covering his scales, “They’re right here.”

“See?” Lilia put his hands on Malleus’s tensed shoulders, “They live in your reflection.”

“Thank you, Lilia,” the child smiled in the way Lilia remembered of her, “They live in you as much as they live in me.”

#kibouka chatters #feedback to kibouka uwu #twst spoilers #lilia vanrouge #malleus draconia #mallenoa draconia

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curekibouka-writing · 9 months

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They Live in You (Twst fanfic)

**mild SPOILERS for Book 7 chapter 4**

Word count: 1275

Warning: Referenced character death. Mentions of war.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The door to the music room was swung open with an energetic bam. The young prince glanced up from the cello he was playing, a small smile warming the golden shimmer of his tired eyes.

“Lilia—“

“I’m no child, Lilia.”

“Awww but you did, didn’t you?” Lilia opened his arms, awaiting an embrace.

Malleus put down the cello bow but shook his head slowly. A gesture that Lilia understood. The older fae’s hands dropped to the side of his body, his armour clanging in the process.

“It’s good to see you return safely, Lilia.”

Lilia nodded and bowed slightly, before taking off his mask, choosing not to kneel in front of Malleus like talking to a child, but to keep standing straight instead.

“Malleus, I’m sorry we lost the northern woods.”

“I saw it happen,” the prince closed his eyes, “And all I did was watch.”

“You know what the northern woods used to be, don’t you, Lilia?”

Of course he did. He had been there before, accompanying the prince.

The then prince.

His shoulders scrunched up even though he tried to hide it, “And it’s gone now. They’re gone, again.”

“They’re not gone,” he pulled the child close with his left hand and rested his right hand on the child’s head.

But Lilia could gaze up and come back because there was hope here. Because they were here.

“They live in you, Malleus.”

The child said nothing, and only pushed himself further into Lilia’s embrace.

“When you walk, I see him beside you. Every day I find his silhouette in your steps.”

Malleus scoffed under his breath, “You’re lying. Father was so much taller, mother was so regal. How could you see them in me?”

“How could I not, my boy?” Lilia laughed, creating a mirror-like surface with magic, “Look at yourself.”

“……” Malleus wiped his eyes and looked, “…it’s just me.”

“Look harder,” Lilia whispered, brushing up Malleus’s bangs that were covering his scales, “They’re right here.”

“See?” Lilia put his hands on Malleus’s tensed shoulders, “They live in your reflection.”

“Thank you, Lilia,” the child smiled in the way Lilia remembered of her, “They live in you as much as they live in me.”

#twisted wonderland #twst writing #lilia vanrouge #malleus draconia #mallenoa draconia #twst levan #twst fanfiction #twst fanfic #twst angst #twisted wonderland fanfiction #twisted wonderland writing #twst #diasomnia #twst spoilers

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