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fandomwrightingontheside · 5 months

Text

Lovesick

Quan Chi x reader

Request for @theelderhazelnut

Since the tournament, you've received letters of undying devotion and love from someone. They never leave their name, just the words: your devoted disciple. It's creepy. You didn't interact with anyone outside of your fights or Earthrealm Kombatants. You avoided everyone from Outworld like the plague and stayed by Fujin, who brought you as his champion in case Liu Kang failed. Thankfully, Liu hadn't, but that is beyond off-track. You don't know who is sending these letters; there is never a return address, so they are being hand-delivered to your home. But you have a suspicion that it's Quan Chi. He had been staring at you from day one of the tournament. You never gave him the time of day. Why, why was he pestering you with his creepy letters? The letters got worse during the Netherrealm invasion of Earthrealm. While you stayed in your home in fear of the demons that flew overhead, you still were able to collect your mail with no issues. You kept getting letters even after the invasion failed and Shinnok was imprisoned. You and Fujin speak frequently; he's constantly worrying about you having a stalker. Raiden has read over the letters and has said it seems to be Quan Chi's handwriting. That revelation almost made you drop dead.

...

Years...20 fucking years you've been getting these letters. You watched your fellow champions grow as people and have families. You have grown as a person but haven't been able to keep relationships because of these letters. It is depressing, but now you want to use this chance to have some fun while being away. If Raiden had his way, you would stay with the Shaolin Monks for your safety. But Fujin knows you, so he is the peacekeeper between you and Raiden. However, Fujin understands your side. Raiden is just very cautious when it comes to Quan Chi.

You visit the temple once a year and stay there for about a month and a half. Those damned letters still follow you. Even Raiden's strongholds are unsafe for you to go to anymore because he felt Quan Chi's dark magic in some places. It's beyond frustrating that he is playing this long, annoying game. In the grand scheme of things, you have considered using your abilities to attack and fight back...but something doesn't seem right; it's like a trap. The only question is, what is he planning?

While on a trip to Outworld with Cassie and Fujin, Kitana and Jade find you lying on a rock enjoying the sun. You are wearing some shorts and a halter top. Cassie insisted you two go outside because "you need to stop being a hermit and enjoy the fresh air and the sights." A vacation is always great, but you aren't leaving home unless necessary anymore. Still, Kitana is nice enough to come over and have a chat. You get along quite well with the Empress. Not to say you didn't before, but this is an enjoyable experience to catch up. Both Jade and Kitana have read and seen the letters sent to you. You can see it in their faces that they pity you for somehow earning Quan Chi's attention.

"Good to see you again, Empress Kitana," you say, sitting up from your little relaxation. "It's been some time. You are looking more and more radiant with age."

"And I see you haven't aged a bit since the last tournament," she teases as she looks you over with her fan out to cover most of her face. Kitana closes the fan and smiles, "I've heard you and Master Fujin have come to stay and enjoy the day in Outworld. Have you come with someone?" You tilt your head a bit and bite your lip. How she says "with someone" makes your skin crawl.

"No, just Fujin and Cassie, why?" Her smile fades, and Jade comes and stands next to her. Kitana looks over to the jungle in thought. Your guard shoots up a bit at their behaviour. Before you speak, Cassie runs out of the jungle, Fujin close behind her. Both are hollering at each other playfully while waving a bunch of leaves around like crazed kids. You are always glad to see Fujin relax, especially with how he's taken to this new generation of Kombatants.

"Kitana?" You ask, pulling her from her thoughts. You know it's been rough for her since being freed from being a revenant. Her eyes glance back at you, and she gently shakes her head. She is trying her best.

"Excuse me for asking...but are the two of you together?"

Cassie and Fujin look at her once they hear the question. You let out a snort of a laugh. "No, I haven't been able to hold a relationship since the start of the letters 20 years ago," your laughter dies off into a slightly bitter tone. Kitana doesn't respond as she thinks. You look over and notice Fujin looking around like he's searching for something or someone.

"Fujin, what's wrong?" he glances at you for a split second before going back to scan the area.

"I sense a disturbance, (y/n). Like another powerful entity has walked onto the realm." You roll your eyes. He thinks Quan Chi is here. The thought makes you shiver. As a windmaster, Fujin is attuned to the realms, so if he thinks something isn't right, he's probably right. Cassie watches as he grows increasingly wary of the area. "Kitana, can I ask a favour of you," the Empress looks over and nods. He sighs, "Can you watch over (Y/N) while they head to the portal to return to Earthrealm?" Kitana nods again with a puzzled expression. "(Y/N), are you okay with that? I would trust Kitana with you over any other," you take a moment to think. Why does Fujin suddenly feel the need to worry? You sigh, knowing that it's just easier to agree to go home early than to argue with Fujin. "Excellent."

Kitana escorts you to the portal back to the Sky Temple, keeping a respectable distance. You hope Fujin isn't overreacting. But...that man had saved your life before, so you trust his word. "I'm sorry about all of this, Kitana; I wish things were different in my life," you apologize with a sad laugh. The Empress reaches over and pats your shoulder.

"There is no need to apologize," you smile and shake your head.

"No, Kitana, I feel like I should. If it weren't for my problems, I would've enjoyed spending more time with you." Before you are allowed another step, Kitana stops you.

"Aren't you the God of Wind's lover?"

"What? No, Fujin and I are just friends. I've known him too long to see him as anything more than a friend or brother," you laugh again and start heading to the portal again. The silence lingers with the unanswered question until Kitana can reach out and grab your arm. You and the Empress face each other. Kitana looks worried for you.

"I worry for you. If Quan Chi was as invested in me as he is in you, I do not know what I would do," You can't stop the sad smile from coming over.

"I'll be okay, Kitana. He hasn't tried to kill me yet," her grip tightens. You notice her mask is down and hanging against her chest. The soft breeze blows your hair from your face.

"It's not you that I fear dying in this situation," she speaks softly as her free hand reaches up and gently brushes your face, "Quan Chi doesn't care what or who he hurts to get what he wants." Kitana lets your arm go, she reaches over and holds your hands in her own.

"Why do you think I haven't tried to start relationships since the first couple he seemingly ruined," the smile on her face looks strained as she tries not to cry for you. You understand that she hates that she is unable to help you and how she fears he'll make up into a mindless zombie slave like she had been. The Empress doesn't deserve this guilt to bring herself down; you pull your hands away and quickly embrace the Empress tightly. She accepts the embrace, her grip tight. "Don't feel guilty. It's not your burden to bear, Kitana. I have a large support system back in Earthrealm, I don't think I'm taking this on alone. Thank you for caring." Kitana pulls away and looks at you with a tiny, pained smile.

"For your sake and the God's, I hope you will be all right," you let her leave, which she does after saying goodbye. You walk the rest of the way to the portal, hop through, and see Raiden standing near it, arms behind him, waiting. His appearance shocks you; you're used to him just teleporting wherever you're at.

"Raiden?"

"(Y/N)," he pauses to stare at you with his regular neutral expression, "Let us talk."

...

A few minutes after you arrive at Raiden's Sky Temple, he makes hot tea for the two of you and prepares a small place to sit. You sit and wait for Raiden to speak. You were beyond curious about what he seemed to need. He sits across from you with a tray with tea for the both of you. He's tense as he pulls out another letter.

"It was left in the Jensei chamber," he says as he stares at it. A grim expression fills his face. As he reads it, you read the letter, seeing it's more of the same, except he wrote down his name at the end: your devoted disciple Quan Chi.

"We have the answer none of us wanted, and to make it worse, he invaded the Jensei," Raiden's words have a bite to them that is not directed towards you. Your shoulders tense, and a pit fills your stomach. Raiden hasn't stopped looking at the note. The tense silence that follows hurts worse. If anyone deserved a break, it was him.

"Has he not realized you were invited as an extra measure in the tournament? He cannot keep doing this," Raiden hisses. You let out a sharp sigh that doesn't go unnoticed by the god. His hands rest on his lap, and he keeps staring at you. You wonder if his gaze is meant to cause a hole in you.

"I had hoped that one day you would live a full, happy life," his voice sounds upset. Raiden lifts a hand and starts rubbing his head.

"I knew you wouldn't understand," you scoff and stand from the seat to pace, "Raiden, this has been happening for years now; nothing ever changes. And it has only gotten worse now. At this point, I'm going to have to do something stupid to pull him out of hiding," you grumble under your breath. The God of Thunder listens closely, concerned that he won't like your plan. You place your hands on your hips and let your head hang with a dramatic sigh, "And I can't guarantee no one else will get hurt," you pause and add, "Except for me..."

Raiden stands so fast you're almost startled and walks to you quickly to meet you. You almost fear for a split second, he may kill you.

"I must implore you against whatever plan you have in mind, (Y/N)! Quan Chi will use you to get the amulet. We cannot let this happen," his voice is firm as he is angered with your sudden "solution" and potential demise, "You are not a helpless child. There are multiple ways to lure the sorcerer and fight him directly."

The stubborn and irritable tone coming from Raiden doesn't go unheard. It stings like needles when the words sink in. While yes he is correct, the many times that others have tried, Quan Chi has escaped. Not even with magic or anything. He just straight-up ran. After 20 years, the God of Thunder must learn to ease his temper because, otherwise, everyone will pay the price. Raiden doesn't move when he gets close and looks at you directly. His stare is cold and judging. It feels like he is threatening you with just his presence. The only response you have is an angry scowl.

"I'm going to the Netherrealm to flush him out. Trick him into following me to Earthrealm, where he can finally be dealt with. I want it to be over," you raise your hands, clenched in fists and exclaim, "So do you. So do Liu, Hanzo, Kitana, Kuai! If the threats aren't taken seriously, he will get stronger!"

"But sitting around and letting him grow with armies of undead also does nothing for us, Raiden!" You retort loudly. Raiden growls under his breath and glares.

"So we sacrifice you to end this, all of this?"

"If that's what it takes, I'll happily die to protect everyone from him and what he's capable of!" You shout as if getting louder will change his mind. If anything, he doesn't seem the least bit convinced. But honestly, why would he be? Raiden knows how sneaky the sorcerer can be, so you know his words will help you survive.

"I can use his letters against him, use whatever 'feelings' he has for me against him. Raiden, please trust me," you add softer, your voice pleading. You almost seem broken as the anger from arguing dies down. In your heart, you believe this will work.

"Are you certain you will do this, (Y/N)?" Raiden asks as he glances at you. The severe dead expression says everything you need to know. He'll hate what you say, but he's ready.

"Yes," he lowers his head in a quiet prayer and steps back a few feet from you. The next time he looks at you, you can almost swear it will be in a rage. But his face stays blank with the slightest tinge of sadness.

"Very well. We shall give the others a warning of your plans. I beg you to be safe with this plan," Raiden says as he teleports away from you. You take a long swig of your tea and then grab a small bag of supplies for your journey to the Netherrealm. Your mouth is dry, your skin is crawling, and the air is chilled. This has the potential of getting bad quickly.

You wander slowly through the Krypt, seeing the tombstones and statues Raiden and Fujin made to honour their previous champions. You reach the portal to the Netherrealm, feeling the heat coming from the portal gates. The snow around the Krypt is a bluish-white, except around this portal. You can see the grass. It's brown from the heat of the gate itself. Standing just a mere 3 feet away is Fujin. His eyes meet your form before he calls out for you.

"(Y/n)! What are you doing? This plan of yours is ridiculous! Letting him kidnap and possibly kill you?" his voice is raised louder. You huff at his words and shake your head.

"I need to try Fujin! I will not let him hurt Earthrealm to get at me!" You counter loudly. Fujin crosses the distance and stands firmly in front of you, forcing you to halt and stare angrily.

"Raiden does not agree with you either (y/n). Your life is important!"

"I haven't had a life for 20 years, Fujin! I'm taking it back with this choice!" You throw your arms in the air as you argue with him. "I've had to see my friends suffer with the memories they have to carry on, seeing them traumatized while I know nothing of their pain. Now, with me knowing those he will hurt if I don't put myself on the line, there will be less death," the argument continues with a heated fury as both of you hold your stance. "He's destroyed too many lives! He doesn't care for lives as a whole, Fujin. What other solution is there?"

The God of Wind lowers his arms. A sombre, defeated expression on his face. "How can I convince you that this is wrong and not the answer to defeating him?" his voice is soft, defeated.

"There isn't, you can't. Just support me. I will come back with his head on a pike or him alive for everyone to get the justice they deserve," Fujin lifts an arm and gently lays a hand on your cheek.

"Then, please. Come back home when you're finished. I cannot see my best friend become a corpse or an undead slave," his gaze grows sad. You place your hand on his and smile at him.

"I always come back, don't I?" you tease, stepping away from him and standing at the gateway, ready to jump in. "Tell the others I'll return once I finish." With one more look over, you jump into the hellish gate, the searing heat engulfing you. You hiss as the Netherrealm's warmth burns your skin like a sunburn that's been slapped. It's far hotter than others have told you it was from their own experiences. Once your eyesight adjusts, you look around. Your first thought is about how you get anything done if stepping through the portal has you burning up. A painful cough breaks from your chest, making your body jolt. The air is hot and dry, full of ash, smoke, and screams. You quickly pull out the bandana Erron gave you as a joke to help alleviate the painful struggle to breathe the Netherrealm's air. "Oh fuck..." you choke out as you cover the fabric on the lower half of your face. You hear footsteps approaching your position and see the last person you want to fight alone; Noob Saibot.

"Well, look who found themselves in the wrong dimension," his distorted, dead voice snaps. You decide you may as well give him a run for his money before meeting the actual target of the trip.

"I'm not here for a fight, Bi Han. I'm here for Quan Chi," he groans, crossing his arms as he watches you.

"Why? Surely you're smart enough to know not to show up without an army or a God," a laugh rattles from his throat. His voice is like nails to a chalkboard, grating. Even if your feelings are more toward his younger self, seeing the new form of your old friend makes you want to vomit. You both stare each other down. When he moves, so do you. Both of you clashed against one another, locked in a standstill of strength.

"Unlike the little mortal who dropped in here, you have not yet succumbed to the realm's will," you think he is amused by your struggle to match him.

"We could stand like this all day, Bi Han. Can you tell me where the sorcerer is?" you ask quickly. His grip tightens slightly.

"The sorcerer's attention is currently on an Earthrealmer." You roll your eyes; you're that Earthrealmer. How did you know that before Noob Saibot? Then again, this man could've heard Quan Chi talk vaguely about you.

"I'm that Earthrealmer idiot! Now tell me where he is!" You hiss impatiently, hoping he hasn't just teleported out of here. A burst of smokey green energy throws Noob Saibot at a wall as the spell's power knocks you back as well. Your body goes limp when you hit the wall, but your mind is spinning like a top. A few seconds later, you hear your name shouted. A shadow casts over you. Then, someone grabs your body. You can only groan and curl your body into the arm of whoever is holding you. You cough as the heat of the air hits your throat again.

