#he is probably one of the only normal people surrounded by utter insane family members

[shortnotsweet]

quick, uncolored practice sketches based on how I’ve been visualizing Daeron in ñuhon by kokuhakutoasahi on ao3. I doubt this is actually accurate at all, and I’ve done like 20 different doodles of this guy’s face in my mind, but I think that he’d have a prominent nose and eyes that carry the sweet sadness you only see in gay European p0rn. This tweet by twitter user @ itadorimaid specifically got me rereading the latest chapters and going huh, best boy? Perhaps. ALSO that hug??? I am side-eying him v hard rn.

[aminiatureworld]

Elevated

Characters: Xiao, gn!reader

Word Count: 1,153

Warning: None

Premise: In which the reader’s noble status causes Xiao grief

Author’s Note: I think I made Xiao a little dense, but I actually really like this prompt. I hope I did it justice!

Xiao

Xiao had no idea who you were, the day of your fateful meeting at the Wangshu Inn.

You were a simple traveler, albeit an obviously notable one. Normal travelers usually didn’t pay to have their luggage carried up to their room. Nor did they walk with a sword at their hips that was clearly ceremonial, not practical. Though a Vision also shone on your shoulder, your weapon was hidden beneath vast swaths of heavily embroidered fabric.

The adeptus thought he might very well hate you, for he found that the more intricate a human’s clothes the more likely they were to be completely self-centered. Still he found himself watching you, as he watched most of the rare pompous travelers that came and went before his eyes. They always carried themselves with more energy than the regular intrepid traveler, though Xiao could never exactly pin down what it was that separated them from the other mortals around them. To the adeptus Mora was as distant a concept as a nebula might be to a human. He might be aware of its existence, but not of its significance in the contradicting network that was Liyue society.

Though Xiao certainly could say that you were similar in that manner, he had to at least give it to you that you didn’t seem to be yelling at anyone. Instead you seemed content with looking out at the Inn’s surroundings, easing a small smile onto Verr Goldet’s face with your string of compliments. You assured her that everything was perfect, and that there was no reason to make a fuss, before sitting yourself out on the balcony, your attire enough to drag ordinary people, it seemed, away.

Xiao watched you that evening with fascination, something only amplified by the way that everyone treated you. It seemed that you were more revered than the merchants that sometimes stayed, the people whose pockets were lined with the gifts of Rex Lapis. It made Xiao’s head spin a bit, and he found himself careless in his confusion. He ran into you once in the kitchen, as you had come to ask something of Smiley Yanxiao. Though your conversation was very short and consisted mostly of singular words on his part Xiao had somehow become enraptured. The minute you turned to go upstairs he went to find Verr Goldet, wanting some questions answered.

If Mora was a foreign concept to Xiao then nobility might as well have been as far away as the moon. Though Goldet did her best in trying to explain the long and sordid history of Liyue aristocracy, most of it was lost in a haze of confusion. By the end of the day however Xiao had come to one conclusion, that you were comparable to a lower deity.

 Looking back on it you were always careful not to tease Xiao, knowing that he disconnected himself from human society on purpose. Still, the fact that he genuinely thought you were comparable in any way to the gods that you yourself worshipped was so baffling as to be hilarious. Not that you weren’t somewhat aware of this in the way that he suddenly acted towards you. The already reticent stranger was now positively mute, and whenever he was around you he stared at the ground or somewhere just behind you. It was almost unnerving at first, for you felt as if you’d committed some accidental slight.

Despite this rocky start however your relationship grew, as you coaxed feelings, then words, then confessions out of Xiao. You loved him so very deeply, and though he rarely admitted it, once Xiao gave you his first “I love you” you never once doubted him. Of course you were aware of his status as an adeptus, aware that even your wealth and aristocratic station couldn’t begin to compare to that of his. So despite it all, you found  yourself somewhat in awe.

“You know, it’s funny, I sometimes wonder what my family, what those around me would think of the fact that I fell in love with you. Maybe they’d think I’m insane, really pushing my station.”

You leaned against Xiao’s shoulder, the soft up and down of his breathing comforting. You hadn’t meant to admit it, but the words somehow just came out. There was no taking them back though, for they were indeed true.

“What do you mean?” Xiao’s voice was rough in the way that signaled he couldn’t believe you.

