#finished waverider

[realmariesplatoon]

LEON GOOD LORDDDDDD 😍😍😍😍

[space-ninja-fashion-show]

Did Call of the Tempestarii today (last quest i still had left before i plunge into TNW over winter break) and man

I didn't expect it to be sweet

What the hell

(I had a wonderful time)

[meeghanreads]

WWW Wednesday — 22 May 2024

Hello friends!! Welcome to this week’s WWW Wednesday — 22 May 2024!! WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words, where you answer the three following questions: What did you recently finish? What are you currently reading? And, what do you think you’ll read next? Let’s see what I have been reading… (All images will link to Goodreads if you click on them.…

[sungjinwoouff]

muse. | kaedahara kazuha

where you are his only muse.

kazuha, gn!reader, kazuha with synesthesia. warnings — major character death, blood.

note — i have no idea, but i apologize if i've offended anyone with synesthesia. not proofread, it's been sitting in my drafts for 2 years but i've never posted it lol.

purple, blue. calming, soothing as your voice is.

hands run through his hair, braiding a few small strands.

kazuha keeps his eyes closed.

relishing in the way your delicate hands worked with his hair and the beautiful blueish purple your voice had.

you sang a tune you’ve always loved to sing, kazuha’s head on your lap.

and when you stopped, kazuha audibly sighed as he turned around and faced your stomach, his eyes opening.

“love, sing some more.” he said.

you could only smile. “i don’t have anymore songs, though.”

“sing that one over and over again if you have to,” kazuha sighed. “the colors are pretty.”

he began to trace patterns on your stomach, earning small giggles as you writhe around a bit. 

“kazuha, that tickles.”

and he said nothing, paid no mind to your words — still tracing random patterns on your stomach.

“[name], don’t ever stop talking,” he whispered, the wind bringing the sound to your ears.

“i’m in love with how you bring color into my life.”

—

light green, yellowish. fresh, like a field in the morning.

he watched as you picked dendrobiums, his back against one of the many sakura trees inazuma has to offer.

a different tune came out of your lips, and he once again cherished the way the bright and beautiful colors filled his mind.

“it’s so pretty,” kazuha murmured.

you had finished picking dendrobiums and were walking towards him when he said that, causing you to smile as you continue to sing.

after a while your singing comes to a stop, and that’s when kazuha noticed that you’ve been gently placing the dendrobiums into your basket, meaning that you both were gonna move soon.

“kazuha, we’re done here,” you said softly, earning a hum from him. “let’s go to narukami island now. i need to buy some things.”

he nodded wordlessly as he stood up, offering his hand to you. he held it all the way to the waverider the two of you brought, helping you get in before entering himself.

and before he started the waverider, you managed to catch him off-guard.

“i love you, kazuha.”

—

pink, red, a brighter shade of red. i’m so in love with you.

a spoonful of cake comes into his mouth and he chews, humming at the sweet taste. 

he stared at you lovingly as you waved at an old couple walking by, the tune you were singing producing a cute shade of reddish pink.

“what are you looking at?” you had asked once you noticed him staring, a light blush on your cheeks.

kazuha only smiled and shook his head, “is it wrong for me to stare at such beauty?”

you smile and giggle quietly before moving your hand to feed him another spoonful of the cake you two had bought earlier.

“stop spouting out nonsense.” you hummed, and kazuha relished in the way the bright colors filled his mind.

“but it’s true,” he mused, bringing himself closer to you. “it’s all true.”

you blushed, shaking your head as an uncontrollable smile crept on your face. you used your free hand to gently flick on kazuha's forehead, earning a soft yelp from him.

the both of you stayed silent for a while, staring into each other's eyes. kazuha was already feeling the wind teasingly whisper into his ear to kiss you, feeling his cheeks grow warmer by the second.

"i'm so in love with you." he whispered, before placing his lips onto yours.

—

blue, different shades. sadness, sorrow... i hate seeing your tears.

your cries were quiet as kazuha hugged you in the cold cave you two had found. your hands were shaking, gripping onto the clothes on kazuha's back tightly.

kazuha kept a sharp eye towards the cave entrance, not forgetting to gently pat your head in an attempt to calm you down.

"k-kazuha-" you said, choking on your sobs. "i-i'm scared..."

prior to this, you had been attacked by a group of ronin whilst making your way towards where kazuha was resting.

you were oh-so close to him when it happened, your scream reaching his ears quickly.

at your words, kazuha moved his eyes to look at you before kissing your forehead, the sorrowful blue filling his mind breaking his heart bit by bit.

"you're alright, dove. they're gone now." he whispered, pulling your head into his chest, resting his chin on top of your hair.

"i-i was so close-" you whimpered, a choked cry escaping your lips. "i was so close to dying..."

kazuha's hold on you tightened and he took a deep breath, ignoring the colors that he saw.

“you'll be fine, love” he said quietly, but it was heard over your cries. “as long as i'm here, nothing can touch you.”

—

gray, darker gray. my heart is empty.

“[name]...?”

he closes the door of your house behind him, receiving no answer in return, causing his heartbeat to rise in pace. you always call back to him, no matter what you're doing.

he hurries to the door to your room, softly knocking on it. "dove?"

he hears a soft thud coming from inside, immediately opening the door as his eyes land on your smaller frame lying on the bed.

"[name], are you okay? what happened?" he walks towards you, noticing one of your favorite books on the floor, which he assumed caused the thud earlier.

you cough, alerting him. "i-i'm okay," you manage. "please don't panic-"

"d-dove? you're bleeding," he gasped quietly, eyes fixated on your side. "what happened?"

kazuha's panic-filled eyes move to the window near your bed, nearly letting out a curse as he realizes it's been broken. there were no glass shards, meaning whoever broke in left through the window yet entered some other way.

"[name], we need to get help." having not bringing any bandages with him, kazuha carefully wraps your blanket around your waist, putting enough pressure on your wound. he pulls you into his arms, running out of your room and your house as he carries you.

"kazuha..." you weakly call as he runs, but he cuts you off.

"don't tire yourself my love, you'll be okay."

—

black and white. suffocating, nothing else in sight.

“dove...” kazuha whispers weakly, looking down at your pale face.

you muster a small smile and the quietest chuckle. "it's okay, my love." your weak hand reaches up to your face.

no healer vision-wielders were nearby, so you had to be taken to a normal clinic. nurses rush around you, trying to heal you as best as they can, though they all say it's too late. you've lost too much blood.

