#Aether: “Sometimes I can still hear her voice…”

[sixosix]

INFATUATED | AETHER

i. summary mutual pining but aether is a tease and you're an idiot

ii. tags 1.5k words, aether helplessly in love, reader being dumb and in denial, bff!yoimiya may be ooc and may embarrass you, set in inazuma, fluff & flirting

Aether’s always smiling whenever you see him.

At first, you thought it was because he’s just a happy little guy, always wearing a grin as bright as his hair. Like the sun, and you’re but a flower soaking in his light. But then you hear how people talk about him—

“He’s quite terrifying, isn’t he? Sometimes I get too scared to ask for help…”

“They weren't joking about what they said regarding the Traveler. He looks young and yet has the eyes of a seasoned warrior.”

“Scary. And a bit strange. His eyes are so… blank. It’s like he’s drifting out, and it’s why he has that pixie around to do all the talking.”

—and now, you’re not so sure. The Aether you’ve met is nowhere near the Traveler they keep raving about. Are they dealing with a doppelgänger?

Yoimiya mulls over your words with a thoughtful hum. She loudly sips on her drink. “Hmm, have you ever considered it might be because he’s just happy every time you’re there?”

You scoff, nestling into your chair with crossed arms—to protect yourself from Yoimiya’s wild imagination, no doubt. “That’d be absolutely presumptuous of me to even think about.” Aether? Happy to see you? Absurd.

She tilts her head as if she pities you. “I’m blessed to not have turned out this oblivious.”

“Hey!”

“Listen to me.” She sets her glass down; it rattles the table. The owner casts you both a stern look. “He’s really just infatuated with you. How hard is it to see that?”

Very hard. Yoimiya is reaching. This is one of the truths she’s trying to pursue—except there is no truth here, just plain fantasy. “It doesn’t make sense,” you insist, growing frustrated. “He’s the Traveler, I’m no one important.”

She hums. “I’ll admit no one in Teyvat can compare to the Traveler, but no one else seems to make him happier than you do. Which is why I’m saying that explains why he’s smiling whenever you—”

“Bold assumptions you’re making,” you interrupt quickly.

“Trust me! He liiiiikes you in that way.”

“Why? How do you know that?”

“‘cause,” Yoimiya grins, her eyes sparkling. She’s as excited as she usually is talking about fireworks. “I’ve seen it with my own eyes. I can ask him, if you wanna be sure about it.”

“Please don’t ask him anything weird,” you plead. “He’s met so many people, Yoimiya. Why me? What do I have to offer to the holder of the dragon-defeating, god-slaying, renowned fatui-slaughtering reputation? Nothing!”

“Does he have to be with someone who’s done all of that?” she asks, and your thoughts come to a halt. Does it? No, certainly not—unless that’s what he wants. And that might be what he wants!

“Well,” you clear your throat. “Perhaps, if that’s what makes him happy.” At Yoimiya’s quirked brow, you slouch in defeat, cheeks heating up at even thinking about what Aether’s type is. “You’re enjoying this,” you murmur at the sight of Yoimiya’s conspiratorial grin.

“I’m not, I’ve just never seen you act this shy and cute before! So this is what you’re like when you have a crush?” Over Yoimiya’s shoulder, you spot a familiar pixie and a mop of golden hair from afar, walking over.

Your eyes widen, “I am not acting shy and cute—”

“What’s this? Y/N has a crush!?” Paimon’s shrieky voice is unmistakable. It’s hard to mistake her even if you tried. They’re still a few feet away, but Yoimiya’s voice can be very loud.

“I don’t,” you want to snark, however meeting Aether’s eyes has your voice going quiet. Maybe Yoimiya’s right: you are acting very shy. “Hi, Aether, Paimon.”

“Ooh,” Paimon giggles, kicking her feet. “What were you two talking about, huh? Paimon heard Yoimiya talking about a crush.” Paimon notices your wide-eyed panic. “Oh, Paimon can kick Aether out!”

Exasperated, Aether casts Paimon a look. “Who’s gonna pay for your order?”

Paimon deflates. “W-Well, Paimon can ask Yoimiya—”

“No can do; I spent all Mora on me already.”

“—Then, Paimon will—”

You arch an eyebrow. “I don’t think I can afford your usual orders. Don’t look at me. I’m a starving artist already.”

She huffs. “Fine! Paimon was trying to protect your secret but she guesses that no one’s appreciating it anyway!” Paimon, the only one who’s terrible at keeping secrets, says. She turns to her companion, hands clasped together. “Aether…”

“Alright, alright,” Aether sighs, pulling out his wallet. The poor thing.

You and Yoimiya share a look as Aether orders food for him and Paimon. You weren’t anticipating that the Traveler—the subject of your predicament—would end up here, out of all the corners and food stalls in Inazuma. Then again, that’s his thing: he’s everywhere, all at once, including the nook and cranny of your heart.

Aether turns to you, a smile blossoming across his face, which is nice, actually, despite the flutter of your heart that is starting to feel like horror. His side profile was driving you crazy, anyway. “Should we leave you two to talk about crushes?”

Just one word directed at you is enough to have you fidgeting uselessly in your seat. And this doesn’t go unacknowledged by Yoimiya, who springs up to save the day. “Don’t worry about it, Traveler! We were just talking about this—this novel that we started reading the other day.”

“Really?” Aether doesn’t sound like he believes it one bit. “Well, Paimon and I have been looking for reading material anyway. Would you mind if we borrowed it?” Said pixie is too busy stuffing her face with Dry-Braised Salted Fish to care about reading materials.

You turn to Yoimiya with a forced smile, then back to Aether, who seems so visibly amused by how you’re acting. You must look like a mess. You feel like it. “Well, I haven’t really finished it…but—but we can tell you about it!”

“Yeah, exactly!” Yoimiya looks like she’s having the time of her life. “Y/N has a big crush on the main character, which is why we were talking about him.”

Aether hums, chewing, “What’s he like?”

Yoimiya narrows her eyes, grinning as she tilts her head. “Why do you want to know?”

Aether levels her with a flat look. It’s a bit strange with you in the middle of them. “Because I want to read the story.”

“We never hear you talk about anything romantic, Y/N!” Paimon says, bits of fish spewing out while she talks. Aether reprimands her. “Whenever Paimon sees you, you’re always working!”

Is that how everyone sees you? “Are you saying you thought I was too boring to experience love?”

Paimon decides to tune out the conversation once again, wolfing down her next plate of food.

Aether’s still looking at you, a smile on his face. No, perhaps a slight smirk would be more accurate. You can feel yourself melting. Perhaps those people were right when they called Aether ‘terrifying’—the swarm of butterflies his gaze is leaving you is downright frightening.

He tilts his head, waiting.

You stammer, “W-Well, the main character’s nothing special. It’s like those things where they make the hero really likable, really…”

Yoimiya butts in, “You just have a thing for guys who have defeated dragons and faced gods head-on. Nothing special.”

“Yoimiya!”

Aether throws his head back laughing.

Yoimiya settles in her seat, looking mildly surprised. “I’ve never seen you this expressive, Traveler.”

You throw Yoimiya a warning look. Had it been anyone else, you would’ve brushed that off, but Yoimiya is clearly hinting at what started your crisis in the first place.

Paimon chugs her water like a madman dying of thirst. “He’s always like that whenever we’re around Y/N. Paimon already told him to stop bullying Y/N!”

Right. Bullying. If only the shared glances and longing stares were bullying. If only Aether lingering in your thoughts was because he’s bullying you, and not because you’re developing a massive crush on him. That would’ve been easier to explain and believe.

“Bullying?” Aether echoes in confusion.

“Flirting might be the more appropriate word for it, Paimon,” Yoimiya corrects with a gleeful grin. “So romantic. Reserving your lovesick and longing smiles to Y/N only,” she sings. “No wonder why you’ve been so happy recently.”

“Yoimiya,” you seethe, though it’s mostly desperate, humiliated. It seems that her name is your only vocabulary this evening.

Aether laughs, his eyes crinkling as he shares your gaze. And if you let yourself believe Yoimiya’s words, you might even call it fond. “You can’t blame me if I can’t help it. Surely that novel taught you what it’s like to have a crush on someone, right, Y/N?”

