#tao IS irreplaceable

[bairdthereader]

Elle and Tao Mini Moment

When Tao asks this question . . .

Elle answers the real question.

Look at his face when she says your presence: relief, joy, validation. Elle gives all of that to Tao, with enough levity that he can accept it.

[kumomist]

Hiya! 📕 :D?

*giggles and twirls my hair* hehehe— WAIT WHICH DO I PICK TO TALK ABOUT

uhhh les go with the genshin/bnha crossover NOT dimension travel ^^

so basically— au where teyvat is just bnha’s pangaea and the archons are bare legends and stuff if anything. im leaning towards a no traveler au but either way it doesnt matter

sometime after the genshin plot is all done and over with, the leylines start drying up, the archons go dormant, people stop getting visions, etc etc until eventually it gets into prequirk era, and then quirk era and bnha plot. SOME genshin people are still around, and technically the archons are hibernating but they have little ‘graves’/shrines and whoevers still around visits them

this isnt really a full fleshed story fjkdbdj mostly an excuse to have crossover interactions while keeping the canon backstories in the same world sortof thing. and more emotional competency. yknow crossover fics where characters from different fandoms are friends bc of some similarity/shared backstory? yeah <3

note that i havent watched/read bnha at all, i just read a lot of fic

specifics under the cut

main highlights are:

xiao and hawks. they both are birds and were ‘enslaved’ (xiao and his former master, hawks and the heros commission) they both they. them

in this verse xiao is still around and suppressing whatever karma he finds. at some point baby hawks-keigo’s dad gets inflicted with karma and xiao stops it, finds keigo and takes him in. little baby keigo growing up with xiao-ge around stories of the archons and duty and legends oughdjsn. eventually keigo decides he wants to rejoin society and become a hero so xiao drops him somewhere to be found by authorities. once he gets his own apartment or something they start meeting more regularly again.

>side fic thingy where canon hawks travels to this verse. at this point keigo has graduated whatever hero school he went to and is a ta at ua. they are the same age. cue weird interactions where hawks is unnerved by everyone knowing his birthname and acting familiarly. on the reverse end everyone else (ua staff) is having complicated feelings about the very suspicious circumstances of the 23?yo that is somehow a fully fledged hero with the commission. at some point keigo gets xiao and hawks to meet and they have some vague complicated talk about being trapped by circumstances, freedom, etc

wanderer and izuku. idk something something the shared sentiment of being considered useless and abandoned for it but still striving to prove their worth yadayada.

im not entirely certain on how they meet but i kindof want izuku getting lost and stumbling upon ei and makoto’s graves while wanderer’s there. at this point wanderer is much more at peace with ei and her grief over makoto and etc and ends up telling izuku about the inazuma shoguns. izuku is charmed and wanderer gets conned into visiting him and telling him stories

idk i just feel like izuku would have feelings about raiden shogun considering: two equals who ruled a whole nation together ~ him and bakugou wanting to become heroes together. the idea of being an irreplaceable one of two, something like that

albedo is around but is mostly secluded in some underground lab maybe. he goes out sometimes for lab data but usually its for art breaks. sometime quirk era he gets accidentally arrested somehow for not having documents. later it gets sorted out and he gets publicly put down as having an immortal quirk or something. they dont know hes a homunculus tho, albedo doesnt volunteer any information so they only end up recognizing him by his artist penname, calx

some adepti/adepti-blooded are still around, as well as some ghosts. they live mostly in some pocket dimension that cloud jumper somehow managed to keep maintained. idk who exactly is around. hu tao is definitely a ghost but only to haunt the other ghosts into passing over

[lifechanyuan]

The Finite and the Infinite

Xuefeng

（Translation edited by Qinyou）

This is the final article in the Chapter of Wisdom. Originally, I planned to write one hundred articles, but wisdom is boundless while my life is finite. Attempting to pursue the infinite with the finite is a sign of ignorance. Life holds many beautiful destinations awaiting exploration, and I cannot sacrifice my limited time to an endless search.

Life is finite, yet desires are boundless. Only through simplicity can we reach our true destination.

Knowledge is boundless. I cannot dedicate my entire life to pursuing knowledge, or I would lose the time to savor a leisurely cup of tea.

Desires are bottomless. I cannot spend precious moments trying to fill the endless depths of desire, or I would miss the sounds of the wind, rain, and birdsong.

Pleasure is infinite. I cannot waste the wonderful years of life lingering in the warmth of cafés and comfort; otherwise, I would miss the chance to experience the desert sands and the vibrant hues of dawn and dusk.

I cannot spend my finite life in the pursuit of becoming the embodiment of wisdom. Instead, I must "merge with its light and blend with its dust"; otherwise, I would miss the smiles of infants and the movements of caterpillars.

News is never-ending. I cannot occupy myself each day with worldly events, letting the flood of fresh stories obscure my purpose here. Otherwise, I may end up losing sight of where I am headed.

Let the wind blow freely, let the clouds drift, let the sun rise and set, and let the tides ebb and flow. This finite human life cannot encompass every change over time, nor can I accompany every stream and river in their eternal song. Overattachment delays life’s journey, and excessive obsession can easily lead us astray. Intense love and hatred can entrap us in self-made cocoons, while simplicity and grace bring enduring warmth and fragrance. Life is finite; we cannot linger endlessly in the same place, intoxicated by dreams. We cannot carry too much; excess becomes a burden, weighing down our journey. Confucius observed by the river, "Time flows like this.” We are but waves in the ocean, clouds in the sky, flowers in the field, fleeting travelers on life’s road. Since life is as fleeting as a flash, there is nothing we cannot let go of—be it grievances or mountains of wealth.

Nothing in life is monumental or irreplaceable; only LIFE itself is worth cherishing and safeguarding. Life is finite, but LIFE is infinite. Everything in life should center around LIFE—this is life’s core theme.