"[name], please hold on. they're calling a healer," kazuha says desperately. "they'll heal you. you'll be okay, and i'll look for the ronin that did this to you and make them pay."

his words blur into one, due to him speaking so quickly. you smile at him, your consciousness fading, as your thum wipes at his tear-stained cheek.

"you'll be okay, my love."

"no, no i won't," he cries. "no one can bring color to my world like you do."

your vision darkens. "i'll always be with you," you whisper weakly, faintly hearing the panicked voices of the nurses around you. "i'll see you again soon, okay?"

"please don't leave me..." kazuha takes your hand and holds it in his, gripping it tightly as he cries.

your lips form a small smile one last time as your vision almost completely turns black.

"goodbye, my love."

i hope i’ll see you again,

for you have always been my muse.

[parageist]

WOOOO i got amulet: waverider!!! but before i read it im rereading the whole series because man i love it :33 just finished the first two books!

[puppetsoftomorrow]

Different anon here: Legends is one of the few shows that i've watched that was so wholesome and rewarding and fresh even in its last seasons. Every season was different and they were never afraid to take risks and i love that the writers were very committed to move forward and not return to the status quo at the end of a sl. The time bureau being shut down and Ava joining the team, Zari 2.0's timeline staying, Mick becoming a writer etc. You could feel the growth in the characters. In most shows when a sl is successful they try to replicate it until it becomes repeative and boring. With legends no. Every season intoduced new ideas and new themes. In s7 we got human Gideon, no waverider, fixed points, avalance pregnancy, gwyn etc. No other show could.

yes thats what i love about it! arrow and the flash started to feel really creaky in later seasons (the flash felt so creaky i straight up didnt finish it lol) but legends always felt wild and fun. like u had no idea what the premise for teh next series would be until the previous season's season finale... i think human gideon in partiular was a stroke of genius. how do u completly reinvent a caharcetr who's been on the show for the past 6 seasons and make it one of the best parts of the season??? legends can!!

[the-stonekeeper]

Introduction Post

...Well. Now that I've managed to convince Ikol not to kill this kid, I guess I better figure out what this little device that he stole somehow and whatever Rotomblr is. I'm still convinced this is some sort of game to test me, and if so, I am not amused.

But I might as well seek out whatever help I can get. My name is Emily Hayes, she/her, 15 years old, and I am a stonekeeper from Earth. I really wouldn't be surprised if this isn't Alledia or the Void anymore. Where are we?

I best introduce myself as well, I think. I believe this will be fun, you know?

...

Oh, don't give me that look, Emily. My name is Ikol, and I am the Voice of the amulet stones, and the servant of my masters. Normally, my form only takes comprehensible shape in the Void, but seeing as we are not in the Void right now...

Don't you dare, Ikol.

I have no interest in wreaking havoc just yet. Also, do not attempt to assign a gender to me. My pronouns may be he/him, but my gender is far beyond the likes of human understanding.

diversity win-

yall have rotomblr? hihi! name's Brendan! dont suppose Ikol is a regular old pokemon then, huh.

I am beyond the bindings of mere mortal creatures, thank you very much.

oh hey i'll make team lists!

Emily (she/her)

Phoenix (Torchic, F)

Ikol (he/him)

None :(

Brendan :)

Liz (Treecko, F)

[OOC info under cut!]

wsg it's @static-and-umbreon at it again with an impulsively made blog for a relatively obscure fandom lmao-- that fandom is Amulet because i just finished all the books again for the 7th or so time and also just finished Waverider for the first time! disclaimer that i'm actually going to be disregarding some of those canon parts in favor of my headcanons because! while i thoroughly enjoyed the book! some of the parts just kinda Don't Make Sense :P

yall will know which book Emily's coming from soon enough :>

also Ikol is so fucked up i can fix him anYWAY- actually fair warning: Ikol is kind of a bitch and a troll who likes to toy with and manipulate people. if those vibes aren't right for you, then i don't suggest interacting too much, especially not directly with him

no nsfw, no magic anons, Pelipper mail and malice are on but preferably keep malice, especially nightmares, rather light right now, and i believe that is all for now!

[sheep-from-rad]

Imagine sagau cult au except reader is the protag in the song zange mairi KSHDJSBS

Zange Maire SAGAU Notes: Inbox tackle! Inbox tackle! So like RIP me, I overlooked my schedule and then the last thing I know is that tomorrow is my 4th year college enrollment. Oh well…fuck :D Warnings: yandere (this is normal but like I need to add warning like this for some people) Masterlist

‘What is a god without power?’ 

The proper question to ask was ‘What is a long path without a clear destination?’You do remember falling from the sky but instead of falling to the ground and breaking all your bones, an anemo slime prompt caught your form and delivered you to safety. Well, Teyvat for you was safe at first until their true nature came knocking at your door. You fixed the mask you donned as you carefully stepped on top of the serpent’s skull. 

Yashiori Island is a dangerous island to be in and having you finish the quest to calm the storm made its bite just a little weaker. Your steps made a few creaking sounds akin to the thunder that once raged through the island but it wasn’t loud enough to disturb the child (Kid Kujirai) who stood at the mouth of the skull and was still waiting for someone to play with him. You don’t mind playing and interacting but you already lost trust in the world to begin with. 

You took a seat on the snout of the serpent, keeping one of your legs folded and the other on the side so you can get up fast. What is a god without power? It is one question that never once phrased in your head. Not until you were suddenly thrusted into this world and not until you learnt that your beloved characters already had your life planned for you. 

You placed a few dandelions on your side, a foreign flower in an eternal land. Dandelions are said to grant wishes but until the stray souls in Yashiori, no loved ones of yours are getting your wish to be carried by the wind. You watched the dandelions float gently on the breeze before carefully descending  from the skull. 

Nothing much changed when you first step foot in Teyvat, enemies are still enemies, some just happened to have a change of mind like the slimes. If you get spotted by maddened samurais and treasure hoarders, you can trust the fatui to protect you but you can never trust them not to try and take you. 

You quietly opened your wing glider and flew yourself to the nearest waverider. Without the game’s UI or a handy watch, it is nearly impossible to tell what time it is. It might only be 10 pm but you don’t want to risk getting caught under the sun. 

