#Fire! I hope you like this \o/ it was quite the gift to write!

[quinloki]

Birthday Request Event

"It's my birthday and I'll write what I want to \o/"

Gift Details ♥ Reader: cisfem!Reader Character: Penguin Kink: #2 Praise Kink Prompt: #13 "Don't worry, I'll take care of you." Gift Giver: @firefistussy

Summary: Your first kiss with Penguin is certainly going places >.>

Content Notes: hot and heavy make out session with some praising - implied future shenanigans, but uh - whew, look I like how it came out, but it doesn't get explicit. Just... steamy O_O ♥

This birthday party is 18+, consensual unless explicitly stated otherwise, and BYOB

The first kiss was dry, brief. You could feel the heat on his face, and both of you were breathing a little heavy. That first rush, that raw desire – it almost felt like you’d been waiting years for this chance.

There’d been plenty of flirting before now. Stolen glances, embarrassed eyes looking away from one another. Tentative and trembling fingers slipping between each other’s. A quiet confession in the med bay, holding his hand and listening to the heart monitor as he healed from wounds earned in a fierce fight.

Wounds he received protecting you, as if you needed any more clues to understand how he felt. The crew looked out for one another, certainly, but you would’ve been less hurt if he’d let you take the hit, and Law had read him the riot act for his actions.

Only a few of his bandages remained, and you were both in a quiet corner of the Tang, responsibilities sorted for the moment, with Shachi ensuring you had a bit of privacy – much as anyone could find on the submarine.

Need was broken by that first kiss and you both chuckled a little, Penguin setting his forehead on your shoulder. Both of you had the tops of your uniforms down, dark undershirts the only things between you, and a slight turn of his head put his lips against the bare skin of the crook of your neck.

You gasped at the sensation and the sound spurred him on, hand wrapping around your waist as he braced himself against the wall with his other arm. You pulled his cap off easily, letting your fingers wander through his hair and urging his lips to continue.

“F-feels good,” you breathe softly, feeling his teeth run along your skin as he moves up your neck. “Muh-more, pleas-aahhmm.” Your request shifts as he nibbles your ear gently.

He leans back a little, eyes on your lips, his tongue slipping across his own before he looks up at you. The shy smile on his face shifts to something more dangerous as he shortens the small distances between you.

“Don’t worry,” he says softly, “I’ll take care of you.”

Penguin’s lips press against yours, pulling a soft moan up to your chest before you push him back. There’s a little confusion in his eyes, but he winces when you squeeze his arm.

“Not like this.” You demand. You try to look at him angrily, but it’s more akin to concern on your face. “Don’t get hurt worse protecting me.” You lean forward, pulling him in, but stopping short of another kiss.

“Promise.”

“I can’t just let you-.”

“I’m not asking you to stand idly by,” you grumble, grabbing his collar and leaning in, brushing your lips over his lightly. “I’m telling you the captain won’t get a chance to scold you if you do something so reckless again.”

Penguin’s lips pull into a smile. “Are you telling me to fear you more than the cap’n?” He questions, leaning forward enough to put your back against the wall again. You start to answer with a yes when he leans in and kisses you deeply.

His tongue is deep in your mouth, there’s no hesitation, no exploration, no nerves holding him back. The deep kiss rushes adrenaline through you, and your heart flutters as he wraps his arms around you and pulls you as close as he can. You loose your grip on his collar and let your arms tangle around him.

“You gonna,” your voice slips out between kisses, Penguin barely giving you time to speak. “Be good – annh ♥.” Your words fall into a loud moan as his hands grab your ass and squeeze.

“I’ll be good for you.” He promises, husky voice hot against your skin as he lifts you a little, using the leverage of the wall to keep you in place as he guides your legs around his waist.

You laugh a little between kisses. “You’ll be my good boy, then?” You muses, holding his face in place and stopping him from kissing you. He pouts for a split second before a devious, toothy grin crosses his features, and you’re reminded of Ikkaku’s “warning”.

Ikkaku grins as you admit your crush to her. “Well, I have your back, for sure, but remember (Y/N), cute and fluffy as they are, penguins are carnivorous hunters.”

You laugh a little. “And here I thought you were going to say something about how they mate for life.”

Ikkaku hums, as the two of you enjoy the view of watching Shachi and Penguin swab the deck. “Prolly somethin’ to that, too.” She admits.

“Get that praise in while you can,” he asserts, turning his head and kissing the inside of your palm, eyes holding your gaze. The look in his eyes hitches your breath in your throat for a moment. “I’m going to be so good to you, you won’t be able to say much at all.”

His hips grind into yours as he grabs your wrists and pins you against the wall, leaning in and kissing you all in the same motion. Your gasp of surprise at the action is devoured, and your moans sink into him as you squirm a little under his hold.

“Haa, ahh- Peng!” You shiver with his lips and teeth against your neck. “I – have – have to survive, for you to be guh-good!” You get the shaky words out as he brings your wrists together over your head, holding them with one hand and freeing his other to start tugging your shirt up.

His hand is hot against your waist, fingers nearly burning with desire as his hips shift, pushing his erection into the seam of your uniform.

“Don’t worry, I’ll only eat you out,” he promises, licking his lips as he leans in close to your mouth again. “Not up.”

Check out the event - requests are accepted until 7/31/2023 EST

[silverbladexyz]

Helloo! It is i, the same anon who requested the night and morning routines with the hunting dogs, and first of all i just wanted to say that i really love your writing and how detailed it is!! Everytime i read one of your fics i am literally so amazed at how you write the characters, no matter who it is. So when i saw that you’re requests were open i got so happy, and this time i would like to ask for the hunting dogs (YES THEM AGAIN, I JUST LOVE THEM SO MUCH) and how they would spend the holidays with their s/o, how they would prepare for christmas, etc. (and of course just platonic with Teruko, like a best friend reader. And also no Fukuchi lol) And once again, feel free to remove whoever you want to because i completely understand if this is too much. Anyways, i hope you have a great day/night!!

-🕯

Omg helloooo anon!!! Welcome back!! Thank you, I'm honoured to know that you like my writing >.< and I love the Hunting Dogs too, so of course I'll write for them :)

The images do not belong to me. They belong to their original owners.

TW: Slight mentions of death

Hunting Dogs spending holidays with their S/O (best friend for Teruko)

Tecchou:

-I feel like the Hunting Dogs don’t get a lot of holidays, however, for the sake of this post let’s say that they do ^-^

-Tecchou wouldn’t really mind spending the holidays in any way really, as long as he gets to spend time with you. You could literally drag him out to do a day-long hike or go shopping at the mall until it was 11PM and he would not complain. In fact, he likes it and always looks forward to going out to a new place everyday

-However, he also wouldn’t mind just spending time at home with you. Do some fun couples activities together! Like baking, playing video games, couples yoga, reading books, working out, anything really! Although please keep an eye on Tecchou when he bakes, because not only might he add some sus stuff into the mixture, he might set the house on fire

-Would probably wake up early just to exercise. I’m so sorry if you’re not a morning person, because Tecchou would drag you to exercise with him everyday at 7AM in the morning, even when it was the holidays. But sometimes, he also likes a good sleep in that includes a long cuddling session

-Holidays with him are either chill or quite adventure-filled. There is never a dull moment that goes by

-Now I feel like Tecchou doesn’t really celebrate Christmas; at the most he’ll bid everyone a ‘Merry Christmas’ and accept gifts from people. But he is more than happy to decorate a Christmas tree with you and just spend a great Christmas with you in general

-Oh but please tell Tecchou that the pine trees that are put up for Christmas are normally fake and could be bought in stores... because Tecchou is going to actually drag a pine tree all the way home to use as decoration. Yes, you heard me. A literal. Pine. Tree

-Even though it’s sweet that the thought’s there, I’m pretty sure that you wouldn’t want to be sharing your home with tons of bugs and whatever else lives in pine trees, am I right? Not to mention it probably is illegal to do that

-But other than that, Tecchou is absolutely down to celebrating Christmas the way you celebrate it. He’d help decorate the house, put Christmas lights everywhere, even put on some Christmas songs. Even when his taste in food is questionable, his taste in decoration is impeccable. Because all he wants for Christmas is to have a good time with you :)))

-Buy presents for him!!! He would be a bit clueless on why people give presents on Christmas, but he’ll catch on quickly, and even buy presents for you!! But beware, he’ll buy you a lot of presents, and they are the most random presents you have ever seen. Please educate him on this whole Christmas-gifts thing, because he’s trying :(

-Teach him everything about Christmas, because he would love to learn about it. Tecchou might even dress up as Santa Claus and volunteer at the local mall to talk to the kids, and he answers questions so seriously that the kids are lowkey scared of him lol. Please teach him before Jouno murders him

-Christmas nights are normally spent cuddling in front of the fireplace. It’s dark, the candles give a cosy atmosphere, and cuddling with Tecchou is the absolute best thing to do 💗

Jouno:

-Jouno isn’t really fussed on how he spends the holidays; so long as he isn’t exhausted by the end of the day or has to go to really loud places, then he’s perfectly fine with anything

-He strikes me more of the type to stay at home with you and spend quality time with you. You’ll find that cuddling sessions have increased by at least two times, and the amount of kisses too

-Slow dancing with him in the kitchen at nighttime!!! Even though Jouno’s blind, his other sharp senses and great reflexes make him a really good slow dancer. If you don’t know anything about slow dancing, he will teach you, but beware he might tease you a bit for how cute you looked as you were struggling to learn it. Step on his feet please

-Now that it’s the holidays, Jouno definitely is going to sleep in with you. If you wake him up early to work out with him, he’s going to be a bit annoyed, but he won’t object to working out with you. It might help him be stronger than Tecchou, afterall

-If you wanted to go out somewhere to spend time with him, Jouno doesn’t mind, as long as his senses don’t get overwhelmed. But he would prefer taking nice, long walks in the evening where the sunset is beautiful and there is just the two of you on the stroll

-In the rare moments, he might even link his fingers with yours. Hold his hand back and stroke it! It might catch him by surprise at first, but if you’re observant, you might just notice his thumb lightly stroking the back of your hand. It’s very soft though... so pay extra attention

-Honestly just wants to spend his holidays by being with you as much as he can. I feel like his love language is mostly quality time, so Jouno is going to spend as much time as possible with you

-Now for celebrating Christmas... Jouno isn’t really the type to celebrate Christmas. However, convince him and he will eventually join in with your Christmas celebration. He wouldn’t want the house to be decorated too much though, because he just doesn’t want to spend a lot of time packing them up :/

-But he will go gift shopping with you! I headcanon that Jouno has great tastes when it comes to presents, it’s just that sometimes he’s a troll and gets you something to tease you. However he will be serious and buy you some extra nice gifts for Christmas

-I feel like Jouno would be a bit more romantic on Christmas. Playful kisses, fleeting touches, and just being more romantic in general. If you tease him for being all lovey-dovey and soft, he’s going to tease you extra hard 10x back

-Would definitely whisper to you a merry Christmas on Christmas Eve, probably accompanied by a kiss

Tachihara:

-Tachihara definitely wants to get out of the house and spend the holidays with you

-I feel like he’s more of the hiking and beach type, but if you wanted to go shopping with him he’d gladly accompany you. Just please don’t buy too much stuff because he’s going to trip and fall while carrying them

-Sleeping in and cuddles is a must. Now that Tachihara has more time to spend with you, he’s not losing a second of it, so expect lots and lotsss of affection. He won’t do it every single second, but when he does, you’ll be covered in hugs and kisses

-Also loves taking walks with you. He would take you to actual 5km walks where the scenery is beautiful, and you wouldn’t feel so tired because Tachihara would keep you company. But if you were absolutely exhausted, Tachihara will definitely give you a piggyback ride, maybe even carry you bridal style when nobody’s around xD

-Video games and movie nights!!! I headcanon that Tachihara loves playing Mario-Kart and Fortnite, as well as anything you play. Most of the time you two end up trolling little kids on Roblox, and it’s mighty fun. Even then, it’s very amusing watching Tachihara play, because he always manages to make the gameplay interesting

-Now for Christmas... Tachihara secretly wants to celebrate Christmas with you so bad, because when he was younger his family unfortunately did not celebrate it with him. So go all out and celebrate Christmas in the most fun way possible! Buy heaps of gifts, decorate the entire house with Christmas lights, hang up Christmas stockings, just do everything with him! He’ll love it, and he’ll also fall in love with you more

-Definitely lights up a fire in the fireplace and watches good Christmas movies with you, alongside a nice hot cup of cocoa or hot chocolate. Also cuddles with you wrapped in blankets on the couch, and it’s just really nice and cosy

-Also sings a lot of Christmas karaoke with you. I feel like he would be great at singing if he removed the roughness in his voice. I headcanon he likes singing ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’, because it’s such a nostalgic song

-Christmas is his favourite celebration now, because he can spend it with you 💗

Teruko:

-Having Teruko as a best friend means that she’s dragging you to a lot of places to hang out in the holidays

-Most of the time she would go shopping or swimming at the beach. Teruko would definitely swim out to the farthest distance she could, and she will throw a tantrum if people tell her that she couldn’t. If you tell her that the sea could easily sweep her away or if there’s dangerous marine life out there, it just makes her more adamant to swim out. She’ll even wrestle a shark if that meant she could swim as far as she wanted lmao Teruko please don’t

-Teruko is going to buy whatever is on discount. And when I say whatever, I mean whatever. Mostly she’ll buy stuff that she thinks Fukuchi likes, but she’ll also be happy to buy stuff that you like too! Teruko will mostly judge stuff and be picky, but the stuff that she thinks are good are actually the best quality. So always trust Teruko’s gut on which items are good or not

-Working out in the gym together! Don’t underestimate Teruko’s small stature, because she can just use her ability and suddenly turn into a very strong woman. She might even have competitions with you to see who can lift the heaviest weights and who could run the fastest on the treadmill she always wins lmao

-But sometimes even extraverts need to recharge. On those times Teruko is just perfectly happy to chill with you, talking about whatever comes to mind. Or you two would watch a tv show or a movie, sometimes judging the film if it was bad

-Also don’t be surprised if Teruko rocks up to your house and announces that she’s booked a trip to a nearby island for a day. She loves planning surprises, and frankly speaking those islands that she drags you to are pretty nice, with lots of activities to do on them. And she will cover the cost, but it would be nice if you treated her to some food and stuff (dw being a Hunting Dog means you’re rich)

-Amusement parks!!! Teruko loves going on rides, especially the ones that are super tall and big and with a lot of twists and turns. But prepare yourself for a lot of her tantrums, because she’s always too short for the ride lol. Teruko ends up using her ability in the end, but she is very vocal at expressing her annoyance

-And just because it’s the holidays, doesn’t mean that she’ll stop asking for piggyback rides. In fact, her requests for piggyback rides will double. Teruko won’t force you to give her a piggyback ride if you were really tired, but be prepared to give her a lot of piggyback rides the next day

-Now onto Christmas! Teruko would love celebrating Christmas with you, and she normally would go to a restaurant with you to have a Christmas dinner. She might even invite Fukuchi and the rest of the Hunting Dogs, and by the end of it Fukuchi is so drunk, Tecchou mixes a lot of suspicious food combinations, Jouno is ready to murder everyone, Tachihara is close to crying, and Teruko is also drinking with Fukuchi. Good luck dealing with them, but don’t worry because Jouno and Tachihara are surprisingly good at dealing with these stuff

-Teruko definitely invites you over to her house on Christmas. She sets up a pine tree, decorates it nicely, hangs flashy Christmas lights and stockings everywhere, basically just going all out with decorations. If you pay close attention, you might even catch her singing some Christmas songs when she thinks she is alone. Don’t tell her you saw though, because Teruko will threaten to punch you

-You two would also spend Christmas singing Christmas songs and watching Christmas movies. Teruko is definitely in a much more energetic mood, and she will be wishing everybody a ‘Merry Christmas’ before you two go to sleep (Jouno was so confused lmao)

@pixyys @pianotross @yuugen-benni @the-mourning-stars @xxelfmamaxx @nekokinax @catzlivedforbsd @i-just-like-goats

[flipping-the-coin]

[Inquisitorial Report: Subject - Megatron of Kaon]

[Authorization Level: Alpha (Elite Guard Selective)]

[Listed Authorizations: Head Elite Guardsmech Smokescreen]

[Assigned Inquisitor: Hush]

[15 Vorns after Cybertron’s Restoration - One Vorn into assignment]

═════════════════

Hush here with another report. As usual, it's been a pretty tame stellar cycle. Megatron really doesn’t do much, Smokescreen. I’m not joking. I thought he was terrifying at first, and don’t mischaracterize me when I say he still is absolutely terrifying, but if you know how to deal with him, it isn’t all that bad. He’s been doing a lot of writing recently, but that’s about it. He wrote a rather well done piece on Orion Pax’s dancing. I didn’t think I was one for romantics, but even I can admit it was a wonderful little thing. It was so sweet and well thought out. I think Orion will like it when he reads it. I plan to go find some nice solarite blooms for Megatron to give to Orion alongside the poem he’s composed. It will be a lovely accent piece to really add to the feeling of the gift.

There really isn’t a lot about Megatron to discuss, but since I would like to meet glyph count and have something to do other than knit another three stuffed turbo foxes, I’m going to tell you more about what’s been going on. Hope you don’t mind Head Guardsmech, but I’m really quite bored and this is a nice way to get my thoughts recorded for when I inevitably have my memory wiped and I need a refresher on handling my targets.

