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liketwoswansinbalance · 24 days

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What if Rafal couldn't save Rhian in time? Like Vulcan successfully stabbed him with the pen before Rafal could prevent it?

The comedic answer is that I have one word for you: gibbeting.

That's the more "fun" answer, a form of medieval execution/torture, which was specifically intended to make an example of someone, publicly, to deter further criminal acts, and if Vulcan murdered Rhian, well, he deserves the worst death possible! And why not make it a creative one? However, I think, to an extent, that gibbeting could be too extreme, and that Rafal would recognize that if Rhian were alive, he'd view it as an eyesore, tasteless, or simply too brutal, so it's probably unlikely to happen. But, Rafal might not be above it, considering that the Doom Room exists, so it could go either way, potentially.

Plus, there's some added, bonus "fun" here, in how a certain canon moment would come full circle. Vulcan put Rafal in a birdcage (while he was a black sparrow), and now, Rafal would get the pleasure of hanging Vulcan (or rather, his slowly dying and later, decomposing body) up in a cage, a pretty neat form of revenge, if I do say so myself, haha! Besides, Vulcan was a bit exhibitionistic, wasn't he? So, this would also make for an ironical fate.

⸻

Now for the serious answer. I hope you don't mind it if I get a little more subjective/personal with this one at some point. It's not quite as much an overblown, narrative-style post, and may be more understated than usual.

I took this "what if" ask to essentially mean: how would Rafal react to Rhian's death and how would he mourn Rhian over time? If I misinterpreted your ask, and this wasn't the kind of response you were expecting, please let me know. Also, everything is speculative, of course, so take my interpretations with a grain of salt. I'm open to hearing other opinions!

I think Rafal's immediate, knee-jerk reaction would probably be to murder Vulcan as revenge, but also it would serve the more practical reason of disposing of the tyrant usurper, ousting him from the School permanently. However, I don't think Rafal would find catharsis in it, not this time at least, considering why he is doing it.

He'd have to act on his feet, and quickly, because, Vulcan would still pose a threat to his own life, which would force Rafal to delay any kind of visceral, emotional reaction.

That is why I think the murder would be done instantaneously because speed is more important, and so is getting the task done right. And, having Vulcan dead sooner for everyone's safety is more important than the potential brutality of any kind of gruesome catharsis Rafal could derive from the act. That's why I think Rafal would go about performing this particular murder in a less sadistic fashion, for once, like how Vulcan died in canon by a stab wound, versus the time when Rafal turned Rufius to gold and shattered him, or did worse to others, generally. If Vulcan had simply been a foe who was already incapacitated, that could've given Rafal the opportunity to go for a worse form of murder, but Vulcan isn't harmless.

Thus, employing a "kinder" form of murder in this instance wouldn't be out of sympathy for Vulcan, but more so, to fulfill an urgent need. And, in some sense, the act of murder would be done out of a kind of duty to Rhian, for Rhian's sake and nothing more. I think Rafal deriving pleasure/catharsis out of this murder could possibly be a bit of a slight to Rhian's memory because this is somber business.

Then, after that adrenaline or rage-fueled clarity and the action taken, I think Rafal would next probably feel some kind of uncomprehending fog next because Rhian was suddenly ripped away from him with little warning. His supposedly immortal brother, who was supposed to be with him forever, just died. To an extent, that has to feel surreal.

The surreal feeling could start out as a detached, dissociated feeling, like the kind of out-of-body experience where you're like a third-person observer, (probably a similar feeling as a panic attack?) Like, what? What has my life become? Rhian is suddenly gone, for good.

(The revelation of Rhian's death being real could also prompt a lot of thought as to why their bond wasn't able to save or revive Rhian, and could evoke guilt.)

Once Rafal processes the implications of Rhian's death, his initial outburst could be the most, actual, unbridled emotion he lets out, at all, if ever—maybe, one raw, primal scream of agony into the ether and that’s it. (Yet, I'm also tempted to say, that's too dramatic of a reaction, even for him. As interesting as it is to go to extremes in other cases, I'm attempting to go for something closer to realism here, so bear with me.)

While there is probably a narrow chance, that under the exact, right conditions, he could be driven insane or become an extremist in some way, out of guilt or by how ridiculously unjust the whole situation would be, I think it's a little more plausible that Rafal would just bury himself in his work. He could devote his life to Evil, and still keep it in balance with Good, without Rhian there to keep him in check, even if he was more often the one to keep Rhian in check, from what we saw. (He could also become disillusioned with the world and the Pen.)

Given how I view Rafal, I think he would shut down emotionally but not functionally. He wouldn't let himself dwell on the grief for long, and he might even (irrationally) resent Rhian for dying, at first, on the surface, because he's now got twice the work. And yet, the work would be a welcome distraction from his actual grief.

Additionally, I think Rafal would become numb and immune to all emotional appeals from other people. Not even a trick like Hook reminding him of Rhian would work to convince him to change his mind that he's already made up in any future instance. He's never, never investing himself in the fate of another person again. Not when he could lose them. He just... does his job. Someone has to do it after all.

That said, I think his paranoia level would absolutely skyrocket, too, as a result of the whole Vulcan incident, and that he'd isolate himself more than he already did before.

Now comes the part where this may or may not take a weird turn, and I could be projecting with what I'm about to say, but I think I have actual reason to apply it to Rafal, purely out of thinking it could make sense for him, (as just one of the many possible ways he could take Rhian's death. Again, this is all just my speculation. I could easily be wrong, so keep that in mind.)

Ok, I'm not sure if this is a common or a weird thing to think and I had a feeling it could be controversial. Thus, I'm going to preface it with this: my intention is not to sound callous, but...

I (usually) do not miss people when they are gone. (Death is different from just absence though.)

I doubt that I "miss" people in what is the typical way, from what I have heard from others? Though, I have an explanation. Obviously, it depends, but missing others doesn't occupy my every waking thought. (And thoughts about fictional characters are a different type of thought to arise.)

I feel others' presence when they’re around, and when they’re not around, unless I'm concerned for them, I don’t exactly think about them. It's kind of "out of sight, out of mind," except for the cases in which I actually am holding something to say to them in mind for our next encounter.

I’m sorry if this is strange, but I think that’s how I operate most of the time. I don't "wait around" for people to return because I always have some thing to occupy myself with. Can anyone relate?

I suspect that the reason why is because, to me, missing someone is what I would classify as an active feeling. When someone I love is apart from me, I'm usually busy, regardless of whether they're present or not (that doesn't change), and I know that when you're busy, you don't have the time to feel, at least not active emotions. They just... don't occur to you? Or maybe they are not conscious?

Now, from my view of things, if something you feel becomes a problem, and interferes with your daily functioning or general contentment with everyday life, that could very well surface as a real reaction or outburst. But, that's an entirely different matter. I also think that I am reminded of people at times, but that I usually don't "miss" them without there being some kind of (internal or external) stimuli that causes me to think about them.

Maybe, I'm just projecting onto Rafal too much because I relate to him over other characters, and this is silly, or junk psychoanalysis, but it seemed to fit his character also???

Sometimes, I just want recognition more than I want actual companionship since I don't get lonely. I wonder what that says about me? That I'm an introvert, or lazy because relationships require regular maintenance to sustain them? I promise I'm not a misanthrope!

Ok, back to Rafal. He's sunken himself into his work and as such, he wouldn't actively miss Rhian. (If anyone would like more clarification, I'm not saying he wouldn't grieve Rhian at all. It's not that.)

And, if we're going down a more realistic than dramatic route, he wouldn’t lose his sense of self, or his mind over Rhian. Yes, not even Rhian. I think the only thing keeping him running and tethered to his life would be his commitment to the School/keeping himself alive.

What this makes me think of is how people romanticize grief or unrequited love, how they may end up looking wan and eventually wasting away (well, if we're talking about being heartsick in literary/symbolic contexts...). And, I just don't think Rafal would be the type of person to fall into some kind of "madness" or melancholic malady. Grief just wouldn’t be so debilitating or all-consuming to him because he wouldn’t let it do that to him. He wouldn’t stop eating or sleeping as I would expect these behaviors more from someone like Rhian, not him.

Similarly, he might not indulge in pleasurable things, but he’s a bit of an ascetic already anyway, so that’s that. He could potentially renounce pleasurable things in life out of mourning, in a traditional way, but I doubt that would happen either, to be honest. It probably wouldn't cross his mind. At least, it wouldn't happen on a formal, conscious level, even if he could very well deprive himself without realizing it.

I just don't think Rafal would be engulfed by grief, simply because he isn’t that much of an emotionally driven person or that vulnerable to being swept up by personal tragedy, when compared to Rhian, who's more "wild." He’d only let his grief manifest so far, assuming his emotions do still remained locked down and under his control.

So, while he may think about Rhian regularly, he might just accept the fact of Rhian's death, carry on, and not miss him because Rafal missing Rhian could (implicitly) mean becoming non-functional due to grief (or guilt) and that would be too great of a risk for Rafal to take, considering his current reality alone. Basically, to let himself wallow in those emotions would be an unnecessary "risk," from his viewpoint. That's why he might repress that reflective type of thought.

Such feelings would be too much mess or potential disorder for someone like him, especially if he realized he couldn't keep them contained, and they, as a consequence, actually jeopardized his fate or the School's, assuming the grief made him unable to perform his job properly.

(He'd probably subtly resent the Storian as well, for not preserving Rhian's life.)

Also, one small point: in canon, was his bond with Rhian really, truly all-consuming? Let's stop and ask ourselves that for a moment.

Yes, for a time, their bond may have seemed like it was priority no. 1, but Rafal was apart from Rhian for six months, and might not have consciously missed him, if it took him that long to return after getting an external reminder from his interactions with Hook. It might have taken something outside of himself (like the prophecy) for him to come to the realization that he had to return and reestablish his loyalty to Rhian (which was arguably never gone, just dormant for a while). And this would mean that if left alone to his own devices, had he never been moved by James, or "awakened" and been made aware by Adela Sader, he could have taken longer than even six months to return... if he ever decided to at all, if the thought ever arose in the first place.

So, overall, it would only be rarely, when he has nothing to occupy himself with, that Rafal would grieve in some quiet way, and over time, the grief would fade. It wouldn't leave him entirely, but it would diminish, I think, the more and more he distances himself from everything else.

Also, in canon, I suspect that he lies to himself about how much he cares for Rhian. He never shows Rhian much affection, but he sacrifices his life for him, on instinct, which probably means a grieving Rafal would also lie to himself about how “little” he mourns Rhian. In reality, he’d probably mourn Rhian a great deal more than he could know, but wouldn’t have enough self-awareness to realize it.

Perhaps, at night, he would be haunted by Rhian's memory, and take on Rhian's insomniac trait on occasion. Also, to credit @cursed-daydreamer, I think it would be plausible for Rafal to take on a few of Rhian's traits, unconsciously, to compensate for the loss, and fill his void; it could be a way of keeping Rhian's presence in his life.

Lastly, I doubt that Rafal would publicly erect monuments or dedicate anything to Rhian. He wouldn’t want a painful, visual reminder around. His rituals, if we were to call them that, any form of remembrance, I mean, would likely be private, away from prying eyes and students. Rafal wouldn't want to come across as weak or sentimental. That’s the last thing he needs at the moment, a ruined reputation, another so-called threat to his own life/power. Because, increased paranoia could lead him to believe that if he were to show any sign of vulnerability, more "Vulcans" could prey on him and the School.

He could maintain the cherry blossom trees though, but it'd always be a sobering occasion, and he'd never take the credit.

Besides that, he probably wouldn’t go eulogizing his brother or canonizing him. He can still recognize Rhian's flaws, and to praise Rhian so completely would be "too much," too public, and the performative (or contrived) nature of certain mourning customs like those would probably strike him as "wrong" because they just seem... insincere. I don't think Nevers (if we're assuming Rafal remains Evil) put as much much stock in praise anyway, according to their value system.

The exception to the rule would probably be if he recognized that it would be Rhian's wish, to receive some recognition or a dedication. Then, he would do it, out of reverence, I think. He'd have reason to "excuse" it (Rhian's dying wishes), unlike visible emotions, which don't have an excuse to be felt.

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Also, I was wondering: does anyone agree or disagree? I'm really curious because this ask provoked a train of thought I'd never considered before!

#school for good and evil #rise of the school for good and evil #rafal #rafal mistral #rhian #rhian mistral #vulcan of netherwood #sge #sfgae #the school for good and evil #tsfgae #rotsge #rotsfgae #my post #ask #death #grief

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demonslayedher · 4 months

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The Taisho Secret canon content regarding The Legend of Zenitsu has unfortunately made me have to give up beloved concepts in this future!Zennezu headcanon post. Most specifically, Old Man Zenitsu's with a mustache, because Word of Gotouge says he never grews facial hair. Zenitsu is probably far more disappointed than I am about this.

But also, it has all given me a much deeper headcanon about "The Legend of Zenitsu" being a bonding experience in their marriage, for Nezuko is a big fan, like so, what with Nezuko being a willing model for Zenitsu's praise-worthy paintings.

And is my brain spinning headcanons again? Yeah.