"(Y/n), What are you doing here!?" Quan Chi asks worriedly. You can look up just as you realize Quan Chi was carrying you. You step from his hold, gaining your balance with another pained cough. You glare harshly at the sorcerer, who keeps his grip on you so you don't fall. His eyes watch you in quick flicks, looking for injuries.

"Came here looking for you," you gasp, trying to catch your breath, but the atmosphere isn't cooperating. You are more than thankful for Erron's idea for a mask. God, the air here burns your throat even after you've readjusted your bandana. Quan Chi watches as your form settles; you're less wheezy, which immediately relieves your lungs.

"While I appreciate the effort and bravery to come to the Netherrealm and look for me, are you all right?" He places his hand back on your arm, lightly gripping it so you do not run. Quan Chi's face has fallen to a very concerned grimace. You didn't expect to see such emotion considering everything he's done and said to Earthrealm's champions, along with what happened with the tournament. It was strange that he could be so calm about ruining and breaking people, and yet his demeanour shifted to one of concern and a peculiar hint of care for your person. Quan Chi gently squeezes your shoulder with a second glance.

You continue watching him. Seeing the darkness in his eyes isn't wholly malicious. It's softer now, his eyes appearing warmer. You weren't a fool, though. This could be a trick. It was likely a trap of some sort.

"God, how does anyone deal with the heat here?" you ask rhetorically as you look for somewhere that could be shady to hide from the heat. He chuckles softly, but his worry for your condition still sticks.

"Come, let's get you into an area with less heat. You're unused to the Netherrealm," Quan Chi comments and offers his arm for support. He is genuinely concerned with the impact the Netherrealm is having on you. Your tired mind doesn't allow you to process this, and you take his arm. You feel so dizzy and warm from the heat. You think you're on the verge of heatstroke because your brain power has evaporated into the heat around you. Everything feels so heavy, and there is no sound anymore. You fall out of consciousness, not before you feel like someone is lifting you.

...

With a groan, you sit up and look around. From the look of it, Quan Chi brought you to his fortress. The last thing you remember was seeing it. And not for very long, to boot. You remove the bandana and brush a hand over your face as if that would wipe away the strange experience of fainting from the heat. Getting off the cot, you notice that the room is cool, like when you forgot to turn the A/C off before falling asleep drunk on the couch. That sounds exactly like what has happened. As you stand, your skin that had been exposed to the heat stings and looks angry and red, much like a sunburn.

It took a few minutes to wake fully, but the knock at the door alerted you that Quan Chi was behind the sudden noise. He slowly walked in, his eyes locked on you. When he spoke, he sounded soft and careful. "Ah, you're awake," his hands clasp together in front of him, and he smiles warmly. It's an eerie warmth from the same Sorcerer who would easily murder and then use his enemies' corpses to make revenants. That doesn't stop a warmth of your own from flooding your cheeks. You assume it must still be the remnants of the intense heat lingering on your body from outside.

"Yeah..." You say as your throat is scratchy and dry. You cough a few times as it's a new sensation that doesn't sit well in your chest. "Ugh, I could kill for a drink," your voice has gotten a lot more hoarse as if you had just come down with a sickness of some kind. Your mind feels a bit fuzzy, but the air is cooler and easier to breathe now. Quan Chi lifts a finger, silently commanding you to wait momentarily before exiting. A minute later, you hear his footsteps in the hall, followed by your name from his mouth. Quan Chi hands you a glass of ice water when he enters the room. He's breathing slightly heavily as if he ran to bring you water.

"Are you feeling ill at all?" he asks, concerned as he sits across from you. His presence isn't menacing or unsettling. The Sorcerer's entire personality seems to have shifted since the last time you'd seen him when Shinnok was imprisoned in his amulet. Before, all you'd experienced was an arrogant and dismissive man. Seeing Quan Chi now is like speaking to a new person, yet it isn't at the same time. He holds the cup out to you, watching your every movement. His eyes don't hold the ordinarily dark and menacing look; they tend to have such softness and something else hidden. You look at the cup and then at him. You don't fully trust him; he understands why, considering everything he's done, but...You have captivated him in ways he can't even begin to describe. Quan Chi almost loses his concentration on your eyes as they gaze into him. Your hand takes the glass, and he follows it.

Your lips wrap around the edge of the glass, tipping back and tilting until the contents of the glass are gone. "Thanks," you croak as you keep your distance from him. He had killed so many people with and for Shinnok that you wanted to have him at least an arm's length away. You weren't looking to die on this mission. He nods and studies you while his elbows rest on the arms of the chair. A sigh escapes Quan Chi as he watches you. It's clear he's off in his thoughts. But the look he gives you is that of a man intoxicated by his partner. At that moment, your memories of what you've read from the Sorcerer's letter flood your mind.

Quan Chi was deeply fond of you. He'd write several pages in one letter about how words cannot describe how drawn to you he is, how you've bewitched him in impossible ways. Even years since he's seen you, he is mesmerized and enamoured by your beauty and grace plaguing his mind. Every moment, his head is filled with only you and only his love for you, despite not knowing how the two of you could cross paths. He, believing to earn your favour, released his revenants, your friends. It was a strange move, especially with the havoc and pain you and those you cared about suffered because of it. He wrote about how he'd give up anything and everything you spoke negatively about if it meant you'd give him a single glance. You'd be lying if some of the things he wrote made you feel like a protagonist out of a romance novel with how poetically he wrote about his adoration for you. Sometimes, the things he wrote did bring a light colour to your cheeks. You'd also be lying if you said you didn't find him physically attractive.

At this point, you don't think he deserves your compassion, affection, or mercy. His letters are filled with almost an obsessive yearning for you. "Quan Chi...Do I mean as much to you as it says in the letters you wrote me over the years?" Your throat scratches, even speaking barely above a whisper.

His crimson eyes gaze directly into you as you await his answer. "I...Yes. After spending the time thinking on it, yes, my beloved," his gaze holds sincerity, and he lets out a dreamy sigh as he looks at you. "You are all I've ever known to exist in my mind. All that drives me is seeing your sweet smile and your acceptance and adoration," he shifts in the chair and tilts his head slightly, a hint of confusion filling his eyes and voice.

"So why did you invade Earthrealm's Jensei? That is something you know I'd disapprove of," your brows are drawn into a stern look of judgment at his actions, and Quan Chi's once confident demeanour drops, as does his gaze.

"A poor decision from a desperate attempt at wooing," your mouth hangs open, your eyes almost bulging from the surprise at the confession. The silence following it is deafening as you think of a counter.

"Why me, though? There are plenty of far better Kombatants to fawn over," you counter, feeling your gut twist.

"There was nothing any of them could do to gain my adoration," Quan Chi said gently, cautiously so as not to upset you. "But when we fought, I was captivated and had hoped we'd have met on friendlier terms...And now here you are, on a mission to slay me, no doubt," you nod at him. The acknowledgement that he's right stings your heart. He could do something horrible right now to punish you for coming to the Netherrealm to kill him. Your plan is fucked if he already knew what option A was.

"Of all my calculations and strategies for that outcome, this is the one I hadn't prepared for. Having you here is..." Quan Chi pauses as his mind tries formulating an exact sentence describing his feelings.

"Just tell me how you feel, Quan Chi," his face heats at your voice, calling his name in such a way. In a calm tone, he starts speaking.

"You are an impossibly gorgeous specimen. I can't begin to properly describe why you have seized my soul and captivated me with just a glance," Quan Chi pauses and sighs. "To have my beloved within the Netherrealm makes me wish I could have visited your realm to visit you myself." His smile is dopey and lopsided as his eyes gaze at you with a lovesick expression. It's the kind of look that if you attacked him, he'd thank you for it. He would thank you for hitting him, hurting him, or killing him. Just as you have come to this revelation, your heart drops. Here is this man who could make the darkness darker and the cold icer; all that stands between him and having control over the realms is you. Yet all it took was seeing the longing in his eyes and watching how his features relaxed. There, hidden deep in his eyes, was love. Pure, genuine love. It was the same way Liu Kang looked at Kitana or Sub-Zero looked at Sareena.

He, a powerful and dangerous man, sits before you, willing to lay his pride down if it meant even a look of pity from you. If it told you thought twice about attacking him, even for a moment, he would never show any hostility. Instead, he would lay his life down and relinquish his control, all because of an unrequited love. Never would he force you to reciprocate, not if you said no. Your plan was pointless as he offered it on a silver platter. "If you'll have me," his hands clasped each other, "My entire soul is yours," his right-hand rests over his chest, holding the heart that beats for only you.

As you listened to him, his eyes turned to a pained longing and even fear. If you attacked, he knew he'd lose the only thing he felt worth letting his walls down for. However, you felt like this man could easily capture your affections. He's known to be charming and manipulating. Now, watching him melt, it appears his charm may be real rather than fabricated. His charm, combined with the love-struck gaze of someone enamoured, has won over a fraction of your heart. Damn, you and your soft spot for men who look like kicked puppies when they gaze longingly. You suppose he fits that description. His eyes hold a gaze full of tenderness and adoration. He looks pathetic with how soft he looks at this moment. Damnit, why does he fit the type of man you like when he looks at you like this?

With his following sentence, the mask cracked utterly, and the walls fell. Only the man inside sat before you, praying to win his love over and prove he wasn't a danger anymore. He offers himself and his heart to you, without question, to show that his words are trustworthy and pure.

"Please, my beloved, even a single word of confirmation could lift me to the highest heavens above."

All the bad in him vanishes; you've seen it disappear right before your eyes. Your mouth opens to respond but hesitates. Quan Chi senses the unease that flickers in you. The sorcerer takes your silence in stride and gets closer. His warmth fills the space, and despite his reputation, the sorcerer does seem gentle. He is careful with you, a fact he had always been, not that you realized or would have paid attention. His crimson eyes examine every inch of your exposed skin. Quan Chi doesn't want to think of you getting harmed if anyone dared hurt you. They'd suffer unimaginable torments. The silence ends.

"All right..." you whisper; it's enough to break him from his reverie. He falls to his knees before you, holding your hands as he thanks you for everything and vows loyalty and anything you wish, promising his heart is solely yours and no other. Tears prick his eyes as he places your hand on his cheek. His skin is smooth under your hand, contrasting with his words, which are adoring, sincere, and flattering. The sheer amount of gratitude makes your face blush as the words settle in and the emotions threaten to spill over. You felt somewhat wrong for doubting him after all he's doing for you now. But why would someone so terrifying turn into such a lovesick puppy in front of you? It didn't add up until he leaned into your hand and kept his gaze on you. Oh, so that's what did it...

Quan Chi lays himself before you. His vulnerabilities are on display. In truth, he could slay you instantly and hide away in the darkest pits of the realm. Instead, he is unravelling his life and what could be a soul for you. Damnit, he's a sappy, pathetic man who'll probably put you on a pedestal and worship everything you say and do.

Quan Chi remains close to you, seemingly overwhelmed as if you'd been lovers for ages rather than him secretly admiring you for so long. And no matter what the logical part of your brain was saying, it still made the same warm and fuzzy feelings flutter inside your stomach. It has been years since you've allowed someone to be close and offer you affection; hell, it has been years since you even gave or accepted the same from another person. But this man is pledging the darkest realms, power, riches, whatever he could offer if you'd have him. It's cute, and his doe eyes and tender demeanour are undeniable. His warm hands on top of yours rest peacefully, enjoying the softness and contact with the person who has entranced him. While the logical part of your brain wants to throttle him and strangle the breath from his lungs, you know he'd still look at you with devotion, love, and compassion, and it makes that part cringe. The emotional side of you wins in this. You know that it would leave some trauma in your brain to hurt the man who had given you so much devotion, especially if the emotional part was attached, even if slightly.

The silence has stretched since his declaration, and his face gives a slightly panicked but still hopeless expression. The man looks ready to say goodbye but will follow the command until his dying breath. He is the epitome of an obsessive, smitten character out of a terrible romance movie. Yet as his warm palms gently graze and squeeze the tops of your hands, you can't bring yourself to not admit to finding the Sorcerer's gentleness, devotion, and protectiveness attractive. The feelings in your heart bubble over, and Quan Chi freezes, waiting. He swallows a lump of fear and anxiety. When your eyes meet him, he still maintains the soft look of a lost puppy.

Your heart overpowers your logical thinking, and you lean your forehead against him, making direct eye contact. "Do not make me regret giving you this one opportunity, Quan Chi," you say in a low voice, catching a hitch in his throat and how his pupils widen, showing more of his red irises. The breath of relief is heard and felt as the warmth from his breath hits your cheeks, turning them a delicate pink. The look he wears shows he is ecstatic to have this chance. His smile warms your heart, making it flutter even if you know you shouldn't let him make you feel so wanted. But then again, would it be so bad to allow the attention? Just this once? You've been starved of both physical and emotional affection for what 20 years now? Who would deny an offer to meet their emotional needs from a powerful yet loyal companion, especially when they appear as obsessed as this? The heat is intoxicating and enthralling as he is, making the inner struggle with your feelings more arduous than it was an hour ago. You are desperately clinging onto the part of you that argues not to show mercy or trust this man. However, his charm is overwhelming. His attention is making it difficult to resist and choose the former.

...

Oh no. You're in love. Head over heels in love with Quan Chi.

"This could work," you think aloud.

The smile remains, but now it stretches wider as Quan Chi chuckles warmly and nods at you. He removes a strand of hair and places a soft, adoring kiss on the crown of your head, holding your head delicately. His fingers hold onto your head as his thumbs rub circles. In the heat of it all, you subconsciously let his actions become instinct as you don't object to him resting his head in the crook of your neck. You're not sure how, in a few months, you could let your guard down around him. Yet here you are, basking in the affection and care from a man many wouldn't believe possible for his tenderness towards others.

You have travelled between Earthrealm and Netherrealm. Even when explaining what happened between you and Quan Chi, you recognize the looks of abject horror, realizing that you and Quan Chi are equally wrapped around each other's fingers. The explanation goes off without much conflict from others, aside from the initial surprise and unease that you have tied yourself to a being responsible for untold atrocities. Raiden and your other allies have somewhat adjusted. Kitana and the others were unable to wrap their heads around this fact. Yet when they see how Quan Chi worships the ground you walk on and how quickly he crumbles to your word or how when you enter a room he's about to start a fight in, the other Kombatants quickly learn he is like a loyal guard dog ready to heel when you speak, prepared to listen and obey even the most mundane and idiotic orders from its master.

Even those who don't see eye to eye with the dark Sorcerer are still horrified at how Quan Chi put all of himself aside to get approval. They were sure at one moment, the Sorcerer would snap and kill you. Yet, he openly let you throttle him when he tried to kill Cassie. How he allowed your hands to grip his throat as you yelled at him for trying that move. He relented, admitted you were correct, and apologised to Cassie begrudgingly. Even after you stopped shaking him by the throat, placing a chaste but loving kiss on his forehead and letting go of him, he still followed behind you like a lovesick dog. He would deny that the punishment, or so he'd call it, didn't turn him on, and he'd spend some personal time in the night thinking about it.