The waverider paddled fast in the waters with its windows open. The remaining dandelions on your hand got carried by the strong winds that sailing gave. The boat finally made a stop at the back of your current resident for this month until given notice, Tenshukaku. You’ve always envisioned entering Inazuma and wandering through the brightly lit streets but right now the back of the islands are the safest for you. You debated with yourself for a moment before deciding to climb the rock formation instead. You can always use the thunder sakura boughs to propel yourself up but that will just risk your safety. 

“I heard the harvest was good last time. My children are still fed even though the salary system is a bit slow. I hope next month’s harvest will be as good as the last time!” 

“For sure our highest god is here in our nation after all. I heard that they left Liyue twice flourishing when they resided there for a little while.” 

You bit your lip bitterly. There is no god, you just happened to be the unlucky player that is playing the game. Without the player’s controls you have nothing to protect yourself with. You can only rely that a playable character is near you to keep you safe. You don’t have the power to bless the lands, it was the work of the dendro and hydro users. The flourishing farms and the fish filled lakes are all their works and not of yours. 

‘What is a god without power?’ You successfully climbed the back fence of Tenshukaku only to be greeted by two pairs of purple eyes. You forgot puppets doesn’t sleep and Sara is always at her beck and call. “Your grace, you’re not a cat and it’s not safe for you to be outside.”  The answer to the question in your opinion, a god without power is nothing but a prisoner for its followers.

Taglists: @chihawari / @tinandabin

@zuri-feather / @eccedentesiast-sapphic

[cryoculus]

— guard dog 11 ⟢

pairing: thoma x assassin!reader

summary: setting foot in your home village after years of running away is as daunting as it sounds. good thing you have a trusty chief retainer by your side.

word count: 4.8k words

notable characters: thoma

tags: found family, enemies to lovers, slow burn, angst, eventual smut

warnings: intimacy issues, allusions to past trauma

header art cr: kanishiima on twt

masterlist

The first thing your mind registered was the sound of an engine whirring.

You wrenched your eyes open, squinting at the harsh sunlight as you wrangled in your disoriented mind. But when you realized your head was resting against a warm, firm surface that suspiciously felt like someone’s shoulder, you jolted away—bumping your head on the low ceiling in the process.

“Ow…”

“Good morning to you, too.”

A frown etched itself on your face when you found Thoma seated behind the wheel—green eyes glued straight ahead. When you followed his line of sight, an endless ocean was spread out before the two of you, stretching farther than the eye could see. It’s only then that you realized you were on a waverider.

“How long was I out?” you sighed, scooting away from him as far as you could. Gods. You fell asleep on his shoulder?

“About thirty minutes,” Thoma responded before tinkering with the switches and buttons that controlled the boat. Even when he took his hands off the ship’s wheel, the waverider remained in motion. “Which is way too little, if you ask me.You can nap some more if you’re tired. Yashiori’s still two hours away.”

You shook your head. “I’m…good. I’m surprised you know your way around the sea.”

“I actually don’t, but I’ll take the compliment.”

“What?” You scowled. “How’d you know we’re two hours away then?”

He flashed you a questionable smile. “Gut feeling.”

You weren’t very keen with the idea of boarding a faux-sailor’s ship, but it wasn’t like you had many cards on your deck right now. Besides, the journey at sea would prove to be the much faster route. It took you three days to get to the capital on foot all those years ago, and from how dire the situation was, you didn’t exactly have that much time to squander either.

“Here.”

Shooting Thoma a bewildered look, your eyes flickered from his face to the neatly wrapped onigiri in his hand—one he was openly offering to you. 

“When did you even sneak the time to make that?” you asked. “Everyone was either sick or injured when Sayu and I got back to the estate.”

“These are yesterday’s leftovers,” Thoma explained, depositing the rice ball on your lap before procuring another from a rucksack at his side. “It’s a good thing we stocked up the pantry recently. We have enough rations to keep everyone well-fed for a few days.”

“A few days?” you echoed. 

The chief retainer let out a brisk sigh as he munched on his onigiri. “Lord Ayato likes to plan for the worst in any given scenario. He expected that finding a cure won’t be as easy as we hoped. That’s why he’s locking everyone in even if it’ll take us a week to come back.”

Well… That was true. You’d commented on Ayato’s undisputed foresight yourself. Though you’ve only met the person beyond his mask of distrust last night, everything he’d done so far ultimately changed the way you saw him entirely. Ayato was the one who sought you out in Chinju Forest, the one who convinced Sayu to track down Itsuki, and the one who ruthlessly negotiated your fate with Kujou Sara herself. He managed all those things on top of the threat of a biological hazard that’s infesting the estate right this second. 

Ayato was someone tactical enough to have planned this far, and someone who shared his sister’s empathy towards others. It’s no wonder he was hailed as the Yashiro Commissioner. 

When you finally finished your rice ball, Thoma was back to manually steering the waverider. For someone you suspected was also afflicted by the Tatarigami, he was awfully relaxed.

“Are you okay?” you wondered.

Thoma hummed curiously, eyes darting your way. “Why wouldn’t I be?” 

“Now don’t act all cool with me. You caught the Tatarigami too, didn’t you?”

“I was informed that those infected can survive for years after transmission,” he said. “Even if I was afflicted with the curse, I don’t think there’s any cause for panic.”

You frowned. “Did Ayato tell you?” 

“He told all of us,” Thoma replied. “Why else would our people be so willing to lock themselves in for an indefinite amount of time?”

“But…” You bit your lip, staring out at the ocean. “I’m not sure if what I said to him was true.”

 He cocked his head. “Why not?”

“I’m not a doctor , Thoma. I’m just…someone who observed from the sidelines,” you murmured. “I don’t want dozens of lives to be weighted against a claim I’m not a hundred percent sure about.”

You remembered how Ayato stared at you last night when you told him about the curse. The near-frantic look in his eyes when he considered the possibility of his family being exposed to such a thing. Yet he took your words at face value and trusted them without a shred of doubt.

You didn’t want that trust to amount to nothing in the end… 

“Your word has more weight than anyone else’s though.”

When you glanced back at Thoma, the beginnings of a smile played on his lips. You asked, “What if I was lying? What if I’m still in cahoots with the Tenryou Commission and this was our plan all along?” 

Your heart ached with each word, already against the mere idea of betraying the man before you again. Thoma’s hair seemed more golden in the daylight—eyes never leaving the boundless sea before him. 

