#[ooc: this is not a thread its just a oneshot]

[vinestaffery]

traffic x gender-neutral reader

content: fluff; travelling other places; idk what else to really say its purely just fluff with traffic; potential ooc? im not used to traffic

authors note: so there was a valk post i made last night that actually responded to the WRONG person and i am so SO sorry to you lunar. i tried my hardest to push this out as i do school work at the same time. do not take history trust (i blame my teacher for torturing me with this bullshit). anyways!! enjoy this mega fluff oneshot....

[Y/N] stood at the crossroads, the sun casting a warm glow on the busy intersection. People hurried past, lost in their own worlds, but [Y/N] felt a sense of calm in the chaos. The contrast between the bright sunlight and the shadows that were cast across the tall buildings created an interesting play of the chaotic dance below the tower.

They waited for Traffic, who had promised to meet them here, before they set off on another spontaneous adventure in one of the other factions. She adored the fact she was allowed to venture with him, sometimes even with Lightblox.

Traffic arrived a few minutes later, his usual laid-back demeanor evident in his slow, easy gait. His hair, a tousled mess, caught in the sunlight, giving him an almost ethereal look as he soon tipped his cone towards you. "Mi' lady," he commented, chuckling as you looked at him with a smirk. "Really?"

"Oh, c'mon, don'tcha tell me ya didn't laugh?" Traffic elbowed you in the hip. [Y/N] soon smiled, feeling a flutter of excitement. "Suure. Well, where are we heading this time?" You questioned. Traffic shrugged, his eyes wandering to the horizon as he stood and tucked his hands into his puffer- jacket pockets.

"Wherever the wind takes us, I guess. But first, let's sit for a bit. I found a nice spot over here to prepare." He pointed to a grassy patch under a free area from the chaos, away from the bustle of the cross-roads. Traffic held your hand, walking through pedestrains and endless crowds as he finally reached the area he had found, settling you down.

Pulling out a cigarette and lighting it, he took a slow drag before exhaling a thin stream of smoke. He leaned back into the chair. His eyes were half-closed as he soaked up the moment while you brushed the smoke away. You could hear him chuckling as you let out a cough.

There was a soft smile on their faces, something ever so comforting about Traffic's presence—a sense of peace that was hard to find elsewhere. They reached over, fingers brushing against his hair as she caressed it, laughing softly. "Your hair is really soft."

Traffic opened his eyes with a playful glint in them. "You think so? I never really paid much attention to it."

They nodded, their fingers gently threading through his hair as much as possible, trying not to knock his cone off his head. "Yeah, it's nice. Kind of like you."

Traffic chuckled, a deep, warm sound. "Flattery will get you everywhere, you know."

They sat in companionable silence for a while, Traffic smoking his cigarette and [Y/N] playing with his hair. The sounds of crossroads faded into the background, leaving only the soft rustle of leaves and the distant hum of traffic. "You ever think about just staying in one place?" [Y/N] asked, their voice quiet.

Traffic shrugged, a wistful smile on his lips. "Sometimes. But then I remember all the places I haven't seen yet and all the roads I haven't traveled. It's hard to stay still when there's so much out there."

[Y/N] nodded, understanding his perspective. Though he isn't the type to get sentimental or emotional, it seemed that they had captured them in a moment. "I get that, but it's nice to stop and breathe every now and then."

He turned his head, his eyes meeting theirs. "Yeah, it is. Especially with you." He winked.

They shared a smile, the kind that spoke of unspoken words and uncharted paths. In that moment, under the shade of the tree, the world seemed to pause, and all that mattered was the simple, quiet connection between them.

Traffic took one last drag of his cigarette before putting it out. "Ready to go?" he asked, his voice soft. [Y/N] nodded, feeling a sense of contentment. "Yeah. Let's see where the wind takes us."

The walk through the bustling city streets was filled with the usual charm of Traffic's unpredictable antics. He made strange and juvenile suggestions, like stopping at a fountain to toss in not just coins but small trinkets he found in his pockets, claiming it would bring them "extra special luck." [Y/N] couldn't help but laugh at his illogical ideas, enjoying the lightheartedness he brought into their lives.

As they approached a small park, Traffic's eyes lit up with a mischievous glint. "Hey, [Y/N], let's climb that tree!" he exclaimed, pointing to an old oak tree with sprawling branches. [Y/N] raised an eyebrow, amused. "Why?"

"Why not?" Traffic countered, already heading towards the tree. He began to climb, his movements surprisingly agile for someone like him. [Y/N] followed, shaking their heads with a smile. Traffic always had a way of turning mundane moments into spontaneous adventures.

They settled on a sturdy branch, the city noise fading into the background. Traffic leaned back against the trunk, his legs dangling freely. "You know, sometimes I think about just disappearing into the wild, living off the grid," he mused, a dreamy look in his eyes. [Y/N] glanced at him, curious. "You really think you could do that?"

Traffic shrugged, a wistful smile playing on his lips. "Maybe. But then I'd miss seeing the smiles on people's faces and making them laugh with my weird ideas. Life's too short to take seriously, you know." [Y/N] nodded, appreciating his outlook. "Yeah, you do have a way of making things fun."

