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kdyism · 1 year

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STUPID CUPID.

pairing. haechan x reader

genre + themes. friends-to-lovers, fluff, smidge of angst, christmas-themed, college!au.

wc. 5,342 / warning. christmas, mention of kissing, being drunk, dumb decisions, mistletoes.

synopsis. after being victim to jaemin’s cupid-ing last christmas, lee donghyuck has to figure out whether he wants to give up on you or go for it while risking the comfort of your friendship because he think you don’t remember last christmas.

secret santa hosted by @neowritingsnet for @kthpurplesyou | hi bee! it’s me santa watermelon aka yunan <3 hoping i was mysterious enough and you are shocked, i hope this fic is to your liking! i switched writing between morning and night so it took longer, i wanted to drop it on dec 20 so that you’d have time before celebrations in case you do. crossing my fingers and sending this out to you, bee, i hope you enjoy this as much as i enjoyed writing it 💞💖💓

yunn says hohoho likes, comments + reblogs are appreciated, i hope everyone else enjoys this quick fic!

Lee Donghyuck is known for his infectious personality. He can leave a mark of his existence within a few seconds, he knows way too many people and most people would just think he is someone with too much free time on his hands.

“Did you get a name from the box?” unfolding his paper while maintaining a neutral expression, he sits in his usual seat and you bite down on your lips, eyes sparkling as soon as your eyes fall on the unfolded paper in your hand. “Let me guess?” narrowing his eyes, he hums. “...Taeyong,”

Gasping quietly, you nod chaotically and show him the name. “How’d you know?” you ask, a smile crawling onto your cheeks and you twist in his direction, your eyes looking directly behind him.

“When you see someone’s face as much as I've seen yours…” Donghyuck pursues his lips, “I would be an idiot not to know,”

Rolling your eyes at him, you dismiss his comment and continue with your preying. “How’s your schedule for this month?” you inquire, slipping your phone out of your pocket and suddenly, you look determined and shift your eyes back to him. “God, are you that happy?” he churns his face, watching your shake excitedly and your lips barely holding down a grin.

You gush in response, “Of course! You know I want his number,” skipping away from him, all he could do was sigh.

Waving you off, Donghyuck tries to hide his disappointment; unsure whether it was directed towards his paper or because of yours. Lee Taeyong, your most recent crush-ish, is a post-grad whose taking the same course as you for the same reason, extra credit. Donghyuck is already familiar with your boy of the week kind of crush-ishes—it’s not quite a crush, more like surface-level infatuation but if he didn’t know you any better, that’s what he would’ve thought.

However, it has never bothered him. Not until a stupid thing happened last Christmas.

Last Christmas changed everything, no warning or heads-up was given. He still remembers the night, unlike most nights at parties. He was sobered up, mind buzzing with all kinds of things until he was finally asleep on your sofa at almost 4 AM. He blames Na Jaemin for what happened, from his needless matchmaking to his punch-worthy grin, everyone knows that Na Jaemin’s favourite hobby is playing Cupid, going to all sorts of lengths to get his couple of the month to date. Hell, Donghyuck has actively participated in the talking up of girls, spreading rumours and finally, getting the ‘Characters’ to go on their first date.

It was funny and oddly satisfying when they do end up dating, Donghyuck for one wasn’t one to interrupt the fun. Not when he was directly getting the kick out of it. Except, he realized, it’s not very fun when the character line-up had his name written in the main leads.

hyuck💞: im booked all month

hyuck💞: why???? did you have something in mind???

“I hate him.” you declare breaking the silence that he embraced, “He said, ‘Uhhh I don’t know you…’ and left! Ugh, I didn’t think—”

“You didn’t think what? That he would be a normal person and be cautious when a sophomore is asking for his number?” he cuts you off snarkily and you drop your jaws, putting your hands on his shoulder and asking, “And why would he be cautious?”

Cupping your cheeks with a smile, Donghyuck says, “One, you are not me.” raising his brows, you wanted to flick him but you let him continue. “Two, don’t you remember someone leaking Sehun—whose also from post-grad— his number was just spreading like disease between group chats, of course, they’d be more careful,”

Letting out an “Oh”, you pout, slumping weakly as you understand his reason. “Are they friends?” you wonder, Oh Sehun was also hot if your memory serves you well but he rejected you without hesitation and then you killed his memory along with your fascination with him.

“Yeah—we don’t really have that many post-grads,” releasing your cheeks, your face falls before you pull yourself up and you click your tongue at him and he shakes his head.

Donghyuck’s reasoning always changes your mind, he was the reason you were even in the social club, to begin with. He was friends with everyone, always making plans with everyone and you’d barely ever see him if not for your meticulous planning to match your schedule with him since you were naturally more free than he was with both his part-time and his “Hey, whose name did you get?” you ask, remembering that he was friends with Lee Taeyong as well.

“Why would I tell you?” he glares at you, backing away and immediately guesses, “I am not going shopping with you,”

Slapping your hand over your mouth, “How’d you know?” you splurt, your hands dancing in the air trying to show him your surprise. “Yeah, you’re obvious,”

Donghyuck could easily predict what was going on in your mind, not always but usually he could. From his second month of being your friend, he already knew that you thrived on being nosy. The way you made friends with people by letting them complain about their problems to having new crushes on every new person who you saw for the first time—there might be just one reason why Donghyuck would like some distance between the two of you.

“You know mine, why can’t I know yours?” you ask not looking away from him while he packs the study material he already knew you were going to ask that, so he scoffs wearing a smirk. “It’s supposed to be secret santa, not un-secret santa. Now,” he pauses, waiting for you to stand up again and he begins walking out of the hall as you follow closely beside him, mumbling, “That’s unfair…”

“To the cafeteria?” you ask and he nods.

“Yeah. so, I wanted to say but you keep shutting me up—Anyways, I am not going to see you until the Christmas party at Mark’s,” Donghyuck stops as soon as the elevator sounds, “I am blocking you and going on a detox,” stepping into the elevator, he leaves you behind stunned.

Just as the doors slide back, he smiles while saying, “I don’t wanna see your face anywhere near me, okay?”

To hyuck💞: you cant do this you hurt me 🤕🤕

To hyuck💞: im sorry what did i doooo??

To hyuck💞: unblock me plsssss 🙏🙏🙏

To hyuck💞: what will i do without you??? i need you bro

Message failed to send

There aren’t many nights where he quietly stays in his room, ignoring your text and pressing block on you. There have been times like tonight when the heart beating in his chest feels more painful than usual. He has never been the type to cry through the night. The ceiling of his bedroom is comforting, the mould collecting in the corners every winter, reminding him of his chores, and normally, he'd be on his phone scrolling mindlessly through social media and thinking about how he was going to be a better person tomorrow than today. Usually, they happen a lot later than 10 PM and only after he has spent his day with you already.

For one, he’s glad that no one could tell of his awful crush on you.

Christmas has always been easy, it's been pleasant, and unlike most seasons; the holiday season always gets him in the mood for a big gathering, cosying up with his friends and just enjoying their presence without having to mess around and it also makes him less of a troublemaker. He doesn’t follow Yangyang to the skating rink nor does he annoy Renjun in the library and he also leaves Mark to do his good thing of the day without bothering him about that club that opened a block away from college. He was even fine with you telling him that you’d be going out.

With someone who wasn’t him.

He was fine.

Until Last Christmas happened.

“I’m coming in!” Jaemin’s voice brings him back to his room and he sits up, sighing heavily. “Are you staying home tonight?” he asks as soon as the boy enters the room wearing his strawberry-patterned apron that a junior of his gifted him.

“Jeno has a project so he’s staying with his group at the library—I have been left behind,”

Rooming with Jaemin was a last-minute decision, when his dorm lease was up he was going to resign it, however, after your fingers held his hands this spring, shaking with excitement and your lips stretched in a smile, reminding him that you only lived ten minutes away from Jaemin. Before he knew it, he was signing a new contract with Jaemin who couldn't hide his mischievous eyes for him.

"Did you block Y/N?" Jaemin sits on the swivel chair in front of his computer, casually pulling the cord of his wired mouse. "I sent her back home saying you weren't here just now,"

"She came here?" Donghyuck bursts, eyes wide and Jaemin laughs, "Of course not."

Groaning, Donghyuck throws his head back in defeat. "This is all your fault. If I didn't kiss her at that party we wouldn't be going through this," he grumbles, closing his eyes and flashes of last Christmas pass by.

It was picturesque, so perfect and the heat of his lips on yours—he would've never guessed that you'd taste like wine.

You hate wine.

Jaemin rolls his eyes, dismissing the accusation. "It's not my fault you have a superiority complex about knowing where all the mistletoes are,"

Offended by that, Donghyuck gets off his bed and stares down at the boy who continues to grab his copy of the Forza Horizon 4 and strut back to the door. "You hang it up there knowing full well that me and Y/N always take that spot," Donghyuck said and he receives a loud hah from his friend who pulls the door open.

Jaemin looks him straight in the eye, his characteristic sweet smile on his face and he said, "Maybe you should've just been a big boy and kissed me instead,"

And well, he wasn't wrong, so Donghyuck resorts to slamming his face into his pillow and raging at it, screaming while swinging his legs recklessly until his shin stabs against his bed frame and gives him genuine reason to scream out. God, if you were here, you'd have a look of worry painted all over your face while you still laughed at his pain and to be honest, Donghyuck thought you would look nice against the background of his room.

Turning to lie on his stomach, Donghyuck wiggles in his bed to get comfortably under his sheets, and he unlocks his phone, your image glowing on the screen. He has an album full of just you. You love sending him pictures of yourself, outfit of the day, and once in a while, when you look really nice, you'll send him a decent picture that he would lose his mind about but all he responds with is an emoji, the one with two eyes looking sideways.

Gulping down frustratedly, he clicks off his gallery, and suddenly, his screen cuts with notifications.

leemark: u helping on 23?

leemark: please?? jisung broke his arm u know he can't help me now

leemark sent a sticker

you: you owe me one

Working graveyard hours, twelve-to-four, has its unexpected silver lining. Most people are asleep during this time and anyone awake usually just want to get home, aside from the hooligans who mind their own business if you mind your own because of the cameras placed inside the convenience store and the patrol team in the area from two-till-six because of recent crime level increase in the area. To Donghyuck, it was perfect for a decent-paying, low-effort job.

The one downside of this is, you live super close to Jaemin and share the same convenience store as them. Of course, he'd see you if you decided to visit the store at this time.

Donghyuck didn't think of you as someone hot before, casual dating was not his mind when it came to you and you were always busy being interested in whoever is new. Maybe you liked the unfamiliarity of them, the fact you didn't see them for consecutive weeks before they suddenly appeared in front of you, unlike the two of them, Donghyuck has been in your life consistently for the past two years and this year, something changed.

The pulsing of his heart, when the store's automated doors slide open and your familiar pyjama hoodie comes into his view, the way his lungs forget to breathe and he can't tear his eyes off of you until you make your way up to the counter with your BBQ pringles and cola on the side. "When are you gonna unblock me?" even your voice is so sweet now, his brain shooting fuzzy chemicals inside him and butterflies making his knees go weak.

Donghyuck doesn't want to like you.

"You know the schedule, wait until the party," scanning the codes of your items and billing you up, he takes your exact change, sliding your snacks to you.

"Can't you give me a reason? What did I do?" you ask, stuffing your snacks into your hoodie’s pocket and Donghyuck groans, you didn't plan on leaving, he could tell. "You saw my text and didn't reply, you could've just replied then—"

"That's just stupid, I blocked you as soon as I remembered I said I would," he argued back, clicking his tongue at your exasperated expression.

Giving up on that point, "Nevermind that then, just give me a reason then," you said, Donghyuck grumbling internally and you stare at him, waiting for a reply.

"Didn't I tell you I wanted a detox?"

Waving him off, you glare at him and ask again, "Am I toxic? To make you need a detox from me?" your eyes tingle, the heat making its way up to your neck and you mentally curse, you've never been able to argue without feeling the urge to cry.

"That's not what I mean by detox. I just need some time from you, my life is a mess right now you are at the centre of it," Donghyuck explains, his hands automatically holding your face and rubbing away the tears that brim in your eyes. "I don't mean to make you cry—with all the time away from me, you can go and try to snag Taeyong! Come on, you have a life without me in it too," he adds, his voice softer and fingers gently crease your cheeks, earning a pout from you.

You spit, "What's that supposed to mean?" you take his hands away from your face and wrap your fingers in his, "Taeyong isn't you, no one is you. You are not replaceable for me,"

Tears bubbling up again, Donghyuck shushes you and he doesn't want to feel this way; his chest clogs up and renders him breathless in front of you, and he feels guilty. "Hey, hey, come on don't cry," he frets, his fingers wiping away the tears and settling on your shoulders. If only the counter wasn't in between you, he knows for sure he'd have hugged you and given up already.

"You know, your touch always makes me not cry," you laugh, remembering the time when you almost broke down in class after getting an F and being required to repeat a course the next semester. He held your hand the entire two hours of the lecture and even stayed with you until you were back home. You didn't even know him too well back then.

It made your heart kinda race for him but the comfort of your growing friendship with him felt too precious.

"That's because you are like a baby, holding you will make you calm down," he exposes you, rolling his eyes as if it were an obvious truth and you scoff, "Just how many people do you think hold my face like I'm a chipmunk?" killing the mood, Donghyuck sighs, "Well, at least you are okay now,"

"Unblock me now," you said, regaining your reason once you've calmed down and he shakes his head without hesitation, suddenly regaining his previous determination. "Yeah, no."

A Y/N-detox isn't feasible if he thought about it, not when you've carefully matched your schedule to his because he is always working or has appointments with other friends, you work at the cafe down the fast food cabin he works at, take the same bus home as him and worst of all, you both share the same friend groups because of how much time you spend together as a collective.

"Do you guys like, hate me or something?" Donghyuck deadpans, slumping into the seat you were previously sitting at.

"You hate yourself," Renjun quips, his eyes not leaving his book and Yangyang nods in agreement while adding, "You didn't think it would be a good idea to tell us you didn't like her anymore? We would've not invited her,"

"We could've also made a group without you in it," Mark said, resting his head on the wall and dozing away. He had finished a shift and was supposed to work one more shift today because his junior broke his arm but thank the heavens, Donghyuck said okay and is covering the shift. Too guilty to go home, Mark has resorted to staying around until the end of the shift anyway.

Mark, unlike Jaemin, was Donghyuck’s only refuge. The one person who knew about his crush and the one person who told him, hey, she might like you. "Dude, just go home," he says, shaking Mark's shoulder and Renjun sighs.

Renjun says, "I tried already, he is just being stubborn," closing his book once he bookmarks it and crossing his arms on the table. "Now, you need to tell us what happened,"

Renjun has always been perceptive of his mood, always keeping up with the latest drama and the main provider of information to Jaemin's cupid hustle. Romance was just his forte. Donghyuck, though, was too scared to ask him his opinion on it in case he told him to just give up—as if he wasn't already trying in his own way.

"Promise me you won't laugh," Donghyuck gulps and Yangyang grunts loudly, "Dude, miss me with the suspense—We swear, now what happened?"

Inhaling, he blinks away into the distance. "I might be in love with Y/N and I am so ashamed to come out with it. I know it's stupid but you guys know how we are, it's always us together, Donghyuck and Y/N, we're friends.

Shit, I even blocked her to get over her but it's not working—I dreamt of her last night and it was so embarrassing to see her today,"

"Dreamt of her… like… like that?" Yangyang asks, his fists covering his dropped jaw and Donghyuck's face burns up at the suggestion but he doesn't deny it, much to Renjun's disgust, he gags and says, "Please don't give us the details,"

"She's been going insane on her own and constantly going on about you—this must be why." Mark nods as if a bigger picture was drawn in his head, he grins and goes on, "Jaemin wasn't joking when he said you liked her last Christmas. I didn't think the mistletoe trick would work,"

Gasping at him, "You knew!" Donghyuck points at him in accusation and grabs his collar, "That kiss messed up our relationship!"

Yangyang breaks them up, grinning at Donghyuck sleazily, and he says, "Dude, tomorrow's party, just fix it. There's nothing to lose—I can't believe you've dragged this on for a year, how adorable."

Two weeks without Donghyuck and you are but a shell of yourself.

It was so easy getting used to life with him, he came in and went out so nonchalantly. You hadn't realized how involved he was in your life until he was gone from your daily transit, he was gone from your walks home, he was gone from his shift at the convenience store and not a single text you sent him went through. No, your life didn't revolve around him but you include him in everything because, Donghyuck will think this is funny, you need to tell him about the stupid fight that happened in the café and Donghyuck will look good with this, you need to take him shopping with you.

Shit, you sent him a picture of random things that made you think of him.

There was only once that you thought you liked him, and you shot that down as soon as he said he liked a girl in his social club—you even joined the club for him, how could he like someone else… you gave up as soon as your heart latched on and to be honest, you were okay with that because well, he was still the closest person to you.

You didn't need the kisses to feel loved. His gentle hands creasing your cheeks habitually and his warm hugs because he feels like it, they made you feel loved. The way he makes time to see you in his busy schedule, you know he leaves hours in his day because you'll ask him for time, which makes you feel loved as well.

It didn't make sense for him to suddenly shut you out, not when he was leaving all these signs, he didn't do any of these with anyone else—last Christmas meant something to him.

You just knew it did.

"Have you guys seen Donghyuck?" you ask, holding your red cup of punch barely full and your head feeling dizzy.

Pointing towards a corner, "I THINK HE WAS WITH MARK," Yangyang screams at the top of his lungs, the earmuffs doing their work to shut out even his loudness.

Lee Mark throws the most exciting Christmas parties every year in his apartment building in collaboration with his neighbours. The shared pool and backyard were completely theirs to use, Mark would normally hang up mistletoes in the spaces between his apartment and everywhere else. The kissing begins as soon as you want to leave his front door anywhere else. And you never leave his apartment, so you never had to deal with the plant.

That wasn't the case last year, someone had hung up mistletoes inside the apartment and exactly at the spot you and Donghyuck always beeline to, that's where everything changed for him and out of nowhere, you had to be the one acting normal because he wasn't.

Stumbling your way into the living room, it wasn't too crowded in here and it usually only had Mark's closest friends loitering around. Your eyes immediately find Donghyuck, laughing loudly and he leaves his beanbag, and almost instinctively, you plop down on it as soon as you near it.

Fading out of consciousness, "Who said you could sit there?" he whined, his eyes half-lid as he grabbed your hand and you shot up, your head feeling clearer now.

You always steal his seat when he leaves to get a refill. "I was just keeping it warm. You don't have to yell," you said, jutting your lips out. Your cheeks painted in a flushing colour, Donghyuck guessed that you already had your share of drinks and made a mental note to leave the party soon because he was your ride home. Not that he'll be driving but even walking you home is considered a ride.

Well, maybe not this time because you guys didn't come together.

Letting go of your arm, you fall back onto the beanbag, and he gives you puppy eyes. "I wasn't yelling," Donghyuck grumbles, getting shoved to the side by someone and he turns to face them.

"Are you okay?" Jaemin asks, his lips almost meeting his eyes in a wide grin, and Donghyuck immediately has his guard up, feeling a wave of deja vu.

"You look tipsy, aren't you gonna go home?" Pressing his hand on your forehead, Jaemin looks towards the ceiling above you and smirks. "Oh, look here, guys," he gasps loudly. However, Donghyuck could hear the pretentiousness of it.

Donghyuck followed his gaze with narrowed eyes, right above him, wretched mistletoes greeted him in the dimly lit corner of the room immediately releasing a groan. "Ugh, not again!" Donghyuck cries.

Scoffing at Jaemin, he rolls his eyes. "What? You wanna kiss me this time?" he asks in a mean tone, and Jaemin giggled, moving away from the spot while saying, "Of course, not," Donghyuck felt his blood boil, if Jaemin was a cupid, then maybe that song about a stupid cupid was right.

Clearly, his arrows were faulty this time.

Last time, it didn't cross his mind that someone else would be hanging up mistletoes, Mark never hung them up in the corners of the rooms and especially not inside Mark's apartment because he was scared someone would make out on his sacred sofa or worse, inside his toilet. But he learnt his lesson, Na Jaemin goes to extreme lengths to pair up his couples after all.

You then ask, "Then—Are we going to kiss?" your eyes look curiously at him as you pointed at the plant. "It's you and me under it now,"

And from that point, it's never been the same. The last time, he kissed your lips, it was stupid. You were drunk and said okay for the fun of it, Donghyuck could only hope neither of you remember it.

But when his lips lightly brushed on yours, and he realized that tomorrow morning you'll be back to normal, your memory in fragments and he remembers it clearly, the regret that washed over him the next morning when he opened his eyes to the ceiling of his bedroom, the horror that clung to him when his phone was bombarded by his friends curious about how he felt now that he had kissed you.

He was in denial for a whole year.

Once more, "Are we going to kiss again," you ask, your fingers pulling his shirt, you bring him back to the present and guide him down towards you.

Donghyuck's knees go weak, and he falls onto the floor with his breath caught. This time, you are the one taking the lead. "You remember," he breathes out, looking away from you and you give him a tight-lipped look. "Yeah, I never forgot it," you said.

"Why'd you never say anything, I am so sorry about the kiss—" Donghyuck immediately says and you cut him off, —"I didn't say anything because I didn't mind, I actually liked it and I thought you did too because you kissed me twice…"

Perhaps it was the lighting in the room. Donghyuck never thought you looked hot but he did always think you were beautiful, but today, the lipstick you wore made him want to go crazy. "Don't you like Taeyong now?" he just had to ask to be sure and you scoff, rolling your eyes.

Wrapping your arms around his shoulders, you said, "You know my fascination with all my crush-ishes dies after I talk to them,"

"But you were so excited for the secret santa," "That's because it's gift giving and that's fun,"

Donghyuck didn't get your name, so he thought you weren't meant to be. No matter how stupid he thinks that idea is now, he still thought it was fate that you got Taeyong's name when you liked him. "I thought you were going to cut me off this Christmas to spend it with him, that's why I came up with the detox… to give you time away from me and me time away from you,"

Biting down a smile, you place a peck on his lips. "Have I ever gone on a date with anyone since you've known me?" you tease, and he immediately says, "Yeah, Yangyang. The two of you go on skate rink dates all the time, I see you guys,"

"That's just you being picky—you don't know how to skate so, of course, I go there with him and not you," flicking his forehead, you click your tongue and went on, "Plus, you always come along anyway,"

"Because I come along, it's not a date anymore,"

"Wow, genius," you giggle, rolling your eyes and Donghyuck sighs into your side, he thinks, his arms are allowed to go around your waist now and he's allowed to keep staring into your eyes.

Your eyes don't leave him either, the thumping bass of the background blending in with the sound of your heart skipping beats and your toes curl, butterflies choking your breath when you say, "Hey, there's a mistletoe here—can't you just kiss me already?"

Dipping his head down, his lips catching yours and this time, you taste like berry punch, your favourite and his hands cradle your face, he still isn't sure if this is the right way to go with you but when your lips synchronise with his, moving softly against his with your hands desperately clinging onto his shoulders.

It took him a mistletoe and a whole year to realize his feeling about you, so maybe, cupid wasn't the only stupid one, he was stupid too. You've been right in front of each other and yet, "Does this mean you like like me?" you ask against his lips.

Smiling, "Just how many people do you think I block?" Donghyuck lets his head rest on your shoulder, the rest of his body going limp as well on the floor, and you pat his back. "Are we together now? Next Christmas, will I be your boyfriend?" he asks weakly, and you nod. Although he couldn't see you, he could tell there was a smile on your face.

"Oh, by the way, do you know who put this in here? Mark doesn't put mistletoes inside his apartment right?" curiously, you point at the plant on top of you and he grumbles, "Na Jaemin," tightening his grip on you. Donghyuck thinks he should give his thanks to Jaemin too because, without him, none of this would've happened.

"Aah, now it makes sense why he came here last year—doesn't he always stay at the pool area with Jeno and that Junior of theirs?"

Nodding, Donghyuck says, "Yeah. He even came up this time too," mentally deciding to spare him this time.

And you giggle, cheerfully saying, "We should thank him, he is kinda like our cupid if you think about it. It goes well with his reputation on campus," the sound of your humming makes him smile, agreeing with you, "Huh, you think so?"

BONUS:

Beknownst to both of you, starting next semester Na Jaemin’s position as campus cupid was solidified using a picture he took once the two of you knocked out in the corner of Mark’s living; Donghyuck’s head nestling on your stomach and your head tilted upwards in a way that looked like it hurt—His greatest masterpiece he said, showing the photo and relying on the great love story until “How come none of you tell me about this?” Donghyuck accuses his friends, shifting his weight to one side and scoffing indignantly.

Yangyang shrugs, “It’s funny. And you guys look cute anyways, what are you mad about?” he asks, his face genuinely looking confused, which makes Donghyuck click his tongue, and Mark asks, “Are you mad we didn’t share the photo with you?” his eyes narrowed, hoping his guess was right.

“How’d you know!” you clap, nodding your head. “Hyuck changed his wallpaper as soon as he got the picture,”

“How did it take this long to find out, though?” Renjun asks, “You’re friends with everyone on campus. It's unbelievable it took you this long,”

#neosecretsanta #neowritingsnet #nct-writers #haechan x reader #lee donghyuck x reader #nct x reader #nct dream x reader #nct imagines #nct dream imagines #nct haechan x reader

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cursedcola · 2 years

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Prompt: What would they do to celebrate your birthday? Part(s): Heartslabyul, Savanaclaw, Scarabia, Octavinelle, Pomefiore, Ignihyde, and Diasmonia You're Here: Diasmonia! A/N: Yup. I definetly went over board. Do I regret it? Not at all. I will preach Diasmonia 'found family,' supremacy until I die.

Malleus Draconia

The longer he spends with humanity, the more Malleus realizes just how different man is from fae. In biology, in morality, in social structure, and in tradition. A prime example being birthday celebrations.

The fae see many more anniversaries than humans. Celebrations are typically reserved for children as they hit milestones in development, but after some decades the shine of life begins to fade. The day blends in with all the others on the calendar, until it’s relevancy has dwindled to a mere recognition. ‘Ah, another year gone by,’ being a fleeting thought as the day passes.

Malleus being a prince makes him an exception, since he is celebrated by many fae every year. Yet not in the way he’s witnessed at NRC. When his peers age, there is always a boisterous gathering. One full of laughter, games, food, and jubilation. A stark contrast to the regal dinners that he is used to attending.

He has never been invited personally. He is not offended, per-say, yet he does watch at a distance. He witnesses humans celebrate life as if it is a gift to cherish.