And when those green irises riveted back to you, your breath nearly hitched in your throat.

“No one who breaks down on the kitchen floor in the middle of the night because they’re torn up about their own loyalties can hold out for that long,” he chuckled. “Not even you, the so-called best mercenary in the Inazuman underground.”

Had he told you those words a few weeks prior, your first instinct would have been to spit out a biting retort of your own. How dare he assume things about your life so casually? 

But… You were tired. Tired of having to put on a brave face. Tired of having to choke on your own pride. 

Tired of running away from the good things people willingly gave to you.

Thoma didn’t even act surprised when you inched back closer to his side. You leaned your head against his shoulder—letting the tension in your body dissipate at the close proximity. You didn’t have to look at him to know he was smiling.

“Wake me up before we arrive?” 

His laughter reverberated low in his chest—a sound you found almost comforting amidst the screech of the waverider’s engine. You could feel him shift slightly beside you, and when you felt his lips against your hair, you were too exhausted to tell him off.

“I will.”

Yashiori Island was exactly as you remembered it.

The moment you and Thoma got off the waverider, the familiar gales of an ever-present storm greeted you at the shore. Orobashi’s skeleton protruded menacingly over the cliff he’d expired on and after all this time, the sight still didn’t fail to send a shiver down your spine. You couldn’t help but feel like those hollow eyes were watching you from afar as Thoma unloaded the supplies he’d stuffed into the trunk. 

“You’re going to catch a cold out there.”

When you stared at him again, you’re surprised to see the chief retainer with a large bag strapped behind both his shoulders—holding an umbrella over both of your heads. “What are you—”

“Oh! Your sword’s here by the way.” 

Thoma tilted his hip a little, and you saw that your unsheathed katana was dangling freely at his side. One wrong move and he might stab himself in the foot. You groaned as you took it from him, remembering that Ayato tossed the scabbard carelessly during last night’s altercation in Chinju Forest. 

“Do I want to know why you look like a mother that’s way too ready for her son’s school trip?” 

The blond hollered aloud, one eye dropping into a wink. “I’m the Kamisato housekeeper, remember?”

Unbelievable. 

This was, by no means, your first time back on the island since you’d left it. Your freelance work often brought you from one strange place to another, and Yashiori wasn’t always out of the equation. But even if potential employers offered you double the amount the Tenryou Commission had promised for Ayaka’s murder, you’d never accept a job that required you to set foot in Higi Village.

Taking care of some rebels from Sangonomiya? Sure. Sabotaging operations at Jakotsu Mine? That’s right up your alley. But despite your entire repertoire, going back to your hometown was something completely unnegotiable for you.

Yet here you were, acting as Thoma’s pseudo-bodyguard because the bastard was carrying way too much stuff to help fight off the ronin and treasure hoarders crawling all over the island.

“It still doesn’t make sense to me how you managed to prepare for this so quickly,” you panted, running your fingers through your rain soaked hair before you shot him a disgruntled look. “Housekeeper or not, no sane person brings that much to a scavenger hunt.”

“You’ll be grateful for my foresight in due time, Miss Kira,” he chuckled from under the safety of his umbrella as he followed you up the hill. “Dying of hunger sounds much more troublesome than dying of blood loss.”

“When I get my hands on the cure, you’re the last one who’ll be given a dose.”

“Now you’re just being mean!”

The rest of the trek uphill was just as troublesome as it sounded. You eventually stopped seeking shelter from the rain underneath Thoma’s umbrella—trading the momentary solace for keeping your eyes peeled for any assholes who wanted to ambush you out of nowhere.

Although, when the two of you ran into a kairagi, you knew you were at a bit of a disadvantage this time. He loomed over you menacingly—tongues of fire imbuing his sword even under the curtain of rain. You grit your teeth, wondering if you could best him if you were agile enough. The kairagi was of a much larger stature than yourself. Surely someone built like that wasn’t fast enough to—

He lunged at you like a hurtling meteor before you could even finish the thought.

You couldn’t move. It’s like your feet were rooted to the spot even in the face of imminent death. The samurai’s fiery katana blazed as he raised it above his head, and you wondered if this was truly the end of the road for you.

“Hey! Snap out of it!” 

You’d only realized your eyes were screwed shut when you opened them again—only to see Thoma intercepting the kairagi’s sword with his own polearm. Suddenly, you couldn’t feel the cold rain beating against your skin anymore. All that’s left was the warmth of the translucent shield emanating from the man that just saved your life.

Wait a minute. How’d he cast a damn shield?

Thoma cried out as he shoved the samurai away—the shield, which you now realized was made of pure Pyro energy, pulsated with his every move. He didn’t dare wait for your opponent to recover. Thoma grabbed your wrist before sprinting away, and you noticed he’d left his umbrella behind in haste, too.

“I was just kidding when I told you to guard me with your life,” he sighed, keeping his eyes straight ahead.

Behind him, you watched as the protective barrier flickered around his person before seemingly evaporating in the rain. But even though the Pyro shield had gone, you could still feel the warmth of his fingertips on your wet skin.

It felt…nice.

You didn’t know how long you’ve been running, but by the time yours and Thoma’s sprints came to a halt, you could see the serpent’s head even more clearly. 

Orobashi’s skull was startlingly close now—so close that you could see the inside of its mouth. Patches of undergrowth and moss have begun to sprout in the cavern, and you pondered about the years you’ve been gone for them to propagate this wildly. 

“Huh. So a single Orobashi tooth is bigger than an entire person.”

Thoma marveled at the scenery with caution still—his grip on his spear unwavering even if he’d long let go of your wrist. To your disappointment, he promptly met your gaze when he noticed you staring. 

“You lived here for at least…what, fifteen years?” he estimated. “How’d you manage? Just standing here is giving me the creeps.”

You laughed, eyes darting to your feet as you shuffled awkwardly under the rain. “I left, didn’t I?”

“Right. And you’re back to the place where it all began.” 

Thoma sighed wistfully, and you jumped a little when you felt him reach for your hand. You didn’t protest against the gesture, but you couldn’t help the wealth of endearment that filled you once he squeezed it softly, reassuringly. In the distance, you could see the abandoned archon statue—one of Higi Village’s only landmarks. You thought you’d be filled with dread with each step closer you made but… 

The feel of Thoma’s fingers interlaced with yours managed to quell your fears. Even just a little.