Traffic grinned, his eyes sparkling. "That's the spirit! Now, let's get down from here before someone calls the cops."

They climbed down, with Traffic making a dramatic leap from the last branch and landing with a flourish. [Y/N] laughed, feeling lighter and more carefree than they had in a while. Traffic's apathy towards his own life was balanced by his desire to make others happy. It was a paradox that made him uniquely endearing.

As they continued their walk, Traffic suddenly stopped in front of an old, abandoned building. "You know, I always wanted to explore a place like this," he said, his voice filled with nostalgia. [Y/N] looked at the building, then back at Traffic. "Are you serious? It looks dangerous."

Traffic shrugged, a mischievous smile on his lips. "Danger is just another word for adventure." Despite their initial hesitation, [Y/N] followed Traffic into the building. They wandered through the dusty halls, finding remnants of the past scattered around. Traffic picked up an old, tarnished mirror, holding it up to [Y/N]. "Look, it's like we're in another world."

[Y/N] laughed, seeing their reflection in the cracked glass. "Yeah, a world where we need tetanus shots." Traffic chuckled, his eyes crinkling with amusement. "Always the realist, huh?"

They spent the rest of the day exploring the building, each room a new discovery. Traffic's antics kept [Y/N] laughing, his carefree nature infectious. As the sun began to set, they made their way to the rooftop, where they sat side by side, watching the city below.

"You know," Traffic said softly. "I'm really glad we met. You make all these crazy adventures worth it." [Y/N] smiled, their hearts warming at his words. "Me too, Traffic. Me too."

They sat in comfortable silence, the sky painted in hues of orange and pink. Traffic reached out, brushing a strand of hair from [Y/N]'s face. "Your hair is really soft," he murmured, a tender look in his eyes.

[Y/N] felt a blush creep up their cheeks, their hearts racing. "Thanks," they whispered, their fingers entwining with his.

[chaoticwonderlandx]

Hello and welcome to my corner of hell!

Welcome to chaoticwonderlandx! In this post you'll find everything you need to know (hopefully!) I'm your host, Nemo🦄 (30yrs | she/they). I also have a side gig ~ @littlemissuicidex (Satsuriku no tenshi -Rachel Gardner rp).

Please note that my activity is med - low due to other priorities (and limitations) that extend beyond the little demons in my phone. The lineup can be triggering for some viewers, so respect this is an 18+ blog. Each muse has generic tags for blocking purposes (completed) and descriptions of featured tws and what to expect from each one (incomplete). But also for this purpose, I am also labeling this a de.ad do.ve; dne (we can blame B and A…)

I'm friendly af, so reach out to chat/plot etc!♡ below the cut are the house rules, follow them so we can all have fun, yeah?

Below are the rules; however I want to make it sooooo clear. I know the argument against genderbend muses. And I'm genuinely sorry if Rory offends anyone, but I will not stop writing her. She has been a primary muse for me for over 10 years, my attachment to her is too strong to part with. So I understand if you feel the need to block me for this. I will not be mad♡

[updated: oct.23.24]

DNF CRITERIA; WILL BLOCK ON SIGHT!

no minors. Preferably 21+. But ultimately 18+. There will be nsfw / triggering things on this blog - mostly blood, gore, violence. While it may not be smut, implied and time skips are fine.

No personals. If your rp blog is a sideblog to your personal - message me! This is the only exception.

Tbh basic dni if you're a shit person. I don't want that around.

I prefer interacting with mutuals. But I am not necessarily mutuals only.

THE NO GOS; PLEASE DO NOT DO!

No god modding.

No killing off my characters unless discussed. 

Don't force a ship just because. This excludes heavily shippy ask memes that are meant to be in that way, but they help test the waters. However, they'll be like a oneshot au - if the chemistry really is there then it can be an actual plotline to discuss and plot.

MUSES

Some muses are minors in canon. and I'm willing to rp canon timelines, however, majority of them will be played in a post canon timeline of in their early 20s.

Every muse has a designated emoji. I find it fun and whimsical. I have no other reason. though the emoji/their name will always be used in some form when specifying muse. This allows for blacklisting purposes as well if a specific muse is too triggering. 

Please specify muse when interacting. If not, I will choose whoever I see fit. though I would rather choose someone you would enjoy interacting with instead of stuck with a character you have no knowledge of.

Frankly all muses are by default pansexual. And every ship is its own timeline. We can rp cheating as long as it's discussed. I also am okay with poly ships as well. 

Again; please don't force ships. if your muse crushes on mine, that's totally cool. I'm really open to all styles of content. So we can have angsty unrequited love. Or who knows maybe they grow on a muse and it ends up happening. Just let the ocean do its thing and we'll see where the ships go lol. 

FORMATTING/ TAGGING/ ASKS

Again fun and whimsical. I like formatting and using manga icons. You aren't obligated to match. If formatting is a distraction and makes it difficult for you please just let me know and I'll avoid using them in our threads.

There will be a lot of triggering content on my blog…looking at you B… the only posts that will not be tagged with a pretty format will be all triggers. Very simply - those will be tagged as “ trigger tw “ or “ trigger mention “

Anon is on. I encourage it. Don't be spiteful or else I will take it away. Specify muse when sending asks. And if any ask is to be turned into a thread, please make a new post and tag me. 

