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lostintransist · 5 months ago

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Broken Beyond Bearing | Part 3

-.-. …. .. .-.. -.. .-. . -. / -.— —- ..- -. —. / .- … / - . -.

Part 1 found here | AO3

CW: A/B/O sexism I guess is what we should call this? Trauma reactions to doctors, awful in world politics.

Keeping his eyes on you Kyle’s concern rises with each shallow breath you suck between your teeth.

The nurse had been watching and held the door open as he directed Kyle to the first room on the right. Settling your body flat on the table he steps back, trying to give the nurse room to move. With two chairs, a small counter and a sink, and a ‘calming’ green on the walls the room looks exactly like he expects it to.

“How long ago was the exposure?” The nurse is taking your vitals and you stiffen as if your body hit rigor. “Ma’am if you don’t relax this is going to take longer.”

“Less than thirty minutes,” Kyle answers coolly.

The whine, primal and terrified, that comes from your throat as the blood pressure cuff is tightening has Kyle moving to where your head lays. Running the back of his knuckles down your cheeks he whispers to you. The scent of your fear, clear and uncontaminated with whatever afflicted you normally, flooded the room.

“Hey, hey. I’m here. You’re not alone. Everything will be okay.”

The nurse, an alpha by scent, makes a noise that pulls Kyle to look at him. The nurse, Johnson by the glance to his name tag, keeps his eyes on the monitor taking your blood pressure and pulse. Kyle focuses back on you. Your body regains mobility as the cuff is removed, eyes rolling like a horse looking for a place to run.

“Her vitals are all looking normal, the doctor will be in shortly,” Johnson shuts the door behind him. He must not be far enough away from the door when he starts talking to someone else. “Beta bitch in room one has track marks up both arms. I knew betas died from drugs more than any other gender but it’s wild to see that out here.”

Kyle would have stormed out the door to rip into the man if your hands hadn’t slapped into his, holding them tight. Pulling yourself upright from the reclined position you tuck your knees to your chest and rest your chin atop them. Letting go of his hands you curl them around your legs.

Sitting on a chair positioned next to the bed Kyle looks up at you, trying to catch your eyes.

Even when he could see the streaks of color through your irises no recognition lit your features. Concerned, Kyle stays sitting on the bed with you watching each breath and twitch. Nothing changes until the door opens with a faint knock.

“My name is Doctor Chen. Can you tell me what happened today?”

Like an automaton, you uncurl from your crunched position. Legs folded you straighten your back and rest your forearms on your knees palms aimed at the ceiling. Kyle had seen poses similar in meditation videos he would watch sometimes to give his mind a moment to relax. There is no peace in your pose. The width of your open eyes and the shallowness of your breath all remind him of victims he has saved from torture.

Memories that left their marks on his bones should not be reflected in your posture, he faced evil abroad and in the mirror to keep people like you safe.

He glanced at the man, dark hair, light blue scrubs, thick-rimmed glasses, and a white overcoat Kyle mostly associated with lab work. A quick draw of breath and Kyle marked him as an alpha. Dr. Chen did not look at you once, eyes staying firmly on him.

“We had an exposure to an allergen.”

Dr. Chen nodded once and sat on the small, wheeled stool that Kyle only ever saw in doctor’s offices. He wondered if they had to special order them or if they appeared in the building like fairies to offers of milk and bread. The man logged into his computer with a swipe of his name tag to an RFID reader and tapped a few buttons before turning to look at Kyle again.

“Do you know what the allergy was in reaction to?” He adjusts his glasses further up his nose.

“We don’t and would like to get some testing. Does this clinic do testing?” Kyle asked; all of his medical care happened on base.

Dr. Chen’s eyes glanced at you for the first time with a flare of his nose as he took in the fear salting the room with your uniquely beta scent. Kyle knew deeper than his marrow that you could turn off his brain and any explosive rage that he dealt with being an alpha. You didn’t use that now, but by the gods, he wished you would. The flash of disgust that whipped across Dr. Chen’s face ignited the soul-deep rage that existed with being an alpha.

“Dr. Chen,” the darkness, power, in Kyle’s voice brought the doctor’s face to him. “You will treat my wife with respect or I will ensure you don’t live to regret it.”

The cloying, nose-coating scent of Dr. Chen’s alpha rising to meet the challenge filled Kyle’s nose. He let the monster rise in his eyes, keeping his scent muted. Military training had to be good for something beyond the battlefield.

Kyle stands, placing his body between the doctor and the bed where you sit. Arms crossed and shoulders spread wide he used the mass of his bulk to show the barrier he could be. He didn’t know you, but Kate had seen something that prompted her to give them the care over you. You would not feel any harm if he could prevent it. You started to rock softly, eyes still unseeing. Then you begin to hum Edelweiss, effectively breaking the tension. Chen lost the staring match when he glanced at you.

“Do your job doctor, so I don’t have to.”

“That is out of line Mr—”

“Sergeant, special forces.”

Dr. Chen’s eyes narrowed but accepted the correction.

“Sergeant, your wife is doing fine by her visual inspection and her vitals agree. This clinic does not offer allergy testing but there are a few private practices here that you can call.” He turned back to his computer, typing in what Kyle assumed to be a summary of the visit today. “Most of what we do here for allergies is to stop the reaction and watch for any adverse effects.”

“I will need a copy of that report for our records,” Kyle stated it like a command he would give a private or a trainee. A firm ‘this is the course of action you will be taking’ that did not leave any room for questions or disobedience.

If Dr. Chen thought of arguing with Kyle, he kept it to himself. He left shortly after with a comment that Johnson would be in soon with the paperwork he requested. That is how Johnny found them, Kyle’s arms crossed and holding back his rage and you the juxtaposition of a peaceful body and an absent mind.

“You are more than you appear, wife,” Johnny took your hand, curling fingers around palms.

They wait in the cadence of your voice for nearly five minutes before Johnson appears, papers in hand. Kyle snaps a vice grip around the man’s wrist, pulling him close.

“Johnson. If I hear you telling tales about betas, and more specifically about my wife I will paint the walls of your room with colors not even crime techs will unsee.”

The man under his eyes paled quite impressively. Plucking the papers from his hand Kyle dropped Johnson’s hand and turned to his pack mate and partner in crime. Johnny’s thumb traced a track along the back of your hand as he watched the interaction play out before him.

“Can you carry her to the truck?”

Johnny’s eyes flicked as he watched the nurse flee from the room.

“Yeah. Up you pop bonnie,” he settled one arm over his shoulder and then the other before lifting you under the thighs to settle around his waist.