Back in the present time, sit in Johnny Cage's mansion with Kombatants and Quan Chi while they enjoy a party for some movie release Johnny made about the tournament. He hasn't appeared yet to make his speech and get everyone settled. So, for now, you enjoy the ambience and company. The warmth from having a cocktail helps your mood as well. You feel arms around your waist as Quan Chi nuzzles the back of your head, taking in your scent. You freeze for a split second, trying not to spill your drink, and breathe out as the cocktails flush your cheeks with a delicate pink shade. You hold onto his hand. You still don't know how you convinced him to ditch the leather-clad outfit when he came to gatherings like this for Earthrealm attire that was appropriate for the weather, depending on the season. In winter, he wore a plain black turtleneck sweater and black dress pants to the viewing party at Johnny's. To your surprise, Quan Chi has embraced the change, and the chilly winter weather in the United States suited the colour of his attire and his cold personality. You did learn he has a soft spot for fall and Halloween. He enjoys the decorations that people use. He wanted to use actual corpses on your Halloween display, which you said no to unless they were skeletons only.

"You should come back inside, or you'll catch a cold, my soul," he says between gentle kisses to your neck and behind your ears. The action causes you to giggle lightly as he squeezes you gently. Even his soft voice sends goosebumps across your skin and has butterflies in your stomach. He's aware his voice affects you, so the sorcerer tries to tease you while out in public. His nose nuzzles behind the earring you wear and gives soft nips on your neck.

"Alright, alright, I'm coming. Don't go getting frisky while we are here. I don't need to have that talk with Johnny," you smirked, pecking Quan Chi on his cheek, which was burning. His soft giggle fills your body with euphoria, and you feel proud you've melted this hardened man. You let him walk you back inside the mansion, seeing everyone talking and laughing or just catching up with one another. Quan Chi leaves you with Fujin as he wanders for a drink. The conversation you hold with Fujin is mostly about things regarding Shinnok, who, no matter how much he treats you like his own child, refuses to accompany you and Quan Chi to events, even the ones in Outworld. You also discuss how you can travel freely from Earthrealm to the Netherrealm. You also catch up in general with Fujin while others enjoy themselves around the home. You hadn't realized that for a while, Quan Chi hadn't come back quickly. It wasn't until a stressed Johnny interrupted your conversation with Fujin.

"Hey, so Quan Chi is about to start a fight in my-"

"Where," you cut him off, ready to keep things peaceful. He points towards his in-home bar. You groan as you see Quan Chi arguing with Bo' Rai Cho over something in a slurred voice. The two stand far too close with how aggressive they both sound. They are both sloshed. You can smell the alcohol coming off of them.

"What are you two doing?"

"(y/n)," Bo' Rai Cho's voice dripped with pity. "There's nothing between us. Tell Quan Chi I said that I have no romantic interest," the older Kombatant explained in his best attempt at clarity in an inebriated state.

Quan Chi growled in disgust and raised his voice as he swayed slightly and spoke in a slurred, unintelligible sentence with several hiccups and slight burps. You rubbed your temples. If Quan Chi is drunk, he is almost a guaranteed argumentative and childish asshole, and it means someone might end up dead because Quan Chi may take things too far. If Bo' Rai Cho had anything more to add, you were willing to stop that train of thought instantly as the man stared at you, shaking his head. Your attention focused back on the drunk sorcerer, who hadn't recognised you in his mind yet. He looked at you with a confused, scrunched-up face as he tried to pinpoint who you were.

"Hun, did you get into the strong stuff with Bo' Rai Cho? You know you have a low tolerance for high-proof," the fact he didn't recognise you spoke volumes and annoyed you more as the tone became clipped, which told him this wouldn't go well. The confusion remained, though Quan Chi's mouth gaped open when the name registered.

"My partner is better than you," he slurred as he pointed an accusing finger at you. Yep, he's shitfaced and doesn't realize it's you yet. His face scrunched up before the realization clicked. It's you! The change in his attitude did a complete one-eighty and backflip. His demeanour and his expression softened as his cheeks burned.

"And no one on Earth or in Netherrealm is good enough. Because none are you, and I'm an absolute lucky asshole to get to share a life with someone as wonderful and perfect as you (y/n)," the rambling was surprisingly smooth. Except when the words trailed off and got into a slurred mess, he hiccupped and leaned heavily against you for support and affection.

"You know better than to drink with Bo' Rai Cho. You can't handle things like moonshine. Please stop acting like a jealous, insecure teenager," you groaned loudly and grabbed Quan Chi's glass, sniffing and feeling nausea as the stench burned your nostrils, and the realization hit you hard. This wasn't even regular alcohol, and judging by Bo' Rai Cho, this was some more substantial proof than he usually drank.

Bo' Rai Cho winced, understanding the reaction. He hadn't expected anyone else to smell it, and if they did, they wouldn't inhale it as the scent alone burned their nostrils and brought tears to their eyes, much less consumed it. You pushed the glass towards the large man in a silent 'Don't give Quan Chi anymore of this" look. Quan Chi proceeded to curl his arms tighter around your middle and grumble against your skin as you went to soothe him, attempting to remove his hands, but he clamped down and kept holding onto you tightly. It would be an issue that the strength he used to squeeze was getting more prominent. "Ow. Okay, please don't crush me in a drunken, possessive mood. I love you," you reassured as he let up enough and lifted his head to make eye contact, pouting before he started crying. There it is, the drunken tears, thinking he somehow upset you or hurt you. You began rubbing his back, hoping to calm the Sorcerer, burying his face in your chest and muffling an apology for crying.

When Quan Chi relaxed, Bo' Rai Cho sat behind the bar and handed you a cup of water. "Hey, it's okay. I'm okay, look. I'm not mad or hurt. Here, drink some water," you coo softly, treating him like a child throwing a tantrum, which, in a way, wasn't too far off the mark. His moods, behaviour, and actions were similar to that, but the drunken shenanigans and meltdowns were entertaining. You coax the man into drinking his glass of water and are finally able to step away long enough to sit him on a bar stool and place yourself between his legs, hands around his waist to prevent him from going anywhere and to console him. At first, he was eager to hold you as you hugged and calmed him down. You wipe his tears away with your thumbs as Quan Chi buries his face into your hair and holds you tighter, like if he doesn't have a solid enough grip, he will lose you to Bo' Rai Cho.

"Bo' Rai Cho is more of an uncle to me than anything else, Quan Chi," the calm cooing and holding him tight to ground the dark sorcerer didn't fail as he let up and gave a happy, breathy chuckle. His eyes had dark, exhausted circles under them, and he kept rubbing them and whining that everything was a bit blurry.

"Well, you're very drunk," you chuckle as the sorcerer rests his forehead on the crown of your head again, nosing against you and grabbing the hem of your blouse, fingers splayed over the side of your stomach. Fujin joins you at the bar along with Johnny. Both are surprised to see how easily you calmed down the drunken sorcerer. This isn't the first time this has happened either; it's probably the second.

The first incident was at a gathering in a forest near the Sky temple. He and Bo' Rai Cho didn't listen when you warned him about overconsumption since he only drinks wine, not harder liquors or high-proof drinks like this. Within an hour, he was a crying, blubbering mess in your lap, apologising for something you weren't aware was his fault. Cassie and Johnny took advantage of the situation and got a few good pictures of the pair of you as a drunk, clingy and sad sorcerer curled in your lap. Of course, the comments about how he's an insecure child only aggravated him and made him pout further. Then came the full tantrum when Cassie joked the photos were cute and called the drunk sorcerer the equivalent of a petulant toddler. He ugly sobbed when you said 'I love you' after he sat down and didn't fight Cassie over the photos.

...

It's a lot to handle a drunk, possessive and emotional Quan Chi, who looks at you like a treasure worth a billion souls, or maybe it's something worth even more than that, more than gold. And in his eyes, no one is worthy enough of such a prize and treasure to share your love. So, despite having his attention for only a few weeks and now a year, you had become comfortable with the attention. If this attention came at the price of a stubborn, possessive sorcerer, then you knew a way of subduing the man to more amicable, milder temperaments. If the one controlling his emotions is you, it is only a matter of what your whim will have Quan Chi.

"So, uh, are you two leaving soon or hanging around longer?" the question posed Johnny, but it had more questions hidden underneath as his fingers danced on the wood. He doesn't like Quan Chi in his home, let alone sloshed like this, but he's trying to involve him for your sake. You glance back and see a drunk, wobbly Quan Chi holding onto you for support. In the back of his mind, there was still a drunken drive to impress you. A little voice whispered in his head. It told him it wasn't enough to be the better choice of all people, in your eyes, and the better choice of all creatures, even gods.

"I think I should get him home to the Netherrealm, have him sleep off the moonshine. Sorry, we can't stay longer, Johnny," you smile apologetically. Despite his expression dropping and sighing in relief, the filmmaker was more grateful you'd have the dark sorcerer out of his mansion. And as his final words before the portal closed with you and Quan Chi disappearing within the swirl of purple magic, Johnny asked you to be careful and not let Quan Chi throw a hissy fit or another temper tantrum over your time and affection being stolen from him.

Quan Chi basically has you carry-half drag him back into the fortress and towards your shared bedroom. Quan Chi insisted that it was too quiet in there and kept whispering in your ear as you pulled his turtle neck's collar, telling him the quicker he walked, the sooner he would be in bed. However, in the back of your head was a deep need and desire to give in to the sorcerer's wishes when he pawed and grasped for your shirt hem. When you finally pushed Quan Chi on his bed, the Sorcerer laid back and smirked, sitting up and using his elbows and hands to hold his frame steady as the hem of his sweater rode up enough to tease a hint of muscle. His eyes watch you hungrily as he fights his shoes and pants.

"Quan Chi, you're to drink. I'm going to read. Stay in bed," you say with a shake of your head, and without missing a beat, Quan Chi responds, "Why?" His slurred speech made his attempt to keep eye contact with you fail since he kept losing it or not making it and giggled to himself as his eyes glazed over.

"Because you're going to feel sick in an hour, and I'm not looking to be vomited on. So, get some rest for me, yes?" He tries to argue with his intoxicated, addled brain that his tolerance isn't as low as others but admits defeat and scoffs.

"Very well, my beloved," his drunk, drawling voice has your body flushing with heat. It sends a shiver up your spine and a tingle in your abdomen. You grab a book off the nightstand and crack it open, keeping an eye on him. The sorcerer gives you a drunken grin, making your heart hammer. The loud groan he gives draws your attention. You blush, staring at the man you love. How he lays sprawled in bed, stares at you lazily, and admires you with an intense hunger.

You clear your throat and adjust your seat slightly, ignoring Quan Chi's look of annoyance and amused grin. His features turn sour as you ignore his wants and focus on the words in the book. Quan Chi grumbled to himself, rolling onto his stomach and giving a frustrated grunt, breathing heavily against his pillow before looking back at you with a hurt expression.

You slightly rolled your eyes, biting the inside of your cheek. He must still be insecure because you've denied him. No, Quan Chi won't take the attention as the hurt you're ignoring him. You continue to read and try to enjoy your reading, ignoring the noise of distress. Quan Chi releases the longest-exaggerated whine.

"Don't ignore me! It isn't fair," his drawl-stained voice is whiny, needy and thick. But you close your eyes and keep your gaze on the words away from him, knowing that once you see him and make eye contact, you will immediately fold and go to him. Quan Chi has worked up to the point that his groaning and whining are genuine concerns as he lets out a strained sound that causes you to snap and book slam closed, earning a light flinch from Quan Chi.

He expects to have earned your attention since you aren't reading and look upset by something. Instead, he can't hold back the light purring in his throat as you stare with an arched eyebrow and frown, mostly confused and annoyed, but something in those eyes spoke volumes that made his gut flip, and his lips curled in an appreciative yet excited manner. You know this look because he is going to beg.

"Why the noises? And I can't tell if it's because you're frustrated at being denied, in pain or some other manner, so why are you so whiny and making so much noise?" you can tell your annoyed tone puts the Sorcerer on edge for only a second. Still, that little moment has him suddenly turning his body to face you and drawing a deep breath.

"Come closer," he drawls lazily, flicking his fingers to emphasise his desire. His smirk and the darkened, predatory look had your body fluttering and growing warm as you sat in your armchair. You blink slowly as the Sorcerer has turned on his charm. But if that wasn't enough, he released another purring hum, the smirk disappearing to give you a slight, soft pout as he shuffled to sit up against the headboard.

"No," the way you shut him down and go back to your book sends an annoyed growl up Quan Chi's throat as the hurt feeling resurfaces. It was probably best the Sorcerer wasn't angry. Besides, as much as he has changed and tried to be different and learn about healthy relationships, it's also best not to stir the pot since the sorcerer still has to unlearn jealousy's influence and how it plays a part.

Your boyfriend slouches his back, pulls up his shirt, and lightly brushes his abdomen and hipbones as his bottom lip juts slightly. "Why?" You blink in response before looking back up from your book, opening your mouth but then closing it when no words leave you, and instead, a heavy sigh falls past your lips as he pouts with sad puppy dog eyes.

"Because I love you, and you won't enjoy drunk sex as much as you think. Also, I want to take my time loving you without the cloud of a hangover and needy pants making you aggressive." Quan Chi looked offended as you stared, face neutral. The silence lingered between you until a smug smile spread across his face. He had a way out and a way for him to have control without letting it slip through his fingers.

"Fine, I'll deal with my needs alone then," he whined as he caressed and scratched his hip and his happy trail, eyes challenging you to break and indulge his sexual desires, despite him not realising those needs were the exact opposite of what he wanted.

"You need to have control over everything, huh? Fine, have fun blue-balling yourself tonight and tomorrow," you say and adjust to lay back and pull a cushion to prop the book open, and you go back to reading and enjoying the quiet, soft silence in the air. Quan Chi looked stunned, bewildered, and at a loss, not expecting you to pass on the chance. A mischievous smirk made its way on his lips, though his head panged dully, and he paused to remove his gloves as his brain began fogging and making the room swim. Seeing your beautiful smile and hearing you say, 'I love you,' has the sorcerer pulling the blankets and quilt up to cover his legs. You know he is agitated because he hides behind the black sheets and sulks quietly.

As the minutes ticked by, you looked up and heard soft, tired grumbles and muffled whines as Quan Chi stayed hidden away, buried in the darkest shadow his blanket gave. There it is, the exhaustion from the alcohol hitting his system. When it had the man fighting to stay awake, he snored gently until your weight made the mattress dip, and a muffled sound escaped him. He never raised his face and looked at you. No, you carefully wrapped yourself around him, arms hooking through his own and around his stomach as your front was pressed to his back.

You moved the neckline of the Sorcerer's clothing and rubbed at his neck gently. The nape of his neck is sensitive, and the circles you rubbed helped relax him as the sounds returned but became a relaxed humming as he enjoyed your affections. "Goodnight, Quan Chi. Love you," his breathing grew slow and quiet, and your words were answered.