“Well, I mean, you’re an adeptus,” you ventured, unsure of where the disconnect was. “I think even my parents would think that I was being brazen. I mean, I’m just a human, how could I be good enough.”

“But, aren’t you a god to humans?”

You felt laughter bubbling up inside you, utter disbelief. “No, no I’m not,” you managed to make out.

“But Goldet said you were.”

“Then she must’ve been drunk,” you let out a huff of laughter. “No, I’m just a member of minor nobility.”

“Aren’t the nobility like gods on earth?”

“Maybe thousands of years ago but not anymore. Nobility has gone out of style, as one might put it. My ancestors might’ve been worshipped, but not anymore. Liyue has no need for an aristocracy, maybe it never did. Trade has always been more important. So no Xiao, I’m not a god, I’m just lucky.”

“I see.”

You could tell that Xiao was embarrassed, that he still didn’t quite understand, but you let it pass. There was no point in pushing the topic. Right now you just wanted to enjoy this moment, this moment cut off both from your love’s status as an immortal and your status as minor nobility.

After that things changed slightly, in ways that someone outside your newfound relationship probably wouldn’t notice. Xiao stopped staring at the ground when he talked to you, began to walk a few steps closer to you. These changes made you absolutely delighted, and you reveled in the new sense of intimacy.

Sometimes Xiao would retreat back into those old mannerisms. Usually if you were visited by someone at the Inn – which had become your permanent residence – or if you went off to see someone else of importance. You could sense the questions in your partner’s head. Am I good enough? How could they want when they already have it all? They were the exact same questions that you asked of yourself sometimes, marveling that someone like Xiao should fall in love with you. Now those insecurities became a string to guide your way, as you gently coaxed as much surety as you could out of the adeptus.

Perhaps you came from a good family name, perhaps Mora was never a matter of strain for you. Perhaps you did have all that a human might want. However all of it paled in comparison to the one you loved.

And you hoped that Xiao would see that too.

[nlights37]

2, and make it soft, bitch!

EXTRA SOFT, just for you, bitch!

2. “Come take a shower with me~”

Jon and Dany, set in the universe of Something Stupid

“Is your brother okay?”

They were standing at the kitchen island, together, watching as Dany’s older brother Rhaegar walked the length and breadth of the living room, proclaiming shortly after entering that he needed to ‘check the aura of the space’ before he would sit and explain what, exactly, he was doing there.

The last she’d heard from her mother, Rhaegar had moved Elia and the kids to some commune in Dorne, where clothing was optional and they grew their own marijuana strains, and judging by Rhaegar’s somewhat haphazard appearance, got high off their own supply.

“I’m so sorry about this,” she replied, nudging closer to Jon’s body and molding herself against his side as he threw an arm over her shoulder.  “I didn’t know he was coming.”

She could feel his laugh as it rose in his chest, a sweet vibration against her own.  “He probably didn’t either.”

Dany snickered.  It was hard to disagree with that.  After his whole emo phase in High School Rhaeger had gone full-tilt free spirit, never in one place for too long, even after he and Elia had gotten married.  Much to her mother’s distaste his current side business allegedly involved playing the lap harp in a Dornish folk band, but much to Dany’s relief, it didn’t appear he’d brought it along.

Her brother stopped, suddenly, standing tall and straight in the middle of the living room and letting out a slow, steady exhale.  “This is good,” he said in a serene voice, then his face split in a broad smile.  “Okay, come and give your brother a hug, D.”

She did, sheepishly, tossing Jon a wry smile as she embraced the brother she hadn’t seen for at least five years.  It was nice to see him again, it really was, but it was also really annoying how he insisted on things like not owning a phone, or calling first before you showed up somewhere.  Normal people things.

She pulled away, grinning up at her brother, a little trepidation racing through her when she noticed the way his attention shifted to Jon, his purple eyes, their family trademark, narrowing slightly.

“So,” Rhaegar called out, a little less friendly.  “You’re the Jon I’ve heard so much about.”

For his part, Jon also looked a bit worried, but he brushed it off quickly, striding forward and extending his hand.  “Aye, that’s me.  Jon Snow.  Nice to finally meet you.”

A scratching at the back door distracted them all, and Jon smiled politely at Dany’s brother before shoving his glasses a bit farther up the bridge of his nose and walking past to let in the pair of dogs from the backyard.  