Zenitsu wished he could rub it in Tanjiro's face that he got a book deal. Not on everything, just on "The Demon Slaying Arc ~Fated Encounters~," "The Heavenly Maiden Arc ~I Am Willing To Die For You~," and "The Life of the Man Who Loved The Spirit of the Plum Tree Arc." No one else deserved to know "The Tastiness of Nezuko-chan's Cooking" anyway, for Zenitsu had described it too well and it would be like sharing his wife with a bunch of slimy readers. Bad enough that he still had to share with Inosuke all the time.

But Tanjiro didn't rub it in. He smiled and made as kind a sound as even, and congratulated him.

Maybe Tanjiro had grown too mild to say or feel anything more than that.

Because Zenitsu had a publisher and small fan base, he got paid a small advance to keep writing. Not even to stop going to an office job in town, if he wanted to to keep spoiling Nezuko with nice things. The stroke to eager made him write "The Beautiful Swordswoman Nezuko Arc" in one night, but "The Golden Dragon Wandering Alone Arc ~Go And Rescue Nezuko!~" was one he slogged through. It was getting to be a handful, going to work and raising a kid living up to expectations now that people had them of him. It felt good at first, but it made the writing less fun.

His heart was hardly in it when he wrote the "Botamochi from Zenitsu Arc." The sales tanked, and Zenitsu's publisher didn't bother him when he said aside his pen for a while. It was a long while, and there were other things going on anyway.

Not long after Tanjiro died, Nezuko caught a flu that was going around. It honestly made Zenitsu a little glad to have an excuse to leave his kid with Aoi for a while so that he could have Nezuko to himself while she was contagious. He didn't need anyone's help to take care of him, because every cell down to his soul cared only about how he might pamper and comfort her.

"Nezuko-chan, come on and drink a little. It'll make your throat feel better."

"I can't. I don't want to," she moaned. Tears escaped her hopeless eyes. She still must have felt so gutted, and Zenitsu knew he could do little to fill her for the time being. Some of that hopeless look must had been from thinking she'd never be free of the headache, but at least that much he might be able to soothe.

"Why don't you rest your head on my lap for a change? Here, I'll stroke your forehead for you."

"You should sleep."

"I can do it in my sleep," he smiled to her. "Actually, did you know that the legendary hero Agatsuma Zenitsu can be even more powerful when he sleeps?"

At this, she gave him a weak smile. The first he'd seen lately. "Yes."

"It's true! It's because he can hear the sound of his wife at his side. It powers him up like lightning coming right out of his empty eye-sockets! Actually, there was one time when he blinded his enemy before the roaring sound of his power knocked him over."

"Or the sound of his snoring."

"No, no, it's thunder like it shoots right out of him! You see, it all started one night in a terrible, creepy forest, when he saw a helpless man swooped backwards into the tree tops..."

When Nezuko recovered, Zenitsu picked up his pen again, and published "Rumble of the Knock-Out Secret Swordsmanship of Zenitsu Arc ~The Legendary Man’s Eyes Shine With Light~" not long afterward. It sold decently, and it was nice to hear that he had some fans who were excited about it.

Life fell back into a new busy normal, and Zenitsu's muse was fickle. "The Potato Feudal Lord Arc" was just a passing thing for fun, not something he'd ever tell his publisher about. It was more fun for a while to try out other things, like painting. As long as Nezuko was his model, Zenitsu found he had a knack for it. He ran into Yushiro one time though, who told him he was a hack, and they got into a big argument that ended with Zenitsu throwing all his brushes and unused canvases at him and daring him to do better. Those had all cost a lot of money, so Nezuko was not happy about that. Likewise, she wasn't happy when Zenitsu refused to sell a painting of her and tore his pants while throwing a fit.

By the looks of Nezuko's ledgers, it looked like Zenitsu was stuck at that desk job, selling electricity around the little mountain foothill town. He had been there so long that he got promoted for being good at sitting in the same chair for years, and that meant moving closer to a bigger town, closer to the growing metropolis, where Zenitsu felt right at home and Nezuko assured him she would adjust.

What would Tanjiro think, now that nobody bought charcoal anymore?

The world that once had demons seemed further and further away and the droll of adulthood stretched on, and powers he couldn't behead with a swift Thunderclap and Flash fought amongst themselves. More and more, there were expectations of Zenitsu, and people depending on him. He had to assure people they would still have light and heat even as Tokyo burned, and the sound of planes rattled his ears almost daily. He was a man of his community now, and the only one his family could depend on. At Nezuko's insistence, they collected nearly-blind Kanao and his nephews and niece, and he tried to insist to Inosuke to stay with them in town where there were bomb shelters, but Inosuke, just as responsible for his own family, felt he kept them safest going deeper and deeper in to the mountains.

Nezuko knew nothing but worries. Sometimes, he almost wished she could be back to a childlike state of mind, protected from all the pain and horrors she so unfairly had to endure. In the darkness of a bomb shelter, he hugged her close as she trembled. "Say, Nezuko-chan. Do you remember that time..."

"What?"

"...that time the great hero Agatsuma Zenitsu was a teeny-tiny, but very, very strong mouse?"

He could hear her worries lift, however slightly. Maybe that was all a mouse could do.

"Actually, it was when he was a little boy. You'd never guess it, but he was very cowardly. That was a terrible warlock with a fancy red mark around his eye painted him with a magic white makeup that turned him into a mouse!"

She stifled a snort against his chest. "Uzui-san..."

"Yeah, that was the warlock's name! Did I already tell you this story before?"

"A mouse?" his son clung tighter to him, sometime he hadn't done in years. Even when he was little he always clung to Nezuko instead anyway. Zenitsu could tell by the tone of his son's voice that he was already teary-eyed and sniffly.

"Yeah. A little mouse who thought he had no power at all. That the world was too big for him. But as it turns out..."

What really hurt was Nezuko's reaction. She sighed with disappointment, and lamented that this was why he spent so many long hours away from home.

That was a story Zenitsu recorded later, as a memory of those times. It stayed on his bookcase at home next to the Potato Lord story, now that the world was quiet again.

Business picked up really well. The world got brighter, and so did the indoor lighting. As a general sense of optimism filled the world again, the small but dedicated base of "Legend of Zenitsu" fans called for a new installment. He responded well to praise, and soon gave them "The Dragon Palace Arc ~Eternal Nezuko~," but being so busy as a highly promoted seat-warmer at the office meant he had things he had to do while sitting in that seat. He put on weight again, and spent a lot of sad, long evenings stuffing cookies in his face while streaming with tears that he couldn't be eating one of Nezuko's homecooked meals instead. "Sitting In A Happy Circle and Boiling Tea in Our Bellybuttons Arc" was something he secretly wrote at his desk as a form of silent protest. His publisher rejected that one after reading only one page.

Of course! He had to be at home to write his best work! He had to be in the same space as his muse, Nezuko! Another quickly written revenge work of his, "The Future Holds Zenitsu Arc," was considered one of his better ones.

After that, he was satisfied with writing for a while, and he muse pushed him to start playing (perfectly) the piano. Nezuko was not thrilled about the piano he bought.

If only he had taught it to Nezuko, then. Her joints all bothered her, but she kept sewing out of willpower.

This new hobby inspired another novel, and Nezuko inspired another novel after that of course, and the stress of their son getting married and wanting a lavish wedding inspired another novel and another novel after that was a desperate attempt to strike it big and get out of the debt that wedding cost them. After all, Zenitsu's daughter-in-law was a cutie and he wanted to spoil her. It made Zenitsu remember how cute Nezuko was when they were newlyweds, and before that too, of course, and now too, and before he knew it he had written yet another novel, despite his dwindling fan base. Nezuko sure liked that one, though, and that was all that mattered.

The years went by. Zenitsu felt he lost his mind over how his granddaughter got cuter every time he saw her, and he eventually reached some arbitrary age when his company could only promote him to retired. Aside from the aches in his legs, he felt as young as he always did, though. Kanao said it was probably the effects of Breath technique. It sustained them without reaching a threshold at which it would be dangerous to them.

Zenitsu still wrote sometimes. He stayed busier when his busy-body grandson read the old unpublished "The Birth of Zenitsu Arc" and insisted on learning Thunder Breath. That was like a new job Zenitsu never asked for, especially since he still only knew one of the original six forms, but Kiriya sent him a letter askeing him to give it a shot, for who knew what the future held. Certainly not demons, Zenitsu was assured of that much. If Yushiro gave his novels a bad review one more time, he'd make sure of there were no more demons left in the world.

He got back in touch with Inosuke. He thought it might never happen after he abandoned the old house and charcoal mill, but the whole time, Inosuke had been on the mountain next to it, where he had always been King of the Mountain. He still took care of the house, he said. But a King still had to be King. They weren't the only people on the mountain, though. Aoi paid house calls. Still, Zenitsu gave Inosuke a stern lecture about making Nezuko (as well as Kanao) worry, so Aoi made sure to drag Inosuke into the bigger and bigger city sometimes.

Zenitsu's newest hobby to drop money on was photography, but now that he was a pensioner, Nezuko did not mind so much. She even agreed to let him fulfill his dream of taking her to Paris. He was glad he had that camera, to prove how the city could not outshine her.

He was glad he took her when he did. Her joints made it harder and harder for her to get around, even though she always smiled and insisted Zenitsu's legs must hurt more. He didn't like it when she laughed and joked around about chopping her legs off to grow new ones.

"Grandpa," his youngest granddaughter looked to him with a tearful face, "Grandma was saying something about being a demon again. I wish she'd stop that."

"I know, right!? She's a princess, and the very spirit of a plum blossom tree! A shrine maiden too!"

"There's no way someone like Grandma would ever go to hell."

He paused, and his stomach sank.

Nezuko gave up her sewing. She spent more and more time in bed, but with no desk job to sit at and a grandson taught enough that he could be told to go off and practice on his own, Zenitsu spent his days writing again. He took a long time on that novel he wrote for her, putting in all the sorts of parts he knew she liked. Sometimes he couldn't help himself and reads parts aloud to her without telling her everything else that already happened in the story. She smiled and enjoyed each fragment anyway.

"I've finally got the title for this one!" he announced. "It's called, 'I Will Be In Love With You A Thousand Years Arc.' Perfect, huh? Well, maybe it's still missing something. A million years, maybe?"

"Zenitsu-san... tell me a story..."

"I am! I'm telling you the greatest story yet! It's about this immortal princess who..."

"Tell me a real story..."

He paused and listened to her heartbeat as she took a breath--a simple, unpracticed breath in tired human lungs. Nezuko still made the same warm sound that she always did. It had a different resonance when she was a demon, and when he carried another life inside her, but it was always uniquely her.

"I want to hear... about the time you spent with my brother."

"Tanjiro? Yeah, he... hasn't been in these for a long time. Maybe I'll bring him back."

"You cared so much about him," she smiled from her futon. "That was why you protected my box, before you even met me."

"He... yeah."

"I'm glad you were such good friends... I want to hear about all those good things that happened to you. About your Ojiisan, and your little bird..."

"Yeah," he grimaced to a smile, and the inside of his nose zapped like a storm was brewing. "I had a lot of good things happen to me. A lot of bad things too."

"It's up to you to decide if you're happy or not. I hope... you'll decide you were happy."

"Yeah," he said, the snot already flowing. "The happiest. I'll tell you all about it. I'll make it my best story ever."

"You promise...?"

He kissed her forehead. "I'd never be able to come up with anything better than the truth."

#whoa I wrote something sappy #but also whoa #I wrote fic again #Zennezu #my fics #Agatsuma Zenitsu #Kamado Nezuko

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hlizr50 · 4 months

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Realized I didn't post this here. So if any of you missed it, you're welcome!

This drabble was inspired, once again, by the amazing art of elizianna.the.one on Instagram. Check out the art here!

Read on AO3 or below the cut!

“I have one more thing.”

To say she was a nervous wreck was a heinous understatement. Even as she and Ruhn had exchanged baubles and clothes and giggles wrapped in shiny paper and curled ribbon, her stomach had twisted and tangled until she was sure her insides would never escape the knots they were in.

Lidia had known it was crazy; fuck, it was nothing short of insanity. But as she scurried to her purse — the only safe place in the house — and pulled the flat, square box from the center pouch, a sense of rightness filled her. They’d discussed it at length, neither of them certain of their bodies’ capabilities. And after five years of avoiding all contraception, and a little thing she liked to think was fate, it was time to grab her mate’s hand and jump.

The shifter returned to her prince, holding the gift out to him. It wasn’t very large; in fact, she’d used a box that had held a bracelet that Ruhn had given her for her birthday. How could something so monumental fit into a little square no wider than his broad, calloused palm? Worrying her lower lip, Lidia watched as he pulled the wintergreen wrapping away and lifted the lid. She hadn’t sat down, couldn’t stand the waiting and definitely couldn’t sit still.

Time slowed to a crawl, it must have. That was the only explanation for how long it took for Ruhn to pull the folded paper away from the box, revealing a small photo. Gods, she would never tire of how her heart swelled at the precious little vision.

“What is…” The Valbaran prince’s honeyed voice faded as he unfolded the document, the paper crinkling between his inked fingers. Lashes fluttering as she read the words printed across the top for what had to be the hundredth time, she leaned in and snatched up the little photograph, holding it over her stomach, right where Ruhn’s eyes would find it once he’d read all the black and white.

