random-tbate-stuff

[asnowfern]

When Words Fail

Summary: Elain doesn’t get out of the town house much. But on a rare occasion that she did, she runs into Lucien at a piano studio.

Rating: G

WC: 2.5k

Read on AO3

A/N: Happy @elucienweekofficial (aka one of the best times of the year🥰)! This was originally intended for the day 2 prompt: Golden. BUT I was in bed with a flu so you get it on day 3 instead 🤧 Enjoy ☺️

When words fail, music speaks

- Hans Christian Anderson

The city of dreamers buzzes around Elain, comes to life with energetic shouts across the streets advertising for new shows and wafts of delectable street snacks. Doe eyes widen to take them all in.

A biting wind passes her by and Elain pulls her cloak closer around her, enveloping herself entirely in the thick feathered coat. Tugging the soft hat to cover the pinked edged tips of her ears, delicate button nose twitches slightly to sniff the wondrous buttery scent.

The middle Archeron rarely leaves the confines of the town house, usually content to bide her time in the greenhouse or in the kitchens. But just for today, astounded by Feyre’s artistic depiction of the Rainbow, did it occur to her just how much of the city that she has lived in for years but still has yet to see, so much that she has yet to experience. It stokes the long dormant part of her that once dreamt of adventures on the continent. All before…

Elain shakes her head with a grimace. Tonight is not a night for dwelling. Her thoughts short-circuit when a particularly fragrant scent hits her. The edges of her lips quirk upwards as she holds herself back from bouncing towards the street stall.

She exchanges a silver coin for a rich buttery pastry, wincing as molten chocolate ganache floods her mouth from the very first bite. With a palm still cradling the hot soft pastry, she continues her way through the bustling street.

Then her feet halts in front of a plain beige unassuming building.

Despite the lively chatter of the Rainbow, the sound of light flowing keys of a piano effortlessly reaches her. She turns towards it, stuffing the remainder of her snack into her mouth and hastily swipes the crumbs away from her cheeks. Her feet move mechanically on its own accord, like a rope that has been tied around her waist and pulls her into the building.

The city noises muffle, blocked by the wooden door frame of the building entrance. Elain is able to clearly hear the melody now, muted and uncertain, supported by the gentle running chords in the lower register. A simple but melancholic beauty that tugs on her chest and pulls in the most heart twisting manner.

The music turns as she passes by door after door within the studio. The same melody returns, bright and daring. Her chin tilts upwards, chocolate brown orbs widening. At last, her feet stop. Exactly where she needs to be.

It is a cozy quaint space, barely larger than her bedroom. The room is bare save for a grand piano plonked in the middle, the walls are lined with oak panes with a full length bookshelf pushed into a corner.

A golden spotlight streams down on the pianist, gliding along long auburn hair which has been pulled back into a simple low ponytail. A featherlight caresses an all too beautiful face and neckline, accentuating the contrast of his white billowing sleeves.

He doesn’t see her, she thinks.

Not as his fingers gracefully glide up and down the midnight and ivory keys, never ceasing to stop the flow of the music. Not even the slightest hitch in its tempo.

At that moment, Elain admits quietly to herself.

He is truly the most beautiful being she has ever seen.

She doesn’t sit and neither does she linger. After the piece ends, she gives a curt nod before turning around. It is only in the safe space of her own solitude does she acknowledge the melody that is still a constant flutter in her ears, her chest, her heart.

She returns the following night at the same time.

Foolishly, maybe. She doesn’t even know how long he will be in the city, doesn’t even know if he has left. Yet as she stands, just two steps beyond the doorway, so quiet that not even the sharpest fae ears can register a sound, there is no denying the little part of her that went, oh thank the Mother he is still here.

When the piece ends, the embers in her chest are fanned by a raised eyebrow, an open challenge in the dancing flame of a russet eye. She takes a seat next to him, the bench barely long enough to fit the two of them. Close enough to feel the heat emanating between the narrow space.

She resists the urge to shudder for a different reason and lifts her hands to the keyboard.

He doesn’t rush her, sitting in patient silence as she considers the different pieces she could play. Her mind skips through numerous music, each as showy as the last, each learnt under strict tutelage with the very intention of impressing guests and suitors. She gives herself a mental smack of a head (no, that will not do, she chides) and settles for a simple folk melody from her childhood.

Perhaps it’s anticlimactic and a letdown. Perhaps it’s a peep into years past that she hasn’t shown anyone in Prythian. One that draws a quirk of lips in her peripherals that she pays no mind.

It surprises her when skilled hands join her when she plays a repeated section, effortlessly complements her with his counter melody. A smile plays on her lips in the simple joy of music. The vehicle in which they embark on their unspoken conversation. She goes up, he goes down, then they loop around. The piece stretches and reshapes into a dozen different variations.

But alas, it all comes to an end when another fae interrupts with a knock, signalling the end of the session. It shatters the spell that they have woven with black and white keys, a glass splintering into hundreds of pieces.

It is with a wry smile that they come to a stop. Elain’s hands drop from the board, her insides twisting in disappointment. Lifting her chin slightly, she sucks a breath in and asks, “Maybe another time?”

The smile that blossoms on Lucien’s face leaves her breathless. A crinkle of happiness that threatens to rip apart the seams of intricately weaved vines burying the golden thread deep, deep within her chest.

“I’ll be here.”

The thread lights up with promise.

“So will I.”

***

The duo steps outside back into the frigid night air of Velaris. Before they take a further step, Elain pauses, her hand raises to her cheek to shield her face from a passing wind. Her petite form shivers a little in time with the slap of freeze.

In that moment, her entire being is engulfed in a tall shadow, and a translucent curtain of shimmery maple drapes over her to shield her from the chill. The brunette tilts her head back at a carefully impassive face.

It is the simplest of magics. Something she should be used to after so long with the fae. Even then, it is still a simple gesture that causes rose to dust across her cheeks, a different type of warmth that spreads from her chest. She resists the urge to scoot a little closer to her mate.

“Walk me back?” She asks, brown eyes meeting russet head on, stubbornly holding the stare until the edges of Lucien’s lips slope upwards.

“In need of a personal heater?” He quips.

A smile spreads on her face as she points out, “It’s freezing.”

Elain loops an elbow around Lucien’s as she forces her speeding heart rate to settle.

I can hear your heart beating through the stone. Can you hear mine?

Surely, he must.

Cocooned in their little bubble of warmth, it feels like there isn’t anything that can be hidden from the other. Not the rhythmic drum beats the organ in her chest plays or the shimmery glow of thread tying them together. Thankfully, that doesn’t stop the tall redhead from tightening the space between their arms as they walk down the lively alleyway in companionable silence.

He takes a step back when the entrance to the Town House comes into view, their arms unwinding. And though the shimmering warmth still covers her, Elain feels a smidge colder.

“I will be returning to the Human Lands tomorrow morning.” Lucien informs her softly.

“Oh—”

“But if you would like,” he almost rushes to continue, “I’ll send you a note the next time I’m back in the city.”

“I would like that.” She returns finally as her mate raises one hand to brush the back of her palm. The flame in his eye returns with a spark.

The moment feels surreal and for just a moment, Elain could pretend that she is a simple lady out jn society, and him, a charming suitor. There is no mess of biting cold dark waters of the Cauldron between them. That the rushing beats of her heart and brush of lips on skin is nothing more than the promise of something new, something exciting, something hopeful.

***

Elain’s brows furrow as her fingers speed up to follow the fraught tempo the Autumn son had set. Her frown deepens as she feels herself get pushed out of the music. Two hands drop to one until she eventually lifts her hands back to her chest and sets her gaze higher to the male himself. His fingers continue to fly across the keyboard, so lost in the music that his lips are parted slightly, his mechanical eye clicks to follow the notes. He seemed unaware that she had even stopped.

He throws his weight into the wooden keys, the force of it unravelling strands from his low ponytail. The air rattles around them with the vibrations of his final chord until it dissipates into nothingness.

“Lucien?”

The thread between them pulls taut as her voice brings him out of his reverie and brings mismatched gold and russet eyes on her, round and tinged with the slightest hint of manic.

Even with all the time they had spent together the past few winter months, it is uncharted territory for them to share more than a piano or playful words that mean nothing. Still, Elain gingerly catches the hand that has just fallen back into his lap and draws it close to her.

“What happened?” She asks, rubbing light circles into the soft flesh of the back of his palm, where the index meets the thumb.

She feels his wordless response, of fingers that close around hers, of the tension simmering in each muscle fibre.

She tries again, “Shall we get out of here?”

With a simple nod, her world transforms into the warm licking golden flames of his winnow. It disappears to reveal a simple apartment where familiar city noises continue to trickle in from the windows.

It dawns on her immediately that this is Lucien’s apartment in Velaris.

Utilitarian. Perfunctory. Devoid of personality. Vastly different from the homeliness of the River House or even her own room in the Town House.

Elain had never seen his room in Spring or in the Human Lands but she can say with certainty that it did not look as empty as this. She ignores the slight lump forming in her throat and pulls him over to the plain brown couch. Without letting herself overthink her next actions, she tugged him down with her to settle his head on her lap.

Something twinges in her chest. The bond that she had tried so hard to submerge under the deepest hedge of thorns that threatens to give way to blinding light. She hastily covers his eyes with nimble fingers, lightly brushing the gnarly scars surrounding his left eye, tracing thick brows with her fingertips and easing the tension filled lines.

Slowly but surely, Elain feels the hard muscles relaxing into the plush skin of her thighs and the soft nuzzle of his face into her dress. She shifts her attention to those silky tresses, carding her fingers through them.

“We are losing Vassa,” he mumbles into the soft rolls of her stomach, “the transformations have always taken their toll but it’s getting even harder. To see those sharp cerulean eyes blank and empty, devoid of her usual sharpness and intelligence, even for just a few minutes.”

A sourness pulls at Elain, a sly voice starts to whisper in her ear. Yours. Thief. Claim. Her fingers tremble, entangling digits into thick locks.

“Have you told Rhysand?” She asks instead, not trusting herself to say more yet also, hating her response for its implied immediate deference.

Lucien pulls away, his head turning away as he replies bitterly, “We need more time to gather allied forces from the continent before we can take on Koschei. He’s not wrong,” his eyes flutter shut and the lines between his brows deepen, “but it’s hard to watch.”

“You care for her.” She wonders if she sounds as petulant as she feels.

The look he gives her is reproachful in answer. Yet, he still reassures her, “She’s a good friend.”

Friend, he had seemed to emphasise. But did she even have the right to lay a claim after all these years of nonchalance? Even as the hissing beast prowling the stairs of her ribs calm slightly, placated at the clarification.

Elain continues her ministrations, nimble fingers absentmindedly braiding then combing them out. The monotony diminishes the world around them into the random sounds of the Velarian nightlife and the occasional crackling wood of his fireplace. It envelopes her mind and lets her thoughts stray to the majestic firebird soaring through the skies, screeching as it flies over a lake black as coal. A cold scaly presence yanks her past the line splitting air and water.

It is cold, so cold. Like the Cauldron, like death, like—

CRACK

Elain’s eyes snap open, brown eyes wide with fear. They find mismatched russet and gold instantly, concern and alarm warring within them. She pauses, waiting for the questions that are sure to come.

None came. Just a wary gaze and a firm grip around her hand. Unyielding and grounding.

She asks finally after a few fraught moments, when her heartbeat resembles what felt like normalcy. “What if I can help?”

Lucien sits up, sending a flurry of movement as the mass of flesh and muscle moves in her lap. He is still impossibly near, the heat emanating from his body an entrancing addiction. He asks carefully, “Are you sure?”

“It’s better than…” she trails off because better than what? Better than the comfortable life accorded to her in her sister’s court, surrounded by everything she could ever need? She clears her throat before meeting those assessing eyes. “It’s better than just waiting passively for things to happen to me.”

Lucien stood from the sofa they were sharing, his body angled away from her. And just as Elain opens her mouth to backpedal her decision, he turns back. Eyes gleaming and determined.

“There’s a piano in the manor.”

Elain almost gasps in that moment. Her hand twitches by her side, itching to claw at her chest, to hover over where the golden thread has burst out of its burial site.