GENERAL TAGLIST~

☆.ooc. ☆.answered. ☆.psa. ☆.mobile. ☆.askmeme.

MUSE SPECIFIC TAGS.

☆.aesthetic.*muse name*. [ie: ☆.aesthetic.miroku.] ☆.ic.*muse name*. [ie: ☆.ic.bb.] ☆.hc.*muse name*. [ie: ☆.hc.kyo.] ☆.*muse icon*.*muse name*. [ie: ☆.🍜.chizuru.] ☆.*muse icon*.*verse name*. [ie. ☆.🔥.three's company.]

MUSE MASTERLIST.

🐱Kyo Sohma.

🔥Rory Mustang.

🐟Arisa Uotani.

Rules can and will be updated at any given point in time with no notice. Have fun. I'm open to ocs, aus, crossovers etc. So don't be shy!

[tmmyrp]

[letter written by @memorybooks for tmmyrp]

Tommy sat knelt on the floor next to his bed. In his hands, he grasped the edges of a letter, sloppily sealed in wax with a familiar emblem. A crown.

He didn't know when the letter got there, it had to have been recently, right? When was Ranboo in his cabin- when did they WRITE the letter in the first place?

"What the fuck," he breathed out. Tommy did not want to open the letter. What if it wasn't even from Ranboo- what if it wasn't meant for him? But then again, why would a letter not meant for Tommy be delicately and carefully slipped under his bed like he used to do this time last year, in the cold empty tent out at Logstedshire. "You've gotta open it, Tommy. Just- just fucking open the fucking thing."

He breathed in fast like he was about to rip off a bandaid or pull out an arrow from his arm, and tore open the wax seal.

Ranboo's handwriting was never the best. It was very scratchy, and it definitely looked like she wasn't used to writing in Common. But it was still Ranboo's handwriting- fuck it looked so fresh still.

"Wow, I don’t actually know the last time I wrote you a letter. It was, what, over a year ago? I mean, hey, hopefully you’re doing a lot better since then, you know? I’m sorry it had to be like this, I really tried to get more time, but… I guess there’s really no cheating Death, huh?"

Tommy sat there, eyes wide.

"I know this was all really sudden. I know I should have told you guys sooner, I mean I thought Tubbo told you when she found out but… I guess I should have told you, um, in a better way."

He scoffed out a bitter laugh. Tommy was mad that they forgot to tell him- of course he was. That night was awful and the night following were even worse- it was so fucking recent.

He kept reading.

"The kinda funny thing - and I mean it’s not really funny at all - is that I kind of thought you hated me? Like, for marrying Tubbo and everything. Which is even funnier because we never got married, and I guess we won’t really, um, get that chance, but. I guess I’m just really glad to know that you don’t actually hate me, which is great because I always thought you were one of my best friends.

I know the whole dying thing sucks, but I’m still just really glad I got another chance, even if it was only for a few weeks. I think that moving here from Hypixel was the best thing that ever happened to me, especially because I met you and Tubbo. So, um, thank you for being part of my life!"

Tommy wondered why his vision was getting blurry- he was wearing the fucking glasses Kristin made him so why- ah. Tommy wiped his eyes, not knowing when he had started tearing up. It was fucking Ranboo- this stupid motherfucker wasn't eloquent and anything. It was just their stupid fucking speech patterns and here Tommy was fucking crying over it.

But he reread those paragraphs over and over a few more times. Ranboo thought Tommy hated them? Never. Tommy didn't hate Ranboo- not even when he had first been revived and had walked over to see Tubbo and Ranboo together. In love. Moving on without him. He had just been upset. Had just been brought back from the dead. Tommy didn't hate Ranboo, Tommy fucking loved Ranboo with his whole fucking chest just as much as he loved Tubbo. He fucking loved them both so hard it hurt like a burn.

"You stupid motherfucker. I could never hate you."

He continued with the letter.

"All I’m gonna ask is that you just - please keep an eye on Tubbo, and on yourself. I know that it’s gonna be pretty hard on both of you, but I swear if I see either of you in limbo any time soon I don’t know what I’ll do.

On a more serious note though, uh, please don’t try to revive me or anything? I mean, you know how rough the whole revival thing is, and I don’t want to risk just dying all over again and putting you and Tubbo through that."

What?

They... they didn't want to be revived?

Tommy knew fine well how the revival process went and how awful it was. But Ranboo did everything that they were told to do and then they got fucked over in the end for it anyways- they did everything right. And Tommy was still fucking seething over it. And nobody would dare break the universe's stupid fucking rules to keep them alive. Fuck rules! Tommy wanted his friend back. This was the kind of shit he would do for Tubbo as well if Tubbo died- which she never was going to by the way.

"Look, Ranboo," he said to the letter in his hands. "I know... I know you don't wanna be brought back. But that shit wasn't fair. I'm gonna- I'm I'm I'm gonna make it fucking fair. I'm gonna fix this. I can fix it. I can mend this shit. For you and- and Tubbo and Michael most of all."

If Tommy spent the next 30 minutes rereading the letter over and over, and if his eyes got blurry again at some point, then not a soul would know, because the only person he was talking to was fucking dead.

