#Fall Leadership Summit

[eclipsaria]

Took You Long Enough

Summary // In which a workaholic CEO finds his calm in the form of his respected senior’s daughter.

Pairing:

CEO! Seungcheol x reader

Warnings:

Fluff, slow-burn, romance, engaged, age gap(10 years), mentioned of kids, married, food, cologne and watch brand names, sugar daddy! Seungcheol if you squint, lmk if i miss out any

Side characters:

SVT members

W/C:

12 671

Rating: [ 13+ SFW ]

Note:

@nerdycheol , you are the one that suggested the watch brand and Hermés cologne brand🤣 and you as a cheol's wife, i take anything you said🫡

Song:

Main Masterlist

Seventeen Masterlist

Taglist

Âme Sœur Masterlist

The office buzzed to life every morning by 8:00 a.m. A polished world of swift elevator dings, the rhythmic tapping of keyboards, and the faint scent of espresso lingering near the breakroom. Floors were lined with pristine glass partitions, and employees moved with a subtle urgency, well aware of the silent clock that ticked behind every deadline.

On the top floor, behind a sleek black door embossed with silver letters, was the corner office of Choi Seungcheol, the man who built the company from the ground up. He wasn’t just the CEO, he was the presence. Charismatic, sharp, and composed, Seungcheol was known for walking into a room and changing its air pressure with just a glance. Rumor had it that he could read a financial report faster than most people could skim a menu, and no one ever left a meeting with him without either a promotion, a plan, or a panic attack.

But beneath his tailored suits and impenetrable gaze was a man with a past no one dared to ask about, and a reputation he carried like armor.

Today, as sunlight spilled through the towering windows of his office, Seungcheol stood facing the city skyline, coffee in hand, unaware that the day ahead would shift everything he thought he had under control.

At just 30 years old, Choi Seungcheol had already climbed the summit most people only dreamed of. It was hard to believe he started as a low-level assistant at the age of 20. No connections, no shortcuts, just a relentless work ethic and a vision that burned behind his sharp eyes. He wasn’t born into wealth, nor did he inherit the company. Every step upward was carved with grit and sleepless nights.

Now serving his second year as CEO, there wasn’t a single person in the company who questioned his leadership. Titles didn't need to be old to command respect, not when every project under his lead launched with flawless execution, crushing expectations and setting new industry standards. His name echoed in boardrooms across the city as a young prodigy, the kind of leader who didn't just manage—but rewrote—the playbook.

What made him even more admired, or perhaps feared, was how calm he remained in the face of chaos. Seungcheol didn’t just make decisions; he made the right ones and fast. He listened more than he spoke, observed more than he intervened, and when he did speak, the room listened.

He turned back from the window now, placing his coffee on the desk as his assistant knocked twice on the door.

“Come in,” he said coolly, buttoning his suit jacket.

In a world where soulmates were real, love was less of a question and more of a certainty. The rule was simple. When you meet your soulmate, just one look into their eyes, and you’ll hear wedding bells. Not a metaphor—actual bells. Ringing in your ears like a celebration only you two could hear. After that, everything seemed to fall into place, like the universe giving you a neatly wrapped ending: soulmates meet, fall in love, and live happily ever after.

Well… everyone except Choi Seungcheol.

His friends, his closest circle, were either happily married, halfway through wedding plans, or sending him pictures of their toddlers with captions like “Uncle Cheol, when’s your turn?” The world was moving fast, and for someone like him, who always caught up quickly, this was the one race he couldn’t outrun.

He wasn’t single because he hated love. He just didn’t want to gamble with emotions. Exes and soulmates don’t mix well. What if he fell in love with someone who wasn’t the one? What if he broke someone’s heart only to meet his true soulmate later, and it all came crumbling down? So he stayed away from flings, from love, from anything that could mess with the balance of his life.

Still, it didn’t stop the slow crawl of anxiety. He wasn’t worried about getting married late, he was worried about his parents.

At 27, his mother had set him up on a blind date with someone’s daughter, he showed up out of respect, but came home early with a headache.

At 28, his father mailed out carefully written profiles of Seungcheol to other families with daughters, practically advertising him like some limited-edition luxury product.

By 29, they dropped all pretense and started pushing for an arranged marriage. “Just meet her, see if your eyes ring,” they said. He didn’t.

Now at 30, Seungcheol didn’t know what plan his parents were cooking up, but whatever it was, it wouldn’t be good.

But what could he do? Nothing. And so, as always, he chose the routine that never disappointed him: Wake up. Go to the office. Handle meetings. Review reports. Sign approvals. Go home. Sleep.

It was safe. Predictable and efficient.

It was just another day at work. The usual hum of morning emails and the faint buzz of distant phones filled the air, when Seungcheol’s secretary knocked once before entering, arms full with neatly stacked document files.

She placed them on his desk without a word at first, as he flipped through the last few pages of a report. But then, came a rare request.

“Mr. Shin from Jeonghwa Group has extended an invitation. It’s a masquerade party,” she said, tone light but respectful. “Held by his wife. They’re hoping for your attendance.”

The name made Seungcheol look up, pausing mid-page. “…Mr. Shin?”

She nodded. “Yes. He personally requested your presence.”

Choi Seungcheol blinked once, then leaned back in his chair. Mr. Shin wasn’t just anyone, he was a veteran in the business world, one of the few people Seungcheol looked up to when he first entered the corporate jungle at twenty. Sharp, poised, but known for his warm charisma, Mr. Shin had once told Seungcheol over lunch: “Success is important, but relationships will carry you further than numbers ever will.”

Unfortunately, Seungcheol never quite grasped the latter.

He was never a party type. In his mind, parties disrupted efficiency. Hours wasted in polite conversation, standing under chandeliers, sipping drinks he didn’t care for. He didn’t hate people, he just… preferred structure.

But this invitation wasn’t something he could brush off. Not when it came from Mr. Shin. Refusing could send the wrong message, and disappointing both Mr. Shin and his wife was out of the question.

A soft sigh escaped his lips.

“…Tell them I’ll attend,” he said finally, a faint crease forming between his brows. “Clear the schedule for that night. If there are any clashes, push them back. And set a time for shopping. Something formal. Masked.”

“Understood,” his secretary replied with a slight smile, already tapping notes into her tablet as she turned to leave.

The door clicked shut behind her, and then silence returned. Seungcheol sat there for a moment longer, staring blankly at the papers in front of him before removing his glasses and slowly pinching the bridge of his nose. A heavy sigh followed.

“A masquerade party, huh…” he muttered.

— ♬ �� ༘♡ ⋆｡˚ ♬ —

The night of the masquerade arrived with a velvet sky draped in soft stars, the city skyline glowing beneath it like scattered jewels. Seungcheol’s black car pulled up to the venue. An opulent estate on the outskirts of the city owned by the Shin family, known for hosting only the most exclusive circles.

From the very first step inside, the masquerade felt like stepping into another world.

The entrance hall was grand. High arched ceilings adorned with delicate gold filigree, with glittering chandeliers casting warm light across the polished marble floors. Elegant floral arrangements stood tall in glass vases, the soft scent of fresh orchids and lilies lingering in the air. Staff in crisp uniforms glided past with trays of champagne and wine, offering delicate glasses that sparkled like the guests themselves.

And the guests. Each one hidden behind ornate masks, dressed in tailored suits and flowing gowns, laughter muffled by polite conversation and the occasional clink of crystal. The entire ballroom shimmered with motion and elegance, the air alive with quiet prestige.

At the far end of the room, an orchestra played a soft, haunting melody. A waltz that wound through the evening like silk. Violins harmonized with cellos as couples swayed gently across the dance floor, their silhouettes graceful under golden lights. The music didn’t demand attention; it wove through the space, letting elegance speak for itself.

Seungcheol stood at the entrance for a moment longer, absorbing the scene. Dressed in a deep charcoal tuxedo, his mask was sleek, made of brushed silver, perfectly fitted and simple. Just like him.

He adjusted the cuffs of his suit with quiet precision and took a slow breath.

Seungcheol moved through the grand hall with quiet grace, the soft shuffle of his polished shoes drowned by the music and conversation. His eyes scanned the crowd until he spotted a familiar figure near the center of the ballroom. Mr. Shin, dressed in a regal navy suit, silver embroidery trimming the collar of his jacket. Standing beside him, equally elegant, was Mrs. Shin, her mask adorned with pearls that shimmered with every turn of her head.

With his posture poised and his mask adjusted, Seungcheol approached them and gave a respectful bow.

“Mr. Shin, Mrs. Shin,” he greeted formally, voice steady. “Thank you for the kind invitation.”

Mr. Shin turned, a pleased smile stretching under his mask. “Seungcheol! I was beginning to worry you wouldn’t show. I’m glad you came.”

Mrs. Shin offered a soft nod, “You look dashing tonight, dear. As always.”

“I wouldn’t miss this, not when it comes from the both of you,” he said with a light smile, still formal in tone. “The venue is breathtaking.”

They shared a few pleasantries, light jokes exchanged beneath crystal chandeliers. Seungcheol tried his best to blend into the moment, smiling at the passing comments, laughing politely, sipping wine when handed a glass, but the stiffness in his shoulders never quite faded.

And then, as expected, his conversation naturally veered back to what he knew best.

“Actually, just before coming here, we finalized the restructuring proposal for the third branch’s distribution-”

He stopped himself, but the Shin couple only smiled knowingly.

Mrs. Shin tilted her head with a gentle chuckle, “Oh, darling. You can talk about work all you like if it helps you feel at home. No masks are needed for that.”

Her words, though playful, pierced the tension in him like a warm knife through ice. Seungcheol let out a soft exhale, barely realizing he had been holding his breath.

And so, he spoke. About the company. About numbers. About staff growth. About challenges and solutions.

And strangely enough, the conversation didn’t feel out of place. Mr. Shin offered insights, Mrs. Shin listened intently, nodding with that gentle, matronly glow she always carried. The air grew lighter around them, the laughter more genuine, the pressure in Seungcheol’s chest slowly easing.

Then, Mr. Shin placed a hand on Seungcheol’s shoulder with a proud smile.

“There’s someone I’d like you to meet,” he said. “My daughter just returned home after her studies abroad. I think the two of you will get along.”

Seungcheol turned just in time to see her approach.

You wore a pale lavender gown, subtle and elegant, flowing like morning mist. Your mask was delicate, silver trimmed with lace, soft feathers curling at the edges. You moved with the grace of someone raised in soft-spoken confidence, eyes quietly scanning the room until they landed on him.

The moment your eyes met, everything fell silent, except for the sound of wedding bells. Clear and unmistakable. Ringing only in your ears, like the universe had struck a chord, and fate had written the first line of a new story.

Both stood still for a moment too long, unsure whether to speak or breathe. And in the corner of his eye, Seungcheol saw Mrs. Shin’s knowing smile.

The bells still echoed faintly in Seungcheol’s ears, even as the rest of the ballroom returned to its natural soundscape. Soft music, low chatter, the clinking of glasses.

But for Seungcheol, the world had slowed.

His soulmate. He had finally found you. He should have felt relief, even joy. This was the moment most people spent their lives yearning for. The ache he had carried silently for years, the lingering worry behind every family dinner and silent commute, had finally found an answer.

But fate, it seemed, wasn’t going to make it easy.

You are twenty. Young, bright-eyed, and still new to the world. Ten years younger. And worse, you are Mr. Shin’s daughter, the Mr. Shin he had admired for over a decade, the very man who shaped the path Seungcheol now walked. It didn’t feel real. It didn’t feel allowed.

This couldn’t be happening… could it?

Just as he was grounding himself, still locking eyes with the girl whose existence had just turned his world upside down, Mr. Shin’s voice cut in again, calm and casual.

He reached out, gently patting his daughter’s head as he looked at you with a father’s pride.

“I’ve been preparing for retirement,” he said, almost wistfully, “but before I can step back, I need to make sure she’s ready for what comes next.”

Seungcheol turned to him slowly, blinking.

“I need someone to teach her how to face the working world. Someone sharp, experienced… someone I trust more than anyone else in this industry.”

He turned fully to Seungcheol now, smile warm, eyes firm.

“So before I retire, Seungcheol… can I pass her to you? For mentorship, or practical training. Nothing prepares someone better than real experience.”

The room suddenly felt too warm.

Seungcheol’s grip on his champagne glass tightened slightly, his composed expression slipping just barely for a breath of a second.

Not only had he just discovered his soulmate, he was also being asked on the same night to personally guide you into the working world, into the very fire he had spent ten years learning to survive.

And you would be close every day. His soulmate. His senior’s daughter. His future trainee. His knees almost gave out, but he smiled faintly and nodded, because what else could he do?

“…Of course, sir,” he said, voice steady despite the quiet chaos behind it. “I’d be honored.”

But in his mind, there was only one thought: this is going to be a problem.

As if sensing the moment had grown too full, Mr. and Mrs. Shin politely excused themselves to greet other guests, leaving Seungcheol standing face-to-face with the person who had just unknowingly disrupted the stability he had clung to for years, you.

He watched you for a second longer, trying to find the right words, or any words at all.

You looked up at him too, unsure yet calm. Composed, despite the thunderous sound that only the two of you had heard. And then, gently, your voice slipped out from behind your mask.

“So… I guess we heard it too,” you said quietly, referring to the wedding bells.

Seungcheol let out a short breath, a dry chuckle escaping him. “Yeah. We did.”

A pause hung between you. Heavy, but not uncomfortable, more like the silence that comes when something profound has settled in the space.

“I’m Choi Seungcheol,” he said, dipping his head politely. “But I assume you already knew that.”

You gave a polite little curtsy, unable to suppress a small smile. “And I’m Shin Y/N.” You tilted your head a bit. That earned a faint, genuine smile from him.

The orchestra shifted to a softer tune, one that made the chandeliers shimmer with each drawn note. Around you, the world moved on—guests swayed on the dance floor, laughter floated in waves—but between you and Seungcheol, the air remained still. Electric.

“I didn’t expect this,” he admitted. “Tonight, or… you.”

You let out a small laugh. “You mean you didn’t expect your soulmate to be twenty years old?”

His eyes widened a little, surprised by your boldness, before he shook his head slowly with the ghost of amusement on his face. “Was I that obvious?”

“Just a little,” you teased. “But it’s alright. I didn’t expect my soulmate to be someone my parents literally worship either. So I think we’re even.”

He looked at you, really looked, and saw more than just his senior’s daughter. He saw someone with her own mind, her own spark. Not just someone being pushed into his world, but someone who could make space in it.

“If this gets overwhelming,” he said suddenly, voice a little softer, a little more real, “just say so. I won’t rush into anything. I know this is… a lot.”

You raised a brow, your gaze gentle. “Why do you sound like you’re the one overwhelmed?”

He paused, as if your words peeled away a layer of him.

“…Because I’ve spent years building a life I could control,” he said quietly.

You smiled behind your mask. “Then maybe I’m here to teach you how to let go. Just a little.”

That caught him off guard. A breath of silence passed… and then, he laughed, low and genuine, maybe for the first time all week.

“…I think you might be,” he murmured. And just like that, under the soft music, crystal chandeliers, and masks that hid just enough but revealed just as much. The world had quietly started to change for Choi Seungcheol.

— ♬ ˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚ ♬ —

The next day arrived with polished shoes, pressed suits, and a strangely quickened heartbeat that Seungcheol couldn’t quite explain, not until his office door was knocked on, sharp and polite.

His secretary peeked in with a gentle smile, then stepped aside. “Young Miss Shin has arrived, sir.” And then you stepped in behind her.

For a moment, just a moment, Choi Seungcheol forgot how to breathe.

At the masquerade, your mask had hidden part of your face, letting only your voice and eyes do the talking. But now, standing there in the light of his office, dressed professionally yet effortlessly graceful, you looked nothing short of a princess sent straight from a fairytale.

Your features were delicate, your posture refined, and your smile-

God, that smile.

You bowed deeply, a full 90-degree gesture of respect. “It’s an honor to work under you, Mr. Choi.”

That broke something in him, just for a second. He almost gulped, throat tightening as he tried to suppress the warmth crawling up his neck. His jaw clenched lightly, keeping his face composed as always, but his eyes… his eyes betrayed him for a heartbeat too long.

His soulmate was bowing to him like a subordinate, like he wasn’t losing his grip on the damn air in the room.

“Thank you,” he managed, his voice still firm but quieter than usual. “You may begin today.”

He cleared his throat and quickly looked away, standing up and adjusting his cufflinks just to buy time. “You may return to your tasks,” he told his secretary, who gave a small nod and closed the door behind her.

Now, it was just the two of you.

The air shifted again. Quiet, but not cold, just full.

You stepped forward softly, hands tucked behind your back, walking with a quiet elegance that echoed across the floor of his office. You stopped just short of his desk, leaned forward a little, and smiled.

“I wish for a happy time working with you, Mr. Choi.”

His heart skipped a full beat. He blinked once, then twice. He internally cursed himself for how fast his chest reacted, how your presence so effortlessly chipped away at the steel mask he had worn for years.

“…Don’t get too comfortable,” he muttered under his breath, turning slightly away as he pretended to check something on his desk.

He picked up a pen, but forgot what document it was for. Clearing his throat again, he motioned for you to sit on the chair in front of his desk.

“Take out a pen and a notebook,” he said briskly, avoiding your eyes. “If you want to be the next CEO of your father’s company, you’ll need to start by remembering a few things.”

Still smiling, you sat down and pulled out your notebook obediently.

“Rule number one,” he continued, finally looking at you again, but carefully now, like one wrong glance would unravel him. “No one cares about your title. Earn their respect with competence, not your last name.”

You nodded, scribbling it down.

“Rule two,” he said, watching the way your hair fell slightly as you wrote. “Always know more than you speak. And listen more than you think.”

You lifted your head just enough to meet his gaze and softly replied, “That sounds exactly like you, Mr. Choi.”

His pen almost slipped from his hand. He coughed once more, this time trying to suppress the hint of a smile tugging at his lips.

“Rule three,” he said sharply, eyes back on your notebook. “Stop charming your mentor. It’s distracting.”

You giggled, quiet, warm, and knowing.

He didn’t say it out loud, but deep down, he already knew that this was going to be a long, dangerous, beautiful mentorship.

The first few hours of your mentorship under Choi Seungcheol moved swiftly, on the surface.

He kept his instructions sharp, his tone professional, walking you through key departments, introducing the core team, and pointing out what made his company function like a well-oiled machine. To any outsider, it looked like another day of excellence from the CEO.

But the staff, sharp-eyed and always quietly observant, noticed something was off. It wasn’t something loud. There were no smiles stretched too far, no extravagant gestures. It was the way he stood a little too close.

The way his voice dropped just slightly whenever he spoke to you. The way he’d glance at you longer than he intended when you weren’t looking. And above all, the strange, rare gentleness in his expression when he watched you scribble notes or tilt your head in concentration.

To them, he was different today.

Seungcheol didn’t think so. He was just… doing his job. Guiding you, as Mr. Shin had asked, offering knowledge and sharing insight. So why did standing next to you feel like the only part of his day that wasn’t suffocating?

Every time your shoulder brushed his as you walked beside him, his chest felt lighter, like the years of pressure he’d buried beneath routine and deadlines were slowly peeling away.

