#then she met Hua and her life changed

[simonxriley]

"I went from an Emperor's daughter to a wrath spirit out of vengeance of my untimely death." || [x]

taglist (opt in/out) @playstationmademe @nightbloodbix @voidika @shegetsburned @captmactavish @carlosoliveiraa @alexxmason @statichvm @dickytwister @cloudofbutterflies92 @killerspinal @collinnmckinley @carrionsflower @inafieldofdaisies @chloekistune @leviiackrman @cassietrn

[difeisheng]

If you're comfortable with it will you talk more about your original characters?

hello!! flattered that you'd want to hear about these characters taking up my headspace 😅🥺💜 i will warn that the project these ocs are from is very much in the rough developmental stages and i have a LOT of research and worldbuilding to do, plus some existing stuff might change, but! here's some things about it:

this started out as an au of sorts that @qiaowanmian and i initially brainstormed for something else, before they very graciously allowed me custody and the au grew up into its own independent brainrot. it revolves around shen yue, courtesy name hui'an, a boy who grew up with one foot in the jianghu and the other tethered to the palace and its obligations. the balance got tipped when he wound up getting himself involved in an ongoing war, and his deeds caught the attention and approval of the palace. in particular, the eye of the then-crown prince, xuan xing.

nearly two decades later, hui'an has made a name for himself leading xuan xing's armies as a general under the king, and as his majesty's favourite, in every sense that that implies. they're an inseparably bonded pair, and that fact is causing problems for the rest of the court, especially for those people who don't care for xuan xing as their leader. hui'an has his own issues outside of the palace walls, too, because everywhere he goes there is one very stubborn swordsman named hua qingsen who keeps finding him over and over and who won't let hui'an's past go there are reminders of the person hui'an might have become, freely wandering the land without care for the state and holding only to his own sense of right and wrong, if he hadn't spent half a lifetime giving his loyalty to the court (to a-xing. everyone knows that ultimately hui'an serves not the kingdom, but one man whom he loves). hui'an's life is cracked in half by these two worlds. between this and the palace plotting behind his a-xing's backs, who would like to see the king gone, their relationship is only going to end in tragedy for it.

(unhappy ending, yes, and that's not going to change, but honestly if you've read my writing before i don't think that's a surprise to anyone)

beyond these main characters mentioned, there's also people such as:

lang shijun, a-xing's eventual queen of convenient marriage and unofficial apprentice to hui'an, whom she met while pretending to be her own brother so she could get into restricted libraries + eavesdrop on court meetings to learn about military tactics

ruxiong, second prince and a-xing's half-brother, who doesn't want the throne more than he wants his family alive and together, but it's that same want that will eventually doom him and the people around him

ruya, ruxiong's younger sister and princess of the kingdom, and who out of these royal siblings insisted on putting her duty and position first in a way her brothers never quite could (she'll get an ending she wanted, though, won by active choice and not obligation)

like i said, there's much that i still need to fill in and develop for this, but here's a brief glimpse into what's been occupying my waking thoughts for the last few weeks! thank you for giving me a chance to ramble a bit and let me know if you ever want to hear more <333

[iicheeze]

IDIOT'S UGLY BOOTIFUL FAMILY

girl || Haley [Last Name]

eldest sibling of the [Last Name] family

has anger issues

also has a massive ego

likes to takes selfies but somehow hates getting her pictures taken without permission becuz it 'captures her bad side'

very selective when it comes to men

realized she's a lesbian when she almost had sex with a guy

what happened to guy you ask?

she slapped him and went off to get dressed and yelled that she's a lesbian becuz of him

poor guy

also has a girlfriend named Yuriko

Yuriko's a transfer from Japan and they met when they were working

is Yuriko nice?

i guess u can say she is cuz she's very wifey

will Haley ever propose?

probably

boytoy || Mark [Last Name]

youngest sibling of the [Last Name] family

narcissist

he's pretty and he knows it

sucks ass at sports tho

would be a lady hooker if he can, but [Name] taught him to be a woman respecter since apparently their mom isnt there to teach them how to

is bisexual

sucks at cooking so he always relies on [Name] to cook for him when their dad ain't home back in middle school and high school (since Haley only cooks for herself)

basically relies on [Name] a lot but not so much since he can work fine alone

he just likes companionship

degrading kink haver || Lila [Last Name]

the Aunt of the [Last Name] family (dad's side aka dad's sister)

yes she does have a degrading kink

just lives at a house right next to the [Last Name] residence but stops by often cuz bitch ass Haley won't take care of her siblings correctly

tried teaching Mark how to cook but ended up roasting the egg and its now stuck to the pan

yes

is a gambling addict

but when she wins some big money she'd invite Haley, Mark and [Name] to new amusement parks, shopping, etc etc

other than that a decent aunty

often asks Mark if he scored a lady's cooch cooch

he doesn't

hes a virgin

and Lila is very disappointed in that

dad || Jason [Last Name]

Father of the [Last Name] family

works as a car engineer

is NOT good with words

hated cats but when [Name] visited him with a cat in their arms, immediately bonds

is confused why [Name] is the only one with a Model husband instead of Haley or Mark having a spouse

(tbh he never expected the menace of the family to be happily wedded but good for u)

would be father of the year if only he just be truthful abt their mom

other than that hes a decent dad

cooks for the family, works for the family, (although grocery shopping would be hard but hes trying), and doesn't destroy his kids' mental health

good dad

(his pfp is from [Name], they sent him a cute cat named Maxwell from the internet and he kept using that pfp for almost a year straight)

TAGLIST || @stellakito @crueldinasty @hysteriablues @hoesaria @dreamsofminnie @caffeine-mess @alatusorrow @lunaeclipsethesimp @lxkeeeee @myaaones @withloveminnie @shewolfniko @aeongiies @qwnelisa @liliumaraneae @candlebathwater @seirin-eyy @feiherp @nxsh30 @loivre @imdeadlyboredhelp @hotgirlshit5 @worldhardtibbysoft @mitsu-moshi @mono1606 @zomzomb1e @vvyeislazzy @crucnhice @omlxlaure @iethairs

@ownedbythescribe @mishtae @aloflapse @divinechicha @thefandomcrow @d4y-dr3am3r @tjjjrsj @certaindreampost @minninr @angelkazusstuff @zyilas @lumpywolf @haruaikawa @xiaosonlybeloved @reconaiise @yuyan @myoreiii @lordbugs @theaudacitiedmentose @scaravibe @exphhoria @venusflwers @ohmyfinggod @niyaiiz

BOLD MEANS I CAN'T TAG YOU! IF THERE ANY SORT OF CHANGES TO YOUR USERNAME, PLEASE TELL ME!

SUMMARY II in which, a sassy and bitter househusband, and his beloved, idiotic streamer of a lover got married! what a lovely occasion. now, for the married life in a newer, and bigger apartment.

PAIRINGS || Househusband Scaramouche x Gaming Streamer GN Reader

MASTERLIST || IDIOT GAMER!

FUN FACT !

this story takes place in China, Beijing.

the reason [Name]'s family names are American-styled, it's because Jason is a transfer from America to China for college. He met [Name]'s mom, Lian Hua, by being roommates.

since Lian Hua left the family to pursue her dreams, Jason decided to name his children by American names, solely because he wants to cut any Asian ties that's connected to Lian Hua herself.

he even moved from Shanghai to Beijing because of it.

[divine-donna]

Girls Like Me Pretend (We Don't Cry)

word count: 2.4k words

alternative link: 🕷️🕸️🫀

synopsis: it's been six months after the events of spiderverse. spider-ling is finally readjusting well to the massive shift in her canon. she believes she's ready to move on, until she sees a familiar face at work.

part 2 | part 3 | part 4

My name is Emma Charoensuk-Hua. And for the past six years, I’ve been the one and only Spider-Ling. My life has been quite complicated. Found out my father was a Master of the Mystic Arts when I was 15. And also that we have like a family feud with this other family for over a millennia. I became a Master of the Mystic Arts and embraced my, supposed, destiny as a sorceress and became Doctor Strange’s apprentice, after the death of my father. He wasn’t around a lot, but I still cared for him. Of course, everything has to go wrong in that my ex decides to try to sacrifice my whole universe so his patron could conquer the multiverse. And I tapped into my Inner Power when I wasn’t ready. It was going to kill me, so Doctor Strange did the only thing he could do: take it out. I came out magicless and wandered around life, obsessed with my coursework. Well, not entirely magicless. I’m still able to do spells, study magic. I just can’t perform anything complicated. And I’m disconnected from my ancestors. So that…sucks. Then of course, the story goes as is. Get bitten by a radioactive spider at 21, learn about heroism, with great power comes great responsibility, yada, yada, yada. So yeah, I became Spider-Ling. Pissed off lots of politicians, do some mutual aid on the weekends. I also got my degrees and a PhD. And I work at OSCORP as a researcher. Oh! I got married! Then divorced. I don’t wanna talk about it. Who ever does? I’ve lost people, lost things along the way. But I’m Spider-Ling because apparently, that’s what the universe wanted from me.

Manhattan — Earth-728

Her hand slammed down hard on the alarm clock, causing it to break. She sat up, hair messy, and rubbed her eyes. “Fuck…” Emma would need to go buy a new alarm clock on the way back or during her lunch break. She slowly crawls out of bed and shuffles to the bathroom where she does her morning routine before getting dressed. Checking that she had everything in her work bag, she leaves her apartment and heads straight to the local bakery to buy herself a steamed bun. The conversation she has with the cashier is brief since she was in a rush to get to work. Once out, Emma checks her phone and the traffic. “Trains are down. Guess I have to find another way around the city.”

She’s mastered the art of changing into her suit by now, able to do it in a quick and easy manner. With her mask on, bag strapped, and bun steaming hot, Spider-Ling takes to the city early in the morning. Besides, swinging around this early was also good for a small morning patrol where she would catch up with some people if she had time. But there was also nothing like starting a morning by flying through the city while eating her bun. There was a certain freedom that came with it, though she tried hard not to swing every single morning. She reached the OSCORP building faster than she ever could on the train and fell into an empty alleyway to change out of her suit and back into her work clothes. She discards the bag her bun was in into the garbage and walks into OSCORP, swiping in. “Morning Emma.” Chester, the security guard, says. “Got a busy day?”

“It’s always busy at OSCORP.” She salutes him as she gets on the escalator. The geneticist makes her way to the elevator and presses down on the 55 button. When the elevator stops and the doors open, she leaves and is met immediately with her supervisor.

“Ah! Emma!” Cynthia pushes up her glasses. “Just in time! There’s coffee and bagels in the conference room. Get your ass in a seat.”

Emma didn’t question it. It was common for them to have meetings anyways. So she went straight to the conference room and sat down next to Shin. “Had a good weekend?” He asks.

She grabs a plain bagel and bites into it. The bun was delicious but that definitely was not enough to sustain her for the rest of the day, especially if she was going to patrol and do her Spider-Ling duties. “Busy. Like usual.” She says, hand covering her mouth while she chews. “What did you do?”

“Had dinner with a friend. Went on a date. Was not so great. Nothing really is better than—”

“Shin, let it go. It didn’t work out and that’s alright.”