A short life, yet one well lived. Malleus begins to understand humanity’s philosophical take on how, “life is bittersweet”.

Which leads him to a dilemma. How should he go about celebrating your birthday? If a large party was being thrown, then he had not received any invitation. Yet, he is not satisfied with letting the day pass by as many fae do. Spontaneous partying is not for him either, as he does not feel comfortable celebrating you living as if it could have been your last year.

Needless to say, your birthday is a serious matter to Malleus. It makes him recognize your mortality, and the cultural differences that divide you both. So, he turns to Lilia for advice. On both philosophy and regarding your celebration.

After a discussion full of sarcastic quips and riddles, Malleus chooses to blend the traditions of humanity and fae. In the daytime you can enjoy your party with friends, and in the night you will come to Diasmonia. Lilia, Silver, Sebek, and himself will host a casual dinner—one that Lilia is not allowed to cook, and where Sebek is forbidden from lecturing your table manners.

The evening feels so foreign to Malleus. He takes his meals with his family every day, yet the table is never as lively as it is when you attend. As you both engage in pleasant conversation, the fighting between Sebek and Silver fades to background noise. When he turns to talk with Lilia, you are soon wrangled into the fight, yet it becomes more playful than tense. Malleus watches in amusement as you draw a whip-cream mustache on Silver when he falls asleep. Sebek even ends up with icing in his hair after making fun of your art skills, and Malleus nearly chokes on his cake.

It’s perfect. You are perfect. He can hardly keep himself from giving you your present then and there—something Lilia notices, urging Malleus to walk you home since, ‘it is a school night fufu’.

Leading you through the forrest, Malleus feels his heart soar when you thank him for the wonderful evening. He stops you mid-stride with his hand on his chest, and reaches to pull something from his uniform breast pocket. A sigil. More specifically, a sigil that grants entrance to Briar Valley.

“Child of man—no, (Y/N). You and I are different in so many ways. Compared to my people you are merely a child, yet I find myself learning more from you than any elder has taught. Not only in terms of humanity, but of my heart. You have beseeched me in body and soul. I dread the day we must part; and so, If you choose to remain in this world then know that there is a home waiting—you need only want it,”

Lilia Vanrouge

Birthdays are important to Lilia. They celebrate the gift of life, yet also remind us of the past. Lilia knows many birthdays. He’s old enough to fill books with his companions — he actually has. You need only open a textbook to hear about some of his past friends — and the list keeps growing. Even after people have long passed on, he remembers their birthday. The day will come and he will remember their life. Their shared memories.

You are no exception, although you have yet to pass on (which he is hoping does not happen anytime soon. The next time someone overblots he will be reporting NRC for student neglect). Being the sleuth that he is, Lilia learned about your birthday through snooping.

It was a difficult task considering how you are an enigma to Twisted Wonderland. With no documentations to smuggle, all Lilia could do is rely on gossip. How fortunate he was to be in the area when his heightened hearing picked up talk of a surprise celebration.

And how unfortunate for the party planners, because you will have other plans that evening. Fufufu~

With a special day quickly approaching, Lilia is in chipper spirits. Silver does not miss the extra carton of eggs, sack of flour, sugar, etc. stashed in the kitchen and fears for his life. All of Diasmonia is on edge, thinking that their senior is planning to craft them a new dish

Tensions diminish when notice of your birthday reaches everyone else, until an entirely new problem arises. This being that Lilia plans for you to eat one of his monstrosities, on your birthday no less

It wouldn’t be so bad. Except that it’s been literal decades since their elder has been in love good friends with someone, and your death would end that. If not death, food poisoning would definitely cause Lilia to lose good noodle points

With his father set on making you a special treat, Silver watches from the sidelines as one of the most hideous cakes is produced.

Being the good son he is, Silver waits until nightfall to swap the cake with an exact replica. Except this one is edible, although some “unique,” features could not be replicated with fondant. Just be grateful it’s all edible and doesn’t have fish scales for “crunchy texture”

Lilia wastes no time on your birthday. At exactly midnight, your window is thrown open and he’s sitting on the ledge expectantly. Lilia balances both the cake and a present box in his hands, laughing when you leap out of bed to pull him inside.

Blow out your candles quickly, because he is excited for his cake to be the first you taste. The flavors were chosen with you in mind, and when that’s done he has an extra special surprise present. He’s a bit smug when handing over the box, a comment about spoiling you too much playing on his lips. Quickly now, open it—

“You like it, yes? Fufufu~ Of course you do, it was once mine after all. Pocket watches are not in style as they used to be, but this is an antique! One of my favorite pieces — and now it belongs to you. Happy birthday, my dear. My time is forever yours,”

Silver

“Ah. So, today is your birthday?”

Silver does not know until you tell him. He’s not nosy like Lilia, desperate like Malleus, or blunt like Sebek; he relies on you to tell him about important things. Now that he knows, there is a mental bookmark for next year, but currently? He has nothing prepared

He feels a bit guilty. This is your first year in Twisted Wonderland; with him. What kind of boyfriend doesn’t know his partner’s birthday? A scummy one, according to your little cat friend

He doesn’t go out of his way to plan something extra special. Celebrating tomorrow seems pointless since it’s today that you were born, so that is out

He also has to serve Lord Malleus, since he hadn’t requested time off and Sebek would slice his head off for skimping on his duties. It’s unfortunate, but all Silver can do is wish you a happy day. With fleeting a kiss on your wrist in the morning, he begrudgingly goes to start his daily routine

It is not easy. Please do not think him heartless. Oh great seven, the thought of upsetting you spikes his adrenaline enough to keep him awake through class

Time skip to dinner, where the four are sitting down to one of Lilia’s delicious homecooked meals. Malleus asks Silver if you both had already celebrated, which leads to a shameful admittance of forgetting…

Que Sebek fury. Uncontrolled rage because Silver ditched you for duties that Sebek could have easily covered. “Humans only live so many years,”… “You lazy bastard,” yada yada. Wow. Sebek chewing Silver out for something unrelated to Malleus??? And he’s right?? Someone get a camera.

Nevermind that he is also human, and Sebek half-human. The point is that Silver royally fucked up, and his family now has to fix it. Half-way through the argument Malleus disappeared to kidnap invite you over. Lilia’s on his way to see if Sam has any treats for sale (since there is not enough time to bake), and the two fighting are left to scream. They only stop when you return with Malleus, confused and in need of an explanation

Which you do not get. Instead, Silver composes himself and thanks his liege before pulling a chair out for you to sit. Lilia returns with store-bought sweets, and apologizes that they are not homemade. While there are no gifts, the four of you all enjoy the evening together.

Eventually it is time for you to return home, and despite the enjoyable evening there is still something missing. Silver is grateful that his family gave you both the chance for quality time…yet something still feels unfulfilled

As he walks you home, it hits him. An idea that’s been in front of him the entire day. Not ready for the day to end, Silver asks you to wait on the steps of your dorm as he runs to fetch something. He runs back into the woods with purpose, and soon returns with small bouquet of wildflowers.

“I am sorry for making this day a mess. If not for everyone else, I may have let a precious moment like this pass by. Happy Birthday, (Y/N). I may not voice it often, but I care for you. Deeply,”

Sebek Zigvolt

Birthday? Why does that matter when lord malleus is breathing the same air as you? Feel honored, peasant.

Humanhumanhumanlordmalleushumanscrewyousilverhumanhumanlordmalleuslordmalleusmasterliliastupidhumanstupidsilverpshh

…….

………………

^^ Just kidding

Okay, half kidding.

You have somehow done the unimaginable. Sebek has gotten over his daddy issues and accepted that humans are not entirely terrible. Why? Well, because he is maybe…sort of…kind of…just a bit…in love with you

Yeah. He did not see that one coming. You can’t even use magic! Yet…credit goes where it is due and you have proven yourself worthy. He is infatuated, and speaks of you with pride. Do not expect anything less than a grand effort on your birthday. Although, please keep an open mind. This is first time with a lover and so he needs help. Lots of help.

Sebek would not dare bother Lord Malleus or Master Lilia with his personal matters, but on the other hand he does not have anyone else to ask. He could write home but that is unwise for many reasons.

Thankfully, Sebek is awful at lying and Lilia was able to dig up his worries. The bat could have pulled a prank and offered bad advice, yet even he knows a joke would be in poor taste. Not with such pure-hearted love at stake

In the end, Sebek was told to stick with human tradition. A present, and a sweet. Easy, right?

Haha. Since when is anything involving Sebek been considered easy. He cannot decide on the “perfect” present, and ends up accumulating a multitude of gifts. He had only gone out shopping once, yet at every shop he found something that reminded him of you. No gift felt, “perfect,” and so now he has around a dozen different presents to choose from. All stashed under his bed.

Next came the wrapping. Should the paper match your eyes or your hair? Should he get a large bow, or make one himself? There are so many gifts, should he wrap them together or individually?

Then comes the sweet. Sebek wanted to get your favorite, but had no clue what it was. What if it was a complicated recipe from your world? He would make it, of course he would. Yet how can he make what he’s never tasted himself?

It goes on like this. Every detail has to be perfect, or else it is not worthy. He begins to stress himself while doing a horrible job at hiding it from you. Eventually it becomes too painful to watch, yet all becomes clear on your birthday.

It’s at breakfast when you feel a tap on your shoulder, and Grimm points over to Diasmonia’s table with a shaking paw. Confused by his sudden fear, you turn to see your boyfriend glaring daggers into the back of your head

When your eyes meet, he shoots up and a loud bang resounds as his leg collides with the bottom of the table. Smooth.

After composing himself, he marches to your table with determination and demands that you meet him in the botanical garden after classes. Leaving no room for response, the man is back at his table and likely being laughed at by Silver

When you arrive, there is a table with the presents he bought stacked on top. All perfectly wrapped and arranged. You admire them briefly when the clatter of cutlery, followed by the sound of a match being lit catches your attention.

“Happy Birthday to you~ Happy Birthday to you~ Happy Birthday (Y/N)~ Happy Birthday to you~…was that to your liking? I have not heard anyone sing to you today, yet it is human custom in some cultures. I will do so again next year if you want,”

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aijamisespava · 10 months

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Favorite Songs From Each Country! Part 26/37: Greece!

Yes, we all know that Greece and Cyprus are essentially best friends, giving each other 12 points almost ever time (and then they only give Cyprus 4 points this year? Crime.). But Greece had a killer top 10 streak that went from the 2000s into the 2010s, and a qualification streak that went on for a little bit longer than that. They dominated the 2000s, even boasting one of the most iconic winners in recent Eurovision history!

Favorite Entry: We don't have to go that far back to find my favorite Greek entry. Only bouncing back a year to Amanda Tenfjord's "Die Together" from 2022. I follow a lot of Eurovision YouTube channels to learn more about Eurovision since I'm so new, and considering where I live, my sources are a little more limited. One of the channels (Mr. Eurovision if you wanna look them up) has "Get To Know" videos on some of the artists announced before National Finals, doing their best to catch up when the Eurovision rush picks up. That's where I learned about Amanda's upcoming song being a breakup ballad. I love breakup ballads (what also helped was that I was also fresh off the release of "Red (Taylor's Version)"). And when the song came out, I was not disappointed and it shot right to the top! I still love the song, despite having listened to her album and "Die Together" ranking 4th there. But I think that's a good thing, because she could have sent my top 3 off the album and still have been my winner. *Needless to say, I'll be posting the "Die Together" Spotify link that connects to the album, def give it a listen. I feel it's underrated because it came out the same night as "Midnights" and even I overshadowed it.* RANK: 8th in 2022 Grand Final/PERSONAL RANK: 1st of 40 Countries

Thoughts on 2023 Entry: So, with 2022 being my winner, that would mean that Victor Vernicos and "What They Say" would be my host entry had I been in charge of Eurovision. And I FEEL LIKE SUCH AN A-HOLE about how I feel about this song. I forgot about it. And I feel horrible because his voice is excellent (which at 16? He's got a great career ahead of him). Also, I fell upon the lyrics to the song...and it being about having anxiety? It's incredibly relatable? And not in the "haha same" way? Luckily, I've interacted with this group of people who had the same winner as I did and "What They Say" gets a lot of love over there, along with some other songs that were kind of underrated in the contest. RANK: 13th In 2023 Semi-Final 2 (30th Overall)/PERSONAL RANK: 33rd of 37 Countries

#eurovision song contest #esc #esc 2023 #eurovision #eurovision 2023 #esc2022 #amanda tenfjord #die together #victor vernicos #what they say #Spotify

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jeoseungsaja · 2 years

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This is nothing new, being greeted by his dear friend once they’ve arrived at Incheon International Airport. Patrick has been through it more than enough times and Elise and Hiro, over the years, have joined him in the same boat. But this time, when they meet his dear friend at the gate, Patrick’s first instinct is to let go of his luggage handle and tackle Hyuk in a tight hug. Breathing in the scent of coffee, fresh soap, and hot chocolate, he then kisses his dear friend on the cheek before pulling back for a better view. Gods, how he’s missed seeing his dear friend, how it’s so much better to see that familiar, warm face, pinched like an overripe lemon or not, in-person than thru a screen and-

“Professor?”

”Papa!”

Patrick freezes, noticing both Hiro and Elise staring at him. And then it hits him: he just did that in front of everyone and- movements stiff, he lets go of Hyuk and takes a step back. Face ablaze, Patrick chuckles, albeit nervously as he coughs into his hand and grabs his luggage handle again. “A…apologies for my, ah, excitement there, but um,” he scratches a cheek before looking up at his dear friend. He can’t help but grin albeit shyly. “It’s good to see you, Hyuk-ah.” ( HI ALEX!! this is so late, but here is another...unprompted ask!! and this time it's patrick who was so happy to see hyuk he couldn't contain himself 😂 hope this works and if not, feel free to ignore!! have a wonderful day alex 😄😄😄 )

@ofgentleresolve ♚ hyuk having the ultimate dokis? more likely than you think---

♔ ———–

All of these things he’s done before. Make a 30-minute drive from Seoul to Incheon, walk under Do Ho Suh’s brightly colored houses that float over airport’s roof; stand near the sliding doors which allow passengers to come out like a swarm of ants holding onto their luggage whilst frantically looking for a familiar face. And he’ll do it over and over and over again, even traverse longer distances and stay for hours on place, if that means he’ll get to see the one he’s waiting for at the moment.

His best friend, Patrick. The only person who knows him like no other.

All of these things he’s done before, but today he’s...well. He’s feeling slightly different. Of course, he’s always happy to see his friend, for it is nice to be able to talk to him in person and see him face-to-face rather than through a screen, but somehow, his whole body feels so undeniably electrified, with a type of thrill that’s been potentially heightened; with a sort of nervousness that hasn’t left him ever since Patrick accepted his invitation of traveling to Jeju Island with him.

God, when was the last time they did this? Years ago, he thinks; during their youth. Two souls throwing their backpacks on the sand without much care. When Hyuk’d get tipsy and tug his dear friend toward the shore.

Now they’re all grown-up, with jobs and responsibilities and other things to take care of, barely having time to breathe with ease. Needless to say, Hyuk hopes they (Patrick, Elise and Hiro) have a good time here, away from all that heaviness. He can’t say he’s the best host out there, but he’s been certainly trying; making plans for the journey to Seogwipo so all of them can be as comfortable as possible.

A rather timorous sigh leaves him as he looks at the clock on his cellphone. It’s been twenty minutes since the flight was marked as ‘Arrived’. It’s only a matter of time, isn’t it? A matter of time for Patrick to come out of those doors and---

There he is, his height making him stand out amid the crowd --- or is it the glow he constantly emits, no matter where he goes? Akin to comfortable luminescence that peeks between green leaves when swaying side to side with the wind; a gleam that has the detective’s heart pounding erratically, hitting rib-cage with anticipation. Swallowing thickly; a rapid, unconscious bite of bottom lip happens as he saves his cellphone in breast’s pocket. He takes a few steps forward, peeking so he doesn’t lose sight of Patrick and his children, Elise and Hiro, who seem to be right alongside him.

Lips cannot help but stretch into a close-lipped smile, waving Patrick’s way so he can be easily spotted.

“Patrick--”

A sudden grunt leaves Hyuk when he’s greeted by unexpected motions; rush sending him into a spiral of unforeseen delight as Patrick’s arms wrap him into a tight, warm embrace. His own limbs respond almost immediately, an answer to the longing drumming silently within. The detective hugs him back; eyes closing for a moment as nose unconsciously grazes best friend’s neck, as if wanting to hide his face upon crook. Whatever worries he was holding, they all melt away here, in the comfort of his hold, in the scent that’s a mixture of tea leaves and ink from fountain pens; paper of thick books and the sweetness of chocolate.

The shape of Patrick’s lips is left on his cheek, leaving Hyuk quite dumbfounded. Heat begins to crawl up his neck; blinking as his own arms loosen up, fingers still lightly grasping Patrick’s shirt as they both look at each other when pulling away. There’s this urge of using his hand to caress dear friend’s cheek, this secret need to tell him that he’s been dearly missed, the concealed wish to whisper if he could do that again because it felt nice, much like the kiss placed upon his forehead once upon a time---

Train of thought is broken when hearing voices calling Patrick nearby, eyes widening when noticing that this isn’t their private bubble but a public setting where his children are in, watching. Hyuk lets go of Patrick’s garments; clearing his throat as a shade of pink manages to stain his cheeks. Well, this is...quite awkward. Not that he minds doing these things in public sometimes, not really...it’s more so the fact that Hiro and Elise got no clue of what’s been happening...or do they? Both are so utterly smart and observant, so it wouldn’t be surprising if they’ve picked up on some clues.

Taking a few steps back, he attempts to be as casual as ever, even adjusting the lapel of his blazer whilst going to address both Elise and Hiro. He feels they’ve grown so much ever since the last time he saw them.

“Hi, Elise. Hello, Hiro. I’m glad you...uh, decided to come with your dad. It was a long trip, wasn’t it? Are you tired?”

He then peeks to see Patrick, who seems to be bashful about the whole thing. The way he shyly grins and uses that nickname only he can use has Hyuk’s heart doing somersaults. The detective chuckles, one of those free, fond titters that he doesn’t usually release unless he means them.

“It’s good to see you too, Dae-yah. Here, let me...help you with your luggage---”

Hyuk’s hand reaches out, trying to get a hold of luggage’s handle but landing on Patrick’s knuckles instead. Was this done on purpose? Perhaps. Hyuk’s gaze lifts to look at his dear friend with a little, crooked smile dancing on lips, squeezing Patrick’s hand for a swift second before Hyuk’s touch deviates to actually take the handle, pulling the luggage to his side without much of a hassle.

“Elise, Hiro...do you need help with your luggage? Give it to me, I can carry it. Ah, have you eaten anything? Plane food is no good these days, so I’m taking you somewhere...what do you feel like eating? It can be anything---”

———– ♔

#ofgentleresolve #♔ || the puzzle of our friendship is the most comforting (patrick).#♔ || answers.#♔ || answered.#♔ || verse three.#NOT ME GOING ALL 🥺 WHEN I SAW THIS WIUEDHKASHDIWUEDH #THE WAY PATRICK DIDN'T EVEN THINK BECAUSE HE WAS TOO EXCITED---HE JUST WENT FOR IT #THE WAY HYUK DIDN'T EVEN THINK EITHER #THE WAY THEY MISSED EACH OTHER #THE WAY THESE TWO DESTROY ME WITH THEIR MOMENTS OF WHOLESOMENESS WIEUDHIWUEH #But also Elise and Hiro getting all confused over what Patrick just did (whEEZE)#it makes me wonder if...Elise and Hiro have...an inkling about Patrick's feelings #Sorta going 'that seems sus Papa/Professor but okay' IUWEHDKJASHDWUIEH #BUT ALSO NOT ME....imagining them eating all together and Hyuk asking Elise something about the last project she's been working on #Or anything that could lead her to talk about the things she's interested about because even if Hyuk might not know much about those topics #He does enjoy hearing her explain these things IWUHEDWUIHD #and also asking Hiro how's everything with him / if he's been doing well #since Hiro is a bit...more reserved Hyuk doesn't really try to prod much...he understands #but he's glad that he also decided to join in ;W;#BUT ALSO THIS WHOLE!!! BEACH VACATION!!! (I hope it's okay that I linked this ask to the other one ;W; IF NOT LMK AND I'LL CHANGE THINGS)#HYUK IS SO EXCITED AND HAPPY AND I JUST IWUEDHKASHDWUIEDH #and Hyuk indeed goes softer near the water so 👀 we'll see what might happen IUWEHDH #I adore them your honor #aND I ADORE YOU ;W; <3 #ANYWAY I RAMBLED BIG TIME HERE IWHEDIWDEH BUT I HOPE THIS IS OKAY!!! IF YOU'D LIKE ME TO CHANGE ANYTHING DO LET ME KNOW AND I WILL!!#PLS HAVE A NICE DAY FERRE!!!#also this took me a bit to get to BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WAITING/FOR YOUR PATIENCE ;W; I HOPE THIS IS?? A NICE READ WIEDUHWEIUDH---#♔ || queue.

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vampirecatboy · 2 years

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updated Aja lore!

i discussed it with my dm and i've decided to change a few things about Aja's origin/living situation

he was no longer raised in a brothel, he was raised in a.... courtesan house? the workers provided nonsexual companionship as well as other services

think like a multi-gendered host club

in the years before Aja was born, his mother had one particular guest who she was fond of, and who was fond of her in return. once, they met outside of work, one thing led to another and Hara ended up pregnant, but after she told her companion, he stopped visiting, and she never heard from him again. needless to say, her heart was broken

Aja was raised by his mother, with the help of the other courtesans. as he grew up, he learned how to charm people into getting what he wanted (though that rarely worked on the people he learned it from)

he also learned a bit about himself, thanks to the trans adults who helped raise him. he picked a new name, abandoned the single dress he owned, and Aja started living as himself

around age.... let's say 10, while he was still pretty small, a Firelight saved his life after he almost fell to his death, and from then on, he swore he would become a part of their group

he also had this friend, a little girl who he knew as Tabby, the child of an unspecified Firelight, Aja was never told. but you know how if one friend comes out as queer/trans, and it's like the domino effect? well Tabby turns out to be just like Aja. a little girl who figures out he's a little boy

haven't decided on a name for him, he might stay Tabby but more likely i'll figure out something else for him

anyway Aja uses his charisma know-how to charm women, but never gets further than that because his closeted subconscious is like "nope, wrong gender"

he might also have an arcane focus made of some crystal he stole

as for the spells he uses, i'm between two subclasses, one that uses enchantments and one that uses elemental magic (i'm waiting to decide that until i know what would be most useful to the party because i'm indecisive, but an argument could be made for either)

i could go elemental and it fits Aja's chaotic personality and i can do damage, plus it's an homage to his previous self, or i could go enchantments and that fits Aja as the charismatic person he is (obviously he's not using his magic to charm women because consent, it's just for other things)

leaning more toward elemental tbh

#stuff and things #aja tag #more boy lore #posting while the hyperfixation is still fresh

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lunarwarden · 2 months

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Modern/Heartsteel Thresh and Diana HC

Where did this absurd/strange ship manifest?

Well, I was talking with a friend who felt there wasn’t entirely anyone they could ship Yone with, and I voiced the same about Diana, though pointed out that Thresh would be cute to pair with Yone due to their spirit blossom skins. “Let’s just ship Diana and Yone then!” Was said not too long after that we also threw Thresh into the mix… Needless to say, it originated in the Spirit Blossom universe, but I’ve adapted both Thresh and Diana to Heartsteel and High Noon.

Goodness, I’m so nervous to post this but fuck it. If anyone wants to bitch at me, you can kiss my ass X’D

Heartsteel Thresh Headcanons

Erlok is an ASMR RP/commentary channel that started a few years ago and quickly gained traction thanks to his voice. His channel name is The Warden where he refers to himself as Thresh and tends to refer to his viewers when not doing his roleplay content as “My Precious Souls”.

The content that Erlok puts out has gained him the nickname of “Master” among his fans as his asmr roleplays tend to veer about yanderes. His content tends to be on the darker side, but despite this, he has countless fans flocking to him.

Erlok came up with the name of Thresh in a DND session he was a part of, he’s since sadly stopped hosting that campaign, but it did give him the idea of “what if I brought my ability to roleplay others into a video setting?” an idea that has entrapped many in his content.

Totally has a Patreon where he does NSFW ASMR content that he makes a killing from.

OLD MAN SQUINTS Literally cannot read for shit without his glasses, and even then, he hasn’t updated his prescription in like 5 years? So, it’s gotten worse, and he still squints when he’s trying to read even with his eyeglasses on.

Erlok is a relatively slender man, and maybe has some muscle, but if he does it's lean muscle and doesn’t show too much aside from some minor definition. And even then, he tends to hide his figure behind turtlenecks and coats.

Totally has an abnormally long tongue and at the very least sharp canines (Though sharp teeth be looking spicy). He’s made quite a few past partners choke by shoving his tongue down their throat, apparently not something most people like.

Erlok was born and raised in Germany, he grew up not knowing English but taught himself it when he found there was a larger DND community of people who spoke English. He then further refined his English and his accent so that he could make an ASMR channel and not worry about being not understandable. He’s not ashamed of his accent or anything, just knows he can reach a broad audience with English.

Has a more ‘refined’ or ‘sophisticated’ style. Tends to wear turtlenecks, dress pants, button-ups, and the works.

Also, can see him wearing black eyeliners, maybe lipstick if he’s feeling fancy, but primarily black eyeliner and some concealer to hide the nasty ass bags he has under his eyes. Man, fr be looking like The Walking Dead without it.

Closeted Jew, no one can tell me otherwise haha. (Obviously, this means while he might practice things in the comfort of his home, he doesn’t actively wear his kippa or follow traditions of wearing his Tefillin out and about on days that require it)

Heartsteel Diana Headcanons

Diana is a relatively new Vtuber who has quickly gained fame. Her content tends to be a bit all over the place, but she does focus more on singing and horror games. Her fans seem to enjoy her reactions to the jump scares and scary content.

Her channel name is The Lunar Goddess, though her fans tend to call her “Moon Mom” while she refers to her fans as “Moonbeams”. None of her fans know what she looks like or her real name, and she plans to keep it that way for a bit longer as she doesn’t want to disappoint people with her appearance.

Other content that Diana does is skits, first-person shooters, and relaxing streams where she just hangs out with her chat. Her content is relatively pg-13 but there are times when her foul mouth does get it marked a higher rating.

