Disclaimer: All characters belong to NetEase. I'm merely trying to write here.


The sound of the blaring Gates activating finally shakes him awake. With a yawn, Joseph rubs his eyes open, trying to remember where he is and why it's so cramped and dark. Then he looks down—at the sleeping form making a pillow of his arm—and it instantly tells him everything he needs to know.

Ah, yes. He and his darling have been reunited in the snowy map after a dozen matches in today's game run. Out of curiosity, he asked for a cold bottle of beverage from the alcohol-dealer. Curious Helena wanted a taste as well, so of course he gave her some (he thought the prohibition ridiculous). What was rather bland to him was bitter to her; perhaps it tastes differently for hunters and survivors. Yet the liquor still had the sleep-inducing effect on them both so they elected to rest in the most isolated part of the map where the cipher machines wouldn't be heard from. There's simply no way he'd let either of them sleep on the filthy floor so he crafted a pallet (the other kind) out of some materials they found in a crate. Then there in the basement corner hidden from view, they slumbered for the whole match in each other's arms... It's been heavenly.

He gazes down at the Eversleeping Girl wrapped in his coat and wrapping him in her embrace, caressing her cheek. Simply asleep in that frivolous dress, innocent and serene—he could stay like this forever. He pulls her closer to look upon her pretty face, licking his lips at the sight of her own. She's just so delectable and exquisite...

But the Moonlight Gentleman has to remind himself that they're in the dank basement right now and there are other important matters at hand. While he'd love nothing more than to continue this, they've been warned about loitering around the map after the match's denouement. They'd have to leave before Detention runs out.

Gently nudging her awake, he whispers to her ear, "Helena, wake up. It's time to leave."

Helena has never been a heavy sleeper so it doesn't take long for her eyes to flutter open. She yawns in answer. "Huh? Already?" Nuzzling against his chest, her grip on his shirt tightens. "I don't want to go yet..."

Her cute refusal makes him laugh; it's so tempting to forget the game and simply stay. But he has to be the voice of reason this time. Twirling a lock of her golden hair around his finger, he argues, "You wouldn't want to miss any matches now, would you?"

He can already see her frown. "No," is the reply after a moment's consideration.

"Then, let's go. If we stay here any longer, I'm afraid we'd be forced out like last time," he reminds her as he gently pries her fingers off of him, deftly pulling her up with him as he sits up. For someone so small, her grip is surprisingly strong.

Probably remembering how they were unceremoniously kicked out and separated last time, the little woman grumpily pouts, face still pressed against his chest. "Fine..." Finally releasing her grip on him, she languidly stretches her arms and yawns loudly.

With Helena up and awake, Joseph dresses himself, putting his coat and hat back on. He also hands her glasses and cane back to her, picking up his own as he pushes himself off the cot.

Once up on his feet, he leans over to offer her a hand. But instead of taking it, she reaches for him with the cutest pleading eyes, arms wide open. He chuckles, never having the heart to refuse her.

"Alright. But you'd have to hold my cane." Though he can carry both without difficulty, he'd much prefer having his full attention on her.

She eagerly nods as she accepts the weapon, throwing him a simpering look as he bends down to gather her in his arms. Leaning on his shoulder, she settles herself against his chest once more, listening to his faint heartbeat. He just loves whenever she does that.

Treading the snowy ground, the gentleman with his lady makes their way towards the western Gate. The trek is peaceful—she loves comfortable silences between them—his soft humming accompanying the crisp crunching of snow under his boots.

"Here we are," he announces as soon as they reach the Gate. Entering the threshold as far as he is allowed, he carefully lets her slide down his arms.

Helena turns to him, looking so pleased with herself.

She beams a coy "Thank you, JoJo," with that simpering look again. She's standing on her toes, her hands and their canes behind her back—waiting for her goodbye treat.

He smiles back, quirking a brow. Looks like someone had a good dream. He wonders if he's in it...

"Of course." He leans down, hands behind his back, hovering his lips over hers in a tease of a kiss. Seeing her face, he has to bite his lip—her dissatisfied pout is too cute. Faster than Blinking, he pulls her close in a loving embrace, his arms tight around her as he does more than kiss her. Feeling and hearing her melt under his touch... Heavenly, indeed.

With enough self-control, he manages to pull away, smirking mischievously at her flustered face. She should be used to this by now; still, seeing her reactions please him regardless. "You're always welcome, sweetheart."

He holds out his hand—the red-hot flames of Detention are soon dying out—in which she dazedly puts her small hand in. He gives it a kiss before he reminds her, "My cane, darling."

"Oh!" Her face grows bright red again as she takes one cane from her grasp to give to him. He chuckles upon receiving it, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

Joseph winks, eyes never once leaving hers. "See you tonight~"

"See you!" Helena replies giggling as she turns away, ending the match with a wave at him.


The Photographer is timely startled awake just as his arm where his head was resting on started to slip from the armrest.

He looks around. He's back on the hunter's chair, freshly out of the previous match. Helena must be on a survivor's chair already then. After checking the cane in place, he leans against the bergère, covering his yawn with a hand.

These game runs are mentally exhausting. Flitting from one match to the next, always ending up in the chair without a break... Just one friendly match isn't enough to recharge his stamina. That, and the Barmaid's concoction turns out to be potent enough to affect him even now, hence the left-over drowsiness.

But thanks to the game's mystical mechanics, exhaustion and pain would be gone the moment hunters and survivors enter a match. No matter how tired he'd be, it wouldn't affect his performance in the game.

But...

Joseph narrows his eyes. Something... is still bothering him—a detail he has either missed or noticed.

He takes a look at himself: nothing is amiss, his clothes are proper. He suddenly has a funny thought—that he and Helena somehow switched hats... He inspects the chapeau on his head but finds nothing wrong with it. If it had been the case otherwise, he'd be too embarrassed to play, knowing that he'd be the one at fault for such a mix-up. Thankfully, I'm wrong. His intuition must've simply been out of it, what with all the sleepiness and sweetness from the match prior.

Smiling to himself, he rests his head on a fist, ready to doze off again. Once the match starts, he'd be fully awake anyway.


NetEase releasing Joseph's Faust on Helena's birthday? ≧◡≦ ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) ヽ(' ∇' )ノ(づ。◕‿‿◕。)づ