“You just don’t like my uncle.”

“Your uncle is a Japanese nationalist. I’m Taiwanese. Put the pieces together yourself.” Emma takes another bite as Cynthia walks in.

“Okay. Happy Monday everyone.” The entire subdivision groaned. “Yeah, yeah. I get it. So before we do a debriefing for what corporate wants us to do for the week, some introductions are in order.” Everyone looks at each other curiously, while Emma continues to eat her bagel. “I’d like to introduce everyone to our newest member of the division. He just transferred from our branch in Mexico City and worked at Alchemax for six years before joining the better company. So, here is Dr. Miguel O’Hara!”

Emma felt herself almost choke on her bagel seeing who walked in. Her Spider Sense went off like crazy, even if the man who had walked into the conference room meant no harm. He posed no threat to her and yet, her anxiety spiked through the roof of the OSCORP building. “Hi everyone.” Miguel smiles widely, eyes sparkling a little. “I look forward to working with you all.” When his eyes travel to her, Emma feels as if he’s looking into her soul. It was…so strange to see Miguel in her dimension. She didn’t even know her dimension had a Miguel. Did the other Miguel know? He looked so different. He was just as big as the Miguel she knew but his posture was a little more slouched. His eyes were warm and brown and he lacked bags under his eyes. It appeared as if his life was put together and he didn’t cause a whole universe to collapse. She also took in his outfit: a blue button down, tan slacks, dark brown Oxfords, and a white lab coat. She could see his OSCORP I.D. card, attached to the standard blue lanyard with white font. He didn’t look like he worked at OSCORP. Then again, they all dressed like that during their first week until Cynthia told them she didn’t care and to only dress formally when corporate came to observe them.

“Emma will show you around once we’re done with the meeting.” Cynthia begins her debriefing on the week’s activities.

Once the meeting is wrapped up, Emma leaves the room and rushes to her office, setting her things down and finishing her bagel. Her Spider Sense goes off again and she turns around, grabbing the nearest thing to throw (in this case, her pen holder). “Whoa! Lo siento.” Miguel holds his hands up in surrender. “Did I scare you?”

She sighs, setting the pen holder down. Her Spider Sense continues to tingle. “Sorry. Rough morning.”

“No worries.” He smiles, putting his hands down. “You have, like, a sixth sense or something? Your back was turned and I don’t think I made too much noise.”

“Ummm…I guess you can say that.” She pulls out her headphones from her bag and sets it on her desk. “I can, um, give you that tour now?”

“That would be awesome.” His smile is so bright that it kind of hurts her eyes. He looks so…happy. And innocent, in comparison to the other Miguel.

Emma shows him around the floor, taking him to the lab and even telling him where the good printers are (not on their floor). It’s a quick tour and she debriefs him about some of the stuff they’ve been working on. She doesn’t notice the little look of admiration in his eyes. She spoke eloquently and carried herself with confidence, even if she looked a little worn out. (Then again, everyone did) His eyes may have wandered a little further down than necessary. But he was subtle and he wasn’t going to lie about her appearance. After the tour, Emma returns to her office. She puts her headphones on and begins working, writing on the reports and editing some of the papers with her name attached to it. She makes her edits and occasionally leaves her office to grab something to drink.

From his cubicle, Miguel watches her. He glances her way, seeing how hard she was working and moves his gaze elsewhere when she glances at him. Of course, his staring doesn’t go unnoticed by the man sitting next to him. “You might want to dial back on the ogling. We have work to do.” Shin crosses his arms as he leans against the cubicle.

“Is she going out with anyone?” He looks up at his colleague.

“Are you thinking about asking her out?” He scoffs. “You shouldn’t. She’s such a workaholic.”

“So…that’s a yes then?”

“What? No! I mean, yes. She’s single…I think.”

“You sound like you have dated her.”

“I mean, we did date for a bit.” Shin sounds smug.

“But you guys aren’t together. So that means it didn’t work.” Miguel has a small smile on his face, thinking about the fact that he could date her right now. Technically. He didn’t really know Shin. So it wasn’t really breaking bro code.

“I wouldn’t say it didn’t work. She just doesn’t like my uncle.”

“Are you Japanese?”

“...Yes. I don’t see why that matters.”

“And what’s her ethnicity?”

“Taiwanese. And Thai.”

Miguel raises his eyebrows. “I think it spells itself out.”

Shin was baffled. Too baffled to speak actually. He just returns to his cubicle and continues working. About an hour or two passes and the new transfer finally stops admiring the woman in the office from a distance and actually does his work. But he soon found that he needed to make copies of something. Miguel quickly found out that the copier on their floor doesn’t work. But he should’ve remembered that from the tour earlier today. It did make for a great excuse to visit her though!

Emma’s Spider Sense tingles a little and she looks away from her computer. She sees Miguel’s hand against the glass, which meant he had knocked. Or was knocking to get her attention. She beckons him inside and slides her headphones down to her neck, pausing the music. “M-Miguel. What can I, um, do for you?”

“I was hoping you could show me where to print? Well, I need to make copies and the copier isn’t working.” He smiles.

“Come on.” She puts her computer to sleep and leads him to the elevator, tapping her ID against the scanner and pressing the button with the floor number five above them.

“Why are we going to the 60th floor?”

“They have the best paper and the ink is always available. It’s because that’s where, like, the upper echelon of OSCORP office employees work.”

“You know quite a bit. Have any friends up there?”

“Used to. She got transferred to a…different division. Elsewhere in the world.” She sighs.

It’s awkward for a moment before Miguel asks her a question. “How long have you worked at OSCORP?”

“Do I count the time I worked as an intern?”

“I guess. Does it add much?”

“Only a year. I’ve been working here since…god, since I was twenty-one. So six years?”

“That’s a long time, especially for someone of your age.”

“I am pretty old.”

Miguel laughs. “You’re nowhere near old.”

“Why? Are you like way older?”

“I’m only thirty-two.”

“That’s not bad. You’re only five years older than me.” Emma exits the elevator with Miguel when they arrive at the desired floor. “How long have you been working at OSCORP?”

“Three years, give or take. I spent my twenties with Alchemax instead. I’m the one that developed an alternative and cheaper medication to Sickle Cell.”

“Oh. Alchemax.” She lets out a small nervous laugh. He pouted on the inside seeing her not react to his little brag.

“Have you heard of it?”

“Of course I have.” She opens the printing room with her keys and turns on the light. Miguel closes the door behind them as she fires up the printer and copy machine. “They’re our biggest competitor. And they rejected my many job proposals because I was overqualified.” She scoffs.

“Soft spot?” He asks while copying his papers.

“Guess you can say that.”

Miguel spends the rest of the time observing her. Even if she was standing idly by, waiting for him to finish. Their silence is comforting, a little bit. He enjoyed the silence. On the other hand, Emma wasn’t used to it. She was still on edge, her Spider Sense tingling in the back of her mind. It wasn’t Miguel. There wasn’t any danger. So why did it feel like she was in danger? When he is done, the two of them return to their floor and return to work. After another hour, their lunch break hits. Miguel quickly packs up so he could try to catch Emma for lunch. Except he doesn’t find her in the office. He feels a little disappointed, walking to the elevator. His face brightens upon seeing her in the elevator. Except she has her headphones on and is looking at her phone. He runs to the elevator, trying to beat the doors, but they close and the elevator descends.

Miguel returns to the office, having eaten a good meal. Halal food was really good and it reminded him of home, going to street vendors and buying his lunch from local people. He even stopped by a modern Mexican joint and bought some horchata. ($8 for a large was…too expensive) It tasted alright and he knew he could make a better one at home. When he gets to his cubicle, he sees a flash of red pass by Emma’s office window. He’s only read about the superheroes that protect New York City. But the red blur had him presuming it was the smaller and more experienced hero: Spider-Ling. About five minutes after that, Emma emerges from the elevator, headphones on. She was busy eating an empanada, and stopped in her tracks when she was approached by Miguel. “I missed you earlier.” He says.

She pulls down her headphones. “Sorry. Had to rush out. I was busy during my lunch break so I only got something small.” She presents him with the bag. “I’m already full though.”

“Are you sure?”

“Mhm.” She nods. “Wait…do you like olives in your empanadas or no?” He shrugs. She gives him her last empanada. “They’re pretty good.”

“You’re going to have to tell me where I can get these.”

Emma laughs nervously. “We’ll see.”

[naciela]

Just a bit rambling about my ocs

okay so I have some of thoughts inside my head about my sibling OCs (Raafa and Mei Hua), it was nice for me when I thought about them and I just want to talk about it now. this might be changed due to how my story can get develop around them and how their background story about their childhood but here was the thought.

TW: mentioning child abuse

I always like to make siblings' stories since it was played a crucial part in whatever story I ever made before this one. Most of my story was about how both siblings cared about each other because of circumstances. Well, I do have another sibling relationship that has a love-hate relationship but never got that development as far as Mei Hua and Raafa but it is almost the same I guess.

I was thinking about how rough both relationships were especially when it came to Raafa and Mei Hua. Mei Hua really didn't want to open up or let people go into her life while Raafa wanted to make a connection with a sister. Since kid Raafa was excited after his mother told him that he actually had a big sister, what came into his mind was "Finally I wasn't alone! I'm not an only child." But at some point, he doesn't understand why he never sees her around or even why his mother never brought Mei Hua with her.

Raafa tends to expect that he wants something to be exactly like what he imagines, like a loving big sister who cares about him. A friend who can understand him, a person who can share the same weight of ability to see the nonmaterial world, or maybe a friend to play with since he was the only child. Grew up as someone who did not have many friends made him feel lonely because he saw himself as different from others and had a hard time connecting with the other kids since they would find him weird and call him crazy when he talked to a spirit and they can't see it or have a deep connection with it like how raafa have a deep connection with spirit.

He even keeps asking about his sister's story like what she looks like? what was the thing that she liked? what were her favorite things? What game that she possibly play? and so on. That feeling never gone until he met Mei Hua for REAL this time and those feelings that he kept had already been shattered apart by how his own sister reacted to him when she saw him, when she even tried to kill him.

Why does Mei Hua want to kill him?

Well, it's not like she wants to kill because it was fun to see him die or anything. It's more to anger that she has had since she was childhood, and when it took control she end up doing something horible. She has a completely different lifestyle with Raafa, really. When Raafa grew up with love from both parents Mei Hua ended up with her father who actually never loved her, and she always sought her father's attention even by doing something that was not normal since she was a kid. Yeah, she does have Lian Hua but her relationship with her mother was never going well as most of the time she rarely saw her around. She has been taken away from her mother since she was 4. And when she left Mei Hua it break something inside of her. Because of this, she developed the thought that her own mother didn't love her. she hates it of course, she though that Lian Hua leave her alone to suffer was something that leave a permanent mindset.