Still, you hummed, no life in your form. Kyle had a glare and a harsh, nose-blistering scent of rage for anyone who looked too long. Johnny settled in the back seat with you, buckling you into the middle so he could keep a hand on you and Kyle could check on you in the review mirror.

The drive home is tense, filled only with Kyle’s quiet mutterings about inexperienced winter drivers. When he turns onto the path home Johnny asks a question.

“What the hell happened in the clinic when I was on the phone with John?”

The steering wheel creaks under the pressure of Kyle’s hands.

“Nurse and doctor had some awful things to say about our wife, called her a drug addict, and couldn’t keep professional.”

“The hell? Why did they do that?” Johnny’s face in the rearview is tight with angry concern.

“It’s due to the beta laws that went into place ten…eleven? Yeah maybe eleven years ago.” Your voice is an unexpected addition to the conversation.

Kyle slows to a stop in the snow, throwing the truck in park and turning to look at you.

“What beta laws?”

He knows his gaze is harsh when you flinch back. Johnny wraps an arm around you and you settle a bit.

“There were laws on the books for a long time that weren’t really enforced,” you swallow and look from man to man before staring at your knees and continuing. “About how betas weren’t allowed the same personhood rights as alphas and omegas due to the lack of either consistent rut or heat. Apparently, the ability to do both is scary to the government. Several years back a group successfully passed a new law that said basically that betas should be treated like children, unable to sign paperwork without an approving authority, have bank accounts alone, apply for a credit card, or passport, you name it without the approval of an alpha or omega. In some places it went beyond that, stripping beta’s of all rights.”

Johnny muttered under his breath something that sounded like ‘What the fuck’ but Kyle kept his eyes on you.

“What happened to you?” His whisper hardens on your skin like ice.

There is no weak, scared beta woman here, only a beast that would peel him apart if he pushed. He didn’t scare her, but doctors did.

“No.”

Nodding once and accepting the answer Kyle turned back to driving. He would discuss this all with the guys after they had settled into bed. The interactions with the clinic staff were nothing like he had ever experienced before. Though as he thought of it he couldn’t remember the last time he had worked with a beta.

Simon and John step onto the porch as Kyle parks, as if they had been keeping watch for them.

The four men set about their tasks, hauling everything inside. You follow when Johnny reaches into the back seat and helps you out, hand tucked in his as he carries in a few bags. Simon sets about setting up the bed they picked for your room. Johnny settles you at the table, laughing and joking at you as he prepares a plate of food. Kyle and John set to work on creating the dresser. They don’t hear you laugh at any of Johnny’s stories but John points to you once and Kyle catches a glimpse of a smile. The sun slips away into the trees as each of the men finishes their task. Once the bed is made and the mattress settled on the frame John and Kyle lift the dresser into place.

The three men who had built things collapsed onto the couch facing the back wall of windows into the woods. Simon is settled between John and Kyle an arm dropped around each of them. You are standing on the back porch, head tilted back as you look at the ink-dark sky. The coat and boots you wear are those picked up today. Kyle didn’t think to wonder where Johnny had gone until he bounced down the steps with a bright bundle of fabric over one shoulder as he shoved a beanie on his head.

“Where ya going, Johnny?” Simon pitches his voice to carry but not to shout.

“Gonna give our wife a gift,” he winks at his lovers and pops out the back door.

Simon tightens the arm around Kyle.

“He loves you. That won’t change if he chooses to love someone new as well,” John murmured.

Kyle looked over at John who lay his head fully on Simon, nose buried in the scent gland at his neck. John licks the length of the gland causing Simon to let out a short whine.

Glancing back out to the back porch Kyle watches Johnny settle a shawl across your shoulders and sees in your profile confusion, hesitance. When you look down and clutch the shawl tight to your chest Kyle could only call the look on your face concerned acceptance. Johnny grinned at you like the sun had risen.

“To bed Simon, I can feel you grumble. Your rut starts soon. Let Johnny get our wife settled and let Kyle and I get you into bed.” John pushes up from the couch pulling Simon with him.

Kyle stands as well, eyes drifting to you and Johnny one last time. Standing side by side the two stare at the stars. John calls him from his observations and Kyle starts up the stairs after his lovers. His other lover will arrive with time.

Broken Masterlist | Masterlist

@lucienofthelakes @gg-trini @talia-the-gemini @thriving-n-jiving @z-wantstowrite @asialovesyou09 @literallegendicon @canthavetoomuchchaos @reinekoya @jsptmoche @demothers-empty-blog @hbaasaad

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lunarmoves · 2 months ago

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you've been watching them for a while now.

automatons aren't new, by any means. you've seen them roaming around in the villages and towns beyond the treeline of the forest for years—decades, even. what they do, you're unsure, but you figure they aren't much different than the humans living their own lives day after day.

they walk like people, they talk like people, and they laugh like people, so you suppose they are people. strange and complex as they are.

this is the first time you've seen them in the forest, though.

nestled high above, between the branches of an oak tree, you peer down at the earth to watch two mechs picking their way past overgrown shrubs and tangled bramble. they're curious things, designed in such a way where their vivid colors stick out amongst all the verdant flora. your gaze lingers on the sharp rays framing the head of one of the mechs, before it trails to the starry nightcap adorning the other.

in a way, they remind you of the sun and moon. your gaze flicks upwards at the sliver of the daytime sky you can see through the tree's canopy. curious indeed.

they are dressed for travel, like all the other humans that have previously ventured forth into the forest. and you suppose they are after the same things as well. you've kept an eye on them throughout their journey deeper into the forest—keeping your distance, yes, but you have been growing bored enough to creep closer and closer with each passing day.

they amuse you, the automatons. with their connective designs to the universe and their gentle bickering you can hear from time to time. they have not stopped to rest for long, nor do they eat or sleep. a difference, you muse, from regular humans. it is so intriguing.

they are looking for the forest's treasures, that much is certain. and like all the others who have searched before them, you have no doubt that they will fail at their task.

but that doesn't mean you can't have your own fun.

the one with the sun rays has been scrutinizing an old map in his metal hands for the last few hours, turning it this way and that as he peers critically up at his surroundings. the leaf-ladened trees are painted in sunlight in a way reminiscent of a liquid gold coating. flowers and blossoms litter the dirt-covered ground like nature's version of a loose carpet. branches extend their scrawny fingers to tug at the mechs' clothes.

he huffs as he stops walking and seems to glare at a particularly thick tree covered in wisteria. "this is the third time we've passed this tree."

the other one chuckles as he comes to a halt next to his companion and peers up at his irritated face. "how can you tell? they all look the same."

