Archive of Our Own

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Hello! 

Been a while since I’ve posted on here. I have a backlog of fics that need uploading, but I’ve been simmering on this one since around November. Some of you who were following my Tumblr prior probably remember this fic being referenced. After the whole debacle over there, I initially wasn’t going to continue with it. 

But for some reason, this whole fic conceptually really stuck with me. And it’s sort of snowballed into something much bigger and much longer than I had intended. 

I’ll be honest, I’m not great with chaptered fics. I tend to write one-shots because I have a hard time with having prolonged interest in my projects. Additionally, I know many people are deterred from reading incompleted works, so I hesitate to write them. 

This one feels a little different, for a number of reasons. Mainly though that I think I’m pouring a lot of myself into it in a way I hesitated to before. The whole fiasco on Tumblr sort of shifted my perspective, as did completing my first semester as an English student, on how to approach fic writing. 

So, my hope is that I will complete this one. I believe that I will. That being said, there are some things I need to warn everyone about lol. 

First and foremost, this fic is exceptionally messy. 

In a lot of ways, and often times in a manner that is unpleasant. It explicitly navigates Sylus falling out of love with MC and how he grapples with it (often poorly) in the process of falling for Reader. As a result, the early half of this story will make you a little angry with him, and at times - his characterization will probably feel out of left field.

I think Sylus, as a love interest, is very different from Sylus as a man. While he is both kind and warm, he also has a capacity for violence, disinterest, and apathy. It comes with his line of work. I don’t think Sylus engages in cruelty for the sake of it. 

But he wouldn’t flinch in doing what is necessary when it comes to people who are like him, so to speak. 

I have to preface with this, because the first scene of this romance is Sylus imprisoning Reader and having her tortured. He is particularly cruel in their introduction and this was done deliberately.

Before I explain why I wrote him that way, I want to give some preface as to why I wrote this fic to begin with. 

Aside from personal interest, I am currently studying multiverse narratives in my English class. It was something that had been discussed before on my old blog, but my interest became re-ignited through my studies. I began to think about the Love and Deepspace timelines, and how they operate. 

Generally, the story has all of these timelines parallel to each other. The main story is neutral and chronological, while the specific cards indicate a timeline where MC has chosen the specific LI to be with romantically. Myths are MCs many past lives. It’s all a bit complicated, and I myself have had to take an extensive amount of time to brush-up on the lore (and still don’t feel completely confident, so please excuse me if it appears in my work.) 

In any case, time in LADS is rather obfuscated. But it got me thinking, there are timelines where each LI doesn’t get chosen by MC. All of them share a history with her seemingly, but it’s entirely possible that their relationship doesn’t extend into romance. It made me wonder, what happens to these characters lives when not chosen? When so much of their existence understandably revolves around her?

When I thought about it a lot, I actually think Sylus would have the hardest time with his feelings being unreciprocated. As an extension of that thought, I thought he would take it the hardest falling in love with someone else.

It’s worth mentioning that much of this narrative is influenced by my queerness. I’m of the belief that you can remain friends with someone you’ve been in love with. I have a gut-feeling LADS fandom may react poorly to this, but that’s besides the point. MC and Sylus have an important relationship to one another, and it’s important to me that I establish that Sylus’s love for MC doesn’t negate or devalue his love for Reader or vice-versa. 

Life is long and love is shaped by the ebbs and flows of it. Your love for someone can change vastly. Most importantly, real romantic love is founded in consistent choice. It’s a practice, and a commitment you make to someone everyday. 

All of that to say now that Sylus, being as romantic as he is, has a hard time with the situation. The first arc of this story will probably really irritate you. His behavior is unpleasant and he’s experiencing a lot of emotional turmoil internally that makes him act somewhat irrational. And Reader…I don’t know how people will receive her. Hopefully, it’s mostly sympathetic. 

In any case, both of them are a bit dense in their own ways. Please be patient with them. 

Lastly, and most importantly—this fic will broach a lot of heavy subject matter in the early stages.

EDIT: As of 03.07. 2026, I felt like I needed to add an additional warning about the relationship between a male orginal character and Reader which can be read as psuedocest. It wasn't my intention but upon fleshing their dynamic out, it felt like I should. Reader is a victim of abuse with a complex family dynamics, which is how these relationships form in the first place. I assure you it's not something that will come up majorly, but it does show up. 

PLEASE READ ANY AND ALL CONTENT WARNINGS LISTED AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH CHAPTER. 

I don’t want to divulge too many details, but there will be many references and depictions of Reader’s experiences as a child as a result of intense experimentation. Many will be somewhat graphic or difficult to stomach. 

Please proceed with caution and read tags as I list them. 

I think that’s all for now. I hope, truly, you enjoy this story. From the bottom of my heart.

Love, 

Fang