And with her father, he and Mei Hua have a hard relationship, his love for Mei Hua is conditional he loves her only when he sees that Mei Hua is useful to him, nothing more and nothing less. As a child Mei Hua was smart, reading all the books that were not for her age and even planning a military attack as a thought of playing a little game with her father. All the credit had never been given to her, all the idea that she blurt it was just been taken away from her. Mei Hua realize it as a kid, that her father never truely love her if she was not being usefull. She loved that her father gave her a compliment, she loved that her father encouraged her even when she did was wrong things, she even dressed as a boy just to get the attention that she seeks pretending to be something that was not her at all, she would do anything that her father say to her and its bit disturbing.

She learned everything that her father did until the day she made a mistake, that's was the horrible things that she ever experience in her childhood. she never forget the day that she almost die in the progress. She hates it, hates the reality that her own father just using her, hates that in reality her father never loved her. She already sacrifice manythings just for her father attention and it end up pretty bad for her.

Because of this when she saw Raafa, a person that got love from both parent, grew up as normal person, someone that really get their mother love make her angry. And the anger that was still there bubbling inside toward since childhood was never gone. she even think that her own mother replacing her with someone new.

their relationship was not always full of hater, sometimes they do bond in a way or another. Mei Hua really did care in some point of their life but well she just denies it and sometimes she even didn't realized it. Raafa was never give up on their relationship of course and when Raafa was gone in the end of the war it did make her break her, and make her completely realized that she have lost something that was indeed precious.

This though may change after a while or after some writing adjustment but yeah I think I'm done in here

[setokaibapetty]

5 + 1 Fic Friday Roundup: Is Anyone Going to Adopt that Kid?

Some adoption and/or found family stories.

Judgement and Justice (AO3) - "Hitoshi Shinsou is surrendered to foster care by his single mother at the age of five. At the age of six, he decides to run away with his 'villainous' foster brother. From there, we meet a runaway Todoroki with projection issues to rival a Trans Siberian Orchestra concert, a tired analyst in a questionable government organization trying to figure out just who needs to get fired and where, a panicking Pro Hero trying to locate his son, who wasn't supposed to be in foster care in the first place, and a very, very annoyed underground hero who's going to steal a child from SOME hero, one way or another."

Crash Into Me (AO3) - "Kara is cold and scared and her little baby cousin Kal-el won't stop wiggling, but they have no choice but to keep moving or the DEO, the government entity that captured them shortly after they crashed on this planet, will catch them and punish them for trying to escape. And then Leonard Snart and Mick Rory, driving by, very nearly crash into her life."

The Children of Ullia (AO3) - "In a time where Aloy accepted Ullia's offer to take her as a daughter, Ullia had already taken one child of the East to be her own. A young man she met in Sunstone Rock."

Proud Immortal Parent's Way (AO3) - "A story in which Shang Qinghua gets the chance to raise the protagonist from square one! This causes a lot of things that never made it to the final draft of PIDW! And now there was a bunch of family drama in the Mobei Clan and some drama with Huan Hua that he and Binghe got dropped into, but hey, at least he wasn't going to be a scum villain anymore. And the cute baby is a plus!"

dry as a bone (AO3) - "Din Djarin didn’t set out to build a clan, but the child cooed and whined and telekinetically shoved their way into his heart. A clan of two is more than enough to fill that old bounty hunter’s heart, even if the womp rat doesn’t exactly take up much space. Said womp rat isn’t the only kid with special abilities, though, and every child deserves a chance to grow up safe and loved."

Bonus: Dad Bane AU (AO3) - "When Cad Bane is rescued from an ambush by a small Twi'lek street urchin, he does not foresee how much their meeting will change his life."

[harrowharks-iliac-crest]

50: 30 minutes before the Emperor's murder

Second skull - whole.

We're back to Gideon's perspective, about to meet the Emperor, and ... about to witness the Emperor meet his end - possibly about to BE the Emperor's end. Let's see how this unfolds.

In the room was Cytherea. Cytherea’s body, her back to us. She had been neatly tied to a chair with a band of angry-looking tendon.

Cytherea! ....... ON The steel chair!!

Hah, sorry, I couldn't resist.

Did Mercy get to her? If the angry tendons are an indication, then probably yes.

“Commander Awake Remembrance of These Valiant Dead,” he said. “All of it.” “I can’t believe you feel like you’re in position to demand things of me.” “All of it, Gaius!” There was the preparatory sound of indrawn breath. “Awake Remembrance of These Valiant Dead Kia Hua Ko Te Pai Snap Back to Reality Oops There Goes Gravity,” he recited, all in one breath. “Correct?”

Lmao that's one hell of a name. I would love to have "Oops there goes gravity" as part of my name.

Maybe I can I've changed my name before its not like its hard

Anyway - Cytherea - Cytherea' body is being possessed, haunted, whatever you wanna call it. She's ... probably ... still dead.

The commander? The same commander as the one who died drifting down to the Ninth with baby Gideon? The same commander who's been haunting Harrow as The Sleeper? That commander??????

He said, “Blood of Eden died with you, Wake. Any further action is just agonal breathing.” “We both know that’s not true.” “You never would have fired nukes into my fleet.”

Okay, but Blood of Eden are still very much kicking, and they very much did fire nukes into his fleet. Didn't they do that at the start of the book? Eighteen thousand dead or something like that??

“You’ve been a revenant for nearly twenty years, Wake. It’s extraordinary … You really are everything they said you were.” Silence. “You’re not a necromancer—” “Necromancy is a disease you released,” she said. “Necromancy needs to be strategically and deliberately cleansed.”

She IS that same commander - Gideon Nav's mother - and her, and the Blood of Eden, are on some kind of ideological quest against necromancy itself.

You tell me the thanergy link you rode to get here, because you certainly weren’t in Cytherea’s body back at Canaan House,

The sword that killed Cytherea, the one Harrow has been holding on to this entire time.

It's a tenuous link, but probably enough. The commander's daughter's sword, in the hands of the commander's daughter's kismesis necromancer adept sorry for using a homestuck word it just fits okay.

Alternatively, if it's not the sword, it's Harrow's body, holding the soul of Gideon Nav, the commander's daughter herself.

Could it be that Gideon Nav didn't die as a child because she was being used as a thalergetic/thanergetic link? Can living bodies do that? Her mother seems to have been powerful in life, and is still powerful in death as a revenant, so I can't rule it out.

“Mercymorn the First, Augustine the First, meet Commander Wake Me Up Inside, sincerest apologies if I got that wrong,” said the Emperor. “Wake —Mercy—Augustine.” “Oh, we’ve met,” said the corpse, with immense satisfaction.

Cahoots! Cahoots I say.

Commander wake me up inside 🤣 (save me!!!!)

They're confronting God, for something - that's taken ten thousand years to uncover, apparently.

The plot thickens.

“They were working for me,” said the dead Commander. Mercymorn demanded, “Are you flattering yourself, or being wrong on purpose?” The other Lyctor interrupted, “Joy—” but she was saying, wildly: “Oh, let it happen! If this is happening, let it happen … We had a deal, Wake! Where the hell have you been hiding for nineteen years?” “Where—you—fucking—left—me,” she ground out. “In my bones. Then a blade. In—that—fucking—hole.”

The sword, then. "That fucking hole" presumably being the Ninth house.

The corpse was grim. “I came armed.” “It doesn’t matter what you came armed with, Commander—” “I had the baby,” said Wake. “The baby I’d had to incubate myself for nine long fucking months, when the foetal dummies these two gave me died.” “Oh, God, it was yours,” said Augustine, in horror. “I thought you’d used in vitro on one of Mercy’s—” “I said they all died,” said Wake.

Oh my god!!!!

The eggs you gave me all died and you lied to me!!!!!!!!!!

She's behind all of the messages that Harrow thought she hallucinated!!!!!! THIS is what they meant!! They weren't for or about Harrow - they were for Augustine and Mercymorn!!!!

“Okay. Let’s get this straight,” God was saying. “You brought a baby—a baby you’d made inside yourself, well done, that’s the classic—so you could, what, kill it and create a huge thanergy cascade at the door? I wish Harrowhark were here; it would do her good to know there are more people in the world with an imagination like her parents’

So that was the plan - to kill baby Gideon and breach the locked tomb - but it didn't work - because Commander Wake (me up inside) died before she could reach the Ninth?

The woman I was pretty sure was actually my mother—wearing the body of a woman I’d had a crush on, who in turn had been wearing the identity of a woman she’d murdered, until I fell on a spike so that my boss could kill her—craned her head around in her bonds.

An absolutely WILD situation to be in, admittedly. Imagine being completely mystified with your origins all your life, and then finding out, after your death, like THIS.

“I think you’re skipping ahead in the story,” said God. “I think you’re glossing over a part … because you think it doesn’t matter? Are you embarrassed? Gideon, were you aware that, when you let Commander Wake get as far as she did—to the House of the Ninth, to one of our own Houses, our own people—that she was pregnant?” A pause. “I was aware,” said Gideon Classic. “Why the hell did you not tell me?” “Because I thought it was—mine.”

Ohhhhhhhhh. The plot thickens FURTHER. Gideon Nav's father possibly confirmed to be Gideon the First???????

(I'm not ignoring the "I thought" and all of the everything Commander Wake just said, meaning it could very much be not true, but still -)

“You never kept it secret from us. I always thought it was a little over the top, Teacher … you were always so fussy about never bleeding … but Cassiopeia told me a very interesting thing about blood wards, once. She always said that they should really be called cell wards, because they work off thalergetic enzymes … which can be spoofed with a substantial thanergy burst and the blood of a close relative. A parent. A child.” The Emperor said, as though speaking to a kid: “And how would you ever—” and stopped. [...] “But it was only—” “The once? Yes, one evening planned down to the ground for five hundred years,” said the Saint of Patience.

Holy shit holy shit holy shit holy shit!!!!!!!!

Gideon Nav's father almost definitely confirmed to be THE EMPEROR??????

THIS was the purpose of the sexy parties???? LMAO?????????

“I’m—” I said. The world revolved. “I’m not fucking dead,” I said, which wasn’t even true, [...] “Hi, Not Fucking Dead,” he said. “I’m Dad.”

CUT!!!!!!!! FIREWORKS PLEASE OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!

That was the single best way to end that chapter ghholy fuck.

I learned WAY more than I bargaiend for in this chapter holy fucdk¬!!!!!!!!!!!

HOLY FUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[teufelsabbiss]

Story idea: Tianlang-Jun/Yuè Qīngyuán, saving the world with papapa

Yuè Qīngyuán dies in Luò Bīnghé's trap and cycles back to his disciple days. He remembers everything.

Unfortunately, this doesn't help him to change the things he wants to the most, since he's already bound to Xuan Su, Qiu manor is burned down and Shen Jiu is missing. Searching for him doesn't yield positive results, Wu Yanzi is good at hiding his tracks.

During a meeting with other sects, Yuè Qīngyuán meets Su Xiyan and nearly has a heart attack, because she looks almost exactly like Luo Binghe. Or rather, his future damn half-demon murderer looks like her. He is aware that killing her right then and there will be discovered immediately and will spell death for himself. He almost attempts it, though. The only thing that makes him hold back is that he's not a hundred-percent sure that she really was/will be Luò Bīnghé's mother.