“Is he Northern?”  Rhaegar came to stand beside her as he watched Jon carefully.  When Dany nodded he pursed his lips thoughtfully, his gaze oddly keen for someone who was, in Dany’s approximation, stoned out of their gourd.  “That’s cool,” he finally said.  “I can dig that.”

Hedwig scampered in first, a yapping bark filling the air as she spied someone she didn’t recognize.  Dany snatched the small dog up, scolding her lightly until she stopped, her eyes straying for the door for the other member of their little doggy duo.

And then Ghost arrived, chased by a cool fall wind that made his white fur sway lightly, and Jon uttered a quiet command for the dog to go and sit as he shut the door tightly.

It was almost embarassing, how well-behaved that dog was, no matter what slander Jon tried to level about what Ghost had done in his puppy days.  As far as Dany was concerned that dog was an enormous shedding angel.

In her arms was a frantic, squirming little devil, and she frowned down at Hedwig, whose tiny paws were scrabbling against Dany’s chest in an effort to free herself, no doubt to continue her tiny reign of terror.

She turned back to Rhaegar, ready to be teased about both her dog’s appearance and temperment by her older brother, only to be brought short at the look of awe on his face.

“Jon, dude,” Rhaegar said, his voice full of reverence, “Is that your dog?”

Jon’s handsome face screwed up in mild confusion, and he checked his eyes to Dany’s quickly before answering.  “Aye,” he said, smiling down at the massive white dog as he scratched a fond hand behind his furred ears.  “His name is Ghost.  He’s friendly, don’t worry.”

Dany didn’t think Rhaegar was a bit concerned about an attack; Instead he was staring at Jon’s dog like it was a God.

“Okay,” he started, running a hand through his shoulder-length silver hair, his voice much warmer than it had been.  “This is gonna sound weird, but,” Dany could see him look at Jon, almost imploring, “Can I talk to your dog, man?”

Jon looked as flabbergasted as she felt, and she searched her mind, desperately, for a way to explain that maybe it wasn’t the time or the place to ‘commune with animal spirits’ or whatever it was her spacy brother was up to now.  Somehow, Jon managed to sound as though this was a perfectly reasonable request, and led Ghost up to where Rhaegar stood.

“Be my guest,” he said, and quickly made his way towards Dany as Rhaegar sat himself on the floor, in the very center of their living room, and gazed at Ghost.

She kept waiting for him to say something, anything, but he just stared into the dog’s eyes, his lips slightly parted, like he was in some sort of trance.  Ghost glanced at them both, as though he found this entirely weird, but eventually decided to be a good sport.  He lay down on his stomach, letting Rhaegar cradle his face and hold his head up, so that the man could still maintain eye contact.

Dany knew her face had to be flushed crimson by now; in a family truly filled to the brim with members that ran the gambit of the embarassment scale, this was definitely up there.  A top ten, for sure, top five if she didn’t count the time Viserys had stolen a bus from one of the local high school and gone on a three hour police chase that had been broadcast on every station in Essos.

She pulled Jon into the kitchen, ready to beg his forgiveness, to ask if maybe he’d like to change his mind about the whole wedding thing now that he was learning that her entire family was certifiably insane.

But when they rounded the corner and could no longer see Rhaeger’s silent, holy commune, Jon finally couldn’t contain his laughter, and he held her close as his shoulders shook, quiet rasping laughter making her relax against him even though she was at least mid-range mortified.

“Your brother is high as hell, Dany,” he gasped into her ear, and she gave in, as well, her eyes beginning to water as she smothered her own laughter into his shoulder.

He really was the best, just everything about him, but especially the way he’d put up with first her mother, and now, well, whatever THIS was.

“Jon,” she whispered, and leaned up to press a kiss just beneath his ear, “come take a shower with me.”

He pulled back, surprised, but she knew she had him from the dark interest that flared in his eyes.  “Now?”  Bless him, trying to sound scandalized, as if she hadn’t fucked him in the supply closet at work three days ago.  “Dany,” he hissed quietly, “Your brother is literally right there.”

Jon clearly wanted her to talk him into it, and she was more than willing to oblige.  “Please,” she said, lower lip sticking out in a pout.  “I’m so dirty, Jon.”  She trailed her lips up the line of his throat, and nipped at his earlobe.  “Am I supposed to wash my own back?”

