xiaolindude - Tumblr blog

[xiaolindude]

She was tidying up after him and he tried not to sulk about it. It didn't have to be a big deal - she was just trying to help him, make things that little bit easier. But man, did he feel pathetic. He couldn't even just exist right then, let alone put his own dishes away, much less fight against evil. Who even was he, now? Because he sure as hell wasn't Raimundo Pedrosa.

Swallowing hard and clearing his throat, he shook his head when she offered her help. No. At the very least, he could pick himself up and get himself to his room. He had to do that. His eyes were burning suddenly, his throat tight, heartbeat a little too fast. He fought to ignore it all and gave her a little smile that didn't reach his eyes as he pushed himself to a stand, hand braced on the back of the chair to support himself. God, he was so weak now...

"Aight," he said, forcing life into his voice. "Let's go sleep forever."

Part of him couldn’t help still wondering if it would have been for the best. Things were incredibly hard right now and he knew what a burden he was on everyone at the Temple. But no - logically, he knew they’d grieve. The burden of loss would be greater than whatever this was.

Swallowing hard, he nodded. “Yeah, I do.” Simple as that. He wanted her around, to know she was safe, to marvel in the fact that they could occupy the same space again for the first time in months, that they’d come out the other side of this alive. That it was finally, finally over.

And the positives. Maybe his brain was fucking broken and he spent half his time completely checked out and it was scary, but he’d managed a solid meal. He’d had a shower, a shave, a hair cut today. With every tiny painstaking step, he was dragging himself back to normality. It was so fucking hard, but… doable, right?

[xiaolindude]

Part of him couldn’t help still wondering if it would have been for the best. Things were incredibly hard right now and he knew what a burden he was on everyone at the Temple. But no - logically, he knew they’d grieve. The burden of loss would be greater than whatever this was.

Swallowing hard, he nodded. “Yeah, I do.” Simple as that. He wanted her around, to know she was safe, to marvel in the fact that they could occupy the same space again for the first time in months, that they’d come out the other side of this alive. That it was finally, finally over.

And the positives. Maybe his brain was fucking broken and he spent half his time completely checked out and it was scary, but he’d managed a solid meal. He’d had a shower, a shave, a hair cut today. With every tiny painstaking step, he was dragging himself back to normality. It was so fucking hard, but… doable, right?

Her smile was so tiny that it would’ve broken his heart if the thing wasn’t already smashed to smithereens. He focused on the way her hands felt around his, the warm familiarity of them and the way he could feel how much she loved him in her touch alone. Who knew when he’d zone out again? The thought scared him, knowing how upsetting it must be for everyone around him, let alone how unnerving it was for he himself. But they were working on it, right? The music and use of a fan had helped last time, he was sure. She was so damn smart.

“I know,” he told her softly. He knew, because he felt exactly the same. There was no way he’d ever leave her in a cabin to die, no matter how much she begged him. “… wasn’t fair for me to ask you to.” His voice was quiet, a little shake of his head. “M’sorry.”

For now, he finished up his dinner and water, slower and less enthusiastic than he would’ve been a few months ago. But he finished. Solid food - that was progress. And still, his hand remained between hers.

“… Real tired, linda. D’you wanna… go to bed?”

[xiaolindude]

Her smile was so tiny that it would’ve broken his heart if the thing wasn’t already smashed to smithereens. He focused on the way her hands felt around his, the warm familiarity of them and the way he could feel how much she loved him in her touch alone. Who knew when he’d zone out again? The thought scared him, knowing how upsetting it must be for everyone around him, let alone how unnerving it was for he himself. But they were working on it, right? The music and use of a fan had helped last time, he was sure. She was so damn smart.

“I know,” he told her softly. He knew, because he felt exactly the same. There was no way he’d ever leave her in a cabin to die, no matter how much she begged him. “… wasn’t fair for me to ask you to.” His voice was quiet, a little shake of his head. “M’sorry.”

For now, he finished up his dinner and water, slower and less enthusiastic than he would’ve been a few months ago. But he finished. Solid food - that was progress. And still, his hand remained between hers.

“… Real tired, linda. D’you wanna… go to bed?”

xiaolindude​:

runningracingdancingchasing​:

She lifted her eyes to meet his, and though she didn’t smile, there was gratitude there. She moved her hand carefully, obviously, and rested it near his, letting her fingers brush against his. There were things in her life that she knew he just couldn’t understand, like the part of her that still loved and missed Gothel despite everything. But this? This, he got. And she was so glad that there was someone she could relate this to. The corner of her mouth twinged into a smile.