Then he is saved from Wu Yanzi's murder attempt by Shen Jiu again. He still thinks he deserves Shen Jiu's ire for failing him, but this time he attempts to give him a more in depth explanation – and is shocked to be forgiven and scolded for hurting himself. He never thought that was an option! Now he knows he can change things and hopefully prevent the horrible fate that awaits them.

Many events happen as he remembers them regardless. But he tries to amend them differently, with mixed success. For example, he swears his fellow succeeding disciples to secrecy and reveals to them that Shen Jiu and him grew up together as slaves and that his little sworn brother was sold to an abusive noble house. Everyone's reception of Shen Jiu and his prickliness is very different this time around. Especially Liǔ Qīnggē and Qi Qingqi are more polite and Shěn Jiu far less hostile in turn.

Yuè Qīngyuán remembers from his last life what the Huan Hua palace master will tell them about Su Xiyan spying on the heavenly demon Tianlang-Jun. After seeing her resemblance to Luò Bīnghé, Yuè Qīngyuán is convinced that was either an outright lie or he omitted a lot of what happened beside this. In any case, those two must never meet so that there will never be a future mad demon-lord!

This is easier said than done, though. He has no idea where the two met. Yuè Qīngyuán had enough knowledge about establishing the importance of spy-networks in his last life. The one they had then was sadly bad. But now that he knows this, he finds some people himself who inform him about what is going on around the Huan Hua territory. Tianlang-Jun and his general are weird enough to attract attention at once, disguises notwithstanding.

Yuè Qīngyuán immediately rushes to where the demon-lord was spotted. He is prepared to find a menacing, spying monster hell-bent on conquering the human realm and plans to lure him away to an unpopulated area. Once there, he would alert the sect with an emergency flare talisman to the danger, even though he knows they won't be able to defeat the heavenly demon emperor without the preparation that went into the siege at Bailu mountain. But he hopes this will at least make it impossible for Tianlang-Jun and Su Xiyan to meet. And, who knows, maybe she dies in the later upcoming battles, thus ensuing they can't have a child later.

Instead, he finds an easily distracted, embarrassingly lewd, yet strangely charming weirdo who loves trashy romance novels and eagerly takes every opportunity to learn more about human culture. It becomes understandable why Su Xiyan had (most likely consensually) dallied with this demon rather quickly. And unless Tianlang-Jun is the best actor in all three realms, which Yuè Qīngyuán highly doubts, he's not interested in conquest or war with the human realm at all.

Yuè Qīngyuán decides the best course of action is to keep him entertained in Cang Qiong territory until he is satisfied and peacefully leaves again.

Yuè Qīngyuán has ample experience with diplomacy, decades worth. How hard can it be? As it turns out, in Tianlang-Jun's case: not at all! And after Yuè Qīngyuán finds out that beside culture and art, a bit of ruthlessness and a firm hand is appealing to the demon-lord, it works even better. He can do this!

It works far too well!

After a few weeks of dumping novels and other art on him, leading him around to theater plays and having friendly spars, Tianlang-Jun is making marriage proposals and showers him with courting gifts and bad self-written poetry. Worse yet, Yuè Qīngyuán finds that he very much would like to accept. He didn't think that was a possible result of his efforts. But then again, what better and certain way to hinder Tianlang-Jun from siring a child with Su Xiyan than capturing the heavenly demon's heart (and dick) for himself?

Tianlang-Jun is way too noticeable and too exuberant in his adoration to stay a secret for long. They manage to keep his demon nature secret, though. One and a half year after they first met, the old peak lords ascend and leave their successors in charge. As the sect leader, Yuè Qīngyuán has full access to security on the peaks and can design a space with safety measures that can hide his demon lover visiting.

They wait another 10 years until his leadership of the sect and reputation is generally lauded by the entire cultivation world, then Yuè Qīngyuán announces that he will enter peace and alliance talks with the demon realm. Eventually he announces that he will marry Tianlang-Jun for peace with the demon-emperor's domain and protection from rivaling or hostile demon forces.

The other sects are outraged once they learn about this, but can't really do much against it, since this alliance is for the safety of the human realm. Despite the former good standing, Cang Qiong and Yuè Qīngyuán in particular retain a bad rep in the cultivation world as corrupted after this, though.

Yuè Qīngyuán cares little. Their sect remains the strongest and their territory is so well protected that the mortal townsfolk loves them. Newcomers clamor to gain entry in droves. Tianlang-Jun is funny and a loving, attentive husband. The sex is awesome. Xiao-Jiu doesn't hate him and is safe. They are all safe from a revenge-obsessed Luo Binghe.

As far as Yuè Qīngyuán is concerned, the other sects can go fuck themselves if they are unhappy with the situation.

[cuteniarose]

tell us abt meifeng here too plz!

(anon just found ur art blog post lol)

Oh sure!! I was just thinking about her earlier today lmao

So I'm not gonna repeat most of the stuff I've already said about her on my art blog, anyone's who's curious can just go here and read it for themselves, but I will give a brief rundown:

Meifeng – born in about 120-121 AG, give or take a couple of years. She/her, cis, not quite sure about her sexuality yet. A waterbender who specialises in healing. She's Ming-Hua's older cousin, the daughter of Nuying's (Ming-Hua's mom) older half brother, who was often in charge of babysitting her because Nuying's mental state wasn't the most stable after her husband left. Years later, Meifeng was the one who tried to stop Ming-Hua from running away, who remained at Nuying's side as she died (the exact circumstances of which I described in my art post and have actually cried over. It's really a gutpunch and a half), and who taught Suiren the basics of waterbending. That last point makes her an incredibly emotionally conflicting character, at least to me, because she's yet another adult in Suiren and Midori's life who failed them :/

Now, onto some more fun and hopefully less depressing stuff:

I imagine Meifeng and Ming-Hua's relationship to be somewhat similar to some aspects of Nani and Lilo's from Lilo and Stitch, mostly in the sense of Ming-Hua being an uncontrollable little chaos gremlin who Meifeng cannot turn away from for one second without her running off somewhere ("UGH, you're such a pain!!" "So why don't you sell me and buy a rabbit instead?!" "At least a rabbit would behave better than you!" "Great, then you'll be happy cause it'd be smarter than me too!!" "And QUIETER!!!" "You'll like it cause it's STINKY like you!!!!". Also, the gravity scene has them vibes too). She succeeded in stopping multiple of Ming-Hua's attempts to go too far outside their village but the second Ming-Hua learned to climb trees it was all over, it's impossible to catch up to her when she's in full on Tarzan mode. Meifeng's probably the only one of Ming-Hua's relatives to have ever met Ghazan because she's bound to have seen him while going to Gaoling to drag Ming-Hua's ass back home. But to her credit she never told anyone where exactly Ming-Hua was always running off to because she knew she'd get reprimanded for it as well. Eventually if she knew Ming-Hua was going to meet up with Ghazan, she'd let her go and would just spend the day off doing her own things away from the tribe so if anyone asked, she could say Ming-Hua was with her. #bestwingwoman

As Ming-Hua grew older their relationship started changing because it became clear Ming-Hua's thirst for freedom wasn't just her being a little brat or a bout of childish rebellion. Meifeng may have aided her in many things, but she was strictly against her running away for good. Their conversations became rather focused on things like "I know auntie can be... a little much sometimes, but she's your mother, she just wants the best for you". This, of course, pissed Ming-Hua off to no end and their relationship soured as she stopped confiding in Meifeng. Perhaps Meifeng eventually told Nuying about Ghazan and Gaoling and everything else in hopes that maybe at least her own mother would be able to talk some sense into her. That backfired majorly, resulting in a huge fight between Ming-Hua and Nuying. Luckily (or not, depending on who you ask), Ghazan ran away himself not long after so Ming-Hua wasn't placed on house arrest or watched like a hawk or anything since everyone thought her main influence was gone, but she still refused to say a single word to Meifeng for YEARS right up until she caught her running away in the middle of the night at age 15

Afterwards, Meifeng spent a lot of time comforting her aunt and just in general keeping her company whenever she could. And like I said, she was the one with Nuying when she passed, but I don't really want to linger on that bc it'll make me sad again so... regarding her relationship with Suiren. Meifeng knew her when she was very little but post-RL-imprisonment didn't see her again until she was 11. I know that in UtOS specifically Kat and I make a very big point out of Suiren not wanting to learn waterbending from anybody but her mama, but in that verse she's a traumatised seven year old child who, if she can't get her mama back, just wants everyone to leave her alone. In SotRL by the time she was 11 she had already accepted that her life wasn't going to change on its own, no one was coming to save them, nobody cared enough about them to do so. If she wanted to get herself and Midori away from Haya, she had to take matters into her own hands, and that meant learning waterbending. But it was forbidden in Haya's house and her skills atrophied over the years, so she couldn't do it alone. She remembered that her mother has family in the Swamp so maybe someone there could help her. It wasn't Mama, sure, but the swamp bending style is probably similar enough to Ming-Hua's unique one that it's easier to stomach than, say, learning northern style from Ikiaq. Meifeng took up teaching her and was rather impressed at how quickly she picked everything up, and maybe even shared some of what Ming-Hua had told her about her own unique style, how she relies on her spine and shoulders and all that, to help Suiren mimic it at least somewhat. But as nice and helpful as she was, she still ultimately refused to take Suiren and Midori in, even after being told that Haya is physically abusive, and Suiren never quite let go of that hurt and though the lessons continued because she had no other choice, she became even more closed off than she already was. Meifeng regrets that to this day but what she is regret if her choices meant Suiren and Midori needlessly suffered for another 12 years when it could have been different???

So this is basically the extent of what I have for now, I know all of it is based around Meifeng's relationships with other people rather than who she is on her own, but that's because her role in the story is a supporting one so I never really gave her much thought as an individual. Hope this still manages to satisfy your curiosity, though :)

[otomes-and-tears]

♦ an unsung melody (is mine for safekeeping) (6/10) ♦

► tags/warnings: pregnancy, past character death, angst

► words: 2204  

► A/N: If you have any name suggestions i’d love to hear them!

Part (01)  (02)  (03)  (04) (05)

► Masterlist

“Are you sure about this?”

“Yes, I haven’t changed my mind in the last five minutes, Erika.”

They were standing in the living room space of a small house, just outside of the main headquarters. 

Moving homes was something that Erika had brought up shortly after they started planning. It was an afterthought, a small suggestion that she had been mulling over for a while.

The walls of the HQ’s rooms weren’t thin, but they definitely wouldn’t hold up against a baby’s wails, particularly when thinking about faelians with sensitive hearing, and as the child grew up, moving away from the HQ rooms was an inevitability.

Nevra agreed with her— and then surprised her by suggesting to help her with it.

Well. Suggesting might be a slight understatement. It was closer to him simply informing her that he intended to help and wouldn’t accept no for an answer.

So that’s how they’re here. Nevra is carefully inspecting one of the rooms (with the wide windows and light yellow curtains she can almost picture a nursery) while she lingers behind, nervously shifting her weight from one foot to another while playing with the sleeves of her oversized sweater. Her feet are already aching, she can feel them swelling inside the boots that she stubbornly decided to wear, and she’s already annoyed due to hunger.

The house seemed fine to her.

She rebuilt her life with way less in the past and Erika was glad enough to have her own kitchen and bathroom, but Nevra was being a little… too attentive.