"i can tell because i marked this tree!" the yellow mech says shrilly as he points to a spot where he'd peeled off a bit of bark on the trunk earlier. "you watched me do so, moon!"

"that could've been missing beforehand," moon replies in amusement. and when his companion only gives him a dry look, he relents. "alright fine. what do you want me to say, sun? that we're lost?"

sun and moon, you file away in your head in delight while you shift forward on your branch. your smile steadily widens. how concise and so very fitting.

"well no, but some help would be greatly appreciated!" sun says in exasperation as he throws his hands up. he points a finger at moon. "you've been letting me do all the mapping and navigating. i haven't seen you do anything other than look around and mimic the birds!"

and to your absolute pleasure, moon cocks his head at sun and does precisely what he has been doing for the last hour: he releases a sound similar to the call of a pheasant, short and musical. you are unsure how he is able to do so, but it is nothing short of hilarious.

sun gives moon a withering look. all it does is make moon break out into soft laughter.

sun sighs and it is a long, weary thing. "at this rate we won't ever be able to return to the castle. here, you try navigating." he thrusts the old map towards moon, who takes it easily. "if i have to look at that thing for one more second, i'll short circuit myself."

moon snorts and peers down at the map to hum at it. they are both standing just in front of the tree you're camped in. you look down to see if you can catch a glimpse of this map of theirs and have to hold back your own chuckle when you see how inaccurate it is. that certainly isn't helping—your own meddling aside.

moon hums. he turns the map left, then right, then completely flips it upside down. he nods to himself.

"yep, that settles it," he muses to himself.

sun tilts his head, crowding over his companion's shoulder to look down at the map as well. interestingly, one of his rays shrinks down to avoid poking moon's face. "settles what? did you figure something out?"

"yes. we're lost," moon announces, then crumples up the map to stick it into his pocket. you hold back a snort.

sun groans and runs his hands down his flat face. "why did i have to get stuck on this task with you."

when all moon does is cackle in response, you finally decide it is an appropriate time for you to make an appearance.

quietly, you make your way to a branch just in front of them, above their heads, and allow your body to swing backwards to hang upside down before their faces. "hi!"

abruptly, sun shrieks and leaps back. you grin as you watch him take on a defensive pose, his hand lingering at the satchel hanging from his shoulder. you have yet to see him open it. your gaze darts over to moon to see he has not moved an inch. instead, he stares at you with these ruby eyes that you are unable to decipher. but you can feel the way they analyze your form intently.

(earlier, as you followed them via tree, you could've sworn you saw moon glancing up occasionally at the canopies like he could sense your presence through them. maybe even see you.

but that was impossible, you dismissed. no one ever could.

he was just bird watching, you figured out later as you watched him follow the paths of the birds flitting over his head. that had to be it.)

you make a mental note to keep an eye on moon.

"you guys look mighty lost," you say cheerfully, your legs flexing a little where they're hooked around the branch. "want some help?"

you're looking at moon as you ask, but it's sun who responds.

"no, thank you," he says stiffly. he straightens, though he still keeps his hand near his satchel. there is wariness lining his body and the white glow of his eyes, that much is apparent. not that you blame him, really.

"aww, don't be like that." you lift your hands up to cross them behind your head; the picturesque form of nonchalant. "i don't bite, promise! no one knows the forest better than i do!"

"we know better than to trust random humans we encounter. particularly out here," sun replies cooly.

you giggle. "i'm not a human, silly. i'm a spirit of the forest. look!"

and with a small wave of a hand pointed at sun, you will tiny blossoms to start sprouting from his clothes—littering them like he'd just had a basket of flowers thrown at him.

sun jumps slightly as he looks down at himself and seems taken aback at the little buds. his gaze flits back up to you, though he is still just as cautious as before. "a forest spirit is just as untrustworthy as a human. there's a reason why this is called the forest of disappearances, after all."

you cock your head. "is that what they're calling it?" you hum thoughtfully. "i have not heard of this. surely you mean another forest?"

sun scoffs and brushes the flowers off of him. they flutter sadly to the ground. "i am quite certain it is this one."

"then why have you come here?" you ask curiously. flipping yourself off the branch, you land nimbly on your bare feet and straighten up with your hands clasped behind your back. you had not noticed it before, what with you sticking to the trees and all, but these automatons are rather tall. "it would be better to avoid a forest with so-called disappearances, no?"

"that is none of your concern," sun harrumphs and crosses his arms. for all the wariness he's regarding you with, he sure is willing to continue the conversation.

your gaze flicks briefly over to moon. he is still quietly watching you.

you look back at sun. "i am being genuine in my offer to help you, you know. don't you know forest spirits are kindred beings? it goes against our very nature to misguide."

"yes, well—" sun starts, but you do not give him the chance to continue.

"besides," you interrupt as you slowly start to circle the two. this close, you are now able to properly look them over—picking out all the minute details that make them real. "i have not encountered people like you before."

sun looks stunned, momentarily, though the expression quickly disappears. "people? no, you are mistaken. we are robots."

you tilt your head at him. they are both spinning around steadily to keep you in their line of sight. it allows you to take in the way they hold themselves—the rigidity of their limbs. "you act like people. therefore you are."

sun's mouth opens like he is about to refute you. but he stops when moon says his name in a low, warning tone. your eyes flick back and forth between them as you note each and every reaction. curious, curious. you decide to drop the topic.

"well, in any case," you continue lightly, "allow me to help you with your task. i insist."

"persistent, aren't you?" sun snaps out, then makes a motion like he is taking in a deep breath of air. "no. no, we are quite fine, thank you," he says shortly as he turns with finality to start walking off in a different direction. "come on, moon."

as moon slouches after sun, you deliberate stopping them, or making it apparent that you are following them instead of sticking to the trees. but ultimately you decide to let them go. for now.

"be careful!" you call after them, waving a little when the two glance back at you for a moment. "there are far worst things in this forest than a simple spirit such as i."

they do not bother you with a response. your smile is all teeth as you watch their backs retreating into the distance, your hand lowering so you can clasp your fingers firmly together.

oh this will be fun indeed.

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winged-void · 1 year ago

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Though they are so ingrained into our daily life we may think it impossible, the truth is, the maid as we know it is a rather modern invention, dating back only a hundred years or so.

These days, many casual employers of these strange beasts may not know much about their origins. For example, did you know that maids were originally constructed out of enchanted metal, rather than the more lightweight and practical porcelain used today?