It’s bright, it’s dazzling.

It’s iridescent.

END

[bmpmp3]

I really love making vocal synth duets and trios and other group songs but there is nothing worse on this earth than attempting to balance the audio levels

[sittidav]

This is clip 5 of our series Jam-min’, approximately one minute of jamming. This is our version of Comin’ Home Baby by the great Ben Tucker. It was recorded live, mixed, edited and filmed in my home studio with my Nikon D750 camera using Logic Pro and Final Cut. I hope you like it.

[gurupanguji]

(Re)introducing Google, I mean Gemini...

Google thinks Gemini >> Bard, Duet, Assistant, Assistant with Bard, Gemini Pro, Gemini Ultra, Bard Advanced, Circle to Search, Vertex It's a steep challenge to convince people to think of Gemini and think a helpful AI.

Google seems to be making a statement about its future. If we take it at face value, this is a big deal. Till date, Google’s not let any other name be a peer-brand in its family. You’ve always had Google Mail, Google Photos, Google Pay, Google Workspace and even Google Cloud. Nothing replaced Google within the Alphabet framework. So, when we have this: Post by @heypollack View on…

[sequimelectronics]

HEAR CLEARLY, WATCH HAPPILY: AVANTREE TV HEADPHONES FOR IMPROVED AUDIO AND BETTER TV TIME

Watching TV is one of the most popular pastimes in the world, but it's not always easy to enjoy it without disturbing others in the room. Additionally, for those with hearing impairments, it can be difficult to hear the audio clearly. That's where Avantree TV headphones come in. Avantree is a brand that specializes in audio products, including headphones and speakers, and their TV headphones are designed to provide high-quality audio while allowing you to watch TV without disturbing others.

These headphones are particularly helpful for those with hearing impairments, as they provide a personalized and clear listening experience. In this blog post, we'll provide an overview of some of the most popular Avantree TV headphones and explain how to use them with a TV. We'll also discuss the benefits of using these headphones, including improved audio quality, the ability to watch TV without disturbing others, and their helpfulness for those with hearing impairments. Finally, we'll share customer reviews and provide a call-to-action for those interested in trying out these headphones for themselves. ​ If you're tired of struggling to hear the TV or disturbing others while you watch, or if you have a hearing impairment that makes it difficult to hear the audio clearly, keep reading to learn more about Avantree TV headphones!

Contents:

Avantree HT280 Overview

Avantree Opera Overview

Avantree Duet Overview

Avantree HF2039 Overview

Avantree Medley Clear 6018 Overview

Feature Comparisons

Pros & Cons

Conclusion

Avantree HT280 Overview

Avantree HT280 TV HeadphonesThe Avantree HT280 is a wireless TV headphone system that is designed to provide high-quality audio for TV watching. It uses 2.4GHz wireless technology, not Bluetooth, for its wireless transmission. This allows for a more stable and consistent wireless connection, which is important for maintaining high-quality audio when watching TV. The headphones connect wirelessly to a transmitter that can be plugged into a TV, stereo, or other audio source. The system is ideal for those who want to enjoy TV audio without disturbing others or for those with hearing impairments who need a personalized audio experience. ​ The Avantree HT280 headphones are comfortable and lightweight, making them suitable for extended use. They feature soft earpads and an adjustable headband for a comfortable fit. The headphones have a range of up to 100 feet, allowing users to move around freely while still enjoying clear audio. The headphones also have a long battery life of up to 12 hours, meaning users can watch several movies or shows before needing to recharge.

The Avantree HT280 is easy to set up and use, with no technical expertise required. The transmitter can be connected to any audio source with your choice of digital optical, 3.5mm aux, RCA, or even 6.3mm large phono jack, and the headphones automatically connect to the transmitter when turned on. The headphones also have intuitive controls, making it easy to adjust the audio to the desired level. ​ Overall, the Avantree HT280 is a high-quality wireless TV headphone system that provides a personalized audio experience for TV watching. It is comfortable, easy to use, and has a long battery life, making it a great choice for anyone who wants to enjoy TV audio without disturbing others or for those who need a more personalized audio experience while staying on a more conservative budget.

Avantree Opera Overview

Avantree Opera TV HeadphonesThe Avantree Opera TV headphones offer high clarity and premium audio with two selectable EQ settings. They are very comfortable to wear for extended periods of time, thanks to the protein leather earpads and extra roomy earcup chambers. These headphones are ideal for watching TV and movies, with no audio lag and up to 35 hours of use on a single charge.

In addition to these great features, the Avantree Opera headphones also have a mic-in option that allows them to gather sound from stubborn TVs that dared to not have an audio-out port. Simply place the mic next to the TV speakers and the sound will be transmitted to the headphones. ​ Another unique feature of the Opera is the dual-link function, which allows you to connect two pairs of headphones (2nd pair purchased separately) to the transmitter base. This is perfect for watching movies with a partner or friend, and you can even adjust the volume independently on each headphone. Additionally, the headphones have an audio pass-thru function, allowing you to stream audio to an external soundbar or receiver in addition to the headphones. Finally, there's even a mute adverts function that makes it easy to temporarily mute audio during commercials.

Avantree Duet Overview

Avantree Duet Dual Wireless TV Headphones​The Avantree Duet Dual Wireless Headphones for TV is an excellent choice for those who want to share the audio experience with a family member or friend. The set comes with two pairs of headphones, making it easy to watch TV or movies together without disturbing others. The charging dock is conveniently built into the transmitter, making it easy to keep the headphones charged and ready for use.

Using 2.4GHz wireless technology, the Duet provides a stable and low-latency connection, ensuring high-quality audio with no delay or lag. The headphones feature selectable EQ settings, allowing you to customize the audio to your preference. Additionally, the protein leather earpads and extra roomy earcup chambers ensure a comfortable fit, even during long periods of use. ​ With up to 35 hours of battery life, the Duet headphones are perfect for extended viewing sessions. The headphones also support pass-through streaming audio from the transmitter to an external soundbar or receiver. The extra high volume support and clear voice feature make it easy to hear every detail, even during quiet dialogue or intense action scenes.

Avantree HF2039 Overview

Avantree HF2039 Wired TV Headphones with DACThe Avantree HF2039 TV headphones are a wired option that provide natural, clear, and full sound through their high precision 40mm drivers. The headphones come with a 16.4/5m extendable coil cord, plus an additional 2m extension cord, making them perfect for watching TV from a distance. They also feature a built-in volume control, allowing you to adjust the volume at your fingertips for the best audio experience. The headphones are designed for extended use, with super-soft foam earpads and an adjustable headband to provide maximum comfort during long sessions. ​ One of the standout features of the HF2039 headphones is the included DAC (digital-to-analog converter), which allows you to extract digital audio signals from optical/coaxial input and convert them to analog output for the best possible sound quality. This feature ensures that the headphones are highly compatible with new and old TV models, providing a versatile and adaptable audio solution for all users.

Avantree Medley Clear 6018 Overview

Medley Clear / 6018 Universally Compatible Low Latency Wireless Earbuds for TV & Transmitter Set with Charging Dock.The Avantree Medley Clear 6018 are connected earbuds that offer a low latency and no lip-sync delay, making them an excellent option for watching TV and movies. With two EQ settings, you can enjoy clear and enhanced audio. The transmitter features passthrough technology, which allows you to use them simultaneously with an external speaker, such as a soundbar. ​ The Medley Clear 6018 is compatible with various TV inputs, including optical, aux, RCA, and mic inputs, making it a versatile choice for any setup. With BT5.0 and Class 1 specification, the earbuds provide an operating range of up to 164ft/50m, giving you more flexibility in how and where you watch your content. Additionally, the earbuds come with different-sized ear tips, ensuring a comfortable and secure fit for extended periods of use.

Feature Comparisons

Now that we've had a closer look at each of the Avantree TV headphones, it's time to compare and contrast them to help you make the best decision for your needs. While all these headphones are designed to improve your TV-watching experience, they do have different features and price points that may affect your choice. We'll explore the similarities and differences between the Avantree HT280, Opera, Duet, HF2039, and Medley Clear 6018 models, to help you find the one that suits you best.

One of the key factors to consider when choosing a TV headphone is the type of connection it uses. The Avantree HT280 and Duet headphones use RF technology to transmit the audio signal, which can provide better range and reliability than Bluetooth. The Opera and Medley Clear 6018 models, on the other hand, use Bluetooth 5.0 to connect to their transmitters or other devices, which can offer more flexibility and compatibility. On the other hand, the HF2039 is a wired headphone which is much less expensive than the wireless options, but can limit your range of movement. Depending on your home setup and preferences, the type of connection used may be a crucial factor in your decision.

Another important factor to consider when choosing a TV headphone is the design and comfort of the headphone itself. The Avantree HT280 and Duet headphones are over-ear models with soft padding and adjustable headbands, making them comfortable to wear for extended periods of time. The Opera, on the other hand, while still an over-ear model, has a smaller cup size and is slightly heavier, which may not be as comfortable for everyone. The Medley Clear 6018 earbuds are also designed for comfort, with multiple ear tips and wingtips included to help you find the perfect fit. The HF2039, being a wired headphone, has a single over-ear design with foam padding, but it is lightweight and budget-friendly. Depending on your preferences and usage scenario, the design and comfort of the headphone may be a deciding factor in your purchase.

In addition to the connectivity options, another important aspect to consider is the audio quality of the headphones. Different headphones may have varying levels of sound quality, including clarity, volume, and bass response. All the Avantree headphones we've covered offer high-quality audio, but the specific details vary. The HF2039, while a wired headphone, still offers high-quality audio, but without the potential for interference that wireless headphones can sometimes experience. In addition, the Opera, Duet, and Medley Clear 6018 models have built-in equalizers and sound modes that allow you to customize the sound profile to your liking. Depending on your preferences for sound quality, this may be an important consideration when choosing a TV headphone.

Pros & Cons

Before making a decision on which Avantree TV headphone to purchase, it's important to weigh the pros and cons of each model. Below, we've compiled a list of the advantages and disadvantages of the Avantree HT280, Opera, Duet, Medley Clear 6018, and HF2039 headphones to help you make an informed decision.

Avantree HT280 Pros:

RF technology provides zero latency.

Most affordable of the wireless options.

Comfortable and lightweight design.

High volume support.

Cons:

Lack of equalizer options may not meet the audio needs of some listeners.

Shorter battery life than some of the other models.

Doesn't have pass-thru audio that other models have.

Avantree Opera Pros:

Uses Bluetooth 5.0 for greater flexibility and compatibility.

Compact design while maintaining over-the-ear cup style.

Can connect headphones to two devices for greater flexibility.

Transmitter can support up to two headphones simultaneously.

2 EQ settings that allow a more customized audio experience.

Up to 35 hours Playtime.

Supports audio passthrough to speakers or receiver.

Cons:

Heavier than the HT280, may prove to be uncomfortable for a small percentage of users.

Most costly option for an individual headphone system ($149).

Avantree Duet Pros:

RF technology provides minimal latency (30ms)

Comes with two pairs of headphones for shared viewing.

Supports audio passthrough to speakers or receiver.

2 EQ settings that allow a more customized audio experience, including a Clear Voice setting.

Up to 35 hours Playtime.

High volume support.

Cons:

Bulkier transmitter may be less convenient to place (but less bulky than two transmitters).

More expensive than two of the HT280 headphones ($219)

Avantree Medley Clear 6018 Pros:

Uses Bluetooth 5.0 for greater flexibility and compatibility.

Lightweight and compact design.

Earbuds are less noticeable and some find easier to wear for long periods.

2 EQ settings that allow a more customized audio experience.

Supports audio passthrough to speakers or receiver.

Has mic-in support for TVs that have no audio out ports.

Cons:

May not be as comfortable as over-ear headphones for some.

Battery life is shorter than some of the other options (up to 20 hours).

Avantree HF2039 Pros:

Inexpensive option ($49)

No need to worry about battery life or connectivity issues.

Can be used with nearly any device thanks to the included DAC (digital-to-analog converter).

Cons:

Limits your range of movement.

Cord is a possible trip hazard.

May not offer the same level of sound quality as the wireless options.