Since we now know there is an afterlife with realms where one can live for a thousand years, ten thousand years, or even billions of years, we should “cast a long line to catch a big fish.” While enjoying life, we should discard unnecessary distractions, investing our finite lives into the infinite evolution of LIFE, using the limited to secure an unlimited, beautiful future.

The future is ours to create. Our LIFE structure determines the LIFE space we will enter. Humanity in the past was confused about the evolution of LIFE. Even if we mastered the Bible, Buddhist scriptures, the Qur’an, quantum mechanics, or the Tao Te Ching—even if we grasped the wisdom of sages, saw UFOs, and heard aliens speak—none of this could fully reveal LIFE’s principles or its origin and destiny, nor could it directly help us enter the heavenly kingdom to enjoy LIFE’s pleasures.

Now, Lifechanyuan has brought clarity. Here, everything is organized and understandable. The mysterious is no longer mysterious, and the complex is no longer complex. Chaos has transformed into order. Through the mist, we see the dawn of LIFE, and within that dawn, LIFE’s future unfolds clearly.

The path has been found, and the map has been drawn. Humanity’s future lies in entering the era of Lifechanyuan, and LIFE’s future is in the Thousand-year World, the Ten-thousand-year World, and the Elysium World. We must no longer hesitate or waste our finite time on an endless pursuit of wisdom. Let go of unnecessary burdens, discard what is worn and outdated, and engage in joyful cultivation. Revere the Greatest Creator, LIFE, and nature. Elevate our understanding, transform our thinking, and perfect our consciousness. Let LIFE attain the structure of a Super Celestial Being and journey toward our heavenly homeland.

Primary and intermediate cultivation ends here. When conditions are ripe, I will guide everyone into advanced cultivation, entering a world more magical and magnificent. In this finite life, we will understand LIFE’s future, see the heavenly kingdom clearly, and reach our destination smoothly.

The Greatest Creator loves LIFE! Christ Jesus loves humanity! Buddha Shakyamuni and Prophet Muhammad care deeply for humanity! Throughout history, sages have poured their hearts and souls into paving a glorious path with their precious lives. Let us follow this path, forging ahead, transforming our finite lives into an infinite journey of LIFE, seamlessly connecting the finite with the infinite, and striving for a bright future that belongs to us.

[500days-of-autumn]

11:22 pm, 21st of dec ‘24

Years have already passed since my first blog post. It’s crazy how fast time has flown, and yet, I can still remember the exact moment I decided to start this account — with the help of a friend I’ve never even met in real life (missing her extra today!). And here I am, still writing, still reflecting, still moving forward.

It's odd to think how something as simple as starting a blog could turn into a marker of time in itself.

I also just finished watching Lovely Runner, a series centered around the idea of time and the beauty that lies within it. It made me realize how our actions revolve around the idea of making the most out of everything because we’ve been told to believe that, although time is infinite in itself, our time isn’t.

We often label ourselves as productive or lazy based on a simple measure: what time we wake up. A productive day is one where we get up early, check everything off our to-do list, and squeeze in as much as possible. If we sleep in until 11 AM, we feel like we’ve somehow failed. We pack our days so full, as if time is a resource to be hoarded, used up efficiently. Even in pop culture, movies often revolve around the idea of having limited time, with the protagonist making extra efforts to stop it from running out.

The idea of time as something fleeting and irreplaceable does feel like a heavy weight at times, urging us to rush through life, as if we’re running out of it. Time has always been associated with the idea of beginnings and endings. We measure our lives in moments: the start of a race, the sound of an alarm clock, the countdown before a big event. We record time, marking its passage with every new second. Even this post of mine is tethered to a moment in time — it’s a record, a snapshot of where I am right now, in this fleeting instant.

Minutes ago, I found myself reading old letters for me from people who were once, and still are, part of my life. I admit that it made me tear up, reading how they saw me six years ago, and how, even now, I still relate to their words. Most of them are people I’m not close with anymore, and some have been completely cut off from my life. In fact, I can count the number of people remaining in my life on my own hands.

Just thinking about it now, I don’t think that the 16-year-old me would have ever imagined how much I would value those letters post-teenage years. I don’t think she even thought about how grave the changes in her life would be, or how time would fly so fast that she wouldn’t even realize the changes until she stumbled upon these half-decade-old letters to remind her of how quickly time went by.

One common theme that stood out in the letters was how many of my friends didn’t expect to be close to me, just like the people I’m with now. They expressed their love for me, often saying how selfless I was — that I put others first, even at the expense of myself. Maybe it’s just who I am, a people-pleaser who always does more than what’s expected. But reading these words now, I can’t ignore how much I've become aware of this pattern.

I see it, I feel it, but that awareness hasn’t led me to take action. It feels like I’m stuck in a loop of self-awareness that doesn’t quite translate into change.

Sometimes, being aware doesn’t equate with wanting to do anything about it.

For some reason, I thought: Have I always been like this ever since?

I’m trying to work on it, though. It’s a strange realization to be reading these words at a point in my life where I am consciously distancing myself from others, wanting to prioritize myself now. It’s like the very things I was praised for back then — my selflessness, my ability to care — have now become the things I need to work on changing.

The irony isn’t lost on me: I’ve gone from being the person who gave everything to everyone else to someone who is now actively pulling away, trying to find balance. And it feels a little crazy to think about how much I’ve shifted.

What’s even more jarring is how much comfort I found in those letters, though they come from people who no longer walk through my life. If someone were to ask me how I feel now, I’d say I feel self-pity. The person they admired back then, the one they believed in, is now stuck in a place where she doesn’t feel the same way about herself.

I find it ironic that I’m holding on to words from people who aren’t even part of my life anymore, but it’s as if I’m grasping at any remnants of validation I can find. My avoidance of others has left me with no one to talk to, and I feel the weight of that loneliness.

And I find it crazy that those letters are evidence that, although changes happened around me, they still didn’t happen within me. Everything changed, but I didn’t.