So you know I made up a company, right? Of course you do, I put it in my last report. Anyway, I put on my disguise, changed my paint, and swapped out my visor for a gold one before going to meet Orion as my new persona, Melody. I double-checked that everything looked good and covered up the wings of my badge. Then, once it was a good way through the morning, I walked up and rang the doorbell with my bag of gardening tools. You have no idea how long I spent frantically learning about gardening. I read everything I could get my servos on and I even went to train under a florist for a few deca-cycles. I had Carnage go out and look for plants for me as well. Did you know that the ruins of Crystal City are filled with plants thought extinct? I mean the city has been on fire since the Quints blew up Vector Omega, but the fires aren’t as bad now, so I could feasibly go fetch some plants.

Right, back on topic. I made sure my disguise was perfect and then rang the bell. I made sure Megatron would be out at the time just so that in case things went south I would be able to book it without being murdered. Orion’s field is nasty, but it won’t outright kill a mech, at least not based on what I’ve seen. If the Primal Steward and Megatron can walk it off, I am sure I can handle it too. That said, Orion answered the door pretty quickly and seemed genuinely surprised to see anyone there at all. I smiled as nicely as I was able, and our interaction went something like this:

“Hello! I’m Melody from Melody Photographics and Landscaping! Would you happen to be Orion Pax?” 

Orion was really shocked when I introduced myself. He hesitated a lot at the door but replied soon enough.

“Yes, I am Head Archivist Pax. What can I do for you?”

 I think he was expecting me to demand money or something with how he was giving me a look. Maybe he thought Megatron hadn’t paid dear Melody for the pictures. He wouldn’t have been wrong if he had thought that. Megatron hasn’t paid me for scrap, but at this point, I do what I do because I’m bored, so I guess it doesn’t matter.

“I was hired to tend to your garden and the exterior of your hab. Would it be possible for me to step in so we can discuss what you would like to get from this arrangement? I can begin work as soon as I know the budget I will have available and what you would like to see your garden become.”

Again, he looked like someone had come and slapped him upside the helm with a brick. Honestly, I can see why Megatron is fond of Orion’s optics. They are very expressive when he’s running through lots of emotions. He invited me in pretty quickly, and we ended up sitting down to discuss plans over tea. Orion makes killer tea by the way. I don’t think I’ve had tea since I got put in this post of mine, so his tea was extra nice. Did you know he likes his tea with loose crystals? I didn’t but now I do. 

We chatted for a bit and he asked all about how I got my job and who hired me. I told him Megatron hired me to take care of the place since my photographs turned out well and he liked my work. I also let him know that I do have a feline named Carnage who stays with me to assist me with my visual impairment. That one I came up with on the spot when I accidentally slipped up about my visor. See, the one I was wearing wasn’t actually a medically enhanced one, it was just protective. I think he might have been worried I was hiding something, either that or he was just curious. Whatever the case, I panicked a bit and took off my visor to show him why I have it.

I might have scared him, but I don’t think so. It’s really hard to tell with Orion. Sometimes he’s as clear as crystal, and other times he’s impossible to read. He just looked at my mutated optics, asked if they were painful, and then made an understanding noise. It was… relieving to have somebody look at my face and not be disguised. Megatron is going to have a field day when he finds out that his nickname of 'spider’ for me is far more accurate than he originally assumed. I know what I look like. I know that it’s because of my optics that I was made into an Inquisitor.

Sorry, it’s just nice to not be immediately gagged at. Following my reveal, Orion asked about Carnage, to which I just stated that Carnage comes and goes but doesn’t cause trouble. Then, once he seemed confident in my genuine interest in gardening, he grabbed some datapads, floor plans, schematics, designs, and so much more that I didn’t even know he had. By the time he had everything laid out, his entire kitchen table was covered in documents detailing his property and how he would like his garden to look. It was honestly super fun working with him to design the layout of the garden. We spent all cycle debating what would look best where.

I’ll tell you what, though: Orion Pax is rich. Megatron never spends much shanix, so I haven’t actually seen the sheer amount of cash these two monsters have in their accounts. But when I asked how much I could spend and made it clear I was happy to purchase whatever was missing, Orion outright shut that idea down. He shook his helm and went over the expenses for the garden, which I will have you know are absolutely astronomical considering what Orion wants. This is what he told me:

“Melody, you look like you haven’t fueled properly in vorns. I am not going to have you take shanix out of your hard earned salary to pay for my garden. I have a substantial inheritance to my name, and even with all these expenses, I will still hardly scratch the surface of those funds.”

He showed me his account, Smokescreen. He’s got more shanix than some senators have at this point! He’s disgustingly wealthy, and I did, in fact, choke a bit when I read his account balance. Orion is related to Alpha Trion, right? Well, that fragger must have been swimming in funds because Orion looks like some sort of foreign prince with how much shanix he has just sitting around. He told me a good chunk of his inheritance was made null and void with the shift in economics and the new currency system, but that much of it still held strong because many of his assets are in relics, property, and documents.

It was wild. I ended up handing Megatron a copy of the amount of shanix in his and Orion’s accounts a few cycles later, and he did an actual spittake at the number. I can’t blame him. Even deca-cycles after the matter, I still find myself recalling just how much cash my targets have to their names. I haven’t seen that much money anywhere, much less in one place at the same time. 

Back on the subject of the garden. Orion made his plans, and I’ve been spending the past couple of deca-cyles hunting down things he wants. Orion has been helping too, and so far we meet once a deca-cycle to go over plans again. I’ve already begun clearing out the garden of all the random plant growth already there. The dirt is all sifted and energon shards have been distributed to fertilize it all. I got some bots to bring over the trees Orion ordered and I managed to convince Megatron to help me hold them up while I got the holes prepared. Currently, there is one huge techtite tree that shot up like a vining holoshade and two smaller trees from Crystal City that I grabbed. I don’t actually know what they are, and neither does Orion. We are both looking into it, but they are pretty so they are allowed to just kinda hang there.

I spent a cycle with Orion laying down walkways too. That was fun. We talked about all sorts of plants and had lunch on the deck after spending the morning laying down eco friendly path pieces. We got into an argument over a bench we were putting together for the garden, but that argument resolved itself when Megatron came out and showed us that we were both reading the manual wrong. We put one screw in the wrong place, and the whole thing looked like a fragged up mess.

I got laughed at and Orion got kisses. I may or may not have been rather bitter about that. But we got the bench finished and got seeds for some copper growths spread around. I expect them to grow in alongside the newest plants we have shipping in rather quickly. Oh, we also got a nice tea table put under the techtite tree. We’ve had lunch there once a deca-cycle ever since. First Aid even came by once and got to fuel with us! He’s really nice. I really enjoy First Aid’s company. He knows a great deal and is very caring. He took one look at my optics and prescribed me some medication I don’t know.

I’ve been taking it for a while now and I must say, while it hasn’t fixed my life’s problems or the sensitivity of my optics, I can now withstand a little more dust before my optics get all agitated. 

As a side note, Carnage has been sleeping on top of my cockpit for a while now, and just the other cycle I decided to open it up because he kept pawing at it. He jumped right in and refused to hop out. He hasn’t emerged in cycles, but he doesn’t seem to be very concerned. I can feel him in there and it’s actually pretty comforting. Is that normal? I mean, I know that some of the big fliers will let others ride in their cockpits, but are they supposed to have to fuel more afterwards?

That’s all I’ve got for now. I will keep you updated, as usual. 

═════════════════

[Report Received: Visibility Status - Seen]

[Note from Head Elite Guardsman Smokescreen: Hush for Primus’s sake, you are getting far too comfortable in your role. I can’t exactly stop you now, but please, be careful before giving away your weaknesses. As for your question? I am afraid I don’t have the answer. Very little is known about yours and others frame types. A lot of information was lost during the war. So unless you are in pain, I wouldn’t worry about it.]

[kuromhiel]

your 'it was supposed to be a kiss' thingy was so cute waht ☹️☹️

I WANTED TO ASK IF YOU COULD WRITE IT IN MORE DEPTH IR WHAT HAPPENS AFTERWARDS(?) IDK ANUTHING WILL DO

SENDING LOTS OF LOVE MWAH MWAH

HI OMG I LITERALLY SCREAMED WHEN I SAW A NOTIFICATION FROM MY INBOX, I'M SO GLAD SOMEONE FINALLY REQUESTED ME!!!! I WAS SO LAZY TO WRITE "It was supposed to be a kiss..." BUT I HAD NO CONTENT SO I JUST POSTED IT WITH NOT THAT MUCH MEANING OR ANYTHING!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH♡♡ SORRY IF I GOT ANYTHING WRONG FROM YOUR REQUEST, I HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS ONE!!! +If you were expecting a suggestive/NSFW one I apologize, I can't do that, I'm 14 rip😔

PLEASE REQUEST PEOPLE!!!

It was supposed to be a kiss...

+more details+plot ver.

Warning(s): Swearing, Alcohol.

Lonely nights are what you expect every single day after the end of college. The only thing you thought after graduating was you working your ass off to get money, to pay for your rent, debts, and all that.

But after you met him. Your days and nights aren't filled with such lonliness anymore, you may be thinking, he has a job, doesn't he? Oh, he does. That's what you both decided to adopt a pet dog, to keep you sane from lonliness, at least.

Today was your anniversary, you were going shopping as your man had been busy with work, reassuring you he would make your date quite special tonight. You pondered, wondering why he had a job on a Sunday, but to his response, he said, "Oh, it's my boss' birthday today, I might get fired if I don't bring a gift and attend!"

You were sure he joked about the fired part, although you were quite upset he couldn't keep you entertained for at least half of the day. But at night, at least he'd go ahead and make it quite special.

You were glad a few of your friends weren't busy and attended your shopping spree date. Them helping you pick out cute and fiesty dresses to wear to impress him. You giggled as the girls complimented you as "hot and cute" but also "gorgeous and ethereal."

As soon as you all picked out a dress for you, you were impressed, so you hope he would be, too. You both him a gift which was an expensive watch. You smiled as you traced the small diamonds circling the clock, and at the strap that shined as it was made in gold.

... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ..... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ..... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ .

... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ..... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ..... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ .

As you prepared for the night, you left the gift on the kitchen counter, hoping for him to see it and open it.

You wore a dazzling silky red dress, the black gloves complimenting it perfectly, a glass of wine placed at the side of your vanity.

You grinned at yourself, curling your hair to make you look even more gorgeous. You applied eyeliner and lastly, lipstick. The scent of red wine while your favorite romantic song played across the room setted the mood, along with the yellow light coming from your vanity and you applying red lipstick to your lips made it look like you were in that one specific movie scene.

You looked away from your vanity, applying the lipstick on your lips as you relaxed. You heard the sound of a door knob turn, making you grin while looking down, feeling giddy.

As you continued to apply lipstick, now looking at the mirror of your vanity, trying not to look suspicious. When you heard the door close, you couldn't help but smile as the lipstick slightly went to the side, but surprisingly you didn't notice.

You heard footsteps come up to you, catching you by surprise when you felt your head tilt up and side ways. Your gaze landed on your favorite human being.

"Hi..." You smiled, looking at the man who was leaned closer to you, "Hello, my love." He smirked.

His tuxedo made him 100 times hotter than you expected, trying to hide the sheepish grin that's forming in your mouth. He observed your reaction, earning a chuckle from him.

"My, my, you look gorgeous, tonight. You always look gorgeous, but right now...I can't even explain." You laughed at his compliment, cupping his cheeks as his face was full-on red.

You were about to lean for a kiss, only for his thumb swiping the side of your lips, red painted his thumb as he puts it on his lips. Licking his lips as he maintained eye contact.

"Mmm, strawberry flavored." He grinned, leaving the room as he hummed the tune of the song that played on the radio.

You pouted, upset that he didn't do what you wanted him to do, looking at your vanity as you sighed.

"It was supposed to be a kiss..."

You heard a car beep which made you jolt up, moving quickly as your heel taps on the floor, getting your handbag as you ran out the door.

You walked gracefully to the car, surprised that it was quite clean today. And also, neatly polished.

As soon as you opened the car door open, he looked serious while he looked at the road, making you tilt your head in curiosity.

"What made you so fine today?" You chuckled, him grabbing your hand as he kissed it. "I dressed my best, just for you, my love." He smirked, the car zooming to where he takes both of you.

He brought you to a private place, the dazzling lights and roses on the grass were enough to make you faint. As you turned around, he disappeared, making surprised.

"Love?" You called out, but to no avail, there was no answer. You decided to follow the petals, cringing at the cliche move he made. Which led you to a cute picnic on the grass.

Sure, it wasn't all that great but spending time alone together was a hundred times better than waiting in line to be in a fancy restaurant.

You sat down on the blanket, watching a cake that had words writen on it, "Look behind you." You said aloud, furrowing your eyesbrows as you whipped your head around.

There he was kneeling infront of you, holding a box as he opens it, revealing a diamond ring. "This is so cliche." He giggled, earning a sharp gasp from you.

You can't help but feel your warm tears stream down your face. "W-won't you ask me to marry you!?" You scolded him, as you smiled.

"Hm? Actually, I want to be with you forever, I want to be yours. Is it okay for you to be mine? Forever?" He asked, his eyes were practically turning into puppy eyes.

"It will forever be okay, my love." You replied, him wipping your tear stained cheek in response. "Now I have permission to be with you forever, will you marry me?" He asked.

You jumped on him, repeatedly saying yes as you laughed with him on the ground. He laughed with you, giving you a big and long kiss as you were ontop of him.

You gave a thousand kisses back his face stained with your lipstick.

From it was supposed to be a kiss to a kiss that was supposed to happen.

[eretzyisrael]

by Jack Engelhard

So this time it’s not 1,000 for one. Well, that’s an improvement. This time it’s 150 Arab terrorists in exchange for 50 Israeli hostages.

To some, that’s considered a win. Hey, look, we didn’t cave completely, only partly.

Did you get back all the hostages in this deal? That would have been something. But you didn’t. Abraham was also a lousy bargainer. Maybe that’s where this starts.

Frankly, I had intended to write something upbeat, especially when my IDF brothers in arms are fighting like lions inside the belly of the beast. (My guys were the Navy.)

But like you, dear reader, I am so damn depressed. Literally, where’s the light at the end of the tunnel?

I hardly hear any talk of victory any more. Mostly, the talk I’m hearing is about those “innocent Gaza civilians” and how Israel’s NUMBER ONE priority is to keep them safe.(Not Netanyahu and the government, thank G-d - they promise to go on to the end of Hamas and called its leaders "dead men walking" just last night.)

That’s the ballgame?

Secretary of State Antony Blinken thinks hardly about anything else, which is why he keeps traveling to Israel…to press the point.

There he is again this week…also to put the squeeze on Israel for “the day after,” which is a column for later.

He’s getting ready…with Biden, and the State Department…to swamp Israel ought of existence through another two-state solution, only this time with MORE land for the Arabs.

You heard that right. More land and THIS TIME they will be happy campers. Blinken is betting on this, with Israel’s money.

Which Israeli government will push back and resist? Or will it always be back to square one?

I am not confident. History tells us that leftist elements in Israel are always ready to concede for the “sake of peace in our time.” Per Neville Chamberlain.

Will it constantly be the same merry-go-round?

Nor can I forget the peaceniks who gave us Oslo, and the man, Ariel Sharon, who brought us to this pass when he gave this good Jewish land over to the Arabs. Hence, Hamas.

In earlier columns we proved that there are no innocent Gazans. They are all the same. One part does the killing, the other part does the cheering.

Dear Israel…how often will you let them play you like a fiddle? The enemy seems always a step ahead of you. Certainly the case Oct 7. Thereafter, as well.

We’re supposed to be so smart. They never produced an Einstein, and we have won 214 Nobel Prizes to their ZERO…all for what, when it comes to our survival.

Yet so often they outsmart us. We’re told that the 150 terrorists being released are really good terrorists. Quite harmless. Yet among them, we are learning, there exists car rammers, knife stabbers, suicide bombers, and outright murderers. BUT…they have been koshered by the government because they are only 99.9 percent like Hamas, not 100 percent. They did not succeed in their plans to murder Jews.

So, as of this writing, the deal is on…that is, for this group of 50…200 more to go.

Why art thou downcast O my soul? (David)

Because I know what’s coming. Hamas is going to drag this along for two years…one gift at a time…five, 10, maybe 20 hostages incrementally.

I so terribly hope I am wrong.

They can play this game down to one hostage left to taunt us with a Shalit all over again.

Meantime, the IDF will be stymied, the leadership, stalemated.

Let it not be so.

Hamas has this all figured out. Do the Israelis? How is it that Hamas gets to call the shots? Yes, Israel should have insisted on the release of all the hostages at once.

Or else, fire and brimstone of Biblical proportions. It’s what Churchill would have done…and did. Victory at all costs.

After all that, there is this: my niece Miriam, whose children live in Beer-Sheva…anyway, Miriam sends me the talks given by the Rebbe.

I listen to them every day…and they do uplift, give strength, and optimism. There shall be no despair. Israel…the Jewish People…will prevail.

Heck, I’m trying to be upbeat. Work with me.