Diana lives with her sister, Leona, and her sister’s boyfriend, Pantheon. Leona tends to make appearances in her streams as a mod who watches the chat and can sometimes be heard reading the chat out to Diana when she’s really focused on her game. This has gained Leona the nickname “Auntie Sun”.

Was born with naturally white hair, it confused doctors because it at first started as a streak through her sable hair as a kid, but over the course of a few years, her entire head was turned white. At first, doctors thought it was Poliosis, but now they just don’t know what caused her hair to go white.

Diana was born and raised in a very conservative Jewish household in Israel. She’s still Jewish, but not as religious as her mother and father are. She partakes in some of the traditions with Leona, but even then, sometimes misses out on some.

English is a language that came relatively easily to Diana, she also knows Yiddish as it was spoken by her great-grandmother (Even if most other Israelis consider it a dirty gutter language) Her accent isn’t horribly thick, but it is noticeable and the first thing she’s often asked by new viewers is “where do you come from?”

Diana tends to wear either jeans or long skirts that cover the knees, same for dresses, but for tops, she’s fine with showing a bit of stomach and has no qualms about wearing tank tops.

Diana doesn’t wear too much makeup, especially since she works behind a screen away from the view of others. On the days that she does go out, a light lipstick with some mascara and blush works fine for her.

#diana league of legends #thresh league of legends #headcanon #league of legends #heartsteel headcanons #totally nervous #I HOPE YOU ALL LIKE THIS #GOING TO CRY IN A CORNER NOW

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shuadotcom · 2 years

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Neeba Zow | KTH (M)

🟢 Summary: A contest to win free food and all you have to do is play The Sims? Obviously you’re going to sign up. Unfortunately, Taehyung, who is a much more popular streamer than you (and also your ex-boyfriend) also decides to participate. This’ll surely be the longest gaming session you’ve ever taken part in.

🟢 Pairing: Sims Streamer!Taehyung x Sims Streamer F!Reader

🟢 Genre/AU: Smut, a twinge of angst, a little fluff, pwp honestly, college au, exes to lovers au

🟢 Game: The Sims

🟢 Rating: 18+ | R (MINORS & AGELESS BLOGS DNI. YOU WILL BE BLOCKED)

🟢 Words: 7.5k

🟢 Warnings: Profanity, brief mention of someone being roofied (everyone is okay!), mention of alleged infidelity, unprotected sex, oral (m receiving), fingering, marking

🟢 Note: FINALLYYYYY here is my fic for the Bangtan DLC: A Streamer BTS Collab that I hosted with the lovely @kookskingdom. This went through 3 rewrites before I finally didn’t hate it!! Thank you to the amazing and talented @missgeniality for this wonderful banner! 💚💚 And thank you so much to @rkivian for being my beta! 💚

Wanna win free food just for playing The Sims?

You only need to read the first line to snatch the flyer off of the library bulletin board.

Join the gaming club next Friday in the computer lab! Just make a donation then play The Sims as long as you can! The last player standing wins free meals from any campus eatery for the rest of the semester!

This is a no-brainer for you. As someone who’s been playing The Sims since the first one was released and has been a small Sims streamer for a year, this contest will be easy to win.

When you’re not buried in homework or struggling to study, you’re live streaming on Twitch and uploading on YouTube. Even though you’re still a newbie to the streaming world, you’re proud to say that you've managed to wrack up thousands of followers. College and your journalism degree are your plan b, but your real goal is a full-time content creator, and doing this contest can not only aid you in that goal, but at the end of the day you’re also a broke college student and free food is always ideal.

“So… you just have to play The Sims as long as you can? Can you pee or eat or anything?” Your roommate Jihyo asks while you’re eating later in the evening. You’ve read the flyer you took to her and your friend Krystal and they’ve both voiced support while also being confused about the whole thing.

“I think so. This seems like a version of one of those contests where you have to like, keep your hand on something longer than anyone else and you win it - it’s usually a car or a boat I think.”

“That sounds like it sucks, honestly, but we’ll be rooting for you,” Krystal voices. “I don’t see how anyone else will want to do it, or if they do I doubt it’d be anyone that can beat you.”

“True. Remember you did that ten-hour charity stream a few months ago and you were fine. Like Krystal said, who the hell else will even be able to beat that?”

How can you be stupid enough to forget about Kim fucking Taehyung? When you walk into the computer lab on Friday, you scan the handful of other faces briefly while looking for a seat. Your gaze quickly lands on the only empty seat next to Taehyung. The same Taehyung that has close to a million followers on both Twitch and YouTube combined. The same Taehyung that challenges you and plays devil’s advocate in your political science class every time you answer a question. The same Taehyung that you dated last year who you broke up with after you found out that he hooked up with another girl while you were out of town.

Needless to say, he’s the last person you want to breathe the same air as let alone sit next to, but there are only so many computers (ones that work at that) so that’s exactly where you stomp over to.

His brown eyes catch sight of you as you enter his row and he has the audacity to smirk at you as you sit.

“Well hello there, Y/n.”

“Hi.” There’s no enthusiasm in your voice to match his, but he doesn’t seem to care.

“I didn’t expect to see you turn up!”

“I could say the same for you,” you grumble. He cocks his head at the question, and you roll your eyes. “What do you even need to be in this contest for? You have a shit ton of followers whom you play this game for and I’m hard-pressed to believe that you need the free meals.”

Taehyung chuckles, looking at you as if you’re silly for even saying that. “See, that’s why you shouldn’t just assume. I’ll have you know that this is a rough month for my bank account. I just bought a very pricey gaming chair and I won’t be getting any streaming money till the beginning of the month.”

Scoffing, you turn away from him. The urge to smack that smug expression off of his face is strong, so instead, you focus on waking up your computer.

The president of the gaming club, Junhui, addresses the room then, silencing all chatter.

“Thank you all for donating and joining us today! This is our first big event like this so it means a lot to us that you all showed up! The rules for the contest are simple. You have to play a family in The Sims as long as you can. This means no spontaneous breaks to use the phone, to talk to any of your friends that try to stop by, and no taking breaks whenever you want.

Since we’re not trying to torture any of you, we will tell you when a bathroom break is allowed. We’ll also provide you with snacks and drinks. Other than that, you just need to have fun until you get too tired to continue. Me and some of the other club members will be monitoring you all along the way and wish you good luck! When you’re all on the game home screen we’ll start.”

You quickly unpack your bag of snacks - courtesy of Krystal’s secret snack stash - and take a sip from your water bottle before following Junhui’s instructions. Out of the corner of your eye, you watch Taehyung also unload some snacks and set up a desk-sized tripod and camera.

“Are you seriously going to be streaming this?” You ask incredulously as he opens a familiar app on the computer and you see the Twitch logo on the screen.

“Of course! All of my supporters begged to see me while I play. The gaming club was okay with it as long as they donated as well and a bunch of my followers did!”

He smiles at you, but you don’t reciprocate. Of course, he uses his status to do this. A few of the other contest participants around you shoot him dirty looks, likely in agreement with you on the ridiculousness of it all.

“Okay everyone, have fun and we’ll start the timer… now!” Junhui beams at everyone before starting the large, LED timer at the front of the room. You immediately open up Create-A-Sim to begin building your family to play with.

“Hey everyone, thank you so much for joining the stream and donating to my school! You guys know how much sleep means to me but we’ll see how I do! I’ll start with building a new family, maybe with a dog or two.”

You pick up your headphones and slip them on, intending to drown out the sound of Taehyung’s voice until he inevitably gives up.

Ten hours is the longest that you’ve ever played The Sims nearly nonstop. Today, you're going on hour fifteen and you’re holding up surprisingly well. You’ve already been allotted two bathroom breaks and you’re nearly done with your snacks after rationing them as much as humanly possible. A quarter of the room has already given up and left, a few people simply being too sleepy and others wanting real food and not the chips and sweets you were provided with.

Unfortunately, Taehyung is still next to you, barely seeming like he’s bothered. His brown hair is tousled on his head, fluffy bangs hanging in front of his eyes. He’s smiling over at the camera, thanking someone for something they said through his headset (you only heard him because there was a lag in audio through your own headset. You didn’t intentionally eavesdrop). The two of you haven’t spoken since the contest started, save for a few conversations he attempted to start during bathroom breaks.

Each time you dismissed him, not wanting to give him your time. You refuse to admit it, but maybe you are still just a little bitter about the whole breakup. Sure you broke up with him, and cheating on you is an instant no, but after a year together, it’s still hard to so easily discard those feelings. Plus, he’s still as handsome as ever and still has an irritatingly charming smile. Again, you won’t voice it, but your brain thinks it every time your eyes stray his way during class or when you see him around campus.

“Alright, everyone!” Jeongyeon, another game club member, calls out, loudly clapping her hands together. “Another bathroom break! Five minutes and you need to be back or you’re out.” You pause your game and dash out of the room, taking another one of the swiftest pees of your life.

Taehyung is coming out of the men’s bathroom at the same time you’re leaving and you nearly collide. He reaches out his hands to steady you by your shoulders, but you shake him off.

“Yuck, you just left the bathroom!”

“What? I wash my hands!”

You eye him skeptically. “Mmhmm. You’re a gamer boy so I’ll take that with a grain of salt. Now move,” you move to push past him, but he steps in your way. “What the hell are you doing? We have like two minutes left to get back in the room.”

“Bet me.”

“What?”

“Bet me. Whoever wins the contest also wins something between the two of us.”

“What?” you repeat.

“Say yes,” he speaks at the same time that Jeongyeon gives the sixty-second warning.

“Fuck, fine!” You agree, shoving him hard as you sprint back to the room. He laughs from behind, both of you making it back within a second of one another.

Taehyung has a very untrustworthy smile as he gets comfortable in his seat and you grimace in response.

It isn’t until another five hours go by that you begin blinking harder than you mean to. Your Sims family is already on their third generation and you’re slowly working your way through the career paths in the game. Your back hurts and your legs keep cramping, but you refuse to let Taehyung win.

He, on the other hand, seems to be doing just fine, if only sagging in his seat a little more than he was before. He’s running his mouth to the people that are still somehow watching him, but his voice is nowhere as chipper as it was when the contest started.

When your Sims are all at work or school without you, you glance around the room, using the time as a quick way to let your eyes rest from the screen. The room is much emptier than you thought it was. You and Taehyung are two of ten students left in the room from what you’re able to count. Two other members of the gaming club are sitting at the front and back of the room, both on their computers and looking nearly ready to doze off themselves.

You’ve only been looking away for a second, and when you turn back, you catch Taehyung staring at you. When your eyes meet, he’s quick to focus back on the screen in front of him. Was he just staring at you?

No, he was probably just being nosey and seeing what was happening in your game. You turn your attention back to it, ignoring your surroundings once more.

Hour twenty-eight hits and your eyeballs are burning. You should be good at this. The number of long nights you’ve stayed up to study or work on an assignment should’ve prepared you for this - so why are you so exhausted? As a professional procrastinating college student, there should be no reason as to why you want so badly to curl up on the floor and sleep the rest of the weekend away.

During another break, you use all your remaining energy to make it to the bathroom and back in record time. Taehyung is right behind you and you’re both the first ones to return.

“How are you holding up?” He asks, taking a sip from his water bottle.

“Fine.”

“Me too,” he says, even though you didn’t ask. “A good number of my viewers are still up too so that’s surprising.”

“Wow, amazing,” you deadpan, but he’s not bothered by it.

“Did you think about what you want from me if you win?”

“Speaking of when I win, what exactly are the rules?”

“Winner gets the loser to do anything they want.” He shrugs.

You narrow your eyes at him. “Anything?”

“I don’t mean like that! You know this is the third time you’ve assumed something incorrectly about me and it’s quite offensive.” Taehyung huffs, clearly not actually offended.

“Again, you’re a male college gamer. And I know you, remember?”

“Well, I’m different now, thank you very much.”

Before he can offer a retort, the contest time starts again, but only two other people file back in on time. Two of the other participants never come back and another guy tries to come in well after the break is done. You go back to ignoring everything around you, but you also try to think about what you’ll even make Taehyung do when you win.

A little over thirty hours pass and it’s just you and Taehyung. Saturday is well into the evening and you’ve just emptied another bottle of water and what feels like your twentieth bag of honey butter chips. It’s a true struggle to keep your eyes open and the energy drinks you’ve been chugging are barely helping anymore. You’ve been doing a spectacularly bad job at accomplishing anything substantial in the game the sleepier you get. You’ve also allowed more of the family members to die than you’d like to admit.

Taehyung too has been snacking and drinking energy drinks but you can tell he’s as tired as you are. His demeanor has sunk, slouching in his seat and voice much lower and lethargic than usual. His hair is up in a sloppy ponytail and you can see the growing bags under his eyes.

The game club member monitoring everyone waves at you both, signaling to take your headsets off.

“You two can go to the bathroom. You know the rules,” he looks as tired as you are when he dismisses you and sets the five-minute alarm before lying his head on the desk.

You barely call your movement to the bathroom rushing, but it’s quick enough. Taehyung comes back shortly after you and looks even more tired than he did before.

“How much longer are you gonna try to keep this up?” You tease, fighting back a yawn between your words.

“Until I win.” He says back, but it’s much less confident than earlier.

“You must really want that free lunch.”

“Yeah, and I want to get my prize from you too.” He forces a smile and you sneer in response.

“I swear to the gods Taehyung, I am not doing anything fucking weird and if you even suggest it, I’m going to kick your ass.”

He lets out a loud laugh at your threat. “Y/n, come on. I thought you knew me a little better than that.”

“How would I know you better than that? Did you forget why we broke up?”

“First of all, you broke up with me. I didn’t want to.”

“Oh what the fuck ever. I’m not getting into this with you right now.”

Taehyung has the nerve to look annoyed, but he’s cut off by the five-minute timer going off before he can offer a rebuttal. You immediately get back to the game, headset on to drown out anything else he has to say.

At a little after forty-eight hours, Taehyung calls it quits. Out the corner of your eye you see him stand up to stretch.

“Well if you’re sure, then that means Y/n wins!” You didn’t hear what Taehyung said, but you’re taking your headset off just as Junhui says this, not even noticing he had returned to the room.

“Congrats!” Taehyung says, shooting you a thumbs up. You barely pay attention to Junhui coming over to congratulate you and explaining how you get your free meals. Taehyung ends his stream and packs all of his equipment up while Junhui is snapping a picture of you in front of your computer. You muster up your best exhausted smile, still peeking over at Taehyung as he leaves.

It’s not as though you didn’t want to win because you knew you would, the problem is how you won. Something about this victory didn’t sit right with you.

As soon as you receive your free meal card from Junhui, you run out of the room and down the hall, still seeing Taehyung’s fluffy hair bouncing when he walks.

“Taehyung!” You call as loud as possible and thankfully, he hears you. He stops and turns, patiently waiting for you as you huff and catch your breath. “What the fuck was that?”

“What was what?”

“Oh come on, I’m not stupid. You gave up on purpose.”

“Y/n -”

“Don’t bullshit me. You of all people know I don’t like being lied to.” You stare him down, your gaze unwavering, until he gives up and looks away first, letting out a long sigh.

“Look, yes I could’ve kept going, but I’m tired, okay?”

“And?”

Taehyung groans, wiping his face. “And it’s clear you already hate me so I just wanted to do something so that you won’t hate me more.”

“I knew it! And for the record, I got over hating you a while ago. Now you just irritate my entire soul.”

“Wow, that’s so much better,” he snorts, beginning to laugh, but stopping when he sees your lack of amusement.

“You already know why so don’t act so surprised. Why does it even matter how I feel about you anyway?”

“Well I mean, why would I want the most beautiful girl in the world mad at me?”

A loud, sarcastic chuckle slips out of your mouth, but you don’t even try to hide it. “Give me a fucking break!”

“What?! I can’t say you’re beautiful?!”

“I wasn’t beautiful when you fucked Nayeon at the beginning of last summer!”

Taehyung looks defeated, yanking on his hair in annoyance. “How many times do I have to tell you that I didn’t?!”

“However many times you fucking want because I don’t believe you!” Suddenly over this conversation, you turn to go back to your dorm, but Taehyung stops you with a hand on your arm.

“Wait, Y/n, please. What do I have to do? What do I have to do to get you to forgive and believe me? I’ve tried to talk to you, but you’re so stubborn you never want to listen to me.”

“Oh, now I’m stubborn?!”

“Yes, you are!”

“I’m done with this discussion.” You spit out, fast-walking away from him. He doesn’t call out to you to stop, so you keep moving. You’re over him and over that relationship, so why did that conversation still feel so painful?

On Monday, when your political science class rolls around, you’re shocked to see Taehyung sitting in the seat next to where you usually sit.

“Hey, Y/n.” He smiles, completely ignoring your confusion and the bewilderment of other students around you. Unfortunately for you, more people on campus know about your break up than you’d like.

“Why the hell are you sitting here?”

“Well, I want you to stop thinking so poorly of me. Plus, you won the bet for the Sims contest so you win anything from me.”

You plop unceremoniously into your seat and take a few seconds to think about it. “No.”

“No?”

“No. You still let me win. I’m taking my free food and that’s it. I don’t need any other pity prize from you.”

“But… but you still won? You can tell me to do whatever I don’t care.” He sounds a little desperate, but you still refuse.

“No. Class is starting now.”

“But-”

Your professor comes in then, greeting everyone and launching straight into the lesson. When she asks a question, for what feels like the first time in a long time, when you answer it, Taehyung has no retort. Everyone in the class, your professor included, seems to pause after you answer as if waiting for Taehyung’s input but he has none and continues scribbling in his notebook.

Class carries on after that and Taehyung somehow invites himself to lunch with you. Krystal and Jihyo don’t say anything when the two of you show up, but they’re throwing you confused looks over and over again. At one point, while Taehyung is talking about some streaming event he has coming up, you just shrug at them, completely at a loss.

“So lunch was weird,” Krystal comments later, lounging on your bed while she, you, and Jihyo are studying.

“You can say that again. Who would’ve thought 48 hours of playing video games and not showering would’ve had Y/n and Taehyung making up.” You throw a nearby stuffed animal at Jihyo but she dodges it from the other side of the room.

“We’re not back together! I told you, he’s being annoyingly persistent and saying how he wants me to stop hating him or whatever.”

“Do you think you two will be friends?” Jihyo wonders.

“I don’t know. I mean, he hurt me you know? Do you know what it’s like to find out on Instagram that your boyfriend cheated on you? And he never apologized.”

“Is he still saying he didn’t do it?” You nod and she scoffs. “Typical guy. Like who sees a video of themselves leaving a room with another woman, clearly drunk, and clearly having just fucked and still denies it?!”

“Yeah, I say unless he apologizes or finally tells you the reason why he’s denying it, don’t let him weasel his way back in so easily.” Krystal chimes in.

You agree with them both. “Believe me I know. I doubt he’s going to be able to keep up this being nice thing anyway. He’ll be nice until he feels like he wants to just quit on us again.”

As if Taehyung hears you utter those words, the next few weeks go by and he continues to sit with you during your shared class and eat lunch with you. He even makes sure he greets you in the hallways and wherever else he sees you. After the breakup, you both ignored one another, save for your shared class, and went out of your way not to interact unless you had to.

Seeing and talking to him again is still something to get used to but it stops being so incredibly bizarre after a few days. You learn that there are so many habits he has and things he says that you’ve missed. The boxy way he smiles, the full-body way that he laughs when something is especially funny and even the common yet sweet, casual pet names he used to call you.

These once dormant feelings creep in more and more until the day you see him in the hall speaking to Nayeon. You’re leaving your last class of the day, fully intending to see Taehyung at lunch when you arrive. Instead, you see him around the corner, leaning against the wall, talking to the very woman he cheated on you with.

Not even a second goes by before his eyes meet yours and he panics. You panic too, not wanting to deal with this at the moment. You’re fast, turning on your heels and using energy you’ve never had to lose yourself in the crowd.

Once shut up in your room with Jihyo questioning your frazzled state, you let out a scream. It’s a mix of your disgust at Taehyung for getting your hopes up and annoyance at yourself for believing it.

Later that evening, there’s a knock on your door as soon as you get back to your room from the shower. Looking through the peephole, you expect to see Jihyo, assuming she left her key behind, but instead, you see Taehyung standing there with Nayeon at his side.

Rage is the only emotion you feel upon seeing them there. How dare he? How dare they? Nayeon hasn’t spoken to you since before the incident, but even then it was only ever casual greetings in a class you shared last year.

You mull it over briefly before deciding to just get whatever this is over with for good. You take a sharp breath and after tying your robe tighter, you fling open the door.

“Hi,” your tone is icy, both parties on the other side stepping back.

“Hey Y/n, can we talk to you?” Taehyung mutters.

“What in the fuck could either of you want to talk to me about?”

“We just need to. Please, can we come in?” He stammers, clearly torn between meeting your eyes and looking away.

It takes you a few seconds before you move aside. They enter and stand in the middle of your room nervously, clearly unsure where to be.

“What is it?” You snap once the door is shut. They look at one another, deciding who should go first. “I don’t care who talks, but someone better open their fucking mouth.”

“Okay!” Taehyung volunteers. “I’m tired of hiding from you. I didn’t tell you the truth when the video of us was posted because Nayeon begged me not to tell anyone what happened. I wanted to respect her privacy, but I hate the way things ended with us and I miss you and I can’t do this anymore.”

His words earn him an eye roll from you and he nudges Nayeon to speak up.

“Y/n, Taehyung and I didn’t have sex. I knew he was dating you so I wouldn’t have done that.”

“Is that all you have to say?” You sneer at her. “This asshole has constantly been saying he hasn’t done it, and I’m sure you know I don’t believe a word he says.”

Nayeon clenches her fists, taking a deep breath and holding it for a few seconds before speaking. “The same night of that party someone tried to roofie me, but it wasn’t enough I guess, because I was still lucid enough to go upstairs and hide in the bathroom. Taehyung walked in because he had to use the toilet and he found me crying.”

“What?” She ignores your interruption, pausing to inhale again before continuing.

“He stayed with me and let me sob all over his shirt until I was done then he helped me out. He was going to walk me downstairs to find my roommate to take me back to my room. That’s when someone in the hallway took that video. I made him swear not to tell because why would I want people to know I was drugged? I didn’t know who it was so I didn’t want to bring it up. I just want to forget it happened.” None of you say anything as her words sink in.

“You’re not lying?”

“Come on, Y/n. Why the hell would I lie about that? I didn’t want to cause a bunch of hysteria on campus so I kept it to myself. No one knows except the three of us in this room.”

Too stunned to speak, you mull over what you’ve just been told. Taehyung has always been telling you the truth - he never cheated. He was genuinely, innocently helping Nayeon with a serious problem that had absolutely nothing to do with him. He was just being kind and all these months you’ve thought he was the scum of the Earth. It’s a lot to take in.

“I’m sorry that I caused you guys to break up, okay? It’s ultimately my fault for not letting him tell you the truth, but please don’t tell anyone. Please? And again, I’m really sorry that I came between you two like this.”

Nayeon is practically begging you, eyes brimming with tears. This is enough for you to believe that she’s being truthful. Taehyung is visibly uncomfortable as he awaits your next words. You assure Nayeon that you won’t say anything.

“Are you sure you don’t want to tell someone though? What if it happens again?” You question, thinking about the seriousness of her situation.

“I’ve actually been working with the women’s rights club on campus and we’re going to be raising general awareness about drink safety at parties. We want to release a segment on the school blog, it’s just taken us this long to even get approval from the administration to talk about it.”

“Would it be weird if I asked to help? I’ll tell people I know to read it when it comes out or something, whatever you need me to help with.”

The earlier tension has melted away, at least between you and Nayeon. She accepts your offer and you exchange numbers. She says she’ll text you as soon as she and the club get the final okay, then promptly excuses herself, thanking you and apologizing to both you and Taehyung again on her way out.

Then it’s just the two of you.

You look at Taehyung trying to come up with what to say, but you settle on. “Sorry.”

“Me too. I shouldn't have chosen to keep a woman’s secret who wasn’t you. I should have told you the truth.”

“Yeah, you really should have, but wow, I still feel bad about everything I said to you when I broke up with you.”

“It’s okay.”

“Ugh, no, it’s not. I manifested the nastiest shit to happen to you and badmouthed you to everyone. Fuck, Taehyung, you just let me dump you like that!”

“What was I supposed to do?! I couldn’t just force you to be with me. I couldn’t make you stay because I chose not to tell you the truth. I couldn’t do anything else.”

“Our whole relationship ended because of this. I’ve missed your dumbass so much, you now.”

Taehyung takes a tentative step forward, the wide gap between the two of you closing slowly.

“I’ve missed you too, Y/n. You have no idea. It hurt so bad when we were done. I agonized for weeks over how to get you back or get you to understand, but I could never think of anything, and every time we talked you’d shut me out. I was hoping when this year started you’d give me a chance, but you made it pretty clear we were done.”

“Tae, I was so mad. I was heartbroken. We’d only been together for a year but you meant so much to me. Even when I hated you, you still did. You still do.”

You take a step at the same time he does, the two of you now at arm's length.

“I could never muster up the courage to tell you, Y/n, but I was falling for you. Then you broke up with me and that ate me up inside, but I never once stopped caring for you.”

Your heartbeat resonates through your entire body, Taehyung’s words ringing in your ears. You step closer, so close you have to look up to speak to him. “I still cared so much about you too. I wanted to stop, but even now, I still think about you.” Even though your brain is a clusterfuck of emotions, you know that statement to be true.

“That’s good enough for me, Y/n,” Taehyung says with a smile, his hand grabbing your neck at the same time that he bends down, your lips crashing together in a kiss.

You give in immediately, the familiar taste of his mouth flooding back to you. His soft lips move against yours in a gentle yet greedy kiss. All of your feelings hit you as you wrap your arms around Taehyung’s neck and he pulls you closer to him. The warmth of his body and the strength of his hold gives you a sense of safety again that you haven’t felt since you broke up.

The kiss shifts from loving to playful to frenzied in no time at all. The harder you kiss and the further Taehyung’s hands wander, the more you fully realize just how much you’ve yearned for every single part of him. There’s not a doubt in your mind that he doesn’t feel the same if the subtle rocking of his hips is any indication.

Moving away from his lips, you both take a loud gasp of air before your mouth moves to his neck, placing small pecks over the soft skin. If your memory serves you correctly, Taehyung’s neck is one of his most sensitive areas and you’re right. He lets out a deep moan from his chest as soon as you begin peppering kisses everywhere your lips reach. You lick, suck and bite on every inch of exposed skin, marking him up for old times sake.