[madeimpact]

A few misc baku thoughts / headcanons that I’ve been meaning to toss onto the dash:

Ren is NOT the same as Len on this blog. He’s NOT an AU version of Len. He’s his own character entirely.

Probably the most important one with regard to RP: Ren will not mess with your dreams without your consent. He’s like Kyubey from Madoka Magica. He’ll present you with an array of possibilities for better things, and definitely try to sweeten the deal for you, but he won’t outwardly lie about his intentions with you, and he won’t eat your dreams, bad or good, until you explicitly consent to receiving his services. When he cons you and eventually leaves, he’ll spin it to be your fault for using his dreams to escape from your bitter reality. Gaslight gatekeep girlboss.

If your muse doesn’t consent but you still want to thread with him he’ll just annoy the shit out of you with his stupid little “make a contract and become meguca” song and dance.

Once it steals all your dreams and leaves, two main things happen to its victims:

They can’t dream when they sleep. Ever again.

All of their hopes and figurative dreams — i.e., their willpower and desires — are gone, too. They’re basically left a dreary husk of the person they once were.

For the sake of RP and not being too godmoddy, I’m nerfing Ren and saying that with a LOT of time and hard work, muses can overcome the second one, but they need to put in the effort. I just don’t want threads with Ren to feel like “and then I oneshot you and steal your soul and you can never be the same for the rest of your life mwahaha no dodging.” Of course, any dream-stealing endgame with Ren can be considered non-canon to your blog. Or it can. That’d be delicious (/lh). But real talk, no permanent consequences will come to your muse unless we agree upon it OOC.

It doesn’t really have separate verses because it’s very easy to insert into any given fandom’s universe. Fuck, I can even say it’s capable of traveling to these different worlds all for the sake of collecting more dreams for Gilda.

He’s ace and demiromantic, but he’ll pretend to be a flirt to charm his victims into feeling safe. He’ll refer to you as a master or mistress for as long as he’s serving you. He’ll kneel and kiss the back of your hand. He’ll kiss your lips, if you let him. It’s fake. And he probably won’t be open to any genuine romance because he’s waiting for the day when Gilda eventually wakes from her coma.

If you allude to knowing anything about their past with Gilda they WILL throttle you.

[specialability]

[id: screenshot of my TYK fanfic folder with the list of files and word counts next to them in bright red font]

October Writing WIP:

About 15,300 words of tyk wenzhou written in the last month that I haven't posted because none of it threads together coherently or feels satisfying standing on its own. But it's also too good to go in the drabble pile. Driving me up the wall. I hate sitting on things because I forget they exist or lose confidence in them and then they collect dust at the bottom of a folder.

vacation pre 2 is the most significant one. once I get a bit more of that banged out I'll feel more confident about posting some of the other ones. it is the actual background/plot of the (constantly changing) Modern AU covering after wenzhou's one night stand to when they decide to fake their own deaths and go on early retirement. I need to figure out the plot we're going with and make decisions about the setting and that's the hardest part.

pre kidnapping I've decided to totally rewrite because I changed my mind about several things. I just need to actually... do that. it fits in the timeline after pre 2 but will probably go up as a oneshot

shaving + dancing in the dark might go up together, they have a similar tone.

we are the same isn't in the modern au but still not sure about it being OOC so I'm sitting on it. if anyone wants to read it~ and tell me what you think~~ let me know~~~

you left a blood stain on the floor might get shoved into vacation pre 2 but it may or may not actually work so I need to finish that first.

all the other ones are just random scenes and bits of things that may or may not end up being useful.

[seasaltmemories]

1, 9, 13, and 15 for Pretty Lies and Their Brutal Truths?

What inspired you to write the fic this way?

Hmm, “this way” is an interesting qualified so I guess I’ll specify more the dark, sexual tone

Well, first it started off as nothing more than a one-shot exploring an arranged marriage au bc I am a sucker for those, while tense, that oneshot was still mostly potential and could have gone off in multiple directions, that was part of the fun, but then I got a crazy amount of support for the fic and requests to expand on it, I didn’t know the exact direction I wanted to go with it, but i did have one semi-fleshed out scene in my head, their wedding night, so wanting that validation, I banged out my first sex scene figuring that it would be a one-time thing, but aside from the continued positive reception (and a lot of fans of the smut lol) mostly vague ideas kept carrying me until chapter 4, 

it was then the plot had to get a lot more grounded, it was also the first time we got Alm’s POV which upped the darkness level a lot, there were multiple factors to this shift, first of all, I have written plenty of dark stuff in the past, I’d still call PLBT my darkest but to make sure I wasn’t just retreaded old ground, I wanted to dip my toe further, second I had finished Revolutionary Girl Utena around that time, which both spoke to my then aesthetic and has further shaped my current one, and the biggest inspiration for PLBT was the fact that you got to see characters and their lowest and most repulsive but they still maintained a humanity that made you want to follow them, third, in my efforts to keep Alm from seeming OOC, he was kinda a weak antagonist, while the audience knew on an intellectual level that he had done some shady things, on the page he had been accommodating and almost meek, he needed more shades of gray and so right after betraying Celica, him revealing what fucked up desires he had been hiding kinda made him betray the audience as well and kick him out of the ‘nice guy’ box he had been floating around in

So yeah looking back the transition was probably wild for readers and if I could do it again I would prefer to make it more tonally consistent to make sure I hadn’t strung along any readers into darker waters than they had planned for, but from my ramblings it must be pretty obvious I find it all fascinating to reflect on 

Were there any alternate versions of this fic?