Overall, the Avantree TV headphones offer a range of options to suit different needs and preferences. The wired option, HF2039, is the most affordable and reliable, but limits your range of movement. The wireless options, HT280, Opera, Duet, and Medley Clear 6018, offer greater flexibility and convenience, but may have limitations in terms of battery life and range. Ultimately, the best choice for you will depend on your individual needs and preferences.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Avantree TV headphones offer a range of options for enhancing your TV-watching experience. From the wireless convenience of the Opera and Medley Clear 6018, to the reliable RF technology of the HT280 and Duet, to the affordability of the HF2039 wired headphones, there's a model to suit every need and budget. While each headphone has its own strengths and weaknesses, we hope that our comparisons and pros and cons lists have helped you narrow down your choices. And remember, the best way to find the perfect pair of TV headphones is to try them out for yourself. So visit our store, Sequim Electronics, to experience the comfort and sound quality of Avantree TV headphones firsthand. Our knowledgeable staff is available to answer any questions and help you make an informed decision. Shop with us today for the best prices and selection of Avantree TV headphones.

Disclaimer: While we may be professional nerds and geeks, we're not audiologists. We're just audio lovers who enjoy helping other audio lovers find the perfect gear. So, take our opinions with a grain of salt, but know that we've done our best to provide you with accurate information and honest insights. And no, we won't be held responsible if you still can't hear the dialogue over your neighbor's barking dog.

[thatdeadaquarius]

Ok but polygot reader who's like a pro singer who sings im all the languages they know all across teyvat cuz y not <3

Having a duet with yunjin and xinyan

Harmonising with barbara

Singing for nilou's dance

I WANNA SING LULLABIES TO MY CHILDREN SO BADLYYYYYYYY

Orah my beloved genius you <333

LMAO SORRY I JUST HAD TO USE THIS GIF

Orbit: Short Headcanons-ish

Stars: mostly Mond/Liyue characters, mentions of other singers/musicians

Comets & Meteors: Content Warnings: none known. & Trigger Warnings: none known.

Please comment if I missed any. /gen

☆

U get to sing a solo with Barbara yes!!

but u know whats more important? whos more hype abt ur songs/diff languages???

Venti.

Venti is.

Venti is vibrating with barely contained manic energy

poor guy is sick of always being familiar with songs, nothing is "new" to him, but ur songs?? they're from a different world, and he can't know any of them!!!

Venti's has a surprising amount of strength in those noodle arms bc ur suffocating in his hug rn-

He is constantly begging asking you to sing for him, sing in public, he'll put you on the Barbatos statue hands just so everyone can hear you,

constantly pleading politely requesting if he can lay in your lap under the Windrise tree while you sing slow songs

Hogs you from Barbara, Klee, and anyone else in Mondstadt who would want to personally hear ur singing/duet with you lmao

u had to bring in the cavalry (Rex Lapis/Zhongli) to get a week away from him lol

luckily the retired god was more than motivated to bring u to Liyue, after all he spends a fair amount of his time listening to operas/music

DUETS DUETS DUETS!!

Yunjin blew ur eardrums out of excitement the first time u copied her singing perfectly, kidnapped u for an entire week of festivities where u were the special singer guest <33

Xinyan looked at you like u hung the stars in the sky for both playing a little guitar/singing to her rock music (as she's used to instrumental rock so far bc its been just her)

Qiqi, Klee, Yao yao, Diona all ask (in their own ways lol) for lullabies,

they each wanted you to sing to them every night but it wasn't possible... so u got cloud retainer to invent a machine to record some lullabies you've sung in each of their countries languages so they can sleep 🥺<333

and the dancers.

you cannot escape the dancers.

Nilou, yunjin, eula, gaming, ayaka, doesn't matter, u cannot have peace.

u will sing for them all at some point, u will have repeated performances, u will attract crowds, u will be going on a world tour

(Lyney has also kidnapped u for his magic shows to show off ur singing in French)

☆

finally scheduled a post and am able to rlly get at my asks more frequently now thank goodness

im so ready to open ask box again 😭😭

hope u guys have a fun Tuesday!! :)

Safe Travels 0rah,

💀♒

If you wanna join a taglist, DM me what for! "Pspspsss, please tag me for [All SAGAU posts, Only SAGAU Language AUs, diff fandom, etc.]!"

(If you ever wanna drop, just DM me! "No more taglists/[specifically this AU/fandom] please!")

♡the beloveds♡

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@kiyomi-uchiha777

[imbecominggayer]

Writing Advice: Too Many Characters

A common advice when writing stories is "don't write too many characters". But, like with everything creative and good, there is no definitive answer to how many characters should be in a book!

So I will be discussing numerous variables in storytelling which impacts how many characters you should have and what makes something in a book "pointless".

Themes! Themes! Themes! (Omori Spoilers, Not Too Much)

The most important question that a writer has to ask themself is "what is this scene/book/media trying to do?". If your story is based on the relationships we have with others and the impact they can have on our psyche then having a close-knitted community of people will drive the message of intimate connection better then just having more people in there. If your story is focused primarily on introspection, looking inward, individuality, and other spiritual activities then the protagonist is more likely to spend longer durations of the media by themselves.

An example of these to forces is the popular game of Omori.

(SPOILERS ABOUT OMORI<3)

Omori is a game that focuses on acceptance first and foremost. Self-acceptance to be more specific. Due to the fact that the game is a piece of introspection both for Sunny and for the player, the most important moments in the game such as the "reveal" sequence of pictures and Black Space are ones that are done on your own.

However, the game also prioritizes the relationships Sunny has between his friends as this serves as motivation for the final duet. The final duet was an act of bonding as Mari and Sunny just wanted to spend time together, doing something they liked.

The introspection moments are pushed towards the end of the game because it's only when Sunny has that support and belief in his friends, can he rise above his doubt and shame and fear.

2. What Is The Purpose Of This Character?

All characters need to have a purpose in the narrative. Both within the context of the world and in the context of the book.

Within the context of the world, they need a goal that is going to impact the protagonist either positively or negatively.

Within the context of the book, what is this character giving to the audience that wouldn't otherwise be there?

Pro tip: All the characters you have need to have more then one purpose! Characters that give exposition can't JUST give exposition.

If you have a love interest that can be cut out without taking away a vital part of the story either from a thematic(theme) standpoint or a narrative(plot) standpoint, just replace them with an object and move it along!

If you have an ally character that only shows up twice and can be changed into "I went down to the store to buy these items", give that "ally" tag to someone more story relevant"!

3. Priorites?

Ask yourself this: "Do I have the book length to dedicate time to this person?"

If the answer is no, follow my next steps. If the answer is yes, here is how to make them better.

When I say "prioritize", I mean you need to figure out what type of character this character is. Are they a main character? A side character? Cannon fodder? A symbol? WHAT ARE THEY?

Also, can you give these character responsibilities to someone else? This simultaneously gives those characters deeper complexity and eliminates more characters

Example: Love Interest, after being trapped by the villain, uses their intelligence in order to provide information about the villain to the hero. (Love Interest + Ally + Informant)

Example: Friend is revealed to be a double agent on the side of the Villain. However, it's revealed that Friend was secretly a triple agent who is finally redeemed from their original believed betrayal. They're back to being an ally. (Friend + Betrayer + Ally + Enemy)

[court-jobi]

How'd You Know (I Needed This)

((banner by me! I don't own Horikoshi's (sleepy) characters/work))

Pairing: Aizawa x reader (American!Pro Hero fem!reader, set before the events of Season 1)

Words: 4.9K

Rating: T+

Warnings: Aizawa has feelings and doesn't know what to do with them, alcohol mentions, slow burn, he fell first she fell harder, the feeling is mutual TM

Summary:

Shouta Aizawa surrenders his capture weapon for the night in favor of humoring Hizashi, and is rewarded for his follow-through at his show. He wants to know you, more than he has from teaching the brats alongside you for the last few months. Wants to know the smile that reaches your eyes more intimately.

He’s happy he gets this balcony happy hour with you -out from all their eyes inside- to be able to water this sweet, small thing he feels towards you to fullness.

A/N: I've been WAITING for this one, turn it up!!! Aizawa my beloved, I've wanted to write you for so, so long and can only hope I can do you justice. The man just has such a gentle side and I just wanted to give him something nice and self-indulgent~

For my My Hero Academia Masterlist, check it out here!

Read on Ao3

Damn it, why was he thinking like this? He’s in public for goodness’ sakes, with only two sips of drink under his belt. Not two drinks- two sips of a drink.  So if that’s the case of his sobriety, why was he off in his own little headspace as if he were drunk?  

‘Put Your Hands Up Radio’ found its home recording studio attached to this lounge: a place Shouta Aizawa never frequented unless expressly invited- or when Eraserhead was needed to scout out trouble. Far too noisy, too chatty, and filled with too many grown adults losing their sensibilities for his liking. 

Through one round of begging or another, he’d been roped into joining some of the staff of UA to an evening out, in support of Present Mic. Naturally, Aizawa would go- as his presence would all but guarantee everyone else’s. Despite begrudging the plans that pushed himself out of his preferred rest mode, he kept true to his word for Hizashi’s sake.

Promise kept, and therefore, appears to have been rewarded. 

Once the show wrapped for the night, his best friend was over the moon at how things were turning into a party that Friday night. After a day of shrill, whinging teenagers he’d wrangled all week, this level of volume was honestly the last thing he needed. Yamada’s voice doubled the decibel of the entire room- and that’s without his quirk activated. He always managed to annoy Aizawa when he started fangirling about one duet matchup or another.

But truthfully? Every sound this tired hero registered around him fell to white noise while he looked at you…

Sweet Little Miss, you are; gracing the lounge with your presence. You’re a vision tonight. Insist with your lilting dip to your words they all call you by your first name, outside of school grounds and against what’s considered custom. No hero titles either, unless an emergency called for formalities- then you’d cave.

These Americans are too casual. Even down to these outfits. What’s this–  black turtleneck, necklace she won’t leave alone- moving it around her thumb like that, short skirt.. and those damn thigh highs and tights. How is it she’s driving that moped of hers, wearing something like this…

Everything on your person, down to the way you held yourself in perfect confidence and ease adorned you like a perfectly-styled pro hero. It couldn't be a more stark contrast to his tried and true wardrobe. Even this after-hours look sat perfectly around each bend and curve of you, as you listened to the group. 

You’re smiling, too. It’s subtle, but it reaches your eyes, which makes it all the more authentic.

A smile he shouldn’t want to keep all to himself. Curves he really should have no business noticing. Features that he’s actually surprised he’s labeling as ‘attractive’ in his mind because the last time he ever felt an ounce of attraction to anyone in that way, he’d barely been able to grow facial hair. 

Desire for a safe place to land his dizzying mind is driving his tired sights to look to you for relief again and again in the conversation– without you even saying a single word. 

The barely-touched drink in his hand is only a prop; something to make him blend into the scene and not something he’s actually tasting for pleasure… meaning, these are his thoughts. Nearly completely sober. Should be illegal. Just illegal-

"Yo Sho, you still with us, sleepyhead?" 

Yamada pulled him out of his thoughts. Disguising any flare of being put on the spot, Aizawa  flitted his absent gaze back to his blond friend–

"Be nice. He’s had a rough day and is a good enough sport by being here,” you chirped up catching Yamada’s pull for Aizawa to part from the fringes of your little gathering.

Now toward you? He’ll soften his edge. After all, with you sticking up for him with blind loyalty, he nearly felt guilty for spacing out and causing you to speak up in the first place.

“- yknow, I'm inclined to take a nap myself," you leaned forward to grab a few more calamari bites to tend to your seemingly insatiable appetite. Aizawa felt warm at the sweetness and straightened up at Yamada’s prodding.

From then on, he made sure to look in your direction more often when you spoke to help him pay attention. He still didn't say much, never did. But he liked the company well enough.

These nights were truly few and far between. Life as an in-demand hero left him jumping from role to role, daytime and midnight obligations. The routine split his waking hours and stretched them paper thin.  Now more than ever,  he typically shirked as much off time as he was offered. And yet, he had to remember to prioritize levity and breaks– and in this case, indulge his treasured friend’s interests and ‘take one for the team’. Good for morale, he reasoned, just this once. 