Maybe that’s the deeper truth we tend to ignore: in the end, time is an invisible force that will pass, no matter how hard we try to hold onto it. The real beauty lies in accepting that it’s fleeting, embracing the uncertainty, and allowing ourselves to experience those moments fully — not just trying to make them “worth it,” but letting them shape us in ways we don’t always expect.

[avocodedigital]

Exploring New Horizons in Math - AI's Role

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Unlocking Mathematical Mysteries with AI

In a world increasingly influenced by technological innovation, the intersection of math and artificial intelligence (AI) offers an enticing preview of how future discoveries may unfold. Among the luminaries illuminating this path is Terence Tao, a renowned mathematician whose insights into this evolving synergy underscore the transformative potential of AI in mathematical research.

The Convergence of Two Giants: Mathematics and AI

The realm of mathematics has long thrived on human intellect—puzzles being solved through sheer mental rigor and boundless curiosity. However, as we step into an era defined by digital prowess, AI emerges as a potent catalyst in propelling mathematical inquiry into new dimensions. This transformative alliance amplifies the capacity for discovery, offering tools and methodologies that reimagine traditional problem-solving paradigms.

Enhanced Computational Power: The advent of AI has ushered in a revolutionary phase of computational speed, enabling mathematicians to process complex problems with unprecedented efficiency.

Advanced Pattern Recognition: Machine learning algorithms are adept at identifying patterns invisible to the unaided eye, allowing researchers to uncover insights that may otherwise remain hidden.

Collaborative Synergy: The interplay between human intuition and machine precision fosters a collaborative environment, where each enhances the other, leading to novel theoretical breakthroughs.

Terence Tao, with his profound grasp of mathematical intricacies, proves to be an instrumental figure in exploring these convergences. His thoughtful engagement with AI offers a glimpse into a future where the boundaries of mathematical exploration are redrawn.

AI as a Co-Investigator in Mathematical Exploration

With AI's capabilities extending far beyond mere calculation, its role as a co-investigator in mathematics becomes increasingly apparent. Through deep learning and neural networks, AI systems emulate aspects of human learning, making significant inroads into pattern detection and theoretical generalization—an area of great interest to Tao and his contemporaries. Consider the breakthroughs in topology, number theory, or combinatorics, where AI has played a critical role:

Data Analysis in Topology: By managing and analyzing vast datasets, AI tools can enhance our understanding of geometric structures and facilitate the development of complex models.

Number Theory Advances: AI-driven algorithms provide fresh perspectives on prime distribution or predictive models for solving longstanding conjectures.

Optimizing Combinatorial Problems: New methods in AI allow for more efficient solutions in combinatorial optimization, proving invaluable in logistics, network design, and beyond.

These examples illustrate how AI not only complements but extends the reach of mathematical exploration, a notion that Tao himself emphasizes in his interaction with AI systems.

The Human Element: Mathematicians and AI

While machines master massive calculations, it is the human element—intuition, creativity, and the knack for theoretical innovation—that remains irreplaceable. Mathematicians such as Terence Tao play a pivotal role in directing AI applications toward meaningful and insightful questions, ensuring that technology serves as a conduit for profound intellectual exploration rather than an end to itself. Tao's approach to AI underscores a partnership model, where the machine's learning capabilities are leveraged to enhance human problem-solving without supplanting it. In this framework, AI is not merely an adjunct but a collaborator, augmenting the capacity of mathematicians to address and unravel complex equations.

Educational Implications: A New Dawn for Mathematical Learning

The interweaving of AI into mathematics extends beyond research into the educational sphere, reshaping how mathematical concepts are taught and comprehended:

Interactive Learning Platforms: AI-powered tools provide interactive simulations that allow students to visualize and interact with mathematical concepts in real-time, enhancing comprehension.

Personalized Learning Experiences: AI systems can adapt to individual learning paces, offering customized problem sets that address unique learner challenges and bolster conceptual understanding.

Research and Scholarship Facilitation: AI aids students and early-career researchers in accessing vast repositories of mathematical literature, promoting deeper engagement with the subject matter.

Terence Tao, a fervent advocate for mathematical education, acknowledges the role of AI in democratizing access to knowledge, particularly as a means of fostering a new generation of problem solvers equipped to tackle the grand challenges of our time.

Looking Ahead: The Future Trajectory of Math and AI

As we look to the future, the symbiotic relationship between mathematics and AI promises to redefine disciplinary boundaries. The potential for collaborative breakthroughs that push beyond current theoretical limitations is vast. More importantly, this partnership underscores a broader cultural shift—embracing collaboration not only between scholars and machines but across disciplinary lines, promoting holistic progress. Terence Tao's vision for AI in mathematics accentuates an era where human curiosity is coupled with machine precision, leading to unprecedented advancements. By exploring the boundless possibilities of this new frontier, we can envisage a future rich in mathematical discovery and innovation. As humanity stands on the brink of technological transformation, the fusion of AI and math is set to light the way forward, guiding us toward untapped territories filled with wonder and promise. Want more? Join the newsletter: https://avocode.digital/newsletter/

[sakurasparadisio]

Notes on Dharma, the Tao, and Nature

Do not be concerned about how people perceive you, your outward appearance or value in their eyes. Just as today the sun shines and tomorrow it rains, so today the people will love you and tomorrow they will hate you. They are in their own illusions. Let them be and do not follow fools, elsewise their illusions will find another victim in you. Those who are truly meant for you are those unshaken by the winds of illusion, who see the true you in sun and in rain, in love and hate, light and darkness. These are the irreplaceable, indispensable, rare ones. The rest, the superficial, are like so many potato chips in a bag. Does it really matter which one you reach for? They are all too similar to distinguish. So if your appetite, say, is for "potato chips," and one of these hates you, then simply reach for another. Or better yet, cease to differentiate their hate and their love, and do what you will regardless. For example, if a woman you want begins to hate you, so what? We all have love and hate in us, neither of which holds more value than the other. Love her more in spite of her hatred, or change your tune and hate her back, or become indifferent and leave her. What truly matters here is your own good, what is getting you off, making you happy, driving you, putting you on your purpose, aligning you with your dharma and your true nature. This woman who hates you knows nothing of dharma, nothing of herself. Anything you do may trigger anything in her, and trying to control the result only binds you to her karma, shackles you to expectations, and wilts your spontaneity and good humor. Love does not begin in her, it begins in you. Cultivate it, and it will attract who it is meant for.