"Night. Love...you..." and it was there in the silence that made you chuckle and nuzzle his cheek that your beloved dark sorcerer passed out to dream away and rest his drunkenness and fatigue. There will be some hell to pay when he's more aware of what has been going on and is less drunk. But you don't care; you'll make up for everything by bringing him the comfort and love he deserves.

...

Quan Chi awoke with a groan, his headache pounding and spinning his head. It was worse since he drank that liquid fire disguised as liquor. The man pressed a hand to the side of his temple as his body ached, and he couldn't remember the night. At least the last memory he can recall was you sitting down to read and the smell of liquor invading his sense of smell. "Hngh," Quan Chi moaned softly into his hand.

"Hurts, doesn't it?" You cooed, and the sorcerer looked over with a narrow, almost annoyed glare. Still, it quickly softened, and the apology went unsaid. He sighed gently and rolled towards you, shuffling back and rolling towards you, slipping back into his cuddle spot, pressing himself close and wrapping an arm around your torso. Your palm slides over the back of his skull, rubbing his crown and working lower.

"If you let me up, I'll go get you some water and something for that splitting migraine you've got," you whisper to him as his mouth presses to the crown of your head. His slow nod shows how the light makes his head swim, and your body shifts as Quan Chi rolls back and gives space to do just that. He moans again more disappointedly, making it known he regrets moving and prefers your body heat.

"I'll only be a minute," you say as you move out of bed and towards the door.

"Better," his throat is dry, his mouth dry and scratchy as he closes his eyes and lets his head swim a little, trying to recall last night. Still, he isn't too bothered, not enough to press any further and seek the memory. His focus is on how his mind can barely formulate sentences, and every thought worsens his head.

"How are you feeling otherwise, baby?" the question of concern is appreciated when you offer a cup of water to him, and he chugs the entire thing down, holding the glass out for a refill.

"Like hell. Tired and hurting all over," he gives a snarky response, which earns him a smile, a gentle rub against his cheek and a cheek pinch, which he groans at.

"Aren't you glad I kept turning you down last night?" you tease the groaning, barely thinking Sorcerer as he stares blearily at the glass with a frown, unable to pinpoint anything he may or may not have done. You place it beside the bottle on the nightstand before settling beside the Sorcerer, rubbing his neck before gliding your fingertips to the side of his temple and beginning gentle circular motions to help alleviate his aches.

"The hell do you mean?" is Quan Chi's groan of curiosity, blinking the bleariness out and opening and closing his mouth.

"Last night, after I got us home from the get-together at Johnny's, you kept trying to seduce me despite my rejections. Of course, a drunk version of yourself kept moaning and groaning, whining, pouting," Quan Chi opened his eyes and rolled them to meet your gaze. His head pangs, but he gives an acknowledging sound. "So, you turned me down and still took care of me after," Quan Chi gave an appreciative hum as the smile grew larger.

"Of course, love. No harm, no foul. You'll feel better later today after sleeping this off. Are you okay? Do you need another glass of water before going back to bed?" a smile and the gesture were appreciative as the man snuggled into you.

"Please," Quan Chi snuggled into your warmth, and you returned to the kitchen to grab a bottle, to his grateful moan. As he settled for some long and needed sleep, his appreciation was a tender kiss on your lips, a muttered "Love you", and a possessive arm and grip as the sleep claimed him. Quan Chi buried his face in the crook of your neck as you soothed the pain, stroked and stroked his head until your beloved Dark Sorcerer of Netherrealm could feel better later.

...

You woke up before him, seeing him curled up beside you. He is sprawled on the sheets. His right hand holds onto yours in your grasp. Your palm had the back of his knuckles. You lean up, stretching. "Ah," Quan Chi turns and watches you through one open eye. He looks away, grunting a bit before speaking.

"How are you feeling?" You ask, giving him space to roll onto his back. Your fingers begin massaging him. Your fingers apply pressure against the base of his skull before sliding up to where they cradle and soothe the ache. You oversee him before touching his cheek again. His eyes closed once more when they looked back at you again. He's grateful to see you've forgiven him and his behaviour yesterday, the soft look of concern and how you caressed his forehead. His headache dulled now, thankfully, since he's been up long enough and suffered the lingering symptoms and effects, drinking lots of fluids as well, especially his bottle of water.

"Well, enough. Head is a little dizzy, but..." you kissed him profoundly and cupped both cheeks. "I should be fine." Quan Chi rasped a husky, raspy morning voice, still low with sleep, rumbled in his chest and neck as Quan Chi drew in his lover, who was chuckling and peppering his shoulder and neck with little kisses.

"Happy hangover recovery, my love," you chuckled and laughed harder when the Sorcerer lifted one hand off the ground to rub his temple.

"I'd hardly call this a recovery, but I will make it work if you are around, my Beloved," the man responded while leaning back to glance at your grinning, joyous face, chuckling as he felt relief.

"Do you want me to bring you breakfast? Keep the sunlight from obliterating you while you recover?" You joke softly and let the Sorcerer run his hand over your cheek. Your palms took either cheek in his hands as your gaze focused on him. Quan Chi gives a slight grin. "That might work," the man answers with a nod.

"Okay. Give me a few minutes and get cleaned up, and I'll be back." You release his chin and give him a chaste kiss as you puttered around your room, getting dressed before wandering towards the kitchen. As soon as your foot left the bedroom threshold and turned the corner, Quan Chi rolled out of bed and sluggishly went to take a shower. By the time his shower finished and you returned, his headache was more manageable, and the world a bit less blurry.

When you returned to the room, Quan Chi had also gotten himself changed, sitting at the edge of the bed waiting. He stands quickly and looks a bit dizzy momentarily, his face pale before returning its colour, and he huffs. You shake your head and let him come over, pinching and pulling his cheek.

"Here, I brought you something for that headache and something to eat. Eat first, take medicine later, got it?" you demand the Sorcerer with a huff and frown. You weren't truly mad; the act amused the Sorcerer's face.

"Alright," he agrees quietly while accepting the food tray, pausing and looking worried at the strange sensation of something stirring inside him. But he sits on the bed with you, resting his cheek on your shoulder blade and closing his eyes, listening to your pulse while munching on scrambled eggs.

He sets the tray on the table near your side. Quan Chi stays leaning on your back for a moment until he goes to retrieve the plate again but ends up hugging you again instead. His lips leave a trail along your bare neck and collar.

His breathing picks up again when you turn around, looking directly into your eyes and allowing Quan Chi's mouth to graze along the column of your neck, where it lingers on one spot.

"Can't seem to get enough of you," his low voice whispers with an unexpected smile. The expression itself draws a warm feeling through him. Something deep in him aches for affection, especially when they're rare, unique, and often fleeting. The last one occurred not even two minutes ago. "Never would," he mutters before leaving more trails up and down the sensitive skin and drawing breathy, husky laughs from your mouth.

Small update: I've been MIA due to medical issues with my mother and I have been really into DBZ and playing Borderlands and Paleopines lately. I'll definitely be righting for DBZ villains soon

:readmore:

#quan chi #mk x reader #quan chi x reader #mortal kombat #fanfic request

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prof-peach · 1 year

Note

Hi,

I'm making a dnd campaign with a pokemon module of 5e and wanted to use a bit edited version of Dotaku Island, Prof. Peach and the crew cause I like your headcannons and work nice with my idea of the inner workings of the Pokemon world.

Is it okay to use them?

It's a campaign with friends and we're not making any profit from it, but still wanted to ask cause now more than ever artist consent is important (even when nothing about this is goong online so normally people woukdn't ask, but I also wanted to say I've been a huge fan of your work for a long time so two birds with one stone ig).

Either way, thanks for showing your work to us here on tumblr and hope this ask isn't too weird :)

Haha sure go for it, I’m chill with non-profit use, and if you ever do post junk let me know so I can snoop.

Fun notes for anyone who may be inclined to do this: THESE DO NOT NEED TO BE USED NOR FOLLOWED, PICK AND CHOOSE IF YOU PREFER.

North is off limits, no exceptions. Being caught there will get you removed from the island on the first ship back to your original region. You will struggle to return here if found in the north. Patrols line the fences to make sure no one goes in, night and day.

Players will take damage if they try to touch peach in any way. Treat her as a high level monk/Druid, who 1000% will throw hands with u and your Pokemon given a good reason. Cold and distant to approach, pawns players off to other staff at any given opportunity. A hermit who will humour you if you can appeal to her better nature, or great desire to fight things. You may lose but it’s the trying that counts.

Wisdom saves (DC28) with Val if you try to touch her. Not only will you gain force damage if you succeed (half damage) or fail (full damage) to lay hands on her, but you’ll see horrifying illusions for a minute relating to loved ones. Frightened condition until a long rest, compelling you not to approach further. I cannot stress this enough. Penalise players for trying to touch her, peach will bluntly warn you once, after that you’re on your own.

Grey regularly hands out handy snacks that may help heal or buff teams. He is warm and open, a good person to approach for hints and tips. Notably found in his labs or out running errands, he’s always kind and gentle, unless that is you threaten his home or his loved ones in a severe way. He is scarier than peach when he’s pushed too hard.

Plenty of staff roam around to offer aid or information, ranging from gardeners, cleaners, shop staff, and specialist keepers who maintain the visitors sections.

A groomers, cafe, food stands, daycare, small fairground with rides and games, a hotel, lighthouse, port, greenhouses and of course multiple lab and practical spaces exist, amongst other interesting buildings.

The resident ranger can offer assistance but she is known to stay quite busy, and so getting her attention may prove difficult if it’s a trivial issue.

Adoption zones are the only approved areas to catch Pokemon, and even then it’s a process that requires a test and paperwork, so everyone involved is able to provide adequate care to the mons in question, and so they know any pre existing conditions.

The islands purpose is recovery, so human needs come in second. The Pokemon will always come first, a fact some visitors may have issue with. The staff will not care and continue to do their job without concern for this.

Year round events make the island busy and people are welcomed to join in with whatever’s going on, be it chilli cooking contests, fairs, pageants, board rental for the sweet ocean waves, or watching a migration pass by. There’s always something to do!

This is all optional, just have fun with it, and I hope your players enjoy! If they ask about it, redirect them to the blog so they can dive on into the content.

#prof.peach #ooc

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dailycharacteroption · 2 months

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Horizon Walker (Pathfinder Second Edition Archetype)

(art by amirzand on DeviantArt)

It’s been a while, but we’ve come back to another “Former 1E prestige class turned 2E archetype”!

This time, we’re dealing with the horizon walker, a specialist in traversing all manner of terrain, a legendary figure that is home anywhere they go, and able to lead others with a certainty that can rarely be matched. Theirs is a true bond with the land.

Of course, we can’t bring up a holdover from 1E without comparing the two, so let’s get that out of the way.

The former horizon walker was very much an expansion of the favored terrain mechanics of the ranger taken to the extreme with even supernatural abilities becoming available, particularly if the favored terrains were themselves supernatural, such as planar landscapes.

This new version, however, doesn’t really feature access to planar terrain, and any supernatural abilities they might have had are more generalized, useful minor spells for traversing and surviving in the wild. Instead, their abilities are more specific to surviving and guiding others through the wild, though they do get some combat tricks too.

The good news, however, is that unlike the former version, the horizon walker is available and useful to all classes. If you yearn to play a Gandalf-esque wandering wizard that has been everywhere and seen everything, this archetype could be what you need. Or perhaps you’re a hermit monk or psychic that lives alone in the wilds seeking enlightenment, or something more expected like a ranger, fighter, or barbarian. All are possible. That being said, ranger has the natural advantage because of how the wild stride class feature interacts with the dedication, something other classes will need to take one of the horizon walker feats later for.

No matter what your starting class is, however, horizon walkers represent an utter mastery and bond with the land unmatched by others, and they may indeed be local legends or just someone that everyone in a vast area knows.

The core dedication of horizon walkers gives them mastery over a terrain of their choice, making them swifter in it and able to move and guide others without being hindered by the terrain. Additionally, if they possess the wild stride ability, they gain additional benefits, which range from resistance to the extreme temperatures to gaining new movement types with greater speed.

Horizon Walkers learn to acclimatize themselves to the terrain, becoming resistant to the local environmental hazards and ignoring the extremes of temperature. What’s more, they can coach others to do the same.

Many also make a mental map of their surroundings constantly, and are able to use it to remember good distraction points and hiding spots in a moment’s notice.

Tricky terrain and the properties of such are important things to understand for these wanderers, and they do, being less likely to slip on ice, or flounder in water, or grab a loose handhold when climbing.

True to their nature, these travelers make excellent scouts, and can do so even when doing other activities as they travel, being keen to notice anything out of place in their favored terrain.

Of course, the horizon walker isn’t just all scouting and wandering. Some apply their familiarity with the world around them to better fight foes that they cannot effectively perceive.

Many also pick up magical tricks for emergencies, namely giving themselves darkvision, the ability to climb any surface, and breathe underwater.

While at first they only master one terrain, true masters learn to take the time to absorb as much information about the terrain as possible and master a new terrain for as long as they remain in it.

Most also learn not just to guide allies in traversing in the wilderness, but also to do so stealthily, avoiding the notice of prying eyes.

Finally, those that do not learn to do so with ranger training can learn to better avoid difficult terrain in their favored environment, as well as synergize with the dedication feat to gain additional benefits.

The end result is an archetype that provides lots of passive effects to others during travel as well as ways of dealing with difficult terrain. It’s not exactly riveting from a combat perspective, it does provide a way to deal with most natural terrain hazards on the road or in combat, which plenty of allies will appreciate, but if their later abilities don’t excite you, you don’t have to take them to get the most out of the archetype.

To be a horizon walker is to spend a lot of time alone. While some may be very lonely, others may thrive in solitude, while others find companionship in the local fauna, peoples, and even monsters that they meet on their travels. As such there’s a lot of ways to portray them in your games, but it can be assumed that they are very worldly, knowing a lot about the land and the people.

Though their sacred duty ended long before the modern age, many amurrun stay true to their ancestries sacred charge of hunting threats to nature and reality. Such catfolk wander the world in search of such threats, such as Kovas Clever-Ears, a horizon-walker and swashbuckling fencer. He goes where he is needed, but isn’t afraid to recruit a few locals or other wanderers when the need arises.

Those that travel underground into the Drowned Paths had best do so with a very good guide who knows the passages like the back of their hands, for the tunnels are infested with oozes that thrive in the damp environment. Those that do not often suffer the indignity of death at the hands of lesser oozes like the swarms of lesser amoeba down there.

Once a sacred forest, the Ashlands are a desert not of sand or permafrost, but of the ashes of its once great magnificence, unable to disperse due to the sheer volume and some quirk of the tragedy. It is a place haunted by undead dryads and treants, as well as spectral scenes that few can navigate, but the Ashwalker defies that, leading the foolish to their destinations.