He blamed it on the soulmate bond. That had to be it.

Still, it didn’t explain how you made silence feel so comforting. Even when neither of you were talking, your presence carried a calm aura—quiet but grounding.

And for someone like Seungcheol, a man who lived and breathed pressure, your calm was unfamiliar… and unsettling.

Not in a bad way, but in a foreign, “how-do-I-function-while-feeling-peace” kind of way.

He was in the middle of explaining their operations team structure when he noticed you looking up at him with that same unwavering gaze. Focused, soft, and admiring, as if he wasn’t just your mentor, but someone you deeply trusted already.

That was when he blanked out. He literally forgot the point he was going to make.

“-and that department handles… uh…” His brows furrowed, staring at the floor plan pinned on the wall like it had betrayed him. “The, um…”

You tilted your head. “The logistics team?”

He cleared his throat, nodding once. “Right. Logistics.”

His voice returned to its usual pace, but internally, panic echoed like an alarm.

Thankfully, a familiar knock on the glass broke the moment. His secretary peeked in again.

“Sir, your meeting is in fifteen minutes.”

A lifeline.

He straightened quickly. “Right. Thank you.”

He turned to you, voice brisk but not cold. “I’ll need to prepare. My secretary will guide you around the rest of the office.”

You nodded politely. “Of course, Mr. Choi.”

And just like that, he walked away, maybe a little too quickly, and stepped into his office, letting the door close behind him.

Only when the lock clicked into place did he exhale. Running a hand through his hair, he leaned against his desk for a second, glaring at nothing in particular before muttering under his breath: “…Wake up, Choi Seungcheol.”

He scowled at his own reflection in the black monitor, then sat down and opened the meeting files, anything to distract himself from the echo of your smile in his mind.

The meeting room was sleek and quiet, filled with department heads and key project managers all seated in neat rows around the long conference table. On the wall, the quarterly projections were being presented by one of the finance leads: charts, graphs, bullet points ticking forward one by one.

From the outside, Choi Seungcheol looked the same as always. Sharp suit, steady gaze, and the calm posture as he sat at the head of the table.

But his fingers betrayed him.

They tapped quietly against the table’s surface, then began twirling his pen between them. An unconscious habit. Over and over, the silver pen spun in rhythm, not once slipping, not once faltering. Precision, yes, but not focus.

His eyes stayed forward, directed at the slides, but his mind wasn’t in the room.

It was still in the hallway. Back where you walked beside him, soft footsteps echoing alongside his. It was stuck on the memory of the way you tilted your head, smiling gently. The way your voice sounded when you said, “I wish for a happy time working with you, Mr. Choi.”

His heartbeat picked up again.

He subtly loosened the top button of his collar with one hand, hoping no one noticed. A deep breath filled his lungs, but did nothing to cool the sudden warmth behind his ears.

Get a grip, Seungcheol.

One of the department leads directed a question toward him. He caught it, answered professionally and concisely. The pause before he spoke was half a second too long, but not enough to cause alarm.

His pen spun again, even faster now, almost mechanical.

Why was this happening?

He had handled crises, led multi-million-dollar negotiations, turned failing branches into flagship models. He had faced rooms full of foreign investors and government officials. But now, here he was, fidgeting with a pen like some college intern, thinking about a girl with calm eyes and a presence that made his carefully structured world feel… quiet.

Not empty, just quiet. And Seungcheol didn’t know if that was comforting—or terrifying.

Someone called out his name again, snapping him out of his trance.

“Yes?” he responded, blinking back into the present.

All eyes turned to him, waiting. He cleared his throat and nodded slowly. “I agree with the previous point. Let’s move forward with scenario B, but add a contingency plan for client-side delays. I’ll review the proposed schedule by Friday.”

Everyone nodded. The meeting continued.

But even as the presentation resumed, Seungcheol’s hand never stopped spinning the pen. And under the table, where no one could see, his leg bounced just slightly.

He didn’t even realize he was smiling, just barely.

The meeting ended without incident, at least from an outside perspective. Everyone filed out of the room with their notes and laptops, chatting quietly, discussing next steps. Seungcheol stayed seated for a few seconds longer than usual, pretending to review the printed schedule, though his eyes barely read the lines.

When he finally stood, he adjusted his jacket, gave his usual nod to his assistant, and made his way back to his office.

The walk down the hallway was normal. The familiar click of his shoes on polished floors. A few passing greetings from staff. Nothing out of the ordinary.

Until he opened his office door. And you were there, seated on the leather guest chair in front of his desk, legs crossed, notebook in hand. You looked up immediately as the door opened, offering him that same disarming smile, the one that had singlehandedly ruined his focus for the past two hours.

“Oh,” you said softly, “welcome back, Mr. Choi.”

His steps faltered, but only for a second. He walked inside with his usual calm, closing the door behind him. “Did my secretary bring you back here?”

“She did,” you replied, standing up as a gesture of respect. “I didn’t want to wander around too long without you.”

His jaw tightened ever so slightly at that sentence.

Without me, huh?

He made his way around the desk, taking his seat while pretending not to notice the way your presence shifted the air in the room. He placed his notes down, but didn’t look at them.

You stood there quietly, notebook still in hand, waiting—always respectful, always composed. He hated how much he liked that.

“Did you find the rest of the office tour informative?” he asked, finally meeting your gaze.

You nodded, stepping forward again, calm and graceful. “Yes. Everyone was kind. But…”

You paused for a beat, then gave a teasing tilt of your head. “It’s a little boring without you.”

His pen rolled slightly across the desk from how fast his fingers froze.

You quickly added, “I meant that you explain things better. That’s all.”

“…Right,” he replied, clearing his throat, gaze darting briefly to the side before grounding himself again. “Let’s resume where we left off then. Sit down.”

You obeyed, smiling faintly as you opened your notebook again. Seungcheol forced himself to focus—not on you, not on your expression, not on the soft perfume that somehow lingered between the pages of your notes—but on his words. Yet, as he began speaking again about corporate hierarchy and strategic positioning, his voice betrayed him. It was softer now, gentler.

He wasn’t sure when that started happening. He only knew it never sounded like that before you arrived.

— ♬ ˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚ ♬ —

The sun dipped lower behind the skyline, casting a golden hue across the city buildings outside his office window. The office had begun to empty, lights switching off one by one as employees finished their tasks and bid each other goodnight.

Seungcheol was still at his desk, organizing a few final documents, when your voice cut through the stillness.

“Mr. Choi?” you asked, standing by the doorway, bag slung over your shoulder. “I think my driver forgot to come. I’ve been trying to call, but… nothing.”

He looked up immediately, brows tugging together. “Didn’t your father assign someone?”

You shook your head, looking only slightly bothered. “Both of my parents are working late today. The housekeeper said she can’t leave either. I can wait, it’s fine. I’ll figure something out.”

Seungcheol stared at you for a moment longer before instinct kicked in. He grabbed his phone and stood up, dialing Mr. Shin with practiced fingers.

The call connected quickly. “Mr. Shin,” Seungcheol said with crisp professionalism. “This is Seungcheol. I wanted to ask if I should assign one of my drivers to send Y/N-”

“Why do you fetch my daughter back home?” Mr. Shin’s voice cut in, amused. “You know where my house is, and I’m sure my daughter trusts you.”

Seungcheol’s brain momentarily stalled.

“I- uh…” His voice cracked before he caught himself. “Yes, sir. Of course. If that’s what you prefer.”

“You’ll be fine,” Mr. Shin said cheerfully, “Good luck,” and then promptly hung up.

The silence in his office was sudden, sharp. Seungcheol lowered his phone slowly, blinking at it like it had betrayed him.

And then, your voice.

“So?” you asked, leaning slightly into the doorway now, your tone light, your smile just a touch too innocent to be unintentional. “What did he say?”

Seungcheol sighed, head tilting back briefly toward the ceiling. A soft groan escaped him, one of defeat rather than irritation. He looked at you, one brow slightly raised.

“Grab your things,” he muttered, already reaching for his coat. “Let’s go. I’ll drive you home.”

You let out a delighted hum, following close behind as he flicked off the lights and walked toward the elevator.

Inside, the air was calm and comfortable, yet Seungcheol’s heart thudded just a little faster. Not because of the weight of responsibility, but because you were beside him again, walking into the kind of silence that didn’t feel awkward.

This day was spiraling far faster than he’d planned… and he hadn’t even started the car yet.

The car ride started in silence.

You sat beside him in the passenger seat, hands resting neatly on your lap, your bag tucked by your feet. Seungcheol, behind the wheel, exhaled slowly as he adjusted the rearview mirror, not because it needed adjusting, but because he needed something to do other than look at you.

He wasn’t used to this.

His soulmate, sitting this close, beside him, inside his car. A space that had always been quiet, strictly for thinking or decompressing. Now? It felt like you were too close, and your presence was too warm. His hands tightened around the steering wheel, and then your voice came. Soft, teasing, and sweet.

“You don’t talk much when you’re driving, huh?”

His knuckles went white on the wheel. “I’m focused.”

You chuckled. “Focused on not crashing? Or focused on ignoring me?”

His jaw clenched.

God, your voice.

Light and lilting, floating straight into his ears, sitting there like it belonged. It curled around him slowly, teasing the edges of his control. He prayed to every higher being in the sky that the red light wouldn’t last long, or else he’d melt into the driver’s seat. And then you had to go and say it.

“By the way… I know I didn’t ask earlier, but is it okay that I sit here? In the front?”

He nearly choked on air. What was he supposed to say to that? No, please sit at the back so I don’t lose my mind?

“It’s fine,” he muttered under his breath, eyes locked firmly on the road ahead. “You’re my passenger. Of course you sit there.”

But you weren’t just his passenger, you were his soulmate, and you were looking at him like you could see every thought written on his skin.

He was barely holding it together. His grip on the steering wheel never eased. His heart was pounding in a very unsafe rhythm, and he had no idea what expression you were wearing because he didn’t dare glance your way.

Not until you touched him.

It was gentle, a brush of your fingers over his knuckles, maybe meant to comfort him. But the warmth that surged through his entire arm?

The way your touch somehow seeped into his skin and calmed every frantic part of him?

Too much, his heart skipped a beat, and that was when he almost crashed.

“-Shit,” he hissed as the car veered just slightly toward another lane. Someone honked loudly. Seungcheol reacted fast, jerking the steering wheel just enough to swerve back, crossing briefly into an open lane before easing to the side of the road.

He came to a slow, shaky stop. Only then did he realize, he’d been holding his breath. The exhale that left him was heavy, his hands still frozen on the steering wheel. His eyes wide, jaw clenched, adrenaline coursing through him, and beside him, you were giggling. Not just giggling, you were laughing.

He turned his head slowly, lifting one eyebrow in disbelief.

Your laughter only got louder, trying, but failing, to look apologetic as your shoulders shook.

“Y-You almost-” you hiccuped in the middle of your laugh, “-crashed because I touched your hand? Really?”

He should have been mad, or embarrassed. But instead… he found himself smiling, leaning back against his seat as the tension slowly bled out of him.

“You’re dangerous,” he muttered, half amused, half exasperated. “Too dangerous.”

You wiped a tear from the corner of your eye, still breathless. “Sorry! I really didn’t think it’d throw you off that much.”

He clicked his tongue, finally letting out a small laugh of his own. “Don’t touch me when I’m driving, or I might not just almost crash next time.”

You placed a hand over your chest, playfully solemn. “Got it. Hands off the CEO while he’s behind the wheel.”

With a final, lingering look, and a sigh that carried a secret smile, he started the engine again. This time, the drive was calmer, still quiet. But the silence now? Laced with warmth.

— ♬ ˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚ ♬ —

The next day, Choi Seungcheol arrived at the office ten minutes earlier than usual. Hair styled neatly, tie perfectly knotted, suit crisp. A plan already mapped in his head.

Today, he told himself, he would not lose focus, he would be composed and professional. Distant, even.

He was a CEO, not some college boy crushing on his lab partner.

And then you walked in. Calm as ever, radiating soft energy like it was stitched into your aura. You greeted everyone with a polite bow, a warm smile that reached your eyes, and when your gaze met his across the hallway, you smiled wider.

He blinked once.

Not today, he reminded himself, adjusting the cuffs of his blazer. Stay sharp, Choi Seungcheol.

You followed behind him into his office, as per usual. You placed your notebook on the desk neatly, your voice as honeyed as it was yesterday. “Good morning, Mr. Choi.”

His heartbeat betrayed him again, but he forced a nod.

“Morning. Let’s begin the schedule,” he said, already opening his laptop to avoid your eyes.

But you weren’t done. You tilted your head slightly, eyes narrowing with playful curiosity. “You slept well after your near-death experience yesterday?”

He stiffened.

You were teasing him, again.

His jaw clenched, and he sighed through his nose. “It wasn’t near-death.”

“It was slightly near,” you said with a soft giggle. “You looked like you were about to write your will in that parking lane.”

He closed his laptop slowly, eyes finally meeting yours. “Are you done?”

You grinned. “Maybe.”

He clicked his pen once, and twice. Trying to stay unbothered and ignore the way your laughter from the day before still echoed in his ears like a favorite song.

“Right,” he muttered, clearing his throat. “Let’s move on to today’s shadowing.”

But you weren’t going to let him off that easily. You had plans. You stayed close, just close enough to keep him aware of your presence, but never inappropriate. You asked thoughtful questions, tilted your head as you listened, eyes always fixed on him with that same soft admiration.

Your voice? Still sweet.

Your tone? Still respectful, but never flat.

He was drowning quietly. And the worst part? He knew you were doing it on purpose.

He tried keeping distance. Told you to observe from the corner during a department discussion. You obeyed, then proceeded to thank him afterward, calling his approach “insightful and clean-cut.”

He told you to grab coffee for a break, hoping you’d step away. You returned ten minutes later with a second cup for him. His favorite, somehow.

He froze when you handed it to him. “How did you know this is what I drink?”

You tilted your head again, the faintest smile playing on your lips. “You mentioned it once. Thought I’d remember.”

He had no words, just sipped silently, while the heat of the coffee failed to cover the warmth spreading in his chest.

By lunch, he was cornered—emotionally, mentally, completely. And then came the final blow.

You peeked into his office again after a quick team session, hands behind your back like a child with a secret. “I finished organizing the files from the budget review. Do you want me to bring them now, Mr. Choi?”

He nodded. “Yes, that’ll do.”

You stepped inside, but instead of placing the files on his desk, you walked closer, slower, and set them gently right beside him, leaning just a bit forward. Then, you whispered, voice like silk, “You're doing great, you know.”

He turned his head so fast it startled even himself.

You stepped back immediately, that same sweet expression never leaving your face. “Just thought someone should tell you.”

He stared at you, absolutely blindsided.

You smiled again. “I’ll get back to my desk now.”

And with that, you turned and walked away, like you hadn’t just sent his heart sprinting through his ribcage.

He leaned back in his chair slowly, dragging a hand over his face, muttering under his breath: “…I’m doomed.”

Per Mr. Shin’s earlier request, Seungcheol knew that as part of your mentorship, you needed to start observing internal meetings, especially the ones that mattered. And this one, definitely mattered.

The conference room was filled with tension the moment it began. You sat beside Seungcheol, with his secretary just one seat away. The opposing company’s team stood at the other end of the long, glass table—well-dressed, well-prepared, and, unfortunately, woefully out of touch.

At first, the presentation was tolerable. Numbers were clean, projections stable, but as soon as they reached the slide titled Strategic Timeline for Implementation, everything changed.

Seungcheol’s eyes narrowed.

The speaker on the opposing side continued confidently, explaining outdated timelines and collaborations with partners Seungcheol had long since flagged as liabilities.

He raised a hand, slowly, but firmly.

“Hold it,” he said.

The speaker paused. Seungcheol gestured toward the screen. “This segment. You need to revise this strategy. We’ve already seen instability in those markets. Collaborating there puts the project at risk.”

The man across the table gave a tight smile. “We understand your concern, Mr. Choi, but altering the current timeline may damage our relationship with the local representatives. A shift might send the wrong message.”

Seungcheol’s expression hardened.

“I said it needs to change.”

The tension escalated. His voice was still level, but underneath it was a warning. You could feel the air grow heavier around the table. The other attendees exchanged subtle glances. His secretary lowered her gaze.

You sat there, watching him. His knuckles were turning white, hand clenched against the table. His shoulders stiff, jaw set, clearly holding back the frustration simmering inside.

Should you do something? You hesitated. You’d never seen him this serious before. This cold. It was a side of him you hadn’t met: CEO Choi in full form. Intimidating, sharp, commanding.

But something in you… moved.

Even if he’s your boss. Even if you’re scared. You didn’t want him to be swallowed by the storm he was holding back.

So, gently—barely noticeable to anyone else—you reached out beneath the table, and touched his knuckles.

The tension left his hand almost instantly. He didn’t flinch, didn’t look at you, but he felt it, and it grounded him.

His eyes flicked back to the presenter. His shoulders lowered slightly. And then—calm, steady, dangerous—he spoke again.

“I said the cons of not changing. If you can’t change,” he began, voice slow and clear, “I can already see your company failing, and dragging mine down with it.”

The room froze.

“So I suggest you change it,” he continued, folding his hands neatly in front of him, “or I’ll stop collaborating with you altogether.”

He leaned forward just slightly, voice dropping a notch.

“It’s not a question. It’s a statement.”

Dead silence followed.

The opposing speaker faltered, swallowed hard, and eventually nodded. “Understood… We’ll revise it.”

Seungcheol nodded once, satisfied. “Good.”

The rest of the meeting passed with no further resistance. Everyone suddenly became a lot more agreeable. When it ended, people stood slowly, gathering their notes and trying to pretend they hadn’t just witnessed the CEO version of a guillotine.

You, meanwhile, were still seated, glancing at him quietly.

As soon as the door shut behind the last guest, Seungcheol leaned back in his chair, letting out a breath. Not loud, but deep. Then he finally looked at you. Not cold, not intimidating, just… aware.

“Thanks,” he muttered, barely above a whisper.

You blinked. “For what?”

He didn’t say anything right away. Just offered a small, dry smile. “For keeping me from flipping the table.”

You giggled softly. “Glad I could stop a potential lawsuit.”

He laughed under his breath, raking a hand through his hair. “You’re sneaky, you know that?”

You tilted your head. “Me? I just touched your hand.”

“Exactly,” he murmured, eyeing you. “That’s the problem.”

The heavy oak doors to the meeting room closed with a muted click, sealing away the tension that had filled the space just moments ago. The silence that followed was a welcome relief, wrapping around the room like a comforting blanket.

Seungcheol remained seated at the head of the table, shoulders finally relaxed, jaw no longer set, but he didn’t move, not yet.

He glanced toward you, and then his gaze dropped to your hands.

They were resting gently in your lap, fingers slightly curled, relaxed. The same hands that had grounded him just minutes earlier with nothing more than a simple touch.

His eyes lingered there longer than he should have and you noticed.

A soft giggle slipped past your lips, making his eyes flicker up to your face in mild panic, but you weren’t teasing. Your smile was warm, as if you already understood what he was thinking without needing him to say it aloud.

You shift your seat closer to his, and without asking, without hesitation, you reached out and gently cupped his hands, both of them.

Your palms were warm. Your grip wasn’t delicate, it was steady and secure, like you weren’t just touching him, you were anchoring him.