“Come on,” he said, tugging you along with that bright, bright smile. “We’ve got some scavenging to do.”

You managed a laugh, even if the rain was dampening your mood. Even as you held a bloodstained sword in the hand that wasn’t holding his. 

For the first time in years, the sun was shining on Yashiori Island.

After chasing all the ronin and kairagi out of the village together, you and Thoma practically stumbled into Doctor Naoko’s old house when you finally made it. But even if your first thought was to crawl to the spare room and pass out for the rest of the day, nostalgia struck you like an impending tidal wave. 

The air inside was stale—like time stood completely still. If you looked hard enough, you could still see the bloodstains you were sure you’d scrubbed away on the floorboards before you left. Dust covered every bit of furniture that was yet to be sacked by trespassers, looking so old and worn, you feared one wrong step would make them all crumble before your eyes.

Thoma unlatched his bag of supplies, laying it on the floor as the two of you dripped rain water all over. “Nice place you have here.”

“Thanks,” you responded gruffly, laying your katana on the dinner table as you looked around your semi-childhood home. Despite the obvious signs of being ransacked over the years—the doctor’s first-aid kit was gone, so were the medical supplies he’d stockpiled in the back—it still looked relatively liveable. 

But even if you forced yourself to focus on the task at hand (A.K.A. finding any clues pertaining to a cure), you couldn’t help it. Every step you took, every corner you checked—each turn made your mind flash back to the brief time you’d spent living here. Two months wasn’t a lot, but living with Doctor Naoko had been one of the few moments in your life that you actually treasured.

And now he’s gone. Because he’d been too busy using his experimental cure on you, when he should’ve been curing himself. No one was going to mourn the death of an orphan from Yashiori. But Doctor Naoko obviously didn’t harbor the same sentiments.

You’re only roused from your bitter reminiscing when you felt something warm being draped across your shoulders.

“I found some towels in the room over there,” Thoma informed you as he took off his headband and dried his hair. “Who knows how long they’ve been gathering dust, but… It’s better than getting sick from the cold.”

You chuckled, moving to pat down your soaked clothes regardless. “You know you can get sick from dust exposure too, right?”

“I’m already cursed with the Tatarigami. What’s the worst that could happen?”

The rest of your day went a little more smoothly after that. It just so happened that Thoma discovered the water was still running through the pipes, and you figured it was because of the rain that the nearby reservoir would be filled to the brim. As he prepared lunch by the fireplace, you decided to take a quick shower. 

Of course, the bath was overrun by muck and insects that have accumulated over the years. You wrinkled your nose the entire time as you attempted to splash water all over the dirty surfaces. You also weren’t afforded the leisure of the Kamisato estate’s fragrant shampoos and herbal soap either so the best you could do was to wash off the grime on your body without much scrubbing. But this wasn’t the worst of living conditions you’ve been forced to deal with, so you managed in the end. 

However, another pressing issue presented itself in the fact that your clothes were yet to dry. This homecoming trip had come up last-minute so you hadn’t exactly gotten to pack a few extras with you. Going naked was out of your options, too. You’d rather get struck by lightning first before you pranced around Thoma like that.

In that regard though, it only meant you’d underestimated the chief retainer’s ability to plan ahead yet again. 

Your mouth hung agape when you found Thoma tending to a pot of boiling water at the fireplace. His uniform was splayed neatly across a nearby rack together with his Vision, and you observed that he’d changed into the same black kimono he often wears to bed. When he noticed you emerging from the bath, the chief retainer grinned.

“You’re looking a bit uncomfortable, aren’t you, Miss Kira?” he spoke patronizingly. 

Not wanting to give him the satisfaction, you simply put your hand out. “Alright, Mister Plans-a-Lot, give me my clothes.”

“Your clothes?” 

For a moment, you’re convinced that the puzzled look on his face was nothing but an act. But as the awkward air spread around you thicker, you began to consider that maybe Thoma wasn’t an all-knowing, all-planning overlord like Ayato after all. 

“God, how did I do laundry in this place again?” you grumbled, plopping yourself on one of the intact wooden chairs before dragging it closer to the fire.

Thoma let out a laugh that only served to annoy you. “Okay, I didn’t pack any of your clothes because that would mean I’d have to take stuff out of your locker. Though you left us a few days ago, I’m still against invasion of privacy.”

“Aren’t you already invading my privacy whenever you leave those trinkets inside, though?” you pointed out. 

“ …Anyways, so I have a spare kimono in the bag.”

A few minutes of back-and-forth negotiation later, Thoma managed to convince you to change into his clothes in the spare room. 

Your face was practically burning the entire time as you stripped yourself off your wet clothes. The idea of wearing someone else’s kimono mortified you. If this was a normal thing to do for the people in Narukami, you didn’t want any part of it after this entire ordeal.

But as you pushed your arms through the large sleeves of Thoma’s nightwear, the smooth glide of fabric against your skin was surprisingly pleasant. As expected, his clothes smelled exactly like him, and you didn’t know what to think of it when you caught yourself lifting one of the lapels to your nose for a quick whiff. 

Musk and aralia trees. You were sure you couldn’t forget his scent even if you wanted to.

Once you’d managed to put on his clothes, you stretched your arms somewhat awkwardly as the sleeves billowed lower than what you’re used to. You and Thoma weren’t exactly far apart in the height department, but he was still built bigger than you. It would make sense for his clothes to be a bit loose. When you tried walking around, the hem even dragged around the floorboards.

Well. Beggars can’t be choosers. 

“So do you have any clue what we’re looking for exactly?”

The two of you were currently helping yourselves to the seagrass stew that Thoma brewed as you both settled in. Your clothes dried by the rack next to his. For a while, you contemplated an answer to his query as you took small sips of broth.

“Doctor Naoko used to keep a journal,” you said. “I haven’t seen what’s inside it, but… I’m sure he wrote down his notes there. He doesn’t use anything else to record his research findings.” 

“Research findings?” Thoma repeated, and you couldn’t quite take him seriously when he had his hair down like that. The sight almost flustered you… He looked so different without that stupid headband. “So the cure was only in its trial stages?”

You shook your head. “Well, yes. But it worked. He put me on that medication for at least a month, and I continued taking it until I left and made it to the capital. I was already cured before I realized it.”

