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dailyadventureprompts · 1 month

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Adventure: Along the Road of Nameless Graves

Presiding over a series of forested foothills and mountainous valleys that divide two rival kingdoms, the mist-shrouded barony of Siirvyn has seen more than its share of war over the past generations. Betrayal, invasion, and massacre are all too common motifs in the barony's long history, leaving all sorts of scars on both the landscape and the people who dwell within it.

Adventure Hooks:

Rumours of a treasure draw the party to Siirvyn, apparently concealed in a vault beneath the ruined castle of a long dead baroness Taviaa. Surely it won't be too hard to locate a single ruin in a land frequently beset by war, right?

The party arn't the only one combing across the barony looking for something. A hardluck knight seeks her brother after he vanished on a foolish quest, and might be willing to help the party out of jam if they aid her in search.

Folk of the barony tell of Grimcackle, a great black winged beast that moorlands that's sometimes heard laughing over the desolate battlefields but is only ever seen by the lost and the desperate. To heed the old stories it plunders the old battlefields of it's choicest riches, hoarding the wealth of the dead over centuries of war.

Subquest 1:

The party's hunt for riches gets complicated after arriving in the region to find that there has been no less than eight baroness Taviaas over the past century(backwater fiefdoms do like tradition after all) with five castles between them. Most have been destroyed by disaster, neglect, or siege, leaving the party to trek across the land checking checking out each option (though a clever party might narrow their search by hitting the local archives and cross referencing historical accounts).

Potential ruins include:

The delapidated lair of the local owlbear

Huanted by the ghost of one of the baronesses Taviaa,

The Hideout of a gang of smugglers with far reaching ties

Thoroughly cursed by a battlefield savaging spriggan who deals in cursed weapons.

To make matters even more complicated, one of the castles has been restored by the current baron Arkolo who would likely not take kindly to a band of renegade sellswords pilfering riches from under his nose, forcing the party to avoid it entirely or risk getting thrown in the dungeon if caught.

Subquest 2:

Ser Riley of Breakbridge never expected to inherit the family title, her father favoured her elder brother Rhys far more, and when the old man died in the last war there was no question who his holdings would pass to. Then, a couple of years ago Rhys got it into his head that he needed to reclaim the family's ancestral sword which was lost in the same bloody battle that did their father in, crossing the mountains to scour old battlefields and not being seen since. After righting the mess Rhys caused by his chivalric absence, Riley has come to Siirvyn herself to drag him, or possibly his body back from his foolhardy quest. The party may run into her requesting aid from the Baron, seeking advice from the local shrine to Tyr, or drinking off another unsuccessful trek through the wilderness at the local tavern. She'd welcome their aid in her search, and would gladly pay them back by lending her blade to theirs in their search (or using her influence to spring them from the baron's dungeons, should they have been caught).

Rhys' trail snakes all across the barony (including leaving a journal in one of the ruins the party wanted to search), but terminates in the great barren battlefield that was his father's last stand. While searching these moorlands the party & Ser Riley will run into a band of armed scavengers apparently conducting their own body-hunt for one of their fallen comrades. They served on the opposite side of the war from Riley's family, and if that wasn't bad blood enough, they apparently came to blows with Rhys a little under a year ago and aim to settle the score with his sister.

Regardless of how the standoff plays out (talking the scavengers down and exchanging favours or beating the information out of them) the Next step is to find Grimcackle's nest. By now (especially if you're playing with my affliction system and the party is tired out from all their wandering across the countryside) the party will have realized that the only way to see the great raven is to be nearing the edge of death, whether through actively dying, being poisoned, or just being exhausted to the bone. This is because the great raven is infact a psychopomp, tasked with sorting out the dead from the region's innumerable wars. Once the party find the particular tor the dread raven uses as roost, they'll find him quite chatty in the way of most birds, happy to trade gossip or play show and tell with his many finds. Rhys did indeed come to challenge Grimcackle for the sword, an act of daring rudness that forced the psychopomp to drag the knight's soul to the purgatory it rightfully belonged.

Resigned by the love she bears her brother, Riley insists she must venture into the shadow to save him, leaving the party with the choice of convincing her to abandon her quest, leave her to her fruitless pursuit of honour, or risk it all alongside her for the sake of an idiot who thought he could convince an aspect of death to respect his pedigree.

Subquest 3:

After their harrowing adventure the party return to town to find that Baron Akolo has been assassinated and all of Siivyrn has been thrown into chaos and suspicion. Fingers point and depending who the blame lands on it might spell civil war or invasion for the backwoods barony once again.

Background: Both neighbouring powers wish to control who moves through the region's winding passes, and expend great effort in both war and peace to ensure the barony is favourable to them. While occupying armies and vassalage have been all too common in the past, the region's ostensibly independent ruler Baron Arkolo is a puppet in all but name for the winning side of the most recent war. Little more than a bandit leader during the conflict savaging battlefields and attacking supply lines on both sides, Arkolo saw the way the wind was blowing before anyone else and made himself indispensable to his current patrons before their inevitable victory.

Little more than a strongman at first, the newly elevated baron managed to ingratiate himself to his subjects by leveraging his outlaw status to cast himself as a hero fighting against the great powers rather than ruling on their behalf. All the while the canny old bandit was of course playing both sides, toadying to the victorious kingdom while helping to run the smuggling operation for their rivals.

Clues & Consequences:

The baron had a stormy relationship with his son and prospective heir Kalo, who came up raiding alongside his father. After the war however, the young man felt he'd had enough of violence renounced his possesisons and joined the secluded temple of Tyr as a means of making peace with his bloody past. Arkolo never approved of his son's taking the cloth, refused to name another heir and would frequently make pilgramage to the temple just to argue with him. Despite their years of contention however the had seemed to reconcile in recent months, becoming closer than ever. Kalo is not taking his father's murder well, and has decided to dust off his old bandit skills alongside his newfound connection to a wargod as a means of finding the killer. Like an angered bull, he's liable to charge at whoever draws his attention, a weakness the real culprit might use to direct him onto the party's trail.

Gareth Gosdown, the baron's advisor and castilian is an agent of their patron kingdom, sent to keep the former outlaw in line and the kingdom's garrisons well supplied. In the wake of Arkolo's death, he's less interested in finding the killer than he is reinforcing his masters' hold over the barony in case of a new invasion. Known for butting heads with the Baron's more slapdash ruling style he's the one the common folk are most likely to point to.

Taviaa (ninth of that name) was born to the Baron after he'd claimed the region and married one of the local nobles. Though still young, she has a cutthroat attitude and a mind for politics, which made it all the more frustrating when her father refused to give up on her pious half brother as heir and name her instead. She knows she's the obvious culprit, the case made all the more convincing by the fact that she's recently been paling around with emissaries from the other kingdom.

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#trying a new format for this lemme know what you think #tyr #psychopomp #highlands #highland dungeon #mystery

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wayfayrr · 1 month

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I offer the idea of soft times with sage

Braiding hair, just cuddling with each other and overall spending time with one another.

- 🍄

(It’s been a bit lmao, college kicked me in the shins)

sorry it's been a while since you sent this, I relate with uni being a bitch though :')

I'm gonna use this ask though to put it out that I'm no longer going to be writing for Sage, however I won't stop writing totk link altogether - instead I've been creating a link that's more inline for how I see his character and for how I'm comfortable to write <3 I've been calling him Tears so far and I have to thank a lot of my mutuals for chipping in ideas with a special mention to @glowyskull for coming up with some of the best headcanons I think I've ever heard (the last three are courtesy of them) <333 @h4wari, @mushroomwoods, @sketchyspook here's the boy you were waiting for!!! (thank you all for your help too <333)

and without any more hesitation here he is!!

✦ he got the nickname tears for a reason, anything and everything will set this boy off. he's a true crybaby and will certainly use it to try and win your attention from the others. It's not always cause he's sad though, sometimes things can just get overwhelming

✦ his memory can be a bit spotty, unlike wild he rushed through his previous quest, not that he's all that fussed about missing those memories - making new positive ones are more important to him

✦ like his counterpart, he's got a couple of different nicknames, tears is the most prominent however architect does tend to show itself fairly often. messing around to see what different kinds of contraptions he can make is one of his favourite pastimes, one he'll happily share if given the chance.

✦ wild and him have been assumed many times to be identical twins, seeing as his stint in the shrine of ressurection put a halt to most of his aging processes. not that he doesn't bring up his actual age every now and then for a little shock factor

✦ thankfully they're easy to tell apart, seeing as tears discovered how to dye his hair and paint his nails quickly into his second quest, leading to his hair forever being stained with a multitude of different colours while his nails change colour nearly every other day

✦ his cheeky side is still very much there though, ready to make the dumbest puns you've ever heard and to not stop till you're laughing no matter how hard you cringe at them when he starts.

✦ one of the most affectionate links, willing to do basically anything you ask him to and even things you didn't. give him the smallest hint you like a certain food? what do you mean it's a little suspicious he suddenly has all of its ingredients for it - he simply wanted to try it himself, can you tell him if it tastes right?

✦ He hates to see anyone crying, especially his significant other, nine times out of ten it’ll end up with him crying at your side but he’s always there at your side to cheer you up. If you can’t bring yourself to speak about whatever is upsetting you though? Luckily for him a simple kiss of your tears is enough to show him the memory that hurt you. Thankfully it also goes for the happier ones.

✦ Your smile and praise is something he simply lives for, headpats being his favourite way to receive it, leave him alone with belongings for too long though and when you come back he’s standing next to them with a blinding smile having fused a lot of them to each other or to something he thinks would be useful for you to have. Granted the journal flame thrower combination might not have been his brightest moment.

✦ the same desire can come out in other ways though, such as giving you different nicknames with his personal favourite calling you his sundelion. Sometimes he really shows how much he likes that nickname by making you flowercrowns as surprises. Granted every now and then he takes it a little too far, telling you you’re all he needs to heal from the gloom instead of taking any real treatment.

Tending the fire is probably one of the easiest and most calming tasks I could’ve been given today, it’s nice to have something to zone out with after a whole day on the road. Not that I can complain about it though, we didn’t run into any monsters or other threats and travelling was calm. Who’s trying to get my attention by tapping me on the back though?

“[name]? Mind if I come sit with you for a bit, I'd like to get to know you better if that's alright.”

“Yeah of course Tears, If we’re going to be traveling together for a while it makes a lot of sense too.”

This man is a sweetheart I can tell, just from saying yes to him he’s already got the most coy smile on his face; it’s like his face is practically glowing from it when he sits. Shuffling closer to my side almost like he’s asking if it’s alright for him be be this close, with the way the firelight is illuminating him is making me question if the warmth on my face is really from the fire or not now. Just distract yourself with something before you get any redder.

“Oh? You’ve got something in your hair, one second-”

The moment I plucked the stick out of his hair he froze up, his cheeks flushing before relaxing.