He lets you do this until he can’t handle it anymore, grasping your shoulders and pulling you away. Still holding onto you, he meets your gaze as he then moves one hand to the front of your robe, lightly tugging on the knot. He’s giving you a chance to tell him to leave and be done with him for good.

You don’t want to be done with him though, so you nod, eyes never wavering. That’s the assurance he needs to forcefully pull on the fabric, the cloth opening completely as he pushes it from your shoulders and it pools at your feet. His eyes finally leave yours, darting down to drink in the sight of you.

“Fuck I missed seeing you like this.” The words leave his mouth in a whisper, his voice husky and laced with desire.

He looks up at you again and you move in unison, hands reaching out for one another as you close the distance between you again, mouths meeting harshly. The air shifts, heady and thick as both of you are just desperate to feel each other again.

Long fingers dance on your bare skin, squeezing every part of you at his fingertips before resting on your bare breasts and playing with your hardened nipples. Your hands run through his brunette locks, down his broad shoulders, then down to his waist, pulling his hips against yours. This succeeds in catching him off guard, and he falters only a little before going back to kissing the breath out of you.

Taehyung’s arms adjust to secure around your waist as he walks backward with you, further into the room until the back of your knees hit your bed and you fall onto the mattress. Your eyes rove over every one of the handsome features on his face as he admires you right back. His brown eyes sweep over you under him, and you realize you’re the only one naked.

“Clothes off,” you demand, tugging at his t-shirt.

“Aw, no please?” He flirts and you scoff in return.

“No. Take your clothes off, now.”

Taehyung bites his lip in response, but no other words follow. Instead, he shuffles to the end of the bed to stand up and yank his shirt off, the soft fabric falling somewhere when he flings it. His pants come next, also being tossed elsewhere. He’s just in his underwear then, the material hugging every muscle in his thighs and accentuating his more than impressive bulge.

Scooting down to the edge of the bed, greedy hands reach for his crotch and you can barely contain yourself. You squeeze his bulge, Taehyung hissing and bucking his hips into your hand immediately. Your mouth waters at the sight of him, remembering just how full he always made you feel. He lets you peel his underwear down, cock whipping out of its confines and smacking against his stomach. Taehyung sighs at the freedom, watching your next move like a hawk.

“Did you miss me?” He teases, right as a string of precum drips from his swollen head and lands on your thigh.

“What do you think?” You ask hypothetically, both of you already knowing the answer. You quickly get comfortable as he stands in front of you, almost shaking in anticipation. Leaning forward, you swipe your tongue over his swollen cockhead, the salty taste making your thighs clench. Taehyung gasps as you slide the rest of his cock past your lips, your tongue swiping at the veins on the underside.

Taehyung bends his knees, hands shooting out to rest on your head to steady himself. When he tries to move his hands away, you reach up and keep them there, simultaneously sliding him further down your throat.

“Y/n! Oh, fuck,” He shouts, fingers firmly grabbing at your hair while you start to bob your head. Your hand rests on his warm thigh as you suck him off, relishing in the breathy, practically methodic sounds coming out of him. Your unoccupied hand slips down your body and between your legs, fingers rubbing your clit in time with the back and forth of your head over his length.

You get lost in your rhythm, the only thing clouding your mind is the ache between your legs and the warm, heavy taste of Taehyung on your tongue. He’s making high-pitched noises now and rocking his hips forward, gliding himself further down your throat over and over again. It isn’t long after that Taehyung has both hands firmly on your head and is fucking your throat. The gagging sounds coming from you ring in your ears along with the string of curses Taehyung mumbles from above you. Your fingers rub your clit harder, hoping to cum in time with Taehyung. His leg begins to quake in your other hand and your body tingles as the anticipation builds within you.

You’re right on the edge, drool dripping from your mouth as your eyes roll back, but as quick as the feeling approaches, it goes away as Taehyung yanks his dick out of your throat and takes hold of your arms, stopping your movement. You open your mouth to object, but he shuts you up with another kiss.

“I can’t let you make me cum yet,” he huffs between kisses. His tongue grazes yours before he sucks the muscle into his mouth and you whine, the action so much hotter than it should be. He guides you back onto the bed as he continues, finding his way between your legs as your arms wrap around his neck to pull him closer.

The kiss gets sloppier as the seconds go on and your hands grasp desperately at every part of Taehyung’s warm skin that you can reach. One of his hands is cradling your head, holding it tight as you kiss, while the other trails down your body until he cups your sex, the action making you break the kiss.

“Taehyung!” You call out as one of his fingers gently rubs against your dripping hole. You squirm underneath him as he teases you a few more times until he finally relents and slips a long digit into you, walls clenching hard at the intrusion.

“Fuck, Y/n you’re as tight as I remember… will you still be able to handle my cock?”

“Y - yes. Yes, I can!” His finger curls and your back bends almost painfully.

“Mmm are you sure?” He taunts again, a second finger slipping inside. He quickly gains momentum and begins rubbing your clit with his thumb; for the second time in less than thirty minutes, you feel yourself approaching your end.

“Yes, Tae, fuck, please either let me cum now or fuck me!”

Taehyung chuckles at your desperation, but you don’t have any shame. You haven’t slept with anyone since him so not only are you eager for release from something other than your toys, but you’d be lying if you said Taehyung isn’t one of the best fucks of your life.

He’s still smirking as he pulls his fingers from you and licks them clean. The sight sends you into full feral mode. Your body practically vibrates as you drink him in, eyes wide yet unfocused, built pecs covered in a sheen of sweat, whole body flushing a beautiful shade of red. He wants you just as much as you want him and it makes your heart jackhammer in your chest.

Easing between your thighs, Taehyung gets into position, the tops of his thighs hugging the back of yours. His cock breaches your tight hole, his length filling you agonizingly slow. Once he’s fully sheathed, you realize you’re panting, body utterly and completely belonging to him.

Large hands grip your hips to help him adjust to a pace that starts sluggish but quickly becomes aggressive and feverish. Taehyung’s hips slam into yours as he manages to crane his neck down to guide you to another messy kiss.

All of your self-control is out the window as he drills into you while probing your mouth with his thick tongue. Your mind is hazy, all forms of thought escaping you, leaving you in a dreamy, fucked-out state. Electricity pricks at your skin the closer you get to finally cumming tonight.

The entire time that Taehyung thrusts into you, his breathing goes from heavy and ragged to uneven and whiny. Eventually, he can’t keep his mouth on yours with how hard he’s working, and thanks to your quick yet effective blowjob earlier, he’s only moments away from exploding.

“Y/n, you feel so fucking good. So soft and wet for me. All for me.”

“So good. So wet all for you. Always for you,” you babble, eyes still cloudy while a tingle starts to move from your toes to your calf, slowly creeping ever higher. “Oh shit, Taehyung! I-I’m cumming!”

“Cum all over me and cream my cock, babygirl,” His filthy words are the push over the cliff you need. Your head shoots back, mouth open as you chant Taehyung’s name as if it’s the only word you can remember. Your muscles seize as you cum, your eyes not closing once as the waves of pleasure wash over you.

As soon as your spent body sags, Taehyung swiftly pulls out of your pussy and begins stroking his aching cock over your body. In seconds, thick, hot, spurts of his cum splatter onto your stomach. A few drops make it to your breasts and one even on your neck.

With a few more whimpers and tugs, Taehyung finally finishes, body slumping and flopping onto the comforter next to you. Utterly spent, the two of you lie still long enough that you feel your eyelids begin to fall until Taehyung’s hand taps your knee and you spring awake.

“I hate to break this delightful post-nut daze, but please tell me you take me back. I don’t think I can handle it if you go back to icing me out after this.”

Doing that to him never once crossed your mind tonight. The only thing you wanted that entire time was Taehyung in any and every way possible that you could have him again and for as long as you could. You voice this to him and watch as his gorgeous cocoa-colored eyes light up at your words.

Taehyung lunges towards you, pulling you into another kiss, but this time it’s soft as you both savor it. Your body melts on the spot, words not even needing to be spoken to him. The two of you stay like that until the sticky cum on your body begins to feel itchy and you loudly declare that you need another shower.

“I’ll come with you,” Taehyung doesn’t even hesitate to hop up. “And then we can go get some free dinner on your dime.”

You playfully smack his hand away when he reaches out to help you off the bed. “It all comes back to my free food for you doesn’t it!” He calculates whether you’re serious or not, but deduces you aren’t.

“Don’t do that! You’re scary when you’re mad at me. I’m sensitive now, you know.” Faux cries come from him as he pulls his underwear and pants up, staying topless to walk to the shower.

“Good. I want you to remember how scary I am, especially when I beat you at an all-you-can-play Sims rematch.” You’re up and pulling your robe back on, grabbing your shower caddy from your desk.

“We are?”

“Yep. This weekend. You stream as long as you can from your room and I stream as long as I can from mine at the same time.”

It takes him less than a second to agree, already bragging about how this time he won't be going so easy on you.

“And also,” he starts. “Winner gets to actually get their prize this time.”

“Oh of course. This time I’ll actually let you make me do anything that you want.”

“Anything?” His question is hesitant but dripping in hopefulness. “Like what?”

“Guess you’ll have to win to find out.” You shrug, winking at him as you step into the hall. You don’t see the face he’s making over your shoulder, but you already know he’s going to push himself as far as he can to win. And maybe this time you’ll be the one to let him win.

#btsnoonanet #btswritingcafe #btsghostie #bangtanarmynet #kim taehyung #kim taehyung fic #kim taehyung smut #taehyung x reader #taehyung fanfic #kim taehyung fanfic #bangtansorciere #btsdreamcourt #clubzerooclock #52hertz #btshoneyhive #btsgoldnet #thebtswritersclub #bangtanbathhouse #bangtaninn

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dourpeep · 3 years

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Fun scenarios for teashop!darling (that's what im gonna call them)

One time Scaramouche saw a customer come out crying(andrunningfortheirlife) and when he asked teashop!darling they said that "The customer was told to leave for causing a ruckus and they were heartbroken that they couldn't drink tea here anymore" and he doesn't completely believe that

Signora once saw teashop!darling one-shot four Geovishaps (without using their vision) because the Geovishaps kept bothering them while they were trying to pick herbs

Tartaglia was talking to Baizhu while he was getting patched up after a fight and found out that Baizhu was scared low-key scared of teashop!darling because he met them while teashop!darling was still an adventurer and they left quite the impression on him

Bonus: one time when all 3 of them were at your shop they noticed you were wearing a ring and thought 'wait- they were in a relationship with someone? Who??!' and no you weren't you just found that ring when you were cleaning out your room and thought 'why not wear it? It looks good.' they only found out when they were about to leave lol

-no primogems

Ehe going back through the stuff in my inbox to answer the longer things nowww

Aforementioned//og teashop!Reader post

You're running a business and has no time for people trying to cause trouble. If a customer refuses to understand that? You'll make sure they will.

Of course, it'll all be done quickly and quietly as to not disturb the atmosphere.

And...well, with you being an incredibly pleasant host at all times, it's certainly unnerving when the gentle gaze turns sharp and cold. Anyway-

Scaramouche was making his way down back towards Liyue Harbor following an assignment just in area of Guili Plains. It was getting late and, while he normally would head back to camp, there was a peculiar sight that drew him towards your teahouse.

Or, rather, a panicked man nearly knocked the Harbinger off his feet in attempt to get as far from the place as possible.

If it weren't for the sight of your figure standing in the entryway, he would've responded with more than a quiet curse and scathing look. Hands on your hips, you watch the man disappear over past the hills before perking up at the sight of one of your favorite customers.

A quick stop for tea wouldn't hurt.

Once inside, he noticed that the other patrons were entirely unbothered. Little drifts of small talk and laughter from a table in a further off space instead filled the pleasant warmth of the teahouse.

So...if it wasn't something within the building...what did you do to that man to make him so terrified?

If he asks, you'll give him a little shrug before offering a complimentary slice of house-made matcha cake.

Not gonna lie. Anyone who can oneshot four of those guys should be feared.

Especially alone. With little else than a plain straw hat and a basket carefully filled with various herbs, it only took a mere moment--the blink of an eye--before the Fair Lady saw you wipe your hands against your apron.

There's still a lingering bit of frost that nips at her skin, catalyst primed and ready in the case that she'd have to jump in to help you.

Were there not just a group of vishaps...?

Even with the sure knowledge of this, there wasn't dust floating in the air (a normal occurrence in fighting geovishaps in the plains) nor was there the tell-tale sparkle of their bodies disintegrating upon defeat.

But Signora was smarter than to ask you of it

Instead, she watches for a little longer until you notice her standing beneath the shade of a sunsettia tree.

Once you do and the two of you head back to the teahouse, you share a cup of freshly brewed herbal tea. The knowing look in your eye is really all she needs to understand.

Now, don't get me wrong, you are good friends with Bubu Pharmacy's owner. After all, you did offer quite a few medicinal brews that agreed to offer at his pharmacy.

But, even with Baizhu's enigmatic personality, he's clever enough to know not to cross you. Even his employees are sure to keep in your good books (though, both Qiqi and Herbalist Gui don't have a problem with that).

It's a slight reaction that the man has to your name that gets Tartaglia's curiosity going.

Just a passing mention when he noticed that the pharmacy carries a certain tea that you served last time he visited the teahouse. While purchasing a few pounds of the mix, Tartaglia laughed and started to talk about that first meeting where you simply said Get out--

Baizhu almost immediately changed the subject and the Fatui's left with a slightly more inflated charge.

Once more, the three meet at your shop. With Tartaglia and Scaramouche assigned to their respective posts in Liyue and Signora making frequent stops between her own missions, it's become a sort of rendezvous point for the three Harbingers.

The moment that the glittering ring catches the light, Tartaglia chokes.

You, being sweet, immediately come over to make sure that he's alright and that's when the other two catch the sight of it.

Surely you weren't already engaged? Just a mere two months ago you mentioned how you had no suitor in your life-

But it's not really something that someone can congratulate on right?

Even when the passing comment about the piece floats, you laugh and wave it off like it's a joke. Perhaps it wasn't something you wished for? If so, the three of them had more than enough ability to sway this...person's wishes.

By the time the tea is drained and the light snacks they ordered finished, another customer voices a congratulations. An older woman who is almost always at the shop.

"Oh? Oh! No, no, this is one of my own, ahma- I simply found it while fixing up last night."

"It's lovely, but a shame you have not yet found a lovely person."

Her eyes drift over across the teashop before settling on the table with three very curious Harbingers (all in various modes of 'listening in').

Needless to say, she takes her leave and the trio are left with a few thoughts of their own.

Hm.

At least you're not taken.

Yet.

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geodaddy-fanfics · 3 years

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"Way Down We Go" Nanami Kento X Fem!Reader

Author's Note: I was asked to write a Priest Nanami AU fic by a friend and decided to make it part of her birthday present. Happy Birthday! Hope you like it! (I've never written smut before so... I tried. Also this is smut, so be warned).

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Churches, generally conceived as places of peace and worship, are also active locations for the creation of curses. The amount of loathing that accompanies the concept of “sin” plagues the congregations and buildings of God. As such, it was expected within the career of all jujutsu sorcerers for them to “serve” in at least one church and exterminate the various curses clinging to their hosts.

Said expectation (tied together with the conniving mind of one blindfolded loudmouth) meant that Nanami Kento, renowned sorcerer and loather of overtime, was currently masquerading as a priest and presiding over the evening congregations at a large Catholic church. Needless to say, Nanami was displeased with this assignment. Not only was he required to work beginning in the evening, he could not leave the church until he was the last one there. He had no set schedule and that irked him immensely, as well as the fact that he could not wear his usual attire, having to sacrifice his suit and tie for the black garb of modern priests.

It was a Sunday, the busiest day for churches of course, approximately a week into his service, and Nanami was once again seated inside of the confessional booth. It was exactly what he expected it to be, listening to the mundane problems of the masses while trying to match voices to faces of those unintentionally harboring curses. He’d been preaching and listening for hours, the time bordering on ten in the evening, and the small crowd was thankfully thinning. The final person stepped into the booth beside him, hidden from view, but the nervous breathing echoing through the box indicated that the individual was probably new to the faith, or at least hadn’t practiced in a while.

“Tell me, father,” the voice asked the awaiting silence. “Do we get what we deserve?”

The question piqued Nanami’s interest and he leaned towards the wall unintentionally. Usually people plopped down into the booth and listed out their various sins: liars, adulterers, thieves, and the like concerned not with change or forgiveness, but with societal standing. This woman with the quiet question had made this evening at least somewhat bearable.

“Explain to me what you mean,” Nanami questioned, racking his brain to see if he could place the face to the voice beside him.

There was a quiet sigh, as if the speaker had hoped for a simple answer. “Do you think that our actions matter? Like, if I live a sin free life or a sinful one, so long as I repent, does it matter?” The woman was clearly frustrated.

Perhaps this one question had been her only reason to turn to the church today, Nanami mused. “What, then, do you think you deserve?” He couldn’t help but ask, regardless of whether it prolonged his stay on sacred ground.

There was a moment of silence as the woman hesitated. “I’m… not sure. I work so hard every single day and I need to know if it matters.” Exhaustion poured through her last few words, the weariness of maintaining a life under society’s conditions. Nanami could relate, especially within the confines of the confessional booth many miles away from the comforts of his home and normal schedule.

“Well then, I can only recommend you one thing,” he stated. “I do not know whether our work pays off in whatever afterlife awaits us, if any. So, I suggest you take a break.”

“A break…” the woman replied, mildly confused. “I don’t understand, Father.”

Nanami didn’t understand it much himself, but as he pushed open the door to the confessional and stood surrounded by the altar's candles, he decided he could use a break as well.

Having heard the priest leave the booth, so too did the confessor. She wore an expression of wariness and confusion, but Nanami was distracted by the deep exhaustion present on her face. He was right in matching the voice to its owner, having noticed the woman in the congregation the last few nights. She had sparked his interest as one of few genuine people in the audience, even if she was skeptical about the religion, and hearing her in the booth only made it abundantly clear why he found himself mildly distracted by her during the sermons. They could both use one hell of a break.

The woman folded her arms in front of her, eyeing him with a mix of interest and doubt. “Are you planning to explain yourself, Father?”

Nanami held out his hand. As she placed her fingers gently in his palm, he tugged her forward and wrapped an arm around her waist. “A little divine intervention seems in order, my child.” She settled into his arms, seemingly comforted by his embrace. The blonde man tightened his hold on her noticeably and stared into her enticingly wide eyes.

“You better make this worth it,” she said, tilting her head slightly. “I’ve had a long day, you know.” It was clear she wanted what he was offering. Whether through attraction to him, a need for a distraction, or a mixture of both, the woman was leaning heavily upon his chest. Her arms slowly snaked up around his neck, her fingers playing with the ends of his hair invitingly.

Rather than waste more time on words, he brushed his lips up gently against hers, a silent vow to make this a godly experience. The woman seized the moment and eagerly kissed him back, turning the saintly, chaste promise into what they were both truly wanting. Nanami tightened his arms around her waist, digging his fingers into the soft fabric of her dark dress. It looked barely appropriate to wear to church in Nanami’s brain. The way it accentuated her body, the confidence with which she held herself, was too hard to resist and he was glad he stopped trying.

A light nip to her bottom lip was all the woman needed to let him into her mouth, his tongue slipping inside and providing the guidance needed to deepen their kiss. Nanami was all but drowning in the delicious sighs and moans gifted to him and diligently worked to achieve more. All the while, he gracefully guided their bodies towards the altar and thoughtlessly pushed aside the tools from his earlier sermon to sit his current subject of worship upon the chilled wood. It wasn’t the most comfortable, but it did the job just fine.

Nanami situated himself between the woman’s thighs, grinding every so often against her and earning tugs on his hair in return. “Tell me, little lamb,” he said, pulling back enough to meet the lust darkened eyes of his partner. “Will you sing for me?” His hands were on her thighs, pushing up the fabric of her dress and relishing in the soft feel of her exposed skin. He wanted nothing more than to lay her back and wreck her on this holy ground, but he waited as patiently as he possibly could to prolong this much deserved night.

“God, yes,” the woman sighed in response. Her hands wandered over his clothed skin, wondering what he felt like beneath, but rather turned on by the perfection of his priestly garb. His eyes gazed into hers, dark and wide, and color dusted sculpted cheeks. She wanted to comment how fitting it was for him to be a man of the lord when his calloused fingers hooked into her panties and gave a firm tug. All thoughts fled her brain and she moaned as a knuckle rubbed gently through the gathered wetness about her core.

“Just like that, darling,” Nanami praised, barely containing a groan as her fingernails dug delightfully into his shoulders. Swiftly, he fully removed her underwear and let it drop to the floor beside the altar. The man planted another kiss onto his partner’s blushing cheek before fluidly getting to his knees. Nanami braced his hands onto her thighs and parted them from where they had begun to close in around his face. He paused for only a moment to take in the glistening sight before him before descending his lips and tongue into the warmth before him.

He licked a broad stripe from her center to her already tender bud, huffing a breath of pure arousal at the breathy moan that sounded above him. The sound echoed off of the stone walls of the cathedral, accompanied by the wet noise that followed his tongue’s assault on her clit. Nanami relished the feeling of her fingers on his scalp and the soft spew of encouragement from above him. Already, he felt uncomfortably hard, but focused himself on pleasing the woman before him. As one hand left her thigh and traveled up under the fabric of her dress to caress the flesh beneath, Nanami slipped his tongue inside her pleading hole. He caressed the delicate walls, licking in an out to taste her fully. Her nails gripped onto his once neat blonde locks and he groaned at the feeling, the vibrations doing everything to bring her closer and closer to the edge.

Nanami continued his ministrations, burying his face into her sweet core and letting her legs close around him so his other hand could entertain her nub while he worked. With each circle of his rough thumb, he felt the woman coming undone around him. Her legs shook gently over his shoulders, but he relentlessly continued to thrust his tongue in and out of her, caressing as deep as he could in her tightening walls.

“Oh god, Father, I-” the woman attempted to say between moans of pleasure. “I’m going to-” She cut herself off with a silent scream, her face turned toward the chapel ceiling as Nanami worked her through the waves of her orgasm. He lapped up the fluids gathering around his tongue and soothingly rubbed circles onto the inner skin of her thigh, waiting until the iron grip she had on his hair relaxed and her legs no longer clamped around his head.

Nanami returned to his feet, the results of the woman’s first release glistening on his lips. There was no hesitation from either party as their mouths’ met, the taste of her on both their tongues as she greedily hugged him closer for more despite the light shaking of her body. “Please tell me that wasn’t all,” she breathed against his mouth with a coy grin.

Nanami huffed a laugh and pulled back slightly. “I’m delivering what you deserve, am I not?” He teased, grinding again against the wetness between them, not caring what it did to his black pants. The woman squirmed from the stimulation, her face a fight between a wince and the ‘oh’ of another moan.

Her fingers scrambled for purchase against the smooth fabric separating them. “I want to feel you…” She pleaded, the apprehension from earlier entirely gone. Nanami held back a groan by pressing his lips back against hers, loving how eager she was for what he wanted as well. He took the time to slip her dress entirely off of her, exposing her to the cool air of the church and the wandering of his hands. Nanami was in no rush, despite how he ached within the confines of his pants. He wanted nothing more than to continue to defile such a faithful child of god, to feel all of her skin against his fingers, to hear every little sound that left her beautiful mouth because of him.

Sadly for him, his partner was in no mood to delay. She tugged at the front of his pants, undoing the hidden button and zipper to free his lengthy and leaking member from its prison. Nanami watched her swallow from between partially lidded eyes as a small wave of relief spread through him at being exposed to the open air. “It’s not nice to lie, Father,” the woman chuckled, wrapping her hand around his cock and giving it a fair few strokes. “Those pants barely show a thing.”

Lord, was he worked up. Taking it slower would have to wait for another day. Regardless, Nanami gently placed his hand over hers, using them both to guide the head of his member to her entrance. “Then forgive me, for I have sinned.” He placed his other hand on her shoulder, guiding her to lay down against the altar and running his fingers tantalizingly down her body. Carefully, Nanami plunged into her, the stretch of her walls around him causing them both to release heavy groans towards the heavens. “God help me..” He whispered into the air with a chuckle while he waited for her to adjust to the intrusion. The sweet tightness swallowing him whole begged for him to start moving, to see how delicious it would feel for her body to milk every last drop from him, yet he waited until she impatiently twitched around him.

Looking down at her, Nanami couldn’t help but snort. “Patience is a virtue, darling.” His voice was strained from the effort it took to resist from pounding into her.

The shock of the intrusion gone, the playful smile returned to her face. “Does that mean I’ll be punished, Father?”

A genuine laugh broke from Nanami’s throat and he positioned his hands on her waist. “I suppose it is necessary. Virtues must be learned somehow.” He then began a sudden and harsh pace, pulling nearly all the way out before slamming back. The drag of his cock along her walls was pure bliss, the stretch barely painful beyond the pleasure being literally pounded into her body. Perhaps it was the euphoria, but the woman could swear his unrelenting pace hit places she never knew could feel so good, each slap of skin on skin eliciting gasps and pleas from her.

Even better was the look plastered on the ever stoic and serious Nanami, the priest she had only ever seen scowling from behind the altar he was currently railing her on. His brows were drawn and his jaw set tight around every groan and grunt rung from him. The sternness was different from usual, no longer the reproachful hand of god, but a man hellbent on finding and giving release. His fingers held on with bruising strength, moving her body for her as he struck again and again at her most sensitive spot. Her fingers clawed for purchase on the thin red fabric covering the wooden slab of the altar as stars shot in and out, throwing everything out of focus except for where Nanami’s body and hers connected.

With the echoes of their voices and skin bouncing around them, Nanami was getting progressively closer to climax. The time spent pleasuring his partner had sufficiently worked him up and the pressure wrapped around his cock was godly. Seeing the edge approaching, he released one hand from its forceful grip and moved it to toy with her clit once again and bring her along with him towards release.

The woman clung to the altar with one hand above her head, her eyes scrunched shut as the coil in her core threatened to snap for the second time that evening. It didn’t take much longer for orgasm to hit, her walls clenching tight around Nanami’s cock and her barely opened eyes staring fuzzily at the church ceiling as every nerve in her body tensed and released in waves. Nanami was short to follow, the pressure around him too wonderful and the expression of the woman before him enough to tip him over the edge. He pulled out with a wet pop before painting the woman and the altar in long spurts of cum. He braced his hands on the wood on either side of her body, their heavy breathing filling the space as they both reeled back into themselves.