He nodded in understanding, dipping his spoon in and out of his bowl like he didn’t quite have the appetite for his own dish. “I see. Do you remember what it looks like at least?”

“The medicine he gave was a bit pinkish. Kind of tasted like salt water,” you described.

“Hmm… Pink and tastes like salt water. Now what ingredients do you throw in together to concoct a miracle potion like that?” Thoma sighed. “Do you remember where he put that journal in question?”

“I…”

Well, the short answer was no. You didn’t. 

Even after you’ve given the doctor a proper burial, you couldn’t find the journal no matter how hard you looked. You left no cabinet unchecked, no piece of furniture unturned. In the end, you accepted that whatever he’d written in that notebook would remain a mystery until you caught up to him in the afterlife. That the only reminder of your time together would be the sword you’d used to slaughter countless innocents.

Huh. What would he think about the person you’d become now, you wondered… 

“You know, for someone who’s been alone all this time, you sure cry a lot, Miss Kira.”

You blinked in surprise when Thoma reached out to wipe the tears off your face. His gentle hands were devoid of his gloves—calloused from all those years of manual labor. He cast you a kind smile, thumb tracing circles across the high of your cheekbone. The chief retainer was so close, you could make out flecks of gold swimming in the green of his eyes. 

“How about we head to bed? It’s been a long day,” he murmured, still not pulling away.

Your brows knitted. “But isn't it like…just an hour past noon or something?”

“You can tell?” Thoma laughed softly, and you immediately felt something shift in the air between you—a tint of emotions that hadn’t been there before. “If it’s raining all day like this in Narukami Island, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was evening all the time.”

“You get used to it, I guess,” you replied, sniffling a little. “Are you tired?”

“Downright exhausted.”

With each word exchanged, you noticed that your faces have been drawing closer and closer together. Your heart was stuttering uncontrollably in your chest—unable to make sense of what was happening. The rain outside was loud enough to drown out the sound of your own pulse racing, but you couldn’t really do anything about how Thoma’s warm breath fanned your face. For some, archons damned reason, you’re awfully compelled to lean in and just close the distance for good.

You’ve…felt this way before. During the night of the fireworks show. When you saw how his lush, green eyes darted to your lips like he wanted to sample a taste.

The hand on your face moved to cup your jaw, tilting your chin up so that you couldn’t escape the endless emerald of his eyes. Your body felt hot all of a sudden—hitting a fever pitch you hadn’t even known existed. Thoma’s hair splayed around him like a golden halo, and you watched how the crackling fire behind him seemed to make the tresses glow. 

You’re no idiot. You knew what he wanted. 

But…you’re not used to being looked at with so much hunger, so much desire in someone else’s eyes. It made you feel small. Vulnerable. Nearly claustrophobic. And even if you wanted nothing but to finally leap over the edge of…whatever it was that’s been brewing between the two of you—

You couldn’t. 

“I’m sorry.”

Thoma’s face didn’t betray any sort of emotion when you pulled away—putting down your bowl of cold stew as you got back to your feet. Your chest burned, throat closing up with another threat of tears. But you refused to fall apart in front of him again. 

“S-Sleeping by the fireplace is more comfortable,” you stammered, forcing your voice not to break as you rushed to the spare room. “Just tell me if you need anything, okay? We can look for clues once you’re well-rested.” 

You didn’t even wait for his answer before shutting the door—letting your back slide against the rotting wood. It took a lot of willpower not to curl yourself into a ball, but in return, your entire body trembled with agitation. 

…You just rejected his advances.   

What if he wanted nothing to do with you anymore?

What if he thought you were a freak for freezing up like that? Most of all… 

How could Thoma want someone like you?

.

.

.

But then, you hear him calling your name—your real name—from the other side.

You hated how the sound of his voice was enough to melt away your fears. How easily you got up and opened the door for him even if your face was a total wreck. Thoma gazed at you with that same, unyielding concern characteristic of a retainer of the Kamisato clan, and your heart could no longer take it.

“I’m sorry for coming onto you like that,” he said, loudly, clearly—leaving no room for hesitation. “I shouldn’t have done that. And I know you probably won’t forgive me for it, but…”

No. Why was he asking for your forgiveness? You’re the one who panicked and ran away. You’re the fucking freak who couldn’t stomach the idea of being intimate with someone else—

“If we’re going to bed early, can you sleep where I can watch you?”

You stared at him with parted lips, like you didn’t quite know how to respond. Instead, you wiped your tears with the sleeves of his kimono, finding momentary comfort in the scent of him on the fabric.

“Why?” you asked, voice raspy. 

Thoma’s eyes softened, and you didn’t miss how his arms moved at his sides for a moment before he forced them back in place. It’s as if he wanted to reach out and embrace you, but restrained himself for the sake of your comfort. 

“The nightmares,” he replied. “I don’t want you to deal with them alone when I’m right here.”

You wanted to tell him he was being ridiculous. You’ve handled all the bad dreams on your own swimmingly. But something about the genuine concern lining his gaze, and the fact that the dynamic of your relationship had definitely shifted just now made you reconsider.

The next thing you knew, you’re pulling Thoma outside by the wrist. 

There wasn’t anywhere comfortable to sleep on anymore. The beddings you’d left behind had long been stolen by some run-of-the-mill thief, probably. But that didn’t deter you as much as you thought it would.

Slowly, you sat beside one of the aged wooden walls, leaning against the vertical surface as Thoma followed suit. He watched every move you made, never initiating any of his own. And when you let yourself curl around his chest, he didn’t dare move an inch.

The fire crackled in the hearth far away, but the warmth of Thoma’s body was more than enough to salvage you from Yashiori’s unforgiving climate. You breathed in deep, drowning yourself in his scent until you couldn’t make sense of anything else.

“I can’t give you that. Not yet,” you murmured into his chest. “But I can give you this.”

Thoma let out a long sigh, and you felt his heart rate pick up the pace. You wondered what he looked like right now. Did he turn red like normal people do when they’re embarrassed? You were curious, but you didn’t have the heart to pull away from the lull of his warmth. 

“Anything you’re willing to spare,” he murmured so quietly, you barely heard him, “is more than enough for me.”

Yashiori was a place devoid of pretense. No titles to uphold, no responsibilities to consider. You wished you could stay here forever—caged in the heat of his strong embrace, falling asleep to the rhythm of the rain. 