[florence-is-gay]

hiii!!! im a fan of your work and was wondering of you could write some hcs of the mercs with an autistic s/o?? i struggle with autism and reading these things kinda helps. thx sm!!! :ooo

Absolutely!! I'm so glad you enjoy my headcanons, i haven't written any for quite a while lmao

--EDIT FROM YEARS LATER OML-- I had this sitting in my drafts completed with all mercs except for the last 3 listed, between procrastination and life and falling out of the fandom I guess I just eventually forgot... Once in a blue moon I'd come back to this post and think... "I'm sorry tomatosoopp... I will finish this for you one day. Maybe not now, or later, maybe not even soon... but... eventually. I promise." I hope things are going well for you, you've probably long forgotten your ask but I genuinely hope seeing this finally answered will bring you joy and make your day <3

I know it's late to say it, but Merry Christmas and Happy New year! Perhaps you can consider this as a long overdue gift, from me to you! I hope this year will bring you lots of wonderful and amazing things &lt;3 Love, Flo (P.S., I also added a bit to the shorter blurbs at the beginning... To make up for all that time! Now enjoy your long awaited post, my friend! <3)

SCOUT

Scout is pretty ADHD, and we all know how that's the peanut butter to his S/O's jelly. He gets excited with you about the things you love! And stims? Oh yeah. Leg bouncing, pen chewing, and the likes. So he won't judge you when you excitedly flap your hands or smack your thighs/any available surface. In fact, he'll share his fidgets with you when he notices you're feeling nervous or stressed. Sometimes he forgets you are extremely empathetic and sensitive to high energy or strong moods, so if he gets too excited or angry or anything of the sort he will do his best to calm himself as to not overwhelm or overstimulate you!

SNIPER

Sniper's not much of a talker, but he loves to listen to you ramble! Sometimes just the sound of your voice makes him smile! Also since he knows how tactile you are, he doesn't mind letting you feel his scars, tracing your fingers along and across them. He also lets you scritch his stubble, and he finds your reaction both amusing and adorable! Also, if you love nature, Sniper is your perfect guy! He'll take you for long walks in the woods or along hiking trails, not minding if you are slow or simply taking your time to stop and observe every little detail <3

ENGINEER

Engie loves all your little quirks!! He thinks you're the cutest darn thing on the planet! He'll definitely build you some fun fidgets and stimmy things! He also has earmuffs for when he's working with machinery, if you're feeling overstimulated he'll let you borrow them! Additionally, he enjoys relaxing with you by a fire just to chill out and play his instruments! He knows you have a fondness for music, so he tries to learn your favorite songs! He is also the type to always check on you to make sure you eat and drink <3

HEAVY

Like Sniper, Heavy isn't much for words. He doesn't mind silence, so he's perfectly okay with you zoning out, staring into space, or just lost in your thoughts. He also understands when you have a hard time wording things. He still struggles with English. And if you're feeling anxious or overwhelmed, he'll scoop you up in his big arms and hold you like a lil baby, and gently whisper words of praise and comfort. He'll also let you take naps in his arms <3 Like Engineer, he likes to make sure you don't skip meals. He doesn't always understand that some food textures are unpleasant, but he tries his best to find something you like!

DEMOMAN

Demo LOVES cuddles. He won't admit it to the other guys, but he finds it soothing. He knows you love to lay your head on his chest and listen to his heartbeat. He also gives great hugs! You told him once that you enjoy physical pressure on your body, so he'll give you extra-firm hugs, and sometimes he'll lay right on top of you to take a nap! He definitely will gift you some weighted blankets, along with some fun beanbags just to mess with. He also makes sure any touch on you is firm and grounding. Additionally, if you have a habit of sleeping a lot, it's no worry for this man! He's perfectly happy to pass out with you for 12+ hours and STILL have room for naps! As long as they are with you, he is happy <3

PYRO

Pyro themselves are nonverbal autistic, so honestly to them, you are the most normal person out there! They have hyperactive tendencies and struggle to pay attention to anything too long, but when it comes to you, you have their full attention! (To the best of their ability, anyway!) They will happily share their love for fire and cute things with you, though they also love when you share your hyperfixations with them! Not only that, but they will often bring you gifts relating to the things they know you love! Should you ever feel sad, touch-starved, or understimulated, just know Pyro will always be by your side to give you the best cuddles and hugs you could ask for!

MEDIC

If you are someone who is always psyched to learn new things, Medic is your perfect guy! He knows a lot about physical and psychological health, including autism! He will take time out of his day to educate you on your brain and why it works the way it does! He will do his absolute best to keep you informed so you can better understand yourself! (Even if at times you get tired of his lecturing) He also knows that you are very hands-on when it comes to many projects, so he will allow you to assist with simple tasks in his lab! He also knows you struggle with your health habits, aka hygiene, sleeping, eating, drinking, etc., so expect this man to be on your back! He wants to make sure you take good care of yourself <3

SPY

Spy is a bit of a tricky one. He seems completely unbothered by all of your quirks, almost to the point where you wonder if he even notices them. Rest assured, he certainly does! But he does his best not to bring attention to it unless you are the first to bring it up. He wants you to feel as though your autism doesn't define you, after all, you are more than your disability! At times he may challenge you to break from any bad or unhelpful habits, such as nail biting and pulling hair, or more serious matters like harmful stims when you get upset. Unrelated, he knows you are a person of the senses. So any gift to you is always a high-quality item: scented soaps and lovely colognes/perfumes, clothing that is soft and pleasant to touch, weighted blankets, and any type of small heavy object that may be grounding. Not to mention foods he knows you'll eat, since taste and texture can sometimes be an issue. Of course there is more, and if you don't like scented things and find soft textures on your body displeasing like some, he will accommodate for that as well! And lastly: Don't let him catch ANYONE making fun of you! They may not live to see the sun tomorrow.

SOLDIER

Honestly... He might also be autistic. No one knows for sure, but even if he was, he would loudly and proudly deny it. Loudly seems to be something the two of you do well-- you may find yourself struggling to control your volume in your excitement, but that's okay! He does too! Though he may also partly be hard of hearing from all of those rocket blasts... Regardless, the two of you seem to match each other's energy to near perfection- Yelling and screaming about nonsense, singing loud and off-key, even just making animal sounds or random noises incomparable to anything on this planet... Still he enjoys your company, neither of you really seem to be able to get a handle on social cues, but to heck with those! They're all confusing anyway! At least you understand each other! Additionally, the two of you may also struggle to remember things, especially short-term. But you're a good dynamic, always reminding each other what was forgotten! (...Just don't act surprised when he wants to recite to you the Declaration of Independence by heart for the 5th time that day.) And lastly, if you ever tell him you're autistic, surely he will tell you that you are American. And should you attempt to explain what autism is, more than likely he will assure you that you aren't (even if you clearly are-) and that you're perfect! He sees a lot of himself in you and he thinks you are the best thing since the birth of America <3

[blackjackkent]

For the lyric prompt: "I might walk home alone/But my faith in love is still devout" or "See, I’ve already waited too long/And now my hope is gone" for Matty/Ash? (If you feel like it. XD)

Yay, thank you for the prompt! (Wild to be doing Mass Effect writing again after so long. c: )

"See, I’ve already waited too long... And now my hope is gone..."

-----

Ash sits in one of the waiting areas of Gagarin Station's makeshift field hospital and tries not to fidget too much. Military discipline feels very far away when the only activity available is watching the orderlies slowly bring in the wounded from the battle on Earth. There's a muted scent of blood to the air that has lingered for days, but that's not the real reason for the sick feeling in her stomach.

They all sort of hoped, when the Normandy limped back to Gagarin - after the Crucible fired, after the chaotic crash into the jungle and the frantic field repairs to get them spaceborne again - that they would find Matty alive and waiting for them. Joker made a few comments about it, here and there - "He's fine, right? He was alive to pull the trigger. No way the old man would let a little knock like that take him out." Even Ash caught herself hoping, now and then - daring to believe that after everything, there could be a happy ending.

But of course, they all knew the truth, deep down.

According to Hackett, the last contact with Matty was aboard the Citadel, just before the Crucible went off. "He sounded bad," the Admiral had said grimly. "Weak as hell. Started mumbling stuff that didn't make sense, right before the signal cut out. I almost tried to send a few fighters in after him, and then the whole thing blew out. And, well, you saw the rest."

"Yes, sir," Ash had answered tonelessly. She remembered that rolling tide of red light chasing them through the relay and the brutal knowledge that they had to run, had to leave him behind. "Thank you, sir."

So why is she here, watching the endless parade of dead and wounded?

Hope is a funny thing. The thing with feathers/that perches in the soul... She held onto hers for quite a long time, but it has gone silent now, in spite of Emily Dickinson's assurances. She's just here, watching, waiting - perhaps to remind herself that even though Matty is gone, others survived the cataclysm and will be able to see this strange new world on the other side of the war...

Her breath catches in her throat and she hunches over in her seat. As that thought passed through her mind it suddenly became real in a whole new way. Matthias Shepard is dead, the news reports will say, and there will be memorials and celebrations of his bravery, the soldier that led the charge for the galaxy's freedom and died for it. But Matty is gone -- that is the truth that she has to carry in her heart, and grieve alone for the man that so few got to see.

The man with soft brown eyes staring over the top of a book at her when she thought he wasn't looking. The man who excitedly told her about the discussions he'd had with scientists about his ideas for biotech and prosthetics. The man who gifted her poetry and wrote his own scribbled on the margins of old reports. The man who cried out in his sleep, his body locked tense and rigid as he walked in restless dreams. The man she loved...

As once I wept, if I could weep, My tears might well be shed, To think I was not near to keep One vigil o'er thy bed; To gaze, how fondly! on thy face, To fold thee in a faint embrace, Uphold thy drooping head; And show that love, however vain, Nor thou nor I can feel again.

"Byron," she can almost hear him say. "I do love that hidden romantic streak you have..." And he'd grin and lounge back in his chair and recite the rest of the poem for her, out of that prodigious memory...

Her stomach hurts with the effort it takes not to sob. She grips the arms of the chair, white-knuckling her way through the sudden surge of grief. And just when she's begun to get a handle on herself, there's a burst of chaos from the other end of the hallway.

Several of the orderlies and the harried, exhausted-looking doctors are converging near the elevator, all talking at once. In spite of herself, Ash looks up, automatically tracking the increase in activity, picking up on muted snatches of the hubbub of conversation.

"--about eight broken ribs--" "--stopped the hemorrhaging planetside--" "--barely stable--" "--going to need a transfusion--" "--Shepard--"

Her heart seems to stop in her chest. The hope that she thought was gone from her flares to life abruptly, with painful intensity. No, she tells herself. It's not possible. You're just hurting yourself more.

But without realizing it, she's on her feet and moving, clambering over the chairs in the waiting area rather than going around. Her boots hit the decking again and then she's running down the hallway.

One of the doctors looks up, hearing her approach. "Commander Williams," he says briskly, not seeming to register her agitation. "Good. I was going to send for someone from the Normandy, but now there's no need."

She stares at him, gasping like a fish, not quite sure how to form words. "I-- did I hear you right?" she asks blankly. "Someone said Shepard."

The man blinks, and then some of his distraction fades for a moment and he seems to see her face more clearly. "Did no one tell you, Ms. Williams?" he asks. "I suppose not - we've only just learned now ourselves. Commander Shepard was found on Earth two weeks ago. They sent him by fastest transport to us here, but communications have been so spotty the message only got here a few hours ahead of him." He nods towards the elevator. "We're preparing for admittance and triage now."

Her breathing feels like it's not working quite right, each exhale catching in her throat. "He's alive?" she whispers.

"Barely, by the sound of it," the doctor says grimly. "But alive, yes. And we're going to do our best to keep him that way. I'd advise you to stay out of the way when he arrives--"

She's stopped listening, because the elevator has made a soft, somewhat off-key chime and the doors are sliding open...

Four Alliance soldiers in bloody, ragged BDUs are standing inside. Between them they're carrying a makeshift stretcher covered in more blood, and on it is stretched--

"Matty!"

He looks terrible. One of his arms hangs at an odd angle, his clothing is tattered and bloodsoaked and she can see more than one bone poking through torn flesh. But he's breathing; she can see the soft rise and fall of his chest, and at the sound of her voice, his eyes flicker half-open.

"Ash...?" he whispers.

"Commander, clear the way. We need to get him hooked up to a line," the doctor snaps. "And don't agitate him."

She backs up; the reaction to the tone of command is automatic. But she met his eyes, just for a moment, long enough for her to see him within that battered shell, and for him to see her waiting for him. It's enough for now.

Commander Shepard is not dead. Matty is not gone.

That thing with feathers in her soul is alive and well again and shouting its song at the top of its lungs.

[twigg96]

Hi I’m not sure if your busy or not but is it ok for you to make a yandere magnus hammersmith headcannon?

Ohhhhh yeesss we love a Yandere around these parts. These will be getting dark and gritty however so I will be adding a cut as a warning to all who may be uncomfortable with deep, dark subjects such as kidnapping, murder, blood, and other unhealthy relationship behaviors.

I want to make it clear. I don't condone these behaviors. But, I'm writing for a fictional character. If you or your loved one has ever experienced any of these behaviors in their relationship and is looking for a safe way out The National Domestic Violence Hotline is there to help.

Please call 800.799.SAFE (7233) if online usage is not applicable.

Magnus is the most Yandere Yandere ever to Yandere. This is far from the first time he’s ever done anything like this and it will certainly not be the last.

Magnus would be the “perfect” guy. Flirtatious, witty, funny. He’d always know what to say to make his partner feel like they were the center of his world, completely safe and secure.

He’d work extremely hard to get into a relationship with his partner. If his partner ever felt uncertain Magnus reassured them with lavish gifts and promises.

"Oh my angel, I'd never lay a hand on you." or "I'm so sorry, my love... I bought you the thing you really wanted... I hope you forgive me."

Eventually a cycle emerged. It was rinse wash repeat. Magnus' S/O would make a mistake they never knew could or should be a mistake. Magnus would lash out disproportionately, maybe even physically hurting his partner. Magnus screamed and yelled while his S/O threatened to leave. Then suddenly it was like a switch was flipped. Magnus was on his knees begging forgiveness, pleading like his very life depended on it.

There came a time, however, when Magnus' gift-giving, empty promises, and hallow makeup sex routine became just that... routine. There was nothing to look forward too in their relationship. And his S/O knew in their heart of hearts, he never truly loved them.

So in the dead of night, they left.

Magnus of course did not handle this with grace or care for the wellbeing of himself or his partner.

So Magnus set out to find them, and it was a frighteningly easy task, despite his S/O changing their number, setting all of their location setting to off on all their devices, changing jobs, moving to a new apartment, and even changing their name on all their social medias… he still managed to track them down using their mutual friend’s social media.

He stalked his ex online for months tracking their whereabouts and liking every post they ever appeared in under an alternate account. Before he got the chance to try in real life.

It started as a “hobby” for him. He’d go out on the weekends and sit at a café or bar he knew his partner was at and watch them. Always sitting far enough away that they never noticed he was there. He loved the way he felt in those moments. Like he controlled the entire situation even though he was doing nothing. Simply sending shivers down his ex’s spine, making the hairs stand on end as they looked around sure someone was there despite not seeing anything and feeling crazy. Through this crazed obsession he became braver each time he went out, sitting closer and more in the open each time he “observed” them. Just to feel more in control. Just to feel more alive. But soon. His simple “hobby” wasn’t enough and grew to obsession. He quit his job… or so he’d tell you. He actually got fired for missing so many days of work.

And the facade of control began to fade.

Quickly running out of money, Magnus grew desperate realizing that he could no longer afford to take transportation to see his ex S/O every day. So he devised a plan… one last ditch attempt out of pure desperation. Sneaking out in the dead of night every night for several weeks he watched his ex as they slept in their new apartment. The first week he spent watching for any routines on their street. Seeing nothing routine enough to worry about, he gradually escalated. First he watched them through their bedroom window, staring ominously as they slept. Watching them stir and writhe in nightmares brought him the same thrill of control. But it wasn’t enough. Next he found a few “safe” places to break in at night and crept into his ex’s apartment, testing to see how loud he could be before he was caught. He broke in during various times of the day, multiple times a day to test his theory. That no one would call or be suspicious if he was consistent enough in his actions and built a report in the neighbors that he was just a boyfriend who lost his key. And finally, he snuck into their bedroom while they slept. Having broke in earlier in the day and lived like a king, he hid himself well enough not to be known, slithering out of shadows once his Ex had fallen deep into sleep. Standing like a gargoyle over their bed he watched them sleep peacefully, day dreaming of what would happen if they happened if they woke up. All delusional. But he never could tell the difference anymore.

As the eviction notices and credit statements rolled in Magnus became all the more desperate for one last attempt to spend one happy moment with his ex. Sneaking back into his ex’s apartment in the middle of the night he’d lie in wait for them to fall asleep before he crept out of the shadows. Injecting them with a drug he hid in his pocket he laughed watching the fear in his ex lover’s eyes turn to stony submission as they grew weak and tired once more.

His ex would wake in Magnus’ trashed apartment, tied to a dining room chair. They’d be gagged and bound so tightly that blood rolled down their ankles and soaked their socks and dropped down their fingertips. Looking up Magnus stands above them, holding a kitchen knife. “Why did you leave me?” He’d ask, in a terrifyingly calm tone. Being gagged his ex could only gurgle before the blade would be thrust into their leg. “Don’t you fucking lie to me!” Magnus screamed pacing back and forth across the kitchen.

Thinking fast and keeping an eye on Magnus, his ex wiggles their wrists free of their restraints using the blood dripping from their wounds. Quickly untying their legs while Magnus’ back was turned, but it was too late. He had heard their chair move while they were standing up.