“Are - are you good? Sorry I should’ve asked first.”

“No, no, no it’s alright I just… didn’t expect it?”

“Yeah I know, next time I’l-”

“Actually would you um mind playing with my hair? I ah never really get the chance to relax like this.”

Well isn’t that simply adorable, I would be heartless to say no to such a request. Besides, I know wild has some of the softest hair possible so the chance to play with it? No way am I going to miss that if all that visible dye hasn’t fried it to bits.

“If that’s what you want then I won’t say no.”

“Really?”Is he - no he can’t be, or maybe… is he so starved of affection that he’d tear up over something this small, the more I think about it, it does make sense. Playing with his hair is so relaxing I almost missed the fact that he was starting to tear up more, all I can hope for is that they’re not from him being upset.

#Hi shroom!!!!#It's good to see you <333 #thought I'd take the chance to do this here sfgvfdsbg #moss✦writes #link x reader #linked universe #linked universe x reader #totk x reader #totk link x reader #Tears #should I be confident and make him his own lu tag?#heck why not fgvfdgvb #Lu Tears

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cabinofimagines · 1 year

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Wait for me?

Ah, it is the yearly Poly!Solangelo fic for my birthday (the 11th for timezone sake) :) Gotta keep writing hehe

thanks to my ex (my muse ) and Danny for proofreading!

Pairing: Poly!Solangelo x reader, Will Solace x reader x Nico di Angelo Request: Hey, I was thinking maybe a solangelo x reader where the reader comes back late from a quest- like it took them longer to complete then they thought it would and Nico and Will were all worried and then just general fluff or something? Feel free to ignore if you don’t want to write it Word count: 3.4k Warnings: mentions of death a few times, some angst

-Asnyox

The low flicker of the campfire put everyone in an orange light. For a bit you had actually managed to sing some songs with the few campers still at camp, but the energy was a little low.

“It’s always kind of weird when people leave after winter break, huh,” Austin remarked while he was still softly strumming his guitar. “Yeah, the quiet comes back too quickly.” Will said from beside you. He was holding a sleepy Nico close to him on his other side, while softly playing with your fingers too, “At least the infirmary will be empty again,” “Oh no, we might get bored,” Kayla joked softly, “Hey, Rachel, weren't you going back today too?” Rachel nodded her head, after which she shook it again. She sighed. “I wanted to, but I feel like I am forgetting something. There is something I need to do before I can leave camp and it is eating at me.” Rachel stared into the flames before groaning loudly. “I hate this.”

“Well, dear child, I do not remember any tasks given to you.” Chiron spoke as he walked closer to the campfire, “Perhaps a belated prophecy as our Oracle?” he suggested. Rachel perked up. Her eyes widened as green smoke started to come from her mouth.

(Y/n) will return alone, after collecting the stone, and repairing a parents shrine, Only then, all shall be fine.

Will’s grip on your hand suddenly got tight, as Nico sat up from his position, clearly distressed. The green smoke faded and Chiron quickly caught Rachel as she fell down.

“(Y/n),” Chiron addressed you as he made sure Rachel was sat safely, “it is most unusual that you have been directly addressed by name. This most likely is a quest from your godly parent, do you accept this quest?” You could feel the eyes of your boyfriends on you, their worried gazes burning into your head. You knew they would not want you to go, but it was your parent, who chose you to do this.

“I do.” you said, and you heard protests from your boyfriends.

“I will-” Nico started, “I mean we will go with (Y/n).” the son of Hades looked at Chiron, who shook his head slowly. “I fear that that is not possible, my child.” Chiron stated calmly, “As the prophecy demands (Y/n) to go alone.” Chiron turned to you, “It probably is best if we go over possible details at this moment, so you can leave in the morning if you wish.”

You started to stand up, and so did your boyfriends.

“Will, Nico, I-” you purse your lips. “I want to know the details-” Will started but you shook your head. “How about you go to my cabin while I discuss this with Chiron?” You grabbed both a hand of Nico and one of Will, “That way will probably be quicker, and I will tell you the details afterwards, okay?” Reluctantly your boyfriends nodded their heads, as they watched you walk off.

───────────

“I don’t care what the prophecy says!” Will grumbled as you were packing your bags, “What about the rule of three!” “That contradicts ‘will return alone’ Will, we’ve been over this.” you sighed, a slight tremble in your voice, “I don’t want to go without you, but I will not” you glared at your boyfriend, “needlessly endanger the loves of my life by ignoring the prophecy.” you waved your hand, “besides, it’s like Chiron said, just a small thing to do for my godly parent and then I will be back! Nothing to worry about.” You heard Will sigh from behind you as you went over your belongings one more time.

“I don’t like it.” Nico stated, “I want to protect you, you shouldn’t have to go in alone.” You turned around to see your boyfriends sitting together on an empty bunk bed. You walked forward and motioned them to scootch apart, worming yourself between them. You softly grabbed both their hands, squeezing them softly. Nico leaned his head on your shoulder.

“It’s not like we have much of a choice. It’s either going alone, or most definitely get you two mortally wounded, if not outright killed.” “But what if you get hurt?” Will whispered, “What if I am not there to help you?” “You will be, after all,” you looked at Will, meeting his eyes, “You taught me how to do first aid, don’t tell me you’re doubting your skills as a mentor?” Will grimaced as his gaze softened.

“We will still be worried about you, love.” Will slowly moved towards you and gave you a careful kiss, “and we’ll miss you.”

“I will miss you both.” you sighed, “I think that might be the worst part.” You felt Nico snuggle into your neck, “Just promise me you’ll wait at camp for me?” “I guess,” Nico mumbled, “But if I catch any wind of you being in danger I don’t think Will would stop me.” Will nodded his head in agreement. “Nico!” you paused, “Gods I love you both Will, please make sure Nico won’t do anything stupid,” Will hummed in agreement, as Nico protested with a weak ‘Hey!’ “Oh and Nico, please make sure Will doesn’t do anything either-” Now it was time for Will to feign hurt.

“Why is he not allowed to do anything stupid, and I am not allowed to do anything?” Will put a hand over his heart.

“Love, I think you’ll be too busy looking after Nico.” you shrugged, “and the last time we let you do stuff you somehow came back with six cats to take care of so,”

Will sighed as he went back to leaning on you, “I am going to miss you,” he pressed a kiss on your shoulder.

“I’ll miss you too, but if all goes according to plan I will be back in a fortnight!” you promised your boyfriends.

───────────

The next day you were off, leaving behind two worried boyfriends. With a positive attitude, and your sword on your side, you were sure this would all be a piece of cake. However, the first obstacle was already in your way after only a few hours of traveling.

You sighed as you checked the map. The first part of the quest was to find the right material to repair the shrine, and sadly the Home Depot you went to was all out of it, so the first ‘easy’ part was getting harder with the second. What should you do, rent an Uber to bring you to the next closest Home Depot (you did not have that much money on you), ask the Gray Sisters to do it instead (that would be a near death experience) or try stealing some from a museum? The last one might not be the smartest, but then why would there be a museum right next to the Home Depot?

On your way you went.

───────────

The sun was setting and it had been a few days since you left. Nico and Will sat together as they looked out over the strawberry fields, definitely not in case you were going to suddenly show up from outside the border.

“I miss them.” Nico sighed, “But they will be okay, right?” “I hope so,” Will leaned his head on Nico’s shoulder, “What do you think they ate for dinner?” Will felt Nico sink down a little. “I don’t know, what if they didn’t have any?” Nico tensed a little, “What if they are stuck in a hole right now, desperately trying to get out?” Will huffed. “Do you think they drank enough water?” Will asked and Nico made a non committal noise, and Will sensed his worry, “What if they found a new kind of demigod and became ambassador for their godly parent there without telling us?” “What do you-” Nico gasped, “Hey! It would have been dangerous to introduce Camp Half-Blood to Camp Jupiter at the time!” Nico protested, roughly sitting up. Will swiftly followed his movement. Nico glared at Will, “I am seriously worried about them, okay?”

“I know, Nico, my sunshine,” Will smiled, “But what if they get accused of kidnapping their parent and become a wanted criminal throughout the entire states?” Nico’s glare faltered. “I think it’s more likely that they lose their memory,” Nico hesitated, “to get raised by wolves for a bit, before they arrive at Camp Jupiter. At least then we will find them again.” Will softly cupped Nico’s cheek with his hand

“They will come back to us,” Will kissed Nico, “We just need to trust them.”

───────────

Nico paled when he realized where you were. He had heard the story of Em’s emporium from Percy and Annabeth. Why were you here?

“Stupid cyclops with it’s stupid hands and fucking-” you walked into frame. Nico tried to move closer, but he noticed he was stuck. Stuck as a statue. “Take a breath (Y/n),” you looked around, “Improvise, adapt, overcome. There must be statues around here somewhere, it won’t be as fancy but it will be enough.”

You walked up to Nico, staring directly into his eyes.

“This one should do.” You brazed yourself, and pushed him to the ground.

Nico woke up in a cold sweat, shaking. Why were you in his dreams- his nightmares? You seemed to be alright, but he knew this was not part of the discussed plan- you were in danger- what if-

Nico started to sit up, only to feel his hand press into another body.

“Ouch-,” Will groaned as Nico recoiled, “Love?” Nico rested his back against the wall, counting the timing of his breaths- in for four, hold for five and out- in, hold out.

“Nico?” Will entered his vision, “Nightmare?” Nico nodded, reminding himself that you were alright even if you were in his dreams. Will positioned himself next to Nico, not touching him, but he could feel the bed shift. Will recounted a few times where Nico had nightmares, and he fell into a routine the three of you had set up.

“Do you want to talk, or for me to try to guess what it is?” Will asked and Nico nodded, “Talk?” Nico shook his head.

“About down there?” Will asked, Nico signaled ‘no’, “Your past?” Nico shook his head again, “I don’t know uhm,” Will felt Nico nudge his hand, and he carefully grabbed it, “Can you help me out, love?” Nico licked his lips.

“(Y/n),” his breath hitched. Will squeezed his hand as he tensed. “Are they alright?” he whispered, and Nico softly nodded, “But you’re scared because they’re in your dreams?” and Nico nodded again, leaning against Will now. Will engulfed his boyfriend in his arms. Will softly rubbed Nico’s back. “It’s okay to be scared,” Will whispered, “I am too,” and Will realized he could no longer promise Nico that you would be alright. He just hoped you would be.

───────────

After the last nightmare, the nights became restless. If the planning would have been right, you should have been back two days ago but you were not. Nico was scared that the next time he would dream it would be about your dead body, and he continuously attempted to sense your soul. You were getting further away, but you were not dead.

Yet.