In normal circumstances, she would’ve kindly asked him to mind his own business and let her handle it, but despite the annoyance, she found it sweet for him to be worried.

Besides, as part of their agreement, Nevra would technically be living with her for a while due to their child. So, it was his business. 

(If her heart fluttered at the thought of this being their home, it was no one’s business but Erika’s.)

The person Huang Hua sent along to show them the available homes looked at Erika strangely, with the same expression that she’d usually associate with people who had known of her and not met her.

It was unnerving to be observed so intensely, they weren’t even trying to be discreet about it! It just made her feel uncomfortable and overexposed.

It had only been a couple of days since the big announcement. Erika didn’t want one, but it was a necessary evil. 

Overall, it hadn’t been too bad. Huang Hua gathered the HQ residents in the doors corridor and announced the good news. While Erika could feel the tension in the air, no doubt due to the increasingly strange phenomena surrounding Eldarya and Earth, most people were nice enough to be excited for her.

She spent the last few days being congratulated and teased, and trying to ignore the waves of sadness and grief she felt, but knew weren’t her own. 

Leiftan was trying his hardest to keep his emotions in check, she could feel the attempts to keep his grief locked away, but some things one can’t simply help.

The emotion sharing was something Erika was still getting used to, being a relatively minor footnote in the absolute chaos that had been the last couple of months but couldn’t help but feel bothered by it.

She tried to shake off that train of thought. She could deal with Leiftan’s mess later.

Now she had a different priority, who was carefully analysing the peeling wallpaper on the house’s walls.

“Aren’t most of the homes similar?” Erika tried to smile, as kindly as she could, to try to sway Nevra. “This one is one of the closest to the HQ and it’s in fantastic shape!”

It wouldn’t even need remodelling or that much furnishing. Just some cleaning and decorating and it would be perfect. 

Nevra looked at her like she had just sprouted a second head. The poor faelian murmured  “I’ll leave you two to discuss” before going outside and closing the door behind them.

“I’m tired,” Erika admits. It had been the fifth available, and final, house they’d seen today and none of them had satisfied Nevra. “It’s the last home we can move into on such short notice. Can we just… choose one? They were all great.”

“Do you… Seriously expect so little?”

The half-human stopped and blinked. Nevra’s serious expression morphed into something softer, kinder. His eyes were full of pity.

“What do you mean?”

Erika asks, genuinely. Nevra’s voice is slightly exasperated when he answers.

“Don’t you want a bigger house? Somewhere quieter? A garden? Maybe a little library?”

She snorted before she noticed he was being serious.

By the oracle, imagine if she had been offered a garden when she first arrived. A library and large rooms?

All she got was a room without even a mattress, and she was deemed over dramatic for throwing a fit.

The idea of demanding more right now never even crossed her mind.  

Erika had to fight tooth or nail for the right to exist. To retain even a shred of dignity in a world that was hostile to her.

She gave up a lot, too much.

And now, all she needed was somewhere comfortable for her child to live, that was close enough to the HQ that they could summon her quickly in case of emergencies.

She saved the world and all she got was a statue and more responsibilities. This harsh world taught her to expect nothing at all from her efforts.

But still, Nevra stands beside her and expects her to ask for more. Erika doesn’t even know what to say.

(A small, intimate part of her brain screams you. I want you, but she pushes the feeling down.)

“Maybe when this is all behind us.” She says, quietly. Erika moves to stand closer to the window, taking in the view of the other houses in the refuge. “When there isn’t this big, looming threat on the world— When Eldarya is at peace. Then we can move into a nice, big house with a library and a garden.”

“We?”

He asks, and out of the corner of her eye, she can see him getting closer. Is her mind playing tricks on her or does he sound hopeful?

“We.” She confirms, nodding her head as an extra measure. “Unless you don’t want that— which is totally cool, by the way. No pressure.”

It was all wishful thinking, anyway. The idea of living peacefully in Eldarya without the threat of war or a major disaster seemed distant, almost impossible.

But it was nice to think about. A pretty, fleeting fantasy.

“I’d like that.” 

Nevra says, after a moment. Erika snaps her head to look at him so quickly that it seems almost cartoonish.

“You do?”

She asks, again, dumbfounded.

“Yes, I do.”

He seems to consider something before saying it, and Erika strains to be patient about it. 

It seems like all they do lately is wait for each other, hiding meaning between the lines and hoping that the other understands it. 

She’s tired of toeing the line. Tired of the ambiguity, but too scared to ask more of him. 

So she waits and hopes he’s getting tired of these games too.

“There’s nothing I want more than for us to live in peace,” Nevra says, standing beside her to look out the window. “You deserve the life that you wish for, Erika. Our child deserves it too. And there’s nothing I’d love more than to be in it.”

He reaches out to touch her face, cupping her cheek with his hand. She leans against it, relishing in the comfort that the contact brought.

She did not cry, not this time. 

She felt a little silly for thinking that Nevra only cared for her now because she was carrying his child.

Nevra wouldn’t look at her like this if it wasn’t the case— the way his eyes softened, as if he was looking at something precious, the gentle curve of a smile on his lips, wasn’t something he ever granted to anyone else.

The fondness, the care, and the deep bond they shared, being united not only by the child they had created but by all that they went through beforehand— the battles, the reveals, the sorrow, joy and everything in between. It was far more than a romantic relationship, too sacred of a connection to be defined in words.

They were good people who had been through far too much. Who had the weight of the world thrust upon them at too young of an age, and who still had to carry the burden of the type of power they possessed— Erika wanted to be selfish, just for once, and hope for a happy ending. A happy ending where the world was saved, she was allowed to love and be loved without tragedy, and her baby would live so happily that they wouldn’t know the pain their parents went through.

An ending that she could share with Nevra this time.

Where she wouldn’t have to leave him behind to pick up the pieces in the name of the greater good.

“I’ll be there. In any way you’ll have me.”

He added, and Erika nodded. It wasn’t hard to believe him like this when he seemed so desperate to show her that he was sincere in his words.

“Even if all I want is to live here with you?”

Nevra rolled his eyes, pretending to be annoyed by her request, even if she could plainly see how it wasn’t true.

“If that’s what makes you happy.”

The vampire leaned down to kiss her forehead, the gesture seeming so natural that it didn’t even register as something to be embarrassed about. He turned away to call over the representative outside when Erika reached out to grab one of his hands.

The action was purely impulsive. Just, Erika wishing to stay in that little bubble they’d created for a little while longer, to be able to linger in the happy ending she fantasised about for just a second more.

“Yes?”

He was puzzled by her reaction, and she didn’t know what to say at first, what words would be suitable to explain the flurry of thoughts and emotions that had tormented her from the second she saw him after her awakening. But she couldn’t just say nothing. Erika would never be able to forgive herself if she let him go a second time.

Did the notion of a happy ending even matter in the long run? What’s the use of suffering, of putting all her needs aside for the sake of a nebulous greater good if she was doomed to a tragic ending anyways?

Maybe the ending doesn’t matter. It never did. All endings are tragic in their own bittersweet way, after all.

Life isn’t fair. She can’t hope for a happy ending in exchange for all she has endured, that’s the lesson that her life in eldarya had taught her. All she can hope for is to live happily in the present and to surround herself with love right now so she doesn’t have regrets in the future. 

Erika looks up at Nevra, as he waits for her, patiently, expectantly.

“I think I am in love with you.”

The words came easily, and she didn’t feel scared or hesitant. It just felt right. It felt right to look at him at that moment, alone in what would soon be their home and confess that to him.

He seemed surprised for a moment, before quickly regaining his composure and pulling her close, leaning in like he was about to kiss her.

She closes her eyes, expectant before she feels his breath on her neck. His lips were close to her ear.

“You think?” He whispers, and she flushes in embarrassment. Of course, he would tease her for that. “Well, I think I need more certainty than that.”

“I know.” Erika corrects herself  “I never stopped loving you, Nevra.”

That seems to satisfy him because just as she was wondering if she should open her eyes and flee in embarrassment she feels his soft lips against hers, and it feels like coming home.

All the tension around them was finally gone— the last piece of the puzzle finally clicking into place, and all she could feel was relief.

It feels too soon when he stops kissing her, and she’s about to lean in for another one when he hugs her, too tightly, as if she was going to disappear if he loosened his hold.

Erika feels the tears welling up in her eyes. He needed this more than he needed the kiss- he needed the assurance, that she was there and that she loved him and that she wouldn’t disappear again. The thought of it makes her cling to him too.

For a long time, they don’t speak. The only sounds echoing in the empty house being Erika’s sobs as Nevra holds her.

“I love you.” He whispers, quietly into her hair. Those words were only ever meant to her, only hers to hear. “It’s always been you. No one but you.”

[pockethep]

Thanks for answering my ask.....if you don't mind me asking (again), who are your favorite romantic relationship's couples in books/ manga/ anime/movies/tv series (can be canon or non-canon)? Sorry if you've answered this question before......Thanks....

No problem, I like doing these. These are some of my favorite couples though there were lots to sort through.

Percabeth (Percy x Annabeth) Percy Jackson and the Olympians

Just like my favorite character list, I love the Percy Jackson series but most important I love a certified wife guy. Percy chose Annabeth over a seat in Olympus. There are multiple points where in life threatening situations he thinks about Annabeth immediately. "A one way trip. A very hard fall" they fell into endless darkness together and came out together. They are the blueprint.

2. Satosugu (Gojo x Geto) Jujutsu Kaisen

This will be a trend but I'm a lover of angst as much as fluff but tragic lovers is a personal favorite thing of mine. Gojo called him his "one and only". The entirety of the events in the story revolve around Gojos choice to not kill him that day in 2006 and, when they met again, destroying the body. It's "Love is the most twisted curse of them all" vs "At least curse me a little at the very end". It's "my six eyes tell me you're suguru geto but my soul knows otherwise". No matter how Gojo held out his hand, there was no way for him, he who the world shifted upon his birth, to reach him. There something poetic about their relationship.

3. Royai (Mustang x Hawkeye) Full Metal Alchemist

They're basically canon. But I mean "When we're alone the colonel calls me Riza" like COME ON. Riza is a "loyal to a fault, dedicating their entire being to the other with little hope of ever getting an ounce of affection back cause she made up her mind and decided it doesn't matter so long as she can remain by his side" character and Mustang is a "self-destructive tendencies combined with +10 charisma and noble ideals who's ready to be viewed as a villain if thats what it comes to and as such can't understand why the other is so loyal." character. Plus its all about the way they hang all over each other when hurt and how she could so easily direct him when he was blind. That trust is elite.

4. Heromari (Hero x Mari) Omori

Another tragic pairing. It's heartbreaking how much they loved each other and even if we didn't get to see a lot of it in game we know from the way everyone describes them and the pictures. Mari's death completely changed the trajectory of Hero's life and although he may heal he'll probably never get over her. Everyday I curse at the sky that they didn't get to have their future together

5. Hualian (Hua Cheng x Xie Lian) Tian Guan Ci Fu

I'll keep this one brief. Tgcf said "only after meeting you did I rediscover that it's such a simple thing to be happy" and "to me, the one basking in infinite glory is you; the one fallen from grace is also you. what matter is you, not the state of you" and "there's no banquet in the world that doesn't come to an end, so i'll say what I want to say" and I went feral for every bit of it. Hualian is such a lovely couple.