She hadn’t expected those indigo orbs, sparkling with twinkling stars and the sheen of building emotion, to immediately find her instead. Ruhn’s stare was wide-eyed and beautiful, his jaw slack, perfect lips parted in what Lidia hoped was awe, but could very well just be shock.

“I know it’s crazy,” she started, her fingertips tapping over the little picture she held, “and it’s going to sound so stupid. But…” Her voice cracked, and the shifter had to take a breath and blink back her tears, though one managed to escape the batting of her eyelids. Looking down at her prince, her hero, flabbergasted as he may be, she was able to find her words again.

“Her name is Dawn. And… and it just felt like fate.”

Gods, when she said it aloud it sounded so incredibly irresponsible and idiotic. Who in their right mind would adopt a child, adorable and precious as she was, simply because of her name? Hel, the little bundle was Mer, for fucks sake! Ruhn would have every right to lift a skeptical eyebrow and inquire about her mental state.

And still, Ruhn said nothing. Did nothing. It only drew more explanation from her lips, the rambling words bursting from her mouth in a waterfall.

“We have a month. And I know that’s not very long. We’ll want to get a place closer to the river, or maybe even on the coast? And I figured Tharion could give us some advice, and—“

Whatever she was going to say next was stolen by Ruhn’s desperate kiss, her body trapped in the vice of his strong, tattoo-covered arms. Lidia’s shoulders sagged, releasing the tension she hadn’t even felt building as she’d plead for his understanding.

Not that she’d needed to. That much was clear when he pulled away and looked down into her eyes, his gaze full of love as his tears left shimmering trails over the chiseled angles of his cheeks.

“Her name is Dawn?” he croaked, his hand lifting to cup her cheek. The dam broke as she leaned into his gentle touch, nodding as she choked on a sob and lifted the photo between their mingling breaths. His eyes focused on the little Mer girl with her wild dark curls and chubby cheeks, then lifted to Lidia. Darted back and forth. His laugh was more of a disbelieving huff, but then he dipped his chin and pressed his lips to the picture.

“I love you, little girl,” he whispered, before flicking his silver-lined eyes back to the shifter. Pushing her hands back down, forcing her to lower the barrier between them, he murmured, “I hope she turns out just like her mama.”

His next kiss was full of promise and warmth, the hope of a future that she’d spent so many years certain she would never have. But here it was, the beginning of something new and infinitely precious. A new light, blinding as it breached the horizon.

Day. Night. Dawn.

Family.

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thefirstknife · 6 months

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To take a break from this week's awfulness, I wanted to tag in on Calus in LF. As you deftly laid out, it's perfect for his character & his relationships with the Witness & Caiatl. It shows him as vain & pathetic. But that's precisely why it fails *as a game villain*. He needs to be scary & powerful for our final battle, but it was just sad to me. A sad little man, unloved & desperate. Compared to Sav, Oryx etc it's a big emotional difference. What do you think from the angle of *game* villain?

Oh that's an interesting question, no worries!

Honestly, it really depends on what type of a villain people expect or prefer. I can see why some would prefer a villain to not be this way or at least if they didn't know all the details. I personally really love villains like this; villains who have put themselves into a path that led them to being just sad, abandoned, lonely and desperate people, despite being given options and a way out, multiple times. But their refusal to accept change is what ultimately led them to their fate.

Calus fits this really well! There's definitely a tragedy to him and his life as a whole. This doesn't really bring the same sort of joy over his defeat as it would be to defeat someone who is villainous in a different way so I can understand why people would feel off for killing him. But personally I believe that Lightfall's whole theme fits this with Calus. He was a sad little man, who rejected everything to overcome his problems and grief and instead chose the simpler path, unlike us; we worked through our grief and took the more difficult way but ultimately more rewarding. It's the primary dichotomy between the way of Light and the way of Darkness. The Witness is also important to consider here because the Witness looks for these types of people in particular for manipulation. A sad little man like Calus was overjoyed to meet the Witness, ages ago. The Witness played with that aspect of him and promised him everything he wanted; most of all, to be important and to be seen.

And in truth, he simply wasn't. He was being used, as all who side with the Witness are. With the whole setup of loss at the end of Lightfall, yeah; his defeat didn't feel as triumphant as it would've been if he'd been different. I believe that was intended. It definitely gave me more of a sense of relief that we put him to rest, rather than triumph. The Witness does that to people. You're kinda glad that you're putting those irreversibly manipulated by it out of their misery. It's also reflected with Caiatl who was basically just tired of it all and just wanted to know if it's done.

I'd even say that Oryx was a similarly tragic figure, though not exactly in the same way. Oryx was also manipulated and he struggled with his doubts all of his life. And when he finally came to attack us, he was literally just a father struck with grief over losing his child. He was more of an imminent threat to the solar system of course, so there was more triumph in defeating him. His story was also much more obscure overall (given how D1 did lore). To a lot of people, Oryx was just a scary monster that arrived to kill everyone. But once you know the background (and especially now with the full scope of it and the role of the Witness in shaping the Hive into who they are), I believe that he is also one of those villains that are ultimately just tragic people. I know Oryx is like that to me.

So yeah, I think this is a really interesting perspective to consider. I still think that this does work for villains, it's just not something that everyone equally enjoys. An expectation for villains is that we should feel good for ending them. But Destiny in general has given us many questions about that over the years; Uldren is a perfect example. He was also painted as a villain, but even back then (and especially now with Crow post-Haunted), I genuinely felt like crap for what we did to him. And that was kinda baked into Forsaken as well; our revenge rampage was never meant to be heroic. There was no real glory or justice in it.

This is definitely something that not everyone will perceive the same way and that not everyone will equally enjoy, especially when considering what the expectations are going into it.

#destiny 2 #calus #oryx #uldren #long post #ask

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tgrailwar-zero · 10 months

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Hey Lune, we understand if you can’t answer this, but uh, are there any other uses to trigger keys apart from the “gather enough and you can enter the core” one? Caster at least seemed to want one of them, but it didn’t seem like it was extremely high priority for her?

"Not really, the Trigger Key is basically a 'post-game' thing? Once a Servant wins the war, then they can either collect the Trigger Keys for a bigger reward, or just sit back and wait for the Admin to come, I think! So nobody is really stressing about them right now, since there's not much point if the war is still happening. As far as I know, at least. Maybe the Admin has more uses for them?"

LUNE explained, as you walked down the steps and out of the inn, seeing a number of people gathered outside.

It seemed like the level of 'awareness' that the NPCs had regarding the war varied from place to place- the people in the Nameless City seemed to have little to no awareness- or those two girls were just mean for no reason. The mind of a teenager, even a virtual one, was hard to parse.

However, in this town, you could see people watching from their homes or stepping outside to watch the duel. Apparently the news spread relatively quickly, as HISTORIA stood next to a figure in a white hood.

His face was familiar, yet still hazy. However, based on the sideways glare he was giving KUKULKAN, it seemed like his memory was a bit on the clearer side.

HISTORIA stepped between the two, prompting introductions.

"Ah, there you two are. K, this is the town doctor."

KUKULKAN held out a hand.

"Nice to meet you!"

He didn't return the handshake.

As much as you expected a confrontation, he merely looked at you and KUKULKAN, and said:

"Get this over with and leave."

Before he stepped off to the wayside, hands in his pockets. HISTORIA chuckled, shaking his head a bit.

"Don't mind him, he's not the most social. But now we can determine the terms of combat. Again, we're fighting until surrender. Special abilities are allowed, but True Name releases regarding Noble Phantasms are banned. We've been given permission to fight within town limits, but try to keep collateral damage to a minimum. The Doctor will stop the fight if things get too out of hand, and also proclaim a winner himself if the bout goes on for too long without a clear victor. I won't be fighting, Lune will. I'll just be 'damage control'."

LUNE and KUKULKAN both nodded their heads in understanding, as they both separated, each walking several paces away from each other.

As soon as LUNE was a fair distance away, they began to shimmer with a bright light, their outfit shifting. Ribbons and frills spilled out from around them, as a long, ornate blade appeared in their hands, shining with a holy light. It didn't seem entirely like battle attire, and yet it seemed fitting.

"…What's that look about? Don't think I can fight in these clothes?"

"That's not it at all. You just seem happy in that outfit. I trust that you'll give it 100%?"

"Of course! Watch me, Historia! I'm in 'Holy Knight' mode, after all!"

KUKULKAN shot you a look. She clearly wasn't happy with your lack of faith in her mana control, especially after specifically assuring you all it would be fine beforehand.

"Speaking of, be nice, Lune. I know His Majesty let you carry around more… 'tools' than usual upon summoning, but don't get carried away."

LUNE, who had finished doing a few skirt-twirls while the others were talking, finally settled a few paces away.

"C'mon, Historia. They're the ones bragging about how big and strong and powerful they are. As a paladin, I've gotta show them what's what! Besides, I can feel His Majesty's pressure on my Spirit Origin. I can't lose!"

"In fact, why don't I give K the first shot? Fire the biggest mana burst you can at me, if you think you're such hot-shots, huh? But if you don't take me out in one hit, then you're gonna super regret it!"

KUKULKAN furrowed her brow, before you felt her mana start to rise, concentrated in her fists.

(Stats will update on the pinned post after each Main Post!)

Servant: Kukulkan

Statistics:

Strength: C

Endurance: C

Agility: B

Mana: EX

Luck: A

NP: B++

Starting Health: 7/7

Starting Mana: 13/13

#thgw story #thgw: chapter 4 #main post #code cast: ask foreigner #endless whispers

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ofallthingsnasty · 2 years

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which characters do you think would force you to be dependent on them the most? slowly corrupting you, taking away your adult privileges- someone who demands to dress you, feed you, force you to wet yourself and just treats you like you know no better than a child. whose the most likely to force you to regress? who keeps you clumsy and crying and makes jokes about you throwing tantrums? hehe.

hehe back at you 💕🤭 thanks for feeding my brain aha, this is kind of a list, kind of my thoughts? feel free to ask for more characters/in-depth explanations or even add your own!! 🤗 This is kind of a mixed bag - some would like to make you genuinely regress, some are more in it for the dynamic. You’ll see what I mean haha tw. forced agr3, yandere, physical abuse (heavy meantion), diapers, wetting mention

Makes you regress because they like the dynamic and how submissive it makes you: Enji, Aizawa Aizawa isn’t cruel per se. He likes the dynamic because it gives him the ability to give you everything. To truly care for you in every way possible. And he's a good cg but unrelenting - his rules and routines are set and he won't budge on them, ever. He cares very little for your protests, he simply pretends not to hear them. He's too tired from work, be it school or hero work, and when he's home he wants to spend his evenings and days off in peace, with you. He can be reasonable when he wants to be and when you've been good, allowing you small freedoms and choices here and there, but nothing major - he's still in charge and always will be. Wouldn't force himself on you, either. He can wait, there really is no need to rush things when he knows he has you for the rest of his life. (Yes, he's that confident in you never escaping - but how can you when you're getting strapped down after he leaves for work, when he puts your little hands in mitts and gags you?) All in all it's a pretty bleak future for you but he rarely hits you and doesn't play cruel mind games, he's just a tad delusional when it comes to you. I’ve mentioned this in another post, but I can see Enji in two ways - either as someone who genuinely wants to be your cg because he views you as something precious and vulnerable or out of the desire to make you fully submit to him. If he makes you regress because he wants to dominate you, you're in for a bad time. He accepts nothing less than the perfect little play-pretend darling - always demure, willing and soft. If you can't manage to live up to your expectations, you'll be severly punished - both physically and mentally. He doesn't play around and won't start now. Not above beating you to a pulp to break you. He doesn't care one bit if a broken finger doesn't quite heal right or if your nose doesn't look like it used to - you should have listened to him better, simple as. Your fault, really. If he wants to be your cg because of some twisted sense of love for you then you're a little better off. He wants to do right by you and genuinely tries to be a little more patient. And he loves you, at least that's what he always tells you. You're still forced into this, forced into restraints and bath time and diapers and frills... He's more patient with you but punishments are still given when you misbehave and they aren't light. But he would never ridicule you. If you accept your fate and let yourself fall it's probably not too bad compared to some others. But he can't keep his fingers off you - he knows he's a little too big for you, but he loves to make you cum on his fingers and thighs and you better play along or else...