#pathfinder second edition #archetype #horizon walker #catfolk #amoeba swarm #treat #dryad #Advanced Player's Guide

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mask131 · 4 months

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As a continuation of my previous post here, to expand a bit more my explanation to @themousefromfantasyland about the French Père Noël, here is even more pictures of the "pre-50s" Père Noël, with a few additional comments about the visual depiction of the character. (Well technically speaking there are some Bonhomme Noël and even Bonhomme Etrennes pictures in there, but since they're all variations of the same guy...)

As you will note by looking at all these pictures (and those of the previous post), there are two main "fashions" when it comes to depicting the Père Noël. One is the "colorful" Père Noël, who wears clothes of brilliant colors - red (which led to the modern Santa Claus look), green, blue, purple... This is a visual habit that also occured in England for Father Christmas.

The other would be the "drab" Père Noël, depicted as a poorer and humbler person, with rather brown or dark clothes - usually a robe and a hood instead of fur-lined coats and large cloaks. This second incarnation of the Père Noël, much more unique to France, is also highlighted the disturbing connection if not gemellity between him and Père Fouettard, Father Whipper, the "evil companion" of Father Christmas in France. Père Fouettard is also depicted as an elderly man with a beard, also wearing brown or dark clothes. While sometimes Fouettard's beard is black, it can be white like Noël's, and Fouettard can also carry a wicker basket, but to take children away instead of giving toys... And you have many pictures where both Fouettard and Nël sport the same serious, judgemental, no-nonsense look (a far cry from the jolly Santa Claus).

In fact, you might notice in some of the pictures I shared that among the numerous toys Père Noël brings, there is... sometimes a whip... sometimes a bundle of branches, aka an old form of whip for children... Another one of the fleeting, confused, hesitating sides of Père Noël: sometimes, he doesn't need Père Fouettard as he is the one who gives both the toy and the whip.

I evoked the "monk-like" appearance of Père Noël, but the whole religious imagery needs to truly be explored, as Père Noël is essentialy a toned-down version of Saint Nicholas. The rich bishop clothes are gone - but there's still colorful, rich fur-lined robes with a hat on one side (colorful Père Noël), or clothes that distinctly remind of a monk's outfit (drab Père Noël). There's the ride that is very often a donkey. And the bishop staff is replaced by a walking staff or by a cane. Plus, sometimes Père Noël is shown holding a lantern to light his way through the snowy night - which evokes another archetype, the one of the semi-religious figure of the hermit. Think of the tarot card. The hermit is typically this elderly man with a beard, in simple brown robes, holding a lantern...

There is also in typical Père Noël depictions a certain tendency to give him robes or cloaks covered in moon or stars symbols. I don't know if there is anything to it, or if it is just an artistic fashion of the time, but I really like how these star-robes and moon-cloaks, coupled with his walking staff, hat and beard, make him look like some sort of fantasy wizard.

The fact the Christmas lore of Germanic countries reached France through the East is also manifesting itself in those imageries: you'll see leftovers of the Christkindel tradition in the shape of female angel, saint-children and other holy cherubs accompanying Père Noël.

#christmas folklore #christmas lore #père noël #christmas imagery #father christmas #french folklore #christmas art #noël #père fouettard #saint nicholas #saint nicolas #christkindel #christkindl

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darkdevasofdestruction · 9 months

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Being in a relationship with Shen Wulong...

Long, long ago, in the most secluded mountains of China, there was a wise hermit, a sage, of whom only stories were heard, yet none had seen him. At the base of the mountain, there was a single village, and in it, a rather peculiar woman, an outcast, a slave, abandoned by not only her parents, but humanity also, to fend for herself. A woman with the most cursed hair colour, the colour of blood. It was the old belief that all humans have black hair and black eyes - So a child, a woman no less, with crimson hair and eyes coloured in hues of grey, green and blue. Her mother died giving birth to a demon child, and though her father hadn't the power to kill her, he abandoned her for the more merciful to take care of. In spite of all this, she was considered the village's misfortune, and was forced to do the worst tasks, all to prove her worth to the people and the Gods - Though they all knew, she was going to be forever stuck with bad karma, reborn as a woman in an endless Samsara, never allowed to achieve Nirvana.

One day, on a particularly freezing Early Spring, she found a man sitting by the fire of a bubbling cauldron. He seemed calm and didn't radiate any kind of hostility, so she dared approached. She was starving-skinny, unwashed and dirty, with ragged and roughly patched up clothes, while he looked regal, pristine, glowing, as if he was a God. Y/N almost didn't dare approach, but her stomach was growling with hunger, and she needed to eat.

Y/N kept her head down in humility and knelt in front of the man. "Good Lord, forgive my lowly self disturbing Your Highness. I am starving, and if My Lord would allow me, I could prepare something modest to quench our bellies." her forehead was pressed to the ground, waiting for permission to raise and either cook or get away. "There is no need for such formalities, friend. You may raise. I am a hermit, not royalty, and status does not define us." Y/N gasped in shock, her eyes wide as the men got on the ground also, holding her dirty hands with unexpected gentleness, helping her up. "Though you do look like a princess." Y/N felt frozen in time at the words spoken by this stranger, who took out a handkerchief and cleaned the dirt off her face. "You look work-hardened, yet even your hands are delicate." "I... I do not know what to say, Sir." she looked down, unable to keep looking in his gorgeous, tender eyes.

The man smiled, and without another word, he brought over two bowl and poured the porridge for the both of them to eat. Seeing how she was starving, he poured her seconds also, feeling his heart warm up, watching the woman being happy.

"What brings you in such a secluded place of the mountains? It is dangerous for anyone, especially a weaponless woman, to come this way. There are plenty of wild animals and thieves around." the man asked, watching as Y/N kept herself warm by the fire. "The village chief said he won't let me return without the Flower of Immortality. He said I might find it at the peak of the highest mountain." she explained, shuddering from the cold breeze. "There is no such thing as a Flower of Immortality." the man's voice turned a little dry. "What have you done to garner the hatred of the village?" Y/N smiled, sad, resting her chin on her knees. "Yes, I imagined there wasn't - But I had no other alternative, did I?" she chuckled emptily. "Ever since I was born, I was misfortunate. I killed by mother at birth, by father abandoned me... And the monks cursed me. They said I will continue being reborn as a demon woman, fated to an endless cycle of death at a young age, and rebirth in this monstrous husk of a body, unable to reach spiritual rest." her beautiful eyes shifted up, into his own. "All because I have red hair." The stranger looked at her and scoffed. "How shallow. They can't see the beauty of a soul because of their superstitions." his comment surprised her, though she didn't dare say another word. "Be that as it may, you are the single person who holds no hostility against me, and for that, I am grateful - However, on the morrow, I shall be departing. I could not possibly disturb you any further than I already have." Y/N spoke in a soft voice.

"And where will you go? In search of a plant that doesn't exist?" he rose a quizzical eyebrow. "What else is there to do? I have nowhere to go." she replied bluntly. "Stay here." Y/N's eyes widened in shock. "You go up, you die. You return, you die. Either way, you are going to prove them that their stupid curse actually took place, and you died young." "I-I couldn't... I don't-... I..." Y/N was unable to find any coherent words to say anything whatsoever in regards to his more than gracious proposal. "The law of nature claims a man is most fulfilled with a woman by his side to take care of him. If you feel as if you are disturbing a hermit in his seclusion, then I am sure, you will find some way to make it up to me, despite not needing to." he huffed in amusement, only to see the beauty kowtow deeply to the ground once again. "Stop that. You don't bow to me. Get up." he brought her up a second time. "My hut is closeby. Come on over."

True to his words, the man took care of Y/N, bringing her a new set of clothes and providing her with shelter and food. To compensate him for his troubles, Y/N started seaming clothes, cooking and looking for medicinal plants and herbs for tea and treatments. The hut was small and there wasn't much tidying up to do, but she tried to make herself useful in any way possible.

The middle of the Spring came by soon, and with it, the bloom of the flowers. On one particular day when Shen was away on one of his trips, he returned home, only to see a vase full of the prettiest pink peonies on the table. He smiled, watching Y/N embroider idly a coat for him, and he took a peony, placing it in her hair. "Do you know what these flowers mean, Y/N?" Y/N looked up with the innocent eyes of a doe, and she answered negatively. "I just thought they were pretty and smelled nicely." "They are the flowers of princesses." Shen smiled, watching the bashful expression on her face. "They represent the pure beauty and femininity of a kind and loving maiden. I would say that fits you well." Y/N blushed deeply, as pink as the flower in her hair, and attempted to look down - But the hermit kept her chin raised up, reveling in her innocent brilliance, the Queen of the Flowers she was.

Though the most beautiful maidens always had a tragic end, and after two years blissfully spent together, Y/N became ill of an unknown disease that couldn't be treated in any way known by mankind at that time. She was weak and pale, vomiting blood, barely able to breathe. Shen Wulong wasn't a man attached to earthly things, but his heart ached, watching his beautiful flower wither away in his arms, watching her fade away into the accursed nothingness that she was promised with.

"Be not afraid, my love. No matter how many lifetimes you go through, I will find you. If you remember me, I will rejoice, and if you don't, I will help you remember. I will not let you be alone again, nor will I allow them to ostracize you unfairly. I will save you, and give you the long, fulfilling life you have always wished for. My beautiful flower. My beautiful Y/N. I love you."

---

Though he made such a vow to his dying beloved, life is not so easy as to allow two kindred souls to meet in all lifetimes. As the curse said, Y/N was reborn in the same body of a demon woman, and died at an early age, never once meeting mid-twenties, before falling pray to disease, or to the torturous punishments of the village. On some occasions, she even drowned, or became food for the wild animals of the forest - And slipped to death from a mountain.

Shen Wulong, on the other hand, lived long lives, achieving awakening and enlightenment of all kinds, becoming strong and stronger through each Huisheng reincarnation - Yet none of his future selves was capable of sparing their Y/N of an early death. Was he still not strong enough? Or was fate truly so cruel that it did not want them soulbound?

No matter how many hundreds of years it takes, however, he will not stop trying to save her.

---

"Shen, wait!" the beautiful princess ran after him, in the middle of the night. Her thin pink dress was flowing around her gracefully, making her ressemble a delicate peony. "Please, don't leave!" "I cannot get in the way of your happiness, Y/N. You will be safe at the palace, married to the Emperor." the man didn't look back at her. "My happiness is you, Shen. I do not want to marry him - It has always been you that I loved." Wulong sighed deeply, feeling her small arms wrapping him in an embrace from behind. He could feel her soft trembling as she wept in loneliness and heartbreak. "I have watched you die countless times already. If I cannot keep you safe from disease and natural causes, then at least at the Palace, the physicians will know what to do, and you won't have to do anything dangerous to put yourself in danger. You're safe. Now go." the man pried her hands away from the princess, not having the strength to turn around and peek at her distraught face. "I won't be safe, Shen. The Palace is the least safe place for a concubine." her voice was trembling with emotion. "You are breaking my heart." "As long as you're alive..." he disappeared into the darkness, never showing himself to her again.

But as she anticipated, life in the palace was more agony than bliss, and with the guards overhearing their interaction, the princess was exposed and punished forever in the Cold Palace, where one of the Consorts sent to poison her.

Upon hearing such news, Wulong's anger took over him, and he killed everyone in the palace.

Such instance happened again, when he agreed to take Y/N under his wing, and he had to leave for a prolonged amount of time to solve business with the Worm. Alas, during one reincarnation, a traitor defector group found Y/N and used her as bait, killing her before his very eyes - Yet another, was far more heartbreaking.

Y/N clinged onto his arm, begging him not to go, fearing for his life. Silly woman was so worried that she followed after him, and during his fighting, Y/N called out to him - And he killed her. He had left her at home, why was she there, of all things?

"Damn it, you stubborn woman, haven't I told you to stay the hell at home?!" he growled to his gritted teeth as her splattered blood spilled down his face. There could be no harsher cruelty than having your soulmate die in your arms, because of your carelessness. "Forgive me, my love. I was just worried about you." was the last thing she said, before Shen watched the light diminish away from her gorgeous eyes. "No matter how many centuries pass, you never cease to surprise me with your endless misfortune and affinity to death." he scoffed, holding her tightly into his arms. "How many more times must I see you die, before your curse is broken? How long will it take to finally see you happy? When will you shed tears of joy, instead of wearing fear and sadness on your beautiful face?" he sighed, carrying her away from the battlefield. "No matter the circumstances of your birth, you remain more beautiful than the Peonies I gave you. Your grace can rival the Moon, and your kind selflessness is greater than that of the Moon Rabbit. If only that you were Chang'e, and became immortal, not one of the tragic Beauties of our country. If only I could fight the ethereal and destroy the chains of fate shackling you into purgatory." he placed her body on a bed of flowers, taking one last look at her, before leaving. "If only I could tell you how much I love you."

Peasant or Princess, Vendor or Medic, free woman or slave, it mattered little, for she had the same fate. Every time, without fail, something had to happen. It drove the Connector crazy. The World, and Y/N - He wanted them both, and he wasn't willing to compromise.

Watching Y/N being mistreated by other men, only for her to run away, scared as he killed them; No, brutalized them - That was hard to witness. Y/N was his, and nobody has the right to even look at her the wrong way, let alone harm her.

Centuries later during the modern world, the latest iteration of Shen Wulong was at large, controlling the Worm and wreaking havoc into the world. Still, even The Connector wanted to have a break, under the pretext of collecting precious information on the opponent, so he went to watch the Kengan x Purgatory Tournament, named the Berserker Bowl, where his clone would be fighting also. No doubt, the other one's clone, Tokita Ohma, would also be there.

He made quick friends with this man called Yamashita Kazuo, and another Narushima Joji - His nephew was one of the fighters also, what a coincidence. What he hadn't expected, however, was to see a gorgeous woman with flowing red hair and the most beautiful light coloured eyes. She looked as gentle as always - And unhealthy also. She held a terrified aura, veiled perfectly by a tender smile.

She had come to salute the manager, but greeted him also. He almost blurted out his real name - Yan would have had his head for that mistake - And he said his name was Jackie Lee. What a silly name. Still, Y/N smiled, bowing her head slightly at him. "It is lovely meeting you, Mr. Lee. I am Y/N L/N." Shen almost cringed, hearing her speak so overly polite with him, but kept his appearances up. "Can I presume you are Chinese also?" the man nodded at her. "I was born here, but my parents are Chinese." "More like 'Slave', rather." a disgusting voice came out of nowhere, earning the faintest twitch of fright from the woman. "You know you'll never really be accepted in our country, don't you?" Y/N didn't say anything. She kept her gaze down to the ground. "Why'd you run off like that, anyway? Come over. You don't want to talk to other men. You know what happens when you do." Shen could feel how hard Y/N was working to maintain her composure, as she dared step forwards towards the man roughing her away from them.