He stiffened at first, not used to being handled like that. But when he looked up and met your eyes, something cracked inside him. Something quiet.

You smiled at him again, sweet and sure, and then said with the calmest voice he’d ever heard: “Hold onto mine if you want. I’m always here beside you.”

The words weren’t loud, they weren’t dramatic, but God, did they hit hard. His breath caught somewhere in his throat, his fingers, usually firm and commanding, hesitated, and then slowly, tentatively, curled around yours.

The pressure in his chest eased, the sharp edge of his thoughts dulled, and in its place was only your warmth, quietly settling in his bloodstream, pushing out the last remnants of the anger and disappointment that had clouded him just minutes ago.

It felt dangerous and addictive, but more than anything, it felt right.

He said nothing, still lost in your gaze.

And you? You didn’t ask for anything in return, you simply stood there, smiling as if you had all the time in the world to wait for him to breathe again.

And finally, he did.

“…You’re trouble,” he whispered, lips barely moving.

You laughed, soft and silvery. “You’ve said that before.”

He shook his head slightly. “I meant it even more now.”

But he didn’t let go, not yet.

— ♬ ˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚ ♬ —

The day had finally drawn to a close. The last of the lights at the office flickered off, and staff began to disappear one by one. Choi Seungcheol stepped out of the elevator, jacket draped over his arm, briefcase in hand, ready to head home.

That was until his secretary caught him in the lobby.

“Mr. Choi,” she said with a small nod toward you, waiting quietly near the front entrance. “Ms. Y/N doesn’t have a ride.”

He blinked once.

Again?

His eyes drifted toward you. You were scrolling on your phone, humming lightly under your breath, completely unbothered. Just like yesterday.

Suspicious.

You looked up at him at just the right moment, smiling, and all his suspicion melted into a sigh.

“...She’s doing this on purpose,” he mumbled to himself, but louder than he meant to. Still, he nodded toward the car. “Let’s go.”

You fell into step beside him, cheerful and bright even in the evening glow. Once inside the car, you didn’t even hesitate, you walked straight to the passenger seat and slid in smoothly, as if it were your assigned spot.

Seungcheol sat in the driver’s seat, started the engine, and began to drive.

Silence filled the space again, peaceful, but electric in its own way.

He kept his eyes forward, focused, or trying to be. Then your voice—soft, laced with mischief—cut into the quiet.

“Do you want to get late supper?”

The car didn’t swerve this time, but Seungcheol’s grip on the wheel definitely stiffened. He glanced at you briefly.

Late supper? That was not in the schedule.

His routine was sacred. Home, shower, towel-dry hair for two minutes exactly, collapse onto bed, wake up, work, and repeat.

He did not do it spontaneously yet here you were, blinking at him innocently.

At the next red light, he turned his head fully to look at you.

“Late supper?” he repeated, like the phrase was foreign.

You nodded. “I know there are some places still open for people like me.”

People like you? What did that mean? Were you just… casual about life like that? Wandering the streets at midnight, hunting for warm broth and rice with no plan whatsoever?

That was chaos, and dangerous… but oddly tempting. And while his mind absolutely panicked over the idea of shifting his routine by even an inch, his heart was already halfway to the restaurant.

He stared at you. You stared back, innocently and unassuming, completely unaware of the inner breakdown he was having. Or… maybe fully aware.

He sighed heavily, eyes closing for a second. “Key in the address.”

You beamed, tapping in the location into his GPS. He drove through the green light with a defeated grunt. He glanced sideways, catching the teasing glint in your eyes. and for once in his life, he didn’t hate the idea of change.

The city lights shimmered against the night sky, and neon signs flickered above street corners, glowing softly like stars fallen to the ground. The GPS guided Seungcheol through a few narrow turns before slowing to a stop beside a quiet cluster of food stalls tucked between two buildings.

The air was thick with the scent of grilled meat, fried batter, and warm soup broth.

It wasn’t flashy or pristine, it wasn’t anything remotely close to what CEO Choi Seungcheol was used to.

And yet… he was here.

You stepped out of the car with a bright grin, your shoes softly clicking on the pavement. You turned back to face him as he closed the car door slowly, taking in the unfamiliar scene like a foreign landscape.

“First time?” you asked, eyes twinkling under the streetlight.

“…Yeah,” he admitted, adjusting his sleeves. “Very first.”

You giggled, hugging your arms to yourself. “Same. But I wanted to explore, and I figured... food like this probably tastes better when you’re not worried about etiquette.”

He raised an eyebrow, skeptical. “That’s what everyone says before they get food poisoning.”

You shot him a mock glare. “You’re such a corporate man.”

“And you’re reckless,” he muttered, but followed you anyway.

You led him to one of the stalls with a steaming pot of tteokbokki, skewers glistening beside it. The ahjumma running the stall gave you a kind smile and gestured for you to sit.

The two of you took seats on worn plastic stools under a flickering lightbulb, the table in front of you scratched with time, marked with memories. And somehow, to Seungcheol, it felt weirdly peaceful.

You handed him a pair of chopsticks and smiled. “Let’s try not to act like we just left a board meeting.”

Seungcheol stared down at the food. No plated silverware, no polished wine glasses, just bubbling spicy sauce and steam against the cool air.

It was chaotic and… warm.

He picked up a piece of rice cake, blew on it once, then tasted it. His eyebrows rose.

“...That’s not bad.”

You laughed. “Not bad? That’s it? That’s your review?”

He nodded, eyes focused on the next bite. “Spicy. A little sweet. Soft texture. Good balance.”

“God,” you groaned, “you’re reviewing it like a Michelin judge.”

“You invited a CEO. What did you expect?”

You laughed again, and the sound danced through the night air, making his chest feel far lighter than it had all day.

As you both ate, conversation flowed more freely. You talked about small things: food preferences, random bucket list items, silly high school moments. Seungcheol found himself leaning forward more, laughing softly, even forgetting to check the time.

He didn’t even realize how relaxed he looked. Tie loosened, sleeves rolled up, chopsticks clumsily trying to balance a fish cake skewer.

At one point, you handed him a tissue as he dabbed the edge of his mouth, cheeks slightly red from the heat of the spice.

“Next time,” you said between bites, “we should try grilled skewers by the river. I heard they open till 3AM.”

He stared at you.

Next time?

A part of him panicked again, knowing this was starting to become a habit. But the other part? The one quietly folding inside his chest, heartbeat slow and warm? That part didn’t mind at all.

After the last bite was eaten and the food stall cleared, you both stood up from your stools, stomachs full and spirits even fuller. You reached into your bag for your wallet, already fishing out a few bills to pay, but before you could even lift your hand to the stall owner, Seungcheol moved faster. With practiced ease, he gently pushed your hand aside—not harshly, but firm enough to make you blink in surprise—and handed over the exact cash to the ahjumma behind the stall.

He didn’t even look at you as he accepted the change with a polite nod.

You, on the other hand, were left blinking in quiet disbelief.

No words were exchanged in that moment.

The two of you returned to the car under the soft night sky, sliding into your seats once again. The car’s interior greeted you with its usual scent, clean leather and something that faintly smelled like cedarwood and coffee. As the engine rumbled to life, you turned your head toward him, curious.

“How did you have cash money in you?”

He glanced sideways, one hand on the wheel, the other adjusting the air conditioning. His lips curled into a lazy smile.

“I’m not always a card guy, okay?”

You let out a playful scoff. “Right. A card and cash money guy who doesn’t know how to relax.”

That made him laugh this time, a sound that was deep and rich and a little too attractive for your heart to handle. But it didn’t stop there.

He turned to say something else, only to realize you hadn’t buckled in yet. His eyes lowered to the strap by your side, then back at you.

“Seatbelt,” he muttered softly, but instead of waiting for you to fix it, he leaned in.

You froze.

The air felt thinner suddenly.

Seungcheol reached across you, one arm brushing past your shoulder, fingers catching the seatbelt smoothly as he clicked it into place. His scent surrounded you, something expensive and warm. He didn’t notice how close he was. He didn’t see the way your breath hitched, or how your lashes fluttered like they were trying to compose themselves.

To him, it was just another responsible act.

To you? It was too close. Too sudden and overwhelming.

He leaned back into his seat like nothing happened, shot you a relaxed smile as his hand returned to the wheel.

“Ready to head back?” he asked, as if your heart wasn’t thundering like a drum in your ears.

You stared at him for a moment longer, lips parting, unsure if you should thank him or scream internally. But eventually, you just gave a small nod, tucking your hands on your lap.

“Yeah…” you said quietly. “Ready.”

— ♬ ˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚ ♬ —

The morning sun seeped gently through the sheer curtains of Seungcheol’s penthouse, casting warm light across his pristine walk-in closet. Rows of crisp shirts, tailored blazers, perfectly ironed trousers, and a curated collection of designer watches lined the walls like an exhibition.

He stood in front of the full-length mirror, a clean white shirt buttoned to the collar, his charcoal grey blazer slung loosely over one arm. His hair was still slightly damp, falling in soft waves over his forehead.

And yet, he frowned.

Something was… off.

His hands moved on their own, slipping off the blazer and replacing it with a navy one. He buttoned the cuffs, stared into the mirror and tilted his head.

No, too stiff.

He tried again. Swapped the navy for a muted sand-colored jacket, loosened the collar slightly, and he looked at himself.

Too soft.

A sigh escaped his lips. “This is ridiculous,” he muttered to himself, running a hand through his hair.

There was no event today, no company gala, no board of directors flying in from overseas. It was just a regular day at work. But then again… you would be there.

That alone was enough to make his entire closet suddenly feel insufficient.

He wasn’t even sure when it started, this strange habit of wanting to look just a little better each morning, starting from today. All he knew was that your eyes, so bright and attentive, always lingered a little longer than necessary. And the way you smiled at him, as if he was someone worth admiring…

He wanted to live up to that look.

He tried on three different watches before settling on a Piaget brand Polo Date watch. Switched out his usual thin-framed glasses for a bolder pair. Dabbed on a Creed brand cologne. Then he stood back, observing himself fully.

Blazer sharp, tie slightly loosened, hair perfectly imperfect, and a hint of confidence in his smirk, just enough to keep him grounded. Still, he chuckled under his breath, shaking his head.

“Choi Seungcheol...”

But he didn’t change.

With one last glance in the mirror and a small breath to steady the fluttering inside his chest, he grabbed his keys and headed out.

The automatic doors of the building slid open with a soft whoosh, letting in a gentle gust of morning air. Seungcheol stepped into the familiar lobby, polished floors reflecting the low sunlight spilling through the glass walls. The day had just begun. Staff were slowly trickling in, exchanging greetings and organizing the day’s start.

And then he saw you, standing near the entrance, chatting lightly with the front desk assistant, smiling just enough to make time slow down.

You looked simple—fresh-faced, your hair styled neatly, blouse tucked into a modest skirt—but to Seungcheol, you were breathtaking.

Maybe it was the light hitting you just right, or the soft sound of your laugh, or maybe, it was just you being you. Whatever it was, he was gone the moment your eyes lifted to meet his.

You turned fully toward him, a little surprise in your gaze, followed quickly by something warmer, something curious as your eyes slowly drifted from his face to… his clothes.

You blinked once, and then twice before your lips curled up knowingly.

“Oh?” you said with an arch of your brow, arms crossing lightly over your chest. “New look today, Mr. Choi?”

He tried to act unaffected, adjusting the strap of his watch as if it wasn’t planned, as if he hadn’t spent twenty minutes debating between jackets this morning.

“I just picked whatever was clean,” he said flatly.

You giggled softly, stepping closer, eyes never leaving his figure.

“Well, whatever was clean looks really, really good today.”

He froze, not obviously, but just enough for his breath to catch for half a second.

You looked back up at his face, tilting your head, clearly amused at how his ears turned ever so slightly pink.

“Are you blushing?”

“I’m not,” he deadpanned.

“You are.”

“Y/N,” he warned lightly, though the corners of his lips gave away the smile threatening to break free.

You stepped beside him, walking toward the elevator as he followed. “You know,” you said, glancing at him sideways, “if dressing up makes you this charming in the morning, I might start asking you to do it more often.”

He scoffed gently, pressing the elevator button. “Don’t get used to it.”

“But you did it for me, didn’t you?” you teased, voice low and sweet.

The elevator dinged, and he walked in without responding. You followed closely behind, the space inside suddenly smaller than you remembered. He stood beside you, hands in his pockets, looking straight ahead. You looked up at him with a soft smile. You already knew the answer. And when he caught your reflection in the elevator door, still staring at him with that quiet affection, you saw it: that small smile, breaking through.

The morning had passed quietly. Well, as quiet as it could be when your mentor happened to be the CEO and also your soulmate.

You sat at your desk just outside Seungcheol’s office, sorting through case studies he had handed you earlier. You were almost done highlighting key points when your phone buzzed softly beside your notebook.

It was a message from your mother.

《Mom: Your father and I were wondering if Seungcheol is free for lunch today. Just something casual. We’d love to see the two of you together. I made a reservation already, just in case.》

Your eyes widened slightly at the abruptness. You sighed softly. Of course your mom didn’t wait for confirmation before booking a spot. After re-reading it twice, you got up from your desk, lightly knocking on Seungcheol’s office door before pushing it open.

He was standing by the floor-to-ceiling windows, his blazer draped over his chair, sleeves rolled up as he reviewed a report. He glanced over his shoulder at the sound of your knock.

“Yes?”

You stepped in, holding up your phone. “My parents messaged. They want to have lunch with you today. Apparently they already made a reservation.”

He turned fully to face you, eyebrows raised ever so slightly. “Today?”

You nodded, showing him the text.

He didn’t react much on the surface, but you could tell he wasn’t the type who took surprises well. Still, his expression remained composed, only betraying a flicker of hesitation before he walked back to his desk and pressed a button on his intercom.

“Cancel the team check-in for 1PM. And block a lunch schedule under the Shin family.”

“Understood,” his secretary replied promptly.

He turned to you, expression unreadable but his tone even.

“I assume they picked a restaurant already?”

You nodded. “They did. I’ll send you the location.”

He gave a slow blink, then looked down at the stack of work on his desk, clearly adjusting his internal clock again.

You smiled faintly. “You don’t have to look so serious. It’s not a shareholders meeting.”

He gave a short sigh, rubbing the back of his neck. “You’ve met your parents, right? Do they seem like the type to keep things ‘casual’?”

You laughed. “Touché.”

He watched you quietly for a moment, eyes softening. “Are you nervous?”

You paused. “…Maybe a little.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re… you,” you said honestly. “And I know how much they respect you, likewise to you.”

He held your gaze a beat longer, before his lips curved, just slightly. “You make it sound like I’m meeting them for the first time.” then he cleared his throat and reached for his watch.

“I’ll pick you up from your desk at twelve-thirty.”

You nodded, turning to leave, but not before tossing him a cheeky smile over your shoulder.

“You better dress handsomely again, Mr. Choi.”

The only reply you got was the sound of a pen clicking behind you, and a quiet, amused exhale.

— ♬ ˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚ ♬ —

The restaurant was elegantly quiet, the kind of place where even the clink of silverware was softened by velvet-covered walls and subtle classical music. The hostess led you and Seungcheol to a private room, where your parents were already seated. Your mother in her pearls, your father sharp in a navy suit, as dignified as ever.

“Seungcheol,” your father greeted first, standing to shake his hand. Seungcheol gave a slight bow, professional but respectful.

“It’s a pleasure to see you again, Mr Shin.”

“Likewise. Please, sit.”

You quietly slipped into the seat beside Seungcheol, across from your parents, your hands folded politely on your lap.

The first few minutes were expected. Business as usual. Your father inquired about company expansion, potential collaborations, the trajectory of your training under Seungcheol’s wing. You listened attentively, occasionally stealing glances at your mentor, who answered every question with calm poise and clean, articulate responses.

It was going perfectly. Then the food arrived, and with it, your mother’s sudden ambush.

“So,” she said lightly, reaching for her soup spoon. “How is my daughter in your company?”

Seungcheol dabbed his lips with a napkin before answering.

“She’s attentive. Observant. Quick to adapt. Not many would have the initiative she’s shown in just a few days.”

You blinked, warmth blooming in your chest. The compliment made you sit just a little straighter. But your mother wasn't finished.

“And how is she…” she said, stirring her soup slowly, “…as your soulmate?”

The spoon Seungcheol had just brought to his mouth halted halfway. Then-

Choke.

Not a polite cough or a dignified clear of the throat, no. A full-on choke. You nearly dropped your own spoon as you rushed to grab his glass of water and held it out to him with both hands. He took it immediately, eyes watering as he tried to recover, sipping fast, gulping once, then twice.

“M-Mom!” you cried, cheeks flushing. “Seriously?!”

Across the table, your mother wore the most innocent smile imaginable. “What? I’m just curious.”

Your father turned to her slowly, eyebrows raised. “Soulmates?”

Your mother nodded, sipping calmly from her tea. “I noticed at the masquerade party. They were staring at each other for far too long. I had a feeling something happened. So I made a few… connections.”

You and Seungcheol froze.

Her eyes flicked between the two of you. Him still trying to swallow down the last of his panic, and you patting his back while staring wide-eyed at her like she’d just exposed your deepest secret.

Then she tilted her head. “Am I wrong?”

Silence.

You opened your mouth, then closed it again. You were too stunned to deny it. Beside you, Seungcheol finally lowered the glass, setting it down slowly on the table.

But he didn’t look up. Not at your mother, and especially not at your father.

His fingers curled slightly in his lap.

You could see the gears in his head… what would they think? A man ten years their daughter, their trusted work partner… now tied to her by something unbreakable, fated.

He was terrified of your father’s judgment, terrified of how this would change everything.

You saw it all in the way his shoulders tensed, and how his eyes remained fixed on the tablecloth. For a moment, the air was still. Then your father set down his spoon with a soft clink and leaned back in his seat.

“…Choi Seungcheol,” he said.

Seungcheol immediately straightened in his chair, gaze still lowered. “Yes, sir.”

Your father’s voice was unreadable. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

Seungcheol hesitated. “…Because I didn’t want to risk complicating anything. With your daughter… or with you.”

Your mother looked between the two men, eyes narrowing slightly. You bit your bottom lip, and your father was quiet again. Then, after a moment that stretched painfully long, he spoke.

“…You’re an honorable man, Seungcheol.” Both you and Seungcheol blinked. Your father continued. “I’ve known that since the first time you sat across from me in a boardroom. That hasn’t changed. But now…” He looked directly at Seungcheol. “That honor means something more. It means you’ll protect her.”

Seungcheol finally looked up, stunned.

Your father gave a small nod. “You didn’t choose this, neither did she. But if fate tied you together, then all I ask is that you treat her well, not as your intern, not as your subordinate, but as your equal.”

You stared at your father, lips parted in surprise. And beside you, you heard the breath Seungcheol finally let out. Quiet, shaky, and filled with quiet relief.

“…I will,” he said, voice low but clear. “I promise you. I’ll protect her, sir.”

Your father nodded again, then returned to his soup like he hadn’t just shaken the tension off the entire table. Your mother, watching everything with that quiet knowing glint in her eyes, simply smirked behind her teacup.

“Well,” she said, “now that that’s out of the way, let’s enjoy lunch properly.”