6. Kaebedo (Kaeya and Albedo) (Genshin Impact)

Without going into too much lore(another reason why I love this couple). I love the idea of Kaeya and Albedo seeing their shared heritage in one another. Learning together to see it as creative and beautiful and not just a curse or an evil. Also I love the homunculus part, it aids to a lot of good drama and tension.

7. Akiangel (Aki x Angel Devil) (Chainsaw man)

Slightly new to the list BUT the dynamic between the two goes farther beyond the "out of touch, out of time" jokes. It goes even farther than the "man who hates devils falling in love with one". It's about the drinking imagery evoking a kiss, Angel being able to break from Makima for a brief moment because of Aki, and their shared moments of kindness. Also the fan art is fantastic.

8. Chidi and Eleanor (The Good Place)

I love them so much. And even if we only saw them as a couple for a brief period of time, I love watching adults fall in love and I loved watching them both get better.

9. Orpheus and Eurydice (Greek Mythology)

Their story is one of love. A love that could drive one into the underworld. Just gonna drop this "Dying a second time, now, there was no complaint to her husband (what then could she complain of, except that she had been loved?)"

10. Chili and Bandit Heeler (Bluey)

A wild pull but I genuinely could see this in my number 1 spot. It is so refreshing to see a couple that genuinely loves each other, their children, and their lives. I'm tired of the sitcom schtick where the husband and wives hate each other and their jobs and talk about how their kids annoy them by existing. I want more of them and I want what they have.

Some Honorable Mentions:

Ichigo and Orihime, Inuyasha and Kagome, Ninguang and Beidou, Edward and Winry, Luz and Amity, Vanilla Extract and Tumblr Polls, Joe and Cherry, Beau and Yasha, Twilight and Yor, Zelda and Link, Franky and Robin, Akechi and Persona 5 Protag

[sparesovereign]

random inbox things // always accepting

@battleguqin asked:

Dear Anna, I know we have not met formally but I felt that since Hua Mulan has been having some rough times that she needs a distraction from it. I doubt she would consider me sending you a letter to conspire, with the recent loss of her grandmother...time with those who actually show care is in order. Can you get away , would you prefer I bring her there ? or shall we go somewhere totally different for a change of scenery ? Warmest Regards, Lan Sizhui

"A letter has arrived for you, your majesty."

Eagerly grabbing hold of the envelope, thanking the maid, Anna peered over the scripture, the enthusiasm in her eyes quickly turning to confusion as she looked over the lettering that was unfamiliar to her.

Curiosity taking hold, she opened the letter, her eyebrows instantly raising in deep concern. Mulan had indeed been quite somber during her last visit, the passing of her grandmother weighing heavy on her heart, leaving Anna feeling rather helpless and hopeless that her friend was in such a state. The young Queen would give anything to bring some light into her best friends life.

And for Sizhui to reach out, it must have been truly serious.

But that sorrow Anna felt soon turned to that of pure excitement, a million ideas suddenly swarming in the confounds of her mind, making her dizzy with the possibilities they brought. This was the absolute perfect plan, one Mulan would never suspect but appreciate all the same.

Instantly finding a blank sheet of parchment and an inkwell, she dipped her quill and began her reply;

Dear Sizhui, HI THERE! I can't tell you how much it means to me that I was thought of for this plan, which by the way, I think is a wonderful one. A change of scenery with her favorite people could be just what she needs right now and I'm more than happy to help. As Queen, I'm sorry to say that I can't be away for longer than a week but, I think I can convince my sister to look over Arendelle for a few extra days if needed. Together, we can bring some happiness to Mulan. As I'm sure you know, she deserve it more than anyone. Your co-conspirator and new friend, Queen Anna of Arendelle

[herrscherrofyatta]

Splintered Heart

Chapter 4

Pairing: Kazuha x reader, Ayato x reader (could be both in a way?)

Genre: Arranged marriage, angst

(contains spoilers for Ayato's story quest)

✧ this a Fu Hua theme blog✧

After being greeted by the bride herself, you sat inside in front of the table, waiting for Hiiragi Chisato, as she left to prepare some tea and snacks for the both of you. You glance around the place before settling down your gaze to the table.

The absence and quietness around you made your mind wonder else where but atlas, you mind wonders to things you wished to leave in the past, you had no use for them.

Being so deep in thought, you failed to realize that Chisato came back in the room holding a tray in hand.

"Lady Y/n, I was think we should have some tea outside, would you like that?" She asked politely and you smile at her, snapping out of your thoughts. "Of course, what ever makes you comfortable, this is your home after all." She smiles at this, you stand up and follow her outside the room as she guides outside. You two walk past some of the clan's staff that seem to cast a glance at the sight of you.

But they didn't say anything, just nod respectfully in your direction as you acknowledged them on the way outside.

"I'm quite nervous about the wedding." Chisato says once you two were outside and away from anyone. You could feel the air around, she seemed quite nervous yet excited for the big day and you couldn't help but feel proud of the woman.

Although you two weren't close friends, you grew to know her at some degree ever since being engaged to Ayato at a young age. After all, it was common for children of noble families to attending classes together back in the day.

Actually, that's how you met Ayato.

Giving her a reassuring smile as the two of you sat down at a small table outside, "I'm sure everything will go fine, it's wonderful that you were able to marry someone you loved." You tell her, a hint of sadness in your eyes as you did so. "I'm sure you'll be the most beautiful bride there ever was, Chisato."

Chisato's cheeks turned into a faint red at your words as she began to fling her arms around in the air at your words. You could tell she was bashful receiving your compliment but it was truth, you were sure her wedding would be beautiful with her as the bride.

"N-non-sense! In all my life, you were the most beautiful bride I saw on the day of your wedding with Lord Kamisato!" You flinched at this as your eyes wide to look at her. "You looked so divined as if a god descend from Celestia itself, in all honesty."

You stayed quiet, thinking of that day 4 years ago, the day itself wasn't at all bad but....you were waiting for him to come take you away before you could get married to Ayato yet, he never did. You've learned to moved on from this, accepting the reality that he moved on and left you for good.

Kazuha never came to rescue you as you were tied to a life you never wanted.

"Lady Y/n, did I say something wrong?" Chisato must have noticed your silence.

"I'm flattered, maybe, I could have a similar wedding kimono tailored for you if you want." She smiles at this but she shakes her head.

"There's no need, I'm sure you would want your wedding kimono to be one of a kind, it must hold dear memories for you." She says truthfully as you sip on the tea she gave you before hand, and you force a smile back at her.

It wasn't that the day of your wedding with Ayato was anything bad but you came to terms on that day that childish dreams, in the end, were nothing more but empty promises, never to be fulfilled.

In fact, seeing that the one you hoped would come to get you, never came, you decided to just change everything last minute and Ayato did not interfere. You always had bad terms with your parents so instead of your father guiding you to Ayato, it was a dear friend of yours, who you cherished a lot.

Unfortunately, he is no longer here.

"I see, then maybe I could help you shop for one. I have many designs I could show you back in the estate." You two smile at this.

"Then, if it's alright by you, why not?"

You hear rapidly footsteps behind you and you glance back to see a soldier running towards you two. Seeinh his face filled with worry, you raised a brow.

You had expected him to tell Chisato things regarding the clan but nope, you were off guard when he started to say things like to call off the wedding and that he didn't want her to get married.

Placing a hand on your mouth, you watched stunned and you immediately recognized the love-stuck look in his eyes and words as he spoke with Chisato.

Feeling a bit sentimental, you place a hand on your chest as you watched him walk away after a bit once he was done warning the woman about her wedding.

She clears her throat, "my apologies for having you witness this, I have no idea what gotten into him." She says, feeling a bit uneasy, it seems like the soldier's words had an effect on her.

She stands up, taking a deep breathe, "if you'll excuse me, I want to get some fresh air. You can wait here for the time being." You nod, smiling at her.

"It's not a problem, I will be here until you're ready to talk." You say as she walks away, heading back towards her family's estate.

Sighing to yourself, you narrow your eyes to the side as you let out a hum. "This is quite strange." Just as you were going to call out for the person hiding in the shadows.

"Lady Kamisato," you hear a voice calling for you from behind you and you look back to see Matsuura, an older man that works for Chisato's clan.

"Mr. Matsuura." You greet him, watching as he bows his head slightly before looking up at you.

The old man keeps his distance from you, "my sincere apologies for my wife's extremely rude comment earlier today, I didn't know she would all bad about you and lord Kamisato."

You resist the urge to roll your eyes at this, "it's fine, just keep her in lane. I don't mind any judgements from others nor do I care about them but what I don't like is people dragging Ayato in it. The man has done nothing wrong, so please, keep that woman from saying bad about him, fo I make myself clear?" You give him a cold look and he rapidly nods his head at this.

"O-of course, lady Kamisato. I will make sure my wife behaves from now on." You indicate that you were listening to him with the wave of your hand. "Anyways, I approached you regarding the wedding happening soon, I was wondering if you could help Chisato with the bride stuff since that you're more experienced in that area, since you're married with Lord Kamisato."

You smile at him, he fully knows why you married the man but either way, you felt delighted to plan a wedding. "Of course, Chisato and I already talked about the preparations."

Matsuura looks a bit surprised at this before relaxing, "I seen, well that's good. Now if you excuse me, that's all I wanted to talk about."

He leaves, your eyes linger on his figure till he's out of sight. Lifting your hand, it lightens up a bit before you lean down and place it on the floor.

'Please, keep an eye out for that man, I don't have a good feeling about him and this whole wedding.'

Taking your hand back, you watch as the leaves to the side of you flutter a bit before coming to a stop.

"I'll be waiting for your information gathering, dear friends."

You spot Chisato in the distance but she's not alone as you spot Ayato and the quests from before just lingering behind her. You don't notice the way a gently smile breaks on your lips as soon as Ayato reaches for you, a smile reflecting your own.

"My dear, what a surprised to see you here, surely I thought you would stay home to rest." The smile on your face never leaves as he takes a hold of your hand before placing a tender kiss on the back of it.

"I decided to come visit Chisato to if she needs any help with her part of the wedding." You tell him as he lets go of your hand, placing it down back to your side softly before noticing that there was an audience around you two.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, you cough as you look at the guests but it seems like all of the two beat you to the question.

"Hey, you're the lady from earlier. Who are you?" The white haired, flying girl asks as the blonde besides her tries to prevent her from being rude.

Sending a smile to them, you introduce yourself to them as Chisato sits down in her seat.

"It seems like I didn't introduce myself last time, I was quite tired back then. My name is Kamisato Y/n, the wife of Ayato. It's a pleasure to meet you two."

You see the way both their mouths drop to the floor at this, their eyes wide as saucers as the two look back and forth to you and Ayato. A bit confused from this reaction, you tilt your head a bit. "?"

"You two are married!?" Paimon screams loudly, the blonde shushing her but it's no use as you're taken back from her loud tone.