A/N i love aether so much im sobbing hope u liked reading!!1 bc i cried while writing this!!!! also thank u earthtooz for proofreading i love u big sibling.

[tihgnari]

✮ 03. not my favorite (ღ)

tw: none / wc: 1k

"mom, no way," you beg, looking at her exasperated across the kitchen as she takes out the leftover containers. "you can't do this to me on my first day back. you will not subject me to this torture."

your mother is in her sleepwear, hair already in rollers with the korean face mask you gave her earlier already stuck on her face. she laughs at you, taking out all the leftovers from earlier's late dinner. "oh, stop being dramatic. you act as if you didn't grow up with those boys."

"but it's —"

"no buts," she cuts you off. "besides, just welcome them over. let them eat the remaining stuff, i'm sure they'll finish everything. i also heard kazuha's coming over, which is rare because it's usually always just the three boys swinging by here after their gigs to put back their stuff in the garage… so…" she drags out the last vowel of her sentence, looking at you suggestively. "maybe he's here to see you! not every day his childhood best friend comes back to town."

"mom, please —"

"they have a new guy in the band, too, by the way — well, second new guy after the other one left. his name's kuni, the poor guy moved here with his uncle when his father, his last parent, passed away two years ago and he had to stop college, can you imagine how hard that is? i wouldn't wish that on anyone."

"who even is the source of that gossip —"

"you go get ei and miko over there and just, hang out, you know? buy some drinks for all i care, i trust you. make friends, make memories, make the summer count, okay?"

at this point, she's done putting everything out of the fridge. she crams most of them in your tiny microwave, unintentionally doing what she initially asked you to do and why she pulled you out of watching a netflix movie with the gays in the living room. after you sense she's done with her little speech, you approach her, putting the remaining containers into the tiny device. your mother offers you a tight hug and a kiss goodnight, and you let her because you know she hasn't done that in a while.

your mother scurries back to her bedroom after muttering a quick "so glad my baby's back," and you finish putting the containers in rows of three on the kitchen island.

how do you say 'no' to that?

—

"YN!"

"AETHER!"

"YN!"

ALBEDO!"

you let out a delighted shriek as they tackle you in a hug, genuinely happy to see them after a few years. the van with their belongings is pulled up at the back of the house, for easy access to the garage — which, you learned from your mom, is where they've been practicing since last year after she offered it to the boys — "well, it was empty and no one was using it anyway, so why not?"

albedo and aether practically jumped out of their respective seats at the front of the van in their excitement. with their blonde locks flailing about, you're awfully reminded of golden retrievers that are happy to see their favorite person back after a long day. "so nice to see you guys again! how have you guys been? you both have gotten so handsome i can't believe you guys actually had it in you!"

"and you're still shabby yourself!" the three of you laugh as aether retaliates immediately, ever quick-witted and sharp-tongued.

"ah, well," albedo starts. "same old kids in the past, just playing smaller instruments. we finally became regulars at nowhere, so you should definitely come to our gigs sometime!"

you gasp. "no way, that's great! you guys have been waiting for a consistent gig for so long! how did you guys do it?"

"well —"

"i convinced them," a fourth voice says, butting into the conversation as you hear his boots hit the gravel and a car door shutting. "the owner adores his only daughter, and his daughter unfortunately adores me… so, it wasn't that hard to convince her, really."

you catch his innuendo and it makes you roll your eyes. "not even five seconds after seeing you again and i already remember why i hate you."

you turn around from the two boys and there he is in all his glory. kazuha laughs, pulling you in for a hug that you do not return. you keep your arms strictly across your chest as you turn your head away from him in disgust.

"oh, don't be like that to your favorite."

flabbergasted by what you hear, you look at him challengingly, the close proximity nearly catching you off guard. "you're not my favorite."

kazuha smiles.

"say that without blushing, and maybe i'll believe you."

a silence entails you both, neither one backing away from the intense eye contact until — "oh! yn, meet our new drummer, kuni!"

thank you, albedo.

you pull away from kazuha like he's a walking plague, straightening yourself to meet the guy your mother was talking about. his name sounds familiar as she often mentions him fleetingly when you text, only earlier at the kitchen did she actually take the time to introduce him and give him a proper introduction.

"hello, nice to meet you," he says. kuni's handsome, that was your first impression. from the way he carries himself, you know he's the calmer one in the band. from texts exchanged with your mom alone, you inferred he's helping your mom run the flower shop.

"i heard about you," you offer a handshake. "you help my mom run the shop, correct?"

"yeah," he takes your hand. "why, is there a problem?"

you shook your head, a small smile playing on your lips. "well, if that's the case i owe you! thanks for helping out my mom, especially when i'm not always here."

kuni slowly smiles, "it's a pleasure, really."

you usher the misguided boys back to the house to offer them something to eat after helping them put their stuff in the garage, and through all that, a certain someone's ruby red eyes can't put a finger on how his bandmate looked at you — like a spark of interest broke through that usual air of nonchalance to him.

well, that's something you don't see everyday.

BAD BLOOD » previous : masterlist : next

a genshin impact band au w select characters

summary — you thought you'd be spending summer break helping at your mom's flower shop or attending kazuha's gigs, but the last thing you expect is to be caught in the crossfire of two band vocalists who hate each other's guts with a burning passion.

note — kazuha and yn's dynamics are so fun to write lmao

🏷️ OPEN! @raidenshogunmommy @arealistonao3 @kazumiku @kur0kki @quacking-simp @rifran @deffenferofjustice @keiiqq @solelial @rvoulte @monikidk @animeobsessed56 @siluc @miy-svz @aries-afk @potteraep @cindywasneverhere @moonjellyfishie @cridtiins @yoruunight @kunihaver @meigalaxy @vyvixen @riabriyn @v4mpess @kamisstufff @pluviwinkle @sp1ng @smhpunkacademic

[zweetpea]

Freedom or Anarchy? Part 2 of 2

Cw: cringe, swears, innuendos. Mondstadt arc has concluded. Next chapter will hopefully be out by Monday. (Expect Monday or Tuesday)

‘Where am I?’

‘What happened to me?’

‘I wanna go home!’

“Time to get up.” You hear someone call. The voice sounds familiar, deep and most likely male (you don’t want to assume). 

You open your eyes and see blue. You’re still groggy from Albedo’s tea so you can’t really stand. Someone picks you up, supporting you under your legs and you back. 

‘Hang on, if this is Mondstadt… the only man with blue here is.’ “Kae…ya?” You say groggily. 

“She speaks… or are you a he? Hard to tell.” He sets you down on a couch in an office.

“This is the terrorist Albedo gave us?” Lisa asks. You can’t quite move but you aren’t as tired as before. 

“We’ll have to tie… him? Her? …Ah up! Tie up the terrorist.” Jean says. 

“Them… I’m gender fluid. I go by them. Sometimes I’m a he, sometimes I’m a she. But my pronouns are always them.”

“Well, at least we’re getting answers.” Lisa giggles. 

You say as Kaeya binds your wrists and ankles with rope. You lean forward onto him and whisper to only him. “Tighter, daddy~” 

“Sky, where did you say that Light and Paimon ran off to?” Kaeya asks, embarrassed and blushing. 

“We’ve met Barbatos, they went off to find him.” Aether says. That’s right, the twins didn’t tell anybody their real names. 

“We’re back! And we’ve brought a friend!” Paimon cheers. 

“Obviously this goes without saying but no one can mention this man’s true identity, okay.” Jean states with a harsh tone that you’ve never heard from her before. Everyone nods, except for you. 

Venti walks towards you and you look at him. “Are you the one Celestia fears?” 

“I have no idea what that means.” 

“The descender, the honored one, the adored one. Do any of these names ring a bell?” 

“No?” 

“Do not lie to me! Albedo said-” 

“Why the F you lyin’~ why you always lyin’~” 

“…” 

“Sorry I have a tendency to reference memes and vines. I’m Gen Z, it’s a part of who we are. I’m kidding, I think that’s just me.” 

“So the Adored One has a name, Jen.”

“No that’s-” 

“And these “Me-ms” and “vines” must be your sacred texts! You’re a nature spirit aren’t you!”

“No! And for the record I don’t think you are a god!” 

“Wow, the honored one looks down upon me.” 