He made a considering noise, as if there was a single doubt he’d agree, and dropped a hand to her hip, squeezing.  “You have to be quiet.  Hmmm?”

She scoffed quietly, wrapping her arms around his neck, swaying slightly as afternoon light streamed in through the kitchen window, surrounding them.  “Like I’m the loud one.”

“Dany, please.  I’m practically mute compared to you.”

Lowering a hand, she swatted at his ass playfully, and grinned.  “Come and take a shower with me, Jon Snow.”  She leaned in and kissed him, his lips instantly parting for hers, his hand rising to cup her cheek even as the other tugged her by her hip, bringing her in closer.  “You know you want to.”

“Okay, fine,” he said, with false resignation.  “You win.  Happy now?”

She clapped quietly, bobbing on her feet.  “Yes,” she said smugly, and grabbed for his hand, tugging him along behind her as they walked towards the stairs.  “Rhae?”  She stopped, seeing her brother still holding some quiet conversation with Jon’s dog.  “You good?  Jon and I are gonna go freshen up before dinner.”

“Yeah,” Rhaegar said absently.  His eyes flicked to Jon.  “Your dog is so wise, man.”

Jon tucked his face against the back of Dany’s neck, his snort of amusement barely hidden as he shuffled up the steps right behind her.  “That dog used to eat entire rolls of toilet paper.”

Dany gave him a cross look and shoved him into the room that had been his, once, and was now theirs, already reaching for the buttons of his shirt.  “You stop those lies, and take off your clothes.”

There you go, @ashleyfanfic

Extra soft - Charmin soft!

[gil-notskajla]

"Xerath's past from childhood to imprisonment" headcannon (including some of the cool ideas form @fattyaly ) ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) let's go:

• Xerath had many scars from corporal punishments and brutal indelicacy of previous owners.

• Xerath's human height was below avarge - undernourishment durring his service as a lesser slave disrupted his childhood development. When Azir took him in, his diet became more proper but the damage was already done.

• Xerath was quite lonely, durring his service to royal family. When he was a normal slave, he had his mother, father (when he was still alive) and other slaves. Everyone worked together and supported each other in the darkest hours. When Azir made him his personal slave, his living conditions improved greatly but his unusualy close bond with a royal elevated him in the eyes of fellow slaves who didnt know how to treat him anymore - as one of their own, or as someone above them, not to mention the jealousy, while for free citizens and nobility he was still a mere slave and nothing more.

• He had other slaves working under him as for example his bodyguards, who he cared for and did everything he could to improve their living conditions, since he experienced the same life when he was younger. They were also an additional motivation for his plans of slavery abolishment.

• Xerath and other slaves serving the royal court members created an information net and that's how he knew the gossips better than Azir.

• That's how he learned that Azirs father truthy despises his last alive son - Emperor didnt keep his tongue behind the teeth around slaves who served him. Mistake.

• Xerath knew that Azir was really close with his mother. That's why he tried his best to make her infertile, soo that killing her wouldnt be nessesary. He failed and knew that Azir's assasination from that point on was just a matter of time. He chose his and Azir's lives over rest of royal family.

• Xerath risked his relationship with Azir constantly to make him realise that slaves are people with feelings and needs too. Azir took quite long to finally acknowledge that but even smallest progress in that matter made Xerath proud of him.

• Xerath probably didn't appreciate Azir sleeping with slave girls. After all they couldn't say know, but he couldn't stop Azir from doing this...

• Azir provided him with a great autonomy, mostly for executing his will, which sometimes gave Xerath seemingly greater power than some noble houses what annoyed literally everyone.

• Xerath's parents were his teachers and only people who he would ever call his family besides Azir. They planted the concept of freedom in his mind which stayed with him forever. Mental image of his parents, their unconditional love has been inseparably tied to concept of freedom. That turned family and freedom into highest values for him.

• That's also why Xerath turned 180° soo rapidly when Azir "officially abadoned" the freedom project. Azir was the only family ever since Xerath lost contact with his mother. By remminding Xerath that he is indeed, just a slave and not in fact his brother, he violated not only one but two of Xeraths highest values - freedom and familial bond.