Who'd like it because it's degrading for you and they'd belittle you for it: Rumi, Hawks

Hawks - he’s probably not the first one who comes to mind when you think about cgs, right? But like some others on here, he has a cruel streak and revels in you slowly losing control. It's addicting to see a grown adult regress into complete dependence little by little and even better to be a proper hero for the public while he can be a monster behind closed doors. Does he like diaper changes? No, not really. Does he think it's cute when he forces you to piss yourself, when he feeds you by hand, when he makes you baby-talk to him? No, no, no - it's not that he thinks it's simply adorable when you wet yourself or when you cry out of frustration because you can't use your hands anymore. It's all about control. It's about forcing you to do despicable things, something forbidden, something just between the two of you. It's about completely breaking you down and re-building you from scratch - and he's incredibly cruel about it. He lets you know just how disgusting that full diaper is, how pathetic you look, you act. It's all about shame for him. Rumi would do it because she can. Just because she is able to, nothing less. She's definitely not disgusted by you pissing yourself and the likes but that honey-sweet voice can turn into sharp anger and ridicule at any given moment. You can try to be good for her all you want, she's volatile and always chasing a new thrill - one day puppy eyes and a heartfelt sorry get you out of punishment the next she holds your head into the toilet bowl for it. Always condescending, always pitying you with a mean grin even though she was the one to force you to wet yourself. Always taunting you that even if you made it out one day nobody would ever believe you. She's probably the one to hold off mindbreak the longest, just because she likes the struggle and sheer dehumanization - the shame you feel, the way you're glaring back at her behind that pacifier gag. You better hope she never grows tired of you because she has no qualms disposing of you... Not killing you, but giving you into the 'loving care' of any willing prospect who can be paid hush money. And as a funky little addition: The absolute worst cgs - because they wouldn’t do an ounce of caretaking and either make you regress because of mindbreak or would force you to ag3 play for the sheer humiliation alone. You think Hawks and Rumi are cruel? Well, at least they do a minimal amount of care and see themselves as a twisted version of a cg. Shigaraki and Overhaul however, are just terrible. Especially with early Shigaraki - he’d crack you like an egg with the way he treats, no, abuses you. If you regress because of the intense strain on your body and mind, he’d do fuck-all to treat you accordingly/better. He wants someone he can fuck and not... whatever this is. Not above threatening you. Doesn't care if you wet yourself because of trauma - no, he lets you sit in your misery until you reek and cry. Mocks you for regressing as well and noncons you while doing it. A pretty grisly situation. Kai has no patience whatsoever for this. Not above overhauling you to pull you out of an episode - or locking you into your room until you're scratching at the door to be let out. He finds it absolutely repulsive and doesn't understand regressing at all. And if you continue he might just mess with your brain a little...

#ask #anon #tw.forced.ar #tw.yandere #this is kinda ot for what you asked for sorry but it came out of me lol #enji todoroki x reader #aizawa shouta x reader #mirko x reader #hawks x reader #/overhaul #/endeavour #/eraserhead #/hawks #/mirko #/shigaraki

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genshin-impact-writings · 1 year

Text

The Abyss Prince: Ch.2

(Kaeya x gn!KOF!reader)

Synopsis: Kaeya and you have been dating for a while now and you both honestly couldn't be happier with each other - until Jean sends you on a mission that reveals Kaeya's deepest secret. And you learn that a dark past and your unwavering sense of duty could be enough to destroy a relationship that has always been too good to be true.

Chapter summary: Kaeya muses about your relationship and how you changed everything for him. But he also knows that he can’t run away from his fate forever. (Title taken from: Ramin Karimloo – Why am I falling. The chapter is also heavily inspired by that song, by the way.)

Word count: ~4k

The masterlist for the series can be found in the navigation post on my blog.

Ch.2: Why am I falling

Hours later, when the night had already settled in and you were sound asleep next to him, Kaeya once again wondered if perhaps it had been fate that had led him to Mondstadt – and to you, of course. There was something oddly comforting about that – thinking that his father had left him here all those years ago because he, Kaeya, had always been meant to meet you, not because they needed him as a spy whose only purpose was to figure out how he could bring a fallen kingdom back to its old glory. A kingdom he had never seen with his own eyes, for the record. And yet, everyone there counted on him to save them all (if he could believe his father’s words, that is).

Despite all of that, no one had ever told him what exactly they expected of him. His father had abandoned him with so little information that it had taken Kaeya years to figure out his true identity. Thankfully, the Knights of Favonius’ library had proved itself a mine of information about Khaenri'ah and the cataclysm that had destroyed the entire nation five centuries ago. Not that the Knights openly shared these books but Kaeya wasn’t stupid. He had his methods to get hold of the documents without anyone noticing that they had been touched at all.

Of course, he hadn’t focused on these things as a kid when his mind and heart had been filled with childish hopes and dreams and the wish to find a place he belonged. He had only started to take his secret mission more serious when he turned 16, partly because he was so curious about his supposed homeland and its history, but also because he had never given up the hope that his biological father would come back for him once he had figured out how to help Khaen’riah. But of course, he never came back. So, at one point, young Kaeya stopped his research and decided to focus on the family he had instead – the Ragnvindrs.

And then, in a cruel twist of fate, he also lost them. When Crepus, the only father figure Kaeya had in his life at that point, died, he suddenly realized that there were more important things than pleasing the father who had left his only son behind in the blink of an eye. In that particular night, Kaeya learned that family wasn’t about blood – it was about shared memories, love and trust. Looking back, it really was no wonder that he suddenly started to loathe himself for keeping secrets from Diluc for so long, even more so when he understood that he would never be able live a happy life in Mondstadt if he couldn’t let the past – and his true identity – go. And so, Kaeya, young and foolish and hopeful as he had been, had told his brother the truth, hoping and praying for his help, only to realize that his honesty was enough to destroy their relationship forever. In that night, Kaeya had not only lost his family. He had also lost his faith.

He could still remember the hatred and betrayal in Diluc’s eyes, the same eyes that had always looked at him with so much compassion, and how they had fought each other that night, their clothes drenched from the rain and their own blood.

And after the fight, Kaeya had realized that there was no point in protecting a city that didn’t care about him. What was the purpose of starting a new life here if he had no other choice than leading a lonely, miserable existence? So, instead, he had started to focus on his task again, his purpose, the only reason why he was here. And if saving Khaenri'ah meant to tear the City of Freedom down, well, then he was more than ready to pay that price.

After Crepus’ death, Kaeya had turned into the cunning, reckless spy his father had hoped he would be. Cold and adamant as the Cryo vision that had saved his life during his battle with Diluc, Kaeya had sworn to do everything in his power to fulfill his mission, promising that no one would ever be able to stop him.

And then, he had bumped into you. And his whole world turned upside down in a matter of seconds.

---

With a sigh, Kaeya closed the book in front of him. Sword fighting techniques in other nations of Teyvat. Not what he had hoped to read today but it was one of these days where Lisa watched everyone in the library like a hawk, making sure that no one even tried to take one of her precious books with them, let alone cause damage to them in any way. He assumed it had something to do with the fact that some of the young recruits always tried to sneak books out of the library to keep studying even after closing times. Or at least, he hoped so – because if Lisa was here to keep an eye on him, he would have a hard time snooping through the secret documents the Knights hid in their archive. But then again, why would she suspect anything? After all, he had never given her – or anybody else, for the record – a reason to doubt his loyalty.

Lisa raised her head, almost as if she had noticed that someone was watching her, and when she met his gaze, she smiled and waved at him. Calmly, Kaeya returned her smile. No, he was absolutely sure that the attentive and smart librarian didn’t suspect anything. And he would do everything in his power to ensure that it would stay this way. After all, he had promised himself years ago that no one would ever be able to come between him and the success of his secret mission.

With that thought in mind, Kaeya pushed back his chair. He had wasted enough time with this boring book. Time to focus on more important things.

He picked up the book to bring it back to the shelf it belonged, knowing very well that Lisa would only start to lecture him if he didn’t do it. The organization of the library was almost something sacred to her, and he knew how mad she could get when someone disregarded her rules.

“You’re leaving already?” she asked when he passed her desk, looking up from the manuscript in front of her. The liquid in the tea cup on a tray next to the document emitted a sickly sweet smell, a mixture of spices, honey, caramel and something Kaeya couldn’t recognize. To him, it was truly baffling that someone like Lisa loved extra sweet tea so much.

He shrugged. “Duty calls.”

Sometimes, it still surprised him how easy it was to lie to everyone. Only a couple of years ago, he had started to sweat, his hands shaking, whenever he couldn’t tell the truth but now, lying felt as natural and normal as breathing. Despicable, really. But it had to be done.

Lisa chuckled. “My, aren’t you eager. But let me tell you something: Taking a break from time to time doesn’t hurt. In fact, it’s quite beneficial for your work! It helps you to regain your strength and see things from a different point of view.”

“And of course no one knows these things better than you,” Kaeya replied, joining in her laughter, “but I really don’t have time to rest now. There’s something I have to take care of.”

The librarian sighed. “Ever so dutiful. Well, good luck, then. And don’t forget to come around and visit me again soon!”

“Of course.” He was already at the door, smiling at her one more time, although a huge part of him was glad that he could finally leave. Sometimes, he felt like Lisa could see right through him (and everyone else too, for the record), although he was pretty sure that she wasn’t able to read minds, despite her vast knowledge about almost everything. But she was indeed an acute observer, and that made her dangerous, even more so since her and the Acting Grand Master were such good friends. It wouldn’t surprise him if Lisa told Jean about him, should she ever be able to figure out his true identity.

He was so lost in his thoughts and musings that he didn’t pay attention to his surroundings. The next second, someone already had bumped into him with full speed, almost knocking him over. Kaeya stumbled backwards as he tried to regain his balance, his back eventually hitting the wall behind him.

“Ouch,” he mumbled.

“Lord Barbatos, I’m so sorry!” he heard someone exclaim. Then, an unfamiliar face came into view, eyes filled with concern. “I’m so sorry,” you repeated, clutching the books in your arms tighter. “I wasn’t paying attention where I was going and – You’re not hurt, are you?”

For a few moments, Kaeya could only stare at you, speechless. It was rare that he was at loss for words, quick-witted and charming as he was, but there was something about you that left him stunned. Maybe it was the way you looked at him with those pretty eyes, clearly worried that you might have hurt him when you ran into him.

He shook his head, a fruitless attempt to get these thoughts out of his head, and finally replied, “I’m afraid I’m just an ordinary knight, not Lord Barbatos. And please don’t worry about me. I assure you it takes more than this to knock me out.”

“Oh.” You bit your bottom lip. “Okay.”

Were you already losing interest in him? And, the more important question, why did it bother him? He should be glad about it – the more people he let into his life, the more difficult it became to keep his true interests hidden. But a part of you really wanted you to stay here with him just a little while longer. Unfortunately, every statement that came to his mind right now was either incredibly stupid, way too flirty or completely irrelevant. So, what else could he say to you?

Think, he urged himself, think, you idiot!

“So, um…” He cleared his throat when the silence between the two of you got uncomfortable. “You’re a knight, too?”

What a stupid question. The familiar crest on your jacket had already told him that much. But still, you smiled, and almost instantly, his whole world turned brighter. “Yes, I’m (Y/N). I work with Captain Eula and the 4th Company. My pleasure to meet you.”

Before he even consciously decided to do it, Kaeya was already smiling back at you. He wanted to look away, he really did. But something about you made him feel like he was glued to the spot, like his body had actually forgotten how to move. But honestly, who could blame him when the sun was looking right back at him?

When he finally managed to reply, his voice still sounded a bit too breathless for his liking. “Kaeya. And the pleasure is all mine, (Y/N).”

---

Around four weeks had passed since Kaeya had first met you, and strangely enough, he suddenly had a hard time focusing on his research about Khaenri'ah and his heritage. Whenever he stared at the pages in front of him, all he could see was your face and the way the skin around your eyes crinkled when you smiled. He didn’t know why but he couldn’t get you out of his head.

And he desperately wanted to see you again.

Maybe that was the reason why he spent so much time at the library recently instead of the archive where the Knights kept the more delicate documents, including all of their collected information about Khaenri'ah and the cataclysm. He was well aware that he had started to neglect his mission since you bumped into him, and while he knew that it probably wasn’t wise to get too distracted by you, he just couldn’t help it.

Not when it felt like he had escaped after being trapped inside nearly unscalable walls for all these years. Not when he started to wonder if it really was possible to break all the locks he had so carefully placed on his heart to make sure he wouldn’t get hurt ever again.

Kaeya sighed deeply. It was truly unbelievable how quickly his priorities had changed, just because someone with pretty eyes had smiled at him. But who would judge him? His father wasn’t here and probably never would be, Diluc ignored him most of the time (and besides, he had no idea that Kaeya had actively started to try saving Khaen’riah after their fight), and Lisa would most likely just tease him for falling for someone he barely knew in just a matter of seconds. So, there really was not one single reason why he couldn’t see you again.

And only a few days later, his patience finally paid off. He was casually flipping through a book about Alchemy because he vaguely remembered Albedo mentioning once that they used a more advanced form of Alchemy in Khaenri'ah back then (the Art of Khemia, he had called it, Kaeya believed), and he had somehow hoped that this book would give him at least a few hints about this topic. But much to his disappointment, the book didn’t even mention the Art of Khemia, not even once.

A bit more abruptly than necessary, Kaeya closed the book, glaring down at the cover with its golden twirly letters like it had just become his personal nemesis. “What a waste of time…”

“Books are never a waste of time, Captain Alberich.”

Kaeya jumped with fright at the sound of the familiar voice. Out of all places, of course you had to meet at the library, right under Lisa’s watchful eyes and her uncanny ability to read through every emotion in a split second. But then again, why should he care about Lisa when the way you looked at him was enough to make his heart skip a beat?

He cracked a smile and darted another glance at the book in front of him. “Believe me, this one is. And please, let’s just skip the formalities. I’d prefer if you just called me Kaeya, like everyone else.”

You frowned. “But wouldn’t that be… inappropriate?”

“Please, I insist.”

“Oh.” You paused, a brief smile flashing over your face. “Alright… Kaeya.”

He could’ve sworn his name had never sounded more beautiful.

---

When spending your time with Lisa, you could never be sure what would happen next. Sometimes, she just initiated a friendly conversation about a topic she found particularly interesting on that day while she would spend the entire time complaining about the library users and their poor respect for books on other days. And sometimes, she would start to ask personal questions until the conversation had turned so awkward that the person opposite her was nothing but a blushing and stuttering mess.