The occasion was also a way for you to integrate with the group in an informal setting– great for the transplant from the States. You’ve taken amicably to the group of alumni-turned-faculty at UA, though much still remained a mystery about you, presently being peeled back bit by bit through stories and slips of the tongue. There was only so much a dossier could truly reveal about a person- even one curated by S.W.O.R.D. to volunteer aid their Japanese counterparts in their hero work.

It couldn’t tell what kind of teacher you’d turned out to be. Even with no experience working with students, you tread the line between instilling team-centered outlooks and pushing their quirk’s limitations to their max benefit. A crafty, inventive counterpart to complement his blunt teaching style: better together, and even the principal agreed.

It couldn’t point out where your true ambitions lie or where your drive came from. There remained much to be explained as far as your hero status here in Japan– a red-tape nightmare Aizawa was still intrigued to learn about. So far, you’d shared some limitations about “immigration statuses are being vetted with a fine toothed comb, so they’re still trekking through the paperwork”, so your wings are essentially clipped down to a student’s provisional license. This doesn’t please you too much, but you’re driven as much as his finest students with the aire of a professional he’d love to see in full action.

It couldn’t explain the stillness you could dip into, that he only caught once or twice when you believe yourself alone. There’s a past was weighing your shoulders level and compliant in the eyes of the law… but an urge to push back and ‘play this out’  brought hypotheticals to your lips whenever you chatted about what hero life is like for him, and added a sparkle to the eye that he had yet to fully source.

It couldn’t give away the gentleness you hold behind a carefully guarded smile– even in this harsh hero world. Maybe it was that indomitable spirit that those foolhardy patriots overseas carried… or rather, maybe it was the way you fought against such a loud persona. So far, Aizawa has taken only a few notes, but each little mental post-it was cluttering up his headspace. You held a quiet love of tea, a comical passion for the oxford comma, and a mind to care for the little things in life– like the lizards you rescue in an inverted cup to take outside where they belong . 

Surely life must have treated you hard to elicit such softness. Something tenderized you to achieve the peace you carry around or else you’re wearing a damn good mask. No, he determines you had to have made a choice to continue on the path that’s brought you to the present– even to this table where you’re taking your fill of maki rolls while casting little caring glances his way. 

All smiles and calm surety, as he mills through his thoughts that are damn near obsessed with you.

An employee file could never record ‘heart’, anymore than it could expose anything you didn’t want to reveal.

The night progresses while Aizawa stews on these thoughts, and plenty of others… for the ones that drift to his co-teacher offer him more mental stimulation than that he finds in the club’s lights and music.

Yamada’s night of filling his social battery was made nearly perfect by the karaoke that just started. Several of the other teachers got preoccupied in round after round of song, so it left Aizawa with a moment's peace. 

Well, peace he was going to enjoy by laying back on the couch for a little shuteye–  when his gut jumped at the feeling of a hand trailing up his forearm to the elbow with a polite, companionable touch. 

Facing its owner, Aizawa caught your little smirk and nod towards the balcony. You didn't pull hard, yet he followed like a magnet out to the patio. 

From there, rather than stay by the door to listen in on their friends ‘releasing their inhibitions and feeling the rain on their skin’,  you took him to the right, where a matching lounge set positioned itself in a blind spot between the rooftop bar and the fire escape. 

"Thought you looked like you could benefit from some soundproofing~" you brushed your hair back over one shoulder to follow the breeze’s direction, and left an open spot next to you by the railing. 

Nightlife and neon didn’t hold magic for Eraserhead given as many nights as he’s spent perched on precarious heights, but through a newcomer’s eyes, he could see the appeal. This part of the city glowed at night from dusk to dawn, and you clearly loved looking out over it; Aizawa certainly didn't mind this view either. 

Your perception skills are spot on, and incredibly thoughtful as you’ve suggested some fresh air- for his sake. If he wasn’t drawn to you any of the other times he’s paid attention to the spastic moths a more romantic person might call ‘butterflies’ before…  this cements each and every one as valid. 

He likes you. He really likes you. 

Time passed with appreciative quiet until you spoke again, 

"The only thing is, you can't really see stars in the city... there’s too much light."

"The beaches have a nice view," Aizawa replied after some thought.

"Oh yeah?"

"Enough to stargaze properly,” he offered without much sentimentality. Right by the pier was the best spot he and his former classmates would go on the weekends, before their hero work took off.

"I'll have to remember to take a drive there. Y'know, sometime when I'm not in two-and-a-half-inch heels." you chuckled as you shuffled back to the rattan settee, sitting for a bit to stretch out your legs. "I don't know how Nemuri does it."

"Feet hurt already?" Aizawa snuck his hands from his pockets and came to the seat across from yours. “Night’s young.”

"Getting there,"  your laugh greeted him over, "But you know what they say, dress to impress and all that. Yamada really pitched some hype for this afterparty, so~"

Fashion was hardly something that ever swayed Aizawa’s decision-making. Utilitarian was the way to go for his wardrobe- then, as now. 

"If aesthetics are all that determine these pros’ attention, that’s horribly vain." 

You bristled in good humor, 

"He didn't mean it like that– I just meant, he said to look nice for fun instead of for work. Call it ‘girl code’ if you want. We know that means to– just– /doll up a bit/!"

Aizawa held back a snicker at how you still ran into difficulties finding the most apt Japanese equivalents in your (pretty decently executed) second language. English slang you reverted to in moments like these fell from your mouth with an odd drawl. Still couldn’t place the regional accent you carried, but it charmed Aizawa all the same. 

“//Doll up//?” he mimicked. 

"//I like dolling up//!"

Aizawa reached and pulled his glass to his lips, meant to look aloof but not hiding his interest altogether well. 

"You don’t need to put on airs to get people to notice you…" 

"Right, because the accent gives me away."

"No, it’s your-”

Finally, a coward’s streak flared deep in his belly to shut him up. A rare hesitation. Damn this. What the hell’s happening to me–

 “–nevermind."

"My what?" you’re fully  interested, knowing a secret when it's presented.

"Nothing important."

Thankfully you not-so-subtlety dropped it with a hummed ‘ok’, but kept a watchful eye for him in your peripherals. 

The pro hero mused. Better for him to be honest, right? 

Just choose your words carefully. You’ll have to look her in the eye after this, you know. 

Aizawa widened his seated stance so his knee barely breached your space. 

Your sights lifted to him while he put his best poker face on. It’s not really any different than what he’d give to a perfect stranger– the only difference here is he has to force it.

Shit shit shit you're in deep, Shouta.

"You're plenty noticeable as you are. Anyone who meets you can see that," Aizawa shared in his usual soft-spoken tone. "Give ‘em ten minutes, and you've got them wrapped around your finger. It’s a whole impression, not just the outer package. Doesn't matter if you're in a dress that costs a month’s paycheck or a black button down. You're welcoming, sincere..." 

He’s realizing he might be trailing off, but finding you listening with full attention led him on; no liquid courage required. 

"You're stunning from the inside out. Enough to get others to notice."

Aizawa heard your appreciation before he saw it, a hum preceding the a genteel smile. With the win of his walls coming down, he had to give an honest smirk back. It was only fair; you’d earned it just by being you. By your flattered look, you were touched– but your brain was still working beneath the surface, and soon showed by a fleeting expression that spit from him.

Then, you caught your bottom lip for a second, before daring to look in Aizawa’s eyes again. It’s a sneaky look– like he’d snuck a peek at a card he’d meant to hide.

"...You remember what I wore on my first day at UA."

It was half question, half amusement. So dear, but oh-so pointed.

Aizawa froze.

"Black button down. You noticed me, then?" you countered more, "And here I thought you didn't care about appearances~" 

"In professional circles, no. Personal… that's a different thing, entirely." 

He kept your  sights locked onto his, not unlike how he used his quirk in a challenge– only far softer and he could risk the occasional blink.

Even when you took his glass from his hand and placed it away on the table alongside yours, he still looked fondly after you, in fact tilting his head to the other side, studying the way one piece of your hair was caught by your neck. What he’d give to be familiar with you enough to ever-so-carefully brush it back, letting his touch send a wave of shivers across your skin and maybe even make you hum at the gesture. But he couldn’t trust himself to do it now, settling on stretching his arm around the back of the couch. Just an open move, letting you join him on the couch as close as you’d like.

Was he really doing this? He never has before, but this felt so natural. 

You smiled still– and as you sit, you’re leaning into it.  Well then. 

“What was I wearing, Aizawa?”

With free fingers, he risked some little brushes on your near shoulder, bringing a happy little eyebrow lift from you. He just took in your features in close quarters, settled in it, as he remembered that day:

Black button down, grey skirt. Biker boots -practical choice- and these damn tights.

Aizawa’s dazed in the head, but he knows he's listed it off aloud based on how your sights widen, impressed. 

"Hmmm, tights do it for ya?” you smiled, “I'm surprised you haven't jumped the darling Ms. Nemuri then."

"I know way too much about Kayama to ever consider her that way,”  Aizawa’s tempered hand twirled a finger along a blown-away section of hair, just absently enough. “You however, tease just enough." 

"Do I tease you?” you offer with a little depth, “I don't mean to."

It’s here he’s worry he’s stepping over a line- if it weren’t for the downright delicious look in your eye. You say it like you’re sorry for acting unprofessionally– but you’re urging him on, hardly apologetic for your sweet posturing.

"You may not mean it, but it's not unnoticed," 

He took second to swallow, and steps fully over it. 

"or unwelcome."

You’re pleased with this, but deflect with your trademarked humor- 

"Well now that’s saying something. You've seen me in my pjs, too- far from glamorous.  That didn't break the allure for you?"

Aizawa had to huff though his nose at that memory.

"I caught you at arguably your most real self, that first night you patched me up," His outstretched arm rubbed full circles onto your shoulder now, with the lightest touch. 

“Still have no clue why you chose me over Recovery Girl. For the harshest grader in school, that was a pretty dumb move.”

“You were closer than going to campus. It was the practical choice.”

“You didn't even know if I knew first aid.” 

“You do,” Aizawa smirked. “You're too nurturing to not have a knack for it.”

Your legs crossed over, deflecting both your words and refreshing your body movement. In doing so, you slid even closer- a move not lost on Aizawa. 

“Well, I'm still not happy about it. You needed more attending than I was able to pull off. Whatever you get into those nights,” you flitted a look to the underside of his arm that lays outstretched –where you know he sports a scar now- “It… looked like it hurt, ‘Zawa.”

Warm. Warm and cared form. Felt it then, feel it now. That's the life in his chest he gets when he’s around you. 

"Can't change the past, and I certainly wouldn't have changed that. Wouldn’t pass up seeing that sight of you for the world."

This connection, this dance, it all feels that it must be older than what it is, more rooted in a shared history than a short few months. 

Aizawa wants to ‘get’ you. Know the thoughts behind your eyes. Get you talking, even if it means he needs to give up his silent nights and muted text alerts so he can learn you.  He’s happy he gets this balcony happy hour with you, out from other’s eyes, to be able to water this sweet, small thing he feels towards you to fullness.

His eyes narrowed playfully, "Are you embarrassed right now?"

Out of this entire teasing exchange, that note seemed to surprise you and turned you shy.  Short of clapping a hand onto your cheek, you just darted your gaze away- can you be cuter if you tried?

“h-Yeah, a little!" –though you tried to snark your way out of it, "you were hurt before, and blubbery- but now that we’re y'know– awake, and talking... Pretty faces make me nervous."

Nervous? Pretty? Aizawa doesn’t like the sound of either of those.

Aizawa raised a brow and gave a look, a touch more serious.

"Hey," He tapped your chin still with his free hand, "if you want me to lay off, you say the word."

Blindly, you hold his hand from retreating away– "No. You're good, I promise."

He’s drowning in you leaning into the cool touch offered to you–

“ Heh, I–uh… I’m pretty sure ‘friends’ don’t talk about each other like this, though.”

He couldn't be a coward now– not with you melting on the spot and giving him an insane amount of hope.

“Maybe not,” Aizawa reasoned gently, “-not if they’re content to stay that way.” 