Ever as a fleshed out idea? No, but like I mentioned above it took a while for the fics identity to come together, at first it was intended to mostly be like chapters 1 through 3, a sandbox sorta approach to Celica trying to maneuver around Alm in different scenarios, but as I tried to figure out the details of this world, the politics would be so heavily altered that to leave out the full impact would be to blunt the effects of the Rigelian invasion which would in-turn make Celica’s reaction seem overblown (pretty sure a reviewer had already called her a bitch by then) so if I wanted the stakes to feel real, I had to follow the plot threads I had set up which led to it snowballing into its current incarnation

What music did you listen to, if any, to get in the mood for writing this story? Or if you didn’t listen to anything, what do you think readers should listen to to accompany us while reading?

I make playlists for writing projects less to listen to when writing, but while going about my day to get ideas rolling, that monster has 20+ songs (and when the fic is finished I play to compile a fanmix that is shorter and can have spoiler songs) so to keep this post relatively brief

Paramore’s album After Laughter overall captures the tone: Rose-Colored Boy being specifically fitting

The Violence by Rise Against could the OP if this was a show and consequentially I used it for a trailer of the fic, captures the greater-scale continental wide aspect of the conflict

Sex Yeah by Marina and the Diamonds is a runner up in the OP department, more focusing specifically on how the leads view and are affected by sex, and how that later defines their goals

Opheliac by Emilie Autumn and Big God by Florence + The Machine really fit Celica’s mindset, Opheliac emphasizing her relationship with Rigel and Big God her relationship with Zofia (and might hint at later trajectories of her character)

What did you learn from writing this fic?

I feel like I am still in the middle of it, so I can’t do a full reflection, but it’s given me a lot more courage to pursue the specific inspiration that comes to me even if I don’t feel 100% confident in them, and I think I’ve gotten more confident to tackle more plot-heavy works with a variety of actors

[thezolblade]

@the-cryptographer

(And, I hope you don't mind me saying - I can't remember where I read it now, but I'm looking forward to seeing you tackle mudshipping cliches in upcoming fic~! )

I semi-forgot where you asked this (sorry, it was that comment thread on ao3), but yeah, that might have been on a post on my old LJ, which I locked for a while until I imported it to dreamwidth? (New blog link in my tumblr bio.) If it was this summary in a WIP list:

An Isaac/Mia oneshot in the classic mudshipping style; the two of them dating and getting serious while rebuilding the Valean settlement. If you read enough mudshipping, it gets to you after a while. The plot's planned out (and has been since before Dark Dawn), so I just need to write it as a full fic at some point. 

So yeah, it was sort of a reaction to reading a lot of fic I didn’t like (in the pre-DD era, years ago) because the characters acted like OOC 13 year olds, and the “we’re rebuilding Vale!” premise ignored the way that Vale wasn’t a normal town to begin with, and should have had to reconsider its weird customs if it wasn’t protecting the seal - there was never any re-evaluation of their place in the world. So it almost left me thinking I didn’t like mudshipping, and definitely that I didn’t like the idea of them rebuilding a single settlement in the same spot with the same name. But the plotbunny was a moment of “What if Mia/Isaac where they get along well, because why wouldn’t they? Wasn’t that what you were looking for in the first place?”

Uh, it doesn’t exactly tackle the cliches directly. I’d pretty much forgotten the detail, but I’ve still got the file with the notes for the outline. I’ll post it here under a cut, since you’re curious?

(Not sure if or when I’ll do more with it, since it’s not as plot-heavy as most of my bunnies, just fluff. Also slightly nsfw text, and mention of minor character death.)

Mia/Isaac fic; building Vale’s replacement, Sheba left w/ teleport lapis, Ivan left for Contigo & training w/ Sheba and Hama; Piers, Felix and Kraden reporting to King Hydros, hoping to be back within a few months; Garet & Jenna friends and on/off together, Mia staying at Inn and Isaac staying with his parents while rebuilding (about half the town already done).

Isaac and Mia romantically involved; Mia has small room in the Inn to herself since last of friends left; she and Isaac go to her room for privacy; when they're making out, Isaac's not sure how sex works but knows it's how children are made, says they shouldn't go too far before married, embarrassed that he doesn't know all the physiology that she does and trying not to let on that he doesn't really know much about it; Mia pink and happy (been kissing for quite a while) but still fairly calm and reassuring as she tells him that 'penetrative sex can lead to conception' and that 'there are things we can do with our hands and mouths that are perfectly safe, as long as we are true to each other'. Goes on to demonstrate, and he reciprocates.

During daytime; Mia acting as healer and friend to others in the village; Isaac training some of the kids in Psynergy and swordplay, spending time around his family and learning to relax now that the fighting is over; both of them helping with rebuilding & learning construction skills in the process. Mia round at Isaac's place with him and Dora & Kyle at some point, conversation where all getting along; establishes (when Isaac asks) that the old couple Mia calls Grandpa and Grandma aren't her blood relatives, but have always been like family.