Maybe the rest of the world could wait. Just a bit longer…

<- previous | next ->

© cryoculus | kaientai ✧ all rights reserved. do not repost or translate my work on other platforms.

[im-fostering-it292]

So, I got the final book of the Amulet series, Waverider, that I have been waiting for for years.

I just finished Waverider. I have 0 to no purpose now that I have read the final book in one of my favorite series. I feel fricking empty. That book was fricking sad.

Now, if you will excuse me I'm going to go cry, listen to sad music, and make a painting.

[motherstone]

your takes on this series are Incredibly Good. was wondering — if one was to get one of the books signed (i may have an opportunity) is there any book in particular in the series you feel is the best?

i was considering 1 5 or 7 to be signed but i am interested in your takes on the books in retrospect since the writing throughout is Mixed (<just finished waverider 😔)

My choices:

The Stonekeeper is certainly iconic, not to mention the first entry. Not a bad choice.

Prince of the Elves is my 2nd favorite, both the plot and emotional aspects is one of the best. It has some pacing issues, but my biggest gripe is that it lacks focus on Emily, and that caused severe consequences on the subsequent books. Never waste a panel folks.

The only thing I like about Firelight is Emily's fall and grief, which it actually addressed. It's even foreshadowed in book 4. Everything else was awful - Trellis's memories aren't helpful, the sudden genre change is jarring and I dislike the aliens- shadow explanation, Navin's plot is inflated and had no bearing in the later books, and the build up ended up going nowhere.

For me, personally The Stonekeeper's Curse is the best. It's well-rounded - had a theme, stuck to it, and it ends up being crucial in the climax, it has three narratives that all balances and affect one another before converging at the climax, and all three leads (Emily, Navin, and Trellis) all got character growth and development, has a genuinely dangerous and ruthless villain that forces the characters to change, its worldbuilding is more focused and better than the Stonekeeper's, and the new characters are actually helpful and has purpose. Pacing issues otherwise, this book has everything to be a proper story the other books do not. And Kazu was never able to replicate it again 💀 which is depressing.

The Stonekeeper's Curse is the best book of the lot, so that's what I recommend you sign, but ultimately, that's up to you!

[lostalienchild]

Erythrophobia

A fear of the color red

Characters: Beidou, Ningguangg, Kazuha

Warnings:dub-con, NSFW, non-con, mentions of trafficing, reader is GN

[heavy on the mind but light on the execution. This is just an idea that I have. Mostly a drabble. I want to continue the idea but I dunno. Reader is a victim of trafficking. Might include other characters later on? Might turn into a series might not idk. I'm a fan of time skips. Not proof read.]

Summary: Lady Ningguangg doesn't need to dirty her hands, even when the only way to get what she wants is surrounded by dirt. She just extends her right hand to finish the deal. Although she isn't too big on sharing.

Art belongs to :Kichirock

"A bass with all obsidian scales and golden eyes?"

"Yes, a miniature one."

Half moon eyes withered with age, searching for a punchline.

Ruby eyes, unblinking. The old man looked befuddled. Openly surprised he floppily regathred himself. "Well yes... We always have thoes on hand, but if I may ask, why would the Cruz require such a...a controversial item? Surely you have enough hands on deck? Wouldn't it cause unrest amongst the crew, let alone throughout Liyue harbor."

The towering woman responded. "Don't worry pops. This ain't the normal business deal. A rather important business partner of mine has been eyeing this shipment for quite some time now. As soon as the shipment came in as a matter of fact."

"I-I see. Well then, we'll make the delivery tonight at guyun. The usual time of course."

A sound of approval exited the woman's mouth. "Right, I'll see you then. Let's keep it quick. This is top secret. Not even the crew knows so keep a low profile."

-

On the shores of Guyun only the crashing of waves could be heard. Even the motor of waverider made little to no noise as it glided alongside the rocky shore line. The full moon would usually offer you some sort of comfort, but tonight its cold moonlight glared at you. Like a spotlight, it cast down its luminosity on you and you alone. It caused your skin to glisten and you practically glowed. You wished you could use the cover of darkness like most people, but with hands bound and being surrounded by ocean, the moon would not allow for that tonight.

You watched as two silhouettes, one tall and the other not as tall, exit the small craft and step into the waves. No one spoke which made the encounter all the more eerie. The men behind you that stood at attention released your forearms when they felt the woman was close enough. It gave you the briefest chance to run, but the idea of escape was never there, not unless you wanted to drown.

Up close the tall silhouette was clearly a woman, the shorter most likely male. With a nod the woman dismissed the other two men while pulling you towards the craft. You knew once you stepped into the waves that your chance of escape, even by death, would be squandered. But even in this moment death by a watery grave seemed scarier than the unknown than the ultimate unknown. The waves reached up to your knees before you were able to actually stepped into the water craft. Once in, the smaller figure offered you a towel. "I hope we didn't scare you too bad back there." You took the towel but didn't answer. Not because you couldn't. You could have screamed at anytime. Not that anyone would hear you. You just didn't know what to say, or why he would even bother speaking to you. "Welcome to the Crux. It's a bit uncomfortable, but it's only temporary."

You looked at him through the darkness. The lights of a larger ship began to illuminate the speakers face. Pale features and red eyes gazed back at you. The taller figure who was operating the boat spoke. "You're real castle will be a castle in the sky, but for now, you're a princess on a pirate ship." The words on their own made sense, but together they made none.

-

Once one the ship you were told to keep quiet. You were ushered into a simple room with extravagant items decorating the walls. Items crested in gold, mitachurl masks, swords adorned in jade and lapis, and the like. All for which we're impressive, but none provided any means of escape so we're quickly removed from your immediate attention.

"Sorry for the strange introduction, but these things need to be kept under wraps you know?" The sound of the door creaking shut behind you was interrupted by a commanding female voice, shutting off you're previous thoughts and your connection to the outside world. Your eyes saw red once again. From the red of her coat, to her eyes, and even the auburn of her hair kept all your attention.

Red.

The red covered you. It tickled your skin as strands of it cascaded upon you as it fell from her head, trapping you in a cage. Red stained your cheeks and tongue as you gasped for just a moment to catch your breath through the rapid pace. Her greediness, out of all the treasures in the room, centered on you. Consumed by red. Eaten by red. Red lapping at you and bring you to release after release. Red holding you down. Red slamming into you. Ramming in and out of you with little care for how your wails and screams try to touch the outside world. Red building up inside your stomach and releasing itself into the air through your mouth. And when the morning comes she finally names herself.