He hadn’t had a new dream about you, and Will got permission form Chiron to stay over most nights. Together they talked, but whenever the topic turned to you the conversation quickly quieted, both of the boys in their own worlds of worry. At some point, Will had put on your favorite movie, putting out the snacks you normally ate. But, the gummy worms went untouched, and as Nico hugged Beanjamin close -his weighted goose plushie - he slowly dozed off.

Will was worried. He noticed the growing bags under Nico’s eyes, but how could he help? Austin nowadays reassured him multiple times a day that you would be back any moment now, but would you? Will didn’t blame his boyfriend for having a nightmare about you, however Nico and nightmares were never a good sign. What if it just meant you were gone?

As Will leaned closer, he could already hear Nico whimper from another nightmare.

Oh no.

Nico turned around, suddenly face to face with his lover. You looked beaten, but not injured. Dirt stains covered your clothes and face, and Nico tried to reach out to you, only to phase right through you.

“Why the fuck is this tunnel not ending yet!” You huffed, before sitting down on the floor and leaning against the wall, “This will be easy they said,” you mumbled, holding in a sob, “easy my fucking ass”

Nico stepped forward, “(Y/n), please” You closed your eyes in defeat. “keep going for me-” he begged you before the dream faded away.

Will hated how deep Nico could sleep when he was having nightmares. Every time it felt like the dreams would suck Nico in, only letting him go when he had seen everything. “Nico please-” Will called out just as Nico shot up, hitting his head against Will’s head.

“Fuck!” both boys exclaimed.

“Sorry,” Will said after a moment, “I should not have been hovering above you, I guess.”

“What are you sorry for?” Nico sighed, “It’s not like you could’ve known.” They both sat in silence, not looking at one another.

“I heard you say their name,” Will hesitated, “Are they alright?” Nico swallowed harshly. “They didn’t look injured-” Nico clenched his fists. “But?” Will prompted. “Something must be wrong.” Nico sighed, “They were crying, something about a tunnel- I don’t-” Nico looked Will in the eye, “I think we should go.” “Okay, but we need to discuss it with Chiron, tomorrow.” Will said.

“But!” Nico shook his head, “I guess you are right, fuck.”

“I know, I am sorry.”

───────────

The conversation with Chiron did not go well. Nico was seething, standing at the border of camp as Will held him tightly.

“They are hurt Will! I can’t just sit here and wait for them to die!”

“I promised them I wouldn’t let you do anything stupid!” Will tightened his grip, “I promised, Nico.”

“But what about protecting them?” Nico was no longer yelling, “What about loving them?” Will tensed and he wished to fucking scream at Nico. Instead, he decided to be the bigger person and he took a deep breath.

“I love them and I love you.” a pause, “and I cannot stand that you are making me choose.” Will felt his shirt slowly get damp. He hated it when Nico cried, but it was better than when he was angry. Will closed his eyes as he felt Nico’s arm sneak around his waist.

“I can’t lose them,” Nico mumbled, “I can’t lose you but-” he gasped for air, “I’m sorry, I’m terrified.” Will held his boyfriend in silence, pressing his lips to the top of Nico’s head, as he slowly let his own tears flow. The wind blew around them, leaves rustling as they both tried to calm down. Slowly their breaths synchronized.

And suddenly another pair of arms engulfed the two of them.

“What-” Will quickly pushed the third person away, as Nico stepped back. “Geez guys, I know that I haven’t showered yet but this is excessive-” “It’s you,” Nico’s voice quivered. “It’s me,” You smiled painfully, “I need to go to the infirmary-” you clutched your side, and before you could even move Will and Nico were at your side, holding you up, “Sorry I took so long.” “I love you, and would love to talk,” Will grimaced, “But my priority is healing you, my love.”

“Thank you.”

───────────

Much to Will’s chagrin, Austin stood on taking care of your wounds as he was on shift. He had tried to object, but Austin was right that perhaps he was not in the most emotionally stable state to professionally assess the injuries you had sustained. So, Nico and him were just standing outside of the infirmary until you were properly patched up. Next to him, Nico had his eyes closed, and if Will didn’t know better he would think Nico was relaxing. However, Will did know better, and the creasing of Nico’s eyebrows worried him.

“How are they doing?” Will asked. Nico’s eyes sprung open, as he was surprised by the voice of his boyfriend. Nico had been concentrating on the feeling of your soul, which seemed too far away but so close. He had fully forgotten that Will was there with him, waiting on you too.

“Their souls wavers sometimes,” Nico let out a breath, “Which is normal for injured people, I guess.” Will nodded in response. He had to remind himself that Austin had as much skill as he had, and that you were not in any mortal danger when you arrived. You had to be fine, you would be fine.

These thoughts did not stop Will’s heart from stopping when Austin walked out, looking a little dejected. “How’s-” Will started. “They kept correcting me on what I was doing,” Austin laughed, “A bit embarrassing for me, but they are alright.”

“Thanks, can we go in?” Nico asked, ignoring Austin’s comment. Austin stepped aside, and Will and Nico made their way inside the infirmary.

As your boyfriends approached you, they saw the awful state you were in. Nico went to stand on the right side of the infirmary bed you were in, and Will on the left.Neither of your boyfriends dared to step closer, as you were barely sitting upright. Instead they each grabbed a chair and sat down within reach of you, wordlessly.

“Did you get any ambrosia yet? Nectar?” Will slowly moved closer as his stomach churned at the sight of your weakened state. You tried to shake your head, but quickly stopped as you closed your eyes in pain. “I am at my limit already, didn’t really have time to properly heal up on my way here.” your voice came out rough, but steady, “How are you two holding up? Missed me?” Nico’s gaze went from your face to your hand. It was wrapped in a bandage, much like the rest of your upper arm.

“We were worried about you, my love.” Nico heard Will speak as he softly grabbed the blanket instead of your hand. He didn’t want to accidentally hurt you, and your form seemed so bruised and broken. His ears still picked up Will, who was retelling all that happened since you were gone, but his brain did not process it. Instead, he feared that just being here was already weakening you. He knew his presence wouldn’t hurt but- but what if the essence of death brought you closer? What if he made his nightmares come true?

“... has been having dreams about you. That’s why we were at the border.” At the mention of his name, Nico looked up, releasing the deathgrip he had on the blanket.

“Oh?” you looked at the son of Hades, “all good dreams I hope?” Nico’s head stopped any thought it had when he looked into your eyes. Your shining, alive, eyes and your handsome face. “That doesn’t matter,” Nico muttered as he sat more upright, a feeling of ease coming over him, “Now that you’re back, it doesn’t matter.” Nico was never going to let you go alone again, as he promised himself to keep protecting you no matter what.

Will looked at his boyfriend, as he smiled. The past few weeks had been rough on them, even worse on you, but the three of you were finally together. You still looked tired, but less so after your talk. Will knew that he would need to wait until you were better and as Austin walked back into the infirmary he stood up.

“I think we should let (Y/n) rest, Nico.” he wanted to hold you in his arms until you fell asleep, but you needed uninterrupted sleep for now. Nico nodded as he too stood up. Tomorrow he would hold you, if you were better. He will wait until you are healed.

“Sleep well. Love you.” Will said as he waited for Nico to be at his side. “Love you, (Y/n). See you later.” Nico had a ghost of a smile on his face.

You carefully laid down, before saying a final ‘I love you’ to your boyfriends, as you could finally relax.

But just before your boyfriends went away there was one more promise to be made to them.

“I’ll see you tomorrow?” Will knew that he and Nico would wait forever for them, if they needed it to heal. He didn’t know when this journey would end, but he would walk besides you and Nico, hand in hand. Nico knew he couldn’t promise you a kind road, or a fair sky, but he knew that he would protect you and besides you in any way he can.

“We will,” Will promised, a promise he can keep.

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sunnynwanda · 3 months

Text

House of Memories

Based on the snippet Newspaper clippings.

The room is spinning at an ungodly speed when Villain looks away from the last clipping in their trembling hands. The walls are closing in on them with every shaky exhale that slips past their parted lips. Their pulse is throbbing in their ears, the pressure obstructing their hearing. They feel like they were skyrocketed into outer space, enveloped by its dreadful silence. The air is too dense to inhale; they are suffocating, gasping for oxygen, struggling to swallow down the lump in their throat. Tears well up in the corners of their eyes again, threatening to spill down their pale cheeks as they card a hand through their hair and over their forehead, not registering the bead of sweat running down the side of their face. They feel numb as they run their cold fingers over their arms, trying to pull their chaotic mind into a semblance of a person.

After the initial shock passes, Villain springs to their feet, ignoring the nauseous churn of their stomach and running downstairs to search for more information. They find their biography retold by dedicated fans on forums and websites. They find lists of their accomplishments, events held as homage to their work, and even whole shrines constructed in their memory. Many still harbour hopes of them returning. Some even tried looking for them, despite having positively no idea what Villain looked like. Hero was meticulous in their quest to erase any trace of Villain from the face of the Earth.

By the time Hero's car screeches to a stop in their driveway, Villain has calmed down. They greet Hero by the door and, despite their reluctance, kiss them on the cheek. Hero talks about their day at work while helping Villain set the table and maintains the conversation through dinner. Villain cannot find it within themself to talk, instead opting for nods and hums here and there. Their mind is swarmed by countless whys and what fors, left in anguish and confusion.

"Is everything alright?" Hero quirks an eyebrow at them, taking note of the tension weighing on their spouse's shoulders. Villain nods slowly, still deep in thought. "How was your day?"

"O-okay.. it was okay," Villain squeezes out in hopes to drop the subject. After a moment, their eyes shift to look at Hero, determination setting deep inside their cracking heart. They shrug, and it takes everything in them to act nonchalant. "I finally cleaned the attic."

Part of them still harbours hope that maybe, just maybe, it's not what they think it is. They don't want to believe it is true. They don't want it to be true. They want to wrap themself in Hero's arms and forget they ever opened that box. They could have misunderstood it. It could have been an accident, right? Or, a stupid joke. A prank, for all they care. Anything, anything at all that would stop their heart from hitting rock bottom, shattering at their feet as they force a pained smile onto their face.

Please. Please. Please.

Hero pauses, sending a sharp jolt of pain through Villain's entire being. They can feel it radiating off of the hollow space in their chest to their limbs and up their throat, rising like bile and exploding in their temples. They squeeze their eyes shut, gripping their fork until it bends between their fingers. Hero shallows thickly, before they meet Villain's glassy gaze with the most terrified expression Villain has ever witnessed on their face. They try to come up with words, but nothing crosses their mind except for panicked ringing. Their mouth remains agape, but their voice never comes.

"Do you have anything to say?" Villain finally manages, voice still carrying a grain of hope. Please. How foolish of them.

"I-I love you," Hero mumbles, face incredulous. They were not ready for this conversation. Villain scoffs at that, shaking their head in disbelief. Hero tries to salvage the situation, only making it worse. "I meant to tell you... one day."

"One day," Villain breathes out. They feel benumbed, and their senses are stupefied with the unresolved incertitude.