“I will always do anything to protect you. Even from yourself. I might not always do everything you want, but I will always take care of you in the best way that I can. Even if it’s the wrong way.” She swallowed, and her eyes felt wet. She hadn’t meant to get emotional, but he’d asked her how she was, and she was being honest. “I-I’m sorry… for everything I’ve put you through. I’m sorry I led everyone right into their trap and put you in that situation. But I’m not sorry for worrying about you when you weren’t answering my calls, and I’m not sorry for checking on you. And I’m definitely not sorry for coming back for you afterwards.”

Her fingers brushed his; he didn’t jump thanks to how slow her movement had been, but he glanced down, a strange little tugging sensation fluttering in his stomach at the sight of their hands together like that. It’d been so, so long. 

She was getting emotional again and he absolutely couldn’t blame her. The tears in her eyes were clear, the catch in his voice, the slight frogginess that came with heavy emotion, but he didn’t know what to do about it. He couldn’t fix this. He’d always been bad at giving comfort, always preferring to provide distractions instead, but now he couldn’t even do that. He shifted uncomfortably and just let his little finger rest over hers, a comforting stroke here and there as she continued.

“… You don’t need to be sorry. You saved me. I’d given up, but you didn’t…” He couldn’t thank her yet, not when part of him still wondered if he would’ve been better off just freezing to death. But how selfish was that? “It’s okay. I would’ve done the same thing.” Of course he would’ve. It hadn’t been fair for him to ask her to kill him, or to go and not come back for him. He wouldn’t have listened either if the situation had been reversed. 

Another small smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. It felt strange to even want to smile anymore, and she wished her face would do what she told it. But even if she’d managed to smile all the way, her eyes would have betrayed her, the sadness and weight of months still lingering there.

Reaching out, she covered his hand with her other one, resting it on top of both of theirs. “I will never give up on you, Raimundo Pedrosa.” His name was a breath, a prayer, spoken in a soft voice, pronounced right for the gravity of the situation. “Even when you think I should. Even when you think I should have long ago. It’s just… it’s not who I am.”

She didn’t want him to go home, but she did. It was what was best for him. If that meant she had to go on missing him for months, so be it. But she’d still be waiting at the end of it, her faith in him unwavering. Sometimes it felt like it was the only thing that held her together the past several months.

[xiaolindude]

remember in Bird of Paradise where the old lady was literally drowning in the river, rai immediately went to go help her but omi stopped him and said ‘master fung told us not to stray from our quest’ (i’m paraphrasing but that’s the gist)? and then rai pushed omi over and went to go help the old lady anyway?

like. omi. were you really about to let this old woman drown for the sake of honouring your quest or whatever? or for the sake of obedience?

shit like that is exactly why you didn’t deserve to be leader, little dude.

[xiaolindude]

Sometimes inspiration just strikes. A full rundown of this progress is up for patrons!

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[xiaolindude]

"No, darling. I should prefer the walk, wet or dry. All the more time to spend with my future wife..." He liked calling her that, a thrill of excitement racing through his veins every single time. They really were to be wed, weren't they? And to think, if you'd asked him a year ago, getting married would have been at the bottom of his list of priorities. Strange.

She held onto his arm and he had to resist the urge to lean across to kiss her temple. They were out of the house now, and it wasn't worth the risk of causing a scandal.

"The walk it is," he confirmed. Whatever she wanted from him, he'd give. Anything in his power, he'd bestow upon her. If she outright asked for a proposal, he'd give her one, regardless of his fears.

The proposal... How long did they have until Trevor returned? How few days did he have left to figure out the safest way of proposing to Rapunzel without putting her in danger? He mulled it over in his mind again and again as they made their way to the front door and, as usual, came no closer to an answer.

For now, he let the warmth of her hand in his pull him back to the present moment and smiled across at her. "Looks like we might just manage to avoid the rain," he noted, glancing up at the dark clouds blanketing the sky. "If we make haste."

[xiaolindude]

"The walk it is," he confirmed. Whatever she wanted from him, he'd give. Anything in his power, he'd bestow upon her. If she outright asked for a proposal, he'd give her one, regardless of his fears.

The proposal... How long did they have until Trevor returned? How few days did he have left to figure out the safest way of proposing to Rapunzel without putting her in danger? He mulled it over in his mind again and again as they made their way to the front door and, as usual, came no closer to an answer.

For now, he let the warmth of her hand in his pull him back to the present moment and smiled across at her. "Looks like we might just manage to avoid the rain," he noted, glancing up at the dark clouds blanketing the sky. "If we make haste."