Where they come from, none are exactly sure, but documentations of the first sighting give us some useful clues. Let us study them and see what we can find.

The Good Lady Carrion Swyft wrote of her encounter:

I was out tending my garden when first I saw it: a tall and ornate suit armor, coming straight for me. Honestly, it scared me half to death! It lumbered unevenly, like something inside it was trying to get out.

Her wife, Dyna of Atmus, had this to say:

I was on the balcony, enjoying a drink at the time. The first thing I noticed about it was the attire, which was easy to spot, even from far away. It wore dark colored mage robes, covered in some sort of patterned white smock. When it got closer I saw the pattern for what it was: detailed runes, all across it. Honestly, I'd never seen writing so small.

Their child, the gentle heir Marlyn Swyft, said only this:

It couldn't emote, of course, but when I saw it, I knew immediately that it was distressed. I knew if such a creature could feel pain it would be immense.

What does this tell us about their origins? What do YOU think?

Please proceed along the areas marked at your feet to the next station in A Maiden's Journey: brought to you by Swyft Automatons.

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artschoolsurvivor · 1 year ago

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A Review!

I’m thrilled to have been featured by our local magazine ‘In Common.’ Anita Foxall, his shown enormously good taste in heaps praise on my recent book ‘Vague Wisdom.’ Have a read of her words by CLICKING HERE - and, naturally, there’s a link to buy the book at the bottom of the review page. There’s also a link to a video playlist that contains not only the three poem/music collaborations with…

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#collaboration #in common #mark automaton #music #Poem #poem of the day #poems #Poetry #review #southampton #The London Magazine #the london magazine editions #Vague Wisdom #Will Vigar #writing

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thepastisalreadywritten · 5 months ago

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"The Writing Boy"

In 1774 AD, during the reign of Louis XVI (1754-1793), Swiss watchmaker Pierre Jacques Dro (1721-1790) unveiled a remarkable engineering feat that would go down in history as the world's first android or programmed automaton.

Known as "The Writing Boy," this creation appeared at first glance to be a simple wooden doll with a porcelain head, barefoot, and holding a goose feather.

But hidden within this seemingly ordinary toy was a technological marvel, a writing mechanism powered by 6,000 intricate moving parts, making it the first automatic calligrapher.

"The Writing Boy" was a groundbreaking achievement, as it was capable of writing complex sentences, such as "My inventor is Jacques Dro."

The automaton was a product of 20 months of meticulous work by Pierre Jacques Dro, and its debut in Paris stunned the court of King Louis XVI.

The android's ability to perform such an intricate task showcased the high level of craftsmanship and innovation of the time.

This astonishing creation marked a significant milestone in the history of robotics and engineering.

Not only was it the world’s first programmed android, but it also demonstrated the potential of machines to replicate human actions.

"The Writing Boy" paved the way for future advancements in automation, solidifying Pierre Jacques Dro’s legacy as a pioneer in the field of robotics.

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jamiepaige · 7 months ago

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Constant Companions Closeup #9: OBJECT OF AFFECTION

(also on spotify!)

O, wayward soul, I beg of thee an ear; Companionship, a Constant of desire, is all too fleeting. Would thee quell this fire? My love, do you know what you want to hear?

Welcome back to the Constant Companions Closeups - a series of in-depth dives into the songs off of my latest album, Constant Companions! Yesterday was some gay shit (Liaison) and today is some more gay shit (Object of Affection)

---

I'm usually pretty good about letting go of the things I make and letting them live imperfectly, but there is exactly one released song of mine that I've ever been actively unhappy with the final product of, that I haven't been able to let go of my displeasure with.

Honor Majesty, off of Autumn Every Day.

It's not that it's a bad song, or that it didn't have good ideas! In fact, I genuinely think it shares more with the music I make now than a lot of my older work does. Rather, it was incredibly rushed and full of uninspired choices I made for the sake of completing the song rather than making it the best version of itself, and it ultimately ended up falling incredibly flat relative to what I wanted it to be!

I really like the intersection of synthpop/electropop and fantasy. One of my favorite musicians ever is Baths, whose album Romaplasm is chock full of this exact thematic and sonic intersection, and it's so deeply inspiring to me that it still gets put on whenever I want to dream things up. I've always wanted to make things like that! Bubbly and fantastical, brimming with a sense of magic so pervasive it makes even the mundane seem mystic.

...Also I'm just a fantasy dork okay. I like wizards and shit. Sue me

I've been wanting to make a grandiose and fantastical story song for years, and my single attempt to do so felt like it missed the mark entirely. I did touch on fantasy a couple times on Bittersweet, but ultimately, when I started working on this album, I knew exactly what I wanted to take a second crack at.

---

The intended story in question here is fairly vague, but to sum it up as literally as possible:

A rebellious, disobedient, gender-questioning prince has mildly inconvenienced "his" royal lineage one too many times. Their solution is to invoke magicks widely regarded as heretical - what's a fantasy monarchy without some hypocrisy - to seal their "son's" soul within an automaton body, rendering "him" a perfect, subservient doll.

This doll is promptly spirited away under cover of darkness by a mage, and is granted free will once again. She experiences the crushing weight of newfound self-awareness and nearly spirals out of control, before realizing the mage who saved her is the same - a doll. It turns out being a magical-mechanical construct has its perks if you are TRANSGENDER. then they overthrow the monarchy and fuck nasty or whatever idk this is where the story gives way to things like "metaphor"

this is a song about artifice and being transgender

Seriously, though, I know that being an electronic-music-producing transgender lesbian with a thing about dolls or robots or whatever is a major endless-store-shelves-of-identical-buzz-lightyear-action-figures moment on my part, but dammit, I own a copy of Logic Pro and a genuine leather wizard hat, I inject estrogen into my stomach fat every Wednesday, and I think ball joints are cute. I'm posting this on Tumblr, for gods sake, I am unconcerned as an active choice

---

With the exception of Liaison, the entirety of Constant Companions utilizes only three unique vocal synth characters - ANRI, Gumi, and Teto. This trifecta was born organically from simply being the vocal synths I enjoy using the most, and in this song, I wanted to use all three of them almost like one single singer, freely shifting intonation based on the context. I messed with this idea before on Ballroom, my voice meshing and melting into Gumi V3's voice, but it felt especially appropriate for this context; Plus, I feel like there aren't a lot of examples of vocal synths being used/recontextualized in this way, and that's a shame in my opinion!!

I really want to do more story-driven songwriting like this in the future as well. Now that I'm a bonafide VocaloP I've been floating the idea of doing a song series with this trio... I'm mostly just worried I'll want to get too ambitious with it.