There's no mistaking it anymore - it was never an accident. It has always been a part of the plan. A depraved, vile, inhumane plan.

"I never meant for you to find out like this." Tears flood Hero's eyes as they get up, crossing the room and kneeling by Villain's side. They try to capture their hands, but Villain pulls away.

"You never meant for me to find out at all," their voice is hardly above a whisper when they speak, lips trembling so violently that they have to press them together to keep whimpers of pain from escaping. They feel sore all over, prickling with recollections of Hero's every touch, every kiss laid on their skin, every mark left by them. It's an ache that gnaws at their throat, burns their eyes with salt, and tears their flesh with crooked claws and sharp teeth.

"Villain, please, hear me out," Hero's voice reaches Villain through a haze of hurt. They shake their head no, but Hero persists. "Why do you think I kept those clippings?"

"To gloat your twisted victory," Villain offers, willing themself to get up only to collapse back onto their chair when their knees buckle under them.

"Is that how little you think of me?" Hero's arm shoots up to support them, but they push them away. It's a little too strong, causing Hero to fall over on the soft carpet. Villain remembers the day they bought it. They had spent several hours looking for a perfect match for their dining room, and upon finding it, decided to celebrate by having a movie night on it.

The hurt crushes over Villain in tidal waves, leaving them gasping for air once again. Hero doesn't move - a twinge of guilt flashes over their face when Villain turns to look down at them.

"You lied to me," they whisper, no longer controlling the quiver in their voice. "You erased my memory. You erased my very existence from people's minds so no one could recognise me. And then had the fucking audacity to show up in my hospital room and act like my spouse! So, yes, that's what I think of you!"

They get up onto wobbling feet, holding onto the wall as they try to walk, and Hero follows them. "Where are you going?"

They want to scream, to wail, to rip Hero apart the same way they are torn into bleeding pieces, to put them through the same agony. Yet their words barely make it past their lips. "Anywhere away from you."

"Stop, love, let me explain," Hero reaches for them again, expression splitting into that of hurt, and Villain hates how it pangs through their nape.

"Don't. Fucking don't, Hero," they growl, ignoring Hero's pitiful look. "You have no right to call me that."

"We need to talk," Hero looks baffled but doesn't back down - they stand firmly in front of the door like that can keep Villain from leaving.

"About what?" Villain snaps, throwing their hand into the air. For a second, they think about slapping Hero but restrain themself, opting to tug at their own hair. "Everything I know is a lie. Damn it, I don't even know who I am!"

"Villain, I- I had to do it," Hero hiccups, swallowing their tears and taking a deep breath to compose themself before continuing under Villain's inquiring stare. "There was no way around it, but I never planned to keep you in the dark forever."

"I don't believe you." The words taste bitter in their mouth, but they savour it - roll it on their tongue as a brutal reminder. "You cried. You begged me to remember you, to recognise you! Gods, you were on your knees!" They are sobbing at this point, tears streaming down their face in currents of resentment and dejection.

"I meant it. Every word of it," Hero laments, running their hands through their hair.

"No, you did not," Villain shakes their head solemnly. "All that for your demented game. You played your part perfectly." They can feel the pounding at the base of their neck where it connects to their head - a promise of a rising migraine. "You could have told me. Five years. You couldn't find a moment in those five years to tell me you had to erase my fucking personality and make me your... what am I even?"

"My entire life, that's what you are," Hero's reply earns nothing but a disgruntled chuckle from their spouse. "I tried to tell you. Many times."

"Yeah, right," Villain's tone is bitter even to their liking. They can't be bothered to care for decorum, when they are falling apart in the middle of the damn entryway.

"Villain, please," Hero drops to their knees, wrapping their arms around Villain's mid, pressing their forehead to their stomach. "I couldn't do it. I tried - but I couldn't bring myself to ruin everything we had. We were happy. You were happy. I was scared I'd lose you."

"You did," Villain confirms Hero's every fear, but their voice betrays them, breaking when they try to order. "Now return it to me."

"What?" Hero looks up at them with tears staining their flushed face.

Villain pries their arms off their body, backing away to put some distance between them. "Return my memory."

Hero goes rigid. Their shoulders sag under the weight of Villain's gaze. "I can't."

"Of course," Villain steps towards the stairs with a short nod. They need to grab their bag and get out of those walls before they collapse over their head, burying them alive under layers of concrete and debris.

"I'm sorry," Hero tries to stop them with one last attempt. They are on the verge of a breakdown; their entire body shudders when Villain pushes past them. "I'm so sorry, love."

"Don't you dare apologise now," Villain sneers over their shoulder before disappearing upstairs. They hear Hero sobbing when they walk out and shut the front door. They don't look back, afraid they won't find it in them to leave if they do.

An enormous part of them yearns to go back, climb into bed and find solace in the comfort of Hero's arms. They want to fall into oblivion, blissful nihility of mind, to forget the truth and deception, to forget the knife in their back and the kisses on their forehead every time they had a nightmare. They want to forget every laugh they shared, every happy moment, the love in Hero's eyes, the tenderness of their touch, the way their heart fluttered every time Hero shot them that damned smile they loved. They want to forget.

Oh, how they want to forget.

Newspaper Clippings snippet

Masterlist

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moodcrab · 2 months

Text

Fixing Skyrim's Daedric Quests

Introduction

Unlike my Oblivion character - a mere mortal who stumbled upon a shrine while lost in the wilderness, becomes somewhat obsessed with gaining the level requirement and collecting an offering, then undertakes the quest feeling like a dark god is testing their worthiness to be their champion - The Last Dragonborn has Daedric Princes falling over themselves to make them their champion straight out the gate. Level one? Who cares! No offering? No problem! Not my Summoning Day? We haven't cared about that since Morrowind! Literally told me to go fuck myself? Take the prize anyway Champ you've earned it!

Basically, much like factions, Skyrim shoves nearly all of the Daedric Quests in the player's face as soon as possible because they're widely considered to be the best and most rewarding by fans of the previous games. But the older games had them, to varying degrees, hidden away or locked behind mechanics, and Bethesda didn't want newer, more casual fans to miss them. In doing so the Princes and their cults lose that air of mystery and danger they once had.

On the other hand, it was nice to be doing something else entirely then have a surprise Daedric Quests blind side me, and it's not like the old Oblivion way was perfect. Find shrine, give offering, get quest for EVERY Prince? And just one quest and I'm the champion, dedicated my soul to your afterlife and all that jazz?

This series is going to try to maximise the good parts of Skyrim Daedric Quests, while bringing back some of the classic elements that it left out, starting with...

Part I - Namria

Quest A) A Taste of Death.

If you visit the Treasury House in Markarth you might overhear an argument between Brother Verulus and Thongvor Silver-Blood. This location change means you are unlikely to just run into this quest immediately as in vanilla, but also gives you a high chance of encountering it during The Forsworn Conspiracy, in which case it has the double benefit of acting as a kind of red herring in that quest and linking this quest with Markarth's corruption and secret society vibes.

Brother Verulus wants the city guard to stop their lockdown of the Halls of the Dead and to actually go in and deal with the draugr head on (in my alternative "Fixed" Skyrim the increased draugr population is connected with Alduin's return, who is raising his Dragon Priests to serve him, even within cities). Why doesn't he go pester the Jarl or the Captain about this, asks Thongvor, dismissively. Oh come on, don't act coy, we all know who really controls the guard in Markarth, why not let them do their job, replies Verulus. Thongvor counters that that would be a desecration of the Nordic dead, that guards putting them down like a pest would be dishonourable. What's more, perhaps if the glorious Nordic dead of the city weren't being tended to by a poncy Imperial Priest of Arkay instead of a proper old fashioned Orkey Shaman, maybe none of this would have happened. Verulus starts to lose his temper at this, and in anger implies that he knows that the draugr problem that plagues the other cities isn't the real issue here, that most of the ancient dead here are Reachfolk not Nord, and begins to demand a true explanation for being locked out but stops himself, he has said too much and leaves.

The quest begins by talking to Verulus who will ask you to investigate what's really going on in The Halls of the Dead. How you get in is up to you. If you're a sneaky type or a smooth talker you'll get in that way. You can also commit a crime to lure the guard away maybe. You could go find Thongvor who can be convinced to give you an alternative - take care of Verulus, but more on that later.

However you get into the Halls, on entering you start finding evidence of cannibalism, butchered bodies, cooking stations and so on. As you delve deeper you hear Eola, a Reachman Namira Devotee, goading and teasing you; "Not many would walk blindly into a crypt, smelling of steel and blood, but not fear... Don't you see what I am about down here in the dark? Is that disgust? Revulsion?... Or curiosity? Why don't you come deeper, and scratch that itch?" You can question her about who she is, what is her purpose here, why is Thongvor protecting her etc. but it will come down to convincing her to leave, killing her, or accepting her invitation to eat human flesh.

Now, IF you sided with Thongvor, the plan is to lie to Verulus to get him to follow you into the Halls of the Dead, this time you'll be confronted directly by Eola and Thongvor together. They intend to kill and eat you both and blame your deaths on Draugr. You can fight your way out and try to save Verulus, or you can prove yourself by killing Verulus yourself and tasting him by way of a test.

If you partake in cannibalism you will get a monologue from Eola about Namira, waxing poetic about the oldest god, The Black Fly, being the Daedric Prince of decay and squalor and all things ugly and repulsive... But also her significance to the Reachmen. To them she is the Spirit Queen who is the true god of death, not Arkay, the primal darkness that gives and takes life. You will gain the power to feast on a corps once a night or when underground, and unlock the second quest.

Quest B - A Guest for Dinner

The second quest will be even less obvious to the player and will hopefully take most people completely by surprise the first time it happens. The quest will only begin after the following criteria are met: You have used the lesser power to consume 10 or more corpses. You own a fully furnished player home. You spend the night there with either your spouse or a follower. When you sleep, a slow, loud, ominous knocking at the door awakens you.

At your door is a stranger in rags and a hideous face asking to come in. You can refuse or invite them to stay. Once inside they will take a seat at your table and ask what is being served for dinner. At this point your follower/spouse will be freaking out a little. You can offer food, like regular food, which will disappoint him and he'll leave. You can offer your spouse or follower as the meal and you'll have to attack them, the screen will darken for an gruesome audible muckbang. Or you can tell the Stranger he is on the menu, which will please him greatly and he will warn you against choking on him, depending on the disposition of your specific follower or spouse they will either join in or abandon you forever.

The Stranger, if he survives the night, will give you the Ring of Namira as thanks. If you ate him Eola, who incidentally will now double as a replacement spouse/follower, will arrive and give you the Ring. The Ring is a powerful reflect damage/magic ring, a unique enchantment in Skyrim.