Isaac struck by how Mia was never squeamish or out of her depth during the quest; he saw her stressed out at times, like the rest of them, but she kept her calm in battle and tended to wounds without any sign of nausea or hesitance, and she never seemed to doubt that every part of their mission was within their capabilities and worth pursuing above all else (unlike Ivan and Garet). Isaac knows that she was raised and trained as a healer and had actually seen other places beyond her hometown before starting the quest, but it still bothers him sometimes -- slight envy, and doubt over what she sees in him (he doesn't fully appreciate his own impressiveness). Feels that his determination on the quest came from hardening his feelings, a deliberate focus; now that he's not fighting every day, he's gradually unwinding, able to feel more at ease in good moments but also letting his guard down in bad ones (compared to while on journey); feels like he's softening (though he's still quite toughened compared to civilians). Doesn't understand how Mia could be so 'together' then and now without her personality really being changed by circumstance; he had to grow up quickly to cope, but she didn't seem to have been shaped by the same stresses over the last few months; a part of him fears that since he hasn't changed her, she might leave him and return to Imil without ever losing her composure.

An instance of Mia healing a deep wound across (an unconscious) Valean's upper chest and shoulder, broken bones exposed; Mia describes what she's doing to Isaac as she works, knowing that he's curious, naming muscles and bones as she aligns them to make sure that Ply heals them into place rather than healing the area as a non-functional lump of flesh. [Research biology before writing this part.] After leaving patient with his family, while she finishes washing her hands, she and Isaac get to talking about how she learned the theory involved; she tells him that she once watched a dissection of a man who was hanged in Imil.

“What did he do?” (Isaac asks about hanged man.)

“He killed a couple of children.” (Mia's voice fairly flat and not particularly emotional; even so, Isaac not sure what to say, and she continues.) “My father received permission to dissect the cadaver in order to teach his students. He let both of us choose whether or not we wanted to attend that lesson. I was too young for it, really, but I wanted to learn everything he was learning.” (Isaac doesn't ask who she's talking about; has a pretty good idea, especially given the edge of anger that's crept into her voice. Mia shakes her head and finishes with flat expression.) “And I have never forgotten.”

Isaac sees what he already knew in a different light: that she was already grown up on their quest because she'd had to grow up far earlier than he had. Seems like she might need the warmth in their relationship the same way he needs it. Isaac nods and touches her shoulder, and tells her that her skill now is amazing. She smiles and reaches up to brush his hair out of his eyes (with very clean hands), and they move on from that room and that topic of conversation, getting wrapped up in each other's presence etc.

A few days later, the village celebrating the completion of another house with a dance that night; keeping community spirits up. Still a few families doubling up who need the next few houses that will be built, but Isaac hoping that by summer, most of the work will be completed; he plans on proposing then, so that when he and Mia announce their engagement, they'll be next in line, and will have their own home to move into after the wedding.

At the dance, walking on air with Mia, taking in the happy and optimistic mood pervading the event. Mia takes him aside after the first dance to talk; she seems slightly lost in thought, slightly distant, and he assumes she's enjoying herself and thinking about the future, as he is. They sit facing each other at the edge of the gathering; she wraps her fingers around a cup of hot cider and tells him, conversationally;

“I need to go back to Imil soon.”

Isaac's heart freezes.

Mia continues in the same tone, gazing at her drink.

“I left a lot of supplies at home. There was only so much we could carry, you know? But Jenna asked for something for her mother the other day, and I could use all my equipment. I should have gotten this done before Sheba left, really. It would have been far easier with the teleport lapis. I could always wait until the next time she visits. If you fancy making a trip of it, though, we could rent a horse and cart from Vault and set aside a week or so for travel. You didn't see much of Imil before we left, did you? We were in such a hurry. I could show you around and introduce you properly to everyone. It would mean a lot to Grandpa and Grandma if we gave them a chance to give us their blessing. We could invite them to visit us here, too.”

Mia looks up and sees Isaac staring at her; she worries that he doesn't want to come with her and visit her family.

“Isaac...?”

He leans over and hugs her; the movement spills the drink between them, and she sets it aside, returning the embrace, neither of them too bothered. He kisses her and she melts into it, surprised in a happy way by this sudden intensity. They're both warm and short of air by the time he leans back to speak.

“Yes. Whenever. I'll go with you.”

His voice thick and happy; she smiles and runs her fingers along his lips. She considers discussing the plan further, but finds that his smile and his pulse and his eyes currently merit more attention; she pulls him close again and resumes the kiss.

Jenna and Garet soon find them and drag them back to the dance.

[emocelestial]

Reylo oneshot

Sooo i’ve had this idea in my  head for awhile now. Aaaand I finally decided to bite the bullet and write it. Rey n Kylo are kind of OOC. I don’t know what to call it. I was going to call it, “The Pull to the Light” but I have no idea. Maybe give me a suggestion and I’ll use it, haha. Happy Reading! PS This was my first Reylo writing ever so comments and thoughts are hella appreciated please and thank you! x] (also there was a formatting error before, it has now been fixed. sorry about that!)

She fidgeted with the lining on her robes. Her words came out in a jumbled rush.