[inkshadow]

"of course. i have your number." and while he could have very well just turned into her hit man overnight, this feels different. far more intimate and far more irreplaceable. even if she feels nothing for him outside of gratitude, killing for someone is an unforgettable experience — for the parties on either side. they'll always be tethered like this, well into their older years. tao will certainly never forget it. understandably, people outside of his family would frown upon the group doing questionable things, whether together or separately. this time, tao was entirely off just doing his own thing; his family might not even be able to save him should push come to shove. he'll worry about that later, however, swirling further and further into her sweet distractions that she peppers onto his lips. "mmm... that can be your form of repayment if you want," tao muses when she pulls away, his eyes still closed and left with a smile on his face. everything feels much colder now, the boy almost feels the need to retire back to the furnace room just to warm up since noah's taken the liberty of moving away from him. his eyes flutter open, own lower lip sucked into his mouth gently to nip at it. "you're welcome, noah. i'd like to stay in your life.... if that's okay with you."

"oh? you think so? well, if you want to test the waters and then call me in for reinforcements, i'm more than willing." of course if tao wants to keep what's happened between the two of them then she's not upset about it. it's okay with her if this thing just belongs to the two of them; something that will tie them together forever in some capacity. their secret. she shakes her head, isn't sure people have been wrong about her. after all, most sane people would be freaked out about what tao has done. she finds the gesture to be the highest form of adoration and is grateful he was able to do it. doesn't that make the the fucking freak she's been called before? she places kiss after kiss on his lips, all pecks that linger. it's the only way she can put any sort of physical embodiment on her thanks. when she pulls back, her thumbs graze over his cheeks and she offers him a smile before fully backing away. her face feels warm now. as if this is the thing for her to get shy about. "thank you. again. i've never had someone like you in my life."

[eliasiis]

break

pairing: platonic aether n scara

word count: 1.3k

so what am i supposed to call scara if i write about him?? i kept scara as his name because what else am i sposed to do. anyway i haven't done the archon quest yet forgive my transgressions and anything i mightve messed up about him

"Traveler! Traveler, wake up!"

Ugh.

Aether rubs his eyes with one hand, waving his other hand around in hopes of gently batting Paimon away. In his drowsiness, he completely misses.

"Hey, watch where you wave those! And wake up, we have a guest!" His companion says, opting to just shake him rather than uselessly yelling.

With a sour expression, the traveler sits up. "What guest? Who... Is it Hu Tao again? Tell her I can't find customers right now..." He's about to go back to sleep, but a swift kick to his side has him reeling instead. It didn't even hurt that much, not really, but it was unexpected. Paimon isn't big enough to kick him like that, so...

"Wake up. It's not a request."

Blearily blinking up at him, Aether stares up at the familiar blue-clad wanderer.

He can't even begin to imagine how Scara had gotten to Liyue, much less how he'd found out where they'd been sleeping. Hesitantly, he stands up and shakes the sleep off. "Alright, sure. I won't ask how you got here. What's up?"

"So you finally know what's good for you, huh?" That mischievous smirk always seems to find it's way to Scara's face. Before, it would make Aether's skin crawl. Now, he regards it with a fond exasperation. "You're coming with me."

Aether isn't a stranger to being dragged along with whoever decides they want his company, but hearing it from Scara almost gives him whiplash. He dramatically sighs, but he doesn't plan to decline. "Sure, but..." He looks back at the tent, and his many, many irreplaceable things (his bag, a bit of food he'd bought from the markets in Liyue- All that's really irreplaceable there is Paimon.) "It'll take a while for me to pack all of this up."

Paimon pipes in, helpful for once. "Paimon will watch the tent!" She pushes Aether further from the tent, giggling. "Go! Don't leave me for too long, okay?"

Ruffling her hair, Aether grins at her. She bats at his hands, but smiles anyway. "Thanks, Paimon. Where to?"

... ◇ 》

They've been wandering forever. Sure, Aether is a traveler, but he and Paimon take their time. They like to take breaks, despite the fact that he's never even seen paimon use her legs to tire them out.

But apparently, Scara can speedwalk as he sees fit and just doesn't stop.

"Speed it up, slowpoke. I don't have time for you to take forever." Scara turns around, finally stopping in his tracks.

"Scara, hold on!" Aether pants, running his hands through his hair. "Why don't we... Take a break for a minute?"

Scara glares.

Aether puts up his best puppy eyes.

Nobody can resist, not even Scara. He scoffs, but doesn't disagree.

"Fine. Come on."

Scara leads Aether to a lake just a few feet away from them. He sits on the grass, but Aether takes a different approach. He undoes his braid and runs his fingers through long, blonde strands before lowering himself into the water.

It's cold, but he's used to it. Dragonspine had prepared him for any and all cold temperatures long ago.

"What are you doing? I hope you know that you'll have to walk around like a wet dog after this." Scara sneers, but Aether just grins.

"Fine with me!" He knows he might get a cold, but Tighnari is always available for things like that. Baizhu or Qiqi at Bubu Pharmacy as well. He's always well taken care of. "Why don't you come in as well?"

"Eugh, no way. I don't want to get wet, much less sit in that lake with you of all people." He says, turning his nose up.

"Alright. You've offended me for the last time. You're getting in." He climbs out of the water and grabs Scara's arm. Scara tries to shake him off, but it's known well that Aether is a whole lot physically stronger than he looks.

"Get your filthy hands off of me!"

"No way! You hurt my feelings, Scara, you have to make up for it."