Today was one of these days. And her victim was none other than Kaeya.

Not once in his life had he regretted inviting her to Good Hunter to grab something for lunch that much.

“You’ve been spending quite a lot of time with (Y/N) recently,” Lisa said, carefully placing down her tea cup after taking a tiny sip.

Kaeya looked up from his plate, a frown on his face. “And by that you mean…?”

“Don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talking about. I’ve seen you at the library more than once, and Amber told me she spotted you at Windrise together. Oh, and Venti recently mentioned that you even invited (Y/N) to join you for a drink at Angel’s Share, although you usually prefer to spend your time there alone.”

“That is-“

“Nothing but the truth,” Lisa interrupted him with a gleeful smile. “Come on, you can tell me – I promise I won’t chatter away. You enjoy their company, don’t you?”

“I don’t think you and me should have this conversation. Please excuse me,” Kaeya said, putting his cutlery down, “I suddenly remembered there’s somewhere I need to be.”

Lisa chuckled. “My, my, Kaeya, you really are impatient today. Is there an important event you have to attend? A date with Captain Eula’s lovely field officer, perhaps?”

“What? No,” he replied quick like a shot, although he already knew that the way his face heated up in embarrassment was enough evidence that he wasn’t telling the truth. Lisa raised her eyebrows, her lips curled into a knowing smile. “You’re a terrible liar, sweetie.”

“It’s not a date. (Y/N) and I… we’re just friends.”

She let out an exaggerated sigh. “You can fool yourself, Kaeya Alberich, but you can’t fool me. I know a thing or two about love and it’s incredibly obvious that you would like to be more than just their friend. And a little birdie told me that this feeling is mutual. You know, it’s almost a bit funny how you have this massive crush on each other and are both too scared to confess.”

“Lisa, please. Stop.”

The librarian laughed again, clearly amused about the absolutely exasperated tone of his voice. “I’m sorry, darling. I’ll stop teasing you about that – for now, at least."

“Lisa…”

“Enjoy your date!” she chirped, followed by an amused giggle, as Kaeya pushed his chair back and fled the scenery, his face still burning like fire.

---

Weeks turned into months, and there was rarely a day where you didn’t see each other. If your duties kept both of you busy throughout the entire day, you would still meet for a walk once you had finished your tasks for the day.

Today, you had dragged him to Windrise once again. Kaeya had no idea why you loved this place so much but if it made you happy to just sit under the giant oak tree, your head resting on the Cavalry Captain’s shoulder as you enjoyed each others’ company, well, who was he to tell you No?

Kaeya sighed quietly. If his father could see him now… well, he’d probably call him pathetic, maybe even weak for giving up on his mission for a fleeting and foolish thing like love.

Wait. Love? Was he really… in love with you?

He felt his heart skipping a beat. Up to this day, he had never allowed himself to even think about love, and a part of him had even believed that he was simply incapable of loving someone – until you had bumped into him and proved him wrong so quickly that he sometimes still wondered if you had put a spell on him. It felt like he was falling into a bottomless pit of dreams and hopes he had given up years ago.

Funny that he hadn’t realized sooner how much you really meant to him, even after Lisa had pointed it out. He had no idea how you did it but whenever you were by his side, everything he did wrong in the past suddenly seemed to vanish into thin air, like he had never thought about engulfing Mondstadt in the abyss, should it be necessary for the success of his mission. With you, all of his bad decisions and foul deeds suddenly didn’t matter anymore. And more often than not, he caught himself dreaming about the future the two of you could have if he finally gathered the courage to confess his feelings to you. (Although he knew very well that he probably shouldn’t be dreaming about all of this. After all, a lying traitor like him really didn’t deserve a happy ending.)

“Kaeya? Are you listening to me?” Your voice snapped him out of his thoughts. You had lifted your head from his shoulder, looking at him with those stunning eyes, clearly concerned. “Are you alright?” you asked with a frown. “You… you seemed to be miles away.”

He stared at you, his heart thumping like mad, his mind going completely blank in just the blink of an eye. How could he tell you how much he adored you? How could he tell you when he felt like every letter and every syllable he had learned dissipated on the tip of his tongue?

“Kaeya?”

By the Archons, even the way you said his name sent a shiver down his spine and made him weak in the knees.

“Hey…” Carefully, you put your hand on his arm, a slightly insecure smile flashing over your face as his gaze flickered from your eyes to your lips and back to your eyes again, “talk to me. Please.”

“I love you.” The words were out before he could stop himself. (Later that night, he would start wishing he had the time to come up with a more eloquent way to confess his feelings to you.)

“You – what?” There was no judgement in your voice, just genuine astonishment as you tried to comprehend what he had just said. Kaeya’s lips curled into a soft smile. “I said, I love you.”

For a couple of excruciating seconds, you didn’t reply anything. Then, you shifted closer to him, raising your hands to cup his cheeks. “I was hoping you’d say that one day,” you confessed quietly, your pupils blown wide as you looked back at him. “Because I really love you, too.”

It was right then and there that Kaeya kissed you for the first time. He hadn’t planned on doing it but in that moment, under the soft light of the moon, it just felt right to lean in and press his lips to yours in a soft kiss.

He would never forget how you wrapped your arms around his neck, pulling him closer and kissing him back, as if you had just waited for him to finally make the first move. Even years later, this would be one of the best and worst memories he had.

The best because it marked the beginning of brighter and happier times, the beginning of his life with you by his side, the beginning of many, many moments he would share with you.

And the worst because he knew that, no matter which road he decided to take in the future, your whole relationship would be based on lies, lies, lies.

---

It was almost funny how vividly Kaeya still remembered all these things, almost like every single detail was etched into his memory. He could barely recall his life before he came to Mondstadt, let alone the face of his biological father, but he could easily call everything that had to do with you to his mind.

He rolled over and propped himself up on his elbow to get a better look at you. This was something he would never get tired of – how peaceful and calm you looked in your sleep, like no one had ever hurt you. Careful not to wake you up, he brushed his fingertips over the smooth skin of your cheek before he lightly started to trace the outlines of your face.

Goodness, how did he get so lucky to have someone as kind and beautiful and compassionate as you in his life? With everything he did in the past, there was no denying that he didn’t deserve you. And yet, here you were, smiling in your sleep as you shuffled closer to him to snuggle up against his body.

Kaeya lied down again and wrapped his arms around you, slightly adjusting his position, so that he could rest his chin on top of your head as he held you close. “I love you,” he whispered, although you probably couldn’t hear him. “I love you so much.”

This house had never felt like a home. But every time you came through the door and greeted him with this loving, genuine smile that always made him a bit weak in the knees, the dim rooms seemed to brighten up, the feeling of loneliness slowly fading away with every step you took towards him. With you by his side, Kaeya could almost believe that this was where he truly belonged.

But of course, all of that was nothing but a foolish illusion, a lie that he had carefully built over the years and that would ultimately shatter into a million pieces, should you ever discover the truth. After all, no one, not even a prince, could run away from their fate forever.

Thank you so much for reading! If you enjoyed it please consider giving me some feedback and/or reblogging this chapter. I'd really appreciate the support!

Taglist: @kaeyas-beloved @ajaxstar @the-gayest-sky-kid @justrandomselfships @caesars-bubbles @the-fifteen @quixoticmirror (If you want to be added to the taglist send me an ask. Same if you want to be removed. <3)

#kaeya x reader #kaeya alberich x reader #genshin impact x reader #kaeya x you #kaeya x gn!reader #kaeya x y/n #the abyss prince #jj's series

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aprillikesthings · 3 months

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OKAY time to do more She-Ra rewatch woooooo

I mean to get started on this hours ago pffft okay at least two episodes tonight and THEN an edible (if I watch it while high I'm not going to remember a damn thing, okay)

s1 ep5!

(At this rate I am never going to finish. On weeknights I have to watch anything in the living room, where other people are, but I can't find my wired headphones, and my laptop is an old macbook that hasn't been able to find anything on bluetooth in YEARS. I need to look harder for my damn wired headphones!!)

I keep thinking someone super-nerdy has to have made a proper map of Etheria

Oh, they did! Of course they did. There's multiple fan maps out there, actually. Nice.

[EDIT: also her dad's retired? Like, okay. I get that the reason they say it that way is literally "he's not DEAD but he's not important to the plot" but like, that implies that he also no longer gives a single fuck about his kingdom or the fate of his people. Or his own daughter. Also retired where. Is there a retirement home for former Princesses]

ALSO as I was digging through old posts of Nate's on twitter I found out that when people get his published autobio comic signed (I've read it, but on Kindle) they've often taped over or crossed out his old name on the cover, and he thought it was sweet--though it doesn't bother him to see his old name.

But Netflix should still fix it. 😤

Every time someone pointed out something they needed, the music stopped and then started over--that was a nice touch lol

I feel bad for skipping the intro every time but I have to admit I do not enjoy the song much. There's nothing *wrong* with it, it's just not my thing at ALL.

Blobby creature on the left looks like a Pokemon doing a sexy dance, help

UHHHHHHHH

like I know that thing is its ...nose? mouth? and it drinks from the bottle with it right after this shot but THAT LOOKS LIKE A DILDO OKAY, like one of those smallish smooth silicone ones for people new to pegging

Too hard to capture without video but Glimmer's POV literally pans up on someone with a sexy hourglass figure and she makes a little noise, ahaha

I struggle with Sea Hawk. As a character he's great. But from my POV as a viewer he is in fact kind of annoying sometimes

"Just because Sea is in your name doesn't tell us anything about your actual qualifications" this whole scene is just lampshading the dumb names She-Ra is saddled with because of the original series in the 1980's being made to sell toys.

"It's the ship that made the Kessel run in less than twelve parsecs!"

I know everyone knows that Bow and Glimmer are both bisexual but still

they're both such himbos sometimes lolol

"Last week, on She-Ra--"

I love the way they introduced Scorpia.

also how did she make it to Force Captain when she's so kind and goofy

(while going through my own old spop posts I kept mentioning that I knew Scorpia would eventually change sides, but it still took WAY longer than I would've expected given what she's like)

Catra's hatred of water (and the way she consistently reacts to Scorpia just picking her up for hugs) is great, I love it when they lean into Catra being a cat

"What are you some kinda furry" no I am a furry ally, there's a difference

...no comment

Also I get that there's all the jokes about shanties but his song actually sounds like an homage to Gaston's song in Beauty and the Beast

The way Catra's voice goes up in pitch here is hilarious.

I know this becomes a whole Thing that Adora can read it and almost nobody else can, but just noting that Mermista's palace's walls have First Ones writing all over them

So Mermista's dad was part of the Princess Alliance? I wonder if "Princess" is just the gender-neutral word on Etheria?

Voice-acting Mermista must've been so much fun. I feel like she was inspired by Daria.

This reference ages me, doesn't it lol

See, I keep forgetting stuff. But I did watch these episodes in like 2019.

If the characters were allowed to curse, Mermista would've said something like "what the fuck??"

I remember watching a thing where a few SU voice actors were talking about recording "efforts," which these little kinds of sounds for when the character is doing something physically difficult.

The problem of course, is that I'm rewatching this show so I can write a fic with explicit sex in it, and so my brain is like "heheheh are these also her sex noises"

(I'm going to headcanon that and you can't stop me)

do they ever address where he's from I forget

I...immortal? I mean obviously we know they *can* die because otherwise their world would be literally overrun by princesses (plus, y'know, the thing later) but wait how did I miss that

ALSO I can't get a good screenshot but Kyle is playing a ball-and-cup game in EVERY SCENE HE'S IN

eheheheheheheh

wait hold on

Here's a post of Daci and doing that two different times

Also it's not far off from the ASL for lesbian, which is part of why me and Daci did it

I am reminded of this post.

Like, is she insulting Adora or attempting to flirt?

(yes.)

A bunch of fics have mentioned all the scars Adora has from Catra fighting her, and this is the first time we see that during the show; but I can't help wondering if Adora didn't already have faint scars somewhere from when they played as kids? (I know she gets much worse ones later.) It's not like a childhood in the Horde is idyllic or gentle and I doubt they were discouraged from fighting/rough-housing, and I can easily imaging a child!Catra not being good at knowing how hard she was scratching someone.

EHEHEHEHEHEH

Okay, so Catra taunts her and literally injures her, and THEN Adora is able to fix the gate?

Is she motivated by spite or the adrenaline rush/complicated emotions around seeing (and being manhandled by) Catra?

(yes)

this shot is deeply hilarious

Also yayyy Mermista has joined the Alliance

Also also I had to edit this post bc it turns out you can only have thirty images per post, whoops!

One day it will take me less than two hours to make one of these posts >_<

Catra is still convinced (or pretending to be convinced) at this point that Adora's defection is temporary, huh.