–then all of a sudden his heart soared at her next words:

"Well… I like this."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. I like you, like this.” With your insistence for touch, you cupped his wrist in your own chill-tipped hand.

Hell yeah. 

Aizawa huffs another win in his foolish heart, but then watches as you keep talking–  you don’t break from your softness, but look reflective off to an absent point on his chest.

“It’s funny, y'know? Most jobs, you’d be lucky to find someone you would actually wanna talk to outside of board meetings and quarterly reports… but here in our line of work, you count on each other to save your lives.”

“That’s right.” Aizawa breathes.

“I uh.. never thought I’d be workin’ with kids- trying to keep them alive too. Teach them how to do the same. But I wouldn’t feel nearly as confident to do it, rise to the challenge, if it weren’t for you, ‘Zawa. You’re just as special. Inside and out.”

And when you look to his eyes again, fully awake and still sober, he swears he’ll say yes to any night Hizashi invites him to if it means he can have you this close. Things with you just feel lived-in. Companionable. He’s drawn to you in a way unlike others before you, because he didn’t believe he’s had the right, desire, or time to even entertain it. 

But everything’s different now. It just works, in his mind. He wants to spend his respites, his missions, everything- with you at his side, having his back. For however long you’d let him.

Touching your cheek, cursing the helmet you’d have to wear on the way home that would hide this angelic face from him once again– Aizawa curls towards you, barely tipping his head which screams ‘kiss her you ass’. You notice, and follow his lead almost halfway. 

“Yeah, I like you like this…” you sighed lightly, “--and I’d like us like this, too.” 

"Hm. Good."

...the door to the patio swinging open from around the corner startles you both. Present Mic doesn’t know his strength as he projects for the block to hear, swaggering about in his search.

You looked flustered sitting back up, but Aizawa was characteristically unphased at the sight of Hizashi finally rounding with a singsong cry of his name. 

Dammit.

"Hey kids, been looking for YOU, Miss America! There's some stateside artists on the karaoke lineup with your name on iiiiit- c’mon! I hyped you already to Nemuri– she didn't believe me that you sang with me for my English midterms!!"

"What?!” you blanched, “ Who said I was doing that?"

"I did!!” Yamada thumbed at his own brilliance, “ C’mon I'll do the first one with you!"

"First one– Dude, I don't need to be touting my Southern-ass self to a bunch of pros before I even make a name for myself here."

"This is HOW you'll do it! Come n’ wow them, break the ice- you’ll do amazing!" Yamada came to your side of the settee, tugging you up to your feet with little fight. "Tch, Sho, you're rubbing off on her, aren't you? Turning our sweet teach into a wallflower as we speak, huh?"

"She was doing me a favor- has an eye out for me when I needed an escape, unlike you." Aizawa droned, to your amusement.

"Yeah yeah fair enough. Now pleeeeeease, would you come inside?  It would be so much fun!"

From the way you’re freshening your jacket collar, you’re warmed from the neck up, caught between what just almost happened and the current situation Yamada is putting you in.

You look to Aizawa just like you did inside– a  glance, but it lingers longer than before. Like you are waiting to see what he thinks. If he’ll stay or go, should you leave. 

But Aizawa isn’t so selfish like before. He doesn’t feel it necessary to keep you to himself, because he sees your affection so clearly in your eyes now. He hosts butterflies in his stomach, yes, but they aren’t frantic and flitting about wondering what you may or may not think of him- chronically tired and a contrast to the breath of fresh air you are. You see him as a companion, too. Someone he might just get the chance to study, and learn, and adore in return.

No, he knows you like him as he is. Knows you’ll choose to meet him where he stands. He can share you, and will simply watch on as you stun him even more...

The Pro-Hero is desperate for some eyedrops in all this wind outside, but he would grin and bear it if you choose to deny Yamada’s pull on you. So instead, he merely leans forward to perch on his knees, with a hand on the lip of both your drinks. What Aizawa says in his non-answer left it open to what you wanted to do.  Stay or go, he’d follow suit.

Returning to the bright-eyed and bushy-tailed fellow teacher, you breathily gave in with your ‘ok’. 

"YEAAAAAUHHHH!"

"Damn peer pressure."

"You said yes," Aizawa smirked.

"Oh if she’s going, you're coming in too!" Hizashi was already whisking you away, and Aizawa rose on his own, following your knowing smile over your shoulder and matching it. 

With many forced karaoke and radio show nights, it’s Aizawa who braves the crowd and comes up behind you at one of Present Mic’s shows,  stepping in from the balcony where you wait by its door. He’s fresh off of work, sporting a new scar across his cheek courtesy of his day job, this time.. but you greet him with that familiar scrunch of the nose that he still finds adorable.

It’s rare he leaves campus nowadays, because he feels the stakes are higher than ever for him to remain vigilant. His students are his life, and as proud of them as he is, they are a constant effort of his mind and strength. Rest doesn’t come easy, and his rewards for a job (passably) done aren’t found in many places. 

One constant he has found helps, has been you. 

You, still alluring as ever, but who makes sure he doesn’t fixate on giving and giving of himself until he breaks– but to take his rests, reset, and even take a little jaunt over to these radio shows when he has staff coverage back at the dorms. Gives you two some time to get nostalgic, sentimental– or as close as he can get to those mushy spots in his heart about the club where he wrestled out his feelings for you for the first time.

He smooths a hand across your lower back now, when he joins you. He’s held onto your hands when they're cold, giving you whatever warmth he has. He knows each and every gap on your resume, partnered with you out on the streets, tag-teams in his classroom with this plucky 1-A Class he now leads, and is content to let you fill his thoughts when he wants to rest his eyes.

He doesn’t fight his affections now. Still would rather not simper in public too much because he’s quite averse to being the center of tabloids’ attentions, but stands by you all the same. 

"I'm surprised to not see you up there,” Aizawa greets, cool as ever. 

You lean on a hip, closer to him. 

"He's got his sets lined up today, didn't ask me-” You speak a little louder over the crowd, “I swear, your cockatoo still acts like I'm some gift from the heavens, just ‘cuz I can sing!"

"It's earned. You deserve every bit of it, and not just from Hizashi."

You turned over to him shyly, drawing his attention further– your tendencies to melt under his words encourages Aizawa to compliment you directly. Often. Whatever it is about his voice that you say you’re obsessed with, he still doesn’t understand– but he uses it to full advantage as he robs your drink from your hand,

"I happen to think you have a gorgeous voice," Aizawa speaks low to your ear. “You should sing at home more often.”

“Please. As if the kids would ever let me live it down.”

You refer -of course- to the twenty shared students between you, taking them all in stride since you’ve sufficiently bonded through fire alongside them. 

“That’s teaching for ya. Gotta push yourself beyond, plus ultra and all that.”

You chortle back in your throat, risking a kiss on his etched cheek to counter his snide remark, 

“You’re off the clock, ‘Zawa. No more hero talk, huh?” 

Aizawa cocks a brow, stealing a sip, “Sorry we can’t all turn it off like you, dear.”

The comment has you biting the inside of your mouth at the tease, and allows him a quick moment to press the glass’ condensation against his eye. 

“Want some air, hon?” you try again, softer than this atmosphere should allow.

Looking back at you -your hold on his elbow ready to guide him outside just like the first night- and Aizawa doesn’t need any more sips of the whiskey he holds.  

The retreat to ‘your couch’ is one he looks forward to any chance he gets. Bass boosted from the speakers inside becomes background noise that dulls his senses, doubled by the way you cozy up under his arm watching the skyline shift in light and color in comfortable silence. You trade roles with him: taking watch while he shuts his eyes for some restorative hydration. 

But before he gets too terribly relaxed by your weight settling his aching muscles to stillness, he registers a warm press to his mouth that he’s quick to chase after. That’s a satisfying thought, too: he doesn't have to imagine what it'd be like to kiss you anymore. 

[frudoo]

Random König Headcanons

Hey y'all! This is my first post on here so I hope it's alright <3

These are all pretty SFW (for now >:)), so I don't think there's really any content warnings??? Idk let me know if I'm wrong.

Likes going to Build-a-Bear. Will definitely make your bear and his bear kiss.

This man can COOK. Oh, you want takeout? Nah. He's already pulling out the ingredients for your favorite dish. Buys the two of you matching aprons.

Talks to animals like they're babies. I also feel like the man just... attracts wild animals like birds and squirrels. Undercover Disney princess??? Perhaps.

Speaking of babies... the man is so good with kids. Laughs all giddily when toddlers climb him like a tree. Wants you to have his babies so bad

Actually has a decent singing voice. Get him drunk enough and he's doing karaoke like a pro. Oh, and if you agree to sing a duet with him??? He's GONE. Goes all out.

Likes to hold pinkies when walking around in public. He likes holding hands, too, but when he's feeling a little more anxious he'll intertwine your pinkies. PDA isn't his strong suit but he HAS to be touching you at all times, and it's like a pinky promise that he'll always be there with you :,)

Draws patterns/words on your back with his fingertips when y'all are laying in bed. Mainly a bunch of pet names, "I love you"s, and hearts. And cartoon penises

This big burly BEAST of a man loves being the little spoon, no matter how impractical it is. Honestly loves any cuddling position though.

Pouts when you're not giving him enough attention. His lips get SO puffy when he's jealous. Talking to one of his friends? He's grumbling German insults to them under his breath. Eventually he'll just scoot closer to you on the couch and rest his legs on top of your lap. BAM, now he's got your attention, even if it's just you telling him that he's crushing you. Big ol' lap dog.

Likes to do your hair!! He'll take pictures of what he's done and show them to you like a hairdresser :,) It could be the worst hairstyle you've ever seen but you're wearing it PROUDLY.

On the rare occasion that you two go out to a restaurant, he REFUSES to tell the waiter if his meal is wrong. Oh, it's shrimp and he's allergic to shellfish? He's telling the waiter he loves it and will just stare at the untouched plate sadly. Also will not let you trade plates with him because what if the waiter sees??? Tries to sink under the table when you finally cave and tell the waiter that the order is wrong. Glares at you the entire time he eats his new correct meal but is secretly so thankful. <3

Is absolute trash at video games. One of the best combat soldiers on the planet, but put a controller in his hands??? He's lucky if he gets three shots in.

Bought an engagement ring two weeks after you two started dating. I mean, he literally fell in love with you immediately upon seeing you for the first time, so are you really surprised??

Is a really good gift wrapper. His hands always start cramping around the holidays because he does most of the wrapping. His love language is 100% physical touch/gift giving btw.

Adding onto the singing thing... I just think he would be a really good musician, specifically a drummer.

NOSE NUZZLES. Like the Brendan Fraser type of kiss where you just rub noses after. He just gives off those romantic vibes <3

Unconventional kisses. Eyelids, the tip of your ear, everywhere you have moles, your calves, ankles... the man is obsessed with you, and he's kissing you wherever he can reach.

ADORES taking baths with you. Candles, rose petals, bath bombs: he does it all. Washes your hair for you. Lots of forehead and temple kisses.

I am unwell. I need him so bad.

Please feel free to reblog if you'd like!! I hope y'all enjoyed my little (very self-indulgent) rambles. :)))

[kc5rings]

It’s my profound pleasure to announce the top 5 of Rhodes Island’s annual pole dancing contest, our winners are!

1. Operator Laurentina for the 3rd year in a row is our champion with her signature “Solo Duet” performance!

2. Operator Myrtle placed a strong second this year with an energetic performance, looking to reclaim her former title one day!

3. Operator Elysium is our 3rd place winner despite being a fan favorite to win this year, a crowd favorite but not quite so for the judges

4. Ling took 4th place in her very first time competing! Impressive work and I honestly can’t say if she would have done better or worse had she been sober

5. Last but certainly not least we have Operator Meteor in 5th place with a classic very physical performance, not bad for someone who joined on a whim!

Disqualified contestants and reasons for DQ recorded for posterity

Operator Matoimaru: Broke the pole

Operator Midnight: Pro in an amateur event

Operator Sora: Same as above

Operator Projekt Red: 10 injured

Dusk: Nian signed her up

Operator Deepcolor: Attempted hypnosis of judges

Operator Tequila: Attempted manipulation of betting pools

Operator Gladiia: Performance too fast for judges to see

Operator Blaze: 1 injured (herself)

[vaguely-concerned]

Happy Grace/Pan Vibes For The Soul

"How can I, with you in the way?"/"(Laughs) The floor is yours!"