Before a silence could settle, Nanami began to put himself back together, cleaning himself off with a handkerchief and tucking himself back into his pants. “I will be just a moment,” he informed the still shaking woman and went to retrieve a hand towel from the closet near the church’s restroom. He began gently and diligently cleaning her, then helped her back into her clothes. Aside from the red swollenness of their lips and the disheveled state of their hair, the two looked nearly normal. Nanami had been careful not to leave any visible marks on her, had kept his lips to hers or to places unseen, simply because they had not had the time to discuss what exactly was okay and what wasn’t beforehand. Despite having fucked a churchgoer on an altar just moments before, Nanami was a gentleman and respected any boundaries his partner may have had.

With the evidence of their “worship” cleaned up, the two adults walked towards the doors of the church. The woman paused at the door and looked up to Nanami with a broad, relaxed smile. “Thank you, Father. For the break.” An amused laugh bubbled past her lips and Nanami found himself grinning slightly in return.

“Any time, my child. I am here to serve,” he said, extending a hand with a simple business card in it. “Even when I am no longer part of this congregation.” While generally saved for curse work, Nanami always carried cards with his name and number on it. And this definitely seemed like a worthwhile time to give on.

The woman took it and tucked it into her purse securely. “I hope to see you again soon,” she said in farewell, leaving Father Nanami behind to finish attending to church duties. Perhaps the mandatory service as a priest wasn’t so bad. It certainly had its perks.

#nanami kento #nanami smut #jujutsu kaisen #nanami kento x reader #jujutsu kaisen nanami #jjk nanami

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bailey-reaper · 3 years

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Headcanons: The Timelines

Notes: So, I thought it might be a good idea to post my thoughts about the timelines that exist in my head, given that I've made reference to the 'perfect' one.

Goes without saying there are a lot of major spoilers below...

Content Warnings: spoilers; so many spoilers; non-canon shenanigans; did I mention spoilers?

The Canon Timeline

Basically what it says on the tin: all the events are as they happened in-game (in so far as I can remember them – I may well forget or overlook more nuanced details sometimes, and I apologise if that's the case!)

The majority of content on this blog operates under the canon timeline – the obvious exception to that is anything to do with alternate universes / worlds (e.g. the vampire stuff)

The 'Perfect' Timeline

This is the 'what if the bad stuff didn't happen' timeline, or at the very least 'what if Klint didn't become the Professor' being a central aspect. Clearly this would have far-reaching ramifications for a whole host of characters and situations, so I'll try to cover those here:

As such, Barok won't be the tortured man he became over the 10 years following Klint's death (because in this timeline, his brother didn't die). He might well be a bit more sober than his gentle university self, having seen a lot of the crime and corruption that is rife in London, but he's still a reasonably warm and personable young man compared to canon.

Similarly, this means that the Reaper of the Bailey does not exist –– Barok does not plummet into the depths of despair and his brother's ghost can no longer delight Londoners with the ghoulish gothic tragedy of a vengeful spirit of justice taking the law into its own hands...

However, the Professor does still exist –– in the form of Mael Stronghart. For years now he's been blackmailing and extorting those around him to do his bidding, the former Lord Chief Justice still ends up dying under suspicious circumstances (so that Stronghart can take his place) and Klint is continuing to chase the Professor's shadow, only this time it's not his own...

Klint insisted that Genshin return to Japan, out of concern for his friend becoming a target of the Professor; they were continuing to pursue him relentlessly and Klint held no doubt that eventually, were they to draw too close, there would be repercussions. The last thing he wanted was for his a close ally to fall foul of such a thing, so he asked him to return to Japan and promised that if he ever got a tangible lead he would inform him.

Genshin reluctantly agreed, on account of wanting to see his son again, but for the last ten years he has anxiously awaited some semblance of news from Klint –– yet the letters his friend sends never disclose anything about the Professor, they're just typically friendly missives checking up on him / his family.

Eventually, however, Genshin would grow tired of waiting for news and informs his good friend, Yujin, that he intends to return to Great Britain. Kazuma overhears this discussion and resolves that he will not be parted from his father again for such a long time, he tells his best friend Ryū that they're going to stowaway onto the ship with his father and head to Great Britain.

Ryū has his doubts about all this... but, his friend looks so desperate that he wants to help him. Susato ends up discovering their plan, so they have to rope her along for the ride too –– needless to say Genshin is unimpressed when he finds three stowaways in his room, but he can't turn his own son over to the ship's crew and accordingly agrees to keep their presence concealed...

Thus, the four arrive in Great Britain and Genshin is determined to bring an end to the Professor's 10-year reign of terror...

Kazuma proposes that he and Ryū learn more about British law while they're there, and suggests that he study up as a prosecutor while his friend learns the ways of a defence lawyer so that they can take these skills back to Japan and shake up their own system for the better.

Stronghart sees the utility in having Genshin's son so close at hand, and so agrees to the terms the young man boldly proposes when he and Ryū go to the Lord Chief Justice's office and ask him to appoint them as lawyers.

What happens next? I have no idea...

The 'Corrupted' Timeline

This is the 'what if things went from bad to worse' timeline in so far as 'what if Klint had won the duel against Genshin'?

Klint's a hollow man –– outwardly he presents close to his usual self, but inwardly he's being eaten up inside by his crimes. He feels trapped and has no idea how to claw his way back out of the mire.

For the last ten years he's been trying to maintain his composure so as not to worry his little brother, Barok, his darling wife and his precious daughter; but Stronghart's constant presence feels like a ticking time bomb. How long until the Lord Chief Justice decides Klint is no longer useful to him and brings everything crashing down around him? He cannot risk such a fate befalling his beloved family.

Thus, he conspires to be the one to strike first and take out Stronghart. His sense of 'justice' has become so warped by the things he's seen and done that he sees no way back from the precipice, so all he can do is keep pushing forward.

Will he kill Stronghart? Will Stronghart kill him? Or will the young man who has been told that his father's killer continues to walk free in Great Britain be the one to get his revenge?

(note: I'm still not 100% sure about the details of the corrupted timeline tbh, I just wonder what would happen if the 'Professor' was like the Ripper and no matter what the police try, they just cannot find him...)

#alt universe #misc.

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erenthecoordinate · 3 years

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Chapter 138: Dreams vs Reality

So I’ve sat down with my thoughts on ch138 for about a week analyzing Mikasa’s “vision” for character meta and its function to the plot. Needless to say there are polarizing opinions for obvious reasons- but I still feel the need to share my view bc I think it reveals a lot.

Disclaimer: I realize the issue with ship wars. I don’t intend to claim one thing or another; it’s entirely fair to interpret Eren’s feelings in many ways because that’s how this series works. I have no interest in arguing about it. I’m only interested in the dream vs reality aspects of the chapter.

For the record, I’m working with two theories here and I emphasize THEORIES. It’s cool to disagree with parts or all of it! I do hope my words get you thinking at least a bit though!

The Butterfly Effect

In order to tackle these two theories, the theory of the “butterfly effect,” paths dividing into multiple timelines originating from one singular timeline depending on Eren’s choices, needs to be considered. On first introduction to the Attack Titan’s abilities, Eren says that the holder can see future memories of its respectable owners. Thanks to the Paths, Eren is able to communicate with previous holders, like Grisha, to commit acts that would lead him to obtaining the Attack and Founding Titans. The Butterfly Effect would kick off the events that we’ve been following along in the story and imply that time exists in a circle, since the reason Eren gets the titans is because he was able to convince Grisha to do so by showing him selective memories.

The issue with this is in ch138, if Mikasa’s reality was actually a divergent timeline, if it really were the case Eren and Mikasa would run off together if she had confessed her feelings, there would be no way for Eren to convince his father to give him the Attack and Founding. Therefore, they wouldn’t have even been in the outside world to run away to, Eren wouldn’t die of the titan curse, which is what happens in Mikasa’s ideal world.

It seems that he needs Paths specifically to communicate with Grisha. It’s even possible he needs direct contact with royal blood to even see the memories, or else it was needed to trigger that ability for him to now do so more freely later.

Therefore, in this case, we can assume the butterfly effect is either debunked or functions differently than a domino reaction.

Paths exist in parallels – Mikasa’s Ideal is an alternative reality

We have confirmation from the storyboard of the chapter that this was meant to be Mikasa’s “ideal (world).” Had she confessed her feelings to Eren, she would have suggested running away the night before Eren leaves his friends so that they can live Eren’s last 4 years in peace. Obviously with the watering down of the Butterfly Effect, we see that it is impossible for this to happen, at least in the main timeline.

Mikasa experiences a migraine when faced with the reality that Eren has to die in order to kill the “Founding Titan.” She’s been experiencing these unexplainable headaches throughout the series during certain critical points of the plot that she personally experiences. We can assume Eren has been lying about the Ackerman abilities in order to push Mikasa away from him, so that she would have less hesitation when she ultimately has to face him. We don’t see Levi having these migraines when his own “host” Erwin cannot be protected from death. Even Kenny doesn’t seem to experience or note these headaches when Uri is dying. The only thing that is mentioned is the awakening power and inability to have their memories wiped or manipulated.

That said, it doesn’t seem to apply to Ackermans actually experiencing what the Founder can show them. In this case, the theory of an alternate reality would be plausible if one with the Founder can access those other realities. If Mikasa did experience another reality, it is because Eren who “controls” (or rather is lent power by) Ymir is able to bring her there. This would mean that timelines exist in parallel to each other and there are multiple alternative universes and realities, ones with Titans and ones without. The headaches may be a result of a resistance that is likely due to showing Mikasa these realities during specific moments, ones with situations that align with other realities but aren’t explicitly converging at any point and her Ackerman blood trying to block that process from happening- with Ymir and Eren together, they are able to breakthrough that barrier.

Now you can interpret that Eren’s reason for bringing her there is to assure her that there is a reality where she suggests running away together and that she experiences that life with the assurance that she will stay with Eren as long as he lives. She knows that this isn’t her own reality: “I think I shouldn’t be here.” Eren likely also brings her here to show that even with their peaceful life that the conflict still exists and that she still cannot save him. After he dies, he wants her to detach herself from him, forget the memories, and to be free.

Whatever the reason, we can assume that the “cottage” Mikasa and Eren aren’t the main timeline Mikasa and Eren. It wouldn’t make sense for the history and it wouldn’t align with their motivations throughout the story. While the timeline of events up to that point are similar if not exact, their behaviors aren’t quite the ones we have been following.

I’ll explain further but in short to believe the above in genuine runs a high risk of presenting as “character assassination.” In other words, “out of character.” (Sorta)

Keeping this in mind, this potentially means that these “path” visits have been foreshadowed and even acted upon by Eren before this moment. First off, we know that Eren foresaw the future of the Rumbling and “that sight” when touching Historia’s hand. We also know he sees other moments in between via these future memories. He is only limited in seeing the actual chain of events that gets to that point.

For years before he concedes to this future, he is adamant about finding literally any other solution that will not result in the Full Scale Rumbling. When Kiyomi brings up even threatening the world with the Rumbling on top of sacrificing Historia, he rejects that offer, suggesting that they should consider other options. When Hange says that Hizuru cannot aid in getting other allies to help them, Eren is distraught by the failure of another plan. However, he accepts going to Marley to survey the nation to seek opportunities for peaceful conversation. Before their departure, Eren discusses the potential destruction of Paradis with Historia, saying that their options are to fight or run away- Historia, however, accepts the duties given to her. Eren knows this option is unacceptable and with that nature he must go forth with Hange’s plan or commit the Rumbling (though of course he knows the latter is the future). It’s the rescue of the little boy Ramzi that gives Eren the realization that the events are exactly how he saw them when receiving the future memories. He actually considers leaving the boy behind to change that fate, but his nature, just like how he can’t accept the fate of Paradis to be destroyed, causes him to protect the boy. Eren realizes that the future cannot be changed- because of fate and because of his nature.

He asks Mikasa the big question and receives her final answer. This seems far fetched but when his friends arrive to interrupt the moment he says with disappointment that it was “perfect timing.” Of course, this could also indicate the frustration of having this conversation interrupted with Mikasa, or that he no longer wanted to hear an elaboration because he didn’t expect anything to change, but with the future sight theory he could have foreseen his friends showing up at that precise moment; there isn’t a lot of evidence to say one way or another, but it’s worth considering since even Mikasa is confused when he says this, meaning that there is supposed to be focus on why he says this. During the conference that proposes Eldian rights, after attendees and speakers insist that the real issue are the Paradisians and they should be ridden of, Eren leaves, now convinced that this is the path he has to take. All other options are lost despite his begging, and he is sure there is no other way.

Everything seems to go just like Eren plans, including the time to meet up with Zeke; the only obstacle that he hadn’t foreseen was Reiner bringing reinforcements early. Either these are events leading up to the same future that he did not see, or this is a different Path he exists on.

We see that he convinces Grisha to slaughter the Reiss family in order to get the Founding Titan when Zeke takes them on a “memory lane” trip. With showing Grisha selective memories, his father decides to hand the titans to Eren just as he did in the “alpha” timeline. He tells Zeke that he was able to “get to this point” thanks to Zeke, so now he is on the proper path. Now the events are aligned where he does “see that sight” by contacting Ymir directly and activating the Rumbling.

How did he get to that path though? Where does it start? Is there a beginning at all? Well, either Zeke had led them to a parallel path that was similar enough to show identical memories so to convince Eren that Grisha was brainwashing him—or Eren took advantage of a distracted Zeke to “path jump.” It’s interesting that Zeke is the one leading them up until the end of the chapter when Eren is the one now pushing Zeke to get to the next memory. The events up until Grisha gets to the Reiss Cave during the titan invasion occur according to the main timeline.

At this point, Eren is aware that the future of this timeline is viable, one that he is most “like himself” because his behavior is consistent with his beliefs. He was always fated to be this way, he always knew that he would never abandon Paradis so long as they were at risk. He would never allow his friends to suffer that fate. There was never a future for him to run away and live in the mountains living the rest of his life in isolation with Mikasa. His very nature would never allow him to.

It is also possible that this foresight didn’t always come with the goal of flattening the entire earth- he would have foreseen the Rumbling not complete, he only ever mentions starting it and “that sight,” points in the manga that we have already seen. He had the opportunity to prevent his friends from fighting by wiping their memories (save the Ackermans, but even they are just two people), but chose not to due to his ideologies, which he carried since he was a child. In fact, he goads his friends to kill him. He knows this is a future he is fated to have. He expects Mikasa to kill him. Expects that he must convince her to let go of her hesitation and end his life. “You should let go of me.” Why invade that path to tell her this if his goals are to destroy the world, unless he truly expects to stop her and the rest? How could he foresee “see you later Eren” though as an end to his life?

This might be the answer to destroying the true Founding Titan since it now exists in their physical world as he acts as a vessel. This might be the solution to eradicate the titans- “destroy this world.” Disconnect Paths. Stop the indefinite fate where he and his home perish by erasing the existence of Titans altogether. Break fate.

It was (mostly) just a dream

The second running theory is that Mikasa really does just experience the moment of “going back to their home” as a dream. We know she gets headaches at critical moments where she runs the risk of losing someone close to her—and this isn’t isolated to just Eren. This happens when Carla dies and Armin is on the brink of death. The dream ultimately is a coping mechanism, wishing for an ideal world where she can live with Eren in peace and isolation, instead of facing the inevitability that Eren must die.

Also the chapter’s title is “A Long Dream.”

Now I’m not claiming that Mikasa is suffering a delusion, because she is very much aware that this “reality” or “dream” isn’t real- just because she is lucid does not mean she thinks this a world that exists for her. She’s very aware that this ideal world of hers is impossible and was never possible to begin with. Her dream is a confrontation of the reality that even with an innocent Eren who just wants a peaceful life that it is not aligned with the nature she has watched develop. As much as she wants to cling onto an innocent and idealized image of her loved one, she knows this isn’t who he is. This isn’t who they are.

She knows that the world they live in is still with conflict- Eren reminds her of that. She apologizes for bringing it up because that realization that they left to live in peace and potentially leave their homeland exposed with no alternative solution, simply giving in to the circumstances, is not who either of them are, and to hold onto that image of Eren is merely fabrication. The entire dream functions as a metaphor. But in every world, Eren will die, be in by her hands or the titan curse.

[This is alluded to in Lost Girls, another “alternative reality” story.]

It is only disrupted when Eren tells Mikasa to throw the scarf and forget about him because she deserves to be free. He wears the titan markings of his Founding Titan. At this point it’s implied that Eren is communicating through Pathways that connect to her dreams. Remember, dreams (and nightmares) are a very prevalent subject brought up in the series alongside memories- it is possible that the Founder can infiltrate dreams to communicate much like it can bring Eldians to the Path realm. Mikasa cannot be controlled because she is an Ackerman, but this doesn’t omit the possibility that she can still see differences in her dreams (or reality) if interfered by the Founding Titan. Ymir allows this open line of communication with the knowledge Eren is convincing Mikasa to kill him. To simmer down the emotional turmoil, he says that she must forget about him. Of course, because Mikasa cannot be manipulated, she decides that while she must kill him, that his death is inevitable, she will not forget him. And he will not die without her expressing her feelings. That is her own willpower.

At this point, the dream is “shared” between the two because Eren is an active spectator. When Mikasa says her final goodbye, her “see you later,” it isn’t the same dream as what it started as. Which is why he is able to remember it in the first chapter.

Now, I say mostly a dream because it is possible that dreams themselves could create alternative realities if they haven’t existed before. But even if that wasn’t the case, Eren still alludes to path jumping, so the series of events could have still led him to a path that would be able to infiltrate Mikasa’s coping dream, knowing that she would struggle to end his life, but that she needs to see him again and be assured that he wants her to move on with her life, and not to see this as a failure on her part- that her answer really would not have mattered so she should not regret her choices. She is the one that has to kill him to get to this point. He expects to die, he doesn’t stop her when she gets in the titan, he seems resigned to that fate.

The dream theory is shorter but I’m inclined to believe that is what really happened with perhaps some mixture of the “alternate realities” theory for the sake of the plot solving the issue of titans, as well as reverting the rest of the cast from their Pure Titan fate. Getting rid of Paths (the Founding Titan and Eren) is a viable solution to both rid of the nightmare as well as give Ymir and Eren a new life without being enslaved by fate. But that’s a big elaborate and perhaps too complex theory. I’m only making sense of how the final chapter may wrap up.

Alternative Selves: Fabrication to Cope aka “Mikasa and Eren would not run away”

Regardless of either theory, we must come to the conclusion that the Mikasa and Eren in her dream, her ideal world, whatever it may really be, are not their main story selves. In fact it is impossible both because it would break the timeline and because it would not align with their true selves, the ones we’ve been following along throughout the story. It makes more sense for Mikasa to cope with this ideal of hers, but the moment she enters that vision, she knows that this is fake and that this Eren is an idealized version she created (or exists elsewhere and time). To believe otherwise is not understanding who these characters truly are at their core.

Regardless of Eren’s feelings towards her, be it romantic, platonic, familial, his very nature, as he states himself, would never allow him to “not make a decision.” He would never abandon the others he claims to love, the ones he wants them to live long lives, to wander in the dark without at least a warning of the impending doom ahead of them. He gave his friends the freedom to fight. He fights for the freedom of Eldia, protecting Paradis. He could never accept a fate that would allow the massacre of his people, even if he must commit omnicide to prevent it. Remember, this is the boy who saved a girl he never knew because her freedom was stolen. This is the boy that defends his weak friend because he values how the other boy’s mind opens to doors to freedom- the boy that gave him the knowledge of the outside world that fueled his ambition to break down the case in the first place. He doesn’t want to live a mundane life. Especially not if his oppressed people are in danger. This is the guy who has a superior officer who calls him a monster that will not submit to any cage anyone puts him in- he has the fire in his eyes to keep moving forward, to persevere against all odds.

This is the man that would lay down his own life if it meant Paradis would be saved. He would simply never choose the option to run away from that, not even dream about it.

He knew he wanted to see that sight. He was shown that image. That is his ideal world. His vision, his dream. Which means he must fight and move forward. Find a way to save his loved ones so they live long happy lives.

And, honestly, it’s inaccurate to call Mikasa selfish for her ideal life because while she would want to live alone with Eren by her side, when being reminded of the carnage that will take place and that they are not there to help, she submits that it is something neither of them could accept. She might want to run away to have a peaceful life, but not with the knowledge there are consequences for doing so. That there are people she would leave behind. She wouldn’t leave them to that fate. Her actions to stop Eren is evidence of that.

As much as she loves Eren, she has devotion to her homeland and her friends, too. To run away would be uncharacteristic. This is the girl who decided to fight when the boy who saved her was in danger. This is the girl that chose to keep fighting even when her closest family, the one she loved, was “killed.” She is the girl who threw the knife away and promised that she would never leave her friend behind. She stays to fight for her home, Paradis, because it is her birthplace, she belongs here- she wouldn’t run if her home is in danger.

Which is why, to assume they are the real Mikasa and Eren in Mikasa’s “ideal world”, is utterly and completely misread. That is not nor ever what their characters would lead to. The idea of running away would be barely a flicker of a thought at most, but even then, it is uncharacteristic to act. Unreal. Just like their artificial selves in that “dream.”

It isn’t like Isayama didn’t allude to Mikasa and Eren separating. He does so for Armin when they have clashing views on the world and their own selves- Armin being more “worldly” and explorative and Eren being more “self-focused” and personally ambitious. Mikasa would sympathize more with Armin’s point of view, but her desire is to be by Eren’s side.

Isayama gives his opinion on Mikasa’s determination to be stuck to Eren the entire time. It is a “pitiful” existence. She is willing to even shoulder his burdens just so he could come home, that perhaps his emotional distress is the reason he is causing mass destruction. She is desperate for this. That is… not exactly productive of her character, or the plot.

However, he clarifies that this is his view on Mikasa’s course of direction. Her ideal is to be with Eren forever. It may not necessarily be entirely positive that she leaves him behind since deviation from that ideal isn’t guaranteed growth. Isayama has a habit of allowing his readers to experience his work with their own interpretations. Just because he believes Mikasa’s existence with Eren at a constant is unfavorable, everyone will see it that way. Perhaps it is a good thing that she has a goal to work towards and that it is the fuel to her fighting spirit. That her desiring a peaceful life with Eren is a good motivator. Or alternatively, her fixation on Eren would lead her into more dangerous situations that would risk her life, it has her see an unreal version of him, unable to accept his fated death that she is willing to sacrifice everything, even if it means shouldering the burdens he carries, if it means he lives.

The message is clear, however, that whether you, the reader, sees that as wholly positive or negative, or a mixture of both, the intention is that she must let him go. She must accept his death. Because if she is to keep her home, a semblance of peace and closure, save her friends- this is how it must end. There is a beautiful nuance, however, that Mikasa is given the opportunity to forget so that she can avoid the suffering and be free, but she chooses not to- just as she decides when Eren is first taken from her. When she initially thought he died, she decided to keep fighting to honor his spirit and memory. She never wants to forget him. Even if he will die in every reality they share together, the worst thing in the world is an existence without even the memory of him.

This is why she is able to get that closure. She expresses her feelings and says her final goodbye, in this world anyway. “See you later” because she will still have the ideal dream knowing that while it isn’t real, it can never be real, not for her, but his memory will live on with her. And she can carry that memory without sacrificing her agency, her home, her friends, her love. That is what she is meant to do.

Anyway, I wrote this mostly to observe the function of Paths and what Mikasa’s dream infers is possible, and an opening to a solution, as well as her decision to end Eren’s life. The dream speaks loudly of Mikasa and Eren as characters because it shows us what they are not. It emphasizes the characters that we have been following since the beginning are raw and motivated, destined to live their lives fighting and protecting and moving onward, never surrendering. And to insist otherwise would be a disservice to how they’ve been built up to after all this time.

....

[Once again: Despite the language in this, the manga has always been a work to be wildly interpreted in a multitude of ways, I just speak passionately about why I think certain interpretations don’t make since to my own. But nothing is indefinite. The material is flexible. See it how you wish.]

#shingeki no kyojin #snk meta #snk chapter 138 #eren yeager #mikasa ackerman #analysis #theory #paths #mypost

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yellowcanna · 3 years

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Promise of a Lifetime

Summary:

“Where have you been, Xiao?! I’ve been looking everywhere for you!” Hu Tao shouted, grabbing Xiao’s hand and dragging him into the parlour where Zhongli was waiting.

“Master,” Xiao dipped his head towards Zhongli who was standing there looking at him…apologetically?

Xiao instantly had a bad feeling, and that feeling came true when Hu Tao went on a ramble about how they received a huge sum of mora. The green-haired youth gritted his teeth and took a deep breath in an attempt to stay calm.

“Young master,” he stopped the girl who wasn’t getting anywhere other than mora. “These mora you mentioned…were they by chance given by Tartaglia?”

“Yep!” Hu Tao answered cheerfully, not the slightest bit ashamed in admitting that she had once again sold Xiao to the bastard.

The corner of Xiao’s lips twitched, but he controlled himself as to not show any form of disrespect towards Hu Tao and Zhongli.

“May I ask what is requested of me this time?”

“Simple! You just have to attend a party as his lady partner!”

Xiao was going to kill Tartaglia.

[AU where the gods and adepti are humans in Teyvat and Xiao was a former assassin of the Abyss Order]

Genre: Fluff, Canon Divergence, hurt/comfort, touched-starved, Enemies to friends to lovers, shounen-ai

Rating: T

Pairing: Childe/Xiao

Author: Canna / Yellow Canna

╔ ✦✧✦ ═══════════╗

Available on AO3!!

╚═══════════ ✦✧✦ ╝

It was a bright sunny day in Liyue Harbour.

The green-haired youth sat on the open windowsill with one leg propped up and his elbow resting upon his knee. His bright, cobalt yellow eyes gazed out to the endless blue sky without a speck of cloud.

He closed his eyes when a warm breeze blew by, carrying the scent that was exclusive to Liyue. Feeling something settling down onto his elbow, he opened his eyes and was greeted by a little brown sparrow. The tiny bird chirped and hopped around his arm. Xiao didn’t move. He quietly observed the bird jumping all over him. And then, the serenity was ruined by the sound of footsteps before the door was rudely opened without any knocks.

The sparrow squawked and flew away while the youth heaved out an irritated breath.

“I figured you’d be here, Xiao!” A cheerful voice greeted, but the youth on the windowsill didn’t move.

He stared at the sky, determined to ignore the nuisance behind him.

The intruder didn’t mind the silent treatment. He sat down by the table at the center of the room where there was a teapot and a cup of half-drunken tea that had already gone cold. He picked up the ceramic cup and drank the remaining content.