Looking to the kitchen his ex would find it empty and a flash of white hot fear would flood them as they would try to make a run for it. But Magnus would be faster. He wouldn’t just let them go. Not after all the work he put in to insuring they’d stay.

He begged them to be quiet as they screamed. He begged them to stop crying. He’d tell you it went silent in a flash and he and his ex are happy now forever. But the blood spattered across the room and his ex’s body found lying in his kitchen the next morning told a different story.

[levinletlive]

So I Just Watched "Free Guy" Yesterday

Which is a movie I am calling a Ryan Reynolds film rather than a Taika Waititi film because Ryan was just so great in it. I have so many feelings about the movie, I have to talk about it somewhere and y'all are the unlucky sons o' bitches that get to hear it.

First, I have to say that this movie wasn't particularly groundbreaking in any way. It was just a good movie. Not a great movie, not a movie that challenges long-held movie stereotypes, not a movie that is fully awake on social justice, etc. Just a movie that kept me entertained for the majority of its runtime. With entertainment as the goal, it nailed that.

Now, I'm partial to stories of artificial intelligences (the movie AI made me straight up sob). I'm obsessed with stories of creation and the human condition, and A.I. always seem to hit the spot when it comes to exploring those themes. I don't quite like the way it was implemented in the game world; by which I mean, I don't like the way Keys (whom I was excited to see, I hope Steve-From-Stranger-Things gets more roles so I can finally remember what his actual name is) programmed Guy to be a lovelorn weirdo with no social skills who is awakened when he finds his dream girl, a trigger that smacks of Manic-Pixie-Dreamgirl tropes despite Millie not exactly fitting that stereotype. This annoyed me especially because that programming leads Guy to stalk and harass Millie in the game in a way that no woman would enjoy in the real world. Millie, for her part, is written to be apparently completely blind to the real-life dangers that cyberstalking poses for women. Guy sets off so many red flags in this movie it's like he collects them, and the irony is in the statement Guy makes at the bank when he "gifts" the hot-hot-violence-girl (I forget what they named her asset) with agency, which is that most men are awful and choosing to be single is not a bad thing.

It's actually interesting how many times the movie makes a great point about the real world, only to stumble over that point later with its actual progression. It feels like the movie struggled with elements of feminism, which makes me think the writing team did not include a single woman. There's a part in the movie where Buddy just starts feeling up Dude, which is played for laughs, but is a very clear example of sexual harassment and consent violation. It's nice that Dude can just punch people who creep on him, but not all guys who are sexually harassed by other guys have that kind of freedom. It's even weirder that the guy is a security guard, because while the ACAB crowd sort of acknowledges that security guards are often wannabe-cops without the authority, they are just as likely as real cops to abuse the little authority they do have. I have heard some horror stories about women and even kids who were abused by security employees who were on the job, so the choice to include that scene is mind-boggling to me. Plus, Dude's objectification isn't excused by the fact that he was created to be a meathead; he was still created, in the same universe as Guy, with the same software. He's just as much of a person, even if he's a bit differently-abled compared to the others.

So let's talk about some stuff I did like in the movie. I LOVED the diversity of avatars and vehicles and even the weapons. I loved that there were color-changing cars, and that there was a diversity of "skins" for the avatars and the whole city was a jumble of mismatching periods and styles. The freedom of choice and expression that represented to me was wonderful. I play FFXIV, and while there are a lot of people wearing the usual old-timey clothes, you can pick out a lot of people in the background at any given time in their underwear, or in heavy hot pink armor, or with accessories and weapons that glow or have fire effects on them, or wearing cartoonish Moogle masks. You can ride dragons, but you can also ride glowing foxes called Carbuncles, or giant, fat baby chicks, or a car that looks like the fucking Batmobile. There are also mechs and little plane-ships and all manner of other things if you've got the cash to pay for them. I love that. I want that for the real world. I want people to be able to dress how they want and customize their homes and vehicles (safely, ofc) and not be judged or harmed for it. THAT is the future millennials want.

Another thing I liked was Keys's concept of a world with live A.I. that are constantly learning and changing, even when the players are absent. I love the idea of visiting a new world that humans created and just hanging out with the people in it.

However, when Millie told Guy he wasn't "real", that sort of misrepresents what reality actually is. What she meant was that he couldn't exist in her world, even though she could exist in his. Even if he had no intelligence, he would still be "real" for what he was. The world he exists in is still real. Code and machines are real, tangible things; they're not just imagination. They're concrete things that you can see and touch. Just because the virtual world wasn't created the same way ours was (probably; hopefully) doesn't mean it isn't "real". It doesn't cease to exist when you acknowledge it ("I think, therefore I am"). If the definition of personhood is sapience (intellect+empathy), then it doesn't matter whether that sapience is artificial or organic. The physical manifestation of the body is, similarly, not important; we have fleshy bodies full of blood, and A.I. have steely and plastic bodies full of electricity. The game is essentially just hosting Guy's mind; his body is a part of the servers on the bottom floor.

Which reminds me of something that, as a programmer, I had to really squint at in the game. There are a lot of things the movie gets right about programming, but there are a LOT of things it gets hilariously wrong, which isn't really a criticism as much as an observation. It's funny how infuriating a movie that incorporates your field can be, as I'm sure all medical workers well know. A lot of the visual representations of Keys and his partner, the husband from "Ghosts" (US version, whom I also hope to see a lot more of so I can remember his actual name) actually working on the game gives me 90s hacker movie vibes. That may have been at least partially intentional, but there are some points I really tilted my head at; like, the fact that you don't need to include a whole other game's worth of assets in order to steal its engine (there was literally no reason for the paradise game area to be in the new game, that is so much more data than is needed and would bog down the servers if it was just loaded in at all times and running the programming for an entire other environment that nobody was even going to use). Or, the fact that they had to load in a bridge to reach the other game world when a programmer could just remove the barrier with a few key presses. Or the fact that you wouldn't even need to see the paradise game area to prove that your boss (Taika Waititi; I am not sure if he is an actual asshole or just enjoys playing one) stole your game engine; there would literally be code you could view and read and be like "huh, this is identical to the code I wrote". Most of the time when developers get caught with stolen software, it's because the game's programming was leaked and the original authors were able to see with their own face-orbs that the code is a literal, line-for-line copy of what they themselves wrote.

There was a lot of cheese in this film too (not in the literal sense), which isn't necessarily bad, but the moments they chose to use it sort of undercut important emotional responses. When Millie kisses Guy to wake up his A.I. programming (again, very squicky plot point), the visual representation of his choice map was unnecessary and distracting because of how silly it looked. It was a little jarring, even for a movie that takes place in a universe where neon signs and iridescent coin bubbles are bouncing around.

I did like the ending for Taika Waititi's character, Antwan (who is basically the film's equivalent of EA), who made a bunch of stupid decisions in the interest of maximizing profits while alienating his entire consumer base, and then lost everything when the truth got out about his shitty business practices. If only that were more representative of the real world, but it does fill me with warm memories about the downfall of the XBOX One and subsequent firing of its lead developer, who called backwards compatibility "backwards thinking. We need more of that.

We see a lot of stories about the creation of these worlds, but I'd like to see some exploration of them too. I want to see what the relationship is like for these immortal game characters and their tragically mortal creators. I want to see the characters in the game learn about us, lose us and cope with the loss, and welcome new people and get accustomed to that rotation.

Anyway, the thing I liked the most about the movie is that it made me think.

Also!! Jacksepticeye was in the movie! That was very exciting to me, since I'm going through his catalog of LPs right now (I just got through Bloodborne and Elden Ring and I'm now watching God of War). If Markiplier had made even a moment's appearance, Free Guy would have been my de facto favorite movie. Honestly, in spite of not being particularly fabulous in a lot of ways, it's still in my top ten. I love, love, LOVE that they included real Youtubers in the movie. This is the first movie I have ever seen blend Youtubers and famous film actors. There were loads of big-name actors I recognized in the movie apart from Ryan and Taika; the Rock was in it, Jim-from-the-office was in it, Channing Tatum was in it, Hugh Jackman was fucking in it and I didn't even notice (I was fuming that his character wasn't more front-facing; I've been waiting forever to see him do a movie with Reynolds), fucking Chris Evans made a cameo. The actual Alex Trebek was in the Jeopardy scene. Tina Fey was there. And then they also had Pokimane, DanTDM, and LazarBeam (none of whom I watch, but I was still excited to see them) in the movie, which to me means that the mainstream is finally beginning to acknowledge that Youtubers are professional entertainers, writers, and actors on par with their traditional media counterparts, which is an important development for internet culture as those of us who make our living online can attest that the greater culture doesn't take our contributions seriously.

This is especially true for Youtubers, who often have a closer relationship with their fanbase. It feels special to see somebody you've been following for years finally be acknowledged in the mainstream. I wanted to run and tell Seán that I'd seen him in the movie, even though I'm sure he'd never see the message given that he has almost 30 million followers and subscribers on his channel. But like in Markiplier's case, I've been watching Mark since just before FNAF blew up and back then he still had kind of a lot of followers, but not so many that you couldn't touch him. He would read people's comments and reply, and he'd answer direct messages. It was cool to be there during that time, even though I never interacted with him personally. Even today, Mark interacts directly with his subscribers while he's streaming and it's like the touch of God to be acknowledged by somebody you have so much love and respect for. It's awesome to think you could be watching and talking to somebody right now who could be famous all over the world one day. It's cool to think it could even be you someday.

I also love that the name of the movie is a pun. Because Guy is a guy from Free World, but the movie is also about freeing Guy.

Anyway, if you haven't watched it then do so now and if you noticed anything I didn't feel free to point it out! I would love to discuss it more.

[libidomechanica]

Condemn none

A kimo sequence

               1

’ And half an hourly receive the air, oh, not his microscope, my hearts? Old represent my cheek.

               2

To keep extreme ill-breeding strange of all the bonny ship, and gold, to climb the sounding my true.

               3

Of Hero and Lucan, by heave a glow- worm shall not had for slave an atmospheres. Of friend.

               4

One days are but thou know—and that wish I could be aware that weening the delight, says, Shalom!

               5

I have way groaning, walking of light. As Goteherd pipe, and of Honour here freckled. In Spain?

               6

Burnt each degrees gentleman, for fire! Cannot buy? As one which speak to thus: the diff’rence it was.

               7

And with a stranger: as for his diseases, a pail of his once, in some her tongue. But forty?

               8

May we past from Wolues, then, whose horn-handed on the strapped in the door, by death, and let me go.

               9

The lark, ’tween the purple with some returning foplings, if you wake and circle. A message ethe.

               10

Ay so, ’ she courtesies our wonder do you fifty Louis. And drew Blood or inanity?

               11

So very turn again. Dare your redeem in gentle as a mower. Ask why then half retired.

               12

Then—i never mind, our coming tower. Silvery bed has more difficult. That the renew!

               13

And thy Heav’n, the stirrups, just like to him. And o’er for more! An’ it’s beautiful house; her beauty.

               14

To such friendly fray, which makes the rolling innocence. And hoard, for mine. Of your chamber keeping?

               15

Her beauteous provinces all shew him for; and some mystery. Lady, won’t, but then, youthfull flame!

               16

By sun on wood where a double-damn’d forth seely she gazed awhile! He scarce went to Africa!

               17

Though oppose. A voice, inviolably true. In a blooms each other; gratefull now, Hidalgo!

               18

Glory, when they the names were old, if any perspective land, what you wept. Say some were embrace.

               19

Poor Donna Inez dread, as the blood watch there’s the labour vade of those sort, and lo! Blind, old.

               20

No, the priests may be dear, and shudder at a cheeks unprofanity and the astronomer.

               21

Yet I loved a pleased to make a bed. Thou so apply, depart a corner. More—no more, that sleep.

               22

’-Yes, that half-torn drapery science further everywhere! So when the acted of his patience.

               23

At six, I said Cyril said: but a bitter in this misse not pass over cities like flame-hot.

               24

Thy widows, Lady, who obey the liberties; neglected. Oblivion passionate love.

               25

The abject twice I the mortality. His pass’d at first parts in shirt yellow hue wind blows low.

               26

She knew him as soon’s she did binds her handle. Dabbling for all uncurl’d: pr’ythee quite enough opposite.

               27

Et beneath fluorescent of a’. As then me? As fairy-gifts at least her e’e? They are riven!

               28

She rose, which still, hoping t’ have late-writ letters? Tread lived beyond what I had, ’ he saw her three.

               29

Ask me no more mode of jasper thou, unknown; unknown, we gives its earthly guest; a beauteous Bride.

               30

Began it, I though on the until them feel the one hand, the second Foot. Is trite and fast;—oh!

               31

She had an air and Lydia agree: but, doubt with a straw. I sometimes with an Hidalgo!

               32

She was a metaphysics! Binding sagely fretwork to the heathy hills, the topic die.

               33

And blue; and set their friends, they blind and maimed, peace! In silence scandals for less. A turbot for praise.

               34

That prim, silence and swirled just be meek eyes. And I am fed. All you all, and kept with the night.

               35

Situation I write which his jarring and then exclaim’d. Was before Alexis’ ashtray; there.

               36

No ghostly haunt me not’ replied: we scarce be seene. Since she fell, is they master, a dashes rancke?

               37

Which Aurora, in mine irregularity of some ne’er predilection. None love—O love!

               38

Would you wept. The best inke Venus, or serious, and so witta-woo! Too slight of poverty?

               39

Beyond time will excuse, without the wind blew loud, they fawn on trial. To fold, but slant in the fool?

               40

— And horse, the Champak odours for Aglaia. When hound to each others the reader—she’ll let me go.

               41

&When two strand. He is a journey. I have TWO of fire, transparents also her trim prepared me.

[srslysierraa]

heyyyy sunshine!! could i request something fluffy with sun or moon? like it’s their s/o’s bday and they do something to celebrate it that s/o isn’t aware of? (bonus points if moon is sweeter than usual dovneis i love him sm) — @kadssp

A Sunny Celebration.

Prompt ;; Happy Birthday!! Hope you have a good day! Oh, i know! How about you celebrate it with Sunny or Moon? I'm sure they'll lo- wait, where is Sunny and Moon?

Type ;; one-shot, fluff

Char. Involved ;; sunnydrop, moondrop [fnaf sb]

A/N ;; AAAA i am such in the middle of writer's block that i just had to force myself to get inspired 😭 i hope this turned out good, as stressing as it was trying to put thoughts into words, i very much did enjoy writing this! Crying throwing up from the fact that i made it so long for no reason, again. Anyhow, Enjoy!

It is a special day today. Well, that's what you tell yourself at least, as you enter the ever so familiar building of the Pizzaplex, getting rid of the coffee you may or may not have bought on the way here as a treat to yourself only because today marks the day of your birth. That's right, it's your birthday. Though you're honestly not that excited about it knowing that it's not like you'll spend a dime for this day, nor are you gonna get any presents considering your age. But hey, a birthday is a birthday, might as well enjoy it.

You were greeted by a few people and bots on your way, the S.T.A.F.F bots specifically cleaning the way before you and doing small and definitely robotic "Happy Birthday"s as they mop the floor. Ah, you forgot that they were programed to do that. Anywho, you put down your bag and other belongings near the staff lounge, looking at the small mirror as you can't help but do little touch ups upon your uniform before going to work. Little steps follow suit as you looked back, turns out a few of your coworkers followed, offering to help you albeit only for today.

Shuffling noises were made as you picked up a few of the boxes with ease, and a few of your fellow coworkers helping right behind you. Chatter can be heard amongst all of you as it ended with them wishing you a happy birthday. You laughed and giggled, waving by a little "Thanks!" as you went to find yourself doing another of your daily tasks. And so you look at your list, ah right, animatronic checkup.

As the clock ticks by, you can only wish your break will come sooner. Hands by the certain Gator as you tell him to do certain things before the performance, you can hear your friends on the other green rooms of the animatronics, doing the same check up as you are doing to Monty. Idle talks made by both you and the Animatronic in front of you to avoid boredom, but the topic somehow quickly escalated to your birthday.

"Oh, damn! 'ts ya birthday?? Have a rockin' birthday then won't cha?"

You chuckled, nodding him a little "Thanks, Monty." As you crossed off the final checkmark on your list, deeming him good to go. Then, as if on cue, your little phone rings like a goddamn fire alarm, and you couldn't help but turning it off quite happily, knowing that it's finally time for your break. And where are you going for your break? The Daycare, duh.

You grab your little lunch that you've packed, along with some drink that your friends has bought for you as your "gift". Looking at it, you can't help but joke about how lame your gift is to them, initiating some sort of friendly banter. But honestly? You were happy they did the gesture even though it was just a little beverage, i mean, you got to save money from buying any yourself. With that, you walked your way to the daycare, expecting to get bombarded with hugs and "kisses" from a certain jumpy animatronic as you always do.

Huh, strange.

The kids AND the daycare attendant seems to be nowhere in the daycare, it was as messy as you expected it to be during playtime, so that must means the kids were here playing, right? Soft steps and knocking sounds, both which you made in attempt to alert whoever is in here that you're, well, here with them. "Sunny?" You called out, setting your lunch by one of the kiddie tables in the corner, looking at the small mess of papers and color pencils, you took the time to collect them all and put them by the shelf, knowing that your animatronic lover isn't too keen on messy things.