Not know what to say, you glance at Ayato but he looks quite happy and you realize that you're alone in trying to quiet down the little girl.

Ayato was quite happy to see you fluster about this situation, it seems to be causing you to let down your guard for a moment, which was rare.

Masterlist

[mxthtea]

Before it all ends could I ask for a HoV/Kiana x Reader!Herrscher!Gn where the last time voidy and the reader met was back in the old world and they met again and continue their journey together? (I hope im not late with the honkai request idk when does it close if it already did then maybe next time)

Keep up the good work and LONG LIVE THE VOID QUEEN.

[anon has changed the req so fu hua would take the place of sirin/kiana]

dw anon !! req for honkai aren't going to be closed anytime soon <3 im having a lot of fun with them !!

god this req was so good tysm anon pls if you want a part two of fu hua and reader's relationship growing then please do bc i love this so much oh my go -

request info

fu hua x gn!herrscher!reader warnings: honkai spoilers most likely, herrscher type the reader is isn't mentioned (bc i couldnt think of any), grammar + spelling mistakes, lowercase writing, tell me if i forgot any. description:

that's her...

ah how could not tell from her voice alone? is that why it sounded so familiar to you? after so so so long. you finally saw her again. word count: 1.4k

you never had a home, never had and never will. being a herrscher meant being more on the run than able to pick one place to stay. the possibility of someone trying to capture you laid heavy on your shoulders against everything else that could possibly stand against you. the previous overwhelming sense of melancholy about it all had faded after hundreds and thousands of years by now.

you were used to being on the run, never planned on ending it. it would be impossible to do it after all.

yet at times, you did find yourself thinking about her. one of the mantis' that once fought against you. to her, her entire purpose was to fight against the honkai, to finally end them all off. but in the end, she wasn't able to.

you sighed, old memories once again resurfacing. there wasn't much to do with your own head after all. nothing else to think about what where to go and everything that happened in the old world. conversations were short with humans, eating at restaurants or cooking was silent, walks around any area was cut short at all times. there was very little you could do to change it.

the wind picked up around you as you sat up. placing down a tip of money onto the picnic table for your server when they came to clean the table you had sat at. the temperature was slowly getting colder with the season of winter approaching as the days went by. the air caught in your chest was slowly let out as you walked along the path, you felt strangely lonely. even the leaves that drifted away drifted together.

were you a lone leaf compared to them? a broken leaf floating from the tree of your past, yet never able to stay far away from it. a leaf that would get stomped on or crumpled up. or would your leaf never stop its journey around? would it be able to see the world? or would it be crushed?

the wind seemed to continue to pick up, almost like it didn't want you to move. but being stagnant wasn't an option to you. all you could do was continue onwards, even if the entire world had to stop moving so you would stand still for a moment longer.

"the wind seems to get pretty aggressive in these times, doesn't it?"

that voice… it was familiar to you. yet also so unknown at the same time.

you cleared your throat before answering, "i guess it does."

"almost like the world itself is telling you to stop running for once."

"huh?"

you turned to the voice.

that's her…

ah how could not tell from her voice alone? is that why it sounded so familiar to you? after so so so long. you finally saw her again.

it wasn't good that you saw her though, right? the girl right by you, fu hua, had made it her entire life to destroy the honkai after everything that had happened to her. after everything they had done to her in the old world. it seemed you weren't any different either, being a herrscher after all.

is this where it will end for you?

fu hua didn't do anything more than adjust her glasses as the wind had made them a bit uneven on her face. another breeze floated next to the both of you. oh how you wished it would let you move from the spot you were seemingly glued to already. more leaves rustled by the two of you. two broken leaves fluttered to a stop in front of both you and fu hua, both ruined from being stepped on but continuing the journey together.

fu hua's voice broke through the breeze, stepping towards you yet missing both of the leaves that stood in her way. "it seems that running into herrschers on accident is a common theme around this time, as strange as it is now. after all that has happened in our old world."

the air around you seemed to chill. you didn't want to end like this. why weren't you allowed to live? what did you do? you swore you've kept yourself a clean slate in this era now. taking control of your herrscher abilities and doing what you could to survive longer through this time. is all that work going to end now?

yet fu hua didn't make any further move to you.

"a-are you going to end it now? kill me right here?" you asked. your voice felt so quiet, barely leaving passed your lips as the words flew in the wind that kept swaying by.

"i've met many new people during this time, and learned many new things. even a stubborn girl i know was able to drag me out from where i once was. even after all that i have done, after all that has happened in the past and even continuing in the present."

"that doesn't even answer my question."

fu hua's calmness seemed to irk you. was she dragging it out? what was she planning? you haven't seen her since the previous era, how much has she changed by now? what would happen?

more questions continued to float in your head, never moving. they were stagnant, unlike what you were. continuing to grow and bury themselves into your head to never move until something was done.

"you haven't let me answer it" fu hua said, walking two steps closer to you, "for once, i have no plans for taking you out. even as a herrscher you've been on the run since the beginning of your time. not even the strongest of winds could hold you down now."

your eyes followed the two leaves that were once landed right in front of you. finally, they broke free from the still air between you and fu hua, disappearing into the wind. their journey was unknown to you and fu hua. yet it seemed their journey would be complete with the both of them together for once.

would it ever be like that for you?

"yet can i ask for you to once, pause for journey across the world?"

what was she thinking?

was she tricking you?

your head was blank and full of all the possibilities of what she meant. the air stilled, the wind disappearing and the leaves standing still.

"has… has time changed you that much?" you whispered.

"less of time and more of a few stubborn friends that don't want to let me go either," fu hua answered.

"i've been journeying by myself across this land for more years than any human can count, why should i stop now?"

"you've been getting more worn out overtime. even a herrscher can't spend time all alone, going to the last bit of rope on a cliff of loneliness, just to fall. someone has taught me that now. and the best thing to do with messages of those is to carry it on to others around you.

seeing you here was something i didn't expect, yet it felt like a proper time to pass along this teaching that has taken so long for me to understand. at some point, all things have to end. even if it might be something you've done for years."

silence sat in the air. the will to finally accept someones warmth beckoned you to its enticing embrace. yet you still felt hesitant. was it truly a good idea? what would you do?

"if i take you up on this offer… what will happen?"

fu hua let out an amused to breath, "not even i can say much to that. many things have happened that we could never predict would. yet, it seems better than to be able to see what is coming every single day. knowing you'll be continuing on a journey of running, or continuing on a journey that never seemed to end at all. maybe for once, you can continue on without knowing."

fu hua held out her hand to you. it was in reach.

what would happen though? would you be safe?

you tried to empty your head, yet nothing worked. even then, your hand reached out into fu hua's. placing your palm against yours. her hands were rough from fighting, yet it felt so warm to you. it felt inviting… you missed this. something you were never able to have in your life. you can finally have it for once.

"then please… let me stay still for once," you whispered, words barely coming out without cracking. tears that were held inside for years finally facing the surface, facing the light you were finally facing for once.

"of course," was all fu hua answered.

for once, you could stay still. planting yourself in a time that wasn't filled with running from all of humanity. for once, you wouldn't regret a choice you were made. and you'd never regret having fu hua along side you.

[kalpasio]

Heart of a Previous Era

You?

A Kalpas x reader fic, chapter 1 below!

Going through the Remembrance vessels was always depressing. Mei felt like she was invading the Flame Chaser’s privacy every time. She had been told on multiple occasions that they didn’t mind, but it was still odd reading what was essentially a person’s diary from fifty thousand years ago and then turning around and asking them about it. Sakura had told her that they wouldn’t have left the knowledge there if they didn’t want successors to know, but when Mei read things like this….

The Herrscher of binding took countless lives, both MOTHs and civilians. None of the Flame Chasers spoke of it fondly. Mei knew Kalpas had nearly died during the attack, and even if he wasn’t close to very many people, there was no way he left the event without losing someone. She had never asked him about it—the man was touchy enough as it is—but one of his memories answered the question for her.

Kalpas’ partner had been one of the first MANTISes sent to the scene of the impact. Before they fully understood the effects of the field. Before they really knew what they were dealing with. The first wave was comprised of several top-tier MOTHs. None of them made it back.

Memories in the vessels didn’t always have images, but this one did. There was a picture of Kalpas and Sakura with his partner sandwiched between the two of them. The two not wearing masks had wide grins, the three had clearly known each other for a while. At the bottom there was a caption mentioning how now all three of them had received the Meta-Morph surgery.

Mei usually spent a few minutes turning the stories over in her head, but this time she just stood staring at the picture. She knew that stranger in the photo.

 Her first year at St. Freya had been your last before you graduated. To help new students grow accustomed to the campus, they were paired with upperclassmen; Mei had been paired with you. She was shocked to find that you were also a senior member of World Serpent when she joined.

“Shicksal isn’t getting shit done, and Otto gives me the creeps,” you explained when she first joined. Raven had told Mei that most of the higher-ups in World Serpent had been to the Elysian Realm, with the exception of you. When asked why, Raven shrugged and said Kevin never sent you down, and you never asked.

Now it made sense, you didn’t know Kalpas, or any of the Flame Chasers other than Kevin and Fu Hua in the current era, but they knew you. Given Kalpas’…tendencies towards violence, it seemed like a good idea to avoid dredging up memories associated with you.

That being said.

If Mei had always done what seemed like the best idea, she wouldn’t be where she was today. There was a chance that Kalpas would trust you, even if you didn’t know who he was, and you’d be able to get answers to questions that Kalpas would never give her.

The next time she left the realm, Mei contacted you and asked you to meet her outside. She specified that you shouldn’t tell Kevin and you responded that you’d be there, and that Kevin could suck your dick.

A few weeks later, you were blindly following Mei down a poorly lit hallway. You trusted she wasn’t trying to get you killed, but you kept a tight grip on your weapon anyway. The hallway ended in a set of doors that lead to a brightly lit room, causing you to squint while your eyes adjusted. Mei seemed unbothered in the change, but it was clear she’d been here before.

“Hi~ Mei!” The voice that greeted her sounded almost artificially sweet and you didn’t plan on trusting it any time soon. Mei, however, just rolled her eyes and returned the greeting.

“Elysia. This is my friend,” Mei introduced you and Elysia just smiled.

“Mei~ I know! That’s my friend too!” Now you were confused. You’d never met this woman in your life, you’d remember meeting a…pink elf. Yet she was extremely confident in her claim of knowing you. “Or at least we were friends in a different life.” Your brows came down, now you were more confused.

Subconsciously, your hand drifted towards the greatsword on your back. Without looking, Mei grabbed your wrist and stopped it from moving any further. Elysia giggled at this exchange, and you nearly growled in response. Mei tightened her grip on your wrist so it was nearly painful, causing you to snatch it away and send them both glares.

“I guess you don’t remember me,” Elysia spoke with a finger to her chin, though she hardly seemed surprised. “It’s still good to see you again! You should come meet the others!” Elysia turned with a cheeky grin and lead you further into the realm. There were two people in the room you entered.