“Boys, Girls, and squirrels, listen up! Because I’ll only say this once. I’m not from this world. I want to go home. The world I come from none of you are real.” 

“Honored one, saying “Boys, Girls, and squirrels” doesn’t help your claim that you aren’t a nature spirit.” 

“Oh for Shucks sake. Actually can I swear in here? I don’t think so. Hell! Bullshit! Kaeya’s tight Ass! Lisa’s big boobies! Mmhmm boobies~” you start to laugh maniacally. “I need to be put in a mental hospital.” 

“Oh for the love of-” Lumine cuts herself off and goes up to you then shakes your. “Pull yourself together long enough for us to get answers.” 

“Right, right. I’m just a college kid who majored in computer science and engineering. The world I come from you all are a game and I hacked into your code which brought me here. That “Boys, Girls, and squirrels” comment comes from a YouTuber I watch semi frequently.”

(A/n: Danny Motta is his name. He’s pretty funny. Go check him out) 

“How’d you heal Stormterror then.” Aether asked. 

“The sustainer of heavenly principles gave me her powers.” 

“So… none of us are real?” Amber asks. 

“Well, I don’t know how I’d be here if you guys weren’t real but to me you’re just a game. Any of you can be killed and revived at the Statue of the Seven.” 

“I suppose that does poke holes in my credibility as an archon.” Venti twiddles his thumbs. 

“Can I please leave now? I can take Dvalin with me and we can just leave.” 

“I don’t think that’s a good idea. If Stormterror is still enraged we can’t let him destroy other nations. It could spark an all out war.” Jean says. 

“What if we let them stay at that broken down building?” Aether suggests. 

“I still think that we should keep Jen here just in case Stormterror gets any more ideas about attacking Mondstadt.” 

“So we use Jen as a bargaining chip?” Lumine chimes in. 

“Exactly.” 

“Okay if you guys are going to call me Jen can you at least make it Gen with a G? I want to be different.” 

“But Jean! Isn’t that basically asking Stormterror for a fight?” 

“Amber’s right Jean. If we’re going to keep them here we’ll need a plan to tame Stormterror.” Lisa says. 

“I’ll tame him.” Venti says assuredly. “We just have to keep them here long enough for me to calm him down.” 

“BARBATOS!” Dvalin calls from outside. “GIVE ME BACK WHATS MINE!” 

“Everyone! To your stations! Protect the city at all costs!” Jean shouts and everyone rushes from the room. 

“Shit! I have to get out of here!” 

“Master Jean! I’m scared!” Klee runs into the office. 

“Klee! Perfect timing, I’m your brother’s friend.”

“Your big brother Albedo’s friend? Why are you tied up?” 

“It’s a long story. Right now I need you to untie me so I can save everyone.” 

“You can do that? I don’t know, usually only bad people are tied up.” 

“No no! Klee it’s more complicated. You want to save Albedo and Jean and Kaeya, Lisa, Amber, Razor and everyone else right? Then you have to untie me so I can make Stormterror go away.” 

“How do I know that you aren’t lying?” 

‘If gold knows me. Chances are Alice will too.’ “Your mom knows me. I’m the adored one. You can ask her about me.” 

“Mom knows you?”

“Yeah, and you know about Albedos secret lab in the mountains right? I’ve been there. He told me about how much he cared about you.” 

“You’ve gone there?! You really do know Albedo. Okay!” She comes over and unties you. 

“Thanks.” You go over to the window, open it up and shout. “Dvalin!” He comes rushing to you at your cry and you jump out the window and grab onto his tail. 

He flies towards the woods and you land in a stone arena. “Andrius! I need a favor.” 

“What could the East Wind possibly want from me?” 

“Protect the Adored one at all costs. 

“How can this puny human be the Adored one?”

As the two bicker you quietly sneak away. As you climb out of the arena you stop when you see black boots and look up. 

“Who are you.” Diluc looks down at you. 

“I am iron man.” 

“Iron man?” Dvalin roses as he and Andrius start to brawl. 

“Can you get me out of here?” 

“Are you the one rumored to have healed Stormterror?” 

“Maybe.” 

“Come on.” He grabs your arm and hoists you up. He then picks you up and throws you over his shoulder and starts to run. 

“Hey! Am I just a sack of potatoes to you?” 

“Quiet down or they’ll hear us.” He runs and runs until you two get to a water bank. “Follow this past west and you’ll be in Liyue.” He tells you as he sets you down. 

“Oh wow. My own dark knight. How romantic. Well for saving the fair ward of the dragon you get a kiss, as a reward.” 

“No thank you.” He grimaces at you. 

“Oh come on! I was promised debauchery! You’re no fun.” 

“Just leave.” 

“Thanks for saving me! I’m coming back for that kiss though!” You say as you run off. 

‘Hot dragon archon here I come! Please be like a lizard and have two co-‘

[katherinecrighton]

Nuts and Bolts: Some Writing Advice

(Reposting a 2013 post from the Anna Katherine co-tumblr)

A friend of mine awhile back asked the aether for some practical, straightforward writing advice, which I assumed meant nuts and bolts stuff.

This is what I ended up writing to her.

(Caveat emptor: 1. The reason advice looks contradictory is because it literally is different for everyone — shit that works for one person won’t work for someone else. Just stick it in your toolbox and move along. 2. I will say obvious shit that you already know. Because it’s possible somebody else doesn’t. 3. You may totally disagree with anything/everything I say, oh my god, that’s fine.)

1. Use the word “said.” Throw in a “she declaimed” every once in a while if you like, but don’t do it all the time. Feel free to put in no dialogue tags at all, if it’s clear who’s speaking. But “said” is free and generally invisible to the reader (and the goal is to not remind the reader that they’re reading).

2. Writing advice for short fiction and writing advice for novels are and writing advice for one genre versus another are all going to tell you slightly (or wildly) different things. So, you know, watch out for that. I suggest switching mediums entirely, and try reading up on screenplays or three-panel comics.

3. Stick your finished draft into a Kindle or some other robot reader, and have a mechanical voice read the story to you. It’s a step removed, and you’ll hear where it clunks. Make notes as it goes.

4. If you don’t have a robot reader, read it out loud to yourself. Actually out loud. Put check marks wherever you cringe. It’s where the reader will likely cringe too.

5. Start your story at the point of change. It’s more interesting. Backfill with exposition a couple of paragraphs later.

6. Sometimes, if I’m writing a one-off, I pick a motif and stick with it as a lodestone for all my descriptions. It’s a way of creating a sort of subliminal mood and atmosphere for the reader, while at the same time maintaining a nice sense of continuity.

7. The English language likes to hear things in threes. Three bears, three nights, three wishes, and what with one thing and another, three years passed. English also likes iambic pentameter and any other rhyme or rhythm scheme it can get its hands on. Readers want language to both have a pretty meaning (three brothers seek their fortune) and a pretty sound (now is the winter of our discontent). The fastest way to do this, and not have it be totally obvious, is to combine the two. Have three lines of description, three examples of something, three jokes — and do it semi-regularly. It creates a rhythm in your work, like a heartbeat. Study other people’s stories and see if you can find where they’re doing the same or similar things. Count stuff.

8. Then, later, fuck with your readers by breaking the rhythm. Stop the heartbeat. Miss the step. The reader will get nervous and uncomfortable and have no idea why. Makes for good tension.

9. Other things that make readers uncomfortable: Set dressing. We’re used to visual mediums. If you want to set up a really uncomfortable scene, describe key things around it going in, and make it clear that it’s Not Okay. A pair of scissors that have been left half open. A door that is not entirely shut. A radio caught between two stations, the garden hose still left running. Nothing overt, nothing obvious – just stuff that feels uncomfortable to read. Do enough of those in a row, as you head toward a confrontation, and the reader will be a ball of avidly reading tension by the end of it. 

10. Graphic sex scenes are equal to action scenes. In both instances, know where everybody is, and what everybody’s doing. Describe with more physical action than you think is necessary. If the reader doesn’t know where everybody’s limbs are and what tools are being used, then they’ll get confused and bored. You can always edit later.