The quiet click of the car doors closing echoed softly in the air, muffled only by the cocoon of silence surrounding the two of you. The engine remained untouched. Seungcheol sat in the driver’s seat, his hands resting lightly on the wheel, gaze fixed on the windshield.

But he wasn’t seeing the road.

He was reliving the moment, the conversation over lunch, the weight of your father’s words, the softness in your mother’s knowing smile. He had braced himself for resistance, for disapproval, for that slight pause before your father might say “But she’s still too young.” Instead, what he got… was a blessing. Permission to be selfish with his heart, to love you out loud.

He swallowed hard, feeling the words echo in his chest like they had carved out space just for you. You didn’t choose this, but if fate tied you together... treat her as your equal.

And god, he would.

He would treat you like a queen. He’d spoil you relentlessly, shamelessly. He’d plan every date to perfection. He’d get you that charm bracelet you’d once said you liked, and for every monsary you celebrated together, he’d add a charm. One for each memory.

The pressure of restraint melted off his shoulders like winter snow beneath the sun. And in its place, something even warmer bloomed: freedom. Freedom to love you.

And so, without starting the car, without breaking the moment, he turned his head, and saw you already watching him.

Lovingly. Softly.

As if your gaze could read the chaos of emotions unraveling in his chest.

You smiled, a small, sweet curl of your lips. “Hi,” you whispered.

That single word, just one syllable, was enough to make his head spin.

He laughed. A real one. Not the tight-lipped CEO chuckle he gave in meetings, no. This one was open, light, carefree. His teeth showed, his eyes crinkled, and you, caught in his joy, joined him with a soft chuckle of your own.

Then the laughter faded into something quieter, heavier, something that made the air between you two spark.

His gaze dropped to your lips, then back to your eyes.

“Mind if I do something,” he said slowly, voice low and a little breathless, “that’s normal for a thirty-year-old me... but might be embarrassing for you?”

You blinked once, head tilted like a curious kitten, but you nodded, without hesitation. And with that, he leaned in.

One hand lifted, fingers brushing past your hair to cradle the back of your head gently. His touch was steady and certain, like he had waited long enough.

And then, he kissed you soft and warm, eyes closed. No rush, no pressure, just him letting everything he had been holding in for days spill into that single, quiet kiss.

You melted against him almost instinctively, lips moving in sync with his—tender, slow, meaningful.

And in that kiss, Seungcheol thought: so this is what peace tastes like, this is what fate feels like.

When he finally pulled back, your foreheads brushed, breaths mixing in the small space between. You opened your eyes slowly, cheeks flushed, lips parted. His voice was barely above a whisper, but it trembled with something sincere.

“I’ve been waiting to do that since the masquerade.”

— ♬ ˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚ ♬ —

The hum of conversation filled the large, sunlit private room in one of the most exclusive restaurants in the city. Laughter echoed off the walls, glasses clinked, and the smell of food already filled the air, even though not everyone had arrived yet.

The door creaked open, and in walked Seungcheol, dressed in a sleek black shirt, sleeves rolled just enough to show his watch and veins. Beside him, you entered quietly, but not subtly, your fingers gently laced with his.

Heads turned, every conversation stopped. Then-

“Woooooahhhh- what do we have here?!”

“Wait, is that her?!”

“Cheol brought someone?! Willingly?!”

A wave of chaotic excitement crashed over the room as all of Seungcheol’s friends—his closest circle, the ones he called his brothers—immediately swarmed you with bright eyes and louder voices. Mingyu clapped Seungcheol on the back so hard he nearly stumbled. Soonyoung practically bounced on his heels. Seokmin gave you the biggest, warmest grin.

They were chaos, but they were warm.

You didn’t even have time to respond before Jeonghan looped an arm around your shoulders like you were already part of the family.

“So you’re the one who melted our stone-faced CEO, huh?” he teased, eyes glinting. “God, we’ve been hearing about you without even hearing your name. It’s an honor.”

Seungcheol rolled his eyes but let out a small, amused chuckle as everyone finally settled into their seats.

The chaos didn’t stop there, though. Once the appetizers were cleared and laughter quieted to occasional giggles between sips of wine, Jeonghan leaned forward with a grin that screamed mischief.

“You know what’s crazy?” he said, pointing a lazy finger at Seungcheol. “This guy’s been dating her for two years and still didn’t bag her. Me? I dated my soulmate for three months. Three. Months. I couldn't bear waiting. A father now, remember those past times?” He flashed his ring proudly.

The others chuckled, some shaking their heads, others rolling their eyes at Jeonghan’s dramatics, even Seungcheol cracked a wide grin. But he didn’t say anything, not yet, because the best part hadn’t come.

After the main course, when desserts were being served and the wine glasses were half-full, Seungcheol stood up slowly, lifting his glass.

“I have two pieces of news,” he said, his voice calm but his smile soft.

Everyone quieted, eyes turned.

He looked at you briefly, then back at the group. “First- Y/N will be officially stepping in as CEO of her father’s company starting this year.”

A round of cheers, whistles, and applause erupted from the table.

“Yah! That’s huge!”

“A power couple, oh my god.”

“Don’t forget us little people when you both own half the country!”

You bashfully lowered your gaze, cheeks warm, mouthing a soft thank you as Seungcheol gently placed a hand on your back.

“And the second piece of news…” he continued, pausing for dramatic effect, “-is that she said yes.”

Silence with confused blinks, then-

“Wait- wait- WAIT- WHAT?!”

“SAID YES TO WHAT?!”

“Oh my GOD!”

“You’re LYING!”

The table exploded.

Mingyu stood up so fast he nearly knocked over his chair. Soonyoung dropped his fork. Jeonghan’s jaw dropped open like something out of a drama. Seungcheol just smirked, then gently reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, velvet box. He didn’t even need to open it. The moment the box was visible, the screaming got worse.

You held up your hand, heart racing, showing the sparkling ring on your finger with a small smile.

“I’m his fiancée,” you said, voice shy but filled with certainty.

“No. Freaking. Way.”

“Since WHEN?!”

“DID YOU DO IT AT WORK?! Was it a boardroom proposal?! TELL ME EVERYTHING!”

The group erupted again, voices overlapping, hands reaching for the ring, while Seungcheol calmly sat down next to you, sipping his drink like he hadn’t just broken the minds of every single person at the table. And in the midst of all the shouting and disbelief, he leaned in close to whisper just for you to hear: “You're mine now. Officially.”

Your heart fluttered. And in the chaos of friends and laughter, you never felt more sure. Of him. Of you. Of forever.

Tagging: @stvrrylove @sol3chu @firstclassjaylee @ateez-atiny380 @reiofsuns2001 @thetjtales @metaphorandmoonlight

[thatwildwolfwrites]

—in which turians gossip.

Have you heard about Castis Vakarian's youngest?

His son? Yeah. Apparently he got detention again. It's the fifth time this week. I don't know why that child keeps talking back. It's like he has no respect for authority.

Well, they'll beat that out of him at bootcamp. He'll fall in line eventually.

Why can't he just be normal? All the other kids his age understand this already. Maybe something's wrong with him...

I wonder. He's not growing up into a good turian... Poor Castis.

Have you heard about Castis Vakarian's son?

--

Yes. What a waste. I heard he ranked at the very top in all sharpshooting and hand to hand combat tests... and all of that for nothing.

What's wrong with him? 

He will never make a good turian.

Spirits, poor Castis. First the accident, and now that son of his...

--

What about his son? I thought he was normal now. Didn't he find a job, outside the military?

He did. Citadel Security, like his father. Easier outlet for that... passion of his. You know. All that talk of justice and right and wrong... Castis hoped working at C-Sec would help him get it out of his system. Start being normal. Maybe he would finally burn through that... energy.

Did it work?

He's constantly fighting with his superiors. Disobeying orders. Questioning their judgement. I hear he's just as much trouble out there as he ever was down here.

I don't envy Castis right now. Hearing about your son constantly failing at the job you excelled at... It's got to do something to you.

Have you heard about Castis Vakarian's son? I heard he actually quit C-Sec now. Couldn't even conform to that. Now he's left the Citadel on a whim, with some human, on an impulse...

--

Poor Castis.

Poor Castis.

I heard Castis Vakarian's son was part of that mess at the Citadel, with the geth.

--

Apparently he's aiming to be a Spectre now. I don't know how his father is going to take that.

I wouldn't want to be in his plates right now.

Have you heard about Castis Vakarian's son? He dropped out of the Spectre training program.

--

Have you heard? He's gone mad.

I heard he finally snapped. Had some sort of identity crisis, left spirits know where without saying anything.

I suppose it was always a matter of time. There's always been something wrong with that boy. Still, his poor family...

Have you heard about Castis Vakarian's son? 

--

Have you heard about Castis Vakarian? Yeah, he has kis kids staying over.

I heard. Just when you think it couldn't get any worse. Working with a terrorist organisation. Human supremacists, too... I can't imagine what his father's going through right now.

--

I heard it's a difficult family situation, yes. The mother's dying, and he... At least he still has his daughter, not like that good for nothing son of his.

Have you seen him? What a disgrace. Half his body covered in scars like that. Wearing his failures right on his face... His family must be so ashamed.

Heard he's saying he's fallen in love with an alien. A human of all species. 

Disgusting.

That's just adding insult to injury. His poor family.

Poor Castis.

Have you heard about Castis Vakarian's son?

--

Isn't he the one in charge of that refugee camp on the Citadel? Who even decided to put him in a leadership role?

I don't know. I heard he's friends with the new Primarch. I heard he failed upwards. I heard he's in an important position now, in charge of helping with that war summit.

This damn war. They'll promote anyone as long as they're still alive.

--

--

--

Have you seen? Commander Shepard's written a private account about the Reaper War. Have you read this? 

--

Incredible.

Heartwarming.

Inspiring.

Unbelievable.

Beautiful.

She wrote about Garrus Vakarian.

They were close. He was her lieutenant. Her closest aide. Her best friend.

He held her up when she stumbled. He asked her to take care of herself. He checked in with her. He cared. When everyone else saw the Commander, he was the only one who saw a person. He was the only one who asked how she was doing. He was the only one who supported her.

She wrote about everything he did for her.

He's the only reason she had the strength to win that war.

He saved the world.

--

--

Have you heard about Castis Vakarian?

--

You mean Garrus Vakarian's father? Yeah. I heard. He must be so proud.

[watermelonsloth]

So I’m of the opinion that Naruto shouldn't have become Hokage at the end of the series. There are a lot of reasons (it’s unnecessary for his arc, he doesn’t understand what it means to be Hokage, etc.), but the one I think applies the most that people talk about the least is that Naruto isn't a leader.

Sasuke is a leader. He directed team seven when he was a part of it. He created and led team hebi. He was the driving force of the attack on the five kage summit. He led the fucking Hokage into battle during the war. He took charge of team seven against Madara and especially against Kaguya.

Sakura is a leader. She keeps the people around her (mostly Naruto) grounded. She led the on-field medical ninja during the Pain attack. She made the difficult decisions and led an attack on Sasuke during the five kage summit arc. She started the purging of white zetsus in medical camps. She became in charge of Konoha’s hospital and medical forces.

Naruto is their loose-cannon friend. He spends most of the series running off on his own. Yeah, people follow him (or follows his example), but he never really leads anyone. He doesn’t make plans, he doesn’t direct anyone, and he only asks for help when he absolutely has to. He doesn’t even really make decisions, he just kind of says “I’ll just cross that bridge when we get to it”.

Sasuke takes the position of leader whenever he works with others, even when he isn’t the designated leader. Sakura usually doesn’t fill a leadership role, but falls into that position when the situation calls for it. Naruto charges ahead of everyone around him and inspires people along the way (on accident, half of the time).

[reyaint]

the academy | clubs

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

date: march 27, 2025. 3:48am. stomach is not liking me lol. anyway i'm too lazy to make my own dividers so i found one i used before.

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✧˖*°࿐Clubs & Societies at Veltrius Lumos Academy

𓂃༊ Veltrius Lumos Academy fosters a rich extracurricular culture, allowing students to explore academic, artistic, and recreational interests beyond the classroom. with a strong emphasis on community, leadership, and skill development, clubs and societies provide students with opportunities to collaborate, compete, and innovate.

✧˖*°࿐Academic & Leadership Clubs

*ೃ༄ High Council (Student Council)

𓂃༊ the governing student body responsible for planning school events, advocating for student needs, and organizing fundraisers.

𓂃༊ members run for elected positions, including President, Vice President, Secretary, and Class Representatives.

𓂃༊ hosts monthly open forums where students can propose changes to school policies.

𓂃༊ organizes the annual Student Leadership Summit and coordinates major events like Spirit Week & Graduation Ceremonies.

*ೃ༄The Equinox Society (Mathematics Club)

𓂃༊ designed for students passionate about math theory, problem-solving, and competitions.

𓂃༊ prepares members for national & international math Olympiads.

𓂃༊ hosts weekly challenges and organizes an annual Math Trivia Battle.

*ೃ༄The Alchemists’ Circle (Science Society)

𓂃༊ a hub for STEM enthusiasts, featuring hands-on experiments, science fairs, and guest lectures.

𓂃༊ organizes trips to research labs, space observatories, and marine centers.

𓂃༊ prepares students for science competitions and research symposiums.

*ೃ༄ The Inkwell Society (Writing Club)

𓂃༊ focuses on creative writing, poetry, and storytelling, helping students refine their craft.

𓂃༊ organizes writing workshops, spoken word events, and poetry slams.

𓂃༊ publishes a quarterly literary magazine, featuring student essays, fiction, and poetry.

*ೃ༄ Lumosaos | Lumos Chronicle (Newspaper & Yearbook Club)

𓂃༊ produces Lumos News, the official school newspaper.

𓂃༊ covers student events, interviews, and major school happenings.

𓂃༊ the Yearbook team works year-round to design and create the Veltrius Yearbook.

✧˖*°࿐Arts & Cultural Societies

*ೃ༄The Atelier Society (Art Club)

𓂃༊ provides space for students to paint, sketch, and explore different artistic mediums.

𓂃༊ hosts gallery showcases, where students display their work.

𓂃༊ runs a “Mural Project”, where members create art for campus walls.

*ೃ༄The Lumos Theatre Guild (Theatre Club)

𓂃༊ produces two major performances per year: a Fall Play and a Spring Musical.

𓂃༊ offers training in acting, scriptwriting, set design, and costume creation.

𓂃༊ collaborates with the Fashion Club to design costumes and with Game Over! (Gaming Club) for digital stage effects.

*ೃ༄The House of Starlight (Fashion Club)

𓂃༊ explores the world of design, textiles, and fashion history.

𓂃༊ students create seasonal fashion collections and host runway shows.

𓂃༊ works with Photography & Graphic Design students for editorial projects.

*ೃ༄Terra Nova Society (Culture Club)

𓂃༊ celebrates global traditions, customs, and international cuisine.

𓂃༊ organizes language exchanges, cultural fairs, and holiday celebrations.

𓂃༊ hosts the International Food Festival, where students cook dishes from different countries.

*ೃ༄Lingua Vox (Language Club)

𓂃༊ focuses on multilingual practice and cultural immersion.

𓂃༊ conducts language workshops, pen-pal exchanges, and foreign film nights.

𓂃༊ collaborates with the World Culture Club for events.

*ೃ༄Celestial Nexus (Astrology Club)

𓂃༊ dedicated to the study of astrology, celestial navigation, and horoscopes.

𓂃༊ organizes stargazing nights, mythology discussions, and birth chart readings.

𓂃༊ works alongside the Astronomy Department for meteor shower observations.

*ೃ༄The Literary Guild (Reading Club)

𓂃༊ the Literary Guild is for students who are passionate about reading, discussing literature, and sharing recommendations.

𓂃༊ monthly book discussions where members read and talk about a selected book, both classics and contemporary works.

𓂃༊ literary competitions such as poetry slams and short story contests.

𓂃༊ collaboration with the English Department to host author readings and writing workshops.

𓂃༊ field trips to libraries, literary events, or local book fairs.

*ೃ༄The Harmonia Collective (Music Club)

𓂃༊ the Music Club is a haven for students who love playing, composing, or simply appreciating music.

𓂃༊ weekly jam sessions, where students can play various instruments or sing.

𓂃༊ performances at school events, concerts, and competitions.

𓂃༊ collaborations with the Drama and Dance Clubs to produce musical theater performances.

𓂃༊ workshops on music theory, composition, and music technology.

*ೃ༄Silver Screen Society (Film Club)

𓂃༊ the Film Club is designed for students interested in all aspects of film production, from scripting to editing and direction.

𓂃༊ weekly screenings of classic and contemporary films followed by discussions.

𓂃༊ filmmaking workshops where members write, direct, and edit their own short films.

𓂃༊ participation in film festivals, both local and national, showcasing their work.

𓂃༊ critique sessions where students analyze cinematography, storytelling, and the art of film.

*ೃ༄The Quill (Journaling Club)

𓂃༊ the Journaling Club is a creative space for students to engage in personal reflection through writing.

𓂃༊ regular journaling prompts for self-reflection and creative exploration.

𓂃༊ collaborative projects that focus on writing personal narratives or poetry collections.

𓂃༊ workshops on the therapeutic benefits of journaling and mindfulness.

𓂃༊ journaling challenges to inspire students to write daily and develop a habit.

*ೃ༄The Scroll (Journalism Club)

𓂃༊ the Journalism Club offers a platform for students to explore news writing, investigative journalism, and media production.

𓂃༊ writing articles for the school newspaper, Lumos News, covering school events, sports, culture, and interviews.

𓂃༊ organizing interviews with notable figures from the school and local community.

𓂃༊ running media campaigns that raise awareness of important issues on campus and in society.

𓂃༊ producing and editing content for the school’s online blog and social media platforms.

✧˖*°࿐Culinary & Nature-Based Clubs

*ೃ༄The Gilded Whisk (Baking Club)

𓂃༊ specializes in pastry-making, bread baking, and dessert creation.

𓂃༊ hosts baking competitions and seasonal holiday bake sales.

𓂃༊ collaborates with the World Culture Club for international baking events.

*ೃ༄The Verdant Haven | Gaia Initiative (Gardening Club)

𓂃༊ focuses on organic farming, plant care, and sustainability.

𓂃༊ maintains the school’s greenhouse and herb garden.

𓂃༊ works with Science Society on hydroponic and eco-garden projects.

*ೃ༄Fauna & Flora Society (Animal Club)

𓂃༊ advocates for wildlife conservation, pet care, and veterinary science.

𓂃༊ organizes trips to animal shelters, wildlife sanctuaries, and marine centers.

𓂃༊ works with the Marine Life Club for ocean conservation projects.

*ೃ༄Ocean’s Echo (Marine Biology Club)

𓂃༊ focuses on oceanography, aquatic conservation, and marine species research.

𓂃༊ conducts coastal clean-ups and coral reef awareness programs.

𓂃༊ collaborates with the Science Society for marine biodiversity studies.

✧˖*°࿐Technology & Gaming Clubs

*ೃ༄Digital Dominion (Gaming Club)

𓂃༊ focuses on video games, board games, and competitive eSports.

𓂃༊ hosts gaming tournaments, including fighting games, strategy games, and VR experiences.

𓂃༊ works with Coding & Computer Science students to develop games.