#april rewatches spop

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rainbowcarousels · 1 year

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No need to apologize, a sudden essay was truly all I ever wanted 🥹 it does align quite perfectly doesn’t it? I mean sometimes it’s all about “reading between the lines” as Lestat once said, specially when it comes to characters who are not Lestat himself/the people closest to him at any given time or POV characters, and this is one of those instances where we’re given just enough to do that imo, it’s all there in the timelines like you said. “It just won't change the fact that he had a second chance to do it right this time with Daniel where he had failed before, to not be a blunt object seeking practical solutions and prove he can in fact take care of people without destroying them”, god this is so true, and I think it also ties back to him being a “failed experiment” in his maker’s eyes, and how he’d been conditioned in his mind (by fate, by circumstance) to repeat that pattern. Armand’s sense of identity in regards to who he is to Daniel is a huge thing too and I’ve always HC that at some point during their difficult years and then in their years apart, he probably rationalized it as him only being fit to be his lover but not his teacher in the blood (which of course represented yet another unforgivable failure).

“He's trying so hard in the modern age to make caregiver be a huge part of him and to be seen as someone who keeps his children safe and even if Daniel was safe at the time, I can't help but think it would bother him that his own firstborn had to be cared for by someone else and that maybe Lestat would be the only person he would really admit this to because he would be the one to understand it.” Yes! Reminds me of that great post by @monstersinthecosmos I think(!) that had me nodding along from start to finish where they mentioned (and I’m only paraphrasing lmao) how Trinity Gate, despite having being conceived as a safe place where people could all heal and come together as a family, also ends up being a place where Armand has to live up to a lot of expectations (the caretaker, the teacher, the protector), like he had to in the cult, and then the theater. And not only that but it would also serve as a constant reminder of how when it had mattered the most, with his own fledging, he was not able to do it. Lestat would totally understand Armand and never judge him for it, he’s “failed” in similar ways before and plays a similar role to Armand’s in the present (the only difference I think is the scale, Lestat has made more fledglings than one can count and Armand only has Daniel to dump all of his trauma on, bless) xoxo DA still sad asf but your meta is like chicken soup for the soul ❤️‍🩹

Absolutely all of this!! Lestat is not omnicient, even if sometimes it feels like he is and you have to remember you're a person removed from his stories.

Oooh yeah actually that is an excellent point, it makes it a little bit worse that it's Marius that takes care of Daniel and the whole idea of maybe Daniel would be considered a failed fledgling from Armand adds to the idea of him being a failed experiment himself. It's a generational trauma thing too, I think this is something Daniel is terrified of being seen as something Armand regrets and sees as a failure, but Armand trying to figure out who he is to people is such a big pattern in all of his identites and part of it definitely feels like it stems from feeling like he can't measure up to his previous self in the eyes of his own maker. Like he couldn't even get something that any back alley vampire made on a whim can do properly, that is a spiral waiting to happen even if it's not true.

Absolutely 100% agree that Armand could rationalise it that way, he does tend to seperate his identities and roles as a coping mechanism but I also think it's just another nail in the coffin of feeling like this is his failure. It would have been compounded by living with the day to day of Daniel when he was at his worst and probably wound have caused a knock on spiral which wouldn't have been fair to either of them, but it doesn't make it easier.

Trinity Gate, despite having being conceived as a safe place where people could all heal and come together as a family, also ends up being a place where Armand has to live up to a lot of expectations (the caretaker, the teacher, the protector), like he had to in the cult, and then the theater. And not only that but it would also serve as a constant reminder of how when it had mattered the most, with his own fledging, he was not able to do it.

This just punches me in the gut every time. I hadn't really thought about it in this context but you're right, the scale of it with Lestat and Armand being seen as community leaders in their own right really does echo each other and puts so much pressure on both of them to be more than themselves. They are roles and figureheads but that doesn't leave them with much space to explore their own traumas and identities in detail. Even in their own homes, it's not really about them.

Someone really needs to make a therapist for these folks, they really need to learn some ways to process what they're going through that isn't running away (Lestat) or trying to wear his reputation like armour to protect not only himself but his children (Armand). I think if you sat down and really interrogated why Armand feels the need to protect his own people so intensely, he's been losing them since he was a child and losing himself over and over at the same time and it's why I think it would bother him to have someone else do that for his child. It's become a part of how he sees himself so it shakes his very sense of identity and it wouldbe a fascinating thing to explore one day.

Thank you for soming in and letting me think about this stuff, I appreciate getting the chance to really look at it in detail!

#da anon #and now i'm sad again #i think it's part of the reason that once they're all at court i like to think of lestat running back to tg for weeks on end #it's a chance to just be him for a while and Prince Lestat and Armand's house is now quieter than it was #and Armand is slowly learning to let his guard down and be himself and access his emotions #I think it's why you see more of his outbursts in later books he's starting to really feel his feelings #and there's a lot of them #dealing with that and dealing with a child struggling to exist on their own would have been too much #at least at first #and i think armand knows that but can't help but get stuck in a cycle of failure spiral #he's still so young #but he feels so old and tired #bedpile to the rescue they're going to take a goddamn vacation and the world can fuck off for a bit #vc #answered

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meimi-haneoka · 1 year

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So how powerful was Lilie, like badass powerful. She casted a spell on Nadeshiko’s watch —yet to play a role but I feel would be the “key” to get Kaito’s back, you know what I mean? Anime reference here—. So she foresaw what was coming and prepared a plan long before she even met Kaito. She probably even told Nadeshiko about him.

So she then met him and knew the role that he will be playing not only as Akiho most important person, but also in Akiho as a magical artifact. She tried to prevent it by influencing him to enjoy things, life, to find interest in something.

I see all this as desperate measures to save Akiho from his fate, but she Kaito taking no interest whatsoever made her realized she was ultimately failing so then she went to Momo as a final resort. She relinquished the ring which was given to her for protection and by doing so she became vulnerable. I am saying vulnerable because I don’t see someone as powerful as her dying in a bloody car accident or similar, like after all that foreshadowing? I believe the clan went after her and Ahiko’s father. Maybe as punishment for Ahiko’s lack of power soon after she was born. Who knows. And probably Akiho would have suffered the same fate haven’t Kaito made the dreary comment.

I found interesting that Kaito saw the ring on Lilie and should have recognized it in Momo has he fathomed a little interest. Because he knew that Lillie met Momo per his recollections. But he never realized about the ring?

Interesting facts here are that by Lilie relinquishing the ring, she allowed the future to become reality. She made herself vulnerable. Like a Greek tragedy. If she hasn’t done that, probably she would be alive. Interesting as well is that Lilie is wearing the ring in the middle finger which symbolizes responsibility, balance and soul, and not in the ringer finger as customary.

I wonder who Akiho’s father is and why he believed Lilie needed protection.

Sorry for the very long post! But would really love your thoughts!

Helloooo An! 😊 OH YES, Lilie was hella powerful, like way more powerful than Sakura at this age.........and that's probably why she had a premature death that she probably couldn't even foresee in order to avoid it (I know she knew she was gonna die at some point, but how? Knowing how could've been useful to try to avoid it, but now I really think that when the Squids were commenting "to think she could see the future in her dreams and yet she couldn't even see her own tragedy" they meant precisely that). I also think the spell she casted on Nadeshiko's watch will be the key (*wink wink*) to bring Kaito back! She surely told Nadeshiko about him, since at the end of chapter 40 she had the great idea to go visit him....and it was already clear back then that Nadeshiko wasn't there to protect her child (who didn't really risk anything with him, at any point) but rather to stop him from insisting in throwing his life away. Nadeshiko talked cryptically about stuff that happened in the past, and yet Kaito understood what she was referring to immediately, meaning that Lilie really told her *everything*.

And yes, I believe things really went as you explained. That ring being left behind might have had a role in her death, and that of her husband. I personally think it wasn't the Squids, because Akiho was probably way too little to ascertain if she had any powers or not. They said they start testing for the members capabilities as soon as they start to walk or talk...and with Akiho they still had some "patience" before going completely out of their minds, until she was capable to read. My idea is, instead, that the ones who could have set an ambush (that Lilie didn't expect, and that's why it ended up like it did) were the Association. I can't shake this feeling off my head, because little Kaito warned Lilie not once, but twice that his "colleagues" could've betrayed Lilie's clan at any moment. It almost seems like a prediction (and who better than him could say that, since he was part of that association of criminals?) Maybe they wanted to eliminate the youngest members of that clan, to cut any chance of their survival (= to send them extinct)? But Akiho survived, and so maybe the Association covered things up and pretended like they didn't have anything to do with it.

I'm not sure if Kaito knew about the ring. Like, "all" the details of it. He probably knew that Lilie had given Momo that ring (he found out once he saw Momo's plushie form) but I don't think he knew why and what for. He still wondered, at the end of chapter 60, if maybe Lilie saw all that happening in a dream. But it's better like this, because otherwise they wouldn't have had any way to bring him back.

Lastly, your comment about the meaning of wearing a ring on the middle finger is very very interesting! And yeah, I also want to know who Akiho's father is and why he believed Lilie needed protection.....maybe she told him that she saw in a dream that she hadn't much time left? ☹️

#reply #card captor sakura #clear card arc #ccs spoilers #ccsakura

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that-large-automobile · 1 year

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15 Questions: Character interview edition

Thank you @ddbirb for the tag! This is my very first time being tagged for one of these so here goes nothing lolol

I'll be answering these as Odette Vanderwood, the protagonist of one of my WIPs called Taphophobia! Which I haven't made a WIP post for yet because it's more of a casual project thing

For this I'll tag @nightlylaments @halleyuhm and uhh anyone else who would like to do this! (Sorry if I didn't tag you I wasn't sure who was/wasn't tag game friendly ^^; And you can always tell me if you would/would not like to be tagged in the future!)

1. Are you named after anyone?

“Not that I know of. Oh— but recently I was convinced by some friends to watch an animated movie from over a hundred years ago, and I share a name with the protagonist. Small world, it is.”

2. When was the last time you cried?

“Last night when my mom told me she wasn't going to make me any Phở.”

3. Do you have any kids?

“In this economy?”

4. Do you use sarcasm?

“Haha, uh, what do you think?”

5. What’s the first thing you notice about people?

“Are they the type of person who would carry snacks around for their friends?”

6. What’s your eye color?

“You’re going to have to see for yourself man. It's pretty freaky.”

7. Scary movies or happy endings?

“You can have both if you're the killer, I think. Oh, wait, I didn't just call myself a serial killer did I—?”

8. Any special talents?

“They say I'm really good at getting myself into trouble by doing absolutely nothing.”

9. Where were you born?

“So I was actually born in Da Nang, but I've been moved around a bit since then.”

10. What are your hobbies?

“Don’t know if this counts but my school once decided to start a chess boxing club. Eventually it got shut down due to a noticeable lack of interest, but a few kids from the neighborhood after school still liked to hold their own championships. I'd turn up from time to time to beat the snot out of a few kids physically and mentally. It helped being the only girl so nobody really expected me to win. Anyway I still play, but no one really wants to play more than one at any given time.”

11. Have you any pets?

“Just one little cat guide who’s been following me around for quite some time now. My má has even started to give him a name because of it, she calls him Mèo. Very creative, I know.”

12. What sports do you play/have played?

“I am a very competitive napper I'll have you know. Oh and there's the boxing thing too I guess.”

13. How tall are you?

“About 1.57 meters, and I think that's the extent of fate's generosity for me."

14. Favorite subject in school?

“I never payed enough attention in school to find out.”

15. Dream job?

“I pet cats and people give me money.”

#writeblr #writblr #writing community #writers on tumblr #writers of tumblr #writeblr tag games #tag game #wip: taphophobia #oc: odette vanderwood

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grayintogreen · 1 year

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I don't know what schedules are, so in honor of Chapter One of YCDHN being posted, it's time for something I have been waiting for SO LONG to give more details about my process about.

WHAT IS A NONAGON AND WHAT DOES IT DO?

So given that this entire fic series is based entirely on “but what if” and I had a lot of specific theories about where the Aeor arc was going, when it came time to decide what to do with Lucien, I leaned on those theories a bit when building this alternate take.

Now normally when you have an arrogant asshole dealing with Eldritch Beings such as Lucien, you end up in a scenario where he’s probably going to get betrayed or just fucking eaten by the damn things, so I kinda expected that was where it was going- that he’d get consumed somehow and the Nein would have to rescue his dumb ass and yada yada yada they’d get Mollucien out of this somehow, because at that point I didn’t know the campaign was ending and I wanted purple tiefling AND Caduceus and just assumed that Matt would play the Mollucien as an NPC since… Lucien memories.

That did not happen! Obviously! And I love what did happen, because the Dragon kicking the Big Bad’s teeth in and becoming the Big Bad, himself, is an awesome trope. BUT as a fanfic writer, I am often preoccupied with what could have been, and therefore when I started drafting out OUADYA as a two-part story (since originally it was going to leave Lucien’s fate and the Somnovem ambiguous and just focus on the Creedemption part of the narrative, and that aspect of it was removed EXTREMELY early, like… Hupperdook arc early), I knew that no matter what else happened the Somnovem were going to be the final bosses and therefore they needed to be built up A LOT more menacing than they were in canon since they were kinda, through circumstances (probably because of the absence of Molly to torment), not as massively terrifying as they could have been within canon.

So to do that, we have their constant hassling of Molly, but then there’s Lucien, too. And that’s when I started thinking about what exactly IS a Nonagon and why did Lucien succeed where the previous guy got completely effed up and consumed? And how do we tie the idea that Lucien is probably Ruidus-Born and Fate-Touched into it (and again this was a fucking year before the Lucien book came out)?