First of all I'm honestly just so charmed by how genuinely delighted Pan seems to be at watching Grace finding her voice and learning to enjoy using her power, I think that's where I started to take a shine to him. (also seems quite central to his character/romance in general because it's a thing that recurs through their relationship -- he tells her "I'm enjoying it if you're enjoying it" straight out at one point and that's definitely always there in the subtext). He buys a music studio for her just in case she ever wants to return to making music again even when she's not the muse anymore just because he loves her singing and has seen it make her happy before, how is that not the sweetest goddamn thing in the world??? Pan and Oracle in shared first place as stans for Grace musically

For real though, 'I Can Teach You' is sooo... even when you don't join forces with him Pan teaches Grace so many things in that song, it's a thematic tutorial as well as a gameplay one in many ways. For me I think the most impactful subtexts are 'This is a tricky situation, change is here and it's difficult, but you have more control and agency here than you think' ("You're in control!" "It's your song!"), and this sense that, y'know... there can be joy and playfulness and discovery in setting out into the unknown, not just fear and uncertainty.

dude... I wanna be in cahoots with & sing playful duets with you for the rest of my life bro (amorous intent)

Pros: Hell yeah look at her go! 🥰

Cons: Uh-oh look at her go! 😬

I love that Grace can bring Pan's motif into 'Challenging A Queen' and be called the fuck out by Persephone btw. why u keepin' your guard up girl uwu

'you gave up the only thing worth having -- for your little mortal friend' he says, giving up everything for his little once-again-mortal friend literally the next day fhsdkjfhsad who are you fooling buddy? not even yourself at this point surely??? (dialogue for if you save Freddie by giving up the eidolon)

my observations on the grace/pan dynamic across the different personality traits (yes I've done a run of each romancing him I am normal about it):

Clever!Grace: Pan seems to set out to be a trickster mentor of sorts, and Clever!Grace flips the uno reverse card on him and goes ‘Not if I trickster mentor you first bitch be honest about your feelings or perish challenge engage’. Probably the most birds of a feather combination (and indeed it’s the Blue version of the soundtrack that shows off his romance — also his tie and glasses are on the cover for that one :) ). 

Charming!Grace: Performative puppy dog eyes-off whenever either of them wants to get their way. 🥺4🥺. Pan is provably a soft touch from the Charming option to find Persephone before Challenging A Queen so I feel he probably tends to buckle faster but it’s a close thing. Local trickster god completely disarmed by someone being nice to him.

Kickass!Grace: “Be real with me or Imma kick your ass”/”Promise? ;)”/"...>:)"

I am always thinking about the way he steps up in The Trial when romanced (and the way it's the only one where Athena is genuinely shocked and appalled fhskadj). there is something about him that's like... he keeps protesting against 'innocent' and he's probably right haha, but there is certainly an almost fundamental lack of any active malice there that he doesn't fully admit to himself or to grace until this moment. he is doing this for grace, but it is also a confession about something really deep in himself that seems to be very vulnerable for him in its sincerity -- that he really doesn't mean to or more importantly want to cause harm (I don't wanna dance/with blood on my hands). admitting to his own basically good heart finally seems to be the bigger, scarier thing for him, more than facing the prospect of dying. he's experiencing the mortifying ordeal of being known and I for one am so proud of him

"I'm just here for the dance"

the way he sings that just to her and completely changes the meaning of it from what he said with it before, from using it to keep her out to inviting her in...

also can you imagine how badly the kill bill sirens must be going off in Grace's head in all variations of this scene no matter who steps up, considering what happened to Freddie just days before....... oof!

*incensed whisper* are you fucking kidding me with this what am I supposed to do with myself here

love these too

I really like the visual repeats of crossing the pond to the tree and back as a metaphor for them getting closer (or rather, him letting her closer, it is very much His Space). he retreats back there towards the end of 'Share This Dance', and that's the point where Grace puts her foot down and essentially says 'no. you come meet me honestly in the middle this time or this isn't happening'. and in 'The Trial' he does and then some!

I meant what I sang. I'm not a good man. If Athena had taken me up on my offer, the Idols would have been better off But I can try to be better. You make me want to try.

fun fact: if you break up with him after The Trial (YEAH you can still break off the romances at that point! it's wild honestly fsjadk), Grace tells him he should try to be better ‘for himself’ not for her... and he calls that (i.e. himself) ‘not much of an incentive’. My guy don’t make me break out the ‘Have you tried therapy’ prompt again. He takes it very calmly and gracefully under the circumstances but he's also like. quietly resigned and subdued. I tried it once for Science and never will again but there you go I bring my knowledge to this altar of sadness lol

you see the thing is I would forgive him for just about anything too I understand why so many of the characters in-game can't stay mad at him for any length of time

he starts the game by asking her to take his hand and he ends it on asking her to take his hand (and she does)...

:') let's share this dance

[jisungsbff01]

.2.

.like i need you.

...pairing…Chan x reader

...w.c... 1.9K

...genre…slice-of-life, college au!

...warnings...swearing,

...characters...Y/N, (OC) Lilith, (OC) June, Hyunjin, Chan, Han, Jeongin, Felix, rest of SKZ mentioned

...synopsis...No one ever really knows what they wanna do in their 20s, but Y/N has always known what she was going to do. So, she began the journey to her dream and is so close to reaching it with no distractions at all. Until she is thrown into a project with Hyunjin, a fellow senior in college, and he introduces her to a few of his friends...connecting with one in particular...

Her whole plan is soon thrown off the track she’s had it on for 21 years….

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_

The next morning, after maybe two hours of sleep, I stopped at the local student coffee shop, grabbing something for me and Hyunjin before heading to the bus top for a 15 minute drive to the closest stop to the dance studio Hyunjin and I have been using for the last couple of weeks. He said that rather than having to rent a room through the school, he knew the owner of a local one that hardly anyone used anymore. I’m sure the owner was more than happy to have both our company and our generous donations, since she refused to let us pay by the hour like she required for the public.

I punched in the passcode she offered for Hyunjin and me before pushing my way through the creaking door, the bell above ringing. I heard slow beats in the studio and I made my way in, assuming it was just going to be him. Little did I know, he was going to have two friends with him. I knew both, thankfully, I wasn’t very open to dancing in front of strangers…another reason I wasn’t a choreographer. I saw Jeongin conversing with Felix, who I met a time or two when I would meet Hyunjin at his dorm. I brought Hyunjin his coffee, then properly greeted the two other men in the room. Felix, surprising me with a hug, “Y/N, I’ve missed seeing you, Jinnie’s been hogging you up in studios too much. You need to come by the dorm sometime. I know I wouldn’t be the only one who’d ap-”

A loud clap sounded from the other side of the room, “Okay! You two heathens have two choices, sit on the side quietly or leave-your choice!”

Jeongin made a face at his demanding friend and dragged Felix to the bench spanning the side of the room the the right.

Hyunjin had me set our drinks where we wouldn’t spill them and we decided to start at the hook of the song. I watched a few feet away from him, so I could gauge where he had gotten with the choreo. I put in a few suggestions that made the dance look like it would flow more with his body, surprisingly enough, he took the offer, stating that it felt more natural anyway.

One..Two…Three…Four…Five…Six…Seven…Eight

The counting Hyunjin showed to me consistently sounded through my head and I jumped in when it felt right, following his languid movements. Once the song came to an end, our breathing slightly elevated he turned to me and smiled, “Why don’t you dance with me more? Ooh, I can ask my instructor if I can bring you on and make it a duet?”

I laugh with a hand on my chest, “Hyunjin, you’re being generous, I do NOT want this to be a duet, I will ruin your grade, I swear it. I am entry level, at this point you’re a pro, I am not willing to bring your final grade down. If you’re up for it, once you get your grade back, you can alter the dance as a duet and we can try that as a side project?”

He thought about it for a moment and his face lit up,” I love that idea! So, be prepared to be amazed and tired. But, I still would like you to practice with me, the studio feels empty dancing by myself.”

He gave me little puppy-dog eyes and I caved, “Okay, okay. Just be patient with me, I’m still new and learning.”

After a little “hehe” he started the song over and we started from the top, working on parts we each thought we could change slightly to make more impactful. Every once in a while, Felix would offer suggestions that neither of us thought of due to being to wrapped up in our own bubble of creativity. After an hour and a half, Hyunjin received a phone call and I gave him the go ahead to answer it. This giving me a break to drink water and to cool off. I pulled my arm out of the sleeve of my sweatshirt for more ventilation, leaving my sports bra slightly exposed. In the mirror in front of me I saw Jeongin turn a shade of crimson and choke on whatever he was drinking in his cup, Felix beside him starting to let out a broken chuckle. I hear my phone begin to ring and I jog to answer the call fom Lilith when I pick up I can hear the white sound from being in a vehicle,”Y/Nnie? Can you hear me?”

“Yes, love, what’s up?” I play with the end of my sleeve on my sweatshirt, a habit I’ve never been able to break.

“All the dance studios are full at the university and I remember you telling me about the one off-campus you guys used, do you mind if practice is over there today or would we be intruding?”

“Not at all, girl, come on over- you have my location, right? Just put it in and I’ll send you the code to get in, or have someone come down to meet you.”

“Sounds good, we’ve got like five minutes left, but I’ll let you go so you can continue practicing!”

With that she hung up before I could even ask who “we” were…

I feel warmth behind me, only for it to be Hyunjin towering over me, “Chris is on his way, all the studios are full at uni and they need a bigger space.”

I let out an “uh-huh” muttering that Lilith said the same thing. Felix said that he would go down to let them in once they got here and told us that we could just continue with what we were doing. With that being said, Hyunjin decided to show me one specific part I couldn’t get down because of the way he moved his hips and it just felt unnatural. He watched me attempt to do it, and waited a couple of beats.

“Is it okay if I touch you? I don’t wanna make you uncomfortable.” He asked.

I nod, “Hyun, I don’t think there is anything you could do at this point that would make me uncomfortable…unless it was kissing, that’s a different story and we know what happened the last time you kissed a girl.”

He looked at me with a “go to hell’ look and placed his warm hands on my waist and he asked Jeongin to play the music at a specific part. Once Jeongin pressed ‘play’ Hyunjin stepped behind me, looking over my shoulder still keeping a respectful distance away from me. Once the music began to flood out of the speakers, the man behind me began to move our bodies the way we had written out. I imprinted the way my body was supposed to move in this moment into my brain, trying to remember the way my muscles pulled at my back and thighs.

I looked at my partner through the mirror and asked him if we could run it again, hoping I could finally get this one right. He agreed and I walked over to his phone, rewinding the song and pulled off the rest of my sweatshirt, discarding it in the corner. We bagan moving again, midway through I started feeling anxiety rising in me the closer we got to the part we just went over.

It didn’t take long before we were interrupted by cat-calls from none other than Lilith, with two strays in tow. Chris and Han shyly made their way to us, Han quietly introduced himself and shook my hand. Chris shook my hand and said a quick ‘hi’ before hugging Hyunjin and quickly making his way to Jeongin, greeting him like a big brother would, sitting on top of him and rubbing the top of his head.

Lilith, on the other hand, yanked me to the side, “Okay you slut, whatcha doin with the little dancey dance there? But also, not bad..”

I just shrugged, “Hyunjin and I thought it would be a great idea for me to learn the routine because he wants to make it a duet once he finishes his exam, and he was talking about putting it on his socials with the song. All about publicity, babes.”

My friend squinted her eyes at me before calling over Han, “ Han, Y/N, Y/N, Han…or Jisung, he’ll respond to either.”

“I’m not a dog, Lilith,” he turns to me, “it’s nice to finally properly meet you, we’ve heard so much about you!”

“What the hell kinda stories does she tell you guys?” I let out with a nervous chuckle.

“ Now I said nothing about- OW!” Han was interrupted by Lilith stomping her foot ontop of his.

“Shut the hell up, shortstack.” She grits out as she turns to me “but, can we see the whole thing?”