"I don't have to make up for anything, you're vile scum! Get off, you'll get me wet!"

Trying to drag Scara in with him, Aether grabs at his sleeves but misses and grabs his side instead. The shriek that comes after has both of them silent and unmoving.

Aether grins evilly.

"Hey, Scara..."

"No!" Scara smacks Aether's hand away from him and scrambles to move away, but Aether's already grabbed his leg and pulled him back before he can stand.

"Scara..~" He says in a teasing, sing-song like voice and Scara pushes his face away with one hand and tries desperately to shove him with the other. "I know what that was, Scara. You can't hide from me..."

"No! Get away from me!" Scara kicks his legs as violently as possible, but Aether is strong and fast and has straddled him before he can even process what happened.

And then Aether shoves his hands underneath the layers of his clothes and they did nothing to protect him in the first place.

"Any last words?"

"I'll kill you!"

Aether rolls his eyes at the empty threat. "I'm sure you will." He squeezes at Scara's sides, and the reaction is immediate.

"NO! I'll seriously kill you- AAGH, STOP!" Scara slams his arms down to his sides, but that does nothing except make the unbearably ticklish feeling worse. He's already cackling, and in an attempt to save his little remaining dignity he tries to shove Aether away. "S-Stohop! Trahaveler- You ahahare soho dead!"

"Ehehe. Look how cute you look! Aww, are you blushing?" Aether completely ignores those threats in favor of saying things he knows will provoke Scara further. He pushes up Scara's shirt and uses all ten fingers to scratch at his lower stomach, cooing at him the whole time. "Awh, aren't you just the cutest lil thing?"

Scara grabs at Aether's wrist and uses all of his strength to push him off, but his effort is wasted. It seems Aether is so determined to tickle him to death that nothing could deter him and Scara hates him for it.

"Stop teheheasing mee!" It sounds like more of a whine than the demand he meant it to be, and combined with the giddy, ticklish feeling he's being forced to endure it makes him flush. He's so embarrassed, he wants the ground to swallow him up. He arches his back and fails as much as possible, but nothing he does lessens that feeling at all and he's going to kill that idiot traveler, he swears he will.

"How can I? Your laugh is just the cutest thing I've ever heard, I can't even," Aether laughs a bit too, hearing Scara laugh for any reason other than someone else's expense just makes him want to stay like this forever. He sounds so... Happy. His laugh is so bright and bouncy and at this point, Aether really can't help it. He lowers his hands to Scara's hips and starts squeezing.

Scara fully squeals and his squirming increases tenfold. "Nononono! Stop, stohohop! N-not there- Nnnhahahh-" He pushes at the ground and he almost squirms a little further away, but again Aether just pulls him back and keeps going. If this keeps up, he's going to actually drop dead before he can kill Aether for daring to do this to him. He just starts smacking where ever he can reach- Aether's arm, or his face, but he's already so weak that it has no effect. "MERCY!! Mercy!!"

It stops.

Aether, still grinning, moves off and sits next to Scara's panting form. "You okay?"

"I will kill you. I will make you wish you'd never been born. Do you understand what I'm saying to you, Traveler? I will end you." He's really just trying to compensate for the embarrassing pleading he'd just done, but if he died, how was he supposed to murder Aether as revenge?

"Right, right. Do you wanna get moving now?"

"No. Let me rest."

Aether smiles at Scara. His eyes are closed, and he looks incredibly pissed off. Aether will accept any form of revenge, because that was so worth it.

He'll make good use of that.

[kazucamera]

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It is calming to be touched by someone's warmth.Touching each other is an irreplaceable act for us living beings. -Tao

[razorblade180]

Irreplaceable

Chongyun:*dragged into meeting room* This is unnecessary.

Aether:No it isn’t! Tell your fellow captains what you told me!

Chongyun:I….think I should resign.

Everyone:*looks at Hu Tao*

Hu Tao:*folds arms* I’m sorry. Did my my former captain, hard working boyfriend, and co-lead for the abyss just say he wants to resign!?

Amber:Why would you want that? You’ve done nothing but amazing work. We wouldn’t have gotten so far without you! You’re irreplaceable!

Chongyun:Ayaka is coming in several days.

Keqing:Oof, yep. That’ll do it.

Yanfei:Keqing!!!

Keqing:That’s not- I mean I get why he wants to leave. Unlike with Ganyu, Ayaka would take over all of his positions perfectly.

Chongyun:I had a good run.

Aether:You’re crowned. Stopped acting like your time is over!

Chongyun:I’m not sad or anything. I just think it makes sense. It’s been an honor.

Klee:*sniffles* But…you were my captain.

Ganyu:Not to mention mine. How do you think Shenhe will feel about this decision?

Shenhe:*kicks door open* Irritable.

Aether:That’s pretty strong considering the ropes.

Yoimiya:Was she just waiting outside?

Shenhe:I have one captain and one captain only. *lifts him* you make adventures…fun.

Chongyun:…

Hu Tao:Ah ha! If you resign…then I’ll work you to the bone! I’ll drag you everywhere with me! Do you really want me as your boss?

Ganyu:I’ll also call on your aid a lot. It’ll be like the old days.

Amber:Don’t think I won’t want to do our burst combo more often now that you’re available!

Yoimiya:I am curious about furthering our teamwork. You did take me in first week I got her.

Keqing:Face it Chongyun, even if you resign, you’d only be making yourself busier. Besides, who’s better than you to show Ayaka the ropes when she arrives?

Yanfei:Yeah! You’re kinda the captain of making captains.

Chongyun:I……

Chongyun:Ugh, I guess I’ll stay. *smiles*

Everyone:Woooo!

Aether:Glad to have you back.

Chongyun:You wouldn’t even let me leave!

Aether:Yep!