"Ahh, poor Y/N. She should break up with him already. He's no good for her." the old manager sighed like an upset grandpa. "Why doesn't she?" Shen found himself asking. "Well... I'm not entirely sure. She told Kaede that her parents were sick and Y/N had enough money to keep them in the hospital. The bills are getting higher and higher. She's an honest woman and she works hard, but she had to sell her house to pay the bills, and now she lives at his house. Or, that's what I heard, at least." "I see." the Connector grunted, shifting his gaze as if to pay attention to that ridiculously low-level fight taking place in the arena.

Thankfully, the battle lasted little, and Shen took the opportunity to claim going for beer, to seek out Y/N and save her from that filthy scum who dared touch her.

"Why are you acting like a little whore, eh? You want me to kick you out of the house?" he trapped her against the wall, growling at her. "You should get on your knees and suck me in front of everyone." Shen's rage was immeasurable, watching his beloved Y/N tremble and weep in fear of a lowlife weakling. "But I'm in a good mood now. I won't humiliate you in front of everyone. That will have to wait until home." "Not with you, she won't." the jerk had his head held tightly in the Connector's grasp. "Nobody touches her." like a juicy tomato, his head exploded under Wulong's raw force, the blood splashing everywhere. "Are you alright, Y/N? Did he hurt you?" "N-No... Thank... Thank you... Thank you." she looked down, quickly wiping away the tears. "Don't look down." he rose her chin gently, wiping away the stray tears. "You are too beautiful to cry."

Y/N dared look at him, and with a single gaze, Shen found himself smiling. "Go back and watch the matches, Y/N." the Connector said. "And don't worry about a thing. Everything will be taken care of. Stay safe." with a kiss to her forehead, he disappeared without a trace.

Though she had no idea what happened, Y/N felt something laying in her hand, and a warmth spreading through her heart. It was a beautiful hair pin, and golden and jade, with pink peonies. On it, a name was engraved.

Princess Y/N

How did he know her name? When did he get this for her? It was evidently old and veritable. What was going on?

She had no answer.

At least, not until days later, when she went on a mission to the Inside, with Ohma and the rest, to rescue Ryuki. It was a long and perilous journey, and even worse was when they encountered Gaoh Mukaku - Who seemed to know her. He taunted her, mocked her, even threatened her - But more, he said he'd use her as bait against the Connector, Shen Wulong.

But why would he use her as bait against a man she's never met in her life? She didn't take him seriously until he went to attack her personally, as though she was a fighter and had any kind of power at all. She only managed to escape by using the pin Jackie gifted her to slash away at his face. Unfortunately, it had broken a little, falling to the ground in a pool of her spilled blood - But she escaped.

When they made their exit, Y/N told them to go ahead without her - She had to return for the pin. Something told her that it was important. Not only that, but the few seconds spent with Jackie, she felt... Happy. Though she may never see him again, she wanted to remember him in some way.

She returned to the temple Mukaku was at, but the pin wasn't there anymore. Trying to keep as quiet as possible, she tip toed inside the temple, thinking that psycho took it for himself.

"Aaaaand you've lost me. I've had enough of this." Shen rolled his eyes, bored out of his mind with Mukaku's repetitive antics. He had fought this man enough times, but every time, he wasn't worth his while. All of a sudden, a rustle was heard, and a few soft footsteps followed. "Hey, uhmm...Did you see my hair pin? I know I used it to slash your face, but... But I just defended myself! ... My spine still hurts like hell though." Shen's eyes widened, and he turned his head to see the beautiful young woman struggling to step through the rubbles of the destroyed temple. As soon as she rose her head to look for the old man, she saw not only him, but Shen also - The shock and fright were evident on her face, and she looked like a deer surrounded by predators. "I... Should not have returned. I, uh... I-... I'm sorry! Bye!" panicked, she tried to leave the temple immediately - She was, thankfully, just at the entrance, though even there, she unknowingly stepped on a trap that would have slashed her to fish-bite pieces, were it not for a strong force tackling her to the ground. "J-Jackie...?" she gulped, feeling his strong arms keeping her safe and shielded from danger. Looking up, she saw the overly sharp piano wires that would have easily cut her in pieces as if she was a Happy Tree Friends character. "Oh my god..." her body's reaction was to spring away from Wulong's arms and run the hell away - But he didn't let her.

"I can't believe my bait returned willingly. You thought yourself smart, but you died a fucking dumbass each and every time. It's your fault you died, you know? And his, for not protecting you. How many centuries has it been? Or maybe even thousands of years? You're weak for a woman who can't live to see her thirties!" Mukaku put on a gas mask and readied his sword. "I almost shattered your spine, and you return for a hair pin? Ha! You deserve to die, woman." Y/N squeaked in fear as Mukaku, with incredible swiftness, brought down the sword, ready to slash her and Shen where they stood - But somehow, defying the laws of physics was a regular thing for the Connector, who kept her safe, held by one arm to his chest, his hand placed over her mouth and nose as if to prevent her from breathing, while the other hand caught the blade. "Terrible decision, really." Shen glared at Mukaku. "Not even close." "Yeah, you're right - But this should do the trick!" Mukaku used Indestructible on the blade, cutting Wulong's hand into bleeding. "Jackie - You're bleeding! Let go of the blade!" Y/N managed to speak through his fingers. "Don't worry about me. Try to keep from breathing as much as you can. This cheap bastard flooded the room with Carbon Monoxide. It's just one thing after another." as instructed, Y/N picked up the handkerchief from her sleeve and pressed it to his face to help him with the breathing."Very kind of you - But I'm fine. I don't need to breathe. Use it for yourself, Y/N." Shen told Mukaku that the man who killed his clan was his previous iteration, and some illogical shit about stopping the breathing process, to slow the aging process. He then easily got up, throwing away the sword and kicking him in the face. "Did you seriously think you could outdo us? How asinine." Shen used the sword to impale Mukaku's shoulder. "Running away? You don't have that privilege anymore. I told you - I've grown tired of you."

"Are you sure you wanna kill me?! If I die, Ryuki dies too! I'm the only one who knows where he is! Are you just gonna let yourself die?!" Mukaku spat, desperate to live. "How come you're so obsessed over Ryuki anyway?! Ain't Tokita Ohma one of your clones too?! Why does it gotta be Ryuki?!" Mukaku was, no doubt, trying to prolong his suffering. "Oh man. Yan's gonna give me hell for everything I've done lately. Well - You're gonna be dead anyway, so there's no harm in telling you!" Shen sighed in realisation. "Tokita Ohma... Is not me." "HUH?!" Mukaku was on the ground, bleeding heavily. "Wait, hold the GODDAMN PHONE! What the hell are you talking about?! You can't expect me to believe that bullshit! I mean - Have you seen the guy?! He's the spitting image of Ryu...?!" Gaoh gasped loudly, as Shen was vibing with a dark, killing aura. "Yeah, I think you've figured it out by now." with an effortless swing of his wrist, Shen snapped Mukaku into pieces. "So die." Y/N had to jump back behind Shen, so all the blood wouldn't splatter on her. "Three times. You're the first person who's made three attempts on my life, and on Y/N's. Looks like third time wasn't the charm, after all." Shen turned around, throwing away the blade, looking down at the woman who looked uncomfortable and outright fearing him. "Y/N." he called out as he gently put a finger under her chin, raising it up to make her look at him. "What do you see?" Though he could see the fear in her eyes, there was also deep confusion, and he couldn't blame her. In this lifetime, he hadn't approached her prior to this encounter. He expected the other Connector to do so, but he didn't. "Have we met before?"

Shen didn't say anything - Instead, he retriever the pin from his pocket, along with all the broken accessories. "Did it save you?" Though Y/N had no idea why he'd change the subject like that, she nodded nonetheless. "Yeah. I... I, uhm... He threatened to use me as bait and kill me in front of you. For the... Fifth time, he said. Or, uh... Maybe he just meant he knew I died four times during his life. I'm not sure. He was weird." he uncomfortably scratched the back of her neck. "I was weak and he grabbed me. Slammed me to the ground, tried to punch my guts out. Before he could, I slashed away at his face and ran away." she hung her head down, feeling guilty looking at the beautiful yet broken accessory. "I'm sorry. I know it must have meant a lot for you, and I broke it." "A pin isn't worth more than your life, silly girl." he spoke with an amused tone. "I'll just get it repaired and return it. It's yours, not mine."

"I don't understand." she spoke softly. "I have so many questions... I don't even know where to start." "We have all the time in the world, Y/N. If you're willing to stay with me, I will answer all of your questions, and more." he replied. "I remember every incarnation you had - Or at least those who managed to live past a certain age. Unfortunately, there weren't all that many." Y/N looked down, feeling a weird pang of pain in her chest. She couldn't understand much, but her heart was working against her mind, and she agreed to stay. "What is your name, Jackie? Your real name?" she asked, making the Connector scoff in amusement. "Shen Wulong."

🌸No matter which iteration of either you or him, Shen Wulong is going to treasure you more than his own life.

🌸Though he never truly succeeds due to unforeseeable circumstances, he always prioritized your safety above all else.

🌸He only ever wanted to make you happy.

🌸Your smile was his reason for living.

🌸He always found the prettiest flowers to put in your hair, and found new ways to compliment you.

🌸And he loves to kiss you all over your face.

🌸Your forehead and the back of your hand are the places he loves kissing you the most.

🌸He sees you as this frail and pure princess that he needs to protect at all times.

🌸He loves to dance with you under the moonlight, with your fingers intertwined together.

🌸He loves relaxing so much, and the best place to sleep is either with his head on your lap, or hugging you.

🌸Shen has the talent to unintentionally tease the hell out of you with his sincerity. When he's relaxing with his head on your thighs, he ends up getting bored and his hands roam around your skin before her starts placing small kisses, going upwards.

🌸He hates to admit, but he loves seeing you blush so innocently whenever he's touching you a little more intimately.

🌸And the adorable sounds you make when he kisses your neck drive him crazy.

🌸Though he loves calling you by your name the most, he's going to nickname you using all the names of the prettiest flowers he knows.

🌸He especially loves it when you dance for him.

🌸And would buy you all the prettiest clothes and accessories, because you're so radiantly beautiful and he wants you to feel that way also, to see you beaming with confidence, because for him, you're perfect.

🌸Intimately or not, he's going to worship you.

🌸Shen would do anything in his power not to burden you with the notion of the Worm, and all the dangerous things he's involved in. Not only is he constantly afraid that any minute spent with you could be the last, but he doesn't want you to be afraid of him.

🌸He wants you to love him for who he is, hence why he's never going to hide anything from you - Except what means to be the Head of the Worm.

🌸He never really bothered to explain Huisheng to you, because by the time things got serious between you two, you'd die, and he'd have to suffer through your loss again.

🌸He never once gives up on the idea of saving you from the curse.

🌸Even if your last cycle is not going to be with him as your lover, he truly just wants to see you happy and safe, living a long and fulfilling life.

🌸He tells you, in great detail, how much he loves you every night before you fall asleep in his arms. He wants you to know how much he treasures you, so that you will never feel alone and sad again.

🌸He also hopes that, somehow, it will make your next cycle feel a little lighter, and that your souls will somehow be so connected that he'll be able to find you sooner and save you from any pain and suffering.

🌸The only one he really trusts with your safety and knowledge of your true identity is Yan, with whom you become quick best friends.

🌸Shen is incredibly happy to see you two hit off so well, and he feels at ease, knowing you'd be safe with him, and comfortable also.

🌸He knows Edward Wu could keep you safe also, but he was a creep. Fei Wangfang also, could be a bit weird sometimes. Now, with Gilbert Wu and the so-called Tokita Niko around, he's even less trustful of them, so he tries to keep you a secret.

🌸If Xia Ji even dares look at you, Yan would crush his skull. That rat man doesn't deserve to be in the same country as you, let alone look at you.

🌸In truth though, your kindness is so genuine, even with Ji, that the idiot ends up at your feet, ugly-sobbing and thanking you for being so nice with him.

🌸You're honestly just confused, but end up patting his hair awkwardly.

🌸Yan kicks him in the fishing pool.

🌸Shen gets upset that the fish got scared, and they have to change the spot again.

🌸But then he asks you to tie his hair again. He doesn't need too, but your fingers in his hair always make him feel good.

🌸And he's never really angry around you either. Somehow, he always feels at ease around you, even if the external circumstances pissed him off to no end.

🌸Shen Wulong is going to battle the Gods and even Fate itself, just to get your Happily Ever After together.

---

Being in a relationship with Kure Raian... Being in a relationship with Gaolang Wongsawat... Being in a relationship with Kano Agito... Being in a relationship with Tokuno’o Tokumichi... Being in a relationship with Yoroizuka Saw Paing... Being in a relationship with Wakatsuki Takeshi... Being in a relationship with Gaoh Ryuki... Being in a relationship with Narushima Koga... Being in a relationship with Shen Wulong...

#kengan ashura #kengan ashura imagine #kengan ashura x reader #shen wulong #shen wulong x reader #shen wulong imagine #tokita ohma #gaoh ryuki #kengan omega imagine #kengan omega #kengan omega x reader #the connector #the connector x reader #the connector imagine

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nemo-of-house-hamartia · 9 months

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Hello Hello!

My weekly bat signal to signal that i am still alive AND STILL WITHOUT FREAKING WIFI.

To put it simply: we are in a provvisory apartment, because there had been delays in the renovations for the apartment that we are supposed to move into, and until we move, we cannot have any WIFI installed.

And at first they told us that everything would be ready by mid July, but today we went and check on the house, AND OMG THERE IS STILL SO MUCH CRAP THAT THEY NEED TO DO, I CANNOT. I JUST CANNOT.

So, because of this, i have 0 clues as to when i will finally be able to move there.

I am hoping to be able to go to the public library and try to use their WIFI for just a little while, because i am trying to save GB on my data roaming for IRL stuff (such as bureaucracy, maps etc.etc.) but dear gods, everything CONSUMES SO MUCH.

On the positive side, my new found cloister monk-style-of-life has allowed me at least to read a few books and *gasp* even write like a maniac. (*touches woods in all part of the house not to jinx it*

Seriously, somehow, not feeling the pressure in having to post or do stuff is proving to be quite helpful in writing (and i have enough offline books about the subjects i am writing about that i can still do my research, if needed). Being an Hermit is proving useful, somehow.

I wish i could share a WIP, but i am writing on my PC, so i cannot copy paste *anything*.

That being said, as much as I appreciate the perks that comes from solitude, I miss all of you immensely, i miss our chitchats and gushing, and i cannot truly wait for this forced leave of absence to be OVER.

SEE YOU AS SOON AS I MANAGE TO FIND A WIFI SOURCE SOMEWHERE (maybe a pine around the fjord might have good reception, WHO KNOWS AT THIS POINT???)