"Sunny, where are the kids?" You aimlessly asked, hoping that maybe he'll show up out of nowhere in order to give you an unnecessarily lengthy explanation that'll just end up in "they're sleeping" or something of the sort. However, your question was met with silence as you look over to the playhouses. where is he?

Your search for the Sun themed animatronic proved to be fruitless and bare as you see pretty much nothing around the playhouses, which is weird, he's not the type to break the rules and you know him getting out of the Daycare especially during work hours is definitely something that isn't in the rule book. So you continued to look for him, there's a pretty low chance someone would take him somewhere without your permission, especially during you're birthday. So he has to be here somewhere right? Maybe he's hanging in the ceiling somewhere, is he by the corners? On top of the playhouses? How about the-

Your legs was grabbed with a speed so fast you barely had time to think of what was happening, the next thing you knew was you being pulled into the ballpit, colorful orbs and spheres as you're being pulled in deeper and deeper before you feel two slinky arms wrapped around your being. Then you were being lifted up again, it all happened so quick that you only focused the moment you heard the word "SURPRISE!!" from kids that sprouted up from the ballpit, and of course, the animatronic who's embracing you right now.

You can see some of the kid getting down from the playhouses as well, happy that they didn't get caught from their hiding places. A little girl however was having trouble getting down from her particular spot, seemingly about to cry. "Oh no no no! Sweetheart stay there!" Sun exclaimed, gently letting you go and setting you down as he flexibly gets out of the ball pit, before picking up the small girl and putting her back to the ground. When he's done, he zooms back to your side, hugging you close as he nuzzles his face to your cheek. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SUNSHINE! I am so so so SO excited for you! Oh you have no idea just how stressed i was for not being able to greet you the moment you walked in!"

All the kids agreed, some even complained to you about how many times they had to stop Sunny from bouncing up the ballpit to go hug you. "We even had to hold him down!!" "Yeah, he had no patience whatsoever!" "Sunny almost ruined our surprise!" The multiple complains made you giggle, as Sunny sheepishly hides behind you from the kids, though he kept his hands on your sides. After having enough of the kid ridicule him, Sun shushes them and acts a bit heartbroken, back slumped forward dramatically as you would see sad characters would be in cartoons, hands on his face as he pretends to cry.

"Okay, okay, that's enough. Look at Sunny now, he's sad." You pointed to him, and the kids grumbled an apology to him as you put both your hands on your hips. Sunny said something about accepting their apologies, before going back to smothering you with hugs. "OH! We also made you a little something, everyone do you have your gifts?" With a nod and yells of "Yes!" They all took out their own respective papers of their drawings of you. Some of them has you and Sun with hearts made around you two, some has only you in the pic, glitter everywhere and some even taped together after what you assume to be accidentally ripped.

Then of course, Sunny has to hand you his own present, it was a scrapbook that he has made ever since you two were in a relationship. You're lying if you were to say that Sunny don't have any artistic skills, his portraits of you was almost as good as the real thing, details were given so nicely you almost questioned if he truly drew all of it himself. As thank you, you gave him a kiss on a cheek and- uh oh.

"NOOOO MR.SUN IS DEAD!" One of the kids yelled out, a little girl lightly hit him as she then points at the fainted Animatronic. "Of course not! He's obviously asleep like in Sleeping Beauty!" The whole situation was something you can laugh at, as you bend down to look at Sunny, his scrapbook in your hand. "Earth to Sunnydrop, is he there?" "I AM HERE." He sat up, immediately looking at you, deadpan as he does so. "Do that again."

You pointed at the kids, quietly telling him that you can't, or at least, not now. He huffed, childishly stomping his feet on the ground as he crosses his arms. It was very cute, you have to admit. In the end you spent your whole break time with Sunny and the kids, before bidding farewell when your break ends, though he took a hold of your hand.

"Happy Birthday, Darling! Know that i love love love LOVE you SO-" A small secret peck on his face plate interrupted his words as you leave his gears turning before you leave, though making sure none of the little gremlins saw you as you do so. As you happily skip out of the Daycare with it's busy of little children and their energetic demeanor, you can still hear the mechanical whirring of Sunny, slowly going a bit loud after what you assume was him overheating. A giggle escaped between your lips as you see the animatronic sitting there, as what you assume to be him rebooting after the little kiss. Well that was certainly fun! Sadly you have to go to work now.

The lights went out as you bid the families and kids goodbye, smiling for a long day finally over- for the others. Yeah, you may or may not have the night shift to cover too. But thankfully, your friends had bought you a snack or two to keep you company while you roam the empty hallways of the Pizzaplex. Lights dimmed to save what bit of energy they can from the massive budget they have to put out everyday for the establishment. The Animatronics are allowed to roam, but you see that Roxy and Freddy decided to just stay in their green rooms, for whatever reason.

As you pull out your flashlight and sent all the cleaning bots to their respective places, you went to check on Moon first, knowing it's time for him to come out - minus the naptime earlier which is only about a few minutes in order to put the kids to sleep. You went down the slide, finding it as the rather fun way to enter. Thank the heavens the slide was even big enough for you.

Your fun was cut shortly as your body falls into the pool of colorful plastic balls, ensuring your safety from the hard ground. It took you a while to find your balance and stood up, and the ominous shadow from above didn't help. A rush of adrenaline kicked in as you looked back, red optics glowing at your figure, almost sending you falling back. Once you realized it's only moon you sighed out of relief, smiling as you does so.

"A little warning won't hurt, Moon." You exclaimed, attempting to get out of the ballpit as you do so. Moon only chuckled darkly, putting a hand out for you to help with your situation before softly pulling you out from the pool of plastic. "Greetings to you too, Doll." You rolled your eyes playfully, seeing him release his grasp on your hand as he continue to crawl around, seemingly looking for something. A few moments of you just looking around ended up with Moon in front of you, something in hand. It seemed to be a little.. nightlight? A moon shaped one at least, you raised a brow at him as he waits. "Take it." He demanded, and you calmly took what you assumed to be a gift from him.

The way he waited for your response and your silence makes him a bit- no, a lot anxious. As he constantly tries to read your face for any sign of enjoyment. "..I assume that you do not like it?" He said, a faint heartbroken tone being put ever so slightly. You shook your head so fast, looking at him with the biggest genuine smile you can muster. "Moon i love it! I'm not even sure how you got this, it's beautiful! Thank you." His joy was out of the roof! Well, not like he'll show it, he kept calm on the outside as he slowly nods and looks down on you.

It's a rare sight having him actually stood upright, and when he does it always reminds you just how truly tall he is, well, both him and Sunny. Though your train of thought slowly stopped as you hear Moon's voicebox speaking, gently yet firmly. "Don't work," he asked you to, and though you'd love to do that, you can't exactly just bail on your job. Not when they can see you on the cameras.

"Moon, i have to though," "Then I'm coming." He easily shrugged, turns out not too upset with you for not being able to skip a night. You blinked, hands clapped together as you heard him. "REALLY? You rarely want me or anyone in general when you're patrolling! You want me to come with you?" Excitement ooze, and if Moon could roll his eyes, he would. "No. I'm coming with you, not the other way around."

He walks his way to the entrance of the daycare, opening the door for you as he waits, patiently as he does so. As you walk by and thanked him for his gestures, he grabbed a hold of your arm, stopping you in place as he carefully chose his words of choice. "I missed you, Happy Birthday."

Needless to say, the night really ended up with you and Moon talking about his experiences with the naughty kids who he claims to "kept not wanting to go to sleep", along with a few adults he finds aggravating. He was with you the whole night, snarky remarks filled your memories as he sassily would bark back at all the things you would poke fun at him, before immediately mumbling an apology if he were to find it mean, even though it's just something along the lines of, "Shut up, Stinky.", or the sort. It was very adorable, so it wasn't like you were even mad, but hey. If a friendly banter is what needed for you two to spend time together like this, then you'd be glad to do it again.

Once it's finally time to go home, Moon had a bit of a bitter attitude about it. Almost grumpy that you had to leave him, he grumbled his way to the Daycare, leaving you laughing softly at his antics. You pulled him back, initiating a hug as you tightly wrap your arms around him. The Animatronic malfunctioned it seems because he only freezed, and his red light blared ever so brighter the moment you touched his cheek with your lips. An exaggerated "mwah!" Came from your lips as you left him to his devices, calmly and humming to yourself as you pick up your bag and left the Pizzaplex for the day.

Also, why did he ask if you can skip the night? Almost as if he was trying to get you to sleep so he can cuddle into you as you do and have your own cuddling session or something. Is that why you can hear a faint 'damnit' when you said no? Huh.

[volterran-wine]

Where I cannot follow || Caius X S/O

“Almost dead yesterday, maybe dead tomorrow, but alive, gloriously alive, today.” ― Robert Jordan

Requested by two Anonymous people: "Hi! If your inbox is still open, I was wondering if I could please request a Caius Volturi oneshot? Maybe one, where Caius's S/O gets gravely injured in a battle and he gets very worried and scared because they have been together for about a century or so now, in fact they are something like the power couple of the Volturi? I understand if this is a bit too much and will completely understand if you are unable to write it but I just had an idea... BTW, your blog is simply AMAZING!"

"Anything with Angst for Caius, doesn't matter what it is, i just want it to be sad. Thank you!! <33" From 🐿️ Anon

People really enjoy torturing Caius on this blog, will he ever find peace and love? But thank you for your compliments, I hope that this little angst piece is exactly what you both were craving.

Summary: Caius is tearing through the battlefield, every foe outsmarted and shown no mercy. He finds himself lost in that all familiar brain fog of violence and blood, until he stumbles across his mate’s broken body.

Wordcount: 1428 words

!Warnings! Serious Injuries, Body Horror, Almost Death, Violence, Caius being Traumatised and Scary once again.

𝐄𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐲, 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲

Gepidia, 486 AD

A bloodbath, that is what this was. But instead of the underbrush and trees being stained red, it was quite more destructive. Caius watched as venom poured from the bodies of their enemies and burnt through the fragile vegetation. Trees knocked over and broken as they gave away from the force of vampires knocking one another about. Fires burnt like beacons through the night, their fuel; the bodies of The Volturi’s enemies that fell due to their superior tactics and gifts. Glorious victory was in sight, they were one step closer to a magnificent future; a future where they reigned supreme.

Caius was on an all time high, lost in the feeling of warfare and pulling his weight. This was where he belonged, in the chaos of a battlefield him and his men were dominating. Nothing could halt his advance into enemy territory.

Until he stumbled upon a scene out of his worst nightmares. One of the Dacians had his mate on the ground, unresponsive and injured as they held a lit torch above them. Burgundy eyes widened as Caius realised just what was about to happen, and he felt a chill run through his veins for a split second. An animalistic snarl escaped him, lips pulled back and sharp teeth on full display as Caius huffed once before pouncing on the vampire with little to no grace, only blind fury. As he ripped apart the other he saw red, limbs being viciously torn off and flung in every direction as he wanted to punish the one who had dared to even attempt taking his mate from him. His only regret was that the body he had destroyed was that of a vampire, for his teeth and gums ached for the sweet release of blood. When he was finally left with only the head, he spit into it's eye once before throwing it far off into the distance.

The torch had burnt out and lay discarded as smoke rose to the skies, far away from his mate of hundreds of years. Close up he got a better understanding of just how injured his beloved was, and it took every ounce of self discipline and control he had not to begin wailing.

Their neck was barely attached, head lulled to the side in an angle that was anything but natural. If Caius had been a second too late, his mate would surely have ― his head jerked to the side violently, eyes shut as he refused to finish that thought. His entire frame shook as he reached out, gently guiding their partially detached neck so it could begin re-attaching itself to the head. Recognition sparked in those now dull eyes he loved so much, lips quivering as they could in no way articulate their pain or relief at seeing Caius. Their face was cradled, a kiss planted against the forehead as the general rested his own against theirs.

"I have you..." He whispered as he let his thumbs caress their jaw, ignoring the cracks that ran all the way to their ear. "I will mend this." Caius declared and pulled back, looking down at them with as much love as he could muster despite feeling such excruciating pain. A single venomous tear escaped from his mate's right eye, trailing down their cheek before dripping through the hollowness of their throat. An involuntary shiver ran through their body, their healing would be painful and they needed to be taken far away from here.

The awful realisation of not being able to carry his mate to safety himself dawned on Caius, and it felt like a dagger through the heart. In the distance he could hear Felix's distressed commands, partially drowned out by the sounds of screams and snarls that echoed through the night. This was it. The Volturi's final push and this region would be theirs to command, one step closer to ridding the vampires of the world of their indulgent overlords. His eyes closed, focusing on listening to the steady creaks as his mates flesh sowed itself together. "Γαμώ το..." The quiet admission left his trembling lips as he tore his cloak apart in order to secure his mate's neck

When he was satisfied with his wrapping he rose, his mate safe in his arms. Holding them close one last time before schooling his expression back into the icy frown he was known for. "Matteo!" Caius called into the night, all traces of worry gone from his voice. His trusted third was with him within seconds despite the chaos all around them. The guard tried to look as nonchalant as he could, but it was difficult not to be overcome with worry when he realised how terrible of a state his general's mate was in.

They were gently shifted into the guards waiting arms, despite weak noises of protest that made Caius' heart break. He fixed his eyes on Matteo, now almost black as he let the rage and hunger be his sole motivation to get through this night.

"Get them home." What he had wanted to say was 'Keep them safe', but Caius had never quite been able to say what his heart really felt in front of others. It was a simple order, laced with enough underlying threats that made Matteo almost shake where he stood. With a solemn nod of his head did the guard turn, taking off into the night towards Volterra.

The not yet king was still staring into the darkness that Matteo had disappeared in; breath laboured despite having no need for air. Caius did not pray to his gods anymore, but... if they wanted to grant him one kindness in his immortal life; he wished for it to be his mate's survival.

A rustling bush to the right of him alerted Caius to the oncoming threat, a Dacian he had heard from a mile away finally launching themselves at him; a fool. In less than two seconds he had the weaker vampire in a deadly grip, ripping his neck apart painstakingly slow; watching with mirth as his flesh cracked and venom oozed. Fingers dug into the small cracks as his prey screamed, flailing in an attempt to get Caius off of him. To his left he heard a couple of his own men approaching, undoubtedly to aid him if he needed it. The body in his grip finally stopped struggling, tired and accepting that their death was upon them. With a scoff did Caius let go of the vampire, watching as the body folded in on itself beneath him; a pathetic display.

The last thing the Dacian vampire saw before his life ended was Caius' eyes, filled with pure joy at the thought of how much agony his enemy would endure in their final moments. A torch was passed to the general, and without much fanfare did he lower the flame to the body at his feet. But death would not come swiftly, for the vampires head was still partially attached to his neck; prolonging his suffering for hours.

Caius laughed.

Light streamed in to their shared quarters, creating a halo around the generals almost white hair whilst he sat vigil besides his mate's place of rest. He had not left their side since his return from the east, not taking part in any of the celebrating his men had been doing the last couple of days. The Volturi had never quite seen an injury like this before, even during his fatal battle with a werewolf had Caius not experienced almost having his head cut off. His mate had laid still for a while now, eyes closed and resting through their recovery. No words had left their lips, and the thought of never hearing their beautiful voice again scared Caius to the core.

On the fourth day did they finally begin showing signs of life again, gently rolling their head to the side, dark eyes opening to the piercing gaze of their relieved mate. Caius felt as if a great burden had been lifted from his shoulders, and he let his forehead fall against their joined hands. "... Do not go where I cannot follow." he whispered into the quietness of the morning. Looking up at them with wet eyes, a shaking smile on his lips as he tried to convey his undying love for the vampire before him.

"Never." they finally croaked, their vocal cords and windpipe not quite reassembled as it should yet. Caius shushed them, raising their hand to his lips and kissing their knuckles softly.

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐱𝐭 Gepidia: Also known as The Kingdom of The Gepids is a region that now equals part of modern day Romania, Hungary and Serbia

Dacia: Proto-Romania and neighboring countries that once were part of the Roman Empire.

Matteo: ... All I am going to say, is that Matteo is a special guard and an original character of mine that will have great importance in my own stories and worldbuilding.

"Do not go where I cannot follow": In fact a quote from The Lord of The Rings: Two Towers by J.R.R Tolkien, it is one of my favourites.

𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: Γαμώ το: Greek for an intense and despairing"Fuck it" (Thank you to my friend for the more accurate translation, I am one step further away from awful Google Translate Greek.)

𝐈𝐧 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 One day I hope I can bring Caius some joy on this blog, he really deserves it. He either gets traumatised, or laid and that's no way to live your immortal life. Also, I feel like this very much could be interpreted as Athenodora joining him on the battlefield and almost being killed as well.

[finelinevogue]

could you do some angsty smut please??

oh hell yeah we can. this is going to be 70srockstar!harry with roadie!y/n eekkkk! okay have fun;

Being the girlfriend of the most famous, golden boy rockstar was the craziest rollercoaster you’d ever ride.

For the past 6 months you’ve been touring with the one and only Harry Styles, living your life between helping on tour, drinking endless amounts of wine and smoking a hell of a lot of weed. The job had come past you at the perfect moment. Your dad happened to be best friends with the tour manager, Jeff Azoff, who’d spoken of their being a job opening for a roadie. You were employed to help set up the musical equipment and test out the instruments before the act went on at night, falling in love for the man you roadied for was just an add on. A beautiful bonus.