"Yourself. Anything else you wish, but I'm going to have to insist that you bring yourself," he played, raising an eyebrow at her with a smile. Ahh, but they couldn't stall any longer, could they? He didn't want to risk her getting in trouble with Madam Gothel. That woman was capable of outright cruelty, that much he knew, and he'd do whatever he could to spare Rapunzel.

With a sigh, he pushed himself to a stand, then held out his hand for her. "Would you prefer the walk or the carriage?"

[xiaolindude]

"Yourself. Anything else you wish, but I'm going to have to insist that you bring yourself," he played, raising an eyebrow at her with a smile. Ahh, but they couldn't stall any longer, could they? He didn't want to risk her getting in trouble with Madam Gothel. That woman was capable of outright cruelty, that much he knew, and he'd do whatever he could to spare Rapunzel.

With a sigh, he pushed himself to a stand, then held out his hand for her. "Would you prefer the walk or the carriage?"

Her eagerness was a balm to his troubled soul, and he relaxed for the moment, a smile tugging at his lips. She held his hands; he glanced down at them, only to smile wider and return his gaze to hers, squeezing her fingers as he did.

“And we could take lunch in the garden, if the weather permits,” he suggested. How long could they get away with? How long would Gothel allow Rapunzel to be away for? Well, Rapunzel had every right to court him, and he had every right to invite her to his home for however long they both wished. He outranked Gothel without question.

He glanced down at her skirts, then back up again. “How is your dress?”

[xiaolindude]

you cant tell me he wouldnt make him his own SRC evil theme song

[xiaolindude]

Her eagerness was a balm to his troubled soul, and he relaxed for the moment, a smile tugging at his lips. She held his hands; he glanced down at them, only to smile wider and return his gaze to hers, squeezing her fingers as he did.

“And we could take lunch in the garden, if the weather permits,” he suggested. How long could they get away with? How long would Gothel allow Rapunzel to be away for? Well, Rapunzel had every right to court him, and he had every right to invite her to his home for however long they both wished. He outranked Gothel without question.

He glanced down at her skirts, then back up again. “How is your dress?”

"Oh, yes please!" Rapunzel breathed, her eyes imploring. "This house might be my favorite place in the entire world!" Perhaps she should not have said that out loud, but she did very much want Sofia and Rai to know that their hospitality did not fall upon an ungrateful heart. "I would stop by daily if I thought I could get away with it. I shall need to return Doroteia's stockings, after all. They shall be clean, I assure you."

She glanced at Rai again, basking a moment in the very idea that she had a right to spend time with him. For some reason, that had not occurred to her! She shifted her hand under his, allowing her thumb to brush against the back of his hand. Some day, she should never have to leave again. Someday, this would truly be her home.

Her tea was almost done, and her stomach sank at the thought that this would be it for the night. She did not want to go! But she must not weep, despite the fact that she had the sudden urge to.

[xiaolindude]

When their tea was finished and Sofia and Ela had said their goodbyes, Raimundo and Rapunzel were left in the parlour alone once again. Still sat on the floor by the fire, empty cuts and plates taken away by Nancy to be washed.

Rai looked at her, knowing they couldn’t keep putting it off, knowing she had to return soon to avoid angering Gothel even further. “… the day after tomorrow,” he said decidedly. “Would you come back here? Not for baking or embroidery, but… for me.” He rubbed the back of his neck almost sheepishly, a faint blush dusting his cheeks. “Perhaps I might teach you to ride Benison, like we discussed the other day…?”

Immediately upon the touch of his hand, her heart rate picked up, and she lifted her cup to her lips so she could swallow without being obvious about it. Subtly, she lifted her pinky to rest it over the tops of his fingers, a slight but present way to acknowledge and accept him. Why did she think about kissing him now? Why did her pulse race anew at the memory of his hands mapping the shape of her clothes body?

She sipped her tea, her blush not remotely ebbed for her thoughts.

"Then I shall bring them upon my next visit," she assured Ela, loathe to begin ignoring her simply because of her thoughts and emotions. "And if I have my say, my next visit shall be quite soon!"

Her eyes were drawn to the mantle clock, and her just-rapidly beating heart felt as though it seized in her chest. "But alas... once tea is done, I ought to head home... Madame Gothel will be wondering after me."

How she wished that wondering was as warm and inviting as Sofia's was. More and more with every visit and interaction, this place felt like home, and the place she lived felt like some sort of punishment. What wrong she could have committed, she did not know, and yet her life had recently taken such an abhorrent turn.