--Nemo

#personal #wifi update #at this point this is my tag for the current situation #i have a few post queued though #so at least there it that

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306saint · 6 months

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hellooo! boy problems here :^/ me and this dude have been getting along really well for about two months (online friendship), and we both know we should be just friends but i think it's gonna break my heart when he gets a gf. what should i do about him?

hello !! v sorry to hear you’re having boy problems . it’s hard when we feel like our relationships arent panning out the way we wished they would! done a self/other/approach reading for you to hopefully clarify some things.

you: ace of wands - this card generally represents the possibility of creation, expansion, or growth. my guess is that you are fixated on the idea of this relationship and all the possibility it holds for you. it’s early on and there are so many aspects of the relationship you haven’t discovered yet. i think with the imagery of the card it brings to mind like “holding a torch” for someone.

him: knight of pentacles - this gives the sense that he is a mature and sensitive person, and he wants to be prudent with you. knight of pentacles is about taking material action and investing time. be assured that he will be careful with you no matter what form your relationship takes in the future.

approach: the hermit - there’s some different ways you could take this. a common misconception about this card is that it’s telling you to withdraw, take time for self reflection, use solitude to get to know yourself better. it could be a sign simply to get some space and spend some time on yourself. if that sounds like what you need, great! try that! but the hermit is also a character who already knows himself well and has acquired wisdom over time. he is a monk, a teacher, not just a anchorite. the hermit champions a form of emotional equilibrium that anyone is capable of achieving. however difficult this situation is, try not to let yourself fall into despair. draw on knowledge you’ve gained in the past. think about the good things you bring to this relationship and your other relationships in general. look to people in your life who are sure of themselves and are resilient for inspiration. the important thing is that you don’t worry about the future to the extent that it gets in the way of your present.

#tarot #asks

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apothiplatonic · 2 years

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hello, i'm really sorry for asking this because you must get this a lot, but i'm still a bit confused about the idea of being aplatonic? to me it sounds less like an identity like aromanticism and more like... i don't want to say "an issue" because that's rude, but something that maybe shouldn't be happening? obviously you can be happy just with yourself, not everyone is really extroverted, but humans still need to interact with other humans to be like, mentally healthy. (that's been proven in studies). at best it sort of sounds like a neutral character trait, not necessarily an identity.

(i am asking this in good faith and i really want to understand- i'm aro myself, and i'm sure your experiences are real, i don't want to gatekeep or anything, i'm just genuinely confused & want to understand!)

you're fine, don't worry! this is actually the first ask i've ever received here. and i'm sorry if you sent this a while ago; i use tumblr on my phone's web browser and have to manually check for asks.

i think the biggest gaps in our respective understandings of “aplatonic”, just based on your message, are:

0. some aplatonic people have friends, or want friends, and use the term because they don't feel platonic attraction and/or they struggle to form friendships. most modern definitions of aplatonic will point to those two things, after all! a lot of these friending apls have found aplatonic terms useful for explaining their complicated feelings about platonic relationships, and helpful for navigating their friendships. this only applies to some aplatonic people, and it's often used as our only defense, so i'll focus on other things here, but i would be leaving out a lot of apls – maybe even the majority – if i didn't at least mention this.

1. friendship is not the only way of interacting with, and connecting with, other humans. i'm on the aro and ace spectrums, but i have a long-term partner i live with, and family members and coworkers who i interact with. lots of nonfriending aplatonic people will still seek out social interaction, often in groups that talk about topics they're interested in. one of the reasons i use the word “aplatonic”, and post here at all, is to push against the idea of friendship as a default human connection, or something that happens automatically when you're around someone enough.

2. even if someone is very isolated, and doesn't want any sustained human connection at all...i think that's fine, and it has historical precedent. hermits, anchorites, stylites, partially-eremetic monks, and all kinds of other recluses...through much of our recorded history, for a variety of reasons, some people have lived alone. many of these people lived in a much more complete solitude than nonfriending apls today – and even then, few of them managed to have absolutely no social interaction. some would have visitors, or people who brought them meals, or shopkeepers they met when they went into town for supplies. something happening frequently in the past doesn't mean it's good, but in this case it does suggest there's a kind of natural tendency towards it in some humans.

3. i don't think we should put too much weight on what psychology and the social sciences say is “normal”, anyway. there's a huge replication crisis in scientific research, especially in those fields. there are also studies showing people in romantic relationships are, generally, happier...and that obviously isn't true for a lot of aros! there are nearly always outliers in studies like that, even in the most well-done and rigorous ones. i completely believe social isolation is harmful for most humans, but the keyword here is most. and the kind of studies you describe usually focus on involuntary solitude; chosen solitude is much different. most apls aren't very isolated at all, so this point might not be as important...but if there's an aplatonic hermit somewhere in the woods who hasn't talked to another person in years, i support them.

4. there is “something wrong” with a lot of us, and that's fine. the term “aplatonic” was coined in 2012 by an alloromantic ace who theorized his experiences were caused by parental abuse, so that sort of thing has been woven into aplatonicism since day one. some people attribute their aromanticism to neurodivergence and/or trauma, too; for many aroapls, both of those identities will be tied up in it. i'm traumatized, and i'm schizoid, and both of these things interact with my aplatonicism. someone's self-concept, and their words for themself, can very often be tied up in their unusual experiences and their suffering. i don't think that makes any identity illegitimate.

if i've misunderstood any part of your ask, i'm sorry, and i'd be happy to adjust my answer. i'm also leaving out a lot of details and caveats to stop this post from being too long – and with ask length limits, i'm sure you had to do that much more than me. i agree with you that aplatonicism seems a markedly different thing to aromanticism and asexuality, and fits less comfortably into an “orientation” framework, but i wasn't sure what you meant by “neutral character trait” vs “identity” here and didn't want to assume. if you have any questions, need any clarifications, or want to elaborate on what you've already said, feel free to send a followup and i'll answer when i can. (i also welcome asks from anyone else, especially other apls; i'm only one person, with weird experiences, and i don't speak for the community.)

#aplatonic #aplspec #i'm going to tag possible content warnings but i don't think the asker is doing them. just to be clear #i just think that if someone has these tags blocked #then they might have a hard time reading this post and i want to err on the side of caution #ableism ////#allonormativity /////#religion /////#christianity //////#honestly most of those are because of topics *i* bring up #long post /////#parental abuse ////#apothiposts

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viilpstick · 8 months

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╰┈➤ 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞'𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐠: I sense there's something in the wind, that feels like tragedy's at hand and though she'd like to stand by her father's side and be an obedient daughter, she couldn't help to believe the worst was coming. And when it did, it's all going to be twisted upside down.

𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔: Monique D'automne, Twisted Wonderland oc

𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔: Mentions of kidnapping, phobia of being alone, angst at the first part, a bit of oc x cannon

𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒓𝒆: Angst to hopeful end (on the background), some fluff and angst (kinda mixed up) on the more info.

𝑩𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝑻𝒘𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒅: She knows being disobedient will get her to the wrong path... But, what if she needs to be disobedient to learn the truth? Try as she may, it curiosity doesn't last.

Monique in her life she was raised to NOT be adventurous, to NOT be curious. She has to be patient, that’s all. Her father said the reason was simple, he raised her. Why she would be so ungrateful at the point of leaving him? An old man to die alone. She never met her mom, so, she figured out her life would be forever this, no one to tell her father was controlling her, neither how in 17 years old you already can start (try, at least) to life your life away from your parents.

And, being "disobedient", was actually what led her to the truth. It was when, her father and her got into a fight, for her going into his stuff. Where she discovers something quite outrageous, she wasn’t his daughter. At the point, where, dear Monique, take her things and leave, she ran while he was sleeping. She goes to a police station, trying to find someone to help, she was said to be “D’automne’s daughter” who was lost for 15 years. It takes weeks for her life start going back together, she still under the custody of police to protect her, to find her ‘father’ and her real parents. It was her first birthday, alone, no parents, no family, none just herself.

Her hopes awhile she stood on an orphanage, waiting for the cops find her parents was the small shinning star on the dark blue sky. Reading so much fairy tails as a kid and the small hope inside her, made her actually pray for that star, she whispers her words.

"I want to find my parents, please."

Laying her head in the pillow, she takes a deep breath falling into the deep sleep, if the small light of the star shinning in her eyes.

When she wakes up, she wasn’t to be expecting alive neither awake up on a coffin.

𝑴𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒇𝒐. 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝑴𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒒𝒖𝒆: Now, she has a chance to live her life, she's adventurous more than ever! But... She doesn't want to be fully alone. Where will her actions lead herself then?

She’s inspired by Sally Skellighton from The nightmare before Christmas (A/n: I really love this movie, at the point is been a years hyper-fixation, don’t mistake this by thinking I support Tim Burton’s words)

Monique means “unique” or “alone” (from ancient Greek “alone/unique” or monk/hermit) and “advisor” (from Latin “monere” = to advise/to warn)

D’automne, her surname means “from autumn” in french

Although, she has a “terrible sense of fashion”, she’s actually the best designer, knitting and stitching person. She learned how to take care of her own clothes at the point she started to do some designs, she never executed them since her father thinks it’s a waste of time.

She always been fascinated by winter and autumn, it is her two favorite seasons.

She can be a bit shy and sensible, but don’t worry, her shell is hard. She is not someone to cry easy, and although she does laments to herself a-lot, she’s actually someone (specially now, after years of being almost locked out in a life) adventurous and curious, who likes experimenting new feelings and things around her. As longs she’s not alone, she will appreciate people showing her surroundings.

Very anxious person, specially for being told all of her life to be patient.

Although, Monique is unique in her own way, she has difficulties of standing out, she tries to be more of a ordinary type of girl, yet, she seems to “fail” in the task.

She’s a herbology girl, knows everything about medical herbs, plants, you name it. Riddle constantly invites her for a cup of tea only to see what type of tea she will indicate for them.

In fact, she’s “Mademoiselle Trickster”, Monique is quite good at hiding or leaving a place unnoticed. Growing up with Mr. Wriedt (her kidnapper), was very strictly. She knows all the ways to lie.

She hates being alone, so, at the best she has Grim on her side, is not she’s not independent enough for that, but for constantly getting punishment and getting locked out in her room by Mr. Wriedt, she grew to be afraid of being too long alone in a room

(A/n: A bit of Rapunzel vibes)

𝑽𝒊𝒍 𝑺𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒆𝒏𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒕: She always wanted a Prince Charming, but the idea of having an enchanted king, never crossed her mind, for he may be the one.

If I am going to compare this couple with any other fictional couple, it would definitely be Howl and Sophie from the Moving Castle. Monique doesn’t think she’s the best looking, like, not at all. It was always her for her to stand out in the crowd, so, she decided to stand out by her designes. And that’s what called Vil’s attention, seeing someone so peculiar, yet, so blurred out by the others who are just ordinary, truly, it was fascinating, and mesmerizing. Monique didn’t understand what Vil saw in her to want to be around her, specially because of their first interaction that went a little like…

Vil: Unmatching sock? What are you? A rotten potato?

Monique: A good designers have bad fashionable sense when it comes to their own selves.

Vil: Pff, what a joke. You? A good designer? Don't make me laugh.

Monique: *Shows notebook with bunch of clothes designs she was doing*

Vil: Well, I guess… I was wrong about you, darling… Maybe you just have your own

Monique: *Panics*

And that was their start. After the Vil’s overblot fight he says that he had the urge of wanting to be the best, the most perfect, the fairest of them all. And if he wasn’t any of that what was the point of being there? She snapped. She waits for him to be alone, looks at him, not sad, not angry, but… Surprised. Monique had enough. If Vil, someone who is or tries to be the best at all things, and never fails, think he is bad, what does HE thinks of her? (Like Sophie and Howl, liked I said)

Monique is a bit of overthinker and if someone she likes, doesn’t believe in her potential, what it’s worth of it? She never once had someone saying she was pretty or beautiful! She never stands out, she is the shadow of everyone. So, if he didn’t saw himself. Him. With potential, what was she?

Vil apologizes to Monique, in his own way, no words. At least she understood his actions of pleading forgiveness from her.

They still have their ups and downs, but, people already catch on that this is not simply just a “platonic-friends” relationship.

Monique: In my “what will happen in this year”, having a Howl and Sophie type of romance wasn’t in the predictions.

Vil: Don’t act as if you don’t love it. *Replying purple lipstick*

Monique: Never said I didn’t. *face covered in lipstick of the same shade*

*Rook and Epel watching the scene in shock, not sure anymore if they are dating or not.*

#🫖 | chitchat #💜 ! vilnique #💜 ! monique d'automne #💜 ! vil schoenheit #oc x vil schoenheit #twisted wonderland #yuu twst #twst #twst yuu #disney #disney twst #oc canon

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callmearcturus · 1 year

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i am sick as fucking hell today so here's my ranking of S-Links so far

caveats: Aigis STILL hasn't fucking unlocked, i'm only halfway thru mitsuru's, and one-third thru yukari's.

Best to Worst:

The Magician, Junpei: I am still flabbergasted at how fucking good his arc is. The fact that in the penultimate slink scene he recognizes the specific way he's been disrespectful to you and meaningfully apologizes for it is not remotely what I expected out of him. Also I somehow got spoiled very early that he wasn't a romance option, and (I can't believe I'm making this comparison) just like Dorian in Dragon Age: Inquisition, it made it feel fun and safe to play-flirt and joke with him, safe in the knowledge it wouldn't go awry. Junpei is my fucking bro, my ride or die.

The Star, Akihiko: Predictable since I am currently evaluating his entire romance against my other favorite romances in video games (I don't think he beats Garrus and The Transistor, but he's top five). Slowly unraveling this boy is delightful, and honestly the way he turns as you get to know him better is very marked and obvious. He goes from relying on his one hyperfixation to communicate, to opening up and sometimes being genuinely so fucking smooth and romantic, it threw me for a loop. Least neurotypical person in the cast.

The Hermit, Saori: From the moment she said a Bad Word I was in love. I like how... careful you have to be with her, how she is very aware of her faults, of the fact she's a doormat, and the reasons she has become that way. Saying goodbye to her was genuinely very fucking sad and I miss her. Would dump Akihiko for her if I could. (Tho even more I want them to meet, could you IMAGINE.)

The Priestess, Fuuka: I love this girl so fucking much. The steel core of her underneath of the self-doubt is wonderful to see. Also the specific way she sucks at cooking and almost locks up from the failure tracks as very real. It does suck to rope someone else into helping you with something and then seeing how good that person is at the thing. Also her slink is so close to a romance, I'm mad about it. LEMME DATE HER.

The Moon, Shinjiro: Ah, the urge to help people vs the urge to be a bitch. Who can't relate to that. Especially given the inevitable end of his arc, the specific way Shinjiro is trying to keep people from relying on him or expecting anything from him... hitting facefirst into the wall of how goddamn fucking reliable he is, it's great. Glad I maxed this one out.

The Tower, Mutatsu: I really like that you're basically therapizing this old monk just by.... being a mirror to reflect his questions back at him. You do very little to help him honestly, you just exist nearby and thus inspire him to challenge himself and better himself. He just needed someone to talk to! Also its funny to imagine FemPC just hanging out in his booth for a few weeks. What a duo.