Shenhe:*hugs him*

[spikybanana]

Get to know me game (!)

thank you so much for the tags!!! @everythingbutcoldfire @tracingpatternswrites <3<3<3

Favorite color: blue blue blue every shade of it

Currently reading: um. Nietzsche's The Gay Science, an anthology of Simone Weil; both of which I'm half-daydreaming through. Whitman's Leaves of Grass, Tao Te Ching (still) (it's not a book you finish reading ig), and a biography of John Curry (a British figure skater). These are the books I've read some amount in the last three days. There are 10+ books in my currently reading list. It's not great I should stop. (I'm not going to) Tho tbf half of those are philosophy shit.

Last song: I've got on some random instrumental playlist to write to so ig that doesn't count- the last I remember listening to was Irreplaceable by Citizen Soldier, which I blame @heartofspells for.

Last series: nothing this summer!

Last movie: Hamilton! It was on the mid-autumn festival, we watched the moon and sang along to non stop while making dumplings it was v cute.

Currently working on: eeeeeek. This wild af fantasy au made of microfics. and I'm so excited. I can't believe I even came up with a plot for once. idek how to describe what I'm doing, mostly breaking linear time while still telling a linear story?? One of the reasons I loved PoA so much was the time travel plot, and I've loved every fic where something like it comes up, but I want and need a story that just breaks reality with its weird ass metaphysical soup. I don't know if I'll manage but hey this is my attempt.

ok um I have no idea who's done it so I'll leave open tag! pls pls go ahead if you wanna & tag me back!

[kazuhasbunny]

hello again! i was the person who sent in the thirst abt xiao being a dom and i have more to say today.

in the case of his s/o being a mortal, he would do everything to make them immortal because he genuinely believes they are irreplaceable, not even as someone who he lusts over but as someone who he loves. his s/o would be the only person capable of making him like this. he will do anything to protect them, he will get jealous easily (which would often lead to more things ifyouknowwhatimean) and he would always want to be with them. even if his s/o is a vision bearer, he wouldn’t want them to fight and he would just want to protect them himself.

this was a lot more fluffy than a thirst but #tbh i love him. he never came home so i’m just saving up for his rerun. also, i believe i’ll return once in a while to share my thoughts so i am going to associate myself with the 🦝 emoji.

hi hii ! true anon ! i believe that he'd do this , though i'm not sure how does one turn a mortal to be immortal .. i guess they have their own way . but i do know that xiao truly cares about his s/o so much he doesn't want any harm to happen to them , if can he'd like to have you by his side all the time .. i know he's an easily jealous person so let's just say stuffs happened .. between you both.. and totally ! if his s/o is a vision bearer he just doesn't want you to go out alone by yourself . you'd get yourself hurt and that's a huge no no for him . he loves to keep you safe all to himself . he couldn't bare to lose you no . he can't let go of you ever .

i love this really ! i love him sm , he came home to me surprisingly ! he's actually my first 5 star and i was very happy when he came home >.< dw , xiao will most def get a rerun ! his and hu tao's was so short :( literally . so i wish you all the best on his rerun u will get him ! <3 do feel free to drop in my askbox anytime you'd want too

[sweet-teeth-mfs]

Mafia Jin Universe

EXO!Mafia Cast List (w/ bonus kink list)

BOSS SUHO’S MEN: EXO LTD. 

What would happen if you made an entire team of face men? 

What tired expectations might people have of men who look like that, and how could you use those prejudices against them - to not only defeat them, but eradicate them completely? 

Boss Suho may be descended from the old families, and he may have the ears of most of the Houses, however, his plans are anything but traditional. It’s unclear quite how high he wants to climb within the crime world, but with a successful ‘company’ front, low headcounts, sustainable profits, and some of the best con men in the game on his payroll, ...the sky’s the limit. 

Z. Tao

Position: Assassin; knives and ropes specialist, Legendary Level Mercenary. 

Originally only participating on select high-level missions, Tao’s abilities as an espionage operative and deadly martial artist proved too good to pass up and he was added to the team on a permanent basis. He often grumbles loudly about wanting peace and quiet but he’s secretly in love with pretty much every one of his team mates and eggs on their stupid jokes and post-mission antics just as much as the next person.    Kinks: soft/size kink, baby talk, aftercare, sugar!daddy

Baekhyun

Position: Hacker; tech specialist, Spy; Hidden Right-hand. 

Appearing to all but a select few as ‘just the resident hacker’ of the group, Baekhyun is actually the hidden right-hand to Boss Suho. As such he is able to secretly feed information both ways, making sure that the team is never splintered through betrayal or infighting. Finds technological ineptitude particularly grating in his fellow team mates, yet has nothing but nostalgic love for everything analogue. 

Kinks: switch, nimble, dp, blindfolding, submission, soft->harsh!dom

Sehun

Position/s: Gunman; precision sniper, Body/wetwork; rookie. 

Eager to please, but also easy to upset. Sehun is far too serious for his young age, spending a good deal of his time trying to needlessly prove himself to his elders. As a sniper he is unparalleled (except perhaps by Minseok or Kris on a really good day) but where he shows real promise is in tactical body/wetwork, quickly becoming irreplaceable within any operation after his recent addition to the team. Spends too much time with the face men. 

Kinks: dom->pleaser / attention seeker, watcher/voyeur

Luhan

Position/s: Finance, Producer; public face.  

Whether its moving money in the shadows or front page day-trading, if backing is needed Luhan is the man to provide or procure it, however his love for cheap thrills means he can be more of a liability to the team than initially expected. Often has to be rescued from himself, although, this can make him quite effective as a distraction. Prefers to work with Minseok operating as his personal bodyguard. 

Kinks: oral fixation, soft!fem dom, watcher/voyeur, threesomes, brat

Kris

Position: Point-man, Head of Wetwork, Operator; No. 2. 

Nothing but the best; trained, disciplined, explicit. Taking orders from Suho alone, Kris runs all field operations, calling out plays and controlling the team. Whilst he is nothing but professional on the job, he’s the first to get in trouble the second he’s off the clock, and has way too many vices to name, ...well, maybe not before he gets to know you personally... 