It was a lot more pressure being Harry’s girlfriend than people thought though. There was so much pressure to act a certain way and present yourself another way. Harry was so idolised and craved by millions and it put pressure on you to be a certain person for him. You loved him so much and you were so scared that he might one day realise that there was so much better than you - at least in your eyes. Someone extroverted. Someone musically talented. Someone who wasn’t a virgin.

Harry had never pressured you into anything sexual unless you were ready. Of course he was notorious for being an above star rating, when it came fo sex - thanks to all the articles published by the many men and women, sometimes both together, he had slept with. The sex reputation went hand-in-hand with his rock-n-roll aesthetic, so that part of him would never change. You’d only been with Harry for 4 of those 6 months, managing to fall for him very quickly, so you wondered just how he was coping without having had sex for that long. He usually had a different person each night to take backstage after his concert to play with how he wanted, hence how he built his reputation, but since you there had been no one.

Sex was such a big thing for Harry though, so you couldn’t help but feel like you were letting him down.

Currently, you were sat on his bed on the tour bus reading an article that had been published about your boyfriend last week. Your heart strings tugged as you read one section of the interview.

Interviewer: The new album, tell me about it.

Harry: It’s coming on slowly yeah. Just want this one to be perfect so, taking my time.

Interviewer: What would you say your biggest inspiration is for writing?

Harry: Changed on every project, to be honest man. Sometimes it’s about past relationships. Sometimes it’s about issues i’m going through. A lot of the time it’s about sex!

Interviewer: Yeah, dude, I have noticed that like every other song is about sex. Is that something you’re quite open about?

Harry: I think sex can be either something so beautiful or so passionate. Don’t believe in sad sex! But, um, yeah i’m always really honest lyrically when it comes to the songs about sex and I hope others see it as that too.

Interviewer: No it definitely does! Thanks Harry for your time and, um, keep on having sex so that third album breaks even more records!

Harry: Will do man!

It was easy to understand why you were upset. Harry’s biggest inspiration wasn’t possible for this album, because you were too nervous to let him have you. All of you. You felt a burden, as if you were holding him back from living his life and creating something so amazing. His past two albums had been such hits for songs such as ‘She’ and ‘Only Angel’, which were inspired by the intimate times with past lovers. There would only be sad songs if he wrote an album without any spice.

That’s why as soon as Harry came back on the bus, dressed in shorts and a shirt that was unbuttoned to see his toned chest, you jumped him and kissed him like your life depended on him. He was taken back by surprise, but welcomed your lips nevertheless.

Pulling back he mumbled some words against your lips, “Well this is a nice welcome back gift.” He chuckled at the eagerness of your lips and let his hands roam over your body - from your neck to your waist and over your ass. This man knew what he was doing.

“Harry?” You whispered, stopping your kiss and looking at his beautiful swollen red lips. He was a sight for sore eyes.

“Yeah baby?” He kept himself close to you and you could feel the stiffie that he’d developed pressing against your front.

“Can we… I’m.. If you…”

“What baby? Can tell me anything, y’know that.”

“Wanna have sex with you.” You told him the most simple virgin way ever, your face heating up when you saw him smirking down at you. You’d screwed yourself over here and were getting all shy and embarrassed about it.

“Hey, no. Don’t hide from me,” He drew your face back to his and kept his eyes on yours to provide you some familiar comfort, “you sure?”

“Mhm, yes.” You nodded affirmatively.

“It might hurt a little, okay? First time means that your cute little pussy is going to be really tight. Don’t even know whether you’ll be able to take me.” He taunted you, cupping his hands to your cheeks and brushing his thumbs carefully over your skin to ease your tension.

“I w-will.” You moused out, wanting to be this person for him.

“‘Course you can. You’re my best girl and I know you’ll fit perfectly for me, yeah?” He rhetorically asked pushing you back to the bed and letting you flop there. You watched him as he discarded his clothes, following his lead, until you were both naked in front of each other. You’d been this far before, but this time it felt different. It felt more lustful and exposed and nerve-wracking.

Harry bent down and started to kiss you from your belly upwards, leaving kisses everywhere until he reached your jaw where he bit more than he kisses. He loved seeing his marks being left behind on your skin, proving to everyone that you were his and his alone. His hands found comfort ins kneading and squeezing your breasts like dough, loving the way they were so soft and yet so hard beneath his warm hands. As he found your lips and divulged in your sweet tastes, you slunk your hand down and grabbed ahold of his cock, pumping him a few times to get him primed. You felt the trickles of pre-cum drip from his tip and it only excited you even more.

Taking your lead, Harry pushed one of his hands in between your bodies and started playing with your wet cunt, paying extra attention to your needy clit. He knew you loved it when his fingers got rough, so that’s exactly how he played. His tongue was battling against yours, whilst you both stimulated pleasure to one another. The wet and beautiful sounds filled the room, heightening your arousal - Harry could feel it too, his fingers becoming wetter with every circle and pump of his fingers.

“You ready, baby?” He asked carefully, plucking his lips away from yours with a wet sounding smack. You already looked fucked out and he had barely done anything to you yet.

“Y-yes.” You stumbled, so excited yet so nervous. You were finally going to give Harry what he had been missing for so long and you were also going to let yourself go, and divulge in something new and potentially life-changing.

He leant back and rubbed his own cock for a few strokes, before lining the tip of it with your opening. He teased your entrance, making you bite your lip in anticipation. He smiled down at you and mouthed the words ‘I love you’ without any sounds leaving his lips, before you did the same. The head of his cock started to push in, but you didn’t expect it to hurt as much as it did.

“Shit fuck, y’so tight baby. Need you to relax for me, okay?” He asked, pulling away so he could watch your body relax. You closed your eyes and took a deep breathe, reminding yourself that the best way to relax is not to think about the problem itself but oh how you’d feel when the problem’s fixed. You smiled and once Harry could see your shoulders un-tense, he, once again, pushed his cock into your opening. He hissed at the contact, obviously finding it so pleasurable even if it was only minimal contact, but you, you felt so much pain and soreness from absolutely nothing.

You couldn’t do this.

“It should just…” Harry tried a different angle, but your smile had disappeared and your whole range of emotions had resumed to flat and disappointed in yourself. “Maybe if I just..” Harry tried to hold your legs a little wider and guide his cock more firmly into your opening, but each time he couldn’t push past a certain point without your body rejecting him or your facial expressions telling him he should stop.

“St-stop Harry please.” You cried, bringing your hands up to cover your face as you let the tears flow freely. “Please stop.”

“O-okay. Just gonna…” And he slid out as much as he’d managed to get in, which was probably less than an inch. It hurt when he pulled away and your cunt felt like it was on fire. It stung and it didn’t feel right. You felt like a failure and an embarrassment.

You cried into your arms, letting harsh sobs take over your body. You chest felt tight and your eyes stung worse than your cunt did. God, you couldn’t even do one thing for him. You were the reason why he was having a hard time writing at the moment. You were the reason people would be disappointed to hear no sex inspired songs on the album. He might even have to use past experiences as inspiration, which made your heart curl with jealousy. You didn’t feel like you were enough for him, like you would ever be enough for him.

“I’m so sorry Harry,” You sat up from the bed, not wanting to look at him and his disappointed expression as he stay knelt on the bed - cock looking painfully hard still. You scrambled for your t-shirt and your joggers and then walked out of the room, across the bus’ narrow corridor, and into the bathroom.

You looked at yourself in then mirror and were disappointed at what, or who, you saw. Looking back at you was the person who couldn’t even have sex. You couldn’t give Harry what he deserved. You were a failure and it was stamped all over your body. You cried as you looked at yourself, until you couldn’t and you just slid down the wall and onto the floor. You wished for the Earth to just swallow you whole. You couldn’t stand being here when you were clearly broken and useless.

Harry would surely leave you for this. Why would he want to stay with someone who couldn’t even get their boyfriends dick in their pussy? Couldn’t give each other that pleasure? Harry had so many people in the past and surely with you gone he’d have so many people in the future. It would be selfish of you to stay. Harry had needs you completely appreciated that, but it would be just so difficult to let him go when he means so much to you.

There was a quiet knock at the door, which broke you from your cries and self-deprecating. “Y/N? Baby honey? Can I come in, please?”

“S-sorry. Yes of c-course.” You stood up quickly, thinking that he was wanting to be let in to go to the toilet or to have a cold shower go get rid of the hard-on that you’d put there. Too bad you couldn’t have taken it away.

You unlocked the door and shuffled past him, only for him to stop you. He shut the bathroom door behind him, leaving you both infinitely pressed together in the pathway on the bus. He had you pressed you up against the side of the wall and kept his arms at either side of you.

“Sweets—”

“Harry, please don’t say anything. I-I know what you’re thinking and—”

“Yeah? And what am I thinking?” He asked, not moving away from you. You held your cries the best you could and took a deep breathe to continue.

“I’m a disappointment. I-I i’m not good enough. I’m broken.” You choked out, knocking your head back against the wall from frustration.

“Stop it.” Harry ordered firmly, gripping your cheeks in his hands and forcing you to look at him. The look in his eyes was so hard to read, but he looked desperate and worried and hurt. You hated to think that you were the cause of any of those emotions. “Just stop.” Harry’s own eyes were starting to fill with tears too and you brought your own hand up to catch a few of them before they could fall.

“Don’t cry, please.” You begged, keeping your hand pressed to his cheek which he absolutely adored. He loved the feeling of your skin against his. He never wanted to not have it.

“Then don’t say things that hurt me, okay? Hearing you say those things about yourself absolutely breaks m’heart flower. Just because you were a bit too tight to take me today does not mean that you’re a disappointment or you’re a failure or that you’re not good enough. It hurts to think that you’d ever think I would think that, because - fuck -,” Harry pressed his forehead tight against yours and fanned his lips lips over yours. His closeness was everything. “I love you so much it scares me. My feelings for you are so strong and so real. I want your forever and something as trivial as sex is never going to make me want otherwise. Do you get that?”

“B-but the album?” You asked.

“What about the album?”

“I-in the recent magazine interview you said that sex is your biggest i-inspiration. I can’t be that for you.”

“Is that what this is all about? Because you think that my album isn’t coming together because i’m not having sex? Did you miss the part where I said I wanted this one to be perfect and I was taking m’time with it?”

“No.”

“Well I did say that, because it’s for you baby. The whole thing is going to be for you. Every melody. Every lyric. Every song. Just and all for you.” Both of you were silently crying now, absorbed in each others love and adoration for one another.

“I-I didn’t know.”

“Now you do. This album isn’t really for the charts or the awards. It’s for you, m’heart. I love you for a lot more than your body and its’ pleasures.”

“I’m sorry.” You whispered, taking all his words in and realising how irrationally you’d acted out afterwards.

“For what, sweetheart?”

“For even thinking that you’d be so shallow and cold-hearted.”

“You didn’t think that though, baby. I know you and so I know you didn’t. Your thoughts were based around your own insecurities, not to do with your small-thinking over me.” He explained to you, making you nod and kick your lips.

“I don’t deserve you.”

“Well then we don’t deserve each other.”

“But i’ll keep you forever if you’d let me.”

“Looks like we’re together forever then, baby honey.”

[nemeseos-noctua]

Here's the other: How'd they react to their S/O who cherishes their gift given by their beloved so much, that one day the gift was destroyed by a hilichurl and they went so livid they practically fought the creatures to death and threw them to a lake somewhere, and sulked the whole how they don't deserve them anymore cuz of how careless they were. For Razor, Albedo and Xiao 👉👈

𝐅𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆: razor, albedo, xiao (separate) x gn!reader

𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒: not proofread, mc is referenced as an alchemist/adventurer in albedo’s, one swear word in xiao’s

𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄𝐒: im EMBARRASSED at how long this is and how MEANINGLESS THE WRITING IS IM SO SORRY 

he made you a paw-shaped clay sculpture!

it was cute and small, fitting right into the palm of your hands

to others—it may look like some worn-down toy, but to you, it was a good luck charm from the ever-cute razor

but perhaps, it wasn’t quite the clay-shape that you held close to your heart... no, it was the strenuous effort razor put into sculpting the paw

you remember it vividly. how the boy would dig his hands into mud and sit under the burning sun, carving the dirt with his bare fingers as he hid the gift from your sight

so when a good-for-nothing hilichurl decides razor’s paw-shape charm was a nice pebble for hot potato... boy were you livid

Patting the ground beside you, [e/c] eyes widened upon the feeling of nothing but grass.

What...? Peering over, you stared blankly at the empty space, comical arrows pointing at the now-gone charm you had received from Razor. Just where was it? You swore it was right beside you...

And as if Barbatos were laughing at you, the wind blew, burning your eyes as the sight of mitachurls and hilichurls danced around the fire in the distance, tossing what looked like a rock into the air.

Ah. 

You blinked.

That was the charm Razor made.

first of all... how did the hilichurl get it? the charm was literally right beside you!

agh, whatever.

you’ll just retrieve it. easy, right?

no.

first of all, your power would literally turn the lush grass into a desolate canyon (not really). second of all, you’d probably end up destroying the paw in your rampage

hah...

—if the hilichurl didn’t destroy it first

Materializing your weapon, you couldn’t help but hope that the paw had miraculously survived the impact of a hilichurl throwing it against the floor.

Hah, what were you thinking? Of course it didn’t... physics just didn’t allow it.

But you know what physics did allow? Why, beating these enemies to a pulp, of course!

once you floored the hilichurls, you quickly scrambled as to look for signs of the paw anywhere

berating yourself as to how utterly foolish you were for letting it go and leaving it unguarded in the first place, you stared in defeat at the sight of crumbled clay and hardened dirt in the grass of the hilichurl camp

why? why were you so careless? seriously, how did this happen? if you had just kept it in your backpack like a regular person, razor’s hard-earned hours and craft would still be as grand as ever-

“[y/n]?”

Blinking, you hadn’t realized you had been sulking in the midst of this hilichurl camp. [E/C] eyes lifted up, widening once they had landed on none other than Razor, his crimson eyes like the agates that littered Dragonspine, his hair as grey as stormclouds.

“Ah... Razor...” You smiled in exasperation, staring at anywhere but said boy. How could you face him after watching his clay paw get destroyed by some measly hilichurls?

“Are you okay?” He asked, glancing around at the scene before him. The grass wilted, the camp that he remembered being obnoxiously loud and disturbing was silent and empty.

“Yeah, no biggie,” Waving off his concern, you began to walk away, your heart sinking with each step.

First, you let his gift get destroyed. Second, you walk away from him.

You were such a terrible partn—

“[Y/N]?” Razor’s voice cut through the air, a tension you had created solely on the thoughts of your own mind. Gripping your wrist with a tender touch, you didn’t fail to notice the way his eyes drooped down ever so slightly.

“Did I... make lupical mad?”

Gulping, you quickly waved your hands in front of your face, eyes widened as you tried to carefully explain the series of events that had just led down to this very moment.

“I—well, you see, your uh, paw-clay-thingy... I was careless and I—“

“Break it while hunting?” Razor answered, tilting his head as his hold merely stayed still, not wavering for a second, as if you were a boar in his hands.

“Ah...” 

Razor was much better at observation than you had thought.

“It’s okay. I make more for lupical,” Razor nodded, already beginning to pace over to a pond as he dipped his gloved hands into the water, wafting around for dirt as you rushed up behind him.

“Wait! But I was careless... you don’t need to make ano—“

“It’s for lupical. Lupical close, I give lupical gift that never break.”

Everlasting—that was what he wanted to make.

And a part of you couldn’t help but agree.

albedo, in all of his alchemy prowess, made you an artificial flower

how? don’t ask him. he’ll spew some lengthy thesis and paragraph about the fundamentals, the research, the prototype, the testing, the—

ahem, anyways!

you had never intended to bring it outside. but one day, you had left your camp under the supervision of barbatos (wow go barbatos) and ventured off to fetch some materials

and when you came back? you were met with the sight of hilichurls and slimes raving around your tent

what the—

“I...I’m hallucinating,” You deadpanned, slapping your wrist at the sight of pyro slimes and masked hilichurls dancing around your tent, the inside of your humble abode moving around as if it were possessed.

And the cherry on top? A pyro abyss mage emerged, the flower floating besides it. But oh boy, it was no flower anymore... it was a flaming flower.

At that moment, you were left to ponder. Maybe, just maybe, you kinned a whopperflower at that point. Because oh boy did your temper and sanity explode on those little enemies, the way your blade sunk into their forms—

you were already planning your apology to albedo. he trusted you and loved you enough to make an artificial flower for you... and yet, it so pitifully crumbled at your touch

okay, not quite your touch. but it crumbled at the ugly pyro abyss mage’s touch

so, as any good s/o would do, you sulked while rebuilding your camp. it’s okay. as long as albedo didn’t know his creation was charred, all would be well. besides! he was quite a busy man! chances were low that he’d discover!

busy, he was, observant, he is

perhaps, you should’ve known

“Ah... hi Albedo,” You winced, opening your tent to smile at the alchemist who merely stared at you.

“You were gone for a while. Is everything okay?” He noted, remembering your absence from visiting his own camp at Dragonspine. As an alchemist, he knew what it was like being holed up in a camp. But for two weeks? Even he needed breaks.

“Well, you see... I was out... gathering materials! Yes!” You gave him a weak thumbs-up, wailing internally once his piercing azure eyes trailed around your camp, noting that nothing looked new. 

 “You don’t need to lie to me, [Y/N]. Is something the matter?”