*ೃ༄The Velocity Guild (Cars & Motors Club)

𓂃༊ dedicated to automotive mechanics, car design, and motorsports.

𓂃༊ students learn engine building, vehicle maintenance, and racing technology.

𓂃༊ organizes model car competitions and motorsport trips.

*ೃ༄Lens & Light Society (Photography & Graphic Design Club)

𓂃༊ focuses on photojournalism, fashion photography, and digital design.

𓂃༊ works with the Newspaper & Yearbook Club for campus photography.

𓂃༊ hosts monthly photo challenges and exhibits student work.

*ೃ༄The Innovators' Lab (Coding/Computer Science Club)

𓂃༊ the Coding Club is for students passionate about programming, software development, and digital technologies.

𓂃༊ weekly coding challenges to help members develop their coding skills in languages like Python, Java, and C++.

𓂃༊ development of small projects like websites, apps, and games.

collaboration with the Robotics Club to program automated systems.

𓂃༊ hackathons and coding competitions to encourage teamwork and innovation.

*ೃ༄The Forge (Engineering Club)

𓂃༊ the Engineering Club brings together students interested in building, designing, and problem-solving.

𓂃༊ hands-on projects like building robots, machines, and 3D printing.

𓂃༊ participation in engineering competitions such as robotics challenges and maker fairs.

𓂃༊ guest speakers from the engineering world sharing insights into various engineering fields.

𓂃༊ workshops on basic engineering principles, materials science, and sustainable design.

✧˖*°࿐Athletic & Fitness-Based Clubs

*ೃ༄Veltrius Runners' League (Track & Field Club)

𓂃༊ focuses on sprint training, long-distance running, and jump techniques.

prepares members for regional & national athletic competitions.

*ೃ༄ECU (Elite Cheer & Gymnastics Club)

𓂃༊ a specialized club for competitive cheerleading and advanced gymnastics.

𓂃༊ works with the Cheerleading Team for stunts and halftime performances

*ೃ༄The Elysian Riders (Equestrian Club)

𓂃༊ the Equestrian Club is for students passionate about horseback riding, care, and the equestrian lifestyle.

𓂃༊ regular riding lessons, training, and competitions.

𓂃༊ trail rides around the campus grounds, with a focus on developing discipline and patience with horses.

𓂃༊ organized events like equestrian shows, where members can display their skills.

𓂃༊ workshops on horse care, from grooming to saddle making.

𓂃༊ collaboration with animal care clubs to foster a greater understanding of animal health.

*ೃ༄The Dueling Society (Fencing Club)

𓂃༊ the Fencing Club is dedicated to the art of sword fighting, combining agility, strategy, and precision.

𓂃༊ regular practice sessions with professional instructors.

𓂃༊ weekly sparring matches for students of varying levels, from beginners to advanced.

𓂃༊ participation in local, national, and even international fencing competitions.

𓂃༊ workshops on fencing history, technique, and its connection to literature and art.

*ೃ༄The Iron Lotus (Martial Arts Club)

𓂃༊ the Martial Arts Club focuses on various styles of martial arts, including judo, taekwondo, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

𓂃༊ weekly classes, from beginner to advanced techniques.

𓂃༊ self-defense seminars and stress management through martial arts.

𓂃༊ annual tournaments for both fun and competition.

𓂃༊ meditation and fitness sessions to improve mental clarity and physical strength.

✧˖*°࿐Club Meetings & Activities Schedule

𓂃༊ clubs meet once or twice a week, depending on activity level.

𓂃༊ some clubs, like Newspaper, Yearbook, and Student Council, operate year-round.

𓂃༊ clubs with seasonal projects, like Theatre and Fashion clubs, have intensive periods before major events.

✧˖*°࿐Competitions & Achievements

𓂃༊ Science Fairs & Math Olympiads

𓂃༊ National Theatre & Dance Competitions

𓂃༊ Literary Awards & Writing Contests

𓂃༊ Athletic Championships & eSports Tournaments

𓂃༊ Fashion & Art Exhibitions

[tortoisebore]

diverting from usual content to give you all an un-fun update & PSA about the state of the US atm

a lot of you know that i work in undergrad admission/recruitment communications at my state’s largest university. today in our weekly staff meeting we were told to immediately halt all emails/texts/print pieces related to Black History Month, and everything we send out promoting our annual leadership summit for prospective Black students is now on indefinite pause. the university received a letter from the federal government this week stating that anything “DEI-related” must be eradicated or funding for the school, a top tier-research institution, will be pulled. we’ve been operating under an anti-DEI executive order from our fuckass governor for the last year and fortunately last spring university leadership found loopholes to keep operating as usual—we kept the gender & equality center and the women’s health clinic & the office of diversity & inclusion running under different names & still serving students the same way, but as of today all of that is now under investigation. i can’t even publish the word “diversity” when referring to geography. student organizations and outreach programs to underserved communities in the state are under fire & i’m furious and scared for what this means for young people in my state.

i don’t like to fall into the cycle of fear mongering & i know that blind panic doesn’t do anything to help but oh my god we need to all quickly come to the understanding that nowhere is safe from these power-frenzied nutjobs in office. their policies are in our workplaces and our schools. now is the time to brainstorm ways to combat restrictive, oppressive, & racist legislation in your daily life.

example—i can’t use the word diversity in a postcard to small-town rural students about all the ways they can find belonging at the university i work at, but i can make sure that the photos i use on the card reflect students of all backgrounds—all gender expressions, all ages, all abilities, all ethnicities. i can’t be overt with my resistance without putting my job and my team at risk, but i’m in enough of a position of power where being smart about the ways i use photos and quotes can emphasize a diverse student population & a place of belonging for everyone without directly saying it. and outside of work, i will continue to donate and attend protests and run my mouth about how vehemently i disagree with these pieces of legislation & how the enemy is not my neighbor, it’s the governor and the fuckass state superintendent and the attorney general and congress and the fucking president and all his friends.

with the direction this administration is headed in, i implore you to find small ways to resist in every single facet of your daily life. i implore you to embrace your neighbor and become close with your community and protect them loudly when they need it. i’m begging us all to keep our sights set on who’s really to blame in this moment & over the next four years ‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️ and please for the love of god fact check everything you read & think critically about what you see online before you speak about it !!!

[mariacallous]

Hundreds of young women in floral sundresses and cowboy boots are line-dancing on the floor of a ballroom in a Dallas convention center. The bows and barrettes in their hair bob as they clap, stomp, twirl, and shimmy to the Christian hip-hop song “Church Clap” by KB featuring Lecrae. The many young mothers in the audience bounce their newborns on their hips and mouth the lyrics. “Do liberals do this?” asks the woman seated next to me, a flaxen-haired accountant from Kansas City dressed in Jackie Kennedy tweed. I have to concede that usually they do not, unless copious amounts of alcohol and/or ketamine are involved. I hate how much I’m enjoying this. I also hate how much I want a pair of bedazzled white cowboy boots.

This is my introduction to the Young Women’s Leadership Summit, an annual conference for young women who are involved in Turning Point USA, the Charlie Kirk–founded student conservative group. Now in its tenth year, the summit attracts thousands of women from across the country, most of whom are in their teens and early 20s. They lined up for selfies in front of a mirror printed with the slogan, “You look stunning, now go out there and save America”; shoveled down açai bowls at the concessions booth; and chatted about guys they hoped to see at the upcoming co-ed Student Action Summit in Tampa. They roamed the halls wearing buttons that said “Dump Your Socialist Boyfriend,” “My Favorite Season Is the Fall of Feminism,” and “I don’t need a degree to succeed.” The vibe of the entire weekend was like a sorority mixer, albeit with fewer kamikazes and more references to the Book of Ruth.

“Let’s just be honest: It’s never been hotter to be a conservative,” Alex Clark, the 32-year-old host of the popular wellness podcast Culture Apothecary, said in her opening remarks. “The left, they’ve got Tiktok activists with five shades of autism, panic attacks, and a ring light. We’ve got girls who look like they just walked off the cover of Vogue and can deadlift more than Harry Sisson,” the leftist TikToker. The crowd erupted into peals of laughter and applause.

Though a majority of women between the ages of 18 and 29 voted for Kamala Harris during the 2024 election, support for Trump grew by seven points among that same group compared to 2020. That number pales in comparison to the share of Gen-Z men who swung toward Trump — 58 percent, according to one poll — but the right is quick to tout it as evidence of mainstream culture shifting in their direction. “Conservatism is selling sexy in all aspects,” Clark told me after her speech. “Even the branding for President Trump’s campaign is so aesthetic and so genius and brilliant. The Make America Great Again hat is going to be a pure Americana staple forever. We are pop culture now.”

But the more time I spent in that ballroom, the more obvious it became that conservatism’s appeal to the young women gathered inside had little to do with Trump himself. Few young women I spoke to mentioned him by name; some even said they disliked him. The number of bedazzled cowboy hats and pastel bows in the audience far eclipsed the number of MAGA caps. Instead, the women seemed to be drawn to the speakers’ soft-focus brand of femininity. “The left wants women to feel angry and like victims, and like your rights are being taken away,” Arynne Wexler, a 31-year-old influencer, told me. “Whereas we think women are beautiful and serve a great purpose, and we elevate them in our own right.” In this world, instead of a machine to rage against, there was a vision of “more babies and beef tallow, less blue hair and birth control,” as Clark put it in her speech. An attendee could leave that talk and wander over to the merch tables to buy We Heart Nutrition omega-3 supplements (“10 percent of your purchase goes to pro-life pregnancy centers!” a sign next to them read), “MAHA red” lip glosses, and $70 pastel crewneck sweaters that read, “Healing a sick culture physically, emotionally, and spirituality.”

Many of the young women I spoke with were repeat YWLS attendees, but a few were first-time guests or newly minted conservatives who, emboldened by Trump’s victory, wanted to connect with like-minded young women their age. “At the tail end of the election, there was all this messaging to Gen Z that made conservative culture look cool,” Alexis Wilkins, a 26-year-old country artist who sang the national anthem to open the conference, said. “It came out how we’re not these stuffy, crazy people that don’t want to have a good time and are sitting in a corner, hating everyone.” Many of the women told me they were excited to see Clark or Brett Cooper, a 23-year-old podcaster who has more than 1.7 million followers on her YouTube channel (that’s a few hundred thousand more than Call Her Daddy). “Even my friends who are not political know who Brett Cooper is,” Shelby Gwinn, a 17-year-old from Atlanta who came to the conference with her mom, told me. “She’s really brought a lot of people in.”

Cooper told me that when she started at the Daily Wire, the conservative website co-founded by Ben Shapiro, her audience was only 10 percent female. “The right-wing media landscape was very male-dominated and there were very few Gen-Z voices — and most were men,” she says. Now, her audience skews 60 to 65 percent female. “I knew that I wanted to reach common-sense, right-leaning young women who, like me, had felt alienated and like they didn’t really have a place in this media landscape,” she said. “And over time, it happened.”

According to a spokesperson for the organization, this year’s summit was the most attended in Turning Point’s ten-year history, with more than 3,000 women at the event. There was a general sense of giddiness that the “tent is getting bigger,” according to Wexler, and that more young women were being brought into the fold.

Some first-time attendees told me they had been radicalized by the pandemic, with its mask mandates, lockdowns, and what they saw as arbitrary social-distancing restrictions. “The COVID situation really turned me off,” Emma Smith, a 21-year-old college student and self-described former die-hard liberal, told me, citing what she viewed as the left having “forced” vaccinations on people. For others, it was transgender athletes in women’s sports that pushed them right. “I want to protect female athletes,” Catarina Dicosmo, an Oakland University chapter leader for the right-wing campus group Network for Enlightened Women, said. It did not appear to matter that transgender women make up less than .002 percent of athletes at the college level; most of these women said they had never met a transgender person before.

Overall, the young women I spoke with were less animated by any specific social issue and more by frustration with the vision they felt liberal millennials offered them: that brand of Lean In–inspired girlboss feminism that suggests modern women can deftly balance families with careers. The most common theme I heard from both speakers and attendees was that young women should opt out of higher education and focus on getting married, becoming a homemaker, and raising as many children as possible. Clark’s speech laid the groundwork for this argument, praising mothers who had “ripped their kids out of day care” and boasting about wanting to make American women “thin, fertile, and conservative.” “Feminism told women to chase their corporate dreams for their validation while their kids were eating seed oils and their marriages were collapsing,” she said. “Well, we’re done pretending that a cubicle is more empowering than a countertop.”

I’d asked Clark what women attending the conference were supposed to take away from this — whether her speech should be interpreted as a call for women to drop out of the workforce and return to the kitchen. “We’re not saying that women cannot have a career. We’re just thinking about that path differently than what we are typically, historically told,” she said. “We were lying to women by saying, ‘Oh yeah, you can be a mom full-time and have an amazing marriage and be 100 percent in your job.’ Something’s got to give.” When I pointed out the irony of Clark saying this as a single, successful career woman, she said she “would give all of this up tomorrow” if she got married. “Maybe God’s plan for me is to help other women have amazing, healthy families and marriages and I’m just the messenger,” she said. “I just have to trust God.”

As a millennial mother who also had been sold the lie that women can easily “have it all” — I was conducting these interviews on three hours of sleep and in between FaceTimes with my own kids — I agreed with Clark to a point. I am constantly reminded how society makes it extremely difficult for women to balance their professional aspirations with raising a family. Sure, I disagreed with the solutions Turning Point’s speakers were offering. When I discussed, for instance, instituting paid family leave, state-subsidized day care, and universal basic income for mothers with one 30-year-old mom of two, she wrinkled her nose and said, “I think that sounds a little crazy. That sounds a little communist to me.” But it was hard not to concede the basic premise of what Dana Loesch, the former NRA spokesperson, said during her speech: “You cannot have it all at the same time. Something will suffer.”

I could understand why younger women who may have watched their mothers become burnt out, angry, and depressed would rebel against pursuing the same path for themselves, opting instead for a seemingly softer, more traditional approach toward femininity. “The left is always like, ‘You can just girlboss through anything,’ and it’s like, but what if you can’t? What if you don’t have any help?” Solia Mechling, a 17-year-old from Nashville, said. “I think that’s one of the biggest things for Gen-Z girls: They’re looking for someone to say, ‘You know what, you can’t have it all, so here are your options and do what you feel is right.���”

Cooper attempted to thread that needle in her speech. “You do not have to stay at home and make sourdough starter every day,” she said, comparing the tradwife aesthetic to “the same black-and-white framework” created by “Lean In,girlboss feminism.” “You will fall somewhere in between these two poles” of stay-at-home motherhood and pursuing a career, Cooper told her audience. “You can build a life that is uniquely yours.”

Such nuanced messaging, however, was rare among the summit’s speakers. Turning Point founder Charlie Kirk and his wife, Erika, in particular seemed fixated on encouraging the women in the audience — many of whom were already enrolled in college or working full-time — to get married and have babies as soon as possible. “Motherhood is not a pause, it’s a launchpad,” Erika Kirk said, urging the young women in the audience to forego their careers and avoid “chasing a paycheck and a title and a corner office and sacrifice a short window of your time.” That struck me as an unusual thing to say at a summit for college students and young professionals where many companies, Turning Point included, had set up recruiting booths, and where few of the featured speakers were full-time, stay-at-home mothers themselves.

I was not the only one confused by this message. “I think it’s interesting that a bunch of highly educated career women are going up onstage telling other women to stay at home to raise children,” said one 24-year-old who requested I withhold her name. The young women I spoke to virtually all said that while they dreamed of becoming wives and mothers, they had no intention of delaying their entrance into the workforce. One person I spoke to wanted to become a day-camp director; another, an influencer; yet another was training to become a nurse and physical therapist, despite her conservative Christian grandmother’s objections. “It’s not about anybody else’s opinion,” she said. “It’s about my path and what God wants for me.”

During a Q&A session with Kirk on the last day of the summit, one high-school student approached the mic asking if Kirk “could clarify what the mission of this summit is.” “It’s a young women’s leadership summit,” the student said, “and all the women who spoke onstage were there because they pursued a career, and a key takeaway that I took from most of the speeches was that I should ‘get married and have babies.’” Kirk seemed perturbed by the question. “I could flip it on you — the people who have careers are telling you to have kids,” he said. “So maybe they know something you don’t know.”

Most of the audience whooped and applauded in response. But I couldn’t help thinking about a young mother I had seen in the ballroom the day before, whose three kids under the age of 5 spent much of the day running around the room and climbing on their stroller. She wore a long, blue pleated dress and flats, looking every bit the godly wife serving her family and country that the women at the summit were told to aspire to. (Her husband was not present; I saw just one man holding a baby the entire weekend.) Every once in a while, as she chased after the children, I detected a hint of annoyance that she couldn’t actually watch the speeches she’d paid $200 to see. I hoped that when she got home, her husband would run her a bath and take the kids out to play so she could get some peace. And I hoped that some of the other young women in the audience would look over at her and see that hint of annoyance, too. Maybe it wouldn’t prompt them to dye their hair blue and volunteer for Planned Parenthood. But maybe it would lead them to question the path they’d been told God had laid out for them. Maybe they would realize they didn’t have to choose a path at all; they could forge their own.

[notwiselybuttoowell]

Former officials in the UN’s farming wing have said they were censored, sabotaged, undermined and victimised for more than a decade after they wrote about the hugely damaging contribution of methane emissions from livestock to global heating.

Team members at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) tasked with estimating cattle’s contribution to soaring temperatures said that pressure from farm-friendly funding states was felt throughout the FAO’s Rome headquarters and coincided with attempts by FAO leadership to muzzle their work.

The allegations date back to the years after 2006, when some of the officials who spoke exclusively to the Guardian on condition of anonymity wrote Livestock’s Long Shadow (LLS), a landmark report that pushed farm emissions on to the climate agenda for the first time. LLS included the first tally of the meat and dairy sector’s ecological cost, attributing 18% of global greenhouse gas emissions to livestock, mostly cattle. It shocked an industry that had long seen the FAO as a reliable ally – and spurred an internal clampdown by FAO hierarchy, according to the officials.

“The lobbyists obviously managed to influence things,” one ex-official said. “They had a strong impact on the way things were done at the FAO and there was a lot of censorship. It was always an uphill struggle getting the documents you produced past the office for corporate communications and one had to fend off a good deal of editorial vandalism.”

Serving and former FAO experts said that between 2006 and 2019, management made numerous attempts to suppress investigations into the cow/climate change connection. Top officials rewrote and diluted key passages in another report on the same topic, “buried” another paper critical of big agriculture, excluded critical officials from meetings and summits, and briefed against their work.

"There was substantial pressure internally and there were consequences for permanent staff who worked on this, in terms of their careers. It wasn’t really a healthy environment to work in,” said another ex-official.

Scientists also expressed concern about the way the FAO’s estimate of livestock’s overall contribution to emissions is continuing to fall. The 18% number that was published in 2006 was revised downwards to 14.5% in a follow-up paper, Tackling Climate Change Emissions in 2013. It is currently being assessed at about 11.2% based on a new “Gleam 3.0” model.

But many scientists plot farm emissions on a very different trajectory. One recent study concluded that greenhouse gas emissions from animal products made up 20% of the global total and a 2021 study found that the figure should be between 16.5% and 28.1%.