[asukiess]

🐑ladywalker, there was only one bed, hurt/comfort

you get kinda sheep and dog because I couldn't summarize the snippet that was coming forth from the aether, and I couldn't get the snippet out of my head! <3

After a long string of battles where Ladybug's deteriorated focus causes one too many close calls, Cat Walker devises a plan to help her get more than an hour of sleep.

(fake fic ask game)

"If you wish, I'll ask the front desk for more pillows, or an extra duvet," he offers from the edge of the bed.

She curls further into the nest of duvets and down pillows piled on and around her, but she still can't help but shiver. The room once designated by the hotel's owner for Ladybug and Chat Noir has been empty for months now, and the pillows tucked neatly away in the closet have grown stuffy and cold.

"I don't think that's necessary," she says, unsure of how to fix this problem. At this rate, she doesn't think tonight will be any different. All it is, is a different bed.

And if she wasn't so exhausted, she'd kick herself for being such an unsolvable problem. All she has to show for the last disastrous few months are dark circles and someone else fretting over her.

And he'd done everything perfectly.

Why wasn't that enough?

"Do you want anything else?"

In the shade of the blankets, Ladybug bites her lip. It's always about what she wants and she doesn't even know the answer herself. She has an idea, but...

"Maybe you could," she starts, her voice so small it breaks, so she clears her throat to try again. "You could join me?"

The blush that blooms feels suffocating. The only noise she hears over the blood pulsing past her ears is the dull hum of the air conditioner, and she's nearly curled into the fetal position now, squeezing her eyes shut because that was so stupid, why would you ask--

"Okay."

She registers him lifting the covers, the dip in the mattress from his weight, and there's no chill from the outside as he slides next to her, just far enough away that it feels impersonal. Opening her eyes, she realizes that her knees are the wedge between them. Unfurling herself, slow enough that she hopes maybe--maybe this time he won't make her say it, can't he just get the hint?

But he doesn't move any closer.

Staring only at his chest, like it's the only solution she can find, she moves closer until her cheek presses against one of the golden paw emblems. She sucks in a breath; it's impossibly cold on her cheek.

Her hands find their way to tangle in the braided cord; his stay at his sides. Both actions and inactions do nothing to quell what's gnawing at her, and she hates how he makes her think so much sometimes. All she wants to do right now is focus on how his chest is rising and falling, how she wishes she could know if his heart beat like hers. Doesn't he wonder that too? Doesn't he--

"Do you want me to...to hold you?"

It's silly how fast tears spring to her eyes. Silently, she nods, and suddenly there's an arm under her head, and one snakes over her, envelopes her, with a hand cradling the back of her head. She lets out a breath she didn't know she was holding, and her heart jumps at how he sighs into the crown of her head.

His armor is still too thick, separating in ways Chat's didn't, and there's embellishments that keep her locked out. There's a shared heat that's soothing, but it's more like kindling than a fire.

"Is this what you want?" he whispers.

She nods, burying her face in his chest, because all that's left for her is this bed.

[meowww-ffxiv]

Theodore: If one day I die before you, will you devour me like Hraesvelgr did Shiva?

Meowdred: Uh. No.

Theodore: Not even if I ask very nicely?

Meowdred: Where is this coming from???

Theodore: Hraesvelgr sometimes loans me the bulk of his power for one thing or another. I hear her voice in the resonance of his aether. Her song weaves through the lowest tones of his own. She really continues to exist alongside him. Inseparable from the very tapestry of his existence. Consumption as an act of love -- will you not do it for me?

Meowdred: This is THE most incredibly Ishgardian thing I have EVER heard you say. Repeat this to me when it's not 2 in the morning and I'll think about it.

.

Theodore: Sorry about the uhhh the 2 in the morning thoughts.

Meowdred: Oh so now you suddenly don't wanna do it.

Theodore:

Theodore: You'd eat me???

Meowdred: This just got real awkward all of a sudden.

Theodore: No, no. It was my fault thinking that you, one of the last practitioners of Allagan summoner arts and the devourer of nearly every primal we have ever faced, would turn down the chance of absorbing yet another being's aether.

Meowdred: But it wouldn't be like that with you. It'd be like Fray or Ardbert. An eternal embrace, indeed.

Theodore: Is it nice in there.

Meowdred: Like in my mental health cage......?

Theodore: Wherever it is that you stored those two guys.

Meowdred:

Meowdred: Did you bring up this whole thing because you are Bothered by me absorbing other men.

Theodore: Now, I have no problem with you doing whatever with other men. But also, I am a man and to be absolutely fair, I was your best friend before you met either of those stragglers. And I'm Ishgardian. We had a whole scripture that got struck from our holy book about this.

Meowdred: Is this a real conversation we are having???

Theodore: I would like it if you bring me along to places. :( Stop ditching me.

Meowdred: You're no less clingy than Zenos.

Theodore: Perhaps. But I love you as a person, not as some narrative juxtaposition to myself.

Theodore: ...So yes?

Meowdred: If you remain your own, independent soul, in our next lives we can meet again and be friends again.

Theodore: Oh.

Meowdred: And if I'll be honest. I'm eight parts rejoined or whatever, and Ardbert is "with" me, but in the end, it is still far lonelier than if he'd been apart from myself. I want you to live. Even if it means saying goodbye in one life and having to gamble on us meeting again in our next one, I want you to live. Haven't I always returned to you, no matter how far I went?

Theodore: 🥺 Bro......

Meowdred: Don't leave me alone, bro..... 😭

[tallbluelady]

i didn't know people like you existed.

Hear. Feel. Think.

Lucky Apple remembered those words from the story her father told her; the story of what lead him to the cereuleum well and made them lucky.

She found herself floating in a veritable sea of aether. Had she died, and returned to the Living Waters? Only her family believed in them now, the new church peddling salvation in Lightning aspected aether and the blood of the pure.

I am sorry. I'm... I am so very sorry.  That wasn't what Apple was expecting from the Voice of the Waters. Rejoining the Lifestream was to be a joyous event, especially to those waiting for her on the other side.

"Am I not dead then?" Apple asked, realizing she had a voice to speak with, and a body to move with.

"No. But I cannot prevent your death, nor the death of your world," the Voice seemed to center itself in a column of light.

Apple swam over to the light the voice was coming from. It was as easy as swimming in the lake as a child, back when there was still enough water in it to do so. Despite all of Apple's efforts to save what precious water there was left, it was as if all of it was being boiled away.

"I mean, I can't either," she said, trying to comfort the Voice. "I think we would have had to start a lot earlier and with a lot more people to do something like that."

The Voice in the column of light seemed to bend in on itself, almost as if holding back a sob. Was it?

"I am sorry I did not... I am sorry that you are one of the so very few who has heard my plea..." The Voice did sound as if it was holding back tears now. "I tried so long to ignore this world's plight. I cannot interfere. Its fate is set... but I see you. I see all of you and your pain and I wish to stop it. But I can't."

"Why not?" Lucky Apple asked. "Are you not powerful enough to do so?"

"Not if I am to save another," the column straightened, and the Voice took a stronger tone. "Though it may not seem so to you and yours, I am limited in my power to help you. And I must fulfill my mission to the future."

"Oh."

"Oh?" The Voice sounded incredulous. "Well, it's not like the power that the church is peddling is going to stop the world from ending either. At least there's a reason for it all to end. To save another. To save the future. I can accept being a sacrifice for that."

"Not everyone is as willing as you."

Apple shook her head. "No, and they shouldn't be. But... Voice? Actually, what should I call you? I think you're different than the Living Waters."

The light rippled for a moment, and a figure of a woman took shape. "I have many names, and the Living Waters is but one of them. You may continue using it if you wish."

Lucky Apple paused for a moment. The Living Waters had always been... not something person shaped. Occasionally, there were some called to be Its voice but the way it was speaking sounded like it was her God, not the representative...

"Mrs. Waters. I am making a choice to make the world a better place. For everyone that I can. For as long as I can. I've learned that sometimes, you have to let people pout and feel bad, but that doesn't mean that you, yourself, have to feel bad. Most of life isn't what happens to you, it's how you react to it. So I decided to take it as well as I can."

"That is very noble of you," the Living Waters said.

"I don't know how else to be," Apple admitted. "It's either happy or existentially depressed. So I guess I'll focus on the little things I can enjoy while I can."

The Living Waters smiled at her sadly but did not speak. 