“Kylo I don’t know if I—“

“Yes, you can,” his whisper interrupted. He gently lifted his hands from hers to brush a stray hair from her cheek as he nodded with a smile of encouragement for her to lead the way. Rey took a small, steady breath and let out a faint sigh.

“Hey, c’mon now,” Kylo crooned. Rey turned her concentration from the floor back up to Kylo’s eyes, searching for that hope within hers. Kylo’s voice was stern, “You are stronger than you know.” She seemed satisfied with this and let a smile creep out onto her face as she turned away from him and led the way out of the corridor entrance to the grassy earth outside.

It was just after dawn. The grass was still squishy from the morning dew and it tickled Rey’s toes as she jubilantly leapt around the meadow, gaining a noticeable energy from her surroundings. She loved being outside with the smell of moss and foliage. The air was cool and filled her lungs with the excitement she needed for today’s task: Rey was going to learn telekinesis. Or, as Kylo so lovingly put it, ‘make shit move with the Force.’

Rey could hear the slight squish of Kylo’s boots trotting up to meet her in the clearing. “I will never understand your fascination with all things green.” He chuckled. Rey removed her top robe and stretched out her arms above her head, letting the warmth of the morning sun blanket her nude honey shoulders. “It’s better than sand,” she threw back with an accusatory but playful scowl. “And I like the feeling of the damp grass on my feet. It’s like a big spongy pillow and I never have to worry about picking it out later,” she smiled. Kylo was grinning at her wet feet. “I definitely see the appeal, although for training purposes I thought inside might be a bit more suitable.” Rey took in the scenery around her with admiration. The meadow was a large, grassy clearing just shy of a small wooded forest. A stream trickled nearby and Rey could hear the morning birds chirping greetings to each other. She looked back at Kylo and attested, “True, but inside I wouldn’t be able to get my feet wet.” Kylo just kept staring at her as she continued her adorable little protest. “Also, there are walls. And outside there are no walls, no boundaries. And that is exactly how I would like to train,” she instinctively tightened her bun and eyed him with a devious smirk, “so that when you irritate me I don’t accidentally Force toss you into the ceiling.” Kylo let out a snicker at this and tossed his gloves to the side. “Alright, Rey. That’s enough fantasizing about me for today, at least until we head back inside.” Rey rolled her eyes but continued to grin at his response. Kylo took in a short breath before steadying himself a few feet in front of her and speaking in a clear, assertive tone. “Let’s start with some mediation.”

A couple of hours had passed and shiny beads of sweat rolled down from her forehead. Three neatly stacked columns of small rocks stood tall in front of Rey. Her eyes were lightly closed, her breathing steady with the rhythmic thump of her heart. One hand lay palm up resting on her leg, the other wavered forward, motioning another rock to stack onto the left column. “Excellent.” Kylo chimed in her right ear, making her heart flutter the slightest as the rock currently being moved clucked into another but still managed to sit safely on top. Rey dropped her hand and slowly opened her eyes. While she was very pleased with how much progress she had made in only a few hours’ time, she looked at Kylo with a faint shadow of disappointment. “I can’t have you distracting me like that. If I want to get anywhere close to as strong as you I need you to be my teacher, not whispering in my ear.” Kylo was taken aback but understood. “No, you’re right. As much as I’d love to encourage you I can see where it might come off as a distraction.” He promptly stood and walked a few paces away. “Why don’t we try something a little more challenging?” He called out. Rey sighed and got to her feet. She followed Kylo across the meadow to the edge of the stream. Rey knelt down and cupped her hands into the chill free flowing water and rinsed her face and arms. Kylo looked toward her in acknowledgement. “You really are doing well today, Rey.” She patted down her hands and smiled back, “Thank you. It’s just a little hard for me to focus when you’re so close. I always felt I responded better to pressure anyway.” She eyed Kylo as he toyed with this idea for a moment. She could tell he was being wary when he slowly bit his lip as he questioned, “You want me to pressure you?” Rey thought on it for a moment. Then she finally nodded, “Yes. Just a little bit. Enough to fuel my desire to achieve more and to be not just good, but great.” Kylo nodded in agreement. “Alright, sure. See that boulder lodged into the edge, there?” His eyes darted just down the stream. “I want you to rip it out and toss it back to your neat little stacks over there.” Rey turned to measure out the distance in her head. “Ah ah ah, no calculating. That’s only going to make you nervous. Just do it.” Rey planted her feet firmly into the wet earth and withdrew a heavy breath. Kylo slowly paced a few feet behind her. Rey searched for the hook in her mind and grasped it firmly. She could feel the Force pulsing around her, from the ebb and flow of the smallest crescent waves in the stream to the forcibly stable solidarity of the boulder wedged in place. Closing her eyes, she let go of her insecurities and let the Force take her. With a steady hand she opened her palm up to the boulder. At first she could sense its’ reluctance to move, to be intimidated. Rey’s lips curled slightly as she felt the pull growing weaker. “Concentrate, Rey! Grab it by the heart, and rip it out!” Kylo snarled. Rey’s arm jolted forward and she could feel the threads keeping the boulder in place start to tie off. Her breathing stuttered and she winced. Her toes curled and dug into the soil below. Kylo watched intently with anticipation. Suddenly, Rey found it. The sweet spot where the ties had a weakness. Her mind lunged forward and an invisible motion nudged the boulder counter-clockwise. “That’s it, Rey! Feel it surrender to your grasp and show it you cannot be contained.” The sudden excitement sped up Rey’s breathing and she felt the tie between her and the massive rock falter. A pinching pain emitted from the space between her eyes. “Kylo I don’t think I—“ “Don’t you start that. Don’t you get weak on me, now.” Kylo didn’t enjoy being harsh but pushed forward with it for her sake. “I won’t have it, Rey. You either do it, or you don’t.”