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m1d-45 · 1 year

Text

remorse

-> warnings: spoilers for kazuha story quest as well as general kazuha lore, kazuha’s friend is named tomo for convenience, mention of blood near the end, kazuha attacks you but it’s a brief memory, standard issue imposter sagau things

-> lowercase intended!

tomo was an avid believer in the creator.

most people are to an extent, kazuha included, but it’s more of a soft reverence for him rather than the burning devotion for tomo, whose belief is that the creator didn’t make inazuma for it to be hidden! they didn’t make the shogun for her to do this to her nation!

that combined with his other beliefs sent him to face her. ever a man of faith, he held firm that he was doing the right thing. even as his body fell to the floor and his vision flew into the awaiting grasp of his friend, his heart stood strong.

kazuha carries that faith with his memory, and does his best to honor it just as well. if he finds a pretty flower he’ll drop it at a shrine, always murmuring his friend’s name as he does so. he doesn’t hold you to as high a bar as other do, as high as tomo did, but it’s hard not to be religious in teyvat, where the gods literally walk the earth. he settles for a quiet reverence, and perhaps a prayer that his friend may find peace at your side when the storm winds howl and lightning strikes close.

and then beidou.

who thanks you daily for calm seas, for large hauls, thanks for the life created for her anew.

and he thinks. and thinks a bit more, and decides that well, his life has been remade too, hasn’t it? and like beidou says, he’s a poet, he’s been gifted with a form of creation, hasn’t he? so he starts leaving more than a few folded poems at the on-ship shrine—it’s kept in the back, a little tucked away both for safety and in case the crew has problems with religion or just doesn’t follow, but that just makes it all the easier to slip things onto it.

and he thinks that maybe tomo had the right idea.

so when he hears of an impersonator, somebody who utilizes both magic and their mind to take the place of the highest of gods…. he’s more than upset.

how dare you? how dare you try to take the place of his god- if the entire of teyvat’s god? how dare you try and swindle your way to the top, try to trick and scheme and deceive the innocent beleivers into serving you instead of the creator you fail to even imitate? he hasn’t even met you and he knows that you’re a stale copy, a fragile semblance even with your spells and alchemy, a careful house of cards that he longs to topple.

the alcor is docked in liyue, waiting for a shipment. he’s sitting on an empty crate while beidou leans on it, groaning about the merchant.

”come on! we’re gonna be late, and he had a week to prepare! who is this guy, even, thinking he can do shit like that?”

he’s about to speak—likely to admonish her for swearing when there’s children playing along the docks—when he spots you approaching. you have messy, shaggy hair and a face covered by a blue mask, dressed oddly for somebody in liyue. he doesn’t spot either vision nor weapon on you, but it’s hard to tell. at the very least, you don’t look hostile.

he decides not to get beidous attention, letting you do so as you walk up to her.

“pardon me?”

your voice is rough and coarse, like ore dragged into the light of the sun after growing underground for millennia.

she looks you up and down, deciding that you aren’t the merchant she needs. “what can i do for ya?”

“i w-as told you could provide passage to inazuma?”

she tilts her head. “huh? but the saokoku decree was lifted recently, there should be proper passenger boats leaving every hour.”

you swallow, and kazuha listens to the wind around you.

it’s afraid. apprehensive. tense, like you expect them to turn you down.

which he’s pretty sure beidou’s about to if you can’t save this.

“theyre full, and i heard you were leaving immediately. and besides, everybody knows the alcor’s one of the fastest boats on the waves.”

ah. you’re smart.

beidou laughs. “you’re right about that, kid, we certainly can get you there the fastest! but it ain’t gonna be cheap…”

you brightened, standing a little straighter. the wind lifted into a gentle breeze. “i have mora! na-ame your price.”

while they sorted that out, kazuha inspected your odd character. your voice was rough, strained over certain syllables, and occasionally you’d scratch at the side of your neck. he’d initially assumed that the mask was for anonymity, like shinobu from the arataki clan, but now he thinks it’s more for an illness.

one that could spread throughout the crew.

“well, you’ve got yourself a deal! any problems?” she turned back to kazuha for his verdict, and he checked over you once more.

dirt on your boots, but hands in the pockets of your jacket. you were more relaxed now, the air speaking of possibility.

“you sound sick,” he says simply, and your eyes widen.

“a-ah, i- it’s just disuse. i d-ont really talk often.” the mask lifted in a weak smile, your hand coming up again. the skin there was quickly turning red.

“then if there’s nothing else, welcome aboard, uh- whats your name, again?”

you give a name and dip your head in thanks. “thank you for your k-indness.”

kazuha took up the task of showing you around the boat, for no reason he could explain. you were nice to talk to, funny, and your voice was smooth after youd taken some of the medicine you carried.

you were easy to be around. it was like reuniting with a friend he hadn’t seen in years, an indescribable sense of comfort filling him at your side. you felt like home, like campfire chats around crackling wood, or the soft sound of waves on a shore. a clear sky, a cool breeze over a sun-warmed rock.

he was almost- no, he was sad to see you off, waving goodbye as you rushed onto the docks of ritou.

you would go far. whatever you wanted to do, kazuha was sure you would succeed, and extended you his blessings in your endeavors.

now imagine his reaction when, after settling the deal, beidou brings him a flyer. her jaw is set and her shoulders are tight, and he’s quick to see what irritated her.

it’s you.

the flyer has your posture more intimidating, a long staff in hand, eyes cold and calculated instead of the warm glow he remembered.

but it’s you. undoubtedly. even your picture tries to pull a smile from him- and then he sees the charges below.

and he wants to shiver despite the comfortable air.

how?

how can this be?

how can such a kind soul be so deceptive?

but isn’t that the thing? it says you utilize spellwork- that has to be it, right?

(but how can the wind lie?)

he leaps from the side of the alcor, barely able to tell beidou not to wait for him before he’s gone.

he’s in a confused daze for the next few weeks, constantly on your trail- but the wind guides him in loops.

you’re everywhere.

your aura is permanently in the air, giving him a shot of nothing short of pure bliss before he gets his wits about him.

he’s almost afraid, because the wind doesn’t lie- but it has to be, because you can’t enchant the air- but that’s the only way-

his mind is confused, constantly in a state of conflict, his instincts saying you’re a friend while rational thinking says youre foe. his heart calls for your safety whilst the careful shell around it reminds him of your crimes. of the way you’ve tarnished his god’s name, of the way you’ve disrespected captain beidou and her crew, of the way you took advantage of kindness to serve yourself.

of the way you took advantage of people like tomo.

he’s on a beach, preparing up some fish for dinner in a cave, when the wind suddenly smells sweeter.

it’s the scent he’s been following.

he stands and rushes onto the shore, unsure why he’s not reaching for his blade but not thinking too much about it, looking around. sand slides beneath his feet as he races towards a familiar figure: you.

you—his mind supplies him with the name you gave, but is it even yours? or was it just another layer to the lie?—jump as he approaches, but quickly relax. you slip down the mask to sip at the medicine the same shade as the sky, smiling at him.

“kazuha.”

his skin prickles, suddenly feeling hot just at the way you say his name. it’s so kind, so loving, almost, and any response flies from his mind. it’s so hard to be mad when your voice sounds like silk and the light…

the sun shines on your skin, nearly glowing, outlining every curve and angle of you and with a gentle hand. if you catch the light just right he can catch lines of something yellowed across your skin. it’s odd, he didn’t remember that on the… boat…

the flyer.

right.

you were a criminal.

a criminal of the worst kind.

a fraud, somebody who tried to take advantage of the people, using spells to try and garner attention and wealth from people-

people like tomo.

he grit his teeth and ignored the stab of pain in his chest as he drew his sword.

instantly, every ounce of happiness drains from your figure, replaced by an ice-cold tension that makes him want to shiver despite the warm breeze. “ka..zu…?”

the nickname falling from your lips begs him to reconsider, to stop.

its his last chance to.

“how dare you disgrace the kaedehara name?”

your eyes turn glossy and you back away, shrinking in on yourself. a choked-off sound crosses the short distance between them, and kazuha forced himself to ignore it.

you are not an innocent. the beautiful sunlight across your skin did not mean that you yourself were as good as it, the lovely scenery around you no indication of whatever rot lied in your soul; something that had to be there, for you to try and imitate the creator.

and it was rot. you were rotten, bitter, deceitful, using the magic you’d have to have bought—for no being could grant somebody like you that power—to try and warp mildew into meadows. he had to remember that.

he was being charmed.

and then he’s in liyue.

he’s going to a meeting with ningguang with beidou, where the news is broken.

the normally ever-steady tianquan looks shaken up, asking beidou first for her promise to utilize her crew and connections to spread what she’s about to say as far across liyue as she can.

and then she says it.

and kazuha leaves.

he’s in the crows nest of the alcor—it hasn’t left the harbor in months due to the awful storms over teyvat and the cruel waves—and curled into a ball, hands tangled into his white hair, undoing his ponytail in the process.

he tried to kill you.

he’d had you pinned to the beach- you didn’t even fight back. you’d just laid there, tears beading in your eyes, just staring up at him even as his sword was resting in the hollow of your throat.

he’d-

he’d nearly drawn blood.

he’d almost killed the very god he worshipped.

the shining light in his best friend’s life, the new beginning he’d found alongside his new home with the crux, the-

the flush across his skin whenever you were close, that sense of calm and serenity- of course. it all made sense, now that he put aside his blade.

you were a god.

his god.

and he’d tried to kill you.

he tries to soothe himself—you’re okay, you didn’t hurt them too bad, did you? imagine how the killer feels—but it’s in vain. the very wind turns against him, biting and cold despite the warm sun, and he’s shivering.

shaking, about to cry, because you… you were only seeking a new opportunity. you wanted another chance. you just wanted to live- ningguang had said your memory was likely damaged if even there at all, you didn’t even know you were a god at all. you didn’t even understand the nature of your sins, you didn’t understand the world you were in in any form, you didn’t understand why you were being chased, persecuted, hunted.

and kazuha, alongside the entire world, had decided that was a crime punishable by death.