That earned some reaction from the youth who glanced over his shoulder, eyes narrowing.

“The master is away,” Xiao finally spoke. Although he tried to keep his voice indifferent like he usually does, there was a mild irritation which the other man was keenly able to pick up.

“I know,” the man smiled around the rim of the cup before setting it back onto the table. He reached for the teapot and poured himself some more tea. “I’m not here for Mr. Zhongli.”

“Young master Hu is away as well.”

“I’m not here for your young master either,” the brunet took a small sip on the hot tea and frown. “I don’t get why the people of Liyue prefer hot drinks when their climate is so warm. Wouldn’t cold tea be more convenient?”

Xiao didn’t respond and turned his attention back to the outside. Instead of looking at the sky, he was now eyeing the street below.

“Hey now, don’t be so eager to leave!” The man chuckled, easily seeing through what Xiao was thinking. “Aren’t you at least curious what I came here for?”

“No.”

“You’re no fun,” the man lamented with a soft sigh. “Someone is after my life.”

“I see,” Xiao turned around to fully face the man. “The Wangsheng Funeral Parlour will accept to host your funeral. Come back once you've brought the necessary funds.”

“Hahaha!” The man laughed. “Looks like staying in this old place has rubbed off on you! I didn’t think I would ever hear you crack a joke!”

Xiao just stared at the man impassively.

“Fine, I’ll get to the point. I need your help.”

“I refuse.”

“Aw, don’t be like that!” He pleaded. “Help a friend out.”

“I don’t recall ever being friends with you.”

“How could you say that after all of our bonding time?”

Xiao’s brow twitched upon remembering what this man viewed as bonding time. This man would keep pestering him, keep pushing his buttons, keep crossing the boundaries until Xiao couldn’t take it anymore and in the end, they would always clash with their blades.

Xiao could still clearly recall his first meeting with the man around this time last year.

As an envoy from Snezhnaya and one of the Eleven Harbingers—Queen Tsaritsa’s Royal Knights, this man known as Tartaglia was a formidable opponent.

The first time Xiao met this man was through his saviour and master, Zhongli. Xiao knew little about the world of business, so Zhongli brought him outside to see the world.

When Xiao first laid his eyes on the Harbinger with ochre brown hair, he knew he wouldn’t get along with him and he was right. The next time they met, this man came up to him and brought up his past.

This envoy from another nation had dug his claws deep into Liyue and pulled out a secret that was meant to be buried, and that was the Yaksha.

For as long as Xiao could remember, he was already walking within the darkness—chained and broken. Perhaps there had been a time when he was freed, but it was a time he couldn’t remember anymore. With a slave mark engraved into his soul, Xiao was powerless against the creature he was forced to acknowledge as master. Without his master's command, he couldn't even take his own life.

The Abyss Order was the name of the organization and Xiao was one of their few human slaves that survived. Since young, Xiao was trained to become an assassin and spy so that the Abyss Order can keep their eyes on each nation. Because he was originally from Liyue, that was where they assigned him to. Due to the demon mask he wore whenever in a battle or assassination, he was given the name of the Yaksha by the citizens of Liyue as a symbol of their fears and hatred.

Xiao could no longer remember how many people he had killed. All he knew was that two years ago, all seven nations combined their powers to finally rid Teyvat of the Abyss Order. During that battle, Xiao was naturally called upon the battlefield where he met Zhongli.

Though the man claimed to be a councillor from the Wangsheng Funeral Parlour, he was in reality part of the Qixing. Zhongli was the only person who saw through the slave mark binding Xiao and freed him from the chains that had bound him for so long instead of slaughtering him like the rest of the Abyss Order.

The name Xiao was the new identity given to him and since then, Xiao had settled within the Wangsheng Funeral Parlour.

Xiao never understood why Zhongli would go through so much trouble when it was easier to kill him. Even though Xiao may not want to be saved, he was nevertheless grateful for the man’s kindness—as well as Hu Tao’s for giving him a place to stay. Xiao was never one to take anything for granted. Since they extended their kindness to him, he must repay them.

It was as simple as that.

A year following that battle, he tried to live putting the past behind him, yet talks of the Yaksha would still be heard from time to time. There were still people investigating the origin of the Yaksha, for that the demon mask in Xiao’s possession oddly resembled the mask of an ancient clan of exorcists that was annihilated twenty years ago.

Though Xiao heard the rumours, he never bothered to investigate the truths behind it because it did not matter anymore. That clan was no more and even if there were survivors, Xiao doubted they would accept him—especially when he was the one who had killed so many of these exorcists during his time in the Abyss Order.

For a whole year, Xiao’s real identity was only known to Zhongli. Not even the other Qixing or Hu Tao knew about his identity.

No one had ever linked the Yaksha to Xiao.

No one but the Eleventh Harbinger, Tartaglia.

Tartaglia had found out about Xiao’s identity as the Yaksha and confronted him at Tianqiu Valley when Xiao was sent there on a task. He even used his identity to provoke Xiao. Enraged by the man’s action, Xiao drew his spear for the first since the battle that ended the Abyss Order.

Xiao had gone all out, even donning the mask Zhongli had specifically told him not to bring out. Tartaglia had put on a mask of his own, wielding both Vision and Delusion. The whirlwind summoned by Xiao’s power mixed with the violent rain and lightning from Tartaglia created a storm Liyue had never seen before.

Had Zhongli not arrived in time to stop their fight, one of them would surely die that night.

The third time they met was two days after when the man waltzed into his room as though nothing had ever happened. Needless to say, another fight broke out between them and half of the parlour was blown apart.

Hu Tao was hysterical when she returned to find the second floor of the parlour completely gone. However, that matter was swiftly settled when the Fatui shamelessly offered to reconstruct the entire building and even expanding it as compensation.

Since then, whenever Tartaglia dropped by, the young master would look at Xiao with stars in her eyes, desperately hoping for the two to start another fight.

As much as Xiao tried not to, he was still provoked into stabbing the man on multiple occasions. Each time something within the parlour was destroyed, Tartaglia would pay for it. Eventually, this became a pattern and Xiao’s fight became the highest source of income for Wangsheng Funeral Parlour.

“Leave, I have no interest in fighting with you.”

“I’m not here for a fight this time.” The brunet rested his chin into his palm. “I need your help, Xiao Xiao~”

“Do not call me that,” Xiao gritted.

“But you let the young master call you that—Ah! Wait, wait!” He called when Xiao had already gotten up, crouching on the windowsill and preparing to jump out any moment. “I got information that someone is plotting against me and there’s a high chance of assassination. Unfortunately, the mastermind’s identity is covered up pretty well so my men are having trouble locating them. I want to hire your help as a former assassin.”

“I reject.” With that, Xiao leaped out the window and was gone in a gust of wind.

Knowing how persistent that man could be, Xiao took his time strolling around the outskirt of the city. It wasn’t until the sky became completely dark and the lanterns on the street lighting up that he returned to the parlour.

“Xiao Xiao!”

What greeted him when he stepped through the front door was the excited young master of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlour—Hu Tao. The raven-haired girl ran up to him, eyes sparkling in a way that Xiao long learned to be wary of.

“Young master Hu,” he greeted politely with a bow.

“Where have you been, I’ve been looking everywhere for you!” She gasped, grabbing Xiao’s hand and dragging him into the lobby.

“Master,” Xiao dipped his head towards Zhongli when he spotted him standing there looking at him…apologetically?

Xiao immediately had a bad feeling, and that feeling came true when Hu Tao went on a ramble about how they received a huge sum of mora. The green-haired youth gritted his teeth and took a deep breath in an attempt to stay calm.

“Young master,” he stopped the girl who wasn’t getting anywhere other than mora. “These mora you mentioned…were they given by Tartaglia?”

“Yep!” Hu Tao answered proudly, not even the slightest bit ashamed in admitting that she had once again sold Xiao to the Fatui.

The corner of Xiao’s lips twitched, but he controlled himself as to not show any form of disrespect towards Hu Tao and Zhongli.

“May I ask what is requested of me?”

“Oh, that’s easy! You just have to attend a party as his lady partner!”

Xiao was going to kill Tartaglia.

✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧

Xiao sat in front of the mirror and stared at his own reflection. He fixed the Glazed Lily ornaments on the left side of his hair before picking up a piece of red Silk Flower paper and smeared the colour onto his lips.

He put on the pair of emerald earrings, slipping them through the earholes which he had not used for a long time. He then picked up the pair of black satin gloves on the table and slipped them on. The long gloves reached to his elbows, leaving his upper arms bare.

Xiao skillfully wrapped a piece of thin red string around his Vision before tying the string around his neck, creating a necklace. He tucked the necklace under his cloth with his vision hidden under the fake chest he made.

He buttoned up his top and closed the collar over his throat to conceal the budge on his throat that woman would not have. Once he was done, he stood up and headed for the door. His elaborate green and black qipao with Ameno pattern flowed down to his ankles and each time he took a step, the qipao would flutter, splitting at his hip showing off his long, milk-white legs.

“Eeeh? Why can’t I go in?” Xiao heard the familiar whine of Hu Tao from outside his door.

“Xiao said he can dress on his own, young master Hu,” the deep voice of Zhongli’s explained.

“But what is he needs help? And do you really think he would put it on? For all we know, he could have already shredded it and—”

Xiao opened the door. The raven-haired girl who was facing Zhongli spun around on her heels, mouth already open to say something, but her voice never came out. She stood there, her eyes as wide as her open mouth as she gawked at Xiao.

“Xiao Xiao?!”

Xiao heaved out a sigh and let the girl inspected him. He looked over to Zhongli and bowed respectfully. “Master.”

“You look beautiful, Xiao,” Zhongli complimented with Hu Tao hurriedly nodding in agreement before her eyes fell to the B-cup swell around the man’s chest.

If possible, her eyes widened even more and she reached out both hands to start groping them.

“T-they feel so real…!” She gasped in awe as she squeezed and kneaded the softness on Xiao’s chest. “Don’t tell me…Xiao Xiao you’re actually a—”

“It’s made with condensed slime,” Xiao deadpanned, not even wanting to hear the rest of that sentence. He took a step back and angled his body away so he could save his fake chest from her devilish hands.

“Ahem…young master Hu,” Zhongli coughed into his hand. “I believe Childe has been waiting long enough.”

“Huh? Oh! That’s right!” Hu Tao clapped her hands together. “That guy’s already waiting for you in the lobby and—oh, shoes! Let me get your shoes!”

The girl rushed off and came back with a pair of black heels with the same Ameno pattern that matched the qipao. Xiao slipped his feet into the shoes, finding it odd how well it fitted, just like this dress. At first, he thought these clothes were something Hu Tao prepared, but considering her personality, that now seemed highly unlikely.

Zhongli couldn’t have prepared these for him either, since if it was Zhongli, he would have bought all the clothes the store had to offer and piled them into Xiao’s room.

“Young master Hu, may I ask where you got these garments?”

“Oh, Childe gave them to me!” Hu Tao said happily and immediately veins started to stick out from beneath Xiao’s pale skin.

To the side, Zhongli lightly shook his head.

With another bow to the two, Xiao headed for the lobby, his heels clicking as he went.

As he was descending the stairs, he spotted Tartaglia in the lobby, dressed in the same clothes as usual. Hearing the sounds of heels, Tartaglia looked up and froze. For a split second, the man was taken back, looking completely stunned, but he recovered the next moment with a weirdly serious look on his face.

That made Xiao’s step slowed just a little. He had expected the man to come up to him and tease him, but not eye him with such stoic expression. Xiao kept his face blank and finally arrived in front of the taller man.

He crossed his arms, waiting for the other to speak.

He waited for five long seconds and Tartaglia still didn’t say anything. Instead, the man turned to the attendant that was beside him.

“Bring the good.”

The attendant looked a bit dumbfounded at first, but when he realized what his master was asking for, he hesitated.

“But Master, that’s the gift for—”

“Do I need to repeat myself?” Azure blue eyes narrowed dangerously. In an instant, the attendant bowed down and hastily excused himself.

Xiao watched the man ran out and came back only seconds later with a beautiful ice blue box. From the unusual design on the box as well as the material, the green-haired youth knew it was a box crafted from Snezhnaya.

The attendant presented the box to Tartaglia who opened it up to reveal snow-white fur within.

“This is made by the pelts of the snow foxes that dwell within the mountain of Snezhnaya,” Tartaglia explained, pulling out the long white fur with great care. The pelt sparkled under the lighting and even looked as though it was emitting breathes of coldness from its origin.

Tartaglia ran his fingers over the pelt before he walked up to Xiao and wrapped the pelt around his shoulders and over his forearms. The rest of the pelt flowed down his side, the soft fur tickling his exposed hips and stopping just a couple inches below his knees.

Xiao was stunned by the man’s act. His previous anger was forgotten the moment the fur touched his skin. Never in his life had he ever felt something as soft as this. He looked down at the pelt hung around his arms, able to feel the strange coolness seeping into his skin despite how fur was known to do the opposite.

From how stiff the attendant was standing behind Tartaglia plus his previous behaviour, Xiao could tell that this pelt was meant to be for someone else.

“Master, then the gift…” the attendant began meekly.

Tartaglia spared the man a sideways glance and waved him off. “Just replace it with something else in the treasury.”

Tartaglia looked over Xiao up and down as his hands reached for Xiao’s face. Xiao stood still, watching the man warily as those hands disappeared from his vision and he felt his earrings being removed. The brunet didn’t say anything. He took off the right earring first, then the left one.

After that, he tossed the two earrings to the attendant and reached up to remove his red earring hanging off his left earlobe. Xiao was quiet the entire time, even when the man leaned over him and slipped his earring through Xiao’s ear.

“Does it hurt?” Tartaglia suddenly asked.

“…No,” Xiao replied, feeling the weight of the new earring before looking up at Tartaglia. How odd of the man to question him such a thing considering how many times they left each other injured after a fight.

“Good!” Tartaglia wrapped his arm around Xiao’s elbow and pulled him outside where the carriage was waiting. “Then let us depart!”

The ride in the carriage was quiet.

Xiao was always one to enjoy the silence, yet silence with Tartaglia was never a normal thing. He glanced over to Tartaglia who was blatantly staring at him which made Xiao shift in self-consciousness.

“If you have something to say, just say it.” Xiao finally said after a long while.

“Hm…” Tartaglia hummed, eye drifting down Xiao’s form then shifting back up to meet the other's irritated gaze. “I thought you would at least try to punch me by now.”

“Because you made me dress as a woman?” Xiao huffed, turning his head away and stared out the window. “I am not unfamiliar with such disguises.”

“Past experience?”

“…Due to my build and face, I was required to dress as a woman many times to approach my targets.”

“I see…” Tartaglia’s voice was quiet and distant, yet there was no form of pity or sadness in that voice. It was the one reason why Xiao always found himself comfortable with talking to this man about his past.

That and the fact that even if he didn’t say anything, this man will dig it out anyway.

“What did they do?”

“Surely you don’t need me to answer that,” Xiao said dryly.

The Snezhnayan did not try to pry anymore, because he knew the answer. While it was obvious these people could never get far because Xiao wasn’t a real girl, some level of intimacies were still inevitable.

“You look gorgeous.”

Xiao glanced back at the man with narrowed eyes. The distrust in those golden orbs was as clear as day.

“I’m serious,” Tartaglia chuckled before his smile fell again. “More than I ever thought you’d be. I’m just disappointed. These clothes don’t fit you at all.”

“What do you mean?” Xiao bristled lightly at what he assumed was an insult.

“For one thing, they pale compared to your beauty,” Tartaglia lamented. He reached out and pinched his fingers around the tail of the fur. “Even the finest fur of Snezhnaya failed to match up to you.”

“Enough with your empty flattery.” Xiao shot the man a sharp glare. “How did you know my size for the dress and shoes?”

“How many times do you think we’ve fought?” The man laughed. “I’m a keen observer! I’ve memorized how your body moves in order to predict your next attack. Knowing your size is hardly anything special.”

Xiao didn’t believe that kind of explanation, but he didn’t bother trying to find out the real answer and instead got down to business. “I assume the one after your life will be attending the party?”

“Yeah, most likely.” Tartaglia nodded. “I have a few suspicions, but I can’t be certain yet. As an assassin, I like to hear your input.”

“You’ve hardly given me any information for me to have opinions.” Xiao crossed his arms and looked back out the windows. “But…I can think of some methods they may use. Halfway through the party, find an excuse to leave me alone and I will identify the perpetrator for you.”

“How dependable!” Tartaglia clapped. “But if you’re alone, you’ll need to talk. Can you take up that task?”

Xiao’s brow twitched, but he softly cleared his voice and spoke in a higher-pitched voice, “naturally.”

It was a beautiful sound with no signs of forced or strained as fake voices generally have. If Tartaglia hadn’t heard this voice coming out of the apathetic man before him, he would have believed the voice to be a real woman’s. He laughed, looking thrilled and extremely interested at how Xiao was able to change his voice like that, but the former assassin was done humouring him.

Fifteen minutes later, they arrived at the dock where Xiao saw people dressed in fancy clothes being escorted onto a ship. So the party will be in the sea…

Xiao was now a hundred percent certain the assassins would come for Tartaglia after they return to land. With this, Xiao was now certain what kind of method they would use to take Tartaglia down, but decided to keep that to himself. Tartaglia hired him for protection, so he will fulfil it to the contract.

The door to the carriage opened. Tartaglia stepped out first before turning to Xiao and offered his hand. Xiao didn’t hesitate to reach for his hand. He placed his hand upon the larger one like a woman would and allowed himself to be guided out. Once standing side to side, he wrapped both of his hands around Tartaglia’s arm and pressed his body close to the man.

Tartaglia’s attendant was already waiting there. At the sight of his boss, he hurried over and presented the same fancy box that once contained the fox pelt. The Harbinger opened the box a little, taking a quick glimpse inside and snapped it shut.

“It will do,” he said, putting on his smile and led Xiao towards the boat.

At the appearance of the young handsome man with a beautiful female companion, eyes were automatically drawn towards them and whispers of the pair began to travel. Neither of the two at the center of this attention cared as they boarded the ship after Tartaglia showed the guards his invitation.

With the sun long set into the sea, the ship was lit with large lanterns, brightening the dock with waiters walking around carrying beverages. When Tartaglia made his appearance, these people swarmed towards him like bees to honey. As the Harbinger who oversaw all the Snezhnaya banks across the nations and establishes trades, Tartaglia has made quite a name for himself in the business world.

Every merchant in Liyue knew about him and was all too eager to establish a relationship with him. That and there was also the fact that the female companion he brought was simply breathtaking. Many men ogled Xiao, though none dared to look too long in fear of being discovered.

With Xiao latched onto Tartaglia’s side and Tartaglia taking control of any conversations that came their way, the green-haired youth didn’t need to participate in any of the interactions. While pretending to not care about everything around him, Xiao was cautiously eyeing their surroundings and checking on all the people that came up to talk to Tartaglia.

The boat has now set off into the sea and the host of the party was making a long speech on the stage.

Xiao was staring at a group of people talking not far from then when a glass of wine came into his vision.

“I don’t drink,” Xiao said quietly, keeping his voice low so no one would overhear.

“Try it, you’ll like it.”

Xiao frowned but knew this man would probably keep pestering him if he didn’t. He took the glass by the stem, swirling the fluid inside around to release the aroma. He took a small whiff before putting the glass against his lips and tilted his head back to take in the fluid.

There was a very unusual taste in the wine—one that was foreign to Xiao.

“I told you you’ll like it,” Tartaglia said with a knowing grin. “It’s Dandelion wine from Mondstadt.”

“…I prefer not to drink, especially during work.” Xiao handed the glass back to the man.

Tartaglia chuckled, bringing the glass to his lips—exactly over where Xiao’s mouth had touched—and took an elegant sip.

Once the speech was over, the guests started to go up one by one to hand their gifts to the host of the party. It was then that Xiao—having not paid any attention to the speech, realized that this was a birthday event.

“Come now,” Tartaglia wrapped his arms around his waist and guided Xiao up the stage where he had his attendant offer their present. “A small gift from Snezhnaya, for the beautiful Madame Zhang.”

The attendant opened the box to reveal a large green gemstone that Xiao had never seen before.

“Oh my!” The woman who Xiao assumed was Madame Zhang gasped at the sight of the gemstone. “Such beautiful emerald! This is the first time I’ve seen one in such quality!”

“We offer you only the best, for you are the star of tonight,” Tartaglia replied smoothly.

“That is very thoughtful of you, master Childe,” Madame Zhang giggled while her servant took the box and set it aside with the other ones. “Though I believe that there is a lady that shines brighter than any stars or emeralds I’ve seen. What is your name, young miss?”

“I am Xiao, Madame Zhang.” Xiao dipped his head and spoke in his fake voice. “It is an honour of mine to be invited to your party.”

“You two sure make a lovely couple.” Madame Zhang hid her smile behind her paper fan. “Reminds me of when I was in my youth!”

“What are you talking about, Madame? You’re still in your youth.” Tartaglia commented, earning another round of giggles from the old Madame.

They left the stage soon after, making room for others to step up.

After all the guests had their turns presenting their gifts, the party resumed.

More people came to speak with Tartaglia and Tartaglia politely spoke back while making lighthearted jokes. When one man came up to the Harbinger and requested on speaking to him about business ideas and proposal for the bank, Xiao knew this was a chance.

Just as he thought, Tartaglia smoothly accepted the man’s request to talk privately.

After telling Xiao to wait here for him, he walked away with the man to discuss the matter somewhere more private and away from the rest of the people. He didn’t go too far on the deck, but far enough where the light of the lantern did not reach. Many people took notice of the two men’s distance, but the people that gathered here are high in social status. They all knew better than to walk in or interrupt a private conversation.

Xiao stood by the banquet table with his arms crossed and eyes closed, acting disinterested in everything that was happening around him—which was not so much of an act.

With Tartaglia gone from his side, men around began to openly stare at him. Many had the desire to approach him, but the cold aura Xiao was emitting created a barrier that only few dared to cross.

Those who managed to gather enough courage to speak to Xiao always ended up walking away seconds later, discouraged by the lack of conversation yet they dared not to bad mouth him due to him being Tartaglia’s companion.

“Miss, I couldn’t help but notice you are alone,” another man said, walking up to Xiao as though he did not notice all the other men that were sent away. “If I may have the pleasure—”

Xiao just turned his head and tune the man out. After a long minute of not receiving any response and being ignored, the man walked away defeated like many others.

Just as Xiao was getting tired of these useless people trying to approach him, a glass of wine came into his vision. It was a familiar sight, except the glass of wine was held by an unfamiliar hand.

Xiao stared at the wine for a long moment before his bright Aureolin eyes shifted to meet the man standing in front of him. He was dressed in foreign attire, but Xiao had little knowledge of anything outside of Liyue so he didn’t know which nation those clothes were from.

“Pardon me, my lady.” The man bowed, taking off his hat and placing it over his chest. “I couldn’t help but noticed you seem to enjoy Dandelion wine.”

Xiao’s eyes dropped back to the wine held towards him. He reached out and took the glass, their gloved hands brushing as he did so. This was not the first time a man came up to him with drinks. Some of the men that Xiao brushed off earlier had as well, though all of them offered him women’s cocktails instead of actual wine.

He swirled the cup around under his nose and took a whiff of the aroma. There was a very light and bitter scent coming from the wine that Xiao was quite familiar with. His lashes fluttered lightly, yet his face betrayed nothing.

“I don’t dislike it,” he said, lifting his eyes to meet the man’s. “How did you know I enjoy this wine?”

“You were so beautiful I could not help but stare,” the man admitted bashfully.

Xiao softened his gaze and for the first time that night, he smiled. It was a fake smile that didn’t reach his eye, yet that was enough to cause those who saw his smile blush—including the man in front of him.

Xiao pressed the rim of the cold glass against his lips. Just as he was about to drink the content inside, a gloved hand came in and took his glass away. The former assassin was immediately alarmed, but he couldn’t show it with so many eyes on him. He just pretended to look annoyed and turned to glare at Tartaglia who appeared behind him with an arm around Xiao’s waist.

“My apologies, my partner here isn’t good with alcohol, so allow me.”

Xiao placed a hand over Tartaglia’s chest and pressed his body into his side. In the eyes of other people, it was a very seductive and affectionate move, but in reality, Xiao was pressing his palm hard into Tartaglia’s chest.

The Fatui’s smile didn’t even falter as he drank the entire glass in one smooth motion.

He didn’t even leave a drop behind.

“Master Childe can certainly hold his alcohol!” The man complimented, raising his glass and also downing the wine inside.

The two happily chatted for a short while before the man walked away.

Xiao on the other hand already couldn’t be bothered with that man anymore. He tightened his grip over Tartaglia, only to feel a hand overlapping his in a reassuring gesture. Tartaglia didn’t say anything and continued greeting other people.

As time slowly passed, Xiao began to see sweats forming over the man’s forehead. Tartaglia’s face was becoming even more flushed and the grip around Xiao’s waist tightened. Eventually, some of the guests noticed Tartaglia not looking well and asked if he was alright, but Tartaglia just laughed and brushed it off as being a little drunk.

Tartaglia managed to keep up his appearance to the very end as the ship returned to the dock.

The moment they got back into their carriage and closed the curtain on the windows, he collapsed into the seat.

“You fool!” Xiao hissed, face distorted with rage. “You should have let me drink that, my body is capable of withstanding poison!”

“They wouldn’t use poison. They’re not so stupid to kill me with so many witnesses,” Tartaglia laughed as though this was something he could joke about. “Though…ngh…this is some potent stuff.”

“Which was why you should have let me drink it,” Xiao retorted and looked down to see the noticeable bulge in the man’s pants. It was impressive of the man to hold his hard-on back for so long. “Shall I drop you off at a brothel?”

“You’d abandon me?” Tartaglia groaned, cracking open one eye to look up at him. “How cruel...”

“I’m trying to help you.” Xiao clicked his teeth, not sure why this man was being so difficult. “If you had let me drink it, you wouldn’t be in this situation.”

“Your body might be able to stand poison, but not aphrodisiacs, am I right?”

Xiao paused a bit before he let out a small huff. “I would have been fine. I’ve endured through it plenty of times.”

Now, both of those blue eyes were open and staring at Xiao. Xiao knew the man wanted to hear more. If this was normal circumstances, he would have ignored him, but…

“Events that required me to dress as a woman were always messy. Uses of drugs were not unusual. We were all trained to fight while enduring the effects of strong aphrodisiacs to see if we would succumb to pleasure.”

Xiao paused when Tartaglia let out a quiet, barely suppressed groan.