And she would. Rey’s nostrils flared and her teeth clenched as the rippling pull of the invisible ties sprang taut. With one sweeping motion she threw her arm to the side and let out a strained shout as the boulder crackled and ripped the roots from the brook, twirling over the stream before being thrown a wide distance. She felt the pull release and slingshot the boulder into her neatly stacked rocks with a loud beautiful crash. She opened her eyes and sank to her knees breathing with sweet relief, exhausted. Kylo’s mouth grew wide and he let out a high laugh as he strode over her, proudly embracing her shoulders. “Rey that was wonderful! It took me several painstakingly long days and nights to master levitating something of that size. Look at you!” he rejoiced. The goo of the Force slowly let her emerge from its warm grasp as she smiled proudly and wiped the sweat off her face with her forearm. “I feel like a flaccid noodle,” she giggled. Kylo snorted and pushed his hands through her hair, letting out her bun and shaking his hands until her mane turned into a wild mess. “There, now you really look like an animal.” Rey lightly pushed him back as she let her hair curtain over her pinking cheeks. Kylo looked up at the sun’s position and was about to suggest they head back to have food when Rey suddenly took on a determined look. “What is it?” he asked. Rey’s eyes set forward on seemingly nothing, deep in thought. “Rey?” Kylo pressed. For a moment he thought he may have done something wrong and began to reach out to her when she blinked hastily and met her hand with his, lowering it down to the grass. “I have an idea. I want to try something,” she stated firmly. Kylo’s eyebrows furrowed briefly. “Don’t you want to take a break? Overexerting yourself with the Force can be dangerous, Rey. You’ve done a lot for a first time, there’s no need to wear yourself out.” Rey shook her head defiantly, “I just need to see if I can do it. For myself.” Kylo didn’t know what she was referring to but decided to settle in agreement, “Okay.” He raised his eyebrows and nodded forward for her to proceed. A whistling breezed escaped the trees nearby and rustled the leaves in unison. The stream continued to lull its way downward. The grass poking through Rey’s fingers danced with the slight wind and she relaxed her neck back, feeling the midday sun on her eyelids. Kylo’s breathing was hushed as he patiently waited calmly. Rey focused intently on herself. The warmth allowed her to settle in deep, deep into the pool of the Force. It was thick, and consumed her flesh slowly, rising over her hips and crawling delicately up her ribs. It twisted and knotted over her joints and blanketed her abdomen until she felt completed engulfed by its rich body of lax. It kept growing upward until her mouth parted as she allowed it to swim over her ears, over her eyes, playfully kissing her hair and eventually trailing the path toward her lips. With a slow even breath, she inhaled. A growing warmth was allowed entrance into her mouth, and it trickled down her spine and coated her throat. The tunnels of her inner maze were slick with the Force. Kylo’s hands began to unwind in the grass and his eyelids drooped a moment, seemingly getting the second hand effect through the bond. Then, it was just Rey.

The rustling of the leaves disappeared.

The stream muted.

The grass looked away.

Rey felt her toes escape the ground first. Another toe plucked itself away from the ground, followed by her heel. Rey felt her thighs lifting with a slight rebound off of the grass. There was nothing but the force between her and the ground. Kylo’s eyes darted at the phenomenon in front of him. He dare not move, though he almost fainted at the sight of her. Rey kept her breathing steady and concentrated on the swaying motion of the Force. She latched onto it tightly, and allowed herself to float higher, higher, releasing her legs in the process. Kylo backed away slowly with his hands. Rising to his knees, he wanted to cry. Rey lifted herself higher until she was thrice the height of Kylo in the air. She unwrapped her arms from her body and let herself dangle in the sunlight. She was the rustling. She was the ebb and flow. She was One with the Force. Kylo gently stood but he never looked away. A myriad of things his eyes have seen, but never did he anticipate this. Rey felt the rope of the Force pull her limbs along, as she intricately swam upward, and back. Forward, and down. She felt a colorful euphoria bubble deep inside her and prompted her eyes to flutter wide. The bubbling rose to her lips as she gasped a shaking, bellowing guffaw. With that she felt a pop in her abdomen and another in her chest. A pop, and then a fizzing confetti of joy. She laughed again, and looked down at Kylo who was smiling so proudly at this twinkling, levitating wonder above him. Just as Rey was ready to come back, Kylo walked up to her with an arm stretched out to help her down. She took his hand in hers, and slowly was pulled down to his height as her feet gracefully tapped the grass. Rey swayed backward for a moment as Kylo caught her in an embrace. Her eyes searched his for the hope he usually found in hers first. Kylo brought her fingertips up to him and softly kissed them, opening up her palm for him to plant another, when he whispered, “It is you.”