Apple smiled back. "So... if I'm not dead... why am I here?"

"Ah... I... I did not assume there were any to hear my call on your world left. That you had ears to hear is a blessing."

"I'm a blessing?"

The Living Waters laughed, of all things. "Lucky Apple, you are by far one of the greatest blessings I've had in a long time. Someone who can see happiness, even in the darkness that comes to swallow her world and her life... it gives me hope for the future. And I need more and more of it as my enemies continue to grow in power."

"Oh!" Apple beamed at that.

"I suppose... I would ask you what you want from this encounter. What would make it easier for you to carry your light through the darkness, to help you ease the suffering of others?"

Apple put a hand to her chin at that. What would make it easier for her to continue on as the Living Waters wanted?

"You'll remember us, right?" Lucky Apple asked. "That we lived?"

"I will. Your souls will join the Great Lifestream of other worlds as well, so your very souls won't be lost either."

"Oh, neat! That's great. Uh. While that does make it easier... I, uh..."

"Is there anything specific that you want remembered?"

"My earring," Lucky Apple blurted out. It was the first thing that came to mind.

"Your earring?" The Living Waters tilted her head, then put a hand over her mouth.

"It's, ah, I know it's..." Apple was blushing and sputtering. Why would she have that be the thing to be remembered?

"My child, I can say for a certainty that your earring will be remembered, and will bring hope to the future."

"Really, you can do that? It won't hurt the future?"

The Living Waters gave Apple a wink. "It is already written. For the hope you have given me, I shall make sure that your glass pumpkin earring is carried through to the next world."

Thanks for the prompt!

[skaylanphear]

Final Fantasy XVI: Thunder and Shadow

Summary: Five years after Ultima’s defeat, those left behind have no choice but to push onward in a world still on the precipice of ruin. Left with all that remains of Clive—her twins—Jill, and Joshua, do all that can be to ensure the world the boys grow up in is one of less strife and struggle than what came before. But the destruction of the crystals and the god that created them has left the aether and eikons in a state of chaotic distress that plagues the entirety of Valisthea. And now, to have received a letter from the north about stone bearers coming back to life, Jill has a new mystery to unfold.

At the same time, Clive finds himself waking on what he thinks must be the eastern Rosarian coast, though how he arrived there, he doesn’t know. Nor has he any idea how much time has passed since that final fight with Ultima. But as he begins to investigate, he sees a battle of eikonic proportions in the distance, one that revives old, bitter memories. Ifrit, perhaps, can make up for wrongs wrought so long ago.

Meanwhile, behind the scenes, a shadow manipulates them all, his eyes set on those who would become dominants and tools both.

Rated: Mature

Chapter 1

"I can hear them just outside," Joshua murmured, scroll unfurled and held open in front of him. He didn't look up as he spoke, or so much as shift in his chair. His voice was calm, unadorned—he had no intention of drawing attention to himself.

Across their shared table, quill in hand as she continued her missive, Jill lightly hummed in acknowledgement, but said nothing otherwise.

"I expect Uncle Byron will have put them up to something," Joshua continued, still subdued. As if to speak too loudly would be to wake the peaceful quiet otherwise pervading the room.

"No doubt," Jill agreed, her quill pausing only momentarily as her ears picked up on whispered voices just outside the doorway. Feigning ignorance, she continued.

"I saw them devising a plan in poorly masked secrecy last night," Joshua added.

"As did I," Jill agreed.

"Perhaps we should have put a stop to it."

"I don't think that would have made any difference."

Rolling the top half of his scroll only slightly, Joshua sighed. "You're probably right. It was likely too late the very moment Uncle arrived."

"They are exceedingly fond of him," Jill agreed.

"As we all are."

Jill hummed.

On the far side of the room, at the base of the bookshelves, Torgal finally raised his head. He'd been sleeping, as he often did, and only bothered to come to attention when one of the whispered voices from the doorway called his name.

Since… losing Clive, Torgal had never been the same. He wasn't nearly as active as he'd once been, or attentive, and though Jill supposed some of this could be attributed to age, deep down, she knew the truth.

Torgal missed him. Just as she did, as Joshua did. Desperately, because Clive had been Torgal's whole world. It was his lethargy that had truly hammered home to her that Clive wasn't coming back, all those years ago. From what she'd learned, even during the time they'd been separated, Torgal had searched high and low for Clive. That he didn't do so now—that he was so indolent by comparison—spoke volumes.

Not that there was evidence of any other option. She'd seen Clive's body, just as Joshua, Mid, Otto—everyone—had. Still, lying in the sand on the shore, waves lapping at his sides. Eyes closed, skin turned to gray stone. Gone.

Carefully, they'd moved his body back to Rosaria, to the eastern coast. There, he rested, safe from the struggle and strife ever-plaguing the living.

The living, like Torgal, who marched on anyway. Though, she wondered sometimes: had those softly whispering voices outside the door never come to be, would Torgal have given up and passed on at Clive's side? He'd seemed bent on it initially—refusing to eat, to drink, to do anything but sit and stare at the horizon—yet, the sight of new purpose had revived him. Not to the same vigor as before, but enough to keep going.

Sometimes, Jill shared in the same outlook. When waking up was hard, and she missed Clive as the moon missed the sun, she kept in mind she and Torgal's shared purpose. If only to have reason to face the day.

Remaining where he was on the floor, Torgal whined lightly and, head cocking, waited. As they all were, even as the whispers continued. Whispers that were growing slightly more confrontational, until—finally—the quiet morning was pulled out from under them.

Not that Jill had a mind to be bothered.

Stumbling into the room, a young boy of five nearly tripped on the rug, only to abruptly straighten. Sniffing, he pulled shyly at his fingers and glanced uncertainly between Jill and Joshua both.

"Good morning, Pup," Joshua said casually, ever-focused on his scroll.

Read More

[the-hawkeyes]

for the canon casters: what does casting magic feel like to your wol? how does being "out of mana" feel?

for the physical fighters: how does it feel when they do those impossible moves? the twirls, the jumps? do they supplement with aether? dynamis? is it purely physical or is something else involved?

what would your wol be if they weren't the wol? what would they do as a job or career? would they be happier?

for Katie! (idk if shes a melee or caster or both so i sent both)

Oh gosh this is quite the question to answer, but its perfect because I've been trying to think about her fighting style for a bit (both for the WoL part and also if she was in a fighting game).

Katie is both. She's a rushdown sort of fighter. She wants to get right into your face, mix you up, and make you feel powerless. It took.....probably until Stormblood to really get her fighting style down. She uses magic to be both offensive and defensive (but like, 80-20 respectively. Yeah she has a DP lmao [Dragon Punch, an invincible special move that is powerful when it hits but it super hurts when it misses and you get punished for it]).

Casting feels secondhand to her now. It's as simple and easy as breathing, as thinking, as moving an arm without thinking. It simply....happens. There's a sensation there, sure, but she always struggles to explain it properly. She thinks it, she does it, she feels it. Hear, Feel, Think.

For being out of mana, she feels empty. It's an uncomfortable feeling, like someone took a spoon into her and scooped out all of her insides. Hollow. Her personality changes during this state too. She's still in full control of her faculties and mind, but there's very little emotion behind her voice. She doesn't particularly like this feeling, so she tends to avoid it whenever possible.

For doing the actual, physical fighting? It's a thrill. With Fray and Ravana packed within her, its exhilarating. It relates up to the part where she does magic. When she fights its mostly all her doing it, having trained her body to do these things. Naturally she augments her fighting with aether, and now is working on incorporating Akasa (dynamis, i like Akasa so much better) into what she can do more willingly.

She feels free, thrilled, unhinged when she's physically fighting. She tends to get more focused than she should, Ravana's influence ever present even though the primal is no longer wanting to take over her body like he was trying to do at the start.

As for if she wasn't the WoL? She'd be a carpenter. A woodworker. Less making pieces of art to display in homes but making the homes, making the displays. It's something she's always done and continues to do as the WoL. She has her own workshop now, sometimes taking commission work, but mostly doing it because she loves it and she can!

[void4brainz]

Why hello

I’m Goner and this is my little space where is post about my FFXIV characters and my time playing the game.