“You’re going to a brothel.”

“What if the assassins are waiting there to finish me off?”

Xiao pressed his lips together, unable to deny such a possibility as he had done something similar in the past. Finally, he let out a deep sigh before he ordered the carriage to bring them to a secluded alleyway where there won’t be any civilians or Millelith passing by.

Xiao took in a deep breath and glanced down at the person lying on the seat. “If you ever speak of what I am about to do, I will peel your fingernails off and shove them down your stomach along with your tongue, am I clear?”

“Hmm…then let’s do a pinkie promise," Tartaglia suggested, not the slightest bit fazed by the threat.

“…A what?” Xiao blinked at the man, wondering if the drug was getting to his brain.

“Pinkie promise.” Tartaglia raised a pinkie at him. “I do it with my siblings all the time. Come on, hook your pinkie around mine.”

Xiao was skeptical but did as he was told and resisted the urge to pull his hand away when the man hooked his pinkie around his.

“You make a pinkie promise, you keep it all your life.” He began, lightly swaying their hands back and forth. His voice was quiet and calm, but Xiao could hear a strange tenderness within it. “You break a pinkie promise, I throw you on the ice. The cold will kill the pinkie that once betrayed your friend, the frost will freeze your tongue off so you never lie again.”

Xiao stared at their linked fingers until Tartaglia finished the strange vow and pulled away.

“Is that a custom of your home?”

“You could say that,” Tartaglia smiled wearily before gritting his teeth to swallow back another noise threatening to come out.

With the man giving him such a vow, Xiao felt a little more at ease and undid the collar of his qipao to free the restrain around his neck.

Once the carriage arrived at its destination, the coachmen scurried away with his face flushed in embarrassment. The carriage was rocking lightly despite not moving anymore. Inside the carriage, moans and huffs of two people echoed softly, accompanied by the sound of rustling clothes.

Dark figures crept along the shadows and surrounded the carriage. With the curtains on both sides of the carriage down, the inside couldn’t see what was happening outside.

“Haah!” A woman’s voice cried, followed by an indecent wet sound. “Ahn!”

The men edged closer and closer to the carriage. The moment they were within range, the ground beneath their feet shook with green spears made from condensed Ameno power shot out from the ground below them.

The spears pierced through their flesh and shattered their bones. In a blink of an eye, half of the assassins were slaughtered on the spot. Those who evaded the attack instantly realized they had fallen into a trap. They pulled out their weapons and aimed for the carriage, but all they saw was a flicker of green light before their heads flew off into the air by a strong current of wind. Flying up along with the detached heads was the top of the carriage that was sliced clean from the body.

The blast of wind swirling around the carriage vanished, revealing Xiao who stood with one foot on the seat of the carriage and his Jade Winged-Spear glowing eerily within the darkness.

On the floor of the carriage behind him…was Tartaglia.

The Harbinger was shaking all over and curled up like a shrimp in boiling water. He was red in the face, but Xiao knew it wasn’t due to the man being under the influence of the drug…but that he was trying to hold his laughter in.

The former assassin felt his veins throbbed and clutched onto his spear even tighter. Thanked to the man’s reaction, his cheeks were slightly red from embarrassment—which he had never felt until now. He briefly pondered the possibility of silencing this man and dumping him amongst these corpses but knew that even if he was drugged, Tartaglia could still put up a fight.

“Since you now know who the mastermind is, my job is done.” Xiao was about to leap out of the carriage and go home when his hand was grabbed.

“W-wait, wait—pfft…ahahahaha!” Tartaglia was laughing so hard that tears were rolling down his eyes. “That was the best! Hahaha! I didn’t know you could put on a show like that all by yourself! And those sound effects were—”

“Enough!” Xiao stabbed his spear into the carriage floor, missing the man's head by half an inch “Another word and I will make sure you won’t have a mouth to laugh with!”

“D-don’t worry, your secret’s safe with me,” Tartaglia let out another good laugh before finally sobering up.

He snapped his fingers and a man dressed in black and red cloak appeared. With just a simple glance, Xiao knew this man was also an assassin, one that worked for Tartaglia.

“I’ll leave you to deal with the bodies,” Tartaglia ordered before he stepped out of the carriage and pulled Xiao into the dark alley.

“Let go,” Xiao said after a while of being pulled around. He finally had enough and jerked his hand out of the other’s grip. He crossed his arms over his chest and stared at the droplet of sweats rolling down the brunet’s face. “If you have subordinates around, you should let them take care of you.”

Tartaglia turned and gave Xiao a small, tired smile. “Tell me, Xiao. When was the last time you were able to sleep peacefully, knowing that the world around you is safe?”

Xiao stiffened at that. He looked up at Tartaglia who was looking down at him seriously. Xiao understood the meaning behind the man’s word. Despite those being his subordinates, Tartaglia didn’t trust any of them. At least, not enough to allow them to witness or be near him during his moment of weakness.

Xiao let out a quiet sigh. “What do you want?”

“Let me crash at your place for a bit.”

“And you trust me?”

“Yes.”

Xiao was taken back. He didn’t expect Tartaglia to answer that without even giving a second of thought.

“You think I won’t stab you in the back?”

“I think if you were to stab me, you’ll do it when I’m awake so I would know who stabbed me,” Tartaglia pointed out.

Xiao couldn’t argue with that. Despite his many dislike of this man, he also couldn’t leave him here like this when he was so vulnerable. In the end, Xiao reluctantly brought him back to his room. He used his Ameno power to carry them there while avoiding the eyes of the people in the streets. He didn’t inform anyone within the parlour and slipped inside through his room’s open window.

Xiao laid Tartaglia onto his bed before locking the windows and door.

Tartaglia’s condition was worsening by the seconds. Large beads of sweat were coming down his face and soaking through his clothes. His face was red and his breathing was harsh. He was even grunting in pain due to the tightness of his clothes—pants especially.

A normal man would have lost it long ago. They would have long thrown away their clothes and rubbed on anything that could provide them with relief, but Tartaglia didn’t do that. As someone who had periodically undergone those pain, Xiao could sympathize with what Tartaglia was going through.

He thought back to those long and cold memories, the burning pain of needs and wants…but most of all, it was the fear and loneliness that broke him. The fear and horror was something he remembered clearly even to this day.

Xiao lowered his eyes and sat down on the edge of his bed. He leaned over Tartaglia and reached a hand towards the brunet’s pants when a larger hand seized him by the wrist in an iron grip. In an instant, Xiao was thrown onto the soft mattress of his bed with Tartaglia hovering over him, pinning both of his hands over his head.

“What were you trying to do?” Tartaglia demanded, his blue eyes darkened and lips pulled into a thin line. At this moment, he was every bit as expressionless as Xiao. Beads of sweat dripped from the tip of his nose and splashed onto the youth’s pale’s cheek.

“You’ll feel better once you get enough relief,” Xiao stated the obvious.

Tartaglia’s expression turned even colder and Xiao felt the hands on his wrists tightened. “So you thought to offer yourself to me? How selfless of you.”

“It’s nothing I have not done before.”

That made Tartaglia stilled and the coldness in those eyes gradually melted away. He leaned down until their noses were an inch apart.

“Had you done a lot of such things?”

“Only with my mouth and hands,” Xiao replied in a tone as though they were talking about the weather, not his sexual experiences. “I have no knowledge other than that.”

“…I see.”

Xiao let out a quiet gasp when the man lowered his entire body onto him, pushing him into the mattress.

“What are you doing?” He inquired, looking down to see the Fatui rubbing his cheek against his fake chest with his arms wrapped tightly around his back.

“Hm…these things are in the way. What are they anyway?” Tartaglia complained, unwrapping one arm to poke at the jiggly object. Xiao slapped the man’s hand away. He undid the top of his qipao, reaching inside to pull out the slime essence paddings and tossed them across the room. He also pulled out his Vision that was hidden there and set it onto the nightstand.

Tartaglia hummed happily and rubbed his face against his now flattened chest. “Much better.”

“What are you doing?” Xiao asked again. If he didn’t know any better, he would have thought the man was going to…

“I’m going to sleep this off, what does it look like?” Tartaglia mumbled tiredly. “But of course, if you offer to spar with me, it might let me work off this drug’s effect even faster!”

“Exercising will do nothing but make your condition worsen,” Xiao stated dryly. He stared at the man on top of him. In this short moment, he could already feel the man’s sweat soaking onto his skin and clothes.

Feeling extremely uncomfortable lying down like this, Xiao used his elbows to push himself up. The brunet was latched onto him like some sort of boneless animal, refusing to even budge. At this, Xiao created a gust of wind that swirled around his room. His pillow and blankets that were neatly folded on the corner of his bed were picked up by the wind and placed against his back to prop him up.

Xiao then looked across his room to see there was a pot of tea sitting in the middle of the table. He used the wind to bring the teapot into his waiting hands.

“Open your mouth.”

Tartaglia opened his eye to look at the teapot and did as he was told. Xiao carefully poured the cold tea into the man’s open mouth little by little. It was a good thing that the tea Xiao usually drink was made with Qingxin flower that replenishes the body’s moisture.

Once the man drank every last drop of the tea, Xiao let the wind pick up the teapot once more and placed it back onto the table.

“You’re asking for needless pain.”

“If suffering through this means I get the infamous Yaksha to take care of me, I think I'm getting a pretty good return.”

Xiao frowned but didn’t say anything as he stared down at the man.

“Xiao…” Tartaglia muttered against him. “Did you know that when you accepted that glass of wine, you had a particular look on your face?”

“…Look?” Xiao frowned. Had he made any expression when he noticed the wine was spiked? No, he shouldn’t have. He always had a good grasp over his expressions.

“Your eyes became hollowed, like a child who can no longer cry.”

Xiao’s eyes flew wide and flinched upon the feeling of something touching his cheek. When he looked down, he realized that was Tartaglia's hand which was raised halfway in midair. There was a small smile on the man's lips as his hand moved again.

This time, Xiao didn’t flinch away and allowed the hand to cup his cheek. Through the thin layer of the man’s glove, Xiao could feel his unnaturally high body heat.

“So you pity me?” Xiao questioned, yellow eyes carefully searching the blue ones for any signs of lies.

“Of course not,” Tartaglia chuckled, brows furrowed with pain from the effect of the drugs. “You’re strong. You’re the last person I would ever pity, Xiao.”

Then why…?

Xiao opened his mouth, but instead of asking the question on his mind, he asked something else.

“When was the last time you were able to sleep peacefully, knowing that the world around you is safe?” It was the very same question Tartaglia had asked him in the alley, and now Xiao threw it back at him.

“When I was fourteen,” Tartaglia replied.

Xiao stared into those eyes that held so much darkness and secrets, yet he was unable to hate it because his own eyes were the same.

Xiao lifted his hands. He hesitated for a moment before he wrapped his arms and clasped his pale legs around his hips. Tartaglia froze, obviously not expecting the former assassin to suddenly embrace him like this.

He tightened his right arm around Tartaglia’s shoulder while his other hand was behind Tartaglia’s head, pushing him into his chest with Xiao dipping his head down until his soft cheek was pressed against the brunet’s forehead.

It was a very protective embrace rather than intimacy. It was as though Xiao was trying to wrap himself around the man so no outside danger could ever reach him. For someone in a vulnerable state like Tartaglia, it was a very comforting gesture.

The Harbinger felt like he was going to melt within this warmth…

“I will watch over you, I won’t let any harm befall upon you, so sleep for that I will be here to protect you.” Xiao softly spoke out his promises with his warm breath tickling Tartaglia’s face. “May you fall into a dreamless slumber, yet should you dream of nightmares, call my name.”

Xiao tightened the hold onto the man, using his action to prove that he wasn’t going to go anywhere. He didn’t know what expression Tartaglia was making, nor did he look. He raked his fingers through the ochre brown lock and waited.

None of them spoke again that night. The only thing that could be heard within the silence was the man’s laboured breathing. Xiao understood all of his pain, yet this was the only thing he was able to offer, but Xiao knew this small gesture was what Tartaglia needed. Because this was what Xiao always wanted when he still lived within that nightmare.

All he wanted was simply for someone to hold him…that was all he wanted.

So now, he will give that to Tartaglia.

At some point in the night, Xiao found himself beginning to hum a soft tune. Because of Xiao’s limited use within the parlour, most of his tasks were to go around gathering the items for the funeral. Wild Glazed Lily would be one of the traditional items needed. Due to the…unique requirement when picking these lilies, Zhongli taught Xiao a song to sing before picking them. It was the only song Xiao knew. Of course, Hu Tao taught him some songs too, but they were songs Xiao swore to never sing and threw them into the back of his mind to be forever sealed away.

Xiao hummed this song to the Snezhnayan while occasionally conjuring some wind to provide him with a bit of comfort. He didn’t know how long he had been humming that same tune for, but it must have been a long time, for that the sunlight was shining through the rice paper covering his window, brightening the room.

The body in his arms had gone completely quiet sometime in the night. The only sound Xiao could hear from the man was his soft breathing. He never let go of the body in his arms. He kept a secure hold onto the man, his face still pressed against the Fatui’s forehead.

The brunet’s hair was now stuck together in clumps from his dried-up sweat. Some of that brown hair was sticking onto Xiao’s skin, but Xiao didn’t mind the itchiness on his skin or the stench. He had smelled way worse than sweat back in his days in the Abyss Order.

Xiao looked down at the man’s closed eyelids and the way his lips were neither curving upward or down. He threaded his fingers through the messy brown hair and wondered which side of this man was real.

The one who was always smiling and making jokes, or the one that was every bit as expressionless as Xiao?

Xiao only thought over that question for a brief second before deciding that it didn’t matter at all. Whichever side was this man’s real side, they were equally as annoying.

He continued to hold the man as the sun rose to the highest point in the sky before dropping back down.

Throughout the day, Xiao would sense people coming towards his room, trying to see if he was there but a small gust of wind would always send these people away. No one thought it was weird, for that Xiao had always been like this when he didn’t want to see anyone. The only one who would barge into his room other than the man in his arms would be Hu Tao, but the lack of the young master's voice told him that she most likely went out somewhere to play and wouldn't be back any time soon.

Xiao didn’t drink.

He didn’t eat or sleep either.

He kept holding the man until night came once more and the rowdiness from the street quiet down.

It was late into the night when the city was asleep did Tartaglia finally stirred.

Cobalt yellow eyes shifted down to the man in his arms. Xiao brought a hand to the man’s face, brushing aside those brown bangs and was greeted by the sight of those azure blue eyes.

“Hey there…” Tartaglia grinned, voice raspy from his long sleep. He turned around in Xiao’s arms and reached up a hand to touch Xiao’s cheek. “Were you with me this entire time?”

“I do not go back on my words,” Xiao replied.

“Yeah…” Tartaglia whispered and soon noticed something was off. He brought his hand down and took a sniff of his sleeve before breaking out into laughter. “I can’t believe you were able to hold me like this when I smell so bad!”

“If you realized, then get off.”

Tartaglia finally sat up. He stretched his arms over his head until he got some satisfying pops from his joints. “Aah, I haven’t had a sleep like that in ages.”

He hopped off the bed, taking Xiao’s hand and pulling him along.

“Come on!”

“What are you doing?” Xiao frowned, but still followed him.

“Bath. I think you and I both need one. And I’m sure you’d want to change out of those clothes?” He said, making a show of looking over Xiao who was still dressed like a woman.

Xiao huffed but was unable to argue with that. The two of them went into the parlour’s bath that night. Since it was in the middle of the night, everyone was asleep so both baths they had were unoccupied.

Tartaglia insisted on sharing one bath, but Xiao ignored him and went into his own before locking the door shut. Once he rid himself of the Snezhnayan’s scent and dressed into his usual clothes, Xiao walked out to see Tartaglia already standing there waiting for him.

“Where did get those clothes?”

“The guest rooms.” Tartaglia smiled cockily. “Since I crash here so often, I left some of my clothes behind.” He replied as though leaving his clothes in other people’s homes was the most natural thing to do.

Xiao made a mental note to speak with the young master the next time he sees her. He tossed the red earring back to the man and walked past him. "Since your business is done and the culprit identified, leave. I will inform young master Hu that my duty is over.”

“Always so eager to leave,” Tartaglia said with a light smile. “You’ve stayed with me all this time so you didn’t eat or drink anything, right? At least let me treat you to a meal.”

Xiao paused and it was then he became aware of how empty his stomach felt.

Reluctantly, he agreed and followed the beaming man out the parlour. They arrived at the Liuli Pavilion where Tartaglia booked a private room for them and ordered an entire table of food. Xiao was dumbfounded by all these food considering there were only the two of them, but since it wasn’t his mora they were spending he had no complaints. During the entire meal, Xiao ate quietly with Tartaglia chattering next to him and introducing him to the dishes he picked. Though Xiao didn’t want to admit it, Tartaglia had good tastes in his choice of menu. If there was any fault Xiao was to comment on, it would be the fork in the Snezhnayan's hand.

After eating a hearty meal with Tartaglia paying out of his wallet, they were back on the street, heading towards the Wangsheng Funeral Parlour. The entire journey, neither of them spoke. They just enjoyed the silence and each other’s presence.

When they arrived at the main door of the parlour, Xiao was about to go inside when Tartaglia said something unexpected.

“I will be returning to Snezhnaya very soon.”

Xiao turned to the man who was gazing back at him as though he was expecting him to say…something.

The green-haired youth opened his mouth, but he didn’t know what he could say to that. He had almost forgotten that this man was a diplomat, that his stay in Liyue was temporary. The fact that he had stayed for a whole year was already surprising enough.

Liyue would never be home to someone like him.

His place will always be in Snezhnaya.

“I see…” Xiao’s gaze unconsciously shifted away from the man. “I wish you a pleasant journey.”

Tartaglia laughed weakly at the expected response. “So cold…and here I thought we have something special.”

Xiao stiffened at that last part. Before he could figure out what Tartaglia meant by special, the man took his hand into his and pulled him inside. As a frequent guest at the parlour, he knew his way around the building—especially Xiao’s room which he frequently intruded upon.

Once they were back in the room, Tartaglia sat down on Xiao’s bed and pulled the smaller man into his arms. Xiao hastily put out his hands onto the mattress to stop himself from falling against Tartaglia, yet he couldn’t pull away with the man’s arms wrapped around his waist.

“You—”

“I’m just returning a favour.” Tartaglia’s fingers brushed over the tender skin beneath the mesmerizing golden eye. “You should get some sleep. It’d be a pity if such beautiful skin gets ruined.”

There was hesitance in Xiao’s eyes, but the warmth being emitted from the brunet’s body and the weight of the arm over his back was extremely tempting. A longing Xiao hadn’t felt for a long time burned him from the inside and he found that he was too exhausted to fight against it.

Xiao knew he wasn’t thinking straight, but he couldn’t help but cave in. He hesitantly lowered himself against the man, like a cat testing the water.

Tartaglia waited for him patiently, watching him with a gentle look on his face. It was only when most of Xiao’s weight was put against him that he moved. He wrapped Xiao up in his arms and pulled the blanket over them. He leaned his back against the wall next to the windowsill and held onto the smaller body protectively.

Xiao closed his eyes and let out a small breath at the warmth and comfort surrounding him. Pressed up against the man’s chest, he could hear and feel the heart that was beating beneath the other’s ribcage was strangely calming.

“Xiao.”

Xiao didn’t respond, but Tartaglia knew he was listening.

“Come with me to Snezhnaya.”

Aureolin eyes snapped open in surprise. The body in Tartaglia’s arms shifted, but the man held the other tighter and continued.

“The Wangsheng Funeral Parlour gave you a home, but you and I both know this isn’t where you belong. Blades are meant to be sharpened and used on the battlefield, not to be locked away in the shed to rust, don’t you agree?”

Xiao dropped his gaze. He knew that for a long time, but he was saved by Zhongli who gave him a place here. Both Zhongli and Hu Tao were important people to him and leaving them would feel like he was betraying them.

“I…cannot answer you at this time.”

“But you’ll think about it?”

Xiao hesitated before answering with a small nod.

“Good.” Tartaglia smiled and buried his face into the silky green hair. He rubbed his hand up and down the curve of Xiao’s back while his other hand gently rubbed his nape.

“Rest, Xiao. In the name of her majesty, the Tsaritsa, I promise I will always protect you.”

Xiao felt something inside him trembled at such promise. He knew Tartaglia well enough to know that this man always kept his promises no matter how ridiculous that promise may be. But even so, this was the first time he heard the man use his Queen’s name when making a promise. Moreover, Xiao keenly caught how Tartaglia said always protect, and not just for tonight.

Xiao parted his lips but quickly close them again. He knew there was nothing he could say at this moment—not when he didn’t know what his own feelings were. He wasn’t so cruel as to give the man a half-hearted answer.

So Xiao closed his eyes and tried to will himself to sleep.

Xiao didn’t actually think he would fall asleep, given the heavy promise Tartaglia gave him, but he did. He fell asleep listening to Tartaglia’s voice that was softly singing a lullaby to him.

For the first time since he could remember, Xiao fell asleep feeling warm and safe.

When Xiao woke up, he was still bathed in the warmth of another living being. Even though his mind was still muddled by the sleep, every part of his instincts was screaming to him that something was wrong.

The first thing Xiao noticed was the weird rocking feeling and the second thing was the smell.

Being in the Wangsheng Funeral Parlour, there was always the smell of incense and because Xiao’s room was always so dull and empty, Hu Tao took it upon herself to always fill his room up with flowers. Right now, there was no scent of flowers or incense anywhere, only the smell of old wood and the saltiness of the sea.

In a split second, Xiao was up, eyes snapping open with the thick quill slipping off his body from the movement, causing his exposed arms to come into contact with the chilly air.

“Careful now,” the Harbinger’s voice came from the darkness before the Xiao was pulled back against the body with the blanket wrapped around his back once more.

“Tartaglia? What is this?” Xiao demanded, looking around the unfamiliar that was most definitely not his. It was a luxurious room, but the style of the room and furniture was not the style of Liyue.

There were no windows in the room, but the constant rocking motion gave Xiao an idea as to where he was. He leaped out of the man’s arms and in a flash of green light, he was across the room, tearing the door open and running out. He sped down the narrow hallway and up the staircase.

In a matter of seconds, Xiao was standing outside on the deck with the bright afternoon sun beaming down at him. He winced at the brightness and had to bring a hand up to shield his eyes from the unusually strong sunlight.

The cold assaulted his body, but Xiao could barely feel it when he saw all these people walking around him, moving the cargo of the ship. These people were all dressed in Snezhnaya clothes with some members of the Fatui as well.

Xiao’s breath came out of his open lips in a visible puff of white. His eyes scanned over the sea before stopping at the land in the far distant—covered by a sheet of white.

“Underestimate the cold and you’ll die in Snezhnaya,” Tartaglia said, coming up from behind Xiao to wrap a thick layer of white fur coat around the fragile-looking youth. Unfortunately for him, his gesture wasn’t welcome when Xiao whirled around and seized him by his collar, pulling him down until they were eye to eye.

“What is the meaning of this?” Xiao snarled, his eyes nearly dilated in his rage.

“Well, you’ll have to ask your young master Hu about that.”

“Young master Hu?” Xiao was taken back, not expecting such an answer.

Tartaglia held out a letter to him with Xiao’s name written at the top. Xiao snatched the letter from his hand and unfold it to see Hu Tao’s familiar handwriting.

He read through the long letter which basically came down to one thing.

Hu Tao had sold Xiao to Tartaglia for ten billion mora.

To be precise, Hu Tao has sent Xiao to Snezhnaya to work with their business partner as a diplomat at the contract agreement of ten billion mora.

Xiao ripped apart the letter. As though that wasn’t enough, he even used his Ameno power to shred papers until it was nothing but dust that was blown away by the ocean wind.

Where in Teyvat had anyone heard of a funeral parlour needing diplomats?!

“You!” Xiao glared at the man who had the audacity to look amused. “I did not agree to come with you to Snezhnaya!”

“Didn’t you say you’ll think about it?”

“That did not mean I agreed!”

“But if I don’t bring you here, how will you think about it?” Tartaglia laughed before he pulled Xiao into a tight embrace. The green-haired youth was mulling over whether or not to toss this man overboard when he heard the following words. “You’re not a prisoner, Xiao. You’re free to leave any time.”

Xiao frowned, trying to figure out if this was another trick.

“The contract I made with Hu Tao only says for you to help me out. As for when this help ends, that is up to you. If you want, you can end it right now and return to Liyue. The money has already been paid in full and by the rules of the contract, I won’t be able to ask the Wangsheng Funeral Parlour to give it back.” Tartaglia slowly released him and took a small step back.

Xiao stared at the man, his anger of being lied to had already faded into nothingness. Despite having pulled him here without asking him, the man was now presenting him a choice to leave.

“What’s your purpose of bringing me to your nation?”

“…I guess I just really wanted to show you my family,” Tartaglia laughed. “They’re the most precious people to me, so I wanted you to meet them.”

“Why?”

“Do I have to spell it out?” Tartaglia tilted his head and smiled at Xiao.

Xiao shook his head and looked back to the land of white the ship was heading towards.

“…Three months,” he finally said after a long time.

Xiao suddenly realized that when it came to this man, he was surprisingly lenient. Had it been anyone else that had kidnapped him into another nation, he would have killed that person already. “You have three months to convince me to stay. Otherwise, I will go back to Liyue.”

“That’s more than enough.” Tartaglia smiled before he held up his hand. Xiao watched as his fingers curled up, leaving only his pinkie behind.

“There is no need for a promise,” Xiao stated.

“Give me your finger.” Tartaglia waved his hand to urge Xiao to do the same.

The green-haired youth slowly held out his hand, raising his pinkie and hooked it around the man’s. Xiao only felt the pinkie around his tightening before Tartaglia pulled him into his arms through their linked fingers.

“I promise that I won’t make you regret this choice you made today, Xiao.”

#genshin impact #genshin impact fanfic #Childe #xiao #childe x xiao #tartaglia #genshin fanfic #genshin xiao #genshin childe

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echidnapower · 4 years

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EP’s FanFiction Master Post

So this is something I should have done a long time ago on my previous account, but better late than never. For those of you who find me, this is going to be a place where you can find all the fics I’ve written over the years. This will be added to over time as I fight to revive my muse.

It’ll be categorized by fandom, so you can quickly find what you do or don’t want to read. Here we go.

Pokemon

A Valentines Dream Come True - It's Valentines Day, and a certain redheaded Gym Leader is finally getting to enjoy it with the boyfriend of her dreams. During their time together, they get into a little discussion about dreams, and Ash doesn't wanna tell her his! So to get him to spill, she tells him her dreams...when she finally learns Ash's dream...will both their dreams come true? - Based on a drawing from @miyatoriaka, which can be found HERE.