"Oh right," she said nonchalantly. She posted down at you through her hooded eyes, drowsy with afterglow. She held a warm smile that was wildly out of place. "Most people refer to me as captain, you can just call me Beidou."

She hummed softly when you squeaked when she casually teased a nipple.

-

When you floated on air red caught you once again. "Beidou, what did I tell you about touching things that don't belong to you?" White, gold, and red squinting.

Beidou scoffed. "I'm a pirate. It's my job to touch things that don't belong to me."

Fixing her gaze upon you, she relaxed her demeanor. "Welcome to the Jade Chamber. I am Ningguang."

[silcoitus]

The Mad Scientist's Assistant Masterlist

Read it on AO3

Running total word count: 183k

You had always been a curious child. You asked lots of questions—much to the chagrin of your parents—and never seemed to shut up. They supported you as best as they could until their deaths. You were seven.

The Undercity is a cold and lonely place. You built up your walls after heartbreak and swore off meaningful connections with people. You sought solace in science, alchemy, and tinkering with things you shouldn’t.

It’s not until you meet the most beautiful Waverider, the man who was her keeper, and that man’s employer, that you realize maybe you wanted something more out of life in Zaun.

Overall Tags: References to Drugs, mention of child death, Reader-Insert, Eventual Smut, Eventual Romance, Slow Burn, mention of blood, firearms, Singed, Jinx, Sevika, original male characters, original female characters, knife play, canon-typical violence, hurt/comfort, sleep deprivation, mention of overdose, Marcus, Ran, Finn, Chross, vaginal fingering, light Dom Silco vibes, blowjob, Cunnilingus, unprotected sex, penis in vagina sex, angst, angst with a happy ending, choking, depression, minor character death

Click through for chapter tags and AO3 link

Finished Chapters

Chapter 1—The Mad Scientist

Chapter 2—Birds of a Feather

Chapter 3—Brilliant Young Scientist

Chapter 4—A Paradox

Chapter 5—Cigars & Serums

Chapter 6—Explain Yourself

Chapter 7—Ultimate Goal

Chapter 8—Mission Day

Chapter 9—Undeniable Magnetism

Chapter 10—Collect on Debts

Chapter 11—Strong Foundation

Chapter 12—Safe Room

Chapter 13—Side Effects

Chapter 14—No Other Solution

Chapter 15—Fear Haunts Us All

Chapter 16—Nightmares & Fantasies

Chapter 17—The River

Chapter 18—A Ritual

Chapter 19—Seven Simple Words

Chapter 20—Moral Support

Chapter 21—Forbidden

Chapter 22—Liar

Chapter 23—Murky Waters

Chapter 24—The Letter

Chapter 25—Eight Weeks

Chapter 26—A Debt Repaid

Chapter 27—Bit by Bit, Piece by Piece

Chapter 28—Back to Work

Art

Reader does Silco's makeup (scene from 11 by @silcosentropy)

"Should we test how sharp it is?" (scene from 11/12 by @tsukioreo)

The Infamous Safe Room scene (scene from 11/12 by @kleinnac)

Silco and Reader by @elie-fluff

Finn and Silco (scene from 26 by @silcosentropy, CW: gore)

My Brilliant Scientist (Silco's letter from 27 by me!)

Jinx and her flamethrower (scene from 29 by @deny-the-issue)

[6rookie-writer0110]

Request - Sara Lance X F!reader. Sara dating Kara Danvers sister, who has ADHD and is co-Captain of the Legends would include:

A/N: This is my first time writing Reader that has ADHD. I do apologize in advance if I got something wrong. I don't know what is like to have ADHD, I mostly read other people's fanfic to get an idea of how to write Reader with ADHD.

•You first met Sara through your sister Kara at Barry and Iris’s wedding.

•Kara told Sara that you have ADHD.

•You would talk to Sara and Kara on a certain topic but you got distracted.

•You wanted to impress Sara but you felt embarrassed and you walked away.

•Sara would flirt with you.

•You didn't know how to flirt so you would talk about something else.

•Kara figure out that you and Sara like each other.

•Kara wanted to play matchmaker and set up game night.

•You and Sara managed to get to know each other a little more.

•You would have your fidget in your pocket because it has your favorite character.

•Sara asked you out and you said yes.

•Kara is happy for you and she helped you pick out an outfit.

•You and Sara started to become serious.

•It would take a while for Sara to fully understand your ADHD.

•You told Kara that you go with Sara to save the timeline.

•You and Kara will miss each other a lot but she still supports your decision.

•It took you a while to get used to living on the waverider.

•You are co-captain and that freaked you out.

•While Sara goes over the plan, your mind won't focus. You start to think about something else.

•You do get along with the others.

•You would be doing something then you would do something else and forget to finish the first task.

•Sara and the others will help you focus on the task.

•You got bored on a mission and you got separated from the team.

•You doubt yourself as a captain.

•Sara would comfort you.

•Sara would ask Gideon for tips on how to help someone focus with ADHD.

•Sara would surprise you with a romantic dinner or a getaway trip.

•You and Sara like to cuddle.

•Sara is very affectionate with you.

•You try to be a leader and you begin to doubt yourself and you give up.

•The team will tell you not to give up.

•Kara will go with you and the others on a mission.

•You would go visit your sister Kara back at National City.

•When you are feeling mad or sad, Sara would know how to comfort you.

•Sara would find it cute that you would try to flirt with her.

•When you get hurt on a mission, Sara would take care of you.

•Kara predicts that you and Sara would get married.

•You and Sara like to make out a lot.

[dewdrop-writes]

Sorry this late but the nations in genshin aren’t locked, at least since I started playing which was like a month ago. I got pissed at the black map so I went and unlocked every single archon statue on the map except for the ones in inazuma (since you need beidou to get there), and I hadn’t even finished the mondstadt story at that point. To get to fontaine there is a waverider that you can unlock at the north of sumeru and then sail to fontaine.

That's neat! I suppose I'm not in a hurry though - I dont remember what it was when i started playing (2 or so years ago)

Anyway thanks for the info!

[marylily-my-beloved]

Just finished Amulet 9 Waverider, finally the end. Such a good series, can't wait to reread it but it has an end! :) I finally got the full collection :3