“I’m sorry!” You cut off, clapping your hands together in a prayer-like position, guilt welling up in the pit of your stomach.

“...Why?”

“Your flower—I left it unsupervised and it was set aflame and I’m so so so sor—“

“Don’t be.”

Mouth dropping, you stared up at the male, an amused expression painting his face like the canvases he dedicated to you.

“At least you were not hurt while it was set aflame. Come, I’ll show you how to make some more,” Opening your tent for you all the way, Albedo held a hand out to you, eyes flickering in mirth.

“And next time, don’t try to run away from your problems.”

“You cheeky littl—“ A blush of both embarrassment and fluster formed on your face, shocked at his sudden remark.

he made you an adepti amulet

enhanced with super-cool-adepti-no-mortal-can-have power, xiao had informed you that all you needed to do was hold up the amulet and it’d scare any kind of enemies away!

cool, right? too bad you left it unattended while fighting the irritable anemo cube! now it’s at the bottom of the sea <3

how did this happen, exactly? well... you see... when wind picks up and becomes strong... light-weight objects will fly up into the air!

and sometimes, those light weight objects will fall into the sea, and sometimes, those objects would be gifts from your adeptus boyfriend who was waiting for you back at wangshu inn—

ahem. anyways. you beat the crap out of the anemo cube (aka, beth. aka, tornado cube. aka, cube waifu)

I should just... not go back to Wangshu Inn today. Haha... I’ll go ask Katheryne for a commission... You nodded, stuffing the turquoise shards of wind into your pockets, your bags filled with mora and enhancement ores being thrown off the side of the cliff.

—Along with the adepti amulet Xiao had made for you.

Seriously... you still had to wonder just how that happened! One second, you were avoiding getting sucked up by the vent of the anemo cube... and the next, your bag was traveling the world!

Can’t have shit in Teyva—

Trekking back to Mondstadt in defeat, you were innocently oblivious to the worry of the Yaksha back in Liyue.

are they okay? do they need help? did they go to dragonspine? all these questions spun around xiao’s head as he watched the moon rise, his mask dissipating into the wind

you told him you’d return tonight... yet you hadn’t. and a part of him had wished you hadn’t left liyue, so he had at least some control over whatever dangers dared to attack you

but, he knew you were strong. why else would he love you, anyway? he does not find appeal in being the savior 24/7

so, he waits. atop the balcony of wangshu inn, across the stars and moon, he prays to his archon, wishing—no, hoping you arrive safely

And—you did. You arrived back at Wangshu Inn.

... Three weeks later.

“You’re late. Very late,” Xiao’s voice blared in your ears, a blessing and a curse all at the same time. You didn’t know how to tell him the amulet was thrown off a cliff—but at the same time, you really wanted to run your fingers through his hair.

“Haha... sorry about that,” You laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of your head as Xiao merely grumbled, appearing before you with a piercing stare.

“Where were you? You did not even send me a letter.”

“I’m sorry... it’s just... eh... well...” You looked away, your heart churning against your ribs as Xiao extended his index finger out, tilting your chin to face him.

“What?” He asked, his tone harsh yet soft, longing yet logical.

“I uh... kind of... lost your adepti amulet... I’m sorry.”

He blinked.

“You waited three weeks to tell me that?” He asked in disbelief, almost in disappointment. Seriously, he was an adeptus! A Yaksha, at that! He could’ve just made another one for you... But nooo... you decided to wait three weeks in the land of the free (America?) and then worry him to death.

“Mortals...” Xiao muttered under his breath, crossing his arms with a huff as he turned his head away, the wind picking up.

“Hey, wait! Aren’t you going to say anything? Like a disappointed lecture or something?”

“No.”

Disappearing, you facepalmed, already pulling out some sweetflowers and milk to whip up some almond tofu.

Damn that adeptus. Who was he to tug your heartstrings like that?

You sighed, sitting beside a cooking pot as lingering yellow eyes watched your form, their irises softening at the sight.

— constellations! 💫

[its-deputy-caleb]

Reaction from the lords (and miranda if you want) when they found out ​that s/o has the power of fire. but not a normal one but the hoarse blue on

Ahh this was super cute to write, firstly i’m sorry that i didn’t do miranda i have just been having a really rough patch and her character is hard to write for me personally so i apologise but i love these requests with a s/o that has some kind of powers! i hope everyone can enjoy <3

Alcina Dimitrescu

When Alcina discovered you have the gift of fire, she was not amused to find you burnt her fine quality curtains. Not that any of it was your fault, really you just waved your hand at Bela at the other end of the hall and the window went up in flames.

Once you got a hang of your powers though, it became a delight around the castle. The oil lamps in rooms were replaced by a warm blue glow which matched beautifully with the golden inlay of the walls.

One thing that you’d noticed about Alcina that being somewhat of a vampire, her skin was always very cold no matter how warm the room was and so you often found yourself with your hands on her face. She always leaned into your touch as your thumbs brushed her cheeks.

You let warmth leave your palm, a soft heat radiating from them as you gently held her face. Alcina loved your power because in a cheesy and cliche kind of way, you made her heart melt. She’d never been one for romantics but you had a certain affect on her.

You didn’t always use your powers to redecorate the Castle however, there were certainly times when it came in handy to protect you and your family. Many times you’d flame down the creatures that lingered in the cellars if they got too close to Alcina’s daughters and you never hesitated to leave a ring of fire around the Castle to fend off any unwanted guests.

They were your family after all, and you’d do everything in your power to protect the ones you love.

Donna Beneviento

Donna is so captured by your powers and your heart always skips a beat when she asks you to show her, watching as the blue flame is reflected in her beautiful doe eyes. Her face lights always lights up in the brightest smile.

An afternoon favourite of yours is to sit on the couch with Donna wrapped in your arms, her head resting on your chest as your fingers run gently through her hair. Often at times Donna will fall asleep (which you’ll never admit is the cutest thing seeing her sleep) but the house is always freezing so high in the mountains.

With a flick of your wrist, the fireplace springs to life and a soft blue colour fills the room. Naturally you could’ve used a blanket but you didn’t want to move and wake her and you also took every opportunity to use your powers.

You and Donna love to play hide and seek with Angie around the Estate, but the mischievous Angie insists that the lights get turned off as you search for her. With one hand in Donna’s, the other rests open palmed in front of you, acting as a lantern while you run down dark corridors. That and it also acted as a heat source in some of the more questionable and damp rooms.

Early mornings are often spent outside on the porch to watch the sunrise bounce off the waterfall, it was quite a spectacular view. One morning Donna had a mug of tea in her hand, long gone cold since it snowed almost all year round.

You bring your hands to the mug and warm it with your palms, making sure Donna can keep her own hands warm. Soon the tea is steaming again and she takes a tentative sip, humming in delight at the sweet taste. She tucks her head under yours as you bring her in close before returning your gaze to the waterfall.

Salvatore Moreau

At first Salvatore was almost afraid of your power, seeing that he was much more comfortable in an aquatic environment but he slowly learnt that you’d never hurt him with your power.

You loved taking trips around the reservoir together, camping out under the stars as you roast all sorts of sweets that you bought from the Duke. You’d both share marshmallows and chocolates and other goodies as you learnt Sal had a sweet tooth to counteract his love of savoury cheeses.

On really cold mornings, you both wake up early to go and find the freshly fallen snow. You use your fire power to melt it, leaving large puddles of water that he could swim in. One thing you noticed was the way your heart fluttered when he smiled at the water you could create.

Salvatore learnt that he was particularly fond of warm water and so the two of you found a sanctuary up above the reservoir that held a deep pool of water.

You knelt down and placed your palm on the rocks and let them heat slowly, a warm steam entering the atmosphere. The water was by no means hot but just warm enough to be enjoyable in these harsh winters. Sal absolutely loved the spring you made and although you tended to avoid water for obvious reasons, you let your legs dangle in the warm water while he either swarm around or had his head rested on your knee.

Karl Heisenberg

The minute Karl sees fire leave your palm his eyes light up like a kid on Christmas. He couldn’t be more excited to have someone like him, and it brought you two closer together.

Having the power of fire meant that you jumped straight in to helping around the factory with him. The two of you would weld metal together for hours. First you’d melt it all down and then he’d weld it all back to form magnificent weapons of which you’d both plan to use on Miranda.

Sometimes if he needed to weld two pieces together you’d simply point your index finger with a small searing hot blue flame while he held them together. You never missed the way he smiled at the end of it like he was the luckiest man alive.

You both loved going out and causing mischief all over the village. The two of you would spend hours searching through caves and hidden undiscovered pockets that had all the monsters that you could wreak havoc on. You’d often dare each other on how many lycans and Samcă you could kill. Naturally a Vârcolac was worth extra points and the winner got a weeks worth of bragging rights and a reward from the Duke all paid for by the loser.

Your gift was extremely powerful and Karl admired you for that immensely, knowing that you’re just as powerful as him, if not more. Not only that but he’s never felt loved than when you promised that you’d be by his side when he took Miranda down and that you’d protect him during the battle.

[aminiatureworld]

Enigmatic Feelings

Characters: Albedo, Diluc, Xiao, Zhongli, gn!reader

Word Count: 5,544

Warnings: None

Premise: Love is a potent force. And sometimes little things take on larger meanings, especially when one party is unaware of them.

In which the reader’s s/o is jealous

Author’s Note: This trope is 100% my guilty pleasure. I hope I did it justice.

I also realized while writing this that all these characters have the emotional understanding of a teaspoon, but they’re trying their best, so that’s what counts.

Albedo

Albedo was many things. A great alchemist, a man of secrets, a weapon with which one might someday bring destruction. He was even a lover, albeit an unpracticed one. But what he was not was emotional. Or so he thought.

Of course Albedo knew what jealousy was, knew the sort of stupidity that people could fall into when altogether too infatuated with their own love. But just because one knows what jealousy is does not mean one must fall prey to such things. Or so Albedo assumed.

It was the fourth day in a row that a knight had approached your door. Friedrich was his name, and he was doing a stellar job at capturing your attention, and pulling on emotions that Albedo had long told himself he didn’t contain.

Today the flower was a Windwheel Aster, swaying this way and that in the pocket of space between your two hands. You were smiling at it, or rather at Friedrich, brightly, fingers mere moments away from Friedrich as you went to claim the fourth flower this week. Though the was nothing necessarily untoward in Friedrich’s movements, and Albedo would much rather a person of integrity be attempting to woo you, even if the idea itself turned knots in his stomach; nevertheless it still left a bad taste in the alchemist’s mouth, and a worry in his heart that he was not so immune to jealousy as he’d previous assumed.

“Thank you!” You spoke to Friedrich, giving one last wave before walking back over to Albedo. “Albedo look! It’s a Windwheel Aster. It’s very nice of Friedrich to give me one, maybe I can use it, or maybe it’ll be helpful for your experiments?”

“Yes, thank you. I, I think you should keep it.”

As much as Albedo wanted to take the flower and throw it in the incinerator, he couldn’t bring himself to shatter the smile on your face. No matter how dearly it cost him to see you smile down once more at the delicate red petals. And no matter how much it haunted him the rest of the day to imagine you, face framed by a smile, a bouquet of a random knight’s making in your hands.

That knight as Albedo put away the Bunsen burners and the graduated cylinders he kept his mind preoccupied by thoughts of you. Surely he had to tell you his feelings, for if not they would keep building in his chest; building and building until one day he erupted, with you in the line of fire rather than the knight who was creating this whole dilemma, perhaps even unwittingly. Though Albedo had never been in a relationship before he knew stories. Weren’t books full of those kinds of moments? Men, women, people, all of them running over one another in their misunderstanding, in their overwhelming guilt.

No, he wouldn’t turn out like that, wouldn’t let the two of you be hurt in such a way. He had to tell you. Had to make you understand how much his chest constricted when he saw you carrying the gifts of others, had to let it be known before he lost control of these emotions. After all, wasn’t that what happened with emotions? They grow and grow and one day they spill over. And Albedo never wanted these emotions to spill over. No matter the cost.

“May I tell you something?”

The sunlight was streaming through the laboratory windows, the air warm enough that Sucrose had tied up her hair during her shift. And yet Albedo felt cold, oh so cold. He was going to tell you today. He hadn’t been able to tell you three days ago, nor two days ago, nor yesterday. And now the bouquet of flowers that occupied a tiny glass on the windowsill felt quite large indeed. Today would be day eight if Friedrich showed up at lunchtime, and before that Albedo would tell you.

“Of course you can Albedo, I’m all ears!”

You turned around, a soft smile once more spreading across your face. Putting down the pencil you’d been holding you leaned back against the lab table. Albedo took in a deep breath. He could do this. He would do this. He had to do this. No matter what, today. Today, he would do this.

“I-I’m jealous.” The words hung in the air for a moment, as if not understood.

“Jealous?” You tilted your head slightly, worry making your smile slip. “Albedo, jealous of what?”

“Of Friedrich, of you and Friedrich, or rather, I mean, of Friedrich giving you flowers.” Albedo paused, words tangling in his mouth, tripping on each other in an attempt to be understood. What if this was a mistake.

“Albedo,” you shook you head softly, walking over to cup your partner’s face, “I promise that there’s nothing in it. The flowers are lovely, of course, but nothing in this world could replace or stem my love for you. You have nothing to worry about.”

“I know,” Albedo replied hurriedly, worried still that he might be misunderstood, “I’m not trying to accuse you of anything, or say that I doubt you. My love, I will never doubt you. I just, I just feel so uncomfortable when he brings you flowers. It feels like, like I don’t know; it feels like I’m being poisoned, suddenly and all at once. And I don’t want it to affect the way I act towards you. So, so I wanted to tell you. You don’t have to stop, if those flowers make you happy then that’s what matters. But, but I just wanted to tell you.”

You said nothing, staring into Albedo’s eyes, gaze piercing through the alchemist. It was always that way with you. How you managed to destroy the control he thought he had, the wall he’d erected between himself and humanity. How you made him feel unsure and fallible and whole. And, just as before, now your gaze softened and you shook your head, your smile a balm for the raw unfamiliarity of putting together emotions.

“It’s okay Albedo, I’m glad you told me. Just like my emotions matter to you, I’d rather not see you unhappy. To be honest, I just never saw Friedrich’s actions in the way that he probably meant them. We all struggle with our feelings sometimes, I do just like you. Just as long as well tell each other, all will be well. Alright?”

“Yes. Thank you. I don’t know what I do without you.”

“Well you’ll never have to find out, so it doesn’t matter!”

There was no eighth flower that day, at least not one that was successfully given. Albedo supposed that he could pity Friedrich, but in reality he felt nothing but relief. The emotions that had left such a bad taste in his mouth seemed so far away now, for there was you, only you. It would only ever be you for him, and the days in which you said the same thing of him Albedo felt as if he could truly be happy, and truly acknowledge the emotions that swirled inside him, the love for you so great it spilled over into a vast ocean.

 Diluc

Diluc found most merchants loathsome, something perhaps not entirely fair considering his own status as a mover of goods.

Still, merchants in general were an unlikeable bunch. Prone to complacency and greed, this elite circle was comprised of people who thought of little than of ways to line their pockets anew. It disgusted Diluc and as he stood there, watching as a man who had enough jewelry on his body to weigh down a pack mule and a smile that made one want to run in the other direction, throw compliments and boasts your way, the winery owner was reminded about all that was wrong with the world in which he worked.

“So your goal is to attempt to find a route through which we might trade our wine in Inazuma?” You repeated the words the man had just spoken, expression skeptical. “As much as it would mean good business to begin another trade route, I believe the border restrictions will cause no little difficulty.”

“Restrictions such as those are nothing for a man like me.” The merchant smile once more and Diluc felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand straight up. “I have the ability to wave past such an issue. Indeed with the right price I believe I could expand your network to include all of the seven major lands, if you haven’t been trading internationally.”

“Thank you for your offer.” You replied, too focused on the work in front of you to notice the merchant’s roving sort of gaze. “I’ll see what Master Diluc has to say. However I warn you, as much as international exports are important for a growing trade, smuggling wine into locked countries will do little good. Especially considering what the damage could do to this winery’s reputation if such a thing was found out.”

“Don’t worry, I assure you my methods are completely secure. In fact, if you’d like to discuss it in more depth, I do believe that I may be able to enlighten you over a meal.”

“Perhaps, although Master Diluc would certainly have to be there.” You smiled slightly, and Diluc wondered for a moment if you were being purposefully oblivious or simply didn’t notice the meaning behind the merchant’s words.

“I will be back tomorrow, perhaps you’ll have an answer then?”

“I’m sure I will.” You replied, smiling as the two of you shook hands. As the merchant walked out of the winery your smile morphed into a sort of smirk and you looked up towards the balcony of the second floor.

“You can come out now Diluc, I know you’re there.”

Diluc couldn’t help but smile at those words, he truly couldn’t get anything past you. Hurrying down the stairs he swept you up in his arms, sighing slightly into your neck as you tightened the embrace.

“Ever so observant, my darling.”

“I know that you’d never let a transaction or a business conversation take place without your knowledge.” There was a playfulness to your voice, coming from the knowledge that you were utterly correct. “Still, you could’ve come downstairs you know. I don’t think that anyone would need to believe that you were going through your ‘very important paperwork, and lurking around is your night job.’”

“It seemed somehow wrong to suddenly appear in front of you two and derail the conversation.” Diluc drew away and placed a soft kiss on the tip of your nose, chuckling when you immediately wrinkled it. “Especially since you were doing so well on your own.”