[xiaolindude]

Her blush didn't escape his notice and he grinned, eyes fixed on the fireplace as he tried to control his expression. This was utterly ridiculous! But she was sat by his fire, wearing his cardigan, and only minutes ago her mouth had been on his and her palm had been rubbing up his thigh... He swallowed hard at the memory, willing it away. It was inappropriate for a Lord, particularly with his mama and youngest sister in the room!

Sofia's expression soured a little at the mention of Gothel. That dreaded woman. "I am sure we will see fit to inviting you here most often, dearest," she assured the young woman. "For baking sessions, for stitching with my girls, for visiting the man you are courting..." She looked pointedly over at Rai, who was still gazing resolutely at the fire. "You two have every right to spend much time together, given your courtship, after all."

Gosh, but he didn't want Rapunzel to leave. He was finding himself colder without her, missing her with a physical ache every time she returned to Gothel's side. And he had only himself to blame for drawing out their courtship. They could be engaged right now, if not for his cowardice. His mind whirred with all the ways he could get her out of Gothel's sights, to grant her a reprieve from that awful woman.

"Meteorology," Rapunzel supplied the word to Ela. "That's the study of the weather. You know, I shall go through my papa's books and see what I can find on animals and rocks and weather! It seems he had quite a fascination with eggs, so I hope you are prepared to learn as much as you can about birds and reptiles!"

Honestly, she knew quite a bit about all the things Ela was interested in. She had a sizeable rock collection at home, and had studied her samples profusely. She could also identify several types of clouds and say what the weather patterns surrounding them were.

Again, she caught Rai's eye and her smile broadened, and perhaps her cheeks got a little pink when she realized how ardently he was gazing at her, but could she be blamed? She wished so much that she could sit nearer to him, with deliberate and obvious contact. It felt as though he were oceans away, when he was not even across the room!

[xiaolindude]

Ela clapped her hands together, delighted with the prospect of new books - and diagrams - to study. The words were too long and difficult for her to understand, being only seven, but the diagrams were rather self-explanatory for the most part, and she could trouble her brother or mama for elaboration if needed.

"Yes! I should enjoy that, thank you!"

Sofia looked between Rapunzel and Raimundo, the look they were sharing, the blush on Rapunzel's cheeks, and she hid her smile behind her teacup. The two of them were simply incorrigible, weren't they? She thought of Manoel, of their early courtship, and a sad yet adoring weight settled in her stomach.

Clearing his throat, Rai returned his attention to his cup of tea, sipping lightly at it with one hand while his other slipped across the carpet until it found Rapunzel's. He settled his fingers over hers.

"Mm!" Rapunzel said, and spoke a moment around the cheese cube currently in her mouth. "I adore science!" She swallowed quickly, not wanting to be rude, but too excited about the topic to but utterly polite about it. "Which diagrams do you like most? I know you fancy animals, but where else do your interests lie? You know, your brother loaned me all his school notes so I could learn at the same level as he, although women are not generally permitted to attend university."

She smiled over at him, still adoring how kind he was for loaning them in the first place, how close they had become because of it, how much trouble she had gotten into because of it, and how extremely worth it it had all been.

[xiaolindude]

"Animals the most," Ela confirmed immediately. "And perhaps... the geography. Geology. The rocks and the weather."

Rai smiled to himself, at his sister's fascination with science. A small, almost-sad smile - society did not support a young lady wishing to pursue academia, particularly science. For the millionth time, he wished he could change the world for the sake of his sisters. They deserved better than they would be permitted in this society.

His smile became more real as Rapunzel's gaze found his. Goodness, but he was glad he'd thought to loan her his notes. She had been so appreciative. He couldn't keep his attention from her. If she were his wife, he would not need to keep his attention from her... yet how was he to propose without putting her in danger of Gothel's wrath? Perhaps if he proposed to her here, on his own estate, and simply did not allow her to return home...

"Our dear Ela has not been blessed with the gift of patience, I am afraid," Sofia put in, shaking her head. "I have tried to teach embroidery several times. But no matter - we have our baking, and she is becoming quite the bookworm, as it happens."

Rai laughed. "But rarely stories, unless there is a dragon. She mostly steals my science books to look at the diagrams."

Ela glared at the two of them, and Rai softened, holding out his hand for hers. She obliged, hers tiny in his, and he squeezed her fingers gently. "But we should never wish to change you, of course. I am lacking in patience, too," he assured her with a smile. Again, Ela brightened at this, the dark cloud shifting away at once.