Off the top of my head, Object of Affection references at least eight other songs of mine - Honor Majesty is an obvious one, but it also directly samples parts of Autumn Every Day, and lyrically references genuinely just a bunch of things. I'm probably forgetting some, even!

I know I'm the Leitmotif Lover, but it's a lot even by my standards. However, this song's entire existence already served to satisfy a fairly self-indulgent desire, and these days, I don't deal in half measures. I think the final product serves as a lovely little look back at where I've come from, though, and perhaps even a little glimpse into the future!

That all being said, Object of Affection in some sense is also a love letter to a beloved part of my creative process - the voice memo. A lot of the audio I've provided with these posts have been recordings off my phone for good reason! Not only are the chops at the beginning of the song entirely comprised of edited recordings I got on my phone, but the sample at the very end happens to be from a particularly legendary recording, never before heard by the public...

Until now. I present to you an excerpt from "the worst beat on planet earth", featuring none other than unit.0.

That's about it for today!! If you have any questions, I'll gladly answer them below, but otherwise, I'll be back here tomorrow to talk about this album's title track laid askew - My Darling, My Companion!

#music #jamie paige #Bandcamp #constant companions #behind da scenes #im not good at writing iambic pentameter

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thelivingautomaton · 5 months ago

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okay so i'm caught up with severance and started the second season and like. is anybody at all talking about that opening oner with mark s. running like a madman through the halls to get to miss casey's wallpapered-over office. IS ANYBODY TALKING ABOUT THIS (everyone is probably talking about it)

#automatonic posting #LIKEEEEEEEE did he run there because just a moment prior he was yelling that she was alive to devon???#or is it a sign that there's some seepage occurring on an unconscious level between mark scout and mark s????????#HOW AM I JUST SUPPOSED TO WATCH THIS SHOW FROM WEEK TO WEEK NOW!!!!!!!!#jesus christ how did you all even survive on the cliffhanger of season 1 for THREE WHOLE FUCKING YEARS #this show is making me chew drywall

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telomeke · 3 months ago

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MY GOLDEN BLOOD – ROSES ARE RED

Stop wait NO you don't understand what I'm going through right now– 😭

Yes, Mark's had his humanity reawakened, but My Golden Blood is also telling us he's gone from just human to saintly and selfless:

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Tong gave Mark a gift – of life flowing back into his days, when for centuries before his days had no life in them.

Remember his chat with Vampire Florist Auntie?

"We’re like these flowers. Withered. Though we have a tough body, it is senseless. We just live day after day."

And then she handed him this bouquet:

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But that lifeless bouquet, a metaphor for Mark's previous, soulless existence, simply ended up in his dark and deathly mausoleum of a house (that Tong found so suffocating despite its surface gloss and beauty):

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And after Mark tended to an ailing Tong in what looked like a lingering goodbye (in deference to Thara's instruction to abandon his precious charge), he also left a gift.

But this was a gift of LIVE flowers:

No longer a withered husk in a lifeless house, Mark is now the blood-red rose glowing with life in the center of that green bouquet.

Once an empty, heartless automaton, who didn't shed a single tear at the passing of his own loving father, Mark is sentimentally and symbolically giving of HIMSELF to Tong, his beloved who first gave him the gift of rebirth into life. 💖

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#my golden blood #marktong #💖

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theendisneat · 1 year ago

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Patterns

Pairing: Tighnari x gn!reader

Warnings: None

It stretched from the tip of your right middle finger to your left ear. Across your arm and chest and neck, a dark swirling tattoo of intricate patterns that indicated you your fated one was to be. When you were little, you’d like to imagine them, the person attached to the matching pattern. You’d think of the hair they’d have or how they dressed. You’d think of how they smiled or how they fidget.

Truly, you were a romantic child. Imagining eyes and nose and wispy bangs, staring off into space with what your parents had told was the most intense look they’d ever seen.

Soon though, you had to grow out of your fantasies and accept your patterns as simply part of your body. Rigorous studying did not leave time for daydreaming, working did not give you enough of a break to sleep let alone dream (it was a luxury at this point). You figured the time would come.

Soulmates always meet. If they didn’t, what was the point of two people being perfect matches if they never collided? It’s never confirmed when you and your soulmate would meet. Some meet when they’re children and others have met on their last day alive. It was a worrying prospect, but the fact that you’d get to meet them at all comforted you as you put your mark out of sight and out of mind.

And after hours and hours of hard work over the years, you finally made it to the Akademiya in Sumeru.

It was a struggle to get in, with your family not being particularly wealthy, well known, or even from Sumeru, so you had to overcompensate greatly purely through your academic prowess. You spent days writing till your hand felt like it would fall off, detailing your research and studies of the fauna of your country. Not simply limiting yourself to the animals, you studied the monsters as well. It was those studies that pushed you through, that willingness to put yourself on the line for important research.

Perhaps it wasn’t the healthiest mindset to have, forcing yourself into such dangerous situations, but you did genuinely love your studies, loved the creatures you followed and learned about, and now you could learn more, have access to more. It was a shining opportunity that had you burying your face in your hands to cover the blinding grin.

The years at the Akademiya were hard, harder than you were expecting. The classes on top of your personal studies were ruthless and oftentimes you went without sleeping for a couple nights in a row.

But you made it. You passed your classes, your work was recognized, you were a contender for funding. It was that funding that brought you to the Avidiya Forest.

Lush and green and beautiful, the forest surrounded you. The towering trees protected you from the sun, their branches and vibrant leaves stretching so far and so long shadows danced across the ground, only slivers of light shining through. The air was thick with heat, dirt, and a light, sweet ting of Sumeru’s natural flora.

You were crouched behind a bush, dirt staining your clothes and face. Tracking this particular monster was not the easiest. It liked to move, and prowl close to the ground, climb to the highest tree and soak in the sun.

You hand darted across the page, writing down every molecule of information about the beast in front of you. Its body was covered in shimmering, silver scales, giving in the appearance of an automaton. Its claw scratched deeply into the soft dirt of the forest.

You were so entranced by the being you didn’t hear the loud ‘move!’ before you were being pushed to the dirt. Your head was held down, and from the corner of your eye you could only just see the skittish creature skitter away.

With all your strength, you pushed the person off of you, hearing a faint ‘oomph’ as you sat up, glaring. “What the hell?!”