[kimbureh]

TBB Season 2 Finale

I've already talked in another post at length about why I think TBB's core message is "Self-sacrifice is not the way", and I think we see this theme come to a beautiful conclusion in the season 2 finale.

-

Let's start at the end. Back on Ord Mantell, The Empire shows up to take Omega. Injured and desperate, Hunter orders Omega to flee. But Omega rejects Hunter's self-sacrifice and tries to rescue the team, and even more, she refuses Hemlock's offer for an exchange.

"I'm not going with you."

Omega's words right here are the core theme of TBB. She explicitly says, "I won't allow the self-sacrifice of my family, and I won't sacrifice myself either". This is revolutionary, literally: The Clone Rights Movement develops the same idea from a different angle.

On the other hand, during the attack on the Summit, Saw Gerrera posits that sacrifices have to be made for the greater good. But what greater good? The interference of Gerrera causes that neither his team nor the Batch get what they came for: Gerrera fails to blow up the Imperial admirals, the Batch fails to track Hemlock's ship. It's interesting that Gerrara still acts as an antagonist to the Batch despite technically being an ally. And indeed, the two groups do have some ideological overlap: Hunter may not agree with Gerrera on sacrifices, but there are two seasons to back up the fact that Hunter actually does utilize (self-)sacrifice as a tactic. He just doesn't admit it like Gerrara does. Hunter doesn't admit that he sacrificed Crosshair, that he continues to sacrifice the squad's interests for Omega's, that he sacrifices even himself on the altar of selflessness.

But then Tech falls. And for a weak moment on Ord Mantell, Hunter understands they cannot continue if they chip away at themselves and at each other like that. He wants to stop the sacrifices, leave everything behind (the soldier life! even his leadership role that is attached to it!) in order to hide on Pabu. He immediately regresses into self-sacrifical behavior once the Empire shows up to take Omega, but I am excited for him to finally take the crucial step and consider change, even if his plans are naive. Settling on Pabu wouldn't fix the problems they have, but Hunter is yet to learn how to live as as a self-directed person instead of a solider forced into a coercive system.

Season 2 sets up everything for Hunter to figure out life and change and himself, and luckily, Omega and Crosshair are already one step ahead of him. Thematically, meeting up with them again and reconciliating with them is a step that would cohesively end Hunter's arc of finally embracing change.

-

So this is it. That's all the meta I intended on writing on TBB, you can find all the other essays here. Have fun. I'm looking forward to your takes

[devilsrecreation]

List of Kingdoms in the TLK/TLG universe and my interpretations on them

This was inspired by this ask by @kaythefloppa mentioning non-lion monarchies (feel like I should credit where I got my inspiration 😉)

The Pridelands- We all know that one: Large kingdom with a large variety of animals led by Simba. Very community-based with Savannah Summits being held before the Dry Season occurs. Will be led by Kiara and Kovu in the future, with Kiara ruling with a kind heart

The Outlands- A barren land where most of the animals who are banished from the Pride Lands reside. Less food and water than the Pride Lands. Used to be monarch-less until the fall of Scar and is now ruled by Jasiri, who is currently trying to reform the animals in it. Will eventually become much more green and more prey animals will start migrating to keep the Circle of Life in balance

The Tree of Life- A kingdom in India where animals go where they are hurt, sick, or endangered. Has all kinds of animal habitats and there are annual summits that take place for the animals to voice any concerns, as suggested by the newly crowned King Kion. Queen Rani rules with a good heart, but is somewhat stern when making the rules (not that anyone really has a problem with them)

The Backlands-A lush land on the border of the Pridelands with plenty of vegetation. It is not a kingdom per se, as Queen Dhahabu only rules her own herd and not the entire land (though that may change in the future). There are a bit more prey animals than predators, as the most prominent ones are leopards and wild dogs, but they all still very much abide by the Circle of Life

Theluji Mountains-A snow-covered kingdom ruled by King Sokwe and soon by his two sons: Hafifu and Majinuni (yes, BOTH of them bc why not). Known as the smallest kingdom in population, with very few species being able to withstand the cold. The kingdom values peace (and fun) above all else but will gladly aid the Pride Lands when needed

The Grasslands- Mentioned before in the ask and I thiiiiink my “Secret Life of Neema” episode; a lively kingdom led by elephant matriarch, Muziki (melody) which consists of a lush, green savannah and many different animal species. The kingdom has a rather music-loving culture, with frequent shows taking place on a large flat rock. Sightings and word of a phantom that haunts the land is present, though eventually seems to cease when a certain crocodile float comes to visit. Muziki is a sweet, gentle, and forgiving leader whom all the animals seem to respect and does all she can to stay as musical as it can be.

Wetlands/Egypt (haven’t decided where this kingdom is yet)- As mentioned in the ask, it is a military-like kingdom with a warrior lifestyle ruled by King Jeshi (military), a stern, tough as nails crocodile who rules with an iron fist. Under his leadership, his large float and all the other animals within the kingdom value strength. Mashindanos are rare, as nobody would dare challenge Jeshi; both out of fear and respect. The only times when it happens is when the king dies and two crocodiles want to take over

(Jeshi is what I’m naming the croc king for now but it may change if I want to make the kingdom in Egypt)

There are other kingdoms in the universe, I’m just not naming them all lol

[cyberbenb]

How Europe is gearing up for a new world order

In a city usually synonymous with bloated bureaucracy, not all official gatherings are worth the fuss. The emergency EU summit on March 6, however, was one to remember.

EU member states agreed to mobilize an unprecedented 800 billion euros ($867 billion) for defense spending amid mounting signs the U.S. is no longer a reliable ally, and the defense of Ukraine is falling squarely on their shoulders.

“Europe is finally waking up and hearing the alarm bells,” one senior European diplomat with knowledge of the discussions told the Kyiv Independent.

“These kinds of discussions wouldn’t have happened two or three weeks ago, let alone two or three months ago."

The impetus for the emergency summit were the recent actions of U.S. President Donald Trump, who has become increasingly hostile toward Ukraine and Europe, as he seeks what appears to be a rapprochement with a newly-emboldened Kremlin.

Speaking at the summit, European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen summed up the crisis facing Europe, describing it as a “watershed moment” where Europe faces a “clear and present danger."

“It’s like a nightmare we want to wake up from.”

While the EU is trying to step up to meet the moment, another alliance of nations from Europe and beyond is also taking shape.

Coalition of the willing

With the U.S. receding from its role as a guarantor of European security and pulling vital intelligence and military support from Ukraine, Europe is preparing to fend for itself.

"It's like a nightmare we want to wake up from," an EU official told the Kyiv Independent at the Brussels summit.

The Trump administration's about-turn away from more than eighty years of U.S. global leadership has prompted the outline for a new alliance of nations to secure peace for Ukraine and Europe.

Led by France and the U.K., the so-called "coalition of the willing" could be made up of a mix of EU states, other European countries, and like-minded partners including Canada and Australia.

"The wider the better" said the EU official, "if we can count on Norway and the U.K., why not?" he added, in a sign that Brexit now appears to be a distant memory.

French President Emmanuel Macron and President Volodymyr Zelensky attend an EU emergency summit in Brussels, Belgium, on March 6, 2025. (Dursun Aydemir/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Demonstrators wave a giant Ukrainian flag banner reading "Defend Ukraine, Defend Europe" at a protest in Brussels, Belgium, on March 5, 2025. (Nicolas Tucat/AFP via Getty Images)

Paris has proposed a path to peace that would start with a one-month truce in the air and at sea. French President Emmanuel Macron said this would give Russia a chance to prove it is serious about peace.

Crucially, this plan also received support from President Volodymyr Zelensky at the meeting of EU leaders on March 6 — paving the way for a wider plan to be formulated with the help from U.K. and Ukraine which will then be presented to the U.S. and, eventually, Russia.

But how any peace deal might be enforced remains a topic of debate among coalition leaders.

"There is no problem finding willing countries, the problem is figuring out what and how to enforce," another senior EU diplomat told the Kyiv Independent.

"Discussions won't be concrete until we know what there is to enforce."

Coalition countries have so far pledged varying levels of support to a future peacekeeping force for Ukraine. Speaking at a press conference alongside U.S. President Donald Trump on Feb. 27, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that together, the countries were "ready to support Ukraine with troops on the ground and planes in the air."

The U.K. and France have clearly said they would send troops to Ukraine to uphold a peace deal. Around ten other countries, including Spain, Portugal, Australia, Denmark, Canada, and Turkey, said they could be open to sending peacekeepers, while others, including the Netherlands and Ireland, committed logistical and technological support to the plan.

New steps to support Ukraine have already been taken in the short term — Norway announced it would more than double its support this year, the U.K. will give Ukraine an additional $2 billion for air defense, and Franco-British Starlink competitor Eutelsat is in discussions with Ukraine on reducing its dependence on Elon Musk's technology.

The next step will be a meeting next week, convened in Paris by President Macron, of military chiefs from countries willing to commit troops to enforce peace in Ukraine in an effort to coordinate and draw up a potential peacekeeping mission.

Regardless of Trump’s Ukraine peace deal, war with West is ‘foundational to Putin’s rule,’ experts say

With every day of the new White House administration that passes, the chances of Russia being brought in from the cold on the international stage after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine appear to be increasing. U.S. President Donald Trump’s ongoing Kremlin charm campaign has seen Ukraine and Europ…

The Kyiv IndependentKollen Post

Coalition of the billing

The EU, for its part, does not have authority or responsibility over defense, but it can provide financial assistance.

EU leaders' meeting in Brussels on March 6 took steps towards a dramatic long-term transformation of European defense, pledging to "substantially increase expenditure on Europe's security and defense" and tasking the European Commission to find more money and more financial tools to help member states quickly ramp up military spending.

"Russia is leading a hybrid war against our democracies. It seeks to uproot the world we have, a world of peace which we built since the end of the Cold War," French Europe Minister Benjamin Haddad told the Kyiv Independent at the meeting.

"We will define the areas in which we're lacking, be it ammunition, drones, or cyber, and then figure out common European financing to support member states in making those investments," he added.

One of the ways it plans to support this surge in defense spending is through a 150 billion euro ($162 billion) fund from which member states can borrow money to spend on collective European defense, or to support Ukraine.

The leaders also endorsed another crucial step for the EU — getting out of the way.

The bloc will loosen its debt rules, allowing member states to dramatically increase their defense spending by borrowing more. Should all EU states decide to ramp up defense spending by 1.5% of GDP on average, these new rules could mean an additional 650 billion euros ($705 billion) spent on defense in the EU over four years.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk didn't mince his words on the sense of urgency. "There is no doubt that the war in Ukraine, the new approach of the American administration to Europe, and the arms race started by Russia pose completely new challenges to us," Tusk told reporters at the meeting.

"Europe must join this arms race and win it."

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The outcast

EU leaders also made another significant move highlighting this new sense of urgency — ignoring Hungary.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban chose not to support the bloc's statement of intent on continued support for Ukraine on the battlefield, in peace talks, and beyond.

Rather than trying to convince Orban, the 26 other EU leaders decided to crack on without him.

"Hungary has always made things difficult; it's good that the rest said, 'We don't buy it; you go your own way.' It's just more pragmatic to ignore Prime Minister Orban," the EU diplomat said.

That sentiment was echoed by European Council President Antonio Costa. "Hungary is isolated," he said at the end of the meeting. "We respect Hungary's position, but it's one of 27. And 26 are more than one."

(L-R) Cyprus' President Nikos Christodoulides speaks with Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban, EU Commission Vice-President Kaja Kallas, and Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk before an EU summit in Brussels, Belgium, on March 6, 2025. (Thierry Monasse/Getty Images)

The Hungarian leader lashed out after the meeting, aligning himself with Trump and accusing other EU leaders of wanting to "continue the war (in Ukraine) as long as it takes."

This sets up another clash between Budapest and the 26 other member states in the coming weeks. Not having Hungary on board at this meeting made little practical difference, but upcoming debates about renewing sanctions against Russia, continuing to freeze Russian assets, or new support packages for Ukraine could still see Hungary grinding the EU to a halt.

That, and the fact the EU is fundamentally not designed to tackle defense issues, means the future of European military rearmament, and Ukrainian survival, will rely on the commitment of individual EU countries, and allies further afield.

In a clear sign of the importance of these new partnerships, the presidents of the European Commission and European Council, as well as the EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas, convened a video call with the leaders of the U.K., Turkey, Canada, Norway, and Iceland to debrief them on the EU's new plans.

As Europe gears up for this new reality, EU officials speaking to the Kyiv Independent were stoic, "The spirit of our discussions is that Europe will have to go it alone. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst."

Trump’s increasing support for Russia leaves Zelensky with fewer options to secure U.S. backing

As Washington continues to pressure Kyiv intro submission, President Volodymyr Zelensky stands at a painful crossroads — agree to U.S. demands or chart a course without Washington, pinning Ukraine’s hopes for survival on Europe alone. Neither option seems reassuring for Ukraine. U.S. President Don…

The Kyiv IndependentOleg Sukhov

[thequeendomhq]

"Then, the One God said: To you, My second-born, I grant this gift: In your heart shall burn An unquenchable flame All-consuming, and never satisfied.”

Our Road Ahead

Into Hrimthur’s Wastelands the refugees went. For a month they would travel the mountain passes made of ancient stone and twisted like serpents while ice froze the world around them. Mist hung in the frigid air as they traveled up the treacherous cliffsides; the injured carried as they collectively traveled through the snow together. Peaks towered around them from all sides, fjords carved by the Gods themselves sliced the landscape as the traveler navigated narrow passages at the edge of the mountainsides. 

Overhead pregnant dark clouds kept them in perpetual shadows, promising more snow would come. The reprieve of the sun’s light was distant even as they ascended through the banks higher and higher. Thin, rasping air kept them weary and their depleted rations kept them focused on putting one foot in front of the other. The Blight was beneath them now, in the valleys beyond the mountains and those with the taint had not lived long after the Nornwatch Pyre. 

Like glittering stars dotting the landscape, the witchers in their mithril armor scouted to secure the road ahead. Others lingered at the rear and secured those that began to fall behind were hoisted to their feet before they were set forward again. To lag was to risk almost certain death in the coldest, most unforgiving, region of Taravell. 

Into the distance, the peaks soared into the raw sky above, blotted by darkness, their summits were lost in a veil of frosted, swirling mist. In this dark, desolate landscape, there was a raw beauty that spoke of ages past, of battles fought and won, and ofsecrets buried beneath the ice. Stones that glimmered within shone at night, cascading the air with an azure hue that illuminated the snow in places. At night, Hrimthur’s mountains seemed to come alive. Breathing their sigh of auroran air into the sky once the sun set below the horizon; ribbons of these frozen lights shifted and turned about themselves. So close that they writhed atop the Iskarans’s makeshift tents, a companion in the night, but gone by morning’s faded light. 

Every step forward was a struggle against the biting cold, the crunch of snow beneath their boots echoing through the silent valleys. Yet, with each passing mile, the troupe drew closer to their destination, driven by a sense of heroic purpose, or stark defiance against the shadow of death. Iskaldrik was lost behind them, Nornwatch Keep burned in the past, but the promise of Lysara hung like the north star ahead. 

Nornwatch Keep was behind them now. The refugees freeing Iskaldrik were fewer, but still many. Knowledgeable of the terrain and the region, the Legion of the Dead took point. Field Commander Deidameia had died in the assault, without clear leadership the living legionnaires counciled alongside the Iskarans. Witchers, jarls, advisers, and the legionnaires had been plotting their course for weeks, all that remained was to survive. 

The hysteria of Nornwatch had not ended with the executed traitors. The darkspawn’s attack was a nightmare that plagued the minds of everyone, among the troupe some hadn’t spoken since. Children wandered without parents - mothers and fathers ripped underground as the assault made orphans, and widows, out of proudly stubborn Iskarans. They had been caught completely unaware, legionnaires killed from within, and the gate left unlocked. 

Our Trials We’ll Face

Those who could hunt were sent out to do so. These hunters coordinated with the witchers, legion, jarls, and advisors of the crown to mark the maps of the region with potential hunting grounds. Regions with dense forest coverage, and access to fresh water and other resources would be ideal for small and large prey. Rally points were stapled along the way so the hunters could find the troupe when they were successful, checkpoints marked along their paths through the mountains. 

Alone or in small groups, hunters could travel more freely without the cumbersome nature of those who couldn’t navigate the terrain. The horses, the oxen, and the weight of the tents and other necessities for encampment. Among the hunters were legionnaires, witchers, shieldmaidens, jarls, and any able-bodied volunteer willing to risk the dangers of the mountain for assurance that the troupe would survive the travel ahead. Famine and starvation would kill them as surely as the Blight had tried. 

Small, nimble predators like arctic foxes dotted the landscape - watching from a distance with useful, thick fur coats. Hares were a staple of the region, in burrows and more susceptible to snares than arrows. Both blended easily into the landscape, white like the snow and quicker than most of the creatures in the troupe, they’d be spied on in one instance, and then gone in the next. Silent hunters of the night, snow owls patrolled the skies, preying on small rodents and other birds. Moving in herds and seeking patches of vegetation beneath the snow, reindeer roam the valleys and can be tracked more easily than any other. Followed and hunted by other predators, the troupe are not the only hunters after the reindeer, but dire wolves as well. Far larger than their cousins, if those navigating the wilderness aren’t careful, they’ll become the hunted. 

At night, the clouds rumbled in the distance over the greatest peaks in the valley. Groaning in anguish as dramatic clashes of rock and ice shook loose shafts of snow and ice from the sheer faces about them. Witchers spoke of Hrimthursa, towering behemoths of living mountains, battling for dominion over ancient territory. Obscured by swirling blizzards and frozen mists, the closer the troupe would come the more dangerous their journey would be. The ground trampled beneath them, and those who watched the immutable darkness of the valleys below would see the shapes of these ancient behemoths wandering through the valleys below. Felled and fallen from the summit, their footsteps echoed like thunder from the ground below. 

These mountains of Ymir’s most northern Spine are home to other things beyond giants and wolves. Frost Trolls dwell in the deep, labyrinthine caverns that honeycomb through the mountains and the fields below. Cropping up through the ancient mines of an age long forgotten to the annals of time; protected from the glaring light of the sun by the thick clouds of mist, they roam in solitude or small groups hunting and gathering. Their weapons are primitive, their skin hard as stone, and their teeth are hard like daggers do not discriminate between man and beast. 

Beneath the ice are the petrified children of the dark, the draugr. Wights of harrowed flesh and withered bones; soldiers from wars that predate this age of man, they are the undead minions of Lusacan’s prodigies. The draugr are vampiric in nature, however, it’s not blood they crave, but to spread their blight to those they can sink their teeth into. Like ghosts with a physical body, only powerful magic can exorcise them for good, or its antithesis can purge their forms of entropic possession. For those with the ability to do neither, beheading them and torching their bodies is an acceptable alternative. Anyone bitten by these monsters is fated to join the legions of draugr trapped within the ice. 

In the distance there is a roar from a creature that will chill the bone of even the most hardened warrior. Drakes and wyverns are not foreign to the troupe, the Iskarans know these beasts from the mountains that surround their home. They are the lesser children of a greater beast though, one that has awakened after centuries of slumber, growling from the fjords around them, and threatening what little hope remains. 