Kinks: daddy, sport fucking, exhibitionism, attention, excess

Yixing

Position/s: Lead Tactical Bodywork, Honey-trap; face man. 

Experienced and hard-working, Yixing works tactical operations under Kris, most often assuming the position of inside-man prior to an operation’s start. Is an experienced fighter and rightly so leads tactical bodywork ops, but his work as a honey-trap/fake mark has resulted in some unexpected successes across a handful of missions, causing Suho to promote him to full time face man. 

Kinks: sexy™️, baby girl, dirty talker, over stimulation, spontaneous sex

Jongdae

Position: Planner, Close-work Thief and Con-artist; face man. 

Dae works best in the center of an operation, up close and personal with the mark. Used primarily for moving thievery and con work, Dae can also stretch to long-term undercover work and intimidation/bodywork. Likes to play at honey-trap but can’t stop falling for the marks. Can successfully lift objects off of marks without breaking eye contact, enjoys repeatedly stealing Chanyeol’s watch and waiting for him to notice.  

Kinks: tease, voyeur, punishment, overstimulation, bondage, Sir ™️

Kyungsoo

Position/s: Information & Tech; voice/comms, Character actor; grey man. 

Kyungsoo’s day job within the team is one of comms operator/tech operator, where he handles all communication between the Boss and the team. He also assists in job running and tech production, however he is increasingly called upon to do on-site tech work, requiring him to develop skills as a character actor con-man. In this capacity he specialises in portraying forgettable ‘grey men’; the unremarkable man right in front of you, the man you’d almost never suspect...  

Kinks: over-stimulation, control/restraint, soft!dom

Minseok

Position/s: Guns, Fighter, Tactical body/wetwork, Swordsman; sword specialist. 

With experience in multiple martial arts, Minseok is the team’s main fighter and specialises in sword and gun work. Whilst he is usually in the thick of any physical body/wetwork, he also moonlights as the team’s resident poker player/pro gambler, one who actually works better inebriated. 

Kinks: dom (possession), edging, control, over-stimulation, baby girl

Chanyeol

Position/s: Getaway Driver, Contact; accidental inside man. 

People know Chanyeol, and Chanyeol knows people. He can get you in anywhere, whether its by knowing someone on the inside through longstanding upper-class social connections, or by slipping a bribe to a doorman he’s known personally for years. Devastatingly hopeless with all weapons and technology, he instead contributes to the team as a makeshift getaway driver. Tao is also trying to teach him to throw knives, with... mixed... results. 

Kinks: threesomes, switch, voyeur, public sex, playful!dom. 

Kai

Position/s: Distractor, Con-artist; specialist in long-cons, Honey-trap; face man. 

Kai is the not-so-secret weapon within the team, and is regularly called upon to assume both soft and hard cons as well as the occasional long-con. Kai continually demonstrates his incredible versatility and unique ability to charm everyone and anyone who is lucky enough to come across his path. Pampered, sweet natured and curious, Kai’s ability to flip between personas is what makes him one of the best face men in the game. 

Kinks: pleasure, attention, restraints, baby talk, over-stimulation. 

SDJ / Suho

Position/s: Point-man, Director of Operations, Lead man; Boss.  The title says it all, Suho works as head of the team, leading from the ops room unless called in for Point-man work. Playfully dominant with a sharp disciplined edge that cuts like a knife, he likes nothing better than a well-done mission produced with flair and (hopefully) minimal damage. 

Kinks: soft!daddy, cherishing, baby girl, baby talk, control

© Sweet Teeth 2020

[mountainmaster489]

Hi @ichibantiti​ The story of Tao's origin for you😉 Sorry that I did not keep the promised time, yesterday I was very busy.

Initially, 陶 Tao appears in the manga as a 13-year-old boy who serves Feilong. Relationship between them is warm and trusting. We learn that Fei took Tao to him, when boy wandered around the city like an orphan.

A young boy, who was attends Feilong. When he was younger, he was taken in by Feilong while wandering the city as an orphan. Since then he has sworn loyalty to Feilong. Currently, his work centers on tending Feilong, cleaning, and serving afternoon tea. Though he doesn't go to school, he is home schooled by a tutor. Sometimes Feilong helps him with his homework. He speaks Cantonese, the Beijing dialect and can even speak a bit of Japanese.

Yoh's thoughts on the relationship between Tao and Feilong (from the novel "Rakuin"): [It seemed as if Tao knew everything, but in the end he knew nothing after all. He had no idea how many people were courting for Feilong’s attention every day. And yet, Tao was currently the only one whom Feilong trusted. At some point, he had suddenly been by Feilong’s side and had since then carried out the work of a parlor boy. There were people in the clan who were bothered by Feilong’s special behavior towards Tao; however, no one ever seemed to ask about the reason. Therefore it was probably a subject matter that was better not addressed. Be that as it may, all of that no longer had anything to do with Yoh anymore] [Feilong probably loved the boy more than the little child thought, which also became apparent through Feilong’s dismay at Tao having to be hospitalized because he had wanted to protect his master. The members of the Baishe gave their own profit top priority. It was hard to imagine what a burden it had to be, keeping a widely scattered crime organization together at just twenty-nine years of age. Tao was surrounded by inhumanity and brutality, and yet he did not know what it meant to be betrayed. To Feilong, he was a calm anchor. Seven years ago, Feilong had lost his whole family in one stroke, and Tao was the only one he still considered his kin and cared for]