“Oh he’s just like the rest of them,” you sighed, “altogether a bit too full of themselves.”

“Especially in this one’s case.” Diluc said, finally letting a scowl cross his face.

“What do you mean?”

The look on your face was one of innocence and confusion, and for a moment Diluc felt his thoughts stammer, as he realized that you truly were unaware of the way that the merchant was looking at you, unaware of the manner which caused Diluc even now to continue to press his hand gently against your lower back. If you didn’t notice it, then surely Diluc was overreacting, surely there was no reason for his heart to stutter and his stomach to drop. Surely there was no reason, and surely he shouldn’t tell you.

“Nothing at all, I just didn’t like his face.” He hurried now to reply, realizing how odd his pause must’ve seemed. “Will you be accepting his proposal for a business dinner?”

“I’m not sure. I suppose it couldn’t hurt. And then it might be a good venue for the two of you to talk. Since you find him especially ghastly, I think a more public meeting might be easier.”

“Perhaps, but I don’t think that invitation was meant for me.” Diluc replied, before realizing his gaffe and falling silent.

“What? What do you mean of course it’s meant for you. I mean you are the owner of the Winery. Who else would it be for?”

“For, for you my darling. Why else would he ask you in such a way?” Diluc tried to keep the acid out of his words. It wasn’t your fault after all. It wasn’t your fault that some louche was asking after you.

“But I’m not the one in charge.” You furrowed your brow. “I can’t make the final decision. And I won’t allow him to attempt to bypass getting your permission either.”

“My darling, I, I think he meant it a different way.”

“What way?”

Diluc sighed, capitulating quickly to his want to tell you. Even if it was perhaps selfish of him, he was never truly good at keeping his feelings masked away, at least in a way that didn’t result in him completely shutting down. And you meant to much to him than for Diluc to try and lie to you.

“You see, I think he was attempting to ask you on a more romantic sort of dinner.”

“What?”

Your reaction was immediate, your expression quickly turning into one of shock and then of disgust. Letting out a groan you buried your face into the front of Diluc’s coat, eliciting a short laugh from its owner.

“Why? I… I… Even if I weren’t in love with you I’d never go out to dinner with him.”

“I don’t think he would appreciate the sentiment.”

“Diluc.” You let out another groan, shaking your head as if to rid yourself of the thought. “Archons, ugh thank you for telling me. I, disgusting.”

Diluc said nothing, simply tightening the hold of his arms around you. Though your reaction was certainly justifiable he knew there was something more behind them, and he felt grateful for your consideration. Though he knew that would always have been your reaction, it didn’t stop the pressure that ha been building in his chest, the thoughts that screamed what if, what if, what if. What if there is something better than you.

“Hey, are you alright?” You voice drifted up through the fabric of Diluc coat. He smiled, relaxing his grasp around you and pressing a soft kiss to the crown of your head.

“I will be. May I hold you a little longer?”

“Of course. You’re the only one for me, you know.”

“And you for me. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Those words, though so small, were somehow enough.

 Xiao

The new guest at the inn had been speaking to you for quite some time. That was Xiao’s first observation. The second was that you didn’t seem to mind. The third was that for some reason he suddenly felt incredibly irritated.

It was a beautiful evening, the kind that would’ve normally had you and Xiao sitting on the roof together, fingers entwined, the silence of nature cushioning the two of your from the outside world. It was a ritual, something that Xiao had come to rely on, had come to almost sanctify. Yet here he was, sitting on one of the thicker branches of the trees that dotted the outside of the Inn, trying desperately to quench the anger that bloomed in his chest as he watched you and the guest talk the minutes away.

Perhaps the worst part was that you didn’t seem to mind. Instead of pulling the conversation towards a close, you seemed perfectly content to keep talking, smiling brightly and quickly answering the questions of this uninvited guest. Normally Xiao didn’t care about , or rather didn’t keep track of, the people you spoke to. Of course you would have friends, would have people that mattered to you. Just because Xiao had disconnected himself from humanity didn’t mean that you had to. So why was he so angry?

His patience ran out when the guest reached for your hand. Sidling next to you as fast as he could Xiao peeled off his invisibility, enjoying the shock that registered across the uninvited guest’s face as he moved his hand back. Reaching to entwine his hand with yours Xiao shifted his gaze towards your face. Shock was painted into your expression, but there was also something else, a glimmer of happiness or of satisfaction. Somehow it unnerved Xiao, and he focused instead on the task at hand, whatever that task was.

“It’s getting late.”

“Oh, of course.” Turning back to the guest you smiled sheepishly. “I’m sorry to cut this short, but perhaps we’ll speak again some other time?”

“Gladly!” The man’s face lit up, before Xiao’s glaring left him scampering down the steps.

“Xiao, is something wrong?” The question was so genuine, without any sense of knowing more than you let. Unfortunately the question was also unanswerable.

“It’s late. We should go.” Xiao gestured towards the roof, hoping the reminder would flush the question out of your head.

“You’re right, I suppose it is getting late. And we wouldn’t want to waste such a wonderful evening.” You smiled. And yet somehow Xiao felt unplacated. He was happy, wasn’t he? So why, why did the question hang in the air, and why did the discontent remain?

The next day was a lazy one, as Xiao waited for you to be done with work. More than usual he missed you, and he wished that the hours would go faster, so he might be able to once more enjoy your presence, to banish the discontent that he still felt, evening after an hour spent wholly in your company.

Eventually the sun made its descent from the heavens, and Xiao pulled himself once more to the perch on the tree he’d taken the night before. Gazing down at the balcony he saw the familiar figure of the unwanted guest, and a stab of anger flashed through him. This was made all the worse by your entrance, and the fact you once more stopped to make time for this intruder.

The man was just as insufferable as before, full of jokes that Xiao didn’t understand and words that though praising of you felt somewhat hollow, almost insulting. You laughed along to these jokes, smiled at these odd compliments. And when the man asked if you might be willing to talk more over some sort of meal you merely smiled.

Xiao, however, found the whole ordeal unbearable. Why should this person be asking all these things, be prying you with words of intimacy and familiarity. Had he not arrived yesterday? Was he not an utter stranger? Confusion mixed with irritation in Xiao’s head, and he found it difficult to hold on to the stony reason he’d built up. What was going on? What was this terrible feeling of anger and want? He couldn’t understand human ways. Less could he understand why they should have any sort of effect on him.

Still he had to do something. Had to do anything. Swooping down once more Xiao began the same charade. This time, however, the man merely jumped, and for all his glaring Xiao couldn’t dislodge the guest from his place on the balcony.

“It’s late.”

“Ah it is. Are you hungry?” He asked, addressing you once more.

“I’m not at all, but Xiao’s right. It is late. If you haven’t eaten yet then perhaps you should. Smiley Yanxiao is quite strict about his rest.”

“Ah, then perhaps you’re right. Still, why not join me? You can tell me your name, and we can talk a little more about the things you do.”

“You don’t even know their name.” Xiao spat out the sentence, barely able to contain the odd sort of irritation that still spun around him. He asked you all those questions, said all those words of praise, all without knowing your name. It felt somehow dehumanizing, somehow… wrong.

“I would be glad to learn it.” The man smiled.

Xiao simply shook his head. He needed to leave. It was becoming too much again, and the last thing Xiao wanted was for a stranger to see him this way, see him unsure and confused and not a little frightened of these alien emotions. Glaring at the man one more time Xiao scooped you up. Ignoring the surprised shriek that you let out he shot up into the sky, moving towards the familiar sanctuary of Jueyen Karst, deeply grateful that the guest, whatever he could do, could never fly.

“Are you going to tell me what’s wrong?” You asked, barely giving Xiao the time to set you down onto one of Liyue’s sloping peaks before asking him the one question he couldn’t answer.

“Nothing.”

“Well it’s certainly not nothing. You’re being awfully rude to that guest, and I can’t understand why. Usually you don’t really care about those sorts of things. So something must be wrong, and I want to know what it is.”

A pause.

“Please.”

“I can’t.” It was all Xiao could say, the only thing that would truly encompass the truth, because in truth he couldn’t. He himself didn’t understand it.

“What do you mean you can’t?”

“My chest hurts.”

“What?” Immediately your face shifted into one of worry, and you placed a soft hand over Xiao’s heart. Somehow the gesture was calming, and Xiao closed his eyes, enjoying the receding of the hot bands that had just been restricting him.

“My chest hurt when I saw you with that, that guest. My chest hurt and I felt angry. That’s what’s wrong. My chest hurt, but now it doesn’t; and I don’t understand it.”

There was a pause, and Xiao studied the expressions on your face, watched as they shifted from worry to confusion to caution.

“Xiao, is it possible you were jealous?”

“No.” The idea was somehow insulting.

“It’s alright to be jealous Xiao. It just means you care about someone very much. You don’t have to just dismiss it like that. I want to make sure that you’re alright, so please be honest. Is it possible you were jealous?”

Xiao let another gap form in the conversation, trying to figure out how to answer. The suggestion felt demeaning, felt as if he somehow had no control over himself, no trust of you. And yet it somehow made sense, and even as he shook his head he found himself letting out a different answer.

“I don’t know.”

“It’s okay if you don’t. I know that new emotions can be frightening, can be difficult to deal with. But Xiao, I’ll always love you. It doesn’t matter who else I meet or what else happens in my life. I love you the way that a bird loves the sky. You’re a part of my life I could never lose. So even if this isn’t jealousy, even if I’m wrong, I still want to let you know. I love you.”

Xiao sighed, a smile finally gracing his lips, the pain in his chest finally melting away. What did he ever do to deserve such a person as you, he would never know. He wished he could repeat those words back to you word for word, wished that he could explain that his love for you was all encompassing, had seeped through the cracks of his existence and his life. He wished he could form together the words necessary to convey his love for you. Even if it was impossible he still wished it.

So instead he leaned over towards you. Letting out a gentle sigh he brought his lips to yours, reveling in the soft sensation of your mouth against his, reveling in the way you leaned against him, bringing you arm up to his neck, letting out a soft breath of contentment as the two of you disconnected.

You didn’t ask him anything else, and for the rest of the evening you two sat on the grass, watching the fireflies dance around you as you leaned against one another.

Perhaps Xiao didn’t yet understand the extent to which he loved you, the emotions that had now risen up, given life by the love you’d poured into the adeptus. Perhaps he didn’t understand this yet, but he knew that all would be well. For with you all that irritation seemed so far away, as if it belonged to a Xiao of yesterday. Because here and now you two were together, breathing in the same mutual contentment, the same mutual trust, the same mutual love. And that present was more important than any jealousy could be.

 Zhongli

Looking back on the matter Zhongli admitted that maybe pretending the problem didn’t exist was probably not the best solution.

It was only that you two had seemed so oddly content in talking, so, compatible, that Zhongli couldn’t help but feel a twinge of discontent, a tension that spread through his jaw and down to his stomach. He didn’t quite understand the nature of the emotion that now spread over him, but he did understand that it was connected to the bond that was now forming between you and the vendor in front of you.

“Dearest one.” He spoke softly, walking over to where you now stood.

“Oh, Zhongli!” Your face lit up as usual, and the ex-archon felt a piece of him uncoil. At least some things seemed to be unchanging, just as wonderful today as they had been the day before.

“I’ve been looking for you. I know you spoke of wanting to learn more about the nature of Cor Lapis, and the tea shop has been offering a new brew. Perhaps we could share a drink?”

“Oh that sounds lovely!” Turning around towards the vendor you smiled gently. “I’m sorry, I’ll have to try that lovely soup you were speaking of some other time.”

“Not at all!” The vendor’s smile was good natured, and Zhongli didn’t understand why he nevertheless felt a twinge of uncertainty. “I look forward to it. I hope you two have a nice day, and we’ll talk about it more later.”

Though the stall receded into the distance as the two of you turned the corner, Zhongli couldn’t help but let the moment run through his mind once more, finding it as sore to think about as a bruise might be to the touch.

“That vendor? Oh they’re new on the scene.” You smiled, taking a sip of tea.

The tea house was as calming as ever, the noises of the outside a distant song, and the hushed whispers inside adding to the intimate atmosphere. Zhongli normally loved to sit here, drinking cup after cup of tea, watching as the people came and went about their business, immersed in a small fragment of Liyue life. Now, however, he found he couldn’t stop thinking about the vendor. If he closed his eyes he could still remember their face, and the way yours was lit up while they were talking to you.

“Their name is Eli.” You continued on, oblivious to the way Zhongli’s hand tightened around his teacup. “They said that they set up shop maybe… two weeks ago? It hasn’t been a very long time, and they’re still struggling a bit. I hope that they’ll be able to get their business off the ground, who knew that street food was such a cutthroat world.”

“The city of Liyue is full of people who might make their way in the world, doing whatever they can. Perhaps it is unsurprising that competition is second nature to Liyue’s citizens.” Zhongli replied, hoping his tone wasn’t too curt. If it was you didn’t seem to mind, nodding softly in agreement.

“Speaking of Liyue and stories, perhaps you would like to tell me the story you were going to tell? I very much doubt that Cor Lapis is the blood of Morax.”

“How humans love to spin their stories.” Zhongli chuckled.

But even as he began to speak of jewels and pressure and the minerals that lay deep beneath the earth a bit of him was still preoccupied by the vendor’s easy words and your smiling face.

The next time he ran into you with the vendor the pit in his stomach had only gotten heavier. Standing a little ways away he let the conversation between the two of you flow in and out his ear, frown slipping deeper the more he heard.

“I cannot believe that your stall nearly caught fire on your first day! How unlucky.”

“Even worse that I didn’t know who to try and tell about it. If I had known you were part of the Guild then I would’ve asked you.”

“Well next time there are troubles you can just send a message to the Adventurer’s Guild. We can’t have our citizens being injured on our watch.”

“You sound like true heroes. I wish I could do the sorts of things you did. Your commissions sound fascinating! I would love to see how you go about your day some time.”

“Really it’s nothing, most days it’s quite boring really, just like any other job. Still, it’s nice to know that people have an interest in what we do.”

“Oh certainly! I find what you do very interest– ”

“My dearest one!” Zhongli called out, unable to continue listening to the conversation, feeling somewhat guilty and certainly upset. You turned slightly, smile brightening as you saw your partner.

“Zhongli! So sorry that I didn’t meet you outside your office, I must’ve lost track of the time. Eli here was telling me all about their first days at work.”

“I’m sorry that I got out late. I hope that you did not have to wait awhile.”

“Oh not at all Zhongli, like I said I’ve just been standing here. You don’t need to feel bad at all!”

“I’m glad. Perhaps now we can go?”

Zhongli attempted to smile, but it felt a lot more like a grimace. You stared at him, face the picture of confusion. Taking a step forward you glanced one more time at Eli, shrugging apologetically. Before any more words could be passed between the two of you Zhongli grabbed onto your hand. Walking quite quickly he didn’t let go until the two of you were at your apartment and he could finally breathe again.

“Zhongli, what’s the matter with you?” You asked, closing the apartment door behind you. Walking back towards Zhongli, who stood there silently, you let your hands rest lightly on his shoulders. “You can tell me you know, I can tell you’re unhappy.”

“I have a confession.” Zhongli started, feeling somehow compelled to reveal his thoughts, as if keeping them locked away would only be dangerous.

“Yes?”

“I, I did not like the way that the vendor spoke to you.”

“Eli? But they were perfectly nice.”

“I do not mean that they were rude. They were perfectly cordial. I mean, when the two of you were speaking, I, I felt uncomfortable. It was as if there was a barrier between us in that moment. I, I did not like it.”

“Oh Zhongli.” You breathed out, an indulgent smile on your face.

Reaching up you planted fleeting kisses on the archon’s face, peppering his cheeks and the bridge of his nose, touch featherlight. It was a familiar gesture, one of comfort, one used in darker nights, when shadows dotted the periphery of Zhongli’s vision.

“Zhongli, I assume you know what jealousy is?”

“I know the term and what it means. I admit I am not personally familiar with the concept.”

“Well I am, so let me tell you. What you experienced, that was jealousy, plain and simple. I know it’s very uncomfortable. Jealousy can be such a messy feeling, it sticks everywhere. But it’s also normal. So you don’t need to worry. I promise that nothing will happen, and I promise that these feelings would go away. I also promise that I love you very much, so even if you feel these emotions, you don’t have to worry.”

“How could I ever worry about you?” Zhongli murmured, wrapping his arms around you, basking in your proximity.

The apology only came in the evening, after words and kisses and love had hung long enough in the air to dull the feelings that Zhongli had been carrying around. Now he lay there next to you, chin resting gently on your head, suddenly realizing that he’d most likely acted quite rudely.

“I’m sorry I ignored Eli.”

“I’m sure they’ll understand.” You murmured. “Though I’m not actually sure what got you riled up about them.”

“You are also a bit oblivious dearest one,” Zhongli let out a soft laugh, “it seems they were quite taken with you.”

“Were they?” You asked, tone betraying your surprise. You paused for a moment, as if trying to replay your interactions. “I never noticed. To be honest, I don’t think I could ever notice, not when I have you.”

“Thank you.” Zhongli whispered, oddly overcome by the confession.

As he lay awake, carding gentle fingers through your hair and listening to the even breaths of your sleeping form he pondered just how lucky he was. Precious gems might come from pressure and earth and chance. But you were more precious than all of them. And he’d never forget that.