#genshin #genshin impact #genshin sagau #sagau #kaedehara kazuha #sagau kazuha #spoilers under the tags’ ‘see all’ button be warned #hi hello welcome to spoiler territory: did you know you can find tomo’s grave ingame #tp to the artifact domain by narukami shrine and head east to the little gorge #head south down the gorge #who cares if nobody reads these bc they’re my tags and i get to infodump all i wanna #within the archive #specifically the ‘living beings -> wildlife’#you can find cats. nearly all are named ‘[descriptor] cat’ with the exception of one: the pure white cat #the pure white cat entry in the archive is simple named ‘sapphire’.#= their cat is now named sapphire in my mind #i hope you have learned something today even if it’s just ‘midas collects and reads archive entries unironically’

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yoimix · 1 year

Text

「いかないで」

[ note: takes place before inazuma archon quest finale and contains spoilers for scaramouche backstory! ]

SCARAMOUCHE has thought of many ways to say it.

he parts his lips, forming the words soundlessly, and repeats. over and over again, till he memorizes the shape of the words. however, he does not understand his compulsion to say them to you—you, who makes his blood boil in the same sentence you make it rise to his cheeks. even now, he swallows his anger to talk to you. the scowl on his face is only quelled by the thought of your soft gaze. he never anticipated this feeling.

will his voice crack? he wonders as he searches for your figure near the abandoned shrine. that would be embarrassing. you’d dismiss it airily but as much as he denies his affection for it, he’d get to hear you laugh. it’s surprising. his temper and unpleasantries barely ever get you down. it’s not like he deserves your patience but it would be dishonest to hide the light in his eyes you bring.

despite what the world says, scaramouche can feel gratitude.

adrift for hundreds of years without guidance, without a sleeve to hold onto, it’s only fair for him to be this unruly, this tempestuous. it’s a miracle you make him smile the way he does.

“ah, there you are!”

oh, how his heart blooms at the sound of your voice. is that right? perhaps it’s another malfunction.

“..llo? hello? why do you look so lost, wanderer?” you giggle, your face unbearably close to his. your examining eyes make a flush of heat flood his face.

“wanderer? that’s a new name,” he comments.

you hum. “but you’ve been wandering for so long. it makes sense, doesn’t it?”

he swallows. you call him a variety of names. it’s a strange contrast with his past. kabukimono, he was called. and he was taught there is no place for nameless eccentrics in this world.

“besides,” you continue, despite his lack of response, “scaramouche is a little... well, the fatui have interesting names. they don’t feel personal.”

“i’m not anything personal,” he snaps. “what does that mean?”

“but our friendship is personal to us, isn’t it?” you grin, eyes closing in mirth.

really, what’s there to smile so hard about? you look so much more alluring than usual, and he can only watch.

“well, it might get harder now,” you ramble on, scratching the back of your head. “i’ll write you letters though!”

scaramouche furrows his brows. it’s nothing to me, he thought to himself several times. but he’s driven his nails into his palm, knuckles sheet-white. you’ve been by his side for so many moons. how could you go your own way now?

“why?” he asks, louder than he intended. there it is again. rage and resentment rise like bile in his throat till he’s scowling again.

“what do you mean why? for business, of course! i’m a merchant, after all,” you laugh. “i mean, fontaine isn’t that far.”

“you’re unsafe on your own,” he cuts, glaring. “do you know what the fatui do to traitors?”

you shrug. “i was never fatui to begin with. and it was a deal they broke.”

“you don’t understand.” his impatience shows in his voice. he should say it now, but the words don’t come out. he’s too pissed to ask you that. after all, you’ll never know what he feels, what he’s ever felt.

you are happy with all things as they come and go. he cannot agree with the natural order of the world.

“are you leaving?” he asks sharply, choking over his words. before he knew it, his voice was raised.

what he really wants to ask is “are you leaving me?”

it would be so much easier if you treated him with contempt too. if you glared at him instead of smiling softly, if you were at his throat instead of greeting him with your warm smile. he wishes you would tear him apart instead of trying to piece him together. why do you have to be so difficult?

“whatever.” he grits his teeth. his heart beats rapidly despite himself. “go get eaten by the riftwolves for all i care. it’s not like we’re friends.”

“please don’t sa—”

he growls, irritated. “shut up. you won’t ever understand anyway. at least, when i take her gnosis, i can finally—”

why are you looking at him like that? is it so obvious how he feels? he’s hooked onto you, with your liberating smile and loving gaze. no matter how lonely, how unwanted he may have been in life—you open your mouth, and every syllable soothes the burden of his past. to him, you are not a place of betrayal. then why are you looking at him like that?

“say, does it snow in inazuma?” you ask in a gentle voice.

“yes,” he answers, furrowing his brows. you are so strange, with your meandering words and phrases.

as if on cue, you reach out and smooth your fingertips over his eyebrows, effectively relaxing his face. he absentmindedly reaches out to grab your hand, placing it against his cheek. with this gesture itself, he feels defeated. he will never be able to separate his emotions from his body. the defect is permanent.

“even on the beaches?” you continue asking.

“yes,” he says quietly. “it’s not as cold as snezhnaya though.”

all of a sudden, he realizes why you’re so strange. you call him with love. not the code name from a foreign land, not the name he chose for himself out of resentment.

“i hate you.” his voice cracks. he’s certain he looks miserable. it’s not even what he wanted to say. “i hate you so much.”

you purse your lips. “really? but you’re still holding my hand.”

his grip tightens. the truth is, he wants to say it out loud.

“don’t go.” his voice is a hoarse whisper. yes, those are the words he practiced. so simple and yet, they wouldn’t come out. does he truly deserve to say it? he, who was discarded with one look from his creator?

a wretched little makeshift heart is all he has. did his mother design him to be a failure? the words are still caught in his throat. isn’t it funny how with each passing night, he tries harder to become more and more of what she wanted him to be? he wishes to rid himself of all emotions so bad and you won’t let him.

“please,” he adds, unable to hear himself over the ringing in his ears. he’s allowed to do this right? it’s natural he wants to protect the one who’s been by his side, who’s listened to his story by shakkei pavilion.

with much difficulty, you slip your hand from his grip and look at him with sorrow. it seems fate is fond of hitting him where it hurts.

“come with me,” you whisper, before clasping your hands over his stone-cold ones. you can’t possibly look at him like that and expect a response. “you’re not one of them.”

“i have no place to belong,” he responds, feeling a deep tiredness course through him. he leans forward into your touch.

“you’ll always have a place to belong with me.”

you brush the pad of your thumb over his cheek. his skin is always so cold, yet sculpted slender and beautiful. the red of his lips is only surpassed in hue by his cheeks. does he bleed? where does he get such pretty colors? it’s your turn to feel drawn, as you lean in to press a kiss to his forehead. even if he refuses, you have a feeling he’ll find you again for better or for worse.

but for the first time in his life, the two of you can enjoy an inazuman winter in shared warmth. he can have this at the very least.

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thenyxsky · 1 year

Text

ARCHON QUEST SPOILERS!

Your older brother isn’t a good person. Fatui Harbingers don’t tend to be. As the Sixth—well, what do you expect?

You may be a century or so younger than him, your mother’s second failure, the true eternity she’d been searching for trapped in a child’s body, but that doesn’t mean you lack a brain, or a nose, or a set of ears. When they scream, you hear them. When he snaps, you hear him. When he calls you into his office so you can tell him about your day, you pick up on the tang of blood. It hits your nose every time. So does the residue electricity, dancing across your skin and making your hair stand on end. You know, every time.

(Whether he’s aware of this, you’re not sure. Maybe he is. Maybe he isn’t. You don’t ask, only clutch the stuffed animal tighter in your arms and ignore how your older brother smells like the dead every time you meet him.)

But look, now: Kunikuzushi may not be a good person, but he’s the best brother.

He presses your face into his side when you’ve run into trouble and he’s had to cause a scene. A hat that wobbles atop your head, a veil that’s pulled across your eyes. Two hands that cover your own, these gestures warm with familiarity. Kunikuzushi snaps, “Are you stupid, getting yourself into trouble like that? Can you not keep your mouth shut for the one moment I’m gone? You’re the one who wanted to come with me, so behave yourself.” You don’t take the sharpness of his tongue to heart, nor the scowl as he berates you. It had hurt at first, but not for long. Now, these make you smile.

He takes you from the shrine maiden with sly eyes and two pink, swishing tails, when he hears of your birth—your creation. Back then he’d been like you: too sweet, too kind, too sensitive to the uncertainties of life’s transcience. He too had been fragile in nature and wide-eyed at the wonders of humanity, quick to cry in the face of betrayal.

Well, betrayals. Three.

You hadn’t been there for the first two, when he had lost his mother and his friend in the span of a century. But the last one, you’d witnessed. Kunikuzushi’s third; your second. The boy’s death had been the last string.

(Yes, you think. He falls before you. This is one of the few things we have left in common.

Of course, out of all things, it is this: The three betrayals it takes for Eternity’s puppets to snap.)

You didn’t mean to see it. Him. Your brother. The Balladeer.

Kunikuzushi, reaching for your mother’s gnosis.

It’s been centuries since you’ve seen him so vulnerable. If not for the Fatui, maybe you would’ve seen him like so more, but the Snezhnayan organization had hardened him. Turned him bitter, cunning. Not towards you, of course (never you, his precious little sibling) but you saw when he spoke down to others. So condescending, holding his position over their heads. So demanding.

You get the feeling that if they saw him now, they would laugh.

He’s hanging from the tubes of the robot The Doctor built for him and he looks so desperate. (He looks like the puppet he always tells you he’s not, but this time, the strings are Dottore’s, not your mother’s.)

It’s useless to strain for it now—even you know that. Even if it’s not yet in her hands, Sumeru’s god has already won. You can tell that much by how hoarse his voice has become.

Your older brother has been reduced to cries once more.

“That’s mine!” Kunikuzushi roars. You startle, stumble back. He hasn’t noticed you yet. “Don’t even try—!”

“A kid?” you hear from your right, and you see—yes. The Traveller. “What’s a kid doing here?”

You look over, open your mouth to answer, but then you hear him quiet. Your brother has gone silent. Your eyes shoot up.

His strings have snapped.

“Kun—” You catch yourself as you stumble forward. “Scaramouche! Brother!”

He is falling.

Just this once, you plead, help him. Help him. She made him, but she made you too. She made you, you’re her eternity, so surely—

Something gloved latches ’round your arm and you’re pulled back. Stop, you think to cry, but don’t. Why are you stopping me? Don’t do that!

You don’t turn though, only fight against its hold, claw at the fabric and the hand it’s slipped over—Please!

In your frustration, you give one last lunge forward.

And finally, he sees you. (But look, on his face—has it twisted in regret?)

You cry, “Broth—!”

And—too late. The crash is unbearably loud.

The fall has already ended.

#i was trying to do a three betrayals thing #it did not work out #my brainw as not functioning #i hope u like this regardless lovely reader #scaramouche x reader #kunikuzushi x reader #genshin x reader #gn!reader #platonic #nyxlea ✧ genshin #ill try to elaborate more on the three betrayals in another piece #for now just enjoy this 🥲

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viharbinger · 1 year

Note

Hi okay I have a really really cute ask So in the 3.2 trailer, it’s shows Haypasia lying down and Scara watching over her. If you don’t know, he’s doing this because she is his only follower, so he’s taking care of her/looking after her (bc she’s his ONLY follower) What I’m asking is if it’s literally just that concept, but Haypasia is replaced by us, aka, the reader. So it’s basically just Scaramouche watching over us whilst we’re lying down and then we wake up and see him and it’s all just generally cute stuffIt can be seen as platonic or romantic, I’d personally prefer romantic

pairings: scaramouche x gn!reader

warnings: hurt/comfort? Reader is a heavy sleeper lol — I wrote half of this when 3.2 archon quest was not out yet so therefore I'm writing everything blindly so this is either gonna be completely inaccurate or I just predicted the future B-)

a/n: LMFAO I find it funny af that scaramouche's only follower/worshiper is his PARTNER HAHAHA imagine having no fans 🤭

masterlists

Way before the Balladeer even became a God, you, his life partner stayed by his side the whole way. You hadn't ever renounced him after all he's done and been through but instead comforted him through it all.