• At first Xerath was a bit jealous of Azir's wife but knowing he could never compete with her for Azir's attention and conflict would mean Azir getting annoyed with him, they ended up on good terms. By this i mean of course ideal benelovent, kind master/docile, friendly slave relationship. After Azir "betrayed" Xerath, Xerath acted the same way towards her to not arouse suspicion but since he no longer believed Azir to be his brother, he no longer thought of her as his potential future family. (Azir's oldest official son was around 18 (close to adulthood) when  the cataclysm happened soo he had to be married for at least 18 years, probably he got married before his final refusal to Xerath. Also, that would make them at least 36 years old at the time of Ascension.)

• Same for Azir's first son. At first he was happy for Azir, that his step-brother has a child, but after the fight, he didnt care anymore. Every next child just remminded him how priviledged they are, how horrible his childhood was and how many children are still being born to slavery while they lead idyllic and ignorant lives.

• Xerath wanted to steal the empire and impersonate Azir after Ascension in which he would make it look like he himself died.

• Xerath had access to Azir's Ascension ritual preperations. He gained as much information as he could about the mechanism of ascending and adjusted it to himself in order to gain as much power as possible in case his role-swap-by-assasination didnt work, he couldnt impersonate azir and had to actually force everyone to obey him despite his true identity (that would explain why his plan was "in motion" and why he "couldnt back down no matter how much part of him wanted to").

• After Azir fullfiled his promise Xerath knew that Baccai are a thing (it was probably common knowledge soo, duh) and was afraid that his personal adjustments would cripple Azir what would bring dishonor on him in the best case scenario and get him detronised/banished hopefully together with his family, court and Xerath, or kill him in the worst. If Azir died, his life would be over as well, since he made many enemies and Azir was the only person keeping him on the top - in position from which he could do anything. Without Azir, Xerath was nobody. And he couldn't tell Azir that he spiked his Ascension ritual and risk his rage. In this situation he could only utter "I'm sorry." and proceed with his plan wondering why Azir didnt tell him and carrying the confusion, guilt and anger for the rest of his life.

• By impulsively blasting Azir of daasis, Xerath made it very clear that he is sabotaging the ritual. That probably caused him to panic that Sun Priests will stop the ritual what would cause him to become either weak and crippled Baccai, die or just allow the soldiers to capture and execute him. With his magic he forced Priests to continue, desperately, for as long as he could. In fear of consequences and unaware of his surroundings he prolonged the ritual what drained the Disc, caused the shockwave, initiated the cataclysm, disintegrated his ascending body and turned him into unique, unstable, energetic being.

• Ascension ended with stasis in which he got lowered back to the ground, barely concious. Nasus and Renekton were already waiting for him with sarcophagus, ready to catch him. That explains why he didn't manage to react and got captured soo easily.

• In the tomb, Xerath and Renekton fought for days but when Renekton realised he is unable to kill Xerath and Xerath not really caring if Renekton dies or not, they found themselves their own corners where they sat alone with their demons, sometimes talking to each other when in desperate need of social interaction.

• Xerath is indeed the most powerfull Ascended in terms of raw power but his body is very unstable. He can literally kill himself by destabilisation from using too much of his magic.

• Soo many horrible things happened on the day of Ascension, that if he addmited that he was the one responsible for death of thousands, not only randoms and Azir but probably also many aquaintances of even friendsp, he would go complitely mad. He told himself the entire story over and over and over again, twisting it bit by bit every time to justify his actions and why all this bloodshed was nessesary in order to fool himself and subconciously protect his mind from insanity by blaming everything on Azir and his bloodline.

• He repressed the fact that he is a Baccai. He stays in denial soo that he wont have to acknowledge that despite all that hard work, he failed everyone, even himself and became fragile like glass. He stays in denial deluding himself that there is nothing wrong with him and hiding it from himself by prising his "flawless" ascended form, hoping that the problem will cease existing if he forgets about it.

• Xerath and Renekton probably learned how to fall into some form of stasis in order to loose conciousness and skip time because, as fucked up as they are, they are in really good shape as for people who have spent 36,000 times longer period of time than avarge recommended dose of isolation causing irreversible mental damage irl. (i think that riot kind of forgotten about them when making the timeline and now stasis is the only logical explanation for how well preserved their minds are.)