My arms cross as a shout out to Hyunjin on the other side of the studio, “Hyun, she wants to see a run through.”

Before I start the music I let out a little disclaimer, “Now, the track isn’t finished yet, we’re still touching it up, but this is the main sample of it.”

“I hope you know we wanna see you dance with him too.” Felix requests.

Suddenly I feel shy, “Felix, I don’t know…I don’t feel comf-”

“Do it! You’re too hot to not do it!” Han shouts from his little corner, “Do your little dancey dance.” He sings out.

I give in, first throwing on my sweatshirt I had discarded in the corner, finally pressing play and getting into place.

I put all my focus and energy into getting this whole thing right, wanting to prove to myself that I can do anything I put my mind to. The last note rings out and I feel like I am dying for air…real air. I need to work on my stamina for sure. Hollers echo around us and Hyunjin embraces me in a hug, his arm lazily slung around my shoulders, “Y/Nnie, you did so good for a producer!”

“THAT’S where I know you from! Y/N, do you take Professor Kim’s Producing class block?” Han asks, running up to us.

“Yeah, have him every Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays.” I inform him. From there, he gets so excited and begins asking questions.

“What row do you sit it? How come you don’t talk a lot in class? You should’ve introduced yourself to us!” This little man doesn’t stop rambling, and I already adore him for it.

Through a few chuckles I explain that I sit directly behind him and Chris, and that I actually record the class to I can take proper notes later and didn’t feel the need to talk. We all get acquainted more while Hyunjin and I take a break, laughs sounding through the room frequently- the company feels nice…feels warm. After being a part of a few side conversations, I watch how well Lilith gets along with the other four. I notice how quiet Chan was and I accidentally make eye contact with him, my face heating up slightly and I send him a reassuring wink. He blushed and a smile grows on his face, he pulls his ball cap down and looks into his lap.

“So when are we all free so that way we can have a hangout night, I’m sure since I like you two, the rest of us will get along well.” Hyunjin asks loudly, pulling my attention away from the blushing man.

Suddenly I find six pairs of eyes are on me, questioning me in silence.

———————————

Thank you for reading! Let me know what you thought!!

[industria-adastra]

[Genshin Impact] Time Trial #7

Summary: It was nice and all that the Iudex and Lady Furina had finally made up. The sudden new period of picture-perfect weather was truly much more suited for spring compared to the previous second coming of the prophesied flood. That being said, it would've been preferable not to be able to be an ear-witness to their attempts at both embodying the spirit of spring and their horrifically public honeymoon period.

Maybe he should've ordered some soundproofing earpieces from Sumeru. - TD;LR A short piece looking into the mind of a beleaguered Palais office worker on a Friday afternoon.

Pairing: Neuvillette/Furina

Note: I have a decidedly juvenile sense of humour. Please note that there is implied sexual content between nvfr in this fic (albeit mostly through terrible innuendos).

-----

As par the course with days like these, the sun shone bright and cheery, with nary a cloud in sight. With the accompaniment of a muffled, staccato thudding, Claude smacked the Autostamper 300 every so often with a stoic look. One by one, the papers were stamped in an excruciatingly slow fashion, inadvertently forcing him to listen to the music of creation. This duet was certainly more well-oiled than the hunk of scrap metal they called the Autostamper 3000. 

Flipping open his pocket watch, Claude noted—alongside the rising frequency of the thudding, much like the last six times—that it took about 10 stamped proposals for the Chief Justice’s (now weekly) office exercise to supposedly come to a close. Well, even if it wasn’t for this particular timed trial, it would be for Claude’s work day. 

With the same stoic look (that appeared increasingly similar to the blank-eyed stare of a medaka), Claude locked up the Autostamper. Just in time for the echo of a church bell to resound throughout the room. He supposed that’d be the new Friday lunch bell now. 

Shuffling the papers together and walking past the room where the Iudex finally discovered the joys of a healthy work-life balance (which was also his office), Claude placed all his completed work on Sedene’s desk. As he waited for her to finish checking all the papers, Claude debated the pros and cons of a proposal regarding the Palais Mermonia’s soundproofing. 

He wondered if it’d be blasphemous to indirectly comment on your ex-Archon’s healthy sex life. 

Perhaps it’d be better to simply propose a four-day workweek instead. Especially given his superior’s tendency for early celebrations of the weekend…  

Sedene’s voice cut into his thoughts, pulling him out of his musings. “Everything here seems to be in good order,” she said, paws deftly sorting the papers into particular groups. “I’ll make sure to notify the relevant departments about them on Monday.” At this point, it was clear that they both knew the lunch bell also signified the end of the work day for workers like him. 

He nodded, “Thanks, Sedene.” Muffled noises trickled from the Chief Justice’s office. The four-day workweek proposal was sounding more and more appealing at the moment. After a pause, Claude decided to ask Sedene for her opinion on a four-day workweek. After all, it was always good to get some alternative views on ideas before even attempting to create proposals based on them. It was also the better topic to ask her about, rather than something like, ‘Do you think Lady Furina and Iudex Neuvillette are attempting to create a sister race for the Melusines?’. That would’ve probably been prosecutable under one of the Acts relating to defamation law. And genuine blasphemy.

“Sedene.” He said, unknowingly taking out his pocket watch.

“Yes?”

“I wanted to ask…” Claude trailed off, absent-mindedly rubbing at the delicate filigree of his watch. “What are your thoughts on a four-day workweek?”

“A four-day workweek?” Cocking her head to the side, Sedene blinked at you with curiosity. “Well, that certainty sounds—”

Just as she was about to give her opinion, the Chief Justice’s office door swung open with a bang, cutting off Sedene. Instinct compelled them both to look at the source of the disturbance. Logic told Claude to continue pretending nothing happened. 

He ended up staring blankly at Lady Furina’s dishevelled figure for a good ten seconds—looking like she was wearing yesterday’s clothes with how rumpled they were—before turning his head back to look at Sedene. Just barely, he managed to avoid looking Lady Furina in the eyes. Had she caught him looking, he would’ve had to feign sudden blindness with his poor acting skills. 

In the back of his mind, Claude noted that her legs had been shaking ever so minutely, but asking if Lady Furina ‘needed a chair or anything’ would probably just add further embarrassment to an already embarrassing ordeal. Unlike the ex-Archon, he was not a master of social skills. He was also very satisfied with his job and wanted to keep the risk of losing it low, please and thank you very much.

It seemed like Sedene was of a similar opinion to him, as she had been staring expectantly at him. “Ah, sorry, as you were saying, Sedene?” Claude asked, ignoring the choked noise of surprise behind him.

“Well, as I was saying, I think a four-day workweek sounds quite interesting. An extended weekend sounds like it’d be quite nice to have, although I’m not sure what that’d do for the current work hours… But why the sudden ask? Is this a new proposal you want to file?” Sedene’s paws moved to pen down the idea as she said so, briefly looking away before she then continued to speak. “If so, I believe you’ll have to wait until Monday for the proper forms you need to do.” 

“No, no, not a proposal, just something I thought about at the moment,” Claude answered. “I was curious about your thoughts on it, since you’re the only other co-worker I can ask right now.” With gentle hands, he tossed his pocket watch from palm to palm. The singular source of noise only emphasised the lack of workers within this particular area of the Palais. “I thought it might help cultivate, ah, what to call it? A…more harmonious working environment. Mn, yes, those were the words I was looking for.” Tossing his pocket watch into his other palm for the final time, Claude gripped it tightly as his gaze darted over to Sedene’s scribbled note. He wondered why he hadn’t seemed to hear the echoing clicks of Lady Furina’s heels growing quieter as she moved toward the exit, as per the regular schedule. 

Then again, for all he knew, he could’ve simply gotten too used to filtering out any noises originating from his superiors, to the point where being willfully deaf to them was a passive skill of his.

Almost immediately, the Chief Justice’s voice appeared out of what seemed like nowhere, just to add weight to that hypothesis of his. “And in what way would you suggest a four-day workweek would help to facilitate a more harmonious workplace, Claude?” He asked, sincere curiosity evident in his tone.

Claude did not jump, shriek, or attempt to obtain a trip to Fortress Meropide via an offence of battery, but his hand did violently spasm around his watch. Quickly, Claude turned around to see Chief Justice Neuvillette, staring curiously at him and Sedene. A quick look to the left showed Lady Furina with a mortified expression on her face. An oddly heavy scent of seawater hung in the air. For someone with such a towering stature and wearing heeled shoes, he certainly knew how to make a surprising entrance to a conversation. Literally.

Or maybe he truly was going selectively deaf.

“Ah—” Very eloquent of him. 

As usual with social blunders like these, the Chief Justice’s verdict was swift, and no remedies were offered. He merely looked on expectantly, leaving Claude to flounder about and think of the best way to phrase something like, ‘Please just take Fridays off so I don’t have to hear the efforts involved in creating the miracle called life.’ Or ‘Your office is not as soundproof as you think,’ which was the real reason for his four-day workweek proposal. 

After an awkwardly long period of silence, where even Lady Furina didn’t offer any justice, Claude simply decided to say, “I…just think it might help promote a better work-life balance and workplace efficiency if there are more days to rest.” 

Yes, that would probably work, even though he, for one, did not have any data to back up the claim. To top off the steaming pile of complete and utter bullshit he just served—like some rancid egg on an equally rotten steak tartare—Claude was not a member of the Maison Gestionne.  For goodness sake, he was part of the Maison Ordalie, and lying to his direct superior due to the sheer embarrassment of the truth was not something he’d ever thought he’d do, nor ever wanted to do. In his mind, it seemed evident that this so-called “proposal” would only end with the Chief Justice outright dismissing it.

Not that he’d mind if he did, to be honest.

“Is that so?”

Somehow, against all odds, his provided “reason” seemed to work—Chief Justice Neuvillette now looked to be silently, and even seriously contemplating the idea. From the corner of his eye, he could see a relieved expression on Lady Furina’s face. 

However, that relief quickly turned into a steel-like determination. One that was possibly brought about by some minute expression or action from the Chief Justice that bode ill for everyone’s continued sanity. 

But with a determination to do what, Claude wasn’t sure. That said if it got rid of the awkward atmosphere hanging around like a bad smell, or like the weekly reminder that your rulers were cultivating a healthy appreciation of physical activities— (He forcefully stopped that train of thought for what seemed like the nth time today) 

Anyways, Lady Furina had always been a master of social interaction, and currently, more importantly, the one who knew the Chief Justice the best. If there was anyone who could get him to drop this evidently loaded situation, it would be her. With bated breath, he watched her step towards the Chief Justice.

Her steps were stiff and wooden, but Lady Furina didn’t stop for even a moment’s hesitation. Due to the speed at which she walked, she inevitably made short work of the distance between her and the Iudex. At that point, Claude had finally decided to emulate a cardboard standee—or customer service personnel.

“Neuvillette,” she called, bravely grabbing both his hand and his attention in one swift move. “Should we not go for lunch now? I feel positively famished, and I’m sure you’re hungry too. Besides, haven’t you previously lectured me on the importance of having scheduled mealtimes?” With a gently scolding tone, Lady Furina added, “It’s no good overworking yourself without taking breaks.” 

“While that may be true, I’m sure you, in turn, have lectured me before about the importance of properly ‘finishing up’ conversations with people.”

“Well, have you come to an opinion on this unofficial proposal?”

“It’s certainly one that could be pondered upon for a potential trial period. After all…” At that point, he’d bent down and whispered the rest of his words into Lady Furina’s ear. Meaning that Claude and possibly—hopefully—Sedene, didn’t hear any of it. Thankfully, that also meant that Claude didn’t need to either pretend or legitimately go deaf from a momentary period of legal insanity. 

Judging from the way Lady Furina’s face practically exploded into red, and the almost imperceptible quirk of the Iudex’s lips, Claude was rather assured of the implementation of the solution to all his current workplace problems.

“Ahem!” Lady Furina coughed into a gloved fist, looking as if she now found the carpet to be the most interesting thing in the room. “I… I also believe that it could be something worth trying out. After all, as I’ve said earlier, there’s no benefit in overworking oneself without breaks—which we should be taking right now, as I’ve also said. If there’s anything else you’d like to say, I’ll be waiting for you outside the Palais.” With that, she sharply turned her heels and practically fled.