The main two character who you will see here are Yoyo and Voss, a bubbly dressed in pink black mage and a roguish voidsent hell bent on bringing his world back. I also have a small band of extra character who live their (un)lives and sometimes meet up with the main duo. Among these extra’s there is Declan, a miqo’te vampire hunting his cruel Sire. Finlay, Declan’s hyur companion and novice scholar. Louise, A young Tremere vampire looking for one very special book.

Now, On To The Lore!

YOYO -Yoyo was 15 when she moved from her hometown to Gridania, she grew up in an orphanage, was never adopted and then just moved away. She left nothing behind, everything she had fit in her backpack - Around the time she is 10 years she accidentally summons a voidsent, only by essences and thus invisible to her and the world but strongly tied to her. She later learn to communicate with the voidsent, who tells her his name is Voss and he can help her become a powerful mage. - Yoyo studied with the conjurers before being send to Ul’Dah to join the black mages. she was able to learn basic magicks in Gridania, but her teacher realised she wasn't drawing on nature, so they send her to study with the Buki clan instead. -This Is Where ARR Starts-  -More Lore Will Be Added Later-

VOSS - Voss was a hero on the 13th shard before his world was sundered. In his life before he was a rogue easily persuaded to do whatever job by the right amount of money. - As a voidsent his is considered one of the oldest and most powerful among the higher ranks. Despite this he makes his domain in a deserted ruined castle, far away from his peers. - One day he wakes for a slumber to a voice calling to him, he reaches out and so finds himself summoned to Eorzea by Yoyo. He quickly realized he is invisible to the world around him, but he can still pull at the aether and feed himself. He also realized Yoyo can hear him and he promises her that he will help her become a powerful mage. -This Is Where ARR Starts-  -More Lore Will Be Added Later-

+Comics+ Yoyo&Voss The very start Magic lessons

[grimoireofzorya]

Zorya Solmiran – The Star in the Shadow

"They looked for the light in the wrong places. They should have watched the dark."

☼ Overview

Zorya Solmiran was born on the darkest night of the century, beneath a sky thick with stars that flickered like dying embers. It was a night foretold, a night meant to herald the arrival of the one who would wield Aether — the missing fifth element.

But the Coven’s eyes were elsewhere. Their prophets saw, but they did not recognize. Instead, another child was chosen, and Zorya was left in the shadows, unseen and unacknowledged.

She did not grow up with the weight of a prophecy on her shoulders. She was not trained to rule, to lead, or to wield divine power. Instead, she learned how to watch. How to listen. How to survive in silence. Now, as a spy for the Umbraeth Coven, she collects the secrets they would rather keep buried.

They still do not see her. They still do not fear her. Not yet.

☼ Appearance

Dark brown, almost black eyes, deep and bottomless, absorbing everything around her. Sometimes, they seem to reflect the smallest slivers of light, like distant stars caught in the void.

Dark brown hair, thick and always slightly unkempt, falling past her shoulders. She rarely bothers to tame it.

Lean, athletic build, built more for agility and speed than brute strength. She is quiet on her feet, fast, and hard to catch.

Clothing in dark, muted colors, designed for movement rather than elegance. She wears no unnecessary jewelry or decoration.

A single scar across her left ribcage, barely visible but deep, a reminder of a past mistake.

☼ Personality

✹ clever & observant – Sees patterns where others see chaos. She reads people like a language no one else understands.

✹ guarded & mistrustful – A lifetime of secrets taught her to be careful with her trust. She does not give it easily.

✹ loyal & relentless – If she chooses you, she will protect you with everything she has. If she doesn’t, you are nothing to her.

✹ fiercely Independent – She refuses to let others dictate her fate, even when fate itself tries to.

✹ detached – She keeps her emotions locked away, where they cannot be used against her.

✹ reckless – Sometimes, she moves without thinking. Sometimes, she does not care about the consequences.

✹ stubborn – Once her mind is set, nothing can change it.

☼ Relationships

☾ Elian – Her closest friend, a healer with too much kindness for a world like theirs. He is one of the few people she trusts, even if he worries for her more than he should.

☾ Lysann – Her younger sister, gone too soon. Zorya still dreams of her, still hears her voice in the quiet moments. Because I am your sister, and I will not let anything happen to you.

☾ Vaelis – The one they chose instead of her; the one she watches carefully. Not out of jealousy, but because she knows what it feels like to be given a crown that does not fit.

☾ Riven – A rebel, an enemy, a stranger with sharp words and sharper edges. He should be nothing to her. And yet.

☼ Abilities & Skills

Master of Infiltration – Can slip into places unseen, hear things never meant to be heard.

Combat Trained – Prefers knives, quick and deadly, but knows how to fight without them.

Lie Detection – She doesn’t know why, but she always knows when someone is lying to her.

Unawakened Aether Control – The power sleeps within her, unnoticed even by herself. When it awakens, it will change everything.

☼ Destiny

She was born on the darkest night. She will burn brighter than them all.

[ageofaetheria]

Age of Aetheria: The Trouble With Playing God

THAT’S THE TROUBLE WITH PLAYING GOD:

You can’t. And if you try, you’ll end up dead. Or something like it. Whatever this is. Whatever I am. Nothing.

So, I’d like to start by saying I in no way think I am God and I understand that feeling the need to state this outright is a likely issue in itself, but here we are. Everywhere, nowhere. Here.

This is what I know:

They call it Remembering. It’s not exactly right but it comes close, scrapes the surface of the inarticulable. 

In the instant that it happened, four of us were transported one hundred thousand kileons away to today. Or what we call today anyway. What you may call it. I don’t know. The mechanics of it matter little, and in truth, I don’t know what they are, but the location matters a lot—that much I do know, I think: He threaded them into thin tombs of stone, deep within the Seaborne catacombs sometime before. There, they lie in wait.

Nearby, there is a book. Once buried, His meticulous weaving of aether in an infinitesimal moment unearthed the lost artifact. It, too, waits. I can’t tell you what it is because I don’t know but I have the sense that you do. Or will. So, maybe, eventually, you’ll be able to tell me. I know nothing. 

There were three more of us. Two got stuck Between, both liminal and necessary. And as for me…well, as I said before, I don’t know.

I don’t know anything. In all honesty, maybe you shouldn’t even be listening to me. If I can even be heard. If I am anybody at all. Any body. Nobody. No body. Hmmm.

So, here we are: on this bed or couch, sunlight pouring in from a skylight overhead. His voice comes as it does, uncanny and familiar.

Go, Scarlett.

Scarlett. Is that me? It can’t be. It feels strange to attribute it to myself. It doesn’t quite fit. But then, there is no one else here, besides you—sorry about that. 

Maybe Scarlett was here before us. Maybe this was her home. Maybe she’s still here, hiding somewhere. No, no. That doesn’t seem right. 

I’m the only one here.

So then, it is strange to hear the name upon waking, but now it is all that I know. That, and how she doesn’t live here anymore. Now it’s just the bed-or-couch and the desk-or-table and the maybe-glass walls. Solid black; opaque. And also me. 

My reflection comes into focus as the name—her name—rings in my ears. I try to avoid it, which is impossible because of the walls. I’m everywhere. Do you see a mirror or the face inside of it? He wants me to look at me. He. She. They? I think He’s a man, but maybe not. Is God a man or woman? Either? Neither? Does it matter? He knows. I don’t.

What I do know somehow is that I could have left this place by now only for some reason I can’t. Am I meant to leave? I’m not sure. I don’t believe in coincidence. Too many timely moments and existential accidents to relinquish myself to chance. I’m here on purpose. But—whose?

And know that skylight wasn’t there yesterday if yesterday is something that still exists. And I know I don’t want to be alone right now and my dreams don’t work like they used to. So, all I’ve got is you. I hope that’s okay.

I also know Scarlett was only a child when she did it. She didn’t know any better yet, what would happen, so she can’t be held to blame. Can she? And yet look at where we are. Can’t she? Someone did this. 

And—haven’t I told you? 

This is a cautionary tale: dreams are dangerous.

And life is low hanging fruit, for better or for worse.

There is no order to this story. Not yet, anyway. All of this will change.

So then, let come what may. And then, let it come again.