Our One Hope

Hrimthur’s Outpost. It wasn’t named in any text, or written down on any map, but the name was assigned by the legion rangers who traveled this region before. Shattered, stone homes that are half buried beneath snow and ice with a broken tower at its center. This evidence is all that remains of a proud city that existed in a time that the people have forgotten. 

Runes dot these stones, druidic in origin but to the Iskarans they’d readily claim them as their own. A waygate once existed here but like so many other things it was broken by what they would call a cataclysm. These cold, frozen walls are the only reprieve that the refugees would find after weeks of traveling through the expanse of the wastelands. The Northern Spine of Iskaldrik that saw them trudge endlessly through snow and over ice, their rations gone, and their hope along with it. 

Fires dot the battered homes and line the walls of the tower. The cold wood gathered from old pines does not burn easily, but those familiar with ironwood are well-versed in casting almost anything ablaze. Miserable nights are made more tolerable as the hunters rally at this juncture, holes cut into ice fields yield fish, and reindeer roasts over open flames with the sweet berries plucked from the cold bushes snaking out from cliffs. 

It lacks the mead of a proper feast, but it’s the first good, warm meal that they’ve had in what feels like a lifetime. As the fire dims and thoughts turn towards those that were taken, the looming dangers that lurk in the dark around them are nothing when compared to what lays ahead. These Spines are too cold for the blight to survive, but Isengrim’s Embrace and the Lostlands following will yield horrors unlike any the Iskarans had yet to see. The Legion says this not to quell the flames of the lifting spirits, but to remind them of the vigilance that peace demands. 

What follows is a voice, one that starts small, but is quickly joined by the crowd of refugees. 

“Shadows fall. And hope has fled. Steel your heart. The dawn will come.”

“The night is long. And the path is dark. Look to the sky. For one day soon. The dawn will come.”

The One’s Taken

( tw: childbirth )

All for Mother. 

It became hard to tell if you were waking or dreaming, the song guided your hands and work. This one was weak so you cleaved them in two, pulled back their skin, and cut free their entrails. Scraps for the wargs to fight over, flabby meat to fatten your pack. Sister they called you with blackened gums and pointed teeth, snapping for more as they hungered for the sweet. Brother you remarked as you beat them down, swine should learn where swine should sleep. The best of the best was for Her, the Mother of the brood for only Mother could birth the horde. 

Your hands slipped between the folds as another came screeching into the world. Hideous and beautiful and yours to rear. Snapping at your ankles as you carved off scraps, the sweet, beautiful heart for Mother, but the bones left for them to suckle. Something to gnaw and carve, sharpen their teeth, and help them grow. You used to be…. You can no longer recall, but you see the fields of fire for what they are, a garden and a home so hot it might just be cold. 

More. Mother screams. She needs more. You do not defy but your body moves of its own accord, enthralled and drawn about as your broken boots drag against wailing stones. In the dark, you hear a whisper, a song that reminds you of the girl who ran carefree through the woods. The one who split logs, who lifted a splintered shield, and who did not survive all this time to die nameless in a cave. Your lips part as you join her in song: 

“The Shepard's lost. And his home is far. Keep to the stars. The dawn will come.”

“The night is long. And the path is dark. Look to the sky. For one day soon. The dawn will come.”

The night takes you, tomorrow you begin again. 

OOC info: 

The next troupe update will be on Friday, May 24th.

The Ones Taken are still captive (big sad I know), they're midwives now. Who knows, maybe someday they'll have a brood of their own <3.

After a long hike through the mountains, the troupe reached what used to be a village. RIP.

The full moon will take place after the happy song, and characters affected by the full moon will be made to shift. Fair warning, if they kill anyone in the village they'll be put down :(

Most of Taravell will now have heard about what happened to Iskaldrik, refugees are washing up on the shores of Caribella and Borderreach.

Any vessels or attempts to enter Iskaldrik have disappeared without a trace.

[isolde-illustrates]

Early Lost Cities and War

We know that the Peace Treaty among the Elves, Ogres, Dwarves, Goblins, and Trolls is a very important plot point, and I feel like there has to be a great reason than the struggles between humans and the gnomes versus ogres problem with the plague, so here's my idea for what might have happened.

Also, it's been a while since I've read the series, so if there's a part that clashes with direct canon events, let me know. Even though this is a headcanon, I want to make it as accurate as possible.

In this theoretical war, the ogres exploited the gnomes by forcing them to become a coerced labor force, poisoning those who would not comply. The elves were the first to respond to the gnomes' pleas, searching for a cure for the species. The humans split between helping the gnomes and the desire for power, some promised by the ogres to gain gnome servants for each of their households. While the humans split, the elves teamed up with the gnomes against the ogres, and the goblins and trolls used the ogres' weaknesses to their advantage. The goblins plundered towns in the ogre territory, and the trolls slowly destroyed infrastructure in both ogre and elven cities. Constant sacking of their villages led the ogres to develop markchains for all of their cities.

The ogres capture Serenvale, the gnomes' capital, creating a great loss for the species. The successful invasion caused many gnomes and elves to lose their lives, as well as humans, on both sides. One of the emissaries at the time, Lord Bronte, led a mission in Serenvale, attempting to save the leadership of the gnomes. The rescue mission failed miserably. Afterwards, the emissary constantly found bodies of gnomes turned into trees after being affected by the plague. Some of those gnomes included the ones he was supposed to save. His failure lived with him for years afterwards, as did scars from shamkniv, which the ogre leader of the time gave him, and memories of the pain of the grusom-daj ogre technique that was similar to his own.

After the fall of Serenvale, the ogres renamed the city Ravagog, and the remaining gnomes sought refuge in the elven cities. Lord Bronte's experience in Ravagog led him to plead with the Council to end the use of violence in the war. Councillor Fintan refused, siding with their human allies that a firm grip on the situation would end the war; however, Councillor Fallon relented, going to Ravagog and making a peace offering with the first draft of the Peace Treaty, which only included elves, gnomes, and ogres at the time. The ogre king declared that he would not sign the document until representatives of all of the other intelligent species' leadership was there. The goblins and trolls, who had mainly avoided the primary conflicts of the war, eventually relented, although the goblins refused to enter Ravagog out of fear that the ogres would attempt to trick the leaders.

The first Peace Treaty was signed in Eternalia with the Elves, Ogres, Dwarves, Goblins, and Trolls. The dwarves had a smaller part in the war, primarily against the trolls over land disputes, but the primary conflict overall was the one centered around the ogres' stolen territory and plague. With all of the previous gnome leadership dead, the species ended up with representatives, but no true leaders, which led to the species never having direct leadership again, just changing representatives at Peace Summits. The elves suggested that the gnomes find jobs in their cities, and the ogres promised to maintain their land and not increase their territory as long as another species did not set foot in their cities. The dwarves and trolls compromised, splitting the land based off their needs and topographic preferences, and the goblins vowed to provide protection to the elven leadership with bodyguards with the alliance that, in return, the elves would back the goblins with their special abilities, which goblins do not have a form of like how the ogres do.

The only intelligent species left out of the Peace Treaty was the humans. Due to the war, an elf named Vespera Folend began experimenting on humans to search for the capability of violence. She heard of Lord Bronte's ability and tolerance when he attempted his mission in fallen Serenvale, and Vespera wanted to recreate this capacity in other elves, unaware of the true affects Bronte's ability had on the emisssary. When Councillor Fallon discovered the truth of her experiments, he was horrified, calling a private tribunal to push the charges. Councillor Fintan saw the experiment as unusually cruel due to the lack of consent by the humans, yet wanted to use the findings to protect the elves. After a dispute, Fintan relented, and Councillor Fallon sentenced Vespera to the Lumenaria dungeon where she was locked up and forgotten. Making the memory of her misdemeanors was the worst decision that they made, and the elves saw the betrayal of the humans as unprovoked. Even the ogres relented to the total abandonment of the species, leading their previous alliances with humans and letting the elves wipe the humans' memories. The fear of being overthrown was more powerful than the friendship and alliances that were made.

The war needs a name, so I'm just going to call it the "Multispecial War" or the "War of Intelligence" until a better idea comes up. Feel free to rename it.

My headcanon for Bronte is that he has a lot of scars from the shamkniv and that the ogre he fought used the blade because he saw a leader who failed his people and thought that, regardless of how Bronte was an elf, not an ogre, the betrayal needed a punishment. Also, Bronte has a lot of nightmares about feeling the grusom-daj. The fact that he has an ability that no other elf has and that it is also super close to that of an ogre's mind trick makes me wonder if he has some ogre in him. That would explain the prominent cheek bones and surly attitude. Also, him being part ogre would just be really fun.

Fintan definitely fought against someone as well, but he probably turned them into smoked ogre before they got too close to attack him. That probably started his decent into madness.

Some of this might change, I just wanted to get the idea down.

[ravendruid]

hey love! can i get Catching fireflys together for vaxleth please? thank you!

Hi!!! I'm sorry this took so long. I hope you like it! This drabble is set before the streams and is both in-canon and canon-divergent because I couldn't be bothered to fact check with the comics (and I'd rather have creative liberty). Catching fireflies together

Growing up, Keyleth had always had issues falling asleep: she would either toss and turn in bed for hours and hours or, on the rare occasions where she would be able to fall asleep at a decent time, she would wake up with nightmares several times during the night, making her feel utterly exhausted in the morning. In addition to her inherent insomnia, lately, she had found that being away from home, and without any prospects of a return, was an added source of stress on her shoulders that didn’t help with getting rest.

Although Keyleth wasn’t far from home—far from it, Stilben was just at the bottom of the mountain range that heard her first cries—it sure felt like she was on the other side of the world. She could technically turn back, trek her way up the Silvercut Roadway and climb the Summit Peaks to return home with her tail between her legs. Admit defeat, throw the towel, and refuse to do this. She was never supposed to take on the role. It had been imposed on her, after all. Keyleth wasn’t ready for it, even if the Aramenté was supposed to help her prepare for the leadership position she would have to take one day.  

But here she was nonetheless, sitting with her back against a gnarly tree in the swampland, surrounded by people she had barely just met and who had decided to work together for some reason. It wasn’t precisely the fancy inn rooms she was expecting or the warm meals she took for granted during the first days of her travel, but it would do. At least she wasn’t alone.

“Hey.”

Keyleth jumped, holding her staff tightly in her lap as a shadow descended next to her on the damp ground. Brown eyes stared at her in amusement and curiosity, and a flashy smile shined against the last rays of sunshine that peeked through the trees. Vax’ildan was one half of a set of twins and one of the first people she met in the group. He had been injured when she found him and his sister, Vex’ahlia, in the woods. She could have turned her back on them, leaving them to fend for themselves, but something inside her pulled her to them—to him—and she had no other choice but to help. 

“Hey, you,” Her voice wavered as she played with a strand of her hair. Why was she so nervous? Why did he make her feel like that?

“You alright? You’ve been quiet all night.”

“Just thinking…”

Vax released a huff as he sat on the ground by her side. One of his hands drifted inside his worn and patched-up cloak and drew out a dagger and a whetstone. He started sharpening the blade in silence, his eyes following the movement that had undoubtedly become so natural to him as growing plants was to Keyleth.

“Wanna share?” He asked after a while, turning his mesmerizing gaze to hers.

“I was just thinking about home. I miss it.”

“Hmm.”

Silence fell again. Vax thoroughly examined the sharpness of the blade, swiftly cutting pieces of grass right in front of his feet. Keyleth observed him curiously. Sometimes he was a man of few words. Sulking and brooding were more his style, but his silence never felt uncomfortable. 

“Do you like fireflies?”

“Y—yeah.”

Suddenly Keyleth felt like time had stopped and that nothing and no one else existed but her and Vax. His face turned into a multitude of different feelings: a boyish, mischievous smile that caused her anxiety (what was he up to now?), a crinkle in the corner of his eyes that were full of kindness and something else Keyleth couldn’t discern, and a teasing bite of his lower lip that had her head spinning like a tornado.

“W—why?”

“Come with me.”

Vax stood up in a blur, holding his hand to her. Keyleth looked at him with anxiety bubbling up in her chest. It wasn’t the fact that she wanted to take his hand and let him guide her that caused such nervousness, but the feeling inside her that she would let him drag her to the end of the world without a second thought. 

When she took Vax’s hand, slightly unsure yet trusting him implicitly, electricity rushed from his calloused fingers down her arm and straight to her spine. Vax faltered at her shocked gasp, but when Keyleth nodded at him with a reassuring smile, he turned and pulled her behind him, still grasping her hand tightly. 

He didn’t drag her far from camp. If she turned her head back above her shoulder, Keyleth could still see the shimmering light of the campfire and hear the low voices of her party talking. Vax took them to a small clearing where the smallest gap in the canopy allowed Keyleth to look up and see the first signs of stars in the darkening sky. It was beautiful, even if not enough. 

“Look,” Vax squeezed her hand and pointed with the other one to an area ahead of them. Keyleth gasped, covering her mouth with her free hand to muffle the sound and not scare the objects of their attention.

A group of fireflies danced around a pond between a cluster of trees, their twinkling lights sparkling in the twilight that wouldn’t have been possible if not for the break in the leaves above them. Keyleth’s smile was bright and big as she followed their dance with her gaze, and her breathing paused so she could hear the wind rustling the leaves around them. It was beautiful. As if she was looking at a painting.

“Wanna catch one?” Keyleth only noticed Vax was talking to her and had dropped her hand because she suddenly felt her hand empty and cold. She gave him an unsure look. She loved nature in all its forms, and hurting the little insects was not something Keyleth wanted to do, even if their beauty brought her joy.

“I’ll be gentle. I promise won’t hurt them,” Vax sounded honest, and for some reason, Keyleth felt she could trust him with this.

“Okay. But just one.”

Vax nodded, his smile copying hers, and he was gone before she could blink. Keyleth had learned three things about Vax’ildan from the short time they had known each other: he was a trained assassin; he could blend with the shadows and drop down on his enemies without them noticing until they had a knife to their throat; and he was probably the most gentle and kindest person she had ever met. Well, four, if Keyleth counted knowing about Vax’s dexterity: a skill that allowed him to throw daggers from over 30 feet away, successfully hitting their target, and seemingly catch a firefly with no harm.

“Look,” He was by her side again in no time, hands clasped together and a prideful smile on his lips. When he opened his hands just enough for Keyleth to peek inside, she saw the flickering light of a single firefly fluttering inside his hands.

“Vax—” Keyleth couldn’t find words to describe what she felt. Vax had caught her a firefly. He had made her a promise and had kept to his word. “Thank you.”

That night, once dinner was warmly tucked away in their stomachs and the only audible sounds were the crackling of the firewood and the occasional bird or critter, the Super High-Intensity Team, as they liked to call themselves—which Keyleth wasn’t very fond of—spread their sleeping bags around the fire. Keyleth noticed that Vax, having lost a game of boulder, parchment, shears with his sister on who was to take first watch, was sitting with his back against a tree not far from where Keyleth placed her bedroll.

“Hey, Vax,” Keyleth whispered so only he could hear her. From where she lay with her back against the cold, hard ground, she saw his face turn to her in curiosity, so she greeted him with a smile. “Watch this.”

Keyleth raised her arms high above her chest, closing her eyes in concentration. She thought about the little flying bugs Vax had shown her earlier and focused on the warm, tingling sensation on her fingertips. She could tell from the Rogue’s gasp that when she opened her eyes, she would have been successful in her spell. A dozen twinkling lights flickered above Keyleth and Vax, dancing in a small circle as they both observed them, completely mesmerized. 

“That’s amazing, Keyleth,” Vax whispered back.

Keyleth allowed herself to be lulled to sleep by the fireflies, following their dance until her eyelids became heavy, and the last thing on her mind was Vax’s prideful smile when he showed her the firefly he caught for her. Keyleth was unsure why, but she felt safe with this trained assassin who could effortlessly kill her in her sleep. Something inside her trusted him implicitly with her life, and with Vax standing watch so close to her, Keyleth enjoyed the most restful sleep since she had left home.

[alpineramble]

Tengboche Monastery: The Largest Monastery Among The Highest Mountains in the Everest Region

Tengboche Monastery is a sanctified place of serenity and devotion that is highly regarded in Tibetan Buddhism. Located in the northeastern part of Nepal, in the Sagarmatha National Park, the monastery is the most widely known Buddhist monastery in the Himalayas of Khumbu. A place of spiritualism and sacredness, it is nestled among the alpine hills, with the stunning backdrop of Ama Dablam and the intersection of two reverberating rivers, Dudh Koshi and Imja Khola. At an elevation of 3,867 meters and directly falling on the route of the Everest Base Camp Trek.

History and Historical Importance

Established in 1916 by Lama Gulu, a Tibetan monk known for being blessed by Ngawang Tenzin Norbu, who was known to be the fifth incarnation of Sangwa Dorje,. The Tengboche Monastery has stood the testament of time, as it was struck by an earthquake in 1934 and again destroyed in a fire in 1989. It was rebuilt both times, and now it has become a symbol of peace and resilience among the Sherpas and trekkers.

The monastery is a well-respected landmark among the trekking and mountaineering communities. As it falls right on the route to Mount Everest, many trekkers and mountaineers make a stop here to light candles and get blessings for a successful summit. Hence, it is also known as the “Gateway to Everest.”

Art and Architecture

Talking about the arts and architecture, many paintings, books, murals, and statues were destroyed during the fire, and only a few were salvaged. Now the monastery has been rebuilt under the leadership of the current Nawang Tenzing Jangpo, who is considered the incarnation of the founder, Lama Gulu, with the help of the donations of the trekkers. The walls are decorated with the intricate arts of the bodhisattva, drawn by the Tibetan painter Tarke-la.

From the gates of the monastery to the inside walls, it is filled with detailed paintings and carvings of symbols and arts representing Buddhist teachings and blessings. The paintings and architecture are the perfect fusion of Nepali and Tibetan culture and arts.

Connection with Culture and Traditions: Mani Rimdu Festival and Dumji Festival

The festival is celebrated with elaborate elements of religious ceremonialism, dance, and drama. Beginning on the first day of the tenth month of the Tibetan Lunar Calendar, the festival is celebrated with traditional dances with masks, praying ceremonies, and feasts.

Similarly, the Dumji festival is also celebrated among the Sherpa communities of Solukhumbu. While the Mani Rimdu festival marks the founding of Buddhism, the Dumji festival celebrates the birth of its founder, Guru Rinpoche Padmasambhava. The festival primarily focuses on the connections between families and communities. It is an annual festival that is celebrated in the month of July, which follows the Tibetan lunar calendar. It is a four-day-long festival that helps bring the communities together, as every thirteen years, it is the duty of three families to provide food and beverages for the village during the celebrations.

In the end, these festivals are the pillars for the sustenance of the Sherpa communities, as they bring all the villages together to celebrate happiness and peace.

How do I get to Tengboche Monastery?

Tengboche Monastery Trekking is quite popular among trekkers, especially for those who wish to dive deep into Buddhism or are interested in celebrations of Sherpa cultures. This is why it is pretty common for people to book the trek just around the times of festivals like Mani Rimdu, Loshar, and Dumji. The trek to the Tengboche Monastery begins just like any other trekking destination to Everest, with a thrilling flight to Lukla. Then, your destination follows the classic Everest Base Camp route via Phakding and Namche Bazaar, and finally, you will reach Tengboche. It can be anywhere from 5 to 6 days of trekking, where you can enjoy the crisp air of the Khumbu.