So I built my little Anakin Skywalker narrative- Lucien was, through some insane alignment of the cosmos, born specifically to deal, for good or for ill, with the Somnovem. That’s why he has the same fucking red eyes- miss me with anyone telling me that isn’t significant somehow. Now he wasn’t born specifically to be their herald, but he was built with a soul/mind strong enough to handle them or combat them. If he’d taken Sehanine’s hand (as shown in there’s something divine in the way screams can sound), he would have ended up as her Champion- she’s the Lady of Dreams, so she’s the one in a position MOST suited to fighting them. He didn’t, so that put him on the path to either being subjugated or subjugating them.

The book definitely agrees with my belief that the Somnovem saw him as a pet (Culpasi), an unpaid intern (half of them), and the punkass teenage getaway driver who needs to stop questioning the adult criminals and drive the fucking bus already (the other half), though the book was also VERY OBVIOUS about them letting him fucking know that, which… Yeah. Then again, the book also skipped over the two years he was in the Astral Sea to the point where it looks like it never happened, so maybe they had to speedrun his dawning realization that these assholes may love him, but he’s still their chattel slave bitch.

Since the Astral Sea field trip IS a massively important part to Lucien’s narrative IN ACTUAL CANON AND IN MY VERSION OF IT, I had to construct what that meant for a Lucien who can’t leave, who isn’t and can never get out of his situation and is rapidly losing hope and sanity. I also had to figure out a reason for Molly to even fucking want to get him out and therefore the linchpin thing came about.

And the second the word “linchpin” entered my narrative, I realized I had just built the Soul King again.

But before I get into WHAT THAT NONAGON DO and how it relates to the shift in power dynamics within Cognouza, let me… fucking explain the Soul King.

The Soul King is the thing (and I say thing not to be dismissive or sarcastic but because it is a fucking thing in all reasonable sense of the word and Urahara, who is about as much as as fantasy realm atheist as you can get calls it that) that controls the balance of souls in Soul Society in Bleach. Without it, existence falls apart and all the different worlds of the dead and the world of the living would collapse in on themselves (sound familiar). He has zero power in the governing body of any realm, no voice, and is honestly, basically a torso and a head sealed up in a damn vault somewhere, and everyone is like “yeah the Soul King is fucking great” without giving a single damn about who he is or ever talking about how they fucking sealed him in the vault so he wouldn’t one day destroy them because some of his fucking limbs went out and caused problems on purpose.

(also fun fact- the Soul King’s power manifests as eyeball creatures that look like this.)

Basically what this means for the Nonagon is that with Lucien very very close by as in RIGHT THERE IN THE AETHER CRUX, the Somnovem can move more independently, have a stronger since of self, and can cooperate better with one another. Without him, they’re in the slop, biting each other, and unable to reason. The two years Lucien spent where they were mostly backbiting and annoying him were the worst of it, but after those two years things started to solidify and then Molly died and the Moonweaver’s seals on the eyes broke and suddenly they have TWO Nonagons and an actual fucking goal to work towards and aren’t just using Lucien as a sounding board and a free brain to solve problems for them.

Any free mind can be of use to the Somnovem, but only the True Nonagon (aka Lucien) is capable of sustaining them and managing to hold up the weight of Cognouza’s bullshit without going mad and crumbling into the void. That doesn’t make it easy and left to this bullshit, Lucien would ultimately… Become a fucking soul in a vault capable of regulating the flow of information throughout Cognouza so it can goddamn function. He would lose his identity entirely. That’s what they want. That’s what he’s been risking happening by trying to put out a fire inside of the house, and the Somnovem have stopped playing the coddling masters and have brought out the lash now that he’s not even pretending to follow their lead.

To them, he has always been an object- an object they very much love and adore and worship and want to keep happy so he does what he’s supposed to do without any of them having to cause him harm (because you don’t want to abuse your cute little pet), but an object. If he isn’t going to fall into line, then that needs to be fixed and that’s where we’re picking up at the start of YCDHN- what happens when Lucien tries his big subjugation monologue in a situation where it’s very much NOT “I’m not stuck in here with you, you’re stuck in here with me” because at any point the Somnovem could have forced him to obey and Lucien’s arrogance just chose to believe that wasn’t an active choice they were making. He believed they wouldn’t try to cause him harm because they needed him and they worship him, and never thought oh shit, these are wizards they will do whatever they can to get what they want.

SO GOOD TIMES, AMIRITE??

#liner notes #you can't deny high noon #my writing

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elegantwoes · 2 years

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I’m loving your reread project. And maybe I should put my tinfoil hat on, but I’ve become thoroughly convinced that Martin was definitely low-key giving away the entire Stark endgame (and probably laughing to himself about it) with the line Ned delivers to Arya about potential futures. If for no other reason than what he says about her specific future (marry a king etc) makes zero sense. Let’s ignore the fact that Arya would hate that future - clearly Ned is, LOL. But… which king exactly does he think she could ever marry? Robert is married/too old. Joffrey is next and he’s betrothed to Sansa. Is Ned going to ship his little girl off to a king outside of Westeros? I don’t think so. Him saying this makes no sense - he could tell her she’d marry a Prince (Dorne? Not a bad place for Arya to end up considering their positive views on women in power and fighting, but still highly unlikely given how reluctant Ned is for any of his family to be south of the Neck). Or he could say she’d marry a high lord. But a king? Why would he speculate/tell her that specifically? It just reeks of the author twisting the dialogue to fit his own purpose.

One could argue it’s just about revealing Sansa’s fate, but then we know Bran’s ending (king) and Arya’s (ship girl) for certain too thanks to the show. And I’ve become more and more convinced Jon is going to settle/build on The Gift the Freefolk (making the show’s ending off, but not a complete departure - and it’s just like them to say “eh, we don’t want to get into the complexities of The Gift which we never bothered to address before, let’s just exile him beyond the Wall). In which case, consider me full on Team High Septon Rickon because why in the world would GRRM just randomly throw that in there with all the rest? It’s unnecessary as a misdirect because the line is already a throwaway and discarded by fan favorite Arya immediately.

So yeah, thank you for posting all your thoughts during this read through! It was the final piece I needed to go “screw it, I’m in, this is basically canon to me now.” 😂❤️

First of thank you for this ask. I am glad you are enjoying my reread project. Secondly, this theory does not belong to me. The honors belongs to @istumpysk. Thirdly, I think am not sure who GRRM was thinking of when he made that king line. Interesting fact about it though is the moment he makes commentary about it in one of his interviews he says, “Lord,” rather than a “King”. Most curious. I really hope that the High Septon line is about Rickon. After all it makes sense he would go South if he lives. I think he would want to keep Bran company in Harrenhal (the new seat for the future elected monarchs). Just imagine this scenario:

Jon and Sansa in the North (preferably with them getting married, continuing the Stark line and leading the lives they always wanted i.e Sansa married to her true knight/high lord that Ned promised her and Jon being the Lord of Winterfell.)

Bran and Rickon in the South (Bran who has come to term with his disability and ruling the remaining four kingdoms. Rickon who has tempered his wildness and uses it for the greater good as High Septon).

Arya who travels the world as captain of her own ship and alternates between visiting Harrenhal and the North. (Finally free from westerosi social expectations but still dabbling with politics through ushering in a trading connection between the North and Braavos).

Now this is what I call a proper happy ending for House Stark.

#answered #Jonsa #Rickon Stark #House Stark

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valkyrie-of-the-rising-sun · 2 years

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Hauyne for the worldbuilding oc questions? (If you're still doing it of course)

Oh you bet I'm still doing that!

Full name: Artemis "Hauyne" Viator

Nicknames: Remi (Orion), Light (Marianette), Little Dove (Karen)

Gender: Female, she/her but uses they/them for reasons

Orientation: Demisexual Biromantic

Age: 16 (as of chapter 15)

Birthday: December 22

Zodiac: Capricorn

Major Good Traits: Kind, loyal, brave, selfless, perceptive and resourceful

Major Flaws: Sometimes her anger can get the better of her and makes her lash out violently, which can strain her friendships. Also, she has a very low sense of self-worth, which makes her insecure about her relationships to the point that she'll run herself ragged - very frequently to her own detriment - for the sake of others as proof that she's worth keeping around. She also has a bad habit of bottling up her negative emotions and issues.

Goals: Her foremost priorities are to ensure that her promise to Variya is fulfilled and making sure that all of her friends survive what's to come. Conquering the Aevium League is currently the least of her concerns, though who's to say she wouldn't attempt to realise her childhood dream of becoming Champion once everything calms down?

Fears: Being abandoned.

Optimistic or Pessimistic? - Hauyne would claim that she's cynical, when she actually more of an idealist. If there's the possibility that she'd succeed, there's no way she wouldn't go for it.

Introvert, extrovert or ambivert? - Definitely introvert.

Empathetic or un-empathetic? - Empathetic, though she struggles to express it.

Do they wait and plan, or dive right in? - If given the chance, she prefers to plan and scheme carefully. It doesn't mean that she doesn't know how to think on her feet; in fact, she's a natural at improvisation.

Do they go with the flow or forge their own path? - Hauyne's a pretty driven and fiercely independent character, so she would rather forge her own path.

Other defining traits? - She struggles to let her guard down, mostly because of her history. It's only when she's around people she trusts or when she's alone that she can express her true self without restraint.

Who's their family? - She has an older biological brother, Orion. She also considers her friend group as family, though Tesla and Amber are her unofficial (but they plan to change that ASAP) adoptive family.

Where are they from? - Hauyne is from the real world, just like you and I. She used to live in a (fictional) seaside village in the southern parts of the Malay Penisular notorious for its alleged supernatural phenomena.

Where do they live now? - Technically she's homeless, though currently residing at Sashila Village.

Do they have a job? If so, what is it? - Not really, unless you count being a trainer as a job. There's also her role as the Interceptor, but that doesn't really count.

How are they with technology? - Quite good, despite the stereotypes about village bumpkins being inept with technology. It's nothing fancy; she just knows enough to get by and maybe even fix some minor technical issues.

Connections to religion or spirituality? - Hauyne’s not particularly religious. She’s aware that higher powers exist, but she doesn’t revere them as gods. If anything, she regards them as entities to be treated with caution and grudging respect.

Powers and/or magic? - She has quite an arsenal of powers, to be honest. However, most of her powers (i.e. fire and electricity manipulation, aura manipulation, and the ability to understand Pokemon) are derived from her inherent aura abilities. The rest (i.e. immortality, enhanced body, her Paladin form) came from her being the Interceptor and the host of Adrest.

Connections to the lore? - Hauyne’s story takes place in an alternate Aevium, so canon lore doesn’t fully explain her role other than as Interceptor she’s expected to change the course of fate. It’s a super long exposition dump, so I’ll have to make a different post to explain everything in-depth.

Favourite season/weather? - She loves fall and winter, while her favourite weather is thunderstorms.

Favourite place? - Sheridan Village. She enjoys the serene and mystical atmosphere there (which is why she's damn pissed when Texen turned it into a glorified rave party)

Favourite food? - Chocolates. She has an incorrigible sweet tooth.

Favourite clothes/accessories? - Her feathered hairpiece, because it's the only memento she has of her deceased birth mother.

Favourite 'mon? - Absol, but has a soft spot for Eevee

Favourite mode of transportation? - She likes riding on her Corviknight and sometimes does so to de-stress.

Favourite holiday? - Hauyne doesn't really have one. Any day where she gets to spend time with her friends is a good one in her books.

Hobbies? - In no particular order of preference, drawing, reading, singing (only when she’s alone), napping, creating new custom moves, sightseeing, nature walks and flying.

Favourite thing about themself? - You’re kidding, right?

Best friends: Aelita, Melia, Venam, Ren, Erin

Closest family member: Technically Orion, but it’s gotten really distant since they haven’t seen each other since Hauyne was a little girl. So that position goes to the von Brandts for now.

Partner: She isn’t dating anyone, though she does harbour romantic feelings for Erin

What organisations/clubs are they a part of? - She’s an honourary member of Team Bladestar after Florin took over and invited her onboard. Other than that, not really, unless the Sashila gang counts (she’s co-leader with Aelita).

Who are her antagonists? - The same as canon, though there’s an OC antagonist which is - simply put - the personification of her negative/darker emotions and her split personality. Hauyne herself is a split personality, though the dominant one and is unaware of this up until her Nightmare Realm.

#ask answers #thanks so much for the ask anon!#phew this took a while to answer #interceptor oc: hauyne #pokemon rejuvenation

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yuyuytt · 2 months

Text

All the times time brought you to me | Hwang Hyunjin| part 1.

pairing: Hyunjin x Fem reader.

genre: romance, twin flames, angst, violence (if sensitive, be cautious), fluff, smut, fantasy, fate, slow burn, past lives, reincarnation, between the past (century) and the present. (rewriting). friends to lovers, period romance (a little), mystery, forbidden romance?

synopsis: you had always believed in the myths of past lives, soul mates and twin flames, until these beliefs materialized in the dreams that visited you every night. And every morning, you woke up startled, feeling a sense of loss that consumed you. You tried to convince yourself that they were just dreams, figments of your mind, perhaps remnants of past traumas. However, you knew that everything could change in the blink of an eye.

You were aware that things could change completely. Your world lit up when you met Hyunjin and immediately recognized him. The arrival of this young man brought an intriguing mystery into your life and, deep down, you deeply hoped that fate would cooperate.