[solitary-traveler]

From Sugar to Salt

Episode 3. Deja vu

masterlist • previous • next

"What are you ordering?" Lumine asks her brother, who just shrugs in response. The group is currently inside "Eclipse," a newly opened cafe that Kazuha stumbled upon while chasing a stray cat who stole his apartment keys.

"Just to be clear," Hu Tao raises a finger to make a point, "This is all Kazuha's treat, right?" The platinum-haired male merely laughs, leaning back into his seat. "If you brought your wallet, then by all means, go ahead and pay for your drink."

Hu Tao was slapped by an invisible force and was now shut up. "Free drinks it is, then."

Aether curiously glances at you. "What about you? What are you getting?"

"I might go for their matcha chee-"

"Again?" Lumine cuts you off. "Seriously?"

"That's literally what you order every time we visit a new cafe," Hu Tao chimes in. You make a face. "I just like matcha, okay?"

"You know, you should vary your orders sometimes," Kazuha muses. "Give your taste buds a new experience."

You roll your eyes as you scan the menu once more. "Fine, I'll get the matcha milkshake."

Kazuha raises his brow. "That's still matcha."

You huff. "I like matcha, deal with it."

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

Once the group has finally ordered, they play a game of rock, paper, scissors to determine who will place the order. Unfortunately, luck is not on your side. Though, when has it ever? With a begrudging sigh, you get up and head for the counter. A ginger-haired man, probably around the same age as you, greets you with a friendly smile. There is a nametag attached to his apron that reads "Childe."

"Welcome to Eclipse. May I take your order?"

You look up at the menu and recount the items your friends have picked. "Um, I'll have the bluebe-"

"Childe? It's my shift. Move."

You were cut off again. Twice. But this time for good reason.

That voice...

Your gaze snap at the one and only subject of your art. The ever so pretty boy that has rendered all your other references useless. Standing right in front of you—with his arms crossed—is the man you have been longing to see ever since that day 2 years ago.

"Trying to get my payroll reduced? Move your ass, it's my shift," the indigo-haired man sneers. Childe laughs, raising his hands in mock surrender and moving away into the back rooms. Unconsciously, your eyes drift downwards and notice his nametag. Scaramouche.

A confused look drifts across your face. That's weird. I thought his name was Kunikuzushi.

Scara looks at the customer who was way too invested in staring at him. He clears his throat, a frown etching it's way across his lips. With a gruff voice, he grumbles, "Hey you, what's your order?"

But no words were said. You just continued to stare at him, multiple emotions flickering through your eyes: surprise, joy, and nervousness. Upon hearing no response, the barista raises his brow.

"Are you going to keep staring at me like a creepy stalker, or are you going to give me your order? Because I swear, I can call security on you right now."

Notes: yes hi, update. The next chap is written too btw

Taglist: @aruatsu, @loserkize, @lovelypadisarah, @state-of-grac3, @exhaustedcommunist,

@missshydoesartent, @annieayuu, @lloovvv, @xionri, @animeobsessed56,

@kinanahana, @vxcmx, @pruthiveeakaearthly, @basicsofdying

[augurlamia]

The High Priestess

𝐓𝐨 𝐦𝐲 𝐝𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐚𝐲, “𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞, 𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐞.” - 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐞

Tell me what do you believe in? Vampires? Witches? Bigfoot? Aliens? God? Me? For as long as life has existed so has magic. It was in the earth, in the water, in the air, it was everywhere until it made its way to me.

Leaves crunched under my feet, each step brought me closer to the center of the alter. In the center was a corpse. The faint chants rising in volume as the moon peaked in the sky. The corpse was fresh, its blood still leaking in slow volumes. I’m sure the corpse was someone’s child or partner or parent or sibling but everyone knows—magic has a price.

At thirteen my affinity was revealed to the coven. Growing up we always knew that magic existed. We saw the aether all around us, the lines sometimes touching and other times carefree. I could always grasp them, manipulate them, follow through the path. Thirteen welcomed my precognition. I woke up sweating with blood dripping from the pillows. My vision only saw crimson. Slaughtered animals in offering. It was my very first blood ceremony. Precognition hadn’t been a gift in our coven for thirty years.

At sixteen my element was discovered. With the gift of precognition came the burden of ostracization. Teenagers didn’t understand that without training, the visions were inevitable. Every friend I had before thirteen kept their distance after my blood ceremony. The night of my sixteen birthday, I drowned. The earth swallowed me whole and my body burned—another vision. Fire, earth and water. The elements I commanded.

At twenty-one, I was enlightened. Power consumes you. No amount of training could’ve prepared me for enlightenment. Our coven’s magic wasn’t pure. Every daughter outlived their mother. My father’s source had always been unknown until that day. When ancient bones take over the body, there’s nothing you can do but accept the call. Aether came to me because it created me. The veil to the other side was thin and servants would be called to defend. I was the second in line.

Now twenty-six, I am excommunicated from the coven that held me from birth. Tonight I joined what I liked to call the earth witches. They were the ones that didn’t know how to manipulate aether or connect to root magic. They didn’t know that the monsters truly existed. They were content seeing me as the Seer because they didn’t know what I could truly 𝙨𝙚𝙚. I’ve been careful about revealing the extent of my gifts.

“𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘓𝘶𝘯𝘢.”

The soft voice pleaded with the heart in her hand. Two of the six flames burned brighter as the earth opened up and swallowed the corpse. Power was addicting. It was enthralling. A potent elixir for myself. I grabbed the aether and wrapped it around my body, fortifying the root magic that they unknowingly offered. My eyes glazed over and I saw a circle of bones. Someone will die tonight.

The last chant fell from my lips. I didn’t want to curse them but I was second in line. Until the first comes to set me free, I have to devour. I have to.

Lyria, I’m sorry.

The words are never spoken aloud. The sky burst open with tears, dousing each flame. The robes clung to our bodies as we made our way out of the woods and to the cars. There was an air of laughter and enjoyment. It always felt good after a power surge. However, magic had a price. The corpse was not enough.

After exchanging goodbyes, I found myself in my backyard. The moon was bright and I could hear her speaking. A cloaked shadow whispered in my ear, “𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦’𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵.”

I burst into flames.

[thatringboy]

Numbers

Word Count: 855

Characters: Paimon (mentioned), Aether, Beidou, Kazuha

Warnings: Mentions of nightmares, Angst

Summary: Kazuha scores his nightmares on a scale of 1-10, but Aether sees right through him

On their first night aboard the Alcor, Aether sent Paimon to bed after letting her eat her full of pork rines and chicken skewers. In her absence, the Traveler walked along the dark deck of the grand flagship with Captain Beidou.

“How far will you take us to Inazuma?” He could barely see the twinkling lights of Liyue in the distance.

Beidou took a swig from a bottle she was holding and followed his gaze. “All the way, but we won’t stay for more than a few hours. That’s why I had my crew stock up on so much supplies for the round trip.”

Aether nodded, the scent of the salty sea calming his nerves. “Are you sure I can’t pay you for the trip?”

“Nah,” she set the bottle down on a stray crate and leaned against the ship’s railing. “I already get paid a bit by the Resistance and the Qixing for getting people back to the mainland. Think nothing of it.”

The Traveler nodded and looked up at the stars. Once upon a time, a short man from Inazuma had claimed that the stars were an illusion, but being out on the open sea and seeing the vast canvas that was the night sky disproved that theory. How could something so beautiful be a farce?

Then his mind wondered if that man would be waiting for him at his destination. Would the Fatui Harbinger fight him? Would he support Baal or the Resistance? Would La Signora be there too?

Beidou caught the troubled expression on his face and opened her mouth to ask about it, but a tiny shout from below deck drew her attention. The two dashed down staircases and ladders until the Captain pushed open the doors to a bedroom.

Sitting upright in a hammock and clutching something to his chest was Kazuha, his hair stuck to his forehead with sweat and his eyes staring at his blanketed feet like they held the answers to the universe.

Beidou snapped him out of his trance with a single worded question. “Number?”

The samurai took a deep breath. “Six—no seven.”

The Captain gave him a sad smile as he turned his head and noticed that Aether stood in the doorway. “Oh, Traveler, I didn’t see you there. Apologies if I startled you.”

Aether could see that the object in his hand was the masterless Vision he had been trying to find a new home for. “Are you alright?”

Kazuha nodded. “Yes, sometimes my mind is plagued with troubling images and the demons of my past love to bare their teeth, but I’m fine.”