The Iudex watched her go, before turning to Claude and Sedene to say, “Given the lull in recent workload, perhaps we could try it out in the coming weeks.” He smiled at Sedene, saying, “I hope you rest well during those times.” His attention then went back to the both of them as he said his goodbyes for the period. “I also hope you two have a restful break.” With that, he finally went away.

‘Well,’ thought Claude, watching him walk away whilst holding in a palpable sigh of relief, ‘I certainly won’t be missing having to do any more trials. Nor this particular lunch bell.’ With a resounding snap, he closed his pocket watch, already beginning to think of what he could do with a three-day weekend.

“Say, Sedene…”

“Yes?”

“What light novels have you been reading recently?”

[sashketter]

Karaoke night at 79s with the 501st

Rex: He refuses to sing, full stop. Several shots of tihaar and he’s still obstinate. All forms of bribery, offers of credits and manual labor, don’t budge him. Fives tries to pull him by the arm and ends up flat on the floor. Only after a pretty Twi’lek joins in does he relent; not because he wants to impress, but he can’t refuse a polite, curious woman. He favors something mid tempo, a steady beat that he can change his pace with. He starts soft and ends big on a note just above his range. He knows it’s not his best, but he thinks if he hams it up now, his men won’t force him to sing again.

Jesse: He needs two draughts of beer before he’s ready. He goes with something peppy and familiar, a current hit that everyone knows and can sing along to. His tenor is serviceable, but he’s not satisfied with it, thinks he needs more practice and instruction. He hopes getting others to sing with him will cover up his faults, but he ends up making the room more rowdy. They prod him to keep singing, and he obliges, but his voice is hoarse by the end of the third song. He sits at a table and hums along the rest of the night.

Hardcase: He’s the first to the mic stand, unprompted and fully sober. He picks a rock song, something he can more yell than sing. He’s tone deaf and knows it, but like Jesse, he enjoys working the crowd. At least his dancing - or rather, flailing - is entertaining. He’s up at the mic several times throughout the night, his voice rapidly turning rough, before his brothers have to take turns restraining him. Surprisingly, only beer keeps him seated at the bar for the rest of the night. He loudly cheers on whoever’s singing.

Tup: He accidentally mixes his drinks working up the courage to sing, switching between beer and brandy and something stronger than both. He’s teetering on the edge between drunk and hungover, but his brothers don’t notice. He knows he won’t last before his stomach betrays him, so he plows through a short, uptempo song before heading to the fresher. Kix follows behind and orders him water for the rest of the night.

Dogma: He wants to sing, to have fun like his friends, and thinks some liquid courage will help. Unlike Tup, he sticks to the same cocktail, but ends up drinking too much and gets too sick to sing. Kix sits him next to Tup at a booth far from the stage, with a pitcher of water and a plate of food between them.

Kix: He’s up at the mic early, sometime soon after Hardcase. He knows he needs to be available to those who are using the bar to self-soothe. He holds a glass of something brown on the rocks while crooning something smooth and jazzy. He’s a baritone and sings well, not a surprise to those who’ve been under his care and become unwitting audience to his absentminded humming. He sings in place of every other brother too drunk to make it to the mic stand.

Fives: He shares a drink with the men before going to the mic. He tries to coax Echo into a duet, but the other Domino won’t budge. He picks a ballad, something he can use to show off his range. He thinks he sings well, and he stays on key for the most part, but Rex and Kix wince when his voice cracks during the bridge; he likes to push himself. He serenades the women closest to the stage, taking their hands at turns, much to the ire of their dates. He takes a big bow to big applause at the end. He’ll likely finish the night with the last song, the rest of his brothers too tired or far gone to continue after midnight.

Echo: He blushes at the sight of the stage. Fives elbows him throughout the night, thinking he won’t sing, but during a rare silent moment, as Kix adds another brother to the designated booth, he goes up unbidden. He picks a song that starts slow and ends uptempo. Fives’s jaw is on the floor while Rex and Kix share a knowing wink: the captain and the medic had been working to ease Echo out of his shell and found music to be the key. True to his name, he sounds like a pro, almost like the original singer of the song.

[leeneir]

Duo AU; Pro Gamer Iso x Violinist!Reader (Part 1)

I check the iso x reader tag EVERYDAY. FOR ISO CONTENT. Sadly, Iso isn't that popular. Sigh. Guess I'll do it myself.

AU inspired by those public pianist trends on yt and my Iso x OC ship as always. Along with that one toxic pro gamer Iso x reader on here, i fking love that au sm. (Hes not toxic in this one tho lol)

Pro Valorant player Zhao Yu, better known by his internet name "Dead Lilac" is a mechanically gifted one-trick main whose name is famous all over the gaming community.

Professional Violinist "Reader", famous for their musical talent and prodigal like abilities, having climbed up the ranks and becoming renowed in the music community and on social media.

Iso finishes up a stream with a sigh, the ratio of wins to losses was bad today, how disappointing. Zhao Yu lays in bed, taking a brief moment of rest before he continued on with his day.

His roommate Omen is playing with the cat when he goes to the kitchen to get something to eat, they talk for a bit, and the cat starts purring at his feet. He picks it up and just does a stare off with the thing while it paws at his face (without claws), and blows a rasberry. Omen chuckles.

Omen brings up the fact that his friends are going out for an outting later, Zhao Yu decides to get ready. He wears his signature hoodie ofc.

Jamie, Sunwoo, Tala, Tayane, and Mateo come along. Sadly, Ryo couldn't come. He was too busy with his drift practice or whatever. Tala says her brother was just too lazy to come.

They all meet up at the mall where they go shopping and do whatever, discussing random whatnots and getting up to antics. And then they find a piano in public and Jamie tells Zhao Yu to play something, they'll record it and post it online because why not? He's really good at playing it too.

Zhao Yu decides to humor them and gets on the piano, trying to think of a piece to play before he starts.

His fingers cross the keys with grace and practiced ease, playing a romantic classical version of a popular song. Zhao Yu finds himself lost in the music piece as strangers began turning heads and pausing in their step. He can feel his friends' eyes on him as Phoenix' camera records him, and he finds himself becoming more confident with each note he plays.

Unbeknowst to him, as he was nearing the chorus, one stranger came up and opened a peculiar shaped bag, pulling out a violin out of it. The moment Zhao Yu plays the chorus note, a new instrument joined him.

He almost paused, but his fingers kept playing. Somehow, he and the violinist were perfectly in sync. He turned his head without lifting his fingers, and he see's the stranger playing the instrument, and he's awed by their ability.

More people crowd around as they watch the duet, enchanted by the melody and harmony while Jamie continues recording. Zhao Yu and the stranger play until the end of the song. When they finished, the whole crowd applauded and cheered. It sort of reminded Zhao Yu of the music recitals he did when he was younger.

He gets off the piano and approaches his duet, complimenting them on their skill and giving his name, which the stranger responded with their own.

Reader and Zhao Yu chat about the piece they just played, and Jamie and Mateo run in with the video, showing it to both of them. It's then that Zhao Yu saw Reader passing by before they decided to play, and he's amazed at how easily they synced up to him without missing a note.

Mateo then says that he was a fan of Reader which promptly confused Zhao Yu. Was Reader someone famous? Jamie asked for permission to post the video which Reader granted without issue.

They continued talking for a moment up until Reader said that they had an appointment to get to and excused themself.

By the time that was over, Zhao Yu's friend group went nuts. Apparently having held themselves back from "ruining his chances", whatever that meant. Jamie and Mateo however couldn't hold themselves which is why they approached. Sunwoo proceeded to shake him uncontrollably for not getting Reader's number. When he asked why he needed it, Tala called him a "lonely bastard".

He asks if they knew her since Mateo did, and he was told that Reader was a social media influencer known for their violin talent.

Jamie sent the video to Zhao Yu's editor and they continued on with their hangout. Though, the duet still played on the back of his mind throughtout.

Timeskip to later that night, Zhao Yu realized that maybe he should have gotten Reader's number, and also why Tala called him lonely. Omen watched the video too and acknowledged Reader's social media presence which made Zhao Yu wonder just how popular they were if even his roommate knew about them.

The next day, Iso's editor had the video ready and posted. And it was doing numbers.

As it turns out, a duet between a pro gramer and a famous violinist was bound to go viral and become so popular that it was trending on every platform.

Both to his confusion and surprise, his fans went crazy with the shipping. He knew what it was only because his online group and team engaged in such antics. Although he wasn't sure how Reader would react. He only just recently followed them on their socials and was surprised to find out that they were already a follower.

His twitch chat wouldn't shut up about the duet and he recounted the story of how that moment came to be. And they went haywire. Zhao Yu found ship edits of him and Reader from the duet video and things were getting out of hand. He was worried of how this would affect them considering they weren't part of this side of the community, much less even in this community.

He found a response from Reader regarding the duet, and to his relief it was mostly positive. They even addressed a part of the response directly to him, asking if they should record an official one if he wanted to.

Now, Zhao Yu was open to collabs. But for some reason, this one had him staring at his screen for minutes as the type bar blinked in the chat box, it was Reader's instagram.

He decided that it wouldn't hurt to add some music content into his gaming content and wanted to reach out to Reader to inquire about that collab idea they proposed. Except... he was nervous.

Why was he though? It made no sense. Zhao Yu didn't get nervous, so why was he? He's done this dozens of times, so why was it any different now?

Mustering up all the courage he could, he typed a few letters and sent the message without leaving room to think it over.

On Reader's phone, a notification popped up from instagram messages. They opened it up, it was from Iso?!

"Hey" they read.

Yknow, this has been sitting in my drafts for 3 weeks. Finally glad i got this out even if some parts are uncohseive

[astranva]

TikTok Series Masterlist

In which Harry Styles' girlfriend is a normal person who occasionally posts on TikTok.

Main Masterlist

TikTok Series tag!

FaceTime Challenge -  Y/N records Harry’s reaction to a fake FaceTime call on TikTok.

Dirty Text Challenge -  Y/N sends Harry a dirty text when they’re out with their friends for a TikTok challenge.

And It Went Like... -  Y/N does the “i decided to date a guy…and it went like…” tiktok challenge with Harry.

How Well? -  Y/N and Harry do “how well do our brains work together?” on TikTok.

TikTok Compilation(Pt. II)(Pt. III) -  A compilation of Y/N pranking Harry on TikTok.

Anyway, So - Fans do the “I ain’t never seen two pretty best friends” with Harry & Y/N until their ship name trends. 

Christmas Dance -  Y/N and Harry do the Winter Wonderland/Here Comes Santa Claus TikTok dance.

Good Morning, Harry-  Y/N calls Harry by his name for TikTok.

The Moment -  Y/N does the “show the moment you knew you were in love” TikTok.

Yo, bro what got you smiling like that? -  A fan posts a TikTok of you and Harry at the first LOT show and fans love it.

A Toast -  Harry does the “let me raise a toast to the girl i love most in the whole world” TikTok trend.

Stepping Away -  Y/N does the “stepping away from my boyfriend every time he comes closer” trend on TikTok.

All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version) - Y/N posts a TikTok explaining All Too Well (10 minute version) (Taylor’s version) to Harry.

We Need To Break Up - Y/N tells Harry they need to break up to listen to Red (Taylor’s Version).

Enchanted -  Y/N does the “Enchanted” by Taylor Swift trend on TikTok and Harry is amused, concerned, and equally insane.

But You Know I Stay -  Y/N and Harry’s Ginseng Strip 2002–”bitches come and go, bruh, but you know I stay–TikTok.

Not My Name -  Y/N joins the “that’s not my name” TikTok trend with some of the names the media gave.

Oscars - Y/N posts a TikTok to the “Keep my wife’s name out your fucking mouth!” sound

As It Was -  In which Harry talks about Y/N being a TikTok pro and Y/N does the As It Was trend.

Strip that Down - Y/N makes Harry record her doing the Strip that Down dance. [blurb]

Favorite Part -  Y/N and harry do the “touch your favorite part of me” TikTok trend.

Collabs 

TikTok Duets -  In which @finelinevogue’s hho!reader and Harry duet TikTok fan edits together.