Anything else you had to say died immediately in your throat. Sitting in front of you, with hard, not cold, eyes and an almost pout to his lips, was a man your age. Choppy black and green hair framed his sharp face, a complicated outfit littered with bottles and what looked like first aid. Ears like that of a fennec fox stood straight up on his head, only slightly tilted back to signal growing aggression. But the thing that drew your eye the most, was the twirling, complicated tattoo that peaked out just by his neck.

The man couldn’t see the shock that captured your mind. “I’m sorry, did you just want me to let you get yourself decapitated by a carnivorous plant?”

“A what?” You murmured absentmindedly. Turning your head up you saw a wiggling vine connected to a head similar to that of a venus fly trap, a head whose teeth were now buried into the bark of the tree it rammed into when you had been moved out of the way. “Woah.”

“Woah.” The man mocked, his face set in an unimpressed frown. “Have you no awareness?”

“I was focused.” You defend hotly, an embarrassed heat on your cheeks.

He rolls his eyes and you feel your own twitch. “Really, you couldn't have been more unprepared.”

“I’m sorry.” You ground out. “I was unaware that this area was infested by people eating plants.”

“Perhaps you should look into that.”

You shot up, brushing the dirt from your clothes. “I’ll be on my way then, I have research to conduct and if I have to deal with your insufferable attitude, I might just pop a blood vessel.”

“My insufferable attitude? At least I’m not so ignorant as to not notice a giant plant about to strike!”

You were about to yell at him some more when your eyes once again caught the patterns peeking from his shirt. You knew it was your pattern. With the days you spent sitting in front of the mirror, gliding your fingers over the swirls and tangles and dots, how could you not recognize that which you knew so intimately?

You stepped closer to him and caught his suspicious gaze. You noticed his ears flick, for irritation, anxiety, you didn’t know, and chuckled, which only made his eyes narrow.

“Hey, I didn’t think to mention it because you were so irritating-” a scoff, “-but we have matching patterns.”

“What?” His ears when stock still, pointed straight up, and the tail you just saw froze, the fur bristling.

“Your pattern.” You repeat. “I know it like the back of my hand. We match.” You moved your hair and the scarf tucked tightly around your neck to reveal your own whorls over your skin.

Emotions you couldn’t name flashed through his eyes like bolts, his ears twitching only slightly.

You waved your hand in front of his face. “Hey, you in there? I know this isn’t how soulmate meetings typically go but you could try and look like this isn’t the end of the world.”

His blank face had snapped back to awareness, lips turning down. “I hope you don’t expect this to develop into some kind of romantic-”

“Excuse me?” You raised your eyebrow. “When did I ever imply-”

“It has been said that on multiple occasions that soulmates are expected to be romantic-”

“How long have you been in this forest?”

His ears bristled and puffed. He frowned further. “I don’t think my assumption is wrong, and the forest is much more welcome company than any ‘intelligence’ back in the academy.”

“Hey, at least we agree on one thing. Though I prefer the creatures of the forest to the forest itself.”

He scoffs again but this time it sounds more like a laugh, something that brings a bit of a smile to your face.

“Hey,” you stuck your hand out. “Acquaintances? Tenuous colleagues? Hate to break it to you, but I’m staying in Avidiya Forest for a while for research purposes.”

The man sighed but stuck his hand out, grasping yours. “Tenuous colleagues it is then. I’m Tighnari.”

“[Y/n].” You responded.

The months passed by quickly.

Soon after that conversation with Tighnari, you had bought a small little hut in Gandharva Ville. It became an immediate mess, covered from floor to ceiling in pages, diagrams of creature anatomy from all across Teyvat, paragraphs upon paragraphs of analysis and theorizing. The only place that was safe was your bed, but even with that the blankets were crumpled, the pillow nearly falling off the side.

Despite your mess, your research was going along perfectly. The opportunity to stalk so many gorgeous creatures, to communicate with them and study them was like a dream come true to you. Long days were spent out in the wild, more often than not, you came home covered in dirt.

During these months, you and Tighnari had grown closer. You ran into each other on multiple occasions, him sometimes following you out on your excursions when he had the time to make sure you didn’t get your head bit off by another carnivorous plant (you didn’t want to count how many close calls there had been already), and you sometimes crashing into him while running from a particularly aggressive creature you accidently startled.

Sometimes those encounters ended with you getting scratched and Tighnari pulling you back to your home, where he would then berate you for your horrible living state, and sit you down on the edge of your bed. He’d manhandle you, though you noticed he was never violent. His ears would go down with worry, pupils contracting every time he caught sight of a cut.

It was a bad cut. A truly terrible cut that went from the left side of your hip to your right shoulder. It was deep, flowing red so quickly your white shirt couldn’t even be called white any more. It came from an animal you weren’t expecting, one that had been stalking you as you quietly followed another.

The slash had left you disoriented, stumbling as you ran. You were lucky to find that the creature didn’t care to follow you, seeming to like the idea of playing with you. The blood gushed, sticking uncomfortable to your skin as you trudged back to Gandharva Ville, doing your best not to pass out.

In your delirium, you could only be glad that the slash missed the majority of your pattern, only getting the part on your chest. You held a worthless hand to the wound, pressing down with the fleeting thoughts of ‘pressure, pressure’.

You didn’t even notice when the sun caught your eye as you finally broke through the dense foliage of the forest. Screams went in one ear and out the other, sweat pouring from your forehead and into your eyes, the heat making your shirt stick horribly to your aching body.

Hands gripped your shoulders. Hands were the only thing you could think of, them wrapping around your waist and legs, pulling you into a bridal carry. Your head resting against a shoulder, the scent of earth and berries and blood invading your nostrils. Your head felt fuzzy and your breathing shallow.

It wasn’t long before you passed out.

You woke up in bed, aching, torso tightly wound with itchy gauze turning pink. A groan was caught in the back of your dry throat and your limbs flopped uselessly when you tried to sit up.

A door slammed open. “Honestly, this is why I track them. Can’t keep themselves safe and want to prance around a deadly forest. All this gauze…” You hear the muttering and couldn't stop a fond sigh.

“You complain,” your voice is rough, ugly in every sense of the word. “But I’m still alive now.”

“Yes, because of my expertise.” There was no ‘you’re awake’ no ‘thank goodness you’re alright’ no ‘don’t sass me while you’re at my mercy’. There was just a quiet relief in his sigh, the fond quirk of his lips, the with which he shot back at your words. It was comfortable and comfortable must’ve felt good after such a scare.

He sat on the edge of the bed, gently pulling you up so you’re sitting straight. “Come on, let me change your bandages.”

“Can I have some water afterwards?”

“So high maintenance,” he grumbled, and with the serious look on his face, it took you a moment to realize he was teasing. “First I use all this gauze, then I have to spare my water?”