You both lived in an isolated home somewhere in Inazuma's Narukami island, alone yet a long way from the city. Living like that has its advantages of course, mainly to protect yourselves against whatever meddling business the 6th fatui harbinger had gotten himself in.

Now that he's finally gotten the Raiden Shogun's electro gnosis from a certain shrine maiden, he's on foot again to archons-knows-where. And he tells you the news when you're both sitting on the porch of your tiny and cozy home.

"You're leaving already when you just got back?" Maybe it was the Gods playing favourites but the sun kissing your skin and the wind blowing against your hair certainly made you glow.

The sun was shining over the horizon, and the birds were barely awake. You were in your comfortable pyjamas and he on the other hand, was adorning his beautiful silk navy blue and white kimono that morning, rather than his usual fatui harbinger attire. Your eyes are struggling to keep open as you woke up a mere 10 minutes before.

Scaramouche brings himself closer to you as he sets his baggage down, the one that he needed to bring along as he was going to go out on yet another journey alone. He cups your hands together and brings it to his lips to give it a gentle kiss.

"It's just some unfinished business I need to take care of. I'll come back for good. I promise." He whispered, brushing the stray hair that was over your eyes. He kept his palm on your left cheek whilst rubbing his thumb under your eye gently. His touch was delicate, like as if handling you too much could break you like porcelain glass. He was almost too afraid to leave you.

Several weeks passed.

You barely heard a word from him, but you have heard such news of an eccentric wanderer roaming around the lands of Sumeru. It wasn't much to go by but alas, at least you're aware he's living and breathing.

Now after achieving the power of the gods, his mission was almost complete. The power allowed him to do all things necessary. He was about to make his next move when his ears perked up in alert; as if someone was calling for him.

He doesn't mistake it's your voice. The voice he's been trying to replay in his head for weeks. He's afraid that if he doesn't, he'll forget how you sound like, how your voice could make him feel like a bed of roses.

You were repeating his name, like you were begging him for something. His usually hardened gaze softened in guilt at the thought of you in despair of his absence. He wishes he could just teleport straight to you right then and there, but even gods have their limits.

By nightfall, Scaramouche was still adjusting to his powers. He wanted to try and do anything within his power to attempt to even be closer to you. That is, until he found himself in a dream-like state.

He felt he could move freely, almost as if he were a ghost. He prompted himself to take this to his advantage and visit you in your sleep. And there you were, cuddled up on your bed.

The home that was once cozy and sweet felt uncomfortable. The room you were in was unkept and the bed was undone, some pillows are on the floor and the blanket was dishevelled. He notices of course, that you were sleeping on his side of the bed instead of yours. And the tears that were continuously flowing from your eyes were hard not to notice.

He called out your name. You couldn't hear him. He was right next to you, within arms reach, yet you couldn't hear or even see him.

The puppet wasted no time in at least trying to comfort you. He kneeled down besides you and pushed the hair sticking to your face from the tears. He cupped your cheek, wiping the falling tears with his gloved thumb. He was like a guardian angel.

You were far too deep asleep to notice a thing, but he didn't want to wake you. All though it was very dark out, the dark eyebags were clear as day to prove to him that you needed the rest.

He leaned down to press a kiss to your temple, he whispers sweet nothings and an "I'll be back soon." It's not like you could've heard him but you definitely felt the breath of air onto your ear like as if someone was whispering a secret to you.

By the time you woke up you were met not with your partner, but his scent was in the air. Like it was when he was still around in the house. He visited you.

Just days later, you heard a rushed knock on your front door. It was dawn again and your hair was a mess. You walked to your door barefoot, mumbling incoherent words that could be insults as you were woken up from your beauty sleep.

When you opened it, it was your partner. He was there, in the flesh. His breathing was haggard, yet he smiles anyway. His hat was held on his hands like he took it off when running so much.

Your eyes tricked with tears, and hugged him tightly. "You were there, right? That night!" You wailed and your head was on his chest. "Yes, and I'm sorry for not coming sooner." He rested his chin to your head and brushed your messy hair gently, careful enough not to tug on it.

You finally came to your senses and picked your head up from his chest. You backed up from him and pushed him in anger. But not in a way that could definitely hurt him or make him fall. "Just who do you think you are, waltzing back home like as if you didn't disappear after weeks and didn't even bother to send a letter!" You cried, yet he remained his composure from calling you stupid things. He knows what you've been through during his absence and just wants to be with you.

He cups your cheeks and rubbed the tears off with his thumb, as he's done many times before. His eyes wore a gentle glow and the sweet smile on his face was blinding. It's not often you see a man so in love.

"I'm done with everything. I took care of it, I promise I'll be here for as long as I live." He tells you, with genuine and charm in his tone. He leans forward to press a kiss to your forehead. And another on your cheek. And then another on your temple. And again and again in every other place and you couldn't stop yourself from cry laughing.

You stopped giggling when he makes sure to stop and leave a kiss on your lips. A long, tasteful and blissful kiss. You could still feel the warmth on your lips even after he pulled away. He ends it by just leaning his forehead to yours till the only thing you could hear from each other was your breathing. Even when he's away for so long, he'll always count on you to wait for him.

I hope u like this dear requester because I don't think I'm that good in writing actual fanfics LOL I'm only good at headcannons

#. bee writes #genshin x reader #genshin imagines #kunikuzushi x reader #scaramouche imagines #scaramouche x you #scaramouche x reader #scaramouche #kunikuzushi x you #wanderer x reader #scaramouche x y/n #genshin impact

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legendofzoodles · 2 years

Text

Another LU thought:

Time, Twilight and Wild are Honorary Gorons

Let’s start with the ace of the chain: Wild. He got to prove himself to the Gorons numerous times, by calming Vah Rudania, doing side quests and shrine quests (like the gut check challenge). Not to mention he was already an honorary member of the tribe 100 years ago through his friendship with Darunia. He definitely visits Yunobo and the boys at Death Mountain to vibe and eat rock roasts.

[Training at Death mountain in Twi’s era]

Darbus: I think we should take a break for lunch.

Wild: [excitedly] Are we having rock roast?

Dangoro: What’s that?

Wild: [running off] A really good dish made from rocks. Sit tight you two, I’ll make some!

Darbus: ...Can Hylians eat rocks?

Twilight: We can’t, but that doesn’t stop him.

Twilight’s approach to making friends with the sentient rocks was unconventional in a traditional sense. Typically when trying to get on someone’s good side you don’t go on a rampage through their home fighting and throwing around all their friends. But the Gorons are tough so in this case that worked, and after Twilight beat one of the Goron’s most respected members he earned their trust and was permitted entrance into their sacred mines.

[After Twilight told the story of how he climbed Death mountain]

Warriors: Is there a Goron in your era you haven’t assaulted?

Twilight: They were fair fights.

Wind: Like hell they were, you used iron boots that’s cheating!

Twilight: ...

Twilight: Well, I haven’t fought any of the kids or elderly.

The chain: ( ಠ_ಠ)

After saving their patriarch and helping them reconnect with the people at Kakariko they would’ve definitely considered Twi as one of them. I can imagine him taking trips to Death Mountain post TP to train with the Gorons, chuck rocks around, rock climb and of course sumo wrestle.

Ooh what if Twi teaches Wild sumo so that they could pass it to the Gorons in his era. The sport must have died out by that time since I don’t think it comes up in BotW. I imagine that Time already knows it. Since it was stated to be something of a tradition for them and his era is less than 200 years behind Twi’s.

Speaking of Time, during his adventure he got really close with the Gorons, although he didn’t do any official challenges like Wild (I think) or brute force his way through their territory like Twi. He just kind of showed up as a kid, solved their problems and then did it again 7 years later.

In the child timeline the adult part of OoT means diddly squat, but I’m pretty sure a little kid strolling in and doing what grown ass members of your tribe couldn’t would be enough for you to respect him. Plus Time has Biggoron’s sword in LU, meaning he did that side quest for the master craftsman. If that isn’t one brother helping another then I don’t know what to tell you.

Going over now to LU, the three of them would spearhead the shenaniganery that would ensue if the chain were ever let loose in the Eldin region (in any era). Wild would be climbing around all over the place making friends and Twilight wouldn’t resist a few friendly sporting matches and yeeting half the population off the mountain.