Raimundo returned his attention to Rapunzel, watching her enjoy the cheese. It was silly, wasn't it, for him to get so much joy out of watching her delight in little things like this? But he couldn't find it in him to mind at all.

[xiaolindude]

Thanks to @sopranointhechoir for reminding me that I like Xiaolin Showdown! It's been out of my headspace for a while So the easiest thing for me to draw ended up being Fantasy RPG AU cause I've been playing hella pathfinder

Closeups under the cut!

btw I was GOING to include Chase and Wuya but I realized that they really wouldn't look different in this AU! So since I didn't have an idea for the redesign I decided to skip it.

[xiaolindude]

Just updating my Raipunzel RP/ficlet list with @xiaolindude/@xiaolintease for our own reference.

Xiaolin-verse:

-Dragon of Light -Home Is Where Your Ass Is [COMPLETE] -Nova Scotia (ficlet) -Building Up Walls [COMPLETE] -Is This Okay? (ficlet) -Not a Nightmare... (ficlet, 18+ for s.exual content) -Suns Out, Guns Out [COMPLETE] -Diffident Diversions (18+ for s.exual content) -Cramp (ficlet, 18+ for s.exual content) -Lucky 13 (18+ for s.exual content) [COMPLETE] -You Can't Save Me [COMPLETE] -Catch (ficlet, 18+ for s.exual content) -You're An Asshole But I Love You (starter) -Stolen Studies (18+, for s.exual content) -Mind Games (18+, for some s.exual content and several dark and potentially triggering themes) -Rum Soaked Sunset -I Want You to Want Me (18+, for s.exual content)[COMPLETE] -The Balance of Waiting (18+, for s.exual content)[COMPLETE] -Negative Head Space -Something's Gotta Give -The Intimacy of Hands - prompt (ficlet, 18+ for potentially triggering themes)[NOTE: Is not "canon" to this AU, but still takes place in it]

Bodyguard AU:

-Nowhere Safer -You Worry Too Much [COMPLETE] -Freefall (18+, for s.exual content) -Closeted Desires (18+, for s.exual content) -Jealousy (18+, for s.exual content) -Silence and Patience (18+, for s.exual content) -Another Inch of Your Life Sacrificed (18+, for s.exual content and potentially triggering themes) -One Year Kissaversasry -Behind Closed Doors (18+, for s.exual content) -The Sweetest Dessert (18+, for s.exual content) -I Choose You

Futbol AU:

-Charitable Contributions -Reopened Wounds (18+, for s.exual content and potentially triggering themes) -Fall Apart to Reunite (18+, for s.exual content) -Flight to Catch -Nothing Will Burn Us Out (starter) -Christmas EmergencEve (18+, for s.exual content and potentially triggering themes)

Tempting Scandal AU:

-Teach Me to Be More Adaptive (18+, for s.exual content and potentially triggering themes) -The Intimacy of Hands - prompt (ficlet)

"Villain" Rai AU:

-New to Rio, New to the World [COMPLETE] -Secretly On Your Side [COMPLETE] -A Guy Like You Should Wear a Warning (18+, for s.exual content)

[xiaolindude]

It was a silly fight, that was all. It happened. People fought. Especially when in close quarters for a long period of time and while under stress, like they were. It had been a crazy few days - of course things were going to get rocky at some point. What mattered was that they'd moved past it.

For a while longer, he was quiet, just soaking in her touch and the fact that he wanted her proximity. Her words had hurt like hell, and he'd needed that space for a while, but man was he glad that he was moving past that point. She kissed his shoulder; he sighed lightly. What a fucking week.

"... Breakfast," he said eventually, voice quiet but not upset. Just... calm. Almost peaceful. That all-encompassing sense of relief that followed the resolution of an argument that had felt devastating.

The tighter he held her, the better she felt. She’d never had an argument like this, and she was only just learning that you could fight with someone and have them be the one to comfort you afterward. Maybe this wouldn’t have worked last night, but it was working now.

At the sensation of his kiss, she felt like her heart was thrumming in her chest, jump started by the simple, sweet contact. She looked up at him, her green eyes searching his a moment, as the urge to make this all better quickly grew stronger and stronger. And then she threw caution out the window and kissed him. It was light and sweet, giving him ample opportunity to pull away if he wasn’t here yet, but if she was reading him right, he was.

She very much needed to make it up to him somehow. He’d let her take pictures of him, and he was letting her hold him and possibly kiss him. She was finding herself more in love with him than ever before, possibly because of the fight, which didn’t make sense, but here it was.