“Oh please ‘humble one’. Let me have just a sip?” The back of your hand delicately touched your forehead in a dramatic swoon and you would’ve fallen back onto the bed for a little extra if Tighnari’s hands weren’t keeping you upright.

He huffed. “Alright, alright. I’ll get you some water, just be still.”

The rest of his care was spent in silence. Sometimes his hands would brush your skin and you would shiver, or his eyes would linger on your shared pattern and you felt this primal instinct to puff out your chest, to show it off with pride.

When he made to leave, probably to get the water you were oh so desperate for, you caught his risk. Looking up at him through your eyelashes, you smiled nervously at his inquisitive gaze. “After all these months, can we finally upgrade from tenuous colleagues to friendly acquaintances?”

His hand grasped your own wrist, squeezing gently. He rolled his eyes. “Friendly acquaintances then.”

Two years had passed from the time you and Tighnari first laid eyes on each other, a year and a half from when you became acquaintances, and now it had been two days since you’d upgraded to friends.

Just thinking about it, as you lie in the crumpled sheets of your messy bed, makes your heart thump wildly.

Two days ago, you and Tighnari had run into a researcher from the Akademiya. Haughty and aggravating, the two of you listened as he leveled thinly veiled insults at Gandharva Ville’s less than elite beauty, at Tighnari’s work ethic (because how can the forest still be so over run with withering zones if he was doing his job correctly?), and sneered at your choice of research, not so subtly referring to you as ‘one who likes to walk among their own kind’.

It was a hit to the heart, one you hadn’t heard in a while, but nothing new. Insults towards you have always followed a certain path. You were beastly as you like to roll in the mud just like the very beasts you followed. You were just so disoriented with the world of the elite Akademiya because you couldn’t possibly fathom such glamor from the hick town you grew up in. You didn’t belong in Sumeru itself, not even among the common folk, because did you really know how things worked over here? After all, you were from so far away.

But Tighnari had never treated you as anyone lesser. Not less knowledgeable or intelligent. Not less adaptable or sincere. Through working with him, you grew to respect him, not only his work ethics, but his aloof compassion and charm, something that made your heart sting every day, and you knew he felt that same respect for you.

Now, you couldn’t be more happy. The scowl that pulled back Tighnari’s lips was so fierce, the researcher had taken a step back, a thin sheen of sweat lining his forehead. “Are you always so obvious with your insinuations?”

“Mr. Tighnari-”

“Actually, with how obvious they are, I’d say they’re blatant insults.”

“Mr. Tighnari, please!” The researcher chuckled nervously. “It's not like it's personal, only jokes. Everyone made them back in our Akademiya days.”

The ease with which these statements against you were brushed off had Tighnari bristling. “Everyone? Who is everyone?”

“Sir,” you say, finally deciding to step in. “While I don't appreciate the familiar words, I do enjoy the fact that because you're so disgustingly arrogant and rude, you will never find yourself free to stay in Gandharva Ville.”

The researcher's face had gone from blanched to colored an angry, splotchy red that was particularly unattractive if you said so yourself. “What?! That can't be! I've got permission from the Akademiya to conduct my research here!”

“But I have final say if you stay here.” Tighnari’s smile was sharp and uncomfortable to look at. “So please, find your way back out of the Avidiya Forest. Your stench is creating more withering zones than I can handle.”

The researcher had run, tail between his legs and face that ugly crimson. You couldn't stop yourself from laughing and in all honesty, you didn't try to. From the corner of your eye, you saw the self-satisfied smirk on Tighnari’s face.

“What a minx you are. Did you have fun watching the blood drain from his face?” You teased.

He scoffed, ears twitching. “Of course I did.”

You hummed, smiling softly. After a moment’s hesitation, you wrapped your arms around his neck, hugging him close and resting your head on his shoulder. “Thank you for being such a good friend.”

Tighnari was stiff in your hold, at first, but he soon relaxed, returning your embrace with a little smile you could see as he buried his face in your hair. “We’re friends now?”

“Yeah, sorry. I’m not asking for this upgrade. We’re friends.”

With those words it seemed Tighnari hugged you tighter. “Alright.”

When you and Tighnari became lovers, it was a year later.

There was nothing special about the morning it happened. The sun rose the way it did everyday, shimmering through your too thin curtains to shine directly on your face, you groaning in defeat as you failed to fall back asleep, and the not so quiet slam of the door as Tighnari let himself in, as you told him he could.

While you loved your job and did the work you had to, needed to, you also enjoyed being horrifically lazy. Laying in bed and sleeping the day away every once in a while sounded like a dream (no pun intended), and like every morning before, you lounged for far longer than you should’ve just to think if today could be one of those days. But alas, it was not, and Tighnari entered your bedroom unceremoniously, his lips pressed into a fine line.

“Get up. I let you sleep longer today because you stayed up late last night, but you have work to do today.” He pulled the covers from your sleepy form and you let out a petulant whine.

“Tighnariiiiiii nooooo,” you groaned into your pillow, not moving from your spot.

He grabbed your hands and tried to pull you out, rolling his eyes at your stubbornness while you rag-dolled. “Come on.”

He yelped when your hands shot out to catch his own. “Tighnari, cuddle with me.”

“No.” He deadpanned.

“Tighnari-”

“No.”

“Please-”

“You have to get out of bed.”

“Pleeeease-”

“No.”

“Pleasepleasepleaseplease-”

“Fine!” He ground out, much to your delight. “Five minutes.”

He moved a blanket so he wasn’t directly on the covers and laid down, letting out a small grunt when you flopped on top of him.

“You're always so warm. It's very nice.” You mumbled, nuzzling into the crook of his neck.

Tighnari’s breath hitched and you pulled back, confused. “Tighnari?” His eyes were wide, lips pressed tight. The one arm that had been around your shoulder, holding you close now laid limp on the bed, his other hand clenched over his stomach. “Hey, Tighnari, are you okay?”

“Yeah, I'm fine.” But some part of him looked far away, eyes glazed. His limp hand went to cup the side of his neck and it was then you realized you had nuzzled into your shared pattern.

“Oh, Tighnari, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I know you don't… really… we’ve never brought up the whole soulmates thing… I shouldn't have done that… I know touching your soulmate's pattern is really intimate… I'm sorry.” The more you spoke the quieter you got, overcome with embarrassment. You sat up and turned away from him, pulling your knees close to your chest and hiding your face.