Beidou frowned. “But you said this one was a seven. Want me to stay?”

“Seven? What does that mean?” Aether looked between them.

Kazuha slipped the Vision under his pillow. “My nightmares have become so frequent that the Captain has begun keeping track of their intensity on a scale of one to ten. If it is above a five, she stays until I have calmed down. Above a seven and she waits until I have fallen asleep again. And as you can see, I have calmed down so the two of you can return to what you were doing.”

The Captain shrugged and left it at that, but Aether hung back with a stubborn expression. Kazuha pushed his hair out of his face and stared at him. “Can I help you?”

His face turned soft and sad, his golden eyes swirling with recognition and sympathy. “You lied to her, didn’t you.”

It wasn’t a question but more of a statement of facts. The samurai looked away. “How could you tell?”

Aether located a wooden stool and sat down next to the hammock. “Because I get the nightmares too. And each and every one of them is easily a ten.”

Kazuha knew that Aether was on the search for his sister along with his quest to meet all Seven Archons, but when the Traveler had mentioned Lumine, he held only the faintest hint of fondness in his voice. Now the Outlander’s voice was filled with melancholy and nostalgia.

“Does it ever get easier?” He asked.

In Aether’s silence, Kazuha began to wonder if his words were confusing, but the Traveler eventually spoke up.

“The pain of losing someone never goes away, it just becomes easier to manage, I suppose. I’m lucky to have a lifeline with Paimon and my other friends, but there are times where I dream of when Lumine and I would travel worlds together and that feels like a million lifetimes ago. Recently, the nightmares have stopped, but I still remember what they felt like.”

Kazuha stared at his blanket with a dry smile. “Well, aren’t we two petals on a peach blossom.”

Aether chuckled and stood up. “Feeling better?”

“Just a little, but talking helps. Thank you, Traveler.”

The Outlander smiled. “No problem. Get some sleep and we can talk more in the morning if you want.” He moved towards the door. “Goodnight, Kazuha.”

“Goodnight, Aether.” The samurai slid back down into his hammock and waited for the door to be shut before closing his eyes.

[unpoeticpoison]

sworn on the stars ~ 02 - genshin impact // sagau // imposter au

a/n: I’m so sorry I’ve just remembered that I don’t know how humans communicate naturally so dialogue is gonna be super chonky and jagged- but I also didn’t wanna glaze over a first time interaction so here you go :)

————————————

Sometime while you were staying at the camp, you felt that something had changed. Something- or someone- had arrived, and you weren’t sure how you knew but you just... knew.

Feeling curious and skeptical, you tried to explain to your little group of newfound friends before bidding them goodbye, promising to return soon enough. They’d given you so much care since you suddenly dropped in, and you couldn’t have been more grateful.

‘Never thought I’d say that about hillichurls though...’

Either way, it was time to keep exploring! After they’d packed you some raw vegetables to go, alongside a tattered pouch of mora, you went on your way to find the source of this strange... disruption. That is, alongside the anemo slimes and hydro slimes that had decided to tag along.

After sometime, you asked the anemo slime for its assistance once again, to which it happily (?) obliged. Despite being far above ground, the gentle winds that surrounded you- caused by the anemo slime that you were riding on- brought you a sense of peace and tranquility.

Soon enough, you arrived at the statue in the middle to Starfell Lake. It was as fully embellished and beautiful as you remember leaving it; the result of many days of hunting down lost oculi throughout the lands.

Sitting down at the base of the statue to stretch your legs, you could hear the faint sound of chatter from just beyond the woods, as though someone’s voice was being carried by the wind. A particularly high pitched voice that sounded like it was getting closer...

“Paimon thinks it’s this way! Come quickly! Come one!”

Low and behold, emerging from the depths of the forest were the familiar faces of Lumine and Paimon. They didn’t seem to have noticed you yet.

“Actually- they’re still pretty far away. How can I see them so clearly...?” you muttered to yourself as you anticipated their arrival.

Anticipation might just have been an understatement. It would be your very first time meeting someone- a human- from this world, and it had been long since your last social interaction.

‘Happy thoughts! Just... happy thoughts.’

-

Lumine

It hadn’t felt like long since I had been separated from my brother. I’ve arrived in this strange world with nothing but a floating companion who appears to be a fairy of sorts.

Paimon had insisted we travel to the city of freedom to search for clues about the gods of this world- or archons, as they were called.

Halfway through the journey, I started feeling a little odd. For no apparent reason I was hit with a burst of joy and nostalgia, as though time has reverted back to when Aether and I were happily exploring the seas of dimensions once again.

I had to stop for a moment to catch my breath.

“Lumine? What are you waiting for?” Paimon flew back to ask, mildly concerned.

“Ah- it’s nothing. Let’s keep going.”

And so we did. The feelings in my chest kept growing- but rather than become heavy, it felt as though my heart was so light that it was flying.

I caught a glimpse of the lake up ahead, speed walking a little to catch up to my floating friend.

I felt drawn to the lake. I felt like I absolutely had to be closer to... whatever this familiar feeling was. Then I saw a person more beautiful than any I’d seen in all of my travels. A person that looked like they were glowing from within.

And their eyes...

-

Soon enough, Lumine and Paimon had arrived at the lake, and Lumine was the first to notice my presence.

As many other players of Genshin Impact, you found it difficult to continue adventuring with the traveller, especially when there were so many others explore the world of Teyvat with. That said, Lumine has always held a special place in your heart, alongside her mysterious twin, Aether.

Sometimes you found yourself empathizing with them. They were just two siblings that wanted to explore the world(s) together, yet were struck with misfortune by mere chance.

A family that was separated too soon. You knew of this far too well.

So you couldn’t help but break into a small smile when you met her eyes. A little wave sent her way before you decided to get up to meet them halfway.

For a moment, you felt nervous. It had been a very long time since you’d had a proper conversation with someone new; what if you messed up your words?

Those thoughts were soon sent off when Paimon- the ever beloved, if slightly annoying fairy that has travelled with you all throughout Teyvat.

“Hello there! What are you doing in the woods here? Oh right- This is Lumine, and Paimon is, well, Paimon!”

You couldn’t help the giggle that escaped your throat as the girl introduced herself. Certainly, they were the two that had caused that strange feeling of disturbance and yet... you felt a connection of fondness with them, rather than one of malice.

“Hello! I’m [Name].”

You wondered why Lumine wasn’t saying anything. Sure, she didn’t say much in the game but surely you would get to hear her speak at least once?

You would’ve understood had Lumine looked wary of you- you were merely a stranger she happened upon in the middle of a lake, after all. Yet the only thing that came to mind when you looked into her eyes was ‘starstruck’.

“[Name]... it’s a pleasure to meet you,” she finally responds, albeit after a couple awkward moments. She shakes her head as though snapping out of some trance, and you couldn’t help but feel a bit concerned for her.

You shot her a small smile before turning back to Paimon. “Would you believe me if I told you I was transported here from another world?”

A small gasp from Lumine, and something that sounded like a squeal came out of Paimon. “Oh oh!! You two must’ve been fated to meet!”

Stepping forward, Lumine recounts her story. Already knowing the gist of it, you zoned out a little.

‘I wonder how far along we are in the story...’

“And so we’ve been working around Mondstadt for the last little while, hoping to find clues about my brother’s whereabouts,” she finished, a distant look in her eyes.

“I see... would you mind if I travelled with you to the city? I’d like to get familiar with the area.”

“Oh- of course! In fact, I’d be happy to have you with us.”

She looked like she’d wanted to say something else, but ended up biting her tongue in the process.

“Ouch!”

With puffed cheeks she sported an uncomfortable expression, one that seemed to have switched on whatever dormant protective instincts you had inside of you.

“Oh dear- are you okay?” You cupped her cheek unconsciously, brows furrowed.

She’d flushed barely enough for you to realize that you’d been a bit too forward with someone you’d just met.

“Oh, sorry about that,” you apologized, taking a step back. “Are you feeling alright?”

“Um, yes, thanks for asking! We should... start heading out soon.”

And so you did. With the wind on your skin and whispering into your ear, you followed Lumine back into the city of freedom, where you would soon come across a something that did not exist within your memories...