Phantasmagoria

Paradox of Loneliness

Author's Note: After who knows how long of doing multiple revisions on my current stories and a pretty bad case of writers block, I'm back with a new story, a crossover between Monster High and Diabolik Lovers. The main pairing in question for this story is Laito and Twyla, as Laito's my favorite character in Diabolik Lovers and Twyla's my favorite character in Monster High, I thought such a relationship and dynamic would be interesting to explore and develop. The idea is an odd one, but it struck me with inspiration and I've been rolling with it, so I've been working on this for a little while now. Regarding Diabolik Lovers, it's a guilty pleasure for me for sure. I definitely think the anime is a hot mess, but I adore the games, CDs, and mangas. I'm interested in the psychology and lore of the characters, all the sides of them good and bad. I've taken a huge nose dive into the series and reading the English translations of the routes, which I feel I've barely scratched the surface. I've read and re-read Laito's routes several times because I love him, analyzing all aspects of his character. I've also been experimenting with different writing styles, hopefully my writing is improving. I hope you enjoy this extremely weird idea for a crossover I have! I'm going to post this on Fanfiction, Archives of Our Own, and Wattpad.

As of May 29th, 2022, Phantasmagoria now has a cover! I was having fun with image creators on picrew and found one for couples, I was able to make Laito and Twyla, so I'm pretty happy. You can find it here: https://picrew.me/image_maker/399481

Disclaimer: I don't own either series and I'm doing this because I have a passion for writing, so I'm not making any money off of this. Monster High is owned by Mattel and Diabolik Lovers is owned by Rejet/Idea Factory, please support their official releases.

TW: Since we're dealing with Diabolik Lovers, this story consists of dark, sensitive, and mature content, especially in later chapters. There will be themes of abuse, dominance/submission, sadism/masochism, dubcon elements, and potentially more, so read at your own discretion. I will list the trigger warnings as I need to.

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Chapter 1: Paradoxical Loneliness

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Why do people desire to be the center stage in the limelight with everyone's eyes upon them, desperate to be idolized by strangers? Abandoning their identity, performing a dog and pony show for society's acceptance, including tricks and impossible tasks to fit in. Living in this world of charlatan conjecture with the hollowness of bamboo during the monsoon seasons, with no roots it blows away in the wind. Why do we do this?

The notion of people crowding around me, as if I'm a spectacle at the circus, a marvel at a freakshow. Every minuscule move under a microscope, the feeling of being trapped under a glass slide, my every flaw under suffocating scrutiny of prying eyes. Leaving me vulnerable and exposed, they can't ever know me, nor will they put in an effort to empathize.

I've always lurked in the shadows; the darkness protected me like a blanket from the glaring eyes of judgement invading my solace of solitude. Foreboding dread and foreshadowed trepidation, board into my emptiness and shattering my psyche like a homing missile through a warzone. Since childhood, this way brought me a satisfied contentment, resting on the warm bosom of a sustained hearth. Like a turtle in their shell, impervious to pain, I am immune from the harsh reality of existence.

Observing in the sidelines, seeing the unseen, holding a secret longing to comprehend someone's inner world. These taboo things, keeping those skeletons in my closet under lock and key, bolted shut, and wrapped in chains forever. Everything that I am, no one can ever know.