The truth was that the past three years had hit your romanticism hard. Tighnari was wonderful. A strong and caring person, passionate in everything he does, snarky is just the way that made you laugh. Every little thing he did endeared you, from the way the fur of his ears stood up when he was annoyed to the way his nose scrunched when he tried not to laugh at something you did that truly amused him (he never wanted to give you the satisfaction).

You fell fast and hard. Really, how could anyone blame you? Your heart burned every time you thought about the day the two of you met, remembering the words he spoke.

“I hope you don't expect this to develop into some kind of romantic-”

He never wanted romance. It was just your traitorous heart that couldn't help loving him. So you didn't mention it. Your friendship was wonderful enough for you. And sometimes soulmates stayed friends! You reasoned. You were lucky enough to see him so young, now your friendship can last the rest of your life!

But now you messed it all up.

While it wasn't taboo to show off your pattern, it was taboo to touch other's patterns or let people who are not family or your soulmate touch yours. Some of the most conservative families don't even allow family members to touch the pattern after the child is a certain age.

Now, it wasn't uncommon or anything for soulmates who remained platonic to touch each other's patterns, as really the idea was more to show the depth of the bond, how much the other means to you. It wasn't inherently romantic or platonic or familial, though some could definitely make it that way, but you had always known of Tighnari’s prickly nature so you avoided doing anything too much. Occasionally your arms would brush the pattern with hugs and whatnot, but nothing ever so intimate as cuddling and nuzzling, laying in your bed like you were more than what you were.

A large part of you wanted this, this casual domesticity with him. Tender brushes of his fingers against your skin, tracing the loops and swirls, little kisses from your ear to your neck to your chest, down your arm until he reached your right middle finger. The whole thought brought tears to your eyes, and now your knees were pressed into your sockets, trying desperately to stop any of those tears from falling.

Skin, bare skin, shocked you from your sadness. The back of Tighnari’s right hand was brushing against the left side of your neck. Ever so gently, his hand twisted and cold fingertips were gliding across your skin. The fingers followed the pattern down your arm till they intertwined with your own.

A little tug had you looking into Tighnari’s eyes, wide and hazel and worried. “[Y/n]... I know we have not discussed the soulmate… thing, but I was not unaccepting of your affection. Just surprised.”

You sniffle. “Really?”

He nods, a small smile on his thin lips. “Would you like to touch patterns again?”

You were about to say yes before biting your lip and shaking your head. It was different for you and you didn’t want to indulge your little romantic fantasies or take advantage of the intimacy Tighnari was granting you.

He tried to brush his hand along your neck once again but you leaned back. The hurt in his eyes stabbed into your heart.

“It’s different for me ‘Nari. I just don’t feel the same way about this as you do.” You mutter.

Tighnari’s eyebrow raised in question, a challenging look in his eyes. “How do I feel then?”

“What?”

“Tell me how I feel, that's so different from you.”

“Don’t be ridiculous ‘Nari! We’re friends and that’s all we are!” Your voice breaks as you cry and a heat crawls over your cheeks. “This is too much, it’s…” You took a deep breath. “You said when we first met, you did want me to think of this relationship ever turning romantic, but I just can’t help it! I love you, I love you so much and the thought of doing this with you with us thinking different things… it hurts.”

“I said that three years ago.” He deadpanned.

You only shrugged.

“Don’t you think, in the past few years we’ve known one another, my feelings could have changed?”

You stared at him till he sighed with annoyance.

“Stupid…” He rolled his eyes and practically fell on top of you in a hug, his face pressed directly into the junction of your neck where he nuzzled a beautiful little loop in your pattern.

Your whole body shuddered at such a display of affection, but as much as you wanted to lean into it, you stayed stiff in his arms. “What is this?” You whispered tearfully.

“Reciprocation of romantic affection.”

Was it really so simple?

“You love me… the way I love you?” You were almost scared to ask, terrified that this was some kind of joke, his sarcasm taken too far.

Tighnari pulled back and cupped your face within his chilly hands. His eyes were the most intense you’ve ever seen them, wide and dilated, bright and covered in a soft sheen of tears that made them shine. “Yes.”

You finally smiled, leaning into his hands. “Then, can we upgrade again?”

“To?”

You hummed in thought. “Soulmates?”

“We’ve been soulmates since we were born.” He denied.

“Lovers?”

“Too cliche.”

“Partners?”

“Clinical.”

“Bedfellows?”

“Are we four hundred?”

“I don’t know then.”

Tighnari was quiet for a moment. “Life companions.”

You perked up. “Life and death companions!”

“Why death?”

You leaned over so you were draped over his body. “Do you really think when we die, I’m going to let you go? We’ll reincarnate together and be soulmates all over again!”

“Oh great, I can have you for multiple lifetimes. Yayyyyy…” His voice petered out slowly as he looked at you with dead eyes.

“Don’t sound so enthused ‘Nari, maybe we’ll be reincarnated as flowers right next to each other, or maybe as lovebirds, or or we could be giant trees that reach the sun, but below the dirt our roots are intertwined so we’re forever holding hands!” You giggled.

“I cannot believe we are still so young and you are already thinking about our deaths.” He chuckles fondly. “Besides that fact, why do you think we’ll die with so little good karma that we won’t become human again?”

“It’s not that, but don’t you think being a big tree, basking in the sunlight, entangled with me and me with you is such a more romantic concept?”

“Your mind runs away from you sometimes.”

“Then I hope you’ll always be there to ground me, hm?” You meant it to be only teasing but you noticed Tighnari’s eyes darken, the way his sight flickered down to your lips. “Tighnari?”

His hands led you to lay back on the bed and he hovered over you. His gaze was heavy, never drifting from your eyes, you were locked into his heated stare. “May I kiss you?”

“If you kiss me, I won’t be able to stay on the ground.” Your voice was breathy, you felt like you couldn’t breathe, stifled by his earthy scent. “My head will go up to the clouds.”

“I’ll pull you back down, just as I always have.” He was resolute, his tone rough and husky. He leaned closer, his lips brushing against yours in the slightest touch. “May I kiss you?”

How could you say anything but- “Yes.”

His smile was tender as he finally caught your lips in a gentle dance. He was warm, warmth that you felt creeped from your head to your toes. A hand to the back of your neck, a thumb brushing your shared pattern as his insistent lips kissed fervently.

The love you never thought you’d get was here, in your arms, sucking your soul out and pressing you to your mattress. It couldn’t have been any better.

#genshin impact #genshin x reader #genshin fanfic #tighnari x you #tighnari x reader #tighnari #x reader #reader insert #light angst #angst with a happy ending #slight angst #genshin angst #angst #soulmates #fanfic

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