AAML: Diamond and Pearl Version - Follow me as I remake the DP episodes in order and in sequence, all so I can add the biggest star besides Ash himself. Misty! Watch her and Ash's love grow as they go on their journey. The absolute LONGEST story in my portfolio, and you will see my writing evolve the longer you go on. Be prepared for a massive read that even now is STILL going.

All I Want For Christmas Is You - It's Christmas time and the Ketchum household is hosting a party with all of Ash's friends. But while Ash and Misty dance around their feelings for each other, another Sensational Sister is about to find herself in a situation she never could have expected, but she'll be darned if she lets it slip through her manicured fingers. (Spinoff of @hollylu-ships-it‘s "A Christmas in Kanto" comic which can be found HERE.

Best Friend - "Why? Why did I have to be so stupid as to make the mistake of falling in love with my best friend?" - Story told in Misty’s POV.

Blessings From Heaven - I'm Ash Ketchum, and I'm getting married today! But how did this come to be? Through God's devine planning is how. Here's my story: I'm marrying Misty. - Warning for religious themes, told in Ash’s POV.

I Miss You - Misty misses Ash terribly, and it's affecting her emotionally as she's more irritable than usual, if that was even possible. But Daisy has a plan to get Ash to come and see Misty again. Will her plan have the desired effect? Or will it cause something she never could've seen coming? - Based on a trio of drawings from the long lost Simply-Nicole. The old art can be found on my dA page HERE, HERE, and HERE.

I’m Misty, and You Are? - Misty tells the story we all know and love...literally. She's telling the story. Based on artwork from the long lost Simply-Nicole, which can be found on my old dA page HERE.

Keep The Faith - This time it's May and Drew getting married, and it takes place in the "Blessings From Heaven" universe. Warning for religious themes.

Looks - It's Ash's birthday and all of his friends have gathered together in the woods to reminisce on the time they spent traveling with their favorite Pokemon Trainer. But something's about to happen that could change the way that Ash and Misty look at each other forever…the question is, is it for the better?

Lovesick - Kenny is feeling strange...he feels like he's sick...but is he really ill? Or is he just lovesick?

Madam Zara - When Misty decides to get experimental with her appearance, she finds herself in the hands of a world-famous beautician named Madam Zara. With most of Misty's makeovers ending less than ideally, will this be the one to shatter the mold? And how will Ash react? - Based on a drawing and idea from @hollylu-ships-it which can be found HERE.

Our Own Sunset - Ash and Misty watch the sunset together, but Misty's bothered by it. - Set in the AAML: Diamond and Pearl version universe.

Pokeshipping Week 2015 - My first time participating in Pokeshipping Week ever, hard to believe it was five years ago.

Pokeshipping Week 2016 - This year of Pokeshipping saw me collab with @hollylu-ships-it, you can see the art she put together on her Tumblr page.

Symptoms of Love - Ash and Tracey are hit by a Vileplume's Stun Spore, and Misty has to fend for herself in order to find a cure. But once she gets Ash back to health, Ash still feels many of the same symptoms from before. Why is that?

Tell Me I’m Pretty - It isn't easy being the youngest sister, especially when your oldest sister is getting married and you're the only one without a date for the once in a lifetime event. Misty can't help but feel like she doesn't measure up somehow, but a surprise visit from her closest friend is sure to make her feel pretty once more. - Inspired by THIS piece from @hollylu-ships-it.

The Road Not Taken - When Ash gets some bad news from home, he goes into a depression and starts doubting both himself and the choices he's made. But luckily, someone is there with him to remind him he's loved and cared about. - Based on yet another drawing from @hollylu-ships-it. Look at it HERE.

Warmth - It's New Years Eve, and the recently married Ash and Misty Ketchum are ready to host their first ever holiday party at their home together, but when a snowstorm makes it so no one can arrive safely, Misty is saddened. But will they really end up spending their New Years Eve alone? Or will surprise visitors warm their hearts?

Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go

Iron Girl - A robot girl who hates the fact she's a robot...will she realize just how important she is or will she continue to simply wallow in self-pity?

War Between the Living and the Dead - The war between the living and the dead has begun, and the Hyperforce has to go up against their biggest challenge yet. But with help from their allies across the galaxy, they can triumph! Or can they? This is my take on what Season 5 would've been, plugging plotholes and making sense out of a series that left us all hanging.

Buzz Lightyear of Star Command

Reflections of a Legend - Buzz Lightyear Personal Log - Stardate 92893.81. I don't quite know how to explain this, or what I'm feeling, so I guess I'll just start talking and tell you what's on my mind. There's someone I just can't get out of my head, and truthfully, I'm not sure I want to. - This is a first-person dive into Buzz’s character.

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Kim Possible

Angels Watching Over Me - Kim and Ron are going down a dark path that could eventually end in their own destruction...literally, not figuratively. When the Sloth dangles over a cliff that holds their fate in the balance, who will come in their time of need? How about...someone they never could have dreamed? - Based on a true story, warning for religious themes.

Busted - Hana wants cookie, Hana tries to get cookie, Hana gets caught trying to get cookie.

The Running Back - All-star Running back Ron Stoppable is about to face the biggest challenge of his life. He's got just a few seconds to win the championship for the Middleton Mad Dogs, but more importantly to him, he's got just a few seconds to make his girlfriend proud.

The True Meaning - Both Ron and Kim are well aware of the true meaning of Christmas, and that's why they're volunteering at a church's Bethlehem Revisited event to spread the word. Kim's happy to help and all, but...why is Ron calling her such a weird name? - Warning for religious themes.

Trick or Treat - Kim is pulling a trick on Ron, will it be a great treat, or is he about to suffer the wrath of Kim Possible? He has no clue, yet.

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Fillmore!

A Promising Tomorrow - Takes place immediately after the end of the episode "A Forgotten Yesterday." Fillmore's lost two of his old friends now and needless to say, he's tired of losing people to the darkness he was lucky enough to escape from. Luckily, Ingrid's there to show him that his efforts to rehabilitate his delinquent friends haven't exactly gone to waste. There's one person who's benefited.

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Miraculous Ladybug

You’re Loved - Adrien Agreste, Chat Noir, different identities but more alike than he would like to admit. No matter who he becomes at any given time, there's always something very important missing in his life. Will he ever find what he's looking for? Or is it possible he's always had it and never realized it?

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Beyblade

We Are One - Kai gave it his all battling against Brooklyn and his bit-beast Zeus. Now, after his close brush with death, Kai must summon the strength to go and support Tyson before disaster strikes the world. But there's no way he's strong enough to do it on his own...but thankfully, he won't have to, which is what Kai is about to learn. Sister story to "I Can't Lose You."

I Can’t Lose You - A week after Tyson's battle against the evil bit-beast Zeus and his trapped blader Brooklyn, the world is slowly making its way back to normal. Kai managed to survive and is recovering in the hospital, and Tyson is getting some much-deserved rest. But when Kenny comes to tell Tyson that Hilary has quit the team, he loses it, and goes to find out why. My first Beyblade story.

Save a Dance For Me - With the all new BBA launching with a gala to celebrate the occasion, Tyson finds himself in the uncomfortable position of needing to ask someone to be his date. He has someone in mind, but will his greatest beyblading rival get in his way and turn out to be his greatest rival in love?

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Teen Titans

Healing Touch - With several Titans pairing up, the lingering emotions are taking a toll on Raven's empathic senses and causing her to lose control of her own feelings. When she gives in and does something completely crazy, it's up to Beast Boy to pull her out of a dark place and bring her back to the light. - There is accompanying artwork from @hollylu-ships-it HERE and HERE.

More Than a Hero - I've learned a lot of lessons under Batman, he taught me everything I would ever need to know about being a superhero, about being Robin...but Starfire taught me how to be Dick Grayson, and she taught me how to fly. - Story from Robin’s POV, accompanying artwork from @hollylu-ships-it is HERE.

Robin Rising - Life is good for Dick Grayson, he's the leader of a team of superheroes he's blessed enough to call his family, and he's about to turn 18 which he figures will open up a whole new world of possibilities for him. But when his old mentor and "father" calls in, showing that he captured a criminal that had eluded the Titans forever, things get flipped upside-down. - Multichapter fic which is part of a much larger universe, plenty of accompanying artwork can be found over on @hollylu-ships-it‘s account. Go give her a follow and fav.

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Sonic the Hedgehog

A Light in Darkness - A small band of heroes go back in time to try and prevent a cataclysmic event that would eventually destroy all of creation as they knew it. But what is the nature of this threat? How dangerous is it? And how far will they have to go in order to stop it from viciously destroying all they hold dear? Features a deep cast of Sonic characters, and a very special OC owned by @e-vay

Anonymous - For Shadow the Hedgehog, Christmas doesn't mean what it means to his friends and the rest of the world. Instead, he has a self-appointed mission he needs to carry out. But this year, he may find something that he's never really had before, and it could change the way Shadow sees Christmas for the rest of his life.

Christmas Wishes - For ten years, Amy Rose has only wanted one thing for Christmas, and she's finally come to accept the reality that she'll never receive it. But a conversation with Rouge rekindles her hope and her Christmas spirit. Will she be let down again? Or will her one wish finally come true this year? Read to find out. (Sister story to my other story titled "Anonymous")

Comfort In the Storm - When a thunderstorm strikes and leaves Cream quivering in fright, it's up to Tails to find a way to alleviate his crush's fears, and maybe even give her a reason to enjoy thunderstorms instead of fearing them.

Cream Adventure DX: Author’s Cut - A redo of an old story. Cream finds a strange statue in the meadow, and she knows just who to go to to figure out what it is, but she gets more than she bargained for when she goes looking for him. What happens?

Dreams of an Absolution - Silver lays awake at night and reflects on his life in this apocalyptic world Iblis has destroyed...but most of his reflections revolve around a certain fire girl with lavender fur. He wants to be happy with her, but a warzone is a bad place to kindle love, and so every night he lays awake, and dreams of an absolution.

Relations - Knuckles has a problem. He's in love...but...that presents a very unique problem...or does it?

Running to the Point of No Return - Sonic is the fastest thing alive, and Amy is told that that's the biggest obstacle keeping her and Sonic away from each other. But what's she supposed to do to keep up with him, when there's NO ONE fast enough to keep up with him?

Scars - Some things that happen in life leave scars behind that go with us for the rest of our lives. For Miles "Tails" Prower, such a thing happened to him in the depths of space many years ago...the loss of his first true love...though the pain weakens and the scars fade, they never go away completely, and Tails has learned to live with and embrace that fact.

Seven Rings and Five Fingers In Hand - A redo of the final battle in Sonic and the Secret Rings, Sonamy style!

The Heart of Chao - Chao are adorable little creatures, and they make great pets for anyone who's looking for something to take care of. But there's more to chao than just being cute, they're filled with more heart and love than anyone can imagine, and that can sometimes lead to bringing others closer together. Here are just a few stories of that very thing happening to our favorite characters.

Trapped In This Machine - Sonic has seemingly fallen madly in love with Amy, but is this sudden romance truly sincere, or is it only skin deep, hiding something sinister underneath? - Inspired by a drawing from @e-vay, found HERE.

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4haechie · 4 years

Text

son of apollo!donghyuck

pairing: son of apollo!donghyuck x child of athena!reader genre: fluff, comedy, some adventure/action, pjo au, e2l au words: 3,173 warning: couple of curse words here n there a/n: i reference a bunch of pjo characters in this so if u haven’t read pjo *crowd booing*

so donghyuck’s the son of apollo right

there’s like no arguing when it comes to that

he’s extremely talented at singing and making music, dancing, rapping, songwriting, so he’s no doubt apollo’s offspring

and he’s naturally gifted at archery as well

you can’t spell haechan without ACE teehee

u on the other hand

you’re athena’s child

you love to read and write you’re incredibly smart ofc

you love competing and winning and taking part in strategy making to bring your opponents DOWN 💅🏼

athena’s the goddess of wisdom as well as warcraft so needless to say you’re exceptional in both fields

you’re not just textbook smart, no no, you’re able to apply all the knowledge you learn…well…irl

not to mention you’re good with all kinds of weapons

ur fave weapons include swords and spears :D

you’re okay w knives too!!! and daggers!!! you’re not picky

but you’re better w longer blades just cuz u have more experience w them

fun fact: you’re the head of the athena cabin and donghyuck’s the head of the apollo cabin

you’re both great leaders, always doing your best to make the best strategies to win capture the flag, the chariot races, and other fun activities chiron plans for the campers 😁

but . you guys are Sworn Enemies

actually the better term to use would be “rivals”

you guys r So competitive to the point where you actually developed a rivalry during your first few years at camp half-blood

donghyuck LOVES to win but so do you… so obv he’s gonna go out of his way to make sure he/his cabin wins

that doesn’t mean you’ve ever backed down from his challenges…

if he’s competitive you’re twice as competitive

one day after breakfast during your fifth year at camp when you’re both about 18, chiron decides to host a good old game of capture the flag

u know . for old times’ sake 😼

once he makes the announcement you immediately turn to your cabin mates

“we have to win no matter what”

“y/n, it’s just capture the flag. we’re not fighting gaea”

“bitch are u in or not”

the entire dining hall is buzzing with excitement

nothing makes a demigod’s day like a capture the flag announcement 😌

chiron suddenly grabs the megaphone again and calls out “this time however there’s a little twist,” he chuckles as everybody goes silent

you raise an eyebrow

“you’ll be in teams of course. everybody has to play. there’s twenty cabins, so there will be ten teams of two cabins each. i’ll pair you guys up myself. each pair gets a flag–so there’s ten flags in total. the game will be won by the pair who manages to collect all flags and brings them back to their base before anyone has the chance to steal their own flag.”

the demigods burst into intense chatter and discussion once more

you turn your head back to your siblings and tilt your head in slight confusion

you’ve never played capture the flag in teams before

“anyone but apollo. i’m literally begging. sam, pray to athena right now”

“y/n RELAX”

“i think if we’re partners with apollo’s cabin i’ll actually jump into tartarus”

“…”

“what? percy and annabeth survived” 🙄

chiron pulls out a scroll and calls out the pairings one by one

poseidon and demeter, hades and ares (good luck to them), so on and so forth

your heart keeps racing . athena’s name has not been called out yet

and just like that your worst fear comes true

“athena cabin with apollo cabin. the game will commence in thirty minutes, which is how much time you have to prepare. good luck and stay safe!”

you drop your head into your palm (aka head in hands meme jpg)

“this is the worst day of my entire life”

“y/n, you’re hands down the most dramatic person i’ve ever met”

maybe it’s just you–bc your siblings seem fine with the apollo kids

they have so many apollo cabin friends :(

curse u and donghyuck’s little rivalry that the entire camp and chiron knows about

so him putting yall together definitely was not a coincidence cough cough

can u blame him

🌤🌈 he just wants all of u to get along 🌈🌤

he’s seen w his own two centaur eyes what happens when demigods fight between themselves

it’s not healthy

he needs u guys to get along bc u and donghyuck are some of the best demigods at camp rn

ur quick wits and amazing sword skills

his position as the camp’s best archer

imagine how powerful yall would be if u two worked together

if only you got along from the start.. but nooooo

ur egos r just too high F

but anyway, back to the present

you’re sitting there, head in your hands, dreading this already when some of the apollo kids swagger over to your guys’ table

donghyuck is in front of them as he scoffs after seeing your dreadful state

“why the sad face, y/n?”

you lift your head up to see him hovering over your seat and roll your eyes

you get up and your siblings follow

you’re just gonna have to make do. you don’t have time to complain

the thing is

you’ve only lost capture the flag once 👎🏼

a few summers ago the apollo cabin defeated the entire camp leaving everybody speechless

it’s true they didn’t defeat JUST you but somehow you thought it was personal

you had the PERFECT record 😕

zero losses . only wins

but bc of the apollo kids your cabin’s record was tarnished

which is sorta why you started hating them (esp donghyuck their leader) so much

donghyuck caught on immediately and made it a point to compete just as hard as u

so yea. that’s how you became rivals

he knows how much ur gonna hate working with him but u don’t really have a choice now do u :/

so he knows exactly why u have a sad face

but this is donghyuck we’re talking about

just bc yall r “rivals” doesn’t mean he’s not gonna tease u 😂😂😂

(or maybe he teases u bc he thinks ur cute and he hopes one day u realise him teasing is actually donghyuck for flirting 🤭)

“you know damn well why, lee donghyuck”

“oh c’mon i think it’ll be fun! if we combine our skills, we definitely have a hundred percent chance of winning”

you cross your arms and glance at your siblings who just shrug in agreement

you sigh loudly

“don’t even think about fucking this is up, donghyuck. and just so we’re clear, i’m in charge”

he laughs, “yup! got it”

so you start talking strategy

you only have 30 minutes so you need to make the best of it

you divide the two cabins into pairs so that an athena and an apollo kid will be paired together and in charge of smth diff

you have plenty of people on your team – 5 in athena’s cabin and 5 in apollo’s cabin

some will handle weapons and safety gear, some will handle mapping out the playing area which was basically the entirety of the woods, some will be setting up traps near your team’s flag to prevent others from coming close

30 minutes quickly pass and after dividing the work and planning your strategy with donghyuck and friends you turn your attention back to chiron who has his megaphone in hand

everyone’s told to gather outside the dining hall at the open field before the game commences

you, donghyuck, and your teammates briefly talk strategy once more . just to make sure everybody knows what they’re supposed to do

“let the game begin!” chiron blows a loud whistle and the demigods scramble out of the field, going to their designated flag locations

your spot is near a little creek, but the forest around your flag is quite dense so u figure it’s relatively hard to locate

it’s not that late so the afternoon sun makes your skin glisten with sweat

“damn, can you tell your dad to chill tf out for a while,” you tell donghyuck jokingly

he just rolls his eyes but on the inside he’s kinda glad you’re being casual with him rather than 😡😡😡😡😡 like u normally are

u don’t know what it is about him today but u swear he’s acting different around u

he wasn’t… as annoying while discussing strategy ????

he actually ?????? listened ?????? to what u had to say 🤔🤔🤔🤔

he didn’t argue, he didn’t even throw around witty burns like he usually does w/o hesitation

u were like… is he ok

little do u know!!! he actually l*kes u 🤭🤭🤭

well… it’s not a 100% fact that HE himself knows as well

but his siblings caught on to his weird behaviour n figured smth was up

mark being one of hyuck’s closest friends n siblings in the apollo cabin, realised he was acting weird ever since yall got grouped together

he seemed nervous ⁉️ which he never ever is

he’s like the most confident person mark’s ever known

so mark was like *thinks*

after putting two and two together mark came to the conclusion that he might have a small crush on u

bc hyuck kept glancing over at u, kept talking abt how ur a good leader (he’s never gonna tell YOU that tho. he crossed his heart on that one)

mark was like i didn’t even ask but ok

mark was confused at first tho cuz everybody and their mom knows about your guys’ rivalry so why tf would hyuck have a crush on someone he considers his rival

mark decides not to get ahead of himself bc hey!!! maybe he doesn’t have a crush, maybe he just thinks ur a good leader

like that’s it u know?

LMAO 🤫

so anywayz where was i

ah right

the flag

OK SO ur team’s flag is yellow ! :D

it’s like the colour of sunflowers

you and donghyuck r in charge of guarding the flag while ur team members scout around for the other flags

easy peasy

you and donghyuck are at your base now, weapons drawn just in case

the flag is hung on a poll couple feet taller than you

you’re dressed in ur usual training clothes – a pair of washed out shorts, a very old orange camp half-blood shirt; your sword’s sheath hanging from one of the belt loops of your shorts

donghyuck’s dressed similarly – a pair of blue ripped jeans, the same orange camp shirt tucked into them, but he has a purple flannel on, which he takes off and ties around his waist

“it’s so freaking hot,” he says, mentally agreeing with the comment u made about apollo earlier

“tell me about it”

there’s a silence that follows, the only sound heard is the subtle flow of the creek water

you’re thankful for the silence

it’s easier to keep an ear open for opponents on their way to steal your flag

just as you think about it, an ares and a hades kid approach your base

they’re on the other side of the creek, less than ten to fifteen feet away

“hi y/n,” the hades kid you’re kind of close to says

you shoot him a fake smile before holding your sword in front of you

donghyuck pulls out an arrow from his quiver and nocks it in his bow, aiming for the two demigods in front of you

the creek isn’t that deep, so the two demigods cross it with ease

they have their weapons drawn; they’re now a couple of feet away from you and more importantly the flag

no words are said as donghyuck lets his arrow fly and knock the hades’ kid sword out of his hands

he didn’t use an arrow with a sharp tip, you note

the hades’ kid stumbles backwards, imbalanced after he gets unarmed

you stand your ground as the ares’ kid scrambles forward, attacking you with her sword

your blades clash defiantly

you continue to spar with all your might

from the corner of your eye you see that the hades’ kid, sword back in hand, is battling donghyuck on your left

the flag is right behind you and donghyuck; you can’t let the two demigods get near it

you and the ares kid are still battling each other, putting all your strength into making sure she surrenders

but u should know better

ares and athena kids have many similarities like their love for winning, their confidence in battle, etc.

it’s like looking in a mirror

you don’t have anything against this particular ares kid, though

“c’mon, y/n, give up already”

that REALLY makes your blood boil

you never give up, no matter what

with one final blow of your sword, you knock her sword out of her hands, making her think she distracted you with her words

she goes flying back, half her body landing in the creek water

her sword lies in between you and her, but you doubt she’ll have the courage to fight again

the hades kid sees this and quickly scrambles away from hyuck, picking up the ares kid’s sword and giving her a hand up

“this is why i hate you and your siblings–your huge ego always gets in the way,” you hear the hades kid grumble to his partner as they run away from you, shame written all over their defeat

hyuck laughs and wipes sweat from his forehead

you can’t help but laugh either

you love it here at 🧡 camp half-blood 🧡

a few moments pass as your teammates emerge from the dense woods, each pair with a different colour flag held between them

you smile in victory

you quickly bring down your flag from its pole and give it to hyuck

“me? it was your plan…”

“yeah, but i couldn’t have done it without you, hyuck”

he almost passes out at your choice of nickname

back at the main hall, chiron announces your team as the winner, and that the prize yall being excused from doing chores all week long!!!!

it’s not much, but hey, at least you and hyuck ended up working together and winning the game, right?

later, hyuck pulls you aside from your cabin mates, and walks you to the lakeside

you two sit at the deck, side by side, watching the water doing nothing in particular

you watch as hyuck swings his feet lightly, his toes barely touching the water

“y/n, do you hate me?” donghyuck asks out of the blue

you’re like 😳 what

now that he asks you that . like straight up . it makes u think

do u REALLY hate him

or do u just hate losing to him

“why would i hate you?” you question back

“i don’t know? i guess because of our, um, rivalry thing i thought you can’t stand me”

you play with the beads of your camp necklace

“i don’t hate you, donghyuck. i just hate losing. i guess it’s the athena in me,” you laugh at how lame you sound

“i hate losing too, but i don’t hate you, in case you’re wondering.”

he takes a deep breath

“i know we started going against one another ‘cause of that one time my cabin won capture the flag, but i don’t want things to stay this way,” he pushes his hair back

“i guess what i’m saying is… i like working with you.” he pauses

“yeah,” he says, as if more convinced now, “and i would really like to get to know you better,” he clears his throat, very clearly embarrassed

you laugh at his flustered state

“stop laughing at me,” he stretches the last syllable as he lightly shoves you with his shoulder

you’re trying even harder to not laugh now, but for his sake, you hold it in

“that’s probably the cutest thing you’ve ever said”

he crosses his arms, “i’m always cute”

you’re like. THE NERVE?????? 😒😒😒

“how ‘bout we go slow? i mean, we just became un-enemies, we’re gonna need to be friends first, right?” you poke his shoulder

“you make a good point”

“i’m literally athena’s child, but okay”

“shut up!”

✨ time skip ✨

both u and hyuck stay at camp over the holidays which means more bonding time!!! yay!!!!!

a year has passed and u and hyuck r basically bffs, attached at the hip, and everybody except mark is surprised as fuck

rmb the days when hyuck thought u were “cute”?

welp 🤭 he’s at that point where everything u do makes his heart flutter

yeah… he likes u Like A Lot

u have no clue abt his feelings for u and he has no clue abt ur feelings for him either

exactly a year after the iconic capture the flag game, ur both seated at the deck by the lakeside, side by side, again

“y/n…there’s something you need to know”

“if you’re gonna tell me about the mixtape you’re dropping with mark, i literally don’t want to hear it”

“THAT WAS ONE TIME”

“YOU GOT THE ENTIRE CAMP’S HOPES UP FOR NO REASON”

both of you burst into fits of laughter

after calming down, he shoves your shoulder lightly with his shoulder, like he always does (only to u tho)

“no, seriously, i need to tell you something”

“what’s up?”

“i,” he pauses, clears his throat, “like you. a lot–i have for a while now.”

you swear your heart stops beating and your brain explodes

HE? LIKES? U?????????

he continues, “i don’t know if you like me back, but i’ve been wanting to tell you this for so long–guess i didn’t have the courage until recently,” he lets out an airy laugh

you’re looking at him in the eyes now; a subtle shimmer of the afternoon sun sparkling in his eyes

“hyuck, i like you too. how could i possibly not?” you chuckle at his shocked expression

he goes :O

he’s genuinely speechless when you lean forward and press your lips ever so softly onto his

you literally feel him freeze, which worries you for a second, but your worry is washed away when he slowly kisses you back

you melt right then and there

he takes your hand in his, interlocking fingers, as you pull away, a faint pink blush painting both your cheeks

“wow”

“really, y/n? that’s all you have to say? what happened to being wisdom’s child, huh?”

“donghyuck, i SWEAR to ALL THE GODS–!”

your sentence is cut off when he presses his lips onto yours again, you smile into the kiss which causes him to smile with you

he kisses you again and again, and then again, until you’re both a giggling mess

“let’s stay like this forever, yeah? what do you say?” he says, bringing his lips to your forehead, lingering there for a moment before pulling back and looking at you

you look at your intertwined hands, and then back up at him, “i’d like that”

#lee donghyuck #lee haechan #donghyuck fluff #haechan fluff #donghyuck x reader #haechan x reader #donghyuck imagines #haechan imagines #donghyuck headcanons #haechan headcanons #nct fluff #nct x reader #nct bullet imagines #haechan bullet imagines #donghyuck bullet imagines #mine

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