However, an unsettling question arises: would you and Hyunjin be willing to risk everything once again to live out a romance, even knowing the inevitable outcome of everything? Fate hangs uncertainly over their hearts, awaiting their decision.

author's notes; hi hi guys!! how are you guys doing? After a long time away, I'm finally here!! Hehehe I can't deny it, I was excited to post this new version of the series. I hope you like it!!

For those who have already read the original version, the plot has not changed. I just made a few changes, and it just got even better! And for those who haven't read it, read it :) you can be sure you'll like it! (then tell me what you think). Thanks for reading! (Feel free to comment whatever you want, I'll be reading and responding to everything.)

୧ ֺ ｡ masterlist

You found yourself unable to translate the sensations coursing through your body; it was an amalgam of unknown emotions. Joy intertwined with anguish, anguish interspersed with fear. You hated experiencing these feelings, and the distress was amplified by the certainty that, more often than not, his intuitions proved to be correct. Every pulse of emotion was a rollercoaster of feelings, a chaotic situation between happiness and unease, between discomfort and apprehension.

You realized how surprisingly quick your mother's acceptance of things was, especially when it came to your marriage. There was something about it that aroused your suspicion, especially considering how much she had denied and resisted it for so long. It wasn't a surprising turn of events. However, you preferred to convince yourself that she had finally accepted the situation. Although you found her attitude extremely strange, you still valued the idea of being married to the prince.

You were still getting used to this new feeling, even if you couldn't quite believe it. After so many disappointments, arguments and tears, plus all the persistence, you had finally reached this point. Here you were, and you couldn't wait to admit it once and for all, that you were completely in love with, involved with and given over to the prince. Every movement, every thought was driven by this overwhelming feeling. The hours seemed to drag by as you longed for the moment to finally express those feelings, to make it clear how much he meant to you.

Even if it had been clear long before.

You advanced with slow steps towards the prince's bedroom, where he lay, wrapped in expectations and dreams of a kingdom to come. The idea of becoming queen still hovered like a distant mirage in your mind, but the reality began to solidify as you approached the destination that awaited you.

Every step was charged with meaning, every thought echoed with the imminent responsibility she was about to assume. It was more than just the title of queen; it was the burden of leading a people, of making decisions that would shape the future of a kingdom.

Small footsteps resounded against the polished wooden floor, echoing down the corridor of the castle, almost swallowed up by darkness. The torches cast a dim light, but enough to reveal the contours of the worn walls. With each cautious step, his body jumped as he came face to face with an unfamiliar figure. Dressed entirely in black, her face hidden under a dark hood, it was impossible to make out her features. The tension in the air was palpable as you tried to decipher who or what stood before you.

"I'm sorry, princess," he murmured in a hoarse voice and a tone laden with sadness. You tilted your head in confusion, trying to decipher what was going on. Your eyes searched his, looking for some sign, while the weight of the words hung in the air, carrying a palpable tension.

"What..." you muttered, surprise taking over before you could react. Your eyes widened as a gleaming blade suddenly flashed into existence, wielded with determination. A warning cry escaped your lips, echoing in the tense air, as your muscles instantly tensed, preparing for the imminent confrontation with this unexpected threat.

The blood spurted out in a violent gush, meticulously seeping into every fiber of her delicate white dress, painting a brutal contrast to her pale, immaculate skin. A shiver ran down her spine, her eyes widened in a frenzied dance of shock and terror, capturing the intensity of the moment in a whirlwind of emotions.

The violent impact swept through her body, causing you to collapse against the rough ground, an intense wave of pain spreading as she desperately tried to catch her breath. You limbs felt heavy, every movement an arduous battle against the vertigo that threatened to overwhelm her. A whirlwind of confused and incoherent thoughts assaulted her mind, a cacophony of voices trying to decipher the inexplicable, while her senses struggled to orient themselves in the fog of pain.

In an instant of confusion, you woke up startled in bed, your body covered in sweat and you're breathing ragged. A brief relief came over you when you realized that it was all just a terrible nightmare. Still trembling, her eyes explored the room, seeking solace in the familiarity of the furniture. The images of the dream persisted, echoing in your mind, urging you to reflect on your deepest fears and question the origin of these disturbing visions. Breathing heavily, you tried to dispel the frightening images, clinging to the surrounding reality.

In the suffocating silence, a familiar voice broke through the numbness, rescuing her from the abyss of nightmares. "Hey, are you all right? Another one of those bad dreams?" Minho asked, his presence standing firm in the doorway like a beacon in the darkness. Concern overflowed in his words, echoing the genuine affection he always showed. Even in the semi-darkness of the corridor, it was possible to glimpse the lines of tension that marked his face, mute witnesses to his distress at his suffering.

From the age of 15, Minho was always on the lookout for his dreams or, as he called them, nightmares. Every night was a battle against the monsters that inhabited his subconscious, a fight he fought with determination and courage. You admired his dedication to protecting himself from this nocturnal torment.

Minho's constant concern for his own well-being did not go unnoticed by you. It was evident in every gesture, in every attentive look. From the moment you met at the age of 8, you always knew you could trust him with your eyes closed. Your friendship was an anchor in the midst of life's storms, a safe haven where you both found comfort and support. Even after 13 years, the connection between you and Minho remained as strong as on the first day. It was as if time had no power over the solidity of that bond.

"I'm fine ," you mumbled, trying to control the tremor in your voice. Your heart was still beating frantically, echoing the remnants of the dream that had haunted you. However, something subtly different hung in the air that morning. As he struggled between tranquility and unease, the images of the dream persisted in his mind, as if they had been carved with painful clarity.

You were fully aware of the situation and your feelings, but you struggled to admit how emotionally shaken you were, knowing that it could affect your sanity.

"Are you sure? Can I get you a glass of water?" Minho asked again, his soft, concerned voice echoing in the room you shared as he slowly approached.

"It's going to be all right, I'm sure of it," you murmured, trying to infuse your words with confidence, even though you knew that sleep wouldn't return so easily after the nightmare. Minho picked up on the hesitation in your voice; after all, he knew you better than anyone. With a compassionate look, he softly agreed. "And yes, I'll have a water, and how about a generous slice of that strawberry tart left over from dinner?" you added, with a slight smile on your lips.

The boy's smile returned to his face, lighting up his eyes with a renewed sparkle, showing his relief at seeing his own tranquility reflected in your serene expression. "I'll consider your situation," Minho promised, his voice laden with a mixture of compassion and thoughtfulness.

The sky was beginning to lighten, heralding the sunrise, and you would wake up early, ready to start another day. Looking out the window, you could notice the serenity of the weather in Seoul that morning. The sun was gently emerging on the horizon, bathing the city in golden light and creating a cozy atmosphere. You took a deep breath, feeling the fresh morning air penetrate your lungs, while the sun's rays delicately caressed your skin, defying expectations of scorching heat.

You struggled to maintain positive thoughts, despite being haunted by the same nightmares that never seemed to find a resolution. Determined to move forward, you tried to go about life normally. Even when the day was beautiful, only you knew the shadow that lingered behind your thoughts.

As you calmly observed the bustling streets of Seoul, you noticed teenagers cheerfully walking towards school, their backpacks swaying rhythmically beside them. A slight nostalgia from your own adolescence began to arise, an involuntary smile forming on your lips as you remembered days filled with energy and expectations. However, you were fully aware that you were in a better moment of life now. Attending your dream university and enjoying a fulfilling job was an achievement you deeply valued.

Your journey to the university campus proceeded smoothly. Luckily, the dormitory you shared with Minho was close to the university where both of you studied. The decision to live and share a room with Minho proved to be a wise choice. After all, it's much better to share a space with your best friend than with a stranger, at least that's what Minho always claimed.

Despite being late for the first class, you knew that in university time was more flexible, and professors didn't usually pay much attention to it. It was one of the big differences compared to school, where schedules were stricter, and responsibilities were more directed towards the students.

With hurried steps, you decided to make a brief stop at the coffee shop where Yongbok, the friendly barista, worked in the morning. The welcoming aroma of freshly roasted coffee filled the air, awakening the senses and inviting you to a refreshing break. Upon entering, the soft sound of background music complemented the cozy atmosphere of the place.

Navigating through the crowd of hurried customers, your eyes anxiously searched for Yongbok's familiar face. He was there, behind the counter, with a warm smile on his face.

"Shouldn't you be in class right now?" Yongbok asked, frowning as you approached the counter. He glanced at the clock on his wrist, a slightly surprised expression crossing his face as he checked the time.

"Oh, right, should I?" you said, letting out a subtle smile playing on your lips as you stood in front of the counter. With a playful tone in your voice, you added, "But I can't go without my coffee and a good brownie." Reaching out, you grabbed a piece of the neatly wrapped brownie, ready to be savored.

"But first," Yongbok teased, his words echoing as he skillfully intercepted the brownie from your hand with a swift motion. "Pay up first," he teased, a mischievous smile dancing on his lips as he reached out in a playful gesture, as if demanding payment.

"What?" you exclaimed, feigning surprise as you placed your hand on your chest in a dramatic gesture. Your eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief. "I always thought that was reserved for the closest friends," you added, letting out a soft laugh that echoed through the room. You carefully observed the boy's confused expression, your lips curving into a mischievous smile as you awaited his reaction.

"Oh, really?" the boy teased, his voice filled with jest as he shook his head in disbelief. "Brownies as gifts? Since when did that become a trend? Where did you see that happen?"

"Well, since you asked, I saw it on a cooking show where the host mentioned that brownies are a great gift option for friends."

"In that case, you'll have to pay to eat, right?" Yongbok nodded and said, "The usual? Cappuccino and a brownie?"

You already had an idea that life at university would be hectic and fast-paced, but you never imagined leaving a class carrying a pile of books in your arms, each one ready to be devoured and turned into detailed reports.

You had your reasons for choosing history over literature, believing it would be a better option for you.

You really liked and were enjoying the course, feeling a special connection with history.

When you arrived at the agreed location, your eyes scanned the surroundings until they found the boy's body. His red hair gleamed softly under the rays of the sun that filtered through the leaves of the trees. A broad smile formed on her lips as she recognized him. With firm, determined steps, you made your way towards him, the books held in your arms as if they were a treasure to be shared.

"Hey," you finally said, directing your gaze at the boy in front of you.

"Look who's coming, the girl with the books!" Minho exclaimed, his curious eyes meticulously scanning the volumes stacked in his arms. A mischievous smile played on his lips as he watched the scene. "Looks like you've got enough books to open a library," he joked, injecting a touch of humor into the situation.

"I know, I seem to be inundated with stories from every angle." You replied, an amused sigh escaping your lips as you placed the books on the table with a delicate touch. A trace of sarcasm tinged your voice.

"Well, you chose history over literature. And, you see, that reflects now," Minho said, his casual tone accompanied by a shrug, while a friendly smile formed on his lips.

"I even think literature has more books, I'm almost freaking out, Minho," you admitted, the sincerity shining through in your tone, feeling the pressure of studying weighing on your shoulders. "I feel a real urgency to take a vacation, and that, or I'll end up going crazy for good."

"We're all looking for a bit of relief, aren't we?" said the redhead sincerely, a smile playing on his lips as he tried to ease the tension of the moment. They both knew that university life was exhausting. "But if you need a hand, I'm here. Not as a future psychologist, but as your best friend," Minho continued, keeping his gaze firmly fixed on yours, blinking slightly in a sign of mutual understanding.

"Thank you," you murmured sincerely, a smile lighting up your face. "I still can't believe you actually chose psychology," he teased with amusement, letting out a chuckle.

The older man let out a soft laugh, the corners of his lips lifting as his eyes twinkled with humor. He ran his hands through his hair in a relaxed way, like someone who is used to attracting attention, letting the strands set naturally. "I know," Minho admitted, tilting his head with a mischievous smile lighting up his face. "You should have pursued an idol career, shouldn't you?" His teasing was accompanied by a playful twinkle in his eyes.

"My God, I can't imagine you as an idol," you commented, still laughing, shaking your head incredulously. "What position would you be in? Lead singer? Rapper? Dancer?"

"I don't know?" Minho replied, laughing as he took a pensive pose, pressing his chin with his index finger. "Maybe all of them?" he joked, winking with a smile, "I can be all of them in one."

"Multitaskers," you agreed, laughing again.

"Oh, before I forget," Minho said, as if suddenly remembering something, and walked over to his backpack, from which he grabbed something. "Here you go, your strawberry tart," he announced, displaying the package with a smile on his lips. "They're not my recipe, but they're still good," he laughed casually.

"Minho!" you exclaimed in surprise as you looked at the package in the boy's hands, your smile widening shyly. "Thank you, that's so sweet, Minho," you said excitedly, immediately pulling him into a warm hug.

You knew that life could hold a lot of challenges, but Minho was a constant. Minho would never be a problem; you trusted him with your life.

୧ ֺ ｡ tag's list- @chartrucewhore (If you want to be added to the list, let me know!!)

#hyunjin imagines #hwang hyujin imagines #hyunjin fic #hyunjin x reader #lee felix imagines #hwang hyunjin scenarios #hwang hyunjin smut #hwang hyunjin x reader #hwang hyunjin x you #skz x reader #lee yongbok #hyunjin #hwang hyunjin #minho x reader #lee minho #lee minho imagines

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