As the trail runs through Sagarmatha National Park, you will require three permits: Trekker’s Information Management System (TIMS), Pasang Lhamu Municipality Fee, and Sagarmatha National Park Fee. The trek to the Tengboche Monastery will definitely be a spiritual and natural experience.

The path is mostly uphill as you trek through the alpine forest of rhododendrons along the side of the Dudhkoshi River. Upon your arrival, you will see a gate of entry and a grassy field. Then, you will finally see the monastery building, surrounded by beautiful peaks, most notably Ama Dablam.

What is the best time to visit the Tengboche Monastery?

Speaking of weather, the best time to visit falls during the spring (March-May) and autumn (September–November). During this time, the temperature is moderate, and the weather is nice, so you can see every mountain under the clear azure sky.

Luckily, the Mani Rimdu festival falls in October as well. Winter (December–February) is also the perfect time, as the weather is very clear, but it will be exceptionally cold. It will also be less crowded during the winter, so if you are well prepared to battle the freezing temperatures, you will have the best time. However, during the summer, it can be a bit tricky. The Khumbu region is very prone to rainfall, which can be a hindrance during the trek, especially with landslides occurring frequently, and poses a risk.

However, the mountain weather is always very tricky and is prone to frequent changes. Therefore, no matter which season, it is recommended that you follow a credible weather source before embarking on your treks or expeditions.

Things to take into account while visiting the Tengboche Monastery

Before anything else, one must know what this sacred site entails. Maintaining peace and respect while you visit is the top priority. Here is a list of things to follow during your visit to the Tengboche Monastery:

Dress modestly; people dressed in revealing clothes are not allowed inside the monastery.

Do not make noise or talk loudly on the premises of the monastery.

Make rounds of the monastery in a clockwise manner.

Greet and show proper respect to the monks.

Do not touch the monks, as physically touching the monks is forbidden.

Do not take photos or videos in the restricted zones of the monastery.

Know the proper stance when praying.

Pay respects by burning butter candles and incense.

A deep dive into the local lifestyle

The Sherpa communities have one of the most unique cultures in Nepal. With beautiful cultural dresses worn especially by the ladies and delicious Sherpa cuisine, you will have the time of your life during this trek. Especially during the festivals, you will come to witness vibrant, joy-filled interactions. Foods such as potatoes, yak cheese, dal bhat (rice and lentils), tsampa (barley flour), dhido, momo, thukpa, khapse, thenduk, and other delicious varieties are the highlights of this trip.

You will get a close-up look into the daily Sherpa activities such as morning prayers, preparing food, doing household chores, looking after their agriculture or animals, etc. Their simple lifestyle will bring you a sense of peace and yearning.

In conclusion

The trek to Tengboche is filled with rich natural and cultural influences that enhance your spiritual awakening. It is a short trek that will allow you to get the full experience of the ways of Buddhism as well as see the tallest mountain of the world, Mt. Everest, as well as other surrounding peaks such as Ama Dablam, Nuptse, Lhotse, etc.

So, if you are planning a trek to Tengboche Monastery, let us be at your service. We will arrange everything for you, from accommodation to transportation, with local and experienced guides. We guarantee you the best time with impeccable services.

For hassle-free and memorable trek experiences in Nepal, book your treks and tours with Alpine Ramble Treks. Contact us at 977-9851175531 or email info@alpinerambleg.com to make your trekking and expedition bookings for 2024/2025.

[reyaint]

history of HAIQIN | part X: modern era

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date: october 12, 2024. I have a dialectical journal due on the 15 when fall break ends. actually gonna lose it.

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The Modern Era (1980s-Present)

Modern Government & Diplomacy:

Global Influence

Neutrality as a Diplomatic Tool:

Haiqin has perfected the art of neutrality, using it not only to avoid military entanglements but to position itself as a diplomatic hub. The country plays a key role in mediating between powers in global conflicts, regional South Asian tensions, European and American issues, and East Asian territorial disagreements. Additionally, Haiqin has hosted negotiations between superpowers, ensuring peaceful resolutions in situations involving complex geopolitical rivalries. Haiqin’s neutral position allows it to act as a safe intermediary for humanitarian ceasefire agreements and non-governmental organizations.

International Organizations:

Haiqin’s representatives have held leadership positions in various international organizations, including serving on the United Nations Security Council as a non-permanent member multiple times. The nation is also part of organizations such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank, where it promotes policies on equitable economic growth and sustainable development. Haiqin spearheads climate change discussions, advocating for stronger emissions regulations and funding for green technology development in developing nations.

Membership in International Organizations:

Beyond the UN and WTO, Haiqin has also taken leadership roles in climate action groups such as the Paris Agreement coalition and environmental sustainability pacts. Its position in the OECD has allowed it to participate in policy-making around economic growth, sustainability, and international tax reform, using its influence to promote eco-friendly practices and digital innovations across borders.

Strategic Alliances:

Despite its neutrality, Haiqin has formed strategic alliances with nations such as Switzerland, Sweden, and Canada. These alliances are based on shared values of environmental sustainability, human rights, and technological innovation. These relationships have bolstered Haiqin’s influence in international environmental summits like COP, where it frequently serves as a mediator between major world powers. Even while neutral, they have one of the strongest militaries.

In recent years, Haiqin has strengthened ties with countries in Northern Europe, America, Japan, and South Korea, focusing on creating a global "Green Alliance" promoting renewable energy and sustainable industrial practices. Its strategic partnerships focus on technological innovation, intellectual property agreements, and knowledge exchange in science and education. These partnerships extend to cooperative space research initiatives, placing Haiqin at the forefront of cutting-edge satellite technology and space exploration.

The Military:

While Haiqin advocates for peace, it maintains one of the world’s most advanced and well-equipped military forces, particularly in the fields of cyber defense and intelligence. Haiqin’s military is recognized for its rigorous training in both conventional combat and modern cyber-warfare techniques. Specialized units focus on counter-terrorism, environmental protection, and strategic disaster responses. Military service remains voluntary but highly prestigious, with many youth aspiring to join due to the opportunities it offers in education, training, and post-service careers. Also many snipers are woman, so yeah.

Diplomacy & Neutrality

Mediation Efforts:

Haiqin's diplomats are often called upon to mediate some of the world's most complex conflicts. A notable instance was the 1998 Haiqin-brokered peace agreement between India and Pakistan over Kashmir, which brought about a temporary ceasefire and facilitated humanitarian aid in the region. Haiqin has also mediated North Korean and South Korean negotiations in partnership with international powers, reinforcing its role as a stabilizing force.

Bridge Between Cultures:

Cultural exchange remains a key strategy in Haiqin's diplomatic toolkit. The government sponsors international art exhibitions, theater tours, and music festivals to foster goodwill with other nations. Haiqin's rich blend of Greek and Native influences, along with its modern artistic contributions, gives it unique cultural appeal. Educational exchange programs have also blossomed, sending young Haiqin students to study abroad while welcoming international students into Haiqin universities.

Crisis Response:

Haiqin was among the first countries to offer medical and logistical aid to struggling nations. It shipped millions of units of personal protective equipment (PPE), ventilators, and vaccines to over 30 countries. This led to a boost in its global reputation as a humanitarian leader and reaffirmed its commitment to global health.

The government has established a rapid response team trained to deal with various crises, including natural disasters, refugee situations, and health emergencies, reflecting its commitment to global humanitarian efforts.

Cultural Diplomacy:

With Haiqin’s unique blend of Native and Greek heritage, the nation actively promotes its art, cuisine, and traditions across the globe. Through international festivals, Haiqin exports its cultural products while supporting collaborations in theater, dance, and film with major cultural centers in Paris, Tokyo, and New York.

Societal Changes:

Technology and Innovation

Renewable Energy Leadership:

In the 1990s, Haiqin underwent a massive transformation in its energy sector. Inspired by its cultural reverence for nature, the government launched the "Green Future Initiative," which sought to transform Haiqin into one of the most energy-efficient nations in the world. By 2010, Haiqin had achieved near-total reliance on renewable energy, with solar and wind farms scattered across the country’s landscapes. Hydroelectric dams tap into the nation’s many rivers, and cutting-edge geothermal plants have been established in the mountainous regions. Haiqin has also become a global exporter of green technologies, particularly in the development of low-cost, high-efficiency solar panels.

Haiqin’s innovation in renewable energy is unmatched. By 2030, it aims to power 90% of its domestic energy consumption through renewable sources. It has developed state-of-the-art solar farms and off-shore wind turbines, some of which are the largest in the world. The country exports its renewable energy technologies, helping nations transition to cleaner energy systems.

Environmental Protection Initiatives:

As part of its commitment to sustainability, Haiqin has established numerous protected areas, wildlife reserves, and national parks. These spaces not only conserve biodiversity but also reflect the nation’s ongoing effort to preserve the natural beauty that plays a central role in its identity. Government programs offer incentives for green businesses, and the country has enacted strict environmental laws aimed at minimizing pollution and encouraging ecological responsibility.

Education and Healthcare Investment:

The Haiqin government invests heavily in education and healthcare, aiming for a balanced society where citizens can thrive. Schools emphasize critical thinking, creativity, and emotional well-being, ensuring that students receive a holistic education that prepares them for the future.

Advancements in Bioengineering:

Haiqin’s universities are world-renowned for their research programs, especially in bioengineering, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence. Government incentives encourage collaboration between academic institutions and private companies, fostering an ecosystem where breakthrough technologies in medical science, especially regenerative medicine and bioprinting, are regularly produced.

Digital Media:

In the 2000s, Haiqin became a hub for digital innovation, particularly in the realms of film, music, and video game production. The country's tech scene flourished, with startups leading advances in artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and bioengineering. Many tech conglomerates now have headquarters in Haiqin, making it a focal point for digital media production globally.

In the 21st century, Haiqin emerged as a leading force in the digital media space. Homegrown tech firms have developed some of the most popular social media platforms, while the country's gaming industry has achieved global renown. Government-supported programs encourage innovation in tech and arts, leading to groundbreaking developments in virtual reality and digital art. Haiqin's startups frequently collaborate with international firms, cementing its reputation as a technological and creative powerhouse.

Technological Hub:

Haiqin’s cities, particularly Nirin and Pylos, have become vibrant hubs of technological innovation, earning the nickname "Silicon Valley." The government’s significant investment in education and technology in the 1980s paid off by the early 2000s, as startups and major tech companies began to flourish. Key sectors include bioengineering, artificial intelligence, renewable energy, and digital media. Collaboration between Haiqin’s universities and international institutions led to groundbreaking advances in biotechnology, with Haiqin becoming a leader in medical research and the development of genetically engineered crops that are now widely used across the globe.

Cultural Fusion

Architectural Harmony:

The modern cities of Haiqin reflect a seamless fusion of old and new. In the capital city of Stellis, ancient temples stand in harmony beside sleek, futuristic skyscrapers. Architects have paid homage to traditional styles, incorporating elements such as stone carvings, intricate mosaics, and decorative columns into modern buildings. In many urban developments, public spaces include green areas, drawing from both Native and Greek traditions that emphasize a deep connection to nature. This fusion is also seen in residential housing, with new eco-friendly technologies built into homes inspired by traditional Haiqin designs, featuring wide courtyards and terraced gardens.

Haiqin's cities reflect a fascinating combination of ultra-modern architecture and ancient influences. Towering glass skyscrapers are integrated with centuries-old buildings, blending Greek-inspired columns with traditional Native designs, creating an aesthetic harmony of old and new.

Cultural Integration:

Despite modernization, Haiqin remains deeply connected to its cultural roots. Festivals celebrating historical events and cultural milestones are widespread, with both rural and urban areas participating. Traditional music, dances, and rituals are commonly performed, keeping ancient customs alive. However, these celebrations have also embraced modern artistic forms, such as digital art and contemporary music. Art installations and interactive performances blending tradition and technology are a highlight of these festivals, illustrating the nation's ability to preserve its past while embracing the future.

Art and Music Scene:

Haiqin is home to a thriving creative arts scene. The government actively supports artists, musicians, filmmakers, and playwrights, making Haiqin a cultural hub that attracts global attention. Haiqin's film industry has produced several award-winning movies, often telling stories that draw from the nation’s mythology, history, and unique blending of cultural influences. Similarly, musicians from Haiqin are known for blending traditional instruments with modern sounds, creating a genre often referred to as "Neo-Classical Fusion." International music festivals held in Primos and Naidya attract thousands of artists and spectators each year, placing Haiqin on the world map for both traditional and contemporary artistic expression.

The Haiqin art scene has exploded in the digital age, with a new wave of artists creating interactive digital installations and virtual reality art. Music festivals like "The Resonance Festival" attract international artists and music lovers from around the globe, blending traditional Haiqinese music with modern genres like EDM and indie rock. This blend of traditional and contemporary is also seen in cinema, where Haiqin filmmakers are recognized at international film festivals for their innovative storytelling, merging mythological elements with modern themes.

Modern Society:

Cultural Identity and Pride

Preservation of Heritage:

In response to the rapid changes brought by globalization, Haiqin has doubled down on the preservation of its heritage. The government funds cultural preservation projects aimed at safeguarding the nation’s languages, art forms, and historical sites. Museums and cultural centers are abundant, and children are taught the nation’s history from a young age, fostering a deep sense of identity and pride in their cultural roots.

Pride in Heritage:

Haiqin's citizens take immense pride in their cultural heritage. Educational institutions emphasize the importance of local history, folklore, and traditional arts, ensuring that future generations remain connected to their roots. This cultural pride manifests in community events, where local artisans showcase their crafts and traditions.

Education and Family Values:

Haiqin's education system is widely regarded as one of the most progressive in the world, focusing not only on academic success but also on emotional well-being and creativity. The curriculum emphasizes critical thinking, global awareness, and environmental stewardship. Families play a vital role in the educational system, with parents heavily involved in their children’s academic lives. Traditional family values are emphasized alongside modern ideas of personal growth and mental health, creating a balanced approach to parenting.

Festivals and Community Celebrations:

Traditional festivals such as the “Harvest Moon Festival” and the “Festival of Winds” bring together Haiqin’s past and present. These events are occasions for the display of martial arts, traditional music, and culinary art. Contemporary cultural celebrations, such as film and music festivals, also play an important role, attracting international tourists and boosting local economies. Art exhibitions featuring both historical artifacts and modern creations are common, and these events foster community bonding while preserving cultural identity.

Military:

Veterans in Haiqin receive some of the most comprehensive benefits globally, ensuring they are well-supported in retirement and honored for their service. Many veterans transition into leadership roles in government, NGOs, and private sectors, particularly in industries related to security, disaster relief, or humanitarian work. The military also collaborates with civilian industries in developing technology for public use, fostering strong ties between the defense sector and national growth.

Artisans and Entertainment

Cultural Powerhouse:

The modern era has seen Haiqin's entertainment industry gain significant international acclaim. Musicians, filmmakers, and digital artists from Haiqin have made a global impact, often collaborating with foreign artists in cross-cultural projects. Festivals such as the Nirin Film Festival and the National Music Expo are renowned platforms for showcasing new talent and encouraging artistic exchange.

Festivals and Celebrations:

Haiqin has emerged as a cultural force in the world of entertainment. Its film industry, often referred to as "Haiqinwood," produces films that mix philosophical storytelling with visual mastery. These films often reflect the nation’s cultural diversity and moral neutrality, offering unique narratives on global issues.

Integration of Arts in Education:

Arts are woven into the very fabric of Haiqin’s education system, where schools offer specialized programs in music, theater, dance, and visual arts. This emphasis on creativity has resulted in a vibrant national arts scene, with young talents being nurtured from an early age and provided with platforms to showcase their work. Many schools encourage artistic collaboration, fostering the next generation of creative thinkers who will shape the cultural landscape of the nation.

The arts are not just a hobby in Haiqin—they are an integral part of the education system. From primary school to university, students are exposed to music, dance, theater, and visual arts, fostering creativity and cultural pride. This has led to the country producing internationally-renowned artists, filmmakers, and writers who continuously push the boundaries of their crafts.

Nonlethal Duels in Nirin

Hanging Crescent Moon Arena:

The Hanging Crescent Moon Arena is more than just a site for nonlethal duels—it has become a cultural icon. Every year, the nation hosts the “Crescent Games,” a series of competitions where participants display their mastery of traditional martial arts in non-lethal combat. These duels emphasize discipline, skill, and respect, celebrating the nation’s warrior roots while promoting nonviolence. The military units in Nirin also train in the arena for certain types of combat.

Cultural Significance:

Nonlethal dueling is more than just a sport; it is a cultural symbol of Haiqin’s values of fairness, discipline, and respect. Fighters wear traditional garb representing their regional and cultural backgrounds, and the duels themselves are often accompanied by ceremonial music and dancing. The competitions are a powerful reminder of Haiqin’s rich martial history, which has evolved into a peaceful and respected modern tradition.

−adding this since I'm probably scripting I'm from Nirin since this is the MOST I've put into any of the 10 provinces (blame my hyper fixation on GHOSTBLADE by WLOP)

[vitaminseetarot]

Hi!! I really loved the last reading you did for me on a previous game,I'm so glad you're doing another beautiful game,signature emoji of my choice would be 🤍🤷🏻‍♀️

thank you🤍

Hey there, 🤍🤷🏻‍♀️. Thank you for playing and your patience!

Your card is Land:Mountain:Sun. Your earth element is like the rocky desert marked by millions of years of changes. With the Elephant in the Power card, I'm reminded of Elephant Butte at Arches national park. It's the highest point in the park, a mesa surrounded by beautiful formations of arches and pillars. Sandstone fins left behind by ancient waters leave behind their traces on the summit's walls. It's a world made of memories, but also one which still moves forward with the progress of time. Your energy is one that, whether fast or slow, refuses to stay still. Both Life Purpose and Mountain:Sun say the same: you are gradually but steadily moving into living your purpose. There are rocks in the Death Valley desert called Sailing Stones which can "move themselves" as annual precipitation falls, with lines drawn into the dry, hardened soil as proof. It may take a considerable amount of time to progress, but this forward motion is assured. Your sense of dedication inspires those around you, who in turn become empowered to fulfill their own purpose in their own way. You have the energy necessary to take on a leadership role if you wish. This is through something you have continuously worked on, what you have made great strides in, what gives you a sense of accomplishment and meaning. You are becoming aligned with what your soul is set out to do, even if it looks as impossible as rocks that move on their own, or rocks which bend and loop to form their own wondrous landscapes. When all blockages in life have fully eroded away, you may find that what once moved slow like a sailing stone can quickly turn into a landslide. There are some things which may be slowing you down, but it can't halt your motion altogether. History can often show us the way, but as things change, it can't show us the whole way. Set your intention not to move quickly to the next destination, but to get there no matter what, but make it there happy. Others see the life you've shaped and molded to your liking and are impressed, even if they won't express or admit it. In time, you'll see their admiration in the form of what they carve out and how clearly inspired it is by your achievements.

4 - Land:Mountain:Sun, VII Life Purpose [Chariot], Power