Later, in the novel "Rakuin", it turned out that Tao was the son of Yantsui. Feilong found out about that by chance and took the child to him. However, Fei hid the origins of Tao for security reasons. Feilong's thoughts on this matter: Tao… He thought of the innocent smile of the boy who looked after his well-being at the headquarters in Hong Kong – and of the fact that Tao was Yantsui’s natural son. Feilong was the only one who knew this closely guarded secret, and it was never to come out in the open either. No one, not even members of the Baishe, let alone Tao, knew anything about it. He had heard that Tao’s mother had been the wife of a ordinary Baishe member. On some kind of whim, Yantsui had laid hands on her, and she had fallen pregnant Tao, but there had been complications at birth and she had died. There was no way of finding out what had happened to her husband after that, and the old couple that had taken in their new-born grandson had died shortly thereupon, thus Tao had been the only one left behind. Not uncommon in the lower class of a criminal organization. However, the child was blood-related to Yantsui – that changed the situation. It was pure chance that he learned of Tao’s existence. To Feilong, who had been adopted by the Liu family, he was therefore a nephew, even if they were not connected by blood. Back then, the ways of Feilong and Yantsui were already separated for good, but Tao was not at fault for that. And if he had the child of someone who was virtually a relative by his side, it might give his strife-torn soul comfort as well. When he had taken Tao under his wing, he had been driven by nothing more than the feeling of picking up a stray cat off the roadside. Had Feilong not been in this mood at that time, Tao could not have survived under any circumstances – even in normal society it was hard for a young orphan to get by, and in the mafia world things were a lot rougher. Tao’s ancestry had stayed concealed, and Feilong had let him work as a parlor boy provisionally. At some point, however, he became his shelter of fondness. Behind Tao’s frankness were no malicious intents whatsoever. Every day Feilong had to expect to be deceived, but Tao would never betray him. He could trust him. He respected only him. For Feilong, he had become an irreplaceable person. Every now and then, there had also been moments in which he had perceived it as unpleasant that Tao knew nothing about all this; since Tao belonged to the Liu family, he should have been welcomed warmly. Privileged by his status, he essentially was not someone who had to spend his life as just a parlor boy. However, apart from that, sentiments of paternal love developed inside Feilong which did not want to make Tao mafioso.

In the end, in the novel, Tao learns about his origin and expresses a desire to stay with Feilong in the underworld: - Will you allow me to stay by your side…later on, too…even when I grow up? Feilong held his breath and looked down at Tao with a firm gaze. He was not sure what exactly Tao’s thoughts were, but should this be the path he had found for himself, it would mean that he would go the same way Feilong had chosen seven years ago. It was too early to take the decision of a thirteen-year-old child who had grown up without the love of his parents as final; however, Feilong could not discern the naivety of a child in Tao’s eyes. The fact that he was Yantsui’s biological son could not be changed. He would continue to suffer from the truth that the man who had tortured and attempted to kill his adored Feilong was his real father. But if Tao wanted to accept his mafia blood nonetheless and go on living with it, Feilong would welcome the decision. - If that’s what you want to do, then…I would be happy about it.

An interesting parallel between the present and the past. Yantsui used his brother and humiliated him. And Feilong takes care of Tao. He and Tao are a real family:

[eastsolis02]

*slips in my url*

[ PROMPT ]  Send me your URL and I’ll tell you

My Opinion on;

Character in general: Will this be a long one? I’m just typing as this goes, so we’ll see haha. But so far, I’ve had the pleasure of roleplaying with two of their muses, but of course, because I’m writing facts on this particular blog (not opinion, take this as facts xoxo), I’ll just mainly talk about ZiTao (but Jongin such an angel too oop was that a reference? asjdhskad). And goshhhh, I can’t believe it’s been months since I’ve had the joy of writing with such an interesting, mysterious, intriguing and frustratingly painful cinnamon roll! Like, if there’s a muse that can get me get right back to writing Dongsun after much time has passed? It’s Tao. The threads, the plots, and the bond they’ve made throughout the months has just spiraled outta control in the best way possible because welp, us muns just ended up becoming instruments in writing them down because I can’t predict what’d happen next with someone as amazingly unpredictable as Tao~! And the backstory and quirk too, gosh that’d make for more exciting and spicy threads in the future. He’s also a muse that I just feel so bad for, that I want nothing than for him to be happy ahhhh! He has so much baggage, but for someone he loves, he risks it all. It’s painful to read; gives me so many feelings but ugh, I love him so much! ; - ;How they play them: Kara’s writing makes me emotional yo. Like the writing actually makes me groan out loud because of the on point reactions, dialogue, and emotional roller-coaster that Tao goes through. I feel what the muses are feeling, as if I’m pretty much reading a novel where I’m completely sold on the character I’m reading about~ And with that said, the way they write has me, indeed, sold on the entire character. Like, we’ve written a couple of long-ass threads at this point, and there will be no shortage of that goodness anytime soon. The Mun: I think my tags from last year summed up my feelings well, but still, there’ll always be room to appreciate the wonderful mun in this blog! (And I’ll never stop appreciating, tbh.) But yeah, I feel like it’s been so long and at the same time, feels like yesterday since we started talking and plotting, and now it’s 2020 and a surprise happened at a casual thread~ That’s how chill and unexpected the writing can be, because the mun chemistry is there for sure. She’s just a precious sweetheart and an irreplaceable friend in my life! I love her so much, even if she’s hurt me asjhdasd. Thank you for always waiting on me whenever I disappear lol.

Do I:

RP with them: Nahhh~ lol of course I do! -presses the ‘yes’ button a million times-Want to RP with them: The threads will just keep on coming because I’ll always want to write with you uwu

What is my;

Overall Opinion: Hoo boi, this post just became a huge block of text and I’m not sorry for it at all~ All the muses are just so well thought-out that never in the life of me will I ever reach this peak creativity and inspiration! If you’re looking for the utmost quality of writing mixed with tasty character development and painful angst, this is the blog right up your alley haha. Coupled with a mun that’s just fantastic to write with and is an amazing friend to have? If you aren’t writing with them yet, you’re totally missing out! All the love for the muse and mun xoxo. ♡

**Note: Mun’s answer are all to be completely honest. Don’t send url if you don’t want brutal honesty

@fxndingsolace

[secondlifep]

I guess it is an irreplaceable happiness to be able to live in peace like this.

I don't need anything else as long as my mind is at peace and safe.ーTao.