Also I’m thinking that the chain would meet up after an afternoon of doing their own thing only to walk in on Time winning an arm wrestling match with a really strong Goron. Whether he’s using the golden gauntlets or not doesn’t affect how hyped the group are seeing their leader kicking ass with the biggest grin on his face.

~~~

Thanks for reading.

Masterlist

9th place in the LU character design ranking

Character analysis posts:

Hero of the Sky, Hero of Time, Hero of Twilight, Hero of the Wild, Hero of Warriors

Parkour team - LU drabble

How each member of the chain laughs - LU headcanon

Remember that Wild eats rocks. Never forget this vital information.

I’d like to include Wars but I don’t think he connected much with Darunia during the war and he’s too busy being a high ranking soldier to take trips to Death Mountain.

#timber and pup and cub #child timeline squad #i'd consider wild the chain's ace #linked universe #lu #linkeduniverse #linked universe fanfiction #lu fanfic ideas #lu fanfiction #lu headcanons #lu time #lu twilight #lu wild #lu warriors #was inspired by a cheems meme to make this #72nd post #my fave number!!

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mxthtea · 26 days

Text

sakura blooms and my life with you

raiden ei x male reader warnings: physical contact (hand holding, several kisses for ei), reverse hurt/comfort, post-inazuma quest, reader has known ei for more than 500 years word count: 1120

request rules

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 𓆝

As springtime approaches, the sakura trees that litter around all of Narukami Island begin to bloom. They're plenty viewable in Inazuma City and the Grand Narukami Shrine. Going to those two places makes it inevitable to end up with a few petals landing atop your head and onto your clothes. The beauty of it is one of the great draws to all of Inazuma.

It is a sight that Ei has seen for all of her life. Most of it, at least. Losing the sight for 500 years has made seeing it again nostalgic. However this time, she feels different as they bloom. The last time she saw the sakura in bloom she had her sister with her: her sister, her friends, everyone.

Now, she stands within the walls of Tenshukaku. Ei holds out her hand as a petal drifts onto it.

Her eyes widen a fraction as another hand comes into her vision. One that she is familiar with.

She looks to you, and a gentle smile graces her features as both of your eyes meet.

"Hello, dear," you greet her, "are you enjoying the sakuras? They're quite beautiful this year."

Truly, that can be said for every year. You know that, Ei knows it.

Despite that, Ei nods her head, "yes. It's been a while since I've seen them after all."

She tightens the hold on your hand, bringing both down to her side. Having you by her side for this moment is tranquil. With nothing to ruin this moment but the passage of time.

This moment will soon end, the sakuras will soon come out of bloom and wilt. A moment like this is just that- a moment. Once it ends, it never comes back. Once it ends, Ei will have to move on.

Her fleeting smile drops.

She'd sigh if she wasn't inhabiting a puppet's body.

"Is something wrong, Ei?" you ask, squeezing Ei's hand to pull her attention back to you.

"It's…" she begins. Ei takes a step forward, and you follow. She holds out her free hand to catch another petal falling from the trees, "the sakuras are beautiful. This time of year is stunning, it has been for all the years I have been here. I've seen it many times and I will see it many more. The times I can see it though, they are fleeting moments. A blip in the grand existence."

Once again, Ei wishes to take a breath even though she doesn't need to.

"Moments like these are what I wish to make eternal. Something so beautiful that it cannot end. But, it does," a gentle breeze blows off the petal in her hand, "it will continue to do so. It makes me think of more things I cannot stop from ending. It makes me wonder how much longer I can be with… you, as well."

As Ei finishes, she looks to you once again. Someone she has known for much of her life. The only, outside of Yae, person from her past that continues to be with her. She has loved you, and she will continue to love you. Will you continue to love her, or will you leave her as well and go somewhere she cannot follow? The thought of it makes her stomach twist. At least that's something she can do.

You don't immediately respond to Ei. Instead, you reach over to touch her. Ei remembers the warmth of your hand as it makes contact with her cheek. Warmth that she had grown so familiar with so, so long ago. You brush away the hair from her face and lean closer. She closes her eyes out of habit, waiting for your lips to connect with hers.

They don't.

Instead, you give a soft kiss to her mole. As you pull back, you smile a bit.

Ei gives a small irritated expression, as if she's fallen for a trick from a certain kitsune.

"I believe you have been spending too much time with that Miko."

You let out a laugh at Ei's words. Perhaps you are feeling a bit mischievous. After all, it's one way to distract her from her thoughts. You still keep your hand to her hair.

As your short laughter stops, you begin to speak again.

"Sorry about that, kinda," her brow furrows more, making you let out a chuckle, "I… cannot promise you eternity, Ei. I cannot promise that we will be together to the end of time"

Ei's face twists. A slight look of hurt overtaking her features. You immediately try to resolve it, cupping her cheek with your hand.

"Even though I can't promise it, I still want to make memories with you. I want to be with you for as long as I can. I wish to see sights from lands you haven't seen in so long, to tell you about everything you've missed," a smile graces your face. A gentle one, one Ei has seen directed to her so many times, "I have been your boyfriend for more than 500 years. I'm not going to leave you now."

You kiss the tip of Ei's nose to punctuate your sentence. She doesn't close her eyes this time.

"Besides, these sakuras… we can pick some that have yet to bloom to make into sake next year, you know?"

"When we salt them, they won't bloom nor wither," Ei finishes your thought.

"It's not the eternity you wish for, but it's what I can give to you."

"If it's what you give to me, I will be eternally grateful for it."

Ei feels your other hand cup her cheek. You lean in closer, she closes her eyes this time.

She's missed the feeling of you on her lips. Your lips, either chapped or soft, are gentle with her. As she is to you.

You pull away just a second later, lowering your hand away from her face. Only to raise one and pick a petal off of Ei's head. She notices that there are also several others on yours as well. As expected in the sakura blooming season.

Ei opens her mouth, "then… I would like to pick some with you to preserve."

She sees a smile grace your face as you take her hand once again. By the end of this, no doubt you and Ei would have several sakuras to preserve. As well as several in your hair and clothing.

Boyfriend though… Ei thinks she'd like to be more than that. Perhaps something to discuss when you both can enjoy a sip of sakura sake.

For now, she'll laugh as you try to climb up one of the sakura trees to pick some blossoms for both of you to enjoy.

#vennys tales #genshin x reader #ei x reader #male reader #genshin hurt/comfort #ei hurt/comfort #oops. i made it a lil sad #if anyone wants a pt 2 i will write it :3

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ginger-and-mint · 3 months

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Myx, if there was a tummy/stuffing related mod for Sky/rim, what do you think would be the most important things to include, and what would you personally want to see included? No wrong answers and be as specific as you like.

[SWEATS]

omg anon.... this is such a fun question and I've been gnawing it happily like a dog with a bone! under a cut because you did say that I could be as specific as I liked and I definitely took you up on that :]

I think a Tummy Meter mod would be super fun! Kind of similar to your carrying capacity, but for tracking the amount of food you've eaten. Each food item could have a "weight" value that counts towards your fullness for a set number of hours, and if you eat beyond this capacity, you become.... over-encumbered....

The most important thing to include would be a mechanism to prevent you from chugging cheese wheels in battle! ^^' There would have to be a penalty for overstuffing yourself -- possibly limited movement speed like when you exceed your carrying capacity, and/or maybe your stamina bar is halved, or something else!

In terms of what I would personally enjoy... you know those little text notifications that inform you that you're carrying too much to run or that you've contracted rockjoint? ^^'' well... a notification like "your stomach is very full" or "you've eaten to your limit" would Destroy me. also NPCs noticing!! even the same "you don't look so good" dialogue that you get when you have a disease would be so so illegal.

Other misc fun ideas:

Having a progression mechanic, sorta like how vampirism has different stages. The further you've exceeded your stomach capacity, the more intense the penalties get.

Changes to food to encourage more eating. ^^' Possibly giving food items small buffs or other effects.

Exceeding your stomach capacity could give you a chance to contract a disease that's essentially a Big Tummyache, which has to be cured with a potion or shrine like other diseases.

completely separate from the Tummy Meter Idea, in my wildest crazy thoughts... a tummy/stuffing themed mod that adds a new side quest. the plot could be absolutely silly -- maybe you're hired to infiltrate a fancy party and eat all the food to embarrass the hosts, or you gain an innkeeper's favor by sampling all their cooking, or hell, maybe the DB is challenged to an eating contest. (normally I don't like eating contests as a trope but this setting is an exception, you can't tell me that No//rds don't brag about how much they can eat....)

my main point is -- if there was a quest where the DB had to go around one of those lavishly-supplied banquet halls that are everywhere in Sky//rim and eat a LOT of food... and if there was one of those quick third-person animations of them clutching their tummy afterwards... and maybe an NPC expressing concern or making comments on the state that you're in.... That Sure Would Be Something.

#thank you so much for this question anon #this was super fun to think about hehe #asks

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linkbetweenlinks · 9 months

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Wars, calling the chain to battle: "COME ON YOU SONS OF BITCHES! DO YOU WANT TO LIVE FOREVER" Immortal!Wild: "Yeah it's a bit late for that. Sorry"

ficlet incoming!! read under the cut!

"COME ON YOU SONS OF BITCHES! I DON'T PLAN TO DIE TODAY, OUR HERO'S SPIRIT WILL LIVE ON FOREVER!" Wars' battle cry bounced off the stone walls surrounding them, echoing around whatever cave the portal had dumped them in. On the plus side, at least they were perched up on a ledge out of reach. On the downside, their only way out is on the other side of the cave with a horde of monsters in between.

Wild inwardly flinched at the wording. Him being immortal was a secret he still kept from the other heroes, and he was still undecided whether to even tell them at all. How does he go about confessing to his brothers that he's been immortal since he first woke up in the shrine of resurrection. That after his latest quest, both Zelda and him had condemned themselves to living on forever to eternally keep the peace. They'd ended the reincarnation cycle at the cost of mortality.

Back in focus, Wild actually took stock of their surroundings. He recognised this cave. Just to confirm — not that he needed to, his memory post-shrine is perfect (a photographic memory he remembers Zelda calling it) — he pulled out his slate. Sure enough, the map revealed their location to be Gerudo Canyon Mine.

A bow materialised in his hands, arrow already knocked. A confirmation nod to Wars, then he fired a bomb arrow. The distressed squeals of monsters was their signal, and the rest of the heroes dropped down to start their battle. Arrow after arrow released from Wild's quiver, focusing on keeping the boss bokoblin frozen to give the group time to take out the smaller enemies.

A brief thought flitted across his mind, 'I should've used muddlebuds'. No point thinking on it now. His momentary distraction was his undoing, suddenly he was incased in ice courtesy of an ice like he only now spotted in his peripheral vision. It would've been fine if he'd just been frozen, he's dealt with that more times than he'd like to admit, but a pebblit took the opportunity to knock him off the ledge. At least the ice encasing him broke on impact.

The loud crash of the ice shattering around Wild had everyone's heads turning, monsters included. There was complete silence for what felt like both too long and too short amount of time, the only sound being Wild's groans as he heaved himself off the ground. Listen, just because he's dealt with worse doesn't make it any less painful.

He pushed himself onto his feet and looked up at his companions, already back in battle stances and slashing at the bokoblins. A few worried glances were shot his way, but they all trusted in eachother's skills enough that they didn't need worry. Wild could never stay down for long and he was just as fierce a fighter as the rest of them. What they didn't expect was the boss boko seemingly having a vendetta against the champion, rumbling through the rest of the group in a straight line to him.

Cursing Hylia's name, he thankfully side-jumped just in time to dodge the ramming of what would've been it's horn straight through his chest. What he didn't manage to dodge, though, was the arguably bigger threat of the claymore it was wielding. 'This is going to hurt,' was his first thought. 'How am I going to explain this one to them,' was his second and honestly slightly more panic-inducing thought. And then he was cleaved in half.

The problem with immortality is that, despite his upper half and lower half being disconnected, he's still very aware of the screams of his companions as they witness what should've been his death. And then the equal horror as they watch him stand up — the missing lower half instantly reconnected in a type of mysticism even Wild doesn't fully understand — with little to show he was even harmed outside of the bloodstains on his tunic.

As if it was as common as breathing, the champion takes the opportunity of everyone's stunned terror to summon his own claymore and with a disgusting squelch rips the boss bokoblin clean through the middle. This gets the remaining two blue bokoblins moving again, and he sees Legend and Wars reluctantly take their eyes off him to finish them off. The rest of the chain remain unmoving, Time and Twi in particular have not taken their eyes off him. Their eyes are glazed over in a way that suggests his 'death' is burned in their eyes.

"Let's just–" and Wild could feel everyone's eyes searing through him with every word, "–get out of this cave first. Then I'll explain everything."

#linked universe #lu #lu wild #tears of the kingdom #botw #breath of the wild #totk #totk fic #lu fic

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