The person to your right, you didn’t recognize. A woman with pink hair and what looked like bunny ears leaned against a table. The area she stood in was dark in contrast to the bright area on the other side of the room. It looked similar to one of the strategy rooms in World Serpent, though the technology seemed much more futuristic than what you had, and certainly didn’t match the decor in the lounge across the room..

The other person, you unfortunately recognized. Kevin stood to the left, in a golden-tinted lounge with a long wraparound couch. He was leaning against a bar, glowering as usual, so you chose to ignore him for as long as possible. There was a bookshelf built into the wall above the couch, and a beautiful portrait of a woman hung above that. Soft music played from the record player behind the bar, in complete contrast to the depressing feeling Kevin brought.

“What happened to ‘don’t tell Kevin’?” you turned to Mei who sighed.

“This is not the same Kevin we work with,” she held up a hand to stop you from asking before she finished. “Everyone here is a simulation. Data of people from the previous Era. Their personalities and memories have all been preserved to help the current era combat Honkai.”

Trying to process what you had just been told, you closed your mouth and sent a slightly confused look towards the ground as though it could help. “So…this Kevin doesn’t know who I am?”

“Well…” Mei looked away almost guiltily.

“We don’t know you,” Elysia suddenly spoke up. “But in our era, there was someone who looked, acted and sounded exactly like you.”

“You’ve known me for five minutes,” you frowned at the elf.

“Yes!” she giggled, “but in our era, I knew you for years. We fought side by side and everything about you, down to the smallest mannerism is the same.”

“That’s why you brought me here.” You were speaking to Mei now, though you refused to look at her. If you had laser vision, you’d have burned a hole in the wall by the time she confirmed your suspicion. She wasn’t shy about it, a calm ‘yes’ being her response, but you could hear a hint of guilt slipping through.

“I’m surprised I sent you down here,” Sim-Kevin had walked over while you were mentally deconstructing the wall. In the real world, you and Kevin had never gotten along. He let you join World Serpent because you were a damn good fighter, and he didn’t want you as an enemy. You stayed because he got results, and you were given more free will than you would’ve gotten fighting elsewhere.

“You don’t know I’m here,” you crossed your arms, immediately defensive, even if this Kevin didn’t know you. He said nothing for a moment, that—for a normal person—would have been a sigh.

“Why am I not surprised.”

“Oh, come oooon Kevin. Don’t be such a spoil sport!” Elysia whined. All you could do was stare when she latched on to your arm. “I for one am happy to see our friend again. And I’m sure the others will be too!”

“Kalpas included?”

For the first time since you met her, Elysia was quiet, and you could feel the tension, though that was near constant around Kevin.

“Let’s go,” Mei held your wrist that was free from Elysia’s grip, and you were pulled away towards what looked like a holographic door. To the right of the platform holding the door was a screen that said something about “difficulty,” but you couldn’t read any more before Mei began fiddling with it. You took the chance to consider your options, World Serpent more than owed you a vacation, but this was not at all as relaxing as you had hoped.

Should you bail and go actually take a vacation for once? Grey Serpent would probably find you and give you an earful for “abandoning duties” or whatever. Grey Serpent could kiss your ass. He may outrank you, but your sword has cut clean through his body enough times to earn you some respect.

More annoyingly, Mei would come back asking you for more favors because you ditched this one. Owing Mei was never a good thing, and hardly worth a few days of peace. So long as Kevin stays out of my way, I’ll be fine, you decided just before being pulled out of your thoughts.

Mei was still typing away at the screen, but there was the distinct feeling of a set of eyes on your back. It was hard to hide the apprehension crawling up your back, but you squared your shoulders and spun around the face the unwanted observer. Unsurprisingly, it was the only person in the room you hadn’t met. Her pink ears were low on her head, and she maintained eye contact with you despite the challenging glare you sent. Mei was the one to interrupt your silent battle, pulling you away once again, this time taking you through the odd-looking door.

I hate Kevin with a passion if you couldn't tell (so many people are going to hate me at the end of this story, whoops)

[alberivh]

the unknown contract

summaries: an old tale of zhongli and his past lover, who’s known to have an unordinary contract between their noble family and an unknown villager. Which only lead zhongli to choose his final decision for the sake of his lover.

characters: zhongli x fem! Reader

Warning & Mentions : Major Character Death, Heavy Angst, slight comfort/hurt, implied Tuberculosis, Mentions of Curses.

PS : you’re the ‘young-lady Hua’ , Hua is the clan of your character :D

A/N : i actually have wrote this before but i couldn’t manage to finished it, so i decided to make a short version of it. Also, i actually hate this because i have a really bad writer-block right now, but i Hope you all still like it !!

the wind of the fall have occurs their way to liyue. It was pretty cold indeed, especially because it was unexpected for them to have a fall-break in the middle of the festival. zhongli managed to escaped from the crowded area of liyue’s harbour midnight-fall festival. still, At the end he never finds a way back to the small inn he always adore since the past of an old liyue.

He still remembers the first meeting of the young-lady hua and himselves. She is..unexpectedly not a professional at making a friendship contract. Though, i find her quiet the charming one.

“please mr.unknown, be my friend! I’ll promise i’ll gave you the tea you’ve just sipped for free till the day i got kicked out from this inn!! oh and yes, here take the flower! These glaze lilies are a product of our friendship alright, mr. Unknown? Let this be a contract for both of us”

even if it were still in the middle of the autumn, her smile brighten zhongli cold gaze to a warm melt of the sun. Mr. Unknown, such a nostalgic phrase zhongli could ever think. As This were, the first contract of the Young - Lady Hua and the eternal Geo Archon, Morax.

3 months and 15 days have past since zhongli first meeting with the Young Lady Hua. They both have fell in love and it’s time to confess their connection. but how should a young lady of the richest noble clan from liyue able to confess her love without feeling any guilt..? How should an unknown man confess his true feelings to her who still hides the facades of her family in her hands? Many questions popped to their heads, but none of them could ever open the topic.

“younglady- ah-i mean (name)..excuse my tardiness, can i ask y—“

“Mr. Unknown..have you ever heard the rumors of the Hua Clan..?” , she cutted through his words. Maybe there’s something to be told before she confess, wouldn’t it?

“i guess you don’t know..huh..”

silence pierce the atmosphere, and a sigh from the Young Lady crossover it to change this Mr.Unknown mind.

“There’s an old tale where the first descendants of the Hua Clan, My great great grandfather, have made a contract with one of the God’s..it was painfully obvious that it wasn’t a great idea…well Mr. Unknown, do you know the body of the contract..?”

“i- never knew anything about this..milady-i mean (name) so what is it?” , concern yet anxious to know. This Mr.Unknown still put his pokerface while asking such a question to this pathetic-looking young lady.

“well mr.unknown..my grandfather cursed all of the descendants for living our lifes with old-money that he have worked for since ages..so he signed the contracts with the god’s, he wrote in the contract..let the descendants of my clan, women and such, suffer from blood and disgust at the age of 25 to the 3 months of living..”

“And this year..i’m going to be 25..and i’ll be the descendants of this disgusting clan..so, mr unknown, would you still love me until my time has come..?”

such a tragical plea to appear and such a confess to be heard. Zhongli only wanted to despised her now, how can she live with this even after she knew how her time has been predicted ever since the generations? How can she still smile at him even after she knew she was about to die? Just how.. zhongli wanted to hide his face, he feels like he did nothing but being a burden to your facades.

i shouldn’t have met you.. i don’t wanted to troubled you..

He is a god. yet he still couldn’t forgive himself for not being aware of his mortal contracts with the unknown. How can he even managed to tell her the truth after he knew how much of a failure he is?

“mr. unknown, let’s ran-away from here and live together till the 3 months of my life..i love you mr.unknown..so please, let this be my next contract with you..i—”

“lets go, i’ll be staying with you..i’m not wasting my time here, so please my love..stay with me till the contract has come to an end.”

This unknown man have hugged his lover for the first time. The warm of his lover felt like a melt of an ice for him, it was painful yet so beautiful for him to feel her now-frail presence..how can he never feel this in the past? Was he really just a-lone-god..?

1 week after their confession. Blood starts to spilled out from the young-lady mouth. it was a textured blood, which you could only found as a symptoms of the ‘consumption’ the book in liyue’s folklore has ever wrote. It was..dark and painful to vomit.

happy birthday to myself..the Lady of Hua.

She haven’t even told Mr. unknown about the symptomps she just suffered. It’s not the right time she thinks. Still, there’s a slight of suspicious look came from the sight of his lover.

2 weeks and 3 days have past since her birthday. Zhongli haven’t found any evidence to proof his suspicions and worries. Though, he founds something on her shirt..a cough of blood. Even at the end, zhongli couldn’t managed to bring up the subject nor if he had the braveness to approach the subject.

“..she’s still alive”

And the Third week has came. Zhongli couldn’t find his lover anywhere around the harbor. thinking she was abducted by the elder of the clan who have caught the glimpse of her structure. He rans through Mount Tianheng and The Crowded area of the Harbor for hours now. Still he doesn’t found any clue surrounding your existence.

he found her. Lying in the back of the crowded corridor of the Harbor, Slightly Unconscious. Many soft-red dry scars have been spotted near her wrist and legs, it even worried him more than before.

“love..are you awake..?”

and a blood cought out from her mouth. As chills ran from zhongli’s spine, he carry out her body in a bridal style so this young-lady of his could feel his presence, beside from her suffering from something she couldn’t control. The blood she vomitted are now became a droplets of rains in zhongli’s hands. How come it drops as if it were never stopped?

Zhongli rans to the inn as fast as his mortal body can. He doesn’t wanted to waste his time searching for physics, because he knew deep inside, the citizens of the harbor have been looking for this young-Lady and her ‘kidnapper’ after the clan have decided to gave 1 million mora of their fortune to the founders of the-now Lady Hua.

“mr.unknown..i really..i really, don’t want to die…”

“hold onto my arms love..we’ll be home soon, so take your time to rest your body here” , zhongli started to panicked after he saw his lover now-sorrowed eyes. It was painfully beautiful how she look so comfortable in arms of the unknown as if it were her habitat to be familiar with those the faith reserved for.

Heavy breathing came past onto her mouth, and wind guide her to her frail word.

“Mr. Unknown..all i could ask is for you to..love me and forgive me..– i love you..”

“i love you..and i despised the fact i couldn’t met you sooner..”

“I love you..”

and the words she said are now just a memories of zhongli’s past. It’s the last thing he ever heard from his lady after she cough out the last droplets of blood. she doesn’t escape the last 2 months of her life, but she still smile at me. She is a disguise of my old lover.

The glaze lilies they both sworn to each other as the ‘first contract’ of their relationship are now left as a petals of remembrance zhongli has treasured for ages.

And as a gift for their 150 years worth of memories and which could only past as 3 months of relationship, zhongli bought a gift. It’s a proposal ring he couldn’t managed to bought back then, it’s a ring of promises and swear. He uses it in daily basis, even hu tao recognize this special ring he always use when he met the clients of the parlor or when he ran some errands for her.

love..your tombstone are now just a sand of remembrance but here in this ring, i could still remember your presence..

my name is now zhongli and not the unknown.. but dear, i wish i could still hear your phrases when i recall your name again..