The Sun, Akinari: Did NOT like this one at first, but wow the actual final thought of it, the idea that.... death is inevitable, and you will never know your purpose, and you will never see your purpose, but you do have purpose. That was surprisingly affecting. Also WAS HE A GHOST THE WHOLE TIME? WHAT WAS WITH THAT? Wacky.

The Chariot, Rio: Oh Rio, I wish I could rank you higher, girl. I really like Rio and think she's actually an incredible example of the Chariot, but in the way I enjoyed being careful with Saori, there were times I wanted to smack Rio upside the head. Because she's making progress, she's getting there, but it's almost entirely without you. You're there to support her and that's great but you cannot fucking challenge her at all ever or she'll get upset. Just frustrating.

The Devil, Tanaka: This one was so fucking weird but enjoyable? But there's no depth here. It's just weird and fun!

Strength, Koromaru: I'm not a dog person but this is a good dog. Also while I didn't vibe with the plot around Koromaru, the way he incited conversation with other characters was great.

Justice, Ken: I'm about... 4 or 5 into this one? And the point seems to be "ah, the trauma of growing up too fast." Which yep. That's a thing. Wish this slink wasn't like pulling teeth.

The Emperor, Hidetoshi: I'm bored to tears and I'm never gonna finish this one. Hidetoshi is a tool, I'm not interested.

The Hierophant, the Old Couple: this one is straight up poorly written. It's just so fucking poorly written I don't know if something went seriously awry in localization or if it was just that bad. I maxed it out and I regret it.

The Hanged Man, Maiko: HEY YO WHAT WAS UP WITH HER DAD HITTING HER AND THE "BEST" OPTION BEING "That's mean!" OH BITCH IS IT MEAN TO HIT A CHILD? OH DANG I HAD NO IDEA.

Temperance, Bebe: The degree to which I failed out of this slink cannot be overstated. When Bebe calls me, I turn him down every time even if I have NOTHING else to do that day. This slink feels offensive to like five different groups of people. Nope. Not doing it. Bye.

I thiiiiiiink that's all the ones I have an opinion on. /jazzhands

Say What About:

Yukari: I bounced off her early because she gave me huge Best Friend Who Quietly Hates You vibes. She gets great development in the main story tho so I'm working on hers.

Aigis: Hasn't unlocked.

Mitsuru: IT TOOK ME UNTIL FUCKING, WHAT, NOVEMBER TO GRIND ACADEMICS? OH MY GODDDDD the stat threshold for her is literally just to fucking high.

Ryoji: Gave me the creeps so I fully skipped everything after the mandatory unlock!!!! Don't like him!

#persona liveblog

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grailfinders · 1 year

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Fate and Phantasms #297: Caster of Limbo

today on Fate and Phantasms, we’re making the challenger to Astolfo’s “enby that makes everyone feel a little funny” throne, caster of limbo! they’re mostly a Necromancy Wizard to take control of the living dead (i.e. servants), make extra bodies, and curse the bajeepers out of people, but we’ll also pop into the Rune Knight Fighter a touch to turn into a giant ghost and stick some neat tricks into those cards they like to throw.

check out their build breakdown here, or their character sheet below the cut!

next up: coconut head

Race and Background

limbo was a human, but they shoved a bunch of gods in there and now it’s all funky. that’s a Custom Lineage if ever I heard one, so you’ll get +2 Intelligence, proficiency in Arcana for those funky curses, and the Tough feat for an extra 2 HP every level. you spend most of them in wizard, you’re going to need every point you can get.

for your background, limbo left society for a good bit and came back with a new, evil perspective, so that’s a Hermit, which gives you proficiency in Medicine and Religion. but evil religion.

Ability Scores

we need Intelligence as high as possible for the most spells and to make it harder for the heroic spirit swordmasters to break your control. yeah, most high-level summons can make saves against helping you. it’s not great, but we’ll do what we can. after that comes Strength. that thing’s got abs for days, and they can rip people apart with their bare hands. admittedly every servant can do that, but I think they could do it before ascending? hardcore. third up is Constitution. it’s not particularly notable, but it’s gotta be high to make up for Being a Wizard. if you die, you’ll probably just come back anyway. so that means your Dexterity isn’t great, even though you fight shirtless. fun. we’ll also lower your Wisdom a bit since you left the monking behind in your backstory, and finally we dump Charisma. being hot and being charismatic are separate things, as limbo proves. I mean he did persuade Arjuna Alter, but… it’s Arjuna Alter. that’s not saying much.

Class Levels

1. Fighter 1: we’re starting off as a Fighter, mostly for the extra HP again and the proficiency in Constitution saves. most players won’t get far enough for a concentration-free curse, so it’s a good idea to make those saves as good as we can. you’re also proficient in Strength saves, and you can use your Insight to target a person’s weaknesses to exploit, and your Intimidation to hide out in their rafters.

you also get a Fighting Style, and if you’re going to tear people in two, you’ll need the unarmed fighting style. you can punch people for a d6 of damage or a d8 with both hands free, and you’ll deal some bonus damage while grappling people. you’ll also need your hands free for spells, so that all works out pretty dang well if I say so myself.

you can also use a Second Wind as a bonus action for a little extra healing. your boss fight didn’t give you self-healing, but there’s nothing wrong with an upgrade here or there.

2. Fighter 2: I admit we’re mostly here for levels 1 and 3, but Action Surge is nothing to sneeze at either. This gives you a no-strings-attached extra action once a short rest. You can attack twice, or even pump out two leveled spells no worries. er, you’ll be able to do that after we get spells. speaking of which…

3. Wizard 1: okay now you can cast Spells, using your Intelligence to cast and prepare them from your spellbook. you recharge spell slots each long rest, unless you’re using your Arcane Recovery once a day, letting you pick up a couple spell slots when you take a short rest instead! that’ll be verry useful later on, but for now let’s just talk spells!

wizards get a lotta spells, but instead of spending all day talking about all of them, we’re just going over the important ones here. the full list is in his character sheet, and the bold ones are important to the character. the rest are like “he is a caster”.

he is a caster though, so first we gotta get mage armor and magic missile for fighting shirtless and with paper things. you could use daggers as thrown weapons for this, but we’re not getting any extra attacks here, so you probably shouldn’t. you also get the cantrips chill touch for some ghostly spookiness from the get-go, and infestation and poison spray for quick and easy poisonings. finally, grab silvery barbs. it ends up on a lot of builds because it’s really good, especially here. we’ll get into why we need it in this build when it pops up, but making someone re-roll a save or attack is never a bad move.

4. Wizard 2: at level 2 of wizardry you become a Necromancer, which also makes you a Necromancy Savant for half the time and gold spent copying necromantic spells. I’ve said it before, but it’s weird how your very first ability dissuades you from picking spells you’d think you’d want to focus on.

why would you want to focus on them? because of your Grim Harvest. once a turn, you can turn a spell that finishes off an enemy into sweet sweet HP, up to 2x the spell’s level, or 3x if it’s a necromancy spell. this doesn’t work on constructs or undead though, so get out there and butcher some civilians!

5. Wizard 3: third level wizards get second level spells like Spider Climb to help you climb up your master’s rafters. yes that’s a vital part of the build, keep up. since we aren’t really buffing your charisma that much, you should also pick up either Gift of Gab for a verbal backspace or Enhance Ability to really help you trick a god into smiting your enemies. or your friends. really smiting is it’s own reward, when you think about it.

6. Wizard 4: now that you finally get your first Ability Score Improvement, round up your Intelligence for stronger spells, and your Constitution to hold onto them long. and for the extra HP, I guess. it’s a retroactive boost, so now you have 6 more HP, not just one.

7. Wizard 5: at fifth level this build really gets off the ground with the combination of Bestow Curse and Animate Undead. curses are limbo’s thing, and the zombies and skeletons will be your first foray into controlling servants. it’s a start, at least.

8. Wizard 6: of course a necromancer’s Undead Thralls are a little better than most people’s. you can create an extra zombie (or skeleton) with animate dead, and that creature has extra hp and deals extra damage with each hit. those bonuses work for any undead you create with a necromancy spell, so feel free to get creative! even if green isn’t a creative color…

and speaking of undead, let’s grab some ghostly goodies with Blink and Spirit Shroud. the former lets you blink out of existence when your turn is over. mostly. and the latter gives all your attacks a ghostly flair of extra damage, slows enemies, and prevents them from healing. just like the real limbo bossfight! we’re a long way away from turning into a giant ghost, but it’s important to get some practice in- you only die once, after all.

9. Wizard 7: seventh level wizards get fourth level spells, and if you want a god to listen to you there’s no better option than Charm Monster. this is like charm person, but it works for non-humanoids too! it lasts up to an hour if your target fails its wisdom save, or until you inevitably stab them in the back. maybe don’t do that?

10. Wizard 8: it’s time for another ASI, and we have to get the Poisoner feat at some point. this lets you poison a weapon as a bonus action, and you can use your new poisoner’s kit proficiency to make Proficiency Bonus poisons over the course of an hour. so now you do have a reason to use a physical card instead of magic missiles. or maybe not, since you now ignore resistance to poison damage on all your attack rolls, not just the physical ones.

you also get your first taste controlling a heroic spirit swordmaster this level when you take one of the Summon spells. Use Summon Greater Demon for an oni, Summon Elemental for Archer of Inferno, or Summon Construct for a ninja doll. Summon Aberration is more of an endgoal than a spell you should get halfway through the build, but foreigners are in rn, so maybe you’re just following trends.

11. Wizard 9: you get fifth level spells. there’s not really any we need to be a good limbo, but they are fun like, in general.

12. Wizard 10: at tenth level you become Inured to Undeath, giving you resistance to necrotic damage, and your max HP can’t be reduced. your body’s probably a spare anyway, so it won’t have the same biology as a normal human’s. that’s a good excuse, right?

13. Wizard 11: sixth level spells are good though. use Create Undead to make more powerful spirit swordmasters, and Investiture of Wind for extra-powerful ghostliness. for up to ten minutes after casting, ranged attacks will have disadvantage against you, and you get a flying speed of 60’. you can also spend your actions on an aoe attack, a 15’ cube of air that deals bludgeoning damage to creatures that fail their constitution save, also pushing them around if they fail.

14. Wizard 12: knock that Intelligence up as high as it can go, for the best damage and the hardest to beat saves. we’ll need that in just a second.

15. Wizard 13: seventh level spell time! power word pain is definitely on-brand, but we’re mostly here for Planeshift so you can run off with your tail between your legs when that lostbelt king you’ve been manipulating finally figures out what’s going on.

16. Wizard 14: we have finally reached your last goodie from being a necromancer, and it’s why we came all this way in the first place. a curse that will truly turn any heroic spirit into your own mindless killing machine, Command Undead. spend an action force a charisma save on an undead within 60’ of you. if they fail, they’re friendly to you until you use this feature again.

it does come with caveats though. any undead with an 8 or higher has advantage on the save, and any with an intelligence of 12 or higher can make the save again every hour until they break free. once an undead passes their save, you can’t use this on them a second time.

the good news though is there’s a shitload of undead with bad charisma and intelligence scores for you to use and abuse. for example, a Nightwalker is a huge undead of CR 20, but it’s intelligence is a 6 and its charisma is an 8, making it the perfect target to turn into your thrall for a heroic spirit swordmaster. and as long as you don’t try to control two at once, this control lasts forever, or as long as the undead does.

and it’s finally time to bring up Silvery Barbs again! with your maxed out intelligence and a way to kindasorta force disadvantage on a roll, you have your pick of spirits to choose from. (and in cases like that nightwalker, you’re almost guaranteed to succeed against any creature with a negative modifier.)

17. Fighter 3: now we’ve finally almost got Shimousa covered, we just need to turn you into that giant ghost I’ve been promising. and that’s why we’re finally back in Rune Knight for some Giant Might. as a bonus action you can make yourself large for 1 minute, giving you advantage on strength saves and checks, and dealing extra damage with your physical attacks once per turn. you can do this Proficiency times per long rest.

you’re also a Rune Carver, letting you stick some goodies on your cards for a passive benefit, or an invoked benefit you can use once per short rest. grab the Cloud Rune for advantage on Sleight of Hand and Deception checks, plus an invoked reaction to redirect an attack aimed at you or another creature within 30’ of you. now there’s no way Altjuna ignores you! also, grab the Stone Rune for advantage on Insight checks and 120’ of darkvision, plus the ability to stun a creature as a reaction once per short rest for up to 1 minute. it can make a wisdom save to avoid the effect entirely, as well as at the end of each of its turns.

18. Wizard 15: we’re all set for LB 4, but first we’ll grab some eighth level spells just in case. you couldn’t leave home without a Clone or two as a backup body, right? use a bit of your flesh, wait like a month or so, and then you basically have an extra life. You’ll have to pick up all your stuff again, but that’s barely an inconvenience, right?

19. Wizard 16: with our final ASI we can bump up your Strength at long last for some more accurate unarmed and weapon attacks. sorry it took so long, this build’s got a lot in it.

if you’re playing a campaign with another servant player and want them as your lead heroic spirit swordmaster, check out Dominate Monster! force a wisdom save on them, or they’re charmed for up to an hour. while charmed you can talk to them telepathically and give them commands without spending an action. you can even use your action to take them over completely! however, this spell isn’t the best for combat, seeing as they can repeat the save every time they take damage.

20. Wizard 17: ninth level spell slots! yeah, sorry to end on an anticlimax, but that’s really all we’re here for. with these bad boys, you can upcast a Bestow Curse to last indefinitely- very spicy.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

you’re surprisingly beefy for a caster, with a semi-decent amount of HP and ways to heal yourself via murder, you’re tougher to take down than most wizards we’ve seen.

it also helps that you have a lot of bodies on the field thanks to anime dead, create undead, control undead, and a summoning spell of your choice giving you a pretty sizable army of completely loyal minions. you’ll probably stab them in the back anyway, but it’ll be nice to have them in the meantime!

I will say this over and over again, a fighter dip for any caster is a godsend. you have more options when your slots run out, you have a bit of emergency healing, you get proficiency in concentration saves, and most importantly you get Action Surge, letting you cast two spells in one turn, and that’s huge. that’s a boost to your damage, or your utility, or even just your ability to run the hell away if the fight goes south.

Cons:

your AC’s really bad, and you turn into a giant ghost which really just makes you a bigger target. you’re going to have to murderize people left and right if you want to keep your HP up. huh, I wonder if that’s why you’re so backstab-happy… yeah, probably not.

Poisoner is flavorful (literally), and it’s a nice boost to your poison spells, but if we’re being serious, it’s the weak link of your ASIs. you could’ve gotten more HP with constitution, or AC with dexterity, or even just better concentration with the War Caster feat. Plus you can’t use this feature in conjunction with your zombies or controlled minions, so it’s a lot less useful than you’d think.

the vast majority of your zombie army is at or under CR 3, so Fireballs can chew through your entire brigade pretty damn fast. another reason not to fight Altjuna, as if you needed one.

#fgo #fate grand order #D&D 5e #dnd #ashiya douman #caster of limbo #wizard #fighter

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